Focus: October 18, 2010

FOCUS Neonatal unit delivers advanced care and support to prevent brain injury

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through the cap helps prevent brain injuries.

Untreated, HIE can permanently damage the brain, kidneys and liver.

Christiana Care’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is the only facility between Philadelphia and Baltimore to offer head cooling. Mia’s dad, Jeff Lang, says he is grateful the NICU had the expertly trained staff and equipment his daughter needed in a crucial situation.

ithin minutes of birth on Feb. 2, baby Mia Lang was diagnosed with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), a condition in which not enough blood goes to the brain.

Mia was only the fifth baby to be treated at Christiana Care by selective head cooling, a treatment in which a special cap is fitted on a newborn’s head. Cooled water circulating

“We are fortunate to have a hospital in our community that invests in the CONTINUED,

N E X T PAG E

Inside National Standard for Fetal Growth Study expands

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New Logistics Center streamlines supply chain

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Nursing completes learning needs assessment survey 6 Publishing, presentations appointments, awards

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Applications for next ACT session due Nov. 5

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Remember to feed your retirement account

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From left, NICU Patient Care Coordinator Bonnie Chavez, RN, neonatologist David Paul, M.D., Jeff Lang, Maddy Lang, Mia Lang, Karyn Lang, and Karen Tyczkowski, RN, NICU, celebrate Maddy Lang’s fundraising gift to Christiana Care.

NICU can quickly mobilize special equipment and expertise ate to severe HIE or asphyxia.

“The babies who benefit most are the ones who have had moderate injuries,” says Annette L. Rickolt, MSN, APN, RNC, clinical nurse specialist and coordinator of the program.

“Head cooling also offers the additional benefit of having few side effects.”

Although the technology has produced impressive initial results, not all babies avoid brain injury. Mia and other newborns who have been treated will be followed until they are at least 3 years old by doctors, nurses and therapists who will monitor their development.

From left, Kim Schoeffler, Karen Mazei, Shawn Sperenkle and Annette Rickolt, with “Nita Newborn,” Christiana Care’s infant training mannikin, wearing the infant head cooling device.

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transferred from other hospitals in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey, says Fern Butler, MSN, RN, NICU nurse manager.

Typically, babies are treated within six hours of birth. But head cooling also is used to help infants who develop problems well after birth, even at other hospitals.

Benefits whole community For example, the Christiana Care latest technology so it will be there NICU team mobilized staff, equipwhen we need it,” Jeff Lang says. ment and expertise recently to help a baby who had undergone surgery at The notion of “We are fortunate to have a hospital in induced A.I. du Pont Hospital for Children in our community that invests in the latest hypothermia for Wilmington. technology so it will be there when we newborns dates Within weeks of treatment, the baby back to the 18th was feeding from a bottle and headed need it.” century, when home.

Jeff Lang, father of patient physicians Butler says the response was a true described team effort that included the support immersing “Beyond that, the day-to-day support of Gary Ferguson, executive vice presibabies in cold water to stimulate of Dr. David Paul, our neonatologist, dent and chief operating officer, as breathing. In recent years, controlled and the nurses was tremendous.” well as individuals in the transportacooling has emerged as the standard tion department.

Big sister gives back of care for babies with HIE and Mia’s big sister, 16-year old sister, asphyxia, a condition in which carbon “I am especially proud of my nurses who volunteered without hesitation to Maddy Lang, raised $350 as her way dioxide builds up in an organ that go to A.I. to operate the head cooling of saying thank you to the NICU. “I isn’t receiving enough oxygen. equipment, our CNS who made sure thought I should give something back At Christiana Care, the head cooling that they were well supported and our to the people who helped make my unit was launched in May 2009, after neonatologists who foster collaborasister a healthy, happy baby,” she says. more than a year of preparation and tion between and among the hospitals Christiana Care’s NICU treats 1,100 training. In the first year, the NICU who care for babies in both Kent and babies a year, including about 250 team treated eight babies with moderNew Castle counties every day,” Butler says.

