New CEO Arrives

Margaret Sabin officially begins her role as President and CEO of Penrose-St. Francis Health Services on Monday, Nov. 3.  A series of welcome receptions have been set up for associates, volunteers and physicians to meet the new PSF leader.

Nov. 3, 4:30-6 p.m. for Directors and Managers in the Penrose Cactus Room; cocktails and light Hors de Oeuvres served.

Nov. 4, 7-9 a.m. for Associates and Volunteers in the Penrose Coffee Bar Area; continental breakfast served.

Nov. 4, 2-4 p.m. for Associates and Volunteers in the St. Francis Medical Center Cafeteria; cookies and punch served.

Nov. 5, 7-9 a.m. for Associates and Volunteers in the St. Francis Health Center Cafeteria; continental breakfast served.

Nov. 5, 7-9 p.m. for Physicians in the Penrose Cactus Room; cocktails and heavy Hors de Oeuvres served.

Nov. 6, 7-9 a.m. for Associates and Volunteers in the St. Francis Medical Center Cafeteria; continental breakfast served.

Nov. 7, 3-5 p.m. for Associates and Volunteers in the Penrose Coffee Bar area; cookies and punched served.  

Nov. 11, 5-7 p.m. for Physicians in the St. Francis Medical Center Physician Lounge; cocktails and heavy Hors de Oeuvres served.

Over the next 60 days, she plans to meet with PSF leadership, physicians, community leaders, and as many associates and volunteers as she possibly can.  In a letter sent to associates and volunteers this week, she said “I will listen, observe and learn, with the goal of validating my initial thoughts around the need for focusing on clinical and operational excellence, building meaningful physician relationships and growth.  By doing this, we will increase confidence and trust to the organization and its stakeholders.”

To facilitate communication throughout her initial 60-day orientation, a blog has been created called “Listen, Observe and Learn.”  All Penrose-St. Francis associates, volunteers and physicians can read about the insights she gains during her first 60 days, as well as share their own views and read the views of others.  You can follow the progress of her orientation by logging into www.myvirtualworkplace.org and clicking on the rotating banner entitled “Listen, Observe and Learn” located on the bottom right-hand side of the page. 

All Aboard!

The Journey to the Peak is a process focused on excellence at Penrose-St. Francis Health Services.  The Magnet Recognition Program® was developed by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to recognize health care organizations that provide evidence supporting excellence in leadership, patient care, and the existence of a Magnet Culture. 

A Magnet Culture demonstrates excellence in patient care through an empowered workforce that demonstrates collaborative practice between all workers, departments and disciplines.  Our PSF Journey to the Peak is focused to meet the quality indicators and standards of nursing practice that are identified by the Magnet Recognition Program®.
EVERYONE in PSF makes a difference! 

The Components of the Magnet Model are research-based and provide a “map” to guide our journey.  Research studies identify eight attributes essential to quality care (Essentials of Magnetism).  These Essentials include culture of concern for patients, support for education, adequate staffing, nurse autonomy, control over clinical practice, collaborative nurse-physician relationships, nurse manager support and clinically competent co-workers. 

“I see expert nursing every day.  Nurses are caring knowledge workers using both the science and art of nursing,” said Deb Nussdorfer, Magnet Coordinator.  “PSF nurses create a safe environment, use best practices to improve our patient outcomes and are lifelong learners.  Research shows that a nurse professional practice environment contributes to quality and outcomes.  Our nurses make a difference in the lives of patients and families – and they make their work environment positive with teamwork, recognition of each others strengths and voicing solutions to improve practice.” 

While nursing standards provide the foundation a culture of excellence only occurs in collaboration with all staff, physicians and volunteers.  “The characteristics of a magnet culture are consistent with our mission and are evident and growing within PSF,” said Kate McCord, PSF Chief Nursing Officer.  “Our Journey to the Peak focuses our attention on areas we know will improve patients’ lives and our work environment.” 

Dr. Jeffrey Oram-Smith, PSF Chief Medical Officer, is committed to the Journey to the Peak, adding, "It is very appropriate that one of the eight Essentials of Magnetism is Collaborative Positive Nurse Physician relationships. My hope is that this journey will be an incentive for us to collectively hardwire this relationship so that mutual respect and collaboration are the basis of patient care delivery."

"Magnet is really about building a culture of nursing excellence and empowerment,” added Jameson Smith, PSF Chief Operating Officer.  “We want our nurses to work in that kind of professional environment.  Our Magnet journey will make us the employer of choice for nurses, which will make Penrose-St. Francis the hospital of choice for patients and physicians."

Pikes Peak, uniquely Colorado Springs, provides the backdrop for our journey. We symbolically drive our own “train” to the summit of Pikes Peak in our Journey to the Peak of Excellence!

The Magnet Committee is hosting a “Whistle Stop Tour” highlighting model components and exemplars of excellence.  Please join us on Nov. 6 at St. Francis Medical Center or Nov. 12 at Penrose Hospital.
 

Open House

All Penrose-St. Francis associates and volunteers are invited to attend an open house for the new John Zay Guest House from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 1. 

Tours of the facility will be available and attendees have the opportunity to leave prayers or well wishes for a time capsule that will be kept in the guest house.

