NEXUS CONNECTION - HealthBridge Children`s Hospital

Add “Start Saving” to your List of New Year’s Resolu ons. Begin your 2013 savings plan at Space City CU. to stay up‐to‐date on our monthly contests at Choose from a variety of savings accounts to find www.facebook.com/spacecitycu. the one that’s perfect for you. No ma er what you’re saving for, Space City CU has a plan to match your needs. Plus, our savings accounts are de‐
signed to help you make the most of your money at any stage in life. We can help you establish a sav‐
ings account for your kids, a Christmas Club ac‐
count, a high‐interest earning Money Market ac‐
count or just a regular savings account to help you meet your financial goals. The best part – the con‐
venience! You can set up a direct deposit from your payroll check to your savings account at Space City. All Nexus employees are eligible for this bene‐
fit. You can learn more and even sign up online at www.SpaceCityCU.com. 2013 is packed with con‐
tests and give‐aways at Space City CU. Many fun and exci ng things were given away in the preced‐
ing year! Don’t miss out; follow our Facebook page One RIverway, Suite 600 Houston, TX 77056 January 2013
Nexus Connection
Page 20 of 20
NEXUS CONNECTION JANUARY 2013 Employees Support the Community through the Nexus 2012 GOAL
D!
E
V
IE
H
$20,000
C
A
Hope Founda on In 2011, Nexus employees an‐
To expand the impact of the brain nounced that they would join forces injury awareness effort for 2013, with the Nexus Hope Founda on to employees have increased the raise money to educate the commu‐ 2012 goal by 50%! Employees will nity about brain injury preven on work to raise $30,000 in 2013! through the distribu on of free bike “Many of our employees see and skateboard helmets in what has first hand the impact brain injuries become known as the Head‐First Hel‐ have on the lives of pa ents and families. And employees know the met Project. Over the last 2 years, importance of safety and preven on. employees have raised money through payroll deduc ons and That is why we work so hard in sup‐
through support of various business por ng the community” says Guy partners that Murdock, Vice President contribute via of Human Resources for Nexus Health Systems dona ons. Since the pro‐
and Treasurer of the ject began, Nexus Hope Founda on. employees Nexus recently host‐ Heidi Clark, Patient Account Coordinator,
have raised ed the Nexus Hope fits a helmet at a recent event. Employees
over $40,000 Founda on Casino Night gave away over 3200 helmets in 2012.
and distribut‐
Fundraiser, which is ed over 4600 surely to become an on‐ The fundraiser raised almost $5000 free helmets Keith Slack, Benefits Specialist, helps to going holiday tradi on. in dona ons to start the 2013 cam‐
in the commu‐ fit a helmet during an event held in con- The fundraiser was held paign! ni es in which junction with the HP Employee Founda- in conjunc on with the A special thanks to all employees tion. The event partnered with CPS to
employees Nexus Holiday Celebra‐ and business partners who support give out helmets to children.
live and work. on in Houston, Texas. this incredible community project. 2013 GOAL
$30,000
Top employees recognized with 2012 Employee of the Year Awards and 2012 Manager with Vision and Passion Awards During the annual Nexus holiday celebra ons held in Texas and California, nine special employ‐
ees were recognized for their hard work and dedica on to their facili es and to Nexus. These employees have in some way been outstanding in their departments or workplaces showing commitment and pas‐
sion to help and support pa‐
ents, visitors, family and fellow HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
HBO Anniversaries
TNC Anniversaries
Ronnie Cork, Dir Plant Ops ........................ 7
Carol Hill, Medical Records Clerk.............. 6
Erma Foutz, Program Director .................... 4
Emma Arnsworth, LSA II ........................... 4
Titania Cleveland, LSS ............................... 3
Heather Duncan, Rehab Tech...................... 3
David Nevins, Program Facilitator ............. 3
Luis Banda, Rehab Tech ............................. 3
Sherena Hightower, Rehab Tech................. 1
Bettie Hensley, LSS .................................... 1
Melonie Hulsey, LSS .................................. 1
Gregory Parker, LSS ................................... 1
Sharon Bland, Physician Assistant.............. 1
TNC Birthdays
Nexus Specialty Hospital, Manager of the Year, Mike Brigle, Director of Pharmacy Corporate Office, Employee of the Year, Chris Dorat, Desktop Administrator. Corporate Office, Manager of the Year, Kenyata Virgil, System Director Human Resources. # yrs.
