Article Date: 4/26/2013

Text Area 1: GRIFFIN, GA. – April 26, 2013 –   The Georgia Hospital Association’s Hospital Engagement Network (HEN) has named Spalding Regional Hospital in their prestigious Elite Circle for its accomplishments in the patient safety arena for 2012.  The Elite Circle is the highest category in the HEN’s recognition program, placing Spalding Regional in the 90^th percentile or above of GHA’s Hospital Engagement Network.  Only 12 other hospitals in the state of Georgia finished in the Elite Circle.

The GHA HEN is an initiative begun last year that is part of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service’s (CMS) Partnership for Patients.  GHA, through its Partnership for Health and Accountability (PHA), is one of 26 organizations nationally to be awarded federal funding to coordinate the implementation of a series of projects with hospitals. The goals of these projects are to reduce hospital-acquired conditions (HAC) by 40 percent and hospital readmissions by 20 percent by the end of 2013. CMS states that it has the potential to save 60,000 lives annually and create $35 billion in savings to the nation’s health care system. Additionally, it can help prevent 1.8 million injuries and 1.6 million patient readmissions.

To achieve these goals, there are major directives from CMS regarding improved care in 10 core measures: Four are related to hospital-acquired infections (HAI); four are related to HACs; one is related to obstetrics (OB) and trying to eliminate elective deliveries before 39 weeks; and one is related to transition of care and reduction of readmissions. As part of their participation in the GHA HEN, hospitals selected two of these areas on which to focus in 2012. Scores for the Safety Leaders Circle are based on several criteria, including a database that measures hospitals’ improvement in their respective selected areas. Spalding Regional Hospital has been successfully working with GHA on readmissions; Surgical Unit-Based Safety Program; and infection reduction programs. 

“Thanks to the leadership and commitment of Spalding Regional Hospital, we are well on our way to achieving the significant life-saving goals of this important initiative,” said Joseph Parker, president of GHA. “We are proud to recognize the hard work of Spalding Regional staff and applaud their efforts and commitment to ensuring the reduction of infections and readmissions.”

Spalding Regional CEO John Quinn stated, “Our staff is committed to continuously improving the quality of care we provide.  Participation in GHA’s Hospital Engagement Network initiative, and especially our achievement of their Elite Circle, is evidence to our patients that they can be confident when choosing our hospital for their medical care.”

About Spalding Regional Hospital

Spalding Regional Hospital, a member of Spalding Health, is a 160-bed acute care hospital located in Griffin, Ga. The hospital has been serving the medical and health care needs of Spalding, Butts, Pike, Lamar, and Henry counties for more than 100 years. Spalding Regional provides a number of services, including specialties in orthopedics, women’s services, interventional cardiology, Primary Stroke Center, medical oncology, physical, occupational and speech therapy and sleep and wound medicine. Spalding Regional Medical Center is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, consistently outperforms both state and national averages of quality care scores, and currently holds awards from the American Heart Association, American Stroke Association and the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer among others.  For information on Spalding Regional, visit www.spaldingregional.com.

About PHA

The Partnership for Health and Accountability, formed in January 2000 and sponsored by the Georgia Hospital Association, is a unique statewide collaborative that brings together health care providers with community agencies and individuals to achieve healthy communities. PHA includes representation from groups like hospitals, physicians, state health officials, legislators and businesses.

 

Article Date: 1/31/2013

Text Area 1: GRIFFIN, GA. – January 31, 2013 – Spalding Regional Hospital Emergency Services recently expanded their fleet of emergency units to 10 vehicles with the addition of two new emergency trucks.  The new units were placed in service on December 20th.  At a cost of $300k they were designed specifically for Spalding Regional Hospital’s Emergency Services. The new units feature more room for the paramedics and the patient, and include some of the latest technology allowing for faster and better treatment of patients.  This includes the first usage in the region of Telemedicine.  This feature incorporates webcam capability to allow for communications en route to the hospital between the paramedic, physician and patient.  As with the rest of the EMS fleet, these units are also equipped with recent technology including mobile hotspots for onboard internet access, specially designed Lifepack 15 – an advanced 12 leak EKG cardiac monitor and transport ventilators.

Another very special feature specific to Spalding County is on the back of each new unit.  Placed here is a special dedication to a “Fallen Angel” killed in combat in the recent past.  Lance Cpl. Christopher Blake Rodgers and Spc. Johnathon F. Davis, are honored in this way on the first two trucks.

