CMO Notes
Matthew Miller, MD
Chief Medical Officer, WCHN
I know it’s getting darker outside but I think things are looking brighter around here!
After a long and careful process, both our Medical Staffs have approved a new version of our bylaws that will govern us when we are finally approved for single licensure. That may be a ways off yet but we’ve done our part.
Meanwhile, there is a new version just for Danbury Hospital that went into effect on October 1st. It brings our documents to best in class. We’ve discussed highlights before but the new version is now findable on the intranet page under the Medical Staff section.
Credentialing Policy
http://interactive.danburyhospital.org/Docline/documents/Credentialing
ManualBylaws.pdf
Medical Staff Bylaws
http://interactive.danburyhospital.org/Docline/documents/DHMedical
StaffBylaws.pdf
Organizational Manual
http://interactive.danburyhospital.org/Docline/documents/Organ
Manual.pdf
In the meantime, we continue to find ways for our two Medical Staffs to collaborate better. The plan to support general surgery across the network is coming together and will be discussed more in the next issue. We have finalized a simple ‘one-call’ transfer arrangement for any patient from New Milford whose doctor feels the patient’s care should managed in Danbury.
In this issue you can read about our looming merger with Norwalk Hospital, some long awaited new directions for marketing, legislative updates, increasing activity (and value) within our Physician Health Organization (PHO) and the Accountable Care Act’s impact on us with the Health Exchanges starting to enroll members.
Our New Challenges
We are all aware that the medical staff faces clinical, organizational and financial challenges in the transition from fee for service to an accountable care model. WCHN and its PHO are developing a range of support initiatives to help physicians and their practices successfully manage the transition. We will report on these support initiatives in our next DOC-Line.
WCHN Capital Campaign – My Special Appeal:
Before closing, I need your help. As you know, we are in a $50 million capital campaign to support the Danbury Hospital Tower project and the new ED at New Milford Hospital—among other priorities. To date, we have realized $40 million. A local philanthropist, who recently donated $10 million, will invest an additional $20 million but only if we hit our goal! Our hospitals are your hospitals and our Emergency Departments are your Emergency Departments. This is where your patients receive care. I know you have pride in our organization. That new tower will create a great space for inpatient care, critical care and emergency care, and the new ED in New Milford will be a magnet for urgent and emergent care for that community.
Here are the numbers. It’s a $50 million dollar campaign with $40 million collected and $10 million to go over the next 10 months. That’s a million a month. There are a lot of people out there trying to raise that money, including Jeet Sandhu who has led the physician campaign. We clearly have a ways to go.
I’m not asking you to give the big bucks (although that would be nice). I’m asking for all of you to give something. The President’s Club would be terrific but something would be invaluable---even if it’s just $250 bucks. And here’s why. Those hard working fund raisers want to tell the donors that our Medical Staff supports the campaign. It means a lot. The fact that only 11% of our Medical Staff is nothing to brag about, especially noting that over a third of the hospital employees have contributed. So please, pull a few bills from your wallet or write that check or just give us your credit card #, or sign up for a payroll deduction. I’ve put a link here (https://1460.thankyou4caring.org/page.aspx?pid=298) that will assist you and I’ve also listed, (http://interactive.danburyhospital.org/Docline/documents/
MedStaffCampaignDonors.pdf) with thanks, those of you who have already contributed. If you have any questions, please contact Jeet or the Foundation Office at (203) 739-7227.
It’s important. Thanks
Matt
Take a Virtual Tour of DH's New Emergency Department: Look Inside!
Next spring, the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Emergency Department at Danbury Hospital will open to the public, more than doubling our capacity to provide state-of-the-art emergency care to the community.
Click here for the virtual tour of the new Emergency Department
|
