Volume 1, Issue 6 - December 8, 2008

Recognition

Heart of Saint Joseph Award Winner Deb Hogan

Congratulations to Deborah Hogan, a clinical manager in the emergency department, for being named a recent Heart of Saint Joseph Award winner at Saint Joseph Hospital.

Photo: Deb Hogan, right, received the Heart of Saint Joseph Award during a surprise reception with co-workers. Deb celebrated with her director, Marilyn Swinford, left.

On her nomination form are several examples of why Hogan was selected for this award. A colleague said, "In the ED Deborah is faced with a multitude of patients from the rich to the poor. She is always respectful and caring to everyone. Tuesday night there was a homeless person that came to the ED for treatment." Even though the chaplain she called wasn't able to find a place for him to stay, since he had been turned away from the Hope Center, Hogan and the emergency department staff found a rescue mission to take him in.

"Deborah is one of those rare individuals who is honest and sincere in her dealing with the staff," a colleague said. "As clinical manager she deals with different employee issues. She is always truthful and direct with her co-workers. She treats her staff with respect and courtesy. She is also empathetic of staff members' personal issues. She creates an atmosphere of 'family' on night shift in the ED."

Hogan maintains high standards of care for her patients "and instills that on new staff and co-workers," her colleague continued. "She expects the care to be excellent and frequently shows staff how to be more efficient and jumps in and helps. She many times has helped me with my patient load when I have worked in the ED when I was overwhelmed with my patient assignment due to high acuity."

The Heart of Saint Joseph Award is currently in place at Saint Joseph Hospital, Saint Joseph East and Saint Joseph - Berea. Nominate a deserving co-worker at www.SaintJosephHealthSystem.org (look for "Recognition & Awards" under "For Saint Joseph Employees").

Top Stories

• Advent
• Events this Holiday
• Project Outreach
• Upcoming Blood Drives
• Compassionate Friends
• A Look Back

Advent

An Advent Reflection
by Sister Barbara Jean Franklin, ASC

Prepare ye, the way of the Lord. The haunting words uttered first by the Baptist and later picked up by a whole chorus of people in Godspell always echo in my ears and resonate in my heart on the Second Sunday of Advent. This is how Mark chooses to begin his Gospel, quoting the prophet Isaiah crying in the desert: “Prepare the way of the Lord.” It’s all about the readiness to which we committed ourselves during the past week.

John the Baptist, like Isaiah and the other prophets before him, is seized by God’s Spirit and must speak in God’s name to those whose hearts are exiled and whose lives are in bondage. God speaks to John’s heart and John speaks to the hearts of his listeners. John preaches repentance and Mark tells us that all Judea and all the people from the city of Jerusalem confess their sins and are baptized by John in the Jordan. Is John with his austere visage and unusual eating habits so charismatic, or are the people so hungry for the comfort that Isaiah promises, that this mass baptism takes place? Regardless, as the people listen to John there is a readiness to publicly express and ritualize their commitment to ongoing conversion.

As each person approaches John in the Jordan, they each have the opportunity to reflect on the sinfulness that holds them in bondage, the many ways that their hearts are exiled from God. We all share in the common failings of humanity so we each might ask ourselves: What do I need to do to prepare the way of the Lord? From what do I need to be freed? In what ways have I strayed from the Lord? If I can answer each question with honesty and a heart open to God’s immeasurable love, then I will recognize the ways that I am called to prepare the way of the one who baptizes, not with water but with the Holy Spirit.

So let the words of Isaiah and John the Baptist echo in our hearts and show in our actions: Prepare ye, the way of the Lord.

Holidays

Vote for Saint Joseph - Berea's Holiday Wreath to Benefit BUURR!

Check out Holiday Wreaths for BUURR now through December 13, Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Berea Arts Council on College Square in Berea. See the fabulous NASCAR Christmas Wreath creatively decorated and submitted for Saint Joseph - Berea (SJB) by our own Financial Counselors Sherry Kates, Sonja Merritt and Josie Addison— members of the Financial Assistance Service Team (that’s "F. A. S. T.").

VOTE for your favorite wreath (Saint Joseph - Berea's!) for $1 per vote. BID in the Silent Auction on a wreath to take home (bidding ends December 13.) ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT BUURR— Bereans United for Utility and Rent Relief.

