To Your
S P R I N G 2 014
A h e a l t h a n d w e l l n e s s re s o u r c e p ro v i d e d b y J e f f e r s o n H e a l t h c a re
Enhancing
Echocardiography
Availability
EMPLOYEE
ENGAGEMENT:
Stronger Teams,
Better Patient Care
Partnering
to Improve
Community
Health
Dear Neighbors,
Welcome to the summer edition
of To Your Health. In this issue, we
introduce the team behind our efforts
to improve employee engagement
and satisfaction. All healthcare
organizations are committed to patient
satisfaction. We believe the surest way
to produce satisfied patients is to have satisfied employees,
and both are critically important to us. At Jefferson
Healthcare, every leader is tasked with developing an annual
employee engagement plan. This plan is aimed at improving
the work environment for all Jefferson Healthcare employees.
Working to develop engaged employees is not only a part of
our strategic plan, it is an important part of our culture. And
I think it is making a difference.
We also introduce you to our newly formed Patient Family
Advisory Council. The council is a group of local citizens
charged with helping us improve the patient care experience
by maintaining a laser-like focus on meeting and exceeding
patient expectations. This council’s perspective on our
services, quality measures, and communication will be
invaluable to staff. I anticipate the council assuming a key
role at Jefferson Healthcare and becoming more involved in
important patient care decisions.
Jefferson Healthcare has increased its capacity to care for
cardiac patients with the purchase of a new, state-of-theart echocardiography system. The echo test and stress echo
test are very common procedures. Our ability to conduct
same-day tests is helpful to both patients and our healthcare
providers. We are pleased to have this service more readily
available so it can better serve our primary care providers,
our hospitalists, and our Emergency Department.
Lastly, you will learn about the next step in a growing
partnership between Jefferson County Public Health and
Jefferson Healthcare. We have spent the last several months
reviewing data and compiling a Community Health Needs
Assessment for Jefferson County. The assessment encompasses
everything from quality of life to adversity facing our children.
The collection of information will help us develop the blueprint
for creating sustainable health and wellness programs for our
community. Improving the health and wellness of our county
will require creative solutions, innovative partnerships, and
a commitment to collaboration. We can’t wait to complete the
needs assessment and begin the work.
Thank you for your continued support and interest in
Jefferson Healthcare. I remain interested in hearing from you
about how we are doing. Please feel free to contact me to share
your feedback. I hope you and your family enjoy this amazing
time of year when spring changes over to summer. It is a
beautiful time to enjoy the outdoors. Stay active and healthy.
Sincerely,
Mike Glenn
Chief Executive Officer
Jefferson Healthcare
We’re Listening
Jefferson Healthcare’s new PatientFamily Advisory Council (PFAC) was
created to give patients and their families
an opportunity to take an active role in
improving the patient care experience.
In addition to the patients and families,
the council includes hospital staff who
will work collaboratively to identify and
Joyce Cardinal, RN,
address areas in need of improvement.
MBA, Chief Nursing
“Discharge instructions are a good
Executive
example,” says Joyce Cardinal, RN,
MBA, Chief Nursing Executive at Jefferson Healthcare. “We
may believe the instructions are perfectly clear, but a patient
may not see them that way. Direct feedback is always very
beneficial.”
The PFAC meets regularly to identify patient and family
concerns and needs, discuss processes currently in use at
the hospital, brainstorm ideas for improvements, and work
together to develop solutions.
“The PFAC is a good opportunity for us to hear directly
from patients and families about the services and care we’re
providing,” Cardinal says. “I think having conversations with
patients and families about how we’re doing will go a long way
to improve communication, patient safety, and our processes.
We also get patient satisfaction survey results, but those don’t
say exactly what people were thinking when they answered the
questions. The PFAC gives us an opportunity to have a dialogue
with our patients and families. We’re very excited about it!”
ON THE COVER:
Standing, left to right: Jeinell Harper, RN, OCN, Director of Cancer Care, and
Debbie Fountain, Clinic Director, Jefferson Healthcare Primary Care Clinic.
Seated: Heather Bailey, Chief Human Resources Officer.
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“Echocardiography is
the best noninvasive
exam we have for the
heart. If I had to bring
only one diagnostic
cardiac test to a desert island, it
would be echocardiography.”
THE LUB-DUB LOOK
“Lub-dub” is the sound of a beating heart. Echocardiography
turns heart sounds into a picture of the heart in motion to help
cardiologists detect what’s messing up the beat.
