August/September 2009 Volume 33 No. 8
On Sept. 1, the next big bang, called Platinum, will fold all SHC business systems, including billing and registration, into the EHR. Then on Oct. 6, the fourth and final Gold launch will set aside the paper and put 10 remaining outpatient clinics online. [See list]
Meanwhile, in order to assure as smooth a transition as possible, SHC leadership has announced that no changes will be made to existing Epic applications and related systems from Aug. 1 to Oct. 31. Exceptions for changes during this period must be refereed by senior hospital leadership, whose members will evaluate and then consider lifting the no change restrictions as early as the end of September if deemed safe. [more >>]
Candidates proposed by the nine-member nominating committee were Amreen Husain, a faculty gynecologic oncologist; Ami Laws, community internist; Lisa Shieh, faculty hospitalist; and Ann Weinacker, faculty associate director of SHC intensive care.
Election ballots will be sent to all active Medical Staff members via e-mail on approximately Sept. 16 after the MEC approves the slate of candidates. A brief waiting period is allowed for potential candidates not selected by the committee to petition for a place on the ballot, said Debra Green, director of medical staff services.
Election details will be updated on the Medical Staff website: http://medicalstaff.stanfordhospital.org/ [more >>]
Nurses can order pneumonia vaccine
Registered nurses at SHC may order and administer the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine to patients who meet applicable Center for Disease Control criteria.
The standardized procedure, approved by a succession of practice and safety committees and the Hospital Board of Directors at SHC, became effective Aug. 1.
Under the policy, RNs will do a screen assessment for contraindications including recent pneumonia vaccine and indications. If patients are screened as suitable candidates, the RN will order per this protocol and administer the vaccine, which will then be noted in the after visit summary.
The protocol is based on the evidence-based guidelines from the CDC. For indications and contraindications visit the CDC Website at: [click here]
