1. Some members of the CCU team from left, Jody Gaulin, RN, Ashley Thompson, RN, Beth Butler, RN, Leesa Macgowan, RN, Denise Risseeuw, RN 2. ER physician, Andrew Cathers, MD 3. The cath lab team from left, Kevin Kumlien, Tami Warn, Luana Hammer, Teri Covey, Lakeisha Joyner, Melanie Fetter, Denise Moe, Ami Garner, Jana Etten, Hannah Zilliox 4. Some members of the ER team from left, Katie Lyons, RN; Alison Hanaman, RN; Holly Ford, RN; Amy Wingerson, Tech and Tracy Keyes, RN 5. Heart team members, Leo Egbujiobi, MD and Sarah Jackson, NP

Connecting

Living our Values

Spotlight on Teamwork – May 2016 This story highlights how our Emergency Department, Cath Lab, and Critical Care teams used Teamwork to live our value of Engagement to deliver top-notch patient care when faced with unexpected challenges. It all began at 1pm on the afternoon of March 21. The cath lab staff, who had a procedure underway and another patient prepped for a procedure, received a call about a patient having a heart attack in the emergency room. Ann Spanton, RN, cath lab clinical manager and Leesa Dean, RN grabbed a defibrillator and headed to the ED, where staff already had started treating the patient with the proper medications. As that patient was taken to the cath lab, the team was notified of a second patient in emergency having a heart attack. Dr. Chughtai immediately made himself available to assist with this second emergent patient as Dr. Egbujiobi was already treating the first patient. Ann and Leesa headed back down to emergency to pick up the second patient, who had already been started on the appropriate medications by the ED staff. Within minutes, the second patient was in the cath lab. (Continued on page 2)

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From left Bonnie Utynek, Colleen Scharlau, Deb Brigham, and Melissa Corum

Teamwork Spotlight, continued… The ED staff and the cath lab staff did a phenomenal job of navigating through what could have been a disastrous situation. The first patient received a stent, and the second patient received a balloon pump and two stents. But the day wasn’t over yet, as the patients then were transitioned to our critical care unit (CCU) for post-operative care. The CCU staff stepped up and adopted some creative staffing solutions to provide excellent care for their patients. That day, the CCU staff included Beth Butler, RN; Denise Risseeuw, RN; Jody Gaulin, RN and Ashley Thompson, RN float nurse. They were already caring for seven patients, three of which were on ventilators, and they were expecting an open-heart surgery patient later that afternoon. The team worked together to change up assignments and did what was needed to provide care for the patients. Cathy Melby and Ann worked to contact staff in an attempt to get extra help. Kari Pearsall, RN; Sarah Womack, RN; and Leesa Dean, RN, all came in to assist until more nursing help arrived. The day ended with a medical emergency in the Family Care Center (FCC), and that patient also had to be admitted to CCU. The two heart attack patients, the open heart, and the patient from FCC were all admitted to CCU within approximately three hours. Congratulations and thank you to all Beloit Health System team members who lived our value of Engagement through Teamwork on March 21 to show the patients in our community that they are our top priority!

“Connecting Together” is a monthly publication for Beloit Health System

employees and physicians showcasing how our employees and physicians are living our values to

create a BEST environment.

More “Connecting Together” is available online on the HartNet, or on your tablet,

computer, or mobile phone at issuu.com/beloithealthsystem

To submit a story about an employee or physician who is living our values, email Stephanie Todd,

at

As we embrace our Corporate Values and strive to be Better Together, we hear much about being ENGAGED. This can mean different things to each of us. One way to be ENGAGED is to take ownership for your practice and get involved. The Collaborative Practice Committee inquired about opportunities for small group and committee work and received a great response. Below is list of committees and groups that are supported by various departments and others that are hospital-wide. Take a peek and see which ones spark your interest…

Value: Engagement Collaborative Practice Corner

Become Engaged!

