2011 Annual Report
Improving the health of our community.
Table of Contents
Letter from the CEO
Dear Friends:
Portage Health thanks you for using our services when you and your family need them. We have remained committed to promoting preventive medicine, restoring health and enhancing quality of life.
To support our vision, this year’s report has several human-interest stories. The stories on patient-centered medical home and our healthy food initiative highlight preventive care while the cardiac rehab and fitness center stories highlight our dedication to restoration of health.
Our commitment to quality of life is shown in the story on orthopaedic care. The addition of new orthopaedic surgeons and the continued development of this service line gives you a picture of the effort we have undertaken to ensure quality care close to home. This is one of the many examples of our staff’s hard work and dedication to provide the highest quality clinical services.
In 2011, we have continued to address one of the most important strategic pillars, that of service. In this report, we show the most recent data from the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS).
Also, Portage Health participates in the Michigan Health and Hospital Association’s Keystone Center collaboratives, sharing evidence-based best practices to prevent infections, reduce surgery complications, improve patient safety, reduce healthcare costs and establish a culture of safety.
As shown with the Keystone collaborative, it’s important for healthcare organizations to work together as a team to pursue the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s triple aim — better care for individuals, better health for populations and lower per capita costs. With our collective effort, we will “improve the health of our community.”
Sincerely,
Jim Bogan
President & CEO
Healthy Living
Sangita Goel, Fitness Center member
Sangita Goel never thought it would be her telling the story of losing 50 pounds.
She never thought it would be her saying “anyone can do it.”
She never thought she would be going to group fitness classes, much less on a weekly basis.
She never thought she could walk down the stairs in the morning feeling good. That was before she walked into the Portage Health Fitness Center.
“I climbed Mont Ripley. I was out in the water alone in a kayak. These are things I never thought I’d be able to do,” Sangita said with a giant smile, holding back tears. “Every morning when I get up, I come down the stairs pain free. It hasn’t been like that in years.”
It’s been almost two years since Sangita started exercising seriously, and the biggest difference between this effort and any of her past efforts: personal training.
“Like so many other people, she struggled with weight her whole life,” said Emily Kunnen, Sangita’s trainer. “It just took walking through our door. We’re all here working on these problems, focused on health.”
For Sangita, it was that simple.
“There’s electricity in the air, it gets you going.”
Emily and Sangita created a plan, which included working out in the Houghton facility, doing exercise outside of the facility, eating better and participating in several of Portage Health’s group classes.
“I couldn’t have done it without this plan,” Sangita said. “I feared the classes and I wasn’t comfortable in the gym, but they make you feel like a pro. Everyone is supportive from the moment you walk into the building.”
Sangita trudged into the facility at least three times a week. No matter how tough it was for her to work up the motivation, once in the door, she was ready to go.
“You walk in and then lo and behold you’re doing it,” she said.
Aside from losing weight, Sangita is now saving money each month on medication, as she doesn’t have to take nearly as much for her high blood pressure or diabetes.
“It’s a whole new lifestyle,” Emily boasted. “She can hike and kayak. I love to see her so happy with herself.”
Sangita said the whole thing is “just awesome.”
“They all make time in their schedules to help me,” she said. “Some of them have even connected with me on Facebook. They keep me on track even there. It’s like I have a 24/7 support group.”
As Sangita will tell you, a personal trainer is a great option for those looking to get in shape. A trainer will keep you accountable, keep you motivated, and help you design a customized plan using the appropriate amount of weights, proper form, and realistic goals.
For more information on personal training, fitness classes or the Portage Health Fitness Center, please call (906) 483-1530 or visit portagehealth.org/fitness.
Healthy Food
Mark Pittillo, Food Services Director with Chip Ransom, local farmer
When a hospital changes the way it thinks to offer healthy, locally grown food, it makes news. That’s what happened this summer as Portage Health’s Food Services Director Mark Pittillo was the center of attention in more than a dozen news reports.
“Healthy food is a vital part of our organization’s mission,” said Pittillo. “We’re aiming to improve the health of our community, and food is just a part of it.”
Using healthy ingredients to make food from scratch seems like a basic idea, but the bold new strategy has helped turn the Portage Health Café into a shining example of a rising movement.
“The movement is gaining attention all across the nation,” said Pittillo, who added that the differences in what he orders is astronomical.
The hospital now serves only a quarter the amount of french fries as a year ago, and fresh produce is outselling desserts.
