McLeod News -- April 2012

McLeodnewsAPRIL 2012

c a r i n g i n t e g r i t yp e r s o n q u a l i t y

McLeod Values in Action5 CARInG: Construction projects progressing6 PeRsOn: Financial Peace success story7 QUALITY: soarian Update8 InTeGRITY: Mission & Values week

2 service excellence3 Accolades4 news Briefs

9 Making Rounds 10 weight-loss strategies11 Looking Ahead

Each new year brings change, and the same holds true for the McLeod Employee Pharmacy. In January, McLeod implemented a new pharmacy benefit plan to “incentivize usage of the McLeod Employee Pharmacy,” said Chuck Rozak, Director of Pharmacy Services.

The first significant change to the benefit plan included increased rates out side the plan. Currently, the minimum cost for a prescription is $4, and Rozak explains that what differentiates this benefit plan from others is that all generic medications are only $4.

The second change to the benefit plan is the 90-day refill on maintenance medi-cation, which is new to McLeod Health employees. This is a cost savings for staff, who pay only $8 for a three-month supply of generic medication instead of $12. The 90-day refill is available only at the McLeod Employee Pharmacy.

Olivia Eitzman, a pharmacist in the McLeod Employee Pharmacy, urges employees to remember that, with a new prescription, they initially will be allowed only a 30-day fill. This policy is both a

cost-savings and patient-safety mechanism, according to Rozak and Eitzman.

These changes to the benefit plan were implemented to increase the usage of the McLeod Employee Pharmacy, and to date, usage has increased from approximately 30 percent to 60 percent. However, the new benefit plan presented many challenges, such as longer waiting and

delayed refills, but Rozak and Eitzman explain that appro-priate measures are being taken to “accommodate this growth and expansion.”

One of these measures is the physical expansion of the Employee Pharmacy which

has essentially doubled in size by moving into the former canteen space next door. It now resembles other retail pharmacies in that there are designated drop-off and pick-up areas. The overall floor plan also allows more space for both the pharmacy staff and employees.

The selection of over-the-counter drugs, along with other items in high demand, such as vitamins, ACE bandages, skin care and personal care products, is also expanding. And, Eitzman is working diligently to increase the variety of both over-the-counter drugs and vitamins, all in an effort to create a more convenient and robust employee pharmacy.

The pharmacy has also significantly increased its inventory to accommodate the influx of prescriptions, but Eitzman urges employees to remember that not all drugs are readily available in the

employee pharmacy expands services, moves to new, larger location

(Please turn to page 4)

To help meet its customers’ needs, the Employee Pharmacy at McLeod Regional Medical Center has moved next door to the former canteen. Doubling its size has provided space for more over-the-counter items, as well as larger areas for drop-off and pick-up.

McLeod News l April 20122

McLeod Newsis published by

McLeod Communications & Public Information.

Celia Whitten, editor (777-2695 or [email protected])

Sidney Glass, photographer

www.McLeodHealth.org or www.mrmc.McLeodHealth.org

service

Patients all across the McLeod Health system are experiencing excellent nursing care, thanks to nurses and technicians who have learned to organize their work using a process called Hourly Comfort Rounds.

Hourly Comfort Rounds are most commonly employed in inpatient, outpatient surgery, and emergency settings. Anywhere a patient is in a bed, Hourly Rounds can serve as an excellent tactic for better clinical quality and increased patient satisfaction.

A care team who performs Hourly Comfort Rounds also is able to be in greater control of their day. First of all, they learn to bundle their tasks around their hourly visits, making them more efficient.

Second, they learn to proactively intervene on the most com-mon reasons for patients to call for assistance, such as bathroom or pain needs, rather than wait for a request.

The nursing teams at all hospitals throughout the system are learning some simple ways to remember how excellent Hourly Rounds should look. They organize their conversations using GET-IT communication, and they make sure that they always address the four Ps.

GET-IT communication should always follow this basic construct:

G — GREET— Staff consistently greet the patient using his or her name and introduce themselves by name and role. They are also encouraged to tell something specific about themselves, to “manage up” the patient’s perception of them, as caregivers.

E — EXPLAIN—Staff members should always explain their purpose in the interaction — why they are entering the room.

T — TALK ABOUT TASKS—Staff should narrate every task they carry out, from starting an IV, to setting up the food tray. To help nurses and technicians remember to proactively offer assistance on most common needs, staff is taught to always talk about the “four Ps” — Pain, Potty, Positioning, and Personal Items.

