Bronson Battle Creek Years of Progress Battle Creek
Battle Creek Health System officially became Bronson Battle Creek and a member of the Bronson Healthcare system in July, 2011. In forging this partnership, our board of directors established a shared vision for serving the region; one that focused on providing the right care, at the right time, in the right place, at the right value. This set the stage for extensive collaboration and coordination between Bronson services in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek to standardize care, expand access to healthcare specialists in Battle Creek and to surround patients with an exceptional care experience. Over the past four years, much has been accomplished thanks to the hard work and commitment of Bronson Battle Creek s employees, medical staff, volunteers and leadership team. Their strong spirit of teamwork, along with investment and support from the entire healthcare system, has led to numerous improvements in quality, service, and patient satisfaction, as well as growing community confidence. As a locally governed, regional healthcare system, Bronson will continue to reinvest in programs, services and infrastructure to ensure everyone in Calhoun County has access to the highest quality medical care. In this report, you will see highlights of our progress and ongoing commitment. Sincerely, Frank Sardone President & CEO Bronson Healthcare Jim McKernan Chief Operating Officer Bronson Battle Creek
2011 2015 4 Years of Progress Bronson Positivity in Action We are proud to celebrate our fourth year as Bronson Battle Creek and to provide this update on how we ve been fulfilling our promise to deliver the highest quality medical care, provide an exceptional care experience, and strengthen the community. With 2,000 employees in Battle Creek and 5,800 more across the Bronson Healthcare system, we have a dedicated, inspired team working as one to provide everyone with the best possible care. Committed to what matters most to patients and families, our staff is not only delivering on our promise, but is the reason why more people choose Bronson than any other healthcare provider in the region. I am continually impressed with the passion and drive that everyone at Bronson Battle Creek has shown as they have come together with colleagues across the system to improve care for patients and families. The pace of change in four short years has been incredible. I ve definitely seen Bronson Positivity in action and thank all who have contributed to the momentum-our board, leadership teams, physicians, employees, volunteers and the community. Don Parfet, board chair, Bronson Healthcare Employment at Bronson Battle Creek is on the rise. We have about 100 more employees on our hospital campus, today, than we had four years ago. And the recent decision to locate our system headquarters for Bronson at Home in Battle Creek brought another dozen jobs to the community. In 2011, only 275 providers were on the medical staff at Bronson Battle Creek. After significant recruitment, we now have more than 500 physicians and advanced practice providers allowing us to offer expanded access to a wide range of primary and specialty care services right here in Battle Creek. Another advantage of being part of the Bronson system is the ability to share key physician specialists across care sites. This helps us standardize care and deliver a consistent, high quality patient experience. For example, every hospital in the Bronson system is now staffed by the same group of providers for emergency services, inpatient care, radiology, pathology, cardiology and neurosciences. Many physicians have decided to partner exclusively with Bronson to care for their patients. It s not just about employment. Physicians are partnering with Bronson to improve care today and to design a better model of care for the future. We are building a culture that shares best practices and is focused on continuous, evidence-driven improvement. Dr. Mahesh Karamchandani, board member and practicing physician
Improving Quality, Coordinating Care Over the past four years, Bronson has invested more than $50 million in capital expenditures to enhance patient care. This includes clinical technology such as a new linear accelerator for our nationally recognized cancer care center and a high-definition robotic surgery system for minimally invasive surgery, as well as facility improvements such as renovating the Bronson BirthPlace, expanding the emergency department and building a chest pain diagnosis unit. At our outpatient center on Beckley Road, we ve doubled our urgent care capacity and expanded imaging capabilities. One of the first priorities the board set in 2011 was improving the Emergency Department (ED). Bronson quickly focused on training, staffing, quality, service and process improvements, followed by capital investments to improve the patient care environment and add capacity. ED performance metrics have improved substantially and many people I know are commenting on how much better the care is. That s terrific progress, especially with a 15% increase in ED visits over the last four years. Brenda Hunt, board member In 2015, Bronson completed a $120 million investment in a centralized electronic health record system that spans Bronson sites across the region. Patient information is now stored in one computer system so Bronson doctors and staff can access it electronically at any time and from any location. This ensures that every aspect of a patient s care is connected and communicated as patients move from one doctor, service or hospital to the next. Bronson patients can also access their own health information through Bronson MyChart, a secure online connection that is free and accessible from any computer, tablet or mobile phone. It allows patients to request appointments, view test results, refill prescriptions, and conduct other tasks to manage their healthcare needs online. Coordinating clinical expertise and resources across the health system increases the level of care we provide at Bronson Battle Creek. The organization s focus on improving the patient experience is paying off. The board has seen improvement in every one of the hospital s quality metrics. And, I hear from my patients all the time about the wonderful care they received from our nurses and care teams. Dr. Steve Lins, board member and practicing physician
Investing in Our Community Bronson Battle Creek does not take lightly its responsibility as the community s only hospital. We are committed to assuring that everyone has access to quality healthcare regardless of ability to pay. To that end, Bronson Battle Creek has delivered nearly $100 million in uncompensated care to patients during our first four years with Bronson. As I work with community leaders to create Battle Creek s vision of the future, I often wonder where our community would be if Battle Creek Health System hadn t chosen Bronson as its partner. Having the presence of the region s leading healthcare system in Battle Creek has not only improved medical care, it has impacted the overall vitality and sustainability of our community. Bronson Battle Creek is growing, hiring, and attracting more patients than ever before. It is an anchor institution that brings valuable resources to Calhoun County and plays an important role in economic development. LaJune Montgomery Tabron, board member We have also been leading efforts to enroll residents in the federal health exchanges and Medicaid expansion resulting in more than 40,000 residents in Calhoun, Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties securing insurance coverage. Bronson Battle Creek is engaged in dozens of community partnerships that strive to make Calhoun County a better place in which to live, work and play. Our involvement covers a wide range of initiatives from Senior Health Partners focus on health and wellness activities for older adults, to programs in the schools to reduce obesity among youth, to improving infant health and offering creative dental and pharmaceutical supports for those with little or no insurance. Bronson has been a great fit for Battle Creek. It has helped our local hospital become stronger and better able to grow and sustain essential services and community ties. At Bronson Battle Creek Hospital Community Partners, we see what an important safety net Bronson Battle Creek is and we are proud to partner with the hospital on shared initiatives to improve the overall health of children, adults and seniors in our community. Peggy Sindt, board chair, BBCH Community Partners
300 North Ave. Battle Creek, MI 49017 (269) 245-8000 bronsonhealth.com Battle Creek