’s
September 16, 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.
Healthcare Consultants at SCKMC
Back-to-School Preparedness
Quorum Health Resources has made several on-site visits to South Central Kansas Medical Center over the past month as they gather information in preparation for an operational analysis of the current hospital. The study is a requirement of the City of Arkansas City’s bond document related to construction of the replacement facility. “Quorum is here to help us build some efficiencies into the operation. They will help us streamline a lot of our processes. Be able to do more with less time, being able to get more done in a day then we are now,” said Holly Harper, SCKMC’s Chief Financial Officer. Quorum has provided hospital management and consulting services to more than 700 hospitals across the United States, and owns a number of hospitals primarily located in cities having populations of 50,000 or less. “I think Quorum has been a real partner in this process. They haven’t tried to dictate to us. They’ve requested a lot of information in order to have the data they need to do their analysis. I think it will be a good top to bottom look at SCKMC and how we compare to hospitals our size,” said Virgil Watson, SCKMC’s Chief Executive Officer. Most of the time spent at SCKMC by Quorum staff has been used to interact with hospital staff in order to get a better understanding of the specific challenges faced at the medical center. The information gathered by Quorum will be compiled into an extensive analysis report that will allow hospital management to set measurable goals moving forward. “Everything they have spoken to us about they have provided some type of reference point for benchmarks. You have to be able to measure yourself at some point. But they are not only giving us goals, they are giving us ranges. So we are able to hit a range and develop a score card to drill down to why we may not be hitting a metric,” Harper said. The final analysis is expected to be completed in early October. Watson hopes the end result will be a document that is able to be the foundation for the hospital’s strategic plan for many years to come. A “road map” that impacts both the financial stability of the facility but also improves patient care. “We are changing the culture of SCKMC and we want to be more customer friendly. We want the customer to have a good experience here and make sure we are right-sized in terms of how many people we have that are trying to take care of the various responsibilities and duties we have assigned to those areas of the hospital. The whole point of this is to try and road map a process of sustainability for the long term of SCKMC,” Watson said.
With the kids back in class, it’s time to make sure you have emergency plans in place. Every family should build an emergency kit, make a family disaster plan, and be informed about events that could affect their community. Parents, take a few extra steps to help children be prepared. Make sure they know the full name, address, and phone numbers of parents or guardians. Include a copy of this information in their backpack. Other items to keep in their backpack include water and non-perishable snacks; a pocketsized first aid kit; a whistle to alert others for help; and a list of allergies, medical conditions, and medications. Ask school administrators and teachers about emergency preparedness plans. Many schools have guidelines on how to shelter-in-place during natural disasters, how to secure classrooms during an emergency lockdown, and how to teach preparedness curriculum to students. By following preparedness guidelines, parents, children, and school staff can improve their safety and peace of mind.
September Employee of the Month Congratulations Julie Jones, Physician Assistant in the Emergency Department, for being named the SCKMC Exceptional Service Award winner for September. Julie was nominated by multiple patients for providing great care through the emergency department. Julie was presented with a certificate of appreciation by the South Central Kansas Medical Center administrative team and will also have a special parking spot reserved for her throughout the month.
The Pharm Forum with Homer Mah, D.Ph. Does using antibacterial soap lower your risk of getting sick or spreading germs? The FDA has determined that there is not enough scientific evidence to prove that antibacterial soap is better than plain soap and water. The majority of antibacterial ingredients including triclosan and triclocarbon cannot be marketed anymore. Manufacturers have not been able to prove that these ingredients are safe for daily use over a long period of time. This ruling only covers consumer antibacterial soaps and body washes used with water. It does not include products used in a health care setting, hand sanitizers, or hand wipes.
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Excellence. Introducing
Dr. Willie Posey II Family Health - Pediatrics - Non-Invasive Cardiology Dr. Posey has over 20 years of rural healthcare experience caring for patients of all ages. Now accepting new patients, Dr. Posey is practicing full-time through the SCKMC Specialty Clinic and Winfield Medical Arts. Call (620) 441-5711 to schedule your appointment today.
When it comes to healthcare for your family, you want excellence. You want experienced doctors, dedicated nurses, up-to-date facilities and advanced technology. You’ll find them all here. Because we know your family’s healthcare, has to be the best.
Specialty Clinic Tyson Blatchford, MD Willie Posey II, MD General Surgery Internal Medicine / Cardiology Perry Lin, MD OB / GYN
And 10 Other Specialists Visit us online for a full listing
Kamran Shahzada, MD Internal Medicine
Eric Thomson, MD Family Practice
Rhonda Green, MD Family Practice
Angela Ziegler, APRN Family Practice