Vol. 9 • Issue 17 • Page 5
Central Maine Plans $45M Renovation Project
Central Maine Medical Center (CMMC), Lewiston, ME, recently unveiled plans for a $45 million renovation of its emergency medical services facilities and laboratory.
With Gov. John Baldacci, U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud (D-ME), and other state and local officials joining in the announcement, CMMC released details of a project that will nearly double the size of its emergency department and more than triple the floor space of its laboratory.
The Maine Department of Health and Human Services last year approved the project, which planners say has been needed for many years.
The ED was designed to serve 25,000 patient visits annually, and now accommodates about twice that number. The facility was last updated in 1990 with the completion of the Norman E. Ross Centennial Wing.
The CMMC Laboratory was last renovated in 1975 with the opening of the Dana S. Thompson Wing. At that time, the lab processed about 250,000 tests annually, but now handles nearly a million tests each year, and provides services to healthcare providers from throughout the region.
"This project is critically needed and will resolve the space, privacy and logistical problems associated with these woefully undersized departments," said Peter Chalke, president of Central Maine Health. "More than 200 construction and trade jobs will be created during the construction phase with some $140 million added to the local economy."
Groundbreaking for the project is scheduled for fall 2009. The project is slated for completion in 2011.
Charlotte Hungerford Sponsors Diabetes Camp
The Diabetes Center at The Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, Torrington, CT, held its first "Diabetes Boot Camp" recently where 16 patients with type 1 diabetes learned and experienced everything they need to know about managing their health and disease.
The objective of the Boot Camp was to educate and motivate people with diabetes in a "real-life setting" to help improve their glucose control and gain a better understanding and management of diabetes.
The intensive 3-day weekend retreat was held at Litchfield's Wisdom House Retreat Center and featured lectures, equipment demonstrations, interactive group sessions, glucose monitoring, and the development of individualized exercise and meal plans.
It was developed and presented by staff members at the Hungerford Diabetes Center including Egils Bogdanovics, MD, endocrinologist and center medical director; Lois Pelletier RN, CDE, certified diabetes nurse educator; Christine Pinette, APRN, BC-ADM; Carla Angevine, RD, chief dietitian; and Karen Cornell, MSW, social worker.
CDH Earns Award, Upgrades Equipment
Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Northampton, MA, received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's "Get With The Guidelines" Performance Achievement Award.
Cooley Dickinson was among 569 hospitals featured in a July 28 advertisement in the "America's Best Hospitals" issue of U.S. News & World Report.
The awards are given for achievement in coronary artery disease, stroke and/or heart failure treatment. Hospitals are recognized in each category in which they achieve at least 85 percent compliance to "Get With The Guidelines" measures.
In other news, the hospital recently bought 180 new intravenous medication pumps with built-in computers, designed to reduce the possibility of medication errors.
The "smart" pumps contain a computer that alerts nurses of an unsafe dose or of an action that could cause serious harm. While used primarily for administering IV medications, the pumps can also infuse blood, which previous medication pumps that Cooley Dickinson Hospital used could not do.
By replacing the old pumps with the new technology, Cooley Dickinson aims to improve patient care while also complying with best practices in administering IV medication.
CT Provider Opens Independent-living Complex
Masonicare recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open its latest project, a 36-unit "over-55" independent living apartment complex on its Wallingford, CT, campus.
The Hawkins Apartments is named for Kenneth B. Hawkins Sr., the recently retired chairman of Masonicare Health Center and a long-time volunteer at Masonic Home with more than 30 years of service to his credit.
The Hawkins Apartment complex is designed to help Masonicare, a not-for-profit provider of healthcare and retirement living for seniors, meet the market demand for affordable apartments for people age 55 and older.
The latest project will also give residents access to Masonicare's continuum of healthcare services.
R.I. Hospitals Adopt Uniform Surgical Protocol
Rhode Island is the first state in U.S. where all the hospitals adopted an across-the-board surgical protocol.
The protocol establishes uniformity across hospitals so healthcare practitioners working at multiple organizations will follow the same routine for all surgical procedures. The surgical protocol was developed in July.
Elements of the Rhode Island surgical protocol include:
involving two licensed providers in the operative site marking, one being the surgeon;
surgeon marks the operative site with his/her initials;
active participation by OR team guided by the use of the checklist; and
a "time-out" initiated by the surgeon.
