ProMedica Health System: INSIDE

Our CEO Reflects on 2009, Looks Forward to 2010

Even with change on the horizon for the future of health care, ProMedica Health System’s dedication to its mission will remain steadfast in 2010 according to our president and chief executive officer, Randy Oostra, DM, FACHE. In this issue, Randy tells Inside more about what made 2009 a good year for ProMedica and how he plans to lead us to even better outcomes in 2010.

“This past year, ProMedica was able to prove its strength amid a difficult economy because our employees, leadership, physicians, and volunteers pulled together to streamline operations and deliver on our mission,” notes Randy. “I commend everyone for the many accomplishments we achieved across a wide variety of areas.”

Among the top accomplishments Randy mentions from 2009 are:

• Continued growth as a system, including partnering with The Pharmacy Counter to enhance home medical equipment services; strengthening academic relationships with The University of Toledo Medical College; and increasing the number of specialists working with ProMedica Physician Group, including Northwest Ohio Cardiology Consultants and Cardiothoracic Surgeons for Northwest Ohio.

• Excelling in quality and customer satisfaction, with the National Research Corporation awarding The Toledo Hospital the Greater Toledo Consumer Choice Award for the 14^th consecutive year, Toledo Children’s Hospital achieving zero patient line infections, Bay Park Community Hospital earning the Ohio Partnership for Excellence’s Gold Level Award, and Bixby Medical Center’s designation by The Joint Commission with the Gold Seal of Approval for Primary Stroke Centers.

• Sound stewardship of resources and giving back to the community, including nearly $5 million raised by ProMedica Foundations for programs and services to benefit patients and their families; awarding $42,000 in scholarships and school funding to winners of the Lunch 101: Food for Thought scholarship competition; and maintaining an Aa3/AA- credit rating, an indicator of financial stability.

• Making ProMedica an even better place to work, with Fostoria Community Hospital ranking among the top 10% nationally of our employee opinion survey vendor’s database for employee satisfaction; more than $500,000 in savings generated and 2,410 suggestions received through the Got Ideas? Employee Involvement Program; and designation of several ProMedica hospitals, including Defiance Regional Medical Center, as Fit Friendly by the American Heart Association.

• Advances in technology and services for our patients and communities, including Flower Hospital leading implementation of electronic documentation and charting at the bedside to improve patient safety; the Institutional Review Board’s approval of 55 new studies for a total of 235 active research studies being conducted within ProMedica; and a new joint venture with Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Center and Mercy Memorial Hospital System of Monroe to expand the reach of our cancer care.

“This is only a snapshot of what we accomplished in 2009,” explains Randy. “I could continue with a list a mile long recognizing all of the outstanding achievements that our employees and physicians were responsible for over the course of the past year.

“As we move ahead in 2010 more committed than ever to our patients and community, the dedicated service that each and every one of us gives to the organization will be even more vital,” he adds. “As an organization, we identified six pillars to meet our mission. They are our core values of collaboration, community-based, compassion, excellence, integrity, and stewardship, which will continue to be our focus as we move forward.”

Randy identifies the following ways in which ProMedica will strengthen the six pillars in 2010:

• Community-based: ProMedica will expand our Fields of Green signature initiative to combat the rising obesity epidemic in our communities.

• Excellence: Clinical best practice initiatives and infection prevention and control efforts will remain a priority, and we’ll continue to pursue recognition for superior quality through award programs such as Ohio Partnership for Excellence and Consumer Choice.

• Collaboration: We’ll continue to grow partnerships through ProMedica Physician Group, ProMedica Institutes and Lake Erie Regional Cooperative in order to maximize resources and expand access for our patients.

• Integrity: ProMedica will ask for continued feedback to make sure we’re doing the right thing for our patients and their families and the communities we serve, as well as for our dedicated employees and physicians who work with us.

• Stewardship: As the economy restabilizes, maintaining a strong financial profile through the sound use of financial resources will be key. The role of philanthropy will also be essential to enhancing the programs and services we offer patients.