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National Standard for Fetal Growth Study expands

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hristiana Care is the top recruiter of expectant mothers in the country in a landmark study on fetal growth throughout pregnancy.

who are smaller than the norm for their gender and ethnicity could help doctors to pinpoint problems such as infections and genetic abnormalities.

In launching the second phase of the National Standard for Normal Fetal Growth study, Christiana Care is again playing a leading role, expanding the research to include twins.

In phase one of the National Standard for Normal Fetal Growth study, Christiana Care enrolled more than 200 women, becoming the top recruiter in the United States. Getting the word out to patients required a proactive, multipronged approach, says Stephanie Lynch, OB/GYN research manager and study coordinator.

“Our research will tell us if twins grow differently than singletons,” says Anthony Sciscione, D.O., director, Maternal-Fetal Medicine and the principal investigator. “Or, if they don’t grow the same, we can learn at what point they develop differently.”

The first phase of the study focused on expectant mothers age 18-40, who do not have such risk factors as smoking, substance abuse or obesity.

The initiative included newsletters to doctors, distributing brochures at clinics and doctors’ offices, as well as faceto-face contact with moms-to-be.

“We talk to the patients when they are having their first trimester screening,” she says. “Very rarely do we get parents who are not interested in learning more about their babies.”

As an incentive, expectant moms and dads receive a series of state-of-the-art 4-D ultrasound images of their babies in the womb.

“They get lots of really neat pictures of their fetuses, which would not otherwise be available during the course of a normal pregnancy,” Dr. Sciscione says. “We have found that parents get a lot of pleasure looking at their babies, especially with these advanced sonographic techniques.”

Phase two also will focus on healthy moms who do not have risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes, which can impact fetal growth.

Dr. Sciscione notes that Christiana Care is ideally suited to the study, delivering more twins than any other hospital in the Mid-Atlantic region, typically about 150 sets of twins each year.

The study is funded by a $1 million grant from the National Institutes of Health. The data gleaned from the research will allow doctors to better interpret the results of ultrasound tests, as well as establish more accurate standards for fetal growth that take into account the race and gender of the baby.

For example, babies of Asian ethnicity tend to be smaller. Boys are typically larger than girls. Identifying babies

Christiana Care is an ideal place to study the growth patterns of twins. Typically, about 150 sets are born here each year.

New logistics center facilitates efficient, effective patient care

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or every action there is a reaction.

Thus, as Christiana Care physically expands to take care of the communities we serve, a logistical challenge arises for those responsible for ensuring adequate supplies are on hand when needed.

Christiana Care’s latest reaction to the continued growth of our health system is the opening of a new Logistics Center—a 43,000-square-foot facility in New Castle.

Operating six days a week, with 29 full-time employees, the new consolidates receiving and distributing of all medical and other supplies into one location.

Centralizes warehousing “Previously, we had a little bit of everything everywhere,” Materiel Management Director Mark McDermott says. “We were using 11,000 square feet downstairs in Christiana Hospital as a warehouse and about 3,000 square feet in Wilmington Hospital,” he says, “along with smaller storage areas at many other locations as well.”

“It’s difficult to operate efficiently that way,” McDermott says, noting that the time, energy and truck traffic involved in stocking so many “sub-

warehouses” amounted to duplication of effort and inefficient processes.

“The center represents a significant step in the transformation of our supply chain services here at Christiana Care.”

“Now, all deliveries come here and then either sent on for delivery to end users or placed into inventory,” says Logistics Manager Dan Hangarasa.

For Nursing, he says, “We provide supplies customized to what each unit needs.” Everything arrives in one place, gets parceled out based on enduser locations and their needs, and then sent on to those locations in customized totes.

Streamlines vendors jobs, too “This makes the process infinitely simpler than keeping track of numerous shipments, deliveries and trucks servicing multiple drop-off points,” says Hangarasa. Vendors now have their work streamlined as well, through the consolidation of multiple orders into fewer, larger shipments, he adds.

There is no longer any reason for the same company to make more than one delivery or use more than one driver and truck.

