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october 2 0 1 3 people growth Town Hall Meeting Highlights St. Mary Unveils Phase III Expansion of Bristol–Myers Squibb Pediatric Emergency Care Center During the recent series of town hall meetings, more than 800 colleagues heard updates from senior leadership on the current construction and renovation projects (see page 6 for full story), the relocation of eight administrative departments to a new site in Newtown, safety initiatives, and the Affordable Care Act (ACA [read more on page 3]). Twentythree town hall sessions took place between September 30 and October 9 at the main St. Mary campus in Langhorne, the 828C Building in Newtown, the LIFE St. Mary Center in Trevose, and the Mother Bachman Maternity Center in Bensalem. St. Mary welcomed members of the community to the newly opened Phase III expansion of the Bristol–Myers Squibb Pediatric Emergency Care Center with a blessing ceremony on October 22. “After three years of construction, we reached Phase III of our Emergency Care Center, which is among one of the greatest accomplishments for St. Mary Medical Center,” said Greg Wozniak, President and CEO, during the celebration. The ceremony included a welcome from Wozniak, a reflection and blessing by Father Raju Pilla, Chaplain, St. Mary Spiritual Care Department; as well as remarks by Frank Guarrieri, Chairman, St. Mary Board of Directors; Todd Buch, President, St. Mary Foundation Board; Richard Leshner, DO, Chief of Cardiology and President of the St. Mary Medical Staff; Gary Zimmer, MD, Chairman of St. Mary Emergency Medicine; Raymond Talucci, MD, Director of St. Mary Trauma Services; and Charles Kunkle, MSN, CEN, CCRN, BC–NA, Director of Emergency Services and Critical Care. Continued on page 5 In addition to Greg Wozniak, President and CEO, Mary Sweeney, Vice President, Colleague Resources and Development, and Jeff Yarmel, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, provided timely updates on topics of interest to St. Mary colleagues. Below are highlights of the topics discussed. Department Relocations Further discussion was shared on departments housed in the 828C Building moving to 41 University Boulevard in Newtown, adjacent to the LaSalle University campus. The move, Continued on page 6 community benefit Honoring Breast Cancer Survivors and Increasing Access to Care St. Mary Medical Center is recognizing survivors of breast cancer not only during Breast Cancer Awareness month in October — but also in November at the first-ever 92.5 WXTU and St. Mary Medical Center Breast Cancer Survivors Celebration Luncheon on November 13 at Triumph Brewery. The luncheon will be attended by approximately 125 guests, including 40 breast cancer survivors who were nominated by close family and friends to take part in the event. “St. Mary Medical Center is honored to be hosting this event; we’re committed to helping our patients fight this battle and to continually raise awareness of breast cancer,” says Susan Continued on page 7 quality St. Mary Recognized Again By Local Community and National Joint Commission St. Mary Medical Center continues to earn national recognition and accreditation for demonstrating excellence in clinical quality — most recently from the Joint Commission and from the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. strict, evidence-based accountability measures linked closely to positive patient outcomes. St. Mary is one of only 1,099 hospitals designated as a Top Performer and is the only one in Bucks County to be recognized as such. In addition to this latest recognition, St. Mary maintains Joint Commission advanced certification in stroke, and certifications in breast cancer, heart failure, joint replacement (hip and knee), and sleeping disorders. Joint Commission Recognition St. Mary has been named to the Joint Commission’s list of Top Performer on Key Quality Measures® hospitals in the organization’s recently produced annual report,“Improving America’s Hospitals: The Joint Commission’s Annual Report on Quality and Safety 2013.” “At St. Mary, providing safe, high-quality patient care is our number one priority at every level in the organization. We benchmark ourselves to be in the top 10th percentile of all hospitals in the The Joint Commission’s Top Performer designation is based on performance related to Continued on page 5 people St. Mary Colleagues Celebrate Years of Service Colleagues gathered at Celebrations in Bensalem on September 12 to celebrate the Colleague Service Awards dinner recognizing 443 awardees for their services to St. Mary Medical Center for the last five, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 55 years. and CEO, remarked during the awards banquet. Left to right: Dot Tonzelli, Fran Shlegle, Diedre Parikh, Debbie Shore, Liz Liotta, Cheyron Hawthorne, and Nelly Marsula “It is a privilege to recognize each of you and to stand here tonight to thank you for your commitment and service to St. Mary; we’re honored to share this evening with you and to celebrate this milestone,” Greg Wozniak, President From left to right: Sr. Pat Warman, OSF; Sr. Mary Louise Burchell, OSF; Sr. Elizabeth Murphy, OSF; Sr. Kathleen Shadell, OSF; Sr. Patrice Feeney, OSF; Sr. Marie Barbara McNamara, OSF; and Sr. Mary Ann Potenza, OSF Guests enjoyed a cocktail hour followed by a multi-course, sit-down dinner. Brief remarks were provided by Frank Guarrieri, St. Mary Board President, and Richard Leshner, DO, Medical Staff President. Wozniak also provided a welcome and congratulations to colleagues followed by Father Raju Pilla saying a prayer. As guests finished their meals, Jim Gentile, RN, Post-Anesthesia Care Unit, acted as emcee and provided the entertainment during the presentation of the awards. He highlighted the Sisters of St. Francis for their service, including Sister Eileen Hennessey, who has served more than 55 years at St. Mary. Gentile also introduced colleagues working 30 to 35 years to the podium for speeches by their supervisors and asked colleagues serving five, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years to stand for recognition. service The Affordable Care Act St. Mary is Ready for the Health Insurance Marketplace A large segment of the region’s uninsured population will be able to select a healthcare plan that better fits their budget as the new health insurance marketplace opens from October 1, 2013, through March 31, 2014. During this unique enrollment period, St. Mary will educate consumers about the enrollment process and help them understand the differences in various plans available to them. “Healthcare reform is complicated, and people are trying to understand the right thing to do for themselves and their family,” says Greg Wozniak, President and CEO.“In Pennsylvania, you can pick a plan that has your primary care physician or, if you don’t have a physician, you can build a relationship with one in the plan you pick.” Throughout this process,“our vision is for people to view St. Mary Medical Center as their trusted health partner they can turn to for answers and for help,” Wozniak says. The marketplace provides insurance programs covering essential health services at lower premiums and out-of-pocket costs. Many people will qualify for tax credits and, depending on your income, you may receive assistance in paying for your insurance. Marketplace plans cover a wide range of services, including ER visits, doctors’ appointments, hospitalization, maternity and newborn care, rehab, mental health and substance abuse services, prescriptions, preventive care, pediatrics and more. qualify regardless of age, gender, health status, or pre-existing conditions. They are most likely: Low- and moderate-income individuals and families who do not have employer-based insurance and who do not qualify for Medicare or Medicaid; n How to Get Health Insurance Individuals and families whose incomes are too high for Medicaid and make 100 percent to 400 percent of the poverty line (that’s between $22,000 to $89,000 a year for a family of four). n Through the marketplace, individuals can compare options based on price, benefits, and other features. All plans are provided by private insurance companies — not the government. Pennsylvania and New Jersey residents can purchase insurance on the federally facilitated exchange at www.healthcare.gov. People who had previously been denied coverage for pre-existing health problems and are now eligible for insurance. n “The marketplace allows consumers to purchase health insurance much like they’re used to purchasing auto or homeowners insurance,” says Brian Burgess, Vice President, Strategy and Business Development. There are four levels of plans ranging from the lowest premiums but higher copays, deductibles, and coinsurance bronze plans to the high-premium, lower copay, deductible, and coinsurance platinum plans. A special website is dedicated to helping patients and consumers navigate the options. The site is: www.stmaryhealthcare.org/ insurance. Or, colleagues and consumers can call 217.710.5888. “People who are struggling to pay their bills are likely to see significant subsidies that will make health insurance very, very economical,” says Burgess. Who Qualifies? What Colleagues Can Do All U.S. citizens