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New “State of the Art” Diagnostic Equipment
During the last two years alone, over $1.4 million in technologically advanced imaging equipment has been added to the Department of Diagnostic Imaging, including an Eight Slice Computerized Tomography (CT) Scanner, an Ultrasound Recorder, a Bone Densitometer and a Cardiac Ultrasound Unit. In addition, in 2002 we brought Magnetic Resonance Imaging to the Hospital for the very first time and we now have MRI available on the Island every week.
Enhanced Emergency Care
The Emergency Department of today is a very different place than it was just a few years ago. Instead of part-time primary care physicians, the Emergency Room is now staffed by full-time board certified Emergency Medicine physicians, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The recent upgrades and digitization in emergency imaging equipment has enabled us to connect directly with our tertiary hospital partners in Boston for real-time consultations in any emergency. Beginning in the summer of 2004, to help alleviate the congestion during the busy summer months, we expanded the Emergency Room by adding two more exam rooms, added a second ER physician between the hours of 10 am and 10 pm, and implemented a new “fast track” system of triage to better categorize and accommodate patients with less serious illnesses and injuries.
New Critical Access Designation
In 2001 Martha’s Vineyard Hospital became the first hospital in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to receive federal designation as a Critical Access Hospital (CAH). This new CAH designation provides for a reimbursement rate from Medicare that is based on the actual cost of care provided. No longer will we be forced to accept payments for services that do not cover what it costs the Hospital to provide the care. In addition to helping our bottom line, the CAH designation allows us to explore new services that were previously financially impossible.
New Physicians
The need for more primary care physicians has long been a growing critical need on the Island. In response, Martha’s Vineyard Hospital has been actively recruiting additional primary care physicians for its staff during the last several years and will be adding yet another physician this year. In the Emergency Room, where we have instituted a policy of hiring only board-certified Emergency Medicine physicians, we have recruited 5 new physicians in the last four years. Additionally, two new general surgeons were added to the staff in 2002 and a new OB/GYN was hired in 2003 to head our newly created Women's Health Services Department. All told, there are now 65 physicians on the medical staff.
New Leadership
Over the last 4 years, a talented and dedicated team of senior managers and a new Board of Trustees has been assembled to formulate and implement the new vision for Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. This management team has brought a new spirit of collaboration and cooperation between the administration, the medical staff and the community at large in setting new standards and goals for the Hospital. Most important of all, has been the addition of our two Hospital leaders. In March 2002, John Ferguson was elected Chairman of the Board of Trustees and the following July, Tim Walsh was hired as Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Ferguson has over 31 years of hospital management experience; the last 18 years as President and CEO of Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC). Under his leadership, HUMC has undergone a total renaissance and become nationally renowned for its innovation and commitment to excellence. His clear vision and guiding hand have been invaluable. Mr. Walsh, after spending over 30 years in health care management in Boston, first joined the hospital in 2000 as Chief Financial Officer and was promoted to CEO in July 2002. Mr. Walsh’s strong belief in fiscal discipline, combined with a steadfast commitment to improving the quality of care, has brought unprecedented profitability and a renewed confidence in the mission of the institution.
New Relationships
We have continued to build upon our working partnership with Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston to enhance our diagnostic and emergency medicine services. In 2003 we executed a brand new contract with MGH to staff our Diagnostic Imaging Department with MGH Radiologists, as well as provide real-time consultations from Boston using a direct high-speed connection with their own Diagnostic Imaging Department. We have also renewed our contract with the Department of Neurology at MGH for our ground-breaking stroke protocol program. This innovative program involves the use of tele-medicine, whereby MGH neurologists 80 miles away can interview patients presenting at our hospital via high-speed television, while at the same time reviewing brain images sent directly to them from our CT scanner. In the spring of 2004, Martha’s Vineyard Hospital became a Planetree Hospital affiliate. Planetree is a patient-centered model of care, value-based and holistic, and integrates the best of western scientific medicine with time-honored healing practices.
Renewed Confidence
As the community has witnessed all the real and substantive changes within the institution, there is a renewed sense of confidence, not just within the Hospital but among all Islanders, that the Hospital is now on the right track and is truly committed to becoming the very best small community hospital that it can be. The Hospital leadership has been out in the community asking how we can become a better Hospital and keeping everyone informed of our progress. In return, the community has shown a renewed trust in the decisions and the direction of our Hospital. That trust has translated into new and unprecedented financial support. In each of the last 4 years, the hospital has received over one million dollars in donations in support of our mission.
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