Update from Karen Cole, CEO
“Big Thank you to all departments that were
there for me at the time of my accident. You are all a great
bunch of professionals Thanks Again”
Nancy Collins
Note of thanks from a patient!
SMC Volunteer informa-tion contact [email protected]
SMC Auxiliary
Visit us at
www.smchosptal.com
“The closest thing to being cared for is to care for someone else.”
Inside this issue:
A note from Karen 1 -2
SMC Star Award for Dec. 2
A Culture of Safety 3
SHS Job Shadows 3
SMC Awards/Birthdays 4
Sharing with you the News and Events from the SMC Team
A Look Back and a Sneak Peek Forward
The beginning of each new year brings with it the opportunity to reflect on the past
year and vision for the year to come. This is true for individuals, as well as organiza-
tions such as our Shenandoah Medical Center family.
Like most healthcare organizations of any type, SMC experienced a great deal of
change. And, like our colleagues across the country, most of these changes have either
been a response to current legislative or regulatory change, or actions taken to
prepare for new models of care delivery and payment. The tightrope the healthcare
industry is walking might best be described as the need to develop and implement new
models of care while being paid for services in the traditional model. If we don’t get on
that tightrope and walk out a distance, we won’t be prepared when the payment
systems change. To that end, one of our most significant changes occurred just a year
ago.
At the beginning of 2013 SMC along with Medical Staff achieved an integrated model of
care delivery that many health systems are still attempting to achieve. This change posi-
tions us to begin the development of new care delivery models and proposed payment
systems. The goal of this change is to increase emphasis on prevention of illness and
improve the overall health of the community we serve. Leading us through a transition
to Electronic Health Records, the certification as a Rural Health Clinic and the devel-
opment of numerous clinic processes was the combined efforts of the co-medical
directors for the Shenandoah Physicians Clinic: Dr. Floyd Jones and Dr. John Bowery,
in collaboration with the 2013 Chief of Staff, Dr. Don Bumgarner.
As the year moved forward, Dr. Santosh Kumar assumed responsibility for Medical
Leadership of the Emergency Department. Under his direction this service has been
transitioning from one primarily staffed by an outside agency to care delivered by our
own SMC Medical Staff. This change fosters a consistency of staff who understands the
services provided and community we serve. It will improve quality by fostering
continuity of service between providers and care coordination for our patients.
In 2013 SMC was also the recipient of four significant achievements and recognition.
First, Radiology staff achieved a perfect score on their annual national survey. Most
inspections of this type receive some recommendations, if not deficiencies. It is highly
unusual to receive a perfect score. We are grateful for the leadership of Dr. Linda
Head and Chris Isaacson in attaining this accolade. SMC is the recipient of a patient
safety award by the Iowa Hospital Collaborative as the result of efforts by volunteer,
Millie Pepples; Utilization Nurse, Judy Andersen; and CNO, Scott Garland, for
Cont…….next page
development of a program that significantly reduced readmission rates. SMC was also recognized in 2013 by iVantage
Health Analytics for care delivery above all rural hospitals in the state. SMC also celebrated the 4 STAR award given to
Elm Heights by U.S. News and World Report.
In 2013 SMC was able to once again extend its scope of services with the addition of four new providers – the linch-
pins of health care delivery. Dr. Michael Woods, Obstetrician Gynecologist, Urogynecologist, helped to develop and
subsequently was one of the first physicians to pass the urogynecology subspecialty boards. Dr. Catherine Wolff, Inter-
nist, not only provides her special adult medicine services to Shenandoah, but has extended SMC’s reach in the region
by retaining her previously established clinic. Lila Lassen, APN, joined our staff to pilot a model of care utilizing a team
approach to primary care with Dr. Jones. And this December we welcomed Dr. Richard Bean to full-time Emergency
Services practice with Dr. Kumar.
