tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73895664875064650182024-03-07T22:14:51.269-08:00Orange Regional CEO BlogA forum for Orange Regional Medical Center employees, physicians, and our community.Scott Batulishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07785181211563988151noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389566487506465018.post-8012949323339858722011-11-12T08:12:00.000-08:002011-11-29T08:14:06.257-08:00So much to be Thankful for...As we enter the Thanksgiving season, it strikes me how much we have to be thankful for at Orange Regional Medical Center. We have a beautiful new hospital, an outstanding team of people dedicated to excellent patient care and a very bright future. Many patients have expressed their gratitude for the amazing experiences they have had at our facility. One patient told me that they never needed to ring their call bell during their entire hospital stay! I think this is an amazing testament and illustrates our attentiveness and dedication to our patients. I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you for your contribution toward positive patient experiences. <br /><br />We are closing in on a historical year filled with many monumental events. The magnitude of what we accomplished this year did not go unnoticed by our community. Gratitude has been bestowed upon us with numerous recognitions and awards. Organizations such as the Orange County Chamber of Commerce, the Orange County Partnership and the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan thanked us publically and with distinguished awards for our unwavering commitment to our patients and community. <br /><br />I am very grateful to serve as your President & CEO. Thank you, again, for all you do and have a healthy and safe holiday season.Scott Batulishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07785181211563988151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389566487506465018.post-10394665906622386212011-10-21T10:37:00.000-07:002011-10-21T10:42:49.458-07:00Enhancing Patient ExperienceAs we approach our three month occupancy date of the new hospital, we continue to incorporate advancements in technology, implement new services and recruit qualified staff in an effort to meet and exceed our goal of providing exceptional healthcare to our community. During the past 12 weeks, there have been several suggestions from employees on physical enhancements to the facility that would make out patients’ experience even better. <br /><br />Expanding our services and advancing technology is necessary to be the hospital of choice for our community. Our third catheterization lab is now operational which allows us to better meet the increasing needs of our cardiac patients. Also, our second interventional radiology lab is up and running. This all-digital vascular and interventional imaging system helps physicians treat various medical disorders including peripheral vascular, cardiovascular and neurological diseases, cancer and other conditions, in lieu of major surgery.<br /><br />We recently added new technology to diagnose and treat more cancer patients. We are now using the HALO System, the latest in radiofrequency ablation (RFA) technology to treat Barrett’s esophagus, a pre-cancerous condition affecting the lining of the esophagus commonly caused by acid reflux. Additionally, we’ve added new endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) technology. EUS is used in diagnosing cancers throughout the digestive tract, as well as staging esophageal; lung; gastric; pancreatic; biliary and rectal cancers. Both procedures increase survival rates due to the ability to detect and treat cancer early. <br /><br />The patient Room Service Dining Program has been very successful and is receiving rave reviews. Since opening the new hospital, Nutrition and Food Services reconstructed a portion of the kitchen to resemble the inner workings of a restaurant. This upgrade allows for a la Carte cooking and preparation of fresh food resulting in faster service and personal touches to custom orders. <br /><br />We continue to recruit staff and leadership that demonstrate performance excellence. Please welcome Joanne Ritter-Teitel, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer for the Greater Hudson Valley Health System (GHVHS). Joanne brings significant experience in nursing administration and will oversee Nursing throughout Orange Regional and Catskill Regional Medical Centers. Jeffrey Lieto, Chief Physician Strategy Officer, has also joined the GHVHS Executive Team. Jeffrey has an extensive background in Operations, Strategic Planning, Business Development and Physician Practice Management. He is responsible for physician integration throughout the System. <br /><br />I’m also pleased to announce that we have signed a contract with the Schumacher Group to provide Emergency Medicine Services at both Orange Regional and Catskill Regional Medical Centers effective January 1, 2012. The Schumacher Group serves over 180 hospitals throughout the United States. <br /> <br />At Orange Regional, we always take employee suggestions into consideration to enhance patient care and maximize efficiencies for our staff. We’re installing 25 more automatic doors to ease the flow of traffic throughout the facility. We’ve also rewired the alarm system on the fifth floor to place greater emphasis on security in the Pediatric wing. Additional signage throughout the facility is in progress so staff and visitors can navigate more easily. You may have also noticed areas with increased swipe access and electronic keypad locks. These additional devices were installed to increase the safety of our patients, visitors and staff. <br />I am always interested to hear suggestions on how we can better serve our patients. Please don’t hesitate to share your ideas with me or your manager. I’ve also reinstated monthly anniversary lunches. This is a great opportunity for me to listen to your comments, ideas and feedback about the organization. Lastly, our employee survey will begin November 7. We take your feedback seriously. Please make every effort to take the survey. <br /><br />While I’ve noted several advancements, it is vital that we stay focused and provide excellent patient experiences. Otherwise, the upgrades we make and the new services we add will mean nothing. Patients have choices for their healthcare needs. Please make sure that you are providing quality care and excellent customer service to ensure patients continue to choose Orange Regional as their healthcare provider.Scott Batulishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07785181211563988151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389566487506465018.post-72635582565230644352011-09-22T09:15:00.000-07:002011-09-22T09:17:26.612-07:00Hurricane Irene - ORMC Remains Committed to Patient CareI sincerely thank everyone at the hospital for the incredible work performed during the weekend of, and days following, the recent hurricane. Your preparation and careful planning made it possible for all of us to manage the impact of Irene - one of the most damaging storms to the Hudson Valley in history. <br /><br />The command center performed perfectly with rapid responses and timely communication throughout the 36 hours of the storm. Beyond the storm, our emergency management department continued to keep you updated with area road closures due to flooding and downed trees. <br /><br />Physicians, nurses and support