• Compassion: As always, showing compassionate care for our patients and their families will be of utmost importance, as will demonstrating compassion for those less fortunate in our community through charity care and participation in programs such as the nationally recognized Toledo Lucas County CareNet.

“I’m confident about the year ahead and achieving these goals to support our mission,” concludes Randy. “ProMedica is a strong organization with a dedicated workforce, distinguished medical staff and excellent volunteers and community partners who can make this happen.”

Randy encourages you to contact him directly with your questions at randy.oostra@promedica.org. Answers will be included in upcoming Inside issues.

Editor’s Note: If you have suggestions for relevant topics you would like to see Randy address in future issues of Inside, please send them to inside@promedica.org. We value your input.

What Do You Think About Inside?

Inside launched a new online format in Fall 2009, based on feedback from you, our ProMedica Health System employees. Now we want you tell us what we can do to make your system-wide employee newsletter even better.

Beginning with this issue, you will have a chance to take a brief, anonymous questionnaire to let us know what you think about Inside. Throughout the year, we’ll continue to ask you questions about what you’ve seen in the newsletter and what you might like to see.

Please help us get started by answering a few quick questions about how you receive Inside … Start the questionnaire now!

We also welcome your feedback about Inside any time at inside@promedica.org.

Healthy Kids Conversation Maps

ProMedica Employees Lead the Way to Good Health

“What does the word ‘nutritious’ mean to you?,” asks Lesley Raney, dietitian, ProMedica Total Wellness, ProMedica Health System, to a small group of students during a visit to West Side Montessori Center.

Lesley is one of more than 20 ProMedica employees who completed training in the fall to facilitate the 1,2,3 and ½ Keys to Good Health Conversation Map^® education program. ProMedica launched this preventive, interactive health course for children in grades four – six and their parents to help combat the growing problem of childhood obesity in our community.

Trained ProMedica employees lead discussion groups with children or adults in various community settings in ProMedica’s 27-county service area, such as Aurora Gonzales, Englewood Peace Academy and McKinley Elementary School. Each trainer uses an educational tool kit that consists of a map visual, activity cards and a facilitator guide that are designed to initiate discussions that promote positive behavior change. The map visual is a large tabletop, graphic illustration with a series of images and metaphors to engage participants. The activity cards help create a fun, game-like atmosphere and the guide includes facilitator instructions and tips.

“So, ‘nutritious’ means it is good for your health,” explains Lesley to her group of students. Since Lesley is a dietitian, talking to others about good health is second nature to her. “The program is outstanding—it is simplistic, yet informative, and truly what it says it is— interactive!,” offers Lesley. She noted that the program provides an energizing, relevant and engaging way of conveying health information. “The kids were really interested and provided excellent feedback.”

Other trainers, including Leandra Hutchinson, corporate communications, ProMedica, are not certified dietitians or doctors. Yet, due to the facilitator guide provided in the tool kit, no subject matter expertise is required. “The program is great because participants learn the same material, regardless of who teaches it, because the answers are embedded in the script of the facilitator guide,” says Leandra.

The kids’ map experience is divided into six, 30-minute sessions for six – 30 children. It addresses the Food Guide Pyramid, the digestive system, food-label reading, media literacy, challenges to eating healthfully, portion control, and physical activity. The parents’ map experience is designed for four – 10 adults. It includes a two-hour session about the benefits of proper childhood nutrition, the challenges to eating healthfully, strategies for creating a healthy eating environment at home, and advocating for children’s nutritional health.

“As northwest Ohio’s leading health care provider, we feel that our role in encouraging healthy lifestyles, solid nutrition and exercise habits will have a lasting, positive effect on those individuals and families we are privileged to serve,” says Randy Oostra, president and chief executive officer, ProMedica. “We want the conversation maps, along with our other health and wellness programs, to be part of a journey that leads to healthier kids and families.”

