Associate Satisfaction

The Associate Partnership Survey, formerly known as the Associate Satisfaction Survey, kicked off April 6 and runs through May 3. 

All associates hired before Feb. 22 are encouraged to take the survey, which is waiting in associates' email inbox.

Here’s a little more information on taking the survey:

SYSTEMS AND LEADERSHIP
This section is asking questions about directors and above at PSF.

DIRECT MANAGEMENT
This section asks questions about the person you report to on a day-to-day basis. Think about who is ultimately responsible for your performance review.

OUR WORK
This section asks questions about the people with whom you interact every day.
 
OUR ORGANIZATION
This section asks questions about Penrose-St. Francis.

NOTE: Any question regarding Centura corporate will have the word “Centura” in the question, so you can be certain about who you are rating.

WHY BOTHER? Gary Campbell said, “Facility and entity leaders and I want to partner with associates to create a stronger team, and we encourage your honest, candid feedback about your work location.” 

Plus, PSF's goal is 75 percent participation rate; WHEN we achieve it, we’ll celebrate with a BBQ!  Departments with a 100 percent participation rate will be entered into a drawing, and five lucky teams will be treated to a dinner prepared and served by the Senior Team.

For the first time ever, Penrose-St. Francis has the highest participation rate within Centura for the annual Press-Ganey Partnership Survey!
 
As of today, PSF is sitting at 35 percent after one week, nearly half way to the goal of 75 percent. Littleton Adventist is close behind at 34 percent. 

IS IT CONFIDENTIAL?
Press Ganey receives all responses, and no individual responses will ever be reported to Centura Health.

WHAT DID WE GAIN FROM PREVIOUS SURVEYS? Results do make a difference. As a result of associate survey responses over the past two years, many things have changed to make Centura Health an even better place to work.  These changes included:

- Improved Town Halls  
- Increased Transparency  
- Improved Pulse   
- Restructured PSF Leadership Meetings 
- Piloting Executive Coaching 
- Increasing Accountability of Management
- Created Monthly Scorecard
- Created Associate Satisfaction Committee
- Created TV Media Center at PH
- Increased Rewards & Recognition
- Increased VP Rounding
- 5th Floor Pilot Project on Staffing

Is your email inbox full? Have you forgotten your user name and password?

Get to a computer and telephone, dial Ext. 4200 (IT Help Desk). Stay on the line and an IT Representative will help you get your email cleaned out or your login access reset. PSF has also arranged for computer access all over the PSF system.
 
For questions and concerns about access, confidentiality or confusion on the survey questions, please contact Human Resources at 776-4784, 776-4796, or 776-4782.

Also, the Associate Satisfaction Team "ambassadors" are eager to help associates. Look for people wearing the buttons that say, "Ask Me About the Associate Survey" for instant assistance. 

Satisfaction + Engagement = Partnership

Halos for Heroes

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

March Heroes
Yvonne Johnson, SFMC Training Coordinator
Rose Mitchell, CNA PSF 11th Floor Oncology 
Gail Albritton, RN PSF 11th Floor Oncology 
Chelsea Zastrow, RN PSF 11th Floor Oncology 
Brigida Tugade, RN PSF 11th Floor Oncology 
Tammy Batchelor, Catholic Health Initiative
Sandy Garland, Catholic Health Initiative
Kristy Hunter, Human Resources

Halos for Heroes winner Yvonne Johnson (second from right) is congratulated by Diane LeBlanc, Penrose-St. Francis Health Foundation president; Nate Olson, St. Francis Medical Center CEO; and Gary Morse, Vice President of Human Resources, at SFMC. (Photo by Sharon Meyers)

Staff from the Penrose Hospital 11th Floor Oncology pose with Halos for Heroes winners Rose Mitchell, Gail Albritton, Chelsea Zastrow, and Brigida Tugade. (Photo by Sharon Meyers) 

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.

News Briefs

Wine, for the Health of it!
Thursday, 5:30 - 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.  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.

Call for Nursing Memorabilia
Are you a "seasoned" nurse who has been in nursing for many years through all the different changes that have occurred? Have you served in the military as a nurse in war time? The Nurses Week committee is looking for pictures, written materials, uniforms, caps, etc… that symbolize "Nursing Through the Ages" for Gift Shop window displays.  The committee would also like to include anything related to military nursing through the ages.  Both hospital gift shops will have items prominently displayed during Nurses Week May 6-12. Items will be returned to the owners, so please include name and unit on the items borrowed. Please bring items for the display by today to either Kathy Guy, Penrose Hospital 11th Floor Clinical Manager, and for St. Francis Medical Center to Frank Thornburg. For more information or questions, please contact Kathy Guy at 776-5760.  

