AMITA Health Associate News - August 2017

AUgUST 2017

ASSOCIATE INSIDE THIS ISSUE iConnect Training page 3 Our Behaviors — Attitude is Everything Video Extra page 4 Culture of Safety Survey Begins Aug. 28 page 5 Summer Events AMITA Health page 6, 7 Video Extra Change your iAMITA Location page 8 eAMITA is a Valuable Tool for Reluctant Patients page 9 AMITA Health Ranked Among Best Chicago Hospitals page 10 Volunteer Spotlight page 11 Someone You Should Know page 12 AMITA Health Communications 3040 Salt Creek Lane Arlington Heights, IL 60005 AMITA Health Associate News is published by the AMITA Health Communications Department for associates at all AMITA Health hospitals and facilities. We welcome your questions and comments. Please e-mail us at Communications@amitahealth.org.

NEWS

Presence Health Signs Letter of Intent with Ascension to Join AMITA Health

Ascension, the nation’s leading Catholic and non-profit health system, and Presence Health, a leading Catholic health system in Illinois, have signed a nonbinding letter of intent (LOI) for Presence Health to join Ascension and become part of AMITA Health, a joint venture of Ascension’s Alexian Brothers Health System and Adventist Midwest Health, which is part of Adventist Health System.

Through this transaction, Presence Health would add its medical centers, outpatient AMITA Health President and CEO Mark Frey (left) with facilities and other sites of care to the Presence Health President and CEO Michael Englehart integrated health system of AMITA Health, at an Aug. 22 ceremony at Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center, Chicago, marking the announcement of with the goal of enhancing patient care the signing of the letter of intent for Presence Health to while reducing costs throughout the become part of AMITA Health.

Illinois communities served by the combined organizations. All Presence Health facilities would become part of AMITA Health except Presence Life Connections, which would join Ascension Living, Ascension’s senior care subsidiary.

“The mission, values and history of Presence Health clearly align well with those of Ascension, as both systems are dedicated to caring for all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable,” said Anthony R. Tersigni, EdD, FACHE, president and chief executive officer, Ascension. “We believe this will strengthen Catholic healthcare not only in the region but throughout the country as we are all dedicated to delivering personalized, compassionate care.”

“Since we brought together Alexian Brothers Health System and Adventist Midwest Health to form AMITA Health two years ago, we’ve always looked for opportunities to add likeminded partners with similar values to our system,” said Mark Frey, president and chief

See Letter of Intent page 2

Letter of Intent continued from page 1 executive officer of AMITA Health and senior vice president of Ascension Healthcare, a division of Ascension. “Bringing Presence Health into Ascension and AMITA Health is a perfect fit and an exciting continuation of our commitment to increase access to quality healthcare in the many communities we serve.”

The transaction would further Presence Health’s and AMITA Health’s aligned commitment to the mission of faith-based healthcare and bring added benefits to those they serve as they continue their long traditions of providing high-quality care and meeting the needs of their communities, especially those who are poor and underserved. In addition, the highly successful Accountable Care Organizations of both systems would allow AMITA Health, with the addition of Presence Health, to even more efficiently and effectively address the growing emphasis on managing the health of large populations.

From left: AMITA Health President and CEO Mark Frey, Sister Terry Maltby of the Sisters of Mercy (and a member of the Presence Health Board of Directors), Sister Hanna Paradowska of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth and Presence Health President and CEO Michael Englehart.

“Joining Ascension and AMITA Health is a natural evolution for Presence Health, especially given the mutual respect between our systems and our shared mission, vision and values to provide quality, faith-based care,” said Michael Englehart, president and chief executive officer of Presence Health. “We look forward to working together to engage in this joint effort to expand, and continue to deliver, quality care for our patients and residents, as well as provide additional clinical opportunities and patient care resources to all our physicians and associates.”

