By April Peregoy
Melissa Memorial Hospital was the subject of three surveys that took place during the month of September. Reporting at the East Phillips County Hospital Board meeting Tuesday, Sept. 23, administrator John Ayoub was happy to announce the hospital performed very well on all three surveys.
The first was a state survey conducted to make sure the hospital was meeting all the conditions of participation. Ayoub said the survey went well, and he gave staff members a lot of credit for their hard work and cooperation.
Only three minor deficiencies were found, all of which had to do with administration and paperwork areas and not with healthcare procedures.
The first revolved around conflicting policies caused by outdated paperwork that had not yet been upgraded. Ayoub said the hospital is working on bringing all their policies up-to-date. The hospital was also told the Chief of Staff needs to sign off on each department policy.
MMH was also marked down for not currently having an outreach site for pharmaceuticals. This is due to the recent cancelation of the hospital board's contract with Banner Health. The situation is only temporary however, as the board is working on finalizing a contract with Poudre Valley Hospital of Fort Collins to provide telepharmacy services.
Ayoub also pointed out MMH is not the only hospital in this situation, as five other hospitals in northeast Colorado are affected as well.
A follow-up Life Safety Survey was also conducted over the past month. This survey is more facility-focused and is done to make sure all emergency equipment such as emergency doors, fire alarms and fire extinguishers are working properly.
The survey was actually conducted in February and a number of things were found that needed to be corrected. Checking back in to make sure MMH had followed up on these corrections, the September survey found the problems had been fixed.
The final survey was the State Vaccine For Children Survey, which was conducted in the Family Practice Clinic. It is done to make sure the clinic is performing and storing vaccinations properly. Again, Ayoub reported the clinic performed well on the survey.
Staff transitioning to new
electronic record system
The hospital is now beginning the process of switching to an electronic medical records system. According to Ayoub, the first phase of the transition began on Oct. 1 and involves the implementation of practice management software.
After a 90-day training cycle with the new software, the hospital will transition into the electronic record system in early 2009.
Ayoub said the system will greatly benefit patients because their medical charts can be accessed right away. It will also allow the hospital to do its own billing rather than rely on another company to do it for them.
In August, a new documentation form was implemented to help the staff transition into the new system. Chief of staff Dr. Dennis Jelden told the board Tuesday night the new forms have been a big help and the staff is adjusting well to them.
Another computer system purchase request the board is considering is for a claim scrubber. This is a computer application that detects errors made in a claim before it is sent to an insurance company. The purpose is to reduce claim denials due to technical mistakes.
Ayoub said the application could cost as much as $30,000, but would benefit the hospital in the end by improving the efficiency of the payment process with the insurance companies.
Special meeting scheduled
EPCHD will hold a special meeting Tuesday, Oct. 7 to discuss and approve changes recently made to its Ends Statement. The board felt the policy was too important to make a quick decision on it, and wanted some time for review.
A public hearing on the hospital board's budget for 2009 will take place at its next regular meeting, which is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 28.
Other business
In other business Sept. 23, the EPCHD board:
-toured the laboratory and heard a general report from lab director Deb Taytum on the department's services and staff.
-was informed Tuesday night Dr. Scott J. Hadley, who treats patients needing emergency dental care, will no longer be available to the hospital. The board is now searching for another dentist in the area to provide this service.
-approved a lease with Harry Sprague to farm the 20-acre empty lot behind the hospital. Ayoub said this was done to save time and money on mowing and to be respectful of the surrounding neighborhood.
-reaffirmed the hospital's policy that EMS attention will be given to all calls that come in, regardless of whether the emergency site is located within district boundaries.
-was informed the hospital had its first on-site helicoptor landing. Ayoub stated some complications did occur, but that it was a good learning experience and next time the staff will be even better prepared.
-canceled its contract with the company that provides the hospital with its Spanish-language phone line. A new contract has already been signed with a different company.
-signed a contract to upgrade and improve the hospital's website. Once the initial upgrades have been made, Ayoub said it is his desire to have a staff member trained to maintain the website.
-was notified the hospital received a $9,000 SHIP grant. MMH is also seeking an emergency preparedness grant.
-heard a presentation from the MMH Foundation that the board is expected to close on a loan in October for the donor recognition wall and MMH history wall.
-approved a bid from EIDE Bailey to provide the hospital's auditing services.
-heard a report from FBLA member Samantha Redfern on the progress being made on the clock tower project. The report showed the club still has $17,000 to raise for the project.
