UCH Finances Stay Bright, but a Few Clouds Appear
Though statewide woes have pushed the number of self-pay and uncompensated patients higher, the hospital's fiscal winning streak continued through October. "I'm still impressed with how we're doing compared with hospitals around the country," CFO Anthony DeFurio said.  |
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ED staff moved into the Pain Management practice during evening hours for a three-week period last month.
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Shorter Length of Stay. Faster Service.
A three-week experiment with a "Surge Clinic" to help the hospital cope with a sudden influx of patients during an emergency did exactly what it was designed to do. |
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Members of "Team A" at University Medicine - Anschutz are working on improving their work flow processes.
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A"Medical Home"
Pilot at Anschutz
With a quality improvement grant, the Internal Medicine practice at the AOP is testing a much-discussed health care delivery model designed to improve patient and provider satisfaction and increase efficiency. But will payers go for the idea? |
Meanwhile, at Garfield
Complementing the efforts of their colleagues at Anschutz, the University Medicine - Denver clinic is designing new patient care and provider communication processes in preparation for its spring move from Cherry Creek to Lowry. |
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Chronic Dialysis Unit patient savors the companionship of Bridget, a licensed therapy dog who makes regular visits.
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A Dog Star in Dialysis
A "ridiculously cute" 14-pound therapist helps to brighten days and relieve monotony in the Chronic Dialysis Unit on Ninth Avenue. |
Burning the Holiday Fat
A quick guide to what it will take to get rid of the gravy this season. |
UCH in the News.
Lung cancer trial drug success; MS combo therapy; mapping for moles; more. Mentions: Jose Castillo-Mancilla, Robert Doebele, Theresa Pacheco, Manisha Patel, Kathy Smith, Thomas Tsai, Timothy Vollmer. | |
Planning for new tower starts in earnest Four project management and seven architectural/engineering firms bid to start planning and designing a new inpatient tower for UCH. And the winners were... 
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Accreditation is "not an issue" at the School of Medicine, but... Funding is. Contrary to published reports, all is well with the school's standing, but Dean Krugman and others say chronically anemic state support threatens to take a toll on student debt levels and more.
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Is quality care good for business? It's the moral thing to do. It defines UCH. But it's expensive, and it's bound to get pricier as more payers demand it. Regardless, two UCH execs recently told the Board of Directors, improving quality of care and patient safety is part of a "paradigm shift" that is changing the way hospitals and other providers do business.
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Sidebar: UCH outstrips regulators The hospital -- with the School of Medicine and College of Nursing -- has adopted a growing list of often-expensive quality initiatives and innovations. They're required by no one, but "they could help keep patients alive."
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New patient service proves easier said than done Rounds designed to get Engineering Services staff into patient rooms faster to find and fix problems are working, but with occupancy exceeding 100 percent three days a week, getting to all the work can be a challenge. Above: senior maintenance mechanic Jesse Medina readies an inpatient room.
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Inside the Insider Can anyone really solve the (organ music) Mystery of the Empty Chapel? Plus: "What You Read" and "In Memoriam."
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Free class aims to bust employee stress Each week David Clark (with students, left) leads UCH employees and partners toward a clear mind. Sidebar: Ready, Set, Meditate.
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Not just for MDs and nurses anymore UCH is playing a bigger role in training emergency medical technicians too. The state just offered kudos for a job well done.
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A hole in the heart and headaches UCH's John Carroll (left) is part of a trial that may reveal if there really is a link between a congenital heart defect and migraines.
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"Scared" of depression Most patients with depression symptoms appear in their primary care providers' offices, but most PCPs lack the resources to diagnose and treat the disorder. The Depression Center and Family Medicine are teaming up to figure out how to get more resources to where the patients are.
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Around UCH Our regular round-up of goings-on, big and small, in and around the hospital. This issue: executive food service (left); Epic, Cancer Center, Perianesthesia appointments; stories of service; more...
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Dean Krugman's news The latest on what's going on at the School of Medicine.
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See you next year. We'll be back January 6. Have a safe and happy holiday season!
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