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Volume 2, Issue 25 - August 31, 2009 |
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VOTE for Your Hospital! Vote now for your favorite people, places and businesses in Lexington and central Kentucky in the Lexington Herald-Leader’s Reader’s Choice 2009 survey. Categories include favorite hospital, favorite place to have a baby and favorite place to work. Make sure to vote for your Saint Joseph Health System facility in these specific categories! Vote online at www.Kentucky.com (look for the Reader’s Choice/Vote Now banner), or click on the image above, or type the following link into your Web browser: http://www.kentucky.com/static/ReadersChoice. Voting ends Tuesday, September 15! Winners will be announced in the Lexington Herald-Leader in October. Let’s make sure Saint Joseph Health System is represented! |
In this Issue:
Crowe Fest! This Labor Day employees get in FREE! Learn more. |
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CHI Among Top U.S. Health Systems Catholic Health Initiatives is among the top 50 health care systems in the nation, according to a new study from Thomson Reuters. Researchers from the Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals program analyzed the quality and efficiency of 252 health systems and found several statistically significant differences between the top and bottom performers. The top 50 systems had 25 percent lower mortality, 19 percent fewer medical complications, and 13 percent fewer patient safety incidents. All U.S. health systems with two or more short-term, general, non-federal hospitals were assessed. Researchers looked at five metrics, including mortality, medical complications, patient safety, average length of stay and adherence to clinical standards of care. Interim Oncology Service Line Administrator Appointed Jane Berz, MSN, RN, is the interim administrator for Saint Joseph Health System’s (SJHS) oncology service line. Enhancing the delivery of oncology care is a key strategy as SJHS further integrates its network of hospitals across the state. With Berz's expertise in this area, she will help build the vision and plan for an outstanding oncology program that includes all SJHS facilities. Berz has more than 13 years of comprehensive oncology experience, from advanced hands-on clinical practice to executive administration involving strategic planning through implementation. She has provided senior executive leadership for a Comprehensive Cancer Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee (at Memorial Hospital, also a CHI facility), and clinical leadership and program development as an oncology clinical nurse specialist for two cancer centers and a private surgical oncology practice. Recently, Berz has consulted with institutions and medical staffs across the country in their planning of comprehensive programs, including National Cancer Institute-designated Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, and Avera-McKennan Health Care System in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, a large system across five states. Berz's particular expertise relates to the identification of the appropriate cancer center programmatic and organizational structure in order to address the medical staff/patient concerns, and to position a program for long-term success. Berz's first day with Saint Joseph Health System was August 10; her office is located at the system office in Lexington. Words from Woods—Blog Update Check out Gene Woods' latest blog entry at www.SaintJosephHealthSystem.org/WordsfromWoods. Saint Joseph Health System CEO Gene Woods will regularly share news and insights with employees through his blog, called “Words from Woods.” In his latest entry, he discusses the topic of health care reform. NOTE: If you ever forget the direct Web address to get to “Words from Woods,” just remember to look under the “Saint Joseph Employees” section on our Web site. It’s located on the far left side of the home page. There are some great resources for employees under this section. Don’t know how to get to our Web site? It’s easy to remember our address. It’s our organization’s name with a “.org” at the end: www.SaintJosephHealthSystem.org. Dependent Eligibility Audit Timeline Extended—New Deadline is Sept. 8! For Saint Joseph Health System employees who have received a Dependent Audit Notice that requires verification of eligibility of covered dependent(s), the deadline has been extended until Tuesday, September 8, 2009. Unless you have received confirmation that your processing is complete, please remember the following: • Action is still required – Fax or mail the required documentation listed on the Dependent Audit Notice with the accompanying Dependent Audit Form. For more detailed information about the Dependent Audit and action required on your part, please log in to HR/Payroll Connection from Inside CHI at http://home.catholichealth.net, click on the "Provide Verification for Covered Dependents" link which will lead you to the "Your Dependent Solution" page. Click the line that says "Verify the Eligibility of Your Dependent(s)" and follow the instructions given. (Saint Joseph - Mount Sterling employees will find more detailed information about the Dependent Audit and action required by logging on to Your Dependent Solution at http://resources.hewitt.com/chi_yds. Log-in [or register if first time user], then simply follow the prompts.) • Check your status online before calling the support center. If you want to know the status of your documentation, access the Web site (as instructed above) before calling 1.888.450.9450. • Wait times are cyclical – Particularly long wait times have occurred on Monday mornings. If you happen to be experiencing a long wait time, please try back the following day. Try not to wait many days, as you need to meet the deadline. Have you Checked Your LEARN Assignments? Several mandatory LEARN assignments were assigned to all Saint Joseph Health System employees. Check your LEARN account regularly to stay on track! Rapid Regulatory Compliance I & II Deadline is fast-approaching: Sept. 30, 2009
