June 2013 - Oakwood Healthcare System

The Volunteer Vibe
OAKWOOD HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
VOLUNTEER VIBE
Q 2 2013

Compassion: Providing care with sincerity, sensitivity and dignity for those we serve.
Respect: Working with integrity and honor in all our relationships.
Excellence: Delivering superior results in the areas of Patient Experience, Physician Alignment, the
Oakwood Team, Financial Health, Our Community and Program Growth.
Diversity: Creating an environment where individual differences maximize our collective capabilities
as a team.
Ownership: Demonstrating personal responsibility for our pride in Oakwood through our behaviors
and actions.
IN THIS ISSUE
Note from the CEO
Greeting from Beverly Beltramo Director
Video Art for Patients
Oakwood Wellness Center
History of American Volunteering
Student Volunteer Scholarship Awardees 2013
Summer Safety
BRAVO!!
Volunteer Vibe 2 nd Quarter 2013

Congratulations to all the
GRADUATES OF 2013!
BRIAN CONNOLLY
To our Oakwood volunteers,
Note from the CEO
It’s my pleasure to congratulate the 2013 recipients of the Oakwood High School Student Volunteer
Scholarships. These $1,000 competitive scholarships are based on number of volunteer hours, grade point
average and an essay. The winners are:
Oakwood Heritage Hospital
Morelia Adrianzen
Oakwood Hospital & Medical Center
Laylia Ali
Amira Alkayyali
Hager Alkhafaji
Asma Baban
Zeina Fouani
Ghadir Hammoud
Samantha Thacker
Oakwood Southshore Medical Center
Nick Hall
Eli Jarjous
Harry S Truman High School
Riverside Academy West
Fordson High School
Dearborn High School
Fordson High School
Dearborn High School
Fordson High School
Ford High School
Gabriel Richard High School
Trenton High School
We are proud to be able to support these students’ continuing education in honor of their contributions to
Oakwood. We also appreciate the part they and their fellow high school volunteers play in providing a great
patient experience to all who come to us for care.
Here’s wishing all Oakwood volunteers a great summer.
Sincerely,
Brian M. Connolly
President & CEO
Oakwood Healthcare, Inc.
Volunteer Vibe 2 nd Quarter 2013

