Stephanie Conners, CNO, Hahnemann University Hospital

PHILADELPHIA (February 7, 2012) – Hahnemann University Hospital will implement a hospital-wide, all-registered nurse (RN) care model in phases beginning February13 based upon the success of a nursing care model pilot in 2011. The implementation is expected to last for several months with active participation from the nurses.

Hahnemann leadership continually works with its nursing team to explore ways to improve quality of care and patient safety at the hospital. Last year, based on a wealth of existing data which supports that increasing the skill level of the care givers results in better quality and patient outcomes, Hahnemann decided to pilot a new patient care model.

In March 2011 Hahnemann began piloting the all RN patient care model on a 50-bed unit and with successful results, extended the pilot to an additional unit in August 2011.

Among the results, the pilots showed improved patient, employee and physician satisfaction, and a decrease in patient falls, hospital acquired infections and pressure ulcers.

One aspect of this new model is bed-side reporting, a patient-center meeting between nurses at the bedside during nurse shift change. This hand-off communication fosters the nurse-patient relationship, improves teamwork among nurses and encourages patients to participate in their care which improves their understanding and recovery.

“Nurses who participated in the pilots reported the new model gave them the opportunity to spend more time with patients, increased their awareness in changes with their patients’ conditions and allowed for fewer opportunities for errors and miscommunication,” says Stephanie Conners, chief nursing officer at Hahnemann University Hospital.

While this new nursing care model means hiring additional registered nurses, it also means eliminating the certified nursing assistant position over time.

“It is always difficult to make decisions like this. We will work with the union representing the nursing assistants to ensure these employees are transitioned fairly,” says Michael P. Halter, chief executive officer at Hahnemann University Hospital. “We know this change is in the best interest of our patients.”

Hahnemann University Hospital is a 496-bed academic medical center at Broad and Vine Streets in Philadelphia, Pa.  The hospital is a tertiary care institution that specializes in cardiac services, heart failure and transplantation, OB/GYN, orthopedics, medical, surgical and radiation oncology, bone marrow transplantation, renal dialysis and kidney/pancreas/liver transplantation. In 2009, Hahnemann earned Magnet® designation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program®. Hahnemann is recognized by the American Heart Association as a leader in coronary artery disease and heart failure treatments. U.S. News and World Reports named Hahnemann among the top 50 Best Hospitals in the nation for Cardiology and Heart Surgery in 2010 and 2011 and number 4 in the Philadelphia region, with two medical specialties ranking “high performing.” The hospital performed one of the city’s first kidney transplants in 1963 and one of the first bone marrow transplants in 1976. Hahnemann became Philadelphia’s first Level I Regional Resource Trauma Center for adults in 1986, and since then has been served by MidAtlantic MedEvac, an aeromedical transport program for critically ill patients.

Lara routinely receives recognition and comments from her patients. Some examples include:

“Lara cared for me for 2 days during my hospitalization and I found her to be very kind, professional, and knowledgeable. She assisted me with a difficult time in the hospital and resolved some issues with me in a timely manner. She continued to give me the same attention to my care the remainder of my stay.”

“Lara informed me of the outpatient care center that I would have never known about if she had not taken the time to tell me about it. She showed interest in me and my illnesses and goes above and beyond in everything she does for every patient”

Lara graduated from her bridge program for her BSN while working full time, single parenting, and caring for three high energy young men. It is nurses like Lara that continue to give LPMC excellence in nursing. She is passionate about her patients and providing outstanding care. She is truly an example of a LPMC DAISY nurse!

Lara is center, pictured with the DAISY Committee Members! Traci Bryant RN, Linda Saunders-Bennett RN, Brenda Griffin RN, Jackie Clifton RN, Lara Staggs RN, Linda Sakolevidis RN and Donna Boback RN.

From left to right in the picture: Nicholas Tejeda, Chief Operating Officer, Shareen Taylor RNC-OB, IBCLC, MBA, MSN, C-EFM, Director of Perinatal Services, Delane Arnold RN, Mary Jo Cascarelli RN, Assistant Director Perinatal Services, Paula Moore RN, MSN, Chief Nursing Officer

December 20, 2011(Templeton, Ca) – Nurses at Twin Cities Community Hospital are being honored with The DAISY Award For Extraordinary Nurses. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation’s program to recognize the super-human efforts nurses perform everyday.

