Christmas Eve: OPEN 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Christmas Day: CLOSED New Year’s Eve: OPEN 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. New Year’s Day: CLOSED Cross Lanes (304) 388-7070 Christmas Eve: OPEN 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Christmas Day: CLOSED New Year’s Eve: OPEN 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. New Year’s Day: OPEN 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. camc.org/urgentcare Southridge (304) 388-7010 Holiday Hours Holiday Hours December 2014 CAMC is recognized as the only WV hospital ranked among the top 5% in nation Ebola preparations continue It’s been several weeks since an Ebola Virus Disease, or EVD, patient was treated in the United States. The spread of the disease has slowed in many West African countries as well. CAMC has a patient management plan in place. A team led by infection prevention specialists, critical care physicians and hospitalists continues to monitor the situation. CAMC also has coordinated its planning with local and state authorities. Every two years, all U.S hospitals that provide maternity services and free- standing birth centers are invited to participate in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care, or mPINC, survey. Newly-released data highlights CAMC Women and Children’s Hospital’s strengths and quality improvement opportunities, as well as how practices and policies here compare with others of similar size across West Virginia and nationwide. The mPINC total score for CAMC was 84 out of 100. Across West Virginia, the average score was 76. Nationally, hospitals scored 68 and similarly-sized facilities only scored 60. “We have improved our score by 24 points in two years by making some major practice changes to support breast feeding moms,” said Lori Smith, CNIV, lactation consultant. “Women delivering here can be confident that they are in a supportive environment that values breastfeeding with a staff dedicated to helping them meet their breastfeeding goals.” That confidence extends beyond breastfeeding support and addresses labor and delivery care, contact between mother and infant, the provision of transitional care for discharge and attention to the needs of the whole family. Simulations were conducted to assess the preparedness of staff to handle an Ebola patient. Staff tested the plan and procedures from triage to the care of the patient after admission. Personal protective equipment (PPE) was ordered based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. Physicians and nurses practiced the donning and doffing of the PPE in order to minimize the risk to exposure during care for an Ebola patient. The Department of Health and Human Services recently announced it had identified 35 hospitals as Ebola treatment centers, with more expected in the coming weeks. None of the treatment centers are currently located in West Virginia. While the threat may have eased in the last few weeks, CAMC will continue to work with local and state health departments in its ongoing plan development and monitor the CDC closely for revised recommendations. The safety of caregivers and patients is our priority. Therefore, it is critical that staff strictly perform hand hygiene and use PPE appropriately at all times for all patients. These policies are in place to help protect you and others in any situation. Major improvements made in newborn nutrition Special training and education will continue with physicians and staff who volunteered to care directly for Ebola patients. CAMC = 84 U.S. hospitals = 68 WV hospitals = 76 Similar-sized facilities (2,000-4,999 births per year) = 60 Continued on page 3
Transcript
Christmas Eve: OPEN 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.Christmas Day: CLOSEDNew Year’s Eve: OPEN 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.New Year’s Day: CLOSED
Cross Lanes(304) 388-7070
Christmas Eve: OPEN 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.Christmas Day: CLOSEDNew Year’s Eve: OPEN 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.New Year’s Day: OPEN 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
camc.org/urgentcare
Southridge(304) 388-7010
Holiday HoursHoliday Hours
December 2014
CAMC is recognized as the only WV hospital ranked among the top 5% in nation
Ebola preparations continue
It’s been several weeks since an Ebola Virus Disease, or EVD, patient was treated in the United States. The spread of the disease has slowed in many West African countries as well.
CAMC has a patient management plan in place. A team led by infection prevention specialists, critical care physicians and hospitalists continues to monitor the situation.
CAMC also has coordinated its planning with local and state authorities.
Every two years, all U.S hospitals that provide maternity services and free-standing birth centers are invited to participate in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care, or mPINC, survey.
Newly-released data highlights CAMC Women and Children’s Hospital’s strengths and quality improvement opportunities, as well as how practices and policies here compare with others of similar size across West Virginia and nationwide.
The mPINC total score for CAMC was 84 out of 100. Across West Virginia, the average score was 76. Nationally, hospitals scored 68 and similarly-sized facilities only scored 60.
“We have improved our score by 24 points in two years by making some major practice changes to support breast feeding moms,” said Lori Smith, CNIV, lactation consultant. “Women delivering here can be confident that they are in a supportive environment that values breastfeeding with a staff dedicated to helping them meet their
breastfeeding goals.”
