Sending out an S.O.S.

Plus, prepare a tomato salad perfect for summer

Ministering Hope Julia Maness offers free health care in Owingsville

common threadBringing Together the Saint Joseph Health System Family

July/August 2008

Good Health Build

Get the scoop on the latest technology

Holistic Care

Marathon Fight against Cancer

2nd Issue of

NEW

Saint Joseph

Magazine

Inside Our Family A note from Gene Woods Dear Saint Joseph Family,

The purpose of Common Thread is to remind us that even though we are now a seven-hospital system, our common mission across the organization is to deliver excellent patient care as close to home as possible. In the premiere issue, we learned about the wonderful work that so many Associates are doing across the state. In this, our second issue, we continue telling the inspiring details of our Saint Joseph family members with a unique and personal approach.

Highlights of this edition include: Saint Joseph Free Health Clinic Associate Julia Maness operates a similar clinic in Owingsville that offers the uninsured a new hope; Saint Joseph - Martin Associ-ates Robin Bartrum and Mary Martin go the extra mile in the Relay for Life; C.N.A. Anna Reding shares her passion for patient care at Flaget; At Saint Joseph - Berea, Radiology Manager Sheila Roberts gives five-star service to patients and families; and Saint Joseph Hospital nurse Crystal Steele is one of our health care heroes.

As we enter fiscal year 2009, we continue to celebrate our new begin-ning together as one. In the past few months alone, the seven facilities have shared several best practices with each other and have implemented those at multiple facilities. This knowl-edge base will continue to grow as we integrate further, and ultimately, our patients will benefit from even better care and service excellence.

The telemedicine robots that are now roaming the halls of Saint Joseph are an example of one of our first accomplish-ments as a system that not only connects our patients to enhanced care, but connects us all as caregivers as well. This technology and other initiatives currently in process make this a very exciting time at Saint Joseph Health System.

As always, the success of Common Thread relies upon your ideas and sugges-tions for outstanding stories. I’m certain that you know a co-worker who inspires you every day, and we would love to share their story with all 5,000 Associates in the state. As always, you can submit your ideas and comments at SaintJosephCom-monThread.org. Until next issue, I will see you in the halls of your facility.

Gene WoodsCEO

PublisherSaint Joseph Health System

Executive EditorJeff Murphy

EditorKara Fitzgerald

Production CoordinatorLiz Sword

Editorial ContributorsAngela Florek

Neva Francis

Katie Heckman

Sharon Hershberger

Jennifer NeSmith

Tonya Lewis

Stephanie Sarrantonio

Amy Taylor

Contributing WritersKathie Stamps

PhotographersTim Collins

Mike Jackey

Lee Thomas

Tim Webb

SJHS President’s CouncilGene Woods, CEO, SJHS

Ed Carthew, CHRO, SJHS

Gary Ermers, CFO, SJHS

Mark Streety, CIO, SJHS

Virginia Dempsey, President, SJL

Greg Gerard, President, SJB

Ken Haynes, President, SJH/SJE/SJJ

Jim Heitzenrater, President, SJMS

Bruce Klockars, President, FMH

Kathy Stumbo, President, SJM

Common Thread is published bimonthly by the Communications/Public Relations/Marketing department of Saint Joseph Health System for Associates and their families. Visit SaintJosephCommonThread.org to submit news, story ideas or photos. Or, write to us at Saint Joseph Hospital, C/O Kara Fitzgerald, 1590 Harrodsburg Rd., Lexington, KY 40504. You may reach our office at 859.313.1845.

table of contents2 Inside Out View snapshots of Saint

Joseph events and happenings inside and outside our walls.

4 New Threads Keep informed of late-breaking news.

6 Feature Julia Maness shares how and why she advocates for the working poor.

8 Common Sense Learn why Saint Joseph - Berea Associates are lacing up their walking shoes.

9 Health Care Hero Read about Crystal Steele’s extraordinary enthusiasm for nursing.

10 Role Models Robin Bartrum and Mary Martin exhibit a marathon commitment to the fight against cancer.

11 Mission Moments Sheila Roberts introduces even more touch, love and compassion at Saint Joseph - Berea.

12 Welcome to My World Listen to Anna Reding describe how she nurtures patients as a C.N.A.

14 Noteworthy Celebrating news, notes and praiseworthy accomplishments

16 Common View Sister Elizabeth Wendeln offers a global voice for health care.

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Saint Joseph Hospital Associate Julia Maness cares for the uninsured at her “NewHope” Clinic in Owingsville, Kentucky. Read about her relentless passion on page 6.

on th

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Volume 1, issue 2

To submit your story ideas or news to Common Thread, visit SaintJosephCommonThread.org. 15

J.D. CroweF E S T I V A LCelebrate the rich history and tradition

of bluegrass music this Labor Day weekend

at the J.D. Crowe Festival at Ichthus Farm in WilmoreThursday, August 28,

through Saturday, August 30S ee p a ge 15 for more de ta i l s .Every Saint Joseph Health System Associate who presents their name badge at the festival entrance will get in for free.

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Flaget Memorial President Bruce Klockars, right, presented Dr. Mickey Anderson with the Nurses Choice Award in early May.

Saint Joseph Hospital Associates Julie Coffey, Saint Joseph Heart Insti-tute, and Shawn Coffey, operating room, brought their daughter, Shealyn, to the American Heart Walk in April and raised funds and awareness about heart disease.

Saint Joseph - Berea Associates, left to right, Ginger Barrett, materials management; Pat Meier, volunteer; Samantha Flannery, materials management; and Joyce Leece, materials management, celebrated the 12th anniversary of the founding of Catholic Health Initiatives on May 1.

Clinical Nurse Special-ists, left to right, Jennifer Drumm, Billie May, Dana Graves, Marge McMillan, Debbie Kitchen and Debbie Griffith (not pictured, Megan Walker) planned festive parties for National Nurses Week at Saint Joseph Hospital, Saint Joseph East, Saint Joseph - Berea and Saint Joseph - Mount Sterling this May.

