January - Good Samaritan Hospital

JANUARY 2016
Highlights
Misson: Provide excellent health care by promoting wellness and healing through trusting relationships.
Vision: To be the regional center of excellence in health and wellness.
2015 Accomplishments
1. Patient Safety and Outcomes - Good Samaritan always strives to exceed expectations and increase patient safety every year.
In 2015, our Value Based Purchasing (VBP) score was 11% better than the State average and 13% better than National average.
VBP is the federal government’s method of paying hospitals for the provision of quality service. Our fall rate dropped from 3.11 to
2.01, Early Elective Delivery rate is 0% and All Cause Readmission Rates declined from 11.95% to 10.01%. According to National
Patient Safety Goals, Good Samaritan continuously reaches the 90th percentile and performs at World Class Status.
2. Opening and Move to Gibault Memorial Tower - This past summer, Good Samaritan
opened Gibault Memorial Tower. This 5-story, 120-bed facility was opened to the public
on July 15, 2015. Patients were moved to the new building throughout August and now
all departments that were located in Columbian Tower East, with the exception of LaSalle
Behavioral Health on the second floor, have now been relocated. This event was something
that we all will remember for years to come. Planning and collaboration amongst all
departments and employees allowed us to open the new building and move all patients
quickly and safely.
3. EPIC - Good Samaritan is partnering with Deaconess through Community Care Connect to gain
access to EPIC, the nation’s leading electronic medical record system. Good Samaritan, with support from
Deaconess, will install and maintain EPIC for Good Samaritan as part of this long-term affiliation between
the two health systems. Sharing the same electronic medical record will enable physicians, nurses and
other healthcare providers at Good Samaritan and Deaconess to access the same patient information in
real-time and across multiple locations. Patients also have access to their own health information through
the MyChart patient portal. An electronic medical record, like EPIC, increases patient safety, quality of
care, and communication.
4. New Physicians - Throughout 2015, Good Samaritan has been fortunate to recruit many physicians in multiple specialties.
Last year we welcomed: Dr. Stephen Cullen (Family Practice), Dr. Amy Campbell (Family Practice), and Nurse Practitioner
Trudy Wessell (Family Practice) and Nurse Practitioner Amanda Mattingly (Family Practice), who are members of Cullen Family
Practice in Washington, Indiana; Dr. Ali Ayoubi (Interventional Cardiology); Dr. Sally Bodensteiner (Family Practice); Dr. Sarah
Jacob (ENT); Dr. Jonathan Kirkwood (Hospitalist); Dr. Leyla Mehdinasab (Hospitalist); Dr. Howis Aros (Hospitalist); Dr. Mark
Pajeau (Oncologist); Dr. Jacob Ringenberg (Family Practice and Sports Medicine); Dr. Caroline Steinman (Family Practice); Nurse
Practitioner Allie Krieger (Convenient Care Clinic); Nurse Practitioner Carissa Luking (Family Practice).
5. Continuation of BEACON Project - As the BEACON Project starts to wind down,
some departments will be moving to new, remodeled locations. The Rehab Unit will
be consolidating and will move to the second floor of Columbian Tower West in June
of 2016. The new Orthopedic Center of Excellence will open in August of 2016 in the
previous Cardiology area. The new chapel will open mid-January right inside the Health
Pavilion by Starbucks. Columbian Tower East has been vacated (except LaSalle on the
second floor) and is undergoing demolition and build-out for the new offices that will be
located in the tower.
Old Cardiology area and future
Orthopedic Center of Excellence
520 South Seventh Street | Vincennes, Indiana 47591 | 812.885.3193 | gshvin.org
This Past Year in Shining Stars
January 2015
Renee Brasseur
February 2015
Bronie Stiles
March 2015
Ilena Vendes
July 2015
Don Black
August 2015
Carol Boyer
September 2015
Brant White
April 2015
Pam Morgan
October 2015
Clayton West
May 2015
Barb Toole
June 2015
Sherry Froman
November 2015
Cammy Chance
December 2015
Theresa Hutchison
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January’s Shining Star is Doug Hamilton
Doug Hamilton, Application Analyst, is the January Shining Star for his involvement in moving all the computerrelated equipment to the new Gibault Memorial Tower. Doug started planning for the move months ahead of
time. To ensure a successful move for each hospital department/area, he organized meetings with the staff
and managers from each area prior to the move. He organized all of the move plans, inventories and details in
a spreadsheet that the IS team used as a guide for each move. Doug was instrumental in making sure all the
members of the IS team were informed of any updates or changes each day. He also worked to create a new
naming standard for all computing devices to make them all easily identifiable. He worked countless hours and
weekends to ensure that each move went smoothly and continues this same work ethic with ongoing moves
today. Through his high-level of organization and detailed work on this project, he has undoubtedly saved the
hospital a considerable amount of time and money. Doug has gone above and beyond while working on this
project and exemplifies the very definition of a Shining Star.
