SMH focuses on solutions, exceeds expectations

Stephens Memorial Hospital District made great strides overcoming in-house procedures in their blood lab, not only exceeding expectations but nearly two months ahead of schedule.

SMH Quality Management Director Ashley Woodrum said, “The issue actually has been resolved and that’s been three or four weeks ago.”

Chris Curtis, Practice Administrator of SMH said, “When I think what’s important, there are so many eyes on all of these things that they don’t go as incorrect procedures very long. We would like to assure our patients that the lab results they have been receiving are accurate and patient care has not been in jeopardy.”

Last summer SMH identified some inconsistencies in processes in the lab that were leading to a drop outside lab referrals. According to Clarity Lab representative Stacy Crumpler, “There was an issue with volume declining and calculations not calculating correctly.”

Curtis said, “If (we) see a range that (we) think is a little off, immediately, Ashley and I are visiting with the lab.”

“It was a process that needed to be fixed from the time that a (blood) sample was taken (until) the results (were related) to the physician,” Woodrum said. “There were just simple processes that we had to fix.”

Rhoda Graves, the interim lab director, put in place a 90-day process of training employees on the proper procedures of collecting and processing blood samples and running the lab correctly.

Woodrum said, “We’ve had multiple lab meetings with Ronnie Deal and his staff. (We were) just trying to figure out some of the issues. Ronnie is (no longer) here. I’ve met with Rhoda on several occasions and she’s definitely fixed some of the issues that we have had in order to get things where they need to be.”

“We are constantly, constantly looking at ways to improve,” said Curtis. “Even now, we’re still looking at ways to do better. We’ll never stop looking for ways to do things better. While we identified problems, we also identified solutions. I think that’s just as important to know is there was a problem, but there was also a solution.”

Christy Begeman is the chief nursing officer. Her involvement occurs on the inpatient side, the ER and some from the clinic. She said, “We have seen quicker turnaround times especially in the ER. The process has helped because we have fixed how to get those samples to the level quicker than we used to. They are now hand delivered to the techs and so it makes it a lot quicker process. (…) It’s so important to us to have those quickly so that doctors can make the right decision about what to do for the patient.”