LRH DEVELOPING PATIENT AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT AS ANOTHER STEP TOWARD IMPROVED CARE

Those Interested Encouraged to Apply to be on Council

Spirit Lake, IA (August 31, 2015) - Lake Regional Healthcare (LRH) has a long history of dedication to providing quality care, as demonstrated through recent initiatives such as the new Birth and Surgery Centers, low readmission and infection rates, their State-wide Patient Safety Award, and high patient satisfaction scores. In an effort to continue striving toward high quality care, and realizing the importance of feedback from LRH patients and families regarding that care, they are in the process of organizing a Patient and Family Engagement. Comprised of community members willing to volunteer their time and LRH staff, Patient and Family Engagement is a partnership with LRH to improve quality of care, eliminate preventable errors, and integrate patients and families as partners in the care process.

LRH Quality Measures Specialist Michelle Roth said, “We at Lakes Regional Healthcare are grateful to be entrusted with the care of patients and families in our region and beyond. We want to continually improve so we deliver to our patients exactly what they are looking for from a health care provider. In order to be sure that we are meeting the needs of patients and families we care for, we need to and want to listen to them – their experiences, their ideas, their suggestions. Patient and Family Engagement is one way we plan to get their input.”

According to Roth, patients and families who are engaged in their own health care have better outcomes, lower chance of readmissions, and lower cost of health care. She said, “We believe this – that we can achieve the best outcomes when we partner with patients and families. Our ultimate goal is to provide the highest quality of care to every individual who entrusts us with their care, and consumers at the table will help us engage the community in our improvement efforts. We value the partnerships we have with patients and families, and our vision is to build on those partnerships through Patient and Family Engagement.”

Members plan to meet for about an hour on a monthly basis at first. Roth said, “We’ll meet on a day and time that’s mutually convenient for everyone. Over time we will likely meet less frequently, such as every three months. It depends on the topics we’re discussing at the time.”

Patient and Family Engagement members should:

- Enjoy working on a team

- Want to help LRH put patients first

- Be committed to improving quality and patient safety

- Want to strengthen partnerships with patient and families

- Be available to volunteer time

Those interested in being on Patient and Family Engagement can complete an application online at www.avera.org/lakeshealth/ or stop in LRH’s East or West entrances and pick up a paper application at the volunteer desks. Questions can also be answered by calling Michelle Roth at 712-336-8780.

# # #