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CONNECTER
ARCHIVES
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Below is this week's issue of the Connecter newsletter, which is required reading for all employees. The next edition will be published on Monday, June 27, with articles due to connecter@vnacarenetwork.org by Friday, June 24.
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KEY DATES THIS MONTH
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June 2016
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Sun
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Mon
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Tue
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Wed
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Thu
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Fri
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Sat
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1
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2
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3
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4
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5
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6
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7
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8
Summer Safety
In-service
Weymouth
8am
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9
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10
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11
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12
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13
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14
Q2 OASIS
Charlestown
8:30-10am
Q2 OASIS
Southborough
8:30-10am
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15
Ice Cream Party
Needham
11-1pm
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16
Q2 OASIS
Charlestown
2-3:30pm
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17
Q2 OASIS
Worcester
8:30-10am
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18
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19
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20
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21
Q2 OASIS
Danvers/ Gloucester
8:30-10am
Ice Cream Party
Woburn
11-1pm
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22
Summer Safety
In-service
Charlestown
2:30pm
Q2 OASIS
Needham
8:30-10am
Q2 OASIS
Worcester
2-3:30 pm
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23
Q2 OASIS
Weymouth
2-3:30 pm
Ice Cream Party
Woburn
2-4pm
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24
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25
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26
Summer Safety
In-service
Charlestown
5:00pm
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27
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28
Q2 OASIS
Danvers/
Gloucester
2:30-4pm
Q2 OASIS
Leominster
8:30-10am
Q2 OASIS
Quincy
2-3:30pm
Q2 OASIS
Worcester
8:30-10am
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29
Q2 OASIS
Charlestown
2-3:30pm
Q2 OASIS
Southborough
2:30-4pm
Q2 OASIS
Weymouth
8:30-10am
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30
Q2 OASIS
Southborough
8:30-10am
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IN THIS ISSUE:
SERVICE EXCELLENCE
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND UPDATES
CERTIFIED QUALITY & RISK MANAGEMENT
CLINICAL APPLICATIONS
HUMAN RESOURCES
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
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June 20, 2016
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Volume 5, Issue 25
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Service Excellence Standard of the Week
Service Standard #3: Professional Image
We are service professionals who uphold the reputation of our company by demonstrating a professional appearance.
Here are some behaviors that demonstrate standard #3:
- Take pride in and care of your personal appearance. Everyone is responsible for conveying a professional image at all times, in all places.
- Wear your ID badge and adhere to our dress code standards.
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Submitted by Adele Pike, Director of Education
Today I went out with Mary Beth Kelly, LICSW on joint visits and we visited two women that Mary Beth and Tayla Ryan, RN are are caring for together. The frailty of both these women almost took my breath away, as did the pain of their loneliness and fear about an uncertain future. One is nearly blind and right on the edge of not being able to manage safely at home anymore. She is a recent widow whose grief and loneliness were palpable. The other woman is recovering from a severe exacerbation of diabetes and at 73 is trying to find her voice and build a life for herself after 51 years of marriage and the sudden death of both her husband and her son. The fact that she has lost the lease on her long term home makes her hope and determination exceptional. I want to commend both of you for the skill, care and compassion you are providing these women as you help them identify their goals and connect them with other team members to help them try to achieve their goals---one step at a time. Tayla, for one who has so recently become a nurse, your work is so impressive. I think of both of you returning to these women's homes and walking up the stairs that I wasn't quite sure would hold as I stepped on them (but they did!), and am reminded of a what a wise colleague once said about coping with the suffering that home care clinicians witness: "your willingness to bear witness to a patient's pain, to sit with them as they endure suffering, to come back visit after visit is an extraordinary gift you give." I know the sufferings that these women are experiencing have no easy fixes, they may in fact not be fixable, but each of you by your presence is making them easier for these ladies to bear. Thank you for being extraordinary.
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Service Excellence Champion Group
The Service Excellence Champion group meets monthly to discuss ways to further our organization's commitment to exceptional service excellence. Key Initiatives Being Worked On:
- Improving patient experience
- Initiatives to improve patient CAHPS outcomes
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- Town Hall Meetings
- Streamlining communication methods and tools
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- Huddle strategies
- Ongoing Service Excellence training
- Staff professional growth opportunities
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Please contact the Champions listed below if you would like to have an initiative or issue reviewed at the next meeting. Thank you!
- Ann Bohac
- Debbie Brown
- Katie Callahan
- Jen Casper
- Simone Charpentier
- Lori DeRosa
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- Wendy Drake
- Jill Enwright
- Kelly Frew
- Dave Hanley
- Brielle MacDonald
- Cheryl Milas
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- Mary Ann O'Connor
- Adele Pike
- Lorraine Potter
- Dave Rose
- Geri Spina
- Charlvic Williams
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Scenes from the Street
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ANNOUNCEMENTS AND UPDATES
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Congratulations on Staff Achievements!
