It’s Peace,Love andthe Guild

— Pages 9-11

INSIDE

1

Sharing Their Stories

Are You Ready for a Nice Meal?

Blue CrossTalks AreComplex

New Hires 2Nurse Week Plans 12 Mobility is Medicine 13 Magnet Prep 14Did You Know: Wounds 16

See BLUE CROSS, Page 6

See MEALS, Page 2

NorthBay nurses are sharing their stories in video and print as part of National Nurses Week. Sheila Almonia, R.N., (above left) and Olivia Avila, R.N., team up to answer questions about their decisions to become nurses in videos currently being featured on the NorthBay Facebook page. Jonathan Mu-noz, CNA, (left) is among those featured in a special Nurses Week section in the Daily Republic. See story page 12.

…Check My NorthBay, Your Employee Portal, for News in

Real Tim

e…

Hope you have an appetite, because hearty employee appreciation meals are coming your way May 13-17.

“It’s important that we take time to pause and celebrate National Hospital Week May 12-18 by saluting our amazing employ-ees, physicians and volunteers who con-

It’s National Nurses Week!

The whirlwind of activity relat-ed to contract negotiations with Anthem Blue Cross continues.

During the last few days, a few frustrating issues have been addressed, for example:w Anthem Blue Cross has is-

sued some mistaken interpreta-tions of contract negotiations in communications to plan members and employers. NorthBay Health-care’s communication team is responding;w Contrary to some reports out

there, it was Anthem Blue Cross, not NorthBay Healthcare, that unilaterally decided to terminate the hospital contract while delib-erations continue on counterpro-posals;w Contracts with NorthBay

Medical Group primary and

05.08.19

2

tinually help us foster an environment of caring and healing,” said Aimee Brew-er, president of NorthBay Healthcare Group.

“I often receive letters and calls from our patients expressing heartfelt grati-tude for the compassionate experience they received at NorthBay,” said Aimee. “Whether they had surgery, were seen at an outpa-tient clinic, ended up in our emergency departments, or simply had a routine ap-pointment, the message theme is consistent — they felt comforted and cared for by every department member they encountered. Compas-sionate Care, Advanced Medicine, Close to Home — you are our mission statement in action!”

The meal will be catered by Kinders and features a choice of steak or chicken, or a vegetarian option, quinoa and fruit salad, a roll and ice cream. So check the schedule and plan to come. There will also be raffle drawings for some terrific prizes, noted Aimee.

TO REMEMBERDATES

IN THE NEWSPEOPLE

LETTERS

DATES

PEOPLE

NEW FACESWELCOMEWELCOME

LETTERSTO REMEMBERDATES

IN THE NEWSPEOPLE

LETTERS

DATES

PEOPLE

NEW FACESWELCOMEWELCOME

LETTERS

05.09.19 Nurses Week Labyrinth, VVH near Administration05.10.19 Mobility is Medicine Workshop, GVAC05.10.19 Nurses Week Chair massages, GVAC Room 16205.10.19 Nurses Week Yoga, noon-1, VacaValley Wellness Center05.13.19 Employee Appreciation Meals, HAC05.14.19 Employee Appreciation Meals, GVAC05.15.19 Employee Appreciation Meals, NBMC05.15.19 Applications due for Guild scholarships05.16.19 Employee Appreciation Meals, VVH05.18.19 Solano Wine & Food Jubilee, Harbison Event Center, Nut Tree05.28.19 Open Staff, GVAC, Conf. room. 154 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.05.29.19 Open Staff, NBMC Annex Conf. Rooms 1-2; 7:30 and 10 a.m.; and 3:30 p.m.05.30.19 Open Staff, Hilborn Administration, Room 229 A/B, 2 p.m.05.31.19 Open Staff, VVH conference room, 8 and 10 a.m.; 1 p.m. 05.25.19 Fiesta Days Parade, Vacaville06.18.19 Nurse Camp Week begins06.24.19 Magnet site visits begin07.19.19 NorthBay Guild Golf Classic

Meals ... (From Page 1)

Cristina BrusolaCentral Services TechnicianCentral Services, VacaValley Hospital

Shu-Chin DanielsResource SpecialistInpatient Case ManagementNorthBay Medical Center Annex

Kristen GarciaMedical Social WorkerNorthBay Medical Center Annex

Karsten GarduceHome Health Nurse Case ManagerHome Health CenterGreen Valley Health Plaza

Ricardo GonzalezCentral Services TechnicianCentral ServicesNorthBay Medical Center

Joshua JacksonRadiologic Technologist IIIRadiologyVacaValley Hospital

Bita JoobbaniPhysician AssistantNeurosurgeryGateway Medical Office Building

Joseph MashinchiPhysician AssistantCenter for OrthopedicsHilborn

Elizabeth RamosLearning Systems SpecialistHuman ResourcesGreen Valley Administration Center

Nicholas SandlinRespiratory Care Practitioner IINorthBay Medical Center

APPRECIATION MEALSMonday, May 13Hilborn campus

11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.Tuesday, May 14

GVAC campus11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.Wednesday, May 15NBMC Patio by 180010 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.Thursday, May 16

NBMC campus2 to 3 a.m.