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Saint Joseph - Berea Associates Scott Thompson, cardiopul-monary, and Judy Harris, hospitality services, grilled hamburgers and hotdogs for a National Hospital Week cookout.

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The “Carpetbaggers” embraced Saint Joseph - Martin’s “The Great American Ballpark” National Hospital Week picnic theme. Left to right, Olive Martin, director of performance improvement and risk management; Kathy Stumbo, president; Carolyn Prater, chief responsibility officer; Billie Turner, vice president of clinical services/CNO; Bev York, medical staff secretary; Robin Bartrum, executive assistant; and Debi Bentley, human resources manager, sported baseball team shirts.

Saint Joseph - Martin Associates, left to right, Melinda Stumbo, emergency department nurse manager; Teresa Bailey, rural health clinics nurse manager; Billie Turner, vice president of clinical services/CNO; Mary Little, medical-surgical nurse manager; and Carla Hayes, surgery nurse manager, teamed up to plan an exciting National Nurses Week celebration.

Saint Joseph - Mount Sterling Associates Traci Beasley, Beulah Brewer, Patty Dailey and Amy Frazier, pharmacy department; Chris Peck, director of the foundation; and Jennifer NeSmith, director of physician relations and marketing, bowled with their families at a Big Brothers Big Sisters “Bowl for Kids’ Sake” fundraiser in late April.

Saint Joseph Hospital Associates Angella Richardson and Lara Young, medical records, celebrated National Hospital Week indoors in a picnic-themed cafeteria.

Saint Joseph - Mount Sterling Associates Tracy Russell and Carrie Parker, cardiopulmonary, enjoyed great food at the National Hospital Week cookout.

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Healthier CommunitiesBuilding HopeSaint Joseph Health System has joined with Lexington health care organizations to help build a home for Lexington resident Arianne Fain, her two children and soon-to-be newborn through a Habitat for Humanity “Good Health Build” that began May 29. Saint Joseph donated $8,500 toward the project and is volunteering labor for the six-week build on Glen Arvin Drive in Lexington. Around 30 Saint Joseph Associates and their family members are giving back to the community by rolling up their sleeves and assuming construction crew duties to build a home for the deserving family. The project ends on July 13.

Educating Moms and Dads More than 700 people attended Saint Joseph East’s 9th Annual Maternity Fair on May 10. The fair is Lexington’s biggest maternity event for parents-to-be and those who are planning a baby in the future.

Festivities included tours of Saint Joseph East’s maternity facilities, lectures from experts on pregnancy/baby topics, 52 local merchants with exciting displays and products, a live radio remote, snacks and several prize give-aways. Grand prize winner Bonnie Potter received numerous baby products and a certificate entitling her to a free delivery at Saint Joseph East.

GrowthVideo Highlights Future Women’s Facility Visit SaintJosephHealthSystem.org/maternity to view a video

highlighting the new women’s facility currently under construction at Saint Joseph East. Saint Joseph Associates and physicians discuss how it will be the first of its kind in Kentucky. The 60,000 square-foot facility, which will open in 2009, will house labor/delivery rooms, nursery, neonatal intensive care, and all other maternity services in

a freestanding addition to the hospital that will be dedicated exclusively to women’s services. The new facility will have a capacity of 3,000 deliveries annually and will feature patient-centered design and amenities, with the entire family’s comfort in mind.

TechnologyIntroducing Our Robots by NameThe robots traveling down hallways and into patient rooms within Saint Joseph Health System are now chris-tened with names, which are labeled on their Kentucky license plates. They were named as part of a contest held at each of our seven hospitals.

Saint Joseph Hospital: R2-DOC2 Saint Joseph East: OSCAR (On-Site Clinical Assessment Robot)Saint Joseph - Berea: CAMRUN Saint Joseph - Martin: JosieFlaget Memorial Hospital: OPIE (Online Patient Information Exchange)Saint Joseph - London: CHIPP (Catholic Health Initiatives’ Personal Physician)Saint Joseph - Mount Sterling: Joebot

After physician and staff training, CHIPP, OPIE, OSCAR, CAMRUN, R2-DOC2, Josie and Joebot have all begun work at their respective hospitals. Physicians are utilizing the InTouch robots for additional patient rounding and remote consults from their home, office or Saint Joseph facility. On May 28,

Dr. Josh Steiner was the first physician to use the robot with a patient. He connected to OSCAR, the robot at Saint Joseph East, from his home office to visit his post-op bar-iatric surgery patients on the 4th floor medical-surgical unit. Dr. Steiner also is using OSCAR as a teaching tool.

On June 13, the chief of bariatric surgery at Sinai Hospital in Balti-more, Md., connected to the robot so his residents could observe Dr. Steiner performing a gastric bypass procedure. The flexibility of driving and maneuvering the robot enables this to be an effective teaching experience.

NewThreads Stay informed on the latest Saint Joseph Health System news by reading “New Threads” in every issue of Common Thread.

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Stay informed on the latest Saint Joseph Health System news by reading “New Threads” in every issue of Common Thread.

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100th Robotic Surgical Case PerformedOn June 6, the surgical services department at Saint Joseph Hospital performed the 100th case using the da Vinci robotic-assisted surgical system. With the only high-definition system in the state, Saint Joseph Hospital has provided men in Lexington and the region with a less-invasive surgical option for prostate cancer treatment since August of 2007. While the majority of the 100 cases were radical prostatectomy, or prostate removal surgery, other urologic surgical proce-dures and thoracic surgical procedures were performed with the robot. In June, gynecologic surgery with the robot became a reality.

The da Vinci Surgical System provides surgeons with a minimally invasive alternative to both traditional open surgery and conventional laparoscopy, putting a surgeon’s hands at the controls of an impressive robotic platform.

