For Good Samaritan Medical Center, 2014 was a year filled with numerous accomplishments. The hospital unveiled new technology for its cardiac and breast health units, appointed new members to its administrative team and received national recognition for quality patient care.
Good Samaritan started off the year by enhancing its Comprehensive Breast Institute to offer 3D mammography, also known as breast tomosynthesis, for breast cancer screening. 3D mammography, combined with conventional 2D mammography, has a 40 percent higher invasive cancer detection rate than 2D screenings alone. The institute’s Selenia Dimensions breast tomosynthesis system offers exceptionally sharp breast images that help radiologists identify and characterize individual breast structures without the confusion of overlapping tissue.
In February, the American Heart Association recognized Good Sam as a 2014 Platinum-Level Fit-Friendly Worksite for helping employees eat healthier and move more. The hospital met nine criteria in physical activity, nutritional diet and wellness culture to receive the recognition.
The year continued with Good Sam receiving the Get With The Guidelines (GTWG)-Heart Failure Gold-Plus Quality Achievement Award for the ninth consecutive year. The hospital earned the award for meeting specific quality achievement measures for diagnosing and treating heart failure patients at a set level for a designated period. Additionally, Good Sam received a three-year term of accreditation in echocardiography in Adult Transthoracic from the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC).
Good Sam unveiled it would offer radioactive seed localization, an alternative procedure for women undergoing a lumpectomy (RSL). The new procedure provides surgeons with a more precise location of a tumor, enabling them to better plan surgical incisions. RSL involves a radiologist implanting a radioactive seed into the abnormal tissue of the patient. The hospital also unveiled its new cardiac electrophysiology lab to treat a wide range of heart rhythm conditions, also known as arrhythmias. The lab features the Carto 3 System, which uses electromagnetic technology to create real-time 3D maps of a patient’s cardiac structures.
To close out the summer, Good Sam received another three-year accreditation from IAC in peripheral venous testing, peripheral arterial testing and extracranial cerebrovascular testing. The hospital also earned a three-year accreditation for breast ultrasound from the American College of Radiology.
In November, The Joint Commission designated Good Sam as a ‘Top Performer on Key Quality Measures’ for heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia and surgical care. The hospital is one of 1,224 hospitals nationwide to earn the Top Performer distinction. Good Sam also received an “A” Hospital Safety Score from The Leapfrog Group, a non-profit organization that provides health care information to consumers, as well as the GWTG-Stroke Gold-Plus Quality Achievement Award from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.
Finishing the year off strong, Good Sam appointed Tonja Mosley as its new chief financial officer. Her vast experience in health care finance makes her a great addition to the hospital’s administrative team.
Good Sam is proud of its accomplishments and looks forward to further enhancing its services, technology and patient care in 2015.
