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Code Silver
It’s an unfortunate reality that since we work in a hospital located in a major Iowa city with a significant crime rate, we face the possibility of encountering violence. To more effectively deal with violence, if and when it occurs, we recently developed a Code Silver policy.
This Code is to be used when patients, visitors and staff are at risk of being confronted by a person with a weapon. This could involve a variety of situations such as a hostage situation, a crime with weapons, or retaliation against a patient injured in a crime or fight.
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To activate Code Silver, call 3600 (or 319-235-3941 from an outside line or phone). Describe the situation. The operator will page over head “Code Silver” and will contact the Waterloo Police. The Emergency Department will be locked down. Once the Code Silver is called, hospital employees should avoid the area specified in the Code.
Everyone should become familiar with Policy # 1-C-30-17 which gives further details about Code Silver. We are concerned for your safety and that of our patients and visitors. I sincerely hope you will never have to activate Code Silver, but we want to be ready for this kind of occurrence if it should happen.
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Welcoming Kathleen Heise, Patient Advocate
Kathleen assumes the role with over 20 years of experience in the healthcare field. Most recently, she transferred in from the ICU at Allen. She began her nursing career as a nursing tech at Allen in 1980 while attending the University of Iowa for her Bachelor's Degree in Nursing. After twenty years away from Iowa and living overseas, Kathleen and her family returned to Iowa and Kathleen returned to Allen.
Kathleen will work throughout the facility in problem-solving for the patient with communication among providers, staff, and family members. Kathleen will be a part of Sara Poling’s division. Her office is located on the fourth floor and her cell phone number is 415-1320 and office phone is 235-3573.
Please work with Kathleen on concerns/complaints which can’t be resolved immediately by those closest to the patient.
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Spiritual Care Banquet
Chaplains Sedrick McIntosh, Butch Lewellin and Lauryl Ivers Stockness (pictured) joined nearly 60 Spiritual Care volunteers to celebrate the time they have committed to Allen’s patients, families and staff throughout 2010. Spiritual Care volunteers help our chaplains ensure that the spiritual needs of our patients are met by serving as an extension to our staff in many ways.
Allen Nutrition and Dining prepared a wonderful dinner for our guests, who enjoyed an inspirational message from retiring volunteer Jack Musker and also Jim Waterbury. Allen CEO John Knox (pictured) shared words of thanks and praise for the work the many volunteers do on behalf of Allen.
Chaplain Lauryl read the following poem of thanks to the assembled group:
2010 Christmas Volunteer Banquet Thank You
Recognizing the “Healing Presence” of our Night Chaplains, Blue Sheet Volunteers and Eucharistic Ministers
‘Twas the week before Christmas and all through the halls,
The Night Chaplains were busy with emergency calls,
They met with the families who waited, with care.
They listened and helped them and offered a prayer.
What would we have done if you hadn’t been there?
And early most mornings the Blue Sheet Duet
Review all the patients to find out who yet
Have not been connected to their church family
And they gently, efficiently help them to be.
Our Eucharistic Ministers offer the best
The gift of Communion, of Holy Presence
These three Volunteer Groups of Spiritual Care
Are part of the heart of the hospital where
With nurses and admin, staff, Docs, residents,
We give Allen patients a Healing Presence.
So, thank you, we thank you, please don’t dash away
We need you this next year, we hope you will stay.
May your Christmas be joyful in all that you do,
And mostly, dear friends, May God always bless you!
Christmas Sale at Allen Gift Shop
Starting on December 22
All Christmas items – 50% off!
Wee Care Tree info – Deadline is December 22.
Gift Shop will be closed January 1– January 5.
Credit Union Christmas Open House
TODAY - December 17 from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm
Refreshments and prize drawings - Please join us.
Holiday Hours
Friday, December 25 - Closed
Monday, December 27 - Closed
Friday, December 31 - Open 7:00am to 12:00 noon
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Allen Associates donated 2917 pounds of food during the holiday meat certificate distribution drive – and more food continues to arrive! THANK YOU!!
The thank you note we received today from the Northeast Iowa Food Bank tells us that 2917 pounds of food is equivalent to feed a family of four for over six months!!
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DHC Nurses Were a Hit at National Conference!
The Buzz recently featured Allen Digestive Health Center’s Brenda Collins, Lisa Sparks, and Barb Burkle who presented “GI Jeopardy” at the 37th annual Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates (SGNA) national conference. Click here for the full article from June.