GREETINGS FROM BEVERLY BELTRAMO
DIRECTOR OF SPIRITUAL SUPPORT & VOLUNTEER SERVICES
May I say Hello?
A few months ago I was given the wonderful opportunity to work with Deb Gerlica and the
amazing Volunteer Services team to guide and strengthen Volunteer Services here at Oakwood. I
consider it both an incredible opportunity and an incredible honor.
I have worked with volunteers for nearly 20 years in non-profits, first with the Boy Scouts of
America, then Girl Scouts, then Habitat for Humanity and now as a Chaplain. What is common to
all these organizations is that they could not function without committed, wise and caring
volunteers. Organizations such as those rely on volunteers with a few staff members to provide
support and advice. Health care may be different in some ways, but what still holds true here is
that volunteers do so much more than just “help staff.”
Oakwood could not function without you. YOU help create the “Wows” that make Oakwood
special. YOU crochet the beautiful “Spread the Love” blankets. YOU bring Communion to patients
hungering for a connection to God. YOU take a lost visitor to the right door. YOU wrap up a
beautiful gift in the gift shop. YOU are the smiling face greeting a frightened family member at
our Welcome Desk. Soon, we hope to launch a “No One Dies Alone” program, making sure that no
loved one ever has to pass from this world alone. That program could not succeed without very
special volunteers!
Each volunteer here at Oakwood has a gift and a purpose—and, whether you realize it or not,
sometimes you can do things that a staff member cannot. Sometimes the gift you bring is the gift
of years: bringing wisdom and insight and grace that those who are younger simply have not yet
developed. Sometimes the gift you bring is youth: you have energy and promise and possibility
and you give us hope. Sometimes it is simply that you have the gift of time: time to listen, time to
not be in a hurry or worry about the next task, time to just be where you are—a rare gift
indeed! And sometimes, the greatest gift you bring is YOU: your flexibility, your willingness and
your smile.
So, I am honored to be able to work with all of you, get to know you and support Deb Gerlica,
Gayle Scodellaro, Nancy Gorski and Ebony Conner and our wonderful Gift Shop employees at
Annapolis and Southshore, as we work together to continue to make Oakwood a place where
every patient feels cared for and valued.
Blessings and profound gratitude to each of you, for the gift that you bring,
For the time that you share,
For the lives that you touch,
&
Oakwood Arts for the Spirit has
partnered with the Detroit Institute
of Arts to create a video of artworks
designed to enhance the healing
environment for patients and to
alleviate the stressful experience of
a hospital stay.
The video debuted June 3, 2013 at
Oakwood Southshore and is
available on channel 45 in all
patient rooms.
The 18-minute video features
images of the museum’s
architecturally stunning spaces and
detailed explorations of artworks,
accompanied by serene piano music
and inspiring quotes. The paintings,
photographs, sculptures and other
works of art feature images of
landscapes, waterscapes, flowers
and portraits of people in relaxed
surroundings.
“We’ve long believed in the
healing power of art at Oakwood
and we are thrilled the DIA
embraces our vision and passion for
this project,” says Oakwood
President and CEO Brian Connolly.
“For centuries, healers have
fostered the idea that music, art
and poetry have profound healing
effects. The arts are an integral part
of our commitment to provide
comprehensive health care. The
arts stimulate hope and that’s why
we continue to build an
environment that helps heal the
human spirit as well as the body.”
A system-wide launch of the video
is scheduled for later this year.
Chaplain Beverly M. Beltramo, D.Min, BCC
Director of Spiritual Support and Volunteer Services
Volunteer Vibe 2 nd Quarter 2013

Helping You Live Better
Oakwood Wellness Center
FEATURES:
Cardio and weight machines
Indoor running track
Over 20 fitness classes
Expert staff
Open 7 days
Complimentary fitness evaluation and orientation
Stop by for a facility tour and to learn about membership options.
Operated in partnership with OakWell, Oakwood’s employee wellness program, and the YMCA of Metro Detroit.
Individual and family memberships include full facility access, all fitness classes and ongoing wellness support
services. VOLUNTEERS 18 AND OVER ARE INVITED TO JOIN!
For more information, contact: Oakwood Wellness Center – Dearborn 313.791.4347
17101 Rotunda Drive, Dearborn across from Oakwood Hospital & Medical Center
Volunteer Vibe 2 nd Quarter 2013

Volunteer Vibe 2 nd Quarter 2013

OAKWOOD HEALTHCARE SYSTEM STUDENT
VOLUNTEER SCHOLARSHIP AWARDEES 2013
CONGRATULATIONS!
OAKWOOD HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER AWARDEE:
LAYLIA ALI
Graduated from Riverside Academy West
Will be attending Wayne State University for
Nursing
OAKWOOD SOUTHSHORE MEDICAL CENTER
AWARDEE:
NICK HALL
Graduated from Riverview Gabriel Richard
Catholic High School
Will be attending Michigan State University
studying pre-med
Volunteer Vibe 2 nd Quarter 2013

OAKWOOD HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER AWARDEE:
ASMA BABAN
Graduated from Fordson High School
Will be attending a college to be determined
OAKWOOD HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER AWARDEE:
SAMANTHA THACKER
Graduated from Edsel Ford High School
Will be attending Michigan State University
Volunteer Vibe 2 nd Quarter 2013

OAKWOOD HERITAGE HOSPITAL AWARDEE
MORELIA ADRIANZEN
Graduated from Truman High School
Will be attending Eastern Michigan University majoring in Biology
OAKWOOD SOUTHSHORE MEDICAL CENTER AWARDEE
ELI JARJOUS
Graduated from Trenton High School
Will be attending Wayne State University to pursue a career in
medicine
Volunteer Vibe 2 nd Quarter 2013

