October 21, 2021
Volume 4 Issue 20 Excela Health Remains Among The Elite Workplaces Regionally And Nationally For Health And Wellness
Lights of Love Tradition Continues Page 2 Meet Monica Malinowski, MD Page 2 Enhanced Employee Referral Incentive Page 3 Latrobe Area Hospital Aid Society Hosted Shoe Drive Page 5 VACCINE MYTH: The COVID-19 vaccine was developed too quickly. Page 5 Employee Engagement New Faces
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For the 10th consecutive year, Excela Health has been recognized among the Healthiest Employers in Western Pennsylvania, and for the sixth year in a row named a Healthiest 100 Workplace in America, in an awards program presented by Healthiest Employer®. “Never has employee well-being been more critical than during this time of public health crisis,” noted Laurie English, Excela Health Chief Human Resources Officer. “As a health system, our employees are on the front lines of the pandemic, and facing physical, emotional and spiritual challenges as they provide care. Being able to offer the resources to help our teams manage stress, find work-life balance and cope with personal and family medical concerns is mission critical to improving the health and well-being of every life we touch.” Read More
Excela Health Ranked Among Most Wired In Nation Once Again For Using Technology To Partner With Patients On Health Technology continues to make it easier for patients and providers to interact, thus improving communication, safety and patient-provider relationships. Likewise, Excela Health continues to be recognized as a respected leader for its use of information technology to help patients become more actively involved in their care and maintain their health. Read More
Cardiothoracic Program Ranked Among Nation’s Elite in Heart Surgery Excela Health continues to raise the bar for quality patient care, with the latest recognition coming from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), which ranks the health system’s heart surgery program among the top 2 percent nationwide. “This designation means we rank among the best in the nation in providing some of the most needed heart surgeries,” said John Sphon, Excela Health Chief Executive Officer. “This latest honor is a reflection of the caliber of physician specialists on staff at Excela Health, and for our patients, it means they get the best in quality care close to home.” Read More
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In the News Excela Listed Among Healthiest Employers in Region October 19
Excela Health has been recognized among the Healthiest Employers in Western Pennsylvania, a distinction it has received for 10 consecutive years. The Greensburg-based health system also, for the sixth year in a row, was named a Healthiest 100 Workplace in America. Read More 'You can’t fix it with facts': Doctors Share Patients' Excuses for COVID Vaccine Refusal
Latrobe Area Hospital Aid Society (LAHAS) Continues Lights of Love Tradition The Latrobe Area Hospital Aid Society (LAHAS) continues the Lights of Love holiday tradition in 2021, with donations accepted for this special fundraising event which honors and memorializes loved ones in anticipation of the virtual tree-lighting event Tuesday, December 7. For a suggested $8 per name, individuals can remember the family members and friends who impacted their life but have passed away. Donations also can honor the people who bring meaning and joy to the contributor’s life now. There are several ways to participate. Previous donors have been mailed a brochure with instructions on how to complete. Donation forms also are available by clicking here. Individuals who wish a pre-printed “Lights of Love” brochure, or LAHAS membership application may call 724-537-1733, or email lahas@excelahealth.org.
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“Misinformation and denial about COVID-19 and its vaccine have left Dr. Heather Walker and her colleagues in the emergency department at Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital feeling defeated. “No matter what you do, it’s not enough,” she said. “It’s exhausting for everyone.”
QuikDraw Services Available in Connellsville The Excela Health Connellsville QuikDraw is open Monday through Friday 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lab work. No appointment needed. Click here to view all QuikDraw locations.
It’s also perplexing for doctors.
Meet Monica Malinowski, MD
How can a patient be in disbelief over the coronavirus, pandemic and vaccine and yet trust doctors when it comes to a stroke, heart attack or broken leg?
Dr. Malinowski is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. She earned her medical degree from Poznan University of Medical Sciences in Poland. After which, she completed her internship at Heliodor Swiecicki Clinical Hospital in Poland before completing her residency at Jefferson Health Northeast in Philadelphia, PA.
“You believe me as an expert in all those things,” she said. “Why don’t you believe me about the pandemic?”” Read More
“I chose family medicine because I enjoy the diverse amount of patients I get to see on a daily basis as well as building that relationship with every single one of my patients.” Dr. Malinowski joined the staff of Excela Square Norwin Family Medicine. Read More
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Enhanced Employee Referral Incentive Excela Health is offering an enhanced employee referral incentive for select positions until January 10, 2022. Positions include: Registered Nurse or CNC, Registered Respiratory Therapist, Surgical Technologist and more. Applicants must be offered and accepted during this timeframe. Candidates can mention your name as a referral either on their online application or during their interview processs. If the candidate is hired and all guidelines/qualifications have been met you will be paid out after the six month mark. Excela Health is hiring for a variety of positions. We offer a comprehensive benefit package and compensation package, tuition reimbursement/loan forgiveness opportunities and a variety of other employee friendly perks. View the full list of positions and bonuses here.
