Hospital Headlines

Laura Noren Returns to Boone Health as Interim CNO

Monica Smith, MSN, RN, NE-BC, FACHE has made the decision to focus exclusively on her role as Boone Health’s Chief Operating Officer.

Since 2015, Monica has served as our Chief Nursing Officer. In 2017, she also became Boone Hospital Center’s Vice-President of Operations and Ancillary Services. During the transition to independence last year, she became Boone’s Chief Operations Officer. Monica has been highly successful in both roles, guiding Boone Health to fully implement a Shared Decision-Making model to support our nurses’ professional practice, serving as incident commander through the COVID-19 pandemic, transition to independence, and achievement of our fourth Magnet hospital designation. A nationwide search is underway for a new Chief Nursing Officer who meets the advanced requirements necessary to lead patient care services and to achieve and maintain Magnet status. To ensure Boone Health meets Magnet standards and keeps its current level of support to all nursing areas, Laura Noren, MBA, BSN, RN, NE-BC will return on as interim Chief Nursing Officer. Laura served Boone for 28 years before retiring in December 2020. In 2019, she became our first Executive Director of Patient Care Services. Her experience and knowledge of the organization will allow Boone Health to maintain a high standard of professional nursing during the search process.

Joint Commission Accredits Boone Health Services

Primary Stroke Center Survey

The Boone Hospital Advanced Primary Stroke Center completed their two-year cycle recertification through The Joint Commission (TJC). TJC performed a virtual survey in December 2021. The virtual survey was a success and Boone received two findings. Both findings were related to Meditech documentation components which can be resolved through optimization and staff education.

The surveyor was complimentary of the entire team and the excellent care that is provided through the Stroke Program. Special thanks to Dr. Goble, Stroke Medical Director, Dan Hartgrove, Stroke Coordinator, and Michele Sprague, Oncology/Neurology/Stroke Program Manager for their preparation and leadership.

The Stroke Program is a service which upholds our mission to improve the health of the people and communities we serve. It is the outstanding delivery of care and service from the entire Boone Health team which makes this program successful. Thank you for making a difference in many lives.

Boone Health Home Care & Hospice

Boone Health Home Care & Hospice has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Deemed Status Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards and CMS Conditions of Participation for Medicare certification. The Gold Seal is a symbol of quality that reflects a health care organization’s commitment to providing safe and quality patient care.

Boone Health Home Care & Hospice underwent a rigorous, unannounced onsite review. During the visit, a team of Joint Commission reviewers evaluated compliance with standards and Federal health and safety requirements spanning several areas including environment of care, infection prevention and control, leadership, medication management, and rights and responsibilities of the individual.

The Joint Commission’s standards are developed in consultation with health care experts and providers, measurement experts and patients. They are informed by scientific literature and expert consensus to help health care organizations measure, assess, and improve performance. The surveyors also conducted onsite observations and interviews.

Congratulations to the Boone Health Home Care & Hospice team.

BHC Cath Lab Makes Room for Patients

Boone Hospital Center’s Cardiac Cath Lab is open after an extensive renovation and expansion. Construction began in February 2021 to enhance Boone Health Cardiology’s capability to meet the needs of our patients and community in the present and future. Changes include a new lobby and waiting area, the addition of a fifth procedure room, 15 patient holding rooms, and new nursing areas with increased visibility between nurses and patients. These changes offer our patients more space, privacy, and safety, and will allow our Cardiology Service Line to continue to support mid-Missouri’s health care needs.

Hickman Athletic Booster Club

Thank you to Hickman Athletic Booster Club for their generous donation to Boone Hospital Foundation in support of Harris Breast Center. To learn about how your organization can support Boone Health, visit boone.health/foundation.

Missing Photo Caption

The January 2022 issue of My Boone Health was missing a photo caption for the cover image:

In August 1972, Boone County Hospital breaks ground on a two-story wing to add room for patients. From left to right: Dr. James Baker; Patterson Bain, trustee; Mrs. John Brinegar, auxiliary member; Mrs. Roland Kaiser, auxiliary president; W.B. Smith Jr., trustee; and hospital employee Woodrow Lee. (Note: First names could not be found for Mrs. Brinegar and Kaiser.)