This list is by no means complete or final, but a glimpse into the opportunities available for you to become ENGAGED. As we strive to provide QUALITY care, we are always developing methods to improve our processes so committees will always be in some form of transition as they respond to the needs of our patients and staff. So, whether your department is listed or not, there is a “place” for you. Being part of a committee not only allows you to grow professionally, it also looks great on your annual performance appraisal. So, take a look again and see your manager/director if any of these opportunities interest you or maybe you even have an idea for a new one! Let’s all build INTEGRITY and improve SATISFACTION as we get involved to BECOME ENGAGED!

The Family Care Center (FCC) monitors many quality components; three of the areas that we reported last year included the following. I am proud to work with a team who not only performs their responsibilities with a high level of professionalism, but also with consistently high patient satisfaction! Elective Deliveries: The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Academy of Pediatrics have had a standard in place requiring 39 completed weeks gestation prior to elective delivery, either vaginal or operative. Research shows that elective inductions result in more cesarean deliveries and longer maternal length of stay. They also note that repeat elective cesarean sections before 39 weeks gestation results in higher rates of adverse respiratory outcomes, mechanical ventilation, sepsis and hypoglycemia for the newborn.

In 2015, the Family Care Center implemented a policy establishing criteria for medical indications for performing early-term medical inductions and cesarean sections. Staff was educated on the new policy and consent forms at the Clinic and Hospital. FCC improved from 11 non-medically indicated elective inductions between 37-39 weeks in 2013 to 2 non-medically indicated elective inductions

in 2015 (See bar graph at left). Emergency C Sections The Family Care Center also implemented a FCC/OR task force late in 2014 that met monthly to improve the “decision to incision” time for emergency cesarean sections. The goal is for an emergency cesarean section to be performed within thirty minutes from the decision to the incision in OR. Staff discussed barriers and even videotaped a mock emergency from ER to FCC admission to the OR, then initiated improvements. While emergency C/S’s increased from 21 in 2010 to 34 in 2015, the average time from decision to incision decreased from 31 minutes to 22.6 minutes.

Skin-to-Skin Contact: Many factors affect a birth experience including who is in attendance, medications, birthing plans, unexpected outcomes, and even different cultures. Skin-to-skin contact after birth by putting the infant on the mother’s chest has been proven to stabilize the infant’s temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, and glucose levels as well as increase the chances of successful and longer duration of breastfeeding. Many staff began implementing this during their deliveries. The use of skin-to-skin contact after delivery increased from 36% in the first quarter of 2015 to 80% in the first quarter of 2016. In direct correlation to this program’s implementation, the Press Ganey scores for the overall communication with nursing domain has improved from 79.3% in the first quarter of 2015 to 92.1% in the first quarter of 2016.

By Mindy Brancamp, Director of the Family Care Center

Value: Quality

Family Care Center: A Quality Trifecta

From left, Mindy Brancamp, RN; Michelle Gracyalny, RN; Arlene Smock, RN; Amy Hansberry, RN; and Holly Burt, Unit Support Assistant.

Have a question about something going on in our health system or a suggestion for how we can have a BEST environment? Share your thoughts with our organization by sending an email to BETTERTOGETHER@beloithealthsystem.org. Share it with us!

Value: Engagement

Q: Regardless if the patient was informed that they need an x-ray at their next ap-pointment, patients with appointments in the orthopedic clinic at NorthPointe are going straight to the second floor to regis-ter. Unfortunately, they have to go back down stairs if an x-ray is needed. I have a suggestion that may help improve this patient dis-satisfier. What about a stand-alone sign at the elevator asking Ortho patients to check in with the main registration desk before ascending to the second floor? Thank you for caring about our patients’ satisfaction and brainstorming this helpful suggestion.

Q: I know that My Health is available by computer and iPhone, is it also available via any smart phone? Yes, you can access MyHealth from any smartphone via any internet browser that is installed on that phone. If you navigate to m.cernerhealth.com on your phone you will be prompted to sign into your personal MyHealth. Keep your questions and suggestions com-ing! Share your thoughts by sending an email to BETTERTOGETHER@beloithealthsystem.org. Share it with us! Share your thoughts with our organization by sending an email to BETTERTOGETH-ER@beloithealthsystem.org. Share it with us!

