What's Newk

The Union Hospital 'Green' Team spent the day informing Union employees how to help the hospital become more environmentally friendly. The team celebrated and educated the staff about several 'greener' initiatives that have been in progress since the team's inception:

- Food Recycling and Composting Program

- Hospital Single Stream Recycling

- "Last One Out, Turn it Out" Energy Reduction Program

- Medical Waste Reduction Program

- Natural landscaping alternatives through composting and reduced chemicals

- Reduction in chemical and water usage for laundry

- Transitioned to 'Green Seal' cleaning products

- Participated in Buy Local Challenge

- Committed to Health Care Without Harm's Balanced Menu Challenge, a climate change strategy 

- Union Hospital employees remain innovative, suggesting reusable cloth gowns in the operating room, motion sensing lights and further utilizing technology to reduce paper usage, electricity and water.

To advance the "Green Health Initiative," Union Hospital adopted a purchasing policy to attempt to purchase 'greener' materials and supplies.

In celebration of the one year anniversary of the team, Green Team members planted a weeping cherry on campus which was donated by Coventry Landscaping.

Our progress and motivation is ongoing, to view the progress of Union Hospital's "Green Health Initiative" view our score card located in the display case outside the cafeteria.

Seventy-two members of the management team were evaluated by 74% of Union Hospital employees. Below are graphs showing the top five scoring questions and the three lowest scoring questions.
 

Top 5 Scoring Questions

 

Lowest 3 Scoring Questions

Your manager has received their individual scores and will be reviewing those findings with you to gain further insight into their specific results. Your assistance in these feedback sessions will aide managers in the development of strategies for their continued growth and improvement.

 In a comparison to other organizations in the New Measures database we scored above the normative average in all 14 areas. Below are the top five scoring comparisons. Our average scores of percent of strongly agree for this year is 57%, which is an increase of 22% since the first round in 2005.

Normative Comparisons

We would like to thank everyone who participated in the survey. We value your feedback and will use it to improve the strength of our management team. If you have any comments or suggestions on ways we can improve, please share with your manager.

The specially trained staff, under the direction of Sara Barrett, Program Director, will be dedicated to providing comprehensive treatment using the most technologically advanced wound care therapy. In addition, they will provide valuable education to patients and caregivers to assist with problem wound management. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is used for problem wounds that meet specific criteria, and it is expected that 10 percent of the wound care cases will meet those criteria.

We are very excited about our latest addition because it is part of our goal to provide a complete system of medical and professional care to our patients – a true continuum of patient care.

The new link provides detailed instructions on a variety of HR related topics, we will be adding to the list regularly.

Please take a moment and check it out! 

Parking Lot B (by Cecil College) will be shutting down and will be closed when you arrive for work Wednesday morning. During day shift hours on Wednesday, employees are asked to park in Parking Lot C (Adult Day Services) or the new parking lot on Singerly Avenue by the recently constructed Medical Professional Building.

Due to the impending snow storm Parking Lot B (near Cecil College) and Lot C (Adult Day Services Lot) will be closing at 7 p.m. today. The lots will remain closed until Monday, February 8, 2010 at 6 a.m.  During this closure employees are encouraged to park in the parking garage. The third level of the parking garage will be closed during the snow storm.

Your cooperation is greatly appreciated by our grounds crew.

Mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts — everyday women are dying at the rate of almost one per minute. Speak up. Make a difference. Show your support for the fight against heart disease in women by wearing red. It’s an easy, powerful way to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

The Red Dress reminds women of the need to protect their heart health, and inspires them to take action. National Wear Red Day promotes the symbol and provides an opportunity for everyone to unite in this life-saving awareness movement by showing off a favorite red dress, shirt, or tie, or Red Dress Pin.

No matter how great you look on the outside, heart disease can strike on the inside. And being a woman won’t protect you. Try these risk factors on for size:

• Do you have high blood pressure?
• High cholesterol?
• Diabetes?
• Are you inactive?
• Are you a smoker?
• Overweight?

 If so, this could damage your heart and lead to disability, heart attack, or both. The Red Dress is a red alert to take heart disease seriously. Talk to your doctor and get answers that may save your life. It’s best to know your risks and take action now.

You can now find a link on the Intranet home page titled Prescription Refills. Once you click this link you will see the reorder form, only basic information is needed allowing this form to be completed in just seconds. You may still choose to call your refill into the pharmacy, the online refill is just another option for your convenience.

Once you complete this form and click the send button, the request is forwarded to the Pharmacy. Your reorder will be processed and ready for pick up within 24 - 48 hours.

Please note, NEW prescription orders must be provided to the Pharmacy by dropping off written script or having your physician fax to 443-406-1246.
 

We will resume enforcement of our Visitors Policy AG-280. If you are not familiar with the policy please review, it can be found on the Intranet under Policies & Procedures – Administrative Policies – 2 Admin/General.

Some of the key general guidelines (several units, i.e. ICU, MIC & Mental Health have more specific regulations) outlined in policy AG-280 are:

·      Visiting hours are 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. daily.

·      There will be a limit of three visitors per patient. Exceptions may be made on a case by case basis.

·      All children must be in constant attendance and supervision of an adult.

·      Liberal visiting arrangements or restriction of visiting hours for families of patients with special needs may be arranged with the charge nurse, house supervisor, and/or manager of that department. These special needs may include patients that are children, confused, critically ill, or dying.

 The above are only a few of the guidelines, I urge you to review and be familiar with the policy. This policy is designed to provide the restful environment our patients need, and also allows time for family and friends who are a part of the healing process to visit. With this in mind, it is up to all staff to support and enforce the Visitors Policy.

 Please be aware that if flu activity goes on the rise again, we may re-establish the H1N1 visitation policy. We will keep you informed

 If you have any questions please contact your department manager.

 Thank you.