With this transaction, AMITA Health will increase people’s access to care, expand the system’s physician network and deepen sub-specialization capabilities, producing better value for patients. The LOI is expected to lead to a definitive agreement pending detailed legal and financial due diligence, along with regulatory and canonical approval.

Tell Us Your Story Do you have a compelling patient story? Exciting clinical developments? News about a fellow associate? The

AMITA Health Communications Department is always looking for story leads for: Press Releases Newsletter Content

Media Interviews iAMITA Intranet

Email us at communications@amitahealth.org or call our News Tip Line at 630.856.NEWS or tie-line 773.NEWS

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AMITA Health Associate News

iConnect:

Assembling an Effective Training Strategy

While training for those organizations moving onto the iConnect patient care documentation platform won’t begin until late October, the sheer volume of people who need to be trained requires that the careful coordination of departmental requirements, training resources and classroom locations start now.

Nearly 5,300 associates will soon be working with this new technology – all of whom will require a combination of classroom and myLearning training, as well as hands-on practice sessions prior to system implementation.

On Thursday and Friday, July 20-21, executives and leaders from legacy Alexian facilities participated in meetings that introduced the overarching plan for bringing team members up to speed on their new electronic medical records system and the workflows and processes that will be impacted.

The training strategy that was unveiled incorporates: • A Train-the-Trainer approach that will expand training bandwidth • Training Champions who will act as Liaisons between the facilities and the coordinating Training Leads • Super Users who will act as Proctors during classroom training and provide onsite support during activation • myLearning Leads who will create and load computer-based curricula • Topical myLearning courses that will be introduced at the 90-day mark to reinforce and expand upon initial training “All of these program components build upon each other to ensure that training participants have every opportunity to fully understand and familiarize themselves with their new iConnect technology and devices prior to implementation,” said Sherrie Russell, chief information officer. “Our Champions and Super Users play important roles in addressing associate concerns and identifying potential training and/or product gaps. With this comprehensive training strategy, we are doing all we can to facilitate a smooth iConnect implementation.”

Pat Hartmann is director of nursing education and the Training Champion for AMITA Health Alexian Brothers Medical Center Elk Grove Village and AMITA Health St. Alexius Medical Center Hoffman Estates. She has been working closely with the project leaders on the AMITA Health training strategy. “I am pleased and impressed with the iConnect team’s organization, communication and willingness to interact with and support us,” said Hartmann. “Although this project can be overwhelming, we are not alone in this journey.” iConnect training is mandatory, and legacy Alexian department leaders are working with the iConnect Training Team to finalize the course schedule by October 1. Once the schedule is complete and open for registration, associates will be signed up as quickly as possible.

See iConnect page 8

AMITAhealth.org

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Our Behaviors – Attitude is Everything

A MATTEr of

LIFE OR DEATH

How a ‘Can Do’ Attitude Helped Save Two Lives

It was a life or death scenario when the ambulance brought a young mother-to-be with severe preeclampsia into the Emergency Department at AMITA Health Adventist Medical Center Bolingbrook. In week 39 of her pregnancy, the woman had begun actively seizing while in the ambulance and it was critical that she be stabilized and the baby delivered as quickly as possible.

The ED team quickly sprang into action to manage the patient’s seizures, while the charge nurse coordinated getting the patient up to Mother Baby for immediate surgery.

“In this type of transition you often will see a patient being moved from one area into another and a different team will take over,” said Connie Perry, ED director. “My team didn’t want to leave until they were sure that everything was OK with this patient and her baby. They all pitched in to do whatever was needed without being asked.”

Diane Ramos, clinical coordinator, received the call advising her of the need for immediate OB support and Diane Leonard, OB director, took the lead to go to the ED and help. In the meantime, one of the OB physicians, Dr. Buthaina Jabir, had just stepped out of surgery and was also asked to assist. “Dr. Jabir took off running and passed me as I was heading down with a fetal monitor,” said Leonard. “As soon as we got there, the patient was still unresponsive and Dr. Jabir immediately made the decision to move her upstairs to OB for surgery. ED helped to disconnect the patient from existing monitors and prep her for transport. They came with us as we ran to the elevator where another member of their team held the doors open so we could go straight up to surgery.”

