An EagleMed helicopter takes off from West Park Hospital's helipad.

5/17/13

WPH, EAGLEMED BRING MEDICAL FLIGHT SERVICE TO BIG HORN BASIN

CODY, Wyo. — EagleMed is excited and proud to become a partner and the preferred air medical service provider for West Park Hospital and began providing service from Yellowstone Regional Airport to the communities of the Big Horn Basin on May 15. EagleMed is committed to providing a safe, world-class air medical service to West Park Hospital, Cody and the surrounding communities.

“Having a service such as EagleMed based in Cody helps West Park Hospital fulfill its commitment to area residents of being the Big Horn Basin’s regional medical center,” WPH CEO Doug McMillan said. “Our work with EagleMed is the latest in a long line of partnerships WPH has developed in order to bring high-quality services to Cody that aren’t usually found in a community of our size.”

“I think that EagleMed will be a great partner with WPH in providing care for our patients and our community,” said WPH Emergency Department Medical Director Dr. Scott Polley. “They will help expedite the transfer of patients to our facility from outlying areas and at the same time help expedite the transfer of those patients who need transport to a higher level of care in a timely manner. I think this partnership really helps in our goal of putting the care of the patient first. Eagle Med has gone to great efforts to make certain that they provide the service that is needed in the Cody area and the Big Horn Basin.”

EagleMed is a Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Services (CAMTS) accredited critical-care air medical transport service. A subsidiary of Air Medical Group Holdings (AMGH) since August 2009, EagleMed began serving patients and communities throughout the Midwestern United States in 1981. Today, the company operates a total of 28 medically equipped rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft throughout the country and employs about 350 team members.

All EagleMed aircraft are completely configured for mission-critical transports. The Cody base will operate out of a medically configured Eurocopter AS350 B3 helicopter. The Eurocopter AS350 B3 is designed for high-altitude terrain, with a range of 180 nautical miles and cruising speed of 138 miles per hour. It is be capable of carrying patients up to 400 pounds and 6 feet, 4 inches tall. EagleMed Pilots and staff have extensive aviation training, state-of-the-art aircraft equipment, up-to-date clinical equipment, night vision goggle enhanced safety and service capability, which is the most proactive safety technology in the industry for night unaided environments. EagleMed has an excellent maintenance record on their aircrafts, and maintains a fully staffed, technologically advanced, 24-hour communications center.

EagleMed employs highly-trained and experienced pilots, and the medical crews consist of a specially trained registered nurse and paramedic, each of whom has a variety of advanced clinical certifications. EagleMed’s Education and Quality Assurance departments assure that all clinical staff maintains the highest level of continuing education and competencies.

EagleMed is a membership-supported air ambulance service that is part of the AirMedCare Network. AirMedCare is America's largest air medical membership network providing the highest levels of care and access for you, your family and your community. The AirMedCare Network combines the membership programs of four leading air ambulance operators EagleMed, REACH, Air Evac Lifeteam and Med-Trans. This is the largest membership network of its kind in the United States with more than 1.3 million members. Through the AirMedCare Network, each company’s membership enjoys the benefits of the membership program throughout a combined 28-state service area. For more information on the benefits of an EagleMed Membership visit www.joineaglemed.com.

EagleMed is proud and excited to be the preferred provider of air medical services for West Park Hospital and the surrounding communities. It has truly been a pleasure and honor to work with so many great individuals through process of building a base here in Cody. We would like to say thank you to everyone who has been a part of the process and we look forward to a wonderful long term partnership with West Park Hospital, Cody and the surrounding communities.

In the near future, EagleMed will be hosting an open house for the community to come and meet the flight crews and see the helicopter. We hope everyone will attend and look forward to meeting the wonderful people of the Big horn Basin. Date of the open house is to be determined.

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 92-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

Return to Main News Page >

1/8/13

WPH VISITATION GUIDELINES FOR ANYONE FEELING ILL

CODY, Wyo. — West Park Hospital has a plan in place to protect patients, staff and visitors from the spread of influenza viruses. We ask for your cooperation in helping us keep everyone in the hospital safe.

We encourage anyone with signs and symptoms of colds or flu to avoid visiting our hospital, if possible.

If an ill visitor is essential to the well-being of the patient, such as a parent or caregiver, they will be asked to wear a mask during their visit.

Hand Hygiene is important!

If you have these symptoms, or you have been around someone with these symptoms in the past seven days, we ask that you not visit any patient care areas, for the protection of our patients and staff.

• Fever above 100.4 degrees
• Muscle aches or extreme fatigue
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Chills
• Vomiting and diarrhea
  

West Park Hospital District is keeping a close watch on Influenza viruses in our community. For the protection of our patients, visitors and employees, our visitation guidelines may change depending on the number of seasonal flu cases seen in the community at any given time. Some patient areas may need to establish stricter guidelines to protect especially sick or vulnerable patients.

While in the hospital:

• To prevent the spread of germs, visitors should use the hand sanitation dispensers before entering patient rooms
• If you cough or sneeze, please cover your mouth and nose
• If you or someone close to you has been ill recently, please do not visit patients in the hospital at this time

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our patients and staff safe. Please note that these guidelines are subject to change as flu season progresses.

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 92-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

Return to Main News Page >

12/19/12

PATIENTS MIGHT NOTICE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS DURING REGISTRATION

CODY, Wyo. — Starting Jan. 1, patients registering at West Park Hospital will be asked to provide a bit more demographic information, but they have the option to decline to answer, if they choose.

The additional information is requested to meet the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services requirements for “meaningful use” in health information technology, according to Sharon Phelps, WPH’s director of Information Technology.

The two new questions ask patients’ ethnicity (responses include Hispanic, non-Hispanic or decline) and preferred language (responses include a range of language options or decline). Other demographic information required to meet meaningful use already is collected at registration because of medical necessity, such as preferred language, gender, race and date of birth.

When the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was signed in February 2009, it provided hospitals and health care technology companies clear, standardized goals to meet selected health outcomes, as well as deadlines to meet those goals.

“The committees that came out of the legislation are looking to make a positive impact on patient care and controlling health care costs,” Phelps said, “so they developed a ‘carrot and stick’ approach. The carrot is providing funding for organizations, such as hospitals, that meet meaningful use by the prescribed deadlines. The stick is penalizing organizations financially that don’t meet those deadlines.”

With its clinical software upgrade a year ago and ongoing upgrades since then in departments such as home health, hospice, outpatient services, surgery, urgent care and its physician clinics, West Park Hospital is positioned to receive reimbursement from the government rather than penalties.

At this stage, the demographic information could follow a patient in transition of care summaries – for instance, if he or she were transferred from WPH to a hospital in Billings, Salt Lake City or Denver, of if they are moved to the Long Term Care Center, assisted living or referred to home care or hospice.

In the future, the information – which would be stripped of any specific patient identifiers – could be used to monitor public health trends or follow chronic conditions across certain populations to ensure all patients get high-quality care, although the specifics have not been laid out as of yet, according to Phelps.

Meaningful use — as defined by the Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology, a committee comprised of physicians, health care IT professionals and other stakeholders — includes dozens of specific criteria and reporting requirements that have been developed in order to drive four broader goals:

• Improve patient safety
• Improve quality by measuring performance and outcomes
• Better manage and prevent chronic conditions in all populations
• Share information to reduce redundancy and health care costs

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 92-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

Return to Main News Page >

12/11/12

WPH, SAINT VINCENT RECEIVE $5.2 MILLION GRANT FOR CANCER CENTER

BILLINGS, Mont. — St. Vincent Healthcare, in collaboration with West Park Hospital, is proud to announce that the St. Vincent Healthcare Foundation has received a $5,254,322 grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust. These funds will be used to expand the cancer services of the Big Horn Basin Regional Cancer Center located in Cody, Wyo.

The funding received from The Trust will be used for the purchase of a new linear accelerator and the building adaptations needed to allow its placement. New furnishings, electrical updates and HVAC installation are also expected to be completed.

“The grant funds generously awarded by the Helmsley Charitable Trust allow St. Vincent Healthcare and West Park Hospital to expand our efforts to bring the highest level of cancer care to people living in and around the Big Horn Basin,” said Jason Barker, CEO, St. Vincent Healthcare. “This means those diagnosed with cancer will be able to receive high-quality treatment close to home.”

St. Vincent Healthcare and West Park Hospital teamed together to create Big Horn Basin Regional Cancer Center in January of 2012 continuing a tradition of successful partnership. A new radiation oncologist, Dr. Jeffrey Gilroy, has been hired and new medical oncologist candidate hire is pending.

