ProMedica Health System: INSIDE

Our CEO Wants To Hear from You

Since taking office as ProMedica Health System’s (PHS) president and chief executive officer on Oct. 1, Randy Oostra, DM, FACHE, has been asking leadership and employees what direction they think our organization should take on various issues.

“ProMedica is a solid organization with a history of strong performance in the health care market, so I’m not talking about making radical changes,” states Randy. “But, I do believe that we have a very talented team of  leadership and employees who have valuable input to share about how we can do some things better.”

Randy formally began this initiative with an online questionnaire sent to PHS Management Town Hall members in mid-October. The results of this survey, shared in person at the Oct. 29 Management Town Hall meeting, included responses to three simple questions:

• What are we doing that we should keep doing?
• What should we be doing that we currently are not?
• What are we doing that we should stop?

The results varied, with input about company strategies and partnerships to the movement to a stronger online/web presence to an increase in overall company flexibility with market dynamics. Randy discussed his approach to creating a more open dialogue with employees and refocusing on ProMedica’s mission and values.

“What this survey tells us is that we are a strong organization, but leadership is ready to continue adapting to the changing market dynamics,” Randy explains. “Although we are a large organization, we can still be agile, flexible and smart as we move ahead.”

This survey is the first of many tools opening a two-way dialogue between employees and our CEO. Randy also plans to implement electronic mechanisms for all employees and the public to ask him questions about relevant workplace and health care topics, and schedule visits with groups of employees to ask for their input in person.

“All of this is in addition to the opportunities already available for employees to share feedback with the organization,” reminds Randy. “The Got Ideas? Employee Involvement Program and system-wide employee opinion survey are two excellent examples of how we’re currently asking you to tell us what you think.”

Supervisors will share results from the second annual system-wide employee opinion survey with employees later this year, and you can visit the “Got Ideas?” department page on myProMedica (http://my.promedica.org) to learn more about this program. Watch for more information about new initiatives in the coming months.

Editor’s Note: Randy will also continue to use Inside as a forum to discuss various topics, such as local health care amid reform, living a legacy through philanthropy, and more. If you have suggestions for future topics, please send them to inside@promedica.org. We value your input.

Choose the Right Benefits To Meet Your Needs

ProMedica Health System will hold open enrollment for 2010 benefits online Mon., Nov. 9 – Sun., Nov. 22, 2009. Remember that you must enroll this year in order to maintain medical coverage, as well as spousal coverage, and/or flexible spending accounts for 2010. If you are a manager or supervisor, please make sure that you remind all employees of this.

Refer to the benefits enrollment packet you received from human resources for your personalized enrollment worksheet and information about important benefits changes. Then log in to myProMedica (http://my.promedica.org) and go to the “2010 Benefits” link on the “HR & Payroll Services” department page to enroll.

Choosing a Health Care Plan
Keep in mind that choosing the right health care plan not only matters to you and your family when you need health care services; it can also save you money.

With careful thought, you can decide which plan will give you the right amount of insurance coverage at the lowest cost. For example, one plan may give you the most insurance coverage but also costs you more each pay period. While another plan may cost you less each pay period, but certain health care services may cost you more.

Human resources recommends that you use the “Choosing the Most Cost-effective Health Care Plan” trifold in your enrollment packet to help make a decision. It asks you to consider this when choosing a plan:

• Determining whether a plan with a higher employee contribution per year and more insurance coverage is the best value for you and your family depends on what you expect your health care needs to be over the next year. For example, do you think you will use inpatient or outpatient surgery services?

• If your family is healthy and only uses preventive services, you should also consider a plan with a lower employee contribution that may cost you more for services. However, remember you cannot always know what health care services you will need over the next year.

• The difference between copayment and coinsurance amounts for certain services may affect if and how quickly you could reach the annual out-of-pocket maximum dollar amount for your plan, so always think about how much out-of-pocket cost you can afford over the next year.

Choosing Other Benefits Options
Detailed information that you can use to help choose the best benefits options for you is also available when you log in to myProMedica (http://my.promedica.org) and go to the “2010 Benefits” link on the “HR & Payroll Services” department page, including:

• Summary Plan Descriptions
• Dental Plans & Providers
• Vision Plans & Providers
• Flexible Spending Account Information
• Group Term Life/Accidental Death Insurance Information
• Health & Welfare Benefits<
• Disability Plans
• Employee Assistance Program
• HIPAA Privacy Notice<
• Medicare Part D Coverage Letter
• Medical Plans & Services

ProMedica Health System is dedicated to providing a benefits package that meets the needs of employees, remains competitive within the market, and strengthens our integration system-wide to allow employees to move seamlessly from one ProMedica facility to the next when pursuing growth opportunities.

