Excela Insight 2/9/2023

Top Stories

Excela Health Rated Among Nation’s Top Cardiac Hospitals, Offering More Advanced Options for Heart Care

Patients in need of heart care are increasingly sicker when they initially seek evaluation at Excela Health. Regardless of the severity of their heart disease, they can expect expert clinicians and advanced treatment options from the Heart Center at Excela Westmoreland Hospital, which is ranked among the nation’s top hospitals for cardiac care.

Excela Westmoreland is rated among America’s best for cardiac care and surgery by Healthgrades in its Top 100 and Top 50 designations. For the second consecutive year, Excela has been lauded for superior clinical outcomes in heart bypass surgery, coronary interventional procedures, heart attack and heart failure treatment, as well as heart valve repair.

Excela Health Cardiologists Surpass 200 Watchman Implants

Check Presentation to Excela Health Breast Centers of Excellence

Excela Health Job Fair

Excela Health Cardiologists Surpass 200

WATCHMAN™ Implants

As many as 6 million Americans deal with atrial fibrillation, or A-fib – an irregular heartbeat that can cause complications like blood clots, stroke and heart failure. To guard against the likelihood of these occurring, doctors typically prescribe blood thinners, which come with their own risks, such as excessive or uncontrolled bleeding. The WATCHMAN™ implant offers an alternative to such medications.

During the hour-long procedure, the doctor inserts a small catheter in the patient’s groin to implant the WATCHMAN™ device in the left atrial appendage without any surgery or incisions. Once the device is in place, heart tissue will grow over the implant to seal off the appendage and close it off from circulation so clots can no longer be formed in the structure.

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Conference Room Dedication to Support Surgical Institute at Latrobe Hospital

The Latrobe Area Hospital Charitable Foundation is leading a $10 million campaign to support the newly established Surgical Institute at Latrobe Hospital that offers patients advanced cancer treatment close to home. Ed DePasquale, former Excela Health trustee, made a $25,000 gift in tribute to his loved ones – in memory of his father, Henry and in honor of his mother, Sarah. Because of his generosity, an area in the Education Center of Latrobe Hospital has been designated as “The Henry and Sarah DePasquale Conference Room,” with accompanying signage. Donations, which now total in excess of $4.5 million earmarked for the Surgical Institute, are supporting the latest, sophisticated treatments such as robotic surgery; targeted, highly effective medications; and precisely directed radiation. This project’s scope includes renovations to the operating rooms, the intensive care unit and other areas of the hospital as well as the addition of a second DaVinci robot.

Pictured above are Sarah DePasquale and her son Ed DePasquale with John Sphon, who will be retiring as Excela Health Chief Executive Officer in March.

Check Presentation to Excela Health Breast Centers of Excellence

Center for Organ Recovery & Education National Donor Day

The Westmoreland Hospital Auxiliary recently made a $25,000 donation to the Westmoreland/ Frick Hospital Foundation to benefit the Excela Health Breast Centers of Excellence. On hand for the check presentation was (left to right) representing Westmoreland Hospital Auxiliary President, Joan Stairs; JoEllen Numerick; and Vice President, Joyce Lloyd; Medical Director, Excela Health Breast Centers Dr. Sharon Goldstein; Director, Surgical Specialties Amanda Kukan; and representing Westmoreland/Frick Hospital Foundation, Vice Chairperson Ronald E. Eberhardt and Chairperson Ray Charley.

Job Fair

Excela Health is hosting a job fair! If you know someone who would be a good fit for our organization, please consider referring them to our Talent Acquisition team!

n All Openings (Clinical and Non Clinical)

n When: Saturday, February 18, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

n Where: Westmoreland Mall - Food Court (by Chick-fil-A)

Observed every year on Valentine’s Day, February 14th, National Donor Day is an observance dedicated to spreading awareness and education about organ, tissue, and donation. National Donor Day was started in 1998 by the United Auto Workers and is supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. With more than 100,000 people waiting for a life-saving transplant, what’s a more heartfelt gift than the gift of life, and what’s a better way to spread the love this Valentine’s Day than by registering as a donor? Anyone can register anytime at www.core.org/register.

Employee of the Month: January

Congratulations to the following employee for demonstrating their commitment to Excela Health’s mission.

Westmoreland Hospital

Connie Yelinek, Radiology

Nominate Someone for Employee of the Month

Celebrate the accomplishments of those around you by nominating a co-worker for Employee of the Month! Individuals or teams are chosen based on a demonstration of a positive impact on our culture and work environment through Safety, Quality, Human Development, Productivity and Growth and Margin. Multiple awards are presented each month to employees across the health system.

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Kudos & Recognition

The Emergency Department Practice Management Association (EDPMA) is the nation’s only professional physician trade association focused on the delivery of high-quality, cost-effective care in the emergency department. EDPMA’s membership includes emergency medicine physician groups, as well as billing, coding, and other professional support organizations that assist healthcare providers in our nation’s emergency departments.

