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Jan. 15, 2024
A Milestone Year at Regional West
The New Year has officially arrived, and we have a special celebration ahead. April 15, 2024 marks the 100th anniversary of Regional West Medical Center, making this a time of reflection and excitement for things to come.
Over the last century we’ve seen incredible change, but I’d like to note some of our recent accomplishments and works in progress. We realized substantial cost savings; expanded physician, provider, and nurse recruiting; and improved transparency and communication. In November, Regional West Emergency Medical Services (EMS) took over the ambulance service in Scotts Bluff County. This is the first time in the history of Regional West that all emergency services (ground, rotor, fixed-wing aircraft, and the Emergency Department) have been under one executive director. We continue to work on the revenue cycle, facility-wide cleanliness, and employee morale.
2024 brings expanded cardiology offerings and enhanced cancer services at Regional West. In October, we will transition to the nation’s most widely used electronic medical record software company. If you would like to read more about 2023 in review, click here.
No hospital reaches 100 years without challenges. However, each one of us plays a special role in laying the foundation to a great future.
Thank you for being part of our history.
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Throughout 2024, Regional West will celebrate the 100th anniversary of caring for the people of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota, and Wyoming.
On April 15, 1924, the West Nebraska Methodist Episcopal Hospital opened at the corner of 18th and Broadway in Scottsbluff with a staff of 25. During the last 100 years, much has changed on our campus, in our community, and in our region. Although Regional West Medical Center is now a regional referral center and the state’s only Level II Trauma Center west of Kearney, at our roots we have always been a community hospital ― paid for by the community, supervised by a volunteer board of local citizens, and improved by contributions from volunteers and friends who continue to donate their time and talent in order to provide quality healthcare for the future.
Click here to read more!
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Happy New Year!
As I reflect on 2023, I am grateful for each employee and the work you are doing. Being a healthcare professional is not easy; however, rewarding work never is.
It seems that the rewarding feeling from our accomplishments is often proportional to the amount of difficulty we encounter. There are already challenges we are prepared for in 2024 (Epic is one example), and there will certainly be unplanned challenges. I hope you all feel accomplishment throughout this year. We will win!
I am excited to share the Patient Experience Fabulous Four for Dec. 2023:
- Orthopaedics - 95th percentile
- Ear, Nose, & Throat - 93rd percentile
- Internal Medicine, Gering - 63rd percentile
- Internal Medicine, Scottsbluff - 62nd percentile
Thank you for all you do for our patients and for Regional West!
I would also like to share this compliment directed to Traci De Los Santos in the Internal Medicine clinic: “Traci is a gem; do not ever lose her. She is literally the BEST!”
Thank you, Traci, for providing such a good experience for this patient.
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Regional West welcomes Kaycee, our first baby born in 2024!
Click here to learn more about this adorable bundle of joy.
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2024 is off to a great start with our new Stryker beds and Amico bassinets! We received 60 inpatient beds, four labor and delivery beds, and 15 bassinets. I want to give a big thank you to everyone who helped move, stage, or set up beds last Tuesday. Our Stryker reps commented that it was one of the smoothest deliveries they've witnessed, and that is because of everyone’s hard work!
There will be Stryker bed information sessions from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 17 and Thursday, Jan. 18 in the Keith Room. Please plan to attend at least one session. We plan to see our four bariatric beds and stretchers in February or March.
It’s exciting to start out the new year with new equipment. Please remember that we have to take care of our equipment so we can keep everything like new and provide excellent patient care.
The new year also comes with making changes and resolutions. This year, I’d like us to focus on being the change and driving positive change. Most of our areas of opportunity are easily fixable, such as being kinder, following safety checks, and using our tools and resources to provide great care. We need to make all of these things common practice. Every interaction with our patients counts. Make each one meaningful and positive.
I am excited to spend time on the units and continue to help make positive changes for our employees and patients. Let’s make 2024 great!
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Things just got comfier at Regional West. Thanks to a generous donation from Regional West Foundation, our facility received new Stryker beds on the inpatient nursing floors!
Click here to read more about these new additions.