“We represent the sentiments of those in our community when we express our deep appreciation to The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust and its trustees,” said Doug McMillan, CEO, West Park Hospital. “Their generosity will make a significant impact in the lives of patients with cancer and their families.”

Dr. Jeffrey Gilroy, Radiation Oncologist noted, “The Elekta linear accelerator, to be installed after January 1, 2013, will be state-of-the-art in the region. Thanks to the Trust, we will have equipment unmatched in many of the large cancer centers in the region. Radiation therapies currently available in only the most advanced cancer centers will be delivered in Cody, Wyoming. This technology, along with the compassionate cancer care provided by our team, will allow our neighbors to heal in the comfort of home confident that they are receiving the most advanced care.”

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 92-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

Return to Main News Page >

11/1/12

NEW SOFTWARE WILL CHANGE THE LOOK OF SOME WPH BILLS

CODY, Wyo. — Patients will notice new pink bills if they receive services from West Park Hospital’s Urgent Care Clinic or WPH physician clinics.

The pink bills will provide a running total of physician charges on a per visit basis, with one account for all physician visits. Once a charge is paid, it will drop off the total while any unpaid charges will remain.

The bills should be easier for customers to read and understand because of the running total for all physician charges, as well as more transparent, as physician charges were billed with other services in the past whereas now they will be separate, according to WPH Patient Financial Services Assistant Director Carol Wolf.

“What patients will see is the new bills, but what’s going on behind the scenes is the implementation of software specifically built for physician offices,” said Information Technology Financial Specialist Tim McIsaac.

Billing for non-physician services, such as X-rays, lab tests and supplies, will not change and will be billed separately, and the new bills only will come from West Park Hospital physician clinics, including Drs. Rachael Bracke, Andrew Rashkow, Dane St. John, Richard Anderson, Mario Leyba, Bill Evans and WPH Urgent Care providers Dr. Lisa Harvey, Dr. Kyle Beau de Lomenie and physician assistant Kelly Simone.

The hospital’s IT department also plans to implement the practice-management software for WPH’s Behavioral Health Department in the future, so charges from counselors and Dr. Matthew Gaines also would be itemized in a pink running statement when that switchover occurs.

The new pink bills will start arriving in late November or early December. If customers have questions about the new bills or any billing issue, they can call WPH’s Patient Financial Services Department for more information or assistance.

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 92-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

Return to Main News Page >

10/28/12

LTCC WINS BRONZE AWARD FOR TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION

CODY, Wyo. — The West Park Hospital Long Term Care Center recently was awarded a Bronze Award for its use of technology to ease residents’ transitions between the a hospital, the LTCC and the community.

The award was open to all nursing homes, assisted-living facilities and residential retirement communities in the U.S., and the LTCC was the only facility in the Rocky Mountain West and one of only 15 facilities nationally that was recognized. There are more than 15,000 nursing homes alone in the U.S.

Long Term Care Center staff development coordinator Kelli Martin spearheaded the application process after finding the information online.

“Our IT department and LTCC have done so much hard work to implement cutting-edge technology, I felt that they should be recognized,” she said.

“The Transitions category recognizes excellence in technology used to improve and/or reduce transitions between long-term care settings and other providers,” according to McKnight’s Long-Term Care News, which sponsored the award. “West Park Long Term Care is taking home the Bronze Award for its integrated computer system and its hospitalist program. The program gives physicians at West Park's critical access hospital and other area medical clinics access to the nursing home residents’ clinical information.”

With the implementation of an electronic medical record for residents, the WPH acute care unit, Long Term Care Center, Billings Clinic-Cody and WPH hospitalists all have full access to a resident’s chart from their individual locations, which makes the transition between levels of care easier and smoother and improves outcomes for residents during those transitions, Martin said.

According to Martin, the electronic medical record has the potential to decrease the number of emergency room visits by residents due to ready access to clinical information. It has also enhanced the process of placements to the LTCC and improved safety during transitions between the hospital and LTCC, in addition to providing added efficiency for the WPH hospitalists and residents’ primary care doctors.

“Very few nursing homes are as wired as we are,” LTCC Administrator Jeanne Kaiser said. She notes that many still rely totally on paper charts and credits being attached to a hospital and having access to its technology and IT department for driving and supporting the implementation of the electronic medical record, while much of the groundwork was driven by LTCC staff.

But the LTCC has taken a progressive approach to using technology for some time. Kaiser said that when they went to electronic medication administration seven years ago, they were unable to locate another nursing home to look to as a model for implementation because the LTCC was on the forefront of the change.

McKnight’s is a leading professional journal that is distributed to most nursing homes throughout the country and available online.

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 92-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

Return to Main News Page >

10/25/12

WPH REGISTERED NURSES EARN SPECIALTY CERTIFICATIONS

CODY, Wyo. — West Park Hospital nurses Jen Ball and Shirley Jerden were among 156 registered nurses nationally who recently passed the Certified Registered Nurse Infusion examination, administered by the Infusion Nurses Certification Corp.

Only one other Wyoming nurse and no Montana nurses were certified during the September examination.

Exam content is based on nine core areas: technology and clinical applications, fluid and electrolyte imbalance, pharmacology, infection prevention, antineoplastic/biologic therapy, parenteral nutrition, quality improvement, transfusion therapy and pediatrics.

In order to sit for the test, candidates must have a current, active, unrestricted U.S. or Canadian nursing license and at least 1,600 hours of infusion therapy experience in the prior two years. Only

66 percent of nurses pass the exam on their first attempt.

WPH registered nurse Sara Bailey also earned the infusion certification earlier this year.

“Earning this certification ensures a nurse has significant experience in infusion therapy and is up to speed on the most current and highest quality standards available in the industry,” Ball said. “With three certified infusion nurses at West Park Hospital and the Big Horn Basin Cancer Center, patients can be confident that

we’re continually working to provide them current, quality care.”

Common infusions performed at West Park Hospital and the Big Horn Basin Cancer Center include chemotherapy, monoclonal antibodies, IV antibiotics, Remicade, Boniva, Orencia, Fabrazyme and Tysabri.

According to the National Home Infusion Association, drugs and therapies commonly administered via infusion include antibiotics, antifungal medications, antiviral medications, chemotherapy, hydration fluids, pain management medications and parenteral nutrition.

“Infusion therapy is also provided to patients for treating a wide assortment of often chronic and sometimes rare diseases for which ‘specialty’ infusion medications are effective. … Examples include blood factors, corticosteroids, erythropoietin, infliximab, inotropic heart medications, growth hormones, immunoglobulin, natalizumab and many others,” according to the NHIA website.

RN becomes first at WPH to earn national oncology certification

Registered nurse Marlene Stewart also recently became West Park Hospital’s first nationally certified oncology nurse through the Oncology Nursing Certification Corp.

A nurse must meet all of the following criteria before even applying for the certification:

• Have a current, active, unrestricted RN license at the time of application and examination
• Accumulate a minimum of 12 months of experience as an RN within the three years prior to application
• Accumulate a minimum of 1,000 hours of adult oncology nursing practice within the 30 months prior to application

  Marlene Stewart

• Complete a minimum of 10 contact hours of continuing nursing education or an academic elective in oncology nursing within the 36 months prior to application.

The mission of the Oncology Nursing Certification Corp. is to promote excellence in patient care and professional practice by validating specialized knowledge in oncology nursing and related specialties.

In addition to the above certifications, all of WPH’s outpatient and at the cancer center nurses have attended an intense, two-day course to obtain their chemotherapy and biotherapy provider card, which gives nurses additional specialized cancer-treatment knowledge to help provide safe and effective patient care.

Three other nurses WPH outpatient and/or surgery nurses also are nationally certified in other specialty areas: RN Lillie Ennist is a certified ambulatory perianesthesia nurse, and RNs Joanne Adkins and Tammy Ratcliff are certified operating room nurses.

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 92-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

Return to Main News Page >

10/22/12

WEST PARK HOSPITAL PATIENTS NOT AFFECTED BY MENINGITIS OUTBREAK

CODY, Wyo. — Patients who have had injections or procedures of any kind at West Park Hospital do not need to worry about the outbreak of meningitis that is affecting some patients in at least 16 states.

The affected drugs, injectable steroids used to help treat joint and back problems, come from a specific supplier that West Park Hospital has chosen not to do business with.

After due diligence and research, WPH chief pharmacist Gary Thompson long ago decided to not purchase drugs from New England Compounding Corp., the source of the tainted drugs, and instead chose PharMedium, which has an “unblemished track record” regarding safety and also can meet WPH’s needs at a reasonable cost.

