Newman Regional Health is well into the re-accreditation process for its trauma center designation, and there are good early returns on that front.
Infection Preventionist Ester Knobloch says this goes well beyond the amount of trauma calls received by the hospital.
No deficiencies have been relayed to hospital administrators at this time. Final word should come early next year.
In addition, the hospital will have its fourth Daisy Award celebration at 6 pm Sunday at the emergency room waiting room. Director of Nursing Heather Aylward says this is a good way to recognize nurses for the work they do every day.
Meanwhile, Newman Regional Health Director of Business Development Steven Bazan says hospital leaders have met with a representative of Stormont-Vail Health as the Topeka hospital looks to build a “freestanding” medical facility in Emporia. Bazan says initial conversations in August revolved around a plan from Stormont to duplicate several profitable services, including cardiology, cath and gastrointestinal labs, endoscopy and orthopedics — a move that Bazan says would undercut the community hospital model Newman Regional Health is using to provide healthcare to everybody.
Bazan says plans could change and there have not been any conversations about services since the first discussion in August.
Stormont says it will bring state-of-the-art technology to town, consolidate its staff in a modern facility and provide a range of unspecified services to the area as part of a $32 million investment.
The Metropolitan Area Planning Commission will discuss Newman Regional Health’s proposed zoning code text changes at its meeting Nov. 21. Wednesday’s Morning Show interview is in the KVOE.com Audio Vault, as are previous interviews with NRH CEO Cathy Pimple and Stormont-Vail Regional Administrator Mary Martell.
