VoiceverdugoJune - July 2014

USC-VHH designated as a favorite workplaceReaders of the San Gabriel Valley News Group (Pasadena Star-News, San Gabriel Valley Tribune and Whittier Daily News) selected USC Verdugo Hills Hospital (USC-VHH) as a “Favorite Workplace” in a recent readership survey.

Thank you to all of our employees and volunteers for making USC-VHH a wonderful place to work!

(L to R) Olga Cedeno, Donald Weir, Pat Rademacher, Evelyn Barley, Sue Hailey, Richard McDaniel.

Assistance League of Flintridge donates new clothing to patients of USC-VHH USC Verdugo Hills Hospital (USC-VHH) takes exceptional pride in the quality of its patient care. Assistance League® of Flintridge is working with USC-VHH to further enhance patient care by donating new clothing and other necessities for patients through the Cañada Auxiliary of Professionals (CAP) Care Kits program. CAP is an auxiliary of Assistance League® of Flintridge. For more than 10 years, CAP has provided Care Kits to patients who need new clothing upon discharge. “In certain cases, a patient might arrive unexpectedly to the hospital and upon discharge is unable to use the same clothes,” said Olga Cedeno, manager of volunteer services at USC-VHH. “Assistance League® thoughtfully saw and !lled this need by donating new clothing packets. "is great act of caring for others from CAP allows a digni!ed and respectful discharge for the patient.” Since its inception, the CAP Care Kits program has been a strong bene!t to the patients of USC-VHH and continues to evolve. As the

program has grown, the need has also escalated, with nearly 100 Care Kits delivered from June of 2013 to May of 2014. To keep up with the demand, CAP has made a conscious e#ort to spend smarter by keeping track of current inventory at USC-VHH. "is, coupled with online shopping, has allowed CAP to cut costs while still meeting the needs of the hospital. Assistance League® is a national organization whose mission is to provide compassionate and caring services to individuals in communities across the nation. Assistance League® of Flintridge is a La Cañada Flintridge (LCF)-based chapter dedicated to the philanthropic needs in LCF and neighboring areas. “"is amazing group manages a wonderful program that is caring, thoughtful and supports patients at a time when they need it the most. We appreciate the individual contribution from each and every member of CAP and are incredibly grateful to have been embraced by them,” Cedeno said.

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Lauren LeBaron joins USC-VHH as new controllerLauren LeBaron has recently joined USC Verdugo Hills Hospital (USC-VHH) as the hospital’s new controller. LeBaron has more than 20 years of healthcare accounting experience, of which the last 16 years have been as a hospital controller. He has worked at several hospitals, including Monterey Park Hospital, Century City Hospital, Midway Medical Center, Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center and Valley Presbyterian Hospital. He most recently comes from Marina Del Rey Hospital. In his new role at USC-VHH, LeBaron will primarily oversee the day-to-day accounting, accounts payable and payroll. Additionally, he will lead various audits and prepare

the annual budget for the hospital. “I aim to provide the executive team and department managers with improved !nancial information to assist them in performing their roles more e#ectively,” says LeBaron. With a master’s degree from Boston University in Brussels, LeBaron began his career as a Medicare auditor and later worked for "e Walt Disney Company and Universal Studios Hollywood. A 21-year resident of Silverlake, LeBaron has a passion for traveling. His recent international trips have been to India, South Africa, Bali, France and Hungary. When he isn’t jet setting throughout the world, you can !nd him relaxing and playing 18 holes in Palm Springs.

Annetta Rhinesmith joins USC-VHH as director of patient safetyAnnetta Rhinesmith has been named the director of patient safety at USC Verdugo Hills Hospital (USC-VHH). She has spent most of her time training with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, and has also received certi!cated training at Harvard University. Additionally, Rhinesmith is exceptionally familiar with the !eld of healthcare as she has 32 years of experience in the nursing profession and is a member of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology and the National Patient Safety Foundation.As a nurse at Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital, Rhinesmith and a team of professionals collaborated on the implementation of preventative measures

for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI), and sepsis. "e development of these measures was instituted by CDC, Institute of Health Improvements (IHI), Volunteer Hospital Association (VHA) and other research organizations. Her team received national recognition by proving that it is possible to prevent VAP and CLABSI and decrease the mortality rate associated with sepsis. “My goal for the hospital is to continue to be recognized as a safe hospital and to become recognized as a state-of-the-art healthcare facility that is driven to

Lauren LeBaron

Annetta Rhinesmith

See RHINESMITH, page 3

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Angela Peachy-Larson named risk manager at USC-VHHAngela Peachy-Larson has been appointed as the new risk manager at USC Verdugo Hills Hospital (USC-VHH). Peachy-Larson worked at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center for the past 10 years, where she spent the last six years in risk management and patient relations. Avoiding risk issues and assisting patients have been staples throughout Peachy-Larson’s career, as she has helped develop many new hospital programs and policies that serve to mitigate costs and enhance safety house-wide. "ose programs include the Interpreter Service Committee, Safety Committee and Patient and Family Centered Care Committee. She currently serves on the board of directors for the California Association for Patient Relations, which is an organization working to develop a state certi!cation program for advanced patient advocacy. She is also a member of the American Society of Healthcare Risk Management.In her new position as risk manager, Peachy-Larson will continue to make improvements at USC-VHH to avoid future incidents, whether the incident is

a#ecting patient safety, environmental safety or equipment safety. When incidents do occur, she is responsible for investigating them and implementing changes based o# of them. She also works closely with USC-VHH’s legal counsel to ensure that the hospital is compliant with all rules, regulations, policies and protocols. “My goal is to develop a well-de!ned risk program for USC-VHH. I want to work with the sta# to help make improvements to our hospital and to enhance the programs that are already in place. "e number one goal is to make USC-VHH the best it can be! "e vision is to always strive for excellence,” says Peachy-Larson. Married for 17 years, Peachy-Larson is mother to three boys that always have her running around. On the weekends, you can !nd her at a soccer game, the beach or barbequing with friends.

