April 8, 2015 - Great River Health Systems

IVER HEALTH SYSTEMS
April 8, 2015
Front approach to hip replacement has benefits
Orthopedic surgeon Doug Foster, M.D., holds a curved instrument used for anterior hip-replacement surgery.
One surgeon at Great River Orthopaedic Specialists is taking a new approach to hip-replacement
surgery at Great River Medical Center. Instead of
replacing the worn or broken joint through the
rear or side of the pelvis, Douglas Foster, M.D., performs the procedure through an incision in front
of a patient’s hip.
Unlike the traditional approach, anterior hip-replacement allows the ball-and-socket joint to be
removed and replaced with a prosthetic joint
without cutting surrounding muscles or tendons.
Working between muscles and tissues instead of
detaching them from the hip or thighbone has
many benefits:
• Patients may have shorter hospital stays.
• The new joint has greater stability. Patients can
bend the new joint freely and bear their full
weight soon after surgery.
Continued on next page
Hip replacement – continued from front page
• The recovery period is quicker.
• This approach is less painful because patients
don’t sit on the incision during recovery.
Dr. Foster, who performs all of Great River Medical Center’s spine surgeries, has been doing the
procedure for nearly two years.
Anterior partial-hip replacement surgery began
in 1948 with replacement of the head of the thighbone only – the “ball” of the femur. The introduction of a new orthopedic table about 10 years ago
allowed surgeons to reposition patients during
surgery for complete joint replacement. X-rays are
taken during surgery to confirm proper placement
of the prosthesis.
Changing the patient’s position is important because Dr. Foster performs the procedure through
an incision one-third to one-half the length of a
posterior hip-replacement incision. The result is
an incision three to four inches long instead of
eight to 12 inches. It requires surgical instruments
angled to reach inside the incision.
An orthopedic specialty table allows joints to be moved
during surgery. Besides anterior hip-replacement
surgery, this table is used to repair hip and femur
fractures.
“The biggest reason we’re not seeing more anterior hip replacements is that it’s harder for the surgeon to place the femoral part of the prosthesis,”
Dr. Foster said. “The incision is smaller and there is
a less-generous view of the hip from this position.”
Most patients eligible for hip replacements
are candidates for the anterior hip-replacement
surgery. To learn more about hip-replacement surgery at Great River Orthopaedic Specialists, please
call 319-768-4970.
Dr. Foster, second from right, performs hip-replacement surgery through a small incision in front of the patient’s joint.
Nurse practitioner Steve Tekell, right, assists.
2
Great River QuickCare
doubles clinic size
Knotts to receive
EXCEL Service Hero
award
Great River Quick Care, which opened in November 2013, has expanded to accommodate more
walk-in patients. The new space has four examination rooms and a larger waiting room. The clinic is
next to Heritage Medical Equipment and Supplies,
624 S. Roosevelt Ave., Burlington. The telephone
number is 319-768-4320.
Great River QuickCare provides affordable
treatment of common illnesses and injuries such
as cold and flu, ear infections, sore throats, minor
burns and insect bites. Laboratory services, and
school and camp physicals also are available. The
hours are:
• 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday
• 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Joan Knotts, Nutrition Services, is Great River Health
Systems’ newest EXCEL Service Hero. The award
recognizes employees who demonstrate actions
that extend beyond expected employee behavior.
Criteria for the service hero award are based on the
health system’s philosophy of care:
• Enthusiastically friendly
• X-ceeding expectations
• Caring and compassionate
• Energetic teamwork
• Leadership and professionalism
Knotts, a cook, was working in the Cafeteria
when she served an elderly man who was wearing a hat that indicated he was a veteran. As the
man prepared to pay for his meal, Knotts told the
cashier that she would pay because, she said, “He
served our country.”
An award presentation and reception is scheduled at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, in the Cafeteria.
Learn more about Great River QuickCare HERE.
Donate wheelchairs,
mobility equipment
April 10, 11
Great River Wellness Plaza is a drop-off site for Iowa’s
statewide Wheels for the World collection of used
wheelchairs, and aluminum walkers, crutches and
canes. The organization provides the equipment
to people in developing countries.