Congratulations to Dr. Heather Walker for being selected to the Class of 2024 Emerging Leaders Academy. As President of her group, Heather brings experience and a desire to understand and relieve EM pressures to the program.

February

n American Heart Month

n PeriAnesthesia Nurse Awareness Week (PANAW) I 2/6 to 2/12

n Cardiovascular Professionals Week I 2/12 to 2/18

n Phlebotomists Recognition Week I 2/13 to 2/17

n Cardiac Rehabilitation Week I 2/13 to 12/19

n National Caregivers Day I 2/17

n Critical Care Nurses Day I 2/18

2023 Blood Drives

The ACR will host three community blood drives in Mount Pleasant at the Mount Pleasant Regional Family YMCA of the Laurel Highlands, 490 Bessemer Road, Mount Pleasant. Hours for these drives run earlier 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are strongly encouraged by registering at www.redcrossblood.org and entering the sponsor keyword RFYMCALH.

Blood Drive dates are:

n February 14

Excela Health is enthusiastic to collaborate with the American Red Cross on their local community blood drive programs held in Greensburg, Mount Pleasant, and Latrobe, respectively.

The Greensburg program is held at Greensburg Hose Company #6, 542 W. Otterman Street, Greensburg every other Wednesday from noon to 6 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are strongly encouraged. Register at www.redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor keyword ARCGBG.

Blood Drive dates include:

n February 15

n March 1

n April 12 and 26

n May 10 and 24

n June 21

The Latrobe program is typically held at the Latrobe American Legion Post 515, 1811 Ligonier Street, Latrobe. The program runs from noon to 5:30 p.m.; with walk-ins welcome, but appointments are strongly encouraged by registering at www.redcrossblood.org and entering the sponsor keyword LATROBE.

Blood Drive dates include:

n February 22 (held at Lloydsville Fire Hall, 208 Dickens Street, Latrobe)

n March 28

n April 24

n May 23

n June 27

n April 11

n June 21

To maximize your blood donation and to help more patients, if you are an eligible type O, B negative or A negative, consider making a Power Red donation. Red blood cells are the most commonly transfused blood component.

Should you have questions, please call 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit RedCrossBlood.org.

Wellness by the Numbers

n NU-U participation – 149

n NU-U teams – 21 teams

n Employees participating in Personal Training – 5

n Employees enrolled in Unplug and Recharge – 773

n Employees currently enrolled in 2023 group exercises:

n Yoga – 64

n HIIT – 109

n Strong and Lean - 45

n Employees currently active with Nutritional Counseling – 7

n New Employee Wellness Gym members – 27

New Faces: Welcome to Excela Health

Frick Hospital

Emergency Department

Madison McGill, Graduate Nurse

Food & Nutrition Services

Helen Klejka, Culinary Specialist

Imaging Services

Shayla Bando, Ultrasound Technologist

Latrobe Hospital

Emergency Department

Jordan Reynolds, Technical Partner I, Wknd

Environmental Services

Dave Dort, Environmental Services Technician

Food & Nutrition Services

Camryn Duffy, Culinarian

Imaging Services

Chelsi Whitehead, Ultrasound Technologist

Laboratory Services

Emmylou Pennell, Laboratory Technologist

Radiology

Timothy Dengler, Radiology Technologist

Westmoreland Hospital

Clinical Nutrition

Krista Begonia, Coor. Nutrition Support

Clinical Resource Management

Jacqueline Difatta, Social Service Technician

Emergency Department

Nola Ries, RN

Environmental Services

Courtney Magda, Environmental Services Technician

Human Resources

Angela Chedrick, Talent Acquisition Representative

Information Technology

Jason Wierszewski, Programmer

Intensive Care Unit

Kayla Vuletich, RN

Operating Room

Heather Bell, Surgical Technologist

Jennifer Stape, BSN

Outpatient Rehabilitation

Alexander Burns, Physical Therapist

PCU 2D

Pauline Fiore Haines, Clinical Nurse Coordinator, BSN

Perianesthesia

Christopher Coccari, BSN

Respiratory Care Services

Rachel Kutzer, Respiratory Assistant - Student

Volunteer Services

Sheila Angel, Visitor Concierge

EHMG

Admin Float Pool

Peyton Trent, Medical Assistant

Family Medicine

Mount Pleasant

Dianna Householder, Patient Services Associate

Gastroenterology

Mount Pleasant

Angelina Baccanti, Patient Services Associate

Internal Medicine

Westmoreland Center for Internal Medicine

Carol Kardos, Medical Assistant

Paula Rutkowski, LPN

Pain Medicine

Latrobe

Elyse Stevens, RN

Excela Square at Norwin

Administration

Joyce Thornton, Imaging Aide

Surgery Center

Nicolia Sheaffer, BSN, Perioperative

Home Health & Hospice

Administration

Alyssa Turek, Patient Services Coordinator

Skilled Nursing

Jenny Elliott, LPN, Home Health

Laurel Surgical Center

Tamara Weightman, Central Service Technician