BREAKING NEWS: SLHS announces partnership with three other health systems
Saint Luke's Health System announced today a new partnership with BJC HealthCare of St. Louis, CoxHealth of Springfield, Mo., and Memorial Health System of Springfield, Ill., to create the BJC Collaborative, L.L.C. The initiative's goal is to achieve even higher quality care for patients served by these independent, not-for-profit health care organizations.
BJC Collaborative members will use their combined resources to start new programs and services that provide patients in our region with new care options, identify new efficiencies, and lower costs. The formation of the collaborative is in part a result of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which encourages partnerships and innovation to improve patient outcomes and reduce health care costs. While its member systems remain independent, we are well positioned to work together to achieve economies of scale, learn from each other, and share best practices.
Click here to read more about the collaborative in the news release and question and answer document. Click here to read the article from today's Kansas City Star and click here to read the article from today's St. Louis Post Dispatch. |
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Breast Cancer Awareness Month events
Oct. 12 - 26
Vote for the Pink Glove Dance Video
Voting ends Friday!
Support the fight against breast cancer! View and vote for Saint Luke's Pink Glove dance video by clicking here. Voting ends Friday! 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. 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!
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FOCUS 2015 bi-weekly update
FOCUS 2015 is Saint Luke's proactive initiative to address a number of market forces with the potential to impact the health care field. Saint Luke's is not alone. Industry wide, hospitals and health systems across the nation are facing similar challenges. To put these issues into perspective, watch eRounds for periodic insights and information about the critical issues and emerging trends in health care today. This week we will highlight timely key factors related to political issues impacting the health care industry.FOCUS 2015 in perspective: Political issues Reducing Medicare provider rates will remain a discussion in deficit talks. Combine that with other efforts underway to reduce volume, and the squeeze is on hospitals. The Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) provision penalizing states that do not expand their Medicaid programs. The result of the ruling is two opposing incentives. On the one hand, there's a deep pot of federal money for states to expand Medicaid. On the other, there's fear of getting even more saddled with bills from an increasingly expensive entitlement program. There is unusual agreement between political parties to reduce federal support for the Medicaid and Medicare programs for U.S. hospitals. The ACA is scheduled to remove $550 billion during the next 10 years in federal support for the Medicaid and Medicare programs. Many state legislatures have dramatically reduced Medicaid funding, and hundreds of hospitals are reeling in an effort to balance their budgets as a consequence. A 2 percent across-the-board cut in Medicare payments is scheduled for Jan. 1, 2013, if Congress and the president fail to reach agreement on a deficit reduction plan. This is a blow to communities with a heavy Medicare patient care load. Nationwide physician shortages are expected to balloon to 62,900 in five years, up more than 50 percent from previous estimates. HHS estimates that the physician supply will increase by just 7 percent in the next decade. Source: American Hospital Association top
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Bowe receives DAISY Award
Congratulations Kim Bowe, R.N., diabetes educator, for being Saint
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Luke's Hospital's September DAISY Award Winner. Bowe received the DAISY Award in recognition for her compassionate and caring nursing skills as an R.N. in the Diabetes Center. The DAISY Award was established by the DAISY Foundation in memory of J. Patrick Barnes who died at age 33 of ITP, an auto-immune disease.
Bowe was nominated for the award by a fellow peer who wrote, "There is not just one situation that shows Kim's worthiness for this award. It is her daily interactions with patients. The Diabetes Center receives frequent calls and letters from former patients that describe Kim's energy, knowledge, and commitment to their health. She goes out of her way to ensure patients' success for self-care at home after discharge. She has called insurance companies to get pre-authorizations for the most appropriate diabetes supplies, gives patients samples and low cost alternatives for supplies, and will meet patients and families 'where they are' to educate. She bought a patient a calculator from the dollar store so he could count carbs. At the bedside, she's collected money on Christmas for a patient's co-pay for medications. For a patient who was confused and kept disrobing, she made a shirt from a pillowcase and also brought her clothes from home."
Bowe began her nursing career 18 years ago as a graduate of North Central Missouri College in Trenton, Mo. She started as a cardiac nurse on A-Level at SLH through an agency and quickly learned that she did not want to be any place else! She has been a staff nurse at SLH ever since, and Bowe has been a diabetes educator for the past two years. She states that, "SLH is the only hospital that puts the patient first every time. We're like a family here and patients comment that they feel like people care for them here."
While she says she's "SLH through and through," in her free time Kim is an avid Chiefs fan and enjoys gardening and baking. Bowe also has a free place to live waiting for her in Hawaii, but she is not ready to leave Saint Luke's Hospital yet!
On Sept. 26, the Nursing Recruitment and Retention Committee and the Diabetes Center staff surprised Bowe with this DAISY Award and a lunch that included Cinnabon® Cinnamon Rolls. She also received the Healer's Touch sculpture, award certificate, DAISY pin, and a Saint Luke's Hospital parking spot.