VVH Patio by Cafe10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

5 to 6:30 p.m.Friday, May 17VVH Patio by cafe

2 to 3 a.m.

3

Occ TherapyCelebratesIts Special

MonthApril was Occupational Ther-

apy Month nationwide and this year’s theme was “Making the Impossible, Possible.”

NorthBay Healthcare’s Occu-pational Therapy Department cel-ebrated OT month with a potluck and celebration for the last day of a student internship for Lester David.

Lester was a previous North-Bay Healthcare employee for more than 10 years as a Certified Nursing Assistant and currently attends St. Catherine’s occupa-tional therapy assistant program. He had the oppor-tunity to practice in the hand ther-apy department with Katie Des-Roches and prac-tice in the neuro department with Anabelle Canty at both Hilborn and Vacaville Wellness Center outpatient clinics.

Lester provided an in-service on the use of Physical Agent Modalities in the outpatient hand therapy setting and was able to help pa-tients across the lifespan.

The whole point of Occupa-tional Therapy is to help people

The Occupational Therapy team of (front row, left to right) Darshna Upadhyaya, Ana-belle Canty, Amanda Irao, Katie DesRoches, Lori Russell; and back row, left to right: Lester David, Jackie Draper, Moriah Turner and Vincent Colombano pose for a photo.

across the lifespan to do the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of daily activities.

NorthBay’s Occupational Therapy Depart-ment is fortunate to have a strong team of occupa-tional therapists and assistants. They include:

Lori Russell, who specializes in hand therapy, treats patients with hand inju-ries, following surgical proce-dures and with chronic conditions

of the hand, wrist and upper extremities. Lori practices at both Hilborn and VacaValley Wellness Center outpatient clinics.

Kathy Smith, who special-

izes in treating premature and sick newborns in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and works in the High-Risk Infant Follow-up Clinic. Kathy developed and manages the NICU program. She is passionate about helping her clients in both the NICU and outpatient setting.

Anabelle Canty, graduated from Dominican University of California in 2011. She special-izes in program development, revitalized the inpatient and outpatient occupational therapy department and initiated occupa-tional therapy student internship programs since 2012. Anabelle expanded the Occupational Therapy department by educat-ing as well as advocating for OT services. Anabelle currently helps patients with neurological disor-ders across the lifespan at both Hilborn and Vacaville outpatient

See THERAPY, Page 4

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locations. She is passionate about helping not only her patients, but mentoring and coaching OT/OTA students.

Darshna Upadhyaya, graduated from Do-minican University of California in 2007. She has been working for the NorthBay Healthcare inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation program since April 2013. Darshna actively participated in the NorthBay Joint Replacement Program and Fall Prevention Program through balancing act class. Darshna is currently a Rehabilitation su-pervisor at NorthBay Healthcare in Fairfield and leading a PT/OT team at inpatient and outpatient clinics to provide better patient care.

Katie DesRoches, certified occupational therapist assistant, helps patients at the Vacav-ille outpatient clinic specializing in hand therapy and neuro patients. In addition, she mentors Occupational Therapy assistant interns and helps Lori run the outpatient hand therapy program.

Jackie Draper graduated from Dominican University of California in 2010 and has since gained experience working with the elderly in skilled nursing facilities as well as with children in the pediatric outpatient clinic before coming to NorthBay’s inpatient and neuro outpatient rehabilitation programs in October 2014. Jackie currently practices in NorthBay’s hospitals and enjoys working with the wide variety of acute care patients.

Adrienne Angeles graduated from Domini-can University of California in 2015. She’s cur-

rently an inpatient therapist at NorthBay VacaValley hospital. She has been in neuro outpatient and inpa-tient care and especially enjoys working with geriatric patients and those who have had a stroke. She is in-volved with the Joint Replacement Program Committee and teaches the JRP preoperative class.

