Volume 11, Issue 6 March 12, 2004
Hospital Health Career Seminars
The hospital is sponsoring a series of health career seminars to interest middle school and high school students and careers in our industry.
The seminars are free and open to students, parents, and school counselors from throughout the Lower Valley. They will all be held in the new classroom.
April 14 @ 7:00 p.m. Char Tong on Social Work
April 29th @ 7:00 p.m. Marianne Phillips on Laboratory work (pictured above)
May 6th @ 4:00 p.m. Karen Tucker on Nursing
May 11th @ 4:00 p.m. Kerry Montague on Respiratory Therapy
By the way, thank you to Sandra Linde and Kerry Montague for representing the hospital at the CK Family Health Night March 11th. We also saw Kathy & Frank Finlayson representing their church. Its a busy night, and good exposure for lots of family health programs.
Hopping...err. hoping... you will help!
The 2nd Annual Employee Easter Egg Hunt is on.
We have the minimum amount of participants to move forward with this
event.
We have a total of 37 children ranging from 1 to 10 years
of age.
The date is set for Saturday, April 3rd, the location has
yet to be determined. More
~The Employee Activity Committee
In This Corner by Jon D. Smiley, C.E.O.
Mr. Smiley is on vacation. His column will return suntanned and rested next issue.
CME Speaker
Report on Organ Donation 
submitted by Barbara Martinez, RN, Med/Surg
Presented by Mike Meyer, CEBT, Regional Director of the Northwest Lions Eye Bank. (pictured above with Gabriella Barker, Education Coordinator)
Did you know there is a Donor Registry in Washington State? There is, and it is called "Living Legacy Registry". If you or a family member/friend wish to be on this registry, you can do so in four ways:
1. On line at www.livinglegacyregistry.org.
2. In person when renewing your driver's license.
3. By phone at 1-877-275-5269.
4. By filling out a registry card.
This registry was legislatively created enabling the public to make informed choices about organ/tissue donation and to record their personal decision. Your registration is considered legal consent for donation. Everyone is a potential organ donor regardless of age or medical history. This could mean you or your patient at the hospital.
There are three ways to donate: transplant only, research only, and for transplant and research.
There are over 1200 local individuals and over 80,000 people on the waiting list hoping through an organ/tissue donation by someone like you or your patient, they will be able to continue their life.
One donor can save the lives of many people. Organ and tissues that are transplanted include: kidney, cornea, heart, heart valves, lungs, liver, pancreas, bones, bone marrow, skin and veins.
If you have a patient whose brain death has been determined by the hospital, or you have a terminal patient that is about to expire, the hospital is required by law to place a phone call to the Organ Procurement Organization (OPO). All deaths and imminent deaths must be referred despite of age or medical history.
A call to OPO must be placed prior to talking with the family about organ donation. OPO will tell you if your patient is eligible for organ/tissue donation. You will need the form "Disposition of Body/Donor Inquiry" when making this call. The phone numbers are listed on this form. I found it helpful to review this form just to become familiar with it.
If a person has registered with the Living Legacy Registry, they should let their family members know their wishes so there is no conflict when this time arrives. The family does have the right to refuse certain types of donations. However if the person has registered for solid organ donations such as heart, liver, lungs, intestine, kidney/pancreas, these types of organs will be procured without the family approval or consent.
If a person is not on the registry and family wishes to donate, this is where you will need the "Consent for Organ and Tissue Donation". Again, another form I found worthwhile reviewing.
There are time limitations to organ/tissue recovery. Therefore, your prompt action regarding your patient is necessary. Recovery times are:
Eye 2-12 hours Tissue 12-24 hours Organ 12-24 hours
Asystolic 4-10 hours (if on ventilator or not progressed to brain death yet.)
It is important to avoid approaching any family member at any of the following locations to discuss donation: bedside, hospital chapel, busy waiting rooms. It is also important to remember not to take the "Consent" form with you when first approaching the family for organ donation.
