Louisville, Ky. (October 13, 2016) — In 2012, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services launched the Partnership for Patients’ Hospital Engagement Network. Through that program many Kentucky birthing hospitals joined together to reduce the number of elective inductions and cesarean deliveries performed before 39 weeks of pregnancy. The Medical Center at Bowling Green was one of the participating hospitals.
While participating in the Hospital Engagement Network, The Medical Center at Bowling Green significantly reduced the number of early elective deliveries (inductions) and cesarean deliveries performed before 39 weeks of pregnancy. This will give more babies a healthy start in life, the March of Dimes says.
“We’re proud of our expert team of physicians and nurses who improved the delivery of care by putting in place policies to avoid unnecessary C-sections or inductions before 39 weeks of pregnancy, except when medically necessary,” said Connie D. Smith, Chief Executive Officer of The Medical Center at Bowling Green.
“In the last few weeks of pregnancy, the brain, liver and lungs are still developing. So even though your baby may look the right size to be born at 37 weeks, he or she is not quite ready. Electing to have an early delivery may even impact how your child performs in school,” said Jeffery Nemec, M.D., who specializes in obstetrics and gynecology at The Medical Center.
“Babies who survive an early birth often face the risk of lifelong health challenges, such as breathing problems, learning disabilities and others. Even babies born just a few weeks early have higher rates of hospitalization and illness than babies born at 40 weeks. I commend The Medical Center at Bowling Green for being a champion for babies and families. The goal for this project was an early elective delivery rate of 3 percent or less, and the obstetrical team at The Medical Center at Bowling Green was able to achieve this goal,” said Melanie Moch, the KHA Director of Data Collection and Training.
“Kentucky hospitals are always working to raise the bar to improve patient safety and quality improvement efforts. Every year, Kentucky’s 46 birthing hospitals welcome some 53,000 babies into the world and hospitals want these newest citizens to have the healthiest start possible” said Michael T. Rust, president of the Kentucky Hospital Association.
About the Kentucky Hospital Association
The Kentucky Hospital Association was established in 1929 and is a not-for-profit organization of which all Kentucky hospitals are members. The Association represents and facilitates collaborative efforts among Kentucky hospitals and is the source for strategic information about the constantly changing health care environment. KHA is a membership-driven organization that provides proactive leadership to create an environment in which Kentucky hospitals are successful in serving their communities. For more information, go to www.kyha.com
About KIPSQ
The Kentucky Institute for Patient Safety and Quality is a non-profit subsidiary of KHA focusing on the statewide collection and analysis of adverse patient event data from health care providers and the dissemination of recommendations for improvement in care delivery. Based in Louisville, the mission of the federally-certified patient safety organization (PSO) is to improve health care quality and patient safety and provide a learning environment for persons engaged in the delivery of health care services. For more information, visit www.kipsq.org
About the March of Dimes
The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.
In 2007, The Kentucky Chapter began a comprehensive pilot program entitled Healthy Babies are Worth the Wait® (HBWW) in partnership with the Kentucky Department for Public Health and Johnson & Johnson. HBWW, now a nationwide effort, addresses the growing problem of premature birth. Kentucky’s preterm birth rate was 11.4 percent in 2014, down from 15.1% in 2006, the year the national rate peaked. Kentucky again earned a “C” on the March of Dimes Premature Birth Report Card.
Find out how you can help raise funds to prevent premature birth and birth defects by walking in March for Babies at marchforbabies.org. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.org or nacersano.org.
The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit www.marchofdimes.com/39weeks
Thursday, October 13, 2016
Friday, August 26, 2016
Med Center Health Expands in Clinton County with Med Center MRI
Med Center Health has expanded its diagnostic imaging services in Clinton County with the addition of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The MRI service was acquired from Michael Cummings, M.D. who previously operated Twin Lakes MRI in Albany. Med Center MRI will be located in Twin Lakes MRI’s former location at 254 Burkesville Road.
“MRI is a much needed diagnostic imaging service for the local community, and we are pleased to provide this outpatient service in addition to the imaging services at The Medical Center at Albany,” said Laura Belcher, Administrator of The Medical Center at Albany and Vice President of Commonwealth Health Corporation (CHC). The Medical Center at Albany currently offers a range of diagnostic imaging services including 42-slice CT, digital mammography, and X-ray. “Investing in this MRI service ensures the local medical community has immediate access to the diagnostic imaging services they need to provide the highest quality of care to their patients.”
"We are excited about the opportunity to expand The Medical Center at Albany’s services,” said Eric Hagan, Executive Vice President for CHC. “In the short time that we have been in Clinton County, we have been blessed with the support of our community. We are happy to give back by providing this service locally so people don't have to travel excessive distances to receive the care they need. This aligns perfectly with our mission, ‘To care for people and improve the quality of life in the communities we serve.’"
MRI is used to diagnose a wide variety of medical conditions which affect soft tissue structures and organs in the body. It is particularly useful in diagnosing problems of the brain and spine. The MRI unit uses radio waves and a magnetic field to provide detailed images of particular parts of the body. MRI produces cross-sectional views of the body. By collecting a series of such images, MRI can create a multi-dimensional view of the body which greatly enhances a doctor's ability to accurately diagnose medical conditions.
The “open MRI” at Med Center MRI is open on all three sides to permit ease of side loading and optimized patient comfort. During most exams, the patient’s head remains outside the magnet which means less anxiety for patients, especially those who are sometimes claustrophobic. It can also accommodate patients weighing in excess of 350 pounds.
For more information, call Med Center MRI at 606-387-2066 or 877-387-2066. To learn more about diagnostic imaging services available at The Medical Center at Albany, visit TheMedicalCenterAlbany.org.
Friday, August 19, 2016
Med Center Health - WKU Expand Affiliation with Construction of New Med Center Health Sports Medicine Complex
Building upon decades of partnership in academic programs to train clinicians to meet the growing demand for additional healthcare professionals, Med Center Health and Western Kentucky University (WKU) today announced that the hospital will begin construction of the Med Center Health Sports Medicine Complex on WKU’s campus. The new facility will provide space for WKU’s Department of Physical Therapy and Med Center Health’s new Orthopaedic/Sports Medicine/Rehabilitation group. The complex will also provide space for WKU’s baseball fieldhouse and will include the construction of an indoor multi-purpose facility, which includes a football field, a straight track and netting for training for various outdoor sports. The estimated construction cost, totally funded by Med Center Health, is $22 million, making it the most significant investment by a private company to date on the WKU campus.
“Building on our recent announcement to collaborate with WKU on the opening of a new UK College of Medicine-Bowling Green campus in 2018, this new healthcare and academic affiliation agreement further strengthens the commitment of the two leading education and healthcare service organizations in South Central Kentucky,” said Connie Smith, President and CEO of Med Center Health. Smith added, “This partnership creates a treatment and teaching environment that is mutually beneficial to our patients, the university community, and specifically to WKU’s physical therapy students.”
“This facility will ensure that our partnership with Med Center Health and the University of Kentucky to bring a full four-year medical school to our community will occur on schedule,” said WKU President Gary A. Ransdell. “The new building we announce today will free up space for the UK Medical School and allow our Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program to move to our main campus and be joined by Med Center Health’s Orthopaedic/Sports Medicine/Rehabilitation group. It also engages our DPT program with our WKU athletic teams in a new state-of-the-art, year-round multi-purpose facility and will provide a valuable new indoor experience for our campus community and the public through collaboration with the Preston Health and Activities Center.”
Construction is expected to begin in January 2017 and will include a 57,000 square foot, two-story building that will be located between the existing football practice field and the baseball field. The present football practice field will be enclosed to create an additional 83,000 square feet, and the existing field surface will be replaced with an artificial turf. Enclosure of the existing practice field will create an indoor training/education facility that can be used year-round by the campus and for other community based events promoting good health and exercise. The new facility will include a full size practice field for football; sprint lanes for track and training; netting for baseball, softball and golf; a high jump area; a long jump pit; and a pole vault pit. Construction is expected to be completed in late spring of 2018. WKU’s Department of Physical Therapy, currently located on The Medical Center’s campus in the Health Sciences Complex (HSC), will move into the new Med Center Health Sports Medicine Complex, thus freeing up the third floor of the HSC to become the home of the new UK College of Medicine-Bowling Green campus.
“We are exceedingly grateful to Med Center Health for their commitment to build this much needed facility on the WKU campus,” said Dr. Ransdell. “The Med Center Health Sports Medicine Complex opens new opportunities for the faculty and students in our growing DPT program. Connecting them to the Orthopaedic/Sports Medicine/Rehabilitation group and to our own Hilltopper Athletic teams will provide them with incredible new real-life learning opportunities.”
Med Center Health will become the official healthcare partner of WKU and a preferred provider in WKU’s health plan for faculty and staff, and the two organizations are committed to co-marketing the affiliation and brand name. Med Center Health will also become the exclusive provider of physician and rehabilitation therapy services to WKU athletic teams. Med Center Health will eventually become the operator of the on-campus University Health Services clinic.
Both Dr. Ransdell and Smith believe that this new patient service/academic affiliation agreement will generate new opportunities for students and faculty from various departments across the University to become more engaged in hands-on clinical and research activities related to sports medicine and rehabilitation services. The affiliation could lead to additional sponsored grant research funding, scholarship support and internships for current students.