Congratulations to Kim Bowe who, like so many Saint Luke's Hospital nurses, deserves a big thank you for her extraordinary and compassionate nursing care.
Do you know a nurse deserving of a DAISY Award? Send an email to daisyaward@saint-lukes.org or pick up a nomination form located in most SLH waiting rooms.
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Making a difference
Employees going above and beyond - Angie, Courtney, Bryan Stork, M.D., Emergency Department
Each and every day our dedicated and passionate employees make a difference in the lives of our patients, visitors, and colleagues. We would like to highlight some of those stories. If you have a colleague you would like to recognize, please send the employee's name and how they made a difference to slhrounds@saint-lukes.org.
Recently a patient submitted a note regarding her emergency care. She had ED experiences in the past at other hospitals that were not favorable and was very pleased by her care at SLH.
"The woman who checked me in was very nice to me when she took my blood pressure and temperature. I don't remember her name but she was younger, and had blonde hair that was curled. I had started crying when she was asking me what medications I take because I was in so much pain. While I was waiting, both Angie and Courtney checked on me several times. Dr. Bryan Stork came in and talked to me and asked me what was going on. I was honestly very pleasantly surprised when he stood there and listened to EVERYTHING I had to say and didn't rush me. When Dr. Stork came back in after running my blood tests, he talked to me about the results and said that he didn't find anything. Instead of him just walking back out right away, he stayed there and asked more questions as to how long this has been happening, when the problem started that day, etc. I was very happy with this. Even with my parents there, Courtney still offered to help more than once! Angie, Courtney, and Dr. Stork were all very nice to both me and my parents. Words cannot express my appreciation for how they all treated me. I would definitely recommend Saint Luke's to anyone that needs an ER. I would greatly appreciate it. I hope my comments let all of you know how important your jobs are and much people who really need your help appreciate all of you."
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Love your liver
Celebrating Liver Awareness Month
It is estimated that one in every 10 Americans have liver disease. Without a proper functioning liver, health problems arise. Some of the problems (symptoms) that may occur include malnutrition and vitamin deficiency leading to muscle wasting. Liver disease increases your risk for bleeding, infection, and liver cancer. Poor filtering of toxins can lead to confusion, known as encephalopathy. Damaged and scarred liver tissue, known as cirrhosis, causes high blood pressure in the vessels around the liver resulting in fluid shifts and bulging blood vessels. Varices, or bulging superficial blood vessels, increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. Ascites, or protein rich fluid, can build up within the abdominal cavity, causing severe discomfort.
Inflammation within the liver can lead to liver damage. Although the liver has the ability to regenerate, once it is damaged to the point of cirrhosis, the liver cells cannot restore themselves back to health. The most common causes of chronic liver disease include hepatitis C virus (HCV), alcohol, and fat deposits in the liver. Other problems, which are less common, include scarring within the bile ducts, autoimmune disease, and other viruses and congenital disorders. Acute liver failure, which is the least common, is a sudden loss of liver function.
Saint Luke's Hospital has a dedicated team to support the management of patients with liver disease and liver related problems. In May 2011, SLH received authorization from the United Network for Organ Sharing to perform liver transplantation. Subsequently, patients were evaluated and listed for liver transplant at SLH. In November 2011, our first and second patients received liver transplants. Since then, SLH has performed a total of seven liver transplants.
Join us in celebrating Liver Awareness Month:
- Fall Festival prize winners: April Johnson, Lab/Specimen Processing, and Laurie Rodenberg, Labor and Delivery
- Liver Awareness Smart Selection, Oct. 22 - 26: Discounted liver-healthy meal featured in the cafeteria
- Liver Crossword Puzzle Drawing, Oct. 31: Drop your entry in the box at the level 1 MAHI Clinic for a chance to win a prize
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Angel Award recipients
Congratulations to Saint Luke's Hospital's 2012 Angel Award recipients! A ceremony and luncheon were held on Oct. 19 to honor them.
The Angel Award recipients, nominated by their co-workers, were recognized for demonstrating the virtues of spirituality, integrity to their work, and compassion in the healing ministry of Saint Luke's Health System.
Pictured left to right: (first row) Friday Yorka, N.A., East 1; Mary Rush, physical therapist, Rehabilitation Services; Amanda Burns, R.N., Float Pool; and Rosie Hill, neuro tech, Neurodiagnostics. (back row) Lori Hill, administrative assistant, Liver Transplant, VAD Program, Valve Center, and Thoracic; Dawn Lockey, clinical nurse manager, East 4 and East 8; and Melissa Abernathy, director, Physician Billing Services. Not pictured: Nancy Hamm, teacher, Saint Luke's Childcare Center; Mollye Hancock, dosimetrist, Radiation Therapy; Betty Lowe, N.A., East 4; Rebekah Sulieman, R.N., East 3; and Deborah Williams, N.A., East 4.