If you are uncomfortable approaching the family, try to secure information on where and how the family can be contacted after they leave the hospital. You can call Mike Meyer at the Northwest Lions Eye Bank for his support in approaching the family. He is full of good suggestions as well as will make a representative from the Eye Bank available to approach the family. His number is (509) 474-4946.
There is never a cost for organ donation. Donors and Donor families are never charged, neither do they receive payment or compensation.
If you have questions regarding Organ/Tissue donation, you can call the Donor Registry at 1-877-275-5269 or Mike Meyer at the Northwest Lions Eye Bank, 1-509-474-4946. Mike presented our hospital with the information and much more during an in service March 2. He invited us to call if there are ever any questions.
Editor's Note: Special thanks to Barbara for writing a story on the In-Service she attended. If you attend an In-Service that you enjoy please consider sending me an email or mox about the event.
Training
Opportunity Notice TTY telephone
equipment
For ER Admitting and Nursing Staff as well as House
Supervisors. (If anyone else wants to attend, feel welcome please.)
Admitting Staff:
March 18th Thursday @ 3:00 pm Administrative Conference
Room and ER
ER staff and House Supervisors:
March 15th Monday @ 8:00 am Administrative Conference Room
and ER
ER staff and House Supervisors:
March 22 @ 8:00 am Administrative Conference Room and ER
Questions? Contact Char Tong or Linda Garner.
EMS Live at Night Series - Musculoskeletal Trauma - March 12th in the MS Conference Room. via telehealth.
Sentinel Event Identification & Follow Up - Thursday March 18, 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. via JCSN in New Classroom. Local questions about this program should be directed to Gabriella Barker.
Acute Ishemic Stroke - Monday, March 22 at 8:00 a.m., presented by Michael Day, RN, MSN, CCRN, Outreach Educator, Northwest MedStar. Location: New Classroom at SCH. To register contact Gabriella Barker.
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.
To see earlier class announcements and other Nursing Notes click on either Nursing Notes link. It will take you to the previous issue of this newsletter. If you need help surfing through the electronic newsletter you can contact Tom Lathen in Community Relations.
You can also get class information from the office of Gabriella Barker at any time of the day. Flyers for all current classes are posted on her door in the Administrative wing. So, even if you are working nights or weekends you can see the latest flyers by taking a walk down the admin. hallway. Your department manager should also have a copy of the monthly class schedule if one is not posted in your department.
Nursing Notes will now also be kept on a direct link at the front page of the hospital website. So, if you are looking for updated information on classes you can come to the newsletter, or the direct link on the website.
Business Office Would like you to Know
To employees and their families
who have used the emergency department since 2/1/04, there is a new billing
service for the physician services:
Columbia
Valley ER Physicians
1-800-355-2470
Please direct any questions
about your billing to them. Prior to 2/1/04:
Continue to query EmCare Physicians at 1-866-305-3627. Business
Office is always available to help you smooth the speed bumps. Contact
us at any time with questions.
Healthcare Scholarship Available
Honoring Soldiers,
Citizens, Family, Friends 
If you have a close family member serving overseas right now, please join in an effort to honor their service. Ruth Hagensicker in the Cafe is putting up a display in the case outside the Cafe to honor service men & women who are currently away from home.
Bring a 5 X 7 picture in with the name of the military person and his or her association with the hospital. The pictures will be posted to remind everyone that people from all around us are overseas working in defense of freedom. Leave the pictures with Ruth in the Cafe.
Costco Coming Back
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
There are morning and afternoon sessions. Please contact Gabriella Barker to reserve your spot.
Health Care Providers - April 7 - May 12
Heart Savers - March 31 - April 28 - May 26
To avoid over crowded classes, disappointment and last minute scheduling, please attend a class during your birth month or the month prior to your evaluation date. Don't forget to document your CPR achievement on your continuing education record.
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.