In This Issue2 3 4 5 6 7 8 - Catholic Health System
In This Issue2 3 4 5 6 7 8 - Catholic Health System In This Issue2 3 4 5 6 7 8 - Catholic Health System
Our Roots, Our Mission, Our Promise of Excellence For many seniors, living independently can be a difficult challenge. In some cases, the only option available may be a traditional nursing home. But what if there was an alternative to traditional nursing home care that would provide all the same services, while allowing area seniors to remain in their own homes? Now, thanks to a new state and federally-funded program called PACE (Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly) many seniors are able to live independently while receiving needed services in a community-based setting. Catholic Health is sponsoring the area’s newest PACE program called LIFE – Living Independently For Elders – soon to be open at the OLV Senior Neighborhood in Lackawanna. Catholic Health LIFE is a comprehensive program that provides a wide range of services in the senior’s home, as well as in the newly remodeled “LIFE Center” on the OLV campus. As part of the program, Catholic Health LIFE coordinates all services and becomes the primary caregiver for seniors who voluntarily enroll in the program. “Our goal is to keep individuals in their own homes for as long as possible,” said Thomas Schifferli, Executive Director of the LIFE program. “We do this by working closely with family members and by providing all medically necessary services an individual may need to maintain their independence.” Available services include outpatient medical care, hospital care, rehabilitation and therapeutic services, nursing care, social work, nutritional services, institutional longterm care, home health aide services, dental care, mental health services, eye care, podiatry services, and prescription drug management. Transportation is also provided to and from appointments and visits to the LIFE Center. Participation in Catholic Health LIFE is completely voluntary. The program is open to Erie County residents age 55 or older who qualify for nursing home care but choose to remain in their own home with assistance. Interested participants must need the services of the program for at least 120 days and be able to have their needs safely met at home or in the LIFE Center. The cost of the program is covered by Medicare and/or Medicaid. Private pay options are also available. “It’s no secret that people are living longer and Western New York has one of the fastest growing senior populations in the nation,” Schifferi added. “Through innovative programs such as LIFE, Catholic Health is committed to helping area seniors remain active and independent.” Catholic Health LIFE is expected to open in the next few months. For more information on this unique program, call 819-5101 or visit www.chsbuffalo.org. ☛ 4 Seniors Live LIFE at Their Own PACE Save the Date... Corporate Challenge – June 4 Creighton Model of Natural Family Planning Sessions Sisters of Charity Hospital • May 30, June 27, and August 22 Mercy Hospital • May 9, June 10, and July 18 Mt. St. Mary’s Hospital • May 21, June 18, and July 16 Call Mary Zablocki at 862-1944 for more details. Nazareth Campus Breathes New Life into Former Nursing Home With the closing of Nazareth Nursing Home in 2007, Catholic Health created “Nazareth Campus” and an opportunity to breathe new life into this beautiful facility located on North Street in the city’s historic Allentown district. Already home to Catholic Health’s Continuing Care corporate offices and the Continuing Care Foundation, the building’s remaining administrative offices and a former nursing home unit are being renovated to accommodate additional corporate offices from throughout Catholic Health. “We have many corporate departments taking up valuable space in our hospitals – space that is needed to expand clinical programs and services,” said David Vitka, Vice President of Facility Planning for Catholic Health. “By moving these departments to the Nazareth Campus we are creating a centralized location for many corporate functions while providing a valuable re-use for the Nazareth property.” Renovations began in the fall of 2008 to transform the resident rooms into functional office space. Catholic Health corporate offices that will be moving to the Nazareth Campus over the next month include Facility Planning & Property Management, Care Connection, Quality & Patient Safety, and Materials Management. Nazareth Nursing Home became part of Catholic Health in 2001. “We owe a great deal to the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, who established Nazareth Nursing Home in 1947 and took such great care of this facility over the years,” said Chris Kluckhohn, President & CEO of Continuing Care. “After the Berger Commission forced the closure of the nursing home, we knew there was an opportunity to create something positive on this campus that would help support our mission for years to come.” IT Commits