Gems
June 2021
Exceptional Lives Here.
Our Cultural Journey Learn more on page 3
Margarita Corbett Director of Cultural Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Garnet Health
Your Summertime Quality and Safety Lineup You may be familiar with the Patient Safety Corner included in previous Gems newsletters. We have redesigned this section to now include a broader update on quality, patient safety and infection-control topics. We hope you like it.
Care Compare The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released its newly designed “Care Compare” website. The website is designed for consumers to research providers across the healthcare continuum so they can make informed decisions about their care. Both government and private payers also use this information in pay-for-performance programs tied to hospital reimbursement. Care Compare includes hospital quality and safety outcomes, patient-experience data and star ratings. For more information and to learn about Garnet Health, visit medicare.gov/care-compare.
The Stroke Program had a one-day DNV certification survey at the Garnet Health Medical Center campus on May 4. The on-site visit was a follow-up to the initial virtual survey done in November 2020. The Stroke Program achieved certification demonstrating excellence in stroke care. Congratulations to Dr. Kavneet Kaur, Stroke Program Medical Director, Suzann Geraci, Stroke Coordinator, and all who support this program. Additionally, the DNV has a new learning opportunity: 2021 Clinical Stroke Series. The series, consisting of five virtual one-hour sessions, offers various topics presented by DNV stroke surveyors. Subject matter will include stroke metrics, protocols, NIH Stroke Scale, medication management and much more. All interested are welcome to attend. Please look for registration information via email.
National Association of Healthcare Quality (NAHQ) Awareness of Healthcare Quality & Safety
Reminder
NAHQ has partnered with HealthStream to offer a suite of programming in health quality and safety. HQ Concepts: Introduction to Healthcare Quality and Safety will be available for frontline staff. HQ Principles: Fundamentals for Healthcare Quality and Safety Professionals. A kickoff informational webinar will be held in June. Visit HealthStream for more details.
The Garnet Health Quality Department has officially moved off-site to the Pavilion at 75 Crystal Run Road. The team – Tina, Cathy, Donna, Linda, Kyra, Catia, Doug and Lorraine – can be contacted by email and phone. Kelly and Mary Ellen still remain on the Middletown campus.
Safety-Infection Control Champions We are recruiting frontline staff and leaders to participate in a new Safety-Infection Control Champion Program. Champions will be a role models for improving safety culture and serve as a resource within their unit or department to guide safety initiatives and decrease hospital acquired infections. If you are interested, please contact Jackie Carroll at 333-2175 or Mary Ellen Crittenden at 366-9916.
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DNV Stroke Certification Part Two, Stroke Awareness Month
The Quality Department Has Moved
For information on quality and patient safety, contact Vice President, Quality/Patient Safety Officer Mary Ellen Crittenden at mcrittenden@garnethealth.org.
Leading Our Diversity Journey In a recent interview, Garnet Health’s Director of Cultural Diversity, Inclusion and Equity, Margarita Corbett, explained how diversity in healthcare is important.
Resource Groups, including our existing LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group. All are to advance toward the ultimate goal of fostering an inclusive, equitable culture.
“Those who utilize our hospitals and services include people from every race, creed, gender and age. So, to best communicate, understand and treat these patients, they must see themselves within our healthcare workforce,” Margarita said. “It’s about being authentic, consciously aware of yourself, leading by example and always being willing to listen and learn from others.”
The benefits of cultural diversity, inclusion and equity for healthcare employers, staff and patients include:
By partnering with others, Margarita brings a new perspective to the effort Garnet Health was already taking on.
To learn more about cultural diversity, inclusion and equity, contact Margarita at mcorbett@garnethealth.org or 333-2329. Also, visit the Intranet homepage, click the Department tab and select the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion drop-down.
Margarita is assessing the current diversification of our organization, identifying needs, creating a strategic plan in alignment with organizational goals, seeking feedback and inspiring the formation of Employee
• Better care for diverse populations • Higher employee morale and retention • Better recruitment • Stronger individual motivation • Better problem-solving • Better outcomes
“While diversity is important, diversity without inclusion and equity is ineffective. Each member of our team also needs to be given a voice and the support they need.”
