New CEO

Penrose-St. Francis Health Services has named Margaret Sabin as its new President and Chief Executive Officer.  She begins her new position on Monday, Nov. 3.

For the past three years, Margaret has been the CEO of Sutter Health Partners and Vice President of New Product Development for Sutter Health in Sacramento, Calif. 

Sutter Health Partners is the Lifestyle Management and Wellness Coaching program within Sutter Health, and is one of the early hospital system entrants into the field of health and wellness.  Sutter Health is a non-profit network of 28 hospitals with affiliated clinics and physician organizations based primarily in Northern California. 

Prior to that, she was CEO of Marin Community Health for five years, which included Sutter Health affiliates Marin General Hospital and Novato Community Hospital. Under her leadership, Marin General Hospital achieved the Sutter Health award for the top Joint Commission score in the system and Novato Community Hospital received the prestigious President’s Award. She and her team also turned Marin General Hospital’s finances around from a net income loss of $6 million, to an $18 million gain in three years.  

She has also served as CEO of the Yampa Valley Medical Center in Steamboat Springs, Colo., and Swedish Medical Center in Englewood, Colo.  In addition, she has been the Vice President for EMS and Trauma for the HealthONE Corporation, one of the largest health care systems in Colorado.

She was named as one of the Bay Area’s 100 Most Influential Women in Business by the San Francisco Business Times in 2003 and 2004.  She has also served as an adjunct professor for the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center graduate program in health services administration.  She is a certified fitness instructor with the American Council on Exercise and has maintained certification since 2001.

“Those who know her describe Margaret as mission-driven, a collaborative leader with excellent interpersonal skills, results-focused and exceptionally visionary,” said Gary Campbell, President and CEO of Centura Health in Denver.  “We’re thrilled to have her on board.”

She replaces Phil Shaw, who has served as the interim President and CEO of Penrose-St. Francis since Feb. 11. 

"Penrose-St. Francis Health Services has a very proud and proven history of providing world-class healthcare to the Pikes Peak Region," said Margaret.  "I'm extremely excited to join an organization clearly dedicated to clinical excellence, whole-person care and serving the unique needs of its communities."

Pillar Award

Langstaff-Brown Urgent Care Center was presented a Pillar Award during Monday’s session of the Leadership Development Institute in Colorado Springs in front of nearly 900 Centura Health leaders.  The staff was recognized for significantly improving their Hospital Consumer Assessment and Health Plans Survey (HCAHPS) scores from July 2007 to May 2008.  Located in Woodland Park, Langstaff-Brown has been providing quality healthcare to the Teller County community for the past 26 years.

Bone & Joint Week

October 12-20 is National Bone and Joint Week -- an initiative targeting the care of people with musculoskeletal conditions. The week focuses on improving quality of life and advancing the understanding and treatment of these conditions through research, prevention and education.

As part of our participation in the week, Centura Health is proud to partner with Royal Crest Dairy to motivate more people across the state to drink milk.  When people visit CenturaBoneAndJoint.org or call ASK-A-NURSE®, they’ll receive a free half-gallon of milk from Royal Crest Dairy if they are in the Royal Crest delivery area. Current Royal Crest customers will receive $10 in free dairy coupons, and Fremont County residents will get a coupon for $1 off Farmer’s All Natural Milk at area Kwik Stop Food Stores.

Milk is the ideal source of calcium, and it provides high-quality protein, vitamins and other minerals. According to the National Dairy Council, regardless of its fat content, milk provides about 300 milligrams (mg) of calcium per serving (8 fluid oz). An adequate intake of calcium helps reduce the risk of osteoporosis, high blood pressure and colon cancer.

In addition to our milk promotion, Penrose-St. Francis Health Services has partnered with orthopedic physician groups in Colorado Springs to present a community event on Oct. 18.  For a schedule of seminars or to take a free health risk assessment, visit www.CenturaBoneAndJoint.org.

To get your milk offer or to find out about seminars, go to CenturaBoneAndJoint.org or call ASK-A-NURSE at 800-327-6877.

Be Ready!

Penrose-St. Francis Health Services is offering Hospital Incident Command Training for its leaders in order to be better prepared for a disaster.

The two-day course is required for all directors and managers, but is open to all associates with supervisor approval.  The course will cover roles and responsibilities in the chain of command and the process necessary to manage a disaster from beginning to end.

“The training is mandated by The Joint Commission,” said Dave Linebaugh, Manager, Occupational/Environmental Health and Safety.  “But more importantly, it’s imperative we’re ready to respond to any disaster, as recent events have shown us.”

The course is presented by Jeff Force, EMS Program Director for Pikes Peak Community College and former EMS Coordinator for Penrose-St. Francis.

Training will be held at Mount Saint Francis, 7740 Deer Hill Grove, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Boxed lunches and refreshments will be provided.  Participants are asked to come prepared to participate, and not answer phones or e-mails.