# yrs.
Robert Windsay, LSS .................................. 1/1
Breana Alfaro, LSS ..................................... 1/1
Renee Toliver, LSS ..................................... 1/13
Rubbie Johnson, LSS .................................. 1/18
Nedra Green, Career Employment Spec. .... 1/19
Nichole Thibodeaux, LSS. .......................... 1/20
Traci Hayes, LSS ......................................... 1/21
Alissa Carver, Cognitive Rehab Couns....... 1/25
Linda Mortimore, Dir Prof. Relations ........... 14
Cheryl Behrens, CRT .................................... 13
Patty Steger, Dir Laboratory Services ........... 13
Carmen Cabacungan, CRT ............................ 7
Lynn Barut, RN ............................................. 7
Tess Fajardo, RN ........................................... 6
Tara Jones, Dir Human Resources ................ 5
Bertha Zucker, LVN ...................................... 5
Angel Velasco, Dir Education/EH ................ 2
John Woodman, Dir Purchasing Services ..... 2
Connie Villanueva, SLPA ............................. 2
Victoria Cayton, LVN ................................... 1
Mary Ann Van Fossan, LVN ........................ 1
Karen Rosen, Physical Therapist................... 1
Chris Dulay, RN ............................................ 1
# yrs.
HBO Birthdays
Kristie Trujillo, RN ....................................... 1/2
Juan Garcia, CNA .......................................... 1/3
Victoria Cayton, LVN ................................... 1/4
Lynn McInally, Speech Therapist ................. 1/10
Kristen Conley, LVN..................................... 1/10
Scott Edick, CRT ........................................... 1/17
Cherryl Trajano, RN ...................................... 1/17
Aiesha Moore, RRT....................................... 1/21
Monica Soto, CNA ........................................ 1/23
Marlene Magistrado, OTA ............................ 1/28
Skye Piper-Johnson, Speech Therapist ......... 1/31
HBH Anniversaries
HealthBridge Houston, Manager of the Year, Mary Ann Gill, Director of Respiratory Therapy HealthBridge Houston, Employee of the Year, Garry Tagle, Supervisor Plant Opera‐
ons Nexus Specialty Hospital—Woodlands Campus, Employee of the Year, Stephen Dalman,‐Rehab Technician # yrs.
Martha Flowers, CNA................................... 5
Donnah Nyaoke, RN ..................................... 3
Tim Pfister, Pharmacist................................. 2
HBH Birthdays
Nexus Specialty Hospital—Shenandoah Campus, Employee of the Year, Melinda Cantu, Cer fied Nursing Assistant January 2013
HealthBridge Orange, Employee of the Year, Arnold Fajardo, Registered Nurse Nexus Connection
HealthBridge Orange, Manager of the Year, Angel Velasco, Director of Compli‐
ance, Educa on and Employee Health Page 2 of 20
Laura Miller, LVN ........................................ 1/1
Elizabeth Nsiah, CNA................................... 1/12
Pablita Ugat, RN ........................................... 1/15
Shou-Lan Lee, CNA ..................................... 1/17
Helena Zheng, Pharmacy Tech ..................... 1/18
Karen Martin, Charge Nurse ......................... 1/19
Zahara Mahamed, Charge Nurse .................. 1/21
Aquinas Jackson, RRT .................................. 1/21
Tyrone Evans, Dietary Cook ........................ 1/22
Sherrie Daniels, Dir Professional Relations . 1/23
Adeola Adebayo, RN .................................... 1/24
Mary Hernandez, RRT .................................. 1/27
Pat Belle, LVN .............................................. 1/28
Kristen Kij, Child Life Assistant .................. 1/28
Michael Brumley, RRT................................. 1/30
NSH Anniversaries
Corporate Anniversaries
# yrs.
Tana Nickerson, .......................................... .....2
Deepak Chaudhry, VP IT ............................ .....1
Corporate Birthdays
Julia Hatton, CFO ........................................ 1/24
Maria Yado, CS Coordinator....................... 11
Cheryl Toliver, Receptionist ....................... 7
Nancy Prior, Receptionist............................ 4
Jennifer Lee, Physical Therapist. ................ 4
Donald Morgan, PTA .................................. 2
Kandi Deshotel, RRT .................................. 2
NSH Birthdays
Stephen Dalman, Rehab Tech ..................... 1/1
Maria Loya, EVS Tech ................................ 1/8
Mary White, Dietary Aide ........................... 1/8
Kandi Deshotel, RRT .................................. 1/9
James Pizzi, RN ........................................... 1/11
Jennifer Althaus, LVN................................. 1/14
Princess Johnson, CNA ............................... 1/18
Maria Yado, CS Coordinator....................... 1/18
Amanda Bonnette, RN-ICU ........................ 1/20
Alice Nalondo, RN ...................................... 1/22
Kelechi Iwu, RN .......................................... 1/24
James Winton, Clinical Liaison .................. 1/25
Beverly Tripp, Med Staff Credentialing ..... 1/27
Donald Morgan, PTA .................................. 1/29
Susan Contreras, RN ................................... 1/29
Bridget Pizzi, RN......................................... 1/30
Where in the World is Ann?