I — INFORM/INSTRUCT—Staff should always inform the patient about what to expect after the encounter is complete. For example, the nurse or tech should tell her patients that she will return some time in the next hour, to round on them again.

As we consistently make that commitment — and deliver on it — the patient develops trust in us individually and as a group.

T — THANK/TAKE TIME—Staff should take time to ask if the patient has any additional needs or questions before he goes and should take time to let them answer. Then, we should always say thank you for something specific at the end of the encounter. This interaction demonstrates a real expression of appreciation for the patient.

Rounds are conducted every hour during the day and every two hours at night. Nurses and techs are taught there is no need to wake the patient if he or she is asleep, but they must quietly enter and visually validate that the patient is safe.

The use of the four Ps is vital to both improved patient care and customer satisfaction. Research has shown that the four most common reasons for the use of call lights are needs related to pain, potty, positioning, and personal items.

When these needs are addressed proactively, the use of call lights has been shown to be reduced by 40 to 60 percent in national studies. Additionally, proactively addressing the four Ps has been shown to reduce both falls and skin breakdown.

Measures of satisfaction mirror these positive results. Nursing staff are more satisfied when they have better clinical outcomes and more control over their day; and obviously, patient satisfac-tion increases as patients feel that they no longer have to ask for everything themselves.

Hourly Comfort Rounds is a model of care delivery that, when delivered consistently, will provide a win-win for everyone involved.

— Catherine Lee Frederick, MBAAssociate Vice President, Service Excellence

comfort rounds deliver patient satisfaction GET-IT communication helps initiate conversations with patients

During hourly comfort rounds, Chappel Timmons, a nurse in the Medical-Surgical Unit at McLeod Darlington, checks on her patient, Ella Thomas, to make sure she meets any needs Ms. Thomas might have.

McLeod News l April 2012 3

Awards and RecognitionRandy JohnsonEngineeringMcLeod Medical Center DarlingtonAwarded McLeod Merit Award,March 20, 2012

Julie UlmerPediatric RehabilitationMcLeod Regional Medical CenterAwarded McLeod Merit Award,February 8, 2012

Tracy StantonCommunicationsand Public InformationMcLeod Regional Medical CenterAwarded McLeod Merit Award,March 14, 2012

McLeod Leadership Academy students graduate after year-long programGraduation for the second McLeod Leadership Academy

was held on March 14 at the Department Directors’ meeting. The 22 students in the Leadership Academy applied to be a part of the program, which trains them in the leadership competencies and skills necessary to become a leader at McLeod.

Besides the monthly meetings, the students work in small groups to complete assigned projects that include case studies in listening, conflict resolution, and crucial conversations; change initiatives in their departments; and ways for McLeod to become one of the 100 Best Companies. These projects are presented to the McLeod leadership and other Leadership Academy students. In addition, they study the concept of drive, change management, and the characteristics of leading companies.

Completing the year-long McLeod Leadership Academy program were (front, L to R) Ashley Watford of the Medical-Surgical Unit at McLeod Darlington, Rhonda Sherman of

Revenue Cycle Management at McLeod Physician Associates, Joanna Weldon of Radiology Services, Mary Brackett of the Laboratory, Marcella Grant of the Medical/Renal Unit, Rachelle Ball of Pee Dee Surgical, Kim Rogers of PICU, Ester Thomas of the Medical/Renal Unit, and Gary Summerfield of the Outpatient Wound Center; (middle) Ryan Whitlow of Behavioral Health, Ashley Huggins of the Medical Unit, Willie Nixon of Environmental Services, Andrew McNeil of Cardiovascular Services, Ashley Moody of the Hospitalist Program, Sholonda Jackson of the Stroke Unit, Sharon Moore of McLeod Home Health, and Daniel Woodberry of Revenue Cycle Management at McLeod Physician Associates; (back) program leaders Mib Scoggins of Organizational Learning and Jean Broughton of Human Resources, Kim McCracken of Employee/Occupational Health, Hal Parish of Environmental Services, and Malissa Nowling of Patient and Family Services. Graduates who are not pictured are Natasha Poston of Neurology and Alex Petkovsek of the Stroke Unit.


MCLeOd VALUes In ACTIOnnews Briefs

Children with chronic illnesses sometimes are left out of fun activities such as summer camp. However, McLeod Children’s Hospital offers a special camp each summer designed specifically to meet the individual and unique health-care needs of these children.

