2007 - Memorial Hospital of South Bend

New Health Care Choicesin Northwest IndianaWith patient healing and comfort at thecenter of all we do, Memorial’s visionis to create new health care choices forNorthwest Indiana. By combining bestpractices from across the country with localcommunity needs, we intend to createexceptional experiences and achieve highquality medical outcomes in a welcoming,safe environment.To achieve this vision, Memorial HealthSystem closed on the purchase of 53acres near the intersection of Route 49and Burlington BeachRoad in Valparaiso, IN.Memorial leaders areworking with physiciangroups, payors, andbusiness and communityleaders throughoutNorthwest Indiana to gatherinput regarding the project includingthe range of clinical services to be offeredalong with physicians’ needs in the area.The new facility, targeted for completionin 2010, will be owned and operated byMemorial Health System.New medical services under review forthe health park include: Cardiology,Emergency Care, Pediatrics, Surgery,Home Health Care, Obstetrics,Oncology, Orthopedics and PhysicalTherapy. For more information, visitwww.newcarechoices.org.Health Works! ExpansionIn 2007, North Mississippi MedicalCenter became the first organizationto begin the process of replicatingHealthWorks! Kids’ Museum in theirown community. The new facility inTupelo, Mississippi, slated to open atthe end of 2008, shares Memorial’scommitment to the health of all children.“As our partnership has grown, it’slead to new relationships in areas thatextend far beyond Health Works!,” saysHealthWorks! Infection Agent RebeccaZakowski, R.N., “areas that mutuallystrengthen both organizations.”Strengthening Alliances in 2007NEXXT Solutions. In 2007, Memorialpartnered with NEXXT Solutions, acompany that has provided the NFL withinjury documentation and tracking softwarefor the past 20 years. In the past 10 yearsthey have branched out to include the NBA,NHL and MLB.A recent initiative was to expand theirsoftware to make it compatible with twoother athletic populations; the collegeathlete and the high school athlete. Theyapproached the NCAA to secure the formerpopulation and approached the MemorialSports Medicine Institute to work withtheir software developer to adapt thissoftware for use in high school trainingrooms. Currently, this software tracks anddocuments injuries at Riley, Washington,New Prairie and LaVille high schools.“So far, this innovative project is savingtime for athletic trainers, improvingdocumentation, expediting communicationwith physicians and, most importantly,improving safety for athletes,” says Mark E.Lavallee, M.D., CSCS, FACSM, director ofthe Memorial Sports Medicine Institute.Behavioral ScienceTechnology, Inc.In 2007, Memorial beganits partnership with Behavioral ScienceTechnology, Inc. (BST), an internationalworkplace safety company that hasemployed its safety methodology in morethan 2,000 projects with organizationsaround the world, including NASA in theaftermath of the Columbia disaster.Developed to enhance results of Memorial’sprimary WIG of safety, this relationshipwith BST helps solidify Memorial’scommitment to putting safety first–always.This partnership will:• Improve the quality of patient care• Tap into the personal mission of healthcare providers• Create a culture that enhances trust andencourages staff to report and learn fromtheir errors• Establish and fortify patient and teammember safety as a prioritySo far, this innovative project is saving time for athletic trainers, improving documentation,expediting communication with physicians and, most importantly, improving safety for athletes.– Mark E. Lavallee, M.D., CSCS, FACSM