“I get comments on a weekly basis from people complimenting us on how delicious our food is and how great it is to have healthy options in the Café,” Pittillo said.
A big part of this movement has been the ability of Portage Health to get fresh produce from a local farmer, Chip Ransom. Ransom Farm is a 10-minute drive from Portage Health and despite being only about five acres, it provided thousands of pounds of food to the hospital. Even through late fall the hospital was still receiving fresh food.
“It’s amazing what Chip is able to provide us with,” said Pittillo. “That’s a big part of what has made this possible. We use his fresh vegetables on a daily basis in almost every dish we create.”
The locally grown food is part of Michigan Health & Hospital Association’s (MHA) goal with their Healthy Food Hospitals initiative. That project is what jump-started the hospital’s efforts.
“It’s not easy to get Michigan-grown food in the western Upper Peninsula, but Chip has helped us reach our three-year goal within a matter of months,” Pittillo said.
The efforts are being noticed as Portage Health was singled out at a recent healthy foods conference in Traverse City. Organizers opened the conference by playing a news story that ran on WLUC-TV6 earlier this summer regarding our efforts.
The MHA’s Healthy Food Hospitals initiative is a three-year program with hospitals aiming to earn a four-star rating and be credited as a Healthy Food Hospital. Other steps taken by Portage Health include a revamped, healthier, pediatric patient menu; making a transition to healthier beverages, including 100 percent juice and fat free milk; and the last step is to post nutritional content, which we should have completed by the end of 2011.
Healthy Home
Portage Health implemented electronic medical records in 2011
Success happened in June 2011 when Portage Health was designated as a patient-centered medical home (PCMH) by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. It’s a label earned through fundamental changes focused on the primary care provider’s responsibility to patients.
“This designation is a huge success story for Portage Health and the entire community,” said Dr. Kirk Lufkin, Chief Medical Officer. “The more things like this we do, the healthier our community is and stronger local healthcare can become.”
Lufkin said the biggest reason Portage Health was awarded the designation is the adoption of electronic medical records (EMR).
“We did well because of our transition to the EMR,” he said. “It’s an incredibly powerful tool, and we’re still in the early stages with it.”
From the moment the nurse walks into a patient room, the new system is noticeable. Nurses and doctors work together on patients files with digital forms to record all necessary information.
That data is better documented, more reliably gathered and put into a database that will make providing care easier.
“The electronic medical records help us perform care coordination, flag gaps in care and track population-level data,” said Geri Merkey, Clinic Quality Improvement Lead. “This means better quality of care, especially with preventative measures.”
The most important thing for patients to realize is the difference in philosophy.
“With patient-centered medical home, the hospital is not a place to go only when you’re sick, but a place to go to maintain your personal wellness,” said Merkey. “Through the patient-centered medical home, we’re helping patients understand that.”
Read more about PCMH here.
Healthy Bones and Joints
Patient, Julie Crowl with Orthopaedic Surgeon Jennifer Bow, MD
Orthopaedic care is a dire need of our community, and Portage Health has a long tradition of being the area’s leader in the field. This summer, we added two surgeons to our orthopaedic staff who will continue the tradition of excellent care for bones and joints.
Dr. Christopher Peer and Dr. Jennifer Bow joined Dr. Larry Carroll to form the area’s largest orthopaedic team. Both newcomers have performed more than 1,000 surgical cases with excellent personal interaction with patients and families.
“Dr. Peer treated me very well,” said Dawn Locke of Chassell. “I have worked with a lot of orthopaedic surgeons, so I had a lot of tough questions for him. I was real frank with him, and he wasn’t afraid to answer my questions. He was straight forward, honest and didn’t give me any malarkey.”
Dr. Peer completed a fellowship in orthopaedic sports medicine and has continued to spend time in training camps with the National Football League’s Kansas City Chiefs. Prior to his arrival at Portage Health, Dr. Peer worked at two hospitals in rural Vermont that served three of the state’s major ski areas. That unique background is something that Clark Kangas, a junior football player at Calumet High School, enjoyed.
“I wasn’t able to put any weight on my knee,” Clark said. “I went through the surgery with Dr. Peer, and now my knee is healing through the rehab process. He’s a very straightforward guy. Dr. Peer took me through the entire process, explaining exactly what was wrong and how he was going to fix it.”
Clark aims to get back on the field for his senior season with the Copper Kings, and thanks to the combination of excellent surgery by Dr. Peer and hard work in rehab by Clark, it’s looking like he’ll get to play again.
