Good Day Ascension Spring 2018

Good Day Ascension For Associates of Our One Integrated Ministry

Making new connections we’re Meeting people’s expectations in a changing healthcare landscape

Spring 2018

Inside: A new vision for Spiritual Care / DAISY Award recognizes extraordinary nurses / Transforming mental and behavioral health delivery

welcome

Making connections

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“ We want to achieve that

same type of connection with those we serve, knowing as we connect consumers with our care and services, we become closer and better able to provide the compassionate, personalized care they deserve.”

ave you ever met a colleague, a neighbor or a patient who you immediately connected with? Through a shared passion or undertaking a difficult challenge together, you formed an instant and enduring bond. We want to achieve that same type of connection with those we serve, knowing that as we connect consumers with our care and services, we become closer and better able to provide the compassionate, personalized care they deserve.

In this edition we note some of the special connections that foster trust and a sense of belonging between our associates and the communities we serve.

For example, extending spiritual care beyond the acute care setting as a way to better meet the needs of those we serve across the care continuum. Our behavioral and mental health service line is connecting more people with healing from the inside out. And our Your Move Chess has expanded to the Ascension Chicago Ministry Market to connect more children to a program that addresses the social determinants of health.

In our cover story, you’ll learn how we’re making changes across our integrated ministry to reach consumers and connect them to the care they need — when, where and how it is best for them — online and in person. In this way, we establish a relationship with consumers before they even come to us for care.

Thank you for being part of this story through the many connections you make with those we serve and with one another. We welcome your feedback at GoodDay@ascension.org.

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

Good Day Ascension / Spring 2018 - Issue 6 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 2018 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 Feedback from associates, plus patients and families share letters of thanks to caregivers.

Offering online scheduling is one way Ascension is connecting with those we serve.

5 Inspiration

Features 14 Making new connections The changing healthcare landscape is challenging Ascension to see through the eyes of the consumer, finding solutions to connect with those we serve personally and in the most convenient and accessible way possible.

22 Spiritual healing’s new pathway On Demand Spiritual Care opens a new frontier for Ascension’s approach to care for mind, body and spirit.

24 Everything’s coming up daisies

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

6 Up front Your Move Chess program expands to a school in the Ascension Chicago Ministry Market. …

Heart attack gives Ascension physician a view of patient care. … The 2017 Model Community Survey results in changes across Ascension, thanks to the voices of our associates. … A simple idea brings big cost savings. … Ascension helps a company reduce its shipping waste.

12 Personal profile Meet Joseph Cacchione, MD, FACC, President of Ascension Medical Group.

13 Wellness now Energize yourself for spring.

29 News from the ministries

Ascension partners with The DAISY Foundation to recognize nurses who have gone above and beyond in their local ministries.

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

26 Shining stars

35 The last word

Ascension health ministries blend traditional and new ways to improve mental and behavioral health services.

Read a few stories you might have missed from GoodDay.Ascension.org.

Back cover On the cover:

Frankie Vickers is an inspiration to all those he greets at the Bruno Cancer Center, part of Ascension Birmingham.

Ascension is making changes today to better meet the needs of consumers, including technology-driven healthcare connections.

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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.

Thanks for the magazine As an Ascension associate, I enjoy reading the amazing stories and articles about other associates in our ministry.

It’s a great way to understand one another on a more personal level and what great people we have.

Mary H. Raley, BSN, RN, CEN, TCRN, TNSCC Injury Prevention|Trauma Education| Outreach Coordinator, Trauma Services St. Vincent Evansville, Ascension Indiana

Feedback on “Associates demonstrate generosity in midst of hurricane disasters”: • This is the best of what it means to be One Ascension.

• I relied on funds donated from generous and caring associates across Ascension when my house was flooded in 2010 in Nashville. I will never forget the comfort it provided both monetarily and in the spirit of feeling a part of a true community of caring.

• These gifts will mean so much to so many who are just struggling to wrap their heads around all that has happened to them. The beautiful St. Vincent’s video also highlights the value of our ministries to the communities they serve as their neighbors came together with our associates to help protect the hospital.

Letters from those we serve I am absolutely impressed [with] my healthcare and treatment. … I’m hearing impaired, which sometimes makes going

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to the hospital a scary thing. But everyone has been unbelievably understanding and made it a point to make sure I’m informed.

I truly believe that when you have a genuinely caring staff, not only do you recover physically, but mental and emotional recovery begins as well. You guys got it.

Patient Facebook post, Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital, Ascension Gulf Coast

I want you to know you have the best bedside manner I have ever had in a doctor. You made my spirit calm and gave me an assurance in my being.

You took your time and presented your knowledge in a way that I could understand what was going on with my body. Thank you for helping me in this new journey I am on. I will always remember your caring attitude and your teaching knowledge.

Note from a patient to breast surgeon Patti Tenofsky, MD, Ascension Via Christi Clinic, Ascension Kansas

Chris, you do not know me but you hold a special piece of my heart. You took care of a family member after an accident late this summer. … I heard nothing but rave reviews of your care, patience and understanding during this time. As a nurse myself, a nurse’s job is so hard and we do not always hear the positives. Please never lose that compassion and drive!

Letter from Amber Gagnon, RN, Genesys Regional Medical Center, Ascension Michigan, and her family to Christopher Florence, RN, St. Mary’s of Michigan, Ascension Michigan

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In June, we welcomed our beautiful twins into this world at 31 weeks and six days. This was a scary and overwhelming experience. … Our babies were there over Father’s Day. When we came in that day, we were pleasantly surprised to see a beautiful card with their names and tiny footprints on their doors. It is special touches like this that make difficult times, like a NICU stay, more personable and treasured. … We were blessed with many, many outstanding nurses during [our babies’] stay. I am sure I cannot remember everyone’s name, but I wanted to make mention of several that we had often or were particularly impressed with: Hannah was a calming presence who taught us much; Amy showed great compassion and love to our tiny babies; Donna was very attentive; Twilla served their needs well.

The neonatologists were also a blessing. … Thank you for all of your training, your years spent in educating yourselves so you could take care of the tiniest people.

Letter from parents to the NICU staff, St. John Health System, Ascension Tulsa

I was hospitalized for a lengthy, involved spinal fusion surgery to correct a severe deformity. At 61 years old I was limited in mobility and in pain. … 3 months following I chose Via Christi outpatient physical therapy. Natalie and Stacey altered my quality of life.

Letter from a patient at Ascension Via Christi, Ascension Kansas, to Anthony R. Tersigni, EdD, FACHE, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ascension

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.

Truly personalized care “It was a gentleman that was on the floor, and I was a very young nurse and was doing his care, his daily care, and he had had no visitors, no family was coming to see him. He was the sweetest gentleman. And he asked me one day if I would shave him. He had not been shaven in a very long time. And I said, ‘Well, I’ve never done that before, but I am game to try it — we’ll do it together.’

And so as I began to shave him, tears were rolling down his cheeks, and he said, ‘You will never know how much this means to me.’ And so I’ve never forgotten it.”

— Tonja, Ascension St. Vincent’s, Birmingham, Alabama

For reflection: What person from work have you never forgotten?

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

Share your gifts “Years ago, I did a spiritual inventory, and my gift came up as hospitality, and I thought, ‘Oh, no, that’s not important. You know, I want to be a teacher, or a prophet.’ And what I’ve learned as I’ve grown into receiving and accepting this gift of hospitality is it’s in everything I do, and it works at just being a welcoming face at St. Vincent’s, at the Spirituality Center.”

— Claudia, Ascension St. Vincent’s, Jacksonville, Florida

For reflection: What are your gifts, and how do they show up at work?

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

Mindfulness at work “I grew up right across the street from this hospital, and I’ve always felt its presence. It’s always been part of the community. And years later, I was able to get a job here, and became part of its family. And walking through its halls and seeing its people and being a member of the cafeteria, we see everything walk through this cafeteria on a daily basis, whether it be happiness, whether it be fear, whether it be anguish, whether it be stress. And we get a close-up view of people. And looking into their eyes, you can see compassion, and that’s what makes this hospital special.”

— John, Ascension’s St. Vincent’s, Bridgeport, Connecticut

For reflection: Looking into the eyes of the people you encounter at work, what do you see?

To see and hear John, 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.

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up front

Ascension’s Your Move Chess expands to Chicago The program teaches critical thinking and problem solving to local youth

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scension’s Your Move Chess program has expanded to a school in the Ascension Chicago Ministry Market. Kids at Sunny Hill Elementary School in Barrington, Illinois, are learning strategy, critical thinking and problem solving thanks to a collaboration of Ascension; Yury Shulman, co-founder of Chess Without Borders; and Kiran Frey, MD, a psychiatrist with AMITA Health Alexian Brothers Center for Mental Health, part of Ascension Chicago.

“Chess is so much more than a game for these kids. It challenges their critical thinking; motivates them to problem-solve in other areas of their lives; and provides a safe, educational outlet after school,” said Nick Ragone, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Ascension.

“We have already witnessed tremendous outcomes since beginning the program in

the Ferguson-Florissant School District in suburban St. Louis more than three years ago, and we look forward to tremendous outcomes in Chicago too.”

Through Your Move Chess, participating students receive instruction from a coach and a chess textbook, written by chess Grandmaster Shulman, that reinforces basic math, algebra and geometry skills as it teaches chess.

Participating schools receive enough chess sets so students have the opportunity to practice daily during their after-school program, which runs through spring 2018.

Ascension launched Your Move Chess in 2014 in partnership with the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis and has envisioned expanding the program to more underserved children in other communities where Ascension has a presence.

That vision is coming true in Barrington, located 15 miles from AMITA Health Alexian Brothers Center for Mental Health, one of seven Ascension sites of care in the Chicago area and 2,500 sites of care across the country.

“We are delighted [with the program],” said Armendariz-Maxwell, EdD, Principal of Sunny Hill Elementary School. “With the help of Dr. Frey and Grandmaster Shulman, we will have evidence-based results to evaluate the impact of the chess program on our students.”

“We know there’s a strong correlation between problem solving, confidence, and good mental and behavioral health,” Dr. Frey said. “I look forward to … seeing the children flourish as a result of Ascension’s Your Move Chess program.”

