Assignment: MHAFP 5064 Capella University Implementation Plan Nursing Question

About Us
Independence Medical Center is a rural referral hospital in Waterloo, Iowa, and we
provide a broad range of emergency, medical, surgical, outpatient, and psychiatric
services to the citizens of Black Hawk County and beyond. We have a rich history
of caring for our community, starting in 1927, and nearly 80 years later we’re still
going strong.
Our Services
Our services include inpatient and outpatient surgical care, intensive care, primary
and specialty medical care, pediatrics, and imaging services. We specialize in many
types of services, including neurology, physical therapy, oncology, hematology,
cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, ophthalmology, and more.
Our Women’s Health practice is second to none, with care for breast health,
gynecological services, infertility, menopause prevention, and many other offerings.
Our fully-staffed Emergency Room is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and
we strive to keep patient wait times as short as possible.
Our Team
Our dedicated team of health care providers and support staff includes active medical
staff and registered nurses, and we offer the best care from highly trained specialists.
Administration
Like our nurses and doctors, the leaders of Independence Medical Center work day
and night to deliver the best possible care while making sure that the hospital runs as
efficiently and effectively as possible. Whether it’s developing better ways to deliver
quality care, installing better systems for more advanced diagnostic testing, or upgrading
billing systems for simpler, easier-to-read medical bills, the hospital’s leaders are always
trying to find ways to better serve the patient and the community.
Leadership
• Chief Executive Officer: Norman Reynolds
• Chief Financial Officer: Jarvis Norwood
• Chief Medical Officer: Patricia Deering, MD
• Chief Nursing Officer: Diane St. John
• Chief Operating Officer: Gwendolyn Zimmer
• Chief of Therapeutic Services: Anne Berg
• Chief of Diagnostic Services: Shawn Hayden
Businesess Services
Admission Services
Independence Medical Center maintains a qualified staff of admissions counselors who
help patients with both elective and emergency admissions. For elective admissions –
planned stays at the hospital for procedures or surgery – counselors gather necessary
insurance and other information, answer patient questions, and provide information
regarding the hospital stay. They also confirm admitting privileges for visiting physicians,
get signatures for legal consents or releases, and assign patients to beds while notifying
nursing units that the patient has arrived.
These same counselors help patients with discharge and connect them with necessary
resources. For example, for patients who need physical therapy at home or skilled
nursing after discharge, admissions counselors connect them with hospital caseworkers.
They also help patients who know they will have trouble paying their bills to apply for
financial assistance from the hospital.
Human Resources
Independence Medical Center hires only the most talented people to take care of our
patients, and our competitive salaries and benefits attract a large number of candidates.
Our staff of human resources generalists works hard to recruit, screen, and recommend
for hire the best possible candidates for each role.
The Human Resources department educates our more than 225 employees about
their benefits and continuing education opportunities, and also provides training and
resources for bringing new employees on board and getting them up to speed on
hospital procedures, policies, and practices.
Medical Records
Every patient’s medical records include a wide variety of information about their health:
contact information, allergies, insurance information, medicines, test results, and other
data. Because these data can be very sensitive, HIPAA regulations dictate what hospitals
are allowed to do with medical records. Our medical records staff protects patent
medical records and helps them to safely and confidentially share that information
with physicians, clinics, or others they designate.
To release medical records, patients need to fill out the Authorization to Disclose
Protected Health Information/Medical Records. When the hospital has the signed
authorization, it will send the records to the designated recipient. If a medical
record contains information about the following, patients will need to initial the
appropriate section:
• Alcohol/Drug Treatment
• Mental Health Treatment (except psychotherapy notes)
• HIV/AIDS Related Information
Diagnostic Services
Audiology
For pediatric to geriatric patients suffering hearing loss or difficulties with balance,
Independence Medical Center’s Audiology department offers sophisticated diagnostic
equipment and techniques to diagnose many hearing- or balance-related conditions.
