Holiday wishes

By Margaret Sabin
PSF President & Chief Executive Officer

Greetings to all!  I write this message with three weeks of experience at Penrose-St. Francis Health Services to reflect upon.  I think of my formal and informal interactions with all of you and I have been struck by your sincerity, your passion and your desire to continually improve our services and patient outcomes.  My impression of this organization is that it is a reflection of thousands of people who care.  It is a reflection of effort, persistence, loyalty and deep, abiding friendships.

During this holiday period, take stock of your feelings, your ideas, your visions and your dreams.  Do this for yourself on a personal level and for the organization as a whole.  It's okay to start with yourself - your body is the only home you will own for the rest of your time on earth!  And we do only get one body per lifetime.  You can choose health.  The best time to get started is now.  The Holidays are a great time to set some personal goals in place.  And, if you maintain a healthy balanced life, you will have more to offer your co-workers and all the other members of the PSF family.

You have chosen PSF to be your second home.  Let's work together to make PSF an even stronger bastion of hope, health, excellence, gentleness and conviction.

Have a safe, healthy and happy holiday season.  Thank you for making me part of the PSF family!

NOTE:  To facilitate communication throughout Margaret's 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.

News Notes

EDWARD SHAEFER IS RETIRING after 38 years of service.  Ed began his service with Penrose-St. Francis on January 5, 1970.  Please join the Environmental Services Team in wishing Ed the best as he begins his retirement.  A reception will be held in his honor Tuesday, Dec. 2, from 2-4pm, in the Cactus Room.

PSF FAMILY NIGHT AT THE CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN ZOO is set for 5:30-9 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 4 (last admission is 8 p.m.).  This is a free event for PSF associates and their immediate families (including grandchildren).  Associates will be required to show name badge for entry per group.  No sign-up is needed.  Concession, carousel, sky-ride and gift shops will be open for purchases.  The members of your Penrose-St. Francis Associate Activities Committee hope that you will join us for an evening of fun and relaxation.  Questions? Call 776-5517

EDUCATION FOR NURSES: Come join us for two awesome days of continuing education, Tuesday, Dec. 2 at Penrose Main and Wednesday, Dec. 3 at St. Francis Medical Center.  Topics presented will be those that you can use in your practice and in your community. Take time for your own professional development.  There is no need to register for classes.  Seating is limited to 50 people per class and will be based on a first-come, first-served basis.  Please arrive on time. Late comers will not be admitted.  Please turn off cell phones and pagers during the classes.   Click HERE for schedule.

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA:  Pancake Breakfast Buffet with Santa will be held on Saturday, Dec. 6, 8-10 a.m. in the Penrose Hospital cafeteria.  Admission is $2 each, ages 3 and over.  (No charge for children under 3 years)  Tickets are available in the Gift Shops at all 3 hospitals and at the door.  The event is sponsored by the PSF Volunteer Association.
 
SERVICE RECOGNITION DINNER:  A very special evening is being planned to honor Penrose-St. Francis Health Services associates who have been employed with the system for five years in 2008 (or a multiple of five years). This celebration will be on Friday, Feb. 6, 2009 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.  Invitations will be delivered in December.  Questions?  Please contact Janet Reedy in Human Resources at 776-5688. 

PHARMACY OPEN HOUSE:  Everyone is invited to check out the newly-remodeled Penrose Hospital Pharmacy from 10 a.m. to noon and 2-4 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 3.  The Pharmacy is located in the basement of Penrose Hospital. 

CARE AND SHARE SUCCESS:  The Health Information Management Department (aka: Medical Records) and Outreach Committee coordinated the annual hospital-wide Care and Share Food Drive Nov. 3-14, and collected $1,213 in monetary donations.  In addition, hundreds of pounds of food are still being delivered.  This will enable the Care and Share Food Bank to feed many hungry families this holiday season.  Thanks to all who participated!

