Meet Your Executives

This is a weekly column where you can meet your Penrose-St. Francis executives.

 
“In football season, my favorite topic is college football, specifically Texas Longhorn football,” said Jamie Smith, chief operating officer.

Life isn’t all about work. Jaime and his wife Anne, a registered nurse who works in the trauma critical care unit at St. Anthony’s Central, spend a lot of time outdoors. “I love to be outdoors,” said Jamie. “In the winter, I ski and snowshoe. In the summer, I fly fish, camp, hike and mountain bike. I’m also a big live music fan. Anne and I also love to travel.” 

“We’re both from Texas, but we love living in Colorado,” said Jamie.

From health care administration in the Army to the dot com world and back to health care administration, Jamie’s career has taken him across the country. While in the Army, his first job in hospital administration was at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the Army’s flagship hospital in Washington D.C., as the Administrator for the Department of Pediatrics.

"I then went to Fort Hood, Texas where I served as the Medical Platoon Leader for 1st Battalion, 9th Cavalry Regiment, an armored infantry unit," said Jamie. "My two year stint there was one of the best experiences of my career because I was put in a position of “pure” leadership, responsible for the lives of 35 medics."

“In 1998, I chose to get out of the Army and pursue a career in the “dot com” world working for a small IT start-up company in Austin, TX,” said Jamie. “After two crazy years, the tech bubble burst and I decided to go back to school to get my MBA at the University of Texas at Austin.”

“I’ve been with Centura for nearly three years,” said Jamie. “I worked at the corporate office in Denver for a year and then moved to PSF two years ago. As the Chief Operating Officer, I wear a lot of different hats. I’m responsible for ancillary and support services, several service lines, construction, hospital contracts, and many special projects.” 

The life of a COO isn’t all spent behind a desk. “I spend about one third of my time out in the facility interacting with the staff and the physicians who use our services,” said Jamie. “I constantly seek out opportunities for the hospital to better serve physicians’ needs and make associates more effective.”

“However, my main job is to make the directors and managers that work in my areas the best they can be,” said Jamie. “If they do a great job leading their teams, then I’ve done a great job.  Ultimately, a chief operating officer is only as good as his frontline leaders.” 

This is a weekly column where you can meet your Penrose-St. Francis executives.

Can you name this executive?

Whose cross will you help carry today?

“Whose cross will you help carry today?”

It’s always interesting to ask people here what it is that they like best about their jobs.  Some folks probably would say they enjoy the fast pace of hospital work.  Others might respond that their commute is easy and the schedule works well with their family life.  But the “opportunity to help people in some way” is almost always the answer to why someone chooses to work in a healthcare system.  Be it patients, families, co-workers, even strangers, those who work in a hospital enjoy helping those who are struggling.  Meeting the physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual needs of others is really what hospital work is all about.  Contributing to the creation of an environment of healing—in a myriad of ways —is what we do as a hospital community.  We all try to make it easier for people to cope with the distress, the fear, the confusion, that many experience in the hospital setting.  We all try to lighten the burden they carry, just as the ancient biblical character, Simon, stepped up to assist Jesus as he was carrying His cross.  By playing our part in the system, by stepping up and saying to a patient, a family member, a co-worker, a visitor, “Is there anything I can help you with?” we are really saying, “May I ease your burden today? May I help you carry your cross?”  

Who will you help in our hospital today?

Make a change

Success Story:   


Susan Roberts – Nutrition Services

I was given a diagnosis of "pre-diabetic" with a slightly elevated fasting blood sugar about 4 months ago. I was adamant about not allowing myself to progress into diabetes and took immediate action. I started exercising 4-5 times weekly in our gym and have since been taking Margaret Sabin’s bootcamp class. I also scheduled an appointment with our outpatient dietitians and was placed on a carbohydrate counting diet. I have been diligently counting carbohydrates and following a much healthier diet.   just went back to my physician last week and have lost almost 20 lbs. and have dropped my fasting blood sugar by 4mg. I am committed to improving my health, preventing diabetes, and keeping myself off medication and out of the hospital.  

Congratulations Susan for making a positive lifestyle change and preventing yourself from diabetes. You are a true success and an excellent example of Centura's moving “upstream.”  Susan has become a motivational role model for her coworkers who have started exercising and becoming more aware of the food that they are consuming. Way to go, Susan! 