Check your LEARN account today! Check your LEARN assignments and due dates by logging into Inside CHI, then click the LEARN link on the left side of the screen. For additional information, visit: www.SaintJosephHealthSystem.org/LearnInfo. Cycling Team Prepares for Bike Trek The Saint Joseph Health System Cycling team is preparing for the Shakertown Bike Trek, September 19-21. This premier cycling event raises funds for the American Lung Association. The team has been participating in practice rides and holding fundraisers to get ready. Team Members are: Please help support them in their cause to raise money for the American Lung Association. Consider donating a few dollars to your co-workers, in-person if you’re on their campus, or by going to www.MidLandLung.org and clicking on “Bike Trek to Shakertown.” Click “View Our Teams” and select the Saint Joseph team to make a donation… or to join the team on this ride! Contact Team Captain Kathy Lacny with any questions (859.967.5501-work, 859.489.2880-cell). Runners Needed for The Bourbon Chase Saint Joseph Health System is sponsoring a team for The Bourbon Chase, October 9-10, and needs 12 motivated and fun runners to participate! During this inaugural event, teams of relay runners will cover 200 miles of scenic byways along the famous Kentucky Bourbon Trail and Bluegrass horse country. Each member of the team will run three legs over distances varying from four to eight miles. The race will start near Bardstown and wrap up with a festive finish in downtown Lexington. A festival will be held at the finish line in Triangle Park, where thousands will enjoy live music, local food and drinks from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, October 10. Interested runners need to contact Greg Gerard at 859.986.6366. Visit www.BourbonChase.com to learn more about the event. Volunteer for 'Feed the Children' Saint Joseph - Berea will again participate in the Feed the Children event to be held in Berea Saturday, November 21. The hospital will provide financial counseling and height/weight/BMI and blood pressure screenings. If you would like to volunteer to provide these services, please contact Katie Heckman at 859.986.6535.
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Employee Climate Assessment Celebration! This August, Gene Woods and his executive team have served employees across the system a free meal to thank them for their input on the recent Employee Climate Assessment—every facility had greater than 95% participation! The last facility to be treated is Saint Joseph - Jessamine RJ Corman Ambulatory Care Center. Enjoy! Saint Joseph - Jessamine (celebrating 96.2% participation) Click here to see pictures of Saint Joseph - Martin's
Crowe Fest '09 Celebrate the rich history and tradition of bluegrass music this Labor Day weekend as Saint Joseph - Jessamine RJ Corman Ambulatory Care Center sponsors the annual J.D. Crowe Bluegrass Music Festival at Ichthus Farm in Wilmore. Grammy Award-winner and legendary banjoist J.D. Crowe and his band, The New South, will headline this lively three-day festival that features numerous bluegrass artists and festivities for the whole family. Visit www.CroweFest.com to view the schedule of events. Aside from great music, highlights include a vintage car display, cornhole tournament, 5K race, archery demonstrations and inflatables for the kids. Saint Joseph will provide FREE health screenings and information at the festival. The event runs September 3-5 (Thurs-Sat). All Saint Joseph Health System employees who present their name badge at the festival entrance will be admitted for FREE! You can receive $5-off ticket admission for family & friends by using a special coupon code when ordering online: crowe (all lowercase). Patients and families can also use this code. Go Red for Women Lunch & Learn Series Flaget Memorial Hospital and the American Heart Association are hosting a Lunch & Learn Series featuring heart survivor and clinician Jerri Passo, RN, BSN, who will speak on “The Heart Truth for Women.” The event is Tuesday, September 8, 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m., at the Bardstown Country Club at Maywood (130 Maywood Avenue). A heart-healthy lunch will be provided and the cost is free. RSVP to 502.348.7010 by September 1. Saint Joseph Health System is the central Kentucky sponsor of the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women movement. Taste of London Saint Joseph - London’s Chef Terry Crist and the Food & Nutrition staff will be set-up as vendors at the Taste of London, a food festival that will take place Saturday, September 12 at the London-Laurel County Farmers' Market in downtown London. This event showcases locally owned restaurants and caterers. Tickets are purchased, then redeemed for "tastes" from different vendors, with proceeds going to local charities. For more info, call Sharon Hershberger at 606.330.3135. Sign Up for the Spoonbread Festival 5K Saint Joseph - Berea is the presenting sponsor of the Spoonbread Festival 5K Run and 1-Mile Fun Walk once again this year. The race is Saturday, September 19 and begins and ends at the hospital. Get some exercise before you enjoy festival activities. Register for the race and find out more details, including the route, at www.SpoonBreadFestival.com. T-shirts commemorating the event will be available to individuals who pre-register for the event by Tuesday, September 15! (T-shirts subject to availability for those who register on race-day). If you'd like to volunteer to help out during the event, contact Katie Heckman in community relations, 859.986.6535. 