Volume 4, Issue 10 - March 11, 2011

inCommon - Saint Joseph Health System's Electronic Employee Newsletter

Top Story

Saint Joseph Hospital Joins Surgery on Sunday Program

Since 2005, 4,000 low-income people without health insurance have undergone free outpatient surgeries in the Lexington Surgery Center, thanks to the vision of one man: Plastic Surgeon Andy Moore, MD (pictured below). Although thousands have been helped by the Surgery on Sunday (SOS) program, there is a waiting list of another 1,100. Some of these people will have to wait months for badly-needed surgery.

That’s why SOS staff and volunteers (many of them Saint Joseph Hospital employees) have worked hard to expand SOS from one Sunday a month at the surgery center to area hospitals. Saint Joseph Hospital will be the first hospital to open its doors to the program beginning this Sunday,
March 13
, and will offer SOS one Sunday per quarter.

For income-eligible patients with no health insurance, all services and supplies, from the pre-operative visit with a volunteer surgeon, to the imaging studies, to the medications needed before and after surgery, to physical therapy, to the post-operative appointment, are free.

Moore’s hope is that other Lexington hospitals will donate their sites to the Sunday rotations to increase the number of people who can be helped and to offer more types of surgeries.

At Saint Joseph Hospital, the response of volunteers to the first SOS has been overwhelming. Special thanks to all who are making this a reality!

During Sunday's SOS, a program will be started in honor of Cindy Kline (right), who was a Saint Joseph Hospital operating room nurse and faithful volunteer for Surgery on Sunday until two years ago, when she died suddenly of a heart attack. Donations for supplies for each SOS will be made in her honor. An anonymous donor has made the donation in her honor for the March 13 SOS.

To learn more about SOS, visit www.SurgeryOnSunday.org. Visit www.SaintJosephHealthSystem.org to read the full news release about Saint Joseph Hospital joining SOS.

   In this Issue

 

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    Spring Forward!

       

     Turn your
     clocks forward
     one hour at
     2 a.m. on
     Sunday,
     March 13,
     to mark the
     start of Daylight
     Saving Time.

News

Statewide Partnership Update

Saint Joseph Health System, Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s HealthCare and University Medical Center, which includes University of Louisville Hospital and the James Graham Brown Cancer Center, are working together on a unique partnership that will address Kentucky’s most serious health challenges, expand access to
high-quality care and meet the demands of health care reform.

Respecting Heritage and Tradition
While our three organizations represent three distinct health care traditions — academic, Jewish and Catholic — all embrace values and service orientations that respect human life and dignity, provide care and healing to those in need, and promote service to the community. We are committed to respecting each other’s traditions and heritage.

For example, we are working toward full agreement on policies, programs and structures that will allow University Medical Center to continue to provide its historic level of services to the community. As previously noted, the Catholic facilities in the partnership will comply with the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services (ERDs), and the other-than-Catholic partner entities will not do anything to cause the Catholic facilities to fall out of compliance with the ERDs. Watch for more details and developments in a new newsletter, Partnership Progress, which will debut later this month.

PAML and SJHS Form New Laboratory Joint Venture Partnership

Saint Joseph Health System and Pathology Associates Medical Laboratories (PAML) have entered into a joint venture agreement to enhance laboratory outreach services for physicians in Kentucky and the patients they serve. The joint venture will operate under the name of Kentucky Laboratory Services (KLS). This new LLC combines the high-quality laboratory testing capabilities of three of the eight Saint Joseph Health System facilities (Saint Joseph Hospital, Saint Joseph East and Saint Joseph - Jessamine) in Kentucky with the esoteric testing capabilities and nationally-renowned laboratory outreach services offered by PAML.

The rapid turnaround times delivered by each of the Saint Joseph Health System’s hospital-based laboratories, and the advanced physician connectivity, logistics and client support services for which PAML is known, will improve the level of testing services available to physicians in Kentucky. These combined health care services will result in better choices for local physicians. As an added benefit, approximately 90 percent of the testing completed by Kentucky Laboratory Services will be performed in Kentucky. This maintains jobs and the provision of health care services within the state.

