Yes or no? Sometimes! I had a bad experience with pumpkin pie ice cream, which ruined pumpkin for me. I prefer Chai in the fall, the spicier the better! - Amanda Thornton
v
Not a fan of the pumpkin
spice but bring on the cranberry everything! - John Carocci
v
I long
for the days when pumpkin spice felt like an underground thing discovered in the high fat, high calorie, no nutritional value, low cost cappuccino available only at the grungiest of gas stations. - Matthew Crehan Higgins v The only place pumpkin belongs is in a pie. I'm partial to vanilla or caramel. - Laura Pasquarella
v
Yes! But not in a latte
form. I went a little overboard at Trader Joe’s last week with all of their new pumpkin products! - Rachel Voelkle-Kuhlmann
v
Pumpkin
Spice Cheerios mmmm. Not so much for pie. I prefer pecan pie with a hint of pumpkin spice! - Glendalisse Vargas
v
Yes! - Nicole Coonly
The mandatory annual training modules are available on Evergreen University! All training modules must be completed by December 31, 2018, so be sure to give yourself enough time between now and then to complete them. If you have any questions or need additional help, please contact Jocelyn Leising, Training Support Assistant.
Essential Trainings through Mental Health Association of Erie County Dan Lukasik is the Director for Workplace Well-Being for the Mental Health Association of Erie County and will be onsite to give presentations on the topics of stress, anxiety and depression in the workplace. There will be four one-hour sessions about mental health. Workplace Mental Health Essentials (October 10)
Stress and Anxiety Essentials (October 23)
This session is a high-level introduction to the "Mental
In this session, learn how stress and anxiety can impact
Health Works" program. It addresses mental health
work. It takes a particular focus on anxiety and guides
awareness, how to respond to common issues, and
participants through the Mental Health Works "3-gear
standards for psychological health/safety. It will also
method" of addressing it: (1) awareness, (2) responding,
show the impact of stigmatizing language and discuss
and (3) collaborating to find solutions. This presentation
mental health as it contributes to overall health.
helps participants learn how to openly talk about anxiety
Mood and Depression Essentials (October 16)
Psychological Health & Safety Essentials (October 30)
This session provides an overview of how mood impacts
This presentation provides an introduction to workplace
work, with a focus on depression in the workplace. It
mental health and safety. It includes a high level
guides participants through the Mental Health Works
introduction to mental health awareness and responding
"3-gear method" of addressing it: (1) awareness, (2)
to some common issues, as well as accommodation,
responding, and (3) collaborating to find solutions.
return to work, and standards for psychological health
Participants learn how to talk about depression openly.
and safety in the workplace.
All sessions will be held from 3 - 4 p.m. at Evergreen Commons. Please contact Jocelyn Leising, Training Support Assistant, to register for any of these trainings.
Getting to Status Neutral: HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis and Undetectable = Untransmittable The field of HIV prevention and treatment has changed significantly with our understanding of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis and Undetectable = Untransmittable. As our understanding has changed, so too must our language and the way we talk to patients and the community about HIV risk and transmission. This session will increase your knowledge of PrEP, U = U and eliminating stigmatizing language, as well as review what you can do to further these messages and engage more of the community in PrEP and HIV treatment services. Training sessions will be held once a month at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. If you'd like to attend, please contact Jocelyn Leising, Training Support Assistant. Upcoming dates are September 26, October 31, November 28 and December 19.