Did you know? On Birthday “Cake Days” that are announced via email each month, all employees (AND an accompanying friend) are invited to have a “free day” at NorthPointe Wellness in Roscoe. Wellness Center hours are 5am to 10pm on these announced days. Just show your employee badge to NorthPointe's front desk staff and enjoy fitness classes, the workout area, the lap or warm water pools, the sauna, whirlpool and more!

Thank you to everyone who donated blood at Beloit Health System’s recent blood drive! Even with the date change, we had 72 donors. Your donations will potentially save up to 216 lives!

Louie and Bonnie Pody (standing), volunteers with Alicia Hookstead (left) and Janice Collins from the Lab.

Jim Brooks, Engineering, participates in the Blood Drive.

Here is a picture of the sign that is now in place to assist our patients as a result of your suggestion for a BEST Patient environment!

April 2016

Laurie Allen, Insurance/Billing: Satisfaction Andrea Brown, IM Care: Satisfaction Diane Cavey, Pharmacy: Engagement Sue Chapman, Amb: Satisfaction Dr. Chetan Choksi, IM Care: Satisfaction Janice Collins, Lab: Quality Sharon Collins, HIM: Satisfaction Michelle Crandell, Med Outpt: Satisfaction Diane Demers, Hospice: Engagement Kimberly Erickson, Occ Health: Quality Laura Erickson, OB: Engagement Terra Ferguson, FCC: Engagement Debra Giles, Lab: Satisfaction Patricia Glynn, PT: Engagement Cori Grandt, Rad: Quality April Graswell, Med Outpt: Engagement Alison Hanaman, ER: Integrity

Wendy Humphres, Reg: Satisfaction Connie Jones, Comm Rel: Engagement Tamela Jorgensen, Rad: Engagement Dr. Roger Kapoor, Dermatology: Integrity Claudia Klein, Counsel Care: Integrity Lisa Kosmicki, Audiology: Quality

Kathy Kramer, Enviro: Engagement Jodi Landis, Vasc: Engagement Kalie Lippert, MCC: Engagement Zosia Lounsbury, Mat Man: Quality

Brian Matijevich, Eng: Engagement Joseph Martin, Eng: Satisfaction Clare Mather, Nursing: Satisfaction Lori McKee, Ortho: Engagement Jamie McMillan, MCC: Engagement Cathryn Melby, Nur Admin: Engagement

Pamlea Miller, Gastro: Satisfaction Linnea Moist, MCC: Satisfaction Michelle Orendorff, ER: Engagement Allison Petska, Speech: Satisfaction Jennifer Piala, Nursing: Quality Jeff Popp, Onc: Engagement Tammy Pozzani, Billing: Satisfaction Dawn Redmond, ER: Engagement Mary Russell, Radiology: Quality Debra Schindler, ER: Engagement

Laurie Slaven, Enviro: Integrity Heather Smith, Amb: Engagement Sophia Smith, Lab: Engagement Debrah Stearns, Onc: Engagement Rebekah Sykes, HIM: Satisfaction Phoebe Tobias, Nur Admin: Engagement Andrea Tregoning, Speech: Satisfaction Paula Tripodi, Hospice: Engagement Leslie Vincetich, Occ Health: Engagement Mercedes Webster, Occ Health: Engagement Kim West, Reg: Satisfaction J'Juan Winfield, IS: Engagement Christine Woodard, Amb: Engagement

April 2016 Nominations (Previous Forms) Elizabeth Bruder - Registration Helen Franklin - Allergy Kristine Lopez - Registration

Nominations compiled by JoAnn Donoghue, Human Resources

In recognition and appreciation of outstanding effort and service to the patients, visitors or fellow employees, the following employees are being thanked. With our Values Initiative now rolled out across our health system, please recognize your coworkers using the new Employee to Employee Values Recognition form. You will find tablets with these forms located in your workgroup.