Camp Health is a free and fun camp for children from five to 12 years old with chronic illnesses such as asthma, sickle-cell disease, and type 1 diabetes. Enrollment is now being conducted.

The camp will be held from Monday, June 18 to Friday, June 22 in the Child Life Activity Center.

The camp will include fun and exciting activities for kids as well as related health information.

Camp activities are held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Breakfast and lunch will be served to the children participating in the camp.

To enroll a child, call McLeod Reservations and Scheduling at 843-777-2005 or 1-800-667-2005. Space is limited. Transportation will be available for children from Dillon.

summer camp brings fun, education to children with chronic illnesses

March of Dimes March for Babies Walk in Florence —Sat., May 5, McLeod Health and Fitness Center, 9 a.m. Walkers will take the Florence Rail Trail for the three-mile event. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. For team information, call NICU Director Jeanie Elmore at 777-8397 or 777-8335.

pharmacy or from wholesalers, so there may be occasional delays. In addition, the pharmacy has hired three new staff members — one full-time cashier and two PRN employees.

The changes being made to the McLeod Employee Pharmacy are intended to increase usage because, as Rozak explains, the pharmacy exists to “offer savings to employees while defraying the costs of the medical plan.”

The Employee Pharmacy also will offer additional services in the future, including blood pressure readings and informa-tion days, according to Rozak and Eitzman. Once a quarter, a member of the pharmacy staff will be available to distribute and offer information on a special topic, which will encourage more interaction between the pharmacy staff and employees.

Rozak also hopes to offer the opportunity for consultations where an employee can have his or her medications reviewed by a staff member.

Rozak adds that the current expansion is only the beginning stage toward a larger vision for the pharmacy — a medical center pharmacy which will serve in even greater capacities. Thus, even with more changes in store, the one thing that will not change is the commitment of the Employee Pharmacy to creating a service-driven, cost-saving benefit plan for employees.

Reminders to take best advantage of Employee Pharmacy services

The hours of operation have expanded:l McLeod Florence: Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.

Note: Florence pharmacy is open during lunch. l McLeod Loris & Seacoast: Monday-Friday, 2-7:30 p.m.l McLeod Dillon: Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

— Your physician can contact the pharmacy in several ways:l Electronically via the electronic prescription system EScriptl By fax (777-2950)l By phone (777-2166) via the new automated telephone system, IVR

— Employees can refill a maintenance medication at least one week in advance. — Come early in the morning for fastest service. — Employees can wait for or call in the prescription. If you or your doctor calls before 3 p.m., your prescription will be processed that day. After 3 p.m., the order will be processed the next business day. In the case of an emergency, just notify the pharmacy. — Declare delivery or pick-up. Orders are delivered to:l McLeod Darlingtonl McLeod Dillonl McLeod Loris

Note: McLeod Seacoast orders are delivered to McLeod Loris and then transferred to McLeod Seacoast.Delivery turnaround time is approximately 48 hours.

Employee pharmacy (continued from page 1)

Florence Relay for Life — Fri., April 20, 7 p.m. at Freedom Florence. To purchase luminaries in honor or in memory of an individual or group or to participate on the McLeod team, contact Summer Bryant-Cook at 777-5640 or [email protected].

March for Babies / Relay for Life

Hunger Healers team wins Spirit of Giving AwardRepresentatives of the Hunger Healers team recently met with Nicole Echols (3rd from R) of Harvest Hope Food Bank. The Hunger Healers, which was made up of departments under the divisions of Tim Hess, Dr. Mike Rose, Dale Locklair, and Dr. Coy Irvin, were honored in February with the Spirit of Giving Award from the Employee Appreciation Team for collecting the most food

— 2,310 pounds — during the holiday food drive. Celebrating the results of their hard work were (L to R) Rhounda Williams, Gwen Gattison, and Tim Hess, all of Human Resources; Angela Singletary and Mib Scoggins of Training, Gail Weaver of Pee Dee AHEC, and Chuck Kelly of Family Medicine. Together, McLeod teams raised 8,626 pounds of food, which, at the time, was the largest donation Harvest Hope had ever received.


THE VALUE OF

MCLeOd VALUes In ACTIOnCaring

Construction is progressing on a new medical office building for Pee Dee Nephrology, located on Cheves Street across from the McLeod Hospice House. This new 9,000-square-foot facility will provide nearly three times more space than the current location on Warley Street.

