February 25, 2016

Just two months into 2016, and we are continuing to build momentum as we work together to achieve our vision of making TriHealth a great place for team members to work, for physicians to practice, and for our patients to receive the best care possible to live better! Following is a summary of our latest news and updates:

Our People Make Us Great – Team Member Awards & Honors

• The legacy of former TriHealth President & CEO, John Prout was celebrated earlier this month with the creation and dedication of a custom-made stained glass window that will be prominently displayed in the Atrium of our new TriHealth Kenwood facility. TriHealth Kenwood will be formally dedicated to John Prout later this spring in recognition of his 17 years of visionary leadership in transforming TriHealth into a nationally recognized clinically integrated delivery system. The stained glass was selected to signify and honor the bright future John helped to create for TriHealth. 

• Three TriHealth leaders have been recognized as 2016 Health Care Heroes Award Nominees by the Cincinnati Business Courier:  Mufaddal Frosh, Data Warehouse Manager, for the Innovation Category; and Terri Hanlon-Bremer, Chief Operating Officer, Corporate Health and Sandra Lobert, President and CEO, Hospice of Cincinnati, both for the Health Care Leadership Category. The nominations recognize the contributions and achievements of these individuals, as well as the many TriHealth team members with whom they work in their highly-successful departments. Congratulations to all!

Celebrating Clinical Excellence – HealthGrades Recognizes Bethesda North as a Distinguished Hospital

Bethesda North has been ranked among the top 5% of hospitals in the nation with the lowest risk-adjusted mortality and complication rates. A special thanks to all of our Bethesda North team members and caregivers who earned this recognition by going above and beyond to create the safest, highest quality care environment possible for our patients – you make us proud!

TriHealth Expands Services and Access to Better Serve Our Community

• Newly-Expanded Bethesda Butler Hospital Opened on February 1:  The $45 million expansion increases our inpatient and ICU capacity – resulting in fewer patient transfers for emergencies, a higher level of care for inpatients, and greater patient satisfaction with new private rooms and enhanced clinical capabilities. Within weeks of opening, the hospital census more than doubled from an average of 6 patients per day to 14.

• TriHealth Board Approves Major Investments in Ambulatory Services: I am excited to share that plans are underway to continue to evolve the Group Health Physician Offices on Five Mile Road into an expanded TriHealth Ambulatory Campus through construction of a new Surgery Center at the existing site. The Board also approved acquisition of property for development of a new comprehensive Ambulatory Center in Liberty Township, which will allow for, among other things, consolidation of existing TriHealth physicians and outpatient services into a large, single destination Ambulatory Center.  These two exciting projects will create even better, more convenient access to TriHealth’s exceptional services. I look forward to providing regular progress reports in future Monthly Updates about these important projects.

• Dearborn County Hospital (DCH) Affiliation Formalized: In January, we officially welcomed our DCH colleagues to the TriHealth family as an exclusive independent Affiliated Hospital. We have already put in place a new TriHealth Transfer Center to bring Dearborn County patients to Good Sam and Bethesda for care not typically available in a rural community. And, we are planning a multi-specialty practice on the campus of DCH in Lawrenceburg to enable TriHealth specialists to see and care for Dearborn County patients in their own community. We look forward to the many new and additional opportunities ahead to collaborate as one team to bring Dearborn County residents convenient, affordable access to the highest quality care and service available to meet all of their health needs.

Mark Your Calendars!  Team Member Forums Take Place March 2 – 9

Gail Donovan, our new COO, and I are looking forward to conducting our latest series of Team Member Forums starting next week at all major TriHealth locations (see schedule below).We are excited to meet as many of you in person as we can, so we’ve increased the number of live Forums and the locations to make it easy to attend. At the Forums, we’ll be unveiling TriHealth’s new Strategic Plan, sharing our 2015 Team Member Engagement Survey results and plans for addressing identified improvement priorities, and providing a mid-year review of our Annual Operating Plan progress. At least half of each Forum will be devoted to informal and open discussion,enabling you to share your thoughts and have your questions answered. We’ve also built in some fun surprises – so come ready to be an enthusiastic and active participant!

Thank you for everything you do, each and every day, to help make TriHealth great! I look forward to the opportunity to say thanks in person at next week’s Forums. See you there!

March 2016 Team Member Forum Schedule