Patient Safety Awareness Week is an annual education and awareness campaign for health care safety led by the National Patient Safety Foundation (NPSF). This year’s Patient Safety 7/365 theme highlights the need for everyone to understand the importance of focusing on patient safety year-round.  

“Patient Safety 7/365 reminds us that providing safe patient care requires a constant and dedicated effort, 365 days a year. This week encourages a sustainable and conscientious collaboration between not only our health care organization, but also other hospitals, providers and consumers. The week is intended to imprint an indelible statement that efforts toward patient safety must be collaborative and that we must never be satisfied with the status quo,” Marilyn Custer-Mitchell, WCH President & CEO, said.  

NPSF encourages creative collaboration among provider groups, patient advocates and other community organizations to help patients and consumers understand how they can participate to be part of the solution. Wabash County Hospital supports collaboration and has joined together with area hospitals to participate in a regional patient safety coalition, INEPSCO – Region 3.

The INEPSCO – Region 3 is one of 11 regional patient safety coalitions in Indiana, led by the Indiana Hospital Association’s Indiana Patient Safety Center. The goal of these coalitions is to forge a bond between hospitals on patient safety, driven by evidence-based practices to markedly improve the quality of care. Hospitals participating in the regional patient safety coalitions operate under the key principle that “we do not compete on patient safety.”  Every hospital in the state now has access to a regional coalition to promote leadership and front-line staff engagement in safety improvements.  

“Patient safety and the quality of care in our hospitals remains a primary focus of the Indiana Hospital Association and our 11 regional patient safety coalitions that blanket the state,” said Betsy Lee, director, Indiana Patient Safety Center. “Indiana hospitals continue to reach patient safety milestones and find ways to improve the care their patients receive.”

Wabash Skilled Care opened in 1990 and was managed by an outside company. When that company decided to end its lease in 1993, WCH officials chose to take it over.

The decision to close the unit was made in September.

“This was not a decision that came easily or one that was taken lightly,” explained WCH President & CEO Marilyn Custer-Mitchell. “It was the result of many months of planning and consideration.”

One of the determining reasons for closing the unit was the opening of a new long-term care facility by the name of Wellbrooke of Wabash.

“Wellbrooke will be located on the same campus as our potential replacement hospital. Though functioning independently, the two entities will be close enough to one another that we believed it would be a duplication of services to continue to provide a skilled nursing unit,” Custer-Mitchell said.

All residents of Wabash Skilled Care were relocated prior to the closing, and all staff members were offered positions at Wellbrooke. WCH officials noted that securing employment for its approximately 15 employees was a top priority in the decision making process.

A farewell reception was held in Skilled Care. Numerous people stopped by to wish staff well and share memories.

Michele began her career at Wabash County Hospital in 2003, serving as a registered nurse in Acute Care. For the past four years, she has been the office nurse in Senior Life Solutions.

A lifelong Wabash resident, Michele graduated from Southwood High School before receiving her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Indiana University. She then went on to receive her master’s degree in nursing from Indiana Wesleyan. She is a certified with the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.

Michele will begin seeing patients on Feb. 4. You may call now to schedule an appointment. 260.569.2302.

$2,000 Early Bird: Deb Wagner’s House Cleaning (a group of 9 employees.)

$5,000:  Al Plummer

$3,000:  David VanCamp

$2,000:  Susan Pugh

$1,000:  Dr. Bill & Dana Rauh

Performers include the Wabash Fire Department, the Wabash City Police Department and Peabody Entertainers’ Carolettes.  An additional performance is being kept secret until the night of the Gala.

Performing for the Wabash City Fire Department are Carl Hall, Jared Tackett, Dennis Vigar and Keith Walters.

The Wabash City Police Department’s performers are Bob Pilgrim, Matt Bruss and Jeff Whitmer.  Duke Energy is their sponsor.

The Peabody Entertainers’ Carolettes are Carol Davis, Christine Beery, Rosemary Bolinger, Lois Dickenson, Carolyn Fedewa, Kathryn Huntington, Bea Knarr, Nancy Nisbet and Miriam Rusher. The Peabody Retirement Community is sponsoring these performers.

In addition to the talent competition, the Gala includes live and silent auctions, a champagne diamond raffle, dancing and a duet entrée dinner prepared by Honeywell Center’s Chef Harry. Admission is $55 per person. Seating this year is limited. Reservations may be made by calling the Foundation office at 569-2435 or 2254.

