'A measured approach'
For the week ending March 14, CHCS saw a systemwide positivity rate of zero -- as in zilch, nada, goose egg! The number of COVID inpatients throughout our area has fallen dramatically. Case rates are plummeting throughout Kansas and the nation. States are lifting restrictions. And, most important of all, vaccinations are picking up and promise to increase greatly in the coming weeks.
Everyone is understandably excited at the real chance of some degree of normalcy returning to our lives soon. Invariably, the questions are being asked: When can we start allowing more visitors? When can we quit temperature checks? When can we stop wearing masks!? Are we there yet?!
At the onset of the pandemic, CHCS chose to take a measured approach. We were not going to overreact. We were going to follow the best science available and do what was best for our patients, communities, and associates. In this current phase, we are going to do the same. As Dr. Fauci says in the cartoon above, no, we are not "there" yet. COVID-19 is not finished! It is still out there and doing what viruses do best – changing! Several variants have emerged, and we need to be cautious. People are still not always making the best choices (just look at recent footage of spring breakers for proof). Kansas just issued travel restrictions for New York and New Jersey! Christina Hasenkamp reminds us that these were the first two states with travel bans back in March 2020.
The COVID-19 response team, consisting of providers and key personnel, meets every two weeks. Lifting of restrictions will be an evolving topic of discussion. We will follow the data and the best available science. We will act responsibly.
In football terms, our receiver has caught the pass and is racing toward the end zone. Victory is in sight! Let’s not get cocky, overconfident, or sloppy. Let’s not have a Leon Lett moment! Leon learned the hard way that premature celebration doesn't score points. We cannot fumble the ball if we want to win the game.
--Todd Willert, CEO
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KDHE updates travel guidance
KDHE has updated rules for travel-related quarantine. Unvaccinated individuals who travel to New York or New Jersey on or after March 12 now need to quarantine.
Click the green button to learn more about the latest rules in Kansas.
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Send vaccine info to Employee Health
If you have received the COVID-19 vaccine from an outside source such as a Walgreens, Wal-Mart, a county public health department, etc., please send Employee Health a copy of your vaccine card or other documentation that has the vaccine name, date received, lot number, and expiration date. The easiest way to do this is to scan the document and send it to employeehealth@chcsks.org. We will record this information in your employee health file. Note: If you received the vaccine at CHCS, we already have that information on file.
CHCS is required by the Federal Government to report how many associates have received the COVID-19 vaccine. Thank you for your help in obtaining this information.
CHCS MANAGERS, please make sure your associates know about this request and provide assistance as necessary in sending documentation to Employee Health at employeehealth@chcsks.org.
--Christina Hasenkamp, RN, Employee Health
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Visitor policy refresher
As COVID-19 restrictions begin to relax in certain spheres, patients and family members may have questions about our visitor policy.
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Hospitalized patients are allowed one visitor per day. The visitor can be a different person each day rather than the same visitor for the length of the patient’s stay. Exceptions are made as necessary for end-of-life care.
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Patients delivering babies at the Birth Center are allowed one designated visitor for the length of their stay. Designated visitors will be issued a purple bracelet to indicate their status.
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Pediatric patients are allowed both parents as visitors.
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COVID-19 patients or those under investigation for COVID-19 are not allowed visitors.
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Clinic and outpatient surgery patients are allowed one support person.
We will revisit this policy periodically and share news widely when it changes.
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Celebrating social workers
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March is Social Work month!
Social workers are essential to community well-being. As practitioners, social workers are trained to help people address personal and systemic barriers to optimal living. They are employed to effect positive change with individuals, families, groups and entire communities.
In hospitals, social workers assess patients' social, emotional, environmental, financial, and support needs. They play a critical role in the area of discharge planning by ensuring that the services a patient will require are in place before the patient is discharged. In nursing homes, social workers make sure residents' social and emotional needs are met, and they work with families on Medicare and Medicaid applications and other financial needs. They also help coordinate outside care for residents such as dentist or mental health provider visits. This is just a partial list of social workers' diverse duties.
Thank you to our wonderful CHCS social work staff!
- Angie Sauvage, Onaga Hospital
- Chelsea Shupe, Onaga/St. Marys Hospital
- Suzanne Lundberg, St. Marys Manor
- Deb Boyce, Eastridge
- Shelly Suther, PRN
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Patient shares colonoscopy story
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March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month! A grateful patient recently shared his thoughts on the importance of colonosopy.