By Ann Delarosa, Director of Payor Rela ons, TNC The schedule for the last Quarter of 2012 promised to be a BIG one and it certainly was!! October started off with a visit from some Humana case managers to tour and learn more about our Nexus Con nuum. They toured at both Nexus Specialty Hospital and Touch‐
stone Neu‐
rorecovery Center. Next on the radar was my an‐
nual trip to Liberty Mu‐
tual home office in Do‐
ver, New Hampshire. Cindy Mostaffa and I presented outcomes from the last year and reviewed current cases in our NeuroCon nuum. I received not one, but two refer‐
rals a er our trip! While on the road we also got to follow up with Dr. Lowell, a previous Medical Director for Touchstone. He sends his regards to EVERYONE! We also stopped in Boston to visit with one of Travel‐
ers Catastrophic Case Managers, before heading home. The following week lead me to Puerto Rico! I’ve never been there, but let me tell you I am ready to go back and ex‐
plore some more! I a end‐
ed the IARP conference, Interna onal Associa on of Rehabilita on Professionals. Touchstone had an exhibit and met lots of new folks. I January 2013
a ended the conference with several Paradigm case managers from Atlanta, GA. Together we tried to ex‐
plore and expose ourselves to as much of the culture as possible. I didn’t know much about the history of Puerto Rico, un l I inves gated it. In 1493 Columbus claimed the island for Spain. In 1523 the port be‐
comes known as San Juan and the Island as Puerto Ri‐
co. 1898 brings the Spanish American War; the treaty of Paris gives America all of Spain’s holdings in the Is‐
lands. 1917 the Jones Act occurs. This allows Puerto Rico to be claimed as part of United States territory. A er this conference I received two calls, one of which we have evaluated and provided feedback to the in‐
surance carrier. Next up was a trip to Miami, FL for the Paradigm Educa onal Conference. We again, exhibited and I had the pleasure of ge ng to meet new Paradigm case managers, and follow up with those I have known for years. I got to meet one case manager from Dallas, who had a case at TIRR. Once I returned, I got the call to evaluate and we have already admi ed the pa ent! While in South Beach I got to see the Mount Sinai Emergency Department! I hadn’t been feeling well, so decided to get checked before flying home‐ What an adventure! Whew! What a great last quarter of 2012 and a great start to 2013! I am a proud Nexus Health Sys‐
tems team member and send a shout out to ALL our individual TEAMS and Thank You for all your dedica‐
on! I challenge everyone to start 2013 with a BANG!!!! Nexus Connection
Page 18 of 20
Memories from Nexus Holiday Celebra ons! 2012 was a year of celebra ng as Nexus Health Systems turned 20 years old! The year saw several employee events commemora ng the 20th an‐
niversary milestone and the tradi onal Nexus holiday events con nued those cele‐
bra ons. Employees in both California and Texas celebrat‐
ed in tradi onal holiday style showing pride in turning 20! Record crowds joined in the celebra ons with over 150 people a ending the Califor‐
nia event and over 460 a ending the Texas event. During the events, employees performed special songs, en‐
joyed dinner, danced and en‐
joyed the company of friends, co‐workers and loved‐ones. In Texas, employees began a new tradi on of raising mon‐
ey for the Nexus Hope Foun‐
da on. Guy Murdock, Vice President of Human Employees enjoyed dinner and dancing at the Nexus California holiday celebra on held Resources, presented Dr. John Cassidy with a 20th Anniversary Scrapbook at The Villa. Employees at HealthBridge Houston sang “We Are the World” to open the Texas Holiday Celebra on. Employees Shannon Monroe and Ronell Myburgh enjoy a fes ve night at the Nex‐
us California holiday celebra on held at The Villa. Tara Jones and Cynthia Cabuco handed out gi cards during the employee raffle at the Nexus California holiday celebra on. Employees and guests played games in the Casino Room to raise money for the Nexus Hope Founda on at the Nexus Texas holi‐
day celebra on held at The Omni Galleria. ADVERSE DRUG REACTIONS (ADRs) A side effect is basically an unintend‐
ed occurrence that results from tak‐
ing a drug. Side effects can be good or bad, depending on how you use the drug. For example, an hista‐
mines, used to help with allergy symptoms like itchy eyes and sneez‐
ing, have the side effect of making you feel very sleepy. If you're having trouble sleeping, this side effect is great. If you need to deal with your allergies as well as drive your car or func on at your job, however, it's bad. This is an adverse drug reac‐
on. Harmful, unintended reac‐
ons to medicines that occur at doses normally used for treatment are called adverse drug reac ons. An adverse reac on is an unwanted or unexpected nega ve reac on to a medica on or treatment that is used in an approved manner. All medica‐
ons have the poten al to cause side effects, but only about 5 to 10% of adverse reac ons to drugs are aller‐
gic. In some cases, the side effects were discovered during FDA trials and were deemed acceptable risks. In others, the side effects turned out to be catastrophic but weren't well‐
known un l a er the drug was widely used. The most common side effects are nausea and vomi ng, allergic re‐
ac ons, drowsiness, insomnia, heart problems (such as heart palpita ons) and dependence. O en, there's something that you can do to help lessen the possibility of unwanted side effects. Some medica ons can make you feel nauseated if you take them on an empty stomach, for ex‐
ample. For side effects such as that, January 2013
it is pre y simple fix it or avoid it by just ea ng something prior to taking the medica on. Most allergic reac ons occur within hours to two weeks a er tak‐
