BMC Orthopaedics Achieves National Certification from Joint Commission

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1 Scope March 14, 2013 Volume 35 Issue 5 B e r k s h i r e H e a l t h S y s t e m s E m p l o y e e N e w s l e t t e r Berkshire Medical Center has achieved Joint Commission Disease Specific Certification for Hip and Knee Replacement, following an intensive survey held in March. BMC is only one of two hospitals in Massachusetts and the only hospital in Western Massachusetts to have earned Joint Commission Disease Specific Certification for these procedures. BMC Orthopaedics Achieves National Certification from Joint Commission The Joint Commission program certifies each procedure separately, and therefore we received two certifications resulting from this survey, one for Hip Replacement and one for Knee Replacement, said Mickey Haryanto, RN-BC, Orthopaedic Program Service Line Several members of the BMC Joint Replacement Program team. Manager for BMC. The review was in-depth and included the areas of clinical practice, data, performance improvement, patient self-management of disease process, and program management. The front line nurses and our entire staff along with our physician partners at Berkshire Orthopaedic Associates deserve very high praise for this impressive achievement. They have all contributed greatly to our Center of Excellence designation and the success of our program. For BMC s hip and knee replacement patients, the certification means that they can rely on receiving the highest quality care demonstrated to meet Joint Commission s rigorous standards for Joint Replacement Programs, according to the Joint Commission. The review determined that BMC follows evidence-based care which is supported by standardized treatment, clinical practice guidelines, and best practices. The Joint Commission gold seal signifies that BMC is considered a Center of Excellence and has demonstrated commitment to continuously improving the care of hip and knee replacement patients.

2 2 S c o p e Nurse Practitioners Join BHS Physician Practices Professionals Help to Expand Care for Primary Care, Pediatrics and Gynecology Three BHS physician practices recently expanded services with the addition of Nurse Practitioners, including Fairview Internal Medicine, Gynecology Services of the Berkshires and MACONY Pediatrics. Robin Love, a Family Nurse Practitioner, joined Fairview Internal Medicine, in practice with Dr. Edward Weiner. Love has a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Massachusetts. She has previously served as a Family Nurse Practitioner with Northern Berkshire Family Medicine and Hillcrest Family Health, and worked for ten years at the Berkshire Visiting Nurse Robin Love, FNP Association. She is accepting new patients in need of primary care and women s health services at Fairview Internal Medicine. For an appointment, call Susan Shinn, a Women s Health Nurse Practitioner, has joined Dr. Joan Lister at Gynecology Services of the Berkshires. She received her Women s Health Nurse Practitioner certification from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, has a Master of Science in Nursing from Emory University and a bachelor s degree from the University of Phoenix. She came to the Berkshires with extensive experience practicing in Waterville, Maine and Asheville, North Carolina. She is accepting new patients for screening gynecologic care and management of contraception, menopause and gynecologic problems. For an appointment, call Charles Wheeler, a board certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, has joined MACONY Pediatrics and practices with Drs. Deborah Buccino, Ruby Chang and Lisa Sylvia and Physician Assistant Donald Reinauer. He received Susan Shinn, NP his Bachelor s in Nursing from the University of Massachusetts and has a Master s Degree in Nursing from Regis College. He previously served as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at Hasbro Children s Hospital in Providence and also worked in the Pediatric Intensive Care Units at Tufts Medical Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Johns Hopkins Hospital. He is accepting new patients in need of pediatric services, and appointments can be made by calling Charles Wheeler, PNP

3 S c o p e 3 Lean Ideas Continue to Result in Improved Patient Care, Quality and Potential Cost Savings, Making a Better BHS The Lean Initiative at BHS, which asks all employees to re-think the way they do things to help identify opportunities for improved quality and patient care while also potentially achieving cost savings across the organization, has generated hundreds of ideas that have been or are being implemented. Those initiatives contribute greatly to improving the way we care for our patients, and also can result in savings ranging from hundreds of dollars to many thousands. Regardless of their size, they are all important efforts that will help us to become better caregivers and more efficient. In recent months we have identified numerous improvements that have achieved over $6 million in waste reduction Results Final BHS Lean Pod Results Feb 2013 $4,700,000 $6,094,910 $2,600,000 $3,507,172 The Lean Six Sigma program is designed to improve quality and patient care while also achieving potential cost savings, as shown in this graph. opportunities and will realize $3.5 million dollars of those savings during the remainder of this fiscal year (FY13). Here is a small sampling of the most recent ideas that have been put forward, and the impact they are having. IV Tylenol Use: IV Tylenol was instituted as part of a multimodal pain regimen for Total Joint replacement in October of 2012 with the goal of reducing post-operative complications associated with narcotic administration. Since implementation, pain scores have improved, opiate use decreased, length of stay was shortened by.5 days and there have been no complications. Complications avoided include post-operative respiratory failure, Ileus, urinary retention, nausea and vomiting. With expansion to appropriate surgical patients the savings from decreased complications is in excess of $372,000 annually after the cost of the medication. OR Inventory: Using the 5 S s, which stands for sort, straighten, shine, standardize and sustain, frontline OR staff were able to decrease clutter and ensure supplies they needed for patient care were in the right place when they needed them, resulting in removal of unnecessary over-stocked inventory and decreased risk of waste due to expired inventory. The result was over $21,600 in savings per year. Generic Medication Usage: Substituting generic medications in place of more expensive name brand medications when pharmacologically appropriate has resulted in savings of over $21,000 annually. Vendor Contracting: By renegotiating contracts with vendors, BHS was able to obtain better pricing and payment terms, and discounts, while maintaining service contracts that continue to meet organizational needs. The result was a savings of over $150,000. Printer Cartridges: By switching to a more environmentally friendly brand of printer cartridge, which yields more copies per cartridge, we are not only protecting the environment, but have a savings of over $63,000.

