AED Presentation

Larry Seidl, VP of Mission Integration, presented an Automated External Defibrillator to Pikes Peak Christian Church on March 12.

Penrose-St. Francis and Centura Health offer AED grants through its “Jump Start a Heart Program.”  AED grants up to $2,500 are awarded to non-profit organizations such as schools, churches, senior centers, camps and community organizations. 

An AED delivers an electric shock to a person suffering from Sudden Cardiac Arrest.  Centura has placed more than 400 AEDS in communities throughout the state.

According to the American Heart Association, each year 950,000 Americans die from cardiovascular disease, making it the number one cause of death in the U.S. At least 300,000 people die of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) before they reach the hospital.

Approximately 74 percent of people would survive sudden cardiac arrest if bystanders call 911 and begin CPR, and if trained responders provide defibrillation within minutes. For every minute without CPR and defibrillation, the odds of survival decrease seven to 10 percent.


Larry Seidl, VP of Mission Integration, presented an Automated External Defibrillator to John Mrazek, Executive Director of Pikes Peak Christian Church, on March 12. (Courtesy photo)

Town Hall Meetings

All associates, physicians and volunteers are asked to attend one of Penrose-St. Francis Health Services’ Town Hall meetings March 31-April 4 at PSF locations.

This meeting is an opportunity to hear directly from PSF leadership about what is happening in the organization and for you to ask questions. The meeting includes refreshments and door prizes.

March 31
7:30 a.m. in the PH Gala Room
Noon in the SF Front Range Room
3 p.m. in the EAP Classroom

April 1
7:30 a.m. in the SFMC CR 1 
Noon in the SFMC CR 1
2 p.m. in the SF Summit Room
6 p.m. in the PH Gala Room
6 p.m. in the SFMC CR 1

April 2
7:30 a.m. in the PH Gala Room
9:30 a.m. in the PH Gala Room
Noon in the PH Gala Room
6 p.m. in the SFMC CR 1

April 3
8 a.m. in the SFMC CR 4
2 p.m. in the PH Gala Room

April 4
8 a.m. in the SFMC CR 1
10 a.m. in the PH /Gala Room

Nightingale Award Winner

By Stacey Knott

A Penrose-St. Francis Health Services nurse won a Nightingale award during the 24th Annual Colorado Springs Nightingale Awards-“Nominees for Excellence in Human Caring,” March 13 at the Crown Plaza Hotel.

Olinda Spitzer, ICU, CVU and BBU at Penrose Hospital, was awarded the Humanitarian Nightingale Award by the Colorado Nursing Foundation.

“I felt very honored,” Olinda said of winning the award, “especially when it’s your peers who nominate you.  It was a very special night.”

Colorado Springs boasts over 5,000 nurses, but only 22 were nominated from the local area.  PSF, with seven nominees, had the most from a single organization.

The Nightingale Awards event was founded in 1985 to honor nurses who best exemplify the philosophy and practice of Florence Nightingale, the 19th century nursing pioneer, who epitomized the art of helping people towards their optimal health.

For Your Spirit

Living by Grace
From the Spiritual Care Chaplains

In Ephesians, Paul reminds us that our connection to God isn’t “earned by good works.”

It just is.

"It is a gift of God," says Paul.

We are not separated from the love and power and goodness of God. Our difficulties arise when we forget this Truth.

Our fears, our jealousies, our competitiveness, and our expectations about the way we think things should be get in our way sometimes.  We begin to doubt in the indestructible connection we have with God.

During this week, when we are enveloped in the "stuff of life," let us recall and live consciously in the Truth that we are "Living by Grace." It is a gift from God.

Sleep Fair Success

By Stacey Knott
PSF Marketing & PR

Approximately 200-300 people attended the free Sleep Education Awareness Fair March 5 at the St. Francis Health Center.

The fair was hosted by Penrose-St. Francis Health Services’ Sleep Disorders Center, and included free sleepiness evaluations, Sleep Center tours, door prizes, and a sleep presentation by Dr. Gregory Ruff, the medical director for the center.

“So many people aren’t getting a good night’s sleep,” said Athena Stroud, Sleep Disorders Center polysomnography therapist and event coordinator.  “The fair was a great opportunity for people to get information about sleep problems, see our sleep center, and find out how to have a more restful night.”

Sleep disorders are not just a small complaint. They can create serious health and social problems, and affect people’s quality of life.

The Sleep Disorders Center at St. Francis Health Center is designed to evaluate and diagnose people with serious and ongoing sleep problems. The Sleep Disorders Center can also take an objective, expert look at the quality of a person’s sleep, and work together to improve it.