staff took excellent care of our patients while many experienced outages and flooding in their own homes. Travel restrictions were mandated due to the deteriorating road conditions and a county-wide, state-of-emergency declaration. Not only did this hinder the ability for staff and physicians to travel to and from the hospital, it also left our discharged patients and their families stranded at our facility. However, our team of professionals created a plan for nourishment, medication and shelter from the storm until it was safe to leave. Mother Nature has presented our community with challenges lately. As a team, we once again, clearly demonstrated tremendous strength in effectively and efficiently managing this emergency situation with the safety and comfort of our patients at the forefront. <br /><br />Thanks again for your commitment to our patients, the organization and our community.Scott Batulishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07785181211563988151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389566487506465018.post-35861010863324662332011-09-06T10:48:00.000-07:002011-09-06T10:49:27.712-07:00Welcome to the New ORMCIt is with much pleasure and gratitude that I welcome you to the new Orange Regional Medical Center. Thanks to all who worked night and day to get the new hospital ready for our patients. Friday, August 5, 2011, is now a day in history that each of us will never forget. <br /><br />Congratulations to everyone for the incredibly smooth and safe move of all patients from the Arden Hill and Horton Campuses. Special thanks to Jonathan Schiller and Sandra Iberger for leading the fantastic planning of the move, to everyone in the command centers, the EMS community, our physicians, staff and volunteers. It was a proud day for Orange Regional and our community. It was also a significant day with many “firsts” including our first baby, first cath lab procedure, first surgery and first helicopter landing to name a few. <br /><br />The new building is quite large. Please become familiar with it quickly. Additionally, we must all work to refine processes and procedures that allow for better patient flow and time management efficiencies. This is necessary in providing excellent care to every patient every day. The expectations of our community and of our patients have been raised significantly requiring us to set the highest standards of professionalism throughout the organization. Not only should we meet and exceed these standards, but we must follow through with each and every patient encounter as they come before us, ensuring quality care from beginning to end. <br /><br />We have a fantastic opportunity to create a medical center second to none in the region. We should all take great pride in what we have accomplished and embrace our exciting future. Please continue to work as a team in the spirit that shined so bright throughout our move. Together, it was the hard work and dedication that each of you put forth to make this dream a reality. Together, moving forward, we will only grow stronger. <br /><br />Welcome to our exciting new home!Scott Batulishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07785181211563988151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389566487506465018.post-61995078255545632112011-07-08T11:10:00.000-07:002011-07-08T11:11:56.652-07:00It's moving time!Our move to the new hospital is here. This once in a lifetime, historic opportunity will allow us to bring the best possible healthcare to communities in the Hudson Valley. Our patients have high expectations of us, as they should. Exceeding these expectations belongs to each and every one of us. A brand new hospital means little if we don’t treat our patients and their families with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect. Therefore, in addition to providing quality healthcare services, my expectation of all hospital family is to always model professional behavior. Greeting our patients and visitors with a smile and in a friendly manner makes an extraordinary difference. Going above and beyond has an exceptional impact.<br /> <br />We have a wonderful new state-of-the-art facility that will help us raise the level of quality healthcare throughout the region and enable us to provide new services and programs never imagined just a few years ago. I have no doubt that you will all take great care of our new home as if it were your own. Please treat our building, equipment and furnishings with respect because they need to last a long time. Always strive to maintain neatness, order and cleanliness no matter where you are in the hospital.<br /><br />Your flexibility and patience is appreciated as we adjust to our new surroundings. Keep a positive attitude. Your co-workers and our patients will thank you for it. <br />Please remember that a strong team is virtually unstoppable and I know we all want our new hospital to be the best it can be. With your continuous dedication and compassion, Orange Regional Medical Center will lead the way and serve as a prime example of excellent healthcare in New York State and beyond. <br /><br />I’ll see you in the new hospital.Scott Batulishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07785181211563988151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389566487506465018.post-64869756155542115522011-06-22T11:26:00.000-07:002011-06-22T11:29:16.230-07:00On the go!We are going through a number of significant changes currently. Acknowledging that change can be exhilarating, challenging and exhausting it can also be stressful, even if it’s positive. Implementing the EHR system was a major, yet positive, change in how we do our work. Likewise, the new hospital will also bring about a drastic change to our work environment, our relationships with co-workers and, for some, their reporting structure. Nevertheless, we need to have extra patience and focus on the basics when at work. Amidst all these distractions that come with change, patients are always our number one priority. During the move to the new hospital, patient safety will remain our number one priority. <br /> <br />It’s important for us to recognize that we are all going through this stressful time together as preparations for our move continue. We must deal with our own stress in the best way possible so as not to compromise the delivery of services to our patients and for our own well being. Everyone copes with stress individually and I encourage you to deal with your stress in a positive way and that best suits you. <br /><br />Regarding quality of care, we have been doing really well so far. As I round, I have received positive feedback from our patients about nursing care, physicians, food service and house-keeping. I have even heard that it’s quieter at night. It was incredible to see that inpatient satisfaction actually increased during the EHR implementation. That is an outstanding accomplishment!