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Benefis mask makers continue their effortsto keep visitors and staff safe.

Your Mask Questions Answered Embrace the mask wearing. It's going to be a while before ourfaces are bare. Since that's the case, we're answering somecommon mask questions with help from April Woods-Tatarka,infection prevention coordinator for Benefis. Does wearing a mask actually matter? Research says yes! If both people are wearing cloth masks,they're 75 percent protected. With one person in a mask, thatdrops to 50 percent. That's still not 100 percent, so it's importantto continue to practice social distancing and hand hygiene. Andstay home when you are sick.

Don't wear the mask as a chin guard. It needs to cover your nose and mouth securely but comfortably. How should I handle my mask? Only handle it by the ear straps. Use the straps to put the mask on and take it off. How should I clean my mask? April has five masks, one for each day of work, so she only has to wash them once a week. You can handwash your masks in a bleach solution (1/3 cup bleach per gallon of water), or machine washing withdetergent on the delicate setting and hanging to dry also works. Check the CDC guidelines for moredetails. When paper masks are wet, they're no longer effective. Hang them up to dry. Toss them when they'redirty. What about filters? Jamie Dues, manager of supply chain management, has filters for cloth masks. Toss the filter and replaceonce a week. How should I store my mask in my bags? Use a paper bag instead of a plastic bag to carryaround your mask. The paper bag allows it to dryfaster, which means the virus dies quicker.

What side of my paper mask should be out? The colored side is out, and the white side goesagainst the skin. Masks also have a top and bottom.The folds should always face down. Mold the nosepiece around your nose, if there is a nose piece. What should I do about "maskne," or blemishescaused by wearing a mask?

August 17, 2020

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2020 just keeps giving! Stress plus moisture in the masks has caused breakouts on people's faces. Whileobviously not the most serious thing we're facing with COVID-19 on the march, it's still annoying. Washingyour mask regularly is the best way to keep your skin healthy. Avoid harsh skin treatments or petroleumjelly.

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The Benefis Women's and Children'sCenter is closer to reality with eachday!

Technology

Server PatchBegins TuesdayNight

ITS will perform aserver patching nextweek beginning at 10p.m. Tuesday, Aug.18,and ending at 4 a.m.Wednesday, Aug. 19. Click here for the list ofaffected systems

BenefisTelemedicine Hasa New Page

We have a new internetlanding page atBenefis.zoom.us forusers of the Zoom videoconferencing platformvia the REACHTelemedicine Networkhere at Benefis HealthSystem. For people accessingvideo conferencingevents andappointments here atBenefis, the pagesoffers a clean and

Company News

Don't Forget MandatoryEducation and Employee Survey!The 2020 Benefis Health System EmployeeSatisfaction Survey and Annual MandatoryEducation for all Benefis employees are stillavailable. The deadline for the satisfactionsurvey has been extended, meaning bothitems are now due Monday, Aug. 31. Benefis conducts the Employee Satisfaction Survey every other year. It'scompletely anonymous. Click here to complete the survey, which providesimportant feedback for shaping policy. We want to hear from you! Thedeadline has been extended. All Benefis employees and providers must successfully complete AnnualMandatory Education with a minimum score of 80 percent. If your score isbelow 80 percent, you can study the training booklet and retake the quiz rightaway. The education module is available on the Benefis Intranet underEmployee Central or at this link. The survey should be completed at the same time as the education. Pleaseallot 20-30 minutes to complete both. If you have questions regarding theeducation program, please email EmployeeCentral@benefis.org.

Click Here for Computer Lab Schedule

Women's and Children's CenterConstruction Will Close 11thAvenue For a WeekConstruction of the new Benefis Women'sand Children's Center will close 11th AvenueSouth in both directions beginning onWednesday, Aug. 19. The shutdown of the street will last for a littleover a week, with the street expected to reopen on Thursday, Aug. 27.Workers are tying into the storm drain and running the pneumatic tubes thatwill connect the center with the rest of East Campus. Keep an eye out around Monday, Aug. 31, as a crane will begin erecting thesteel for the new center, which will take about eight weeks to complete. North Tower Elevator Update A crane is expected at the North Tower to move in new elevator equipment onThursday, Aug. 27. The crane will be onsite from 7:00am through the earlyafternoon. During that time, the parking lot in front of the North Tower atEntrance 1 will be blocked off and 11th Avenue South directly in front of theparking lot will be closed to traffic.

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simple interface forchoosing actions userstypically need whenaccessing the Zoomplatform. One particularly usefulbutton is the ’GettingStarted’ link whichincludes links to videoson how to join aconference and how tolaunch a testconference. The testconference is reallyhelpful for first-timeZoom users; it’s limitedto several minutes, butit allows a user toconfirm their cameraand microphones areworking. If you have questionsabout video and audioconferencing at BenefisHealth System, pleasecontact the helpful staffof the REACHTelemedicine team at455-5588 or 788-7888. The Benefis REACHTelemedicine Networkis celebrating its 25thyear of delivering high-quality virtualhealthcare andeducation tonorthcentral Montana.

Kudos Corner

Thank you, PainClinic Team!