This program is part of Fields of Green, a ProMedica initiative that includes a variety of education, health and nutrition programs encouraging healthy habits, better nutrition and exercise choices. ProMedica worked with Chicago-based Healthy Interactions, Inc. to develop the 1,2,3 and ½ Keys to Good Health Conversation Map® education program. Healthy Interactions, Inc. builds partnerships with leading medical and disease associations, not-for-profit organizations, corporations, and trained health care professionals, thus enabling millions of people to take control of their health and live their best lives.

For more information, or if you are interested in becoming a facilitator, contact Stephanie Cihon at 419-469-3896 or stephanie.cihon@promedica.org.

Investing in Your Future: 401(k) and 403(b) Plan Opportunities

If you haven’t started thinking about retirement yet, it’s not too soon—or too late. ProMedica Health System offers a benefits package complete with options to help you save for retirement, including 401(k) and 403(b) Plans.

T. Rowe Price, administrator for the ProMedica 401(k) and 403(b) Plans, offers these reasons why you may want to get started today:

Simplified savings. Because plan contributions are directly deducted from your paycheck and deposited into your Plan account, you don’t have the temptation to spend that money somewhere else.

It doesn’t take a lot to save a lot. You can start by saving as little as 1% or 2% of your pay. Then, you can increase your contributions later. ProMedica also offers matching and longevity contributions to employees in recognition of continued service.

You get tax benefits. You don’t pay taxes on your earnings until you take money out of the Plan. Plus, every before-tax dollar you contribute is one less dollar you include

in your taxable income on your tax return today. That means you can lower your current taxable income and increase your spendable income.

Time is on your side. The longer you stay invested, and have your earnings automatically reinvested, the more opportunity there is to increase the value.

To change future investments, name beneficiaries, access investing tools and calculators, or enroll in the ProMedica 401(k) or 403(b) Plans, visit http://rps.troweprice.com or call the Participant Account Line at 1-800-922-9945 between 7 a.m. – 10 p.m., Monday – Friday, to speak to a retirement plan specialist. When the automated message starts, hit “* 0” and follow the prompts.

Defiance Regional Medical Center 403(b) Plan participants can visit their plan administrator, American United Life, at www.oneamerica.com or by calling 1-800-249-6269.

401(k)/403(b) Maximum Deferral for 2010

ProMedica Health System has been notified of the allowable maximum deferral limits for 2010:

• If you are under 50 years of age, you can defer up to $16,500 in 2010.

• If you are 50 or older, or are going to turn 50 in 2010, you can defer up to $22,000 in 2010.

Remember if you are contributing to both a 401(k) Plan and a 403(b) Plan, these limits are a combined total. There is no limit to the percentage of your paycheck you can defer. And, you can change your deferral percent online every pay.

CaringBridge® Connects Patients with Family and Friends

In Spring 2008, after returning from a relaxing Florida vacation, Melissa Perry, phlebotomist, Bay Park Community Hospital (BPCH), began to experience pain in her mouth. After seeing many different specialists, she was diagnosed with cancer of the tongue, mouth and jaw.

“It was shocking, and I was so upset,” Melissa exclaims. “I’m a single mom, so I’m the one normally taking care of people and I wasn’t used to this.”

Steven Rubin, MD, radiation oncologist, cared for Melissa at ProMedica Cancer Institute’s Hickman Cancer Center on the Flower Hospital campus. She was later referred to the University of Michigan Medical Center for successful surgery to remove the cancer.

A mother of three, Melissa is proud to be a cancer survivor, but the path to recovery has not been easy. With the love and support of her family, friends and BPCH coworkers, Melissa made a recovery her doctors described as “phenomenal.”

A great deal of support came from friend, Melinda Ciesielczyk, who created a CaringBridge^® web page documenting Melissa’s journey from diagnosis to recovery, keeping everyone informed with journal entries, messages and photos.

“Melinda kept my page updated on a daily basis,” Melissa states. “People would post messages, and my kids could check on me, too. My oldest son just started college and he could check on me and know everything was OK.