<br /><br />Preparations for our occupancy at the new facility are quickly coming together as we are ready for yet another Department of Health building survey. Furnishing and moveable medical equipment installations have begun and the installation of fixed medical equipment is 95 percent complete. Artwork is scheduled to be delivered and displayed throughout the facility starting the week of July 11. Support departments will start moving in mid-July and the patient move is still on schedule for August 5, 2011. <br /><br />Moving our patients is an enormously complex activity. We have planned the patient move for years with Orange Regional staff as well as with numerous Village, Town, City, County and State agencies. Of course, the most important and critical part of the plan is the detail surrounding the actual day that our patients move into the new hospital. That’s why on June 29, we will take the patient move plan, put it into motion and undergo a mock patient move. We will be transporting ‘patients’ (played by those who offer to volunteer) via ambulances from the Arden Hill and Horton Campuses to the new facility. Command Centers will be set up at all three locations. <br /><br />Additionally, a comprehensive plan to safely and efficiently move departments, equipment, records and staff from the Arden Hill and Horton Campuses to the new hospital has been developed and is also coming to fruition. Each department has developed a plan that focuses on pre-move, move day and post-move activities. For details regarding your department’s move plan, please speak with your supervisor. <br /><br />Over the next several weeks, please stay calm and focused on the basics of taking care of our patients. A brand new hospital means little if we cannot deliver exceptional healthcare to every patient, every time. I thank you for your effort and dedication in helping the organization reach this historic milestone. Keep up the great work!Scott Batulishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07785181211563988151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389566487506465018.post-47700525693496448842011-04-25T08:52:00.000-07:002011-04-25T08:54:37.964-07:00Electronic Health RecordsThanks to the leadership of our Chief Information Officer and Vice President of IT, Shafiq Rab, his staff and our partnership with EPIC, we have forever transformed the way we practice medicine and care for our patients at Orange Regional. We experienced one of the best conversions in the nation, going from a paper record to an electronic record for each patient virtually overnight. Additionally, we have already achieved over 90% Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE). This is a remarkable accomplishment that improves the accuracy of orders for patients and minimizes delays in care and treatment.<br /> <br />The EPIC system redefines how physicians practice medicine and also provides direct access to best practice methods. It provides us the ability to maintain a single, complete and current patient medical record, thereby enhancing patient safety and accuracy of medical history, outcomes and continuity of care. Patient information is derived off of a single database for inpatient care, ambulatory care and care provided in the private offices of our physicians who choose to participate, allowing clinicians to capture clinical data instantly and more efficiently. Further, the system helps to ensure compliance with organizational best practices at every point in the care process. <br /><br />Having a state-of-the-art electronic health record system is new and exciting. However, the real benefit is our ability to enhance patient safety, improve patient outcomes, consistently utilize best practices and increase communication of patient information to all necessary clinicians. As we learn to optimize the system in the future, we will have the capability to tap into advanced research using the clinical information now readily available to us. <br /><br />Many of our employees and physicians have embraced our new technology by contributing to the developments of our EHR functionalities, becoming super users, developing training programs or being on stand-by for support. No matter what your role, together we have taken a huge leap forward. I sincerely appreciate your hard work and dedication.<br /><br />Thank you for doing your part to make the EPIC “go live” a great success! We will continue to rely on your participation. It is well-known that successful implementations depend on employee engagement. Please stay calm and be patient. I believe we are all eager to benefit from a system that will improve our workflow, increase efficiency and allow us to enhance the quality of care we deliver to our patients.Scott Batulishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07785181211563988151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389566487506465018.post-17036843552814077732011-02-16T11:10:00.000-08:002011-02-16T11:13:46.524-08:00The Greater Hudson Valley Health SystemOrange Regional Medical Center and Catskill Regional Medical Center are members of the Greater Hudson Valley Health System (GHVHS). This year, we are integrating the corporate departments into the GHVHS structure including Finance, Human Resources, Quality, Planning and Marketing, IT, Legal, Corporate Compliance and Real Estate and Audit. The purpose of combining the corporate departments is to save money on overhead expenses and standardize work at both organizations. We continue to work closer and more efficiently as one system. This is good for both organizations; strengthening each hospital individually.<br /> <br />Implementation and training for the successful launch of the EPIC Electronic Health Record System is in full swing as we prepare to “go live” in late March. The training program is going very well and I’m very impressed by the enthusiasm of our nurses and physicians. A special thank you to the IT and education staff for their dedication and hard work. <br /><br />There are many benefits to the EPIC system. One huge improvement will be in the ordering of medications. With physicians ordering prescriptions directly to the pharmacy, hours of time will be saved and the opportunity for errors greatly reduced. This is a key benefit of the EPIC system and will improve the timeliness and safety of medications delivered to our patients.<br /> <br />An extraordinary focus of ours in 2011 will be delivering the new hospital on time and within budget. We’ll continue to monitor costs, keep a close eye on the construction schedule and execute move plans to coincide with a seamless transition for our patients. I recently met with Fred Kummer, President and CEO of HBE, our design-build firm. Coincidentally, Fred was born at Horton Hospital and will celebrate his 82nd birthday on April 23, 2011: the same day we are scheduled to complete construction. Having noted a very special connection to this project, Fred has assured us that it will be completed on his birthday, as scheduled.<br /> <br />There is a tremendous amount of enthusiasm and energy surrounding our progress and what needs to be accomplished this year. Still, favorable patient experiences must remain at the forefront of providing quality healthcare. Starting in January, Lou Heimbach, Chairman of the Board, and I have been making patient rounds. We have interviewed patients at both the Horton and Arden Hill Campuses and have received very favorable feedback from patients and family members. Thank you for all you do in taking great care of our patients every single day.Scott Batulishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07785181211563988151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389566487506465018.post-48819408830485153242011-01-19T08:39:00.000-08:002011-01-19T08:41:32.127-08:00Happy New YearThis will be a monumental year for our organization. We will make historic transformations in the way we deliver healthcare by implementing our Electronic Health Record (EHR) system and consolidating the Arden Hill and Horton Campuses into our new state-of-the-art facility. We are also expected to provide excellent care to every patient, every day. All of the steps we take to accomplish these goals will require patience, flexibility and a great deal of energy.