So much to be thankful for...

As we enter the Thanksgiving season, it strikes me how much we have to be thankful for at Orange Regional Medical Center. We have a beautiful new hospital, an outstanding team of people dedicated to excellent patient care and a very bright future. Many patients have expressed their gratitude for the amazing experiences they have had at our facility.   One patient told me that they never needed to ring their call bell during their entire hospital stay!  I think this is an amazing testament and illustrates our attentiveness and dedication to our patients.  I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you for your contribution toward positive patient experiences.

We are closing in on a historical year filled with many monumental events. The magnitude of what we accomplished this year did not go unnoticed by our community.  Gratitude has been bestowed upon us with numerous recognitions and awards. Organizations such as the Orange County Chamber of Commerce, the Orange County Partnership and the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan thanked us publically and with distinguished awards for our unwavering commitment to our patients and community.

I am very grateful to serve as your President & CEO.  Thank you, again, for all you do and have a healthy and safe holiday season.

New hospital construction update

Construction of your new hospital is rapidly taking shape. While it is still an active construction site, there are areas in and around the structure that are now well defined. We remain on schedule with an anticipated completion date of April 2011. Construction of the exterior is just about complete and, shortly, you will see the landscaping and exterior signage. The landscaping is set to include extensive plantings within the interior of the loop road around the perimeter of the hospital. An elaborate healing garden at the main entrance of the hospital will also appear soon. Exterior signage will include entrance signs, various signs for direction throughout the campus and signs attached to the building.

Inside, the mechanical, electrical and plumbing installations are 90 percent complete. The walls, flooring, ceiling and painting are 50 percent complete. Our $24 million medical equipment plan is in the final stages of implementation. GE was selected as the primary vendor for imaging and monitoring equipment. Smaller packages of medical equipment are also being finalized and over the next seven months, fixed medical equipment will be installed. Simultaneously, furnishings, fixtures and moveable equipment will be finalized.

Additionally, the information technology and telecommunications infrastructure is being installed to support the electronic health record, telemetry and other wireless applications. Our new facility will provide a state-of- the-art backbone for present and future technology requirements.

Helping to shape the extensive New York State Department of Health’s inspection process, our leadership team has recently developed an internal process and a Steering Committee to carry out the large number of tasks related to final approval. This requires the assistance of department managers. An organization chart of the Steering Committee has been provided to all managers along with a detailed explanation of the information required for your department.
Once construction is complete, it will take an additional 14 weeks for the new hospital to become patient ready. This 14 week transition period is mapped out in a move management plan that is being developed with the input of all departments. It is anticipated that the facility will be fully operational in late summer 2011.

Fundraising is a significant component in making our new hospital a reality. To date, we have nearly reached our goal of $21 million for the project. I greatly appreciate your contributions.

There is a tremendous amount of enthusiasm and positive energy surrounding this endeavor. Thank you for all you’ve done in helping our organization reach so many project milestones. I encourage your continued support and cooperation as we work toward the final phases of construction in the coming year.

Corporate Compliance Promotes Integrity

Orange Regional Medical Center strives to promote a culture of integrity and ethical behavior in its business and operational practices. Our corporate compliance program helps us make sure our organization is in line with all laws and regulations that pertain to the health industry. By being an honest and responsible healthcare provider we can improve the quality and consistency of patient care.

Employees at Orange Regional have the professional responsibility to speak to their direct supervisor or call our corporate compliance director, Jim Cottos, at 342-7346 if they suspect any illegal, unethical or questionable activity. You should feel comfortable talking about compliance issues with them. Employees will not be subject to reprisal for reporting, in good faith, actions that they feel violate the law or established policies.

Examples of compliance issues include failure to comply with HIPPA guidelines or using another individual’s password to access confidential information. Our corporate compliance program is similar to a checks and balances system, making sure we document all services performed and maintain patient privacy.

Jim Cottos will be holding one-hour training sessions for all Orange Regional employees in the near future. I hope that these informative sessions will help you fully understand compliance issues, plus give you an open forum to ask questions and become more familiar with the subject.

We should take pride in our work and promote an honest and professional environment. Whether you are a clinician or in a support department, everyone is responsible for ensuring their own ethical, compliant behavior.

What does patient-centered care really mean?

Often times, in healthcare, the system is too organized around the needs of the institution, and we lose sight of what is important – providing competent, coordinated and compassionate care. For some, their visit to Orange Regional Medical Center may be the first time they’ve set foot in a hospital as a patient. While they are with us, we have the responsibility of “caring for patients as if they were family”. That’s what we mean by patient-centered care. If you are not certain what that phrase means, just ask yourself, “how would I want another healthcare provider to treat my grandmother, father, spouse or child?” The answer will often be the patient-centered thing to do.

Whether you work in a clinical area or a support department, you should always be thinking of what you can do today to make our patients’ visit the best it can be.
If you come in contact with several patients throughout the day, remember it’s probably their first contact with you or your area of responsibility. First impressions last a lifetime.

We want our patients to feel acknowledged, whether having an outpatient test or as an inpatient with a diagnosed illness. We should anticipate our patients’ needs or questions and show them compassion. Patients should always be informed about their care and when they can expect new information regarding their health.

We want our patients to return home safe and with their needs met during their most vulnerable time. It is our responsibility as healthcare professionals to provide the highest quality healthcare as we strive for excellence and redefine the region’s healthcare for generations to come. Let’s all work together to make this happen.