Human resources will hold informational sessions to answer any questions you may have about your benefits, so please watch for the times and locations of these open enrollment sessions at your workplace. Or, visit the new, system-wide online Calendar of Events on myProMedica (http://my.promedica.org).

Make Healthier Choices in the Cafeteria

Making healthy food choices can be confusing, but ProMedica Health System’s (PHS) dietary departments have made it easier than ever to make better choices when you eat in our cafeterias by offering a variety of healthier selections. The PHS Employee Wellness Program encourages you to follow these examples even if you don’t have a cafeteria in your workplace.

Why is it important to make healthier choices during meal breaks? According to Lesley Raney, RD, LD, outreach coordinator, ProMedica Total Wellness, “For most, the cafeteria at work supplies at least one meal a day on workdays, and time to sit and eat it. Our days are busy not only at work but after work, too. Making an effort to ‘eat right’ in the cafeteria, or during our meal breaks, can help balance our food intake when we’re offered fewer healthy choices at other times, from concession stands at our kids’ ball games or the fast food drive thru.”

Lesley also stresses that avoiding or limiting saturated- and trans-fat laden foods and choosing foods rich in fiber, vitamins and phytochemicals (chemical compounds found in fruits and vegetables)—along with lean proteins and complex carbohydrates—will help keep your immune system stronger to resist viruses and infection. It will also keep you energized and improve your mood and mental capacity.

Take Small Steps
A few small steps can put you on your way to eating healthier. PHS cafeterias offer the following healthier selections that you can choose on your breaks:

• Instead of processed grain products, choose whole grain foods, such as whole grain cereals, breads and pastas; oatmeal; granola; and brown rice.

• Pick lean proteins, such as Egg Beaters^®, turkey sausage, baked or grilled chicken, turkey and veggie burgers, baked fish, and beans prepared without added fat.

• Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Choose whole or cut fresh fruit, and fresh or steamed vegetables prepared without added fat.

• Choose from low- or non-fat dairy products, including skim milk, reduced-fat and fat-free yogurt, and reduced-fat cheeses.

• Keep yourself hydrated with plenty of water, and pick calorie- or sugar-free drinks, unsweetened teas and 100% fruit and vegetable juices instead of regular soda, sweet tea or fruit punch.

• Cut back on high-calorie snack foods and desserts by instead choosing baked chips or pretzels, reduced-fat or reduced-calorie snack bags, sugar-free Jello^®, low-fat frozen yogurt, and healthier options such as trail mix and hummus with vegetables.

Make It a Habit
Making better food choices for at least one meal a day will help you start to make it a habit. All PHS cafeterias offer salad bars with fresh vegetables, seeds and nuts, as well as oil and vinegar and reduced-fat or fat-free dressings—it’s a great way to try something new. Adding fruits and vegetables with a wide variety of colors will help you pack different types of nutrients into your diet to make sure you get all the vitamins and minerals you need.

Many cafeterias also feature daily low-fat or low-sodium entrees, or indicate healthier choices on their menus with a heart symbol. Some cafeterias provide Weight Watchers points or nutrition facts for select menu items, as well.

All PHS cafeterias have eliminated the use of trans-fat in food preparation, and some cafeterias have reduced or eliminated fried foods altogether. Substitution of lighter, reduced-fat ingredients, such as light mayonnaise, skim milk and 90/10 ground beef, have also made many recipes in PHS cafeterias healthier. Check with your facility about which menu items this includes.

In a hurry? Many PHS cafeterias offer Lean Cuisine^® or Healthy Choice^® pre-packaged meals. These can be a convenient choice on the go, especially when paired with an extra side of vegetables and a piece of fresh fruit, or even a reduced-fat yogurt, to balance out the meal. Foods from the HMR^® weight-loss program are also available in some facilities.

Learn from the Experts
PHS’s expert dietitians share some of their tips for a creating healthier you by making better food choices:

Get your fiber! Fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and beans and legumes help you stay satisfied and also promote healthy gastrointestinal functioning.