While Dr. Peer has bolstered Portage Health’s sports medicine services, Dr. Bow has positioned Portage Health to be the regional leader in foot, ankle and hip surgery.
Dr. Bow spent a significant amount of time studying at university settings in Canada and Philadelphia, twice completing fellowship programs. The fellowships, focused on joint repair and advanced foot and ankle, offer more in-depth curriculum than doctors who only complete an orthopaedic residency.
“Dr. Bow is extremely knowledgeable and compassionate,” said Julie Crowl of Hancock. “She spent just the right amount of time with me to meet my needs for both information and a connection with her. I had a sense of who she is.”
Julie was impressed with Dr. Bow, who introduced herself to Julie’s family, making them feel comfortable about the surgery.
“One of the neatest things is she asked me what my goals were,” Julie said. “I said I wanted to walk more and go camping and hiking with my son, and she said those were going to be possibilities. It made the process much more comforting.”
Dozens of stories like this have already been told, and hundreds more will come as the tradition of excellent orthopaedic care at Portage Health continues.
For more information about our orthopaedic program and physicians, please call (906) 483-1040 or visit portagehealth.org/ortho.
Healthy Community
Guy Pellegrini, PA sees patients like
Bethany Acciacca at Express Care in Houghton
In 2010, Portage Health changed the way Copper Country residents receive their healthcare, and after 20 months the results are in: Portage Health Express Care is here to stay.
Express Care is an urgent care patient access point where patients can go for basic healthcare needs such as a sore throat, fever, ear pressure, urinary complaints or a pregnancy test.
“It’s a quick, affordable option,” said Jim Bogan, President and CEO of Portage Health. “These urgent care facilities are a popular national trend because they’re easy to use, affordable for all budgets and conveniently open when people need them.”
It’s an equation that works in the Copper Country, and the trend was immediately apparent.
After just three months, the center expanded its hours to include weekends. From January through April there were 17 straight weeks with more than 100 visits, and as each month has gone by we have seen an increase over the prior year.
“The ease and availability of getting in and seeing a healthcare professional is what made us interested,” said Linda Acciacca, who came to Express Care from Pelkie because of the ease and affordability.
What they found out, though, was that Express Care has a lot to offer.
“When our daughter came down with an earache, we knew we needed to see a doctor.”
This wasn’t just a run-of-the-mill earache. Linda’s daughter is deaf in the other ear.
“It was a pressing situation,” Linda said. “We needed to be seen right away.”
Their family doctor didn’t have any same-day openings. So they decided to try the new facility, which was recommended by their family doctor.
“It only took a few minutes,” Linda said. “The practitioner was friendly, easy to talk to and he understood the concern.”
The Acciacca’s left the facility within a half hour with a prescription in hand. They had received the care they needed immediately for an affordable price of just $45.
“I was very satisfied,” Linda said.
Learn more about Express Care by visiting our website, portagehealth.org/expresscare.
Healthy Heart
Cardiac Rehab staff Greg Scharf and Joan Rundman
with patient, John Dee
When John Dee realized there was a second open heart surgery in his future, he wasn’t looking forward to the lengthy recovery process. That was in May 2011.
By October, just a few months after his chest was cut open, he had not only recovered, but John was feeling better than he had in years.
“I haven’t been in this good of shape in 15 or 20 years,” he said.
John’s secret was simple: help. For 12 weeks, John came to Portage Health Cardiac Rehab.
“Without the staff in cardiac rehab, I wouldn’t be where I am now.”
It’s a tough spot in life for anyone, and getting back to normal isn’t easy. Exercise is needed, but too much can overtax the fragile cardiovascular system. Rest is needed, but rest too much and recovery can take years.
“Some people look at it and they think, ‘I can do this on my own,’” said Greg Scharf, Exercise Physiologist. “And it’s true to an extent. People recover, but they don’t rehabilitate. Our number one goal is to get a patient where they want to be by helping them through a tested and proven method.”
The combination of individualized exercise plans, education, monitoring and encouragement creates an environment for successful lifestyle modifications that meet a patient’s specific needs and goals, which are established before cardiac rehab begins.
“It’s a safe place,” said John, who after just 12 weeks could get back outdoors and do the things he loved. “I know I can do what they tell me to. It’s incredible how they can take each personality and get the most out of them.”
