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FOCUS 2015 biweekly update
The goal of our FOCUS 2015 project is to identify ways to optimize the quality, safety, and value of our patient care through transformational changes that minimize variation in our practices and maximize our efficiency. We believe these changes will ensure sustainable financial strength and honor our mission of patient care in our changing health care landscape.
Implementation progress story
Watch this section for stories on departments who are leading the way.
System leadership changes announced
As more than 150 employees continue to work on implementation teams across the system, several teams have announced new leadership roles as part of their initiative roll-outs. Congratulations to the following R.N.s who have all accepted new roles as part of FOCUS 2015.
System Director of Educational Services
Jamie Luark will become SLHS system director of Educational Services in October. In this new role, Luark will oversee the development of the new centralized system education department, which supports SLHS strategy through the direction and implementation of educational services while fostering a learning environment and ensuring availability of critical knowledge to meet SLHS strategic objectives. Luark has held several leadership positions at SLH and within the cardiovascular product line. She was instrumental in creating and implementing a system cardiovascular core curriculum, a system structure for patient educational tools, and clinical standards for cardiovascular nursing care at a system level.
Luark is an accomplished registered nurse and received a master's of science in nursing from the University of Central Missouri.
System Director of Organization and Talent Development
Meda Bower became SLHS system director of organization and talent development in August.
In this new role, Bower will lead on-boarding, leadership development, mentoring and succession planning, and customer service training; serve in liaison roles with Diversity and Corporate Wellness; and collaborate with Saint Luke's Employee Assistance Program on change management strategies.
Bower is a registered nurse and registered dietitian. She received her B.S.N. from Wayne State University in Detroit and her master's in allied health education from Mercy College of Detroit.
Bower joined Saint Luke's South Hospital in 2004 and most recently was clinical education manager. She has been a system leader in developing strategic approaches to ensuring a return on investment for SLHS educational initiatives.
System Director of Central Scheduling and Float Pool
Barbara Coyle became the director of the Central Scheduling and Float Pool for the health system on Sept. 10.
Coyle joined Saint Luke's South Hospital in 2007 functioning in the role of house supervisor before moving into her current role as manager of the Medical Surgical Unit and Float Pool at South.
Prior to joining Saint Luke's, Coyle worked at Saint Joseph Medical Center as a house supervisor with responsibilities for more than 60 staff members in their float pool. She has broad experience in multiple patient care areas which will serve her well in her new role!
Fact or Fiction?
On a biweekly basis, updates will be provided through eRounds, including a "Fact or Fiction" section that is populated based on employee questions and feedback. Click here to read this issue's "Fact or Fiction."
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Saint Luke's Holiday Committee kick-off
Cooler temperatures mean fall is near, and it's time to start planning  for the upcoming holidays. The 2012 SLH Holiday Committee kick-off will be Thursday, Sept. 13, from 2 - 3 p.m. in the Women's Center Courtyard. Refreshments will be served and door prizes will be awarded.
Your enthusiasm, creativity, and participation can help make this holiday season one of true "Peace, Love, and Happiness" for everyone at Saint Luke's. If you'd like to meet new people, renew acquaintances, or just have some fun this fall, please join us.
 Information will be shared and sign-ups taken for the following committees: Pancake Breakfast, Hospital Decorating, Cookbook, Music, and Community Caring. If you cannot attend but would like to participate, or if you have any questions, please contact this year's Holiday co-chairs: Rich McKain at ext. 22453, or Steve Morrison at ext. 21538.
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2012 influenza vaccinations for SLH
Saint Luke's Health System is committed to preventing the spread of 
the influenza virus. Following the same process as last year, we are requiring all employees to complete an educational module on the importance of vaccination. All employees will be expected to access HealthStream to review this education and indicate their acceptance or declination of the vaccine. They must do this no later than midnight, Dec. 31, 2012. Following our usual process for employees that fail to complete their mandatory requirements during the year, employees that don't complete this assigned education will receive the appropriate disciplinary action effective Jan. 1, 2013. Failing to complete this requirement before the deadline will result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.
This will be managed just like our other entity mandatory requirements. Employees will need to log in to HealthStream by Dec. 31, 2012, to complete the education and indicate their decision about receiving the vaccination. The online education was assigned to all employees and they may now begin accessing HealthStream to complete the assignment. It will appear under "My Learning," just like our other annual education titles.