The first award recipient is Delane Arnold RN, Perinatal Services who was nominated by her peers for being an extraordinary nurse. Delane first came to Twin Cities Community Hospital on a 9 month contract in 2005. In 2009 she and her husband Jay choose the north county and Twin Cities Community Hospital as their permanent home. The decision was an easy one due to her fond memories of the patients, staff and physicians in the OB department.

Delane received the DAISY Award because of her enthusiasm and energy towards meeting the challenges of nursing. Her passion for nursing is recognized by patients, peers and physicians. Because of this passion, and her commitment to the art of nursing, she was chosen as the first recipient of the Twin Cities Community Hospital DAISY award.

The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, CA, and was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of  Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.

Each quarter, a nurse will be selected by a committee of peers’ at Twin Cities Community Hospital to receive The DAISY Award. At a presentation given in front of the nurse’s colleagues, physicians, patients, and visitors, the honoree will receive a certificate commending her or him for being an “Extraordinary Nurse.” The certificate reads: “In deep appreciation of all you do, who you are, and the incredibly meaningful difference you make in the lives of so many people.” The honoree will also be given a beautiful and meaningful sculpture called A Healer’s Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Africa.

One day while Pat was in the hospital, he asked his family to bring him a Cinnabon® cinnamon roll plus enough for all the nurses in his unit. With the help of Cinnabon’s parent company, FOCUS Brands, The DAISY Foundation carries on this tradition by serving Cinnabons to all the nurses in the Award recipient’s unit in thanks for everything they do for their patients and families.

Said Bonnie Barnes, President and Co-Founder of The DAISY Foundation, “When Patrick was critically ill, our family experienced first-hand the remarkable skill and care nurses provide patients every day and night. Yet these unsung heroes are seldom recognized for the super-human work they do. The kind of work the nurses at Twin Cities Community Hospital are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of The DAISY Award.”

In 2002, a young lady by the name of Ashley Willis spent Christmas and her birthday in our Intensive Care Unit. Every year since 2002 she decorates our waiting room with a beautiful Christmas tree and leaves her written testimony to comfort the families and their loved ones that are here during Christmas. Next to the tree is a testimony written by Ashley herself and a picture of her Grandfather, the testimony reads:

Merry Christmas

Hi, my name is Ashley Willis. In 2002 I spent 2 weeks in the ICU during the Christmas Holiday and even celebrated my 16^th birthday here at Lake Pointe Hospital. My birthday is on Christmas Day. The year before, my Grandfather was in ICU for 3 weeks during the holiday season. I would like to share with you this Christmas tree to brighten up the time you spend in this ICU area. I hope it will bring your family Joy…Hope…And Peace…During this holiday Season!

With Love,

Ashley Willis

This gesture by one patient demonstrates how healthcare employees touch family’s lives during the holiday season and impact how that care is paid forward! Lake Pointe Medical Center thanks Ashley for her loving thoughts and thinking of others this and every holiday season since 2002!

Happy Holidays to you and yours from Lake Pointe Medical Center!

CEO Garry Gause with Jackie Dillard, ER Director

After thirty-nine years of dedication to nursing care at Brookwood Medical Center, Jackie Dillard has decided to retire. Jackie started at Brookwood in 1972 as the Charge Nurse for the 5^th floor, through her years at Brookwood Jackie has held many positions in different departments, but she will end her career as the Director of the Emergency Department. When asked some of her favorite memories at Brookwood Jackie said, “Opening the Emergency Department in 1979, and every renovation since then!” Other memories came to mind, “Coordinating physical exams for the Birmingham Bulls, assisting our sister hospital in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina, the April 2011 tornados, and being listed in the Tenet Caregiver Hall of Fame in 2005.” Jackie is excited to enter the next stage of her life, which will allow her to spend more time with her family and her church. Brookwood is losing a wonderful long term employee that has been instrumental in the hospitals growth. Good luck Jackie, we will miss you!

The findings from the Psychiatric Rapid Response Team study (PRRT) were submitted and accepted to present as a “poster discussion session” in the evidence-based section of the Southern Nursing Research Society (SNRS). A poster discussion session is a new venue that is a beyond the regular poster session and is a panel presentation of select posters. The PRRT abstract was selected among the submissions for this new venue of poster discussion.

