HUPdate by Penn Medicine

Volume 23

Number 22

November 2, 2012

Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania

`` Celebrating nearly 150 years of combined service are (l. to r.) Maria Gaddie, Ponnamma Pillai, Azael Hernandez, Doris Singleton, and Baboo George.

-YEAR CLUB welcomes new members!

You all contribute so much. A strong team makes this a great place. — Ralph Muller, CEO,

Inside Henrietta Harris Wins NSA Recognition Award .........2 Speaking with HUP’s Leaders.......................................3 Fall Prevention at HUP and Home..........................3 Help HUP Reach its Penn’s Way Goal.......................4

A whopping 85 employees were inducted into the 25-Year Club this year. That brings the total membership to over 1,200 people, more than half of whom are still active employees. CEO Ralph Muller congratulated everyone — the new members as well as those who have reached 30, 35, 40, 45, and even 50 years! “You came as individuals and became part of a team, going from mentee to mentor. How fast the years go by.” The most critical issue today is health care, but, “no matter what the outcome of elections, we’re well positioned, thanks to you and your colleagues,” he said. “We are strong and stable and that gives me confidence.” Our high-quality patient care is recognized locally and nationally. For the 11th year in a row, HUP was named to U.S. News & World Report’s Honor Roll of Best Hospitals in America. In fact, the magazine ranked all three Penn Medicine hospitals among

the 10 ten in Pennsylvania. “This year HUP received Magnet accreditation for the second year and Penn Presbyterian received its first,” Muller continued, adding that many of ‘Philadelphia magazine’s Top Docs’ are from Penn Medicine. “You all contribute so much. A strong team makes this a great place.” Congratulations to this year’s inductees into the 25-Year Club: Ivette Bermudez.........................Information Services Patricia Callan...........................Information Services Chris Cesanek............................Corporate Finance John Kilroy..................................Finance Thomas McCormick.................Patient Accounting Vaughn Miller.............................Patient Accounting Francis Pyne, Jr..........................Patient Accounting Yvonne Russell...........................Corporate Finance Michelle Walsh.........................CEQI Patricia Ware.............................Information Services Ronald White..............................Patient Accounting Ellen Ali........................................Urology

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Henrietta Harris Wins Annual NSA Recognition Award Nursing support associates are important members of the health-care team. They have a diverse range of responsibilities, including assuring adequate inventory of patient-care supplies, supporting patient care, and doing transport-related duties. Each year, one NSA is chosen to receive the annual Recognition Award. Criteria include the ability to maintain an organized and safe patient-care environment, promote teamwork, remain self-directed and highly accountable to HUP Core values, and stand out as a leader. This year, the award went to Henrietta Harris of Rhoads 2.

`` Henrietta Harris (second from right) with Margo Wallace, assistant nurse manager, Rhoads 2 (l.), nurse manager Mary Ledwith, and Paul Harrington, clinical director, Surgical Nursing.

Henrietta is always going out of her way to help our patients and family members.

As written in her nomination letter, Harris is the “go-to girl .... If you need anything, she will help you find it. She makes it known to the staff that they can always count on her if they are unsure where to find a product .... She is always going out of her way to help our patients and family members .... She overheard a family

25-Year Club welcomes new members

`` (L. to r.) Dan Reily (25 years), Jeanne Esposito (50 years), Ann Costello (35 years) and Pat Remeis (30 years) all had reason to celebrate.

Ken Brown....................................... Radiology Linda D’Andrea............................... Surgery Karen Earl........................................ Dermatology Kris Gallagher................................. Surgery Cheryn Jarvis.................................. Neonatology Albert Johnson............................... Ophthalmology Marianne Johnson-China........... Neonatology Catherine Lloyd ............................. Medicine Meg Macfarlane .......................... Ophthalmology Francis (Frank) McGrath............. Neurology Helen Medley................................. Dermatology Outpt Path HUP Kim Moore-Hosendorf................. Surgery

member wishing for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Since we do not usually have this on the unit, Henrietta took the initiative to go down to the cafeteria and buy her a sandwich. The family was so grateful and shocked that anyone would be so kind .... For the last several years, she has taken ownership for mentoring a High School Pipeline student .... She assigns their duties, monitors their schedule and rates their performance. While at the same time she is often a mentor and mother.”

