Community Health Network recognizes that the patient population continues to grow within a diverse culture. Each year employees face many obstacles in their quests to provide culturally competent exceptional patient and family experiences.

The network is happy to announce the start of CultureVision, an exciting tool geared toward helping employees understand the unique needs of patients with diverse cultural backgrounds. Using internet–based technology, CultureVision brings cultural competency and volumes of research and information right to the fingertips of care-providing employees.

"I look forward to an enriching next phase of our diversity education that will help each of you provide culturally competent exceptional patient and family experiences," says Deb Whitfield, network director of diversity.

The network began using CultureVision on May 1, 2008.

Community Health Network and Summit Construction Co. were awarded the 2008 Outstanding Project Award from the Metropolitan Indianapolis Coalition for Construction Safety (MICCS) for their collaboration on the Community Hospital North expansion.

“This award demonstrates that our culture of safety goes beyond our core business of patient care to touch all that we do,” says Mark Hayden, senior project manager. “Winning sends a signal through the construction industry that we care and that we pay attention.”

According to the MICCS Web site, “The 2008 outstanding project team was able to manage a coordination effort that not only allowed a safe working environment for craftspeople, but also a safe working environment for the occupants of the existing structures connected to this project.”

The construction team at Community Hospital North successfully managed several challenges, including the need to prevent the development of infections and minimize noise levels for the patients in the existing hospital while meeting an aggressive construction deadline.

To create a safe environment for construction workers, the team took an innovative approach by using new technology. The Community North expansion project was the first of its type in the country to use a Magic Arm crane, which lifts construction materials onto each floor safely and efficiently without the use of scaffolding or platforms.

This is the 12th year the MICCS has presented the Outstanding Project Award and the second time a hospital has been recognized. The Indiana Heart Hospital was the winning project in 2004.

Congratulations to Community Hospital Anderson and The Indiana Heart Hospital for being selected to receive 2008 Leadership Awards for Clinical Excellence from VHA Inc., a national health care alliance based in Irving, Texas.

Community Anderson and The Indiana Heart Hospital were recognized at the VHA Leadership Awards Recognition Banquet on Sunday, May 4, at the 2008 VHA Leadership Conference in Philadelphia.

• Community Anderson received an award for Clinical Excellence for Acute Myocardial Infarction Care
• TIHH received awards for Clinical Excellence for Congestive Heart Failure Care and Surgical Care

The 2008 VHA Leadership Award for Clinical Excellence honors VHA member organizations that have distinguished themselves by meeting or exceeding national performance standards in specific clinical activities. To be selected for a Clinical Excellence award an organization’s composite score must be in the top 10 percent for at least the core measure category beginning third quarter 2006 through fourth quarter 2007. All information was based on data from the Joint Commission. VHA serves more than 1,400 not-for-profit hospitals nationwide.

Community Anderson: Acute Myocardial Infarction Care

See how Community Health Network compares for heart attack care >>

Community Anderson is one of 16 VHA member hospitals nationwide to receive a 2008 Leadership Award for excellence in treating heart attack patients.

For heart attacks, best practice standards include:

• Aspirin prescribed at time of patient’s arrival
• Aspirin prescribed at time of patient’s discharge
• ACE inhibitors or beta blocker administration for left ventricular systolic dysfunction
• Adult smoking cessation advice/counseling provided to patient prior to discharge
• Beta blocker prescribed at time of patient’s arrival
• Beta blocker prescribed at time of patient’s discharge
• Amount of time until thrombolysis administered
• Amount of time until PCI administered

"At Community Hospital Anderson and throughout Community Health Network, we treat common health care problems uncommonly well, always focusing on quality and safety, which leads to better outcomes for our patients." says Bill VanNess, M.D., president and CEO of Community Hospital Anderson. "We are proud to be recognized for these high standards and to provide exceptional health care in Madison County and across Central Indiana."

TIHH: Congestive Heart Failure Care

See how Community Health Network compares for congestive heart failure care >>

TIHH is one of 20 VHA member hospitals nationwide to receive a 2008 Leadership Award for excellence in treating congestive heart failure. The best practice standards for treating congestive heart failure include:

• ACE inhibitors or beta blocker administration for left ventricular systolic dysfunction Detailed discharge instructions provided to patient
• Left ventricular function assessment performed on patient
• Adult smoking cessation advice/counseling provided to patient prior to discharge

"Our participation in VHA helps us achieve a higher level of performance both operationally and clinically, and we are pleased to receive recognition from VHA for our work in cardiac care," says Tom Malasto, president of TIHH.

Surgical care

TIHH is one of 13 hospitals nationwide to receive a 2008 Leadership Award for surgical care. These steps toward quality include:

• Administering antibiotic within one hour prior to surgical incision
• Selecting appropriate antibiotic for surgery patients
• Discontinuing antibiotic administration within 24-hours after surgery (within 48 hours for cardiovascular procedures)

"The award validates the dedicated focus of our clinical staff and physicians to pursuing excellence in the care provided to our surgical patients," Malasto says. "Preventing infections following surgery is a key objective of our surgical team. To ensure the proper outcome, our staff focuses on national indicators of quality."

Several employees at Community Women's Health brightened one patient’s day recently when they presented her with more than $350 in baby gifts they had purchased. Angie O., medical assistant, Monica R., sonographer, and Amanda S., biller, gave patient Vanessa bags of new baby clothes, blankets, bibs, bottles, diapers and other infant items along with hand-me-downs from their own children. The co-workers surprised their patient during one of her routine medical appointments.

“She was shocked,” Amanda says about this exceptional patient experience. “She’s not an emotional person, but she was really affected. It was great. And it was fun buying pink stuff because I have two boys.”

“I thought it was great,” says Vanessa. “It was a nice thing they did for me.”

The mini baby shower was Angie's idea. After talking with the young mother-to-be during another appointment, she discovered that Vanessa hadn’t yet had a baby shower and no one planned to throw her one. Angie enlisted her co-workers to help. “I told them that I was going to buy her some small gifts, but it turned into something bigger,” Angie says. “I just liked her and we wanted to help her.”

Jeanne N., site manager, was the first to share this story. “I am so touched by their generosity."