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Baton Rouge General and General Health System Employee Newsletter | January-February, 2014 A Satellite Campus of Tulane University School of Medicine Exchange • Musician Wess Anderson’s stroke left him unable to perform the music he loves. After treatment and physical rehab, he is happy to be on stage again. • Roxanne Bingham suffered a heart attack at a football game, but is now back to cheering for her favorite team. Roxane says Baton Rouge General saved her life. • Caitlyn Piper, 30, is a young mother of two who found it hard to believe she was suffering a heart attack. The BRG nurse is now back at work helping other cardiac patients. • Cecil Phillips suffered a heart attack after a night of ballroom dancing. He was amazed by the speed and efficiency of the BRG response team who treated him. Dear Team, As caregivers, we know how important it is to take care of our health, but with our busy day-to-day schedules, it’s a challenge to remember to take time for ourselves. I encourage each of you to take time for your health in 2014—for your families, your patients, and each other. Here are simple steps we can all take for a great start to the new year: • Quit smoking (our smoking cessation program is free for Employees). • Lose weight with the help of our many weight management programs. • Schedule a checkup with your primary care physician. • Get your flu shot and encourage your family and friends to do the same. Remember to check the BRG Fit! schedule of classes and programs. Here’s to a healthy and happy 2014! Mark Slyter President and CEO New Media Campaign Has ‘Heart’ Make 2014 Your Healthiest Year Ever The hospital kicked off the new year with a comprehensive heart campaign that uses television spots, print ads, radio, billboard, and digital promotions to tell the stories of four heart attack and stroke patients. Each survivor credits Baton Rouge General with saving their lives. The new campaign is designed to tell real stories that inform the community of BRG’s state-of-the-art heart and vascular services. BRG recently earned a five-star rating in stroke treatment from Healthgrades, and #1 ratings for overall medical care, heart failure treatment, and heart attack treatment from CareChex, a nationally recognized comprehensive site for rating hospital care. We encourage you to share these accolades with your families and friends. We are extremely proud of the heart and vascular care we provide to our community. Proud local major sponsor of: BRG is a major sponsor of the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women campaign. Go Red is a national movement that supports the energy, passion and power of women to band together and wipe out heart disease, which claims the lives of one in three women every year and affects an estimated 43 million women in the U.S. your heart!

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#Exchange, January/February 2014 •

Baton Rouge General and General Health System Employee Newsletter | January-February, 2014

A Satellite Campus ofTulane University School of Medicine

Exchange• Musician Wess Anderson’s stroke left

him unable to perform the music he loves. After treatment and physical rehab, he is happy to be on stage again.

• Roxanne Bingham suffered a heart attack at a football game, but is now back to cheering for her favorite team. Roxane says Baton Rouge General saved her life.

• Caitlyn Piper, 30, is a young mother of two who found it hard to believe she was suffering a heart attack. The BRG nurse is now back at work helping other cardiac patients.

• Cecil Phillips suffered a heart attack after a night of ballroom dancing. He was amazed by the speed and efficiency of the BRG response team who treated him.

Dear Team,As caregivers, we know how important it is to take care of our health, but with our busy day-to-day schedules, it’s a challenge to remember to take time for ourselves. I encourage each of you to take time for your health in 2014—for your families, your patients, and each other.

Here are simple steps we can all take for a great start to the new year:• Quit smoking (our smoking cessation

program is free for Employees).• Lose weight with the help of our many

weight management programs.• Schedule a checkup with your primary

care physician.

• Get your flu shot and encourage your family and friends to do the same.

Remember to check the BRG Fit! schedule of classes and programs. Here’s to a healthy and happy 2014!

Mark Slyter President and CEO

New Media Campaign Has ‘Heart’

Make 2014 Your Healthiest Year Ever

The hospital kicked off the new year with a comprehensive heart campaign that uses television spots, print ads, radio, billboard, and digital promotions to tell the stories of four heart attack and stroke patients. Each survivor credits Baton Rouge General with saving their lives.

The new campaign is designed to tell real stories that inform the community of BRG’s state-of-the-art heart and vascular services.

BRG recently earned a five-star rating in stroke treatment from Healthgrades, and #1 ratings for overall medical care, heart failure treatment, and heart attack treatment from CareChex, a nationally recognized comprehensive site for rating hospital care. We encourage you to share these accolades with your families and friends. We are extremely proud of the heart and vascular care we provide to our community.

Proud local major sponsor of:

BRG is a major sponsor of the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women campaign. Go Red is a national movement that supports the energy, passion and power of women to band together and wipe out heart disease, which claims the lives of one in three women every year and affects an estimated 43 million women in the U.S.

your heart!

