FALL 2024 DEVOTED TO HEALTHFUL LIVING 4 New: Safety Huddle Boards help reduce errors 7 Leave your legacy: Purchase a personalized brick Inside BuildCMH Expansion Project officially breaks ground!
2 HEALTH COMPASS FALL 2024 Creating a culture of safety There are several common causes of reliability failures. People may move too quickly, work on autopilot or lack attention to detail. Maybe they don’t communicate well, or they feel uncomfortable speaking up when they see something wrong. They don’t question things. Or they may not know expectations or deliberately choose to work around them. To create a culture of safety, we need to first build trust within our teams. Our work to become a High Reliability Organization By Judy Geiger, Vice President of Patient Care Services, and Christopher Strear, MD, FACEP, Chief Medical Officer Did you know that every year, patients at health care organizations around the world experience harm due to medical errors? That’s not a statistic anyone wants to find out about firsthand. On top of potential risks to patients, did you know that one of the most dangerous places to work is a hospital? Workplace injuries and illnesses at health care organizations occur at nearly twice the rate of other private companies. At Columbia Memorial Hospital, safety has been one of our core CMH CARES values for years. The No. 1 goal in our organization’s five-year strategic plan is to provide the highest-quality, safest care. We focus on safety for our patients and caregivers. At the end of 2023, CMH began working toward becoming a High Reliability Organization (HRO) with our partner, Press Ganey. Becoming an HRO involves learning tools and techniques to provide even greater safety to our patients and reducing how often we are injured on the job. Our ultimate goal is to get to zero harm. Throughout this year, we have held training sessions to teach these skills to every person working at CMH. We have also held workshops to practice the skills and create habits that will sustain a culture of safety. Everyone at CMH plays an important part in making our organization safe for everyone. Becoming an HRO is integral to this value. By working to become an HRO, we are doubling down on its importance. We couldn’t be more excited to share this important work with you and continue moving toward our goal of zero harm. Caregivers need to know and believe that safety is a core value. Everyone’s goal should be zero harm so that all feel empowered to speak up for safety. Staff need tools to help them respectfully escalate concerns. Safety stories should reinforce the importance of and expectations for preventing human error. Those who speak up for safety should be thanked and protected, especially when they are wrong. A fair and just culture should be real and implemented. 1 3 2 4 5 6 Building trust to create a culture of safety
COLUMBIAMEMORIAL.ORG FALL 2024 3 On Oct. 21, the official groundbreaking ceremony for the BuildCMH Expansion Project was held. What a journey it has been to prepare for this next era in health care on the coast. Thank you and congratulations to those who have helped us get this far on the project! More on the BuildCMH Expansion Project This project will expand Columbia Memorial Hospital from 56,000 square feet to 182,000 square feet, allowing CMH to grow and offer additional services to the community. The size of the facility will help preserve patient dignity and privacy by creating private corridors, larger inpatient rooms with private bathrooms and more space in registration areas. There will be improved parking availability and comfortable waiting areas for visitors. In addition, there will be resiliency features, such as the region’s first tsunami vertical evacuation structure and a deep pile foundation, so the facility can withstand and maintain operations during a natural disaster. Visit columbiamemorial.org/buildcmh for more updates about the project. General contractor: Skanska USA Architect and design: ZGF Architects Timeline: Anticipated opening in fall 2027 BUILDCMH UPDATE Ground broken for BuildCMH Expansion Project! First floor. The first floor includes a critically needed expansion of the Emergency Department, a new chapel, dedicated caregiver respite areas and a new dining facility. Second floor. The second floor houses expanded Surgery and Imaging departments, as well as the Labor and Delivery Unit, equipped with spa-like birth suites. Third floor. The third floor includes the Medical, Surgical and Critical Care rooms and a new Observation Unit, in addition to increased caregiver amenities. Fourth and fifth floors. The fourth and fifth floors are composed of critical infrastructure, generators, the helipad and a state-of-the-art Emergency Command Center.
