April 9, 2020 Words of Encouragement Page 2 Words of Encouragement Page 3 Support from our Community Page 4 Nightingale Awards Page 6 Employee Engagement Page 6 New Faces Page 7
Volume 3 Issue 9
New Look, Same Information Recently the internal webpage housing the most up-to-date internal information on the coronavirus and the external webpage housing the most up-to-date public information on the coronavirus were updated to be easier to use and quickly find what you are looking for. In an effort to organize COVID-19 related internal communications, information is displayed in the following categories: Fast Facts, Messages from Leadership, Updated Procedures and Guidelines, Updated Human Resources Information, Employee Well-Being, Additional Information and Public Information. The page can be found by clicking the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update graphic on Featured News. The external page is now structured in a way for people to quickly find: How to Find Help, Information on COVID-19 Testing Results, Visitor Restrictions, Important Changes to Outpatient Services and Procedures, Donation Information, Updates to In-Person Medical Request, and Events Postponed or Canceled. Resources are being updated daily, so please check frequently.
Lend a Hand to Your Community
Words of Encouragement
We are grateful and humbled by the generous outpouring of support from our friends, neighbors and community who have donated supplies to ensure we are prepared for the potential rise in COVID-19 cases across Westmoreland County and the region we serve. We are continuing to search for additional supplies on a daily basis using our Supply Chain team but we need your help with specific items.
Kudos to all Excela Health staff who are working so hard during these very trying times... you are truly making a difference! John M. Sphon, Chief Executive Officer Carol J. Fox, MD, FAAFP, Senior VP/Chief Medical Officer
To view the full list of items and where donations are accepted click here.
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Words of Encouragement From Our Community “Thank you Excela Health for taking precautions to keep those on the front line as safe as possible. My prayers are for all. Much love and appreciation to those fighting the good fight. I’ve been praying for protection for you and your families. I know you’re fearful, and I don’t blame you, but just know how deeply you are needed and appreciated. My prayer is that when this all finally passes, people will be kinder and more loving to each other and yes, I wanna hug away the pain/exhaustion of everyone who is sacrificing on the daily. God bless. You are heroes.” Karen R “I have a family member hospitalized there. Your staff has been fantastic! Especially the nurses on the 6th floor! Thank you for taking these extra measures to keep everyone healthy and safe.” Michelle D “Proud of your Infection Preventionists! They’ve been handling many, many calls and inquiries kindly and professionally.” Paul S “Kudos to all the staff of the entire Excela Health hospitals as well as all outpatient facilities! As a retired employee of Excela's Latrobe facility, I have witnessed firsthand the sacrifice employees have made to provide exemplary care to those in need! May God bless your healing hands throughout this process! Thank you for making those in need your top priority!” Jean B
From Our Staff “Thank you to all our amazing coworkers at LH. I appreciate all of you that I have worked with. #weareinthistogether” Cindy E “I just want to give a quick shout out to Nathaniel from EVS, who was on fifth floor yesterday for helping me gown up and adjust the PAPR equipment to fit me. You didn’t have to take the time out of what you were doing to help me but you did and I am truly grateful for that.” Jessica L “Challenges do not make heros; they simply unveil them during a crisis. I’ve never been so proud of our team for providing care, comfort, and healing within our community during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are grateful to have such selfless and compassionate team members on our Excela Health Home Care & Hospice Team. Thank You for all you do #ExcelaPride” Erica S
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Words of Encouragement Message from an Excela Health Volunteer To my second family at Latrobe Hospital, Over my past 6 years of volunteering, I have been continuously amazed and inspired by the work that you perform each and every day. I’ve seen all of you comfort lonely patients, cover each other's backs during tough times, and respond to medical emergencies with ease, grace, and dynamic teamwork. I see the dedication and passion in each and every one of you. Today, you are met with a new challenge unlike no other. I am continuously asked by friends and family, “can our health system handle this new threat?” I tell them that, while I am no expert on this pandemic, I do know the people on the inside. I’ve seen your enthusiasm, love, and incredible wit on some very challenging days. I have the utmost faith in each and every one of you, and