That confidence extends beyond breastfeeding support and addresses labor and delivery care, contact between mother and infant, the provision of transitional care for discharge and attention to the needs of the whole family.
Simulations were conducted to assess the preparedness of staff to handle an Ebola patient. Staff tested the plan and procedures from triage to the care of the patient after admission.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) was ordered based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. Physicians and nurses practiced the donning and doffing of the PPE in order to minimize the risk to exposure during care for an Ebola patient.
The Department of Health and Human Services recently announced it had identified 35 hospitals as Ebola treatment centers, with more expected in the coming weeks. None of the treatment centers are currently located in West Virginia.
While the threat may have eased in the last few weeks, CAMC will continue to work with local and state health departments in its ongoing plan development and monitor the CDC closely for revised recommendations.
The safety of caregivers and patients is our priority. Therefore, it is critical that staff strictly perform hand hygiene and use PPE appropriately at all times for all patients. These policies are in place to help protect you and others in any situation.
Major improvements made in newborn nutrition
Special training and education will continue with physicians and staff who volunteered to care directly for Ebola patients.
CAMC = 84
U.S. hospitals = 68
WV hospitals = 76
Similar-sized facilities (2,000-4,999 births per year) = 60
Continued on page 3
The Ornish Program was designed by Dr. Dean Ornish to treat, and even reverse, coronary artery disease and other chronic conditions through lifestyle changes, including exercise, stress management, nutrition and community support.
Please join Charleston Area Medical Center for The Joy of Living event, as we celebrate more than a decade of transforming lives through the Dr. Dean Ornish Program for Reversing Heart Disease™. Connect with current and past program participants, sample Ornish-approved foods, and get to know your CAMC program delivery team.
The updated “Tell Soarian” form is now available on CAMnet for staff and physicians who wish to input suggestions about the system. Staff and physicians can access the form by clicking on the Soarian link on the left side of the CAMnet home page, then on “Tell Soarian.” This form is for suggestions only – all problems or issues should be called into the Help Desk at (304) 388-4357 or entered into the Help Desk online (also available on the left side of the CAMnet home page). Responses to suggestions will be communicated via CAMC email only, within two to four weeks. “Tell Soarian” is not monitored 24/7 and users should not include any patient identification in their comments.
Most individuals need medical treatment at some time in their lives. Available treatments exist because, at one time, people volunteered to take part in a clinical research study, or clinical trial.
Clinical research studies are studies that use human volunteers to answer specific health questions. Carefully conducted clinical research studies are the fastest and safest way to find treatments that work for people and ways to improve health.
“Participants in research studies can play a more active role in their own health care, gain access to new research treatments before they are widely available and help others by contributing to medical research,” said Kristi Sutphin, clinical operations manager for the CAMC Clinical Trials Center.
In the past, research participants have sometimes been seen as “guinea pigs.” This couldn’t be further from
the truth. Volunteers are necessary to develop new and better medications and medical devices. Everyone benefits from their participation. There are many state and federal guidelines in place regulating experimental research, and all proposed studies are heavily examined by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) before implementation. An IRB is a group of professionals responsible for reviewing research requests and ensuring that no harm will be done to participants in the study, and that the expected outcomes of the study will add to the existing body of knowledge and advance the field. There are guidelines about who can participate in research studies. Using inclusion and exclusion criteria is an important part of medical research that helps to produce reliable results.
“The criteria is based on such factors as age, gender, the type and stage of a disease, previous treatment history and other medical conditions,” Sutphin said. “Before joining a clinical trial, a
participant must qualify for the study.”
Some research studies seek participants with specific illnesses or conditions to be studied, while others need healthy participants. It is important to keep in mind that inclusion and exclusion criteria are not used to reject people personally, but to identify appropriate participants and keep them safe.
The clinical trial process depends on the kind of research being conducted. The research study team includes doctors, research study coordinators and other health care professionals who check the health of the participant at the beginning of the trial, give specific instructions for participating in the trial and monitor the participant carefully during participation.
“There are many reasons that people should consider participating in a research study,” Sutphin said. “There is an opportunity to help others by contributing to the advancement
or discovery of treatments, cures, improvements and preventions for certain diseases or medical conditions.”
Other benefits to participating in a clinical research study include access to free physical examinations and diagnostic tests related to the study and potential compensation for time and travel related to the study.