and legal residents who meet income guidelines will be trying to figure out the right plan for themselves and their family. St. Mary is launching an advertising and communications campaign, which includes a print ad, Web materials, direct mail, and outreach programs for the community. “St. Mary has trained counselors to help anyone who calls our referral line or goes to our website work through the process and understand what is available,” says Burgess. Why It Matters St. Mary is proud to be a trusted resource for the hard-working Pennsylvanians who will be shopping for affordable coverage. The health insurance marketplace aligns with our mission to expand access to care for the underserved in our communities. “The health insurance marketplace has the power to advance our mission, make healthcare affordable for individuals, and strengthen our hospital’s ability to improve the health of our communities,” says Terri Rivera, Vice President, Mission and Community Health. “It is critical that we each learn all we can about how they work — and that we share this information broadly with those we serve.” Information will be coming out over the next several weeks, and people For Benefits-Eligible Colleagues For Colleagues Who Need Health Insurance St. Mary will continue to offer comprehensive health coverage in 2014 for benefits- Consider coverage options through a plan of your spouse’s employer or your parent’s n n eligible colleagues. n If you were benefits eligible in 2013, you will likely be benefits eligible in 2014 unless you have had an employment status change (for example, moving from full-time to per diem). n Similar to other years, if you are benefits eligible, you will be able to choose the St. Mary health plan that works best for you and your family during benefits open enrollment, October 21 through November 8. n To make this process easier for you, open enrollment will be a “passive enrollment.” This means you can just let most of your current elections “rollover” into 2014 (more details coming soon). employer (if you are under age 26), Medicaid, Medicare, or the new health insurance marketplace. n If you decide to enroll through the marketplace, you will need to provide information about St. Mary Medical Center and our health plans. n The healthcare reform law requires almost all U.S. citizens and legal resident aliens to have healthcare coverage starting January 1, 2014, or pay a penalty. n If you have questions about this information, visit www.healthcare.gov to learn more. growth New Physicians on Staff Provide Specialized Urology Care Jamison Jaffe, DO, and Justin Harmon, DO, two of the region’s leading urologic surgeons, have joined the medical staff at St. Mary Medical Center and opened a new office of their practice, Comprehensive Urologic Specialists, in Suite 334 of the St. Clare Medical Building on the St. Mary campus in Langhorne. Dr. Harmon and Dr. Jaffe specialize in diagnosing and treating conditions of the urinary tract in men and women, and of the reproductive system in men, utilizing medical management and specialized surgical procedures. Having completed hundreds of cases, Dr. Harmon and Dr. Jaffe are among the most experienced urologists in the region to perform complex procedures using robotic surgical technology. Both doctors are accomplished presenters who train physicians across the country in minimally invasive and laparoscopic surgical techniques, especially for the treatment of prostate cancer. invasive treatment options for kidney stone disease, erectile dysfunction, incontinence, painful urination, enlarged prostate, infections, and cystitis. The capabilities of Comprehensive Urologic Specialists will serve to expand the robotic surgical program at St. Mary Medical Center. Dr. Justin Harmon Dr. Jamison Jaffe Both physicians completed fellowship training in laparoscopic and robotic urologic surgery at the prestigious L’institute Mutualiste Montsouris in Paris, where the laparoscopic prostatectomy procedure was pioneered. Dr. Harmon and Dr. Jaffe have extensive experience in the treatment of other urologic cancers, including bladder, kidney, ureter, adrenal and testicle. They also specialize in minimally “The community relies on St. Mary for access to the best technology and most advanced clinical expertise. The knowledge and skill of these accomplished surgeons support our mission in providing the highest quality of care in the treatment of cancerous and non-cancerous conditions of the genitourinary tract,” says Susan Sample, Service Line Administrator of Oncology. To request an appointment with Dr. Harmon or Dr. Jaffe, call 215.710.4490. quality