|
Current WRHS News/Press Releases
For Information Contact:
Sheila Mace, Public Relations Coordinator
White River Health System
Phone: 870-262-6070
email: smace@wrmc.com
Fax: 870-262-3248
WRMC Receives Recognition During National Event
 Hospitals across the country recognize National Time Out Day, a reminder that surgical professionals take “time out” every day to prevent medical errors. In 2004, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations released a universal protocol for a “time out” preceding every surgery. During a “time out” every member of the surgical team communicates to verify key information about the patient and the procedure.
The surgical team at White River Medical Center submitted a video of the Time Out procedure used at WRMC to the Association of Preoperative Registered Nurses (AORN). AORN is a professional association that empowers the OR nurse with education, standards of practice, and peer networking. AORN extended an open invitation to hospitals and ambulatory surgery facilities to videotape their team’s process for the Association to share on its web site as examples. All entries were reviewed by clinical editors of recommended practices of AORN and evaluated according to criteria set for compliance using the World Health Organization (WHO) check list or the components of the Universal Protocol. The judges’ ten selections were strong in meeting each component of their facility’s respective check list. The video submitted by White River Medical Center was selected as one of ten that will be used by the organization in the correct surgical site tool kit offered to AORN members as an training tool.
“This video demonstrates our ongoing commitment to quality care and patient safety,” said Dede Strecker, WRMC Chief Nursing Officer. “I am proud of the team that developed the video. The recognition by the AORN is well deserved.”
WRMC is a 199-bed regional referral center and the flagship facility of White River Health System (WRHS). WRHS is a not-for-profit healthcare system serving residents throughout North Central Arkansas. The system includes hospitals, outpatient facilities, primary care and specialty physician office practices, long-term care facilities and a medical equipment company. White River Health System is a member of the Premier Alliance, the American Hospital Association, and the Arkansas Hospital Association and licensed by the Arkansas Department of Health.
WRMC Participates in Statewide Disaster Drill
 On Wednesday, June 24, White River Medical Center (WRMC) participated in a statewide exercise designed to test the state’s ability to respond to a large-scale public health crisis. The drill involved emergency preparedness planners from hospitals and state and local agencies statewide who plan to rehearse what they would do in the hours and days following an actual public health emergency, such as a weather disaster or the spread of a deadly communicable disease.
In a four-hour drill the morning of June 24, WRMC joined forces with the Arkansas Department of Health’s local county health unit and state and local government officials from all over Arkansas to test the state’s response readiness.
“Preparedness is always a priority and the complexity of response required in today’s world presents challenges for hospitals.” said Gary Bebow, Administrator/CEO. “In every drill, we learn new ways to better respond to these kinds of emergency situations.”
The exercise included most hospitals across the state, the Arkansas Department of Health and many emergency response agencies and organizations that would be involved in a statewide public health incident. The exercise allowed hospital emergency response planners across the state to evaluate their capacity to interact with other emergency responder groups using proper personnel, communications systems and operational abilities.
“Drills are beneficial to our staff because the response process is very similar to many types of incidents” said Tony Thompson, WRMC Associate Administrator of Facilities. “The opportunity to develop relationships with emergency response agencies before a disaster will make us much more effective.”
The exercise will also allow local and state emergency responders to practice their interaction with the federal agencies, especially the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the CSC’s Strategic National Stockpile (SNS). The SNS has large quantities of medicine and medical supplies to protect the American public if there is a public health emergency (terrorist attack, flu outbreak, earthquake) severe enough to cause local supplies to run out. Once federal and local authorities agree that the SNS is needed, medicines will be delivered to any state in the US within 12 hours. Each state has plans to receive and distribute SNS medicine and medical supplies to local communities as quickly as possible.
The exercise included a wide range of public and private partners: 86 acute care hospitals, the ADH Emergency Operations Center, the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, local law enforcement agencies, and other state and local emergency operations centers (EOCs).
WRMC is a 199-bed regional referral center and the flagship facility of White River Health System (WRHS). WRHS is a not-for-profit healthcare system serving residents throughout North Central Arkansas. The System includes hospitals, outpatient facilities, rural health clinics, primary care and specialty physician offices, long-term care facilities and a medical equipment company. White River Health System is a member of the Premier Alliance, the American Hospital Association, and the Arkansas Hospital Association and is licensed by the Arkansas Department of Health.
Healthcare Executive Earns Top Credential
 May 2009 – (WRHS), recently became a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), the nation’s leading professional society for healthcare leaders. Thompson is privileged to use the FACHE credential, which signifies board certification in healthcare management and ACHE Fellow status.
Thompson completed his baccalaureate degree at the University of Central Arkansas in 1979, and his Master of Science degree at the University of Mississippi in 1985. Thompson joined the dedicated team of healthcare professionals at WRHS in 1998. During his tenure with WRHS, Thompson has had a variety of management responsibilities including responsibility for the WRMC Professional Building and Cancer Care Center and the Josephine Raye Rogers Center for Women and Imaging construction projects. Thompson was also responsible for the Stone County Medical Center expansion and renovations completed in 2005, and has worked closely with the Stone County Medical Center staff, Board and volunteers to plan the rebuilding of the facility following the February, 2008, tornado.
“Being part of these major construction projects has been very rewarding. They have enabled the organization to add new services and improve existing services. As a result, the quality of healthcare we provide continues to improve the lives of residents of North Central Arkansas”, said Thompson.
Fellow status represents achievement of the highest standard of professional development with only 7,500 healthcare executives hold this distinction nationwide. To obtain Fellow status, candidates must fulfill multiple requirements, including passing a comprehensive examination, meeting academic and experiential criteria, earning continuing education hours and demonstrating professional/community involvement. Fellows are committed to ongoing professional development and undergo recertification every three years.
“Because healthcare management ultimately affects the people in our communities, it is critically important to have a standard of excellence promoted by a professional organization,” says Thomas C. Dolan, PhD, FACHE, CAE, president and chief executive officer of ACHE. “By becoming an ACHE Fellow and simultaneously earning board certification from ACHE, healthcare leaders can show that they are committed to providing high-quality service to their patients and community.”
White River Health System is a not-for-profit healthcare system serving residents throughout North Central Arkansas. The system includes hospitals, outpatient facilities, primary care and specialty physician office practices, long-term care facilities and a medical equipment company. White River Health System is a member of the Premier Alliance, the American Hospital Association, and the Arkansas Hospital Association and licensed by the Arkansas Department of Health.
Showing 1 - 3 of 42 Articles
|
