A PUBLICATION FOR THE SPONSORS, BOARDS, REGIONAL LEADERSHIP, SYSTEM OFFICE AND COLLEAGUES OF CATHOLIC HEALTH EAST HORIZONS C ATHOLIC H EALTH E AST C ATHOLIC H EALTH E AST CHE Facilities “Go Green” My Voice, My Vote: System-Wide Voter Registration National Healthcare Decisions Day Healing Gardens at St. Mary Medical Center Institute for Excellence in Ministry Spring/Summer 2008 1 & 10 2 3 4, 5 & 6 7 & 11 continued on page 10 The CHE Portal: A Valuable Resource NRC+Picker On-Site Visits A Tribute to CHE Nurses Across the System 10 Minutes with...Kathleen Meredith 8 9 12 & 13 14 & 15 16 HORIZONS I CHE Facilities “Go Green” Pictured above: In 2006, Mercy Suburban Hospital completed renovations to its emergency department, surgical services and interventional radiology suite according to environmentally-friendly guidelines outlined by LEED. Figure 1 shows the Angiography C-Arm, which provides X-ray technology and special post-processing computer applications to guide procedures; Figure 2 shows the brand new nurses station and treatment rooms in the new Emergency Department. Figure 1 Figure 2 n 2004, Mercy Suburban Hospital in East Norriton, Pa., part of Mercy Health System of Southeastern Pennsylvania, embarked on a $19.4 million capital improvement project to conduct renovations. These renovations were completed in 2006 and qualified the hospital for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for the project, thereby making it one of the first hospitals on the east coast to be “green” and LEED certified. It is in this vein that Mercy Suburban Hospital continues its commitment to being “Green.” “With additional renovations coming in 2008 to accommodate our growth, and our focus on quality care for our patients, it is important to remain diligently committed to being a ‘green’ institution,” says Lisa Mallon, CEO of Mercy Suburban Hospital. Green or ‘sustainable’ building is the practice of creating healthier and more resource-efficient models of construction, renovation, operation and maintenance. Research and experience increasingly demonstrate that green buildings can provide great environmental, economic and social benefits. Green hospitals make good sense for the health of the entire community: patients, staff and visitors. Green buildings can: enhance air quality; reduce exposure to toxicants, allergens and asthma triggers; and curtail building- related illness. Simple design changes can also work wonders. Studies have shown that poor indoor lighting increases levels of stress in hospital workers, leading to compromised medical care. Through conservation, green hospitals are finding that they can reduce operating costs and keep delivering energy even in emergencies. According to a recent study, on average, green buildings are 30% more energy efficient than typical buildings; this adds up to a $60,000 savings per year for a 100,000 square-foot building. Other CHE facilities have also been implementing environmentally friendly initiatives. Some of these include:
Transcript
A PUBLICATION FOR THE SPONSORS, BOARDS, REGIONAL LEADERSHIP, SYSTEM OFFICE AND COLLEAGUES OF CATHOLIC HEALTH EAST16
H O R I Z O N S
H O R I Z O N S
C A T H O L I C H E A L T H E A S TC A T H O L I C H E A L T H E A S T
CHE Facilities “Go Green”My Voice, My Vote: System-Wide Voter RegistrationNational Healthcare Decisions DayHealing Gardens at St. Mary Medical CenterInstitute for Excellence in Ministry
S p r i n g / S u m m e r 2 0 0 8
1 & 1023
4, 5 & 67 & 11
continued on page 10
The CHE Portal: A Valuable ResourceNRC+Picker On-Site VisitsA Tribute to CHE NursesAcross the System10 Minutes with...Kathleen Meredith
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12 & 1314 & 15
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HORIZONS is a publication for the Sponsors, Boards,Regional Leadership, System Office and Colleaguesof Catholic Health East.
Horizons Editorial Staff
Scott H. Share Vice President, System Communications
Catholic Health East is a community of persons committed to being a transforming, healing presence within the communities we serve.
Locations: Located in 11 eastern states from Maine to Florida.
Workforce: Approx. 50,000 employees.
SponsorsCongregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Scranton, Pa.Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, St. Bonaventure, N.Y. Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph, Hamburg, N.Y.Hope Ministries, Newtown Square, Pa.Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pa.Sisters of Mercy of the Americas: Mid-Atlantic Community New York, Pennsylvania, Pacific West Community Northeast Community Regional Community of BaltimoreSisters of Providence, Holyoke, Mass.Sisters of St. Joseph, St. Augustine, Fla.
3805 West Chester Pike, Suite 100Newtown Square, PA 19073Phone 610.355.2000Fax 610.271.9600www.che.org
H O R I Z O N SI
CHE Facilities “Go Green”
K10 Minutes with... Kathleen Meredith
athleen Meredith, R.N., M.S.N., M.B.A., joined Catholic Health East (CHE) as vice president of
clinical transformation in November 2007. Meredith brings more than 15 years of experience in clinical transformation to CHE. As a consultant, she has lead clinical transformation initiatives for hospitals, health systems and physician groups across the country. She worked side by side with clinicians at all levels, collaborating to identify solutions that would improve the quality of patient care and position the organization for success and growth in the marketplace. Horizons recently spoke with Meredith about the role of clinical transformation in health care and at CHE.
You started out your career as a registered nurse on the patient care side of nursing. What made you decide to move to the administrative side of health care? I have always had a curiosity for ‘how and why things work the way they do’, whether it be the study of anatomy and physiology; or the thrill of working in a high-acuity cardiac critical care unit. This naturally led me to various leadership positions within the hospital. Not ever wanting to entirely ‘leave the bedside’, as my career evolved, I learned to translate my skills and experience to work in consultation with clinicians and health care executives on a broader, more strategic level.
What initially brought you to CHE? Fortunately for me, the leadership team here at CHE actually took the first step in creating this new role for clinical transformation. This position allows me to leverage my knowledge and expertise in order
to participate in initiatives that will transform health care delivery here at CHE. More importantly, it provides me the opportunity to experience the transformation from within the organization, and provides me a chance to become a ‘real’ member of a team, and to become a permanent part of a transforming organization.
Can you explain a little bit about Clinical Transformation and your role at CHE? Clinical transformation embraces both the art and the science of health care delivery. While the ‘label’ generates a certain aura and mystique, it essentially is an approach for patient-centered care that will measurably improve the outcomes for quality, safety, efficiency and satisfaction. In order for CHE to truly succeed in being a ‘transforming, healing presence in the communities we serve’, we must effectively align our clinicians with our current and redesigned clinical processes and provide support with the most appropriate and innovative technologies.
You have now been with CHE for six months. What do you consider your highest priorities? CHE has created a preferred delivery model for 2017; a key component is the
implementation of the comprehensive care management model which will provide a framework for CHE to better manage our patients across the continuum of care. This will be an exciting journey. We currently have most of the pieces and parts, but the opportunity lies in ‘knitting them all together’ into one coordinated model. This means incorporating the clinical, psychosocial, spiritual and personal components of care. Care Management is multi-faceted as it intersects and connects with many of our current initiatives. This enables us to care for the ‘whole’ patient in a way that intersects with how we are living our values in practice and supporting our Mission.
What are some of the challenges you will face? I prefer to think of the opportunity...and for me it is leading change and accelerating the pace of change. As we celebrate CHE’s 10 year anniversary, we courageously promote and promise that ‘Together We Are So Much More’. For CHE to realize the endless benefits of what true ‘systemness’ can mean for us on a care delivery level, we must embrace change and be positive role models for others to emulate.
What changes will the Bar Code Medication Administration initiative bring to our institutions? The process is dramatically different from the way medications are currently administered to patients and is a big change for both nurses and pharmacists. When an order for a medication is put into the computer, a bar code is generated. The right drug, in the right dose, will have the bar code applied to it. Then when it is time to give the medication to the patient, the barcode will be matched to the patient’s wristband barcode. Ultimately, we will look back and wonder how we ever practiced without this type of technology. This transformation involving medication administration serves as a stepping stone to the broader goal of implementing CPOE (computerized physician order entry) across our health system.
Kathleen Meredith, R.N., M.S.N., M.B.A.
Pictured above:In 2006, Mercy Suburban Hospital completed renovations to its emergency department, surgical services and interventional radiology suite according to environmentally-friendly guidelines outlined by LEED. Figure 1 shows the Angiography C-Arm, which provides X-ray technology and special post-processing computer applications to guide procedures; Figure 2 shows the brand new nurses station and treatment rooms in the new Emergency Department.
Figure 1
Figure 2
n 2004, Mercy Suburban Hospital in East Norriton, Pa., part of
Mercy Health System of Southeastern Pennsylvania, embarked on a $19.4 million capital improvement project to conduct renovations. These renovations were completed in 2006 and qualified the hospital for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for the project, thereby making it one of the first hospitals on the east coast to be “green” and LEED certified. It is in this vein that Mercy Suburban Hospital continues its commitment to being “Green.” “With additional renovations coming in 2008 to accommodate our growth, and our focus on quality care for our patients, it is important to remain diligently committed to being a ‘green’ institution,” says Lisa Mallon, CEO of Mercy Suburban Hospital.
Green or ‘sustainable’ building is the practice of creating healthier and more resource-efficient models of construction, renovation, operation and maintenance.
Research and experience increasingly demonstrate that
green buildings can provide great environmental,
economic and social benefits.
Green hospitals make good sense for the health of the entire community: patients, staff and visitors. Green buildings can: enhance air
quality; reduce exposure to
toxicants, allergens and asthma triggers;
and curtail building-related illness. Simple
design changes can also work wonders. Studies have shown
that poor indoor lighting increases levels of stress in hospital workers, leading to compromised medical care.
Through conservation, green hospitals are finding that they can reduce operating costs and keep delivering energy even in emergencies. According to a recent study, on average, green buildings are 30% more energy efficient than typical buildings; this adds up to a $60,000 savings per year for a 100,000 square-foot building.
Other CHE facilities have also been implementing environmentally friendly initiatives. Some of these include:
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H O R I Z O N S S P R I N G / S U M M E R E D I T I O N 2 0 0 8
T he 2008 elections will see the President and Vice President, one-third of the U.S. Senate, all
of the U.S. House of Representatives, 11 Governors, and many state and local representatives up for election nationwide. In anticipation of the general election on November 4, 2008, Catholic Health East is once again initiating My Voice, My Vote, a system-wide registration and get-out-the-vote campaign.
Catholic Health East is dedicated to carrying out our Mission: to be a transforming, healing presence within the communities we serve. To realize our Mission, we advocate public policies and initiatives—particularly in the area of health care—that ensure quality of life for all. Our Core Value of Community encourages us to be informed about community needs. By casting an informed vote, we demonstrate our connectedness to each other through inclusive and compassionate relationships. By educating ourselves about community needs and by acting on our right and obligation to vote, we exemplify our Core Value of Stewardship where we care for and strengthen the ministry and all resources entrusted to us. In casting our vote, we are advocating for a society in which all can realize their full potential and achieve the common good, thus carrying our our Core Value of Justice. Finally, by voting we demonstrate the Core Value of Integrity; we keep our word and we are faithful to who we say we are. Political activism is integral to furthering our Mission. “CHE is inviting and encouraging everyone associated with our health system to join in this worthwhile
advocacy effort”, said Courtney Mengel, J.D., CHE’s manager, government affairs and public policy. “This is a non-partisan effort; our focus is to build awareness about the issues, and engage more people in the political process.” My Voice, My Vote is designed to encourage colleagues, as well as others affiliated with Catholic Health East, to register to vote, educate themselves about the candidates and the issues and to get out and vote on November 4. The Advocacy page of the CHE portal includes the My Voice, My Vote action guide that contains suggestions for implementing the campaign and templates for newsletter articles and e-mails, which can be customized to individual organizations. Additional materials such as table tents and flyers will also be posted on the CHE portal.
“Never in my lifetime has it been more important for all of us to fulfill our basic responsibility of civic engagement,” says Jim Wallace, senior vice president of advocacy and institutional advancement at Lourdes Health System, Camden, N.J. “With all of the critically important issues that face all of us, it is incumbent upon every person to make his or her voice heard. Lourdes has participated in the My Voice, My Vote campaign in the past, and we’ve found it to be a great way to engage people in the process.” If you need any further information or assistance regarding this campaign, please do not hesitate to contact Courtney Mengel at [email protected] or 610.492.3747.
System-Wide Voter Registration CampaignInitiated Throughout CHE
Therese O’Rourke, IHM, also joined Hope Ministries as a board member. She is the president and CEO of the St. Joseph Center in Scranton, Pa. She was previously a social worker and counselor for Catholic Social Services in Scranton, Pa.
A sincere “thank you” and best wishes to Howard Watts, who recently announced his retirement after serving as the executive vice president of CHE’s Southeast Division since CHE was formed in 1998. We’ll miss you, Howard!