Cash Raffle drawings also take place at the Gala. Winnings this year are $5,000, $3,000, $2,000, $1,000 with the additional Early Bird drawing for $2,000. Tickets are currently on sale for $20 each or 6 for $100. You need not be present at the Gala to win. 

Gala proceeds and gifts will be used to purchase a new cardiac monitoring system for in monitoring patients with heart and lung problems.

Cake sponsorships for dessert and table centerpieces at the Gala are available for $25. The sponsorships may be made in memory or honor of a loved one who has fought heart or lung disease. Each cake sponsor will have a card printed with his or her own words of dedication that is also placed on the table and then sent to them after the Gala.           

“The Gala is a fun event for hospital supporters to raise the funds needed to help the hospital better serve the people of Wabash County. It’s hard to believe this will be the 18^th Gala. It’s rewarding to realize that most patient care areas of the hospital have been enhanced in some way through the support given by way of these 18 Galas. The Gala provides many opportunities for people to give, and we are very grateful for everyone’s help,” said Karen Newhouse, WCH Foundation Director.

This quote is certainly true for the therapists who make up the Respiratory Team at Wabash County Hospital. Countless men, women, and children have benefited due to our team’s dedicated to help others breathe easier.

The Respiratory Therapy Department hosted an open house on Wednesday in honor of National Respiratory Care Week. The week received an official proclamation for President Reagan in 1982 and is designed to promote lung awareness and the work of respiratory therapists in all care settings. Respiratory therapists are actively involved with inpatient and outpatient care and are first responders to many emergency care situations. Respiratory Therapist LouAnn Mollett noted that the department is responsible for breathing treatments, pulmonary function tests, EEGs, EKGs and much more.

The staff provided a wonderful display of treats and offered door prize drawings for all who attended. Those participating were Paula Arnold, Pam Carpenter, Jenny Hobbs, Lori Miller, Mary Drudge, Vicki Schlatter, LouAnn Mollett and Roberta Caldwell.

What’s Right in Health Care® is one of the largest peer-to-peer networking conferences in the nation where attendees receive state-of-the-industry insights from powerhouse keynote speakers, learn best practices from high-impact breakout sessions, and celebrate and reconnect to the passion that drew us to healthcare in the first place.

The conference was attended by more than 1,400 professionals from 385 different organizations and 5 countries; including China, Australia, India and Canada. In attendance from WCH were Jennifer Carmichael (Physician Office Billing), Jodie Coffman (Administration), Adam Fischer (Nursing), Paula Holmes (Oncology), Kerri Mattern (Marketing), Lori Miller (Outpatient Services), Kim O’Banion (Family Physicians), Wendy Ross (ER), Marlayna Schuler (Radiology), and Kay Snipes (UR/Discharge Planning).

Attendees from best in class organizations were able to connect and interact with others that have achieved benchmark results in key quality metrics and drive the highest levels of patient care. The presenting organizations were selected based on outstanding results across the organization, including HCAHPS results, improved employee engagement, enhanced physician integration, reduced readmissions, increased patient safety and quality and more. These top performing organizations offer insight and best practices so others can hear exactly what they have done to achieve and sustain results.

As Quint Studer, Founder of Studer Group stated in his keynote presentation, “You not only save lives but you save healthcare. Thank you for answering the calling.”

The WCH Radiology Department will X-ray bags of candy from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31. (Trick-or-treating hours in Wabash are from 5 to 8 p.m.) The X-ray will detect metal only. It will not show chemicals or glass.

Each child who has their candy X-rayed will receive a treat from Wabash County Hospital. Enter through the main entrance (East Street entrance) of the hospital and be directed to the Radiology Department.

Good news…that test does, in fact, exist. Wabash County Hospital is pleased to now offer a cardiac CT scan for calcium scoring. The Heart Score CT takes less than 15 minutes and provides information about the presence, location and extent of calcified plaque in the coronary arteries. The build-up of calcified plaque signals the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD). People with CAD are at an increased risk for heart attacks.

“We often hear coronary artery disease referred to as the ‘silent killer’ because it can begin early in a person’s life and go undetected for many years,” explained Cindy Dyson, Radiology Department leader. “The Heart Score CT truly has the ability to save lives.”

A physician’s order is not required for the test, however speaking with your physician about a Heart Score CT is important for maintaining a good picture of your overall health. Those taking the test will be asked to avoid caffeine and exercise for eight hours prior to the scan.

The Heart Score CT is only $49 and payable at the time of your appointment. Appointments can be scheduled any time Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. For more information, please call 260.569.2117.