Good Day Ascension Magazine - Summer 2022

Good Day Ascension For Associates of Our One Integrated Ministry

SUMMER 2022

Cancer on trial

Ascension aims to improve oncology care through a community of investigators

INSIDE:

Improving consumer experience / Helping patients feel heard / Future of telehealth

WELCOME

A WARM WELCOME

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want to share a warm welcome to our Ascension Illinois associates! We are so pleased to have you as part of our integrated healing ministry — now more fully sharing the Ascension name, Mission, and promise to provide compassionate, personalized care to all.

We greatly appreciate all the leaders and associates who have worked to ensure as smooth a transition as possible.

I also want to formally welcome two leaders who joined the Ascension Leadership Team this year.

Tom VanOsdol, MS, MA, FACHE, became our Executive Vice President and Chief Mission Integration Officer. In this role, he provides strategic leadership to advance the commitments that make evident the identity of Ascension as a ministry of the Catholic Church, continuing the healing mission of Jesus with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable.

Sally Deitch, MSN, MHA, RN, FACHE, serves as Executive Vice President, Nursing and Operations Infrastructure. She has responsibility for leading Ascension Nursing; Performance Optimization and Planning; Transfer Center Operations; and the horizontals of Outpatient Imaging, Ambulatory Surgery Centers and Outpatient Therapy.

These two servant leaders, and all of our senior leaders across Ascension, are focused on advancing our Strategic Plan as we continue to transform to better meet the needs of the individuals and communities we are privileged to serve as our Mission calls us to do.

In this issue, we share information on several ministry-wide events and activities, including the Ascension Virtual 5K, Mission Week and a special prayer service on the Feast of the Ascension, and celebrations to introduce Ascension Illinois.

We also look at some of the ways Ascension has lived our Values of Reverence and Creativity in areas such as virtual care, well-being, the consumer experience journey and our Oncology Service Line.

As you read about these topics, please know how much we appreciate you and thank you for choosing to serve as part of Ascension.

Joseph R. Impicciche, JD, MHA PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, ASCENSION

Good Day Ascension / Summer 2022 - Issue 19 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, clinicians 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, JD, 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, 4600 Edmundson Road, St. Louis, MO 63134.

All content copyright 2022 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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G O O D DAY A S C E N S I O N / A S C E N S I O N .O R G

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

FEATURES 14 Experience matters

How we are creating a best-in-class experience for our patients.

18 Cancer on trial

Ascension is developing a national research strategy aimed at advancing cancer care.

20 Helping patients feel heard

Ascension Language Services aligns and enhances the patient experience.

22 Our future in telehealth

Expanding the concept of virtual care beyond video visits.

24 Well-being Sessions are another tool for the journey

Our myCare programming helps associates focus on their own well-being.

26 Coming together to treat pain and addiction Initiatives help people along the road to recovery.

Patients and families share letters of thanks to caregivers.

5 Inspiration Living our best lives.

6 Up front

Mission Week 2022 celebrates Ascension’s Values. ... Sr. Maureen McGuire honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award. ...

A new myLearning module showcases the impact of philanthropy on our health ministries. ...

Introducing Ascension Illinois. ... Spiritual Care is approved as an Ascension Insurance plan supplemental benefit.

12 Getting to know you

Meet Sally Deitch, MHA, MSN, RN, FACHE, Executive Vice President, Nursing and Operations Infrastructure, Ascension.

13 Wellness now

Take time out for self-care this summer.

30 News from across Ascension

Associates take part in a virtual 5K and other stories about happenings around the ministry.

Back cover

Ascension Rx social worker Jennifer Belue, LCSW, supports patients and pharmacies within Ascension Tennessee.

Good Day Ascension For Associates of Our One Integrated Ministry

On the cover: SUMMER 2022

Cancer on trial

Ascension aims to improve oncology care through a community of investigators

Linwood “Coard” Simpler was diagnosed with blood cancer about 21 years ago. Since then, he has participated in several clinical trials.

Today, Coard is cancer free and maintains a close personal relationship with his oncologist, Carole Miller, MD, at Ascension Saint Agnes in Baltimore.

INSIDE:

Improving consumer experience / Helping patients feel heard / Future of telehealth

SUMMER 2022

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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.

Messages from those we serve It was a stressful learning curve in getting our mother into a care facility as it was our first experience, but both Doug and Deb were extremely helpful. … Our entire family is very happy to get our mother into your facility as it was our first choice.

Family of resident at Ascension Living Nazarethville Place, Des Plaines, Illinois

Our son had surgery at Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart. We were anxious, concerned about the anesthesia and his recovery.

The staff was great. … That kind of full-team response is not a fluke; it‘s an organization’s culture. Thanks to each of you for making this difficult day bearable.

Family member of patient at Studer Family Children’s Hospital, Pensacola, Florida

My nurses were fantastic! The nurses, techs and CNAs went out of their way to make me feel comfortable and safe.

I had some pretty scary moments, but the nurses were professional and stayed calm while keeping me calm and saving my life. I am so grateful to all of them.

Patient at Ascension St. Elizabeth, Appleton, Wisconsin

Dr. [Diana] Turner was compassionate, understanding and took time to walk me through all her concerns relating to multiple sclerosis and helped me learn how to cope with my illness. She treated me like a person and helped to ease all my fears of being in the hospital. She was so kind.

Patient at Ascension All Saints, Racine, Wisconsin

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I want to extend praise to the nurses and aides at Ascension St. Mary’s on 3S and in the ICU. I am an 86-year-old woman and was transferred from Ascension Standish Hospital to Ascension St. Mary’s Hospital. I [am] thankful for the doctors, nurses and aides who saved my life, giving me more time to spend with my two children who have Down syndrome. I am so grateful for all they did and the wonderful care I received.

Patient at Ascension St. Mary’s Hospital, Saginaw, Michigan

My wife was discharged from Ascension Genesys Hospital Rehab. … I want to thank all the therapists, CNAs, nurses, persons at the front desk, etc., for doing such an excellent job in seeing to her needs and improvement. … They truly are our heroes and I respect and admire all of them for their part in helping my wife to come home.

Family member of patient at Ascension Genesys Hospital, Grand Blanc, Michigan

I truly felt that EVERYONE I interacted with really cared and showed great compassion. … Hard to improve on this experience. I have had a few ER visits over my life and this trip was the best I’ve ever encountered. Perfection at its best.

Patient at Ascension Borgess Hospital, Kalamazoo, Michigan

I had a normal 38 weeks of pregnancy with no previous complications and two natural prior births. … My OB-GYN, Dr. [Andrew] Alexander, decided to perform an emergency C-section. … Our baby girl was born 5 pounds, 11 ounces and

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

completely healthy. Today, I am just so thankful to be alive and I wanted to give recognition to EVERYONE at Ascension who nursed me back to recovery.

Patient at Ascension All Saints, Racine, Wisconsin

Every person on the oncology unit treated me as if I was royalty. At least, that’s the way I felt. The doctors, the nurses, the entire staff. I’ve never liked being in a hospital and always considered myself to be a horrible patient, but I can say nothing but great things about this experience.