Our board-certified audiologists can perform many diagnostic tests and treatments for
hearing and balance-related problems, including tests of electrophysiology, auditory
brainstem response, electrocochleography, and more. They are trained in working with
patients whose special needs might make diagnostic tests difficult, such as patients
with head injuries or dementia. One of our audiologists is also certified by the American
Institute of Balance.
To prevent a conflict of interest, Independence Medical Center does not sell hearing aids,
so patients can trust that the diagnosis they get is the right one.
Among the services our audiology department provides are:
• Adult hearing evaluations
• Pediatric hearing evaluations
• Otoacoustic emissions testing
• Balance assessments
• Auditory processing assessments
• Videonystagmography (dizziness evaluation)
• Tinnitus evaluation
Clinical Lab
For pediatric to Laboratory testing plays a crucial role in the detection, diagnosis, and
treatment of disease, and more than 65 percent of all decisions regarding a patient’s
diagnosis and treatment are based on it. That’s why the lab at Independence Medical
Center is staffed with highly trained and dedicated technologists, technicians, and
phlebotomists who put the patient first. Our lab performs more than 100,000 lab tests
each year, and we perform over 175 different procedures. Results from procedures that
we cannot perform in-house are usually available within 24 hours from Medlabs in Cedar
Lakes, Iowa.
Just a few of the tests we perform on site include:
• Hemoglobin A1C
• Glucose tolerance
• Renal function panel
• Protime
• Influenza A and B antigen
• Urea nitrogen, 24-hour urine
• ABO & Rh type
• Basic metabolic panel
These and all other tests done at Independence Medical Center can be completed at a
doctor’s order and results reported the same day.
Imaging and Radiology
Precise, high-quality medical images can make the difference between a wrong diagnosis
and a right one. At Independence Medical Center, we offer state-of-the-art diagnostic
imaging, including MRIs, bone density tests, CT/PET scans, mammograms, and more. Our
highly skilled medical imaging technicians keep patients’ comfort and concerns in mind
while taking accurate images for diagnosis.
Our board-certified radiologist is highly qualified in medical imaging technologies, and
is on staff three days a week to consult with physicians to determine the meaning of the
image and the best available course of treatment. When our on-site radiologist is not
available, we send images digitally to Cedar Valley Radiology for consultation.
Some of our imaging services include:
• DXA/bone density testing
• CT/PET scans
• Colonoscopy
• Digital mammography
• Electro/echocardiograms
• Fluoroscopy
• Mobile nuclear medicine
• Ultrasound
• X-rays
Neurology
Patients with diseases of the brain, spinal cord, or central nervous system can expect
expert care from the neurologists at Independence Medical Center. Carefully trained and
board-certified in both general neurology and such specialties as vascular neurology, our
neurologists can diagnose and treat a broad array of neurological disorders.
For patients suffering from stroke, neuromuscular diseases such as multiple sclerosis,
ALS, dystonias, and peripheral neuropathies, movement disorders such as Parkinson’s
disease, seizure disorder or epilepsy, migraines, or dementia, Independence Medical
Center is the place to get the most modern treatments from physicians whose dedication
to continuing education is critical to their dedication to delivering the best patient care.
Among the diagnostic tests and treatments available at Independence Medical Center’s
Neurology department are:
• Botox injections for movement disorder
• Baclofen administration via pump therapy
• Electromyagram
• Nerve conduction testing
• Deep-brain stimulation
• Vagal nerve stimulation
• Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)
Pharmacy
The medications doctors order for patients are provided by the hospital pharmacy, and
Independence Medical Center’s pharmacists are important members of the health care
team. Our pharmacists and technicians work closely with doctors and other caregivers
to meet each patient’s specific health care needs and to explain medications and
interactions to patients.