John said that extra push provided by the cardiac rehab program has made it so he won’t have to miss a day of back country snowmobiling this winter.
“I remember coming home to my wife and saying ‘the walk-in-the-park rehab is over,’ and that’s a good thing,” he said. “They pushed me, but I knew I was safe. When you’re doing this kind of thing on your own it’s a game of paranoia.”
Only four months after surgery, in from a long day of trekking around the Keweenaw, John sat at his kitchen table and wrote a thank you note to Greg and the rest of the staff.
“It’s their job, but it’s clearly not a punch-the-clock kind of thing to them,” he said. “The cardiac rehab team genuinely cares.”
For more information about cardiac rehab at Portage Health, please call 483-1458 or visit portagehealth.org/cardiacrehab.
Healthy Mind
Mark Randell, Director of Rehab and
Sports Medicine at Portage Health
The first six years for the department of Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology at Michigan Tech have been exciting.
“Just six years ago, our department did not even offer an academic degree,” said Dr. Jason Carter, the department’s chair. “Today we have over 130 students in our two degree programs and we’ve secured over $1 million in external research dollars.”
The department has the best growth in enrollment at Michigan Tech, and part of that is due to its relationship with Portage Health.
“It’s a natural fit,” said Dr. Carter. “The very first research grant we received was from the Portage Health Sports Medicine Institute for a research project involving hockey players.”
The $2,500 grant allowed students to work with Portage Health staff to test the physiological gender differences in hockey players during on-ice graded exercise.
That was the first of four grants, totaling nearly $500,000, which Portage Health was a part of.
“That first project snowballed into two follow-up projects, and ended with three publications,” said Dr. Carter. “Some of those included Portage Health physicians and staff. These initial grants set the stage for building a research-active department at Michigan Tech.”
The undergraduate research is part of the attraction for students, who have flocked to the program. Upon graduation, students have a diverse set of possibilities, many of which are in the medical field.
“By providing our expertise we’ve helped strengthen Michigan Tech, fostered the growth of healthcare studies in the Copper Country and allowed our healthcare professionals to flex their professional interests,” said Jim Bogan, President and CEO of Portage Health. “It’s a great situation for everyone involved.”
Dr. Joseph DellaValla and others who were formerly employed by Portage Health, along with family practitioner Dr. Bruce Trusock, were deeply involved in the early grants.
“Having strong clinical collaborations is a must in the cutthroat National Institute of Health world,” Dr. Carter said. “I’m thankful to have a genuine interest from local physicians and staff.”
The genuine interest in research continues as Dr. Kirk Lufkin, Dr. Mary Haller and Dr. Colleen Vallad-Hix are working on new pilot projects.
While the research is vital, the partnership goes beyond that.
Currently, Dr. Mark Randell, Director of Rehab and Sports Medicine at Portage Health, is an adjunct professor, teaching an exercise assessment and prescription course that he developed.
“The teaching opportunity has allowed me to mentor some of the brightest young professionals in the Midwest,” Randell said. “The students get real-life educational experiences through projects, research, lectures and internships.”
Randell isn’t the only one getting involved with teaching as Portage Health athletic trainers instruct an introduction to athletic training course. One of those athletic trainers, Dale Burkhouse, and Randell, worked hand-in-hand with Dr. Carter to create the department’s curriculum.
“They were instrumental in helping to shape our course offerings,” Dr. Carter said.
The relationship took a new spin in January 2011 when a space occupied by Portage Health in the SDC was retooled and is now used by the department for classes, research space and an office for graduate students.
As the department continues to grow, so will opportunities for Portage Health to be involved. Whether it’s a local high school, Michigan Tech, Finlandia University or Gogebic Community College, Portage Health is pleased to assist in the education of the next generation of healthcare professionals.
New Faces
Shawn Heiler, PA
Shawn Heiler, PA
It only took one visit for Shawn Heiler, PA-C, to fall in love with the Copper Country.
“It’s beautiful up here,” Heiler said. “It’s great for outdoors people like my wife and I.”
Before moving to the U.P. this fall, Heiler spent his entire professional career in metropolitan southeast Michigan, working at hospitals in and around Ann Arbor and Detroit.
Since joining the staff he’s spent a considerable amount of time working at Express Care, but really enjoys spending time at the emergency department. “The emergency department has a lot to offer for being a rural hospital,” he said. “It has all the things I need to make sure my patients are taken care of.”
