New mileage rate in effect for 2013

The IRS announced an increase to the standard mileage rate for business use of a personal auto. The mileage rate increased to 56.5 cents a mile for business miles driven in 2013. This is an increase from the 55.5 cent rate in effect for 2012. Because Saint Luke's Health System's policy for Travel Expense Reimbursement provides for mileage reimbursement at IRS rates, business travel on or after Jan. 1, 2013 should be reimbursed at 56.5 cents per mile.

A Travel Expense Reimbursement form with the new mileage rate is available on the Employee eLink. Be sure to select the 2012 or 2013 form based on your travel dates.

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Celebrate healthy hearts

February is American Heart Health Month and it will begin with a big splash of RED! Each year, the first Friday of February is a day when we call attention to the #1 killer of women - heart disease. This day is designated as National Wear Red Day® - a day when Americans nationwide will take women's health to heart by wearing red to show their support for women's heart disease awareness.

The Red Dress®, the national symbol for women and heart disease awareness, was created by The Heart Truth® in 2002 to deliver an urgent wake-up call to women. Join The Heart Truth on National Wear Red Day to help spread the critical message that "Heart Disease Doesn't Care What You Wear - It's the #1 Killer of Women.®"

Everyone can participate in the national movement by wearing their favorite red dress, shirt, or tie on Friday, Feb. 1.

Stay tuned for healthy tips throughout the month of February so we can all help prevent heart disease by reducing risks and following a heart-healthy lifestyle.

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Making a Difference

 

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 he or she made a difference to slhrounds@saint-lukes.org.

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Diversified is changing its name

You may already know that for more than half a century, Diversified, our retirement plan provider, has been dedicated to providing retirement solutions including plans like the ones already offered at Saint Luke's. What you may not know is that for nearly 20 years, Diversified has been part of the Transamerica family of companies.

Transamerica is one of the nation's most respected firms (and its symbol, San Francisco's pyramid-shaped Transamerica Tower, is one of the most recognizable buildings). So to make that connection clearer, Diversified will be changing its name to Transamerica Retirement Solutions. In the coming weeks you'll start to see the new name and/or logo on the website and various plan materials. The transition to this new brand will be completed by mid-April 2013.

While the name (and web address) will be different, nothing else about the company or your retirement plan will change - you'll still get the same powerful savings tools, reliable resources, and responsive service you've come to expect.

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Kronos Workforce Talent Acquisition Goes Live Feb. 1

The new Kronos Workforce Talent Acquisition (WTA) application will replace Position Manager as the position requisitioning and applicant tracking system used by Saint Luke's Health System effective Friday, Feb. 1.

WTA is an easy-to-use product for both external and internal candidates applying for positions. External candidates will apply via the SLHS public website. Internal candidates will be required to apply via the Employee eLink. Management will create requisitions, submit for approval, and follow the hiring process in the Hiring Management Console of WTA. Management will login to the hosted site through the Hiring Manager Console icon on Citrix. Training dates for management users have been set up in HealthStream for Jan. 22 - Jan. 31. Please contact Sue A. Schmidt or Jenny Donovan if you have questions regarding training.

The user name for all internal users, whether applying on the eLink or signing into the Hiring Manager Console, is the employee "A" number and the initial password is the employee "A" number and year of birth.

Example:

User Name: A12345

Password: A123451975

The employee will be required to update his/her password after the initial login. WTA is part of the Kronos Workforce Central Suite being implemented across Saint Luke's Health System. Other modules coming in 2013 include Absence Management, HR/Payroll, and Employee/Manager Self Service. Please watch for more information on implementation of the Kronos Central Suite.

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Steps to protect you from getting the flu

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has published these suggestions to help prevent you from getting the flu:

• Get your flu shot if you have not already had the vaccine - it is not too late! Employee Health still has flu shots available for employees.
• Wash your hands often with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer or soap and water.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Practice good health habits, such as plenty of sleep and exercise, stress management, drinking water, and eating healthy food.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.  Wash your hands!
• If you are sick with flu-like symptoms, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone without the use of fever-reducing medicine.

