Guard911 app on deck for hospital, school

    Alerts for extreme workplace violence are in the works for Melissa Memorial Hospital and Holyoke School District Re-1J through Guard911 app technology.
    MMH CEO Trampas Hutches reported on the proposed purchase of this app at the June 26 meeting of the East Phillips County Hospital District board.
    The Aug. 11 MMH Foundation’s EMS golf tourney funds will go toward the purchase of this safety app for the hospital and school district.
    Hutches reported that the Guard911 app technology is simple and powerful. Approved staff download the app to their mobile phones. In the event of extreme workplace violence featuring an armed intruder or active shooting, approved staff members press the panic button provided in the app.
    An alert is immediately sent to the mobile phones of all participating federal, state and local law enforcement officers, on and off duty, in close proximity to the property.
    The app simultaneously speed dials 911 and connects the staff member to emergency services. All other staff on the property with the app installed are also immediately alerted of the emergency, and a map of the location of the initial alert is displayed on their mobile phones.
    This map provides situational awareness to the staff, allowing them to react accordingly.
    
EMS receives grant for equipment
    In his CEO report, Hutches reported that notification was just received that Holyoke EMS was awarded a $55,000 Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment EMTS grant. The moneys will be used for equipment, including new power-lift beds.
    Citing the work of the Eastern Plains Healthcare Consortium, Hutches said they’re working together on staff sharing, focusing first on the nursing staff. Additionally, they’re working on a top-25 supplies list to see if it makes sense to work together on shared ordering.
    An update on AirLife activity indicated that the helicopter has been very busy, with 14 flights already in June (not all for MMH patients). Safety components are in place, and the helicopter is parked on site east of MMH. If inclement weather is suspected, parking at the airport is an option, said Hutches.
    Significant upgrades have been made to the hospital’s website. Hutches said that board agendas and minutes for the last two years are posted, adding that MMH is the only hospital in the area that’s in compliance with the Sunshine Law, with regard to posting these documents.
    Referencing the utilization report, he noted that the mid-year check-in with market share indicates a very good year.
    CFO Wes White reported that the hospital district is over budget on net income, year-to-date. The unaudited year-to-date income statement for May showed a net income of $230,668, compared to budgeted net income of $178,010.
    
Staff relations reviewed
    As part of the discussion on the treatment of staff policy, Hutches described the staff rounding that he’s initiated as part of culture improvement. He meets with each staff member one-on-one at least twice a year.
    During those sessions, he asks structured questions about improving work conditions, the employee’s work/life balance, patient safety/satisfaction concerns, etc. The rounding helps him get to know everyone and to look for hot-spot problems that he may not otherwise know about.
    Hutches noted there have been no employee grievances filed in the past two and a half years that he’s been here. Employee satisfaction surveys last year showed 81 percent satisfaction, with 83 percent participation.
    Hutches noted that the employee satisfaction survey asks if they feel they’ve been retaliated against. In 2015, there were 18 “yes” answers. In 2016 and 2017, there were only two.
    This year, a medical staff satisfaction survey is being completed. Ten of the 12 providers have taken it so far, with what looks to be a high rate of medical staff satisfaction. Those results will be reviewed at the next board meeting in August.
    Staff turnover rates showed 39 percent in 2015, 21 percent in 2016 and 18 percent in 2017. Hutches noted that the national average is 18.2 percent, and anything less than 16 percent is considered very good. Currently, for 2018, the hospital is at 6.34 percent. To annualize this, it would be 12.7 percent, which is a phenomenal turnover rate.
    
Jarrett voices complaints
    Sue Jarrett from Yuma County addressed four complaints at last week’s board meeting. She cited the locked front door the night of the meeting, concern for the hospital’s website address ending in .org, confusion with Banner Health email addresses and what she called improper notice of the recent special meeting.
    It was noted that the front doors lock automatically at 5:30 p.m. every night, and signs on the front direct the public to the ER entrance on the east side of the building.
    Hutches explained after the meeting that as a courtesy, they try to override the doors if they have events. However, the public is always welcome via the ER entrance 24/7 per health care law.
    Jarrett questioned MMH’s website of melissamemorial.org, saying that the hospital is a special district, not a nonprofit.
    After conferring the next day with the hospital’s legal counsel, who is also the special district association counsel, Hutches said the official statement is there are no rules, regulations or laws stating that special districts have to use any specific type of suffix on email or websites.
    Jarrett cited the confusion that arises due to MMH employees having email addresses @bannerhealth, but the hospital is not affiliated with Banner Health.
    Hutches explained at the meeting that Banner Health manages the MMH IT system. MMH contracts with Banner Health for IT services, but they’re not owned or part of the Banner system.
    Citing that the notice for the June 5 special meeting was not proper, Jarrett said more specific detail was needed for the reason for the executive session. The meeting notice cited the purpose was to determine positions relative to matters that may be subject to negotiations; developing strategy for negotiations; and instructing negotiators.
    
HIM department highlighted
    Health information management supervisor Julie Kinner reported on her department at MMH at last week’s board meeting.
    With HIM, she said they’re the guardian of the patient story. She added that they look for ways to maximize the reimbursement and minimize the risk for staff providers.
    Two brand-new coders both passed credentials last year, noted Kinner.
    The Department of Labor and the Health Information Management Association are partnering to provide quality online training for apprentices. The program lasts a year, and Heather Meakins will be starting that program next month at MMH. Kinner said they’re looking to get more local apprentices, as well.
    With the hospital’s transition to Athena last September, a brand-new naming theme for documents was taken on, and HIM is working to standardize labels throughout the hospital.
    A large portion of work shifted from the business office to HIM with the Athena transition. Kinner said that Heidi Helms, interim business office manager, has been good about teaching the HIM crew to add billing codes.
    Kinner described another program involving seven learning modules to walk someone in an administrative position through all aspects of patient access. Next year they’ll focus on the middle of the revenue cycle and then the end of the cycle.
    She cited goals of updating policies and procedures, developing HIPAA training and much more. At some point, they’ll potentially share with other hospitals who have Athena.
    “We’re on the cutting edge here. Some day people are going to look up to us. I’m happy to be part of that,” added Kinner.
    
Other business
    In other business June 26, the hospital board:
    — Noted that the lease agreement for the ground lease for the Childcare Initiative is back from legal counsel.
    —Asked for some data for next month’s board meeting on what other hospitals have in place for criteria in programs similar to MMH’s Grow Your Own plan, with regard to staff.
    — Heard a quality committee report from Jennifer Cano, who noted May was a slower month in ER with 87 visits, there were 23 admissions and three transfers from the hospital floor, and 700 patients were seen in the clinic.
    — Noted that the hospital received approval from Housing and Urban Development for First Pioneer National Bank to finance the new cardiac monitoring system. The board approved the municipal lease agreement of $188,188.60, for five years, at 5.75 percent interest.
    — Accepted two new appointments in family medicine, including Derek Doorn, FNP, and Erin Hekmatpour, M.D. The board also accepted 11 reappointments, Christopher Fanale, M.D., teleneurology; Courtney Carter, M.D., radiology; Emily Lampe, M.D., teleneurology; Harold Chapel, M.D., cardiology; Hillary Wisdom, Au.D., audiology; James Hubbard, M.D., radiology; James Meyer, M.D., sleep study interpretation; Mark Howshar, M.D., radiology; Maysun Ali, D.O, teleneurology; Ray Bogitch, M.D., teleneurology; and Russell Bartt, M.D., teleneurology.