Designed for eight physicians, the new office will allow for expansion beyond the current four members — Dr. Venugopal Govindappa, Dr. Farhan Maqsood, Dr. John Pittard, and Dr. Inderpal Singh.

According to Dr. Singh, the expansion provides for more comfort and space in patient care areas, easier access and more parking for patients, as well as larger waiting rooms and more patient examination rooms. “We are delighted to be able to provide an improved environment and easier navigation for the patients we serve,” he said.

Pee Dee Nephrology expands on Cheves Street

A recent view of the east side of the Critical Care (ICU) Towers

Concourse will join buildings

If you have wondered what is

going on behind the construction walls in front of McLeod Regional Medical

Center, you would be amazed by the

progress being made in building

the concourse that will join the McLeod

Tower, McLeod Pavilion, and the

Cancer Center and medical office

building. When it is complete

next spring, the concourse will

also house new employee and retail

pharmacies, a gift shop, an expanded

food court, and a family waiting area

for the Heart and Vascular Institute.

As some construction projects are just beginning, others are nearing completion on several McLeod campuses.

McLeod Regional Medical Center The McLeod Hospice House is on schedule to be

completed by August.Critical Care (ICU) Towers — Steel has been “topped out”

on the McLeod Center for Intensive Care. The setting of glass is beginning, to be completed this fall. Internal upfitting of doors and walls has begun, with occupancy expected next May. The towers will include 100 critical care beds and 20 step-down beds.

What is new — Glass will provide light for patients to orient themselves to day and night. Family corridors outside patient rooms will create a comforting environment so that family members can rest and still be near their loved ones. By moving Hemodialysis to the towers, patients in critical care areas will have easier access to hemodialysis care. A medical/surgical warehouse, with a loading dock underneath the building, also will make handling and delivery of supplies more efficient because supplies will be unloaded closer to where they are needed.

Central Energy Plant — New boilers, chillers, and cooling towers will be completed in May, providing an automated energy management system that will reduce energy costs by 30 percent.

The Cancer Center and Medical Office Building will house physician practices for oncology and pulmonary. The building will be connected this spring by the concourse to the McLeod Tower and by bridge to the west parking deck.

What is new — A certificate of need has been submitted to move Infusion Services to the Cancer medical office building.

Seacoast A fourth operating room is being constructed by

renovating existing space. Completion is expected in six to eight months.

DillonThe Central Energy Plant is being renovated. Teams are

replacing cooling towers, chillers, and boilers for energy efficiency.

Construction projects continuing; some slated to be completed soon


THE VALUE OF

MCLeOd VALUes In ACTIOnPerson MCLeOd VALUes In ACTIOn

Ashley Atkinson and her husband, Josh, believe in “paying it forward.” The couple has had so much success from the Financial Peace class they took at McLeod last year that they are planning to start sharing the principles by teaching classes at their church.

For 11 years, Ashley has worked as an occupational therapist at McLeod Rehabil i ta tive Services in Florence. Josh is in sales.

They started the Financial Peace class last year in January. After 12 months of financial sacrifices, they were debt free in January of this year.

In fact, on Friday, January 27, they flew to Nashville to appear on the radio program of Dave Ramsey, the founder of the program to help people put their finances in order. “Being on the program was like crossing the finish line,” Ashley said. Sticking to what they had learned, they returned home that day without paying for a hotel or boarding their dogs.

“What a huge difference it has made in our lives, our finances, and our marriage!” she said. “It is one of the best things we have done as a couple. It has improved our communication immensely.”

Ashley had heard about Financial Peace from some of her co-workers who had been through the program. The couple liked that McLeod was offering the program for their employees.

“When we realized that McLeod would pay for it with 100 percent attendance, we really could not say no.”

Before they started the Financial Peace program, the couple, who will be cele brating their fifth wedding anniversary in April, had never had a budget and had maintained separate checking accounts. Each paid part of the household bills.

Josh was harder to convince than Ashley that the program was for them. The idea of sticking to a budget made him un-comfortable. But what he heard at the first class convinced him.

“It was not as bad as getting your tooth pulled,” he joked.They had read one of Dave Ramsey’s books but had not fol-

lowed its ideas. Taking the class at McLeod gave them feelings of accountability and support that helped them to be successful.

“We had accountability for showing up for the class, and we had the support of our classmates,” Ashley said. “I think that made the difference.”

