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March 2005 |
Clarian West Medical Center opens smoothly
INDIANAPOLIS - United Methodist-related Clarian West Medical Center officially opened for business Dec. 14. By the end of that day, the hospital had logged its first patient, its first ED visit, its first surgery, and its first rehabilitation appointment.
But it was day number two that really opened some eyes.
"We had anticipated in many ways being able to ease into our operation," says Al Gatmaitan, Clarian West president and CEO. "However, on our second day, a nearby nursing home had to be evacuated when a water pipe burst, resulting in more than 20 patients being transported to our emergency department and requiring care overnight. It was truly a trial by fire - or water, as the case may be."
An eagerly anticipated "first"
One of the most eagerly anticipated "firsts" at Clarian West was the birth of a baby. The Maternity Center staff had to wait a couple of days, but at 10:22 p.m. on Dec. 16, Abigail Wyndham entered the world at West. She was the hospital's first child, and the Wyndams' first, too. Abigail's birth also launched what has become one of the first traditions to emerge in Clarian West's short history: When a baby is born, a few bars of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" play over the PA system announcing the good news.
Always prepared
Clarian West underwent its initial State Board of Health survey on opening day, and its initial JCAHO survey four weeks later.
"Being prepared to be surveyed that soon was actually a good exercise for us," says Lisa Sparks, quality/risk manager. "In addition to being yet another check and balance to make sure our processes and workflows are appropriate to provide excellent care, we are cognizant that announced surveys are a thing of the past, so we can focus on constant preparedness out of the gate."
High-tech IS low maintenance
"From an IS perspective, the most significant story to come out of our opening is that there really is no story to tell," says Gatmaitan. "A multitude of support personnel were in place to assist, yet the systems worked as designed and the staff understood how to utilize them to provide remarkable patient care from day one. We were able to function confidently and efficiently, a testament to the enormous amount of work done both behind the scenes and in training to prepare us to open our doors."
"The system in the ER is pretty cool, a lot more tech-driven than what I used at other hospitals," says Megan Crittendon, MD. "Clarian West is my professional home. This is where I want to stay, so I decided to embrace the system and it has really made my life easier."
Crittendon labels herself "tech-challenged," but with the training she received before the hospital's opening and onsite support since its opening, she now considers herself an advanced user.
Clarian's PACE (Partnering to Advance Clinical Excellence) project provides the environment and tools through Cerner Solutions to simplify demands and allow health care professionals to deliver the best medical care.
Learn more about Clarian West at west.clarian.org or link to West from the Clarian home page.
Last updated on 25 Apr 2008