ing the medica on and most people react to medica ons to which they have been exposed in the past. This process is called "sensi za on." How‐
ever, rashes may develop up to six weeks a er star ng certain types of medica‐
ons. One of the most severe aller‐
gic reac ons is anaphylaxis. Symptoms of an‐
aphylaxis include hives, facial or throat swelling, wheezing, light‐
headedness, vomi ng and shock. Most anaphylac c reac ons occur within one hour of taking a medica‐
on or receiving an injec on of the medica on, but some mes the reac‐
on may start several hours later. An‐
aphylaxis can result in death, so it is important to seek immediate medical a en on if you observe these symp‐
toms. An bio cs are the most common culprit of anaphylaxis, but more re‐
cently, chemotherapy drugs and monoclonal an bodies have also been shown to induce anaphylaxis. Rarely, blisters develop as a result of a drug rash. Blisters may be a sign of a serious complica on called Stevens‐
Johnson Syndrome where the surfac‐
es of your eye, lips, mouth and geni‐
tal region may be eroded. Serotonin syndrome is a po‐
ten ally life‐threatening drug reac‐
Nexus Connection
on that may occur following thera‐
peu c drug use, inadvertent interac‐
ons between drugs or overdose of par cular drugs. Symptom onset is usually rapid, o en occurring within minutes. Serotonin syndrome encom‐
passes a wide range of clinical find‐
ings. Mild symptoms may only consist of increased heart rate, shivering, swea ng, dilated pupils, myoclonus (intermi ent tremor or twitching), as well as over responsive reflexes. Moderate intoxica on includes addi‐
onal abnormali es such as hyperac‐
ve bowel sounds, high blood pres‐
sure and hyperthermia; a tempera‐
ture as high as 40 °C (104 °F) is com‐
mon in moderate intoxica on. The overac ve reflexes and clonus in moderate cases may be greater in the lower limbs than in the upper limbs. Mental status changes include hyper‐
vigilance and agita on. Severe symp‐
toms include severe increases in heart rate and blood pressure that may lead to shock. Temperature may rise to above 41.1 °C (106.0 °F) in life‐
threatening cases. Other abnormali‐
es include metabolic acidosis, rhab‐
domyolysis, seizures, renal failure, and disseminated intravascular coag‐
ula on; these effects usually arise as a consequence of hyperthermia. The combina on of monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and other seroto‐
nin agonists or precursors (SSRIs) pose a par cularly severe risk of a life
‐threatening serotonin syndrome. The risk of an adverse drug reac‐
on is about 33% higher in people aged 50 to 59 than it is in people aged 40 to 49. In fact, adverse drug reac ons are one of the leading caus‐
es of death in the United States. 2 Most of the me, these dangerous events could and should have been Page 4 of 20
Employee SpOtlight
This month we shine our spotlight on Javier Sanchez. Here is what John Woodman, Director of Purchasing, Maintenance and Housekeeping had to say about Javier, and the staff at HealthBridge agrees wholeheartedly: “ Javier Sanchez the maintenance staff here at HealthBridge Children's Hospi‐
tal, and is responsible for the up keep of the building. This October marked his fi h year with HealthBridge Children's Hospital, con nuing his hard work that makes the facility look and feel like home! Javier is always very helpful and always offering those who need help. Whether it be a family with a bed to re‐
pair or if any of the staff need help with broken equipment. Javier doesn’t hes‐
itate to step in to help. Javier is a man of many talents, he doesn’t just change light bulbs or paint the hallways in rooms. He quickly repairs the sprinkler pipes for the lawn to insure the safety of our staff and pa ents so that they do not slip on any water puddles. Javier also has built many offices for the new employees that are hired on. He also helps take care of all plumbing problems throughout the building and has even re led the south shower room floor. Whatever the task the day brings Javier is always ready to tackle the problem with a posi ve a tude. HealthBridge Children's Hospital is very for‐
tunate to have such a hard working employee like Javier that cares about the staff and the pa ents. HealthBridge Orange Represented at Flex Ed Holiday Party This year’s holiday celebra ons started early this year (December 1st) when Cynthia Cabuco, Sub‐Acute Program Director and Hanna van der Walt, Director of Clinical Services, a ended the Annual Holiday Party of Flex‐Ed, an educa onal company which provides Con nuous Educa on to HealthBridge employees. This event was well a ended by many of the hospitals which have contrac‐
tual agreements with Flex‐Ed, representa ves from California Hospital Asso‐
cia on (who endorses Flex Ed as a preferred provider of educa on to Cali‐
fornia Hospitals) as well as the staff and instructors of Flex Ed. We had opportunity to mingle and network with people from different areas within the greater Los Angeles area and look forward to another year of great educa on for our staff, since Flex Ed has many classes to offer and there is a possibility for us to work more closely with them in developing programs specific to the pediatric popula on that we serve. From the Sunny Shores
of Southern
Wri en by: Mike Brigle, Director of Pharmacy, NSH California
Holiday Happy
By Arnold Fajardo, Registered Nurse, HBO
As part of the perks for winning the 2012 EOY award, I had the privilege of going to Houston, Texas to be HBO's repre‐
senta ve for the annual Nexus Health Systems holi‐
day celebra‐
on. I also got the chance to be accompanied by a co‐worker/friend, Joseph (Ben) Tanjuakio, who is equally deserving of the trip since he was an EOY awardee in 2009. We were very excited since it was our first me going to Houston and at the same me, curious of what's in store for us. The mo‐
