The Cardiac Rehab Department provides services for the inpatient and outpatient population. Orders for inpatients are entered into the computer by patient care personnel. Orders for the outpatient population are written by the ordering physician. The Cardiac Rehab Department provides optimum assistance to physician in maintaining preventative and restorative health needs for the patient. The Cardiac Rehab staff supports the hospital’s mission in providing cost effective quality care. The population served by the department consists of adult and geriatric patients requiring Phase II Cardiac Rehab, cardiac education and Stress Testing. The Cardiac Rehab Department is staffed by nurses registered in the State of West Virginia and who have had training in Cardiac Rehab services and are ACLS certified.
CARDIOPULMONARY SERVICES
The Cardiopulmonary Department provides services for the inpatient and outpatient population. Orders for inpatients are entered via the computer order entry system by patient care personnel. Orders for the outpatient population are written by the ordering physician. The Cardiopulmonary Department provides optimum assistance to nurses and physicians in maintaining preventative and restorative health needs for patients. The Cardiopulmonary personnel provide quality conscious, cost effective and competent care with respect for life and dignity at every state of human experience. The patient population served by the department consists of newborn, pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric patients requiring cardiac, respiratory testing or treatment to maintain optimum physiological maintenance of the cardiac and respiratory systems. Procedures performed by the department include ABG, EKG and ACLS procedures, Holter monitoring, fit testing, oxygen therapy, pulmonary function testing, peak flow analysis, and breathing treatments including ventilator care. Patient/family education on disease entities are provided via brochures, written instructions and verbal communication. Cardiopulmonary technicians must possess a current license valid in the State of West Virginia and current certification of BCLS.
CLINICAL LABORATORY
Wetzel County Hospital (WVH) Laboratory is to provide high quality, quick turn around time cost effective patient care. The laboratory provides a large menu of testing on state of the art equipment. We also provide around the clock, seven days a week service including holidays. Any esoteric testing we cannot provide in house is sent to a reference laboratory which provides an excellent turn around time. Any STAT testing that cannot be provided in house is sent to a larger hospital laboratory that is located north of Wetzel County Hospital (WCH) laboratory. This laboratory can provide STAT (same day) testing that our reference laboratory cannot. The laboratory also provides a large number of Blood Bank services. Any Blood Bank testing that cannot be provided in house is sent to the American Red Cross reference lavatory. The laboratory is JCAHO and CLIA approved. The reference laboratories used by our hospital laboratory are CLIS approved. Their scope of services is in line with our scope by providing quality care in a timely manner that is cost effective. If at any time their scope of service should change and not be compatible with our scope of service then a new reference laboratory will be sought. The Clinical Laboratory personnel include personnel state certified in medical technology and phlebotomy. Assignments within the department are based upon the complexity of the testing requirements. All personnel evidence proficiency with the Laboratory Computer System and all chemistry and laboratory equipment. All personnel have an understanding and are able to demonstrate knowledge of the laboratory specific safety and infection control policies and procedures, as well as the organization safety management and utilities management programs. The physician director of the Clinical Laboratory is Board Certified in Clinical Pathology.
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
The Emergency Department is a Level IV Trauma Emergency Treatment Facility which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, fully staffed with licensed physicians and nursing personnel at all times. The patient population served by the Emergency Department consists of newborn, pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric patients requiring or seeking medical care. All patients that present to Wetzel County Hospital’s (WCH) premises for a non-scheduled visit are seeking care shall receive a medical screening exam by an Emergency Department physician that includes providing all necessary testing and on-call services within the capability of (WCH) to reach a diagnosis. Support services including but not limited to clinical specialty physicians is maintained to assist in stabilizing patients. All necessary definitive Emergency Department patients are then evaluated for response to treatment and are admitted, transferred for further treatment not provided by the Hospital or discharged, with follow-up instructions as appropriate. The Emergency Department nurse of Wetzel County Hospital (WCH) is a professional nurse committed to ensuring that the emergency care patient receives optimal care. He/she maintains a current state license as a Registered Nurse, as well as ACLS, PALS, and BCLS certification. TNCC certification is recommended. Organizational membership to Emergency Nurse Association (ENA) is encouraged. The Emergency Physician maintains state medical licensure, ACLS, PALS, and ATLS.
NURSING SERVICES
Nursing Services is under the direction of the Inpatient Nursing Coordinator (IPC) of the organization. Nursing services are provided in all direct patient care nursing “units”. The INC and the individual department directors are held responsible for the nursing professional standards of the organization, the responsibility for the standards of care and practice, performance assessment and improvement, policies and procedures, personnel competency and nursing licensure within the Nursing Department. Collaborative activities have been established to ensure that these responsibilities are addressed in all areas throughout the organization where nursing care is provided. Nursing care is an organized and systematic process provided by or under the direction of a registered nurse. The practice of nursing encompasses providing care to patients and their families that requires specialized knowledge, judgment and skills derived from the principles of biological, physical, behavioral, social and nursing sciences. As a profession, nursing serves as a foundation for health, optimizing/restoring/maintaining the balance of body, mind and spirit of our patients. As such, nursing includes the recognition of priority health care needs, health care teaching, managing interdisciplinary patient care, patient advocacy and health teaching. Nursing services are provided in an atmosphere of collaboration, both interdependently and independently with other health care disciplines to provide a quality, cost effective, individualized and coordinated health care service to all patients throughout the organization. Professional nursing practice is facilitated through empowerment, collaboration and encouragement of innovation, through a performance improvement framework. Nursing care is accomplished through the execution of the nursing process, patient teaching, administering, supervising, delegating and evaluating nursing care and practice. This includes implementation of nursing standards of care and practice.