Pharmacists will explain what each medication does, what side effects may be expected,
and what to avoid while on each medication. They will also evaluate patient prescriptions
in terms of other over-the-counter or herbal medications the patient might be taking,
and suggest ways to reduce possible side effects and ensure that medications are
working at their best. Our pharmacists are highly educated in detailed drug information,
and they can help nursing staff to educate patients about the safe and effective use of
their medications.
Medication Formulary
Like most hospitals and health plans, Independence Medical Center a list of drugs that
are routinely available for dispensing to patients (the formulary). Most of the medications
a doctor orders will be on our formulary.
Financial Services
Billing and Coding
Questions about bills go to our staff of billing specialists, who help patients understand
the services they received and the cost of those services.
Patients must present all insurance cards at the time of service to make sure that claims
will be submitted promptly. This includes private insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, Medical
Assistance, commercial insurance, and worker’s compensation.
• Online bill pay: Patients can pay their bills online with MasterCard, Visa, or Discover.
• Refunds: Independence Medical Center will verify any reported errors, and if an
overpayment is discovered, will issue a refund within 30 days.
• Financial assistance: For patients with low incomes or significant bills, the hospital offers
financial assistance.
• Address changes: Address changes can be made online or in person.
Budget Administration
The Budget Administration department reports to the Director of Financial Services.
Budget analysts gather information from C-level executives at the hospital to develop
and maintain annual operating and capital budgets for Independence Medical Center.
They project and allocate both revenues and expenditures, and analyze utilization,
patient volume, and other trends to make short-term and long-term projections.
Based on input from executives, analysts also do budget reallocations throughout the
year to address surpluses, shortfalls, and overruns. They review expenses and conduct
cost-flow analyses to monitor spending.
Budget analysts report to the Director on all of these matters, so that the Director
can report to the hospital’s CFO and participate in the strategic planning process for
the hospital.
Information Technology and Data Services
IT Team
Independence Medical Center is at the cutting edge of today’s technology, and our IT
Department helps us to stay that way. All of our software and hardware is installed and
maintained by a staff of highly qualified IT professionals with certifications in networking,
databases, and many other types of technology.
These professionals build install, maintain, and troubleshoot all in-house hospital
systems. They run regular maintenance and perform upgrades on these systems. They
also work with vendors to install and maintain third-party applications. User training and
support are also part of their responsibilities.
Among the systems our IT professionals maintain:
• Electronic medical record
• Formulary database
• Building/environmental system
• Patient flow software
• E-mail
• Medical billing
Medical Services
Ambulatory Care
Our ambulatory care registered nurses interact with patients who need care or treatment
but do not need to stay overnight in the hospital. They conduct initial assessments of
patients’ condition, perform procedures, educate patients about their health and next
steps, advocate for patients’ needs, coordinate care with the hospital and with outpatient
clinics in the area, and follow up to make sure patients’ needs are being met.
The focus is on the patient’s well-being and on how outpatient clinics can be the next
step in the healing process.
Behavioral Health
Independence Medical Center offers both inpatient and outpatient assessment and
treatment for behavioral health issues. Our on-staff psychiatrists are available 24/7
for emergency admissions for psychiatric disturbances, such as suicidal depression
or psychotic episodes, and help stabilize patients in our inpatient mental health
center. They provide individual and group therapy, as well as family assessments and
recommendations for after-care action.
Psychiatrists also provide short-term counseling and treatment, as well as consultations
regarding psychoactive medications for patients whose diagnoses are less acute. When
appropriate, they refer patients to social workers, counselors, and off-site psychologists
or psychiatrists for long-term treatment.
Conditions treated by our Behavioral Health clinic include:
• Substance abuse and chemical dependency
• Eating disorders
• Mental health disorders such as schizophrenia, OCD, depression, anxiety,
and bipolar disorder
• Detoxification (through the Emergency Room)
Cancer Center
In the event of a cancer diagnosis, Independence Medical Center is the place to go.