Kathleen C. Hittner, MD, chair of the Hospital Association of Rhode Island board of trustees and president/CEO of The Miriam Hospital, Providence, said "hospitals have taken another important step to improve the quality and safety of the care we provide."
"This new process is the result of considerable examination and review by all the members of the Rhode Island Patient Safety Collaborative," said Sandra Coletta, president/CEO of Kent Hospital, Warwick, who also serves as chair of the collaborative.
MA Home for the Deaf Receives $5K Grant
The Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) recently awarded a $5,000 grant to New England Homes for the Deaf Inc., Danvers, MA.
The grant will provide professional American Sign Language interpreters to clients so they can better communicate with healthcare professionals as part of its new memory loss program.
In its grant application, organization officials said they believe providing interpreters will minimize an individual's frustration level and the risk of improper diagnosis and treatment. The program is the first of its kind in the nation, according to the organization.
Farmers' Market Opens Third Site at St. Vincent's
"Park City Harvest" opened its third farm stand at St. Vincent's Medical Center, Bridgeport, CT, earlier this month. Open to the public, the farmers' market pilot project will operate every Friday afternoon until the end of October.
Park City Harvest is a pilot program launched by the Wholesome Wave Foundation in collaboration with the Healthy Bridgeport Alliance to make healthful, locally grown food available to those in Bridgeport who need it most.
Two other stands are operating with volunteers from the Healthy Bridgeport Alliance in Marina Village and at the Bridgeport Health Department.
Boston Program Targets Patients with Lung Diseases
The East Boston Neighborhood Health Center (EBNHC), East Boston, MA, will develop a chronic disease management program for patients with asthma and COPD using a quality grant award from Harvard Pilgrim Health Care.
The program will focus on ensuring patients with asthma and COPD receive recommended medications, preventive care, and appropriate testing through the development and use of an electronic database of patients with asthma and COPD.
EBNHC will use the database to reach out to patients with these medical problems.
Nursing Students Add to Public Health Initiative
Students at Fairfield University School of Nursing, Fairfield, CT, are putting on puppet shows and conducting workshops at schools, churches, day care centers, and community centers as part of a public health initiative alerting residents of Bridgeport, CT, and neighboring suburbs that lead paint might exist in their homes.
Considered a major part of a public health program, the shows are targeted to families whose children may be at risk for exposure to lead paint, which was commonly used in homes built prior to 1978. Lead paint can lead to serious medical problems in children, including brain and nervous system damage.
Movin' on Up
Jennifer L. Torosian, MSN, RN, NE-BC, was named administrative director of nursing services at Catholic Medical Center (CMC), Manchester, NH.
In her new position, Torosian will be responsible for assisting with the management, monitoring of operations and providing leadership for nursing practice throughout CMC. She has several years of leadership experience and program development, most recently responsible for the design, development and management of the new 24-bed med/surg unit at CMC.
Orla Brandos, MBA, MSN, RN, CPHQ, PSF, director of performance improvement/risk management and patient safety officer at Morton Hospital and Medical Center, Taunton, MA, recently completed an executive fellowship in patient safety at the Williamson Institute for Healthcare Leadership at the Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA.
Upon graduating from the program, Brandos was awarded the Carl W. Armstrong Award, given to one fellow from each graduating class, selected by the teaching faculty and fellow students.
Amy E. Cotton, MSN, FNP-BC, FNGNA, director of operations and nurse practitioner at Rosscare, Bangor, ME, won the Geriatric Nursing Leadership Award from the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International.
Cotton is a member of the Omicron Xi-at-Large chapter. Sigma Theta Tau honors nurses and others for their contributions to professional excellence with International Awards for Nursing Excellence each year. These awards recognize achievements in the fields of technology, media, chapter excellence, research and leadership.
Kathy Schuler, MS, RN, NE-BC, vice president of patient care services/chief nursing officer at Winchester Hospital, Winchester, MA, was re-elected to the board of directors of the Massachusetts Organization of Nurse Executives (MONE) as its Northeast Region representative. She also was elected chair of the MONE Nomination Committee.
Donna Sherrill, MM, BSN, RN, director of Magnet and special projects at Winchester, was elected to the MONE nomination committee.
Candace Kiely, RN, neuromuscular/ALS nurse specialist and clinical coordinator at Hospital for Special Care, New Britain, CT, received an American Legion certificate of appreciation in July from the Department of Connecticut American Legion Commander for her ongoing work at the hospital/ALS clinic with veterans afflicted with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, often referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease.