Transforming Patient Care Nationwide
Transforming Patient Care Nationwide Transforming Patient Care Nationwide
Kevin Jensen Receives L.O.V.E. Award Congratulations go out to Kevin Jensen, Mercy’s 1 st Quarter L.O.V.E. Award winner. In above photo, he is surrounded by his co-workers at the lab collection station at the Mercy Diagnostic and Treatment Center in West Seneca, who are l.-r.: Christa Kintzel, Cathy Freeman, Darleen Tirado, Debi O’Toole, Kevin, Sandy Peters, Sally Decker, and Debbie Peterson. Recently, Kevin demonstrated his concern for patient care when he was contacted at home one evening to learn that lab samples from presurgical patients had not been couriered to the Mercy lab. Kevin became so concerned about the integrity of the samples that he left his home and drove to the facility. He was able to search the Pre-test area through the lab entrance and located the patient samples. Kevin then drove all the patient samples to the hospital and processed them for testing so that patients would not have to return or have their surgeries cancelled. This truly demonstrates a level of excellence that we strive for at Mercy and exemplifies “Living Our Values Effectively (L.O.V.E.). v Sweet Mercy!People In The News Janet Evoniak, RN, BSN, CCP (certified clinical perfusionist), has recently been named the Nurse Manager for cardiac surgery. She is responsible for the day to day operations of cardiac surgery and managment of the cardiac surgery staff. Janet has worked at Mercy since 2003 as a perfusionist in cardiac surgery. Prior to that she held positions at ECMC and Buffalo General Hospitals. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Brockport State College and earned a post-baccalaureate degree in perfusion in 1997 at the Texas Heart Institute. Residing in East Aurora, Janet and her husband Chad keep busy with their three young children, ages 2, 5 and 6.v Julio Alvarez-Perez, M.D. of Mercy Hospital’s Department of Surgery, is currently performing endovascular repair of aneurysms using the latest minimally invasive surgery techniques. Dr. Alvarez-Perez completed an endovascular fellowship at the Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, VA in 2006. A staff physician for over 22 years, he explains that when aneurysms form in the abdominal aorta, they require repair when there is a risk of rupturing. He noted that with the minimally invasive approach to this procedure that he began performing at the hospital in the fall of ‘07, patients now experience an overnight stay versus up to a week before these techniques were available. v Transforming Care Continued from page 1 Kathy Guarino, explained, “The Transforming Care at the Bedside initiative measures the success of rapid cycle improvements through the use of personal digital assistants (PDAs), handheld computers that are carried and rotated among nurses on the TCAB and control units. Alarms are sounded on the PDA randomly. When an alarm is heard, the nurse carrying the PDA must immediately input data regarding location, activity and most previous activity. Data is collected and analyzed to determine if TCAB efforts are improving time spent at the patient bedside.” Kim Fadeley talked about some of the staff-driven ideas that have proven successful on the unit. “Our first initiative was to simply move the location of the charge nurse as she receives the morning report…it immediately saved time and decreased the number of interruptions,” she said. “The pain management initiative that we reported on at the conference went through a few trials of ideas before finding success with using a plastic clock in the patient rooms that indicates time for next medication and helps us assess the effectiveness of pain management,” she noted. “There is no fear of coming up with ideas, trying them out, and abandoning them if they are not effective. For instance, we first tried a whiteboard and then modified it with the clock.” “Being part of this national program gives us a valuable opportunity to network and share ideas,” said Kathy Guarino. “It allows us to compare ourselves with like hospitals and opens up dialogue to learn what others are doing successfully, and in turn, those ideas can be planted here at Mercy as we constantly strive to improve care to our patients.” v Page 2