WKU will provide a 99-year lease at no cost to Med Center Health for the land on which the new facility will be built. Med Center Health will provide WKU with rent-free use of over 100,000 square feet of space in the new facility. The construction will be fully financed by Med Center Health. WKU will be responsible for operating and maintenance costs for the multi-purpose indoor facility it occupies and does not pay rent to use. WKU will lease space in the new complex from Med Center Health for its Department of Physical Therapy similar to the existing lease arrangement it has with the hospital at the Health Sciences Complex. If Med Center Health ever elects to discontinue the partnership, it will transfer the facility to WKU at no cost. If WKU ever elects to discontinue the partnership, it will buy or lease the space from Med Center Health at fair market value, whichever Med Center Health elects.
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
The Medical Center Earns Blue Distinction® Center Designation for Quality in Knee and Hip Replacement Surgeries
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield has selected The Medical Center at Bowling Green as a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement, part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. Blue Distinction Centers are nationally designated healthcare facilities shown to deliver improved patient safety and better health outcomes, based on objective measures that were developed by Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies with input from the medical community.
Knee and hip replacement procedures are among the fastest growing medical treatments in the U.S., according to studies published in the June 2014 Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery1 and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons2. Hospitals designated as Blue Distinction Centers for Knee and Hip Replacement demonstrate expertise in total knee and total hip replacement surgeries, resulting in fewer patient complications and hospital readmissions. Designated hospitals must also maintain national accreditation.
The Medical Center at Bowling Green is proud to be recognized by Anthem for meeting the robust selection criteria for knee and hip replacements set by the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program.
“The Medical Center is dedicated to providing outstanding care for our orthopaedic patients,” said Connie Smith, Chief Executive Officer of The Medical Center. “This type of high quality program allows us to provide excellent healthcare close to home.”
Since 2006, the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program has helped patients find quality providers for their specialty care needs in the areas of bariatric surgery, cardiac care, complex and rare cancers, knee and hip replacements, maternity care, spine surgery, and transplants, while encouraging healthcare professionals to improve the care they deliver.
“Congratulations to The Medical Center at Bowling Green on earning the Blue Distinction Center designation for Knee and Hip Replacement,” said Anthem Senior Medical Director Dr. Divya Cantor. “This designation and the hospital’s participation in initiatives that improve quality and safety demonstrate a focus on continuous improvement in patient care.”
For more information about the program and for a complete listing of the designated facilities, please visit www.bcbs.com/bluedistinction.
About The Medical Center
The Medical Center at Bowling Green is the flagship hospital for Med Center Health and Commonwealth Health Corporation (CHC). Located in Bowling Green, Ky., The Medical Center is a 337-bed, full service, not-for-profit hospital specializing in heart care, cancer care, obstetrics and neonatology, neuroscience and orthopaedic services. With a mission to care for people and improve the quality of life in the communities it serves, CHC and its entities including The Medical Center at Bowling Green contributed $68.8 million in community benefit in fiscal year 2015. The Medical Center treats patients regardless of their ability to pay and annually provides millions in community benefit through charity care for the uninsured and shortfalls in governmental reimbursements (Medicare and Medicaid). To learn more, visit www.TheMedicalCenter.org.
About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Anthem Health Plans of Kentucky, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. ®ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Kentucky is available at www.anthem.com. Also, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/askAnthem, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AskAnthem.
1 J Bone Joint Surg Am, The Role of Overweight and Obesity in Relation to the More Rapid Growth of Total Knee Arthroplasty Volume Compared with Total Hip Arthroplasty Volume, 2014 Jun 04; 96 (11): 922 -928. http://dx.doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.L.01731
2 American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Annual Incidents of Common Musculoskeletal Procedures and Treatment, 2014 March; http://www.aaos.org/research/stats/CommonProceduresTreatments-March2014.pdf
About Blue Cross Blue Shield Association
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is a national federation of 36 independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies that collectively provide healthcare coverage for nearly 105 million members – one-in-three Americans. For more information on the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and its member companies, please visit bcbs.com. We encourage you to connect with us on Facebook, check out our videos on YouTube, follow us on Twitter and check out The BCBS Blog, for up-to-date information about BCBSA.
About Blue Distinction Centers
Blue Distinction Centers (BDC) met overall quality measures for patient safety and outcomes, developed with input from the medical community. A Local Blue Plan may require additional criteria for facilities located in its own service area; for details, contact your Local Blue Plan. Blue Distinction Centers+ (BDC+) also met cost measures that address consumers’ need for affordable health care. Each facility’s cost of care is evaluated using data from its Local Blue Plan. Facilities in CA, ID, NY, PA, and WA may lie in two Local Blue Plans’ areas, resulting in two evaluations for cost of care; and their own Local Blue Plans decide whether one or both cost of care evaluation(s) must meet BDC+ national criteria. National criteria for BDC and BDC+ are displayed on bcbs.com. Individual outcomes may vary. For details on a provider’s in-network status or your own policy’s coverage, contact your Local Blue Plan and ask your provider before making an appointment. Neither Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association nor any Blue Plans are responsible for non-covered charges or other losses or damages resulting from Blue Distinction or other provider finder information or care received from Blue Distinction or other providers.
Monday, August 15, 2016
Med Center Health Facilities Earn ACR Lung Cancer Screening Center Designation
Three Med Center Health facilities have been designated Lung Cancer Screening Centers by the American College of Radiology (ACR). The Medical Center at Franklin, The Medical Center at Scottsville and Western Kentucky Diagnostic Imaging (WKDI), a department of The Medical Center at Bowling Green, have earned the ACR designation which is a voluntary program that recognizes facilities that have committed to practice safe, effective diagnostic care for individuals at the highest risk for lung cancer.
In order to receive this elite distinction, facilities must be accredited by the ACR in computed tomography (CT) in the chest module, as well as undergo a rigorous assessment of its lung cancer screening protocol and infrastructure. Also required are procedures in place for follow-up patient care, such as counseling and smoking cessation programs. For more information about the Lung Cancer Screening Center designation, visit: acr.org/Quality-Safety/Lung-Cancer-Screening-Center.
Lung cancer screening with low-dose CT scans, and appropriate follow-up care, significantly reduces lung cancer deaths. Lung cancer is the nation’s leading cancer killer – taking the lives of more people each year than breast, colon and prostate cancers combined.
A recommendation from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force suggests that adults who have no signs or symptoms of lung cancer but who are at high risk for developing lung cancer should be screened every year with low-dose CT. High risk is defined as people who meet the following criteria:
• Are 55 through 77 years old, and
• Have a history of heavy smoking, and
• Are either current smokers or who have quit within the past 15 years.
Heavy smoking is defined as a smoking history of 30 "pack years" or more. A "pack year" is smoking an average of one pack per day for one year. For example, someone is considered a heavy smoker if they smoke one pack per day for 30 years or smoke two packs per day for 15 years.
Individuals who meet the criteria noted above should consider an annual screening for lung cancer. Individuals should talk with their doctor about their risk and obtain a physician’s order. The cost of the screening is $150. Traditional Medicare covers the screening. Screenings can be scheduled at WKDI, The Medical Center at Franklin or The Medical Center at Scottsville by calling (270) 745-1199 or (800) 231-9621.
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
The Medical Center to Host 19th Annual Women’s Conference
The Medical Center will host the 19th annual women’s conference, A Day Just for Women, on Thursday, September 15 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Knicely Conference Center. Actress Lisa Whelchel and Cardiologist Jacqueline Dawson Dowe, M.D. will be the featured speakers.
Lisa Whelchel is perhaps best known for her starring role as Blair Warner on “The Facts of Life,” a sitcom that aired for nine years on NBC. During her presentations titled “The Facts of My Life” and “Friendships for Grownups,” Whelchel will discuss how to prioritize friendships for healthy living, identify “safe” people and learn the importance of connection with self and others.
Jacqueline Dawson Dowe, M.D. is a cardiologist with Western Kentucky Heart & Lung and is board certified in Cardiovascular Disease, Advanced Heart Failure & Transplant Cardiology and Internal Medicine. Dr. Dowe will discuss how diastolic heart failure can be missed in women. She will help identify heart failure symptoms and discuss the types of heart failure and how medical therapy differs.
In addition to the presentations, A Day Just for Women will also feature booth exhibits, shopping opportunities and great door prizes. Featured sponsors of the conference include Graves Gilbert Clinic and Citizens First Bank.
Registration is $50 per person and includes presentations, health screenings, continental breakfast, lunch, and conference materials. Corporate tables for 10 are available for $450. Early registration is encouraged due to limited seating. Registration deadline is Friday, September 2. Register online at TheMedicalCenter.org. or call 270-745-1010 or 1-800-624-2318.
Thursday, July 7, 2016
The Medical Center Receives Supply Chain Excellence Award from Premier Inc.
The Medical Center has received the Supply Chain Excellence Award from Premier Inc., a leading healthcare improvement company, for its high-value purchasing practices.
“The Medical Center is continuously advancing their supply purchasing strategies and collaborating to share best practices that support Premier alliance members,” said Durral R. Gilbert, president of supply chain services, Premier. “We are thrilled to present them with this honor as they work to provide high-value care in their community.”
