Volume 11, Issue 25 December 3, 2004
Linda Garner, NSA, right, and Lisa Gray, HR Dir, Center are interviewed about the tree they decorated for the Auxiliary Festival of Trees Celebration.
In This Corner by Jon D. Smiley, C.E.O.
Our hope for the New Year and the next Legislature is for meaningful effort toward ending the gridlock that has prevented medical malpractice reform in our state. It is getting more difficult to recruit doctors to Washington, and more challenging to keep them in practice as other states (including California) have adopted limits on non-economic damages in medical malpractice.
One way you can help in the medical malpractice debate is to support Initiative 330. It is an initiative to the state legislature to mandate reform. You can find out more about the initiative at www.yesoni330.org. You can also stop by my office and pick up a copy of their brochure.
While the Secretary of State has certified the election of Governor Dino Rossi, it is apparent that the possibility of a third recount of ballots could delay the final decision. The possibility exists that both candidates will be preparing to take the job, and we will not have a governor for several more days.
As I said in an earlier column, I believe we can work with either candidate. My hope as as voter and resident of this state is that neither party make a mockery of the election as was done with the presidential race in Florida four years ago.
There are lots more holiday activities coming up in the hospital and our community in the weeks ahead. I hope you plan on enjoying the Farm Implement Parade this weekend. The parade is an important event in Sunnyside and we are fortunate to have a front row seat in our main parking lot. (Some of that parking lot will be restricted for patient and employee access on Saturday.)
December New Employees Welcomed!
Orientation was held December 2nd.
Each new employee is asked to write a note to share in the newsletter. (They are identified left to right.)
Linda McClelland - Linda works in Utilization Review. Shed and her husband recently relocated to Zillah.
Mary Larson - Mary works in the Lab and lives in Prosser. "I moved here to the Valley from Nebraska, and I'm naturally a Cornhusker football fan, however now I am a Cougar fan. I love the area and find the opportunities here to be excellent.
Michelle Cram - Michelle is an RN in the Family Birth Center. She and her family are in the process of relocating from Kelso. "I'm married with 3 daughters, 4 horses, and 2 dogs."
Elizabeth DelReal - Elizabeth lives in Grandview and works for Environmental Services. "This is my first hospital job. I have three children - Stephen 18, Andrea 17 and Jasmine 10. I'm also a caregiver for my mom. My sister Martha works in X-ray.
Auxiliary News
December 1st was delivery day for Auxiliary poinsettias (Yolle Widdows-Guizar pictured above). The holidays are a busy busy time for all the members of our hospital Auxiliary.
The Auxiliary gift shop is also open for your Christmas shopping needs. There are many special gifts that have been brought in to help "secret Santa" shoppers, and other shoppers too. Employees can shop by payroll deduction at the gift shop with your name badge.
The Festival of Trees was another big success this year. More than 100 people attended. The tree decorated by Susan Babcock in honor of the "Red Hat Society" was selected as the public's favorite tree among those who attended and voted. The trees were purchased by various businesses, including several of our clinic offices, are will be on display in those offices until after Christmas. Susan's tree (pictured below left) is at the Daily Sun News. Charlene Maling from the Auxiliary is also a Red Hat member and we captured her near the tree. The picture at right is part of the volunteer group responsible for this year's festival of trees. (Click on the image for a larger picture.)
The Flu Situation
submitted by Sheila Robinson
We have 50 doses of
FluMist vaccine. This can be given only to those who are under 50 years of age
and healthy. Using the CDC guidelines for prioritizing flu vaccine, there is a
list of employees who are high risk, moderate risk and so on. The employees who
are high risk for being exposed to flu will be the first to get the FluMist
unless they are 50 or older.
We are supposed to
receive 100 doses of injectable flu vaccine. The priority list criteria are 1)
being 65 years old or more, 2) having chronic organic disease and 3) being a
health care worker with direct patient care duties. The primary reason for
healthcare worker vaccination is to protect the patients whose immune status
make them susceptible to complications from getting the flu. The secondary
reason for healthcare vaccination is to decrease illness in a workforce in which
there is a shortage already.
We expect that many
of our inpatients will not have gotten the flu vaccine this year because of the
supply problem. There will be an emphasis on getting these patients vaccinated
while they are here. At this point,
we have earmarked 30 doses of the 100 for patients. This will be flexible
depending on our inpatients' vaccination and health status.
Nursing Notes
Lunch and Learn Series -Congested Heart Failure (CHF), Dr. Francesco Vinci, December 6th, 12 Noon, Admin. Conference Room.
Pediatric Grand Rounds - "Pediatric Ophthalmology Potpourri", December 8th, 8:00 a.m., Med Surg Conference Room (via telehealth).
Oncology Grand Rounds - December 10th at 12 Noon, Med Surg Conference Room (via telehealth). "Issues in Thoracic Surgery". Dr. Gregory Luna, CME II.
CBT - Annual Conscious Sedation Competency. The new annual computer based training Conscious Sedation competency model is now complete and ready for roll out to all identified staff and physicians. If you have not received information about the program, and you need to, contact Gabriella Barker in Education. All identified candidates will have to have valid ACLS and/or BLS in order to access the computer based training module.
Women's Grand Rounds - December 17th, Med Surg Conference Room. Dr. Susan Reed. "Another Look at Hormone Replacement".
Thanks
to all the staff of SCH who make a difference each day in our
patients and coworkers life. Your devotion to duty and care of patients,
family and each other is what makes SCH a great place to work. I
appreciate you and want to say thanks, Linda
Garner, RN/NSA.
News on other activities
The 3rd Annual Children's Christmas Party will be Saturday, December 18th in the Classroom from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. We welcome children, and or grandchildren (aged 10 or younger) of employees, volunteers and medical staff.
If you want to "RSVP" for children or grandchildren in your family please contact Lisa Gray in HR by December 8th. She needs to send Santa the names and ages of all of the children who will be attending.
The Annual All Staff Christmas luncheon will be December 15th. A couple will be provided for the lunch. Also open to physicians, and volunteers. The Café will be closed to the public during lunch that day.
Friday, December 3rd is/was another "Rebels with a Cause" Bake Sale in the Lobby 9:00 a.m. until sold out! Proceeds go to the team effort for the 2005 "Relay for Life".
HO HO HO!
The
maintenance staff brings in a Christmas tree that would make Charlie Brown
proud.
(It's
now in the courtyard, and it is a big one!)
The
Maintenance Department would also like to say thank you to everyone who put up
with the inconvenience of the recent carpet installation. They hope you
like the new look, and will do what you can to help keep the carpet in good
shape (lids on coffee cups, things like that.)