Family Picnic

All Penrose-St. Francis Health Services associates, volunteers and their immediate family members are invited to celebrate the grand opening of the latest member of the Penrose-St. Francis Health Services family on Saturday, Aug. 2.

The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the new St. Francis Medical Center on the corner of Woodmen Road and Powers Boulevard.  Associates and volunteers are encouraged to wear their “Mission in Motion” T-shirts to the event.

About 3,700 associates and volunteers received their invitation in early July, along with a Colorado Blue Spruce sapling.  (Photo at left) Janet Ziemba, clinical data analyst, planted her sapling in the Pike National Forest. 

Food will be served throughout the day and door prizes will be given away.

Self-guided tours of the new facility will also be available.  We’ve developed a tour route that showcases the majority of our services lines, while keeping the tours manageable and our beautiful new facility secure.  We ask that you do not deviate from the dedicated tour route.   

Please park in the upper-level main parking lot outside the front entrance.  Associates and volunteers must have their ID badge to enter.

The menu includes: 
* Oak pit BBQ including beef, chicken and hot dogs
* Molasses and brown sugar baked beans
* Fire roasted salsa
* Garlic bread
* Roasted corn in the husk
* Creamy slaw
* Baked potato salad
* Ice cream

Fun for the entire family!
* Games & inflatables
* Climbing wall
* Bungee trampoline
* Bounce houses
* Human foosball
* Carnival games with prizes
* Obstacle course
* Dunk tank
* Slides
* Music

AED Presentation

Nate Olson, St. Francis Medical Center Chief Executive Officer, presents an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to Shannon Cole, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Events Coordinator, prior to a Sky Sox baseball game July 25. The Zoo was selected to receive the grant to support a new exhibit. Each quarter dozens of statewide applications for AED grants are reviewed by Centura. A selection committee from each hospital reviews the applications from their area and a grant to one recipient is awarded based on need.  Nate also threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the game.  Hundreds of Penrose-St. Francis associates and volunteers attended the event, which was billed as “Penrose Night at the Ball Park”.
 

Urgent Care

Beginning 9 a.m. on Aug. 18, Penrose Community Urgent Care will provide convenient, no-appointment urgent care for minor illnesses and injuries, including:

* Coughs, colds and upset stomachs
* Sprains, strains, fractures and lacerations
* Outpatient (walk-in) radiology and lab service

PCUC will be open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week, and will be located in the PCH ER at 3205 N. Academy Blvd.  The PCUC phone number will be 776-3216. 

Key Dates
Aug. 16:  PCH closes at 7 a.m.
Aug 16:  SFMC opens at 7 a.m.
Aug. 18:  PCUC opens at 9 a.m.

Tops Again!

Penrose-St. Francis Health Services was named one of “America’s Best Hospitals” in a recent report published by U.S. News & World Report. 
 
Authoritative and influential, the 2008 America’s Best Hospitals guide chose 170 medical centers from 5,453 nationwide.  This marks the third consecutive year Penrose-St. Francis has garnered this award.
 
“We’re extremely proud and honored to once again receive this prestigious award,” said Phil Shaw, Interim President and CEO of Penrose-St. Francis Health Services.  “It’s indicative of the commitment to excellence and world-class health care displayed daily by our caregivers, physicians, associates and volunteers.”
 
The rankings cover 16 specialties, from cancer and heart disease to respiratory disorders and urology.  Hospitals were ranked by specialty and not by specific procedures, according to the report, because the goal was to identify facilities that excel at treating a variety of demanding illnesses and procedures within a specialty. 
 
PSF was specifically lauded for its treatment of respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders. 
 
“The America’s Best Hospitals rankings provide readers with trusted material during some of life’s most concerning times – hospitalization,” added Brian Kelly, editor of U.S. News & World Report.  “Our rankings highlight the internal culture of excellence embraced by caregivers in the great hospitals throughout the U.S.”

High-Risk Pregnancies

Penrose-St. Francis Health Services welcomes Dr. Michael Muench, a perinatologist who will be caring for high-risk pregnant women, to its medical staff. 

Dr. Muench specializes in maternal-fetal medicine and genetics, including advanced training in medical and surgical management of high-risk pregnancies – mothers over 35 and those with diabetes, heart conditions and pre-eclampsia. 

As part of the faculty of the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Dr. Muench has access to the latest research, treatments and therapies available, promoting the best outcomes for mothers and babies. 