The patient guest house opens for service on Nov. 3 and will be a “home away from home” for out-of-town patients receiving extended treatment at Penrose Hospital, as well as a respite for their family members.

The 12,000 square foot home contains 11 suites, each with a bedroom, living room, bathroom and kitchenette.  It is located at 2131 North Tejon Street, adjacent to Penrose Hospital.

The Penrose-St. Francis Health Foundation has donated an anonymous $1 million donation for the project.  HBA Cares, the charitable foundation established by the Colorado Springs Housing and Building Association; the building captain, George Hess III; and Vantage Homes have engaged more than 90 HBA member businesses and individuals that have provided materials and services at no or low cost.  Additionally, more than $68,000 was raised for the project during the past two Penrose-St. Francis Health Services Associate Campaigns.

The guest house is named in remembrance of an extraordinary man who, as a Penrose Hospital chaplain and cancer survivor himself, comforted and inspired myriads of people, particularly those with catastrophic illnesses.  
 

Gold Hard Hat Award

St. Francis Medical Center has received McGraw Hill Construction’s annual Gold Hard Hat Award for the Outstanding Health Care Project in Colorado.

The annual awards competition determines the best Colorado projects completed by Colorado firms in a calendar year.  Judging was done by a panel of industry experts, based on design quality and innovation, craftsmanship, the project’s contribution to the community and the industry, solution of unique design and construction challenges, and overall excellence.

The 465,000-sq-ft St. Francis Medical Center is the culmination of years of planning, decision-making and collaboration among the owners, architects, engineers, designers, medical professionals and contractors.

The ever-growing population of northeast Colorado Springs and El Paso County needed closer, convenient and more comprehensive services. The 33-acre site at the corner of Woodmen Road and Powers Boulevard was selected for its visibility, convenience and proximity to the communities it was designed to serve.

The challenge was accelerating the design process because of a late budget release by the owner and adhering to a 26-month schedule from mobilization to the first patient admission.  It was a challenge met with two innovative solutions.

Authorizing the start of construction before establishing a guaranteed maximum price is always a risk, especially in times of steep materials escalation. GE Johnson worked with the design team to understand the design intent and establish an early construction budget. The project team pre-purchased many material items subject to significant price escalation, even before the actual design for these elements was complete. These proactive measures ensured that the early project budget was maintained while heading off potential budget surprises.

Given the accelerated design schedule, GE Johnson proposed a modified design-build solution for the exterior skin of the building. The team used 3D modeling to design 693 prefabricated stucco panels that comprise the exterior skin. This acceleration of construction allowed the project to benefit by enclosing the building within its permanent skin ahead of schedule, negating the need for temporary enclosures during the winter.

Because of these strategies and others, the hospital was completed almost three months ahead of schedule.

-- Courtesy, GE Johnson Construction Co. and RTA Architects

5 Million Lives Campaign

Health care workers around Colorado are doing their part to help 5 million patients nationally through advances in patient safety, including Penrose-St. Francis Health Services. 

The 5 Million Lives Campaign is a growing national effort to increase patient safety and reduce harm in hospitals by implementing 12 evidence-based changes in patient care. The campaign builds on the success of the 100,000 Lives Campaign, a similar program that resulted in saving approximately 122,000 lives over an 18-month period.

Penrose-St. Francis is among 45 hospitals in Colorado joining over 3,000 hospitals nationwide in the campaign.

“Colorado hospitals already have significant patient safety protocols in place,” said Michelle Mills, Project Manager, Colorado Foundation for Medical Care, which is coordinating the Colorado effort. “But the 5 Million Lives Campaign provides them a framework and technical assistance to implement quality improvement changes that are proven to reduce error and medical harm for patients.”

“This is the right thing for our patients and for our community,” said Kelli Saucerman, Director of Clinical Effectiveness and Quality Improvement for Penrose-St. Francis.  “By ensuring consistent implementation of proven patient safety practices, we’ve seen immediate improvements in patient care, while creating system-wide procedures that last over time.”

The Colorado 5 Million Lives Campaign is being supported by The Colorado Trust, a Denver-based grantmaking foundation.

“As a foundation dedicated to advancing the health and well-being of all Coloradans, we have a strong interest in the quality of health care in our state,” said Laurel Petralia, program officer for The Colorado Trust. “We see this as a way to enhance the already strong safety procedures in Colorado hospitals and to achieve significant and sustainable change.”

Each of the 45 Colorado hospitals participating in the campaign is receiving up to $50,000 from The Colorado Trust to help put some or all of the campaign’s 12 evidence-based quality improvements in place, including:

• Activating a Rapid Response Team at the first sign that a patient’s condition is worsening and may lead to a more serious medical emergency.
• Preventing patients from dying of heart attacks by delivering evidence-based care, including appropriate administration of aspirin to prevent blood clots and Beta blockers to prevent further heart attacks.
• Preventing medication errors by ensuring that accurate and continually updated lists of patients’ medications are referenced during their hospital stay, particularly at transition points.
• Preventing patients who are receiving medicines and fluids through central lines from developing infections by following a five-step “bundle” of activities.
• Preventing patients who are undergoing surgery from developing infections by following a series of steps, including the timely administration of antibiotics.
• Preventing patients on ventilators from developing pneumonia by following four steps, including raising the head of the patient’s bed between 30 and 40 degrees.
• Preventing harm from high-alert medications by creating reliable systems that standardize doses, and identifying and mitigating harm when it does occur.
• Reducing surgical complications by administering Beta blockers when needed, preventing deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) and infection.
• Preventing pressure ulcers (also called bed sores) by monitoring patients’ condition daily, decreasing pressure on patients’ skin and keeping skin clean and dry.
• Reducing Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) infection by using proper hand hygiene, cleaning patient rooms and supplies and using contact precautions.
• Delivering reliable care for congestive heart failure by providing ACE inhibitors and anticoagulants at discharge, offering smoking cessation counseling and encouraging influenza and pneumonia immunization.
• Engaging hospital leadership in patient safety efforts, beginning with the Board of Trustees.

