Star Awards presented to Outpatient Ambulatory Services team at Sutter Solano Medical Center in Vallejo

Award announced

The Outpatient Ambulatory Services team at Sutter Solano Medical Center in Vallejo has been recognized for excellence in patient satisfaction.

The OPAS staff received a Star Award from Sutter Health for its dramatic performance improvement in caring for outpatients the third quarter of 2007.

Star Awards are presented to individuals and departments that go above and beyond to enhance patient care or promote the mission of Sutter Health.

"Since they aren't dealing with people who are admitted to the hospital, OPAS team members have a very short time in which to make a positive impression on patients and their families," said Kim Trumbull, R.N., chief nurse executive.

Some of the things the OPAS team did were:

• Staff nurses brought in CD players and headsets, new books and magazines, for the waiting room, so patients and their families would be comfortable

• To enhance the waiting room, overhead light panels were installed with colorful and cheerful images such as clouds and rainbows

• A pager system, like those used in popular restaurants, was instituted to allow families to move throughout the hospital while waiting for their loved ones' procedures to be completed.