Mans best friend also a life-saver

January 3, 2014 | Volume 14 | Issue 1
Mans best friend also a life-saver
Introducing the 2014
Healthy Spirit Program!
Robert McVey’s type 2 diabetes diagnosis
came as a bit of a surprise. He certainly wasn’t
naïve to the risk factors, though, as he has a
family history of high blood pressure and
diabetes. Robert was diligent about keeping a
close eye on his high blood pressure, thinking
that would surface first as it had for most of
his relatives. The only symptom Robert had
that caused concern at the time was a feeling
of constant thirst.
The Mercy Wellness staff will be
conducting educational sessions on the
new Healthy Spirit program for 2014.
Sessions will be held every 15 minutes
on Friday, Jan. 10, from 11:30 a.m.1 p.m. in East Tower Conference
Room 8.
After his diabetes diagnosis in 2012, Robert
migrated quickly through a number of
different combinations of medications and, at
one point, was up to 10 insulin injections each
day. His blood sugars were very difficult to
manage, leaving the potential for severe side
effects. Robert was referred to Anuj Bhargava,
M.D., at the Iowa Diabetes and Endocrinology
Center (IDEC) at Mercy Medical Center –
Des Moines. Dr. Bhargava encouraged
Robert to try using MyDiabetesHome.com
– a technology platform designed to help
diabetics manage their disease. Since Robert
works in information technology, the
web-based system worked perfectly to help
him to keep his sugars in check.
Robert is at risk for experiencing a potentially
devastating drop in his blood sugar, an
occurrence which has motivated him to take
further action. Because of his love for dogs,
Robert believed a medical alert dog could
perhaps help him get the assistance he would
need should his blood sugar drop dangerously
low. After researching the subject, Robert
discovered there are no trainers in Iowa who
provide medical alert dogs for diabetics.
Wanting to fill this void, Robert is starting,
“Dad’s Paws For Life” – an organization
which works to train service dogs to smell
the biochemical body changes that occur as
Staff will be present to demonstrate
how to access the site and earn the
needed 200 points for this year’s $200
insurance premium discount. It is
important to note a new change this
year – in order to earn the full $200,
employees must earn 50 points every
quarter. This means that you need to
be engaged in activities every quarter;
not just at the beginning or end of
the year.
All Mercy staff are encouraged to
drop in at any time during 11:30 a.m.1 p.m. and wellness staff will walk you
through the program and assist you in
getting started.
Robert and Austin en route to Seattle for
additional training.
insulin levels increase or drop in diabetic
patients. Robert now has Austin, a black lab
who alerts him to his low blood sugar levels
by licking his ear continuously until Robert
acts and who will eventually be trained to
spin in circles when Robert’s blood sugar is
extremely high. Robert takes Austin with
him everywhere he goes and Austin recently
accompanied Robert and his wife to Seattle
to complete “Diabetic Alert Dog University,”
an advanced training program for medical
alert dogs.
Robert is thrilled to be able to help others who
are in his similar position. In the process, he
also has the added benefits of increased
protection against his disease and he’s gained
a wonderful new companion in the process.
Be sure to review your
first paycheck of 2014
Remember to always review your first
paycheck of the year to verify your
insurance elections are accurate. The
first paycheck of 2014 is tomorrow,
Jan. 3. If you have questions or
concerns, contact the CHI Service
Center at (888) 450-9450.
Announcements and news briefs...
Join Mercy’s team for the 2014
“Fight For Air Climb”
Join the Mercy Team and participate in the
2014 “Fight for Air Climb” this spring. Learn
more at a special kick-off event on Tuesday,
Jan. 14, at noon, in East Tower Conference
Room 8. The Mercy Wellness Center will
also be starting a team training program to
help participants prepare for the climb.
Invite your friends, family and co-workers
to participate in this one-of-a-kind event.
Choose to climb one, two or three buildings
– or register as a virtual climber and cheer
on the team. The event, to be held on
Sunday, March 16, invites participants to
climb their way to top of three buildings in
downtown Des Moines – EMC Insurance
Companies, Hub Tower and the Des Moines
Marriott downtown.
