We salute those who - New Orleans City Business

NURSEMark StockstillPosition: chief nursing officer, Slidell Memorial HospitalAge: 47Family: wife, Tania; children, Jeffrey, 21, Alex, 19, Brandon, 14,Torrie, 14, Ethan, 2Education: associate degree’s in nursing, Pearl RiverCommunity Collegephoto by Tracie Morris SchaeferMark Stockstill chats with Slidell Memorial Hospital nurse Valerie Matherne.In more than two decades at Slidell Memorial Hospital,Mark Stockstill has overseen a growing nursing staff andan ongoing expansion of the hospital’s technological supportsystem.But no matter how much things change at SMH, Stockstillremains true to the principles that lured him to health care inthe first place.“I used to be in law enforcement, and as a deputy I wouldrespond to the scene of an accident. But then I would end upjust standing there for 15 or 20 minutes until the ambulancecame, not knowing what to do,” Stockstill said.That’s when he became interested in studying emergencyservices.“I didn’t like the idea of not being able to do anything whensomeone was in need of help.”That philosophy continues to guide Stockstill. Frequently,he tells staff members to treat their patients the way they wouldwant their mother treated. As an organizer of the hospital’sCritical Action Team, Stockstill has spearheaded an effort toenhance patient care.“The CAT was in response to a challenge put out by theInstitute for Health Care Improvement,” he said. “Their initiativewas to save 100,000 lives, and one of the subcomponentsof that was a rapid response team.”At SMH, the team’s efforts have reduced cardiac arrestcases by more than 50 percent.The system works like this: When nurses on the regularunit have a patient they think is not doing well, they enact therapid response team. Then, nurses from the intensive care unitand emergency department assess the patient and make treatmentdecisions on the spot.As a member of SMH’s senior management team,Stockstill, a former U.S. Air Force flight nurse, also has workedto develop and implement the hospital’s overall care mission.“It’s something we take very seriously. Our overallemphasis has been and remains on patient safety and customersatisfaction. To that end we have insisted upon keepingour staff at levels we think are safe and well above theindustry standard.”•— Garry BoulardWake Up!IT’S TIME TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT BUSINESSSubscribe now and get the Book of Lists valued at$59 as part of your paid order.Call 1-800-739-8836to order your subscription andsave up to 60% off the newsstand price!New Orleans CityBusiness — May 25, 2009 19