Inside this Issue

Hearpple Happenings
October 2014
Inside this Issue
page 2
• FLH Calendar
• Thank yous, etc.
• SSMH Cardiac Rehab
20th Anniversary
page 3
• VRT News
• ADC Contest Winners
• FLH Fleece Available
page 4
• Benefit Enrollment
• Scholarship
Applications Available
• Recognitions Achieved
Lost Time
Number of days since
the last lost-time injury,
reported
September 29, 2014:
GGH - 30
LCS - 53
LCN - 611
HLC - 47
SSMH Acute - 53
Homestead - 3
Submissions
Please send to:
loree.mackerchar@
flhealth.org
The deadline for next
month’s issue is
Friday, November 7, 2014.
Follow Us On . . .
We’re healthcare
with heart
It’s Time to Get Your Flu Shot
Vaccines are now available in the Employee
Health offices. Check your Employee Health
calendar or call X4013 for clinic dates and
times.
Did You Know?
• The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
(ACIP) recommend that all health care workers
get an annual flu vaccine.
• Fewer than half of health care workers report
getting an annual flu vaccine.
• Most healthy adults may be able to infect
others beginning 1-2 days before symptoms
develop and up to 5-7 days after becoming
sick.
• Some people, such as older adults, pregnant
women, and very young children, as well
as people with certain long-term medical
conditions are at high risk of serious
complications from the flu. Medical
conditions include chronic lung diseases, such
as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD), diabetes, heart disease,
neurologic conditions, obesity, and pregnancy.
• As a health care worker, by getting vaccinated,
you can help protect your family at home, as well • Since health care workers care for or live
with people at high risk for influenza-related
as your patients at work from getting sick.
complications, it is especially important for our
• Influenza outbreaks in hospitals and longemployees to get vaccinated annually.
term care facilities have been attributed to
low vaccination rates among health care
FLH Employees and Flu Vaccination
professionals.
Our employees have a special role in the
• Studies have shown that higher vaccination
rates among health care workers can reduce
influenza-like illness, and even deaths, in
settings like nursing homes.
fight against influenza. By getting vaccinated
themselves, we can protect our health, our
families’ health, the health of our patients and
residents, and our community.
• Health care workers play an important role in
protecting public health, and your co-workers
need you to be healthy and able to cover your
shift.
Encouraging vaccination to our coworkers and
our patients is providing excellence in health
care through prevention and SAVES LIVES.
More employees vaccinated means better
patient outcomes and less absenteeism from
work.
• Getting a yearly flu vaccine can help ensure
your time off is spent doing what you want to
do, not staying at home sick.
All employees must be vaccinated
unless they have a documented medical
Influenza (Flu) Facts
contraindication (contraindication forms
• The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused
are available in the Employee Health offices)
by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe
or have a sincere religious or philosophical
illness, and at times can lead to hospitalizations
opposition to vaccinations. Please note that
and death.
unvaccinated individuals will be required
• The main way influenza viruses are spread is
to wear a procedure mask during the
from person to person in respiratory droplets of influenza season whenever they might
coughs and sneezes. Influenza viruses may also
expose patients and residents to influenza.
be spread when a person touches respiratory
This includes, but is not limited to: patient and
droplets on another person or an object and
resident rooms, nurses’ stations, treatment
then touches his/her own mouth or nose before areas, dining areas, hallways and elevators.
washing his/her hands.
SSMH Cardiac Rehab Marks 20th
FLH Calendar
CLASSES
BLS for Healthcare Providers - Full Course
Oct. 15, 8: 30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., LCS Conf. Room
BLS for Healthcare Providers - Skills Demo
Oct. 16, 8:30-10:30 a.m., Taylor-Brown Conf. Room – HLC
CNA Education Day
Oct. 22, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., LCS Conf. Room
Acute Care Nurse Aide Orientation
Oct. 29, 7:30-11 a.m., MSWSPN Classroom 4
Volunteers Needed in Seneca County
EVENTS
SSMH Auxiliary $10 & Under Mart
Oct. 2, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. & Oct. 3, 7 a.m.-3 p.m., SSMH Hallway between Hospital & Homestead
SSMH Auxiliary Bulb & Plant Sale
Oct. 12, last day to order; Call X2053 for details
Seneca County Public Health is looking for volunteers to
help with a mock antibiotic dispensing exercise on Saturday,
November 1. The time commitment is only about 20
minutes.
The department conducts emergency preparedness drills in
order to be prepared to respond to public health emergency
events. This year’s drill will be held at the Waterloo High
School gym between 12:30 and 2 p.m. Volunteers will receive
a free first aid kit and will be eligible to win other prizes.
Walk & Talk for Health (Ontario)
Oct. 7, 5:30 p.m., Geneva Lakefront
Walk & Talk for Health (Yates)
Oct. 8, 5:30 p.m., Keuka Lake Boat Launch
You do not need to be a Seneca County resident to
volunteer. Those interested should call (315) 539-9493 for
more information or to register as a volunteer.