4 4 S c o p e Cardiology Specialist Joins BMC Berkshire Health Systems announces the appointment of Andrew S. Potash, MD, a board certified and fellowship trained cardiologist with specialization in electrophysiology, to the medical staff of Berkshire Medical Center and the Cardiology Services at BMC physician practice. Dr. Potash is accepting new patients in needs of cardiology care. He specializes in the placement of cardiac pacemakers and in diagnostic cardiac catheterization. He is partnered with Drs. Jeffrey Leppo, Kyle Cooper, Kristen Currie, David Finck, Peter Hahn, Douglas Herr, William Levy, Lisa Massie, Mara Slawsky and Georgianne Valli-Harwood at Cardiology Services at BMC. Dr. Potash is board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Disease. He was fellowship trained in Cardiovascular Disease at St. Louis University Medical Center and in Electrophysiology and Pacing at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. Dr. Potash received his medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine and completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia. Andrew S. Potash, MD Dr. Potash came to the Berkshires after serving as a cardiologist at St. Luke s Cardiology Associates in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and previously practiced at Lehigh Valley Health Network, also in Pennsylvania. For an appointment with Dr. Potash or one of his colleagues, ask your physician for a referral or call Cardiology Services at BMC, CHOOSE YOUR CAPTAIN & FORM YOUR TEAMS NOW! The program runs for 6 weeks: Monday April 15 th through Sunday May 26 th. The goal of the program is to encourage better health through exercise. Participants report their steps to their captains weekly with the goal of increasing their steps throughout the program. T-shirts will be given to all participants who complete the program. Register March 26th at 10 am on the website. Captains will need the following information in order to register their team members: Name, city or town, phone #, t-shirt size (S,M,L,XL,XXL,XXXL), and age. So, buddy up. Team minimum is 2, maximum is 20. This year we will be providing NEW step counters which are more simple to operate. Captains will be informed of dates and locations for packet pick-up at each campus prior to the start of the program. Stay tuned.

5 Thanks and Recognition I want to recognize your entire medical team. They were attentive and I felt included in medical decisions. I was especially pleased that they followed up on my concerns. The occupational and physical therapy staff was exceptional. Comment from a BMC Orthopaedic Unit patient It was a very difficult day that was made much better by the staff. They got my results before I left so I could enjoy my holiday. This department works great; don t change a thing. I thank them all. Great staff. Excellent care. Better than expected. Comment from a BMC Radiology Services patient Never thought labor and delivery and staying in a hospital would be such a nice experience. Comment from a BMC Mother Baby Unit patient In Memoriam Anne Toddy Ferns, who was a Licensed Practical Nurse at the former St. Luke s Hospital and later Berkshire Medical Center, died on March 1st at the age of 90. She retired from BMC in Gildo Gigi DeFazio, who worked for many years in the Supply Department at BMC, died on March 14th at the age of 86. The staff of Berkshire Health Systems offers its deepest condolences to their friends and family. BMC Annual Employee Award Nomination Forms Now Available: Recognize a Colleague For Exceptional Service The annual BMC employee awards will be bestowed during National Hospital Week, which is May 12th to 18th, and all employees now have the opportunity to nominate a co-worker for his or her exceptional service. Employee recognition awards cover four categories: Clinical Excellence; Service Excellence; Leadership in Healthcare; and Management Excellence. The nomination forms can be found outside the Staffing Office, outside the Café and on the BHS employee web portal. Each award s criteria are documented in the nomination forms. Please help support this special recognition program by encouraging staff to nominate employees who they feel meet the criteria. The deadline for submission of the nominations is Friday, April 5th. BMC s Pet Therapy Program Recruiting New Participants Berkshire Medical Center s pet therapy program is offering a Pet Partners Organization pet therapy class and evaluation for those interested in having their pet become part of the program. The next class will be held on Sunday, April 28th from 8 am to 4:30 pm at Berkshire Medical Center. Participants should meet in the main lobby. Pre-registration is required. For more information or to register for the Caring Companions class, leave a message with full contact information at ext The Pet Therapy program at BMC offers patients at the Medical Center the opportunity to have visits by certified dogs and other pets, if qualified by the program. Numerous studies have shown that pets can have a therapeutic benefit, including lowering blood pressure and reducing stress. Chaplain s Corner By Sister Colette Hanlon, SC, BMC Chaplain The Inviting Promise of Smell S c o p e 5 We are blessed to have this wonderful medical center (so close to) our home. Comment from a BMC Surgical Services patient As I opened the door, I was overwhelmed by the fragrant smell of candles and cleanliness. The moment was a celebration of the senses and the promise of newness. Snow was falling outside; the sun was shining, and inside silence and solitude welcomed me. Later beautiful chanting touched my innermost being, as the sun shone through swiftly passing clouds that were suffused with rainbow colors a treat for my eyes. The spaciousness within and without began to scatter my inner excess. The swaying of stately evergreens was a sign of the need to be flexible. And the cost of all this luxury, this sensate feasting? Nothing. Except, of course, saving space on my calendar and finding a place of solitude. For me, the smells, sounds, sights, touch and taste of silence and spaciousness occurred at the Visitation Monastery in Tyringham. Where might you find an experience of renewal and refreshment? An added bonus of my feast for the soul and senses? I saw my first red robin sitting on a tree outside in the midst of the blowing snow. Spring is on the way.

