Westchester-Ellenville Hospital Inc

TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES TO ALL PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN, WORK IN AND VISIT OUR SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.

INPATIENT DEPARTMENTS (MED/SURG AND SWING REHAB) & AMBULATORY SURGERY (OR):IN 2021, THE HOSPITAL AND THE FOUNDATION GAVE EDUCATION AWARDS RELATED TO HEALTH CARE SERVICES. THIS GENEROUS ASSISTANCE ALLOWED SEVEN STAFF MEMBERS TO PURSUE HIGHER DEGREES IN HEALTHCARE- RELATED FIELDS.ERH TAKES PRIDE IN SERVING AS A TEACHING HOSPITAL AND HOSTING STUDENTS FROM MANY SCHOOLS. ERH HAS HOSTED STUDENTS FROM SUNY SULLIVAN, SUNY ULSTER, SUNY ORANGE, BOCES NEW VISIONS PROGRAM, LE MOYNE COLLEGE, TOURO MEDICAL COLLEGE, CLARKSON UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO, ALBANY COLLEGE OF PHARMACY, RHODE ISLAND UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF PHARMACY, ANTIGUA MEDICAL UNIVERSITY, MARIA COLLEGE, PACE UNIVERSITY, SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY, EASTWICK COLLEGE, LONG ISLAND UNIVERSITY, SUNY EMPIRE, ADELPHI UNIVERSITY, RUSSEL SAGE COLLEGE, MARIST COLLEGE, STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY, AND BAY PATH UNIVERSITY.IN 2021, WHILE MANAGING THE DISRUPTION CAUSED BY THE PANDEMIC, ERH COLLABORATED WITH THESE SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE CLINICAL ROTATIONS, INCLUDING HOSTING STUDENTS FROM TWO LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGES. THESE STUDENTS BENEFITED FROM WORKING WITH OUR SKILLED AND COMPASSIONATE CLINICAL TEAM. THEY OBSERVED THE DELIVERY OF EXCEPTIONAL CARE IN OUR INPATIENT, EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, OPERATING ROOM, AND SPECIALTY SERVICES AS PART OF THEIR CLINICAL ROTATION. AS IN PAST YEARS, ERH PROVIDED THESE SERVICES WITHOUT REQUIRING ANY MONETARY COMPENSATION.PATIENT SATISFACTION AND POSITIVE OUTCOMES REMAIN SIGNIFICANT QUALITY INDICATORS. IN 2021, PATIENT SATISFACTION SCORES REACHED 95% FOR INPATIENT SERVICES. IN THE SUB-ACUTE REHABILITATION UNIT, ERH SAW A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN ACUITY AND THE NUMBER OF COMPLEX CASES; NEVERTHELESS, ERH'S NURSING HOME PLACEMENT RATE WAS AT 9.8%. THESE STELLAR RESULTS ARE THE PRODUCT OF A MULTIDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATIVE EFFORT AMONG NURSING, PHYSICAL THERAPY, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY, RESPIRATORY THERAPY, SOCIAL ACTIVITIES, CASE MANAGEMENT, AND REGISTERED DIETITIAN SERVICES.BY COMBINING QUALITY CARE, EVIDENCE-BASED RESEARCH, EXCELLENT NURSING SKILLS, AND EXPANDING OUR CLINICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS, THE INPATIENT UNIT AT ELLENVILLE REGIONAL HOSPITAL MADE IT THEIR GOAL TO IMPROVE PATIENT OUTCOMES ACROSS THE CARE SPECTRUM. SOME OF THE MITIGATION STRATEGIES IMPLEMENTED DURING THE ONSET OF THE PANDEMIC ALLOWED ERH TO OFFER MUCH-NEEDED SERVICES IN OUR COMMUNITY.OUR NEGATIVE PRESSURE ROOMS EMPOWERED US TO HELP LARGER FACILITIES BALANCE THEIR PATIENT LOADS. PATIENTS READY TO LEAVE THE ACUTE CARE SETTING, STILL TESTING POSITIVE FOR COVID-19, COULD NOT RETURN TO LONG TERM CARE FACILITIES FOR REHABILITATION; HENCE, THEY TRANSFERRED TO ERH TO RECEIVE THE CARE NEEDED AND REGAIN THE STAMINA THEY HAD LOST.THESE PATIENTS WERE REHABILITATED AND TRANSFERRED BACK TO LTC FACILITIES AFTER THEY TESTED NEGATIVE FOR COVID-19.IN 2021, OUR FACILITY HELD STEADFAST, COLLABORATING WITH OTHER AGENCIES TO PROVIDE QUALITY, COMPASSIONATE CARE AND GENERATE POSITIVE OUTCOMES.IN 2021, WE CONTINUED TO SERVE PATIENTS NEEDING MEDICAL MANAGEMENT DURING DRUG AND ALCOHOL WITHDRAWAL BEFORE TRANSITIONING TO EITHER AN INPATIENT OR OUTPATIENT REHAB PROGRAM. ERH WORKS HARD TO HAVE PROTOCOLS IN PLACE TO FACILITATE A SEAMLESS TRANSITION FOR THIS POPULATION OF PATIENTS. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WERE PROTOCOLS INSTITUTED FOR VIVITROL ADMINISTRATION IN OUR SPECIALTY SERVICES CLINIC. THIS NEW PROTOCOL, ESTABLISHED IN COLLABORATION WITH A LOCAL INPATIENT REHABILITATION PROGRAM, HELPED MANY INDIVIDUALS TRANSITION SAFELY FROM REHABILITATION TO HOME.IN 2021, SAFETY WILL CONTINUE TO BE PARAMOUNT IN OUR FACILITY. WE TRACKED AND REPORTED COMPLIANCE WITH MEDICATION SCANNING. THIS PRACTICE ENHANCES SAFE MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION BY HELPING VERIFY PATIENT IDENTIFICATION AND CORRECT MEDICATION, ENSURING PROPER MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION, AND MITIGATING POTENTIAL ERRORS. WE SIGNIFICANTLY BOOST OUR SCORES AND COMPLIANCE FROM LAST YEAR TO ABOVE 85%.ERH'S SAFE PATIENT HANDLING COMMITTEE REVIEWED AND MAINTAINED SUCCESSFUL PRACTICES THAT MAXIMIZED A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR PATIENTS AND STAFF. THE FOCUS OF THIS INITIATIVE IS TO ENSURE THAT OUR STAFF IS INJURY FREE. THE COMMITTEE HAS MADE A TREMENDOUS EFFORT TO DELIVER GUIDANCE AND TRAINING STAFF ON TRANSFERS, BODY MECHANICS, AND THE USE OF ASSISTIVE DEVICES. THEY HAVE EFFECTIVELY INCORPORATED EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES IN OUR EVERYDAY TASKS AND ROUTINES, LIKE THE BMAT MODEL (BED SIDE MOBILITY ASSESSMENT TOOL). THE SAFE PATIENT HANDLING COMMITTEE REGULARLY DISCUSSES EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND PROVIDES HANDS-ON TRAINING TO ALL CLINICAL STAFF. ADDITIONALLY, OUR BEDS ARE EQUIPPED WITH ALARMS AND SPECIALTY MATTRESSES TO ENSURE SAFETY AND MAINTAIN SKIN INTEGRITY. WE ALSO IMPLEMENTED A VIDEO MONITORING SYSTEM TO HELP INCREASE SAFETY MEASURES FOR OUR PATIENTS IN ISOLATION.STAFF EDUCATION IS ALSO AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT IN MAINTAINING AND PROMOTING CLINICAL COMPETENCY. ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OF OUR REGISTERED NURSES HOLD BASIC AND ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT CERTIFICATION THROUGH THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION AND TELEMETRY. OUR NURSE EDUCATOR PROVIDES EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES VIA IN-SERVICES, WEBINARS, LECTURES, AND SCHOLARLY ARTICLES. THE HANDS-ON TRAINING AND ACADEMIC OFFERINGS ENSURE OUR CLINICAL STAFF IS KNOWLEDGEABLE ON CURRENT TRENDS AND STANDARDS OF CARE. WE LINK ALL NEW HIRES WITH AN EXPERIENCED PRECEPTOR AND ADJUST THE ORIENTATION PROCESS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF EACH INDIVIDUAL. IN OUR FACILITY, EDUCATION DELIVERY INVOLVES EVERYONE. THE NURSE EDUCATOR COLLABORATES WITH THE NURSING LEADERSHIP TEAM, DIRECTOR OF PHARMACY, DIRECTOR OF REHABILITATION SERVICES, CLINICAL IT APPLICATIONS SPECIALIST, AND THE MANAGER OF RESPIRATORY SERVICES TO OFFER COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL EDUCATION FOR ALL NURSING STAFF.

EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT:ELLENVILLE REGIONAL HOSPITAL COMPLETED AN EMERGENCY ROOM DEPARTMENT PROJECT IN 2021. WE EXPANDED THE CURRENT SPACE BY ADDING STATE-OF-THE-ART CARDIAC MONITORS AND NEGATIVE PRESSURE ISOLATION ROOMS. ERH'S EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT OFFERS A VITAL SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY. A RURAL SETTING CAN MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR RESIDENTS TO ACCESS HIGH-QUALITY EMERGENCY CARE. BY COMBINING QUALITY CARE, EVIDENCE-BASED RESEARCH, EXCELLENT NURSING SKILLS, AND EXPANDING OUR CLINICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS, THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AT ERH FOCUSED ON IMPROVING PATIENT OUTCOMES ACROSS THE CARE SPECTRUM. AS A RESULT, OUR FACILITY COLLABORATES WITH OTHER AGENCIES AND PROVIDES QUALITY, COMPASSIONATE CARE.IN 2021, 11,624 PATIENTS RECEIVED TREATMENT IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AT ELLENVILLE REGIONAL. WE CONTINUED TO PROVIDE EXCELLENT CARE MORE EXPEDIENTLY THAN OTHER EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. OUR 2021 AVERAGE FOR ARRIVAL TO TRIAGE WAS A STELLAR THIRTEEN (13) MINUTES.ADDITIONALLY, THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY WAS 122 MINUTES. THESE REMARKABLE TURNAROUND TIMES DERIVE FROM OUR MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM OF DEDICATED ED PROVIDERS, NURSES, PATIENT CARE TECHNICIANS, AND REGISTRATION, LAB, AND RADIOLOGY DEPARTMENTS STAFF. THE TEAM'S PRIMARY DRIVER IS TO PRIORITIZE AND ADDRESS PATIENT NEEDS IN THE COMMUNITY TO OPTIMIZE OUTCOMES.WHILE MANAGING THE LASTING EFFECTS OF THE COVID PANDEMIC, WE CONTINUE FOCUSING ON THE OPIOID CRISIS. OUR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT'S RESCUE INITIATIVE HAS REMAINED IN EFFECT AND GENERATES VERY POSITIVE OUTCOMES. THE ED PROVIDERS ARE CERTIFIED TO PROVIDE MAT (MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT). MAT HAS DRAMATICALLY FACILITATED THE TREATMENT OF PATIENTS PRESENTING TO THE ED AFTER AN OVERDOSE. WE HAVE CONTINUED OUR COLLABORATION EFFORTS WITH THE ULSTER COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IN THE ORACLE PROGRAM AND UTILIZE THE SERVICES OF OUR IN-HOUSE SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER (SUD) PROGRAM. OUR COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS HAVE HELPED WITH THE INDUCTION OF MAT AND SECURING INPATIENT AND OUTPATIENT REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR THOSE IN NEED.WE ALSO CONTINUED TO WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR LOCAL EMS AGENCIES. IN 2021, ERH PROVIDED LOCAL EMS PROFESSIONALS WITH MEDICAL EDUCATION ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE MANAGEMENT OF PEDIATRIC EMERGENCIES.TO CONTINUE TO MITIGATE COVID- 19 RISKS, WE ENGAGED OUR STAFF VIA ZOOM MEETINGS. WE HELD EDUCATION SESSIONS PERIODICALLY TO ENSURE ALL STAFF WAS UP-TO-DATE ON EMERGING ISSUES AND TREATMENT REQUIREMENTS.