Student surveys conducted as part of the Ferguson-Florissant program found significant progress in a number of key areas thanks to the chess program: • 86 percent of students report they look forward to school more on days when they have chess during the day • 83 percent of students say chess has taught them they can complete difficult tasks if they work hard • 86 percent of students report chess has made them more confident they can learn difficult material • 85 percent of students state their experience in chess makes them want to challenge themselves more in the future

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up front

Patient perspective HEART ATTACK GIVES emergency PHYSICIAN A VIEW OF CARE

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t’s not often that an emergency physician becomes a patient in the emergency department he manages.

Heong P’ng, MD, experienced that scenario when he went from being a caregiver to a patient in the blink of an eye.

Dr. P’ng, Emergency Department Medical Director at Ascension St. Clare’s Hospital, Weston, Wisconsin, arrived home one evening after attending a meeting and a late dinner. He fell asleep but awoke with chest discomfort. “I felt uncomfortable, but it wasn’t severe. It went away and I went back to sleep,” he said.

The next day, Dr. P’ng was working in the emergency department at Ascension Good Samaritan Hospital in nearby Merrill. He again didn’t feel well but wasn’t experiencing pain, so he mentioned it to a nurse and decided to perform an electrocardiogram (EKG). He then quickly realized something was wrong.

“You think I would do something about it, being an ER doctor, but the power of self-denial is strong,” he said.

Having worked in healthcare for more than 30 years, Dr. P’ng had never been hospitalized.

Dr. P’ng called a cardiologist friend, who reviewed his EKG and immediately suggested Dr. P’ng find someone to cover his shift, get in an ambulance and go directly to Ascension St. Clare’s Hospital, which is nationally recognized for treatment of heart attack patients. Being stubborn, Dr. P’ng considered driving to Ascension St. Clare’s in his own car.

Dr. P’ng chuckled as he remembered the moment. “The nurses were getting adamant — it was great, they were

doing their job — and told me, ‘No way are you driving yourself!’ ” One of the nurses drove him, in his car, straight to the emergency department at Ascension St. Clare’s, where he was admitted. “I don’t remember anything between arriving at the cath lab and waking up in the ICU,” he said. “I just recall arriving at the cath lab and thinking, ‘I still may be able to go to Hawaii.’ That obviously wasn’t going to happen!”

Dr. P’ng underwent a five-hour triple-bypass surgery. He recovered in the ICU for five days and experienced severe pain. “For me, what occurred and when it occurred was fortuitous — I’m lucky to still be alive,” he said. “I was supposed to fly to Hawaii with my family to a conference the next day.” During his hospital stay, Dr. P’ng noted that it was the little things that the staff took the time to do that meant so much to him.

“I remember on the second night I was propped up to lie on my left side,” he said.

“It was hard to sleep; I could not turn myself to reach the call light because of my pain. I tried to call out to get the nurse’s attention, but my voice was hoarse from being intubated the day before, so I could not get [her] attention. So you realize what patients experience and what we need to be aware of. The simple act of my nurse changing my bedsheet, and I had not showered in five days, was a tremendous relief. One [certified nursing assistant] gave me a sponge bath.”

Dr. P’ng believes taking time to do simple acts is important.

“The patient or family always remembers when a nurse or doctor went

Heong P’ng, MD, quickly went from being a caregiver to a patient.

out of the way to get a cup of coffee or a warm blanket for them,” he said. “It’s the little things that have a huge impact. It’s the human connection. Sometimes when we’re too busy, we miss that.”

Following his surgery, Dr. P’ng had no cardiac damage and no complications.

He was off work for about four months but credits his rehabilitation team for doing a wonderful job getting him motivated. He has now cut back to a 40-hour workweek.

He has also joined the board of Ascension Medical Group.

“I represent the hospital-based physicians and those I call ‘the people in the trenches,’ ” he said. “I’ve had administrative roles in the past, but I enjoy the clinical aspect. You understand the struggles that clinicians face.

If we give good care to our patients, everything will work out. The constant in our business is the patients. That’s not going to change. You have to be a patient advocate. You can’t forget why you entered the field in the first place.”

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up front

Ascension listens — translating associate voice to action Associate survey leads to focus on appreciation, experience and communication

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cross Ascension, things are changing in response to what associates shared in the FY17 Model Community Survey.

Key themes from associate comments — shared by Anthony R. Tersigni, EdD, FACHE, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ascension, in a video to all Ascension associates in May 2017 — were appreciation, associate experience, change, patient care and communication.

Focusing on these elements of community highlighted by our associates helps us impact the culture in which we choose to share our gifts in service to all persons, with special attention to those who are poor and vulnerable.

One way that associate voice has affected actions since the 2017 Model Community Survey is the development

of seven “Essential Behaviors for Building Community” that are relevant to all associates, as well as specific leader measures that focus on frequent communication, accountability, recognition, coaching and feedback.

Since September 2017, Ascension has been integrating these standard behaviors and measures into leadership development and formation programs held in each of our markets. These expectations are also being incorporated in performance evaluations for leaders at every level within all areas of the organization.

Consistently holding leaders accountable to these expectations supports Ascension’s ongoing commitment to building a culture where transparent communication is a priority, and where observable behaviors are aligned with our Values.

Alignment across One Ascension “One of the challenges we have faced on the One Ascension journey is consistent practice of expected behaviors across all parts of our ministry,” said Carol Whittington, Ascension’s Chief Talent Development Officer and Executive Director of the Leader Institute. “This phase of our cultural evolution must be understood and measured consistently so associates see, hear and witness this experience from all leaders across Ascension.”

Another way associate voice was incorporated into action was in the development of the “Essential Behaviors.”

A collaborative of individuals from across markets and disciplines worked together to ensure the behaviors were reflective of the kind of workplace culture we aspire to create and sustain.

Essential Behaviors for Building Community All associates are called to demonstrate the Essential Behaviors for Building Community • I reflect on my actions, words and intent • I listen to understand • I invite differing perspectives • I communicate transparently and respectfully • I proactively offer my own perspectives and solutions • I respond to the needs of individuals • I take personal ownership

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up front

“It is important that associates see a direct correlation between the feedback they give us and the actions we take.”

— Gwen MacKenzie, Senior Vice President, Ascension Healthcare, and Ministry Market Executive , ASCENSION MICHIGAN

Timm Glover, MDiv, Senior Vice President of Mission Integration, Ascension Healthcare, served as an executive sponsor for this work and shared what a powerful experience it was as individuals throughout the ministry contributed to the process.

“It was universally felt that as these behaviors are consistently modeled by leaders, and as associates integrate them into their daily practice, we as One Ascension will create over time a community where individuals and teams flourish as they serve together in support of our Mission,” Timm said.

Leaders at all levels are reacting to associate voice through action planning and responsiveness to the key themes shared in the 2017 Model Community Survey comments.

Ascension Michigan sets an example In Ascension Michigan, associate voice prompted Jean Meyer, Chief Operating Officer, and Gwen MacKenzie, Senior Vice President, Ascension Healthcare, and Ministry Market Executive, to recognize the positive impact of leader behaviors on the associate experience and to call all leaders in their ministry to action. One specific step they took helps their associates know more about the direction of Ascension Michigan.

“It is important that associates see a direct correlation between the feedback they give us and the actions we take,” Gwen said. “After our meeting in September with managers and directors, leaders told us that they wanted written

summaries of the material covered on the day of the event with no lag time. We also heard they wanted help with communications to be sure they were providing their associates with consistent messaging on our direction and priorities. Now we provide leaders with a set of concise key messages each month for their department meetings, as an ‘agenda starter.’ ” The myVoice pulsing program affirms what associates shared in the 2017 Model Community Survey.

“Much of the feedback we get from associates through myVoice is focused on communication,” Jean said. “Our expectation is that every associate who takes the time to send a question or suggestion gets a personal reply from a leader. One recurring theme I heard was that many associates never had regular team meetings in their department. We immediately set the expectation that every leader have a monthly team meeting on all shifts. The leader is far and away the most important communication link we have with associates.”

Ascension Indiana’s approach To ensure that leaders translate associate voice into action, Ascension Indiana’s Northeast Region has adopted the best practice of reviewing biweekly myVoice pulsing results, researching associate suggestions and comments, and responding quickly to associate feedback through a structured process. This has resulted in changes that have a positive impact, including actions such as streamlining clinical email communications, providing

“stat” quick response resources in Labor and Delivery rooms, and improving meal selections for patients admitted at night.

“Receiving these valuable suggestions is extremely important for us to continuously review how we can improve our overall quality of care to our patients, but also how we can improve how we work with the patients’ families, and also improve the workplace and satisfaction for our associates,” said Michael Schroyer, Regional President, St. Vincent Northeast Region. “As we continue to evolve with healthcare into the future, receiving this valuable input from all of our associates who are working directly with our patients and their families assists us in ensuring we are living our Mission, Vision and Values.

In our eyes, this feedback is priceless!”

Keeping up the momentum How will we know we’re succeeding in shaping our culture around the voice of our associates? The upcoming FY18 Model Community Survey, Patient and Family Experience work in Care Excellence, real-time biweekly myVoice pulsing, and key business indicators such as retention data all provide formal ways for leaders across Ascension to receive feedback and hear the voice of their “customers.”

“We look forward to the 2018 Model Community Survey as a structured opportunity to measure progress made since 2017,” Carol said. “As a true learning organization, it is critically important to continually ask for and receive feedback, analyze trends, and communicate back on the results and action plans.”

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u p f r on t

Smart thinking One idea brings the opportunity for millions in savings

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nn Buckendahl has been serving our ministry for 12 years. As the Brand Director for Ascension Via Christi and now serving in a national role on the brand team, Ann provides guidance to colleagues on using our logos and names properly. Last year, however, it was something without a logo that attracted her attention and made a big impact.

“We used to have the Via Christi logo on our hospital bedside beverage carafes. After converting to Symphony, we moved to an unbranded carafe,” Ann said. “Since these items are often kept by the patient after discharge, it seemed like an opportunity to brand these Ascension and maximize potential for all Ascension hospitals to gain savings and awareness for our unified name.”

Soon after Ann brought this idea forward to her national Brand and Marketing colleagues, The Resource Group was engaged to negotiate the cost savings opportunity with Staples Promotional Products. New carafes would be branded with the Ascension name and be significantly less expensive than those our ministries were buying previously through multiple vendors.

