December 3, 2020 Thomas P. Gessner, MD Healthcare Scholarship Applications Page 2 Meet One-On-One with a Fidelity Retirement Planner Page 2 VPN Access Given to All Excela Health Staff Page 3 EAP Update: Celebrating Holidays During the COVID-19 Pandemic Page 3 Employee Engagement Page 4 New Faces Page 5
Volume 3 Issue 26 Engaging Patients and Managing Population Health During a Pandemic—and Beyond In an article published on IBM.com, Excela Health’s value-based performance team shares how the organization’s sound strategy helped close gaps in care during its COVID-19 response and will enable expanded outreach efforts going forward. A key part of our value-based health strategy is to engage with patients and deliver messages effectively. Traditionally we have used Phytel Insight and Phytel Coordinate to help engage our patients. While COVID-19 did not change this tenet, the disease certainly changed what our patients needed to hear from us. For example, we began using telehealth extensively – within one week we had most physicians across the system using it. It enabled us to provide clinical support to patients, whether it was to address COVID-19, chronic disease management, pre-visit planning sessions, other health concerns or even wellness checks. Read more here.
Excela Health Employee COVID-19 Vaccine Survey Per the CDC, the COVID-19 vaccine will be distributed to healthcare workers along with high risk patients (skilled care residents primarily) in the next several weeks. To allow us to plan for distribution at Excela, it would be a tremendous help if you would take the COVID-19 vaccine survey. The results of the survey will allow us to thoughtfully plan and safely distribute the vaccine. We anticipate that individuals will need to be scheduled for an appointment to receive the vaccine, much like was done for flu shots this year. If you are a provider receiving this survey and DO NOT have an employee number, please enter 111111 as your employee number. All members of the medical staff should select Westmoreland as their location and the Department of Medical Administration when completing the survey. Please complete the COVID-19 vaccine survey by December 4. Take the survey here.
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In the News Westmoreland Hospital Nurse Shares Story from the Front Lines of the COVID-19 Fight “Carly Thomas has worked as a nurse at Excela Westmoreland Hospital for nine years. In March, Thomas found out she would be among the first group of nurses assigned to the COVID-19 unit." Read more. Pittsburgh-area Hospitals Limit Visitors as COVID-19 Cases Increase “If you look at all of our hospitalized COVID-19 cases since March, 43% of them happened in November,” said Dr. Carol Fox, senior vice president and chief medical officer, Excela Health. “There’s significant illness burden in the community, so we’re trying to do everything we can to limit the number of individuals, and also our staff is caring for patients and trying to also make sure visitors are getting to where they need to be safely.” Read more.
Thomas P. Gessner, MD Healthcare Scholarship Applications The 2021 application for the Thomas P. Gessner, MD Healthcare Scholarship is now available. The Fund was established in 2005 by the Latrobe Hospital medical staff to honor Dr. Gessner for his 28 years of services to Latrobe Area Hospital. The scholarship is awarded annually, up to $3,000, to an Excela Health employee currently enrolled in an accredited institution of higher education for one of the healthcare professions. Acceptable professions are those requiring education beyond an undergraduate degree. The certifying board of each profession for which students are being trained must accredit the teaching institutions. The deadline to apply for this scholarship is December 31, 2020. View the application here.
Upcoming Virtual Job Fair Tell your friends and family to start their career with Excela Health! On Monday, December 7 there will be an Excela Health Home Care & Hospice 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.
Meet One-On-One with a Fidelity Retirement Planner With everything going on, you may be feeling uncertain about many things, including your finances. The good news is that Fidelity is here to help you—and help is only a click or a phone call away. On December 4 and 15 your Fidelity Retirement Planner is offering complimentary one-on-one consultations. Fidelity Retirement Planners are licensed professionals, experienced in helping people plan for their financial futures. Schedule your appointment online here or call Fidelity at 1-800-642-7131.
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.
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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.
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. To prepare for 2021 transfer your prescriptions today! View the transfer sheets and learn more here.
Visitor Policy Update
In response to the coronavirus pandemic and to protect patients, staff, and the Excela Health community, no visitors are permitted in the inpatient, outpatient, or emergency department areas at Excela Health.