They took the two-hour Tuesday night class during which they watched a DVD and had class discussion. Bobby McDuffie of Information Systems, who was the facilitator, says he feels the Atkinsons’ success with Financial Peace was due to their ability to work together as a team. “They were willing to bring their money together as a unit,” he said. “That was the key to their financial success.”

Josh felt a camaraderie with the others in the class who, just like he and Ashley, were working toward their financial goals. “I liked seeing other people being successful,” he said. “There was an upbeat feeling every time you were there.”

Putting a budget on paper and sticking to it was the hardest part, but the couple soon realized how much better their finan-cial situation could be in the future if they followed the program.

“We did not know how much our expenses were,” Josh said. “It was a matter of getting focused and staying focused. We had to make short-term sacrifices for long-term goals.”

Working at what Ramsey calls “gazelle intensity” gave them the momentum to keep moving forward with their goals in mind, Ashley says.

They also had been encouraged by listening to Ramsey’s radio program online. They heard about the success of other couples who had been in much more difficult financial

situations. “If they are doing it, we can too,” Ashley said.

Even though they have now paid off Josh’s truck, credit card bills, and a loan on their house, the couple plans to continue setting up their monthly budget. Now, however, that task takes only 15 minutes instead of several hours. Their current goal is creating an emergency fund equal to three to six months of their living expenses.

Even though they are still watching their finances, they did allow themselves a small splurge to celebrate. “We had a really nice dinner,” Ashley said. “And, we had appetizers and dessert!”

Ashley and Josh Atkinson met Dave Ramsey (center) at his Nashville headquarters where they were featured on his Friday radio program. From the building’s lobby, Financial Peace graduates can call in to the radio program and tell Ramsey how they used his guidance to eliminate their debt. Like other visitors, Ashley and Josh left a message on the wall in the lobby.

‘We are debt free!’Couple finds success throughMcleod-sponsored program

For information about upcoming Financial Peace classes,

call the Human Resources service Center at 777-2595.


MCLeOd VALUes In ACTIOn

THE VALUE OF

MCLeOd VALUes In ACTIOnQuality

Dr. Brent Baroodydavid R. Chapman,

Md, PC1523 Heritage Lane, suite A, Florence

Two physicians — Dr. Brent Baroody and Dr. Philip Bowman — recently have joined the Medical Staff at McLeod Regional Medical Center.

Dr. Baroody is an obstetrician/gyne col ogist caring for patients at David R. Chapman, MD, PC. Board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr. Baroody received a medical degree in 1999 from the School of Medicine at the University of South Carolina. He completed a residency in 2003 at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville.

Dr. Bowman is a psychiatrist caring for patients at Pee Dee Mental Health Center in Florence. Board certified in Psychiatry, Dr. Bowman received a medical degree in 1984 at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond. He completed a residency in 1988 at the Letterman Army Medical Center in San Francisco.

Dr. philip BowmanPee dee

Mental Health Center125 e. Cheves st.,

Florence

OB/GYN, psychiatrist join medical staff at Mcleod regional Medical center

Directors at McLeod Regional Medical

Center were trained in Soarian, the

new health-care information

system that is being implemented

system-wide. Use of Soarian Clinicals

began in March at McLeod Dillon.

Tuesday, April 17 is the “go-live” date

at Florence and Darlington.

Welcomingnew physicians

Soarian is live in Dillon and all systems are available. That message scrolled in red across The Compass on the morning of Tuesday, March 20, to the relief of many administrators and staff who had been working for two years to bring the new clinical computer system to McLeod.

In April, Soarian will be rolling out at McLeod Darlington and McLeod Regional Medical Center. Those who have been intimately involved in its implementation are excited about its new features.

“Soarian is like a new team member on the clinical team engaged in the patient’s care!” said Marie Segars, Administrator at McLeod Regional Medical Center. “It is different from the current computer documentation system we use because it is a ‘workflow engine.’ In other words, we will have a system that works with us in patient care, not just a way to document.”

In addition, patient safety issues will be easier to resolve.

“Once Soarian is totally functional, with physicians being able to electronically submit orders and program notes, my staff expects to see a dramatic increase in patient safety,” said Pat Godbold, Administrator at McLeod Darlington. “The chance of errors occurring will be dramatically decreased,” she said.

“Legibility issues will be resolved, and transmission of data will be readily avail-able to all providers.”

“The system will help us with safety by using evidence-based clinical rules to aid all clinicians in decision-making and remind us of patient needs,” Segars said.

