August 27, 2020 Excela Health Corporate Store Now Open Page 2 Say Hello to the Refreshed ExcelaHealth.org Page 2 Westmoreland Auxiliary Scholarship Award Recipients Page 3 Resuming School During COVID-19 Page 4 SparkPittsburgh Step Challenge Page 4 Employee Engagement Page 4 New Faces Page 5 New Faces Page 6
Volume 3 Issue 19 Nurse Receives External Award of Distinction from Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE) Intensive Care Unit nurse, Michelle Delancey, BSN received an External Award of Distinction by the Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE). To receive this distinction from CORE the recipient must demonstrate one or more of the organization’s core values including: integrity, compassion, quality, responsiveness and education. Throughout her interactions with Kayla Wyles, organ procurement coordinator with CORE, she demonstrated each of these values. Wyles described Delancey as “She was on top of her game… She was very helpful throughout the case and intrigued to learn as much as she could… Michelle showed so much compassion, love, care, thoughtfulness and dedication…” When asked what this recognition meant to her, Delancey said “The emotional impact these girls (CORE) make is incredible. Kayla was amazing, and it means so much that someone of her caliber would recognize us.”
Nurse Navigator Enhances Retention of Patients Post Positive Breast Biopsy
Family Additions Maternity Center Among the Best in the Nation
Recently, Sheila Farina, MSN, RN-BC, CBCN; Denise Addis, MSN, CHHQ; Beth Janoski, MS-HSL, RHIA, CTR, CHTS-IS and Jamie Varsafsky, BSN, RN presented their research on how the role of the Nurse Navigator enhances the retention of patients post positive breast biopsy. View the poster with the information here.
The Family Additions Maternity Center at Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital is listed among the nation’s best, and one of only two in southwestern Pennsylvania featured in the Best Maternity Hospitals 2020 edition of Newsweek. Learn more.
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Excela Health Corporate Store- Now Open The corporate store will now be open until September 7. You can access the store here. New styles of merchandise have been added, including both summer and winter apparel, with classic items still available. The logo you select will now preview on the item before purchase. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, and many continuing to work from home, all orders placed will be shipped to your home. There will be a charge for shipping with discounted shipping on multiple items. Delivery is expected in early October. This will be the only time the Corporate Store will be open in 2020. As always, order carefully as embroidered merchandise cannot be returned. Please remember that Excela Health as a healthcare organization and you as an Excela Health employee are the genuine representation of our brand. While your branded apparel helps tell our story to the community, it’s how each of us showcases the expert care available at Excela Health each and every day that is the true statement to who we are and what we stand for.
In the News Excela Health Hires New Chief Operating Officer Jeffrey Tiesi, new Excela Health Chief Operating Officer, has broad experience and “a solid track record of helping organizations advance their quality initiatives and improve service to patients,” Excela Health CEO John M. Sphon said in a statement. Read more. Westmoreland County had a 56-day Low Record with Only 2 COVID-19 Cases Tuesday “People are still coming in to be tested which is a really good thing. What that tells me is people are taking this very seriously and when they have symptoms of any sort, they’re coming to be evaluated to make sure one way or the other,” Dr. Carol Fox, Chief Medical Officer, Excela Health. Read more.
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Say Hello to the Refreshed ExcelaHealth.org On August 19, Excela Health launched a new public website. We believe this evolution of our site is a material advance in the way we present ourselves digitally and better reflects our position as an advanced and accomplished tertiary medical system in the region. Thanks to Emily Funyak, for her role as Web Refresh Project Manager, Amy Filer and Rob Firment for their stewardship of this major undertaking. Their individual and collective efforts were the driving force in what is, in my opinion, an outstanding outcome. Deep appreciation is also extended to our entire marketing team for their respective contributions to the launch. As you can assume, maintaining a vibrant and informative website is an organic process that requires constant attention and modifications. Our work is not done, and we will always be modifying and polishing the site to make it the best it can be. Should you notice broken links or problems in functionality, please contact us at ema@excelahealth.org. If you have a request for updated or additional content for your department or area, make a request here.
Employee Engagement Survey Coming Soon
Welcome Gina Canada, DO
An Employee Engagement Survey will be sent to employees starting September 14. This survey helps to measure our improvements over the past eighteen months not only as a system but also for individual teams. Residents will have the opportunity to complete the survey as well. The survey will close on September 27.
Meet Family Medicine physician Gina Canada, DO. On September 1 Dr. Canada will move to her new office, located at Chattahoochee Square in Connellsville. "I chose family medicine because I love taking care of families, and family is very important to me." Request an appointment here.
EHMG Physicians will receive a separate survey on September 14 and will close on October 19. Advanced Practice Providers are asked to please complete both surveys.
MAKING ENGAGEMENT HAPPEN YOUR FEEDBACK IN ACTION
Employees hired after June 14 will not receive the survey and will instead receive an onboarding survey. Interns, temporary employees, and staff on leave will not receive a survey. If you have additional questions about the survey, ask your manager – or call your HR Employment Specialist.
Westmoreland Auxiliary Scholarship Award Recipients The Westmoreland Hospital Auxiliary recently announced winners of its 2020 Scholarship Awards program. Last fall, the organization voted to expand its scholarship program to include all Westmoreland County High Schools. The following students were selected as this year's winners: Mara Hudson, daughter of Joshua and Amy Hudson. Mara is a graduate of Norwin High School. She will be studying Biology on the pre-medical track at Penn State University.
