There is a lot of evidence that patients are safer in American hospitals and health systems since the publication of the report from the Institute of Medicine (now the National Academy of Medicine) in 2000, To Err is Human. We have significantly reduced harm in the form of iatrogenic infections, falls, retained foreign objects and many others. To see how GBMC has done, you can go to our public website: www.gbmc.org/quality.
But it is clear that we still have work to do. Other high-risk industries, like nuclear power, commercial aviation, or the French high-speed rail system have error rates in the less than 1 per million range. The U.S. healthcare system still has rates in the 1 per hundred to 1 per 10,000 range. We can and must get even safer.
Dr. Donald Berwick, the President Emeritus and Senior Fellow at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) gave the keynote address at the 19th annual National Patient Safety Foundation Patient Safety Congress. He applauded those who have generated these real improvements but he pointed out that we still have a lot to do. He listed seven areas of concern that health care leaders should pay attention to in the effort to continue the progress of the patient safety movement. They are in Dr. Berwick’s words:
1. Displacement by other concerns: "As we go to boardrooms around the U.S. and hear what is being discussed, there are two topics: a changing reimbursement system and workforce morale. I personally believe there’s a strong connection between safety and cost reduction, but that conviction hasn’t been firmly established in 20 years."
2. Illusion of completeness: "There’s an illusion that we’ve worked on safety — 'here are our scores on central line infections, pressure ulcers and here’s what’s happening on medication reconciliation' — on to the next problem. The concept of safety as a box-checking enterprise, where we start and finish, is lethal to patients of the future."
3. Incentive theory: "Most of the workforce is already trying as hard as it can. Until we become scientists and give up the incentive-oriented approach to safety, we won’t make the systemic progress we have been calling on for years."
4. Metrics glut: "In pursuit of incentives, we’ve glutted ourselves with metrics. I think we are way beyond a level of toxicity. It's not just safety. We have to go on a diet."
5. Separation of safety from quality: "When people say 'quality and safety,' what I hear is 'fruit and bananas.' Quality improvement is the big tent. It’s the enterprise of constant improvement to everything we care about. The quality of my car is dimensional. It has safety, durability and fuel economy and so does health care. I think reuniting our endeavors is crucial to our future. We don’t have the resources to waste on tribalism. We have to think systemically."
6. System literacy: "We need to become literate about the systemic properties that produce improvement."
7. Academic attacks: "I’m not sure why, but I deeply regret that academic students who position themselves outside the safety movement have all too often become critics. Until our academic brethren join in the progression of safety instead of positioning themselves as critics of the good-hearted work going on, they’ll be riding the breaks."
We at GBMC will stay focused on our vision phrase and every day we will work to measurably improve the patient’s health outcome and her care experience while driving out the waste and increasing the joy for those providing the care.
THANK YOU to our Information Technology colleagues!
Ten days ago, a major cyber-attack brought disruption to the health system in England forcing many hospitals and doctors’ offices to turn away patients and cancel appointments. People in affected areas were being advised to seek medical care only in emergencies. As a result, the United States and countries around the world sought to manage the spread of the "WannaCry" ransomware attack immediately. That was also the case here at GBMC.
Dave Hynson, GBMC’s Chief Information Officer, and his team went to work immediately to diminish risk as much as possible by implementing the most current Microsoft security updates, and best practices as defined by our vendor partners. They also did an excellent job of informing the GBMC HealthCare user community by asking them to be vigilant with unknown or suspicious attachments.
All of the patching was accomplished by Monday (May 15) afternoon, including our Citrix servers and systems for which Microsoft made a patch available. As of today, we still ask GBMC staff to continue to be vigilant regarding all email and help to ensure that GBMC remains safe from a cyber-attack.
I want to thank Dave and his team for all their hard work in addressing the issues and keeping us on normal operations.
Monday, May 22, 2017
Friday, May 12, 2017
Time To Reflect On Our Outstanding Nurses
This week is National Nurses Week (May 6 – May 12) – the time of the year where we thank our nurses for all that they do. Being a nurse is very taxing work. It is physically demanding and the expectations on them get greater all the time. We expect our nurses to maintain their competency with ever increasing diagnostic and treatment options that get more and more complex by the year. We also expect them to treat everyone with kindness and compassion even in the most challenging situations- like an Emergency Department full of behavioral health patients who can’t get out because there is no place for them to safely go.
GBMC HealthCare nurses meet this challenge daily and I’m always amazed at how they keep coming back. Why? Because of their dedication to helping others in their time of need.
In honor of Nurses Week, a former patient posted words of gratitude, on her Facebook page (pic right), on how the nurses cared for her during a near death experience. This is just one, of the many patient stories, that reminds me how fortunate we are to have a remarkable and dedicated nursing staff, in the hospital, in our physician practices, in patients’ homes, and in our inpatient hospice units. Please join me in thanking them.
Sunday also marked the beginning of National Hospital Week, the celebration of which dates back to the early 1920s. According to the American Hospital Association, the week is “a celebration of the history, technology and dedicated professionals that make our facilities beacons of confidence and care.” At all hours of the day and night, all year long, our team of parking lot attendants, grounds crew, patient access reps, and billing staff, to transporters, environmental services workers, food service workers, security personnel, social workers, care managers, advanced practitioners, physicians, nurses, therapists, volunteers, and all other non-clinical and administrative employees to serve our community in our mission of health, healing and hope.
So, as we observe National Hospital Week, I want to sincerely thank all the members of our staff, Board of Directors and volunteers and everyone who has helped us improve our care and make our system more reliable to move us closer to our vision: to every patient, every time, we will provide the care that we would want for our own loved ones.
PARTY ON!!!!
