Role Models for Youth

Health Care Hero

Live Healthy> Plus,

grill your summer fruits

At Home with the Sirchers Read their inspirational story

common threadBringing together the Saint Joseph Health System Family

May/June 2008

Welcome to My World

Get the skinny on late-breaking news

A Woodworker’s Craft

Inside Our Family A note from Gene Woods Dear Saint Joseph Family,

You are holding the premiere issue of Common Thread, a brand new magazine for Saint Joseph Health System. This publication is unlike any other that we’ve done in the past. It’s all about our Associates, our patients, our families and our communities. By highlighting the very special people that we have in this new organization, we hope that these stories will bring all of us closer together, even though our hospitals are as far as 180 miles from each other.

In these pages every other month, we will travel across the state to our seven facilities and focus on the people who do extraordinary work every day. There are more than 5,000 Associates in the Saint Joseph family, and countless stories of those who embody our core values of Reverence, Integrity, Compassion and Excellence.

Some of the highlights in this first issue include: Associates Holly & Bobby Sircher share their story of using videocon-ferencing technology during the birth of their child; pharmacy tech Sandy Thacker, who is always looking for ways to give back; YMCA Black Achievers Lakeyshia Shelton and Andre Fomby, who spend a lot of time mentoring youths in the community; Roy Metcalfe, a volunteer in pastoral care; and endoscopy tech Sharon Adams, an activist for the early detection and prevention of colon cancer.

The ongoing success of this magazine depends on each of you. By sharing your inspirational stories of your coworkers with us (submit story ideas at www.SaintJosephCommonThread.org), we can spotlight some of the awe-inspiring, mission-based experiences within the Saint Joseph family.

I am humbled and honored to lead this wonderful organization. The sense of purpose and excitement within the walls of all seven hospitals is energizing and inspiring to me every day. I believe that we were called to come together for a higher purpose, and it’s because of each of you, that we are now the most compassionate, most awarded health care system in the state. As our current advertising campaign states, “One is Greater Than Seven.”

Gene WoodsCEO

PublisherSaint Joseph Health System

Executive EditorJeff Murphy

EditorKara Fitzgerald

Production CoordinatorLiz Sword

Editorial ContributorsAngela Florek

Neva Francis

Katie Heckman

Sharon Hershberger

Stephanie Sarrantonio

Amy Taylor

Contributing WritersKathie Stamps

Sherrell Watson

DesignerDan Shute

PhotographersLee Thomas

Paula Goble

Tom Osborne

Carletta Watkins

SJHS President’s CouncilGene Woods, CEO, SJHS

Ed Carthew, CHRO, SJHS

Gary Ermers, CFO, SJHS

Mark Streety, CIO, SJHS

Virginia Dempsey, President, SJL

Greg Gerard, President, SJB

Ken Haynes, President, SJH/SJE/SJJ

Jim Heitzenrater, President, SJMS

Bruce Klockars, President, FMH

Kathy Stumbo, President, SJM

Common Thread is published bimonthly by the Communications/Public Relations/Marketing department of Saint Joseph Health System for Associates and their families. Visit www.SaintJosephCommonThread.org to submit news, story ideas or photos. Or, write to us at Saint Joseph Hospital, C/O Kara Fitzgerald, 1590 Harrodsburg Rd., Lexington, KY 40504. You may reach our office at 859.313.1845.

table of contents2 Inside Out View snapshots of Saint

Joseph events and happenings inside and outside our walls.

3 Health Care Hero Read about an ordinary person doing extraordinary things throughout our organization.

4 New Threads Keep informed of late-breaking news.

6 Feature The Sirchers share their inspiring story and unique delivery of son, Payton.

8 Common Sense Learn how our Associates are living healthy.

9 Welcome to My World Listen to Sharon Adams share her passion about the importance of routine colonoscopy screenings.

10 Role Models Lakeyshia Shelton & Andre Fomby mentor youths in the community as Black Achievers.

11 Mission Moments Roy Metcalfe gives back through his woodworking craft.

12 Noteworthy Celebrating news, notes and praiseworthy accomplishments

11springcommon thread

4

To submit your story ideas or news to Common Thread, visit www.SaintJosephCommonThread.org.

9

8

10

On the cover: Through a live videoconference link, Saint Joseph Hospital Associate Bobby Sircher watched his wife, Holly, deliver the couple’s second child at Saint Joseph East. Read their inspiring story on page 6.on

the

cove

r

Volume 1, issue 1

Jeff Ryder, Saint Joseph - Mount Sterling IT, allowed his head to be shaved as part of a fundraiser for Montgomery County Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Heather Rudder, Saint Joseph - London lab, performed finger-stick cholesterol and glucose screenings at a health fair for the Greer Construction Company.

Dr. Paul McLaughlin, who won the “coolest car” competition during Saint Joseph - Mount Sterling Doctors’ Day festivities, received a bucket full of cleaning supplies to wash his Hummer.

Jennifer Trimble and Jennifer Summers, Saint Joseph - Mount Sterling OR, showed Mt. Sterling Christian School students how surgeons dress for work.

Sheila Smallwood, Saint Joseph - London endoscopy lab, performed finger-stick cholesterol and glucose screenings at a health fair for the Greer Construction Company.

