Better Healthcare Starts with Me!
Woodward Regional Hospital (87 beds)
Woodward, Oklahoma
Submitted by Andrew Hemmen, M.D.

A Culture of Caring

As a hospitalist at Woodward Regional Hospital for the past year, I want to share some of my thoughts and impressions of our hospital team. Having worked as a hospitalist in six different institutions over the past two years, I can say that the service provided here at Woodward is top- notch, and the overall culture here is one of caring and competence.

Despite often challenging workloads, our nurses are upbeat and attuned to our patients and their needs. The best evidence is the responses I hear from patients and their families, who are extremely positive the vast majority of the time. When I round each day with the charge nurse, I specifically ask, “How are we doing?” Perhaps it’s just the good nature of people in this part of the country, but I believe that the excellent responses we receive have more to do with the quality of our staff and our adherence to “best practice” systems of care. I sense a confidence that patients have in their nurses, not only with pain and toileting, but with every issue: personal belongings, care plans, social situations, and communication with family members. I suspect that hourly rounding, along with other service-related tools, are enhancing our efforts to provide a very positive patient perspective.

From my perspective as a physician, communication with our nursing staff is frequent and effective. With only one med-surg floor, we’re in relatively close quarters and the nurses make good use of that arrangement for effective collaboration on patient care issues. Discussions are usually concise, focused and efficient. Nurses understand their patients and the care plan, and frequently have great suggestions which I rely upon. I have especially appreciated the efficiency and consideration of the night team when awakened frequently during a long 10-day work cycle. And speaking of communication, I want to acknowledge the widespread camaraderie and mutual support which exists on the floor much of the time, making the hard work we do more satisfying for everyone.

Impressive, too, are the efforts of other care providers to enhance the patient experience. When I round each morning I normally introduce the charge nurse after introducing myself; however, the majority of the time this relationship has already been established. At the same time, I typically see a welcome letter from administration – often our CEO – sitting in front of the patient. When I leave the room, I’m frequently greeted by one of our case managers who shares informative and inclusive information, including patient-centered suggestions for hospital course of treatment and discharge. Throughout the day, our physical and occupational therapists exude genuine concern and pride regarding their patients’ progress. Equally committed and supportive are our respiratory, pharmacy and lab professionals. And kudos to the dietary staff, as I overhear their offerings to patients, which sound much like the “off-menu specials” in any quality dining establishment!

We make the most of the resources available to us, striving to operate without limits when it comes to maximizing opportunities to enhance the positive perceptions that patients and families collect as they pass through our facility. It’s a pleasure to serve the Woodward community.