Last night, I had the privilege of attending the second annual Art of Nursing celebration. This was a special evening for our nursing staff, as we formally celebrated all that our incredible nurses give to GBMC and our patients. We highlighted the seven winners of the 2017 Art of Nursing Awards. They are:
Diversity in Nursing Award – Anton Panuela, BSN, RN
Clinical Assistant Support Award (Inpatient Award) – Dorothy Alexander, NST
Clinical Assistant Support Award (Outpatient Award) -- Irene Irby, CNA and Shartiya Boykin, Lead MA
Patient-and Family-Centered Care Award – Alexis Schultz, BSN, RN
Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Award – Rosalyn Berkowitz, BSN, RN, FNE-A/P
Mrs. H. Norman Baetjer Jr. Nursing Graduate of the Year Award – Almina Hrbinic, RN
Nurse Clinician of the Year Award – Rachel Ridgely, BSN, RN, CCRN
Congratulations to the winners and all those who were nominated!
I also would like to thank everyone involved in our very successful Art of Nursing celebration, especially our Marketing and Communications team and our Philanthropy team.
America’s Most Amazing Nurse Is In Our Hospital!
Speaking of our great nurses, and one who truly incorporates our vision is Laura Clary, manager of our Sexual Assault Forensic Examination & Domestic Violence Programs. Earlier today, during a very festive occasion in our Yaggy Atrium, Laura was announced, on The Doctors TV Show, as the winner of Prevention magazines nationwide search to find America’s Most Amazing Nurse.
Since November, Prevention magazine and The Doctors have joined efforts in a search across the country to find America’s Most Amazing Nurse. Each entrant or nominee had to have an active RN license or advanced nursing credential and must have been currently working in the nursing field. Laura was nominated by her husband and selected over hundreds of applicants and four other finalists because of her compassion, commitment, and expert care.
Our SAFE program cares for patients across the lifespan, with our oldest patient being 98 and our youngest under one-year-old. We have expanded the program, thanks to Laura, to not only care for adult victims of sexual assault but also victims of child abuse, human trafficking, intimate partner violence and non-fatal strangulation.
Barbara O'Dair, editor-in-chief of Prevention Magzine, said this about Laura: "Her extraordinary work embodies the true spirit of nursing." Laura is truly an example of how powerful nurses really are and how they're strong advocates in addition to being devoted and comforting caregivers.
We hope Laura’s honor inspires people in our community to acknowledge and appreciate the incredible contributions nurses, like Laura and her team, make in our communities every single day.
Congratulations Laura! This recognition is truly well deserved!
Golfing for a good cause…
On Monday, the sun made an appearance and the weather was just right for the 29th Annual GBMC Golf Classic at the Turf Valley Country Club. Over 200 golfers teed up to help raise funds for the GBMC HealthCare system.
I had a great time playing with John Maroon, CEO and founder of Maroon PR; Harry S. Johnson, former chair of the GBMC HealthCare Board of Directors, and an attorney with Whiteford, Taylor and Preston and Ronald M. Cherry, Esq, a partner in the law firm of Bonner Kiernan Trebach & Crociata LLP.
It was clear that countless hours were spent preparing for this great day that grossed approximately $200,000 to benefit GBMC. Money from this year’s event will aid various initiatives including the John E. Savage Medical Library which provides the medical staff, patients, visitors, and members of our community the most up-to-date medical information; and the Continuing Medical Education Department which provides programs offering medical education for our attending physicians, nurses, resident physicians and allied health professionals.
A great time was had by all and it was evident that so many community members and supporters of GBMC are truly dedicated to our future success. I’m very grateful to everyone who helped us raise the money and everyone who came out to play. Kudos to the entire golf committee, led by Chairs Rob Stoltz MD and Lisa Goodlett, our Chief Financial Officer and to Jenny Coldiron and the GBMC Foundation staff, and many of our nurse leaders all of whom worked together for a great event!
GBMC HealthCare nurses meet this challenge daily and I’m always amazed at how they keep coming back. Why? Because of their dedication to helping others in their time of need.
In honor of Nurses Week, a former patient posted words of gratitude, on her Facebook page (pic right), on how the nurses cared for her during a near death experience. This is just one, of the many patient stories, that reminds me how fortunate we are to have a remarkable and dedicated nursing staff, in the hospital, in our physician practices, in patients’ homes, and in our inpatient hospice units. Please join me in thanking them.
So, as we observe National Hospital Week, I want to sincerely thank all the members of our staff, Board of Directors and volunteers and everyone who has helped us improve our care and make our system more reliable to move us closer to our vision: to every patient, every time, we will provide the care that we would want for our own loved ones.
PARTY ON!!!!
Last night, I had the privilege of attending the second annual Art of Nursing celebration. This was a special evening for our nursing staff, as we formally celebrated all that our incredible nurses give to GBMC and our patients. We highlighted the seven winners of the 2017 Art of Nursing Awards. They are:Diversity in Nursing Award – Anton Panuela, BSN, RN
Clinical Assistant Support Award (Inpatient Award) – Dorothy Alexander, NST
Clinical Assistant Support Award (Outpatient Award) -- Irene Irby, CNA and Shartiya Boykin, Lead MA
Patient-and Family-Centered Care Award – Alexis Schultz, BSN, RN
Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Award – Rosalyn Berkowitz, BSN, RN, FNE-A/P
Mrs. H. Norman Baetjer Jr. Nursing Graduate of the Year Award – Almina Hrbinic, RN
Nurse Clinician of the Year Award – Rachel Ridgely, BSN, RN, CCRN
Congratulations to the winners and all those who were nominated!
I also would like to thank everyone involved in our very successful Art of Nursing celebration, especially our Marketing and Communications team and our Philanthropy team.
Speaking of our great nurses, and one who truly incorporates our vision is Laura Clary, manager of our Sexual Assault Forensic Examination & Domestic Violence Programs. Earlier today, during a very festive occasion in our Yaggy Atrium, Laura was announced, on The Doctors TV Show, as the winner of Prevention magazines nationwide search to find America’s Most Amazing Nurse.
