Hospital Earns High Marks for Long Term Care
By Ellen Paquin

Mackinac Straits Hospital will be recognized as one of only a handful of hospitals in the state to be issued just one citation in an annual survey of the quality of care in the Long Term Care unit, hospital staff members learned Thursday, March 8. During its report to the staff and residents, a team of visiting health care surveyors commended staff for improvements to the facility, for kitchen services, and for excellent response times to patient call lights. The one problem noted was a crack in a sidewalk outside the unit.

The hospital is evaluated each year by a team from the Michigan Department of Community Health as a requirement of continued state licensing.

"We have found only one citation this year, and you will be recognized as one of the few facilities with only one or two citations," said Richard Bonneville of the survey team, speaking to hospital staff gathered in Long Term Care dining room three. "The citation is for an accident hazard, in which a shift in the sidewalk slab has left a crack in the sidewalk."

Patients who live in the Long Term Care unit had an opportunity to speak with the survey team. Meeting with eight residents Wednesday to gather their impressions of care, surveyor Richard Mrazik learned they find staff members immediately responsive to their needs.

"As you know, a common concern in nursing homes is call light response," Mr. Mrazik said. "As a rule, residents here said call lights are responded to immediately, and that is unique. It was a real treat to hear it from the residents."

That Dr. John Stephenson, chief of staff for the facility overall and medical director for Long Term Care, took the time to attend each day of the survey was positive and "quite unusual" compared to other facilities, Mr. Mrazik said, noting also that Dr. Stephenson shares meals with the residents in the dining room every day.

The survey team complimented hospital workers on providing good dietary service and noted physical plant improvements to countertops, woodwork, and new bedspreads and curtains.

Surveyors can list up to 522 possible citations when evaluating hospitals. For the past two years, Mackinac Straits Hospital has received five citations each year. Following the survey report, hospital staff members have an opportunity to correct problems cited, and the corrections will be added to the final survey report.

Mackinac Straits Hospital Long Term Care unit has 75 beds and currently has 74 residents.