Dedicated Family Centered Care
WELCOME!
I am Ann Dechairo-Marino, the Chief Nurse Executive at Northridge Hospital Medical Center.
Our goal here at Northridge is to provide the patient, their family and their friends with the best possible experience. We do this through the professional practice of nursing.
Nursing is a very dynamic process with constant reassessment of the patient and the treatment plan. Because of this, our nurses know that they are not only clinicians but they are also leaders and they are scientists. They base their decisions and their interventions on research.
Our nurses at Northridge care for the whole person; their psychosocial needs, their spiritual needs and their physiological needs. We are very proud of our nurses at Northridge and the nursing care they provide.
We are currently pursuing the prestigious and rigorous Magnet designation. The national Magnet Recognition Program acknowledges healthcare organizations that provide nursing excellence and innovations in professional nursing practices and strategies. In 2005, US News & World Report even added Magnet status to its criteria for choosing America’s Best hospitals.
“Staff nurses are empowered to become more involved with management decisions and job functions,” says Ann. “Like all journeys, this one requires planning and preparation. We will continue to make changes that reflect the true and deep commitment of Northridge Hospital to the professional practice of nursing.”
In an effort to meet this esteemed Magnet criteria, Northridge Hospital created nursing unit-based councils made up of staff nurses. These councils give nurses a more formal voice to make decisions that affect their patients and professional practice.
Putting Our Patients First
Striving to Provide All the Comforts of Home
When you're not feeling well, it’s the special touches that count-like having everything you need for comfort within reach. That’s just one of many goals included in four new measures recently implemented by Northridge Hospital Medical Center’s nursing leadership, which focus on personalized care through increased one-on-one communication. By engaging patients as active players in their treatment and recovery plan, better outcomes can be achieved.
"Since nurses have the highest level of interaction with patients, they have the greatest opportunity to truly impact patients' experiences," explains Ann Dechairo-Marino, PhD, RN, Senior Vice President, Patient Care Services.
"The new measures ensure patients that their comfort and safety are our top priorities while also empowering nurses with successful tools to improve care," adds Andrea Collier, MSN, RN-BC, Director of Nursing Practice. "Since put into action, our patients have reacted favorably."
Personalized Care Times Four
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Rounding
Nurses no longer wait to be called, but rather anticipate the needs of their patients by visiting them each hour or more during the day and every couple of hours at night. Our nurses will ensure important elements of care are addressed such as pain control, bathroom needs, body positioning, and that necessary items are within reach.
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Bedside Reporting
Traditionally, at the change of each nursing shift, a patient report was given to the incoming nurse at the nursing station. Now, at the change of shift, the patient’s status and care are discussed at the patient’s bedside thereby facilitating interaction between the nurses and patients. This is an important time for patients and their families to ask questions about their care.
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Individualized Patient Preferences
Much like a fine hotel, we enhance your hospital stay with your personal preferences and comfort needs. Food and beverage favorites, temperature preferences, and sleep schedules are written down so that caregivers can respond appropriately to the patient’s needs.
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Discharge Phone Calls
In an effort to continually improve, we solicit our patients’ perception of their care through a follow-up telephone call and a mail-in survey to discuss their satisfaction.
