DAISY Award will be announced March 25! |
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Nurses make a difference every day by providing care and compassion. The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses recognizes that care, and CHCS is proud to participate in this meaningful recognition program embraced by healthcare organizations around the world.
The DAISY Award was created by the family of J. Patrick Barnes, who died of complications of the autoimmune disease idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP) at the age of 33. During Barnes’ eight-week hospitalization, his family was awestruck by the care and compassion his nurses provided, so they set out to acknowledge the superhuman work nurses do each day.
CHCS selects DAISY Award winners twice each year through a blind selection process. Eight CHCS nurses were nominated for the winter 2022 DAISY Award. Congratulations to these excellent nominees:
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Ashley Bean, RN, Birth Center
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Lindsay Koch, RN, Birth Center
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Katie Kufahl, RN and Birth Center Manager
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Rebekah Rombeck, RN, Onaga Hospital
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Jamie Todd, RN, Onaga Clinic
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Alicia VanDonge, RN, Onaga Hospital, Cardiopulmonary Rehab
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Marlaina Wahl, RN, Community HomeHealth
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Jolene Wessel, RN, Birth Center
The winter 2022 DAISY Awardee will be announced soon! Tune in to Facebook Live on Friday, March 25 at 11:30 a.m. to see the announcement, or read the full story in the March 31 E-Connection. (Those in Onaga are welcome to join us for the announcement in the hospital lobby for the award announcement.)
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Celebrate Pulmonary Rehab Week! |
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At the beginning of the year, CHCS announced that we now offer pulmonary rehabilitation services. You may be wondering what we do in this program to help patients. The quick answer is exercise and education, but this doesn’t capture everything.
Pulmonary rehab is a program designed for people with chronic lung disease. This includes, but is not limited to, COPD, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary fibrosis, and cystic fibrosis. Medicare and some private insurance providers have also added continued shortness of breath greater than four weeks after COVID-19 infection diagnosis if the patient meets certain criteria. Pulmonary rehab can also help with many other conditions.
The goal of pulmonary rehab is to help those with a chronic lung disease have a better quality of life and to be more in control of their disease. So how do we do this? We provide three things: Exercise, education, and support.
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We haven't had an Associate Recognition Banquet since 2019 because ... well, you know. But we're pleased to announced that plans are in the works for a fun, casual event where we can gather and celebrate.
Please save the date!
- Wednesday, May 11, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
- Food and fun in the park across the street from the hospital in Onaga (Rob Rosenfield Park on 8th St.)
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We will collect RSVPs; event details and link coming soon
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Cybersecurity threats abound |
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You may have heard that the Russia-Ukraine war could increase the likelihood of cyberattacks. The threat is indeed real.
We were informed this week that in our own backyard, Labette Health in Parsons, Kansas, was hacked and made a public announcement.
This is a stark reminder that we could be next. The single best defense we have at CHCS to fend off these types of attacks is our continued vigilance and caution with our email system. I know you all get tired of the monthly in-house "phishing attacks," but I do hope you take this threat seriously and pause for one second when you see that warning banner. I hope are especially cautious when you see links in any email. We are literally one click away from being in the same boat as Labette Health.
On a positive note, I do want to thank each and every one of you for keeping us free from such attacks since we started the in-house phishing tests. We in IT will be very glad to take a phone call or email if something seems phishy--it's much better than dealing with the fallout from a successful phishing campaign.
As Joe Dirt once said, “Keep on keepin' on.”
--Dom Freeman, IT Director
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Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month:
Schedule that screening!
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Earlier this month, we shared our community health news release about Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and the need to make sure cancer screenings are up-to-date.
Our colonoscopy team, pictured above, is working hard this month to raise awareness. Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men and women combined in the U.S. according to Fight CRC. About 1 in 23 men and 1 in 25 women will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and 1 in 3 people are not up-to-date with colorectal cancer screening. Most importantly, 60% of colorectal cancer deaths could be prevented with screening.
Urge your loved ones to schedule that screening!
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Find a new recipe for flavor |
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During National Nutrition Month, we are encouraged to celebrate a world of flavors in a healthful way. Try some of the recipes below. Enjoy!
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If you're in Onaga on Wednesday, March 23, please stop by the Cafeteria for samples of trending foods and drinks! Samples will be served 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. |
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Take the National Nutrition Month quiz by the end of March for a chance to win a $10 gift card to the Coffee and Gift Shop or a jar of Raven's Originals black bean salsa. Winners will be announced in April. Good luck!
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Just for fun:
Test your knowledge about the different food groups:
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OSHA requires an annual fit test for associates who may wear an N95 respirator for their job. If you haven't been fit tested in 2022, it's time to renew!
Managers and Directors, please follow these steps:
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Look at the flyer to see when fit testing will be available at your location
- You should have an email from me with a list of associates who need to be fit tested. Look at your list of people in group 1 and send me times that will work based on the schedule in the flyer.
