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RPC home > Message from the Superintendent (April 14, 2006)

Riverview Psychiatric Center

Message from the Superintendent (April 14, 2006)

"Example is the school of mankind, and they will learn at no other." - Kurt Herbert Alder

This week, I want to tell you about 3 initiatives, which are exciting, creative, and new.

I will start with the effort Jamie is working on.

You all will be hearing about MEDITECH. It is a computerized system for managing information so the hospital can bill Medicare, and Medicaid, and other payers, efficiently. We are working with Dorothea Dix Hospital and Central Office, and Spring Harbor Hospital to implement this. Once implemented (sometime in late fall of this year) , we will be compatible with 8 other Maine hospitals, and hopefully billing quickly and efficiently. There are 4 "work groups" on this project involving 15 different Riverview staff.

Lots more hospital staff will be affected by this. Jamie will be sending out a weekly update on this project beginning next week, letting everyone know what they are doing, and who is involved. Obviously, more to come later.

The second initiative involves a way for this hospital to recognize and honor, staff who go above and beyond what is expected of them here at the hospital. These are the hospital "Champions" for quality, excellence, personal, professional and organizational growth. The idea is that Riverview has dedicated human service workers doing an important job. Among these are persons who, regardless of position, take it upon themselves to lead. Lead by example. An example of dedication, learning, teaching, challenging, accepting challenges, and being confident and optimistic about themselves, their co-workers and the ability of Riverview Psychiatric Center to help others. I see and hear of outstanding employees everyday. These are people we want to recognize and emulate in the organization. I learn so much about quality by just watching how some here do what is done here every day. For an example of a person who many of us could learn about initiative, optimism, and joyful presence, look at John Walker, in Maintenance, Rhonda Hayward, Rehab Aide, Kevin Faile, Mental Health Worker. These are some of the outstanding public service workers we are lucky to have employed at Riverview. We should all feel fortunate to have these persons among our co-workers. I know I do. There are many others and I hope to draw attention to as many as I can.

Third initiative is that this hospital will be installing a 1-800 number, available for friends and family members of our clients, who often cannot afford the cost of a toll call, to be able to talk to a person in our care. I think this kind of outreach, and involving and maintaining as much as we can, the support systems that our clients have, is a terrific and exciting opportunity. I will be getting out to all of you the particulars, (processes, number, hours etc) next week.

Finally, I want to wish all of you a Happy Easter, Passover, or Long Holiday Weekend and hope you have time, to spend time, with family or friends as the weather warms up, baseball begins, and for me, fishing is in full swing.

As always, I appreciate the work you do

David Proffitt
Superintendent
"Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so." - Douglas Noel Adams