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| Pam Delagardelle to Succeed Tom Tibbitts
It’s my pleasure to announce that Pam Delagardelle will succeed me as president and CEO of Allen Health System, effective January 1, 2013. I came here last November, planning to stay a year. This is the logical conclusion of that plan.
Many of you already know Pam. For those who don’t, she is currently the CEO of Grundy County Memorial Hospital, an affiliate of Allen. Pam is also the clinical adoption executive for Iowa Health System for the Epic IQ4 project. She’s been part of Allen’s Go Live from the start.
Pam was chosen from an excellent field of candidates. She is the first woman and the first nurse to lead Allen as president and CEO. As Allen evolves into a physician-driven organization, Pam’s clinical experience and understanding of what doctors and nurses need will serve us all well.
Pam understands both Allen and our neighboring hospitals. Prior to joining Grundy County Memorial Hospital in 2003, she worked at Allen Hospital and Allen College in Waterloo and St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids. She held five management positions with Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo from 1988 – 1999. She started her career as a charge nurse at Sartori Hospital in Cedar Falls and a staff nurse at Schoitz Hospital in Waterloo from 1983 – 1986. Pam has a BSN from Mount Mercy College and a master’s degree of science in nursing administration from the University of Iowa. She is a registered nurse with current licensure.
It would take another whole page to list all the accomplishments and awards Grundy County Memorial Hospital has achieved under Pam’s leadership. I will share the full list with you later. For now, here’s a sample. Grundy County Memorial Hospital has won five Press Ganey Summit Awards in the past four years and consecutive listings in 2011 and 2012 in Modern Healthcare’s 100 Best Places to Work. Pam herself was honored with the 2008 Iowa Hospital Association Excellence in Leadership Award for her outstanding commitment, dedication and inspirational leadership.
Both Pam and I will be fully engaged in our current roles through December. We want to share this good news with you today to set the stage, and we look forward to making the handoff when I’m ready to head for Arizona, family and golf. When I do, I will be leaving you in excellent hands.
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Allen ED Leadership (l-r)
Dr. Chris Hill, chief of emergency services; Tami Jones RN, director;
Judy Renaas, VP and CNE; Sheila Markham RN, nurse manager |
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Allen Wins 2012 Press Ganey Success Story Award®
Allen Hospital has won the 2012 Press Ganey Success Story Award for clinical improvement in the Allen emergency department. Allen earned the award for patient satisfaction as a result of innovative leadership, organizational change and increased customer satisfaction.
Allen engaged Press Ganey to improve the way we care for emergency patients. Physicians, nurses, techs and other Allen departments came together to plan and implement whole new processes and workflows. The results have been dramatic. Wait times have all but disappeared, and patient satisfaction scores have shot up. Best of all, we’re giving patients the ED care they want and deserve. The Success Story Award recognizes just how far we’ve come.
Look for more Allen ED news soon. For today, please thank every member of the Allen ED team you see. They’ve done a remarkable thing, and they’ve won national attention doing it.
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All employees must select a medical plan to receive medical benefits for 2013. You also need to choose a Primary Care Provider (PCP) for yourself and each covered family member. Your other benefits — such as dental, vision, life and long term disability insurance — will continue if you don’t make changes. You must also enroll in Flexible Spending Accounts each year if you’d like to participate.
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It’s time to nominate Allen nurses for the 9th Annual 100 Great Nurses recognition. |
| Successful nominees are those nurses whose courage, competence and commitment make a difference to patients and families. Allen nurses have been honored many times at this event. With your support, they will be honored again in 2013. Look for details online at http://www.greatnurses.org/. You may submit online or print out forms to submit by mail. Online nominations must be submitted by December 28, 2012. Mailed nominations must be postmarked by December 21, 2012. |
Congrats to Young Parents Together Program!
The Iowa Department of Management and Public Health is pleased to announce that the Young Parents Together program operated by Allen Women’s Health has earned the Iowa Family Support Credential. Young Parents Together is only the nineteenth Iowa program to earn this honored distinction. The Iowa Family Support Credential is awarded to family support and parent education programs that are validated through an external evaluation to be in substantial adherence to the Iowa Family Support Standards. The Young Parents Together program diligently worked toward meeting all of the 139 standards over the course of almost three years with the assistance of a technical assistance mentor. Young Parents Together provides family support and parent education services to pregnant and parenting teens, and their children, in the Cedar Valley. For more information on this program please contact Libby Fry at 319-231-9373. |
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Congratulations, Steve and Shay!
Tuesday night, Allen associates Steve Slessor and Shay Robinson were honored as two 20 Under 40 Award recipients.
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| The award recognizes individuals under the age of 40 for strong leadership qualities, commitment to their careers and community service. |
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Did you know that people with the flu can spread it to others up to SIX feet away?
Most experts think that flu viruses are spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. A person may also get the flu by touching a surface or object that has influenza on it and then touching their own mouth or nose. So, remember to wash your hands often and keep your hands away from your face!
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Influenza is Very Contagious!
Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day BEFORE symptoms develop and up to 5 to 7 days AFTER becoming sick. Children may pass the virus for longer than 7 days. Symptoms start 1 to 4 days after the virus enters the body. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick as well as while you are sick. Some persons can be infected with influenza, but have no symptoms. During this time, those persons may still spread the virus to others.
What is the best way to prevent yourself from getting sick and spreading it to others?
1- Get your influenza vaccination
2- Cover your cough
3- Use proper hand hygiene
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR GETTING YOUR INFLUENZA VACCINATIONS!
REMEMBER: THE MINIMUM EXPECTATION IS THAT EVERYONE SANITIZE THEIR HANDS WHEN ENTERING AND LEAVING A PATIENT ROOM. EVERY PATIENT…EVERY TIME… |
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Wee Care Tree
Allen Associates love our littlest patients. We are excited to introduce again this year the “WEE CARE” TREE for this holiday season. A tree will be outside the Allen Hospital Gift Shop and we are asking associates to donate a plush item such as bears, dogs, cats, etc. to hang on the tree. |
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Donations will be accepted through December 21. After December 21, donations will be delivered to children at Allen during the Christmas week and New Year, until the last cherished animal from our tree has been given away.
If you’d like to purchase the plush animal from Allen Gift Shop, you will receive 25% off. We will accept donations of any new plush animal purchased from any store.
Let’s share the holiday spirit and put smiles on children’s faces this year! Any questions, contact Sara at the Gift Shop.
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| Allen Gift Shop is closed Thanksgiving Day and Friday, November 23. Remember to stop down and look over our seasonal holiday items, as well as Cedar Falls, East and West clothing and jewelry! |
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MOVIE SATURDAY IS BACK!
When: December 1st; the theater will open at 7:45am and movies will start at 8:45am
Where: College Square Theaters in Cedar Falls
Prices: $3.00 for regular movies and $6.00 for 3D
Please note: CASH ONLY, as the theater does not accept credit cards (an ATM is located outside the theater)
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Allen College Student Presentations
The final week of presentations. Please join us at the McBride Classroom, Winter Hall, on Monday, Nov. 26 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm for the last week of the series.
Presentation Schedules
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