- Wait for a confirmation email that the date and time you are requesting is available.
- Make sure your associates know when they are scheduled.
Please note the following:
- Although most tests are brief, testing can take up to an hour if we have to test multiple masks to find the right fit
- We cannot fit test pregnant women
- Associates have to be clean shaven to be fit tested
- Associates cannot have food, drinks other than plain water, or chewing gum 15 minutes before testing
- Your staff may be separated into two groups: a group that will be fit tested in the first part of 2022 and a group that will be fit tested in the second part of 2022
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Eastridge and St Mary's Manor should hold off on scheduling at this time.
If you have questions or notice that staff members are missing from your list, please let me know.
--Christina Hasenkamp, RN, Employee Health
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Physical therapy helps Avery push for progress |
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If you visit the Onaga Rehabilitation and Fitness Center on weekdays during the lunch hour, you’re likely to see Bob Avery hard at work on the weight machines. He travels to the Fitness Center several times a week from his home near Olsburg to do strengthening exercises, and he sees a physical therapist once a week. He’s come a long way since a harrowing accident nearly five years ago left him with a partial spinal cord injury.
Avery, a lifelong rancher who also shod horses for more than 30 years, was on horseback in an arena enjoying himself with friends when he roped a big steer. “It didn’t end well,” Avery explains. He was jerked over the front of the horse and landed on his head. He’s careful to note that the horse wasn’t at fault. “I don’t think the horse did anything wrong. It wasn’t her mistake—it was mine! I had done this for 50 years and roped thousands of steers,” he said.
When Avery couldn’t move his feet, his friends called an ambulance, and that crew saw Bob’s injuries and called a helicopter to fly him to the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City. Two surgeries were required to stabilize his damaged C7 and T1 vertebrae. After surgery, Avery recuperated at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln, Nebraska, returned for another surgery, then went back to Madonna for another two and a half months.
Avery recalls a delightful day when he caused his therapist to scream in surprise when he moved his leg on his own, and eventually he was able to regain enough movement to be able to walk with a walker. Avery then came home, and he chose Community HealthCare System for his physical therapy. He’s been happy with the decision. He has worked with different therapists, and all have been helpful. Derek Surdez has been his primary therapist, and he scored major points with Avery about halfway through the first session when he said, “We need to get you walking better.”
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Order CHCS apparel by April 10
Notes:
- We will try to send samples around the system, but it depends on when we receive them from Blue Chip
- Prices have increased. This is true across the board for apparel because of limited stock, increased shipping costs, and general inflation.
- Choose "pick up" then "ship free to coordinator" as your shipping option; orders will ship FREE and the Gift Shop will distribute via courier
- Orders will arrive in Onaga roughly three weeks after the store closes
- Payment is by credit card through the online store
- Please read the information on the store homepage before ordering
- The Gift Shop will restock CHCS T-shirts with this order, but sizes and colors will be limited.
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Get ready for Walk Kansas!
CHCS will be offering associates an opportunity to participate in Walk Kansas free of charge again this year (normal registration fee is $10). This program is for people at ALL fitness levels, and it's a great way to jump-start your routine!
Instructions on how to register through CHCS will be sent via email early next week, so start assembling your teams and get ready to roll! Teams of six with one person designated as the captain work best. Solo registrations are also available.
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Important reminders
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Enjoy a benefit meal for Jolene Wessel on March 27 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Altstadt Gallery, 200 N. Kansas Ave., Frankfort. Find details in last week's E-Connection. Questions? Please contact Ashley Bean (785-458-9258), Lacey Niehues (785-456-5677), or Christine Merriman (785-364-0489).
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Join a Youth Mental Health First Aid class March 30 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Register by emailing Marlene Wolfe or calling her at ext. 5002. Cost is $30 to cover books and materials. Payment instructions will be given at the time of registration.
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Coffee Shop Special
March 21-25
Chocolate cupcake latte
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16 oz., $4
- Hot, cold, or frappe
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What's new: The latest from Round Top Collection!
Round Top Collection's new customizable garland boards have arrived!
The boards include a green boxwood garland, but the fun part is swapping out the garland for the seasons and holidays! In-stock garlands are shown below; others for July 4, fall, and more holidays will be arriving later in the year.
If you prefer the larger charms, we have new ones in stock along with a new "Home Sweet Home" circular display board.
Spring plants will be delivered next week, and we have Easter goodies for all. Hop on in!
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CHCS menu: Onaga and Eastridge |
St. Marys menus are available each morning through the Activities chronicle.
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Editor's note: Thanks to Gordon Beightel, Onaga Maintenance Manager, for submitting this week's funny. |
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Did you miss your Connection?
Important information is relayed every week in the E-Connection. If you miss it in your email, an archive is available on our website. Visit the For Associates page, then click E-Connection Archive.
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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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