6 6 S c o p e for your health Spring Into Fitness A 6 week program at Berkshire Running Center, Berkshire Nautilus. March 27 - May 4 Wednesdays at 5:30 pm & Saturdays at 8:00 am Brought to You by the Wellness at Work Team Visit the Wellness page of the employee portal for more details. Spring is almost here, it s a great time to develop your fitness program and get a second chance at achieving your New Year s resolution! For all abilities this program is designed to motivate you to start a new or improved exercise program. While focusing on making successful lifestyle changes this program will incorporate all facets of fitness, making it practical and achievable for anyone at any level. To register, call Carol Nixon, program coordinator at or cnixon@bhs1.org. Get SMART Speaker: Mark Kenyon, LMFT, LADC-I, CEAP Having problems getting organized? How about task management or coordinating work with competing deadlines? This program is a sequel to the time management program offered in February. We ll present on goal setting using the SMART system. Mon., April 1 Mon., April 8 Mon., April 8 Tues., April 9 Mon., April 22 11:30 & 12:15 Noon 1:00 pm Noon Noon BMC, PDR D Central Block, small conf. room Clocktower, 5th flr. conf. room Fairview, ground flr. conf. room BMC Hillcrest Campus, 1st flr. conf. room BMC Crockpot Cook-Off The 2nd Annual Crockpot Cook-off will be Monday, March 25th from 11 am 1pm in the BMC Cafeteria. Stop by for a taste! Congratulations to the February winners of the Wellness Birthday Month Screening Drawing! Cranwell Spa Day: Diane Pratt, Environmental Services (pictured at right) $50 Dick s Sporting Goods cards: Regina Cardonnel, Cardiology Robin Gajda, Long Term Care Exercise Keeping It Simple A monthly group exercise program at Berkshire Nautilus for Wellness at Work participants. Group exercise sessions are designed to introduce participants to the basics of exercise while they are exercising. Classes are fun and progressively challenging from week to week. For more information and to register, call Wellness at Work at (413) or WellnessAtWork@bhs1.org. Deadline to register: Wednesday, March 27th. Program starts on the 1st Monday of each month and includes: 8 Supervised Sessions, lasting 1 hour each 2 Classes Weekly Cardio Strength & Endurance Core & Flexibility Tuesdays & Thursdays at 8:00 am OR Mondays & Wednesdays at 5:00 pm $69.00 (will be credited towards a Berkshire Nautilus membership if you wish to join) $49.00 for current BN members Classes are suitable for all fitness levels!