Day #1 training (Course 100/200) will be offered on:  Oct. 9, Oct. 23, Nov. 13, Dec. 1 and Dec. 11.  Day #2 (Course 700/800) will be offered on:  Oct. 10, Oct. 24, Nov. 14, Dec. 2 and Dec. 12. 

Participants must take the course in progression (Course 100/200 first, then 700/800), but not necessarily one right after the other.  Class size is limited to 45 people, so reserve your seat today!

Sign up through LEARN at www.myvirtualworkplace.org. Select “Associate” and select “Education & Training”.  The required learning will be listed.  Participants must register for both sessions separately.

For more information call Dave Linebaugh at 776-2122.

New Doc on Board

The only gynecologic oncologist in southern Colorado began seeing patients this week at Penrose-St. Francis Health Services.

Dr. Dirk Pikaart will be offering comprehensive gynecologic oncologic care for the women of southern Colorado who have cancer of the reproductive organs, including uterine, ovarian, cervix, vulvar and vaginal cancer as well as women requiring complicated gynecologic surgery.

Women in southern Colorado in need of treatment will no longer have to travel to Denver to receive the higher level of care that a gynecologic oncologist offers.

“My goal is to provide the best care possible for the women of southern Colorado empowering them in the fight against cancer by addressing the medical, surgical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of cancer treatment,” said Dr. Pikaart, who received a doctor of osteopathic medicine degree from Michigan State University, followed by seven years of specialty and subspecialty training in fully accredited training programs.

He has experience in advanced chemotherapeutics and radical gynecologic surgery and will provide progressive medical and surgical techniques that include intraperitoneal chemotherapy, radical robotic surgery, and other minimally invasive surgical approaches.

“I look forward to meeting and developing relationships with physicians in southern Colorado, so together we can meet the diverse needs of women with cancer,” he said.

The 38-year-old native of Grand Rapids, Mich., has been married to his wife Melodee for 16 years, and the two have three boys, ages 13, 11 and 9.

His hobbies include painting, hiking, skiing, biking, rock climbing, diving, cooking and construction.  He said he helped pay his way through college by “building things,” and has fixed up and sold several homes over the years.

Dr. Pikaart performed an internship at Metropolitan Hospital in Grand Rapids, Mich., an OB/GYN residency at Mercy General Health Partners in Muskegon, Mich., and a fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology at Florida Hospital Cancer Institute in Orlando, Fla. 

Dr. Pikaarts' office (Southern Colorado GYN Oncology) is located in the Penrose Cancer Center. He will be operating at both Penrose Hospital and the new St. Francis Medical Center, Northern Colorado Springs’ only full-service hospital.

With over 300 robotic surgical cases to his credit, he plans to offer this advanced surgical approach to women of southern Colorado using the da Vinci Surgical System at Penrose Hospital.  The minimally-invasive surgery uses smaller incisions and has shorter recovery times than conventional surgeries. 

A devout Christian, he has participated in several foreign mission trips – most affiliated with Christian organizations – including West Africa, Guatemala and Russia.

“Penrose-St. Francis has a long and rich history in Southern Colorado, and I look forward to being a part of that legacy,” he said.

-- Johnny Rea

Halo for Heroes

Hearing the words “thank you” from a patient is more precious to doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals than any prestigious accolade or award they can receive. 
At Penrose-St. Francis, we have a special way for patients to say thank you to an associate who has touched their life during their stay.  It is the Halos for Heroes program. 

Patients can recognize exemplary care received by making a tax-deductible donation in their hero’s honor to the Penrose-St. Francis Health Foundation. All donations made to Halos for Heroes go directly to the patient financial assistance fund, which helps needy patients pay for medical expenses. 

Upon receipt of the donation, the hero will be awarded a beautiful Halos for Heroes pin to wear proudly, a certificate, and the hero’s name will be placed on the Wall of Honor located in the main lobby of Penrose Hospital. A photograph of the pin presentation will be sent to the donor to thank them for their thoughtfulness.

If you have any questions about the program, contact Sharon Meyers, Penrose-St. Francis Health Foundation, at (719) 776-7092 or Sharonmeyers@centura.org.

Kudos to ER Staff

Note:  The following is a “Halos for Heroes” letter sent to Diane LeBlanc, President of the PSF Health Foundation, from a patient seen at the Penrose Hospital Emergency Department. 

Thank you for your letter referencing my visit to your hospital.  I wasn’t there for a full day but spent approximately six hours in the emergency ward.

I received excellent care on 7/8/08 during the early hours of the morning.  But to choose only one person is impossible.  So many were there to help me, I can’t name just one.

From the firemen, the ambulance folks, and when I got to the emergency room, there was everyone working together to stop the bleeding, X-ray, C-scan on my head (wound up with a staple in my head), tetanus shot, taking blood, checking heart beats and blood pressure, everyone knowing their job and making an 84-year-old woman feel I was getting super attention, and I was!

Your Halos for Heroes is a great idea but I can’t name only one.  This was a group who knew their job and I thank them all. 

Please accept my check for your program, but understand when I say I hope you won’t see me again.