You too can get started on your way to better health. The first step is to know your numbers. What is your cholesterol level? How much do you really weigh? You can find out about these things plus so much more simply by signing up for the annual health screening, coming up next week. Registration is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.  Please go to www.healthcalc.net/penrose log in and go to “HIIP Classes” to register for a specific time slot or call 776-7494. For specific dates and times, check out the HIPP News section of this newsletter.

April 2010 Town Hall Meetings

Mark your calendar!

The April 2010 Town Hall meeting schedule is listed below. Information about topics to be discussed will be distributed soon but for now, please make sure one of these meetings is on your calendar.

Monday, April 12 - 9:30 a.m. at Penrose - 2 p.m. at SFMC - 4 p.m. at Penrose

Tuesday, April 13 - 7:30 a.m. at Penrose - 12:00 p.m. at Penrose - 2:00 p.m. for EAP /CCOM / Sport & Spine/ HLC / at the HLC - Pikes Peak, Longs Peak & Mount Evans Rooms - 4:30 p.m. at SFMC

Wednesday, April 14 - 7:30 a.m. at SFMC - 10 a.m., at SFHC 5th Floor, Summit Room - 2 p.m. at Penrose

Thursday, April 15 - 9:30 a.m. at SFMC - 12 p.m. at SFMC  - 4:30 p.m. at Penrose

Getting enough sleep?

We spend 8 hours a day, 56 hours a week, 240 hours a month and 2, 880 hours a year doing it. What is it? ...sleeping! But what if you are still tired after all that sleep? The Penrose-St. Francis Sleep Disorders Center suggests sharing this concern with your doctor. According to the National Sleep foundation, sleep disorders affect up to 70 million people in the United States.

Sleep apnea is one of the most common sleep disorders. Sleep Apnea is repetitive pauses in breathing which occur during sleep. Common symptoms are daytime sleepiness, snoring, or witnessed pauses in your breathing during sleep. A non-invasive sleep test, called a polysomnogram, is essential in diagnosing and treating Sleep Apnea. The spacious, comfortable, and homelike facilities as well as friendly staff at the Sleep Center help to make this test pleasant. “Super friendly staff”, “Very nice atmosphere”, and “Surprisingly Impressed” are just a few comments made by persons who have undergone sleep testing at the Penrose-St. Francis Sleep Center.

CPAP (Continues Positive Airway Pressure) is the standard or traditional treatment for Sleep Apnea and is also the most effective treatment available. While they can take some getting used to, the benefits are great.  In addition to testing and treating sleep disorders such as Sleep Apnea, the Penrose-St. Francis Sleep Center also offers a CPAP Clinic, free of charge, to patients who may have difficulty wearing CPAP to treat their Sleep Apnea.

We assess the health of others on a daily basis. Please take a moment to assess YOUR sleep. Are you getting enough? Are you getting enough, but still tired? Do you snore or wake from sleep gasping? For additional information and assessment tools please contact the Penrose-St. Francis Sleep Center at 776-8868.

The Sleep Center at Penrose-St. Francis has been accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine since 1997. (This first accredited sleep center in Colorado Springs!)

Thoughts for Lent

The mood for Lent is one of seriousness—one that encourages deep thought and increased awareness - awareness of ourselves, both in solitude and in relationship. That explains the age-old Lenten emphasis on prayer and charitable giving to the poor.  

Here are some spiritual thoughts from our fellow associates:

 Dr. George Schwender, Physician at CCOM

“Patience with others is Love, patience with self is Hope, patience with God is Faith.” 
Adel Bestavros

 Janet Larson, Spiritual Care Volunteer

“If you stop to be kind, you must swerve often from your path.”   Mary Webb

 Ginny Vravick, RN, Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist

Proverbs 3:5-6
 
Trust in the LORD with all your heart
       and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him,
       and he will make your paths straight.

News Briefs

Lunch with Margaret

We have only a few seats available at the next Lunch with Margaret. Lunch is open to everyone – associates, volunteers and physicians – working at any PSF facility. Space is limited to 20 people per month, so an R.S.V.P is required by e-mailing Julie Cox at juliecox@centura.org. Include your contact information, the department and facility you work for, and a number where you can be reached.

Penrose Hospital – Barry Nolan Conference Room – 11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
February 26

The next lunch is scheduled for March 26.

PSF on facebook

We have just reached a milestone - we now have 600 fans on our facebook page.
Visit www.facebook.com/penrosestfrancis.