AwardsOne of Kentucky’s “Best Places to Work” The Kentucky Society for Human Resource Management state council and the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce recently announced the rankings for the fourth annual competition naming the 2008 Best Places to Work in Kentucky, presented by Humana. Saint Joseph Hospital, Saint Joseph East and

Saint Joseph - Berea ranked 15 out of 25 large companies and Saint Joseph - Martin ranked 16 out of 25 small/medium companies. Best Companies Group surveyed all applicants and revealed the list of top 50 winners at an awards banquet on April 17 at the Lexington Convention Center. Attending the banquet were several Saint Joseph leaders and human resources representatives. This is the third consecutive year Saint Joseph Hospital, Saint Joseph East and Saint Joseph - Berea have received this honor; and the second consecutive year for Saint Joseph - Martin.

A “Great Place to Work” for StudentsThe Continuing Care Hospital recently was honored with Eastern Kentucky Univer-sity’s 2008 Great Place to Work Award. The award recognizes organizations that hire and support EKU students. Registered Nurse Beverly Smith nominated Continuing Care Hospital,

stating how leadership is extremely supportive of Associates’ desires to further their education. Beverly also nominated her employer for this award because of the organization’s faith-based values. Beverly is in school working toward her bachelor’s degree. Currently, there are 13 Continuing Care Hospital Associates who are attending school to achieve various levels

of nursing degrees. The Continuing Care Hospital is a 45-bed long-term acute care hospital, with 30 beds located within Saint Joseph East and 15 beds located within Saint Joseph Hospital.

Committed to Quality and Safety Saint Joseph - Berea was recognized on May 12 as one of four hospitals in Kentucky to receive the Kentucky Hospital Association’s Clinical Patient Safety and Quality Award. Seventeen hospitals applied for this annual award. Saint Joseph - Berea received the award for the organization’s work on reducing pressure ulcers (a focus of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s 5 Million Lives Campaign) by 75 percent. Saint Joseph - Berea achieved these results by establishing a skin care team with community expertise and partnership, collaboration with external clinical resources from Berea College, home health agencies, wound care resources, and applying the rapid cycle change methodology and rounding process designs.

LeadershipCorporate Responsibility and Privacy Officer Carla Aldridge Walter is now

the Corporate Responsibility and Privacy Officer for Saint Joseph Health System. Carla previously served as Corporate Responsibility and Privacy Officer for the former Saint Joseph HealthCare.

Vice President of Ancillary ServicesDent Smith is now the Vice President of Ancillary Services for Saint Joseph Hospital and Saint Joseph East. Dent joined Saint Joseph in June from St. Vincent Health System in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Vice President of Patient CareDebbie Spencer is now the Vice President of Patient Care for Saint Joseph Hospital and Saint Joseph East. Debbie previously served as Director of Patient Care Support Services for the former Saint Joseph HealthCare.

Regional Director of Organizational Development and EducationRose Patrick is now the Regional Director of Organi-zational Development and Education for Saint Joseph Health System. Rose previously served as Director of Educa-tional Services for the former Saint Joseph HealthCare.

Da Vinci Surgical System

Ministering Hope in Owingsville

As Julia Maness zips around the “NewHope” Clinic visiting with her patients, she exudes a high energy

that is contagious. Small in stature, her personality is immense with warmth and passion for her work. A co-founder of the free health clinic in Owingsville, Kentucky (located between Morehead and Mt. Sterling), Julia’s mission is to minister to the health care needs of the medically uninsured and underinsured people in eastern Kentucky through compassion fueled by a love of God. She and her colleagues see about 40 patients from Bath County and the surrounding areas every Thursday.

Julia Maness helps care for those hanging by a thread By Kara Fitzgerald

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“We wanted to give this community a little new hope,” says Julia, an advanced regis-tered nurse practitioner. “In Owingsville alone, there is a 23 percent poverty rate. We currently have 2,000 patients; some walk an hour to see us, others hitchhike. We’ve had people drop at our front door having an MI (myocardial infarction).”

The uninsured are often seriously ill because they have not received preventive care due to the barrier of expensive medical fees, according to Julia. “The average lifespan of someone who is uninsured is 58 years. The average lifespan for the rest of us is somewhere in our 70s,” she says.

Julia became concerned about the lack of health care among the hard-working poor during her days working with the East Coast Migrant Health Project, which provides health prevention and clinical outreach services to farm workers and migrant laborers along the Eastern Seaboard. As she advanced in her nursing practice, her concern grew into a strong advocacy for the uninsured. A city girl her whole life, born and raised in Louisville and educated at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Julia decided to move to the country to practice.

“It was just in my bones,” says Julia. “I also loved rural practice because I could get to know my patients, see them often and hear their stories. If you know someone’s story, there is no one that you couldn’t love.”

Julia, who resides in Means, Kentucky with her husband and two children, began commuting to Lexington in 1998 to work on Saint Joseph’s Mobile Clinic. With dreams of opening her own free health

clinic near her home in Menifee County, she wanted to gain more experience with treating the poor and uninsured.

“That was the whole reason I came to St. Joe. If we could really figure out a way to care for the uninsured, I wanted to bring it home,” recalls Julia, who works in the Saint Joseph Free Health Clinic in Lexington when not in Owingsville (the Mobile Clinic parked its wheels in 2007 and a free-standing health clinic opened to serve

the same uninsured and underinsured population in Lexington).

Julia did bring her newfound knowledge home and in October of 2000, opened the doors of the NewHope Clinic through the support of the Owingsville community. Partnering with her deacon at St. Julie’s Catholic Church (who happened to be a physician assistant) and a planner for the district’s health department, NewHope Ministries became a

“If you know someone’s story, there is no one that you couldn’t love.”

Continued on page 13

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Get Healthy Berea!During Hospital Week, Saint Joseph - Berea Associates were invited to pick up materials on walking, including a map with walking and hiking trails in Madison County and a water bottle, for a “Get Healthy Berea” Walk. They also met with registered dietitian Janenne Abney to learn about hydra-tion and how to fuel their bodies for the best performance. Associates were encouraged to log their walking efforts during Hospital Week to kick off a new, healthier lifestyle.

