Published Weekly for Associates & Volunteers of Penrose-St Francis Health Services
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A Look Inside
Note: Many associates do not regularly check their PSF e-mail. Please print this e-newsletter and make it available to your associates and co-workers. All past Penrose Pulse issues and other Centura Health newsletters can be accessed by visiting www.centuranews.org. Thank you.
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2010 Associate Campaign
In recent weeks, we’ve shared stories of associates who’ve received assistance through monies raised through the Associate Campaign. This week, we’d like to share a story about one of our patients you have helped. This single mom with four children was diagnosed with cancer. She lost her job and after missing three months rent, was facing eviction. A case manager requested assistance through the Sisters of Charity Patient Financial Assistance Program, which many of you also support through the Associate Campaign. This patient, mother, and sole-provider received financial assistance so that she and her children could remain in their home. This is yet another example of the crucial difference you make for others through your generosity. So many people are excited about the drawings that we have decided to extend the deadline one more week, just to be sure everyone has a chance to be eligible to win one of these great prizes. You now have until Friday to get your donation in to the Foundation. We encourage you to consider your participation and gift. Remember there are several ways to give – PTO donation, one time or ongoing payroll deduction, and cash or check donation. If you elect to participate as an Hour Club member, you can choose from a fleece blanket or tumbler mug! For more information regarding the 2010 Associate Campaign, please see one of the Executive Committee members or Campaign Volunteers (wearing red ribbons) or contact Penrose-St. Francis Health Foundation at 776-7760. Back to Top |
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Nightingale Winner!
Olinda Spitzer, RN, with Penrose-St Francis, was recognized last week as one of the 2010 Nightingale Award recipients. The Nightingale Awards for Excellence in Human Caring honors nurses who best exemplify the philosophy and practice of Florence Nightingale, a 19th century nursing pioneer who epitomized the art of helping people toward their optimal health. Registered nurses throughout the state are nominated by the Colorado Area Health Education Centers System (AHEC) and the Colorado Springs and Western Slope Nightingale Committees. Fifteen finalists are selected by the regions and forwarded to the State Selection Committee, who determines the recipients. Olinda is an Acute Care Clinical Nurse Specialist and Clinical Educator at Penrose Hospital. Olinda’s 39 years of nursing experience and a passion for volunteering have taken her worldwide. Her first trip related to natural disasters started with the 1970 earthquake in Peru. She volunteered as a critical care nurse on a Mercy ship after the tsunami in Indonesia and, 10 days later, went to Nias Island after an earthquake had destroyed the entire island. Following this trip, Olinda was invited to the White House and awarded the Gold Award from the President’s Council, which was created by President Bush to thank volunteers who make a difference.
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2010 Seton Awards
In celebration of Nurses Week, Penrose-St. Francis presented the annual Seton Awards. In case you didn't know, the Seton Awards are named after Sr. Elizabeth Seton - the first American saint. She is the patron saint of widows, children near death and teachers. On Friday afternoon, 28 assoicated were nominated for the 2010 Seton Awards.