—Nathan Drendel, RD, LD, clinical dietitian, Bay Park Community Hospital

Watch the dressing. The salad bar is a good choice, but some regular salad dressings can add a large amount of fat or unwanted sugars. Try topping your salads with oil and vinegar or reduced-fat and fat-free dressings instead, and limit your portion to 1 – 2 Tablespoons.

—Debbie Radcliff, MA, RD, LD, chief clinical dietitian, Defiance Regional Medical Center

Think before you drink. Make your beverages low- or no-calorie. Drink more water, but check your water first to make sure there aren’t hidden calories lurking. Don’t make calorie assumptions—even water isn’t always calorie-free in these days of specialty waters.

— Barb Soullier, MS, RD, LD, CNSD, clinical nutrition manager, The Toledo Hospital/Toledo Children’s Hospital

Plain items are usually the safest choice to avoid hidden fat and sodium. Choose a plain chicken breast and baked potato, and then add your own low-fat, low-sodium seasonings and toppings.

—Carolyn Tienarend, RD, LD, CDE, registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator, Fostoria Community Hospital

Try to order your sandwich made to your specs. Choose whole grain bread and lean meat, add vegetables, skip the cheese, and pick mustard instead of mayo or “special sauce.”

—Katie VanBuren, MS, RD, clinical dietitian, Bixby and Herrick Medical Centers

Want more information about making healthier food choices? Visit the “Employee Wellness” department page on myProMedica (http://my.promedica.org).

PHS Employees Team Up To Go Green

Nationwide, health care facilities generate approximately 3 million tons of solid waste per year! ProMedica Health System (PHS) is committed to being good stewards of community resources—not only when it comes to health care, but also by making a commitment to “Go Green.” We are using a team approach to conserve energy and resources, and improve waste segregation.

ProMedica has partnered with Practice Greenhealth—a leading organization for institutions in the health care community that have made a commitment to sustainable, eco-friendly practices—to form Green Teams across the system and effectively manage and implement green initiatives.

So What Exactly Is a Green Team?
A Green Team is a group of employees committed to looking for ways to decrease the hospital or business unit’s environmental impact, and in turn improve the health of our patients, employees and the communities we serve. “An important part of all of our successes as a team will be our ‘can do’ attitude,” offers Deb Kuck, director, radiology services, Bay Park Community Hospital (BPCH) and representative of BPCH’s Green Team.

Deb also noted that in order for a Green Team to be successful, the right people and departments need to be involved—such as food and nutrition services, biomed, facilities, surgery, pharmacy, environmental services, materials, nursing, lab, and radiology in BPCH’s example—since the entire business unit is responsible for environmental improvements.

Members of the BPCH Green Team work in their garden filled with native plants.

BPCH Pilots Green Team with Much Success
As the first facility to start a Green Team, BPCH is well on its way to reducing its imprint on the Earth. In April 2008, after performing an environmental assessment with the help of Practice Greenhealth, BPCH’s Green Team set goals for how to become a greener facility. Some of these goals included finding ways to reduce Styrofoam use, increase employee education, and recycle ink cartridges, batteries and cardboard.

After more than a year of increasing efforts to make environmentally sound decisions, BPCH employees have many accomplishments to be proud of: Styrofoam use was reduced by 35%; the amount of water used for mopping was reduced by more than 13,000 gallons per year; a garden was planted with native plants that help prevent erosion and do not require water; and Green Team members joined forces with a local grower to start a farmers’ market. What’s more, BPCH has recycled more than 16 tons of materials so far this year.

BPCH was awarded a Partner for Change Award at the Practice Greenhealth Environmental Excellence Awards in May 2009, for helping to create a healthier environment through pollution-prevention efforts, and received a Partner Recognition Award in May 2008.

DRMC’s Green Team Puts Food Waste to Good Use
Another facility that has formed a Green Team and is making a difference in the way it is using resources is Defiance Regional Medical Center (DRMC). In August 2008, Jim Meyer, director, food and nutrition services, DRMC, collaborated with a local organic grower to start up a composting program.

“I looked in the kitchen and asked myself, ‘What can I do?’” says Jim about his motivation to go green. “The composting program just made sense—it’s something we’ve wanted for the past five years!”

Rather than throwing away solid food waste, DRMC dietary staff now put solid food waste into composting bins located conveniently in the kitchen. The composting bins are picked up two to three times a week, and the food waste is used to till the land and feed animals at a local farm. As of September, DRMC has recycled 3 tons of solid waste using the composting program.

Get Involved—Go Green!
All ProMedica facilities are expected to start a Green Team by January 2010. If you would like to get involved, watch for news about upcoming Green Team meetings at your facility and plan to attend.