Prevention
The Cancer Center at Independence Medical Center provides cancer screenings on a
regular basis throughout the year for breast, cervical, colon, rectal, and other cancers.
The Women’s Health Center also provides breast exams and annual Pap smears.
Detection
The Cancer Center is equipped with state-of-the-art MRI, PET and CT scanning
technologies. and on-staff radiologists interpret images in consultation with our
board-certified oncologists.
At the Cancer Center, we offer:
• Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
• Computed tomography (CT)
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Ultrasound
• Mammography
• Nuclear medicine
• Stereotactic breast biopsy
Diagnosis
Independence Medical Center’s board-certified pathologists work with Cancer Center
oncologists to determine whether a patient’s biopsy suggests a cancerous mass. They
also help to determine how advanced a detected cancer is, and consult with oncologists
and surgeons on treatment plans.
Treatment
Oncologists at the Cancer Center will explain every aspect of the patient’s treatment plan,
whether it includes surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or a combination of methods.
Radiation and chemotherapy can be administered on site at our infusion area, and
oncologists monitor patient progress throughout treatment while continually educating
patients about their options and symptoms.
Emergency Department
If you or a family member is experiencing a life-threatening injury or illness, call 911.
Independence Medical Center is the place to go in time of crisis. Our 24/7 emergency
room can handle everything from critical injuries to life-threatening illnesses to mental
health crises.
Emergency Medical Team
Our team includes highly qualified nurses, nurse practitioners, emergency medical
technicians, and doctors who are skilled in high-pressure situations. We also have
specialists on call for emergency consultation, diagnosis, and surgery if needed.
Situations We Handle
Here are just a few of the conditions that are considered medical emergencies:
• Broken bones or dislocated joints
• Severe pain, particularly in the abdomen
• Persistent or severe chest pain
• Difficulty speaking, altered mental state or confusion
• Head or eye injuries
• Loss of vision
• High fever or fever with rash
• Persistent shortness of breath or wheezing
• Weakness or paralysis
• Deep cuts that require stitches
• Rape
• Suicidal behavior
• Chemical dependency or mental health crises
ICU
Independence Medical Center’s Intensive Care Unit is staffed with a 35-member Critical
Care team with specialized skills in caring for critically ill or injured patients. For renal or
pulmonary complications, trauma, overdoses, and other life-threatening conditions, the
ICU has the personnel and technology to safeguard the lives of its patients.
Some of the equipment in the ICU:
• ventilators for invasive and/or non-invasive ventilation
• hand ventilating assemblies
• airway access equipment
• vascular access equipment
• monitoring equipment, both non-invasive and invasive
• defibrillation and pacing facilities
• equipment to control patient temperature
• chest drainage equipment
• infusion and specialized pumps
• portable transport equipment
Each patient in ICU will have a physician in charge of the case, who will work with
consultants from other specialties, such as cardiologists or respiratory specialists, when
necessary to determine the best course of action. For continuity of care, a nurse will be
assigned to each patient to deliver daily care, and other specialists, such as respiratory
therapists, will be on hand to help patients who require ventilation, medication, or other
treatment.
The ICU is located strategically in the hospital for easy access to the emergency room and
operating rooms.
Medical/Surgical Care
Independence Medical Center’s 30-room medical/surgical unit takes over when patients
of all ages come out of the post-operative ward but still need care before they go home.
The unit also cares for patients with acute and chronic illnesses or conditions who don’t
need to be in the ER but need treatment before they go home.
The unit’s 31 registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nursing assistants provide
heart monitoring, post-surgical observation, rehabilitation, and other services. They
work with each patient’s physician to determine an appropriate care plan, and educate
patients and their families about their options and how to care for themselves after
they go home.
Neonatal ICU
Independence Medical Center provides care throughout patients’ life cycle, and that
starts with premature or sick infants. Independence Medical Center’s Neonatal Intensive
Care Unit can care for infants up to 17 weeks premature, and our neonatologists care for
endangered infants with a wide variety of presenting conditions.