Patient at Ascension St. John Hospital, Detroit

I would like to recognize Samantha Imeson, RN, for going above and beyond for my father. Samantha used her personal cellphone to FaceTime with me so that my father was able to see me and his grandchildren. She was caring and gentle with my father.

The attention that she has shown is greatly appreciated and has not gone unnoticed. I also want to thank the entire 5 West team for the work they are doing to care for my father. The love and attention that they are giving is wonderful.

Family member of patient at Ascension Macomb-Oakland, Warren Campus, Warren, Michigan

Every time I have an appointment with Dr. [Herman] Reid, he makes it a point to be sure I feel important, comfortable and welcomed in his office.

Patient at Ascension Medical Group St. Vincent Ft. Branch Women’s Health, Fort Branch, Indiana

I N S P I R AT I O N

Living our best lives

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hen Sr. Maureen McGuire, DC, Ascension’s longtime Chief Mission Integration Officer, decided it was time to step down from her role with our ministry, she left a legacy of service that few could match.

In fact, as noted in this edition of Good Day Ascension, the Catholic Health Association of the United States bestowed on her its Lifetime Achievement Award this summer.

“The whole journey of every person is about meaning more, and the ultimate more is God,” she said. “The sense of God’s calling unfolds in your life.”

Sr. Maureen chose to become a member of the Daughters of Charity in order to live a life fully devoted to service. Few are called to such a life, but all of us have opportunities throughout our lives and careers to listen to God’s call and be part of building the kingdom of God on earth.

What do you do to help ensure that you’re living your best life both at work and at home?

How do you answer God’s call in your everyday encounters with others?

What can we all do to help others in their quest to live their own calling?

SUMMER 2022

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UP FRONT

We are rooted MISSION WEEK 2022 CELEBRATES THE VALUES THAT GUIDE ASCENSION

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his year, associates recognized Mission Week with the theme “We are Rooted” by celebrating the roots and the Values that guide Ascension. The Ascension Values — Service of the Poor, Reverence, Integrity, Wisdom, Creativity and Dedication — were originally defined by associates and form the character and substance of our culture, actions and service.

“As we live our Mission, these Values help us fulfill our commitments to one another and to those we serve,” said Tom VanOsdol, MS, MA, FACHE, Executive Vice President and Chief Mission Integration Officer, Ascension.

“Our Values bring to life our deepest beliefs and ultimate concerns, reflecting the Gospel of God’s great love and God’s desire for all to flourish. Our Values are what call us to and root us in the work of ABIDE — Appreciation - Belongingness - Inclusivity - Diversity - Equity.”

Throughout the week in May, associates were invited to participate in daily reflections in addition to in-market activities and service events, including informal chats with leaders for idea sharing and blessings of hands ceremonies. A System-wide virtual prayer service that coincided with the Feast of the Ascension was another unifying element. The feast day has significance in the life of the Church, marking when Jesus ascended to heaven after his Resurrection and sent forth

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his disciples to continue his healing ministry. It is the inspiration for the name of our healing ministry. The prayer service included reflections from leaders, an opportunity to share prayer intentions and a Values Commissioning of all attendees.

Associates were encouraged to visit a webpage with reflection resources to deepen their own spiritual practice.

There, associates were also given the opportunity to submit their own reflection to share with others. The website includes a 30-day journey of meditation and reflection. This resource invites participants to cultivate self-awareness, provides tools for self-regulation, and leads to

the flourishing of self-compassion and compassion for others. Mission Integration is working on a digital resource library with even more content for associates.

“Given our lived experiences of the past two years, Mission Week invited us to pause and reflect on our calling and the why behind our work,” Tom said. “As Mission Integration continues to grow a robust online presence, we are hopeful that these tools will be readily available for associates and physicians to access and draw upon as vital supportive resources as they live out our Mission throughout the communities we’re so blessed to serve every day.”

Kelly Huebler, Senior Speech Language Pathologist, Rehabilitation, left, and Beth McCoy, Physical Therapist, Rehabilitation, examine a mask that was part of an art display during Mission Week at Ascension Saint Agnes in Baltimore. The mask, created by the hospital’s Mission and Ministry Council and Art Exhibition Team, represented how caregivers provided a healing presence and excellent care while dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Caregivers were asked to write words of comfort and care spoken to others on one side of the mask and thoughts and feelings they had kept inside on the other side.

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

UP FRONT

A deep dedication to caring for all SR. MAUREEN MCGUIRE HONORED WITH LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

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r. Maureen McGuire, DC, was honored with the 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award by the Catholic Health Association (CHA) of the United States. CHA’s Lifetime Achievement Award annually recognizes someone who has inspired and mentored numerous others in Catholic healthcare and whose accomplishments, over the course of a career, have strengthened the ministry.

“Sr. Maureen certainly has enjoyed a lifetime of achievements,” said Joseph R. Impicciche, JD, MHA, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ascension. “During her 18 years as part of our healing ministry, Sr. Maureen transformed the role of Mission Integration for not only Ascension, but all of Catholic healthcare.

“She brought to life our commitment to expand the role of laity, in both leadership and sponsorship, to ensure a Catholic health ministry in the future. Under her guidance, Ascension led the way in developing formation experiences and programs to strengthen our ministry and prepare the next generation of leaders. In every way, Sr. Maureen’s service reflects her deep dedication to caring for all, especially those who are poor and vulnerable.”

Sr. Maureen entered the Daughters of Charity in 1967. In 1996 she joined the Daughters of Charity National Health System, a founding member of Ascension, serving in Mission leadership roles in our Western New York health ministries.

She began her service as Ascension’s Executive Vice President and Chief Mission Integration Officer in July 2013, having served as Senior Vice President, Mission Integration, for Ascension Health since January 2002.

In 2020 Sr. Maureen stepped down from her longtime role as Chief Mission Integration Officer for Ascension to serve as Senior Executive Advisor, and later retired from the ministry to serve as Director of Mission Integration at Elizabeth Seton High School in Bladensburg, Maryland.

In 2015 she received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, in recognition of her numerous contributions to Catholic healthcare. This honor reflected Sr. Maureen’s stature as a national Catholic healthcare leader in developing groundbreaking initiatives in the areas of formation, ethics, spiritual care, palliative care, and ministry identity assessment and planning.

SUMMER 2022

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UP FRONT

A new myLearning module expands the impact of Ascension foundations DEVELOPMENT TEAM MEMBERS SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS ON THIS PASSION PROJECT

“The philanthropy arm of our ministry is truly living out our Mission day to day.”

— TINA CALLOWAY, ASCENSION ST. VINCENT’S FOUNDATION, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA

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ver the past few years, the Ascension Philanthropy Leadership Council (APLC) has been working to fulfill a shared vision for a supportive partnership that promotes excellence in philanthropy across all Ascension market foundations. The APLC, made up of foundation leaders, oversees the efforts of several strategic centers of excellence and teams focused on initiatives that help optimize philanthropy across Ascension.

One such initiative resulted in a new myLearning module that explains the work of in-market foundations and showcases the impact of philanthropy on our health ministries. Associates from several foundations worked with colleagues from Ascension’s Learning & Leader Institute team to design the multimedia module, which includes videos, infographics and images, as well as remarkable stories of giving and an invitation to associates to get involved.