Since November, Prevention magazine and The Doctors have joined efforts in a search across the country to find America’s Most Amazing Nurse. Each entrant or nominee had to have an active RN license or advanced nursing credential and must have been currently working in the nursing field. Laura was nominated by her husband and selected over hundreds of applicants and four other finalists because of her compassion, commitment, and expert care.
Our SAFE program cares for patients across the lifespan, with our oldest patient being 98 and our youngest under one-year-old. We have expanded the program, thanks to Laura, to not only care for adult victims of sexual assault but also victims of child abuse, human trafficking, intimate partner violence and non-fatal strangulation.
Barbara O'Dair, editor-in-chief of Prevention Magzine, said this about Laura: "Her extraordinary work embodies the true spirit of nursing." Laura is truly an example of how powerful nurses really are and how they're strong advocates in addition to being devoted and comforting caregivers.
We hope Laura’s honor inspires people in our community to acknowledge and appreciate the incredible contributions nurses, like Laura and her team, make in our communities every single day.
Congratulations Laura! This recognition is truly well deserved!
Golfing for a good cause…
On Monday, the sun made an appearance and the weather was just right for the 29th Annual GBMC Golf Classic at the Turf Valley Country Club. Over 200 golfers teed up to help raise funds for the GBMC HealthCare system.I had a great time playing with John Maroon, CEO and founder of Maroon PR; Harry S. Johnson, former chair of the GBMC HealthCare Board of Directors, and an attorney with Whiteford, Taylor and Preston and Ronald M. Cherry, Esq, a partner in the law firm of Bonner Kiernan Trebach & Crociata LLP.
It was clear that countless hours were spent preparing for this great day that grossed approximately $200,000 to benefit GBMC. Money from this year’s event will aid various initiatives including the John E. Savage Medical Library which provides the medical staff, patients, visitors, and members of our community the most up-to-date medical information; and the Continuing Medical Education Department which provides programs offering medical education for our attending physicians, nurses, resident physicians and allied health professionals.
A great time was had by all and it was evident that so many community members and supporters of GBMC are truly dedicated to our future success. I’m very grateful to everyone who helped us raise the money and everyone who came out to play. Kudos to the entire golf committee, led by Chairs Rob Stoltz MD and Lisa Goodlett, our Chief Financial Officer and to Jenny Coldiron and the GBMC Foundation staff, and many of our nurse leaders all of whom worked together for a great event!
Friday, May 5, 2017
Health Care Policy is Back in the Forefront
On Wednesday, I had the honor of participating in an internet broadcast, titled “The High Stakes of Health Care Policy,” which was hosted by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). The IHI is a leader in health and health care improvement worldwide and over the last 25 years, they’ve partnered with visionaries, leaders, and frontline practitioners to look at ways to improve the health of individuals and populations.
The program was hosted by Madge Kaplan, from the IHI, and I was joined by John E. McDonough, DrPH, MPA, professor of public health practice in the Department of Health Policy & Management at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The interview focused on the newest threat for cutbacks on the protections to people provided by the Affordable Care Act (ACA), whether through legislation or regulation. Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed the American Health Care Act by a vote of 217-212. The future of the health care law still remains unclear as it now moves on to the Senate. The Republican proposal that is being debated would diminish the protection to people with preexisting conditions.
Since the passage of the ACA, our nations’ hospitals, physicians, nurses and the rest of the healthcare team have generated significant improvements in care. Medicare has seen the smallest annual per capita cost increases in its history. Employers, like GBMC, have also seen annual health care cost increases that have been much lower than they were before the federal government started incentivizing the movement from “volume” to “value.” Much of this is a direct result of the ACA and the agency it created: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation. Millions of Americans who did not have insurance before passage of the ACA now do and people who have preexisting conditions can now get insurance when before they could not.
No one disagrees that we must improve the part of the ACA that deals with the ability of individuals to purchase health insurance on the exchanges. Not enough healthy individuals are buying insurance, thereby making the premium cost go up for individuals to try to cover the cost of care for people who are already sick.
The President of the American Hospital Association, Rick Pollack released this message yesterday: “America’s hospitals and health systems are deeply disappointed in the House passage of the AHCA because it will jeopardize health coverage for millions of Americans.”
Despite last-minute changes, the proposal eliminates essential protections for older and sicker patients, including those with pre-existing conditions, such as cancer patients and the chronically ill. It does little to help the 24 million Americans who would be left without coverage following repeal and makes deep cuts to Medicaid, which provides essential services for the disabled, poor and elderly people in this country.
As the backbone of our nation’s health safety net, America’s hospitals and health systems — which include more than 270,000 affiliated physicians and 2 million nurses and other caregivers — believe it’s vital that Medicaid is protected.
We urge the Senate to restart and reset the discussion in a manner that provides coverage to those who need it and ensures that the most vulnerable are not left behind.”
So, what will the Senate do? Every major healthcare organization, including the American Medical Association and the American Public Health Association, have come out against the Republican bill.
I am one of those people who believe that health care is a right. In order to guarantee this right, however, those of us in health care positions of authority must drive the system toward the Triple Aim of better health and better care at lower cost, and the ACA has been helping us do this.
I participated in the interview to highlight the GBMC story and how federal incentives and initiatives brought about by the ACA have contributed to our recent success. I am glad to help in this endeavor by discussing our commitment to the transformation of the delivery system to better manage chronic disease and to prevent disease in those who are healthy. I am hoping many more healthcare leaders join me and help in our fight to maintain health insurance access for all. If you are interested in listening to the webcast, please click here.
Congrats to Dr. Sternlicht…
Jeffrey P. Sternlicht, MD, FACEP, chairman of our Department of Emergency Medicine, was recently appointed by Governor Larry Hogan’s office as a member of the Maryland Behavioral Health Advisory Council. This council consists of 28 members (or designees) representing state and local government, the Judiciary, and the Legislature along with 13 members, appointed by the DHMH Secretary, representing behavioral health provider and consumer advocacy groups; and 14 representatives that include a diverse range of individuals who are consumers, family members, professionals, and involved community members.
