Volume 11, Issue 7 March 26, 2004
Mabel
Kluth Ends 29 Year Career
submitted by Ed Smolak
It's with much sadness, and yet happiness for her, that I would like to announce that Mabel Kluth has given me her notice to retire after 29 years service of commitment and dedication to Sunnyside Community Hospital as well as to our community.
Mabel was recognized in a potluck luncheon for staff Wednesday, March 24th. Pictures from the potluck are below. Click on any image for a larger version. Left to right: the retirement cake, Ed Smolak, Admitting Dept. Manager, the guest of honor Mabel Kluth, Jon Smiley, CEO, Jim Schlenker, CFO, and Mabel and Charlene Maling.
Those of you who may have never visited the hospital may still know Mabel. She has been the friendly voice at the switchboard for many years. Countless individuals also do recognize Mabel as one of the first smiling faces you would see when you enter the front door of the hospital during day shift.
Mabel is loved and respected and will be dearly missed.
In This Corner by Jon D. Smiley, C.E.O.
There is an old proverb that some consider a mixed message - "May you live
in interesting times."
We
join in with those thanking Mabel Kluth for her 29 years of service to the
hospital. Like most of you, Mabel was one of the first individuals I met
when I came here almost 12 years ago. I have always trusted Mabel for
positive interactions with the public at her front desk, and for accurate
messages whether I am calling into the hospital on the road, or when someone is
calling for me.
Also
this week we celebrate the signing of two additional internists to the hospital
medical staff. Dr. Ellen Ang and Dr. Sandra Wilson will both be
joining us fulltime in September. Yes, you are correct, at least one
of those names should sound familiar. Dr. Wilson has been working in a
temporary capacity here for about six weeks, and has decided to join us fulltime
in late summer.
Dr.
Ang visited about three weeks ago and recently signed an agreement with us, as
well. That means our Internal Medicine - Hospitalist staff will be full on
or about the first of September. We will welcome Dr. Francesco Vinci
at about the same time.
Dr.
Ang will move here from the Philippines after completing her training in New
York state. Dr. Wilson will be relocating from the greater Seattle
area.
Even
though part of my recent time away was work related, it was good to get away for
a break over the past two weeks. Its good to see the facility is in safe
hands 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
With the end of the school year approaching, and other signs of a change in
seasons we all think for a moment, I would imagine, about the changes in our
lives. We see so many of them here at the hospital: young couples
celebrating the arrival of a newborn and older families dealing with more
difficult changes. Watching those changes, watching the arrival of new
faces and the departure of old friends makes us realize the important nature of
the job we do.
Benefits News
submitted by Lisa Gray
Dear
Benefits Eligible Employees:
Open
enrollment for our Premera Blue Cross Insurance (medical, dental and
prescription) and AFLAC supplemental insurance is scheduled for the month of
March 2004. This is your
opportunity to enroll, add or delete insurance coverage for yourself and/or
dependents. The last day for
open enrollment is Monday, March 29th.
We
have received our Premera renewal rates for the 2004-05 plan year.
Premera has proposed an overall rate increase of 9.4%.
Our
VSP – Vision Service Plan, costs have remained the same for 2004-05
Please
call or stop by my office for more details on click on the email link
above. The deadline is not something we can control, so if you have a
change or a question and we haven't already talked please contact me by Monday.
Life
Insurance Beneficiary Designation
SCH has recently changed life insurance carriers for our Basic Life and AD&D benefit and as part of the process, the HR office must have an original Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company Designation of Beneficiary form on file for each eligible employee. In the event of the death of the Insured, the original must be submitted to Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company, along with the required Proof of Loss.
A Beneficiary Designation form was mailed out to all Benefit Eligible Employees on March 4, 2004. If you have not completed the form or threw it away, please return it to HR or contact me for a replacement. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Chamber Honors Three from Hospital Family
The Annual Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce Banquet was a good night for the hospital family March 13th, as Mabel Kluth, Ruth Barry, and Dr. John Allen received special recognition for their work and service to the community.
Dr. Allen was honored for his volunteer work and support of community service projects. Ruth was named the healthcare person of the year. Mabel was honored as the senior citizen of the year.
Click on any of the photos below for larger images. Photos courtesy of the Daily Sun News and also Becky Smolak.
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. A Women's Health Grand Rounds is also scheduled via telehealth.
Stroke Management - Telehealth presentation from Sacred Heart in Spokane. March 31, 12:00 noon. Update for 2004 and highlights from the 29th annual International Stroke Conference. RSVP Gabriella Barker. Administrative Conference room.
New Treatments for Allergic Rhinitis & Congestion - Friday, April 2, 12:15 lunch provided by Pfizer. Speaker Dr. Ronald Simon, Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine & Pediatrics, UC San Diego School of Medicine, and Head of the Division of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, CA. Please RSVP to Derek Carter (509) 430-0412.
MedStar Musculoskeletal Trauma - Monday, April 26 at 8:00 a.m., New Classroom. Presented by Michael Day, RN, MSN, CCRN, Outreach Coordinator of Northwest MedStar. RSVP Gabriella Barker.
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.
Hop
Hop 
Hop Hop!
The second annual SCH Easter Egg Hunt will be Saturday, April 3 at 11:00 a.m. The location is 907 South 6th Street in Sunnyside. That is behind the St. Joseph's Catholic Church Gym. RSVP required to Penny Duren or Lisa Gray. This is for hospital kids and grandchildren only please.
The organizers would like to know if you are coming so click to email or call ext 1649 or 1651.
Healthcare Scholarship Available
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.