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Below, three of the module’s development team members — Tina Calloway (Ascension St. Vincent’s Foundation, Jacksonville, Florida), Jennifer Carter (Ascension St. Vincent’s Foundation, Birmingham, Alabama) and Laura Regalado (Ascension Michigan Foundation, Warren, Michigan) — share thoughts on the System-wide collaboration it took to develop the myLearning module and why it was a “passion project” for all involved.

WHY IS TH E RE A NE E D FOR THIS MODU LE?

Tina: The establishment of the Associate Hardship Fund and the critical support it provided throughout the COVID-19 pandemic was a real turning

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

point in understanding the impact our philanthropic engine can have and the good it can do. We can only continue to sustain and increase this impact if our associates understand the importance of philanthropy and get involved with their foundations.

And they will! I’ve seen it! Recently, a nurse visited a foundation table we set up in the hospital cafeteria and she immediately signed up for a pledge.

She shared that during the pandemic, her husband lost his job and she and her family received relief from the Associate Hardship Fund. It helped her family so much, both financially and emotionally, and now that her husband was back to work, she said it was her turn to give back.

UP FRONT

• More than 40 community foundations • Serving more than 2,600 sites of care • Creating one culture of philanthropy • Working with community leaders and donors • Supporting community priorities

Laura: Our associates have a lot of charities and causes they support that are important to them. We need to be able to explain — and show — why their ministry’s foundation is equally deserving of their help, time and attention. When I look at how many associates we were able to help during the pandemic, it makes it personal. I want associates who see the module to be proud of where they work and where they are donating, and to become advocates for their foundations.

for-profit health system was recently distraught trying to help a patient family she got close to. One of her co-workers suggested she reach out to the foundation for help — and, with funds earmarked for patient support, we did. The nurse was blown away by this and shared, “We don’t just say we care for the poor and vulnerable, we make it happen.” The truth is SHE and our associates make it happen because they give. The more associates who give, the more we can give.

Jennifer: The more awareness people have, the more good we’ll be able to do for our associates, our patients, our facilities and our communities.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO WORK WITH

WHY DOES A SSOCIATE GIVING M AT TE R?

Jennifer: To me, associate giving helps someone feel truly connected to our Mission. It’s that next level of commitment that instills a sense of pride. It continues to surprise me how many associates aren’t aware of all the good our foundation does.

One of our palliative care nurses who originally came to us from a

COLLE AGU ES FROM OTH E R

practices, supporting each other and connecting, and now we’re doing it.

I’m proud that as part of this work, we were able to put together an associate giving playbook to help any foundation develop a formal associate giving program if they didn’t have one. We want every foundation to have an associate giving campaign and some sort of associate support fund.

Tina: I’m so proud that this module represents not only what our foundations are doing locally, but more importantly, what we are doing together as a national ministry.

FOUNDATIONS ACROSS ASCENSION?

Laura: I was so happy when this became a conversation outside just one market or foundation, and that this project was identified as a System-wide need. All of us working together makes us smarter and makes the module and everything else we create that much stronger. Ultimately, working together helps us serve more needs.

Jennifer: I was thrilled to come together to do this work. For years we have been talking about sharing best

The myLearning philanthropy module is available on the MyLearning website. Type “foundation” in the search field to find and launch the course, which takes less than 15 minutes to complete. In addition to high-level education and awareness, the module provides the opportunity for associates to click through to their market foundation webpage to learn how they can get involved.

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UP FRONT

Associates across Ascension Illinois celebrate the market’s new name and branding. Top: Ascension Saint Joseph Joliet; bottom, from left: Ascension Resurrection, Ascension Alexian Brothers and Ascension Saint Joseph Elgin.

Introducing Ascension Illinois AMITA HEALTH CAREGIVERS AND CARE SITES IN THE GREATER CHICAGO AREA ARE NOW SERVING UNDER THE ASCENSION IDENTITY

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eet Ascension Illinois, the new name for compassionate, personalized care in the greater Chicago area, from the northwest suburbs south to Kankakee and dozens of communities in between.

On April 1, Ascension caregivers and care sites that had been serving as AMITA Health began serving under the Ascension identity. These hospitals, clinics and associates have been part of Ascension for years, dating back to legacy Alexian Brothers Health System and Presence Health.

Now, as Ascension Illinois, they have begun to enjoy the collaboration and benefits of better serving as One Ascension.

“Adopting the Ascension name and brand promise is a true differentiator in Chicago’s competitive healthcare landscape,” said Keith Parrott, Senior Vice President, Ascension, and Ministry Market Executive, Ascension Illinois. “It will also enable us to work more closely with our colleagues across the country and benefit from ministry-wide efforts to engage consumers, care for patients and serve our communities in new ways.”

Ascension Illinois is one of the largest health systems in the state of Illinois, with 150 sites of care, including

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15 hospitals spanning the Chicagoland area, which are implementing the Ascension brand and Mission.

Illinois associates celebrated this milestone moment in a variety of ways, including prayer and introductions to the Ascension Mission, Vision and Values, along with food, fun, signage and banners, all focused on what it means to be Ascension and live our Mission. “The creativity of the hospital teams was on full display and you could feel the excitement of associates,” Keith said.

The change garnered significant media coverage while a multichannel ad campaign introduced Ascension and our differentiating promise to provide compassionate, personalized care for all. Highly visible placements on TV, online, in newspapers and magazines, and on social media and radio, in addition to patient mailings, announced the new name and what it means for consumers and patients.

“We are excited about the future of Ascension Illinois,” said Nick Ragone, JD, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Ascension. “With its care sites and caregivers visibly serving as Ascension, the light of our Mission shines even brighter.”

CMS approves Ascension Spiritual Care as supplemental benefit THIS UNIQUE BENEFIT WILL BE COVERED AS PART OF ASCENSION INSURANCE PLANS

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scension Insurance has received approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for Ascension’s unique Spiritual Care benefit to be an official supplemental benefit for the 2023 plan year. Spiritual Care is provided at no cost to the members of Ascension Complete, Ascension Personalized Tim Moorhead Care and Dell Children’s Health Plan.

“Our health plans currently cover thousands of members across Ascension’s footprint, enabling our patients to receive better access to care with a variety of health plans that are easy to use and understand. Ascension’s health plans aim to change the way our plans’ members experience healthcare, and we offer members benefits created in collaboration with our providers,” said Tim Moorhead, Senior Vice President, Ascension, and President, Ascension Insurance. One of the ways that Ascension delivers a new and differentiated member experience is by offering members access to virtual spiritual care.

“Spiritual care is fundamental to our identity and a tangible expression of Ascension’s Mission and Values,” Tim said. “It is an essential part of providing holistic care that sustains and improves the health of individuals and communities by treating the whole person: body, mind and spirit. Spiritual care benefits all of our members, especially those who are dealing with health challenges and decisions about treatment plans. We attend to the spirit through compassionate relationships and empathetic, effective communication, encouraging shared decisions about care among patients, providers and care teams.”

The approval from CMS helps further align Ascension’s insurance assets with the Ascension Mission. The Spiritual Care benefit has provided access for thousands of people to spiritually centered, holistic care.

Ascension Complete offers Medicare Advantage plans in Alabama, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan,

“Spiritual care is fundamental to our identity and a tangible expression of Ascension’s Mission and Values.”