Sheila Roberts, Saint Joseph - Berea radiology, and David Strawser, Saint Joseph - Berea HIM, kicked off the TLC Program, round-ing with a cart full of puzzles, magazines and snacks for patients, families and Associates.

Anne Panciera, Saint Joseph - Berea Diabetes Treatment Center, educated a student about the facts of diabetes at a Madison County Schools Health Fair.

Dr. Mary Margaret Miller and Kim Davis, Saint Joseph - Berea credentials coordinator, celebrated Doctors’ Day at a special luncheon for physicians.

Lorah Shackelford, Sarah Mashburn and Andy Cochran, Saint Joseph - Berea rehab, commu-nicated with Tracy Bryant, Saint Joseph - Berea IT, to test the new InTouch Robot System.

The Center for Weight Loss Surgery team at Saint Joseph East held its 5th annual Bari Ball for post-operative gastric bypass surgery patients and Saint Joseph East staff.

Karen Hicks, right, offers free blood glucose screenings to the public once a month at Flaget Health Connection, Flaget Memorial Hospital’s free consumer health and information center.

Enjoy snapshots of Saint Joseph events and happenings inside and outside our walls.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

4

6

7

109

8

InsideOut

1

3

2

5

11

2

Hea

lth

Car

e H

ero

Sandy Thacker,

a pharmacy tech at Saint Joseph - Martin, doesn’t just clock in and clock out everyday, she continually looks for ways to give back and exemplify the mission of Saint Joseph Health System. She began a drop-off delivery service for the elderly and sick who cannot make it into the pharmacy to pick up their medications. She is the only delivery driver.

“There is a blind woman I deliver to and a patient that has a pacemaker,” says Thacker, who works in both the inpatient and outpatient pharmacy. “Mostly they are friends and neighbors or people I meet in the pharmacy. Every evening, I see which employees haven’t picked up their meds and give them a call to remind them.”

Renee Chandler-Hall, director of pharmacy services at Saint Joseph - Martin, says Sandy is a dependable, faithful and solid Associate. “I’ve been here for 14 years and she started shortly after I did. She gets to know patients on a first name, personal basis. She exemplifies RICE (Reverence, Integrity, Compassion and Excellence).”

Sandy is heavily involved with the hospital’s Mission Committee, delivering gifts and food to a homeless shelter in Pikeville every Christmas and volunteering for community service work in a women’s crisis center. Sandy is the first Associate to volunteer for whatever the hospital is sponsoring, such as Relay for Life, and always offers comfort and support to Associates who experience a loss or tragedy.

“I try to help as much as I can,” says a humble Sandy. “It’s just the little things. I’m a people person and I like the family atmosphere of the hospital. I enjoy coming in and being with the people here.”

Sandy was one of the first recipients of the Waneta P. Newsome Award, named in honor of a volunteer who has worked for the hospital for more than 50 years. She also serves on the hospital’s decontamination team for potential hazardous spills.

“My motto is, ‘What goes around comes around.’ I try to do good things so they will come back to me,” explains Sandy.

-Kara Fitzgerald

3

“ . . . she continually looks for ways to give back and exemplify the mission of SaintJoseph Health System.”

M a r k e t i n gOne is Greater Than Seven The new Saint Joseph Health System image and branding campaign is currently running on TV stations and newspapers across the state. The campaign focuses on the unique formation of a brand new system created by seven hospitals coming together

as one. The TV ad features original music written for Saint Joseph, and includes shots of rural and urban areas with families and individuals from all walks of life.

Seven of Kentucky’s leading hospitals have united as one to do more, for more people, than

they ever could individually. The new Saint Joseph Health System connects doctors, specialists, technicians and technology throughout central and eastern Kentucky. In the months to come, we’ll be introducing new features and systems to make health care for your family better, simpler and more convenient than it’s ever been.

Daily Advertising Look in the Lexington Herald-Leader for a Saint Joseph Health System ad in section A, page 3 daily throughout the year. Several rotating ads will appear in this spot to promote our service lines, upcoming events and recruitment efforts. This daily advertising will allow promotion of multiple services on an ongoing basis, and strengthen the Saint Joseph Health System brand across central Kentucky.

Healthier CommunitiesFresh Air. Fresh Breath. Fresh Start.Saint Joseph Health System is taking an important step in promoting a healthier lifestyle and protecting the health of its communities by going tobacco-free at each of its campuses by November 20, 2008. Saint Joseph has joined other hospitals as part of Kentucky’s Tobacco-free Healthcare Collaborative to ensure that no one is subject to the harmful effects of tobacco while on a health care campus. Smoking cessation resources will be provided in the upcoming months for those Associates who want to take this opportunity to quit smoking and begin a fresh start.

I n i t i a t i v e sChest Pain Center AccreditationSaint Joseph - Berea, Saint

Joseph East and Saint Joseph Hospital have applied to become accredited Chest Pain Centers by the Society of Chest Pain Centers. Site visits were conducted in May and the results will be announced in an upcoming issue of Common Thread. Saint Joseph - London, Saint Joseph - Martin (pending an on-site cardiologist) and Flaget Memorial Hospital have already obtained their accredi-tation with very successful site visits in February. Saint Joseph - Mount Sterling also is gearing up for an accreditation site visit, which will most likely occur late this summer.

Once all hospitals obtain accredi-tation, Saint Joseph Health System will be the first system in the state with Chest Pain Center national accreditation. Receiving accreditation means our hospitals are fully prepared to care for patients with heart attack symptoms. Nationally, accredited Chest Pain Centers have been proven to save lives through the rapid treatment of patients showing signs of acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

G r o w t h

Updates• Saint Joseph - Jessamine

is slated to open in January, 2009.

• The Women’s Center at Saint Joseph East will open in late 2009.

• Saint Joseph - London broke ground for its new facility, to open in 2010.

• Location of replacement facility for Saint Joseph - Mount Sterling will be announced soon.

NewThreads Stay informed on the latest Saint Joseph Health System news by reading “New Threads” in every issue of Common Thread.

4

Stay informed on the latest Saint Joseph Health System news by reading “New Threads” in every issue of Common Thread.

5

• Heart Institute and cath lab expansion continues at Saint Joseph Hospital.

T e c h n o l o g ySaint Joseph Implements Bedside Robots

Saint Joseph Health System is implementing robots that can improve health care by connecting patients with physicians who are miles away. Saint Joseph, the first health care organization in its region to implement the robots, is installing them in all seven of its hospitals. The technology will give patients quicker access to physicians and specialists at other Saint Joseph hospitals and will allow patients in our smaller communities to seek specialty care closer to home, without the need to travel long distances.

Standing about five and a half feet tall, the robots have computer screens for heads and real-time, two-way video cameras and microphones for eyes and ears. From miles away, a physician can control one of the robots to examine a patient – moving it around the patient’s bed, tilting and pivoting the video-screen head, viewing vital signs on monitors and equipment and listening to heart and lung

sounds. Physicians connect to the robots via wireless, broadband Internet connections from their home, office or clinic computers.

Flaget Helps Prevent

Medication ErrorsFlaget Memorial Hospital is one of the first hospitals in the state to invest in life-saving medication verification technology. Meditech’s BMV (bedside medication verification) is a cutting-edge computer

medication verification system that ensures the right patient gets the right medicine. BMV makes use of a wireless laptop computer network, bar-code scanners and rolling carts that nurses move to each patient’s bedside. Nurses scan a bar code on a patient’s bracelet before administering medicine. The scanner feeds the information into a computer system that supplies precise information about all patient medications. The BMV computer system not only stores every drug and dosage number, but all possible drug interactions and medication allergies.

Nursing Website is RevampedSaint Joseph’s Nursing Website—www.SaintJosephNurses.org— is updated with a brand new look and several new clinical tools, including delirium assessment tools, BIS information for critical care and OR nurses, clinical calculators and free CE offerings. Please explore the site to see how it can benefit your

nursing practice. If you have any questions while exploring, simply click on the “contact us” button.

A w a r d sAt the Top of their GameSaint Joseph East and Flaget Memorial Hospital were named 100 Top Hospitals, National Benchmarks for Success by Thompson Healthcare. This is the most prestigious category of 100 Top Hospitals, as it reflects quality care and financial efficiencies across the organi-zation. If all hospitals had performed at the level of these leading hospitals on the eight patient safety measures, they would have saved $253 million and 7,914 lives during the time period the study examined. This is the fourth year in a row that Flaget has received this prestigious recognition and the second year for Saint Joseph East (having received it in 2005).

Gene Woods among Top Minority ExecutivesGene Woods, CEO of Saint Joseph Health System, is on the 2008 list of the Top 25 Minority Executives in Healthcare, published by Modern Healthcare magazine. An editorial board reviewed nominations for the biennial list and judged each candidate on their leadership and mentoring abilities, and desire to effect change within the health care industry. Kevin Lofton, president and CEO of CHI, also made this list.

L e a d e r s h i pNew President Ken D. Haynes is the new president of Saint Joseph Hospital, Saint Joseph East and soon-to-be Saint Joseph -

Jessamine (scheduled to open in January, 2009). Haynes previously served as senior vice president and chief operating officer of St. Vincent Health System in Little Rock, Arkansas, which is also part of Catholic Health Initiatives.

Chief Innovation Officer Mark Streety was selected as the Chief Innovation Officer, a new position for Saint Joseph Health System. Mark joined the Saint Joseph family in 2000 and has served in various leadership roles across the organization. As chief innovation officer, Mark’s

first initiative will be to launch the creation of our strategic plan for Saint Joseph Health System which will define key goals for the next three years.

Chief Nursing Executive/Chief Operating Officer Chris Mays was appointed to the new position of chief nursing executive and

chief operating officer for Saint Joseph Hospital and Saint Joseph East. This is a newly created dual role that combines two senior executive positions. Chris will lead the nursing departments for the two Lexington hospitals, as well as Saint Joseph - Berea and Saint Joseph - Mount Sterling, and have responsibility for the pharmacy and Saint Joseph Hospital surgery department.

Do you have a burning question?Submit your Saint Joseph Health System questions at www.SaintJosephCommon-Thread.org. If your question is selected, the answer will appear in the next issue of Common Thread.