Contents
4 Advisory Council
New Hires
5 Holiday Health Challenge
Coordination of Benefits
6 Promotions
New Insurance Carrier
7 Anniversaries
Large Projects
8 Do you have the Winter
Blues?
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Doug (center) is congratulated for
being the January Shining Star
by Marsha Danielsen, Director of
Information Systems and Rob McLin,
President and CEO.
December’s Daisy Winner is
Sara Bilskie, RN
Sara Bilskie, Endoscopy staff nurse, is the December
Daisy Winner. Sara became aware that one of her
patients could be involved in a situation at home that
was harmful to her health. This information came about
from comments made by the patient, who, though is
of age, has not reached the intellectual and reasoning
maturity of her years. Sara contacted Social Services
and she followed through by speaking with the patient’s
case manager. She filed a report of the comments and
mannerisms the patient demonstrated to provide a
clear picture of events during the patient’s stay in the
Endoscopy department. Sara’s willingness to address
what some would describe as an uncomfortable situation
in such a professional manner shows that she is a
wonderful patient advocate with the critical thinking
and decision making skills necessary in today’s nursing
profession. Sara exemplifies the Mission, Vision and
Values of Good Samaritan.
Page 2 | A Monthly Publication For and About Good Samaritan
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Sara is congratulated for being the
November Daisy Winner by Karen Haak,
Chief Nursing Officer; Dodie Halter,
Director of Endoscopy; Rob McLin,
President and CEO; and Endoscopy staff.
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Get To Know Your Co-Workers
Tiffany Conover
Director of Marketing
and Public Relations
If there was a movie produced
about your life, who would play
you and why? According to an
online quiz, Kate Hudson would
play me and I’m totally fine with that
because she is one of my favorite
actresses.
If you joined the circus, what
would you perform? I’d be a trapeze
artist just because it looks like it
would be super fun – well as long as
there is a net below.
Pick 2 celebrities to be your parents and why? Dad: Liam
Neeson because he’s awesome and if I were ever “Taken” he
could find me! Mom: Goldie Hawn because she seems like she
would be fun – plus her daughter was the best choice to play me
in a movie so it must be a good fit!
Rob McLin walks into your office and says you can have
a million dollars to launch your best entrepreneurial idea.
What is it? A canopy that opens out above a car door so that
when it’s raining you can be shielded while putting a child in
their car seat.
Have you ever met anyone
famous? I’ve met several. Gavin Degraw, which I’m most
excited about, Sean Astin from Rudy and Lord of the Rings,
Hulk & Brooke Hogan, and a couple of bands that were popular
in the early 2000s – Evan & Jaron and Frickin’ A.
The BEACON Project
CTW
• 2nd Floor - All the new walls are constructed, drywall is currently
being placed and finishing will begin soon. Projected completion for
the 2nd floor is the end of May, 2016. Anticipate moving Rehab into
the new space in early June.
• 1st Floor, Previous Administration Area - Demolition is underway and
construction of the new space for Human Resources and Employee
Health will begin soon. Some of the underground work will impact a
couple of areas in the Physical Medicine space temporarily.
HP - 1st Floor
• Demolition is complete in this area in preparation for the new
Orthopedic Center of Excellence.
• The south side of the healing garden is blocked for the duration of
the demolition and a portion of the build-back. Projected completion
is July, 2016.
• New chapel construction is nearing completion and is anticipated to
be open in mid-January.
Old Boiler Rooms
• Demolition continues and should be complete by the end of January.
• As a result of this demolition, the back hallway will be closed (by
the old morgue and security area).This hall will remain closed for the
duration of the project as it stands right now.
Patient Comments
“Everyone was very friendly and helpful in every
department.”