Dr. Muench is working in tandem with neonatologists at the Penrose Community Hospital Birth Center, and will support the new St. Francis Medical Center when it opens on Aug. 16.  The $207 million full-service hospital will offer a 25-bed, Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit that will provide state-of-the-art medical care for premature and critically ill newborns.  

“We will be offering university-level services without pregnant moms having to travel to Denver,” said Dr. Muench.  “We will also be supporting the neonatal department by helping to give them the best possible baby.”

-- Johnny Rea

Flapjack Anyone?

Hundreds of Penrose Community Hospital associates, volunteers and physicians gathered in the PCH parking lot July 25 for a farewell pancake breakfast, celebrating more than 30 years of serving the North Academy Boulevard area.  The event was an opportunity to reminisce with current and former associates, as well as the neighbors in the Village Seven area.  Several media outlets also covered the breakfast, including two TV stations that broadcasted live.

Tobacco-Free

All Penrose-St. Francis Health Services campuses will be tobacco-free effective Friday, Aug. 8, with no designated smoking areas available at any of its facilities.

“We’re committed to preserving the health and wellness of our patients and associates, as well as promoting a true healing environment,” said Kristine Barrett, Health Improvement Incentive Program coordinator for PSF. 

The policy takes effect just days prior to the opening of the new St. Francis Medical Center on the corner of Powers Boulevard and Woodmen Road on Aug. 16.  The $207 million facility will be the only full-service hospital in northern Colorado Springs, and will also be a tobacco-free campus.

Penrose-St. Francis currently offers a smoking cessation incentive program for its associates.  The prescription medication Chantix was recently added to its health benefits package at a discounted rate for associates.

Beginning Aug. 8, patients registering into a Penrose-St. Francis facility will undergo a pre-op interview and nursing assessment to inform them of the tobacco-free policy, and seek out patients who would potentially qualify for nicotine replacement therapy during their stay.

About 600 hospitals across the country are already tobacco-free, and nine hospitals in the Denver area will join Penrose-St. Francis on Aug. 8 to launch their tobacco-free campaign.

Tobacco-free hospitals have the support of the Colorado Hospital Association.  According to a recent CHA policy statement, “CHA encourages Colorado hospitals to take a stand as healthcare leaders and meet their responsibility to prevent and decrease illness for their community members and their employees.  A tobacco-free campus helps make a strong statement about values and commitment to health and healthcare.”

“We believe going tobacco-free is consistent with our mission to promote wellness and act as role models for patients, guests, and the community,” Kristine added. 

Penrose-St. Francis facilities that will be tobacco-free include:

Penrose Hospital
St. Francis Health Center
St. Francis Medical Center
Langstaff-Brown Urgent Care Center
Penrose-St. Francis Administrative Support Center
Penrose Community Hospital (closing Aug. 16)
Penrose Community Urgent Care (opening Aug. 18)

Success Story

By Mary Tanner
PCH Radiology

I am a triathlete.    On July 27, I became smoke-free for six months.
   
My story really starts several years ago.  I smoked about a pack a day for 14 years.  I quit the hard way, using the patch, the gum or otherwise.  It was very hard, but I did it.  I began running as a way to keep from gaining weight, to lose the weight I had gained as a sedentary smoker, and to give me a reason to not smoke.  I loved running.  I eventually began swimming and bike riding and participating in triathlons.  I had so much fun!  I had so much energy!

But two years ago I got a divorce, and I thought I needed to smoke to get through it.  I was wrong of course, but I did it anyway.  I kept telling myself that I could quit any time I wanted, but two triathlon seasons passed, and I was still smoking. It is hard to be a triathlete and a smoker.

Last year, my sister-in-law died of lung cancer, and my brother was diagnosed with COPD at age 36. I knew I needed to quit if not for the triathlons, for my health.

I had heard about Chantix and seen the TV commercials.  But when my co-worker Nate mentioned it I began to look into it more seriously.  It was pure coincidence that I had an appointment with my doctor, so I asked her about it and got the prescription.  My goal was to quit by the time my triathlon training team began training season.   I began taking the Chantix and I quit smoking on my brother’s birthday. 
    
Was it hard? A little, but not nearly as hard as it was the last time I quit.  The last time I quit, my daughter actually asked me to smoke because I was so grouchy.  This time, my daughter told me how proud of me she is.  I asked her if it seemed as hard to her this time as it did in the past.  She said that it was so much better this time. 
    
