Winter 2013 - Meritus Health

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Your Hospital Care Team“Hospital medicine is in the process of an evolution,” explained Mark Baran, M.D.,SFHM, medical director of hospitalist medicine at Meritus Medical Center.Due to the aging population needing more hospitalized care andefforts to curb healthcare spending, hospitals are shifting to amodel of efficiency and quality of care.Where once primary carephysicians shared time between the hospital and office,hospitalists now provide onsite 24/7 coordinated care. In manyrespects, hospitalists are the quarterbacks on a well-orchestratedhealthcare team.Hospitalists work closely with specialists and otherdepartments within the hospital—and with the patient’s primarycare physician. “Most patients and their families want to see adoctor immediately when their family member is sick,”saidMatthew Gibson, M.D. of Williamsport Family Practice.“Devotingas much time to my patients in the clinic, and working with ahospitalist for my admitted patients makes for good patient care.”“We can no longer afford a delay in care,”explained Dr. Baran.“Medicine today is about a team effort where there are seamlesshandoffs from one healthcare provider to the next.” Throughevidence-based research and process improvements, MeritusMedical Center has identified a healthcare team that isresponsible for your inpatient care.Emergency Room physicians diagnose andprovide non-surgical treatment of diseasesand injuries to patients in the emergencyroom.They are capable of diagnosing andcaring for all types of patients, regardless ofage or type of problem.Hospitalists are doctors who are exclusivelydedicated to caring for patients in the hospital,which makes them easily accessible andresponsive to patients’ needs.Specialists are doctors who have advancedmedical training in areas such as cardiology,pulmonology, oncology, gastroenterology,neurology and gynecology.Nurses care for patients around the clock.They have a wide range of skills and areusually in charge of implementing the careplan prescribed by the patient’s doctor.Theyare trained to administer medication, monitorside effects and educate patients on themedications they are receiving.Dietitians assess patients’ special nutritionalneeds and recommend the best diet tohelp the body recover after illness, traumaor surgery.Social workers help patients and theirfamilies deal with the psychological,emotional and social issues related to injury,hospitalization and after-hospital care.Theyassist with referrals to hospital resources,community agencies, medical coveragesupport, counseling, transportation anddisability assistance.Care managers are nurses responsible forpatients’ care coordination and the quality andefficiency of care.They are instrumental in themanagement of a patient’s hospital stay andimplementing a successful discharge.Pharmacists are experts in medicationtherapy.They fulfill physicians’ orders formedications and carefully review patients’allergies and other prescriptions that patientsare taking.Rehabilitation specialists (physical,occupational, and speech therapists) helppatients recover and adapt from illness,trauma or surgery.They design and implementtherapeutic programs so that patients cansuccessfully re-enter the community.Allied health professionals carry out specifictests, treatments and services.They includeoperating room technicians, emergency roomtechnicians, radiology technicians, EKGtechnicians and phlebotomists.8 MeritusHealth.com
KNOW YOUR HEALTHCARETEAM COLORSDo you remember when nurses wore crisp white nursing uniforms, white stockings and a starched hat? Back in the day,dress was uniform and jobs were obvious. But over time, standard uniform colors have become a thing of the past. In aneffort to provide patient and family-centered care, color-coded uniforms are making a comeback at Meritus MedicalCenter. Now patients can identify caregivers and support staff at a glance and understand their role in patient care.Here’s your guide to who’s who at Meritus Medical CenterPhysiciansWhite lab coats orlight blue scrubsRegistered Nurses and LPNsNavy, white or combinationof the two colorsCertified NursingAssistants and ED TechsMaroonTransportCranberry with ID tagindicating “Transport”Radiology TechniciansRed, black or combinationof the two colorsLab TechniciansLime green and blackInpatient PharmacyEggplant purpleEnvironmental ServicesCaribbean bluePhysical, Occupational andSpeech TherapistsAqua blue or lavenderRespiratory TherapistsGray or blackFacilities/EngineeringLight blue shirts withMeritus logo and navy pantsEmergency Department ScribesNavy polo shirts with aScribeAmerica embroidered logoMeritusHealth.com 9
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Winter 2013 - Meritus Health

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