–Outpatient
“All of my care was excellent. I felt that I was in
the very best of care.”
–Inpatient
CTE
• Third and Fourth floor demolition is complete and build-out will begin
soon.
• Fifth, Sixth and Seventh floors are still in the demolition stage at this
time.
• The PINK Elevator is up and operational. All material demo and
construction will be transported via the buck-hoist.
• Window replacement work has started on the “0” hall from the 3rd to
7th floor. This will be a lengthy process.
• During the build-out of the 3rd floor (new behavior health unit) the
activity on 2nd floor LaSalle will be disrupted. Preparations for this
work is taking place.
Statue Relocation
• Plans are underway to relocate the existing
“Good Samaritan” statue from CTE elevators to
the Gibault Memorial Lobby. Options are being
considered for commemorating the site of the
statue after all these years.
Contruction is underway in the old
Critical Care area in CTW. Rehab will
move to this space in June of 2016.
“They all knew I was in pain and tried to comfort me
the whole time.”
–Emergency
“Whole experience was awesome! Endo team
was great.”
–Ambulatory
January 2016 | Page 3
Striving for Excellence
One of the most dynamic and fruitful patient safety strategies is that of involving the patients and their family members in the care
they receive. At Good Samaritan, we have developed a Patient Family Advisory Council (PFAC) that currently consists of seven
current and/or past patients and/or their family members.
The current membership includes:
• Dr. and Mrs. Larry Herron
• Andrea Kaskus
• Margaret McGiffen
• Judith Lebeque
• Charles Bobe
• Barbara Bobe
Our hospital planning committee consists of:
• Mike Smith
• Pam Morgan
• Julie Thomas
• Gary Hackney
• Vicki Potts
• Dr. Daniel Combs
• Fred England
In 2001, the Institute of Medicine released a report titled, Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New Health System for the 21st Century.
This particular report followed the 1999 report that said that as many as 99,000 deaths occur each year due to medical errors. The
2001 report states that health care systems should respect patient’s values, preferences, and needs to be involved in their own
health care. The report went on to say that health care systems should provide information, communication, and education that
people need and want.
The voice of the patient and their family members can make a
difference at Good Samaritan. Patient satisfaction surveys can
provide retrospective feedback; however, we truly need more real
time feedback and the council can provide that. We expect the
PFAC to provide us with:
· Improved patient satisfaction (experience) scores.
· Improved patient safety and quality.
· Decreased malpractice and litigation.
· Reduced costs.
· Increased work satisfaction for employees and physicians.
As the Patient Family Advisory Council matures, we will see more involvement from them in terms of focus groups and advisory
roles with each service area, especially in our core services areas of Cardiology, Orthopedics, Surgery, Oncology, and OB. Our
current and future plans involve growing the membership to include patients and family members from all of those areas, increased
meeting frequency, increased visibility, and increased staff involvement. If you have any questions, thoughts, ideas, or suggestions
about this council or what has been written here, please contact Mike Smith at extension 3472 or email him at [email protected].
New Hires
Environmental Services
• Erica Messmer – Environmental Services Assistant
• Sharon Ramos – Environmental Services Assistant
Food Services
• Wes Doades – Food Services Assistant
• Mandi Edmonson – Food Services Supervisor
• Nadia Ramirez – Food Services Assistant
• T’Aaliyah Williams – Food Services Assistant
Human Resources
• Morgan Bohnert – Human Resources Specialist
• Ali McCrary – Human Resources Specialist
Laboratory
• Judie Phillips – Laboratory Assistant
• Lauren Schnarr – Medical Technologist Reg.
• Emily Shoulders – Laboratory Assistant
Nursing Services
• Mindy Cornelius – Staff Nurse, 4GM
• Devin Costa – Nurse Assistant, 4GM
• Megan Halterman – Multi-Skilled Worker, Medical/Pediatrics
• Cole Johnson – Staff Nurse, ICU
• Kira Meese – Nurse Assistant, 4GM
• Deanna Morrison – Multi-Skilled Worker, Medical/Pediatrics
• Miranda Piper – Staff Nurse, Inpatient Oncology
• Elizabeth Skaggs – Multi-Skilled Worker, Medical/Pediatrics
• Justin Smith – Multi-Skilled Worker, Perioperative Services
Page 4 | A Monthly Publication For and About Good Samaritan
• Kris Thompson – Staff Nurse, Medical/Pediatrics
• Lindsey Vanschoyck – CC Nurse Weekend, ICU
• Jordan Walker – Multi-Skilled Worker, Medical/Pediatrics
• Rachel Weger – Staff Nurse, Medical/Pediatrics
Patient Access
• Marcie Arango – Access Associate
• Mary Raney – Access Associate
• Jessica Ulrich – Access Associate
Patient Accounts
• Kathy Hartsell – CBO Courier
Physician Services
• Erica Evans – Physician Practice Nurse
• Mandy Green – Licensed Practical Nurse
Radiology
• Emilee Rich – Ultrasound Tech Reg.