to S.A.F.E. Mercy Hospital Renovates 5 East Patient Care Unit A blessing ceremony was recently held for Mercy Hospital’s 5 McAuley East Patient Care Unit which underwent a complete makeover, creating a more modern and efficient care environment for patients and staff. This major renovation project began in the fall of 2008 when the entire unit was temporarily relocated to the 5th floor of the Main Building, in space previously occupied by the Mercy Nursing Facility. According to Bob Hawks, Construction Manager at Mercy Hospital, all the renovations were made with direct input from the staff. “We actually created the design and layout of the nursing station from suggestions made by our associates who work on the unit everyday,” he said. Mercy’s Facility Services Department pitched in by painting all the rooms and installing new Associates at the Nazareth Campus came together for a welcoming ceremony in the facility chapel on March 23. Not long after assuming the role of Chief Information Officer for Catholic Health, Dr. Michael Galang introduced his IT team to the concept of S.A.F.E. (which stands for Support, Access, Function, and Experience). Focusing on each of these elements increases awareness among our IT associates of the vital role they play in delivering quality care to our patients. Our IT associates have embraced the concept and are bringing it to life through a variety of new programs, processes, and initiatives. Here are just a few ways in which S.A.F.E. is improving IT quality and service throughout Catholic Health: Support – A team has been assembled to review the Help Desk ticket intake to help streamline the process and make it more efficient and effective for everyone involved. Access - our Networking staff has teamedup with Soarian HIM/EDM (Health Information Management/Enterprise Data Management) to take a closer look at remote access options for Physicians. Function - We have successfully established a Soarian Clinical Team User Group. Nurses from across the system meet monthly to provide feedback on the clinical documentation application. Experience - An extensive “call back” initiative has begun under the leadership of Clay Bozard and Jay Bradway. We are reaching out to associates who have completed tickets with the Help Desk to ask “how we did.” Through the process, we hope to find out what worked well and what didn’t to enhance customer service. IT’s commitment to improving customer service is also evident in a number of other initiatives that are underway, including the IT Liaison Service, IT Rounding, and the Mobile Help Desk. Celebrating Mercy Hospital’s new 5 East Patient Care Unit are (from left to right), Deborah Spino, RN, Charge Nurse; Florence Reed, Unit Clerk; Bob Hawks, Mercy Hospital Construction Manager; Pauline Blake, RN, Nurse Manager; and Steve Piesczynski, Director of Facilities and Engineering. corner guards and cove base. The Environmental Services Department put the finishing touches on the project by cleaning the entire unit and polished the floors. Highlights of the project include a modern and efficiently-designed nurses’ station, a new physicians’ work room, and remodeled associate lounge, medication room, and kitchen. The patient rooms feature new furnishings including patient beds and chairs, over-the-bed tables, and bedside cabinets. Other features of the project include the addition of two newly furnished hospice rooms, sconce lighting in the corridors, and new flooring in the nurses’ station, physicians’ work room and the hospice unit corridor. www.chsbuffalo.org
Our Roots, Our Mission, Our Promise of Excellence A Strong Foundation for Mercy’s New ER In recent weeks, construction crews have been working on laying the foundation for Mercy Hospital’s new Emergency Department. This phase of the project, which is nearly 50 percent complete, includes excavating the construction site, leveling the ground with fill, placing steel reinforcements, constructing forms for the foundation walls, and pouring concrete for the foundation walls. This month, plans call for the demolition of the ambulance garage in the front of the hospital. Mercy Hospital officials and Pike Construction managers will also be reviewing electrical plans with National Grid, as well as reviewing and addressing other utility needs for the new addition. With receipt of the New York State Department of Health construction permit in February, bids have gone out for the general contractor, fire protection system, plumbing, HVAC system and electrical work. It is estimated that bids will be awarded to the contractors by mid-April. The erection of the steel for the new addition is also targeted to begin in April. Just What the Doctor Ordered Sisters of Charity Hospital, Buffalo’s first hospital, is getting ready for a face lift and it’s just what the doctor ordered. Plans are being finalized for a $7 million expansion and renovation of the hospital’s Emergency Department (ED). Following in the footsteps of