Campus News
Operating room of the future announced
PSVMC Neurosurgical Services will leap light years ahead technologically with the recent approval of an intraoperative MRI  . The world’s most advanced MRI will allow a fusion of real-time imaging with brain surgery, enhancing our ability to safely and completely remove brain tumors in eloquent or deep areas of the brain. PSVMC’s iMRI suite will be the most technologically advanced neurosurgery operating suite on the West Coast.
PSVMC honored with President’s Award
for Excellence
Providence St. Vincent Medical Center was honored with the highly coveted President’s Award for Excellence for our
surgical infection prophylaxis improvement work (SCIP 1-3). This award recognizes excellence in a variety of arenas including meeting the needs of the poor and vulnerable, patient safety, customer service, process improvement and clinical effectiveness.
Critical Care prepares for bar-coded medication administration
On June 10, the caregivers in the PSVMC Critical Care areas (includes ICU, CCU, CRU, ICVR and ICVR Annex) will begin using bar-coded technologies for medication and IV administration. This is a huge advancement in patient safety and ensures the “five rights” (right patient, right drug, right dose, right route and right time) of medication administration are utilized.
Magnet designation preparations under way
Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, Oregon’s first and twice-designated Magnet facility, is currently in the process of reapplying for the prestigious Magnet designation . If all application elements are met, appraisers will conduct a site visit next year.
Four-year agreement reached with Oregon Nurses Association
From: Martie L. Moore, R.N., B.S.N., M.A.O.M., C.P.H.Q., assistant administrator, Nursing Administration
& Patient Care Services
On April 28, PSVMC in collaboration with the Oregon Nurses Association reached a four-year agreement. This is the first time there's been a four-year agreement in the history of PSVMC and in our Oregon region. The agreement has a strong economic package, but most important was the Memorandum of Understanding toward the work of creating and sustaining healthy workplace environments. The standards for a healthy workplace environment include teamwork, communication, professional relationships, staffing and leadership, all centered on the care of the patient. These next four years will provide focus on strengthening what is in place, and developing further to ensure a culture of safety and excellence.
Situation Background Assessment Recommendation – Readback [SBAR+R]
Communication is cited frequently as the proximal root cause of serious events in hospitals leading to patient harm. In health care, communication between providers is essential to ensuring safety as patients transition through our system. It is through the telling of an accurate patient story that caregivers perceive the individualized framework for planning and delivering care.
Ongoing professional practice evaluation
Ongoing
professional practice evaluation , or OPPE, is required by The Joint Commission and is in development by the regional medical staff. Methodology is being investigated and developed to allow us to satisfy the requirements for ongoing evaluation of physician performance, the requirement being that all members of the medical staff (over 1,800) participate in this process.
DART nurse order set saves valuable time
The rapid response team at PSVMC (DART) has been operating for 16 months. In evaluating the team’s ability to care for patients in a timely manner, the Medical Executive Committee has now approved a DART protocol that will allow the nurses to order routine diagnostic tests and treatments while waiting for the responsible physician to call back.
Quality data available online
Sites such as www.hospitalcompare.com provide the general public with medical data reporting . These sites demonstrate the future of medical data reporting, which, at some point, will include physician-specific information.
Project Access NOW seeks volunteers
Physician volunteers are working with safety net clinics, hospital systems and other community members to improve access to basic health care for low-income, uninsured individuals living in the Portland metropolitan area. Project Access NOW wants to change the way we provide charity care.
Update: medical director of Quality Management
Internal and external candidates have applied for the position of medical director of Quality Management, with interviews scheduled to occur in early May. The determination of a new QM medical director will occur shortly thereafter.
The interview committee includes representation from the medical staff, a variety of departments, and administration.
Update: standardized orders
The regional Standardized Orders Committee has continued to make good progress with the creation of standardized orders for common surgical procedures across a number of specialties.
Physician parking increased
Review the memo from Real Estate & Property Management related to increased physician parking in the north garage .
Patient appreciation
Read what patients are saying about our colleagues.
New medical staff
Review the list of new medical staff .
What’s on your mind?
Pulse is designed to communicate information of interest and of importance to physicians. Please send your suggestions, comments or content ideas to Rick Waller, M.D. The deadline for content to be included in the next issue is Monday, July 28.
Regional News
System Updates
Other Campus News
Providence Portland Medical Center
Providence Milwaukie Hospital |
Providence Brain Institute is pleased to announce that pediatric neurologist Parvez J. Pohowalla, M.D., M.P.H., has joined Providence Pediatric Neurology Group. Dr. Pohowalla is available for office consultations and for inpatient consultations at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center and Legacy Emanuel Children’s Hospital. He also will be participating in clinical trials through his work with Providence Brain Institute. 