— TIM MOORHEAD, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, ASCENSION, AND PRESIDENT, ASCENSION INSUR ANCE

Tennessee and Texas. Ascension Personalized Care offers Affordable Care Act plans in Michigan, Kansas and Indiana and is looking to expand into Alabama, Texas and Tennessee.

Dell Children’s Health Plan offers coverage through the CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) and STAR (State of Texas Access Reform) programs in Texas.

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PERSONAL PROFILE

Getting to know you SALLY DEITCH, MHA, MSN, RN, FACHE, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, NURSING AND OPERATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE, ASCENSION different ways. I will always and forever be a nurse; I’ve been one now for 32 years. While my role has changed, I think like a nurse. Nursing teaches the scientific method of gathering data to make a diagnosis, developing a treatment plan and evaluating the impact of the treatment plan, in hopes of a positive outcome, and that training applies to everything I approach. Training in clinical thought processes has instilled an all-systems thinking approach of looking at all the pieces.

For me, it’s fascinating to think through the “why” and understand how something affects our patients or associates.

Q: Can you describe your role?

A: My day job role is to establish the processes that we need to become an operational organization. In addition to working with our nursing organization, my world consists of physical therapy, ambulatory surgery, imaging, performance optimization and performance excellence.

Sally Deitch (pronounced DIEtch) is a passionate and experienced healthcare leader who, in less than 15 years, worked her way up from serving as a 22-year-old staff nurse to becoming a hospital CEO. Before joining Ascension, she served as Group/President CEO for Tenet Healthcare. Prior to this role, she was Tenet’s Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Care Services. Sally also served at HCA Healthcare as Chief Nursing Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive Officer.

Sally recalls always having an inherent desire to care for living things and considered becoming a veterinarian or a doctor. Looking back, she said, her calling to become a nurse was no doubt influenced by her mother’s diagnosis of a life-threatening autoimmune disorder. It was at a time when children weren’t allowed in hospitals and she remembers her father sneaking Sally and her siblings up the back stairwell to a hospital oncology unit for a brief visit with her mom.

Q: How has nursing inspired your career?

A: I often tell others that I believe God calls us to serve in

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Q: What initiatives are you involved with?

A: Right now Ascension is reimagining care delivery. We’re taking a close look at understanding what our patients will need, where they will seek care, and the technology and workforce needed to support that care. Ascension’s Mission and Strategic Plan underpin it all.

Q: What is different about working for a nonprofit organization?

A: Regardless of who I have worked for, the driver has been the patients and what they expect and deserve — quality and safety, plus compassion. The Mission of Ascension serves as a reminder for me that every day God works in all of us to create whatever is needed. A defining moment since [I joined] Ascension touched me in a way I can’t explain. It was the first time I received a memorial memo about associates who had died. The thoughtfulness and compassion in that act not only recognized these associates, but remembered and honored them in an incredibly beautiful way.

WELLNESS NOW

Summer self-care SET ASIDE TIME TO CARE FOR YOURSELF, PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY

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s the summer heats up, calendars fill and backto-school looms large, it’s important to take some time for yourself. Self-care is the time you devote to caring for yourself both physically and spiritually.

SmartHealth is happy to offer no-cost, virtual spiritual care to members and covered dependents. This offering connects you to an Ascension chaplain anytime, anywhere, seven days a week, so it is easy to add to your calendar.

In addition to adding spiritual time to your routine, SmartHealth has developed a list of self-care tasks that can improve any routine so you are feeling your best this season.

FOCUS ON YOU R SKIN C ARE

This is a great time to refocus on your skin-care routine.

Taking time to wash your face, exfoliate and moisturize can help keep your skin clear and healthy. It’s also good to apply sunscreen daily. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, sunscreen should be used year round, regardless of weather, and should be at least 30 SPF. SET DAILY QU IET TIM E

Another great addition to a daily self-care routine is quiet time. Sectioning off space during the day to reflect, pray, meditate or journal is vital for your mental health. This time could be used for self-reflection or gratitude. If you are looking for a more structured and spiritual setting, this is an excellent opportunity to utilize SmartHealth’s virtual spiritual care service.

GO ON A WALK

With longer days in the summer, you have more time to go outside and enjoy the sunshine (with your sunscreen applied) while getting in some exercise. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adults need at least 150 minutes of aerobic exercise weekly to improve health. So, if you are able, scheduling daily times to walk outside can help you stay healthy and is essential to your self-care routine.

Be your best self this summer by focusing on your self-care.

The suggestions listed here are just a few examples of focusing on maintaining and improving your health, but find methods that work for you and your lifestyle. With a renewed focus on your health this season, you are on your way to becoming the best version of you.

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Experience matters BEST-IN-CLASS EXPERIENCES WILL HELP DIFFERENTIATE ASCENSION FOR THOSE WE SERVE

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ith consumers taking more ownership of their healthcare decisions, it’s more important than ever that Ascension focus on providing best-in-class, memorable and shareable experiences grounded in our Mission of serving all.

Ascension already has a strong history of caring about the experience of those we’re privileged to serve, built upon the legacy of the ministry’s historic Sponsors and the commitment of our associates and clinicians. This history provides a solid foundation for revising and renewing our operations and building awareness about how to create truly exceptional experiences — a strategic priority for Ascension.

“Experience is the accumulation of all the interactions a person has with an organization across all touchpoints — human, physical and digital,” said Carol Campbell, Senior Vice President and Chief Experience Officer, Ascension.

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Carol notes that best-in-class experiences have two things in common: They consistently deliver on core consumer needs, and they have clearly defined experience differentiators.

“It’s a refinement in the art of listening. Knowing the core behaviors and attitudes of consumers, and what they expect, and then building great experiences that deliver on consumer needs in a way that meets and exceeds those expectations, is what consumer experience, or CX, is all about,” she said.

Elements of this experience include transparency with consumers; providing options to adjust an experience to an individual’s needs and desires; ensuring that people feel that their time is valued; and providing a feeling of being cared for and about — not only in person-to-person encounters, but increasingly in the digital world, a need identified by many associates.

Our digital and technical teams are among several key contributors to this effort. Led by Raj Mohan, Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Officer, Ascension, these teams are working every day to help drive the changes needed to our digital and technical infrastructure as it supports patient encounters such as scheduling appointments, registration across sites of care, billing and other digital experiences that can help demonstrate compassion.

“Our job is to serve those who most directly serve our patients, and while we are deeply focused on improvements to our digital experience and core experience moments, such as access to care, we are also acting upon the feedback we hear from the associates across our ministry, ensuring we’re focusing on the friction points they feel each day so they can better serve our patients,” Raj said.

DELIGHTING CONSUMERS

“The best brands, or organizations, create specific moments that delight the consumer,” Carol said. “These differentiators become a competitive advantage by enhancing the strong base experience they deliver. The most memorable moments come when we can blend human, digital and physical experiences together — they work cohesively and deliver a seamless experience to the consumer.”

