Good Day Ascension - Fall 2017

Good Day Ascension For Associates of Our One Integrated Ministry

Huddle up for high reliability ASCENSION ADVANCES A CULTURE OF SAFETY, QUALITY AND ENGAGEMENT

Fall 2017

INSIDE: Supporting second victims / Caring for our youngest patients / Leading Catholic healthcare / Tony Tersigni on the One Ascension journey

WELCOME

Quality people

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“ Long known for our efforts

in clinical quality and safety, together we now are raising the bar.”

ne of the things that makes Ascension so special is that our caregivers are quality people.

When we say that someone is a quality person, perhaps the first thing that comes to mind is that they are of high character … they do good works … they put the needs of others before their own needs.

Indeed, these are traits of Ascension’s caregivers around the country — and you can read a number of examples of their special commitment to our healthcare ministry in this edition of Good Day Ascension magazine.

In particular, we encourage you to take a look at our feature story about programs that support our associates who work in particularly high-stress environments. One example is in Ascension Texas, where an associate-led program was recognized with a Living the Mission and Values award at last year’s Ascension Leadership Convocation.

Being a quality person at Ascension has another important meaning, of course — a clinical one.

As our cover story notes, we are “Leading with quality” — the Ascension way.

Long known for our efforts in clinical quality and safety, together we now are raising the bar. Across Ascension, we are re-emphasizing our shared commitment to being a high-reliability organization for those we are privileged to serve.

Thank you for being a quality person, in every sense of the word. As always, we welcome your feedback at GoodDay@ascension.org.

Nick Ragone, Esq. Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Ascension

Good Day Ascension / Fall 2017 - Issue 5 Good Day Ascension is published by Ascension Marketing and Communications for associates and family members across our integrated national health ministry.

Stories in Good Day Ascension support our One Ascension journey and reflect the commitment of associates, providers and volunteers across the health ministry to provide compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable.

Executive Editor: Nick Ragone, Esq., nick.ragone@ascension.org Editor: Ted Siegel, ted.siegel@ascension.org Design and Production: dcpubs.com To share comments, ask questions or suggest articles for Good Day Ascension, please email GoodDay@ascension.org, or send a note to Editor, Good Day Ascension, Ascension Marketing and Communications, 101 S. Hanley Road, Suite 1100, St. Louis, MO 63105.

All content copyright 2017 Ascension. Republication or any other use of the contents of Good Day Ascension without the express written consent of Ascension is prohibited. Any reference to or depiction of a product or service does not constitute or imply an endorsement by Ascension. Online version available at Ascension.org/goodday.

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Our Mission: Rooted in the loving ministry of Jesus as healer, we commit ourselves to serving all persons with special attention to those who are poor and vulnerable. Our Catholic health ministry is dedicated to spiritually centered, holistic care which sustains and improves the health of individuals and communities. We are advocates for a compassionate and just society through our actions and our words.

CONTENTS

DEPARTMENTS 4 Mailbox Our patients and families share letters of thanks to caregivers throughout our health ministries.

5 Inspiration

caption

FEATURES 14 Creating a culture of high reliability Ascension’s journey on the road to becoming a high-reliability organization includes everyone’s commitment to patient safety, quality and engagement.

19 Leading the way As the world’s largest Catholic health system, Ascension is known both here and around the globe for its leadership and support of other Catholic health systems.

22 Shining stars Ascension’s four pediatric hospitals provide advanced facilities of healing for infants, toddlers and teens.

26 Caring for the caregiver Programs across Ascension are dedicated to caring for our front-line caregivers, “second victims” who are affected by unanticipated adverse events.

Ascension associates talk about how they live out our Mission and Values.

6 Up front One Ascension journey moves forward. … First national New Associate Orientation. … Tersigni family gives back through its foundation. …

Working together to provide care during and after Hurricane Irma.

12 Getting to know you Bob Murphy serves as President of Sacred Heart Medical Group in Pensacola, Florida, and Providence Health System in Mobile, Alabama — both part of Ascension Medical Group and Ascension Gulf Coast.

13 Wellness now Michael Kobernick, MD, SmartHealth, says the way to good health and preventive care includes an annual checkup and preventive screenings.

29 News from the ministries Catch up on what’s happening at Ascension’s health ministries, community health centers and subsidiaries.

35 The last word Read a few stories you might have missed from GoodDay.Ascension.org.

Back cover Good Day Ascension For Associates of Our One Integrated Ministry

Huddle up for high reliability ASCENSION ADVANCES A CULTURE OF SAFETY, QUALITY AND ENGAGEMENT

On the cover: Fall 2017

Intensive Care Unit nursing team members at Saint Thomas Midtown during a daily huddle include, from left, Mary Catherine Heflin, BSN, RN; Judyll Smith, BSN, RN, Team Leader; Uwemedimo Udonkanga, nursing student; and Tanner Hurst, BSN, RN.

Asonia Smith ministers through the telephone in her dream job at Providence Hospital, Mobile, Alabama, part of Ascension Gulf Coast.

INSIDE: Supporting second victims / Caring for our youngest patients / Leading Catholic healthcare / Tony Tersigni on the One Ascension journey

FALL 2017

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M AI LBOX

THE GOOD DAY ASCENSION TEAM WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU ABOUT WHAT YOU LIKE IN THIS MAGAZINE AND SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE EDITIONS. SEND YOUR LETTERS TO THE EDITOR TO GOODDAY@ASCENSION.ORG.

Letters from those we serve … [My husband] was in ICU, med/surg and inpatient rehab. He was treated with compassion, expertise and professionalism every step of the way. Doctors, nurses, therapists, aides, kitchen and cleaning staff all did a fantastic job. … It was such a consolation during this stressful and uncertain time to know my husband was receiving optimal care at Crittenton. We want Dr. [Ronald] Stewart and all the staff at Crittenton to know how comforting it was being in a hospital where the patient and his family are the primary focus.

Your gift is in nursing, Trish You do your job very well So this is a poem written for you With some rhyming words that do tell You’re very good with your patients You make us feel so at ease You cover all the aspects necessary Making it seem “just like a breeze” Via Christi is very fortunate To have your nursing skill here A great many patients in general Primary thing on mind is great fear Medicine throughout its entirety It needs nurses like you Bringing excellence to patient care The way your job that you do Poem from Michael to Trish Biglow, Clinical

Maria

Nurse Assistant/Surgery Scheduler,

Ascension Crittenton Hospital

Via Christi Health, Ascension Kansas

Ascension Michigan

… My water broke at only 28 weeks’ gestation and I was taken care of by the amazing nurses in the antepartum wing of labor and delivery for six full weeks.

These nurses went above and beyond to take care of me. Seeing as I had a 2-year-old at home that had never been away from her mommy, it was a very hard time for all of us. Those nurses helped me make it through to 34 weeks when it was time to deliver.

They did their best to keep me in good spirits as I battled moments of severe depression and anxiety over leaving my 2-year-old for such an extended period of time.

Facebook post from Jessa St. Vincent Hospital for Women & Children, Ascension Indiana

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a real asset to your Cardiac Rehab staff.

Aimee not only has excellent medical professional knowledge, she also has shown genuine care and concern for us.

Letter from John and Ann to Debbie Kucera, RN, Director of Cardiology, Providence Healthcare Network, Ascension Texas

My husband was a patient at your ER. … We wish to express our gratitude to the people who cared for him. …

Employees like Dr. [Richard] Lanoix, Ellen [Gallagher] and Kathy [Hauer] are why we always prefer Lourdes as our hospital of choice! Hopefully these fine professionals will be recognized for doing such a great job!

Letter from Gary and Diane to Ascension’s Our Lady of Lourdes

Jeff [my son] spent three weeks at your facility for his OCD [obsessive compulsive disorder] symptoms. Words cannot express the gratitude we both feel for the expert and compassionate care that he received. … Please tell Simon and all of the therapists that he worked with that Jeff is still working hard and making progress. …

Jeff and I both truly feel that you and your staff have given him his life back.

Letter from Janet to Patrick McGrath, PhD, Foglia Family Foundation Residential Treatment Center, Ascension’s AMITA Health Alexian Brothers Health System, Chicago

We wish to commend Aimee Dupree, RN, to you. We have been treated at Providence Cardiac Rehab for over 20 years. Since her arrival, Aimee has been

G O O D DAY A S C E N S I O N / A S C E N S I O N .O R G

Memorial Hospital, Binghamton, New York

My husband’s long stay at St. Vincent’s Medical Center allowed us the opportunity to experience the professionals in ER Admitting; ER Treatment; Imaging; Radiology; Ultrasound; Sixth Floor Nursing Staff; Speech, Physical and Occupational Therapies; Outpatient Surgery and Recovery; Inpatient Surgery and Recovery; Progressive Care Unit; Acute Rehabilitation Unit; Administration; Case Managers and Pastoral Care. Our discharge from St. Vincent’s Medical Center was with the knowledge that professionals treat the body, mind and spirit of the patient and family.

Letter from Carol to the Board of Trustees, Ascension’s St. Vincent’s Medical Center, Bridgeport, Connecticut

I N S P I R AT I O N

One Minute Reflections ACROSS ASCENSION EVERY DAY, ASSOCIATES LIVE OUR MISSION AND EXPRESS OUR VALUES IN A VARIETY OF WAYS. WE INVITE YOU TO MEET THESE COLLEAGUES AND TAKE A MOMENT TO CONSIDER THE REFLECTION QUESTIONS.

Share your passion “Like if I can cook something, and it’ll bring [people] all the way back to their childhood, it makes my heart flutter, you know? I started this from a very young age, like 9 years old, and I would watch, literally, generations — grandma, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother — and I would watch, generation after generation after generation, and I would take in the secrets, at 9 years old, and I thought about it then, and I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m gonna do something, I’m gonna do something with this.’ If I can take a total stranger and bring him all the way back to his childhood, imagine what I can do with a group of people … with one dish.”

— JAY, ST. VINCENT’S CLAY COUNTY, ASCENSION JACKSONVILLE

For reflection: How does your passion fuel our Mission?

To see and hear Jay, go to ascension.org/GDAlinks

Everybody has a story “Everybody that walks in here, they have a story. And what I’ve noticed about talking to them is you’ll get to know their story, and when you get to know their story, you kind of get to know the patient, and they become an individual, and they really need that help; they really need you.

They’ve never been through what they’re going through currently, and when they come in here, we can fill the need of the patient.”

— GESMINE, ST. VINCENT’S RIVERSIDE, ASCENSION JACKSONVILLE

For reflection: How is listening to a patient’s or co-worker’s story essential to our Mission?