Spalding Regional’s Emergency Medical Services serves all of Spalding County, and provides backup support for Henry, Pike, Butts and Lamar counties.  The services’ 25 paramedics and 25 EMTs respond to over 15,000 calls annually.  Anyone will recognize the new units in the field as they are the first to include Spalding Regional Hospital’s new name/logo and “look.”

About Spalding Regional Hospital

Spalding Regional Hospital, a member of Spalding Health, is a 160-bed acute care hospital located in Griffin, Ga. The hospital has been serving the medical and health care needs of Spalding, Butts, Pike, Lamar, and Henry counties for more than 100 years. Spalding Regional provides a number of services, including specialties in orthopedics, women’s services, interventional cardiology, Primary Stroke Center, medical oncology, physical, occupational and speech therapy and sleep and wound medicine. Spalding Regional Medical Center is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, consistently outperforms both state and national averages of quality care scores, and currently holds awards from the American Heart Association, American Stroke Association and the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer among others.  For information on Spalding Regional, visit www.spaldingregional.com.

 

Article Date: 5/17/2012

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GRIFFIN, GA. – May 17, 2012 – Spalding Regional Medical Center EMS now boasts some of the latest technology supporting EMS and paramedics as they tend to Spalding County resident medical emergencies.  Recently, all the EMS ambulances were setup as mobile hotspots providing onboard internet access while in route to the hospital. This supports paramedics as they research conditions and medications using sources such as PDR (physician’s desktop reference.) 

Each truck is also now outfitted with specially designed Lifepack 15, an advanced 12 lead EKG cardiac monitor, allowing hospital cardiologists to view monitor readings in real time on their computer or smart phones.  Now, the hospital or cardiologist can be reviewing the situation before the patient is transferred onto the ambulance. 

Both of these new EMS initiatives will drastically reduce valuable time for the patient to receive life saving treatment.   With this new technology, and the new cardiac intervention and catheterization laboratory recently announced at Spalding Regional, the time it takes to get a patient at risk for cardiac events from door to reperfusion (unblocking heart vessels) has been reduced by almost two-thirds. 

Additionally, Spalding Regional has also equipped each truck with transport ventilators; any patient that stops breathing will get proper ventilation, increasing survival probability until they can receive further medical attention at the Emergency Department.  Spalding Regional EMS is currently the only area EMS that equips their paramedics with all this new equipment and service.

In April the hospital also became the first in the area to equip its EMS command truck with the new LUCAS 2 device.  This advanced CPR device greatly enhances the chance of survival for patients in cardiac arrest.  Each year 300,000 Americans experience sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and currently most (95%) do not survive.  During an arrest the patient has no pulse and is not breathing.  The LUCAS 2 computerized device can be attached to a patient’s chest in their home or site of the incident.  The LUCAS 2 will determine the proper pressure needed and then begin regular compressions. Unlike human compressions, LUCAS 2 can push blood into the heart and pull it through the circulatory system.  LUCAS 2 also maintains continuous proper compressions over long periods of time – hard enough, fast enough – regardless of the time to the ED and medical attention. This device never tires, removing fatigue and human error from the equation in resuscitation for a patient in cardiac arrest.  It also enables rescuers to attend to other aspects of patient care.   The American Heart Association (AHA) new guidelines for CPR also now recognizes the hemodynamic and practical benefits of piston devices, such as the LUCAS 2, in situations where manual CPR is difficult.

The unit is housed within a command truck, operated by Spalding Regional EMS Captain or a Lieutenant. When a call is given of cardiac arrest, the truck is deployed to the scene as well as an ambulance.  Currently Spalding Regional EMS is the only EMS in the area to have the LUCAS 2, with plans to add additional units.

All Spalding Regional paramedics have completed specialized EKG training through the hospital and Emory Cardiology, and received American Heart Association STEMI Protocol certifications.  This specialized training began in early 2011 and instructs them to recognize cardiac related issues, position the patient for optimal reads and reposition for special readings required by a cardiologist.  This enhances the early diagnosis capability of Spalding Regional’s Emergency Department physicians and cardiologists.

Paul Beamon, Spalding Regional’s Director of EMS believes this new equipment and EMS training will save lives. “This new technology and equipment, along with the rigorous training that our medics have undertaken will enable us to provide the best possible care for our patients, especially those in cardiac arrest.  Having our personnel trained in this manner, and supported by this new technology allows us to deliver a more viable patient for recovery to our emergency department or the catheterization laboratory at Spalding Regional.”