Holly and Bobby Sircher share the story of their high-tech delivery -Kara Fitzgerald

At Home with the Sirchers

6

While recovering from emergency surgery at Saint Joseph Hospital, Bobby Sircher didn’t have to miss

the birth of his son. Through a live video-conference link, the Saint Joseph Hospital emergency department tech and radiog-raphy school student watched his wife, Holly, deliver the couple’s second child at Saint Joseph East on February 6. “It could’ve been the worst day of my life but it ended up being the greatest emotional high I’ve ever experienced,” says Bobby. “It was the next best thing to being there.”

While Holly was in the operating room for her c-section, Bobby offered comfort to his wife and spoke to the surgical staff at Saint Joseph East. Thanks to Saint Joseph’s newest videoconferencing technology, his face appeared on a high-resolution, flat-screen monitor next to her face. The system’s remote-controlled camera and microphone allowed the couple to interact in real time. Holly and Bobby were the first hospitalized patients to benefit from the new technology.

“This was a more difficult c-section than my first one and to hear his voice meant the world,” says Holly, a charge reconciliation specialist in the emergency department at Saint Joseph Hospital. “The surgical staff treated him as if he were actually in the room and explained exactly what was going on every step of the way.”

Payton Andrew Sircher, weighing 5 pounds, 13 ounces, was introduced to his father “face-to-face” via the large monitor in each of their rooms. For the next few days, while both parents recovered in their respective hospitals, the family stayed connected through the wireless technology, only turning it off when they slept. The couple’s other son, four-year-old Garrett Michael, had a ball with it and constantly bounced around his mother’s hospital room to see if his daddy could keep up with him.

“It was amazing,” recalls Holly. “I was able to participate in Bobby’s care as well, talking to his physician and nurses at Saint

Joseph Hospital and our family and friends were able to visit us at the same time.”

Bobby has battled complications from his diverticulitis, a common digestive disease particularly found in the large intestine, since December of 2007 and underwent surgical treatment that removed the diseased part of his colon. In February, just before his wife was scheduled for her c-section, he experienced severe abdominal pain once again and was taken to the emergency department at Saint Joseph Hospital. A large hematoma was impacting his colon and left kidney and he underwent further surgery to remove eight inches of ischemic bowel.

“I don’t take anything for granted anymore,” says Bobby, 36. “I now know what it’s like for our troops overseas in Iraq. Thinking I couldn’t be there for the birth of my son just tore me up. Being there through the technology was a silver lining to a very black cloud.”

Several Associates scurried together to make this possible for the couple, with Marilyn Swinford, director of emergency services at Saint Joseph Hospital and Saint

Joseph East, leading the effort and educa-tional services lending the equipment. The 3A staff at Saint Joseph Hospital and the women’s services staff at Saint Joseph East offered their support as arrangements were made to connect the couple. IT Associates Dan Knight and Matt Elliott were instru-mental in setting up the videoconferencing technology, which was fairly new at the time and had only been tested for wireless capability. They were committed to doing everything possible to make this moment happen.

“In IT we don’t really have a chance to impact patient care directly,” says Matt Elliott, network engineer, who was scrubbed in for Holly’s c-section and ready to address any connectivity glitches. “I have a 20-month-old daughter and I can’t imagine how I would feel if I missed her birth. I was glad to help Bobby watch his own child being born.” The equipment worked perfectly and a nervous Matt was luckily able to watch from outside the OR.

“I’ve never been so proud to work at Saint Joe,” exclaims Holly, 35. “How do you ever repay someone for making this moment happen? The compassion and generosity has been wonderful and there’s definitely still a heartbeat at Saint Joe.” Almost four months later, Holly says Matt and the others involved with her unusual delivery experience still ask about her family.

Bobby wept when he finally held Payton in his arms for the first time. Although he is still battling diverticulitis, experiencing a recent bowel obstruction in March, the couple is praying for better health.

“We have a 50-year contract,” assures Holly. “We have 43 years of the 50 to go and we are definitely looking forward to the future.”

Holly and Bobby met as EMS partners and married in August of 2000. Holly has worked at Saint Joseph Hospital since 1997, leaving for a brief two-year period, and Bobby has worked at Saint Joseph Hospital since 2003.

Thinking I couldn’t be there for the birth of my son just tore me up. Being there through the technology was a silver lining to a very black cloud.”

“

7

Who will be the “Biggest Loser”?Saint Joseph East Associates are currently competing in a pilot wellness program called the Feeling Great in ‘08 Challenge. The winner will walk away with the $1,000 grand prize, feel great and have a healthier outlook on life.

By working with the staff of Saint Joseph Corporate Health, Associates are learning the truths of weight loss, healthy living, proper nutrition, exercise and prevention, and are gaining many tips and tools to create a healthier lifestyle.

Saint Joseph East Associates who accepted the challenge attend weekly educational sessions on campus, keep a food journal, exercise and

weigh-in for points. The Associate with

the most points will win $1,000 and the

Associates who place second and third will

win $750 and $250, respectively.

The Associate Satis-faction Committee at

Saint Joseph East and Saint Joseph Corporate Health

Services are offering Feeling Great in ‘08. Based on its success, this healthy lifestyle challenge may be offered at other Saint Joseph Health System facilities in the future.

