Vim & Vigor - Fall 2012 - Community Healthcare - (Page 50)

SPOTLIGHT ON: St. Mary Medical center By Your Side W hen St. Mary Medical Center nurse Gina Harris helped her father contend with a sudden medical condition six years ago, she never imagined that the support she was providing as a good daughter would eventually become her career. “My dad thought he was just having a few breathing problems when he went to see his doctor,” says Harris. “But that office visit turned into a trip to the emergency room and hospitalization, multiple tests and doctors, new medications and a new way of living. My parents were overwhelmed through the process. I’m glad I was there to help them understand everything that was going on.” Helping patients navigate the complexities of today’s healthcare system is the goal of the new Quality Care Coordination program at St. Mary Medical Center. This innovative program pairs newly admitted patients with their very own quality care navigator— a dedicated nurse who becomes a patient’s personal contact both during and after hospitalization. “My dad underwent a multitude of tests and saw four or five different specialists involved in his care,” adds Harris. “I could see my parents were getting confused and a little scared. I helped them by Mary Fetsch Quality care navigators help you navigate the complexities of today’s healthcare system understand and carry out their care plan with greater success than they would have experienced otherwise. Once my dad was back to a normal routine, he said to me, ‘Thank God we have a nurse in the family.’ And now, ironically, I’m doing it for other families as well.” A TEAM EFFORT For patients at St. Mary Medical Center, quality care navigators, like Harris, become the person who knows their care plan, collaborates with their physicians, and answers any questions about their condition and treatments—even after discharge. Each quality care navigator leads a team of case managers and social workers, offering patients the resources they need to have the most successful healthcare outcomes possible. When a patient receives a diagnosis—whether it is surgery-related, a pulmonary issue, stroke, heart disease or cancer—it can be overwhelming. In addition to coping with and understanding their treatment, they also need to navigate their way through the healthcare system with most patients requiring the care of a multidisciplinary team: specialists, surgeons, radiologists, therapists, nutritionists, etc. Amie Burns, R.N., N.P., oncology Donna Wieczorek, R.N., orthopedics/surgery Julie Burk, R.N., complex conditions Kim Sgouroudis, R.N., neurology Gina Harris, R.N., pulmonology 50 Vim & Vigor • FALL 2 012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Fall 2012 - Community Healthcare

Vim & Vigor - Fall 2012 - Community Healthcare
Contents
Community Message
Care Packages
Going for the Gold
When Less Is More
30 Days to Better Sleep
I Can’t Ask My Doctor That!ers
He Said, She Said
Hold On to Your Health
Still A Screening Star
Your Joints: An Owner’s Manual
Weighing Your Options
No Greater Gift
Weather Alert
Virtual Health
Stretch It Out
SPOTLIGHT ON: St. Mary Medical Center
SPOTLIGHT ON: St. Catherine Hospital
SPOTLIGHT ON: Community Hospital
Finding a Dream Job

Vim & Vigor - Fall 2012 - Community Healthcare