]
Updates & Innovations Winter 2013
St John Providence Partners in Care earns official ACO designation
St. John Providence Partners in Care (SJP PIC) was awarded official designation as an Accountable Care Organization (ACO) by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). This makes SJP PIC one of a select group of provider organizations across the country chosen by CMS to manage the health care of a designated population through the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP). The three-year participant agreement commits participating physicians and health systems to achieving high performance standards in cost efficiency, quality and patient satisfaction, and propels the System into the next generation of health care – moving from volume to value.
St. John Providence Children's Hospital receives recognition and new name
St. John Hospital & Medical Center has been accepted for associate membership by the Children’s Hospital Association. Acceptance in this national and international association recognizes the System’s high standards for pediatric care and alignment of pediatric services. Membership also allows St. John Hospital & Medical Center’s children’s center to officially claim the new name, "St. John Providence Children’s Hospital."
Simulation Center offers unique technology to enhance hands-on skills and communication
The Alexander M. Nick Simulation Laboratory and Patient Education Safety Center opened at St. John Hospital & Medical Center (SJH&MC) in July 2012. Located on the fourth floor of the hospital, the spacious 4,700-square-foot center houses state-of-the-art medical simulation and communication enhancement technology.
Robotic kidney and urologic surgeries available at St. John Macomb-Oakland Hospital, Macomb Center
For patients with cancer involving the lining of the kidney and renal pelvis, traditional open nephroureterectomy involved removal of the renal pelvis, kidney, ureter and bladder cuff, and an incision extending from the rib down the flank and across the pubic bone. It took up to an hour to close the incision and patients experienced a long and painful recovery.
Providence offers electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy for difficult-to-reach lung lesions
Sixty-five percent of traditional bronchoscopy procedures fail to reach the outer regions of the lung for diagnosis, often leading to the use of more invasive diagnostic techniques. The superDimension® Electromagnetic Navigation Bronchoscopy® (ENB)™, now available at Providence Hospital, is the most complex and advanced guided bronchoscopy available. Patients with suspicious lung lesions in hard-to-reach locations can receive more accurate diagnoses, improved condition management and faster initiation of treatment.
Long-lasting therapy for adult asthma patients
Bronchial thermoplasty is the first long-lasting therapy to reduce bronchoconstriction in patients with severe asthma and is now available at Providence Hospital in Southfield. The procedure received FDA approval in 2010 and is beneficial for adults whose asthma is refractory to conventional therapy.
InterStim® Therapy for treatment of bowel incontinence
Since the late 1990s, Metronic Interstim Therapy has been an effective treatment option for urinary urge incontinence, retention and significant symptoms of urinary urgency-frequency. Patient feedback indicated InterStim was also effective in treating bowel incontinence. InterStim Therapy is now FDA approved for the treatment of chronic bowel incontinence.
Providence honored as one of nation’s top major teaching hospitals
Each year, Truven Health Analytics’ The 100 Top Hospitals® program recognizes 100 healthcare organizations across the country that achieve or exceed national benchmark scores for hospital-wide performance. This year, Providence again ranked as one of only 15 hospitals honored in the 100 Top Hospitals 2013 in the Major Teaching category.
Ascension Health Michigan launches Reverence Home Health & Hospice
Ascension Health Michigan has integrated its home health, hospice and home infusion programs into a single company: Reverence Home Health & Hospice. This statewide home care provider was formed by combining the resources of St. John Providence, Borgess, Genesys, St. Mary’s and St. Joseph Health Systems. These systems are all part of the Michigan Health Ministries of Ascension Health. Reverence statewide headquarters are located in Grand Blanc. Clinical services and physician support will continue to be provided by staff local to each home health agency location.
New orthopedic surgical tables speed hip replacement recovery
St. John Hospital and Medical Center is one of two sites in Michigan that offers the HANA table for hip replacement. Two rotating, computer-navigated carbon composite surgical tables are available, allowing surgeons to perform minimally-invasive hip replacements using smaller incisions and reducing tissue trauma and pain for patients.
SICU/MICU Early Mobility Project leads to faster recovery
Modeled after a successful pilot at Johns Hopkins University, the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) Early Mobility Project is helping patients at St. John Hospital & Medical Center make quicker recoveries and return to independent living. A team made up of a physical therapist, nurse, patient care technician, and if needed, a respiratory therapist, visits the SICU daily to walk patients participating in the program. Specialized equipment, including mechanical standing aids, ensures safety and confidence as patients stand and walk during their critical illness. The goal is to get patients up and walking as soon as possible and to maximize functional outcomes. We have recently expanded the program to include the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU).
New technology enhances pain relief delivered by spinal cord stimulation
Patients with intractable pain of the back, trunk or limbs may benefit from spinal cord stimulation (SCS). New technology enables SCS to automatically adapt to a patient’s position, activity level and pain relief needs.
Quarterly Amputee Walking School inspires patients
Every year, approximately 200 patients undergo lower limb amputation at St. John Providence Health System. The health system has partnered with gold-medal paralympians and amputees Dennis Oehler and Todd Schaffhauser to offer these patients and staff a quarterly two-day Amputee Walking School.
Research and Recognition
Chief of Internal Medicine, Louis Saravolatz, MD, MACP, St. John Hospital and Medical Center, was elected Governor of the Michigan Chapter, American College of Physicians. He is currently serving as the pre-Governor-Elect. He will officially become Governor-Elect in April 2013 and Governor in April 2014.