(Facebook is currently unavailable for viewing from PSF facilities. To join facebook or to view our facebook page, please use your home computer.)

Donate your magazines
Please donate your magazines to Volunteer Services so that we can supply the different waiting areas in the hospital. We need magazines that are no more than three months old. Our book cart is running low!  Call Volunteer Services to make arrangements to drop off your magazines.

Trauma Symposium
Save the Date for the Biennial Symposium on Trauma & Critical Care, Friday, April 9, 2010.

Pressure Ulcer Prevention Class - Date change to March 11 
The Pressure Ulcer Prevention class sponsored by Medline will be held March 11 from 08 - 1600 at the Julie Penrose Health Education and Research Center in the North Care Building.  The date was changed from March 9 as previously announced in the TLC.  This free class is open to any PSF nursing staff.  You will receive 6 CE and free lunch.  Watch for reservation forms coming to your units.  Previous attendees have said how much they enjoyed the speaker and received a lot of new information. 

HIIP News

HIIP News February 22-28, 2010                             

2010 CLUB HIIP HEALTH SCREENING                     
YOU ARE WANTED!
Join us at the Club HIIP 2010 “Hoe Down” Health Screening!
Save the Date!               
The health screenings will include: Blood pressure checks, cholesterol/ HDL/glucose lab, BMI, neck/back massages, carpal tunnel evaluations, osteoporosis heel scan, pulmonary function, hearing, vision and more! Info will be available on smoking cessation, ask a dietitian and cancer prevention. There will be food, prizes, and contests!                                    
Tues, Feb 23      9 a.m.-noon  SFHC/5th Floor Conference Rooms                                                                           
Wed, Feb 24      2-4:30 p.m.  SFMC/Conference Rooms 1-3                                                                          
Thurs, Feb 25     8:30 a.m.-noon SFMC/Conference Rooms 1-3
Wed, March 3    2-6 p.m.  PH/E-Tower Aerobics Room
Thurs, March 4 8 a.m.-noon  PH/E-Tower Aerobics Room
Fri, March 5  9 a.m.- noon  PH/E-Tower Aerobics Room                                       
Saddle Up and Register to Participate in the screening: 
Please go to www.healthcalc.net/penrose log in and go to “HIIP Classes” to sign up or call 776-7494.  
**Walk-ins permitted after the first 2 hours of the screenings                                                              

MARCH LUNCH 'N LEARN
"Get Green: Go Lean”
Let’s Go Green and Get Lean while we celebrate National Nutrition Month 2010! Did you know your food choices actually have an impact on the planet earth? How do you define “carbon footprint?” Learn answers to these questions as well as many other interesting facts that will enable you to lose weight and reduce your carbon footprint. Join Michelle Somers, registered dietitian, as she shares highlights from an exciting new “Go Green Get Lean” eating plan with easy-to-follow steps anyone can take to eat for your health and to “Go Green” for our planet.                                                                                                                        
Wed, March 17th, 12:05-12:35 p.m., SFMC/Northcare Building, 2nd Fl Julie Penrose Center                                  
Thurs, March 18th, 12:05-12:35 p.m., PH/E-Tower Basement Gala Room    

WELLNESS CENTER ORIENTATIONS
Please register for orientations via HealthCalc on My Virtual Workplace or call 776-5839,
PH Wellness Center- Mar. 11th at 8 a.m.                                         
Anyone over 40 years old must have a physician’s form signed giving permission to use Wellness Centers. 

WALKING CLUBS
PH Walking Club: Every Thursday at 7:15-7:50 a.m. outside of valet.
Contact Michelle Somers x5034
SFMC Walking Club:  Every Tuesday at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. meet outside 1st floor/valet entrance. If temperature is below 30 degrees- cancelled.  Contact Rox x11064

Click on the flyer for a printable version.

HLC First Quarter Classes

Check out these community health and wellness classes at the Health Learning Center.