Birthdays Norma Bocanegra..............October 1 Matthew Pasquarella.........October 1 DeJuan Burnell..................October 1 Lauren Voelkle..................October 3 Cortney Anderson.............October 4 Jenna Raphael...................October 4 Lizzie Vazquez...................October 5 Yolanda Sims.....................October 5 Heather Maloney...............October 6 Amanda LaFleur................October 8 Kathleen Crissey................October 8 Christina Mihalitsas...........October 9 Kandice Hood....................October 9 Shawn Jenner....................October 10 Jennifer Halper.................October 10 Courtney Rhines................October 11 Gregory Fulgham...............October 11 Bianca Morris....................October 12 Stephani Miranda..............October 14 Christina Cornell...............October 14 Gaia Oliver........................October 20 Dawn Trotter.....................October 20 Cornelia Meredith.............October 21 Nicole Coonly....................October 21 Kayleen O'Halloran............October 22 Krista Orrange...................October 22 Walsh, Mariel....................October 22 Richard Fleurant...............October 24 Lil Kizzy Tell......................October 24 Arica Rouse.......................October 25 Dalisha Bass......................October 25 Susan Buck........................October 26 Joseph Lapi.......................October 27 Matthew Edson.................October 28 Jillian Dagastino................October 28
Anniversaries Alyssa Sherman............................ 1 year Anthony Roth............................... 1 year Tia Johnson.................................. 1 year Christina Carter............................ 1 year Nicole Mitchell............................. 1 year Erin Fleckenstein......................... 1 year Chad Pautler................................ 1 year Jillian Dagastino........................... 1 year Ruby Orcutt.................................. 1 year Amanda LaFleur........................... 1 year Kyle Berberich.............................. 2 years Ann Breidenstein......................... 2 years Erin Pepicello............................... 2 years Joseph Pignatora.......................... 2 years Julie Rapp.................................... 2 years Sashira Quintana.......................... 2 years Alex Marranca.............................. 2 years Adam Costanza............................. 2 years Michael Ludwick.......................... 2 years Robert Moore............................... 2 years Mark Wolf.................................... 2 years Mayerling Garofalo....................... 2 years Danielle Shaw.............................. 3 years David Haefner.............................. 3 years Quentin Page................................ 3 years Veronica Velazquez....................... 3 years
Outreach Uganda is a non-profit organization devoted to fighting
Maria Cruz................................... 3 years
poverty in Uganda. One of the ways they do this is by helping Ugandan
Ian Eastman................................. 3 years
Theo Herman............................... 3 years
women create and sell hand-crafted beadwork. We will be selling their
Mindi Mietlicki............................. 4 years
wares on November 30th in the lobby of our Elmwood building for World
Emily Oaks................................... 4 years
Brittani McKay............................. 4 years
AIDS Day. All proceeds will go back to Uganda to help support their
Laurie Abbatessa.......................... 5 years
villages and provide education, healthcare and hope. - Lori Anthony
Shevy Fitzgerald-Matson............... 6 years
Lindsey Soroka............................. 6 years Sheila Marcheson......................... 10 years
A Adam Costanza
A Julie Vaughan
A Alex McGann
A Katie Mego
A Angela Fanale
A Kizzy Tell
A Christina Mihalitsas
A Kristen O'Connor
A Dana McHale
A LeAnna Shanks
A Dave Setlock
A Lidia Kendrick
A Dawn Trotter
A Liza Pereira
A Emily Oaks
A Maria Cruz
A Emma Fabian
A Melissa Delgado
A Jacob Marsh
A Melissa Murray
A Jeanna Portera
A Michael Canty
A Jocelyn Leising
A Nick Azzopardi
A Johnelle Ferby
A Nicole Mitchell
A Jonathan Puma
A Toni Hernandez
A Julie Mayer
Here are all the people who received a High Five between August 18 and September 17.
The Child and Family Services Employee Assistance Program (EAP) serves many employees who work directly in their communities, in patient homes and at community centers throughout Erie County and the Southern Tier. This month, we spoke with Thomas Ess, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator and Associate Vice President at People, Inc., to discuss how employees can keep themselves safe in any situation, and how anyone who works directly with patients can connect positively with them.
