2010 Inside SC Archive

Springfield Clinic’s external website, www.SpringfieldClinic.com, was recognized as one of the country’s most outstanding healthcare websites at the 14th Annual Healthcare Internet Conference in Las Vegas on November 17th. Springfield Clinic won Silver Awards in two of the twelve juried categories: Best Site Design and Best Overall Internet Site.

More than 1300 entries were received from healthcare institutions, representing 18 industry classifications, as part of the eHealthcare Leadership Awards program. Major medical institutions like Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins and UW Health were among this year’s award recipients.

Experts from the world of healthcare and the Internet judged the entries based on a rigorous set of Internet excellence standards. Eligibility for Best Overall Internet Site, for instance, required sites to meet or exceed 40 distinct qualifying factors. The judges also compared entries to other sites in their organization’s industry classification.

“Competition was especially strong among large hospital, healthcare systems and managed cares sites,” noted Mark Gothberg, chairman of the eHealthcare Leadership Awards. “A substantial number of organizations have made major improvements to their websites to better serve current and future consumers.”

Springfield Clinic’s site was officially launched in late 2009. The effort, led by Springfield Clinic’s internal Marketing and Information Technology staff, with oversight by Dr. Geoff Bland and the Clinic’s Business Development & Marketing Committee, took more than a year to design and implement. Representatives from the award-winning development team were on hand to receive the honors.

“It’s so rewarding to be recognized at this level, especially at such an early stage in the evolution of our site,” stated Patty Kuhn, Director of Marketing at Springfield Clinic. “There were so many creative and innovative sites among the eHealthcare award recipients. We’re honored to be considered in the same company.”

Springfield Clinic has been named the 2010 Innovations in Quality Improvement Award from the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). The award is presented annually to one AAAHC accredited organization that has demonstrated exceptional improvement in quality.

Springfield Clinic has been recognized as the Quality Improvement Award winner in the Primary Care category, specifically for improvements in Childhood and Adolescent Immunizations, Cancer Screenings, Diabetes Care, Controlling High Blood Pressure and Patient Satisfaction. Applications for the award were reviewed by an expert panel and judged against AAAHC’s “10 elements” of quality improvement. The award will be presented to representatives of Springfield Clinic at the AAAHC National Education Forum in December.

This achievement comes as recognition for a seven year initiative to improve overall quality at Springfield Clinic. During that time, the Clinic has implemented a nationally-recognized electronic health record system, established and measured clinical care goals and engaged in activities to improve patient satisfaction. Special recognition goes to the Quality Management Committee and Dr. Bill Putman as its Chairman, the Quality Management Department and its leadership team.

“An achievement of this magnitude does not happen through the efforts of just a few. It has taken the commitment and dedication of our physicians, their clinical staff members and the entire organization to improve the quality delivered at Springfield Clinic,” says Randy Bryant, Chief Executive Officer at Springfield Clinic. “This recognition validates the efforts we have made in the past and inspires us to continue leading the way in quality of care.”

To celebrate the honor, Clinic officials have declared Friday, December 3rd, “Denim Day” at Springfield Clinic locations throughout central Illinois. Employees will be encouraged to wear jeans, which is a departure from their traditional workplace attire. Chief Clinical Officer, Mary Stewart, explained, “We celebrated last year’s AAAHC accreditation award with a denim day and it was great fun for our doctors and staff. We thought a similar celebration was in order to recognize our employees for their contribution to this prestigious award.”

For more information on this award or the AAAHC, click here.

The mission of Springfield Clinic is to provide our patients with the highest quality healthcare. We strive to deliver service that improves, enhances and extends the quality of life for our patients. To accomplish the best possible patient experience, we continue to need your valuable feedback.

In the past eight months Springfield Clinic has administered patient satisfaction surveys through Press Ganey, a leader in patient satisfaction and performance improvement in the healthcare industry. Our patients and their families are keeping us informed. Randomly selected, over 9,500 patients have completed these confidential patient satisfaction surveys.

