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Four new ORs keep expansion humming The latest weekly moves into the new tower included four new units, which bring bring the hospital's total to 22. For staff, they provide welcome relief after months of extended shifts to accommodate packed schedules. A roomier pre-op area and new surgical waiting/check-in area opened at the same time. Next up: the PACU expansion . >>More |
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Partly cloudy start for new email system More than 6,100 users successfully migrated to the new cloud-based email system during the past weekend. Vastly expanded storage capacity, a global address book that includes everyone in the UCHealth system and improved scheduling capability are pluses. But problems with shared mailboxes and distribution lists and other glitches caused some initial headaches for employees and a command center that was still fielding calls mid-week. >>More |
Service Excellence reboots More than a year after the hospital launched a Service Excellence program aimed at increasing satisfaction for patients, employees and physicians, key measures of success still lag. A group of 250 leaders gathered in the AIP 2 May 10 to "hard wire" the commitment to superior service. Organizations that are doing well in satisfaction "are pulling ahead in quality and in finances," said UCHealth Vice President of Organizational Development and Learning Shawn Evans. >>More |
Hot on heart failure's trail With Medicare putting heart failure 30-day readmissions in the reimbursement crosshairs, UCH is among many hospitals inventing new ways to coordinate care. One idea: identify heart failure patients early in their hospital admissions and then regularly provide education, resources and follow-up. That's the job of clinical nurse specialist Amanda Nenaber, RN (right, meeting with a patient), a key Heart Failure Program member. >>More |
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Neuro breaks the phone fortress Long-considered one of the most difficult hospital clinics for community providers to reach, the Neurology Clinic has turned things around with the help of a one-number system and a commitment by physicians to return calls to providers quickly. Frustration levels are down; satisfaction and patient referrals are up. >>More |
HR, Food & Nutrition pull out the moose antlers... and score! Needing to hire dozens of people in a short amount of time, Food and Nutrition Services and Human Resources took a group interview approach, complete with drawings, skits and a basket of props with items like moose antlers and soup cans. From left: HR's Michael Booth, Vanessa McCarthy and China Gentile with FNS staffer Joanah Cruz, a recent hire. >>More |
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A new take on "mini strokes" Until recently, the hospital's standard approach was to admit patients who had transient ischemic attacks, or TIAs, which mimic the symptoms of a full-blown stroke but last a much shorter period of time. Now a new clinic sees TIA patients deemed at very low risk of a stroke, allowing them to go home, rest and come back in for a thorough exam. The multidisciplinary clinic could help save the hospital money and spare patients a hospitalization, say neurologist Jennifer Simpson, MD, and pharmacist Michael Faithe, PharmD (above). >>More |
Scholarship gives nudge beyond the clinical world UCH neurosciences nurse Kimberly Rapp, RN (right), won a prestigious Jonas Scholarship that not only helps to pay for her doctoral education but brings her in close contact with Colorado leaders working to strengthen the nursing profession. >>More |
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Milestones for swingers? A normally staid event to honor long-time hospital employees and retirees got an unexpected dash of spice this year from a warbling emcee, a DJ and a few tail-feather shakes from a dancer. Inside: photos, names of honorees. >>More |
Recovery for all In This Hospital Life: CeDAR's Michael Dinneen (right) knows plenty about addiction: he's been in recovery for 22 years. But he says his soon-to-be-published non-fiction work is "a recovery book for the rest of the world." In writing it, he adds, he confronted one of his greatest fears: writing. Plus: "What You Read." >>More |
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Given three months to live, Irishman still raising toasts 25 years later At 29, Paschal Sheridan (first row, far left) was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer and told to settle his affairs. With the help of UCH neurosurgeons, he's still around and was in good enough spirits recently to perform a post-radiation ritual: hoisting a few rounds in celebration. >>More |
Around UCH A roundup of goings-on, big and small, in and around the hospital. This issue: UCH brings up the rear in system Employee Engagement Survey participation; UCH nurses sing again at Nightingale Awards; beating a path to the Heart Walk; slow down for FasTracks; more. >>More |
UCH in the news Hospital CEO stars; breaking news on osteoporosis; kids dig gardens; guns kill people; a new spin on vertigo; more. Mentions: Michelle Doucette; Carol Foster; John Harney; Kerry Hildreth; Wendy Kohrt; Jeffrey Metzner; Pamela Peterson; Carol Runyan; Kevin Unger; Ban Wong. >>More |
Dean Krugman's news The latest about what's going on at the School of Medicine. >>More |
Check us out on Facebook The latest happenings at UCH are on our Facebook page. >>More |
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Oncology Practice Debuts at Lone Tree |
The hospital's Lone Tree Health Center added an Oncology practice May 7. It offers care from a variety of Cancer Center subspecialists, chemotherapy infusion and ancillary services and a half-dozen exam rooms. It adds to an already impressive range of services at the south metro anchor. "Our ultimate goal is to be a one-stop shop," says Program Director Debra Carpenter (above right, with assistant program director Amy Hurley). >>Go |
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ICD-10's Epic Undertaking |
The massive conversion to the ICD-10 coding system is accelerating as UCHealth teams prepare Epic to handle tens of thousands of new diagnostic and procedural codes. A primary concern is finding ways to make documenting the medical record as easy as possible for physicians, says ICD-10 Program Manager Tracy Olsten (above). >>Go |
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Eight Who Did More than Enough |
They are the octet named as the hospital's "Magnet Nurses of the Year" for work that demonstrated commitment to their profession, patients and families, and the organization. Above: Kathy Kesner, RN, of Ambulatory Services, with Chief Nursing Officer Carolyn Sanders, shows her award for new knowledge, innovations and improvements. >>Go |
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Staging a Final Act in the MICU |
Four nurses in the Medical Intensive Care Unit earned a DAISY Award for helping to arrange a compassionate ceremony for a dying patient and his wife. Above: Chief Nursing Officer Carolyn Sanders with honorees (from left) Deidre McCulloch, John Brill and Marty Monahan. >>Go |
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Campus Center Helps Build Better Clinical Trials |
CPC Clinical Research, a non-profit academic contract research organization headed by CU vascular medicine specialist William Hiatt, MD (above), has helped design and manage clinical trials for researchers the world over for nearly a quarter century. Its mission continues to evolve. >>Go |
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