OMHC Purchases Electronic Health Records

ODESSA MEMORIAL HEALTHCARE CENTER

Inside this

issue:

Fall 2011 Volume 3, Issue 2

Health Matters

Health Fact

Hot or Cold?

Eating food and drinking

liquids that are either too

hot or too cold can affect

the balance of your body.

Different temperatures

that are extreme can

weaken the functions of

the organs such as the

spleen. If you eat very hot

food, then you can actually

burn the sensitive

membrane on the surface

of your mouth and

stomach lining. Over time

this can lead to health

complications. Before you

put any food or drink in

your mouth, make sure it

is not too hot or cold

before you swallow.

Lincoln County Public Hospital District No. 1 d.b.a. Odessa Memorial Healthcare Center (OMHC) operates three entities for

Odessa and the surrounding service community of approximately 2,500 citizens. It is the largest employer in the immediate

area. OMHC is a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital . There is 24-hour Level V emergency room care and basic EMS ambulance

services. Odessa Rural Health Clinic provides family medical care M-F, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Quail Court, a 12-unit assisted

living facility, is also on the campus.

Highlight Department

2

Health Article

3

Provider’s Corner

3

Fall and Winter Calendar

3

OMHC’s Board of Commissioners recently approved the purchase and implementation of Electronic Health Records (EHR) at both the Hospital and Odessa Rural Health Clinic. EHR’s will provide significant benefits to our facility and the patients we serve.

What is an EHR and how can it benefit me? An EHR is a computerized health record created in an organization that delivers care, such as a hospital or physician's office. EHR’s provide the health information system storage, retrieval and modification of records. Furthermore, an EHR provides caregivers with immediate access to information relevant to that patient, improving care and safety for the patients we serve.

Implementation of EHR’s in facilities like OMHC has led to improved patient safety, communications with patients, outcomes, and a reduction in medical errors. Physicians are able to access information on their patients timely, improving the flexibility in how their patient’s health information is accessed and reported. EHR’s provide accessibility to a patient’s entire health record, allowing the physician to make a more informed

decision on the proper care for the patient.

Organizations that have implemented an EHR have also seen workflow improvements in lab workflow, radiology workflow, nursing workflow, pharmacy workflow, and overall clinical and patient satisfaction. Once the EHR has been implemented at OMHC, you can be assured that your privacy will continue to be protected. Only you and the healthcare providers or personnel who are involved in providing your care will have access to your personal health information.

Why OMHC is Implementing Electronic Health Records Health care today is more sophisticated, with greater cost pressures and operational complexity than ever before. Providers need secure access to reliable, real-time and easy-to-use information technology that enables them to manage patient histories and other clinical resources to improve productivity and patient care while reducing costs. Inland Northwest Health Services (INHS), who OMHC currently contracts with for network services, provides solutions that address these needs while simplifying and reducing the cost of EHR adoption, so facilities like OMHC can more easily achieve "meaningful use,” or more simply put, reporting requirements.

In February 2009, Congress passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). This act provided a framework for federal incentive payments for certified EHRs. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its final rule defining the implementation of the EHR incentive program and the certification criteria for EHR technology. ARRA allows for incentive payments for meeting the reporting requirements of certified EHR’s. There are two main requirements that must be met: purchasing a system that is certified and meeting the reporting requirements. These requirements are broken down to objectives and measures that must be met, and are defined in three stages. OMHC will be striving to meet stage one in 2012.

Reimbursement Benefits to OMHC Under the ARRA, facilities will be reimbursed for meeting the reporting requirements over five years. To capture the full amount, we must purchase, install and begin implementation by the end of 2011. There are penalties based on reimbursement from Medicaid and Medicare for not adopting a certified EHR that will begin in 2015. The overall EHR implementation will cost roughly $705,000. In 2012, OMHC will be reimbursed $651,000 from Medicare and $51,000 from Medicaid, provided we are utilizing the EHR by July 1, 2012. Over the next few years, OMHC will receive additional reimbursement for continued use of the EHR system. Overall, the total available amount of reimbursement will be roughly $775,000. OMHC’s Board of Commissioners felt that it is essential we begin the implementation process as soon as possible, so that we can maximize the full reimbursement from Medicare and Medicaid as a Critical Access Hospital (CAH). A CAH is paid 101% of cost for most inpatient and outpatient services. CAH’s not meeting EHR definitions by 2015 will be paid a lower percentage of cost for each year they fail to meet EHR and the reporting requirements.