“It wasn’t by accident we chose PharMedium for a few outsourced drugs,” Thompson said, referring to past citations of New England Compounding Corp. by the Food and Drug Administration. “We have great faith in PharMedium, and have never had a problem with them in the decade or so we’ve been using them.”

He also emphasized that WPH only buys its injectable steroids prepackaged, directly from licensed, reputable drug manufacturers.

Facilities that are approved by the FDA to compound drugs — including the WPH pharmacy, Big Horn Basin Cancer Center and several other local and regional pharmacies and businesses — take raw materials or drugs from the manufacturer and dilute or otherwise prepare them to create safe doses intended for specific patients.

The intricate process of compounding drugs takes place in a “clean room,” free from contaminants, and Thompson is proud of the WPH pharmacy’s record of never causing a hospital-acquired infection from an injectable drug during his tenure as pharmacy director, which started in 1986.

The outbreak involves a form of fungal meningitis that is not contagious.

For more information, including a list of which facilities received shipments of the tainted drug (none are currently listed in Wyoming), visit the Centers for Disease Control website at ww.cdc.gov.

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 92-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

Return to Main News Page >

10/8/12

WPH NURSES WALK THE WALK FOR BREAST CANCER AWARENESS

If you see two women in pink walking along the side the Powell Highway toward Ralston, give them a shout of encouragement.

Odds are it’s Libby Reineman and Sue Foor, both West Park Hospital nurses who are training for a nearly 39.3-mile walk to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer.

“There is a history of breast cancer in my family, so I strongly believe in this cause,” Reineman said. “Too many people don’t have the means to get check-ups and tests to detect this life-altering disease, much less undergo treatment if diagnosed. This is a big issue for the Avon

Foundation, one they give

substantial funds to.”

Cosmetics maker Avon sponsors

more than a half-dozen walks
each year in cities across the country.

Reineman has participated in four other such events, including walks in Denver, San Francisco and Tampa twice. She recruited WPH critical care nurse Sue Foor for this year’s in Charlotte, N.C.

“(Libby) said, ‘You’re going to do it,’ and I said, ‘OK,’” according to Foor, who also listed the good cause, the destination and her grandmother’s battle with breast cancer as motivation.

During the event Oct. 27-28, the pair will meet and walk with Reineman’s sister, from Florida, on a team appropriately called “Sunshine & Sage.” The trio will walk the equivalent of a marathon, 26.2 miles, the first day; stay in a “tent city” overnight with about 2,500 other walkers; and walk the balance of the route the second day.

Walkers must commit to raising at least $1,800 to benefit breast cancer research, screening and education. To that end, the Reineman and Foor have organized a fundraiser by soliciting all-handmade, breast-cancer-themed objects to raffle off, including items such as four pieces of stained glass, a king-size afghan and a king-size handmade quilt.

The objects were created and donated by WPH acute care nurse Catey Fox, her mother Lynn Fox, and Lynne Laurence.

The items are available to view through the windows of the WPH “Campus Store” inside the Monument Entrance, and the duo also is planning to display them at the Apothe Café in the same area during its hours of operation. Raffle tickets are $5 each or five for $20, and can be obtained by calling Reineman at 899-6420 or Foor at 272-3582. The drawings will be held Oct. 22.

Donations to the team also can be made through the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer website, www.avonwalk.org, contributed toward team “Sunshine & Sage.”

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 92-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

Return to Main News Page >

7/13/12

WPH NAMED ONE OF BECKER'S 100 GREAT COMMUNITY HOSPITALS

CODY, Wyo. — On the heels of being named a top 100 critical access hospital in 2011 by the National Rural Health Association, Becker’s Hospital Review recently included West Park Hospital in its list of 100 Great Community Hospitals.

“Cody is extremely fortunate to have a medical community that’s incredibly large and progressive for a town of its size,” West Park Hospital CEO Doug McMillan said. “The national recognition we’ve received during the past year confirms that the investment we’ve made in recruiting physicians, upgrading infrastructure, and staff satisfaction and development are directly impacting the quality and availability of health care in our community and the entire Big Horn Basin in a positive way.”

West Park Hospital is the only Wyoming hospital and one of just three critical access hospitals on the Becker’s list. The only other hospitals from the Wyoming-Montana-Colorado region include Kalispell Regional Medical Center and Missoula’s St. Patrick Hospital and three large hospitals in Colorado.

Becker’s Hospital Review cited WPH’s Pulmonary Care Excellence Award in 2010 and 2011 and Spine Surgery Excellence Award in 2011 and 2012 from HealthGrades as well as its adherence to the Planetree philosophy of patient-centered care as reasons for inclusion in the list.

“Community hospitals are a critical component to the American healthcare continuum,” according to Becker’s website. “These hospitals are often the anchors of health and employment within their communities, providing patients with top-quality care close to home. The following hospitals have demonstrated commitments to the health of their local population through clinical excellence, community involvement and various other efforts.”

West Park Hospital is the largest employer in Park County with more than 500 total employees and has an estimated annual impact of $300 million on the local economy. In addition, each rural physician creates about three local jobs, according to the National Rural Health Association.

The Becker’s list was compiled with data from iVantage Health Analytics, Thomson Reuters, HealthGrades and the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

All of the hospitals on the list have fewer than 550 patient beds and minimal teaching programs.

West Park Hospital is a 25-bed critical access hospital and has no university affiliation or physician teaching program.

Critical access hospitals are facilities designated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for special reimbursement from those programs because of the hospital’s importance to the area it serves. Many critical access hospitals are located in rural or mountainous communities where access to care is limited by distance and/or geography.

Critical access status represents a $4 million value to WPH, according to a 2011 analysis reported to the West Park Hospital District Board of Trustees. Without that special reimbursement, current services would have to be scaled back, with some procedures likely eliminated completely, said CFO Pat McConnell.

Becker's Hospital Review features up-to-date business and legal news and analysis relating to hospitals and health systems including hospital and health system news, best practices and legal guidance geared toward hospital leaders.

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 92-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

Return to Main News Page >

WEST PARK HOSPITAL STARTS TO SURVEY PAST PATIENTS BY PHONE

CODY, Wyo. — In order for a more timely response to patient feedback, West Park Hospital recently switched from sending patients paper surveys to contracting with a company to conduct phone surveys.

“With the paper surveys, the responses could be as much as six months old,” Quality Officer Vicki Carrafa said. “That makes it much more difficult to identify where improvements need to be made or processes that work well that we need to build on.”

In addition to more timely information, other hospitals have received a more representative opinion with phone surveys as opposed to paper surveys, Carrafa said.

“With paper surveys, often the only individuals who would take the time to write out their responses were those who had an extremely positive or negative experience,” she said. “With phone surveys, we’re reaching out to a broader range of patients, so hopefully we’ll get a more accurate sampling of opinions.”

The surveys are meant to gather feedback from patients in order to improve services or recognize departments or individual staff members that performed well and in a patient-centered manner consistent with WPH’s Planetree philosophy.

“We know our staff is clinically competent, but we also want to make sure the patient and family experience exceeds expectations,” CEO Doug McMillan said. “We hope patients will take the time to help make West Park Hospital – their community resource – a better place as well as recognize caregivers who provide high-quality services.”

Not all patients will receive a phone survey, but the company calling on behalf of West Park Hospital, HealthStream, will conduct as many calls as needed to build a representative sample of customers. The calls generally take less than five minutes.

HealthStream also asks specific questions related to the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems, or HCAHPS, which is a standardized survey about patient experiences that gets reported to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The HCAHPS also includes information about clinical outcomes for specific core measures.

Health care consumers can view how a hospital ranks compared with other local, regional or national hospitals by visiting http://hospitalcompare.hhs.gov. Timely data about how WPH scores on the core measures is located on www.westparkhospital.org under the “Quality and Performance” tab.

In addition to the phone survey, patients are encouraged to submit feedback at any time via the hospital website, Facebook page or by contacting any senior leader or hospital trustee.

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 92-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

Return to Main News Page >

WPH REGISTERED NURSE EARNS SPECIALIZED INFUSION CERTIFICATION

CODY, Wyo. — West Park Hospital registered nurse Sara Bailey was among 138 nurses who recently passed the Certified Registered Nurse Infusion examination. She was the only nurse from the Wyoming, Montana or Colorado region of the 138 who passed.

Exam content is based on nine core areas: technology and clinical applications, fluid and electrolyte imbalance, pharmacology, infection prevention, antineoplastic/biologic therapy, parenteral nutrition, quality improvement, transfusion therapy and pediatrics.