Walk & Talk for Health (Seneca)
Oct. 9, 5 p.m., Huntington Living Center
Living with Diabetes Class
Oct. 14, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., GGH School of Nursing Classroom
Pre-registration required by calling X4006
Pictured at the SSMH
Cardiac Rehab 20th
anniversary celebration
are: Kris Schiek (far left) and
Ellen Hey (center), two of
the original Cardiac Rehab
nurses; Larry Collins, a
respiratory therapist who
started the Cardiac Rehab
program 20 years ago;
and three of the original
patients in the program who still attend today – John Moeller, Dale
Mueller and Dan Henries, Sr.
Welcome
Blood Pressure Screening
Oct. 14, 1-3 p.m., ARU Dining Room, GGH
We would like to welcome our new nurses, Diane Nilles, Lisa Ball
and Sharey Selover and also receptionist Kathy Parrott. We will
miss Becky Noonan. – GGH Radiology Department
Thank You
Stroke Support Group
Oct. 14, 3-4 p.m., ARU Dining Room, GGH
Thank you to Becky Bowen and Diane Nilles for covering during
my absence. – Pat Plyter
Diabetes Support Group – Geneva
Oct. 15, 5-6 p.m., GGH Conf. Room A/B, GGH
I want to send a big thank you to the SSMH Employees of the
Quarter who have offered me use of their designated parking
space instead of using it themselves – they are Teresa Smith,
Marlene Bergstresser, Cindy Christensen, Krista Madigan,
Vicky VanHorn, and Kaitlin Smith DeHond. I appreciate their
thoughtfulness and caring ways. -- Pauline Champlin, SSMH
Housekeeping supervisor
GGH Auxiliary $6 Accessory Sale
Oct. 30-31, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Conf. Room A/B, GGH
Diabetes Support Group – Penn Yan
Nov. 6, 2-3 p.m., St. Mark’s Terrace, Penn Yan
Is Vein Ablation Right for You?
Dine & Discuss with Rodolfo Queiroz, M.D. & Pamela Hobart, ANP
Nov. 13, 6 p.m., Ramada Inn, Geneva
Registration required; X4636 or X2053 (Fee)
HLC Auxiliary Bling & Things Sale
Nov. 14, 7 a.m.-4 p.m., Huntington Living Center
A huge thank you to all the teachers and staff at the Geneva
General Child Care Center. As I watched my youngest “baby”
head off to kindergarten, I am very grateful for all you have done
for us over the past seven years. Thank you for your kindness, your
patience, your knowledge and guidance in helping my kids grow
into the energetic and creative little people they have become.
Thank you also for giving me peace of mind knowing that my
babies are so well taken care of when I am not able to be with
them. – Nicki Sciremammano, Garnsey Rehab/ARU
Values Reinforcement Team
The Values Reinforcement Team (VRT), made up of
Finger Lakes Health staff including Tammy Bates, Debbie
Lockett and Dorothy Ricks from HLC; Sheila Hemminger,
Mike McLaughlin, Gayla Niles, and Cyndi Passalacqua,
GGH; Brandi Crocker and Kristy McNicholas, LCN; Cyndi
Urquhart, LCS; and Karen Mickelsen, Cheryl Petersen
and Lynn Welsh, SSMH, meets monthly to develop ways
to thank our employees and find ways to showcase
our employees’ values of Service, Teamwork, Dignity,
Respect, Responsibility and Vision.
Some of the ways we promote our values is through the
Caring Hearts program to assist a fellow co-worker in
their time of need, sending notes and items to our coworkers’ family members that are in the military and
the holiday tag tree when employees donate a gift to
residents in our living centers.
We recently collected school supplies at all sites, which
is greatly appreciated by the schools.
A big “thank you” to our co-workers who donated items
for the recent VRT bake sale and to those who made
purchases. Our bake sale was a big success and provides
for our next project – the VRT “BIG Drawing”. Starting
today (October 3), you may purchase chances for the BIG
Adult Day Announces
Contest Winners
Adult Day Health Services Week was celebrated
September 15-19. The Huntington Living Center program’s
theme for the week was “Apples, Apples, Apples”. Staff
and registrants shopped for apples at Red Jacket Orchards
in Geneva, then made applesauce and baked two entries
for our apple dessert contest. There were 10 entries for the
baking contest!
Thanks to our judges: Pete Simone, Maintenance; Debbie Lockett, Activities; Charlie Carter, Nutritional Services;
Doris Wolf, family member; and Nicole Elmazi, Zumba Gold
instructor.
Baking Contest winners were: 1st place - Pat Wurstner,
ADHC administrative assistant with her Apple Pie; 2nd
place - (a tie) Kathy Wade, ADHC director, Apple/Banana
Bread and Lauren Cook, daughter of Linda Cook, RN, ADHC,
Creamy Apple Dessert; 4th place - Lauren Cook again, Apple
Walnut Cobbler.