SET OPEN HOUSE:  SET Family Medical Clinic hosts an Open House Holiday Social from 4-7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 5 at 825 East Pikes Peak Avenue, Bldg 29.  Food, drinks, live music and door prizes will be available..  The event is a great opportunity to tour the clinic and find out what's new at SET.  The event is free and open to the public.  Call 776-8850 to RSVP. 

New ORs

By Stacey Knott
PSF Marketing & Public Relations

Susan Broussard, Director of Perioperative Services at Penrose-St. Francis Health Services, points out new equipment in one of two new operating rooms at Penrose Hospital to Fran Jackson, PSF Bariatric Program Coordinator, and Julie Cox, PSF Marketing Coordinator, Nov. 13. 

These large ORs offer greater versatility using state-of-the-art equipment, including robotics.  The additions bring the total number of ORs at Penrose Hospital up to 13 and expand specialty surgeries such as heart, bariatric, advanced laparoscopic, vascular and more. The da Vinci surgical robot will also find a permanent home in one of the new rooms.

“These are the most beautiful operating rooms I’ve ever seen,” Susan said. “These will provide the finest equipment and facilities for our physicians, staff and most importantly our patients.”

Adjacent to the new ORs is also a new surgeons’ lounge, locker room, conference room, dictation room and three new offices for OR management.

The project took nearly a year and a half from start to finish including planning.

KRDO Channel 13 featured the new ORs during their 6 p.m. newscast Nov. 14, as well as used the footage as file footage for other stories.

Department Spotlight

Every two weeks Penrose-St. Francis employees look forward to that special Friday -- payday. With approximately 2,600 associates at PSF, this is no easy task for a team of three.
 
Gwen Wescott, Lynn Anderson and Mylinda Seip make up the Payroll Department.  They are part of the Centura System, with Corporate 95. Please join the Rewards and Recognition Team in congratulating the Payroll Department for the December Department in the Spotlight Award.
 
Gwen Wescott has been with Centura for over 10 years, working 72 hours a pay period. Gwen is from Miami, Fla., and has lived in Colorado since 1991. Gwen’s husband is retired from the Army, and they have two children and one grandchild. She enjoys music and decorating during her time off.  Gwen likes working with Lynn and said, “She has a great sense of humor!”  She feels the members of her department are an extension of her family.
 
Lynn Anderson has been with Centura for over 30 years, working 56 hours per pay period. Lynn was born and raised in Aberdeen, S.D., and has lived in Colorado since 1970. She started working at Centura so she could buy a new car. Lynn has been married to Carl for 32 years, and they have four children and 13 grandchildren. On her time off, she enjoys reading, gardening, baking and laughing.  Something people may not know about Lynn is that she would like to open a consignment shop with clothing and craft items. Lynn enjoys working with Gwen because of “the laughter and camaraderie that we share while working.”
 
The final member of the payroll team is Mylinda Seip.  She works one day a week.  Mylinda has two young daughters.
 
The payroll office is a fun and light environment, says Gwen and Lynn. “We enjoy coming to work everyday and making our office a fun loving area.”
 
Please take a moment to stop by the payroll office, (Penrose Hospital, basement of the north elevators) and thank them for all they do. They will welcome you with a smile and brighten your day!

Wallbreaking Ceremony

The Penrose Cancer Center celebrated a "wallbreaking ceremony" on Nov. 21 for the construction of new and expanded clinical space. Planning for the remodel began in 2006 and will expand the chemotherapy infusion area from 10 to 17 chairs.  It will also provide remodeled clinic space for Dr. James Young and Dr. Jason Huff's Medical Oncology practice, as well as Dr. Dirk Pikaart's GYN Oncology practice. Construction for the first phase is expected to be completed in April 2009.

Rehab Buddies

By Connie Wallace

Rehab Buddies are volunteers who have gone through rehabilitation themselves and are willing to visit and encourage patients who are currently in rehab.

The Rehab Buddies use their hard earned “credentials” of having had stroke, paralysis, or some other condition requiring rehab, to bring hope to other rehab patients. They have ongoing training and education, and offer valuable empathy and perspective. Rehab Buddies also do exit interviews.