In order to sit for the test, candidates must have a current, active, unrestricted U.S. or Canadian nursing license and at least 1,600 hours of infusion therapy experience in the prior two years.

“This certification helps me provide top quality patient care by ensuring I am trained and up to date with the most current techniques and knowledge about infusion therapy,” Bailey said. She estimates she spent about 100 hours outside of work studying and preparing for the exam.

According to the National Home Infusion Association, drugs and therapies commonly administered via infusion include antibiotics, antifungal medications, antiviral medications, chemotherapy, hydration fluids, pain management medications and parenteral nutrition.

“Infusion therapy is also provided to patients for treating a wide assortment of often chronic and sometimes rare diseases for which ‘specialty’ infusion medications are effective. … Examples include blood factors, corticosteroids, erythropoietin, infliximab, inotropic heart medications, growth hormones, immunoglobulin, natalizumab and many others,” according to the NHIA website.

Common infusions performed at West Park Hospital include chemotherapy, monoclonal antibodies, IV antibiotics, Remicade, Boniva, Orencia, Fabrazyme and Tysabri.

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

Return to Main News Page >

RAYBURN'S RETURN BENEFITS DIALYSIS UPGRADE AND EXPANSION

CODY, Wyo. — “Bruce Springsteen sings Green Acres.” “Led Zeppelin sings Dr. Seuss.”

Comedy and classical guitar may not seem like a mix that would elevate a performer to the title of the “World’s Funniest Guitar Virtuoso,” but it has led Mike Rayburn to venues as diverse as Carnegie Hall and the Las Vegas Strip.

Rayburn will headline “Progress Is the Best Medicine,” the West

Park Hospital Foundation event May 19 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. that benefits the Big Horn Regional Dialysis expansion and upgrade. He also headlined the WPH Foundation’s inaugural fundraising event in March 2011.

“This is a great opportunity to not only see a world-class performer, but also to learn more about dialysis and how Big Horn Basin residents and patients benefit from having access to this life-sustaining procedure locally,” WPH Foundation Director Graham Jackson said.

In addition to entertainment from Rayburn, the event will include light hors d’oeuvres, preview tours of the new West Park Hospital addition, information about the WPH Foundation and dialysis and a buffet dinner.

“It promises to be a good time, with good food and good friends, and goes toward a great cause,” event committee and WPH Foundation board member and event committee chair Jan Eldredge said. “Regardless, whether you saw Mike Rayburn during his first trip to Cody or not, you won’t want to miss this performance.”

Patients with end-stage renal disease must undergo the four- to six-hour treatments every other day. The next nearest center is in Billings.

For the past two years, West Park Hospital’s Big Horn Regional Dialysis has been unable to take new patients and treat visitors to the area because of a lack of chairs and space.

Currently, the center is located on the second floor of West Park Hospital and has six chairs. The new unit will be located on the ground floor of the Cathcart Health Center, providing easier patient access, and will immediately increase capacity to eight chairs, which will serve current demand. The space in the Cathcart Health Center will allow for as many as 10 chairs, which will initially be plumbed and then completed as demand dictates.

West Park Hospital successfully secured a $300,000 State Loan and Investment Board grant toward the $900,000 project cost. The balance will be funded by West Park Hospital with support from the West Park Hospital Foundation and the Cody Medical Foundation.

For more information about the event or the dialysis upgrade and expansion project, contact Jackson at the West Park Hospital Foundation at 578-2338 or gjackson@wphcody.org.

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

Return to Main News Page >

PARTNERSHIP ALLOWS CODY CANCER CARE TO CONTINUE UNINTERRUPTED

St. Vincent Healthcare and West Park Hospital are uniting in order to ensure cancer patients in the Big Horn Basin have continued access to quality care. St. Vincent Healthcare and West Park Hospital are dedicated to providing outstanding cancer care close to home. In order to provide both medical and radiation oncology care, St. Vincent Healthcare and West Park Hospital combined resources to form Big Horn Basin Cancer Center.

Big Horn Basin Cancer Center is pleased to welcome Jeffery Gilroy, MD, radiation oncologist. Dr. Gilroy received his Bachelor of Science degree from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas and Medical Degree from the University of Nebraska College of Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska. Dr. Gilroy completed additional medical training with an Internship in Internal Medicine at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska and was Chief Resident at the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida.

Big Horn Basin Cancer Center is in the process of recruiting a full-time medical oncologist. There are plans to update the radiation oncology equipment in the near future in an effort to continually maintain updated technology. Current staff will remain at their positions in order to ensure there is no disruption in patient care.

“St. Vincent Healthcare and West Park Hospital are dedicated to providing the highest level of cancer care in the Big Horn Basin,” said Jason Barker, CEO, St. Vincent Healthcare. “We look forward to this stellar opportunity to partner with West Park Hospital and the advancements we can make together in providing oncology care.”

When you or a loved one has cancer, it is essential to have a team of providers who will implement a customized care plan just for you; Big Horn Basin Cancer Center provides the assurance patients will receive that personalized care.

“It is essential to provide the very best oncology treatment in the Big Horn Basin, and we are excited for the opportunity to collaborate with St. Vincent Healthcare,” said Doug McMillan, CEO West Park Hospital.

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

Return to Main News Page >

WEST PARK HOSPITAL NAMES EMPLOYEE, MANAGER OF THE YEAR

CODY, Wyo. — Two employees were recognized at the West Park Hospital holiday party in December with manager and employee of the year awards for 2011.

Plant Operations and Environmental Services Director Tim Waldner was named manager of the year.

Waldner and his family moved Cody in 2008 from Minnesota, where he was named employee of the year in 2006 and was runner-up for the award in 2005 at Cook Hospital.

In addition, Waldner was the WPH Shades of Planetree employee of the quarter for Quarter III of 2010.

Initially hired as Plant Operations director, Waldner took over management of the Environmental Services Department in 2010; he had supervised the same two departments in his last position at Cook Hospital.

His peers and staff praised his supervision of his departments as well as his leadership through the many facilities upgrades and construction projects he has overseen since coming to WPH, such as the installation of new chiller units, installing two new generators, acting as the hospital’s liaison during the construction of the hospice house and his ongoing work with the modernization project.

“Tim has been a great asset to West Park Hospital, especially during this time of significant physical plant and facilities upgrades,” CEO Doug McMillan said. “The hospital and the community are lucky to have such a talented and dedicated individual.”

The top three nominees from a managers’ vote were submitted to the WPH Senior Leadership Team, which selected Waldner as manager of the year.

The employee of the year was chosen from the four “Shades of Planetree” employees of the quarter for 2011: Janice May, Lynette Barsness, Liz Vail and Tamara Young. Employees nominate their peers for employee of the quarter by submitting a narrative about a specific instance when they observed the nominee going out of his or her way to put the patient first. Employees then vote on their favorite story, and the nominee with the most votes is recognized as employee of the quarter.

The WPH Board of Trustees reviewed those four Shades of Planetree stories about the four employees of the quarter, minus any identifying information, and chose Liz Vail the employee of the year for the following narrative:

“When an out-of-town visitor had a detour into the CCU and later Acute Care, Liz learned that he and his wife were paying $50 a day to a campground to keep their RV there while he was in the hospital. Liz offered to let the couple park the RV on her property and provided them a hook-up. Her husband even drove the RV to their house, as the wife didn’t feel comfortable doing it.”

“It really shows the extent of the Planetree patient-centered culture at WPH,” Chief Clinical Officer Lynette Barsness said. “This is an example of how many of our employees, like Liz, represent the Planetree philosophy.”

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

Return to Main News Page >

RON MEEKER APPOINTED TO WPHD BOARD OF TRUSTEES

CODY, Wyo. — The West Park Hospital District Board of Trustees appointed Ron Meeker to fill a vacant seat at its November/December meeting Dec. 13.

A seat on the board opened up when Graham Jackson stepped down in October.

“Cody is my home, where I grew up and raised my family, and the hospital and schools are the foundation of any community,” Meeker said. “West Park Hospital supports a wide variety of specialists and provides many services not normally found in a town the size of Cody. I think the trustees have been proactive in their approach tothe complex and changing field of health care,

which has benefited the hospital, the greater medical community and residents of West Park Hospital District and beyond.”

Meeker, co-owner of Meeker Insurance Agency, previously has served on community boards for Olive Glenn Country Club, Cody Youth Recreation, Cody Volunteer Fire Department, the Chamber of Commerce and the Stampede Rodeo.