20th Annual World Chicken Festival Saint Joseph - London is a sponsor of the 20th Annual World Chicken Festival to be held September 24-27 in downtown London. The festival features entertainment, vendors, arts & crafts, carnival rides, contests (including a Colonel Sanders look-alike contest and an egg drop), plenty of food and the world’s largest skillet. Visit www.chickenfestival.com for a complete schedule of events. Saint Joseph - London will host health information booths at the festival. The hospital will also offer vendor booth space for employees and their families to sell their handcrafted items. For more information and to reserve your spot, contact Sharon Hershberger at 606.330.3135. A Walk to Remember The annual “A Walk to Remember” will be held Sunday, October 4, 2 p.m., at Easy Walker Park in Mount Sterling for those who have experienced a loss of a child. The event allows parents, grandparents, family and friends to come together for a day of remembrance and sharing. The program is coordinated by Jan Cornett, RN, nurse manager of the women’s care unit at Saint Joseph - Mount Sterling, which sponsors the event. A symbolic balloon release is held during the event to help families let go of a small amount of their grief. If you are interested in volunteering for the event or would like more information, contact Jan Cornett at 859.497.6283. |
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Weight Watchers At Work in Martin—New Series Starting A new Weight Watchers series will begin Tuesday, September 8 at Saint Joseph - Martin. Attend an open house Tuesday, September 1 at 12 noon in the Community Education building. Cost is $144 and can be made in three payments of $48 on September 8 and the payments will be deposited on September 8, October 8 and November 8. For more information, contact Carol Jo May at 606.285.6692. Weight Watchers At Work in Berea—Informational Meeting A representative of Weight Watchers will be available in the Saint Joseph - Berea boardroom at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 10 to answer employee and volunteer questions about the program. The first Saint Joseph - Berea Weight Watchers At Work enrollment meeting will be held the next week. If you have questions about signing up, please contact Katie Heckman at 859.986.6535 or Vicki Hamilton at 859.986.6527.
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Advanced
Pharmacy
Update for Nurses Advanced Pharmacy Update This continuing education workshop is for nurse
practitioners, nurse specialists and nurses in |
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Letter to Saint Joseph - London A Note of Thanks for Nicole Reed, ICU Nurse "A very close friend was a patient in the ICU unit at Saint Joseph - London and recently passed away. I was with her for several hours every evening and want to let you know how impressed I was with her nurse, Nicole Reed. She was suffering the end result of double myeloma and her family and I had so many questions and concerns. I have previously lost my mother, mother-in-law, and father-in-law to cancer; but as I am sure you know, each death is different and we are never prepared. Nicole answered all of our questions with patience and understanding; she did her very best to help us cope with the inevitable death of our dear friend. She was very gentle and respectful in her hands-on care and did her best to ease our fears and sorrows in such a difficult time. In addition to her great nursing abilities, Nicole has exceptional people skills, a very soft demeanor and an empathetic manner that is missing in so many caregivers today. I believe that she is and will continue to be a great asset to the patients of Saint Joseph - London." Thanks Nicole, for being an inspiration to your patients, their families and to us all! |
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Daisy Award Winner Congratulations to Rhonda Hunt, R.N. for being named a recipient of the Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurses at Saint Joseph - Mount Sterling. Rhonda is a nurse in the emergency department. The award is part of the Daisy Foundation’s national program to recognize the super-human efforts of nurses, and is in place throughout Saint Joseph Health System. 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 SaintJosephNurses.org, or look for Daisy Award nomination boxes throughout your hospital. inCommon will frequently highlight Saint Joseph Health System's Daisy Award winners.
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Employee Climate Assessment Celebration in Martin Saint Joseph - Martin employees were treated to a free cookout August 24 for achieving 100% participation on the recent Employee Climate Assessment. Saint Joseph Health System CEO Gene Woods and members of his president's council and executive team hosted the celebration. Below are a few snapshots!
Old Fashioned Family Fun Day in Berea Between 300 and 350 Saint Joseph - Berea employees, volunteers and family members enjoyed a sunny summer afternoon August 16 with plenty of activities and hearty food. The “Old Fashioned Family Fun Day” event featured cookout favorites, hay rides, games, karaoke, a baby race and a pie and cake bake-off. Crystal Noble, respiratory therapy, won first place in the pie/cake bake-off with her Mountain Dew cake. Ricky Brasher, son of Ashley Brasher (health information management), and Jaidlyn Hoover, granddaughter of Iva Addison (patient access), were the Diaper Derby winners. A big “thank you“ goes out to the Saint Joseph - Berea Employee Council, dietary, facilities and everyone else who pitched in to make this a great event!
………………………… Pro Golfers Visit London London is host to the annual Duramed Futures Tour, featuring professional, women golfers. Three of the golf pro's stopped by the Saint Joseph - London Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine facility to talk with kids and staff about golf and fitness.
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