4 HEALTH COMPASS FALL 2024 Each morning, caregivers in the CMHOHSU Health General Surgery Clinic meet in front of their Safety Huddle Board. Manager Leslie Claterbos starts the day by going through several safety statistics and issues that are currently being worked on. The team looks ahead, discussing the expected patients and projects that day, and looks back at the days and weeks past, to see if any improvements can be made. Across the hospital’s campus, clinics and administrative departments, leaders start their shifts in a similar way, ensuring that each team has an eye on safety — for patients and caregivers. Although daily huddles aren’t new, the Safety Huddle Boards are. They’re a part of CMH’s drive to become a High Reliability Organization (HRO), a project that started in late 2023 with our partner, Press Ganey. HROs consistently perform with the same results in repeated tests — that means no errors. Why is CMH embarking on this journey? The hospital has chosen to become an HRO because medical errors result in patient deaths and injuries every year at health care organizations around the world. Not only that — health care organizations are some of the most dangerous places to work. Workplace injuries and illnesses are much more likely to occur in health care than in other industries. With patients and caregivers in the balance, it is imperative that CMH be highly reliable and safe. Our goal is to shift our culture and implement new tools to improve safety. Over the past year, everyone at CMH has undergone training on the principles of HROs. Safety is discussed every single day, and caregivers are encouraged to speak up when they see something unsafe. There are also Safety Coaches throughout the organization. Safety Coaches are front-line safety “super users” who can answer questions, identify opportunities to use HRO skills and lead by example. Caregiver and Patient Safety Event teams meet weekly to analyze safety events, create SAFETY FIRST in our drive for high reliability
COLUMBIAMEMORIAL.ORG FALL 2024 5 action plans to avoid recurrent events, educate caregivers and departments using examples of safety events to reinforce how HRO can reduce harm, and help us prioritize our focus. The training and emphasis on safety is already making an impact! Events such as an incorrect patient armband, a double dose of medication and insurance denial for the wrong patient are just a few recent issues that were caught before reaching the patients. As an organization, we have made a commitment to our patients to cause no harm. That commitment extends to our caregivers and visitors. We have taken the first steps on a journey that never ends but takes us ever closer to where we need to be. General Surgery caregivers discuss their Safety Huddle Board, which includes information on safety statistics, issues, expected patients and projects for the day. Caregiver receives inaugural Greatest Catch Award At the end of July, we held the inaugural Greatest Catch awards to honor Great Catches for safety from 2023. The nominees were: Lonn Martin, Housekeeping. Martin’s Great Catch was noticing expired AED pads in one of our AED units, which led to the organization’s finding expired pads in multiple units. The pads were replaced, and a new process was implemented so they do not expire unnoticed again. Savannah Brown, RN, Med/Surg. Brown’s Great Catch was preventing a double dose of medication from being given to a patient. There would have been harmful consequences for the patient had Brown not caught this. Aaron Moore, RT, Respiratory Therapy. Moore’s Great Catch was finding that potassium chloride was in bags instead of sterile water on the Respiratory Therapy carts. This could have caused substantial issues for patients’ health if not caught. The winner of the inaugural Greatest Catch Award for 2023 was Martin. Congratulations to him and thanks to all three caregivers for keeping an eye on safety and embodying the spirit of an HRO. Housekeeper Lonn Martin stands with CMH CEO Erik Thorsen (left) and Melissa Sholin, Environmental Services manager (right). The Greatest Catch awards were given in July 2024. Above, from left: Christopher Strear, MD, FACEP, chief medical officer; Rachel Davidson, Respiratory Therapy manager; Whitney Beecham, Med/Surg manager; Savannah Brown, Med/ Surg nurse; Lonn Martin, housekeeper; Aaron Moore, respiratory therapist; Judy Geiger, vice president of patient care services; and Melissa Sholin, Environmental Services manager.
6 HEALTH COMPASS FALL 2024 Meet our new general surgeons John Moon, MD, PhD, MS, DDS, FACS Why were you interested in being a general surgeon? When I started my career path, I was in a dental residency for oral maxillofacial surgery. I realized that I preferred general surgery more because the necessity of the surgeries was more essential. The diseases and maladies you could treat seemed more impactful to the patient. What are you looking forward to while being at CMH? Hopefully, I can be a positive contributor to the surgical group; the hospital; and, at large, to the community. What do you do to connect with your patients? I spend time talking to them about their lives and interests. I like to try and have a laugh with them while talking about non-medical topics. What brought you to the coast? I wanted to come to Astoria because it is a beautiful town. I also have family in Oregon and wanted to be closer to them. I wanted to come to work where there was a sense of community. Is there anything you want the community to know about you? I have practiced for more than 20 years with a fellowship in minimally invasive and robotic surgery. During my surgical career, I have learned that the highest responsibility is when your patients place their trust in you. I will always try to earn the trust and faith they give. Early in my career, a patient told me [something] that resonated through the years of practice. She said, “I don’t expect you to be perfect, but I expect you to care.” I have tried to live by these words since then and will continue to practice with compassion. April Cockcroft, DO Why were you interested in becoming a general surgeon? Growing up as Dr. Ben Cockcroft’s daughter in Seaside, I was inspired by my father’s work and the support from our community. A pivotal moment was observing my mentor, Dr. Bob Wayne, in the operating room during my high school years, which solidified my desire to return to CMH as a general surgeon. What are you looking forward to while being at CMH? I’m eager to give back to the community that raised me. With my laparoscopic and robotic training from Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, I aim to provide personalized care using advanced surgical techniques. Collaborating with OHSU, I aim to bring top-tier surgical care to Astoria so patients can stay close to home. What do you do to connect with patients? I see patient relationships as lifelong and enjoy staying updated on their lives. Understanding one’s health is empowering, so I strive to communicate clearly, use visual aids and tailor treatment plans to align with individual care goals. What brought you to the coast? I’m excited to be back home. My husband and I are thrilled to settle in beautiful Clatsop County and reconnect with family, friends and the surf community. Is there anything you want the community to know about you? My family is deeply grateful for the community’s support following the loss of my father. My goal is to honor his legacy by working with our primary care providers to enhance community health through cancer screening. These screenings can be lifesaving. Additionally, I want to serve as a mentor for our local youth and inspire them from an early age, that they too can be a doctor or health care worker and come back to serve our community.