The 5 Million Lives Campaign was developed by the Massachusetts-based Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), a nonprofit organization leading the improvement of health care throughout the world. 

Saving Lives

St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church in Colorado Springs recently received a grant to purchase an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), courtesy of Centura Health's "Jumpstart a Heart" Community Outreach Program.  The church’s push for an AED was led by Paul Miller, a church member who witnessed his father saved by an AED at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport three years ago, and 11-year-old Stephanie Huisingh, who attended a CPR class to learn more about AEDs because she has a younger sibling with Rett Syndrome.
 
“The goal of the program is to educate people about the importance of AEDs and how they save lives in our communities,” said Wendi Dammann, Regional Strategic Marketing Director for Penrose-St. Francis Health Services, a hospital system within Centura Health.  

Centura Health provides a quarterly grant on behalf of each of its hospitals for non-profit organizations within their communities.  The Pikes Peak Library District will receive the next AED grant on behalf of Penrose-St. Francis.

Leading-Edge Technology

Penrose-St. Francis Health Services has announced it will acquire the CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System, a non-invasive alternative to surgery for the treatment of tumors anywhere in the body.

Penrose-St. Francis will be the first and only hospital in Southern Colorado to utilize the CyberKnife System.

The treatment – which delivers high doses of radiation to tumors with extreme accuracy – offers new hope to patients who have inoperable or surgically complex tumors, or who may be looking for an alternative to surgery.

“With Penrose-St. Francis acquiring the CyberKnife – the only robotic radiosurgery system with proven sub-millimeter accuracy – we can make untreatable and unreachable tumors a thing of the past,” said Dr. Anuj Peddada, Radiation Oncologist for the Penrose Cancer Center.  “Because of its unrivaled accuracy, we can deliver the entire treatment, non-invasively, in one to five treatments.”

The system costs nearly $4 million and is expected to become operational in the summer of 2009. 

The CyberKnife System uses image-guidance and computer-controlled robotics to deliver multiple beams of high-energy radiation to the tumor from virtually any direction.  Designed to treat tumors anywhere in the body with sub-millimeter accuracy, the CyberKnife System tracks the tumor’s position, detects any tumor or patient movement and automatically corrects the treatment delivery. 

The outpatient procedure does not require anesthesia or invasive stabilizing frames.  Most patients experience minimal recovery time and can return to normal activities almost immediately.

“The CyberKnife will complement an already-robust arsenal of tools we currently employ to provide world-class cancer care,” Dr. Peddada added. 

With the purchase of the system, the Penrose Cancer Center will have the most complete set of radiation oncology tools in the state, including External Beam Radiation, Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT), High-Dose Rate (HDR), and Cranial and Extracranial Stereotactic Radiosurgery.

A Booming Demand

Advances in healthcare are helping more than 78 million Baby Boomers live longer, fuller lives. Today’s oldest Boomers – who are now in their early 60s – have a life expectancy of more than 82. But as they enter their 60s, one in six Boomers can expect to be diagnosed with cancer. When they turn 70, the risk jumps to one in three. At that rate, more than 29 million Boomers between the ages of 70 and 79 will be diagnosed with cancer.

The CyberKnife System provides a treatment option to the many Boomers who may not be able to withstand traditional cancer treatments, such as surgery or chemotherapy, because of age-related complications or other health problems. CyberKnife treatments are pain free, non-invasive, don’t require anesthesia and have minimal to no side effects.

Lung Cancer Treatment

Lung cancer, which makes up 15 percent of the cancer diagnoses each year, presents significant challenges in how to treat patients. In fact, consensus from the last American College of Chest Physicians meeting predicted 50 percent of early stage lung cancer patients will be unable to undergo surgery because of other associated medical conditions, such as advanced heart or lung disease.

Treating lung tumors with radiation is difficult because tumors in the lungs move as a patient breathes, making it difficult to treat these tumors accurately – you don’t know quite where the tumor is at any given time in the respiration cycle, therefore damage to surrounding healthy tissue may occur. However, the CyberKnife System has the unique ability to follow a lung tumor while the patient is breathing normally. The system uses continual image guidance technology to track the patient’s breathing cycle, detect the location of the tumor and correct the treatment delivery direction/angles accordingly throughout the entire course of treatment minimizing damage to surrounding critical structures.

Quality of Life

Weakness, pain, fatigue, nausea, hair loss and prolonged hospitalization are just a handful of the many side effects patients often experience after conventional treatments for cancer.   Because it does not require surgery, patients face minimal risk and few post-treatment complications. Patients come in, relax on the treatment couch in their street clothes, and watch TV or listen to music while the painless, non-invasive treatment takes place, then they leave and go back to their normal activities – a very simple and effective cancer treatment.