Listen to Your HeartKnow the Warning Signs of Heart AttackWe’ve all heard stories about people who ignored the symptoms of a heart attack, mistaking it for anxiety, the flu, or even heartburn. Heart attacks are serious and everyone should be aware of the warning signs. The sooner you get medical attention, the more effective treatment will be. If you or a loved one experiences the symptoms below, call 911. • Pain, discomfort or tightness in the

chest • Difficulty breathing or shortness of

breath • Profuse sweating • Feelings of heartburn or indigestion • Dizziness or double vision • Feelings of panic or anxiety • Sudden tiredness or fatigue • Pain in the neck, jaw or arms (more

common in women)

To keep your heart healthy, follow these basic lifestyle guidelines:* • Maintain a healthy weight • Get regular exercise • Don’t smoke • Keep your cholesterol levels within a

normal range • Limit salt intake and alcohol

consumption

Circuit TrainingWednesday, Feb. 19 5:15 p.m. (meets weekly) Picardy Plaza, Bluebonnet Focus on flexibility, muscular strength, muscular & cardiovascular endurance

Father/Daughter Sweetheart DanceSunday, Feb. 23 Crowne Plaza, 5-7:30 p.m. Tickets, (225) 763-4372

‘Kick the Habit’ ClassesFirst week of March Mid City, Bluebonnet, BR Radiology Imaging Center Free for Employees (225) 387-QUIT for details

Biometric ScreeningsMarch 31 deadline Employee Health Offices (225) 381-6811 (Mid City) (225) 237-1608 (Bluebonnet)

AIDET: Key to CommunicatingPatient Satisfaction TipsNo matter where you work, you can use AIDET to improve your communication skills. Here are some key behaviors that will ensure a positive experience for the people we come in contact with every day.

Acknowledge: Smile, make eye contact and greet every person by name, if possible.

Introduce: State your name and role within the hospital. Highlight your skills, training and experience.

Duration: Give the patient/customer an estimate of how long a procedure or wait might be. If this is not possible, provide a time that you will return to check on his or her progress.

Explain: Tell the patient/customer what processes or procedures he is about to undergo so he will have reasonable expectations.

Thank You: Thank the patient for his time, for allowing you to serve him, and for choosing BRG for his healthcare needs.

It’s also nice to end every interaction in this way: “Is there anything else I can do for you? I have time.” This puts the patient/visitor at ease and inspires confidence in our hospital, our staff and our services.

Remember: AIDET is not just for clinician/patient interactions. Even if you work in Payroll or IT, you can smile and say hello to visitors in the cafeteria, or ask people in the hallways if they need directions.

• Exchange, January/February 20142

Mark Your Calendar!

*BRG Fit! can help you achieve optimum health with ongoing fitness classes, a free smoking cessation program, and several weight management plans. Go to brglinkin.org and click on BRG Fit! for details.

3Exchange, January/February 2014 •

DHH Recertification News

The Department of Health and Hospitals recently conducted licensure surveys on the Burn Unit at Mid City, NICU at Bluebonnet, and PICU at Bluebonnet. All three were re-certified, according to Wanda Hughes, PhD, RN, Director of Quality & Patient Safety. “Congratulations to all of the clinical and non-clinical staff for such positive and successful surveys! They were awesome!”

Congratulations to SORT Grads

Thirteen graduates of BRG’s School of Radiologic Technology received their certificates at a graduation ceremony at Bluebonnet on December 14.

Lab Team Gets High Marks

Congratulations to BRG’s Lab Team led by Gerry Debetaz, Laboratory Manager, and Dr. Tonya Eichelberger, Medical Director of Pathology. In December, the team completed a rigorous two-day accreditation survey by the College of American Pathologists, and received high marks for outstanding processes, cleanliness, organization and clinical technique.

Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification

Seven Tulane medical students recently earned Lean Six Sigma yellow belt certification by attending a four-week rotation and simulating a clinical performance improvement initiative. Congratulations to Marco Rajo Andrade, Lui Caleon, Terry Li, Lexi Light, Ngoc Ly, Zachary Marks, and Robert Wood.

AppLAuse

Pictured (left to right) are (front row) Kayla Blanchard, Kristin LaBauve, Katie Tregre, Julia Lee, Ann Faucher and Amber Gautreaux; and (back row) Blake Pennington, Kristen Schultz, Meredith Peltier, Jessica Dettman, Rachel Ribando, Lucretia Lewis and Bradley Fitzhenry.

The BRGP BenefitChoosing a physician is an important decision, whether you are looking for a primary care doctor or a specialist. Employees are fortunate to have easy access to BRGP, a network of more than 80 excellent physicians who provide top-quality, compassionate care.

BRGP’s affiliation with the hospital ensures access to comprehensive resources, advanced technology and a wide variety of health programs. BRGP clinics and offices are located throughout the community, and in many cases, same-day appointments can be arranged.

