| The implementation of NEW “Smart Pumps” at Meeker Memorial Hospital (MMH) adds medication management technology and continues to advance patient safety. |
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Caption: Nursing staff learn the operations of the New Smart Pump technology at Meeker Memorial Hospital. Smart Pumps went into operation at the hospital in December, 2011 for patient care. Expanded Smart Pump technology to other patient care areas are scheduled in 2012.
As a collaborative effort between Nursing and Pharmacy new technology was recently added implementing Smart Pumps for intravenous infusion (IV) for patients at MMH.
The new SIGMA Spectrum Infusion System (Smart Pump) is smart technology with software to help prevent medication errors. The SIGMA Spectrum Infusion System provides multiple error prevention systems to provide standard IV administration control. MMH purchased 31 pumps.
“Smart pumps are equipped with a drug library that enables Nursing staff to choose the medication that has been ordered by the physician; then, the Smart Pump will apply the safety parameters for administration that Pharmacy has determined,” says Angie Dietel, Inpatient ED/Nurse Manager. In December, MMH nursing staff was trained extensively on the use of the new Smart Pump technology before implementation. Dietel sees this as a positive improvement for patient safety efforts at MMH.
“The drug library contained in each pump is developed specifically for MMH application by pharmacy “ says Arne Tilleson, MMH Pharmacy Director. “The library has multiple Care Areas such as Critical Care, Med/Surg, and OB with each care area containing intravenous drugs authorized to be given within that Care Area according to set safety parameters and policy”. “Pharmacy will be continually adding to the drug library and expanding into areas such as pediatrics, oncology, and areas yet to be determined” Tilleson added.
This concept of medication management is designed to ensure proper dosage, drug concentration, rate of administration, and safety alerts to provide for safe IV drug administration. “One new advantage using the Smart Pumps allows us to pre-plan for patients who will be admitted by a physician for special medication regimens, and individualize preset doses depending on the patient’s condition. ‘This allows for a more customized patient experience and reduces the potential for errors,’” said Tilleson.
The implementation of the Smart Pumps is just one of the steps MMH has taken over the past three years to improve medication management practices and reach patient safety goals. Tilleson helps lead and partner with staff to implement many changes to improve the system and sees it as being a continuous evolvement to better serve the patient.
Tilleson noted that Nursing and Pharmacy have collaborated in a many of ways to improve patient safety. Beginning approximately 3 years ago the use of automated dispensing cabinets (Omnicell), was expanded into more of the patient care areas for timely and safer access to patient medications. The Omnicell cabinets also provided controls to monitor medication selection, administration, and inventory. At the present time 10 Omnicell cabinets are located within the facility and there are plans for one in CSBH and in the Meeker Memorial Clinic in Dassel.
To further patient safety the Online Medication Administration Record (OMAR) was implemented to provide documentation of medication administration readily accessible to physicians, pharmacists, and nurses without tracking down a patient chart. Subsequent to the OMAR , Barcode Scanning was implemented to ensure proper safety controls were in place to ensure accurate medication administration. And now, by implementing the Smart Pump technology the IV infusions are managed using the smart technology designed for patient safety.
What’s next? With MMH now working hard on implementation of the electronic health record, Tilleson sees MMH continue to evolve and integrate systems to make it more efficient, safe and a better overall experience for the patient. He also sees the potential for more collaboration of clinics or other health care providers caring for the patient. Creating a better system for the electronic transfer of information will allow MMH to better share and transfer information to manage medications between care providers, like nursing homes, the pharmacy in the community or clinics. It will also help with tools to better communicate and educate the patient at discharge or in transfer of care into the community. “In the end, it is a better system for the patient. MMH is actively involved in safety projects and always looking at ways we can improve the patient experience,” Tilleson says.