PSF Associate Campaign
The Penrose-St. Francis Health Services 2009 Associate Campaign begins April 23.  The Associate Campaign Hour Club Gifts may 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.

Trauma Presentation

Accident Reenactment Shows Realities of Bad Decisions

Trauma personnel from Penrose-St. Francis Health Services and the Flight For Life talked to teens about risky driving habits Friday at Edison High School in Yoder, Colo.

The school planned events throughout the day, but PSF and the Flight For Life trauma presentation included tough talk and a crash scene reenactment complete with bloodied “patients” and local law enforcement and fire rescue crews.

“We wanted to show these teens the realities of bad driving decisions,” said John Gentzel, PSF Trauma Program manager.  “Real life isn’t like TV and the movies.  In real accidents people suffer real injuries and even death.  They don’t get up when a director yells cut.”

Gentzel believes too many kids are distracted while driving because they are on the phone or texting when they should be paying attention.  Drinking and driving also continues to be a problem.

The events were planned by students with the Edison H.S. Student Council.

John Gentzel, Penrose-St. Francis Health Services Trauma Program manager, talks to teens April 10 at Edison High School in Yoder, Colo. about risky driving behaviors (Photos by Stacey Knott).

Teens at Edison High School in Yoder, Colo. watch an accident reenactment April 10. The teens saw the consequences of bad driving decisions.

Emergency crews carry a "patient" to a waiting ambulance during an accident reenactment at Edison High School in Yoder April 10.  Teens at the school learned about the consequences of risky driving behaviors.

For Your Spirit

Risen One,
Send me forth as a disciple of Your unwavering love,
a messenger of Your unlimited promise.

Blessed are those
who have not seen and yet believe.

Blessed are those who need not see Your wounds
and need not touch Your side.

Blessed are those
who are ever more convinced
that Your presence lives on,
and on, and on, and on.

Blessed are those who seek You in the
everyday moments of our human existence.

Resurrected One,
awaken me,
meet me,
walk with me,
both in the days of my belief
and in the days of my unbelief.

Amen.

OT Month

Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants continued celebrating Occupational Therapy Month at Penrose-St. Francis.

Join in the fun by answering the following Occupational Therapy trivia question.  The first person to email Rosie Wunder at rosiewunder@centura.org with the correct answer wins a prize!  

Why is the word occupation used in the title of Occupational Therapy?
A. Occupational Therapists focus on finding people jobs that are suited to their skills and interests.
B. Occupational Therapists try to find things to occupy the time of their patients
C. The profession of occupational therapy uses the term occupation to capture the breadth and meaning of “everyday activity.”  OT is founded on an understanding that engaging in occupations structures everyday life and contributes to health and well-being.

See next week’s Pulse for the correct answer and the name of the winner as well as another trivia question.

Penrose-St. Francis Health Services' occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants are celebrating Occupational Therapy Month throughout April. The team posed for a photo at Penrose Hospital April 9. Front row left to right, Melissa Chang, Christina Thompson and Amy Ceney.  Back row left to right, Kathy Bellandi, Terri Cassidy, Maria Pontello, Troy Pontello, Lil Hooper, and Mary Lynn Matthews. Not shown Kim Lehmann and Kim Kennedy. (Photo by Stacey Knott) 

Baby Food Drive

You're a Good Egg

Hundreds of colorful eggs with Egg-traordinary appreciation decorated the PSF cafeterias the week of April 6-12 for “You’re A Good Egg.” 

Beginning today, people will start receiving their colorful egg-shaped notes of appreciation, gratitude and friendship from associates, physicians and friends. 

The Associate Satisfaction Team would like to rec-Egg-nize several people for making this possible:  

From St. Francis Medical Center: Frank Martinez, Phil Zook, Andrea Wiley, Marie Adler, Pat Tetterton, Yvonne, Johnson, Dave Fish, Jodie Brady, Ayesha Johnson, Robbi Keith, Kim Krause, Stan Darnell, and Mary Hammell.  

From Penrose Hospital: Kristi Ecklund, Monica Harden, Larry Seidl, Jamie Smith, Gary Morse, Laurie Kennedy, Debra Kaye, Leslie Schwender, Michelle Powers, Janet Truhlar, Dee Faricy, Sherry McNabb, her daughter Briana McNabb, and Karol Powell.
 
A special thanks to all of those who helped at the outlying facilities.

Members of the Associate Satisfaction Team, Leslie Schwender, Michelle Powers, Janet Truhlar, Dee Faricy, Sherry McNabb, her daughter Briana McNabb and Karol Powell, show off the hundreds of colorful egg-shaped notes of appreciation, gratitude and friendship from associates, physicians and friends (Photo by Stacey Knott).