ProMedica’s “Go Green” initiative started in April 2008 with a system-wide contest that encouraged ProMedica employees to help preserve the environment by logging on to www.catalogchoice.org to cancel unwanted catalogs delivered to their homes and work. More than 1,000 catalog orders were canceled.

The PHS Recycling and Sustainability Council continually explores opportunities for recycling resources across its expansive network. “ProMedica employees are full of ideas, talent and passion, and are just waiting to help out,” says Deb about employees system-wide showing their true commitment to preserving energy and resources in their workplaces and lives.

Deadline Approaching To Win Some Green for College!

Time is running out for students who want a chance to win $5,000! The entry deadline is Dec. 1 for the 2009 Fields of Green scholarship contest, presented by ProMedica Health System (PHS). Fields of Green encourages healthy lifestyles, while promoting solid nutrition and exercise habits.

The 2009 Fields of Green scholarship program asks high school students to form small teams and design a fun and interactive, 20 – 30-minute fitness program for elementary school students. The program should also include the creation of a healthy snack. Students in grades 10 – 12 may enter the contest, including students of PHS employees with the exception of children of Management Town Hall members.

The competition is open to students in the PHS 27-county service area in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan. Each member of the winning team will receive a $5,000 college scholarship, and the winning team’s school will receive a $1,000 cash award for the school’s health and science curriculum.

Log on to www.promedica.org/scholarship for contest guidelines, entry form and more, including a link to view the Fields of Green commercial featured on Buckeye Cable Sports Network during November!

“We look forward to a variety of creative and energetic entries. The students really work hard on their submissions” says Stephanie Cihon, director, community relations, advocacy and corporate events. “Our goal is to teach young people to make choices that will have a positive impact on their future health.”

Remember that contest entries must be received by Dec. 1, 2009, and a finalist competition will take place on Sat., Jan. 30, 2010, at the Donald V. Kellermeyer Medical Education Center on the campus of The Toledo Hospital/Toledo Children’s Hospital.

HealthStream Is for You

ProMedica Health System recently began using a new, online learning management system—HealthStream Learning Center—to manage employee learning experiences. You may have seen this software referenced as “HealthStream” or “HS.”

You can access a link to the “Health Stream Learning Center” when you log in to myProMedica (http://my.promedica.org) and click the “Applications” tab at the top of your home page. This is where you will need to go between now and the end of this month to complete the annual regulatory training required for all ProMedica employees.

HealthStream offers “Rapid Regulatory” courses for employees in both clinical and non-clinical job settings. Your supervisor will assign you the appropriate courses and give you instructions for completing the assignment online, including access to a Student User Guide. HealthStream will then keep track of your course completion for you and your supervisor.

Employees at Bay Park Community Hospital (BPCH), Defiance Regional Medical Center (DRMC), Flower Hospital (FH) and Fostoria Community Hospital (FCH) have already used HealthStream to complete annual regulatory training. We asked employees there to tell us more about their experiences and received these enthusiastic responses:

How user-friendly is the HealthStream Learning Center?

“FCH began using HealthStream last year for the annual regulatory courses,” says Laura Ritzler, RN, director of ProMedica Total Wellness. located at FCH. “When we rolled it out, we anticipated that some employees would have difficulties accessing and using an e-learning tool. But, it turned out to be a very smooth transition with most employees finding it very easy to access and complete.”

After getting through the password and log in process the first time, Dan Steffel, lead maintenance at DRMC, found the online system easy to use. If you have questions about your password or login, your supervisor can help.

Does the HealthStream course content include information that you need to do your job well?

Laura Bickley, RN, post-anesthesia care unit, BPCH, agrees that the subject matter covered in the Rapid Regulatory courses is important to stay informed about mandatory requirements from regulatory agencies, such as The Joint Commission, that relate to our jobs.

“The required law course in HealthStream exposed us to Kolcaba’s comfort theory,” states Lisa Micka, BSN, RNC-OB, clinical informatics specialist, FH. “This is the theory that we’re using for our Magnet^® Journey to Excellence. Seeing the information presented by HealthStream was a perfect way to introduce this theory to everyone.”

Do the electronic courses adequately replace paper-and-pencil annual competencies?

“In previous years, when we used a paper-and-pencil self study, the paper work was overwhelming and we invariably had at least one employee’s post-test that was lost in transit,” Laura Ritzler continues. “This is no longer the case. HealthStream has helped to eliminate the work of tracking and storing employees’ records, and is also a more engaging learning tool.”