“We’re hoping our Associates will take the information we gave them and incorporate exercise into their lives every day. Walking is a simple, positive change our Associates can make to im-prove their health,” says Greg Gerard, president of Saint Joseph - Berea and an avid runner and health enthusiast.

Research has shown that the benefits of walking and moderate physical activity for at least 30 minutes total on most days of the week or every day can help you:

• Reduce the risk of coronary heart disease

• Improve blood pressure and blood sugar levels

• Improve blood lipid profile • Maintain body weight and lower

the risk of obesity • Enhance mental well-being • Reduce the risk of osteoporosis • Reduce the risk of breast and

colon cancer • Reduce the risk of non-insulin

dependent (Type 2) diabetes

If you would like information about walking paths and hiking trails in Madison County or other information about walking, contact Katie Heckman, manager of community relations, at 859.986.6535.

Did you know that for every hour of regular, vigorous exercise we do–like brisk walking–we can live two hours longer? (American Heart Association)

common sense

Send us your recipes! Submit them at SaintJosephCommonThread.org.

Learn how Associates are living healthy and helping to build

healthier communities.

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Toasted Pita with Mint, Cucumber and Tomato Salad–submitted by John Herzog, nutritional services supervisor, Saint Joseph Hospital

Of course tomatoes from your own garden work best, but use the most fresh, ripe tomatoes you can buy. To add even more color, leave the skin on the cucumber. Prepare as soon as possible to serving so the salad does not get too watery.

Ingredients¼ cup fresh lemon juice2 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil½ tsp. salt¼ tsp. freshly ground black pepper2 garlic cloves, minced3 ¾ cup chopped tomato1 ½ cup chopped cucumber⅓ cup scallions (chopped)⅓ cup chopped flat leaf parsley¼ cup chopped fresh mint1 Tbs. chopped fresh cilantro3 6” pitas, cut into triangles baked at 425 for 5 min.

InstructionsCombine first five ingredients in a bowl and whisk. Add tomato and the next five ingredients. Toss well. Spoon on top of arranged toasted pita and serve either chilled or at room temperature.

Are you EXTREME about living green? Let us know how you are decreasing your environmental footprint. Visit SaintJosephCommonThread.org.

A group of Saint Joseph - Berea Associates joined Greg Gerard, president, and Pat Patton, director of nursing, to make a lap around hospital grounds on May 16 for the Get Healthy Berea Walk. Even the rain didn’t stop these dedicated walkers from burning off a few lunch calories.

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She began working as a swan in the critical care unit (CCU) at Saint Joseph Hospital and enrolled in Eastern Kentucky University’s nursing school, graduating in 2005. Today, she’s a registered nurse who’s not only making a difference for her patients, but for the nurses on her unit as well.

Crystal is leading the effort to empower nurses to make decisions about their practice through a shared governance model that is being piloted in the CCU. Shared governance insures that nurses have a voice in how care is delivered. “I’m trying to improve the work environment and nursing satis-faction. When a nursing staff feels supported, patient care and professional development are advanced,” says Crystal.

The hope is that other units will adopt this model of nurses interacting with one another, presenting different perspec-tives about the delivery of care, expanding their awareness, broadening their knowledge base and enhancing their ability to make decisions.

Crystal stresses the impor-tance of mentoring young

nurses. “I was fortunate to come into a group of experienced nurses who supported me and helped me grow. That is very important to a new graduate,” she says. “Nurses who are experienced can teach you things you just don’t learn in school. It affected my decision to stay in CCU and at Saint Joseph Hospital.”

Aside from her involve-ment with shared governance, Crystal was recognized this year by Saint Joseph leadership for her great service excellence. A patient’s family commented on her “obvious commitment to her job and excellent nursing skills.” They said she was car-ing, sympathetic and under-standing during their difficult time and visited them during her breaks and before she left the hospital each night.

Last December, Crystal embarked on a medical mission trip to Madurai, India with Drs. John Meek and Mark Dougherty and nurse practi-tioners Tonya Hatfield and Debra Dellay. “We treated 200 to 300 patients per day with conditions like tuber-culosis, HIV, worms, scabies,

lice and other diseases indigenous there. It was a different world,” remembers Crystal.

The experience sparked a desire in Crystal to further her education and obtain a master’s degree to become a nurse practi-tioner, to make even a bigger difference.

“I was pretty green for this type of work,” she recalls. “I thought I would be more prepared when I arrived in India. It was definitely a learning experience. I just applied to school and I want to keep learning and growing in my profession. If you improve your life, you will improve the lives of others.”By Kara Fitzgerald

When Crystal Steele decided to attend nursing school after pushing paper in a bank for several years, she knew it was because she wanted to make more of a difference with her life.

a medical mission

Nurses who are experienced can teach you things you just don’t learn in school. It affected my decision to stay in CCU and at Saint Joseph Hospital.”

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health care hero

You can take part in the fight against cancer too!The overnight event is from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Friday night, August 1, at Archer Park in Prestonsburg. There will be games, karaoke, refreshments and plenty of caffeine. Join the Saint

Joseph - Martin team at relayforlife.org/floydcounty (search for “ST Joseph-Martin”). The registration fee is $10 per team member.

Robin Bartrum and Mary Martin are co-workers at

Saint Joseph - Martin. Robin is an executive assistant and Mary is a registered nurse at the hospital, located in Floyd County. They love their work and are very active partici-pants in the American Cancer Society’s annual Relay for Life, a 12-hour walk-a-thon to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Robin has been involved for the last eight years. The cause is near and dear to her heart because her grandmother is a cancer survivor.

The Relay for Life is also a

passion for Mary, who has had several family members pass away from cancer, including her father who died from leukemia. “This is such a wonderful cause,” she says. “I have been team captain several times.” Mary is a “repeat employee” at the hospital. She started in 1977 as an aide and her most recent stint has been for the last 15 years as an infection control nurse. She has always lived in Floyd County, except for a year when she was a traveling nurse in Colorado. She enjoys networking with the sister hospitals of Saint Joseph

Health System and attending conferences.