Medication Safety Strategies at St. Mary Medical Center Patient safety is an integral part of the organizational culture at St. Mary Medical Center, and we have made fundamental changes in our internal processes relating to medication safety in response to a report published in 1999 by the Institute of Medicine. This report found that nearly 7,000 patient deaths each year were caused by preventable medication errors. According to Suzette Cunicelli, RPh, Director of Pharmacy Services, changes include the implementation of new technology and work flows for the ordering, storage, dispensing, and administration of medicines. “As healthcare professionals, we have a responsibility to put our patients’ safety above all else. We must all take a greater role in medication safety and do our part to protect our patients and limit the number of preventable medication errors that occur,” Cunicelli says. What We Have Done n n Meditech — The Meditech electronic health record system allows for the use of an electronic medication administration record (eMAR). This feature displays all medicines prescribed for a patient and the status of those orders, whether the order is awaiting verification by a pharmacist or acknowledgment by a nurse. The administration times are provided and if a dose is past due, the system alerts the user. Nurses can document the reason for not administering a dose that is due. Barcode Medication Administration — Another safety feature is barcode medication administration (BCMA), which helps ensure that the intended patient receives the intended medication. “Patients’ wrist bands contain a barcode that links specifically to their eMAR. The medication barcode is in the drug dictionary within Meditech, and if the incorrect barcode is scanned prior to patient administration, the system alerts the user to the discrepancy,” explains Jessica Ellis, PharmD, Medication Safety Officer and Lead Pharmacist. n Smart Pumps — Smart pumps are used for intravenous medication administration. With this device, the nurse selects the medication to be infused and the rate or dose the patient was prescribed. The system is set with dose range limits for each medication, so if the setting falls outside of that range, it Continued on page 7 Five Rights of Medication Administration 1. The right patient 2. The right drug 3. The right dose 4. The right route 5. The right time Cunicelli and Ellis also advise colleagues to also consider a sixth right of administration: the right indication. ED Phase III from page 1 The crowd also was introduced to Denise Keegan and her 7-yearold son Carter. The boy received emergency care at St .Mary this summer after he suffered a severe leg laceration. As a nurse, Keegan knew how to handle the situation from a medical perspective, but emotionally it was difficult. The paramedics took Carter to St. Mary, and Keegan followed with her 10-year-old daughter. Carter’s injury required 19 stitches, which were done with the aid of nitrous oxide to alleviate pain and stress. In addition to having one of the first 24/7 pediatric emergency care centers in the area, St. Mary is the only hospital in the region to implement the use of nitrous oxide (N2O) in treating children. The practice of providing light sedation of N2O is a safe and effective way to reduce the pain and anxiety children and parents face in stressful situations such as administering stitches, mending lacerations, or helping with broken bones. Nitrous oxide is very fast acting, with virtually no side effects, according to doctors. As Carter showed off his treated leg at the blessing ceremony, his mom said,“Coming here was dramatic for all of us, but we felt love and kindness from everyone at St. Mary. We highly recommend your hospital to everyone.” This final phase of the $22 million construction project completes the expansion of the pediatric care center, which is specially designed to meet the specific emergency medical needs of children and their families. Features include 11 private treatment rooms, a pediatric triage area, separate reception areas for potentially infectious and noninfectious conditions, and a specially equipped pediatric resuscitation room. The project has been generously supported by a $2 million grant from the Bristol–Myers Squibb Foundation. To view more event photos, check out the St. Mary website, the My St. Mary Intranet, and our Facebook page. community benefit Comprehensive Concussion Program of Bucks County Helping Students Recover and Thrive After a Traumatic Brain Injury A partnership between the St. Mary Trauma Center and the Bucks County Intermediate Unit #22 Brain STEPS