Wabash General Hospital, Mt. Carmel, was awarded the Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network’s “Excellence in Innovation” honor for its Joint Camp program during ceremonies held October 29th at the I-Hotel and Conference Center, Champaign, IL.
Participants vying for the award were encouraged to submit innovations implemented at their respective hospitals which initiated a new approach to improve patient relationships, implemented a new process flow or life-safety improvement, found a creative way to motivate and inspire staff, or fostered a successful community project.
Due to the large volume of total joint replacement patients and the decrease in the pain management domain on their patient satisfaction surveys, WGH Director of Rehab Services developed a Joint Camp program for all total joint replacement patients.
“The camp was designed to prepare patients for surgery and recovery, reduce anxiety, encourage participation in their recovery, educate them on pre- and post-surgical expectations, and improve outcomes and satisfaction in general, “ said Kim Pearson, RN, CPHQ, CPPS, QI/RM, Quality Director. “Wabash General Hospital has witnessed a decrease in the length of stay, longer distances ambulated, and improved patient satisfaction by the patients that have attended this camp. The decreased length of stay has been a cost-savings for both the patient and the hospital, and this improved patient satisfaction has increased referrals, so it’s a win-win situation for all involved.”
ICAHN is a network of 57 small rural Illinois hospitals dedicated to strengthening the operations of its member hospitals through collaboration. The organization is composed of Illinois hospitals who have earned critical access hospital designation by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. ICAHN is recognized nationally for its work with rural healthcare and administers several state, federal, and private healthcare programs. The ICAHN office is located in Princeton, IL.
