Centerviews
A Publication of The University of Texas Harris County Psychiatric Center

Wednesday, August 4, 2004

In This Issue:

Employee of the Quarter
Staff Kudos
Mental Health Task Force Meeting
Hospital Wide Meeting
UTH President Willerson Visits
UTHCPC Website Updated
Join the Heart Walkers
CPR Classes Offered
KRONOS Time Clock Procedures Changed

Employee of the Quarter
Congratulations to Lupe Martinez, Jr., on being named UTHCPC’s Employee of the Third Quarter. Lupe, who works in Nursing Services, recently developed a healthcare outcomes analyzer, which will help UTHCPC better track and evaluate patient services. Lupe spent much of his own time on the project, hoping to make his own job easier by developing the computer package. Thanks, Lupe, for your initiative and creativeness in order to perform your duties more efficiently.

Congratulations also go out to Daniel C. Rodriguez and Debbie Garcia, nominated for Employee of the Quarter. Both received Certificates of Appreciation for their hard work and professional attitudes.

Staff Kudos
Facilities Manager Ron Villaneda took time to commend staffers Robin Webb, Thor Aasguaaro, Cornelius Blackshear, Suzanne Murray, Linda Green, Denise Winter, and Dan Gleeson for continually treating patients with compassion, kindness, courtesy and patience. Thanks to all who provide UTHCPC’s patients with quality care.

Public Health Task Force Meeting
Chief Administrator Lois Moore represented the UTHSCH and UTHCPC this month at the UT System’s Public Health Task Force meeting in Austin. Dr. Moore addressed Dr. Ken Shine, UT System Executive Vice Chancellor as well as other state and university leaders. Dr. Moore discussed the crisis facing the mental health care system in Texas and its impact on the overall health of the public. Dr. Moore provided information on the numbers of people currently in need of mental health care but unable to receive it because of lack of funds or service availability. She addressed the need for early intervention, treatment and a continuum of care for persons with mental illness. For a copy of Dr. Moore’s presentation, please call ext. 7876.

Hospital Wide Meeting
Chief Administrator Dr. Lois Moore briefed staff on issues relating to financial operations, strategic planning, clinical services and management services during the Third Quarter Hospital wide Meeting. Dr. Moore reported the following:

• The hospital will apply for the McKesson Quest for Quality Prize, a $75,000 prize honoring hospital leadership and innovation in quality, safety and commitment in patient care
• The average daily census for the third quarter was 190 patients, compared to 180 for the second quarter. Occupancy was 87.2 percent.
• The hospital expenses continue to match revenue; however, Dr. Moore called for all employees to suggest ways in which the hospital could increase revenue while decreasing expenses.
• The outpatient/PHP program reported 2,073 patient days for the third quarter. This represents a 29% increase in patient days.
• The continuum of care department also reports they have renewed a contract with Neighborhood Centers and they continue to provide services to Head Start and Bread of Life.
• The continuum of care department has initiated a plan to fully utilize nurse practitioners as physician extenders, including plans for prescription authority privileging of nurse practitioners.
• Clinical Services reported that more than 50% of adolescents treated on the sub acute unit return home, rather than to juvenile detention facilities; Unit 1B has reopened as a waiting area; the seclusion rate has decreased on most units; fall rates and patient-on-patient injury rates are declining and patient satisfaction rates are improving.
• Clinical services also reported at the elopement rate has increased. Actions taken to address the problem include revised procedures for use of the cafeteria, grounds guidelines, installation of outdoor cameras and additional walkie-talkies.
• A clinical outcomes analyzer program, developed by Lupe Martinez, will improve managerial monitoring of outcomes, allowing the hospital to take action as soon as a negative trend is identified.
• The nursing services turnover rate is 13%; the vacancy rate remains under 10%
• Due to patient interest, additional Alcoholics Anonymous meetings have been added to the schedule
• Hospital wide education received a 2 year $48,000 grant to provide psychiatric nursing instructors to local nursing schools.
• Management Information Systems gave updates on CAP Sunrise and Alegra. The Alegra replacement system has been selected. The new system will be implemented next fiscal year.
• Strategic planning reported that over 20% of the hospital staff responded to the SWOT analysis. The top identified institutional strengths were staff recognition and leadership; patient care; staff diversity; being an operating unit of UTH and improved interdepartmental cooperation. Institutional weaknesses were poor financial order and payment, reports and billing; budget and finance issues; poor inter-organizational relations and not enough understanding of various disciplines. Departmental strengths included internal communications; weaknesses included lack of department opportunity.
• Major short term strategic objectives include: education (emphasizing quality and safety); research (gaining recognition for research and information technology); patient care (continued development of continuum of care, recognizing the need to include prevention, early intervention and outpatient care in addition to inpatient hospitalization); and community relationships (representing the mental health component, participating as a leading member of collaborative efforts to increase access to healthcare services in the Houston/Harris County area).

UTHSCH President Willerson Visits UTHCPC
UTHSCH President James Willerson, MD, visited with UTHCPC employees during the hospital wide meeting. Dr. Willerson briefed employees on university-wide priorities, detailing progress in campus building and fundraising and affirming that change will continue in the months and years ahead.

“I know this continues to be a challenging time,” said the president. “We’re moving forward. Change is the only constant; embrace change. We continue to seize new opportunities while living within our means. Collaborate with your colleagues; continue to be the best in education, research, and service.”

Willerson spoke about new building initiatives, including the new School of Nursing and new Student Community Center which will have an open house Oct. 29-30. He said progress was being made on UTMSI’s move to the UTHCPC campus.

UTHCPC Web Site Updated
The UTHCPC web site is in the process of being updated with a September 1 on-line target date. All employees are encouraged to visit the test site at http://hcpc.uth.tmc.edu/beta/ and send comments, suggestions, or corrections to Geri Konigsberg at ext. 7876. A special “thank you” to MIS staffer Ruby Houston for the many hours she spent designing the site. Additional thanks to Pat Solomon for helping Ruby with the site. Your suggestions and corrections will be taken into consideration before the site becomes available to the general public on September 1.

Join the HSC Heart Walkers
Researchers at UT Health Science Center have received more than $24million in grants from the American Heart Association (AHA) over the past10 years. The whole university community is invited to join the annual Heart Walk, Saturday, Nov. 6, at Sam Houston Park in downtown Houston. This is a chance for the UT Health Science Center to show our support for the AHA and its ongoing work in the important fight against heart disease and stroke.

The Heart Walk begins at 9 a.m. at Sam Houston Park. A special breakfast for health science center participants begins at 7:30 a.m.

If you are interested in participating in the heart walk, please email me, call me, or go online at http://heartwalk.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=48195&lis=1&kntae48195=282581198563435F820FC8C9EB93E663 and signup under participant registration. HCPC has it's own team so please make sure you sign up for our team.

CPR Classes Offered
HWE will offer CPR classes on August 10 from 8 am to 12 noon and 1 pm to 5 pm. This will be the last CPR class offered this fiscal year. Register online.

KRONOS Time Clock Procedures Changed
The transition from the old KRONOS time clocks to the new time clocks went very smoothly last week. One time clock is located on each floor as follows: 1st floor - loading dock hallway; 2nd floor - in hallway outside of 2A-07 (Social Services Clinics); 3rd floor - inside of the copy room off main corridor.