Equipment may be taken to Wellness Plaza
between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Friday, April 10 and 7
a.m. to noon Saturday, April 11. Great River Health
Fitness staff with check in equipment and provide
receipts for donations.
More than 10,000 wheelchairs are collected every year. Inmates at correctional facilities across the
U.S. restore them and other mobility equipment.
Wheelchairs are custom fit to recipients, who are
trained in wheelchair use and maintenance.
For more information, please call Great River
Health Fitness at 319-768-4191.
Joan Knotts
3
People
Sleep Therapy Open
House May 5, 6
Lisa Griswold was appointed Director of Quality. She
had been Director of Nursing
Operations.
Heritage Medical Equipment and Supplies will
host a Sleep Therapy Open House from 7:30 a.m.
to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 5 and Wednesday, May
6, at 624 S. Roosevelt Ave., Burlington.
Staff will provide free maintenance checks on
CPAP and BiPAP machines, and a variety of mask
styles will be on display. Besides having sleep-therapy equipment checked regularly, users should:
• Wash masks daily to help maintain a comfortable
fit.
• Wash foam filters periodically.
• Change paper filters frequently to avoid buildup.
• Replace worn or stretched tubing.
New provider
Allison Walsh, PA-C
Great River QuickCare
Medical education:
Des Moines University
Durable medical equipment and billing specialists will be available to discuss insurance coverage
for sleep-therapy products and replacement parts,
and to answer other questions.
For more information, please call 800-247-0762
or 319-768-4300.
Enjoying the show
Great River Medical Center celebrated its 15th anniversary the first week in April by serving ice cream treats
to employees and showing video highlights of the years. Click the photo below to watch the video.
4
Save money on prescriptions
Whether you participate in a prescription copayment plan or a health savings account plan, or pay
full price for your prescription medicines, saving
money is important for you and your health plan.
It’s important to save money even if you have only
a small copayment because using the least-expensive drugs helps keep future insurance premiums
and copayments lower.
“Using generic forms of drugs is one of the best
ways to reduce costs,” said Brian Anderson, R.Ph.,
director, Heritage Pharmacies. “When your health
care provider prescribes a medicine, ask if your
condition can be treated with a generic version of
the drug. It’s not always possible, but most drug
classes have generic forms available.”
Getting tablet medicines in higher strengths
and splitting the tablets in half is another way to
save on prescriptions.
“Crestor, which is for cholesterol, is a good
example,” Anderson said. “If you purchase higher-strength tablets and cut them in half, you can
save yourself or your health plan about $120 a
month.”
Many medicines shouldn’t be divided, such as
capsules and extended-release tablets. Ask your
provider or pharmacist if your medicine can be
split.
If your provider changes the dose of your
medicine, you can save money by using the
medicine you already have before getting the
new prescription. For example, if your provider
increases the dose of your medicine from 10 mg to
20 mg, double up on the 10 mg strength until the
medicine is gone. It’s important to take the dosage
your provider prescribes. If you have any questions
about using existing medicines, ask your provider.
If you have questions about your medicines,
please call one of these Heritage Pharmacies:
• Heritage Family Pharmacy, Burlington Area
Family Practice Center, 319-763-3681
• Heritage Park Pharmacy, Eastman Plaza, 319768-3950
Brian Anderson, R.Ph.
Director, Heritage Pharmacies
5
Language Line
provides sign-language
interpreters
Hormone therapy
topic of April 30 Red
Hot Mamas program
An Internet service makes sign-language interpretation available to patients 24 hours a day.
Language Line Video Interpretation functions
like Skype, using software to provide real-time
communication. Using a laptop computer with a
microphone and camera, caregivers ask questions
or provide information and patients watch a
sign-language interpreter on the screen.
Great River Health Systems employees can check
out laptops in the:
• Acute Care Center
• Emergency Department
• Great River Physicians and Clinics Administration
Gynecologist and obstetrician Michael McCoy,
M.D., will discuss hormone therapy for treating
symptoms of menopause. The third program in
the 10-month Red Hot Mamas series is scheduled
at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 30, in the Blackhawk
Room on the lower level of Mercy Plaza, 1225 S.
Gear Ave., West Burlington.
Menopause affects women differently, so
treatment should vary, too. Besides relieving
symptoms, hormone therapy can reduce the risks
of heart attack, colon cancer and fractures. But this
type of treatment is not right for every woman. Dr.