ment we landed and similari es of that facility to HBO, but more so on the differences! They have a newly remodeled and ex‐
tended hospital, state of the art equipment, modern facili es/technology and a 24 hour security service! I must admit, we were envious! The only thing I wasn't envious about is the people that I serve and work with at HBO. The highlight of the trip was the Nexus holiday party. It was a ended by close to 500 peo‐
ple from the Nexus facili es in Houston and the corporate office. We were in a grand ballroom at a big downtown hotel. The party was big, elegant, more importantly ‐ Happy! Ben and I, together with our Director of Clinical Services, Han‐
na van der Walt, were the HBO representa ves at the event and we were acknowledged first during the pro‐
gram. They even had to give me the EOY award again in Houston and introduced us to all the guests. I found it very welcoming and refreshing to be able to talk to and mingle with the staff and employees in Houston. stepped out of Houston airport, we knew we were in a different place! We had a chance to go around the area and one of our side trips was a visit to the Johnson space center (NASA). It was a very interes ng trip and something to look forward to whenever you go to Houston. Anoth‐
er side trip was to our " twin sister" Healthbridge Hou‐
ston facility. I was in awe! We were amazed on the I had fun. We had fun!! January 2013
I thank my HBO family for the trust and confidence that I was entrusted with. May we con nue to grow!! We fully appreciated Mrs. Hanna van der Walt (Dir of Clinical Services) who not only picked us up at the air‐
port, but served as our guide, our planner, our big sis‐
ter during the whole trip. She made us feel at home in Houston!! Thanks a ‐lot!!! Nexus Connection
Page 16 of 20
avoided. Even the less dras c reac‐ Incidence Occurrence Report Form, ons, such as change in mood, loss phone or scan per nent informa on to the Pharmacy. Include your of appe te, and nausea, may seri‐
name, pa ent name, date, me, sus‐
ously diminish the quality of life. pected reac on and suspected drug In the United States, more than 100,000 deaths are a ributed annu‐ if known. Individuals repor ng ADRs will have their ally to serious ad‐
verse drug reac‐
Many physical changes that name included ons. Three to 6 affect the way the body can in a monthly percent of all hos‐ handle drugs actually begin in drawing to re‐
ceive a fabulous pital admissions people in their thir
es, but the gi compliments are because of increased prescribing of drugs of our Human adverse drug reac‐
ons, and 6 to 15 does not begin for most people Resource De‐
percent of hospi‐ un l they enter their fi ies. By partment. talized pa ents then, the amount of prescrip‐ Some adverse (2.2 million per‐
on drug use starts increasing reac ons to con‐
sider include: sons in the United significantly, and therefore the Nausea / vom‐
States in 1994) experience a seri‐ odds of having an adverse drug i ng, suicidal reac on also increase. idea on, com‐
ous adverse drug 3
pulsive behavior, reac on. A study from 1998 that specifically bowel / bladder control problems, excludes medica on ordering or ad‐ weird dreams, night tremors, hallu‐
ministra on errors, focusing instead cina ons, visual problems, nnitus, on drug toxicity, allergic reac ons, anosmia, aches, pains, amnesia, and idiosyncra c adverse reac ons tremors, shakes, drowsiness, slurred found an overall incidence of 6.7% speech, stuffy nose, cough, wheez‐
for serious ADRs in hospitalized pa‐ ing, diarrhea, cons pa on, hyper / ents and 0.32% for fatal ADRs. Us‐ hypotension, hyper / hypoglycemia, headache, insomnia, lac c acidosis, ing 1998 as a representa ve year, the authors calculate an es mated peripheral neuropathy, thrombosis, 2,216,000 serious ADRs in the Unit‐ rhabdomyolysis, rash, abnormal lab ed States for that year, with 106,000 values, and many more. fatali es, an es mate that would make ADRs between the fourth and 1 Vestal RE;, ed. Drug Treatment in the Elderly. sixth leading causes of death in the Sydney, Australia: ADIS Health Science Press, 1984. United States. 5 2 Lazarou J, Pomeranz BH, Corey PN. Incidence of adverse drug reac ons in hospitalized pa‐
Nexus Specialty Hospital Seeks out ents: A meta‐analysis of prospec ve studies. Journal of the American Medical Associa on ADR To encourage repor ng of Apr 15, 1998; 279: 1200 ‐ 1205. ADRs at Nexus Specialty Hospital, we are offering a reward for any sus‐ 3 (JAMA. 1998;279:1200–5.) pected or real ADR reported to the 4 Einarson TR. Drug‐related hospital admis‐
Pharmacy Department. Anyone sions. Ann Pharmacother. 1993;27:832–40.) may report an ADR by comple ng an 5 . JAMA 1998 (Apr 15); 279 (15): 1200–1205 Over‐The‐Counter Medicines No two viruses are the
same, so "one size doesn't
fit all" when it comes to
over-thecounter
(OTC)
medicines
to relieve
cold and
flu symptoms. Choose medicines that treat the symptoms that bother you most.
When using over-thecounter remedies, keep in
mind:
 Over-the-counter cold
and cough medicines
can be dangerous for
young children. Do
not give these medicines
to children under 4 years
of age. Cough and cold
medicines have not been
proven to be effective for
children under age 6.
Find additional information about treating
colds and flu for children.
 Generic over-thecounter drugs are just
as effective as brandname ones and can
save you money.
 Avoid "cold" remedies
that combine drugs to
treat many different
symptoms. These products often combine decongestants, antihistamines, and pain relievers. It is better to treat
symptoms separately.
News from Riverway!