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among men and women in the United States, and 25 to 30% of colorectal cancer patients have a family history of the disease according to FightCRC.
That was enough to convince Gary Sorensen, a patient of Dr. David Allen at Community HealthCare System, to start getting regular colonoscopies when he was in his late 40s.
“My dad had colon cancer, and it was detected in his 50s. My dad’s brother and his father had colon cancer, too. It’s so prevalent in my family,” Sorensen said.
Now that he’s almost 70 and is enjoying his retirement from a career in teaching and coaching, Sorensen is thankful that he decided to follow his doctor’s advice and undergo regular screening for colon cancer.
“It gives you peace of mind knowing that OK, you can check it off for a few years. Dr. Allen has found a couple of polyps. I can only imagine where they would be today if I hadn’t found them 20 years ago when I was 50!” Sorensen said.
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Join Walk Kansas with CHCS!
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The Livewell Committee is working with Walk Kansas to offer CHCS associates an opportunity to join this year's program at NO COST.
Here's how to join
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Find some co-workers who want to form a team. Teams consist of 4 to 6 people.
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Designate a captain who can handle team registration.
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Choose your challenge from 3 options based on the goals your team wants to set: “8 Wonders Walk” = 2 ½ hrs/wk; “Cross Country” = 4 hrs/wk; “Little Balkans to Nicodemus” – 6 hr/wk
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Captains: Review the Captain's Guide and sign up your team. Team members will receive email invites to set up their own accounts to log their progress.
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All Team Members: Take a look at the Walk Kansas Activity Guide to learn more about what "counts" for activity and how to get ready to meet your fitness goals. Get set up with your online account and be ready to start logging on March 28!
Look for an opportunity to join a Zoom meeting to get more information and help with signup soon!
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National Nutrition Month: Plan your meals
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March is National Nutrition Month. We're sharing tips each week to celebrate -- and to help remind us how to take care of ourselves.
This week's tips center around planning your meals through the week.
- Use a grocery list to shop for healthful foods.
- Choose healthful recipes to make during the week.
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Be menu-savvy when dining out. View a handout with some smart tips for reading menus.
- Enjoy healthful eating at school and work.
- Plan healthful eating while traveling.
Be sure to complete our nutrition quiz by March 29 for a chance to win a prize! Prize winners will be announced in April.
--Holly Schmitz, registered dietitian and
Nutrition Services manager
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Share your baseball memories
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You know spring is here when Major League Baseball's Opening Day arrives!
The CHCS Spirit Squad has some special plans for this year's Opening Day on April 1. You can help by sharing your baseball memories (as a player or a spectator at any level -- memories are not limited to MLB).
Write your memory in a paragraph or two and send it to info@chcsks.org. Not comfortable writing? Call Sarah Hancock at extension 5133 to tell your tale, or record a voice memo and email it to the address above.
We'll share baseball memories in the April 1 E-Connection or, if we collect enough, in a special Opening Day edition of the newsletter.
Let's play ball!
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Thank you
We would like to extend our heartfelt Thank You all our friends at CHCS who have remembered us over the past couple of months. We are forever grateful for the flowers, memorials, gifts, cards, food, visits, hugs, prayers, and patience. Your generosity and kindness are appreciated more than words.
With love,
The Family of Damon Quigley
Ron, Brenda, Noah, and Taegan
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Thank you
To health care staff,
Thank you all for the care you gave to Jack. With your help, I was able to care for Jack at home.
I feel at peace knowing that Jack is with the Lord.
Betty Bernritter, Robin & Von
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What do you want, a cookie?!
IT Director Dominic Freeman promised cookies all around if we had zero clicks on the latest round of test phishing emails. Associates delivered, so he made good on his promise last week and baked cookies that were delivered around the system. Thank you, Dom!
The photos below are from Onaga. We hope everyone around the system enjoyed their treats. Keep watching for those phishing attacks!
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Coffee Shop special
March 22-26
Sticky toffee caramel latte
- Caramel, vanilla, and English toffee
- 16 oz., $4
- Hot, cold, or frappe
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Be ready for Easter!
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Hop on by the Gift Shop to find what you need for your Easter baskets.
- New Easter cards have arrived!
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Potted flowering plants will help you welcome spring. Take a look!
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CHCS menus: Onaga and Eastridge
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Note: St. Marys menus are available each morning through the Activities chronicle
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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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