Moriah Turner graduated from Tuskegee University in 2014. Her area of interest is in recovery of cardiovas-cular diseases and neurological disorders. Moriah cur-rently treats patients at VacaValley Hospital and is also involved with the Joint Replacement Program Commit-tee and instructs the JRP preoperative class.

Vincent Colombano graduated from Dominican University in 2016. Vincent currently practices at North-Bay Medical Center. He trained in an acute rehab set-ting and has worked short-term rehab at skilled nursing facilities. Vince enjoys working with neuro patients and orthopedic patients to help increase their independence and return them to a lifestyle they can enjoy.

NorthBay’s latest addition is Amanda Grace Irao who graduated from the Occupational Therapy program at Dominican University of California in 2017. Amanda completed her final 12-week level II fieldwork at North-Bay Medical Center, where she learned from multiple therapists and then practiced at St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Stockton. Her experience is in the inpatient acute care setting. She loves helping people. She cur-rently works at NorthBay Medical Center.

Therapy... (From Page 3)

Use Code for Lynch Canyon RunAs a sponsor, NorthBay Healthcare is pleased

to offer complimentary registration for the an-nual Lynch Canyon Trail Run (5K, 10K and half-marathon) and Community Hike (2.5-mile) for the first 25 employees and their families who sign up.

The 12th annual event is June 1.Visit lynchcanyontrailrun.org and enter the

special code: LCTRSPONSOR19.

Anabelle Canty (left) and Katie DesRoches (right) help Lester David celebrate the end of his internship with the Occu-pational Therapy team during a special potluck marking Occu-pational Therapy Week.

5

Since completion of the North Wing at NorthBay Medical Center is still months away, Elizabeth Scott Paulson, R.N., man-ager of 2 North and Jim Bollig, R.N., senior director of Perioperative Services, decided they’d get their new 2 North team to meet and greet during an old-fashioned ice cream social event at Fenton’s Creamery in Vacav-ille on a recent Saturday afternoon. Not only did it give new colleagues a chance to meet — some for the first time — but it was also a great time for families to get together and enjoy a sweet treat.

2 North Team GetsSocial with Ice Cream

Open Staff MeetingsScheduled May 28-31

Open Staff meetings for the second quarter of 2019 are coming up, giving employees a chance to hear more about the year ahead for NorthBay Health-care, according to Konard Jones, president and CEO.

Want to ask your question in advance? Send it to Public Affairs (at GVAC) via interoffice mail or email Diane Barney at dbarney@northbay.org.

Open Staff dates and times:Tuesday, May 28: Green Valley

Administration Center, Confer-ence Room 154 at 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Wednesday, May 29: NorthBay Medical Center, Annex Confer-ence Rooms 1-2, at 7:30 a.m., 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 30: Hilborn Ad-ministration Building, Conference Room 229AB, at 2 p.m.

Friday, May 31: VacaValley Hospital Cafe Conference Room, at 8 a.m., 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

She Can-do All Things BudgetJim Strong, interim Chief Financial Officer, presents Debbi Burns, director of Budget & Decision Support, with an I Am NorthBay award, honoring her for her can-do approach to “everything” during a manage-ment team meeting May 1 at the Green Valley Admin-istration Center. “Great work happens when we work together as a team, act with integrity, deliver excep-tional customer service and innovate with passion,” said Jim. “So let’s rally. Let’s applaud. Let’s recognize the impact of each of us. It’s easy with leaders like Debbi Burns,” he said. “She’s proactive and challenges operational decisions in a very appropriate way; she has an incredible work ethic, and is available around the clock; and she’s a subject matter expert around all things budget and decision support.”

6

Tick, Tock: Jubilee is Days Away

Blue Cross...(From Page 1)

Haven’t purchased your So-lano Wine & Food Jubilee tickets yet? Here are some fun factoids to give you a little nudge.

The weather is expected to be perfect, so break out that fun sun dress or classy pair of shorts and show off your best look.

The night kicks off at 6:30 p.m., on Saturday, May 18. If you are on time you will have more than two hours to wander about the venue, snacking, sipping and socializing at Solano County’s best-attended event.

The venue is the Harbison Event Center at the Nut Tree and the winding path around the Har-bison House lends itself well to a “Wine Country Stroll.”

There will be 38 restaurants serving everything from sweets to tacos, from barbecue to pizza, and everything in between.

There are at least 30 different beer labels on tap, and many are favorite brands or craft beers from local breweries. Nearly 40 wineries will be pouring their award-winning char-donnays, pinot gri-gios, burgundies and merlots.