For more information, call the Penrose-St. Francis Sleep Disorders Center at 776-8868 or visit the website at www.penrosestfrancis.org. 

Approximately 200-300 people attended the free Sleep Education Awareness Fair March 5 hosted by Penrose-St. Francis Health Services’ Sleep Disorders Center at the St. Francis Health Center. (Photos by Julie Cox)

Dr. Gregory Ruff, Sleep Disorders Center medical director, gives a sleep presentation at the free Sleep Education Awareness Fair March 5 hosted by Penrose-St. Francis Health Services’ Sleep Disorders Center at the St. Francis Health Center.

Egg-traordinary Appreciation

From the Associate Satisfaction Team

Egg-xtra, egg-xtra, read all about it!!

The Egg-citement is spreading like wildfire!  People will soon be finding their names written on colorful egg-shaped notes of appreciation, gratitude and friendship. 

During the week of April 6-12, the Associate Satisfaction Team is sponsoring “You’re A Good Egg.”   This is an Egg-cellent free opportunity to rec-Egg-nize a co-worker for the great job they do each day. 

Team members will be stationed near all PSF cafeterias or other des-Egg-nated areas to Egg-plain the program during mealtimes.  Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy special Egg-citing dishes at PH, SFMC and SFHC.

After completing a paper egg, it will be posted for all to see. When the eggs are taken down after Easter, the person “REC-EGG-NIZED” will receive their egg and know how much they are appreciated.

Please take the time to show your co-worker’s they are Egg-traordinary people.

This is open to all physicians, associates, volunteers, visitors and families.

For questions or more information, call Dee Faricy at 776-5117.

Earth Hour

Joins Tens of Millions in Turning Off Lights for the Largest Climate Event in History, Saturday at 8:30 p.m. local time.

Tens of millions of people will demonstrate concern for the planet by turning out their lights for one hour. Earth Hour.

Earth Hour is a global event that enables people to express their collective concern about the future health of the planet, and reminds everyone that by working together, we can make a positive impact in the fight against climate change.

Please do your part and show your support by turning your lights off for one hour.

For more information and to sign up for this free event, visit http://www.earthhourus.org/ .

News Briefs

Your feedback needed now! Click on the “Online Survey” link below
We need your input to help chart Centura’s course for the future. This past Monday an e-mail report on last Friday’s Strategic Advance, Part 2 meeting was sent to all associates. In that e-mail was a link to an online survey. In the past four days we have had a very good response. By completing the survey your voice will be heard and your insights will help us finalize Centura’s system-wide strategic plan. The survey will close on March 30. Please let us know your thoughts before then.

LENT IN THE “FAST” LANE
Lent is a wonderful time just prior to the celebration of the Resurrection.  People tend to run in the fast lane all the time and this time of year beckons everyone to slow down some. This is an opportunity to learn how. We will look at the practices of Lent and their meaning. Bring a brown bag lunch and learn more about this interesting topic.  Chaplain Alan Filippi will present at SFMC today at noon in CR #1 and at PH on Tuesday at noon in CC room “A.” For questions or more information, please contact Alan Filippi at 776-5855.

Star Associate Nominations-Deadline is Thursday
The Rewards and Recognition Team wants to hear about all those associates who smile, make eye contact, and greets everyone in a friendly manner. The deadline to nominate someone is Thursday. For more information, to nominate someone or to request a registration form, please e-mail stars@centura.org, fax (719) 634-1874, or interoffice mail to Michelle Powers at EAP.

PSF Associate Campaign
The Penrose-St. Francis Health Services 2009 Associate Campaign is coming soon.  The Associate Campaign Hour Club Gifts can be seen in the glass display case in front of the PH Cafeteria, at SFMC in the EVS Office, and on the foundation website, http://psffound.org/, click on Associate Campaign on left side of the home page. For more information, please contact the Penrose-St. Francis Health Foundation at 776-7060.

Relay for Life
The Colorado Springs relay for life is June 19 at Liberty High School. Help support the Penrose Cancer Center team by purchasing a long-sleeve t-shirt or a variety of jewelry. All proceeds benefit the local American Cancer Society and Relay for Life. T-shirts and jewelry are available for purchase in Medical Oncology, Suite CC #201 at Penrose Hospital. People interested in joining the team, may register at Medical Oncology or online at www.acsrelay.org. For more information or questions, please contact Mary Wolf or Gina Biondi at 776-5454.

