Volume 11, Issue 1 January 2, 2004
In This Corner by Jon D. Smiley, C.E.O.
We are celebrating the news this week from the Commission On Cancer regarding our October survey.
Our Hospital has been awarded the highest overall rating
of "1" for a full three-year approval without any deficiencies. A copy of the report, certificate of approval and marketing materials
arrived on my desk just before New Year's. We will be distributing more
information internally and through the news media next week.
Many individuals worked hard to attain this rating. I would like to extend my personal thanks to everyone involved in the cancer committee. Special recognition to Claudia Arlington and Sheila Robinson for countless hours of work. I also want to acknowledge Dr. Steven Elerding and other members of the surgery committee who are leaders in many of our quality of care initiatives.
This is very good news to start 2004. While it speaks specifically to the Cancer program at the hospital, I think it also bears witness to our commitment to continuous quality improvement and to improved patient satisfaction.
Congressman "Doc" Hastings will be visiting us briefly Monday afternoon. I hope you will join with me in thanking him for his support of the Medicare Prescription Drug Bill. This bill, as you know, helped the hospital and our ability to serve the Lower Valley, because it will allow us to be a 25 bed critical access hospital. The bill also increased the Medicare disproportionate share cap to 12%. This will bring Medicare payments to hospitals like Sunnyside more in line with urban hospital payments.
We thank Congressman Hastings, as well as our two Senators for their support
of the bill.
Holiday Decorating Winners Announced
The winner of this years department decorating contest was the Lab with 13 votes. Imaging was second with 12 votes and Administration had 9 votes. Thanks to everyone that helped decorated their departments. The dessert potluck was a great success. Thanks to everyone and Happy New Year!
Ode to the Hospital Staff
In Sunnyside there is a crew
Working hard taking care of you.
So take your meds,
Go early to bed,
And pray that no one gets the flu!
A shy author wishes to remain anonymous but offered the above to say thank you to all the hospital staff.
About Beef at the Hospital
compiled from various sources
The news flurry about mad cow disease has prompted worldwide concern about the nation's meat supply. Whether that concern is justified, or overdone due to media hyperbole is for each individual to decide.
Sunnyside Community Hospital will continue to serve beef dishes as part of a healthy menu according to Registered Dietician Jean Clary.
"The health department has advised us that if you do not eat beef brains, spine or ileum." said Infection Control Nurse Sheila Robinson. Robinson said milk consumption is also deemed safe by the Health Department. She explained that a good deal of the reasons behind the recall of meat is to give the public a sense of greater safety rather than out of actual need to prevent the meat from being consumed.
For more information see www.usda.gov.
Nursing Notes
Educational Opportunities at SCH in the weeks ahead include the following: (Education nursing notes submitted by Gabriella Barker .)
January 8- 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. "Update - Type-2 Diabetes Management", Dr. Bruce Wilson, includes lunch sponsored by Aventis Pharmaceutical. RSVP by January 6.