Cultural Competence ‐A Standard of Care By Cheryl Johnson, MSN‐Ed, RN, CLCP, LNC, Director of Staff Development/Education, HBH In a culturally diverse country, pa‐
tients are expecting their healthcare providers to pay more attention to their needs and heritage. Cultural values define who we are and give us a sense of strength in our communi‐
ties. Goldsmith (2000) reflected, “By 2020, 35% of the American popula‐
tion will consist of ethnic minori‐
ties—an amount considerably higher than today’s 28%.” Cultural attitudes will necessitate an adjustment for some providers. There are valid re‐
sources documenting that culturally competent care, requires commit‐
ment and change. Cultural sensitivity requires healthcare providers to un‐
derstand the difference in behavior and health expectations, in addition being able to provide a medium of service that is satisfactory to both the patient and provider. Individuals of different cultures and ethnicity have various values and family tradi‐
tions, however the bottom line is, everyone deserves respect, dignity, and the best quality health care. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (2003) document, “Despite efforts to incorporate psychosocial and cultural factors in traditional nursing education, disparities among diverse groups’ health status and ac‐
cess to health care continue to exist.” The 21st century brings heightened awareness of how beliefs, values, religion, language, and other cultural and socioeconom‐
ic factors influ‐
January 2013
ence health promotion and help‐seeking behav‐
iors (Anderson, Calvillo, & Fongwa, 2007). Every day and every place, healthcare providers are taking care of people with diverse challenges and beliefs. According to Cowen and Moorhead (2006), The Sullivan Commission, 2004 identifies diversity with numerous characteristics, such the impact of culture on practice, the as gender, race, ethnicity, social need for greater expertise will ad‐
class, religion, and sexual orientation. vance. As nurses are encouraged to acknowledge cultural patterns, the Cultural competence requires relevance of history and social con‐
healthcare organizations and their personnel to: text to care will become more appar‐
 Value diversity; ent.”  Assess themselves; Goldsmith (2000) acknowledged  Manage the dynamics of differ‐
“American medical practitioners ence; have worked hard to equalize care  Acquire and institutionalize cul‐
delivery across the country so that tural knowledge; patients at any hospital in the nation  Adapt to diversity and the cultur‐ can be assured of receiving high‐
al contexts of individuals and quality health care.” This is great communities served (AHRQ, news as we reside in a society where 2003). all people should be treated equally, regardless of their financial circum‐
Cultural Competency Standards stances, ethnicity, culture, or beliefs. As CMS guidelines are enforced, As healthcare providers we should medical care will be directed in a familiarize ourselves with the differ‐
competent ence in beliefs and lifestyles in order manner de‐ to achieve optimum outcomes. The serving of National Standards on Culturally and dignity and Linguistically Appropriate Services respect. (CLAS) are primarily directing stand‐
Cowen and ards to health care organizations and Moorhead are encouraging individual providers (2006) sug‐ to comply. Diversity Rx (2003), an gest, “As organization sponsored by Human nursing ap‐ Health Services Office of Minority preciated Health and Agency for Healthcare Nexus Connection
Page 6 of 20
Happy Holidays! Nelda Alfaro, Pa ent Accounts Coordina‐
tor par cipates in the Fi h Annual Cookie Exchange held at the Riverway Office. Nelda joined the Nexus team this year and this was Nelda’s first exchange. Dur‐
ing the exchange, over 700 cookies were baked, exchanged or eaten as part of the fun holiday event. Greg Crawford, Network Engineer based at the Riveway office, chooses from a variety of cookies made by the Riverway employees. at the Annual Holiday Cookie Exchange Gingerbread Contest Winner! A special thanks to the staff that decorated Gingerbread Houses for the annual Ginger‐
bread House Contest. Winning the contest was Sharon Ha ield System Coordinator, AP. Pictured to the le is the house made by Sharon. 2012 Employee of the Year: Riverway Office: Chris Dorat, Desktop Administrator Chris Dorat, Desktop Administra‐
tor, is the Riverway Office Em‐
ployee of the Year! Chris has been a true asset to the IT department for five years. As a Desktop Ad‐
ministrator, Chris is responsible for responding to helpdesk re‐
quests promptly and providing high level customer sa sfac on to employees. Congratula ons Chris on a job well done!
Measures BY TIFFANI TODD, BA, BSN, RN, CPHQ Director of Quality Services, HealthBridge Houston How do pa ents know if the care we provide is ‘good care?’ How do pro‐
viders and payors determine if they are paying for the best care that sci‐
ence, skill, and compassion can pro‐
vide? In order to link ‘good care’ to payment and ‘good care’ to science and compassion, we must develop measures that are meaningful and useful. Quality measures represent a na‐
onal trend in science and pa ent and payor sa sfac on to assure that all pa ents receive high‐quality care. It only makes common sense that an insurance company would not reim‐
burse a hospital or provider, for ex‐
ample, for lengthy hospital stays trea ng a pa ent with chronic un‐
controlled diabetes‐related compli‐
ca ons. At some point, the payor and the pa ent begin to wonder if the provider or hospital can provide any data showing their outcomes (or success record) for trea ng diabetes. In other words, pa ents and payors are comparing medical care between providers. Claims for services for a pa ent who has eye disease, chronic foot infec ons, poor control of he‐
moglobin A1c and kidney disease may require an explana on! Meas‐
urement ma ers and we can do be er when we know our results. Selec ng the right measures are im‐
portant. A ruler is useful for provid‐
ing perspec ve to length, but may not be the best tool to determine temperature or sa sfac on. Each type of measure provides a different view and can help us assess perfor‐
mance from a specific angle. The more we see informa on, the more informa on we have to choose wise‐
ly and make improvements. The Na‐
onal Quality Forum endorses a por olio of tools designed to help us know if we are achieving our goals. Examples of different types of tools include: Process Measures, Out‐
comes Measures, Pa ent Experience Measures, Structural Measures, and Composite Measures. Measuring our care is not an op‐
A special thanks to Judy Swenson! Judy recently took on an addi onal role at Nexus Specialty Hospital as Interim Nurse Manager. We all know Judy well and are confident that she will make every effort to ensure the nursing department is represented in all levels of clinical excellence during this me. January 2013
Nexus Connection
on. Not only is the care we provide at the bedside a direct reflec on of our professional pride and commit‐
ment to our pa ents, it is also direct‐
ly linked to our ability to ‘complete the paperwork’ on the back‐end to collect dollars for those services. We work hard, our physicians, nurses, and rehab staff, to deliver skilled, compassionate care. Let’s make sure the results add up. If you are inter‐
ested in working with your facility’s quality professional in data collec‐
on, contact your administra on office today. Nexus Direct
A direct access hotline to the Nexus Compliance Department monitored by a contract
agency and available to all employees, families,
vendors and visitors.