<br /><br />Training for EHR is well underway with approximately 600 scheduled sessions for the nurses, physicians and employees required to use the system. This extraordinary training effort is key to the success of one’s ability to effectively use the system to deliver patient care; we cannot just “go through the motions”. When our EHR system goes live in March, the paper chart will disappear and will be replaced with the electronic patient chart. You will need to implement what you have learned. There will be a significant support system in place, comprised of EHR experts, to assist throughout this transition.<br /><br />Construction of the new hospital continues on budget and on schedule with completion expected in late April. Soon after, equipment and furniture will be delivered and installed, numerous inspections will be conducted by various State and local agencies, an intense cleaning effort will be conducted and all staff will be oriented. Our expectation is to be completely moved into our new hospital campus by late August with all patients, from the Arden Hill and Horton Campuses, transferred in one day.<br /><br />In the meantime, we need to remain focused on patient satisfaction and achieving successful patient outcomes. As we have witnessed with our outstanding Joint Commission survey last month, we can achieve any goal, when we stay focused and work as a team. Additionally, patient rounding is an extremely effective way to increase patient satisfaction. Therefore, Chairman of the Board Lou Heimbach and I are making patient rounds twice per month. While we will be visiting with our patients, we also look forward to seeing you in our travels.<br /><br />I am very proud of our accomplishments to date. This year will mark a milestone for us as professionals and as an organization. It will also be a new a new era for our patients and an opportunity for us to raise the bar for healthcare in the entire region. Exciting and challenging days lie ahead. Please do your best every day and stay focused. Together, as a team, we can achieve success.Scott Batulishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07785181211563988151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389566487506465018.post-46676345563048226822010-12-15T11:20:00.000-08:002010-12-16T08:28:34.734-08:00Seasons GreetingsAs we prepare to close the year, I want to thank our hospital family for your contributions. Collectively, your efforts touched the lives of thousands of patients and their families throughout the year.<br /><br />As I look ahead, we have a very exciting year on the horizon. I seek your continued support and participation in all initiatives at Orange Regional: improving patient satisfaction and employee engagement; becoming a LEAN hospital; going live with our EHR System; opening our new facility and continuing to sustain existing and develop new service lines. Improving the health of our community by providing exceptional care requires dedication and commitment from everyone.<br /><br />Please enjoy this holiday season. I wish you a peaceful, happy and healthy New Year.Scott Batulishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07785181211563988151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389566487506465018.post-29807843532081543092010-11-19T08:29:00.000-08:002010-11-19T08:30:56.418-08:00A Thanksgiving MessageAs we enter the season of Thanksgiving, I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our hospital family for your contribution to improving healthcare in our region.<br /><br />Collectively, our efforts have touched the lives of thousands of patients and their families who turn to Orange Regional Medical Center each year. I would encourage everyone to take a few moments to reflect on the areas in your life that require gratitude.<br /><br />Organizationally, there is a great deal to be thankful for. Examples include, but are not limited to, the countless lives saved with services such as angioplasty, as we are on track to perform more than 2,000 catheterizations by the close of 2010. Our Core Measures data continues to improve which means we are delivering quality healthcare using proven therapies, developed by The Joint Commission, to treat our patients. Our patient satisfaction scores are increasing which is a reflection of the care we provide. We are on time and on budget with the construction of our new hospital. To date, Capital Campaign contributions total more than $20 million toward our $21 million goal. Due to our commitment to manage our organization responsibly, we are financially stable which allows us to provide new and enhanced services to our community.<br /><br />The magnitude of what we do everyday demonstrates the significant role Orange Regional plays in our community. For this, our patients thank us. I, in turn, offer my sincere appreciation for your dedication and focus in working to meet and exceed our patients’ needs as we continue to work toward being the best regional hospital in New York State.<br /><br />I wish you and your families a safe and healthy Thanksgiving holiday.Scott Batulishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07785181211563988151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389566487506465018.post-27139520828581245692010-10-21T11:47:00.000-07:002010-10-21T11:48:53.965-07:00Patient satisfaction improvesCongratulations are in order for the significant increase in our second quarter patient satisfaction scores! When we focus and work together as a team, our patients reap the benefits of a positive healthcare experience. Our second quarter results indicate that the inpatient and Emergency Department surveys have earned their highest scores to date. In addition, our combined outpatient scores show a positive and steady increase.<br /><br />Hospitals across the nation are required to participate in patient satisfaction surveys offered by certified vendors. Our patient satisfaction results are gathered and reported by the National Research Corporation (NRC). NRC randomly selects patients to fill out a survey in an attempt to measure their satisfaction of the services received at our facility. Once all surveys are collected and the information is compiled, quarterly satisfaction results are tallied by the NRC, compared with national and regional scores and sent to Orange Regional. We then analyze the data and make adjustments where necessary while celebrating the successes where indicated. In addition, our satisfaction scores are submitted to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and are publically available on the internet for patients to view and consider when making their healthcare choices.<br /><br />Patient satisfaction surveys are designed to measure the “patient experience”. A positive experience influences how our patients rate their overall stay. Every interaction with a patient is important and is the responsibility of each and every employee, physician and volunteer. Remember, survey questions are not limited to clinical topics. They include questions that relate to kindness and compassion of the staff, demonstration of team work and camaraderie by all employees and whether the patient perceived staff members to hold each other accountable for delivering quality care.