The staff at Janesville Occupational Health wanted to give recognition to the “amazing paint-ers for the awesome job they did here at the Janesville Occupational Health Clinic. They gave us a much needed face-lift. They did such an amazing job we made them sit down and take a rest while we took their photo.” -- Thank you from Leslie, Suzanne, Jackie and Carole Pictured from left are Tim Puff, Suzanne Niksich-Tompa, Jackie Bergeron, and David Quillen.

Value: Quality

The following is a letter received from a patient… “To all the nice people who work at Beloit Hospital. A special thanks to all who have taken care of Frank E. I really enjoyed meeting all the nice nurses and doctors and to all the ambulance workers, too. I’m feeling much better now and thank to all for taking care of me. From all the cooks to the cleaning lady, you all do a great job.It really feels not as a hospital, but like a second home. I really wish I could do something special, just how happy and pleased that I now feel just because of you. It takes a special group of people to work together like you do. God bless each and everyone of you. Beloit Hospital is and will always be very special to my wife and I. God bless you all.” Mr. and Mrs. Frank E.

A kind word, a welcoming smile, and a top-notch level of professionalism can make all the difference for our patients—and they are grateful for all you do to make their experience positive and memorable.

Value: Satisfaction

The Patient’s Voice

Occupational Health, Sports & Family Medicine Center – Efficiency In Practice Employees who work here are seldom distracted from their work. Employees recognize that distractions happen in the workplace, however efficient practices can minimize the effect distractions have on productivity. The following actions have been implement-ed for improvement. The use of wall flags have been reinstated to indicate where work needs done and where staff members are located. Also, increased use of telephone intercom and paging with the new phone system will decrease employees needing to leave their workstation to look for staff. Dialysis – Everyone Accountable for Safety Employees in my work unit make every effort to deliver safe, error-free care. Employees did not feel that everyone was being held accountable to follow policy and procedure guidelines.

Dialysis leadership confirmed that repeat offenders will be held accountable, however leaders cannot discuss corrective action with staff. Previously, the feedback from infection control team members was not well received. At a department in-service, the importance of our infection audit process and associated feedback was discussed. The Dialysis Team is working together to aim for the highest levels of safety. Education – Working BETTER TOGETHER! My work unit works well together. The Education Department has implemented actions that will allow them to work BETTER TOGETHER to achieve excellence. They have begun team building exercises/workshops and weekly huddles allowing them to tap into each other’s strengths and ask for assistance from the team when needed. Lastly, the establishment of a computer “shared” drive puts tools and resources at everyone’s finger tips within the department.

Highlighting employees’ and leaders’ involvement in building dynamic action plans that find real-world solutions.

Value: Engagement

Way to Go! Juliene Ewers RN, Pediatrics,

received her Bachelors of Science in Nursing in February from Chamberlain College.

Amanda Jacobson, Beloit Clinic general surgery, completed her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Western Governors University in February.

Also, congratulations to these two nurses who will graduate with their Bachelor of Science in Nursing on May 7: Debbi Corirossi, RN, BSN and Tammy Becker, RN, BSN.

Congratulations to Sherrie Swanson, Volunteer Coordinator of Beloit Regional Hospice, a recipient of the Zonta Club of Beloit’s Tribute to Women Award recognizing outstanding service to the community.

Nurses Week is really several weeks of projects and events that give back to the community and recognize outstanding nurses! The basket raffle, bake sale and The Food Fight were a great success. The Food Fight gathered 16,226 food items - almost 700 more items than last year! Thanks to everyone for their generosity! The first week in May culminates with Ice Cream Socials and Nursing Awards and Scholar-ship presentations all leading up to Florence Nightingale’s Birthday on May 12. Please join us in celebrating our nurses throughout the week. Look for these digital billboards in our community honoring our nurses for their hard work and dedication.