“I think it’s awesome, and it is very easy and user-friendly,” says Melissa. “I highly recommend it to everyone. For me, it helped to see how many people were thinking of me.”

Not even a year since her diagnosis, Melissa is back to work in the laboratory at BPCH. Though she’s not entirely back to her active, energetic self, she’s happy to return and is grateful to her friends and coworkers at Bay Park.

“It’s hard sometimes,” Melissa states. “When you’re not quite up to where you were, it’s frustrating. But it hasn’t even been a year yet, so things will get better.”

With the help of her friends, family and continued communication through CaringBridge, Melissa is well on her way to a full recovery. To read more about Melissa’s story, please visit http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/melissaperry.

About CaringBridge

CaringBridge is a nonprofit organization providing free web sites that connect family and friends to share information and support during a serious health event. Each person’s web site can be customized with a style template, text and photos, and more than 20 million families from around the world are using CaringBridge to stay connected. To view and create a CaringBridge web site, visit http://www.caringbridge.org/createwebsite.

On each individual CaringBridge page you can read the patient’s story, stay connected through journal entries, sign an electronic guestbook leaving a personal message of support, view photos, learn more about a multitude of diseases and conditions, and find ways to donate.

“A CaringBridge web site reduces time and emotional energy spent on repeated phone calls and e-mails, and keeps everyone informed with the same accurate information,” states Melissa Holm, media relations specialist, CaringBridge. “It also connects a patient’s entire community, creating a network of support for everyone involved.”

For more information about CaringBridge, please visit http://www.caringbridge.org/.

Flower Hospital Implements McKesson Technology

On Dec. 1, Flower Hospital (FH) became the first hospital in ProMedica Health System to implement McKesson acute-care electronic documentation for nursing and ancillary services. Additionally, the system implemented a new portal for viewing clinical information called McKesson Physician Portal. This advanced technology increases patient safety and the quality of health care by providing simultaneous access to patient records throughout the hospital.

Implementation Process

“The success of implementation to date has been the result of great collaboration across many departments throughout ProMedica—including nursing, information technology, pharmacy, respiratory, physical and occupational therapy, and dietary departments—along with on-site support from McKesson staff,” offers Jeanne Drouillard, vice president of nursing/chief nursing officer, FH. Product selection and installation, training and implementation took place over the course of several months.

To assist with the transition, additional hospital and system resources were provided to ensure all staff were familiar with and comfortable using the new system. “Super users” from FH and other ProMedica hospitals wore black T-shirts for easy identification, and were available in the units to assist nurses. In addition, a command center was established to provide both software and computer support.

“Staff have been very flexible and willing to help out one another,” says Lisa Micka, BSN, clinical informatics specialist, FH. “Our McKesson representatives were very impressed with the professionalism of our staff. It’s helped the entire rollout process far more than we ever dreamed.

“We are also continuing to help physicians set up their accounts and get familiar with the system,” Lisa says. A taskforce is being developed with a core group of FH physicians and administration to further educate physicians on use of the system.

The Future of Enhanced Patient Care

In addition to electronic documentation, Admin Rx—the bar code medication administration program—is scheduled for implementation at FH in the first quarter of 2010. This will include bar coding on patient wrist bands and medications to help further ensure patient safety.

“We are pleased to bring McKesson’s state-of-the art technology to FH while continuing to ensure patient safety and quality health care,” says Alan Sattler, president, FH. “We are excited to be leading the system in this initiative and to pave the way as future ProMedica hospitals embark upon this same journey.”

The Toledo Hospital and Toledo Children’s Hospital will be next to start using McKesson acute-care electronic documentation in 2010. McKesson’s state-of-the art system is yet another example of ProMedica’s investment in technology, which helps to ensure high-quality patient care.

TTH and TCH Go Green with New Recycling Center

On Dec. 14, 2009, The Toledo Hospital (TTH) and Toledo Children’s Hospital (TCH) unveiled a new way to get employees involved in efforts to “Go Green.”