BRGP specialties include family medicine, burn, clinical lipidology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, general surgery, geriatric medicine, internal medicine, maternal/fetal medicine, neurology, obstetrics/gynecology, orthopedic surgery, pediatrics, pulmonology, psychiatry, sports medicine and surgical oncology, to name just a few.

There are many benefits to using BRGP caregivers. To find a physician, call BRGP at (225) 763-4500.

Dr. Gunjan Raina, a family physician at the Bluebonnet campus, treats patient DeJoan Bradley. The BRGP network consists of 80 physicians and 20 practices providing healthcare in convenient locations from Livingston to Brusly.

4 • Exchange, January/February 2014

Etcetera…Paragon Goes Live February 17More than 3,000 Employees have completed training for the Paragon information system, which goes live February 17. The new system will redesign workflow and integrate financial and clinical information systems. For questions, send an email to [email protected].

Walk It Out!BRG is proud to support and partner with community organizations and nonprofits that align with our mission of improving lives and strengthening our community by providing exceptional healthcare. Join in the fun and sign up to walk with BRG at these upcoming events:

American Heart Association Heart Walk – Saturday, April 26. Team Captains: Jheri Bellard, BRG Fit, and Terra Molea Eubanks, RN, BSN, Bluebonnet Emergency Department. To register, go to capitalareaheartwalk.kintera.org.

Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure – Saturday, March 8. Team Captains: Lauryn Modenbach, Business Development, and Melissa Broussard, MSW, LCSW, Radiation Oncology. To register, go to batonrouge.info-komen.org.

BRG Offers Many Weight Loss OptionsIt’s a new year and BRG has several ways to help you achieve your weight loss goals. Here are some of the programs and specials we have to offer.

Ideal Protein Plan: This weight loss plan provides your body with the protein it needs while restricting calories and carbohydrates. Sign up now—the consultation fee will be waived and you’ll receive a 10% discount on food items.

Weight Loss Surgery: Take advantage of the 20% discount on the sleeve gastrectomy procedure (for cash pay patients). Surgery must be scheduled between now and March 31.

BRG Fit! Clinic Weight Management: BRG Fit! offers ongoing fitness classes, nutritional counseling, and several weight management plans, for individuals and in group settings.

Visit BRGeneral.org/weightloss for details on all of these programs.

New Emergency Response Team MembersCongratulations to the newest HERT members (Hospital Emergency Response Team). The group recently underwent training to learn how to respond to disaster situations, including chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear hazards. Training was conducted by Paulette Faul, MSN, RNC, CRRN, and Sadye Batts, MSN, RN.

The newest HERT members are: Jacob Brown, Philip Roberts and Lisa Lachney, Facilities; David Richardson and Larry Sanchez, Nursing Service; Sara Brumfield, Rehabilitation; and Jennifer Gilmore, Dawn Lawson, Keri Talbot-Holden, Robin Stewart, Rachel Miller, Annette Patin, Tiffanie Traina, Toni Smith, Melvin Keefer, Kimberly Clark, Sajel Speyrer and Nicolina Muskey, Emergency Department.

With a warm smile and a calming presence, Kim Henderson is a natural as a hospital chaplain. When she arrived at Baton Rouge General five years ago, her duties focused on pastoral care for women and children in NICU and PICU, and she also made occasional visits to the ER and surgical units. But she had another passion—the arts—and she has been able to incorporate it into her job.

Two years ago, Kim became the supervisor of the Arts in Medicine program, which has grown steadily on both campuses, bringing art and music to patients, visitors and staff. The program’s first focus was on Pennington Cancer Center patients, who created paintings under the direction of local artist Juliet Lockwood. Later, Mary Malloy joined the program, bringing music to the patients’ bedsides. Kim developed the Friday Lunch Live! concert series, which brings musicians, bands, choirs and other performers to the hospital each week. Oral historian Paula Zimlicki just joined the team and will record patients’ stories at the family or physician’s request, and convert it to print. And in a partnership with the Manship Theatre, an ongoing exhibit of patient artworks are displayed year round in the Manship’s art gallery.

“I’m really proud of what we’ve accomplished,” Kim said. “I love seeing the smiles on people’s faces when they stop to listen to our Friday concerts or look at our exhibits. But more than anything, I love knowing that we are able to help patients focus on something other than their illness. It really makes a difference in their lives. I truly believe it helps them heal.”

In the Spotlight Kim Henderson

“I get so much positive feedback about Arts in Medicine. I see how much it means to patients and their families…it brings them joy and that makes it all worthwhile.”

Comments? Story ideas? Email: [email protected]

Exchange is produced by Baton Rouge General’s Corporate Communications Department

Help us cut down on healthcare-acquired infections by improving hand hygiene. Go to your Healthstream account to complete the educational training. For questions, call (225) 381-6594.