Rehab Associates Compete for the

“Golden Crutch”Saint Joseph East is gearing up to host its first Rehab Olympics. The event, which will include games and team building exercises, will help introduce the Associates in the rehab departments of Saint Joseph Hospital, Saint Joseph East, Saint Joseph - Berea and Saint Joseph - Mount Sterling to one another.

Very little athletic skill is required for the event, but the ability to laugh at yourself is required. To win a prize at the event, participants must demonstrate their

teamwork. The grand prize at Rehab Olympics will be the “Golden Crutch” award, the event’s version of the Olympic gold medal.

“We are hoping to make this an annual event,” states Marlene Roth in outpa-tient rehab at Saint Joseph East. “We also want the event to grow to include more campuses.”

Rehab Olympics will be held on June 28 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., location to be announced. For more information, contact Marlene Roth at 859.967.5737.

common sense

Send us your recipes! Submit them at www.SaintJosephCommonThread.org.

How are you living a healthy life at work or at home? How are you helping to build a healthier community? Let us know. Visit www.SaintJosephCommonThread.org.

Learn how Associates are living healthy and helping to build

healthier communities. Grilled Summer FruitIngredients• Nonstick spray • 3 firm but ripe nectarines, halved, pitted • 3 firm but ripe purple/black plums, halved, pitted • 3 firm but ripe red plums, halved, pitted • 6 metal skewers or thick wooden skewers soaked in

water 30 minutes • 3 tablespoons sugar *Other fruit substitutions can be apricots and peaches

InstructionsSpray the grill rack with nonstick spray and prepare

the barbecue (medium-high heat). Thread 1 piece of

each fruit on each of 6 skewers so that the cut sides

line up and lay flat. Sprinkle the sugar over the cut

sides of the fruit. Let stand until the sugar dissolves,

about 10 minutes.

Place the fruit skewers on the grill cut side down.

Grill the fruit until it is heated through and cara-

melized, about 5 minutes. Transfer 1 fruit skewer to

each plate and serve.

—Giada De Laurentiis, Television Food Network

8

Welcome To My World

Sharon Adams Endoscopy Technician

Sharon Adams is an activist for the early detection and prevention of colon cancer. She passionately educates

the people who cross her path about the importance of routine colonoscopy screenings. As an experienced endoscopy tech at Saint Joseph - Mount Sterling, it’s something she knows well. In her role, she shares the facts and busts the myths about the often-dreaded colonoscopy exam, eases patients’ fears and passes on her stories about people who “waited too long” to get screened. Read on as Sharon explains how she spends her days.

What does an endoscopy tech do?I assist doctors with procedures and maintain the scopes that are used, which go through several steps of cleaning and sterilization. Aside from colonoscopies, we do EGDS (upper endoscopy procedure) to diagnose and treat common digestive concerns, such as acid reflux and ulcers, and bronchoscopy proce-dures to help diagnose problems of the lungs. I’m the only technician we have, so I make sure everything is ready to go for each patient.

What makes you good at your job?I’m a patient advocate. I like to talk to patients before we start, tell them about the procedure, show them the scope and other tools that may be used, like biopsy forceps, and ask if they have any questions. I take the opportunity to reach out and educate their family on the importance of colonoscopies. I think people can feel my passion.

What’s your favorite part of your job?The best part is connecting with people. I reassure them if they are nervous and hold

their hand. Sometimes in health care we can overlook that part, but it is the most important part.

What keeps you going?I feel like I make a difference. It doesn’t matter if I’m here or out shopping at Wal-Mart, I’m always educating people. I believe if we can catch colon cancer early, we can save lives. That’s why I promote it so much. I believe God puts people in my path. I often tell them about a gentleman who

was 69 years old who came in and said, “I think I waited too late.” He was a hard worker, a

farmer all his life. He ended up having rectal cancer—it was very bad. I have seen that too many times.

What’s the one thing you want people to know?If you’re 50, you need to start having colonoscopies. You won’t need

another one for 10 years unless it’s abnormal. If you have a family

history of cancer or any symptoms, like bleeding, you need to have a colonoscopy. Don’t even second-guess it; if we

catch it early, it will save your life.

Welcome to My World provides a

brief walk in another Saint Joseph Associ-

ate’s shoes. Do you know someone who is

outstanding in his or her job? Nominate them at www.Saint

JosephCommonThread.org.

-Kara Fitzgerald

9

Each year, Saint Joseph selects Associates to

participate in the YMCA Black Achievers Program of Central Kentucky, which recognizes African Americans for their professional accomplishments and their volunteer community service with young people. African American professionals act as role models and volunteer leaders in various capacities of the program. Lakeyshia Shelton and Andre Fomby are two Saint Joseph Hospital Associates who exceeded their volunteer duties as nominated Adult Achievers for Saint Joseph.

Lakeyshia Shelton, Adminis-trative Fellow, has worked at Saint Joseph Hospital for six years. She began her work with the Black Achievers Program in 2006 as an Adult Achiever and as a volunteer for the Medical Cluster. Now, Lakeyshia serves as a Black Achiever board member and chair of the silent auction committee.

“Giving back to the community is what Saint Joseph is about,” Lakeyshia explains. “It is only natural that Saint Joseph became involved with such a great program.”

