DAVENPORT, Iowa - Oct. 5, 2015 -- Healthcare terms and technology can be confusing and frightening in any language, creating possible gaps in vital communication between healthcare providers and patients. As the local patient population becomes more global, Genesis Health System is responding with a global solution.

Genesis is working with Stratus Video Interpreting of Clearwater, FL. to bridge communication gaps with patients, no matter what language is their "first'' language. Video Remote Interpreters (VRI) will be available throughout the health system.  When fully implemented, Genesis will have 44 Video Remote Interpreters available at the medical centers, convenient care locations, physician offices and outpatient care offices.

"These video interpreters will go a long way in bridging the gaps we had identified,'' said Tyne Rieck, service excellence coordinator, Genesis Health System. "Communicating with patients is an issue throughout healthcare. "We identified our needs and started researching solutions.'' Stratus is working with more than 600 hospitals and healthcare systems across the country.''

Video Remote Interpreters work like this:

If important information needs to be explained to a patient whose first language is a language other than English, the healthcare provider taps on an icon on the iPad screen to activate the language translation service.  From a list of 27 available video languages and 200 more languages available from Stratus with audio only, the provider selects the appropriate language.  Within 30 seconds to a minute an interpreter appears on the screen.

Accurate Information

The interpreter and healthcare provider exchange information such as department and patient name, and then the healthcare provider speaks. They pause after every sentence or two, to allow the interpreter to give the information in the patient's preferred language.  It's a little slower than a normal conversation, but the extra effort is worth it when a patient receives all of the necessary information and their questions are answered accurately. The iPad-based devices are mobile and adjustable to give a patient who is lying in a hospital bed a face-to-face look at the interpreter.

Genesis was already using a face-to-face language interpreter service and continues to use that service but in emergent situations or during non-business hours, it can take a period of time to get an interpreter where they are needed. "Live interpreters on site will always be best, and their use will not diminish. This is the next best thing,'' Rieck explained.  "The mobility and quick response we've experienced have really been a benefit to the patients.  We can get care started right away.  The response from patients has been good so far.''

Rieck explained that Stratus has call centers scattered throughout the country. If one area of the country was experiencing a loss of power, the service would still be available from other call centers.

Sign Language, Spanish Most Common Requests

Rieck said American Sign Language and Spanish are the interpreter services Genesis has used most often since introducing the devices a month ago. "One of the reasons we looked for new solutions is that in talking with the deaf community, we knew we needed something better,'' Rieck said. "That was what they were telling us. That started our research and search for a solution.''

Among the other video services available are Arabic, Bosnian, Burmese, Cantonese, French, Haitian Creole, Hmong, Korean, Mandarin, Nepali, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Somali and Vietnamese.

Rieck demonstrated the system by activating a session in American Sign Language. A pleasant woman introduced herself as Aralyn and explained by voice and ASL how the system works. "Both of my parents were deaf and we didn't have anything like this,'' Aralyn explained.  "My parents either had to write down what they needed or we had to use sign language.  This is so much better.

"Most of us with Stratus have been translating for a long time ... in my case about 40 years ... and we have all received training in medical terms and procedures.'' Rieck said using family to interpret to a family member is usually a last resort and shouldn't  be necessary with the mobile video translators. "By using interpreters who are not family, we are making sure there is a literal interpretation of the information we need to share,'' said Rieck. "There is not as much paraphrasing going on this way. A family member might protect a loved one and tell them what they think the patient should know to make them feel better instead of what they really need to know.''

Genesis Health System continues to explore new technologies for the benefit of patients. Genesis has been named one of the nation's Most Wired Hospitals and Health Systems for 12 consecutive years.

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Genesis Receives Federal Enrollment Grants

DAVENPORT,  Iowa - September 2, 2015 - Genesis Health System was awarded two federal grants today to assist in enrolling Quad City area residents in insurance coverage for the 2015-2016 Affordable Care Act enrollment period.

"These grants will help us reinforce our commitment to the communities we serve in making sure they have access to health care coverage," said Michele Cullen, community health manager, Genesis Health System. "We are excited to get back out in the community for the coming enrollment period and help our neighbors access new coverage options."

