In the ever-changing healthcare environment, it is important for hospitals and health systems to have a clearly stated mission and vision that unite the organization around common, long-term goals. Jersey City (N.J.) Medical Center's mission is "enhancing life" and its vision is to be in the top 10 percent nationally in each of its four pillars of patient safety, clinical quality, satisfaction and economic health.
"These [pillars] are four things everybody who works here knows," says Joseph Scott, president and CEO of JCMC. "Throughout the hospital there are signs of our vision to be in the top 10 percent nationally. There are metrics on all patient care units and in every department." Here, he discusses JCMC's progress in each of these four pillars.
Pillar 1: Safety
"Our number one priority is patient safety; we talk about it all time," Mr. Scott says. JCMC is particularly focused on preventing hospital-acquired conditions. Mr. Scott and the hospital's vice presidents do patient safety rounds about once a week to learn about safety from the front-line workers. The leaders ask about staff members' current safety initiatives and solicit their safety concerns and ideas for improvement. "I love doing it because I always learn something," Mr. Scott says. For example, front-line staff gave Mr. Scott a demonstration of the hospital's recently implemented electronic medication administration process designed to prevent medication errors.
Pillar 2: Quality
JCMC aims to be in the top 10 percent nationally for clinical quality. One quality initiative at the hospital is its readmission prevention program, which uses early identification of high-risk patients, education, patient navigators and coordination with post-acute care providers to keep patients healthy and out of the hospital.
Pillar 3: Engagement
The third pillar encompasses patient, physician and employee engagement and patient satisfaction. One way JCMC is engaging patients is through its "Wealth from Health" club launched in May 2012 as part of the hospital's accountable care organization initiatives. The program rewards patients with chronic diseases who take steps, such as participating in online interactive programs, getting prescriptions on time and keeping physician appointments, to manage their conditions.
Pillar 4: Finance
JCMC is continually seeking ways to reduce costs while maintaining high-quality care. In 2012, the hospital saved $10 million by improving its revenue cycle, supply chain and productivity. In addition, JCMC is rolling out an accountable care network and plans to participate in a bundled care initiative — two reimbursement models aimed at achieving cost-efficient, high-quality care.
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