Andre Fomby, IT Support Services Manager, has worked at Saint Joseph for more than five years. His one year as an Adult Achiever was more than a mentoring opportunity.

“God has blessed me with many tools in my life. It was my obligation to give back to my community by putting those

tools to use,” Andre states. “It is important for Saint Joseph Associates to stay connected with the community because they are the people that we serve on a daily basis.”

Since assuming the role of Black Achievers Medical Cluster leader, Lakeyshia has worked hard to give the Young Achievers hands-on activities out in the community. Some of the recent activities include learning to make hand/finger splints, attending a first aid course taught by firefighters, touring the Saint Joseph Hospital operating room along with a tutorial of the da Vinci Surgical Robot and role playing

as health care professionals. The students also passed out flyers and brochures to Kroger customers on Nutritional and Health Awareness Day.

Andre worked in the Computer and Senior Clusters portion of the program. Some of the activities he helped organize were a presentation on leadership alongside Lakeyshia and field trips to the Lexington Roots and Heritage Festival and Lexmark, which introduced the students to how printer design decisions are made. Andre also helped stage mock interviews.

“I remember one Young Achiever who needed a lot

of work on her interviewing skills,” Andre explains. “This young lady took the feedback that we gave to her, went home and practiced and later that year became the Lexington YMCA Black Achiever Student of the Year as well as a schol-arship winner. I couldn’t help feeling like a proud parent.”

“I truly feel as though I have had an impact in the lives of the Young Achievers,” Lakeyshia states. “I have shared my own personal experiences with the participants and they have expressed a genuine desire to change their habits and share the information that they have learned with their family and friends.”

To date, the Lexington Black Achievers program has awarded more than $8.2 million in scholarships to 800 high school seniors and has mentored more than 7,000 Young Achievers.

“Getting involved in the Black Achievers Program was a great opportunity that I was given,” says Andre. “Saint Joseph being a part of the healing ministry doesn’t only mean that we help with people’s physical needs. We have many leaders in the

organization who can give guidance to young people who are in need of it.”

-Sherrell Watson

Role ModelsLakeyshia Shelton and Andre Fomby give guidance to community youth through YMCA Black Achievers Program

2006: Andre Fomby, Sherry Mason, Lakeyshia Shelton

2007: Shawntal Garr, Andrea James, Kris Wilson

2008: Shirl Marks, Jasmine Sims, Naketa Williams

Saint Joseph Black Achievers:

10

A Handcrafted Gift Woodworker and volunteer Roy Metcalfe shares his craft

Sitting in front of the stained glass window in Saint Joseph Hospital’s chapel, Roy Metcalfe describes the pedestals he

lovingly built and donated to the hospital. They are placed near the altar inside the chapel, holding a statue of Mary, “Our Lady of Grace,” and St. Joseph with the infant Jesus.

“It took me between 75 to 80 hours to build them,” he says. “There are over 42 individual pieces of wood in each pedestal.”

Roy is a self-taught woodworker who became more devoted to his hobby when he retired three years ago as a commercial insurance underwriter. “I began building a workshop in a garage outside my house and I’m finishing it up and working on small projects. I just have a strong interest in it,” says Roy, who lives in Nicholasville.

Roy has built bookshelves, cabinets and a processional cross for Pax Christi Catholic Church, where he is a member of the parish. “It needed to be hollow inside for people to carry easily. It broke when it was knocked over, so I had to build another one. The second one was better,” he laughs.

Practice makes perfect for Roy. He has learned tricks of the trade from watching instructional videos, attending classes and asking questions. He and his wife, Elaine, are fans of HGTV and often are inspired by the various design programs. “I have quite a list for him to do,” adds Elaine, who offered a second set of hands to Roy when he was finishing up the pedestals for Saint Joseph Hospital.

Inside Roy’s workshop, his tools are lined up in a tidy fashion alongside his hardware and supplies. A sign that pays homage to Norm Abram, one of his heroes and host of The New Yankee Workshop television show, hangs on the door.

“I play soft music in the background when I’m working in here and I really enjoy it. When I’m not golfing, I’m in here,” says Roy, whose backyard ends at a golf course.

Roy plans on learning the art of rounding wood next, from S-shapes to arches, and is open to spending more time in the sawdust and shavings to build more objects for people, but insists this is just a hobby. His next big project might be a bedroom suite of furniture he says.

Additionally, Roy is a volunteer at Saint Joseph Hospital and brings the Eucharist to Catholic patients who desire Communion.

As a Eucharistic minister he visits the hospital a couple times a month and always leaves with stories of gratitude and encouragement.

“We care about them and want to bring them Communion and people are grateful,” says Roy, who also provides Communion to Pax Christi parish members who are sick, homebound or in a nursing home. “It’s very rewarding. Some of the patients want you to stay all day.”

Roy recalls two people who were brought back into the faith because of a visit with him. “I contacted Fr. Dennis to follow up with them,” he remembers.

Roy began volunteering at Saint Joseph Hospital two years ago after Sr. Laura Hardage visited him while he was in the hospital. She asked if he would like to contribute to the pastoral care Saint Joseph offers its patients, and he did wholeheartedly.

-Kara Fitzgerald

mission moments The mission of Saint Joseph Health System inspires us to give back to the community to make our neighborhoods and communities stronger, healthier places to live.