St. Joseph’s new ER and Mercy Hospital’s new ER addition currently under construction, Sisters new Emergency Department will have 29 private treatment rooms with cardiac monitoring and electronic medical record capability. That’s an increase of eight treatment rooms over the department’s current capacity. In addition to all private treatment rooms, there will be one room dedicated to providing enhanced comfort and privacy for sexual assault patients. Along with more clinical space, there will be a staff room for Emergency Medical Service providers who bring patients to Sisters Hospital. The ED Radiology area will also be expanded to house new Seimen’s imaging technology including a new CT Scanner. For added comfort and convenience, the new Emergency Department will also feature a covered ambulance entrance, pictured above, and new covered street-level “walk-in” entrance to protect patients from inclement weather. For enhanced safety, the ED renovation project will also include a self-contained decontamination room adjacent to the ambulance entrance, to protect other patients from possible exposure. The Sisters Hospital Emergency Department renovation project is being funded in part by New York State Heal Grant funds and the Sisters Hospital Foundation. The first phase of the project is slated to begin in May and be completed in the Spring of 2011. CHS University offers over 70 courses that assist leaders in improving their performance and thus enhancing their ability to carry out the CHS Mission. Below is a sampling of upcoming courses. Courses are specifically tailored to the needs of our associates – clinical, non-clinical, management, supervisory, financial, operational, customer service, mission enhancement, and more. All classes are held at Appletree Suite 8A Staff Development unless noted otherwise. Introduction to Recruiting/Selection Criteria & Behavioral Based Interviewing (CHS 315a&c) Wed., April 29, 9 a.m. - noon Manager Core Curriculum Program (CHS 394) Thurs., April 30, 8 a.m. - noon New! Infection Control for Leaders (CHS 317) Mandatory NY State Infection Control Training Program Thurs., April 30, 9 a.m. - noon Public Speaking/Presentations for Leaders (CHS 351) Wed., May 5, 9 a.m. - noon Servent Leadership in the Healing Ministry (CHS 377b) Thurs., May 7, 9 a.m. - noon Manager Core Curriculum Program (CHS 394) Fri., May 8, 8 a.m. - noon Legal Guidelines for Leaders (CHS 308) Tues., May 12, 9 a.m. - noon Documentation: Your Legal Defense (CHS 302) Wed., May 13, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. Managing In Union Environment (CHS 339) Tues., May 19, 9 a.m. - noon Setting Performance Expectations (CHS 334) Thurs., May 21, 9 a.m. - noon Manager Core Curriculum Program (CHS 394) Fri., May 22, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. New! Drive Performance (CHS 307) Wed., May 27, 9 a.m. - noon Customer Service for Frontline Associates (CHS 324) Thurs., May 28, 9 a.m. - noon Communications III (CHS 385a) Fri., May 29, 9 a.m. - noon For more information or help with registering for classes email mwillia@chsbuffalo.org or call 706-2544. Corporate Compliance Offers Protection Against Retaliation Excellence is one of Catholic Health’s core values. It is not just a word but an action to be taken. Excellence drives us to support the Catholic Health Mission. It’s about doing the right thing, to the very best of our abilities, or seeking ways to do it even better. It also means when things that don’t measure up, we report our concerns to our managers or supervisors. It’s clear our associates have a duty to report actual or potential violations of our organization’s Code of Ethics, Code of Conduct, policies and procedures, or Federal and State regulations. Catholic Health administration supports and encourages this important responsibility among our associates. When an associate reports an incident or concern in good faith they are protected from retaliation. Catholic Health administration will thoroughly investigate any allegations of retaliation against a colleague for speaking up, and will protect and/or restore the rights of anyone who raises a genuine concern. Anyone who engages in retribution/retaliation of an associate who reports in good faith a compliance concern is subject to discipline, up to and including dismissal on the first offense. When setting the bar for excellence in your work, it is important to ask questions and report any suspected wrongdoings. If you wish additional information, the policy on Non-Retaliation (LS-CHS-CC-10) can be found in Compliance 360. As always, our Compliance Officer, Anne Mason, can be reached at 821-4469 and is available to answer your questions and hear your concerns. www.chsbuffalo.org 5
- Page 1 and 2: March/April 2009 Volume 2, Issue 4
- Page 3: Our Roots, Our Mission, Our Promise
- Page 7 and 8: Around the System... Russell Carlso
Our Roots, Our Mission, Our Promise of Excellence<br />
For many seniors, living independently can be a difficult<br />