RADIOLOGY:IN 2021, ERH'S RADIOLOGY & CARDIOLOGY DEPARTMENTS STARTED THE YEAR WITH OUTPATIENT MODALITIES OVER-EXCEEDING OUR USUAL NUMBERS FROM THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. EVEN WITH THE SPIKES IN COVID-19, WHICH WOULD FLUCTUATE RAPIDLY, WE CONTINUED TO HOLD CONSISTENT WITH OUR VOLUMES. MANY STAFF MEMBERS WOULD CONTRACT COVID PERIODICALLY, MAKING IT CHALLENGING TO OPERATE. STILL, ULTIMATELY, WE HELD STRONG AND WERE ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH OUR PATIENT DEMAND AND CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SERVICES WITHOUT INTERRUPTION OR DELAY.MAMMOGRAPHY HAD ITS ANNUAL MQSA INSPECTION COMPLETED WITH NO CITATIONS. WE CONTINUED OUR REDUCED X-RAY REPEAT/REJECT RATE, WHICH AVERAGED ABOUT 3% OVER THE YEAR. THIS CONTINUED REDUCTION IN RECURRENCES ALLOWED US TO PROVIDE OUR PATIENTS WITH THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF CARE.FOR NUCLEAR MEDICINE, ERH PURCHASED A NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART NUCLEAR CAMERA THAT ALLOWED US TO OFFER A HIGHER LEVEL OF NUCLEAR IMAGING, WHICH GROSSLY BENEFITS OUR PATIENTS AND THE COMMUNITY.WE ALSO ACQUIRED A NEW ECHO MACHINE TO IMAGE PATIENTS' HEARTS WITH MORE CLARITY AND IMPROVED DIAGNOSTIC ABILITIES. THESE NEW MACHINES ARE TIED TOGETHER WITH CERTAIN EXAMS AND ARE A HUGE ASSET TO OUR OUTPATIENT SERVICES. THE PURCHASE OF THESE MACHINES HAS ELEVATED OUR OUTPATIENT OFFERINGS TO A HIGHER STANDARD. ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE SERVICE CONTRACTS, WHICH INCLUDE APPLICATION SUPPORT ON ALL OF OUR EQUIPMENT. IF A TECHNOLOGIST HAS ANY ISSUE WITH THE EQUIPMENT, THEY HAVE IMMEDIATE SERVICE ACCESS, INCLUDING GUIDANCE ON NEW PROTOCOLS OR EVEN USING SPECIAL FEATURES ON THE MACHINES.ERH CONTINUED TO EXPAND ON THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE QUALITY IMPROVEMENT GRANT, AWARDED TWO YEARS PRIOR. WITH THIS GRANT, ERH PERFORMED AN OUTSTANDING 590 EXAMS IN 2021. OFFERING THE EXAMS AT NO OUT-OF-POCKET COST TO PATIENTS HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL, WITH MANY PATIENTS RECEIVING CRUCIAL FOLLOW-UP CARE BASED ON THE TEST RESULTS. MANY OF THE CALCIUM SCORE PATIENTS HAVE BEENFIRST-TIME PATIENTS AT ERH. MANY PATIENTS HAVE RETURNED FOR OTHER OUTPATIENT SERVICES DUE TO THE HIGH LEVEL OF CARE AND REMARKABLE EXPERIENCE.OVERALL, RADIOLOGY AND CARDIOLOGY POSITIONED THEMSELVES TO HAVE A STRONG 2022 WHILE KEEPING PATIENTS AND STAFF HEALTHY AND SAFE. WE WILL CONTINUE TO OFFER THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF CARE AND OBTAIN THE NEWEST EQUIPMENT TO PROVIDE THE BEST SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

THE HOSPITAL ALSO PROVIDES OUR PATIENTS WITH AMBULATORY SURGERY, LAB SERVICES, IV THERAPY, PHYSICAL THERAPY, CARDIAC REHAB, AND PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.