Improving Maryland’s behavioral health system is very important to Dr. Sternlicht and I am sure that he will bring new energy and ideas to the council. Congrats again Dr. Sternlicht and thank you for your service!
Mark your calendars...
With the Monday, May 8th deadline right around the corner, I wanted to kindly remind you all to do your part and complete our annual Employee Engagement Survey. The survey can easily be accessed through the icon on any GBMC desktop computer (see pic on right).
So far, OVER 60 percent of our colleagues have responded. We need your opinion! The survey is anonymous to GBMC and confidential. We work with a third party vendor, Press Ganey, who compiles survey data for us. We at GBMC never see individual responses.
Please make your voices heard and complete the survey so that we can identify opportunities for further improvement, to judge the value of changes we made since the last survey and to make GBMC an even better place to work and a safer health system for our patients. Thank You!
Also, don’t forget to be part of the festivities on Friday, May 12th, starting at 8:30 AM at the Yaggy OB Atrium, as we watch and find out if our very own Laura Clary, BSN, RN, FNE-A/P, SANE-A, CFN, CPEN, is named “America’s Most Amazing Nurse” by Prevention magazine on The Doctors TV show. Prevention and The Doctors received thousands of entries from across the country. We’re are really proud to have Laura as one of just five finalists. Click here to RSVP. We’re setting up a screen in the Yaggy OB Atrium so everyone can be part of the fun. Light refreshments will be provided. Regardless of the outcome, I agree with senior vice president of patient care and chief nursing officer (CNO), JoAnn Z. Ioannou,
DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, that we have the most amazing nursing staff in the country!
The program was hosted by Madge Kaplan, from the IHI, and I was joined by John E. McDonough, DrPH, MPA, professor of public health practice in the Department of Health Policy & Management at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The interview focused on the newest threat for cutbacks on the protections to people provided by the Affordable Care Act (ACA), whether through legislation or regulation. Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed the American Health Care Act by a vote of 217-212. The future of the health care law still remains unclear as it now moves on to the Senate. The Republican proposal that is being debated would diminish the protection to people with preexisting conditions.
Since the passage of the ACA, our nations’ hospitals, physicians, nurses and the rest of the healthcare team have generated significant improvements in care. Medicare has seen the smallest annual per capita cost increases in its history. Employers, like GBMC, have also seen annual health care cost increases that have been much lower than they were before the federal government started incentivizing the movement from “volume” to “value.” Much of this is a direct result of the ACA and the agency it created: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation. Millions of Americans who did not have insurance before passage of the ACA now do and people who have preexisting conditions can now get insurance when before they could not.
No one disagrees that we must improve the part of the ACA that deals with the ability of individuals to purchase health insurance on the exchanges. Not enough healthy individuals are buying insurance, thereby making the premium cost go up for individuals to try to cover the cost of care for people who are already sick.
The President of the American Hospital Association, Rick Pollack released this message yesterday: “America’s hospitals and health systems are deeply disappointed in the House passage of the AHCA because it will jeopardize health coverage for millions of Americans.”
Despite last-minute changes, the proposal eliminates essential protections for older and sicker patients, including those with pre-existing conditions, such as cancer patients and the chronically ill. It does little to help the 24 million Americans who would be left without coverage following repeal and makes deep cuts to Medicaid, which provides essential services for the disabled, poor and elderly people in this country.
As the backbone of our nation’s health safety net, America’s hospitals and health systems — which include more than 270,000 affiliated physicians and 2 million nurses and other caregivers — believe it’s vital that Medicaid is protected.
We urge the Senate to restart and reset the discussion in a manner that provides coverage to those who need it and ensures that the most vulnerable are not left behind.”
So, what will the Senate do? Every major healthcare organization, including the American Medical Association and the American Public Health Association, have come out against the Republican bill.
I am one of those people who believe that health care is a right. In order to guarantee this right, however, those of us in health care positions of authority must drive the system toward the Triple Aim of better health and better care at lower cost, and the ACA has been helping us do this.
I participated in the interview to highlight the GBMC story and how federal incentives and initiatives brought about by the ACA have contributed to our recent success. I am glad to help in this endeavor by discussing our commitment to the transformation of the delivery system to better manage chronic disease and to prevent disease in those who are healthy. I am hoping many more healthcare leaders join me and help in our fight to maintain health insurance access for all. If you are interested in listening to the webcast, please click here.
Jeffrey P. Sternlicht, MD, FACEP, chairman of our Department of Emergency Medicine, was recently appointed by Governor Larry Hogan’s office as a member of the Maryland Behavioral Health Advisory Council. This council consists of 28 members (or designees) representing state and local government, the Judiciary, and the Legislature along with 13 members, appointed by the DHMH Secretary, representing behavioral health provider and consumer advocacy groups; and 14 representatives that include a diverse range of individuals who are consumers, family members, professionals, and involved community members.
Improving Maryland’s behavioral health system is very important to Dr. Sternlicht and I am sure that he will bring new energy and ideas to the council. Congrats again Dr. Sternlicht and thank you for your service!
Mark your calendars...
With the Monday, May 8th deadline right around the corner, I wanted to kindly remind you all to do your part and complete our annual Employee Engagement Survey. The survey can easily be accessed through the icon on any GBMC desktop computer (see pic on right).So far, OVER 60 percent of our colleagues have responded. We need your opinion! The survey is anonymous to GBMC and confidential. We work with a third party vendor, Press Ganey, who compiles survey data for us. We at GBMC never see individual responses.
Please make your voices heard and complete the survey so that we can identify opportunities for further improvement, to judge the value of changes we made since the last survey and to make GBMC an even better place to work and a safer health system for our patients. Thank You!
DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, that we have the most amazing nursing staff in the country!
Friday, April 28, 2017
GBMC is Grateful for its Fabulous Community Support
Earlier this week, I attended our annual Donor Recognition Dinner and was honored to spend time with patients and their families, donors, members of the GBMC, Gilchrist and the Joseph Richey House boards, philanthropy committee members and volunteer auxiliary members. Their gifts of time and treasure is truly invaluable to us.