McCoy will explain the benefits and risks of using
hormone therapy and provide information on
other FDA-approved treatments.
A light supper and door prizes will be available
at the free program. Reservations are requested.
Please call 319-768-4070.
Red Hot Mamas is an education and support
program that educates women about the physical
and psychological changes that occur at menopause and helps them make informed health care
decisions. It has been educating and engaging
women, and health care providers, since 1991. For
more information, please visit www.redhotmamas.org.
Staff should contact their leaders or the House
Supervisor when sign-language interpretation is
needed. A computer ID and password is provided
with the laptop. Complete instructions for accessing Language Line Video Interpretation are in
laptops’ quick-reference guides and on the health
system’s intranet under Clinical Info-Language /
Communication Resources.
Language Line Services also offers telephone
interpretation for more than 150 languages. The
health system has other communication tools for
people with hearing impairments:
• Closed-caption television
• Hearing-aid maintenance
• Personal amplifiers
Michael McCoy, M.D.
Great River Women’s Health
6
Volunteers help improve hospital experiences
Great River Health Systems is grateful for its 465
volunteers every day, but especially during National Volunteer Week April 12 to 18. Volunteers are
active in 34 locations and services, including:
• Cups & Cakes in the hospital lobby
• Four health system entrances
• Gift Shop
• Great River Hospice
• Great River Klein Center
• Senior Health Insurance Information Program
(SHIIP)
• Tour guides
• Virtual volunteers who knit and crochet newborn
hats and booties
ing an interview, having a brief health examination
and passing background screening.
New volunteers complete orientation, and all
volunteers attend updates on volunteering and
the health system to ensure they have the knowledge and skills they need.
To learn more about volunteering and complete
an application, click HERE.
Volunteer stories
Too close for comfort
A woman came to the Information Desk in tears.
Someone had left only 5 inches between his car
and the woman’s car. Volunteer Jeff Graham entered the car through the passenger door, climbed
over the console and backed the woman’s car from
the parking space. The woman was so grateful
that she called the hospital to thank the volunteer
again.
Volunteers logged 37,753 hours of service in
2014. They were the first people to greet nearly
70,000 people who came to Great River Health
System, and they escorted 9,500 people in wheelchairs. Five volunteer SHIIP counselors helped
880 people save a combined total of $184,300 on
insurance premiums.
Encouraging words
When a mother brought her very shy, autistic son
to the health system, volunteers Jerry and Marie
Hayes greeted them at the entrance. The Hayeses
invited the boy sit in a chair next to them and
talked to him. And the boy began talking to them.
With tears in her eyes, the mother explained that
her son never talks to anyone. She said people
usually treat him differently, and she was grateful
that this couple spent meaningful time with her
son.
Snow grateful
A man using a walker was struggling near the
Wellness Plaza entrance during a snowstorm.
Volunteer Chuck Noel helped the man get inside
the building. When the man was ready to leave,
Noel removed the snow from the man’s car and
drove it to the front door for him. The next time
the man came to the health system, he brought a
thank-you card for Noel.
What does it take to be a volunteer?
Great River Health Systems’ volunteers go through
the same process as people who are applying for
jobs. This includes submitting an application, hav-
7
Health system to recognize Earth Day by
encouraging employees to join recycling effort
Great River Medical Center recycles enough
waste to nearly equal the weight of a fully loaded
Boeing 767 jet. In 2014, that was 381,256 pounds
– 29 percent of the total waste produced. Items
included batteries, cardboard, light bulbs, magazines, monitors, motor oil, newspapers, paper,
plastic, tin cans and wood pallets.
To receive a bin, pick up a voucher from 11 a.m.
to 1 p.m. and 7 to 8 p.m. Monday, April 20 and
Tuesday, April 21, in the Cafeteria. Vouchers can
be exchanged for bins Wednesday, April 22, in
the employee parking lot.
The hospital has received the Des Moines County Regional Waste Commission’s Large Business
Award for recycling and waste reduction every
year since 2006. Besides preventing 190 tons of
garbage from entering the landfill, the hospital
saved $10,240 in waste-management fees. It
received nearly $4,500 in the sale of recyclable
materials.
