November 15, 2013
Open Enrollment Ends at Midnight on Friday If you haven’t already done so, be sure to log onto the Total Rewards Portal, so you don’t miss your opportunity to make any benefit changes you need for 2014. The Dignity Health Total Rewards Portal will close for Open Enrollment at 11:59 p.m. PT on Friday, Nov. 15.
Questions?
Millie began volunteering at the Mercy Hospital Gift Shop and after a few years, she became the manager, travelling to San Francisco and Los Angeles on buying trips. When Mercy relocated to the Community Campus, she restructured a new gift shop at the Community Hospital. After years at Community, she was active in developing the gift shop in the new Mercy Medical Center.
Millie Jean Simonick
Sept. 27, 1917 - Nov. 6, 2013 The Gift Shop will be closed this morning, November 15th, in honor of our past Gift Shop Manager, Millie Simonick. We will return from her service at 1:00 pm.
The gift shop became Millie's passion and focus in life, giving up her golfing to work at the hospital. She often said the work gave her purpose and contributed to her excellent health and longevity. After spending almost every day for over 23 years at the shops, she finally stopped recording her volunteer hours. Through the years, the gift shop’s sales have contributed to the pledge of $250,000 to build Mercy Medical Center. For her dedication, she was presented an award of service by the Merced County Chamber of Commerce and congratulatory letters from local, state and national political leaders.
Call the Dignity Health Benefits Service Center at 1-855-475-4747, Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT.
INFECTION CONTROL DOs AND DONTs DO •
Remember to narrate your care. Not all patients can hear or see you performing hand hygiene if you are behind the privacy curtains. Whether you are using soap and water or hand sanitizing gel, please narrate your performance of hand hygiene.
DON’T •
Wear surgical shoe coverings outside the Surgery Department. Some patients/visitors are disturbed by the fact that they often see staff in the cafeteria or on the patient care floors wearing surgical shoe coverings, “booties”.
Congratulations!
President David Dunham celebrates the birth of his first grandaughter by pushing the lullaby button.
Welcome these new employees that started on 11-11-2013 Steven Tamba, RN 6th Floor Prashanta Janz, RN 6th Floor Gurkirat Gill, RN 5th Floor Amber Castro, CNA 7th Floor Norma Mendoza, Phlebotomist Lab Scott Sanders, RN Surgery Akash Kamal, RN 6th Floor Angela Wilhelm, RN 4th Floor Eva Martin, RN ER
Dignity Health Partners on Great Kindness Challenge for Schools
SAVE THE DATE A Toyland Holiday
Dignity Health has agreed to promote and support The Great Kindness Challenge for schools in California, Nevada and Arizona. Dignity Health and Kids for Peace believe that humankindness fosters healthier, happier lives and a more peaceful society. Both organizations realize that even a single act of kindness can change the world for the better. The Great Kindness Challenge School Edition is an anti-bullying initiative dedicated to creating a culture of kindness in elementary and high schools nationwide. During the last week of January each year, students are provided a checklist of 50 kind deeds to achieve and are empowered to create positive change. They also get a toolkit to support their efforts. “At Dignity Health, we believe that kindness holds the power to help people lead happier, healthier lives,” said Robert L. Wiebe, M.D., Chief Medical Officer for Dignity Health. “We are thrilled to support Kids for Peace and the Great Kindness Challenge to promote stronger human connection and kindness within more schools and communities.” “We invite all schools to honor the World Kindness Day by registering for The Great Kindness Challenge School Edition,” said Jill McManigal of Kids for Peace. “It's free, easy for the schools to implement, and has a proven positive impact.” With the support of Dignity Health, Kids for Peace will be able to support more schools and cultivate human kindness at a younger age. Look for more information in the weeks ahead on how you can get involved.