Library Week

April 12-18 is National Library Week, which is observed by all types of libraries all over the country since 1958. 

Special libraries play an important role in providing information to a targeted population.  The Webb Memorial Library is a medical library with medical and nursing books, print journals, and access to several electronic databases, some of which offer access to full-text journals. 

In honor of National Library Week, Webb Library is requesting that associates and physicians check their offices, homes, lockers, cars, and other nooks and crannies for books and journals from the collection that are overdue.  Please return these items to Webb Library. 

Medical books are expensive, so when patrons don’t return them, not only are the books not available to other users, but the library must bear the additional cost of replacing them. 

If the library is closed, please put materials in the book drop located outside the library, or return them by hospital mail.  Please help keep Webb Library’s collection viable and return overdue materials.  Materials kept for more than three weeks are considered overdue.

For questions about materials checked out or about the library in general, contact Casey Welch, the medical librarian, at 776-5288 or via e-mail at caseywelch@centura.org

Heart Walk Kick Off

Wednesday was the American Heart Association National Start! Walking Day. Michelle Somers from HIIP led a group of walkers at Penrose Hospital for a 30 minute walk in the neighborhood. 

(Photo by Stacey Knott)

Associate Campaign

The 2009-2010 Associate Campaign, Imagine, Believe, Achieve, kicks off in two short weeks on April 23. 

The Penrose-St. Francis Health Foundation invites all associates, physicians and volunteers to join in this year as we strive to meet our goals of $315,000 raised and 50% participation.

Some of you may be wondering why you should support the Associate Campaign when times are tough, but that is exactly why we need your participation. 

The Associate Campaign funds some very important programs including the Associate Financial Assistance Fund, which is in greater demand than ever before.  The Campaign is our only means of funding this program, so please consider helping your fellow employees by donating.  Other giving options this year include the Patient Financial Assistance Fund and Digital Mammography.

Read on to learn why our wonderful Penrose-St. Francis physicians support our efforts:

I give to the Foundation because it’s the right thing to do.  The Foundation supports the physicians with whom I work, the staff that supports me in my work, and they provide care in the broader sense, with dignity to those in our “family” who are in need.
      Dr. Marty Kiernan
      Director of Medical Education

My interests in serving as a member of the Penrose-St. Francis Health Foundation is to perpetuate the legacy of prior donors in maintaining the status of Penrose Hospital as a premier hospital providing care to all who need it.  I urge other members of the medical community to join me in supporting the Foundation.
      Dr. Cosimo Sciotto
      Board Member, PSF Health Foundation
      Director of Cytogenetics and Immunopathology

Many of you received letters asking for you to make your pledge early this year.  The reason for this is to kick off the campaign with part of the goal already made.  These lead gifts encourage and inspire others to give, and will allow us to focus our attention on associates, physicians, and volunteers new to the Campaign.  If you plan to make an early gift, please return your pledge form to the Foundation by April 15, so that we will have time to process your gift before the kickoff.

If you’ve never given to the Campaign, please consider starting now.  If every associate, physician. and volunteer considers a gift at any level, the Campaign will reach and exceed its goal quickly. 

The Penrose-St. Francis Associate Campaign holds the distinction of being one of the most successful workplace giving campaigns in the nation.  Its success is due to the compassion and generosity of our associates. 

Please keep the momentum going and support this year’s campaign.

Donate Life-3

Healthcare Decisions

Thursday is National Healthcare Decisions Day.  Penrose-St. Francis Spiritual Care Department is joining a national effort to highlight the importance of advance healthcare decision-making, which is an effort that has culminated in the formal designation of April 16 as National Healthcare Decisions Day. 
 
To help realize this goal, Penrose-St. Francis is offering brochures and information for PSF staff, families, and patients to talk about future healthcare decisions and execute written directives (healthcare power of attorney and living wills) in accordance with applicable state laws.
 
The Federal Patient Self-Determination Act requires that all Medicare-participating healthcare facilities inquire about and provide information to patients on advance directives, It also requires these facilities provide community education on advance directives. 

All healthcare facilities are required to:
 
- Provide information about healthcare decision-making rights
- Ask all patients if they have an advance directive
- Educate staff and community about advance directives
- Not discriminate against patients based on an advance directive status
 
Participating organizations for NHDD are committed to ensuring that all adults with decision-making capacity in the United States have the information they need to make an informed decision. 

Penrose-St. Francis offers an easy to read pamphlet that informs people about their right to make healthcare decisions, including the right to accept or refuse medical treatment.  The pamphlet explains Medical Durable Power of Attorney and Living Wills as well as offering copies of the needed documents.