Rose Wright uses her experience as a stroke patient to help her rehab buddies.

Question: Rose, why are you a Rehab Buddy?
 
Rose:  I had a stroke in 2006.  I could not move my entire left side.  I went to the emergency room, then to the intensive care unit, then to the rehabilitation inpatient floor, and finally to the Outpatient Rehab.  After that experience, I wanted to give back.
 
Question: What do you do as a Rehab Buddy?
 
Rose: I’m assigned to a patient, either an inpatient, or an outpatient.  Usually it is a person who has also had a stroke, and they have previously agreed to have a Rehab Buddy.  So they are expecting a visit from me.  I tell them about my experience, and often they have questions.  They often want to know how long it was before I could walk again, how long before I had energy, if I had low moods. Sometimes they are rather quiet during the first visit, but by the second one they are more talkative.  I visit with them until they are discharged from the hospital, then I give them my phone number and tell them I’m available to them after discharge as well.
 
Question: How do you know what to say to a patient who has had a stroke?
 
Rose: Well, it is not altogether what I say.  Listening is very important, and I’m still learning how to be a good listener.  I never give false hope, because I don't know just how much that person will recover.  I emphasize the importance of being determined, how motivation is important.  As we get to know each other, we sometimes laugh and cry together.
 
Question: What was your training to become a Rehab Buddy?
 
Rose: I went to the volunteer training, which all volunteers in the Penrose-St. Francis Health Services go to, and then there was specific training on how to be a Rehab Buddy.  We often have speakers at the monthly Rehab Buddy meetings, so there is ongoing education.
 
Question: What is the best part about being a Rehab Buddy?
 
Rose: Knowing that I can bring hope; knowing that the visit might have brought [the patient] some incentive to work as hard as possible in rehab.  And I find that being a Rehab Buddy is very good for me.  It's great to feel as if I’m making a difference.
 
Question: What is the most difficult part of being a Rehab Buddy?
 
Rose: When I visit a patient and they tell me that they are no better than the last visit, that they see no improvement.  It's hard to know what to say.  It's important then to listen, and also to emphasize what they still can do, and not to think only what they cannot do.  And to remind them that progress can be very slow.  Even after three years, I still see progress in myself, still see healing.
 
Question: Is there anything else you would like to say about being a Rehab Buddy?
 
Rose: Having a stroke has changed the way I look at life.  I’m more appreciative and thankful.  I took a lot for granted before the stroke.  Being a Rehab Buddy is just great.   I have an opportunity to bring hope to patients, and I love doing that.

For more information about becoming a Rehab Buddy, contact Connie Wallace at 719-776-8716 or via e-mail at conniewallace@centura.org.

Smokeout

By Stacey Knott
PSF Marketing & Public Relations

Penrose-St. Francis Health Services celebrated the Great American Smokeout and three months as a tobacco-free campus Nov. 20.  

PSF went tobacco-free Aug. 8.  To celebrate, and to encourage smokers to quit, each PSF campus had activities and information, including a bubble gum blowing contest, employee raffles, free pamphlets, quit kits, and smoking cessation information.  

Photo left, Jessica Nolting, a Penrose-St. Francis Specimen Management supervisor, points to the bubble blown by Mary Lynn Matthews, PSF In-patient Rehabilitation occupational therapist at Penrose Hospital. Both women participated in a bubble gum bubble blowing contest, along with nearly 160 other associates between the four campuses. 

All associates who blew a bubble were eligible to enter the associate raffle for four iPod Shuffles. Winners by location: Chris Hyman, PH float pool nurse; Hellen Ballard, SFHC Administration; Pauline Sylvester, SFMC Environmental Services; and Jennifer Reyes, Administrative Service Center.

KOAA, Channels 5/30 covered the Great American Smokeout and PSF three months tobacco-free by featuring the Bubble Gum Blowing Contest on their 6 p.m. newscast.
 
