Pay yourself first!

It's May, and merit increases will soon take effect. Pay yourself first by increasing your retirement contribution today. The benefits include reduced federal taxes, tax deferred earnings, and match contributions from Saint Luke's Health System. But most important is the long-term benefit of having enough money for your retirement.

Consider increasing your contribution by just 1 percent

Retirement planning experts estimate that retirees will need on average at least 75 percent of their final salary - for each year they are retired. Based on today's average life expectancy, you may need retirement income for 20 or 30 years after your regular paychecks have stopped.

Since your contributions are pre-tax, you may not miss just 1 percent. And, with deferred taxes on contributions and any earnings, you have more to invest.

Save more - now

You can change your deferral percentage online. It's easy! All you need to do is log on to your account at my.trsretire.com. From the main menu, select Manage, then choose Contributions. Enter your deferral percentage and Submit for your new deferral percentage to take effect. You may also call Transamerica Retirement Solutions at 800-755-5801.

Save more - automatically

You can easily increase your contribution amount each year by an amount you select by signing up for Transamerica's auto-increase service.* This service allows you to have your retirement savings contribution rate increased automatically each year by a set amount, at any point in the year you choose. Simply select this option once and your contribution rate will be automatically increased each year. Click here to learn more.

*Participants should evaluate their ability to continue the services in the event of a prolonged market decline, unexpected expenses, or any unforeseeable emergency.

Saint Luke's Health System has selected Transamerica Retirement Solutions as your retirement plan provider, but there are no other affiliations between the two organizations.

PT-9944 (05/13)

SLHS announces R.N. referral bonus program

Earn $2,500 by referring an exceptional nursing candidate for open R.N. positions

No one understands the vision of SLHS like our current employees. That's why we need your help recruiting your talented and dedicated friends and colleagues with at least one year of R.N. experience to join our nursing team. If your referral is hired and meets service requirements, you'll be eligible for a $2,500 referral bonus!

Important information: You must submit a referral form BEFORE the potential new R.N. candidate applies. The program ends Aug. 1, 2013.

Which SLHS employees can participate?

All full-time, part-time, and PRN employees are eligible (except for administrators and Human Resources staff). Wherever you work at SLHS, you can refer a qualified candidate for any location. Managers and supervisors are eligible, except for candidates fulfilling positions in departments they supervise. If more than one employee refers the same candidate, the referral bonus will be awarded based on who completed the referral document first.

What are the requirements for the job applicants?

Applicants must be individuals NOT currently employed by or on the payroll system of SLHS. Travelers and per agency/diem employees working through any vendor at SLHS are not eligible. The applicant must have a minimum of one year R.N. experience.

Current employees of SLHS or anyone who has worked for SLHS in the past 18 months are not eligible. Referral of a relative must follow the "Hiring of Relative" policy.

How is the referral bonus paid?

Employees whose referral is hired will receive their $2,500 bonus in three installments:

• $500 after the new employee completes the 90-day probationary period
• $1,000 after six months of the new employee's continuous employment
• $1,000 after the successful completion of the new employee's first year of employment

Read the full policy for additional details and see a link to the application form.

Saint Luke's Hospital Research Day

Researchers at Saint Luke's Hospital will share their research with patients, visitors, colleagues, and staff on Research Day. Projects will include:

• House Staff Basic Research
• House Staff Clinical Staff Research
• Allied Health Research
• Nursing Research

A contest for medical residents, fellows, allied health residents, and nurses will run concurrently throughout SLH Research Day. Entries from the research categories listed above will be judged, and monetary prizes will be awarded to first place winners and honorable mention recipients. The winners from each research category will be invited to present their project during a brief at the Board Medical Staff Research Committee on Wednesday, June 5.

Friday, May 3

7:45 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Old Cafeteria - B Level

Refreshments and popcorn will be served after 10 a.m.

Sponsored by the Central Office of Research Administration

Cinco de Cabot with Sugar Ray!

Individual tickets are $50 and include beer garden with complimentary beverages, appetizers, and admission to see both bands.

For details, or to buy your pre-party ticket, visit CabotCares.org.

About Cabot

Cabot Westside Medical and Dental Center strives to create healthier families and a stronger community. The clinic provides a full range of dental and health services to more than 7,900 patients through 23,000 visits each year. Nearly half of these patients are children.

As a not-for-profit health clinic, Cabot treats anyone who comes to the facility, regardless of ability to pay. For those without adequate insurance, services are provided on a sliding fee scale.

Cabot is unique among area community health clinics in that it is one of the few that offers dental care. It is also one of the few - and perhaps the only - with a fully bilingual staff. As such, our Spanish-speaking patients feel at home and can communicate directly and comfortably with their health care providers.

Chef's Specialty Salad on May 8!