Thursday, October 27, 2011

Pinecrest Manor Receives Good Marks on State Inspection

Pinecrest Manor, the long-term care facility at Elk Regional Health Center, has passed an inspection from the Pennsylvania Department of Health with flying colors.

Four inspectors performed a rigorous, unannounced survey at the 138-bed facility between Sept. 27 and Sept. 30 and found only two deficiencies – a dramatic improvement over the facility’s 2010 state Department of Health survey, which found eight deficiencies.

“This is the best annual survey that Pinecrest has ever had,” said David Wolfe, NHA, the administrator at Pinecrest Manor. “I’m proud of the employees here at Pinecrest Manor. After the 2010 survey, several different teams were created to look at ways in which we could improve. A lot of hard work and dedication was put into improving our quality of care – and it shows.”

“The results of the most recent survey at Pinecrest Manor are a testament to the commitment our employees show when it comes to providing high quality care for our patients and residents,” said Gregory P. Bauer, the president and CEO of Elk Regional Health System.

Surveyors for the state Department of Health Division of Nursing Care Facilities visit all of the nursing homes in Pennsylvania to review their compliance with state and federal regulations. During an inspection such as the one that recently took place at Pinecrest Manor, inspectors ask about and observe every aspect of resident care, ranging from food temperature to fire and building safety. Inspectors also conduct one-on-one interviews with residents regarding the care that is provided to them.

Inspectors found only two deficiencies at Pinecrest Manor.

In one deficiency, the device that regulates water temperatures for the facility was found to be faulty, allowing water temperatures to fall outside the range deemed appropriate by the Department of Health.  In the other deficiency, wound care protocols were not followed according to policy during two observed dressing changes.

Plans of correction for these deficiencies have already been submitted to and approved by the Department of Health, Mr. Wolfe said.   Implementation of the corrections is already under way.

When inspectors find a deficiency, they rate it on a scale from “no harm” to “serious harm.” A “serious harm” deficiency may result in a facility being fined or a provisional licensure. Neither of the deficiencies found at Pinecrest Manor during the September inspection caused any harm to residents.

Pinecrest Manor is a 138-bed long-term care facility located on the campus of Elk Regional Health Center in St. Marys. The facility includes a special wing dedicated to caring for patients suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia. A division of the Health Center, Pinecrest Manor is connected directly to a new renal dialysis facility and Elk Regional’s Outpatient Rehabilitation facility by enclosed, heated tunnels for the safety and convenience of the residents.

Elk Regional Health System includes a fully-accredited, not-for-profit, 80-bed general acute care institution, an extended care facility, an independent living facility, a home health agency and an employed physician group that serves Elk and Cameron counties. The organization is backed by the strength of a clinical affiliation with UPMC Hamot in Erie, Pa. With campuses in St. Marys and Ridgway and physician offices in a number of locations throughout the region, Elk Regional proudly serves the residents of Elk and Cameron counties. It is Elk Regional’s ongoing mission to provide premier healthcare services to our patients through our commitments to service, quality, people, finance and growth, while maintaining economic viability and keeping an eye on the future. For more information, visit us online.

Elk Regional Announces Online Survey, Prizes

Elk Regional Health System has introduced the first in a series of online surveys designed to gather feedback and improve upon the programs and services offered by the Health System.

Elk Regional’s first online survey will gather feedback about Health System’s free, public educational seminars. Held regularly throughout the year at several different locations, the seminars focus upon a variety of health-related topics and information about the Health System and its affiliates. During the seminars, attendees enjoy one-on-one interaction with a health provider or Health System official during a question-and-answer period.

“Public education is a very important part of what we do,” said Gregory P. Bauer, the President and CEO of Elk Regional Health System. “It is our goal to provide information that is accurate, timely, useful and presented in a location and at a time that is most convenient for people. This survey will help us do that.”

As a token of appreciation for those who take the time to fill out the survey, Elk Regional and Community Nurses are giving away six $20 Sheetz gas cards. To enter the drawing, those filling out the survey have the option of leaving their name, telephone number and email address. Surveys can be submitted without entering the drawing.

Gas card winners will be notified via email or telephone on or about March 1, 2012.

To take the survey, click here!

NWSB Makes Gift to Elk Regional Capital Campaign

On Sept. 27, Northwest Savings Bank presented Elk Regional Health Center with a check for $20,000, marking the second installment of the bank’s generous $100,000 gift to The Elk Regional Capital Campaign.

Northwest Savings Bank was the first local business to back The Elk Regional Capital Campaign when the Campaign began last year. The bank is also one of the largest donors to the Campaign, which is a $2.5 million fundraising effort designed to financially support the Health Center’s $10.3 million building project.

“We recognize how important Elk Regional is to this region, both as a health care provider and an economic driver,” said Kevin Oknefski, a senior vice president and district manager at Northwest Savings Bank. “Northwest Savings Bank is very deeply committed to this community and its success. Supporting The Elk Regional Capital Campaign was a natural extension of that commitment.”

“I am grateful to Northwest Savings Bank for their generous gift and unwavering support of our hospital,” said Don W. Fleming, the chairman of The Elk Regional Capital Campaign. “It is the support of organizations such as Northwest that has made our capital campaign such a success.”

“We are thankful to Northwest Savings Bank for their generosity and for their continued commitment to our community,” said Gregory P. Bauer, the President and CEO of Elk Regional Health System. “We look forward to the day when we open the doors of our new floor and our new maternity department.”

As part of Elk Regional’s $10.3 million building project, part of the hospital’s surgical suite will be repurposed to house a new maternity unit that features private rooms and the latest technology in fetal heart monitoring and 3D and 4D women’s ultrasound. A third floor that will house 42 private patient rooms and a new geriatric behavioral health unit will also be added to the Health Center.

Construction began July 5 and is expected to last through the end of 2012.

Gifts to The Elk Regional Capital Campaign are still being accepted. Those who would like to make a gift may contact Sam MacDonald, the Director of Support Services and Business Development at Elk Regional, at (814) 788-8585.

For more information on the building project and capital campaign, go here or visit us on Facebook.


Photo caption: Officials from Northwest Savings Bank recently presented The Elk Regional Capital Campaign with a check for $20,000, marking the second installment of their gift. From left are Gregory P. Bauer, the President and CEO of Elk Regional Health System; Kevin Oknefski, a senior vice president and district manager for Northwest Savings Bank; Don W. Fleming, the chairman of The Elk Regional Capital Campaign; and Sam MacDonald, the Director of Support Services and Business Development for Elk Regional Health Center.

Steel Beams Being Raised

On Sept. 12, construction workers began raising steel beams into place as part of the project to build a new third floor at Elk Regional!

To view pictures of the beams being raised into place, visit our Facebook page and click through our photo album.

To read news updates on our building project, you can become a fan on Facebook, or bookmark this page.