<br /><br />Our priority at Orange Regional is excellence. By continuing to keep the patients’ comfort and favorable experiences forefront, as a team, we will continue to earn credibility and trust as a quality healthcare institution that people choose as their provider of choice.Scott Batulishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07785181211563988151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389566487506465018.post-59855125368806496982010-09-12T11:45:00.000-07:002010-10-21T11:47:04.701-07:00new hospital taking shapeConstruction of your new hospital is rapidly taking shape. While it is still an active construction site, there are areas in and around the structure that are now well defined. We remain on schedule with an anticipated completion date of April 2011. Construction of the exterior is just about complete and, shortly, you will see the landscaping and exterior signage. The landscaping is set to include extensive plantings within the interior of the loop road around the perimeter of the hospital. An elaborate healing garden at the main entrance of the hospital will also appear soon. Exterior signage will include entrance signs, various signs for direction throughout the campus and signs attached to the building.<br /><br />Inside, the mechanical, electrical and plumbing installations are 90 percent complete. The walls, flooring, ceiling and painting are 50 percent complete. Our $24 million medical equipment plan is in the final stages of implementation. GE was selected as the primary vendor for imaging and monitoring equipment. Smaller packages of medical equipment are also being finalized and over the next seven months, fixed medical equipment will be installed. Simultaneously, furnishings, fixtures and moveable equipment will be finalized.<br /><br />Additionally, the information technology and telecommunications infrastructure is being installed to support the electronic health record, telemetry and other wireless applications. Our new facility will provide a state-of- the-art backbone for present and future technology requirements.<br /><br />Helping to shape the extensive New York State Department of Health’s inspection process, our leadership team has recently developed an internal process and a Steering Committee to carry out the large number of tasks related to final approval. This requires the assistance of department managers. An organization chart of the Steering Committee has been provided to all managers along with a detailed explanation of the information required for your department.<br />Once construction is complete, it will take an additional 14 weeks for the new hospital to become patient ready. This 14 week transition period is mapped out in a move management plan that is being developed with the input of all departments. It is anticipated that the facility will be fully operational in late summer 2011.<br /><br />Fundraising is a significant component in making our new hospital a reality. To date, we have nearly reached our goal of $21 million for the project. I greatly appreciate your contributions.<br />There is a tremendous amount of enthusiasm and positive energy surrounding this endeavor. Thank you for all you’ve done in helping our organization reach so many project milestones. I encourage your continued support and cooperation as we work toward the final phases of construction in the coming year.Scott Batulishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07785181211563988151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389566487506465018.post-73776853744285182792010-08-12T08:35:00.000-07:002010-09-15T11:39:47.431-07:00A team approach to exceptional healthcareOrange Regional Medical Center’s mission is to improve the health of our community by providing exceptional healthcare. Providing exceptional healthcare is not the lone responsibility of our clinical staff. The responsibility belongs to each and everyone working in the hospital, both in clinical and non-clinical areas. As a team, we have the power to create a positive patient experience. Everyone has a role in positively affecting patient satisfaction whether you’re delivering care to our patients, treating our patients and their family with compassion and kindness, being courteous to and supportive of each other, offering a smile or modeling professional behavior at all times.<br /><br />In July, I received a letter from a gentleman, James Bair, who shared some words about his wife’s experience at The Bone and Joint Center. Mr. Bair was extremely thankful to all of the employees he and his wife encountered and, with their permission, an excerpt of his testimonial follows. It speaks volumes of our capabilities in providing exceptional healthcare as a team:<br />“I wish I knew the names of all the hardworking staff members that came in contact with my wife while she was in the hospital. Their attitudes were excellent. They were all, every one of them, focused on the mission to see that she was given the best care they could provide. This applies to the entire staff - the volunteers, the environmental services staff, the aids, the nurses, the surgeon and the food service employees. They all did their jobs efficiently, effectively and with a smile. Because of the way they approached their responsibilities, we knew that all these busy people were ‘in the game’!”<br /><br />We need to be ‘in the game’ everyday if we are to exceed our patient’s expectations. It is necessary for all of us to foster an environment that promotes exceptional healthcare. When we do, we become the "provider of choice" for our community, the "employer of choice" for our staff and the "workplace of choice" for our doctors. Everyone wins!<br /><br />I congratulate everyone who made Mrs. Bair’s stay an exceptional one.Scott Batulishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07785181211563988151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389566487506465018.post-45210521949653279092010-07-15T11:34:00.000-07:002010-09-15T11:35:23.391-07:00Joint Commission readinessOur Joint Commission survey is expected by December 31, 2010. The Joint Commission performs an intense review of the quality of care we provide to our patients once every three years. The exact survey time is unannounced and the survey usually lasts one week. A team of surveyors essentially consists of three components: nurses who trace the care of a patient from admittance through discharge; life safety experts who focus on the safety of our environment; and a physician surveyor who reviews all aspects of physician performance compared to the Joint Commission standards.<br /><br />It is absolutely critical that we have a successful survey and receive full accreditation. The survey is the quality report card for our entire organization and is publicly reported. A successful survey is also required to receive funding from Medicare and Medicaid which accounts for 50% of our revenue.