To see and hear Gesmine, go to ascension.org/GDAlinks

I want to be that person “My father was sick my entire life — through hospitals, through everywhere — and I really felt at that point there were some nurses that just stuck out to me, that are implanted in my brain, that I will never forget. The care they gave him, the way they treated my mom and me — I want to be that person. So when I interact with people on a daily basis, take care of them, I’m able to do that and know in my heart when they leave here, I did everything I possibly could for them.”

— SARAH, ST. JOHN MACOMB, ASCENSION MICHIGAN

For reflection: How have your role models shaped you?

To see and hear Sarah, go to ascension.org/GDAlinks

If you would like to suggest a co-worker, or yourself, for a future One Minute Reflection video, email Bob Fish at robert.fish@ascension.org.

FALL 2017

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UP FRONT

The journey continues THE ONE ASCENSION JOURNEY ACTUALLY BEGAN HUNDREDS OF YEARS AGO. HOW FAR HAVE WE COME, AND WHAT LIES AHEAD?

By Anthony R. Tersigni, EdD, FACHE, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ascension

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ver the past several years, Ascension has been on a transformational journey, working together in more integrated and aligned ways to better meet the needs and expectations of those we serve. Embracing new ways of working together and looking to the future is not new; it is part of our legacy as a Catholic health ministry.

Our heritage starts with inspiring stories of Ascension’s historic sponsors — the religious Sisters and Brothers who answered a call to care for the sick, to provide care to orphans and to help educate children. As the demand for this care grew over the years, our historic sponsors had to design new ways to provide this care.

Their journey began with our founders walking into small towns and villages carrying supplies the community needed, and, over decades, expanded to opening hospitals to provide care and reach more people. While original eight-bed hospitals flourished, they later were replaced by hospitals with hundreds of beds. This transformation wasn’t motivated by a desire to create more facilities. Rather, it was a response to the needs of individuals and communities.

Ascension’s historic sponsors demonstrated the values of creativity and wisdom as they envisioned new ways to serve. Their journeys were difficult, and along their way, they experienced joy and sorrow as they overcame obstacles and doubt. They

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came together in community, trusting in God, visualizing the future and listening to the people they served. They were courageous in adopting new models and adapting to the world around them.

Now it’s our turn.

Everything we are working toward today comes from the very same source — it is God’s call to us now, and it is expressed in our Mission.

This is our time. We are in the midst of this journey. Together we will bring our dedication, our creativity and our determined commitment to shape the future of this ministry.

Progress so far The One Ascension journey already has seen a number of changes:

• We have adopted new practices along the way — creating a culture of continuous learning and high reliability in our clinical and operational work, identifying process teams to challenge “the way we’ve always done things,” and defining improvements that can be shared across the organization.

• We have organized our work within two divisions, Healthcare and Solutions. Our Healthcare division focuses on providing care for individuals and communities through our facilities across the System in our Ministry Markets, our Community Health Ministries, Ascension Living and Ascension At Home. Our Solutions division subsidiaries support that work

UP FRONT

and our own associates while providing services to other organizations, exploring new solutions and services for the future, and providing alternative ways to financially support our ministry. • Our Ministry-wide Functions are creating value by leveraging the expertise of our associates across the System in key business and Mission areas. • We are taking full advantage of the expertise and counsel of local business, civic and religious leaders through local boards that are part of our evolved governance structure.

Building on this foundation, we continue our transformational journey, adopting new solutions and ways of working together. As we continue on our journey, we are meeting the expectations of those we serve and realizing the benefits in effectiveness and sharing knowledge that come from truly being One Ascension. We have begun the move to a common, shared brand identity in the communities we serve.

We are changing to increase our efficiency and to ensure that we are

stewarding our resources in the most effective way to support the Mission now and into the future. We have visualized a future in which Ascension can continue to flourish, with more aligned structures, operating with greater consistency and sharing our best practices.

The road ahead The reality of change is here to stay, and the pace of change is not slowing down — driven in part by those we serve accessing care in new ways. People expect healthcare providers to understand their needs, life goals and circumstances, and to deliver care on their terms.

Our transformation will continue as our Mission stands firm as the core of who we are and why we exist. Openness to change and adapting to the needs of our times are part of our heritage and must be part of our organizational mindset and culture every day.

Throughout these changes on our shared journey, we must trust and rely on each other to collaborate, to hold each other accountable and to work together to sustain this ministry well into the future. Even through times of

change, one thing remains the same: Our Values and our Mission will always be at the center of our work as we continue to model a respectful, values-oriented, compassionate workplace.

Inspired and encouraged by the examples of our historic sponsors, we continue our One Ascension journey together in community, trusting in God, visualizing the future and designing a sustainable tomorrow for Catholic healthcare.

One Ascension is not our destination.

One Ascension is an instrument that the Holy Spirit is using to bring us into the future that God has in store for us.

That future should embolden and inspire us, and through us, inspire others.

FALL 2017

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UP FRONT

Welcome to Ascension FIRST NATIONAL NEW ASSOCIATE ORIENTATION SHARES WHAT’S SPECIAL ABOUT OUR MINISTRY

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t’s true what they say: You never get a second chance to make a first impression.

To help make that first impression especially positive and meaningful for new associates, Ascension is introducing a consistent, national New Associate Orientation program at our ministries around the country.

Program materials detail Ascension’s history, culture and identity, and offer consistent versions of required training for all new associates.

“This new effort doesn’t replace the strong local orientation efforts already underway in our ministries,” said Trevor Walker, Ascension’s Vice President, Learning and Development. “The national New Associate Orientation provides a foundation upon which other,

more role-specific local orientations can be built.”

Studies indicate that nationally, 20 percent of employee turnover happens within the first 45 days of employment.

And, especially in the healthcare field, the cost of replacing associates and filling job openings is high. Engagement with our associates is critical — from the day an offer of employment is accepted.

One component of the New Associate Orientation is helping create engagement opportunities for new associates through dialogue and activities focused on Ascension’s identity as a ministry. Ideally offered as a two-hour in-person session, the material could be shared in other ways as well — including via the web. The session includes a special commissioning ceremony for new associates.

“Enabling our new associates to understand why we do what we do as Ascension, and inviting them to recognize how essential their work is to our Mission — these conversations are so important,” said Celeste Mueller, Ascension’s Vice President, Spiritual and Theological Formation. “So many of our associates tell us how they were attracted to Ascension by our Mission.

Orientation initiates them into an ongoing engagement with the deeper meaning, purpose and calling that they can find here.”

In addition to offering required training and educating new associates about Ascension’s Mission, Values and Strategic Direction, the New Associate Orientation materials also walk new hires through the multiple elements of our integrated national ministry, helping them connect the dots.

“Ascension is a complex organization,” said Carol Whittington, Senior Vice President, Ascension Leader Institute, “and it’s important that our associates across the country understand how all the parts of Ascension fit together for the benefit of those we serve and our Mission.”

To view two videos shown to new associates participating in the national New Associate

P H OTO I L L U S T R AT I O N

Orientation, visit ascension.org/GDAlinks.

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One video discusses Ascension’s Mission and the legacy of our historic sponsors.

The other video describes Ascension’s structure — including the elements of our Healthcare and Solutions divisions and the work of our Ministry-wide Functions.

UP FRONT

Sharing with those in need TERSIGNI FAMILY FOUNDATION SUPPORTS INITIATIVES ACROSS AND OUTSIDE ASCENSION

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hat do a ministry collecting business attire for unemployed men, a neonatal intensive care unit and birthing center, and a mental health program for disadvantaged youth have in common?

The generosity of a family that shares its many blessings with those in need.

Danny’s Closet of Hope began in a two-drawer filing cabinet of Linda Nunley’s St. Vincent Indianapolis office. It has since transformed into a 1,200-square-foot building full of dress shirts, shoes, ties, slacks and sport coats that have outfitted more than 6,230 men seeking employment. In addition to support from local donors and from St. Vincent, part of Ascension Indiana, Danny’s Closet is backed by the Tersigni Family Foundation, which has donated to the ministry for three years running.

The foundation is one of the ways Ascension President and Chief Executive Officer Anthony R. Tersigni, EdD,

Above: John Tersigni, President of the Tersigni Family Foundation. Right: Danny’s Closet of Hope founder Linda Nunley with recipients who attended its annual fund-raising celebration as guests.

FACHE, and his family — wife Flora, daughters MariaTeresa and Andrea, and son John — support the communities Ascension serves. In addition to helping sponsor Danny’s Closet of Hope, the foundation has supported several other Ascension-related initiatives.

“Rather than my parents giving to these great causes alone, they chose to make it a family foundation to instill in MariaTeresa, Andrea and me a sense of giving back,” said John Tersigni, Director of Mission Integration, Ascension Care Management, who serves as President of the Tersigni Family Foundation. “In fact, our parents gave my sisters and me the accountability of being the Board of Directors of the foundation and the responsibility of reviewing and discerning the merits of the grant requests.”

In 2014, the Tersigni Family Foundation established a challenge grant that resulted in its donation of more than $2.5 million to the Ascension Ministry and Mission Fund to support the

development and education of Ascension associates for new and needed roles.

Late last year, the Tersigni Family Foundation launched another challenge grant of up to $1 million for the fund.

With roots in the Detroit area, the Tersigni Family Foundation also donated $1 million to St. John Hospital & Medical Center (SJHMC), part of Ascension Michigan, to enhance the care environment for women and babies in its neonatal intensive care unit and birthing center. Both John and Andrea welcomed their children at SJHMC. The foundation also supports Marygrove, part of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, which provides mental health services for children, young adults and their families who are economically disadvantaged. The foundation donated $250,000 to furnish and train Marygrove staff after CEO Sr. Helen Negri, LCSW, BCCSW, contacted Tony about the urgent need. The Tersigni Family Foundation also contributed to the Nazareth Living Center in St. Louis, run by one of Ascension’s historic sponsors, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.

A $100,000 donation supported the center’s assisted living and memory care buildings as well as the renovation of 30 private short-stay rooms for rehabilitation patients.

“As my dad often reminds us, God has blessed our family with so much more than we deserve,” John said. “So we continue to find ways to do our part to advance the ministries of the Roman Catholic Church, education and music education — all things that are near and dear to our family.”

FALL 2017

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UP FRONT

Weathering the storm CARE, VALUE AND EXPERTISE OUTSHINE HURRICANE IRMA

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everal stories have emerged about the herculean efforts made before, during and after Hurricane Irma struck Florida. These stories of people quickly moving to prepare for the storm, respond to immediate needs and provide recovery demonstrate the power of One Ascension.

“During times like these, people go beyond titles, roles and responsibilities, instead considering the task at hand,” said Anthony R. Tersigni, EdD, FACHE, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ascension. “We become more than co-workers and colleagues; we become partners in a common cause. This is the value of One Ascension.”