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Look Good, Feel Better workshop

Thursday, Jan. 17

1 - 3 p.m.

SLH Plaza

Muriel I. Kauffman Women's Heart Center

Women currently undergoing cancer treatment are invited to attend the next Look Good, Feel Better class, a free two-hour workshop offering 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.

Call Vickie at 816-932-2124 to sign up.

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Saint Luke's Hospice is currently looking for new volunteers!

Saint Luke's Hospice provides support and care for persons in the last phases of incurable disease to ensure a life of quality. Volunteers provide social support and respite to hospice patients and their families. They visit patients and families in their homes or in nursing homes to provide companionship, a listening ear, and a caring presence. As a volunteer, you have the opportunity to be part of a dedicated team devoted to continuously improving the quality of our patient care.

Upcoming volunteer training is scheduled for:

Tuesday, Jan. 22 - 5:30 - 9 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 24 - 5:30 - 9 p.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 29 - 5:30 - 9 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 31 - 5:30 - 9 p.m.

If you are interested in becoming a Saint Luke's Hospice volunteer, please contact Melissa Tinklepaugh at mtinklepaugh@saint-lukes.org or call 816-360-8009.

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Discontinued purple logo items available at bargain prices

SLHS purple logo promotional/giveaway items are now available at discounted prices through HEMM (Horizon Enterprise Materials Management). These items are still acceptable to hand out even though we are using our new blue color for new items. The current inventory of purple logo items will need to be depleted before transitioning to the new blue logo items.

Items can be ordered by departments for use at upcoming events and conferences (not for internal employee distribution). Once you are ready to place your order, contact your department's authorized budget owner. He or she will place the order directly through the HEMM application, and items will ship directly to your facility. Shipment typically takes 3 - 4 days.

Click here to view a price list of available items for each facility. Please reference the product's item number when placing your order through HEMM.

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Ready, Set, Go, Saint Luke's!

Are you ready to make 2013 your year to lose weight and stay active? Last year, SLHS employees lost more than 1,500 pounds in the "Ready, Set, Go" team challenge. SLHS employees reduced their total BMI points by 259 points - an estimated savings of $52,540 to the SLHS medical plan. According to research, a reduction of one BMI point (5 - 10 pounds) saves $202.30 in health care costs.

This year, SLHS is again offering the "Ready, Set, Go" team challenge through Aetna Get Active. This eight-week challenge features a welcome kit with a logbook and pedometer for tracking steps. During the eight weeks, you can track one or more of the following: weight loss, pedometer steps, and/or exercise minutes.

Here's how to get started:

• If you haven't yet registered on the Aetna Get Active website, you can do that today. Go to Aetna Get Active and register by typing "SLHS" in the company field, then click the search button. Click on SLHS to go to the registration page. You will then enter your Employee Identifier (the five digits of your "A", "P", or "O" number and the last four digits of your SSN) and your date of birth to verify your eligibility. All active SLHS employees and spouses are eligible. The spouse will enter the employee identifier and his/her own date of birth to register.
• If you have already registered through the Aetna Get Active website you can log in anytime to create challenges, engage your supporters in conversations, and participate in weekly bonus challenges. In addition, you can track your calories in the calorie tracker and up to 50 other activities as you wish.

Registration for the "Ready, Set, Go" eight-week challenge begins Jan. 16. To participate in this challenge, log in to the Aetna Get Active website and complete the following:

1. Select one or more divisions in which you wish to compete: weight loss, pedometer steps, and/or exercise minutes.
2. Create or join a team. Remember that only teams of five to 11 members will be eligible to compete in the team competition. Teams of less than five will not be included in the team standings. Feel free to create a team of one if you would rather not compete in the team competition.
3. You will be prompted to enter your shipping information in order to receive your welcome kit, complete with pedometer and logbook.

Get ready for some fun, and make 2013 your year to lose/maintain weight and Get Active!

For more information, visit the Your Health Matters - Called to Excellence webpage located on the Employee eLink or email yourhealthmatters@saint-lukes.org.

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