This simple transition stands to save our integrated ministry almost $1 million a year and allows us to spread greater awareness of Ascension by putting our brand in the hands of every patient who leaves our care.

It also inspired colleagues in The Resource Group to go a step further.

“This idea and my collaborative relationship with Marketing and

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Communications allowed us to take a holistic approach with other products used daily by our patients,” said Kirsten Graham, Manager, Marketing and Communications, Ascension, who previously served as Contract Design Manager with The Resource Group.

“Given The Resource Group’s position within supply chain operations for Ascension, we quickly discovered additional opportunities for product consolidation, reduction in variation, brand alignment and savings.”

More than a dozen non-clinical items routinely used in our hospitals have been identified, so far, as items we can purchase smarter together. Ascension sends more than a million people a year home with these items. So adding the Ascension name is a great reminder of the compassionate, personalized care they received from our expert teams. A few examples besides the carafes:

• Heart and lung pillows for surgery patients • Child tumblers • Baby blankets and infant sleep sacks • Occupational therapy gym shorts • No-slip socks • Patient communication boards

“I’m so proud of our team for truly embracing the opportunity to serve better and smarter as One Ascension,” said KaLeena Thomas, Chief Administrative Officer, The Resource Group.

“It’s amazing to see the snowball effect

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of savings and effectiveness from one person with one terrific insight. There are great ideas all around us, in every department of every Ministry Market and subsidiary, and we have astute colleagues to support those visions and make them a reality. I can’t wait to see what the next big idea brings.”

up front

Ascension reduces environmental footprint one box at a time A SIMPLE QUESTION LEADS TO 25 PERCENT LESS SHIPPING WASTE

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ave you ever stopped to think about the time, materials and environmental footprint involved with shipping a large wooden container?

It’s something the Planning, Design and Construction team of Ascension subsidiary Medxcel Facilities Management recently considered as part of Ascension’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship. With the adoption of a unified Ascension brand, the Medxcel team and Ascension Marketing have been working closely with vendor partners in the development, production and placement of signage across Wisconsin and Michigan.

During a plant tour of Architectural Graphics, Inc. (AGI), the company that will produce Ascension’s new exterior signage, the team noted the signs are typically shipped in custom-made wooden crates that take a lot of time — and a lot of wood — to build. Knowing that the containers and their foam interiors are seldom used again and are difficult to dispose of once they reach their destination, the Medxcel team saw an opportunity for improvement. They posed a question to the signage company, based on Ascension’s high standards for environmental stewardship: What would it take to have Ascension signage packaged in recyclable materials instead of wooden crates?

“We have clients tour our facilities every week, and environmental stewardship is a common topic of conversation,” said James Raynor, AGI Chief Operating

Officer. “In my 25 years in this business, I have never finished a tour with such a concise and actionable challenge.”

With the deadline looming to get new signage to Ascension Wisconsin, the Medxcel team reached out to a furniture manufacturer for help. The furniture manufacturer invited the exterior sign company to one of its plants to see best practices in wrapping and shipping.

The company was happy to share what it learned from years of research and application.

Immediate improvements on small signs were made using the new materials and processes, including a 25 percent reduction in protective wrapping waste.

Although large ground signs cannot be packaged in cardboard alone due to the risk of damage in shipping, the sign company modified its design to allow the signs to be mounted to steel shipping stands to keep them stable in transit. The stands reduced the cubic volume of each sign by 25 percent and allowed for reuse.

As legacy ministry signs are removed and broken down, 100 percent of the recyclable components are processed for repurposing. Also, by changing the shipping process, more signs will fit in each truck, reducing carbon emissions by an estimated 4 metric tons (or a reduction in 10,000 average car miles) for the signs being trucked to Ascension Wisconsin and Ascension Michigan alone.

“All our design and construction teams work collaboratively on an individual project to improve the sustainability

of the facilities,” said Jennifer Hendrich Cayton, Manager, Medxcel Planning, Design and Construction. “What makes this story unique is the openness to share across company lines of proprietary production practices, willingness to hear how others work and boldness to embrace change.”

In addition to the improved environmental outcomes for Ascension, the sign company has implemented the new process with other major customers.

Cardboard packing is now used in 80 percent of its shipments. That’s quite an impact, considering the company made 10,000 shipments in 2017.

These changes are just one example of how the Ascension Environmental Stewardship Program continues to make an environmental, financial and social difference in the communities we serve.

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personal profile

Getting to know you Meet Joseph Cacchione, MD, FACC, the president of Ascension Medical Group

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scension last year welcomed Joseph Cacchione, MD, FACC, as President of Ascension Medical Group (AMG).

Dr. Cacchione came to AMG from the Cleveland Clinic.

At the Cleveland Clinic since 2009, he began his role as Chairman of Operations and Strategy for the Clinic’s Heart & Vascular Institute in 2011. In this capacity he helped build a high-performing specialty network of providers around the country who contract with the Cleveland Clinic.

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The network he established now has 5 million lives under contract.

Additionally, Dr. Cacchione has directed the onboarding of 700 physicians who moved from independent practices to the Cleveland Clinic’s private physician model over the past three years.

Through his earlier service at Saint Vincent Health System in Erie, Pennsylvania, Dr. Cacchione gained important experience in Catholic healthcare. From 2004 to 2009, he served as Executive Vice President, Chief of Quality & Operations, overseeing the development of a number of service lines including orthopedics, oncology, neuroscience and cardiovascular. In his role with Saint Vincent, he also led physician alignment activities.

Dr. Cacchione is board certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiology and Interventional Cardiology and is LEAN/ Six Sigma Green Belt certified. He received his medical degree from the Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia and his undergraduate degree from Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania. Dr. Cacchione is a member of the Board of Trustees of the American College of Cardiology.

“We were tremendously pleased to have a physician executive of Dr. Cacchione’s skills and abilities join our ministry, and we are grateful to all those who served with us as members of Ascension’s search committee — including several physicians from across our One Integrated Ministry,” said Patricia A. Maryland, Dr.PH, Executive Vice President, Ascension, and President and Chief Executive Officer, Ascension Healthcare.

Ascension Medical Group has made great strides to advance our national physician enterprise, and Dr. Cacchione’s leadership is furthering this progress.

Among Dr. Cacchione’s goals are growth in aligned primary care physicians; improving continuity of care; developing care models that support new payment models and allow for clinicians to work at the top of their licenses; and improving provider satisfaction and engagement with a focus on professionalism.

wellness now

Energize for spring Take time for your well-being this season

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ith springtime in the air, many people are ready to end their winter hibernation. Longer, brighter days and better weather naturally encourage our interest in activity.

You don’t have to join the gym or sign up for an exercise class to become more active. There are many ways to incorporate more physical activity into your daily life.

Very often, it’s those small lifestyle changes that increase your energy and endurance, as well as improve your mental and spiritual well-being. Physical activity has a positive impact on you — body, mind and spirit.

Try one of these simple tips for your spring rejuvenation: • The long way: Take the stairs instead of the elevator, or find a parking spot far away from your building — those extra steps really add up.

• Speed-walk your errands: Lace up your sneakers and do daily errands or shopping on foot, checking off items on your list as you get your heart pumping.

• Commercial exercise break: During commercial breaks, get up and move for two minutes. Do crunches, push-ups, jumping jacks, lunges or just dance around the room with your kids. Get your heart pumping and your body moving.

• Activity date: Replace a lunch or dinner date with an activity date. Walk to the park, bike the neighborhood or take up a new sport like tennis or golf. You’ll have fun on your date and get a workout at the same time.

• Just breathe: Breathing is physical activity too, when you think about your breath. Three minutes focusing on breathing in and breathing out through your nose minimizes your stress response, increasing your mental function, calming your emotions and improving your physical health.

Resources for SmartHealth members If you enrolled for an Ascension SmartHealth medical plan during your benefits enrollment, you have access to many great resources for your well-being. The SmartHealth Well-being Program provides tools to help you identify areas of your physical, mental and spiritual well-being that need your attention and then offers you tools for the areas you want to focus on — plus you earn financial rewards for using these tools.

Visit myascension-wellness.org to begin.

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Ascension is meeting people’s expectations in a changing healthcare landscape

W

e know that the healthcare landscape is changing.

It’s being defined by consumer choice, demand for information and higher expectations for a great experience — by care that is reflected in a good outcome and a compassionate, personalized experience.

Increasingly, healthcare providers like Ascension are being evaluated by consumers in the overall “ease of experience” compared with non-healthcare companies such as Uber and Amazon. On top of that, we’re facing new competitors, including startups and established companies looking to enter the healthcare space, that are data driven and consumer focused. And digital technology is becoming a major disruptor in the way we deliver care, as well as the way we engage with consumers.

Just ask Kelsey Cherry.

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Kelsey is a lifestyle and fashion photographer who lives in Nashville. Her photos have been featured in The New York Times, Redbook and Town & Country. She needed a new doctor, and Ascension made it easy.

“I’m always on the go, so scheduling online made the process of getting in with a new doctor easy and convenient,” Kelsey said. “The form to schedule the appointment was short and sweet, and I was able to fill it out in several minutes directly from my phone.” Kelsey became a new patient of Phaythoune Chothmounethinh, MD, at Saint Thomas Medical Partners-Franklin, part of Ascension Tennessee, just like that.

2025 strategic road map As part of Ascension’s advanced Strategic Direction, we are preparing for a world in which people like Kelsey (pictured at right) will expect their health interactions to be convenient, easily accessible, affordable and of high clinical quality. Decision support tools, device and therapy improvements, genomics, and other scientific advancements will enable more effective and personalized care.

To best fulfill our Mission in the future, our care will need to be organized around the individual and provided by an interdisciplinary care team integrated with community resources focused on caring for the whole person — body, mind and spirit.

“Guided by our Strategic Direction, we will expand our impact by growing our footprint and services across the continuum of care, and expanding our focus from serving individuals to caring for populations through risk-based business models, new care models and remote appointments by video or phone, too,” said Anthony R. Tersigni, EdD, FACHE, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ascension. “This will extend our reach to directly serve three times the number of lives we serve today.”

Reimagining the care experience Central to Ascension’s efforts to transform the way we deliver care is a shift in perspective:

Read more about Ascension’s strategy to implement online scheduling across the System and get people in quicker on page 19.