Rehab Unit
• Kayla Baker – Multi-Skilled Worker
• Tiffany Horton – Nurse Assistant
Samaritan Center
• Adam Charkosky – Resource Specialist
• Eden Daugherty – Wraparound Facilitator
Congratulations to the Winners
of the Holiday Health Challenge!
Winning Team with a
5.88% weight loss. Each
member will receive $100!
Shandra Rains
LeeAnn Roberts
Casey Neal
Cortney Cline
Second Place Team with
a 3.8% weight loss. Each
member will receive $50!
Tammy Howell
Annabell Smith
Lee Ann Malott
Mary Lou McClung
Individual Winners
1st Place ($100):
Ashlee Roberts 6.44% Weight Loss
2nd Place ($50):
Amanda Dillon 6.15% Weight Loss
Great job everyone! Several other teams and individuals were so close. Thank you to everyone
who participated. Congratulations to you all and keep up the positive behavior changes
throughout the coming year!
For Your Benefit
Employees on the Good Samaritan medical and dental plans are required to submit coordination of benefits
information each year to our claims administrator, UMR. This is simply notifying UMR if you or your dependents
have any other insurance coverage outside of the Good Samaritan plan. If you do not have any other coverage,
you are still required to respond. Failure to submit this information will result in your claims being denied until
the information is received. You must submit a COB for each person in your family covered on our plan.
Providing coordination of benefit
information is easy and can be done in
any of the following three ways:
1. Complete the form online at www.umr.com
2. Call UMR at the number on your ID card (800-826-9781)
3. Fax the form to UMR at 877-293-4926. (Forms are
available in the Human Resources Department)
If you have previously had a claim denied for failure to complete COB information, it will be reprocessed once
the information is updated. If you have any questions, please call Laura Hazelman (x3375) or Reneé McQuain
(x3315) in Human Resources.
The Giving Tree
Thank you to all the wonderful employees who helped
with the Giving Tree this year! Because of all of your
generosity, Good Samaritan was able to provide
Christmas presents to 175 local children.
Mounds of Christmas
presents for area children are
pictured above. The presents
were purchased by Good
Samaritan employees for the
Giving Tree program.
Vincennes Community
employees load
up their truck with
presents for their
students.
Pictured From Left to Right:
Beth Lindsey, Cathy
Schlomer, Rick Schlomer,
Amy Schotter, Jessica
Conner and Christe Jarvis.