Spalding Regional Medical Center provides the county’s EMS service for all residents, as well as providing backup service for Pike, Lamar, Butts, Henry and other counties.  Responding to over 15,000 calls annually, they provide 6 trucks, each with a certified Paramedic and an EMT on board.

About Spalding Regional Medical Center

Spalding Regional Medical Center, part of Tenet Healthcare, is a 160-bed acute care hospital located at 601 South Eighth Street in Griffin, Ga. The hospital has been serving the medical and health care needs of Spalding, Butts, Pike, Lamar, and Henry counties for more than 100 years. Spalding Regional provides a number of services, including specialties in orthopedics, women’s services, cardiac services, Primary Stroke Center, medical oncology services, physical, occupational and speech therapy and sleep and wound medicine. Spalding Regional Medical Center is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.  For information on Spalding Regional, visit www.spaldingregional.com.

Article Date: 12/4/2012

Text Area 1: GRIFFIN, GA. – December 4, 2012 –   The Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons has granted Three-Year Accreditation with Commendation to the Cancer Program at Spalding Regional Hospital.  The Commendation followed the on-site evaluation by a physician surveyor during which Spalding Regional demonstrated a Commendation level of compliance with one or more standards that represent the full scope of the cancer program.  These standards include clinical services, community outreach, quality improvement, cancer committee leadership, cancer data management and research.)

The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 1.6 million cases of cancer will be diagnosed in 2012.  The Commission on Cancer Accreditation Program sets quality-of-care standards for cancer programs and reviews the programs to ensure they conform to those standards.  Accreditation by the Commission on Cancer is given only to those facilities that have voluntarily committed to providing the highest level of quality cancer care and that undergo a rigorous evaluation process and review of their performance.  To maintain this accreditation, facilities must further undergo an on-site review every three years. 

Receiving care at a Commission on Cancer program ensures that a patient will have access to:

·         comprehensive care, including a range of state-of-the-art services and equipment

·         a multispecialty, team approach to coordinate the best treatment options

·         information about ongoing clinical trials and new treatment options

·         access to cancer-related information, education and support

·         a cancer registry that collects data on type and stage of cancers and treatment results and offers lifelong patient follow-up

·         ongoing monitoring and improvement of care

And, most importantly, quality care close to home.

Through an exclusive partnership with the American Cancer Society, the Commission on Cancer provides the public with information on the resources, services and cancer treatment experience for each accredited cancer program, including that at Spalding Regional Hospital.  This information is shared with the public through the American Cancer Society’s web site at www.cancer.org, or through the American Cancer Society’s National Cancer Information Center at 1.800.227.2345.

About Spalding Regional Hospital

Spalding Regional Hospital, part of Tenet Healthcare, is a 160-bed acute care hospital located in Griffin, Ga. The hospital has been serving the medical and health care needs of Spalding, Butts, Pike, Lamar, and Henry counties for more than 100 years. Spalding Regional provides a number of services, including specialties in orthopedics, women’s services, cardiac services, Primary Stroke Center, medical oncology, physical, occupational and speech therapy and sleep and wound medicine. Spalding Regional Medical Center is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.  For information on Spalding Regional, visit www.spaldingregional.com.

About the American College of Surgeon’s Commission on Cancer

Established in 1922 by the American College of Surgeons, the CoC is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving survival rates and quality of life for cancer patients through standard-setting, prevention, research, education, and the monitoring of comprehensive, quality care.  Its membership includes Fellows of the American College of Surgeons and 49 national organizations that reflect the full spectrum of cancer care. For more information about the Commission on Cancer, visit their web site at www.facs.org/cancer/index.html.

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Award demonstrates Spalding Regional’s commitment to quality care for both heart failure and stroke patients

GRIFFIN, GA,  October 16, 2012.  Spalding Regional Hospital has received the Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award from the American Heart Association, for both Heart Failure and Stroke. The recognition signifies that Spalding Regional has reached an exceptional goal of treating both heart failure and stroke patients according to the guidelines of care recommended by the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology.

      This marks the third year that Spalding Regional has been recognized with a quality achievement award.

