Rockcastle Regional Hospital Annual Report 2022

2022annual report A TIME FOR HEALING

FROM OUR CEO a note

The worst of the pandemic may be over, but it is still affecting our lives and workplaces in profound ways. We are more grateful than ever for the opportunity to care for our community.

We are also acutely aware of the toll the last three years have taken, particularly on our workforce. Healthcare is a calling, and it naturally selects for determined, compassionate individuals. But even the best of us have struggled to surmount the challenges the pandemic presented – worker shortages, a strain on mental health, burnout.

That’s one reason we set out in 2022 to prioritize employee wellbeing. We placed this topic front and center throughout the year and implemented new measures to facilitate this wellness. We’re doing that because we cherish our employees and because we know if they are struggling, patient care will be affected.

You’ll learn about that and more inside the pages of this 2022 Annual Report to the Community. As we look back on the year, we are encouraged by the progress of our organization, by what we have been able to accomplish even in the face of historic challenges.

We know a thing or two about history and endurance. We were founded in 1956, and in February 2023 we surpassed 3 million patient encounters, a feat that relatively few rural healthcare organizations can claim.

I am honored to be a part of this organization. As we meet this milestone, and I am more grateful than ever for the many caring professionals who have made it possible.

Stephen A. Estes, President and CEO

On the cover: Kacey Scoggin Nicely, APRN, of Rockcastle QuickCare treats a patient in the fall of 2022.

The “Recovery Room” that serves as a space for employees to step away from their workspace for a few moments and recharge.

CARING FOR OUR caregivers

Even as life generally returned to normal by the end of 2022 as the worst of the COVID-19 waned, healthcare organizations, including Rockcastle Regional, continued to focus on overcoming challenges ushered in by the pandemic.

For example, healthcare workers in long-term care facilities such as the Respiratory Care Center are now required to be vaccinated (with few exceptions) against COVID-19, and that has created a new layer of administration involving staff education, compliance tracking, etc.

But perhaps the biggest issue to overcome is related to staffing challenges, employee recruitment/retention initiatives, and working to promote and facilitate employee well-being.

Workplaces play a significant role in our lives by affecting both physical and mental well-being, and the COVID-19 pandemic brought this reality to the forefront.

“During the pandemic, each shift and overtime hour for a health worker often meant putting their own health and their family’s health at risk in order to heal, comfort, and protect others,” wrote the U.S. Surgeon General in the 2022 Advisory on Building a Thriving Workforce. “Fear, loneliness, and uncertainty were pervasive.”

To combat employee burnout and reduced morale, Rockcastle Regional made a concerted effort to focus on employee well-being in 2022.

A cross-section of organizational team members formed a committee to develop new employeefriendly programs and promote awareness of those already in existence, such as:

• A “Recovery Room” that serves as a space for employees to step away from their workspace for a few moments and recharge. Massage chairs are provided in a tranquil room complete with sound machines, meditation self-guides, and more.

• On-site Behavioral Health & Counseling Services (bill insurance only – no balance bill to staff)

• The employee PATH (Providing Assistance Through Hardships) Fund, which is an employee emergency assistance fund for those employees who experience undue hardships due to qualifying emergencies.

• A series of fun, social events presented by the REAP committee, such as painting classes, fall craft workshop, and a Super Bowl party.

The committee collected employee well-being benchmark data at the end of the year with plans to repeat the process annually to measure the effectiveness of the program.

“We know that to deliver the best possible care, we as an organization have to take care of our employees,” said Stephen A. Estes, Rockcastle Regional president and CEO. “But we also appreciate what a profound effect a workplace–particularly one in a challenging field such as healthcare – has on a worker’s quality of life, and we’re doing everything we can to mitigate those factors that lead to fatigue and burnout.”

“We know that to deliver the best possible care, we as an organization have to take care of our employees.”

-STEPHEN A. ESTES, CEO

NEW recruits

Lura Cash, DMD

Rockcastle

Dr. Cash earned her medical degree in dentistry from the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry in 2017 and completed her general practice residency at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio.

“As a dentist, I have the opportunity to help my patients be healthy, happy, and confident in their oral health,” said Dr. Cash. “With each patient, we focus on their individual needs and tailor a specific plan to best meet their goals for their smile and overall oral health.”

As a native of Rockcastle County, Dr. Cash says she feels incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to return home to practice. As a graduate of Rockcastle County High School, and a former Brodhead Elementary School Tiger, she is excited to provide dental care to the community where she was raised.

Ashleigh Williamson, APRN (QuickCare full-time)

Advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) are registered nurses educated at Masters or post Masters level and in a specific role and patient population. APRNs are prepared by education and certification to assess, diagnose, and manage patient problems, order tests, and prescribe medications.

Colyn Wright, PA-C (QuickCare part-time)

Physician Assistants are medical professionals who diagnose illness, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications, and often serve as a patient’s principal healthcare provider.

Matthew Gonzalez Third-year resident Vanderbilt University

John L. Saylor Third-year resident Marshall University

Hannah Bullock Second-year resident University of Kentucky

Evan Singleton First-year resident St Vincent, Indianapolis

Hannah Hillard Fourth-year medical student University of Kentucky

John Cornelius Second-year medical student University of Kentucky

Madisan Miller First-year resident University of South Carolina-Greenville

Mahala Saylor 2nd year PsyD Eastern Kentucky University

Emily Amyx First-year medical student University of Louisville

Regional welcomed Dr. Lura Cash, DMD, to lead the Rockcastle Family Dental Center team.

COMMUNITY outreach

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Rockcastle Regional transitioned a large number of its community outreach to a virtual setting. In 2022, with the incidence rate of COVID-19 cases declining, when it was determined to be safe, the organization was able to return to in-person events for several outreach activities.