Programs to be installed at OMHC INHS will support the licenses, training and implementation of the certified EHR. OMHC will be implementing two certified programs that interface together, essentially linking the hospital and clinic

Page 2 Fall 2011 Volume 3, Issue 2

Why OMHC is Implementing Electronic

Health Records Continued

together and to other healthcare facilities. Currently, OMHC operates a mainframe system called Meditech. We will continue to operate Meditech, with the addition of clinical modules in the various hospital departments: Emergency Department, Acute Care, Long Term Care, Lab, X-Ray and Physical Therapy. At the clinic we will be implementing a system by GE called Centricity.

Services Provided � Acute—Cardiac Telemetry

� Emergency Room—Level V Trauma: RN’s—ACLS Certified, Modern Roof-top Heliport, District operated ambulance and EMS services

� Pharmacy—as part of our acute care

� Laboratory

� Mental Health Consults

� Radiology/EKG

� Massage Therapy/Physical Therapy/Athletic Training

� Speech Therapy

� Dietitian Consults

� Outpatient Procedures—Endoscopy

� Social Services

� Teleradiology/Telehealth

� Women’s and Men’s Health/Physicals

� Well-Baby Checks/Pediatrics

� Foot Care

� Certified Urine Drug Testing

� Telemedicine

� Mammography

� Specialty Clinics: Orthopedic, Surgery, Urology

12-Unit/12-Bed Assisted Living Facility: Quail Court

Statistics Year to Date for 2011 Hospital:

�Total Patient Days — 37

�ER Visits — 382

�Ambulance Runs — 98

�PT Visits — 1,333

�Lab Tests — 7,537

�X-Ray Tests — 532

�Occupancy Rate — 84%

Quail Court:

�Occupancy Rate — 98%

Clinic:

�Total Visits — 3,561

District:

�Full Time Equivalence — 63.4

*Numbers are year to date as of October 2011

Highlight Department: Social Services & Activities OMHC’s Social Services Department has two employees. Jonnie Pitts, MSW, is the Director and has 24 years experience in Social Services. Nancy Plinski is the Social Services Assistant with 20 + years experience. Together, they coordinate admissions and discharges to OMHC’s Swing Beds with the assistance of the Nursing Department and the Medical Officer on duty. They work with patients, residents, and families regarding any adjustment, grieving, and financial concerns.

The Activities staff is a diverse group of women with many years experience at OMHC in the Activity Department as well as other departments. Jonnie Pitts is also the Activity Director and manages the department with 27 years experience. Sandi Smith is the Activities Assistant with 15 years experience. Miranda Zigan has worked in the Activity Department for 5 years, and also works as a Nursing Assistant-Certified. Sharon Pfeifer had worked previously in OMHC’s Fiscal department for 30 years, and in 2009, OMHC was delighted to have her return to work in the Activity Department. Together this group provides a variety of activities throughout the day to meet the needs of the residents, including taking the residents on shopping trips, rides around town, and other outings as they desire.

New Chemistry Analyzer for the Lab is Here! The Horiba ABX Pentra 400 is a compact Clinical Chemistry bench-top analyzer. It arrived October 15th and was installed October 20th. Marra Schmierer, the Lab Director and Drex Palmer, the Radiology Director, went through three days of thorough training with a Systems Integration Specialist from Horiba. In January 2012, Marra will attend a week-long training session at Horiba’s main campus in Irvine, California. During that same week, a Systems Integration Specialist from Horiba will formally train Odessa Memorial’s nursing staff on running the Pentra. OMHC is scheduled to go live in February 2012 with the new analyzer.

The following Pentra 400 features were important to Odessa when purchasing the analyzer:

� 55 on-board assays in the form of bar-coded, ready-to-use reagent cassettes

� Touch screen interface allows Odessa to order operations from the main screen

� Real-time follow-up of workflow

� On-board reagent refrigeration with automatic reagent inventory and back-up

� Multiple sample checks using crash, level, and clot detection

� Single-use reaction cuvettes allow Odessa to perform sensitive tests with high stability results

� Continuous loading with STAT capabilities

� Automatic pre/post sample dilution, sample re-run, and validation of patient results based on user-defined rules

� Unlimited patient report archiving with full patient result history

� Automatic daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance alerts

� Maintains operator login history, and reagent, calibration, and maintenance logs