Ashley Svec, daughter of Robert and Susan Svec. Ashley is a graduate of Norwin High School. She plans to attend Carlow University and will study Biology/MS Cardiovascular Perfusion.
Abby Mortimore, daughter of Tim and Carey Mortimore. Abby is a graduate of Jeannette High School. Her future plans are to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing at Carlow University.
Kayla Tai, daughter of Chee-Kay and Kim Tai. Kayla is a graduate of Greensburg Salem High School. She will attend the University of Pittsburgh and will study Biochemistry/Pre-Med.
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Employee Engagement We Want to Hear from You The strengthened smoke-free policy goes into effect in only a few short months on November 19. Questions about the new policy are welcome and can be submitted here. Question: “Will visitors also be asked to not smoke on Excela property?” Answer: Employees are phase one of the enhanced smoke-free policies and phase two will focus on visitors. Visitors should not be smoking on Excela Health property under current policy, but a stronger enforcement will be coming. Once effective, tobacco use and tobacco smoking alternatives such as e-cigarettes or vaping by Excela Health employees will be strictly prohibited during the employees’ shift or work hours. Employees who use these products can begin to prepare now with the help of the Excela Health Well-Being Center.
Resuming School During COVID-19 Washington Employee Assistance Program (EAP) has released Resuming School During COVID-19, a resource guide for parents. Just a year ago, back-to-school time was a normal part of the cycle of family life, bringing a burst of energy as parents prepared for and children anticipated the new school year. This year, for many adults, that excitement is mixed with anxiety and fear. For children, what was a predictable shift to daily schedules, learning activities, and the resumption of time with friends has become an uncertain horizon. Read through the guide here.
Kudos & Recognition Thank You to Call Center COVID Pod The Call Center COVID pod handles requests from patients who have questions about COVID-19 or those who want to be tested. The clinical team at the Call Center is dedicated to providing accurate and up-to-date information regarding the virus, along with prompt appointment scheduling. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the COVID pod has answered over 15,500 calls with over 80% of those being scheduled for testing. Kudos to the team for providing knowledgeable and compassionate responses during this uncertain time.
Department/Service Line Recognitions September 9/1- National Operator Day (Switchboard) 9/2- Global Talent Acquisition Day 9/8- Pediatric Hemotology/Oncology Nurses Day 9/6 to 9/12- Environmental Services Week 9/6 to 9/12- Vascular Nurses Week Want to have your department/service line recognized? Click here to submit information.
Share Your Story SparkPittsburgh Step Challenge Join Excela Health for the annual SparkPittsburgh StepChallenge, an interactive step challenge designed to help move staff towards better health. Excela Health employees will compete against others to win elite prizes and prove you work for one of the healthiest and most active companies in Western Pennsylvania! Learn more and sign up here.
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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
Westmoreland Hospital
Emergency Department Nicole Chun, RN Jonathan Klorczyk, RN Food and Nutrition Services Matthew Hernley, Culinary Specialist Intensive Care Unit Michaela McIntosh, RN Patient Transport Christina Connell, Transporter Luke Geiger, Transporter Volunteer Services Rita Naugle, Concierge
Advanced Wound Center Ashley Holtzman, RN Anesthesia Jennifer Hood, Anesthesia Technician Inpatient Physical Therapy Amanda Wingrove, Speech Pathologist Laboratory Services Ebony Lukach, Phlebotomist Ashley Rause, Phlebotomist Outpatient Rehabilitation Services Orlando Harvard, Physical Therapist Elizabeth Kozuch, Occupational Therapist Patient Transport Zachary DiPerna, Patient Transporter Ashley Kitchen, Patient Transporter Ryan Trickett, Patient Transporter PCU 1E Taylor Cable, Technical Partner Myranda Michaels, Technical Partner PCU 1D Anji Stewart, RN PCU 2D Chelsea Kobuck, Technical Partner Samantha Poklembo, Technical Partner Pharmacy Katharine Chambers, Pharmacist Gabrealle Dinello, Pharmacy Intern Step Down Unit Amber Genua, Technical Partner Volunteer Services Laurie Rutenberg, Concierge
Latrobe Hospital Critical Care Unit Bianca Pate, Technical Partner Environmental Services Mark Oesterlin, Environmental Services Technician Darlene Roberts, Secretary Medical Surgical Unit 3 North Taylor Jones, Graduate Nurse Hailey Ruffner, Technical Partner Outpatient Administration Dawn Levesque, Imaging Aide Patient Transport Gia DeCario, Patient Transporter Imaging Services Megan Armstrong, Radiology Technologist Kiersten Horrell, Radiology Technologist
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New Faces
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EHMG
Home Care & Hospice
Advanced Wound Center Allen Dzambo Jr., DPM Family Medicine Excela Square at Frick Jami DePascale, Medical Assistant Jeannette Amanda Flinn, Medical Assistant Frye Farm Road Clinic Catherine Colt, Patient Information Coordinator Neurology Greensburg Andrea Gross, Patient Care Coordinator Becky Lowden, Patient Information Coordinator Neurosurgery Excela Square at Latrobe Mary HuWalt, Patient Information Coordinator Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Pellis Road Natalie Lloyd, Patient Information Coordinator Athletic Training Eric Warning, Athletic Trainer
Home Health Darcy Henry, Home Health Aide Home Care Khamya Johnson-Tate, Direct Care Partner Skilled Nursing Lisa Apel, BSN Jennifer Pavis, BSN