“I believe you have to give back to the community you live in,” Meeker said of his service. “It’s an honor to give back to an organization that offers so much to Cody and the region.”

In addition to Meeker, WPH trustees also interviewed Bill Wiltse and George Whitlock.

“All three were good candidates,” CEO Doug McMillan said. “Ron will be a nice addition to the WPH board based on his many years of experience serving on other Cody community boards and organizations.”

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

Return to Main News Page >

HOSPITAL, LTCC CANNOT ACCEPT POINSETTIAS DUE TO LATEX ALLERGY

CODY, Wyo. — While poinsettias are popular this time of year, West Park Hospital cannot accept delivery of the plants.

The restriction includes WPH facilities such as the Long Term Care Center, Cedar Mountain Center and Spirit Mountain Hospice House.

Poinsettias are part of the Euphorbiaceae family of plants, as is the Hevea brasiliensis (the Brazilian rubber tree), which is the primary source of natural rubber latex products.

“Although severe latex allergic reaction is unlikely from a poinsettia, we’re taking a proactive approach to our patients’ and visitors’ safety, just as we have in the past with latex gloves and balloons,” WPH Chief Clinical Officer Lynette Barsness said.

“The latex is found in a circulation system within the plant and is not secreted until the system is accessed by breaking a leaf or injuring the plant in some manner,” Kevin J. Kelly, M.D., writes on the American Latex Allergy Association’s website.

There are two prominent types of reactions to latex, according to the American Latex Allergy Association:

• Type I: an immediate hypersensitivity reaction to one or more proteins in natural rubber latex. Histamine is released, causing systemic symptoms that can include anaphylaxis and death.
• Type IV: a delayed response that typically occurs 48 to 96 hours after exposure. This is frequently a reaction to the processing chemicals used in manufacturing natural rubber latex. A Type IV reaction is generally localized to the area of contact and can be referred to as allergic contact dermatitis, T-cell-mediated allergy or chemical allergy.

Symptoms resulting from latex allergies range from rashes and skin irritation to breathing problems, blood-pressure drops and anaphylaxis, which can lead to death.

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

Return to Main News Page >

COMPUTER UPGRADE WILL BENEFIT WEST PARK HOSPITAL PATIENTS

CODY, Wyo. — After a long and intense period of behind-the-scenes planning, training and testing, West Park Hospital will upgrade its computer system at midnight Dec. 1.

West Park Hospital currently uses Meditech Magic, and the Meditech 6.0 upgrade will benefit everyone from patients to health care providers to medical records to billing.

Benefits to patients include improved safety, systemic efficiencies, communication, privacy and security, said WPH information technology director Sharon Phelps.

“While patients might not notice any significant changes, the new system is more user-friendly for providers and staff and has increased capabilities,” Phelps said.

And while WPH has invested significant time and effort into making the transition as smooth as possible for patients, the staff is asking for patience as employees get used to the new software.

“It’s like driving an unfamiliar car,” Phelps said. “The basic functions are still the same – all cars have a steering wheel, a gas pedal and a break – but each car drives a little differently, and all the features work a little differently and are in different places.”

While West Park Hospital was already in the process of planning and implementing a technology upgrade when the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was signed, the act aided WPH and technology vendors alike by setting clear, standardized goals for health care technology to meet selected health outcomes. As an incentive to spur movement toward electronic records and transmission of data, significant funds are available to health care providers and facilities who meet those outcomes within the next four years.

That act includes two vital components that have aligned a fractured mix of health care IT stakeholders: standards and funding. The act creates standards of “meaningful use” for health care technology and reinforces those standards with stimulus funding for systems that meet the meaningful use criteria.

Meaningful use — as defined by the Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology, a committee comprised of physicians, health care IT professionals and other stakeholders — includes dozens of specific criteria and reporting requirements that have been developed in order to drive four broader goals:

• Improve patient safety
• Improve quality by measuring performance and outcomes
• Better manage and prevent chronic conditions in all populations
• Share information to reduce redundancy and health care costs

Using an electronic medical record will fundamentally change the way health care is delivered.

“Moving data from paper to electronic is more than just about how we’re storing the information; it’s also about how we’re using it,” Phelps said.

With paper-based medical records, only one medical professional can use the record at a time, which creates a linear process where the record passes among doctors, ward clerks and nurses. With and electronic medical record, any authorized person can access the record at any time, making the process much more efficient and allowing near real-time access to information such as lab results, medication administration, physical therapy results and nursing documentation.

“It’s the difference between getting a book from the library, where there’s only one copy that has to be circulated, and being able to access information on the Internet at any time regardless of who else is viewing it,” said Jay McKiernan, IT project manager for West Park Hospital.

An electronic medical record also gives physicians and other caregivers a better understanding of a person’s overall health. An electronic medical record takes data and consolidates it into information, which gives caregivers the knowledge to make informed decisions about a person’s overall health or treatment.

“Blood pressure as a single piece of the puzzle doesn’t mean much, but if you combine that with other puzzle pieces like medications, allergies, health history and lab results, then providers can start to see the big picture,” McKiernan said.

The transition to Meditech 6.0 is the first step in an ongoing process of upgrading WPH’s technology. Moving forward, the hospital is adding other modules to 6.0, including time and attendance, home health and physician orders.

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

Return to Main News Page >

NATIONAL PALLIATIVE CARE MONTH RECOGNIZES HOSPICE BENEFITS

CODY, Wyo. — When physician Dame Cicely Saunders founded the first modern hospice in 1967 in England, she likely had no idea the impact she was making on medicine.

The result was a movement to deinstitutionalize and empower patients to help direct their
end-of-life care.

Those goals are reflected in November 2011’s National Hospice and Palliative Care Month theme, “We Listen, We Care.”

“Hospice care focuses on providing patients a better quality of life,” said Laureen Joest, director of West Park Hospital’s Spirit Mountain Hospice. “To do that, we take into account the end-of-life wishes of the patient and their family, and support them with an interdisciplinary team of medical professionals, including nurses, nursing assistants, social workers, a spiritual counselor and trained volunteers.”

Hospice care — also referred to as comfort care or palliative care — seeks to alleviate symptoms of a disease or illness, such as pain or nausea, but does not provide curative treatment.

Since the Medicare hospice benefit was enacted by Congress in 1982, the number of patients served by hospice care in the U.S. has increased from 25,000 to more than 1.56 million, according to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.

And while use and awareness of hospice care is growing there are some surprising facts and common misconceptions about it.

• Hospice may prolong life: A 2007 study documented that hospice patients lived 29 days longer than those who had the same disease but did not choose hospice care. A 2010 study published in the “New England Journal of Medicine” also showed that the average patient who started Hospice care early would live 2.7 months longer than those receiving standard care.
• Wyoming leads the nation: By 2030, The Cowboy State is projected to have the third-highest percentage of residents older than 65 years in the country, according to the U.S. Administration on Aging.
• Hospice is not just for cancer patients: When hospice was introduced in the United States in 1974, many of the patients were cancer patients. But over the years, people with other life-limiting diagnoses have also been served by hospice providers. In 2009, 60 percent of hospice patients in the United States had non-cancer diagnoses, including heart disease; dementia; lung, liver or kidney disease; stroke; ALS; or other debilitating illnesses.
• Volunteers are the backbone of hospice: The U.S. hospice movement was founded by volunteers, and even though hospice has since become professionalized, volunteers remain a crucial part of the interdisciplinary hospice team. Volunteers spend time with patients and their families, provide clerical and other services that support patient care, and volunteers participate in fundraising efforts and annual events such as “LoveLights” in December. Spirit Mountain Hospice has more than 50 community members who volunteer to serve our patients and their families in various ways.
• Who Pays for Hospice? The vast majority (83 percent) of hospice patients are covered by Medicare. Private insurance covers about 9 percent of patients, and Medicaid covers another 5 percent. Self-pay and other sources account for 1.5 percent of payments received, and there are 1.6 percent of patients who cannot pay but receive hospice care because of generous contributors, fundraisers and memorial gifts.
  

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

Return to Main News Page >

ARTISTS DONATE MORE THAN $50,000 IN ORIGINAL WORKS TO HOSPICE

CODY, Wyo. — When Buffalo Bill Historical Center curatorial assistant Laura Fry first was asked to assist Spirit Mountain Hospice in hanging art at the new hospice house, she didn’t know what to expect.

“I didn’t know if it would just be framed posters or what,” she said. When she arrived at the house on Monday to help arrange and hang the artwork, she was pleasantly surprised.

