It is a defining year for health care systems throughout the U.S. Many of the new policies brought about through health care reform are taking effect and impacting all hospitals as we continue to see a transition from inpatient to outpatient care.
Faith Regional Health Services has worked diligently over the past few years to attain Meaningful Use stages 1 and 2 and to be prepared to manage things like population health, bundling of payments, and payments for quality outcomes, and reimbursement tied to patient satisfaction. From its board of directors and leadership to medical staff and employees, its focus has been and continues to be about providing an outstanding patient experience with excellent quality outcomes.
According to Mark Klosterman, President and CEO, the hospital is able to do that by providing high-quality, affordable health care that is accessible throughout its service area. “We plan to achieve these goals through new processes to improve patient satisfaction,” said Klosterman. “Daily rounds by administration, hourly rounds by staff and bedside reporting in all inpatient units give us the opportunity to engage directly with our patients, involve patients directly with their care and learn how we can make their stay in our hospital better. Our 2014 Outstanding Patient Experience Award™ by Healthgrades® reflects our overall patient satisfaction and we are proud to be recognized for this achievement for the second year in a row.”
For over 90 years, Faith Regional has been providing high quality health care to residents of northeast Nebraska. The mission of Faith Regional is to provide all people with exemplary medical services in an environment of love and care. The hospital’s strategic plan for the delivery of these services is based on the needs of patients in its 13-county service area and how best to coordinate that care. In 2013, Faith Regional partnered with multiple health care agencies and health departments in its region to identify the top health needs of the population. Faith Regional’s Community Health Needs Assessment and Plan is one more facet of its commitment to creating healthier
communities. A copy of this report can be found on the hospital’s website.
Population health management is just one of the strategies that will assist in this process. Population health management is an industry term that means that health care providers are responsible for improving the overall health care results of defined groups (or populations) of patients by gathering information about health care consumers, better identifying risk factors, educating patient populations, better tracking procedures and outcomes, and reducing costs.
“We use evidence-based best practices that touch all phases of care,” stated Klosterman. “By involving everyone from hospitals to providers to health plans and especially the patient throughout the continuum of care we can positively influence the health outcomes of our population one person at a time.”
Another strategic initiative for Faith Regional is its involvement in the development of a regional provider network in Nebraska. Faith Regional along with eight other hospitals continue to identify ways in which they can partner, such as group purchasing and sharing of expertise, that will support their efforts to keep costs down in light of reduced reimbursement from Medicare and Medicaid.
Hospitals understand that maintaining state-of-the-art technology and improving patient care areas directly impacts the patient’s experience. As a regional referral center, it makes a difference when patients can access the 
highest level of care without having to travel very far. In 2014, Faith Regional embarked on a five-phase expansion project of the hospital’s pre- and post-operative surgery areas. Once complete, the Ambulatory Surgery unit will expand the capacity from five pre- and post-operative beds to ten. Each bed will be located in a larger, private room allowing for a more comfortable and quieter atmosphere for patients preparing for surgery. And earlier this year Faith Regional installed a new MAGNETOM® Aera MRI system, the most powerful MRI system in the industry that offers faster and more personalized exams. The expansion of the surgery areas and installation of the state-of-the-art MRI allows the hospital to continue to be a regional leader in health care services.
Providing comprehensive medical services and having the right physician specialists to deliver those services go hand-in-hand. Faith Regional continues to be an ideal location for many new specialists looking for a hospital and community that offers them a great environment for family and work. The addition of twelve new physicians to Faith Regional’s medical staff in 2015 brings the total to 80 physicians representing 37 different specialties. From finger and hand replantation to peripheral nerve surgeries to revolutionary orthopedic knee implants and open heart procedures, cutting-edge medicine performed at Faith Regional is drawing patients from all over the state and U.S. to Norfolk.
What makes Faith Regional a compassionate and caring hospital is the nearly 1,300 individuals that work there. Affiliates of the hospital include Faith Regional Physician Services, Faith Regional Surgery Center, Genoa Medical Facilities, Niobrara Valley Hospital, Saint Joseph’s Rehabilitation and Care Center, Skyview Villa Assisted Living, and AHP-MHR Home Care. Faith Regional’s outreach clinics are located in 22 different communities across northeast and north central Nebraska.
“Ensuring that our patients have the best experience and receive the highest quality care at an affordable cost is our primary goal,” added Klosterman.