January 2016 | Page 5
Promotions
Rebecca Beaman – Samaritan Center – Administrative Support
Supervisor – TO – Samaritan Center – Business & Quality
Specialist
Emily Heineke – Samaritan Center – Psychiatric Social Worker II –
TO – Samaritan Center – Operations Manager (Willows, Buntin,
Riverfront)
Angela Bottoms – Decision Support – Decision Support Manager
– TO – Patient Accounts – Director Revenue Cycle
Kathy Hixon – Samaritan Center – Community Resource Specialist
– TO – Samaritan Center – Adult Case Management Supervisor
Bradley Crouch – Environmental Services – Environmental
Services Assistant – TO – Central Supply – Central Services
Attendant
Elna Marie Jubay – Nursing Administration – Safety Assistant/
Nurse Assistant – TO Medical/Pediatrics – Multi-Skilled Worker
Penny Culp – Emergency Services – Interim Nurse Manager – TO
– Emergency Services – Nurse Manager
Brooke DeBusk – Environmental Services – Environmental
Services Assistant – TO – Environmental Services –
Environmental Services Supervisor
Amanda Dillon – Clinical Decision Unit – Shift Coordinator – TO –
Clinical Decision Unit – Nurse Manager
Jenna Downen – Physician Services – Receptionist – TO –
Physician Services – Precert/Benefits Analyst
Kim Enlow – Sleep Disorder Center – Respiratory Therapist – TO –
Sleep Disorder Center – Polysomnographic Technologist
Kasey Haney – Emergency Services – ES Tech – TO – Emergency
Services – Medical Scribe
Sandi Harvey – Environmental Services – Environmental Services
Assistant – TO – Medical/Pediatrics – Multi-Skilled Worker
Jamie Kroeger – Samaritan Center – CRS Supervisor/SOF Liaison
– TO – Samaritan Center – Operations Manager
Kristina Lagenour – Rehab Unit – Staff Nurse – TO – Rehab Unit –
Charge Nurse
Jessi Nowaskie – Medical/Pediatrics – Staff Nurse – TO – Medical/
Pediatrics – Charge Nurse
Robin Rose – Human Resources – Compensation/Benefits
Manager – TO – Human Resources – Human Resources
Manager
Angela Russell – Samaritan Center – Psychiatric Social Worker I –
TO – Samaritan Center – Psychiatric Social Worker II
Jennifer Weger – Medical Pediatrics – Shift Coordinator – TO –
Medical Pediatrics – Nurse Manager
Ann West-Sutton – Food Services – Cook – TO – Food Services –
Patient Services Supervisor
New Insurance Carrier
Effective January 1, 2016, Good Samaritan’s Life and Disability plans will be serviced by a different carrier, The
Standard. The Standard provides insurance to over 6 million customers nationwide and specializes in providing
exemplary customer service. They will be servicing employee claims for Basic Life, Voluntary Life, Short-term
Disability, Long-term Disability and our Pension Contribution Benefit. They are replacing our previous carrier,
Lincoln Financial Group (LFG). If you have a current claim that started in 2015 or prior, it will continue with LFG.
All new claims submitted will be processed through The Standard.
To submit a claim to The Standard, forms are available on the GSH Intranet under HR/Disability or you can
pick up a form in Human Resources. Beginning in March, you can also submit a claim telephonically. For more
information, visit the Human Resource Benefits office or The Standard’s website at www.standard.com.
A Bad Day
Please and Thank You
If you think you are havin a bad day
Life has its challenges and that’s okay!
Always remember it doesn’t help to curse
Someone, somewhere has it worse!
If you put a smile on your face and pull up your britches
Do what has to be done and scratch all your itches
So what do you do when you have a bad day?
Throw away that frown and your troubles will go away.
Please and thank you is always the right thing to say
These simple words should be spoken everyday
Kindness is an environment we all want to share
Being honest is the best way to show that you care
So, if you remember Thank You and Please
Life will be calmer, like a mid-summer breeze.
Page 6 | A Monthly Publication For and About Good Samaritan
These poems were written and shared by John Brashear who
works in the Transportation Department as an Orderly.
January Anniversaries
Emily Bushnell................... 1
Melissa Wise..................... 1
Frank Haaff........................ 1
Melanie McDonald............ 1
Roxanne Kempfer.............. 1
Heather Bridegroom.......... 1
Christina Gaultney............. 1
Emily Chapman................. 1
Cassandra Wallace........... 1
Denise Chopp.................... 1
Katherine O’Hanlon........... 1
Tammy Cosby.................... 1
Adam Street...................... 1
Kimberly Williams.............. 1
Matthew Ruppel................ 1
Katelynn Holscher............. 1
Karla Mundhank................ 1
Julia Kays.......................... 1
April Woodward................. 1
Tammy Caldwell................ 1
Erica Story......................... 1
Carol Ashby....................... 1
Lynn Healy......................... 1
Kelly Durnil........................ 1
Julia Cullen........................ 1
Terri Burton....................... 1
Hilary Kendall.................... 1
Vicki Lengacher................. 1
Dana Matteson.................. 1
