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Many of you have asked where we are with respect to the provision of hospice care. As you know, Allen Health System made the decision last year to consolidate our home health care program with that of Iowa Health System and to focus on developing a formal palliative care program. This transition has occurred. With respect to palliative care, Dr. Russell Adams serves as medical director and works with others involved with palliative care at the system level.
Much of the care provided to hospice patients involves home care and palliative care. Since we provide these components, it didn’t seem to make sense that when patients get to the last stage of their lives, we leave them no option but to seek another provider of care outside the
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system. They basically start off with new people at the final stage of their life. Therefore, we have decided to provide hospice care locally in cooperation with Iowa Health System while still preserving the patients’ right to select other local hospice providers if they so choose. We believe this decision also fits well with the direction of health care reform and accountable care organizations. These organizations will need to provide end-of-life care with evidence of very good patient satisfaction, excellent pain control and minimal readmissions.
Most hospice care today is provided in patients’ homes. We have no intention of duplicating the hospice home that Cedar Valley Hospice offers to the community. If patients wish to go into this type of setting rather than return to their homes, they will be directed to Cedar Valley Hospice.
Allen management and representatives of the board did meet with Cedar Valley Hospice management and representatives of their board to explain our decision and reason for entering the hospice care arena. While clearly not happy with our decision, they understand our rationale, and we will continue to view them as an important provider of hospice service to the Cedar Valley.
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IOWA HEALTH SYSTEM HONORED AS “BEST PLACE TO WORK” FOR ORGANIZATION’S 20,000 “SCIENTISTS”
Iowa Health System has been honored as one of the 100 Best Places to Work in Healthcare by Becker’s Hospital Review. The annual list is developed through nominations and research, and IHS was selected for its demonstrated excellence in providing a work environment that promotes teamwork, professional development and quality patient care.
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From the Becker’s list: “Iowa Health System president and CEO Bill Leaver likes to say the system is working on creating 20,000 scientists, citing Iowa Health’s commitment to training its employees to eliminate waste and remove variability. Employees have the opportunity to develop skills through the system's Management Leadership Academy and Physician Leadership Academy; upon completion of the latter, graduating physicians will be close to earning their master's degree.”
IHS was also recognized for its annual Leadership Symposium, which this April brought together more than 1,000 managers, directors and clinicians, giving employees the chance to share best practices with leaders from across Iowa and western Illinois. Another distinguishing feature of IHS is its unique focus on creating a healthy workforce.
More information about the “100 Best Places to Work in Healthcare” may be found at http://www.beckersasc.com/100-best-places-to-work-2010.html
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Allen president and CEO John Knox presented the 2011 HealthGrades medallion to Allen board chair Mark Baldwin during the monthly board meeting on April 26.
The medallion is the 2011 Coronary Excellence Intervention Award, which is now featured in Allen’s advertising. Health Grades ranks Allen Hospital #1 in overall cardiac services in Iowa for 2011.
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Congratulations to Allen's Top 10 Nurses!
We would like to recognize the following nurses who were selected by the Professional Life Council as Allen’s Top 10 Nurses:
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Maggie Pietryga, 4 NET
Jennifer Negus, 3 Heart
Angie Banger, UMP/ASC
Toni Hanks, ICU
Kristi Strom, Women’s Health
Alicia O’Neill; Neurology
Katie Easil, Resource
Shannon Lindeland, 3 Surgical
Dennis Preuss, Infusion
Mona Ralf, Ambulatory
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There were many excellent nominations and would like to thank all who participated in nominating their co-workers. The above nurses will be recognized at the Nursing Excellence Dinner on Thursday, May 12.
A reminder to submit any excellent Allen employee’s name to the CARE counts!
Warning Signs of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the following list shows some of the most common factors and warning signs for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Discuss these statements with your doctor or a sleep specialist if any of them describe your health and your sleep:
• You normally feel tired even after a full night of sleep.
• You snore loudly and frequently.
• You make choking or snorting sounds during sleep.
• You stop breathing during sleep.
• You are overweight with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or more.
• You have experienced unexplained weight gain or are having a hard time
losing weight.
• You are a man with a neck size of 17 inches or more.
• You are a woman with a neck size of 16 inches or more.
• You have high blood pressure.
• You are a menopausal or postmenopausal woman.
• You fall asleep while driving or during periods of daytime inactivity.
• You have a family member who has sleep apnea.
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Child Abuse IS Preventable
By Julie Pitzen, Executive Director of Family & Children’s Council
Every child deserves to grow up in a safe and nurturing environment. Child abuse affects cognitive development, behavior, mental and physical health. Most parents want to be good parents, but stressors in life can get in the way. Sometimes one bad life decision that impacts an adult's life can have disastrous consequences for children, such as using drugs or alcohol or entering into a relationship that later becomes abusive.