11

CertificationsRebecca Sims Passed Certified Clinical Research Professional Exam

Rebecca Sims, BSN, CCRP passed the Certified Clinical Research Professional exam in March. Rebecca is a research coordinator serving in the Research Center at Saint Joseph Hospital. She has 15 years of nursing experience, most of which is in cardiology. She worked eight years for Saint Joseph Hospital in the telemetry and CCU units.

Clinical PresentationsSaint Joseph Hospital’s Improved Door-to- Reperfusion Times

Jennifer Drumm, RN, MSN, clinical nurse specialist for critical care, had the opportunity to present a poster at two recent national meetings on the results of a project she led reducing the door-to-reperfusion time for MI (myocardial infarction) patients with ST-Elevation (STEMI). She presented her team’s work to the American College of Cardiology’s annual meeting in Chicago in March and the Society of Chest Pain Centers’ annual meeting in Orlando in April.

As team leader for the Acute MI Core Measure process improve-ment, Jennifer, with the support of the chief of cardiology, formed a team with staff members from both the cath lab and emergency depart-ment at Saint Joseph Hospital. The team’s work has reduced door-to-reperfusion time from an average of 78.5 minutes to 64.5 minutes thus far in 2008.

PromotionsKevin Poe Named Clinical Pharmacy Manager

Kevin Poe was promoted to the position of clinical pharmacy manager for Saint Joseph Hospital and Saint Joseph East. Kevin joined Saint Joseph in 2001 as a clinical pharmacist for SJH/SJE. More recently, he has served as coordi-nator for our Clinical Pharmacy Program and the SJH Pharmacy Practice Residency.

Chrystal Justice Named Radiology Manager

Chrystal Justice, RN was promoted to radiology manger for Saint Joseph Hospital. Chrystal has worked at the hospital for five years and was a clinical manger of HISSU. Due to her nursing back-ground and experience in the Saint

Joseph Heart Institute, she will manage interventional radiology, ultrasound, radiology nurses, radi-ology patient transportation and TJC compliance.

AnnouncementsVolunteer for the TLC Program at Saint Joseph - Berea

Associates are invited to volun-teer for the TLC program, which offers patients, families, visitors and Associates “touch, love and compassion.” TLC team members round with a fun cart equipped with puzzles, games, poetry, scripture, books, magazines, drinks and healthy snacks. They also administer to patients and families by engaging them in conversation, offering to obtain anything they might need, praying with them and lending a “listening ear.” If you’d like to volunteer, contact Sheila Roberts (859.986.6551).

Work Health Screenings to Earn Extra Bucks

Saint Joseph Health System nurses, phlebotomists, swans, med techs or lab techs interested in earning extra money are needed to work at upcoming corporate health screen-ings. Nurses are needed to train to perform heart disease risk screen-ings through the HeartAware program. All Associates will be paid their normal hourly rate. If you are interested in these opportunities, please contact Teresa McCord at 859.219.0530.

Outside of WorkAssociate Tiffany Francis Sings at Renfro Valley Country Talent Search

Singer/song-writer Tiffany Francis passed an audition to participate in the Renfro

Valley Country Talent Search on April 26 where she performed an original song titled “Here and Now.” Tiffany is a physician liaison in the Saint Joseph Hospital HIM department.

Tiffany sings mostly country, but also loves to perform blues and rock and sings with the worship band at Vineyard Community Church in Lexington. She is working toward recording more of her songs during the summer. You can check out her music by visiting www.myspace.com/tiffanyfrancis-music. Find out how she did at the talent search in an upcoming issue of Common Thread.

Associate April Hale’s Storyteller

April Hale, an Associate in the materials management department at Saint Joseph - Mount Sterling, is a very proud mom. Her son, Brackon Curtis, has placed 2nd nationally in the 2008 National Youth Storytelling Showcase. Out of 95 applicants from 19 states, Brackon and his partner, Jordan Sallee, were selected to go to the national competition. At nationals, they presented their original work, “Night at the Smokehouse,” which earned them a standing ovation. Both boys are students at Bath County Middle School.

noteworthy Celebrating news, notes and

praiseworthy accomplishments

Pictured are emergency department and cath lab Associates whose hard

work resulted in improved care for MI patients.

Pictured are April Hale,

Jordan Salle, Brackon

Curtis, and one of

Brackon’s grandfathers,

Robert Curtis.

12

unwind

history lesson inspirationA Sacred Marriage

common facesKatie Heckman, community relations manager at Saint Joseph - Berea, posed with a crew of police officers during her April trip to Los Angeles to visit with family.

Send in photos from your summer vacation or family outing. Upload your photos at www.Saint-JosephCommon-Thread.org or mail to Saint Joseph Hospital, C/O Kara Fitzgerald, Communications/Public Relations, 1590 Harrodsburg Rd., Lexington, KY 40504.

Saint Joseph - Berea began as an eight-bed cottage on the campus of Berea College in 1898. In 1917, construction began on the new facility at 305 Estill Street. In 1967, Berea College gave the hospital building to the Berea community.

As a survivor of two failed marriages, I’m baffled by people who can tolerate each other for an extended length of time, much less love each other after years together. But I am fascinated by relationships, and most people don’t mind telling you what has made their marriage a success or not.