COLUMBIAMEMORIAL.ORG FALL 2024 7 CMH was awarded a $20 million Building Resilient Infrastructures and Communities (BRIC) grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to add resiliency features to the BuildCMH Expansion Project, including a tsunami vertical evacuation structure. The grant comes with the condition that CMH raise $6 million to match. You can help by buying a brick for the BRIC. Your donation will help secure this substantial federal grant, and you’ll play a part in constructing the expanded hospital’s brick-lined path of the labyrinth. Honor a loved one, highlight your business, or simply add your name or your family member’s name to the list of community members who are supporting this important addition to the Astoria community. What are the options? You can choose to give: • $250 for a 4" x 8" brick • $1,000 for a 12" x 12" paver • $5,000 for a stone bench Inscription information The inscription is custom engraved and will be centered for you. Each letter, punctuation mark, number or space counts as one character. Inscriptions will be approved by the Foundation Board, and political or obscene messages will not be honored. • 4" x 8" bricks: Each line holds a maximum of 15 characters, and up to three lines can fit. • 12" x 12" pavers: Each line holds a maximum of 20 characters, and up to six lines can fit. Buy your brick for the BRIC at columbiamemorial.org/brick. Buy a brick for the BRIC
Amber Toomey, FNP-C, CMH-OHSU Health Primary Care – Seaside Amber Toomey, FNP-C, is a primary care provider at the CMH-OHSU Health Primary Care Clinic – Seaside. She joined CMH Urgent Care in 2022 and transitioned to primary care in 2024. Why did you choose your medical specialty? “I started in this profession approximately 25 years ago in an entry-level position. With my experiences, I continued with a strong, progressive desire to help people and advocate for them. I wanted to meet my potential and help people in the best way I am able. As a nurse practitioner, I have that autonomy. I choose my place in life as a way to help people. It is an honor to have the opportunity to do what I do, and it is naturally rewarding.” What is the best part of your job? “The most satisfying part of my job is when someone walks away feeling heard; cared for; and as though, no matter what, they have someone! I want to be a resource and have great working relationships with my people. We make plans together; that is rewarding.” What do you do to connect with your patients? “Connecting with my patients involves a combination of empathy, active listening and truly caring about who they are, uniquely. I try to understand the depth of their presentation and determine their needs based on collaboration. I feel it is vital to understand that every person I see is the most important person to someone. I need to care for them with the same care I would want my most important people to have.” COLUMBIA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL 2111 Exchange St. Astoria, OR 97103 Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Salem, OR Permit No. 86 Find us on social media! @cmhcommunity @cmhcommunity linkedin.com/company/ columbia-memorial-hospital @cmhcommunity Cover photo by Austin Miller, Videographer and Graphic Designer. CMH HEALTH COMPASS is published as a community service by COLUMBIA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, a Planetree Gold-Certified Person-Centered Care Facility. 2111 Exchange St., Astoria, OR 97103, telephone 503-325-4321, website: columbiamemorial.org For information about CMH HEALTH COMPASS: Sarah Bello, MBA, Marketing Manager Robert Holland, MD, PhD President, Board of Trustees Erik Thorsen, MBA, CPA, FACHE Chief Executive Officer Nicole Williams, MPA, FACHE Chief Operating Officer Christopher Strear, MD, FACEP Chief Medical Officer Information in CMH HEALTH COMPASS comes from a wide range of medical experts. If you have any concerns or questions about specific content that may affect your health, please contact your health care provider. Models may be used in photos and illustrations. 2024 © Coffey Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. Jarrod Karnofski, DPT, ATC, MSHCA Vice President, Ancillary and Support Services Judy Geiger, RN, MBA Vice President, Patient Care Services Christopher Laman, PharmD, MBA Vice President, Strategy Brandon Parker, MBA, CPA Vice President, Finance Nicole Perez, BSHA, MSITM Vice President, Health Information Services Meet a CMH provider
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