<br /><br />With patient care being our top priority and a spontaneous Joint Commission visit imminent, each one of us must do our best to ensure that every patient is provided high quality care in a safe environment at every encounter while accurately documenting their care. Remember, “not documented, not done”; the care you provide must be properly documented in the patient’s chart to receive credit for your work. <br /><br />We have organized Joint Commission rounding teams that are surveying all areas. Some teams focus on patient tracers and other teams are focused on the environment. It is time to step it up and get your work areas neat and organized; keep hallways and floors clear of equipment; secure medication carts when not in use; be certain patient care is properly documented in the chart; make sure you know what to do in a fire or other emergency; and follow all infection control procedures (especially washing your hands). <br /><br />If we all work together we will have a successful survey that we can all be proud of. We will continue to provide updates on the rounding team results in preparation for the survey.Scott Batulishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07785181211563988151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389566487506465018.post-3848822495507263422010-06-08T08:56:00.000-07:002010-06-08T08:57:50.132-07:00A special monthLast month was special for our organization. It was filled with honors and recognitions, celebrations and festivities. I’d like to extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to everyone who supported all the activities and took time to honor those who we spotlighted for excellence in quality care, length of service, dedication to their profession, outstanding leadership and commitment to the healthcare field. What better way to highlight our healthcare professionals than during a month that recognizes Hospital Week and Nurses Week. Special thanks to Food Services for the great employee picnics! <br /><br />I’d like to extend special congratulations to Jessica Casey, RN, for her outstanding contributions to caring for our patients and their families. She was recognized as the 2009 Employee of the Year for her exceptional care and compassion. Likewise, several of our nurses were selected as semi-finalists by our Nurse of Distinction Committee to represent Orange Regional at 1199 SEIU’s New York State Nurse of Distinction Ceremony held in New York City. I was proud to accompany such outstanding caregivers to this prestigious event. All who were nominated deserved the honor for their top-notch skills and dedication to their profession, patients, peers and our medical center. <br /><br />Selected by their peers and approved by the Board of Directors, Dr. Lewis Broslovsky was chosen as Orange Regional’s 2010 Physician Lifetime Achievement Award recipient while Dr. William Gotsis was chosen as Orange Regional’s 2010 Physician Leadership Award honoree. Their tireless service, guidance and expert delivery of healthcare services to our community should serve as an inspiration to all of us. My thanks to Dr. Broslovsky and Dr. Gotsis for the daily example they set and for reinforcing the values and mission of our hospital. They will be celebrated on June 13 at the Physician Recognition Event. <br /><br />Congratulations are also extended to Ginny Rizzo, Immediate Past Chair of our Board of Directors and this year’s recipient of the Tribute to Women of Achievement of Orange County Honoree for Business. Guided by Ginny’s leadership and support, our organization advanced healthcare in our community with the expansion of services and the commencement of our new hospital construction. <br /><br />I also applaud the 147 employees who were honored at the Employee Service Awards Dinner which celebrated their years of service to our organization. Special acknowledgement goes out to Robert Simmons of the Central Services department whose tenure covers 45 years. <br /><br />These acknowledgements highlight some of our proudest moments because it means that members of our hospital family are committed to delivering excellent healthcare to our community. Dedicated to and passionate about the delivery of quality care to our patients means that Orange Regional moves closer to being the “provider of choice” for our community, the “employer of choice” for our staff and the “workplace of choice” for our doctors.Scott Batulishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07785181211563988151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389566487506465018.post-54613898131961955392010-04-18T13:16:00.000-07:002010-05-18T13:17:03.392-07:00New Hospital UpdateIn about one year, construction of our new hospital will be complete. The progress is amazing and the facility has taken shape. While it is still an active construction site, there are areas in and around the structure that are becoming well defined. To date, both the exterior façade and site work around the facility are 99 percent complete with an extensive landscaping plan scheduled for implementation in September. The interior is being finished in stages from the ground floor up. In many areas on the ground and first floor, all walls, painting, ceiling and flooring is in process or complete. All of our 1,632 parking spaces are blacktopped. The address of our new hospital is 707 East Main Street, Middletown, New York, 10940.<br /><br />With more than 600,000 square feet, the community’s new hospital will offer 353 private patient rooms. These rooms will provide increased infection control and restful recovery for our patients. Our new emergency department will be unmatched in efficiency and capability with 50 treatment areas, a planned Level 2 Trauma Center and a helipad. The Rowley Family Birthing Center will include 12 private labor, delivery and recovery rooms and 23 private post-partum rooms as well as a 10 bed, Level 2 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. In addition, the Peter Frommer, M.D. Heart Center will offer two cardiac catheterization labs, a state-of-the-art indoor rehabilitation track and all of the advanced cardiac services currently offered today, such as emergency and elective angioplasty. Our cancer center will include an inpatient unit and an outpatient infusion center while our young patients recover in their own dedicated pediatric unit.<br /><br />Other features include, but are not limited to, a spacious Surgical Suite with 12 operating rooms; two Interventional Radiology Rooms; a 24-bed Bone & Joint Center/Neuroscience Unit; a 24 -bed Rehabilitation Unit; a 30-bed Behavioral Health Unit; an Electronic Health Record System; Wireless Technology; a non-denominational Chapel; Healing Garden and an expanded Cafeteria and Outside Dining Patio. We’ve also planned for future expansion, when needed, to accommodate technology advancements and or an increase in patient and visitor volumes.<br /><br />Our new facility will be the first freestanding hospital built in the State of New York in more than 20 years. It will be one of the largest medical centers between the Tappan Zee Bridge and Albany. For this, we should all be proud of the opportunity our new facility will afford us in helping to deliver quality healthcare to our community.Scott Batulishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07785181211563988151noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389566487506465018.post-45154833547334309862010-03-27T13:13:00.000-07:002010-05-18T13:15:29.867-07:00The path to EHRI’d like to extend my sincere thanks to all employees who worked during the snowstorm on February 25 and 26. Many of you worked double shifts and had to sleep overnight in the hospitals. This exemplifies organizational teamwork and I commend you for the overall care you provided to our patients. Thank you for your excellent work under challenging circumstances. It is greatly appreciated.<br /><br />As previously announced last month, our Board of Directors approved the purchase of an EHR system. We will begin the implementation process next month.