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JULY 18, 2014 | VOLUME 14 | ISSUE 29

Mercy Health Network (MHN) Critical Access Hospitals (CAH) and their allied clinics will begin transitioning to value-based care thanks to a $10.1 million CMS Health Care Innovation Award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The 25 CAH facilities and 73 clinics are located in 37 counties in Iowa and Nebraska. They are affiliated with MHN members – Mercy Medical Center – Des Moines, Mercy Medical Center – North Iowa and Mercy Medical Center – Sioux City.

“This grant will have a major impact on care delivered in rural Iowa,” said Mercy Health Network President & CEO David Vellinga. “The creation of MHN in 1998 by Catholic Health Initiatives and Catholic Health East/Trinity Health began the process of integrating care in a way that improved access to existing services in order to improve quality, safety and help control costs. This grant will support continued efforts to develop targeted and innovative methods of care by collecting and using information on the overall wellness, chronic conditions and health care needs of rural Iowans.”

Mercy Des Moines Senior Vice President and Chief Accountable Care Officer Dr. David Swieskowski will lead the project, which has the potential to benefit rural care in other parts of the country.

“Critical Access Hospitals are vital to their communities and the Iowa health care delivery system,” said Dr. Swieskowski. “Most CAH facilities have had no involvement with Accountable Care Organizations (ACO), which will play a major role in developing health care delivery of the future. This grant will allow us to help CAH organizations build

an infrastructure that will allow them to begin gathering meaningful data on the people and communities they serve. This will position CAH facilities so they can participate in value-based care and become involved in the care redesign process. New resources will be available for coordination of care and the care of chronic disease to best meet the specific care needs of their patients. CAH facilities will also be able to benefit from shared savings generated by working with an ACO.”

More than 160,000 people could see benefits through better management of chronic conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. This project will use the in-clinic health coach model developed by Mercy Clinics in Des Moines. This model has been successful in delivering better care and controlling costs. It’s still being used successfully by Mercy ACO, with health coaches achieving good results through education, prevention activities and encouraging better medication adherence by patients.

Pictured are: Mark Nagel, Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau; Elaine Walter, Mercy Children’s Hospital & Clinics; Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds; Amanda Woods, Windsor Heights Police Department; and Brandi Thompson, Blank Children’s Hospital.

FIT station volunteers receive Governor’s award for safety efforts

On June 18, volunteers from the Des Moines FIT Station received a group volunteer award from the Governor’s office during a ceremony at Southeast Polk High School. The group is responsible for coordinating the monthly FIT Station at Bob Brown Chevrolet in Urbandale. For more than 15 years, the group has provided free car seat inspections and assisted with proper installation as part of their dedication to the safety of children in motor vehicles. Among those receiving the award was Elaine Walter, clinical resource nurse for Mercy Children’s Hospital & Clinics.

Rural areas to benefit from $10.1 million Health Care Innovation Award

A $10.1 million CMS Health Care Innovation Award will be used to help rural residents better manage chronic health conditions using the health coach model developed by Mercy Clinics in Des Moines. Andrea Carter, RN, BSN, (left), health coach at Mercy East Family Practice, talks with a patient about improving his health status.

The Bulletin is published weekly for employees and friends of Mercy Medical Center, 1111 6th Ave., Des Moines, Iowa 50314-2611.

EDITORIAL STAFFLisa Jones ........................................ EditorMark Baldwin .............................ContributorAmy Bentz .................................ContributorHeidi Feltz .................................ContributorAllison Hay ................................ContributorGregg Lagan ..............................ContributorMatthew Meyer ..........................ContributorSarah Todd .................................ContributorLaura Vanden Bosch ........................ DirectorBeth Pargulski ................... Graphic Designer

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Mercy Medical Center – Des Moines repeats as a U.S. News & World Report Best Regional HospitalFor the third consecutive year Mercy Medical Center – Des Moines is ranked as one of the nation’s Best Regional Hospitals for 2014-15 by U.S. News & World Report.

The annual U.S. News Best Hospitals rankings, now in their 25th year, recognize hospitals that excel in treating the most challenging patients. Mercy Des Moines is a Best Regional Hospital in the Des Moines metro area and Central Iowa region. Mercy also ranks fifth in Iowa with high performance in the specialties of orthopedics and pulmonology.

“The staff at Mercy is truly committed to delivering the best care experience possible for our patients,” said Mercy President Bob Ritz. “Our medical staff and staff are dedicated to the pursuit of new and

innovative care processes which improve each patient’s quality of care and quality of life. Thanks to the extraordinary work done by the Mercy Family, our patients receive some of the best care in the country right here at home.”

For the 2014-15 Best Hospitals rankings, U.S. News evaluated 5,000 hospitals in 16 adult specialties. U.S. News provides regional recognition to acknowledge valuable regional sources of quality care.

The specialty rankings and data were produced for U.S. News by RTI International, a leading research organization based in Research Triangle Park, N.C. Using the same data, U.S. News produced the state and metro rankings.

Mercy staff receive IHE award for work with doula program

Mercy Medical Center was proud to receive an Iowa Healthcare Educators Institutional Award from the Iowa Hospital Association for its Volunteer Birth Doula Program at Mercy West Lakes. Tamela Hatcher, manager of childbirth education, and Sharon DeKock, RN, West Lakes Birthing Center, were presented certificates in recognition of their work in the development of innovative delivery programs and technology.

Tamela Hatcher (left) and Sharon DeKock were presented with awards for their innovative work with Mercy’s Volunteer Birth Doula Program.

Jazz in July coming to 6th Ave. Saturday

Join with central campus neighbors this Saturday, July 19, from 3-11 p.m., as Jazz in July returns to 6th Avenue! Moving into the fifth year, this neighborhood celebration promises to be better than ever with terrific bands, performances by local community

groups, delicious food, a beverage tent and kid’s activities to entertain the whole family! Best of all, It’s FREE! Bring your family and friends.

Metro doctors, including those from Mercy Medical Center – Des Moines, recently met on the steps of the State Capitol for a news conference to help educate parents about water safety for children. Mercy Children’s Hospital Pediatric Emergency Department teamed up with Safe Kids Greater Des Moines and Blank Children’s Hospital Unity Point to host the event.

Among those in attendance from Mercy were Dr. Tom McAuliff, Dr. Kathryn Martin, members of the Mercy Ambulance team and a member of the new Mercy Pediatric Transport team.

Mercy Family joins others to educate community about water safety for kids