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Michele Morris.........................Otorhinolaryngology Coleen Murray...........................Neurosurgery Linda Palmquist........................Medicine Vilma Pinon................................Medicine Daniel Reily................................Physical and Rehab Medicine Phyllis Robinson.......................Ophthalmology Betty Thomas.............................OB/GYN Maxine Wu.................................Pathology and Lab Medicine David Acker...............................Pathology and Lab Medicine Lisa Braun...................................Staffing For All Seasons, Nursing James Brown............................Surgical Nursing Matthew Cardarelli.................Physical Plant Beryl Chambers........................Respiratory Therapy Steven Chandler.......................Medical Nursing Jennifer Chong..........................Respiratory Therapy Nannette Coley..........................Respiratory Therapy Denise Coy..................................Perioperative Nursing Anne Crivaro..............................Pathology and Lab Medicine Glenn Daniel..............................Materials Management Kimberly Darrah........................Perioperative Nursing John Dunn...................................Materials Management Judith Edling-Owens...............Pathology and Lab Medicine George Evak...............................Physical Plant Jeffrey Garbor............................Pharmacy Rita Glenn-West........................Perioperative Nursing Ann Gregg...................................Respiratory Therapy Regina Halbiger........................Pathology and Lab Medicine Nina Hall.....................................Radiology Azael Hernandez.......................Respiratory Therapy Frances Hickman.....................Patient Registration Shawntelle Hill.........................Surgical Nursing Jim Hoffman...............................Materials Management Patricia Huggins.......................Surgical Nursing

Carol Ingenito............................Respiratory Therapy Sau Lew.......................................Pharmacy Daniel Lister...............................Security Anthony Lupica.........................Physical Plant Sallyann Lynch..........................Rapid Response Nursing Amina Massaquoi....................Medical Nursing David Mullen.............................Security Rodrigo Ochabillo....................Perioperative Services Samuel Ochabillo.....................Cardiology Pamela Piccone........................Radiology Ellen Rash...................................Radiation Oncology Jean Romano.............................Nursing Network Center Kenneth Ruddell.......................Cardiology Therese Rutyna.........................Medical Nursing Joanne Shingleton...................Pathology and Lab Medicine Anne Simon................................Pharmacy Doris Singleton.........................Respiratory Therapy Premi Sreenivasan...................Women’s Health, Nursing Wanda Steward........................Medical Nursing Maria Stierheim........................Neurovascular Lab Valerie Stith................................Surgical Nursing Thelma Stokes...........................Admissions Adrienne Thomas.....................Pharmacy Susan Tierney............................Medical Nursing Duane Varquez..........................Physical Plant Patricia White...........................Women’s Health, Nursing Susan Yeh...................................Medical Nursing

For more photos from the 25-Year-Club celebration, go to http://news.pennmedicine.org/inside/hupdate.

Speaking with HUP’S lEaDERS Forty years ago, fathers were not allowed in the delivery room when their wives were giving birth. At the time, care providers believed it Al Black, COO helped protect the mother and baby during the birthing process. Now, fathers are more than welcome; they’re encouraged to take part in this momentous event. At the most recent Meal with an Administrator, Mauri Sullivan, MSN, RN, clinical director of Medical Nursing, described a similar type of change taking place at HUP. Slowly, the culture is changing to an environment where patients — and their families — are not only allowed to participate in the care process, but are encouraged to do so. For example, the nursing staff is teaching family members how to care for loved ones after discharge. And a more flexible policy on family presence supports family members partnering with us in the planning and delivery of care. Staff is also working with HUP’s Patient and Family Advisory Council, a volunteer group of current and former patients and family members, to improve the patient experience. Council members are now talking with inpatients about what information is important to know when being admitted. “From a nursing perspective, parking is a big challenge so we talk to our patients and families about that,” Sullivan said. “But, according to patient and family feedback, parking is not a priority. Cleanliness is.

“We only see a part of the patient experience, a slice of what they’re going through,” she continued. “The patient experience is much broader than that.” “They’re telling us what needs improvement so we can fix things,” said Al Black, COO of the hospital. Improving the patient experience is the right thing to do but it will also help improve patient satisfaction scores, which now have an impact on our reimbursement rates. “Part of the Affordable Care Act provides incentives — and penalties — to hospitals based on a patient’s experience,” Black explained. “If patients rate us above 50 percent in specific areas — such as how well we communicate, how clean and quiet the hospital environment is — we’ll keep the money they withheld. If not, it goes to other hospitals that do rank above 50.” In financial news, Black said that first quarter figures were lower than expected, in part because the number of observation patients is increasing. These are patients who, according to current coding, are too sick to go home but not sick enough to be admitted. “We receive a lower payment for these patients.” Black indicated that new beds were being added to handle post-procedure patients who are now considered outpatients on Ground White as well as selected inpatient units, to handle increased demand.