Amanda Yoder................... 1
Janet Fleetwood................ 1
Amanda Perry................... 1
Kimberly Boyd................... 1
Megan Millspaugh............. 2
Rhonda Eubanks............... 2
Kevin Benton..................... 2
Jesse Wells....................... 2
Jordan Stagner.................. 3
Charlotte Brian.................. 3
Betty Lankford................... 3
Lindsey Poyser.................. 3
Danielle Brown.................. 3
Sandra Snider................... 3
Angela Bryant.................... 3
Tad Fisher.......................... 3
Rebecca Stephens............ 3
Shannon Benefield............ 3
Jeffery Parks..................... 3
Tina Baum......................... 3
Sara Caughran.................. 4
Kristen Volkman................ 4
Bethany Fuller................... 4
Leeann Roberts................. 4
Phil Hand........................... 4
Mandy Martin................... 5
Heather Carlisle............... 5
Trey Stoll.......................... 5
Ashley Coatney............... 5
Deborah Carroll............... 5
Scott Wampler................. 5
Hanna Like....................... 5
Suzanna Linderman........ 5
Donna Bayne................... 5
Amelia McClure............... 5
Tammy Walls.................... 5
Angela Wonning.............. 5
Lisa Berns......................... 7
Marjorie Beamon............... 7
Donna Dashner................. 7
Tammy Horton................... 7
Rosemary Santana........... 8
James Crist....................... 8
Tammy Williams................ 8
April Mayall........................ 8
Kyle Reed.......................... 9
Richard Whitesell.............. 9
Mary Clark......................... 9
Amberley Klein.............. 10
Debra Hedge.................. 10
Jennifer Cardinal..............11
James Crist......................11
Sara Gladish.....................11
Vicki Osborn.................... 12
Lucinda Bottoms............. 12
Lynnette Skelton.............. 12
Alicia Tinsley................... 13
Josette Jovero-Clodfelter.13
Teresa McQuaid.............. 14
Maria Powers.................. 14
Jacqueline Bogard.......... 14
Nancy Allen..................... 14
Tammie Wolfe................ 15
Donald Wagoner............. 16
Jeannette Parish............. 16
Michael Miller.................. 16
Sonja Barger................... 17
Julie Rehwald.................. 19
Andrea Shick................... 19
Chasity Foster................. 19
Kristal Sovdi.................... 19
Dale Cameron................. 19
Marsha Danielsen........... 19
Tonya Stoltz................... 20
Rebecca Beaman.......... 20
Jill Blair............................ 22
Bonnie Brown.................. 22
Brian Grove..................... 23
Dave Blann...................... 23
Donna Beaman............... 24
Rob McLin....................... 24
Chet Goff........................ 25
Audrey Christian.............. 26
Linda Kerzan................... 26
Gina Heinz....................... 27
Chris Vieke...................... 27
Mary Pipher..................... 28
Vicky Lamar.................... 28
Bev Brown....................... 28
Bret Devers..................... 29
Cathy Lindsey.................. 29
Donna Worland............... 32
Sandra O’Niones............. 32
Cathy Wells..................... 36
Denise Aiken................... 36
Lee Malott........................ 37
Debra Stevens................. 38
Nita Pero......................... 38
Theresa Allen.................. 39
Pamelia Archer................ 42
James Holman................ 42
Physician Anniversaries
Mark Pajeau, MD.......................1
Felix Furman, MD.....................5
Thimjon Ferguson, MD..............9
Grace Fowler, DO......................9
Lance Payton, MD...................17
Blake Titzer, DO.......................17
Frank Emert, Jr., MD................38
Lean Six Sigma
Annual Medicare Wellness Visits - Large Projects Making a Difference
Identifying a need for Medicare Patients to benefit from Annual Wellness visits, it was found that eligible Medicare patients may
be seen by a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), thereby freeing up physicians and nurse practitioners for patients with more
acute or chronic conditions. A typical wellness visit could take longer than one hour to complete, and often providers were opting
out of performing them. In 2014, 102 Annual Wellness visits were completed by Good Samaritan Physician Network physicians,
compared with the 6,000 patients eligible for this benefit. Much opportunity was available to capture this revenue, which is 100%
covered by Medicare, with no out-of-pocket expenses for the patient. (Initial visits will be reimbursed for $165/visit and subsequent
visits are reimbursed at $112).
Good Samaritan Physician Network partnered with Well Track One to create a Medicare Annual Wellness clinic. By utilizing the
Well Track One system, a CMA obtains the appropriate documentation to bill for initial and subsequent annual wellness visits.
These visits increase revenue as well as enhance provider quality care in helping to identify potential health concerns before they
become severe.