Congratulations to Jacquelyn Kinder, Ed.D., who was appointed chairperson of Catholic Health East’s Board of Directors effective January 1, 2008. A CHE board member since 2002, Dr. Kinder had previously served on the St. Mary’s Health Care System (Athens, Ga.) board of directors from 1998 to 2002.
The CHE Board of Directors recently welcomed Jack O. Lanier, Dr.Ph., M.H.A., F.A.C.H.E., as its newest member. Dr. Lanier currently serves as professor emeritus at Virginia Commonwealth University/Medical College of Virginia School of Medicine (VCU/MCV), as well as chairman of the Virginia State Board of Health.
Ken Cormier has been named president and CEO of St. Joseph of the Pines Health System. He most recently served as interim president and, prior to that, as chief operating officer for St. Joseph of the Pines Health System.
Former CHE Board member Regina M. Benjamin, M.D., M.B.A., has joined the board of Hope Ministries, which sponsors several CHE regional health corporations. Dr. Benjamin is founder and CEO of Bayou La Batre Rural Health Clinic, a practice she initiated to help take care of the poor and underserved of her rural Alabama community.
After 16 years, BayCare’s Morton Plant Mease Health Care’s President and CEO Philip K. Beauchamp has announced his retirement, effective 2009. Beauchamp was a key figure in the creation of Morton Plant Mease Health Care in Clearwater, Fla.
Sr. Susan Welsh, RSM, has been named president and CEO of Pittsburgh Mercy Health System (PMHS) effective January 2008. She has worked for 30 years as chief financial officer of the Sisters of Mercy community in Pittsburgh, and has served eight years as vice president of that community. Sister Susan is vice chair of the current PMHS Board of Trustees and is also a trustee for Holy Cross Hospital, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
Judy Persichilli has been named CHE’s executive vice president, acute care, and will be responsible from a System administrative perspective for the majority of CHE’s acute care RHCs. Judy was previously CHE’s executive vice president, Northeast Division, which included hospitals, long term care facilities and home health agencies.
Alexander J. Hatala, currently president and CEO for the Lourdes Health System, will assume the position of president/CEO of a new entity within CHE: Catholic Health East/ N.J. He will maintain his responsibilities at Lourdes and will continue as the local transition officer for Cathedral Health System. He will also assume System administrative responsibilities for St. Francis Hospital, Trenton, N.J. which will remain an RHC with Jerry Jablonowski continuing as its president/CEO.
Announcements...
CHE bids farewell to Mary Kay Polys, president and chief executive officer at Mercy Medical (Daphne, Alabama) since 2004, who is leaving to pursue other interests. We thank Mary Kay for her dedicated service, and we wish her well in all future endeavors.
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N o one particularly likes to talk about the inevitable truth... but the fact is that most of
us will someday have to face end-of-life decisions, for ourselves or our loved ones. Advanced planning allows your family, friends and health care team to know your wishes in the event that you cannot make them known yourself.
Advance Directives is the term for two legal documents detailing an individual’s end-of-life wishes in the event that he/she cannot communicate them:
• A Living Will is a written document detailing the kinds of medical treatments that you would or would not want at the end of life.
• A Medical Power of Attorney (or health care proxy) is a written document naming the person you trust as your health care agent or decision-maker if you cannot speak for yourself.
While preparing an Advance Directive does not require a lawyer, once these forms are signed in the presence of two witnesses, they are valid and legal. The declarant can revoke his/her Directives at any time or choose a new agent. And the Directives will not go into effect unless and until two physicians deem the declarant incapable of making health care decisions for him or herself. If at any time, the declarant again becomes able to express his/her wishes, the agent no longer holds decision-making power.
On April 16, the first annual National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD) initiative was held across the country. The focus was on raising
awareness and demystifying health care decision-making. The goal is to clarify terms, address misperceptions, and convey a sense of importance and urgency. Advanced planning includes much more than living wills; this process should focus first on conversation and choosing an agent.
As part of National Healthcare Decisions Day, Catholic Health East facilities held community events and provided colleagues, patients and
visitors with information about Advance Directive planning and end-of-life decision-making. They also distributed State-specific Advance Directive forms in both English and in Spanish as needed.
More information about National Healthcare Decisions Day events as well as links to State-specific Advance Directive forms can be found on the CHE portal.
The Federal Patient Self-Determination Act requires that all Medicare-participating health care facilities: • Provide information about health care decision-making rights. • Ask all patients if they have an Advance Directive. • Educate their staff and community about Advance Directives. • Not discriminate against patients based on Advance Directive status.
Highlights Importance of Advance DirectivesNational Healthcare Decisions Day
Brinette Roche of St. James Mercy Health System recently provided colorectal cancer prevention and detection information, as well as the new FIT colorectal screening kit that detects early colon cancer, at the health system’s “Working with Wegman’s” series with the local grocery store chain.
Nick (left) and Adam (right) are two local 4th grade students participating in the Canine Assisted Reading Education program, part of the community benefit outreach sponsored by St. Joseph of the Pines. Darby (center) is one of 33 dogs who, with their owners, volunteer for this program. The dogs serve as “reading buddies,” breaking down barriers between the tutors and children who may have trouble reading aloud.
At Mercy Community Health’s Saint Mary Home, the Department of Therapeutic Recreation strives to create a comprehensive menu of activities programming. Pictured here, guitarist Dan Stevens performs for residents. “The personal contact performance is sensory stimulating for our residents.” says Director of Therapeutic Recreation Michele Russell.
At Mercy Community Health’s Saint Mary Home, the Department of Therapeutic Recreation strives to create a comprehensive menu of activities programming. Pictured here, guitarist Dan Stevens performs for residents. “The personal contact performance is sensory stimulating for our residents.” says Director of Therapeutic Recreation Michele Russell.
A $100,000 grant from Allegany Franciscan Ministries (AFM) helped to launch Kidz Bite Back, an innovative social marketing campaign designed to promote healthier eating behaviors among 4th and 5th graders at sixteen schools in Pinella and Hillsborough counties. Kids Bite Back is a kid-led campaign focusing on companies that target and bombard children with fast food and video game advertisements. Partners in this unique collaborative, along with AFM, include St. Joseph Children’s Hospital, Dewey & Associates, The Institute for America’s Health, and the Tampa Metropolitan YMCA.
BayCare’s St. Anthony’s Hospital partnered with the St. Petersburg Museum of History to display Mission and Medicine: A History of Pioneering Medicine in St. Petersburg, Fla. The exhibit, on display through August in the museum’s Neighborhood Gallery, traces the history of St. Anthony’s from the days of the Great Depression, chronicling 76 years of the hospital’s progress and contributions to the community.
BayCare’s St. Anthony’s Hospital partnered with the St. Petersburg Museum of History to display Mission and Medicine: A History of Pioneering Medicine in St. Petersburg, Fla. The exhibit, on display through August in the museum’s Neighborhood Gallery, traces the history of St. Anthony’s from the days of the Great Depression, chronicling 76 years of the hospital’s progress and contributions to the community.
Lauren Epstein, an associate attorney at Perkins Thompson in Portland, Maine, spoke about advance directives to the Mercy PaceSetters mall walkers at The Maine Mall in South Portland. The event was organized by Mercy Health System of Maine.
On April 16, Lourdes Health System sponsored displays at two local shopping malls to help build awareness about the importance of advance directives. Marie Morrissey, Ethics Services Coordinator at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center, Camden, N.J., spoke to a couple at the Moorestown Mall in Moorestown, N.J.
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In the summer of 2007, St. Mary was set to replace the waterproofing membrane of the 5,000-square-foot roof over the Radiology Department. The Community League seized this opportunity to recommend the development of a Rooftop Garden and received an enthusiastic response from the administration. The “green” roof project was made possible in part by a grant from The Reinvestment Fund and its Sustainable Development Fund. The balance of the funding was provided by The Community League.
“Green” roofs have existed since the ziggurats were constructed in Mesopotamia in 600 B.C. These roofs are beneficial because they help control storm water run off, reduce energy costs for cooling and heating, can double the service life of a roof, help reduce sound reflection and transmission, and create a habitat for birds and other small wildlife.
Unlike the two predecessor Healing Gardens, which invite visitors, patients, physicians and staff to stroll and linger, the green roof is designed as a purely visual experience, transforming the roof into a metaphorical garden intended to provide solace to all. This was the first green roof for Carter van Dyke Associates, Inc. (CVDA), the Doylestown, Pa.-based
the ancient principles of Japanese garden design. It utilizes a Japanese Walk, which serves as a symbol that people of all nationalities and religions are provided the same high level of compassionate, holistic care and are welcome there.
Sakura (cherry blossoms) symbolize the evanescence of human life and the passage of Japanese culture. These plants are set within an oval, which symbolizes the fullness of life. The pond symbolizes abundance of life and within the pond are three stones which symbolize power and strength. The focal point of the garden is a resident majestic oak tree, which symbolizes strength and shades the pond.
The Emergency Room Arrival Garden consists of plants including wisteria vines climbing stainless steel cables on an adjacent parking garage, a terrace with a cluster of Columnar Red Maples that provide shade from the summer sun, movable tables and chairs and a seat wall to accommodate patients and visitors.
he Healing Gardens at St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne,
Pa., are a study in how the age-old restorative power of nature can be integrated into a modern medical center environment.
St. Mary Medical Center has four healing gardens, including a 5,000 sq. foot rooftop garden. These gardens include the Cloister Garden, the Emergency Room Arrival Garden, the Rooftop Garden, and the Cancer Center Garden.
The idea of creating a healing garden at St. Mary Medical Center originated in 2001 with local businesswoman and philanthropist Sue Wert, and landscape architect Carter van Dyke. These longtime friends originally intended to develop a small garden in memory of their mothers, both of whom had been treated at St. Mary for cancer. Their project soon attracted other community members and The Friends of the Healing Gardens was formed.
“After both of our mothers passed away, we wanted to do something in their memory,” says Wert. “So we went to Greg Wozniak [CEO of St. Mary Medical Center] and the hospital board, then we developed a team and began fundraising.”
The Friends of The Healing Gardens dedicated the Cloister Garden in April 2003; it was the first healing garden at St. Mary Medical Center. The Cloister Garden is so called because it is surrounded by hallways, as 12th Century cloister gardens were. However, this Garden is distinctly Japanese...a theme that was chosen because it underscores the fact that St. Mary Medical Center cares for people of all ethnicities and faiths.
The Cloister Garden adheres to many of
The Healing Gardens at
“How fair is a garden amid the trials and passions of existence.”
Benjamin Disraeli
“Laying out grounds may be considered a liberal art, in some sort
like poetry and painting.”William Wordsworth
Cloister Garden
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Difference Every Day“I have been a respiratory therapist for almost twenty years and have had the pleasure of working with the most inspiring nurses one would ever want to meet. I have found compassion, critical skills, devotion and lifelong
friendship from my health care partner. The nurses who I have met long to unravel the complicated issues of their patients, delving deeper and deeper into the critical values they monitor and report. They work holidays, weekends and long, lonely night shifts. God bless the nurses who keep our patients comfortable and content. The answer to the question ‘What is a Nurse?’…is…priceless.”
Cindy Staiger, C.R.T.Respiratory SupervisorMercy Suburban HospitalMercy Health System of SEPA
“Nursing is like a finely cut diamond: multifaceted, precious, valuable and tough. Nursing is a noble and demanding profession that requires a courageous spirit, a caring heart, physical stamina, emotional maturity, critical
thinking, strong values and bold voices to face the challenges of an ever-changing health care industry. Working in a Catholic hospital like Mercy for the past 25 years provides me with an opportunity to be a witness to Jesus’ healing mission...I am blessed that Mercy’s Core Values match what I have committed as a Christian nurse.”
Annabelle D. Scott, M.S.N., A.R.N.P.Nursing Education DepartmentMercy Hospital of Miami
“Nurses are at the heart of healing, connecting patients with compassion and genuine caring. Nurses provide a gentle touch, a kind word, a reassuring smile, and the ultimate symbol of security for a patient and family embarking
on a very personal journey. They are the gift of hope in a patient’s recovery. At Mercy Hospital, our nurses make a difference every day in the lives of others by being truly present in the care of each and every individual. The patient and family are at the heart of healing with every nurse. It is a mission. It is a sense of community. It is a passion.”
Jill Berry Bowen, R.N., M.S.N., M.B.A., F.A.C.H.E.Vice President, Patient Care ServicesMercy HospitalMercy Health System of Maine
“Nurses bring to the field of health care varied gifts of love, caring, compassion, empathy and selflessness. Nurses are dedicated men and women with big hearts who share themselves with patients and help them back to wholeness. They symbolize a spirit of hope and give endless personal attention to those who are under their care...”