'Baby Ricky'

At just 23 weeks gestational age and weighing only 1 pound, 3 ounces, Ricardo Coronado is the smallest and youngest baby ever cared for at Penrose-St. Francis Health Services.  He was born on June 23 at Penrose Community Hospital and went home on Oct. 8 after being treated in the SFMC NICU. 

Normal survival rate at this gestational age is considered by most neonatologists to be less than 25 percent.  Not only has Ricardo survived, but his prognosis is very good.  Ricardo has already faced challenges that most people won’t endure their entire life, including spending his first several weeks of his life on a ventilator.  His respiratory status is remarkable stable today, given how sick he was in the very beginning.  He was discharged home on a small amount of oxygen.

Several media outlets in Colorado Springs covered his release from SFMC and the story was picked up by the Associated Press and eventually found its way on www.foxnews.com.

Vim & Vigor

The winter issue of Vim & Vigor hits mailboxes across Southern Colorado any day.  You can also log on to www.penrosestfrancis.org to view the publication. This issue focuses on the health of the whole person featuring a number of articles that provide a wealth of resources for managing your health through the holiday season and beyond.  Read about how women today balance multiple roles and responsibilities and maybe not so much, their health. Golf legend Tiger Woods talks about his recent joint surgery and the latest and greatest in orthopedic care.  We also tackle high-risk pregnancy in our "Risky Business" feature and effective stroke treatments in the article "When Seconds Count."

As always, your marketing and public relations department appreciates your feedback.  If you have questions or comments about Vim & Vigor, please submit them to wendidammann@centura.org.

Ethics Consultants

Do you know your Ethics Consultants?

Kate McCord RN, MSN – Chief Nursing Officer has been with Penrose-St. Francis since 1977 and a member of the Ethics Committee since 1997.  She became interested in ethics in both her undergraduate and graduate nursing program.  “The challenge with the consults is that there is often no right or wrong answer to the ethical dilemma.   So the focus is to assist families with communication and in honoring the patient’s wishes even when he/she is unable to speak for him/herself.”  Kate plans to continue her graduate education in the area of Bio-Ethics.

Rochelle Salmore, RN, MSN – Clinical Manager of the Wound Clinic and Transport has been with PSF for 36 years.   She has been a consultant since 1996.  When asked why she became involved in ethics, she said, “I saw it as a challenge and opportunity for me to grow.  Ethics was something I knew very little about at the time.  I still find it a huge growth opportunity, and despite the reading and classes I've taken, I still have a long way to go.  It's an ever-changing and challenging area.  One can find very few "patterns" in ethics consultations; therefore, each set of circumstances presents a new challenge for us to attempt finding a resolution. Often, I need to confer with another consultant to help with bouncing ideas back and forth.  It's definitely the most interesting committee on which I sit.”

Eileen Hurd, RN, BSN – Clinical Manager of the Cardiovascular Unit, has been with PSF for 19 years.  She became interested in ethics after studying for her bachelors’ degree and needing to take several humanity classes.  She chose ethics and philosophy.  From these classes she learned there is not always a right or wrong answer, sometimes things are much more complicated.  She said, “This is the most difficult and challenging, yet most rewarding committee I have ever been on.”

Jeff Shaw, MS – Senior Genetics Counselor, Penrose Cancer Center has been with PSF for 11 years.  Jeff’s interest in ethics goes back to college where he took several ethics classes.  He is an ethics consultant because it allows him to give a voice to patients that don’t have one and to help families during difficult situations. 

Theresa Gregoire – PSF hospital chaplain since 2001, joined the ethics committee in 2005.  She feels the ethics committee is a challenging opportunity and she learns something new each time she is called on a case as a consultant.  Like Rochelle, she confers with the other consultants when unsure and is glad the consultants are there for each other, and work closely with each other as they advocate for our patients and their families. 

Brenda Molencamp, RN, BSN – Has been with PSF for 15 years; first on the 5th floor as a charge nurse and then moving to the 4th floor as Clinical Manager.   Brenda became interested in medical ethics watching the ethical dilemmas patients, families, and medical staff face on a daily basis.  Many challenges and cultural values play such a part in the committee’s decisions. 

Rosemary Partridge – A staff chaplain with the Spiritual Care Department.  She has been with Centura Health for eight years and with Penrose St. Francis for the past five years.  Rosemary's interest in serving on the ethics committee and as an ethics consultant came about as a necessary extension of her role as a chaplain in ministering to patients and their families.  Addressing the concerns of patients and families pertaining to treatment and end of life is an integral part of a chaplain's role, and she is often called upon to participate in family conferences and discussions that involve those ethical concerns.  Technology and its ability to prolong life have created new questions in the area of ethics.  Rosemary feels it a professional responsibility to be educated in the area of ethics and says that being on the ethics committee helps her to do so.            

Halos for Heroes

The following people were recognized through the Penrose-St. Francis Health Foundation’s Halos for Heroes program in October.  Halos for Heroes recognizes associates, nurses and physicians who have touched the lives of patients in a special way.

