As you may be aware, Saint Luke's Health System has been evaluating information technology (IT) partners to help us implement a new electronic medical record (EMR).

With the help of Aspen Advisors, an independent health care IT consulting firm, we launched a thorough and objective selection process earlier this year. More than 600 employees and physicians participated in 98 onsite demonstrations and workshops with two finalists. Our 23-member selection committee, comprised primarily of clinicians, also conducted site visits to see the finalists' EMR products firsthand.

The selection committee, working in tandem with our Board of Directors, has chosen Epic as our new EMR vendor. The committee is confident that Epic's products will help us implement an EMR that seamlessly crosses the continuum of care and supports our wide range of quality, customer service, and research objectives.

Thank you to the selection committee and to each of you who participated in this process. 

- Melinda L. Estes, SLHS president and CEO 

More than just 'Jo' for those on the go

Running late and worried you don't have anything to make for dinner? No problem! We are pleased to announce that Jo N' Go has recently added new convenient take-home food and meal options. Items include:

• Rotisserie chicken
• Side dishes
• Take and bake items
• Retail items such as milk, eggs, juice, bread, and butter.

Items are available after 3 p.m., Monday - Friday. Save yourself a trip to the grocery store and stop by today! 

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More dinner options available until 8 p.m.

Broadway Dining now offers more dinner choices. The grill, salad bar, and deli are open nightly until 8 p.m.. But, now you can enjoy more options each weeknight:

• Monday: Bo Lings
• Tuesday: Los Tules
• Wednesday: Bo Lings
• Thursday: Minky's Pizza
• Friday: Los Tules

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United Way Campaign

The SLHS 2012 United Way campaign kickoff will be Aug. 16, from 3 - 7 p.m. in the SLH Women's Center courtyard. Come and learn how United Way supports programs and services in our community and why giving to United Way is the one way to help the most.

There are more than 300 programs that benefit from United Way funding. This includes Crittenton Children's Center, The Children's SPOT, Cabot Westside Medical and Dental Center, and The Midwest Ear Institute. In all, there are more than 150 agencies in our five-county Kansas City area that "aim to improve people's lives by mobilizing the caring power of our community."

Your gift, your voice, and your talent are unique and important. When you share these with others you join the movement to LIVE UNITED.

Please remember to mark your calendar for the upcoming United Way campaign and plan to join us in the SLH Women's Center courtyard Aug. 16. 

June 18-29

There's an easy way to make a difference in the lives of others - visit saintlukesgiving.org/employee to become a Saint Luke's Employee Circle of Giving member.

Saint Luke's Employee Circle of Giving program allows employees to participate in the mission of Saint Luke's Foundation by making charitable gifts through payroll deduction.

For as little as $2 per pay period, your gift can support Saint Luke's Foundation and benefit medical programs and patient care as well as your colleagues and their families. When you contribute to a specific fund, 100 percent of your gift goes to support the program you choose.

If you're already a donor, you can make changes to your payroll deduction or the fund you support or update your contact information.

For questions or more information about the Employee Circle of Giving, visit our website or contact Tanya Carson at tcarson@saint-lukes.org or ext. 25612. 

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Thank you to everyone who gave at our recent blood drive. This is the best turnout we have had in several years!

Mobile blood drives account for more than 60 percent of the blood needed to keep our hospitals adequately supplied. Without your help, it would be difficult to collect the 580 pints needed each day for our family, friends, and neighbors.

At the Tuesday, June 19, blood drive, the Community Blood Center staff registered 45 volunteers and collected 30 units of blood. There were eight first time donors.

Thank you so much for your help and support.

-  Kay Weir, director of Volunteer Services 

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Balancing Act starts July 9

It's all about balance, right? If you need support and motivation to maintain a proper health balance, then plan to participate in our upcoming Balancing Act Challenge brought to you by Aetna Get Active. Have fun with your fellow employees with this new six-week team challenge that awards points for healthy decisions and subtracts points for unhealthy decisions. Team scores are calculated each week by taking the average score of all team members. Each week the website will feature contrasting healthy and unhealthy behaviors. The top five teams will receive $50 Giving Cards to donate to the charity of their choice. You'll not only be making healthy choices for yourself but also to benefit a good cause!

How to Get Started:

1. If you've never registered on the Aetna Get Active web site, you can register today using the Company Code "SLHS" and your employee identifier (A Number without the "A" plus the last four digits of your Social Security Number.)
2. Once registered, log in and start gathering your supporters. Supporters are those people who will support you with healthy behaviors. You can have as many supporters as you wish.
3. Begin forming your team. Team captains can form a team of "one" or recruit five - 11 team members for the team competition. Note that to be eligible for the giving cards you must be on a team with five - 11 team members.
4. On June 20 you can sign up for the Balancing Act Challenge. Registration and team formation will be open from June 20 - July 8.
5. On July 9 the competition begins. Look for the first Balancing Act Challenge and track your results online.

Click here for answers to Frequently Asked Questions. Go to Your Health Matters - never settle webpage or the Benefits Single Source for more information. 

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Patient Safety updates

The IMPACT Falls PI Team has narrowed our focus to five categories: culture, protocol, equipment, patient education, and forgetfulness. We have identified solutions to address all five areas and are beginning to implement these solutions.

May had a slight increase in the number of falls compared to April. We continue to review each fall during our weekly meetings, learning from them and making necessary adjustments. The team would like to recognize CICU, CVICU, CVRU, EA4, EA5, EA9, L&D, Main 5, and MICU for having a fall-free May. CICU still holds the record for fall-free days. They are now at 224 days and counting.

There was also a slight increase in the number of labeling errors in May; however, the rate is still below the 2011 average. Congratulations to CVOR, EA2, EA3, EA4, EA5, EA7, EA8, L&D, Main 5, MICC, NE5, NICU, NSICU, PACU, Pre-Op, Radiology, SICC, Surgery, and Transplant for having no labeling errors in May!

Have you ever wondered what counts as an unlabeled sample? An unlabeled sample is one that does not have the label affixed to the primary specimen container. An obvious example of an unlabeled sample is when the labels are just placed in the bag with the samples. Another example is when the labels are stuck to the outside of the plastic bag. It is considered unlabeled since the actual sample does not have a label. As soon as the sample is taken out of the bag, there would be no way to know who it belonged to! So as long as you make sure every single sample you submit has a label physically stuck to it, you are in good shape. 

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