Community Memorial Hospital

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The HealthGrades Joint Replacement Excellence Award™, which was presented to Community Memorial last fall, is the result of collected data that tells a real story of cooperation and accomplishment.

Every department in the hospital constantly strives for better outcomes and is willing to do more than its share in the effort to provide quality healthcare – from orthopedics to diagnostic testing -- close to home. In addition to the award, Community Memorial earned five star ratings for joint replacement, total knee replacement and total hip replacement and was rated the number two hospital in all of New York State (and among the top five percent nationwide) for joint replacement.

The award is based on results of the tenth annual HealthGrades (the nation’s leading healthcare rating company) Hospital Quality in America Study in which patient outcomes at virtually all of the nation’s 5,000 hospitals over the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 were analyzed.

National awards and five star ratings don’t just happen. They require talent and dedication and a willingness to work together and the unifying commitment that the patient comes first.

The effort begins long before a patient goes near an operating room. Let’s say someone visits a family practice physician with a complaint about a sore knee. The physician feels there may be a problem and makes a referral to a colleague at Hamilton Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine. Community Memorial Hospital is fully equipped to provide any diagnostic testing, from x-ray to CT scans to MRI, needed to determine a course of action.

If the patient requires surgery, he or she will need a physical from the primary care physician. An EKG is typically ordered and the cardiopulmonary department can conduct this test (plus a stress test and Echo test, if needed). Blood work is also ordered and the screening and typing can be done at the hospital laboratory.

A pre-operative interview is scheduled. Several days before surgery, a patient meets at the hospital with a nurse who gathers information and is willing to answer just as many questions as she asks. Much of the data needed for admission is completed at this time as well. In addition to being an important safeguard, the pre-operative meeting usually reduces the anxiety level.

The morning of the surgery the patient quickly checks in with admitting and is then directed to Ambulatory Surgery to be prepped. It can be a busy time. Nurses take vital signs, ask what procedure is being done and for a patient’s name and date of birth (more safeguards). An OR nurse will visit as will the anesthesiologist, the surgeon and probably a physician assistant. The circulating nurse, who works closely with infection control and the pharmacy, will start antibiotics shortly before the trip to the OR. The sedation is working once the gurney rolls and soon after passing through the double doors of the operating room most patients are asleep. Purchasing and Central Supplies have already ensured everything the surgical team will need is on hand and sterilized.

Once surgery is completed, patients are moved to the recovery room where they are closely attended by several nurses as they emerge from the anesthesia. Once a patient is alert and ready, he or she is moved either across the hall to the Special Care Unit or to the medical/surgical floor. Nurses monitor vital signs constantly, physicians will visit, cardiopulmonary personnel make an assessment and begin deep breathing exercises.

Someone from dietary stops by to discuss menus, housekeeping, the first line of defense against infection, is present. Behind the scenes, maintenance keeps a constant vigil to make sure the many pieces of a complicated infrastructure are in good working condition. The pharmacy works with the physicians to monitor medications and a hospitalist is available for consults. The lab performs daily blood draws, radiology is available as needed and physical therapy gets patients up and moving – a real key to a successful recovery.

A day or two following surgery social services begins creating a discharge plan, organizing continuing physical therapy, lab work, durable medical equipment, even in- patient rehab. Infection control works to ensure patients are free from hospital acquired infections and also monitors the health and well being of the staff. Inservice education makes sure staff is up to date on the latest procedures and Quality Assurance oversees all aspects of care in the hospital.

In the administration building, medical records puts a patient’s chart in chronological order, makes sure every detail of treatment is properly coded and meets regulations. The business office makes sure insurance companies are being accurately billed. Utilization Review provides the insurance company with concurrent review to monitor a patient’s progress so that the hospital can receive proper payment.

Finally, when a patient is discharged chances are a Hospital Auxiliary member is on hand to extend wishes for a speedy recovery.

Community Memorial Hospital has a reputation for clinical excellence because the people who work here are dedicated to providing quality healthcare close to home. In every department and every day the people of Community Memorial care for our patients.

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