March 12, 2020 Excela Health Latrobe Hospital Receives Complex Care Medical Center Award from Vizient®, Inc. Page 2 Risk Assessment Now Required for Mammograms Page 2 Third Quarter Attendance Winner Page 3 Daisy Award Winner Page 3 In the News Page 2 Employee Engagement Page 3 New Faces Page 4
Experts Recommend Approaches to Discussing Coronavirus with Kids Marcie Stover-Jividen of Excela Health Outpatient Behavioral Health Services provides advice on how to have the conversation. Read more. Excela Health Prepared for Possible Coronavirus Outbreak Thank you to Dr. Carol Fox, Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs, and Kathleen Rosatti, Director of Medical Outcomes, Patient Safety and Infection Control, for providing an inside look at the COVID-19 preparation efforts taking place at Excela Health. Watch here.
Volume 3 Issue 7
Coronavirus Information Coronavirus, specifically the strain known as COVID-19, is dominating worldwide news. Frontline healthcare personnel have an obligation to be aware of what they need to know to prevent the spread of the virus. • The latest employee update from Chief Medical Officer Dr. Carol J. Fox can be read here. • An FAQ about the coronavirus is available here. • Find up-to-date information from the Pennsylvania Department of Health here and Centers for Disease Control here. • Additional questions can be submitted through the employee feedback form here. • View what Excela Health is sharing with the comunity here.
Wash Your Hands to a New Tune According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) handwashing is one of the best ways to protect yourself and those around you from getting sick. Follow these 5 steps to wash your hands properly: 1. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap. 2. Lather your hands, between your fingers and under your nails by rubbing them together with the soap. 3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. 4. Rinse your hands well under clean, running water. 5. Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them. Looking for a new song to hum to ensure you wash for 20 seconds? Try Jailhouse Rock by Elvis Presley: The warden threw a party in the county jail The prison band was there and they began to wail The band was jumpin' and the joint began to swing You should've heard them knocked-out jailbirds sing Let's rock everybody, let's rock Everybody in the whole cell block Was dancin' to the Jailhouse Rock
Not an Elvis fan? Find a song for you in our ‘Washing Through the Decades’ list of 20 second hits from each decade!
1
In the News Out with the Bad, in with the Good- Cholesterol, That is While optimum cholesterol numbers are a good guideline, Dr. Jose Mejia, an Excela Health primary care physician says, they aren’t set in stone for everyone. That’s why it’s important to consult with a health provider who knows your total health history. Read more. Two Pleasant Surprises: Leap Day Twins Born in Greensburg Leap Day will always be twice as special for the Newcomer family! Amanda and Brian Newcomer welcomed their first children, twins Wyatt and Emery on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the Family Additions Maternity Center at Excela Health Westmoreland in Greensburg. Read more. Excela Health Mall Walkers In February nearly 300 participants took part in our Excela Health Mall Walkers event. Dr. Michael Culig, Excela Health Cardiothoracic Surgeon discussed the latest tools and technologies in heart and vascular health and Excela Health’s Cardiology program. Read more.
2
Risk Assessment Now Required for Mammograms In September 2019 Excela Health began providing the Tyrer-Cuzick risk assessment to mammography patients. The assessment requires the patient to answer questions pertaining to family history in order to identify women who are at greater than average risk of breast cancer. When patients schedule a mammogram they are directed to visit the Breast Health Center page on the Excela Health website to review the questionnaire prior to arriving. Advances in genomics and risk stratification allow us to tailor breast cancer screening recommendations for individual patients. The risk assessment identifies women who are candidates for supplemental screening with breast MRI or ultrasound, genetic counseling, or genetic testing. The Tyrer-Cuzick risk assessment tool is a complementary addition to our array of breast cancer screening and diagnostic services and is intended to provide more personalized treatment for our patients. A patient’s lifetime risk calculation will be documented on the mammogram report and the physician will determine if additional screening should be considered.
Excela Health Latrobe Hospital Receives Complex Care Medical Center Award from Vizient®, Inc. Latrobe Hospital was recognized along with six other institutions in the top Complex Care Medical Centers category by Vizient®, Inc., the largest member-driven, health care performance improvement company in the country. The Bernard A. Birnbaum, MD, Quality Leadership Award is given annually to comprehensive academic medical centers, large, specialized complex care medical centers, complex care medical centers and community-based medical centers that demonstrate superior performance, as measured by the Vizient Quality and Accountability Ranking program. “We are honored to receive this prestigious award, which reflects the hard work and dedication of our talented and caring staff,” said Chief Medical Officer Carol Fox, MD, FAAFP. “It is a strong third-party testimony to the quality of the care we provide.” Chief Medical Officer Carol Fox, MD, (left), and vice president of patient care services at Latrobe Hospital, Maryann Singley, MSN, RN, are pictured with the 2019 Bernard A. Birnbaum, MD, Quality Leadership Award
Employee Engagement Third Quarter Attendance Winner Congratulations to the third quarter FY20 attendance winner Alicia Garber, RN, Latrobe Hospital PCU! Alicia chose to take the trip in lieu of the cash equivalent. For questions on qualification criteria, please review the policy on attendance or ask your manager how you can work your way to a getaway!