Sister Ann McLaughlin, IHM ChaplainSpiritual Care DepartmentMarian Community HospitalMaxis Health System
“Nurses symbolize a unique group of individuals with a special calling to the sick, the dying, the marginalized and the elderly. Through their commitment to health care, they bring dedication, challenge, a caring spirit and awareness of the needs of the patient. Nurses are co-workers with many other disciplines and show their compassion and goodness to all.”
Eileen AguiarChaplainSpiritual Care DepartmentMarian Community HospitalMaxis Health System
“The foundation of our hospital’s outstanding reputation is in its excellent nursing care. Nurses are committed to meeting 21st century challenges and specializations exceeding those in ordinary working places. Their professionalism is matched by a compassionate response to a call of service that ultimately flows from the Mercy Mission/Philosophy. What a privilege to celebrate Nurses Week and to extend appreciation to our nursing staff for their expertise, dedication and goodness! They are the backbone of Saint Joseph’s Hospital of Atlanta.”
Sister Sally White, G.N.S.H.ChaplainPastoral Care DepartmentSaint Joseph's Hospital of Atlanta
“To be a nurse is to be a privileged traveler alongside another human being. Using critical thinking skills, combining compassion and caring, the nurse guides the resident on her/his journey through their life stages. Always advocating for the appropriate outcome, the nurse with her/his resident is the daily adventurer, learner and anchor. We utilize skills of scholarship, caring, creativity, empowerment, equity, integrity and leadership. We work and minister each day intrinsically knowing we journey with our residents, their families and each other. As a proud member of Mercy Community Health, I watch in awe as my colleagues live our core values: Reverence for Each Person, Community, Justice, Commitment to Those Who Are Poor, Stewardship, Integrity and Courage. I am humbly grateful to have such a privilege.”
Ellen Sanders-Nirenstein, R.N.Clinical Director of AdmissionsMercy Community Health
“There is no doubt that nurses play a vital role, not only in health care but within our society as a whole. It is hard to imagine the intrinsic qualities that nurses are born with, allowing them to care for each
resident/patient in ways that only a caring professional could. Nurses mean so much, but to me they represent all that is good with respect to human kindness.”
Prentice LipseyAdministrator of Health ServicesSt. Joseph of the Pines Health CenterSt. Joseph of the Pines
“Nursing is a dynamic profession that even in the face of emerging and changing health care maintains its integrity. Despite the great challenges that this evolving profession has to overcome, nurses continue to
strive to improve quality care, eliminate disparities, eliminate access to care barriers and offer more efficient and effective services through improvement of technological skills and informatics while they sustain their caring mission. Nursing is the core of all health care.”
Marian Olenick, M.S., C.R.N.P.Infection Control and ICU Clinical CoordinatorMarian Community HospitalMaxis Health Care
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A rainwater garden, symbolizing God’s will beyond our control, is at the core. The soil in this spot is more porous, allowing the deep penetration of rainwater. Multiple plants have deep roots that seek out all available water and nutrients in periods of drought much the way the human soul helps the body find inner strength and vitality in times of illness.
Three white, canvas shade sails aid the runoff of available rainwater, symbolizing the cancer patient’s support system. The sails are in the horizontal position, a symbol of the forces beyond our control that can take the wind out of our sails—instead of propelling, they collect the critical supply of rainwater to nourish the garden, a symbol of vitality.
Benches invite cancer patients to idle and allow this restful place to revitalize their souls. And low-voltage lighting provides nighttime drama for the Cancer Center Garden.
All of the Healing Gardens at St. Mary Medical Center provide a soothing, restorative environment for patients and visitors. While healing gardens do not provide cures, they can provide distractions, reduce stress and promote a sense of well-being, which leads to measurable psychological, physiological and behavioral benefits, including reduced anxiety, lower blood pressure and improved immune functioning.
For more information about The Healing Gardens at St. Mary Medical Center, contact Sue Wert at 215.598.7410 or [email protected].
Or you can visit the Healing Gardens website at www.healinggardens-stmary.org for additional photos and information.
take about two years for the sedums to completely fill in and make the loom design prominent.
Sedum becomes dormant from lack of water, and then quickly greens up after receiving adequate moisture. Metaphorically, this process is intended to inspire patients to look for hope and the end of an exhausting illness.
The Cancer Center Garden, the fourth of the Healing Gardens at St. Mary, was provided to the cancer patients of St. Mary’s by The Community League.
Sheltered in a “canyon” formed by the walls of two buildings, this is a place grounded in spiritual symbolism aimed at healing the mind and the spirit of cancer patients.
landscape architecture firm entrusted with the design and development of all of The Healing Gardens at St. Mary Medical Center.
“The rooftop garden is a truly unique concept among our Healing Gardens projects,” says Sharon Beales, vice president of the St. Mary Foundation. “It is purely a visual delight and it makes ecological sense in reducing energy costs and effectively managing storm drainage. That’s a win-win for everyone!”
St. Mary’s green roof is designed and built as a variation of Roofscapes Type II Roofmeadow® Aromatic Garden system—a very thin extensive roof with only 3 1/2" of growing media. It requires little maintenance and no irrigation.
CVDA’s design inspiration was a weaver’s loom, which symbolizes the relationship between St. Mary and the community. The roof was planted mostly with Sedums (cuttings and plugs). As the green roof matures, the weaving effect will be emphasized by different shades of sedum with flowers of different colors that bloom at different times of the year. It will
“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in,
where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike.”
John Muir
continued on page 6
The Joint Commission for Accreditation of Hospitals (JCAHO)
recommends that “Patients and visitors should have opportunities to connect with nature through outside
spaces, plants, indoor atriums and views from windows.”
Emergency Room Arrival Garden
More photoson page 6
Pictured above:Rooftop Garden rendering of full maturation (far left) and newly seeded(right).
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5
N ational Nurses Week is celebrated annually from May 6 through May 12, which is the birthday of
Florence Nightingale, recognized as the founder of modern nursing. National Nurses Week provides facilities with an opportunity to recognize their nurses and educate colleagues and the general public about the nursing profession.
Recently, we asked colleagues throughout Catholic Health East to tell us, in their own words, what nurses...and nursing...means to them: What do nurses bring to the field of health care? What does nursing symbolize for you? How have nurses contributed to the mission of your facility…and CHE? What do nurses mean to you, your patients and your residents?
On these two pages, we have included just a sampling of the dozens of responses we received from nurses, administrators, physicians and other colleagues from throughout CHE. Space constraints preclude us from including all of the responses we received, and some responses have been edited. All responses we received have been posted to our website (www.che.org).
“Nurses contribute greatly to our mission of medical education...they are a source of practical medical information for medical students who often lack the experiences that nurses bring to patient care. They are a source of
guidance to these people early in their careers. Through their frequent contact with patients they bring invaluable information to students and residents in formulating a diagnosis and course of therapy. Nurses demonstrate how to relate to patients and their families on a more personal and caring level. We teach our house staff to rely on nurses as the source of reliable information about their patients.”
Harold Schreiber, D.O.Director of Medical EducationDepartment of Graduate Medical EducationMercy Suburban HospitalMercy Health System of Southeastern Pennsylvania
“Nurses symbolize caring and humanity for me. The nurses at Holy Cross carry out our Mission every day with every patient, relative and visitor they assist. Meeting our nurses for yearly physicals, I see a strong work force committed to their work and to each other. It is very important that the nurses have each other’s support when patients require some extra assistance, and I believe the nurses here are well trained together as a team.”
Anneli Liebig, R.N.Associate Health ServicesHoly Cross Hospital
“Nurses are like the rivets that secure the heavy steel girders of suspension bridges together. People don’t always notice how many rivets there are...nor the inherent strength they lend to the bridge. But, like a suspension
bridge, a hospital supports people from one place to another—from sickness to health, or perhaps from poor health to a dignified end-destination. And like a suspension bridge, a hospital couldn’t function without its nurses—the very strong “bolts” that hold so many things together. Nurses constantly support other health care professionals, bridging the gap from immobility to function, from dietary deficiency to nutritional balance, and from medical noncompliance to medication education and administration.”
Stephanie A. Lopuszynski, R.N., B.S.N., B.S.Research Nurse and Admission NurseNursing Support Services/Float Pool and the Center of Nursing ExcellenceSaint Joseph's Hospital of Atlanta
“I work with dedicated, outstanding nurses every day and I believe that nurses are the heart and soul of health care. The nurses I know exemplify the qualities we all look for when choosing our health care providers: knowledge,
compassion, understanding and a caring touch. Nurses make patients their number one priority and employ many skills to improve the health and well-
being of those patients. Nursing is not just a job, but a commitment to excellence in patient care every day.”
Linda A. Gusenko, R.N., B.S.Suburban Branch ManagerMercy Home HealthMercy Health System of Southeastern Pennsylvania
“Nurses listen, nurses care, nurses are part of the solution. Nurses are innovative. Whenever a client has a problem that is difficult to solve, we are right there with them trying to figure it out. Several youth in my church,
and children I have taught in science classes, have decided to go to nursing school and I applaud them. Becoming a nurse is like getting the owner’s manual to the most amazing machine you will ever use: your body. Nurses touch lives from the cradle to the grave, and a good nurse can make the experience spiritual...”
Linda Kiblinger, R.N., M.S., C.D.E.Diabetes CenterSaint Joseph’s Hospital of Atlanta
“I have always felt that nursing is the foundation for the care residents receive in long term care facilities. Nurses have the best understanding of what residents are experiencing because they have the most direct and continuous relationship with them. Also, the philosophy of compassionate care is best exemplified by the nursing staff who oversee so many aspects of the resident’s life. Nurses not only provide nursing care, they also are the eyes and ears for their residents and offer a supportive role on a daily basis. A nursing home would not be a home for residents in long term care if not for the nurses.”
Elliott KelbickDirector of Social ServicesSaint Mary HomeMercy Community Health
“Nurses bring to the field of nursing what flowers bring to spring. They are the realization of revitalization of health. They are the soil that nurtures the soul, physically, mentally and spiritually...”
Peggy Smedley, R.N.Shift ManagerMarian Community HospitalMaxis Health System
St. Mary Medical CenterNurses: Making a
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Nature Promotes Healing While healing gardens are gaining popularity today, the idea is not a new one. Healing gardens in the health care setting originated in the 12th Century, when monasteries and nunneries served as the first “hospitals.” The term is most often applied to green spaces that specifically aim to improve health outcomes. Healing gardens provide a place of refuge and promote healing in patients, families and staff because humans are hard-wired to find nature engrossing and soothing.
The World Health Organization defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” This corresponds directly to what we already know to be true and researchers are now proving—plants and gardens are good for us. Access to well-designed outdoor spaces has been shown in rigorous scientific studies to reduce pain, improve well-being and speed recovery.
Nature is fundamentally linked to our human spirituality. Out in nature, we feel how we are connected to entities beyond ourselves and understand our interdependencies with other living beings. It also prompts us to reflect on our existence and what might lie beyond it.
Stimulating the Senses Can Bring About Healing One particular quality of healing gardens is that they stimulate users’ senses in beneficial ways. Research shows that tapping into these senses can reduce anxiety and promote physical and mental well-being. These studies show that viewing images of nature after a stressful event can produce a calming
effect—blood pressure and respiration rate decreases and mood improves. But how?
It’s all in your head … so-to-speak.
In the 1920s, German researcher Hans Berger discovered brainwaves—tiny, electrical signals within the brain, which are associated with different mental states. Activity falls into four groups: Beta—associated with normal, waking consciousness—and Alpha, Theta and Delta, which are defined as “altered states of consciousness.”
When a person is truly relaxed, brain activity slows from Beta patterns into the more gentle waves of Alpha. This state is associated with calm, lucid mental states, and is often recommended for the treatment of stress. Alpha activity helps attain deep levels of relaxation that are essential to health and well-being.
During deep relaxation, brainwave activity slows even more and a new state is achieved. Theta brainwave activity brings heightened receptivity and inspiration. The Theta portion of sleep is where the emotional body recuperates, heals and “tunes” itself for the next day. Both alpha and theta brainwaves are the most important for feelings of relaxation.
One way to produce these particular brainwave patterns is through the sense of smell. Our olfactory receptors (sense of smell) are located at the central core of the brain, which is also responsible for our emotions and memories. Therefore, certain smells can stimulate particular memories and feelings for patients—a fact that is evident in the gaining popularity of aromatherapy.
Scientists have discovered that ‘sweet’ essences such as mimosa or chamomile produce alpha and theta brainwave patterns. Spiced apple has been clinically proven to lower blood pressure; pleasant smells such as peach and plum can reduce pain; jasmine and peppermint can lift depression; and rose and carnation help restore energy.
