PMC passes trauma center survey

MEEKER I It has been busy at Pioneers Medical Center.
In the past few weeks, PMC passed its three-year trauma survey, was re-certified for mammography services, received a $50,000 grant and celebrated employees who have 25 years of service.
On April 30, PMC had an on-site visit from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to survey trauma services. During the review, the inspectors look to see how PMC integrates into the statewide emergency medical and trauma care system.
In the official notice from the state, the letter stated, “The reviewers noted no deficiencies and no items met with reservation at the review. The department is pleased to again designate Pioneers Medical Center as a Level IV Trauma Center.”
“This is a great accomplishment for the doctors, nurses and all staff involved in trauma care at Pioneers Medical Center,” said Drew Varland, PMC chief nursing officer. “We may be small, but our physicians and staff are well-trained and educated in trauma care.”
In May, the PMC radiology department was awarded it three-year accreditation for mammography service. In order to receive accreditation, evaluations are conducted by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in their fields. They assess the qualifications of personnel and the adequacy of the facility equipment. PMC has three credentialed mammography technologists. The radiology department recently invested in digital mammography, which gives a more efficient screening.
Digital mammography is a mammogram that uses new detection technologies and computers instead of film. In a digital mammography clinical study of 42,000 women, digital mammography was found to be better than film-screen mammography in detecting breast cancer.
During the past three years, Pioneers Medical Center has invested in an enterprise-wide information technology upgrade to implement an electronic medical records system. Last week, Pioneers Medical Center was awarded a $50,000 grant from the governor’s Rural Health Care Grant Council and the Colorado Rural Health Center.
These funds will be used to put in place wireless solutions for Pioneers Medical Center. PMC has received more than $765,000 in grants to offset the cost of the new information technologies and electronic medical records program.
May 10-16 was National Hospital Week. During the week, PMC celebrated all of the employees that provide the healthcare services in our community. This year, Pioneers staff were excited to recognize and celebrate Dawn Michels for 25 years of service. Michels began working at PMC in 1983. Managing the PMC dietary department, the staff in 2008 served 43,187 meals to patients, Walbridge Wing residents, Meals on Wheels, visitors and staff.
“We are proud of our employees and their many successes, said Kris Borchard, president of PMC board of directors. “We are proud of the quality healthcare provided at PMC, and we continue to improve on quality, patient care and re-investing in our community.”