YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY
Springfield, MO
YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY
Springfield, MO
As executive director of medical services for Mercy Hospital Springfield, Diane Meldi oversees many areas of operation on every hospital floor.
However, each role is viewed through a common lens that defines her goal: patient and staff safety.
Meldi says the driving force behind her career is striving for quality of medical care. And she accomplishes that goal with Mercy not just in Springfield, but also throughout Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas and Oklahoma.
“I work collaboratively with physician leaders throughout Mercy and provide information on criteria for clinical privileges, peer review and medical staff bylaws, and ensure patient safety and quality care throughout the Ozarks today and in the future,” she says.
Meldi began her career in 1997 as a medical services professional for Mercy analyzing data to create recommendations for practitioners’ clinical privileges.
“Doctors are trusted to make life-altering decisions. Patients give this trust based upon the assumption that doctors have the knowledge necessary to make these decisions – knowledge gained through comprehensive training and extensive experience,” Meldi says. “Credentialing verifies the doctors have the training and experience they claim and have earned this trust.”
Another aspect of her job is to ensure accreditation standards and regulatory requirements are met. At Mercy, she implements the Vanderbilt’s Patient Advocacy Reporting System and Co-worker Observation Response System – a data platform by the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, which collects reports and evidence to set standards for patient care.
“These programs promote a professional culture, reduce medical malpractice costs, support clinical efficiency and outcomes, address behaviors or performances that threaten patient safety and health care quality, and improve interactions with patients and teams,” Meldi says.
In 2016, Meldi served on the team that developed the Mercy Virtual telemedicine system by organizing the medical staff structure, determining clinical privileges and setting policies and procedures.
“Telemedicine is a growing area in health care, and it is important to ensure that telemedicine practitioners are trained and meet criteria for telemedicine privileges,” Meldi says. “A patient’s life can be saved by having an immediate neurologist available for patients who could possibly be having a stroke. A child may be treated by a pediatric neurologist or pediatric oncologist without having to travel, and continue to have excellent quality of care within their community.”
Meldi also provides expertise on a national level. She is president elect of the National Association Medical Staff Services, slated to take the seat in 2018.
“NAMSS has over 6,000 members, and I believe I will be able to make a difference nationally as the gatekeeper of patient safety,” she says. “This has been a wonderful journey and one I will never forget.”
Meldi has served in numerous capacities for NAMSS and is currently editor of its Synergy journal.
At Mercy, she also serves as a Mercy Just Culture Safety committee member and administrative lead of Mercy Medical Staff Specialty Council.
“My professional motivation is making a difference in someone’s life, whether it be a patient’s, co-worker’s or practitioner’s,” she says. “I believe in being the best you can be and continuing to grow each and every day.”
Connected to Watkins Elementary School is a new storm shelter now under construction.