The NICU is equipped for specialized, around-the clock care with cutting-edge diagnostic
and treatment equipment, including oxygen hoods, a CPAP system, neonatal ventilators,
incubators, pulse oximeters, and an ECG monitor with defibrillator.
With pharmacists, respiratory therapists, lactation consultants, and other support staff
on the NICU’s interdisciplinary team, families with sick infants can stay in one place to get
all the treatment their baby needs. After the infant is discharged, specialists help families
with post-hospital care to make sure the newborn grows and develops appropriately.
Operative Services
Independence Medical Center offers a wide range of surgical care.
Our surgical specialties include:
• Bariatric surgery
• General surgery
• Trauma surgery
• Neurosurgery
• Gastroenterology
• Cardiology
• Ear, nose and throat
• Gynecology/obstetrics
• Ophthalmology
• Oral and maxillofacial
• Cancer
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Pulmonology
• Transplants
• Urology
We provide elective and emergency surgeries for adults and children in our operating
suite, which offers four operating theaters and the latest medical technology. Each
patient will receive expert pre-op and post-op care. Pre-op nurses help coordinate the
patient’s needed medications, lab tests, and arrival, while post-op nurses assist with
medication management and discharge either to the medical/surgical unit or from the
hospital. They also help get services, support, and necessary equipment or supplies for
post-surgery care.
Pediatric ICU
Independence Medical Center’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit offers the specially
trained pediatric intensivists and highly specialized nurses to provide comprehensive,
multidisciplinary care for critically ill or injured children ages 0 to 18. We provide acute
surgical-medical care, monitoring, diagnostic procedures, and a wide variety of therapies.
Our PICU has the most advanced equipment, including ventilators, specialized beds
and cribs, specialized syringe pumps, and intra-cranial monitoring equipment. Our
child-friendly rooms help children and their families to stay together during treatment
and recovery.
Among the many conditions the PICU can treat or monitor are:
• Respiratory diseases
• Endocrine or metabolic diseases and abnormalities
• Neurological diseases or seizures
• Hematological conditions
• Cancer-related or cancer conditions
• Renal, cardiac, and multi-system diseases
• Trauma
• Burn care
Sports Medicine
Independence Medical Center’s Sports Medicine clinic for the best orthopedic and sports
medicine in the county. Our Sports Medicine clinic is staffed with an orthopedic surgeon,
other sports medicine physicians, physical therapists and a certified athletic trainer.
The clinic’s physicians work with each patient’s primary care doctor and provide
treatment for common sports injuries, such as ankle sprains, torn tendons, and ligament
injuries. They consult with Independence Medical Center’s specialty physicians, such as
neurologists, on more complicated injuries involving the head or spine, or for exerciserelated conditions such as exercise-induced asthma. For each injury or condition,
physicians and physical therapists work together to decide on the best course of
treatment and rehabilitation to return the patient to full strength and flexibility.
The clinic has a pool for aquatic therapy.
Conditions we treat include:
• Sprains and strains
• Stress fractures
• Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or other ligament injuries
• Meniscus tears
• Knee chondrosis
• Adhesive capsulitis
• Exercise-induced asthma
• Impingement syndrome and rotator cuff tears
• Overuse injuries, such as tennis elbow
• Shin splints
• Shoulder instability and superior labral (SLAP) tears
• Chronic exertional compartment syndrome
• Tendonitis
• Patellofemoral disorders
Our services include:
• Sports physicals
• Preventive care
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation
• Joint replacement rehabilitation
• Home exercise programs
• Aquatic therapy
Women’s Health
At Independence Medical Center, we want to meet all of our patients’ health needs. The
Women’s Health Center at IMC is a place where patients with health issues specific to
women will get personalized, knowledgeable attention.