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AMITA Health Associate News

Members of the ED and OB teams showcased a positive attitude during a difficult case.

While neonatologist Dr. Tricia Thomson and nursery nurse Pattie Clark worked together to prep the OR with the necessary supplies and equipment to care for the baby, Ramos called in the OB surgery team and the patient’s attending physician, Dr. Smita Jobanputra, who were all ready and waiting to perform an immediate C-section. While Drs. Jobanputra and Jabir delivered the baby, the ED team members remained on hand in case the OB team needed additional support.

“When that baby came out screaming and yelling, everyone was crying with happiness,” said Leonard. “The whole process took just over 20 minutes. God led a pathway and we all followed it to this great outcome. Each of us was in the right place at the right time to ensure the baby was just fine and momma was stabilized. In this situation, attitude was everything and the ED team was right by our side working to extend the healing ministry of Jesus and save these lives.”

It was this positive, ‘can do’ Attitude that brought all of these people and teams together in an amazingly harmonious blend of rapid response, critical expertise and a willingness to do whatever was necessary. “Each person had a key role in making sure that the best possible outcome was delivered without worrying about specific departments or responsibilities,” said Perry. “It was all about what was best for the patient.”

New Executives Named Michael Murrill was recently named CEO of AMITA Health Adventist Medical Center La Grange Murrill has been with Adventist Health System for the past 15 years. He joined Adventist Midwest Health in 2008 as a finance manager at La Grange, and then became Chief Financial Officer at Bolingbrook in 2011.

In 2015, he was named Chief Operating Officer for the Bolingbrook, La Grange and Hinsdale campuses.

AMITA Health recently welcomed Obed Cruz, RN, MS HSA as the new Chief Nursing Officer at AMITA Health Adventist Medical Center

Michael Murrill

Obed Cruz

Bolingbrook. Cruz comes to AMITA Health Bolingbrook with 30 years of health care experience.

Cruz was a 2015 and 2016 recipient of the Guardian Award – a Press Ganey award for service given to those maintaining a national ranking of 95 percent or greater for four consecutive quarters. He previously served as the Emergency Services Director at Memorial Hospital Miramar in Miami, FL.

Symphony Update

Culture of Safety Survey Begins Aug. 28

Check here each month for helpful

Help us stay

tidbits on PeopleSoft and Kronos!

committed to a

Did you know? The best method to

Just Culture – one without shame or blame – by voicing your opinions in our annual Culture

update your LCE’s – licenses, certifications and education information – is to follow the Personal Action Request (PAR) process. Associates can do this via

of Safety Survey.

the employee self-service portal,

The survey begins

under My Links > HR > Forms >

Monday, Aug. 28 and runs through Friday, Sept. 22 and is open to most

Personal Data Change. For more

clinical staff at all AMITA Health facilities.

information, refer to QRG HR_029.

Help us reach our goal of 80 percent survey participation! To take the survey starting Aug. 28, use the link sent to you via your AMITA Health email. For more information, contact your hospital patient safety specialist.

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Summer Events AT A M I TA H E A LT H

Each summer, the AMITA Health Community Relations team works with local communities to host or participate in a wide variety of special events for our neighbors. From Movie Night in Bolingbrook to the Fit America event in Hoffman Estates, AMITA Health was well represented at these outstanding events in the communities we serve.

Kids free Days at Brookfield Zoo

For the second year in a row, AMITA Health was proud to sponsor Kids Free Days at Brookfield Zoo. Close to 45,000 people visited the zoo during the three day event on Aug. 7, 8 & 9. Hundreds of children and families stopped by our service line booths, where the Women’s and Children’s, Orthopedics, Cancer and Neurosciences Institutes, PT Solutions and Hinsdale Family Medicine Residency had obstacle courses, games, coloring activities and more. Each day, more than 300 visitors participated in programs centered on keeping kids active and healthy hosted by AMITA Health, Emerald City Theatre and GoNoodle.

