Awards

FMC receives 2009 Employer Excellence Award

Flagstaff Medical Center recently received the Arizona Nurses Association 2009 Employer Excellence Award. Only one healthcare facility in the state is honored with this award once every two years for outstanding support of nursing and creating a professional environment of nursing practice, education and excellence.

FMC was nominated for the award by Kim Quinlan, R.N., C.N.O.R., operating room nurse educator. Quinlan started working at FMC in 2005 as a nurse traveler, but choose to become a permanent employee because of the training programs and value FMC places on its staff.

“I nominated FMC for this award because FMC promotes nursing research, patient safety and quality improvement initiatives,” Quinlan said. “All employees are considered valuable members of the healthcare team and are encouraged to be actively involved in creating systems and processes that work toward making FMC one of the best hospitals in the region.”

FMC is a vital regional healthcare resource to the residents and visitors of Northern Arizona. It recognizes nursing education excellence by supporting the pursuit of advanced degrees and specialty certifications of its nurses through its tuition reimbursement and certification pay programs. Innovative approaches to patient care delivery have been put into place such as the reduction in use of contract labor, implementation of the new graduate training programs, use of nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists who provide advanced clinical education to nursing staff.

FMC Chief Nursing Officer Lynn Belcher said, “One of the greatest compliments an organization can receive is to be recognized by peers and experts for your dedication and efforts. FMC is an outstanding healthcare facility staffed by compassionate, dedicated nurses, technicians and other healthcare professionals committed to working together to provide patients and the community the best healthcare in the country.”

FMC Physical Therapist named Arizona Physical Therapist of the Year

Lisa TenBarge, P.T., D.P.T., was recognized as the 2009 Arizona Physical Therapist of the Year by the Arizona Physical Therapy Association. TenBarge was chosen for her accomplishments as a physical therapist from more than 1,350 statewide association members. She was honored for her innovative work in establishing a new physical therapy program in Flagstaff Medical Center’s Emergency Department; for her involvement at the local, state and national levels to teaching and mentoring other physical therapists; for her commitment to treating patients; and her extensive volunteer work both locally and internationally.

After earning her physical therapist degree from Northern Arizona University in 1989, TenBarge joined FMC where she began her career as a physical therapist. Specializing in orthopedics and manual therapy, TenBarge works with patients who have been admitted to the hospital and with patients who require physical therapy on an outpatient basis.

Throughout her 20 year career at FMC, TenBarge has worked in all units of the hospital, in Homecare and currently in FMC’s Emergency Department, where she began the physical therapy component of the comprehensive care provided to patients who seek emergency care.
Implementing physical therapists as part of the Emergency Department (ED) team was a program TenBarge spearheaded at FMC in 2004. When the program began, only two physical therapists were specially trained to work in the ED. Today, FMC has eight physical therapists who work in the ED, providing seven-days-a-week coverage. Both ED physicians and nurses can request a physical therapist see a patient once the patient’s immediate medical conditions have been addressed.

TenBarge and the other physical therapists in the ED are dedicated to injury prevention and education. Since most ED patients are in the ED “by accident,” physical therapists are able to educate patients on how avoid injuries and how to modify activities to accommodate for an injury. The group primarily sees patients who have neck and/or back pain due to auto injuries, falls, accidents or pre-existing injuries. They provide care to patients who have broken bones, joint and muscle injuries and chronic wounds. Additionally, they provide extensive education on activity levels, at-home exercises, equipment needs and injury prevention. Patients appreciate the extra attention while in the ED and the education and resources that better prepare them to go home.

 Other Awards and Accreditations

• Flagstaff Medical Center was awarded the Medal of Honor by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for its achievements in increasing organ donation rates. (November 2008 and November 2009) 
• Flagstaff Medical Center received The Art of Innovation Award from Lean Healthcare Exchange West. (July 2008)