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It’s a pleasure to finally be part of the Allen Health System and the Cedar Valley community. Karen, my wife, and I just moved here Monday, and I have spent my first week learning about Allen and meeting as many people as I can.
Feedback from Allen associates is very important to me. My routine will be to walk through a number of patient units each week for the purpose of understanding better what all of you are doing. It’s also an opportunity for you to make me aware of any issues or concerns that you feel need to be addressed.
Open Forum presentations are being scheduled now for early December. At these meetings I want to share with you updates regarding Allen Health System and my plans for the future. Please mark your calendars when Marty Colwell sends out the dates, and make every attempt to attend one of these sessions.
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My sincere thanks to all of you who have gone out of your way to introduce yourself and wish me well as I start my new position. I truly have been impressed with how friendly everyone has been.
I intend to use this column as a way to update you on significant Allen initiatives and recognize key accomplishments. As you read this column weekly, feel free to e-mail me with suggestions for improvement or ideas of material I should include. I look forward to working with all of you.
Thanks for making Allen Health System an outstanding health care provider.
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Are You Sure That's How They Do It Upstairs?
Allen board member Kathy McCoy tries her hand at the MAKO surgical robot during the open house in the South Dining Room November 4. MAKO specialist Ray Powers looks on. Ray estimates more than 200 Allen associates visited during the demonstration day. The Allen MAKO surgical robot is the first in Iowa. It will allow Allen surgeons to perform partial knee replacements for qualified patients. The results should be much like those for da Vinci surgery patients: shorter length of stay, faster recovery, significantly less pain and much quicker rehabilitation and return to full use of the joint. The typical MAKO patient is age 45 – 75 with moderate osteoarthritis. MAKO cannot yet do total knee replacements, but it is an exciting alternative for people in pain who need relief but do not yet need a total joint replacement. MAKO plans to introduce technology upgrades for other orthopedic procedures in the next few years. Allen’s first MAKO partial-knee replacements are scheduled later this month.
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REMINDER:
Please remember that when charging meals in the café you are required to present your name badge. This way we can ensure that all charges are appropriately placed on accounts. You will not be able to charge your meal if you do not present your own badge. We appreciate your cooperation with this and please feel free to call me with any questions.
Kelley Leonard, Director Hospitality Services, 319-235-3956.
My Nurse for 2011
My Nurse services IHS affiliates and patients across the system. Like all programs, My Nurse changes as it grows. Here’s a quick update on My Nurse changes for 2011:
My Nurse will continue to provide extensive services, including:
- Triage and health education
- Referrals for providers, facilities and services
- After-hours call coverage for clinics
- Follow-up calls with inpatients to confirm understanding of their discharge instructions
Beginning January 1, 2011, the My Nurse team will no longer register callers for classes at Allen Hospital.
A system-wide committee with representation from Allen worked together to better align My Nurse resources to most effectively deliver clinical call center services needed throughout the system.
The My Nurse team is in the process of expanding its expertise to assist patients with their medical needs. The My Nurse team includes 36 nurses who are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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Electronic Health Records and Revenue Cycle Project Named IQ4
During the next three years, Allen Health System and Iowa Health System will be transformed. While implementing our new Electronic Health Records and Revenue Cycle systems, we also will be creating a new way to care for our patients.
It wouldn't have been fitting to call this project by the name of the software vendor we are working with, Epic, or to simply refer to it as the "big IT project."
So why IQ4? It's designed to reflect our transformation while being unique and easy to recall. Here's what it means:
- The “I” stands for Iowa Health System
- The “Q” stands for Quality
- The “4” represents the four smarter ways we will deliver a new level of quality, integrated care. These four qualities make up the project tagline:
- Right Information
- Right Process
- Right People
- Right Time
- Also, the “Q” in the logo is represented as a power button to signify that we are activating, or “turning on” these four “rights” across Iowa Health System
Look for more IQ4 updates coming soon.
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Allen Wound and Hyperbaric Center Opens
The Allen Wound and Hyperbaric Center is open in the renovated site of the old Allen Emergency Department. Patients have easy access to the new facilities from Outpatient Entrance 8. The center includes two new hyperbaric cylinders for treating wounds that will not heal using less aggressive therapy. The system uses oxygen under pressure over a series of treatments. Christine Schaeffer demonstrated the new equipment at the center’s open house November 4 to Angie Fuller (l) and Kathy Busching and Megan Brinkman (r).
Hospice Care vs. Palliative Care
Iowa Hospice will be presenting Hospice Care vs. Palliative Care next Tuesday 11/9/10 at 1:30-2:30 p.m. in Learning Center B. Nursing CEU credit will be provided by Iowa Hospice. More information to come. Read here for more information.
Registration is currently open in Net Learning. Register now!
The Allen College Center for Engagement, Learning and Leadership (CELL) recognized five nursing students on November 1, during an evening dinner program in Barrett Forum, McKinstry Student Center on the Allen College campus.