To find out if you may qualify for one of our clinical research studies or to submit your interest for upcoming clinical trials, please contact the CAMC Clinical Trials Center at (304) 388-9944, or visit camcinstitute.org.
In 2013, CAMC adopted an email retention policy that outlines the age of emails that can be kept in the “Inbox,” “Sent Items,” and “Deleted Items” folders. I/S completed the management of the “Deleted Items” folder for all Exchange users.
Starting Feb. 10, 2015, I/S will start phase two of the email retention project by deleting items in the “Sent Items” mailbox older than six months.
The management of the “Inbox,” deleting all items older than 13 months, will start in October 2015.
Questions about the email retention policy can be sent to [email protected]. General questions about email, Outlook, or Exchange can be sent to [email protected].
CAMC has received its second consecutive Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Quality Achievement Award from the American Stroke Association for providing excellent stroke care.
CAMC has earned the 2014 Gold Plus award, which is the highest level of recognition for treatment of patients with stroke, a life-threatening condition in which blood flow to part of the brain is blocked by a blood clot or torn blood vessel. Last year, CAMC earned the Gold award.
“Treating stroke means getting the patient the right treatment at the right time,” said Candace Cowger, RN, CAMC’s stroke program manager. “With a stroke, time lost is brain lost, and knowing how to identify a stroke and give the proper treatment is crucial to a successful recovery.”
The Gold Plus distinction recognizes CAMC for implementing specific quality improvement measures outlined by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. To receive the award, CAMC achieved 85 percent or higher adherence to all Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Quality Achievement indicators for two or more consecutive 12-month intervals and achieved 75 percent or higher compliance with six of 10 Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Quality Measures, which are reporting initiatives to measure quality of care.
Following Get With The Guidelines for stroke, patients are started on aggressive risk-reduction therapies including the use of medications such as t-PA, antithrombotics and anticoagulation therapy, along with cholesterol-reducing drugs and smoking cessation counseling. These are all aimed at reducing death and
disability and improving the lives of stroke patients.
“The quick and efficient use of these guidelines improves the quality of care for stroke patients, reduces disability and saves lives,” Cowger said. “CAMC is dedicated to making care for stroke patients among the best in the country, and this program helps us accomplish that goal.”
CAMC’s comprehensive system for rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients admitted to the emergency department includes being equipped 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide brain imaging scans, having neurologists available to conduct patient evaluations and using clot-busting medications when appropriate.
“Studies show that patients treated in hospitals participating in the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines-Stroke program receive a higher quality of care and may experience better outcomes,” said Lee H. Schwamm, MD, chair of the Get With The Guidelines National Steering Committee and director of the TeleStroke and Acute Stroke Services at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is one of the leading causes of death and serious, long-term disability in the United States. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 40 seconds; someone dies of a stroke every four minutes; and 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.
For more information about the Stroke Center at CAMC General Hospital, visit camc.org/stroke.
CAMC’s Stroke Center strikes gold again
Clinical research studies make a difference in the future of health care
CAMC Email Retention
Speakers will include CAMC President and CEO David Ramsey and past participants who transformed their lives through the Dr. Dean Ornish Program.
What: CAMC presents The Joy of Living
Where: Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences of West Virginia
When: Thursday, Jan. 8 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
RSVP: Call 1-877-888-3091 to reserve your spot. Space is limited.
For more information, please visit camc.org/ornish.
VitalSigns 2
“Joy of Living”Dr. Dean Ornish Program
Tell Soarian
Jonathan Wood is a nurse in the endoscopy department at Memorial Hospital.
He was the primary nurse for a recent patient.
He talked with her while trying to help pass the time while she was waiting for her procedure.
She shared stories with him and they talked at length about nothing specific, just small talk.
Unfortunately the patient was very sick and passed away unexpectedly.
After the doctor spoke with the family, Wood asked the husband of the patient if he could share what he and the wife talked about during the last moments before she suddenly passed.
The husband was very appreciative of Wood and how he shared the information with him.
Other family members were thankful Wood was able to give them the final words and thoughts of their loved one.
Josh McClanahan is a nurse assistant on 5 West Memorial.
After a couple of days caring for a patient, staff learned that her elderly mother was a patient on 5 South.
The mom did not know the daughter was in the hospital because the daughter did not want to worry her sick mother.
Doctors told the patient there was nothing more that could be done for her mother who was at the end of her life.
The patient wanted to visit her mom, but was scared of what condition she might see her mom in.
McClanahan talked with the patient in-depth and encouraged her to go see her mother. She was hesitant at first, but after she agreed, McClanahan transported her to her mom’s room.
