Living Our Values: Innovation Nurse Navigator Pilot Project In January, the Maine Health Access Foundation awarded Franklin Memorial Hospital $197,818 over two years to implement Franklin CARES, a nurse navigator pilot program to improve care coordination, Tracy Harty access to care, and integration of behavioral health care for uninsured and underinsured patients qualifying for free or discounted care. Franklin CARES is partnering with Franklin Health primary care practices and its behavioral services practice, Evergreen Behavioral Services, and Healthy Community Coalition to develop and implement the program. Nurse navigator for the initiative is Tracy Harty, RN, BSN, who acts as the project lead. Fuel Conversion FCHN is in the process of converting the fuel source of the hospital, Franklin Health Medical Arts Center, Greenwood Building and the maintenance garage from No. 2 fuel oil to propane. This conversion will increase boiler efficiencies, reduce emissions of noxious gases, and lower our annual heating costs by approximately $200,000 annually. This conversion will also put the organization in prime position to use natural gas, should an underground gas pipeline go through this area. Future options of choosing from three different fuel sources will increase annual fuel savings going forward.
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Most Wired For the third consecutive year Franklin Memorial Hospital was named among 289 of the nation’s “Most Wired” hospitals according to the results of the 2013 Most Wired Survey Benchmarking Study released in the July issue of Hospitals & Health Networks, the journal of the American Hospital Association. This award speaks volumes to the dedication of all of Franklin Memorial Hospital’s medical staff, nurses, and other employees who use technology and innovation every day to create an exceptional experience for our patients. Choosing Wisely The Choosing Wisely campaign, an initiative of the ABIM Foundation, aims to promote conversations between physicians and patients in choosing care that is supported by evidence; not duplicative of other tests or procedures already received; free from harm; and truly necessary. Twenty-six national medical specialty organizations have identified tests or procedures commonly used in their field, whose necessity should be discussed. These recommendations are meant to spur conversations between physicians and patients to determine the most appropriate treatment plan together. Dr. Jay Naliboff, Franklin Health medical director, has been instrumental in spreading the word about this initiative locally by educating the hospital board of directors, medical staff, the Franklin Health Patient Care Clinical Advisory Committee, and community members.
Innovation: To create the best means of fulfilling our mission with limited resources by using our creativity and being open to change.