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Research paper receives high accolades
Congratulations to the research nurses in Labor and Delivery, whose research article, Level During a One-Hour Labor Check Evaluation: Walking Bed Rest, was published by MCN in the March/April 2012 edition. In addition, they were notified yesterday that their research article was named 2012 MCN Research Paper of the Year.
Congratulations to Chris Selby, R.N.C.; Sherry Valencia, R.N., B.S.N.; Lindsay Garcia, R.N.; Denise Keep, R.N., B.S.N.; Jonnie Overcash, R.N.C., B.S.N., M.S.N.; and Jasmin Jackson, R.N., B.S.N.
The MCN Research Paper of the Year is chosen by a distinguished panel of experts who designates the article as having outstanding scholarly attributes as well as clear applicability to clinical nursing practice.
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Breast Cancer Awareness Month events
Oct. 12 - 26
Vote for the Pink Glove Dance Video
Support the fight against breast cancer! The video is now available! View and vote for Saint Luke's Pink Glove dance video by clicking here. Your vote may help us win $10,000 for the Cancer Action Committee. Encourage your friends and family members to vote, too! The Cancer Action Committee is a nonprofit agency providing programs and services addressing the physical, social, emotional, financial, and spiritual needs of people with cancer.
Get down with the fun and help fight breast cancer by watching the Pink Glove dance video! Click here to watch the NBC Action News story on the video.
Oct. 18, 3 - 7 p.m.
"Go Pink" popcorn and lemonade
The "Go Pink" popcorn and lemonade event will be held in the SLH courtyard. Join us to celebrate breast cancer awareness. Our Breast Center staff will be available to answer any questions about breast health and MammaCare certified technologists will be onsite to demonstrate how to perform a breast self exam. Oct. 30, 4 - 7 p.m. "Girls Night Out" "Girls Night Out" will be held at the SLCI screening center in the  Ellen Hockaday Women's Center at 4401 Wornall Road. To raise breast cancer awareness, the Breast Center is encouraging women to schedule a mammogram and bring a friend. All participants will receive a complementary massage and refreshments. To schedule your mammogram during this event please call Centralized Scheduling at 816-932-6800; mention you are scheduling for the "Girls Night Out" event. Oct. 1 - 31 The Tribute Tree Honor the life and memory of a person impacted by breast cancer by  placing a pink ribbon prominently on the tree. Visit the tribute tree in the Heart Institute just outside the Saint Luke's Auxiliary Gift Shop. Pink smoothies and brownies
at the Jo N' Go In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Jo N' Go will serve pink smoothies and brownies throughout the month of October. Stop by and help yourself to a pink treat...and then call someone you love and remind her to get her mammogram! |
Saint Luke's Week 2012
The practice of naming hospitals "Saint Luke's" derived from the ancient tradition of naming institutions of worship, learning, and healing after Christian saints. According to the New Testament, Luke the Evangelist was a physician who wrote the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. The stories of his gospel account emphasize healing and compassion. The tradition surrounding Saint Luke grew throughout the early church and he eventually became the patron saint of physicians, surgeons, and medicine. Luke's life and ministry are celebrated in the church calendar every Oct. 18. Saint Luke's Health System celebrates our spiritual foundation in providing patient care during Saint Luke's Week, this year Oct 15 - 19. Join us for:
Blessing of hands - Services daily during 1 p.m. prayer service, and daily throughout hospital units.
Piano music - daily during lunch in the cafeteria.
Wednesday Worship Service - 9:30 a.m. in the chapel, including blessing of hands for Auxiliary members and SLHS Chaplains, and remembrance of Auxiliary members who died since last year's Saint Luke's Day.
Thursday - Special luncheon honoring Eucharist Minister volunteers and Spiritual Wellness greeters.
Friday - 11:30 a.m. ceremony in the chapel, followed by a luncheon for our 2012 Angel Award Recipients.
Spiritual Wellness Department information displayed daily at the south entrance.
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Compliance corner
Conflict of Interest - vendor relations
As employees of Saint Luke's Health System, we must exercise independent judgment in providing patient care and in all our workplace activities. This includes avoiding interactions that create a conflict of interest or the appearance of impropriety or inappropriateness. One situation that may create this type of conflict is the acceptance of gifts from vendors. While vendors are important partners in health care, we must ensure that our interactions with them are free from actual or perceived conflicts of interest.
Consider the following scenario:
Pharmaceutical Company A and Pharmaceutical Company B both sell a similar medication to one of our hospitals. Company A offers to bring free lunch and coffee mugs to our pharmacy staff while providing education about their products. Although this would be nice for our staff, social research suggests this gesture likely causes us to favor Company A over Company B when it is time to purchase medication. Such a gift certainly creates a perception of improper influence. As such, we may not accept these gifts from Company A.