Saint Joseph Diabetes & Nutrition Center’s Outpatient Services

The Saint Joseph Diabetes and Nutrition Center is no longer offering outpatient services at the Saint Joseph Hospital location and is transitioning these services to Saint Joseph East and Saint Joseph - Jessamine. Inpatient services will continue being offered at Saint Joseph Hospital through the Diabetes and Nutrition Center. Diabetes and Nutrition Center outpatient services will continue at these locations: Saint Joseph East, Saint Joseph - Jessamine, Saint Joseph - Berea and Saint Joseph - Mount Sterling. Contact Amanda Goldman, director, with any questions at 859.313.1254.

'School at Work' Application Deadline Approaching

The School at Work Program, offered by educational services, provides employees an opportunity to develop skills in the health care profession. The on-site program is geared toward frontline employees who are interested in learning how to develop and identify areas of interest within the health care profession.

The next class, open to Saint Joseph Hospital and Saint Joseph East employees only, begins in April 2011. For those interested in the program, contact your director or supervisor and have them submit your name to the School at Work Coach, Patrick Thompson (859.967.5658), by March 28! Patrick is also available to attend your next department meeting to show a short DVD and presentation on the program.

Help Needed for Health Screenings at Eastern KY University

Are you an RN, LPN, CMA or lab tech at any Saint Joseph Health System facility who wants
to earn extra money? Saint Joseph Corporate Health Services needs your help at a health screening at Eastern Kentucky University on March 21-24 from 7 a.m.-12 p.m. each day. Please contact Teresa McCord at 859.940.2476 if interested. Employees will be paid their normal hourly rate.

March Madness at Flaget

The first annual March Madness Employee Giving Campaign is underway at Flaget Memorial Hospital. A big THANK YOU to all of the March Madness coaches and employees participating thus far! (55% current participation rate) Your gift will help the Foundation carry on the original mission of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth and will stay at Flaget. The campaign runs until next Wednesday, March 16, at noon when the teams will be randomly placed in the March Madness brackets.

Ask your department leader for details. Team packets and pledge forms must be returned to
Di Boyer at the Foundation or with Diane Carothers in administration by March 16 at noon. Coaches are invited to be in a group photo at 1 p.m. on March 17 in the main lobby.

HR News

Your Input Needed:
Complete the Performance Culture Assessment Survey

The Performance Culture Assessment is one of three key, integrated efforts that you will see more about during the coming months. Each is designed to advance the simple idea at the heart of Catholic Health Initiatives' People Strategy: Our ministry calls for exceptional people.

Performance Culture Assessment (PCA) is a survey designed to gain feedback from all employees on their workplace experiences. Because it serves as a guide for making improvements within Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI), taking the survey is an easy way for all of us to contribute towards cultivating a workplace in which our people thrive. Read on for more information about how you can participate.

Leadership Effectiveness Review (LER) is an evaluation and development tool designed to help our leaders grow. It’s a targeted survey of direct reports and peers to assess the individual effectiveness of MBO executives, national directors and above, and others in strategic positions. If you’re part of the LER process, you’ll hear more at the end of April.

Succession Management will introduce new processes and tools for connecting people to the right careers, roles and opportunities across CHI. As part of that, employees will gain a web-based forum for sharing their experience, skills and aspirations. This effort is being rolled out across CHI between now and October. Expect to hear more in the summer.

All employees are asked to complete the Performance Culture Assessment survey between March 21-April 11. The survey takes about 15 minutes and gathers information on what you think about working here. This information is essential to creating a workplace in which we can all thrive, because our ministry calls for exceptional people. Without your input, we might miss opportunities for improving our workplace and increasing your satisfaction.

Taking the Survey

The Performance Culture Assessment (PCA) survey is available online at http://www.healthstreamsurveys.com/PCA2011
beginning March 21.