Sound also plays an important part in relaxation. Research indicates that music can reduce stress by slowing down and equalizing brainwaves. Relaxing music can stimulate alpha and theta brainwave states. One of the key reasons for this is that this type of music has a tempo between 55 and 85 beats per minute, which creates a feeling of calmness and peacefulness. Furthermore, relaxing music can balance the left and right hemispheres of the brain, leading to reduction of mental imbalance and stress.
...continued from page 5...continued from page 7
Benefits of Healing Gardens
“Nature is the art of God.”Thomas Browne
“Smell ... transports us across thousands of miles and
all the years thatwe have lived.”
Helen Keller
“I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in
tune once more.”John Burroughs,
American naturalist and writer
New programs that have been added to the Institute for Excellence in Ministry are Healthcare Ministry Basics for Leaders, a one-day introduction for directors and managers; and Foundations of Catholic Health Care, a two-day seminar for all executive teams. These programs are offered in collaboration with Bon Secours and Covenant Health Systems and are guided by an extensive advisory board consisting of health care practitioners and experts. “I have found the experience of CHE’s Excellence in Ministry both affirming and formative—for me, the program validates some life-long learnings and vocational choices while at the same time it provides me new insights about the Gospel, about our Sponsors’ heritage and legacy and
about my leadership role in serving others through this health care ministry,” said Bill Fiocchetta, president and CEO, Mercy Community Health, West Hartford, Conn. Johnson adds, “We need to understand that we are not just walking in the footsteps of Jesus, but also in the footsteps of our Sponsors. These first and future sessions will allow us to have a stronger foundation for decision-making in our increasingly complex and difficult world...a foundation that is essential if we are to continue what we do as a true ministry.” The Institute for Excellence in Ministry, initiated in 2007, is comprised of four sections: Ethics Champions, including learning modules for all levels of care and
website resources; Spirituality in the Workplace, including best practices, prayer resources and values-based decision making tools; Sponsorship Education offering learning modules for boards, consultations and a collaborative formation program; and Ministry Formation, with offerings such as Program for Excellence in Ministry, Foundations and the new Spiritual Care Champions. For more information on Ethics, Spiritual Care Champions, or Spirituality in the Workplace, contact Philip Boyle at [email protected], 610.355.2063. For more information on Ministry Formation programs or Sponsorship Education, please contact Martha Conroy at [email protected], 610.355.2067.
Institute for Excellence in Ministry:CHE’s Next Step in Ministry Formation
Since the January 2008 introduction of Together We Are So Much More: A Living History of Catholic Health East, many requests for additional copies of this book have been received. We’re happy to make more copies available…at no cost.If you’d like additional copies, please contact Meg Boyd, CHE communication specialist, at 610.355.2004 or [email protected] and indicate how many copies you’d like us to send.
Need More Copies?Let Us Know!
Cancer Garden Center
To the typical colleague, what does it mean to be a part of CHE? How do we benefit? What are some of the things that distinguish CHE from other health systems? What is CHE best known for?These questions may be typical among colleagues at many CHE RHCs/JOAs. To help our individual facilities build awareness about CHE, and what it means for their organization to be part of CHE, we have introduced a new, weekly communications tool, known as “Did You Know?” Each week, a new “tidbit” of information about Catholic Health East will be sent to the key public relations/communications contact person of every RHC/JOA. We are encouraging them to incorporate these facts into as many of their internal and external publications as possible. If you have an idea for a “Did You Know?” fact that we can share in the future, please send your suggestion to Maria Iaquinto, CHE communications manager, at [email protected].
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W“ e are called to do what we do,” says Mark Fulco, vice president, strategy and
marketing at the Sisters of Providence Health System. Fulco was a recent participant in the Excellence in Ministry program, part of Ministry Formation at the Institute for Excellence in Ministry. This Institute offers enhanced competencies for CHE’s future health care leaders. He continues, “Our distinctive values system drives us, shapes our identity, gives us a unique sense of vision, and a genuine sense of purpose.”
The competencies for excellence in ministry include the ability to apply principles of the tradition in daily work; make decisions aligned with CHE values; lead reflective processes; nurture one’s personal spirit; glean strength and courage for today’s work from the richness of our heritage; and call others to servant leadership in the ministry. “In the day-to-day hustle and bustle of our work, we are constantly running from one thing to the next...it’s nice to spend some time reflecting on the true meaning of our work,” said Fulco. “We heard stories and we told stories. It was through the power of these stories that we reflected on what's really important.” “Through the story-telling, we learned that despite the differences in geographies served, the religious congregation founding a particular ministry, or the decade during which the ministries were formed, there are common threads that run throughout Catholic Health East,” says Elaine Bauer, CHE’s vice president, strategy development. “I found inspiration in these stories, in that many of the issues faced then are the same ones
we face today—balancing seemingly overwhelming needs with scarce and shrinking resources. I believe that because of the resourcefulness, faith in God and commitment to serve others, the leaders of the past found ways to not only keep their ministries alive, but to make them thrive. We need to be aware that collectively, we are writing tomorrow’s stories for the next generation of ministry leaders. It is an awesome responsibility.” Edward Rundle, vice president, human resource management Mercy Hospital, Miami, Fla., agrees, “The program was inspiring and reconfirming as to the connection between the mission and ministry of the organization and my personal commitment to serve others. The presentation on people’s response to suffering and healing the sick was the most impactful aspect of the program for me. Dealing with pain, suffering and death is so much a part of what we do. Understanding the differing responses of people enhances my ability to support others in their journey.”
Fulco adds, “The things that we’re exploring in the program are things that we connect with everyday. It was a validation that on a daily basis, we encounter the true spirit and vision of what the Catholic health ministry is all about.” The Program for Excellence in Ministry is required for executive leaders; sessions consist of 30 colleagues from throughout the system. Each group, or cohort, meets for two days, twice a year, over a period of three years. Sessions explore the following questions, “Where did this ministry begin? How does this ministry continue? And what is our place, our role in this ministry?” Gene Johnson, chief administrative officer, Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County, Willingboro, N.J. says “I most enjoyed the ability to interact with my fellow CHE leaders about our very essence, our ability to understand and immerse ourselves in the basic fundamentals of our ministry.”
Institute for Excellence in Ministry:CHE’s Next Step in Ministry Formation
Sr. Julie Casey, IHM, CHE’s executive vice president, mission integration, addresses attendees at a recent Excellence in Ministry program.
continued on page 11
BayCare Health System in Florida has implemented a “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle” initiative, as well as a Supply Redistribution Program. Under this program, BayCare collects, assesses and redistributes used assets that have served their purpose. Physician offices and departments identify materials, equipment, furnishings and supplies that are no longer needed. Then materials management conducts an evaluation of these items and determines the best method for redistribution. Medical supplies are redistributed to needy areas that lack basic medical care and resources.
Catholic Health System (CHS) in Buffalo, N.Y., has instituted the use of low energy light bulbs, as well as recycling of sharps containers and cardboard. They are also evaluating the use of cleaning products, paints and solvents. And they encourage colleagues to use their own coffee cups in the cafeteria to cut down on Styrofoam waste.
Mercy Medical Center in Springfield, Mass., part of Sisters of Providence Health System, has implemented several environmental projects, including: identification of biodegradable alternatives for plastic ware; donating used kitchen oil for bio-diesel use in cars; exploring Xeriscaping for the campus; using a national recycling organization for the proper disposal of batteries and participating in an ongoing campaign to continuously improve office paper recycling. Last year, their paper recycling efforts saved the equivalent of 357 trees.
Nazareth Hospital in Philadelphia, Pa., part of Mercy Health System of Southeastern Pennsylvania, recently earned the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Energy Star Award. This award was presented to Nazareth for implementing an energy conservation program in partnership with H2O Applied Technologies, replacing inefficient equipment with newer technology, including new chillers, steam traps, energy efficient lighting and water conservation equipment—and realizing over $800,000 in savings.
St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne, Pa., is also participating in a ‘Green’ pilot initiative and is currently focusing on the
reduction of red bag waste. They have been re-educating staff on what items should be placed in red bag receptacles. They also installed a ‘green’ roof in 2007 (see the Healing Gardens article beginning on page 4), which helps the hospital to lower its energy consumption.
The CHE System Office in Newtown Square, Pa., has also joined the environmental initiative. Although CHE has been recycling paper, plastic, cans and bottles for some time, it recently announced a new program, where recyclables can all be placed into one blue recycling bin, which will be emptied nightly by the janitorial staff.
“Our hospitals continue to be innovators and leaders in finding ways to reduce the environmental impact of healthcare services,” says Bob Stanek, CHE’s president and CEO. “We will continue to be ever-vigilant in our efforts to provide quality health care services in a safe and healthy environment.”
...continued from page 1CHE Facilities “Go Green”
Ronna Moussette, second cook in the cafeteria at Sisters of Providence Health System’s Mercy Medical Center, collects used kitchen oil. The used oil is sent to an outside company which processes it for bio-diesel use in cars.
Nazareth Hospital received the U.S. EPA Energy Star Award in March 2008. (Pictured from left) Greg Doran, director of facilities, Nazareth Hospital; Christina Fitz-Patrick, president and CEO, Nazareth Hospital; Frederick Halikias, vice president of development for H2O Applied Technologies; and Dave Wajda, vice president of finance, Nazareth Hospital. As a result of installing a new energy conservation program, Nazareth joined an elite group of 66 hospitals nationwide that have achieved this prestigious award and is now in the top 20 percent in energy efficiency compared to its hospital peers.
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M easuring success and customer satisfaction in health care—as in any
business—is important. As the health care industry continues to strive to improve the quality of care, St. Francis Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware is also focused on creating and improving the patient “experience.” Though a patient’s experience can be measured in many ways, substantial data can be obtained through survey results. Like its sister Catholic Health East hospitals and home care agencies, St. Francis Hospital uses NRC+Picker as its vendor and its associated satisfaction measurement tool to identify areas of success and opportunity.
By asking patients survey questions relating to their hospital stay and quality of care, the NRC+Picker tool addresses areas including but not limited to communication received from the nursing staff, full explanations of procedures from physicians and appropriate pain management. Surveys mailed to a random sample of patients served by St. Francis allows them to have a voice after they are discharged. A standard instrument now exists cross the nation to measure inpatient care; yet St. Francis, like all facilities within CHE, measures patients served in additional care settings as well. Because St. Francis is committed to providing the highest quality of care to its patients, the Hospital’s Values in Practice Patient/Client/Resident Satisfaction Committee worked with NRC+Picker to plan a two-day site visit in March 2008. NRC+Picker participated in a campus tour and facilitated the training session at St. Francis Hospital. Naté Parker-Guyton and Nicole Powell, chair and co-chair
of the patient/client/resident satisfaction committee, built an agenda around the survey process of the patients and the connection between Values in Practice and the monthly survey results. The content also included the next steps required to ensure future patient satisfaction success. Also in attendance was Pam Carroll-Solomon, CHE’s director of quality services, who is responsible for managing the System’s relationship with NRC+Picker. The session began with a hands-on training with the St. Francis Hospital senior team. The senior team’s commitment to patient-focused care encouraged them to learn more about this system that tracks and records the true patient experience. Training was also made available to members of the Values in Practice steering committee who partnered with the Leadership Development Committee to allow for hands-on education so they understand how to communicate patient survey results to their colleagues. This approach allowed NRC+Picker to direct their message to each audience for optimal education. “As a System, we have a deep-
rooted commitment to patient satisfaction and enhancing the patient experience,” said Diane Denny, CHE’s vice president for quality & patient safety. “Working with our vendor, NRC+Picker, we are able to measure the right things, strategize together to improve our scores and spread the word to those we serve that their feedback is important to us. Beginning this month, hospitals are now sharing with the public data about the patients’ experience of care in addition to clinical care information. Patient satisfaction surveys are one more tool that allow us to evaluate and improve our performance.” St. Francis Hospital looks forward to strengthening its relationship with NRC+Picker through the site visit and beyond, continuing to create positive health care experiences for its patients. NRC+Picker offers an annual site visit to all CHE hospitals as part of its contractual relationship. Additional visits are also possible at a small cost to the requesting organization. For more information, please contact your Values in Practice dedicated resource person, Pam Carroll-Solomon at [email protected] or Diane Denny at [email protected].
T he Catholic Health East (CHE) portal is a place for colleagues to share best
practices, information, resources and more. Most departments have their own ‘communities’ on the site where, together, colleagues from the RHCs, JOAs and System Office can create a library of resources. Many of these communities are open to all CHE colleagues; others are password protected. For more information about a particular portal community, contact the portal “champion” listed on the portal site.
The CHE portal can be accessed at portal.che.org (see Figure 1).For most colleagues, your user identification and password will be the same as the network user identification and password you use to sign into the network each day. For some RHCs and JOAs there is a slightly different login process; see Figure 2 for details.