Remember these key points when it comes to interactions with vendors:
- It is still permissible to meet with vendors to learn about their products and services. However, meals or other gifts cannot be provided by the vendor during these events.
- It is still permissible to accept certain items that provide a benefit to patients and serve a genuine educational value (ex: literature, product specific educational starter kits).
- Provided certain safeguards are in place to avoid undue influence or bias, a vendor may still support educational or professional programs designed to enhance patient care.
It is recognized that the relationship between vendors and health care providers is complex. As SLHS employees, we are expected to be aware of the sensitive nature of this relationship, have a heightened awareness of potential conflicts or bias, and ask questions when in doubt about the appropriateness of an interaction. You are encouraged to consult with your manager/supervisor or with your facility Ethics and Compliance Officer regarding any questions you have about vendor relations.
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October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month
The primary focus during National Cyber Security Awareness Month is  to reach out to everyone (public- and private-sector) to remind them about cyber threats and to offer best practice ideas and tips for staying safe online. The goal is to get each and every one of us to do our part to ensure our online experiences are safe and secure. Below are key tips to help stay safe online:
- Use strong passwords and don't share them with anyone.
- Keep up-to-date by installing updates on your operating system, browser, and other critical software.
- Pass the word regarding Internet safety to family, friends, and the community.
- Limit the amount of personal information you post online and use privacy settings to avoid sharing information widely.
- Be cautious about what you receive or read online - if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
For more information click below:
http://www.staysafeonline.org/ncsam
http://www.dhs.gov/national-cyber-security-awareness-month
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The flu vaccine and thimerosal: What you need to know
Submitted by Katie Trimble, Pharm.D. candidate
Working in a health care environment provides numerous opportunities  to improve the health and well-being of others. Performing daily activities such as bedside care, dietary and environmental services, volunteer services, and patient transportation are all important to support the patient during hospitalization. However, these activities are also opportunities for the spread of
the influenza virus (the flu). It is important to protect oneself from such a contagious virus through yearly vaccination. Certain health conditions and older age have shown to increase the risk for developing complications from the flu such as pneumonia, bronchitis, and sinus and ear infections.1 To prevent harm to patients, families, and health care workers, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended all persons six months or older receive a flu vaccine. So what's stopping you?
Concern has been expressed regarding the preservative thimerosal, which can be found in some flu vaccine formulations. Thimerosal is used to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungus within the vaccine when it is being stored or a vial of the vaccine is used for multiple doses.2 This preservative contains ethyl mercury, which is the cause of alarm regarding use in flu vaccines. However, ethyl mercury is not as concerning as methyl mercury, which is commonly found in the environment.2 When exposed, methyl mercury can accumulate in the body for long periods of time. Fortunately, ethyl mercury (found in thimerosal) does not have this effect and can be easily removed from the body after exposure.2 According to the Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety, mercury toxicity in infants, children, or adults has not been reported and there is no evidence to support the correlation of thimerosal-containing vaccines and ethyl mercury toxicity.2
While some formulations of the flu vaccine may contain up to 25µg/0.5mL of thimerosal,3 Saint Luke's Health System provides a preservative-free formulation of the vaccine which only contains trace amounts (<1µg/0.5mL). Receiving a flu vaccine containing thimerosal is considered to be safe according to the CDC, Food and Drug Administration, and the National Institutes of Health.1 All three agencies have reviewed and concurred with the research data which supports thimerosal as a safe component of flu vaccines.
As fall approaches and flu season arrives, it is important to make the simple but important decision to protect yourself and those around you. Take a safe step toward prevention and get vaccinated this season.
Employees, physicians, students, and volunteers can get a free flu shot Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at the Employee Health Office, Medical Plaza I, suite 624. Flu shots can also be obtained on the nursing units. Contact Employee Health to obtain a supply for your unit.
References
1. Seasonal Influenza (flu). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Last updated June 20, 2011. Accessed October 1, 2012.
2. Thimerosal and vaccines: questions and answers. Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety. Accessed Oct. 1, 2012.
3. Thimerosal in Vaccines. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Last Updated June 20, 2012. Accessed Oct. 1, 2012.
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Explore Nursing Night at Saint Luke's College of Health Sciences
Saint Luke's College of Health Sciences is hosting "Explore Nursing Night" on Tuesday, Nov. 13, from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Anyone interested in attending nursing school is welcome to attend. Visitors will have the opportunity to tour the college and the new state-of-the-art simulation center and visit with the admissions and financial aid departments, as well as students and faculty.
