While Schneck Medical Center offers a lot of services within its building, the Seymour hospital also reaches beyond its walls to serve the community.
During a hospital board meeting Feb. 17, Kathy Covert, vice president of workforce and organizational development, gave a presentation sharing ways Schneck employees are reaching out to the community.
Joint replacement seminars
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This year, joint replacement seminars are set for April 23 and Sept. 17 and will be conducted for the first time in the new Schneck Professional Building in Classroom 500.
“Those have been very popular for folks to come and talk with orthopedic surgeons,” Covert said. “Also, those that are eligible receive a free screening X-ray.”
Medicare and Medicaid patients are not eligible for the free X-ray, per regulation, but they are still encouraged to attend and a lot of times do, she said.
“We’re excited to bring that joint seminar back to the community and for the first time in the Schneck Professional Building,” Covert said.
Blood pressure checks
Schneck Primary Care employees traveled to Brownstown Central High School on Feb. 6 to offer free blood pressure checks during the junior varsity and varsity boys basketball games.
Covert said nearly 60 people went through the station, and five of them were advised they needed follow-up with their primary care physician because of the readings.
Blood pressure checks also were done at Seymour High School on Feb. 15 during JV and varsity basketball games. That drew 30 people with less than five referred to a provider for further evaluation.
The events were conducted as part of Heart Healthy Month.
Schneck Night
The hospital had great representation at the Jan. 25 boys basketball game at Seymour High School.
For Schneck Night, employees and their families were invited, and as long as they wore Schneck logo wear and their badge, they were admitted for free.
Employees got to toss T-shirts and small basketballs to the fans, and they gathered at midcourt for a group picture with Sammy the Owl, who also wore a Schneck shirt.
“This was really fun for us because we got to interact with the Seymour crowd,” Covert said. “It just so happened that game also was against Scottsburg, so if you think about Scott County being another market that we serve, we actually had some employees from Scott County come and participate, as well.”
Scholarships for students
Schneck also is offering scholarship opportunities to current medical students and those who plan to pursue a career in that field.
The George H. James Jr. Scholarship was established in honor of a man who dedicated 33 years of service to Schneck. James became president and chief executive officer in 1968 and retired in 2001. Throughout his 33 years, he had a passion for physician recruiting and recruited numerous physicians to Schneck.
Candidates who are enrolled in a medical school are welcome to apply for consideration. Primary consideration will be given to residents of Jackson, Jennings and Scott counties who intend to practice medicine in Jackson County.
Applications, due by March 15, are available from local high school counselors and soon will be available online at schneckmed.org.
The Schneck Foundation scholarship committee is accepting applications for the allied health scholarship and the Amanda M. Dick Honorary Scholarship for female medical school students.
Candidates interested in pursuing a course of study in a technical/professional allied health career may apply for the allied health scholarship. Allied health areas include but are not limited to clinical support areas such as speech therapy, respiratory therapy, physical therapy, lab technology, pharmacy and radiological technology.
Acceptance for enrollment at a school and program of study in a technical/professional field is required. To be considered, candidates must apply each year. Started in 1992, the program has awarded more than $491,800.
In honor of his wife, Dr. Andrew Dick started the Amanda M. Dick Honorary Scholarship in 2018 as a surprise birthday present. The scholarship is intended to support women pursuing a career in the medical field. To be considered, candidates must apply each year.
Candidates must be female and currently accepted into medical school. Primary consideration will be given to residents of Jackson, Jennings, Scott and Washington counties. Residents of other counties may be considered based on available funds and at the discretion of the scholarship committee.
Applications, due by March 15, may be obtained at schneckfoundation.org or schneckmed.org or by calling the foundation at 812-524-4244.
Customer experience initiatives
Covert said a lot of work has gone into developing ways to best serve patients.
One is onsite registration for all outpatient services, which has been in place for a few months.
“We’ve developed a process where patients can go directly to the department where they need service to be registered,” she said. “If you recall previously, there was a centralized location, and say you needed a lab test, you had to go there sometimes and get registered and then head over to the lab. We’ve really trialed and now implemented going directly to that department where you need to have the service to be able to be registered.”
Covert said the new process saves patients time and helps them navigate so they don’t have to go to multiple places.
“It also has had some advantages for our patients that have mobility issues,” she said. “It has helped them be able to go exactly where they need to for service rather than to have to continue moving around in our facility, so that has been very well received.”
Also, diagnostic imaging now has extended hours, adding some evening and Saturday hours.
“We all know our patients are very busy people, and a lot of times, work schedules vary for folks, so we wanted to make sure we had extended hours in our diagnostic imaging area to better suit our patients’ needs,” Covert said. “It has been very well received. We appreciate departments working on changing staff schedules, as well, to be able to accommodate patients’ needs.”
Covert also highlighted the various support groups Schneck offers. Those include all types of cancer, Alzheimer’s caregivers, bariatric, Better Breathers, diabetes, GriefShare, Resolve Through Sharing and smoking cessation. She said Resolve Through Sharing is new and focuses on support around infant death and miscarriage.
Finally, Covert noted Schneck Pediatrics is now on the fourth floor of the Schneck Professional Building. The office previously was in the Laurel Place building at the corner of Laurel and Walnut streets.
“This actually for parents and their children is very nice to be able to park in that parking garage and just go right into the practice,” Covert said. “And it allows us opportunity for future growth, so we’re excited about that and still trying to get the word out so people get to the right office, the right location.”
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For information about Schneck Medical Center, visit schneckmed.org.
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