Thanks to a newly constructed Recycling Center, located at the entrance of the Ottawa Cove Café, it’s easier than ever before for TTH and TCH employees to join the ProMedica Health System Sustainability Council in protecting the environment and conserving natural resources.

Open around the clock, the self-serve Recycling Center accepts newspapers, magazines, non-confidential papers, cans, and plastic bottles. In addition, to make recycling efforts as accessible as possible, cans and plastic bottles are also accepted in the Parkway Café.

“With the implementation of the Recycling Center, TTH and TCH are showing our commitment to being good stewards of the environment. We’re proud to offer our employees this innovative way to recycle,” says Nancy Konopka, manager, catering and cafeteria, who spearheaded efforts to create the Recycling Center.

News Briefs

ProMedica Partners with The Pharmacy Counter

Effective Jan. 1, The Pharmacy Counter, a local consultative pharmacy and home medical equipment provider with a proven track record of experience and dedication to service, joined ProMedica Health System and ProMedica Home Medical Equipment. The Pharmacy Counter has been a great community steward for many years, in many ways, including participating with ProMedica and other community partners in the success of Toledo/Lucas County CareNet to help meet the health care needs of underserved populations in our region.

By forming this partnership, ProMedica and The Pharmacy Counter will combine resources and enhance offerings, while expanding access to the current customers of both companies. This will position ProMedica to meet the growing needs of northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan, especially as the population ages.

Customer Service from the Construction Zone

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

Customer service objectives here at ProMedica Health System can sometimes be compared with life in a construction zone. Much like anything, we are always a work in progress. There is an expression we see periodically when programs, services and infrastructures are under construction, which goes something like, “Pardon our dust” or “A little pain now, for much relief later.”

How we choose to communicate when we undertake a new software upgrade or implementation, or change a process to better serve our customers, is as important as the end result, which is “much relief later” for all concerned—especially our customers. A carefully scripted message delivered with genuine regard for our customers’ comfort and care is more valuable than gold when it comes to setting service expectations. We are, indeed, a work in progress, and we strive continuously for improvement. Therefore, let’s make sure our customers know that we’re ultimately doing it to better serve them.






Mobile Banking Now Available At ProMedica Federal Credit Union
Frequently monitoring your checking and savings account is the best way to catch errors, and to detect any fraud and prevent further misuse. It just got a lot easier to monitor and manage your bank account with mobile banking from ProMedica Federal Credit Union. Now members with any web-enabled cell phone have the capability to log in to their accounts from “n e where, n e time.” Just log in to the credit union’s web site, www.promedicafcu.com and click “online banking” to register.

“It’s like having your bank in your pocket,” says one member. With my cell phone, I can track my account transactions and balances, pay bills, transfer money or find the nearest ATM.” An additional free service allows members to establish text alerts to notify them when their balance reaches a certain amount or certain transactions are made.

Members of the credit union now have four ways to instantly access their bank account: online banking, telephone banking, mobile banking and eStatements—all free. Visit www.promedicafcu.com for more information.

Corporate Departments Relocate

On Dec. 10, 2009, ProMedica Health System’s corporate payroll department moved to Corporate Office Building III, located at 5520 Monroe St., Sylvania. Updated contact information for these employees is available via the myProMedica directory (http://my.promedica.org). The purchase of this building has allowed ProMedica to consolidate multiple corporate departments that were previously located in leased facilities, including ProMedica’s central business office, ProMedica Home Health Care and corporate finance. Centralizing to a single office building will streamline business operations and increase cost effectiveness. Built in 1991 by Capital Bank and acquired by Fifth Third in 2001, the facility has become a Sylvania landmark.

Employees and Volunteers Support Local Families

Thanks to your generous donations, ProMedica Health System helped families in our community by supplying more than 4,300 pounds of quality food items to local food banks through support of the annual Scouting for Food campaign for the Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank. In addition, ProMedica’s community relations and advocacy department is pleased to report that local food banks also received more than 1,000 turkeys from ProMedica employees and volunteers who chose to donate their holiday gift. Your generosity is greatly appreciated by the families and individuals in our communities who count on our kindness during the holidays and throughout the year.

