In Roads - January 9, 2015 by Robert McLaughlin

In Roads

January 9, 2015

Inside information for the employees of Mercy Medical Center

Mercy Volunteers Welcome the First Baby Girl and Boy of the New Year

“A little spark of kindness can put a colossal burst of sunshine into someone’s day.” - Unknown

Living Spirituality

by Janice Wilkerson Mission Integration Director

by Sister Lucille Carreau, DHS Spiritual Services Supervisor

Beautiful gift baskets (shown to the right) were donated to our Family Birth Center to welcome the first baby girl and boy into the new year. The volunteers supplied the funds and volunteer Pat Corpora went shopping. We thank her for her time in gathering up all of the wonderful baby items and then presenting them in this creative way.

Thought:

Human kindness is asked of all of us. Loving kindness brings us closer to a description of our vocation—living our mission in the spirit of Jesus—serving with compassion in our healing ministry.

Action:

Merced County’s First Baby of 2015

As we begin our New Year, may we each review our work practices especially in our relationships with coworkers, patients, families and others and make a resolution to improve at least one area.

Fun Fact Pantone announced their color of the year, Marsala. “A naturally robust and earthy wine red, Marsala enriches our minds, bodies and souls.” Pantone 18-1438 TCX Marsala

A sleepy Alejandra Martinez-Hernandez, Merced County’s first baby of the new year, yawns in the arms of her mother Yadira Puga-Hernandez , 24, of Atwater, at Mercy Medical Center in Merced, CA, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015. Alejandra Martinez-Hernandez was born at 12:15 a.m. Thursday morning, weighing in at eight pounds three ounces and measuring 20.75 inches long. This is the first child for Puga-Hernandez and fiancé Luis Martinez, 25, of Atwater, after the couple experienced a miscarriage in Nov. 2013. Photo and caption by Andrew Kuhn from the Merced Sun Star

click here for the complete article from the Merced Sun Star

Pantone 18-1438 TCX Marsala

Color of the Year 2015 Pantone

Marsala 18-1438

Mercy Patients Embracing Humankindness

Frequently Asked Questions

From the 2014 Open Forums

Compensation and benefits seem to increase more for represented than nonrepresented staff. Is this true and how is it fair and sustainable? Excerpt from the Merced Sun Star Letters to the Editor.

2015 Zumba Kick-Off Fundraiser January 7, 2015

There were instances in the past in which the size of salary increases differed between represented and non-represented staff. Recently negotiated contracts with represented employees have resulted in planned salary increases that are much more comparable to those of nonrepresented employees. Health and welfare benefits have been generally comparable among our various employee groups.

Hmong New Year

December 19-21, 2014

Pictured from left: Lillian Sanchez, Sarah Randall, Christy Soto, and Nancy Xiong.

Thank you to Carrie Xiong for giving Mercy Medical Center a glimpse into the traditional Hmong New Year! We were able to have a booth during the event where our employees could educate the Hmong community on available community resources, and our CDSMP class, with a main focus on Diabetes education. Lillian Sanchez coordinated the Zumba Kick-Off Fundraiser on January 7, 2015 to raise money for the Diabetes Fund with the Mercy Foundation. This free event at the Senior Center in Merced attracted 85 Zumba-goers, who collectively donated $378.00. Thanks to all the employees who attended (and hosted) this event!

The game shown on the right hand side of the picture was a trivia game used to help participants learn facts about Diabetes (and win cool prizes).

Local organizations get $115,000 in grants from Mercy Medical Center BY ANA B. IBARRA (Merced Sun Star) - 01/06/2015

Four community organizations received $115,888 from Mercy Medical Center and its parent company, Dignity Health, on Tuesday to continue the improvement of health and wellness in underserved communities. The largest amount was awarded to the Merced County Rescue Mission, which will use its $75,000 grant to provide temporary housing and aid for patients who have been discharged from the hospital but have no place to stay. According to the hospital’s administrative staff, $75,000 is the largest amount ever awarded to a Merced organization by the community grants program.

four women at a time. The program got a head start on its Jan. 1 grant agreement with the hospital and opened its doors the last week of December 2014.

Bruce Metcalf, executive director at the Rescue Mission, said the grant will support the renting of a house and basic services for the start of the Hope Respite Care program.

The house is already serving one man and one woman.

“The hospital at times would have homeless people who needed to be discharged and there really is no place for them to go,” Metcalf said. He explained that on several occasions people would make their way to the Rescue Mission for help, but it is not equipped to provide medical care. Metcalf and his team learned about respite care – providing a short-term, homelike environment to people who need additional assistance. The Rescue Mission has teamed up with the hospital, which will release appropriate patients to the program, and with Horisons Unlimited Healthcare, which will provide the necessary medical follow-ups to the discharged patients. The respite program will be based at a house at 900 N. St. Metcalf explained that the home will initially be able to board up to four men and

“We’re excited because this can be a win-win for the homeless and to help the hospital and health care system,” Metcalf said. “Shelters and and the sidewalk are not appropriate for someone who has just been released from the hospital.” According to Metcalf, the program will also work to provide patients with public resources in an attempt to reduce readmittance to the hospital. The Boys & Girls Club of Merced County received $20,888, which will go to its health and fitness curriculum. Tony Slaton, the club’s executive director, said the grant will help support summer programs such as the annual trip to Yosemite National Park, which many local children will visit for the first time. “Those kids describe the trip as the best thing they’ve ever done in their lives,” he said. Slaton, who grew up in Merced, said that getting out of the area and being exposed to other surroundings is crucial to growth and development. “I hope that we’re able

to do that for the young people that we serve.” Alpha Crisis Pregnancy Center in Merced was awarded $15,000. Carrie Alexander, the center’s executive director, said the money will support its new mobile unit, enabling pregnancy tests, ultrasounds and other services for women in underserved communities. The remaining $5,000 went to the local chapter of Girl Scouts. Julie Whitehouse, the vice president of fund development for the organization, said the money will help sponsor 60 girls for a summer day camp that will focus on health and wellness education. Janice Wilkerson, the director of mission integration at Mercy Medical Center, said this year, the hospital received 21 letters of intent proposing a variety of community projects. The four organizations were chosen by a committee as those that best reflected the needs of the community. “It’s a way for us to give back to our communities, to advocate for the underserved and to improve the quality of life of our residents,” Wilkerson said. This year, Dignity Health awarded 99 community grants throughout its hospitals, totaling a little more than $4 million.

Mercy The first 50 to attend Employees at the a workshop l glaze a hospital wil e! heart for fre

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