Sincerely,
Inez Clawson

John Zay Guest House

The new John Zay Guest House is only weeks away from opening, and associates and volunteers have the opportunity to help furnish the home by purchasing items registered at Bed, Bath and Beyond.

The new patient guest house opens in November and will be a “home away from home” for out-of-town patients receiving extended treatment at Penrose Hospital, as well as a respite for their family members.

People interested in purchasing items can do so on-line or in person at any Bed, Bath and Beyond store.  On-line purchases can be made at www.bedbathandbeyond.com.  Once on the web site, click on the “Bridal and Gift Registry” tab.  Go to the “Give a Gift” tab, type in “Guest House” for the first name, “John Zay” for the last name.  The registry number is 5757051.  You can also click HERE to go straight to the registry site.

The 12,000 square foot home contains 11 suites, each with a bedroom, living room and kitchenette.  It is located at 2131 North Tejon Street, adjacent to Penrose Hospital.

The Penrose-St. Francis Health Foundation has donated an anonymous $1 million donation for the project.  HBA Cares, the charitable foundation established by the Colorado Springs Housing and Building Association; the building captain, George Hess III; and Vantage Homes have engaged more than 90 HBA member businesses and individuals that have provided materials and services at no or low cost.  Additionally, more than $68,000 was raised for the project during the past two Penrose-St. Francis Health Services Associate Campaigns.

The guest house is named in remembrance of an extraordinary man who, as a Penrose Hospital chaplain and cancer survivor himself, comforted and inspired myriads of people, particularly those with catastrophic illnesses. 

John Zay Open House
 
All Penrose-St. Francis associates, physicians and volunteers are invited to a public open house at the new John Zay Guest House from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Nov. 1.  Stop by for a tour of the new home and write a note or prayer wish for the time capsule.

Nursing Awards

Two Penrose-St. Francis Health Services associates were honored recently with El Paso County Medical Society Excellence in Professional Nursing Awards.

Cheryl Imlay, a staff nurse in the Penrose Hospital Emergency Department, and Candace Garko, clinical nurse specialist for the SFMC Birth Center, received the awards during an El Paso County Medical Society meeting downtown.

Over the past 17 years, 138 professional nurses from the Colorado Springs community have been honored with the awards.

Cheryl has been an RN since 1984.  She has worked in acute critical care areas in the Air Force as well as the private sector.  Cheryl is a preceptor for nursing and paramedic students.  She volunteers for the Race for the Cure, Air Force Academy Cadet Sponsor family, Leukemia/Lymphoma Society, and the Ronald McDonald House.  She is also an active member of the Emergency Nurses Association.

Candace has been an RN for more than 16 years, mostly in the labor and delivery area helping families welcome their newest member.  Candace is very active inour community through volunteer efforts with the El Paso County Health Department’s Fetal, Infant and Child Mortality Review Team.  She is also very active in the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetrics, and Neonatal Nurses Organizations.

Congratulations to them both!

HealthGrades Heroes

By Gina Artioli
Vladimir Jones

Note:  Earlier this year, HealthGrades acknowledged Penrose-St. Francis Health Services (PSF) as one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals.  It also recognized multiple product lines with Five-Star Ratings.  In this issue, PSF highlights physician heroes in Critical Care on a Five-Star Rating for Overall Critical Care, Treatment of Sepsis, Treatment of Pulmonary Embolism, Diabetic Acidosis and Coma, and Treatment of Respiratory Failure: 2006-2008.

Kate McCord, Chief Nursing Officer for PSF, has had a part in critical care at PSF for over 30 years. She praises the dedicated nursing staff and physicians for their care of patients and the department award.

“Many of the people I am working with today are the same people I was working with 10, 15 or 20 years ago. Their longevity, loyalty and experience add to our team’s base of knowledge and contributes to our continued success,” she said.

Kate also credits the new Critical Care Unit with providing advanced care to the patients and the nurses with ease of the transition into the new unit. Completed in 2005, the Critical Care Unit is now housed in the second floor of the E Tower and replaces the old intensive care unit. The new unit boasts several pieces of technology and design used to optimize the comfort and care of patients.

One such piece of technology is the Hill-Rom hydraulic boom, a suspended, movable column outfitted with essential tools and equipment that allows patients to reposition their beds anywhere in the room. The rooms are also outfitted with electric beds, which allow patients to adjust the bed for better views, added comfort and increased mobility. They also allow nurses and physicians ease in transporting patients to other areas of the hospitals.

The Critical Care Unit also is uniquely designed in to three “pods” which are nurse-friendly and efficient. Each pod also has several workstations, each strategically placed between two patient rooms that allow the nurses and physicians to monitor patients simultaneously. The staff was so impressed with the unique and efficient design of the Critical Care Unit that a similar unit was designed at the new St. Francis Medical Center.

Kate and Dr. Javier Bogarin, a pulmonalogist who works closely with the Critical Care Unit, both compliment the teamwork and collaboration of the nurses, physicians and therapists with the excellent patient care that is provided each day in the unit. Dr. Bogarin says that the team specifically looks for physicians interested and experienced in critical care when they hire new team members.