Know Before You Go | While it’s not always possible before the first meeting, try to gather as much information as you can about the patient’s situation before going into the field. What is the history of your organization’s contact with them? What are the patient’s concerns or unique challenges that you may have to address? “If you’re aware of potential issues that could lead to conflict or escalation, you may be able to address them before they become a problem,” Ess recommends. In any situation, you should also prepare for your personal safety. Know your routes: how you’re getting there, where you're going to park, and what landmarks you’re using to identify your location. Have backup navigation in case your online navigation can’t connect. Ess stresses the importance of knowing your surroundings: “If you plan ahead, no matter how positive or negative the situation may be, you are better prepared to handle it.” Keep It Personal (But Don’t Take It Personally) | While you may not see yourself as an authoritative figure, or you may not have the ability to address the larger concerns of your patient, it’s always helpful to remember that when you're dealing with a patient who gets upset or angry, it’s often not personal. “You represent more than yourself," Ess reminds us. “You are bringing with you the whole of the organization — its rules, regulations, and reputation.” The patient will likely associate you with their preconceived
idea of what the organization does or any conflict that they are facing with your organization. “You become a target because of where you work, not who you are as a person.” When Conflict Arises, Focus on De-escalation. | There are many ways to de-escalate a situation successfully. One important strategy is to stay calm and use language that communicates understanding, not conflict. “Have specific phrases planned that show your understanding for the patient’s situation: ‘I can see you’re really upset’ or ‘I’m sorry that you’re experiencing this’ will help the patient be heard and allow for better communication to begin.” Avoid phrases that will make the patient more frustrated. “Has hearing ‘calm down!’ ever made you relax?” Ess asks. “Probably not.” By empathizing with your patient, you’re not agreeing with the environment they are in or their actions. However, your empathy is a first step towards building trust and starting the relationship on an equal footing. “Our words matter a lot,” Ess says. “Just by being clear, calm, and in control, we can make all the difference in building safe and productive relationships with patients.” If you feel impacted by the work you do and the patients you serve, remember that EAP is a free and confidential benefit that can help you work on short-term solutions to manage any stress or impact you might be experiencing. Call 681-4300 to get set up with an appointment today.
Incident reports have an important function within our organization. They're used to inform appropriate departments of an incident, as a witness’s initial statement for investigations and, through analysis, to highlight areas of risk within Evergreen. It’s important to understand the six different incident reports used at Evergreen and the basics of how to write an incident report. There are four EMPLOYEE INCIDENT REPORTS found in the ticketing systems under ALL FORMS:
• • • •
Work Related Injuries Compliance Breaches Personnel Issues and Safety Security Threats
These four incident reports are for Evergreen employees, interns or independent contractors to report events that have happened to them or that they have witnessed involving other employees, interns or independent contractors. The policy and procedures on these Incident Reports can be found on the intranet by clicking on the FOR ME section and then CORPORATE COMPLIANCE. There are two additional INCIDENT REPORTS found under ALL FORMS • •
Visitors & Guests - used for any incident involving only visitors, guests or patients (for example, altercation among patients, theft of visitor’s property or a guest has a medical emergency) Code Blue - used by employees to record Code Blue incidents.
While writing an incident report may seem straightforward, it isn’t as easy as it seems to write a report that clearly and accurately represents the incident. Here are eight important rules to follow when writing a report: 1. 2.
Approach the incident as if you were a news reporter recording the facts, focus on the who, what, when, where and why of the incident. Stick to the facts that you observed and review your facts to make sure they are not opinions or assumptions.
3. Be clear on the order of events. What happened first, what happened second and what happened after that? 4. Use clear ordinary language and avoid the use of acronyms! 5. Good grammar, punctuation, spelling and paragraph breaks are essential in order to accurately and clearly convey the events. 6. Write down what happened as soon as possible after the incident as your memory will be most clear and less likely to contain embellishment. 7. Stay focused on writing about the incident. Backstories or what happened afterwards is information that is seldom required. 8. Review what you have written before you submit it through the ticketing system. Remember, incident reports may be used as the basis for an investigation and might be reviewed by a number of people, so it’s important to be timely, accurate, and clear and concise as possible. This helps to establish the events as they happened and dispels many of the assumptions that are easy to make in the aftermath of an incident. While the Employee Incident Reporting P&P is available on the intranet, here are some important requirements: 1. 2. 3.
Most incidents are required to be reported through the ticketing systems within 24 hours of the incident excluding holidays and weekends. When it comes to employee incidents, the employee who experienced the incident must be the individual who reports the incident unless the employee is unable to report, then a supervisor may make an initial report to be followed up by the employee’s report once they are able. All employees who witness incidents are required to also submit an incident report.
There may be times when you've witnessed an incident but don't feel comfortable reporting it through the ticketing system. For example, perhaps you witnessed a personnel issue, a conflict of interest or a compliance breach that was not appropriately reported. The Anonymous Compliance Helpline at 716-5410663 is there for you to make an anonymous report regarding your concerns.