Robin received her associate’s degree in business administration from Ashland Community College and started working at Saint Joseph - Martin a few months later. “Prior to the position I currently hold, I worked in different departments, including the emergency department and home health,” Robin says. For the last eight years she has worked in administration as an executive assistant to President Kathy Stumbo and Vice President of Clinical Operations/CNO Billie Turner.

In previous years, Floyd County’s Relay for Life was held in May at Big Sandy Community and Technical College. This year, in hopes of better weather during summertime, the event will be August 1 and the venue has changed to Archer Park in Prestonsburg. “We have a lot of activities planned throughout the night,” Robin says. “There’s never any downtime.”

Each year businesses, schools, civic organizations

and concerned community members form teams to participate in this event. Team members are encouraged to raise $100 each in pledges. “Usually if someone has more than $100 and another team member does not, we will share so all of our team members contribute to the cause,” Mary informs. Volun-teers from the community participate as “bankers” and count the money raised from pledges. The team that has raised the most money is recognized during the night of the relay. Last year Saint Joseph - Martin was recog-nized as being the “top” team, raising more than $10,000.

During the relay members of the teams take turns walking or running laps. At least one member from each team must remain on the track throughout the event. The Saint Joseph - Martin team was one of the first to start grilling hotdogs and hamburgers for walkers and now other teams have caught on to the tradition of providing food.

“This is the 11th anniversary for our county,” says Robin, co-chair of this

A Marathon Commitment

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role models

Family experiences with cancer inspire Robin Bartrum and Mary Martin to fight back

Mary Martin, left, and Robin Bartrum, right

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While Sheila Roberts flipped through the

pages of the latest edition of Catholic Health Initia-tives’ Sacred Stories, the title “James Died Today” jumped out. Written by a nurse at Mercy Regional Medical Center in Colorado, the story described a patient who was at the end stage of lym-phocytic leukemia and the hospital’s efforts to ease his discomfort and aloneness through its “Touch, Love and Compassion” team. Sheila perked up as she began to read more about the team’s efforts to help heal patients through a holistic approach, rather than just cure their symptoms or disease.

“We called Mercy to ask about their program,” says Sheila, manager of the radi-ology department at Saint

Joseph - Berea. “They not only spend time loving on patients, they offer massage, acupuncture, aromatherapy and music to complement patients’ traditional

medical care.”Since Saint Joseph already

embraced this type of care—treating the whole person: body, mind and spirit—Sheila thought a similar team would be a perfect addition to Saint Joseph - Berea. With support of Saint Joseph - Berea’s president, Greg Gerard, Sheila created a “Touch, Love and Compas-sion” (TLC) launch team comprised of Associates from several disciplines. In early April, these Associates began visiting with patients, families and other Associ-ates in the waiting areas and inside patient rooms. Pushing a cart overflowing with crossword puzzles, books, magazines, poetry, scripture, toys, drinks and healthy snacks, they offer solutions to boredom and more importantly, a listen-ing ear. TLC team members engage people in conversa-tion, ask if they need any-thing, pray with them and offer emotional support.

“The cart is a nice ice breaker,” says Sheila, who has worked at Saint Joseph - Berea for almost a year and previously at Saint Joseph Hospital for 10 years. “It’s just about making that initial contact with them and tuning in to their needs.

mission moments

Touch, Love and Compassion

Sheila Roberts brings holistic approach to Saint Joseph - Berea

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Anna RedingCertified Nursing Assistant (C.N.A.)

What does a C.N.A. do?In our unit, patients are recovering from hip surgeries, knee replacements, strokes. I take vital signs, deliver meals, help with bathing and dressing, and assist patients with activities. Getting people back on their feet is very much a team effort. We all work toward the same goal—to get patients well.

What makes you good at your job?Anybody can bathe people or feed them. But you have to get to know patients as people, and you have to be gentle. You have to give love and compassion. Ten days is an average length of stay, so we get to form relationships. We know their families, their favorite TV shows, their favorite foods. Many of them

are elderly. They love to tell me their stories, and I love to listen. When I go home, I can’t wait to get back to see how they did overnight, and what progress we’re going to make with them today.

What’s your favorite part of your job?I love working with people and getting them back to where they were before they got sick. Taking a person after hip surgery who was afraid he’d never walk again, and helping that person walk – that’s really rewarding. And I love working with this team – we laugh together, we cry together. It’s very much like a family.

What keeps you going?I was hired by Flaget three years ago. I worked one month

Since Anna Reding stands six feet tall and wears John Deere tractor scrubs—and

the warmest of smiles—she’s one of the first people you notice on Flaget Memorial Hospital’s skilled nursing unit. When this certified nursing assistant isn’t nurturing patients, she’s driving a tractor on the family farm. After earning a bachelor of science degree from UK in production agriculture, Anna spent four years driving combines over the farm’s 5,000 acres. Then she spent a month caring for her dying grandfather, an experience that sparked her passion for caregiving. After the crops were harvested, Anna went back to school to become a C.N.A.

welcome to my world

Harvesting Compassion

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in the old hospital, and then we moved to the new building. It’s a blessing to work in a brand new hospital that’s so open and bright and clean. The windows are large, so patients can see the beauty of the knobs. It’s a great place to work.

What’s the one thing you want people to know?I’m in the first class of Flaget staff members studying to be healing touch therapists through a CHI program. I’ve done back massage on cancer patients and healing touch on a mother after she delivered. At Flaget, we’re doing what Jesus Christ did. We’re not just focused on the physical; we’re healing the whole person.

Welcome to My World provides a brief walk in another Saint Joseph Associate’s shoes. Do you know someone who is outstanding in his or her job? Nominate them at SaintJoseph-CommonThread.org.

By Amy Taylor

year’s event, a position she has held before. There are ten committees responsible for different aspects of the Relay for Life, including the luminaries, which are paper bags holding a candle and the name of someone who has battled cancer. At dusk the candles are lit to remind the participants once again of the people who have touched their lives; it rekindles their flame for the cause and renews their hope for a cure for cancer.

