E. Coy Irvin, M.D.

Dr. Irvin’s medical training and specialty is Family Medicine. He served patients in a Family Medicine practice for 20 years before joining Baptist Health in Pensacola, Florida, as the Chief Medical Officer in 2005.  Baptist Health is recognized as a previous recipient of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.

I would like to introduce you to Dr. Irvin by sharing his thoughts on several questions I had a chance to cover with him recently. Additional information will be available in a formal announcement.

RC: Dr. Irvin, what attracted you to medicine as a career choice?

CI: I grew up in a small town where family friends were General Practitioners.  I was moved by how much they loved caring for their patients and community.

RC: Your previous job was in leadership at Baptist Health in Pensacola, Florida.  As a member of a health system with a national reputation in service excellence, what advice do you have for serving patients and families?

CI: Patients want to know we are here for them, that we will protect them and that we will not hurt them.  They need to see us as “friends.”

RC: How can the health system better support physicians?

CI: Major challenges to practicing medicine include growing bureaucracy and paperwork which takes away time from helping patients.  Anything we can do to give doctors more time to practice medicine will better help them serve their patients.

RC: As a busy leader… a physician and an executive leader, what are your hobbies and outside interests?

CI: I believe in giving back to our communities, so I have long been involved in volunteer work as well as the political process.  I also enjoy boating and, of course, my grandson, Riley.

Please join me in welcoming Dr. Coy Irvin and his wife, Angie, to McLeod and the Florence community.

Thanks,

Rob

(From L to R) Kelley Prevatte, Director of the 9th Surgical Floor and Step-Down Unit, Mary Allred, Robert Garris, and Rosa Dowling.

This morning, I joined the senior leadership team for ‘Patient Rounds’ at McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence, South Carolina.  Each day, at all three McLeod hospitals, leaders gather for a quick huddle, review information and then visit a nursing unit or patient care area as a team.  We aim to accomplish this daily initiative as part of our standard work in order to begin our day with why we are all here — our patients and our staff.  Our goal is to learn from the team, patients and families.  We ask a few questions of the individuals we meet so we can learn from them, then we rejoin the team for a second huddle to talk about insights we have captured from our visits.

This morning, we were scheduled to visit the 9th Floor and Trauma Surgical Care Unit in the McLeod Pavilion.  We wanted to be sure we understood the efforts of the medical team to communicate, answer questions, and provide explanation about treatments to their patients.

One patient related to the team that he was glad to be going home after a two-day stay.  He was very complimentary of the staff and how they communicated and cared for him.  We were also able to hear about another patient who had food allergies.  In this case, we were able to work with the medical team to intervene on future diet orders in order to meet this patient’s needs.  In addition to these interactions, I was able to speak with Kelley Prevatte, our Nursing Director on the 9th Floor.  Last week, McLeod and Dr. Mike Rose hosted visitors associated with Harvard University who were evaluating our hospital and South Carolina as a possible site for a healthcare reform initiative.  This group specifically asked to speak with Kelley because of her work with the IHI Open School.  In talking with Kelley this morning, I was able to gauge her thoughts about this group and what they hope to accomplish.

As we make these daily ‘Patient Rounds,’ please continue to share with us your ideas of how we can improve for our patients and staff in the areas of caring, quality and safety as we provide service to others.

Thanks,

Rob

Dot Johnson, who graduated from the McLeod Nursing School in 1948, congratulates Nathan on 65 years of service. Nathan "officially" joined McLeod on June 1, 1945.

Age and experience can bring wisdom. These were my thoughts today, as we celebrated sixty-five years of service by Nathan Brown of Plant Operations & Engineering. Nathan joined the hospital on June 1, 1945. He worked directly for Dr. F.H. McLeod prior to joining the hospital, so he is actually celebrating seventy-six or so years association with the McLeod family. By June 1, 1945, the year was a time of change. WWII was ending in Europe and the focus shifted to finishing the war in the Pacific. The sacrifices of many, on foreign field and at home, shaped the nation and people in profound ways.

When you are younger in age, life is a theory. As you age, life has become an experience. It is wise to learn to ask advice from those who are ten to twenty years older than yourself. It is wise to learn to listen to the experience of others – - to be directed by their questions and interests. In many ways, my interactions with Nathan over the years have improved my service to others. Nathan is always the one who puts his hand on my shoulder to ask how I am doing. Nathan is always the one who pats me on the back and encourages me in our work. Encouragement means to “add courage” and he has a lifetime of appreciation for others. Nathan is the one who will ask about my family. He always reminds me not to work too hard, to do what is right for the patients, and to get home in order to spend more time with my family.

At first, I thought he was just being friendly and making conversation. But over the years, the themes he revisits with me are instructive of the importance he places on the service to others at medical center, the family and individuals. Happiness is who you are, not something you get. Nathan has combined a lifetime of interactions with many to share his happiness and wisdom with others. Nathan is a good man and we appreciate his service to the medical center and community. We wanted to thank him for his work. He reluctantly agreed to attend today’s celebration … and wanted to be sure we understood that he would be back to work at the hospital in the morning.