“Based on the plan of care or the medica-tions the patient is taking, for example, the system will provide our most up-to-date clinical orders, developed by our medical staff, to the admitting physician without a delay for printing or seaching for the forms.

“The system also will reduce the number of hand-offs in information, a process

known for increasing miscommunications.”Gathering patient information for

transfers from Emergency Services to Behavioral Health also will be simplified, Godbold added. “Behavioral Health staff, who have never used a paperless system, are incredibly excited about documenting electronically.”

First stage complete for new computer system ‘Soarian is like a new team member engaged in the patient’s care!’


THE VALUE OF

MCLeOd VALUes In ACTIOnIntegrity

The Mission of McLeod Health is to improve the overall health and well-being of people living within South Carolina and eastern North Carolina by providing excellence in health care.

ission & alues weekM V

A set of common values unites each and every person at McLeod in preserving our mission to cure and our passion to care. The McLeod Core Values include:

The Value of CaringAt McLeod Health, our professionals do not focus solely on their jobs. They embrace

opportunities to respond with compassion, offering not only medical care but also personal, emotional and responsive caring to the needs of our patients.

The Value of the PersonIn life’s most profound moments, the people of McLeod are committed to sharing a generosity

of spirit with each individual patient and cheerfully offering courtesy, resilience and respect.

The Value of QualityFor more than 100 years, McLeod has been the choice for medical excellence. Our mission

requires us to have highly skilled personnel and a spectrum of advanced technology.

The Value of IntegrityWe expect people who are part of the McLeod Health family to display honesty, wisdom,

discipline, and an intense desire to accept the responsibility of care for patients and their families.

cLeod aluesM V

cLeod ission

Let’s celebrate together on April 30-May 4!Look for more information to come. The week’s festivities will include T-shirt giveaways, ice cream, and other special activities. Each campus will feature its own schedule of activities during this special week.

M M


MAkInG ROUndsMcLeod Florenceinpatient Hematology/oncology

Congratulations to Whittney Godwin on recently passing her nursing boards! We are so proud of you and are delighted to have you on our team!

Congratulations to Heidi Ayers on your promotion to Patient Care Supervisor! You’ll do an excellent job!

Congratulations to the entire Oncology team for our patient satisfaction scores! Currently, we have seven of eight blues for the January to March quarter. Thanks to each of you for your hard work and dedication to our patients!

Finance/payroll/reimbursementOur sincere condolences go to

Harriet McClam, whose father died in February.

information systemsBest wishes to Timothy Eaddy and

Trayce Brown (Registration) on their February 18 marriage.

Our sympathy goes to Timothy Eaddy on the death of his mother on February 6. Our thoughts and prayers have been with you.

infusion servicesCongratulations to Veronica Smith

and her husband on the birth of their new baby girl.

Best wishes to Jackie Griggs, who retired on February 21.

child Development centerOur sympathies go to Melissa

Johnson, Sylvia Augustus, Sabrina Vincent, Dena Evans, and Kote Byrd, who all had deaths in their families.

emergency servicesBest wishes to Stephanie Duer on

her marriage to Brandon Moore.Our condolences to Legare Miller,

whose grandmother died, and to Jean Ivey on the death in her family.

anesthesiaOur deepest sympathy goes to

Tray Hanna on the death of his

mother in February.Congratulations to Ashley Lowder

on completing her master’s degree in anesthesia at the Medical University of South Carolina and passing state boards in December.

laboratoryCongratulations go out to Traci

Gamble on passing her certification exam to become a Medical Technologist/Clinical Laboratory Scientist.

Congratulations to Mary Brackett on graduating from the McLeod Leadership Academy. To both of you, way to go on your achievements!

rehabilitative servicesCongratulations to Terri Smith

on her March 3 marriage to Steve Morrison. Best of luck!

radiologyOur deepest sympathy goes to Dr.

Greg Cleveland on the death of his father and to Bob Kunnselman on the death of his mother.

Congratulations to Jane Rhodes and husband Rollins on the February 21 birth of their son. Max weighed six pounds, two ounces.

Congratulations to the Breast Imaging Department for receiving a 100 percent score for another year on its Mammography Quality Standards Act inspection. The Breast Imaging staff are dedicated to providing excellent patient care. We appreciate the expertise and attention to detail from the staff involved in this survey. Great job! We are very proud of the work you perform on a daily basis.