This marks the third consecutive year that Genesis Health System has received federal funds to administrate its enrollment program. The grants help pay for the enrollment assisters, also known as "navigators," and their work in the community.

Genesis received $118,631 and $79,181 in Iowa and Illinois, respectively. Counties served will be Scott, Clinton, and Jackson in Iowa; and Rock Island and Mercer in Illinois.

Genesis Health System is one of only three organizations in the state of Iowa, one of only seven organizations in Illinois, and the only health care system serving the Quad City area, to receive federal grants to assist in enrollment.

Open enrollment, the period in which most people will qualify to shop for new health coverage plans on the state exchanges, will begin on November 15, 2015 and run until February 15, 2016. Some people who have had a life-changing event - job loss, death, birth in the family are examples -- or qualify for expanded Medicaid, may not have to wait for the open enrollment period.

To speak to a Genesis enrollment navigator about coverage options, call (563) 421-ENRL (3675) or send email to enrollment@genesishealth.com.

For more information, contact Austin Bird at (563) 421-9276 or birda@genesishealth.com.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- July 21, 2015 -- Genesis Medical Center, Davenport has been rated as the top community hospital in Iowa for the second consecutive year by U.S. News Media & World Report's 2015-16 Best Hospitals ratings.

Genesis Medical Center, Davenport was recognized as "High Performing'' in three Common Care measures.  Genesis was rated as "High Performing'' in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart failure and hip replacement.

The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, an academic center, was rated No. 1 overall in Iowa. Genesis Medical Center, Davenport shares the No. 2 overall rating in Iowa with Alegent Creighton Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs.

"The important message from the high Iowa rating for the second consecutive year is that Genesis Medical Center, Davenport is consistently providing high quality care,'' said Doug Cropper, President and CEO, Genesis Health System. "We want patients to expect a high quality of care and excellent patient outcomes when they are Genesis patients.

"This is a tribute to the quality and safety of care provided by our doctors, nurses and everyone who is part of the patient experience at Genesis.  In these Common Care conditions ... treatment of COPD, heart failure and hip replacement ... Genesis Medical Center, Davenport met high standards for patient safety and survival.

"Patients have better access than ever before to information about safety and quality of care at hospitals.  Information in the hands of our patients is a valuable tool.  We value their research and evaluation of Genesis."

Of the 4,665 hospitals that were considered as possible Best Hospitals for Common Care, only 16% achieved a "High Performing'' rating in any of the five procedures being evaluated.

Genesis Medical Center, Davenport was the only Quad Cities hospital receiving a "High Performing'' rating in any of the five Common Care procedures.

U.S. News also evaluates hospitals in 16 adult specialties and 10 pediatrics specialties.  In most specialties, U.S. News ranks the nation's top 50 hospitals. Only 3 percent of the nearly 5,000 hospitals that were analyzed for "Best Hospitals 2015-2016'' were nationally ranked in even one specialty.

The 2015-2016 national top five were: 1. Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; 2. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Mn.; 3. Tie, Johns Hopkins, Baltimore and UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles; 5. Cleveland Clinic.

"This annual report by U.S. News is considered to be an objective, credible resource for how hospitals are caring for patients,'' Cropper added.  "The next step for Genesis is to make the highly selective honor roll of hospitals ranked in the top 50 nationally in at least one specialty.  We're getting closer to that goal.''

U.S. News publishes Best Hospitals to help guide patients who need a high level of care because they face particularly difficult surgery, a challenging condition, or added risk because of other health problems or age.  Objective measures such as patient survival and safety data, the adequacy of nurse staffing levels, and, other data largely determined the rankings in most specialties.

The regional hospital rankings complement the national rankings by including hospitals with solid performance nearly at the level of nationally ranked institutions. The regional rankings are aimed primarily at consumers whose care may not demand the special expertise found only at a nationally ranked Best Hospital or who may not be willing or able to travel long distances for medical care. The U.S. News metro rankings give many such patients and their families more options of hospitals within their community and in their health insurance network.