During the dinner, I listened intently to the very powerful patient and family stories because they underlined all of the great work our system does for our patients and the community. I am not just saying this just because I am proud, but because I truly believe that we have great physicians, nurses and other staff and volunteers who are always there to serve with their expertise and compassion to help patients and their families in bad times and celebrate with them in good times. Premiering at the dinner was also our “famous” Carpool Karaoke video. Click here to watch GBMC HealthCare team members performing with GBMC volunteer and former news anchor Don Scott. The video tells why these employees love working at GBMC HealthCare and also says thanks to our valuable donors.
I am very grateful that our donors have chosen to give financial assistance to support our mission. The programs and services, highlighted during the dinner, would not be possible without their gifts. Programs like SAFE (more below) and our child life program are entirely funded by donations. Gilchrist would not have been able to expand their programming to children and their families, or to the neediest in the inner city of Baltimore without donor support. The medical staff would not have unlimited access to the on-line evidence and decision support service, Up-to-Date, without their gifts.
I want to thank you all for investing not just financially, but supporting our team in other ways and allowing us to continue providing care during these challenging times as an independent, community owned and controlled healthcare system. We are grateful to all of you for being a part of the GBMC family and hope you will continue to make GBMC a philanthropic priority.
Thank You to Our Volunteers – National Volunteer Appreciation Week 2017
This week we are celebrating National Volunteer Appreciation Week. As you may know, with more than 900 volunteers in the hospital and at Gilchrist Hospice Care, GBMC has one of the largest volunteer auxiliaries in Maryland. National Volunteer Week was created in 1974 when President Richard Nixon signed an executive order establishing the week as an annual celebration focusing on the impact and power of volunteerism and service as an integral aspect of our civic leadership.
Over the last 51 years, our volunteers have donated approximately three million hours of service and raised more than 22 million dollars to support patient care at GBMC! Volunteering is an honorable choice that these special men and women have made for the GBMC HealthCare system. And so at this time of year, we’re proud to highlight our volunteers’ role in improving our patients’ care.
When you meet a GBMC or Gilchrist volunteer this week please take the time to say “thank you” for all they do.
…And it's Medical Laboratory Professionals Week!
This week is also Medical Laboratory Professionals Week. GBMC is so lucky to have the most highly reliable laboratory that I have ever seen. We are blessed with outstanding pathologists, technicians, phlebotomists, managers, administrative personnel and others on the Team. If you don’t believe me, click here to read the story on how one of our medical technologists was instrumental in saving the life of one our patients. They are truly unsung heroes who we sometimes take for granted. Thanks to our lab personnel for all that they do!
Helping our SAFE & DV programs…
I want to thank everyone who participated in our second Walk a Mile in Her Shoes®: The International Men’s March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault & Gender Violence. We had about 280 participants and we raised approximately $42,000 for our SAFE and Domestic Violence programs. Last Saturday, male and female participants walked a mile around GBMC’s campus in high heels (or red tennis shoes) to shed light on and show support for an extremely important issue for women and men of all ages.
Registered nurses in GBMC’s SAFE program are specifically trained and certified by the Maryland Board of Nursing to provide care for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence of all ages in a confidential, non-judgmental atmosphere. At no cost to the patient, these nurses focus on re-empowering survivors to begin the healing process, in addition to working toward ending Sexual Assault and Intimate Partner Violence in the community.
We understand the necessity of our Walk a Mile event and I am proud that GBMC continues to be a leader in helping the victims of sexual assault and domestic violence and in educating the community to reduce these attacks. I want to thank the GBMC Foundation office, our Volunteer Auxiliary and all parties who worked together to make this year’s event another success!
GBMC Is Well Represented In This Year’s Daily Record’s Top 100 Women
I am proud to announce that four influential women in the GBMC family were honored by The Daily Record as Top 100 Women. Bonnie B. Stein, Dr. Robin Motter-Mast, Dr. Michele Shermak and Faith Thomas (pic. from left to right) were all honored for being exemplary citizens, for exhibiting a commitment to their community, and for actively participating in future leader mentoring. Dr. Motter-Mast is a primary care physician with our GBMA Hunt Manor Medical Group and the Medical Director of our Primary Care Group; Dr. Shermak is a board certified plastic surgeon and a member of the GBMC medical staff; Bonnie. Stein is the chairperson of the GBMC Board of Directors and Faith Thomas is a member of the GBMC Board of Directors and Chair of the Audit Committee. Bonnie was also inducted into the Daily Record’s Circle of Excellence, which means that she has achieved this award three separate times. Within the last year, Megan Maguire Priolo, Chief Operating Officer of GBHA, was selected as one of the publication’s Leading Women: Maryland’s Future. Congrats to all!
Nice Work!...
What an enjoyable afternoon we had this past Sunday at the first Spring Jazz Brunch to benefit Gilchrist Center Baltimore – Joseph Richey House. Hosted at the Eubie Blake Jazz and Cultural Center in the city, 150 guests enjoyed good food and great jazz music provided by the Ian Sims quartet. Most importantly, they learned the story of the Joseph Richey House and their dedication to serving the city’s most vulnerable residents. We sold out this event and raised $65,000 which is critical funding for this 19-bed residential hospice. I am grateful to everyone who supported the jazz brunch and helped us recognize the Joseph Richey House’s 30th year of service.
During the dinner, I listened intently to the very powerful patient and family stories because they underlined all of the great work our system does for our patients and the community. I am not just saying this just because I am proud, but because I truly believe that we have great physicians, nurses and other staff and volunteers who are always there to serve with their expertise and compassion to help patients and their families in bad times and celebrate with them in good times. Premiering at the dinner was also our “famous” Carpool Karaoke video. Click here to watch GBMC HealthCare team members performing with GBMC volunteer and former news anchor Don Scott. The video tells why these employees love working at GBMC HealthCare and also says thanks to our valuable donors.