Congratulations to the Vascular Lab -oratory. It has been granted a three-year term of accreditation in Vascular Testing in the areas of Extracranial Cerebrovascular Testing, Peripheral Venous Testing, and Peripheral Arterial Testing by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission. The Vascular Lab has undergone a thorough review of its operational and technical components by a panel of experts. Thanks to the physicians and sonographers for

providing quality patient care to our patients as we continue to build a Center of Excellence.

McLeod Darlingtonnursing administration

Our condolences to Kathleen Campbell, whose husband died in February.

administrationCongratulations to Traci Hubbard

and the Radiology staff in Mammo g-raphy and Imaging on your continued certification (100 percent compliance for 10 years).

Congratulations to the Laboratory on your very successful Joint Commission survey!

Thanks to all of the staff for making our $5 jewelry sale so successful. More than $2,000 was raised for the McLeod Foundation.

McLeod Dillonnursing administration

Congratulations to Sharon McLain of Surgical Services and Mary Adams of Women’s and Children’s Services on being selected as Palmetto Gold recipients this year.

administrationCongratulations to Reeanna

Henderson of the Hospitalist program for earning her Certified Documenta-tion Improvement Practitioner credential, which is awarded by the American Health Information Management Association.

McLeod Loris Seacoastcenter for Health & Fitness

We are so proud of two of our team members who participated in and won in their age groups at the Historic Marion Runfest on February 25. Personal trainer and aerobics instructor Allison Hamilton and registered dietitian Jenna Elliott both won first place in their age groups in the 10-mile run.


McLeod Health Eating Well Strategy

Obstacle:

I am not good at menu planning. I never have the right ingredients around the house to make a healthy meal.

— from Mayo Clinic: Healthy Weight for Everybody

Strategies for overcoming weight-loss barriers

It helps if you plan ahead, but you can still wing it and eat well. Remember that healthy eating does not have to be com-plicated or involve hard-to-find ingredients.

When you go to the grocery store, stock up on some of the

— Kitty Finklea, McLeod Health & Fitness Center

Believe it or not, it is really easy to keep healthier items stocked in your kitchen so you can easily pull together a quick nutritious meal. Since everyone has different tastes, it is important to first figure out what easy meals you can pull together quickly.

Start with a list of five to 10 healthy meals and arrange each meal on an index card. Figure out which meals you want to include in a week’s menu. Here are five easy supper examples:• Spaghetti with meat sauce and green beans• Baked chicken, wild rice, broccoli• Burger on whole-grain bun and coleslaw

• Grilled salmon, roasted potatoes, and vegetables• Vegetarian lasagna and salad

Second, make a stock list. Find your favorite healthy recipes for the above meals and make a list of these ingredients to have on hand:

Freezer — Extra-lean hamburger (or ground turkey breast), chicken, and salmon, frozen green beans, broccoli, whole-grain buns.

Cupboard — Pasta sauce, whole-grain noodles (spaghetti and lasagna, wild rice, quinoa), herbs and spices such as Italian seasoning (no sodium), oregano, basil, garlic powder, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, pepper, low-sodium chicken and beef broth.

Refrigerator — Cabbage mix and low-fat mayonnaise for slaw; dark-green lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc., for salad; new potatoes, squash, zucchini, mushrooms, red pepper, etc., for roasted veggies.

It takes only 15 to 20 minutes each week to plan healthy menus for your family. Use your current menu ideas or add in some new ones from cookbooks or from an online search. Start a grocery list with any needed items.

Other tips to keep it simple but do-able:•Keep a running grocery list on the fridge or on your phone to quickly add needed items.•Stop by the store on the way home from work or errands for last-minute items. Forgot to thaw the chicken? Pick up a rotisserie chicken!•Think out of the box. There are lots of lower-salt marinades to spice up plain baked chicken or broiled salmon. Try a different flavor of pasta sauce such as red pepper or tomato-basil or even a frozen veggie burger.• It is so easy to roast veggies. Cut up any veggies you like, mix with a small amount of olive oil and herbs, and place in a casserole dish. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 30 to 45 minutes, stirring once or twice.

Keep looking for new fun recipes online, or purchase a subscription to a healthy cooking magazine. Look for shorter ingredient lists and preparation instructions.

If you need food coaching for healthy meal and snack ideas to fit into your lifestyle, there are nutrition programs available at the McLeod Health and Fitness Center.