For more information, contact Jennifer
Wagner (Peterson) in the Mercy Wellness
Center at 643-8659 or at JPeterson@
mercydesmoines.org.
Sign-up for mandatory Safety
First training soon
Safety First is a major initiative to change
our organization into one that always puts
patient, employee and medical staff safety
first. During the next few months, every
staff member and every member of our
medical staff (with the exception of Mercy
Clinics staff) must attend mandatory safety
and error prevention training. All staff
members are required to attend a two-hour
facilitated Safety First session. Staff can
sign-up for the training session, Safety First
Live, by going to the LEARN section of
Inside CHI.
Excellence Every Day
Make better choices to enjoy
better heatlh – educational
programs starting next week
Are you currently living with a chronic
condition such as diabetes, arthritis, cancer or
COPD? Do you have chronic pains that make
daily life challenging? Do you have a loved
one who is dealing with a chronic condition?
The “Better Choices, Better Health” program
is a six-week workshop designed to help you
learn how to self-manage your condition.
Each week is focused on a different aspect
of self-care such as dealing with difficult
emotions, healthy eating and weight
management, and pain management. It is an
evidence-based program written by Stanford
and offered to you for FREE by Mercy
Medical Center. It has been proven to help
participants with health conditions feel
empowered and in control of their lives.
Plan to attend one of the following
workshops:
Mercy Park
1131 3rd St., Des Moines
Starts on: Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014
Time: 9-11:30 a.m.
Location: TBD
Kirkendall Public Library
1210 NW Prairie Ridge Dr., Ankeny
Starts on: Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014
Time: 9-11:30 a.m.
Location: Small Conference Room
Northwest Community Center
5110 Franklin Ave., Des Moines
Starts on: Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014
Time: 12:30-3 p.m.
Location: Craft Room
Iowa Heart Center
5880 University Ave., West Des Moines
Starts on: Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014
Time: 6-8:30 p.m.
Location: Auditorium
To sign up, please contact Stacey Clough
at [email protected] or call
(515) 643-8632.
Mercy rallied in support
of Combat Hunger to
help feed needy Iowans
This year marked the 10th anniversary
of Mercy’s involvement in Combat
Hunger, with staff participation at an
all-time high. In total, the Mercy
Family raised 13,476 pounds of food,
well above the goal of 10,000 pounds
set prior to the 2013 project launch.
Part of the success can be attributed
to a special “can-struction” project
where Mercy teams showed off their
skills by competing with each other
using packaged food to create unique
sculptures, which were on display and
voted on in the East Tower. The
winning team this year was from the
Maintenance department, who built
an impressive Spiderman looming
over New York City.
Want to get your W-2
online this year?
If you would like to print your 2013
W-2 in Jan. 2014, be sure to complete
the online consent. Log into Inside
CHI and select the My Pay tab. In the
upper right of the screen, you will click
on “view or request electronic delivery
of your W-2.” Complete the process
and have earlier access to your W-2.
Mailed paper copies will be
postmarked no later than Jan. 31,
2014. If you have previously requested
electronic delivery of your W-2, you do
not have to re-submit your request.
The Bulletin is published weekly for employees
and friends of Mercy Medical Center, 1111 6th Ave.,
Des Moines, Iowa 50314-2611.
Editorial Staff
Lisa Jones......................................... Editor
Mark Baldwin. . ............................ Contributor
Amy Bentz. . ................................ Contributor
Heidi Feltz.................................. Contributor
Allison Hay................................. Contributor
Gregg Lagan............................... Contributor
Matthew Meyer. . ......................... Contributor
Kaitlyn Summitt........................... Contributor
Sarah Todd.................................. Contributor
Laura Vanden Bosch......................... Director
Sara LeMosy. . .................... Graphic Designer
If you are interested in submitting information
to be printed in the Bulletin, send it to PR and
Marketing or call 515-247-3050.