I am in the middle of triathlon season, and having a great season!  It is so much easier and more enjoyable to participate in races as a non-smoker.  I can BREATHE!  It is amazing what our bodies can do when we treat ourselves right.  It is amazing how our bodies can heal and rejuvenate and take us farther than we ever thought possible. Every day I find new joy and new pleasures in not smoking. And every day I am getting stronger.  In June I completed a 100-mile bike event and, I Did It!  I was thinking that day how I totally would not be able to ride 100 miles as a smoker, and I am so glad that I quit. 
    
I hope that I can inspire others to quit smoking.  There is a lot of fear in quitting, but there is also a whole lot more joy in quitting.  There is hope.   The journey of quitting smoking may be hard at first, but once the joy of it all sets in, the real journey begins to a whole new world you never knew existed.

Award Winner

An RN assigned to the PCH Med-Orth-Surg Unit was recently honored with the SET Family Medical Clinics Good Samaritan Community Service Award.

Kandy Hanson, who celebrates her 20th anniversary with Penrose-St. Francis in January, received the award for outstanding community service.  It is named in honor of Dr. Larry Smith, who gave his life to serve the people of God.  The award recognizes a person who is always willing to serve when called upon, is giving of their time and talents to helping the community, goes above and beyond the call of duty to give of themselves, and acts as a moral compass for others to follow. 

Kandy was nominated by the Living Hope Covenant Church, where she is actively involved as a Faith Community Nurse.

“I am so blessed to work in a healthcare system that believes in the healing power of Jesus Christ,” said Kandy.  “I’m proud to be an associate of Centura … and appreciate the mind, body, and soul connection to promote health and wellness.”

Kandy said she looks forward to an overnight stay at the Antler’s Hotel, one of the gifts she received for winning the award, with her husband Ed.  She added one of her health goals is to balance life more with fun and play.

“After losing several loved ones, I have learned that it is real important to enjoy life every day, and to never hesitate to tell someone ‘I love you.’  That’s my REAL reward – laughing, living, loving, listening.”

-- Johnny Rea

Going 'Green'

Penrose Main Nutrition Services will be “going green” in the cafeteria beginning Monday, Aug. 4.  At that time, all disposable products used in the cafeteria will be made from post-industrial recycled fiber and will be certified biodegradable. 

The new plasticware is an Enviroware product that is formulated to degrade in as little as nine months when buried or discarded in a landfill.  In contrast, normal plastic can take up to 400 years to degrade. 

In addition, we would like to encourage our associates to utilize reusable mugs and cups for beverages in an effort to decrease disposable cup use.  We will be offering a 15 percent discount on all beverages when using your own mug or cup.  You can also purchase a Penrose-St. Francis mug in the cafeteria starting Aug. 4.  With the purchase and use of this mug, coffee and any other hot beverage will be provided at a discounted price.

Please join us in an effort to improve our environmental awareness and use more environmentally sound products at the hospital.

New hours take effect Aug. 4 at the Penrose Hospital Cafeteria as well:

Breakfast:  6:30-10:00 a.m.
Lunch:  11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Afternoon Break:  2:30-4:30 p.m.
Dinner:  4:30–6:30 p.m.

A daily menu line is available to showcase the daily café specials.  Please call 776-5408 to hear what’s cooking in Nutrition Services!

Nice Job!

Congratulations to Jo Ann Pinto (ACU), who recently passed her certification exam for Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse and Victoria Jack (Pre-Admission Testing) who was CAPA re-certified.  They join a cadre of nearly 6,500 other perianesthesia nurses who are currently certified in their specialty. 

CAPA certification validates knowledge gained through professional education and experience. Nurses who take the next step beyond licensure by seeking a voluntary board certification credential, demonstrate a commitment not only to the perianesthesia nursing profession, but even more importantly to promoting quality patient care.

Congrats to them both!

Dept Spotlight

Note:  The Rewards and Recognition Team is recognizing those departments who do so much for us on a daily basis to make us a great hospital.  Many of these employees work diligently day in and day out behind the scenes helping our organization run seamlessly.  As part of our Mission in Motion, this month we would like to select a department and say thank you for all you do. 

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit has about 40 nurses, seven neonatal nurse practitioners and one physician assistant, all with many years of experience.  It is a Level IIIA nursery, which means that it cares for babies as little as 23 weeks gestation to term, 40-plus weeks gestation.  They currently hold 17 beds, but will be going to a 25-bed unit at the new St. Francis Medical Center.

The staff deals with many different disease processes, including prematurity, meconium aspiration, and respiratory distress.  With 23-week babies, the staff does a lot of education and counseling to help new parents and their families learn how to care for and deal with these small miracles.  There a many invasive procedures they do to keep these little people striving to grow up and go home.  With their older babies, some of them need a little bit of help with things you would expect them to already do naturally.   The staff helps babies grow by teaching them how to eat and by counseling moms and dads on the care of their babies.  They love to nurture, cuddle, feed and change diapers for this unique and extraordinary patient population. 