take incredible ease knowing that you are here for us. It is all too easy to fall into our daily routines and forget the gravity of our work. You have taught me that something so small can create a world of difference to someone in need. You’ve shown me that sometimes our time, attention, and warm hands are worth more than any medical care. Our patients are lucky to have you in this time of need. Over the years, you have all believed in me, invested in me, and continuously pushed me forwards. Now, this is my time to provide the same back to you. I wish that I could come in to support all of you during this uncertain time, but I know that you can do this. I leave you with this quote from our own Fred Rogers, which I think encompasses the nature of this trying time: “When I was a boy, and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” YOU are the helpers. I believe in you Latrobe! See you soon... Much love, Enzo Plaitano Excela Health Latrobe Hospital Volunteer Services - Nursing Care Team
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Support from Our Community Donations from Community Businesses/Organizations 333 Club Abie and Bimbos Pizza Allante Hair Designs & Spa Army and Navy Store, Latrobe Arnold Palmer Regional Airport Calvary Church Calvin Presbyterian Church Chick-fil-A, Greengate City of Latrobe Cleveland Price C'mon Jesus Country Hammer Moonshine Dairy Queen, Latrobe Dino's Restaurant, Greensburg/Latrobe DMJ Transportation Elliott Group Firehouse Subs First Assembly of God Fraternal Order of Eagles, Latrobe Frazier's Sign Express Giannilli's, Carbon Giant Eagle, Latrobe Good Shepherd Lutheran Grace Ministries Greater Latrobe Laurel Valley Chamber Greater Latrobe School District Happy Camper Cakes Harbor Freight Heritiage United Methodist Church Jaffre's Restaurant Joann, Greensburg Keystone Candies Latrobe Area Hospital Aid Society Latrobe Area Hospital Charitable Foundation Latrobe Rotary Level Green Community Women's Club Lincoln Crossings Dental Care Marsula Electric Inc. McDonald's, Hempfield Plaza McDonald's, Latrobe McDonald's, North Huntingdon
McDonald's, Norwin Town Square McDonald's, South Greensburg Mount Pleasant Area School District New Stanton Church Norvelt Pizzeria Norwin Chamber of Commerce O.C. Cluss Order of the Eastern Star Otterbein United Methodist Church Pantalone Funeral Home Penn State Fayette, the Eberly Campus Pet Supplies Plus Piddler's Pub Product Evaluations Racer's Sports Bar & Grill Re-Bath Rewind-Reuse Center & Workshop Ridal Designs Rolling Hills Industries, Inc. Saint Vincent College Salvation Army Sanctus Spa & Salon Slickville Volunteer Fire Department Starbucks, Latrobe Sunset CafĂŠ The Boulevard, Greensburg The Original Pie Shoppe, Inc. The Pickled Chef Toyota of Greensburg True Value, Latrobe University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg Walmart, Greensburg Walmart, Latrobe Walmart, North Huntingdon Westmoreland Hospital Auxiliary Westmoreland Hospital Hospitality Shop Westmoreland Mall Westmoreland Mechanical Testing Westmoreland/Frick Foundation Works of Heart
Various members of our teams have been managing these donations. In an effort to streamline the process and to best allow search efforts to continue unimpeded, we would ask that you direct your information as follows: COVID-19 Testing Systems: PPE Procurement: Diane Lingenfield Scott Koscho
PPE-Sewing: Denise Addis
Donations: Al Novak
dlingenfield@excelahealth.org skoscho@excelahealth.org daddis@excelahealth.org anovak@excelahealth.org 724-832-4048 724-516-8858 724-237-3727 724-433-7965
Randy Stas rstas@excelahealth.org 724-757-6012
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Support from Our Community Donations from Community Members Erik Agostoni Mallory Baker B. Bell Marilyn Brown Melissa Candy Bonnie Chelsa Dawn Cumpston Darlene Delaini Mike Dinger Sandie Feldmeier Barbara Fitmaurice Therese Fitzpatrick Bardo Galloro M. Caryl Geary Scott Gibb Brooke and Scott Graham Hamerski Family Dr. Marti Haykin Beth Howe Colleen Klimchak and Family Chelsea Komar Diana and Paul Kreiling Chris Kuhns
Abby Laduke Debbie Lake Sharon Lauffer Sandy McCurdy Lisa McNichol and Family Roberta McCann Ed and Nancy McKinnon Dorothea Miller Melissa Miller Steve and Jan MIlls Eileen Minnick Candy Moore Joe Mosso Sally Anne Novak Pam Parker Dawn and Michelle Pepper Amanda Porterfield Tricia Raspotnik Robin and Fred Bridget Reed Vickie Rossey John Saban Bonnie Saxman
Anna Scherb Dr. James Sillaman Linda Smales Sharon and John Smetanka Charlie and Lynn Springer Michelle Stevens Paula Sykes Mollie Sylvania Peggy Taylor Linda Tessaro Debra and John Thompson Kaaren and Mark Tintori Dana Trout Dr. Randi Turkewitz Dr. and Mrs. Vasudevan Douglas, Carla, Morgan Wano Jean Watson Richard Weimer Dorothy Zello Marcie Zello
We are grateful for the caring support we have received at this time. These lists are comprised of the individuals and organizations that we know have donated. Many more have dropped items off without leaving their name. We thank all of those who have contributed! This list is current as of 4/7/2020.