Some of the information that can be found on the CHE portal includes: system policies, driving directions, community calendars, benefits information, department-specific information and more.
If you were previously able to sign on to the portal, but are now having trouble, it is possible that your account password may have expired. Passwords are set to expire every 60 days. So if you haven’t entered the site in a while, this could be the problem. If this is the case, you will need to be assigned a new password. If you have tried the above and still cannot log in, please contact the CHE Help Desk at 610.355.3839.
St. Francis Hospital Hosts On-SiteNRC+Picker Visit and Training SessionThe CHE Portal—a Valuable Resource
Naté Parker-Guyton, chairperson of St. Francis Hospital’s patient/client/resident satisfaction committee, reviews patient satisfaction data prior to a committee meeting.
Click to EnterCommunities
Sign in
RHC / JOA Username Password
Figure 1: Screenshot of how to access CHE’s portal communities.
Figure 2: How to access the CHE portal, by RHC/JOA
Allegany Franciscan MinistriesBayCare Health SystemCatholic Health SystemMercy Community HealthMercy MedicalPittsburgh Mercy Health SystemSt. Joseph of the PinesMercy Hospital MiamiSt. Francis Healthcare SystemSt. Francis Medical CenterSt. James Mercy Health SystemSt. Mary’s Health Care SystemSt. Mary Medical CenterHoly Cross HospitalMaxis Health SystemMercy Health System of SEPAMercy Health System of MaineSisters of Providence Health SystemSaint Joseph’s Health SystemSt. Peter’s Health Care ServicesLourdes Health System
H O R I Z O N S S P R I N G / S U M M E R E D I T I O N 2 0 0 8
M easuring success and customer satisfaction in health care—as in any
business—is important. As the health care industry continues to strive to improve the quality of care, St. Francis Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware is also focused on creating and improving the patient “experience.” Though a patient’s experience can be measured in many ways, substantial data can be obtained through survey results. Like its sister Catholic Health East hospitals and home care agencies, St. Francis Hospital uses NRC+Picker as its vendor and its associated satisfaction measurement tool to identify areas of success and opportunity.
By asking patients survey questions relating to their hospital stay and quality of care, the NRC+Picker tool addresses areas including but not limited to communication received from the nursing staff, full explanations of procedures from physicians and appropriate pain management. Surveys mailed to a random sample of patients served by St. Francis allows them to have a voice after they are discharged. A standard instrument now exists cross the nation to measure inpatient care; yet St. Francis, like all facilities within CHE, measures patients served in additional care settings as well. Because St. Francis is committed to providing the highest quality of care to its patients, the Hospital’s Values in Practice Patient/Client/Resident Satisfaction Committee worked with NRC+Picker to plan a two-day site visit in March 2008. NRC+Picker participated in a campus tour and facilitated the training session at St. Francis Hospital. Naté Parker-Guyton and Nicole Powell, chair and co-chair
of the patient/client/resident satisfaction committee, built an agenda around the survey process of the patients and the connection between Values in Practice and the monthly survey results. The content also included the next steps required to ensure future patient satisfaction success. Also in attendance was Pam Carroll-Solomon, CHE’s director of quality services, who is responsible for managing the System’s relationship with NRC+Picker. The session began with a hands-on training with the St. Francis Hospital senior team. The senior team’s commitment to patient-focused care encouraged them to learn more about this system that tracks and records the true patient experience. Training was also made available to members of the Values in Practice steering committee who partnered with the Leadership Development Committee to allow for hands-on education so they understand how to communicate patient survey results to their colleagues. This approach allowed NRC+Picker to direct their message to each audience for optimal education. “As a System, we have a deep-
rooted commitment to patient satisfaction and enhancing the patient experience,” said Diane Denny, CHE’s vice president for quality & patient safety. “Working with our vendor, NRC+Picker, we are able to measure the right things, strategize together to improve our scores and spread the word to those we serve that their feedback is important to us. Beginning this month, hospitals are now sharing with the public data about the patients’ experience of care in addition to clinical care information. Patient satisfaction surveys are one more tool that allow us to evaluate and improve our performance.” St. Francis Hospital looks forward to strengthening its relationship with NRC+Picker through the site visit and beyond, continuing to create positive health care experiences for its patients. NRC+Picker offers an annual site visit to all CHE hospitals as part of its contractual relationship. Additional visits are also possible at a small cost to the requesting organization. For more information, please contact your Values in Practice dedicated resource person, Pam Carroll-Solomon at [email protected] or Diane Denny at [email protected].
T he Catholic Health East (CHE) portal is a place for colleagues to share best
practices, information, resources and more. Most departments have their own ‘communities’ on the site where, together, colleagues from the RHCs, JOAs and System Office can create a library of resources. Many of these communities are open to all CHE colleagues; others are password protected. For more information about a particular portal community, contact the portal “champion” listed on the portal site.
The CHE portal can be accessed at portal.che.org (see Figure 1).For most colleagues, your user identification and password will be the same as the network user identification and password you use to sign into the network each day. For some RHCs and JOAs there is a slightly different login process; see Figure 2 for details.
Some of the information that can be found on the CHE portal includes: system policies, driving directions, community calendars, benefits information, department-specific information and more.
If you were previously able to sign on to the portal, but are now having trouble, it is possible that your account password may have expired. Passwords are set to expire every 60 days. So if you haven’t entered the site in a while, this could be the problem. If this is the case, you will need to be assigned a new password. If you have tried the above and still cannot log in, please contact the CHE Help Desk at 610.355.3839.
St. Francis Hospital Hosts On-SiteNRC+Picker Visit and Training SessionThe CHE Portal—a Valuable Resource
Naté Parker-Guyton, chairperson of St. Francis Hospital’s patient/client/resident satisfaction committee, reviews patient satisfaction data prior to a committee meeting.
Click to EnterCommunities
Sign in
RHC / JOA Username Password
Figure 1: Screenshot of how to access CHE’s portal communities.
Figure 2: How to access the CHE portal, By RHC/JOA
Allegany Franciscan MinistriesBayCare Health SystemCatholic Health SystemMercy Community HealthMercy MedicalPittsburgh Mercy Health SystemSt. Joseph of the PinesMercy Hospital MiamiSt. Francis Healthcare SystemSt. Francis Medical CenterSt. James Mercy Health SystemSt. Mary’s Health Care SystemSt. Mary Medical CenterHoly Cross HospitalMaxis Health SystemMercy Health System of SEPAMercy Health System of MaineSisters of Providence Health SystemSaint Joseph’s Health SystemSt. Peter’s Health Care ServicesLourdes Health System
H O R I Z O N S S P R I N G / S U M M E R E D I T I O N 2 0 0 8
W“ e are called to do what we do,” says Mark Fulco, vice president, strategy and
marketing at the Sisters of Providence Health System. Fulco was a recent participant in the Excellence in Ministry program, part of Ministry Formation at the Institute for Excellence in Ministry. This Institute offers enhanced competencies for CHE’s future health care leaders. He continues, “Our distinctive values system drives us, shapes our identity, gives us a unique sense of vision, and a genuine sense of purpose.”
The competencies for excellence in ministry include the ability to apply principles of the tradition in daily work; make decisions aligned with CHE values; lead reflective processes; nurture one’s personal spirit; glean strength and courage for today’s work from the richness of our heritage; and call others to servant leadership in the ministry. “In the day-to-day hustle and bustle of our work, we are constantly running from one thing to the next...it’s nice to spend some time reflecting on the true meaning of our work,” said Fulco. “We heard stories and we told stories. It was through the power of these stories that we reflected on what's really important.” “Through the story-telling, we learned that despite the differences in geographies served, the religious congregation founding a particular ministry, or the decade during which the ministries were formed, there are common threads that run throughout Catholic Health East,” says Elaine Bauer, CHE’s vice president, strategy development. “I found inspiration in these stories, in that many of the issues faced then are the same ones
we face today—balancing seemingly overwhelming needs with scarce and shrinking resources. I believe that because of the resourcefulness, faith in God and commitment to serve others, the leaders of the past found ways to not only keep their ministries alive, but to make them thrive. We need to be aware that collectively, we are writing tomorrow’s stories for the next generation of ministry leaders. It is an awesome responsibility.” Edward Rundle, vice president, human resource management Mercy Hospital, Miami, Fla., agrees, “The program was inspiring and reconfirming as to the connection between the mission and ministry of the organization and my personal commitment to serve others. The presentation on people’s response to suffering and healing the sick was the most impactful aspect of the program for me. Dealing with pain, suffering and death is so much a part of what we do. Understanding the differing responses of people enhances my ability to support others in their journey.”
Fulco adds, “The things that we’re exploring in the program are things that we connect with everyday. It was a validation that on a daily basis, we encounter the true spirit and vision of what the Catholic health ministry is all about.” The Program for Excellence in Ministry is required for executive leaders; sessions consist of 30 colleagues from throughout the system. Each group, or cohort, meets for two days, twice a year, over a period of three years. Sessions explore the following questions, “Where did this ministry begin? How does this ministry continue? And what is our place, our role in this ministry?” Gene Johnson, chief administrative officer, Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County, Willingboro, N.J. says “I most enjoyed the ability to interact with my fellow CHE leaders about our very essence, our ability to understand and immerse ourselves in the basic fundamentals of our ministry.”
Institute for Excellence in Ministry:CHE’s Next Step in Ministry Formation
Sr. Julie Casey, IHM, CHE’s executive vice president, mission integration, addresses attendees at a recent Excellence in Ministry program.
continued on page 11
BayCare Health System in Florida has implemented a “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle” initiative, as well as a Supply Redistribution Program. Under this program, BayCare collects, assesses and redistributes used assets that have served their purpose. Physician offices and departments identify materials, equipment, furnishings and supplies that are no longer needed. Then materials management conducts an evaluation of these items and determines the best method for redistribution. Medical supplies are redistributed to needy areas that lack basic medical care and resources.
Catholic Health System (CHS) in Buffalo, N.Y., has instituted the use of low energy light bulbs, as well as recycling of sharps containers and cardboard. They are also evaluating the use of cleaning products, paints and solvents. And they encourage colleagues to use their own coffee cups in the cafeteria to cut down on Styrofoam waste.
Mercy Medical Center in Springfield, Mass., part of Sisters of Providence Health System, has implemented several environmental projects, including: identification of biodegradable alternatives for plastic ware; donating used kitchen oil for bio-diesel use in cars; exploring Xeriscaping for the campus; using a national recycling organization for the proper disposal of batteries and participating in an ongoing campaign to continuously improve office paper recycling. Last year, their paper recycling efforts saved the equivalent of 357 trees.
Nazareth Hospital in Philadelphia, Pa., part of Mercy Health System of Southeastern Pennsylvania, recently earned the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Energy Star Award. This award was presented to Nazareth for implementing an energy conservation program in partnership with H2O Applied Technologies, replacing inefficient equipment with newer technology, including new chillers, steam traps, energy efficient lighting and water conservation equipment—and realizing over $800,000 in savings.
St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne, Pa., is also participating in a ‘Green’ pilot initiative and is currently focusing on the
reduction of red bag waste. They have been re-educating staff on what items should be placed in red bag receptacles. They also installed a ‘green’ roof in 2007 (see the Healing Gardens article beginning on page 4), which helps the hospital to lower its energy consumption.
The CHE System Office in Newtown Square, Pa., has also joined the environmental initiative. Although CHE has been recycling paper, plastic, cans and bottles for some time, it recently announced a new program, where recyclables can all be placed into one blue recycling bin, which will be emptied nightly by the janitorial staff.
“Our hospitals continue to be innovators and leaders in finding ways to reduce the environmental impact of health care services,” says Bob Stanek, CHE’s president and CEO. “We will continue to be ever-vigilant in our efforts to provide quality health care services in a safe and healthy environment.”
...continued from page 1CHE Facilities “Go Green”
Ronna Moussette, second cook in the cafeteria at Sisters of Providence Health System’s Mercy Medical Center, collects used kitchen oil. The used oil is sent to an outside company which processes it for bio-diesel use in cars.
Nazareth Hospital received the U.S. EPA Energy Star Award in March 2008. (Pictured from left) Greg Doran, director of facilities, Nazareth Hospital; Christina Fitz-Patrick, president and CEO, Nazareth Hospital; Frederick Halikias, vice president of development for H2O Applied Technologies; and Dave Wajda, vice president of finance, Nazareth Hospital. As a result of installing a new energy conservation program, Nazareth joined an elite group of 66 hospitals nationwide that have achieved this prestigious award and is now in the top 20 percent in energy efficiency compared to its hospital peers.
