Volume 8
Issue 19
September 20, 2013
PRESBYbulletin Penn Presbyterian Medical Center
PPMC in the News: SICU Goes Above and Beyond
JUNE
PRESBY STARS Congratulations to the June 2013 Presby STAR winners, who each received $100 and a certificate recognizing their Presby STAR status. Ivan Matthews, Mental Health Tech – Psych Janet Stocklin, PRN MOB Pool RN – 5 East An article published in the August issue of ADVANCE for Nurses highlights PPMC’s Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) nursing team for their recent accomplishments and efforts to build on successes by finding ways to improve patient care.
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Thanks to a dedicated team of nurses as well as a culture devoted to engaging staff and promoting positive change, our SICU continues to reach new heights.
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“As a unit we are always looking for ways to grow and enhance patient care,” said Joe DiMartino, MSN, RN, SICU nurse manager. “Thanks to a dedicated team of nurses as well as a culture devoted to engaging staff and promoting positive change, our SICU continues to reach new heights.” (continued on back)
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Daniele Bendig, CNII – 4 East Sandra Solomon, RN Outpatient Services – PHI Yvonne “Bonnie” Wilson, Secretary II – Radiology
PPMC in the News:
SICU Goes Above and Beyond (continued from front)
Previously combined with the medical intensive care unit (MICU), the SICU relocated to another floor in 2008, giving nurses the opportunity to “hone their skills and dedicate their time to the complex patient population they serve,” the article says. The team’s numerous nurse-driven initiatives and recognitions are often credited to a focus on teamwork and staff engagement. “Our unit and facility as a whole foster a collaborative environment where nurses are empowered to initiate positive change,” said Meg Welde, BSN, RN, CCRN, clinical nurse. “Nurses are with patients 24/7, putting us in the perfect position to improve patient outcomes.” Other recent initiatives tasked members of the SICU with finding new ways to reduce un-planned readmissions, lower costs, prevent pressure ulcers, and more. The Unit’s work was recognized with numerous honors, including the American Association of Critical Care Nurse’s Beacon Award. “Beacon was a year in the making,” said Mary Ann Jones, MSN, RN, CRNP, CCRN. “Everyone was involved in preparing the application. Every staff member faced the challenge head on and together we were successful.”
2013
There’s still time to apply for the 2013 Quality & Patient Safety Awards!
The Quality & Patient Safety Award has been designed to acknowledge Penn Medicine departments or teams who have exhibited leadership and innovation in activities that ensure high quality clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, patient safety, and/or cost efficiency.
Quality & Patient Safety Awards
The deadline for applications is September 30. Applications and more information can be found on the CEQI website. Please see the Presby Bulletin online for a direct link.
Be Heart Healthy: Join Penn Medicine’s 2013 Philadelphia Heart Walk Team! Walk with the Penn Medicine community to support the American Heart Association (AHA) in the fight against heart disease and stroke on Saturday, November 9, 2013 at Citizens Bank Park. This year, for the 15th Annual Heart Walk, the Penn Medicine challenge is to raise $135,000 and recruit more employees, patients, friends and families to walk with us than ever before! Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of all Americans. By supporting the heart walk, you’ll be making a difference in people’s lives – including your own. For more information, to register or make a donation, visit PennMedicine.org/ heartwalk. If you know someone who would like to become a team captain or register as a walker, contact Kate Balog at 215.575.5241 or kate.balog@heart.org from the American Heart Association.
This approach worked so well that they employed the same method when applying for Magnet status, which they achieved in 2012. “As a team we are not satisfied with simply maintaining the status quo,” said DiMartino. “We always have the ability to make something better and expand our knowledge, which is exactly what we do in the SICU on a daily basis.” To read the full text of the ADVANCE for Nurses article, please see the Presby Bulletin online. Contact Us: Katie Delach | katie.delach@uphs.upenn.edu | http://news.pennmedicine.org/inside/presbybulletin/