Iowa Health System Renamed; Burn Center Expands To Kansas City

Iowa Health System Renames Itself

The former Iowa Health System has changed its name to UnityPoint Health.

The Des Moines-based system, which includes 29 hospitals in Iowa, made the name change to reflect its initiative to engage in patient-centered coordinated care.

"Over the years, we've developed our teambased approach and expanded our services to become a point of unity for patient care," said Bill Leaver, UnityPoint Health's chief executive officer. "Our new brand is an expression of our promise to patients. We will work together as an organization to transform the previous care silos into a full continuum of care. We want to meet the health needs of people before they become patients in addition to serving patient needs in a timely, convenient and coordinated manner."

Included in the name change is Iowa Health Physicians & Clinics – now UnityPoint Clinic, and Iowa Health Home Care – now UnityPoint at Home and UnityPoint Hospice.

Grossman Burn Center Expands To Kansas City

Research Medical Center in Kansas City, Mo. has invited a renown California-based burn center to set up shop in its hospital.

The eight-bed Grossman Burn Center at the Research Medical Center is expected to open by October, according to officials. The center has been based at suburban Los Angeles hospitals since the late 1960s. In 2010, its management entered into an alliance with Healthcare Corp. of America, which owns Research Medical Center.

“Partnering with the Grossman Burn Center not only gives us a valuable new patient care resource, but it aligns us with the best, most experienced burn surgeons in the country,” said Research Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Kevin J. Hicks.

Hicks indicated that Grossman would serve as a catchment for burn patients at eight other HCA-owned hospitals in the region.

Management Barriers To Patient Safety In Abundance

A majority of hospital executives and risk managers claim the biggest barrier to improving patient safety are barriers created by corporate culture.

The survey, undertaken by the insurance giant AIG, concluded that 42% of C-suite executives and 55% of risk managers say that issues such as lack of teamwork, negative culture and poor communication impede patient safety.

Moreover, there is a clash in perceptions as to what portion of a hospital “owns” patient safety. Nearly all c-suite and risk management executives say everyone in the hospital is responsible for patient safety. However, about half in both groups believe nurses bear the primary responsibility. Yet more than a quarter of each group acknowledge that nurses risk retribution by discussing it.

The survey also reported conflicting views about the use of technology in the hospital to improve safety. Although many executives believe technology is helpful, many also believe it can detract from patient care.

The full results of the study are available at www.aig.com/us/prevention.