What do an 8-year-old elementary school student with heart murmurs, a 44-year-old
mother who recently had a heart attack, and a 71-year-old retiree with congestive
heart failure (CHF) have in common? All are candidates for echocardiography, or
echo, an ultrasound test that shows the heart beating in real time.
“Echo is an extraordinary tool for cardiologists,” says David Tinker, MD,
Cardiologist at Jefferson Healthcare. “The exam can reveal all sorts of information
about how well the heart is functioning, including whether the muscle has any
structural abnormalities, if it has any narrowed or leaking valves, if it’s enlarged or
thickened, and if it’s pumping at unusual pressure.”
Cardiologists can use echo to identify congenital heart defects, assess the heart’s
pumping ability after a heart attack, pinpoint the cause of CHF, and—when
performed before and after exercise as part of a stress test—diagnose constriction of
the arteries due to plaque buildup.
A NO-HASSLE EXAM
No preparation is required for an echo. During the test,
the patient lies on his or her side while a sonographer
moves an ultrasound probe around the chest. Gel
applied to the skin aids clear transmission of sound
waves from the machine into the chest. The machine
receives echoes bouncing off the heart to form images
of the organ on a monitor.
“The only thing the patient has to do during the
exam is breathe as directed by the sonographer,” Dr.
Tinker says. “The test usually takes about an hour.”
After interpreting the images, a cardiologist
discusses the results with the patient, and the process
of treating any identified heart problems begins.
—David Tinker, MD, Cardiologist at
Jefferson Healthcare
Bringing
Echocardiography
Home
Jefferson Healthcare previously
offered echocardiography (echo)
through another local hospital on
certain days of the week. Now the
hospital has its own onsite echo
machine with enhanced availability.
Near the end of 2013, a grant from a
generous community member funded
the purchase of a state-of-the-art
echo machine, which began serving
patients in February 2014.
“The equipment produces fantastic
images and is ergonomically
better than its predecessor for the
technicians who use it because it
swivels,” says Paula Dowdle, MHA,
Chief Operating Officer at Jefferson
Healthcare. “It is also light and
portable, allowing us to take it to
patients, whether they’re in the
hospital or an outpatient clinic.
We are pleased to provide this
sophisticated level of diagnostic
testing to our community.”
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Jefferson Healthcare Human Resources Team — From left to right, standing: Lyn Moan, Technologist, Carol Nielsen, HR Generalist.
Seated, left to right: Virginia Moon, Administrative Assistant, Bev Young, Benefits and Comp Rep and Heather Bailey, Chief Human Resources Officer.
The Rewards of Employee
The stronger a healthcare
team is, the more patients reap
the benefits of efficient and
personalized care.
“We are
constantly
focused on
fostering an
atmosphere of
continued improvement, with
our patients’ needs at the heart
of it. When employees see
themselves as problem solvers,
they are able to stop and look
at how to make care safer and
more convenient for patients.”
—Debbie Fountain, Clinic Director at
Jefferson Healthcare
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Every year, Jefferson Healthcare surveys employee engagement—assessing
employees’ degree of personal ownership and commitment to their workplace.
Increasing scores mean more than just happy employees.
“Jefferson Healthcare takes great pride in providing our patients the absolute best
patient care experience possible, and our employees are integral to that experience,”
says Heather Bailey, PHR, Chief Human Resources Officer at Jefferson Healthcare.
“We believe that happy employees translate into happy patients and great outcomes,
so we work to foster a positive employee culture built on respect, communication,
accountability, teamwork, and collaboration.”
Year after year, our employee engagement scores and participation rates have
increased as a result of a significant shift in culture driven by a program called
Jefferson University.
“This course focuses on key components of service excellence and accountability
at every level,” Bailey says. “Recently, we added a communication portion called
‘Crucial Conversations,’ which helps people hold difficult conversations at all levels
and promotes a culture of safety. Having these programs embedded in our culture
provides a compass that guides our everyday interactions.”
Two areas of Jefferson Healthcare that have experienced great success include
clinics and cancer care. In both departments, staff is divided into teams. All
employees know that if they feel something needs improvement, they can talk with
other team members to develop a solution. No problem is too great or small.
