’s
June 13, 2014 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 Ranks High for Quality
Preparations Continue for New Clinic
For hospitals such as SCKMC, participation in programs such as the “quality initiatives” led by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) help define best practices by comparing specific measures on a national level. Over 6,000 hospitals participate in CMS’s quality reporting program. The agency collects and publishes data each quarter to assist consumers in making more informed decisions about their health care. Data is reported as a rolling four quarters, currently covering from the fourth quarter of 2012 through the third quarter of 2013. However, hospitals are able to generate more current data, and SCKMC recently reviewed data from the fourth quarter of 2013. In the most recent data preview, SCKMC scored within the top ten-percent of all hospitals in 33 of 38 quality measures. An accomplishment that according to the medical center’s Chief Executive Officer, Steve Perkins, is a result of a long term commitment by the hospital staff. “We have talked about building a future of excellence for a number of years and now our results are showing it. To be ranked in the top 10% of all hospitals is something we have great pride sharing. It represents the hard work and attention of our team to how we deliver care,” Perkins said. Quality measures encompass data on a variety of medical services. Patient immunizations, timeliness of antibiotics, specific stroke and heart failure protocols, are just a few of the items from which data is reported. While it is not a requirement for hospitals to participate in quality reporting, there is a payment reduction of up to 2% for all Medicare patient charges if a facility does not participate, or if the facility does not perform well. For heavily Medicare populated medical providers, such as SCKMC, the difference could mean losing tens of thousands of dollars annually. However, Jane Campbell, SCKMC’s Director of Quality Performance and Risk Management, insists that the reduction is not the driving factor to participate in the reporting process. She believes studies, such as CMS’s quality Initiative, are valuable tools for evaluating accomplishments as well as areas for improvement. “First emphasis is providing the best care possible, but (the quality initiatives) do impact our reimbursement. Our goal is to provide the best care possible for our patients and if there is a little bonus as far as reimbursement goes, it is just a bonus. It’s a side effect and not the cause,” Campbell said.
As the transition date to South Central Kansas Clinic quickly approaches a flurry of activity is taking place, both at the medical center and Summit Clinic. “From a billings perspective, we have been getting ready to get their software online, worked with an electronic data interchange vendor, and the billing providers’ contractors. That’s the biggest thing looming over us,” said Holly Harper, SCKMC’s Chief Financial Officer. The billing process may be the largest project still to be tackled, but many other details are currently being addressed in order to meet the July 1st deadline. Staff have been involved with ordering additional equipment, restructuring the clinic space, hiring additional clinic staff, appropriately branding the new name, and educating themselves on the details of the workings of the day-to-day business.
The Pharm Forum with Homer Mah, D.Ph. As we begin to age our bodies begin to change and our bodily functions do not work as well as they use to. With the change, how our body uses, breaks down, and excretes drugs is also affected. Here are four tips one can use to ensure safe
medication use. 1) Take medicine as prescribed by your health care provider. Do not skip or stop taking your medications unless instructed to do so. 2) Keep a list of medications that you are currently taking, both prescribed and over-the-counter. This list can be used in emergency situations. 3) Talk to your pharmacist and learn about possible interaction with your medications. 4) Finally, review your medications with your health care provider every year to ensure which medications are necessary and which are not.
Employee of the Month Congratulations Cheryl Pack, Registered Nurse in the Intensive Care Unit, for being named the SCKMC Exceptional Service Award winner for the month of June! Cheryl was nominated by a patient for her compassionate and attentive care. If you would like to nominate someone for next month's award visit us at www.sckmc.org.
We always appreciate hearing from our patients and their family, like what we're sharing below. What gave us greater pride was when we learned what Ms. Adams does for a living. She is Pharmacy Manager- Quality and Safety at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center in Houston, a world renowned facility. April 14, 2014 Dear Mr. Perkins, I would like to let you know how grateful I am for the staff caring for my mother during her recent visit. My mother was a patient in your Med/Surg area from April 1 until April 10. I arrived from Houston to support her and my sister, who lives in Arkansas City, on April 3 and stayed until she was discharged. Throughout her stay, I observed many acts of compassion and kindness by your staff. While I cannot name every nurse or nursing assistant who cared for her, I appreciate them all and am omitting names only because I would not want to leave anyone out. The vast majority of them treated my mother and our family members with care and respect, and allowed her to maintain some dignity during some very undignified moments.
Outside of her direct caregivers, the Physical Therapists, Lab techs, Housekeeping staff, the Pharmacist and Food Service personnel were all very considerate. I would like to also mention that Susan in Food Services and Katrina in Nuclear Medicine were exceptionally kind and considerate, even when my mother presented them with some challenges. And Pam, the Case Manager, was especially helpful when it came time to arrange for hospice care for my mother following her stay with you. All in all, I felt that mother was in very capable hands during her stay. Having spent my career in large hospitals, I have seen bedside care at many levels. I want you to know how much it is a comfort to me to know that your hospital is close at hand should she need immediate attention again. Please share my heartfelt expression of thanks with your staff. Sincerely, B. Jane Adams
Reprinted with permission
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