Silent auction items can be previewed online, at www.north-bayC2C.org,

The Charlie Wade Blues Band will perform on the steps of the Harbison House.

After the tasting portion of the evening concludes around 8:45 p.m., all are invited to move over to the Nut Tree Plaza to learn who has won the Grand Prize $15,000 Dream Vacation,

or $10,000 in cash prizes.

The Time Bandits then takes the stage until 11 p.m.

Finally, and per-haps most important-ly, the event raises funds for NorthBay Hospice & Bereave-

ment, assuring that those facing their end of life, as well as their families, will continue to have support and care regardless of ability to pay.

Tickets $100, plus a small Eventbrite fee, before May 18, or $125 on the day of the event.

Raffle tickets can be pur-chased right up until names are drawn at 9 p.m., and cost $35 each or three for $100. For in-formation or to buy tickets, go to www.northbayC2C.org.

specialty physicians, NorthBay Ambulatory Surgery Center, Solano Diagnostic Imaging are still in effect and providers re-main “in-network” for Blue Cross members.w While inpatient and hospital

outpatient services at NorthBay Medical Center and NorthBay VacaValley Hospital are no lon-ger considered network provid-ers for all Anthem Blue Cross members as of May 1, the health plan members have been able to continue to see their NorthBay primary care and specialty physi-cians;w NorthBay is actively working

to maintain continuity of care for Anthem Blue Cross patients who are currently receiving care at NorthBay Healthcare facilities, in-

cluding cancer patients, pregnant women preparing for childbirth, newborns and infants up to 3 years of age, those with serious chronic and/or acute conditions, as well as those with terminal illnesses. To do so, these patients must successfully petition their health plan.

Having NorthBay physicians and specialists care for a patient only up to a point, and then forcing them to refer the patient to another hospital and health system outside our community, will create a fragmented deliv-ery system over which we lose control, noted President and CEO Konard Jones. “It’s not good for our patients, and it’s not good for NorthBay.”

In addition, guaranteeing continuity of care for patients already under NorthBay’s care takes much coordination from all specialty practices and pa-

tient navigators in the system. A patient in the midst of a treat-ment plan should not be put in the middle of corporate contract talks, said Konard. “A lot of en-ergy is being spent to ensure pa-tients’ rights to continuity of care are secured. Our focus remains on two fronts.

“First, we are striving to pro-tect the health and wellbeing of all of the patients with Anthem Blue Cross who have entrusted us with their care. We will do all within our control to ensure the ongoing care we will provide members will be disrupted as little as possible,” he said.

“Second, we will employ every course of action we can to get the health plan’s negotiators to consider putting their members’ best interest ahead of blind fi-nancial ambition. We believe we can find a way to close the gap

See BLUE CROSS, Page 7

7

Ruby Ali, M.D., chats with Facebook visi-tors about how patients can lead normal, happy lives despite having epilepsy.

Patients Can Get Epilepsy Under ControlJust as there are many types and causes of epi-

lepsy, there are many treatment options and pa-tients diagnosed with the disease should know that they can be helped and can live a normal life, said NorthBay Healthcare neurologist Ruby Ali, M.D., in the latest #OurDocTalk chat on Facebook.

#OurDocTalk is a series of live video chats on the NorthBay Facebook page in which providers chat and answer common questions about various health issues.

Dr. Ali spent the half hour chat discussing epi-lepsy, its causes and treatment.

“Epilepsy is a disease process in which you have more than one unprovoked seizure,” she explained. There are certain things that can cause or provoke seizures such as high- or low-potassium levels and high- or low-glucose levels. In these situations, it is not considered epilepsy, she said. “However, if you have seizures that were not provoked by any ab-normality and you have had multiple seizures, we

consider that epilepsy.”Symptoms of the disease can

vary. Seizures including shaking of the body and losing conscious-ness are not the only symptoms that can accompany the disease. “Some people have seizures in which they stare off for a few sec-

onds. Some people have seizures in which they see strange people, animals or objects,” she said. “Some people have behavioral abnormalities where they act strange or have certain automatisms where they stroke their arm or leg or start moving around in an abnormal way.” Others may speak strangely or say things they never would normally, she added.

Asked about the causes, Dr. Ali said epilepsy in-volves “electrical misfirings” in the brain.

“A seizure is an abnormal electrical loop or cir-cuit going on inside the brain,” she said. “Normally,

your neurons are synchronously working — they are working together — and in epilepsy they are asynchronous, there are abnormal loops of elec-tricity.”

As for risk factors, Dr. Ali said epilepsy is often genetic or hereditary but can also develop in pa-tients who have “structural abnormalities” caused by stroke or infections such as meningitis or en-cephalitis.

Epilepsy can affect anyone, regardless of age, she noted. But Dr. Ali said having the disease does not mean the patient cannot live a normal, happy life. “If the seizures are well controlled and maybe a patient has only one seizure every few years or even every year, there is no reason they can’t work or go to school and do a normal routine,” she said. “They will have to use some routine precau-tions … so that they don’t put themselves at risk when they have a seizure but otherwise, they can have a very normal life.”

The full chat can be viewed on Facebook at will be posted on YouTube soon.

The next #OurDocTalk chat will focus on hepa-titis on May 31 at 3 p.m., featuring gastroenter-ologist Michael Krier, M.D.

between our last, best proposal and their demand for cost sav-ings.”

NorthBay’s health plan expert, Kelly Rhoads-Poston, is available to answer questions from Anthem Blue Cross members. She can be reached at (707) 646-3280, or krhoadsposton@northbay.org.

JayeLynn Bonham in Managed Care Department is available to answer questions about conti-nuity of care or other queries from providers and their sup-port staffs. She can be reached at (707) 646-3289 or emailed at JayeLynn.Bonham@Northbay.org.

Konard observed, “I recognize

there exists some anxiety related to this state of affairs. But our anxiety should only be linked to reaching an agreement that works for our patients, for our organization — and for Anthem Blue Cross — not anxiety about if we can weather this turbulence. We will.”

Blue Cross Talks are Complex ... (From Page 6)

8

Coming Together forthe Patient Experience

Brain InjuryWorkshops a Hit

There were many ways to participate in Patient Experience Week April 22-26. Some (at left) joined in by creating signs and posing for photos. Several took the Patient Week Chal-lenge and were rewarded with gift cards and a NorthBay logo jacket, according to Jennifer Shoemaker, Patient Experience program man-ager. Gift cards went to Krista Miramontez, pa-tient services rep.; Kortney Sanchez, executive assistant; Jennifer Veler, R.N., clinical nurse leader; Stephanie Mays, radiologic technolo-gist; and Dora Valenzuela, patient services rep., while Athena Polintan, CNA, claimed the jacket.

A full house of physicians and clinical providers from throughout California (top left) turned out on Friday, May 3, to participate in a NorthBay Healthcare neuroscience sym-posium on TBI and concussion, orchestrated by Edie Zusman, M.D., (left), and featuring more than a dozen physician experts. It was followed by a public event May 4, which featured doctors and coaches talking about what patients need to know about concus-sions and youth sports. Participants included (above, left to right) Pete Zopfi, D.O., Fairfield City Councilman Rick Vaccaro, Neil Pathare, M.D., and Bennet Omalu, M.D.

Maziyar Kalani, M.D., of Mayo Clinic, discusses best practices.

9

Peace, Love &Groovy Timeswith the GuildNorthBay Guild members were twisting, swimming

and doing the mashed potato as they showed off their ‘60s dance moves at the annual Guild Apprecia-tion event, April 22 at the Green Valley Administra-tion Center.

The impromptu dancing was part of an icebreak-ing activity for the event that had a theme of “Peace, Love and Volunteers.” With ‘60s music playing in the

background, it was hard for some to resist dancing, if not at least toe-tapping, as the event’s festivities kicked off.

“This year’s theme is an opportunity for us to not only salute all of our hard-working volunteers, but an opportunity to acknowledge

the Guild’s 62nd anniversary and the upcoming 60th anniversary of NorthBay Medical Center,” noted Jane Hilliard, director of Volunteer Services.

A year of fund raising efforts resulted in a Guild donation of $150,000 to NorthBay wish lists (left). A com-bined 45,500 hours has been donated by (below, left to right) Pat Dennis, Ellie Cheechov, Lauretta Graham and Dorothy Hicks over the years.

Jennifer Flam (left) flashes a peace sign while Natalya Johnson (right)shows off the love buttons she was handing out to guests (far left). See GUILD, Page 10

10

Rare Roses (at left; see list, Page 11) re-ceive special recogni-tion from Foundation staff for generously donating more than 500 hours of their time in 2018. Lynn Gal-lagher (below, left) couldn’t resist show-ing off her ‘60s dance moves at the event, while Ellie Cheechov (below, second from right) is proud to be pictured with happy Wish List recipients (left to right) Loida de Vera, Darshna Upad-hyaya and Cynthia Giaquinto.

A host of management team members turned out to applaud the volunteers for the gift of their time, and the gift of funds they raised that fulfilled department wish lists.