Wine, for the Health of it!
April 16, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at The Warehouse, 25 West Cimarron Street
Includes Hors d’oeuvres, live band, and silent auction. Cost is $40 per person - unlimited tasting. Wine Basket Door Prize Entry with tickets purchased prior to April 1. RSVP by calling 719-776-8850 or purchase tickets online at www.setofcs.org. Wine Provided by Broadmoor Wine & Spirits. All proceeds going to SET Family Medical Clinics, which provides basic medical services and holistic health programs to uninsured, underinsured and low income people without discrimination.

TB Screening Reminder Now in LEARN
TB screening is required annually during associates' birth month, once a Quantiferon level is drawn.  To assist associates in remembering this requirement, a reminder will be assigned in LEARN the first day of one’s birth month.  The associate will receive an email stating that the assignment is in LEARN.  Ten days before the end of the birth month, the associate will receive an email notification if the LEARN reminder has not been opened. If the LEARN reminder has not been opened by the first day of the month following one’s birth month, another email notification will be sent.  Please note, this assignment is a reminder only:  the requirement is to complete the TB Screening tool available from Employee Health.  The LEARN assignment will be removed from LEARN by the 15th of the month following an associate's birth month.

Corridor Safety

From the PSF Occupational/Environmental, Health, Safety and Security Office

Question: What is “corridor storage” and what are the rules?

Answer: During PSF’s last Joint Commission inspection, the surveyor sighted excessive corridor storage as a discrepancy under the Environment of Care Standards. Starting in January, PSF entered the 18 month window of opportunity for the Joint Commission to survey facilities.  PSF is asking everyone to help maintain compliance.

A minimum of 4 feet of clear width in corridors must be maintained at all times. In addition, hospitals are not allowed to have items, such as beds, carts, WOW’s, tables, chairs, and pumps, in the corridors unless these items are being used for direct patient care. Storage is absolutely prohibited!

Definitions:

• Storage includes those items that have not been used within the pervious 30 minutes and/or can not be easily or promptly relocated in an emergency event such as a fire.

• In-use would be those items that are presently being used or have been used within the last 30 minutes and can be easily relocated in an emergency/fire event.

It is not, however, the intent of the code that corridors be maintained completely clear and unobstructed at all times. It is recognized that a limited number of wheeled items in use, such as food service carts, housekeeping carts, gurneys, beds, crash carts and similar items, will be in hospital corridors.

PSF’s fire plan and training program addresses the relocation of these in-use items during a fire or other emergency incident. The actual use and quantity of items and how long they have been located in the corridor really becomes the salient issue.

The EoC standard also stipulates that PSF meet and satisfy any federal, state or local regulatory codes and standards that set more stringent requirements. The City of Colorado Springs Fire Department requires that corridors be continuously maintained free from obstructions or impediments and available for full instant use at all times.

PSF asks that each area carefully evaluate all items located in corridors and determine if it meets the in-use criteria. Please remember, a surveyor will be very critical in their evaluation, as was the case during PSF’s latest survey.  If put to the test, the burden of proof will be on PSF to demonstrate that the item in question truly is in-use. Otherwise, it becomes a scoreable finding against PSF.

For questions or more information, contact Dave Linebaugh at 776-2122.

Nursing Awards Nominations

Each year during National Nurses Week in May, the PSF Nursing Department presents awards to members of the nursing staff and management who exemplify excellence in their work.

Do you work with someone who consistently demonstrates our SHARE values and lives out our mission every day?  Would you like to see this person honored for his or her efforts? 

Then nominate them for the Elizabeth Ann Seton "Nursing Excellence" Award. 

Seven awards will be presented:  three to clinical nurses, two to CNAs, one to a clinical nurse manager, and one to a preceptor. 

Anyone can make a nomination, but be sure to include examples of distinction.

Nomination forms are available on posters in all PSF lobbies or cafeterias as well as on units.  Or contact Kathy Creech, PSF Nursing Administration, at 776-5082, for an easy-to-fill-out form. 

Completed forms are due to Kathy by April 8. 

For questions or more information, contact Rochelle Salmore at 776-5563.

Blood Clots

Deep-vein thrombosis, also known as blood clots, occurs in up to two million people each year in the U.S. and it’s primary complication, pulmonary embolism, claims approximately 300,000 lives annually – more than breast cancer and AIDS combined. 

However, three-quarters of Americans say they know little or nothing about DVT.  March is DVT Awareness Month.

Many Americans are at risk for DVT so it’s important to understand how to help reduce the risk of developing a potentially fatal blood clot.