Winter Health Page 3

Provider’s Corner Doctor Powell was recently notified that her appointment as Clinic Instructor in the Department of Family Medicine has been approved by both the Clinical Faculty Appointments and Promotions Committee and the voting faculty in the Department of Family Medicine at the University Of Washington School Of Medicine. The appointment allows her to continue teaching in Spokane at the Family Practice Residency Program monthly and precept a student here each year from the RUOP (Rural Underserved Opportunities Program). We congratulate Doctor Powell on her continued participation in this program. This program is designed to teach and show students about rural medicine. It gives an opportunity to increase awareness of rural medicine and possibly one of those students could be a provider here at OMHC in the future. Also, Doctor Powell has recently been recertified for three more years of accreditation by the American Board of Family Practice. Through maintenance of certification we continue to have high standards of excellence in the specialty of Family Medicine. Washington State requires a Physician’s Assistant to take 50 hours per year or 100 hours every two years in Continuing Medical Education. Mark King, PA-C, recently attended the annual Washington Association of Physician Assistant’s conference at Suncadia near CleElum, WA. At this 3-day conference Mark was able to enhance his knowledge and stay proficient in areas of Family Practice medicine such as Diabetes Management, Infectious Disease and

Hypertension. This continuing education results in quality patient care for the patients of the Odessa Rural Health Clinic.

More than 100 viruses can cause colds, the world's most common illness, so few people escape being exposed to at least one of them. In the United States, most people average about three colds every year. Once it enters the body through the nose or throat, the cold virus begins to multiply, causing any of a number of symptoms: sore throat, sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, aches and pains, mild fever, nasal congestion and coughing. A cold usually lasts a week or two. The best way to treat a cold is to take a mild pain reliever, avoid unnecessary activity, get as much bed rest as possible and drink plenty of fluids, especially fruit juices. Over-the-counter cough and cold remedies may relieve some of the symptoms, but they will not prevent, cure or even shorten the course of the illness. While there is no vaccine to protect you from catching a cold, there are ways to lessen your chances of coming down with the illness. Keep up your natural resistance through good nutrition and getting enough sleep and exercise. Turn your thermostat down and keep the humidity up in your home. Dry air dries out the mucous membranes in your nose and throat and causes them to crack, creating a place where cold viruses can enter your body. Avoid direct contact with those who have colds and always wash your hands frequently.

Success Stories We think the care here in Odessa is very good which is why we have supported it in so many ways. The fact that we don’t have to go to Spokane for our care is very important to us. The staff at the hospital and clinic is always very good and caring. We have also heard good remarks about the Physical Therapy Department, too. We have recently visited people in the hospital, and they have reported how nice everybody is to them and if there are ever any problems they are taken care of right away. Here in Odessa we are not just a number to the hospital and clinic. - Marvin & Marilyn Fink

The Odessa Clinic has a very friendly atmosphere as soon as we walk in the door and the staff is always very efficient when calling for an appointment. Doctor Powell and Mark King are willing to take their time listening to the patients and then deciding on a plan of care. Barb Schlimmer is a “crown jewel” as a helper with insurance matters. She is always willing to take as long as is needed to get matters taken care of. We are very thankful for living in a small town and that we are able to have a clinic, assisted living facility (Quail Court) and have a fully-staffed hospital with many amenities. - Myron & Marlene Kramer

� Auxiliary Lunch Fundraisers are the Second Wednesday of each month in Atrium

� OMHC Critical Access Hospital Family Potlucks are the third Monday of each month in the Activity room

� OMHC Board of Commissioner Meetings are the Fourth Thursday of every month

Remember Lab Fair is always held in both the spring and fall. Watch for flyers and advertisements this

spring for dates and times. Don’t miss out on this cost efficient event!

Holiday Board Meeting

Calendar Events 2011—2012

December 2011 January 2012 February 2012

S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S

1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

25 26 27 28 29 30 31 29 30 31 26 27 28 29

March 2012 April 2012 May 2012

S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S

1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

25 26 27 28 29 30 31 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 27 28 29 30 31

29 30

Don’t forget

we can meet

all your

therapy and

rehab needs.

Also available are private

swing beds (previously known

as Nursing Home beds).

Remind your provider to

contact OMHC! Our trained,

professional staff is able to

care for you and your loved

ones, providing professional

and prompt services.

Look inside for details on OMHC Implementing Electronic

Health Records!

502 E Amende Drive

PO Box 368

Odessa, WA 99159-0368

Phone: (509) 982-2611

Fax: (509) 982-2616

Email: www.omhc.org

“...bringing

caring, quality

healthcare to our

community.”

Call us at (509) 982-2611

Visit us at 502 E Amende Drive, Odessa, WA 99159

Administrator Editor Gary DelForge Alyssa Oestreich

ODESSA

MEMORIAL

HEALTHCARE

CENTER

We are on the web!

www.omhc.org

PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

ODESSA, WA

PERMIT NO. 19

Health Matters

Odessa Memorial

Healthcare Center