Distribution of influenza vaccine for SLH will kick off Sept. 25, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the courtyard.
Your employee health nurses will be ready to assist you in obtaining your vaccine, answering your questions, and making this vaccination campaign the most successful ever!
Protect yourself, your family, and your patients! Take the time to get immunized!
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Reflections in Red
Please join us Sept. 17 as former First Lady Laura Bush will  champion a cause near to her heart at Reflections in Red, an education event and fashion show sponsored by the Saint Luke's Muriel I. Kauffman Women's Heart Center. The event will take place from 7 - 8:30 p.m. in the beautiful Muriel Kauffman Theater of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
Mrs. Bush will reflect on her platform of cardiovascular health and relationship with Saint Luke's Muriel I. Kauffman Women's Heart Center and with Kansas City. This will be followed by a Q & A with Mrs. Bush, with those attending the event having an opportunity to submit questions in advance via our website. A Red Dress Fashion Show by Watercolors High Fashion will conclude the event. While the majority of the models are professional, you may recognize a few as our patients, with KMBC 9's Kelly Eckerman sharing some of their unbelievable stories!
For more information please visit saintlukeshealthsystem.org/reflectionsinred.
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Customer service nuggets for the registered nurse
In a series of articles, twelve best practices from HealthStream Research regarding nurse communication in the inpatient setting will be highlighted. We will consider three best practices in this article. You may ask: Why should I consider these? High-quality health care depends on good communication. Nurse communication is an HCAHPS "summary measure" consisting of three questions:
- How often did nurses treat you with courtesy and respect?
- How often did nurses listen carefully to you?
- How often did nurses explain things in a way you could understand?
That's basic enough. We all know how to communicate. Unfortunately, information is not always communicated effectively. Further, growing demands on nurses have made it more difficult to spend ample time communicating with patients. Thus, we must maximize the effectiveness of our communication with patients. Here are a few ways you can improve your communication immediately:
- Listen to patients and give patients the opportunity to ask questions - Active listening requires energy and concentration. Respond to the patient by first acknowledging what they said. This will allow for a two-way dialog. Effective listening also requires paying attention to the body language of the patient. This will add meaning to what the patient is trying to communicate.
Sample scripting: "I will make every effort to explain this in a way that makes sense; however, if something is unclear, please don't hesitate to ask. Answering your questions is part of my job." - Avoid using medical terminology - Using words a patient does not understand is intimidating. It may prevent the patient from asking questions or cause them to accept answers they do not fully understand. When in doubt, do without the medical terminology.
Sample scripting: "If any of the words I mention during my explanation are unfamiliar to you, please stop me and ask for clarification. It's my job to have this information make sense to you." - Incorporate the "teach back" method - This is a simple method in which the caregiver asks the patient to recount information and instructions they have been given. Studies have shown that patients have better recall and understanding of procedures, and follow treatment plans more carefully when this method is used.
Sample scripting: "To be sure I've explained your treatment clearly, please tell me, in your own words, how you'd take this medication."
Incorporating these best practices into our everyday communication with patients will only solidify that Saint Luke's Hospital is - The best place to give care. The best place to get care.
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Kronos timekeeping: Attestation module
Please note this system update is applicable only to those entities using Kronos Timekeeping and supported by Central Payroll Processing (CPP).
To enhance time sheet accuracy and ensure organizational policy compliance, SLHS will enhance our time clock system in September. As part of the enhancement, employees will be able to access, review, and approve or reject their timecards using the time clocks through Smart Views or the Kronos web-based tool. As always, our goal is to have employees submit accurate timecards that reflect and include all hours actually worked.
Accordingly, employees will attest to the accuracy of any input, changes, and totals prior to manager approval of the timecard. This also allows any inaccuracies to be addressed before the pay period is processed and closed, which will assist in ensuring accurate pay period records.
With the Smart Views or the Kronos web-based tool, employees will also be able to indicate whether they took their 30-minute uninterrupted meal break during the out punch/end of shift process. If the employee indicates that they did not receive a 30-minute uninterrupted meal break, then no deduction shall occur and a notice will be sent to the employee's manager. This process ensures compliance with the SLHS meal break policy.