Heiler completed his undergraduate studies at Eastern Michigan University, where he earned a bachelor of science in sports medicine and athletic training. He later attended Wayne State University where he earned his master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies.
Rebecca Baudoin, MD
Rebecca Baudoin, MD
The women’s health team at Portage Health got the final piece to its puzzle this September when Dr. Rebecca Baudoin joined the staff.
“Dr. Baudoin’s arrival provides another choice for women seeking specialized services,” said Jim Bogan, President and CEO of Portage Health. “She complements our other providers very well, improving the quality of care available.”
Dr. Baudoin comes to Hancock from the Twin Cities of Minnesota, where she completed her schooling at the University of Minnesota. She completed her medical degree and residency at the institution.
“My goal is to provide comprehensive obstetric and gynecological care to women at all stages of life,” she said. “From adolescence through childbearing to menopause and beyond.”
“Because interactions in OB/GYN are deeply personal, I place an emphasis on partnering with my patients to tailor specific care plans for individual needs.”
Christopher Peer, MD
Christopher Peer, MD
In August as Dr. Christopher Peer was leaving training camp with the National Football League’s Kansas City Chiefs, his trip home went straight north instead of east. That’s because the orthopaedic expert with an extensive background in sports medicine joined the team at Portage Health. The experienced surgeon has well over 1,000 cases under his belt and an education background that took him all over the United States. Dr. Peer completed medical school at Georgetown University, then did orthopaedic surgery training at the University of New Mexico before completing an orthopaedic sports medicine fellowship, which is the highest level of training a doctor can obtain in the U.S., at the Kansas City Orthopaedic Institute. “I truly aim to care for athletes at every level, from weekend warriors to players in the National Football League where I worked with the Kansas City Chiefs during their training camp each year, to athletes in the WestPAC.”
Cynthia Blake, NP
Cynthia Blake, NP
With more than 25 years of experience, bringing Cynthia Blake, FNP-BC into Portage Health Medical Group was a no-brainer.
“Welcoming Cynthia to our team was an easy decision,” said Jim Bogan, President and CEO. “She has the experience, knowledge and personality to make a difference in our organization.”
Blake came into the medical group and is working with patients of all ages in family medicine.
“I’ve always had a passion for helping others,” Blake said. “This is a great opportunity to continue giving.”
“My husband and I love the Upper Peninsula and the Copper Country,” she said. “I was thrilled to have this opportunity arise at Portage Health.”
Blake has an undergraduate degree and a Master’s of Science as a family nurse practitioner from the University of Kansas.
Jennifer Bow, MD
Jennifer Bow, MD
Dr. Jennifer Bow has an incredible background and the potential to turn Portage Health’s orthopaedics team into the regional leader.
The Canadian-born doctor joined Portage Health in July after spending five years in residency programs and going through two fellowship programs.
“This opportunity allows me to keep my subspecialty focus in lower-limb reconstruction, while also practicing general orthopaedics,” Bow said.
She’s highly trained in feet and ankle issues, especially associated with arthritis, while also showing an aptitude toward hip- and knee-replacement surgeries.
Dr. Bow completed her residency at the University of Western Ontario, and completed fellowships at the Rothman Institute in Philadelphia and Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario prior to spending a year at Hôpital Notre-Dame Hospital in Hearst, Ont.
Mansoor Khokhar, MD
Abdul Mansoor Khokhar, MD
The motivated, talented and experienced Dr. Mansoor Khokhar was added to the team of Portage Health hospitalists in July 2011 and has been turning heads ever since.
“Dr. Khokhar is a great doctor and a great person,” said Jim Bogan, President and CEO. “His wealth of experience is beneficial to our community.”
That experience spans nearly 30 years in the medical industry. Prior to joining Portage Health he served at a 550-bed facility in Cincinnati, Ohio.
“Coming to a small-town hospital was exactly what I hoped for,” Khokhar said. “We get to spend more time with each patient in a more relaxed atmosphere.”
Since arriving, Dr. Khokhar has achieved board-certified status.
“I have that sense of achievement for hitting a target that I’ve worked hard at for a long time,” he said. “I’m enjoying the satisfaction of knowing my effort and hard work has formally been recognized.”
Community Benefit
Portage Health supports our community in diverse ways, it’s our mission.
Part of what keeps our community healthy is events like the Senior Heritage Days, the Keweenaw Chain Drive and the Great Bear Chase, as well as organizations like the Western Upper Peninsula Health Access Coalition, Omega House and the Copper Country Intermediate School District Health Occupations Students of America.
