Celebrating CNAs: CNA Week 2022 |
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"The greatest gift you can give someone is your time, your attention, your love, your concern."
- Anonymous
This anonymous quote says it all! CNAs often give our patients what they are not able to get from nurses, who are busy prepping medications and following orders, or the patient's family members, who may live in a different town or state and can visit only a few times a year. Over the course of the last two years, healthcare has experienced some of our greatest challenges. Through it all, the Certified Nurse Aides at CHCS have been there for our residents and patients, and they are still standing and showing their dedication to our patients.
What would our long-term care facilities and hospitals be without the CNAs? Our CNAs are sensitive to patients' needs and wants. CNAs work tirelessly each day to be help the patients and residents have a better day. CNAs working in the hospital help monitor vital signs and assist patients with the activities of daily living such as showers and bathroom care. This assistance means the nurses are able to focus on the orders, medication adjustments, and monitoring required to lead a patient to health. CNAs working in long-term care help the residents improve their quality of life by finding out what makes them happy and fulfilled and caring for them as they would care for a family member.
"We cannot do the work we do in the hospital without the help of our CNAs. I am so proud of the team of CNAs we have in the hospital. They are always willing to help the patients and nurses each and every day!" said Chief Nursing Officer Mindy Olberding.
Shannon Heim, St. Marys Manor Administrator, agrees.
"I always brag about the caring, compassionate staff that we have at St. Marys Manor and our other long-term care facilities, but the last two weeks more than ever, they continue to impress me. They fill in open shifts, work overtime, lend a hand in other departments when we're short, and just continue to show up and take care of people. We couldn't do what we do without our CNAs!" Heim said.
Happy CNA week to CHCS CNAs. Our patients and residents would not receive the excellent care they do without you!
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Summer is here, and families are hitting the road for vacations and enjoying time outdoors. Taking a moment to review a few best practices and tips can help you keep your youngest family members safe this summer.
Heading out on a road trip? Take a close look at your child’s car seat. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, road injuries are the leading cause of preventable deaths and injuries to U.S. children, and when correctly used, child safety seats can reduce the risk of death by as much as 71%. Make sure you do the following to protect your little ones!
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Make sure you have the right car seat for your child’s age and size, and make sure the car seat fits your child. Find resources that can help. Need expert help to check your car seat? Call your local Public Health Department, Sheriff’s Office, or Police Department to see if they have someone who can help you.
- Keep babies and children under age two in a rear-facing car seat. Children’s heads, necks, and spines need time to grow and strengthen, and a rear-facing car seat is much safer because it can absorb crash forces instead of transferring the force to your child’s body. When a young child is in a front-facing seat, they are much more likely to be injured in a crash.
- Never leave your child alone in the car, even for a minute, because it doesn’t take long for babies or young children to suffer from heatstroke or even die in a vehicle. Create reminders to ensure you don’t make a tragic mistake.
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New MRI offers wide-bore opening,
optimal images
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Our new MRI, the FUJIFILM Echelon Oval, boasts the widest wide-bore opening in the industry as well as optimal image quality.
According to Jason McKinsey, CHCS Radiology Manager, the new MRI at Onaga Community Hospital has many features to make it more comfortable for patients.
“The Echelon Oval offers a wider opening and a wider table to make it comfortable for everyone from kids to large adults, and we strive to deliver a relaxing experience by providing patients’ requested music,” McKinsey said.
Magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, revolutionized medicine since its development in the 1970s. The technology, which became widespread in the early 1990s, offers highly detailed images that help providers diagnose everything from ligament injuries to aneurysms – and all without radiation.
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How gun violence is affecting your child --
and how you can help
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Gun violence has been in the news often in the last few weeks, and your children may be worried about their safety or exhibiting signs of heightened anxiety.
KVC Hospitals recently shared an article with excellent information about what you can do to help. The piece contains tips on how to talk to children about tragic events, how to help them feel safe, what to do if your child shows signs of mental distress about public outings, and more. Learn more about KVC Hospitals.
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COVID-19 testing in LTC: What does it mean to be "up-to-date?"