Recent Events Benefit TCH Foundation

Lynn Fruth, chief executive officer, The Danberry Co., Realtors, presented Kevin Webb, president, The Toledo Hospital/Toledo Children’s Hospital; Lori Ferguson, vice president and chief nursing officer, Toledo Children’s Hospital; Janet Krzyminski, director, corporate philanthropy; and Tim Schlachter, president, Toledo Children’s Hospital Board of Trustees, with a $27,000 donation to the Danberry Treasure Chest, an emergency fund for patients and families of Toledo Children’s Hospital, on Dec. 4, 2009.

Toledo Children’s Hospital Foundation also hosted Be Our Guest at The Pinnacle in Maumee on Nov. 15. The fundraising event featured children as celebrity waiters and enchanted more than 450 guests.

Applause, Applause

JVC Receives Reserves Recognition

Jobst Vascular Center (JVC) has been recognized by the state of Ohio as a Patriotic Ohio National Guard Employer. This honor was given to JVC in recognition of its exceptional support of TSgt. Janeen L. Przysiecki, clinical resource coordinator, JVC, and Ohio National Guard Airman.

Przysiecki has been deployed twice, all the while having the never-ending support of her coworkers. It was this devotion that caught the attention of Major General Gregory L. Wayt. “The Ohio National Guard recognizes your ongoing sacrifice and is very grateful for your willingness to support those who are fighting and winning the war against tyranny,” commends Wayt.

Winners of Healthy Eating Challenge Announced

Congratulations to the nearly 300 employees who completed the ProMedica Employee Wellness Program’s Healthy Eating Challenge as of Dec. 7, 2009, in order to be entered in the final prize drawing.

“Thank you so much!,” exclaimed Stacy Skeldon, The Toledo Hospital (TTH), winner of one of three 26-inch flat screen TVs. “I have never won anything; this is very exciting. But I am more excited about what I have learned doing the challenge. I have lost 10 pounds so far and feel so much better since I have started working out four days a week.”

Additional prize winners include: 26-inch TVs—Kimmie Daniel, Fostoria Community Hospital (FCH), and Patti Kaires, ProMedica Continuing Care Services Corporation (PCCS); Wii Videogame Consoles with Wii Fit Plus—Bernadette Reinhart, FCH; Lisa Swartz, ProMedica North Region; Teresa Butler, Corporate; Shawn Zieroff, ProMedica Physician Group; iPod shuffle Music Players—Emilie Matteson, TTH; Heather Haselman, Defiance Regional Medical Center; Janet Boyers, PCCS; Ashley McMaster, Toledo Children’s Hospital; and Michelle Knight, Corporate.

Leaders Successfully Complete Mentoring

ProMedica Health System celebrated the first round of graduates participating in the system-wide ProMedica Mentoring Development Program to provide additional leadership development opportunities to employees.

Seventy senior leaders who graduated from the ProMedica Leadership Institute and completed a peer mentoring experience in 2008 were matched with mentees based on several variables, including developmental needs and career aspirations. Mentors and mentees met each month for six consecutive months—for approximately one hour—to discuss a structured agenda of questions, topics and other mentoring material provided by corporate organization development.

For more information about the mentoring program, please contact Al Bianco, PhD, vice president, corporate organization development, ProMedica, at al.bianco@promedica.org or 419-291-2858.

Michigan Best Doctors List Released

ProMedica Health System congratulates T.O. Shanavas, MD, member of the Bixby and Herrick Medical Center Medical Staffs, for being named to the 2009 – 2010 Best Doctors in America^® list for Michigan, released in December 2009. 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. Dr. Shanavas is among nearly 20 medical staff colleagues from ProMedica Health System previously named to the Best Doctors list for Ohio.