Those are six of more than 100 organizations and events that Portage Health donated more than $1.6 million to during the last fiscal year. See the partial list below and know that when you come to Portage Health you’re not just getting a great patient experience, you’re also supporting the overall health of the community.
ACES Day
Adams Township Fire Department
Alzheimer’s Association
Baraga Lumberjack Days
Beacon House
BHK Child Development
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Western UP
Breakers to Bay Run
Bridge Walk/Run
Bridgefest 5K Run
Calumet Art Center
Calumet Elks Lodge 404
Calumet Hockey Association
Calumet Theatre
Calumet-Laurium-Keweenaw School District
Camp 911
Canal Run
CCISD HOSA Program
Chassell Public Schools
Chassell Women’s Club
City of Hancock Transportation System
Clean Snowmobile Challenge
Copper Country Chapter of Trout Unlimited
Copper Country Community Arts Council
Copper Country CROP Walk
Copper Country Intermediate School District
Copper Country Junior Hockey Association
Copper Country Killer Whales Swim Club
Copper Country Police and Fire Relief
Copper Country United Way
Copper Harbor Trails Club
CopperDog 150
Curt Twardzik Memorial Golf Tournament
Dollar Bay-Tamarack City Public Schools
FastTrac New Venture SmartZone
Finlandia Student Nurses Association
Finlandia University
Finlandia University Athletics
Gogebic Community College
Great Bear Chase
Habitat for Humanity
Halloween Hustle
Hancock Business & Professionals Association
Hancock Fire Department
Hancock Public Schools
High School Athletics
Highland Games
History Day Competition
Horsetail Scramble 5K Fitness Run/Walk
Houghton County Fair
Houghton Portage Twsp School District
Hubbell-Tamarack City Volunteer Fire Department
International Frisbee Tournament
Jeffers 3on3 Basketball Tournament
Kermits Kids
Keweenaw Bay Indian Community
Keweenaw Chain Drive
Keweenaw Community Foundation
Keweenaw Favorite’s Softball Team
Keweenaw Junior Mountain Biking
Keweenaw Land Trust
Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club
Keweenaw Peninsula Chamber of Commerce
Keweenaw Research Center
L’Anse Area Public Schools
Ladies Ducks Unlimited
Lake Linden Volunteer Fire Department
Lake Linden-Hubbell Public Schools
Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly
Main Street Calumet
Michigan Tech Athletics
Michigan Tech Blue Key
Michigan Tech COMPASS
Michigan Tech Department of Visual and Performing Arts
Michigan Tech First Responders
Michigan Tech Preschool
Michigan Tech Summer Youth Programs
Michigan Technological University
Michigan Works
National Bone Marrow Registry
Northland Electric Ontonagon Lake Trout Classic
Omega House
Ontonagon County Cancer Association
Ontonagon Area School District
Ontonagon’s Hometown Christmas
Pine Mountain Music Festival
PJ Olsson Rock Camp
PKD Foundation
Preeclampsia Foundation Walk
Relay for Life
Senior Heritage Days
Ski for the Heart of Our Community
South Range Fourth of July Celebration
St. Al’s Catholic Church
Superior AmeriCorps
The Celtic Quarter
Western Upper Peninsula Health Access Coalition
USSA SuperTour Ski Race
Western U.P. Health Department
Service
The HCAHPS (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) survey is the first national, standardized, publicly reported survey of patients’ perspectives of hospital care.
While many hospitals, including Portage Health, have collected information on patient satisfaction for their own internal use, until HCAHPS, there was no national standard for collecting and publicly reporting information about patient experience of care that allowed valid comparisons to be made across hospitals locally, statewide and nationally.
For 2010, Portage Health has a comparison with national and state results:
As the results show, Portage Health has met or exceeded the national and state scores in all 10 survey questions.
For more information about HCAHPS please visit www.hcahpsonline.org.
Finance
The financial climate for healthcare nationally continues to be very challenging. The federal deficit will further pressure hospital revenues. Near-term Medicare cuts are inevitable. We expect lower rate increases from commercial payors as they face their own increased regulatory requirements under reform. These pressures will make it increasingly difficult for not-for-profit hospitals to maintain favorable operating performance. It’s estimated that 20 percent of not-for-profit hospitals in the nation are in the red, and we’re proud to say that for fiscal year 2011 we are solidly in the black.
