CHCS has seen a rise in the demand for mental health services and resources in the last four years. We established a Mental Health Task Force in 2018 to determine how to serve our communities effectively. Our geographically spread system means that we can't offer single-location support system, and that has made our committee think outside the box and diversify our services. The pandemic added another layer of difficulty because of increased social isolation and fear. Our committee has doubled in size to meet the needs, and we now have members from multiple locations.
Our main focus areas are supporting our communities, our associates, and our patients. Here's a brief report on our accomplishments.
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One of our efforts is to eliminate the stigma that surrounds mental illness. An early challenge the committee took on was focusing on post-partum screening and depression. We initiated prevention strategies in the form of childbirth class education on mental health resources as well as post-partum screening for depression. We built a two-week opioid risk screening tool into our electronic health record. We also improved staff education with a series for our social workers on neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), which helped them learn about substance abuse in pregnant and post-partum mothers and possible effects on babies.
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We have also worked to offer Mental Health First Aid. In late 2019, our committee had two members certified to offer courses for adults. We have gained two additional youth trainers and have held more than 10 classes that have trained more than 100 individuals. We are continuing to offer at least three classes for adults and three for youth each year.
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We offered a Prepped and Ready workshop to seven school districts in northeast Kansas for parents of teens and adolescents in spring 2021. This program was sponsored and presented by Children’s Mercy psychologist Dr. Shayla Sullivant.
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Other community focus areas have been education with the ASCS office for farmer outreach and looking into additional geriatric psychiatric services to better serve our communities.
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We have made progress on addressing behavioral health in the emergency department and in recognizing the signs of human trafficking. New screening tools and workflows were established to meet the needs of our patients and staff.
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The committee has worked as a team to help associates through the pandemic. We have helped offer ways to relieve stress through mental health walks, relaxation handouts, and more, and we have communicated self-care strategies to associates. We have also focused on providing an employee assistance program (EAP) to meet associates' needs and ensuring that associates know about the program.
We understand that the needs are vast in our communities, and we want to continue to make a difference as a system. Our efforts so far have demonstrated that Community HealthCare System cares!
--Andrea Lutz, Director of Ancillary Services
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Looking for more on mental health? Attend a Damon's Purpose event this Sunday!
Attend a performance about depression and the lengths we will go to for those we love at the Corning Community Center on Sunday, May 22 at 3:00 p.m. Discussion and mental health resources will be available. Come to learn and share! Free snacks and drinks are available. Advance tickets are not required. Learn more. Bring a friend!
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Let our hearts and hands be stretched out in compassion towards others, for everyone is walking their own difficult path."
--Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Compassion is not feeling empathy, but it's taking action to help others. When you practice compassion, you look at what they're going through without judgment and imagine how you would feel in their situation.
Here are 5 easy tips to practice compassion toward others.
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Motivate others: With help from others, encouraging words and positivity can uplift someone’s spirit. Using positive language such as “You can do it!” helps to motivate.
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Challenge yourself to smile more. How many times do we walk into a room and see a majority of the people standing around looking like this 😒 or looking at their phones? Challenge yourself to smile more. Changing your look from unemotive to something more like this 😂😊😍 😜 is a small action can that can have a huge impact on someone else.
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Open the door for someone. Think about the last time someone held a door open for you. No matter where it took place, chances are you were grateful to the person who held the door for you because it was one less task you had to worry about as you were moving to your next destination. Take a look at the video embedded below about how Josh's life and school atmosphere changed by just holding the door.
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Offer to help someone with their to-do list: To-do lists seem to be endless, but many hands make light work. Volunteer to help someone with their to-do list. Checking any task off will feel like a great accomplishment.
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Take on the perspective of the other person: This is also known as “cognitive empathy,” or knowing how the other person feels and what they might be thinking.
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Want more resources on compassion? Take a look at a TED talk about how 40 seconds of compassion could save a life (see below) or listen to a Wise Compassion podcast (episodes 17, 18, and 19 are highly recommended!)