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Employee Engagement Nightingale Awards In honor of Florence Nightingale’s 200th birthday, the World Health Organization (WHO) has deemed 2020 as the “Year of the Nurse and Midwife.” What better reason to celebrate our own excellent nurses! Each month will have a theme and we will recognize an individual nurse or group of nurses who embody Flo’s example of excellence in nursing care through their contribution in addressing the strategic priorities of Excela Health. Anyone may nominate a nurse or nursing team for one of the awards! For more details and to learn how to nominate click here.
Employees Help Prepare for Surge Recently employees met in the Westmoreland Hospital MCC to help create more gowns out of the material used to wrap surgical instruments. Excela Health does not need these materials yet, but as Dr. Marti Haykin says, “If there is a huge surge, we will be ready!” To see what materials Excela Health is accepting as donations, click here.
Updated EAP Resources A free benefit from your Employee Support Program to help you and your family stay well and well balanced Join us for a series of live, web-based sessions facilitated by an Aware specialist, and engage in 10-minute mindfulness exercises that will help you focus, release tension, and reset for improved well-being. Click here to access. Making the transition to remote working can prove challenging, particularly when the change is sudden and unexpected. This session will explore the practical ways that managers can help their people to make the adjustment and effectively establish new ways of working. Click here to access.
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Kudos & Recognition Thank You Nurse Jamie! “My mother-in-law is currently in ICU at your facility. Just want to thank all those involved with her care, especially nurse Jamie. She helped se up a video chat with her last evening with all of her children, grandchildren and in-laws. Her dedication to patient care as well as knowing the importance of family support is much appreciated. We cannot express enough how grateful we are for nurse Jamie and the rest of the staff. Thank you and God bless!”
Department/Service Line Recognitions April National Volunteer Month Occupational Therapy Month 4/12 Radiologic & Imaging Nurses Day 4/15 Transplant Nurses Day 4/12 to 4/18 WOC Nurse Week 4/13 to 4/17 Occupational Health Nurse Week 4/19 to 4/25 Administrative Professionals Week 4/19 to 4/25 National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week 4/19 to 4/25 National Volunteer Week Want to have your department/service line recognized? Click here to submit information.
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
MedCare Equipment Company
Behavioral Health Services: Amanda Mackanos, BSN Emergency Department: Zachary Zsamboky, Technical Partner Nursing Pool: Kirsten Himmelerich, Technical Partner Operating Room: Shannon Partridge, RN
Greensburg: Victoria Brunetta, Customer Service Associate I Michelle Grubbs, Customer Service Associate I Robin Gulley, Shipping and Receiving Associate Sarah Wright, Customer Service Associate I Monroeville: Samantha Ferruolo, Clinical Respiratory Therapist Shawn Kennedy, Warehouse associate I Susquehanna Valley: Twanna Gaines, Customer Service Associate I Ashley Keefer, Customer Service Associate I
Westmoreland Hospital Behavioral Health Services: Billie Celmer, Technical Partner Central Processing: Misty Overly, Central Service Technician Medical Surgical Unit 3D/3E: Savanna Houser, RN Patient Transport: Jesse Stahl, Patient Transporter
Home Care & Hospice Janet Herald, RN Jamie Hudy, Physical Therapist Julia Shroyer, RN Janice Thomas, Certified Nursing Assistant
EHMG Anesthesia: Latrobe Sunitha Vavilathota, MD Cardiology: Greensburg Stacy Trybus, Nurse Practitioner Orientation Family Medicine: Excela Square Frick Family Medicine Ida Baysinger, Medical Assistant Sydnei Lukasik, Patient Information Coordinator Innovation and Consumerism: Sadie Trinidad, Customer Service Liaison Obstetrics and Gynecology: Greensburg Kathryn Toman, Cerified Medical Assistant
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