Kudos to the Pain ClinicTeam for their hardwork and spirit ofcooperation. The team has done agreat job covering foreach other whensomeone is sick ortakes PTO. They putpatients first, including

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App Aims to 'Bridge' Care Gaps via TechnologyThe first person to use the new urgent care app Bridge by Benefis wassuffering a sinus infection at 2 a.m. in Vaughn. The app offers virtual urgent care services 24/7 from users' smartphones,tablets, and desktop computers. The app lets users visit with a doctor viavideo from home or office. This is another way we provide patients with the most convenient carepossible, just like our in-person provider outreach across the region and clinic-based specialty provider telemedicine visits. For that first user, the experience rated a 5/5. The patient received an e-prescription for the sinus complaint that night, with no need to wait for urgentcare to open in the morning. Have you tried it yet? To learn more or download the app, visitBenefis.org/Bridge.

Click for More Information

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Faces of Benefis

Welcome Medical Students!Benefis is hosting four students from Pacific Northwest University (PNWU) inYakima, Wash., and 12 students from the Idaho College of OsteopathicMedicine (ICOM). This is ICOM's first year rotating students in a clinical setting, and we areexcited to offer our health system as their home base for education. Theschool was founded in 2016. Click for short ICOM and PNWU student biographies. They are quite anamazing group, and we can't wait to see them become doctors! Welcome to the medical students from the Class of 2022!

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their coworkers' patientsin other clinics. "If I am ever not surewhat the answer to aproblem is, this teamreminds me to thinkabout the patient.Then the answers allfall into place,"manager AmeeEllsworth says.

Other News

Sept. 1:ApplicationDeadline forProfessionalGrowth Program

The deadline for theBenefis ProfessionalGrowth Program isTuesday, Sept. 1. The programrecognizes and rewardsemployees going aboveand beyond. RNs cansubmit renewals or newapplications online. Contact your managerwith any questions.

BasicDysrhythmiaTesting isAvailable Today

A new version of rhythmstrip testing is availablebeginning today. The test is online andavailable in HumanResources. Testing is

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Join us in Welcoming Dr. Bartschto Critical CareDr. Ben Bartsch is a critical care physicianwho also provides pulmonary diseaseconsults. After completing medical school at LomaLinda University School of Medicine in LomaLinda, Calif., Dr. Bartsch completed his residency at Charles F. KetteringMedical Center in Kettering, Ohio, and his pulmonary and critical caremedicine fellowship at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center inHershey, Pa. Dr. Bartsch spent several years as a pulmonary and sleep researchinvestigator and most recently practiced at Spokane Respiratory Consultantsin Spokane Valley, Wash. Outside of work, Dr. Bartsch enjoys riding his bike and spending timeoutdoors with his family.

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open from 8 a.m. to4:30 p.m., Monday -Friday. Please have a currentcopy of your ACLS,PALS, ENPC or TNCCcertification to submit toHR. People who haddeferments as testingwas postponed due tothe coronavirus haveuntil Saturday, Oct. 31to complete their BDRtesting or losecertification pay.

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Health

Healthy Lifestyles ProgramBegins Next WeekThe Healthy Lifestyles Program is nowenrolling participants for classes beginningTuesday, Aug. 25, or Wednesday, Aug. 26. This is a group-based program designed toeducate and guide you through healthylifestyle changes as a way to reduce yourrisk of developing diabetes or other healthconditions. It is an evidence-based programmodeled after the Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention Diabetes Prevention Program. The 12-month programincludes topics on nutrition, exercise, and behavioral changes.

The program consists of 16 once-a-week classes followed by six monthlysessions. Classes will be held Tuesdays at noon or Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. For questions or to enroll, call (406) 455-5516 or (406) 731-8855.

Click to Learn More

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Gratitude Moment: Celebrating Our Impact

'From the Bottom of my Heart':Thank you, Spectrum!"I was very blessed to meet and be cared forby such kind and wonderful people atSpectrum. After having two surgeries in several days,everything was new for me. Very emotionaland scary time. Trying to heal and get usedto my ‘new normal.’ I’d never gone throughanything like this before and didn't knowwhat to do or what to expect. But with the help from the wonderful staff and nurses who were so kind,knowledgeable, compassionate, and caring, we did it. I was 'highmaintenance' for several days, but my primary nurse was with me all theway. After-hours when I needed help, the wonderful on-call nurses came overand took care of me and fixed my problems. I thank them from the bottomof my heart for everything! God bless all of the Spectrum staff." – Home Health patient

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Drawing is This Month! MayfaireRaffle Tickets Available OnlineHave you gotten your Mayfaire raffle ticketsyet? Time is running out, with the drawing inless than two weeks. The raffle helps makepossible the great things Benefis Foundation

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does for our patients, your fellow employees,and you! Tickets are available online and at theFoundation office in the Thomas Building(1200 25th St. S.) or call the Foundation at(406) 455-5840. The grand prize is $2,000 cash donatedby First Interstate Bank. Other prizes include a two-night stay at The Lodgeat Whitefish Lake with a $100 gift card to the Boat Club Restaurant and a$500 gift certificate to Forde Nursery.

Click for More Raffle Info

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Important Dates

Save the Date: Breast Cancer Conference in OctoberOn Friday, Oct. 9, Benefis will host a breast cancer conference online viaZoom. This conference will discuss how primary care and oncology work togetherduring diagnosis and treatment. Click here for the speaker lineup and information about how to take part.Check back in a few weeks for a registration link.

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