PSF is proud of associates who quit smoking and would like to feature their success stories in the Pulse Points. Please e-mail Kristine Barrett at kristinebarrett@centura.org to share success stories.
 
PSF also supports people trying to quit smoking. HIIP along with EAP, is offering an incentive for FY08: if an associate quit smoking after July 1, 2007 and stayed quit for six months, HIIP will reward them with a $50 gift card. Contact Liz Berardi at ext. 7393 for specific details on the incentive.

As a reminder to those who still smoke: please be respectful of neighbors and do not smoke in front of their homes.  Please do not litter cigarette butts on the ground.  Let’s keep our community beautiful.

Left, Leigh Anne Obluda, a clinical research associate, blows a bubble gum bubble during the festivities for the Great American Smokeout. (Photos by Stacey Knott)

Chocolate Challenge Research

Research is a formal process with designated steps and approvals required by National Institutes of Health Guidelines and hospital policies.  Failure to follow these guidelines results in the inability to publish results or change practice, based on the findings. 

To show how research that contains the proper components can be simple, the chocolate challenge was conducted last month at the Magnet Whistle Stop Tour.  The following is a synopsis of the research with the necessary components capitalized.  The results of the study are provided as well.

The PURPOSE of the study was to determine which brand of chocolate tastes better, a premium chocolate like Ghirardelli or a less expensive brand like Hershey’s.  The HYPOTHESIS was: Ghirardelli chocolate tastes better than Hershey’s chocolate.

A LITERATURE REVIEW indicated that while both Hershey’s and Ghirardelli chocolate rates in top 10 according to Professional Candy Buyer Magazine (July 1, 1999) little research has been conducted to determine which chocolate is preferred.  According to author and food critic, Chris Carmichael  (Dec. 28, 2007), there is a distinct difference in these two chocolates.

The METHODOLOGY for this study included a descriptive DESIGN.  The population for the study was a self-selected convenience SAMPLE of hospital personnel who attend the Whistle Stop Tour and elected to sample two different pieces of chocolate.  The proposal was exempt from IRB approval due to it being an educational, informal study that did not require a participant CONSENT due to self-selection.  There was no potential harm to subjects.

The PROCEDURE required that each subject taste a semi sweet chocolate chip from each of two bowls; then select the number (#1 or #2) corresponding to the chip they decided tasted best.  The bowls were covered to prevent visual bias.  The voting bowl was also covered to control for bias of seeing which number had been selected more often.  The participants then placed their vote into the container.

DATA ANALYSIS was by simple descriptive statistics, which are the actual numbers and percentages.

The FINDINGS are as follow:   
    260 associates participated
    Ghirardelli (bowl #1)  = 83 votes  (32%)
    Hershey’s (bowl #2)  = 177 votes  (68%)
    Ratio:  1:2

Discussion:  The statistics indicate that Hershey’s chocolate was preferred by Penrose-St. Francis associates 2 to 1 in the taste test.  Some of the limitations to this study are that subjects could not rinse their mouths between tasting the chocolates.  There may be a variation among participants relating to their sense of taste.  There is a likelihood that most people have purchased Hershey’s chocolate more than Ghirardelli and have become accustomed to the sweeter flavor of Hershey’s.

Tribute

Gary Morse, VP of Human Resources, sings the Hawaiian version of “Over the Rainbow” as a tribute to John Zay during the Oct. 30 grand opening of the John Zay Guest House. 

The patient guest house opened for service on Nov. 3 and is a “home away from home” for out-of-town patients receiving extended treatment at Penrose-St. Francis Health Services hospitals, 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. 

More than $68,000 was raised for the project during the past two Penrose-St. Francis Health Services Associate Campaigns.  (Photo by Frances Sakanai)

Lose Hips with HIIP

By William “Bill” Lewis
 
My name is William “Bill” Lewis. I’m 60 years old and work with the Behavioral Health Department, also known as the Psychiatric Emergency Triage Team (PETT).