Jennifer Bilodeau and Karen Patterson achieved certification as Geriatric Clinical Specialists through the APTA. They are joined by Nikki Ducey (PT in Weymouth) and Emily Russell-Sielsky (PT in Needham) who also achieved certification and who have been part of the First Work Experience in Home Care for Newly Graduated PTs preceptor team.
Mary Ann O'Connor has been appointed to the Advisory Board of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Simmons College Nurse Executive Leadership Program. Wendy Drake, Manager or Rehab Services, successfully completed her advanced degree and is now a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT). Congratulations Wendy!
Kathy Keough, Director of Government Relations, was named as chair of the Government Relations Leadership Council of the American Medical Group Association (AMGA) for a two year term.
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Welcome to New Rehab Services Manager
Welcome Peter Yousseff, OTR/L, Rehabilitation Services Manager, Needham office! Peter joins our management team in Needham as of 6/20/16. He brings strong clinical and leadership experience and will be a valued new addition to this office. He has been with VNA Care since 2013 as an Occupational Therapist. He comes with a variety of clinical and management experience from SNF and Rehab settings. Prior roles include Occupational Therapist at NE Sinai Hospital and Milton Healthcare, Rehab Program Director at Aegis Therapies and Rehab Program Director at Royal Rehab. In his new role as Rehabilitation Services Manager, he will work directly with clinicians to support evidence based best practices, and collaborate with the Clinical Services Managers on interdisciplinary best practices.Please join me in congratulating Peter on his new role!
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Celebrating Diane Bergeron!
Celebrate with us at an ice cream party!
- Woburn - Tuesday 6/21: 11:00am-1pm
- Woburn - Thursday 6/23: 2:00pm-4:00pm
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CERTIFIED QUALITY AND RISK MANAGEMENT
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Antibiotic Stewardship
Antibiotics have been life-saving and very important in treating infections. However, 20-50% of all antibiotics prescribed in US hospitals are either unnecessary or inappropriate. Patients who are unnecessarily exposed to antibiotics are placed at risk for antibiotic resistance with no clinical benefit.
Improving the use of antibiotics is an important patient safety and public health issue as well as a national priority. In 2009, CDC launched the "Get Smart for Healthcare Campaign" to promote improved use of antibiotics in hospitals and in 2013 the CDC highlighted the need to improve antibiotic use as one of four key strategies required to address the problem of antibiotic resistance in the U.S. Although most of the work on Antibiotic Stewardship has been done in hospitals, the effort is now moving to nursing homes and outpatient settings. What can we do in home care? We can make a difference by helping to reduce the amount of antibiotics used by the patient. - Teach patients signs of infection which often include more than one symptom. If a person has urinary frequency and no other symptom, encourage hydration first and monitor closely.
- Clinicians can assure that cultures are performed before starting antibiotics. In addition, review medications as part of your routine visit and prompt discussions of antibiotic treatment, indication, and duration.
- Common infections, whether caused by bacteria or viruses, are often painful and can get in the way of our well-being. However, many infections do not require antibiotics and there are other actions one can take to lessen symptoms. Educate patients and families that illness caused by viruses is not treated by antibiotics.
- Monitor and educate the patient to take the antibiotic as prescribed when ordered. Premature stopping of the antibiotic as a person feels better increases resistance. Educate the patients never to take other people prescribed antibiotics when not feeling well.
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Q2 OASIS Sessions
This mandatory and relevant 2016 Quarter 2 OASIS Education will take place in each office during the month of June. The focus is Home Health Value Based Purchasing. Discussion will focus on the OASIS questions included in the HHVBP model, and the clinician will have an opportunity to examine outcome, process, and patient satisfaction scores which are part of the model. See you there!