“We are geared toward collaboration and creating an environment where we are comfortable discussing the different aspects of our specialties so that we can provide the best care,” he said.

Kate says the team is wonderful and comes to work each day with an attitude of “not on my watch” in relation to keeping patients free from falls and/or infections.  “We know we are working hard and it’s great to see that others think so.”

Congratulations to the entire Critical Care Unit and their team for their dedication to excellence!

Patient Satisfaction

Congrats to the Penrose Hospital CVU Team, who enjoyed an 86.3 percent patient satisfaction rate last month.  “We have a great team of staff, and are working to support our new grads to keep our whole team on CVU,” said Eileen Hurd, CVU Clinical Manager.  An RN and certified Nurse Executive who has been with PSF since 1989, Eileen said she eagerly talks with pride in nursing and in her team. 

Wings of Honor

Flight For Life Colorado paid tribute to its “Wings of Honor” recipients during a recent ceremony at the new Flight For Life Hangar on the campus of St. Francis Medical Center.

Wings of Honor is an annual award given to people who have acted heroically and selfless in order to safe another person in situations of severe distress, or even facing death.

“We feel it’s important to seek out these amazing stories each year and take the time to say ‘thank you’ to those who put others’ lives in their own hands,” said Kristina Reavis, a flight nurse with Flight For Life Colorado.  “It’s a celebration of the incredible kindness of strangers and the greatness of the human nature that calls us to reach out in difficult and often dangerous situations.”

Dr. Michael Roshon, Medical Director for the SFMC Emergency Department, and Jamie Smith, PSF Chief Operating Officer, helped pass out the awards.

This year’s awards were given to rescuers involved with two separate incidents of gun violence.

The first award honored the crews on scene at the New Life Church shooting in December, 2007.  The crews are being honored for their bravery and selflessness as they responded to the church within minutes following the shootings.  Without regard to their personal safety, and without knowing for certain the shootings were over, the crews entered the scene and took care of the wounded and frightened. 

The recipients and their respective agencies honored include:  Scott Ridings, Curt Leonhardt, Roger Vance, and James Rackl, Donald Wescott Fire Department; Jeff Seivers, Jim Schanel, Tony Cerrone, Joe Wilkins, Dave Trujillo, John Graber, and Jeff Frater, Colorado Springs Fire Department; Chris Hinckel, Jaime Hatzel, and Rick Robirds, Black Forest Fire Department; and Doug McIntyre, Jenny Catanach, Kristina Schaefer, Rob Van Pelt, and Tracey Shifflet, American Medical Response. 

The second award honored two members of the Denver Police Department – Officers Richard Laber and Anthony Schluck – who responded to a call for shots fired in a Denver neighborhood.  As they investigated, they received a call that an 8-year-old girl had been shot.  They rushed to the aid of the young girl, who was suffering life-threatening injuries from a gunshot wound to her chest.

They performed CPR and held pressure on her wounds until paramedics arrived.  She was taken to Denver Health, where she underwent emergency surgery.  After a lengthy hospitalization, she is now home with her family. 

New Grads

Every year, Education Resources sponsors three sessions of the Graduate Nurse/RN Refresher Program.   The program is designed for newly practicing nurses and/or nurses returning back-to-practice as a way to assist with their transition into the acute care setting.  The focus of the program is to empower them with the basic tools they need to get started in their respective areas of work.

The nurses from the September program are:  Jessica Graff, Julia Kokes, Janell Sinclair and Marcie Winslow, CVU; Katherine Trueblood, 10th Floor; and Brett Skattum, SFMC PACU. 

Please welcome these new nurses to Penrose St. Francis and stand ready to support their journey!

For Your Spirit

By Larry Seidl
Vice President of Mission Integration

The baby of the family is off to college.  In our weekly Sunday need-to-touch-base-with-you phone call, he says he wants to pledge to a fraternity.  Since I didn't take "Greek" in college, I don't know an alpha from an omega but I am learning.  Apart from the usual questions, which included "what is the grade point average of its members", we got to the point of him telling me about the mission of the chapter.  Not having a pen in hand, I didn't get it all down, but the crux of the fraternity’s mission was to improve the community one step at a time while building a sense of brotherhood between fraternity members.  The first half of his comment sounds to me like the mission statement of many hospitals.

And that is my segway to talking about our social accountability budget, aka, how do we justify our not-for-profit status to the internal revenue service. We and many, many other NFP hospitals benefit from not paying some taxes, as is required by for-profit hospitals.  In turn, we are required to show federal and state governments that we make up that savings by serving the community through not only our charity care but also through our programs which on their own would not be able to pay their own bills. 

When a not-for-profit cannot show that balance, the hospital or other NFP might be in danger of losing its tax exempt status.  Given the tight budget many states face today, most states have upped the pressure on the NFP to show the justification of the tax release.  The report back to the IRS and to the community is called the social accountability budget report (SAB) or the community benefit report.

