Collaboration Excellence

The Environmental Services and Patient Transportation departments at Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte, NC, were recently honored by Crothall Services Group with a “Collaboration Excellence” Award. The two departments received a single joint award, representing the interconnecting of the staff members into a single team. Engraved on the award is a description of the honor the departments share:

“Presented for superior Commitment, Service, and Collaboration in achieving a best-in-class Patient Throughput solution.”

EVS Resident Regional Manager Michael Depodesta and PT Resident Regional Manager Greg Osganian, who each received an individual award as well, have done a tremendous job making the departments operate seamlessly through high utilization of TeamCHIMES as well as a shared mission of reducing turnaround times. Patient Transportation Division Vice President Michael Augustine commented that “nowhere else in our company do our departments work together more closely or operate more like a single team.”

The team earned this distinguished honor by tireless efforts to drive down bed turnaround times to Crothall’s lowest levels, setting the benchmark by which the company’s throughput programs are measured. Some basic reasons for the team’s success, according to Michael and Greg:

• Physical proximity of department offices fosters familiarity and communication.
• Departmental cooperation is a priority. Do not blame each other for problems!
• Motivated client oversees and supports both departments with unified goal.
• Trained staff properly and fully utilizes TeamCHIMES—including nursing staff.
• Discharges are always given the highest task priority (other than hazards).

Both mangers pointed out that none of their success would have been possible without the support and leadership of their client at Presbyterian Hospital, Joy Greear, Senior Director of Professional and Support Services. According to Joy, important steps to success include:

• Build relationships—EVS & PT are included in all important meetings.
• Remember that nurses are the customers—they lead to patient happiness and can make or break any program.
• Expect hard work, push for results, and hold everyone accountable—the team is fueled by challenge and competition to be the best.

The award was presented August 28, 2008, during a meeting of all hospital department leadership, including Presbyterian Hospital President Mark Billings. Crothall congratulates the team at Presbyterian Hospital!