December 2, 2021 Recipe for a Healthier, Fresher Green Bean Casserole Page 2 Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy at Excela Health Page 2 Excela’s New Surgical Institute Keys on Cancer Care Page 3 Enhanced Employee Referral Incentive Page 3 ExcelaPerks to Celebrate the Holidays Page 4 Employee Engagement New Faces
Volume 4 Issue 22
Frick Hospital Remembrance Tree Let the glow of the holiday season shine through with a light to honor or remember someone special in your life. For a suggested donation of $5 for each name, friends and family members can be remembered with a light and tag on our holiday tree. Additionally, you may honor those who bring special meaning to your life now. Lights may be purchased at the main lobby concierge station, Excela Square at Frick. Cash or check only. No credit cards accepted. Proceeds benefit Frick Hospital programs and services.
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Excela Health First In Pennsylvania To Deploy Implantable Device For Heart Failure Treatment Excela Health continues to advance cardiovascular care in the region as the first health system in Pennsylvania to offer a new procedure that improves the symptoms of patients with systolic heart failure. Electrophysiologists and Vascular Surgeons in The Heart Center at Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital announced their first successful implantation of Barostim™Baroreflex Activation Therapy this week. The implantable is the world’s first FDA-approved heart failure device to use neuromodulation – the power of the brain and nervous system. This advanced, award-winning therapy was designed to treat heart failure patients who have had little to no success with other proven treatment options. “Heart failure is a chronic, progressive condition in which the heart muscle is unable to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs for blood and oxygen,” explained Excela Health cardiologist James Adisey, MD, medical director of Excela’s Heart, Lung and Vascular Institute. “Basically, the heart can’t keep up with its workload.” Read More
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In the News Ask the doctor: Excela's Dr. Fox Weighs in on Vaccines, Thanksgiving gatherings November 22
The Tribune-Review asked Dr. Carol Fox, chief medical officer at Excela Health, a few questions regarding vaccines and holiday gatherings. Read more. Excela Chief Doctor: Westmoreland Could be on Edge of Another COVID-19 Surge November 23
“Westmoreland County could be on the edge of a coronavirus case surge similar to one that hit around the holidays in 2020, Excela Health’s top doctor said.” Read more. Excela Works to Maintain Sought-after National Nursing Designation November 26
“The Greensburg-based health system employs about 1,200 nurses. The designation is an “external validation” of the work they do and the nursing culture and contributions at all three hospitals, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer Helen Burns said.” Read more.
Recipe for a Healthier, Fresher Green Bean Casserole Green bean casserole is a holiday staple but it can be full of extra calories, sodium and fat. Aiming to eat healthier during the holidays doesn't mean you have to give up your favorite tasty dishes! This green bean casserole recipe is loaded with flavor. Learn More
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy at Excela Health Platelets are the components of your blood that are best known for their role in blood clotting. Platelets also contain hundreds of proteins called growth factors, which are important in the healing of many different musculoskeletal injuries. Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is prepared by separating the platelets and plasma from the rest of the blood, which results in a high concentration of the platelets within the plasma. PRP can be used to treat a wide variety of tendon and/or ligament injuries including tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, Achilles tendinopathy, plantar fasciitis, and rotator cuff injury. Do you have elbow pain when you play tennis or golf? Do you have foot pain upon waking and upon taking your first step? PRP could be a treatment option for you! Contact your Excela Health Physicians to get “back in the game” Read More
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Excela’s New Surgical Institute Keys on Cancer Care Excela Health continues to raise the bar for quality patient care, with the creation of the Excela Health Surgical Institute, based at Excela Latrobe Hospital, with a focus on cancer care. “This announcement represents yet another major commitment by the System to continue its evolution from a capable, community-based confederation of hospitals to a true System of care,” said John Sphon, Excela Health Chief Executive Officer, “one that can provide tertiary and quaternary care in virtually all specialties of medicine and whose quality and outcomes are on par or exceed those of the finest like programs in the nation.”
Opportunity Begins Here
Talk with a Nurse Recruiter Wednesday, December 15 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Talk with a Nurse Recruiter about our sign-on bonuses, now up to $15,000*, benefits and more. Call 724-771-4623 to schedule a time. Click here to learn more.
Give Yourself the Gift of a New Career Thursday, December 16 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Westmoreland Mall
Excela Health previously established the Heart, Lung and Vascular Institute, with Westmoreland Hospital serving as the hub of cardiovascular surgical care.
Hiring RNs, LPNs, Direct Care Partners and Nursing Assistants throughout our Magnet-Designated Health System.
The entire Surgical Institute project represents a $10 million investment by the health system in both technology and facility upgrades. To support the build-out of the program, the Latrobe Area Hospital Charitable Foundation (LAHCF) has committed $2 million in support.
In person and virtual career fair. Talk with one of our recruiters in person at Westmoreland Mall or chat with us virtually.
Learn More
Click here to learn more and register.
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. View the full list of positions and bonuses here.
Opportunity Begins Here
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Employee Engagement 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.
ExcelaPerks to Celebrate the Holidays Celebrate the holidays with ExcelaPerks! Kennywood Holiday Lights Excela Health employees receive a 40% discount on tickets, click here to access the discount. Overly’s Country Christmas On select days Excela Health employees receive one free family carload admission. Click here to view the details.
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Kudos & Recognition Kudos Westmoreland Emergency Department “I would like to comment on how well your staff work together, they are the best. That makes coming to the ER less scary” Patient Feedback
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 Latrobe Hospital Critical Care Benjamin Fishell, BSN EPIC Rehab Jenna Schultz, Technical Partner Medical Surgical Unit 4S Kathryn Megahan, RN Nursing Pool Michaela Jo Gallagher, Technical Partner Westmoreland Manor Heather Wilt, Certified Respiratory Therapist
Westmoreland Hospital Administration Giavanna Santone, Administrative Intern Advanced Sleep Center Nicole Biedrycki, Registered Polysomnographer Marty McKelroy, Registered Polysomnographer Behavioral Health Outpatient Laura Blough, Behavioral Health Therapist Clinical Resource Management Jennifer Orris, RN, Case Manager Anita Powell, MSW, Social Worker COVID-19 Vaccine Kristi Greene, Vaccine Clinic Administrative Assistant Natalie Haines, Vaccine Clinic Administrative Assistant Family Additions Maternity Center Ashley Hart, LPN Food and Nutrition Services Nicholas Casper, Nutrition Services Specialist Sri Conz, Nutrition Services Specialist Information Technology Kurt Hadden, Senior System Analyst Laboratory Services Chelsea Whistler, Laboratory Support Services Supervisor Patient Transport Kuyler Stevens, Patient Transporter Respiratory Care Services Kristina Garofola, System Float Registered Respiratory Therapist Austin Meck, Certified Respiratory Therapist Step Down Unit Sydney Ludwick, BSN
Excela Health Medical Group Administration Hanna Brant, Medical Assistant Externship Admin Float Pool Elizabeth Rettger, LPN Family Medicine Excela Square at Frick Jennifer Sutton, Patient Services Associate General Surgery Greensburg Anita Kennedy, Patient Services Associate Hospitalist Westmoreland Hospital Kishon Kuruvilla, Physician Assistant Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Rebecca Hill, Medical Assistant Pulmonary Westmoreland Hospital Susan Hutton, Patient Services Associate Thoracic Services Michelle Catone, Certified Medical Assistant
Home Care & Hospice Skilled Nursing Christina Cassone, LPN Brooke Edwards, BSN
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