By Kathie Stamps

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coalition with St. Claire Medical Center and the Gateway District Health Department. The clinic is solely volunteer-run and funded by private donations from individuals and businesses as well

as small grants. Julia calls upon area hospitals, physician practices and other clinics for technical support, specialty care and referrals. The clinic offers care at no charge to anyone in the range of 200 percent of poverty.

“I believe the medical community as a whole needs to do a better job of reaching out to the uninsured,” adds Julia. “These are the people who serve us every day. They serve us our coffee, lay our floors and give us our food at our grocery stores and we never stop to think about their burden.”

Through financial counseling, waiving a bill or volunteering their services, physicians can help ease the burden facing the uninsured who often will not seek follow-up care to avoid another costly office fee, according to Julia.

“We are one thread in a fabric of human beings. We’re either holding this piece of fabric together or separating it, and this feels better,” says Julia. “I know I can’t fix the world, but if I can treat one person who is anxious about their illness… if that one person is soothed, they are another thread in that whole fabric that we live in. That one little piece is in better shape.”

Donations can be sent to NewHope Ministries, P.O. Box 1088, 41 S. Court Street, Owingsville, KY 40360-1088. For more information, e-mail the clinic at newhopeministries@mail.com or visit newhopeclinic.org.

By Kara Fitzgerald

Opening blinds, fluffing pillows, sitting on the end of someone’s bed and holding a hand are little touches that mean so much. It’s not just about physically get-ting better, but improving their whole attitude.”

Although the program is in its infancy, several community members in Berea are expressing a desire to help including “WaysMeet” Healing Arts Center, which offers non-traditional approaches to healing such as acupunc-ture, energy therapy, yoga and tai chi. Several artists also want to paint murals on the walls to help create a relaxing environment.

“It’s gaining momentum,” adds Sheila. “We have the right community for it. The next question is where do we want to take it? TLC team members meet regularly to discuss future growth.”

In the meantime, Sheila hopes to expand the program from three days a week to daily. “I would love for more Associates to get involved,” she says. “I think it’s a good way to get our spiritual tanks filled up.”

At a recent retreat, managers were asked to wear a T-shirt that expressed something about them. Blazoned across Sheila’s shirt was the word “Revolution.”

“Part of my mission this year is to create change everywhere I go,” informs Sheila. “All the little ripples have an effect someday.” If you’re interested in joining the TLC team or making a dona-tion to the cart, contact Sheila Roberts at 859-986-6551.

By Kara Fitzgerald

13

welcome to my world

role models

mission momentsMinistering Hope in OwingsvilleHarvesting

Compassion

To submit your story ideas or news to Common Thread, visit SaintJoseph-CommonThread.org.

AccoladesAn Outstanding Pair of DietitiansAmanda Goldman and Karina Christopher were recently recog-nized by the Kentucky Dietetic Association (KDA) for serving as leaders in the field of nutrition and dietetics. In April they traveled to Louisville for the KDA Food and Nutrition Conference & Exhibi-tion where Amanda received the Outstanding Dietitian of the Year Award and Karina received the Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year Award. They were chosen from a pool of nominated dietitians across the state.

Amanda, director of nutritional services for Saint Joseph Hospital, Saint Joseph East and Saint Joseph - Berea, and president-elect of KDA, says their emphasis on

education and community outreach is a big reason they were selected for this award. Representing Saint Joseph, Amanda and Karina participate in health fairs and spend nutrition month educating the public. This year they visited Joseph-Beth Booksellers, the Lexington Children’s Museum and appeared on local newscasts to discuss healthy eating.

“As dietitians we have the responsibility to our commu-nity to be at

the forefront of food and nutri-tion issues facing individuals and sharing that information with them,” says Amanda, who is currently serving as the marketing co-chair of the Bluegrass District Dietetic Association and the KDA. “Nutrition education is so impor-tant now especially with the rising obesity issues in our state.”

“People look at you as the example,” adds Karina, clinical nutri-tion manager for Saint Joseph Hospital, Saint Joseph East and Saint Joseph - Berea. “As the nutri-tion experts, we need to provide guidance because there is so much information out there that people

need us to decipher.” Karina is president-elect of the Bluegrass District Dietetic Association

and also teaches at Eastern Kentucky University.

Aside from their community work, they host Bluegrass District Dietetic Association monthly meet-ings at Saint Joseph Hospital and bring in speakers to offer members

continuing education.

Ambassadors of Caring Twenty-seven patient care providers at Saint Joseph - London recently were

nominated by their colleagues

as “Ambassadors of Caring.” These ambas-

sadors are Associates who best exemplify the skills, attitudes, compassion and philosophies of nursing. Each year, departments nominate one patient care Asso-ciate for this honor. “It’s a tribute to those who epitomize the true spirit of nursing, those who demonstrate the true caring attributes,” says Peggy Green, vice president of

patient care services. “These are the folks making the difference for our patients every day.” A reception celebrating the 2008 ambassadors was held in May.

Radiography Program GraduationThe 51st commencement ceremony for the 2008 graduating class of the Saint Joseph Radiography Program was held on May 16 at Saint Joseph Hospital. Congratu-lations to grads Aaron Wright, Bobby Sircher, Joey Lee, Josh Fightmaster, Julie McLaughlan, Tabatha Shearer, Zoya Brutsky, Jill Buchanan, Genia Caldwell and Janna Washington.

Heart of Saint Joseph AwardRecent Heart of Saint Joseph Award recipients include Bob Kilbourn, surgery tech at Saint Joseph - Berea; Laura Otte, house administrator at Saint Joseph Hospital/education specialist for Saint Joseph Health System; and Karen Stevenson, nutritional services Associate at Saint Joseph East. These Associates exemplify Saint Joseph’s core values of Reverence, Integrity, Compassion and Excellence. You can nominate

noteworthy Celebrating news, notes and

praiseworthy accomplishments

14

“ As dietitians we have the responsibility to our community to be at the forefront of food and nutrition issues . . .”