After an office location and employees were identified, Well Track One began scheduling the visits with Medicare patients. The
Medicare Annual Wellness clinic went live and saw their first patient on November 9. One month later, the number of patients taking
advantage of this program has already surpassed the number seen during the entire calendar year of 2014. In 2016, collections
are expected to surpass $155,000. As efficiency continues, the hope is that nine patients will be seen each day for their Annual
Wellness visit, allowing for the process capability to reach well over 2,100 patients on an annual basis.
Details of this project, identified and lead by Traci French, Director of Business Development and Revenue Integrity for Good
Samaritan Physician Network, as well as other large projects, are on display in the Lean Six Sigma case across from the cafeteria.
January 2016 | Page 7
Do you have the Winter Blues?
The holiday hype is over. Days are short. The weather is cold. It’s a
perfect set up for the winter blues. Sometimes we joke about those
feelings, but for many, it’s much more than just midwinter doldrums.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a very real condition. SAD is a
type of depression that is related to changes in seasons. SAD begins and
ends at about the same time every year, usually starting in the fall and
continuing through the winter months and improving as spring comes.
Seasonal Affective Disorder may present
with a variety of symptoms including:
• Irritability
• Tiredness or Low Energy
• Problems Getting Along With Others
• Trouble Sleeping / Oversleeping
• Change In Appetite or Weight
• Difficulty Concentrating
• Feeling Hopeless or Depressed Most Days
It’s normal for all of us to have some of these feelings some of the time. We all get in a rut, have an off day or find ourselves being overly
sensitive. If you find yourself struggling with these types of feelings and moods day after day, if your friends or family notice changes, or
you aren’t motivated by activities that you usually enjoy, it may be time to get help. Contact your primary care provider or a mental health
professional immediately if you are having thoughts of suicide.
The specific causes of seasonal Affective Disorder are unclear; however,
there are some factors that may play a part in this condition:
• Your biological clock: The reduced level of sunlight in the fall and winter may contribute to Seasonal Affective Disorder. This
decrease in sunlight may disrupt your body’s internal clock and lead to feelings of depression
• Serotonin levels. A drop in serotonin, a brain chemical that affects our mood, might play a role in SAD. Reduced sunlight can
cause a drop in serotonin that may trigger depression
• Melatonin levels. The change in season can disrupt the balance of the body’s level of melatonin, which plays a role in sleep
patterns and mood
• Females: SAD is diagnosed more often in women than in men, but men may have more severe symptoms
• Age: Young people have a higher risk of SAD.
• Family History: People with SAD may be more likely to have relatives with SAD or another form of depression
• Living far from the equator: SAD appear to be more common among people who live far north or south of the equator,
resulting in shorter winter days.
If you suspect you may be suffering from SAD, your first course of action should be contacting your primary care provider.
Your treatment plan may include medication or referral to a mental health provider. In addition to the treatment plan set out by
your providers, there are steps you can take that may help the symptoms of SAD:
• Make your environment sunnier and brighter: Open blinds, trim tree branches back that block sunlight or add skylights to your
home. Sit closer to bright windows while at home or in the office.
• Get outside: Even if it’s cold, take a walk or sit outside for at least 15 minutes every day.
• Exercise regularly: Exercise and other types of physical activity help relieve stress and anxiety, both of which can increase the
symptoms of SAD.
• Take care of yourself: Get enough rest, take time to relax and make healthy choices for meals and snacks
Don’t turn to alcohol or illicit drugs for help.
Practice stress management techniques such as deep breathing, mindfulness and relaxation therapy.
• Socialize: Don’t isolate yourself. Make an effort to connect with people you enjoy being around, make a point to participate in
activities you enjoy.
• Take a trip: If possible plan a midwinter trip to a warm location to help head off your symptoms of SAD.
There’s no sure way to prevent the onset of Seasonal Affective
Disorder, however, if you take steps early to manage the
symptoms, you may be able to prevent them from getting
worse over time. Don’t suffer through another winter, if you
have symptoms of SAD, get help today! Contact your primary
care provider, or, Good Samaritan employees and their
immediate family members are eligible for six FREE visits
with a counselor through our Employee Assistance Program.
Call Riverfront Counseling Centre at 812-885-2718 to make
an appointment. Be sure to inform them you are a Good
Samaritan employee or immediate family member.
Patient
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