Last month, Centura released its system report, highlighting not only the system’s charity care, but also the tens of millions of dollars given to the poor and under-insured.

As an overview, the Centura family:
• Contributed $13 million to more than 300 community programs;
• Provided $44.2 million in charity care; and
• Underwrote $133.2 million in government care to the poor and the elderly
 
When you examine the SAB from the Penrose-St. Francis perspective, our care and our programming is amazing.  From clinics which make access and education available to the needy, to our free childhood immunization clinics and free adult health screenings, to our spiritual care programs and collections of food and clothing by the outreach committee, to our burial support for families who suffer the loss of a pregnancy, to presentations on advanced directives in the community's churches, to free dental care for children, to numerous cancer support services,  to our behavioral health initiatives, to the wonderful assistance offered by the PSF foundation, to … WOW!  The list just keeps on going.
 
We promote ourselves as a trusted neighbor.  When you explore what we give back to the community, we are not only trusted, but very generous.  And as it always does, that generosity begins with your heart and its intensions.  You deliver high quality, compassionate and wellness care where people need it most, and when they need it most. It is sacred work by the people of God for the people of God.   Your service to others is truly in the spirit of Christ love.
 
What to see just a snapshot of what you do?  Get to the upcoming town hall meetings.  In addition to the rich exchange of information, the meetings also tell our story, and your goodness in serving others first.

Town Hall Meetings

Get the latest on what's happening within Penrose-St. Francis Health Services by attending one of 27 town hall meetings scheduled for October.  Town hall meetings will be held at 6 a.m. and 7:45 a.m., in addition to 6 p.m. and 7:45 p.m., to allow for clinicians to attend either before or after a shift.  Clinical staff will be paid for the extra hour.

A hot breakfast buffet will be offered for the early morning sessions; a continental breakfast will be provided for the mid-morning sessions.  Snacks and beverages will be available for the afternoon session, and there will be drawings for door prizes.

Town hall meetings are set for:

Oct. 7
6 a.m., SFMC Room #3
7:45 a.m., SFMC Room #3
6 p.m., Penrose Hospital Gala Room
7:45 p.m., Penrose Hospital Gala Room

Oct. 8
6 a.m., Penrose Hospital Gala Room
7:45 a.m., Penrose Hospital Gala Room
6 p.m., SFMC Room #1
7:45 p.m., SFMC Room #1

Oct. 9
9:30 a.m., Penrose Hospital Gala Room

Oct. 10
7:45 a.m., St. Francis Health Center Summit Room
2 p.m., SFMC Room #1

Oct. 11
8 a.m., SFMC Room #1
10 a.m., Penrose Hospital Gala Room

Oct. 14
6 a.m., Penrose Hospital Gala Room
7:45 a.m., Penrose Hospital Gala Room
2 p.m., St. Francis Health Center Summit Room
3 p.m., EAP Classroom
6 p.m., SFMC Room #1
7:45 p.m., SFMC Room #1

Oct. 15
6 a.m., SFMC Room #1
7:45 a.m., SFMC Room #1
Noon, St. Francis Health Center Summit Room
6 p.m., Penrose Hospital Gala Room
7:45 p.m., Penrose Hospital Gala Room

Oct. 16
2 p.m., Langstaff-Brown Urgent Care Center

Oct. 17
8 a.m., SFMC Room #1
2 p.m., Penrose Hospital Gala Room

Bloomin' with Pride

In 2004, Penrose Hospital and the North Cascade Neighbors adopted the flower bed located at Cascade and Madison in the first “Springs in Bloom” flower bed program.  In the first year alone, about 90 beds were adopted and 15 beds were selected as finalists in three categories (Service Organizations, Individual and Business).  This year marked the 5th year that Penrose and the North Cascade Neighbors have participated and the team received three Golden Trowel Awards for its efforts!  Judging is based on color, maintenance and appearance and the top flower bed in each category was awarded the Golden Trowel.  The Golden Trowel plaques are located at Penrose Hospital in the display case adjacent to the Cafeteria.  It takes a team effort to create such a spectacular flower bed.

Stay Fit

FY09 HIIP EDUCATION CLASSES
Pick up a schedule at HIIP wall pockets at all sites:
Active Mind/Memory: Thursday, Oct. 2 from 5-5:45 p.m. at SFMC/Conference Room 2
How to get Started with Exercise: Tuesday, Oct 7 from 7:30-8:15 a.m. at ASC/1st Floor Skyline Room
Congruent Communication: Wednesday, Oct 22 from 12-12:45 p.m. at PH/Cancer Center Room A

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, October 9 at 8 a.m.
SFMC Wellness Center – Wednesday, Oct. 15 at 1 p.m.
PH Wellness Center – Tuesday, Oct. 21 at 4 p.m.
Anyone over 40 years old must have a physician’s form signed giving permission to use Wellness Centers.