Kronos Timekeeping managers and employees will soon receive detailed instructions on this new process. This communication will also include the functionality go-live date and any other additional information. Please pay special attention to future communications on this topic from your CPP team.
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New PIV policies
The System Vascular Access Team has been working on updating and consolidating our IV policies. We will no longer have to change PIVs (peripheral IVs) because they are outdated; instead, we will follow CDC and INS guidelines. These guidelines state that there will no longer be a maximum number of hours a PIV can remain in place. The decision to change or discontinue a peripheral IV will be based on the nurses assessment of the site - is there redness, warmth, tenderness, or pain at the site? This will relieve our patients of extra IV sticks and the discomfort that can accompany that. This is just another example of evidence-based practice in action! - The System Vascular Team
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Note of appreciation
It is difficult to express how much your outstanding team at Saint Luke's Hospice meant to us. It was a hard decision to go with hospice as I didn't want Curt to feel that we were giving up.....but....just the opposite occurred. He fell in love with all of you and adored Melissa.
Curt had some wonderful last days. A trip to Joplin where he found out he was going to be a great-grandfather, lunch on the patio with the family and Father Gilbert after he was anointed, and on Thursday he demanded to be up when Msgr. Charles came to say Mass.
All of his children and grandchildren came to say goodbye and his sons and great friends were here to say the rosary on Saturday.
He died peacefully in God's arms and ours. It was special to have Doug come to pronounce as he really enjoyed his visits and so appreciated him arranging for his Veteran Plaque on his birthday in April. Then having Amy sing our special song, in her angel voice, completed the circle of your loving care.
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Noteworthy
Special Edition eRounds
Watch for a special edition of eRounds later this week about PTO changes and upcoming benefits enrollment.
Eighth Annual Whisper Walk for Ovarian Cancer
Sunday, Sept. 23, at Zona Rosa (I-29 and Barry Road)
For more information or to register, click here.
The GYN oncology staff will have a booth set up and will participate in the walk again this year. Please join us in raising awareness for the disease that "whispers."
Saint Luke's in the news
SLH has been making news, and our staff is sharing its expertise in the media. Click on the links below to see the full story.
Construction update
A Special Edition eRounds regarding construction at SLH was published last week. Click here to review the information.
Look Good, Feel Better
Women currently undergoing cancer treatment are invited to attend the next Look Good, Feel Better class, a free two-hour workshop in which you learn simple beauty techniques for skin and nail care, makeup application, and coping with hair loss. You will receive a complimentary bag of makeup to use in the session and at home. Join us at the Muriel I. Kauffman Women's Heart Center conference room Wednesday, Sept. 19, from 1 - 3 p.m. To sign up, call Vickie Thomas at 816-932-2124.
2013 SLH Summer Student Scholars Program
The Student Scholars Program is designed to provide an opportunity for eight college undergraduates with an interest in health care to spend six weeks in a clinical or research area of emphasis at SLH. The hope is to someday see some of these students become members of the SLH medical staff.
The SLH-funded program will begin the week of June 10, 2013. Orientation will be held June 7, 2013. Application deadline is Jan. 4, 2013. Applicants accepted to the program will be notified by March 4, 2013.
For more information or for an application, please contact Jeanne Kimball in Medical Education at jkimball@saint-lukes.org.
Nursing Research Newsletter update
Click here for an updated Summer 2012 Nursing Research Newsletter. Please note: the Nursing Research Council meetings for September and October have been cancelled.
LifeWise Golf Classic
The registration deadline for the LifeWise Golf Classic is quickly approaching. Registration forms and tournament fee are due by Friday, Sept. 21. The LifeWise Golf Classic is an annual golf tournament offered to Saint Luke's Health System employees and their guests. The Center for Health Enhancement is proud to host the tournament to show our appreciation for the hard work SLHS employees put forth in providing high quality health care services.
If you have a team that would like to play in this year's tournament, please fill out the registration form and return it to Bethanie Schemel at CFHE. Please feel free to contact Bethanie Schemel at 816-932-3798 or bschemel@saint-lukes.org with any questions you might have.
The tournament will be held Sept. 29. For more information, click here.
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