Ambassadors of Caring at Saint Joseph - London

Saint Joseph Radiography Program, Class of 2008

a co-worker for this award (Saint Joseph Hospital, Saint Joseph East and Saint Joseph - Berea only at this time) by visiting Saint-JosephHealthSystem.org (look for “recognition and awards” under the Associate page).

Associates Recognized for Years of ServiceOn May 13, Saint Joseph Hospital and Saint Joseph East Associates were honored for 5, 10, 15, 20 or more years of service. Their dedica-tion and loyalty to the organization was celebrated at a dinner recep-tion in the Crowne Plaza Ballroom. Special recognition was given to those Associates with 30 or more years of service. Associates with 30 years of service are Rebecca Akers, Janie Fergus, Paul Jeffrey Hobson, Mary Patton, Donna Stidham, Tony Wright, Jacqueline Smith, Anna Roehm, Roger Roehm, Katherine Parker, Timothy White, Sandra Christian, Pamela Coil, Katherine Parks, Marie Burke and Patricia Brandenburg. Sharon Dixon has 35 years of service and Associates with 40 years of service are Marvin Best, Richard Drake and Larry Mooney.

PromotionsPromotions & Appointments• Joe Danaher is now the project

manager of clinical robotics for Saint Joseph Health System.

• Denise Hundley is now the women’s care service line administrator for Saint Joseph East.

• Trena Stocker is now the 5B unit manager at Saint Joseph Hospital.

• Peggie Brooks is now a wound care nurse at Saint Joseph Hospital.

Announcements S.O.S. Needs You!Surgery on Sunday (S.O.S.) is a non-profit organization that provides outpatient surgical services to the working poor who are uninsured and do not qualify for federal or state assistance. Patients are referred from existing organiza-tions in the community including the Fayette County Public Health Department, Hope Center, Nathaniel Mission, Baby Health,

Saint Joseph Free Health Clinic, Bluegrass Farm Workers and Salva-tion Army. Since the organization began more than two years ago, 2,000 patients have been treated. However, a 300 percent increase has occurred in the number of patients in need. S.O.S. performs surgeries one Sunday a month. Volunteers are desperately needed, especially anesthesiologists, nurse anesthetists, pre-op/post-op nurses, orthopaedics and general surgeons. If you or someone you know might be able to help, call 859.246.0046 or e-mail ldcatu@aol.com. Visit surgeryonsunday.org for additional information.

Working Green, Living Green

Saint Joseph Health System has launched a “Working Green, Living Green” Team to help decrease its carbon footprint, continu-ally improve practices and raise awareness among Associates. This Saint Joseph Health System Green Team is a result of a CHI initiative to achieve greener work environ-ments. CHI has partnered with Practice Greenhealth to examine the environmental initiatives and structures currently in place and identify opportunities to improve environmental performance through energy conservation, mercury elimination and increased recycling.

Currently, Saint Joseph Health System partners with national vendors that offer environment-friendly supplies and products from reusable gowns and sharps containers to recycled copy paper and toner cartridges, censored lights, and eco friendly chemicals. Through its partnership with Cintas Document Management, for example, it has saved 2,274 trees, 50,920 gallons of oil and 938,000 gallons of water. Saint Joseph recycles paper, printer cartridges and discarded information tech-nology. Additionally, Saint Joseph Health System is now building with the environment in mind. New

facilities, such as Saint Joseph - Jessamine and the women’s facility at Saint Joseph East, will be more energy efficient, use less waste and toxins and have better indoor air quality through applied sustainable design principles.

Watch for ongoing news about the Working Green, Living Green Team and its new green initiatives, and the little things you can do at home that make a big impact. It’s easy being green.

Enjoy the J.D. Crowe FestivalCelebrate the rich history and tradition of bluegrass music this Labor Day weekend as Saint Joseph Health System sponsors the J.D. Crowe Bluegrass Festival at Ichthus Farm in Wilmore. Grammy Award-winner and legendary banjoist J.D. Crowe and his band, The New South, will headline this lively three-day festival that features numerous bluegrass artists such as Bobby Osborne and the Rocky Top X-Press, The Gras-cals, The Lonesome River Band, Richard Bennett & Wyatt Rice, The Dean Osborne Band, and The Moron Brothers.

Other festivities include arts and crafts, music workshops and jam sessions, and recreational activities for the whole family, including a 5K run, Great Steak Cook-off and

vintage car display. The event runs from Thursday, August 28, through Saturday, August 30. You can view the schedule and learn more about the event at JDCroweFestival.com. Every Saint Joseph Health System Associate who presents their name badge at the festival entrance will get in for free.

“ Currently, Saint Joseph Health System partners with national vendors that offer environment-friendly supplies and products . . .”

“ We believe in the value of relationships with other countries . . . ”

She spoke to doctors and nurses in the wards and asked how Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) could help. Ongoing education is a primary need, she learned from the Belize health care workers.

“We believe in the value of relationships with other countries,” says Sister Wendeln, who serves on the board of Saint

Joseph Health System and chairs the national CHI Mission and Ministry Fund committee, based in Denver. “When you come from a developing country and see how each person is loved, yet there is so little to give them, we appre-ciate all the more what we’re able to do. Exchanges like this are very enriching.”

While caring for the sick is important, Sister Wendeln also thinks in terms of delivering health care. “Gene Woods reminds us to be a generative board for transforming the delivery of health,” she says. “It puts you in a different mindset. We could put ourselves out of business if all our communities had healthy people.” She adds, “We have the

opportunity in Kentucky to make a difference and leverage the unity we have among our entities to be there for people in need. I’m excited about that.”

The national CHI Mission and Ministry Fund committee gives grants to CHI facilities promoting healthy communities. At a meeting in Erlanger recently, representatives from two Saint Joseph Health System facilities spoke of how they are using their grant funding. At Flaget Memorial Hospital, a free clinic is providing health care services for people who are not insured or under-insured in Bardstown. At Saint Joseph - London, grant funding is nourishing a project in support of healthier children. “They are trying to stem obesity in Laurel County and have involved the mayor and public school system,” Sister Wendeln says.