Daisy Award Winner The latest DAISY award was presented to Amber Mauck, BSN, Excela Health Home Care & Hospice. Amber delivered exceptionally compassionate and caring service during a patient's final moments, and continued to provide comfort for the patient’s family after her death by relaying a final message to her granddaughter. “I no longer need to worry about whether or not I made my grandmother proud; through Amber, I know I did”.
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
Kudos & Recognition Thank you to “5 star team” at Laurel Surgical Center My husband had a fairly routine procedure at Laurel Surgical Center. Excellent care was provided by nursing, anesthesia and Dr. Sharan. Thank you for your professionalism and making this a more pleasant experience. You are a 5 star team!
Department/Service Line Recognitions National Athletic Training Month National Nutrition Month National Recruitment Month National Social Workers Month 3/16 to 3/20, Health Care Human Resources Week 3/17, World Social Work Day 3/19, Certified Nurses Day 3/22 to 3/28, GI Nurses & Associates Week 3/30 National Doctor’s Day Want to have your department/service line recognized? Click here to submit information.
New EAP Seminar: Planning for Professional Growth Washington EAP services released a new online seminar free to Excela Health employees to explore ways to plan for career growth. This session discusses the four stages of professional careers and provides tools to develop a self-assessment plan that can promote career growth. For access to the webinar, click here and use the Work-Life login code “excela” and clicking on “Online Seminars” to find all available seminars.
3
New Faces Frick Hospital
EHMG
Progressive Care Unit: Heather Cope: Technical Partner
Anesthesiology: Donna Lucas, MD (part time) ENT: Dana Knox, Audiologist Family Medicine: Excela Square Frick Family Medicine Hannah Crossland, Certified Medical Assistant Amanda Schmalz, Certified Medical Assistant Gastroenterology: Greensburg Beverly Popovich, Patient Information Coordinator Internal Medicine: Westmoreland Center for Internal Medicine- Greensburg Ashleigh Roscart, RN Orthopedics and Sports Medicine: Excela Square at Latrobe Sharon Metz, Patient Information Coordinator Primary Care: Penn Township Jeffrey Grasmeder, Nurse Practitioner Pulmonology: Westmoreland Hospital Toni Beattie, Patient Information Coordinator Carrie Carini, BSN Richard Kucera, MD Amy LaRocque, BSN Kayla Leonard, Patient Information Coordinator Joan Readel, Medical Assistant Christine Seroki, Office Supervisor Jeanna Wiederstein, Patient Information Coordinator
Latrobe Hospital Facilities Management: Mark Minerd, Maintenance Technician
Westmoreland Hospital Behavioral Health Services: Ashley Cmar, LPN IV Certified Cardiovascular Services: Amanda Staub, RN Emergency Department: Samantha Wagner, Graduate Nurse Environmental Services: Don Compton, Environmental Services Technician Human Resources: Jessica Startari, Talent Acquisition Represntative Inpatient Physical Therapy: Amy Toth, Occupational Therapist Intensive Care Unit: Joshua Clark, Graduate Nurse Medical Surgical Unit 3D/3E: Linda Jean Broesche, RN Nursing Pool: Mary Kwiatkowski, Patient Safety Associate PCU 1E: Sarah Bouchard, Graduate Nurse
Excela Square at Latrobe Outpatient Rehabilitation: Kimberly Emick, Occupational Therapist
Welcome to Excela Health Recent new hires after completing new employee orientation on February 24.
Home Care & Hospice
Home Care & Hospice Administration: Paula Nottingham, Patient Accounts Representative Home Care: Tabitha Bryner, Direct Care Partner Ashley Govora, Direct Care Partner Katelynd Smerkar, Direct Care Partner
MedCare Equipment Company Erie: Ruth Hurlbert, Customer Service Associate I Greensburg: David Allison, Delivery Technician Scott Kokoska Jr., Delivery Technician Monroeville: Jeffrey Weiss, Delivery Technician
4