SELF CARE CLASS
Thursday, Oct. 23 from 7:30-8:15 p.m. at SFMC/Conf Room 2 (garden)

PSF EXTENDED FITNESS CLASSES
Pick up a schedule at HIIP Wall pockets at all sites for registration form:
Nia: Session 3: Starts, Tuesday, Oct. 14 from 4-5 p.m. in the PH/E-Tower Aerobics Room for 6 week session
Pilates: Session 4: Starts, Wednesday, Oct. 15 from 5-6 p.m. in the PH/E-Tower Aerobics Room for 5 week session
Yoga: Session 2: Starts Thursday, Oct. 16 from 5:25-6:30 p.m. in the PH/E-Tower Aerobics Room for 6 week session

WALKING CLUBS
PH Walking Club: Every Wednesday at 7:15-7:50 a.m. outside of valet. Contact Michelle, x5034
SF Walking Club:  Every Monday at 12:30 p.m. outside of the Foundation building. Contact Tracy, x7085
PCH Walking Club:  Every Tuesday at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. meet outside SFMC/1st Floor Main Entrance.  Contact Rox, x11064

OCTOBER HIKING CLUB GOES BIKING
Saturday, Oct. 11,  9 a.m. start time; sign in at 8:45 a.m.
Meet at Penrose Hospital/Northeast corner of campus in parking lot
Start the fall season with a biking excursion to the new SFMC campus! Come join in the fun with Nancetta Williams, Director of Medical Staff Services, who will lead this biking excursion.  All ability levels are welcome.  The trail consists of some gravel, pavement, dirt, and street riding.  If you have options, recommend that you ride a mountain bike since we may encounter some gravel. You can ride as far or as long as you want. It is approximately 15 miles to SFMC from Penrose, mostly gaining elevation!  A map will be provided.  Helmets are required.  Bring water and some food, as well as your family, friends and of course, your bike!  You will receive HIIP fitness activity credit for this event. 

If you have any questions, please call Nancetta Williams at 776-5666.

OCTOBER BIKE TO WORK DAY
Friday, Oct. 17, receive a $3 meal ticket and special prize!  If you ride your bike to work, please stop by the following locations to pick up your meal ticket from 8 a.m. to noon: 
PH - HIIP Office (E-tower basement)
SFMC - HIIP Office (2nd Floor, past admin/HR)
SFHC and ASC - please contact the HIIP office at x7393

Grand Event

On Sept. 9 at 9 a.m., Club HIIP proudly presented the new Wellness Center at SFMC. The was “grand” with inspiring speakers, including the Founding Father of HIIP, Rob Ryder, along with 1984 Team Handball Olympian, Greg Morava.

The festivities included a special blessing from Sr. Lou Krippel and ribbon-cutting by Nate Olson, CEO of SFMC. All speakers emphasized how blessed we are to have this facility and encouraged associates to improve their fitness and health by using the center. Thank you to Rob, Greg, Sr. Lou and Nate, along with the many volunteers and HIIP staff who made this event possible! 

The SFMC Wellness Center is a beautiful facility located on the 2nd floor, just past Human Resources/Administration, and has nice views of the mountains. You can enjoy music or tune in your I-pod to listen to the TVs. More than 150 people attended the grand opening, with fun facts from China, games galore, food and fun! Since the gym opened, almost 200 people have been through the wellness center orientations and are enjoying access to this new facility.

The Wellness Center houses a variety of brand new Paramount and Precor strength training equipment, along with cardio equipment, stretching accessories, stretch trainer, and free dumbbells. You will also find a men’s and women’s locker room with shower, restroom, and lockers. Employees can enjoy a relaxing massage in the massage therapy room. Please note that these are limited due to the availability of the CIMT students.

This facility is a benefit and free to all PSF associates.  It is not open to family members or friends.  We do offer memberships to people who physically work on the SFMC campus who are not PSF associates for a nominal fee of $15 per month.  In order to gain access to the facility, each person must attend a short orientation due to liability, and to learn proper safety usage of the new equipment.

Club HIIP encourages all associates to take advantage of this wellness opportunity. Please check out our loaner Espresso bikes during the month of October. Keep on the look-out for more information about a Halloween Espresso Bike Challenge.

Wellness Center Orientation
Register for a 1 p.m., Oct 15 orientation via HealthCalc on My Virtual Workplace or call 776-5839, ext 2.  Anyone over 40 years old must have a physician’s form signed giving permission to use Wellness Centers.

