Pomerene Express gets rural health clinic status
Designation of Pomerene Express Care as a rural health clinic will allow expanded services to patients and move Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements to a cost-based system.
Pomerene chief financial officer Jason Justus Thursday, Sept. 22, informed the Pomerene Hospital board of trustees that express care has received rural health clinic status, a federal designation that allows the clinic to close more gaps in area provider coverage.
“It is designed to provide health care coverage in areas that have a shortage of facilities and physicians,” Justus said. “It expands our ability to bring in a wider scope of providers to give the care the community needs.”
The designation took two years to complete, Justus said. It further helps keep Pomerene Express Care viable by allowing reimbursements from Medicare and Medicaid based on the cost of providing the service, rather than a set rate.
“It is a better return because it is based on what it costs,” Justus said. “Most hospitals lose money on Medicare and Medicaid patients because of the fixed rate. It improves our overall financial picture when it comes to health care reform.”
Pomerene Express Care is located in Berlin.
In other business, chief nursing officer Nicole Kolacz said a diabetes education program is being developed at the hospital. A registered nurse with Pomerene will head the program, which will focus on providing education on diabetes during the patient’s stay with the hospital as well as follow-up.
According to CEO Tony Snyder, the idea is to empower patients to address their care needs.
“Hopefully with this program, we can keep those with this illness compliant in their care and out of the hospital,” Snyder said. “Too often, we see readmissions because the patient is noncompliant.”
The RN will obtain a diabetes education certification, Kolacz said. The program will be carried out with collaboration between physicians and staff.
The board further approved a recommendation by the medical executive committee to place certified nurse midwife (CNM) Debra DeHass Lehr on the hospital medical staff. DeHass Lehr will be the second CNM on staff, Snyder said, which now allows them to cover for one another during off days and vacations.
“This is really a patient satisfaction issue,” Snyder said. “If a mom has been through prenatal with a midwife, and they go into labor (when the midwife was not available) we have a physician with them. But it’s not what the patient wanted.”
The next meeting of the Pomerene Hospital board of trustees will be held Oct. 27.
Pomerene chief financial officer Jason Justus Thursday, Sept. 22, informed the Pomerene Hospital board of trustees that express care has received rural health clinic status, a federal designation that allows the clinic to close more gaps in area provider coverage.
“It is designed to provide health care coverage in areas that have a shortage of facilities and physicians,” Justus said. “It expands our ability to bring in a wider scope of providers to give the care the community needs.”
The designation took two years to complete, Justus said. It further helps keep Pomerene Express Care viable by allowing reimbursements from Medicare and Medicaid based on the cost of providing the service, rather than a set rate.
“It is a better return because it is based on what it costs,” Justus said. “Most hospitals lose money on Medicare and Medicaid patients because of the fixed rate. It improves our overall financial picture when it comes to health care reform.”
Pomerene Express Care is located in Berlin.
In other business, chief nursing officer Nicole Kolacz said a diabetes education program is being developed at the hospital. A registered nurse with Pomerene will head the program, which will focus on providing education on diabetes during the patient’s stay with the hospital as well as follow-up.
According to CEO Tony Snyder, the idea is to empower patients to address their care needs.
“Hopefully with this program, we can keep those with this illness compliant in their care and out of the hospital,” Snyder said. “Too often, we see readmissions because the patient is noncompliant.”
The RN will obtain a diabetes education certification, Kolacz said. The program will be carried out with collaboration between physicians and staff.
The board further approved a recommendation by the medical executive committee to place certified nurse midwife (CNM) Debra DeHass Lehr on the hospital medical staff. DeHass Lehr will be the second CNM on staff, Snyder said, which now allows them to cover for one another during off days and vacations.
“This is really a patient satisfaction issue,” Snyder said. “If a mom has been through prenatal with a midwife, and they go into labor (when the midwife was not available) we have a physician with them. But it’s not what the patient wanted.”
The next meeting of the Pomerene Hospital board of trustees will be held Oct. 27.
Published: September 23, 2011