Thanks to support from the local art community, spearheaded by artist Vivian McCord, the house will be adorned with more than $50,000 in original works.

McCord first heard about the hospice house through Marty Coe, who organizes the Cody Medical Foundation’s annual fundraiser, which

this year donated the proceeds toward the house’s healing gardens. Hospice employees Linda Harbron and Linda

Housel then approached her regarding the project. McCord began contacting artists, some of

whom she knew and some she was meeting for the first time.

“It’s been a really fun project for me,” she said. “When you see blank walls as an artist, you get kind of giddy.”

McCord said nearly all of the artists she reached out to were excited to be a part of the project. A few, like Reid Christie, even had planned on donating a piece to the hospice house before being contacted, she said.

“This is just one more example of how the community has overwhelmingly supported this project,” Harbron said. “Because the house was designed to have a home-like atmosphere, having local, original pieces really adds to that. Along with the architecture and furnishings, they really complete that atmosphere.”

The goal of having the BBHC involved was to honor the professional array of artworks with professional and thoughtful placements.

After reviewing the collection of donated works, Fry tried to match each piece to a spot that would highlight it without crowding the space or the art. And while she recognized the purpose of the house is the enjoyment and comfort of the patients, she also placed pieces with preservation in mind, such as keeping works on paper out of direct sunlight to reduce fading.

“Because these are all original artworks in a public space, you have to consider how the area is used,” she said. “The last thing you want is someone to put an elbow through a $5,000 painting.”

And while McCord has been able to round up about 30 works, including paintings, a hand-tooled cedar vase, a mosaic quilt, a mosaic birdhouse and an etching, she’s expecting even more to trickle in as the house opens and begins operation.

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

Return to Main News Page >

WEST PARK HOSPITAL NAMED TOP-100 CRITICAL ACCESS HOSPITAL

CODY, Wyo. — West Park Hospital is one of six Wyoming hospitals named to the National Rural Health Association’s list of the top 100 critical access hospitals in the nation. There are more than 1,300 critical access hospitals nationwide.

To create the list, the NRHA worked with iVantage Health Analytics to measure 56 broad-based indicators measuring everything from patient experience to financial health to quality measures. According to the NRHA and iVantage, these indicators indentify hospitals that are best prepared to succeed under 2010’s Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

The indicators are grouped into three categories:

• Market strength, which includes competitive strength, intensity, size and growth factors.
• Value-based strength, which includes quality, outcomes, patient perspectives and cost and charge indicators.
• Financial strength, which includes income statement and balance sheet ratios most predictive of long-term sustainability.

WPH Chief Executive Officer Doug McMillan credits the staff for receiving the honor.

“Because the survey covers such a broad range of indicators, it really is a reflection of our entire organization,” he said. “Being named to the list is great recognition of the high standards our employees strive to on a daily basis. This recognition, along with achievements such as our modernization project, the first hospice house in the Big Horn Basin, Yellowstone Insurance quality award and recent physician recruiting successes — notably cardiology — really make us feel like we’re on the right track.”

Critical access hospitals are facilities designated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for special reimbursement from those programs because of the hospital’s importance to the area it serves. Many critical access hospitals are located in rural or mountainous communities where access to care is limited by distance and/or geography.

Critical access status represents a $4 million value to WPH, according to a recent analysis reported to the West Park Hospital District Trustees. Without that special reimbursement, current services would have to be scaled back, with some procedures likely eliminated completely, said CFO Pat McConnell.

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

Return to Main News Page >

MASSAGE THERAPY OFFERS MORE THAN JUST RELAXATION

CODY, Wyo. — Marilyn Montville has been suffering from chronic pain since she broke her back in a car crash at age 19. That was before an unrelated spine surgery seven years ago and the onset of fibromyalgia, a neurological disorder that causes muscular pain and tenderness.

She had tried massage occasionally in the past, but not as a therapeutic treatment.

But after visiting Pamela Montuy at West Park Hospital’s Massage Therapy Services Department, she has become an advocate of massage as an alternative pain-management therapy. Although it took several sessions to produce results, Montville said she has experienced an increase in her range of motion, better circulation, less of a need for pain medication and generally felt better.

“I was a skeptic at first,” Montville said, “but the results I’ve achieved through massage therapy speak for themselves.”

A hamstring injury sidelined longtime runner Sara Bailey, and massage therapy was an integral component of her recovery.

“Along with stretching, deep tissue massage has become an important part of my injury-prevention routine,” she said.

Along with personal testimony, research has shown that massage therapy has real physical and mental benefits, including lowering blood pressure, reducing heart rate, decreasing stress hormones, promoting better sleep, reducing anxiety and improving concentration, to name a few.

“Massage offers a wide range of modalities, or techniques, that range from gentle to aggressive,” WPH certified massage therapist Cody Tatum said. “Gentle modalities such as Swedish, reflexology or Healing Touch might be right for one person, while more aggressive therapy like deep tissue, sports massage, injury massage or trigger point therapy might be more appropriate for another. Because of that range, massage can benefit clients from those who are preparing for a marathon to those who are just winding down from work.”

The physical, mental and emotional benefits are reasons why a hospital offers massage therapy, according to Planetree Coordinator Dawn Garrison.

“In addition to seeing the public and staff, our certified massage therapists provide complimentary massages to mothers-to-be and pre-surgery patients,” she said. “Complementary Therapies is one of the 10 components of the Planetree patient-centered philosophy because of the proven benefits of alternative therapies like massage and Pet Therapy.”

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

Return to Main News Page >

WPH RECOGNIZED FOR QUALITY, PATIENT SAFETY

CODY, Wyo. — Yellowstone Insurance Exchange recently recognized West Park Hospital with the Jeff Martin Award for Excellence for the second consecutive year.

West Park Hospital was one of three facilities out of 23 in the insurance exchange that earned the award for its performance on specific national measures of health care quality and risk management. Member hospitals throughout Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, New Mexico and Utah were eligible to apply for the awards.

Criteria for the Jeff Martin Award for Excellence include implementation of patient safety practices; education of the hospital board, staff and physicians; and performance on national quality-of-care standards.

“This award is a nice recognition of something that we work to improve every day,” Quality Management Officer Vicki Carrafa said. “We think it shows that patient safety is an important part of our organizational culture at West Park Hospital.”

“While all of our staff deserve credit for helping create a culture or safety, Vicki has put together a quality- and performance-improvement program that other hospitals look to for best practices,” CEO Doug McMillan said. “She also spent extensive time and effort completing and submitting the extremely thorough and detailed award application.”

Yellowstone Insurance Exchange is a member-owned insurance company providing professional liability insurance to member hospitals. West Park Hospital is one of 14 founding members of the exchange in 2003.

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

Return to Main News Page >

CARDIOLOGIST, INTERNIST JOIN WEST PARK HOSPITAL

CODY, Wyo. — Despite nationwide struggles recruiting specialists and primary-care physicians to rural communities, West Park Hospital’s medical staff has continued to grow.

Cardiologist Andrew Rashkow, M.D., and internist Richard Anderson, M.D., both will begin seeing patients in the Cathcart Health Center on Oct. 3.

According to an April report by the American Hospital Association, “Specialist shortages are significantly more pronounced in rural areas than in urban areas. … Specifically, specialties such as general surgeons, cardiologists, neurologists,

rheumatologists, pediatricians, obstetricians/ gynecologists, psychiatrists and general internists are in particularly short supply in rural areas.”

“We feel that despite national trends, West Park Hospital and Cody are an attractive place to practice medicine,” CEO Doug McMillan said. “Some of that relates to the recreational and family activities available in the community and surrounding area, but an equal part can be attributed to our outstanding medical community and foresight of the WPH trustees investing in things that attract highly-qualified and experienced physicians, such as infrastructure, technology and new hospital services. The new and expanded Cathcart Health Center has proven to be very

beneficial in our recruitment efforts.”

While the need for a heart specialist in the Big Horn Basin and a love for the outdoors drew Dr. Rashkow to Cody, Dr. Anderson was one of the first two internists to practice in Cody when he started in 1978.

“When I was away, I kept contacts in Cody, as well as many patients from the Big Horn Basin, and always hoped I would have a chance to return,” Dr. Anderson said. “West Park Hospital has given me an opportunity to continue serving my patients in a great new location at the Cathcart Health Center, and I anticipate continuing those relationships at my new location.”

Dr. Anderson is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and is board-certified in internal medicine.

“Cody is a great fit for me, personally and professionally,” Dr. Rashkow said. “I look forward to filling the Big Horn Basin’s need for a heart specialist as well as enjoying all the outdoor activities Cody Country has to offer.”