Opportunity Begins Here
Your Voice Matters: Community Health Needs Assessment Survey Excela Health is in the process of beginning the 2022-2024 Community Health Needs Assessment in conjunction with the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg Center for Applied Research (CFAR) and local community partners and organizations in Westmoreland County. As Excela Health employees, you are an integral part of our Westmoreland County community, and Excela Health invites you to participate by completing the Community Health Needs Assessment survey if you reside in Westmoreland County. While this assessment is a federal requirement for the health system, it is also a tool used to identify, evaluate and measure the top health priorities in our community. Excela Health uses this assessment as part of our mission to improve the health and well-being of every life touched in Westmoreland County. Based on the survey, results are studied and a plan is put into place to attend to those identified needs with the goal of improving community health by meshing our health system planning with public health and community planning. Click here to complete the 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment Survey.
Greater Pittsburgh Heart Walk The American Heart Association (AHA) will be hosting their 2021 Greater Pittsburgh Heart Walk, Sunday, October 31, 9 a.m., at North Park. Employees are encouraged and welcome to sign up as individual coaches representing Excela Health and form walk teams that can walk at North Park or wherever you are located! To register, click here to sign up as an Excela Health team coach (or join one of the Excela teams) and follow the prompts to make a donation. Week of Wellness Gear up for the 2021 AHA Greater Pittsburgh Heart Walk during the Week of Wellness! Each day highlights a wellness activity for you to engage in, leading up to the day of the walk! Click here to view the schedule
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WALKERS Heart Walk 2021
HEART, LUNG & VASCULAR INSTITUTE
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Email Signature Contest Winners Thank you to all who participated in the recent signature contest! The following are the winners: • Joshua Adams, Regulatory & Accreditation • Courtney Kubovcik, Case Management • Patti Lebin, Home Care & Hospice To continue to promote Excela Health’s most recent recognitions in clinical expertise and high quality patient care the standard Excela Health email signature has been updated. Everyone in Excela Health is encouraged to make this update to their signature. To access the new signature go the marketing tab on the intranet, select “Communications” from the list on the left and then select “Communications Tools” from the top center. Once there click on “Standard Email Signature Display” at the bottom off the page and follow the illustrated instructions to adopt the signature.
Ray Rides Again: Local Shop 'n Save Owner's Journey Back to Biking Ray Charley, one of the owners of Charley Family Shop ‘n Save grocery stores in Greensburg and Murrysville, local biking enthusiast, and chair of the Westmoreland/Frick Foundation embarked on a 12-day, 440-mile cycling journey over rugged, difficult terrain across the Hayduke Trail MTB in Utah. According to Lizard Head Cycling Guides, the trail is considered “one of American West’s ultimate point-to-point mountain biking tours.” During a practice training ride in January 2020, Ray dodged a distracted driver, resulting in a fall, shattering his pelvis. He was grateful the accident did not result in a fatality. “It was a blessing,” he said. Unable to walk due to the accident, he was determined to make a comeback. His primary goal was not only to be able to walk again but pick up where he left off in his training. Ray credits his successful surgery and recovery to the physicians and clinicians at the Excela Health Orthopedics Institute. Following surgery, Ray underwent many months of physical therapy at Excela Square at Latrobe as well as a private therapist. It is with gratitude that he is seeking his community to join him in support of the world class orthopedics care here in Westmoreland County.Ray began his journey in early October and successfully completed 220 miles of the trail. Please see below to learn more about Ray’s journey. To my friends and colleagues, As you know, I recently set forth to ride the Hayduke trail in Utah, a 440 mile, challenging mountain bicycle ride. I want to give you an update on my experience and voyage in discovery on 220 of those miles. Letter continued here. To donate to the Ray Rides Again campaign benefiting the Excela Health Orthopedics Institute, click here. As of October 18, 2021 the Ray Rides Again campaign has raised $19,760. Ray thanks all his supporters!
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Latrobe Area Hospital Aid Society Hosted Shoe Drive The Latrobe Area Hospital Aid Society (LAHAS) has completed its first-ever shoe drive, with success that benefits not only developing nations, but Westmoreland County through the society’s fund-raising efforts on behalf of Excela Health. More than 6,500 pairs of new and gently used footwear were collected from a variety of sources, and LAHAS received more than $2,500 that will be redirected to projects in support of the health system.
Recent Videos The Healthy Kitchen: Pumpkin Flax Overnight Oats Dawn Davoli, Registered Dietitian & Nutritionist presents The Healthy Kitchen! On this episode she shares a recipe for pumpkin flax overnight oats.
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How to Create a Winning Workplace Excela Health WORKS is teaming up with the Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce to bring you a mini educational series: How to Create a Winning Workplace. Session one is about ADAA Issues and the Impact of Medical Marijuana in the Workplace. All sessions will be held virtually via Zoom. The presenter, Mariah Passarelli, Esq. Mariah focuses her practice on a variety of labor and employment law matters, from employment contracts to complex litigation. Mariah handles matters in administrative proceedings, state, and federal courts. She has represented employers in claims under Title IX, Title VII, 42 U.S.C. § 1981, PHRA, ADA, ADEA, FMLA, FLSA, NLRA, FCRA and OSHA, and she has defended universities, hospitals and oil and gas companies in state-wide class and collective actions. Mariah also counsels companies on litigation avoidance, anti-discrimination, and anti-bullying and she reviews and drafts employee handbooks and personnel policies.