“Thank you all, for we couldn’t do what we do

without you,” said Aimee Brewer, president, North-Bay Healthcare Group. “The hours and hours of time that you donate is incredible and your friendly faces are what keep us going.”

“I bring greetings from our senior leadership team, and thanks from our patients and from our grateful community,” said Konard Jones, president and CEO. “You give comfort and you give from the heart, and we thank you for what you do.”

Guild members then presented a check — rep-resenting a year’s worth of their fund-raising ef-forts — to managers of many NorthBay Healthcare departments. The check, totaling $150,000, will go toward fulfilling many items on their departments’

Guild ... (From Page 9)

See GUILD, Page 11

11

NORTHBAY GUILDSERVICE AWARDS

16,500 HoursPatricia DennisDorothy Hicks15,500 Hours

Lauretta Graham13,500 HoursEllie Cheechov7,000 Hours

Marlene Dessel6500 HoursClovis Heath

6,000 HoursBob Panzer

5500 HoursSharen Podzimek

4500 HoursBarbara Brender, Gayle Ratliff, Rose Resendez,

Donna Stewart4000 HoursRobin Tolvtvar3500 Hours

Lewis McCraven, Patrick Popola3000 Hours

Trudy Armitage, Teri Denton, Marge Jones

2500 HoursZee Benedict, Mary

Scarratt 2000 Hours

Laverta Edwards, Maryann Heil1500 Hours

Carol LaNovara1000 Hours

Virginia Hill, Vince LaNovara

500 HoursJames Allen, Patricia Datzman, Mariane

Havens, Norma Steer, Mark Ward, Jon Weintraub, Pat

Williams-Florez 100 Hours

Shipett Blanson, Ashley Conley, Celica

Cosme, Heather

Duncan, Liz Dykstra, Vanefel Fitial; Diane Harris, Justin Hines, Jack Creedon, Anjelina Matcham, Siqi Manbossia, Jessica Moreno,

Monica Pinsel, Isaac Ramos, Sarthak Rishi, Kay Ritchey, Eileen Smith, Arletta Stonebraker and

Mariana VerdugoRARE ROSES

Patricia Dennis, Virginia Hill, Patrick Popola, Lewis McCraven, Robin Tolvtvar, Ellie Cheechov,

Dorothy Hicks, Sharen Podzimek, Lauretta Graham

32 YearsLynn Gallagher

18 YearsCherie BauerJean Whitten

11 YearsGloria Queen

6 YearsMichael Goodwin

5 YearsPatricia Dennis

Christine GomezSue NoonanNanci Petullo3.5 Years

Bonnie DeMicheleMike McGee

Paula O’Connor1 Year

Susan Cleaver, Thomas Edwards, Cathy Escobedo, Winston Russell

Imam Mirza FaridbegPastor Donna Stephens

Lay Chaplain Ricardo VillarrealDr. Dante Quick

The Rev. Jasper LeePastor Debbie HuberFather Renier Silva

Pat ChavezNena GaspasinKaren Parroff

Holy Spirit CatholicChurch volunteers

HOSPICE

CHAPLAINCY

Guild ...(From Page 10)

“Wish List.”During the volunteer recognition

portion of the program, volunteers were saluted for completing anywhere from 100 hours to as many as 16,500 hours of service over the years, according to Jane.

A special group of Guild volunteers — dubbed “Rare Roses” — received rec-ognition for amassing 500-plus hours of donated time, in just one year.

Lauretta Graham had the distinc-tion of logging an eye-popping 2,188 volunteer hours in 2018. Coming up be-hind that accomplishment was Sharen Podzimek with 1,200 hours, and Doro-thy Hicks with 1,035.

Chaplain Natalya Johnson thanked a host of local inpatient faith leaders “who speak to the needs of those in cri-sis during the late nights and weekends when I am not here.”

Hospice volunteers were also thanked for their service, which ranged from one year up to 32 years, since the beginning of the program, according Jennifer Flam, Hospice & Bereavement chaplain and volunteer coordinator. “You support families after their loss, help families from feeling alone and of-fer respite care so that loved ones can reground themselves. It takes special people to walk with others in these mo-ments,” she said.

Patrick Popola (left) and Lewis McCraven achieved Rare Rose status for logging more than 500 hours of volunteer time in 2018.

12

NorthBay Nurses Share Their Stories

Through SUNDAY,MAY 12:

Free Cinnabon Giveaway. All day. Show your badge at the Solano

Town Mall.

Through May 11 Blessing of the Hands — At

huddles at various times, locations.