OAKWOOD HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER
AWARDEE
HAGER ALKHAFAJI
Graduated from Dearborn High School
Will be attending Wayne State University
OAKWOOD HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER
AWARDEE
ZEINA FOUANI
Graduated from Dearborn High School
Will be attending University of Michigan
Volunteer Vibe 2 nd Quarter 2013

OAKWOOD HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER
AWARDEE
AMIRA ALKAYYALI
Graduated from Fordson High School
Will be attending Wayne State
University for Business Administration
OAKWOOD HOSPITAL MEDICAL
CENTER AWARDEE
GHADIR HAMMOUD
Graduated from Fordson High
School
Will be attending University of
Michigan
Volunteer Vibe 2 nd Quarter 2013

Summer Safety Tips
Barbecue and Fire Safety
Keep grills at least 10 feet from other objects, including the house and bushes.
Keep children away from the grill and never leave it unattended.
Never use the grill inside a home or garage.
Store propane tanks in the garage, not in the house!
Most fires are started by children when they are left alone or unsupervised.
Fireworks that cause the most injuries are firecrackers, sparklers, and bottle rockets.
Never allow children to play with fireworks, even sparklers, as these can reach 2000 degrees!
Pool and Water Safety
Drowning usually occurs very quickly and silently.
An adult must always watch children closely—this means no reading, talking on the phone, or texting!
An adult should be within an arm’s reach away from infants, toddlers, and weaker swimmers.
When on a boat and in open water, all individuals should wear a life jacket, particularly children.
The area around the pool can be slippery—never run, always walk.
Enter shallow water feet first—it is never ok to dive into water less than 9 feet deep.
Any where there is water, never swim alone!
Playground and Park Safety
Falls are the leading cause of injury among children, with the most serious being from great heights and over hard
surfaces.
The most common cause of playground-related death is strangulation from clothing, strings, or ropes—never attach
ropes, pet leashes, or clotheslines to equipment.
Sun Safety
The sun is strongest between 10am-2pm. Limit the amount of time spent outside during these hours.
Apply sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, 30 minutes before going outside—reapply every 2 hours and after swimming
or sweating.
Two or more sunburns before the age of 18 doubles one’s risk of later developing melanoma.
Heat Safety
Recognize the signs of heatstroke and exhaustion—fatigue, confusion, extreme thirst, cramping and dizziness or nausea.
Drink lots of water to stay hydrated and limit intense physical activity on really hot and humid days.
Focus on replacing lost salt and minerals with water and sports beverages and avoid alcoholic drinks.
Pace yourself outdoors—if exertion suddenly leaves you short of breath and with an elevated pulse, stop all activity.
Monitor those at high risk—infants and young children, those 65 years or older, people who are overweight, and those
who may already be physically ill.
DO NOT leave children in the car!
Volunteer Vibe 2 nd Quarter 2013

BRAVO! Bringing Recognition And Value to Others!
The Oakwood BRAVO! program celebrates outstanding customer service, providing rewards and
recognition to employees and volunteers who are role models of Oakwood’s Service Excellence
behavioral standards in support of our core values.
The BRAVO APPLAUSE Coupons can be redeemed for gifts in two ways. The coupons are turned in to
Human Resources in increments of 25 or larger. The coupons are exchanged for either a gift
certificate or an online approval code. Each coupon is worth 1 point or approximately 1 dollar.
Rewards at the Gift Shops:
25 coupons may be exchanged at Human Resources for a $25 gift certificate redeemable at the
Southshore Gift Shop. Coupons are worth $1 at the other gift shops. Collect several to redeem for
merchandise.
Rewards through the BRAVO! Online Rewards store:
Coupons in increments of 25, 35, 50, 100 and 150 may be exchanged at Human Resources for an
online redemption code for the Online Rewards store.