STAFF MATTERS
Update for Catskill Regional Medical Center employees, physicians and volunteers
July/August 2015
A Message From Our Leader Catskill Regional is changing the face of healthcare within our community. We are halfway through the year and as we keep patient-centered care as our number one priority, we must remain committed to what benefits our patients the most. With this in mind, I’d like to highlight a few examples of commitment.
Dr. Gerard Galarneau CEO & CMO
Our Caregiver Awards Program is well underway and I’m happy to report that in the first and second quarters, we have honored several employees for their commitment to quality service. This program helps us recognize the exceptional care provided by our co-workers in clinical care, support services and outpatient services. These employees illustrate our potential when we remain focused on patients and the responsibility of providing exceptional care and service.
Kudos also go out to Tracy Pilgrim and our Environmental Service team for winning the Crothall Quarter 4 Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) Challenge. The team improved its scores by nearly 20 percent when measured on cleanliness and customer service. Thanks to all who volunteered and supported the golf tournament. The net tally is still in progress, however, we hosted over 100 golfers and all the proceeds from this annual event will go toward future renovations to our Hospital. The golf tournament is currently our largest fundraiser that directly benefits our Hospital. I am honored to have worked alongside the great staff and volunteers who worked so tirelessly to plan this extraordinary event. Additionally, our very first Capital Campaign continues with funds being raised solely to support our renovations. Our next endeavor is exterior improvement on the main entrance of our Harris Campus building. Please enjoy the rest of the summer and remain focused on doing excellent work when you’re here. Providing exceptional care goes hand-in-hand with making a big difference in the lives of our patients and their families. Thank you all for your commitment to providing exceptional healthcare services to our community. Sincerely, Dr. Gerard Galarneau, CEO & CMO
Communication Devices Help Enhance Patient Care Catskill Regional has introduced the Vocera Voice and Communication System at the Harris Campus to increase workflow while continuing to provide quality patient care. The Vocera Badge is a lightweight, wearable voice-controlled device that enables instant two-way, or group, conversations using intuitive and simple commands. The Vocera Badge is widely used by clinicians who want and need the convenience and expedience of being able to communicate handsfree in an effort to enhance the delivery of patient care. This communication system makes it easy to connect with employees responsible for our patients’ experience. Using Vocera, employees can speak the name of the person they are trying to reach for easy and immediate two-way communication, providing our staff the ability to locate a shared piece of equipment, request patient care assistance, request status updates, etc., while reducing the number of overhead pages that can disrupt our patient’s ability to rest and recover and increasing workflow. Hospital workers assigned and logged onto the Vocera System can also be located quickly in the instance of an emergency, potentially saving lives. “Communication is instantaneously increased between clinicians which can encompass admissions staff, clinical charge nurses, anesthesiologists, lab and radiology techs, endoscopy techs, surgeons, Post-Anesthesia Care Unit nurses, and phlebotomists,” said Chief Executive Officer and Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Gerard Galarneau. “This new wireless communication is crucial not only for patient care, but also for efficiency of hospital operations.”