October Halos for Heroes:
Dr. Jack Dillon
Miho Dickie, RN
Dr. Kit Hooker
Lydia Fitch, RN
Elizabeth Kirk, RN
Dr. Thomas Bartlett
Janette Moser, RN
Dr. Thomas MacFarlane
Dr. Steve Jensen
Kacey Lee, RN
Brenda Guilfoil, RN
Dr. Bruce Ward
Dr. Christian Simpfendorfer
Dr. Christopher Cole
Dr. John Mehall
Dr. Paul Wall
Karen Jordan, RN
Dr. James Duffey

Haloes for Heroes is a program that has evolved out of Centura Health’s desire to highlight the relationship between patients and providers. It allows patients, family, and friends to recognize and honor a specific Centura staff member who provided them with outstanding service.Halos for Heroes endorses Centura’s ideals in the areas of quality, service, cost, people, growth, and community in its quest to build an outstanding organization that better serves the needs of patients. Donations from Halos for Heroes benefit patients through better programs, services, and technology.

Visit the website at www.halosforheroes.org for more information.

Pulse Survey

Beginning Nov. 3, in partnership with Press Ganey, we will be conducting an Associate Perspective Pulse Survey to find out how our associate perspectives have changed since the full survey last spring. Please answer the 12 questions in the confidential e-mail you will receive from Press Ganey.

The Associate Perspective Pulse Survey is a quick five-minute survey that takes place halfway between annual surveys, and will be conducted Nov. 3-23.  All full-time, part-time and PRN associates (hired by 9-30-08) are asked to participate. Associates will receive a confidential link to the survey in an e-mail message from survey@pressganey.com. The subject line will read “Associate Perspective Pulse Survey – Do Not Delete.” No PIN is needed to access the survey via e-mail.

“This anonymous survey is part of our effort to provide all associates with a better place to work,” said Gary Morse, Vice President of Human Resources for PSF.

Here are the 12 questions on the pulse survey that associates will be asked to rate in regards to their facility or entity:

Senior Leadership
1. Senior Leadership really listens to employees
2. Senior Leadership responds promptly to most problems

Participation
3. I have opportunities to influence policies and decisions that affect my work
4. I am satisfied with my involvement in decision-making

Recognition
5. Excellent performance is recognized here
6. Promotions are handled fairly here
7. I am satisfied with how my supervisor conducts my performance review

Supervision
8. I am satisfied with the manner in which my supervisor handles complaints, grievances, and problems
9. My supervisor recognizes my ideas or suggestions for improvement

Overall Organization Impression
10. I would recommend this organization to a friend as a good place to work
11. Overall, I am satisfied with this organization

Overall Job Fulfillment
12. Overall, I am satisfied with my job

Look for the survey to arrive in your Centura e-mail account beginning Nov. 3. Press Ganey has provided the following note about confidentiality: “No individual responses will ever be reported to Centura Health, and please remember that no one at Centura Health will ever see your completed survey.”

If you know associates who do not regularly check their Centura e-mail account, please help them log on if needed. Many important messages are sent to associate e-mail accounts from the facility and from the service center.

Thank you for your support in helping Penrose-St. Francis “take its pulse.”  For more information, contact the HR Department at 776-4796.

Worthy Cause

In effort to support the Care and Share Food Bank mission and our the community, the Health Information Management Department (aka: Medical Records) and Outreach Committee are partnering again for the annual hospital-wide Care and Share Food Drive Nov. 3-14.  They will be collecting canned goods and other non-perishable food items during this period.  Boxes will be located outside the Cafeteria and in Administration at all three hospital campuses. 

For offsite campuses, boxes will be located in the break room or vending machine area.  In addition, Denim Day is Friday, Nov. 7.  You donate $5 and wear jeans to work. For every $1 donated, 10 pounds of food can be purchased. All proceeds will be donated to the Care and Share Food Bank. You may pay drop off your $5 and/or donations to Ann Martin in PH Administration, Barb Matzker in SFMC Administration, Liz Benavidz in SF Nutritional Services, and Becky Morland at Langstaff Brown Urgent Care Center.

Care and Share Food Bank is Southern Colorado’s not-for-profit food bank serving the hungry across our 31-county service area. The mission of Care and Share Food Bank is to expose the existence of hunger, alleviate its pain and improve the nutrition of people in need throughout southern Colorado. In coalition with diverse organizations, they provide hunger relief and work to address the root causes of hunger through advocacy and education. Care and Share acts as southern Colorado’s sole food bank for locally and nationally donated and purchased food. 

Ninety-four cents of every dollar donated goes to support nutrition programs and build long-term food security, and 6 cents of every dollar goes to administration and fundraising. The food donated and collected by Care and Share helps numerous agencies to include, but not limited to, emergency food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, child placement agencies, foster homes, domestic violence shelters, residential treatment facilities, not-for-profit day care centers for the youth and elderly, and others in need.  The majority of those seeking emergency food assistance are families, seniors, and employed.  Here are a few startling facts:

• 41 percent of clients are working families
• 35 percent of the families served have at least one child
• 40 percent of clients must choose between paying for food or and paying for medicine

Values in Action

By Larry Seidl
Vice President, Mission Effectiveness

This is the time of year when many high school juniors and seniors start their placement tests for acceptance into the college(s) of their choice.  We know many of those tests as the SAT and ACT exams.  A key component of those exams are the verbal comprehension tests.   Among other things, they are about words -- the meaning and understanding we attach to them -- and their use in many analogous ways.
 