And the winners were... Category 1 - CNA/EMT/MHT
Category 2 - Preceptor
Category 3 - Rising Star
Category 4 - RN
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Benefits Open Enrollment
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Hospital Week
Click on the flyer for a printable version. Back to Top |
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Meet your Leaders
This is a weekly column where you can meet your Penrose-St. Francis leaders. “I love to travel!” said Keathe Hanley, director of the cardiovascular service line. “We have a 5th wheel and my husband, Morris, and I load up our four greyhounds and go to RV parks every chance we get. When I’m not traveling, I work in my rose beds in my yard. I am the proud cultivator of approximately 40 rose bushes.” “I am blessed in being Grandma to three beautiful grandchildren, Avrie, Aaron and Seth, who live in Pueblo,” said Keathe. “My son-in-law, Brandon, works at St. Mary Corwin.” Keathe has spent her entire career caring for heart patients. She started as a RN on a cardiac step down unit. At that time, there were not many drugs or procedures to treat cardiac patients who suffered a heart attack. She said they were kind of flying by the seats of their pants in treating patients. “I started one of the first noninvasive cardiology departments in the U.S. where echocardiograms and stress testing for cardiac disease was done,” said Keathe. “I later managed the cardiology department at the Texas Heart Institute. Those were exciting times as most of the research was being done there for what is considered common practice today. I had the opportunity to meet many famous people who came to see Dr. Denton Cooley: King Hussein of Jordon, Princess Margaret of England, the King of Bahrain and Alexander Haig.” Today, Keathe is involved in overseeing, directing and developing many aspects of cardiovascular medicine. She oversees five departments: PH Respiratory, PH Non-Invasive Cardiology, PSF Cardiovascular Center (Cath/EP Lab), Cardiac Rehabilitation and Cardiovascular Quality. In addition, she serves as the Practice Business Manager for the Cardiovascular/Thoracic Physician Practice. She said that any issues that have cardiac in a sentence usually end up on her desk for resolution. “I love finding solutions to problems and enjoy improving operational issues,” said Keathe. “I miss direct patient care, but still feel that I can make a contribution in working on the processes of care in order to offer patients the best in service, quality and cost effectiveness and world class experience.” “My biggest concern these days is improving our quality of care,” said Keathe. “We do an excellent job of taking care of patients here at PSF, but the bar is continuously being raised to push us towards greater achievement. What we thought was not possible to do in the past is now expected in the present.”
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Get With The Guidelines Silver Performance Achievement Award
Penrose-St. Francis receives American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines Silver Performance Achievement Award Penrose-St. Francis Health Services has received the American Stroke Association’s Get With The GuidelinesSM–Stroke (GWTG–Stroke) Silver Performance Achievement Award. The award recognizes Penrose-St. Francis’ commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of stroke care by ensuring that stroke patients receive treatment according to nationally accepted standards and recommendations. Penrose-St. Francis has developed a comprehensive system for rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients admitted to the emergency department. This includes always being equipped to provide brain imaging scans, having neurologists available to conduct patient evaluations and using clot-busting medications when appropriate. To receive the Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Silver Performance Achievement Award, Penrose-St. Francis consistently complied for at least one year with the requirements in the Get With The Guidelines–Stroke program. These include aggressive use of medications like tPA, antithrombotics, anticoagulation therapy, DVT prophylaxis, cholesterol reducing drugs, and smoking cessation. This twelve-month evaluation period is the second in an ongoing self-evaluation by the hospital to continually reach the 85 percent compliance level needed to sustain this award. “The American Stroke Association commends Penrose-St. Francis for its success in implementing standards of care and protocols,” said Lee H. Schwamm, M.D., Vice-Chair of the national Get With the Guidelines Steering Committee and Vice-Chair of the Neurology department and director of acute stroke services at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. “The full implementation of acute care and secondary prevention recommendations and guidelines is a critical step in saving the lives and improving outcomes of stroke patients.” Get With The Guidelines–Stroke uses the “teachable moment,” the time soon after a patient has had a stroke, when they are most likely to listen to and follow their healthcare professionals’ guidance. Studies demonstrate that patients who are taught how to manage their risk factors while still in the hospital reduce their risk of a second heart attack or stroke. Through Get With The Guidelines–Stroke, customized patient education materials are made available at the point of discharge, based on patients’ individual risk profiles. The take-away materials are written in an easy-to-understand format and are available in English and Spanish. In addition, the GWTG Patient Management Tool provides access to up-to-date cardiovascular and stroke science at the point of care. According to the American Stroke Association, each year approximately 795,000 people suffer a stroke — 610,000 are first attacks and 185,000 are recurrent. Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States is suffering from a stroke. This deadly condition accounts for 1 out of every 18 deaths in the United States. Back to Top |