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Nature Promotes Healing While healing gardens are gaining popularity today, the idea is not a new one. Healing gardens in the health care setting originated in the 12th Century, when monasteries and nunneries served as the first “hospitals.” The term is most often applied to green spaces that specifically aim to improve health outcomes. Healing gardens provide a place of refuge and promote healing in patients, families and staff because humans are hard-wired to find nature engrossing and soothing.
The World Health Organization defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” This corresponds directly to what we already know to be true and researchers are now proving—plants and gardens are good for us. Access to well-designed outdoor spaces has been shown in rigorous scientific studies to reduce pain, improve well-being and speed recovery.
Nature is fundamentally linked to our human spirituality. Out in nature, we feel how we are connected to entities beyond ourselves and understand our interdependencies with other living beings. It also prompts us to reflect on our existence and what might lie beyond it.
Stimulating the Senses Can Bring About Healing One particular quality of healing gardens is that they stimulate users’ senses in beneficial ways. Research shows that tapping into these senses can reduce anxiety and promote physical and mental well-being. These studies show that viewing images of nature after a stressful event can produce a calming
effect—blood pressure and respiration rate decreases and mood improves. But how?
It’s all in your head … so-to-speak.
In the 1920s, German researcher Hans Berger discovered brainwaves—tiny, electrical signals within the brain, which are associated with different mental states. Activity falls into four groups: Beta—associated with normal, waking consciousness—and Alpha, Theta and Delta, which are defined as “altered states of consciousness.”
When a person is truly relaxed, brain activity slows from Beta patterns into the more gentle waves of Alpha. This state is associated with calm, lucid mental states, and is often recommended for the treatment of stress. Alpha activity helps attain deep levels of relaxation that are essential to health and well-being.
During deep relaxation, brainwave activity slows even more and a new state is achieved. Theta brainwave activity brings heightened receptivity and inspiration. The Theta portion of sleep is where the emotional body recuperates, heals and “tunes” itself for the next day. Both alpha and theta brainwaves are the most important for feelings of relaxation.
One way to produce these particular brainwave patterns is through the sense of smell. Our olfactory receptors (sense of smell) are located at the central core of the brain, which is also responsible for our emotions and memories. Therefore, certain smells can stimulate particular memories and feelings for patients—a fact that is evident in the gaining popularity of aromatherapy.
Scientists have discovered that ‘sweet’ essences such as mimosa or chamomile produce alpha and theta brainwave patterns. Spiced apple has been clinically proven to lower blood pressure; pleasant smells such as peach and plum can reduce pain; jasmine and peppermint can lift depression; and rose and carnation help restore energy.
Sound also plays an important part in relaxation. Research indicates that music can reduce stress by slowing down and equalizing brainwaves. Relaxing music can stimulate alpha and theta brainwave states. One of the key reasons for this is that this type of music has a tempo between 55 and 85 beats per minute, which creates a feeling of calmness and peacefulness. Furthermore, relaxing music can balance the left and right hemispheres of the brain, leading to reduction of mental imbalance and stress.
...continued from page 5...continued from page 7
Benefits of Healing Gardens
“Nature is the art of God.”Thomas Browne
“Smell ... transports us across thousands of miles and
all the years thatwe have lived.”
Helen Keller
“I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in
tune once more.”John Burroughs,
American naturalist and writer
New programs that have been added to the Institute for Excellence in Ministry are Healthcare Ministry Basics for Leaders, a one-day introduction for directors and managers; and Foundations of Catholic Health Care, a two-day seminar for all executive teams. These programs are offered in collaboration with Bon Secours and Covenant Health Systems and are guided by an extensive advisory board consisting of health care practitioners and experts. “I have found the experience of CHE’s Excellence in Ministry both affirming and formative—for me, the program validates some life-long learnings and vocational choices while at the same time it provides me new insights about the Gospel, about our Sponsors’ heritage and legacy and
about my leadership role in serving others through this health care ministry,” said Bill Fiocchetta, president and CEO, Mercy Community Health, West Hartford, Conn. Johnson adds, “We need to understand that we are not just walking in the footsteps of Jesus, but also in the footsteps of our Sponsors. These first and future sessions will allow us to have a stronger foundation for decision-making in our increasingly complex and difficult world...a foundation that is essential if we are to continue what we do as a true ministry.” The Institute for Excellence in Ministry, initiated in 2007, is comprised of four sections: Ethics Champions, including learning modules for all levels of care and
website resources; Spirituality in the Workplace, including best practices, prayer resources and values-based decision making tools; Sponsorship Education offering learning modules for boards, consultations and a collaborative formation program; and Ministry Formation, with offerings such as Program for Excellence in Ministry, Foundations and the new Spiritual Care Champions. For more information on Ethics, Spiritual Care Champions, or Spirituality in the Workplace, contact Philip Boyle at [email protected], 610.355.2063. For more information on Ministry Formation programs or Sponsorship Education, please contact Martha Conroy at [email protected], 610.355.2067.
Institute for Excellence in Ministry:CHE’s Next Step in Ministry Formation
Since the January 2008 introduction of Together We Are So Much More: A Living History of Catholic Health East, many requests for additional copies of this book have been received. We’re happy to make more copies available…at no cost.If you’d like additional copies, please contact Meg Boyd, CHE communication specialist, at 610.355.2004 or [email protected] and indicate how many copies you’d like us to send.
Need More Copies?Let Us Know!
Cancer Garden Center
To the typical colleague, what does it mean to be a part of CHE? How do we benefit? What are some of the things that distinguish CHE from other health systems? What is CHE best known for?These questions may be typical among colleagues at many CHE RHCs/JOAs. To help our individual facilities build awareness about CHE, and what it means for their organization to be part of CHE, we have introduced a new, weekly communications tool, known as “Did You Know?” Each week, a new “tidbit” of information about Catholic Health East will be sent to the key public relations/communications contact person of every RHC/JOA. We are encouraging them to incorporate these facts into as many of their internal and external publications as possible. If you have an idea for a “Did You Know?” fact that we can share in the future, please send your suggestion to Maria Iaquinto, CHE communications manager, at [email protected].
A rainwater garden, symbolizing God’s will beyond our control, is at the core. The soil in this spot is more porous, allowing the deep penetration of rainwater. Multiple plants have deep roots that seek out all available water and nutrients in periods of drought much the way the human soul helps the body find inner strength and vitality in times of illness.
Three white, canvas shade sails aid the runoff of available rainwater, symbolizing the cancer patient’s support system. The sails are in the horizontal position, a symbol of the forces beyond our control that can take the wind out of our sails—instead of propelling, they collect the critical supply of rainwater to nourish the garden, a symbol of vitality.
Benches invite cancer patients to idle and allow this restful place to revitalize their souls. And low-voltage lighting provides nighttime drama for the Cancer Center Garden.
All of the Healing Gardens at St. Mary Medical Center provide a soothing, restorative environment for patients and visitors. While healing gardens do not provide cures, they can provide distractions, reduce stress and promote a sense of well-being, which leads to measurable psychological, physiological and behavioral benefits, including reduced anxiety, lower blood pressure and improved immune functioning.
For more information about The Healing Gardens at St. Mary Medical Center, contact Sue Wert at 215.598.7410 or [email protected].
Or you can visit the Healing Gardens website at www.healinggardens-stmary.org for additional photos and information.
take about two years for the sedums to completely fill in and make the loom design prominent.
Sedum becomes dormant from lack of water, and then quickly greens up after receiving adequate moisture. Metaphorically, this process is intended to inspire patients to look for hope and the end of an exhausting illness.
The Cancer Center Garden, the fourth of the Healing Gardens at St. Mary, was provided to the cancer patients of St. Mary’s by The Community League.
Sheltered in a “canyon” formed by the walls of two buildings, this is a place grounded in spiritual symbolism aimed at healing the mind and the spirit of cancer patients.
landscape architecture firm entrusted with the design and development of all of The Healing Gardens at St. Mary Medical Center.
“The rooftop garden is a truly unique concept among our Healing Gardens projects,” says Sharon Beales, vice president of the St. Mary Foundation. “It is purely a visual delight and it makes ecological sense in reducing energy costs and effectively managing storm drainage. That’s a win-win for everyone!”
St. Mary’s green roof is designed and built as a variation of Roofscapes Type II Roofmeadow® Aromatic Garden system—a very thin extensive roof with only 3 1/2" of growing media. It requires little maintenance and no irrigation.
CVDA’s design inspiration was a weaver’s loom, which symbolizes the relationship between St. Mary and the community. The roof was planted mostly with Sedums (cuttings and plugs). As the green roof matures, the weaving effect will be emphasized by different shades of sedum with flowers of different colors that bloom at different times of the year. It will
“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in,
where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul alike.”
John Muir
continued on page 6
The Joint Commission for Accreditation of Hospitals (JCAHO)
recommends that “Patients and visitors should have opportunities to connect with nature through outside
spaces, plants, indoor atriums and views from windows.”
Emergency Room Arrival Garden
More photoson page 6
Pictured above:Rooftop Garden rendering of full maturation (far left) and newly seeded(right).
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N ational Nurses Week is celebrated annually from May 6 through May 12, which is the birthday of
Florence Nightingale, recognized as the founder of modern nursing. National Nurses Week provides facilities with an opportunity to recognize their nurses and educate colleagues and the general public about the nursing profession.
Recently, we asked colleagues throughout Catholic Health East to tell us, in their own words, what nurses...and nursing...means to them: What do nurses bring to the field of health care? What does nursing symbolize for you? How have nurses contributed to the mission of your facility…and CHE? What do nurses mean to you, your patients and your residents?
On these two pages, we have included just a sampling of the dozens of responses we received from nurses, administrators, physicians and other colleagues from throughout CHE. Space constraints preclude us from including all of the responses we received, and some responses have been edited. All responses we received have been posted to our website (www.che.org).
“Nurses contribute greatly to our mission of medical education...they are a source of practical medical information for medical students who often lack the experiences that nurses bring to patient care. They are a source of
guidance to these people early in their careers. Through their frequent contact with patients they bring invaluable information to students and residents in formulating a diagnosis and course of therapy. Nurses demonstrate how to relate to patients and their families on a more personal and caring level. We teach our house staff to rely on nurses as the source of reliable information about their patients.”
Harold Schreiber, D.O.Director of Medical EducationDepartment of Graduate Medical EducationMercy Suburban HospitalMercy Health System of Southeastern Pennsylvania
“Nurses symbolize caring and humanity for me. The nurses at Holy Cross carry out our Mission every day with every patient, relative and visitor they assist. Meeting our nurses for yearly physicals, I see a strong work force committed to their work and to each other. It is very important that the nurses have each other’s support when patients require some extra assistance, and I believe the nurses here are well trained together as a team.”
Anneli Liebig, R.N.Associate Health ServicesHoly Cross Hospital
“Nurses are like the rivets that secure the heavy steel girders of suspension bridges together. People don’t always notice how many rivets there are...nor the inherent strength they lend to the bridge. But, like a suspension
bridge, a hospital supports people from one place to another—from sickness to health, or perhaps from poor health to a dignified end-destination. And like a suspension bridge, a hospital couldn’t function without its nurses—the very strong “bolts” that hold so many things together. Nurses constantly support other health care professionals, bridging the gap from immobility to function, from dietary deficiency to nutritional balance, and from medical noncompliance to medication education and administration.”
Stephanie A. Lopuszynski, R.N., B.S.N., B.S.Research Nurse and Admission NurseNursing Support Services/Float Pool and the Center of Nursing ExcellenceSaint Joseph's Hospital of Atlanta
“I work with dedicated, outstanding nurses every day and I believe that nurses are the heart and soul of health care. The nurses I know exemplify the qualities we all look for when choosing our health care providers: knowledge,
compassion, understanding and a caring touch. Nurses make patients their number one priority and employ many skills to improve the health and well-
being of those patients. Nursing is not just a job, but a commitment to excellence in patient care every day.”
Linda A. Gusenko, R.N., B.S.Suburban Branch ManagerMercy Home HealthMercy Health System of Southeastern Pennsylvania
“Nurses listen, nurses care, nurses are part of the solution. Nurses are innovative. Whenever a client has a problem that is difficult to solve, we are right there with them trying to figure it out. Several youth in my church,
and children I have taught in science classes, have decided to go to nursing school and I applaud them. Becoming a nurse is like getting the owner’s manual to the most amazing machine you will ever use: your body. Nurses touch lives from the cradle to the grave, and a good nurse can make the experience spiritual...”
Linda Kiblinger, R.N., M.S., C.D.E.Diabetes CenterSaint Joseph’s Hospital of Atlanta
“I have always felt that nursing is the foundation for the care residents receive in long term care facilities. Nurses have the best understanding of what residents are experiencing because they have the most direct and continuous relationship with them. Also, the philosophy of compassionate care is best exemplified by the nursing staff who oversee so many aspects of the resident’s life. Nurses not only provide nursing care, they also are the eyes and ears for their residents and offer a supportive role on a daily basis. A nursing home would not be a home for residents in long term care if not for the nurses.”
