MGH Recipient of Studer Group Award

Since its inception in 1999, Studer Group® has worked with over 800 healthcare organizations in the U.S. and beyond, teaching them how to achieve, sustain, and accelerate exceptional clinical, operational, and financial goals.

Each month, the group honors an organization that stands out from its peers and serves as a premier example of what is right in healthcare with an Organization of the Month award.

Marion Health is the latest recipient of the prestigious honor which also distinguishes Marion Health as a Fire Starter hospital. A Fire Starter hospital is one which ignites the flame of excellence by embracing the Studer Group® foundational principles of working together, developing relationships, caring for one another and extending true compassion to others.

In 2006, Marion Health began its culture-changing journey with the group after experiencing lower than expected operating margins, unhappy medical staff, discontented staff, and few compliments from patients who received care.

"We are truly committed to continuing on our life-long journey of culture change with Studer Group® as our partner," states Paul L. Usher, President/CEO. "Beginning our relationship with them was one of the best decisions and commitments we have ever made."

Since partnering with the group, the following positive changes have taken place:

Employee turnover has dropped:

• Nursing from 11.7% to 3.4%
• Non-nursing from 14.7% to 7.2%

An A+ bond rating has been retained from Standard & Poor's since 2002.

Quality scores have improved.

Overall patient satisfaction has improved:

• Inpatient from the 75th to 91st percentile
• Outpatient from the 50th to 77th percentile
• Emergency from the 64th to 85th percentile

Patient satisfaction has improved with positive comments now being received routinely.

Medical staff satisfaction has improved significantly as evidenced by the recruitment of 19 new physicians in three years.

Construction of a new outpatient facility, which will improve access to primary care as well as outpatient services, has begun.

Photo Caption: (Left to right) - RaNae Wright, Studer Group Coach, Paul L. Usher, President/CEO, Bernadine Wallace, R.N., CNO, COO, and Donna Tucker, Administrative Director of Customer Service