Allen County Regional is in pretty elite company when it comes to making its patients happy. The hospital bested both state and national averages in patient satisfaction performance surveys conducted quarterly across 2014. OUTDOOR lighting along Kentucky Street is a concern for trustees.
Patients increasingly gave the local hospital good marks for the care they received. By year’s end the hospital’s overall rating for patient satisfaction was 76.9 percent, putting it just shy of being in the top third of the nation.
“We are really pleased our patients are pleased,” said Patty McGuffin, director of nursing, at Tuesday night’s meeting of hospital trustees.
The nationwide survey is called Hospital Compare, managed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, and can be accessed at www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov.
A new program to help senior citizens with mental health issues such as anxiety and depression will now begin in early June, said Ron Baker, chief executive officer of the hospital.
The geri-psyche program is called Senior Life Solutions and will be based out of the hospital on the west side.
It previously had been planned to operate out of the medical arts building to the east of the old hospital, but “we hit a snag,” said Baker. Only recently administrators discovered federal law requires the new program be either at least 35 miles away from the hospital to qualify as an off-campus facility or be located within 250 yards of the hospital to receive federal reimbursements.
“This may be a blessing in disguise,” said Larry Peterson, chief financial officer, who said the onsite location would garner higher reimbursements and be a more lucrative proposition.
Some juxtaposition will be required to accommodate the program, but administrators are confident the transition will be seamless.
Trustees began reviewing applications for a new CEO. So far they have six “strong” candidates, said Harry Lee, trustee chairman. Once they have narrowed the field, trustees and then local physicians will interview the candidates. Also, administrators with Hospital Corporation of America will interview job candidates.
“It’s best to have different groups meet with candidates because they each ask different questions,” said Paula Sell, director of human resources.
It is hoped to have Baker’s successor chosen by April. Baker, 58, has said he wants to retire by the end of May.
“It’s somewhat of a disappointment,” said Lee in his typically understated manner.
Baker said the city’s responsibility was to place lights only at street corners along Kentucky, but the intersections at Oregon and Miller roads are too far away from the hospital to do much good.
“It’s dark out there,” Baker said of the hospital’s rural setting.
Baker said he would investigate having additional lights added to existing structures.
Hospital gets high marks