Photo: SJB Financial Counselors Sonja Merritt, left, and Sherry Kates, right, with the Christmas wreath they decorated to help raise funds for BUURR.

Auxiliary Holiday Bake Sale in Berea

Each year the Auxiliary volunteers at Saint Joseph - Berea bake their best to raise money to subsidize their Lifeline Personal Response Program. Proceeds from the sale pay for installation and part of the monthly fee for ill and elderly folks in the Berea area who might have to go to a nursing home if they could not enjoy the independence that the Lifeline provides them. Enjoy their confectionary delights on Fri., December 12, 8 a.m. – 12 noon outside the Gift Shop.

Final Weigh-in Results of Fall Harvest Food Drive in Bardstown

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Fall Harvest Food Drive at Flaget Memorial Hospital to benefit St. Vincent DePaul Mission Store. A total of 1,888 pounds of food was donated to local people in need! Below are the results of the competition that took place between department groupings. Each department in the winning group with the most food donated by weight will be treated to homemade pies.

Grand totals:

1st place = 351 lbs. Business, Accounting, Admin., HR, Mission, Quality, Evirn. Services
2nd place = 304 lbs. Emergency, Oncology, Respiratory
3rd place = 272 lbs. Hospice, Immediate Care, Cardiac Rehab, Outpt. Rehab, Sleep, Pain Mngt.
4th place = 257 lbs. Admitting, Dietary, IT, Materials Management, Maintenance
5th place = 183 lbs. Imaging and Lab
6th place = 177 lbs. SNU, OB, Inpatient Rehab
7th place = 172 lbs. TCU, ICU, Nursing Administration, Care Coordination
8th place = 98 lbs. Surgery, Health Information, Anesthesia
9th place = 74 lbs. Med/Surg, Pharmacy, Social Services

Shop with a Cop in London

Shop With A Cop was selected as the community organization to receive Saint Joseph - London's 2nd quarter fundraising efforts. Through your donations, fundraising activities, “Day Off With Pay” raffle, “Denim on Fridays,” and the hospital’s matching funds, $4,000 was provided to this wonderful organization. That will allow 40 area children to enjoy some new clothing and a toy for Christmas. If anyone would like to help the kids and parents pick out their purchases on Sat., December 13, please contact Sharon Hershberger at 606.330.3135.

Christmas Services in Lexington

The Annual Christmas Service will be held next week at Saint Joseph Hospital and Saint Joseph East. Scriptures will be read along with the singing of hymns and a special performance by the Children’s Center.

SJH: Wed., December 17, 11:00 a.m., Blakely Auditorium
SJE: Thurs., December 18, 11:00 a.m., MOB (rooms A & B)

Decorating Contest in Lexington, Berea, Mt. Sterling, London and Martin

Departments/units within Saint Joseph Hospital, Saint Joseph East, Saint Joseph - Berea, Saint Joseph - Mount Sterling, Saint Joseph - London and Saint Joseph - Martin are invited to decorate their areas in a holiday theme for some friendly, festive competition. Judging will take place on Thurs., December 18 at 2 p.m.

The maximum amount each department/unit is allowed to spend is $30 (give all receipts to your manager for reimbursement). First place wins $50, second place wins $25, and third place wins $15. A first, second and third place winner will be named at each facility. If you’d like to enter the contest, please send your department/unit name, a contact name and phone number to the following (indicate you are entering the "Decorating Contest"):

Saint Joseph Hospital/Saint Joseph East: Public Relations Office
Saint Joseph - Berea: Katie Heckman (Community Relations)
Saint Joseph - London: Sharon Hershberger (Public Affairs)
Saint Joseph - Martin: Neva Francis (Community Outreach)
Saint Joseph - Mount Sterling: Jennifer NeSmith (Physician Relations & Marketing)

Santa's Helpers Needed to Deliver Christmas Presents

The presents are pouring in, but a few Santa's helpers are needed to deliver Christmas presents to Appalachian Outreach Project families in Berea, Irvine and McKee the week of December 15. Santa's helpers will be driving to clinics and easy-to-find drop-off locations, not houses, during the day. If you’d like to load up your sleigh, call Barbara Baumgardner at 859.313.4447.