<br /><br />Implementation of an EHR system will provide Orange Regional with a single, fully-integrated health information technology system that establishes and maintains a single, complete and current patient medical record within the system. In the past few weeks, approximately 35 EHR project management employees from Orange Regional have received specialized training in Madison, Wisconsin at Epic Systems Corporation: the company we are working with to implement the system. This training will continue over the course of the year and we will continue to work closely with Epic to train all appropriate staff. We anticipate hospital-wide “Go Live” in March, 2011.Scott Batulishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07785181211563988151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389566487506465018.post-3161444427540109682010-02-09T09:05:00.001-08:002010-02-09T09:05:40.002-08:00ORMC Haitian Relief EffortsThe Orange Regional Medical Center family is saddened by the recent devastation caused by the earthquake in Haiti. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by this tragedy.<br /><br />In response, Orange Regional Medical Center is donating over $10,000 worth of medical equipment and surgical supplies such as sutures, gauze, casting material, bandages, cauterizing items and procedure trays.<br /><br />These supplies are being sent to the Afya Foundation in Yonkers, NY. The Afya Foundation is operating as a clearinghouse and conduit for medical supplies provided to voluntary physician groups, including Boston-based Partners in Health, which has set up field hospitals in Haiti to provide direct trauma care.Scott Batulishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07785181211563988151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389566487506465018.post-61538742838506210932010-01-09T08:57:00.000-08:002010-02-09T09:00:04.759-08:00As I reflect on 2009, it was a year filled with positive and exciting achievements. In fact, it was the most progress I have seen an organization make in one year. Whether your focus was on increasing patient satisfaction; participating in quality initiatives; assisting in the development of a new service line; supporting our fundraising efforts or making Orange Regional a better place to work, accomplishing such progress takes a tremendous amount of commitment, enthusiasm and team work. While we still have a way to go, I’d like to congratulate everyone who made our success possible and share a few of the highlights that have laid the groundwork for future success in 2010.<br /><br />The expansion of our cardiology program was a key milestone. Due to our outstanding outcomes with emergency angioplasty, we received approval to perform elective angioplasty. We are the first hospital to bring this service to Orange County. The start of construction on our second cath lab, the integration of two new vascular surgeons and an electrophysiology physician, along with our continued affiliation with Montefiore Medical Center, all add up to positioning Orange Regional as the heart care leader in our area.<br /><br />We were successful in adding new technology with the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System for urological and gynecological surgeries; the Varian Rapid Arc, a new radiation therapy system and the Constellation Vision Surgical System for advanced retinal eye surgeries.<br /><br />By improving the quality and consistency of care we provided to our patients, we exceeded inpatient volume targets by 4%. Additionally, we saw an overall increase in patient satisfaction scores; successfully launched the LEAN Hospital initiative for purposes of enhancing the quality of care we deliver; added 50 nurses to our units and developed a Patient Navigator Program to accommodate our cancer patients.<br /><br />Our New Hospital Project remained on schedule and structural steel, concrete floors, exterior framing and roofing have been completed. Additional highlights of the building project included the completion of medical equipment planning; coordination of a move management strategy; welcoming a Director of Organizational Development to assist with the merger of departments from both campuses; the approval for our Level II NICU and the completion of 18 successful new hospital site tours with more than 200 participants.<br /><br />Our Capital Campaign received 272 new gifts and our overall campaign total reached $18.5 million, exceeding our 2009 target of $18 million. Some Campaign milestones include: the Board of Directors, physicians and employees all surpassing their goals.<br /><br />Additional organizational accomplishments include approval to purchase a state-of-the-art Electronic Health Record system; Arden Hill’s Stroke Center designation; an increase in our participation rate for the employee and physician engagement survey and our successful support of Catskill Regional Medical Center.<br /><br />I’m very proud of everyone for their commitment to excellence and for making quality our number one priority. It is an honor to work for an organization with such amazing potential. I’m looking forward to another exciting year. We’re just getting started.Scott Batulishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07785181211563988151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389566487506465018.post-90569974847787194212009-12-08T11:53:00.000-08:002009-12-08T11:59:41.625-08:00A season of givingDuring this holiday season, I would like to extend a heartfelt 'thank you' to our Hospital Family for improving healthcare in the Hudson Valley. Your efforts have touched the lives of thousands of patients and their families who turn to Orange Regional Medical Center for healthcare services. I would also like to offer my sincere appreciation to our employees for your generosity to the employee Capital Campaign, The Possible Dream and our annual giving program the Century Club Campaign. To date, employee contributions have totaled $753,159. Likewise, employee support has contributed to the success of the 2008-2009 Century Club Campaign totaling over $114,000. <br /><br />In addition, many employees have demonstrated Orange Regional’s commitment to our community by extending generosity beyond the walls of this organization. Through your donations of time and money to Orange Regional’s United Way Campaign, we raised nearly $36,000 to aid a variety of programs and community initiatives for Orange County residents. Additionally, throughout the year, our hospital family has supported an array of fundraising efforts from charity walks to blood donations to bake sales. In addition to our goal of becoming the best regional hospital in New York State, the magnitude of our combined generosity demonstrates the significant role Orange Regional plays in our community. Thank you for your ongoing support.Scott Batulishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07785181211563988151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389566487506465018.post-3875083448703212902009-10-28T11:55:00.000-07:002009-10-28T11:57:03.400-07:00Becoming a Lean HospitalIn Orange Regional’s continuous effort to improve the patient experience and increase patient satisfaction, we need to commit to being the best we can be. What does that really mean? It means being the provider of choice for our community, the employer of choice for our staff and the workplace of choice for our doctors. It means treating our patients with quality care and compassion; being kind, courteous and supportive to each other; and providing a work environment that makes the best use of everyone’s time.