In addition to contributions from Ascension Technologies around digital encounters, teams from several disciplines, Ministry Markets and Ministry-wide Functions — including Marketing and Communications, Mission Integration, Human Resources, the Ascension Studio, Finance, Clinical & Network Services, and more — are engaged in efforts across Ascension sites and services to more clearly define what constitutes an exceptional healthcare experience and integrate those concepts into both our human and our digital experiences and day-

ABOUT CAROL CAMPBELL Senior Vice President and Chief Experience Officer, Ascension Carol Campbell has spent more than 25 years in consumer experience (CX), learning as she has led operating teams, development teams and consumer insight teams.

She cherishes the diversity of these experiences, and it has allowed her to build a more structured thought Carol Campbell process around CX as a discipline.

Through her nearly 20 years at The Walt Disney Company and more recently with Delta Air Lines, Carol gained a deep understanding of how to build inclusive, customercentric organizations and activate robust and nontraditional listening techniques to ensure consumer-centricity and employee-centricity toward experience design.

She served as the global leader for Consumer Insight & Global Customer Experience at Delta. As part of Disney, she held numerous leadership positions, most recently leading experience development for Disney’s hotels and other ancillary experiences worldwide.

Carol received a Master of Business Administration degree from the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida, where she earned a Six Sigma Green Belt, and a Bachelor of Arts in Hospitality Administration/Management at Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.

She also has been a core champion in the development of the first master’s degree in CX in North America. The Master of Science in Customer Experience Management is being offered for the first time in August 2022 at the Broad College of Business at Michigan State.

to-day operations, and ultimately exceed patient expectations.

The teams are focusing on the experience a consumer would navigate within each encounter throughout a healthcare journey to ensure greater continuity in handoffs and a more holistic approach — and how that is operationalized in our markets, in our facilities and with all those we serve. Elements include: • Day-to-day engagement through interactions in the marketplace that show consumers that Ascension knows them and their life context.

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matters most to our associates — lifting barriers and providing the ability to solve problems, extend kindness and show compassion to each individual.”

The goal is to design experiences that include both rational and emotional tactics that build and maintain trust, amplify Ascension’s care for all people, create frictionless experiences, and deliver those “moments of delight.”

“Great companies do this in such a way that they deliver a phenomenal, frictionless, competitive experience that also has clearly defined experience differentiators — those hallmarks of the experience that become buzzworthy and help bring our Ascension brand to life in day-to-day conversations between consumers,” Carol said. “At Ascension, listening is at the core of our Mission and what we do each day. Our ability to listen and quickly ‘tune the dials’ to adjust the experience remains a foundational element of our success.”

• Pre-visit experiences across communication channels that are simple, convenient and deliver on core consumer needs, to reduce stress and help people navigate their healthcare journey both in person and online.

• The care experience itself, ensuring a frictionless experience where quality and people shine, ultimately driving positive patient outcomes through compassionate, personalized care.

• Post-care experience, helping deliver a positive and lasting impression that solidifies Ascension as the consumer’s obvious choice in the future through continued support and resolution of any issues. ”As I joined Ascension, I was moved by the letters and repeated examples our patients shared about our associates really delivering an authentic connection and showing the patient how much we care for them,” Carol said. “This is our opportunity to build on that strength and even further amplify it.”

“Our doctors, nurses and caregivers are going above and beyond to provide extraordinary care; I see it every day,” said Jonathan Nalli, Senior Vice President, Ascension, and Ministry Market Executive, Ascension Indiana. “It’s that vocation, that desire to serve our patients, consumers and each other, that makes our organization a desirable place to work and the best place to receive care in our communities. We are committed to building a next-level care experience. That starts with what

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THE VALUE OF SERVICE RECOVERY A key aspect in how we elevate the consumer experience is service recovery, our dedication to restoring trust and confidence in our ability as an organization to “get it right.”

“Service recovery is about listening to feedback from those we serve and understanding the full spectrum of experiences consumers, patients and their families have before, during and after care,” said Cindy Adams, PhD, RN, ANP-BC, NEA-BC, Chief Nursing Officer, Ascension St. Vincent, Indianapolis. “Our ability to recover broken moments of trust starts with each of us and how we deliver on our commitments to service, caring for patients and families during some of their most vulnerable moments.”

Ascension Indiana was the first Ministry Market to pilot new service recovery capabilities made available through our Salesforce customer-relationship management software.

Key elements of service recovery are actions such as de-escalation, expressions of empathy and sincere twoway communication. A bundle of resources for associates, linked in the accompanying QR code, provides guidance on how to manage and resolve sometimes-difficult conversations.

You deserve compassionate care.

Personalized healthcare when you need it most

AN EVOLVING APPROACH TO LISTENING

“In discussions with many market teams and our ministry-wide teams, a collective need for better understanding of how our patients feel about our experience was a common theme I heard across our ministry,” she said. Traditionally, healthcare providers gather experience insight in a lagging format, generally several weeks after a patient has left care. That information is missing the full context of the patient encounter and may not be linked to a specific care team, making it difficult to recognize great performance and “‘tune the dials” on the experience to address processes and other elements that contribute to patient experience.

Last spring, a cross-organizational team started testing in Michigan a “real-time net promoter score” tactic, soliciting feedback from patients shortly after their care and working with care teams to celebrate and recognize great performance, and course-correct on opportunities. Plans are underway to roll out this listening approach across Ascension in Fiscal Year 2023.

“This approach provides us the opportunity to recover from any gaps in the experience more quickly — and it has been proven time and again that organizations that recover fast and well build stronger loyalty with that customer, stronger than those who never had an issue at all,” Carol said. This dynamic is called the Service Recovery Paradox.

“Our associates provide great service today because they’ve responded to their calling with a strong desire to serve and a caring heart. Through this work we are developing ways to amplify that even further,” said Craig Cordola, MBA, MHA, FACHE, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Ascension. “This will enable our associates to directly hear even more clearly and in real time from our patients, expanding our culture of listening and our larger strategy to ‘ask less, listen more.’”

UNLEASHING AUTHENTIC COMPASSION

Through this strategy, Ascension has an opportunity to lead healthcare with new experiences that resonate with consumers by unleashing the authentic compassion of associates and leveraging technology and consumer-centric data.

“I firmly believe that CX is a ‘team sport’ that involves everyone across our ministry,” Carol said. “In being a team sport, each and every one of us is a steward of Ascension’s CX, and it is the integrated efforts of our entire ministry that will help take us to industry-leading levels across all of our sites of care and patient interactions. My team and I will help architect and orchestrate that experience vision, but it will take each of us to help bring it to life.”

When you walk through our doors, you deserve to be seen and heard.

Your questions matter. That’s why care teams at Ascension sites of care are here to empower you by listening to you, respecting your experiences and creating a care plan that works for you and your family.

ascension.org © Ascension 2022. All rights reserved.

CARE FOR ALL CAMPAIGN FOCUSES ON EXPERIENCES FOR ALL PERSONS Fundamental to Ascension’s Mission of caring for all, with special attention to those most vulnerable, is eliminating health disparities. Our ABIDE framework — Appreciation Belongingness - Inclusivity - Diversity - Equity — is helping further this work and ensure that our efforts to improve the consumer experience extend to all persons.

This summer Ascension launched a Care for All national marketing and brand campaign to raise awareness of our inherent focus on healthcare equity; prioritize the individual needs of the communities we serve; and build trust through a greater commitment to listen and compassionately attend to the unique needs, questions and concerns of everyone.

