GRMC CNO gives Beat reporter a peek into internal operations

Category: Front Page News Front Page News
Published: 28 December 2016 28 December 2016

GRMC Chief Nursing Officer gives behind the scenes peek at the hospital.

Photo and article by Margaret Hopper

Every Tuesday people move in and out of the meeting room at Gila Regional Medical Center. The Project Management Steering Committee (PMSC) is about three-and-a-half years old, the brain-child of Brian Cunningham, outgoing CEO of Gila Regional, who believed that the best way to run a hospital was to empower the people who work there by giving them a voice and some choices about what the future of the workplace could and should become.

The morning's agenda has a long listing of projects, beginning with a programmed computer relaying scripted information to a camera that projects the topics to a large screen at the end of the room. Topics are at all stages; some are nearing a conclusion after many reports, analyses, input from those most interested in that project, and consensus that they meet the tests of need, efficiency, cost and quality guidelines. It is time to plan how to present those ideas to the rest of the staff, the board and community at large. Implementation dates will be added.

Others are relatively new on the agenda, but have been prioritized as needed, offering potential and solutions for immediate improvements. They may still require additional stake-holders, from GRMC personnel or the community, but the reviewers believe the promise is worth the effort. Gaps and glitches are noted, and a few more people are added to the list of those willing to work on that project.

Some have to be tabled until more expertise and staff time can be focused on them. One by one, each targeted portion is updated on the control computer and they move on. According to Peggy White, Chief Nursing Officer, the projects on the first and fourth Tuesdays of each month are related to nursing issues; there are more of them. Second and third Tuesdays have other departments presenting their chosen topics. Jed Rudd, Chief Operations Officer, developed the present agenda/listing and categories that each project must address for inclusion.

Everything is geared to efficiency as well as cost, quality and need. There is no time to waste. Waste has been identified as a major factor in failure; even waste of time. Success requires ever improving skills and efficiencies. They have seen improvements with this program and firmly believe that GRMC has a bright future tied to problem-solving and higher standards.

White has given her input on the necessary topics and quietly she and the reporter leave the conference room. The work continues. There are more projects to be reviewed and there is no break in the concentration of effort.

Back in WhiteG

Content on the Beat

WARNING: All articles and photos with a byline or photo credit are copyrighted to the author or photographer. You may not use any information found within the articles without asking permission AND giving attribution to the source. Photos can be requested and may incur a nominal fee for use personally or commercially.

Disclaimer: If you find errors in articles not written by the Beat team but sent to us from other content providers, please contact the writer, not the Beat. For example, obituaries are always provided by the funeral home or a family member. We can fix errors, but please give details on where the error is so we can find it. News releases from government and non-profit entities are posted generally without change, except for legal notices, which incur a small charge.

NOTE: If an article does not have a byline, it was written by someone not affiliated with the Beat and then sent to the Beat for posting.

Images: We have received complaints about large images blocking parts of other articles. If you encounter this problem, click on the title of the article you want to read and it will take you to that article's page, which shows only that article without any intruders. 

New Columnists: The Beat continues to bring you new columnists. And check out the old faithfuls who continue to provide content.

Newsletter: If you opt in to the Join GCB Three Times Weekly Updates option above this to the right, you will be subscribed to email notifications with links to recently posted articles.

Submitting to the Beat

Those new to providing news releases to the Beat are asked to please check out submission guidelines at https://www.grantcountybeat.com/about/submissions. They are for your information to make life easier on the readers, as well as for the editor.

Advertising: Don't forget to tell advertisers that you saw their ads on the Beat.

Classifieds: We have changed Classifieds to a simpler option. Check periodically to see if any new ones have popped up. Send your information to editor@grantcountybeat.com and we will post it as soon as we can. Instructions and prices are on the page.

Editor's Notes

It has come to this editor's attention that people are sending information to the Grant County Beat Facebook page. Please be aware that the editor does not regularly monitor the page. If you have items you want to send to the editor, please send them to editor@grantcountybeat.com. Thanks!

Here for YOU: Consider the Beat your DAILY newspaper for up-to-date information about Grant County. It's at your fingertips! One Click to Local News. Thanks for your support for and your readership of Grant County's online news source—www.grantcountybeat.com

Feel free to notify editor@grantcountybeat.com if you notice any technical problems on the site. Your convenience is my desire for the Beat.  The Beat totally appreciates its readers and subscribers!  

Compliance: Because you are an esteemed member of The Grant County Beat readership, be assured that we at the Beat continue to do everything we can to be in full compliance with GDPR and pertinent US law, so that the information you have chosen to give to us cannot be compromised.