VACCINE MYTH: The COVID-19 vaccine was developed too quickly. Meet Melanie Dick, ICU Nurse. Melanie discusses why she got the COVID-19 vaccine, and why others should consider it as well.
For more information or to register for the event, click here.
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Employee Engagement Employee Assistance Program: COVID-19 Resources There are multiple topics available to Excela Health employees free of charge through Washington EAP. Topics include: COVID-19 and your mental health, canceled by COVID-19: managing disappointment, coronavirus grief: coping with the loss of routine during the pandemic, and more. Visit Washington EAP here
MyExcelaPerks Excela Health is teaming up with Seven Springs and the Pittsburgh Penguins for the 2021-2022 season! Employees can receive discounted ski/snowboard passes through Seven Springs Mountain Resort for the upcoming winter season. Only EH employees are eligible for this offer (spouses and children are NOT eligible). Click here to access the Seven Springs discount offer. Cheer on Pittsburgh’s favorite hockey team, October 28 and November 16! Employees can purchase discounted Pittsburgh Penguins game tickets, substantially lower than gate prices!!! Click here to access the Pittsburgh Penguins discounted tickets offer.
Embracing Diversity and Differences EAP Online Seminar Learn about how to live and work in a way that is respectful, kind, and embraces diversity in all walks of life. For access to the webinar, click here and use the Work-Life login code “excela” then click on “Online Seminars” to find all available seminars.
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Kudos & Recognition Kudos Westmoreland Hospital Short Stay Unit “I had surgery at the short stay unit at Westmoreland Hospital. All of the nurses and doctors, everyone I came into contact with, were so nice! They answered all my questions, checked on me frequently, made me as comfortable as possible, and even the way they talked to each other made for a very relaxing atmosphere. (Well, as relaxing as such a place can be when you're nervous.) Thank you!” -Facebook User
Recognition October National Physical Therapy Month 10/17 to 10/23 Healthcare Quality Week 10/17 to 10/23 International Infection Prevention Week 10/17 to 10/23 Pharmacy Week 10/17 to 10/22 Medical Assistant Recognition Week 10/24 to 10/30 National Healthcare Facilities & Engineering Week 10/24 to 10/30 National Respiratory Care Week 10/25 to 10/30 International Orthopedic Nurses Week 10/27 to 11/2 National Sleep Technologists Appreciation Week November National Home Care & Hospice Month 11/1 to 11/7 Medical-Surgical Nurses Week 11/1 to 11/7 Urology Nurses and Associates Week 11/1 to 11/7 National Association of Medical Staff Services Awareness Week
New Faces Latrobe Hospital 2 East Amanda Sowa, BSN 5th Floor Sade Foxx, Technical Partner Student Emergency Department Kiara Gary, Technical Partner EPIC Inpatient Rehabilitation Jennifer Irwin, RN Food and Nutrition Services Lucia Christin Penar, Nutrition Services Specialist Inpatient Physical Therapy Jenna Brant, Speech Pathologist Neuro/Joint Works Abby’lee Dorogi, Technical Partner Operating Room Alexandria Quarture, BSN Pharmacy Carisa Byich, Pharmacy Technician Progressive Cardiac Unit Rosie Herald, Technical Partner Respiratory Care Services Brianna Henning, Registered Respiratory Therapist
Westmoreland Hospital Behavioral Health Inpatient Unit 1 Susan Deichert, RN Clinical Nutrition Jennifer Skiffen, Clinical Dietitian Employee Health Services Christina Monteparte, Certified Medical Assistant Emergency Department Valerie Pebbles, RN Environmental Services Melanie Smith, Environmental Services Technician Heart Center Alisha Jones, BSN Imaging Services Mackenzie Markle, Imaging Student Interventional Radiology Travis Stover, Special Procedures Technologist Laboratory Services Tamra Guth, Laboratory Technologist Stephanie Miller, Phlebotomist Sarah Spear, Clinical Laboratory Assistant Patient Transport Kylie Franks, Patient Transporter PCU 2AB Dominique Senic, ALS Technician
Excela Health Medical Group Administrative Float Pool Danielle Dratch, BSN Family Medicine Jeannette Family Medicine Taylor Crupie, Physician Assistant Orientation Excela Square Frick Family Medicine Samantha Garsteck, Patient Services Associate Excela Square Latrobe Family Medicine Dawn Katsolis, LPN Lang Family Medicine Tammy Corley, Patient Services Associate Ligonier Family Medicine Lori Deliman, Patient Services Associate Geriatrics Carla Loughner, Nurse Practitioner Orientation Hospitalist Latrobe Hospital Aleah Sisitki, Physician Assistant Orientation Neurology Greensburg Kathryn Zatezalo, Patient Services Associate Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Andrew Bradford, Medical Assistant
Home Care & Hospice Home Care Kathleen Stancombe, Direct Care Partner
Outpatient Rehabilitation Excela Square at Latrobe Makenzie Clark, Rehabilitation Technician
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