Technology was in the forefront of all SMC physicians and staff with the expansion of the use of the electronic health
record in all aspects of service. And while clinical imaging at SMC took a huge leap into cyber space as the fourth 120
slice CT scan in the country was installed, laboratory equipment was enhanced with the addition of a new temperature
monitored Laboratory refrigerator Chemistry Analyzer, and the areas only Illumigene DNA Analyzer. SMC is exceed-
ingly grateful to the Shenandoah Healthcare Foundation and the SMC Auxilians for their financial contributions that
helped to make many of these purchases possible.
A new SMC website and a presence in social media was initiated and strengthened throughout the year. SMC’s com-
munity presence was enhanced in 2013 with the development of an action plan in response to the Community Health
Needs Assessment available on the SMC website.
So what about that “sneak peek” into 2014?
A number of items for 2014 will flow from work begun in 2013: new models of care and continuing process improve-
ment in the clinic; on boarding a new general surgeon, Dr. Rebecca Rose, and a third full-time Emergency Services phy-
sician, Dr. John Moskaitis; expansion of specialty clinic services; and completion of a Master Facility Plan that addresses
a number of patient service needs.
The great unknowns for 2014 relate to the continuing implementation of The Accountable Care Act and the rules and
regulations emanating from this industry changing piece of legislation. Potentially the federal deficit, the general state
of the economy, Medicaid expansion in Iowa and technology advancements all have the potential to effect unforesee-
able change. Oh, I think I forgot to mention global warming – kind of easy to forget this January.
So, no real predictions for the New Year – but one. Shenandoah Medical Center remains, as ever, committed to its
mission of providing excellent patient care.
My best regards,
Karen Shining Star Awards for December
Mable Nenneman was our employee Star
for the month of December and was nomi-
nated by the pharmacy staff for going
above and beyond in her delivery of
patient care.
The Star Award for outstanding depart-
ment for the month goes to Maintenance
for the work they have performed to
make the accommodations for patients
more pleasant. The ER Dept. as well as
staff at 300 Park nominated Maintenance
for this award.
If you recognize Star performances please
send nominations to Bill Billings
Keep reaching for the stars!
The Institute of Healthcare
Improvement reports that
in a culture of safety, peo-
ple are not merely encour-
aged to work toward
change; they take action
when it is needed. Inaction
in the face of safety prob-
lems is prohibited. There
is no room in a culture of
safety for those who use-
lessly point fingers and
say, Safety is not my re-
sponsibility, so I’ll file a
report and wash my hands
of it”.
An Organization can im-
prove upon safety only
when leaders and staff are
visibly committed to
change and when staff is
enabled to openly share
safety information. When
an organization does not
have such a culture, staff
members are often unwill-
ing to report adverse events
and unsafe conditions be-
cause they fear reprisal or
believe reporting won’t re-
sult in change.
Shenandoah Medical Cen-
ter’s leaders are committed
to safety and providing the
resources to achieve results.
SMC’s message about
safety must be consistent
and sustained, as it takes a
long time for culture to
change. Surveys that measure
staff perceptions about the
organization culture regarding
safety are useful tools to as-
sess the presence and level of
that safety culture. Many of
you completed a safety survey
in recent past. The survey
results were submitted to the
Iowa Hospital Association for
tabulation. SMC will have the
results soon and will develop
action plans based on the
findings and best practice.
Thank you for your help in
making SMC a safe place
and for keeping our patients
and families safe.
is a result of months of work
on “Preventing Avoidable
Readmission” This team of
dedicated individuals
brought their talents and
ideas to the table with the
goal of delivering our pa-
tients healthcare at the high-
est level. We are working
daily in addressing changes
in healthcare that are being
required of hospitals across
the country. We have a dedi-
cated team and staff at SMC
that make it happen” said
CNO Scott Garland. “The
medical and hospital staff of
Shenandoah Medical
Center has been recog-
nized by the Iowa Health-
care Collaborative with its
“Patient Safety Award for
Excellence in Care Transi-
tions”. The Shenandoah
Medical Center Team that
worked on this project was
CNO Scott Garland, Reg-
istered Nurse Judy Ander-
son, Retired Nurse Practi-
tioner Millie Pebbles,
Quality Services Director
Phil Marburger and Safety
Coordinator Becky Bald-
win. s recognition of SMC
Shenandoah Medical center
are dedicated to achieving the
best outcomes for our patients
and improving the health of
this community. We are
pleased that the work of the
Readmission Team is being
recognized state wide and are
happy to be able to share our
process with others in Iowa.