How has HealthStream helped you in your daily job functions?

“Personally, it’s easier for me to complete my own required courses online, in my downtime,” states Rachel Buddelmeyer, RRT, manager, cardiopulmonary, DRMC. “I also like HealthStream as a manager because I can easily track who’s completed the assigned courses and I no longer have to try to find a time that works with everyone’s schedules to administer the coursework.”

Linda Ramallo, MOL, BSN, RN, manager of the 4^th and 5^th Floors at FH, appreciates the refresher on relevant topics and notes that completing courses online is an added opportunity for employees in clinical settings to utilize the computer more often at work.

What future improvements would you most like to see made to HealthStream?

Dan Steffel would like to see information presented on HealthStream about timely subjects, such as H1N1 precautions.

“In addition to the online tracking tool, it would be nice to have an auto-response e-mailed to employees once their Rapid Regulatories are completed for the year,” mentions Rachel Buddelmeyer. “Many people like to see this type of confirmation and keep records such as this in their personal files.”

Laura Bickley looks forward to the addition of courses beyond the annual required regulatory assignments.

Additional educational opportunities will soon be available through HealthStream, including registration for ProMedica University courses, training for medical devices and supplies, courses for continuing education credit, and courses customized to business unit or system initiatives.

Students can print certificates of credit and completion from HealthStream at any time.

If you have questions about the HealthStream Learning Center, please talk with your supervisor or contact your business unit HealthStream administrator, listed at the bottom of your HealthStream online home page accessible via myProMedica (http://my.promedica.org).

For answers to general questions about the system-wide HealthStream initiative, you can contact Barb Lane, in corporate organization development, at 419-291-5567 or barb.lane@promedica.org.

“Life Is Good” for Employees and Customers

Reflections from Lynn Sinclair, director of customer satisfaction services, ProMedica Health System

I recently had the opportunity to hear a motivational speech by Bert Jacobs, who is the owner of the Life is good.^® clothing line. The iconic figure on all of his clothing is quite a character, named Jake. Jake is open to all opportunities—he plays football, he skateboards, he skis, and he has even been known to kick back and “chill” with the best of them! The thing about Jake is that his owners envisioned him as doing all things well, and portray Jake with an excellent attitude and positive outlook. Bert Jacobs’ impassioned presentation to this audience was about being open to new ideas and approaches and resisting the urge toward skepticism. While he was hurling Frisbees to unsuspecting audience members during the session, he really sent a message to us that if we were open we too could catch that Frisbee in midair! The main point he made was that when we close ourselves off, we limit our ability to see beyond those self-imposed parameters. The same holds true for serving our customers well. When we think it is beyond our ability to create small, day-to-day “Wow!” moments for our customers, we are indeed missing an opportunity and limiting ourselves.

News Briefs

New Internet-Based, Point-Of-Care Tool
On Sun., Nov. 15, Lippincott’s Nursing Skills and Procedures and Nursing Advisor—a new Internet-based, point-of-care tool—will replace Mosby Nursing Skills, Nursing Index and Nursing Consult as ProMedica Health System’s (PHS) online nursing reference. Lippincott provides up-to-date information at the point of care, including:

• Patient handouts, disease information, treatment, and diagnostic tests
• Nearly 1,000 evidence-based nursing procedures and skills
• Step-by-step, highly detailed instructions
• Quick lists for a high-level overview
• Detailed visuals, including full-color art and video clips, which let you see proper technique firsthand

To access this online resource, log on to myProMedica (http://my.promedica.org) and click the “Lippincott” link under the “Applications” tab. If you have any questions regarding Lippincott’s Nursing Procedures and Skills and Nursing Advisor, contact your department educator.

PHS Employee Wellness Program’s HRA Challenge
Get ready to take up the PHS Employee Wellness Program’s HRA Challenge! Employees who complete the online Health Risk Assessment (HRA) by mid December will be entered in a drawing to win some fantastic prizes. It only takes a few minutes to complete the HRA and your responses will be kept strictly confidential. To begin your HRA, go to the “Health Risk Assessment and Resources” link on the “Employee Wellness” department page on myProMedica ( http://my.promedica.org ). Then watch for more information about the HRA Challenge coming out later this month.