7 Job Opportunities Berkshire Medical Postings, 03/15/13 3 East Ortho 32 Hr/E RN Behavioral Sciences/McGee Unit 8 Hr/D/E, 16 Hr/E, RN Wound Center (2) Non-Scheduled Wound Center Nurse Nursing Administration 32 Hr/N Alternate Shift Nursing Director Renal 40 Hr/D Clinical Manager Quality Management 40 Hr/D Performance Improvement Specialist I-NSQIP 3 East Ortho 32 Hr/N Nursing Assistant Nursing Office Float 24 Hr/E Nursing Assistant Respiratory Therapy Non-Scheduled Registered Respiratory Therapist Crane Center Ambulatory Surgery 32 Hr/D Certified Surgical Tech Renal 8 Hr/D Social Worker Behavioral Sciences/McGee Unit Non Scheduled Clinical Therapist Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences/PCOT Non Scheduled Medical Social Worker III Laboratory 40 Hr/D Microbiology Supervisor Laboratory Non Scheduled General Med Tech BMC & Fairview Outpatient Rehabilitation 40 Hr/D Physical Therapist Rehabilitation 40 Hr/D Rehab Therapy Aide Outpatient Rehabilitation 40 Hr/D/E Rehab Support Representative Pharmacy Non Scheduled Pharmarch Tech Employee Radiology 10 Hr/D Imaging support Specialist Linen Department Non Scheduled Linen Coordinator S c o p e 7 Berkshire Health Systems Postings, 03/15/13 LTC General Accounting 40 Hr/D Payroll Specialist Patient Accounting 40 Hr/D Billing and Collection Specialist Central Distribution 24 Hr/D Customer Service Representatives (2)Non scheduled Client Service Rep Berkshire Visiting Nurse Association Posting, 03/15/13 Home Care Transitions Coordinator 40 Hr/D BVNA Fairview Hospital Postings 3/21/13 Wound Center, Registered Nurse, Per Diem Nursing Admin, Nursing Shift Director, 20 Hr/varies HIMS, Coder-Abstractor, 40 Hr/D Med/Surg, Registered Nurse, 22.5 Hr/D Emergency Dept., RN, 36 Hr D/E/N (TEMP for 6 mo.) Emergency Dept., Registered Nurse, Per Diem Med/Surg, Nursing Assistant, Per Diem Surgical Services, RN First Assist, Per Diem Rehabilitation, Physical Therapist, Per Diem Scope Please direct any comments, questions or suggestions for Scope to Development and Community Relations at Editor: Ruth Blodgett Writers: Mike Leary, Elzbieta Lauren Smith Ala Trzepacz Layout and Printing: Deirdre McKenna, Materials Management Scope is printed on paper with post-consumer recycled content.

8 8 S c o p e Healthcare Career & Education Opportunities to be Highlighted at BHS Event The Human Resources Department at Berkshire Health Systems will host its annual Healthcare Career Education Fair for anyone wishing to enter the fields of nursing, diagnostic radiology technology, laboratory, pharmacy, physical, occupational and speech therapy and medical record coding. The event is also for current healthcare professionals who desire to further their education and qualifications. The fair will be held on Tuesday, April 2nd from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. in Berkshire Medical Center s Private Dining Rooms, adjacent to the cafeteria. The fair is designed to promote awareness of careers in healthcare where job opportunities are increasing. In light of nationwide shortages in many areas of healthcare, there are opportunities in the near future for Registered Nurses to enhance their education and for those who want to enter the fields of nursing, diagnostic radiology technology, laboratory, pharmacy, physical, occupational and speech therapy and medical record coding. As part of the program, participants can learn more about degree and professional training programs at numerous schools and colleges from throughout the area and beyond, including online learning programs. Representatives from the schools will be available at the event to discuss their programs. In addition, attendees can learn more about financial assistance programs and other financial aid resources. The Healthcare Career Education Fair is open to anyone interested in a healthcare career and targeted to high school students and their parents, guidance counselors, current Registered Nurses wishing to seek a bachelor s or master s degree and all employees of Berkshire Health Systems and Berkshire Healthcare Systems wishing to further their training and careers. Refreshments will be provided. BMC Announces Kermit Gordon and Bishop/St. Luke s Scholarships Berkshire Medical Center has announced that applications are being accepted for two scholarships, both aimed at students pursuing careers in the healthcare field. The Kermit Gordon Scholarship will be awarded to Berkshire County college students enrolled in medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy or health science programs. Through the continued support and generosity of the Gordon Family longstanding donors to Berkshire Medical Center ten Berkshire County students last year were awarded scholarships to begin or continue their education in the healthcare field. The Kermit Gordon Scholarship Fund at Berkshire Medical Center was created by Mr. and Mrs. Kermit Gordon in 1985 for students who plan to enter the healthcare field. The scholarships are awarded on the basis of financial need, superior academic performance, commitment to a chosen field and potential for success. BMC is also accepting applications for nursing scholarships, awarded annually to county residents from funds through the former Henry W. Bishop and St. Luke s nursing schools. These scholarships will help pay initial tuition and expenses for those pursuing an associate s degree, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, or a Master of Science in Nursing. The number and amount of scholarships to be awarded will be set by the scholarship committee. Application forms may be obtained from the Berkshire Health Systems Education Department, 165 Tor Court in Pittsfield or from county high school guidance counselors. All applications are due by May 1. For more information, call the BHS Education Department at