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Celebrating Our Nurses This year, we celebrated Nurses Week and the “Year of the Nurse” by recognizing the efforts of our amazing nurses for their unwavering dedication and commitment to improving the health of our patients. Despite working through a pandemic, our nursing healthcare heroes did their best every day! We’d also like to congratulate the Garnet Health Medical Center Nursing Staff, which achieved Magnet redesignation despite the challenges of the pandemic. Thank you to all our nurses, throughout the entire system, for your passion and dedication!
Nursing staff at Garnet Health Medical Center - Catskills had their hands blessed during Nursing Week.
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Honoring Our Staff During Hospital Week During Hospital Week, we thanked all employees for the exceptional care they provide to our community. Our staff goes above and beyond to improve the health of our patients and provide support to their families and friends. This past year has been challenging. We are extremely grateful for each and every one of you and all that you do each and every day.
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Congratulations Linda Johnstone, Medical Technologist at Garnet Health Medical Center, celebrated 50 years of service to Garnet Health in the Laboratory. Linda began her career with us at age 18 in the – then brand new – Arden Hill Hospital. Happy 50th anniversary, Linda! You are a true gem.
Congratulations to Paula Coleman, Case Manager-RN at Garnet Health Medical Center, who recently graduated from Capella University with a Doctor of Nursing Practice. Paula has worked as a case manager for eight years, and three of these years have been at Garnet Health Medical Center. She is also a member of the Garnet Health Medical Center Nursing Shared Governance Committee and a former Magnet redesignation document writer.
Novice Nurse of the Year Chelsea DeVries, RN, 6 North - Postpartum, Garnet Health Medical Center, is the winner of the Novice Nurse of the Year, as named in the 1199 Nurse of Distinction Awards 2021. We also congratulate all Garnet Health Medical Center Nurse of Distinction Nominees for 2021: • Nurse of Distinction – Nora Higgins, RN, 4 East Rehab • Nurse Leader of the Year – Kimberly Jablonski, RN, 4 North Med/Surg • Nurse Preceptor of the Year – Paula Mohansingh, RN, Observation Unit
Making Time for Mental Health Awareness Local artist Hassina Brodie painted for employees, patients and guests during Mental Health Awareness Month. Did you know that participating in activities such as observing art has increased rates of good health, lower anxiety/depression and greater satisfaction in one’s life? This activity helped to promote stress relief for everyone who visited the lobby area at our Harris campus! Thank you, Hassina, for your time and talent. 8
Buzzing with Brilliance
Glorianne Ellison (middle)
Julia Ashbury (middle)
Congratulations to Nursing Professional Development Practitioner Glorianne Ellison, the April 2021 Employee of the Month at Garnet Health Medical Center - Catskills. Glorianne went above and beyond by offering to come in on her day off to perform skills testing for a new mom returning to work. Way to go Glorianne; we thank you for your generosity. Congratulations to Armed Security Guard Julia Ashbury, Garnet Health Medical Center’s April 2021 Employee of the Month. Julia’s calming personality helped keep an anxious patient at bay during a difficult time in the Emergency Department. She even escorted and stayed with the patient, though it was not her role. Thank you, Julia; you are awesome! The Employee of the Month program also is known as the BEE Award – and Being Exceptional Every day takes dedication, loyalty and commitment. To nominate an employee, physician, volunteer, team or department, visit the Intranet homepage, scroll down and click on the BEE Award icon.
Employees Take Part in National Fitness Day Our staff led by example, being active and getting fit on National Employee Health & Fitness Day on May 15. The lucky participants received apples and wellness goodies during their fun in the sun. Way to go!
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In The News On May 11, 2021, the Sullivan County Democrat featured an article on how local first responders recognized our nurses for National Nurses Day with an emergency vehicle parade at Garnet Health Medical Center - Catskills in Harris.
An article highlighting Garnet Health Medical Center’s partnership with Orange-Ulster BOCES to vaccinate students appeared in the May 5, 2021 issue of the Goshen Independent.