One of 33 hospitals and health systems to receive the award this year, The Medical Center accepted the award at Premier’s 2016 Breakthroughs Conference and Exhibition in National Harbor, Maryland on June 23.
“As a not-for-profit hospital, we work hard to constantly improve our purchasing strategies in order to provide the highest quality healthcare for patients in our region,” said Jean Cherry, Executive Vice President of Commonwealth Health Corporation, parent company of The Medical Center. “I am very proud of our Purchasing staff and management for achieving this prestigious award.”
“The Medical Center is continuously advancing their supply purchasing strategies and collaborating to share best practices that support Premier alliance members,” said Durral R. Gilbert, president of supply chain services, Premier. “We are thrilled to present them with this honor as they work to provide high-value care in their community.”
One of 33 hospitals and health systems to receive the award this year, The Medical Center accepted the award at Premier’s 2016 Breakthroughs Conference and Exhibition in National Harbor, Maryland on June 23.
“As a not-for-profit hospital, we work hard to constantly improve our purchasing strategies in order to provide the highest quality healthcare for patients in our region,” said Jean Cherry, Executive Vice President of Commonwealth Health Corporation, parent company of The Medical Center. “I am very proud of our Purchasing staff and management for achieving this prestigious award.”
Thursday, June 16, 2016
The Medical Center Receives Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Silver Quality Achievement Award with Target: Stroke Honor Roll
The Medical Center has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Silver Quality Achievement Award with Target: StrokeSM Honor Roll. The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment and success ensuring that stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence.
To receive the Silver Quality Achievement award, hospitals must achieve 85 percent or higher adherence to all Get With The Guidelines-Stroke achievement indicators for at least 12 consecutive months.
To qualify for the Target: Stroke Honor Roll, hospitals must meet quality measures developed to reduce the time between the patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with the clot-buster tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA, the only drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat ischemic stroke. If given intravenously in the first three hours after the start of stroke symptoms, tPA has been shown to significantly reduce the effects of stroke and lessen the chance of permanent disability. The Medical Center earned the award by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period.
These quality measures are designed to help hospital teams follow the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients.
“A stroke patient loses 1.9 million neurons each minute stroke treatment is delayed. This recognition further demonstrates our commitment to delivering advanced stroke treatments to patients quickly and safely,” said Bill Singletary, Stroke Program Coordinator for The Medical Center. “The Medical Center continues to strive for excellence in the acute treatment of stroke patients. The recognition from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines-Stroke further reinforces our team’s hard work.”
The Medical Center has also met specific scientific guidelines as a Primary Stroke Center, featuring a comprehensive system for rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients admitted to the emergency department.
“The American Heart Association and American Stroke Association recognize The Medical Center for its commitment to stroke care,” said Paul Heidenreich, M.D., M.S., national chairman of the Get With The Guidelines Steering Committee and Professor of Medicine at Stanford University. “Research has shown there are benefits to patients who are treated at hospitals that have adopted the Get With The Guidelines program.”
Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping hospital care teams ensure the care provided to patients is aligned with the latest research-based guidelines. Developed with the goal to save lives and improve recovery time, Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke has impacted more than 3 million patients since 2003.
According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States. On average, someone in the U.S. suffers a stroke every 40 seconds, someone dies of a stroke every four minutes, and nearly 800,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.
About Get With The Guidelines®
Get With The Guidelines® is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with tools and resources to increase adherence to the latest research-based guidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and hastening recovery, Get With The Guidelines has touched the lives of more than 6 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.
To receive the Silver Quality Achievement award, hospitals must achieve 85 percent or higher adherence to all Get With The Guidelines-Stroke achievement indicators for at least 12 consecutive months.
To qualify for the Target: Stroke Honor Roll, hospitals must meet quality measures developed to reduce the time between the patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with the clot-buster tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA, the only drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat ischemic stroke. If given intravenously in the first three hours after the start of stroke symptoms, tPA has been shown to significantly reduce the effects of stroke and lessen the chance of permanent disability. The Medical Center earned the award by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period.
These quality measures are designed to help hospital teams follow the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients.
“A stroke patient loses 1.9 million neurons each minute stroke treatment is delayed. This recognition further demonstrates our commitment to delivering advanced stroke treatments to patients quickly and safely,” said Bill Singletary, Stroke Program Coordinator for The Medical Center. “The Medical Center continues to strive for excellence in the acute treatment of stroke patients. The recognition from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines-Stroke further reinforces our team’s hard work.”
The Medical Center has also met specific scientific guidelines as a Primary Stroke Center, featuring a comprehensive system for rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients admitted to the emergency department.
“The American Heart Association and American Stroke Association recognize The Medical Center for its commitment to stroke care,” said Paul Heidenreich, M.D., M.S., national chairman of the Get With The Guidelines Steering Committee and Professor of Medicine at Stanford University. “Research has shown there are benefits to patients who are treated at hospitals that have adopted the Get With The Guidelines program.”
Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping hospital care teams ensure the care provided to patients is aligned with the latest research-based guidelines. Developed with the goal to save lives and improve recovery time, Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke has impacted more than 3 million patients since 2003.
According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States. On average, someone in the U.S. suffers a stroke every 40 seconds, someone dies of a stroke every four minutes, and nearly 800,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.
About Get With The Guidelines®
Get With The Guidelines® is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with tools and resources to increase adherence to the latest research-based guidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and hastening recovery, Get With The Guidelines has touched the lives of more than 6 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.
The Medical Center Awarded Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers
The Medical Center has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Heart-Check mark for Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers. The Gold Seal of Approval® and the Heart-Check mark represent symbols of quality from their respective organizations.
The Medical Center underwent a rigorous onsite review during which Joint Commission experts evaluated compliance with stroke-related standards and requirements, including program management, the delivery of clinical care and performance improvement.
“The Medical Center has thoroughly demonstrated the greatest level of commitment to the care of stroke patients through its Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers,” said Michele Sacco, M.S., interim executive director, Certification Programs. “We commend The Medical Center for becoming a leader in stroke care, potentially providing a higher standard of service for stroke patients in its community.”
“We congratulate The Medical Center for achieving this designation,” said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer, the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. “By adhering to this very specific set of treatment guidelines The Medical Center has clearly made it a priority to deliver high quality care to all patients affected by stroke.”
“The Medical Center is proud to receive advanced certification from The Joint Commission and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association as it reflects the dedication of our medical staff and front line healthcare professionals who ensure we are delivering the very best care to our stroke patients,” said Bill Singletary, Stroke Program Coordinator for The Medical Center. “The certification provides us with the opportunity to highlight the exceptional stroke care we provide that comes from utilizing evidence-based practice. With this certification, we will continually strive to advance our care even further to save lives and improve patient outcomes.”
Established in 2003, Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers is awarded for a two-year period to Joint Commission-accredited acute care hospitals. The certification was derived from the Brain Attack Coalition’s “Recommendations for the Establishment of Primary Stroke Centers” (JAMA, 2000) and the “Revised and Updated Recommendations for the Establishment of Primary Stroke Centers” (Stroke, 2011).
Stroke is the number four cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States, according to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 40 seconds; someone dies of a stroke every four minutes; and nearly 800,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.
About The Joint Commission:
Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission accredits and certifies more than 20,500 health care organizations and programs in the United States, including hospitals and health care organizations that provide ambulatory and office-based surgery, behavioral health, home care, laboratory, and nursing home services. An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Learn more about The Joint Commission at www.jointcommission.org.
The Medical Center underwent a rigorous onsite review during which Joint Commission experts evaluated compliance with stroke-related standards and requirements, including program management, the delivery of clinical care and performance improvement.
“The Medical Center has thoroughly demonstrated the greatest level of commitment to the care of stroke patients through its Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers,” said Michele Sacco, M.S., interim executive director, Certification Programs. “We commend The Medical Center for becoming a leader in stroke care, potentially providing a higher standard of service for stroke patients in its community.”
“We congratulate The Medical Center for achieving this designation,” said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer, the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. “By adhering to this very specific set of treatment guidelines The Medical Center has clearly made it a priority to deliver high quality care to all patients affected by stroke.”
“The Medical Center is proud to receive advanced certification from The Joint Commission and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association as it reflects the dedication of our medical staff and front line healthcare professionals who ensure we are delivering the very best care to our stroke patients,” said Bill Singletary, Stroke Program Coordinator for The Medical Center. “The certification provides us with the opportunity to highlight the exceptional stroke care we provide that comes from utilizing evidence-based practice. With this certification, we will continually strive to advance our care even further to save lives and improve patient outcomes.”
Established in 2003, Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers is awarded for a two-year period to Joint Commission-accredited acute care hospitals. The certification was derived from the Brain Attack Coalition’s “Recommendations for the Establishment of Primary Stroke Centers” (JAMA, 2000) and the “Revised and Updated Recommendations for the Establishment of Primary Stroke Centers” (Stroke, 2011).
Stroke is the number four cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States, according to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 40 seconds; someone dies of a stroke every four minutes; and nearly 800,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.
