CAPE GIRARDEAU HOSPITALS ON THE GROW; ST. FRANCIS BUILDS PARKING GARAGE, OPENS REHAB CENTER

St. Francis Medical Center put the emphasis back on patient care at the bedside in 1995, said John Fidler, the hospital's president and chief executive officer.

In April the hospital implemented patient-focused care in its inpatient services. The philosophy stresses bring services to the patient rather than moving the patient to the services."I think we've always been very patient-centered," Fidler said. "That's the reason we exist. That's our mission. I think we have re-focused on that."Through patient-focused care, the hospital reorganized from the traditional departmental structure to centers of care for medical, surgical and ambulatory patient care, he said."We've taken down and removed all the barriers between departments," Fidler said.

The new philosophy has improved coordination of care and efficiency, he said, and more resources are available at the patient's bedside.

1995 also saw tremendous growth in St. Francis's outpatient care services, Fidler said, and the hospital's rehabilitation services were greatly strengthened with the opening in November of the St. Francis Center for Health and Rehabilitation, 28 S. Mount Auburn Rd. It provides outpatient rehabilitation, pain management, fitness and wellness services and outpatient services.

Also in November, renovations were completed at St. Francis Regional Laboratories, 36-1 Doctors Park, which provides a wide range of outpatient lab services.

St. Francis also participated in the CHART (Community Health Assessment Resource Team) project aimed at improving health and quality of life in Cape Girardeau County."That's very important to us," Fidler said. "When we look at a patient, we put the patient at the center of everything we do. In a broader sense, we look at the community and assess the needs of the community and how we can best align with other agencies and organizations to serve the needs of the community."In January St. Francis became one of the partners in MedAmerica HealthNet Inc., the region's first physician-hospital organization.

The network of physicians and hospitals represents more than 20,000 individuals and the services of more than 200 physicians and five area hospitals. Fidler called MedAmerica HealthNet "a true partnership between physicians, hospitals and insurers to meet the health care needs of this area."Construction began on the hospital's 600-plus-space parking garage. The three-level structure on the east side of the hospital is slated for completion in May or June, and work is on schedule, Fidler said.

Work on a 100,000-square-foot medical office building should start in 60 to 90 days, he said. Construction is expected to take 18 months to two years. The office building will be about 30 feet from the hospital proper and be connected to the hospital at the ground level."I think we're going to constantly be in a state of re-engineering, re-development of how we utilize our resources in caring for others," Fidler said. "I think a hospital is not a building. Its people caring for each other."Other highlights include the opening of the hospitals second cardiac catheterization laboratory in February and accreditation of the hospital's inpatient adult rehabilitation services by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities.

In June, two mammography units were installed in the Womancare unit.

St. Francis Health Delivery, offering respiratory care, durable medical equipment and medical supplies, began operating Aug. 1.