Kids were able to return to the pool and the many fun activities at the annual Kids Health & Safety Fair, held at Cedar Rapids Golf Course.

Rockcastle County Relay For Life was held in July at the middle school. Runners and walkers laced up their

sneakers again to take part in the Countywide Stride race series.

The ladies of Ladies Night Out were able to once again join back together for its 11th annual event in October to raise awareness for breast cancer.

All in all, whether the event was held in-person or virtually, Rockcastle Regional has remained steadfast in its commitment to community outreach and was able to achieve

5,543 outreach touches.

MILESTONES & awards

Quality award

Rockcastle Regional was one of only eight hospitals in Kentucky to receive the Quality Award from the Kentucky Hospital Association. The award, given May 8 at the KHA Annual Convention in Louisville, honors hospital leadership and innovation in quality, safety and commitment to patient care.

Rockcastle’s award, earned in the “Fewer Than 100 Beds Category,” was for the hospital’s program to minimize the risk of sepsis through early detection and initiation of appropriate treatment.

Sepsis is a medical emergency as it is the leading cause of death in hospitals, with at least 1.7 million adults in America developing the disease, resulting in nearly 270,000 deaths annually, as reported by the CDC. The hospital implemented additional education among staff, established protocols for appropriate laboratory testing, and involving all care providers in the early assessment process for the disease.

Cancer Care re-accreditation

The Commission on Cancer (CoC), a quality program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) granted a Three-Year Re-Accreditation to the cancer program at Rockcastle Regional Hospital. To earn voluntary CoC accreditation, a cancer program must meet 34 CoC quality care standards, be evaluated every three years through a survey process, and maintain levels of excellence in the delivery of comprehensive patient-centered care.

The Rockcastle Hematology and Oncology Clinic at Rockcastle Regional Hospital, as part of its CoC standards, takes a multidisciplinary approach to treating cancer as a complex group of diseases that requires consultation among surgeons, medical and radiation oncologist, diagnostic radiologists, pathologists, and other cancer specialists. This multidisciplinary partnership results in improved patient care.

Utilizing the framework provided through the CoC Accreditation Program, Rockcastle Hematology and Oncology Clinic improves its quality of patient care through various cancer-related programs that focus on the full spectrum of cancer care, including prevention, early diagnosis, cancer staging, optimal treatment, rehabilitation, life-long follow-up for recurrent disease, and end-of-life care.

New MRI scanner

In 2022, Rockcastle Regional purchased and installed a new 128-slice Siemens Magnetom MRI System, an upgrade from our previous 64-slice MRI scanner. MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scanners use strong magnetic fields, magnetic field gradients and computer-generated radio waves to create detailed images of organs and tissues in the body. MRI is a valuable tool for evaluating injuries, tumors and digestive disorders and is preferred for brain and spinal cord imaging due to the soft tissue detail.

The new scanner works faster, has a larger opening, and is quieter, creating a better experience for patients while providing advanced, higher-resolution imaging.

Rockcastle Regional quality team accepts the KHA Quality Award for the organization’s work in minimizing the risk of sepsis.

Dr. Justin Williams and the Rockcastle Regional Hematology and Oncology team

Rockcastle Regional installed a new MRI machine in 2022

Women’s Choice Award

Rockcastle Regional was named one of America’s Best Hospitals for Outpatient Experience by the Women’s Choice Award for the fifth year. The hospital is one of only 282 award recipients in the nation to be named to this list.

The award was a result of the organization’s focus on providing increased patient-centered customer service to improve the outpatient experience.

Best Nursing Home for Long-Term Care

In 2022, Rockcastle Regional Hospital and Respiratory Care Center was recognized as a Best Nursing Home for Long-Term Care for 2022-2023 by U.S. News & World Report.

Only 16 percent of the U.S. skilled-nursing facilities earned the “Best Nursing Home” designation. Rockcastle Regional, home to a nationally renowned 143-bed long-term respiratory care center, earned its place on the list by achieving the highest possible rating, “High Performing,” for its long-term care services.

“We are a team of dedicated professionals who are committed to the highest level of care for every patient, every time,” said Tammy Brock, Rockcastle Regional chief nursing officer. “Consistent, quality care is the focus of our team, and this designation is a reflection of that commitment.”

U.S. News rated more than 15,000 nursing homes using data on care, safety, staffing, and health inspections, weekend staffing, and infection rates that led to hospitalizations.

These employees were named to new positions in 2022

Jessica McFerron, BSN, RN Long-Term Care Wound Care

Rhonda Childress, RN State Registered Nursing Assistant Facilitator

Angela Roberts, BSN, RN Long-Term Care Associate Director of Nursing

Krissi Reffner, BSN, RN East Nursing Coordinator

Adam Alcorn, RN South Nursing Coordinator

Lindsay Gabbard, RDN, LD Clinical Dietetics Director

Rebecca Bullock Food & Nutrition Services Director

Ben Fletcher Security Director Rockcastle

PATIENT STATISTICS

FY 2022 ASSETS PLACED INTO SERVICE

Rockcastle Regional Hospital and Respiratory Care Center is looking for dedicated professionals to help us maintain and continue our tradition of delivering exceptional care. We are the largest freestanding ventilator unit in the nation, and we need top talent to join our team. It’s a tough job, but be advised that there are days that are almost unbearably rewarding.

We are seeking:

• Licensed Practical Nurses

• Registered Nurses

• Respiratory Therapists

• State-Registered Nursing Assistants Apply

Some of our benefits:

• Employee wellness program (get paid to exercise)

• On-site daycare

• Matching 401K

• Competitive salary

• Scholarships/tuition reimbursement programs

• Attractive health & dental benefits