“We use our own vehicles now,” McDermott says, “making 12 to 15

daily round trips from the center to the Christiana Hospital and Surgicenter and six or eight round trips each day to the Wilmington Hospital and Arsht Surgicenter.” As a result, nursing units and clinical departments have supply quantities on hand that are much more balanced to their needs. Space for storage of supplies and time spent organizing and replenishing them is greatly reduced.

“The expansion of the Wilmington Hospital was a key catalyst for the new Logistics Center,” McDermott says. “We had already outgrown the available square footage there.”

Hangarasa adds that there were nearly 100 items that had to be sent from the Christiana Hospital to the Wilmington Hospital every day, simply because there was no space to keep them on site.

Better emergency preparedness Better disaster preparedness is another important benefit of a centrally located warehouse. Previously, materials were kept in trailers and small storerooms in various locations, but the new Logistics Center, in addition to having the storage capacity for $1.6 million worth of materials — enough to service the whole health system for 18 days—keeps an additional $357,000 on hand in sequestered disaster supplies, which are rotated among overall stock to stay ahead of expiration dates.

These supplies are now kept current and can be dispatched quickly to wherever they may be needed in an emergency or disaster situation without imposing undue demand on supplies needed for normal operations.

Materiel Management Director Mark McDermott (Center, with scissors), joined by dozens Christiana Care colleagues, cuts a ribbon to officially open the new, centralized, 43,000-square-foot Logistics Center in New Castle.

Roving education cart spreads safe patient handling lessons

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ver the next several weeks, don’t be surprised to see a team pushing a cart loaded with snacks and gifts through your unit hoping for a moment of your time to discuss the importance of safe patient handling.

The team, headed by Michelle Collins, MSN, RN-BC, manager, Patient Care Services Education, and Carys Price, PT, MS, director of Employee Injury Prevention/PEEPS© Program, will round on Nursing units and through many clinical areas each Monday and weekends through November to help nurse managers and unit PEEPS educators prepare staff for the upcoming site visit for the ANA Handle with Care application process.

Both Christiana and Wilmington hospitals are preparing applications in anticipation of being first in the nation honored with the prestigious recognition for efforts in reducing lost time injuries through a decade of safe patient handling initiatives.

The cart approach to staff education was introduced last fall to help prepare nurses and other frontline staff for the Magnet site survey. Similarly, the PEEPS cart is designed to help the education team engage clinical staff in conversation about the ANA’s Safe Patient Handling Initiative, the history of Christiana Care’s PEEPS program, and the wealth of equipment available at both Christiana and Wilmington hospitals to help staff safely reposition and transfer patients.

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Web Ed added to transcript The ANA site surveyors may ask any employee about Christiana Care’s safe patient handling program. To help prepare staff for the possibility of being approached by a surveyor, a new Web Ed is now posted on the education transcript for all employees on units or departments that receive

Cheryl Muffley, BSN, RN, BC, Angela Parker, BSN, RN, BC, and Suzanne Heath, BSN, RN, BC, all of 5A, gather around the new PEEPS education cart to discuss safe patient handling practices with Richard Zock, MPT, CEAS, Employee Injury Prevention/PEEPS educator.

mandatory PEEPS education. All units that achieve 95 percent staff completion rate of the ANA ‘Leading the Way in Safety’ Web Ed by Oct. 31 will be eligible for entry in a drawing with lucky units winning a pizza party recognizing their efforts.

Homepage launches Yet another resource available to staff is a special ANA ‘Leading the Way in Safety’ homepage. It answers frequently asked questions about PEEPS, includes the Education Cart rounding schedule, provides a listing of clinical areas with special PEEPS ambassadors appointed for the site survey, and even features a copy of each hospital’s completed application for staff review. The heavily-relied-upon PEEPS homepage also remains an important resource for information about safe patient handling practices and available equipment.

Pioneers in safe patient handling “Our hope is that everyone throughout the system recognizes the importance of being prepared for the site survey, and that we’re not just going for ANA Handle with Care recognition simply to win another award,” Collins says.

“Christiana Care was and continues to be a pioneer in safe patient handling, first by establishing PEEPS back in 2000, and more recently by being among the first to provide ceiling mounted lifts throughout our facilities,” she continues. “For the dedication and overall commitment to the safety of all staff with patient handling responsibilities, we firmly believe that Christiana Care deserves, and therefore should pursue this important recognition.”

