Volume 9
Issue 23 November 14, 2014
PRESBYbulletin Penn Presbyterian Medical Center
Ebola Preparedness at Penn Medicine Penn Medicine is able to provide expert clinical care under a broad range of circumstances, keeping the safety and protection of our patients and staff as our top priority at all times. As our preparations for the potential of receiving an ebola patient continue, plans have been made to provide care at HUP for any suspected or confirmed Ebola patients who may present at a Penn Medicine hospital or outpatient practice. HUP will provide inpatient care to these patients in a special isolated area of the hospital. Information is added daily to the UPHS Intranet site for Ebola preparedness. Clinical staff are encouraged to check this site regularly to stay abreast of updates: http://pennpoint.uphs. upenn.edu/sites/ebola/default.aspx. Additionally, two phone lines have been established to assist clinicians and staff around the clock: *Clinicians with patient-related questions should call 215.614.0524. A physician will answer and handle calls about screening, isolation and, if necessary, lead arrangements for patient transport to HUP from another entity. *General questions not pertaining to direct patient care can be directed to 215.615.2929.
SIXTH ANNUAL PPMC PATIENT ADVOCACY RECOGNITION RECEPTION Back row (L to R): Luis Gonzalez; Kathleen Hutt, RN, MSN; Angela Medley; Interim Manager of PPMC Patient & Guest Services Deidre McAllister; Iris Bryant; Trish O’Brien, MSN, RN Front row (L to R): Debra Goldstein, MSW; Kelly Anne Spratt, DO, FACC; Richard Lee Weiss, MD, FACC; Tina Taylor; Norman Pegrem; Keith Watkins, BA; Bob Russell, MSE, FACHE, NHA. Not pictured: Craig Israelite, MD
The PHI auditorium was packed last week as staff, family and friends came to honor colleagues and loved ones being recognized at the 6th Annual PPMC Patient Advocacy Recognition Reception. The UPHS Office of Patient Affairs and PPMC Patient & Guest Relations honored outstanding staff who are PPMC partners in patient advocacy. Thirteen honorees from departments across Penn Presbyterian were individually spotlighted for consistently partnering with the Patient & Guest Relations office in the pursuit of patient satisfaction, patient advocacy, and furthering the patient experience at Penn Presbyterian. “We have such a diverse group of honorees this year, including people from clinical care units, support services, patient access, and more,” said Michele Volpe, executive director of PPMC. “The diverse group we’re recognizing today speaks to how deep our skills set is here at Presbyterian, and how engaged you all are with the work being done at every level, beyond clinical care.” Congratulations to this year’s honorees! Iris Bryant – Podiatric Surgery Debra Goldstein, MSW – Social Work (continued on back)
SIXTH ANNUAL PPMC PATIENT ADVOCACY RECOGNITION RECEPTION
The Great American Smoke Out is Thursday November 20th … Make it Your Quit Day!!!
Luis Gonzalez – Patient Access
The University of Pennsylvania Health System is proud to join the American Cancer Society in promoting the Great American Smoke Out on Thursday, November 20, 2014! Did you know that tobacco use is the single-most preventable cause of disease and premature death in the United States? In fact, tobacco use is responsible for nearly 1 in 5 deaths in this country.
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Kathleen Hutt, RN, MSN – Nursing Craig Israelite, MD – Orthopaedics Angela Medley – Skilled Nursing Facility Patricia O’Brien, MSN, RN, CCRN CRNP – Nursing Norman Pegrem – Security Robert J. Russell, MS, FACHE, NHA – Administration Kelly Anne Spratt, DO, FACC – Cardiology Tina S. Taylor – Patient & Guest Relations Keith W. Watkins, BA – Patient Access Richard Lee Weiss, MD, FACC, FACP – Cardiology
HIPAA Update: Clinical Systems Monitoring for Inappropriate Access You may recall from earlier communications that Penn Medicine has launched a new software-enabled program to proactively monitor clinical systems to help detect inappropriate access to patient medical records. The program was initiated in September to implement HIPAA requirements and to help maintain the confidentiality of information that our patients expect and deserve. Always remember that access to clinical information must be for the purpose of conducting official (i.e., job-related) duties. Even a well-intentioned review of a friend or family member’s record in Penn Medicine clinical systems is not permitted if it is not part of your job function. Any questions regarding access to clinical systems can be directed to privacy@uphs. upenn.edu or issecurity@uphs.upenn.edu. For further information about these policies, please visit http://bit.ly/10FEMMO.
You can earn Healthy Reward points for joining the Great American Smoke Out challenge in the Healthy Rewards site and quitting for the day OR supporting a loved one or co-worker quit for the day. Join the challenge on November 20th by going to the HR and You website (www.uphshrandyou.com), clicking on healthy rewards, and using your network credentials to log in and join the challenge.
Why Quit? Research shows that if you pick a quit date in the next 30 days and stick to it, you’ll be more likely to quit for good. So pick a quit date, and as you mark it on your calendar, consider these benefits of quitting: To learn more about the FREE UPHS Tobacco Cessation Program (for employees and dependents covered under a medical plan) through Health Advocate call 1.866-695.8622. Additional resources can be found on the UPHS HR and You Wellfocused website under the Tobacco Cessation – Quit Smoking section.
JUNE 2014 PRESBY STARS Congratulations to Presby STAR winners for June 2014, who each received $100 and a certificate recognizing their Presby STAR efforts. David Ford - SICU Tobi Adebamowo - Nursing, 5 S Melissa Hamilton - Cardiology, 3 E Maureen McGinley - Nursing, CUPP 5 S Andrew Reynolds - Cardiology, 3 E
Contact Us: Katie Delach | katie.delach@uphs.upenn.edu | http://news.pennmedicine.org/inside/presbybulletin/