1-866-285-8528
Page 14 of 20
Policy Research suggests “standards offer a guidepost for many different purposes and audiences.” They set forth what should be done by service providers and how it should be done, and provide a basis for evalua‐
tion, comparison, and quality assur‐
ance by policymakers, consumers, and researchers.” AHRQ and CLAS guidelines encompass the following: culturally competent care, language access service, and organizational support. Basically healthcare provid‐
ers and the communities have recog‐
nized that our country is becoming more diverse and it is essential that the medical teams become more di‐
verse in the practices to satisfy all individuals. To respond in a culturally competent manner, health care pro‐
viders are sensitive and empathetic to the needs of the patient. Goldsmith, O. (2000) and Kaiser Permanente developed the Cultural‐
ly Competent Care Institute in ef‐
forts to bring research, fundraising, and insight into establishing such programs. Diversity courses will be integrated into training programs for physicians, nurses, technicians, and administrative staff. Education is the best opportunity to share this infor‐
mation and bring awareness among all healthcare providers. This will as‐
sist in eliminating disparities in health and healthcare. The Depart‐
ment of Health and Human Services (2005) also mandates that nurses be prepared to function in a global envi‐
ronment, and in partnership with other healthcare disciplines. Health Outcomes Health care traditionally is patient‐
centered, using holistic modalities competent care. Maier‐Lorentz (2008), noted it was “the only theory that explicitly focused on the rela‐
tionship between culture and well‐
ness.” Callister (2005) recommend health care providers develop rap‐
port, empathy, provide support, partner with patients on their treat‐
ment, explain or teach, respect be‐
liefs, and trust patients. The potential impacts of delivery where nursing standards are not met demonstrate a will‐
ing not to influence the fu‐
ture of healthcare. When this happens, nurses and other healthcare providers choose to ignore patient needs and behaviors. Ac‐
cording to the American Medical Association evi‐
dence‐based practice and cultural competence medi‐
cine share a common goal; both fundamentally work to improve the quality of health care, but they work at different levels. Evidence based practice focus on standards of care and cultur‐
ally competent medicine fo‐
cus on the population. The staff at Nexus will con‐
tinue to foster cultural di‐
ity and effectiveness of healthcare verse care and be prepared to ad‐
dress new issues as they develop. and decreased cost (Agency for Maier‐Lorentz (2008), “Nurses must Healthcare Research and Quality, acquire the necessary knowledge 2004). We can all be proud of the fact and skills in cultural competency. that nurses and nurse theorists have Culturally competent nursing care made major contributions to the lit‐ helps ensure patient satisfaction and positive outcomes. After all, positive erature on cultural competence. healthy outcomes are what we are Leininger’s Culture Care Theory in‐
troduced in 1978 was the first theory all striving to achieve. to highlight the need for culturally that recognize the importance of cul‐
tural competence. Health care pro‐
viders are legally and ethnically bound to provide healthcare consul‐
tations and interventions that pa‐
tients can understand. Callister (2005) reports, “Outcomes of cultur‐
ally competent care for healthcare organizations include increased qual‐
Happenings in West
Houston!
Gingerbread People Deck the Halls! News from the Quality Dept. CONGRATULATIONS!
Cheryl E. Johnson celebrates 25 years of marriage!! SWATT HOLIDAY TOY DRIVE
The Annual HealthBridge Toy Drive was a complete success again this year! We raised over 70 toys for the kids at HealthBridge and addi onal toys are expected to be delivered to the facility in the coming days. Spe‐
cial thanks to Diane Moore, Ma Mitchell‐ General Manager of OnTheRox
‐Woodlands, and Betsey Rairie of John's Bar. They were an extremely im‐
portant part of the Toy Drive. Pictured at the right are three other im‐
portant partners in the Annual Health‐
Bridge Swa Toy Drive. Steve Beckholt (pictured le ) a.k.a "The ULTIMATE Fan"; Gary Wood‐ SWATT Cap‐
tain (pictured middle); and Chuck Thompson (pictured right) a.k.a. "Commander Freak", with the Ba le Red Freaks. Through the generous efforts and me by people like Steve, Gary and Chuck, toys were collected for the children. Thanks to Steve, Gary, Chuck and everyone involved. Ana comes to us educa onally pre‐
pared to lead us on in our journey to excellence. Her most recent role as Chief Nursing Officer at Atrium Medi‐
cal Center in Houston for the last three (3) years provided her with the tools to take her new team at HealthBridge to exci ng new levels. Welcome Ana!
