Volume 2, Issue 18 - June 17, 2009

Top Story

10,000th Patient Treated in Jessamine!

On June 6, Saint Joseph - Jessamine RJ Corman Ambulatory Care Center (SJJ) treated its 10,000th patient, just four days after the facility’s five-month anniversary. SJJ opened its doors January 2, 2009, ending Jessamine county’s long wait for a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week emergency care facility. More than 10,000 patients ago, residents of Jessamine County had to battle the 26 stoplights that exist between SJJ in Nicholasville and the closest Lexington hospital to receive immediate medical care. Now, they have high-quality care close to home, from emergency care to diagnostic imaging and laboratory services, and SJJ’s volumes are demonstrating the need the facility is fulfilling.

In May, the emergency department alone saw 2,227 patients (this is 1,024 more visits than was budgeted for the month). Since opening, the emergency department has seen 9,839 patients (as of the end of May), which is 2,621 more visits than was budgeted. When the 10,000th patient entered the emergency department, they were budgeted for approximately 7,218 visits!

To celebrate the success and give back to the community, SJJ partnered with Jessamine Christian Church to offer a free health fair May 30 with various speakers, health screenings, vendors, children’s activities and refreshments. More than 500 people turned out for the event.

To read the Jessamine Journal article that ran June 11 regarding SJJ's high volumes, click here.

• News
• Events
• Wellness
• Feedback
• Accolades
• A Look
  Back 

        NEW

   Blog Update!

    Check out Gene Woods' latest blog entry. Click on the image above or visit www.sjhlex.org/
WordsfromWoods.

News

“Spark4Life” Challenge Winners!

In March, employees across Saint Joseph Health System signed up for the “Spark4Life” challenge to turn over a new leaf and live healthier. Over the course of 12 weeks, employees logged their physical activity, nutritional intake and educational opportunities. The competition concluded June 5 and the results are tallied!

The winners are the top three employees at each facility who earned the most Spark Points during the challenge. First place winners will receive $500, second place winners will receive $250 and third place winners will receive $100 (prize money will be added to their paycheck next pay period).

Congratulations to the following winners of the “Spark4Life” challenge!

Saint Joseph - Berea
1st place – Darcy Maupin
2nd place – Vickie Hamilton
3rd place – Delilah Blair

Saint Joseph East
1st place – Margaret Kramer
2nd place – Beckie Little
3rd place – Rebecca Akers

Saint Joseph Hospital
1st place – David Austin
2nd place – Sunshine Williams
3rd place – Stephanie Hurt

Saint Joseph - Jessamine
1st place – Zoya Brutsky
2nd place – Dawn Skovran
3rd place – Patty Stanfield

Saint Joseph - London
1st place – Jacqualine Henson
2nd place – Pat Couch
3rd place – Joyce McCullum

Saint Joseph - Martin
1st place – Diane Fugate
2nd place – Sherry Slone
3rd place – Jeffery Robinson

Saint Joseph - Mount Sterling
1st place – Tim Ferguson
2nd place – Lisa Coyle
3rd place – Jessica Crouch

Flaget Memorial Hospital
1st place – Dana Spalding
2nd place – Mary Adams
3rd place – Barbara Bruner

Fast-Approaching Deadline for Mandatory LEARN Modules!
Check your LEARN assignments!

Saint Joseph Health System has reached 62% for completion of mandatory Corporate Compliance LEARN eLearning modules currently assigned by CHI. Great job! The two assigned modules, due June 30, are:

(1) Annual 2009 Ethics and Values at Work; and
(2) Bi-annual HIPAA For General Workforce.

The Annual Mandatory Safety Campaign has just been rolled out across the system in LEARN too. The CHI name for these modules is:

Regulatory Library Part 1 and Part 2

Check your assignments regularly to stay on track! Failure to complete mandatory training will result in ineligibility to receive a satisfactory performance appraisal and pay increase. Links to LEARN are located on the home page of the INSIDE CHI Web site, and the LEARN Resource Center (www.SaintJosephHealthSystem.org/LEARNInfo). Please call your local Education Department for help getting started.

New Life Insurance Administrator: Prudential

Catholic Health Initiatives is pleased to announce the selection of the Prudential Life Insurance Company to administer its employee life insurance programs beginning July 1, 2009. By moving to Prudential, life insurance premiums will be reduced.

It happens automatically
Employees with life insurance coverage do not need to do anything as a result of this change. Life insurance coverage currently in place with CIGNA will automatically be transferred to Prudential on July 1.

