There's A Star In Every Story
Quality of Care
Astera is committed to providing quality health care to the communities it serves. Quality care is measurable through clinical quality measures, patient safety initiatives, performance improvement measures, and patient experience scores. Health care is an ever changing environment and Astera maintains high standards to keep quality care a priority.
Quality Measures
Quality measures are established according to current evidence based standards of care. Standards of care are developed by many health care organizations such as: American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, Center for Disease Control, etc.
These best practices can be measured to maintain quality care throughout the organization.
Transforming Care
Transforming Care at Astera Health
Transforming Care at Astera is an initiative started in 2008 as TCAB (Transforming Care at the Bedside) with our nursing department and evolving to an all-inclusive program charged with exploring improvement projects within all areas of Astera. The projects originate from our staff members who see an improvement opportunity within their own department.
Code of Ethics
The goal of the Code of Ethics is to support and protect the rights of patients in all aspects of health care provided by the staff at Astera Health. They are based on the following principles:
- To meet the needs of patients and their families to the best of our ability
- To act in good faith: to be honest, truthful, and fair to all
- To maintain the highest level of skill and expertise in the delivery of care
The above statements are the foundation to which the following scope of services relate:
- Marketing efforts will not mislead the public or misrepresent the facility as to the types or quality of services available.
- Admission to or transfer from Astera Health facilities is not based on patient or facility economics or incentives. Decisions on admission or transfer will be made in cooperation with the patient, the attending physician, and other involved care providers. The best interests of the patient and family will be the primary motivating factors in all decisions.
- Patient care: All patients will be treated with respect, their dignity and privacy will be maintained at all times, and they will be given the information they need to be wise consumers of health care at Astera Health. Confidentiality and privacy compliance with patient information is a right that can be expected at Astera Health.
- Transfer: Should the patient require or request services not available or inconsistent with the organization’s mission, transfer to a facility prepared to fulfill this need will be offered.
- Discharge: Patients will be discharged when the physician, care team, and patient are in agreement that treatment goals have been met or can safely be provided in another setting. If there is a disagreement regarding discharge, concerns regarding early discharge will be handled by the Performance Improvement Committee.
- Billing and resolution of conflicts associated with patient billing: All patients have the right to a formal review of their itemized bill and to ask questions about charges. All customers will be treated with respect in an honest, decent, and professional manner. Patients have a right for this process to occur as expeditiously as possible. If this does not happen, patients will be given the opportunity to voice their concerns to a facility patient advocate, and it will be handled according to the compliance/grievance procedure.
- The Governing Board will disclose any conflict of interest they may have that could influence their relationship or service to Astera Health.
Standards of Care
At Astera Health, we strive to be the health care provider where patients choose to receive care, physicians choose to practice, and where employees choose to work.
Because Astera Health CARES about our patients, families, and employees, we will be: Courteous, Attentive, Respectful, Enthusiastic, and Safe. With this goal in mind, we developed these standards of excellence. The standards establish specific behaviors that all employees and practitioners are required to adhere to while on duty and when representing Astera Health.
Courteous
To meet this standard, I will:
- not discuss workplace issues with or in the presence of our patients, residents, their families, or other visitors.
- not blame another person or department for shortcomings in our process or organization.
- take pride in the appearance of all Astera Health locations.
- put a smile in my voice and answer the telephone with a pleasant greeting. Department reached out and give the caller my name.
- refrain from speaking on the phone when eating or chewing gum.
- ask a caller’s permission before placing them on hold and provide a reason for doing so.
Attentive
To meet this standard, I will:
- take responsibility for problem-solving, not only recognizing the concern but helping to bring suggestions for improvements to the discussion table.
- call my customer by name as soon as I have heard or seen it.
- embrace the concept that our patients & residents are our reason for being here.
- remember and use the acronym of HEAL: Hear what the customer is saying, Empathize & seek to understand, Apologize if something isn’t right, and Leap into action to solve the concern.
Respectful
To meet this standard, I will:
- safeguard and protect the confidentiality of the information I have access to in my work; visual, verbal, written, and computerized.
- not access patient information unless I have a valid work-related reason to do so.
- respect the dignity of all and will show empathy and consideration in our words and actions.
- annually sign and follow the privacy and security rules and regulations of AH.
- demonstrate my respect for our customers and our institution through my behavior, my words
- and even my dress. I will dress appropriately, adhering to the department’s dress code. I will present a positive image of Astera Health in all my interactions.
Enthusiastic Team Members
To meet this standard, I will:
- promote a culture that helps my team members feel appreciated, included, and valued.
- serve as a team member assisting my teammates in our efforts to provide exceptional customer service.
- manage up my fellow team members, physicians, and departments by taking every opportunity to cast them in a positive light.
- do my part to eliminate harmful & hurtful gossip in the workplace.
- give positive recognition in public, and coach in private.
Safe
To meet this standard, I will:
- value my own safety and the safety of others by promptly reporting safety concerns.
- help to create a safe healthcare environment for our customers and fellow team members by following infection control policies.
- report any possible security violations or threats on any of AH campus sites to my manager or to the staff person in charge of the site.
- be responsible for the security of my personal identification badge and any facility keys issued to me.
Our patients, residents, and their families have placed their confidence and their care in our hands – for this, we are honored. It is the manner in which we live up to this task that determines our success.
Health Care Home
Astera Health is a certified Health Care Home provider. What is Health Care Home? Health Care Home is a way of delivering care. It is not a building, house, hospital, or nursing staff. Rather, it is a team approach to care that gives you access to the services and support you need. That team includes you, your primary care provider, other providers and staff at the clinic, community agencies, and a trusted family member or friend. Through constant communication, teamwork, and coordination, the aim is to provide patients with the best care possible while improving outcomes.
Because each patient is unique, Health Care Home at Astera Health offers the following commitment to our patients in order to make their experience as simple and anxiety-free as possible:
- Creation of individualized goals
- Delivery of personalized care
- Assignment of a dedicated Health Coach, if requested
- Commitment of quality care
Although anyone can benefit from Health Care Home, this service is especially important for individuals with chronic diseases and other special needs.
Ask your provider about Health Care Home services from Astera Health.