We ended the week with an Apple Festival. A big thank
you to all Huntington staff that supported our celebration!
prize of $500 cash. Other prizes to be awarded one at
each site are: a Google Nexus 7 tablet, a pair of tickets
to the Buffalo Bills home game with the Cleveland
Browns on November 30, a pair of bus tickets for a oneday trip to NYC with Finger Lakes Limo; a pair of tickets
to the Tony Award winning musical “Cinderella” at the
Rochester Auditorium theater December 9 -14.
Winners will be drawn on Monday, November 3. A flyer
is distributed with more details of how and where to
purchase 26 chances for $5.
Don’t miss a chance to put together a bowling team
for the Finger Lakes Health league. Sunset Bowl starts
October 4 and Doug Kent’s Lakeside Lanes league starts
October 11, both at 6 p.m. Contact Gayla Niles today,
x4016, to sign up your team or be a sub.
It is also time to make sure your nominations are in for
the next selection of the Employee of the Quarter.
Nomination forms are on Docushare in the Human
Resources forms folder, called “Employee of the
Quarter/Distinguished Values Award”. Nominations for
this quarter need to be in by October 13. Please send to
Patrick Boyle’s attention in Human Resources.
Finger Lakes Health
Fleece Jackets
Now Available!
Orders are now being taken for fleece jackets featuring
the Finger Lakes Health logo. Samples can currently be
seen in the Peppermint Parlor at Soldiers & Sailors.
To order, call Loree MacKerchar at X2053.
Fleece Jackets:
(men’s - light gray)
(women’s - blue)
S-XL: $40 + tax
XXL & up: $45 + tax
Benefit Enrollment to Begin; Education Sessions Slated
Open benefit enrollment for Finger Lakes Health employees is scheduled to begin at
noon on Thursday, October 9. Enrollment will run for two weeks, ending on Thursday,
October 23. Please remember that benefits are not automatically carried over.
Employees must enroll during these two weeks in order to have benefits in 2015.
Employee benefit guides will be posted on Docushare and distributed to employees
the week of October 6. The employee benefit guide will contain information about all
benefits including the health and dental plans.
We will once again offer education and enrollment assistance sessions. We will be
adding a third health plan in 2015, so employees are strongly encouraged to attend
an education session. Education sessions are about 45-minutes long. Check with your
manager for the schedule of education sessions, as well as enrollment assistance
sessions. These schedules are also available on Docushare in the Human Resources
folder under 2015 Benefit Enrollment.
Recognitions Achieved
GGH Cardiac Rehab Program Recertified
Geneva General Hospital’s Cardiac Rehabilitation
Program has been awarded Program Recertification
by the American Association of Cardiovascular and
Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR).
SSMH Receives ‘Golden Egg’ for Safety Award
Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hospital was recognized
by the New York State Partnership for Patients
Critical Access Hospital network with the “Golden
Egg” for Safety Award.
In addition, Kelley Stout, RN, ANP, former manager
of ICU and First Acute at S&S and now manager of
2 and 3 West and ARU at GGH, received the “Safety
Star”.
GGH Women’s Health Services Excels at DOH
Survey
Geneva General Hospital’s Women’s Health Services
recently underwent the annual New York State
Department of Health Survey and was found to
be free of any deficiencies by the New York State
Department of Health.
GGH Nuclear Lab Receives
Accreditation
Geneva General’s Nuclear
Medicine Lab has been
granted a three-year term
of accreditation in Nuclear
Medicine by the Intersocietal
Accreditation Commission (IAC).
Scholarship
Applications Available
The Finger Lakes Health Foundation is accepting
applications for the Gladys Ansley Rector Memorial
Scholarship, established by the late Richard Rector
to memorialize his mother who served as a nurse
at both Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hospital and
Keuka College. Contact Johann Earsing in the FLH
Foundation/Community Services office (X4053) for
an application.
The award is presented to a staff member of
Soldiers & Sailors or The Homestead who is pursuing
a bachelor’s degree at Keuka College. To be eligible,
a staff member must be recommended by their
supervisor, manager, director or administrative team
member; preference will be given to nursing majors,
per the scholarship sponsor. The applicant must have
completed at least three years of continuous service
with SSMH or Finger Lakes Health; receive favorable
employee performance reviews and meet Keuka
College admission criteria. The application deadline is
October 10.
If no eligible applications are received by
October 10, then the scholarship will be opened
up to any SSMH managers, directors or supervisors
pursuing a degree at Keuka College related to his/
her responsibilities. Application deadline for staff is
October 17. If there still are no eligible applicants,
the scholarship will be extended to children of
SSMH staff members enrolled full time in a degree
program at Keuka College. Those applications must
be submitted by October 24.