For more information, please contact Chaplain Rosemary Partridge at 776-5855 or ext. 2680.

Going Green

Did you know….That Environmental Services utilizes several products that have received the “Green Seal of Approval.” By using these products EVS not only satisfies all infection control standards, but also prevents chemicals from entering into the environment.

Going Green Tip of the Week…Don’t take the ATM receipt when given the option at the machine. ATM receipts are one of the top sources of litter on the planet. If everyone in the U.S. did not take a receipt from the ATM, it would save a roll of paper more than 2 billion feet long, or enough to circle the equator 15 times.

The Going Green Section of the Penrose Pulse was developed to educate and inform Penrose-St. Francis associates, physicians, and volunteers on how to Reduce and Reuse valuable resources.  For questions or to share a tip, please contact Ann Martin at 776-5111 or by email annmartin@centura.org.

Cafeteria Menu

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

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

HIIP News

LUNCH ‘N’ LEARN: “Healing Touch”
Healing Touch is a relaxing and nurturing energy therapy. Gentle touch assists in balancing your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being while working with your energy field to support your natural ability to heal. It is safe for all ages and works in harmony with standard medical care. Health benefits include reducing stress/anxiety/depression/pain, strengthening the immune system, enhanced recovery from surgery, care for neck and back problems and much more. Join Myra Tovey, RNBS, CHPI, as she teaches an overview of the healing touch practice.
Wednesday, 12:05-12:35 p.m., SFMC/Conf Rooms 2-3            
Thursday, 12:05-12:35 p.m.,  PH/E-Tower Gala Room       
Special Offer: Please join us for A Healing Touch Seminar on May 30-31, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at PH/Cancer Center Rooms A-C.   Registration required and available at the Lunch ‘N’ Learn or by calling Liz at 776-7393. See registration flyer for more information. 

HYPERTENTION INTERVENTION
Want to try another way to Protect Your Heart?
Friday and April 24, noon – 12:30 p.m. at the PH/E-tower basement aerobics room
Was your blood pressure high at the health screening? Did you ever want to try relaxation, guided imagery or meditation? Each of these can help protect your heart by lowering blood pressure, reducing stress, and bringing a sense of peace and calm. Join us for the Club HIIP Education class series on lowering your blood pressure.
Incentive: If you start class with high blood pressure and are able to lower it to within normal ranges by week 4 you will receive a $20 gift card to a place of your choosing! You must attend three out of the four classes to be eligible.

WEIGHT WATCHERS AT WORK
Wednesdays from 5-6 p.m. in the PH/Volunteer Conf Room
Now is your chance to join Weight Watchers at work. A 17-week series beginning Wednesday and running through Aug. 5.  Cost is $186 per person and includes the Weight Watchers program, meetings and E-Tools.  For questions or more information, please contact Michelle Somers at 776-5034.

FY09 HIIP EDUCATION CLASSES
Active Mind and Memory: April 30 from 5-5:45 p.m. at PH/Cancer Center Rooms A-C

PSF EXTENDED FITNESS CLASSES

Pick up a schedule at HIIP Wall pockets at all sites for registration form

Nia: Session 6: Starts Tuesday from 4-5 p.m. in the PH/E-Tower Aerobics Room for 6 week session

Body Toning: Session 6a/b: Starts April 20 from 11:45 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. in the PH/E-Tower 
Aerobics Room for 6 week session

Yoga: Session 5: Starts April 23 from 5:15-6:30 p.m. in the PH/E-Tower Aerobics Room for 6 week session

WELLNESS CENTER ORIENTATIONS
Please register for the orientations via HealthCalc on My Virtual Workplace or call 776-5839, ext 2.
SFMC Wellness Center- Thursday at 5 p.m.
PH Wellness Center- April 21 at 4 p.m.
SFMC Wellness Center- April 22 at 11 a.m.
Anyone over 40 years old must have a physician’s form signed giving permission to use Wellness Centers.

JEANS DAY
April 24, Donate $5 to wear denim In support and to help fundraise for March for Babies:
Penrose Hospital: Erin Heberlein, Wellness Center/ E Tower
St. Francis Medical Center: Jean Turk, Administration
St. Francis Health Center: Liz Benavidz, Nutrition Services
ASC:  Deb Thurber, Upstairs

COMMUNITY WALK
March for Babies Walk: April 25 at America the Beautiful Park, 9 a.m.
Registration begins at 8 a.m. With the walk starting at 9 a.m. To join, simply visit www.marchforbabies.org and click on “Join A Team.” In the search box type in “Centura Health,” click on the “Centura Health” link and the team name “Centura Health- Penrose St. Francis” should appear. Click on this team and create a personal profile. For further questions or information, please call Erin Heberlein at 776-7394.