Murphy Medical Center, a 57-bed hospital in Murphy, NC, serves a seven county area of western North Carolina, northern Georgia and eastern Tennessee.
MMC Corporate Ethics
Because of our responsibilities as a health care provider, employer and community health resource, MMC has a concern for ethical conduct and practices that goes beyond the minimum legal, accreditation and regulatory standards. We provide a broad range of patient care, education, community service and business roles. These functions demand that MMC conduct itself in a manner that demonstrates integrity and justifies public trust.
Our Code of Corporate Ethics helps define the inevitable ethical issues that MMC Leadership must address as they strive to balance the needs and values of the institution, individual patients and their families, physicians and other caregivers, employees, vendors, payers, regulatory agencies and the community as a whole.
Our Corporate Ethics Employee Pledge is our statement of support for these principles:
Mission: To provide our communities high quality, patent-centered care
Vision: To be the provider of choice and the employer of choice
Values: Integrity, Accountability, Teamwork, Service
· I agree to this mission, vision and values statement.
· I know that MMC’s policy is to provide high quality patient care regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, gender, sexual orientation, age or financial ability.
· I will respect patient confidentiality, privacy, safety and comfort.
· I will be respectful and honest in my relationship with patients, fellow employees, regulatory agencies, vendors and the public.
· I will do my part to ensure a safe workplace and one free from physical, verbal and sexual harassment.
· I understand that I must comply fully with all local, state and federal laws, regulation and accreditation standards. I know that I must be accurate, honest and thorough in record keeping related to my job.
· I understand that all business transactions should be properly authorized and reflect the best interests of MMC.
· I understand that I may not accept gifts, favors or other items of value from anyone whose motivation is to receive special treatment.
· I understand that MMC is dependent upon community confidence and support and that, as an employee, I am accountable to the public for the wise and careful use of MMC
MMC’s interdisciplinary Ethics Committee meets quarterly to review policies and procedures related to ethical issues, to educate its members about ethical issues, to provide consultation regarding submitted ethical concerns, to review cases with ethical issues and to determine how best to educate staff regarding ethics.
MMC’s Corporate Ethics Help Line provides a confidential mechanism for reporting concerns and questions when there is evidence that these standards are being compromised. This phone number is 828-835-7668 and is printed on every “Mission, Vision and Values” statement posted throughout the facility.
The Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act
The Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPPA) is a federal regulation that guarantees patients a right to privacy and a right to access their protected health information.
You are only allowed to access, discuss, and/or release patient information if you are directly involved in the patient’s care or need the information to perform your job.
· Do not discuss patient information in public places.
· Shred all documentation that includes Protected Health Information (patient name, date of birth, Social Security number, address).
· Do not share information with family over phone unless you are certain who you are speaking with.
· You may share information with family members who are involved in the patient’s care unless the patient has requested otherwise.
Nursing Department Philosophy
“We, the Nurses at Murphy Medical Center, are a team committed to providing safe, quality, compassionate care to our patients, their families and our community. We are professionals
dedicated to exceptional nursing practice. “
The nursing units at MMC include the following:
Medical Surgical
The Medical Surgical Unit is a 40-bed inpatient unit. This unit serves adults and children who are hospitalized to receive medicines, treatments, or are recovering from surgical procedures.
The Med-Surg Unit nursing staff has a wide variety of training and experience. Some of our nursing staff have achieved national certification in their specialty and have been recognized for their expertise in the field of Medical Surgical Nursing. Staff participates in educational activities to maintain competence, increase knowledge and develop advanced skills.
We believe that each patient has the right to receive quality care based on individual needs. Patients, families and significant others are involved in establishing priorities for care that best meets their needs. Med-Surg Nurses work with a multidisciplinary clinical team, including physicians, case managers, physical, speech and occupational therapists, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, our dietitian, and certified nursing assistants to develop an individualized plan of care for each patient.
Our goal is to provide efficient, quality, individualized, and comprehensive nursing care. Our caring and compassionate Nurses are committed to making a difference to our patients and their loved ones.