An AMITA Health ambulance was available for children to tour, and the AMITA Health Medical Group was on site to help families find a doctor and schedule an appointment.

“Events like this one help us build positive and sustainable relationships in our communities,” said Sara Odland-Beyna, director, Community Relations. “Not only are we able to interact one-on-one with residents, but we are able to promote our service lines and business strategies in a meaningful way.”

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AMITA Health Associate News

AMITA Health Bolingbrook Hosts Movie Night A free family movie night was held at AMITA Health Adventist Medical Center Bolingbrook on July 13. More than 1,500 guests set up chairs and blankets on the lawn for a showing of “Sing!” and came hours before the movie for treats, games, face painting and a lively karaoke competition.

Farmers Markets and Fests AMITA Health also participated in a wide variety of farmers markets and festivals this summer.

Nurses took blood pressures, answered questions and conducted body fat analysis for residents at Elgin, Elk Grove Village and La Grange farmers markets all summer long.

In Hinsdale, associates volunteered at “Uniquely Thursdays” – a summer concert series downtown. Service lines ranging from the AMITA Health Medical Group to the Neurosciences Institute played games and offered information to residents looking to learn more about what we offer.

AMITA Health fit America fest On July 23, more than 2,000 runners, walkers and spectators came to Hoffman Estates for a half marathon, 10K and 5K run for the AMITA Health Fit America Fest.

Racers were given American flags .1 miles before the finish line to wave as they finished the race.

Other weekend fitness events included a Glo-Run and an inline skating marathon – the country’s second largest.

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Update your iAMITA Location to See Personalized News and Content!

Check your iAMITA information settings to make sure you are receiving personalized news, weather and cafeteria menus based on your location.

Read the details on the homepage of iAMITA to learn how to update your location.

It’s easy! On the “Edit Details” page, click on the tag icon next to “AMI-Location” and in the pop-up that appears, select your location and hit “OK.” Back on the “Edit Details” page, be sure to select “Save all and close” before closing the browser window!

Questions? Visit iAMITA for more detailed instructions.

iConnect

continued from page 3

“Given the complexity of our training requirements and the number of team members who need to be trained, these courses will fill up quickly,” said Russell. “With the ongoing availability of myLearning courses and practice sessions, associates who attend training early in the cycle will easily be able to retain and build upon what they’ve learned in preparation for iConnect activation.” iConnect Training Champions have been assigned to support the specific training requirements of the AMITA Health facilities involved in this implementation. These individuals are helping to ensure that team members at each site have access to the training they need, where and when they need it.

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AMITA Health Associate News

NDNQI Nurse Satisfaction Survey Begins Sept. 11 The NDNQI Nurse Satisfaction Survey takes place from Monday, Sept. 11 through Sunday, Oct. 1. Nurses at AMITA Health Hinsdale, La Grange and Bolingbrook are asked to please take the survey during this time. The legacy Alexian hospitals are not participating in the survey at this time.

The survey link will open at midnight on Sept. 11th and closes at 11:59 p.m. Oct. 1st. To take the survey, click on the link sent to you via email or found on the homepage of iAMITA. Each hospital has a specific survey code needed to complete the survey. Those codes can be found in your email or on iAMITA.

eAMITA:

a Valuable Tool for reluctant Patients

As a specialty care technician with AMITA Health, Rachel Van Auken took advantage of the eAMITA mobile app when she contracted a virus earlier in the year and got the help she needed without sacrificing work or family time.

Recently, however, Van Auken discovered that eAMITA could be an even more valuable tool for those family members who typically refuse to get medical care.

“It began with my father,” said Van Auken. “He was really sick and arguing with my mom about how he did not want to go the doctor. I told him he didn’t have to go out for an office visit, he could just download the eAMITA app and have a virtual visit from home. He tried it, got the medication he needed and quickly began to get better.

