Mercy Clinics recognized as a national model of innovative primary

october 11, 2013 | Volume 13 | Issue 41
Mercy Clinics recognized as a national
model of innovative primary care
Mercy Clinics is among 30 clinic systems
nationwide selected as an Exemplary Primary
Care Practice by the Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation and Group Health Research
Institute, who have teamed up on a new
initiative to identify practice innovations that
make primary care more efficient, effective
and satisfying to patients and providers. The
Primary Care Team: Learning from Effective
Ambulatory Practices (LEAP) project
identifies primary care practices that have
focused on teamwork and new roles for health
professionals in ways that support consistently
outstanding primary care. Mercy Clinics was
selected through a rigorous national process
to receive the designation.
The goal of the LEAP project is to identify
and share innovative staffing arrangements
that make primary care more accessible and
effective for patients. A LEAP team recently
conducted a three-day site visit at the Mercy
Indianola Family Medicine and Urgent Care
clinic to understand how the Mercy Clinics
primary care team delivers high quality,
patient-centered health care.
“We are honored to be a part of this
innovative project,” said Dr. David
Swieskowski, senior vice president & chief
accountable care officer at Mercy Medical
Center – Des Moines. “For years we have
been working on improving our processes
to lead a positive transformation in the way
health care services are designed for and
delivered to our patients. These efforts are
not only essential to the health of our
patients and their families, but also to our
organization as a whole.”
Mercy Clinics will be influential in
developing creative workforce models that
will be disseminated to primary care
practices nationwide. As a 2008 recipient of
the American Medical Group Association’s
esteemed Acclaim Award, Mercy Clinics has
a strong history of improving the health care
delivery system in a primary care setting.
The programs and best practices already in
place at Mercy Clinics in the Des Moines
metro area will now be shared with other
health care systems to create the best possible
experiences and outcomes for all patients.
Mercy supports Healthiest State Initiative
Governor Terry Branstad, along with Mercy Cancer Center Medical Director Richard Deming,
officially proclaimed Oct. 9 as the Healthiest State Initiative Walk Day. Mercy is proud to support
the initiative and its goal to make Iowa the healthiest state by 2016.
Working on Wellness
Walk with Bob
Friday, Oct. 18 • 11:30 a.m.
East Tower entrance, Level B
Mark your calendars! Join new
President Bob Ritz and other members of
Administration, along with Des Moines
City Councilwoman Christine Hensley and
State Representative Ako Abdul Samad
as they lead a special Mercy Mile as part
of Iowa’s Healthiest State Initiative. Since
Gov. Terry Branstad launched the initiative
in 2011, Iowa has improved from 19th
to ninth in the Gallup-Healthways
Well-Being Index.
Walking is an easy way to get in some
exercise during the day and helps
improve strength and physical fitness.
Walking also slows mental decline,
improves sleep, lowers blood pressure
and reduces risk of stroke. Employees
are encouraged to stop and take a break
to participate in this special Mercy Mile
and invest time in their well-being.
Honor breast cancer survivors this October
To honor breast cancer survivors and show
support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month,
Mercy is engaged in a number of activities to
educate our community and promote the
unique services provided at Mercy. Below is
a quick summary of what is planned for the
month of October.
Marketing/Advertising Campaign
Mercy will be promoting the unique breast
services provided by Katzmann Breast Center
throughout the month with digital billboards,
newspaper ads, signage at Jordan Creek Mall,
radio spots on STAR 102.5 and LITE 104.1
FM, televisions spots on WHO-TV (channel
13) and online digital billboards and video
messages on WHO-TV.com.
staff and visitors. The Build Day will be held
on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2013, 9 a.m.-Noon, at
Mercy Cancer Center West Lakes, 12495
University Ave. in Clive.
Be inspired, then run with Team
Above + Beyond
Q: Why must ceiling tiles be in place
without cracks or holes?
Cancer Survivor Wall Dedication
Q: There is a piece of paper on the floor.
You should...?