Mercy’s Employee Holiday Party
Saturday, December 7, 2013 Yosemite Hall (Commerce Bldg) Merced Fairgrounds 6:30pm - 11:30pm • Bring a toy to donate to Kops for Kids • Catered by España’s • Photobooth • Employees are free and can purchase one guest ticket for $5.00
Tickets Now Available: Administration (333 Mercy Ave) Human Resources (2740 M St) Family Care Clinic (D St) Medical Staff *for doctors only (333 Mercy Ave)
November 15, 2013
Operation Christmas Child
Employee of the Month November
by Janice Wilkerson, Director of Missoin Integration
I would like to invite you to put a smile on the face of a less fortunate child. “Operation Christmas Child” is a project of Samaritan’s Purse and is a ministry outreach to children all over the world that live in some of the most poverty stricken environments. Shoeboxes are filled with items for a boy or girl in a specific age range. Many of our departments have chosen this as their “Christmas Sharing” project, or you can participate on your own. Shoeboxes along with instruction sheets are now available for pick up and due back by November 22. If you are interested give me a call at 5645007 or email me at: Janice.wilkerson@dignityhealth.org For more information about this project, go to Samaritanspurse.org and you will find some of the most heartwarming stories from children around the world that have received a shoebox. It’s hard to believe a shoebox can change a person’s life, yet it has.
We already have two days for getting deals, Black Friday and Cyber Monday. So now let's help promote a new day for giving thanks—Giving Tuesday. On Tuesday, December 3, 2013, global charities, families, businesses, community centers, students and more will come together to promote Giving Tuesday. It’s a simple idea. Just find a way for your family, your community, your company or your organization to come together to give something more. Then tell everyone you can about how you are giving. Be a part of a national celebration of our great tradition of generosity. For more information go to www.supportmercymerced.org and click on the Giving Tuesday link.
Robin Reese
Mammography Tech Robin has been a technologist here since June of 1997and she is steady, dependable and always gives more than expected. Robin is ALWAYS prepared to work before her start time and works until the absolute end of her shift, with zero wasted time (in fact, she needs to be watched so that she doesn’t do extra work on her own time). Robin makes the correct decision every time and I have never seen her flustered or at a loss of how to handle any patient care situation. She has the ability to make every patient feel like they recieved special care, which is a huge relief for the already anxious mammo patients. Robin strikes up conversation about something, the brooch on her shirt for example, or remembers something personal from prior visits to follow up on, and next thing the patient knows, their mammo is done. I continue to be amazed by the number of patients that send me a letter, note or compliment Robin for the care they received as well as how many patients ask for her specifically to do their mammograms. Robin orchestrates the mammography program and it is her diligence and oversight that binds together all of the hard work done by all the technologists and clerks as a team. She keeps up on all documents and regulations that pertain to mammography and we have done excellent on our last 3 state inspections, due largely to her efforts. She also oversees onerous notification and tracking processes for mammography. Robin is extremely organized; there is no running around worrying when an inspection is looming because she is always ready for the next one. She always has an upbeat and cheerful attitude. She happily represents us anytime we need her at community events. Robin is naturally friendly and open; she makes people feel comfortable enough to come to our displays and answers any questions. These events are important for both the health education of our community and to attract patients to our services. Robin always demonstrates Mercy’s values in every aspect of her job performance.
Most Americans Rate Kindness as Top Factor in Quality Health Care Dignity Health on Wednesday, Nov. 13, announced the findings of a nation-wide survey on the power of humankindness in health care and the perception of kindness in our society. According to the survey conducted for Dignity Health by Wakefield Research, 87 percent of Americans feel kind treatment by a physician is more important than other key considerations in choosing a health care provider. Yet 64 percent have experienced unkind behavior in a health care setting, including the failure of a caregiver to connect on a personal level, staff rudeness, and poor listening skills. “At Dignity Health, we have long believed that humankindness has the potential to heal, and this survey confirms that the vast majority of patients feel the same way,” said Lloyd H. Dean, president and CEO of Dignity Health. “We are committed to providing our patients with experiences where they feel welcomed, respected, and cared for by fostering stronger connections with our doctors, nurses, and caregivers.”