      Get With The Guidelines program helps heart failure and stroke staff develop and implement acute and secondary prevention guideline processes to improve patient care and outcomes. The program provides hospitals with a web-based patient management tool, best practice discharge protocols and standing orders, along with a robust registry and real-time benchmarking capabilities to track performance. The quick and efficient use of guideline procedures can improve the quality of care for heart failure and stroke patients, and save lives.

      “Recent studies show that patients treated in hospitals participating in the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines program receive a higher quality of care and may experience better outcomes,” said Lee H. Schwamm, M.D., chair of the Get With The Guidelines National Steering Committee and director of the TeleStroke and Acute Stroke Services at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Mass. “Spalding Regional Hospital’s team is to be commended for their commitment to improving the care of their patients.”

      “Spalding Regional Hospital is dedicated to making our care for both heart failure and stroke patients among the best in the country. The American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines programs for Heart Failure and Stroke helps us to accomplish this goal,” said John Quinn, CEO. “This recognition demonstrates that we are on the right track and we’re very proud of our team.”

About Spalding Regional Hospital

Spalding Regional Medical Center, part of Tenet Healthcare, is a 160-bed acute care hospital located in Griffin, Ga. The hospital has been serving the medical and health care needs of Spalding, Butts, Pike, Lamar, and Henry counties for more than 100 years. Spalding Regional provides a number of services, including specialties in orthopedics, women’s services, cardiac services, Primary Stroke Center, medical oncology, physical, occupational and speech therapy and sleep and wound medicine. Spalding Regional Medical Center is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.  For information on Spalding Regional, visit www.spaldingregional.com.

About Get With The Guidelines

Get With The Guidelines^® is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that empowers healthcare teams to save lives and reduce healthcare costs by helping hospitals follow evidence-based guidelines and recommendations.  For more information, visit heart.org/quality.

Article Date: 4/9/2013

Text Area 1: GRIFFIN, GA. – April 9, 2013 – Spalding Regional Hospital launched a partnership this week with the March of Dimes to lower the number of babies born too soon at their hospital. Spalding Regional is among 100 hospitals nationwide currently working with the March of Dimes in implementing the 39 weeks + Quality Improvement Service Package which supports the hospital in creating and implementing policies and procedures to reduce medically unnecessary (elective) inductions and cesarean deliveries scheduled before 39 weeks of pregnancy.

“Every week of pregnancy is critical to a baby’s health,” says Scott Berns, MD, MPH, Senior Vice President and Deputy Medical Director for the March of Dimes. “I commend Spalding Regional for being a champion for babies and through this partnership will help more babies go full-term if the pregnancy is healthy.  Working together on this very important quality initiative, we believe Spalding Regional will help us make significant strides in eliminating early elective deliveries.”

“We’re proud to partner with the March of Dimes to give more babies a healthy start in life,” said John Quinn, ”And, we’re proud of our expert team of physicians and the work they are doing to avoid scheduling elective inductions or caesarean deliveries before 39 weeks of pregnancy.”

The quality improvement service package is part the March of Dimes “Healthy Babies are Worth the Wait®” campaign. Worldwide, 15 million babies are born too soon each year and more than one million of those infants die as a result of their early births.  Babies who survive an early birth often face the risk of lifelong health challenges, such as breathing problems, cerebral palsy, learning disabilities and others. Even babies born just a few weeks early have higher rates of hospitalization and illness than full-term infants. Recent research by the March of Dimes, the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found that although the overall threat is small, the risk of death more than doubles for infants born at 37 weeks of pregnancy, when compared to babies born at 40 weeks, for all races and ethnicities.

More information is available at: marchofdimes.com/39weeks and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6XcWBcaliA.

 
About Spalding Regional Hospital
Spalding Regional Hospital, a member of Spalding Health, is a 160-bed acute care hospital located in Griffin, Ga. The hospital has been serving the medical and health care needs of Spalding, Butts, Pike, Lamar, and Henry counties for more than 100 years. Spalding Regional provides a number of services, including specialties in orthopedics, women’s services, interventional cardiology, Primary Stroke Center, medical oncology, physical, occupational and speech therapy and sleep and wound medicine. Spalding Regional Medical Center is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, consistently outperforms both state and national averages of quality care scores, and currently holds awards from the American Heart Association, American Stroke Association and the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer among others.  For information on Spalding Regional, visit www.spaldingregional.com.  

About The March of Dimes
The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Article Date: 3/29/2013