I am very grateful that our donors have chosen to give financial assistance to support our mission. The programs and services, highlighted during the dinner, would not be possible without their gifts. Programs like SAFE (more below) and our child life program are entirely funded by donations. Gilchrist would not have been able to expand their programming to children and their families, or to the neediest in the inner city of Baltimore without donor support. The medical staff would not have unlimited access to the on-line evidence and decision support service, Up-to-Date, without their gifts.
I want to thank you all for investing not just financially, but supporting our team in other ways and allowing us to continue providing care during these challenging times as an independent, community owned and controlled healthcare system. We are grateful to all of you for being a part of the GBMC family and hope you will continue to make GBMC a philanthropic priority.
This week we are celebrating National Volunteer Appreciation Week. As you may know, with more than 900 volunteers in the hospital and at Gilchrist Hospice Care, GBMC has one of the largest volunteer auxiliaries in Maryland. National Volunteer Week was created in 1974 when President Richard Nixon signed an executive order establishing the week as an annual celebration focusing on the impact and power of volunteerism and service as an integral aspect of our civic leadership.
Over the last 51 years, our volunteers have donated approximately three million hours of service and raised more than 22 million dollars to support patient care at GBMC! Volunteering is an honorable choice that these special men and women have made for the GBMC HealthCare system. And so at this time of year, we’re proud to highlight our volunteers’ role in improving our patients’ care.
When you meet a GBMC or Gilchrist volunteer this week please take the time to say “thank you” for all they do.
…And it's Medical Laboratory Professionals Week!
This week is also Medical Laboratory Professionals Week. GBMC is so lucky to have the most highly reliable laboratory that I have ever seen. We are blessed with outstanding pathologists, technicians, phlebotomists, managers, administrative personnel and others on the Team. If you don’t believe me, click here to read the story on how one of our medical technologists was instrumental in saving the life of one our patients. They are truly unsung heroes who we sometimes take for granted. Thanks to our lab personnel for all that they do!
Helping our SAFE & DV programs…
I want to thank everyone who participated in our second Walk a Mile in Her Shoes®: The International Men’s March to Stop Rape, Sexual Assault & Gender Violence. We had about 280 participants and we raised approximately $42,000 for our SAFE and Domestic Violence programs. Last Saturday, male and female participants walked a mile around GBMC’s campus in high heels (or red tennis shoes) to shed light on and show support for an extremely important issue for women and men of all ages.
Registered nurses in GBMC’s SAFE program are specifically trained and certified by the Maryland Board of Nursing to provide care for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence of all ages in a confidential, non-judgmental atmosphere. At no cost to the patient, these nurses focus on re-empowering survivors to begin the healing process, in addition to working toward ending Sexual Assault and Intimate Partner Violence in the community.
We understand the necessity of our Walk a Mile event and I am proud that GBMC continues to be a leader in helping the victims of sexual assault and domestic violence and in educating the community to reduce these attacks. I want to thank the GBMC Foundation office, our Volunteer Auxiliary and all parties who worked together to make this year’s event another success!
I am proud to announce that four influential women in the GBMC family were honored by The Daily Record as Top 100 Women. Bonnie B. Stein, Dr. Robin Motter-Mast, Dr. Michele Shermak and Faith Thomas (pic. from left to right) were all honored for being exemplary citizens, for exhibiting a commitment to their community, and for actively participating in future leader mentoring. Dr. Motter-Mast is a primary care physician with our GBMA Hunt Manor Medical Group and the Medical Director of our Primary Care Group; Dr. Shermak is a board certified plastic surgeon and a member of the GBMC medical staff; Bonnie. Stein is the chairperson of the GBMC Board of Directors and Faith Thomas is a member of the GBMC Board of Directors and Chair of the Audit Committee. Bonnie was also inducted into the Daily Record’s Circle of Excellence, which means that she has achieved this award three separate times. Within the last year, Megan Maguire Priolo, Chief Operating Officer of GBHA, was selected as one of the publication’s Leading Women: Maryland’s Future. Congrats to all!
Nice Work!...
What an enjoyable afternoon we had this past Sunday at the first Spring Jazz Brunch to benefit Gilchrist Center Baltimore – Joseph Richey House. Hosted at the Eubie Blake Jazz and Cultural Center in the city, 150 guests enjoyed good food and great jazz music provided by the Ian Sims quartet. Most importantly, they learned the story of the Joseph Richey House and their dedication to serving the city’s most vulnerable residents. We sold out this event and raised $65,000 which is critical funding for this 19-bed residential hospice. I am grateful to everyone who supported the jazz brunch and helped us recognize the Joseph Richey House’s 30th year of service.
Thursday, April 20, 2017
Our Amazing Nurses Are Recognized..AGAIN!!!
Last week, I talked about our very own Laura Clary, BSN, RN, FNE-A/P, SANE-A, CFN, CPEN, clinical program manager of our Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (SAFE) program, who cares for victims of sexual assault, child abuse, rape, human trafficking, intimate partner violence, and domestic violence, and who was featured on the show The Doctors. Laura is ONE of FIVE finalists for the show’s and Prevention Magazine’s America’s Most Amazing Nurse.
This week, I am happy to announce that several members of the GBMC HealthCare's nursing staff have been named to Baltimore Magazine’s "Top Nurse" list as part of the magazine's annual Excellence in Nursing issue. I am proud to say that the GBMC family was well represented with SEVEN of our registered nurses being recognized by their peers for outstanding care in SIX of 19 different specialties. Having such a high number of our nurses represented (14% of the winners!) on this list is evidence of what we already knew – our HealthCare system has the best nurses!
To compile the names for the city’s Top Nurses list, Baltimore Magazine had solicited nominations from peers, supervisors, and patients of registered nurses, who represent the finest in their field and we received an overwhelming response.