• How does healthcare look if we put the person at the center?

• What is the ideal care experience as seen through the eyes of this person and his or her loved ones?

“Today our patients have a much higher expectation of where and how we meet their care, so we have to put out our most inviting welcome mat at every point of care,” said Joseph Cacchione, MD, FACC, President, Ascension Medical Group. “Before a patient comes to

“ Today our patients have a much higher expectation of where and how we meet their care, so we have to put out our most inviting welcome mat at every point of care.”

— Joseph Cacchione, MD, FACC, President, Ascension Medical Group

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“ Because Ascension has placed the patient at the center, we are challenged to find ways to connect with those we serve personally and in the most convenient and accessible way possible.”

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

us for healing, we have to consider that the patients we serve every day in our hospitals, clinics or nursing homes are consumers first.”

To guide Ascension on this journey, a road map of the Ascension way to lead with quality was created by Ascension providers and leaders for Ascension providers and leaders, and rolled out last fall. “Leading With Quality: The Ascension Way” begins to identify our desired future state and offers practical guidance for how to get there.

“Ascension’s development of the Ascension way will align our ministry to be successful in providing high-quality, low-cost care, irrespective of the changes in the healthcare environment,” said Ziad Haydar, MD, Senior Vice President, Chief Clinical Officer, Ascension Healthcare.

“Our organization’s unified approach to quality improvement will improve care for all persons in the communities we serve, including those experiencing healthcare consequences of social injustice.”

Thinking of the persons and families we serve as people rather than patients encourages us to connect with and care for the whole person throughout their lives. Likewise, as servant leaders, we also serve the providers, associates and partners who care for our patients/persons and communities, as we are called to create a culture in which every provider and associate feels valued and shares a sense of purpose.

Reimagining healthcare marketing While changing to truly meet the care needs of those we serve when and where it is best for them, Ascension also has the opportunity and responsibility to utilize individualized marketing strategies that can potentially save lives.

That’s the message from Nick Ragone, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Ascension.

“Because Ascension has placed the patient at the center, we are challenged to find ways to connect with those we serve personally and in the most convenient and

accessible way possible,” Nick said. “More and more, this means having an effective engagement strategy that sees the services we provide through the eyes of the consumer and that uses digital channels and tools that consumers are using.”

According to Nick, technology can play a major role in reimagining marketing as an innovative way to make care more convenient, accessible and personalized.

“How can we best position healthcare services to modern-day consumers who are well-informed of their care options, constantly plugged in to their technology sources, and seeking something more accessible and convenient than before?” he said.

Ascension’s new marketing model places consumer engagement and access at the top.

Consumer engagement and experience Data-driven approach focused on access Engagement

Online scheduling Experience

Website and mobile access Data-driven consumer relationship and reputation management

Relationship

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Digital consumer strategy Ascension created a “digital adhocracy” to further develop a shared approach to digital and consumer engagement. Leaders from Strategy, Marketing, Ascension Information Services, Innovation Accelerator Team, Finance and Solutions subsidiaries came together to audit existing practices and identify and supplement gaps with best-in-class thinking and technology.

“In order to thrive in this new environment, we must embrace a new way of working together — taking a consistent, ministry-wide approach to understanding and engaging with those we’re privileged to serve, to connecting with them personally in ways they are expecting to find information today, and to providing care in the most convenient and accessible ways possible,” said Patricia A. Maryland, Dr.PH, Executive Vice President, Ascension, and President and Chief Executive Officer, Ascension Healthcare.

The adhocracy focuses on four initial areas where Ascension is committed to accelerating a seamless, integrated approach to digital consumer engagement:

1. P ersonalized marketing — creating relationships with those we serve through personalized messages delivered across integrated digital channels and powered by consumer and clinical data 2. D igital red carpet — building one-stop technology solutions that are designed for mobile device access and enable users to schedule appointments and access care on demand 3. E vent-triggered navigation — automating messages to guide users to care and support throughout a diagnosis or health event 4. H ousehold “Chief Medical Officer” — providing a tool for the medical decision maker of the family to organize and monitor health information and behaviors “This change pushes us to think beyond billboard and newspaper ads — we have to be visible and available to our patients even before they need us,” Nick said. “Put in its simplest terms, healthcare marketing today is all about delivering the right message, to the right person, at the right time — and then measuring it.”

The goal is less focus on building qualitative awareness of Ascension and its local ministries in favor of more

Virtual consumer connections Following a successful pilot in 2015 to provide care via telemedicine to stroke patients, Ascension’s virtual care team is providing three distinct approaches to delivering care virtually.

Patients in 10 Ministry Markets now have access to specialists using real-time clinical video consultations with healthcare facilities and remote providers in more than a dozen areas of medicine including mental and behavioral care, maternal-fetal medicine and oncology.

With a few clicks on a smartphone, tablet or computer, patients with low-acuity needs appropriate for an urgent care or walk-in clinic are connected with a board-certified physician or nurse practitioner. Using FaceTime, Skype or video chat, providers make recommendations and prescribe medicine as necessary.

“The real key here is that direct-to-consumer technology is available anytime, anywhere,” said Chris Young, Vice President of Innovation, Ascension. “For consumers in the nine Ministry Markets using this capability, it’s an offering that tells consumer we are always here for them.”

Patients who need close monitoring of a chronic condition can benefit from remote, home-based monitoring to improve chronic-condition care and reduce readmissions. Ascension Indiana and Ascension Wisconsin are currently offering this service to patients.

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measurable, quantitative marketing, along with making sure the experience is mobile-friendly. That’s important because nearly 80 percent of healthcare engagements now begin with some type of online search, and the vast majority of those searches begin on a small device.

Getting patients in quicker Ascension is making changes today to better meet the needs of consumers, including development of a national web platform and online scheduling for primary care, urgent care and emergency departments.

“The adoption and implementation of online scheduling across all Ministry Markets will support new patient acquisition, volume and growth, as well as support our integrated brand and marketing strategy,” said Gerry Lewis, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ascension Information Services, and Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Ascension. “Online scheduling allows for faster filling of physician and procedure schedules, targeted and optimized scheduling for specific practices and procedures, and last-minute appointments and sameday scheduling, which research shows consumers prefer.”

Several Ministry Markets are well on their way to implementing online scheduling, with future phases including online scheduling for specialists, diagnostic scheduling, retail clinics and more.

Hearing the voice of consumers To guide this work, resources are in place to better understand consumers. Focus groups have helped us identify the variables that drive patients to our care sites.

“Patients appreciate that our providers are engaged and don’t just diagnose — they listen, too,” Nick said.

“The populations we serve value physician dialogue to create a personalized care plan.”

Reinventing the revenue cycle Ascension is also working to ensure a compassionate, personalized experience during the part of our care that many might feel is an unpleasant healthcare encounter — paying the bill.

“Delivering on our Mission is not just about care within the community or clinical setting; it’s how we deliver compassionate, personalized care when we deliver food, clean our facilities, conduct a test and especially when we ask for payment,” said Rhonda Anderson, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Ascension Healthcare.

Ascension is taking steps to map out revenue cycle interactions with a person as part of the patient billing process — from discharge to call centers to phone scripts to emails to third-party letters. We need to ensure we are listening, serving individuals compassionately, and using each interaction as an opportunity to build a relationship rather than simply conducting a transaction. We are also looking at how we provide central access and customer service through new infrastructure that allows for a one-call referral, transfer and consumer scheduling. The GoodHealth Solutions Center built in Ascension Texas is an example of how we can provide service for our patients and providers across Ministry Markets.

“Through the lens of the individual and a retail mindset, we are examining their satisfaction with the care they receive — their experience as a patient as well as their experience as a consumer.

Most importantly, we must care for that person as

“ In order to thrive in this new environment, we must embrace a new way of working together.”

they leave our care, through the billing process — and thank them for making the choice to receive care at an Ascension ministry that cares for their whole person,” said Rhonda.

— Patricia A. Maryland, Dr.PH, Executive Vice President, Ascension, and President and Chief Executive Officer, Ascension Healthcare

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“Our reimagined unified Ascension brand meets each individual right where they are in their healthcare journey — primary care, urgent care, emergency care or virtual care — ‘The care you need, when and where you need it.’ You’ll see this theme in our campaign,” said Tara Vail, Vice President, Consumer Marketing and Business Development, Ascension. “This is an entirely new approach that we wouldn’t have considered a few years ago, but we’re evolving in response to the dynamic needs of consumers in the digital age. Our shift from traditional marketing tactics to digital, data-driven strategies is proving successful, and we’re excited to continue developing this new marketing model.”

Research from consumer conversations in Jacksonville and Pensacola, Florida, guided this strategy. We learned that what is important for consumers is not about what we have, such as a specific service; it’s about what a person needs. Consumers also told us it’s not about where we are; rather, it’s where they need us to be.

For large, integrated systems such as Ascension, grass-roots research and consumer behavior and language testing is a must so that we can fully understand the populations we serve and anticipate their needs before they even enter our doors. “It also means having a strong, accessible brand that consumers trust and find convenient and connected.

Ascension Marketing is promoting A brand is a promise, and access, convenience and a a great brand is a promise compassionate, personalized kept,” Nick said. experience through new services like online scheduling and direct-to-consumer virtual care.

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Six Ministry Markets Prayers, presentations and celebrations were all part of announcement day last fall as associates at hospitals and other sites of care in six more Ministry Markets began the journey to adopt the Ascension identity.

This wave of national unified branding follows last year’s initial rebranding of Ascension sites of care in our two largest markets, Michigan and Wisconsin. The implementation of consistent names for Ascension facilities and services across the country makes it clearer and easier for patients to conveniently access the care they need and navigate their health. Ascension’s national unified branding of our health systems is the largest rebrand ever by a U.S. healthcare provider and among the largest ever in healthcare.

The new Ministry Markets to begin the journey include: • Binghamton, New York — Lourdes • Birmingham, Alabama — St. Vincent’s • Gulf Coast — Sacred Heart in the Pensacola, Florida, region and Providence in Mobile, Alabama • Jacksonville, Florida — St. Vincent’s • Kansas — Via Christi in Wichita and central Kansas • Texas — Seton in the Austin region and Providence in Waco Announcement day was only the beginning of a process that will unfold in the coming months and years as these ministries fully embrace the Ascension name both inwardly and outwardly. In large town hall-style meetings, in smaller gatherings and through leadership videos, associates and providers heard how implementation of consistent names for Ascension facilities and services across the country will create a culture of clinical excellence

adopt the unified Ascension name “That name is filled with energy; it’s filled with promise. And it also is a perfect reflection of our identity as a ministry, as the healing ministry of God on this earth, expressed in a Mission which those historic sponsors gave us,” she says.