DVT results from the formation of a blood clot (thrombus) inside a deep vein, commonly in the calf or thigh. As blood “pools” or coagulates and forms a clot, it can partially or completely block the flow of blood back to the heart.

If a DVT blood clot breaks free from the wall of the vein and travels to the lungs, it can block the pulmonary artery or one of its branches, causing a pulmonary embolism.

The most common form of PE cuts off the blood oxygen supply and can be fatal.
Patients who are at risk for developing DVT blood clots can be prescribed medications to help thin their blood.

Symptoms and Signs:
• Pain, tenderness, or sudden swelling of the leg
• Discoloration or visibly enlarged veins
• Skin that is warm to the touch

Seek urgent medical help if the patient experiences:
• Shortness of breath
• Anxiety, nervousness, or excessive sweating
• Sharp chest pain or rapid pulse
• Coughing up blood
• Very low blood pressure or fainting

Certain medical and surgical conditions increase the risk of developing DVT blood clots. The risk may be higher if a patient is hospitalized or off their feet for extended periods of time due to illness, injury, surgery, or recuperation.

Some conditions and factors that may increase risk of DVT area:
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Prior or family history of DVT
• Intensive care admission
• Some kinds of surgery
• Chronic lung disease
• Smoking
• Varicose veins
• Obesity
• Heart failure
• Over 40 years of age
• Respiratory disease
• Certain cancers
• Acute infection
• Restricted mobility
This is a partial list of risk factors.

Learn more about risk and DVT blood clots at www.dvtawareness.com

Cafeteria Menus

Penrose Hospital daily lunch menu.

TODAY
Breakfast: Ham & Swiss Quiche; Lunch: Shepard's Pie, Chicken Pineapple Teriyaki, Garlic Butter Salmon Cakes, Blackberry Cobbler

TUESDAY
Breakfast: Sausage McMuffins; Lunch: Santa Fe Chicken Eggrolls, Tri -Pepper Beef Fajita's, Beef Chimichanga, Cinnamon Churros

WEDNESDAY
Breakfast: Breakfast Burritos; Lunch: Chicken Tenders, Spaghetti & Meatballs, Beer Battered Cod w/ Steak Fries, Chocolate Lava Cakes

THURSDAY
Breakfast: Belgium Waffles; Lunch: Pork Chops in Apple Brown Sauce, Honey Mustard Salmon, Baked Potato Bar, Warm Apple Cobbler

FRIDAY
Breakfast: Breakfast Pizza; Lunch: Fried Catfish, Beef Bacon Cabernet Stew, Chicken Breast Marsala, Apple Cranberry Crisp

SATURDAY
Breakfast: Breakfast Pizza; Lunch: Beer Battered Cod, Meat Lasagna, Chili Dogs, Warm Apple Dumplings

SUNDAY
Breakfast: Belgium Waffles; Lunch: Country Fried Chicken, Cabbage Rolls, Patti Melts, Cherry Apple Cobbler

For the SFMC menu, please call the daily menu phone line 571-1001.

HIIP News

WEIGHT WATCHERS AT WORK: Free Info Session:
Wednesday, April 8 from 5-6p.m. in the PH/Volunteer Conf Room
Join Weight Watchers at work. Meetings will be held Wednesday’s from 5-6 p.m. at PH/Volunteer Conference Room. If 15-19 people sign up it will be a 13-week series and if 20+ people sign up it will be a 17-week series (with a cost savings per week overall). The 13-week series price this session is $156 and the 17-week series price is $186. For questions or more information, please contact Michelle Somers at 776-5034.

WELLNESS CENTER ORIENTATIONS
Please register for the orientation via HealthCalc on My Virtual Workplace or call 776-5839, ext 2.
PH Wellness Center- March, 24 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
Wednesday from 5-5:45 p.m. at PH Cancer Center Rooms A-B

HIIP EDUCATION CLASSES
Can Someone Please Push the Pause Button: Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at Foundation Conference Room. For directions please call Tina at x7078.

Tasty Meals: Tight Budget: April 1 from 5-5:45 p.m. at Health Learning Center Kitchen (1644 Medical Center Pt).

HIIP SPECIAL PROMOTION
Through Friday, schedule a Program Design or a Fitness Assessment with a Buddy for only $25.00. Or schedule a one-on-one appointment for only $15.00.  Many studies show that people who have a workout partner are up to three times more likely to exercise. To schedule your buddy system program design, contact Kristina Sercel at 776-7494.  Each buddy can schedule separately at their own convenience. *Participation counts as a HIIP Education Credit.