There were 19 nursing specialties for which the magazine accepted nominations in a process that took several months. The nominations were then tallied by the publication. The magazine was assisted by the Maryland Nurses Association and major local hospitals to create an impressive panel of R.N. advisors, who divvied up the specialties, reviewed the nominations and selected the winners.
Having such a high percentage of the winners be our nurses is a testament to their expertise and their commitment to our vision. This is truly great recognition for GBMC HealthCare and its exceptional nursing staff. Please join me in congratulating the following nurses:
Greater Baltimore Medical Center
Educator: Chelsea Woodell
Intensive Care: Amanda Gdula and Brian Bardelman
Oncology: Karen Ulmer
Pediatrics, Neonatal: Hollie Krout
Women’s Health: Evelyn Kim
Gilchrist
Hospice/Home Health/Palliative Care: Ellen Metzger
The third annual “top nurses” issue hits the newsstands on Friday, Apr. 28. Don’t forget to pick up your copy!
Speaking of Baltimore Magazine: Physicians….It's that time again when Baltimore Magazine is collecting votes for its Top Doctors issue. Let’s see if we can make it two years in a row for a GBMC doctor to be the physician cover for this year’s issue. Docs, please vote for the colleagues you most respect! The survey may be found at: http://www.baltimoremagazine.com/about/top-doctors-survey
Way To Go Dr. Whiteford!!!
Kudos to Dr. Sarah Whiteford of GBMC’s Family Care Associates for being named as the “Best Family Physician” in The Baltimore Sun’s Best of Baltimore Readers’ Choice poll. Honestly, I am not surprised as Dr. Whiteford truly epitomizes our mantra of better health and better care for our community and our commitment to the neighborhoods we serve that is echoed through the work our primary care teams do each day. We are truly honored to have Baltimore put their trust in us and we praise Dr. Whiteford on her selection.
Tree of Life at GBMC
On Wednesday, we unveiled a new artwork installation, the ‘Tree of Life', during a special commemorative event to remember and honor the lives of those that have given the ultimate gift of themselves and to celebrate the new lives of those who were the beneficiaries of that priceless gift.
We often hear about organ and tissue donation in terms of statistics and numbers. Currently, there are over 120,000 people nationally who are waiting for a life-saving organ and each day 110 people are added to the national waiting list. One tissue donor has the potential to enhance over 50 lives and one organ donor has the potential to save eight lives.
Organ donation has saved countless lives and improved many others, and those gifts will be forever celebrated at the GBMC HealthCare system. For the 16 individuals who are now memorialized with their own leaves on our tree of life, their impact can never truly be measured by stats or figures.
Current and future donor families will receive a 3D leaf with their loved one’s name on it.
We are grateful to those who have donated their organs and tissues. We are also grateful to their families for their strength and courage in allowing us to share your loved one’s name in the hope that it may inspire others to do the same. Please note that if you are interested in registering to become an organ donor, the ‘Tree of Life’ includes a kiosk where anyone can sign up to be a donor.
This week, I am happy to announce that several members of the GBMC HealthCare's nursing staff have been named to Baltimore Magazine’s "Top Nurse" list as part of the magazine's annual Excellence in Nursing issue. I am proud to say that the GBMC family was well represented with SEVEN of our registered nurses being recognized by their peers for outstanding care in SIX of 19 different specialties. Having such a high number of our nurses represented (14% of the winners!) on this list is evidence of what we already knew – our HealthCare system has the best nurses!To compile the names for the city’s Top Nurses list, Baltimore Magazine had solicited nominations from peers, supervisors, and patients of registered nurses, who represent the finest in their field and we received an overwhelming response.
There were 19 nursing specialties for which the magazine accepted nominations in a process that took several months. The nominations were then tallied by the publication. The magazine was assisted by the Maryland Nurses Association and major local hospitals to create an impressive panel of R.N. advisors, who divvied up the specialties, reviewed the nominations and selected the winners.
Having such a high percentage of the winners be our nurses is a testament to their expertise and their commitment to our vision. This is truly great recognition for GBMC HealthCare and its exceptional nursing staff. Please join me in congratulating the following nurses:
Greater Baltimore Medical Center
Educator: Chelsea Woodell
Intensive Care: Amanda Gdula and Brian Bardelman
Oncology: Karen Ulmer
Pediatrics, Neonatal: Hollie Krout
Women’s Health: Evelyn Kim
Gilchrist
Hospice/Home Health/Palliative Care: Ellen Metzger
The third annual “top nurses” issue hits the newsstands on Friday, Apr. 28. Don’t forget to pick up your copy!
Way To Go Dr. Whiteford!!!
Kudos to Dr. Sarah Whiteford of GBMC’s Family Care Associates for being named as the “Best Family Physician” in The Baltimore Sun’s Best of Baltimore Readers’ Choice poll. Honestly, I am not surprised as Dr. Whiteford truly epitomizes our mantra of better health and better care for our community and our commitment to the neighborhoods we serve that is echoed through the work our primary care teams do each day. We are truly honored to have Baltimore put their trust in us and we praise Dr. Whiteford on her selection.
Tree of Life at GBMC
On Wednesday, we unveiled a new artwork installation, the ‘Tree of Life', during a special commemorative event to remember and honor the lives of those that have given the ultimate gift of themselves and to celebrate the new lives of those who were the beneficiaries of that priceless gift.We often hear about organ and tissue donation in terms of statistics and numbers. Currently, there are over 120,000 people nationally who are waiting for a life-saving organ and each day 110 people are added to the national waiting list. One tissue donor has the potential to enhance over 50 lives and one organ donor has the potential to save eight lives.
Organ donation has saved countless lives and improved many others, and those gifts will be forever celebrated at the GBMC HealthCare system. For the 16 individuals who are now memorialized with their own leaves on our tree of life, their impact can never truly be measured by stats or figures.
Current and future donor families will receive a 3D leaf with their loved one’s name on it.