This may have seemed a small gesture to him, but to the patient, it was huge.
She was in much better spirits and talked about how much she appreciated how McClanahan helped her to overcome her fears.
Congratulations to the other November nominees: Sharon Anderson, Heather Douglas, Melissa Hawkins, Sandy Hrtyanski, Amanda Jordan, Kristen Justice, Nancy Lewis, Paula Monty, Gina Mullins, Tina Parrish, Laura Reinacher, Diana Sanders, Christopher Shaffer, Russell Shearer, Shawn Thaxton, Cierra Treadway and Fi Fi Wolfe.
As a health care provider, CAMC is dedicated to ensuring that patients and visitors enter a healing environment and positively contributing to the health and wellness of the community.
CAMC already prohibits all tobacco use on its campuses, which includes all four hospitals, as well as outpatient buildings such as urgent care centers, CAMC Physicians Group offices, etc. In addition to tobacco (cigarette smoking, pipes, cigars, chewing tobacco and snuff), the ban now includes electronic cigarettes.
Patients who are tobacco dependent and are admitted to the hospital will be offered nicotine replacement therapy for the duration of their stay. If a patient declines the replacement therapy and insists on leaving the facility to smoke, he or she will be required to sign a waiver stating that he or she accepts the risks of leaving the hospital so against the advice of caregivers.
Each year, more than 440,000 people die from diseases caused by smoking. Secondhand smoke kills 50,000 people annually. For those who smoke, the risk of many types of cancer greatly increases, including lung, esophagus and stomach cancer. It also affects blood flow and can contribute to peripheral vascular disease.
The use of electronic cigarettes has greatly increased over the past several years.
“Vaping,” as it’s called, doesn’t result in secondhand smoke like traditional cigarettes; however, it is still dangerous for the user. E-cigarettes hold cartridges of nicotine and/or flavorings, and are inhaled like a normal cigarette. The “smoke” that results is water vapor, similar to a fog machine.
While chewing tobacco and snuff don’t affect the lungs like vaping or cigarette smoking, it still contains nicotine, and has different risks. Smokeless tobacco can cause many types of cancer, especially mouth, tongue, gum or throat cancer. It is also addictive just like other forms of nicotine intake. Nicotine in any form affects the heart, brain and nervous system.
It’s no secret that smoking is an unhealthy habit, but many people might not be aware of just how detrimental it can be. Smoking can lead to a number of chronic diseases like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder and emphysema.
There are a variety of resources to help employees who are nicotine dependent beat the habit. Visit camc.org/tobaccocessation for more information.
The revised tobacco policy will be posted on CAMnet once it’s finalized.
Changes to tobacco use policy
Leigh Chaney, PHR, CPF, is no stranger to CAMC. In fact, she worked here from 1986 to 1989. Most recently retired from NiSource as the director of organizational development and as a member of an Organizational Change Management team focused on upgrading the organization’s financial systems, Chaney came back to CAMC full-time in November as director of CAMC University.
“My work has kept me traveling outside of West Virginia for the past several years,” she said. “I want to put my feet on the ground and work with the talented people here in Charleston.”
Chaney envisions CAMC University as a resource that offers quality programs and services to help employees grow and develop. The university was formed in 2004 to provide an integrated and coordinated approach for the achievement of non-clinical training and development objectives throughout CAMC Health System. CAMC University focuses on providing curriculum and organizational development activities that are aligned with CAMC’s annual and strategic goals.
“If I can contribute to the development of talent within this organization in a way that helps employees be successful, I will feel like I’ve accomplished something,” she said.
Also in November, the university
welcomed Jean Anne Pritt, education development specialist, to its team. Pritt and Chaney join Pam Brown, lead educator, who has been with the university since its inception.
“I am excited to also be back to the university,” Pritt said. “We plan to bring new and exciting things to CAMC.”
“We are preparing a variety of leadership development opportunities to share with the organization,” Brown said. “We look forward to providing employees with resources that help develop their knowledge, skills and abilities.”
The CAMC University plans to revamp its look and programs in 2015. For more information, visit CAMC University on CAMnet.
CAMC University celebrates 10 years by welcoming new team members
Editor: Elizabeth PellegrinGraphic Designer: Tony Campbell
VitalSigns 3
A publication of the CAMC Health System
Writers: Leslie CarpenterLindsey Lilly Julia NolandAshley Showen
Published by: Marketing & Public Affairs PO Box 1547 • Charleston, WV 25326 Story ideas always welcome. To suggest a story, call (304) 388-5757, fax (304) 388-5755.