A dedicated gynecologist, nurse practitioner, and midwife staff the Women’s Health
Center, and they work with other specialty physicians at the hospital to provide
additional care or consultation as needed. They provide routine health screenings and
exams as well as treatment for many conditions or transitions, such as menopause,
osteoporosis, and chronic pelvic pain. Among the services we offer are:
• Annual exams
• Cervical cancer screening
• Patient education
• Routine prenatal and obstetrical care
• Postpartum depression treatment
• Minor surgical procedures
• Perimenopause and menopause
• Newborn and well child care
• Osteoporosis screening and treatment
• Pelvic floor disorder and chronic pelvic pain treatment
• Physicals
• Preventative health care
• Social service referrals
Nursing Support
Nurse Credentialing and Development
Independence Medical Center couldn’t function without the hard work and specialized
knowledge of its nurses. So it’s mission-critical to keep Independence Medical Center
nurses fully credentialed, and to give them opportunities to expand their nursing skills.
Our Nurse Accreditation Manager and staff of nursing support specialists track the
continuing education and licensing requirements for each of Independence Medical
Center’s registered and licensed practical nurses, and helps nurses with periodic
license renewal.
They also work with nurses who wish to pursue further certification. They help nurses
pursuing bridge programs, such as the transition from licensed practical nurse (LPN)
to a master of science in nursing (MSN). And they work with nurses who seek specialty
options like intravenous therapy, gerontology, foot care, and others, helping them to
find the correct training and track subsequent certification renewal requirements.
Nursing Informatics
To keep nurses doing what they do best – caring for patients – while still documenting
the care they provide, our professional staff of informatics specialists works to develop
or improve systems of documentation for Independence Medical Center’s nurses.
Doctors and nurses use a combination of handheld devices, tablets, and laptop
computers to update patients’ medical charts at Independence Medical Center. Our
informatics specialists regularly survey all health care providers to find out what’s
working and what isn’t, and analyzes monthly chart data to determine under what
circumstances providers are not charting as effectively as they could. Based on this
information, they roll out regular improvements to the hospital’s charting system.
The department reports on its progress to Independence Medical Center’s chief nursing
officer, chief medical officer, and chief operating officer. They also work with the
hospital’s Nursing Informatics Council, which includes nurses from across the hospital’s
medical specialties, to register complaints, learn about bugs, and test new systems
before implementation.
Operations
Central Supply
Independence Medical Center can’t function without sterilized equipment and
instruments, and that’s the job of the Central Supply department: to make sure that
surgical instruments, medical devices, and other equipment are sterilized and stored
properly so that they’re ready for use when they’re needed.
The department collects surgical instruments and medical devices and decontaminates
them in the hospital’s autoclaves, automatic washers or other decontamination
equipment. Then our sterile processing and distribution technicians inspect each item
after decontamination and assembles them into packs for various operating theaters
and treatment areas.
Our technicians keep detailed records of each item that has been cleaned, sterilized, and
stored. They also deliver sterile supplies wherever they are needed, and order supplies
monthly based on use and forecasts. They stock crash carts, organize medical supplies,
and maintain inventory control so that sterile supplies don’t expire, and so that the
proper supplies are billed to patients.
Environmental and Dietary Services
Environmental Services
Independence Medical Center couldn’t remain a clean, well-lighted place without the
efforts of its Environmental Services department. Our environmental professionals take
pride in keeping the hospital clean, stocking its medical supplies, removing its medical
waste, and keeping it supplied with fresh, clean linens for patients and staff.
The efforts of our Environmental Services professionals don’t only maintain a clean,
attractive environment that helps patients recover. They are on the front lines of making
the hospital look good, but also making it operate well and safely. By enforcing proper
cleaning standards in high-touch areas and other medical-related standards (such as
handwashing), our Environmental Services department helps Independence Medical
Center to control the rate of staphylococcus infections and other metrics.
Facilities workers in the Environmental Services department maintain the hospital’s vast
array of equipment, as well as the hospital’s physical plant, so that everything in the
hospital is in working order.
