Spring-Summer 2020 DAISY Award |
|
CHCS is proud to recognize Ashlea Kramer, RN, with the DAISY Award for extraordinary nursing. Kramer works for Community HomeHealth and was nominated for providing excellent care for a cancer patient.
Kramer was nominated by Gail Carter. Carter met Kramer in November 2019, when Kramer started caring for her late husband, Gary, who was battling cancer. “She had the knowledge that we didn’t. Gary was close to her because he knew she was only wanting him to get better,” Carter wrote in the nomination.
As Gary’s cancer progressed, Kramer made sure that Gary received needed treatment by coordinating with his oncologist as well as Veterans Affairs. “She made calls to the VA to see that he had what he needed to be comfortable from day one. If I needed her, she was here for me, also … only a call away explaining to me what I need[ed] to do or calling who needed to be called,” Carter said.
Congratulations, Ashlea!
|
|
Congratulations are also in order for the other nominees. Thank you to all of you for the extraordinary work you do each day! The nominees are pictured below with Chief Nursing Officer Mindy Olberding.
|
|
Caroline Cain, RN
St. Marys Community Hospital
|
|
Crystal Haven, RN
St. Marys Community Hospital
|
|
Christie Rabe, RN
St. Marys Community Hospital
|
|
"In this together"
A small heart-shaped sign on Sarah Hancock's door reads, “We are in this together.” Whenever I see this sign, I think of how many CHCS associates have pulled together to help other departments during these last several months. This work is organized through the Labor Pool.
The Labor Pool at CHCS began in late March as a part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the Emergency Preparedness world, a labor pool is used whenever there is a reduction in staff due to illness or personal leave, or there is an influx of patients higher than the department is accustomed to dealing with. You can check out the Labor Pool policy on PowerDMS.
One part of the Labor Pool is the new position of Screener. Screeners greet patients and visitors at the doors of our clinics and hospitals and screen for symptoms of COVID-19 as well as recent exposure. These screeners are staffed more than 50 hours per week at Onaga, St. Marys, and Holton, and registration staff are filling this role at Centralia, Frankfort, and Westmoreland clinics. The screeners are from many departments, and they initially may have had less work due to the shutdown. Now their departments are busier, and they are giving their time even when busy because they know the importance of screening. HR is in the process of recruiting for employed screener(s), and we are pursuing an automated temperature screening solution for all our locations.
Another part of the Labor Pool is associates helping other departments who are having a staff shortage for different reasons. Many staff members initially cross-trained to other departments that are out of their comfort zone. An example of this is hospital nurses and CNAs cross-training to Redbud or the Manor or Eastridge; secretaries or other support staff cross-training to dietary; social workers and radiology techs cross-training to EVS, and so on. This has all been helpful, and it is important that we continue to cross-train and support other departments as we move through this pandemic.
St. Marys Manor recently had a need for help in their kitchen as a cook. Lofia Daniels, Onaga dietary cook, responded to a request to help them on a Sunday. She had never been there before and didn’t know anything about their kitchen or preparing meals for residents. Afterward, she said it was a very good experience and that the CNAs and others were helpful to her. She really enjoyed talking with the residents throughout the day. She enjoyed it so much that she offered to go back in the future. This was a step out of her comfort zone. It is a wonderful example of following the CHCS Core Values and Defined Behaviors.
If you want to find out more about how you or your department can help other departments, talk with your manager or director. We appreciate everyone’s help!
—Roz Lewis and Cindy Flentie
|
|
Phishing emails target COVID-19 loan relief
The Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has issued an alert regarding phishing emails that appear to come from the Small Business Administration, or SBA. The emails link to a fake SBA web page used for malicious re-directs and theft of credentials.
Be careful where you click!
|
|
Marking masks
CHCS has a large supply of KN95 masks, and staff gathered recently to mark around 8,000 of them with stickers that say "not safe for aerosol treatments." Thanks to (L to R in photos below) Jessica Taylor, Nahtanha Smith, Cheryl Bailey, and Fo Daniels for their efforts (and to Elaine Rethman for the photos)!
|
|
More on masks
Speaking of masks, when you wear a disposable (Level 1) mask, which side goes out? Many masks are blue on one side and white on the other.
