Increasing the Number of Patients Choosing DeKalb Regional Medical Center

1. Increasing the Number of Patients Choosing DeKalb Regional Medical Center By Anna Keefe

2. Hospital Background • DeKalb Regional Medical Center is a general medical and surgical center that is religiously operated. • Mr. J. Peter Selman, Chief Executive Officer, is the administrator in charge. • The parent system is Community Health Systems, Inc. • 134 licensed beds

3. Key Services • General and medical care • General intensive care • Cardiology department • Open-heart surgery • Pediatric medical and surgical care • Emergency department • Trauma center • And more

4. Accredited • DeKalb Regional is accredited by Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations

5. Mission Statement • DeKalb Regional Medical Center is committed to improving the health of the community. We serve by providing high quality health care in a compassionate and healing environment and in efficient manner appropriate to the individual needs of our patients.

6. History of the Hospital • DeKalb Regional began as DeKalb County General Hospital in 1950 and was built on the thirteen hundred block of Forest Avenue North. • The hospital later became Baptist Medical Center DeKalb and remained at this location until the new hospital was completed in 1986 on Highway 35 West.

7. History cont. • On April 1, 2006, Community Health Systems, Inc. completed the acquisition of Baptist Medical Center from the Baptist Health System, Birmingham, AL. • The company then gave the hospital its current name. • DeKalb Regional is still the sole provider of hospital services in the community.

8. Problems and Goals • DeKalb Regional had only 4,299 admissions between July 1, 2004 and July 1, 2005 in a county with a population of 66,407. • The problem with the organization is a bad image, which causes many people to choose other facilities for their medical needs.

9. Problems and Goals cont. • However, the hospital has been making improvements and adding new programs and facilities, such as expanding the sleep disorder program and purchasing a new X-ray system, among others. • This provides an opportunity to inform the public of these new programs and services.

10. The Goal • The goal is to increase the number of people who choose DeKalb Regional for their medical needs by 15 percent by January 2009.

11. Objectives • By April 1, 2008, to persuade (70% of) the employees to comply with a new patient care program. • By December 1, 2008, to persuade (100% of) the employees to comply with a new patient care program. • By January 1, 2009, to increase awareness (by 20 percent) of the new programs and services provided by the hospital among all segments of the community.

12. Objectives cont. • By January 1, 2009, to change the opinion of more than 20% of all community members, towards a positive view of the hospital. • By January 1, 2009, to increase percentage of patients of DeKalb Regional who are pleased with its services by 20 percent.

13. Audience • Internal and external • Internal- all hospital employees, administrators, managers, and board of directors • External- all members of the community in DeKalb, primarily adults ages 18 and up • Children will be considered as well in order to improve image for years to come • Investors and contributors

14. Strategies and Tactics • Theme- “Healthcare for All Seasons” • First action- Persuade employees to comply with a new patient care program that involves new policies concerning dealings with patients and their families that will make the hospital more inviting and user friendly. • Meetings and seminar • Patient surveys- to hold employees accountable

15. Strategies and Tactics cont. • Second action- Change opinion of the hospital to a more positive one by informing public of improvements and new services. • Use uncontrolled media such as press releases sent to local paper- The Times-Journal. • Use controlled media such as brochures, the hospital’s magazine- Health Connection, website, and radio ads.

16. Strategies and Tactics cont. • Third- Events to raise awareness and improve image • New Year’s gathering- “New Year, New You”-highlight various aspects of health/promote new programs • Valentine’s Day-Heart Health Banquet-having and keeping a healthy heart/promote hospital’s cardiac services

17. Strategies and Tactics cont. • “DeKalb Baby Shower” on Mother’s Day weekend for all expectant mothers and their families in the county-promote new Accutech infant security system and new Healthy Woman program • In the fall, county fair booth-general promotion using brochures and freebies with hospital name

18. Strategies and Tactics cont. • Fourth and final action- acquiring feedback • Surveys and soliciting comments and suggestions by way of website, magazine, and brochures

19. Calendar 2008

20. Budget The campaign will be funded by the hospital with help from local contributors.

21. Evaluation • Pre-testing and Post-testing of both internal and external audiences by using surveys • Behavior objectives, actions of staff, will be evaluated using surveys of both staff and patients as well as direct observation.

22. Evaluation cont. • Records will be kept in order to help evaluate the effectiveness of the program as a whole. • Records will include attendance numbers for events, number of admissions to the hospital, number of magazines and brochures distributed, and number of news releases sent out.

23. The End.Thank You.