A few years ago, there was a popular commercial with the tag line "This is not your father's Buick." The message was, that while the car had the same name, there had been vast improvements in all aspects — from the design to what was "under the hood."
I am reminded of that commercial when I consider that vast improvements made at the Roy L. Schneider hospital nearly a year and a half after the passage of semi-autonomy. The hospital may have the same name, but the organizational design and the changes that have been made "under the hood" have been considerable.
If you think back just a few years ago, it was not uncommon for the newspapers to report about dire hospital medication and supply shortages, antiquated medical equipment, a shortage of physician specialists, and the constant threat of de-certification by federal officials. Under the constant barrage of negative publicity, it is not surprising that public confidence in our hospitals was shaken. However, with the newfound ability to manage our own finances, procurement, and hiring process granted through the semi-autonomy law, the hospitals no longer exist in a daily state of crises. Most importantly, we have begun in earnest our mission to restore confidence in our hospital one patient at a time.
How have we worked to restore confidence? By striving daily to make improvements such as the following:
– We have recruited ten new board certified and experienced physicians in needed specialties including orthopedics, gastroenterology, urology, anesthesiology, neonatology, and emergency medicine. These physicians hail from some of the most reputable institutions in the States.
– We have launched an aggressive plant modernization project. A beautiful new behavioral health unit has been constructed; our hemodialysis unit is being expanded by fifty-percent; all medical floors are undergoing an extensive renovation; and a new pediatric and maternal child health unit will be completed this year. Additionally, we anticipate installing hurricane shutters and painting the exterior of the building as the final touch.
– We have invested over $2 million in new equipment including fifteen new dialysis machines, state-of-the art radiology, laboratory, pediatric, surgical, and intensive care monitoring equipment.
– We have established an emergency room fast-track center to significantly reduce wait times. Over 90 per cent of our patients tell us that they are very satisfied with the new program.
– We have built a new gastrointestinal lab with the most state-of-the art equipment available today. Over 300 patients have been successfully treated since the new service began just 8 months ago.
– We are installing a new computer system with the capability to create an electronic medical record and a seamless interface with other health providers in the territory. Additionally, we have installed automated pharmacy and supply dispensing systems to create 24-hour access and establish just-in-time inventory control.
– We have improved our billing and collections resulting in the highest revenues collected in our history. The more revenues we collect, the more we will re-invest in the hospital to continue to advance forward.
– We have hired a new director of patient relations to manage our wonderful A.A.R.P. patient advocate volunteers whose purpose is to resolve patient rights and satisfaction issues. Additionally, over 200 of our employees have received training in customer service to better serve you.
– We have also revamped our entire quality improvement processes in line with current industry methodologies. Our new quality initiatives use a team approach involving physicians, nurses, and other caregivers with the singular mission being to make our systems better and to improve all aspects of care.
– And finally, we are planning for the construction of a state-of-the art comprehensive cancer center with the tobacco settlement proceeds and philanthropic donations. This will be a "Center of Excellence" that will serve generations to come.
In reflecting on the hospital's accomplishments since semi-autonomy, a quote from our great civil rights leader Martin Luther King comes to mind who said "we are not where we want to be, we are not where we are gonna be, but thank God we are not where we were." To be sure, significant challenges remain in order to achieve our goal of being the number one healthcare provider of choice for residents of this territory. However, even with our daily challenges, through the tireless dedication of the staff, the most significant transformation in this hospital's history has begun.
But stay tuned…the best is yet to come.
Learn more about hospital services at www.hlshospital.org
