Volume 11, Issue 4 February 13, 2004
New Employees Welcomed in February Orientation
Liz Messersmith - ER - Liz worked previously at Kennewick General urgent care, and at KGH.
Tonya Baldwin - Family Birth Center, from Richland. " I moved to Richland October 2003, I will be working here per diem. I also work at Kadlec in Richland. I have 6 children ages 3-19. I enjoy the outdoors and am trying to learn the area so I can decide where to settle down.
Victoria Caballero - Admitting, from Grandview. "I have a 3 year old daughter, and a boyfriend. I have been here for a while already as a volunteer for Carol Allen. Being here has been a real enjoyment, I like all my co-workers."
Kristy Ann Smith - Med/Surg, from Outlook. "I grew up in Outlook and graduated from Sunnyside Christian H.S. in 1995. I lived in Yakima for a few years and then moved back to Outlook. I have two kids and enjoy spending time with them. I am glad to be a new employee at SCH."
Clara Bucio - Family Birth Center, from Grandview. "I am a wife and mother of two, and also work at the women's clinic in Grandview. I am currently at student at YVCC in Grandview and striving for my nursing degree."
Employees Recognized for Years of Service
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1. Laurie Grimes, RN. Honored for 15 years of service in the Emergency Department. 2. Mary Flores honored for ten years in Environmental Services. 3. Olga Zuniga honored for five years in Environmental Services. 4. Elaina Castillo honored for five years of service at the hospital in Human Resources and Nursing Administration. (Click on image for larger photo. It will take a few seconds to load depending on your internet connection speed.)
In This Corner by Jon D. Smiley, C.E.O.
The release of the President's budget last week kicked off the budget debate on Capitol Hill. Based on comments from the Republicans and the Democrats about fiscal discipline and spending, it promises to be a challenging year.
The President proposed no cuts to the Medicare program and provides funding to implement last year's Medicare Bill. This bill is important to our hospital because of the changes to the Critical Access Hospital law. Our hospital was designated Critical Access effective January 19th. We did receive notification this week that we have been federally certified as a Critical Access Hospital, and effective March 1 our Medicare rates will be adjusted accordingly.
Working as a Critical Access Hospital will also be another avenue for our quality improvement program and our customer service program to be monitored. So, we all must continue to take these programs seriously as part of what we do every day in our job. CQI and Customer Service is our job, it is not in addition to what we do.
The President's budget assumes the new Medicare program in total will cost almost $134 billion more than Congressional Budget Office estimates. This gap has already caused debate and politicking on Capitol Hill and may be a problem as the budget process moves forward. A key priority for SCH and all hospitals will be to protect Medicare funding as Congress develops its budget proposals.
What all this means will continue to be clarified over the spring and summer campaign months as well. What we can be certain of is that our hospital can best continue to deliver care as a Critical Access Hospital. We will continue to monitor the process in Washington D.C. and the parallel work in Olympia. Medicare and Medicaid are our primary sources of payment for the services we provide the Valley. So, we must work for fair funding for rural hospitals - balanced with the need to control government spending.
I am happy to announce the signing of Dr. Francesco Vinci, Internist, above, Dr. Vinci signed a contract with the hospital earlier this week. He will join us later this summer. Dr. Vinci is finishing training in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. We continue to look for two more internists, and expect to have more good news in the next few weeks.
Dr. Vinci and his wife Gemma have a four-month-old baby daughter. He is a very interesting individual who was born in Singapore, and raised in Canada and Italy. He maintains Canadian and Italian citizenship. Dr. Vinci served briefly in the Italian army as a physician before entering residency in Harrisburg.
*Nursing Notes
The hospital has received a grant for computers to help nursing education. This grant was received from Tri-County Workforce Panel for cross training employees to specialty areas that are difficult to recruit staff. Nancy Hultberg, RN, Assistant Nursing Service Administrator, worked to achieve this funding to train RN's to ICU/CCU, ED, PACU, Nursing Supervisors. The grant was awarded for over $5000 to purchase computers, site licensing for the ECCO (Essentials of Critical Care Orientation) Program, and 5 users. The hospital matches this amount in kind by paying for others to participate in this program. Congratulation to Nancy for her work to achieve this grant.
Pediatric Grand Rounds - Monthly educational programs for physicians, nursing and other health care providers. These programs originate from Spokane and are available for viewing by telemedicine at SCH. Click here for complete schedule. You may also contact Gabriella Barker for more information.
Lunch and Learn Educational Inservice. Friday, February 20, 2004 @ 12 Noon. Featuring Dr. Stuart Fine. University of Chicago Endocrinologist. "Latest Advances in Treating Dyslipidemia". Lunch provided by Pfizer. RSVP to Gabriella Barker in Education.
*Contributed by Linda Garner, DNS, and others.
