’s
February 19, 2016 edition
The Pulse
Your regular check up on SCKMC activities Share your thoughts, story ideas, and comments by e-mail to claytonp@sckrmc.org.
SCKMC Recognized for Maternity Care
City / Hospital Discuss Finances
In an effort to help prospective parents find hospitals that deliver quality, affordable maternity care, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas announced the first hospitals in its 103county service area to receive the Blue Distinction® Center or Blue Distinction Center+ for Maternity Care designations under the national Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. Blue Distinction Centers and Blue Distinction Centers+ for Maternity Care, an expansion of the national Blue Distinction® Specialty Care program, are hospitals recognized for delivering quality specialty care safely and effectively, based on objective measures developed with input from the medical community. To receive a Blue Distinction Centers+ for Maternity Care designation, a hospital must meet the same quality criteria as Blue Distinction Centers while also meeting requirements for cost efficiency. Hospitals were assessed using a combination of publicly available quality information and cost measures derived from Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies’ medical claims. SCKMC was one of 16 hospitals in Kansas recognized as a Blue Distinction Center+ for Maternity Care. Other hospitals receiving the distinction included: Great Bend Regional Hospital; Hays Medical Center; Hutchinson Regional Medical Center; Labette Health, Parsons; McPherson Hospital; Newton Medical Center; Ransom Memorial Hospital, Ottawa; Salina Regional Health Center; Southwest Medical Center, Liberal; Stormont Vail Health, Topeka; Via Christi Hospital, Manhattan; Via Christi Hospital, Pittsburg; Via Christi Hospitals, Wichita; and Wesley Medical Center, Wichita. "Improving quality of care is integral to transforming the health care system, so we are proud to recognize these 16 hospitals for demonstrating higher levels of quality and expertise resulting in better maternity care for our members," said Andrew C. Corbin, BCBSKS president/CEO. "This designation requires a tremendous commitment to quality in all phases of a hospital's maternity care program. The fact that 15 hospitals were further recognized for attaining cost efficiency in delivering quality care is commendable." Nearly four million babies are born in the U.S. annually, making childbirth the most common cause of hospitalization. This new maternity care program evaluates hospitals on several quality measures, including the percentage of newborns that fall into the category of early elective delivery, an ongoing concern in the medical community. Compared with babies born 39 weeks or later, early term infants face higher risks of infant death and respiratory ailments, among other conditions.
A follow up meeting between the SCKMC Board of Trustees and the Ark City City Commission to further discuss the hospital’s financial struggles took place on Feb. 16th. The medical center ended 2015 with a loss of approximately $1.9 million dollars, which includes a $400,000 loss from the South Central Kansas Clinic. The short fall prompted a $275,000 loan for the initial construction bond payment for 2016, and have commissioners questioning if SCKMC will be able to make the second payment later this Fall. Hospital Administration presented several options at the meeting that are currently being considered as cost cutting measures or ways to generate additional revenue. Chief Marketing Officer Clayton Pappan reported that “all options are on the table.” One of the options being considered is a one percent sales tax for the next ten years to be used specifically for bond debt repayment. It is estimated that such a tax would cover $1.7 million of the $1.9 million annual bond payment. No formal action was taken at the meeting, however all parties agreed that such a tax appeared to be necessary if the hospital is going to be able to provide full service healthcare in the future. A formal request for the sales tax will be discussed during the February 25th SCKMC Board of Trustees meeting.
The Pharm Forum with Homer Mah, D.Ph. Taking expired medications carries certain risks and can be harmful to your health. Expired drugs have an increased risk of bacterial growth and can be less effective. Using old antibiotics can lead to resistance and more serious illnesses. Take the time to clean out your medicine cabinet and dispose of unwanted medicine. The expiration date can be found printed on the carton or bottle. Contact your local pharmacy to see if they participate in a drug disposal program. If you cannot find a local program, follow any specific disposal instructions on the prescription drug labeling or patient information that accompanies the medicine. Do not flush medicines down the sink or toilet unless this information specifically instructs you to do so. If no disposal instructions are given on the prescription drug labeling throw the drugs in the household trash by removing them from their original containers and mixing with an undesirable substance, such as used coffee grounds, dirt or kitty litter. Place the mixture in a sealable bag, empty can or other container to prevent the drug from leaking.
Give the Gift of Health Consider a gift to the Medical Center. Your donation will benefit our community for decades to come. Giving to the hospital helps us continue to provide the best in medical care right here, close to home. We offer a number of approaches to support our programs. Gifting opportunities range from providing support to name a portion of the new facility, to providing funding that can assist in providing new equipment or sponsoring programs.
Call or visit us on-line and find out how you can share the gift of health.
We are 6401 Patterson Parkway, Arkansas City 6401 Patterson Parkway, Arkansas City
www.sckmc.org
(620) 442-2500