“Not only do all of our communities need healthcare, but they deserve to have compassionate, personalized care.

They deserve to truly be seen and heard,” said Nick Ragone, JD, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Ascension. “At Ascension, patients will know that their voice is carefully listened to — that the care they need is personalized to fit their specific concerns and we aim to treat their whole self: mind, body and spirit.”

“The Care for All campaign has one simple message: ‘You deserve compassionate care,’” said Tara Raeber Vail, Vice President, Marketing and Consumer Engagement, Ascension. “Care for All is not just a campaign; it is a commitment. If our services and sites of care in our communities are a first choice for all people because they know everyone can always be cared for equally, then that is our measure of success — through the marketing that reaches our community and, most importantly, through our ministry that serves our community.”

The Care for All campaign, which was developed and produced with multicultural marketing firms, provides an exclamation point on Ascension’s Values and our Mission to care for all persons. It demonstrates care both inside and outside of the hospital and how we are connecting with patients in the community and in the home.

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Cancer on trial ASCENSION AIMS TO IMPROVE ONCOLOGY CARE THROUGH A COMMUNITY OF INVESTIGATORS

Physicians at the Ascension Saint Agnes Cancer Institute include, from left, Drs. Saira Ahmed, Abhishek Kalla and Carole Miller.

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cross Ascension, clinicians are coming together to establish the organization as a national leader in clinical research. One area of particular focus is research to improve cancer care for those we serve and others across the nation.

According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 1.6 million people are diagnosed with cancer and nearly 600,000 die from it in the United States each year. It’s the nation’s second leading cause of death. Research on how to prevent, detect and treat cancer is imperative to reducing these statistics.

Ascension has established an enterprise-wide clinical research program led by Frederick Masoudi, MD, MSPH, Chief Science Officer and Vice President, Clinical Research and Analytics, Ascension, to unify research efforts across our ministries. The program aims to build a community of investigators by providing a national infrastructure to support and connect researchers across Ministry Markets.

As part of this program, Ascension Clinical Research Institute (ACRI) and Ascension Data Science Institute (ADSI) have partnered with the Oncology Service Line to develop a national research strategy specifically aimed at advancing cancer care.

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Susan Kopunek, CRNP, speaks with patient Kellie at the Ascension Saint Agnes Cancer Institute in Baltimore.

“Throughout Ascension, our clinicians are engaging in innovative oncology research,” Dr. Aloia said. “Much of this research focuses on identifying potential opportunities to improve outcomes through precision medicine, which takes into account tumor genetics, patient lifestyle and environmental factors to determine the best treatment options. As we look to the future, we are excited to expand upon these efforts to personalize cancer care.”

BRINGING VALUE

“By aligning our research efforts, we have a tremendous opportunity to move the needle on cancer care across our System and even nationally,” said Richard Fogel, MD, FACC, FHRS, Senior Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer, Clinical & Network Services, Ascension. “And, due to our size and expertise, this coordinated approach can make Ascension an attractive research partner for trials and large studies.”

CLINICAL TRIALS INCUBATOR

For several years, Ascension has been laying the groundwork to cultivate and advance cancer clinical trials.

“We are one of the top enrollees for pediatric oncology clinical trials when our Ministry Markets efforts are combined,” said Thomas Aloia, MD, MHCM, FACS, Vice President and Director of Oncology Services, Maternal Health and Perinatal Medicine, Ascension.

“Currently, we have four sites participating in research with the Children’s Oncology Group [COG].”

Thomas Aloia, MD, The COG is a National Cancer InstituteMHCM, FACS supported organization that is part of the National Clinical Trials Network and is one of the world’s largest cooperative children’s cancer research entities.

Ascension and affiliated practices also combine to be one of the top research sites enrolling in the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) across the eight participating Ascension sites. The GOG creates the opportunity to participate in the latest clinical trials of novel therapies for gynecologic malignancies such as ovarian and cervical cancers.

Ascension’s participation in oncology clinical trials also has the opportunity to bring significant value to patients.

“Research plays an integral role in improving the care we deliver to our patients,” Dr. Masoudi said. “By offering clinical trials as an option, we present our patients with a unique opportunity to participate in studies of technologies and treatments that may not yet be widely available. Patients may also feel like they are helping others by participating and contributing to science.

“As we continue to build our clinical research program, we look forward to working alongside our Oncology Service Line colleagues to align Ascension’s research efforts, identify new partnership opportunities and transform cancer care as we know it today,” he added.

BUILDING PARTICIPATION

Looking ahead, Ascension’s research strategy will focus on increasing participation for multisite medical oncology trials across the System.

To help lead these efforts, Douglas Reding, MD, Oncology Service Line Director, Ascension Wisconsin, and Carole Miller, MD, Medical Oncologist and Cancer Institute Director, Ascension Saint Agnes in Baltimore, will be providing their expertise and guidance.

“Dr. Reding and I will be working to help streamline the startup of oncology clinical trials by supporting collaboration across our institutions and partnering with ACRI,” Dr. Miller said. “By supporting our national research infrastructure, we can help streamline the trial startup processes and reduce delays that may occur due to contracting inefficiencies. In turn, by removing these barriers, we hope to encourage more clinicians to lead and participate in research opportunities.

We look forward to this exciting work ahead.”

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Helping patients feel heard ASCENSION LANGUAGE SERVICES ALIGNS, CONNECTS, ENHANCES THE EXPERIENCE

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ften what matters most to patients and their families is that they feel heard. But what happens when a patient is deaf or hard of hearing, or English is not their preferred language, and as a result the patient-provider relationship is challenging?

For Ascension Language Services, the concerns of these vulnerable populations are a priority.

Through a community of language services leaders who collaborate across our national ministry, Ascension is able to identify and spread best practices that create a safe, inviting environment for our patients and family members who are Limited English Proficient or deaf or hard of hearing.

“Community and connection are foundational to Ascension’s Language Services program, a program that embodies our Mission in action — meeting people where they are,” said Jessica Weber, Senior Director, Patient and Consumer Experience, Ascension. “Language Services can also enhance both our patient and provider experience, as well as play an

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important role as we strive to address social determinants on Ascension’s path to health equity.”

“Our ABIDE framework calls us to inclusion and equity,” said Pam Mitchell-Boyd, Senior Director, ABIDE (Appreciation - Belongingness Inclusivity - Diversity - Equity).

“There’s such a natural alignment with this important language work, where we walk alongside our patients and their families to ensure they feel welcome and invited into the conversation about their care.

This care and attention also impacts and benefits our associates in a meaningful way.”

personalized care and uses the Ascension Experience Model as its road map to listen with empathy, take meaningful action and learn together.

The program is based on five principal pillars: Data: Working with the Ascension Data Science Institute, Ascension Language Services gathers, analyzes and compares market language services and Ascension-specific REaL (Race, Ethnicity and Language) data sets with existing Ascension Google Cloud content to create a baseline and identify opportunities to reduce health disparities and improve equity of care.

OUR APPROACH

Ascension Language Services helps associates deliver compassionate,

Phone Interpreting

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Video Interpreting

Affinity groups: Team members create a common space for cross-market

On-site Interpreting

FTE Interpreters

language services leaders to meet regularly to share ideas, insights, wins, opportunities and lessons learned; and promote key relationships to align, scale and spread evidence-based strategy.