Elliott KelbickDirector of Social ServicesSaint Mary HomeMercy Community Health
“Nurses bring to the field of nursing what flowers bring to spring. They are the realization of revitalization of health. They are the soil that nurtures the soul, physically, mentally and spiritually...”
Peggy Smedley, R.N.Shift ManagerMarian Community HospitalMaxis Health System
St. Mary Medical CenterNurses: Making a
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In the summer of 2007, St. Mary was set to replace the waterproofing membrane of the 5,000-square-foot roof over the Radiology Department. The Community League seized this opportunity to recommend the development of a Rooftop Garden and received an enthusiastic response from the administration. The “green” roof project was made possible in part by a grant from The Reinvestment Fund and its Sustainable Development Fund. The balance of the funding was provided by The Community League.
“Green” roofs have existed since the ziggurats were constructed in Mesopotamia in 600 B.C. These roofs are beneficial because they help control storm water run off, reduce energy costs for cooling and heating, can double the service life of a roof, help reduce sound reflection and transmission, and create a habitat for birds and other small wildlife.
Unlike the two predecessor Healing Gardens, which invite visitors, patients, physicians and staff to stroll and linger, the green roof is designed as a purely visual experience, transforming the roof into a metaphorical garden intended to provide solace to all. This was the first green roof for Carter van Dyke Associates, Inc. (CVDA), the Doylestown, Pa.-based
the ancient principles of Japanese garden design. It utilizes a Japanese Walk, which serves as a symbol that people of all nationalities and religions are provided the same high level of compassionate, holistic care and are welcome there.
Sakura (cherry blossoms) symbolize the evanescence of human life and the passage of Japanese culture. These plants are set within an oval, which symbolizes the fullness of life. The pond symbolizes abundance of life and within the pond are three stones which symbolize power and strength. The focal point of the garden is a resident majestic oak tree, which symbolizes strength and shades the pond.
The Emergency Room Arrival Garden consists of plants including wisteria vines climbing stainless steel cables on an adjacent parking garage, a terrace with a cluster of Columnar Red Maples that provide shade from the summer sun, movable tables and chairs and a seat wall to accommodate patients and visitors.
he Healing Gardens at St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne,
Pa., are a study in how the age-old restorative power of nature can be integrated into a modern medical center environment.
St. Mary Medical Center has four healing gardens, including a 5,000 sq. foot rooftop garden. These gardens include the Cloister Garden, the Emergency Room Arrival Garden, the Rooftop Garden, and the Cancer Center Garden.
The idea of creating a healing garden at St. Mary Medical Center originated in 2001 with local businesswoman and philanthropist Sue Wert, and landscape architect Carter van Dyke. These longtime friends originally intended to develop a small garden in memory of their mothers, both of whom had been treated at St. Mary for cancer. Their project soon attracted other community members and The Friends of the Healing Gardens was formed.
“After both of our mothers passed away, we wanted to do something in their memory,” says Wert. “So we went to Greg Wozniak [CEO of St. Mary Medical Center] and the hospital board, then we developed a team and began fundraising.”
The Friends of The Healing Gardens dedicated the Cloister Garden in April 2003; it was the first healing garden at St. Mary Medical Center. The Cloister Garden is so called because it is surrounded by hallways, as 12th Century cloister gardens were. However, this Garden is distinctly Japanese...a theme that was chosen because it underscores the fact that St. Mary Medical Center cares for people of all ethnicities and faiths.
The Cloister Garden adheres to many of
The Healing Gardens at
“How fair is a garden amid the trials and passions of existence.”
Benjamin Disraeli
“Laying out grounds may be considered a liberal art, in some sort
like poetry and painting.”William Wordsworth
Cloister Garden
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Difference Every Day“I have been a respiratory therapist for almost twenty years and have had the pleasure of working with the most inspiring nurses one would ever want to meet. I have found compassion, critical skills, devotion and lifelong
friendship from my health care partner. The nurses who I have met long to unravel the complicated issues of their patients, delving deeper and deeper into the critical values they monitor and report. They work holidays, weekends and long, lonely night shifts. God bless the nurses who keep our patients comfortable and content. The answer to the question ‘What is a Nurse?’…is…priceless.”
Cindy Staiger, C.R.T.Respiratory SupervisorMercy Suburban HospitalMercy Health System of SEPA
“Nursing is like a finely cut diamond: multifaceted, precious, valuable and tough. Nursing is a noble and demanding profession that requires a courageous spirit, a caring heart, physical stamina, emotional maturity, critical
thinking, strong values and bold voices to face the challenges of an ever-changing health care industry. Working in a Catholic hospital like Mercy for the past 25 years provides me with an opportunity to be a witness to Jesus’ healing mission...I am blessed that Mercy’s Core Values match what I have committed as a Christian nurse.”
Annabelle D. Scott, M.S.N., A.R.N.P.Nursing Education DepartmentMercy Hospital of Miami
“Nurses are at the heart of healing, connecting patients with compassion and genuine caring. Nurses provide a gentle touch, a kind word, a reassuring smile, and the ultimate symbol of security for a patient and family embarking
on a very personal journey. They are the gift of hope in a patient’s recovery. At Mercy Hospital, our nurses make a difference every day in the lives of others by being truly present in the care of each and every individual. The patient and family are at the heart of healing with every nurse. It is a mission. It is a sense of community. It is a passion.”
Jill Berry Bowen, R.N., M.S.N., M.B.A., F.A.C.H.E.Vice President, Patient Care ServicesMercy HospitalMercy Health System of Maine
“Nurses bring to the field of health care varied gifts of love, caring, compassion, empathy and selflessness. Nurses are dedicated men and women with big hearts who share themselves with patients and help them back to wholeness. They symbolize a spirit of hope and give endless personal attention to those who are under their care...”
Sister Ann McLaughlin, IHM ChaplainSpiritual Care DepartmentMarian Community HospitalMaxis Health System
“Nurses symbolize a unique group of individuals with a special calling to the sick, the dying, the marginalized and the elderly. Through their commitment to health care, they bring dedication, challenge, a caring spirit and awareness of the needs of the patient. Nurses are co-workers with many other disciplines and show their compassion and goodness to all.”
Eileen AguiarChaplainSpiritual Care DepartmentMarian Community HospitalMaxis Health System
“The foundation of our hospital’s outstanding reputation is in its excellent nursing care. Nurses are committed to meeting 21st century challenges and specializations exceeding those in ordinary working places. Their professionalism is matched by a compassionate response to a call of service that ultimately flows from the Mercy Mission/Philosophy. What a privilege to celebrate Nurses Week and to extend appreciation to our nursing staff for their expertise, dedication and goodness! They are the backbone of Saint Joseph’s Hospital of Atlanta.”
Sister Sally White, G.N.S.H.ChaplainPastoral Care DepartmentSaint Joseph's Hospital of Atlanta
“To be a nurse is to be a privileged traveler alongside another human being. Using critical thinking skills, combining compassion and caring, the nurse guides the resident on her/his journey through their life stages. Always advocating for the appropriate outcome, the nurse with her/his resident is the daily adventurer, learner and anchor. We utilize skills of scholarship, caring, creativity, empowerment, equity, integrity and leadership. We work and minister each day intrinsically knowing we journey with our residents, their families and each other. As a proud member of Mercy Community Health, I watch in awe as my colleagues live our core values: Reverence for Each Person, Community, Justice, Commitment to Those Who Are Poor, Stewardship, Integrity and Courage. I am humbly grateful to have such a privilege.”
Ellen Sanders-Nirenstein, R.N.Clinical Director of AdmissionsMercy Community Health
“There is no doubt that nurses play a vital role, not only in health care but within our society as a whole. It is hard to imagine the intrinsic qualities that nurses are born with, allowing them to care for each
resident/patient in ways that only a caring professional could. Nurses mean so much, but to me they represent all that is good with respect to human kindness.”
Prentice LipseyAdministrator of Health ServicesSt. Joseph of the Pines Health CenterSt. Joseph of the Pines
“Nursing is a dynamic profession that even in the face of emerging and changing health care maintains its integrity. Despite the great challenges that this evolving profession has to overcome, nurses continue to
strive to improve quality care, eliminate disparities, eliminate access to care barriers and offer more efficient and effective services through improvement of technological skills and informatics while they sustain their caring mission. Nursing is the core of all health care.”
Marian Olenick, M.S., C.R.N.P.Infection Control and ICU Clinical CoordinatorMarian Community HospitalMaxis Health Care
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N o one particularly likes to talk about the inevitable truth... but the fact is that most of
us will someday have to face end-of-life decisions, for ourselves or our loved ones. Advanced planning allows the family, friends and health care team to know your wishes in the event that you cannot make them known yourself.
Advance Directives is the term for two legal documents detailing an individual’s end-of-life wishes in the event that he/she cannot communicate them:
• A Living Will is a written document detailing the kinds of medical treatments that you would or would not want at the end of life.
• A Medical Power of Attorney (or health care proxy) is a written document naming the person you trust as your health care agent or decision-maker if you cannot speak for yourself.
While preparing an Advance Directive does not require a lawyer, once these forms are signed in the presence of two witnesses, they are valid and legal. The declarant can revoke his/her Directives at any time or choose a new agent. And the Directives will not go into effect unless and until two physicians deem the declarant incapable of making health care decisions for him or herself. If at any time, the declarant again becomes able to express his/her wishes, the agent no longer holds decision-making power.
On April 16, the first annual National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD) initiative was held across the country. The focus was on raising
awareness and demystifying health care decision-making. The goal is to clarify terms, address misperceptions, and convey a sense of importance and urgency. Advanced planning includes much more than living wills; this process should focus first on conversation and choosing an agent.
As part of National Healthcare Decisions Day, Catholic Health East facilities held community events and provided colleagues, patients and
visitors with information about Advance Directive planning and end-of-life decision-making. They also distributed State-specific Advance Directive forms in both English and in Spanish as needed.
More information about National Healthcare Decisions Day events as well as links to State-specific Advance Directive forms can be found on the CHE portal.
The Federal Patient Self-Determination Act requires that all Medicare-participating health care facilities: • Provide information about health care decision-making rights. • Ask all patients if they have an Advance Directive. • Educate their staff and community about Advance Directives. • Not discriminate against patients based on Advance Directive status.
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Highlights Importance of Advance DirectivesNational Healthcare Decisions Day
Brinette Roche of St. James Mercy Health System recently provided colorectal cancer prevention and detection information, as well as the new FIT colorectal screening kit that detects early colon cancer, at the health system’s “Working with Wegman’s” series with the local grocery store chain.
Nick (left) and Adam (right) are two local 4th grade students participating in the Canine Assisted Reading Education program, part of the community benefit outreach sponsored by St. Joseph of the Pines. Darby (center) is one of 33 dogs who, with their owners, volunteer for this program. The dogs serve as “reading buddies,” breaking down barriers between the tutors and children who may have trouble reading aloud.
PHOTOTO COME
PHOTOTO COME
At Mercy Community Health’s Saint Mary Home, the Department of Therapeutic Recreation strives to create a comprehensive menu of activities programming. Pictured here, guitarist Dan Stevens performs for residents. “The personal contact performance is sensory stimulating for our residents.” says Director of Therapeutic Recreation Michele Russell.
At Mercy Community Health’s Saint Mary Home, the Department of Therapeutic Recreation strives to create a comprehensive menu of activities programming. Pictured here, guitarist Dan Stevens performs for residents. “The personal contact performance is sensory stimulating for our residents.” says Director of Therapeutic Recreation Michele Russell.
A $100,000 grant from Allegany Franciscan Ministries (AFM) helped to launch Kidz Bite Back, an innovative social marketing campaign designed to promote healthier eating behaviors among 4th and 5th graders at sixteen schools in Pinella and Hillsborough counties. Kids Bite Back is a kid-led campaign focusing on companies that target and bombard children with fast food and video game advertisements. Partners in this unique collaborative, along with AFM, include St. Joseph Children’s Hospital, Dewey & Associates, The Institute for America’s Health, and the Tampa Metropolitan YMCA.
BayCare’s St. Anthony’s Hospital partnered with the St. Petersburg Museum of History to display Mission and Medicine: A History of Pioneering Medicine in St. Petersburg, Fla. The exhibit, on display through August in the museum’s Neighborhood Gallery, traces the history of St. Anthony’s from the days of the Great Depression, chronicling 76 years of the hospital’s progress and contributions to the community.
BayCare’s St. Anthony’s Hospital partnered with the St. Petersburg Museum of History to display Mission and Medicine: A History of Pioneering Medicine in St. Petersburg, Fla. The exhibit, on display through August in the museum’s Neighborhood Gallery, traces the history of St. Anthony’s from the days of the Great Depression, chronicling 76 years of the hospital’s progress and contributions to the community.