The unit is a full ICU with breathing equipment such as oscillators, ventilators, and nasal CPAP machines.  It utilizes invasive lines and the staff performs various high risk procedures to adequately care for the tiny babies.  The team works closely with CAN/Secretaries, Respiratory, Labor and Delivery, Neonatologists, Pediatricians and Lactation to take care of both the babies and their families during trying times.  The staff attends pre-term births and high-risk C-section so they can maintain the babies from their first breath.  They bond with these little people and their families, and once a year, hold a reunion picnic to meet these amazing babies year after year and catch up on their lives.

When asked what is exciting about her job, one nurse said, “It’s all the new ways to make babies grow, become healthy, then finally walking the new proud parents out to their car knowing the whole family is finally together and able to take their precious miracle home.”

Did You Know?

* The Vascular Center of Colorado, LLC. (“VCC”), was established in 2005.

* The VCC provides the Cardiac Catheterization and Electrophysiology, and ancillary services such as Cardioversions, Pacemaker and ICD checks, to patients of Penrose St. Francis.

* The VCC has a14-bed prep and recovery area for out-patient services, no overnight holding is currently available.

* The VCC is located on the third floor at Penrose Hospital in Suite 3000, just above the ER and below the helicopter pad.

* Being located just below the helicopter pad, and right above the ER has allowed the opportunity for the VCC to reduce door-to-balloon time to as little as 20 minutes, a significant milestone. The national benchmark is currently less than 90 minutes.

* The history of cardiac catheterization dates back to Claude Bernard (1813-1878), who used it on animal models. (Wikipedia)

* Clinical application of cardiac catheterization begins with Werner Forssmann in the 1930s, who inserted a catheter into the vein of his own forearm, guided it fluoroscopically into his right atrium, and took an X-ray picture of it. Forssmann won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for this achievement. (Wikipedia)

* During World War II, André Frédéric Cournand and his colleagues developed techniques for left and right heart catheterization. (Wikipedia)

* Intervenous access to the heart while providing these services is typically through the arteries or the veins of the legs (groin area) or shoulders. 

* Heart disease is the #1 killer of women – and is largely preventable. (“GoRedforWomen.com).

First & Main Concert Series

An associate with Penrose Hospital plays drums for a band that will be featured during the Aug. 15 Fourth Annual First & Main Free Concert Series.

Penrose-St. Francis is the presenting sponsor for the event, which runs from 5-7 p.m.

Jerry Bousquet is a Material Management Coordinator at Penrose Hospital, and plays drums for “Under a Blood Red Sky,” an acclaimed U2 tribute band out of Denver that passionately recreates authentic U2 concerts.  Covering the War tour in 1983 to present day, each show has amazed fans with their ability to recreate famous U2 shows and has solidified their reputation for sold out venues - including the world-famous Red Rocks!
 
It will be the first performance for the group in Colorado Springs. "Since we have never played in Colorado Springs, all of us with UABRS are very excited to reach out to this new market of fans,” said Jerry.  “With such songs as One, Pride In The Name Of Love, With Or Without You and Where The Streets Have No Name, our shows are all very family friendly and loads of fun. On a personal note, I'm very excited to be playing in the city that I reside in, and the fact that Penrose is one of the sponsors.  It just makes it that much better. I hope everyone will come celebrate the opening of the new St. Francis Medical Center with us and the last night of the First and Main Concert Series.”

Come out and sing along with them, and feel the power of one of the greatest bands of our time.  More information on the band is available at www.uabrs.com. 

Ask-A-Nurse

Ask-A-Nurse announced on July 9 that, after lengthy and careful deliberation, it will close permanently sometime in the next 90 days. Ask-A-Nurse will begin reducing hours during the next couple of weeks to begin the transition.
 
"We're proud to have offered one of the longest running call centers in the country," said Ask-A-Nurse Director, Rolando Salinas.
 
The Ask-A-Nurse program, which acted as a referral source to all Colorado hospitals, regardless of affiliation or ownership, had become too expensive for its sole sponsor, Centura Health, to maintain without jeopardizing its other community health initiatives and hospital program funding.
 
"Ask-A-Nurse will be missed in Colorado,” said Centura COO, Arlen Reynolds, who made the final decision. “However, we are absolutely committed to improving the health and well-being of all Coloradans in every community we serve, and we will continue to do so throughout our many other services and charitable programs."
 
