In my last post I offered some thoughts that had been on my mind relative to the growth of Poudre Valley Health System over the past many years, and more specifically, the recent surge during the past few months. I have a few more:
Walking through Greeley Medical Clinic last Friday I was reminded of those in the Greeley community who have been told that PVHS will now require that GMC patients will be moved to Loveland for their care. I thought it was amusing to talk to the staff at GMC who know that such a requirement has never been discussed, let alone implemented.
Interestingly, many PVHS physicians have applied for privileges at NCMC to be better able to take care of Greeley patients in Greeley but, so far, the requests to work there have been denied. Ironically, the biggest barrier to Greeley patients being able to receive care in Greeley is a policy at NCMC that does not allow certain physicians to admit patients to their hospital.
I have often been asked what makes PVHS different, and I have to suggest it is the effort to put patients first no matter what. The result has been a healthcare system that is outpacing others in the industry. Some of the information to support that claim:
- Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Still the only healthcare organization within 650 miles to be recognized by the president of the United States. Honestly…just WOW.
- American Nurses Association Magnet designation. This is a designation for organizations that make a truly unique effort to allow nurses the opportunity to provide the highest quality nursing care. Poudre Valley Hospital was only the 11th hospital in the country to ever receive this designation, and only the 7th in the country to be designated three times. Medical Center of the Rockies will receive its first site visit later this year, and was selected to receive that visit literally the first day they were eligible. Again…wow.
- Thompson-Reuters Top 100 Health Systems. Announced just last month, this is a list of all the best health systems in the country. PVHS is the only Colorado-owned health system on the list.
- Colorado Performance Excellence. PVHS was the first organization in any industry to receive Colorado’s highest quality award, and still today is the only organization to be recognized with that distinction twice.
The list could go on and on but I think you get the picture. PVHS, with its amazing physicians, staff and volunteers has simply put together a remarkable organization that has distinguished itself throughout the country and the world. What an honor it is for me to be associated with so many talented and dedicated people. Further, how thrilled we are to be associated with an organization like GMC with people of such similar background and commitment.
The future looks very bright!
Rulon
While I’m happy that GMC will now be a part of PVHS, I have to ask a question about the employees of GMC. Being a patient there for the last 13 years, I’ve seen numerous employees with a less than stellar attitude towards patients. Especially when the patients are there numerous times, say in Urgent Care, for the same problem/sicknesses. It’s not just Urgent Care, but also some other departments as well, that it feels like you are bothering them when you go to check in to see the doctor.
Now that GMC staff/employees/physicians are part of PVHS, will they have to sign the “Behavior Standards” that other PVHS employees sign? If not, I think they should have to since they are associated with PVHS and our values.
Yes, all employees across the system will have to sign the same behavior standards and we expect the same level of care from everyone. I will say, however, that my personal experience has been that each person at GMC is committed to serving the customer and providing world class care! thanks for staying engaged!
Rulon
Thanks for your response Rulon. I worked there for about 4 years, and I’ve been a patient there for the last 13 years. May I emphasize that it’s not been ALL employees just some in several different departments that I’ve either worked with and are still there, or that I’ve encountered as a patient.
Rulon—
I would like to find out why the Urgent Care at GMC in Greeley on 16th street has been closed on Sundays once or twice a month. It seems that now they have partnered with PVHS that they are offering their Urgent Care hours less and less.
If you don’t know the answer, could you please pass this onto someone who does?
Thanks
Kristin
When GMC affiliated with PVMG, North Colorado Medical Center required that GMC discontinue their Urgent Care Center in West Greeley, and a few of the physicians were required to discontinue their service with GMC. So, as we have been recruting new physicians we have not been able to meet all of the available shifts. But, we are about past that and I think you can expect full coverage at this urgent care in the future. Does that help?
Rulon