More money in your pocket
Beginning with your first paycheck in July, you will pay lower rates for:

• Employee Supplemental Life
• Spouse/Child Dependent Life

It is anticipated you will save about 18 percent in life insurance costs.

Find more information about life insurance on HR/Payroll Connection
View your current life insurance coverage from the My Benefits tab on HR/Payroll Connection. Click on the View Current Coverage link and then Insurance and Other Benefits link. If you have questions, contact the HR/Payroll Connection Support Center at 888.450.9450.

Vote for Gene Woods on Modern Healthcare's '100 Most Powerful' List

Voting is now underway for Modern Healthcare magazine’s 2009 ranking of the “100 Most Powerful People in Healthcare,” and this year’s ballot includes Saint Joseph Health System’s own CEO Gene Woods (Woods is the only hospital system CEO nominee from Kentucky). In addition, Kevin Lofton, Catholic Health Initiatives’ president and CEO, is also included on the list.

The ballot includes 300 candidates culled from approximately 25,700 nominations. The magazine is asking individuals (anyone can vote; you do not need to be a subscriber to the magazine) to vote for their top 10 candidates online. Voting continues through June 26, and the final ranking will be published in the August 24 issue of Modern Healthcare. Voting is allowed only once from each computer.

To cast your vote, visit http://vovici.com/wsb.dll/s/4509g3d9e9.

PACS Upgrade Coming June 29!

All Saint Joseph Health System facilities, with the exception of Saint Joseph - Mount Sterling, should be aware of the PACS upgrade coming June 29. Please help spread the word to your physicians.

• Faster loading studies
• Easier comparison of prior studies
• More stable database
• More tools, more customizability
• Increased stability
• DX View to be replaced by HRS-D

For more information, contact:

Saint Joseph - London:
Joey Elza, PACS Administrator, at 606.877.3882 or Barb Cunagin at 606.877.3854.

Saint Joseph - Martin:
Kevin Hall, Radiology Director, at 606.454.2898 or Tammy Gayheart at 606.377.2457.

Flaget Memorial Hospital:
Kelly Humes or Christal Yocum at 502.350.5110.

Saint Joseph Hospital, Saint Joseph East, Saint Joseph - Jessamine, Saint Joseph - Berea:
Tracey Eades, PACS Administrator, at 859.321.3339 or Lisa Davis at 859.313.4465.

Growth in Mount Sterling

The formal design development has begun for the new replacement facility for Saint Joseph - Mount Sterling. This development phase will take approximately two to three months to complete, in preparation for a groundbreaking ceremony, tentatively planned for October. After the groundbreaking, construction will begin in the fall on the new all-private room hospital.

The facility will have 30 private med/surg rooms, six private post-partum rooms and four private ICU rooms. In addition, the facility will have four operating rooms, two procedure rooms, and two labor and delivery rooms. The c-section room will be located on the OB unit as well. The emergency department will increase in size by five bays to a total of 14.The opening is anticipated to be in the summer of 2011.

Children’s Summer Feeding Project

Saint Joseph - London employees are once again participating in the Children’s Summer Feeding Project. Sadly, many local children do not have access to nutritious meals during the summer months when school is not in session. This state-funded program is coordinated locally by the United Way of Laurel County and meals are prepared by the Laurel County School System. If you would like to volunteer to take free lunches to assigned sites, please contact Tonya Lewis at 606.330.3136.

GREEN UPDATE:
Reusable Cups Now Being Sold in Martin

Saint Joseph - Martin is selling reusable insulated tumblers for $7.00. They display the Saint Joseph Health System logo and the organization's "Working Green, Living Green" logo. These are great cups to bring to work daily with your favorite hot or cold beverage and continue to use throughout the day. When you purchase your drinks at the hospital, just bring your tumbler to get filled up. The cups will be available for purchase during open hours in the kitchen. By using these cups instead of disposable cups every time you get something to drink, you are helping our environment.

  An effort of the Working Green, Living Green Team!

New Prayer Ministry

Saint Joseph Health System encourages employees to bring their spirituality into the workplace. A new opportunity to do just that is the formation of a prayer ministry team at Saint Joseph Hospital. A dedicated voice mail box has been established for patients, families, and employees to leave prayer requests. You can reach the voice mail by calling (9) 313.3444, ext. 7729 (when calling inside the hospital) or 1.859.313.3444, ext. 7729 (when calling outside the hospital). The extension “7729” spells PRAY, so you can easily remember it.

Employees who would like to pray daily over these needs as well as requests written in the chapel prayer book are needed. If you have a desire to pray daily for the needs of Saint Joseph Hospital, please e-mail or page Trudy Paynter (pager 712.887).