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Office
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Day/Date
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Time
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Presenter
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Charlestown
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Wednesday, June 29
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2-3:30pm
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Elaine
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Danvers/Gloucester
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Tuesday, June 21
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8:30-10am
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Marilyn
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Danvers/Gloucester
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Tuesday, June 28
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2:30-4pm
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Marilyn
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Leominster
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Tuesday, June 28
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8:30-10am
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Surabhi
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Needham
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Wednesday, June 22
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8:30-10am
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Maura
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Quincy
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Tuesday, June 28
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2-3:30pm
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Carol
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Southborough
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Wednesday, June 29
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2:30-4pm
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Maria
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Southborough
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Thursday, June 30
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8:30-10am
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Maria/Surabhi
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Weymouth
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Thursday, June 23
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2-3:30 pm
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Kyra
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Weymouth
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Wednesday, June 29
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8:30-10am
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Kyra
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Worcester
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Wednesday, June 22
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2-3:30 pm
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Chris
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Worcester
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Tuesday, June 28
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8:30-10am
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Chris
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Patient Care Managers and QI Support Contacts
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Name
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Phone
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Position
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Covering Office
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Marilyn Bowden
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774-502-7478
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PCM
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Danvers & Gloucester
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Maria Dunn
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508-688-2449
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PCM Program Mgr
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SS02 S-boro
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Elaine Gardner
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617-680-1105
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PCM
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Charlestown
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Christine Gill
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774-502-5725
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PCM
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Worcester
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Kyra Mihalick
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617-913-6823
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PCM
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VNAB Therapy
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Carol Morris
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617-913-3006
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PCM Program Mgr
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Quincy
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Surabhi Saxena
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774-463-7336
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PCM
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Leominster & SS55 S-boro
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Maura Vitello
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774-502-7475
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PCM
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Needham
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Kim Hughes
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617-886-6501,
ext. 5419
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QI Support Coord
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All VNAB
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Chris Schultz
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617-886-6501,
ext. 6527
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QI Support Coord
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All VNACN
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Shamala Rao
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508-756-7176,
ext. 6876
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QI Nurse
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All VNACN
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McKesson Update for VNAB Home Care and Hospice July 11
By Kathy Schuft, Clinical Application Specialist
A McKesson update has been scheduled for the night of Monday, July 11. It will contain quarterly regulatory changes as well as some enhancements. Information about the changes will be communicated to staff in a later article. Home Care Laptop Users please note: As we are in the process of returning to laptops all communication regarding the ESD transfer will now be communicated through the Connecter rather than email. These are the details regarding the upgrade:
The Night of the Upgrade:
- The system will be shutdown at 9pm sharp on Monday, July 11
- During the shutdown the following systems will be unavailable:
- Horizon Homecare for VNAB & Hospice
- TeleHealth Interface
- WebChart
- Web Referrals
- Laptop Users:
- Your first transfer on or after July 12 will be an ESD transfer
- You should plan on coming into the office for the ESD transfer. It will take about 45 minutes (possibly less)
- Since the update is not yet available we do not have full details regarding the ESD transfer. Further details will be communicated at a later date
- iPad Users and Office Staff:
- You must be signed out of the McKesson system by 8:45pm to avoid losing any documentation
- Please do not log on again before 6am the next morning
If you have any questions please contact Kathy Schuft at 617-886-6968 or kathy_schuft@vnacare.org.
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Encore Codeload/Software Upgrade 06.00.0400: Tuesday 6/28
Instructions for laptop Point of Care Users and office staff
Please read carefully as these instructions are very important.
Set your laptop up for a laptop synch Monday night June 27th (even if you are not working Tuesday, if at all possible).
Communicate the Revision file to your laptop immediately if you have not already done so. The Codeload goes live at 6:00 am on Tuesday, June 28th. You can work on your laptop at that time but do not Communicate/synch until you receive instruction that work on the server is completed.
Now: - Clear all (H) Held Email
- Clear everything out of "Complete Work in Progress"
Monday, June 27th: - Do an immediate synch to send over your work once finished.
- Do not enter anything including Encore email after this Communication
- Set up for your usual nightly Laptop Synchronization
- Office staff should sign out of Encore at end of day
Tuesday, June 28th: - Do not touch your laptop at all until 06:30 am or later.
(Office staff: the server will not be ready until after 8am, wait for announcement by email.) - Then, clear the holding screen or turn your laptop on and click into Encore.
- If you see a lot of technical jargon scrolling on the screen, do not interrupt this process. This is normal and will clear in approximately 30 to 45 minutes. Look for a successful revision message.
- If you do not see a lot of technical jargon scrolling on the screen, check the version of Encore in the upper left corner of the screen. If the version is 06.00.0400, you are all set. If you do not see this version, log off and shut down your laptop. Then, log back into Windows and Encore. You should see the scrolling of technical jargon begin. Remember that it may take 30 minutes to complete.
- You may use your laptop normally if the version is correct and you have no other error messages.
- Again, Do not communicate your laptop until we make an email announcement that the communications are functional.
Purpose: Some Financial and Clinical Changes Common Problems: - Revision file never communicated to the laptop---your laptop is unusable, turn it in
- Did not finish and communicate work by Monday night--it may be lost and need to be recreated
- New version not updating-try logging out of Encore or into Encore
- Any other error-request support
Prepare ahead as the server will be down for about 2 hours early on Tuesday. Ask for printouts Monday of any forms i.e. Med List that you would need to provide patient care on Tuesday should your laptop fail.
For questions call the Clinical Application Department - Christine Day 617 886 6453 or x 6730 or Christine_Day2@vnacare.org
- Kerry Leo 508-751-6828
- Liz Bourne 617-886-6730
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Change to the Transfer Form Post Code Load 06.00.0400
There is one additional question added to the transfer form in Encore for purposes of Home Health Value Based Purchasing reporting. See picture below.
