Sherri Marshall Sherri Marshall, smiling.

A Message from the Board

Partnerships: Three for three

In a new and ever changing healthcare environment, hospitals and providers are working together as teams to build collaborative partnerships. Last year, our Administration presented proposals to embark on three separate clinical partnerships for the benefit of patients. Several months after implementation, I am pleased to report that each of these has met or exceeded the vision for success.

1. The five board-certified general surgeons of Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center began providing surgical services at Dosher in August. For the first five months of the fiscal year, the volume of inpatient and outpatient surgeries at Dosher is up 13 percent, and patient satisfaction scores remain high.

2. NHRMC Physician Group-Cape Fear Heart Associates relocated from the first to the second floor of Dosher Wellness Center in October, leasing about one-third of that floor and greatly expanding cardiology services at Dosher's flagship outpatient facility. The heart doctors and other cardiology practice staff collaborate with Dosher Cardiac Rehabilitation registered nurses at the Wellness Center even more closely than before the expansion. On a related note, Cardiac Rehab patient volume is up 16 percent so far this fiscal year.

3. Eagle Telemedicine, Atlanta, began providing physician exams and admissions for Dosher inpatients overnight starting last December. Anecdotal patient feedback focuses on the "wow" factor for the high-tech nature of this service at our small, critical access hospital. Meanwhile, formal patient survey data continues at its usual high level if not slightly improved. (Need verification of this.)

Strategic clinical partnerships help provide high quality healthcare close to home. These were three excellent partnerships that helped increase access and quality for southern Brunswick County patients. Watch for more in the future. --Sherri Marshall, Vice Chair, Dosher Board of Trustees