As a nonprofit, faith-based organization, Centura Health continually invests in fulfilling its mission. During the fiscal year 2007, Centura Health:
 
* Contributed $13 million to more than 300 community programs
* Provided $44.2 million in charity care
* Underwrote $133.2 million in government care for the elderly and poor

For Your Spirit

By Larry Seidl
VP of Mission Integration

Relax. Breathe. Take a short walk.  These and other  tips all are intended to get people away from tension and stress.   Similarly as an organization, shouldn't we be taking a huge collective sigh.  We indeed are a busy people and a busy organization getting ready for the opening of the new St. Francis Medical Center. 

Some associates have added some extra trips back and forth to the new medical center.  Other associates find that the daily roles and responsibilities don't stop just because we are opening a new facility.  And for many an eight hour day has become a nine or nine and a half hour day.   This is the nature of healthcare especially when you put others first.  So during this busy, busy time, how does one simplify life?  How does ones perspective not get lost?   How does one find a bit of levity during the day?
 
"The great tragedy of life is not death but what dies within us while we live." -- unknown source
 
So how do we simplify life so that we don't get overwhelmed?
 
Review the day ahead.  What will you need in hand to better meet the expected events of the day.  By planning ahead, you minimize the unexpected which is ordinarily a cause of anxiety.

Unclutter the noise .  The distractions which accompany our electronic era need to be unplugged.  Leave a message on your cell phone that informs others that you may not get back to them this day.  Politely let others know that their lack of planning does not create an emergency on your part.
Schedule yourself for a few time outs during the day.  It is no accident that corporations build 15 minute breaks once in the morning and once in the afternoon.  Going non-stop doesn't bless you with that 15 minute vacation.

Surround yourself with pictures and artifacts that remind you of what is important.  Don't make everything else the only important stuff of the day.
 
On a practical level:
* Consider placing a cartoon in a spot where your team can see it frequently!
* Serve ice cream or a candy bar at the next team meeting.
* Keep a joke book near the telephone for reading next time you are put on hold.
* Give out a monthly award for the associate who has the most creative excuse for anything.
* Do the "wave" at an appointed time.
* Place a love note from a child on your desk.
* Give a name to an office piece of equipment.  Name the copy machine.  Name the fax machine.  *
* Name your computer mouse.
 
Most of all, enjoy what you do.  We are a blessed people.

HealthGrades Heroes

By Gina Artiolo
Vladimir Jones

Note:  HealthGrades, the nation’s leading health care ratings organization, has recognized Penrose-St. Francis Health Services as one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals, the only hospital in Colorado to receive this distinction. With this honor, our physicians, nurses, technicians and administrators join an elite top 1% of hospitals.  Join us as we spotlight “HealthGrades Heroes” monthly in this feature.

Earlier this year, HealthGrades acknowledged Penrose-St. Francis Health Services as one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals.  It also recognized multiple product lines with Five-Star Ratings.  In this issue, PSF highlights Stroke and its Five-Star Rating for Stroke Treatment: 2006-2008.

Susan Baker, DNS with a specialty in neurophysiology, recently joined PSF as the Stroke Program Coordinator. She praises the dedicated physicians, nurses and administrators at PSF with the success of the Stroke Program and Five-Star Rating.

“Our administrators are committed to excellence in our stroke program and are active in our efforts to become a Primary Stroke Center certified by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO),” she said.

PSF is a part of the American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Program. The guidelines, which are developed by the American Heart Association, American Stroke Association and JCAHO, provide guidance to hospitals as to best practices and criteria for improved patient care. Adherence to the guidelines strengthens the efforts of PSF to receive a JCAHO accreditation.  In September 2007, PSF received the Participating Hospital Get With The Guidelines Award from the American Heart Association as a hospital that has adopted the national stroke clinical best practice guidelines and is implanting them on a continuing basis.

Susan also credits the teamwork of the various departments with quickly and efficiently moving suspected stroke victims through to treatment and on to rehabilitation. The process begins at the emergency room door, where a physician meets the ambulance, obtains lab work, sends patient to imaging, diagnoses and calls in a neurological consultation if needed.  With smooth transitions and teamwork, stroke patients can be diagnosed in approximately one hour.

Following treatment, most stroke patients are evaluated by physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists, and receive care at bedside from these health care providers. The rehabilitation program, under the direction of Dr. Glenn House, works with each patient to regain strength and normal activities after suffering a stroke. They also strive to provide the latest in rehabilitation treatments, such Bioness, a portable electric stimulation unit, and virtual reality technology, to enhance the recovery of patients.

