Associate Recognition, COVID-style
The Associate Recognition tour is in progress! Thanks to all who have paused to celebrate so far. Remaining celebrations include:
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St. Marys Manor TODAY, August 6, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
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Eastridge tomorrow, August 7, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
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Westmoreland, which was rescheduled to next Monday, August 10, at 12 noon.
A few photos of service awards and snacks distributed so far are below. Look for more next week!
Reminder: We'll celebrate Hospital Week — complete with gifts, ice cream bars, and special activities — September 14-18. During our September celebration, we'll share a special edition of the E-Connection each day to recognize our associates who have reached service milestones of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 years.
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Elbow bumps all around! (the socially distanced handshake)
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OSHA COVID-19 FAQ
We all probably have a few social media contacts or family members who have fallen prey to inaccurate information on masks and other issues associated with COVID-19. The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration website contains a good FAQ post about workplace practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including a variety of questions about masks.
One question is whether wearing a medical/surgical mask causes unsafe oxygen levels or harmful carbon dioxide levels to the wearer. (The answer is no, and it provides good details in the response.)
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Mental health moment: 'Doomscrolling'
"Doomscrolling," or "doomsurfing," are new words used to describe the tendency to continue to surf or scroll through bad news. The practice has taken hold during the pandemic.
Although we are tuned by evolution to seek out the negative so we can avoid danger, the overall effect on our mental health can be negative. We may think we are getting control over bad news, but doomscrolling can leave us feeling anxious, depressed, and isolated.
How can you stop doomscrolling?
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Recognize when you are doing it.
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Limit time on your devices; set a 15-minute time limit to check social media, for example, then don't go back for the rest of the day.
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Rethink how you use your break time. Did you previous scroll through Facebook? What activity could replace that?
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Look for the positive, even if it's something small.
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Do nice things for others.
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Consider mindfulness activities such as meditation or journaling.
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Ask a friend or family member to hold you accountable and help you stop doomscrolling.
Find more information in these articles:
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Is wearing a mask causing your ears to feel sore? Solutions are available!
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Option 1: Consider a mask extender to use with your mask. One associate I met with was using a mask extender that was too short put extra tension on the straps, which in turn caused the straps to dig into her ears. Using a longer mask extender made mask wearing more comfortable. I have several plastic mask extenders in my office.
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Option 2: Gray foam "ear savers" are available. Nursing uses the gray foam ear savers for our oxygen wearers. The product prevents skin breakdown. I have ordered a box of the ear savers from Central Supply.
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Thank you
St. Marys Manor offers a GREAT BIG THANKS to the nurses who have worked as CNAs when needed. Those who helped this week were:
- Kayla Jones
- Kari Holthaus
- Mollie Hiltibrand
Alexis Whorton (formerly Johnson) and Lura Flentie deeply appreciate that they "jumped right in to help!"
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3D printing Zoom celebration
Representatives from CHCS, Kansas State University, the Northeast Kansas Healthcare Coalition, and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment gathered for a Zoom celebration last Friday to recognize the success of the 3D printing partnership that successfully produced nasopharyngeal swabs to fill gaps in the supply chain.
KDHE Secretary Dr. Lee Norman (top right in photo, below) attended the meeting and shared brief remarks. He said the group "met the need in a very creative way," and praised the collaboration and the work of Drs. Kim and Montelone from K-State. "With a lot of collaboration, [the group] showed that ingenuity can help with something as important as identifying a pandemic illness," Dr. Norman said. CEO Todd Willert added that the 3D printing project helped CHCS do something proactive. "That made everybody feel so good around here, and it gave people a lot of hope" when we were able to ensure that adequate testing supplies would be available.
A news release and a magazine story from the university are forthcoming.
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Back-to-school tips
School is almost here, and COVID-19 means that there's a lot to think about.
Although everyone is managing through uncertainty, taking time to review a few tips can help you and your students feel more prepared.
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Your school district should be able to offer information and plans for reopening and how they will work to prevent the spread. If they have not shared plans, ask! Be sure to be polite and professional, because like all of us, school officials are stressed. Don't expect everything to be perfect at first.
