’s
June 26, 2015 edition
The Pulse
Your regular check up on SCKMC activities Share your thoughts, story ideas, and comments by e-mail to claytonp@sckrmc.org.
Introducing “Dr. Roboto”
Hospital Bonds Downgraded
SCKMC’s newest team member arrived last week. “Dr. Roboto” as he has been named by the staff, is part of a new program allowing patients and nursing staff access to physicians remotely 24-hours a day. The service is called telemedicine and is being provided at SCKMC through a partnership with Sunflower Telehospitalists LLC. Dr. Brian Hunt who is originally from Ark City, is a hospitalist, a hospital based physician, caring for inpatients in Lawrence, KS. In addition Dr. Hunt provides telehospitalist services to hospitals across the State through Sunflower. He, along with Dr. Marc Scarbrough and Dr. Jason Kimball, will be the physicians providing care through Dr. Roboto beginning this August at the medical center. “The doctors that you are dealing with, we are all internal medicine doctors with tons of experience. And we’re nice people,” Dr. Hunt joked. “I’ve been a tele-hospitalist now going on two and a half years, and I love every bit of it.” However, Hunt himself was skeptical when he first heard of the idea of using a robot to care for hospitalized patients. “I do not like technology. I find it confusing. I find it frustrating because it doesn’t go as fast as I would like it to go. But I have found (technology) can be amazing in what it can do and how it can help take care of folks,” Dr. Hunt said. SCKMC Chief Executive Officer, Virgil Watson, agrees with Dr. Hunt that telehospitalist services can improve patient care. “(Telehospitalists) hopefully will give every patient that comes into out hospital instant access to a physician to help extend their primary care physicians care that is already being rendered,” Watson said. “Our nurses will have immediate access to the physician The telehospitalist program is a significant investment for South Central Kansas Medical Center costing roughly $326,000 the first year. Watson believes the benefits provided, as well as statistical averages from other facilities offering similar services, justify the expense. “Everybody I talk to says that this is the future. The data says it should increase our patients by 18% as far as census is concerned. Now whether that happens or not is yet to be seen. If it does, we would end up with about 142 more patients. If you do the calculations, the program pays for itself,” Watson said. An open house is currently being planned at the medical center for July 30th to allow the public to meet Dr. Hunt, and see Dr. Roboto first hand.
The City of Arkansas City was notified Wednesday by Moody’s Investor Service, Inc. that the bond rating for the Arkansas City Public Building Commission, the entity that issued the debt service for construction of the hospital, will be downgraded from Ba1 to Caa1. Moody's considers “material and sustained improvement in hospital operating margins and growth in liquidity,” as a feasible action that could improve the rating. SCKMC Chief Executive Officer Virgil Watson has made that goal his top priority in his first six months on the job. "While we are disappointed with the downgrade, we believe our picture is not as grim as Moody’s has it appear. We have been working hard since I came on board in January to improve our current financial situation, and have made some progress," Watson said. The federal government provides 59 percent of SCKMC’s gross revenue through Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements, but sweeping changes to those services in the past five years and a continued refusal by the State of Kansas to expand Medicaid coverage have contributed heavily to the hospital’s current financial position. “We have several major programs currently in the works that we hope will begin making significant contributions to our bottom line before year end. These changes include current applications for sole community hospital and rural health clinic designations that will increase reimbursements; the implementation of a telehospitalist program that should assist in increasing patient admissions; and the active recruitment of full-time physicians into our community, one of which is scheduled to begin this August,” Watson said.
The Pharm Forum with Homer Mah, D.Ph. Many people who are prescribed inhalers may not be properly using them. There are a few things to keep in mind when using them: 1. Metered dose inhalers require priming, shaking before use, and good hand-breath coordination. A spacer can be used if coordination is an issue. 2. Dry powdered inhalers do not require good hand-breath coordination, it is activated by a quick, deep breath in and no spacer is required. 3. Keep your inhaler clean so you are receiving the proper dose each time. 4. If you use more than one inhaler, it is vital to understand when to use each inhaler. 5. Always re-order a new inhaler with enough time in advance in order to avoid any delays in refilling it.
Register Online Today!
Saturday, August 29th – Patterson Park, Arkansas City SCKMC has partnered with professional race organizers for event registration and timing of an
"extreme obstacle" style race. The 5K (3.1 miles) with 12 obstacles race will be unlike any other event in the area. • Food & Beverage Vendors • Entertainment for all ages • Free spectator area The funds raised will benefit South Central Kansas Medical Center and our mission to serve within the community. All money raised will be used as the foundation for growth and development of the services we provide, such as equipment purchases, physician recruitment, and program enhancement.
www.sckmc.org for more information Obstacle photos are representative only. Obstacles are subject to change without notice
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