At a series of town hall meetings on Tuesday, leaders from The University of Toledo Medical Center shared a comprehensive update on UTMC operations during the past two years, detailing key investments, retention and recruitment efforts, and new initiatives aimed at reestablishing important clinical services.
UTMC Chief Executive Officer Rick Swaine provided an update on 10 key priorities for a successful turnaround for UTMC:
• New leadership
• Evaluating compensation levels
• Securing new federal and state funding
• Obtaining additional reimbursement from Medicaid
• Improving the work environment
• Recruiting new physicians
• Adding and improving partnerships
• Reestablishing important clinical services
• New marketing efforts
• Recruiting additional staff
One of the most significant recent actions was UTMC receiving approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on an initiative that will generate additional revenue for the hospital by receiving a higher reimbursement rate from Medicaid.
Swaine discussed ongoing and planned work to implement EPIC as UTMC’s electronic medical record system, renovations planned for the Ryan White Center, Dana Cancer Center and Kobacker Center, and the addition of several new major diagnostic tools.
UTMC is investing more than $20 million this year in capital improvements. That includes the conversion to EPIC, which is set to go live in September 2022, a new MRI machine and upgrades to the cardiac cath lab.
UTMC also is set to begin operating as a Level 2 trauma center in mid-April and open a refreshed surgical intensive care unit later this spring. As staffing levels rise, the hospital expects to re-open 5CD.
To assist with recruitment, UTMC is strengthening its partnership with the UToledo College of Nursing, including a summer fellowship program, adding clinical educator positions, and increasing the number of nursing students rotating through the hospital.
“The future is extremely bright,” Swaine said. “This hospital is moving forward, and you all have played an important role in helping us get there.”