-- Courtesy, Club HIIP

Light the Night

About 40 members of Penrose-St. Francis came out for this year’s Light the Night Walk held Sept. 18 in downtown Colorado Springs.  Team Penrose raised about $750 for the event.  Light The Night is the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's nationwide evening walk to celebrate and commemorate lives touched by cancer.  Each fall, teams of friends, family members and co-workers gather in cities and towns across America.  They walk in twilight, holding illuminated balloons -- white for survivors, red for supporters and gold in memory of those who have lost their lives to cancer.  More than a walk, the evening included music, food and family activities.  Funds raised support the Society's mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

Walk to Cure Diabetes

About 20 members of Penrose-St. Francis participated in this year’s 2008 Walk to Cure Diabetes on Sept. 13 at America the Beautiful Park.  Team Penrose raised nearly $1,000 for the Juvenile Research Diabetes Foundation during this year’s event.  As many as 3 million Americans have type 1 diabetes, a disease most often diagnosed in childhood that strikes suddenly, lasts a lifetime, and carries the constant threat of deadly complications, including heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, and amputation. JDRF's mission is constant: to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research.  The walk draws people together in a healthy activity for a worthy cause, raising money to help find a cure for diabetes.

Department 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.  

This month the spotlight shines on the Facilities Department.  This team is literally the nuts and bolts of our system.  They keep everything in tip-top shape and running perfectly.  They also provide some of the great facelifts we often see around our sites.    

Facilities is comprised of two crews, plus the Grounds Team.  Mike Herbst is the manager for Penrose Hospital, ASC, St. Francis Medical Center, St. Francis Health Center, PCH Urgent Care and Langstaff-Brown.  That’s a big job!  This dedicated group of associates is responsible for operating, repairing and maintaining the buildings, the physical plants and all associated equipment and systems like plumbing, electrical, refrigeration, life safety systems and all general maintenance requests. 

At St. Francis Medical Center, Joel Ladefoged is the team leader responsible for day-to-day operations with seven FTEs assisting.  At Penrose Hospital and the ASC, Nick Putzstuck is team lead with a staff of 12 talented associates working behind the scenes, every day. The two Grounds team FTEs also report to Nick.  Together, Joel and Nick supervise the four FTEs taking care of SFHC, PCH Urgent Care and Langstaff-Brown.  This is the first crew. 

The second crew reports to Sean Mulholland, Construction Manager, for PH, PCH Urgent Care and SFHC.  Sean has five FTEs who cover all sites.  His team includes a project coordinator and fire marshal, one carpenter, two painters and one locksmith to cover PH and SFMC. 

The PSF Facilities Department handles more than 2,266 work orders every month!  They provide us a comfortable, functional, cost-effective and safe environment for our patients, staff, physicians and visitors.  You might think that they just plunge toilets, replace light bulbs and hang pictures, but there is so much more to the story.  The majority of the work is behind the scenes, making sure PSF is meeting code and compliance requirements of many organizations, such as The Joint Commission, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services,  and National Fire Protection Association to name a few.  They also operate and maintain heating and cooling for all PSF buildings, building automation systems, alarm systems, pneumatic tube systems, generators, and the list goes on and on.  The best part is that each service request is met with expediency, efficiency and a smile. 

Our spotlight shines on them in October, and National Healthcare Facilities & Engineering Week is set for Oct. 20-26 this year.  What a great opportunity to thank these hard-working individuals who keep us at our very best!

-- Courtesy, Rewards & Recognition Team

Meet the R&R Team

The Rewards and Recognition Team was created as a part of the Mission in Motion initiative.  This group was given the task to find opportunities to reward and recognize associates for all they do. We would like to introduce ourselves and let everyone know that we are open to suggestions.  We have all enjoyed this opportunity to get to meet new people and learn so much about our organization.

Dr. Steve Tucker has lead Profile Employee Assistance Program for 20 years and has been involved in the mental health field for over 25 years, focusing on Employee Assistance and Organizational Psychology.  Steve has been married for 38 years and has one son.  Steve’s interests include woodworking, bicycling, and the blues.  A little secret: Want to get in Steve’s good graces?  Bake some brownies!

Liz Berardi has worked at Club HIIP since July 2006.  She started with Penrose-St. Francis Health System in 2005 at the CSSC in the Briargate YMCA.  She currently works part-time as she attends Beth-El College in the RN program.

Pat Burgess for the past 19 years has provided support for the Administration Team.  Pat is the assistant to Phil Shaw, Interim President & CEO of PSF, and Patrick Menzies, VP of Business Development.  She has a 23 year old daughter, Samantha, who lives in Denver, and has been married to Chuck for many moons!  Pat loves to decorate, not only inside, but outside, e.g., flowerbeds (Penrose and the North Cascade Neighbors received three Golden Trowel Awards over the past 5 years for the flower bed at Cascade & Madison), and of course decorating the hospital for the holidays.  She loves to read, travel and enjoy the Colorado mountain air.  John Denver was a favorite of hers, and his songs depict why she lives in Colorado. 

Heather Daniels is part of the office support staff for EAP and has been working for Centura for one year. She is a native Californian and moved to Colorado two years ago. Aside from the snowstorms, she loves it here! Her hobbies include reading, shopping, traveling, and spending time with her husband and their three spoiled dogs.

Sandra Duve has been the Coordinator of Volunteer Services for six years after retiring from teaching. She has been married for 35 years to her husband James.  She has one son, Christopher, who is a market consultant in Virginia.  Sandra is a life-long volunteer.  She not only volunteers at Penrose, but at various churches, soup kitchens, and other charitable organizations in our community. Her interests include painting, cooking/baking, collecting cookbooks, and candy making.  Sandra’s passions include her family, her faith, and the PSF volunteers.  Being so busy, she wishes she had time to enjoy at great book!

