Excela Insight 12/16/2021

December 16, 2021 Help Older Family Members Avoid Slips, Trips and Falls This Holiday Season Page 2 Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital Receives 2021 Exceptional Provider Award from Beacon Health Options of Pennsylvania Page 2 Extended: Enhanced Employee Referral Incentive Page 3 2022 Benefit Plans ID Cards Page 4 Employee Engagement New Faces

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Volume 4 Issue 23 Excela Health Maternity Care Earns U.S. News & World Report Designation Excela Health is once again recognized for its exemplary maternity services, this time recognized as High Performing in Maternity Care (Uncomplicated Pregnancy) by U.S. News & World Report. This is the first time U.S. News has published a list of Best Hospitals for Maternity.

“It is such an honor to be considered one of the best hospitals for maternity by U.S. News,” said Excela Health obstetrician Randi Turkewitz, MD, FACOG, who chairs the Department of Obstetrics for the health system. “We strive each and every day to provide the best care possible to all of our patients. Instituting multiple safety measures and following best practice guidelines have allowed us to provide this expert care to our patients in the maternity center...”

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COVID-19 Testing Center Reopens In response to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases within the region, Excela Health has reopened its COVID Testing Center along Frye Farm Road in Unity Township, effective immediately. The center located on the upper level, rear of 443 Frye Farm Road, Greensburg, is staffed from 2 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday by appointment only. Appointments may be made by calling 1-800-727-9558. Based on screening questions, individuals will either be scheduled for testing, or advised to seek emergency care.

For more information, click here.

The process by which symptomatic Excela Health employees and medical staff schedule COVID testing remains unchanged. Staff members who are symptomatic should be tested for COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status. Staff experiencing symptoms should notify their manager and contact Employee Health (or the Nurse on Call if after Employee Health business hours) for further direction.

For contact information and Employee Health hours, click here.

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In the News COVID Cases Create ‘Desperate' Situation at Westmoreland Hospitals December 14

“The numbers of covid cases are continuing to climb,” said Dr. Carol Fox, Chief Medical Officer for Excela Health, which operates hospitals in Greensburg, Latrobe and Mt. Pleasant.

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Excela Earns More High Marks for its Maternity Program December 13

“U.S. News & World Report, in its first list of Best Hospitals for Maternity, recognized Excela Health as High Performing in Maternity Care.”

Read more.

Excela Reopens Unity Testing Center in Response to Rising COVID-19 Numbers December 13

“We are hopeful that by resuming COVID-19 testing outside the hospital and office setting that we can better meet the needs of all patients.” said Dr. Carol Fox, Excela Health’s Chief Medical Officer.

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'A Manmade Crisis': Pa. Hospitals are Overflowing with COVID Patients, Most of Them Unvaccinated December 12

“We are seeing levels of COVID that are now exceeding our highest point earlier in the pandemic,” said Dr. Carol Fox, Chief Medical Officer at Excela Health in Westmoreland County.

Read more.

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Help Older Family Members Avoid Slips, Trips and Falls This Holiday Season Decorations, baking, cooking, shopping... We all have a lot on our mind during the holidays. One thing you may not be thinking about is helping older relatives avoid potential fall risks and injuries.

Many people will be traveling “over the river and through the woods” to visit grandmother or other relatives this year. This may be the first time that families have gathered for two years. As we reunite and celebrate the holidays this year, this is a great opportunity to evaluate your loved one’s home environment, especially if they are older. Are there situations that could increase the risk of falls? With the pandemic, they may have been less active and mobile, which could increase their risk.

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Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital Receives 2021 Exceptional Provider Award from Beacon Health Options of Pennsylvania Beacon Health Options of Pennsylvania nominated Excela Westmoreland Hospital as a 2021 Exceptional Provider award recipient for excellence in reducing patient readmission rates.

Excela Health has been an active partner with Beacon Health Options of Pennsylvania in addressing readmission rates during monthly Beacon Select Provider (BSP) calls. Several initiatives were put into place to address these readmission rates by required outcomes of the BSP program. Their historical rate was 18.74%; their current rate is now 11.95%.

The Excela Health Meds to Beds program, discharge follow-up phone calls and monthly meetings Excela Health facilitates on high risk individuals have contributed to a significant reduction in readmission.

George Mizikar, Director, Excela Health Behavioral Health Services, received the award on behalf of Excela Westmoreland Hospital.

Congratulations to our Excela Health team members for this honorable achievement!