I recently picked up one of the test manuals and paged to the verbal comprehension section.  I kept discovering words which have the potential to mean one thing to one person and something else to another person.  A few words with relevance to our ministry might include terms such as emergency, incompetence, critical outcomes and values.  These words apply because what one person considers an emergency can be anything but an emergency to another.  A professional caregiver might consider a patient incompetent to make a decision while a family member disagrees vehemently.   And what is a value to me may not be a value or priority to you.
 
So how do we, as an organization, maneuver through a difficult decision when the lack of our ability to reach consensus may lie within the differing perspectives and values of the stakeholders.  How do we make valued-based decisions in a multi-cultural environment which may or may not agree with our values?  And what happens when those decisions are between competing goods rather that beyond right or wrong, just or unjust, ethical and unethical? 
 
The decision-making process in place throughout Centura is called VIA.  Originally VIA meant Values Impact Analysis.  Today it means Values in Action.    In short it is 1) a process which engages those who will be impacted by the decision  2)  links our decisions to our espoused values  3) tries to determine how associates with differencing opinions (or values) can reach consensus  4 ) encourages us to communicate that decision among the diversity of experiences  within the organization and the community. 

Our goal is see this VIA process implemented at all levels of the decision-making process so that the process itself is so integrated into our culture that it happens automatically … and that our choices/decisions reflect who we are and what we wear on our sleeves.   These are our values.  What are your values and how can we resolve our conflict by valuing together?
 
Since the integrity of a decision mirrors the quality of the process to reach that decision, it is important that the step-by-step process be clearly identified and repeated to a point of being automatic.
 
The cornerstones to our VIA process are:

* Clarify the perspective others and the organization bring to the issue.
* Comprehend that range of what matters to others and to us.
* Commit to what is most important
* Choose a course of action that aligns with the most important values.
* Communicate the decision to others openly, and honestly.
 
In the weeks ahead, we’ll explore in greater detail each of the five, above-mentioned cornerstones in the Pulse.
 
In the meantime, think about the decisions you and your family might make.  How do you arrive at the choices you make?  And what happens when you cannot agree on a decision?

Stay Fit!

WELCOME NEW INTERNS
Please welcome our new interns Laura Grovogel from the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point and Megan McOmber from Brigham Young University, who will both be here until the end of November.  We are very excited to have them join our team!

Laura was born and raised in Green Bay. Her time growing up in Green Bay helped develop her into a winter sports enthusiast, a lover of water and water activities, and yes -- a Green Bay Packers fan. Her other hobbies include running, cycling, and taking naps! Laura attended the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point and majored in Health Promotion and Wellness. Laura adds, “I have been enjoying my internship along with my time here in Colorado. I have met many great employees at PSF, not to mention the great Club HIIP staff, and feel sad to know it will come to an end in late November. I feel lucky to be part of PSF and the great Club HIIP department. If you haven’t been down to see us lately, come down and say hi!”

Megan McOmber was raised right here in Colorado Springs. She is a graduate of Coronado High School and has been attending Brigham Young University. She started college studying sociology and soon found that it was not her passion.  When she was going into my senior year, she decided to take two years to go to California where she learned Spanish and provided service for the Latino community in the Anaheim area. When she returned from California she changed her major to Exercise Science with an emphasis in Fitness and Wellness Management and a minor in Sociology.  Megan adds, “I am completing my internship in the HIIP Program and am enjoying the experience, people, and atmosphere of this wonderful organization.  I will receive my diploma in December.”

NOVEMBER LUNCH ‘N’ LEARN
“Approaching Retirement: Centura Health Retirement Plan”
Is the economic crisis making you worried about your money? Don’t miss this seminar!  We’ll quickly review your retirement plan and then a representative from the Social Security Administration will talk about understanding your Social Security Benefits. Both Great-West and Social Security representatives will be available for questions after the presentation (except on Nov. 18, only Great-West will be available that day).  Please bring your lunch and your Great-West Representative will provide drinks & dessert.
Tuesday, Nov. 18, 12:05-12:35 p.m., SFHC/5th Floor Summit Room
Wednesday, Nov. 19, 12:05-12:35 p.m., SFMC/Conf Rooms 1 & 2
Thursday, Nov. 20, 12:05-12:35 p.m., PH/E-Tower Basement Gala Room

FY09 HIIP EDUCATION CLASSES
Feng Shui/Organization: Tuesday, Nov. 4 from 5-5:45 p.m. at PH/E-tower basement aerobics room
Exercising with Restrictions: Wednesday, Nov. 12 from noon to 12:45 p.m. at SFMC/Conf Room 2 (garden level)
Photography: Tuesday, Nov. 18 from 5-5:45 p.m. at SFMC/ Conf Room 2 (garden level)

WELLNESS CENTER ORIENTATIONS
Please register for the orientations below via HealthCalc on My Virtual Workplace or call 776-5839, ext 2.
PH Wellness Center – Thursday, Nov. 13 at 8 a.m.
SFHC Wellness Center – Friday, Nov. 14 at noon
SFMC Wellness Center – Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 1 p.m.
PH Wellness Center – Tuesday, Nov. 25 at 4 p.m.
Anyone over 40 years old must have a physician’s form signed giving permission to use Wellness Centers.

