ADMH on track to reach 2012 goals: CEO

Posted Feb 16, 2012 By Derek Dunn

EMC News - The hospital should meet all eight goals set for 2012, Arnprior District Memorial Hospital CEO Eric Hanna said at a business breakfast Tuesday.

Hanna, whose pay is now pegged to achieving goals set out by the hospital's board of directors, detailed the goals to a crowd of almost 50 Greater Chamber of Commerce members at the Arnprior Legion branch 174.

The first goal is to increase the patient satisfaction rate from the current 97.3 per cent, already one of the highest over the last five years. Physicians rate higher than the provincial average.

The second is to reduce falls to seven out of every 1,000 patients.

At-risk patients are now to wear purple armbands to alert staff.

The third has to do with hand hygiene compliance. Auxiliary volunteers at the front doors now ask those coming and going to wash their hands.

The fourth is to reduce re-admittance rates. Follow-up calls to the patient's house asking about recurring symptoms should reduce rates by 17 per cent.

About 100 calls are made a month, one per household.

The fifth goal is to improve staff satisfaction scores by 7 per cent.

Hanna is pleased to see 80 per cent of the 350 employees participated last year, by far the highest in the province.

The sixth goal is to balance the budget again, though Hanna noted the province's $16-billion deficit may complicate future plans.

INTEGRATE SERVICES

The seventh is to promote the corporation's integrated services, such as at The Grove Nursing Home, which also offers programs in respite care, day care, and assisted living.

The final goal is bring down the use of medications at The Grove. Now that greater information technology services are in play, automation features should help identify which patients are overprescribed medications beyond the standard 14 per person. It is at 14.9.

Hanna is confident all goals will be reached.

"We are on track to hit all of them," he said.