Dr. Rashkow has 24 years of cardiology experience and is board-certified in internal medicine, cardiology and interventional cardiology. In addition, he has special qualifications in pacemakers and defibrillator s.

Drs. Anderson and Rashkow don’t officially start until Oct. 3, but appointments are available immediately by calling 578-2980 for cardiology or 578-2975 for internal medicine.

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

Return to Main News Page >

WEST PARK HOSPITAL IS A TIER I PROVIDER FOR SCHOOL INSURANCE

CODY, Wyo. — In order to keep cost-effective, quality care close to home in the Big Horn Basin, West Park Hospital has signed an agreement with school district health-insurance provider WISE to become a Tier I provider.

In an effort to cut costs, WISE — the health insurance administrator for Cody and Powell schools as well as 26 other districts in the state — instituted a tiered structure for health care providers. School employees who choose Tier I providers pay less out of pocket than those who choose Tier II providers. Initially, there were no Tier I providers in the state of Wyoming.

“The goal of the school insurance trust was to cut costs by negotiating as a group,” CEO Doug McMillan said. “We’re happy to reach an agreement we think will benefit local educators and school employees as well as satisfy our obligation to taxpayers in West Park Hospital District.”

The West Park Hospital District Board of Trustees and WISE were able to come to an agreement making WPH a Tier I provider effective July 1.

“The discounts we can give to any insurer are governed by more than just our desire to provide cost-effective local care to residents of the Big Horn Basin,” West Park Hospital CFO Pat McConnell said. “Things like contracts we already have in place with other insurers, the risk of signing a multi-year contract with a flat discount amid fluctuating supply costs, as well as other financial and legal variables also come into play. It can become very complicated.”

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

Return to Main News Page >

EMPLOYEE SURVEY SHOWS HIGH MORALE AT WPH

CODY, Wyo. — Working at West Park Hospital quite possibly saved Violet Splitstone’s life.

An employee of WPH for nearly nine years, she had open heart surgery in 2005 to replace a valve. Her insurance through the hospital paid for all but $5,000 of the $96,000 procedure.

“I appreciate the insurance because without it, I would have never had the surgery,” Splitstone said. “Ninety-six thousand dollars is a lot of money.”

Beyond paying for the procedure, her benefits at WPH allowed her to take three paid months off to heal and rehab her heart through her accrued paid time off and
extended illness days.

“I like working here regardless,” Splitstone said, “but the benefits are a big draw.”

Jen Gould decided to apply for a job at WPH because of the therapy her autistic daughter received through the hospital’s rehab services department.

“I see it as a chance to give back to the community and organization that provided so much to my family,” she said. “The staff here has been fabulous.”

“Happy workers make happy customers” is a familiar theme in business, including the health care industry. One way to help ensure West Park Hospital provides high-quality, patient-centered care is to attract highly-qualified and trained employees. And while recruiting those candidates is necessary, retaining them as long-term employees is equally important.

“One of the themes of our Planetree philosophy of patient-centered care is caring for the caregivers,” Planetree Coordinator Dawn Garrison said. “That allows them to devote their full attention to our patients, residents, visitors and families.”

Results of a February staff-satisfaction survey show a large majority of employees are engaged with their work and feel appreciated at West Park Hospital. Eighty-three percent of WPH staff completed the survey administered by HealthStream, which provides services exclusively to health care organizations.

Overall, 92 percent of employees feel satisfied working at West Park Hospital, compared with HealthStream’s national database average of 85 percent.

In addition, WPH employees were more satisfied than average in key indicators reflecting satisfaction with supervisors and senior leadership, engagement with their jobs and the hospital, opportunities for hiring and promotions, quality and competency of the organization, and pay and benefits.

“Our pay and benefits package is one thing we’ve really worked to improve after it was identified as a weakness in our last employee-satisfaction survey,” Human Resources Officer Dick Smith said. “We were excited to see that investment has paid dividends, with 79 percent of our staff currently satisfied with pay and benefits, compared to a HealthStream average of just 67 percent.”

WPH in the past year also has hired internal candidates for six management positions, which Smith said helps keep qualified and experienced employees at WPH.

“If we can’t offer our staff possibilities for advancement and growth, they’re likely to go somewhere that offers that,” he said. “That includes education and training opportunities in current positions as well as advancement within the organization.”

And while it’s important to celebrate successes, Smith said part of the value of conducting the surveys is identifying areas for improvement.

“This is a snapshot of how our employees feel about the organization right now,” Smith said. “Achieving our strategic goal of being the employer of choice in the Big Horn Basin is an ongoing process, not just administering and reviewing periodic surveys.”

Departmental results are shared with each manager, as are toolkits provided by HealthStream with best practices and ideas for improving weak areas and building on strengths within the departments.

Beyond the employee-satisfaction survey, Smith said other indicators the hospital monitors also indicate high staff morale. For instance, the nursing vacancy rate (a measure of open nursing positions) over the past 12 months is 4.5 percent, compared with a benchmark of 13 percent, which is based on national data. The overall hospital vacancy rate is 2.6 percent, also compared with a benchmark of 13 percent.

In addition, 28 percent of WPH employees have been with the hospital for more than 10 years, and another 20 percent have between six and 10 years’ tenure, extraordinary figures for any industry, much less health care, Smith said.

“Health care is an especially competitive employment market, and keeping our employees happy benefits our organization, our patients and our community,” he said.

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

Return to Main News Page >

VOLUNTEERS WILL HELP MAKE SPIRIT MOUNTAIN HOSPICE HOUSE A HOME

CODY, Wyo. — Family, clinical caregivers and physicians are all important parts of hospice care. And volunteers can help support all of them.

As construction on West Park Hospital’s Spirit Mountain Hospice House progresses, the need for volunteers to help support those patients, families and caregivers grows. Construction on the house

is expected to be finished in August, and occupancy is planned for September.

Linda Ellis, a volunteer since 1999, was introduced to hospice when Spirit Mountain Hospice cared for her parents.

“I vowed I was going to pay back what they did for me,” she said.

Ellis has a quick response to people who wonder how she can interact with dying, or “terminal” patients.

“Guess what?” she said. “We’re all terminal.”

Because of her experience with hospice, she feels a special bond with patients’ families and can empathize with their situation.

“I’m the one who comes out feeling blessed,” Ellis said.

It’s a common theme among hospice volunteers.

Suzanne Fixmer, a hospice volunteer for five years, said she gets as much out of volunteering as the families and patients through sharing stories, memories and forming a special relationship.

“It’s been a beautiful experience for me,” she said. “It feels wonderful to know how much they appreciate you.”

Love Murray, another longtime hospice volunteer, was looking for a cause after finishing her career.

“I don’t believe there’s such a thing as retirement,” she said. “I think volunteering with hospice is very important work. In addition, the training I get through hospice is helpful in other areas of life.”

Murray, like Fixmer and Ellis, enjoys building a relationship with the patient and their family.

“The patient contact is my favorite part,” she said.

“To die alone is not a pleasant thing,” Fixmer said. “If I can be there, I think it’s a great comfort to someone who’s nearing the end of life.”

If community members are interested in volunteering but not sure if they are ready to interact with patients they are encouraged to explore involvement in other areas.

The operation of the Spirit Mountain Hospice House will require additional support that wasn’t necessary for home hospice care.

With the inpatient house, volunteer needs will encompass “anything that you could imagine happening in a normal household,” said hospice volunteer coordinator and spiritual counselor Randy Leisey.

And while West Park Hospital will provide services such as clinical staffing, maintenance, housekeeping, laundry and food preparation, Leisey envisions volunteers supporting those functions with reception, facility care, food service, attending to family and staff needs and other duties, as well as patient interaction.

“It took the support and gifts of many people to make the house a reality,” Leisey said, “but a gift of time or expertise can be just as valuable as a cash donation. We’re looking for about 25 people who can make that gift.”

Spirit Mountain Hospice will be training volunteers from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. July 7-8.

The training will cover:

• Overview of hospice care
• What volunteers do
• Learning to listen with love
• Physical care of the dying
• Understanding the spiritual needs of the patient and family
• Understanding bereavement
• Learning to give without hurting yourself (self care)

Medicare requires 5 percent of patient care come from volunteers. Medicare and WPH require that volunteers be screened, have current inoculations and complete an orientation to the hospital.

For more information about volunteering at the hospice house, call Leisey at 250-2149.

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

Return to Main News Page >

'SILENT KILLER' LURKS IN THE U.S.