About The Joint Commission:
Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission accredits and certifies more than 20,500 health care organizations and programs in the United States, including hospitals and health care organizations that provide ambulatory and office-based surgery, behavioral health, home care, laboratory, and nursing home services. An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation’s oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Learn more about The Joint Commission at www.jointcommission.org.
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
Medical Center EMS receives American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline EMS Recognition Award
Medical Center EMS has received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® EMS Gold Award for implementing quality improvement measures for the treatment of patients who experience severe heart attacks.
Every year, more than 250,000 people experience an ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the most deadly type of heart attack caused by a blockage of blood flow to the heart that requires timely treatment. To prevent death, it’s critical to restore blood flow as quickly as possible, either by mechanically opening the blocked vessel or by providing clot-busting medication.
Unfortunately, a significant number of STEMI patients don't receive this prompt reperfusion therapy, which is critical in restoring blood flow. Mission: Lifeline seeks to save lives by closing the gaps that separate these patients from timely access to appropriate treatments. Mission: Lifeline’s EMS recognition program recognizes emergency medical services for their efforts in improving systems of care and improving the quality of life for these patients.
Emergency Medical System providers are vital to the success of Mission: Lifeline. EMS agencies perform 12-lead ECGs that measure the electrical activity of the heart and can help determine if a heart attack has occurred. They also follow protocols derived from American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guidelines. These correct tools, training, and practices allow EMS providers to rapidly identify suspected heart attack patients, promptly notify the hospital, and trigger an early response from the awaiting hospital personnel.
Agencies that receive the Mission: Lifeline Gold award have demonstrated at least 75 percent compliance for each required achievement measure for two years.
“EMTs and paramedics play a vital part in the system of care for those who have heart attacks,” said James Jollis, M.D., Chair of the Mission: Lifeline Advisory Working Group. “Since they often are the first medical point of contact, they can shave precious minutes of life-saving treatment time by activating the emergency response system that alerts hospitals. We applaud Medical Center EMS for achieving this award that shows it meets evidence-based guidelines in the treatment of people who have severe heart attacks.”
“Medical Center EMS is dedicated to providing the best life-saving service available to our community,” said Jim Berry, Director of Medical Center EMS. “The Mission: Lifeline program is helping us accomplish that by implementing processes for improving systems of care. The goal is to improve the quality of care for all acute coronary syndrome patients.”
About Mission: Lifeline
The American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® program helps hospitals and emergency medical services develop systems of care that follow proven standards and procedures for acute coronary syndrome patients. The program works by mobilizing teams across the continuum of care to implement American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology clinical treatment guidelines. For more information, visit heart.org.
Every year, more than 250,000 people experience an ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the most deadly type of heart attack caused by a blockage of blood flow to the heart that requires timely treatment. To prevent death, it’s critical to restore blood flow as quickly as possible, either by mechanically opening the blocked vessel or by providing clot-busting medication.
Unfortunately, a significant number of STEMI patients don't receive this prompt reperfusion therapy, which is critical in restoring blood flow. Mission: Lifeline seeks to save lives by closing the gaps that separate these patients from timely access to appropriate treatments. Mission: Lifeline’s EMS recognition program recognizes emergency medical services for their efforts in improving systems of care and improving the quality of life for these patients.
Emergency Medical System providers are vital to the success of Mission: Lifeline. EMS agencies perform 12-lead ECGs that measure the electrical activity of the heart and can help determine if a heart attack has occurred. They also follow protocols derived from American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guidelines. These correct tools, training, and practices allow EMS providers to rapidly identify suspected heart attack patients, promptly notify the hospital, and trigger an early response from the awaiting hospital personnel.
Agencies that receive the Mission: Lifeline Gold award have demonstrated at least 75 percent compliance for each required achievement measure for two years.
“EMTs and paramedics play a vital part in the system of care for those who have heart attacks,” said James Jollis, M.D., Chair of the Mission: Lifeline Advisory Working Group. “Since they often are the first medical point of contact, they can shave precious minutes of life-saving treatment time by activating the emergency response system that alerts hospitals. We applaud Medical Center EMS for achieving this award that shows it meets evidence-based guidelines in the treatment of people who have severe heart attacks.”
“Medical Center EMS is dedicated to providing the best life-saving service available to our community,” said Jim Berry, Director of Medical Center EMS. “The Mission: Lifeline program is helping us accomplish that by implementing processes for improving systems of care. The goal is to improve the quality of care for all acute coronary syndrome patients.”
About Mission: Lifeline
The American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® program helps hospitals and emergency medical services develop systems of care that follow proven standards and procedures for acute coronary syndrome patients. The program works by mobilizing teams across the continuum of care to implement American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology clinical treatment guidelines. For more information, visit heart.org.
Thursday, May 26, 2016
The Medical Center and WKDI Upgrade to 3D Mammograms
The Medical Center at Bowling Green and Western Kentucky Diagnostic Imaging, a department of The Medical Center, now have the latest technology in screening mammograms — the Hologic Selenia® Dimensions® Genius 3D system.
A Genius™ exam detects 41% more invasive breast cancers and reduces false positives by up to 40%. Instead of viewing all of the complexities of breast tissue in a flat image, as with conventional 2D mammography, fine details are more visible and no longer hidden by the tissue above or below. Overlapping layers of tissue can sometimes create unclear results, false alarms, or worse – cancer being missed.
A woman’s chance of developing breast cancer in her lifetime is 1 in 8; and 8 out of 9 diagnosed women have no family history of breast cancer. The Genius exam can help catch cancer early, and with early detection the five-year survival rate for breast cancer is almost 100%.
“Genius exams are approved for all women who would undergo a standard mammogram,” said Brian Wallace, M.D., Radiologist with The Medical Center. “With this new system, we can see masses and distortions associated with cancer much more clearly than with conventional 2D mammography.”
Women can schedule mammograms at The Medical Center or Western Kentucky Diagnostic Imaging by calling 270-745-1199 or toll free 1-800-231-9621.
For more information about mammography services and diagnostic imaging at The Medical Center, visit TheMedicalCenter.org.
A Genius™ exam detects 41% more invasive breast cancers and reduces false positives by up to 40%. Instead of viewing all of the complexities of breast tissue in a flat image, as with conventional 2D mammography, fine details are more visible and no longer hidden by the tissue above or below. Overlapping layers of tissue can sometimes create unclear results, false alarms, or worse – cancer being missed.
A woman’s chance of developing breast cancer in her lifetime is 1 in 8; and 8 out of 9 diagnosed women have no family history of breast cancer. The Genius exam can help catch cancer early, and with early detection the five-year survival rate for breast cancer is almost 100%.
“Genius exams are approved for all women who would undergo a standard mammogram,” said Brian Wallace, M.D., Radiologist with The Medical Center. “With this new system, we can see masses and distortions associated with cancer much more clearly than with conventional 2D mammography.”
Women can schedule mammograms at The Medical Center or Western Kentucky Diagnostic Imaging by calling 270-745-1199 or toll free 1-800-231-9621.
For more information about mammography services and diagnostic imaging at The Medical Center, visit TheMedicalCenter.org.
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
The Medical Center at Bowling Green Joins Markey Affiliate Network
The Medical Center at Bowling Green announces a new affiliation with the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center, the state's first and only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center.
“The Medical Center is proud to become a member of the UK Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network as we enhance the high-caliber cancer services and programs we provide to Southcentral Kentucky,” said Connie D. Smith, president and chief executive officer of Commonwealth Health Corporation and The Medical Center. “With the support and guidance of the UK Markey Cancer Center, The Medical Center will have access to the latest clinical trials for patients, educational opportunities for physicians and staff and additional outreach and education resources for the community.”
The UK Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network was created to provide high-quality cancer care closer to home for patients across the region, and to minimize the effects of cancer through prevention and education programs, exceptional clinical care, and access to research.
The Medical Center is the regional referral center for cancer care in Southcentral Kentucky with nearly 1,000 cancer cases diagnosed at the hospital annually. The Medical Center provides the area’s only radiation oncology program through the Cancer Treatment Center. In addition to radiation therapy, the oncology-related services provided by the hospital include diagnostic imaging, surgery, chemotherapy, psychosocial support, rehabilitation, nutrition, patient navigation, survivorship care planning, and palliative care. The Medical Center operates a second radiation oncology practice, Barren River Regional Cancer Center, in partnership with TJ Samson Community Hospital in Glasgow, Ky.
By becoming a UK Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network member, The Medical Center will now be able to offer patients access to additional specialty and subspecialty physicians and care, including clinical trials and advanced technology, while allowing them to stay in their region for most treatments.
“The affiliation with UK Markey Cancer Center will further elevate our cancer program and provide tremendous benefit for our cancer patients,” said Sarah C. Moore, executive vice president for Commonwealth Health Corporation. “As an accredited cancer program through the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, The Medical Center is dedicated to providing expert care for our cancer patients. Having access to clinical consultation services through the UK Markey Cancer Center ensures our patients receive the treatment services they need right here in Bowling Green, minimizing the inconvenience of travel.”
The UK Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network supports UK HealthCare's overall mission of ensuring no Kentuckian will have to leave the state to get access to top-of-the-line health care.
