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Volume 7 | Issue 9 | Through November 5, 2013 

    
       
Country Inn and Suites  
College of Nursing 
 
 
 
                       

Incentive plan targets quality Employees will again have a chance to earn an incentive payout in FY14 under a Performance Incentive Plan approved by the UCHealth Board of Directors. Among the changes: three new quality measures and a regularly updated scorecard so employees can check progress toward meeting goals throughout the year.  >>More 

 
Big step for Heart Failure Program
A one-day site visit by the Joint Commission Oct. 23 ended with UCH becoming one of just two hospitals in the state to earn advanced heart failure certification. The surveyor gave the program no findings that require a plan of correction. The award recognizes the hospital's comprehensive level of heart failure care on all service lines -- not just cardiology. >>More
                   
Magnet's fortress of solitude Facing the formidable task of assembling mountains of documentation needed for the hospital's bid for a fourth Magnet redesignation, a trio of staffers have holed up in a nondescript room in the AIP. Right: Magnet Program Director Danielle Schloffman with a tower of binders from the 2009 redesignation application. >>More
              
Remodeling ripples reach dialysis units The makeover in the AIP continued this month as the Acute Dialysis (left) and Home Dialysis units added nearly 5,000 combined square feet of new space to house five additional bays, two rooms and a patient reception area. >>More

                      
Finding the patient's place in medical homes  The hospital's ongoing efforts to build patient-centered medical homes -- one of the key components of health care reform -- have taken many forms. Now the push is on for providers and staff in UCH's primary care practices (right) to help patients take on a much bigger role in managing their own health. >>More

                     
A fix for health care delivery gaps With patient volumes increasing, the hospital and the School of Medicine have joined forces to increase the number of advanced practice clinicians. Among the changes: a new coordinating office, concentrated orientation (left) and additional hires.  >>More

                    
Warm memories of a cold war In This Hospital Life: The news has been filled with dire warnings of fiscal cliffs and government shutdowns. But 51 years ago this week, the nation faced a true white-knuckler: the threat of nuclear war. For the hospital's Jeff Thompson (right), the standoff known as the Cuban missile crisis hit especially close to home. Plus: "What You Read."  >>More

       
Living the standards University of Colorado Health honors three employees whose work exemplifies the Standards of Excellence. Left: Kelly Pacic, RN, of UCH's BMT Program, is one of this month's honorees.  >>More
UCH in the News Fox bucks up Cure crowd; pinpointing causes of post-partum cancer; 27 days without a breath; more. Mentions: Ruben Alvero; Ashok Babu; Diane Baird; Roger Bannister; Virginia Borges; Tim Byers; Wells Messersmith; John C. Peters; Catherine Proenza; Thomas Robinson; Jeff Thompson. >>More
           
Around UCH
Pile-up on Peoria; a quality quiz; PT rocks the Denver Marathon (right) more. >>More
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"We Did Something Special Again"
So said UCH President and CEO John Harney last week after the hospital finished 10th in the University HealthSystem Consortium quality rankings. It was the hospital's fourth straight year in the top 10, a notable accomplishment in a year marked by capacity challenges that made consistent documentation difficult. >>Go
             
Shutdown Hangover for Health Care?
The partial government shutdown is over, but the effects could linger for the NIH, CDC, FDA and other key health care-related agencies -- and for researchers and providers on the Anschutz Medical Campus. >>Go
                    
  
Brain Surgery in the MRI Suite
UCH this month became the first hospital in the state to perform neurosurgery using real-time magnetic resonance imaging. Moving the OR to the MRI suite is no easy task, but it could be a boon for patients. >>Go
                     
  
UCHealth Rolling a 7
With Microsoft's support for Windows XP ending next April, UCHealth is preparing to upgrade all its personal computers and laptops to Windows 7. The roll-out will rival the Epic project in size. >>Go
                      
  
Awards for Health Care Doers
The winners of the President's Awards for the second trimester of 2013 represent areas throughout the hospital. But they are united in their commitment to service. Above: Tina Gillette (center) of The Center for Integrative Medicine focuses on meeting patient's needs. >>Go
The Dean's News

The latest from the School of Medicine.

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The latest happenings at UCH are on our Facebook page. Look for regular updates on news, events and human interest stories.

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