Editor’s note: As part of the Coastal Courier’s annual Business and Progress section, Liberty Regional Medical Center highlighted some of its recent accomplishments.
Here’s a list:
Liberty Regional has been diligent in its recruitment efforts. The organization hired Dr. Traiana Pacurar in May 2019 to provide both internal and pediatric care in their Midway Primary Care Clinic. In addition, Optim Orthopedics is now leasing space at the Midway Clinic, increasing convenient access to orthopedic and pain management care in this area. Dr. Randolph Bishop, a Neurosurgeon, is leasing office space in the Liberty Regional Medical Office Building to provide specialty care here as well.
Liberty Regional successfully completed the Joint Commission Survey for their Laboratory Accreditation which extends through April 2021.
The Liberty Regional EMS added two new ambulances and expanded services to include a site in the Midway Clinic to better serve the residents and businesses on the east end of the county.
Liberty Regional completed the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) 340b pharmacy audit with no deficiencies.
In June 2019, Liberty Regional upgraded to a 3D Hologic Mammography system. This new technology offers superior diagnostic imaging for women with dense breasts compared to 2D alone. The 3D technology finds 20-65 percent more invasive breast cancers and reduces callbacks for repeat exams by up to 40 percent compared to 2D alone.
In July 2019, the organization upgraded to an Espree 1.5 Tesla MRI which includes a “wide bore”, meaning the cylinder is much larger in diameter and shorter in length which dramatically reduces the anxiety for patients who tend to have claustrophobia. This state-of-the-art system offers faster scan times, better image quality and higher weight capacity of up to 550 pounds. It also allows Liberty Regional to offer a broader array of MRI exams for patients.
Liberty Regional received its American College of Radiology (ACR) Accreditation for 3 years.
Liberty Regional implemented the Encor Enspire Breast Biopsy System. This first smart biopsy system provides precision procedures to further diagnostic testing for breast cancer and other abnormalities. It provides increased comfort and less anxiety for patients as well as increased testing certainty.
Liberty Regional obtained a grant for its Perinatal Services Department in the amount of $90,000 to be used for initiatives related to Perinatal/Labor & Delivery Services including continuing education of employees working on the hospital’s Labor & Delivery unit as well as equipment and supplies including but not limited to breast pumps and related supplies, a new breast milk refrigerator, etc.
Liberty Regional implemented a Meds to Beds Program. This program provides prescriptions to patients at the bedside prior to discharge, ensuring they leave with their necessary medication(s) in hand. The program is aimed at easing the patients’ transition after their hospital stay, improving outcomes and avoiding hospital readmissions.
Liberty Regional is ranked 7 out of 93 Georgia Hospitals in performance of Hospital Improvement Innovation Network (HIIN) measures. This is a nationwide effort to reduce preventable hospital-acquired conditions and hospital readmissions.
Liberty Regional ranks #1 in the state for reporting birth certificates for hospitals with less than 50 beds.
Liberty Regional met all Meaningful Use objectives. Electronic exchange of clinical information is one of the core objectives of Meaningful Use. Eligible providers and hospitals must demonstrate meaningful use of an Electronic Health Record (EHR). Meaningful Use sets the specific objectives that eligible professionals and hospitals must achieve to participate in the EHR Incentive Programs.
The organization successfully transitioned its Coastal Manor Long Term Care facility to a Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM). The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized this new case-mix classification model that is to be used under the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Prospective Payment System for classifying patients in covered stays.
Liberty Regional achieved 100 percent compliance for Sepsis Bundle Core Measure. This measure focuses on adults 18 years and older with a diagnosis of severe sepsis or septic shock. The measure contains several elements, including measurement, obtaining blood cultures, administering broad spectrum antibiotics, fluid resuscitation, etc., that should be performed in the early management of severe sepsis and septic shock.
Liberty Regional implemented a sustainability plan for the organization which includes cost containment and revenue cycle. Revenue cycle includes all administrative and clinical functions that contribute to the capture, management, and collection of patient service revenue.
Liberty Regional implemented a Leadership Development Program for members of its leadership team.
Liberty Regional completed it Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) that is required by regulation to be performed every 3 years.
Some of the goals and objectives for 2020 and beyond for Liberty Regional are referenced below, based on input from the above referenced CHNA.
The 2019 – 2021 Implementation Plan was created from the results of Data Trend Analysis, Key Stakeholder interviews within Liberty and Long counties as well as Community Surveys that were completed by the public during the CHNA process.
Some of the goals and initiatives on which the hospital will concentrate over the next few years are as follows. The hospital will partner with other healthcare agencies and organizations to accomplish these goals and objectives.
• Improve Emergency Department customer service, wait times and perceived gaps in service to the area’s Hispanic population.
• Increase access to Dental Services and Mental Health Services.
• Increase medical manpower for primary care services. In addition, LRMC will be implementing ways to reduce appointment access time.
• Suicide Prevention and Awareness
• Additional focus on heart & vascular disease, lung cancer, COPD, obesity and STDs, identifying ways to reduce the onset and disease progression
• Identify deficits related to food insufficiency in our community through patient nutritional assessments, etc.
• Develop a campaign to increase childhood immunizations as well as pneumonia vaccinations for persons 65+.
• Develop campaigns to promote mammography and screenings for colorectal cancer.
• Look at the new business market entry process in our area to identify any regulatory hurdles or delays in application approvals.
• Work to improve Care Coordination for Ambulatory Sensitive Conditions – conditions for which hospital admission could be prevented by interventions in primary care.
• Develop expedited referral processes for medication for those who are challenged by medication costs.
• Address transportation needs for those in need of medical care.
• Evaluate visits due to prenatal conditions to identify causes such as lack of prenatal care, education, etc.
• Evaluate the cause of increased hospital admissions for musculoskeletal and diabetic-related conditions.