“We’re at a key moment in time today where we recognize we are Ascension. We have shaped Ascension. That name becomes a promise. It’s a promise to those we serve to offer them all of what we have shaped together as Ascension. …

Associates in Jacksonville, Florida, learn about the transition to the unified Ascension name.

“When I think about this promise, I think that someday people will look back on this day and they’ll say, ‘Look at what they did.’ And that will

and safety, as they are supported by consistent branding at care sites across the nation. The unified

lead them to say, ‘And look at what we need to do.’ ” “Leveraging a strong, accessible brand that

identity will encourage collaboration across our

consumers trust and find convenient will support

systems of care to improve population health and

our efforts to deliver affordable, quality care for

eliminate healthcare disparities.

everyone,” said Nick Ragone, Senior Vice President

“Our unified Mission and brand is a promise to

and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer,

the communities we are privileged to serve, and

Ascension. “We’re committed to providing our

to the larger community of Catholic healthcare,

patients with more convenient and seamless care

that we are committed to sustaining our Mission

delivery options in every way possible. A unified,

and ensuring a vibrant and flourishing future,”

consistent brand makes it easier for consumers to

Anthony R. Tersigni, EdD, FACHE, President and

navigate sites of care from a brand they trust, both

Chief Executive Officer, Ascension, shared during

physically and online, and with mobile devices,

the announcement in Ascension Texas. “Our

where most healthcare engagements now begin.

shared name communicates the benefits of our

Moreover, our unified identity supports our shift

System-wide collaboration and shared best

to a more quantitative marketing model that is

practices. It helps those we serve connect the dots

allowing us to better understand the people we

in understanding that the doctors and caregivers

serve and anticipate needs before they even enter

they know and trust here in Texas have access to

our doors. It means having a strong, accessible

thousands of other caregivers with ideas and

brand that consumers trust and find convenient

expertise that can improve the care they deliver.”

and connected.”

In one video, Sr. Maureen McGuire, DC, Executive Vice President, Mission Integration, Ascension, says the name Ascension reflects the moment Jesus entrusted to his followers his life’s work.

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Spiritual healing’s new pathway ASCENSION’S VISION FOR SPIRITUAL CARE IS ENTERING A NEW FRONTIER IN ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT

At

the Ascension Spiritual Care Leadership Summit held last fall, On Demand Spiritual Care was introduced as a new model upholding an old tradition — our historic sponsors responding to the needs of individuals and communities wherever they are.

“While upholding our commitment to provide excellent spiritual care in our acute care settings, we are paying attention to the ways On Demand Spiritual Care advances our Mission by focusing on people where they are,” said Zac Willette, MDiv, BCC, System Director for Spiritual Care and Mission Integration, Ascension Healthcare.

“Spiritual care addresses the needs of the human spirit by facilitating the search for meaning and purpose. We accompany people, empowering them to find resilience and healing in often very difficult circumstances.”

On Demand Spiritual Care gives Ascension another avenue for taking the holistic care provided within our hospitals and extending it, regardless of how a person comes to us, according to Cathy Chang, MDiv, BCC, Director, On Demand Spiritual Care, Ascension Healthcare. “Whether through a clinic or acute care, we can continue spiritual care once a person returns home,” she said. “In order to reach our patients, spiritual care must move into a new frontier of providing that care by telephone or virtual access, or whatever method is easiest for those we serve.

The location or method doesn’t matter, the person does.”

Although the work of extending spiritual care is a new initiative, chaplains across Ascension are already building the capability. “We’ve invited chaplains who self-identify as having these gifts or interests as part of their vocation as chaplains to step forward and be the real leaders of this new initiative,” Zac said. “We’re building small pilots to launch big efforts. The potential impact is vast, and urgent.”

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Chaplain Keith Travis, MDiv, BCC, sees a distinction between the hospital patients he cares for at Ascension St. Francis in Milwaukee and those at the Reiman Cancer Care Center in Franklin and the Wauwatosa Cancer Care Center, all part of Ascension Wisconsin.

“People we care for in the inpatient setting aren’t connected to the world. But those who come to us as outpatients bring along vulnerabilities, such as dealing with traffic, worrying if their infusion treatment will be complete in time to pick up a child from practice, or concerns over getting sick while making dinner,” Keith said. “With outpatient cancer care, I may see a patient for up to a year, which allows me the chance to build long-term relationships. I might not even talk to them about spiritual matters at all during the first few visits, but rather focus on the day-to-day.”

Sometimes Keith receives referrals through the electronic health record to connect with patients over the phone or via email. When patients are too weak from treatment to leave the house, Keith brings spiritual care to them by phone.

“I am thrilled Ascension is prioritizing On Demand Spiritual Care and excited to see where this vision will take us,” Keith said. “I am passionate about this effort because our Mission is to serve all persons with special attention to those who are poor and vulnerable.”

For Chaplain Tina Guynn, MDiv, BCC-eligible, providing spiritual care is about meeting people where they are in order to bring a person to a place of wholeness. “It’s not healthy if a person’s spiritual parts don’t connect with the rest of the body.” Tina serves inpatient and outpatient departments at St. Vincent Fishers, part of Ascension Indiana located in an Indianapolis suburb.

“When I enter a person’s room in outpatient surgery, before I offer to say a prayer, I first engage people in conversations about the procedure to find out what fears or challenges they

Left: Chaplain Tina Guynn, MDiv, BCC-eligible, serves inpatient and outpatient departments at St. Vincent Fishers, part of Ascension Indiana.

Below: Chaplain Keith Travis, MDiv, BCC, comforts 95-year-old Helen Czaicki while she receives chemotherapy at the Reiman Cancer Care Center in Franklin, Wisconsin, part of Ascension Wisconsin.

may have. Perhaps there are questions that keep them from being at peace with the procedure,” Tina said.

“I allow them the space to share and the structure to express any anxieties and fears.” As part of her routine, Tina provides everyone one of her business cards. “When I receive emails and phone calls from patients, it allows us to reconnect,” she said. “The care picks up right where we left off.”

Most parents in the pediatric outpatient rehab waiting room at St. Vincent Fishers don’t expect a chaplain to come see how they’re coping with what their child is going through, she said. “For those with a sick child, I try to offer a place of wholeness and understanding to give hope,” Tina said. “Many times I remind parents about self-care and give them tools to cope.” Spiritual care follows the person’s attention from the pragmatic to the profound, and back again. Tina adds, “It’s all about finding out what brings people purpose in life and hope.”

“Spiritual Care is a hallmark of the holistic care Ascension provides to persons as a healing ministry,” said Timm Glover, MDiv, Senior Vice President of Mission Integration, Ascension Healthcare. “Through creativity and innovation, we have the opportunity to extend spiritual care throughout our integrated ministry — further demonstrating our commitment to compassionate and personalized care.”

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Everything’s coming up daisies Our partnership with a national program reflects Ascension’s focus on recognizing nurses

A

s part of our One Ascension journey, the Ascension Chief Nursing Officer Advisory Council is partnering with The DAISY (Diseases Attacking the Immune SYstem) Foundation™ to encourage a unified nursing recognition program across the System. The DAISY Award® For Extraordinary Nurses is flexible in that it can be tailored to Ascension’s unique culture and Values, complementing the Ascension Nursing Workforce Optimization Five-point Plan (see sidebar).

“Ascension’s partnership with The DAISY Foundation supports our Nursing Workforce Optimization efforts to retain and recognize nurses who have gone above and beyond in their local ministries,” said Ann Hendrich, PhD,

RN, FAAN, Senior Vice President, Chief Quality/Safety/PSO and Nursing Officer, Ascension Healthcare.

The strategic impact of the program on nurses and their organizations is deep, affecting nurses’ job satisfaction, retention, teamwork, pride, organizational culture, healthy work environment and more, according to The DAISY Foundation. The foundation aims to help nurses see in themselves what their patients, families and colleagues see in them and to help them learn the behaviors that make a powerful difference.

About the foundation The DAISY Foundation was founded by the family of Patrick Barnes, who, after falling ill in late 1999 (then 33 years old and a

Please meet the Daisies Here are just two of Ascension’s DAISY award recipients from the past year, both part of Ascension Wisconsin.

Jennifer Schueller RN, Hospice Case Manager, Home Care, Ascension St. Michael’s, Stevens Point, Wisconsin Jennifer (pictured at center) received a DAISY Award after being nominated by a colleague for rescuing an unresponsive, choking patient by using chest compressions. Her nomination stated: “We are proud to say that Jennifer saved a life today. She would not see this as beyond her job requirement because ‘she is a nurse’ and that is what they do. We see this as a fabulous community service that she provided.”

Gwen Dombowsky RN – ED, Ascension Good Samaritan Hospital, Merrill, Wisconsin Gwen (pictured at right) received a DAISY Award after being nominated by a patient who experienced a fall, injuring her face, chest and back. The patient’s nomination shared: “Gwen was very helpful and quickly made me feel safe and as comfortable as possible under the circumstances. She did a great job and explained what I needed to do and answered all my questions. She made me feel that I was important and not just a case number. Thank you Gwen for the great care you gave me.”

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survivor of Hodgkin’s disease), was admitted to the hospital and diagnosed with the autoimmune disease idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). Pat and his wife, Tena, had just had their first child two months before he became sick.

“We are so blessed that we were able to spend the eight weeks of his hospitalization with him and his family,” said Mark Barnes, Pat’s father, after his death. “During those weeks, we experienced the best of nursing. As we discussed what to do in Patrick’s memory, we knew that first and foremost, we needed to say thank you for the gifts nurses give their patients and families every day, just as we had experienced.”

DAISY Award recipients are nominated by their peers, physicians, patients and families, and other staff and administrators; they receive a certificate proclaiming the recipient an “Extraordinary Nurse”; a DAISY Award pin; and a unique, hand-carved serpentine stone sculpture from Zimbabwe titled “A Healer’s Touch.” The award is also being extended beyond nursing in some ministries.