Same Day Care Unit
Dr. Helen Wells Same Day Care Unit provides a variety of services to patients of our community including pre-operative care, outpatient surgery care, infusions, injections, endoscopy care and other special procedures. Our competent staff of RNs, CNAs and endo techs provides friendly, efficient, quality care.
Pre-operative interviews allow a one-stop preparation for surgery and an opportunity to have questions answered to assure patients are ready for surgery. Advances in surgical techniques have made it possible for patients to have a variety of surgical procedures performed in an operating room setting and return to the comfort of their homes on the same day. Our caring staff provides for patients’ postoperative needs and education to prepare them for self care at home.
Same Day Care RNs provides care for patients who need chemotherapy, injections, infusions, and transfusions in an efficient, caring environment. Other special procedures may also be performed in this area.
The Endoscopy Suite uses modern equipment in a friendly and convenient location for your endoscopic needs. Procedures include bronchoscopy, colonoscopy, upper G.I. endoscopy, sigmoidoscopy and transesophageal echocardiogram. The staff is dedicated to your comfort and safety.
Our staff of highly skilled, progressive physicians, RN’s and surgical technicians provides quality perioperative care to patients of all ages. Our newly renovated Surgical Suite, with four fully equipped operating rooms, is designed to keep pace with the continuing advancements in surgical procedures and technology. Surgical specialties include: General, OB/Gyn, ENT, Urology, Ophthalmology, Dental, and Podiatry.
Our Anesthesia Staff work closely with the surgeons and patients in selecting each individual patient's anesthesia needs. They also provide Epidural anesthesia services for laboring mothers and Post-op pain management.
Murphy Medical Center's Emergency Services provide quality care in a timely manner to more than 14,000 patients that seek care annually. The department is staffed 24 hours a day by Physicians, Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, RN's and clerical support.
Emergency Room
The Emergency Services staff is capable of instituting essential life saving measures and implementing emergency procedures that will minimize further compromise of the patient being admitted or transferred. A special triage area is designed to prioritize patients based upon the seriousness of the emergency.
Air ambulance services from Atlanta, Knoxville, Chattanooga and Asheville are available to provide rapid transportation of patients to major hospitals in critical/trauma situations. These air ambulances are fully equipped with sophisticated life-support systems.
The department sponsors the Advanced Life Support pre-hospital care program for Cherokee and Clay counties, and is responsible for medical control and quality improvement. The Emergency Services physicians serve as the supervisory physicians for the Mid-Level Practitioners at the Murphy Medical Center Urgent Care Center, and the hospital serves as their referral and consultation center.
Intensive Care Unit
Murphy Medical Center's Intensive Care Unit is a 6-bed unit that specializes in the comprehensive care of critically ill patients. Our Registered Nurses provide close observation, monitoring and care for patients with acute conditions. The staff is trained to provide immediate recognition of potentially life threatening complications and promptly institution treatment as indicated by the patient's assessed needs.
Maternal-Infant Unit
More than 4,000 babies have entered the world at Murphy Medical Center since it opened in 1979. Family centered care provides for laboring patients, antepartum patients, and mother/baby couplets in our four beautiful birthing suites. Competent Nurses certified in advanced fetal monitoring and NPP care for all mothers and infants.
Operating Room and Post Anesthesia Care Unit
Our modern 4 bed operating room suite provides up to date surgical procedures in general surgery, orthopedics, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, podiatry, obstetrics and gynecology. Last year, 2,320 surgeries were performed at Murphy Medical Center.
Organization of Unit Patient Care Personnel
The staff who works on the unit fulfills varied responsibilities. Some of the staff you will encounter includes:
Registered Nurses
RNs plan, implement, and evaluate nursing care, and assume a leadership/supervisory role.
House Supervisor
The House Supervisor is responsible for management of the facility at nights, on weekends and holidays when Administration is not present.
Licensed Practical Nurses
LPNs perform routine patient care assignments and receive supervision from the RN,
Certified Nursing Assistants
CNAs provide assistance for Licensed Nurses in meeting routine physical or comfort needs of patients. They obtain vital signs, assist with ambulation and personal hygiene, and provide nourishment. CNAs also assist nursing personnel in meeting technical and interpersonal needs of patients.