Medxcel Facilities Management (Medxcel FM) worked alongside several groups to support the Hurricane Irma efforts. Scott Cormier, Vice President of Emergency Management, Environment of Care and Safety, Medxcel FM, hosted daily coordinating calls with Ascension facilities in Florida and Alabama, along with The Resource Group, Ascension Information Services, Ascension Care Management, TriMedx, Ascension Living, and Real Estate to coordinate support at a national level. Additionally, Scott participated in daily federal government calls to share and discuss resources with local leaders and address needs if warranted.

“The level of care and expertise coordinating these efforts made us better together,” Scott said. “With the support from nearby Ascension hospitals, we knew that if the decision to evacuate patients from Ascension

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Jacksonville ministries had to be made, we had a place ready and willing to take the patients to ensure their safety.”

Preparation for the storm included delivery of extra supplies and resources, prestaging a remediation team on-site to mitigate water intrusion as it occurred, and staging two 2-megawatt generators — one at St. Catherine Labouré Manor, part of Ascension Living, and one at St. Vincent’s Medical Center Southside — as backups in the event of a power outage.

The daily calls started on Wednesday, Sept. 6, with the teams activating full preparedness response. These calls included updates on the status of the hurricane, potential impacts for Ascension facilities, and a full report on preparations taking place at impacted sites (e.g., checking roofs and drains, scheduling backup generators, ordering extra supplies and assessing patients for discharge). The daily calls moved swiftly from addressing preparedness actions to immediate response the closer the hurricane moved to Jacksonville. Support teams and service line experts stood at the ready and were eventually brought in from other Ascension sites to lend a hand.

“The national support that we received at St. Vincent’s is truly One Ascension coming to fruition,” Tracy Williams, Chief Operating Officer at St. Vincent’s HealthCare, said at a team huddle. “We had support coming from many areas of the country and from other Ascension entities. We were very blessed to have Medxcel here, and they even embedded a remediation company

UP FRONT

to be sure we got on top of any issues as they were occurring.”

Those efforts made it possible for St. Vincent’s Riverside and Southside to open for normal operations just two days after the storm. This included coordinating the delivery of blood platelets from west Florida to ensure open-heart cases resumed as scheduled, and pumping out water from the basement at St. Vincent’s Riverside to restore steam production needed for sterilization.

To clean up and restore campus grounds quickly, Medxcel FM landscaping crews from Ascension Gulf Coast, Indiana, Tennessee and Birmingham worked together to ensure a safe, aesthetic environment for patients, visitors and associates.

“Several people said it was amazing how clean the campus was compared to

the neighborhood,” said Damian Skelton, Area Vice President, Medxcel FM. To get a full picture of the devastation, Tony visited St. Vincent’s Riverside a week after Hurricane Irma to offer praise, thanks and support to associates for their heroic efforts before, during and after the storm. He joined St. Vincent’s leaders in looking over a variety of damage caused

by Irma, including seeing firsthand how the efforts of associates and other community members to fill and place 3,800 sandbags saved the facility’s power plant and switching equipment.

“We want to celebrate and thank our associates across Ascension Jacksonville, who demonstrated tremendous courage, commitment and dedication during this disaster,” Tony said. “Everyone pulled together, guided by the Spirit and our shared commitment to service.”

Partners in a common cause • Associates who stayed in-house and served: 1,389 (many while their homes were damaged or destroyed by the storm) • Physicians who stayed in-house and served: 118 • Visitors housed: 72 • Babies born: 31 (including two sets of twins) • NICU babies transferred from St. Vincent’s Riverside to St. Vincent’s Southside: 2 • Adults transferred from St. Vincent’s Riverside to St. Vincent’s Southside or St. Vincent’s Clay County: 16 • Children housed in day care (Hurricane Camp): 143 • Pets housed in pet care at St. Vincent’s Riverside and St. Vincent’s Southside: 38 • Duval County and Clay County special needs patients sheltered: 10

FALL 2017

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Q & A

Getting to know you BOB MURPHY’S JOURNEY HAS TAKEN SOME MAJOR TURNS OVER HIS 30-YEAR CAREER IN HEALTHCARE. HE HAS SERVED AS AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN, REGISTERED NURSE, HELICOPTER EMT, HOSPITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT MANAGER AND HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATOR. ALONG THE WAY, HE ALSO EARNED A LAW DEGREE, WORKED AS AN EXECUTIVE COACH WITH THE STUDER GROUP, AND IS NOW WORKING TOWARD A MASTER OF DIVINITY DEGREE. FOR THE PAST YEAR, HE HAS SERVED AS PRESIDENT OF SACRED HEART MEDICAL GROUP, BASED IN PENSACOLA, FLORIDA, AND PROVIDENCE HEALTH SYSTEM IN MOBILE, ALABAMA — BOTH PART OF ASCENSION MEDICAL GROUP AND ASCENSION GULF COAST. how many times the phone rings before they pick up, how they can create a feeling that you care about the person.

As far as what physicians can do, research shows patients want three things: a provider who listens carefully to them, one who explains things in ways they can understand, and one who treats them with courtesy and respect. We encourage physicians to start a patient visit by sitting down and just listening to the patient for at least a minute without interruptions.

Q: What are the main challenges and opportunities for physicians today?

A: With the government regulations, electronic health records, budget cuts and changes in payment models, healthcare has made it harder for physicians to have joy in their work. So for our medical group, our No. 1 priority is to remove barriers from the practice of medicine.

Q: What are two things that a physician practice can do to improve its patient satisfaction ratings?

A: The things that make the biggest impact on the patient’s experience are the friendliness and courtesy of the office staff. More patients leave their doctor’s practice because of the office staff than they do because of the doctor. So I would focus on culture of service with the office staff … how they greet people when they walk in,

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Q: What advice would you give students thinking about a career in medicine?

A: First, find something they truly love. Working in healthcare is about serving others. If you don’t love what you do, it will be very hard to have a servant’s heart. Always be learning and never assume you know everything.

WELLNESS NOW

Keeping well with Dr. K DON’T UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF PREVENTIVE CARE year, too. When illnesses and diseases are caught early, you usually can avoid or better control health problems.

Michael Kobernick, MD, MS, CPE, is Chief Medical Officer, SmartHealth, which provides comprehensive medical coverage that supports the health of Ascension associates and their families.

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t SmartHealth, we’re frequently asked, “What is the most underutilized health benefit?” Our answer is an annual checkup and preventive screenings. These services are free and save lives.

Seven out of 10 U.S. deaths are caused by chronic illnesses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Additionally, the World Cancer Research Fund estimates that one-third of cancer cases are related to obesity, physical inactivity or poor nutrition. In all these cases, preventive services can make a difference.

Yet not as many people take advantage of them as you’d think, particularly screenings — one of the most proactive things you can do for your health. There are many reasons why screenings are underutilized. You may be confused about when to have one. Maybe you’re afraid of the procedure — or the results. Or you simply put these things off until later.

Whatever your reason, consider the risk-benefit. Nearly all U.S. health plans, including Ascension’s SmartHealth plans, cover preventive screenings with no copay or deductible — meaning they’re free when you see an in-network provider.

There may be pain or discomfort with a procedure, but the benefit of early diagnosis far outweighs that risk. And it keeps you from becoming an avoidable statistic.

START WITH YOUR PCP Your primary care physician (PCP) can suggest what’s appropriate based on your age, gender and family history.

Plus, if you’re a SmartHealth member and participate in the Well-being Program, you’ll earn $160 in rewards for an annual PCP visit.

CANCER SCREENINGS We encourage you to make time for a cancer screening this

GOAL OF PREVENTIVE CARE The goal of preventive care is early detection. Your treatment options and overall outcome will be more favorable the earlier you can treat your condition.

Take steps today to protect your health. Make the appointment and talk to your physician. The real benefit of preventive care is peace of mind. What are you waiting for?

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force RECOMMENDED SCREENINGS Breast Cancer Screening Women ages 40 and older, every 1-2 years Cervical Cancer Screening Women ages 21-65, every 3 years (with Pap smear); women ages 30-65, every 5 years (with Pap smear and HPV testing) Colorectal Screening Adults ages 50-75 (the risks and benefits of different screening methods vary) Lung Cancer Screening Adults ages 55-80 with 30 pack-year smoking history who currently smoke or have quit smoking within the past 15 years; annual low-dose computed tomography For persons with average risk of a cancer diagnosis. If you are at higher risk, your PCP may recommend earlier and/or more frequent screening intervals. Please discuss these recommendations with your physician. For general information and additional recommendations for preventive services, visit www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org. For more about SmartHealth preventive services coverage, visit mysmarthealth.org.

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Creating a culture of high reliability NEW PROGRAM ADVANCES COMMITMENT TO PATIENT SAFETY, QUALITY AND ENGAGEMENT

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G O O D DAY A S C E N S I O N / A S C E N S I O N .O R G

Photo at left: Daily huddles offer care providers at Saint Thomas Midtown the opportunity to share critical information, improving quality and safety.

Participants are, from left, Matthew Aussprung, MD; Regina Haywood, BSRRT, Respiratory Therapist; Mark Peacock, MD; Hewitt Hanafee, BSN, RN; and Brittany Sullivan, Transition of Care Partner.

“

Ascension has been on a journey to high

reliability for more than a decade. Although the key principles have remained the same, our One Ascension journey, coupled with our Quadruple Aim,

8,500 leaders across Ascension

has allowed these ideologies to permeate ever deeper

are expected to receive

into the core of everything we do.”

high-reliability training

— ANN HENDRICH, PHD, RN, FAAN, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF QUALITY/SAFETY AND NURSING OFFICER, ASCENSION HEALTHCARE

W

hen people arrive for care at an Ascension location, they are often anxious, unsure of what to expect. They put their lives in our hands, trusting in the safe, quality care they will receive.

And just as they come to trust in us, we must come to trust one another — as caregivers, clinical leaders, managers, nutritional service members, administrators and more — to provide personalized care to meet their needs.

We know that becoming a high-reliability organization through a culture of safety, quality and engagement will help us reach this goal.

“Ascension has been on a journey to high reliability for more than a decade,” said Ann Hendrich, PhD, RN, FAAN, Senior Vice President and Chief Quality/Safety and Nursing Officer, Ascension Healthcare. “Although the key principles have remained the same, our One Ascension journey, coupled with our Quadruple Aim, has allowed these ideologies to permeate ever deeper into the core of everything we do.”

This summer, Care Excellence demonstrated Ascension’s ongoing commitment to high reliability by launching a robust program to further engage leaders, providers and associates in adopting high-reliability principles. These principles provide a foundation in collaboration with existing leadership practices of person and family engagement, the daily management system, and efforts to strengthen our model community.

by the end of FY18

The program includes a four-hour interactive leadership workshop to ensure that managers, supervisors and senior leaders across our integrated health ministry are aware of the “why, what and how” of advancing high-reliability principles. Recognizing that high reliability is everyone’s responsibility, a series of e-learning modules has also been developed for all associates, both clinical and nonclinical.

