With the beginning of every New Year, I make a long list of resolutions, some of which I actually achieve. I have learned to not make the лЯlose 10 poundsл types of resolutions and try to keep things achievable and relevant. This also gives time for reflection on the previous year that is inalterably part of history. Here are some of the West Valley Medical Center successes and challenges of 2014 in my opinion:
Beginning with one of our greatest trials, the Meditech Electronic Health Record proved particularly challenging in 2014. But a related bright spot was seeing providers maintain a professional demeanor while dealing with the frustrations of the system.
WeлЊve had some new additions to the medical staff and some losses to other locations and retirement. As I walked past some of the grey photographs of medical staff leadership from years long past at another hospital, I had a лЯDead Poet Societyл epiphany that someday our photos will be collecting dust. And I hope that the small corner of the world in which we work is slightly better for our having been here. I think that everybody starts medical school with strong altruistic motivations that are gradually flogged out of us over the course of those years of school and training in an effort to maintain our physical and mental health. Upon completion of our training, we often times never regain our altruism. I hope that we can reconnect and recommit to those early motivations as we interact with patients in this upcoming year. The days that I maintain that attitude are less taxing with greater job satisfaction in spite of stresses and pressures inherent in caring for patients.
I confess that I am optimistic about most things. The acquisition of Patient Keeper by HCA has given me a light at the end of the Meditech tunnel, but I still donлЊt know how long that tunnel will be. IлЊm hopeful that 2015 will be the year we transition to a more effective computer system.
Some of the objectives that I have for us as the medical staff for 2015 include further refinements of the Peer Review and OPPE processes. I firmly believe that processes can and must be improved, particularly with increasing pressures to do more with less as the government and third-party payers mandate. Patient safety and care should never be compromised for other metrics or objectives. When problems are identified they should lead to improvements and meaningful change. I feel the most effective way this can be done is through peer review or quality assurance/ quality improvement.
As our medical staff continues to grow, we will again raise the discussion of moving to a departmental model with the pros and cons being debated. I donлЊt know what the outcome will be of some of these upcoming discussions, but feel confident that the best decisions will be made with the most involvement from our medical staff. I look forward to another year and just maybe I can exercise three days per week.
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