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CMO Message: August 2025

Published Date

Take a knee

Welcome to August!

August is National Wellness Month, observed Aug. 1-31 ach year. One of my favorite gifts from my time in the Army is a few volumes of Army terms and lingo that mysteriously find their way into my everyday conversations. In honor of National Wellness Month in August, I’d ask you to “take a knee (explanation follows)”

“Taking a knee” from the military perspective (particularly in the Army) means to pause or take a breather, but with an important distinction. “Take a knee” in the Army is often followed by “prepare to copy;” it’s an active pause. Sometimes we would take a knee in a loose security formation. It allows one to take a break to take notes on an important update or to consider the situation and/or refocus.

We have fantastic momentum heading into the last 5 months of this year with solid progress on length of stay reduction (though stalled for the past two months) and reducing spending. So, take a knee and catch your breath (using the suggestions below) but stay vigilant and engaged! We are so close to meeting our most challenging target to date. Let’s work together to finish the year strong.

Here are 5 quick ways to take a quick break at work:

  1. Move your body – take a short walk or stretch (get some sun and fresh air while it lasts!), take the stairs

  2. Connect with someone – talk to someone new! Ask them about their day and take the time to genuinely listen.

  3. Shift your focus – when walking in, take in the scenery (once you make it to the sidewalk). Notice the bulletin board or take a different route to get where you usually work

  4. Say thanks or give a compliment – we are all, always busy. Say thanks to the cashier or to another care team member. Especially someone you see every day. Notice a teammate and tell them thanks for what they do

  5. Breathe – take a deep breath and close your eyes (sometime when not engaged in patient care – while on break or at lunch). Fill your lungs, close your eyes, and slowly let it out.

Annual Compliance Training

It’s that time again! Take time to complete your annual compliance training. The link HERE will take you to the required training on HealthStream.

 

Length of Stay

The good news and the pursuit of 5.33 days (St. Peter 2025 ALOS Target) and 4.17 days (Centralia 2025 ALOS Target) … we are within striking distance!

Thanks for your continued focus around quality and efficiency in the care that we provide to our patients. The good news is that we are almost at our new target for 2025 (August data is preliminary of course … but is already close to or exceeding our target)!

My asks for you are:

  1. Make sure to discuss an expected discharge date with patients and family starting on day of admission (target their geometric mean length of stay or GMLOS)

  2. Talk up HOME as the best, default next site of care for most of our patients! Patients with an AM-PAC score of 17 (Highest Level of Mobility of 5) and above should be considered for discharge to HOME! Encourage family members and other care team members to get patients HOME whenever possible!

  3. Ensure every patient has a mobility order and an expectation to MOVE during their stay! Be an advocate for mobility and discuss mobility goals with patients and their families.

  4. Know and ask about your patient’s GMLOS (Care Management is a great resource; can also be “wrenched in” to Epic Patient Lists) as a target for discharge planning. Our biggest opportunities are Heart Failure and Shock