Mercy SNF Moves to New Home at OLV “I Love Mercy!” says Retiree Barb Chiavetta Mercy was “On The Move” as the hospital’s skilled nursing facility found its new home in the OLV Senior Neighborhood on May 31 st . Several volunteers and associates from across CHS helped with the move. Celebrating a successful move were from left, Peggy Bilenski, Continuing Care Division (CCD); Kim Wear- St. Catherine Laboure; Chris Sage (CCD), Ann Marie Wayne (CCD); Sarah Scheublein (CCD), Eileen Needham, (Mercy SNF), Michele Sinclair (CCD), and Karen Kozak (CCD). Dozens of volunteers, friends, and associates across CHS pitched in to help the 74 residents of the Mercy Hospital skilled nursing facility move to their new home at the OLV Senior Neighborhood on May 31 st . Located at the former OLV hospital campus in Lackawanna, the Mercy Nursing Facility at OLV features the latest concept in long term care called the “Household Model” nursing home. Residents enjoy a home-like atmosphere including all-private rooms and common living spaces. “This new model of care gives our residents more control over their own lives,” said Patricia O’Connor, Nurses Honored for Outstanding Care Mercy Hospital celebrated National Nurses Week in May to recognize the outstanding 24/7 care our Mercy nurses provide to our patients. Culminating the week’s activities was a special ceremony held on May 9 th in the hospital’s rotunda to honor four nurses for their exemplary contributions. Hend Habir, RN (6McW) received the 2008 Nurse of Distinction Award; Jackie DeJoy, NA (8 McE) was Outstanding NA; Rose Niemcyski, LPN (MRU) was Outstanding LPN; and Mary Elizabeth Genier, Surgical Tech (OR) was Outstanding Surgical Tech. v “I don’t feel like a patient, I feel like a friend.” - Helen Bausch, Mercy SNF resident Administrator of the Mercy Nursing Facility at OLV. “There are four floors of 21 patients on each floor,” said O’Connor. “The smaller groups allow for more attention and personalization of care.” Helen Bausch, a Mercy SNF resident, said she was very pleased with her new home and added, “I’ve always had great care at Mercy...I don’t feel like a patient, I feel like a friend.” v Kathy Guarino, Mercy Hospital’s Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, left, presents Hend Habir, RN, the 2008 Nurse of Distinction Award at a ceremony during National Nurses Week. "I love Mercy and everybody knows it," said Barbara Chiavetta (in above photo) who recently retired from her position as Director of Volunteers. For over 21 years, Barb coordinated the volunteer program at the hospital. At the top of her retirement plans is to become an active Mercy Hospital volunteer herself. “The hospital is not just a building; it is a healing center of people," she said. "We are still very connected to the Sisters of Mercy, our hospital's founders. They sacrificed so much for this hospital and they’re still here for us," she added. Through the years, Barb reminisced about how the role of the volunteer has changed and how the volunteer pool itself has thinned out as people are living “more complex lives with so many more choices.” Barb and her husband of 44 years, Thomas, are residents of Hamburg. In her retirement, she plans more frequent visits with her two daughters, son and four grandchildren who live out of town. Volunteering with the children at St. Bernadette's Parish is also on her agenda. Plus, associates can look forward to continuing to see her familiar face around the hospital. “I already have my volunteer nametag,” she said proudly.v Page 3
Kevin Jensen Receives L.O.V.E. Award<br />
Congratulations go out to Kevin Jensen, Mercy’s 1 st Quarter L.O.V.E. Award<br />
winner. In above photo, he is surrounded by his co-workers at the lab collection station<br />
at the Mercy Diagnostic and Treatment Center in West Seneca, who are l.-r.: Christa<br />
Kintzel, Cathy Freeman, Darleen Tirado, Debi O’Toole, Kevin, Sandy Peters, Sally<br />
Decker, and Debbie Peterson. Recently, Kevin demonstrated his concern for patient<br />
care when he was contacted at home one evening to learn that lab samples from presurgical<br />
patients had not been couriered to the Mercy lab. Kevin became so concerned<br />
about the integrity of the samples that he left his home and drove to the facility. He<br />
was able to search the Pre-test area through the lab entrance and located the patient<br />
samples. Kevin then drove all the patient samples to the hospital and processed them<br />
for testing so that patients would not have to return or have their surgeries cancelled.<br />
This truly demonstrates a level of excellence that we strive for at Mercy and exemplifies<br />
“Living Our Values Effectively (L.O.V.E.). v<br />
Sweet Mercy!People In The News<br />
Janet Evoniak,<br />
RN, BSN, CCP<br />
(certified clinical<br />
perfusionist),<br />
has recently<br />
been named the<br />
Nurse Manager<br />
for cardiac surgery. She is responsible<br />
for the day to day operations of<br />
cardiac surgery and managment of<br />
the cardiac surgery staff.<br />
Janet has worked at Mercy since 2003<br />
as a perfusionist in cardiac surgery.<br />
Prior to that she held positions at<br />
ECMC and Buffalo General Hospitals.<br />
She holds a bachelor’s degree in<br />
Nursing from Brockport State College<br />
and earned a post-baccalaureate degree<br />
in perfusion in 1997 at the Texas<br />
Heart Institute. Residing in East<br />
Aurora, Janet and her husband Chad<br />
keep busy with their three young<br />
children, ages 2, 5 and 6.v<br />
Julio Alvarez-Perez,<br />
M.D. of Mercy Hospital’s<br />
Department of<br />
Surgery, is currently<br />
performing endovascular<br />
repair of aneurysms<br />
using the latest minimally<br />
invasive surgery techniques.<br />
Dr. Alvarez-Perez completed an endovascular<br />
fellowship at the Eastern<br />
Virginia Medical School in Norfolk,<br />
VA in 2006. A staff physician for over<br />
22 years, he explains that when aneurysms<br />
form in the abdominal aorta,<br />
they require repair when there is a<br />
risk of rupturing. He noted that with<br />
the minimally invasive approach to<br />
this procedure that he began performing<br />
at the hospital in the fall of<br />
‘07, patients now experience an overnight<br />
stay versus up to a week before<br />
these techniques were available. v<br />
<strong>Transforming</strong> <strong>Care</strong><br />
Continued from page 1<br />
Kathy Guarino, explained, “The<br />
<strong>Transforming</strong> <strong>Care</strong> at the Bedside<br />
initiative measures the success of<br />
rapid cycle improvements through<br />
the use of personal digital assistants<br />
(PDAs), handheld computers that are<br />
carried and rotated among nurses on<br />
the TCAB and control units. Alarms<br />
are sounded on the PDA randomly.<br />
When an alarm is heard, the nurse<br />
carrying the PDA must immediately<br />
input data regarding location, activity<br />
and most previous activity. Data is<br />
collected and analyzed to determine<br />
if TCAB efforts are improving time<br />
spent at the patient bedside.”<br />
Kim Fadeley talked about some of the<br />
staff-driven ideas that have proven<br />
successful on the unit. “Our first<br />
initiative was to simply move the<br />
location of the charge nurse as she receives<br />
the morning report…it immediately<br />
saved time and decreased the<br />
number of interruptions,” she said.<br />
“The pain management initiative<br />
that we reported on at the conference<br />
went through a few trials of ideas<br />
before finding success with using a<br />
plastic clock in the patient rooms that<br />
indicates time for next medication<br />
and helps us assess the effectiveness<br />
of pain management,” she noted.<br />
“There is no fear of coming up with<br />
ideas, trying them out, and abandoning<br />
them if they are not effective. For<br />
instance, we first tried a whiteboard<br />
and then modified it with the clock.”<br />
“Being part of this national program<br />
gives us a valuable opportunity to<br />
network and share ideas,” said Kathy<br />
Guarino. “It allows us to compare<br />
ourselves with like hospitals and<br />
opens up dialogue to learn what<br />
others are doing successfully, and in<br />
turn, those ideas can be planted here<br />
at Mercy as we constantly strive to<br />
improve care to our patients.” v<br />
Page 2