The Goerlich Center Ceremonial Groundbreaking
On Oct. 1, The Goerlich Center ceremonial groundbreaking on the campus of Flower Hospital announced the expansion and renovation of this facility currently underway and slated for completion in spring 2010. The event also publicly announced the Capital Campaign to the community. The Goerlich Center was established in 1994 to provide a compassionate, safe and secure residence for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients. It was named for the generous gift from the Goerlich family and their foundation. The expansion and renovation were possible thanks to the continued generosity of this family. With a $25,000 donation from Sandy Goerlich Alexander through the Goerlich Family Foundation and $100,000 from Smiley Goerlich Putman—in memory of her husband Put Putman—more than $800,000 of the $1,100,000 campaign goal has been raised to date. The effort is being led by Jim Findlay and Rich Iott through the PCCS Foundation office. Renovation and expansion plans include:

• Twelve additional private resident rooms
• Two new multi-purpose rooms and secure enclosed courtyards
• New canopy entrance and front driveway
• New windows throughout the building and a new roof
• Gazebo and memory garden

Corporate Office Building III
Corporate employees are settling into their new location at the Corporate Office Building III, located at 5520 Monroe St. in Sylvania. Employees from ProMedica Home Care were the first to move on Oct. 23, with ProMedica’s central business office, corporate finance acute and non-acute care, and payroll departments to follow throughout the month of November. Please refer to ProMedica’s online directory on myProMedica (http://my.promedica.org) for new contact information for these departments and their employees.

Donald Crescenzo, MD; Christopher Riordan, MD; William Rachwal, MD; and Michael Moront, MD

Cardiothoracic Surgeons for Northwest Ohio
On Oct. 12, ProMedica Physician Group welcomed Cardiothoracic Surgeons for Northwest Ohio. Cardiothoracic Surgeons for Northwest Ohio is the largest cardiothoracic surgical program in Northwest Ohio. The group performs a wide variety of open heart, lung and thoracic surgery. In addition, they also specialize in cardiac surgery without the use of blood products (bloodless surgery). Cardiothoracic Surgeons for Northwest Ohio is located at 2142 N. Cove Blvd. in Toledo and can be contacted at 419-291-2077.

2010 Medicare Open Enrollment
During 2010 Medicare open enrollment, Sun., Nov. 15 – Thurs., Dec. 31, 2009, all Medicare members are eligible to enroll in Paramount Elite. Paramount Elite members have the convenience of low monthly premiums, affordable copayments and Part D prescription drug coverage—all in one plan. If you or someone you know would like more information about Paramount Elite or wants to enroll, call a Paramount Enrollment Specialist at 1-888-891-0707 or 1-888-740-5670. Representatives are available onsite to meet on an individual basis, conduct group presentations or enroll members over the phone. Paramount Health Care, a locally owned and operated health plan in Maumee, is pleased to offer this and other valuable health plans. Visit www.paramounthealthcare.com/medicareplans to view health plan information, benefits and premiums.

Quality Report
To help empower patients and families to make informed decisions regarding health care choices and providers, PHS launched a “Quality Report” web site to provide transparency in the care and services measured across our system. Quality data are reported for PHS acute-care hospitals to show how effective and safe care is, as well as patient satisfaction levels. Explanations and definitions are provided for each measure to make it easy as possible to understand. Click the “Quality Reports” link under the “Tools” section on www.promedica.org to view these quality measures, as well as quality recognitions received by each hospital. Phase two of the project will include reporting quality measures for continuing care services and outpatient measures. ProMedica is committed to being accountable to the communities we serve and is pleased to empower patients and families to make informed decisions about their health care by providing transparent information.

ProMedica Federal Credit Union
ProMedica Federal Credit Union is giving $50 to members each time they refer a new account with direct deposit and checking, or any time a current member adds direct deposit and checking. The new member also receives $25. Go to PFCU via the myProMedica (http://my.promedica.org) “Departments” tab or www.promedicafcu.com, or visit any PFCU branch to get referral coupons.

Applause, Applause

Consumer Choice
For the 14^th consecutive year, residents of Greater Toledo named The Toledo Hospital (TTH) their Consumer Choice Award winner. Of the winning facilities nationwide, TTH is the only hospital in the area recognized with the award. TTH has earned the prestigious Consumer Choice Award from National Research Corporation for its high quality and image rankings every year since the award program’s inception in 1995. Winners are determined by consumer perceptions on multiple quality and image ratings in a survey of more than 250,000 households in 300 markets across the nation. The winners were featured in the Oct. 12 issue of Modern Healthcare.