"UK HealthCare doesn't just serve Lexington and central Kentucky – our mission is to provide all Kentuckians with the best possible care right here in the state," said Dr. Michael Karpf, UK executive vice president for health affairs. "The Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network allows us to collaborate with community hospitals to provide top-notch cancer care much closer to home -- saving both travel expenses and time for the patients, in addition to keeping them close to their personal support system."
The UK Markey Cancer Center is one of only 69 medical centers in the country to earn an NCI cancer center designation. Because of the designation, Markey patients have access to new drugs, treatment options and clinical trials offered only at NCI centers.
Moving forward, the UK Markey Cancer Center is working toward the next tier of designation – an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Currently, 45 of the 69 NCI-designated cancer centers in the country hold a comprehensive cancer center status. The UK Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network will play a large role in bringing that next level of cancer funding to Kentucky.
"Kentucky is home to some of the worst cancer rates in the country," said Dr. Tim Mullett, medical director of the UK Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network. "Collaborating with our affiliate hospitals across the state will enable us to make a positive impact on the dire cancer rates here in the Commonwealth."
The UK Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network began in 2006 and comprises 16 hospitals across the state of Kentucky:
• Clark Regional Medical Center, Winchester (candidate member)
• Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center, Danville
• Frankfort Regional Medical Center
• Georgetown Community Hospital
• Hardin Memorial Hospital, Elizabethtown
• Harlan ARH Hospital
• Harrison Memorial Hospital, Cynthiana
• Hazard ARH Regional Medical Center
• Methodist Hospital, Henderson
• Norton Cancer Institute, Louisville (Norton Healthcare-UK HealthCare partnership)
• Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital, Ashland
• Rockcastle Regional Hospital, Mt. Vernon
• St. Claire Regional Medical Center, Morehead
• The Medical Center at Bowling Green
• TJ Samson Community Hospital, Glasgow (candidate member)
• Tug Valley ARH Regional Medical Center, South Williamson
About The Medical Center
The Medical Center at Bowling Green is the flagship hospital for Med Center Health and Commonwealth Health Corporation (CHC). Located in Bowling Green, Ky., The Medical Center is a 337-bed, full service, not-for-profit hospital specializing in heart care, cancer care, obstetrics and neonatology, neuroscience and orthopaedic services. With a mission to care for people and improve the quality of life in the communities it serves, CHC and its entities including The Medical Center at Bowling Green contributed $68.8 million in community benefit in fiscal year 2015. The Medical Center treats patients regardless of their ability to pay and annually provides millions in community benefit through charity care for the uninsured and shortfalls in governmental reimbursements (Medicare and Medicaid). To learn more, visit www.TheMedicalCenter.org.
About University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center
The Markey Cancer Center was founded in 1983 and is a dedicated matrix cancer center established as an integral part of the University of Kentucky and the UK HealthCare enterprise. UK Markey is an NCI-designated center, receiving research funding and many other opportunities available only to the nation’s best cancer centers, and the only NCI-designated center in Kentucky and one of 69 in the nation. The clinical programs and services of the Markey Cancer Center are integrated with the UK Albert B. Chandler Hospital. Markey's cancer specialty teams work together with UK Chandler Hospital departments and divisions to provide primary patient care and support services as well as advanced specialty care with applicable clinical trials. All diagnostic services, clinical and pathology laboratories, operating rooms, emergent and intensive care, and radiation therapy services are also provided to cancer patients through UK Chandler Hospital.
“The Medical Center is proud to become a member of the UK Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network as we enhance the high-caliber cancer services and programs we provide to Southcentral Kentucky,” said Connie D. Smith, president and chief executive officer of Commonwealth Health Corporation and The Medical Center. “With the support and guidance of the UK Markey Cancer Center, The Medical Center will have access to the latest clinical trials for patients, educational opportunities for physicians and staff and additional outreach and education resources for the community.”
The UK Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network was created to provide high-quality cancer care closer to home for patients across the region, and to minimize the effects of cancer through prevention and education programs, exceptional clinical care, and access to research.
The Medical Center is the regional referral center for cancer care in Southcentral Kentucky with nearly 1,000 cancer cases diagnosed at the hospital annually. The Medical Center provides the area’s only radiation oncology program through the Cancer Treatment Center. In addition to radiation therapy, the oncology-related services provided by the hospital include diagnostic imaging, surgery, chemotherapy, psychosocial support, rehabilitation, nutrition, patient navigation, survivorship care planning, and palliative care. The Medical Center operates a second radiation oncology practice, Barren River Regional Cancer Center, in partnership with TJ Samson Community Hospital in Glasgow, Ky.
By becoming a UK Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network member, The Medical Center will now be able to offer patients access to additional specialty and subspecialty physicians and care, including clinical trials and advanced technology, while allowing them to stay in their region for most treatments.
“The affiliation with UK Markey Cancer Center will further elevate our cancer program and provide tremendous benefit for our cancer patients,” said Sarah C. Moore, executive vice president for Commonwealth Health Corporation. “As an accredited cancer program through the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, The Medical Center is dedicated to providing expert care for our cancer patients. Having access to clinical consultation services through the UK Markey Cancer Center ensures our patients receive the treatment services they need right here in Bowling Green, minimizing the inconvenience of travel.”
The UK Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network supports UK HealthCare's overall mission of ensuring no Kentuckian will have to leave the state to get access to top-of-the-line health care.
"UK HealthCare doesn't just serve Lexington and central Kentucky – our mission is to provide all Kentuckians with the best possible care right here in the state," said Dr. Michael Karpf, UK executive vice president for health affairs. "The Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network allows us to collaborate with community hospitals to provide top-notch cancer care much closer to home -- saving both travel expenses and time for the patients, in addition to keeping them close to their personal support system."
The UK Markey Cancer Center is one of only 69 medical centers in the country to earn an NCI cancer center designation. Because of the designation, Markey patients have access to new drugs, treatment options and clinical trials offered only at NCI centers.
Moving forward, the UK Markey Cancer Center is working toward the next tier of designation – an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Currently, 45 of the 69 NCI-designated cancer centers in the country hold a comprehensive cancer center status. The UK Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network will play a large role in bringing that next level of cancer funding to Kentucky.
"Kentucky is home to some of the worst cancer rates in the country," said Dr. Tim Mullett, medical director of the UK Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network. "Collaborating with our affiliate hospitals across the state will enable us to make a positive impact on the dire cancer rates here in the Commonwealth."
The UK Markey Cancer Center Affiliate Network began in 2006 and comprises 16 hospitals across the state of Kentucky:
• Clark Regional Medical Center, Winchester (candidate member)
• Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center, Danville
• Frankfort Regional Medical Center
• Georgetown Community Hospital
• Hardin Memorial Hospital, Elizabethtown
• Harlan ARH Hospital
• Harrison Memorial Hospital, Cynthiana
• Hazard ARH Regional Medical Center
• Methodist Hospital, Henderson
• Norton Cancer Institute, Louisville (Norton Healthcare-UK HealthCare partnership)
• Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital, Ashland
• Rockcastle Regional Hospital, Mt. Vernon
• St. Claire Regional Medical Center, Morehead
• The Medical Center at Bowling Green
• TJ Samson Community Hospital, Glasgow (candidate member)
• Tug Valley ARH Regional Medical Center, South Williamson
About The Medical Center
The Medical Center at Bowling Green is the flagship hospital for Med Center Health and Commonwealth Health Corporation (CHC). Located in Bowling Green, Ky., The Medical Center is a 337-bed, full service, not-for-profit hospital specializing in heart care, cancer care, obstetrics and neonatology, neuroscience and orthopaedic services. With a mission to care for people and improve the quality of life in the communities it serves, CHC and its entities including The Medical Center at Bowling Green contributed $68.8 million in community benefit in fiscal year 2015. The Medical Center treats patients regardless of their ability to pay and annually provides millions in community benefit through charity care for the uninsured and shortfalls in governmental reimbursements (Medicare and Medicaid). To learn more, visit www.TheMedicalCenter.org.
About University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center
The Markey Cancer Center was founded in 1983 and is a dedicated matrix cancer center established as an integral part of the University of Kentucky and the UK HealthCare enterprise. UK Markey is an NCI-designated center, receiving research funding and many other opportunities available only to the nation’s best cancer centers, and the only NCI-designated center in Kentucky and one of 69 in the nation. The clinical programs and services of the Markey Cancer Center are integrated with the UK Albert B. Chandler Hospital. Markey's cancer specialty teams work together with UK Chandler Hospital departments and divisions to provide primary patient care and support services as well as advanced specialty care with applicable clinical trials. All diagnostic services, clinical and pathology laboratories, operating rooms, emergent and intensive care, and radiation therapy services are also provided to cancer patients through UK Chandler Hospital.
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Med Center Health Recipient of the 2016 Gallup Great Workplace Award
Med Center Health has received the 2016 Gallup Great Workplace Award, which recognizes the best-performing workforces in the world. Only 35 organizations have received the 2016 award, and Med Center Health is the only recipient based in Kentucky.
“One of Med Center Health’s core strategic goals is to continuously improve our employee engagement,” said Connie Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Med Center Health. “This is a long-term process. Our focus has always been on providing the best possible healthcare for our patients – and employee engagement is a critical part of fulfilling that mission.”