This is just one example of
the many efforts by the staff
of SMC to deliver the best
care and value to our pa-
tients.” said CEOKaren Cole.
with the help of SMC’s
own Jason Franklin in
scheduling and assigning
shadow duties. These
students have been shad-
owing OB, Radiology,
Dialysis, ER, Physical
Therapy and other clinical
areas of the hospital and
clinics in an effort to promote
healthcare as a great career
choice. The students have had
fun as well as learned many
of the workings of our
departments and staff. Thank
you to all who helped make
this a great experience for
them.
SMC has had some new
shadows in the hall this
semester, job shadows that
is. These students have
been job shadowing our
departments at SMC under
the guide of SHS School
Nurse and SMC Board
member Linda Laughlin
Page 3 “The closest thing to being cared for is to care for someone else.”
New Faces at SMC enjoy Job Shadowing
SMC, Leader in Readmission Reduction
Developing a Culture of Safety, A Note from Scott Garland, CNO
From L to R
Serena Parker, Abby Wiegel
Alisha Woodyard, Jaime
Runyon, Kylie Stanbrough
From L to R
Bailey Stanley, Seana
Perkins, MacKenzie Balm,
Adrian Ruzek
SHS Job Shadowing
Pictures From SMC Staff Holiday Party Spirit Awards , Thank you for your dedicated service to the patients of SMC
Our Volunteers and staff are dedicated to caring for our patients; with years
of dedication. We recognize those who make a difference.
2013 Spirit Award Winners.
Renee Kimpson
Mable Nenneman
Kurt Hinsdorf
Bill Billings Sr.
Jan Billings
Dr Floyd Jones ( at Winter Lights)
JANUARY BIRTHDAYS
ADAMS ALYSON 1/10 PHYSICAL THERAPY
BERGEN KIMBERLY 1/22 HEALTH INFO MANAGEMENT
BLANE NICHOLLE 1/5 EH - NURSING SERVICE
BOZWELL JEAN 1/8 SURGERY
BROOKS LESLEY 1/8 FISCAL SERVICES
BRUNER CAROL 1/19 FOOD SERVICE
DUNKESON MORGAN 1/26 CLINIC
HOLMES CONNIE 1/9 CLINIC
JOHNSON KATIE 1/26 AMBULANCE SERVICE
KISBY DANIELLE 1/1 OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
LINDBURG JOY 1/4 FOOD SERVICE
MARBURGER PHILIP 1/18 QUALITY ASSURANCE
MCELROY BRANDI 1/17 OBSTETRICAL UNIT
MICK LONNIE 1/18 MAINTENANCE
OLDHAM PAMELA 1/3 HOME HEALTH
ROBERTS KARI 1/2 EH - NURSING SERVICE
ROST LINDA 1/4 SOCIAL SERVICES
SELLS MATTHEW 1/31 FISCAL SERVICES
SELLS ALICIA 1/31 EMERGENCY SERVICE
SMITH JOHN 1/2 HOME HEALTH
SMITH SUSAN 1/25 FOOD SERVICE
SMITH ASHLEY 1/2 EH - NURSING SERVICE
STURDEVANT JANET 1/5 LABORATORY
TAYLOR MICHELE 1/29 LABORATORY
WESTON RONALD 1/14 AMBULANCE SERVICE
WHITAKER MICHAEL 1/24 HOUSEKEEPING
ZOGLEMAN LINDSAY 1/24 AMBULANCE SERVICE
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