Dietary Services
Good nutrition is the cornerstone of good health, and the dietary services department
at Independence Medical Center provides nutritious meals at breakfast, lunch, and
dinnertime. Our food service hours are:
• Breakfast – Open Dining
• Noon Meal – 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
• Evening Meal – 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Safety
Along with quality of care, safety is Independence Medical Center’s top priority. Every
hospital is a hazardous place to work, and whether it’s a slip in a hallway that has just
been mopped or an accidental needle stick, the hospital’s safety department investigates
every safety-related incident at the hospital to determine procedural changes that will
help prevent similar incidents in the future. Our safety specialists are always on the
watch for new ways to make sure that safety for patients, staff, and visitors is
never compromised.
The safety department works with Environmental Services, the Quality Assurance
department, and any other department whose operations might be affected by safety
concerns. They are responsible for investigating worker injuries and for creating
emergency plans for events such as natural disasters, infectious diseases, security
incidents, and others. Finally, they report to the hospital’s senior leadership, both on the
hospital’s internal security record and on comparisons between Independence Medical
Center and other similar hospitals in the area.
Security
Independence Medical Center maintains an open-door environment so that patients,
visitors, and practitioners can move about freely. This creates security challenges, as
open-door environments can become opportunities for criminal behavior. To protect
patients, employees, and property, our security department employs security staff and
technology.
Entrances open to the public and the parking ramp are monitored 24-7 by security
staff and surveillance video. Using a network of cameras in hallways, the entire hospital
is monitored daily from a central command center near the front desk. Security officers
make regular sweeps of public areas, sensitive areas, and high-risk areas, and monitor
the hospital’s loading docks and receiving areas both in person and via surveillance
video.
The security department also analyzes reported incidents of theft and other crimes to
detect patterns and devise countermeasures or policy changes to prevent further crime.
Quality
Accreditation
Independence Medical Center is accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation
of Health Care Organizations (JCAHO), which means that we meet the Joint Commission’s
rigorous standards of quality and patient safety and we continually work to make our
care and services better. These standards include such measures as infection control,
documentation of care and treatment, transplant safety, and many more.
Our Accreditation specialists analyze hospital data related to the Joint Commission’s
standards, and identify areas where we could make improvements. They also measure
the hospital’s performance against national standards set by healthcare professionals
across the country, so that our quality of care and patient safety is second to none.
Finally, they work with Joint Commission regulators who may survey the hospital at any
time to evaluate its compliance with JCAHO standards.
Patients may contact our Quality Department if our care has in any way compromised
safety or quality standards, or contact the Joint Commission itself calling (800) 994-6610
or writing to:
• Online: http://www.jointcommission.org/report_a_complaint.aspx
• E-mail: complaint@jointcommission.org
• Fax: Office of Quality Monitoring, (630) 792-5636
• Mail: Office of Quality Monitoring
• The Joint Commission, One Renaissance Boulevard, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
Credentials and Privilege Review
To ensure that all of our physicians stay in compliance with Medical Staff bylaws,
rules, and regulations; state and federal accreditation standards, and other required
certifications, our credentials coordinators work with regulatory agencies, universities,
hospitals, and internal departments to track relevant data on all Independence Medical
Center physicians. They manage pre-application, application, and reappointment
processes for all physicians, and report to the hospital’s Credentials Committee
for their analysis and approval.
Therapeutic Services
Dental
Tooth problems don’t always wait for the dentist to be in the office. The Dental Clinic at
Independence Medical Center helps adult patients with preventive and emergency dental
services.
On an emergency basis, the clinic provides the following services, among others:
• Diagnostic x-rays
• Repair of lacerations
• Pain management
• Infection management
• Extractions
• Oral pathology
• Palliative treatment of dental nerve pain
• Moderate sedation for suitable patients
• Management of medically compromised dental care
• Dental swelling and/or bleeding treatment
• Tooth or mouth trauma
The clinic also performs dental maintenance procedures, including cleanings, extractions,
fillings, and crowns. For low-income patients who do not have dental insurance, the
clinic provides regular cleanings, preventive fluoride treatments, and fillings at steeply
discounted costs.