This is in addition to resident and provider engagement and onboarding materials for new associates.

“High reliability is so much more than a program or initiative,” said Cindy Williams, DNP, MBA, RN, FACHE, Senior Director, Care Excellence. “This is about creating a culture that values quality, safety and engagement among our associates and providers so that we can give our very best to those we serve. We hold each other accountable to ensure our systems and processes and culture empower us to reach this utmost goal.”

Ascension has focused on a number of tools and leader behaviors to facilitate a culture of trust and high reliability.

Four behaviors emphasized in the leadership workshop are: • Daily huddles. Daily huddles focus clinical and nonclinical associates on the day ahead as well as address anything out of the ordinary that happened in the past 24 hours.

Huddles are short, focused meetings held at a specified time each day that are designed to identify potential challenges; foster interdisciplinary relationships; and

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Purposeful rounding is a critical ingredient for quality and patient experience. John Harkins, MD, and residents at Seton Medical Center Austin visit with a patient and then discuss the healing progress.

enhance awareness of quality, safety and engagement.

Huddles are a time everyone is encouraged to share and listen. Ideally, two huddles take place every day, with one at the leadership level that is led by a senior leader.

The information shared during that huddle is then cascaded to the department-level huddle. Both huddles enhance accountability, facilitate the cascading of pertinent information and ensure a common understanding of priorities.

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• Rounding to influence. Rounding to influence is a way for leaders, providers and unit/department managers to get a true pulse of the department while reinforcing fair and consistent behavioral expectations. Leaders and managers use this time to review and discuss metric trends, reinforce performance expectations, model high-reliability principles, identify problems and barriers impacting operations, and recognize associates who demonstrate a commitment to safety, quality and engagement.

What are the principles of high reliability?

PRINCIPLE

MEANING

EXAMPLES

TOOLS

Preoccupation

Be alert to what

• Foster a just culture in which people are

• Daily Huddles

with failure

could go wrong

Sensitivity to

Be attuned to the

operation

front-line work

encouraged to provide essential

• Rounding to Influence

safety-related information and use the

• Daily Visual Management Boards

event reporting system

• Event Reporting System

• Celebrate near misses and good catches

• Read-back/Repeat-back

• Implement meaningful dashboards and

• Time Out

daily visual management boards to

• Stop. Think. Act. Review. (STAR)

regularly monitor safety metrics

• Safety Event Review Team (SERT)

• Ensure everyone on the team is aware of

• Rounding to Influence

Give attention to every single safety event

• Daily Visual Management Boards

• Be mindful of the complexity of the systems in which we work

ANTICIPATION

• Daily Huddles

practices, procedures and expectations.

• Follow through; close the loop when events occur • Adjust practices or processes as needed

• Root Cause Analysis + Action (RCA 2) • 200 Percent Accountability • Brief and Debrief • Situation. Background.

Assessment. Review. (SBAR)

Reluctance to

Avoid

simplify

oversimplifying

• Refuse to simplify/ignore explanations of problems • Determine cause of variation from all

• RCA 2 • SERT • SBAR

aspects • Ask specific and probing questions to gain greater insight • Include all members of the team in the analysis and solution • Work as a team to effectively and

Commitment

Contain and

to resilience

bounce back

efficiently address safety-related lessons

from errors

learned • Focus on the ability to quickly contain errors • Encourage and support a just culture

• Daily Huddles • Communicate Openly. Resolve Early. (CORE®) • Provider/Associate Care Team (PACT) for second victim • SERT

CONTAINMENT

• AIM4Excellence Deference to

Defer to the

expertise

individuals actually doing the work

• Recognize the talents and skills of the team regularly • Recognize that the most “senior” person may not have the needed information • Create and foster multidisciplinary relationships • Encourage everyone to speak up and share

• Daily Huddles • Cheers for Peers • 5:1 Feedback • 200 Percent Accountability • Ask a Question. Make a Request.

Voice a Concern. Use Chain of Command. (ARCC)

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• Promoting a just culture. A just culture supports equitable standards, accountability and speaking up.

This is accomplished through trust, empathy and open communication. The more associates learn to know and trust each other, the more they feel comfortable and empowered to speak up for safety.

• Event reporting. Ascension has deployed a System-wide event reporting system (ERS) that is accessible across the care continuum. The ERS enables all associates and care providers to report near misses, safety events and patient/person comments in a consistent manner. It also enables aggregation and sharing of data identified in these events across multiple facilities and care settings.

All associates are encouraged to report events to sustain our culture of safety and engagement.

“We have made impressive strides in our road to high reliability, but we also know we possess the opportunity to enrich our quality, safety and engagement,” said Robert Williamson, MS, RN, CHSP, CSPHP, Director, Care Excellence. “As these tools become second nature, an enhanced level of trust, coordination and accountability will follow.”

For more information, contact Robert Williamson at rwilliamson@ascension.org, or visit the myCommunities sites linked at ascension.org/GDAlinks.

Our high-reliability journey 2002 • Ascension commits to

than 100,000 associates, providers,

conditions and readmissions through

high-reliability principles through its

senior leaders and board members on

the Partnership for Patients initiative.

Journey to Zero campaign, with a goal

the principles of high reliability.

This round also emphasizes combating

of providing excellent care with no preventable injuries or deaths by

2013 • Ascension is selected to

July 2008. It articulates a Call to Action

participate in the Partnership for Patients

to provide Healthcare That Works,

initiative — a nationwide collaboration

Healthcare That Is Safe, and Healthcare

to reduce preventable hospital-acquired

2017 • Ascension continues to

That Leaves No One Behind.

conditions by 40 percent and 30-day

advance its journey to high reliability

readmissions by 20 percent. Ascension

with a robust strategy and the

continues participation the following

release of “Leading with Quality:

its ongoing commitment to high

year through an Option Year 1 contract.

The Ascension Way” guidebook,

reliability through its Healing

Ascension’s acute care hospitals advance

which engages executives, managers,

Without Harm by 2014 campaign. The

patient safety in areas such as preventing

providers, new associates and all

System-wide program seeks to approach,

obstetrical adverse events, surgical site

associates in ongoing training and

monitor, record and continuously improve

infections and pressure ulcers as well as

awareness activities and materials.

patient safety and care reliability across

leadership and cultural change.

It also finishes launching the event

2008 • Ascension demonstrates

all care environments.

18

antibiotic resistance, enhancing person

2015 • Ascension is again selected

2011 • Ascension develops a

to continue efforts in reducing

high-reliability workshop, training more

preventable hospital-acquired

G O O D DAY A S C E N S I O N / A S C E N S I O N .O R G

and family engagement, and enhancing care models.

reporting system (ERS) in all Ascension ministries, concluding a three-year deployment to virtually all sites of care.

Leading the way ASCENSION PROVIDES LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT FOR OTHER CATHOLIC HEALTH SYSTEMS AT HOME AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD

A

s the largest nonprofit health system in the United States and the world’s largest Catholic health system, Ascension is known throughout the industry for our leadership and commitment to strengthening Catholic healthcare.

One way Ascension leads is through partnerships with and support of other Catholic health systems.

Examples range from working with another Catholic system to create a clinically integrated system of care to better serve the health needs of Michigan communities to providing investment management services to other Catholic systems in support of their missions.

Even the Vatican has tapped Ascension and its leaders for help.

Leading Catholic healthcare worldwide In 2012, Anthony R. Tersigni, EdD, FACHE, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ascension, was invited by the Vatican to serve as president of the International Confederation of Catholic Health Care Institutions (CIISAC).

This high honor recognized the Pope’s trust and respect for Tony and his commitment to Catholic healthcare, and to Ascension’s Mission to care for all with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable.

As president of the Vatican group, Tony helps coordinate the activity of Catholic healthcare institutions worldwide, working with religious and lay representatives from Africa, Central America, South America, Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania. The CIISAC’s goal is to raise awareness of healthcare workers throughout the world and share practices of caring for those who are most vulnerable.

“Whenever I have the privilege of speaking with Pope Francis, I am re-energized by his strength of purpose and

deep commitment to those in need,” Tony said. “As we’ve seen since he assumed his role leading the Church, the Pope is intensely interested in how the Church serves those living in poverty and marginalized by society.”

Each year the CIISAC sponsors a conference that gathers healthcare leaders from around the world. Under Tony’s leadership, the CIISAC is hosting its 32nd international conference in November 2017 in Vatican City with a focus on addressing global health disparities.

Ascension Global Mission serves in a leadership role as it collaborates with religious communities abroad and in the U.S. as well as other international partners to support and strengthen healthcare delivery, enable greater local community leadership in health, and advocate for persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable on key international issues that affect global health and well-being. As an example, through the Catholic Health Association, Ascension Global Mission was approached by the nursing leadership at Hospital St. Francis de Sales in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, to provide nursing education, beginning with cardiopulmonary resuscitation training and a tool to enhance patient safety.

“This work is consistent with our model, to be invited in and work alongside a group already in country,” said Susan Huber, Senior Vice President, Global Mission, Governance & Sponsor Relations, Ascension. “By working with the hospital in Haiti, we can help develop a skill set so their staff can build sustainable nurse education and ensure patient safety.”

Another example of Ascension’s global Catholic healthcare leadership is Ascension Holdings International, formed in 2016 to offer solutions to common issues to health systems around the world. Ascension Holdings International has been engaged with Catholic healthcare systems in Germany, Singapore, India and Australia.

“We are meeting with Catholic systems in these countries and others to determine if there are opportunities for Ascension to explore potential collaboration in areas such as clinical

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and supply chain innovation and best practices around operational performance, innovation, and clinical quality and safety,” said Phoebe Yang, JD, Managing Director, International Relationship Strategy Design and Implementation, Ascension Holdings International. “We have already hosted delegations from Singapore and Australia. Soon we will host a large German Catholic health system for a weeklong visit so its leaders can better understand Ascension, our One Ascension journey, and key areas of collaboration in the U.S. — including telemedicine, ventures, clinical excellence and supply chain — with the goal of discussing other ways we can support each other.”

Partnership in Michigan Closer to home, Ascension has led efforts to strengthen Catholic healthcare in Michigan, where Together Health Network is improving outcomes for the people it covers.

“Together Health Network includes three of the state’s largest and most respected health systems — Ascension, Trinity Health and the University of Michigan,” said Gwen MacKenzie, Senior Vice President, Ascension Healthcare, and Ministry Market Executive, Ascension Michigan. Gwen also is the immediate past chair of the Together Health Network Board. “The network is the state’s first clinically integrated network and very much ahead of its time.”

Patricia A. Maryland, Dr.PH, Executive Vice President, Ascension, and President and Chief Executive Officer, Ascension Healthcare, was one of the architects of the partnership when she served as President and Chief Executive Officer of St. John Providence Health System in Detroit, part of Ascension Michigan.