The college is located at 624 Westport Road, Kansas City, MO. SLCHS is an upper-division institution of higher education affiliated with Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City. SLCHS offers three degree programs which include the traditional B.S.N., R.N. to B.S.N., and M.S.N.
For more information about the college and Explore Nursing Night, contact the Admissions Department at 816-932-6700, or go to www.saintlukescollege.edu.
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Call for applications for the 2013 Nursing Research Clinical Scholar Program
All full-time and part-time nurses with at least one year of experience at SLH (at the time of application) are eligible to apply for the Nursing Research Clinical Scholar program.
This program is made possible by funds donated to SLH Foundation specifically for nursing research. The funds will provide financial support allowing Nursing Research Clinical Scholars to attend monthly research-related seminars, develop and submit for funding a research project, and conduct a research project, if funded. Clinical Scholars are partnered with a research mentor to help design a research project, conduct the research, analyze the data, and disseminate research outcomes.
To access the application on the N:Drive, the path is SLH/Nursing Research/Nursing Research Clinical Scholar Program/Application process/2013.
Please consider approaching staff nurses individually if you think they would be excellent candidates for this program.
Application deadline is Oct. 22. If you have questions, contact Jacque Carpenter at jcarpenter@saint-lukes.org.
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Noteworthy
Saint Luke's in the news
Blood glucose monitors on smart phones (Kurt Midyett, M.D.), Fox 4, 10/11/12
Improving care through iron therapy
Physicians, mid-level providers, and nurses are welcome to attend a luncheon presentation on iron deficiency in chronic kidney disease. Dr. Tomas Villanueva, experienced hospitalist from Baptist Hospital in Miami, will speak about opportunities for all medical staff to improve the care of the hospitalized patient through iron therapy.
Please join us Wednesday, Nov. 7, noon - 1 p.m. in the Wagstaff Board Room. Lunch will be provided. Please RSVP to bloodconservation@saint-lukes.org to guarantee your lunch.
Submit your recipe for SLH Holiday Cookbook
The SLH Holiday Committee is proud to sponsor the 2012 Holiday Cookbook containing SLH employees' favorite recipes. Click here to submit your favorite recipe online. All recipes must be submitted by Nov. 12.
Bone density screening at CFHE
Take five to help keep your bones alive! Wednesday, Oct. 31, the Center for Health Enhancement will offer a bone density screening to all SLH employees, friends, and family members. Please click here for more information.
Celebrate Liver Awareness Month with super fiber turkey sliders
Fat deposits within the liver resulting from chronic alcohol use or obesity can lead to cirrhosis. Maintaining a healthy body weight, normal cholesterol levels, and proper management of diabetes can help avoid fatty liver disease. The CDC recommends consuming alcohol in moderation - for women, only one drink per day and for men only two drinks per day - to prevent alcohol-related liver damage.
This week enjoy a liver healthy meal of super fiber turkey sliders with apple crisp. This meal tastes great and is high in fiber and lower in fat. This Smart Selection will be offered at Saint Luke's Hospital Dining during the Week of Oct. 22-26. You can purchase this meal, including a fountain drink, for $4.50 all week.
How can each member of the SLHS Medical Plan help contain future increases?
Did you know that Aetna may deny your health claim if you go to an Emergency Department for minor ailments that can be treated in a physician's office? Where you receive non-urgent care not only affects you, it affects our entire health plan.
Last year, employees achieved incredible results in the Ready, Set, Go! Challenge. Not only did employees lose weight and improve their health, but according to national figures, each employee who decreased his or her BMI by one point will save an average of $202.30 in medical and pharmaceutical claims costs annually - and that benefits everyone at SLHS.
Learn more about these important topics by clicking here.
Coffee with Diversified
Diversified reps will be onsite throughout SLHS in October. Click here to see a schedule of when they will be on campus and to find out how to schedule an appointment.
Smoking cessation workshop
Saint Luke's EAP is offering a smoking cessation workshop at no charge to Saint Luke's employees and family members. Before you quit, start by attending this workshop.
Understand change, learn strategies, identify resources, and increase success. Click here to read more about the EAP's Great American Smokeout event and learn how to register.
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 Nov. 7, 1 - 3 p.m. Call Vickie at 816-932-2124 to sign up, as this will be the last class of 2012 for SLH!
New menu in café
"Breakfast for supper" will be in the Broadway Dining from 4:30 - 8 p.m. beginning Oct. 5. The breakfast menu at night will be available rotating every other Wednesday and Friday. The kick off is today. New items include cheesy hash browns and steak and eggs along with all of your favorite original breakfast items.
Coming Oct. 22
Come enjoy the new and improved menu of dips and daily specials at the Mexican kiosk.
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.
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