In Roads
July 18, 2014
Inside information for the employees of Mercy Medical Center
SPOTLIGHT ON ENDOCRINOLOGY AND THE CENTER FOR DIABETES, MERCED by Sueja Ingle, RN, CCRN, CNML Diabetes Educator
Did you know that the Center for Diabetes Merced is a valuable health care service offered as a part of Dignity Health? It is the only place in Merced County that offers diabetes self-management skills, training, and education. Diabetes affects not only the patients and their families, but The Center For Diabetes Team from left to right: Janon Pittz, RN, Dr Fernandez-Renedo, Sueja Ingle, RN, and Alejandra Gomez, RN. impacts society as a whole in financial and intangible ways, endocrinologist in Merced County such as causing pain, anxiety, and is the medical director of the loss of work, and a lower quality of Center for Diabetes. She has been life. serving the diabetic population in the According to the data found in the greater Merced County for over 10 California Diabetes Control Program, years. there were an estimated 21,800 cases The Center for Diabetes is staffed with (13 % of population) of diagnosed a highly educated and experienced diabetes in Merced County in 2009 clinical dietician, a podiatrist, a and it’s increasing each year at an certified diabetes educator, and a alarming rate. team of RN diabetes specialists. The largest component of medical Optimal diabetes management expenses for people with diabetes and prevention of diabetes related is hospital inpatient care related to complications can be best achieved complications of diabetes. when the patients are empowered The focus of diabetes education to self-manage their diabetes with is to provide knowledge and skills ongoing monitoring and support from to patients so they have the tools a primary care physician and diabetes to manage their diabetes and education team. minimize the risk of diabetes related The Center for Diabetes is located in complications. Through life style the General Medicine Clinic (GMC) and behavior modification training, and any patients with diabetes patients learn about healthy eating, can be referred by phone call to physical activity, monitoring blood GMC at 209.564.4500 or by fax at glucose, and medication adjustment 916.859.1824. so that patients will be able to control their blood glucose and feel empowered to manage their diabetes. Dr. Fernandez-Renedo is the only
“A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal.” - Steve Maraboli
Living Spirituality by Sister Lucille Carreau, DHS Spiritual Services Supervisor
Thought:
Gale Sayers, who played for the Chicago Bears in the 1960’s, was one of the greatest running backs of all time. Around his neck he wore a gold medal. On it were inscribed three words: “I am Third.” He explained, “The Lord is first; my friends are second; and I am third.” He is the first to admit that he doesn’t always live up to this medal, but it is there around his neck to keep him from straying too far from it.
Practice:
Think about who is important in your life. Who is first, second, third? Can you explain why they fit there? Do you live up to this order? Choose an object to remind you of the priorities in your life.
Don’t forget to wear your orange Hello humankindness t-shirt next Friday (July 25)! Employees are now allowed to wear these shirts on the last Friday of every month (employees must still be dress code compliant while wearing these, for example, no denim).
Mercy Team Competitive BBQ team forming by Robert McLaughlin Director of Marketing
Mercy Medical Center is forming a BBQ team for the Blazin Hog BBQ competition in September. If you feel you have the sauce to compete….or the drive to fire up the best ribs, then we want you! Contest is for tri-tip, chicken and pork ribs. We have been challenged by Memorial Medical Center and Doctors Medical in Modesto in the hospital division. We are not going to let some city slicker in Mo-Town show us how to cook...are we? If you are interested let me know, 564-5036. We are forming the team in August. The event will be held at the Mariposa County Fairgrounds on September 20th. (Cooks have to be there the night before to pick up the meat.) Don’t worry – we will supply team shirts and all of the Dignity Apparel you can think of…
Frequently Asked Questions From the 2014 Open Forums
Q: Is Dignity Health considering buying more hospitals or expanding to other parts of the country?
A: We currently serve patients in 20 states, including our California, Arizona and Nevada service areas, and deliver care at more than 380 sites nationwide. While our long term plan does call for extending our national presence, in the near term we are focused on growth in our existing service areas. Any new hospital affiliations are likely to occur in those areas. However, we are exploring nonacute opportunities in other parts of the country as well.
Gift Shop News Come check out our new summer items, including our new mason jar cups & glasses with straws. EPD, Visa, Mastercard, & Discover are all available!
