Download Enthusiast Digest February 2016

Enthusiast Digest February 2016
New therapy option helps reduce risk of stroke from AFib
Heart Institute physicians are now able to offer patients with Atrial Fibrillation an
alternative to blood thinners to help reduce the risk of stroke. Physicians
implanted the first Watchman device at Doylestown Hospital on Tuesday,
February 9 to prevent blood clots from leaving the heart. People with AFib are
five to seven times more likely to have a stroke compared to people without AFib.
“Greening” the OR means freebies for Associates
General surgeon Deanna Blanchard, MD is collecting the soft plastic/paper
drapes used to wrap sterile surgical instruments for re-use. They are clean and
do not come in contact with patients. They come in different sizes: large (about 5
feet by 5 feet) and small (about 24 inches square). Dr. Blanchard is an active
member of the Green Team, which is hoping to educate Associates on green
practices. If you'd like some of the surgical drapes, email Dr. Blanchard at
[email protected].
How 2 minutes could save 10,000 hours
It takes about two minutes for inpatient and outpatient registrars to scan and file
the forms a patient signs when he or she is admitted or registers for labs – and
there are approximately 300,000 such encounters every year. Associates from
MIS and Patient Access developed an idea for patients to use a digital signature
pad like they do in the supermarket. The savings would add up to 10,000 hours a
year. This is one of dozens of novel ideas being vetted as part of the Value
Enhancement Program (VEP). If you have an idea to improve the efficiency of
our organization, mention it to your manager. No idea is trivial; they all have
value.
Heart Failure Coordinator guides growing program
Heart failure (HF) is one of the leading causes of hospitalizations and
readmissions for patients 65 and older in the U.S. Recently, the Heart Failure
coordinator position was upgraded to a CRNP level position. Amy Padbury, RN,
MSN, ACNP, CHFN is Doylestown Hospital’s Heart Failure Coordinator who
recently earned the distinction of certified heart failure nurse (CHFN) from the
American Association of Heart Failure Nurses.
How the 2016 Bucks County Designer House & Gardens – and you –
help those in need
The Village Improvement Association (VIA) donates about 70 percent of
Designer House proceeds to Doylestown Hospital and uses the rest to benefit
those in need. Through the Welfare Committee, the VIA partners with social
services and area support groups to provide support like helping to pay utilities
so a family can stay warm in the winter, purchasing car seats so parents can
bring home their newborn, and purchasing medications so a patient can return
home and continue treatment. Learn more at BucksCountyDesignerHouse.org.
Calling all cooks! Send in your recipes for volunteer cookbook
Doylestown Health is proud to have the service of 170 teen Volunteers.
Volunteer Services is creating a cookbook that will be sold to benefit the Teen
Volunteer Scholarship Fund. Submit your recipe by March 15 to
[email protected] or stop by Volunteer Services for a form.
Why we need to handle oxygen tanks safely – important safety tips
• Oxygen tanks should always be in an approved holder on a stretcher or
wheelchair when used for transport.
• Oxygen tanks should be returned to the approved storage area when not in
use and appropriately secured in a holder. They should not be left on
beds, stretchers, or wheelchairs.
• Oxygen tanks cannot be left free-standing, propped in a corner, or in any other
unsecured position.
• A damaged oxygen tank should be reported immediately to Respiratory
Therapy (x2249) and removed from service.
Health Matters tackles teen depression
A panel of experts shares insights into teen depression and the difference
between temporary sadness and major depression in the second episode of
Season Two of the TV show “Health Matters with Doylestown Health.” Learn
more and watch the episode on our blog (Dialogue.dh.org). “Health Matters” is a
joint project with the Central Bucks School District. Shows air on the district’s
cable station, CBTV (Comcast channel 28 and Verizon Fios channel 40), and can
be seen on the district’s website at cbsd.org.
Meet our February Associate of the month, Tracy Macnamara
Tracy began working at Doylestown Hospital in 1996. She is a Patient Access
coordinator described as “kind, calm, compassionate and always willing to help
out whenever and wherever needed.”
Celebrate Pat Evans, February 2016 Volunteer of the Month
Pat Evans is a former nurse who volunteers in Interventional Radiology, where
seven staff members wrote personal notes of thanks and praise on Pat’s
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nomination, including “Pat is such as asset to our department; her knowledge
and skills are awesome. Pat is always ready to lend a hand and anticipate our
needs.”
New members increase buying power of Friends of the Heart Institute
The Friends of the Heart Institute is a group of volunteers who raise funds to
support excellent heart care at the Heart Institute by helping to fund cardiac
equipment and services. To learn about becoming a member of Friends of the
Heart Institute, visit DoylestownHealth.org/Friends or call 215-345-2954.
HIPAA Hint: Email preferred over fax
When sending a fax, always check and re-check the accuracy of the fax number
before sending. Pre-program numbers that are dialed frequently into the machine
to reduce the chances of dialing the wrong number. Better yet, scan and send
the information in an encrypted e-mail (type the word “secure” into the subject
line of the e-mail).
When random acts of kindness aren’t so random
Lana Pelligrino, the daughter of Shirley Largent from Patient Access, completed
40 acts of kindness in 40 days to celebrate her 40th birthday in February. She
also asked family and friends to do at least one act of kindness during the first 40
days of the year instead of giving her birthday gifts. Shirley, who has worked at
Doylestown Hospital for 44 years, made sandwiches for a homeless shelter in
Philadelphia. Lana was born at Doylestown Hospital.
Children's Valentines cards brighten patients' days
Elementary students in the Central Bucks after-school program made hundreds
of decorative Valentine’s Day cards that were delivered to patients at Doylestown
Hospital and the Pine Run Health Center. This is the second year for the CB
Cares Educational Foundation project.
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