Connecticut State Senator Dr. Jeff Gordon, Stafford First Selectman Bill Morrison, and representatives of Congressman Joe Courtney's office joined leaders of Johnson Memorial Hospital for an in-person chance to learn about recent performance achievements regarding quality, safety, and staffing, as well as challenges the hospital faces as a rural facility. The meeting included a tour and a follow-up session where hospital leaders fielded questions from the guests.
The tour, led by Robert Roose, M.D., M.P.H, President of Johnson Memorial Hospital and Mercy Medical Center, Johnson’s Lindsey Gamble, MSN, RN, Executive Director of Patient Care Services and Operations, and Johnson Board Chair Phil Tartsinis, began in the Emergency Department and included a stop in the ED’s behavioral health area. Afterward, the group moved on to the Geriatric Wellness Unit where they were impressed by the state-of-the-art facility that features a quiet, calming patient care environment.
Following the tour, the group gathered for a brief meeting where they learned about hospital leadership’s successful efforts to improve colleague recruitment and retention, patient experience, and the hospital’s financial outlook. “We value our relationships with our government partners and it’s a pleasure to tell the story of the culture change that we are fostering to improve colleague engagement at Johnson. Our colleagues have a renewed sense of stability regarding the hospital and that has led to a sharp decline in voluntary turnover over the past two years,” said Dr. Roose. “Their strong commitment to Johnson and to each other sets the stage for a better patient experience in every encounter.”