Angela Peachy-Larson

provide the highest quality care, keeping patients and their families as predicates at the center of safe care,” says Rhinesmith, who holds a master of public health with a concentration in epidemiology.As a Los Angeleno, Rhinesmith knows the area well and certainly knows the patient demographics. She has a true passion for her work, and her concern for the safety of patients and families extends beyond to her coworkers. In her words, “paramount to serving the patient is the health and well-being of the provider, thus it is a requirement of the greatest import.”

RhinesmithContinued from page 2

Verdugo Voice is produced bi-monthly for the sta# and volunteers of USC Verdugo Hills Hospital. Comments, suggestions and story ideas are welcome. Please contact Celine Petrossian at (818) 952-2213 or Celine.Petrossian@vhh.usc.edu.Debbie Walsh CEO, USC Verdugo Hills HospitalDeborah S. Fullerton Associate Vice President, USC Health Sciences Public Relations and MarketingCeline Petrossian Marketing and Public Relations Specialist, USC Verdugo Hills HospitalKyle Herron Writer/ PhotographerKathleen Morris Designer

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Rachel Oksun

Rachel Oksun appointed to USC-VHH clinical nurse specialistRachel Oksun has been named clinical nurse specialist (CNS) for the stroke program and sepsis initiatives at USC Verdugo Hills Hospital (USC-VHH). With a master’s degree in gerontology, Oksun is seasoned in healthcare as she has experience in medical surgery, telemetry and home health case management. She most recently was a part of Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center.With advanced clinical knowledge and strong leadership and communication abilities, Oksun !ts well into her new role. Her primary responsibilities entail working closely with patients, families and healthcare providers to facilitate quality stroke care and preventative measures. In addition, Oksun is instrumental in program development, planning, assessment and performance improvement for stroke and sepsis care. She plays an important role in guiding

the e#orts for the hospital’s stroke recerti!cation while also auditing medical records to ensure that the standards of compliance are met. “My goals [in my new role] are to provide compassionate, timely and comprehensive patient-centered care to our stroke patients; provide personalized patient, family, community and professional education with a focus on stroke awareness, prevention, treatment and best practices; and to maintain our primary stroke center certi!cation for higher standards of care for our patient population,” says Oksun.Living in the San Fernando Valley, Oksun is excited to interact with the patients at USC-VHH. When she isn’t tending to her patients, she is a mother to three children who keep her busy.

Richard Scott transitions into engineering manager at USC-VHHRichard (Rick) Scott, a seasoned USC Verdugo Hills Hospital (USC-VHH) employee, has recently taken over the role of engineering manager. Scott has a wealth of experience in the medical engineering community, as he has been an engineer at USC-VHH for more than 14 years. "is new role is a natural transition for Scott, as he has taken on a bevy of engineering responsibilities during his time at USC-VHH. He not only led the engineering department during USC-VHH’s search for a new director of plant operations but also has been an integral part of the engineering team. Scott ensures that the hospital’s plant operations, boilers and air conditioning systems continue to operate smoothly and e$ciently. When there is a repair needed, Scott is the man to call. He is known to repair everything – from nurse call systems to patient beds. “My goal is to make sure that patient care is the number one priority. I want to ensure that the patients know that they are in a safe and comfortable environment,” says Scott.

Richard Scott

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Hospital wellness program helps seniors regain strength and mobilitySeniors searching for a regular exercise regimen under medical supervision are encouraged to look into USC Verdugo Hills Hospital’s (USC-VHH) Get Up & Go program, a comprehensive wellness exercise program that helps seniors in the community maintain their strength, coordination and mobility.Taught by a licensed physical therapist, the group classes are for seniors ranging in age from 70 to 95. Participants learn strategies to handle various balance and strength-robbing ailments that may include sclerosis, vertigo, hip and knee replacements and inner-ear problems. More than 1,000 seniors have participated in the program, since it began in 2007.Participants have the opportunity to receive expert advice and instruction while working in a group setting to foster wellness. Overall, the Get Up & Go program can help seniors achieve and

maintain a healthy lifestyle and decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes and other health-related conditions.Longtime class participant Jerry Taylor, 73, said the program helped him stay active despite a potentially debilitating diagnosis.“Many years ago, I was diagnosed with spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA), meaning I would have a progressive degeneration of my basic coordi-nation and walking abilities and would eventually need a cane or wheelchair,” he said. “Now, after seven years of participating in the Get Up & Go program at USC-VHH, I have not only been able to avoid a wheelchair and slow the e#ects of SCA but have also strengthened my %exibility and muscle tone.”“"anks to this program and the wonderful instructors, I am still able to play with my grandchildren and live independently,” he added.

“Thanks to this program

and the wonderful instructors,

I am still able to play with

my grandchildren and live

independently.”

— class participant Jerry Taylor

Fitness tips from Get Up & Go instructors Cynthia Cancelosi, PT, CSCS, and Juliette Norman, DPT

· Set aside time every day for exercise

· Do a little something extra every day. For example, take the stairs instead of an elevator or park far away to walk a little extra.

· Combine strengthening, stretching and cardio movement

· Work out with a buddy to motivate each other

· Listen to your body and stop if painful

· Try brushing your teeth while standing on one leg to incorporate some balance training every day

· Drink %uids to stay hydrated (water is best)

· Try something new to jump start your !tness, such as a new exercise class

· Remember a body in motion stays in motion, but a body at rest stays at rest - so just start moving