Patrick Flynn was trained by the Air Force as a Physical Therapy Specialist and started working in the field in January 1976. Moving to Colorado Springs in 1985, he started “my triathlon" at Penrose Hospital.  He has worked for Penrose Hospital three times, starting in 1986, returning in 1995 and the 3rd and final time in 2000, Patrick currently works as a Rehab Tech in the Bedside Therapy section of our Rehab Department.  Patrick loves his job and enjoys working with his family of coworkers in our Rehab Department. You know what they say ... “Third time’s a charm!”

Rhonda Gerberich is the Sales/Marketing Coordinator and Employer Relations Specialist for Profile EAP.  She has worked for Penrose-St. Francis for 15 years – starting in both EAP and the HIIP office half-time and then moving to EAP full-time.  Rhonda is an avid reader.  She loves cats, dogs, musicals and crocheting.

Michelle Powers is the Business Office Coordinator at Profile EAP.  Originally from New Jersey, Michelle relocated to Colorado Springs in 2001.  She is a graduate of Syracuse University.  She has been married for 11 years and has one son, Joshua.  Michelle loves to read and enjoys musicals. 

Leslie Schwender joined the Penrose team back on 9-18-89 at CCOM (Centura Centers for Occupational Medicine) as a receptionist.  She also worked as executive assistant to the Director and finally, as Office Manager.  Leslie left CCOM in 2000 to work part-time and spend some extra time with her daughter. Wanting a part-time position was such a blessing.  It led her to the Spiritual Care Department as the executive assistant to the Director of Mission & Ministry, Sr. Lou Krippel.  Leslie is currently a full-time employee again and working as the executive assistant to the V.P. of Mission Integration, Larry Seidl.  Her 19 years at PSF have been greatly rewarding.  She looks forward to what lies ahead.

Suzie Stoke has a Masters in Physical Therapy from Boston University.  She has been a physical therapist for 20 years and specializes in Balance and Dizziness Disorders.  She works at Colorado Sport and Spine Centers Centennial Clinic.

Janet Truhlar has worked as an accountant in the finance department for PSF since June 2003.  She has a BS in Accounting, and in May 2007 received her MBA in Finance.  Among many other tasks, she is responsible for the tracking and reporting of all the assets in the Penrose-St. Francis system.   Her interests include practicing aromatherapy, spending time with her four-year old son, and reading.

Friend Passes On

Sister of Charity of Cincinnati Mary Angus Barry died Sept. 14 at the age of 94 in Mother Margaret Hall at the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati Motherhouse, Mount St. Joseph, Ohio. She was born Ellen Barry on Nov. 27, 1913 in Denver.  She entered the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati on Sept. 8, 1932, serving 76 years as a Sister of Charity.

Sister Mary Angus served for 61 years in the field of nursing. She began her ministry in 1934 at Glockner Hospital, Colorado Springs, Colo., as a student nurse and progressed to nursing supervisor in 1936.

In 1937, Sister Mary Angus moved to Cincinnati, Ohio to serve as head nurse at Good Samaritan Hospital, returning to Glockner Hospital as nursing supervisor from 1939 until 1942. She once again returned to Ohio to serve at Good Samaritan Hospital, Dayton, for one year. From 1943-45, Sister Mary Angus assumed the position of head nurse at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati. In 1945, she transitioned to St. Joseph Hospital, Albuquerque, N.M. as operating room supervisor.

Sister served at the following health care facilities as the director of nursing education and services: St. Mary Hospital, Pueblo, Colo. (1948-’53 and 1955-‘57); St. Joseph Hospital, Mt. Clemens, Mich. (1953-’55); and St. Vincent Hospital, Santa Fe, N.M. (1957-’61).

S. Mary Angus also served as the director of nursing education, director of in-service education, and editor of Pulse newsletter at Penrose Hospital, Colorado Springs (1961-’69, 1971-’76 and 1976-78 respectively).  She served as director of health services at El Paso Community College, Colorado Springs (1969-71) as director of health services. From 1978 until 1980, Sister provided private nursing care to her friend Mrs. Lucile McKee in Mt. Clemens, Mich.

Sister Mary Angus returned to Penrose Hospital in 1980 to serve as historian. She retired in 1991 and continued at Penrose as a volunteer. In 1995, she returned to the Sisters of Charity Motherhouse in Cincinnati to participate in the Ministry of Prayer.

Her friend of many years, Sister Jean Patrice Harrington remembered Sister Mary Angus: “She was an extremely competent nurse who performed her services with compassion and dignity.” S. John Miriam Jones recalls, “Seventy-six years ago S. Mary Angus brought to the Sisters of Charity her love of Colorado mountains and of her close knit Irish family. She enriched us all and we will miss her.”