Nuggets of Wisdom from our Leaders 
By Ronell Myburgh, VP of Clinical Services 
ARE YOU PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE??? CONGRATULATIONS!!! Donna Nyaoke, Regis‐
tered Nurse at Health‐
Bridge Houston, graduat‐
ed on December 15, 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Donna has been a full me employee at Healthbridge Houston for 3 years! Congratula‐
ons to Donna! Great Job on your achievement! January 2013
Welcome Ana Morris to HealthBridge Houston as the New Clinical Director. Are you interested in saving money on taxes? Are you ge ng the Nex‐
us contribu on to your re rement? Contact Human Resources and ask about the 401K Plan. Or go to ww.mykplan.com for more infor‐
ma on about ge ng enrolled now. “The ul mate quality a leader should have is integrity. Without integrity, no real success is possible. No ma er whether it is on a ship, a football field, in an army or in an office.” — Dwight D. Eisenhower 
“Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers. “ — Colin Powell 
“Comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable. “ — Finley Peter Dunne Raising The Bar 2013 ‐ Customer Service  Improve the noise level at night company‐wide to ≥ 4.6 out of 5  Improve the response me to answering alarms ; call lights and requests for help to ≥ 4.6 out of 5 2013 – Quality Care  Improve communica on with our pa ents and their families explaining any change in medi‐
ca on with customer service feedback to ≥ 4.6 out of 5 on this topic  Improve pa ent safety through the “Good Catch” Ini a ve and decreasing medica on errors with 10% from 2012 2013 – Compliance  Always do the right thing to‐
ward your pa ent  Do not look the other way when witnessing poor prac c‐
es  Always put your pa ent first When you see something, do something! Nexus Connection
Page 8 of 20
Quest for Quality… The Apple Core:
Fruits and berries rank highest in an ‐
oxidant content among foods!! Did you know a major study on fruit and vegetable an oxidant content pub‐
lished in the June 9, 2010 Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, berries won easily in terms of the amount of an oxidants? An oxi‐
dants are disease figh ng com‐
pounds that scien sts believe help repair and/or prevent the stress of oxida on, a process that occurs nat‐
urally during normal cell func on. This study used cu ng‐edge tech‐
nology to measure an oxidant lev‐
els in more than 100 foods, among them fruits, vegetables, cere‐
als, breads, nuts, and spices. Among the fruits studied, cranberries, blueberries, and black‐
berries ranked highest. But although some fruits and vegetables have a high an oxidant content, the body may not absorb all of it be‐
cause of bioavailability, which is ed to the structure of an ‐
oxidants in food. Self‐care for Adults: Feel‐be er Basics There's no cure for the common cold. Or for the flu. But you've got lots of op ons to help you feel be er. Find out how to be more com‐
fortable while you recover. There's no good me to be sick, but no ma er how busy you are, take it easy:  Rest will help you recover sooner and reduce your risk of addi‐
onal infec ons such as bacterial pneumonia, sinusi s, or ear infec on.  Sip broth, herbal tea, and other non‐alcoholic liquids to soothe your throat and relieve conges on.  If you smoke, now is a good me to quit. Smoking can irri‐
tate your throat and make your cough worse. We have a variety of resources to help you stop smoking for good. January 2013
Nexus Connection
Page 12 of 20
Head‐First Helmet Project GOAL for 2013 $30,000 Help us reach our goal so that we can con nue providing the com‐
munity helmets for safe recrea‐
onal use in our quest to prevent brain injuries. F
News from Shenandoah
and The Woodlands
CONGRATULATIONS BEV!! Nexus Holiday Fun!! Beverly Tripp, Creden‐
aling Services Coordina‐
tor, has been with Nexus since 2010 and has been working in the Creden aling field for 25 years as a Cer fied Profes‐
sional Medical Services Manage‐
ment (CPMSM) specialist. Beverly has the huge responsibility of en‐
suring Nexus Specialty Hospital’s 180 member medical staff is in compliance with all state and fed‐
eral guidelines, adheres to the standards of our accredita on body, is in good standing with all na onal physician repor ng agen‐
cies and remains current on all licenses, board cer fica ons and privileges . This year, Beverly made it her personal goal to a ain an addi‐
onal cer fica on with the Na‐
onal Associa on of Medical Staff Services. She a ained her second set of creden als as a Cer fied Provider Creden aling Specialist (CPCS). Beverly tested in October and did extremely well! Nexus would like to take this opportunity to thank her for her hard work and congratulate her on her HUGE accomplishment! She is a huge asset to the Nexus Specialty Team and she is a true expert in her field! The Shenandoah Campus Celebrated the Holiday’s with family, food and desserts. January 2013
Our Woodlands Campus celebrated the Holiday’s with a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Clause. (Beverly Tripp, Creden aling Ser‐
vices Coordinator and John Sommerla e, Pharmacist). Family, friends and pa ents all joined the fun and Mr. and Mrs. Clause visited the facility! Nexus Connection
Page 10 of 20
Communications
from Conroe, Texas