We will honor a number of survivors with a
new display outside of 8 South. Come help
us celebrate on Monday, Oct. 21, 5:30-7 p.m.
New art graces entrance to Our Lady of Mercy
chapel on West Lakes campus
Mercy West Lakes announces
a wonderful new welcome for
guests entering the facility.
On the west end of the main
level, a beautiful piece of art
has been hung outside the
Our Lady of Mercy chapel.
Both the name of the chapel
and the image of the Blessed
Virgin are reflective of the
Sisters of Mercy’s heritage
and their sacred tradition of
seeking the intercession of
Mary for our patients, families
and staff.
As was addressed in last week’s
“Bulletin” newsletter, one of the areas
addressed in the upcoming Joint
Commission review is Mercy’s
“Environment of Care.” In preparation
for their visit to Mercy, here is some
additional information you should know.
Mercy has partnered with Above + Beyond
Cancer to offer cancer survivors and Mercy
staff an opportunity to be inspired by stories
of cancer survivorship and awareness and
participate in the IMT Des Moines Marathon
5K race. All are invited to join Above +
Beyond Cancer at special events on Oct. 18,
followed by a 5K run on Oct. 20. For tickets,
registration, and a complete schedule of
events, visit: AboveandBeyondCancer.org or
Ticketmaster.com or call (515) 999-0045.
Community Healing Garden Build
Mercy Cancer Center will be hosting a
“Build Day” as the first step step in creating
The Community Healing Garden – a
permanent garden space for our patients,
Learn more with Joint
Commission quizzing
Their work is seen across
North America, and we
are blessed to have the
generosity of donors to
enhance our sacred space.
A special thanks to
Deacon Dave O’Brien
and the Pastoral Care
department for their
guidance; to our donors
who supported the
Pastoral Care department
and Shannon Duval,
president of Mercy
Foundation, for
Response to the piece has been A new piece of art adorns the
stewardship of these gifts;
wonderful and has prompted a entrance to Our Lady of Mercy
to Diane Cummings and
Chapel on the West Lakes campus. her talented team in
number of questions. The art
itself is based on the 1903 work entitled “The
facilities who painted, reinforced and wired
Madonna of the Roses” by French painter
the area to make the installation possible; to
William-Adolphe Bouguereau. Mercy was
T.J. Moberg of Moberg Galleries, who
very fortunate to have the talents of Mosaika
patiently assisted in identifying just the right
– a design company specializing in the ancient
piece. Finally, thanks to all of you who
art of mosaic making – agree to transform this
affirm, each and every day, that Mercy’s
beautiful image into something unique and
work occurs on holy ground.
created especially for our Mercy ministry.
A: To contain smoke.
Q: Why can’t we have Christmas or
other holiday decorations on all doors?
A: To keep combustibles out of the
corridors.
Q: If you hear a gunshot, you will...?
A: Run away, hide and barricade
yourself.
A: Pick it up.
Q: Why is it important to keep black
medication waste containers closed?
A: To eliminate exposure to hazardous
medication waste and to comply with
the federal rules.
Q: Why is storage to be kept 18 inches
below the ceiling?
A: To allow fire sprinklers space to work.
Q: Why should corridors be kept clear?
A: It provides easy access to exits in an
emergency.
The Bulletin is published weekly for employees
and friends of Mercy Medical Center, 1111 6th Ave.,
Des Moines, Iowa 50314-2611.
Editorial Staff
Lisa Jones......................................... Editor
Mark Baldwin. . ............................ Contributor
Amy Bentz. . ................................ Contributor
Heidi Feltz.................................. Contributor
Allison Hay................................. Contributor
Gregg Lagan............................... Contributor
Matthew Meyer. . ......................... Contributor
Kaitlyn Summitt........................... Contributor
Sarah Todd.................................. Contributor
Laura Vanden Bosch......................... Director
Sara LeMosy. . .................... Graphic Designer
If you are interested in submitting information
to be printed in the Bulletin, send it to PR and
Marketing or call 515-247-3050.