SELF CARE CLASS
Tuesday, Nov. 11 from noon to 12:45 p.m. at PH/E-tower basement aerobics room

PSF EXTENDED FITNESS CLASSES
Pick up a schedule at HIIP wall pockets at all sites for registration form:
Pilates: Session 5 - Starts Wednesday, Nov. 19 from 5-6 p.m. in the PH/E-Tower Aerobics Room for four-week session
Body Toning: Session 3a/b - Starts Monday, Nov. 3 from 12:30-1:35 p.m. in the PH/E-Tower Aerobics Room for six-week session

WALKING CLUBS
PH Walking Club: Every Wednesday at 7:15-7:50 a.m. outside of valet. Contact Michelle, x5034.
SF Walking Club:  Every Monday at 12:30 p.m. outside of the Foundation building. Contact Tracy, x7085.
SFMC Walking Club:  Every Tuesday at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., meet outside SFMC/1st Floor Main Entrance.  Contact Rox, x11064.

HIKING CLUB
Saturday, Nov. 15 at 9 a.m., at Stanley Canyon: Air Force Academy
Come join us on a beautiful hike up the canyon to look at the breathtaking lake and forest at the top.
Directions: Enter the south entrance of the Air Force Academy, drive north on South Gate Boulevard to Pine Drive.  Turn left onto Pine Drive. Go 3.9 miles to an unmarked dirt road on the left at the top of the hill. Turn left and drive 0.7 miles to the trailhead at the end of the road. Hike starts through a metal gate. Wear good shoes. Depending on the weather it could be a bit slippery on parts of the trail. Also, children under the age of 12 and dogs are not recommended for this hike. Rating is two boots, round-trip is 4.2 miles and the elevation gain is 1,500 feet.  You must bring your driver’s license/ID to get onto the base.  If you have any questions, please contact Megan at 776-7494

COMMUNITY EVENT
Turkey Trot: Thursday, Nov. 27, Briargate Family YMCA
1K Kids run at 8:15 a.m. (free), 5K run at 9 a.m., Registration begins at 6:30 a.m. on race day, pre-registration can be done at anytime. Flyers are located in the HIIP boards at all locations or call 282-YMCA for info.

HOLIDAY OBSERVANCES
Please note the HIIP Office will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 27 and Friday, Nov. 28 in observance of Thanksgiving. Make sure to walk off your thanksgiving dinner and be thankful for your health!

GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE
HIIP will collaborate with the blood bank for the annual employee blood drive during the week of December 15-19.  You will receive HIIP education credit for donating.  More information to come.

Great American Smokeout

The 2008 Great American Smokeout is set for Nov. 20 and Penrose-St. Francis Health Services is celebrating three months of being a tobacco-free campus.

We encourage smokers to make a commitment to quitting or reducing cigarette smoking on this day. Celebrate our three-month month anniversary as a tobacco-free campus with the following Club HIIP activities: 

Stop by the booths at PH, SFMC, SFHC and ASC to pick up free pamphlets, quit kits, smoking cessation information for you, your family members or friends. 

Look for a fun-filled event from 1-1:30 p.m. at each booth!  You can join our bubble gum blowing contest and get qualified to enter a raffle for an Ipod Shuffle.

We are so proud of those who have quit smoking and we would like to feature you in one of an upcoming “success stories” in the Penrose Pulse.  Please e-mail Kristine Barrett at kristinebarrett@centura.org to share your success story! Way to go!
 
We want to support those trying to quit smoking. HIIP, along with EAP, is offering an incentive for FY08: if an associate has quit smoking after 7/1/07 and has stayed tobacco-free for six months, HIIP will reward them with a $50 gift card. Contact Liz Berardi at 776-7393 for specific details of the incentive.

Finally, a couple of reminders: 

• Please be respectful of neighbors and do not smoke in front of their homes.
• Please do not litter your cigarette butts on the ground.

Thank you for your cooperation. Let’s keep Colorado beautiful!

-- Courtesy, Club HIIP

Did You Know?

• In 2007, our Cardiothoracic surgery program performed 200 open heart procedures.
• We began using the daVinci surgical robot for open heart surgery in October 2007.
• The daVinci is commonly used for assisting with Mitral Valve repair and replacement, and in Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) surgery. 
• It is also used during other types of open heart procedures.  So far in 2008, we have performed 149 open heart surgeries through the end of August. Of these, 33 have used the minimally-invasive approach, and 18 of these also used the daVinci robotic technology.
• The advantage of the minimally-invasive approach is there is no sternotomy made, meaning the sternum is not opened or split.  This is most beneficial to the patient.
• Some benefits of minimally-invasive and robotic-assisted surgery include smaller incisions, less trauma, less pain, shorter hospital stays, and a faster recovery time.
• If the sternum is opened, the patient has to wait six weeks to lift and return to work. There was a patient who was a self-employed construction worker, and was able to return to work much sooner than he would have been otherwise because he didn’t have to wait six weeks to lift. It has been beneficial for mothers who are able to pick up their young children earlier without the usual six week recovery time after a sternotomy. There has also been shown to be a survival benefit in patients over 70 years of age.
• All isolated valve (operating on only the valve) procedures can be done with the minimally-invasive approach.