“We believed a network could serve communities in a more comprehensive way than either of our systems could do alone, while strengthening Catholic healthcare.”

—PATRICIA A. MARYLAND, DR.PH, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, ASCENSION, AND PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, ASCENSION HEALTHCARE

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“Pat and the leaders at Trinity were talking about what Ascension and Trinity could do together, instead of the traditional approaches of consolidating acute care facilities and merging lines of business,” Gwen said. “They discussed forming a physician network that would span the state.” ”It was a time of serious challenges, with rising healthcare costs and increasing demands in quality,” Pat said. “We believed a network could serve communities in a more comprehensive way than either of our systems could do alone, while strengthening Catholic healthcare.”

With 29 hospitals and more than 7,000 physicians in the state, about 75 percent of Michiganders are within 20 minutes of a Together Health Network provider.

“The network is about outpatient access, with having a good acute care facility available as the need arises,” Gwen said. “We are pursuing lowering the cost of healthcare in the communities we serve, and currently both Trinity and Ascension Michigan are below the state average in cost and above the state average in quality.”

Serving the needs of other Catholic systems Several subsidiaries that are part of Ascension’s Solutions division, including Ascension Information Services and Ascension Investment Management, are also leading the way in transforming Catholic healthcare.

• The Catholic CEO Healthcare Consortium (CCHC), which is composed of a variety of healthcare systems of various sizes, encourages and supports Catholic healthcare systems sharing information and experiences. One topic of great interest to the CCHC and these health systems is cybersecurity, and the organization convened a focus group of more than 30 chief information officers, chief information security officers and other security leadership from the CCHC’s members to address security topics, share best practices, and create relationships to sustain ongoing engagement and communication.

“Participating in the CCHC consortium has been a benefit to everyone in the group. The opportunity to share information and approaches to information technology security has allowed us to develop strong relationships that have already proven to be beneficial, especially when evaluating new security products or sharing response tactics to security incidents,” said Jeff Bontsas, Chief Information Security Officer, Ascension.

“Overall, we share the sentiment of others in the group that security is everyone’s responsibility, and participation in the CCHC enables us to have more resources and contacts to meet today’s information security challenges.”

Anthony R. Tersigni, EdD, FACHE, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ascension, greets Pope Francis during the inaugural session of the new Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, which coincided with the 50th anniversary of Pope Paul VI’s Encyclical Letter Populorum Progressio.

• Today Ascension Investment Management (AIM) works with more than 20 institutional investors, including healthcare systems, foundations and religious orders, to help them invest their funds. “These organizations want access to our investment expertise, and the size of our assets under management usually allows us to negotiate for lower fees than they might otherwise pay,” said David Erickson, CFA, Chief Investment Officer, AIM. “Also, we have a commitment to investing with socially responsible investment guidelines that are based on the teachings of the Catholic Church. At the end of the day, we hope that we can assist other Catholic organizations with giving more to their mission.”

• Ascension was among the first health systems in the country to set up a venture capital arm to invest in healthcare companies. The goal of Ascension Ventures is to help our health ministries fulfill our Mission of serving

those who are poor and vulnerable and live out Ascension’s commitment to innovation. Based on the success of the first fund, Ascension Ventures raised a second fund in 2007 and expanded it to include three other large Catholic health systems as limited partners. This fund provided an opportunity to collaborate with other Catholic providers that share Ascension’s Mission. Today, Ascension Ventures has four funds with more than $800 million in capital committed from 15 Catholic and other nonprofit hospital partners.

Ascension Ventures collaborates with these partners to identify and invest in strategically aligned private companies that are best positioned to transform the healthcare industry and significantly enhance the experience for patients, families and caregivers.

• Other subsidiaries offering opportunities to partner with Catholic health systems are The Resource Group, for end-to-end resources and supply management services; Ascension Care Management, in the area of population health and professional liability insurance; and the Ministry Service Center, in the areas of shared services, process transformation and automation services.

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Shining stars ASCENSION’S CHILDREN’S HOSPITALS CARE FOR SOME OF OUR MOST VULNERABLE PATIENTS Nearly every Ascension ministry cares for pint-sized patients on a daily basis, but four hospitals have made infants, toddlers and teens their full-time focus. What makes Ascension’s children’s hospitals “shining stars” within their communities and beyond?

Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas in Austin, part of Seton Healthcare Family and Ascension Texas, recently celebrated its first 10 years of serving children in Central Texas, a 46-county area that’s roughly the size of Ohio. The hospital is Ascension’s only freestanding pediatric hospital and the only place for pediatric comprehensive care in Central Texas.

As a Pediatric Level I Trauma Center, Dell Children’s offers the highest level of trauma care for children in the region and houses the only Level 4 Epilepsy Center in

Central Texas. Also, the hospital is growing its services for pediatric cardiology, neurology, and the Children’s Blood and Cancer Center at Dell Children’s.

In 2016 and 2017, U.S. News and World Report ranked Dell Children’s among the nation’s top 50 pediatric orthopedics programs. The hospital also recently received full accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems for helicopter, airplane and ambulance transportation.

In 2007 and again for its third bed tower addition in 2013, Dell Children’s became the first hospital in the world to earn platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for outstanding Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).

In 2018, Dell Children’s will open the Grace Grego Maxwell Mental Health Unit, which includes a 24-bed inpatient unit, an outpatient clinic and an intensive outpatient program. Over the past decade, the hospital has brought clinical trials and research to Central Texas children and their families.

Thanks to Seton’s research partnership

Nilda Garcia, MD, FACS, checks on patient Dillon at Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas.

For six years, Dr. Garcia held the title of Trauma Director for Dell Children’s and last February was named Surgeon-in-Chief of the hospital.

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A caregiver shares a lighter moment with her patient at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at St. Vincent in Indianapolis.

with Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin, Dell Children’s hopes to expand its research efforts and contribute to innovative treatments and cures.

Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at St. Vincent (PMCH) in Indianapolis, part of Ascension Indiana, opened in 2003 as St. Vincent Children’s Hospital to care for children and adolescents in Indiana and beyond. It was renamed for the former Indianapolis Colts quarterback in 2007.

PMCH has more than 150 licensed beds, which include a 15-bed pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), a 17-bed pediatric emergency department and Indiana’s largest Level IV neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). It is equipped with 87 NICU beds and 10 Continuing Care Nursery beds, offering the highest level of medical care for the most complex and critically ill newborns. Experienced pediatric specialists represent more than 40 specialties, allowing the PMCH team to treat both medical and surgical needs of children of all ages.

In August, PMCH began the process of expanding its PICU from 15 beds to 23 beds — a 53 percent increase in capacity.

The expansion is expected to be completed by January 2018.

“I have a daughter who has a lifelong and serious medical condition, and I couldn’t be more pleased or more happy with the compassionate way she’s been taken care of. And my wish, then, would be that families in Austin understand what an incredible jewel they have at Dell Children’s.”

— Simon Michael, MD, Medical Director, NICU, Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas, part of Ascension Texas

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Carolyn finds comfort in a furry friend at The Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart in Pensacola, Florida.

Hospital is northwest Florida’s Pediatric Trauma Referral Center and houses the region’s largest Level III NICU. The Children’s Hospital’s affiliation with University of Florida Health provides pediatric specialty care both in the hospital and in outpatient offices across the region.

Sacred Heart has begun construction of a new four-story Children’s Hospital, which is expected to open in 2019.

The expanded Children’s Hospital will increase access to specialized pediatric and maternity care and consolidate inpatient pediatric services in one convenient location.

“A fully equipped and well-staffed PICU is the heart of any children’s hospital and provides a safety net of support for patients with the most complex needs,” said Hossain Marandi, MD, President, PMCH. “It is an honor to work with such dedicated caregivers day in and day out as they help heal some of our most vulnerable of patients — in body, mind and spirit.”

The Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart in Pensacola, Florida, part of Ascension Gulf Coast, is the region’s only children’s hospital, serving families across northwest Florida, south Alabama and south Georgia since 1969. The Children’s

St. John Providence Children’s Hospital in Detroit, part of Ascension Michigan, officially became a children’s hospital in 2012. The specialized children’s hospital is located within St. John Hospital & Medical Center and features a 40-bed pediatric inpatient unit, an eight-bed PICU, a Level II Pediatric Trauma Center and a separate Pediatric Emergency Department within SJH&MC’s main Emergency Department.

The Mary Ann Van Elslander Neonatal Intensive Care Unit was one of the first in the state to be designated as a Level III-B center. The Special Care Nursery is a Level II newborn unit adjacent to the Birthing Center and NICU. St. John Providence Children’s Hospital was also the first

Working together The Ascension Pediatric Community

24

Co-Chairs of the Pediatric

John Providence Children’s Hospital/

gets together bimonthly to discuss

Community are Mona Zawaideh, MD,

timely topics and share best

Medical Director of Pediatric

practices among pediatric providers

Nephrology and Pediatric Endocri-

Ascension Pediatric Community

and specialists across Ascension.

nologist, Peyton Manning Children’s

or to join the next call, visit

Primary focus areas for 2017 include

Hospital at St. Vincent, and Roseanne

ascension.org/GDAlinks or contact

falls and shock prevention, blood

Mark, MA, BSN, CPN, HNB-BC, Clinical

Judy Henderson, MSAH-M, RN,

management, and central line

Nurse Manager for Pediatrics, PICU

Director, Care Excellence, at

management.

and Pediatric Ambulatory Surgery, St.

judy.henderson@ascension.org.

G O O D DAY A S C E N S I O N / A S C E N S I O N .O R G

St. John Hospital & Medical Center.

For more information about the

“Kids are incredibly courageous.

They can overcome so much.

There are some tragedies, but the vast majority are so rewarding to care for. Parents are also incredibly grateful. We see them on the worst day of their lives, but 20 or 30 hours after surgery, everything could have changed for them.”

— Bryan Weidner, MD, Pediatric Surgeon, The Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart, part of Ascension Gulf Coast

Our children’s hospitals Children’s hospital opened since

Number of licensed inpatient beds

Dell Children’s .................. 2007 ............. 284 Peyton Manning ............. 2003 .............. 160 Sacred Heart ..................... 1969 .................117

in Detroit to earn a Baby-Friendly Hospital designation for offering an optimal level of care for infant feeding and mother/baby bonding.

In addition, St. John Providence Children’s Hospital provides comprehensive pediatric specialties such as cardiology, hematology and oncology, neurology, and orthopedics for children from birth to age 21. St. John Hospital & Medical Center pediatric residents have the longest-standing 100 percent pass rate on their board exams in the U.S. (seven years in a row).