Team is helping youth athletes — and their coaches and parents — tackle the ever-present and prevalent problem of concussion. According to a report recently published by Safe Kids Worldwide: n n Concussions account for 12 percent of hospital emergency department (ED) visits by youth athletes — or one concussion-related ED visit every three minutes. Athletes ages 12 to 15 comprise 47 percent of all sports-related concussions treated in the hospital. “The Comprehensive Concussion Program of Bucks County was introduced in 2011. The goals of the program are to help schools, families, and the athletes themselves understand the impact that a concussion can have on learning and academic performance and to support students returning to school after a traumatic brain injury,” says Trauma Prevention Coordinator Kimberly Everett, who works with the 17 high schools and four middle schools that currently offer the program. Targeted Interventions After a concussion, students may experience headaches, dizziness, or balance issues related to post-concussive syndrome. In these cases, a decrease in mental and physical activities is an important part of the healing process. Students may need to take “brain breaks,” short periods of rest in the nurse’s office during the school day. “Sometimes note taking triggers symptoms in the classroom, so having teachers give kids their notes on paper instead of making them write can be helpful,” says Everett.“Or sometimes the noise while changing classes or eating lunch is too much for students after a concussion, so they may have to change five minutes before or after everyone else. Small accommodations like these can help students function and get through their day.” ImPACT Testing In addition to facilitating the coordinated management of care after a concussion, the Comprehensive Concussion Program assists schools with the implementation of statemandated concussion education and baseline Continued on page 8 Quality Recognition from page 2 United States — not just in quality indicators for clinical care, but also in patient satisfaction. Our guiding belief is that if we provide high-quality care, our patients will be satisfied, which will fuel St. Mary’s growth in providing important services to the community,” says Sharon Brown, Vice President, Patient Care and Chief Nursing Officer. To view or download the Joint Commission report, visit www.jointcommission.org. Best of Bucks Award The Bucks County Courier Times recently asked readers about their favorite services in the community — and St. Mary Medical Center was voted again as the Best of Bucks 2013. It’s our mission to provide high-quality care in our community, and we’ve been dedicated to that mission since our founding in 1973. St. Mary is honored to be Bucks County’s most trusted and preferred name in healthcare. Town Halls from page 1 scheduled for November 23, will include the following departments: Community Health, Langhorne Physicians Services, Patient Financial Services and Finance, Marketing and Physician Services, BCHIP and the IT training room. New teams to join the location are Operations Improvement and Colleague Relations. the list of major topics discussed during the town halls. For example, the new 41 University Boulevard building will be secured with card-access technology. Updates on safety included an increase in duress buttons, which were added to the Pharmacy recently, as well “Colleague Relations and Operations Improvement will move to the new location to support the expansion of the OR and to provide more working space for the departments,” according to Wozniak. Colleagues will have an opportunity to tour the new building when construction is completed. as assistance call stations added to the St. Clare main entrance. In addition, the parking garage added improved signage to all assistance call stations. A safety tip of the month is also issued to all colleagues. In an effort to continually improve safety and security, Harry Myers, Director of Safety, Security, and Emergency Management and his team, completed an assessment in June on the safety and security of the “Within our commitment to safety, we check all doors on the perimeter each night to ensure they’re locked. If visitors remain on campus after hours, we encourage all nursing stations to call Security to issue visitor passes for those guests staying after hours,” says Myers. Safety escorts are available to colleagues on campus and can be arranged by calling the switchboard (“0”). Other security measures include a 24-hour safety patrol throughout the campus. All colleagues are invited to attend one of the next town hall