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PSF Garners National Marketing Awards
PSF Garners National Marketing Awards for CyberKnife, ED/Trauma Campaigns Penrose-St. Francis Health Services -- Colorado Springs, CO Penrose-St. Francis Health Services -- Colorado Springs, CO Penrose-St. Francis Health Services -- Colorado Springs, CO Back to Top |
Conversations with Women
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Healthy Neighborhood Project Update
The Healthy Neighborhood Project was launched in January with almost 300 of our neighbors from the Old North End participating. While the final screenings won’t take place until August, it doesn’t mean that things aren’t happening. Participants continue to meet monthly with their personal health coaches and some people are seeing dramatic changes. “I weighed 215 when the program started,” said Nelson. “I now weigh 195.” Nelson said that going into the screening in January, he thought he was in better shape than he really was. “I found out that my bad cholesterol was up, my good cholesterol was down and the numbers showed my fasting blood glucose was elevated,” said Nelson. How did he make such a drastic change in only a few months? He began working with his coach, Erin Heberlein, to set exercise and diet goals. He cut back on fast food and increased his exercise. “This really came as a wake-up call for me,” said Nelson. We will share more success stories from the program as we continue toward August. Back to Top |
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Moving Upstream
It’s never JUST about a shot. Cynthia Wacker The volunteer, who is also a PSF associate, stopped the automatic immunization process as this bigger health issue was raised. James was immediately connected with the Faith Community Nurse on-site. She walked with him to the S.E.T. clinic, also housed on-site, to see a provider. A caring relationship which began with a volunteer nurse, continued with our staff who worked with our community partners for needed medical care prescription assistance for James and will continue in follow-up care in the days ahead. There is not an end to this story. It is a real example of an upstream approach in keeping our community healthy. Immunizing against vaccine preventable disease and making sure neighbors, like James, have the necessary healthcare to keep them out of the emergency department and unnecessary hospitalizations allows the whole system to exemplify carrying out our mission. James did receive the immunizations he needed that day along with the meal he came in for, but also received additional care from Penrose St.-Francis associates, volunteers and community partners. The Adult Immunization Project is funded by an American Recovery Reinvestment Act Grant through the Colorado State Health Department and is considered an “Innovative Project.” to increase vaccination rates in under/uninsured populations in the Pikes Peak Region. If you would like to know more about the project or volunteering at one of our sites, please contact Penrose –St. Francis Mission Outreach at 719-571-1117. Back to Top |
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Healing Garden Project
Healing Garden Project Back to Top |
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National Health and Fitness Month
National Employee Health and Fitness Month
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Earth Day
Ex-Earth-Cise on Earth Day! For 2010 Earth Day, Club HIIP and PSF associates got some Ex-Earth-Cise, or exercise that aids in sustaining our environment. Twenty-five employees met outside PH/Valet at noon for a half-hour clean up and collected a whopping 24 pounds of trash! Employees teased about all the squats, lunges and bicep curls they did between the proper bending and picking up of trash as well as carrying it around campus during the clean-up. Kristi Hunter from HR said, “I am excited to be a part of such a worthwhile cause. I am learning to be green and proud to be part of the PSF family. Combining the two is such a blessing, especially on this beautiful day!” Erin Heberlein from HIIP said, “This is such a great way to get outside to de-stress, get some Vitamin D, strengthen you lower body, and continue to keep our campus and community beautiful. I appreciate all of the people who came out to volunteer their lunch hour to join HIIP in some fun Ex-Earth-Cise!” Thank you to all of the following people who put PSF’s Mission In Motion by taking pride in the environment with the Earth Day community cleanup: Kim Shockley, Sylvia Kurko, Diana Patterson (Education), Ben Wetzel, Patricia Lambert, Maggie Harmon, Brandi May (Pathology), Stephanie Dillion (Radiation Oncology) Mary Cress (Mammography), John Scott (Cardiology), Bria London (Occupational Health), Erin Eichelberger, Kristi Hunter, Tami Tenbus (HR) Kathy Wilson (Facilities Admin), Tracy Mushonga, Rita Jones (Finance), Sandy Lezon (Med Staff), Pat McClaran (Rev Integrity), Paul Arens, Steve Relich, Daniel Cisneros (SF Facilities), Michelle Somers, Erin Heberlein (HIIP)
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PSF Art Show
At a recent lunch with Margaret, associates expressed interest in learning more about the wonderful artwork that decorates our hospitals. This is a weekly series featuring the artwork and historical pieces seen in our hospitals.
