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As we celebrate Hospital Week, I want to take the opportunity to thank all of you for the work you do at Allen Health System. Your efforts are paying off in improved patient satisfaction scores and enhanced quality. This excellence was recognized this year by HealthGrades when they awarded us the Distinguished Hospital award for Clinical Excellence and ranked us #1 in Iowa in 2011 for Cardiac Services.
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) recently released details of its Hospital Value-Based Purchasing program. CMS plans to measure hospitals using 12 clinical process-of-care measures in areas such as surgical care, pneumonia care and prevention of healthcare associated infections.
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In addition, the agency will measure patient experience scores using the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey (HCAHPS). Incentive payments will be made to hospitals based on their improvement and level of achievement as indicated by scores in these areas. Seventy percent of the incentive will be based on clinical scores and thirty percent will be based on HCAHPS.
The incentive is being funded by a 1% reduction in hospitals’ base operating DRG payments. Applied to hospitals across the country, this amounts to about $850 million that is being moved from base payments to incentives. Under this new system, there is a real potential for hospitals to lose money based on their performance. Only those that perform well will retain their full Medicare payment.
News of this program tells us that our vision to become a Top 100 Hospital is the right one, since Thomson Reuters includes many of these measures in their scoring of the Top 100 Hospitals. By pursuing excellence in these areas and focusing on patient satisfaction, we are enhancing our chances for success under the new system.
At the Open Forum meetings in June, we will recognize areas that have made significant strides in improving patient satisfaction and quality. Best wishes to you all, and I hope you enjoyed some of the special events we conducted this week to celebrate Hospital Week and Nurses Week.
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National Hospital Week
May 8 - 14, 2011
Ice Cream Sundae Bar for Allen Associates
TODAY at Allen Cafe
2:00 - 4:00 pm
Help us celebrate the 90th anniversary of
National Hospital Week!
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To see what associates are loving about Allen,
click here.
Career Ladder and Top Ten Nurses Recognition Award Banquet
Several Allen nurses were recognized at the Nursing Excellence Dinner held Thursday May 12, 2011, at Barrett Forum Allen College. Dr. Wissam Jaber addressed the group. Those recognized at the event were Career Ladder Nurses and the Allen Top 10 Nurses.
The purpose of the Career Ladder Program is to:
- Recognize and promote individual responsibility for personal and professional growth among nurses at Allen Hospital.
- Provide financial reward for professional growth.
- Retain professional nursing staff.
- Increase job satisfaction.
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The Top 10 award recipients were nominated by their peers and selected by the Professional Life Council for having demonstrated nursing excellence in their daily role. Recipients exhibited consistent teamwork, leadership qualities, dedication to professionalism and the advancement of the nursing profession, exemplary nursing care, and commitment to the AllenCare values.
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2011 Top 10 Award Recipients:
- Maggie Pietryga, 4 Tower
- Dennis Preuss, Infusion Services
- Alicia O’Neill, Neurology Center
- Mona Rahlf, Ambulatory
- Katie Edsill, Resource
- Shannon Lindeland, 3 Surgical
- Toni Hanks, ICU
- Kristin Strom, Women's Health Center
- Jennifer Negus, 3 Heart
- Angie Banger, UMP ASC
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Career Ladder Committee
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- Dana Clasen PACU
- Juli Schroeder, Cardiac Cath Lab
- Shannon Lindeland, 3 Surgical
- Paula Geise, Director Cardiac Services
- Carmen Mundt, Nurse Manager 4 Tower
- Betty Marshall, Ambulatory
- Tamara Wolff, UMP ASC
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Click here for more pictures. Special thanks to the Professional Life Council and the Career Ladder Committee for coordinating the event.
Share Your Ideas to Improve Patient Safety
We’re continually working together to improve patient care, and your feedback is vital to our success.
All clinical and administrative employees are encouraged to participate in this year’s patient safety culture survey. This brief, anonymous questionnaire provides the opportunity to share your ideas about improving care at Allen. Click here to take this survey.
This year, all Iowa Health System senior affiliate hospitals are continuing their participation in the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Patient Safety Culture Survey, which is used by more than 600 hospitals nationwide.