-held a 30-minute executive session to discuss the sale of the old building.
Source
The first was a state survey conducted to make sure the hospital was meeting all the conditions of participation. Ayoub said the survey went well, and he gave staff members a lot of credit for their hard work and cooperation.
Only three minor deficiencies were found, all of which had to do with administration and paperwork areas and not with healthcare procedures.
The first revolved around conflicting policies caused by outdated paperwork that had not yet been upgraded. Ayoub said the hospital is working on bringing all their policies up-to-date. The hospital was also told the Chief of Staff needs to sign off on each department policy.
MMH was also marked down for not currently having an outreach site for pharmaceuticals. This is due to the recent cancelation of the hospital board's contract with Banner Health. The situation is only temporary however, as the board is working on finalizing a contract with Poudre Valley Hospital of Fort Collins to provide telepharmacy services.
Ayoub also pointed out MMH is not the only hospital in this situation, as five other hospitals in northeast Colorado are affected as well.
A follow-up Life Safety Survey was also conducted over the past month. This survey is more facility-focused and is done to make sure all emergency equipment such as emergency doors, fire alarms and fire extinguishers are working properly.
The survey was actually conducted in February and a number of things were found that needed to be corrected. Checking back in to make sure MMH had followed up on these corrections, the September survey found the problems had been fixed.
The final survey was the State Vaccine For Children Survey, which was conducted in the Family Practice Clinic. It is done to make sure the clinic is performing and storing vaccinations properly. Again, Ayoub reported the clinic performed well on the survey.
Staff transitioning to new
electronic record system
The hospital is now beginning the process of switching to an electronic medical records system. According to Ayoub, the first phase of the transition began on Oct. 1 and involves the implementation of practice management software.
After a 90-day training cycle with the new software, the hospital will transition into the electronic record system in early 2009.
Ayoub said the system will greatly benefit patients because their medical charts can be accessed right away. It will also allow the hospital to do its own billing rather than rely on another company to do it for them.
In August, a new documentation form was implemented to help the staff transition into the new system. Chief of staff Dr. Dennis Jelden told the board Tuesday night the new forms have been a big help and the staff is adjusting well to them.
Another computer system purchase request the board is considering is for a claim scrubber. This is a computer application that detects errors made in a claim before it is sent to an insurance company. The purpose is to reduce claim denials due to technical mistakes.
Ayoub said the application could cost as much as $30,000, but would benefit the hospital in the end by improving the efficiency of the payment process with the insurance companies.
Special meeting scheduled
EPCHD will hold a special meeting Tuesday, Oct. 7 to discuss and approve changes recently made to its Ends Statement. The board felt the policy was too important to make a quick decision on it, and wanted some time for review.
A public hearing on the hospital board's budget for 2009 will take place at its next regular meeting, which is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 28.
Other business
In other business Sept. 23, the EPCHD board:
-toured the laboratory and heard a general report from lab director Deb Taytum on the department's services and staff.
-was informed Tuesday night Dr. Scott J. Hadley, who treats patients needing emergency dental care, will no longer be available to the hospital. The board is now searching for another dentist in the area to provide this service.
-approved a lease with Harry Sprague to farm the 20-acre empty lot behind the hospital. Ayoub said this was done to save time and money on mowing and to be respectful of the surrounding neighborhood.
-reaffirmed the hospital's policy that EMS attention will be given to all calls that come in, regardless of whether the emergency site is located within district boundaries.
-was informed the hospital had its first on-site helicoptor landing. Ayoub stated some complications did occur, but that it was a good learning experience and next time the staff will be even better prepared.
-canceled its contract with the company that provides the hospital with its Spanish-language phone line. A new contract has already been signed with a different company.
-signed a contract to upgrade and improve the hospital's website. Once the initial upgrades have been made, Ayoub said it is his desire to have a staff member trained to maintain the website.
-was notified the hospital received a $9,000 SHIP grant. MMH is also seeking an emergency preparedness grant.
-heard a presentation from the MMH Foundation that the board is expected to close on a loan in October for the donor recognition wall and MMH history wall.
-approved a bid from EIDE Bailey to provide the hospital's auditing services.
-heard a report from FBLA member Samantha Redfern on the progress being made on the clock tower project. The report showed the club still has $17,000 to raise for the project.
-held a 30-minute executive session to discuss the sale of the old building.
Source
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