MDNews - Central New York

+++++++++++++++++++ + +++ + LOCAL NEWS › +++ +++++++++++++++++++ Pioneer Employers — employers whose policies and practices have resulted in a Fifty-four upstate New York hospitals and COLLEEN MELVIN SCHMIDT NAMED VP OF GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS CLINICAL OPERATIONS health centers last year earned $26 million Colleen Melvin Schmidt has been named on the organization's bottom line. in quality improvement incentive payments Vice President of Government Programs from Excellus BlueCross BlueShield as part of Clinical Operations for Excellus BlueCross nition and a testament to the Aspiring the Hospital Performance Incentive Program. BlueShield. In her new role, Schmidt is re- Leaders Program," says Scott H. Perra, In the past nine years, quality performance sponsible for the strategic development of FACHE, President and CEO of FSLH. "The incentives from Excellus BCBS have exceeded all care management programs and quality- success of an organization is tied to how $145 million. and risk-based revenue programs related to it educates and develops employees for state and federal programs. She will work leadership roles." EXCELLUS BCBS AWARDS HOSPITALS $26 MILLION FOR QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS Participating in 2012 were eight Central New better quality of life for frontline workers but have also created a measurable return "It is an honor to receive this recog- York hospitals, including Cortland Regional with providers, hospitals and community In its sixth year, the Aspiring Leaders Medical Center, Crouse Hospital, Oswego partners to ensure that members receive Program has 74 graduates, with 30% of Hospital, St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center access to high-quality health care. those employees already promoted to and Upstate University Health System. A nine-year Excellus BlueCross positions with greater responsibilities. "For several years, Crouse and other hos- BlueShield employee, Schmidt has served pitals have partnered with Excellus BlueCross as director of clinical services, network and BlueShield to improve patient care," says membership management. She earned a Derrick Suehs, Chief Quality Officer at Crouse master's degree in business administra- Hospital. "This partnership has played a key tion from Binghamton University and a EXCELLUS BCBS PLEDGES MAJOR GRANT TO FUND AMBULANCE CARDIAC CARE EQUIPMENT role in helping us identify, prioritize and imple- bachelor's degree in nursing from Syracuse Excellus BlueCross BlueShield recently ment care improvement initiatives that make Health Science Center. pledged a $30,000 grant to Upstate University Hospital's Department of a real difference in the patient experience and Emergency Medicine and Heart and care outcomes." Vascular Center to purchase and distrib- in acquired pressure ulcers in its intensive FSLH HIGHLIGHTED IN NATIONAL PIONEER HOSPITAL TRAINING INITIATIVE care unit over the past year, a decrease in the Faxton St. Luke's Healthcare (FSLH) has and volunteer ambulance companies. The number of hospital-acquired infections, and been recognized as a "Pioneer Employer" in equipment will help speed the diagnosis improvements in patient satisfaction scores Healthcare Association of New York State's and treatment of individuals experiencing and timeliness of services. (HANYS) National Pioneer Hospital Training heart attack symptoms. Suehs cites Crouse Hospital's 57% reduction The Hospital Performance Incentive Initiative — a national study to identify ute cardiac care equipment for municipal The funding will place 37 12-lead elec- Program evaluates participating hospitals on hospital programs that help frontline work- trocardiogram (ECG) modems in ambu- more than 300 performance measures. In 2012, ers develop careers in health care. FSLH's lances across five Central New York coun- hospitals achieved 87% of all target quality Aspiring Leaders Program was featured as a ties, allowing first responders to transmit levels, which are jointly agreed upon by each best practice in workforce management for diagnostic information directly from hospital and the health insurer, using bench- its efforts to promote the next generation of individuals with acute myocardial infarc- marks established by the Centers for Medicare skilled leaders. tion or heart attack symptoms to hospital & Medicaid Services, The Leapfrog Group, With support from the Keith A. emergency departments. The advance The Joint Commission on the Accreditation Fenstemacher Center for Continuous data can speed triage and treatment of Healthcare Organizations, the Institute for Learning, the Aspiring Leaders Program was once the patient arrives at the hospital, Healthcare Improvement and others. developed to give employees with manage- lowering risk of death and serious heart Areas targeted for improvement include: ment potential the skills necessary to become muscle damage. • Clinical outcomes — improvements leaders within the organization. Excellus BCBS Community and Member "Developing future leaders is impor- Health Improvement program funds will tant for the continued success of FSLH underwrite the purchase. Approximately because it expands our leadership bench 60% of emergency medical services agen- acquired infections, improved medication strength," says Paul Rubsamen, Director of cies in Central New York have 12-lead ECG reconciliation processes, surgical care and Organizational Development and FSLH's Chief capability. The grant will allow up to 23 National Quality Forum Safe Practices Learning Officer. ambulance services in Cayuga, Cortland, in heart attack care, heart failure and pneumonia care • Patient safety — reductions in hospital- • Efficiency — generics utilization, length of stay and readmissions FSLH was one of only 11 hospitals across the United States identified in the study as Madison, Onondaga and Oswego counties to install the mobile technology.

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