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Stay positive. Talk to your kids about the situation, but don't impose negative feelings on them. Speak optimistically, and your children are likely to adopt the same attitude.
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Don't send kids to school sick. Develop a routine to check for fever. Remember that COVID-19 symptoms in young children may be very mild.
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Pack hand sanitizer and make sure your kids are used to using it frequently.
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If your school has a mask requirement, have a supply of masks on hand so your child has a clean mask available every day. Prepare younger children by having them wear masks for periods of time before school begins. One idea is to have them wear masks while enjoying screen time.
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Develop a "home-from-school" protocol to keep home safe. Make sure kids remove shoes and wash/sanitize hands immediately. Show them where to put clothes for laundering.
- Make sure your children's immunizations are up-to-date.
Sending a student off to college? These tips are for you!
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Connect to your student's college or university. Follow the the school on social media channels, or search for a Parents and Family organization or similar group. If the university has a daily newsletter for students or staff, bookmark the web page or subscribe to the email. (See samples from Kansas State University and from the University of Kansas.)
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Create a wellness kit for your student with a thermometer and basic over-the-counter medicines and first aid supplies in case of illness or minor accident.
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Be sure that your student has enough masks to make it through a week (or two!) without doing laundry.
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Make sure your student knows where the student health center or other health-related resources are located. Connect with the health center on social media and research what services are available for physical and mental health care.
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Be positive, but have a plan. Talk through options with your student in case a COVID-19 outbreak closes dorms or moves classes online. Discuss what the student will need to do if he or she becomes sick with COVID-19. Find out about college/university plans to house students who are sick before you face that situation.
References
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Associate Zoom meeting:
Annual pay increases and evaluation process
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Mark your calendar to join a Zoom meeting for associates about changes to the evaluation process and timing of annual pay increases.
The meeting will be Thursday, August 13 from 12:15 to 1:00 p.m.
We may address other topics as time allows. If you would like to submit a question related to COVID-19, please email it to sarahhancock@chcsks.org by 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 12, or submit your question anonymously via this survey:
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Reminder: Celebrate Frances' 105th birthday! |
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Call me maybe?!
Redbud updated its call light system in June. The new system, put in by AudioMatrix, is an improvement that has been met with positive reactions from both residents and staff.
This new system allows each staff member to be assigned an iPod that, once a call light is activated, immediately notifies all staff of the location of the resident. This move to portable devices ensures that our resident's needs are continuing to be met in a safe and timely manner. Rather than a single monitor at the nurses station, each staff member now has the ability to know who needs help and can even signal through the iPod to other staff members if they encounter an emergency. (Thanks to Michelle Lippert, pictured above, for showcasing the system!)
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Community Blood Center is calling on all healthy individuals to make a life-saving blood donation!
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The next opportunity at Onaga Community Hospital is August 21 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the basement teleconference room/Walsh Room.
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Appointments are strongly recommended! Schedule an appointment here or contact Marlene Wolfe at marlenewolfe@chcsks.org or extension 5002.
- Please wear a face mask to your donation and bring a photo ID or donor ID card. For questions about eligibility due to travel outside the U.S., medications, or medical conditions, call 1-800-688-0900.
- Community Blood Center staff are trained in universal precautions to help prevent the risk of spreading infections and are taking extra precautions to avoid unnecessary contact. Do not attend the drive if you are experiencing symptoms of illness.
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Happy retirement!
The Holton Clinic celebrated LeAnn Brown's retirement day on July 31. LeAnn was a radiology technologist for 12 years at CHCS. As indicated by her cake, she is an avid golfer and is looking forward to more time to hit the links.
Congratulations, LeAnn!
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Coffee Shop special
August 10-14
Cafe Mocha
- Dark or white chocolate
- Hot, iced, or frappe
- 16 oz., $4
We are proud to serve PT's Coffee. PT's is in Topeka, and the company was founded in 1993 by Kansans Jeff Taylor and Fred Polzin. Learn more.
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Note: 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 social media audience to sarahhancock@chcsks.org. Please send items by close of business on Tuesdays when possible. Ideas are welcome!
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