“Then, my husband, who is a police officer and had just started a new job, got sick. He also refused to get medical attention and was at the point where his fellow officers wanted to send him home. He had an eAMITA video chat with a doctor over his lunch break and was able to quickly pick up a prescription to address his respiratory issues. My husband was thrilled that he didn’t have to take time off from work so early on in his new position.”

Van Auken’s mother-in-law was the next family member to take advantage of

Rachel’s mother-in-law, left, joined Rachel and her husband on their wedding day.

the application. “My mother-in-law has severe social anxiety stemming from her near blindness,” said Van Auken. “As a result, she never goes to the doctor and refuses to admit when she’s sick. When she caught a cold from my babies last month, it really hit her hard and she was practically bedridden.”

Using an oversized tablet that acts like a cell phone, Van Auken’s mother-in-law was able to download the eAMITA app herself and consult directly with a provider. Van Auken and her husband then picked up the medication prescribed during the consultation so her mother-in-law could begin her recovery.

“My mother-in-law had contracted an upper respiratory infection that could easily have progressed into a case of pneumonia or bronchitis that would have required her hospitalization. Without this application, my mother-in-law would have waited until she was in an emergency care situation. With eAMITA, we were able to prevent this from happening.”

Van Auken’s husband has been particularly impressed with the application. “My father-in-law passed a few years ago,” said Van Auken. “If he had been able to have a video consultation with a physician about the health issues he was experiencing at that time, my father-in-law might still be with us. We both believe that this service can save lives for people like him and my mother-in-law, who are more comfortable with a virtual consultation that allows them to speak with a medical professional while remaining in their familiar home or office environments.”

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MISSION, VISION AND VALUES

B U y yo U r T I C K E T S To DAy !

FAMILY DAY AT SIx FLAgS The AMITA Health Family Day at Six Flags Great America will be on Sunday, Sept. 10. Admission will be only $33 per person – more than a 50 percent savings on the regular ticketed price! Hurry – prices go up to $35 on Sept. 2. Admission includes free parking and a free return ticket to Fright Fest.

To purchase tickets, go to sixflags.com/ greatamerica and click on “Enter Promo Code” at the top right corner of the page. Enter AMITA17 as the code, and purchase and print your tickets. Please note that season passes are not accepted on the event day, as the park is closed to outside guests. Children age two and under are admitted free. Questions? Contact your HR representative.

U.S. News & World report ranks AMITA Health Alexian Brothers and Hinsdale Among Best in Chicago Area U.S. News & World Report has ranked AMITA Health Alexian Brothers Medical Center Elk Grove Village and AMITA Health Adventist Medical Center Hinsdale among the top 15 Best Hospitals in the Chicago metropolitan area.

AMITA Health Elk Grove Village ranked 10th, and AMITA Health Hinsdale ranked 14th in the Chicago area in the magazine’s 2017-18 Best Hospitals report. In U.S. News’ statewide hospital rankings for Illinois, AMITA Health Elk Grove Village finished 11th, and AMITA Health Hinsdale tied with another hospital for 16th.

“These rankings are a credit to the skills and commitment of the physicians, nurses and other health care professionals at

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our Elk Grove Village and Hinsdale medical centers,” said Mark Frey, president and chief executive officer. “They work tirelessly to deliver the highest quality, evidenced-based care, and their efforts have a powerful impact on the health of the individuals and communities we serve.”

The U.S. News rankings, now in their 28th year, compare more than 4,500 medical centers nationwide in 16 adult specialties, nine adult procedures and conditions, and 10 pediatric specialties. U.S. News bases its ranking methodologies in most areas of care largely on objective measures such as isk-adjusted survival and readmission rates, volume, patient experience, patient safety and quality of nursing.

volunteer spotlight

gift Shop Volunteers Love gifting Others You won’t find the words “gift shop” listed under services on any medical center website, but what hospital would be complete without one?