“We strive to ensure that all our sites of care are welcoming places for families, but especially our dedicated pediatric facilities,” said Patricia A. Maryland, Dr.PH, Executive Vice President, Ascension, and President and Chief Executive Officer, Ascension Healthcare. “We take pride in our pediatric hospitals and the compassionate caregivers who work there. Theirs is a calling that is both challenging and rewarding, and we appreciate their commitment to carrying out our Mission to those most vulnerable.”

St. John Providence ...... 2012 ................. 94

Adonis Lorenzana, MD, cares for 8-year-old Jessica at St. John Providence Children’s Hospital in Detroit.

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Healthcare is a high-stress working environment.

That’s why programs across Ascension are available to care for our caregivers.

Caring

for the caregiver

W

hen an adverse event occurs that may cause harm to a patient, our first priority is to care for the patient and family. Open communication with patients and their families is consistent with Ascension’s Mission and high-reliability journey and transparency.

But we also now know much more about how these types of events affect front-line caregivers, recently named “second victims.”

Caring at our CORE Unanticipated outcomes are difficult to discuss and are upsetting for the caregivers involved — often as much as for patients and their families. Ascension Risk Services began offering CORE® (Communicate Openly. Resolve Early.) training to risk managers, physician and nursing leaders, and others in 2010, and now every acute care hospital in Ascension has staff associates and physicians trained in the disclosure and early resolution program.

“Utilizing the CORE principles is so important because we understand that even when patients receive appropriate treatment from their caregiver, an adverse event or unanticipated result can occur.

Communicating with patients and their families following an event is not easy because these

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situations are infrequent, complicated and often emotionally charged,” said Darryl Jordan, MSN, RN, FACHE, Senior Director, Regional Risk Management, Ascension Care Management/Risk Services Division. “When we are truthful and transparent with our patients and families, it brings resolution and closure for all involved, including our associates and physicians.”

Here’s one example. Following a recent patient resuscitation, a team of caregivers at Borgess Health in Kalamazoo, part of Ascension Michigan, carefully and honestly explained to the patient’s family that steps taken deviated from standard practice due to difficulty with the equipment. During these conversations, a staff member trained in the principles of CORE stood by to support caregivers with CORE’s standard model of communicating and acknowledging the event. Concerned about the event, associates took time to debrief and learn from the experience.

“At Borgess, CORE is the foundation of person-centered care.

It’s a respectful, ethical way of connecting with our patients and families when there’s been a disappointing, unexpected or unanticipated outcome,” said Cheryl Sullivan, MSN, RN, CPHRM, Health Systems Corporate Risk Officer and Administrative Director of Quality, Borgess Health.

“CORE also gives a voice to the caregiver. The truth is so helpful for caregivers to understand what happened and then to have conversation with families in a planned and coordinated way that keeps the caregiver intact at the same time,” Cheryl

Adam Carey, RRT, Charge Respiratory Therapy Supervisor, Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas, part of Ascension Texas, has been a Provider/ Associate Care Team (PACT) peer supporter since the program began in 2014 and a member of the PACT program team.

said. “We all make mistakes; maybe actions made sense or appeared correct at the time. CORE takes courage, but with practice, associates can learn to use the CORE model.”

Certified CORE Situation Managers and faculty are available with tools and just-in-time coaching for healthcare teams to ensure timely communication and support across Ascension. Charles Husson, MD, is one of about 20 physicians certified as CORE faculty members.

“I am incredibly honored to work in this national ministry, which has taken this courageous journey around disclosure of unanticipated outcomes — it takes our high-reliability journey and situates it in the context of living our values,” said Dr. Husson, Regional Chief Medical Officer, Genesys Regional Medical Center in Grand Blanc, part of Ascension Michigan.

CORE training and education is ongoing with lunch and learn sessions, grand round lectures, regional workshops, and new nurse onboarding education.

Ascension caregivers can learn more about CORE by visiting ascension.org/GDAlinks to view a series of storyboards with videos.

Supporting second victims Through her work as a risk manager at Seton Healthcare Family in Austin, part of Ascension Texas, Marsha

Nichols often saw associates suffering following an unexpected outcome or error, or the death of a longtime patient. Marsha and a multidisciplinary team began a performance improvement project in 2014 to address second victims that has developed into a peer support program in place at all 11 Seton hospitals.

“We started with a survey, and over 2,200 people responded, which was pretty telling. Almost 50 percent said they had suffered such an event, and of those people, more than 50 percent said they didn’t feel like the support they received was adequate,” Marsha said. “We knew we had a culture that was not only ready, but needed a support program.”

The Seton team worked for a year to create the Provider/ Associate Care Team (PACT) program, which includes a comprehensive training curriculum for peer supporters who provide 24/7 emotional support following a significant work-related event. PACT was honored with a Living the Mission and Values award at Ascension’s 2016 Leadership Convocation.

PACT works in various ways. Peer supporters are trained to recognize caregivers in need of support. Sometimes associates reach out themselves by working with their supervisor to find a peer supporter on a unit or calling the hospital operator, who can contact a peer supporter.

Seton’s peer supporters come from a multitude of professions, including but not limited to doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, physical therapists, social workers, residents and security officers. Brian “Cosmo” Lin, BSN, RN, Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas, is one of 450 trained peer supporters.

“As a peer supporter, I’m trained to help people process a situation and talk through things. When our work gets tough, we need help to process this,” Cosmo said.

When Cosmo approaches someone who may need peer support, he tells them: “I usually take care of the kids, but right now I’m here for you. Is there anything I can do?”

Katie Jimenez, BSN, RN, Clinical Nurse Manager, serves as the PACT site lead at Seton Smithville Regional Hospital, a rural

Lisa Bean, Pastoral Care, left, and Kim Perry, Cancer Center therapist, participate in a listening exercise during PACT peer supporter training at Providence Hospital in Mobile, Alabama, part of Ascension Gulf Coast.

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facility southeast of Austin. Due to the small size of the hospital, Katie expanded PACT to include associate wellness activities. The PACT team raised money via a bake sale to support a wellness week in May that provided staff aroma therapy rollers and enhancements to the chapel, where staff were encouraged to take breaks to help balance and recharge. “Associates can give more to our patients when they are in a good and healthy place,” Katie said.

While information shared with a PACT peer supporter is kept confidential, a feedback tool on Seton’s website often receives comments from caregivers, such as the following: “You never know how important a program is until you are in need of its services. … [PACT] helps us to reconnect with ourselves when an unexpected turn takes place. It also reconnects the staff who may be in a temporary state of disbelief. It reminds me of a lighthouse, helping the boat find its way back to shore. God bless this program.”

To access the PACT toolkit, visit ascension.org/GDAlinks.

PACT reaches the Gulf Coast After hearing about Seton’s PACT program, Susan Howard, Regional Director, Risk Management, Ascension Gulf Coast, immediately reached out.

“Seton invited our team to attend peer supporter training and provided us with their entire toolkit. I was just beginning to work on a program for our associates, so this was an amazing gift,” Susan said. “I see the pain associates go through whenever events happen. This was such a blessing and a great example of how resources are shared across Ascension.”

Providence Hospital in Mobile, Alabama, was the first Ascension Gulf Coast hospital to introduce PACT. The hospital already had an established infrastructure to support PACT, a group of associates called the Mission Mentors. These volunteers, from operations and floor managers to call center staff, received PACT peer supporter training last summer.

Results from a readiness survey at Providence found that of the 234 respondents, 10 percent of the workforce had experienced a significant work-related event in the last year, causing stress, anxiety or depression.

“We can’t thank Seton enough. PACT is the perfect add-on to CORE. We now have a toolkit of formalized programs to take care of our patients, family members and caregivers when adverse events occur,” Susan said.

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G O O D DAY A S C E N S I O N / A S C E N S I O N .O R G

Above: Karen Springer, Senior Vice President, Ascension Healthcare, and Ministry Market Executive, Ascension Tennessee, and Don King, President and CEO, Saint Thomas Midtown and West hospitals (pictured at center), part of Ascension Tennessee, take a break from rounding to support a group of nurses participating in a free lipid profile lab test at a Saint Thomas Health associate wellness fair. The event is part of Caring for the Caregiver, a holistic health initiative for associates created to encourage caregivers to prioritize their own health, particularly heart health. Participants enroll in the program by completing a health assessment and a free lipid profile lab test. They then are paired with an Ascension Care Management Care Partner who will discuss results and help develop a personalized wellness plan.

Employee assistance Ascension’s Employee Assistance Program provides a wealth of information, support and resources at no cost to assist associates and family members.

St. John’s Health System (Tulsa, Oklahoma) You may call the EAP directly at 918-594-5232 or 800-221-3976.

St. Mary’s Healthcare (Amsterdam, New York) You may call the EAP of St. Mary’s Healthcare directly at 800-477-4143 or 518-843-0503.

St. Vincent (Indianapolis) You may call the EAP directly at 317-338-4900 or 800-544-9412.

Our Lady of Lourdes (Binghamton, New York) You may call the EAP (provided through Catholic Charities) directly at 607-729-9169.

Ascension Wisconsin You may call the EAP directly at 800-540-3758.

All other Ascension Ministry Markets You may contact LifeWorks at 888-267-8126; TTY/TDD 800-346-9188.

En espanol, llame 888-732-9020.

NEWS FROM THE MINISTRIES

NOTES FROM ACROSS OUR ONE INTEGRATED MINISTRY

procedure provides patients an alternative to long-term warfarin medication.

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Training center opens St. Vincent’s Health System and Ascension have opened a state-of-theart nursing education training center on the campus of Samford University in Birmingham for new nursing hires.

The training center includes a skills lab, medication room and classroom, as well as two simulation and debriefing rooms for nurses to receive hands-on training in real-life scenarios. All aspects of the center are designed to fully immerse and prepare new nurses for the high standard of care and technology offered at St. Vincent’s.

Providence participates in summit Darcy Burthay, CEO and President, Providence Hospital, gave a presentation at an inaugural Patient Safety Summit in Washington, D.C., titled “Back to Basics: Creating a Community Culture of Safety.” The event was sponsored by the District of Columbia Hospital Association to encourage quality healthcare and access for all.

Virtual care improves access St. Vincent’s Health System has launched St. Vincent’s On Demand, which allows patients to receive immediate care from their home, office or on the go using their phone, computer or tablet. Doctors and nurse practitioners are available all day, every day. In partnership with Ascension Virtual Care, St. Vincent’s implemented a robust telehealth program that includes telestroke, telebehavioral health and telecardiology to bring quality, specialized care through the convenience of a video or telephone setting.

BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT

WATCHMAN™ implant available St. Vincent’s Medical Center is among the first hospitals in Connecticut to offer the WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Implant as part of its comprehensive atrial fibrillation program.

The implant closes off the left atrial appendage to keep harmful blood clots from entering the bloodstream and potentially causing a stroke. The

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA

Bon appétit!