When you log in, you will need your employee identification number, which can be found on the back of your name badge (Lexington), on your pay statement or on the My Pay tab of HR/Payroll Connection. Once you log in, your answers will be submitted only when you click the Submit button at the end of the survey. If you are unable to complete the survey in one sitting, you can begin again at a later time.

Your survey responses will be completely confidential and anonymous. Leaders will only receive aggregated survey results for their areas and information about how their areas compare to others. Leaders will share this information and the opportunities it identifies with you and your co-workers.

Questions? If you have questions, please ask your manager or contact talentmanagement@catholichealth.net. Thank you for participating and
helping us to create a great workplace.

PCA Survey Prizes

The facility that has the highest combined employee participation rate plus the highest employee engagement index score will receive the traveling trophy to host at their facility! Plus, a free lunch will be served at their facility by SJHS executives and facility presidents.

Each facility will have additional individual drawings for some amazing prizes. Please make sure that you print out your survey submission form and turn it in to your local human resources department so that your name will be included in your facility’s drawings! (London — Please be sure to print out your survey submission form and turn it in to your manager so that your name will be included in your facility’s drawings.)

Last Day to File 2010 Flexible Spending Account Claims

Health and dependent care flexible spending account participants have until March 31, 2011 to submit 2010 flexible spending account expenses to “Your Spending Account.” To submit expenses, click the Your Spending Account link on the My Benefits tab in HR/Payroll Connection. The Your Spending Account site also includes additional information to help participants track health care and/or dependent care flexible spending account balance and eligible expenses.

Automatic Contributions to Employee Savings Plan Begin March 25

To help employees reach their retirement goals, beginning March 25 employees who are not already enrolled in the Employee Savings Plan will be enrolled automatically, with contributions of 3% of pay deducted from their paychecks.

Employees who do not want to contribute to the Employee Savings Plan, or who want to contribute less or more than 3% can make these changes online. To make a change, go to HR/Payroll Connection and click the My Benefits tab, then click the CHI Employee Savings Plan link; or, call the HR/Payroll Connection Support Center (1.888.450.9450) and say “savings plan” at the prompt.

Since the March 7 opt-out deadline has passed, if you opt out now you will receive a refund for any payroll deductions contributed (subject to investment market risk).

Great-West Fixed Fund Rollover to Fidelity 403(b) Plan

What steps do you need to take to transfer your Great-West Fixed Fund to Fidelity now that the transition has been completed? To request a transfer of any remaining investment in the Great-West Fixed Fund held at Great-West to Fidelity, you must:

1. Obtain both a Distribution/Direct Rollover/Contract Exchange form from Great-West and a Transfer/Rollover/Exchange form from Fidelity.
2. Complete, sign and return BOTH forms to CHI HR Operations (at the address or fax number reflected on the last page of the Great-West form).

Spring Ahead March 13

Daylight Saving Time begins at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 13.

• ST&A Database: The Standard Time & Attendance database will automatically update the time correctly at 2:00 a.m. by springing forward one hour.

• Time Clocks and TTE (Phone) Systems: Updates will also occur for the time clocks automatically at 2:00 a.m.

• Shifts Spanning the Time Change: If an employee is working a shift that spans the 2:00 a.m. time change, their shifts will automatically be reduced by one hour, including scheduled on-call shifts. This is correct and does not need to be adjusted.

• Exempt Schedules: Exempt employees are typically given a default schedule of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. If exempt employees scheduled are changed and cross the 2:00 a.m. time change, hours will be reduced by one hour and will need to be adjusted to pay correctly. Exempt hours should equal the total FTE.

There will be no need for any manual intervention from managers, timekeepers or IT personnel, except for the exempt scenario noted above.