meetings to learn about key St. Mary updates. For a schedule of upcoming dates, visit the Colleague Resources section of the My St. Mary Intranet. Safety Tips To encourage safety and security at St. Mary, the following safety and security tips are highly recommended: n Secure your belongings at all times. n Immediately report any spills, potholes, slippery conditions, or other safety concerns to the switchboard by dialing “0.” n Report any unusual sounds, packages, or persons while on campus to Ext. 5555. n If, after hours, you see someone trying to access the locked doors of the perimeter and this person does not have access, notify Security immediately. n Always make sure to lock your computers when you’re away from your desk — even if just for a second. Safety Initiatives Colleague and workplace safety were also among hospital, off-site locations of the hospital, and physician practices, which led to the added duress buttons and assistance call stations. growth St. Mary Rehabilitation Hospital and Main Campus Construction Progress During the recent town hall meetings, major construction updates were shared on the development of the St. Mary Rehabilitation Hospital. The new facility is scheduled to accept its first patient in May 2014. Currently, sidewalks are being poured for a pedestrian walkway from the main St. Mary campus to the new hospital, turning lanes are to be developed, and trees are being planted around the perimeter of the new site. In addition, on October 8, the construction team unveiled a head-wall mock-up, a demonstration of where clinical items will be located in the patient room, in addition to all electrical work and the bathroom. Lisa Haney, Executive Director, Inpatient Rehabilitation, along with rehab nursing and medical staff are working with the project team to continue development of the patient rooms. further back from the highway — a common colleague question. “The new 50-bed hospital will allow us to expand inpatient rehab services to better meet the needs of Bucks County residents,” says Haney.“Currently, the rehabilitation unit at St. Mary ranks in the top 4 percent of 789 nationwide rehabilitation facilities based on clinical outcomes and evaluated by the UDSMR® in its Program Evaluation Model.” During the town hall meetings, Wozniak also explained why the new hospital is being set back “We wanted the rehab unit further back due to the traffic and our 24/7 availability; it is best for our neighbors to not look out and see a four-story building. We want to be a good neighbor to the surrounding area and to provide a quieter setting for patients,” according to Wozniak. Other Projects Planned and Under Way MS1A is receiving a cosmetic upgrade four rooms at a time, while the contractor selection process is underway for planned renovations to the lobby and Labor and Delivery. The cafeteria is in the first phase of being remodeled, a project that includes new furniture and remodeling of the serving areas. Six new healing gardens and a rooftop mural are also in the works. Breast Cancer Awareness Month from page 1 Sample, Service Line Administrator of Oncology.“We look forward to celebrating our survivors at this event and educating the community on our continuum of care here at St. Mary.” for the event can be found at www.925xtu.com/contest/ celebration-luncheon-0 or at www.StMaryHealthcare.org. Leading up to the celebration luncheon, 92.5 WXTU has partnered with St. Mary to collect hundreds of nominations for the warriors in pink and to share their stories on the air for WXTU listeners. The stories were read by 92.5 WXTU radio hosts Doc Medek and Andie Summers. While celebrating breast cancer survivors, St. Mary also is providing services that benefit the community central to our identity and mission as a Catholic healthcare organization. Through targeted outreach programs such as the St. Mary Breast Health Initiative (BHI), we are addressing some of the region’s greatest areas of unmet need. Winning nominations will be invited to the luncheon as guests of honor to hear a private concert by Sheryl Crow and remarks from radio hosts Medek and Summers; Sister Marie Barbara, St. Mary Chaplain, Spiritual Care department; Stacy Krisher, MD, Medical Director, St. Mary Breast Center; and Sample. Details Bucks County women age 40 and older receive free clinical breast exams and screening mammograms. According to Debbie Jankowski, Breast Health Initiative Coordinator, since the BHI’s inception in 2008 through September 2013, more than 1,880 low-income Bucks County women have been screened for breast cancer. Of that number, 27 women have been diagnosed with breast