Dr. Jack Sharon, Emergency Medical Director of PSF, said he and the stroke team are also committed to using current in treatment options in order to provide the best possible care to stroke patients. One such treatment is the use of tPA, or “clot-busting” drugs. Designed to dissolve the clot causing a stroke, tPA can only be administered within three hours of the onset of symptoms. PSF and the stroke team encourage everyone to become familiar with the signs and symptoms of stroke and to call 911 immediately if someone is experiencing them. 

Susan says the entire process and team is “without egos or territories – our only concern is the best possible care for each patient.” Dr. Sharon also praises the team’s diligence to advance the program through ongoing research, case studies and collaboration of ideas and information. Congratulations to the entire Stroke Program and their team for their dedication to excellence and Department award.
 

Stay Fit!

Congrats to the 245 PSF associates who earned their HIIP Award for FY 2008!

Coming in September: The Grand Opening of the SFMC Wellness Center will be Tuesday, Sept. 9.  More information to come in the September edition of the Penrose Pulse.

AUGUST LUNCH ‘N’ LEARN: Going Green
Do you consider yourself a “Recycler”? Do you recycle at home, re-use plastic bottles, buy containers vs. bags, and have your own bags for the grocery store?  Do you know what a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or a 7 plastic stands for? Come discover all about recycling and learn the little things you can do to make a huge difference! Join Katie Thelen, Club HIIP Intern, and learn what you can do at home and for your community!
 Tuesday, Aug. 19              SF/5th Floor Summit Room                       12:05-12:35 p.m.
 Wednesday, Aug. 20         SFMC/Conf Rooms 1-2 (Garden Level)   12:05-12:35 p.m.
 Thursday, Aug. 21             PH/Cancer Center Room D                       12:05-12:35 p.m.

WELLNESS CENTER ORIENTATIONS
Please register for the orientations below via HealthCalc on My Virtual Workplace or call 776-5839, ext 2.
PH Wellness Center – Thursday, Aug. 14 at 8 a.m.
PH Wellness Center – Tuesday, Aug. 26 at 4 p.m.
Anyone over 40 years old must have a physician’s form signed giving permission to use Wellness Centers.

FY09 HIIP EDUCATION CLASSES
Pick up a schedule at HIIP wall pockets at all sites:
Outdoor Cardio Boot Camp:  Wednesday, Aug. 13 from 4:30-5:15 p.m.; meet at PH/E-Tower Basement Aerobics room.

SELF CARE CLASS
Wednesday, Aug. 6 from 5:00-5:45 p.m. at PH/Cancer Center Room D

PSF EXTENDED FITNESS CLASSES
Pick up a schedule at HIIP Wall pockets at all sites for registration form:
Body Toning: Session 1a/b: Starts Monday, Aug. 4 from 12:30-1:35 p.m. in the PH/E-Tower Aerobics Room for 6 week session.
Belly Dancing: Session 1:  Starts Monday, Aug. 4 from 5-6 p.m. in the PH/E-Tower Aerobics Room for 6 week session.
Nia: Session 2: Starts Tuesday, Aug. 19 from 4-5 p.m. in the PH/E-Tower Aerobics Room for 6 week session.
Yoga: Session 1: Starts, Thursday, Aug. 21 from 5:15-6:30 p.m. in the PH/E-Tower Aerobics Room for 6 week session.
Yoga for a Healthy Back: Session 1: Starts Tuesday, Aug. 26 from 5:15-6:45 p.m. in the PH/E-Tower Aerobics Room for 6 week session.

AUGUST HIKING CLUB
Sunday, Aug. 10 at 9 a.m. at Waldo Canyon
Directions:  Take I-25 to Cimarron Exit and take Highway 24 W. Continue past Cave of the Winds toward Cascade on Highway 24. The trailhead is approximately two miles past the Cave of the Winds on the right hand side. Be alert because the trailhead/parking lot is around the corner on Highway 24. We’ll meet in the parking lot at 9 a.m. sharp!
Feel free to bring dogs (on a leash), family members welcome, not stroller friendly.
For more information contact Katie in the HIIP office at 776-7494 for questions or (320) 291-2813 on the day of the hike!

WALKING CLUBS
PH Walking Club: Every Wednesday at 7:15-7:50 a.m. outside of valet. Contact Michelle, ext. 5034.
SF Walking Club:  Every Monday at 12:30 p.m. outside of the Foundation building. Contact Tracy, ext. 7085.
PCH Walking Club:  Every Tuesday at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. meet outside PCH/ER.  Contact Rox, ext. 3456.