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What does it mean to "live well"? Wellness is a relative term that  goes beyond health and reflects a wholeness or balance of mind, body, and spirit. Moving to a state of wellness takes a conscious effort to address those areas of your life that tip you out of balance creating chaos and contributing to poor health and weight gain. According to the 2011 results of the Annual Health Appraisal, 62 percent of SLHS employees are overweight or obese. Being overweight or obese can lead to chronic health conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and cancer. According to Dee Edington, a national expert on wellness and cost impact, a decrease in one BMI point (five to 10 pounds) is associated with a $202.30 decrease in medical and pharmaceutical costs over one year.
What would help you achieve a healthy BMI and/or a higher level of wellness? There is no one perfect solution for everyone. However, we know there are some simple strategies that can help most of us and these include: eating fresh wholesome foods, daily moderate exercise, staying connected socially, and taking time to relax and refresh. SLHS wants to help you achieve high level wellness. This month, consider participating in the following programs to help you lose weight and/or achieve a higher level of wellness:
Register for Fit & Festive - This six-week Aetna Get Active Team Challenge begins Nov. 26, and ends Jan. 6. Fit & Festive will help you balance healthy choices with less healthy choices. You earn points by exercising, maintaining, or losing weight and managing stress. You lose points by eating desserts and extra helpings and drinking holiday drinks. You can participate as an individual or form a team of five to 11 co-workers. Go to Aetnagetactive.com. If you're new to the site, use the company name "SLHS" and your employee identifier to register. Registration opens Nov. 7.
Participate in a Diabetes Prevention Web Conference - Nov. 12 from noon - 12:30 p.m. Barbara Simpson, L.D., R.D.,C.D.E., clinical dietitian and diabetes educator, will present the latest interventions in reducing our risk of Type 2 diabetes. She will give a brief description regarding who is at most risk and how we can change things that can be modified in our lives, at home and at work. To participate in " Practical Ways to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes," email |
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 saintlukescollege.edu.
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Noteworthy
SLHS Ethics and Compliance Effectiveness Audit
SLHS is committed to doing the right thing, and our Ethics and Compliance Program provides the framework to support and promote ethical behavior. To ensure the SLHS Ethics and Compliance Program is effective and working for you, we need your input.
Please complete the employee survey regarding our program. Your responses are anonymous and will remain strictly confidential. The completed surveys will go directly to our consultant, Boerner Consulting, where the results will be compiled. A summary report will be provided to SLHS. The survey deadline is Nov. 4. Thank you for your assistance in this important effort. |
Credit Union corner
Christmas loans - 12/12/12 loans
Is Christmas coming quicker than you are ready? Call or stop by the Credit Union today and prepare for Christmas. Don't put those gifts on a high interest (18 - 25 percent) department store credit card; call or come by any branch location and get a "12/12/12" loan ($1,200 at 12 percent for 12 months). We'll help you keep the "merry" in Christmas.
Vehicle loans available If you are in the market for a new or used auto, truck, motorcycle, boat, or camper, see the Credit Union first. We have rates as low as 1.90 percent.
New online services now available
Saint Luke's Credit Union is excited to announce two new electronic services available through our Home Banking product.
Electronic Bill Pay - you can now pay your bills online. With this new free online bill pay service you can manage your bills without having to worry about paper bills and checks with the safety of knowing your payments will arrive on time.
Account Aggregation (Money Desk Top) - provides you the convenience of reviewing all of your financial accounts on our website. Also with this new free service you can track your expenses, utilize budgeting tools, and review debt management.
For more information on these great free services, visit our website.
Free checking
Are you tired of paying checking account fees at your bank? We have free checking with no minimum balance and this service can be enhanced with the added convenience of a debit card.
Call the Credit Union today at ext. 25300 for information on any of these services. |
42nd Annual Dr. Robert D. Conn Heart Conference
Dec. 6-7
The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center
Register now for the 42nd Annual Dr. Robert D. Conn Heart Conference, Dec. 6-7, at the Westin Kansas City at Crown Center in Kansas City, Mo. This conference will focus on improving the quality of care for patients with cardiovascular disease using evidence-based medicine and a multidisciplinary approach to patient care.
The conference is intended for cardiologists, electrophysiologists, general practitioners, internal/family physicians, nurses, physician assistants, and other allied health professionals. This educational event is a joint sponsorship of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine and Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City.
For more information and to register, click here. SLHS non-physician employees can call UMKC CME at 816-235-6808 for special discount registration forms.
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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. Registration deadline is today.
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 through Oct. 26. You can purchase this meal, including a fountain drink, for $4.50.
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 in Medical Plaza III, Suite 1000 (4321 Washington, Kansas City, MO 64111) 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!
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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