Health Unit Coordinators
HUCs are responsible to the Charge Nurse, and provide clerical assistance for the nursing unit. They assure that physician orders for patients are communicated to Nurses, answer telephones, perform errands, and maintain patient records.
Nurse Manager
Each clinical area has a Nurse Manager, who has 24-hour accountability for management of nursing care and patient care delivery. The NM directs, coordinates, and evaluates the performance and activities of nursing personnel, and is responsible to the Vice President of Nursing Services. The NM may have a Unit Supervisor, who assists in the administrative management of the unit.
Vice President of Nursing Services
The VPNS is the administrator in charge of all nursing services and nursing care at MMC. She is the chief nursing officer at our facility.
Other Personnel
Other staff on the units comes from a variety of service areas. These may include dietary workers, therapists, case managers, educators, radiology technicians, and housekeepers. Each employee wears a name badge that delineates his/her name and job title.
Staff Development
The Staff Development Department promotes the acquisition and application of knowledge and assists in verifying practice competencies of the nursing staff. Staff Development provides many services including
· A comprehensive, competency-based orientation program for new employees which prepares them to fulfill their job responsibilities
· Inservice programs which provide specific information or updates, such as policies/procedures, new products, regulatory standards, quality improvement findings, and safety/infection control management
· Continuing education programs designed to build upon the Nurse’s previous knowledge, attitudes or skills, to enhance nursing practice and improve healthcare
· Students and faculty are always welcome to attend any educational offerings at MMC.
Important Guidelines for Student Nurses
Standards
Note: Student Nurses are held to the standards of competent professional nurses when performing all nursing duties.
Uniform
Nursing students will wear appropriate uniform and name tag while on duty in this hospital. Lab coats are permitted and name badges are required when the student is picking up an assignment. Students are expected to follow other dress code policies of the hospital.
Parking
You should park in the back parking lot beside the Nursing Home. Do NOT park in any patient parking space at the front of the hospital and/or close to the entrances (ER, Radiology, Rehab, ICU, Lab). Lock your car.
Valuables
It’s best to leave your valuables at home. We do not have lockers to store your belongings.
Tobacco Free Campus
MMC is a tobacco free campus. No tobacco products may be used by anyone in the facility or on the grounds. MMC is a leader in helping our community to be a healthier place to live.
Reporting on and off duty
Upon arriving on the unit, report to the Primary Nurse. If unable to come to clinical, call your unit and ask for the Primary Nurse for your assignment. Give your name, school, and Instructor’s name and reason for absence.
Clinical Responsibilities
Students MUST receive a patient report from their assigned patient’s primary nurse. During report you will find out your patient’s needs, scheduled events, and status. Use the 24-hour Patient Summary for information. Communicate your clinical responsibilities as a student to the Primary Nurse assigned to your patients. Also discuss any issues, problems, or questions with any aspect of your patient’s care with him/her. It is imperative you notify this person when there is a decline in the patient’s condition, or if a problem with the patient, equipment, or medication arises. The primary nurse bears overall responsibility for verifying all nursing actions are completed in a safe and timely manner. The primary nurse must know exactly what aspects of care you provide, whether you need supervision in procedures, and the results of all your assessments and actions. You must report off to this person when leaving the floor for any reason and at the end of your duty.
Only your instructor will be able to enter the Pyxis for medications.
We promote active involvement of the patient and family in the health care process. At the beginning of each shift, with each patient to whom you are assigned, determine the patient’s goals and needs for that day. Do this by asking the patient and/or family, “What is most important to you about your care today?” Also determine the patient’s expectations in regards to relief of pain by asking, “On a scale from 0-10, where do you want your pain level to be?” Document this information on the white board in the patient’s room.
Clinical Technical Skills/Procedures - The Instructor or Primary Nurse must be present when you perform a procedure or technical skill. Your Instructor will provide guidance about any skills you may perform independently (example, vital signs).
Medications - Students are to demonstrate safe medication practices. This includes knowledge of the five rights, medication action, safe dosage for adults and seniors, side effects and special considerations for administration. Students are expected to read Nursing Medication Administration Policy and Patient Identification for Clinical Care and Treatment and any referenced policy prior to administering medications.