Spiritual Care

As a faith-based organization, our Mission and Ministry Department is an extremely important part of our commitment to “Care for the Ill and Nurture the Health of the People in our Community.” This department consists of Spiritual Care, Clinical Pastoral Education and Community Outreach Nurses, all under the leadership of Larry Seidl.  But, for this article, we are going to focus on Spiritual Care.

Spiritual Care consists of 13 associates from 9 different religious denominations, and 3 Catholic priests (part-time).  This group of dedicated and passionate people minister to patients, families, visitors and even associates at PH, SFMC, SFHC and some of our offsite facilities.  They have the privilege of witnessing both the beginning and the ending of life and provide comfort, prayer, touch, compassion, and companionship for any who ask or are referred to them.  Each day they handle 45-60 calls from patients/families and referrals from physicians, nurses, case managers or in-house social workers.

They minister to the whole person – their physical, mental and spiritual well being.   A Chaplain might provide a cup of coffee to a waiting relative, a prayer of comfort to an anxious patient, a spirited discussion about the meaning of a person’s life, a shoulder for a grieving mother, or a confidential ear for an associate.  They put a human face on our mission to “Extend the Healing Ministry of Christ.”  When asked what makes them “special,” Larry said, “We go wherever healing needs to take place – not just the bedside.”  You will find them walking on each floor, in the emergency room, providing companionship in a waiting room, or counseling an associate.  They are always available – 24/7 - and just few steps or a phone call away.

You probably know about weekly mass, nightly prayers, blessings, Lenten meditations, etc., but, there are many other ways that Spiritual Care provides comfort and solace for those in our care or in our community – many that you may not be aware of. 

* Quarterly memorial services for families who have had a relative die while in the hospital.  This service not only honors the loved one, but allows families and associates to reconnect and have closure
 
* A memorial service and internment for babies who have died from fetal demise

* Memory boxes for parents of babies who died shortly after birth, or were stillborn.  The memory box includes mementos such as the baby’s footprint, name tag, clothing, and a prayer

* The Shawl Ministry – Volunteers make the shawls and the Chaplains give them to people who “need a little extra care.”  The shawl symbolizes a big hug and reminds people that they are not alone.

* A one day retreat for patients dealing with cancer.

The list goes on and on.  Most importantly, these remarkable companions make God present in their words, touch and intentions and truly personify our mission.  So, next time you pass a Chaplain – take a moment to say THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO! -  and help nurture the spirits of our Spiritual Care Givers.

-- Courtesy, Rewards & Recognition Committee

PH Star Associate

Brooke Thrasher is a unit secretary on CVU and is creative about finding ways to solve new and old problems. She often sits with her co-workers to brainstorm about better ways to make the unit run smoothly. She is always ready to help someone in need, whether it is the charge nurse with a project or a patient’s family with questions. She is often seen rounding the halls cleaning up and sanitizing the bays where nurses and doctors spend most of their time, even though it is not required or asked of her. Every person on the unit believes that Brooke is the best at her job and that they are a more efficient unit because of her.  She was nominated by Megan Brown.

SFMC Star Associate

Jerry Heide embodies the “innovative approach to work” in every task no matter how large or small. He is always very busy and even more so with keying all the doors at SFMC. Jerry was nominated by Leslie Schwender.  Due to the structure of one of Leslie’s departments, there are staff changes annually. Jerry has been known to provide her with new keys in less than 24 hours, if necessary.  Leslie has challenged him with her department’s locks and keys on several occasions and he always comes up with a creative, yet simple solution. For example, her department wanted all their doors at SFMC to work with the keys they already had. She knows this was not an easy request, yet he took on the challenge and made it work. According to Leslie, the best part of working with Jerry is his big smile and enthusiastic approach. He is a fine example of living the mission.

SFHC Star Associate

Note:  Jessica  Evans-Tameron accepted the award on behalf of Jim Gunn.

According to Liz Benavidz, Jim Gunn is “one of the nicest and most compassionate people” she has ever met. When she first started working at St. Francis, Jim was there to help and support her with any of the problems she had. He was also there to help one of her employee’s who was going through a difficult time. When Jim is on the 5th floor, he always makes a point of talking to each staff member. Everyone is excited that he will be coming back part-time after his retirement. SFHC would not be the same without him because he is one of the best associates.

Off-Campus Star Associate

Olive Cutolo is an associate who brings her heart to work everyday. She is able to help with solutions to problems because she has the ability to “see the big picture.”  She starts her day by greeting everyone with a smile and a friendly hello. After Olive works a full shift, she often volunteers to help a resident who is transferring from the Skilled Nursing facility to the Assisted Living facility. She has also been known to stay after her shift to sit with the residents and read to them.  She was nominated by Travis Martin.

Honorable Mentions

The Rewards & Recognition Committee would like to congratulate the following associates who were also nominated for this quarter’s Star Associate award:

Mary Carol Allen, CCOM
Linda Tolan, Phlebotomy
Kimberly Smith, RRT
Barbara Deardorf, Laboratory Sendouts
Laurine Hennings, Health Learning Center
Nina Salazar, Gift Processing
Beatrice Dickson, Business Office
Dereck Wilson, Maintenance
Melinda Gulliory, Assisted Living
Jan Hall, Skilled Nursing Facility
SFHC Outpatient Dept, PACU, & OR Personnel