Aligned System approach: Ascension Language Services develops systems, processes and technology for in-market implementation. With market partners, program leaders then personalize shared System goals, create market-specific project plans, and collaborate during monthly one-on-one meetings.

Alicia Barlow and daughter Just-in-time consultation: Program Morganlanguage Anderson leaders provide in-house services-related consultation as needed for developing projects, teamlets and event reporting.

Written document translation: The program leverages resources and subject matter experts to provide translation services for patients, associates and communities. Ascension Language Services provides an enterprise model for translation requests and project management with Clinical Professional Development.

Ascension Consumer Experience team members, from left, Jessica Weber, Senior Director, Patient and Consumer Experience; Ibzan Monteagudo, Senior Director, Language Services; and Lesley Herwig, Program Manager, Language Services & Patient/Consumer Education.

ATTENTION TO NEW, VULNERABLE POPULATIONS In 2021, the United States began welcoming the resettlement of Afghan refugees within our borders. The Ascension Consumer Experience team identified an opportunity to implement a System-wide Refugee Response.

Ascension’s Language Services and Consumer Education teams engaged with a dozen Ascension functions and workstreams to identify best practices.

“Events in Ukraine and the prospective resettlement of Ukrainian refugees in the United States only validate the value of a proactive response plan. We aim to develop a strategy that not only addresses refugees’ needs, but also those of asylees and migrants,” said Jessica Weber, Senior Director, Patient and Consumer Experience, Ascension.

“Language Services isn’t only focused on providing the necessary building blocks to foster communication, but also shaping an agile program, rooted in cultural humility, to address the evolving needs of the unique poor and vulnerable populations we are called to serve.”

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Our future in telehealth MOVING BEYOND VIRTUAL VISITS

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s we continue to prioritize equitable access to high-quality care, Ascension is making significant progress in the area of virtual care.

We are focused on using technology to bring care to patients anytime, anywhere.

Our telehealth interventions have helped us provide care while managing the physical — and sometimes psychological — challenges facing many of our most vulnerable patients.

Virtual visits now represent 8-10% of all patient visits in Ascension, and over 50% of behavioral health visits. Though important, there is more to telehealth than virtual visits.

EXPANDING THE UNDERSTANDING OF TELEHEALTH

“Some people don’t realize that the definition of telehealth goes far beyond video or telephonic visits [i.e., telemedicine], which is only the tip of the iceberg,” said Tania Elliott, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Virtual Care and Vice President, Clinical & Network Services, Ascension. “Telehealth, or virtual care, is a broad term that includes a wide spectrum of digital capabilities, including remote monitoring, e-consultations, digital check-ins and digital therapeutics, to name a few. These options should be seen as tools that add to the care of patients — not as care alternatives or replacements for Tania Elliott, MD traditional care delivery. If there was any

silver lining to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was that virtual care should now be considered a core component of care delivery — a routine way in which clinicians interact with their patients.”

Ascension’s national remote patient monitoring program continues to expand, as does its e-consult program. e-Consults, also known as interprofessional consultations, enable clinicians to access high-quality specialist opinions electronically for their patients — increasing care coordination and knowledge sharing and improving equity, especially for those living in rural or underserved communities who may not have access to specialty care.

In January, Ascension Indiana launched an interprofessional consultation model between surgeons and cardiologists to ensure that patients were ready for surgery. To date, more than 740 cardiac consultations have been provided, with high levels of clinician and patient satisfaction. Additional use cases are being developed across the organization.

“ If there was any silver lining to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was that virtual care should now be considered a core component of care delivery — a routine way in which clinicians interact with their patients.”

— T A N I A E L L IO T T, M D, C H I E F M E DIC A L OF F IC E R , V I R T UA L C A R E A N D V IC E P R E S I DE N T, C L I N IC A L & N ET WOR K SERV ICE S, A SCENSION

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Monica Salinas serves as Supervisor, Consumer and Patient Experience, Ascension Contact Center Operations.

REMOTE MEDICAL ASSISTANTS

“To further our progress, we are working to create a model for licensing and credentialing clinicians across state lines and establishing national telehealth programs with our Ascension Medical Group [AMG] clinicians,” Dr. Elliott said.

“This approach allows us to expand our reach, especially to those who are underserved — no longer making a person’s access to care determined by their ZIP code.”

During the height of the pandemic, Ascension remote patient monitoring teams cared for more than 13,000 COVID-19 patients across our ministries. Today, these programs continue to demonstrate better outcomes in the care of persons who are enrolled over those not enrolled.

To help reduce disparities and severe maternal morbidities, two important maternal health goals, we have seen significant success with our newest remote patient monitoring program for postpartum hypertension. We know that deliveries involving severe maternal morbidities disproportionately affect minority and low-income pregnant women, especially non-Hispanic Black women and those with Medicaid. The period following birth is a critical time for both woman and infant, and it’s an important time to assess physical, social and psychological well-being.

The remote patient monitoring program for postpartum hypertension, already active in Texas and Indiana, has a 95% postpartum visit adherence rate for program enrollees compared to 55% for similar patients who were not enrolled and a 50% decrease in emergency department utilization in this high-risk group. The plan is to expand this program across Ascension.

Another area where telehealth is making a positive impact is within our care teams. As we continue to foster an environment where Medical Assistants (MAs) can flourish professionally, a unique pilot program in Michigan is showing great promise.

The program uses a remote MA position and is intended to not only address retention and recruitment of MAs but also create greater satisfaction among clinicians and patients.

The remote MA helps the care team with such tasks as managing refill messaging and follow-up (scheduling, notification); preparing new patient charts; intake for in-person and virtual visits; communicating between the patient and clinicians and staff; and reviewing care gaps. The program also offers MAs an opportunity to work from home, providing greater flexibility for these often hard-to-fill positions.

Working virtually provides MAs much-needed flexibility and balance. They are able to better allocate their time, making it possible to prioritize each patient who calls or sends a message and to complete prior authorizations more efficiently.

Patients are also beneficiaries of the remote MA model.

“Patients have made many comments on how quickly their calls get answered and their messages get a response,” said Carrie Bilek, Practice Manager, Premier Family Medicine/ Howell Family Medicine, Ascension Medical Group. “It has cut down on phone tag. MAs have the ability to also make appointments, so if someone does need to get in and an MA is on the phone with them, the appointment is made right then. Because new patient information is already in the chart, it cuts down on the time the MA in the office is in the room and allows patients to spend more time with the clinician.”

A remote MA can also assist a greater number of clinicians, which allows clinicians to concentrate on spending more time caring for patients.

Plans to scale the remote position in other Ministry Markets are underway, with multiple sites interested in using the program to improve care delivery.

“We will continue to look for opportunities to leverage virtual care solutions that meet shifting consumer preferences and our patients’ needs,” Dr. Elliott said. “It’s so core to our Mission as we seek to break down barriers and ensure that everyone has access to care — wherever they are.”

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Well-being Sessions another tool for the journey myCARE INTRODUCES WEEKLY PROGRAMMING TO HELP

ASSOCIATES FOCUS ON THEIR WELL-BEING

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ell-being is a lifelong journey toward balance in mind, body and spirit. Recognizing the need for a centralized place to find well-being tools, events and resources, Ascension designed myCare to help associates along the way.