 

Events

Bari Ball in Lexington

Saint Joseph Center for Weight Loss Surgery is hosting its annual Bari Ball on Friday, March 25 from 7 to 11 p.m. at Doubletree Guest Suites in Lexington (Richmond Rd). The Bari Ball is a special evening held by the center to celebrate the success of all post-op patients and give thanks to their friends, family and the staff at Saint Joseph East who have contributed to their care and success. Highlights include dancing to a live DJ, karaoke, pictures and light refreshments. Please contact the Center for Weight Loss Surgery at 859.967.5518 if you have any questions or to make reservations by March 18. You can also e-mail Amanda Nighbert.

Foundation Golf Tournament

22nd Annual Golf Tournament
Saint Joseph Hospital Foundation

June 13, 2011
University Club of Kentucky
11 a.m. Registration/Lunch
1 p.m. Shotgun Start
6 p.m. Dinner/Awards

For more information, or if you would like to volunteer during the tournament, please contact Anna Taylor at 859.313.2055.

Other upcoming Foundation Golf Tournaments:
Saint Joseph - London: June 10, London Country Club
Saint Joseph - Mount Sterling: June 23, Old Silo

Education

LEARN MODULES & MANDATORY TRAINING

Upcoming LEARN Assignments

Check your LEARN account regularly for your assignments, so you are not past due on mandatory training! Modules that are currently assigned are:

Course Name Due Date Affected Employees
SJHS Health Literacy Online 3/18/2011 All SJHS Clinical Areas
SJHS Teach Back Method 3/18/2011 All SJHS Clinical Areas
Introduction to Information
Privacy and Security Awareness
3/31/2011 All SJHS Employees
Hemispheres Stroke Competency Series:
NIH Stroke Scale Training and Certification
4/1/2011

Select SJH & SJE
Clinical Areas

Evidence-Based Practice VTE 5/30/2011 Select Clinical Areas

All assignments are mandatory unless marked optional.

Access your LEARN assignments by logging into Inside CHI, then clicking the LEARN link on the left side of the screen (under My Tools). For additional information, visit: www.SaintJosephHealthSystem.org/LearnInfo.

Mandatory HIV/AIDS Continuing Education *New*

A free online HIV/AIDS educational module has been developed by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) and a Kentucky Board of Nursing (KBN) Approved Provider for Continuing Education. This web-based, self-paced study module discusses many facets of HIV/AIDS: medical aspects, epidemiology, transmission, prevention, treatment, OSHA and CDC recommendations, attitudes and behaviors, services available, reporting requirements, and other legal issues.

Participants can access the course by visiting https://ky.train.org and selecting Course ID: 1021131, titled “HIV/AIDS Professional Education in KY…Making It Count.” The course has been approved by the CHFS (CHFS #1210-1566-M). A post-test is included to access the certificate of completion required by licensure boards. The KBN recognizes this course to meet the mandatory HIV/AIDS CE requirement to be earned each ten-year period for license renewal. The LPN earning period is from Nov. 1, 2001-Oct. 31, 2011; RN earning period from Nov. 1, 2002-Oct. 31, 2012.

Honors & Awards

Celebrating Years of Service at Flaget

Various employees were honored for years of service at the Flaget Memorial Hospital
Awards Banquet held March 1.

Donna Hurst, center, director of Flaget’s dietary department, was honored for 25 years of service to the hospital by Flaget President Bruce Klockars, right, and Vice President of Mission Ben Wiederholt, left.

 

Above left: Theresa Reed, center, was honored for 20 years of service by Flaget President Bruce Klockars, right, and Director of Materials Management Rita Manning, left.

Above right: Eddie Mora, center, was honored for 20 years of service by Flaget President Bruce Klockars, right, and Director of Laboratory Services Mary Ann Schentrup, left.

 

Above left: The Rev. Dixie Kimberlin, center, was honored for 15 years of service with the hospital and as a Hospice of Nelson County chaplain by Flaget President Bruce Klockars, right, and Hospice Director Sharon Bade, left.

Above right: Penny Hamilton, center, was honored for 15 years of service by Flaget President Bruce Klockars, right, and Director of Laboratory Services Mary Ann Schentrup, left.

