Emergency department expansion, renovation will enhance care

Leadership, teamwork pay off in successful trauma survey

Trauma program QI projects

Results of statewide hospital survey provide benchmarking data

New rules limiting residents' work hours will require increased efficiency

Lawyer and medical ethicist helps physicians, families navigate ethical dilemmas

ED expansion, renovation will enhance care

An emergency department expansion and renovation project set to begin next month will reduce patient wait times; enhance the hospital's bioterrorism preparedness; provide much-needed storage space; and create colorful treatment rooms designed for children.

Under the project, 1,700 square feet of office space behind the emergency department will be renovated and incorporated into the ED by year's end, increasing its patient-care space by about 25 percent and adding seven new patient beds for a total of 30. A pediatric emergency medicine director is being recruited, and plans call for additional pediatric personnel - including a child-life specialist, nurses and a social worker - to be hired later with funds donated by the community.

Trauma Survey

From left, trauma program manager JANET NEFF, clinical coordinator CAROL THOMSON and trauma program director DAVID SPAIN show a sampling of the extensive documentation they had to organize, create or consult in preparing for the American College of Surgeons' recent on-site survey. The survey resulted in full verification for the trauma program. See story.

 

MEDICAL BOARD SUMMARY

This new feature of Medical Staff Update will summarize the official actions taken at the previous month's medical board meeting. At its June meeting, the medical board:

Approved a new "Medical Staff Code of Professional Behavior." The code describes behavioral standards such as respect, honesty and integrity, that are expected of all medical staff members, and it specifies behaviors that are unacceptable, including abusive language and sexual harassment.

Passed a revised policy on point-of-care testing, referring to tests performed at the patient's bedside. The revised policy updates the list of lab tests performed at the point of care in Stanford and Lucile Packard Children's hospitals. It also expands the explanation of the testing site's responsibilities for compliance. For more information on these policies, call medical staff services at 725-6021.