The gift shop at AMITA Health Adventist Medical Center La Grange thrives thanks to dedicated volunteers like Diane Angone and Charlotte MacPherson.

“Diane and Charlotte are unsung heroes,” said Sandy Mueller, director, volunteer and patient/family services.

“They give so much of their time and talents to provide a human touch for our patients and families. We are fortunate to have these ladies on our volunteer team.”

Angone recently moved to Orland Park from Burbank, but she didn’t give up her volunteering despite the extra miles she must travel.

“I wouldn’t think of leaving my volunteer job at the hospiCharlotte MacPherson and Diane Angone tal,” Angone said. “I love the gift shop, and the customers.

There are other hospitals closer to where I live now, but I wouldn’t be as happy. I feel comfortable and at home at La Grange. I’ve made so many friends there.

“After my husband died in 2008, I joined a grief group that August, then started volunteering in September. I chose the gift shop.

I like the customer contact, I enjoy the merchandising. I recently wrapped ribbon around the neck of a teddy bear a family purchased for a new baby. I curled it and curled it. They were grateful. It’s a small thing, but it means a lot.”

Angone’s volunteering has helped her deal with many losses in her life. After her husband died of cancer in 2008, she lost her sister (2010), her mother (2013), her son-in-law (2015), and her son, who died in 2016.

“After my son died, I told my daughter that I couldn’t live in my house in Burbank any longer,” Angone said. “I sold my house in August and my daughter and I bought a house in Orland Park.”

The gift shop is a good fit for Angone, who worked for 40 years at Dominick’s Finer Foods, as a cashier, trainer and manager.

For Charlotte MacPherson of La Grange Park, retail is a new experience. She retired as an executive administrative assistant in May of 2015, and began volunteering that December.

She volunteers Monday and Thursday afternoons, and Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, for a total of about 14 hours a week.

“I needed something to do,” MacPherson said. “I took a class about volunteering at the hospital, and they had a list of the openings where volunteers were needed. I chose the gift shop and I love it.

“I didn’t want to stay home and be bored. Now I get out and meet people and see what’s happening in the world.”

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someone you should know

Meet M. Julia Fernandez On-call nurse & volunteer at AMITA Health Alexian Brothers Medical Center Elk Grove Village What do you do?

I work mainly as a nurse in mammography. I first came to Alexian Brothers in 1968. I fill in for other nurses. I have worked in postpartum, maternity and radiology. I got an RN in interventional radiology and I was the pioneer nurse in radiology in 1980. After 20 years in radiology, I retired, I had surgery, but they called me back. I’m still here.

Where were you trained?

I graduated in Lisbon, Portugal in 1957, and I came to the U.S. on a scholarship. I was in cancer research and I worked at the Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. I went to Michael Reese Hospital in 1963. Then I went back to Portugal to teach. But I had met my husband in Chicago and I went back to Chicago to get married. We were married in 1965.

What do you do as a volunteer?

I work 10 to 16 hours a week mainly in mammography, helping with monthly reports, supplies and greeting patients coming in for a mammogram. I tell them what to expect. I sometimes escort patients to other departments, and I volunteer in the gift shop. On Sundays, I help in the chapel as a reader during the service. There isn’t a person in the hospital who doesn’t know me.

You are quite an inspiration. Who is your greatest inspiration?

Brother Louie Roncoli. He was the kindest, most gentle person I ever met, always helping needy people, all the time. All the Brothers were very kind people. They became

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How has nursing changed since you began your career?

It’s a 100 percent turn around. When I first started, I had to sharpen the needles, everything had to be sterilized. Now we work with plastic, not glass. It’s like day and night, fantastic, much better now.

my second family after my husband died 20 years ago,

Do you have time for a hobby?

and my children were grown. They have inspired me to

I love to paint and draw. I designed a deck of cards, and I

continue to help people. I’m never home.

give them away.

AMITA Health Associate News