cancer, and one was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. St. Mary Breast Health Initiative “This has been an unusual year in that we’ve had more positive diagnoses — 10 diagnoses in nine months — than we’ve had in total for any given year,” says Jankowski. The BHI is made possible by an outstanding collaboration between the St. Mary Breast Center, the Radiology team, and our breast surgeons. Through the BHI, financially eligible, uninsured In addition, the women treated this year also are dealing with more serious socioeconomic challenges than seen in prior years. “We’ve been doing our best to get these ladies the help they so desperately need, from arranging transportation to and from medical appointments, to helping women apply for financial assistance, and referring them to other resources for dental, vision, and primary medical care,” Jankowski says. “Thanks to the BHI, we have the chance to make a difference through prevention, education, and early detection. Many of the women served feel comfortable sharing their health concerns with me. Through the BHI, they begin to establish a connection to St. Mary Medical Center,” shares Lisa Sortino–Sowa RN, MSN, CRNP, CBEC, Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner. Medication Safety from page 4 will either provide a warning to the user or a hard stop. “A hard stop will not allow the medication to be infused with the current settings, and the medication cannot infuse until the settings have been changed to be one within the appropriate range,” says Ellis. n Patient-Controlled Analgesia — Designated patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pumps allow patients to safely manage the amount of pain medication they receive within predefined limits. The pumps allow necessary information to be programmed into the pump to administer this type of medication safely. “The benefits of using PCA therapy is that patients control how much medication they receive based on their need at that particular time. This method can decrease risks associated with pain medication treatment and avoid overdoses of potentially strong medications that can cause significant side effects,” notes Ellis. n Computerized Provider Order Entry (CareLink) — The implementation of CareLink in 2012 brought with it many potential advantages to decrease medication errors. CareLink allows automatic generation of prescriber alerts for allergies, adverse drug reactions, therapeutic duplications, and drug-drug interactions. “It also decreases the risk of misinterpretation of medication orders due to illegible handwriting and eliminated the need to decipher signatures of prescribers in order to clarify any medication orders in question. Prescribers now enter orders while onsite or remotely, which decreases the need for telephone orders,” says Cunicelli. n Look Alike/Sound Alike Medication List — A list of look-alike/sound-alike medications has been developed to raise awareness of brands that may be confused due to having similar names, such as Azilect® and Aricept®. We also have developed a list of “high-alert” medications that are more likely to cause patient harm if involved in an administration error. What Colleagues Can Do Every colleague who is involved in direct patient care has an important role in supporting efforts to prevent medication-related errors. “Use all safeguards put in place to the fullest extent. Workarounds may save time, but they do not save lives the way using the equipment as intended has proven to do. Pay attention to the alerts you receive from the safety equipment. Communicate clearly with other healthcare professionals and ask questions when you are unsure. Use the resources available to you. We have patient safety officers, a medication safety officer, and 24/7 pharmacist coverage,” Cunicelli says. If a medication error or a near-miss does happen, focus on the system and what process improvements could take place. “All errors that reach the patient, as well as near-misses, should be reported using the Midas+ system, which is accessible through SMMCLinks. The problem cannot be fixed if the situation is unknown, and reporting an error or near-miss could prevent a similar situation from taking place in the future. All reports are thoroughly investigated and considerations for process improvement are discussed at the Medication Safety Committee meetings quarterly,” she adds. For more information on medication safety or to discuss a concern, contact Ellis at 215.710.2031 or [email protected]. people ST. MARY CALENDAR Values in Practice Award Tuesday, Oct. 15 – Friday, Nov. 15 Mandatory Colleague Flu Shots Honors LIFE St. Mary Team Check the My St. Mary Intranet for a current schedule of times and locations LIFE St. Mary colleagues Mary Ellen Davis, Kira Fragassi, and Carrie Weiss, RN, recently received the Colleague-to-Colleague Values Award under the St. Mary Medical Center value of Justice. n Information: 215.710.5795 Saturday, November 2, 9 am – 1:30 pm Orthopedics 2013 n Sheraton Bucks County Hotel 400 Oxford Valley Road, Langhorne Registration: 215.710. 