Employee Discount Week
Mercy in the News Community grants to help address Merced’s health needs BY ANA B. IBARRA, mercedsunstar.com (July 13, 2014)
Mercy Medical Center is working on awarding $115,000 in community grants to projects that try to improve the health of Merced residents. Every three years, Dignity Health, the hospital’s parent company, conducts a health needs assessment in which it prioritizes a community’s needs.The grant program awards funding to nonprofit organizations that partner together and develop proposals to respond to the priorities identified in the health assessment. The proposals that receive funding are expected to provide services to underserved populations in the community. According to Janice Wilkerson, the director of mission integration and grant representative, the last assessment was conducted in 2012. The evaluation identified several areas of need, including access to health services; resources for managing diabetes, obesity, heart disease and cancer; and education on mental health and mental disorders. Grant applicants with proposals addressing any of these areas will be given strong consideration, Wilkerson said. While there is no set number of grant recipients, Wilkerson said proposals are typically dwindled down to five or six. This year’s letters of intent are due Friday. Applicants will be notified by July 28 if they
have been selected to present a full grant proposal. Last year, a total of $118,000 was awarded to local organizations. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Merced County, Girl Scouts Heart of Central California, Atwater Police Activities League, JMJ Maternity Homes, Love INC of Greater Merced, National Alliance on Mental Illness and Central California Regional Obesity Prevention Program were last year’s recipients. Project ideas from the past include summer youth programs that promoted physical activity, as well as family nutrition workshops that educated families on healthier eating. Some projects target specific groups, such as the Project Prevention Coalition, which promoted hepatitis B education within the Hmong community. Wilkerson said the Dignity Health Community Grants Program allows the hospital to fulfill its mission of partnering with others to improve the health of the community.“This is a way for us to give back to organizations that work extremely hard and rely heavily on volunteers,” Wilkerson said, “but also address those areas of need here in Merced County.”To apply for a community health grant, organization representatives can visit www. dignityhealth.org.
Employee Survey Success Below is the final survey participation for our service area. We had a HUGE increase in participation over the last year! Great job everyone!
July 20 - 26th
20% off *Discount does not apply to: flowers/plants, books/newspaper,and candy/food.
Hope you are all having a great summer!
See the winners from the Employee Survey raffles on the next page.
Employee of the Month May - 2014
Employee Survey Raffle Winners Marina Shliapnikoff (PACU) 4 movie tickets
Amanda Mora, LVN OB Tech Family Birth Center Amanda recently received her LVN license and she has demonstrated an amazingly successful transition to this new role. Amanda is not only expected to complete her OB Tech job duties, but is often pulled to Mother/ Baby to care for patients as census climbs. She never complains when asked to quickly change her role and is always an absolute team player. She is a very fast learner and is competent and thorough when completing every task.
Melissa Whiting (ED Registration) $75 dinner gift card
Delene Meidlinger (Foundation) $75 dinner gift card
We are extremely grateful to Amanda and all the positive qualities she shares with the Family Birth Center and we look forward to her completing her RN schooling, as she was recently accepted into the Merced College nursing program.
Recent studies have shown that more than 60 percent of Americans do not engage in enough regular physical activity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that adults engage in: • moderate physical activity for at least 30 minutes on five or more days of the week, or • vigorous physical activity for at least 20 minutes on three or more days of the week. Here are some examples from the American Cancer Society:
Amanda is also asked to be a preceptor for new staff because of her quality of work. She has awesome time management skills and is able to share some of these skills with others. Among the many duties assigned to Amanda, she is asked to assist the perinatal safety officer with charge audits and charge input because of her accuracy and attention to detail. Amanda is asked to complete many different jobs because of her ability to master new duties so quickly and efficiently.
How Much Physical Activity Do You Need?
Less Vigorous Activities • • Aida Escueta (PACU) $75 dinner gift card
• • •
Washing and waxing a car for 4560 minutes Washing windows or floors for 45-60 minutes Gardening for 30-45 minutes Walking 1 ¾ miles in 35 minutes Playing volleyball for 45 minutes
More Vigorous Activities • • • • Laura Fontes (Endoscopy) iPad
Walking stairs for 15 minutes Shoveling snow for 15 minutes Playing a game of basketball for 15-20 minutes Jumping rope for 15 minutes
More examples of moderate and vigorous physical activities, including strength training, can also be found on the CDC Physical Activity Page. The important thing is to find physical activities that you enjoy doing, and start doing them on a regular basis.
fall fest 2014
enjoy live music spirits
&
THE MERCY FOUNDATION
FRIDAY
Join us at Bob Hart Square where local Merced restaurants will share their best bites
september 26, 2014 6pm - 9pm
taste of
erced
Your support will help bring an ENT Navigation System to our community For more information contact the Mercy Foundation at 209.564.4200
Single Ticket Price
Sponsorships
$50.00 each
$500 - $5,000
Sponsorships & tickets available online at
www.supportmercymerced.org
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