The DAISY partnership A subgroup of Ascension’s Retention Task Force, composed mainly of chief nursing officers from across the System, led the partnership between Ascension and The DAISY Foundation.

“At Saint Agnes our DAISY Award nominations come from our patients and their families. The nurses that are nominated receive recognition, as well as the winner,” said Yolanda Copeland, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, Ascension’s Saint Agnes Healthcare, Baltimore, who serves as Ascension’s Retention Task Force Chair. “The nurses are humbled by the recognition from our patients and their families because they are truly doing what they love to do.”

A goal of the subgroup was to use the foundation’s success in recognizing associates’ efforts to provide exceptional care, while improving nurses’ resiliency and well-being, ultimately improving nursing retention across the System.

“As we plan exceptional career experiences for our Ascension professional nurses from hire to retire, our partnership with The DAISY Foundation strengthens our calling to empower our nurses while recognizing the amazing nurses who provide extraordinary, compassionate and skillful care every day,” said Sheila Stern, EdD(c), MSP/I-O, Senior Director, Clinical Leadership Development, Care Excellence, Ascension Healthcare, a Retention Task Force member.

Ascension DAISY Award recipients are featured in daily Good Day Ascension stories online. To highlight a recipient, associates can contact their local chief nursing officer.

Ascension’s Nursing Workforce Optimization efforts The Nursing Workforce Optimization Five-point Plan, endorsed by the Chief Nursing Officer Advisory Council, was collaboratively designed with the Legal, Finance and Human Resources Ministry-wide Functions, along with System-wide collaborative partners. It was developed based on the immediate need to address nursing retention and increase workforce satisfaction. The overarching aims of the five-point plan are:

• Attract and retain professional registered nurses working at top of licensure • Restore resiliency and joy • Reduce nursing turnover • Decrease the need and presence of agency nursing across the System • Provide career progression and lifelong learning opportunities For more information on Ascension’s Nursing Workforce Optimization efforts, please visit ascension.org/GDAlinks.

The five points of Nursing Workforce Optimization Competitive, marketdriven compensation • Employment benefits Onboarding and retention Professional development and competency Work environment • Equipment and supply management

Effective and efficient staffing • Talent acquisition • Replacement hiring targets • Predictive staffing factor • Standardized agency contract • Advanced scheduling • Dynamic internal staffing pools

• Electronic health record

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Shining stars ASCENSION MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES MIX TRADITIONAL AND NEW APPROACHES

T

he United States is facing a mental and behavioral health crisis.

More than 44 million Americans are living with a diagnosable mental health and/or substance dependency condition. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, rates of suicide increased 24 percent within a recent 15-year period, and estimates are that about 60 percent of persons do not receive the services they need to improve their functional health.

Patients are now seeking help with behavioral and mental health issues in non-traditional psychiatric environments, including emergency departments and primary and specialty care settings.

Given these realities, Ascension has the opportunity to help members of our communities by transforming behavioral and mental healthcare delivery and providing comprehensive services for all, especially to those who need it most.

Currently, many of our health ministries are focused on expanding services and education for both traditional and innovative therapies for addiction and other behavioral and mental health issues. A number of health ministries have developed new approaches to meet their community’s needs, several of which are transferable and scalable and can be expanded across the System.

“As a major national healthcare system, it is important that Ascension includes behavioral and mental health services as part of the conversation concerning wellness and prevention, as well as the management of disease and especially chronic disease,” said Carol E. Hartmann, MA, LCPC, Director, Behavioral and Mental Health Service Line, Ascension. “We also need to change how we think of mental illness. That is, behavioral and mental health issues including addictions need to be a part of the ‘health

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conversation,’ especially in primary and specialty care. As we work to reduce preventable health disparities in those communities we serve, the inclusion of mental health needs to be an important part of that discussion.”

New approaches to behavioral and mental healthcare Primary care integration To improve the health and well-being of persons, it’s important to promote wellness, prevention and early intervention within primary and specialty care environments. Here are ways some Ascension ministries are doing just that.

Ascension’s St. John Health System in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and St. John Clinic are working collaboratively with behavioral health, under the leadership of Terry L. Mills, MD, MMM, CPE, Medical Director, St. John Clinic, an early adopter and champion of mental health integration.

St. John Clinic has embedded six full-time behavioral health professionals in primary care practices, ultimately providing visibility and support for 12 primary care clinic sites. In addition to the embedded model, the clinic has built tighter relationships with referral outpatient behavioral health clinicians and is actively working to expand the embedded model and weave even tighter integration with all primary care clinic sites. The team is tracking outcomes within its patient population, taking the stance that all care is behaviorally related and making it important to have specialists from various areas of care available to help co-manage cases.

Ascension St. Vincent’s in Jacksonville, Florida, has worked diligently to build its inventory of behavioral and mental health resources. Currently, behavioral and mental health providers are integrated into 10 primary care sites and one stand-alone clinic. Ascension St. Vincent’s continues to

see growth in the need for behavioral and mental health interventions within its integrated ambulatory health model and will be expanding into eight additional health centers over the next several months.

Ascension All Saints Hospital in Racine, Wisconsin, integrates social workers and psychologists into nine of its Ascension Medical Group locations (including primary care, psychiatry and neurology), which has proven to be an effective treatment model for the community.

Evidence-based outcomes Evidence-based practices are defined as sets of assessment and treatment protocols based on clinical expertise and the best available clinical research, and are employed in conjunction with patient values, characteristics and circumstances. The data from evidence-based practices is relevant as healthcare becomes more focused on understanding and responding to community health needs.

The AMITA Health Behavioral Medicine Institute, part of Ascension Chicago, developed the Center for Evidence-based Practice (CEBP) to facilitate adoption of and adherence to clinical practices and protocols,

patient outcomes, and research coordination for its Ministry Market. The CEBP collects outcome data on patients in order to continuously evaluate patient progress and to inform treatment program development opportunities.

Telebehavioral health in emergency departments Emergency departments have seen an unprecedented number of individuals seeking services for both chronic and acute mental health and/or substance dependency conditions. Moreover, health ministry leaders report an increase in patients in emergency departments requiring behavioral and mental health treatment. The national opioid epidemic also has become a challenge for treatment providers in these settings.

With a grant provided in June 2016, Ascension had the opportunity to begin to reshape how this care is provided and delivered. Through the use of telehealth, caregivers strive to offer a comprehensive solution by providing assessment, triage and care dispositions more efficiently.

This approach gives Ascension the opportunity to deliver on the Quadruple Aim of improved patient and provider

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experience, exceptional outcomes, and lower overall care costs through a reduction of unnecessary and expensive office visits.

In FY17 alone, Ascension Virtual Care implemented 42 telebehavioral sites — expanding from six to 10 Ministry Markets — in collaboration with Ascension’s national Behavioral and Mental Health Service Line and Ascension Information Services.

“Connecting more people with the mental and behavioral care they need is one of my top priorities,” said Patricia A. Maryland, Dr.PH, Executive Vice President, Ascension, and President and Chief Executive Officer, Ascension Healthcare. “Ascension Virtual Care has enabled us to bring behavioral and mental health services to the point of care where people need it the most, to assess and provide patients with compassionate, personalized care more quickly and accurately.”

Ascension St. Vincent’s in Birmingham, Alabama, has expanded its behavioral and mental health services to include outpatient and inpatient telebehavioral health capabilities. More than 140 patient visits occurred in the first four months after the system went live, allowing for those most in need of treatment to have convenient and seamless access to quality and compassionate medical care. Ascension St. Vincent’s is currently in the initial steps of affiliating with non-Ascension hospitals across Alabama to expand its telehealth platform.

One in four persons will have depression at some time in their life.

Mental illness creates a burden on society and can have devastating outcomes for families and communities.

Behavioral health issues impact physical as well as mental well-being and often contribute to an increased cost of care for patients receiving other medical services.

Appropriate treatment can lead to positive outcomes and even save lives. Ascension is leading the way toward improved access to care and personalized care.

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Behavioral and mental health call center The AMITA Health Behavioral Medicine Institute is the seventh-largest facility of its kind in the nation by net patient revenue. It operates a robust treatment program with inpatient, residential, partial hospitalization, outpatient and support groups for the community.

To effectively manage the number of patients and families seeking services, the institute developed a call center to manage inquiries and questions and to help patients and families navigate an often complex mental health landscape.

This center is staffed by trained counselors 24/7, and calls are triaged live. The institute has seen exponential growth in call volume since its inception in 2012. Representatives help more than 100,000 callers each year — and that number continues to grow as the broader behavioral and mental healthcare needs of the community expand.

Community health engagement Many of Ascension’s health ministries play a vital role in initiatives as they relate to the behavioral and mental health needs of their community.

The St. Vincent’s Health System Foundation in Birmingham is heavily involved in behavioral and mental health services, educating and initiating collaborations with providers and community organizations. The foundation hosts events such as behavioral and mental health roundtables to gather community input as well as behavioral and mental health first-aid training for clergy, nursing, first responders and other support groups.

Ascension’s St. John in Tulsa maintains a community response team and a mobile unit of police, fire, and behavioral and mental health responders. In addition, St. John is involved in the local emergency medical services’ Community Assistance, Referral, and Education Services (CARES) program, a preventive program designed to help overcome social determinants (income, housing, transportation, support, etc.) of behavioral and mental health issues. St. John also sponsors a foundation-funded joint venture with the University of Tulsa for a student-practice clinic in underserved areas, where students provide services to patients.

news from the ministries

Notes from Across Our One Integrated Ministry Birmingham, Alabama

New centers open Ascension St. Vincent’s held blessing and ribbon-cutting ceremonies for two new facilities. St. Vincent’s Trussville is an outpatient medical center that provides primary care through a partnership with Northside Medical Associates, occupational health services and wellness services. St. Vincent’s Urgent Care in Homewood offers walk-in care for minor injuries and illnesses seven days a week.

In addition, the location offers convenient online check-in so patients can reserve their spots in line and wait at home.