Nutritional Therapy
As the United States faces an obesity epidemic, researchers are discovering more
information all the time about the connection between diet and disease. To support the
healing work that physicians and nurses do every day at Independence Medical Center,
the Nutritional Therapy department works to educate and consult with patients on foodrelated problems and nutrition choices that will better support healing from
their conditions.
For inpatient admissions, the Nutritional Therapy department creates menus for patients
based on their specific nutritional profile, and educates both the patient and family about
the importance of nutritional support for healing.
Our registered dietitians also help patients on an outpatient basis with such foodrelated disorders as obesity, food allergies, eating disorders, and blood sugar disorders.
In consultation with the patient’s physician, they also help patients to come up with
personalized meal plans that will support healing with such conditions as renal
insufficiency or failure, gastrointestinal problems, complications of chemotherapy
or radiation treatment, high blood pressure, and irritable bowel syndrome.
Occupational Therapy
Injuries, disabilities, and repetitive stress conditions can change how patients move,
work, and live, as do motor, physical, and mental conditions. To help patients adjust to
new physical realities or live more independently with their conditions, Independence
Medical Center has two occupational therapists (OTs) on staff. The OTs assess, treat, and
educate patients so that they can make the changes they need in their work and home to
live with their condition more fully.
Both OTs help patients to:
• Live independently
• Dress, groom, and feed themselves, as well as other daily activities
• Improve their hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills
• Increase function with splints or casts
• Improve visual and motor skills
Physical Therapy
Physical therapists work in departments throughout Independence Medical Center to
help patients recover from surgery, injuries, and other interruptions of normal physical
functioning.
Operative Services
After surgery, many patients need to sit up, stand up, and walk with some assistance to
rebuild strength and keep injured areas mobile. Our licensed physical therapists come to
the bedside and consult with physicians to create a course of activities that will restore
range of motion and strength as patients recover. They also teach patients how to get
out of bed, go to the bathroom, and do other daily tasks safely while they recover from
surgery.
Specialty Consultation
Neurological disorders, balance and gait problems, and other conditions often have
a mechanical component. Physicians in specialties such as neurology, orthopedics,
spine, occupational therapy and others consult with physical therapists to treat patient
conditions and enhance recovery.
Emergency Room
Therapists help patients admitted to the ER with broken bones, sprains, joint injuries,
vestibular disturbances, and accident-related injuries or conditions.
Respiratory Therapy
For relief from diseases of the chest, lungs, and respiratory system, Independence
Medical Center’s Respiratory Therapy Department is second to none. Our respiratory
therapists teach patients breathing techniques, apply interventions such as chest
physical therapy, nebulizer treatments, and oxygen therapy, and assess breathing
problems with a number of diagnostic tests.
Among the respiratory or pulmonary conditions we treat are:
• Asthma
• Bronchitis
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Emphysema
• Pneumonia
• Respiratory complications from heart attacks, trauma, cystic fibrosis and lung cancer
Speech Therapy
Independence Medical Center’s Speech Therapy department features experienced
speech language pathologists who perform diagnostic tests and assessments to
determine the nature and extent of a patients’ speech and language disorders. They have
extensive education and experience in an extensive list of disorders.
Whether the condition is physiological or neurological, developmental or acquired, our
speech pathologists are trained in many interventions to improve patients’ speaking and
swallowing:
• Augmentive/alternative communication
• Neuromuscular stimulation
• Flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallow (FEES) testing
• Modified barium swallow study testing
• Alaryngeal communication
Our speech pathologists have worked with patients presenting with speech problems
related to stroke, aphasia, stuttering, dysarthria, and many others.