Thank you to the Sullivan County Democrat for featuring Garnet Health’s Virtual Caregivers Support Group in its May 14, 2021 issue. This important support group helps take care of those who are taking care of others. For more information, visit garnethealth.org/events.
Rolling with Stroke Education Members of the Stroke team were on a roll last month – literally. The team of three made rounds with its education cart to visit staff, patients and visitors, and handed out stroke-education materials and healthy snacks. When it comes to stroke signs and symptoms, remember the acronym BE – FAST (Balance, Eyes, Face, Arm, Speech, Time). It can save a life! From left to right: Garnet Health Stroke Program Medical Director Dr. Kavneet Kaur, stroke patient Elizabeth Silva, Progressive Care Unit Nursing Director Darci Ferry and Stroke Program Coordinator Suzanne Geraci. 10
Welcome New Providers A warm welcome to our new providers at Garnet Health Doctors.
Roxanne Allen, PA-C
Justin Alvis, PMHNP-BC
Sonal Bajaj, MD
Shantie Harkisoon, MD
Critical Care Medicine
Psychiatry
Infectious Disease Medicine
Family Medicine
Dana Laise, CNM
Christine Lerardi, FNP-BC
Kelly Markisello, PA
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Hospice and Palliative Medicine
Urgent Care
Be Cyber Secure - Protect Garnet Health and Yourself In a recent cyberattack not involving Garnet Health, 3,000 emails were specifically designed to trick readers into clicking on a link or disclosing sensitive information. Hackers are often skilled at knowing what type of users they are emailing and target cyberattacks specific to those users. What you should do to remain vigilant against a cyberattack: • Be cautious every time you open an email with a link or a document to download. • Opening email on a smartphone is risky because you cannot hover over links to see where they would take you. Wait to click on any links until you are on a computer and you can hover over the link. • If you receive a suspicious email, forward it to spam@garnethealth.org. • Always review the sender’s information. The hacker can spoof the email and use a name that is familiar to you. You must look at the email address itself. Below is an example. From: Scott Batulis [mailto:ceomgt11@seznam.cz] Sent: April 25, 2020 11:02 AM Notice that the email says it is from Scott Batulis. However, the email address is from ceomgt11@seznam.cz. For more information on cyber security, contact Information Security Officer and Director Ancillary Services Jacqui Budakowski at jbudakowski@garnethealth.org. 11
Save the Date
ANNUAL
42nd Annual Golf Classic Garnet Health Foundation - Catskills Wednesday, July 14, 2021 Villa Roma Resort
to benefit
The Annual Golf Classic is one of our primary fundraising events each year. This year’s fundraising beneficiary is 3D mammography technology and cancer prevention, screening and early detection.
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For more information and to provide financial support, call (845) 397-3587 or visit garnethealth.org/donate-catskills.
No One Dies Alone (NODA) Program Now at Catskills The No One Dies Alone (NODA) Program is now at Garnet Health Medical Center - Catskills’ Harris campus. This volunteer program assures the presence of a compassionate individual who provides companionship to non-COVID-19 dying patients who would otherwise be alone. Compassionate companions provide a patient with a dignified death. Here’s how it works: • Volunteers are trained. • Doctors or nurse leaders would activate a NODA vigil. • A group email would be sent to the NODA volunteer team stating the patient’s name and room number.
Nourish Your Neighbor Food Drive Staff at Garnet Health Medical Center participated in the Nourish Your Neighbor Spring Into Action Food Drive by donating food and personal care items to benefit local food pantries. All donated goods and items were distributed to The Salvation Army and the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley. Thank you to all that participated in this wonderful initiative!
• The volunteer states his/her availability to the group for the next 72 hours. • The volunteer calls the unit before the shift to confirm services are still needed. • The NODA volunteer wears a volunteer NODA identification badge. If you are interested in this volunteer program, or know of someone who is, contact Jodi Goodman, Director of Patient Experience at Garnet Health Medical Center - Catskills, at jgoodman@garnethealth.org.
Gems Newsletter Produced by Garnet Health Marketing & Corporate Communications. For more information, contact Lauren Kropf-Zuckerman at lzuckerman@garnethealth.org or call 333-2363. 12
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