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At medical staff meeting, Marsh presents her vision for SHC

Addressing the medical staff at its semiannual meeting June 4 - two months after becoming Stanford Hospital & Clinics' new president and CEO - Martha Marsh laid out her vision and priorities for the hospital, highlighting several areas she described as crucial to the organization's success.

Marsh emphasized that the hospital should strive for excellence in clinical quality, customer service and financial strength to support the organization's mission. She said she wants the hospital to be known and recognized for top-quality clinical care. "We do things that are unique and leading-edge, and we need to emphasize them."

She noted that various organizations, such as U.S. News & World Report, judge hospital quality using their own particular standards, but that "we need to define for ourselves what Stanford's quality is all about."

Marsh presented data from the Leapfrog Group, a coalition of large employers working to improve medical care. The group has come up with minimum threshold numbers for particular procedures, which it uses as an indicator of clinical quality. On most procedures, Marsh noted, Stanford Hospital is at or above Leapfrog's threshold standards. But she said it is important for the hospital to strive for quality in several ways - most notably through outcomes measurements - and not simply through high volumes.

Additionally, the Leapfrog Group believes the use of electronic medication prescribing systems can significantly reduce medical errors at hospitals. Marsh said Stanford Hospital's physician order-entry system, despite its implementation problems, will enhance quality by preventing medication errors as well as other types of errors.

Introducing Carolyn Byerly, the new chief information officer for Packard and Stanford hospitals, Marsh emphasized Byerly's considerable experience and said the new CIO will work closely with physicians to improve the POE system.

While providing excellent medical care is vital, Marsh said, excellent customer service is also crucial for the hospital. She said she will promote an environment that leads to high satisfaction among patients, doctors and employees. "I want our patients to feel this is the best place to be. I want our doctors to say, 'I wouldn't think of sending my patients anywhere else.'"

Marsh was optimistic about the financial situation, noting that after operating at a deficit, the hospital expects to end the current fiscal year with a positive balance.

She emphasized that achieving financial strength will allow the hospital to fulfill its mission and devote more resources to such high priorities as equipment, facilities and information systems. At the same time, she noted, the hospital is working on partnership opportunities and on strategic plans that address, among other items, the hospital's space needs.