Participating in the certification presentation (Front)
Penny Burnside, RN, MS, Trauma Systems Administrator, West Virginia Bureau of Public Health, Steve Whited, COO, CFO Minnie Hamilton Health System. (Back L-R) Vicki Hildreth, Emergency Medical Services for Children Coordinator, Trudy Anderson, Emergency Department Nurse Manger, Sandra Ellis, Risk Manager, Critical Care RN, Rocki Louden EMS TSN, Bill Ellis, Director of Emergency Services.
Playing a key role in attaining this designation but not pictured are Kim Houchin, Chief Nursing Officer, Critical Care Transport RN, Leann Newell, Patient Care Coordinator, Discharge Planner, Critical Care Transport RN, Matt Siwicki, Pharmacist and Chad Smith, Medical Director of MHHS Emergency Department.
The Federal Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) Program is designed to ensure that all children and adolescents, regardless of where they live, attend school, or travel, receive appropriate care in a health emergency. This program is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration's Maternal and Child Health Bureau. Since its establishment, the EMSC Program has provided grant funding to all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories.
Within the EMSC Grant, West Virginia is responsible for meeting Performance Measures 74 and 75. These two performance measures are designed to ensure that a statewide, standardized system exists in which all hospital emergency departments demonstrate an established plan and/or the ability to manage medical and trauma pediatric emergencies.
Steve Whited (left) Chad Smith, MD (right)
"Minnie Hamilton Health System is honored to be the first to complete the program. We compliment the staff on their commitment to complete this training and meet the educational requirements including writing policies, and passing the survey with flying colors," said Steve Whited, COO, CFO.
"This is just another way for Minnie Hamilton to be ready to care for all ages, from the youngest to the oldest," said Chadwick Smith, MD, Emergency Services Medical Director.
In meeting the Performance Measures, West Virginia has developed the Always Ready for Kids (ARK) project. The goal of ARK is to create an effective and sustainable method to ensure that children who need treatment for life threatening illnesses or injuries have access to appropriate facilities, equipment and trained personnel.
Becoming an ARK recognized facility is a positive occurrence for both the hospital and community. Benefits include:
· Creating a culture driven to continue improvement of pediatric patient outcomes, availability of equipment, services, and up-to-date treatment policies and protocols.
· Increasing the public's confidence in overall quality of a hospital's ability to address medical needs of children.
· Recognizing physicians, nurses, specialists, and other clinical staff for their knowledge, abilities, and commitment through their employment in an ARK recognized facility; therefore demonstrating a solid hospital-wide commitment to excellent health care of West Virginia's pediatric population through their support of the ARK project.
· Increased exposure in your community as a facility prepared for addressing critical pediatric needs during a medical or trauma emergency. This will be visible in the form of a plaque displayed in your facility's emergency department and through listing your facility on the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, West Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services' website, and, additionally through promoting this accomplishment through local and/or statewide media outlets.
· Utilizing it as a recruiting and marketing tool to attract high quality physicians, nurses and other healthcare specialists.
· Enhancing potential educational and grant offerings developed for rural hospitals and staff.
Each facility that achieves 100% compliance on "Essential" elements and 70% on "Desired" elements will receive ARK recognition. Compliance with guidelines will be determined through an onsite visit. The site evaluation team will consist of staff from the West Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services, EMS for Children Advisory Committee, and others as deemed appropriate.
Through hard work of the Emergency Room Staff and EMS Team and Administrative professionals, Minnie Hamilton Health System is the first hospital in West Virginia to receive this designation.
For more information on the many services available at Minnie Hamilton Health System, call 304-354-9244.
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