While 95 percent of Americans feel that they are kind, the survey also found that nearly half of Americans feel society is unkind and more than half feel U.S. culture does not place a high value on kindness. “In the midst of a divisive debate on the future of health care, we as an industry have a unique opportunity to focus on the issues that matter to our patients most – listening, healing, and reinforcing the importance of human connection,” Dean said. The survey found that when people experience unkindness in a health care setting, 9 in 10 feel that their quality of care is negatively affected and more than half withhold information from their physician as a result. For more information on the study, visit: http://www.dignityhealth.org/ Dignity_Health_Information/Press_ Center/238096 And you can follow the discussion on Twitter at #hellohumankindness.
For Nurses Only Last Week’s Winners
No Winners Answer to last Week’s Question: Your organization’s ratings on Core Measures are: A. Held confidential by the Joint Commission (TJC) B. Held confidential by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) C. Made available to the public at the Hospital Compare Website
Below is a question from last issue’s “Tip of the Week”. The first day and night shift RN to respond to lindsey.gallagher@dignityhealth. org with the correct answer will receive a Mercy Medal from Greg Rouleau, CNO.
Safety Attitude Questionnare (SAQ) SAQ is here! The SAQ, as you recall, is a survey that allows us to better understand the beliefs and attitudes about patient safety within our organization. Your input and honesty is critical. All responses are confidential. The survey company, Pascal Metrics, has taken great measures to ensure the confidentiality of each and every survey response. For those clinical departments participating in the survey, use the Survey Access Information that was provided to your director/manager. By taking just a few minutes to complete the online survey you will be assisting us to strengthen our patient safety program. Thank you to those who have already completed the SAQ. If you have not completed the survey please take the time to complete it, it only takes 10 minutes or less. Your opinion means so much to Mercy’s patient safety program.
Question How long before incision should antibiotics be administered to achieve the most relevant tissue concentration?
November 15, 2013
Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS3)
If you could prevent even one person from hearing the words, “you have cancer,� would you? Now is your chance. The American Cancer Society Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3) is enrolling participants. Help us save lives, and celebrate a world with more birthdays. Learn how to get involved! www.cps3mercedcounty.org Our next available location to participate in this study is at the Mercy UC Davis Cancer Center in the Infusion Room, tomorrow on 11-16-13 from 8:00am -11:30am. Volunteers working with the American Cancer Society on the Cancer Preventation Study-3 in the Pavilion classrooms C/D on 11-14-13.
The Emergency Department gets squeaky clean floors! Thanks to all the hard work the floor team is doing to make the Emergency Department look nice, the floors are now clean and shiny! We are even getting compliments from our patients and visitors who have noticed how nice they look. We appreciate all the ED staff for working with us to get this done.
November 15, 2013
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
Dignity Health 2014 Benefits Open Enrollment October 28 – November 15, 2013 It’s time for you – the people who bring humankindness to life at Dignity Health – to make important decisions about your benefits. • Learn about any changes to your current plans or new plans available to you • Review premium contributions that will be deducted from your pay in 2014 • Enroll in or change your coverage for 2014 • Remove or add eligible dependents • Participate in a Health Care or Dependent Care Spending Account for 2014 (you must enroll to participate in 2014).
¡ Remember, Health Care Reform requires most
Americans to have medical insurance in 2014.
Open Enrollment ends November 15, 2013 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.
Get started at My Health http://DignityHealthMember.org/TotalRewards Want the details? Scan this QR code to instantly access the electronic
Open Enrollment Guide
It’s back! Text OE2014 to 313131 to opt in to the Open Enrollment text message reminder service and a chance to win a prize!* *Phone numbers will be stored confidentially, and only for the duration of the Open Enrollment period. After November 15, 2013, all phone numbers will be deleted from the system.