Call 843-777-3000 for more information.

basics. If you have food and ingredients on hand, you will be able to prepare a good meal.

To save money as you stock your pantry, experiment with store brands as well as national brands to find items you like.

keeping basic ingredients on hand makes planning

healthy meals easier, faster


coMMunity eventsMobile Mammography unit screenings (Call 777-2095)

Tues., April 10, 8:30 am-4 pm, McLeod Family Medicine TimmonsvilleWed., April 25, 9 am-4 pm, First Reliance Bank, FlorenceThurs., April 26, 8:30 am-4 pm, McLeod Family Medicine Johnsonville

special oBservancesApril is: Alcohol Awareness Month, National Autism Awareness Month,

Cancer Control Month, Child Abuse Prevention Month, Counseling Awareness Month, National Donate Life Month, National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, Irritable Bowel Syndrome Awareness Month, National Minority Health Month, Occupational Therapy Month, National Sarcoidosis Awareness Month, Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Month, Sports Eye Safety Awareness Month, Stress Awareness Month, Women’s Eye Health & Safety Month

April 2-8 — National Public Health WeekThurs., April 5 — National Alcohol Screening DaySat., April 7 — World Health DayApril 21-28 — National Infant Immunization WeekTues., April 24 — World Meningitis DayApril 22-28 — National Infertility Awareness Week, Organ & Tissue Donor

Awareness Week, Administrative Professionals Week

american red crossblood drive

Register for a donation time at www.GiveLife.org/index.cfm?

Sponsor=McLeodor by calling 777-2005.

Bring a first-time donor and be entered into the drawing for prizes.

Your donation not only saves lives but also helps McLeod

receive discounts on blood products.

looking aHeaD

third thursday with kohl’s safe seats

(monthly) Thurs., April 19, 4-6 pm, Kohl’s parking lot, Florence

kohl’s safe seats at the Beach(quarterly)

Tues., April 24, 3-6 pm, Kohl’s parking lot,

Hwys. 17 & 544, Myrtle Beach

(Free; bring child & child safety seat.Call 777-5021 for information.)

McLeod Diabetes CenterMonthly support group

(Free; call 777-6000) Mon., April 9, 6:30-7:30 pm

Medical Park East, Suite 290, conference room

training prograMs pee Dee aHec: infection control update: vaccinations & norovirus

Tues., April 3, 9 am-12:10 pm & 1-3 pm, Family Medicine Center, classrms A & B

pee Dee aHec: legal issues at the end of life Wed., April 4, 9 am-12:15 pm, Family Medicine Center, classrms A & Bpee Dee aHec: cultural Diversity Tues., April 10, 9 am-3:30 pm, Family Medicine Center, classrms A & Bpee Dee aHec: strategies to Help with early- to Mid-stages of Dementia Thurs., April 12, 9 am-12:15 pm, Family Medicine Center, classrms A & Bpee Dee aHec: get Beyond the Fear: reduce your risk for Dementia Thurs., April 12, 1-4:15 pm, Family Medicine Center, classrms A & Bpee Dee aHec: Bedside emergencies for the Medical-surgical nurse Fri., April 13, 9 am-4:30 pm, Family Medicine Center, classrms A & Bpee Dee aHec: 2012 update for pharmacy technicians Sat., April 14, 9 am-1:15 pm, McLeod Medical Plaza, conference center

program topic: “problem solving for Better Blood sugar control”

To register for Pee dee AHeC classes, call 777-5343.

Mon., april 232-7 pm

McLeod Health & Fitness Center, Conference Room

McLeod Health & Fitness Center is the only medically-based wellness center in the greater Florence area – with an array of professionally-managed programs to help people of all ages and fitness levels improve their overall health and quality of life. A full range of memberships is available – including adult, youth, corporate

and medical – to meet your individual health and fitness goals.No other facility in our area offers this scope of facilities and services!

• Group classes in cardio, pilates, cycling, trekking, yoga, zumba and much more • Weight training and circuit training • Full service spa • Six-lane, 75 foot pool • Warm water exercise pool • Whirlpools, saunas

• Steam rooms • Gymnasium • Racquetball • Indoor and outdoor tracks • CPR trained and certified staff • Full locker room facilities • Pro shop • Happy Heart Grill

There’s a big difference between us and other health facilities.

McLeodHealth & Fitness Center

��-��-��www.McLeodHealthFitness.org

�� Willwood Drive, Florence, SC ��

Documents

McLeod News -- April 2012