2013 Annual Report Available

This story appears in the Spring 2014 issue of Heart to Heart, which can be found online by clicking here.

COVINGTON - The governing board and administrative leadership of St. Tammany Parish Hospital work closely together to plan and grow this community hospital to ensure it meets its mission to deliver world-class healthcare to the residents of western St. Tammany and surrounding areas.

2013 represented a year filled with changes throughout the system. From expansion and renovation to introduction of new technologies, St. Tammany Parish Hospital delivered on its commitment to grow in relation to population and healthcare needs in the service district.

Launch of Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) was one small example of the complex series of Health Information Technology (HIT) improvements. In 2013, the hospital named Dr. Patrick Torcson vice president of clinical integration to ensure that physician care remained on the forefront amid integration of medical informatics into the system. HIT improvements help STPH reduce the cost of care while maintaining or improving quality and outcomes.

To that end, 2013 was also a year of introspection, as the management team focused on increasing efficiency, decreasing waste and eliminating excess inventory, staffing and logistics. The goal was to identify and eliminate $2.1 million in waste. By year’s end, the initiative had identified nearly 600 opportunities, representing $3.34 million in savings.

Amid this focus on increasing efficiency and decreasing waste, St. Tammany Parish Hospital kept its focus on the metrics that matter most — quality of care and patient satisfaction. STPH was a top 10 hospital in the state and among the top 15 percent of hospitals nationwide for patient outcomes in 2013, according to the federal government’s Hospital Compare website. According to Press Ganey Associates, the leading source for patient satisfaction measurement, our community hospital is among the top four percent of hospitals nationwide, outperforming its Louisiana peers and similar hospitals nationwide.

Those exceptional quality and satisfaction scores stem from the people who deliver care in our facilities every day. STPH continued its progress in 2013 to elevate the involvement of nurses and caregivers in decision-making, planning and leadership roles via its Pathway to Excellence and Shared Governance systems.

Another achievement in 2013 focused upon STPH’s fiscal reputation. In 2013’s volatile healthcare financial environment, the hospital maintained A and A- bond ratings from Fitch and Standard & Poor’s. As part of its commitment to reinvest gains into its caring mission, STPH provided a combined $33 million in uncompensated and compassionate care, delivering on the promise to care for our community no matter the circumstances. Compassionate healthcare programs include:

• Inpatient and emergency care for all
• Community education on health, diabetes and parenting
• Cancer resources and support
• At-home visits for new moms
• Free immunizations, medical attention and registration for government assistance
• Hospice care

St. Tammany Parish Hospital continued its longstanding commitment to the community by providing $170,000 in fundraising and sponsorship for fellow not-for-profits whose missions closely align with the hospital’s. The hospital foundation plus local schools, health, wellness and community organizations measurably impact our mission.

In 2013, the hospital supported a variety of causes including west St. Tammany public, private and parochial schools, American Heart Association, Children's Advocacy Center, Children’s Museum of St. Tammany, Council on Aging St. Tammany, Covington Bicentennial, Covington Food Bank, Great 100 Nurses, National Alliance on Mental Illness, New Heights Therapy Center, Northshore Families Helping Families/Access, St. Tammany West Chamber, United Way, Youth Service Bureau and YMCA West St. Tammany.

Coupled with a rising need for emergency care on the Northshore, the hospital embarked upon a two-and-a-half-year expansion that will increase private rooms and emergency capacity. Last year saw the groundbreaking and beginning construction phases. Once complete, the expanded Emergency Department will provide 30 services beds including care settings to accommodate pediatric, geriatric and mental health emergencies. The new unit of 21 private rooms, 3North, will be based upon the principles of the Healing Arts and Evidence Based Design, much like the 4South unit the opened in April 2008.

Overall, 2013 was another step forward in the long-term strategic plan for growth at St. Tammany Parish Hospital. The year ended with solid evidence that our community hospital delivered high quality care from exceptional, caring healthcare providers in safe and modern environments close to home. 

###

 A full-service acute care facility committed to providing world-class healthcare and the latest technology, St. Tammany Parish Hospital delivers today’s life-improving procedures with the utmost care to area residents with emphasis on wellness, preventive care and disease management close to home. STPH is a self-supporting not-for-profit community hospital; it receives no tax funding. STPH.org