Last spring, our unit was blessed with the presence of Bob and Jeannie. Married for 16,070 days, they were deeply in love. Jeannie was admitted with abdominal pain, which turned out to be ovarian cancer that had spread through her colon. The surgeon operated, and Bob never left her side as she recovered. She asked us to make sure we gave

Bob three meals a day and a place to sleep and shower. Each was always more concerned about the other.

Soon, Jeannie had more surgery. Bob never faltered. He sat and read Bible verses to her. One morning, he began to read Proverbs 31: “Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.”

He told her what a good and kind woman she was, that he was proud to be her husband and that he loved her. I began to get the message: this is what it takes to make a marriage work and last.

We celebrated Jeannie’s last birthday, and she went home a few days later with hospice care.

However, Jeannie had other plans and returned to the hospital a week later. She didn’t want to die at home, she told me. She wanted to be in the intensive care unit, where we could take care of her and Bob. We moved an extra bed into her room for Bob and started a morphine drip to help ease her pain. Jeannie wasn’t afraid of dying. Her only concern was for Bob.

Jeannie died peacefully, her family near and Bob beside her, kissing her face as she left for a heavenly home. There was not a dry eye in our hospital that night.

Jeannie, I want you to know that we’re still taking care of Bob. We have lunch together every day that he volunteers at the hospital. He thinks he needs to repay us for the love and care we gave to you and him. He’s wrong. We don’t need repayment. Just having met you and Bob was all the blessing and hope we need.

—Sue Shollenberger, RN, Saint Joseph - London

Excerpted from the seventh edition of Sacred Stories

feedbackPatient Comments on the Medical-Surgical Staff at Saint Joseph - Berea

“I have been told there are no such things as angels. I want to say there are angels. I had surgery and all the nurses on the medical-surgical floor at Saint Joseph - Berea are angels. They always have a smile and make you feel better sooner. They are always there to answer questions. May God bless each one of you and thank you for all the wonderful care you gave me.”

Patient Comments on the Outpatient Surgery Staff at Saint Joseph Hospital“I wanted to write and thank the nursing staff who looked after me. The nurses were compassionate, kind, caring, efficient and diligent. Thank you so much for making a difficult time so comforting.”

We Want to Hear from You!Visit www.SaintJosephCommonThread.org and tell us your news and story ideas, plus you can upload your photos.

Common GoalsMeet the Saint Joseph Health System Leaders

Michael P. (Mike) Fiechter chairs the governing board of Saint Joseph Health System. He was elected to this position in December 2007 as

Catholic Health Initiatives’ facilities in Kentucky were coming together as a single organization with a goal of transforming health care delivery in the state. Fiechter previously served as chair of the governing board of Marymount Medical Center, now Saint Joseph - London.

“Flaget Memorial Hospital, Marymount Medical Center, Our Lady of the Way Hospital and Saint Joseph HealthCare were brought together, with their longstanding histories and relationships, under the Saint Joseph name,” says Fiechter. “Our shared values and vision for the future is a good tie-in and we believe we can do more together than we ever could individually.”

Fiechter is impressed with the people on the new governing board of Saint Joseph Health System, many of whom he just met last year. “They really care about their communities and providing quality health care.” He also sees this level of care and attention in the Associates, physicians, management team, volunteers and the founding Sisters. “They’re people that really do what’s right for the communities we serve. It’s very refresh-ing to see that,” he says.

Fiechter was born at Marymount and, except for his college years, has always resided in London. Fiechter has a degree in political science from Morehead State University and an accounting degree from Eastern Ken-tucky University. A CPA by training, he practiced public accounting for 11 years in London, preparing tax returns for businesses and performing audits and financial statements. In 1999 he joined Edward Jones as a financial advisor.

In 2002, when he was president of the London-Laurel County Chamber of Commerce, Fiechter got to know the then-CEO of Marymount Medical

Center, Linda Culp. “She asked me to con-sider being on the board at Marymount,” he says. He joined the hospital’s govern-ing board that year and became its chair in 2005. Marymount was renamed Saint Joseph - London in January 2008. “The name change has been extremely well received,” says Fiechter. “The name Saint Joseph is very meaningful as a quality symbol.”

In addition to his Saint Joseph Health System duties, Fiechter chairs the local planning committee for the Laurel County Board of Education. He also is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accoun-tants and The Kentucky Society of Certified Public Accountants.

He and his wife Susan have been married for 28 years. Susan is a third-grade teacher in London. Their son, Ben, is a May graduate of the University of Kentucky College of Law (his wife, Lynn, teaches English at Scott County High School). Their middle child, Laura, is a May gradu-ate of Georgetown College with degrees in business administration and psychology. Their youngest daughter, Anna, will enter her senior year at South Laurel High School this fall. Fiechter and his wife attend First Baptist Church in London. In his spare time he enjoys walking, listening to music (Bruce Springsteen and Pete Seeger are in his CD player at any given time) and reading.

Fiechter is excited about the opportunities that lie ahead with Saint Joseph Health System. “As we continue coming together as one system, I am optimistic our Associates’ talents and skills will be instrumental in helping achieve our goal of transforming health care delivery.”

– Kathie Stamps