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H O R I Z O N S S P R I N G / S U M M E R E D I T I O N 2 0 0 8
T he 2008 elections will see the President and Vice President, one-third of the U.S. Senate, all
of the U.S. House of Representatives, 11 Governors, and many state and local representatives up for election nationwide. In anticipation of the general election on November 4, 2008, Catholic Health East is once again initiating My Voice, My Vote, a system-wide registration and get-out-the-vote campaign.
Catholic Health East is dedicated to carrying out our Mission: to be a transforming, healing presence within the communities we serve. To realize our Mission, we advocate public policies and initiatives—particularly in the area of health care—that ensure quality of life for all. Our Core Value of Community encourages us to be informed about community needs. By casting an informed vote, we demonstrate our connectedness to each other through inclusive and compassionate relationships. By educating ourselves about community needs and by acting on our right and obligation to vote, we exemplify our Core Value of Stewardship where we care for and strengthen the ministry and all resources entrusted to us. In casting our vote, we are advocating for a society in which all can realize their full potential and achieve the common good, thus carrying our our Core Value of Justice. Finally, by voting we demonstrate the Core Value of Integrity; we keep our word and we are faithful to who we say we are. Political activism is integral to furthering our Mission. “CHE is inviting and encouraging everyone associated with our health system to join in this worthwhile
advocacy effort”, said Courtney Mengel, J.D., CHE’s manager, government affairs and public policy. “This is a non-partisan effort; our focus is to build awareness about the issues, and engage more people in the political process.” My Voice, My Vote is designed to encourage colleagues, as well as others affiliated with Catholic Health East, to register to vote, educate themselves about the candidates and the issues and to get out and vote on November 4. The Advocacy page of the CHE portal includes the My Voice, My Vote action guide that contains suggestions for implementing the campaign and templates for newsletter articles and e-mails, which can be customized to individual organizations. Additional materials such as table tents and flyers will also be posted on the CHE portal.
“Never in my lifetime has it been more important for all of us to fulfill our basic responsibility of civic engagement,” says Jim Wallace, senior vice president of advocacy and institutional advancement at Lourdes Health System, Camden, N.J. “With all of the critically important issues that face all of us, it is incumbent upon every person to make his or her voice heard. Lourdes has participated in the My Voice, My Vote campaign in the past, and we’ve found it to be a great way to engage people in the process.” If you need any further information or assistance regarding this campaign, please do not hesitate to contact Courtney Mengel at [email protected] or 610.492.3747.
System-Wide Voter Registration CampaignInitiated Throughout CHE
Therese O’Rourke, IHM, also joined Hope Ministries as a board member. She is the president and CEO of the St. Joseph Center in Scranton, Pa. She was previously a social worker and counselor for Catholic Social Services in Scranton, Pa.
A sincere “thank you” and best wishes to Howard Watts, who recently announced his retirement after serving as the executive vice president of CHE’s Southeast Division since CHE was formed in 1998. We’ll miss you, Howard!
Congratulations to Jacquelyn Kinder, Ed.D., who was appointed chairperson of Catholic Health East’s Board of Directors effective January 1, 2008. A CHE board member since 2002, Dr. Kinder had previously served on the St. Mary’s Health Care System (Athens, Ga.) board of directors from 1998 to 2002.
The CHE Board of Directors recently welcomed Jack O. Lanier, Dr.Ph., M.H.A., F.A.C.H.E., as its newest member. Dr. Lanier currently serves as professor emeritus at Virginia Commonwealth University/Medical College of Virginia School of Medicine (VCU/MCV), as well as chairman of the Virginia State Board of Health.
Ken Cormier has been named president and CEO of St. Joseph of the Pines Health System. He most recently served as interim president and, prior to that, as chief operating officer for St. Joseph of the Pines Health System.
Former CHE Board member Regina M. Benjamin, M.D., M.B.A., has joined the board of Hope Ministries, which sponsors several CHE regional health corporations. Dr. Benjamin is founder and CEO of Bayou La Batre Rural Health Clinic, a practice she initiated to help take care of the poor and underserved of her rural Alabama community.
After 16 years, BayCare’s Morton Plant Mease Health Care’s President and CEO Philip K. Beauchamp has announced his retirement, effective 2009. Beauchamp was a key figure in the creation of Morton Plant Mease Health Care in Clearwater, Fla.
Sr. Susan Welsh, RSM, has been named president and CEO of Pittsburgh Mercy Health System (PMHS) effective January 2008. She has worked for 30 years as chief financial officer of the Sisters of Mercy community in Pittsburgh, and has served eight years as vice president of that community. Sister Susan is vice chair of the current PMHS Board of Trustees and is also a trustee for Holy Cross Hospital, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
Judy Persichilli has been named CHE’s executive vice president, acute care, and will be responsible from a System administrative perspective for the majority of CHE’s acute care RHCs. Judy was previously CHE’s executive vice president, Northeast Division, which included hospitals, long term care facilities and home health agencies.
Alexander J. Hatala, currently president and CEO for the Lourdes Health System, will assume the position of president/CEO of a new entity within CHE: Catholic Health East/ N.J. He will maintain his responsibilities at Lourdes and will continue as the local transition officer for Cathedral Health System. He will also assume System administrative responsibilities for St. Francis Hospital, Trenton, N.J. which will remain an RHC with Jerry Jablonowski continuing as its president/CEO.
Announcements...
CHE bids farewell to Mary Kay Polys, president and chief executive officer at Mercy Medical (Daphne, Ala.) since 2004, who is leaving to pursue other interests. We thank Mary Kay for her dedicated service, and we wish her well in all future endeavors.
A PUBLICATION FOR THE SPONSORS, BOARDS, REGIONAL LEADERSHIP, SYSTEM OFFICE AND COLLEAGUES OF CATHOLIC HEALTH EAST16
H O R I Z O N S
H O R I Z O N S
C A T H O L I C H E A L T H E A S TC A T H O L I C H E A L T H E A S T
CHE Facilities “Go Green”My Voice, My Vote: System-Wide Voter RegistrationNational Healthcare Decisions DayHealing Gardens at St. Mary Medical CenterInstitute for Excellence in Ministry
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The CHE Portal: A Valuable ResourceNRC+Picker On-Site VisitsA Tribute to CHE NursesAcross the System10 Minutes with...Kathleen Meredith
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HORIZONS is a publication for the Sponsors, Boards,Regional Leadership, System Office and Colleaguesof Catholic Health East.
Horizons Editorial Staff
Scott H. Share Vice President, System Communications
Catholic Health East is a community of persons committed to being a transforming, healing presence within the communities we serve.
Locations: Located in 11 eastern states from Maine to Florida.
Workforce: Approx. 50,000 employees.
SponsorsCongregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Scranton, Pa.Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, St. Bonaventure, N.Y. Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph, Hamburg, N.Y.Hope Ministries, Newtown Square, Pa.Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, Greensburg, Pa.Sisters of Mercy of the Americas: Mid-Atlantic Community New York, Pennsylvania, Pacific West Community Northeast Community Regional Community of BaltimoreSisters of Providence, Holyoke, Mass.Sisters of St. Joseph, St. Augustine, Fla.
3805 West Chester Pike, Suite 100Newtown Square, PA 19073Phone 610.355.2000Fax 610.271.9600www.che.org
H O R I Z O N SI
CHE Facilities “Go Green”
K10 Minutes with... Kathleen Meredith
athleen Meredith, R.N., M.S.N., M.B.A., joined Catholic Health East (CHE) as vice president of
clinical transformation in November 2007. Meredith brings more than 15 years of experience in clinical transformation to CHE. As a consultant, she has lead clinical transformation initiatives for hospitals, health systems and physician groups across the country. She worked side by side with clinicians at all levels, collaborating to identify solutions that would improve the quality of patient care and position the organization for success and growth in the marketplace. Horizons recently spoke with Meredith about the role of clinical transformation in health care and at CHE.
You started out your career as a registered nurse on the patient care side of nursing. What made you decide to move to the administrative side of health care? I have always had a curiosity for ‘how and why things work the way they do’, whether it be the study of anatomy and physiology; or the thrill of working in a high-acuity cardiac critical care unit. This naturally led me to various leadership positions within the hospital. Not ever wanting to entirely ‘leave the bedside’, as my career evolved, I learned to translate my skills and experience to work in consultation with clinicians and health care executives on a broader, more strategic level.
What initially brought you to CHE? Fortunately for me, the leadership team here at CHE actually took the first step in creating this new role for clinical transformation. This position allows me to leverage my knowledge and expertise in order
to participate in initiatives that will transform health care delivery here at CHE. More importantly, it provides me the opportunity to experience the transformation from within the organization, and provides me a chance to become a ‘real’ member of a team, and to become a permanent part of a transforming organization.
Can you explain a little bit about Clinical Transformation and your role at CHE? Clinical transformation embraces both the art and the science of health care delivery. While the ‘label’ generates a certain aura and mystique, it essentially is an approach for patient-centered care that will measurably improve the outcomes for quality, safety, efficiency and satisfaction. In order for CHE to truly succeed in being a ‘transforming, healing presence in the communities we serve’, we must effectively align our clinicians with our current and redesigned clinical processes and provide support with the most appropriate and innovative technologies.
You have now been with CHE for six months. What do you consider your highest priorities? CHE has created a preferred delivery model for 2017; a key component is the
implementation of the comprehensive care management model which will provide a framework for CHE to better manage our patients across the continuum of care. This will be an exciting journey. We currently have most of the pieces and parts, but the opportunity lies in ‘knitting them all together’ into one coordinated model. This means incorporating the clinical, psychosocial, spiritual and personal components of care. Care Management is multi-faceted as it intersects and connects with many of our current initiatives. This enables us to care for the ‘whole’ patient in a way that intersects with how we are living our values in practice and supporting our Mission.
What are some of the challenges you will face? I prefer to think of the opportunity...and for me it is leading change and accelerating the pace of change. As we celebrate CHE’s 10 year anniversary, we courageously promote and promise that ‘Together We Are So Much More’. For CHE to realize the endless benefits of what true ‘systemness’ can mean for us on a care delivery level, we must embrace change and be positive role models for others to emulate.
What changes will the Bar Code Medication Administration initiative bring to our institutions? The process is dramatically different from the way medications are currently administered to patients and is a big change for both nurses and pharmacists. When an order for a medication is put into the computer, a bar code is generated. The right drug, in the right dose, will have the bar code applied to it. Then when it is time to give the medication to the patient, the barcode will be matched to the patient’s wristband barcode. Ultimately, we will look back and wonder how we ever practiced without this type of technology. This transformation involving medication administration serves as a stepping stone to the broader goal of implementing CPOE (computerized physician order entry) across our health system.
Kathleen Meredith, R.N., M.S.N., M.B.A.
Pictured above:In 2006, Mercy Suburban Hospital completed renovations to its emergency department, surgical services and interventional radiology suite according to environmentally-friendly guidelines outlined by LEED. Figure 1 shows the Angiography C-Arm, which provides X-ray technology and special post-processing computer applications to guide procedures; Figure 2 shows the brand new nurses station and treatment rooms in the new Emergency Department.
Figure 1
Figure 2
n 2004, Mercy Suburban Hospital in East Norriton, Pa., part of
Mercy Health System of Southeastern Pennsylvania, embarked on a $19.4 million capital improvement project to conduct renovations. These renovations were completed in 2006 and qualified the hospital for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for the project, thereby making it one of the first hospitals on the east coast to be “green” and LEED certified. It is in this vein that Mercy Suburban Hospital continues its commitment to being “Green.” “With additional renovations coming in 2008 to accommodate our growth, and our focus on quality care for our patients, it is important to remain diligently committed to being a “green” institution,” says Lisa Mallon, CEO of Mercy Suburban Hospital.
Green or ‘sustainable’ building is the practice of creating healthier and more resource-efficient models of construction, renovation, operation and maintenance.
Research and experience increasingly demonstrate that
green buildings can provide great environmental,
economic and social benefits.
Green hospitals make good sense for the health of the entire community: patients, staff and visitors. Green buildings can: enhance air
quality; reduce exposure to
toxicants, allergens and asthma triggers;
and curtail building-related illness. Simple
design changes can also work wonders. Studies have shown
that poor indoor lighting increases levels of stress in hospital workers, leading to compromised medical care.
Through conservation, green hospitals are finding that they can reduce operating costs and keep delivering energy even in emergencies. According to a recent study, on average, green buildings are 30% more energy efficient than typical buildings; this adds up to a $60,000 savings per year for a 100,000 ft building.
Other CHE facilities have also been implementing environmentally friendly initiatives. Some of these include:
