In This Issue Cord Blood Bank Saves Amelia ... - SSM Health Care

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— Our Bimonthly Publication for Employees, Physicians and Friends 11Mission Is MeSo how to do you live out SSM Health Care’s mission: Through our exceptionalhealth care services, we reveal the healing presence of God? Here are someshort stories on how employees are doing just that.St. Francis EmployeesSend Joy To SoldiersBy Michael HarrisonBLUE ISLAND, ILL.—It all startedwith an e-mail that Judy Holmquistreceived from her daughter-in-law inAfghanistan. Jennifer Holmquist, amember of the U.S. Army, sent an e-mail thanking her mother-in-law for thecandy, gifts and supplies she had sent toher military base in Afghanistan.In Belize, St. JosephCaregivers DeliverBy Deena FischerLAKE SAINT LOUIS, MO.—In November, the SSM St. Joseph MedicalBrigade traveled again to Belize to help people living in remote villages withlittle or no access to health care. One day after hiking six hours through themuddy jungle to and back from a remote village, the medical team ran outof daylight at the Mayan village of Crique Sarco. Villagers there graciouslyoffered them a place to sleep and a traditional Mayan meal.Her Neighbors’Keeper at St. Mary’sBy Lynde LangdonRICHMOND HEIGHTS, MO.—When SSM Health Care announcedthat all employees needed to pass acomputer competency test, NancyDuncan anticipated the worries of someof her co-workers at SSM St. Mary’sHealth Center. Duncan knew not all ofthe operating room staff members hadPictured are Dr. Srinarong Kittisopikul;microbiology supervisor Judy Holmquist;supervisor of chemistry Karen Bischoff;technical assistant in microbiology LindaCollins; Dr. Hani Al-Sabban; and directorof laboratory services Mary Kowal.“In her e-mail, Jennifer said she wasvery happy to share these items with theAfghani children and our soldiers whohaven’t received anything,” said JudyHolmquist, a microbiology supervisor atSt. Francis Hospital & Health Center.When Judy Holmquist showed the e-mail to her co-workers in the laboratoryat St. Francis, they soon filled 31 giftboxes with treats, supplies and cards forU.S. soldiers of the 76 Bravo Company.They mailed the packages in November.Above, the proud parents hold their newborn daughter, Maureen Sarah Teul. Theynamed her after retired obstetrics nurse Maureen Prendergast and nursing studentSarah Meier who helped deliver their baby.The villageʼs one trained health-care worker told them of a woman inlabor and invited them to assist in the birth. The worker was eager to learnfrom Dr. Peter Montgomery, a family practitioner with SSM St. JosephHospital West, and retired obstetric nurse Maureen Prendergast.During the labor, they discovered the baby was delivering face up, whichcan cause birth complications. Without anesthesia or fetal monitor, brigademembers worked with the mother through the complicated delivery. At1:05 a.m. Nov. 9, she delivered a baby girl, whom the family named afterPrendergast and nursing student Sarah Meier who assisted with the labor.Nancy Duncancomputers at home, nor did they usecomputers in their daily work.“I felt it would be less intimidatingfor them to have one-on-one instructionthan enrolling in a community course,”said Duncan, a clinical educator, whooffered private computer lessons.Twelve people took her up onthe offer, and all of them passed thecomputer competency test after 30 to45 minutes of basic instruction.“They were so excited that two of themwent out and bought computers and tookcourses through the library,” Duncan said.For 25 Years, Her Cookies Have Spread Holiday Cheer at Information CenterBy Brian PiperFrom left, Claire Handlon, Kathy Helton, Candy Shaw and Pam Jackson of theSSM Information Center enjoy some of Margaret Berg’s chocolate chip cookies.RICHMOND HEIGHTS, MO.—Around this time of year at the SSMInformation Center, the cookies just appear. Most employees don’t know wherethey come from, but everyone wants to savor the delicious treats found by thedozens in the break rooms.Now it can be revealed. Margaret Berg, manager of operations, InformationCenter, has been baking the cookies for about 25 years. When she started, therewere about 40 employees at what was called the Data Center. Now Berg is bakingnearly 1,300 cookies for over 250 employees at the Information Center, plus abatch or two for the Franciscan Sisters of Mary at St. Mary of the Angels Convent.All told the monumental show of appreciation is created in 10 hours over threedays. The 15 batches of cookies require over 33 cups of flour, 30 sticks of butter,almost three dozen eggs and 20 cups of chocolate chips. Berg doesn’t start bakinguntil she gets her shipment of fresh pecans. She uses pure vanilla purchased inMexico by some fellow employees.“I think of these folks as family, so I want the cookies to be the best I canmake,” she said.SSM Health Care November / December 2006
12 NetWork — Our Bimonthly Publication for Employees, Physicians and FriendsDiversity Graduates Make DifferenceST. LOUIS—There was a bit ofpomp and circumstance.For the pomp, managers, directorsand other professionals of colorfrom throughout SSM Health Caredonned gold academic stoles for theirNov. 1 graduation from the two-yearDiversity Development Association(DDA). They were handed certificatesfrom SSM Health Care President/Chief Executive Officer Sr. Mary JeanRyan, FSM.“This is your day,” Yvonne Tisdel,corporate vice president for humanresources and system diversity, said inher opening remarks. “Two years of hardwork and youʼre here. You made it.”Also, there was an appreciation ofthe circumstances. Graduates of theDDA program amassed 48,918 trainingpoints by taking part in leadershipopportunities, professional developmentcourses and continuing education. Morethan a third of the 35 graduates alreadyhave earned masterʼs degrees or arecurrently working on acquiring them.“You represent a lot of yearsin the diversity journey for SSM,”Steven Barney, senior vice president– human resources told the graduates.“Individually and collectively youʼre thevery foundation of our capacity to beeffective caregivers in our communities.”One of the goals of the DDAprogram was to grow leaders whowill make a difference to health careby bringing fresh perspectives to their“Individually andcollectively you’rethe very foundationof our capacity to beeffective caregiversin our communities.”jobs. Liz Hills, director of patientfinancial services and registration atSt. Francis Hospital & Health Centerin Blue Island, Ill., spoke about thegraduatesʼ fellowship and urged themto continue “to be heard.”“What companies are looking forin their managers today—the No. 1skill—is an ability to motivate andengage others,” said Hills, who spokefor the other graduates.“And thatʼs what DDA has done forme,” Hills added. “It has helped me getmotivated and to get more energized tomotivate and energize others.”Keynote speaker Dr. Johnetta Cole,president of Bennett College for Womenin Greensboro, N.C., was the keynotespeaker and she offered the graduatessome advice. “You need to know yourstuff,” she said. “Thereʼs simply nosubstitute for competency.”2006 graduates and guests of the Diversity Development Association include first row, left to right Necole Miller, Corporate Vice President for Human Resources and System Diversity Yvonne Tisdel, SSM Health CarePresident/CEO Sr. Mary Jean Ryan, FSM, Bennett College for Women President Johnnetta Cole, Sr. Antona Ebo, FSM, Senior Vice President–Human Resources Steve Barney, Rachelle Nelson and Deronda Clark. Rowtwo: Janet Watley, Evelyn Stalls, Gina Johnson, Mandy Hayes-Chandler, Elizabeth Hills, Lisa Shin, Ann Beverley Giustiniano, Denise Sykes-Collins, Susan Fulton, Candace Crown, Deborah Stricklin and Mary Sanders. Rowthree: Bobbie Fields, Brenda Fields, Joseph Conrod, Molia Strickland, Tonya McClelland, Patricia Martin, Deirdre Hargrove-Krieghoff, Karen Davis and Deborah Henley. Row four: Robert Smith, Kendrick Joshway, JaimePillai, Ferninand Nyarko, Homer Robinson, Cornelius Sanders, Phil Atkins and Wendell Reese. Not shown: Shirley “Marti” Edwards, Christina Johnson and Ernise Williams.Opportunity Knocks Through School at WorkWhat are the recent graduates ofCardinal Glennon’s School at Work sayingabout the program?Knock on podium. “Do you know whatthat is? That’s opportunity knocking!”—Pauline Cauley, Blood Bank clerk“I plan on going back to school inJanuary for Business Administrationand this program has helped me getback in the habit of going to school.”—Suzanne Gerstner, pediatric intensivecare unit secretary“It has been a great experience!”—Debby Costa, pharmacy technicianSSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center’s first class of School at Work graduates (front row, leftto right): Pauline Cauley, Vivian Collins, Jeff Scott and Suzanne Gerstner. (Back row, left to right) Cardinal“No matter how much schooling you gothrough it doesn’t compare to this. AndGlennon President Doug Ries, Coach Karen Miller, graduates Debby Costa and Iris Goines, Coach Kendrickit doesn’t compare to the camaraderieJoshway, graduates Diane Luna-Williams and Rene Robertson, and Karen Busch, corporate manager ofwith your students and coaches.”SSM University, joined in the celebration. Not pictured are graduates Tashundra Gantt and Lori Francis.—Rene Robertson, lead centralizedSchool at Work is a new, eight-monthemployee development program of SSMUniversity. Employees in entry-levelpositions can enroll. A new round ofclasses will be enrolling in 2007 at St.Louis-area hospitals SSM CardinalGlennon Children’s Medical Center andSSM DePaul Health Center; St. FrancisHospital & Health Services in Maryville,Mo., and the Mount Vernon, Ill., campusof St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Inc.appointment scheduler“I’m the kind of person who likes tocontinue my education and explore asmuch as I can.”—Iris Goines, lab support technicianSt. Francis Hospital TeamTravels to PhilippinesBy Michael HarrisonBLUE ISLAND, ILL.—Whenregistered nurse Perla Grino-Garcia fliesto the Philippines in January, she won’t bestaying in a five-star hotel.Instead, she and six colleagues fromSt. Francis Hospital & Health Center inBlue Island and St. Mary’s Health Center inRichmond Heights, Mo., will put their medicalexpertise to work in a place where healthcare is a luxury few can afford.The group is traveling with the IndianaPhilippine Medical Association on its annualmedical mission to Aklan, Philippines.“People don’t have medical insurancethere, and there’s a need for doctors,”Grino-Garcia said. “Doctors on the missiontrip provide free surgeries for cleft lip andpalate, thyroidectomies, hysterectomies…My nursing colleagues and I will be workingin the recovery room.”Grino-Garcia will be joined by registerednurses Dona Hoffman, Betty Darling, ColleenOliver and Feme Gamboa; physician’sassistant Steve Milenkovic; and secretaryEva Johnson. Another nurse, Mary SueMcKennan, is from St. Louis.November / December 2006SSM Health Care
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