Survey gauges learning needs for Nursing staff

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epartment of Nursing staff will continue to learn and develop through education at Christiana Care, with an emphasis on hands-on learning through simulation, as well as classroom and web instruction.

The format is a response to the results of a Nursing Learning Needs Assessment survey conducted last spring. A committee of nurse educators supported by Patient Care Services Development and Education and the education council designed the survey, which asked staff from all shifts how they would like to learn—as well as where and when they preferred to take courses.

To gather input, the Committee cast a wide net, allowing staff to respond to the survey via e-mail or an electronic link on the nursing portal. They sought responses from RNs, LPNs, PCTs, SNEs, as well as MHAs, EMTs, APNs, home health staff, nurse leaders and nurse educators. About 50 percent of nursing staff completed the survey.

Forces of Magnetism No. 2: Organizational Structure No. 9: Autonomy No. 14: The health care organization values and supports the personal and professional growth and development of staff

on site, in their units; 37 percent would rather be in a classroom, while 7 percent would opt for the simulated setting offered in the VEST lab.

As for the length of sessions, nurses favor shorter over longer classes. Most prefer 30-minute classes, followed by one hour of instruction on the unit. Four-hour sessions outside the unit were the least popular.

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So, what motivates nurses to take classes?

The top reason is the subject matter of the course, followed by required education and then the time the class is offered.

As a result of the survey, blended learn-

ing classes consisting of classroom, web lessons, simulation will be increased.

In order to make classes more accessible, the Diabetes workshop and CPR courses are now being offered on Saturdays and more will be added in the near future. Nurses also will receive additional electronic reminders for classes.

The Department of Nursing staff will have the opportunity to keep providing input. The survey will be conducted annually and will be offered again in early 2011.

Here is some of what they had to say: n Nurses prefer hands-on education in a simulated setting, followed by classroom lectures by an instructor. Web-based lessons were next in popularity, followed by a combination of classroom and online learning. n Most nurses want to take classes during their shifts. Education offered before shifts was the next most desirable time, followed by instruction after a shift ends. n Nearly half—42 percent—of nurses are in favor of taking classes

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FOCUS Oct. 18, 2010

Quit Smoking? Tell Us Your Story

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his November marks the fifth anniversary of Christiana Care officially going smoke-free on all campuses, indoors and out.

On that day – Nov. 17, 2005, the Great American Smokeout – a number of employees started on the journey to quit smoking. Many did so with the help of tobacco cessation counselors

and products from Christiana Care.

If you are one of those who quit smoking then, we would like to hear your story to possibly share on the Portals and in Focus.

Contact the editorial team in External Affairs at corpcommfocusedit@christianacare.org.

Christiana Care CIO presents ‘meaningful use’ pilot

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t the New Jersey/Delaware Valley chapter of Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) annual fall event, Randy Gaboriault, CIO of Christiana Care, gave a keynote presentation about Christiana Care’s unique “meaningful use” pilot program for community physicians.

The pilot program will train and support community physicians to adopt electronic health records in accord with Department of Health and Human Services’ “meaningful use” regulations – guidelines that physicians and hospitals will have to follow to earn incentives for moving from paper to electronic medical files.

Kathleen Sebelius, HHS secretary, praised Christiana Care’s pilot program in an editorial in Kaiser Health News this past August.

Gaboriault’s presentation included remarks from Sachin Jain, the Special Assistant for the Office of National Coordinator of Health IT.

Brian Sarter, M.D., named HVIS medical director

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rian Sarter, M.D., has been appointed medical director of Christiana Care’s Heart & Vascular Interventional Services (HVIS).

As medical director, Dr. Sarter is the recognized authority on issues involving HVIS services.

He is responsible for:

Brian Sarter, M.D.

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Establishing protocol.

Helping ensure open communication across services and departments. n

n Consulting with the administrative director and business manager to optimize financial management of HVIS Services.