Departments of Nursing Service:
1. In-Patient Services
Med-Surg ICU TCU/Swing Bed Unit Cardiac Rehab. Supervisors
All nursing care is under the direction of registered nurses licensed in the State of West Virginia. Practical nurses licensed in the State of West Virginia and Nursing Aides, certified in the State of West Virginia are directed by the registered nursing personnel.
OPERATING ROOM, PACU, AMBULATORY SURGERY, CENTRAL STERILE
The Surgical Services Department of Wetzel County Hospital (WCH) provides services for operative and other invasive procedures and immediate postoperative care on a 24-hour basis. The department is staffed to operate 3 OR suites Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM. An “on-call” staff is available 3:00 PM to 7:00 AM for emergency procedures. An “on-call” staff is available on a 24-hour basis, Saturday and Sunday and holidays.
POST ANESTHESIA CARE UNIT – PACU
The Post Anesthesia Care Unit provides care for the post-anesthetized patient. The PACU is staffed with one (1) registered nurse for every one (1) post-op patient. Two RN’s are normally scheduled from 7am to 3pm or 8am to 4pm. If the acuity or number of patients warrants, an additional RN will float to the PACU from the Operating Room staffing. After 3pm staffing of PACU is covered by the “on-call” circulating RN. The patient population served by the Operating Room and Post Anesthesia Care unit consists of the newborn, pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric patient requiring or seeking surgical intervention, to maintain or restore an optimum level of wellness. The Operating Room and PACU is staffed with clinically competent Registered Nurses who have demonstrated expertise in the perioperative field. All nurses must be certified in ACLS. All Surgical Technicians are clinically competent and work under the supervision of the registered nurse in delivering safe and effective care to the patient during the intraoperative period. In addition, all personnel demonstrate competency in the performance of specialized Operating Room/PACU skills.
AMBULATORY SURGERY
This facility provides care to patients requiring outpatient surgical procedures and diagnostic gastrointestinal procedures. The department is staffed from 6:00 am through 4:00 pm, or until patients are ready for discharge, Monday through Friday. The patient population served by the facility consists of the pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric patient requiring or seeking surgical intervention or diagnostic testing to diagnose, maintain or restore optimum level of wellness. (Hospital Organizational Plan for Patient Care and Services – continued)
PATHOLOGY
Anatomic pathology provides for examination, diagnosis and description of all human tissue and cytology specimens received in the department. The Pathology Department provides for examination, diagnosis and description of tissue and other specimens received in the Pathology Laboratory during routine departmental hours. The Pathology Department is open during routine business hours with availability via telephone in an emergency situation. The Pathology Department operates under the direction of a physician licensed in anatomical and clinical pathology.
RADIOLOGY/IMAGING SERVICES
The Diagnostic Radiology Department/Imaging Services is a comprehensive service providing sophisticated clinical application of imaging technology 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Services are provided to the inpatient and outpatient population of all ages, both within the Radiology Department/Imaging Services and at the patient bedside. Diagnostic result reporting is continuously transmitted through the computer system with hard copy printing. Outpatient results are sent to the ordering physician’s office. The department consists of Diagnostic Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, CT, MRI, Mammography and
Ultrasound Services.
Physician orders are entered into the computer order entry system with special needs of the patient identified at the time of ordering. Patients requiring transportation assistance will have this need met by Radiology Department/Imaging Services personnel. Certain medical conditions may necessitate the accompaniment of a registered nurse based upon the assessment of the nursing personnel. Patient condition or type of exam may require the procedure outside of the department. This may occur on patient units, in the surgical suite or any area where emergent imaging is ordered by a physician. The Radiology Department/Imaging Services provides services for the study of the anatomical processes of the human body by acquiring diagnostic images. Radiology diagnostic procedures are performed on patient of all ages, from the neonate to the geriatric patient. Nuclear Medicine provides for a study of the physiological and metabolic processes of the human body by acquiring diagnostic images after administering radioisotopes, either alone or tagged to chemicals normally utilized by the body. Isotopes are utilized as specified in the Radioactive Materials License. Pregnant patients are assessed for risk, with denial of procedure when a potential for patient harm exists unless the risk from the suspected diagnosis outweighs the risk of radiation to the fetus, as determined by the referring physician and the nuclear medicine physician. The physician director of the department must be board certified in Radiology or possess equivalent experience and competence in the area of comprehensive diagnostic radiology services. The departmental personnel consist of state licensed radiology technicians and other support staff who possess the skill level that allows for the provision of safe, competent and accurate care as defined under the scope of care.
REHABILITATION DEPARTMENT
The Rehabilitation Department provides prescribed therapies/tests for the inpatient and outpatient population at Wetzel County Hospital. Therapy is performed at the patient bedside or in the Rehabilitation Department. Rehabilitation Department personnel have the responsibility to transport patients to the department for treatment and services. The Rehabilitation Department delivers comprehensive services to individuals with physical dysfunction secondary to disability, disease or injury in accordance with professional standards of practice, departmental policies and procedures and organizational standards. Services include comprehensive assessments, development of treatment plans, delivery and documentation of care, consultation, re-evaluation, and discharge planning and patient/family education. The personnel in the Rehabilitation Department possess the appropriate skill level to provide safe, competent and accurate care as defined under the scope of service. Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists and Speech Therapist must have state licensure and possess a BS or MS from an institution that meets accreditation for physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy licensure requirements. Physical Therapy Assistants and Occupational Therapy Assistants must possess an AS degree and state licensure. Rehabilitation Department Aides are also staffed within the department and must evidence appropriate degree of competency in physical therapy practice.