You will see this after the Code Load on 6/28/16 AM.
Other changes to do with Zoster and Advanced Directives will be in handouts at your Oasis Quarterly Meeting.
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Patients and Families Honor Staff through Thanks for Caring Society
Congratulations to the following staff who were honored in May through a charitable donation to VNA of Boston, VNA Care Network, or VNA Hospice & Palliative Care:
Michelle Banks, PT
Ginette Bernadotte, RN
Joyce Fosuwaa Boadi, LPN
Denise Brehme, RN
Debra Brown, PT
Colleen Conneely, RN
Diane Crudden, RN
Alison Dahl, PT
Cheryl Dumont, RN
Denise Dunn, RN
Tom Durkin, OT
Elizabeth Evarts de Rham Home Staff
Richard Etre, PT
Kate Goldberg, PT
Kathleen Greeke, RN
Valerie Green, RN
Erwin Guevarra, PT
Paulette Hallihan, RN
Nancy Hazeltine, RN
Michele "Shelley" Humphrey, OT
Yvonne Ilton, PT
Katherine Jennings, RN
Lorraine Johnson, RN
Steven Johnson, OT
Mary Ellen Jordan, RN
Olga Karaban, PT
Lisa King, RN
Karen MacGregor, OT
Chaplain Ted MacNeil
Stacey Maenzo, RN
Janet A. Mancuso, OT
Jane Martin, PT
Sharon Matulis, OTR
Georgia Metropolis, OT
Karen Morgan, PTA
Mary O'Donnell, RN
Kathleen O'Leary, PT
Sarah Ostiguy, RN
Amber Pombo, ST
Carmen Pozo-Rivera, RN
Kimberly Quinlan, PT
Rose Monahan Hospice Home Staff
Michelle Rosneck, LICSW
Susan Spencer, PT
Stanley R. Tippett Home Staff
Deborah Strzetelski, PT
Deborah Tanner, PT
Kathleen Traylor, PT
VNA Hospice & Palliative Care Staff Woburn
VNA Hospice & Palliative Care Staff Worcester
VNA Care Network Staff Danvers
VNA Care Network Staff Needham
VNA Care Network Staff Southborough
VNA Care Network Staff Worcester
VNA of Boston Staff
If a patient or family member needs more information or assistance making a donation, please ask them to contact Karen Webber, development officer, at 888-663-3688, ext. 1365 or Karen_Webber@vnacare.org or Laura Wise, manager of fund development, at 617-886-6460 or Laura_Wise@vnacare.org.
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The new hire referral bonus program includes employee referrals for RNs, LPNs, PTs, PTAs, OTs, COTAs, and SLPs. If you would like to refer a friend, family member, or colleague, please inform the appropriate Human Resources Representative at your location prior to the applicant coming in for an interview. Please note, when two or more employees refer the same applicant, the referral bonus will be split equally amongst the employees.
Referral bonuses are paid out after the referred employee's three and six month anniversary, as long as they are in a paid status at those intervals. Please contact Cheryl Milas at cheryl_milas@vnacare.org or Debbie Brown at debbie_brown@vnacare.org for more information.
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To learn more about career opportunities listed in the links above, contact Debbie Brown, Human Resources Manager at debbie_brown@vnacare.org.
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Job Postings - VNACN and VNAH&PC
To learn more about career opportunities, contact a human resources representative:
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Employee Advisory Team Suggestions
To suggest an area of focus to the Employee Advisory Team (EAT), please email your suggestion to EATSuggestionbox@vnacare.org. Suggestions can include ideas to improve current processes and procedures, remove redundancies, or even to provide feedback on something you think is/is not working.
Please feel free to discuss any issues that you would like brought to EAT with the following members of the committee:
- Liz Bourne
- Ray Brackett
- Kim Dio
- Kelly Frew
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- Mary Helen Mahoney
- Susan Marlin Procter
- Mary McCarthy
- Ilona O'Connor
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- Mary Ann O'Connor
- Mae Powers
- David Rose
- Danny Yang
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EAT is also on the lookout for new members. If you're interested in participating, or for more information on what EAT is all about, please reach out to any of the members listed above. Meetings are held monthly in the Charlestown office.
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One Number for After-Hours Technical Support
Please remember direct calls for all off-hours (4:30 PM to 7:00 AM) IT support to (508) 751-6822. |
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| June 20, 2016 | The Connecter |
Volume 5, Issue 25
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FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA!
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Confidentiality Notice: The Connecter newsletter is an internal communication intended only for employees of VNA Care and Atrius Health. Information contained within this newsletter includes confidential, proprietary, and privileged content. Unauthorized forwarding, printing, copying, distribution, and/or negligent handling is strictly prohibited and could result in disciplinary action.
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