Looking ahead to Rogers’ future: What is a Center of Excellence and why are we developing them?
08/08/24 01:00:pm
To improve the patient experience, clinical excellence, and increase access to care, Rogers is developing Centers of Excellence in both Oconomowoc and West Allis.
The Oconomowoc campus will be the Eating Disorder Center of Excellence, while the West Allis campus will be the Mental Health and Addiction Recovery (MHAR) Center of Excellence, both focused on creating recovery centers of choice for patients, families, and workplaces of choice for employees.
“What started out as primarily a vision of updating facilities for the Eating Disorder Recovery program expanded into the idea of a Center of Excellence,” says Brad Smith, MD, DFAPA, chief medical officer. “We began thinking about how we as an organization achieve even greater patient experiences. Along with our Primary Behavioral Health expansion, we’re putting a lot of effort into increasing the scope and excellence of our specialty service areas.”
“We have seen many changes in the addiction field over the last few years including regulatory changes, the substances patients are using, the lethality of those substances, and the growing need for access to care. As an organization, we have made a concentrated effort to be proactive in meeting that demand”, shares Michelle Maloney, PhD, executive director of addiction services. She adds, “Achieving American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) certification and establishing an MHAR Academy are two important steps toward becoming a Center of Excellence. MHAR Academy allows staff to receive credentials and meet continuing education requirements, which ensures the clinical expertise to address the individualized motivational needs of our patients.”
What is a Center of Excellence?
In healthcare, a Center of Excellence refers to an organization that provides leadership, best practices, research, support, and/or training for a specific focus within the field. Such centers are recognized for their high standards in patient care, their innovative research contributions, and their role in education within a specific focus area.
“At a high level, a Center of Excellence brings all the best parts of an organization such as research and best practices together,” says Brian Kay, chief strategy officer. “Striving to maintain the high standards required for Centers of Excellence at Rogers can offer many advantages for patients, team members, and the mental health field as a whole.”
The ‘Why’ Behind a Center of Excellence
- Patient-centered care: Centers of Excellence can lead the way in developing and implementing care models that are more responsive to patients’ needs and preferences, including the use of personalized treatment and engagement strategies.
- Advancements in medical technology and research: Working hand in hand with Rogers Research Center, a Center of Excellence can be a hub for innovation in medical research and technology, offering patients access to the latest advancements in treatments and diagnostic tools.
- Focus on specialized care: As there is a growing need for specialized services, Centers of Excellence can provide focused expertise and comprehensive care, improving outcomes for patients with complex conditions.
- Improving quality and safety: With an emphasis on best practices and continuous improvement, Centers of Excellence can not only improve care, but also serve as models for achieving high standards in patient care and safety.
- Education and training: With healthcare rapidly evolving, Centers of Excellence can be a main source for education and training, providing the latest knowledge and skills to clinicians, researchers, and students.
- Healthcare economics and efficiency: By concentrating expertise and resources, Centers of Excellence can offer more efficient and thereby cost-effective care. Specialization also leads to better outcomes and lower costs by reducing the need for duplicative review and extended lengths of stay.
- Enhanced collaboration: Knowing the complexity of behavioral healthcare requires multidisciplinary collaboration, Centers of Excellence can enable teamwork across levels of care and with other institutions, leveraging collective expertise to improve patient care.
- Reputation and competitive advantage: A Center of Excellence will enhance Rogers’ reputation, helping to attract top talent and distinguishing us as a leader in specific areas of the field.