Associates who are unvaccinated/not up-to-date and who work in long-term care environments must test for COVID-19 at intervals dictated by levels of community transmission according to the CDC. This information is shared each Monday in our COVID-19 testing update. (View this week's edition here; scroll to the bottom to find information about the level of community transmission.)
Being "up-to-date" now includes a second booster for anyone over age 50 if it has been four months since your first booster. Associates who are under age 50 are considered up-to-date if they have had a primary vaccination series and at least one booster. If you have had only the primary series and it has been more than six months, you will be required to test. (When the LTC's county is in the red, unvaccinated/not up-to-date associates must test twice weekly.) Learn more.
Boosters are available at CHCS Clinics.
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Home COVID tests available
Home COVID-19 tests are available at CHCS clinics. Associates who would like some are welcome to visit any location to pick some up for personal use.
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Summer parades: Sign up today! |
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Summer is here, which means communities are planning parades and celebrations!
Please sign up to represent CHCS in your community. We will provide giveaways, a parade sign, parade candy, and other needed items as necessary. Be sure to wear a CHCS T-shirt!
Notes:
- Those who walk in parades can be paid for 1 hour of work.
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If you know of a community event that is missing from the signup, please send it to Sarah Hancock. All community sponsorship requests should also be directed to Sarah.
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Community events
In addition to the community events and parades listed at the signup linked above, we've been asked to pass along the following opportunities.
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The Onaga Historical Society and Humanities Kansas are co-hosting "Researching Your Home and the People Who Lived There" by Diana Staresinic-Deane. The talk is June 18, 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. at the Onaga Historical Museum. Free admission.
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The Westy Fitness Center is sponsoring a 5K Fun Run/Walk and 1-Mile Fun Walk on Saturday, July 23 at 8:30 a.m. to kick off the Westy Wagon Wheels Car Show.
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Supporting summer learning in Holton
Michelle Blindt, Holton Clinic RN, visited a summer school session for Holton middle schoolers last week.
Michelle said the students were very interactive. First, she answered questions about the nursing profession, then demonstrated the basics of a sterile field and how to don sterile gloves. The students also learned about heart and lung sounds with a stethoscope.
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New tool: Kansas Food Source
The Kansas Food Bank has announced the launch of Kansas Food Source, a comprehensive and interactive map of all partner agencies of the Kansas Food Bank, Harvesters - The Community Food Network, and Second Harvest Community Food Bank. Support from the Sunflower Foundation helped get the website up and running.
Please share the tool with those who are in need!
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Important reminders
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Download the FREE Sunflower Summer app from Google Play or Apple app stores to learn how Kansas students and their guardians (up to two adults) are provided one free visit to each of the participating attractions per year. Attractions include museums, zoos, historic landmarks, and more. Visits must occur May 28 through August 14. Learn more.
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Employee Assistance Program: All CHCS associates are eligible for three confidential counseling sessions per year. Our EAP program is in transition, and we will announce information and details soon.
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June 20-24
Vanilla latte
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16 oz., $4
- Hot, cold, or frappe
Reminder: Friday = cherry limeade day. Beat the heat with a delicious treat!
The Coffee Shop Meal Deal is back for summer! Get a sandwich, chips, cookie, and cherry limeade on FRIDAYS for $10 + tax.
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Get ready to celebrate the Fourth!
Starting Monday, June 20, you'll be entered in a drawing for a July 4 Patriotic Party Pack each time you spend $25 in the Gift Shop!
We'll draw at 12 noon on Thursday, July 30. Good luck!
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CHCS menu: Onaga and Eastridge |
St. Marys menus are available each morning through the Activities chronicle.
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Redbud rockers
When former resident Roberta Baumchen passed away, the family wanted to do something that both the staff and residents could enjoy. One of her daughters came up with the idea of rocking chairs, because rocking for 10 minutes a day helps you sleep better!
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Happy birthday!
Mary Kay Abitz enjoyed a celebration of her 78th birthday with friends at Eastridge. All enjoyed a strawberry cake with whole strawberries brought by her daughter, Sheila, and then we had two tables of Pitch going. Good food, good friends, and a wonderful way to celebrate!
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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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