February 2008 : Vol. 2, No. 1

Message from the
Chief Medical Officer


For the first time, we are sending DOCLine electronically to everyone on the Medical Staff. Thanks to your cooperation in supplying your preferred email addresses, our list is almost complete. If you know anyone not getting these announcements, please tell them to contact me. And please let us know if your email address changes.


FEEDBACK

This is the third issue of DOCLine. We continue to structure this newsletter with categories of What's New, On-Board, Kudos and Keeping Up. To make the content manageable for you, we keep the text short, with links for further information if you care to dive deeper. But we don't want to work in a vacuum. If you have suggestions, comments, or criticisms, please let me know.

Matt

Echocardiography Services Attains 4th ICAEL Accreditation

The Echocardiography Services at Danbury Hospital earned its 4th tri-annual ICAEL accreditation for all three echo services in all four of its laboratories.


Hospital Earns American Stroke Association's "Get With the Guidelines" Silver Performance Achievement Award

Danbury Hospital has garnered the American Stroke Association's "Get With The Guidelines" Silver Performance Achievement Award. The award recognizes the Hospital's commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of stroke care by ensuring that stroke patients receive treatment according to nationally accepted standards and recommendations.

Hospital Wins Safety Award

HealthGrades has presented Danbury Hospital with its 2008 Distinguished Hospital Award for Patient Safety. The award reflects findings that place Danbury within the top 5% of the nation's hospitals. HeathGrades fifth annual Patient Safety in America study analyzed performance in 13 patient safety indicators.

World Health Organization Recognizes Hospital

Danbury Hospital's Center for Breastfeeding in the Department of Pediatrics has earned the designation of Baby-Friendly Hospital by the World Health Organization. Only 42 hospitals in the United States have earned this recognition. "The award places Danbury Hospital in very elite company, but more importantly it confirms that we are providing the best nourishment and clinical services to our newborns," said Jack S.C. Fong, Chairman of Pediatrics.


Hospital Completes Transformation of Electrophysiology Department

Electrophysiologists David Rubin, MD, and Robert Winslow, MD have joined the Praxair Regional Heart and Vascular Center completing the transformation of the nationally acclaimed Center into a full-service facility offering comprehensive advanced cardiovascular procedures.

Patients Have New Choice for Colonoscopy Prep

Danbury Hospital became the first hospital in Connecticut to offer colon hydrotherapy, a warm water infusion, as an alternative method to cleanse the bowel to prepare for a colonoscopy. Colon hydrotherapy is more convenient, quicker, and eliminates having to drink a gallon of liquid laxatives the night before.

Speech Pathology now Provides FEES to Outpatients

Danbury Hospital's Speech Pathology Department has expanded diagnostic services for patients with swallowing impairment. The department has been performing Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) studies for inpatients since October 2006. With the improvements in clinical decision making for patients with swallowing impairment, FEES studies are now offered to outpatients.

Patients to Receive Expanded Diabetes Education and Endocrinology Services

The Endocrinology & Diabetes Center of Western Connecticut will expand and improve its endocrinology services to patients. A physician and other staff will be added to educate and treat the growing number of patients with diabetes who require care.

Changes in Medicaid Preferred Drug List May Affect Physicians' Offices

As part of a major overhaul of the managed Medicaid program the Department of Social Services (DSS) has taken back the management of the drug formularies and established a single Preferred Drug List (PDL).

With this change you will be working from a different list of approved drugs. Prior approval may be required if a drug being prescribed is not on the PDL. To learn more contact DSS at www.ctdssmap.com or contact Joyce Hess at 739-8039.

Physicians' Offices to Receive EMR Survey

The Hospital's Information Technology group will be sending a web survey to your practice to gather information about Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) currently in use in the community.

Two patients, two adverse outcomes, and one likely malpractice litigation.

The two short cases below highlight the risks of poor communications and documentation. Systems to process and capture patient telephone calls exist, and can be easily incorporated into your practice to minimize your risk exposure and to improve patient care. Please read the cases and visit the attached link that provides guidelines for an effective telephone call management system.

New Focus on Welcoming Doctors to the Medical Staff

Each month DOCLine announces key additions to the Hospital medical and administrative staff. For medical staff information click "read more" and you will be able to pull up a complete list of all new physicians and allied providers. You may click further to access information sheets on each doctor. If you have questions please call Bonnie Boodee at 739-7966.

Patricia A. Tietjen, MD, has joined Danbury Hospital as Chair, Department of Medicine. A native New Yorker, Dr. Tietjen graduated from the State University of New York, Downstate Medical School in Brooklyn, and completed a residency in Internal Medicine at St. Vincent’s in New York, where she was also chief resident. She is fellowship trained in Critical Care Medicine from St. Vincent’s and in Pulmonary Medicine from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan.