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

Monday, October 18, 2004

INFECTION CONTROL WEEK
NEW MEDICAL DIRECTOR ANNOUNCED
YEAR END REPORT
CONSTRUCTION REPAIR
STAFF KUDOS
PARKING WARNING
SECC KICK-OFF
HOUSEKEEPING CHANGES
PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT PRIORITIES FOR FY O5
NATIONAL PATIENT SAFETY GOALS IDENTIFIED
UTHCPC APPLIES FOR THE AMERICAN HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION MCKESSON QUEST FOR QUALITY PRIZE
POLICY AND PROCEDURE CHANGES

INFECTION CONTROL WEEK

The week of October 18 is Infection Control Week. Look for activities posted throughout the hospital.

NEW MEDICAL DIRECTOR ANNOUNCED

UTHCPC Executive Director Robert Guynn, MD, announce the appointment, effective October 1, 2004, of Dr. Andrew Harper, to the position of UTHCPC Medical Director.

“I am very pleased to announce that Dr. Andrew Harper has accepted the position,” said Guynn. “I want to particularly thank the Search Committee for their very dedicated efforts in this search. We had a number of exceptionally qualified candidates, both internal and external. The Search Committee spent a great deal of time and effort on this endeavor and I appreciate their efforts.

Dr. Harper, a 1984 graduate of the Medical School, replaces Dr. Roy Varner who retired in August after 16 years with UTHCPC. Dr. Harper brings expertise in adult, child, and adolescent psychiatry to his new position. “My most immediate concern will be to keep funding from further erosion. The hospital took a very significant cut in the past legislative session".

Harper stated that his long term goals include: to continue providing outstanding patient care; to make sure that UT HCPC physicians receive the support they need as clinicians, clinician educators, and clinician researchers; to continue to nurture rotating medical students and residents who train at UTHCPC; and, to educate the Houston community at large on the unique and important role UTHCPC plays in quality of life issues for all.

“Dr. Harper brings significant experience in all areas of psychiatry, including adult and child/adolescent services. His experience, knowledge of UT and UTHCPC and his ideas for the future of UTHCPC will help us become stronger during the coming years,” said UTHCPC Chief Administrator Lois J. Moore.

YEAR END REPORT

UTHCPC Chief Administrator Lois J. Moore reported that UTHCPC ended the fiscal year with a positive operating margin. “You will remember that this was the fiscal year where the State reduced our funding by 5.5million dollars,” she said. “We admitted 6000 patients, provided quality patient care and gave salary increases. None of this would have been possible without your support, input and caring. I thank you very much for all you did to make fyo4 a successful year. Keep up the good work.”

CONSTRUCTION REPAIR

Facilities Director Ron Villaneda reports that a repair to the loading dock parking lot, caused by tree root damage and the movement of heavy trucks in the lot will necessitate the removal of one of the trees in the front of the hospital. “We regret that we must remove the tree, but the tree’s root system is tearing up the entrance to the loading dock parking area, making it a danger for those who drive or walk there, ” said Ron.

STAFF KUDOS

Congratulations to Arif Shoaib, MD, who recently passed his board exams and to James Maliyakal, RN BSN MSN who has accepted the position of Nurse Preceptor on 2E.

A patient on Unit 1 C offered his thanks to Carolyn Eli, Cornelius, Gina and Dr. Berno, for their kindness support and for always being on his side.

PARKING WARNING

All staff should be aware that the Texas Medical Center and the City of Houston have put up new parking signs on the streets surrounding UTHCPC. These include the streets in front of and adjacent to the hospital. These new signs restrict parking. Please note that you will be ticketed by the City of Houston and are subject to towing if you park in a no-parking or restricted parking area. Please remember that UTHCPC does not control the street parking. It is controlled by the Texas Medical Center and the City of Houston.

SECC KICK-OFF

The SECC Campaign got off to a good start with an informational event in the employee cafeteria. Employees from all shifts participated in games and activities and contributed more than $2,000 to support many local charities.

By now, you should have received your donor form in the UTHCPC mail. Please fill it out, attach your check or payroll pledge and return to Geri Konigsberg in Room 3A 31. This year’s SECC Campaign Team includes: Karen Wells, Gene McCardle, Geri Konigsberg and Debbie Garcia.

HOUSEKEEPING CHANGES

Patty Stone, currently Maintenance Leader, has been entrusted with the duties and responsibilities of Housekeeping Manager, while at the same time, retaining some of her responsibilities within the Maintenance department. You may contact Housekeeping by email: Housekeeping; Office Phone: 3910; Pager: 713-905-3032

PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT PRIORITIES FOR FY O5

The UTHCPC leadership sets performance improvement priorities for organizational-wide activities and give priority to high-volume, high risk or problem prone processes annually. This year’s PI priorities are:
-Seclusions
-Elopements
-Suicide attempts
-Medication Errors
-Compliance with the National Patient Safety Goals
-Processes related to CPOE and the Electronic Medical Record

NATIONAL PATIENT SAFETY GOALS IDENTIFIED

The Performance Improvement Coordinating Council received the 2005 National Patient Safety Goals (NPSG). The Council committed to comply with the FY 05 goals as well as to continue to ensure ongoing compliance with the 2004 NPSG's.

The following goals are applicable to UTHHCPC. There are a total of 12 National Patient Goals. CenterViews has listed the NPSG's applicable to UTHHCPC. As a reminder, the National Patient Safety Goals are to promote specific improvements in patient safety. The goals highlight problem areas that have been identified in health care. The 2005 goals are bolded:

2004 National Patient Safety Goals
Goal 1. Improve the accuracy of patient identification
Goal 2. Improve the effectiveness of communication among caregivers (Updated to include critical test results
Goal 3: Improve the safety of using medications
Goal 4 and 5 not applicable to UTHHCPC
Goal 6. Improve the effectiveness of clinical alarm systems
Goal 7. Reduce the risk of health care-associated infections

Centerviews has published two editorials of how UTHCPC is meeting the National Patient Safety Goals (November 22, 2002 and March 19, 2004). Posters are displayed throughout the hospitals, on PI website and in departments. The JCAHO Quality Report has listed UTHHCPC as being compliant with all of the above goals. The JCAHO website also provide rationales and Interpretive guidelines for all the National Patient Safety Goals. (www.jcaho.org see National Patient Safety Goal section.

2005 National Patient Safety Goals

Goal 8. Accurately and completely reconcile medications across the continuum of care (2005 Goal)
Goal 9. Reduce the risk of patent harm resulting from falls (2005 Goal)
Goals 10-12. Not applicable to UTHHCPC.

Measures will be in place to monitor and ensure compliance with the 2005 goals. Effective January 1, 2005 all accredited health care organizations are expected to have all of the requirements implemented that are relevant to the services the organization provides. Please look for more information in upcoming CenterViews.

UTHCPC APPLIES FOR THE AMERICAN HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION MCKESSON QUEST FOR QUALITY PRIZE

UTHCPC has applied for the 2005 American Hospital Association McKesson Quest for Quality Prize. The award honors organizations that 1) have committed in a systematic manner to achieving the Institute of Medicine's six quality aims safety, patient centeredness, effectiveness, efficiency, timeliness, and equity, (2) can document progress in the achievement of multiple aims: and (3) provide replicable models and systems for the hospital field. The winner will receive $75,000.00 and two-second place winners will receive $12, 000.00. Notification of the winners will take place this winter.

Project team leader Rachel McBride recognized the leadership of Dr. Guynn and Dr. Moore and the efforts of the team that provided input and worked on the application, including Patricia Averill, Susan Grice, Lucy Albidrez, Sherri Oriolli, Anlee Tryals, Diane Winkler, Gary Conwell, Suzanne Foster, Arslee Mackey, MeiLing Moran, Rachel McBride, and Richard Montayne.

UTHCPC POLICY AND PROCEDURE CHANGES

Interpretation Services
Patient Care (Volume 2) Treatment Services (Chapter 3) Therapy Assessment/Services (Section C)
http://www.uth.tmc.edu/uth_orgs/hcpc/procedures/volume2/chapter3/treatment_services-15.htm

Initial Nursing Assessment and Admission Data
Forms (Volume 4), Patient Care Forms
http://www.uth.tmc.edu/uth_orgs/hcpc/procedures/volume4/initial_nursing_assessment.pdf

Provision of Care Plan
Organizational Functions (Volume 1), Hospital Policies/Management Plans (Chapter 8)
http://www.uth.tmc.edu/uth_orgs/hcpc/procedures/volume4/provision_of_care_plan.pdf