Writer, Editors: Dale Witte Jessica Duffield
“We are incorporating all of the best practice, evidence-based medicine in structuring our delivery of care for our women and their infants,” said Denise Burgess, obstetrical services director. “Providing skin-to-skin contact quickly and consistently for the newborn, including babies delivered by cesarean section, rooming in to allow for enhanced bonding, outstanding lactation support and education of staff all result in an environment that allows the newborn to have the ultimate transition to life.”
The mPINC results are another testament to the work that the staff has done in many areas to enhance the patient’s personal experience with their delivery and post-partum care.
It takes all health care providers working together as a team to create an environment that is “breastfeeding-friendly.”
These improvements don’t happen overnight and without a lot of effort including staff education, patient education, practice changes and physical changes to the unit, such as the private rooms.
“Optimal infant nutrition is the foundation for a lifetime of good health, and getting the proper support in the first few days is essential for breastfeeding success,” Smith said.
The mPINC results demonstrate that CAMC is faithful and steadfast in improving the quality of care for patients.
“This is truly a marriage of the art and science of nursing,” Burgess said.
Improvements Continued from front
Congratulations to Lilly Booth, Rebecca Brock, Teresa Cox, Christine Dempsey, Janice Hagerman, Barbara Estes, Kimberly Kemper, Karla Layne, Nancy Payne, Lisa Shriner, Christine Wayne and Kristy Workman for recently completing sexual assault nurse education training.
3 East, Memorial congratulates to Kara Hamb, RN, BSN who has been promoted to night shift charge nurse; Stella Forest, RN, who was promoted to day shift charge nurse; Corey Hall for passing his EKG test and his promotion to HUC; Sue Ware, LPN, and David Ware, RN, on their retirements.
3 East, Memorial welcomes Jason Heffner RN, Megan Dotson, RN, Carla Reed-Lambert RN, Mary Strong RN, Anna Coleman, NA, Marissa Johnson, NA, Rebecca Fisher, NA, Brandy Lester, NA, Shyesha Langley NA, Tomeka Moore, NA, Misty Adkins, NA, Beverly Ball, LPN, Greg Hawkins, LPN, and Mary Akers, RN.
Medical/telemetry, Teays Valley Hospital, congratulates Jennifer Beller who advanced to clinical nurse III.
Clinical resource department welcomes Jessica Currence, HUC, Chelsea Peters, HUC, Kim Pauley, HUC, Tina Casto, HUC, Morgan Kincaid, NA, Amanda Nutter, NA, Jessica Maynard, LPN, Lori Whitacre, RN, Rebecca Fotos, RN, Monica Wells, RN, Samantha Burgess, RN, Chris Tate, RN, Kayla Maynard, RN, Kyle Snyder, RN, Sara Campbell, RN, Kim Blake, RN and Lori Coberly, RN.
VitalSigns 4
Nursing News and Notes Jan Ramey recently became corporate
director of patient safety and risk management. Ramey holds a bachelor of science in nursing and a master of science in nursing administration from Marshall University. She is a board-certified nurse executive, a TeamSTEPPS master trainer; a member of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses; a member of the American Organization of Nurse Executives; and a past board member of the WV Organization of Nurse Executives.
Josh Briggs is the new linen and courier services director. He has worked at CAMC four years in human resources.
CAMC Physical Therapy Center welcomes Jonetta Queen as a new scheduling representative.
Medical Rehab welcomes Stanley “Gene” George as a new therapy tech.
The United States Olympic Committee presented the CAMC Medical Rehabilitation Center with the Silver level award including $2,000 for its participation in the Paralympic Sport Club Excellence Program.
MILESTONES
Congratulations to the nurse managers who successfully passed the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Nurse Executive Board Certification Exam.
Congratulations
L to R: Denise Burgess, Bev Farmer, Marianne Richardson, Ron Moore, Kelly Cottrell, Nancy Marcus, Kathy Maggio-Sheets
CAMC co-sponsors the Mall Walkers program with
Charleston Town Center. Join us for monthly meetings with speakers on different health topics each month.
Meetings are held in Center Court on the third Tuesday of every month at
8:30 a.m. Breakfast is provided!
Upcoming topics include the importance of vaccines, caring for
yourself as you age, drug information and safety and nutrition.