Randy Gaboriault, CIO of Christiana Care, delivers keynote address about pilot program at Christiana Care to accelerate adoption of electronic health records.

Paul Imber, D.O., appointed Chief of Otolaryngologic-Head and Neck Surgery

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aul Imber, D.O., has been appointed chief of the Section of Otolaryngologic-Head and Neck Surgery.

A graduate of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. Imber joined the Christiana Care Medical-Dental Staff in 1990.

He is a member of Ear, Nose, Throat, & Allergy Associates, LLC. He also has been an active member of the Departmental Credentials Committee.

Dr. Imber replaces Jay Luft, M.D., who served as section chief from 2006-2010.

"On behalf of the Department of Surgery at Christiana Care, I am pleased to welcome Dr. Imber into his new position and express my gratitude to Dr. Luft for his outstanding leadership,” says Michael Rhodes, M.D., chair, Christiana Care Department of Surgery.

Paul Imber, D.O.

Publishing, Presenting, Appointments, Awards Publishing

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ACT course enrollment applications due Nov. 5

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he deadline to register for the next Achieving Competency Today (ACT) course: Issues in Health Care Quality, Cost, Systems, and Safety, is Nov. 5.

This graduate-level course, offered by Christiana Care’s Department of Academic Affairs, Medical Education, Research & Outcomes and by the Office of Quality and Patient Safety, is for attending and resident physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and allied health professionals.

The curriculum provides a solid introductory education for systems-based practice, practice-based learning and improvement, patient safety and quality, and teamwork.

Applications, due by November 5, 2010, are available through the Academic Affairs Medical Education Research & Outcomes Office, Christiana Hospital, MAP 2, Suite 2114, or by e-mailing Theresa Fields, administrative assistant, tfields@christianacare.org.

Classes convene Jan. 5, 2011 through March 30, 2011. Classes are on Wednesday evenings* from 4-7:30 p.m. Enrollment is limited to 35.

ment; interdisciplinary team concepts and skills; U.S. health care system, brief history and comparison with other models; health care economics and legislation; and change theory.

Benefits Attendees—Certificates, Continuing Education Contact Hours (38.5) for eligible nurses, CME Credits (38.5) for attending physicians, and participants can add this course to their Resume/CVs as additional education.

Course Description

* There is no class March 23, unless needed for a make-up session due to a ACT includes modules on performweather-related cancellation. ance improvement; quality improvement; patient safety; measurement and For more information, call 302-623outcomes analysis in quality improve- 4487.

Focus on Excellence - Best Practice Review Consistent with our strategies for engaging staff in continuous improvement and best practices, we regularly review important topics in Focus to help reinforce safe-practice behaviors.These tips reinforce information and enable staff to better articulate our safety practices during an unannounced survey.

Food and Drug Interactions Q. Where can I find the list of food and drug interactions?

A. Food and Drug interactions can be found by searching the portals for Pharmacy Policies. Click on “Policy and Procedures Pharmacy,” then Food and Drug Interactions.

Q. What information do I need to tell my patients regarding food/drug interaction?

A. Patients need to understand any significant food interactions of the medications they are taking. This includes how to schedule their medications in relation to their meal times and what modifications, if any, are needed to their diet.

Q. Where will I find the food/drug information to give to my patient?

A. Nurses can provide this information to their patient by obtaining patient information instructions in the hospital formulary monograph (for formulary drugs), FYI sheets or Micromedex Aftercare Instruction for non-formulary drugs.

Well-informed caregivers and patients are the vital link in the safety chain to prevent errors

Don’t let savings opportunity slip away Money is free with your 403(b)

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re you getting the most from your retirement plan? Are you even in the plan?

Christiana Care Health Services offers employees a generous 403(b) Savings Plan with a matching contribution of 50 percent for every dollar contributed, up to 6 percent of salary.