The SNRS is a regional organization established in 1987 when 60 nurses met in Atlanta, Georgia to establish an organization to promote research in the Southern United States. Membership represents 14 states in the Society region: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. In 1991, the boundaries were expanded to include the Caribbean, Latin America and the Bahamas.

The mission of the Society is to:

1. Advance nursing research,
2. Promote dissemination and utilization of research findings,
3. Facilitate the career development of nurses and nursing students as researchers,
4. Enhance communication among members,
5. Promote the image of nursing as a scientific discipline.

This years’ 2012 Annual Conference theme is Nurse Scientists as Crucial Partners to Health Delivery. This year is the 26th Annual Conference. The keynote speaker, Marion Bromme, RN, PhD, FAAN, is Dean and Distinguished Professor at Indiana University School of Nursing. Dr. Broome has over the past 4 years consulted with a variety of Magnet designated hospitals and health systems related to evidence based practice programs, research implementation and research skill development programs for nurses. For conference and membership information, visit the SNRS’s website at www.snrs.org.

Pictured here: Amy Beard, Director of Women’s Services, Mayor McBrayer from the City of Homewood, Trevor Fettor, Tenet CEO, Garry Gause, BWMC President and CEO, OBGYN Chairman Dr. Ashley Tamucci and Board President Dr. Eli Brown.

Articles:

• An Innovative Approach to Patient Acuity
• Extraordinary Nurses Recognized Throughout Tenet Health
• Primary Stroke Center at Lakewood Regional Medical Center Receives Joint Commission Certification
• Implementing an Electronic Health Record and Computerized Physician Order Entry System in a Small Acute Care Hospital: A Staff Nurse Perspective
• Providing Timely Infection Data to Nurse Leaders Using an Automated Surveillance System Reduces Infection Rates
• North Fulton Hospital Presents September 2011 Daisy Award
• Brookwood Nurse Honored with Courage to Care Award
• Extraordinary Nurse Recognized at Lake Pointe Medical Center

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Here are some of the highlights from those who nominated her.

• She shows love for what she does and for the patients.
• She went above and beyond every time she had an opportunity to help.
• She would do whatever it takes to ensure the patient’s comfort.
• She was VERY attentive to my mother and helped her through her pain
• She was very helpful in getting her through the night.

Here peers and leaders had the following comments:

• She exemplifies strong leadership skills and is supportive to all those she serves
• She constantly displays a can-do attitude and is regarded as a skillful Registered Nurse
• Dependability is definitely one of her characteristics
• She is very encouraging and many have commented that she will “go out of her way” to encourage anyone in need of nurturing and support-both her fellow nurses, family members, and anyone within her influence.
• She displays the heart of a servant leader and is a person of high character, charm, and enthusiasm!

Tonya always wanted to be a nurse and was inspired by her Grandmother who was a volunteer at a nursing home and hospital. Tonya spent a lot of time with her grandmother and was fascinated by the nurses around her. At 15 years of age she begged them to give her a job, and she began volunteering in the kitchen where her Grandmother volunteered. She became a certified nursing assistance and worked part time during her Junior and Senior Year in Home Health. After she graduated from High School Tonya became an Emergency Medical Technician and worked on the ambulance service and in the ED.

Tonya also wanted to be a professional dancer and knew if she pursued that career she needed to do it while she was young. So she put nursing school off and became a Middle Eastern dancer and traveled for 15 years. You might say she was a world traveler.

She eventually attended nursing school and graduated in 2009. She has been employed by Lake Pointe Medical Center since 2009 where she started as a new graduate nurse. She quickly demonstrated leadership ability and is now full time charge nurse. She does an awesome job!

Laura Gaminde, RN, MBA, CNOR, is Administrative Director, Surgical Services at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center. She has written an article for a news organization that speaks to the role of the perioperative registered nurse as it includes advanced clinical and surgical training; a broad spectrum of clinical coordination and collaboration among the other medical professionals; as well as the distinctly patient-focused nature of that same role. The article was written in honor of National Perioperative Nurse Week, November 7-13.

Please read Laura’s article here.