Crothall Momentum

Environmental Services–

Driving HCAHPS

Driving HCAHPS scores is an important challenge facing healthcare providers and their service partners today. After an entire year of extensive research, benchmarking, and multiple focus groups with our best operators, Crothall has developed a powerful toolkit called Immediate Strategies for Driving HCAHPS Scores for our EVS leaders. All accounts will have the 7 Immediate Strategies fully in place by September. Crothall will also introduce two hospital-wide strategies that research and pilot testing have proven to decrease non-clinical call light requests and increase patient confidence in the cleanliness of the hospital. Beginning October 1, 2008, Crothall will launch The Crothall Way: Driving HCAHPS Scores for Success. This long-term approach to HCAHPS performance is comprised of 7 Key Drivers with more than 40 proven strategies addressing patient interaction, employee satisfaction, and visual and frequency triggers that directly impact the patient's perception of hospital room cleanliness.

Laundry & Linen–

Embracing HLAC

Crothall Laundry Services is proud to share the news that four of our operations have been accredited by the Healthcare Laundry Accreditation Council (HLAC). Beginning with our managed operations at Rappahannock Goodwill Industries (Fredericksburg, Virginia) and Hospital Laundry Services (Wheeling, Illinois), we have recently earned three-year accreditation at Rome, Georgia, and Clermont, Florida. HLAC was formed for the purposes of inspecting and accrediting laundries processing healthcare textiles. Becoming accredited is an entirely voluntary process. HLAC's mission is to publish high standards for processing healthcare textiles and to provide an inspection and accreditation process recognizing laundries meeting these high standards. Crothall has eight facilities scheduled for HLAC surveys in the upcoming months; however, it is our intention to seek accreditation at all of our operations.

Patient Transportation–

An Organizational Model for Decentralized Patient Transport Services

In the past six months, we have experienced an increased interest from administrators who recognize the positive impact Patient Transportation has on patient flow and throughput. However, transport services may be decentralized and scattered throughout ancillary and nursing departments, and staff may have other responsibilities besides transport. It sometimes becomes impossible to separate those functions and create dedicated transporters for a centralized Patient Transport service. We have designed an organizational model utilizing decentralized patient transport services that allows us to capture, track, and analyze data from multiple processes that contribute to effective patient flow and throughput. Without dismantling the current staffing structure, the model allows us to provide hospitality services, maintain nursing/patient ratios, standardize and monitor performance, and improve response times.

Facilities Management–

TeamOps Makes Migration of Professional Services Maintenance a Breeze

Healthcare facilities depend on functioning plants composed of equipment that requires exceptional care. Scheduling and tracking preventive maintenance on those assets is the focus of Crothall's proprietary TeamOps* CMMS application. Crothall believes standardization of systems provides increased efficiency and support through peer networking. When Crothall merged with Professional Services last October, it was essential to plan a careful strategy for migrating data from Professional's Xxpedite maintenance management software to TeamOps. The migration process, which included data migration and system configuration, also involved preventive maintenance scheduling and end-user training. Collaboration of both companies' managers with Crothall IS and a time-saving feature built into TeamOps that allows data to be uploaded from Excel have made the migration a success.

*TeamOps provides management with enhanced functionality, including wireless PDA updates that allow technicians to receive and update work orders in real time.

Clinical Equipment Services–

Certified for Outstanding Service

Medical technology is ever changing, and healthcare institutions must maintain their equipment at optimum performance for the most reasonable price. With a core value of Professional Development, Crothall Clinical Equipment Services approaches this challenge by providing technical training and certification to our Biomedical Equipment Technicians. Crothall's Technical Resource Center has been able to secure manufacturer or third-party training for our associates on various CAT scan units, mammography units, patient monitors and networks, patient beds, and basic radiology service requirements. We have been able to reduce the "downtime" on this equipment, yielding higher customer satisfaction and increased revenue in the institutions we serve. With an aggressive division goal of 60% staff certification, technicians may receive certification from the International Certification Commission (ICC) in general medical equipment (CBET), radiology equipment (CRES), or laboratory equipment (CLES). The Healthcare Technology Certification Commission also offers certification for the Certified Clinical Engineer (CCE).