People ineligible for bins can take recyclable
material to these drop-off locations anytime:
• Burlington – Area Recyclers, 1818 West Burlington Ave.; Bennett and Roth Trucking, South
Madison Road; Flint Hills Golf Course
• Danville – Danville Fire Station
• Kingston – Co-op
• Mediapolis – Behind the rest stop
• Pleasant Grove – Secondary road shop
• Sperry
• West Burlington – Hagerla’s Trading Post,
14562 Washington Road
• Yarmouth – Secondary road shop
Learn what can be recycled HERE.
This year, Great River Health Systems is encouraging its employees to recycle by providing
100 green recycling bins to those who live in
communities served by Area Recyclers, which is
operated by the waste commission. Recyclable
materials are collected at no charge from bins
placed at the curb on pick-up days.
Appliances are accepted at Area Recyclers from
8 to 11:30 a.m. the second and fourth Saturdays
of every month. There is a $10 disposal fee.
“Great River Health System’s focus on energy
efficiency, waste reduction and environmental
stewardship has made us a leader in our region,”
said Kevin Dameron, manager, Environmental
Services. “We are proud of our partnership with
the Des Moines County Waste Commission. In
recognizing Earth Day on April 22, our goal for
providing bins is to promote recycling among
our employees and the community.”
Earth Day volunteers needed
Volunteers are requested to help beautify
the Great River Health Systems campus
from 6 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, April
22, which is Earth Day. Tasks include:
• Cleaning flower beds
• Mulching
• Planting flowers
• Trimming bushes
Employees who live in the city limits of these
communities are eligible to receive bins:
• Burlington
• New London
• Danville
• Rome
• Mediapolis
• Salem
• Middletown
• West Burlington
• Morning Sun
• Westwood
• Mount Pleasant
• Winfield
For more information, please call Facilities
at 319-768-3800.
8
EMPLOYEEINFORMATION
Completing required
education for your job is
your responsibility
WWII pilot to speak
April 23
World War II fighter pilot Capt. Jerry Yellin will
share his life’s experiences from 11:30 a.m. to
12:30 p.m. Thursday, April 23, in the Blackhawk
Room. Yellin, who lives in Fairfield, Iowa, flew
the war’s last mission and witnessed the last
American casualty.
The health system will pay training fees and
attendance time for required education if certifications are renewed before they expire. You are
responsible for keeping track of expiration dates
and scheduling training. Check your certification completion and expiration dates under My
Recertifications on NetLearning.
Yellin’s book, “The Resilient Warrior: Healing the
Hidden Wounds of War,” is about overcoming
his 30-year battle with post-traumatic stress
disorder. Another book, “Of War and Weddings:
A Legacy of Two Fathers,” is a memoir of his postwar battle to accept and love his son’s Japanese
wife and family. His third book, “The Blackened
Canteen,” is historical fiction.
If your certification expires, you must pay the
training fee, whether you take courses at Great
River Health Systems or another facility. You
will not be paid for training time. These are the
health-system’s employee prices for HealthStream courses:
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support, $150
• Basic Cardiac Life Support, $50
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program, $20
• Pediatric Advance Life Support, $150
Employees pay these fees if:
• You are required to take Emergency First Response and Choking but choose to take Basic
Cardiac Life Support (CPR), $50
• You are required to complete CPR through a
live class but choose to complete it online
through HealthStream, $50
For a good cause
Casual days
John Reusch installs a door at the home of Director of Quality Resources Lisa Griswold. She
had the winning bid in November’s Take Facilities Home With You auction, a fundraiser for
the annual Employee Food Drive. A volunteer
crew from the Facilities Department spent
four hours working in her home Thursday,
April 2.
• April 17 Hope Haven Area Development Center
• May 1 New oncology patient kits
9
Service Recognition 2015
About 260 Great River Health Systems employees celebrated milestone service anniversaries in 2014.
They were recognized for five to 40 years of service at a dinner March 10 at Pzazz Convention Center
in Burlington.
Front row, from left: Joyce McGraw, 30 years; Vicki Schwerin, 40 years; Deborah Trousil, 40 years; Diane
Vollmer, 35 years; and Cheryl Litch, 30 years
Everyone in the back row was recognized for 35 years of service: Dave Olmsted, Cynthia Mueller, Joyce
Maupin, Connie Tansey Fry and Connie Heuvelmann
Members of the Patient Financial ServicesPatient Billing team attended the event.