How To Stick to Your New Year’s Resolutions

New Year’s resolutions can be both troublesome and rewarding. Many people make them, but few make a real commitment to them. So, spend some time pondering exactly what you hope to achieve in the year ahead and how you plan to do it.

Tips for Success

• Visualize success. Create a mental picture of the new, improved you. Focus on this image when you’re tempted to lose sight of your goal.

• Stay positive. If you slip up one month, just let it go and get back on track.

Step 1

Be very specific about your resolution. Don’t say: “I want to lose weight.” Do say: “I want to lose five pounds a month so that I look good in my new swimsuit on the Fourth of July.” Make realistic, measurable goals and write them down.

Step 2

Limit the number of resolutions you make. It’s better to do one thing well than several things poorly (or not at all).

Step 3

Post your list in a visible place to serve as a reminder and encouragement to yourself. It will also allow other people to see your resolutions and provide support. If you want to keep your resolutions private, record them in a journal.

Step 4

Enlist the support of your friends and family. If you’re lucky, they’ll have similar goals and you can work on your resolutions together. Encourage people to be helpful and supportive.

Step 5

Take action immediately. Make important appointments with a doctor, dietitian or counselor. Sign up for a gym membership, or buy any equipment you need.

Step 6

Practice new behaviors that encourage success. If you want to stop smoking, don’t hang out in smoke-filled bars or casinos. If you want to lose weight, don’t bring desserts, junk food, candy, or ice cream into the house. Limit your exposure to people who are likely to encourage resolution-breaking. There’s a reason parolees aren’t allowed to hang out with known criminals—they’re a bad influence! Surround yourself with supporters.

Step 7

Set incremental goals and reward yourself for partial successes. If you’re working on saving more of your income, for example, reward yourself with a small splurge at each significant step. Each time you squirrel away another $1,000, take yourself to a favorite restaurant or get a massage.

Step 8

Substitute a good habit for the bad one you want to break. If your goal is to eat less junk food, find a healthy food you love. If you want to spend more time with your family, establish a special time during the week when everyone is together.

Source: http://www.ehow.com/how_135341_stick-new-years.html

A Day in the Life of a PTN Flight Nurse

A day in the life of a ProMedica Transportation Network (PTN) flight nurse is never typical. Besides treating patients with diverse medical conditions, PTN flight nurses must also provide care to critically ill or injured patients in a highly unstable transport environment. The profession of the PTN flight nurse also encompasses community education and events.

Julie DiCecco, RN, BSN, EMTP, quality improvement coordinator, PTN, explains that flight nurses need the combined expertise of nurses skilled in intensive care, emergency procedures and critical care, as they are called upon for patient care in a wide variety of emergencies under many different types of conditions.

“As a nurse, it’s the best of all possible worlds,” Julie states. “You have the opportunity to practice the art and science of nursing, you have meaningful patient contact, and you get to use your nursing skills to help others.”

Want to see more of what ProMedica Transportation Network does? Watch this video clip.

Having trouble viewing the video? You can also download the video for playback.

 

Preparing for a 24-hour Shift

6:30 – 9:30 a.m.

The PTN team is briefed with information for the shift. All equipment is tested to verify performance and accuracy.

• Morning report: Off-going nurse details important information from previous flights, including amount of oxygen in tank, supplies, medications, and blood for transfusion.

• Equipment check: Flight radio and pagers are checked, as well as aircraft and ambulance, for use.

• Safety briefing: Communication center reviews helipads out of use, flight time before maintenance is required and weather reports.

First Call of the Day

9:30 – 9:40 a.m.

Before ProMedica Air is needed for transportation in a critical situation, the team must ensure that all needed supplies are stocked and loaded into the aircraft so the team is ready to fly at a moment’s notice. Depending on the location where transportation is needed, ProMedica Air launches from one of two hangars—Toledo Express Airport or Defiance Regional Medical Center. A typical launch takes about 10 minutes, depending on air traffic. Two ProMedica Air flight teams are ready for take-off at all times.

