Published on January 17, 2018

A Look Back at 2017

We’ll remember 2017 as a busy, rewarding and productive year. We invested in new technology, added services and continued to improve our quality of care. Here are 10 highlights.

  1. QUALITY KUDOS: Several organizations recognized Johnston Health for its clinical performance. Among the accolades, a four-star rating (five is the highest) from CMS; A’s in April and October from Leapfrog; one of the top 25 hospitals in the state, from NC Business Magazine; a Tier 1 hospital, from BlueCross BlueShield; 2017 Blue Distinction Center + for Maternity Care; Hurst Gold Standard Award for nursing staff.
  2. The new space for cardiopulmonary rehab at Johnston Medical MallHAPPY PATIENTS: For the fiscal year ending June 30, Johnston Health scored its best ever on patient satisfaction surveys, ranking (among hospitals of similar size) in the 80th percentile for inpatients and 90th percentile for outpatients. To celebrate those successes, employees received fleece jackets, ice creams socials and chances to win cash prizes in the “Lucky You” drawing.
  3. FACELIFTS: Among construction projects, the most dramatic was the new, larger space for cardiopulmonary rehab at Johnston Medical Mall. What was a dark corner of the medical mall basement is now a cheerful, natural-light-filled area that patients love and look forward to visiting.
  4. ENGAGEMENT: Responding to results of the workforce engagement survey, Johnston Health launched an employee engagement advisory committee called CORE, whose purpose is to recognize and be a voice for all employees. One of its first initiatives, The Idea Trees to gather input from employees.
  5. OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE: What’s new? After taking a 12-week Lean certification course, employees get to apply to their work areas what they’ve learned in class. Also notable, the department convened an advisory committee to sustain the ongoing work on sepsis; facilitated plans to reduce readmission and inpatient falls; led projects to launch MDI boards, boost referrals to Project Access and manage revenue cycle work queues.
  6. TECHNOLOGY: Using the latest generation of the da Vinci robot-assisted surgery system, specialists are doing more complicated minimally-invasive procedures. Among other things, the new system offers larger, clearer images than the old one.
  7. Junior volunteer eleanor hinnant helping patientNEW SERVICES: With gentle Caesarian Sections, mothers can see the birth of their babies and bond more quickly. And with the introduction of endotracheal ultrasounds, physicians can better diagnose and/or stage lung cancer. Also notable, after extensive training, nurses on Second Bright Leaf are administering TIKOSYN, a medicine that can restore normal heart rhythm.
  8. MORE JUNIORS: Junior volunteers are now invited to volunteer year round. The program had been offered only during the summer.
  9. SILVER: The Johnston Health Foundation celebrated its 25th anniversary with a gala at Johnston Medical Mall. A highlight was honoring Durwood Stephenson of Smithfield, who led the capital campaign of the SECU Hospice House and has contributed to myriad hospital and community causes. Also notable, the foundation held its first employee-giving campaign, and launched a new program to assist heart patients.
  10. A REMARKABLE RETIREMENT: In February, the hospital’s longest-serving physician hung up his white coat. Before retiring, Dr. Woodrow Batten, now 96, had been the eldest and longest-serving member of the medical staff. As a young internist, he assisted with planning for the hospital, and on Dec. 15, 1951, was among the hundreds of guests at the grand opening.