Thank you, screeners!
Screeners have stepped up to do an important, and often complex, job.
Screeners meet patients, visitors, and vendors at the entrance in Onaga, St. Marys, and Holton facilities and go through a complete list of COVID-19-related questions, including medical and travel questions; take temperatures; and ensure that individuals are wearing appropriate masks. (At other clinics, Registration staff double as screeners.)
All screeners have completed an hour of education on the screening process and how to handle various scenarios. Many times, screeners need to be able to respond appropriately to people who are annoyed by the process.
Several screeners are stepping "out of their norm" but truly enjoy it. One example is John Bresler from IT. John said that in a previous job, he worked around the elderly, and he realized that he missed the interaction. On his first shift as a screener, he really enjoyed talking with people as they entered the hospital, and he had some great conversations. He is looking forward to his next shift as a screener!
Associates who are serving as screeners are team players who are willing to rearrange their normal day to help our organization provide a safe environment for our associates and patients.
Departments with associates serving as screeners include the following.
- Onaga: IT, Pharmacy, Education, Rehab, Acute Nursing, Clinic Nursing, Specialty Clinic Nursing, Home Health, Radiology, Respiratory, Utilization Review, Social Services, and Administration.
- St. Marys: Rehab, Registration, Acute Nursing, Clinic Nursing, and Radiology.
- Holton: Registration, Rehab, Specialty Clinic Nursing, and Clinic Nursing.
Thank you to all for a job well done!
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Right:
Jen Hutfles, Sue Figge, Kimberly Diehl, Cindi Area, Laura Geist and Kristin Wright are the screening crew in Holton.
Below
, left to right: Three of many screeners in Onaga and St. Marys: Ellie Haverkamp, Onaga; Vicky Hurla, St. Marys; and Lacey Niehues, Onaga.
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Prolonged PPE use: How to protect your skin
Almost every type of PPE — face masks, goggles, face shields, gloves — can cause skin problems. Even gowns can cause overheating and profuse sweating, and when combined with friction, that can lead to
intertriginous dermatitis
.
Healthcare providers can follow a few simple steps to protect their skin from damage caused by pressure and moisture.
Some basic information is available
in an article from Medline
.
I've created a more in-depth handout that covers levels of skin injury, the places most prone to injury from prolonged PPE use, and how to protect your skin before you leave for work and when you arrive at work and prepare to don PPE.
View the handout
.
Note:
Please talk to Employee Health Nurse Christina Hasenkamp about how some products could affect respirator fit.
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Purchased masks allowed
As the summer days grow warmer, associates may find homemade cloth masks uncomfortable. One alternative is using a purchased Level 1 mask such as those available at Wal-Mart, Menard's, local pharmacies, and other retail outlets. These disposable masks are lighter and more comfortable for some wearers, and they are allowed under the CHCS mask policy.
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Farm Bureau supports rural resilience
Farmers and ranchers face uniquely stressful circumstances and ongoing challenges. Farm Bureau seeks to help by providing resources to support mental health and resilience.
You may be in a position to help a friend or family member.
Although it may feel like it’s out of your comfort zone, you can start a conversation in any number of ways.
- Acknowledge what they’re going through. “I know a lot of people have lost their markets this year, which can be devastating. How are you holding up?”
- Remind them of something they’ve said and express interest. “I heard you say your meeting with John was a disaster. Can you tell me about it?”
- Share a habit you’ve seen change. “I’ve noticed you haven’t come to coffee for a long time. Are you doing OK?”
- Don’t wait for them to ask. “You seem to have a lot on your mind. How can I help?”
- If they’re willing to reach out, encourage them. “I’ve heard that talking to [a counselor, a doctor, a religious or spiritual leader, etc.] can be really helpful. Have you considered that?”
Farm Bureau members are also invited to register for free online Rural Resilience training.
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Phishing quiz winner
Healthcare organizations are seeing increased cybersecurity threats and attacks. A vast majority of those attacks begin with a phishing email
that is designed to look legitimate but attempts to get readers
to click links or reveal important information.
Last week we included a quiz and offered a chance for those who took it to win a prize. We collected screenshots of the completion screen from participants and placed names in a hat. We drew at the end of the day yesterday, and the winner of the CHCS computer bag from the Gift Shop is:
Christina Hasenkamp
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COVID-19 testing updates shift to weekly
Systemwide COVID-19 testing updates have been sent as COVID-19 special alert messages on Mondays and Thursdays for the past few weeks.
Read today's update
.
After today, updates will be sent once weekly on Mondays.
The next update will be Monday, June 15. Frequency will be adjusted as the situation warrants.
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The need for blood is urgent! CHCS associates have an opportunity to help.
Community Blood Center will be at Onaga Community Hospital on
Thursday, June 18
from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Please give blood if you can!
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Gardening season is here!
COVID-19 and a cool spring caused us to get a slow start on the CHCS garden in Onaga, but it's off and growing now.
The in-ground garden behind the maintenance shed has tomatoes, pepper, onions, and newly planted cucumbers. Two raised beds contain lettuce and herbs (cilantro, rosemary, mint, basil, and chives). The raised bed outside the cafeteria now has its own rain barrel to make watering easy (and eco-friendly).
The cafeteria has recently served lettuce from the garden and used cilantro to make salsa. Delicious!
Would you like to help maintain the garden?
If so, the Livewell Committee would love to have your assistance!
Hit our signup to find available slots for watering and weeding
(and later, picking!). We're happy to share instructions or give a brief tour. If you sign up for a slot, plan to spend about 30 minutes taking care of necessary tasks.
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Welcome
We are happy to have the following associates joining us. Welcome to CHCS!
The following new hires are working as dietary aides at St. Marys Manor.
- Valeria Trujillo
- Christina Gallegos
- Maria Landolfi
- Sophia Dowd
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Gift Shop: Sale!
Take a look at new arrivals, shop clearance items, and get 20% off any one regularly priced item (limit 1 per customer). Please follow social distancing guidelines by limiting the number of shoppers to three in the store at a time.
Click on fliers below to expand/download.
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Coffee Shop special
June 15-19
PBJ latte
- Peanut butter and raspberry
- 16 oz., $4
- Hot, iced, or frappe
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Taste of summer
Cherry limeades
are back on the Coffee Shop menu on Fridays.
- 20 oz., $2.25
- Available after 11:00 a.m.
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Note: St. Marys menus are changing frequently because of ordering challenges. We will resume publishing menus when we are able. For now, St. Marys menus are available each morning through the Activities chronicle.
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Send items for the E-Connection or for sharing with our broader Facebook audience
to
sarahhancock@chcsks.org
. Please send items by close of business on Tuesdays when possible. Ideas are welcome!
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