Events

Farewell Reception for Dr. Minoo Kavarana

A farewell reception for Dr. Kavarana will be held Friday, June 19 at 2 p.m. in the employee cafeteria at Saint Joseph - London. Please plan to stop by and wish Dr. Kavarana the best as he pursues training in pediatric cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Michigan!

'Run for the Health of It' 5K Run/Walk

Flaget Memorial Hospital is a sponsor of the upcoming Run for the Health of It, a 5K Run/Walk hosted by the Nelson County Community Clinic. Flaget Memorial Hospital supports the Nelson County Community Clinic, providing financial assistance, supplies and advanced diagnostic tests. The clinic’s mission is to provide free medical, pharmaceutical and dental services to people who are working but are uninsured and underinsured.

The 5K Run/Walk will be held in Bardstown on Saturday, June 20 at 8 a.m.; the race will start and finish at City Hall, where there will be exhibitors, snacks, awards and giveaways. A health fair will be held from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. All proceeds from Run for the Health of It will benefit the Nelson County Community Clinic. Visit www.Flaget.com to download the registration form. For more information, please contact Suzanne Gude at 502.507.7799 or s.gude@louisville.edu.

403(b) Representative Onsite in Lexington

The Great West representative will be onsite to assist employees with managing their Employee Savings Plan account, per the following schedule and locations:

Saint Joseph Hospital
Monday, June 22
10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., Outside Cafeteria
8:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m., By waterfall in Lobby

Tuesday, June 23
9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., Administration Conference Room #2
2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m., Administration Conference Room #2

Saint Joseph East
Wednesday, June 24
9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Administration Conference Room

Thursday, June 25
9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Administration Conference Room

Seton Home Health Blood Drive in London

On Thursday, June 25, Seton Home Health, a service of Saint Joseph - London, will sponsor a blood drive in their parking lot at East 80 from 9:30 a.m. until 12:00 noon. If you or someone you know would like to donate blood, please contact Margaret Hamblin at 606.877.3950.

Cancer Survivor Celebration

"Hope Soars ... Celebrating Life" is an event for cancer survivors, their families, friends and health care providers. It will be held Sunday, June 28 from 2-4 p.m. at My Old Kentucky Home State Park in the Grand Hall, in conjunction with national Cancer Survivor Sunday. The event is sponsored by the Kentucky Cancer Program, the National Patient Advocate Foundation, Flaget Memorial Hospital and the American Cancer Society.

Enjoy free refreshments, music, speakers, booths and the unveiling of a traveling photo exhibit, "The Faces of Cancer." The exhibit will feature survivors from Breckinridge, Grayson, Hardin, LaRue, Marion, Meade, Nelson and Washington counties. For more information, call Luke Barlowe at 502.350.0898.

Upcoming Relay for Life Events

The American Cancer Society Relay For Life is right around the corner! There's still time to show your support. Make a donation or walk during the event!

Saint Joseph - Berea
June 19-20 (6 p.m.-6 a.m.), Church on the Rock
Sign-Up/Donate: Lisa Van Winkle, 859.986.6557

Saint Joseph - London
June 19, Optimist Club (registration starts at 6:30 p.m., the Survivor’s Lap starts at 7:00 p.m., luminarias will be lit at dark
between 9:00 and 10:00 p.m.), games, food and music
Sign-Up/Donate: Candice Fox, 606.877.6133.

Saint Joseph Hospital
June 26-27 (5 p.m.-5 a.m.), Lexington Christian Academy
Join the team and walk. Nurses, this is a great way to advance on the clinical ladder. Baskets or items to place in baskets are needed for a fundraiser that will take place June 24-27.
Sign-Up/Donate: Kerry Wood, 859.313.1792 (PT); Carrie Barnett, 859.313.4660 (6th floor)

Saint Joseph - Mount Sterling
June 26-27 (7 p.m.-7 a.m.), Easy Walker Park
Sign-Up/Donate: Lynn Lockridge, 859.497.7749.

Wellness

Weight Watchers at Work Session

Saint Joseph - Martin's next Weight Watchers series will begin Tuesday, July 7. Members can join for nine weeks for $99.00 (payable by cash, major charge or check). And a split payment option is available: 3 checks for $33, all dated for July 7, and deposited on July 7, August 7 and September 7. Plan to attend the Open House meeting on Tuesday, June 30 from 12:00-12:45 p.m. in the Community Health Education Building Conference Room to learn more and register. There is a 15-member minimum for the class. For more information, contact Carol May at 606.285.6692.

