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A Patient's Perception is IMPORTANT!
Part of the time at Open Forum meetings is being spent discussing patient satisfaction scores. Currently our Press Ganey composite score for all areas is 88.16. This sounds good, but the problem is that we rank below the 50th percentile (middle) of the hospitals we are compared to in all areas. The only exception is the Emergency Department, where we rank in the 54th percentile.
Administrative Council spent some time with a special report-called a Priority Index, prepared for us by Press Ganey. The report tells us what areas we need to focus on most to improve our ranking. On the inpatient side, the following areas were noted as the most important for us to improve:
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- Response to concerns/complaints
- Staff addressing emotional needs
- Staff including patients in decisions regarding treatment
- Nurses listening carefully to patients
For outpatients, the first bullet above showed up again, and “Sensitivity to patient needs” showed up as our second-biggest opportunity. In the ambulatory surgery area, our biggest opportunity is improving our process of informing patients about their medication. In the Emergency Department, patients complain that we do not care about them as a person.
The patient’s perception is important. From what I have seen, there is no question you provide excellent patient care. However, we need to work together to address these areas that are holding us back from the higher ranking we deserve. Strategies to address these areas are being developed. In addition, we will be posting quarterly Press Ganey patient satisfaction scores by unit on each unit. The results will be a regular focus of department meetings.
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Thanks for Your Service
Dr. Crandall was presented this certificate of service by Jan Hahn, Director of Operations, for being a part of IHP, as a practicing physician, regional Medical Director and CMO for AMH for 25 years.
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Associate Campaign Updates!
Both the Allen College associate campaign and the Cedar Valley United Way campaigns end today and we want to take this opportunity to say THANK YOU to every associate who participated. Associate participation is very important, both in supporting our own projects and reaching out to help our community. And just a reminder – we will be saying thank you in person in the café today from 1:30-3:00 pm with some winter treats for anyone who turned in a pledge card.
We are very proud to announce that Allen Associates contributed $25,351 that will be given to United Way for their mission.
The Allen College associate campaign has raised $72,137 that will help with the expansion project that will put a third building on the Allen College campus.
Thank you and we hope to see you in the café this afternoon (off-site locations will receive treats at a future date)!
P.S. Although the campaigns have ended, we still welcome participation – if you would like to contribute to either the Allen College building project or to United Way, contact Angie at fullerad@ihs.org or ext. 3960.
Patient Satisfaction Scores for October
Do you know how patients rated their experience at Allen in the past month? Find out by checking our Patient Satisfaction scores. These scores are our report card from the patient to tell us how well we do in the care we give. The raw score is the patient's rating given on a 100 point scale. The percentile ranking is how well we score compared to other hospitals in a similar peer group.
Click here & here to see what departments obtained their stretch goals for Patient Satisfaction in October!
Have you attended the Allen Open Forums? Click here for schedule. If you have attended, please click on survey button below and take a minute to answer a short survey.
Offering Complete Diabetic Secondary Preventive Care
Our first retinal eye screening took place on November 22 at ACE-SAP Free Clinic. The camera was delivered, we received training on its use, and then completed six eye screenings on diabetic patients who have been seen at the clinic. Dr. David Neill has graciously agreed to read and interpret up to 50 patient retinal pictures per year. This service gives the clinic the ability to provide complete diabetic secondary preventive care. We offer free A1C, fasting glucose and lipid screenings on site, provide diabetic foot care from a certified foot care nurse, provide urine microalbumin screening and, of course, physical examinations and medication. Thanks to everyone who helped make this happen. - Dr. Ruselle DeBonis DNP, MA, ARNP, FNP-BC, CFCN
Get Off the Sidelines – Attend a Special 401(k) Presentation!
Are you saving for retirement at an All-Pro level? Make sure you’re using all the right equipment to save for your future. Attend an on-site educational session with Jason Taulbee, Financial Education Consultant with JPMorgan, entitled “Equipment for Saving”, to learn more about these heavy-hitting tools in the Iowa Health System Section 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan:
· New funds added as investment options
· Retirement Dream Machine
· Advisory services
· The Way Forward
It’s time to check your stats using the 7 Tips to Retire On Track, whether you are entering the savings game as a “rookie” or you have the experience of a career veteran.
Thursday, December 9
9:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
Meeting Rooms 2 & 3
Don’t miss the chance to learn more about the Iowa Health System Section 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan and how you can use it to better position yourself for the retirement of your dreams!
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Allen College Chorus Holiday Concert
Tuesday, December 7 at 7:00 p.m.
Gerard Hall - Allen College Campus.
Admission is free and refreshments will be served.
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Wee Care Tree
Allen Associates love our littlest patients! Please come to the Allen Gift Shop to purchase a plush animal to be added to our Wee Care Tree!
All donations will be delivered on December 22 to the Pediatric floor to be given to the children who are in the hospital over Christmas and throughout the New Year.
Let’s share in the holiday spirit and put smiles on children’s faces this year! Any questions, please contact Sara in the Gift Shop!
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Allen Annual
Holiday Dinner &
Gift Coupon
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The Allen Annual Holiday Dinner is next month. Please carefully read the attached information for details on the holiday dinner and when you can stop by Volunteer Services to pick up your coupon.
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Jan Donlea-Erpelding and Sandi Thurm giving their best wishes to Paulette Herold as she leaves Allen Hospital after 17 years of service.
Watch the Friday Edition for Vicky Anderson's Open House.
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Many of us are wondering what the coming winter will bring. In case you don’t remember, here’s a recap of last winter…..
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Snow Saga – Winter 2009
It came with such sweet innocence,
So gently it did fall.
Thanksgiving was a picture postcard,
Just a trace of snow was all.
Then came December and Christmas time,
Twenty eight inches with a blustery storm,
We watched those big white flakes come down,
We dug and shoveled and tried to stay warm.
January will be better, we said.
A new decade will begin,
But another eight inches, and we knew
Old Man Winter had fooled us again.
February, wow are we sick of this stuff!
Bitter cold-- 16 inches again,
By now we were praying (and grumbling) to God
To shut off that big white machine.
Then finally came March, in just like a lamb,
And Mother Nature was coming alive.
Only two inches total this month,
We finally had made it, yes we would survive!
Fifty four inches for 2009,
A lot of white stuff—AMEN.
Let’s cross our fingers and toes and hope
We don’t see as much in Winter 2010!
By Patricia Buls