THURSDAY, May 9Labyrinth Reflection — All day,

VacaValley Hospital lawn outside Administration.

10-minute chair massages — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., VacaValley Wellness Center Conference

Room 1501; first-come, first-served.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FOR NURSES WEEK, MAY 6-12

FRIDAY, May 10Mobility is Medicine

Workshop (See page 13)—A Free Professional De-

velopment Opportunity — Mobility is Medicine Workshop

for 4.5 CEUs, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pre-register at https://fs30.formsite.com/atlaslift-tech/pcogyjldtg/index.html

Click for Agenda.

10-minute chair massages — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., GVAC Room 162; First-come, first-served.

Yoga — Noon to 1 p.m. with Allie, VacaValley Wellness Center Conference Room 1501.

Bring your own yoga mat.

Cory Javier, R.N., (above) and Brigette Gheno, R.N. (right) are

among NorthBay nurses featured in Facebook videos.

Compassion and a desire to help others the way that they or someone they loved was helped are common themes for North-Bay Healthcare nurses inter-viewed recently about why they chose a career in nursing.

The interviews are being fea-tured all week on the NorthBay Facebook page (Facebook.com/NorthBayHealthcare) in honor of National Nurses Week, which

began May 6 and ends on May 12, Florence Nightingales’s birth-day. In addition, two nurses and two certified nursing assistants were featured in a special section printed in the Sunday, May 5, Daily Republic newspaper.

With more than 800 nurses who serve at NorthBay Medical Center and NorthBay VacaValley hospital, it wasn’t hard to find a few willing to share their nursing

journey. Nurses from the Emergency

Department, acute care at both hospitals, and administration are featured in the videos and print stories in which they are asked to share why they became a nurse, what they love best about nurs-ing in general and nursing at NorthBay specifically.

For many of the nurses in-

See NURSES, Page 13

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A number of NorthBay Healthcare nurses, staff members and a very special patient will be fea-tured in a safe patient handling video filmed on both hospital campuses last November that will debut Friday, May 10, at a Mobility is Medicine workshop at Green Valley Administration Center.

The workshop is being held in conjunction with Atlas Lift Tech, the Hospital As-

sociation of Southern California, Hospital Council of Northern and Central California and other mo-bility experts for the daylong program.

The program’s goal is to help attendees de-velop a goal and plan one change in how mobility

NorthBay Will Shine in Atlas VideoGVAC to Host Safety Workshop and function can be implemented at their facilities,

including the use of bedside assessments. “Nurses and physical therapists can learn a lot

about how bedside assessments can reduce the risk of falls, especially in the acute care units, and to reduce staff injuries,” noted Linda Pryor, Risk Management program manager, who is coordinating the event.

“As this workshop falls on Nurses Week, we also encourage all care staff to treat themselves to edu-cation, collaboration, action-oriented planning and giveaways they can find at this event.”

It addition to speakers and panel presentations, a number of mobility equipment vendors will also be on hand.

NorthBay staff members can receive 4.5 CEUs for attending the free event, Linda added.

The workshop runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pre-reg-istration is required and can be done online by visiting https://fs30.formsite.com/atlaslifttech/pcogyjldtg/index.html.

Nurses ...(From Page 12)

See NURSES, Page 14

terviewed in the videos, dealing with a fam-ily member who was ill, or having their own encounter with a compassionate nurse while ill is what inspired their career choice.

Brian Johnson, R.N., who works in the emer-gency department at NorthBay Medical Cen-ter, says the nurses he encountered while his mother fought cancer showed him what good nursing is all about.

“During those initial stages, I spent a lot of time with her in the hospital and I could tell the difference in my mom when she had a fantastic nurse vs. someone who wasn’t as engaged,” he said. “That’s what really propelled me to think about becoming a nurse, making that impact in someone’s life when they are ill and how powerful that was. I could see that ef-fect on my mom.”

Carmita Bucks, R.N., who works in the 1800 unit at NorthBay Medical Center, was inspired by her brother’s battle with asthma. “As a teen, I realized he had severe asthma and I wanted to help him,” she explained. “He didn’t make it but I continued with becoming a nurse.” She’s

been with NorthBay for 20 years.Sheila Almonia, R.N., said the kindness and care from

nurses while her grandmother was ill was her inspira-tion. “My grandmother was sick and when I was growing up we were always in the hospital,” she said. “I noticed that the nurses were always the ones that took good care of us and provided a lot of comfort. So I wanted to be that for someone else.”

Brigette Gheno, R.N., administrative coordinator at NorthBay, had a more hands-on experience.