REDUCING WAIT TIMES
“Six months ago, when we were implementing the Epic electronic medical record
system in our office, we discovered that patient wait times were increasing due to the
time needed to register patients in the system,” says Debbie Fountain, Clinic Director
at Jefferson Healthcare. “We reworked our approach so patients preregister before
showing up for their appointment. Now, 95 percent of our patients are preregistered,
which has decreased our registration times from 15 minutes to five minutes.”
Engagement Drives Action
In 2013, Jefferson Healthcare’s employee engagement
scores increased by 24 percent compared to 2012. Employee
participation in the annual employee engagement survey also
rose, from 77 percent in 2012 to 85 percent in 2013.
“Every year after receiving the results of our survey, each
department team develops measurable action plans to
address areas where team members feel we could be doing
better,” says Heather Bailey, PHR, Chief Human Resources
Officer at Jefferson Healthcare. “There is ownership from
every member of the Jefferson Healthcare team to drive
patient safety and a positive employee culture.”
Engagement
“Wait times remain one of our main concerns in clinics, so if physicians are
running behind, we let patients know about the wait and offer to let them
reschedule if it’s more convenient,” Fountain says. “Patients are happier because
they’re in the know and have options. When the staff goes that extra mile, it really
does make a difference to the patients.”
TAILORING PATIENT CARE
The oncology staff has also looked for big and small ways to ensure patient safety
and promote a healing environment that can have a huge impact on patients. The
nurses who work in Jefferson Healthcare’s Oncology Clinic have earned special
competencies and certifications through the Oncology Nursing Society to ensure
our patients receive the same high-quality care they would receive at any top cancer
care center.
“The program has grown during the past eight years, and our tight-knit team has
found ways to optimize the space we’re currently in through the team approach
we’ve adopted in the last three years,” Harper says. “We play soft music in the
rooms, which causes staff and visitors to be more mindful and quiet. Hummingbird
feeders are placed outside the windows, bringing nature closer and offering
patients a nice distraction during treatment. Since patients are seen daily for
chemotherapy treatments, patients and staff become like family, with many
patients visiting long after their treatment is over.”
The oncology staff listens to patients and tailors care to their needs, regardless
of whether they’re receiving care for an acute or chronic condition. Listening and
communicating are just as important in the clinic setting so patients know what to
expect during their visit.
“The level of
commitment
from our
employees
has developed
because they are engaged
on every level, from
their patients to their
department, spreading
upward to the whole
organization.”
—Jeinell Harper, RN, OCN, Director
of Cancer Care
Everyone who works at Jefferson Healthcare wants to make sure you
and your family get excellent medical care that’s customized for you. Visit
www.jeffersonhealthcare.org to explore our full range of services or find a specialist.
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Building a Stronger
Community
Together
The first step to creating a healthy community is identifying the needs of the people who call it home.
That’s why The Health of Jefferson County 2014 Community Health Assessment is the beginning of
something big.
Funding the Future
Due to funding constraints, there was
no community health assessment
conducted in 2013. The Health of
Jefferson County 2014 Community
Health Assessment was made possible
by a $20,000 Regional Health Systems
of Care Improvement to Address
Identified Needs grant that was
awarded to Jefferson Healthcare by
the Washington State Department
of Health.
The grant allowed Jefferson County
Public Health to collect in-depth
data. It will also support continued
collaboration as Jefferson Healthcare
and Jefferson County Public Health
work together to create actionable
plans based on the current and future
needs of Jefferson County residents.
Mike Glenn, CEO
Jefferson Healthcare
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Jean Baldwin, MSN
Director, Jefferson
County Public Health
Working together, Jefferson Healthcare and Jefferson County Public Health have
compiled a massive database of public health information, including facts about
population growth, education, aging, and access to medical care. This collection is a
snapshot of where the community stands today, but the potential impact of the data
stretches far into the future.
“Having an accurate, up-to-date community health assessment allows us to make
informed decisions about the best ways to serve the public,” says Mike Glenn, CEO at
Jefferson Healthcare. “It’s the foundation we use to plan future expansions and decide
which services to expand or add, choices that will help Jefferson County residents live
longer, healthier lives for years to come.”
In the community, the assessment will help shape policy, infrastructure
development, and the work of public agencies.
“Recent changes in health care place a spotlight on the importance of a healthy
lifestyle,” says Jean Baldwin, MSN, Director of Jefferson County Public Health. “Now,
it’s our job as advocates to develop the programs and support systems that make
healthy living possible, such as trails with appropriately spaced benches for walkers of
all abilities and healthcare services tailored to our active, aging population.”