VPN Access Given to All Excela Health Staff VPN access has been authorized for all Excela Health staff to create easy access to the Excela Health intranet in the event that you have COVID-19 related questions and need to contact Employee Health for guidance.
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 celebrated this year. Rather forego virtually this special View the ceremony and honors the donor fundraising event which and recognition onloved here.ones, LAHAS will memorializes celebrate virtually this year, and post both a pre-recorded ceremony and the donor recognition on Excela Health’s public website, www.excelahealth.org. The links become live at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 1, and will remain available through Jan. 8, 2021, for viewing. The suggested donation is $8.50 per Donations can stillcan be be made. name. Donations made through Theonline suggested is $8.50 the form donation using PayPal here,per or a name. Donations cancompleted be made by form can be printed, and printing,incompleting and mailing in the mailed with a check here. form here. *checks made out tocommunity LAHAS Lights ofshould Love isbe one of many outreach activities initiated by LAHAS, Completed forms can be mailed to: whose mission is to support the hospital LAHAS and the communities it serves through One Mellonfundraising Way Latrobe, 15650 education, andPA volunteer service. Lights of Love is one of many community outreach activities initiated by LAHAS.
Click here for the step-by-step instructions PDF.
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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
EAP Update: Celebrating Holidays During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The holiday season typically involves travel, gatherings of family and friends, indoor religious services, and parties, all of which present new risks this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. How can you maintain the most important aspects of your holiday celebrations without putting yourself or vulnerable family members in danger from serious illness? The answers will be different for every family and every individual. This article offers some key factors to consider and some ideas for enjoying the holidays in different ways this year. Learn more
Westmoreland/Frick Auxiliary Basket Raffle Take a FREE chance on a holiday basket, compliments of the Westmoreland Hospitality Shop! Enter to win at Side Street Café at either Westmoreland Hospital or Frick Hospital. • 10 chances per entry • Winner will be drawn on December 16 • Place name and phone number on each entry Happy Holidays from the Westmoreland Hospitality Shop!
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Kudos & Recognition Thank You Dr. Fox and Staff “Dr. Fox Thank you for all you and your team does to keep us safe. You are a rock in our community.”
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
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Food and Nutrition Services Michelle Fiesta, Nutrition Services Specialist Imaging Services Stacy Dix, Ultrasound Technologist Laboratory Services Samantha Little, Phlebotomist
Administration Float Pool Abbey Lewis, Patient Services Associate Advanced Pain Center Frick AnnMarie Rosenberry, Patient Services Associate Family Medicine Excela Square Frick Family Medicine Sherry Prinkey, Medical Assistant Delmont Megan Berry, LPN Frye Farm Road Clinic Jody Pytlak, BSN Ameriah Walters, Patient Services Associate Gastroenterology Services Melanie Brannigan, Patient Services Associate Hospitalist Westmoreland Hospital Yaw Fordjour, DO Latrobe Hospital Allison LaDuke, Orientation, Physician Assistant Primary Care Excela Square at Frick Kaitlyn Monosky, Certified Medical Assistant Thoracic Services Mountain View Nicole Hickman, Patient Services Associate
Latrobe Hospital Environmental Services Alexa Beighley, Environmental Services Technician Intern Food and Nutrition Services Joshua Palmiscno, Culinarian I Imaging Services Maria Gaten, MRI Technologist Patient Transport Tiffany Varadi, Patient Transporter Progressive Cardiac Unit Stephanie Polinsky, Telemetry Technician
Westmoreland Hospital Clinical Resource Management Loriann Massarelli, MSW, Social Worker Emergency Department Kaylee Govannucci, Unit Clerk Environmental Services Rachel Taha, Environmental Services Supervisor Family Additions Maternity Center Carolyn Hoffman, Unit Clerk Food and Nutrition Services Billy Kelly, Nutrition Services Specialist Nursing Pool Mary Fedder, LPN IV Certified PCU 2D Mary Kunkle, ALS Technician Pharmacy Haley Sorensen, Pharmacy Technician Volunteer Services Amy Baird, Concierge
Home Care & Hospice Home Care Robert Amuso, Certified Nursing Assistant Home Health Aide Christina Kush, Certified Nursing Assistant Hospice Alison Roman, RN Social Work Jordan Sterner, MSW, Social Worker
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