Black Hawk County ranks twentieth in the state for incidences of child abuse and neglect. Last year 57.1% of child abuse victims were between the ages of 0 to 5 years. Of the reports made, 888 involved denial of critical care, or child neglect.
Teaching parents about ages and stages and positive discipline and other useful parenting techniques makes a tremendous difference. The Cedar Valley is filled with wonderful resources that support positive parenting and healthy decision-making.
Family & Children’s Council is Black Hawk County’s child abuse prevention agency. Since 1980 the agency has provided services to the community that work to prevent child abuse and strengthen families. The agency provides support to new parents and parents with young children, parenting classes, support for fathers, mandatory child abuse reporter’s training, and sexual abuse prevention in the schools. This past year services were provided to over 18,000 children, parents and professionals.
In order to make an impact on child abuse numbers, your help is needed. You can support child abuse prevention work by making a financial gift, referring a family for services or becoming a volunteer. Volunteers are needed to work with families, support parenting classes, talk to children in the schools, and raise awareness. We believe that parents can and should do the most important work of parenting on their own, but when families are struggling, community members with parenting experience can step in to help.
Your help is needed to help create positive outcomes for children, and you can make a difference. Trainings for new volunteers will take place in May, so call 234-7600 to see how you can get involved. As April is child abuse prevention month, this is a good time to get involved. “If not us, who? If not now, when?”
Thank you to all who expressed their sympathy to myself and my family after the death of my son. I was overwhelmed by the number of cards, food, calls, and visits from my work “family”. Thank you again for caring and praying for us. Kathie Walters
Allen Green Team: Calling All Green Thumbs!
The Allen Green Team announces a number of wildflower projects where we need your help! In May or early June, a number of projects will be planted by Allen associates and community volunteers with funding from the Allen Auxiliary and the Black Hawk Soil and Water Conservation District. The gardens include a bog, a rain garden, a double crescent wildflower garden with an arbor, sidewalk benches and Allen sign landscapes. Signage is planned to explain the purpose for each garden and who sponsored the project. Becky Stansbury, Horticulturist at the Young Green House at the George Washington Carver Academy has landscaped all these projects.
If you or a group of friends from your department or community would like to be involved in any of these projects, contact Trish Pedersen at pederspe@ihs.org or Teri Ettelson at ettelstt@ihs.org.
Projects include:
- A high school student has volunteered to plant grasses to form a bog in front of Barrett Forum at Allen College. Other volunteers are needed for this project, which will be planted on May 14 at 9 a.m.
- An Eagle Scout candidate, under the guidance of Phil Schuppert, a watershed specialist of the Black Hawk Soil and Water Conservation District, will plant a rain garden.
- 6th grade students from George Washington Carver Academy (Allen’s Partner in Education) will be planting a wildflower garden.
- An arbor-shaded wildflower garden, to be located outside the door near the chapel, will be planted. Volunteers are needed for this project.
- Benches along the sidewalk from Allen Hospital to Allen College will be placed there by Eagle Scout.
- Former Allen associate Steve Buckles will landscape around one of the Allen directional signs at the corner of Columbia and Dale. Additional volunteers are needed to help landscape other Allen directional signs (materials will be provided).
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Important Information for Second Quarter Associate Forum Schedule
Click here for Q2 Open Forums June 1-15 schedule. Review the schedule and work with your supervisor to attend in June.
Allen Gift Shop News
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Watch Your Mail for a Special Postcard! |
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| Upcoming Events |
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May 26 and 27
Scrubs and Beyond
ADDED! June 28
Masquerade $5.00 Jewelry Sale
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Volunteer Recruitment
Do you love children? Do you love to help others? We are looking for volunteers who can help a new mother and baby with your encouragement and life experiences. For more information, click here. We need your help!
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Justin Jasper Benefit
Son of Kris Jasper,
UMP Ambulatory Surgery Center
Allen Hospital on Wednesday, May 11 at the South Dining Room
(If you would like to donate baked goods, bring them to the South Dining Room around 8:00 am)
Note: Cash Only
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Parkersburg Race of Remembrance 2011
The 3rd Annual Parkersburg Race of Remembrance will be held on Saturday, May 28, 2011. All proceeds will benefit both the Parkersburg Library Expansion/Renovation Project and the Ed Thomas Family Fund. For event details and registration, click here for more information and registration form.
Beef Noodle Dinner at St. Paul's Methodist Church
Saturday, April 30
All you can eat: 4:00 am - 7:00 pm
Beef n' Noodles, Coleslaw, Boiled Potatos and a Dessert
Adults $7.00/Children under 12 $3.00