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In last year’s employee survey, one of the key focus areas was improving communication. The leadership team at Regional West hears you, and that’s why we’re taking action on employee concerns. Starting with this newsletter, we’ll be sharing updates on the concerns that matter most to you.
Parking
One area we’ve focused on is parking. Over the past few months, we’ve added more handicapped parking spaces to help our patients find spots close to the facility. We have also designated the north parking lot as employee parking on weekdays from 5 p.m. to 6:30 a.m., as well as on weekends and holidays. Click here to view the weekday business hours parking map, and click here to view the weekend, holidays, and evening hours parking map.
Cell Phone Use
Cell phones are great for staying connected with our family and friends, but it’s important to use them wisely while we’re at work. Please remember to limit excessive cell phone use while you’re working; this can include placing personal calls, texting, and browsing the internet. Our cell phone use should never interfere with patient care. To learn more about Regional West policy 205.0.14 on Cell Phone and Social Media Use, click here.
If you have other questions and concerns you’d like us to address, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your director or manager. Thank you for all you do!
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Going into 2024, Regional West’s monthly operating margin trends are on the climb. After seeing a significant dip in fiscal year 2022, 2023 showed much improvement. We will continue to work on areas such as the revenue cycle and cost savings to realize more financial gain throughout this year.
Thank you all for helping make positive contributions to our bottom line!
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Regional West Medical Center’s Acute Rehabilitation Unit (ARU) recently earned a three-year reaccreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), as well as special accreditation from CARF as a certified Stroke Specialty Program.
Click here to read more!
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Regional West’s Bariatric & Weight Loss Surgery program is now offering a monthly
in-person support group! Join us on the first Wednesday of the month from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Scotts Bluff I Room to make friends and get the support you need. Patients, support persons, or others interested in learning about weight loss options are welcome to attend.
Please enter through the Emergency Department entrance. For more information, contact Bariatric Coordinator Amber Schulze, FNP-C, at 308-630-3812 or email her.
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Hair loss from cancer treatment can be a difficult part of a woman’s cancer journey. Thanks to Jane’s Closet, a service of Box Butte Health Foundation, women shopping at Regional West’s Emma’s Closet now have an even greater selection of wigs.
Click here to read more about this generous donation from one closet to another.
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Join us in recognizing our employees who celebrated milestone work anniversaries in December. Thank you for your dedication to our patients. YOU make a difference! | |
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5 YEARS
Brettni Heldenbrandt – Orthopaedics
Penelope Shepherd – Orthopaedics
Yesenia Morales – The Village at Regional West
10 YEARS
Anthony Krajewski – Air Link
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20 YEARS
James Hawley –
Clinical Technologies Management
Lenae Snyder –
NS 3rd Med Surg East
25 YEARS
Ginny Ostdiek –
Human Resources
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Regional West is proud to announce that the
Women’s Center was recently awarded another three-year ultrasound practice accreditation from the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM). Click here to read more!
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Click here to go to the intranet and scroll down to learn more about crucial conversations and the latest Relias class offerings! | |
Congratulations to our winners from West Nebraska Blood Center’s employee blood drive! These ladies took home gift bags filled with a variety of prizes. Thank you for donating the lifesaving gift of blood! | | |
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Emma’s Closet in Regional West’s Cancer Treatment Center offers free wigs, hats, and scarves to women fighting cancer. Behind the scenes, Scottsbluff High School’s cosmetology class works to wash and style the wigs that go to Emma’s Closet. From crafting voluminous curls to straightening long, sleek locks, these students play an integral part in helping our patients look and feel their best. We are so grateful for their time and talents!
If you’d like to learn more about Emma’s Closet, or wish to donate wigs, hats, or scarves, call 308-630-1348 or click here.
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We are excited to welcome a new physician to Regional West. Check out the start date below to see when she will join us. | |
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Neurology
Ana Delgado, MD - Jan. 22, 2024
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We want to hear from you!
Please let us know what topics you'd like to see in future issues of the newsletter. We want to hear your thoughts to help make Regional West exceptional. Click here to let us know what you think!
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