November 19, 2020 Get Your Biometric Screening Done Early Page 2 Excela Health Diabetes Center Page 2 Strengthened Tobacco Free Policy Now in Effect Page 2 Latrobe Area Hospital Aid Society Fundraiser Page 3 Excela Health Outpatient Pharmacy Page 3 Employee Engagement Page 4 New Faces Page 5
Volume 3 Issue 25
Home for the Holidays The holidays provide us with a time for reflection on all that is important and meaningful in our lives. As we look back on this most challenging year, we should be mindful of the support and encouragement the residents and businesses of Westmoreland County provided to Excela Health. Given that, we ask that you consider helping our local small businesses and merchants with the purchase of gifts cards from their establishments that can be given to loved ones and friends. The need is great. The options are many. Restaurants. Shops. Services. Owned and operated by those we know. And those who need our help. In this season of giving, let's bring our holiday gestures and generosity home for the holidays.
Excela Health Heart Failure Clinic Approximately 6.5 million people in the United States are diagnosed with heart failure, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Heart failure does not mean the heart has stopped working, it means the heart is not able to adequately pump the appropriate amount of blood and oxygen to support the proper functioning of our bodies. The Excela Health Heart Failure Clinic provides patients with the tools, education and resources needed to combat heart failure, utilizing a comprehensive approach to managing and treating heart failure. Our team of specialized clinicians are fully trained in heart failure management and treatment, guiding patients in every step of the process and giving them peace of mind as they navigate their health care journey. With early intervention, the Excela Health Heart Failure Clinic can help patients gain (or regain) control of their heart failure symptoms and significantly improve their quality of life. To learn more about our outpatient Heart Failure Clinic and how to schedule an appointment, call: (724) 537-1527.
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In the News Chief Medical Officers Appeal to Public Over COVID-19: ‘The risk is too high’ “The physician leaders of the Pittsburgh region’s hospitals and health systems urged residents to follow health care guidelines including wearing a mask and keeping distance and to avoid holiday travel and gatherings outside your immediate household." Read more. Westmoreland County Sees Surge in COVID-19 Cases to Match Rest of State “We’re seeing more and more individuals presenting to our outpatient center and our emergency department and just seeing all those positive results. Before they were few and far between, and now we’re seeing them much more frequently," said Dr. Carol Fox, chief medical officer, Excela Health. Read more. State Health Officials: Models Show Potential Strain on ICU Beds "There is mounting evidence that masks not only protect others, but protect yourself," Dr. Carol Fox, chief medical officer for Excela Health said. "It is the one way that we can prevent the transmission of some of the viral particles from one person to another." Read more.
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Get Your Biometric Screening Done Early
Your yearly biometric screening consists of height, weight, body mass index, blood pressure, blood cholesterol and blood glucose. Completion of the Voluntary Wellness Initiative, a program through the Motivation Alliance that promotes workplace wellness and a way to save on healthcare cost. Appointments for a biometric screening can be made through the Calendar of Events on the Intranet, here. Don’t delay, schedule your screening today!
Excela Health Diabetes Center The Excela Health Diabetes Center can help you to manage and better understand your diabetes. Diabetes education is for anyone dealing with diabetes including gestational diabetes (pregnancy), patients with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Education can be provided in a one on one or a group setting. The center is proud to have a Registered Dietician and Registered Nurse who are Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists. A referral can be made for the center by your physician and a memeber of the diabetes center will reach out to the patient for scheduling. The Diabetes Center has multiple locations including Latrobe Hospital, Medical Commons One, Excela Advanced Wound Center at Frick, and Excela Square at Norwin.
Strengthened Tobacco Free Policy Now in Effect Consistent with our mission to improve the health and well-being of every life we touch, and in response to increasing evidence of health and safety risks associated with tobacco use and exposure to second hand smoke, all tobacco use and tobacco smoking alternatives such as E-cigarettes are now prohibited in all buildings, grounds, parking lots, vehicles, sidewalks and other properties owned, leased or rented by Excela Health. Learn more here.
Featured MyExcelaPerks Just in time for the holiday season new perks have been added: $10 off a family carload at Overly’s Country Christmas, learn more. Discounted season pass to Seven Springs Mountain Resort, learn more. *Seven Springs Mountain Resort offer must be used by December 1.
Latrobe Area Hospital Aid Society Fundraiser
This holiday season the Latrobe Area Hospital Aid Society is selling Rada! Items include cutlery, dips, cheeseballs, soup mixes, and more. These items are sure to bring delight to you and/or your gift recipient. Rada items provide excellent quality and are priced reasonably. Your purchase will help the Latrobe Area Hospital Aid Society raise funds for Excela Latrobe Hospital and community events such as the Children’s Health Fair. Click here to place an order online. Note: All items for Christmas should be ordered by no later than December 10 to insure timely arrival.
ExcelaHealth.org Update Excelahealth.org is currently unavailable/limited availability due to an issue with our web hosting vendor. The vendor is currently working to resolve this issue. We appreciate your patience.
Expert Care. Here.
Excela Health Outpatient Pharmacy Beginning January 2021 Excela Health employees will be able to have prescriptions filled through the Excela Health Outpatient Pharmacy at Westmoreland Hospital. Employees at Latrobe Hospital may fill their prescriptions through the Latrobe Pharmacy. Prescriptions filled at the Westmoreland Hospital Outpatient Pharmacy can be delivered to the pharmacies at Latrobe and Frick Hospitals as well. Learn more.