2009 – 2010 Best Doctors in America®
ProMedica Health System congratulates the following physicians on our medical staff named to the 2009 – 2010 Best Doctors in America^® list: Frank Barone, MD, plastic and reconstructive surgery; Kenneth Bertka, MD, family medicine; Raymond Bourey, MD, sleep medicine; Craig Burkhart, MD, dermatology; Gary Collins, MD, pediatrics; Anthony Comerota, MD, vascular surgery; John Feldmeier, DO, radiation oncology; Anthony Frogameni, MD, orthopaedic surgery; Blair Grubb, MD, cardiology; Scott Langenburg, MD, pediatric surgery; Joseph Lelli, Jr., MD, pediatric surgery; Christopher Lynn, MD, internal medicine; Thomas Mehelas, MD, ophthalmology; Thomas Padanilam, MD, orthopaedic surgery; Garth Phibbs, MD, gynecologic oncology; Allan Rubin, MD, PhD, otolaryngology; Stephen Saddemi, MD, orthopaedic surgery; Randall Schlievert, MD, pediatrician; Richard Tapper, MD, urology; James Tita, DO, pulmonary/critical care medicine; William Treuhaft, MD, rheumatology; Steven Zeidner, MD, radiation oncology. Only about 5% of doctors practicing in the U.S. are selected for this list, created by Best Doctors, Inc., based on a peer review survey of physician experts to determine which physicians provide the most advanced medical knowledge to patients with serious conditions in their chosen fields of specialty.

Employee Involvement Program
ProMedica Health System’s (PHS) Got Ideas? Employee Involvement Program recently earned international recognition from the Employee Involvement Association at its 67^th Annual Training Conference, Sept. 29 – Oct. 2, in the following categories:

• Executive Leadership Award

• Evaluator of the Year Award—Mike Wilkins, vice president, professional and support services, TTH

• Best Program Administrator—Jack Radomyski, coordinator, corporate operational and performance improvement, PHS

• Gold Finalist—Communication Excellence—Promotions

• Gold Finalist—Communication Excellence—Electronic Communications

• Gold Finalist—Communication Excellence—Publications

Among the organizations represented at the conference were: Commercial Bank of Dubai (UAE), Dubai World (UAE), General Motors, Honda of America, HSBC, IRS, Lockheed Martin, Social Security Administration, and U.S. Army.

Fit-Friendly
The American Heart Association’s Start! movement for helping employees eat better and move more recognized Fostoria Community Hospital as a Platinum-Level Start! Fit-Friendly Company and Bay Park Community Hospital, Defiance Regional Medical Center and Flower Hospital as Gold-Level Start! Fit-Friendly Companies. A special advertising section in the Sept. 18 issue of Forbes magazine included a complete list of the companies across the nation designated as Fit-Friendly.

Gold T Award
Lance Talmage, MD, recently received The University of Toledo (UT) Alumni Association’s Gold T Award in recognition of outstanding achievement in his field of endeavor while providing leadership and noteworthy service to the community. Dr. Talmage is director of ambulatory gynecology at TTH Center for Women’s Health and serves as a clinical professor at UT’s College of Medicine.

2010 Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals
TTH physicians and staff were featured during the Oct. 22 national teleconference “Overview of 2010 Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals,” presented by Joint Commission Resources Quality and Safety Network, the consulting arm of The Joint Commission. The teleconference, which focused on TTH’s successful initiatives relative to universal protocols and the blood verification process, included interviews with medical staff and patient care leaders, as well as mock educational scenarios starring TTH employees.

Ironman Sports Medicine Conference
Roger Kruse, MD, spoke at the Ironman Sports Medicine Conference in Kona, Hawaii, Oct. 4 – 8. The Kona Ironman is the world championship and consists of a 2.4-mile open-water swim, a 112-mile bike and a marathon (26.2-mile run). This year’s winner accomplished this in just over eight hours. Dr. Kruse also served as a physician in the medical tent during the race.

International Meeting for the Association of Physicians of Pakistani-Descent of North America
Two members of ProMedica Physician Group were featured speakers at the Sixth Annual International Meeting for the Association of Physicians of Pakistani-Descent of North America, Oct. 10 – 24. Masud Hashmi, MD, presented a lecture on colonoscopies and colon screening, including a step-by-step tutorial with details about the equipment and techniques used. Adil Karamali, MD, presented highlights of various testing involved in the investigation and care of cardiac patients, the examination of current guidelines for the appropriateness of these tests, and understanding various results, specifically false positives.

