Blog

Hillcrest Burn Nurse Connects with Patients and Families Through Her Experience

Patients, family members, friends and co-workers – those who have experienced it never forget the date. What began as a typical Tuesday morning became the day that changed everything – July 29, 2014 – for Kayla Patchett, RN, her husband, Ben Grice, and their 3-year-old daughter.

“I was in the waiting room for three hours while they worked to get him in a stable condition,” Kayla recalls of the anxiety, fear and all-encompassing worry that took over while she could only wait helplessly. She walked into his ICU room at the Alexander Burn Center at Hillcrest Medical Center and met the... Read More »

Hillcrest Leadership Series: Interview with Farron Sneed

Optimism is at the heart of the statement, “bloom where you are planted.” Following this premise that one can impact their surroundings in a positive manner, while growing and developing themselves, Hillcrest Medical Center Chief Operating Officer Farron Sneed agreed to take on an opportunity in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2013. He had applied for an executive position with Hillcrest in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but during the interview process was guided toward the role as chief executive officer of Lovelace Westside Hospital, another hospital within parent company Ardent Health Services.

“I... Read More »

Stay Safe in Summer Heat

It’s that time of the year again when the temperatures outside begin to rise across Oklahoma. The peak of summer not only brings longer days, but the hottest days of the year. Many of us see this season as the perfect opportunity to head outdoors to enjoy our favorite summer activities. Whether you are working or having a little fun, it’s vital that you properly prepare for the weather.

During this time of the summer, you‘ll often find meteorologists issue heat advisories. Because our bodies easily absorb more heat than they release, heat-related injuries and illnesses are much more... Read More »

Stay Safe While Grilling This Memorial Day

The outdoor cooking season is here, which means many of us will be grilling countless burgers and brats over the next few months! According to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 75 percent of U.S. households own at least one barbecue, grill or smoker. Unfortunately, an average of 8,900 home fires occur each year due to the use of outdoor cooking equipment. Approximately 160 injuries and 10 deaths are the outcomes of these preventable accidents each year.

To keep such a fun activity safe, it’s important to use extra caution when grilling or making campfires. Below are a few... Read More »

Get Fit, Don’t Sit: Tips to Keep Exercise Enjoyable

While we all know that exercise is essential to living a healthy lifestyle, it’s something that many struggle to do. Whether due to a busy schedule or feeling discouraged about our current physical condition, we often find ourselves lacking the physical activity our bodies need.

According to Mayo Clinic, healthy adults need at least two and a half hours of aerobic activity each week. The general goal is 30 minutes of exercise daily to help you achieve the recommended amount of weekly exercise. Aerobic exercise consists of any form of physical activity that increases your heart rate... Read More »

A Community of Care and Compassion for Burn Survivors

Behind the doors of the Alexander Burn Center located within Hillcrest Medical Center, a dedicated and specialized group of doctors, nurses, therapists and staff witness patients making remarkable progress in some of the minutest measurements. The instantaneous moment that changed patients’ lives forever meets the place and the people who work tirelessly to heal and restore burn survivors. The care and commitment required to move the mountains on a patient’s journey home creates a community bond unlike any other place in the hospital. It is one that extends well beyond the weeks or months... Read More »

Making it Personal: The Office of Patient Experience at Hillcrest

A first-time expectant mother arrives at triage at 25 weeks pregnant with signs of preterm labor. A grandfather arrives for his first day of cardiac rehabilitation exercise three weeks after suffering a heart attack. A two-time breast cancer survivor arrives for chemotherapy the day of her 45th wedding anniversary. Did anyone hold the door open? Did anyone ask if they needed help finding their way? Did anyone make eye contact and offer a warm greeting? “Patient experience is about all those encounters that are taking place while our patients and their families are here,” shares Hillcrest... Read More »

What a Thank You Note Says about the Patient Experience

The interactions with those you meet during life-changing events have the power to shape your entire perspective. You remember the tone of their voice, their words and their actions. You remember how they made you feel. In health care, every encounter with every patient matters. It is not only how we deliver medical care, but how we truly care for people – our patients – like Larry Hester.

Life-flighted from Hillcrest Hospital Henryetta to Hillcrest Medical Center’s Oklahoma Stroke and Neurological Institute in September, Larry underwent emergency brain surgery to reduce the... Read More »