4612 Monday, Nov. 4 – Monday, Nov. 25 Colleague Engagement Survey n Visit the My St. Mary Intranet or SMMC Links to access the online survey Information: 215.710.5192 Tuesday, November 19, 8 am – 4 pm Annual St. Mary Trauma Conference n Sheraton Bucks County Hotel 400 Oxford Valley Road, Langhorne Registration: 215.710.5900 IMPORTANT NUMBERS Emergencies Ext. 5555 (To report emergencies) n St. Mary Hotline Ext. 7777 (For important announcements, such as severe weather and emergent situations) Davis, Community Liaison for LIFE St. Mary, and Weiss were nominated by Social Worker Carol Benderson–Lighter, MSW, LSW, for visiting participants of LIFE St. Mary and sharing turkey dinner with them last Thanksgiving. In addition, Benderson–Lighter nominated Fragassi, Medical Records Coordinator, because she took care of a LIFE St. Mary participant who had to evacuate his home for days because of Hurricane Sandy. Fragassi visited the LIFE St. Mary participant at a motel to make sure he didn’t feel isolated and to ensure he knew LIFE St. Mary cared about him. “LIFE St. Mary is a unique program because it provides all-inclusive care to our participants who enroll, usually for the rest of their lives. Because of this, our colleagues become very involved in the lives of our participants and often of their families,” says Benderson–Lighter.“I’m privileged to see acts of extraordinary kindness from so many of my colleagues. I was particularly inspired by how Carrie, Kira, and Mary Ellen went above and beyond the call of duty at times when our participants were most vulnerable. Each of the three older adults who were helped by them shared with me how much these acts of kindness meant to them.” The Colleague-to-Colleague Values Award program allows you to nominate individuals and departments that exemplify the St. Mary values of Excellence, Integrity, Justice, or Collaboration. Nomination forms are available on the My St. Mary Intranet and on the VIP Board outside the cafeteria. n President and CEO Ext. GREG (4734) (To share concerns and ask questions) n Carebridge 800.437.0911 (To contact the EAP) n Work-Related Injuries 1. Contact supervisor 2. Notify Colleague Health, ext. 5827 n Compliance [email protected] or 800.254.0458 (To report concerns related to Compliance/HIPAA) n Joint Commission Quality Monitoring [email protected] or 800.994.6610 (To report issues relating to safety, quality) n Spirit is published by Marketing & Communications and is posted on the Intranet.Submit news items to Liz Brachelli at [email protected] or 215.710.5839. Concussion Testing from page 5 neurocognitive testing before the fall, winter, and spring sports seasons. Everett estimates that 300 to 500 students at each participating school take part in the immediate post-concussion assessment and cognitive testing (ImPACT) — upwards of 7,500 kids this year alone. “The ImPACT test, which is done in a school computer lab, evaluates memory, reaction time, and additional cognitive processing. If a child sustains a concussion, the test is administered again to help determine his or her ability to return to their academic and athletic environments,” she explains. Other Programs Prevention of brain and other traumatic injuries is a multidisciplinary effort at St. Mary Medical Center. Our Trauma team collaborates with St. Mary physicians and clinical departments — including Neurology, Neurosurgery, Rehabilitation, www.StMaryHealthcare.org www.facebook.com/stmaryhealthcare Neuropsychiatry, and Orthopedics — to deliver community-education programs designed for the needs of various age groups. These groups include children, adolescents, adults, and older adults. If you are interested in more information regarding any of these programs, call 215.710.2350 or email keverett@ stmaryhealthcare.org. Game Changers Stats, Stories and What Communities Are Doing to Protect Young Athletes AUGUST 2013 The St. Mary Medical Center– Brain STEPS collaboration is featured on page 8 of “Game Changers,” a Safe Kids Sports Report published in August 2013. St. Mary is the lead organization for Safe Kids Bucks County. Download the report from www.safekids.org (go to What We Do>Library>Research Reports).