CODY, Wyo. — A silent epidemic is sweeping the U.S. It has few — if any — physical

symptoms and impacts one in three Americans, but it is also easily detected and treated. If leftunchecked, it can lead to problems such as stroke, heart failure, heart attack and kidney failure.

The culprit is high blood pressure, or hypertension, and while the death rates from other preventable diseases have fallen, “from 1996 to 2006 the death rate from high
blood pressure increased 19.5 percent, and the actual number of deaths rose 48.1 percent,” according to the American Heart Association.

Experts recommend adults with consistently normal blood-pressure readings (around 120/80) have their blood pressure checked at least every two years. For people with consistently higher numbers (up to 139/89, or prehypertension), screening is recommended at least yearly. Those with consistently high blood pressure (140/90 or above) should consult their medical provider for treatment options.

In order to make such an important and simple screening readily available, West Park Hospital registered nurses will be reading blood pressures at the Planetree Health Resource Center in the Park County Library every second and fourth Saturday of the month from 9-11 a.m.

“Having the screenings at the health resource center benefits patients in a number of ways,” said registered nurse Trina Vanselow, who will be participating in the screenings. “In addition to hopefully negating ‘white coat hypertension’ by holding the screening outside of a health care facility, patients will have access to the materials in the health resource center right at their fingertips.”

“White coat hypertension” refers to a phenomenon when a patient’s blood pressure is high at the doctor’s office but in the normal range in everyday life and has been documented in the journal “Hypertension.”

“Getting your blood pressure checked regularly and maintaining a log of your readings is one of the simplest ways to take control of your personal health and wellness,” said registered nurse Ingrid Olson, who will be participating in the screenings. “Developing a baseline and history of what’s normal for you can also help you and your doctor in pursuing treatment options is you have hypertension.”

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

Return to Main News Page >

WPH SURGICAL CLINIC NURSE CERTIFIED AS A FIRST ASSISTANT

CODY, Wyo. — West Park Hospital Surgical Clinic nurse Denise Roach recently became the only WPH registered nurse to earn a first assistant accreditation, which allows her to assist Dr. Bill Evans during surgery.

A first assistant can help a surgeon by holding retraction, closing and suturing the incision and handling instruments, sometimes alleviating the need for a second surgeon in the operating room.

To earn the certification through the National Association or First Assistants, Roach completed about 100 hours of independent study, attended an intensive three-day workshop on suturing and completed

a 120-hour clinical internship supervised by Dr. Evans.

“Being able to assist on surgeries gives our patients a better continuity of care, which benefits them and us,” Roach said. “Now, I can follow our patients during all aspects of their care, starting with their initial office visit through the procedure and follow-up care.”

Roach had worked in the West Park Hospital surgical services department for 10 years before joining the WPH Surgical Clinic about two years ago.

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

Return to Main News Page >

AS FACILITY AGES, PHYSICAL PLANT UPGRADES COSTLY BUT NECESSARY

CODY, Wyo. — Few patients, families or visitors ever see the vital organs of West Park Hospital: the boilers, chillers, electrical systems and plumbing that keep the facility running. In fact, even the hospital’s caregivers and providers probably never give the physical plant a second thought — until it malfunctions.

As the facility ages, WPH has had to make significant upgrades to its plant where it can, including moving to 480 power, purchasing and installing two new emergency generators and purchasing a new chiller.

“The board and administration are notified of needs by

department managers and budget

for large capital replacements as

far as five years out,” CFO Pat McConnell said. “The goal is spread those expensive items out so we don’t have several six- or seven-figure items that all need to be replaced in one year.”

The upgrades not only ensure continuity of services for WPH patients, but also can improve efficiency and save money but have a large upfront cost.

For example, two new chillers recently approved by the board of trustees cost $550,640. But through increased efficiency and cooling capacity, the payback time is estimated at three to five years. Of the two chillers WPH was relying on, one was 37 years old and the other 26 years old, and both had been repaired extensively.

In the spring and summer of 2010, WPH also purchased and installed two new 600-kilowatt Caterpillar generators and an upgraded electrical connection to the city’s power grid. WPH received a $462,500 grant from the State Loan & Investments Board to help offset the cost of the about $2.27 million project.

“It’s part of the cost of running a 24-hour, 365-day operation that supplies services that range from surgery to food service and laundry,” said Plant Operations Director Tim Waldner.

Another complication of running a 24-hour facility is that patient care must sometimes take a priority to maintenance. West Park Hospital’s main facility is 38 years old, as is the plumbing, electrical and other infrastructure.

“It’s impossible to shut down the laboratory for three weeks to replace all of the plumbing without affecting the ER, surgery, acute care and other departments that are critical to our patients,” Waldner said. “It’s the same with all clinical departments — if you take away one piece of the puzzle, you lose the whole picture.”

That’s where the modernization project not only provides new space for patient care, but also allows Plant Ops — once the clinical areas are moved out — to go into those aging areas and replace the infrastructure without burdening patients.

“Obviously we’d prefer to without significant service interruptions to the vital services out patients and community rely on daily,” Waldner said.

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

Return to Main News Page >

ONLINE-ONLY APPLICATION PROCESS BENEFITS JOB-SEEKERS, WPH

CODY, Wyo. — The West Park Hospital website has long been a main resource for applicants, with job openings, job descriptions and information covering topics from

the benefits package to the Cody Country lifestyle to WPH’s corporate culture and Planetree philosophy of patient-centered care.

Often, job-seekers would research jobs, the hospital and the area on the website before printing out a paper application and mailing it or delivering it to WPH. But since September, West Park Hospital has only accepted job applications completed online.

There are a number of benefits to web-based applications for both applicants and WPH, according to recruiting coordinator Linda Veylupek.

“The online process helps candidates complete the application in a timely manner,” she said. “It also helps protect their privacy. The applications aren’t printed; they’re electronically routed to the relevant departments, so there’s less chance an application can be misplaced.”

In addition, a Social Security number isn’t required until a candidate’s references are checked, so many applicants won’t have to disclose that information at all.

Electronic applications also help reduce paper consumption.

“The online application is six pages long, and we receive about 900 applications a year through the WPH website – that doesn’t count outside sites like Career Builder,” Veylupek said. “So that alone saves almost 6,000 pieces of paper each year. The electronic applications also can be routed to multiple departments without having to make copies and are searchable
and retrievable for the year we keep applications on file, so
storage and recall is much easier.”

In order to facilitate applying online, WPH has created an “employment kiosk,” a dedicated in-house computer terminal for the public to use for browsing jobs or submitting their application.

“The employment kiosk is in a private corner of the cafeteria, where job-seekers can have a cup of coffee and tea while they apply,” Veylupek said. “It’s really meant for filling out the online application. There are no word-processing programs, and access is limited to the WPH website, so it’s not for creating a resume or looking up references’ contact information. Prospective employees need to have that information on-hand when they apply.”

The employment kiosk also can be a valuable tool in the recruitment process, Veylupek said.

“During the summer when we get a lot of visitors in the facility, and when they see our culture and our fabulous staff in action, it piques their interest and often people inquire about employment,” she said. “That’s when we want to capture them — right away, when they’re excited about Cody, rather than send them home with an application, where they’re less likely to follow through.”

Veylupek knows that technology can be a deterrent, but said there are resources available for prospective employees who are less comfortable with computers.

“As we progress in the digital age, all of our staff needs to have basic technological skills for job performance,” she said. “We recently set up an intranet system that will become our main form of internal communication, for example. Our clinical staff uses technology every day, and our environmental services staff use pagers. That being said, there’s almost always myself or someone in HR who is available to help applicants with the process.”

“The feedback we’ve received is that it’s nice to have available and it’s easy to use,” Veylupek said.

About West Park Hospital

West Park Hospital focuses on putting the patient first. Located in Cody, Wyo., the hospital serves as a primary, full-service medical center to communities throughout the Big Horn Basin.

West Park Hospital's 25-bed, acute care facility is state-of the-art. The hospital also has an adjacent 128-bed long term care center and a 20-bed chemical dependency center, Cedar Mountain Center.

At West Park Hospital, we have adopted a philosophy of care called Planetree. Planetree encompasses a type of healing environment that focuses on treating the whole patient. West Park Hospital believes that when it comes to a person's health, there are many aspects of healing. In treating the patient as a whole — not just treating the disease or illness — West Park Hospital can truly focus on healing.

For more information, please contact Joel Hunt, Community Relations/Volunteer Services Coordinator, at 307-578-2512 or visit our Web site at www.westparkhospital.org.

Return to Main News Page >