T’ai Chi – A form of ancient Chinese martial arts that works to improve body awareness, strength and coordination.
March 2 - March 25
9 – 10 a.m.
Cost:  $40/ 4-week session

New!  Treat Your Heart: Cooking Demo and Sampling – Our Registered Dietitians are absolutely the best cooks!  Their recipes taste so wonderful and yet are still healthy treats for your heart.  Join the Penrose Health Learning Center dietitians in learning quick and easy, tasty combinations for meals and snacks.
Wednesday February 24
5:45 pm – 7:15 pm    
Cost: $25

New! YoChi - This unique class will incorporate exercise components of both seated Yoga and Tai Chi to promote relaxation and stress reduction.  
Wednesdays
March 3 - March 24
5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Cost:  $30/ 4 week session

Join The Health Learning Center Gym – Did you know that a one month membership at the HLC gym is equal to one class option through Colorado Springs Utilities?  Join us for one or more months and get your workouts kick started under the guidance of our fitness experts.  Call the registration number for an exercise intake appointment.  By appointment only. Contact 776-4761 to schedule your intake to initiate your membership. The cost is $46 per month / no contracts – month to month membership.

New!  Individual Fitness Assessment – Measure your fitness levels against the national averages and note areas in which you excel and potential areas of need. A sub-max VO2 treadmill test as well as evaluations for flexibility, strength and strength endurance will be performed.  Results will be reviewed and discussed with a fitness expert to help direct you in your future fitness goals. 
Date/Time: By appointment only.
Contact 776-4761 to schedule your appointment
Cost: $50

New!  Moderating Blood Sugars – Whether your blood sugars are totally within range or not, managing blood glucose levels throughout your day will help to effectively fuel your body as well as to avoid those sugar peaks and valleys. Discussions with our Diabetes Educators will help you to see the big picture. 
Thursday, March 11.
5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Cost: $25

Aquatics Classes – The Penrose Health Learning Center in cooperation with Colorado Sports and Spine. A structured class two to three times per week, concentrating on range of motion, overall strengthening and general cardiovascular conditioning.  All Aquatics classes are located at 1625 Medical Center Point (Union and Templeton Gap).  The cost is $46 per month for 2x / week or $66 per month for 3x / week.
- Monday/Wednesday/Friday: 10:30–11:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
- Monday/Wednesday: 5-6 p.m.
- Monday/Friday: 12:30-1:30 p.m

All Wellness classes held at Penrose Health Learning Center, 1644 Medical Center Point (Union and Templeton Gap) unless otherwise noted.

All classes require pre-registration / cancellation a minimum of 24 hours prior. A $20 no show fee will be billed to the participant if registration not cancelled 24 hours in advance. To register or for more information, please call the

Cafeteria Menu

Penrose Hospital Breakfast & Lunch Menu 
(for more choices including Dinner, call # 776-5408)   

For SFMC menu, please call menu line at # 571-1001  

MONDAY
Breakfast: Western Breakfast Skillet, Eggs Florentine
Lunch: Chicken Teriyaki, Shepherd’s Pie, Garlic Salmon Cakes,
 Mac & Cheese, Baked Potato Bar, Blackberry Cobbler

TUESDAY
Breakfast :French Toast, Sausage Egg Muffin Sandwich
Lunch: Beef Fajitas, Beef Taco Bowl, Santa Fe Chicken Rolls, Beef Chimichanga, Roast Turkey, Jalopeno Poppers, Churros

WEDNESDAY
Breakfast: Fruit Topped Pancakes, Breakfast Burritos
Lunch: Grill Chicken Spinach Jack Sandwich, Meatball Marinara, Scallop Seafood Saute over mini Shells ,Chocolate Lava Cake

THURSDAY
Breakfast: Denver Omelet, Waffles, Sausage Gravy & Biscuit
Lunch: Turkey Bacon Swiss Sandwich, Fresh Veggie Stir Fry, White Wine Butter Salmon, Apricot Pork Chops, Pistachio Cake

FRIDAY
Breakfast: Bagel Breakfast Sandwich, Green Chili Omelet
Lunch: Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich, Catfish, Beef Bacon Cabernet Stew, Chicken Marsala, Spicy Chicken Wings, Cran-Apple Crisp.

SATURDAY
Breakfast: Minnesota Egg Casserole, Chipped Beef & Biscuit
Lunch: Meat Lasagna, Beer Battered Fish, Popcorn Chicken, Rosemary Roasted Potato ,Beef Chili,  Apple Dumpling.

SUNDAY
Breakfast: Belgium Waffles, Red Potato Home Fries, Mac & Cheese
Lunch: Fried Chicken, Cabbage Rolls, Patty Melts,
Garlic Mashed Potato, Green Peas, Cherry Apple Cobbler