RUNNING CLUB
Whether you’re training for any of the upcoming community races, or just need some extra motivation to get moving, our Running Club is the perfect opportunity to get in shape, and make some friends!  Every Thursday through August, 4:30-5 p.m. at Penrose Main, meet outside of the main entrance. Contact Erin, ext. 7394.

COMMUNITY WALKS
National Down Syndrome Association Buddy Walk, Saturday, Aug. 23 in Manitou Springs
8:30 a.m., walker check-in; 10 a.m., walk begins; 11 a.m., lunch served.  Register yourself and your friends to take a walk in Manitou Springs Memorial Park to help us improve awareness and understanding of Down Syndrome. Please visit this website to register:  www.csdsa.org

Alzheimer's Memory Walk: Saturday, Sept. 6, 9 a.m. at America the Beautiful Park
Since 1989, Memory Walk has raised more than $225 million to help those battling Alzheimer's disease.

Pikes Peak Challenge: Saturday, Sept. 6
Please contact Eileen Cannon at 776-2050 to be on Team PSF! Hike begins at 5 a.m. Registration deadline is Friday, Aug. 29.    Registration fee is $40.  Each hiker must register individually, but if part of a team, indicate team name on registration form. To be qualified to hike, all collected donations (minimum of $150) must be turned in by Saturday, Sept. 6. For more information visit: www.pikespeakchallenge.com

The 2008 Komen Colorado Springs Race for the Cure: Sunday, Sept. 7, at Garden of the Gods
5K, walk time: 8:05a.m. Please contact Maureen McKasy-Donlin for more information to be on Team Penrose at 776-6035. http://www.komencs.org/ to register online. Join Team Penrose!

2008 Walk to Cure Diabetes: Saturday, Sept. 13 at America the Beautiful Park
Check in Time: 9 a.m., walk start time: 10 .m., walk length: 5k
Contact Liz, Club HIIP for more information at 776-7393. Go to www.walk.jdrf.org and join “Team Penrose”

Light the Night Walk: Sept. 18 at the Downtown Pioneers Museum
Registration and festivities, including refreshments, entertainment and family activities, open at 5 p.m.  Walks will begin at 7 p.m. Go to www.lightthenight.org/rm and join “Team Penrose”. Contact Liz, Club HIIP for more information at 776-7393

Race For The Cure

This year's Race For The Cure will be held in the Garden of the Gods Park on Sept 7. You can sign up on the web site www.komencs.org to join Team Penrose. Any Penrose-St. Francis associate who supports Team Penrose by registering for the Race For The Cure will be entered into a drawing to win a beautiful bracelet, with a retail value of $200.  This year, you can Run for the Cure, Sleep for the Cure and Walk for the Cure.

You can also mail pledges to:
Komen Colorado Springs Affiliate
P.O. Box 9670
Colorado Springs, CO 80932-0670

If you have any questions, please contact Gail Decker, 776-6621. Let’s make this year our best ever!

Improve (Your) Life

Our hospital and Centura Health leaders are searching for new associates who are excited about our mission and values. We all know how important it is to work side-by-side with associates who live our values and are dedicated to making a difference in people’s lives.

This is where you come in. You know people in your communities who would be great Centura associates. That’s why a new Centura-wide associate referral program is being established Aug. 1, and with cash payouts of up to $3,000 (for certain "hot jobs") as well as other "life improvement" awards, you may want to take part in the program. This program will replace all other facility programs and you can refer a potential associate to any Centura facility and still receive your reward if they are hired.

Here’s how it works:

The referring associate must be an active, full-time regular, part-time or PRN/per diem Centura Health associate in good standing. (Human resources and centralized recruiting associates, as well as class 10 managers and above are not eligible to participate in this program. Supervisors may be eligible.)

The potential new associate must be applying for a full-time or part-time regular position (PRN/per-diem, on-call, internal transfers or reinstated associates do not qualify.)

The type of award will vary by facility and not all positions are eligible, so check out the program details at the contact points mentioned below.

For more information about the program, go to the Human Resources Web site in My Virtual Workplace and click on Associate Referral Program or the Improve (your) life button. You may also contact your facility human resources department for more details!

Supply Chain 'Links'

Safety products coming to Penrose St. Francis:

In the interest of providing the safest possible environment for our associates we will be moving to safety sharps products beginning this summer.  Adding to the theme of safety, they’ll be converting their Diagnostic Procedure Trays to contain safety products where available. Stay tuned for more information.