Med Center Health began utilizing the consulting services of Gallup in 2008 and since that time has experienced significant gains in employee engagement. Results from a 2015 employee engagement survey of Med Center Health’s employees, combined with a demonstrated link between engagement and business outcomes, qualified Med Center Health to apply for the award.
A panel of Gallup workplace experts evaluates applicants and assesses them against criteria established by the most comprehensive workplace study ever conducted. The top organizations selected gain entry into an elite group of companies that have received the Gallup Great Workplace Award.
Med Center Health invests time, energy, and resources into employee engagement. Not only do these investments pay off in patient care, but in business outcomes, as well. Med Center Health has experienced higher retention of engaged employees, decreased patient complaints, increased employee donations to Med Center Health’s charity care programs, and improved financial performance.
“We first won the award in 2014, which was a very proud moment in our corporate history,” said Smith. “Because we run the survey in alternate years – such as 2013 and 2015 – we only apply for the award to reflect those years. To have won again demonstrates the dedication and quality of our employees.”
“The world’s top-performing organizations help lead the global economy by engaging their workforces,” said Jim Harter, Ph.D., Gallup’s chief scientist of workplace management and well-being. “Gallup’s Great Workplace Award winners understand and acknowledge the importance of employee engagement by making it a vital part of their organization while using it as a driving force to create real business outcomes.”
Med Center Health will be presented the award during the Gallup Spring Summit on May 10-12, 2016 in Omaha, Nebraska.
About Gallup
Gallup delivers analytics and advice to help leaders and organizations solve their most pressing problems. Combining more than 80 years of experience with its global reach, Gallup knows more about the attitudes and behaviors of employees, customers, students and citizens than any other organization in the world. Gallup works with leaders and organizations to achieve breakthroughs in customer engagement, employee engagement, organizational culture and identity, leadership development, talent-based assessments, entrepreneurship and well-being. For more information about the awards, visit http://www.gallup.com/opinion/gallup/190604/organizations-lead-world-creating-cultures-engagement.aspx or email GallupGWA@gallup.com.
“One of Med Center Health’s core strategic goals is to continuously improve our employee engagement,” said Connie Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Med Center Health. “This is a long-term process. Our focus has always been on providing the best possible healthcare for our patients – and employee engagement is a critical part of fulfilling that mission.”
Med Center Health began utilizing the consulting services of Gallup in 2008 and since that time has experienced significant gains in employee engagement. Results from a 2015 employee engagement survey of Med Center Health’s employees, combined with a demonstrated link between engagement and business outcomes, qualified Med Center Health to apply for the award.
A panel of Gallup workplace experts evaluates applicants and assesses them against criteria established by the most comprehensive workplace study ever conducted. The top organizations selected gain entry into an elite group of companies that have received the Gallup Great Workplace Award.
Med Center Health invests time, energy, and resources into employee engagement. Not only do these investments pay off in patient care, but in business outcomes, as well. Med Center Health has experienced higher retention of engaged employees, decreased patient complaints, increased employee donations to Med Center Health’s charity care programs, and improved financial performance.
“We first won the award in 2014, which was a very proud moment in our corporate history,” said Smith. “Because we run the survey in alternate years – such as 2013 and 2015 – we only apply for the award to reflect those years. To have won again demonstrates the dedication and quality of our employees.”
“The world’s top-performing organizations help lead the global economy by engaging their workforces,” said Jim Harter, Ph.D., Gallup’s chief scientist of workplace management and well-being. “Gallup’s Great Workplace Award winners understand and acknowledge the importance of employee engagement by making it a vital part of their organization while using it as a driving force to create real business outcomes.”
Med Center Health will be presented the award during the Gallup Spring Summit on May 10-12, 2016 in Omaha, Nebraska.
About Gallup
Gallup delivers analytics and advice to help leaders and organizations solve their most pressing problems. Combining more than 80 years of experience with its global reach, Gallup knows more about the attitudes and behaviors of employees, customers, students and citizens than any other organization in the world. Gallup works with leaders and organizations to achieve breakthroughs in customer engagement, employee engagement, organizational culture and identity, leadership development, talent-based assessments, entrepreneurship and well-being. For more information about the awards, visit http://www.gallup.com/opinion/gallup/190604/organizations-lead-world-creating-cultures-engagement.aspx or email GallupGWA@gallup.com.
Monday, April 11, 2016
The Medical Center Adds Breakthrough MR Scanner for Advanced Neurological Studies, Speed, and Patient Comfort
The Medical Center today announced that patients and physicians now have access to the first-ever digital broadband magnetic resonance imaging system: the Ingenia 3.0T from Philips Healthcare.
This revolutionary machine is designed to quickly perform high-quality MR scans with a high level of patient comfort. Ingenia 3.0T can significantly reduce exam time and has a wide opening to accommodate patients of varying size, age, and physical condition. This makes Ingenia less confining than 60cm MR systems and a more attractive noninvasive imaging option for patients at The Medical Center. In fact, most scans can be performed with the patient’s head entirely out of the opening, creating a better patient experience.
The Ingenia 3.0T incorporates a number of breakthrough technologies designed to deliver exceptional image clarity. It quickly provides radiologists and physicians with precise, detailed MR images needed to help confidently diagnose many different anatomical and structural problems in the body—including brain and nervous system disorders, cardiovascular disease, and organ disease.
“Ingenia 3.0T image quality is excellent and it’s fast. We can perform American College of Radiology recommended routine exams of the brain, spine, knee, ankle, and liver in less than 8 minutes, with superb image quality,” said Brian Wallace, MD, Radiologist with The Medical Center. “Access to higher quality images means more informed diagnoses and fewer rescans for our patients.”
Connie Smith, Chief Executive Officer of The Medical Center, said, “We are proud to be the first in the region to offer this new technology. We have expanded our MRI suite to include both the Ingenia 3.0T and Ingenia 1.5T scanners, providing our patients superior scanning and less wait time for appointments.”
“These two new MRI scanners will provide the region’s most state-of-the-art imaging,” said Clark Bernard, MD, Neurosurgeon with The Medical Center Neurosciences Services. “This will give us cutting edge information on diagnosing and treating disorders of the brain and spine in particular.”
To learn more about diagnostic imaging at The Medical Center, visit www.TheMedicalCenter.org.
This revolutionary machine is designed to quickly perform high-quality MR scans with a high level of patient comfort. Ingenia 3.0T can significantly reduce exam time and has a wide opening to accommodate patients of varying size, age, and physical condition. This makes Ingenia less confining than 60cm MR systems and a more attractive noninvasive imaging option for patients at The Medical Center. In fact, most scans can be performed with the patient’s head entirely out of the opening, creating a better patient experience.
The Ingenia 3.0T incorporates a number of breakthrough technologies designed to deliver exceptional image clarity. It quickly provides radiologists and physicians with precise, detailed MR images needed to help confidently diagnose many different anatomical and structural problems in the body—including brain and nervous system disorders, cardiovascular disease, and organ disease.
“Ingenia 3.0T image quality is excellent and it’s fast. We can perform American College of Radiology recommended routine exams of the brain, spine, knee, ankle, and liver in less than 8 minutes, with superb image quality,” said Brian Wallace, MD, Radiologist with The Medical Center. “Access to higher quality images means more informed diagnoses and fewer rescans for our patients.”
Connie Smith, Chief Executive Officer of The Medical Center, said, “We are proud to be the first in the region to offer this new technology. We have expanded our MRI suite to include both the Ingenia 3.0T and Ingenia 1.5T scanners, providing our patients superior scanning and less wait time for appointments.”
“These two new MRI scanners will provide the region’s most state-of-the-art imaging,” said Clark Bernard, MD, Neurosurgeon with The Medical Center Neurosciences Services. “This will give us cutting edge information on diagnosing and treating disorders of the brain and spine in particular.”
To learn more about diagnostic imaging at The Medical Center, visit www.TheMedicalCenter.org.
Friday, April 1, 2016
Commonwealth Health Corporation Acquires Clinton County Hospital
Clinton County Hospital, which has served the residents of Clinton and surrounding counties since 1951, is now The Medical Center at Albany following the acquisition of the hospital by Commonwealth Health Corporation (CHC), parent company of The Medical Center. The Medical Center at Albany will continue to operate as a 42-bed, not-for-profit acute care hospital and provide needed access to healthcare for area residents.
CHC assumed management of Clinton County Hospital on February 4, 2016. In October 2015 CHC was asked by Clinton County Hospital to evaluate operations at the hospital to determine the feasibility of acquiring the hospital.
“CHC brings a tremendous amount of healthcare experience and resources to the Clinton County community,” said Connie D. Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of CHC and The Medical Center. “The Medical Center at Albany will ensure that residents have access to quality care close to home through improved and expanded services.”
“Since assuming management of Clinton County Hospital for nearly two months, CHC has been welcomed into the community with open arms,” said Eric Hagan, Vice President of CHC, who is serving as Interim Administrator for The Medical Center at Albany. “The Clinton County community has a beautiful facility that is staffed by highly qualified, experienced and compassionate employees. We look forward to building upon what Clinton County Hospital established during its 65-year history by expanding services and enhancing quality of care.”