I put on extra weight over several years. I tried several diet plans and did the yo-yo diet syndrome without much success.  In 1996, I lost about 70 pounds, but gradually gained all the weight back (plus more) over a period of a year and half. During the past two years, I experienced episodes of having difficulty breathing and heart palpitations and I was admitted to the hospital twice for workups. I was also being treated for hypertension, knee problems, and rotator cuff pain in my left shoulder.

This year, during my last visit to the emergency room in February, the doctor who treated me did some direct teaching and I was ready to listen. The ER doctor recommended a book by Dr. John A. McDougall entitled How To Reverse Heart Disease. 

I changed my diet, which now consists mostly of raw green and yellow vegetables, fruit and fruit juices, plus whole grains. It is basically a low fat, low carbohydrate diet with some modifications.

After changing my diet, I took my doctor’s advice to lose weight and started an exercise program of walking. At first I thought walking was a little “soft” because I had played football in my early years – you know, the “rough stuff.”

The first month of walking and dieting I lost approximately 20 pounds and then I was hooked on walking! I received a reprieve as my EKG, Echo cardiogram and stress tests were all negative for heart damage. I decided right then to lose more weight by doing whatever it took.

I read and educated myself on various diets and exercise programs. The first month I made slow adjustments but I was very determined.  When I first started on the treadmill, I could only do 15-20 minute intervals, on level 2.5, 3 times a week. Gradually I increased my time and level of difficulty.

In March 2008, I took the HIIP orientation and began using the gym facilities. I increased the frequency of my daily routine to five times a week. I purchased a pedometer that tracks my steps daily. I try to walk 12,000 to 16,000 steps daily. I became familiar with the Park and Recreation walking trails over the summer. Now I work out seven days a week and can walk on the treadmill 30-45 minutes at the 3.6 to 3.8 level.

Sometimes I feel the HIIP facilities are my own private gym, especially after hours between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m. Often I’m the only person working out. Occasionally, another associate will take a 30 minute break and come by to work out.

I keep track of my progress on a spread sheet. My goal in February 2008 was to lose 100 pounds by my birthday in mid November. My subsequent checks have been very positive. My blood pressure dropped by 30-35 points and is now stable. My knee and shoulder discomfort has subsided, my cholesterol numbers are within the normal range, and I’ve lost 10 inches off my waist and hips.

I feel great and more importantly, I reached and surpassed my goal! To date, I have lost a little more than 106 pounds. It has not been an easy task but with determination and positive feedback from my PETT team members, doctors and associates in the ER at Penrose Main, I’ve been motivated to stick to my goals and persevere.  I will have to start thinking about shopping for new clothes if I stay on my weight loss path! I feel great and will continue to utilize the HIIP facilities to accomplish my goals. 

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.

Scout Visit

Kathleen Woodard, Pediatrics Department Manager, poses with a group of Boy and Girl Scouts from Ellicott who toured St. Francis Medical Center recently.  One of the Scouts had surgery at Penrose Community Hospital in April and wanted to let fellow Scouts know "it wasn't so bad."  The group donated books and stuffed animals to the Peds Department.  They also toured Flight For Life Colorado for an up-close-and-personal look at a helicopter.

Holiday Grief

By:  Joan Hummel, LCSW, Bereavement Counselor for St. Anthony Hospice and Porter Hospice

Most of us look forward to this time of year.  Thanksgiving, Christmas and the New Year are usually times of great joy, family togetherness and much celebration. 

However, people who have been through a recent death loss often watch the approach of the holiday season with a sense of dread.  The thought of “putting on a happy face” when one is feeling nothing of the kind can be overwhelming.  The pressure to make it a perfect holiday can leave grieving family members feeling burdened at a time when their energy for entertaining is at an all-time low. 

But there are ways for grieving people to cope with, and even celebrate, the holidays despite their own loss. Here are some techniques that may help.