You may find yourself asking why take the time to complete this survey? Will anyone ever really read this? The answer to that question is a resounding YES! Based on current feedback Springfield Clinic has a clear picture of what is important to you as a patient. Your voice has been heard and will continue to be heard. Your top priority concerns include privacy, ease in registration and information about delays. They are now some of our top priorities and we are working hard to improve them.

Should you receive a survey, we ask you to share your thoughts and feelings about your healthcare experience at Springfield Clinic. For your convenience, an addressed, postage paid envelope is provided so that you may return the survey to Press Ganey at absolutely no cost. We know you have a choice in your healthcare and we want you to continue to choose Springfield Clinic.

Springfield Clinic, Central Illinois’ leading multi-specialty medical group, and Springfield Obstetrics and Gynecologic Associates (SOGA), quality providers of women’s health care based in Springfield, today announced an agreement to merge. Formal approval of the union was confirmed by a unanimous vote of both Springfield Clinic’s partnership and SOGA doctors.

“The physicians and staff of SOGA have consistently demonstrated excellence in patient care and I am confident they will be an ideal complement to our current OB/GYN team. Everyone at Springfield Clinic is excited they have agreed to join our group,” said Springfield Clinic CEO Randy Bryant.

The merger, effective March 1, 2011, will combine the resources of SOGA and Springfield Clinic’s Obstetrics & Gynecology Department, which has specialized in the delivery of medical care for women since the Clinic’s founding in 1939. Springfield Clinic’s OB/GYN medical team, with offices located in Springfield and Lincoln, currently includes 15 board-certified physicians and 4 nurse practitioners.

SOGA has been a quality provider of women’s health care, specializing in obstetrics and gynecology, since 1969. Their Springfield-based group, located at 350 West Carpenter, is comprised of eight physicians and one mid-level provider. Each SOGA physician is a board certified fellow in the American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology and, cumulatively, their team offers nearly 100 years of practice experience.

Richard Eden, MD, Springfield Clinic’s OB/GYN Department chair noted, “We recognize SOGA’s long-standing reputation for excellence in women’s health care. Many of our department members trained together; we see one another frequently at professional conferences and in the local hospitals and now, look forward to collaborating with one another as partners.”
Both groups offer services to female patients ranging from early adolescent to post-menopausal care, including complete pre-natal, delivery and postpartum care, comprehensive gynecologic care, routine examinations and screenings, contraceptive management, menopause-related care, incontinence and bladder issues and more.

Amy Hall, MD, specialist in obstetrics & gynecology and president of SOGA, stated, “Springfield Clinic is a leader in quality care, technology and innovation and we are excited to become part of such a progressive health care organization. Our affiliation will afford SOGA patients increased access to specialty care appropriate for their needs and improved continuity of care. “

SOGA patients will be notified with more specific details as the March 1 merger date approaches. SOGA’s location, hours, billing and services will remain unchanged. In addition to their locations in Springfield and Lincoln, the combined group plans to increase their outreach efforts in surrounding Central Illinois hospitals and clinics.

The all-new Springfield Clinic Lincoln will see its first patient March 28, 2011.

The new Springfield Clinic Lincoln will include Radiology, an infusion room, a shot room, a sub-wait area for Allergy & Immunology, and an expanded number of rooms for Outreach.

The new building is not the only construction undertaking. There will be a convenient new access road, making it easier for patients and staff to get to the Clinic and the new hospital.

For the third time, the State Journal-Register Readers’ Choice Awards has honored Springfield Clinic with the designation of Best Doctor’s Office.

Springfield Clinic has seen a number of changes in 2010 including a complete corporate re-branding, and the implementation of new technological advances, such as the new Electronic Health Record system and Allscripts Patient Kiosk.

Springfield Clinic thanks our patients, and we will continue striving for excellence, and giving our patients that SC experience, in Springfield and at all of our locations.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Springfield, IL), (January 15, 2010) – On Friday, January 15th, officials from Springfield Clinic unveiled a new brand identity for the Springfield-based physician group. The logo, which incorporates the dimensional silhouette of an arch framing Springfield Clinic’s name, is accompanied by the tagline, Leading the Way.

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