Here’s why you should participate and maximize your 403(b) Savings Plan:

n You get free money! With the matching contribution, if you save $10 per biweekly pay, Christiana Care contributes $5. Your account gets $15. n It’s simple and convenient. You choose the amount and it’s automatically deducted from your paycheck. n It’s easy to enroll; fill out the enrollment form, choose your investment option and send in the form. n Your savings will always be your money – 100 percent. After three full years of service, you own the company match as well, plus any investment earning; even if you leave Christiana Care. n It offers you a tax incentive. By putting some of your pay into a 403(b) taxdeferred saving plan, you are able to lower your current tax obligation and save money. n You don’t want to work forever. You will want to maintain your lifestyle and have enough money saved to provide the same standard of living.

Still not convinced? Consider this: The longer you wait to save, the less time you will have to save for retirement.

That means: The longer you wait to save, the longer you may have to wait to retire.

Make plans now to attend an important planning session.

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Carlo Foust

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hat do Carlo Foust, medical technologist in the General Laboratory at Christiana Hospital, and Roy Halladay, Phillies pitching ace, have in common?

They each have hurled perfect games this year.

Foust bowled his second perfect 300 Sept. 21 for the Christiana Care bowling league. He has led the league in high average for four straight.

His magic night included games of 248, 238, and 300, for a series total of 786.

For the last frame of his perfect game, the bowling alley was in total silence, with bowlers from all the other leagues watching.

Congratulations to Carlo!

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People live longer without cigarettes

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ake two healthy 30-yearold men. The only difference between them is that one guy smokes cigarettes and the other fellow doesn’t.

The smoker can expect to live another 35 years to the age of 65. The non-smoker will likely live for 53 more years to age 83, according to a study by the advocacy group Action on Smoking and Health. That’s a difference of 18 years.

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his November marks the fifth anniversary of Christiana Care officially going smoke-free on all campuses, indoors and out.

On that day—Nov. 17, 2005, the Great American Smokeout—a number of employees started on the journey to quit smoking. Many did so with the help of tobacco cessation counselors and products from Christiana Care.

A cigarette = 11 minutes of life It takes about five minutes to smoke a cigarette. Yet a study by the University of California at Berkeley reports that for each cigarette, 11 minutes of life go up in smoke. Each carton of cigarettes translates into a day and a half of lost life.

Cigarettes kill people in a number of painful ways. Lung cancer. Emphysema. Heart disease. Second-hand smoke also harms non-smokers.

A decision to quit smoking brings potential for longer life, giving the ex-smoker years’ more time to enjoy retirement leisures with loved ones and other fulfilling activities and pleasures.

There are a number of interactive tools on the Internet you can use to calculate tobacco’s toll on your life, based on how long and how much you have smoked. To find one, just go to Google and enter the terms smoking, life span and calculator.

But don’t let the results scare you.

Instead, harness that knowledge into action. Use it as a launch pad, the inspiration that will motivate you to quit so that you can enjoy more time doing the things you love—especially sharing time with the people you love.

The younger you quit, the better A person who kicks the habit at age 30 or younger can expect to live as long as someone who has never smoked,

according to a British study of long-term smoking. A smoker who quits at 50 can expect to regain six years of life expectancy.

Imagine six more years of fishing with your son. Six more years of traveling with your husband. Six more years to watch your grandchildren grow.

Great reasons to quit smoking, all.

Christiana Care has been smoke free, inside and out, since 2005. As part of that commitment, we are dedicated to helping employees who smoke through the difficult process of quitting. Employee Health will provide free prescription medication to smokers and their dependants over age 18, as well as compassionate, face-to-face counseling.

If you are one of those who quit smoking then, we would like to hear your story to possibly share on the Portals and in Focus. Contact the editorial team in External Affairs at corpcommfocusedit@christianacare.org.

GET HELP

Therapeutic notes A New, Approved Pneumococcal Vaccination Indicated for Children

*A single supplemental dose of PCV13 is recommended for all healthy children 14 to 59 months of age despite full immunization with PCV7 and children at high risk for IPD 14 through 71 months of age. However, no active recall of patients is necessary and the supplemental dose can be given at the next medical visit.

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Christiana Care again wins Delmarva Summer Blood Challenge

Tammy Holdren, technologist, Nuclear Medicine

donated 19 gallons of blood.