“When I had my daughter, I will never forget the nurse who held my hand as I was (she paused) vomit-ing in the sink — I was scared to death! I’ll never forget

Greg Hervey, R.N., who works in the NorthBay Medical Cen-ter Emergency Department, is among the nurses and CNAs fea-tured in a special Nurses Week sec-tion in Sunday’s Daily Republic newspaper.

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Nurses ... (From Page 13)her compassion because I was pretty young and scared,” she recalled. “I remember thanking her profusely. That’s what got it started for me.”

The nurses shared one other thing in com-mon — a love of NorthBay.

“One of my reasons for coming in every day is the people I meet and work with — my co-workers and the patients,” said Olivia Avila, R.N., in acute care at NorthBay Medical Center. “It’s just a wonderful place to come to work every day.”

Compassion and making a connection with patients is the key for Cory Javier, R.N., who works in 1 West and 2 West at VacaValley Hos-pital.

“I love taking care of patients because I feel like I can make an impact in their lives in a little way,” she said. “I feel like I make a difference in how they feel and I like to treat them as family.”

The videos can be viewed on the NorthBay Facebook page at Facebook.com/NorthBay-Healthcare, with a new video posted each day this week.

Of course the video project is not the only thing happening during Nurses Week. Two NorthBay nurses, Sarah Sloan, R.N., and Greg Hervey, R.N., and two CNAs, Dora Barcenas and Jonathan Munoz, were featured in a special sec-tion in Sunday’s Daily Republic newspaper.

In addition, special events are being held all

week including the blessing of the hands, labyrinth reflection, DAISY Award presentations and more. (See schedule page 12).

Sarah Sloan, R.N., (above) works in NorthBay Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine and says she knew from childhood that she wanted to be a nurse. Her story is one of sev-eral included in a special Nurses Week section in the Daily Republic. Dora Barcenas, C.N.A., (at left) is also featured in the special section. She works at NorthBay Medi-cal Center.

Getting Ready for Our Magnet Appraisal Visit in JuneSoon, signs will be popping

up around NorthBay Healthcare hospital campuses signaling that Magnet appraisers will be coming to talk to staff, patients and the community about the great care our care teams provide every day, according to Jennifer Tudor, Magnet Program director.

The visit will be June 24-26, but the American Nurses Cre-dentialing Center actually starts collecting input much sooner.

Posters, legal notices in news-papers, and a story on North-Bay.org will launch May 15 and explain that patients, family

members, staff and all interested parties who would like to provide comments are encouraged to do so.

Anyone may send comments via email and direct mail. All comments received by phone must be followed up in writing to the Magnet Program Office. Com-ments must be received by the Magnet Program by June 14.

Staff will get a chance to share during the site visit with in-person interviews and during tours. A community forum will also be scheduled.

“It’s not just for nursing to

speak up,” said Jennifer. “They’ll want to talk to anyone from de-partments that work closely with nursing. It’s not the time to hide, but to smile, approach appraisers and share our story.”

The visit will be to “clarify, amplify and verify what we’ve already shared in the formal, written documentation,” said Jen-nifer.

There are fewer than 500 hospitals in the world that are Magnet-recognized. NorthBay of-ficially earned the honor in 2014, and celeberated at a nursing conference in October, 2015.

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With help from staff, volunteers, donors and blood drive champions, NorthBay Healthcare’s April 26 Blood Drive at the VacaValley Wellness Center was deemed a solid success.

In the end, 48 whole blood donors and three Power Red donors provided 46 life-saving blood products.

“Of those who participated, 30 were first-time Vital-ant blood donors hopefully starting a new lifesaving habit,” said Heath-er Sharp, Vitalant donor recruitment representative.

“Wow, that is an impressive num-ber of first-time donors! The blood collected on Fri-day is quite likely already on the shelves of a local hospital waiting to help a patient in

need. Blood collected could possibly be at one of your facilities, right back where that donation began. Amaz-ing to think of the full circle of that blood donation.”

Organizers are planning another blood drive next

Already Saving Lives

spring at the VacaValley Wellness Center and hope to bring a blood drive to the NorthBay Medical Center campus in Fall 2020.

VacaValley Blood Drive a Success

Ramona Sandlin (left) donates while Vitalant’s Heather Sharp (above left) thanks Leticia DeGracia for being a champion. Longtime Emergency Room Tech Dawn Switzer (below) donates; the Blood Drive team poses for a photo (at bottom) and massage therapist Kristen Hollis (in inset) works out a donor’s tensions.

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