Tai Chi Class in Lexington

The Arthritis Foundation is hosting a new Tai Chi class at the Saint Joseph Healthy Living Center. Classes will be held Wednesdays from 5-6 p.m. and Thursdays from 11 a.m.-12 noon at the Beaumont YMCA in Lexington. The cost for a five-week class is $40 to participants, and $35 for Saint Joseph employees. Classes start June 24 & 25. Contact Linda Frank (instructor) at 502.487.0290 or the Arthritis Foundation at 859.273.0100 for any questions concerning the class. Payment is either by check or cash. Checks are made out to Linda Frank. The Saint Joseph Healthy Living Center can be reached at 859.219.0530.

Feedback

To ICU South at Saint Joseph Hospital

Letter From a Patient’s Family:

“We would like to thank the staff of ICU South for their efforts during our mother's final days there. Her time in the ICU was short but your kindness and compassion will long be remembered by her family.

Everyone was so wonderful that we hate to single anyone out, but we would like to offer a special thanks to her nurses Kathy Slusher, Beth Stearns and Lee Brown. We pray that God will strengthen each of you for the incredibly difficult task each of you face there each day."

Accolades

Daisy Award Winner

Congratulations to Pat Russman, R.N., B.S.N., an oncology/cancer care nurse, for being named the first recipient of the Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurses at Flaget Memorial Hospital. Flaget is now among several hospitals within Saint Joseph Health System participating in the Daisy Award program. The award is part of the Daisy Foundation’s national program to recognize the super-human efforts nurses perform every day.

Honorees receive a certificate of commendation, a Daisy Award pin, and a sculpture hand-carved by the Shona Tribe in Africa titled “A Healer’s Touch.” In addition, the nurse’s unit is treated to cinnamon buns. To learn more or to nominate someone, visit www.SaintJosephNurses.org, or look for Daisy Award nomination boxes throughout your hospital. inCommon will frequently highlight Daisy Award winners.

Left to Right: Norma Goss (Director of Inpatient Services/Utilization Management), Rick Vancise (Director of Outpatient Services/MOB), Sue Downs (VP of Patient Services), Stephanie Bradshaw (Wound Care Center Coordinator), Pat Russman (Oncology/Outpatient Infusion Coordinator), Ben Wiederholt (VP of Mission Integration), and Shirley Hopper (Nursing Administration Secretary) at Flaget Memorial Hospital.

A Look Back

Remembering Hospital Week ...

The Saint Joseph - London cath lab crew (stage name: "Estie Ella Vation and the Stentations") brought the house down with their full moulage, fully choreographed rendition of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" during the hospital’s 2nd annual karaoke contest, winning first place.

Shannon Adams played the part of Michael Jackson as cath lab employees at Saint Joseph - London competed in the hospital's annual karaoke challenge.

Saint Joseph - Mount Sterling employees Rob Gross, Danny Morton, Lynn Lockridge and Janelle Pugh grilled out during a Hospital Week meal for staff.

Mary Durham and Hubert Martin joined James Dean for a 50s-themed Hospital Week cookout at Saint Joseph - Berea.

Pam Harrison, pharmacy, grabbed some lunch with Betty Boop at the 50s-themed Hospital Week cookout at Saint Joseph - Berea.

Dorothy Zimmerman (left), VP of mission, shadowed Quintina Sleet,
Saint Joseph East Labor/Delivery, during the “Walk in My Shoes” event
during Hospital Week.

Right to Left: Connie Williams, Betty Gamblin, Pat Vins, Libby Mattingly, Debbie Petry, Debbie Workman and Diane Meyers enjoyed the Hospital Week meal at
Saint Joseph East.

Employees at Saint Joseph Hospital were treated to a free cookout-themed meal during Hospital Week. Executive and management team members served them (Barry Stumbo, CEO of the Foundation, fixed a hamburger above).

Kim Noble, 4A, put all the fixings on her burger during the Hospital Week cookout at
Saint Joseph Hospital.

Mendy Evans (left), VP of finance, dressed in scrubs to shadow Tina Proffitt, a registered nurse on the 3A unit at Saint Joseph Hospital, during the “Walk in My Shoes” event in honor of Hospital Week.

Samantha Stratton channeled Cruella de Vil for a Disney fashion contest as part of Saint Joseph - Martin’s Hospital Week festivities. Cruella and her “dogs” won first place.

Left to Right (as faces appear): Linda Caudill, Kristie Johnson, Dolly Carroll, Donna Bradley, Mara Lynn Music, Ruth Shelton, Wendy Sexton, Sandy Frasure, Connie Moore and Judi DeRossett dressed up as "101 Dalmatians" during
Saint Joseph - Martin's Disney-themed Hospital Week festivities, during which employees competed in a fashion show.

