Nursing Notes

late update May 20, 2004

Click here to read the entire employee newsletter

This page is a direct link to updated information about CME classes. Unless otherwise stated the classes are intended for hospital personnel and medical staff (and their office staff) only. Questions should be directed to Gabriella Barker. Classes are subject to change without notice.

^*Nursing Notes

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.

Women's Health Grand Rounds is also scheduled via telehealth. Or contact Gabriella Barker.

Oncology Grand Rounds every second Friday of the month via Telehealth.

June 10th telehealth program "Quality Care and Measurement for Success. (Follow link for details.)

Nursing would also like to say thanks to everyone for the celebrations of Hospital Week and Nursing Week. The advertisement in the Yakima Herald and the Sunnyside Daily Sun recognizing employees was very much appreciated.

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.

SCH Immunization Program Presented at Regional Meeting

submitted by Sheila Robinson

I had the pleasure & honor of speaking to the participants of the regional Qualis meeting in April about the SCH immunization program. Hospitals are sending their numbers measuring, among other things, how many eligible patients are getting their pneumonia & influenza immunizations before being discharged. This data is being published on the Medicare website ( medicare.gov ) for the public to see.

While SCH still has some work to do, we were able to share some of the efforts we think will help get our patients immunized. SCH has set up reminders in the patient chart through the admission assessment of the patient and the discharge instruction sheet. The patient with pneumonia on the Pneumonia Protocol has a reminder imbedded in the orders. An "Inpatient Pneumonia & Influenza Prevention Protocol" is placed on every chart since the goal is to have every patient who is eligible for these vaccines immunized. When the patient is immunized, a copy of the form is faxed to the pharmacy and to the physician's office so that the patient record can be updated.

We have seen people with chronic illnesses who come into our hospital with pneumonia are sicker longer. Studies have shown that prevention of pneumonia and influenza can help these people live longer with a better quality of life. It is estimated that over 100,000 lives a year could be saved by preventative pneumonia and influenza immunization. The State of Washington feels so strongly about this program that there is legislation passed allowing these vaccines to be given without a physician order.

About half of the hospitals represented at the meeting had not started a pneumonia/influenza prevention program yet and I was proud that SCH was one of the trendsetters for this.

CPR Schedule for Spring/Summer

There are morning and afternoon sessions. Please contact Gabriella Barker to reserve your spot.

Health Care Providers - June 9 - July 14

Heart Savers - May 26 - June 23 - July 28

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.

Graduation Recognitions Next Issue

Here is the latest word on the annual Community Highlights Graduation edition. It will be part of our June edition which will post on the website June 4.

We want to honor all graduates associated with the hospital "family". That means nursing grads at the hospital, those graduating from college and high school - that have an immediate family member working or volunteering at the hospital, or those linked to members of the medical staff and their clinics.

We need a picture. Either via email or sent to Tom Lathen in Community Relations to be scanned and returned to you. Repeat, the pictures will be returned.