The Appalachian Outreach Program’s Christmas Partners Project is an annual tradition in which employees partner with the program’s staff to provide clothing, food, toys and other needed gifts to families and individuals in eastern Kentucky. This year, Saint Joseph Hospital, Saint Joseph East, Saint Joseph - Berea and Saint Joseph - Mount Sterling are participating.

Announcements

Giving blood is one of the most important, rewarding and compassionate things a person can do. One pint of blood can help save the lives of up to three patients. Whole blood can be broken down into blood products such as red cells, platelets and plasma, each of which can help improve or save the life of a patient.

Upcoming Blood Drives (bring your photo ID):

Saint Joseph East: Tues., December 16, 7:30-11:30 a.m., Education Center (Room B). All donors receive a free gift.

Saint Joseph - Mount Sterling: Fri., December 12, 7:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., contact Jeff at 497.6163 to sign up.

Flaget Memorial Hospital: Fri., December 12, 7:00-11:00 a.m.

Compassionate Friends Event

The Compassionate Friends of Nelson County meet every month at the office of Hospice of Nelson County, which is a service of Flaget Memorial Hospital in Bardstown. This support group is for those who have lost a child of any age. On Sun., December 14, at 7 p.m., the Nelson County group will meet at Hospice to observe the Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting ceremony.

This event is held at 7 p.m. for one hour in every time zone around the world on the second Sunday in December. As candles go out in one time zone, they are lit in the next, creating a virtual 24-hour memorial of candles that encircles the globe to honor and remember all children who have died.

The memorial is a way of giving bereaved families around the world the chance to share their loss and remember their child … so that their light may always shine. The Nelson County group will meet at the rear of the Hospice building and go outside for candle lighting. Free candles will be provided.

Classes & Workshops

Basic Medical Library Information Skills

Get hands-on experience in using our medical information resources, including Saint Joseph’s Virtual Medical Library. This course is open to anyone interested in using these resources for work, study and research for school, or to do research to learn about health conditions or patient/family education.

Register online at www.SaintJosephHealthSystem.org (education & events calendar). For additional information, contact Laurie Henderson at 859.313.1677.

Saint Joseph Hospital- Medical Library
December 16 at 10:00 a.m.
January 20 at 10:00 a.m.

Saint Joseph East- Education Center Computer Lab
December 16 at 2:00 p.m.
January 20 at 2:00 p.m.

Saint Joseph - Berea- Computer Lab
December 18 at 10:00 a.m.

Saint Joseph - Mount Sterling- Computer Lab
January 22 at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

A Look Back

Dave Sharp cut the ribbon at the grand opening of the new Sleep Wellness Center at Saint Joseph - London. Dave, manager, is joined by Rebecca Grigsby, supervisor (to his left), hospital employees, London Mayor Troy Rudder and members from the City Council and Chamber of Commerce.

Dave Sharp, manager of the Sleep Wellness Center at Saint Joseph - London, was presented with a London Chamber of Commerce member plaque by Chamber member Sharon Benge.

Front Row: Carmel Jones, vice president of revenue cycle; Ginna Dempsey, hospital president; Sharon Benge, Chamber member; Dave Sharp; Michele Page, Chamber Board member; and Rebecca Grigsby, supervisor of the center. Second Row: Chamber members Jim Sutton and Kenny Woodruff, and London Mayor Troy Rudder.

Saint Joseph - London health information management employee Oma Hutton delivered an assortment of laundry detergent her department collected to the local homeless shelter. Darrel Beck, director of the shelter, happily received the donation on Nov. 24.

Employees reflected on what they are thankful for during a candle-lit Thanksgiving service at Saint Joseph - Martin.

Employees enjoyed a Thanksgiving feast at Saint Joseph - Martin.

Employees at Flaget Memorial Hospital were treated to pizza for lunch as a reward for outstanding sustained performance in patient satisfaction. Enjoying pizza at Hospice of Nelson County, which is a service of Flaget, were Chaplain Dixie Kimberlin, Vanessa Ruiz, R.N., Patient Care Coordinator Phyllis Beavers, R.N., and Hospice Social Worker Starr Caldwell.