Part of the Pharmacy crew
10
New employees
Shayla Meyer
Certified Nursing Assistant, Acute Care Center
Madison Alliman
Childcare Assistant, Kid Zone
Lance Montgomery
Cook, Nutrition Services
Megan Burk
Rehabilitation Technician, Physical Therapy
Maggie Moore
Business Analyst, Accounting
Mariah Cary
Pharmacy Technician, Heritage Partners
Tyler Nelson
Financial Counselor, Patient Financial Services
Amanda Chase
Clerk, Hospice
Theresa O’Neill
Billing/Insurance Specialist, Great River Clinics
Victor Dagbul
Echocardiographer, Heart and Vascular Center
Kay Overton
Quality Coordinator, Hospice House
Brittany Dutkiewicz
Fitness Specialist, Rehabilitation Services
Heather Pierre
Certified Nursing Assistant, Klein Center
Sara Fedler
Physical Therapy Assistant, Rehabilitation Services
Jenna Rackham
Phlebotomist, Laboratory
Ashley Fisher
Social Worker, Hospice
Renee Rhodes
Certified Nursing Assistant, Acute Care Center
Jessica Francis
Billing/Insurance Specialist, Patient Financial Services
Ilona Roberts
Sitter, Acute Care Center
Tony Gibb
Operations Engineer, Plant Operations
Michelle Schuelka
Coder, Health Information Management
Theresa Glandon
Billing/Insurance Specialist, Patient Financial Services
Lynn Smith
Registered Nurse, Nursing
Rita Hartman
Associate, Patient Access
Jordan Stevens
Rehabilitation Technician, Rehabilitation Services
Christa Hinojosa
Registered Nurse, Klein Center
Marissa Tully
Certified Medical Assistant, Great River Orthopaedic
Specialists
Brittany Johnson
Associate, Stores
Sophie Vincent
Registered Nurse, Acute Care Center
Corey Johnson
Cook, Nutrition Services
Shelby Whittaker
Certified Nursing Assistant, Klein Center
Nicole Johnson
Secretary, Rehabilitation Services
Kanyia Williams
Associate, Patient Access
Shelby Jones
Certified Nursing Assistant, Klein Center
Emily Wischmeier
Coder, Health Information Management
Allie Liecthy
Patient Service Associate, Emergency Department
Allison Wolkenhauer
Homemaker, Klein Center
Abby Maddox
Certified Nursing Assistant, Klein Center
Rachel Wood
Registered Nurse, Nursing
Christopher Sessions
Driver, Superior Ambulance
David Woodruff
Driver, Superior Ambulance
11
EMPLOYEEPROFILE
Melanie Davis
Billing and Coding Specialist
Great River Physicians and Clinics
Start date:
Sept. 26, 2011
What I like about my job:
The people I work with and our awesome team.
I have worked at two other hospitals, and this is
the most positive, successful, great place to work.
I walk down the halls and see everyone smiling. I
like being around happy, positive people.
People would be surprised to know …
I used to be so shy that I wouldn’t talk. I started
waiting on tables when I was 14 and worked my
way out of it.
Hometown / Where I live now:
Southern Missouri / West Burlington
Proudest moment:
Graduating from Indian Hills Community College
Things I enjoy:
I was a gymnast in high school, and I still enjoy
being athletic. I work out in the Wellness Gym,
participate in the Les Mills body combat and yoga
classes, and climb the rock wall. I love roller skating
and hiking, too.
If I could, I would:
Go to the Caribbean and teach yoga classes
Department I’d like to learn more about:
I’m fascinated by surgery. I apply medical codes to
surgery cases for billing, and I would love to see
the procedures I code.
I helped a co-worker by:
Answered by a co-worker: “When I was injured for
four months, Melanie drove me to and from work,
brought me food, ran errands, drove me around
town and babysat for me.”
Great River Health Systems connection:
My mother, Mel Davis-Schiefer, is a therapist at
Burlington Area Family Practice Center.
Favorite memories:
Riding through fields on horseback and feeling
invincible
12