Prolotherapy Stimulates the Body's Ability to Heal Prolotherapy is available through Excela Health Orthopedics & Sports Medicine. Prolotherapy is an innovative technique that relieves pain by directly impacting the underlying condition causing that pain. Prolotherapy promotes long-term, often permanent pain relief by stimulating the body’s ability to repair itself. This treatment gives patients an option to heal pain without the risks of surgery, general anesthesia and a hospital stay.

In the News Letter to the editor: Westmoreland Hospital Auxiliary Inspiring December 8

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The Latrobe Area Hospital Aid Society (LAHAS) enthusiastically offers congratulations to our sister organization, the Westmoreland Hospital Auxiliary (WHA), for serving and supporting the health care needs of the region for 125 years.

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Extended: Enhanced Employee Referral Incentive

'A difficult and different challenge': Pittsburgh-Area Hospitals Struggling Under COVID-19 Surge

In our continuing efforts to initiate and sustain opportunities designed to strengthen our abilities to recruit and retain staff for select positions within the organization, we are extending our Enhanced Employee Referral Program to January 24. 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.

View the full list of positions and bonuses here.

December 7

“Our numbers are approximately 90% of what we saw during our last COVID surge. In addition, we are also seeing high numbers of individuals with non-COVID conditions that require care,” Excela spokeswoman Robin Jennings said.

“Patients with more minor conditions will experience longer wait times, and certain services are being deferred to later dates.”

Read more.

Opportunity Begins Here

Meet Daniel Bodnar, DO Dr. Daniel Bodnar recently joined Excela Health Weldon Family Medicine in Latrobe.

Dr. Bodnar is certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians. He earned his medical degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. “I chose family medicine because I enjoy that I can see the entire family and treat a broad range of conditions."

Learn more

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Employee Engagement 2022 Benefit Plans ID Cards Employees will be receiving new enrollment cards in the next few weeks at home in the mail. Some of this mail may look like junk mail, so please be vigilant. Cards are always available to print/request cards from your account or by contacting the provider’s member services.

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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.

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.

Delmont Lions Club Makes Donation The Delmont Lions Club recently made a donation of 45 handmade blankets to Westmoreland Hospital for patients. We thank the Delmont Lions Club for their generosity.

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Kudos & Recognition Kudos Penn Trafford Warriors Congratulations to the Penn Trafford Warriors on their state championship!

Excela Health Athletic Trainers and medical staff are proud to support this team.

Share Your Story Have something that you would like to share with the Excela Insight staff for future editions? Email information to insight@excelahealth.org

New Faces Frick Hospital Emergency Department Alexei Belzer, Health Unit Coordinator

Latrobe Hospital Food and Nutrition Services Taylor Greggerson, Nutrition Concierge I Operating Room Vincenzina Olszewski, Surgical Technologist I

Westmoreland Hospital Biomedical Engineering Matthew Szarmach, Biomedical Technician Heart Center Ardith Stetz, Specialized Billing Coordinator Human Recourses Christina Schmidt, Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist Jillian Hibler, Talent Acquisition Representative Imaging Services Victoria Costlow, MRI Technologist Richard Doptis, CT Technologst Information Technology Katie Luther, Desktop Support Technician Caleb Rock, Desktop Support Technician Intensive Care Unit Kangsun Jin, RN Inpatient Physical Therapy Grace Gelpi, Occupational Therapist Laboratory Services Goma Tiwari, Phlebotomist Medical Surgical Unit 3D/3E Brandi Davis, Technical Partner PCU 2D McKinley Orndorff, BSN Kelly Raschiatore, BSN Pharmacy Joshua Gregory, Pharmacy Technician Respiratory Care Services Marcy Desak, Respiratory Care Technician

Excela Health Medical Group Cardiology Greensburg Kerrian Marcincak, Office Supervisor Kealey Smartnick, Patient Services Associate Family Medicine Excela Square at Frick AbbyLee Dorogi, LPN Excela Square at Latrobe Dana Freeman, Patient Services Associate General Surgery Excela Sqaure at Latrobe Russell Moye, Patient Services Associate Internal Medicine North Huntingdon Erin Podroskey, BSN Primary Care Excela Square at Norwin Sonja Burkley, BSN Patricia Rosner, BSN Kimberly Ryan, Patient Services Associate

Home Care & Hospice Administration Jessica Lesko, Patient Accounts Representative Jessica Sindorf, Patient Accounts Representative Home Care Myeshia Mickens, Direct Care Partner

Laurel Surgical Center Imaging Services Danielle Berrett, Radiology Technologist

Excela Square at Norwin Environmental Services Dawn Evans, Environmental Services Technician

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