Committee service prompts decision to expand affiliate program at JRMC
Jefferson Regional Medical Center, Pine Bluff, the fourth largest hospital in Arkansas, serves as the major referral center for an 11-county area of southern Arkansas with a patient base of approximately 280,000. Licensed for 471 beds, JRMC is a private, not-for-profit hospital with a medical staff of 150 physicians representing all major specialties and active teaching programs for medical students and residents as well as students in allied health fields, including a school of nursing. There are some 1,800 employees, making JRMC one of the community’s largest employers. www.jrmc.org
Situation:
After joining the Premier’s Continuum of Care (CoC) Committee, Kimberly Snow, RN, BSN, contract/affiliate manager, Jefferson Regional Medical Center (JRMC), Pine Bluff, AR, decided to 'overhaul' the JRMC affiliate program. Considering recent financial adversities and a growing trend to transition treatment options to outpatient settings, an expanded CoC program could offset lost revenue and help build a stronger community network with nonacute care. The goal: develop a regional network to leverage spending volumes to secure stronger group purchasing power.
Solution:
- Reached out to Premier Region Director David Turner and CoC Region Directors Madelyn Mastin and Rick Browning for insights into how other affiliate programs where structured, as well as for support and guidance.
- Obtained Verispan report which identified 185 facilities in geographical region that qualified for the CoC program.
- Determined a potential ROI of $669,000, including expenses for FTE to recruit and retain affiliates.
- Received proposal approval from CFO in July 2009; recruiter hired in August.
- Received training from Premier employees about running a successful affiliate program and Premier tools and services through conference calls, Web conference meetings, e-mails and site visits.
- Created reference materials including forms, vital statistics, PowerPoint presentations, FAQs, resource lists, policies/guidelines, popular links, top contracts by market segment, cost calculators, community links and more.
Result:
- JRMC has added three new members
- Total yearly volume for those members – based on the averages for their classes of trade – is $357,009
"I would like to thank each and every Premier employee for their
dedication and time. Because of your team’s willingness to help, I believe that
Jefferson Regional Medical Center will soon begin capturing the ROI
administration is anticipating. I have created a “bible” to be used as a
reference book for the program. ALL of it came from your Web site. Keep up the
good work and continue enhancing the tools that are so fundamental to the
success of our affiliate programs."
Kimberly Snow, RN, BSN,
Contract/Affiliate Manager,
Jefferson Regional Medical Center
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