Team LifeBridge - January 2017
Let's meet this month's representatives of Team LifeBridge!
Health Information Management Coders
The primary responsibility of LifeBridge Health's HIM coding professionals is to assign codes that describe a patient's care and diagnoses. These codes are stored and used to support billing, quality reporting, and reimbursement programs. "The use of coded data played a role in U.S. News & World Report's recent recognition of Sinai Hospital as a Best Regional Hospital and the High Performing scores that Carroll and Northwest hospitals received," says Mary Lou Bond, data quality manager for Sinai and Northwest hospitals.
All LifeBridge Health coders are certified. "Credentials range from the American Health Information Management Association's RHIT or CCS credential," says Carlene Hess, coding manager for Carroll Hospital and Levindale, "to the American Academy of Professional Coders CPC or COC." Certification ensures that the coders have met rigorous standards that demonstrate an understanding of coding, compliance and documentation. In addition to certified coders, the team also has support from coding liaison, Devon Wolinski. In the past year, these hard-working and dedicated professionals have coded more than 284,000 cases.
Sinai Hospital Support Services Committee
The Support Services Committee is composed of representatives from a variety of different departments at Sinai Hospital including facilities and maintenance, clinical engineering, pharmacy, supply chain management, EVS, campus services, patient experience, care management, patient and family services, radiology, pathology, transportation and telecom among others.
The committee was established with a specific purpose to improve patient experience by implementing best practice methodologies such as rounding. It also implemented standardized infrastructure to proactively support clinical team members, assess, diagnose and address areas of opportunity and concern.
The Support Services team is proud to facilitate a culture of communication and collaboration among clinical and non-clinical team members in an effort and to manage and exceed expectations.
Northwest Hospital Employee Advisory Committee
The Employee Advisory Council at Northwest Hospital recently expanded. Formerly the Employee Activities Committee, the group still plans fun outings and events for employees, such as its recent shopping trip to New York City, but it has also taken on a larger role at the hospital. 
Brian White, president of Northwest Hospital, personally asked this group of dedicated employees to be ambassadors for employee engagement. The council was very involved in the recent Pulse Check survey. The group, led by Kim Williams, Lisa Batchelor-Edwards, and Paulette Turner, will connect with employees at all levels and departments to garner feedback and ideas for 2017.
Carroll Hospital's 3 North Associates
Kudos to Carroll Hospital's 3 North Associates for their phenomenal care of patients and for achieving the ratings to prove it. For the past year, 3 North Associates on the hospital's orthopedics unit have been ranked in the 90th percentile or higher in all the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) scores, making it the highest performing unit in the hospital.
Other accomplishments these associates can be proud of include no patient falls and no pressure ulcers among patients over the past year, and having a zero percent vacancy rate.
Consisting of 12 associates (one technician and 11 registered nurses), the unit is responsible for taking care of patients who have had an orthopedic surgery and includes monitoring patients after surgery, managing their pain, working with orthopedic surgeons, occupational therapists and physical therapists and assisting patients in the unit's physical therapy gym. In all cases, Carroll Hospital's 3 North Associates have done an excellent job in communicating with patients and everyone involved in their care.
"They are a great group of associates who work well together and with other specialists," said Christine Bish, director of medical/surgical services. "I'm proud of this team and their dedication to quality patient care."
Tell Us About Your Team
Are you a member of Team LifeBridge? Would you like to see your team featured on our blog, Facebook page and the Bridge?
It's a great way for us to get to know each other and our organization better. Take a picture of your team, and email it and some information about your team to social@lifebridgehealth.org
We'd love to feature your team in the near future!