The food service team at St. Vincent’s HealthCare in Jacksonville is reinventing hospital food. According to Regional Executive Chef Jonathan Smith, 95 percent of the food served is made from scratch, and much of it is locally sourced and organic. The team also eliminated fryers from each campus.

GULF COAST

Medical parks welcome patients Sacred Heart Health System recently opened three medical parks in Northwest Florida. Facilities in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties house physicians, diagnostic services and rehabilitation services. A pediatric care center in Santa Rosa County — featuring murals of dolphins, fish and sea turtles by a local artist — provides pediatricians as well as diagnostic and pediatric rehabilitation services.

Associates celebrate anniversary Providence Hospital in Mobile, Alabama, celebrated the 30th anniversary of its relocation to West Mobile on July 13.

More than 50 associates who participated in the 1987 move attended the event.

Some shared warm memories of the hospital’s early days and other heartfelt stories that reflected their dedication to Providence’s healing ministry.

Providence was founded in 1854 and outgrew three facilities before moving to its current location.

CHICAGO

AMITA joins online marketplace AMITA Health has joined an online marketplace that allows cash-paying consumers to shop for affordable healthcare services. Initial services offered through the website MDsave.com include colonoscopies and imaging services. MDsave.com is aimed at consumers who are uninsured or enrolled in a high-deductible health insurance plan.

INDIANA

Perinatal care hospital accredited St. Vincent Hospital for Women & Children became Evansville’s first hospital accredited by The Joint Commission for perinatal care. The perinatal care certification program uses standards, guidelines and The Joint Commission’s perinatal care core performance measures to manage and monitor aspects of perinatal care that are critical to improving and maintaining the health of newborns and their mothers.

Associates mark anniversary St. Vincent Evansville celebrated its 145-year anniversary last summer.

Associates celebrated throughout July with a food drive competition to collect 1,872 canned food or cash donations (reflecting the ministry’s founding year) for the local St. Vincent de Paul food pantry. Each department was also challenged to record 145 acts of kindness, among other activities.

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NEWS FROM THE MINISTRIES

Coach rides again The Kokomo Tribune highlighted the experience of Kokomo High School swim coach Donita Walters, who while biking was hit by a truck the day before she had planned to begin a cross-country trip last year. She was flown to St. Vincent Indianapolis after her injury and remained in the St. Vincent system for her ongoing recovery. Donita, who celebrated her 48th birthday last spring, still wants to ride cross-country. For now, her goal is to make the trip before she turns 50.

KANSAS

Remodel provides for expansion The first part of a multiphase renovation of Via Christi Behavioral Health’s outpatient space adjacent to Via Christi Hospital St. Joseph in Wichita is complete. The psychiatric residency, partial-day programs and behavioral health clinic are now located in one space, a move that expanded program capacity and proved helpful in recruiting three much-needed psychiatrists. The next phase underway includes two floors of dedicated inpatient behavioral health space.

BALTIMORE

Program receives Launchpad funding The Baby Box Program at Saint Agnes Healthcare won funding from Ascension’s Launchpad program to provide new mothers with education and a specially designed cardboard box outfitted with a custom, nontoxic mattress that can be used as a safe bassinet for infants up to 4 months old.

MICHIGAN

Statewide lab system underway Ascension Michigan is developing a statewide clinically integrated laboratory

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The Genesys Pharmacy team is the first in the nation to receive a new Medication Compounding Certification from The Joint Commission.

system that emphasizes quality, collaboration and improved patient experiences to achieve the Quadruple Aim. More than 25,000 tests previously outsourced will be retained within Ascension.

Growth is projected through outreach services to physicians and nonhospital sites. Ascension Michigan hospitals will have local labs for emergent tests.

Hospital named top 100 St. Joseph Health System in Tawas City was ranked a top 100 rural and community hospital by Becker’s Hospital Review. Only seven Michigan hospitals were named.

Excellence award received St. Mary’s of Michigan Standish Hospital received the 2017 Excellence in Healthcare award from Professional Research Consultants. The hospital was praised for exemplifying dedication, determination and commitment to making the hospital a better place to work, practice medicine and care for patients.

Medication certification awarded Genesys Health System was the first hospital and pharmacy in the nation to receive a new Medication Compounding Certification from The Joint Commission.

Being the first selected and meeting expectations are great points of pride

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for the Genesys pharmacy team, who worked diligently for years to ensure best practices for safe intravenous medication for patients and adherence to national standards for sterile compounding.

Behavioral health center opens Borgess Behavioral Health and the Borgess Emergency & Trauma Center celebrated the opening of an eight-bed behavioral crisis center. The center is the result of collaboration between Borgess Health and the community, along with the generosity of area residents who helped fund the $1.5 million project.

Warren campus grows St. John Macomb-Oakland Hospital, Warren campus, broke ground in November on the largest building project in hospital history. The $48.1 million investment will expand the east tower from four to seven floors, increasing the private bed count to 220, or 58 percent of all beds.

Providence-Providence Park upgrade A $15 million capital project over the next three years will upgrade many nursing units, patient rooms and the exterior aesthetics at the Southfield campus of Providence-Providence Park Hospital.

Initial units include critical care, medical/ surgical and the birthing center.

NEWS FROM THE MINISTRIES

recognized the center’s efforts with a Platinum award as part of its National Hospital Organ Donation Campaign.

St. John Specialty Transplant Center earns recognition for registering the most new donors to the state of Michigan’s registry.

Simulation center opens Providence-Providence Park Hospital, Southfield, opened a new Simulation & Education Center. The facility is a premier learning environment for clinicians and includes a procedural skills training room equipped with task trainers, high-fidelity simulation models, a mock operating room, team training rooms, exam rooms for assessing clinical skills, audiovisual monitoring and training capabilities, conference rooms to debrief training, and a large classroom for workshops and conferences.

Heart program screens 800 St. John Providence and Ascension Crittenton Hospital held the 13th

AMSTERDAM, NEW YORK

annual Healthy Heart Project in Southeast Michigan. The one-day event included screenings for more than 800 community members, and more than 150 referrals were made.

The event was held at St. John Hospital & Medical Center, Detroit; Providence-Providence Park Hospital, Southfield; and Ascension Crittenton Hospital, Rochester.

Transplant donor goal reached The St. John Specialty Transplant Center registered the most new donors to the state’s registry — 840 — as part of the yearlong Gift of Life Michigan Transplant Center Challenge. The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration Members of St. Mary’s Healthcare Pediatric team pictured from left: Emilie Gabay, NP; Ruperto Vallarta, MD; Lisa Loucks, LPN; and Robin Adams, NP.

Community event is a success Members of the St. Mary’s Healthcare Pediatric team were on hand to meet and greet community members at the 2017 Kids Day on August 2. Team members handed out Frisbees, glitter wands, coloring books, pinwheels and educational materials while making conversation with children and parents.

About 500 people attended the free event sponsored in part by St. Mary’s.

BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK

Grants assist vulnerable populations Our Lady of Lourdes Memorial Hospital received a number of innovation grants to reach populations in need. The funded projects include a community outreach van; social work intervention for patients with chronic disease and depression through videoconferencing; the addition of dietitians in primary care; collaboration between endocrinology and primary care to provide early intervention to patients with prediabetes to prevent diabetes; and the addition of ED patient navigators.

TULSA, OKLAHOMA

Expansion features visit from leader Ann Hendrich, PhD, RN, FAAN, Senior Vice President and Chief Quality/Safety and Nursing Officer, Ascension Healthcare, visited St. John Health System to speak at an expansion ceremony for its Regional Onboarding Center, an experiential learning facility serving new nurses and other clinical professionals through hands-on training. Ann also hosted a Q&A for St. John associates.

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NEWS FROM THE MINISTRIES

TENNESSEE

Quarterback gives to schools Saint Thomas Health teamed up with Marcus Mariota, quarterback of the National Football League’s Tennessee Titans, and donated a total of $45,000 to four Tennessee high schools in Sparta, McMinnville, Smithville and Woodbury, each home to a Saint Thomas Health hospital. “[Marcus’] visit will absolutely leave a lasting impact on the youth of our community,” said Dale Humphrey, CEO, Saint Thomas River Park Hospital in McMinnville. “We are honored and humbled by Marcus’ kindness and support.”

OB floor renovation complete Saint Thomas Health renovated obstetrics floors at its Rutherford, Midtown and River Park hospital campuses. The units now offer amenities including labor and delivery tubs, improved family waiting areas and in-suite flat-screen TVs to provide even better delivery experiences for expectant families. Saint Thomas Health delivered 9,457 babies in fiscal year 2017.

TEXAS

Partnership provides mobile scans Providence Healthcare Network, Waco, partnered with Shared Medical Services to provide a mobile PET/CT scanner unit one day a week at the Providence Breast Health Center. The state-of-the-art technology allows for both positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) scans in one session without having to move the patient, providing a more accurate, full-scope picture to diagnose cancers and other diseases such as heart disease and brain disorders such as epilepsy, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

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Dell Children’s expands Dell Children’s Emergency Care is now available at four Ascension Texas hospitals — Seton Williamson, Seton Northwest, Seton Hays and Providence.

Children who need emergency care can now stay closer to home. Online scheduling for minor emergency visits is available for each of these locations.

Wayfinding app available The Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas wayfinding app provides step-by-step photo directions to help associates, physicians and guests get where they need to go throughout the hospital. The app is one way Ascension strives to create a seamless patient experience while allowing clinicians and support teams to be efficient in supporting excellent patient care every day.

WISCONSIN

Critical access hospitals among best Wisconsin’s critical access hospitals (CAHs), including six that are part of Ascension Wisconsin, were recognized as the best in the nation by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration for outstanding quality performance. The ranking is based on participation and achievement in the Medicare Beneficiary Quality Improvement Project. Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital, in Tomahawk, was named one of the top 20 CAHs for best practices in quality in the nation.

Hospital named No. 1 Orthopaedic Hospital of Wisconsin in Glendale is No. 1 in the country for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) Program for 2017. CMS rewards hospitals based on the quality of care

G O O D DAY A S C E N S I O N / A S C E N S I O N .O R G

provided to Medicare patients, how closely best clinical practices are followed and how well hospitals enhance patients’ experiences of care during hospital stays. There were 2,955 hospitals included in the report.

ASCENSION CARE MANAGEMENT

New services announced Ascension Care Management (ACM) Payor Division (ABS/USHL) kicked off the implementation of a new claim adjudication platform that will create additional capabilities and allow ACM to provide more services. Ascension SmartHealth members as well as other ACM clients will benefit from these enhanced services starting in early 2019.