According to Christina Hasenkamp, employee health nurse, there isn't necessarily a definitive answer to which side should go on the inside, but she was trained to wear the white side on the inside and the blue side facing outward. Thanks to an observant associate for asking the question!
Another mask point: Beware of barbecues!
Lura Flentie was wearing her mask near the grill at a bbq for St. Marys staff when she started to smell something burning. She soon realized her mask was on fire! (See photo above.) Be careful wearing a mask near a grill!
|
|
It's in the bag
A business owner in Holton donated some stylish and practical bags to Holton Clinic staff. The bags are designed to be cleaned easily, and they are cheerful and bright!
|
|
The community of Onaga is mourning the loss of Keaton Blaske and Quinton (Chuck) Norris. These young men had many connections at CHCS. Chuck was the son of Amanda Norris, cook, and grandson of Linda Fordam, HIM. Keaton was the son of Yvonne Blaske, who works PRN as a CNA and also works at Adventure Time Childcare Center, and the grandson of Joyce Blaske, who retired from the Business Office in 2019.
A fund has been established at Farmers State Bank to help the families. Contributions are being collected in the Onaga Hospital Cafeteria, at Onaga Country Market, and at Farmers State Bank. If you'd like to write a check, please make it out to Blaske-Norris Fund.
Reminder: Free and confidential grief counseling will be available on Friday, August 21. Check with Angie Sauvage to schedule a one-on-one session from 12 noon to 2:00 p.m. by calling extension 5054, or come to the Admin office during that time frame (walk-ins are welcome). A group session will be available from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. in the Large Admin Conference Room.
|
|
Help for the Sauer family and baby Madelynn |
|
Jenna Sauer of Access Services delivered a daughter, Madelynn, on the morning of August 14. Madelynn had several problems and was life-flighted to Children's Mercy.
Madelynn was diagnosed with Myelomeningcele Spina Bifida and underwent surgery and seems to be recovering well.
Samantha Watkins, who is Jenna's cousin and also works in Access Services, says many people have asked how they can help. She said baby Maddie will require many follow-up appointments, and gift cards for gas or food would be useful. Sam is happy to collect any donations and thanks everyone for kind words, thoughts, and prayers!
(Note: This information was shared with Jenna's permission.)
|
|
It's a bird! It's a plane! |
|
St. Marys Manor staff recently held a superhero party and cookout for residents. Cheryl Hermann created superhero cutouts for photos, and residents enjoyed posing. |
|
|
Delivering the WOW! experience
Crystal Haven, St. Marys RN, shared the following about co-workers who help deliver the WOW! experience.
I have to tell you how grateful I am for Sylvia Quenneville and Donny Leger in Environmental Services. When I got here on a recent night, things were pretty busy and there was quite a bit to do to get things back in order. I asked Sylvia and Donny if they wanted to mop the ER floor while the bed was out because I know they jump at chances like that. Not only did they sweep and mop the ER and overflow floors, they cleaned the beds for me and also cleaned anything else that was needing it before I could get to it! They saved me so much time, which was helpful since we still had other stuff to do! It is so nice to have them around; they do a high-quality job and never complain when I ask them for anything.
Thanks to Crystal for sharing, and special thanks to Sylvia and Donny for going above and beyond to make sure our patients and visitors have a WOW! experience here at CHCS.
|
|
|
Welcome!
We are happy to have the following associates joining us. Welcome to CHCS!
-
Jenna Haverkamp, speech pathologist, Rehab
-
Nichole Kendall, cook/aide, St. Marys Manor
|
|
|
Give blood August 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Onaga!
|
|
|
Coffee Shop special
August 24-28
Cinnamon Dolce
- Cinnamon and brown sugar
- Hot, iced, or frappe
- 16 oz., $4
|
|
|
Click the flyer to expand! |
|
Fall is almost here!
Stop in the Gift Shop to check out our summer sale. Select items are 25% or 50% off August 13-31.
Help us make room for fall, and get some great deals while they last!
Need a treat?
Sea salt caramels, cinnamon churro toffee, and jell fruit slices are back in stock!
|
|
|
Note: St. Marys menus are available each morning through the Activities chronicle.
|
|
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!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