Thank You To My Hospital Family
Submitted by Larry Lanigan
This is directed to all my friends in the Laboratory and throughout the hospital. I want you to know that your support and help in the past few weeks has meant a great deal to me.
We live and work around pain, illness, and death here at the hospital. Still, saying goodbye to someone we love is very hard. Caryl and I had been together 29 years - and I loved her dearly.
The handshakes, hugs, smiles and cards have gone a long way toward easing the pain of her loss. I can't begin to tell you how special and loved your actions made me feel. Times like this make me realize how fortunate I am to be working with such a great group of people.
Spring Fling Secret Pal
submitted by Penny Duren
While we're looking forward to sunny days and flowers blooming, we happily bid the snow goodbye. To welcome the coming of spring, the Employee Activity Committee invites you to join in a new secret pal activity. Contact Penny Duren at ext 1651 of via email or mox if you would like to participate. Contact by February 20. When you submit your name, it would be helpful if you would include a few of your favorite things to help your secret pal decide what to do for you.
The drawing for names will be by February 27. From March 1 until April 8, remember your Pal at least once a week by leaving small gifts, kind words or thoughtful deeds anonymously until April 8 - at which time you will reveal your identity at a potluck in the classroom from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Even if you choose not to participate in the secret pal activity, please plan to come to the potluck. If your last name begins with A-F, bring a dessert, G-L an appetizer, M-R a main dish, S-Z a salad.
In-House Interpreter List
The hospital has a list of employees who have passed an interpretation certification program. These individuals should be contacted if you need the assistance of an interpreter to communication with a patient or family member.
Berena
Zyph, Gracie Arredondo, Yolle Widdows, Ismael Barraza, Luis Ortega, Miguel
Martinez, Sheila Cerda, Mary Flores, Celia Castaneda, Irene Patina, Araceli
Trujillo, Eva Ayala, Yesenia Correa, Josie Perez, Diane Cantu, Silvia Cervantes,
Alica Garcia, Elena VanDoren, Vida Amaro, Suzie Chavez, Leonor Rubalcava,
Beatriz Perales, and Patricia Navarro.
Relay for Life
The annual Relay For Life is scheduled for May 15-16 in Grandview. The hospital will once again be a corporate sponsor for the event. Is anyone interested in being captain of a hospital team? Please contact Penny Duren if you'd like to take this responsibility on she has the team packet.
Costco Coming Back in March
Dani Briscoe - Costco Marketing Representative will be on site to conduct a membership drive. She will be bringing cookies and muffins and will have a drawing for employees.
See you there March 26 - 7:00 to 11:00 a.m.
CPR Schedule for Spring
Heart Savers Class February 25, March 31 or April 28.
Health Care Provider Class March 10, April 7 and May 12.
There are morning and afternoon sessions. Please contact Gabriella Barker to reserve your spot.
And Speaking of Fitness
submitted by Lisa Gray
The hospital is offering monthly Valley Racquet & Fitness membership dues for employees and family at a reduced corporate membership rate. The more employees we have sign up the lower the monthly dues will be.
Employees who are interested in becoming a member of the club please contact Human Resources for a membership sign up sheet. We would like to hear from you by next Wednesday, February 18th.
Employees who are active members of the Club can also benefit from these reduced rates. Please let us know if you are already a member by signing up with us for the corporate plan.
A Club employee will be at the hospital February 24 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. to enroll interested employees.
Letters
(Reprinted with permission. Name withheld by editor. )
Using words well is my trade in life, yet I find myself short of the right ones for this letter. The kindness, professionalism and tenderness I benefited from at your facility on January 26 went far beyond the call of duty. I had suffered a leg fracture that morning. It was my good fortune that it occurred in Sunnyside.
Let me mention in particular Irene Patina, Gretchen Mallory and Karen Quinn. These women possess a rare mix of professionalism and personal generosity that puts them in a class of their own. The medical care and thoughtfulness of Dr. Herrington was no less impressive. He kindly fielded phone calls from my wife and employer while calmly handling a continuous stream of patients.
As a journalist for The Oregonian newspaper, I have covered all aspects of the healthcare industry in the last 20 years. The more health care facilities face crisis , the more I believe that community institutions like yours are critical to the nation's health. Nothing gives a consumer more trust in those caring for him than the personal treatment available at small hospitals. Without trust between the public and the healthcare industry, nothing can work with any degree of efficiency. As Sunnyside, I knew I was being listened to, respected and most of all recognized as a human, not just a case number.
I thank you and your staff and wish you all the best in the future.
Sincerely,
PS
Portland, OR
Standards of Performance
Our hospital staff members are asked to sign a commitment to a standards of performance. If you don't remember that - click here and revisit what it means.
Visitor Policy Updated
The hospital has updated the visitor policy. Whether staff member or hospital visitor you can follow these links to view the policy in English and in Spanish.