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62
NOV / DEC 2013
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Healthcare Journal of NEW ORLEANS
Fund created a “Safety Star Award” to recognize
facilities that have successfully implemented
ideas or processes that have improved patient
safety and led to the reduction of general or pro-
fessional liability exposures.
SMH reduced the fall rate in the Inpatient Reha-
bilitation Unit by developing a culture of safety
among employees, according to HSLI Chief Exec-
utive Officer Cindy Dolan. Through a team effort
involving employee education, accountability
and communication, a fall prevention plan was
designed and its implementation resulted in a
significantly reduced fall rate that is now lower
than the national average. The inpatient rehab
patient safety initiatives led to an 84 percent
reduction in the number of falls over a 12-month
period.
At the recent LHA state conference, SMH was
honored for the accomplishment along with the
other two hospitals cited: Women’s Hospital in
Baton Rouge and Opelousas General Hospital
in Opelousas. SMH Chief Executive Officer Bill
Davis was present to accept the award on behalf
of SMH. At a recent meeting of the SMH Board
of Commissioners, Dolan showed a video on the
success of the project to the board and discussed
the importance of such patient safety initiatives.
North Oaks Hospice
Ceremony Honors Patients
Sharing a common bond in love and loss is part
of the responsibility of North Oaks Hospice,
patients’ family members and friends were told
during a Memorial Service to honor those who
have passed away this year. TheMemorial Service
is a component of the North Oaks Bereavement
Program, which provides support to familymem-
bers and caregivers for one year following the
patient’s passing.
More than 200 patients were remembered
during the ceremony, which included photos, a
video, and songs by soloist Derick Selders. The
name of each patient was called as loved ones
were presentedwith a keepsakememory tile. Fel-
lowship and refreshments followed the program.
The North Oaks Hospice team of professionals
focuses on the emotional, physical and spiritual
needs of the patient and emphasizes the impor-
tance of the patient’s quality of life. North Oaks
Hospice has ranked in the top one percent of pro-
viders in the nation for patient and family sat-
isfaction for six consecutive years, according to
Press Gainey independent surveys.
With the Safety Star Award are (from left) Slidell
Memorial Hospital Chief Executive Officer Bill
Davis; HSLI CEO Cindy Dolan; SMH Clinical Director
of Inpatient Rehabilitation Gretchen Schott;
SMH Inpatient Therapy Director Julia Thomas;
SMH Occupational Therapists Fran Benigno and
Rosita Henley; SMH Board of Commissioners
Chair Walter J. “Dub” Lane; SMH Registered Nurse
Beryl Haslauer; SMH Risk Manager Diane Surla;
and SMH Physical Therapist Patti Cognevich.
Family member and hospice
nurse Warene Sheridan (fifth
from left) holds the memorial
tile presented in honor of her
late father, Warren Garmeson,
a hospice patient and North
Oaks volunteer, during the
annual North Oaks Hospice
Memorial Service. Also pictured
are Hospice staff (from left)
Bertiel Wing, Deborah Kirby,
Dexter Fields, Sister June
Englebrecht, Gloria Willie,
Gayle Cotton and Gobel Lynn.
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