With the addition of The Medical Center at Albany to its family of hospitals, CHC now operates six acute care hospitals in Southcentral Kentucky including The Medical Centers in Bowling Green, Caverna, Franklin and Scottsville and Commonwealth Regional Specialty Hospital in Bowling Green. CHC employs over 3,500 healthcare workers with a medical staff that includes over 350 physicians.
CHC assumed management of Clinton County Hospital on February 4, 2016. In October 2015 CHC was asked by Clinton County Hospital to evaluate operations at the hospital to determine the feasibility of acquiring the hospital.
“CHC brings a tremendous amount of healthcare experience and resources to the Clinton County community,” said Connie D. Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of CHC and The Medical Center. “The Medical Center at Albany will ensure that residents have access to quality care close to home through improved and expanded services.”
“Since assuming management of Clinton County Hospital for nearly two months, CHC has been welcomed into the community with open arms,” said Eric Hagan, Vice President of CHC, who is serving as Interim Administrator for The Medical Center at Albany. “The Clinton County community has a beautiful facility that is staffed by highly qualified, experienced and compassionate employees. We look forward to building upon what Clinton County Hospital established during its 65-year history by expanding services and enhancing quality of care.”
With the addition of The Medical Center at Albany to its family of hospitals, CHC now operates six acute care hospitals in Southcentral Kentucky including The Medical Centers in Bowling Green, Caverna, Franklin and Scottsville and Commonwealth Regional Specialty Hospital in Bowling Green. CHC employs over 3,500 healthcare workers with a medical staff that includes over 350 physicians.
Thursday, February 18, 2016
UK College of Medicine Plans Expansion to Respond to Need for More Doctors in the Commonwealth
Responding to the shortage of physicians in the Commonwealth, the University of Kentucky College of Medicine is planning to develop a satellite program in Bowling Green for four-year medical education and to expand the Rural Physician Leadership Program (RPLP) in Morehead to a three-year (year-round) medical education program.
The UK College of Medicine initiative - in partnership with Morehead State University, Western Kentucky University, St. Claire Regional Medical Center, King's Daughters Medical Center and The Medical Center at Bowling Green - will begin as early as 2018.
Currently, the UK College of Medicine is at its capacity at the Lexington campus and although there is a deep applicant pool for medical students, the college can’t expand enrollment without the help of regional partners.
"The Commonwealth of Kentucky has a shortage of physicians, and especially primary care physicians, throughout the state, but particularly in rural areas. This is an acute health care need and an economic one as well," UK President Eli Capilouto said in announcing the initiative Thursday. "As the university for Kentucky, we are working in close partnership with leading universities in our state and regional medical centers to directly respond to this need. Additionally, this collaboration will allow us to expand college of medicine enrollment in a manner that effectively and efficiently utilizes existing resources throughout the state."
While details of the broad-based initiative are still being ironed out, UK officials have signed memorandums of understanding with the partners.
"The UK College of Medicine is uniquely positioned to respond to the medical manpower needs in Kentucky in both primary care and subspecialty care," said Dr. Michael Karpf, UK vice president for health affairs. "This series of partnerships will benefit everyone across the Commonwealth."
Currently, the UK College of Medicine enrolls 521 students including 139 in the most recent admitted class ̶ the Class of 2019. With this new program, UK plans to increase its class size by approximately 30 percent through expansion to these satellite locations. Revenue generated by additional students in the college will offset costs associated with implementing the satellite programs. Local advisory committees will recommend students for admission to the program.
Basic science and early didactic training will be taught in conjunction with faculty at Morehead State and WKU on those respective campuses through both onsite and distance education modalities, according to UK College of Medicine curricular protocols.
“WKU is pleased to partner with the University of Kentucky and The Medical Center at Bowling Green to help facilitate the expansion of medical education into south central and western Kentucky,” said WKU President Gary A. Ransdell. “We have been working for many years in conjunction with The Medical Center at Bowling Green to address workforce demands in health care, most recently in nursing and physical therapy, and this collaboration will address a critical need that hospitals and communities throughout our region have for more physicians. WKU faculty will be fully engaged, and I’m pleased that our students will have even more opportunities to pursue a medical education here in Bowling Green.”
UK already has been partnering for several years with Morehead State University through a Rural Physician Leadership Program, where students complete their third and fourth years of medical training with rural-centered clinical experiences primarily at St. Claire Regional Medical Center.
“Our partnership with the University of Kentucky and St. Claire Regional Medical Center has helped many students from our region become physicians and physicians’ assistants,” said Morehead State University President Wayne D. Andrews. “Working with UK and St. Claire though our Rural Physician Leadership Program is a win-win not only for Morehead State University, but for our students and the communities we serve. We are delighted to extend these working relationships to expand our reach in helping meet the needs of East Kentucky.”
Mark J. Neff, president/CEO at St. Claire Regional Medical Center in Morehead added, “we are thrilled to be a part of the expansion and growth of the Rural Physician Leadership Program. Since the program began in 2012, St. Claire Regional has assisted 32 medical students to successfully graduate. Doing more to prepare for the shortage of rural health care providers only makes sense for us as we have continued to be dedicated to the training of medical providers in our region since our doors opened. We are proud to say that we have over 50 years of experience in training medical students, as a teaching affiliate of the University of Kentucky and we look forward to many more."
In addition to the didactic training, clinical education will occur in conjunction with the regional medical provider partners in Ashland, Morehead and Bowling Green.
"We are very proud to be a part of this collaborative effort and we are committed to building programs that support our communities and their future health care needs," said Kristie Whitlatch, president/CEO King's Daughters Health System. "We are also committed to retaining our local talent and providing them with the ability to remain in our communities for their educational experience and hopefully for their entire career as a physician. An alliance with the University of Kentucky College of Medicine will be beneficial in recruiting physicians of all specialties so we can keep our health care local and ultimately improve the health of the communities we serve."
Connie Smith, chief executive officer of The Medical Center at Bowling Green, added, “the establishment of a four-year satellite program at The Medical Center in Bowling Green is the first of its kind in Kentucky. This public/private partnership is an extraordinary means to address one of the most pressing challenges in health care today – the physician shortage. It is an amazing opportunity for area students wishing to pursue a career in medicine, and the entire Commonwealth will ultimately benefit from having greater access to well-trained physicians. This project will have a tremendous impact in south central Kentucky for years to come.”
The UK College of Medicine initiative - in partnership with Morehead State University, Western Kentucky University, St. Claire Regional Medical Center, King's Daughters Medical Center and The Medical Center at Bowling Green - will begin as early as 2018.
Currently, the UK College of Medicine is at its capacity at the Lexington campus and although there is a deep applicant pool for medical students, the college can’t expand enrollment without the help of regional partners.
"The Commonwealth of Kentucky has a shortage of physicians, and especially primary care physicians, throughout the state, but particularly in rural areas. This is an acute health care need and an economic one as well," UK President Eli Capilouto said in announcing the initiative Thursday. "As the university for Kentucky, we are working in close partnership with leading universities in our state and regional medical centers to directly respond to this need. Additionally, this collaboration will allow us to expand college of medicine enrollment in a manner that effectively and efficiently utilizes existing resources throughout the state."
While details of the broad-based initiative are still being ironed out, UK officials have signed memorandums of understanding with the partners.
"The UK College of Medicine is uniquely positioned to respond to the medical manpower needs in Kentucky in both primary care and subspecialty care," said Dr. Michael Karpf, UK vice president for health affairs. "This series of partnerships will benefit everyone across the Commonwealth."
Currently, the UK College of Medicine enrolls 521 students including 139 in the most recent admitted class ̶ the Class of 2019. With this new program, UK plans to increase its class size by approximately 30 percent through expansion to these satellite locations. Revenue generated by additional students in the college will offset costs associated with implementing the satellite programs. Local advisory committees will recommend students for admission to the program.
Basic science and early didactic training will be taught in conjunction with faculty at Morehead State and WKU on those respective campuses through both onsite and distance education modalities, according to UK College of Medicine curricular protocols.
“WKU is pleased to partner with the University of Kentucky and The Medical Center at Bowling Green to help facilitate the expansion of medical education into south central and western Kentucky,” said WKU President Gary A. Ransdell. “We have been working for many years in conjunction with The Medical Center at Bowling Green to address workforce demands in health care, most recently in nursing and physical therapy, and this collaboration will address a critical need that hospitals and communities throughout our region have for more physicians. WKU faculty will be fully engaged, and I’m pleased that our students will have even more opportunities to pursue a medical education here in Bowling Green.”
UK already has been partnering for several years with Morehead State University through a Rural Physician Leadership Program, where students complete their third and fourth years of medical training with rural-centered clinical experiences primarily at St. Claire Regional Medical Center.
“Our partnership with the University of Kentucky and St. Claire Regional Medical Center has helped many students from our region become physicians and physicians’ assistants,” said Morehead State University President Wayne D. Andrews. “Working with UK and St. Claire though our Rural Physician Leadership Program is a win-win not only for Morehead State University, but for our students and the communities we serve. We are delighted to extend these working relationships to expand our reach in helping meet the needs of East Kentucky.”