Cancer Registry
Melissa Treece, CTR, cancer registry, Hickman Cancer Center on the campus of Flower Hospital, is one of only 75 cancer registrars from across the country selected by the American College of Surgeons to attend the Collaborative Stage Data Collection System Train the Trainers Forum. Melissa’s participation helps ensure that PHS and ProMedica Cancer Institute remain an innovative leader in oncology services and oncology data management.

My Key To Success – A Patient’s Story

Thomas Lake, far right, served as this year’s honorary chairperson and, along with his family and past honorary chairpersons, led the first lap of the Walk for Diabetes. During the 10th annual event, more than $11,500 was raised to benefit local persons diagnosed with diabetes.

My Key To Success: Fostoria Man Holds the Key to Success Controlling Diabetes

When Thomas Lake—a Fostoria native—was diagnosed with diabetes more than 30 years ago, he was determined to not let his diagnosis hold him back. At the time of his diagnosis, Tom was only 35 years old and had no known family history of the condition.

“If you control your diabetes and know how to take care of it, you can do anything you want,” Tom says. “The more you know, the better off you are. I’ve done plenty of research and have learned about the disease by talking to other people, too.”

Tom is positive proof that it’s possible for diabetics to lead normal, healthy lives. In fact, until recently, he competitively raced late-model dirt cars. And, he still works out several times a week at the YMCA, undeterred by the insulin pump he wears to control his blood sugar levels.

Wearing an insulin pump is just one of the ways that Tom manages his diabetes. The pump provides him with a continuous supply of insulin, which maintains his blood sugar levels between meals, and he can also inject supplemental insulin after meals. Before he began using the insulin pump about eight years ago, he needed a fast-acting insulin injection each time he ate and a longer-acting shot between meals.

Today, he sees his doctor every three months to review his treatment plan, attends diabetes education programs at Fostoria Community Hospital (FCH) and checks his blood sugar regularly to ensure he remains in control of his condition.

Because of his dedication, Tom was selected to serve as honorary chairman for the 10^th Annual Walk for Diabetes hosted by the FCH Foundation in September. Tom is also active in the community as an officer for the Fostoria Eagles #430 and a councilman for the City of Fostoria.

Today, he is thankful for technological advancements in the treatment of diabetes, like his insulin pump. He credits this and his support system—his wife, Marjorie, four daughters and nine grandchildren—for his continuing good health and great quality of life.

“I still have to work at it every day,” Tom says. “That’s the key to being a diabetic—maintaining control and being in control.”

For more information about ProMedica Health System programs and services for patients with diabetes, visit www.promedica.org/diabetes.

Important Flu Information – Stay Informed

Flu season is upon us and you may be wondering whether or not to get vaccinated.

“Getting vaccinated is crucial—it is the number one way to protect yourself from the flu,” says Karen Christie, RN, CIC, infection prevention and control, ProMedica Health System, who advises on prevention practices across our system.

ProMedica provided employees free seasonal flu shots at several vaccination clinics held throughout the system in October. Currently, ProMedica has limited doses of the H1N1 vaccine available, and is following the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention’s recommendations for vaccination prioritization. Employee Health will contact departments to schedule the H1N1 vaccine as it arrives with consideration for CDC protocol. Because supplies are limited, employees are encouraged to receive the seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccinations at community clinics. Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself from the flu.

In addition to receiving vaccine, it is critical to remember the importance of good hand hygiene. Always cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and then throw the tissue into the trash. Or, cough and sneeze into your upper sleeve. Wash hands often with plenty of soap and warm water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Or, clean hands often with alcohol wipes or hand sanitizers.

H1N1 Visitation Restrictions
Effective Oct. 29, visitors who have flu-like symptoms and children 17 years old or younger will not be permitted into PHS hospitals. Flu-like symptoms include a fever of 100 degrees or greater with a cough or sore throat. This is a temporary restriction and will remain in effect throughout flu season to help prevent the spread of H1N1 and other germs to patients, visitors and health care workers.

Watch for additional flu updates via employee e-mails, department and myProMedica postings, as well as updates from your supervisor. Also, visit ProMedica’s H1N1 microsite at www.promedica.org/h1n1 to view important flu information and resources. ProMedica is committed to keeping our employees and physicians up-to-date on the most recent H1N1 news. Please contact your department’s infection prevention and control representatives with questions.