Helping Employees Get and Stay Healthy

to employees. Health Advocate provides confidential personal health assistance, for example, helping people better understand their test results or medication, or an ‘explanation of benefits’ from an insurance company. It’s free to employees and their families. She also encouraged participants to use Penn Medicine’s Wellfocused program, which provides tools and resources to help employees take control of their health. Penn Medicine’s focus now is on knowing your important health numbers: glucose (blood sugar), cholesterol and blood pressure and BMI. “We’re not just providing benefits. We’re helping employees become healthier,” she said, adding that “healthier employees lead to lower benefit costs.” To learn more about these benefits — and more — go to the uphshrandyou.com website. The November 16 pay is the last time employees who use direct deposit will receive an actual paystub. James said employees will be able to access their paycheck information online at ‘Employee Records and Checks’ under ‘What’s Hot’ on the Intranet home page. Employees will be able to view — and print — their last 26 paychecks. James also reminded everyone to get a mandatory flu shot for the safety of patients and employees alike. The vaccines are now available at Occupational Health on 4 Penn Tower.

Judy James, HUP’s associate chief HR officer, spoke about new benefits available

Fall Prevention at HUP and Home

Each year, HUP celebrates National Falls Prevention Awareness Day to help educate employees and visitors about how to prevent and reduce falls. Andrea Blount of Trauma offers Laura Lombardo of Government Relations tips on how to prevent falls at home.

WE ARE PASSIONATE A B O U T P E N N ’ S W AY

Help HUP Reach its Penn’s Way Goal! Date: Tuesday, November 13 Time: 3:00 to 4:30 pm Topic: Taking Charge of Money Matters: Financial Tips for Cancer Patients. Date: Friday, November 16 Time: 1:00 pm Topic: Focus on Blood Cancers and Survivorship. Go to www.oncolink.org/webchat to submit questions to our expert panel in advance, view and participate in the webchat, and read a transcript after the live event. You can also use your (public) Twitter account to participate during the live event (hashtag #oncochat).

HUP is well on its way to meeting its 2013 Penn’s Way campaign goal of $231,000, with contributions bringing us to 85 percent of our goal. But we’re not there yet! If you haven’t done so yet, please consider donating to a favorite charity – there are hundreds to choose from. For details or to donate, go to www.upenn.edu/ pennsway or click on ‘Penn’s Way’ under What’s Hot on the Intranet home page.

The campaign runs through Friday, November 16.

Still Time to Help the AHA There’s still time to register for the 2012 Philly Heart Walk, which takes place on Sunday, November 4, starting at 10 am at Citizens Bank Park. Walk with the Penn Medicine community to support the American Heart Association (AHA) in the fight against heart disease and stroke! To register and learn more about the walk and how you can donate, go to Pennmedicine.org/heartwalk.

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TIGR Tailors Patient Education At HUP, education is a key component of patient care. Although traditionally done at the bedside and through educational handouts, HUP now offers a new approach to patient education: TIGR. Launched this past spring, TIGR (telephony initiated guided response) provides 24-hour access to video content via the in-room television and telephone. It complements existing educational efforts and may help play a role in reducing costly 30-day readmissions through its on-demand educational content. TIGR is interfaced to the hospital’s admission, discharge and transfer (ADT) system under “My Care Plan” (option 2 on the TIGR menu). Staff on each patient care unit can create a playlist tailored to the clinical issues and needs of the unit’s patients by placing all unit-specific content in one easy-to-find location. Content under “My Care Plan” can range from videos and information pages to PowerPoint presentations and surveys. As is done with TIGR’s Health Video Library, viewer activity is logged and documented, allowing staff to track viewing frequency of video titles and utilization rates. “Adding ADT integration to the TIGR system helps reduce the time spent navigating menus and provides patients and

caregivers with a customized starting point for their in-hospital education,” said David Cribb, Video Services coordinator. A second planned upgrade to TIGR, tentatively scheduled for the second half of FY 2013, will integrate TIGR with Sunrise Clinical Manager (SCM). “Educators will be able to create and edit individual care plans in TIGR from within SCM,” Cribb said. Patient and family viewing activity can also be automatically documented from TIGR to SCM, including comprehension quiz scores, where applicable. “Having this information available will allow educators to know what patients watched and also how well they understood the content before even entering the patient room,” he said, adding that until the TIGR-SCM interface is built, patient care units can use “My Care Plan” to provide customized education for their patients on a unit level.

For more information regarding the TIGR system, go to http://uphsxnet.uphs. upenn.edu/video_svcs or e-mail david.cribb@uphs.upenn.edu.

HUPdate Editorial Staff Sally Sapega Editor and Photographer Abby Ernst Designer

Administration

Susan E. Phillips Senior Vice President, Public Affairs Contact HUPdate at: 3535 Market Street, Mezzanine Philadelphia, PA 19104 phone: 215.662.4488 fax: 215.349.8312 email: sally.sapega@uphs.upenn.edu HUPdate is published biweekly for HUP employees. Access HUPdate online at http://news.pennmedicine.org/inside/hupdate.