The Salem Township Hospital Board was told Wednesday afternoon that the hospital has repeated as a Five Star Hospital for patient satisfaction from the federal Medicare program.
Hospital Interim President and CEO Lisa Ambuehl made the announcement.
“They look at your surveys that come in from patients and past patient experience and how they rate us as a hospital.”
Ambuehl complimented hospital departments and employees for achieving the honor.
Ambuehl also reported a new $400,000 contract has been implemented with Blue Lines Solutions to provide security services.
“It provides a 24-hour security person here armed to help facilitate doing hospital checks in certain areas 24 hours a day. Being able to de-escalate any issues that come in with upset people or behavioral type issues.”
Ambuehl says the hospital began looking at the need for such a service following several incidents in the emergency room where unruly patients had arrived but notes those kinds of problems could happen elsewhere in the hospital. She reports the staff is very happy with the addition.
Ambuehl reported the Hurst Group has been very responsive as the search gets underway for a new President and CEO. She says they have advertised in various industry publications and have forwarded any applications submitted locally to be vetted by the company. Those found qualified and meeting the hospital’s goals for a new President/CEO will first have a phone/Zoom interview with the hospital board. For those who the board is still interested in will then be invited to the hospital for an interview. No timetable has been set for trying to get a new President/CEO in place.
The board approved the purchase of a third ultrasound machine because of increased volume and a third trained person being added to the department. While the machine was not budgeted, the board was told it would mean more revenue and a backup if one of the other machines went down.
At the beginning of the meeting, the hospital board reorganized with Sandi Phillips re-elected chair, Mike Morton as vice-chair, and Susan Knapp as secretary.
