System Hospital News September 2018

Atrium Medical Center

More than 750 people attended a free community picnic at Atrium Medical Center on August 4. The event incorporated the Highway to Help charity motorcycle ride and a safety fair featuring a CareFlight Air and Mobile Services helicopter. Tours of the hospital and health screenings also were offered, and the Atrium Medical Center mobile mammography coach was on hand. Appearances were made by several former Cincinnati Bengals players.

As Atrium Medical Center and the city of Monroe’s Fire Department begin a pilot program to reduce hospital readmissions, patients who are discharged from Atrium and live in Monroe could now receive a follow-up call at home from a paramedic. Atrium and Atrium Medical Center Foundation are providing a $37,500 grant to Monroe to expand the city’s highly successful paramedicine program that has been in place since 2015. Target criteria for patients eligible for a paramedic home visit will include patients who are 65 and older, and those with conditions such as congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia, hip replacement, knee replacement, and more.

“Atrium Medical Center staff are excited to partner on the innovative pilot program with the City of Monroe’s Fire and EMS department. The goal is to prevent hospital patients from being readmitted to the hospital. In general, we expect patients with fewer hospital stays are healthier, have a better recovery, and have lower health care costs,” said Michael Uhl, president of Atrium Medical Center.

Miami Valley Hospital

Nurse manager Natasha Luster, MSN, RN, CNOR, has been selected to receive the OR Manager “Emerging Leader Award” at the 2018 OR Manager Conference this month in Nashville. This award is given to a rising star in operating room management, as it was developed to recognize newer managers of the OR (five years or less experience) as they pave the way to the future of patient care and OR management. During her four years as nurse manager of the operating room, Natasha has helped increase NDNQI scores to above the 75th percentile; decrease the number of surgical site infections; increase the number of nurses who have achieved CNOR Certification by 40 percent; and reduce Miami Valley Hospital’s turnover rate by 40 percent. According to Miami Valley Hospital’s associate nurse manager of surgical services, Natasha has transformed the culture in the operating room into one of best practice, collaboration, and improved patient safety. She has shown team members how to partner with sterile instrumentation, anesthesia, and all perioperative areas to help improve the workflow in the operating room.

Phillip Terrell, practice leader with IBM Watson Health, and other company officials visited Miami Valley Hospital’s August management forum to officially present the “100 Top Hospitals” award that the hospital received in March. The annual “Watson Health 100 Top Hospitals” study, formerly the Truven Health Analytics study, conducts an objective analysis of independent public data, risk-adjusted and peer-reviewed methodologies, and key performance metrics to highlight the best hospitals in the nation. Hospitals do not apply for consideration, and winners do not pay to market this honor.

Barbara Sears, Director of the Ohio Department of Medicaid, selected Miami Valley Hospital as a stop on a tour she is leading across the state. She gave a presentation during a news conference at the hospital about a new report that highlights the value and benefits of Medicaid expansion. Also during her visit, she met with Premier Health leaders about Medicaid issues that affect the system, and toured the new 10th floor of the hospital’s southeast tower, where a telemedicine demonstration took place; the NICU; and CareFlight Air and Medical Services. Miami Valley Hospital is one of the largest Medicaid providers in the state of Ohio.

Upper Valley Medical Center

Upper Valley Medical Center’s 2018 Evening of Appreciation to welcome new medical staff and honor hospital supporters took place August 30 at the Piqua Country Club. Nearly 200 physicians, board members, executives, and community leaders/friends of UVMC attended the annual event.

Upper Valley Medical Center in August received formal notice of accreditation for all services from the Joint Commission (TJC). The 3-year accreditation is the result of a highly successful TJC survey conducted in the spring.

UVMC Cardiopulmonary Rehab in August celebrated achieving three-year certification from the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR). AACVPR-certified programs are recognized as leaders in the field of cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation because they offer the most advanced practices available.

UVMC’s SpringMeade Retirement Community in August opened the Marigold House residential care facility, which offers a new level of care for individuals who need more than what is provided in SpringMeade’s independent living cottages but less than what SpringMeade Health Center offers. The five-suite house will offer residents assistance with activities of daily living, meal preparation, medications, and more.

UVMC had a major presence in the Tour de Donut cycling weekend hosted in downtown Troy August 24 and 25, including a vendor booth at the Donut Jam celebration on Friday evening, an EMS tent throughout the bicycle race and 5k run on Saturday morning, and an additional booth at the farmer’s market that morning. More than 300 individuals visited UVMC’s booths during these events.

UVMC was a presenting sponsor for the 2018 Troy Chamber of Commerce Steak Fry and Auction held August 23 at the Miami County Fairgrounds. More than 250 chamber members attended the event, which is an annual networking tradition and fundraiser for the chamber. 

Back to the September 2018 issue of Premier Pulse