challenge. <strong>In</strong> some cases, the only option available may<br />
be a traditional nursing home. But what if there was an<br />
alternative to traditional nursing home care that would<br />
provide all the same services, while allowing area seniors<br />
to remain in their own homes?<br />
Now, thanks to a new state and federally-funded program<br />
called PACE (Program of All-inclusive Care for the<br />
Elderly) many seniors are able to live independently while<br />
receiving needed services in a community-based setting.<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> is sponsoring the area’s newest PACE<br />
program called LIFE – Living <strong>In</strong>dependently For Elders<br />
– soon to be open at the OLV Senior Neighborhood in<br />
Lackawanna.<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> LIFE is a comprehensive program that<br />
provides a wide range of services in the senior’s home, as<br />
well as in the newly remodeled<br />
“LIFE Center” on<br />
the OLV campus. As part<br />
of the program, <strong>Catholic</strong><br />
<strong>Health</strong> LIFE coordinates<br />
all services and becomes<br />
the primary caregiver for<br />
seniors who voluntarily<br />
enroll in the program.<br />
“Our goal is to keep individuals in their own homes for<br />
as long as possible,” said Thomas Schifferli, Executive<br />
Director of the LIFE program. “We do this by working<br />
closely with family members and by providing all medically<br />
necessary services an individual may need to maintain<br />
their independence.”<br />
Available services include outpatient medical care, hospital<br />
care, rehabilitation and therapeutic services, nursing<br />
care, social work, nutritional services, institutional longterm<br />
care, home health aide services, dental care, mental<br />
health services, eye care, podiatry services, and prescription<br />
drug management. Transportation is also provided to<br />
and from appointments and visits to the LIFE Center.<br />
Participation in <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> LIFE is completely<br />
voluntary. The program is open to Erie County residents<br />
age 55 or older who qualify for nursing home care but<br />
choose to remain in their own home with assistance. <strong>In</strong>terested<br />
participants must need the services of the program<br />
for at least 120 days and be able to have their needs<br />
safely met at home or in the LIFE Center. The cost of the<br />
program is covered by Medicare and/or Medicaid. Private<br />
pay options are also available.<br />
“It’s no secret that people are living longer and Western<br />
New York has one of the fastest growing senior populations<br />
in the nation,” Schifferi added. “Through innovative<br />
programs such as LIFE, <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> is committed to<br />
helping area seniors remain active and independent.”<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> LIFE is expected to open in the next<br />
few months. For more information on this unique program,<br />
call 819-5101 or visit www.chsbuffalo.org.<br />
☛<br />
4<br />
Seniors Live LIFE at<br />
Their Own PACE<br />
Save the Date...<br />
Corporate Challenge – June 4<br />
Creighton Model of Natural<br />
Family Planning Sessions<br />
Sisters of Charity Hospital • May 30, June 27, and August 22<br />
Mercy Hospital • May 9, June 10, and July 18<br />
Mt. St. Mary’s Hospital • May 21, June 18, and July 16<br />
Call Mary Zablocki at 862-1944 for more details.<br />
Nazareth Campus Breathes New Life<br />
into Former Nursing Home<br />
With the closing of Nazareth Nursing<br />
Home in 2007, <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> created<br />
“Nazareth Campus” and an opportunity to<br />
breathe new life into this beautiful facility<br />
located on North Street in the city’s historic<br />
Allentown district. Already home to<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong>’s Continuing Care corporate<br />
offices and the Continuing Care Foundation,<br />
the building’s remaining administrative<br />
offices and a former nursing home<br />
unit are being renovated to accommodate<br />
additional corporate offices from throughout<br />
<strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong>.<br />
“We have many corporate departments taking up valuable space in our hospitals – space<br />
that is needed to expand clinical programs and services,” said David Vitka, Vice President<br />
of Facility Planning for <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong>. “By moving these departments to the Nazareth<br />
Campus we are creating a centralized location for many corporate functions while providing<br />
a valuable re-use for the Nazareth property.”<br />
Renovations began in the fall of 2008 to transform the resident rooms into functional<br />
