There’s one particular phrase Phil DuBois has always disliked.
“I
never want to hear a worker say, ‘That’s not my job,’” said DuBois, who
is the administrator for Market Square Health Care Center in South
Paris, ME. “One employee should be willing to help out another,
regardless of their job description or the department they work in.
It’s important to foster that culture of teamwork.”
And that’s exactly what’s occurred at Market Square. “Hybrid” positions
exist at the facility – ones that involve working within two separate
departments (like Nursing and Activities, for example). If a shift has
one department down a worker, other departments will pitch in to help.
Cooperation, flexibility, diversity – these are words frequently used
at Market Square.
According to DuBois, this culture of teamwork helped Market Square earn
the “Facility of the Year” award from “Advance for Providers of
Post-Acute Care,” a national magazine for long-term care. The
publication hosted a contest inviting facilities to submit essays on
the topic of “The Best Example of Teamwork in Long-Term Care in
America.”
Marianne Gallo, director of Social Services at Market Square, wrote the
article using examples submitted by several co-workers. The essay was
picked as the winner from among 25 entries; Market Square was then
featured in the November/December issue of the magazine.
“It was a tremendous honor to be nationally recognized,” DuBois said.
“All the credit goes to our staff here. They’re the ones who took to
this culture of cooperation between departments; it was never forced
upon them. They understood the importance of teamwork.”
‘A place to live’
Market Square has a rather simple philosophy when it comes to providing care.
“Long-term care facilities are not a place to die,” DuBois said.
“They’re a place to live. And it’s important we follow that. We want be
sure our residents are receiving the highest quality of care, but more
importantly, enjoying the highest quality of life.”
In terms of quality of life, Market Square has made several
improvements to make its setting more comfortable and homelike. For
example, the dining room in the facility’s dementia unit was re-modeled
with a log cabin-type theme. The room now features pine paneling, a
mural depicting a forest scene, plants, and fans complete with wind
chimes. The work on the room was done by staff from the Activities,
Maintenance, and Nursing Departments – another example of the
cooperation that exists at Market Square.
There are other examples, too. Market Square recently added a
handicapped-accessible swing to its courtyard. And several years ago, a
100-year-old resident expressed her desire to ride in a helicopter.
Thanks to the efforts of the Activities and Nursing Departments, as
well as the community, this woman had her wish honored.
“These are minor things to many people,” DuBois said, “but they make a world of difference to our residents.”
Market Square also has its share of innovative and popular programs,
including pet therapy (featuring everything from dogs and cats to fish
and birds), and a traveling garden, which can be wheeled into right to
a patient to be enjoyed in the privacy of their room.
The right attitude
Residents have nothing but good things to
say about the quality of care and life at Market Square. So do their
families and that, according to DuBois, is just as important.
“When we make improvements or introduce a new program, it shows the
families we’re going above and beyond the normal call of duty,” he
said. “It shows we’re committed to making their family members happy
and comfortable.”
And it’s that kind of attitude that helped Market Square Health Care Center become nationally recognized.
Market Square Health Care Center offers comprehensive care in five
different areas: long-term care, residential care, independent living,
skilled nursing, and rehabilitation and respite care. Market Square's
affiliation with Stephens Memorial Hospital assures ready access to
experienced physicians, laboratory services, and physical, speech, and
respiratory therapies.