<br /><br />To assist us in achieving these goals, I am pleased to announce that Orange Regional Medical Center has joined high performing hospitals across the United States in embracing a continuous improvement initiative called the Lean Hospital. This initiative is supported and endorsed by The Joint Commission. <br /><br />What does it mean to be a Lean Hospital? It means continuously improving how we work to enable our employees to more effectively do the job they were hired to do. It means working with employee teams to study how we deliver and support patient care; and making changes that streamline processes and improve the patient experience while enhancing job satisfaction. It may be as simple as eliminating a redundant form in the Admitting Packet or as complex as modifying the discharge process. But whatever the result, the Lean initiative has been found to improve communication, build teamwork and increase job satisfaction.<br /><br />To help implement these new principles, we have engaged The Leonardo Group, a Lean training company with offices in the United States and Europe. The Leonardo Group has been helping companies implement Lean since the early 1990’s, and has worked with some of the most successful companies in the world including John Deere, Boeing and General Electric, to name a few. The idea at Orange Regional is to learn how to “Do Lean” with our own staff so that it becomes an ongoing process embedded in our culture. When applied rigorously and throughout the entire organization, Lean principles have a dramatic impact on quality, productivity, cost and timely delivery of services. <br /><br />This is an exciting and timely initiative for ORMC that will touch on many of areas of the hospital. Some results will be immediate; others will require more time. But, we will keep you updated on progress and look forward to employee participation and support.Scott Batulishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07785181211563988151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389566487506465018.post-81827153369380992282009-09-29T11:02:00.000-07:002009-09-29T11:05:47.613-07:00This is an exciting time to be a member of the Orange Regional Medical Center Family, especially when considering the construction of our new hospital and how it will assist us in better serving our community’s healthcare needs. There are many important activities that we are undertaking as an organization to help us prepare for work in our new facility. Hospital leadership has developed 16 teams to oversee and coordinate all aspects of the new hospital project. Specifically, the Move Management team is planning for the physical relocation of our two campuses. <br /><br />Moving a hospital, or in our case two hospitals, is a very complex process. We have engaged AOS Inc., a company that specializes in large, complex healthcare moves, to guide us through the process. AOS has successfully moved over 30 hospitals in the past 10 years, and will work with us until our physical transition into the new hospital is completed.<br /><br />AOS leverages their experience and will apply sophisticated project management tools and techniques to ensure the execution of our move is smooth. Project leaders at AOS have prior careers in military logistics management, moving people and equipment around the globe. Over the coming months, employees and physicians may be asked to work with AOS and Orange Regional leadership on this relocation effort. Your support, cooperation and input will be very important to this process. <br /><br />I appreciate your support and participation in these important planning efforts. Hospital employees are asked to please reach out to your supervisor if you have questions, comments, concerns or ideas for our transition strategy.Scott Batulishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07785181211563988151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389566487506465018.post-60715316675018474882009-09-03T13:19:00.000-07:002009-09-03T13:20:34.743-07:00Expectation: Excellence - Priority: QualityWhile we work to bring new healthcare services and technology to our community, construct the first new hospital in New York State in twenty years and prepare to consolidate two campuses into one, many organization-wide initiatives are underway. One of the most important initiatives is organizational development to enhance the effectiveness of leaders, employees and teams which will improve hospital performance. A significant element to this plan involves cultural change. It is imperative that we all work together to foster an environment that promotes staff unity, quality, consistency in patient care and positive behavior. <br /><br />I’d like to thank the employees who were invited to participate in one of several focus groups that took place on July 24. The purpose of those groups was to gain employee insight and determine priority issues and concerns regarding the staff integration process into the new hospital. Now that key issues have been identified by staff, we’ll form addition groups comprised of Arden Hill and Horton campus employees from similar departments to go through a series of team-building sessions. Later, these teams will evaluate similarities and differences between each campus regarding various processes and patient care practices so we may develop best practices for the new hospital. Additionally, we have hired a Director of Organizational Development, Betsy Kennally who will be instrumental in the staff integration and team building process. <br /><br />A major component in promoting a positive environment is holding staff accountable for their contribution toward positive change. All staff is, and will continue to be, evaluated on service excellence and our Standards of Behavior. Beginning this fall, our performance evaluations will be heavily weighted in the service excellence area and more emphasis will be placed on behavior. The evaluation form will outline more specifically what positive behavior should look like. The service excellence component will account for at least 50% of an individual’s overall performance rating. Leadership will be sharing the evaluation form with staff by the end of September. <br /> <br />It is our goal to see an increase inpatient satisfaction as a result of this new emphasis on service excellence and behavior. We will also seek to correlate the employee performance ratings with the patient satisfaction scores in each of the patient care areas.<br /><br />Our patients’ experience begins and ends with each of us. Patient satisfaction and quality care begins with your commitment to be part of a team that focuses on positive development so that we may become the best regional hospital in New York State.Scott Batulishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07785181211563988151noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7389566487506465018.post-16795134915922198712009-08-13T08:20:00.000-07:002009-08-13T08:21:40.924-07:00WelcomeWelcome to the newest communication tool for the Orange Regional Medical Center family. I hope you will find this blog informative and serve as a way to keep you updated on all of the exciting things happening at your hospital.Scott Batulishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07785181211563988151noreply@blogger.com1