Departing for Take-off

9:40 – 9:55 a.m.

ProMedica Air’s average flight time to a hospital in any of ProMedica’s five regions is approximately 10 – 15 minutes.

Patient Care at the Scene

10:05 – 10:20 a.m.

The ProMedica Air team quickly administers medical aid, including stabilizing the patient and/or providing medication to assist the hospital’s Emergency Center team to provide efficient treatment.

Required Skills on the Job

Because PTN flight nurses are often required to perform procedures normally performed by paramedics, they are required to have paramedic certification. Some of the procedures performed include:

• Chest tube insertion EZ-IO (intraosseous infusion)
• Needle decompression of chest
• Surgical cricothyrotomy (incision made to secure patient’s airway)
• Intubation
• Splinting of injured body part
• Fluid administration through intravenous therapy

Patient Transportation

10:20 – 10:30 a.m.

Patients are most often transported to hospital Emergency Centers for treatment. Although most flights transport patients within approximately a 40-mile radius, ProMedica Air teams have traveled as far as Louisville and Pittsburgh for organ transplant patients and others with serious conditions. The average 24-hour shift includes three – four flights, but some nurses have personal records of six – seven flights in a shift.

Returning to the Hangar

10:40 – 11:30 a.m.

After transport, the aircraft returns to the hangar to restock supplies and equipment.

Remainder of a Shift

11:30 a.m. – 5 a.m. the Next Day

Between calls throughout the remainder of the shift, ProMedica Air flight nurses sometimes get the opportunity to attend community events, providing training and outreach education to volunteer organizations in the regions ProMedica Health System serves.

Since emergency response and preparedness training is necessary for emergency and non-emergency medical procedures while in flight, or at disaster scenes or emergencies, much of the teams’ downtime is spent keeping certifications current through the use of continuing education activities, including:

• Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic (EMTP)
• Grain rescue training and mock accidents/disaster
• Pediatric Education for Pre-hospital Providers (PEPP)
• Swine perfusion laboratories

At Shift’s End

5 – 6:30 a.m.

At the end of each 24-hour shift, PTN flight nurses ensure that all medical charts are complete, the aircraft is restocked with supplies, and all tasks are finished for the next shift to seamlessly take over.

Julie’s favorite part of her job is the diversity of the day-to-day activity and the feeling of accomplishment. “I have the opportunity to care for the whole life cycle—from day-old infants to patients nearing 100 years old,” Julie states. “Plus, I drive to work thinking, ‘I get to fly somewhere today.’”

Tips for a Safe and Healthy Life

Take Steps Every Day To Live a Safe and Healthy Life

Eat Healthy

• Eat a variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains every day.

• Limit foods and drinks high in calories, sugar, salt, fat, and alcohol.

• Eat a balanced diet to help keep a healthy weight.

Be Active

• Be active for at least two and a half hours a week. Include activities that raise your breathing and heart rates, and strengthen your muscles.

• Help kids and teens be active for at least one hour a day. Include activities that raise their breathing and heart rates and strengthen their muscles and bones.

Protect Yourself

• Wear helmets, seat belts and sunscreen.

• Wash hands to stop the spread of germs.

• Avoid smoking and breathing other peoples’ smoke.

• Build safe and healthy relationships with family and friends.

• Be ready for emergencies. Make a supply kit and have a plan.

Manage Stress

• Balance work, home and play.

• Get support from family and friends.

• Stay positive.

• Take time to relax.

• Get seven – nine hours of sleep each night. Make sure kids get more, based on their age.

• Get help or counseling if needed.

Get Checkups

• Ask your doctor or nurse how you can lower your chances for health problems based on your lifestyle and personal and family health histories.

• Find out what exams, tests and shots you need and when to get them.

• See your doctor or nurse as often as he or she says to do so. See him or her sooner if you feel sick, have pain, notice changes, or have problems with medicine.

Source: www.cdc.gov/family/tips/index.htm