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As we look at the implications of health care reform, one of the skills that all hospitals will need to fine tune is the ability to coordinate care. This coordination must exist at all levels. That includes communication of the plan of care among physicians, nurses and direct care givers while the patient is in the hospital; coordination of the transition from one level of hospital care to the next; and coordination of care and follow up when the patient is discharged from the hospital.
Press Ganey consultants in their Opportunities Assessment Report saw an opportunity for improvement in this area, and we agree. To this end, we are bringing our social workers and case managers together into one department called Care Coordination. |
The combined department will be under the administrative auspices of our chief medical officer, Dr. Tim Horrigan. The focus will be on screening patients at admission for discharge needs and coordinating the work of those involved with the patients’ care to ensure that we follow the discharge plan. Plans for post-hospital care are also pivotal and will be helpful as we try to reduce our readmission rate from being among the highest in Iowa Health System.
As with any change, there is always some angst involved. Pam Flanders, who has been the director of Social Services for many years, is to be credited with her willingness to help see this change through for the betterment of care coordination of our patients. Pam will be instrumental in implementing this change, but she will remain with us in a revised role. Meanwhile, Milda Mullesch, current director of Case Management, will be responsible for day-to-day operations of Care Coordination and will report to Dr. Horrigan.
Implementation will be ongoing over the next few months, and we are working to locate an appropriate space where social workers and case managers will be housed in the same physical location.
My thanks to all of you for working together to develop a better model for coordinating patient care
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Ascent: A Stryker Sustainability Solution is honored to award Allen Memorial Hospital OR with the 2010 Healthy Hospital Award for their outstanding partnership in reprocessing and remanufacturing. With the commitment to Ascent’s Advantage collection program, Allen was able to produce $17,571 in device savings, and they diverted 3,877 lbs from local landfills. The environmental impact is a 184% increase from 2009. Kristie Bell, the Ascent account manager, presented this award to Jenni Friedly director of surgery to acknowledge the OR staff for their hard work and dedication to the hospital initiative.
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Allen College Chorus Spring Concert
Thursday, April 28
7:00 p.m. Concert (Doors open at 6:30 p.m.)
McBride Auditorium/Gerard Hall, Allen College Campus, 1950 Heath Street, Waterloo
Join us for our Americana concert featuring patriotic & American composers. Special guest pianist, Mr. John Knox, CEO of Allen Health System, will play the Gershwin classic Rhapsody in Blue.
Concert is free of charge - seating is limited. Light refreshments will be served following performance.
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Annual Net Learning Has Been Assigned
It's that time of the year again! Your annual Net Learning modules have been assigned. They are due October 1, 2011.
Clinical staff: Make sure you check your Net Learning To-Do list often. It is not uncommon for additional modules to be assigned throughout the year based on identified learning needs or compliance issues.
Note: If, when completing your modules, you receive a notice stating “Requires Adobe Flashplayer 10 or higher”, please contact the IT Service Center at extension 1333. They will request the IHS tag number of the involved computer and will install the Adobe Flashplayer upgrade. In the meantime, you may try using another computer to complete your modules. We are working with IT to resolve this issue. Thanks for your patience.
Are We a Great Place to Work?
We’re asking all Allen associates to participate in the Great Place to Work® confidential survey, and share your candid feedback about our organization
The survey will be available through April 22, and will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. The responses are sent directly to the Great Places to Work Institute and will be used to identify specific strengths and opportunities for improvement.
Please make sure you mark the correct department that you are in at the end of the survey. Smaller departments may be grouped with other departments to ensure responses remain anonymous, so keep looking if your department isn’t listed by itself.
Password: AHSH1
For more information or survey problems, please contact Steve Sesterhenn in Human Resources at 235-3605 or sestersp@ihs.org
Important Information for Second Quarter Associate Forum Schedule
Click here for Q2 Open Forums June 1-15 schedule. Review the schedule and work with your supervisor to attend in June.
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Wednesday, May 4, 2011
7:00 am Leave Allen Parking Lot P7a
9:15 Arrive in Pella (stretch, bathroom break)
10:00-11:30 Village Tour - A few attractions on this walking tour include
the historic village museum and an authentic 1850’s windmill.
11:30- 1:00 Buffet Lunch - Monarch’s Restaurant in Royal Amsterdam Hotel
1:00-2:00 Covered Wagon Tour - Sit back and enjoy all the sites as the Tour Guide describes Pella’s history
2:00-3:00 Free Time - Browse through the many shops in Pella’s historic downtown
3:30pm Head for Home
Cost - $60.00 per person. Space is limited!
Call Linda to reserve your spot today at 235-3692.
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You Can Show Your Skills and Help the American Heart Association
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The challenge is on!
Show us your cooking, canning, woodwork, sewing, jewelry, etc. skills in "edible" or "non-edible" categories. Edible will be judged on uniqueness.
We'll judge those items best of show and then you can donate them to the silent auction for the Heart Walk.
Click here to see all details of this very fun event!
We know you are out there - show us your skills!
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Allen Gift Shop News
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All Easter items discounted 25%
on April 18!
April 25 and 26
Books Are Fun
May 26 and 27
Scrubs and Beyond
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Justin Jasper Benefit
Son of Kris Jasper,
UMP Ambulatory Surgery Center
Bake Sale to Benefit the Jaspers
Wednesday, April 20 from 9:00 am - 2:00 pm at Winter Garden at United Medical Park
Allen Hospital on Wednesday, May 11 at the South Dining Room
(If you would like to donate baked goods, bring them to the South Dining Room around 8:00 am)
Note: Cash Only
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Parkersburg Race of Remembrance 2011
The 3rd Annual Parkersburg Race of Remembrance will be held on Saturday, May 28, 2011. All proceeds will benefit both the Parkersburg Library Expansion/Renovation Project and the Ed Thomas Family Fund. For event details and registration, click here for more information and registration form.