Each of the students completed a service-learning project with a community partner over the course of three semesters. The students, community partners and projects are:
- Chelsey Courtnage, partnering with Salvation Army Women’s Shelter, Educating Underprivileged Women about Searching for Employment.
- Rebecca Flesburg, partnering with Boys and Girls Club, Healthy Lifestyles for Children.
- Kyle Frost, partnering with ACE-SAP(Allen College Engagement-Salvation Army Partnership), Education Materials for the Population in Need.
- Lauren Noelting, partnering with Allen Women’s Health Center, Preventing the Unexpected: Unintended Pregnancies.
- Leah Schmitz, partnering with Northeast Iowa Food Bank, Northeast Iowa Food Bank Newsletters.
Evidence Based Practice Projects - Stop By!
Students in the NU420 Professional Issues and Trends course will be presenting their evidence based practice projects on November 8, November 15, and November 29 from 1:00 -3:00 pm. Attached is the schedule and topics that students will present. All presentations will be in the MidAmerica classroom in Gerard Hall. See schedules.
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Sally Kelly and Allen College students enjoying a break at the Allen Cafe.
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"Health Literacy in a Changing America," a free webinar, will be presented Thursday, November 18 at 3:30 p.m. by Michele Devlin, professor of health, physical education & leisure services and Mark Grey, professor of sociology, anthropology & criminology at the University of Northern Iowa
Health literacy is defined as the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process and understand basic health information needed to make appropriate health care decisions. Studies reveal that 50 percent of all adults in the U.S. have low health literacy and can't understand basic healthcare information. Low health literacy increases the risk of unnecessary treatments, death, illness, medical errors, longer hospital stays and other complications. This webinar defines health literacy; describes the economic and human impact of this situation; and discusses strategies for individuals and organizations to improve their ability to understand and express health information more effectively. To register for this free webinar, visit www.uni.edu/coe/webinars.
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Allen Hospital 2011 Benefits Package
You should have all received your benefit package through the mail. Open enrollment runs from November 1 - November 19, 2010 at Allen.
The meetings hosted by Human Resources are very informative so we are recommending you attend one. See schedule.
November 19 will be here before you know it so make sure you take the TIME to review the material and make your selections.
Contact Human Resources with any questions.
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Missing Pig Platter - If you have seen the Pig Platter, please call Tammie Cole at 3626 or email ColeTL@ihs.org.
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Happy Birthday Party
Lloyd Smith, long time Allen Volunteer recently celebrated his 90th birthday.
Lloyd comes from Reinbeck each week to serve as an Allen Volunteer Patient Escort. Lloyd has been actively volunteering at Allen since 1992. Another great example of ALLENCARE!
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Movie Saturday
Saturday, November 20 at Crossroads Theatre. $2.50 per ticket, 3-D Movies are $5.50. Purchase your tickets at the Crossroads Theatre box office at 8:00 am on November 20. Movies start at 8:30 am. Must bring ID badge to purchase tickets. Purchase limit is 6 tickets. Adults must accompany children.
You’re Invited to 20 Under 40
Join the Cedar Valley’s eighth annual 20 Under 40 Celebration on Thursday, November 18, in Gerard Hall at Allen College. The reception honors 20 exceptional young men and women for their leadership and accomplishment. Among them is Lisa Zinkula, chief financial officer for Grundy County Memorial Hospital in Grundy Center. For a complete list of 2010 winners, click here.
The reception begins at 5:30 pm, with a program in the auditorium at 6:00 pm. Families and friends are welcome. Call 319-291-1522 or email beth.keeney@wcfcourier.com to reserve your place. 20 Under 40 is sponsored by Courier Communications, and Allen is pleased to host this community event on campus.
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Personalized Christmas Ornaments
for $5.50
Purchase a cute Christmas ornament and get it personalized for free! From snowmen families to nurse snowwomen, we have one just for you!
Stop by to browse for our other items...Christmas is in the air at the Allen Gift Shop. And remember, no taxes are due with your purchase!
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It's Time to Make Nominations!
The Nursing Recognition Award, a peer recognition award, is awarded to any associate in a nursing field at Allen Hospital. The individuals eligible for nomination will have demonstrated nursing excellence in their daily role by exhibiting leadership qualities, contributing and accomplishing professionalism within their job, showing an emphasis on human care and compassion to comfort their patients and demonstrating dependability, courtesy, loyalty and the AllenCARE values. Our apology to 3Heart that was omitted from the flyer. Read more at this new updated nomination form.
Allen Auxiliary Train Outing
54 Allen Auxilians and friends shared a great fall day traveling by bus to ride the Boone Scenic Railway. The group shared good food; good fun and had a great time! Plans are underway for more great adventures to come!!
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M.A.P.L.E.S. Events
Beef and Noodle Dinner, read more.
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