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| Litchfield Lite Challenge started on Jan. 5th www.litchfieldlite.com |
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| To register for programs offered to the community during the 100 Day Challenge call (320) 693-2354. Lunch-N-Learns are open to the public for a small registration fee. |
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| Project RED, RARE Campaigns are starting at Meeker Memorial |
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Meeker Memorial Hospital is participating in two initiatives designed to improve the health and transitional care of patients. The Project RED (Re-Engineered Discharge) intervention is a patient-centered, standardized approach to discharge planning. Initially developed through research conducted by Dr. Brian Jack of the Boston University Medical Center and funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), Project RED improves patient preparedness for self-care and reduces preventable readmissions. It is designed to reduce the fragmented care delivery during transitions from one level of care to another, thereby improving quality, reducing readmissions and other related costs, and improving patient health and satisfaction.
Meeker Memorial Hospital is also pleased to announce that it is participating in the RARE (Reducing Avoidable Readmissions Effectively) Campaign. This broadly supported, statewide campaign brings hospitals and other providers who coordinate patient care after hospitalization together with the goal of preventing 4,000 avoidable hospital readmissions in Minnesota by Dec. 31, 2012. |
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| Focus on Healthy Living Programs for February and March |
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| Meeker Memorial received two more Patient Safety Excellence Awards |
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In 2011, Meeker Memorial Hospital was one of 19 hospitals winning two awards for patient safety efforts. These recent accomplishments for safety teams mark the completion of a full set of awards now displayed in the first level hallway near surgery. SAFE from FALLS and SAFE ACCOUNT are the newest awards.
A Patient Safety Excellence Award honors superior performance in preventing adverse health events meeting the requirements set by the Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA). These awards are given to hospitals that are actively participating in one or more of MHA's five safety campaigns - SAFE from FALLS, SAFE SKIN, SAFE COUNT, SAFE SITE and SAFE ACCOUNT - and achieve 90 percent or higher of campaign roadmap steps.
Each quarter, participating hospitals measure their progress in implementing the roadmaps. Hospitals qualify if they reach the 90 percent benchmark during that timeframe. "Hospitals that receive these awards are to be commended - the bar is set very high," said MHA Patient Safety Vice President Tania Daniels. "Hospitals that qualify have achieved measurable and meaningful progress toward implementing best practices to drive down adverse health events."
MMH actively participates in the awards program to help focus efforts of patient safety and quality measures to improve patient outcomes. Successful implementation of our safety teams initiatives have resulted in better processes for staff and safer outcomes for our patients. |
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| Paul Coleman, P.A.-C will see patients at Meeker Memorial in the Specialty Clinics starting Aug. 5 |
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Paul Coleman, P.A.-C
Meeker Memorial Hospital (MMH) is pleased to announce that Paul Coleman, P.A.-C will be offering additional clinic coverage for orthopedic patients at MMH. Coleman is a graduate from the Wichita State University Physician’s Assistant Program. Coleman will work closely with Dr. Gordon Walker, Orthopedic Surgeon, to offer additional orthopedic clinic coverage for follow-up and treatment every Fri. in the MMH Specialty Clinics.
Dr. Gordon Walker will perform surgical procedures at MMH or see patients for consultation and treatment in the MMH Specialty Clinics every Thurs. Appointments for both Walker and Coleman can be made through the MMH Specialty Clinics at: (320) 693-4590 |
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| Meeker Memorial Hospital Wellness Team completed a second worksite wellness audit and found an overall improvement in scores. |
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July, 2011 - As a part of the Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) grant, the Meeker Memorial Hospital (MMH) Wellness Team has just completed the second worksite wellness audit and found an overall improvement in scores over last year in all four areas: worksite health promotion, tobacco cessation, physical activity opportunities and nutrition. The first wellness audit was done in June, 2010 and the second wellness audit was done in June, 2011. MMH improved its scores achieving higher percentages in all categories on the audit.