The Rev. George Billings, Pastoral Services

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or the seventh consecutive year, Christiana Care won top honors in the 2010 Blood Bank of Delmarva’s Summer Blood Challenge with the highest overall number of blood donations. We also took top place in the Extra Large Employer category.

We did it by recruiting 599 blood donors and 174 new Blood Bank members.

The challenge is a competition among employers to recruit the most Blood Bank members and donors during the summer. It helps raise awareness of the need for blood at a time when vacations and outdoor activities often contribute to shortages in many areas of the country.

This year, the Blood Bank honored Wendy Felts, a nurse practitioner in the NICU, for the most individual blood donations. Felts, who donated every two weeks, has been a top donor in the challenge three of the last four years. Since becoming a Blood Bank member in 1986, she has 14

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“I never really consider a reason to donate,” she says.

“It's just a need I can help fill. I always ask my colleagues whenever we order blood on an infant if they are willing to donate, for it is not something that can be made or bought, and it is only available through the generosity of so many people who are willing to take the time to donate.”

One hundred and seventy-one local employers participated, resulting in 7,150 blood donations and 1,980 new Blood Bank members. That's a blood donation increase of 17 percent over last year's competition.

Last year Christiana Care received 43,134 blood products from the Blood Bank of Delmarva. That includes 25,279 units of packed red blood cells, 9,000 units of fresh frozen plasma and nearly 6,000 units of platelets.

Teresa Cathell, assistant to COO Gary Ferguson

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Use of electronic devices when driving is dangerous

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id you know that national research shows that drivers using cell phones are four times more likely to get into crashes that are serious enough to cause injury? According to the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS) focused driving is keeping your eyes on the road ahead, your hands on the wheel and your mind on your driving. Sound easy? It is, if you follow these simple tips: n Turn off your phone when you are driving. Simply avoid the temptation to talk. Turn it off while you are driving. n Texting and driving don’t mix. There is no way to safely drive while texting. n Be in control. Preset the climate control, radio, CD player, and GPS before you leave. n Manage your technology. Use a call blocking application to let callers know you are driving and to queue calls and texts until you are safely pulled over. n Fine tune your tunes. Using an iPod or MP3? Preset a driving playlist to provide continuous tunes without the need for adjustment.

Forces of Magnetism No. 10: Community and the health care organization building strong relationships

Look at the big picture. Take a moment to focus on those who are counting on you to get home safely every day before you make a choice to divert your full attention from the road.

Need one more reason to put all electronic devices on hold?

Beginning January 2011, drivers in Delaware will no longer be allowed to use hand-held devices while driving. If caught, you could face a fine and other penalties reaching $200. Be Alert. Arrive Alive DE. Story courtesy of www.ohs.delaware.gov.

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Welcome, Yes U Can™ Christiana Care’s Exercise Serivices Team at the Eugene du Pont Preventive Medicine and Rehabilitation Institute celebrated a new partnership with Yes U Can, to offer exercise help for people with disability or limited mobility, including staff-assisted weight training and programs for people with all levels of disabilities.

For information call 302-661-3300

Wilmington Wellness Day: An annual grassroots event

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hristiana Care’s longstanding commitment to Wilmington has taken many forms since our original hospital opened in the city in 1888. The $210 million transformation project on the Wilmington campus is just the latest example of our commitment.

But we’re also dedicated to the health of our Wilmington neighbors at a grassroots level. One gorgeous Saturday last month, more than a dozen Christiana Care departments and more than 2,500 city residents participated in the 11th annual Wilmington Wellness Day in downtown Wilmington, sharing information about how to live longer, happier and healthier lives.

Virginia Corrigan, RN, MSN, injury prevention coordinator, (right) shares some potentially lifesaving information with visitors at the Trauma Program’s exhibit at Wilmington Wellness Day.

Christiana Care employees provided free screenings to more than 100 people, looking for potential problems with blood pressure, cholesterol, nutrition, body fat, osteoporosis and depression. The event helps many low-income residents of Wilmington gain information about preventing disease and staying healthy with services they might not otherwise find or be able to afford.

Visit Christiana Care's Flickr site for more photos and details about the 2010 Wilmington Wellness Day.