Thanks Nathan,

Rob

Nathan enjoys a special tribute to his 65 years of McLeod work during ceremonies honoring his continued years of service.

As we continue from the post yesterday, here is the conclusion to President Roosevelt’s prayer from the book, Battlefields & Blessings, by Larkin Spivey (‘D-Day Prayer for the Nation’ page 281).

“AFTER ASKING for God’s protection over the servicemen in danger on the beaches of Normandy, President Roosevelt continued with his prayer, asking God for unity and courage throughout the nation. With this heartfelt plea he completed his radio broadcast on June 6, 1944, the night of D-Day:

. . . And for us at home – fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas, whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them – help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice.

Many people have urged that I call the nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.

Give us strength, too – strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces.

And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be.

And, O Lord, give us faith. Give us faith in Thee; faith in our sons; faith in each other; faith in our united crusade. Let not the keenness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment – let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose.

With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogances. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace – a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.

Thy will be done, Almighty God. Amen.”

May we remember those who have gone before us, serving and sacrificing for our freedoms.  May we remember those who are in service on foreign fields to protect and defend the dignity of life.

Thanks,

Rob

As we prepare for Memorial Day, here is a page from the book, Battlefields & Blessings, by Larkin Spivey (‘D-Day Prayer for the Troops’ page 280).

“DURING THE EVENING of June 6, 1944, as American, British, and Canadian troops were fighting to establish a beachhead on the coast of Normandy, President Franklin Roosevelt went on the radio to lead the nation in a D-Day prayer:

My fellow Americans: Last night, when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success so far.

And so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join me in prayer:

Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.

Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.

They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph.

They will be sore tired, by night and by day, without rest – until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men’s souls will be shaken with the violences of war.

For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and goodwill among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.

Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.

Tomorrow, the president’s prayer is continued for the nation.”

May we remember those who have gone before us, serving and sacrificing for our freedom. May we remember those who are in service this day on foreign fields to protect and defend the dignity of life.

Thanks,

Rob

It is always a joy to share good news, and today’s blog entry does just that.  I’ve recently learned that McLeod Regional Medical Center will receive two awards this June, at a national conference conducted by Professional Research Consultants (PRC), the research firm that conducts our patient satisfaction survey.

The first recognition is called the “5-Star Excellence in Patient Experience Award,” and it will be awarded to the 10 South Medical/Surgical unit team, and all those who contribute to a 10th floor patients’ experience, for the excellent care they have provided their patients during 2009. The “5-Star” designation means that, when compared to the peers, the 10 South team at McLeod scores among the top 10% in the nation!  Put another way, so many of 10th South’s patients rated McLeod’s quality of care as “Excellent,” that 10th South scored higher than 9 out of 10 hospital medical/surgical units, nationwide.

This is certainly an accomplishment for patients and families worth celebrating, and the team on 10 South should be commended.

Lisa McDonald and Kathy Sims worked together to create a culture of teamwork among the 10 South staff. Their efforts resulted in 10 South receiving the Platinum Achievement Award from PRC.

I mention the word “team” because the second award that McLeod Regional Medical Center will receive is specifically related to the team on 10th. This second recognition is called the “Platinum Achievement Award,” and it will be awarded to Kathy Sims, RN, Director of 10 South, and Lisa McDonald, RN, Nurse Liaison. Their team-centered work to support a culture of teamwork among the 10 South staff, won this top honor from PRC.

In 2009, the surgical team from 10 South, and members from the medical team from 5 East, joined forces to create today’s high-performing unit. The journey to arrive in the top 10% of the nation required that Lisa and Kathy turn their energy and leadership toward merging these teams into one. The results speak for themselves.  This is a team that works together, with the patient as the center of their attention.

Congratulations Lisa and Kathy, for the well-deserved recognition for your work to align this team’s focus; and congratulations to 10 South staff and supporting departments, for the outstanding 5-Star award for excellent patient satisfaction. Both are examples of how McLeod continues to strive for excellence in all we do.  Both are opportunities to learn from others how we might best meet the needs of our patients.

Thanks,

Rob

Members of the McLeod Information Systems staff recently celebrated the accomplishments they have achieved during the past year.

Our Information Systems Department held a monthly meeting on Tuesday morning. We took a break from the routine reports to celebrate the accomplishments of the first six months of the year.

A breakfast and discussion about all that has been accomplished this year, as well as what is coming in the future, was enjoyed by the team.

Since last October, Information Systems have completed 142 projects; processed 5,020 work orders for system access, computer installs,
reports, or system changes submitted; received 120 ‘Caught
Caring Coupons;’ 13 Service Excellence Profiles and we have also taken 19,258 calls to our Help Desk, of which 17,455 were new incidents.

I feel this is significant and I am glad to see the team celebrate some great work as well as share it with you. There are many people supporting patient care in a variety of roles and it takes each one of us to provide safe, effective, patient centered, timely, efficient and equitable care.

Thanks
Rob