Visitor Policy Update Due to wide-spread COVID-19 in the community and for the safety of visitors, patients and staff the following policies are now in place: • Visiting hours are now 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. • One visitor per patient per day (must be the only/same • visitor each day) • Mask are required upon entry and must be worn through • out the visit
Lights of Love “In this challenging year of the pandemic, it has been difficult to look forward, as we slowed our pace of life and remained in our homes. Through it all we have become more keenly aware of the special people in our lives and the time we spend with them,” noted Nancy McKinnon, LAHAS president. “Remembering loved ones who have passed and honoring those with whom we still share our lives with a Lights of Love light is more important now than ever before.” LAHASthan will celebrate Rather forego thisvirtually specialthis year, and post both a pre-recorded fundraising event which honorsceremony and and the donorloved recognition on memorializes ones, LAHAS will www.excelahealth.org. The links become celebrate virtually this year, and post live ata 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec.and 1, and both pre-recorded ceremony thewill remainrecognition available through Jan. 8, 2021, donor on Excela Health’s for viewing. public website, www.excelahealth.org. The links become live at 6:30 p.m., The suggested Tuesday, Dec. 1,donation and will is remain $8.50 perthrough name. Donations canfor available Jan. 8, 2021, be made by printing, viewing. completing and mailing in the form here. donation is $8.50 per The suggested *checksDonations should becan made name. be made through out online to LAHAS the form using PayPal here, or a form can be printed, completed and Completed forms can be mailed in with a check here. mailed to: LAHASof Love is one of many community Lights One Mellon Way initiated by LAHAS, outreach activities Latrobe, PA 15650 whose mission is to support the hospital and the communities it serves through Lights of Love is one ofand volunteer education, fundraising many community service. outreach activities initiated by LAHAS.
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Employee Engagement Virtual Blood Drive Join the Three Rivers Chapter of American Association of Critical Care Nurses during the week of December 7 to December 13 at any Vitalant blood drive or community donor center. All donors will be entered in a chance to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card. National AACN members who donate will receive one year of Free Local Chapter (TRC) Membership. In order to receive a free year local membership, you must be a current national AACN member. Learn more
PTO Sellback The December 2020 PTO Sellback will be honored and paid to those who have elected it in 2019. The monies will be paid in the December 3, 2020 paycheck. The PTO Sellback Opportunity for 2021 will also be offered. Forms can be found on the Intranet, here. Employees have the option to elect the 2021 PTO Sellback by December 31. For more information please contact your manager.
Upcoming Virtual Job Fairs
Tell your friends and family to start their career with Excela Health! On Tuesday, November 24 there will be a nursing virtual job fair hosted on Indeed. To join the virtual job fair, click here. Excela Health offers a variety of benefit options for employees and eligible dependents. These benefits are designed to provide personal security, convenience and assistance to employees and their family.
EAP Update: Building Resilience Muscles
The foundation of resilience lies in building five muscles—three are specific skills and two are personal choices that are consistently chosen. The key to resilience is understanding yourself and identifying the mental obstacles that get in your way. To access the webinar, click here and use the Work-Life login code “excela”.
Kudos & Recognition American Heart Association Greater Pittsburgh Virtual Heart Walk Thank you to everyone who participated in and donated to the 2020 American Heart Association Greater Pittsburgh Virtual Heart Walk! Under Excela Health Leadership and Excela Health Heart Walk Team Captain, Nichole Sisson, we were very successful in our efforts to raise funds and awareness for heart health. Excela Health was able to raise a total of $16,423 this year for heart health of which $6,249 was raised by our virtual Heart Walk donors and $10,174 was raised from the Freedom 5K Walk, championed by Dr. Larry DeNino.
Department/Service Line Recognitions November National Home Care & Hospice Month Want to have your department/service line recognized? Click here to submit information.
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New Faces Frick Hospital
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Food and Nutrition Services Mary Ann Chronowski, Nutrition Services Specialist
Admin Float Pool Kelly Patrick, Patient Services Associate Behavioral Health Services Kayla Keiper, Orientation, Nurse Practitioner Family Medicine Derry Family Medicine Stephanie Hebenthal, Certified Medical Assistant Excela Square Frick Family Medicine Marcy Desak, LPN Greensburg Family Medicine Anissa Halfhill, Certified Medical Assistant General Surgery Greensburg Joy Blaker, LPN Mount Pleasant Kathleen Stout, RN Obstetrics and Gynecology Norwin Brandy Nedley, Patient Services Associate Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Pellis Road Brandi Hayes, Radiology Technologist
Latrobe Hospital Environmental Services David Valentine III, Environmental Services Technician Facilities Management Charles Dickson II, Maintenance Technician Imaging Services Christa Jones, Radiology Technologist Laboratory Services Audra Fraicola, Phlebotomist
Westmoreland Hospital Behavioral Health Services Andrew Lapinski, BSN Clinical Resource Management Natalie Herbst, MSW, Social Worker Courtney Kubovcik, MSW, Social Worker Family Additions Maternity Center Jennifer Beckering, BSN, Lactation Consultant Human Resources Paige Gandolfi, Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist Imaging Services Todd Galley, Radiology Technologist Michele King, Clerk In Patient Physical Therapy Heather Pittek, Occupational Therapist Information Technology Jeremy Whitehead, Programmer Laboratory Services Jennifer Ward, Phlebotomist Operating Room Jennifer Kinty, RN Pharmacy Kendall Patricelli, Pharmacist
Home Care & Hospice Administration Kelly Hixson, Patient Accounts Representative Home Care Amber Clark, Direct Care Partner
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