Bridgeport, Connecticut

Specialty surgeon joins team Imran Siddiqui, MD, FACS, joined the surgical team at St. Vincent’s Medical Center’s Lebo-DeSantie Center for Liver and Pancreatic Disease. Specializing in hepatopancreaticobiliary (HPB) surgery, Dr. Siddiqui is one of only 20 surgeons in the country and the only surgeon in New England trained to perform comprehensive advanced robotic surgeries, including whipple, biliary reconstructions and liver resections. In October, Dr. Siddiqui presented his research on total pancreatectomy for pancreatic cancer at a scientific forum at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2017 in San Diego.

Washington, D.C., and Baltimore

Physicians among top docs Physicians across the Baltimore area were asked to select the best physicians in the region for Baltimore magazine’s “Top Doctors 2017” issue. This peer group selected 49 Saint Agnes Healthcare

Ascension Medical Group physicians.

Physicians across the Washington area were also surveyed and selected 23 Providence physicians across 39 specialties for the exclusive list.

Proposal draws national interest Hospitals & Health Networks magazine featured Providence’s proposed Health Village and discussed how it could meet Washington, D.C.’s health and wellness needs in a sustainable way amid a changing healthcare landscape and diverse community needs.

first to be branded as Ascension Medical Group Providence and a major step in establishing a presence across the bay.

Children’s hospital expands care The Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart in Pensacola is collaborating with University of Florida Health to provide an expanded range of specialized pediatric care to children across the Gulf Coast. This year 20 physicians have been hired across 10 pediatric specialties. The growth coincides with the construction of a new four-story children’s hospital, scheduled to open in 2019.

Jacksonville, Florida

Heart & vascular pavilion announced Ascension St. Vincent’s announced it will build a heart and vascular pavilion, which will expand Ascension St. Vincent’s Riverside by adding 30 medical/surgical rooms, 30 ICU rooms and two nursing units for cardiac care. Groundbreaking is scheduled for summer 2018 with a projected opening in fall 2019.

Opioid pilot program begins Ascension St. Vincent’s Riverside has partnered with the City of Jacksonville and other community organizations to launch an opioid pilot program aimed at identifying individuals after their overdose and guiding them through treatment and rehabilitation.

Participants work with a peer recovery specialist who helps navigate them through the recovery process.

Gulf Coast

First primary care clinic opens Ascension Providence expanded its service area by about 30 miles by opening its first primary care clinic in Fairhope, Alabama, which is the center of the highly desirable Eastern Shore area of Mobile Bay. The practice, staffed by Family Medicine physician Julia Ellison, MD, is the

Chicago

Outpatient expansion begins AMITA Health has launched a $150 million ambulatory-care expansion plan to provide convenient access to comprehensive outpatient services in Chicago’s western and northwestern suburbs.

The plan calls for opening 16 outpatient facilities in retail-like locations during the next three to five years, including a 25,000-square-foot site that opened last fall in Carol Stream, Illinois.

Indiana

Neighborhood hospitals open St. Vincent has opened several “neighborhood hospitals” throughout central Indiana as part of its strategy to provide high-quality care close to home. These unique facilities, designed to offer close proximity to patients’ homes and shorter wait times, specialize in 24/7 emergency services and inpatient care.

Downtown sports center opens St. Vincent, in partnership with Pacers Sports & Entertainment, opened St. Vincent Center, a state-of-the-art facility conveniently located in the heart of Indianapolis next to Bankers Life Fieldhouse, the home of the Indiana

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news from the ministries

Pacers. The facility offers primary care, cardiovascular care and sports performance services to athletes and the general public. St. Vincent Center also houses two NBA regulation courts, a weight room, a training room and offices for Pacers staff. During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, it was announced that St. Vincent is the exclusive healthcare provider for the Pacers.

Associates plan Medical Mission at Home As a way to put the Mission into action beyond hospital walls, St. Vincent associates hosted the ministry’s second annual Medical Mission at Home event. Free services including medical exams, mammograms, flu shots, dental education, diabetic screenings, foot washings and sports physicals were provided to more than 200 participants. Associates held a food and coat drive before the event and shared donations with attendees.

Kansas

Nurse practitioner honored Charity Clark, Manager of Ascension Via Christi Health’s Transitional Care programs and clinics, received the 2018 Advocate Award for Excellence for Kansas from the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). Charity will be recognized at the AANP’s national conference in June.

St. Vincent associates volunteer their time and skills by planning and participating in the second annual Medical Mission at Home.

students then participate in education modules to encourage healthy behaviors and lifestyle choices. A full report is provided to all parents.

Hospitals earn national performance awards St. Mary’s Standish Hospital (SMSH) and St. Joseph Health System (SJHS) in Tawas earned recognition for providing high-quality healthcare from two national healthcare organizations — The Chartis Center for Rural Health/iVantage Health Analytics and the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health. SMSH was recognized for overall excellence in quality and SJHS was honored for excellence in outcomes.

Michigan

New initiative for fifth-graders St. Joseph Health System in Tawas began High Five for Health, a free program examining the health of fifth-graders at local schools. In this community health needs assessment initiative, students participate in health screenings while information is collected to determine a child’s risk level for chronic disease. The

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Concussion clinic opens The St. Mary’s Concussion Clinic is a unique new service and the only comprehensive concussion care program in Mid-Michigan. Concussion baseline assessments are being offered at no cost to student athletes, allowing for a comparison of post-injury state to baseline parameters for accurate diagnosis and proper return-to-play protocol.

Outpatient therapy for seniors Geriatric behavioral healthcare is now available at St. Mary’s Standish Hospital through a partnership with Senior Life Solutions. People living in rural communities served by Standish Hospital have access to outpatient group therapy for St. Joseph Health System in Tawas begins a new health initiative for school-age children.

news from the ministries

adults 65-plus struggling with depression and anxiety often related to aging. The need for these services was identified in the hospital’s community health needs assessment.

Cardiologist receives award Borgess Health interventional cardiologist Anthony King, MD, FACC, FACP, FASE, FASNC, FAHA, FHFSA, was awarded the highest honor in heart failure medicine, the Fellowship of the Heart Society of America.

Hats off to heart team Providence-Providence Park Hospital was recognized as a 2018 Top 50 Hospital for Cardiovascular Services

by Watson Health® for the 13th time.

Watson Health (formerly Truven Analytics) uses a rigorous formula of quality measures to identify the highest-performing hospitals.

Providence-Providence Park was recognized in the category of Teaching Hospital with Cardiovascular Residency Programs.

Mission handbook produced The St. John Providence Mission Integration team introduced The Mission Handbook for use across Ascension Michigan for meeting reflections and dialogue with associates. The 46-page, beautifully designed book features a collection of information and reflections that help broaden associates’ understanding of what it means to work in Catholic healthcare, and deepen the commitment to providing holistic and reverent care to all who seek our services.

Authored by Michael Ryan, Director of Mission Integration, the handbook is a resource for information on Catholic social teaching, Ascension Values and virtuous servant leadership.

Associates witness Mission in action The St. John Providence Community Health team in southeast Michigan has a novel way to help associates understand the significant number and reach of services offered to the community, especially those who are poor and vulnerable.

Each quarter, 30 associates are randomly chosen to participate in a community plunge. Associates board buses and tour St. John Providence community programs in greater Detroit, including the Bridges to HOPE community resource program, the Open Arms program for grieving children and families, the Infant Mortality program, and various health and wellness centers focused on prevention and health management for seniors and families.

have family and roots there. Amsterdam received displaced families and schoolage children who were relocated from Puerto Rico while the island recovers from Hurricane Maria. The Amsterdam community raised more than $60,000 for these families via an event that included a concert with many local bands including MedRock. MedRock’s lead singer is Vic Giulianelli, President and CEO of Ascension’s St. Mary’s Healthcare; other band members include former St. Mary’s President and CEO Peter Capobianco and Drs. William Mayer, Noy Militar and Sean Ryan. The band performs only for charitable causes.

St. Mary’s was a sponsor of the event.

Hospital begins $48 million expansion St. John Macomb-Oakland Hospital in Warren is celebrating this spring with the launch of the largest building project in its history. The project will expand one of its patient towers from four to seven floors, increasing the total available beds to 375, and, just as important, increasing the private bed count to 220.

Surgical patient care recognition The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP®) recognized Ascension Lourdes Hospital for achieving meritorious outcomes for surgical patient care. The ACS NSQIP recognition program commends a select group of hospitals for achieving a composite meritorious outcome related to patient management in eight areas: mortality, unplanned intubation, ventilator greater than 48 hours, renal failure, cardiac incidents (cardiac arrest and heart attack), respiratory (pneumonia), surgical site infections or urinary tract infection.

Program helps patients with medications Genesys Health System is now part of the Dispensary of Hope, a program that helps people who are uninsured, underserved and have limited income get the medications they need. Genesys can dispense an initial 30-day supply of medication to qualified people.

For longer-term medication needs, individuals work with a local program to meet other requirements.

Amsterdam, New York

Charity concert features CEO Amsterdam is home to a significant population of Latino families, many of whom are originally from Puerto Rico and

Binghamton, New York

Bariatric center receives distinction Ascension Lourdes Hospital received the Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery designation. Blue Distinction Centers demonstrate an expertise in quality care, resulting in better overall outcomes for patients by meeting objective clinical measures developed with input from expert physicians and medical organizations.

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news from the ministries

Tulsa, Oklahoma

New clinics to open St. John Health System is opening new St. John Clinic/Ascension Medical Group facilities in early 2018 in Jenks and Bixby, Oklahoma. The Tulsa-area clinics will offer primary care, urgent care, and lab and X-ray services, adding to more than 90 locations in eastern Oklahoma and southern Kansas.

Saint Thomas Midtown features its new Birthing Center at a community open house.

Tennessee

OB open house The Women’s Care service line hosted an open house in partnership with the NFL’s Tennessee Titans to showcase enhancements at Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital in Nashville. The program featured key speakers from the obstetrics service line, including Kristen Toth, Vice President of Women’s and Children’s; Donna Darnell, Director of Nursing; and Stephen Staggs, MD, in addition to a story from the first patient who delivered her baby in The Birthing Center, a new, all-natural birthing option. A number of patients, community members, doulas, midwives and others toured the facility and amenities, including The Birthing Center — Nashville’s first in-hospital natural birthing facility; renovated, spacious labor and delivery rooms; new premium postpartum suites; a new Family Learning Center; Tennessee Titans FanZone Family Waiting Area; and the Mommy & Me Boutique.

needs. This model saves patients time and hassle because it includes scheduling appointments for any Ascension Texas health services; provides a nurse advice line 24 hours a day, seven days a week; and connects patients to disease management and home monitoring services. In addition to calling one number, patients can download the GoodHealth Digital Clinic application and use it to see a provider virtually through their smartphone or computer.