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-- Mindy Olberding and Holly Schmitz, WorkWell Committee |
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Delivering the WOW experience |
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Alexis Whorton from Community HomeHealth recently shared the following about a colleague who delivered the WOW experience.
"We have a patient who was being admitted for home health services. When the Physical Therapist (Jennifer Hutfles) got there, she determined that the patient needed a higher level of care. Jen contacted the HH office, and we worked on getting her into Swing Bed. She did not have transportation. Elaine Stephenson was already on her way home, but she came back to the Holton office to get the transport van and bring the patient to Onaga to the hospital! Elaine went above to make sure we got this patient care in a timely manner!"
Thank you to Elaine for going the extra mile--literally--to help a patient, and kudos to the whole team for delivering excellent care. Thanks for sharing, Alexis!
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Do you know of a time when a colleague delivered the WOW experience? Please email it to Sarah Hancock or call ext. 5133.
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Our new MRI is installed, and we are working to get associates trained. We will share more information about its capabilities soon!
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Hospital Week roundup
Thanks to all who participated in Hospital Week activities. We hope everyone enjoyed the games, treats, gifts, and associate recognition. A few photos are below. Others are available on the CHCS Facebook page.
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I would like to thank all those who have provided me support as I deal with a recent health challenge. I am eternally thankful for the words of encouragement, flowers/plants, food, prayers and being there when I needed an ear. God bless you for your generosity and kindness. I’m eternally grateful. You’re the best.
--Lorraine Meyer
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I would like to extend a sincere thank you to the CHCS community for all of your support during the past 8 months: Allowing me to work when possible, leave when necessary, and covering my schedule when I couldn't be around at all. We have a strong team atmosphere in St. Marys, and I'm very grateful for that. Sometimes life just doesn't play out the way we had it planned. A higher power had different plans for us, and The Lord took Steve from us way too early. My family will move forward in this challenge, and we are comforted knowing that Steve is now without pain, and he's fishing whenever he pleases. Thank you again.
--Jeanne DeVader
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Important reminders
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The first WorkWell quarterly activity is a game of Bingo, but you play only for yourself! The "Bingo card" contains a number of research-based activities that can help participants embrace compassion and kindness (one of our Core Values!) for themselves and others, both at work and in life. The card includes instructions on how to participate. Already finished? Turn your card in to the following: Holton-Kim Lovvorn; Centralia-Jennifer Traxler or Jes Hipp; Onaga-Alisa Skruch or Marlene Wolfe in Admin; St. Marys-Annette Engell or Christy McDaris; Frankfort-Stacy Vermetten; Westmoreland-Kayla Suther.
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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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May 23-27
Black Forest Latte
- Chocolate, almond, and cherry
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16 oz., $4
- Hot, cold, or frappe
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Cherry limeades are back!
Visit the Coffee Shop on Friday afternoons for cherry limeades. Delicious!
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CHCS menu: Onaga and Eastridge |
St. Marys menus are available each morning through the Activities chronicle.
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Marie turns 102!
St. Marys Manor resident Marie Fisher turned 102 last week! Activities Director Cheryl Herrman baked her a cake and her nieces, Helen Armesto (left) and Agnes Murphy (right), came to celebrate with her along with other family members throughout the day. Marie was also honored with a certificate from Kansas State Senator Kristen O'Shea. Staff from St. Marys Manor had the certificate framed for her.
Happy birthday, Marie!
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More birthdays!
Jake McNally-Knoblauch, St. Marys Manor Director of Nursing, made Roger McAsey a special card last week to celebrate his birthday. Administrator Shannon Heim said that Roger is "truly one in a million and keeps not only the Manor up and running but also the clinic, home health, and rehab! He is kind to everyone and takes everything in stride." Thank you, Roger, and we hope you had a happy birthday!
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Celebrating May 5
Eastridge extends heartfelt appreciation to two amazing associates, Deb Boyce and Charlene McMullen. These two women bring enthusiasm and dedication in creating family-oriented festivities that involve everyone. The recent Cinco de Mayo celebration is just one example!
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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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