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DAVENPORT, Iowa - July 15, 2015 -- The health professionals providing patient care at Genesis Medical Center hospitals have education, experience, critical-thinking skills and one more important tool.

They also have nationally recognized information technology available to improve quality and safety of care, resulting in better patient outcomes.

For the 12th consecutive year, Genesis Health System has been named Most Wired by Hospitals & Health Networks magazine based on the use of information technology to accomplish key goals, including safety and quality objectives.

Genesis Health System is the only Iowa hospital or health system to be recognized as Most Wired 12 consecutive years.

Genesis has consistently adopted innovative technologies to accomplish key goals of safety and quality.

In the past year, Genesis has expanded the reach of MyGenesis, a patient portal allowing patients to have convenient access to their health records through a secured website.  No matter where a Genesis patient may be, they have access to their health records, including medication records and records from previous physician appointments and hospitalizations.

The MyGenesis portal for access to the physicians of Genesis Health Group is connected with 16,716 patients.  The MyGenesis portal for access to Genesis Medical Center records had 9,219 connections.

In the coming months, patients connected to MyGenesis will also have access to radiology and pathology documents.

MyGenesis is also available via smart phone.

"Genesis continues to stand well ahead of most health care organizations in the country in its use of technology to benefit our patients,'' said Rob Frieden, Vice President of Information Services, Genesis Health System. "Genesis leadership has been very supportive of the purchase and implementation of new technology benefitting patient care.''

Health Care's Most Wired Survey asked hospitals and health systems nationwide to answer questions regarding their IT initiatives.  Respondents completed 741 surveys, representing more than 2,200 hospitals, or more than 39 percent of U.S. Hospitals.

According to the survey, hospitals are taking more aggressive privacy and security measures to protect and safeguard patient data. Top growth areas in security among this year's Most Wired organizations include privacy audit systems, provisioning systems, data loss prevention, single sign-on and identity management. The survey also found:

• 96 percent of Most Wired organizations, including Genesis, use intrusion detection systems compared to 85 percent of the all respondents. Privacy audit systems (94 percent) and security incident event management (93 percent) are also widely used.

•79 percent of Most Wired organizations conduct incident response exercises or tabletop tests annually, a high-level estimate of the current potential for success of a cybersecurity incident response plan, compared to 37 percent of all responding hospitals.

•83 percent of Most Wired organizations report that hospital board oversight of risk management and reduction includes cybersecurity risk.

"We continue to move toward a seamless and secure approach to medical records, which makes health care safer, more convenient and less stressful for patients,'' Frieden said.

The nation's Most Wired hospitals and health systems demonstrate better outcomes in patient safety, risk-adjusted mortality rates and other key quality measures through the use of information technology, according to analysis.

"Our focus is always patient safety and quality of care,'' Frieden said.  "Will the new technology make our patients safer? Will it provide them with a better patient experience?

"And finally, will the new technology also create efficiencies for our caregivers and staff?''

The Most Wired winners are featured in the July edition of Hospitals and Health Networks (H&HN) magazine, the publication of the American Hospital Association.

About Genesis Health System

Genesis Health System, its affiliates and partners offer a full continuum of health care services in a 12-county region of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois. Our affiliates include : acute and tertiary hospital care at Genesis Medical Centers in Davenport, DeWitt, Iowa, Silvis, Ill., and Aledo, Ill.; home health and hospice services through Genesis VNA and Hospice; Genesis Workplace Services, including occupational health, employee assistance program and wellness services for employers and their employees; the Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House; senior living communities offering rehabilitation and long-term care; Genesis Health Group, with more than 170 primary care physicians and specialists; the Genesis Quad Cities Family Medicine Residency Program; Genesis Psychology Associates; three Convenient Care clinics; and Genesis Home Medical Equipment.  Partners include the Genesis Medical Park, Crow Valley and Spring Street Surgical Center, Davenport. Genesis Health System also manages Jackson County Regional Health Center, Maquoketa, Iowa.  For more information, visit our Web site at www.genesishealth.com.

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