By completing this survey, you’ll play an important role in providing an accurate picture of patient safety at Allen. At the same time, your feedback will allow us to compare results with last year’s survey and evaluate our progress addressing any areas of concern.
The survey is available on our intranet from May 9 – June 6. For more information, please contact Annette Burke, Risk Manager, at burkeam@ihs.org or (319) 235-3710.
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Allen Auxiliary Luncheon
Matt Rolinger, senior director of development for Allen Foundation, thanks Allen Auxiliary members gathered for their annual luncheon at the Waterloo Elks Club May 12. The Auxiliary pledged $100,000 to the Promises to Keep capital campaign to help build Winter Hall, the third building on the Allen College campus. Groundbreaking for Winter Hall will be Thursday, May 26, at noon on campus. Winter Hall will open in August 2012 for the 2012-2013 academic year.
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New Cashier Hours
The cashier hours will change effective Tuesday, May 31
from 8:00 am - 4:30pm to 8:00am - 4:00 pm. |
Reminder:
Your vacation checks are ready to be picked up at Allen Credit Union.
Heart Walk Auction and Bake Sale Wrap Up
Over $400 was raised from the bake sale, and the auction brought in just over $3,200.
Congratulations to the winners of the ‘Handcrafted Auction and Bake Sale Contest’ - Lynda Cutsforth won in the edible category with her Easter-themed cookies and Mona Rahlf in the non-edible category with her hand-stitched Amish family. Thank you to all Allen Associates who contributed handmade items and helped raise even more money for the American Heart Association.
The Heart Walk is on May 21 – if you are interested in walking or making a donation there is still time to sign up. Contact Angie Fuller at fullerad@ihs.org or ext 3960.
Inspirational Pause by Chaplain Butch Lewellin
Over this next week, consider this:
Be a good listener. Your ears will never get you in trouble.
Note from Employee Health
Jenny Boevers, RN, MSN
Reminders for Summer Disease Prevention
The arrival of warm weather also marks the arrival of mosquitoes and ticks. Insect repellants prevent mosquito bites and repellants with DEET also prevent tick bites.
Follow these guidelines when using repellent with DEET.
Read and follow all directions.
- Use only when outdoors and wash skin with soap and water after coming indoors.
- Apply sparingly on exposed skin, do not use under clothing. Do not put on wounds or broken skin.
- Higher concentrations of DEET mean that the repellant effect lasts longer, but lower concentrations repel just as well.
- Products containing DEET can be used on adults and children older than 2 months of age.
- Do not use on hands of young children, avoid applying to areas around eyes and mouth.
- Avoid spraying in enclosed areas; do not use near food.
- When using a sunscreen at the same time as a repellant, remember the sunscreen goes on first, followed by the repellant.
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Do the following to help reduce your risk of getting a mosquito or tick bite:
- Avoid being outdoors at dusk and dawn.
- Reduce mosquito breeding sites such as buckets, bowls and old tires.
Replace or repair torn window screens.
- Wear light-colored clothing.
- After being outside, check your body, clothing, children, and pets for ticks.
- Reduce tick habitat around your home by removing leaves, brush and woodpiles.
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Center for Acute Disease Epidemiology, Iowa Department of Public Health, (May, 2011); American Academy of Pediatrics, (2003), ttp://www.aap.org/family/wnv-jun03.htm
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Open House Will Honor Dr. Horrigan
Dr. Tim Horrigan will be honored at an open house on Wednesday, May 25, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Barrett Forum on the Allen College campus. Dr. Horrigan has been in private practice at the Evansdale Family Practice and is moving into his new role as chief medical officer for Allen Hospital. Light refreshments will be served.
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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.
Allen Gift Shop News
Thanks to all Associates who helped to make our Associate Appreciation Days a success!! Congrats to Dora Roeding who was the winner of our Door Prize!
Additional Upcoming Events
May 26 and 27
Scrubs and Beyond
ADDED! June 28
Masquerade $5.00 Jewelry Sale
Transportation Improvement Program
Attend and give us your input.
Click here for more information.