Upcoming conversions:
Safety IV Catheters
Safety Needles and Syringes
Foley Catheters/General Urology Supplies
Bulb Irrigation Products and Trays
Chest Drainage Systems
Surgical Patient Prep Trays (To include removal of straight edge razors)
Diagnostic Procedure Trays (Moving to safety products where available)

Serenity Garden

By Margaret Palmer
Penrose Cancer Center

Kathy Silvey is an OR RN (barely middle-age) from California.  She visited a friend here some years ago and thought it was beautiful.  She was diagnosed with cancer decided to move here to enjoy the beauty in her final years.  She has only the one friend and no family here. 

As the social worker in the Penrose Cancer Center, I have worked with her regarding her personal journey with cancer since her arrival several years ago. In discussing what unfulfilled dreams she may have, she spoke of always wanting her own home. As a hard working RN she made good salary, but who could afford California real estate?    When I encouraged her she replied, "It seems silly to buy a home knowing I won't be around in a couple of years." I told her, "It's not about your dying, it's about your living."  She agreed and bought her first home.
 
She spoke about wanting a serenity garden to sit in, especially when she is unable to be active.  I had coincidently received an e-mail from the Imaging Department several months ago offering to help cancer patients in need.   I took them up on this offer and went to Jeff Shaw (an experienced xeroscaping gardener with a HUGE heart) and a project was born!

The group has spent about 185 man hours building an elevated garden over the length of the yard for flowers, shrubs and trees.  It involved hauling seven tons of flag stone from the front driveway to the back yard, and building a stone wall.  We also hauled tons of dirt to fill it in and plant the flowers and shrubs.  We’ve built a stone patio and a lovely pathway throughout the yard as well as a relaxing water feature and a propane campfire. 

“This was a great opportunity for us to make new friends,” added Jeff.  “The crew got ‘down and dirty’ and Kathy gets a backyard oasis, something she’ll treasure when she’s not feeling well.”

We’ve had fun together and Kathy has been thrilled to see this happen and to meet everyone.  After the hard work, we have a BBQ and when we're all done we're planning a "garden party.”    We have gotten to know staff we had not met before and it's always inspiring to have a chance to live our mission.    Kathy's gratitude and pleasure have made it great!  

PH Star Associate

Madelaine Einbinder is a great asset to her team and Penrose Hospital because she is constantly researching to keep up to date on the latest health and nutrition information. She is always willing to help out other workers whether they are dieticians, physicians, nurses, interns, etc. She takes on extra projects and does them all with a positive attitude. She goes above and beyond what is expected for her job. She was nominated by Stephanie Kirk, who refers to her as “one of my role models.”

-- Courtesy, Rewards & Recognition Team

PCH Star Associate

Carolyn Kreider brings three things to work with her every day: a positive attitude, a smile for patients, and patience for her co-workers in the ED. She never seems to get overly upset, is able to state her needs, and gives helpful reminders. She handles tense, critical situations well and comes up with creative solutions for any problems. She also tries to help make the process smoother for both staff and patients. For example, if the on-call physicians prefer a specific X-ray or exam, she will let the staff know so they are prepared. If she is with a patient and notices that another area may need to be examined, she will call to see if the physician would like that exam ordered while the patient is there. She was nominated by Heather Bramwell because she “admires and respects her abilities to do what she does, and always with a smile.”

-- Courtesy, Rewards & Recognition Team

SFHC Star Associate

Rochelle Salmore is very consistent in good listening skills by practicing “attentive listening.”  Her questions reflect this because she truly wants to understand how she can best assist a person. When an associate or client has a problem to discuss, she handles it in the most efficient, timely, and courteous manner possible. She does not make any negative comments and always projects her pride for working for Penrose-St. Francis Health Services. Gilda Rolls-Dellinger has worked for Rochelle for more than five years and nominated her for the award.  “She has always provided me with the opportunity and encouragement to grow as a person and as a nurse,” Gilda said.

-- Courtesy, Rewards & Recognition Team

Off-Campus Star Associate

Vicki Morford is a Rehab Tech who works with patients in both PT and OT programs to improve physical function and reduce pain symptoms. She is excellent with patients and is able to build a good rapport with each. She also runs the front desk for scheduling and authorizations and runs the pain program at the UMC. She was nominated by Suzie Stoke, who says “Vicki is such an excellent employee. She works at two clinics because her skills are in such high demand.”

-- Courtesy, Rewards & Recognition Team