Be realistic.  If you were recuperating from major surgery, you wouldn’t be knocking yourself out to decorate, shop, bake and entertain at the holidays.  You would recognize that recovery from major surgery means taking stock of your energy, going at a much slower pace, and letting go (at least temporarily) of your preconceived notions of how much you can accomplish.  A patient who has just had open-heart surgery is in no shape to host a major holiday party or to get on the rooftop to string Christmas lights. 

It’s really no different for grieving people.  Grief asks us to pay attention to our energy, to respect our need for more quiet reflection and solitude, and to slow down the pace of our lives for a while.  Grieving people may not have the literal wound that surgery leaves, but they certainly have the emotional and spiritual wounds that can accompany the death of a significant person.  If you are grieving at this holiday time, perhaps this is the year that you let others take on the tasks of planning and hosting holiday celebrations.  It is a gift to recognize that you, like the heart patient, deserve some time to not be “the hostess with the mostest,” but, rather, time to recuperate and let others take care of holiday festivities.

Make a plan – and then give yourself the freedom to change your plans.  This may mean something very simple, such as planning to change the time you’ll attend Christmas worship services.  Maybe your family has always gone to a midnight church service together.  But now, you have less energy, perhaps your sleep schedule is off since you experienced the death loss, and the thought of being out until 2:00 a.m. on Christmas morning brings on further feelings of fatigue.  It really is okay to step out of your tradition and plan something that better accommodates your lowered energy.  Maybe, just this year, you plan to attend a children’s service earlier in the evening on Christmas Eve or arrange to worship on Christmas Day.  And, who knows, once you’ve given yourself permission to alter your plans, you may change your mind and go to that midnight service after all. 

Healthy coping with grief means giving yourself a wide berth for your ever-changing needs.  It is definitely a sign of strength to accept that you have emotional and physical limitations and then allow yourself to push yourself a little when you feel it really is the best thing for you.  Changing your mind often while grieving is not a sign that you’re not coping well.  Rather, it is a sign that you are paying attention to and respecting your ongoing coping needs as you navigate the tricky waters of grief.

Honor the memory of your loved one.  There are many ways to incorporate cherished memories of the deceased into holiday plans. At a holiday dinner, many families light a candle and say a prayer in memory of those who have died in the previous year as a way to still feel the warmth of their presence at the current celebration.  Lots of grieving families still hang decorations with names of deceased love ones on them.  Seeing those personal stockings and ornaments is a way of celebrating the family legacy, acknowledging that the family tree is also part of our holiday tree. 

Some families choose to adopt a special project at the holidays in remembrance of a deceased family member.  Maybe Uncle Joe was the biggest Rockies fan in Denver.  Why not purchase a section of seats at a baseball game and donate them to a special group that would love the chance to see a game?  Many local non-profit groups serve people who would appreciate a fun event to give a lift to their lives; the Colorado Association of Nonprofit Organizations can provide suggestions and contact information.

There is no right or wrong way to celebrate holidays when you are grieving.  Ultimately, there is your way, respecting your special needs, making a plan for self-care, and building into your celebrations what is personally meaningful about those you are missing so much. 

For more information, please feel free to call the Bereavement Staff with Porter Hospice and St. Anthony Hospice at (303) 561-5100.
 

 For the latest news and classes available, please view our monthly newsletter Seasons of Grief.

	Seasons of Grief Newsletter, December (1.7 MB)

Safety Hollow

More than 1,400 Penrose-St. Francis Health Services associates attended this year's Safety Hollow patient safety and flu vaccine event.  Congrats to the following people, who had their names drawn for prizes at the Safety Hollow event:

Athena Stroud (SFHC)
Irene Espinosa (SFHC)
Edith Donelson (SFMC)
Elise Tevez (SFMC)
Pam Ross (SFMC)
Tim Dillon (SFMC)
Calvin Eisenach (SFMC)
Kathy Bellandi (PH)
Theresa Cowger (PH)
Lori McMichen (PH)
Karol Powell (PH)
Angela Cowden (PH)
Julie Kelley (PH)
Jennifer Graham (PH)
Kathy Wilson (PH)

