Readmission Reduction and Restructuring Rounding

Reducing avoidable readmissions improves patient outcomes and can result in significant savings in terms of the overall cost of care. Highland has introduced several initiatives to reduce hospital readmissions within 30 days of discharge. Two important initiatives are interdisciplinary rounding and the Six Touch Point Initiative introduced by Accountable Health Partners that you will read about in this issue, which is having groundbreaking results.

Highland Ethics Consultations Available to Providers

The Highland Ethics Committee is a multidisciplinary group formed to support providers who are struggling with ethical or legal issues for specific patient cases.  An ethics consultation is a review of circumstances brought to the Ethics Committee where the members provide information, suggestions and support to those involved in the case.

Department of Family Medicine Faculty Garner Awards

Colleen T. Fogarty, M.D., MSc, FAAFP, William Rocktaschel Professor and Chair of the Department of Family Medicine, was honored with a mentoring award from the Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman Award Trust at an October 19 ceremony in Atlanta, Georgia. The award honors faculty who have “inspired their former students to achieve greatness” and make a difference in their communities.

Highland Hospital Foundation Awards Highest Honor

The Highland Hospital Foundation presented the 2019 Heritage Award to Robert McCann, M.D., MACP, a long-time member of the Highland Hospital Board and former board chair, at a ceremony at the Monroe Golf Club in December.

Highland Hospital Medical Staff Announces Officers

Highland Hospital’s New Medical Staff Officers began their two-year terms this month. Colby Previte, M.D., is President; Timothy Lum, M.D. is President-elect; Keely Dwyer-Matzky, M.D., is Secretary/Treasurer, and Joseph Nicholas, M.D. is Immediate Past President.