They have recently received the evaluation summary completed by the 125 or so attendees. They received RAVE reviews! Nearly 100% of respondents rated their presentation as either a 5 (excellent) or a 4 (good), with over 90% choosing excellent! Here are some quotes from the written comment section:
“Best class of the conference. Educational and fun.”
“Very fun, interactive, and informative.”
“Super fun class! Very informative, would go again, best one so far.”
“Very fun, loved the interactive format.”
Click here to read the full review. Great job!
Read the December Buzz!
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100 Great Iowa Nurses Nomination Open
Nominations are open for the 7th annual Great Iowa Nurses recognition. The program honors nurses whose courage, competence and commitment to patients and the nursing profession stand out above all others.
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Allen has had 22 nurses honored in the first six years of the program. The key to producing winners is submitting compelling nominations. You can pick up nomination forms in Clinical Services starting December 15. You also may nominate online effective immediately at www.greatnurses.org.
Nominations must be e-mailed or postmarked by December 31, 2010.
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Allen Associates' Love Reaches
Into the Heart of Nicaragua
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Recently, Kathy McCoy, Matt Rollinger and Dave Buck used personal time and resources to deliver the "Children of the Dump" boxes in an effort to make a positive and significant impact in the lives of those that are less fortunate.
Many of the people in Nicaragua live in crushing conditions where the lack of food, water, shelter, freedom or opportunity drives every move and every conversation. We, in comparison, have bounty way beyond our needs. For many of us, understanding the consequences of growing up poor with dirt for floors, tarps for a roof, and no running water is difficult to imagine. But Christmas brings to our attention what we can be thankful for and the shoebox project brings to our attention what we can do to help others.
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With a focus on scholastic and social development, the ‘Children of the Dump’ are given incentive by Rotary to participate in school: the ‘shoeboxes’ are their reward for attendance. When it's time to sign up for boxes next summer, please remember these beautiful faces.
L to R: Kathy McCoy, former foundation staff and current foundation board member and
co-chair for Promises to Keep Capital Campaign; Matt Rolinger, Foundation Staff, Dave Buck, Foundation Board Member on mission to Nicaragua.
Please note, the girls are holding boxes from Allen Hospital associates.
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Mark Your Calendar
Movie Saturday will be January 22, 2011! |
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Allen Adolescent Sexual Health
Program Draws Attention of
National and State Health
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The efforts of the Allen adolescent sexual health program were the focus of a day-long visit by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH). Representatives from both health organizations visited Allen Women’s Health on September 16.
The visit gave public health officials the opportunity to learn more about successful adolescent sexual health community initiatives coordinated by Allen Women’s Health and supported by local community funds and state dollars.
Staff from the organization Together For Youth (TFY), an Allen Women’s Health-based adolescent pregnancy prevention and teen parent support network, explained the organization’s unique leadership role in the state—coordinating a coalition of partner agencies that have worked together for more than 25 years to address adolescent sexual health. TFY program facilitators highlighted local data, evidence-based curricula and numerous prevention efforts.
CDC and IDPH representatives also toured Success Street at George Washington Carver Academy, one of three school-based health centers in the Waterloo Community School District.
The CDC and IDPH officials said they are impressed by the community-wide support in the Cedar Valley of teen pregnancy prevention initiatives and the dramatic decline in teen pregnancy rates in Black Hawk County over the last 13 years. Since 1997 Black Hawk County teen pregnancy rates have decreased by 9%.
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A Jolly Good Time was Had by All!
Seventy-three alumni and friends attended the December 4 matinee performance of Mary Poppins and enjoyed a reception immediately following the show.
The Heritage Art Gallery was the back drop for the reception catered by Gateway Market.
It truly was supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!
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A Special Graduation Party
December 2010 Allen College Graduates
The Alumni Association hosted 28 members of the graduating class for dinner Thursday evening, December 9 at the Waterloo Brown Bottle.
Congratulations graduates from the Allen College Alumni Association!
A PERFECT CHRISTMAS PARTY!
Thank you Allen Café staff for the delicious holiday meal Thursday – what a treat! A lot of work goes into preparing such a lavish feast – we so appreciate the time you spent to make sure every detail was perfect. Happy Holidays!
L to R
Jody Peterson from the Wound Center poses with a little Christmas angel, her granddaughter.
Pam Flanders from Case Management is served up some perfectly prepared prime rib.
Three of Santa's Special Helpers!