We are grateful to those who have donated their organs and tissues. We are also grateful to their families for their strength and courage in allowing us to share your loved one’s name in the hope that it may inspire others to do the same. Please note that if you are interested in registering to become an organ donor, the ‘Tree of Life’ includes a kiosk where anyone can sign up to be a donor.
Tuesday, April 11, 2017
Mourning The Passing Of One Of Our Leaders
Over the weekend, I was saddened to learn of the passing of our Chair of the GBMC HealthCare Philanthropy Committee, Mr. Samuel Heffner. Sam was a successful commercial developer of properties throughout the region and he was known as a bold and determined leader, with a passion for philanthropy and the Baltimore community. His high standards along with his focus and commitment to charity led him to be named Chair of the GBMC HealthCare Philanthropy Committee.With Sam’s guidance, our GBMC Philanthropy team has had consecutive record-breaking years for fundraising. Sam moved the Committee to a sub-committee model and got many members in action generating gifts.
On a personal note, Sam was very helpful to me and taught me a lot about the role of the CEO in engaging the community in giving to GBMC. I will miss him.
GBMC HealthCare is thankful for Sam Heffner’s leadership, steadfast confidence and belief in our vision of providing the care we would want for our own loved ones. We will remain deeply indebted to him for his guidance and support.
Make Sure Your Voice Is Heard
The survey is completely CONFIDENTIAL, and your individual responses to the questions will not be shared! If you do, however, choose to include additional comments, these will be shared with your manager but your name will not be given. The survey is administered by Press Ganey, who compiles the survey data for us. We at GBMC never see individual responses. All employees will receive feedback on the survey results and action plans will be developed on the basis of your responses. Please be assured that we will respond constructively to employee concerns and suggestions.
If you have any questions about the survey, please call your Human Resource Business Partner.
Please complete the survey. Thanks!
The Doctors
Back in November 2016, it was announced that Prevention Magazine and the TV Show The Doctors were joining efforts in a search across the country to find America’s Most Amazing Nurse. Each entrant or nominee had to have an active RN license or advanced nursing credential and must currently be working in the nursing field. Other qualifications include: exceeds the standards for excellence in nursing care, education, or research, viewed as a role model and/or mentor in their workplace or community and has used their nursing skills to serve their country, volunteer for a non-profit organization, or otherwise provide care to those in need.
Tune in to The Doctors this Thursday, April 13 at 9 a.m. on WMAR-TV (ABC—Balt.) to see GBMC's own Laura Clary, BSN, RN, FNE-A/P, SANE-A, CFN, CPEN, as she talks about her work as the Clinical Program Manager of our Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (SAFE) program. We think you'll be excited to find out why she's being featured!Please check your local cable and satellite TV provider for channel designation.
Happy Holidays
Finally, this is a week of religious reflection and celebration. The GBMC HealthCare family sends its best wishes to our Christian staff members celebrating Easter this Sunday and our Jewish staff members observing the eight-day festival of Passover.
Friday, April 7, 2017
What if this were your daughter?
The GBMC Healthcare System is always working toward our vision of treating everyone, every time the way that we would want our own loved ones treated.
We discuss what this means frequently. It is clear that everyone wants their loved one to get better. This requires us to use the best evidence in our care. GBMC is improving on every measure of health outcome so we are moving closer to this aim.
But the second most important thing we want is the best possible care experience and this is much harder. We want our loved ones to be well informed by people who care; we don’t want long waits and delays; and we want the care in a clean, respectful environment. It is hard to always be kind and to look out for the emotional needs of every one of our patients. We get busy and we are focused on the evidence-based care and sometimes we don’t give the best experience. Well, let me tell you about an episode at GBMC that was marked by kindness and the patient’s mother took to social media to inform the community!
The mother of a three-year-old patient, who had surgery here last week, posted on her Facebook page what a great experience she and her daughter had. She attributed their positive experience to the kindness and caring shown by Francoise “Frannie” St. Juste, one of our Nursing Support Technicians (NST) in pre-op. The mother wrote that Frannie had been “amazing” with her daughter and had gone “way above and beyond” and that she would be “forever grateful.” Just look at the photos that the mom included in her post demonstrating the kindness of Frannie as she distracted the little girl from the fear of having surgery! According to her supervisor, Ginyse Braddy, “she (Frannie) always goes above and beyond with her patients and truly is a valuable team member.”
I want to thank all of the GBMC family for improving the care experience for every one of our patients. It often starts with kindness and Frannie clearly demonstrated this to one little girl and her mother.
Thank you for your hard work and please let me know what you think.
We discuss what this means frequently. It is clear that everyone wants their loved one to get better. This requires us to use the best evidence in our care. GBMC is improving on every measure of health outcome so we are moving closer to this aim.
But the second most important thing we want is the best possible care experience and this is much harder. We want our loved ones to be well informed by people who care; we don’t want long waits and delays; and we want the care in a clean, respectful environment. It is hard to always be kind and to look out for the emotional needs of every one of our patients. We get busy and we are focused on the evidence-based care and sometimes we don’t give the best experience. Well, let me tell you about an episode at GBMC that was marked by kindness and the patient’s mother took to social media to inform the community!
The mother of a three-year-old patient, who had surgery here last week, posted on her Facebook page what a great experience she and her daughter had. She attributed their positive experience to the kindness and caring shown by Francoise “Frannie” St. Juste, one of our Nursing Support Technicians (NST) in pre-op. The mother wrote that Frannie had been “amazing” with her daughter and had gone “way above and beyond” and that she would be “forever grateful.” Just look at the photos that the mom included in her post demonstrating the kindness of Frannie as she distracted the little girl from the fear of having surgery! According to her supervisor, Ginyse Braddy, “she (Frannie) always goes above and beyond with her patients and truly is a valuable team member.”I want to thank all of the GBMC family for improving the care experience for every one of our patients. It often starts with kindness and Frannie clearly demonstrated this to one little girl and her mother.
Thank you for your hard work and please let me know what you think.
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