In the Eucharistic Chapel at St. Francis Medical Center, you will find this work by Brian Clifford called Restoration. Notice the workman repairing the church cross. The shadow it casts onto the roof of the church is the image of Christ carrying the cross. Back to Top |
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Club HIIP Success Story
Club HIIP along with Linda Anderson, Faith Community Nurse, has completed three series of Hypertension Intervention. We have just completed a fourth four-week session at Penrose Main in the month of April. The four-week series consisted of learning techniques including: stress reduction, meditation and blood pressure management. Each day involved a different topic and theme, including a walk around Penrose’s hidden treasure, the labyrinth. The exciting twist: An incentive to lower your blood pressure! If a participant started with high blood pressure and was able to lower to normal levels (120-125/80-90) by the end of the four-week series (attending at least three of four days) they received a $20 gift card to REI. Out of 21 individuals that participated in one or more of the sessions, nine individuals attended at least three of the four sessions AND lowered their blood pressure to normal ranges. That is 43 percent of the participants. Club HIIP and Linda would personally like to recognize these nine individuals who accomplished their goal. Congratulations for taking time to improve your health and lower your blood pressure to normal ranges.Here are a few of those individuals: Holly Beaty (Revenue Integrity) Back to Top |
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Laughter is the best medicine
This is a weekly series of fun stories and jokes to help brighten your day and put a smile on your face.
1. The doors are never locked. 2. The Call to Worship is, "Y'all come on in!" 3. People grumble about Noah letting coyotes on the Ark. 4. The Preacher says, "I'd like to ask Bubba to help take up the offering" - and five guys stand up. 5. The restroom is outside. 6. Opening day of deer hunting season is recognized as an official church holiday. 7. A member requests to be buried in his four-wheel drive truck because, "I ain't never been in a hole it couldn't get me out of". 8. In the annual stewardship drive there is at least one pledge of "two calves." 9. Never in its entire 100-year history has one of its pastors had to buy any meat or vegetables. 10. When it rains, everybody's smiling. 11. Prayers regarding the weather are a standard part of every worship service. 12. A singing group is known as "The O.K. Chorale." 13. The church directory doesn't have last names. 14. The pastor wears boots. 15. Four generations of one family sit together in worship every Sunday. 16. The only time people lock their cars in the parking lot is during the summer...and then only so their Neighbors can't leave them a bag of squash. 17. There is no such thing as a "secret" sin. 18. Baptism is referred to as "branding." 19. There is a special fund-raiser for a new septic tank. 20. Finding and returning lost sheep is not just a parable. 21. You miss worship one Sunday morning and by 2 o'clock that afternoon you have had a dozen phone calls inquiring about your health. 22. High notes on the organ set dogs in the parking lot to howling. 23. People wonder when Jesus fed the 5,000 whether the two fish were bass or catfish. 24. It's not heaven, but you can see heaven from there. 25. The final words, of the benediction are, "Y'all come on back now, ya hear!" Back to Top |
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News Briefs
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HIIP News
MAY LUNCH 'N LEARN NATIONAL EMPLOYEE HEALTH AND FITNESS DAY AT PSF FY10 HIIP EDUCATION CLASSES WALKING CLUBS WELLNESS CENTER ORIENTATIONS
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HLC Second Quarter Classes
SCHEDULE OF HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM CLASSES Please call the following number for additional information or to register for any of the classes listed below. All classes require pre-registration / cancellation a minimum of 24 hours prior. Penrose Health Learning Center All Wellness classes held at Penrose Health Learning Center, 1644 Medical Center Point (Union and Templeton Gap) unless otherwise noted. T’ai Chi – A form of ancient Chinese martial arts that works to improve body awareness, strength and coordination. Cost: $40.00 / 4-week session Cost: FREE Back to Top |
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Cafeteria Menu
PENROSE HOSPITAL Breakfast & Lunch Menu (for more choices including Dinner, call # 776-5408) MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY Back to Top |
Deadline for submissions is Wednesday of each week. Please send submissions to Chris Valentine at christophervalentine@centura.org. For questions or more information, email or call Chris at 776-5250.