Sister Wendeln is a member of the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth (SCN), the congre-gation of sisters that founded Saint Joseph Hospital in 1877 and Flaget Memorial Hospital in 1951, and assumed ownership of

Saint Joseph - London in 1946. The Sisters also helped establish Catholic Health Initiatives in the mid-1990s, which would become the parent organization to these hospitals. Sister Wendeln was on the national board of CHI for nine years and chaired the CHI Board of Stewardship Trustees for one year. Additionally, she serves on the boards of Project Women in Louisville and Our Lady of Nazareth Academy in Wakefield, Mass. and is a freelance consultant and facilitator for various non-profit groups.

When she’s not traveling or working with her non-profit organizations, Sister Wendeln enjoys getting together with friends. “Life moves very fast and relationships are very important,” she says. She also likes to read and in the winter she crochets baby afghans for new moms at shelters. “I get up in the morning and say, ‘Thank you, God, for a brand new day and I know you’re going to surprise me.’ I have an attitude of gratitude for all that is.”

By Kathie Stamps

In February Sister Elizabeth Wendeln visited Belize for a 17-day mission trip to explore potential Catholic Health Initiatives’ relationships with health

care professionals in the Central American country.

common view

16

Sister Elizabeth Wendeln Offers A Global Voice for Health Care

Elizabeth Wendeln, SCN (pictured above, left), at the Hand in Hand Ministries Outreach Center in Belize City, Belize, with Nadia Armstrong (center), director of the center, and

Chris Kunze, SCN, a nurse with the program. The center operates a day treatment center and outreach program for children who either have HIV/AIDS or are greatly affected by it. It is the first and only program of its type in Belize.

unwind

feedbackBruce Klockars’ Trip to Wal-Mart While I was checking out with the cashier at Wal-Mart early this morning, “Louise” noticed my nametag and said, “I’ve always wanted to meet the president of Flaget.” I immediately thought, “OK, which way is this going to go? Did she have a positive experience or a negative one?” Well, I shouldn’t have doubted myself because I spent the next 10 minutes hearing about all the wonderful care her husband and granddaughter received.

Her husband had several inpatient stays and a recent emergency department visit. She couldn’t have been more compli-mentary about the care he received during his visits. Her granddaughter also had a wonderful experience.

Through all our daily challenges there is nothing better than to stand in a public place with a line of other people hearing compliment after compliment about the services we offer. I heard about our compassionate, caring staff that delivered quality services throughout their stay. I heard, “I tell all my friends that Flaget is the best place to go” and “There is no place better in the world.”

Thanks for all you do to make Flaget the special place it is. I couldn’t be more proud to represent the caring work everyone does day in and day out for our patients. I now make sure that my nametag is facing forward and says, “Yes, I’m part of Flaget and proud of it.”

–Bruce Klockars President, Flaget Memorial Hospital

Karen King nursed back to health a baby raccoon she and son Mason rescued. Affectionately named Bandit, the raccoon stayed with Karen’s family awhile before being taken to an animal rescue farm. Karen, director of the Saint Joseph Medical Foundation, says Bandit acted like a kitten romping around the house and batting objects with his paws. He now has 700 acres of land to explore with 20 other

raccoons. They eventually will be released back into their natural habitat.

Send in your photos! Upload them at SaintJosephCommonThread.org or mail to Saint Joseph Hospital, C/O Kara Fitzgerald, Communications/Public Relations, 1590 Harrodsburg Rd., Lexington, KY 40504.

common faces

history lessonDr. H.V. Pennington founded Saint Joseph - London in 1926, giving London the most modern hospital in southeastern Kentucky. It was the only facility between Lexington, Kentucky, and Knoxville, Tennessee, to be located in a building designated specifically as a hospital. Saint Joseph - London made history by being among the first hospitals in the country to pass an inspection by The Joint Commission.

We Want to Hear from You!Visit SaintJosephCommonThread.org and tell us your news and story ideas, plus upload your photos.

inspiration

As is typical in small towns, word quickly spread about Ruthie’s condition. Friends, neighbors, churches, former classmates she hadn’t heard

from since high school: all began providing prayer and support. Her colleagues at Saint Joseph - Martin started a weekly prayer gathering. Touched by the fact that a group was praying for Ruthie every Wednesday morning at the hospital, others began praying for her as well. In her 38 years at Saint Joseph - Martin, Ruthie had never seen such an outpouring of love and support.

Four weeks into treatment, Ruthie found herself at an extremely low point, both physically and emotion-ally. Illness, treatment and pretense had taken their toll; she could hardly bring herself to get off the couch. Even the outpouring of support from family, friends and strangers could not cushion her.

Sensing her depression, Ruthie’s colleagues in the

Saint Joseph - Martin business office made plans to celebrate an early Christmas at her home. Dressed for the season, they came bearing food and gifts galore; even non-singers joined in the caroling! Ruthie’s colleagues refused to give her over to her illness.

Looking back, Ruthie gratefully says the visit brought her to a turning point. “I can do this!” she thought. “I’m going to change the survivor statistics!” Ruthie began coming to work between treatments. Whether she came for an hour or an afternoon, we began to see the old Ruthie returning.

“Live every day as if it’s your last. Make it count!” Ruthie said. “I never did that before. Now, I want to give everyone their due, whether it is a patient or a friend. I want others to know I care; I want them to know how special they are.”

Ruthie’s colleagues have been touched by the inner strength, commit-ment, determination — and a healthy degree of stubbornness — that have helped her cope with illness. More than anything, this survivor is proof of the power of prayer. “I just thank the good Lord I’m still here

today,” said Ruthie. So do we, Ruthie, so do we!

By Judy ParsonsSaint Joseph – Martin

Excerpted from the ninth edition of Sacred Stories

This can’t be happening again!” thought a stunned Ruthie Shelton.

Shocked by a recurrence of her cancer and wanting to protect her family, she quickly resorted to pretense. It was no big deal to have “a little chemo” again, she said; she really didn’t feel all that bad.”

“