Surgical unit improves care Patients recovering from surgery at Ascension Seton Medical Center Hays have access to a new 30-bed surgical unit, which expanded the hospital from

Texas

GoodHealth center opens The GoodHealth Solutions Center, part of Ascension Texas, opened in November in Austin and is the first facility of its kind in the nation, offering Central Texans one centralized location to access efficient, coordinated care that’s focused on their

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112 beds to 142 beds. The unit, which occupies the fifth floor of the hospital’s patient tower, provides specialized care for patients with similar recovery needs in one location.

Wisconsin

Mobile clinic hits the road The Columbia St. Mary’s Foundation unveiled the new Ascension Seton Mobile Dental Clinic at three Milwaukee-area schools in September. An extension of Ascension Columbia St. Mary’s Smart Smiles, a school-based oral health program, the Mobile Clinic provides urgent dental care to children in need across southeastern Wisconsin.

The GoodHealth Solutions Center offers a unique model of coordinated care for Central Texans.

news from the ministries

Walk raises funds for education The Ascension Wisconsin team joined more than 8,000 walkers, representing more than 100 schools, at Mount Mary University in Wauwatosa for the fifth annual Archdiocese of Greater Milwaukee Soles for Catholic Education fundraising walk. Ascension Wisconsin was a sponsor of the event.

Ascension care management

Population health direction formalized Ascension Care Management (ACM) will launch a Population Health Alignment Structure that will tap into leadership across Ascension and define population health strategies for the organization. Additionally, more than 200 risk and associate health and wellness associates located across Ascension joined ACM to create a Risk and Associate Health and Wellness Center of Excellence within ACM. Ascension Global Mission

Associates advance Haiti’s healthcare In December, Mary Paul, Vice President, Mission Integration, and Beth Hadi, MSN, MHA, RN, traveled to Haiti to provide consultative assistance in completing portions of the World Health Organization (WHO) Safety Survey, and to conduct a pre-training in-service with 10 nurses at St. Francis de Sales Hospital in Port-au-Prince. The in-service was designed to familiarize the nurses with the content of the American Heart Association Basic Life Support (AHA BLS) certification program before taking the course. The nurses will also take the BLS trainer course, which will certify them to provide AHA BLS education to other nurses in Haiti, creating a sustainable education program that can serve to

elevate the care to not only the nursing staff at St. Francis de Sales Hospital, but also all nurses in Haiti who choose to participate.

Ascension Holdings

LED retrofit project completed Medxcel Energy and Facilities Management have completed an LED Lighting Retrofit project at 83 Ascension facilities. This update improves interior and exterior light quality, reduces the Ascension carbon footprint, and will save nearly $1 million per month in energy costs.

Ascension Information Services

Award recognizes innovative culture For the sixth consecutive year, Ascension Information Services (AIS) was recognized for promoting a culture of innovation and collaboration by Elearning! magazine. The AIS Virtual Book Club, a monthly webinar where participants discuss a selected book related to healthcare IT, helped the organization place No. 45 among private-sector enterprises.

Ascension Investment Management

Subsidiary supports Catholic communities Ascension Investment Management (AIM) was honored by a November visit from members of its newest client, St. Benedict’s Abbey. St. Benedict’s Abbey is a Catholic, Benedictine monastery in Atchison, Kansas, founded in 1857.

The monks of St. Benedict’s Abbey live according to the Rule of St. Benedict, praying and working for the glory of God and the good of the world. Brother Karel Soukup shared with AIM associates the history of St. Benedict’s Abbey

and his personal journey to becoming a monk. AIM recognizes that its investment work is critical to not only funding mission work, but also in many cases, the ongoing support of Catholic communities. AIM’s relationship with its clients reinforces its connection to Ascension’s Mission, Vision and Values, and overall Catholic principles.

Ascension Leader Institute

Healthy guidelines developed The Ascension Leader Institute was designed to support the holistic development of associates — mind, body and spirit. In support of this vision, healthy guidelines for meetings and in-person training sessions have been developed. Launched in early 2018, these best practices include recommendations for strategic movement, nutritious dietary offerings, and mindfulness exercises that should be embedded into programs.

Ascension Living

Ascension Living makes top 10 Ascension Living ranks eighth in size in a new listing of the largest nonprofit senior living providers by industry association LeadingAge and specialty investment bank Ziegler.

According to Senior Housing News, nonprofit senior living units have grown at an average yearly rate of 3.1 percent over the past decade.

Ascension Medical Group

InQuicker rolls out Ascension Medical Group (AMG) has adopted InQuicker, an online scheduling product, to support its access strategy.

AMG leadership has committed to a standardized format and practice for scheduling, with a phased rollout based

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on market readiness. The tool allows AMG to reach new and existing patients, continuing a long-term relationship with those we serve.

Ascension ventures

Subsidiary closes on new investments Ascension Ventures has closed three additional new investments out of its fourth venture fund. Cofactor Genomics is a precision medicine company that is developing a suite of RNA-based diagnostics used to inform drug selection based on molecular composition for cancer and other diseases. iVinci Health (VisitPay) is a healthcare finance technology company that provides a platform that enables health systems to improve the consumer payments experience while increasing the amount providers are able to collect at a lower cost. Ob Hospitalist Group is the leading provider of OB hospitalist programs to hospitals in the United States.

Community Health Ministries

The Resource Group

Updates from the clinics Centro San Vicente achieved Level 3 recognition as a Patient Centered Medical Home and is the only Level 3 clinic/health center in El Paso, Texas. …

Daughters of Charity Health Centers of New Orleans exceeded its goal of 800 participants in the PROPEL healthy lifestyle and weight program. …

Daughters of Charity Services of Arkansas completed a successful first year of a three-year HRSA Quality Grant. … Seton Center in Kansas City, Missouri, along with a multitude of volunteers, provided Christmas gifts, food and clothing to 1,000 families and to those living in nearby halfway houses. … Daughters of Charity Services of San Antonio, Texas, welcomed Veronica H. Segura as its new CEO. Veronica was previously COO of the Seton Foundation, which supports Ascension Seton in Austin, Texas.

Supplier diversity symposium held The Resource Group hosted its first Supplier Diversity Symposium in St. Louis in November. The symposium engaged nearly 40 diverse business owners from the region, along with members from the St. Louis Regional Chamber, Mid-States Minority Development Council, and executives from The Resource Group. The symposium focused on creating and strengthening business relationships with businesses owned by minorities, women and veterans to support equitable consideration in future strategic sourcing events. The Resource Group is building business relationships with diverse suppliers as part of its commitment to provide high-quality products and services at the best value to its end-users.

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Learn more about Ascension at ascension.org.

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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. ✙ St. Vincent Medical Group creates Foster Child Closet During a casual conversation with a foster parent, St. Vincent Medical Group leaders in Anderson, Indiana, part of Ascension Indiana and Ascension Medical Group, became acutely aware of challenges that foster children face. Often removed from their homes without notice, many children arrive in foster homes without cherished toys or clothing, even though the Department of Child Services (DCS) strives to ensure children have an opportunity to pack personal belongings. While foster families receive some financial support, they often have immediate needs for the child in their care.

Compelled to make a difference in the lives of these children, St. Vincent Medical Group associates envisioned a Foster Child Closet. Working with the local DCS, the St. Vincent Medical Group management team began a campaign to collect new and gently used children’s clothing and personal hygiene products.

Read more at goodday.ascension.org/archive

✙ 4 associates receive first Spiritual Care Awards Ascension recently presented its first four national Spiritual Care Awards, in the categories of Research, Innovation, Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Outstanding Spiritual Care Advocate. “Spiritual care is core to our Mission.

And very notably, it is core to our interdisciplinary approach to compassionate, personalized care with special attention to people who live in poverty and people who are vulnerable,” said Sr. Maureen McGuire, DC, Executive Vice President, Mission Integration, Ascension. “These awardees — each in their own way — show us just what that looks like. It’s an honor to celebrate them.”

Read more at goodday.ascension.org/archive

✙ St. Mary’s employs those with disabilities Angel Pietri, Jeff Furman and Joe Cope recently joined the housekeeping team at Ascension’s St. Mary’s Healthcare in Amsterdam, New York, thanks to the ministry’s work with an advocacy organization serving people with disabilities.

The three previously had shown their capabilities by volunteering at St. Mary’s through the employment program of Liberty ARC, the Montgomery County Chapter of NYSARC, Inc., a statewide advocacy organization.

Angel, Jeff and Joe now work alongside their supervisor, Lester Hughes, performing a variety of cleaning tasks. They also have learned about healthcare basics, safety measures, emergency codes and building orientation specific to their employment at St. Mary’s.

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

W e A re A sce n sio n

Frankie Vickers Concierge Bruno Cancer Center Ascension St. Vincent’s, Birmingham, Alabama Frankie Vickers and members of the Bruno Cancer Center care team.

Since 2000, patients and associates alike have been greeted by the

concierge of the hospital to concierge of the new cancer center. He sees

smiling face of Frankie Vickers.

his role as an ambassador not only for the cancer center but also for

During a routine ear-nose-throat exam eight years ago, Frankie’s doctor saw something that concerned him. That something turned out to be head and neck cancer. There was no question that Frankie would seek

cancer survivorship. Patients learn Frankie’s story, and it gives them hope.

“It’s hard for me to retire,” Frankie said. “Every time I think about

treatment at the Ascension St. Vincent’s Bruno Cancer Center at the

retiring, I say there might be one person I can help. If I can help one

hospital he loved so much.

person a day, I’m good.”

Frankie returned to the Bruno Cancer Center four years later when he

“Frankie is such an inspiration to our patients,” said Kris Boone,

was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He underwent treatment again and

Radiation Oncology Manager. “He is caring, encouraging, and he

now is celebrating being cancer free.

motivates others through his own cancer journey. We’re very lucky to

So when Ascension St. Vincent’s opened its new, freestanding Bruno Cancer Center in August 2014, Frankie felt a calling to transition from

have someone like Frankie here.”