Mark J. Neff, president/CEO at St. Claire Regional Medical Center in Morehead added, “we are thrilled to be a part of the expansion and growth of the Rural Physician Leadership Program. Since the program began in 2012, St. Claire Regional has assisted 32 medical students to successfully graduate. Doing more to prepare for the shortage of rural health care providers only makes sense for us as we have continued to be dedicated to the training of medical providers in our region since our doors opened. We are proud to say that we have over 50 years of experience in training medical students, as a teaching affiliate of the University of Kentucky and we look forward to many more."
In addition to the didactic training, clinical education will occur in conjunction with the regional medical provider partners in Ashland, Morehead and Bowling Green.
"We are very proud to be a part of this collaborative effort and we are committed to building programs that support our communities and their future health care needs," said Kristie Whitlatch, president/CEO King's Daughters Health System. "We are also committed to retaining our local talent and providing them with the ability to remain in our communities for their educational experience and hopefully for their entire career as a physician. An alliance with the University of Kentucky College of Medicine will be beneficial in recruiting physicians of all specialties so we can keep our health care local and ultimately improve the health of the communities we serve."
Connie Smith, chief executive officer of The Medical Center at Bowling Green, added, “the establishment of a four-year satellite program at The Medical Center in Bowling Green is the first of its kind in Kentucky. This public/private partnership is an extraordinary means to address one of the most pressing challenges in health care today – the physician shortage. It is an amazing opportunity for area students wishing to pursue a career in medicine, and the entire Commonwealth will ultimately benefit from having greater access to well-trained physicians. This project will have a tremendous impact in south central Kentucky for years to come.”
Friday, February 5, 2016
Commonwealth Health Corporation Assumes Management of Clinton County Hospital
Commonwealth Health Corporation (CHC), parent company of The Medical Center, has assumed management of Clinton County Hospital effective immediately and will close on the acquisition of the hospital in March. Once the acquisition is complete, the hospital will become The Medical Center at Albany. Eric Hagan, Vice President of Commonwealth Health Corporation, will serve as Interim Administrator.
Clinton County Hospital is a 42-bed, not-for-profit acute care hospital located in Albany, Kentucky. The hospital has served the residents of Clinton County and surrounding counties since 1951 and currently has 125 employees. With the addition of Clinton County Hospital to its family of hospitals, CHC now operates six acute care hospitals in Southcentral Kentucky including The Medical Centers in Bowling Green, Caverna, Franklin and Scottsville and Commonwealth Regional Specialty Hospital in Bowling Green. CHC employs over 3,400 healthcare workers with a medical staff that includes over 350 physicians.
In October 2015 CHC was asked by Clinton County Hospital to evaluate operations at the hospital to determine the feasibility of acquiring the hospital.
“We look forward to serving the healthcare needs of residents in Clinton County and providing access to quality care close to home,” said Connie D. Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of CHC and The Medical Center. “We are honored to have been invited into the community and are committed to improving and expanding local healthcare services.”
Clinton County Hospital is a 42-bed, not-for-profit acute care hospital located in Albany, Kentucky. The hospital has served the residents of Clinton County and surrounding counties since 1951 and currently has 125 employees. With the addition of Clinton County Hospital to its family of hospitals, CHC now operates six acute care hospitals in Southcentral Kentucky including The Medical Centers in Bowling Green, Caverna, Franklin and Scottsville and Commonwealth Regional Specialty Hospital in Bowling Green. CHC employs over 3,400 healthcare workers with a medical staff that includes over 350 physicians.
In October 2015 CHC was asked by Clinton County Hospital to evaluate operations at the hospital to determine the feasibility of acquiring the hospital.
“We look forward to serving the healthcare needs of residents in Clinton County and providing access to quality care close to home,” said Connie D. Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of CHC and The Medical Center. “We are honored to have been invited into the community and are committed to improving and expanding local healthcare services.”
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Ten Kentucky Health Care Systems Form State-wide Health Care Collaborative
Regional and community health systems across the Commonwealth partner to reverse KY’s poor health statistics, share best practices and prepare for a population health model of care delivery.
William L. Shepley hired as executive director
Today, 10 health care systems across the Commonwealth of Kentucky, collectively known as the Kentucky Health Collaborative, announced its primary objectives of raising the standards of care across the state, addressing the Commonwealth’s poor health statistics and reducing the cost of care through greater operational efficiencies.
The founding health systems’ chief executive officers or appointed executives are serving on a steering committee guiding the formation and development of the collaborative.
The initial health systems which have signed on as charter members of the collaborative are:
Appalachian Regional Healthcare (Lexington, KY)*
Baptist Health (Louisville, KY)
Ephraim McDowell Health (Danville, KY)
LifePoint Health (Brentwood, TN)
Norton Healthcare (Louisville, KY)
Owensboro Health (Owensboro, KY)
St. Claire Regional Medical Center (Morehead, KY)
St. Elizabeth Healthcare (Edgewood, KY)
The Medical Center (Bowling Green, KY)
UK HealthCare (Lexington, KY)
*Parentheses designate location of organization’s headquarters
Kentucky Health Collaborative is still in its early stages of development, and there are many details yet to be finalized, such as which issues and opportunities for improvement the group will tackle first. As the collaborative develops the systems and infrastructure needed to accomplish its goals, the opportunity to join will extend to a wider pool of potential members across the Commonwealth.
In addition, the collaborative’s steering committee has hired William “Bill” L. Shepley as the organization’s inaugural executive director. Shepley, who has more than 25 years of experience as a health care executive at organizations such as the Southern Atlantic Healthcare Alliance and the Coastal Carolinas Healthcare Alliance, has devoted his career to developing and managing multi-facility alliances and networks to guide organizations through changes in the health care delivery system.
“Being offered this opportunity to serve the Commonwealth of Kentucky was one of the proudest moments of my career,” said Shepley. “The Kentucky Health Collaborative has created a governance structure that supports the inclusion and participation of health care providers regardless of location within the Commonwealth, size or profit structure. The solutions we expect to develop through the collaborative have worked well for similar networks across the country, and I am honored to be a part of this important process.”
William L. Shepley hired as executive director
Today, 10 health care systems across the Commonwealth of Kentucky, collectively known as the Kentucky Health Collaborative, announced its primary objectives of raising the standards of care across the state, addressing the Commonwealth’s poor health statistics and reducing the cost of care through greater operational efficiencies.
The founding health systems’ chief executive officers or appointed executives are serving on a steering committee guiding the formation and development of the collaborative.
The initial health systems which have signed on as charter members of the collaborative are:
Appalachian Regional Healthcare (Lexington, KY)*
Baptist Health (Louisville, KY)
Ephraim McDowell Health (Danville, KY)
LifePoint Health (Brentwood, TN)
Norton Healthcare (Louisville, KY)
Owensboro Health (Owensboro, KY)
St. Claire Regional Medical Center (Morehead, KY)
St. Elizabeth Healthcare (Edgewood, KY)
The Medical Center (Bowling Green, KY)
UK HealthCare (Lexington, KY)
*Parentheses designate location of organization’s headquarters
Kentucky Health Collaborative is still in its early stages of development, and there are many details yet to be finalized, such as which issues and opportunities for improvement the group will tackle first. As the collaborative develops the systems and infrastructure needed to accomplish its goals, the opportunity to join will extend to a wider pool of potential members across the Commonwealth.
In addition, the collaborative’s steering committee has hired William “Bill” L. Shepley as the organization’s inaugural executive director. Shepley, who has more than 25 years of experience as a health care executive at organizations such as the Southern Atlantic Healthcare Alliance and the Coastal Carolinas Healthcare Alliance, has devoted his career to developing and managing multi-facility alliances and networks to guide organizations through changes in the health care delivery system.
“Being offered this opportunity to serve the Commonwealth of Kentucky was one of the proudest moments of my career,” said Shepley. “The Kentucky Health Collaborative has created a governance structure that supports the inclusion and participation of health care providers regardless of location within the Commonwealth, size or profit structure. The solutions we expect to develop through the collaborative have worked well for similar networks across the country, and I am honored to be a part of this important process.”
Monday, January 11, 2016
The Medical Center Launches Life-Saving PulsePoint App
The Medical Center has introduced the PulsePoint app to Warren County. PulsePoint is a free mobile app that is saving lives in more than 1,100 communities in the United States.
Launched today to the Bowling Green community at the meeting of the Warren County Fire Chiefs Association, local first responders got a first look at the PulsePoint app. Medical Center Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Paramedic, Jim Williams, explained how it works. “The system will alert CPR-trained users through the free app when someone in a nearby public place is experiencing a heart attack and needs CPR. The app also shows the alerted CPR-trained person answering the call where to find the closest defibrillator.”
“The goal is for everyone with CPR training to sign up for the free PulsePoint app. They can then be alerted when someone in a public place within a quarter mile of them is in need of CPR. The person alerted by the app will perform necessary life-saving CPR until emergency personnel arrive. When someone is experiencing a heart attack, every minute counts,” said Jim Berry, Interim Director for Medical Center EMS.
In addition to the life-saving CPR notifications, the app provides a current list of accident locations to which EMS is responding. Knowing the accident locations will save individuals drive time by being able to plan an alternate route and avoid being slowed in traffic tie-ups.
To download the free PulsePoint app, go to either the Apple App Store or Google Play and search for “PulsePoint.”
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