Club HIIP

DEC 2008 LUNCH ‘N’ LEARN “Conscious Calorie Consumption (Triple C)”
People make as many as 200 food-related decisions every day and might not be aware of 90 percent of them. Does the size of the plate influence how much a person eats? How can people use the "mindless margin" to lose – instead of gain – ten to twenty pounds in the coming year? Michelle Somers, Registered Dietitian, will share eating strategies from the book Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think, by Brian Wansink, Ph.D. 
 - Tuesday, Dec. 2, SFHC/5th Floor Summit Room, 12:05-12:35 p.m. 
 - Wednesday, Dec. 3, SFMC/Conf Rms 1 & 2, 12:05-12:35 p.m.
 - Thursday, Dec. 4, PH/E-Tower Gala Room, 12:05-12:35 p.m.

GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE: Dec. 15-19, 2008
Donate blood for the annual employee blood drive.
To sign up, call 776-5822. Walk-ins are welcome.
Blood Bank Hours, Penrose Main:
Monday 10 a.m. - 6:15 p.m.
Tuesday 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Wednesday 7:30am-4 p.m.
Thursday 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Friday 7 a.m. - 2:20 p.m.

SFMC- Mobile blood bus scheduled Tues, Dec. 9, Noon-4 p.m.
 *Sign up by calling Barb Matzker (SFMC Admin) x12101
ASC- Mobile blood bus scheduled Wed, Dec. 17, 9 a.m.- Noon
 *Sign up at ASC front desk after Dec 1st.
Associates receive HIIP education credit for donating. 

FY09 HIIP EDUCATION CLASSES
- Ballroom Dancing: Tues, Dec 9, 5-5:45 p.m., PH/E-Tower Basement Aerobics Room
*For reservations please call Liz at x7393- RSVP today, class is filling up!
- Nutrition Supplements: Fri, Dec. 12, 12-12:45 p.m., ASC/1st Floor Skyline Room
- How to put the “C” back into Christmas: Celebration & Christ: Tues, Dec. 16, Noon-12:45 p.m., SFMC/Conf room 1-2 (garden level)
- How to put the “C” back into Christmas: Celebration & Christ: Thurs, Dec. 18, Noon-12:45 p.m., PH/E-Tower Basement Gala Room

WELLNESS CENTER ORIENTATIONS
Please register for the orientations below via HealthCalc on My Virtual Workplace or call 776-5839, ext 2.
SFMC Wellness Center- Wed. Dec. 3, 1 p.m.
PH Wellness Center- Thurs. Dec. 11, 8 a.m.
PH Wellness Center- Tues. Dec. 16, 4 p.m.
Anyone over 40 years old must have a physician’s form signed giving permission to use Wellness Centers.

SELF CARE CLASS
Wednesday, Dec. 10, 5 p.m., SFMC/Conference Room 2 (Garden Level)

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
Walk through the Broadmoor Area- Look at festive lights, Sunday, Dec. 14, 4 p.m.
It’s Christmas time in Colorado!!!! Walk through the Broadmoor neighborhood to enjoy holiday decorations with an added tour around The Broadmoor Hotel and lake! Fun for all ages! Stroller accessible!
Where: The Bank of Broadmoor parking lot on the left side of Lake Ave at Spring Meadow Dr.
Distance: 3 miles will include the neighborhood streets and the Broadmoor Hotel
*Dress for winter weather! 
Note: Walk will be cancelled if sidewalk and road surfaces are dangerous because of snow and/or ice.  If in doubt, call Lynette Reagan at 201-7554.
Directions: Take I-25 South to Exit #138 (S. Circle Dr). Go West on Circle Dr., which becomes Lake Ave.  Continue straight on Lake Ave 1.8 miles to Spring Meadow Dr. The Bank of Broadmoor will be on the left.
For more information, contact Lynette Reagan at 201-7554.

HOLIDAY HOURS
Please note the HIIP Office will be closed Wed, Dec. 24, noon - Friday, Dec. 26 in observance of Christmas.