Ruth Shelton played the part of Snow White for a Disney fashion contest during Saint Joseph - Martin’s Hospital Week festivities. She and her seven dwarfs (and one Hopeful) won second place in the contest.

Connie Moore (Bashful) and Linda Caudill (Sneezy) were two of Snow White's seven dwarfs during Saint Joseph - Martin's Disney-themed Hospital Week.

Saint Joseph - Jessamine RJ Corman Ambulatory Care Center employees (from left to right) Tiffany Pelfrey, Tiffany McCoy and Janice Brussell displayed the beach towel that was given to employees in honor of Hospital Week.

Local EMS enjoyed the Hospital Week cookout at
Saint Joseph - Jessamine RJ Corman Ambulatory Care Center.

Shannon Pinkston, Erin Spalding, John Spalding and Jeff Wells (all imaging department employees) enjoyed the Hospital Week cookout at
Flaget Memorial Hospital.

Hospital Week was captured across the system with several snapshots. Watch for more pictures in upcoming issues of inCommon!

Skin Cancer Screening in London

Angie Collett, RN, Wellness Coordinator at Saint Joseph - London, reviewed the results of a skin cancer screening with Everette Hutton. The individual looks into a mirror with a special light designed to identify sun or otherwise damaged skin on their face. The light was on loan from the Laurel County Extension Office and used at a regularly scheduled SEED (Soup/Elder/Education/Devotions) luncheon in conjunction with OPAC (Older Person's Activity Center) in London. Saint Joseph - London's Healthy Community department provides monthly education at SEED luncheons; lunch is provided by St. William Catholic Church.

'Go Red for Women' Lunch & Learn in Berea

Terrie Rainwater-Bryant (left), Saint Joseph East Cath Lab, checked Saint Joseph - Berea Auxiliary VP and volunteer Pat Meier’s blood pressure at a Go Red for Women Lunch & Learn sponsored by Saint Joseph - Berea in May.

Dr. Sarah Little (left), Saint Joseph - Berea Family Medicine, was the presenter of the Go Red for Women Lunch & Learn in May. She is pictured with one of the attendees, who included women from the Berea Chamber of Commerce and the Saint Joseph - Berea Auxiliary.

Saint Joseph Health System is the central Kentucky sponsor of the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women program and is hosting several Lunch & Learn events in the communities it serves.

Motorcycle Ride in Berea for 'Relay for Life'

On June 6, Saint Joseph - Berea employees revved up their bikes to raise money for Relay for Life. A group of employees and their families and friends met at the hospital and rode to Cumberland Falls State Park. To support the cause, the cost to ride was a donation of $10 per bike. The employees who participated in the ride were Flora Washburn, Mary Durham, Julie Smith, Josh Fowler, Rex Music, Mara Lynn Music, Karen Andrews and Patty Sturt. They raised $200!

Left to Right: Frank and Mary Durham (Hospitality Services), Mara Lynn Music (Accounting), Rex Music (Imaging), Josh Fowler (Imaging), Flora Washburn (Mission Leader) and Steve Washburn at Cumberland Falls.

Patty Sturt (ED manager) prepared her bike for the trip.

Flora Washburn (Mission Leader) and Steve Washburn took a break and enjoyed the serenity of the park before heading back to Berea.

                    Health Fair in Bardstown

Hospice of Nelson County Social Worker Starr Ford manned a booth at a recent Nelson County High School Health Fair. Hospice of Nelson County is a service of Flaget Memorial Hospital.        

                    Raffle Winners in Bardstown

Dianne Chesser (left), med-surg, won the Wii that was raffled off during the Employee Climate Assessment at Flaget Memorial Hospital. She is pictured with her manager on med-surg, Marlene Hardin. The hospital achieved a 97.8% employee participation rate on the survey!

Anita Grishaber, HIM, won the portable DVD player that was raffled off during the Employee Climate Assessment at Flaget Memorial Hospital.

Sissy Bailey, dietary, won the GPS that was raffled off during the Employee Climate Assessment at Flaget Memorial Hospital.

Kite Show in Berea

Saint Joseph - Berea is exhibiting 75 kites and paintings of kites created by local school children. The colorful works in "The Kite Show" float down the walls of the main hall and front lobby with ribbon and crepe paper tails streaming. This exhibit is the first in a plan to incorporate the arts in the hospital facility to promote the optimal healing environment for patients and staff.