ASCENSION GLOBAL MISSION

Medical surplus donation begins Ascension Global Mission, in collaboration with The Resource Group, will begin work with MedSurplus Alliance, an alliance of accredited medical surplus recovery organizations, to donate dead stock and old equipment (medical surplus) in our ministries in a responsible manner. This program provides a System-wide solution for inventory that extends the useful life of products. The initiative is consistent with our Mission to care for persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable — at home and abroad — through extending the life of medical surplus in our health ministries by making it available to those in need.

This environmentally conscious program reduces inappropriate donations to low-resource countries and positions Ascension as a leader in efforts to model a leading practice others can follow that is consistent with World Health Organization guidelines.

NEWS FROM THE MINISTRIES

ASCENSION HOLDINGS

Meeting highlights global health Ascension Holdings International and The Resource Group hosted Ascension’s inaugural International Symposium on healthcare procurement capabilities: Collaborative Approach to Advance Healthcare Affordability in Singapore.

Healthcare leaders from the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Singapore and the U.S. discussed global sourcing solutions for healthcare providers with a focus on the economic sustainability of sourcing high-quality products for use in healthcare facilities, including International Catholic health systems, with the end goal of advancing global healthcare affordability.

ASCENSION INFORMATION SERVICES

CEO named executive of year Gerry Lewis, Ascension Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, and Ascension Information Services President and CEO, was recognized as one of the St. Louis region’s Technology Executives of the Year by the St. Louis Business Journal. In this inaugural year, the recognition program honored leaders across five industries: healthcare, agriculture, energy, financial services and retail.

ASCENSION INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

Conference features investment strategies, noted speakers Ascension Investment Management hosted its fifth annual investor conference. In addition to reviewing the portfolio composition of its 21 investment strategies and discussing views of the markets, the conference featured guest speakers Steve Case, Chairman and CEO of Revolution LLC, Chairman of the Case Foundation and co-founder,

AOL; and Felix Olale, MD, PhD, Partner and Global Co-Leader for Health Investments at LeapFrog Investments, a prominent impact investment private equity manager.

ASCENSION LEADER INSTITUTE

Conference highlights Academy The Ascension Leader Institute was showcased at Modern Healthcare’s Women Leaders in Healthcare 2017 conference held in Nashville, Tennessee.

Carol Whittington, Senior Vice President for the Ascension Leader Institute, served with other industry experts on a panel that focused on “How Healthcare Organizations Can Turbocharge the Careers of Women Healthcare Executives.” In today’s rapidly changing environment, healthcare organizations seek executives who can drive innovation, develop talent in others, and accelerate clinical and business performance.

Formal development programs where executives can explore best practices, share insights, compare experiences and test new ideas are in great demand.

Ascension’s fully integrated programs that provide these opportunities, such as the Executive Leadership Academy, were highlighted for their innovative and holistic approach to leadership development.

ASCENSION LIVING

Program reduces hospital readmissions Ascension Living has piloted Interventions to Reduce Acute Care Transfers (INTERACT), a quality improvement program focused on reducing hospital readmissions. Ascension Living Providence Village is serving as the pilot site for the program; associates who graduate from the course will be deployed to train associates in communities across the ministry.

ASCENSION MEDICAL GROUP

Ministries participate in new program Nearly 150 Ascension Medical Group physicians and associates from the Jacksonville, Kansas, Michigan and Wisconsin Ministry Markets completed the first session of the new Ascension Medical Group Leadership Development & Formation Program. Launched earlier this year, the program is a collaboration between Ascension’s Mission Integration and Learning and Development teams and is intended to support physicians and associates in finding deeper meaning in their work.

MEDXCEL FACILITIES MANAGEMENT

Workplace recognized Medxcel Facilities Management (Medxcel FM) was named one of Achievers 50 Most Engaged Workplaces™. This is the second consecutive year that Medxcel FM was recognized with this award. Companies are selected by a panel of academic and employee engagement experts who identify employers that display superior leadership and innovation in engaging their workforce.

ASCENSION MINISTRY SERVICE CENTER

Center named partner of the year Blue Prism named the Ministry Service Center (MSC) its Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Authorized Training Partner of the Year. The award recognizes the MSC’s ability to help others leverage the benefits of an enterprise-class scalable and secure digital workforce using Blue Prism RPA training tools and expertise.

Coulter co-authors global report Lee Coulter, Chief Executive Officer, co-authored the Global Intelligent

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NEWS FROM THE MINISTRIES

Automation Market Report. The report was sponsored by Ernst & Young and published by the Shared Services and Outsourcing Network. The MSC has been an early adopter of process automation applications that provide numerous benefits, including cost savings, expanded production capacity, and improved compliance and customer experience.

ASCENSION VENTURES

New investments close Ascension Ventures made investments in three new medical device companies in the first half of 2017 to kick off its fourth venture fund. The Stroke Project is building a platform of solutions for stroke intervention. Instylla is developing next-generation embolics primarily for use in cancer treatment.

Neuronetics provides transcranial magnetic stimulation to treat major depressive disorder that is

unresponsive to drugs. In addition, Ascension Ventures is actively researching opportunities in the healthcare services and healthcare information technology sectors.

COMMUNITY HEALTH MINISTRIES

Clinics in the news Daughters of Charity Services of Arkansas received the Arkansas Governor’s Quality Award. This award uses the Malcolm Baldrige Award criteria to assess an organization’s commitment to quality. … A mobile dental bus introduced at Daughters of Charity Services of New Orleans complements its seven school-based health locations. … Daughters of Charity Services of San Antonio achieved accreditation from the National Association of Education of Young Children for its second location, which serves more than 100 infants to 4-year-olds. … Centro San Vicente,

El Paso, Texas, opened a new service site offering primary care. … Seton Center, Kansas City, Missouri, welcomed the Ladies of Charity as a new tenant on its campus, which strengthens the longtime partnership of these two organizations.

THE RESOURCE GROUP

Visit new website The Resource Group launched a refreshed website on July 10.

The updated website includes a more comprehensive overview of The Resource Group and its history, participant and associate testimonials, and a more robust careers section.

Visit theresourcegroup.com to see more.

Stay connected with Ascension @ HOME, @ WORK, @ YOUR FINGERTIPS

Twitter: @Ascensionorg Keep up with Ascension tweets. Follow Ascension.

Learn more about Ascension at ascension.org.

Facebook: facebook.com/ascensionorg Like our Ascension page and get the latest updates on your newsfeed.

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/ascensionorg Stay up to date with organization news and connect with other associates.

YouTube: youtube.com/c/ascensionorg Watch videos about Ascension on an array of topics.

Pinterest: pinterest.com/ascensionorg Choose from various boards, such as Care Excellence, Facility News and Reflections.

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G O O D DAY A S C E N S I O N / A S C E N S I O N .O R G

L AST WORD

As seen on the daily Good Day Ascension TO READ MORE ABOUT THESE STORIES AND OTHER NEWS FROM ACROSS OUR ONE INTEGRATED MINISTRY, VISIT GOODDAY.ASCENSION.ORG FROM WITHIN THE ASCENSION NETWORK. INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO DOWNLOAD THE GOOD DAY MOBILE APP ARE ALSO AVAILABLE. ✙ Picnic brings together children with ear malformations Earlier this year, about 150 people gathered in Austin, Texas, for a picnic. What made the picnic unique was that for many of the children, and their parents and siblings, it was the first time they had seen other children who looked like them — children born with a small, malformed or absent ear, a condition called microtia.

“It was so rewarding to see little boys running around who could meet other boys who look like them,” said Loa L. Borchert, MSN, RN, CPNP-PC, of Craniofacial & Reconstructive Plastic Surgery at Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas, part of Seton Healthcare Family and Ascension Texas. “There might not be another child with microtia in their neighborhood or preschool or school.”

Read more at goodday.ascension.org/archive

✙ 1 family, 2 hospitals, 3 generations of Ascension nurses Many nurses end the night shift with a solitary ride home, but not Gage Walker and his grandmother Darlynn Hagen, both registered nurses in the Medical Intensive Care Unit at Via Christi Hospital St. Francis in Wichita, part of Ascension Kansas. They spend many nights together — talking about their shift, getting breakfast and singing songs.

Darlynn, who has been a nurse for 31 years, lives just 3 miles north of the rural Benton, Kansas, home Gage shares with his mother, Becky Walker, who has served as a registered nurse for the past 17 years at Via Christi Behavioral Health. So when grandmother and grandson work together, they also ride together.

“Gage was about a month old when [Becky] graduated in 1994 and came to Via Christi,” said Darlynn, who was happy to help her daughter enter the profession she loves. “She’s a rock star.”

Read more at goodday.ascension.org/archive

✙ ‘NBC Nightly News’ shares story of TouchPoint associate More than a year ago, Good Day Ascension shared the inspiring story of Freddie Wiggins, a TouchPoint Support Services associate who provides songs, smiles and sweeping up in the hallways of Saint Thomas West Hospital in Nashville, part of Ascension Tennessee. TouchPoint provides environmental and food and nutrition services at Ascension health ministries.

“NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt” featured a story about Freddie, showcasing his 37 years of encouraging patients with fist bumps and songs. Patients, visitors and associates shared the impact that Freddie has had on them.

“If I give happiness there,” Freddie said, “I get happiness back.”

Read more at goodday.ascension.org/archive

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Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID

Salt Lake City, UT Permit No. 6563 101 South Hanley Road Suite 450 St. Louis, MO 63105

WE ARE ASCENSION

Asonia Napier Smith Lead Switchboard Operator Providence Hospital, Mobile, Alabama, part of Ascension Gulf Coast

In 1967, 22-year-old Asonia Smith began her career at Providence Hospital.

Asonia loved the interaction with the public that her job as information

The Gilbertown, Alabama, native moved to Mobile right after high

clerk gave her, but after 11 years, she was offered the chance to fulfill a

school graduation. After waiting tables at the Best Grill Cafeteria for $15

lifelong dream by becoming a telephone operator for the hospital. She

a week plus tips for several years, Asonia took a job as a dietary aide

couldn’t say no.

at Providence. She worked in the dish room and the salad area and was

“As a child, when I went to work with my mother, I would answer the

responsible for the breakfast menu. “That’s where I met an extended

telephone. I always wanted to be a telephone operator and even applied

family of loving people,” she said.

for a job with South Central Bell, but I wasn’t hired,” Asonia said. “This

In 1971, Asonia became the first African-American to staff the hospital’s Information Desk. In a role not much different today, she helped direct visitors by looking up patient names and room numbers.

job was my destiny. It allows me to minister through the phone. I get to help people.”

With a career that spans half a century, Asonia is Lead Switchboard

But back then the patient directory was not computerized. Instead,

Operator and still loves her job. “We have a strong sense of team in our

Asonia kept track of patients by recording names and room numbers

department,” she said. “We work together. We help people. We are a

on a Rolodex, which she updated daily. She also created an innovative

ministry.”

method for cataloging patients by name, denomination and home church for visiting clergy.