Improved Outcomes at WMHS

After the separations were announced earlier this month, I began to hear comments about the care at WMHS.   Some say that you can expect those kinds of comments after such an action is taken.  What is strange is that the care at WMHS has never been better. 

• We are using evidence based medicine to the greatest extent ever in the care of our patients
• We are assessing patients daily with a three-day or greater stay in the hospital to ensure that they are receiving the most appropriate care 
• We now plan for the patients’ discharge earlier in their stay to ensure that they are appropriately being cared for after discharge
• We have a nurse transitionist who now assists with the transfer of the discharged patient to a nursing home to better coordinate their care
• We have dramatically improved our medication reconciliation process to reduce drug errors
• We are using information technology to its greatest level in the care of our patients
• We are case managing high-risk patients to ensure that they are keeping their appointments with providers, taking their meds and living a healthier lifestyle
• We have opened three additional primary care practices, a congestive heart failure clinic, a Diabetic medical home program,  and an anti-coagulation clinic in the last year
• We continue to have the best heart program in Maryland
• Our nurses round at least hourly on every inpatient and nursing report, which is the handoff of a patient between nurses at shift change, now occurs at the patient's bedside so the patient and his family are involved
• Nurses once again are rounding with physicians and advanced practice professionals to ensure continuity in the care of the patient
• We are active participants in statewide initiatives to dramatically reduce infections, falls with injury and pressure ulcers at WMHS with great success
• Our patient satisfaction results for inpatients and the ED have us in the top 10 among Maryland hospitals

My goal is to ensure that our patients and our community continue to hear about the much improved outcomes at WMHS as we have a lot to be proud of.