“Self-care is the first step to providing compassionate, personalized care to those we are privileged to serve,” said Herb Vallier, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Ascension. “We wanted to create a place where associates could find tools to help them find healing, holistic health and resources to support their well-being.”

This year, myCare has become more interactive with the addition of weekly Well-being Sessions. Each Well-being Session addresses a specific aspect of fitness, nutrition, mental health and more. Sessions last 30 minutes and are split between a presentation from an Ascension subject matter expert and a question-and-answer session.

Each presentation is recorded and available later on the myCare site

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for those who are unable to attend a live session.

“We wanted to go beyond a list of resources and begin to engage with co-workers on their well-being journey,” said Sara Campbell, Vice President, Culture and ABIDE, Ascension. “We’ve already witnessed a lot of excitement around the topics, and the meetings often run long due to the rich discussion and interaction with our associates and Ascension subject matter experts.”

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“I feel that having all of the information you need from trusted resources is incredibly helpful, so I was happy to present on making fitness simple and sustainable,” said Seth Spicer, Athletic Trainer, Sports Medicine, Lourdes, Binghamton, New York. “Best of all, there was a lot of support and great questions at the end of the presentation, making me feel like the session really helped people.”

“I have really gotten a lot out of the Well-being Sessions,” said Michelle

Athletic Trainer Seth Spicer, MS, ATC, LAT, CSCS, FMSC, Lourdes Hospital, Binghamton, New York, shares tips on keeping exercise simple and sustainable with associates.

Brooks, RN, Nurse Care Manager, Ascension Borgess Hospital, Kalamazoo, Michigan. “I realized how challenging it is trying to get healthy after having kids and being a mom and putting myself last.

These Well-being Sessions have kept me motivated to put my health first so I can set an example for my kids and patients.”

“It always helps to know I’m not alone. It helps to know we all have similar issues,” said Chung Massey, RN, Ascension Texas Nursing Practice.

“I feel the need to be more mindful of my wellness, so I appreciate Ascension providing the space. It’s helpful that the presentation is only 30 minutes and usually there is time after to stay on and ask questions.”

In addition to Well-being Sessions, Ascension has made several free tools available to associates: my CARE

On the myCare website, associates can find resources for spiritual, mental, physical, relational, financial and occupational well-being as well as tools to address isolation, stress, empathic leadership and more.

e CARDS

Gratitude is an important aspect of well-being. Associates can send co-workers a personalized, digital eCard to show they care.

ASCENSION WYSA

The Wysa app can help reduce stress and anxiety, enhance mood, improve sleep, and encourage mindfulness.

It also connects directly to other Ascension-specific offerings.

WELL-BEING KUDOBOARD

A special well-being Kudoboard is designed for associates to come together in community to share tips, tricks, pictures, recipes and resources to help each other along the wellness journey.

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PLAN

Counselors help assess issues, refer for follow-on care, identify resources and develop action plans to help associates and family members manage stress, get back on track, get out of debt and more.

VIRTUAL SPIRITUAL CARE

“We wanted to go beyond a list of resources and begin to engage with co-workers on their well-being journey.”

— SARA CAMPBELL, VICE PRESIDENT, CULTURE AND ABIDE, ASCENSION

Available anytime, anywhere, Virtual Spiritual Care is staffed by experienced Ascension chaplains committed to supporting associates through listening and compassionate conversation.

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Ascension coming together as a

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community to treat pain and addiction INITIATIVES ADDRESS OPIOID OVERUSE AND HELP PEOPLE ON THEIR ROAD TO RECOVERY

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or Brandy Ray, it was clear when her addiction began.

As a teenager, she’d gone drinking with friends on weekends. After her marriage to her high school sweetheart ended when she was only 20, she started drinking more to cope. However, she stopped when she became pregnant with her oldest son and, for a time, things seemed to be going well. She got a job, started college and rejoined her church, hoping it would fill the “dark hole” she now realizes had always been inside of her.

In an instant, everything changed.

“I decided to go on a trip with my church’s college youth group, rock climbing in Tennessee. I ended up falling about 60 feet while rappelling down the side of a mountain,” she said. ”I shattered my left ankle and broke my back in two places. This is where my addiction would really start.”

Chronic pain is a major reason Americans access the healthcare system. According to an article by the McGovern Institute at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, about 50 million Americans suffer from chronic pain, which interferes with their daily life, social interactions and ability to work. Opioid prescriptions for chronic pain are a major contributor to the opioid epidemic.

Like so many others, Brandy received a prescription for oxycodone to treat the pain from her fall.

“I eventually became addicted but was able to be a ‘functioning addict’ for several years,” she said. ”I had my youngest son in 2013 and was so happy to be a mother again, but that wasn’t enough to keep me sober. Eventually, I switched to harder drugs and would lose everything, including my boys. I was in such a dark place and I didn’t think that there was any way out.”

Brandy was only slightly aware of Ascension St. Vincent’s Medical Center Riverside, Jacksonville, Florida, before she overdosed on heroin at age 33. The hospital happened to be the closest facility.

“I remember being in the ambulance that night, on the way to the hospital,” Brandy said, “crying and saying, ‘Please help me. I need help!’”

Fortunately for Brandy, in 2018 Ascension St. Vincent’s had joined a community partnership designed to prevent drug overdose deaths. Working with the city of Jacksonville, Gateway Community Services, Jacksonville Fire and Rescue, and River Region Human Services, the hospital was part of Project Save Lives, Jacksonville’s response to the opioid epidemic.

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Overdose deaths had become a big problem in Jacksonville.

During the height of the opioid epidemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that overdoses claimed an average of 275 lives a day.

Ascension St. Vincent’s used to turn patients like Brandy over to drug treatment groups. Addicts would sober up and leave the hospital right away. With Project Save Lives, the strategy was to turn their life around in the hospital bed.

By identifying eligible patients as they overdosed and entered the emergency room, Ascension St. Vincent’s could pair them with peer recovery specialists: people who have battled and survived addiction themselves. These specialists would guide patients through treatment and rehabilitation, and set them on the path of what the hospital team hoped would be their journey to health and recovery.

Help for Brandy came in the form of two key people. The first was a nurse in the emergency department (ED) who listened to her cries for help and immediately offered to call a peer support specialist for her.

“Being offered help at that moment was important,” Brandy said. “If that nurse hadn’t acted so quickly, if it had been a couple of hours later, then I probably would have changed my mind because of fear and that desire to use again being so strong.”

Kristen Nelson, RN, now a nurse in Labor and Delivery at Ascension St. Vincent’s Riverside, was an ED charge nurse

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when the Project Save Lives pilot began. She remembers when peer support specialists came to the ED to work with patients.

“At that time we had a surge of overdoses with multiple patients being brought in daily,” Kristen said. “Some of them would just take off after we stabilized them, so having the peer support specialists available really helped.”

It was Kristen who heard Brandy’s cry for help and arranged for her to meet her first peer support specialist, Tony. He was kind and listened to her. He drove Brandy to detox and stayed in touch throughout treatment, checking in on her for almost two years to see how she was doing. