Blogs

January 26, 2012 - updates as we have hit 2012 running

Jan 26, 2012 by Marc Strode, CEO
Folks,
I have finally had a chance to catch my breath this week. Quite a bit going on.  Let me bring you up to speed on some items that may be of interest to you.

Sid was here this week.  So happy that he was able to spend good quality time with the small groups.  If you were part of those efforts, the trick now is to go back and practice what you learned.  I say "trick" because it is tricky.  Or I should say "hard" to change old habbits.  What Side teaches is so important and to the extent that we can put his steps into practice make us better, make you better.  We have decided to continue to bring Sid back every 90 days.  I think that way our batteries will remain charged.  In between, he's calling.....I'm looking when I round as are the other leaders and we need to hold each other accountable to present to the outside world as well as to each other the right way.  Smile!

If you didn't know, he taught his seminar at the Civic Center Tuesday evening.  About 135 showed up!  Folks are still talking about it.  Thanks to VVRMC, Del Rio got a taste of Sid.  He mentioned to me that he has already received 4 calls for follow-up seminars with a couple from two high-profile organizations in the community.  It's another way we can make in impression around town before folks get sick or injured.

Level 5 is doing well.  Can't wait to see those guys fully staffed and firing on all cyllanders.  Hopefully by Spring Break we will see our first inkling of what 4 providers during peak times means for our throughput!  There have been some back and forth regarding the order sets, and those things will get vetted out at Medical Executive Committee tomorrow.  All systems go!  We will soon be going to where more than just the ED is reviewing and measuring wait times on a daily basis.  I'm a firm believer that you manage well what you measure, and providing this information daily to our management team will help to keep everyone focused on being as efficient as we can around this patient population.

How is your New Year's resolution shaping up? (no pun intended!)  If it was to work out, we are trying to make that easier for you.  There have been some requests allow access to our rehab area after hours and on the weekends so that employees can use the equipment.  We are going to give that a try--hopefully as soon as next week--just have to get some procedural things worked out like a waiver and a check-in/check-out process.  We'll offer it up as long as we are able to keep things in order--keeping it clean and putting back things that are used.  Thanks to our therapists for sharing their space!  Our other project has been delayed a few months, but we are dusting off plans to offer up a 24/7 work-out area here on campus for employees to use that won't have to be shared with patients.  There is a team looking at a space--a small space but still a space--to come up w/ what machines and weights we want to put in there.  I'm hoping to have it ready here in the next couple of months. 

We are working fevorishly to bring urology back to Del Rio.  That could be as soon as February.  There are two urologists who by committee have agreed to cover us full-time until we can find our permanent solution.  All that is left is moving them through the credentialing process.  I'm excited about this effort.  They will cover the hospital, hold clinic, and do procedures at VVRMC.  Once we have everything firmed up, we will get the word out on how patients can get in to see them. 

Lastly, if you see about 60 people munching on some pizza tomorrow around campus, those are volunteers that we are feeding as a special thanks for helping do a quick clean-up around Del Rio as LAFB has in town tomorrow two 4-star Generals they will be touring around the city.  The volunteers will be working in the morning to pick up any trash around town and on the roadways where the tour will move through in an effort to show these guys Del Rio at its finest.  It's our pleasure to feed them after their hard work! 

Keep the Spirit,
Marc