PARTNERS IN CARE
The community health assessment is just the latest in a long line of collaborations
between Jefferson Healthcare and Jefferson County Public Health. The two
organizations meet regularly to discuss public health, identify areas of need, and
create action plans. They jointly host school-based healthcare clinics every year, and
in the wake of healthcare reform, teamed up to enroll newly eligible patients in the
expanded Medicaid program, meeting and exceeding the local goal for enrollment.
“There is a unique, open relationship between Jefferson Healthcare and
Jefferson County Public Health,” Glenn says. “It’s the result of many years of active
collaboration. Working together with public health advocates such as Dr. Tom Locke,
one of the minds behind the community health assessment, helps us improve the lives
of Jefferson County residents.”
For more information about the public health services available at Jefferson
Healthcare, visit www.jeffersonhealthcare.org.
My Story
by James V. Loran
I had total knee joint replacement surgery on August 20, 2013,
at Jefferson Healthcare. Kevin Hines, PA-C, headed up the team
that provided for my care.
I am thrilled about the results and what this has done for
my life. I have been able to return to my favorite activity—
experiencing the natural beauty and wonder of our beautiful
Olympic Peninsula. I love the exhilaration of being up in
the mountains, walking along the surf of the ocean beach,
meandering through the lush rain forest, or experiencing the
beauty of a fern-shrouded waterfall—all within a day hike’s
reach for anyone who has the ability to walk.
This activity has been a love of mine since my youth, and
I was saddened to have lost the ability to enjoy it because of
my failed knee. But now, thanks to the excellent care and
rehabilitation I received at Jefferson Healthcare Orthopedics
and Rehab Departments, I have gained more than just the
ability to walk again. I have been given a new lease on life!
A Sensational Spring Sauce
Chimichurri is an herb-based sauce that adds a spark of
freshness to any dish. Preparation is simple, and only requires a
sturdy blender.
“The selection of herbs to use in your chimichurri resides
somewhere between personal preference and what you are
serving it with,” says Arran Stark, Director of Food Services for
Jefferson Healthcare. “In most cases, stick with tender herbs such
as parsley, cilantro, dill, mint, chives, and basil. Use herbs such as
thyme, rosemary, sage, or oregano sparingly, as an accent.”
Here I am at the top of Hurricane Hill on
January 20, 2014, five months after total joint
replacement surgery on my left knee. Just as my wife,
Cheryl and I made the summit, a party of physical
therapists arrived and shared in our celebration of the
grand display of my recovery.
with
Arran Stark
Chimichurri for Grilled
Chicken or Beef
INGREDIENTS
2 cups chopped parsley
2cups chopped cilantro
2tablespoons chopped garlic
¼cup chopped red onion
½cup fresh lemon juice
½cup red wine vinegar
1
/8teaspoon chili flakes, rehydrated
in red wine vinegar
1 ½cups olive oil
DIRECTIONS
Add all ingredients except olive oil to the
blender. Pulse on high a few times then
reduce speed to low, add olive oil, and
pulse to mix. The sauce should be thick
enough to stick to the back of a spoon.
In cooking terms, this is called “nappé”
(French for “sheet” or “layer”), and is
the ideal consistency for most sauces.
If needed, correct the consistency with
more olive oil. Season to taste with salt
and pepper. Serve with your favorite
grilled cut of chicken or beef.
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We understand that even the
SMALLEST
SURGERY
BIG DEAL
is a
to you.
It’s a big deal to us, too. So we’ve built a comprehensive surgical program
with a broad range of procedures to give you access to the care you need.
And to deliver the medical excellence you deserve, Jefferson Healthcare
Surgical Associates is staffed by a team of Board Certified surgeons who offer
advanced techniques and varied areas of expertise.
General Surgery
Procedures include:
From minimally invasive laparoscopy to complex open surgeries, we’re
committed to providing you with exceptional, compassionate care. In fact,
Consumer Reports ranked us among the top seven hospitals for surgery in
the State. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call us today.
• GallBladderProcedures
Dr. Jay Lawrence
Chief of Surgery
Dr. Mitra Jafari
General Surgeon
Dr. Donald George
General Surgeon
• CancerSurgery
• HerniaRepair
• BreastCare
• Colonoscopy
• SoftTissueDisorders
• Appendectomy
1010 Sheridan #201 | Port Townsend, WA 98368 | (360) 385-5444
www.jeffersonhealthcare.org