Flaget employees with 10 years of service were honored.

Flaget employees with 5 years of service were honored.

A Look Back

Martin Hosts Floyd County Chamber Meeting

Saint Joseph – Martin hosted the Floyd County Chamber Women’s Council meeting this March. It is the intent of the Council to work closely with other agencies and community-based organizations to build awareness, educate, promote opportunities for, and enhance the lives and well being of Floyd County Women.

   

Above left: Samantha Stratton, registered dietitian and director of nutritional services for Saint Joseph - Martin, presented the group information about healthy eating for a better lifestyle.

Above right: Trish Cieslak, with Perfect Setting, followed with healthy
cooking tips.

Mandy Stumbo (left), executive director of the Floyd County Chamber, and Carol Jo May (right), community educator at Saint Joseph - Martin

Left to right: Missy Allen, Misty Turner and Libby Hall, members of the Floyd County Chamber Women’s Council at the March meeting hosted by
Saint Joseph - Martin


‘Reader Reward’ Winner Takes Home
Nintendo Wii & Wii Fit!

Congratulations to Frankie Woodson for winning the Reader Reward Challenge in the winter issue of Common Thread. Frankie, who works in health information management at Saint Joseph Hospital, won a limited edition red Nintendo Wii and
Wii Fit Plus!

Watch for the Spring issue of Common Thread this April and enter the Kindle e-book reader giveaway!

You can share your story ideas and read past issues at www.SaintJosephCommonThread.org.


Celebrating Mary Etta Combs in London

Mary Etta Combs retired from Saint Joseph – London on February 28. She started working for the hospital in December 1985 as an LPN in the medical-surgical unit. After 25 years of service Mary Etta looks forward to spending time with her husband and family. She will also have plenty of time to dedicate to her gardening and working on her many craft projects. She volunteers her time at the Jackson County Extension Council and is very active with the Green Hill Baptist Church.

Front row: Bob Hudson, volunteer (with the giggles), Don Combs, spouse of Mary Etta, and Mary Etta Combs, med-surg LPN. Back row: Heather Morgan (left), med-surg manager, and Donna Marie Fowler, daughter of Mary Etta.

Left to right: Philip Hendrickson, respiratory, Rebecca Sears, ICU, and Cailen Wattenbarger, health educator, said their good-byes to Mary Etta at her retirement party.


Welcoming New Employees

Saint Joseph Health System would like to welcome the following individuals to the family. These new employees recently attended general hospital orientation.

Saint Joseph Hospital/Saint Joseph East/Saint Joseph - Jessamine new employees, oriented Feb. 22.

Saint Joseph Hospital/Saint Joseph East/Saint Joseph - Jessamine new employees, oriented March 8.

Flaget Memorial Hospital new employees, oriented March 8. Left to right: Michele Riley, RN educator; Hannah Spalding, CNA; Stacey Thompson, admitting clerk; and Theresa Fulkerson, dietary aide.


Tips and facts from the
“Working Green, Living Green” Team

Every year, the United States makes enough plastic film to shrink-wrap the entire state of Texas, according to the Oberlin College Resource Conservation Team. In addition, “If every American household recycled just one out of every 10 HDPE, or high-density polyethylene, bottles they used, we’d keep 200 million pounds of the plastic out of landfills every year.”

Saint Joseph Health System's
Working Green, Living Green team
encourages you to "think green."


Season of Lent

Lenten Reflection
After his baptism by John in the Jordan, Jesus went out into the desert to receive a baptism by fire. This desert sojourn was also a ritual of purification: purifying his thoughts, his desires, and his intentions as he discerned how he would minister in a world that too often resembles the parched wasteland of the desert. When Jesus embarked on his retreat into the desert, he was tempted
and tested in the same ways we are, but in doing so he was showing us the way
to recover our true self — a journey of self-discovery that will bring us a future
full of hope.

Ask yourself: Am I willing to enter into the desert of self reflection to discover my true identity?