Worksite wellness audit scores 2010 to 2011 results of total points possible
Worksite Health Promotion 51%..to.....71%
Tobacco 56%...to....60%
Physical Activity 6%...to....63%
Nutrition 37%.. to.....97%
Total 38%...to....75%
The biggest improvement was in nutrition, with a 60% increase in the audit score! This was as a result of nutrition changes involving the identification of healthier vending options in the facility, healthier menu offerings in the Prairie Winds Café such as A’viands, Fit Choice 4 Life entrees, and the garden to table project which is bringing in fresh produce from the hospital's garden. Also, a new A’viands catering menu will be implemented soon which includes many healthy meal and snack items available for meetings, conferences, or community programs hosted at MMH. “Results for the audit demonstrate the year-long efforts, administrative support and wellness team implementation of many successful environmental changes, program offerings and policy efforts,” says Lori Rice, MMH Coordinator of Education & Marketing.
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| Meeker Memorial uses a simulation learning environment to train staff for emergencies. |
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5/11/11 Litchfield, MN -- Meeker Memorial uses a simulation learning environment to train staff for emergencies.
Simulation is one of the newest techniques available to help health care professionals be prepared for medical emergencies with children.
The training is conducted by Twin Cities-based Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota in its Kohl’s Mobile Simulation Center, the first of its kind in the nation to focus solely on preparing physicians and nurses for life-threatening conditions impacting children.
During simulation, multidisciplinary teams come together to practice critical events that are made highly realistic by simulation specialists using computerized mannequins and other techniques. For example, teams may practice scenarios in which a child is brought to an emergency room experiencing severe breathing difficulties, or when a newborn needs resuscitation. "To be able to "practice" emergency measures on a pediatric simulation mannequin can't be beat, you really get a feel for what's working in your process and what needs to improve, said Angie Dietel, Inpatient/ED Nurse Manager. “All the staff and physicians benefitted from this endeavor!”
A debriefing follows the event, during which participants identify what went well and where improvements in team performance can be made, offering insight into how the learning can be applied in the clinical environment. A strong emphasis is placed on how best to work together as a team.
“We’re so happy to work shoulder-to-shoulder with our colleagues and bring this leading-edge training to hospitals throughout the region. Simulation training helps provide them with the tools to respond effectively to a pediatric emergency,” said Karen Mathias, APRN, Director of Children’s simulation program. “It’s very much a dress rehearsal for situations that may not occur often, but eventually arise in any health care setting.”
Mathias said that simulation training in health care grew out of the approach taken by the aviation industry, which routinely uses simulation to help ensure that pilots and others can practice scenarios that can arise. Simulation training is often noted as one of the main reasons for the overall safety of the U.S. aviation industry.
“It makes a lot of sense to take the lessons learned in aviation through simulation training and apply them to medical care,” she said.
Meeker Memorial finds value in simulation training, creating a realistic environment for staff to train for emergency situations.
Simulation training is not a new strategy for Meeker Memorial to train staff in both child and adult scenarios. Since the new expansion opened in 2009, Meeker Memorial has used simulation training scenarios to get staff familiar with the new facility design to optimize the training and practical experience. “Through simulation training staff have identified needs to rearrange equipment in rooms, work on developing delineation of staff roles and improve efficiency of workflow. The problem-solving developed through simulation has improved our teamwork and helped us gain confidence to deal with real-life scenarios,” said Dietel.
Last fall Meeker Memorial was awarded a certificate of exemplary performance for their advanced cardiac emersion training exercises. 32 staff members from Meeker Memorial participated in the exercises. The multi-disciplinary teams found this dynamic training to be beneficial to practice real-life scenarios. In these exercises the participants must assess, coordinate and implement a nearly perfect response to a cardiac arrest event. Staff also participated in labor and delivery simulation training.
The Code Blue Team Leadership (CBTL) program was created at Ridgewater College with the assistance of Healthcare providers from throughout the upper Midwest. The CBTL exercises are realistic patient scenarios staged in patient care areas of the participating facilities. Providers use their own equipment, systems and procedures to treat state-of-the-art robotic patients featured in the Ridgewater College Simulation programs.
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