Volume 9
Issue 20
September 5, 2014
PRESBYbulletin Penn Presbyterian Medical Center
ICING ON THE CAKE:
NATION’S OLDEST MEDICAL SCHOOL KICKS OFF ITS 250TH BIRTHDAY YEAR Last month, the Perelman School of Medicine kicked off its 250th birthday year with a cake-cutting celebration hosted by University of Pennsylvania President Amy Gutmann, PhD, and J. Larry Jameson, MD, PhD, Dean of the Perelman School of Medicine and d Executive Vice President, University of Pennsylvania for the Health System, along with Ralph W. Muller, CEO of the Health System. Gutmann, Jameson and Muller gave remarks to commemorate the occasion, right before a massive ceremonial cake cutting: Three Penn-themed cakes along with 500 cupcakes were served at the celebration. Creating the sweet stuff took 100 eggs, 100 sticks of butter and 75 cups of cake flour. Penn alumni, faculty, students and staff all gathered for the campus-wide event on College Green. Ray Perelman (left, seated), the school’s largest benefactor, who, along with his late wife Ruth, pledged $225 million in 2011, was also in attendance. The anniversary of the medical school coincides nicely with this year’s Universitywide central theme: “The Year of Health.” Each year, Penn’s Provost’s office sponsors a series of events around a theme chosen by faculty, staff and students—this year’s will allow them to explore health, wellness, and welfare across many areas of their lives.
Ride to Conquer Cancer: JOIN US TODAY! On October 11 and 12, thousands of cyclists of all abilities will participate in The Ride to Conquer Cancer benefiting Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center. The Ride needs wonderful people like you to help with the following: • Providing snacks and meals on the route • Camp set-up • Providing medical care • Marking the route with directional signage • Driving our event vehicles • Route Safety • And much more! Crew Members are the backbone of the event. They are our bike mechanics, route guides, and food distributors. Because of all their hard work and dedication, Crew Members experience the same perks as the Riders, such as access to a hot shower, catered meals and a cozy tent at Camp. For more info, please call 1.855.227.5575 or visit RIDETOVICTORY.ORG
2014 Employee Flu Campaign Starts Soon Over the past five years, more than 98 percent of HUP and UPHS employees have been vaccinated for seasonal influenza. Getting the flu vaccine reduces the risk of illness for our staff and helps keep our patients, colleagues, and families safe and healthy. UPHS has been recognized by the State of Pennsylvania for this key patient safety initiative.
Fit Around Philly The Next UPHS Physical Activity Campaign Started on Monday September 22
The 2014 Penn Medicine Employee Flu Campaign is an opportunity to continue our achievements. The Occupational Medicine Flu Vaccine Clinics will kick off at a wide variety of Penn Medicine locations on Wednesday, October 8. The times and locations of the Flu Vaccine Clinics will be posted on the Intranet (http://uphsxnet.uphs.upenn.edu/occupationalmedicine). Seasonal influenza vaccine is provided free of charge to all Penn Medicine staff, clinical faculty and contractors. Annual vaccination is needed for maximal protection because each year’s influenza vaccine protects against the virus strains most likely to be circulating that year. (http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/flu-season-2014-2015.htm) Egg-free vaccines have been manufactured and FDA-approved; we hope to have these available to egg-allergic employees by mid-October.
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Getting the flu vaccine reduces the risk of illness for our staff and helps keep our patients, colleagues, and families safe and healthy.
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To ensure minimal waiting times and rapid documentation, bar-coded vaccine consent forms will be available to employees and faculty directly. Details on how to access your bar-coded form will be posted on the UPHS Intranet under What’s Hot; look for the Flu Campaign 2014-2015 Button. If you choose to be vaccinated outside a UPHS Flu Vaccine Clinic, please send your documentation to HUP Occupational Medicine with a copy of your bar-coded form to make sure you get timely credit.
To celebrate the fall season and our great city, Wellfocused is challenging you and your department to join us for the Fit Around Philly Challenge. The goal is to exercise 150 minutes per week. The departments with the most average number of minutes will be featured on the Fit Around Philly leader board and in the end, the department with the most average number of minutes will get 100 healthy reward points! Each week there will also be a bonus challenge to earn points for doing something healthy in Philadelphia. Log in to the healthy rewards site and JOIN today!!!
Again this year, we offer to employees who receive their flu vaccination, a chance to be entered into a raffle. Employees who submit their completed flu bar-coded consent form by October 27th will be entered into the raffle and eligible to win one of several prizes. Prizes include a Touch-Screen Samsung Tablet, iPod Shuffle, and Fitbit! The UPHS Influenza Vaccine Policy is unchanged from last year. Contact your HR generalist for any questions about the policy or see the policy at the Flu Campaign Page.
Contact Us: Katie Delach | katie.delach@uphs.upenn.edu | http://news.pennmedicine.org/inside/presbybulletin/