To improve our contract approval process, the Office of Counsel has developed a new Amended and Restated
Contract Approval Policy [Policy #120], which simplifies
the contract approval process.

"The amended policy expedites the approval processes for all Health System contracts," explains James A. Wellons, Esq., Associate Counsel for TUHS.

 

The new policy consolidates several contract-related policies (e.g., purchase order policy and additional approval policies) into one, permits concurrent electronic approvals, and provides a shorter one-page contract approval form (CAF) which replaces the old Financial Impact Statement (FIS).

The policy went into effect July 1, 2008, and is applicable
to TUHS and its member organizations.

The policy can be accessed via the Policy and Key Documents icon located on every computer desktop within
TUHs, or through the Office of Counsel's website:
www.templehealth.org/tuhslegal.

"We are confident that the new Amended and Restated
Contract Approval Policy will help expedite the contract
approvals process and enhance our ability to meet budgeted goals," said Wellons.

 

This year, Gov. Ed Rendell declared June 16-20 Healthcare Risk Management Week, and the Health System marked the occasion with outstanding educational opportunities.

At TUHS, the theme of this year's event was "All Staff Are Risk Managers." Celebrations at various entity included poster presentations on MIDAS+, National Patient
Safety Goals, Patient Relations/Communications, and the Patient Safety Plan. Educational puzzles, pamphlets
and tip cards also were distributed.

Many entities concluded the week with a drawing for an iPod Shuffle.

Winners were:

 

* Mary Beth Baranosky at NEH
* Fern Daehling at Jeanes Hospital
* Patricia Conners at TUHSCO
* Loretta V. Mordan, TUP

 

TUHS recently earned a 2008 Achievement Award from the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania for its Linguistic Services program. Our winning entry outlined the process TUHS used to create a credentialed interpretation and translation service for patients with limited or no English proficiency. This program has been so successful that it has been recognized as a model for other institutions to follow by the Philadelphia Office of the U.S. Office on Civil Rights.

 

 

 

The Episcopal Campus was recently honored with a pair of awards for its dedication to educating the next generation of healthcare professionals.

The Episcopal School of Nursing earned a $10,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Higher Education Foundation and the Higher Education Foundation to fund the Dr. Edna B. Mckenzie Scholarship for Disadvantaged Students for 2008.

Also, the Social Work Department received the Nancy Fredland Award from the Temple University School of Social Administration as the Outstanding Field internship
for the 2007-2008 school year.

 

Recently, Vascular Surgeon Krish Soundararajan, MD, performed Jeanes Hospital's first carotid stent procedure with a distal filter device.

The filter prevents a stroke during the procedure by capturing any material that dislodges during balloon dilatation and stent placement in the diseased artery. An
increasingly popular alternative for treating carotid artery stenosis, stenting enables surgeons to treat plaque build-up in the major vessels that supply blood to the brain – reducing the patient’s risk of stroke.

This minimally-invasive operation took just a few hours, and the patient resumed normal activities after being discharged the following day. The procedure is one of
many clinical firsts at Jeanes, which is expanding its range of cardiac care services.

 

 

After an extensive re-accreditation process, the Temple Bariatric Surgery Program has again been certified as a Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery by Independence Blue Cross. To date, only about 200 facilities across the country have earned this distinction. Temple earned this honor based on the excellent credentials of its board-certified surgical team. In addition, the program's patient care facilities, annual volume, support staff, and follow-up care contributed to
its success.

"This honor recognizes the tremendous dedication of our team members in helping our patients achieve excellent results," said John Meilahn, MD, Director of Bariatric Surgery. The program has also been designated a Center of Excellence by the Surgical Review Corporation in conjunction with the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.