office space. <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> corporate offices that will be moving to the Nazareth Campus<br />
over the next month include Facility Planning & Property Management, Care Connection,<br />
Quality & Patient Safety, and Materials Management.<br />
Nazareth Nursing Home became part of <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong> in 2001. “We owe a great<br />
deal to the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, who established Nazareth<br />
Nursing Home in 1947 and took such great care of this facility over the years,” said Chris<br />
Kluckhohn, President & CEO of Continuing Care. “After the Berger Commission forced<br />
the closure of the nursing home, we knew there was an opportunity to create something<br />
positive on this campus that would help support our mission for years to come.”<br />
IT Commits to S.A.F.E.<br />
Mercy Hospital Renovates<br />
5 East Patient Care Unit<br />
A blessing ceremony was recently held for<br />
Mercy Hospital’s 5 McAuley East Patient Care<br />
Unit which underwent a complete makeover, creating<br />
a more modern and efficient care environment<br />
for patients and staff. <strong>This</strong> major renovation<br />
project began in the fall of 2008 when the entire<br />
unit was temporarily relocated to the 5th floor of<br />
the Main Building, in space previously occupied<br />
by the Mercy Nursing Facility.<br />
According to Bob Hawks, Construction Manager<br />
at Mercy Hospital, all the renovations were<br />
made with direct input from the staff. “We actually<br />
created the design and layout of the nursing<br />
station from suggestions made by our associates<br />
who work on the unit everyday,” he said.<br />
Mercy’s Facility Services Department pitched<br />
in by painting all the rooms and installing new<br />
Associates at the Nazareth Campus came together for a<br />
welcoming ceremony in the facility chapel on March 23.<br />
Not long after assuming the role of Chief<br />
<strong>In</strong>formation Officer for <strong>Catholic</strong> <strong>Health</strong>,<br />
Dr. Michael Galang introduced his IT<br />
team to the concept of S.A.F.E. (which<br />
stands for Support, Access, Function, and<br />
Experience).<br />
Focusing on each of these elements increases<br />
awareness among our IT associates<br />
of the vital role they play in delivering quality<br />
care to our patients. Our IT associates<br />
have embraced the concept and are bringing<br />
it to life through a variety of new programs,<br />
processes, and initiatives. Here are just a<br />
few ways in which S.A.F.E. is improving<br />
IT quality and service throughout <strong>Catholic</strong><br />
<strong>Health</strong>:<br />
Support – A team has been assembled to<br />
review the Help Desk ticket intake to help<br />
streamline the process and make it more efficient<br />
and effective for everyone involved.<br />
Access - our Networking staff has teamedup<br />
with Soarian HIM/EDM (<strong>Health</strong> <strong>In</strong>formation<br />
Management/Enterprise Data<br />
Management) to take a closer look at remote<br />
access options for Physicians.<br />
Function - We have successfully established<br />
a Soarian Clinical Team User Group.<br />
Nurses from across the system meet monthly<br />
to provide feedback on the clinical documentation<br />
application.<br />
Experience - An extensive “call back”<br />
initiative has begun under the leadership of<br />
Clay Bozard and Jay Bradway. We are reaching<br />
out to associates who have completed<br />
tickets with the Help Desk to ask “how we<br />
did.” Through the process, we hope to find<br />
out what worked well and what didn’t to enhance<br />
customer service.<br />
IT’s commitment to improving customer<br />
service is also evident in a number of other<br />
initiatives that are underway, including the<br />
IT Liaison Service, IT Rounding, and the<br />
Mobile Help Desk.<br />
Celebrating Mercy Hospital’s new 5 East Patient<br />
Care Unit are (from left to right), Deborah Spino,<br />
RN, Charge Nurse; Florence Reed, Unit Clerk; Bob<br />
Hawks, Mercy Hospital Construction Manager;<br />
Pauline Blake, RN, Nurse Manager; and Steve Piesczynski,<br />
Director of Facilities and Engineering.<br />
corner guards and cove base. The Environmental Services Department put the finishing<br />
touches on the project by cleaning the entire unit and polished the floors.<br />
Highlights of the project include a modern and efficiently-designed nurses’ station, a<br />
new physicians’ work room, and remodeled associate lounge, medication room, and kitchen.<br />
The patient rooms feature new furnishings including patient beds and chairs, over-the-bed<br />
tables, and bedside cabinets. Other features of the project include the addition of two newly<br />
furnished hospice rooms, sconce lighting in the corridors, and new flooring in the nurses’<br />
station, physicians’ work room and the hospice unit corridor.<br />
www.chsbuffalo.org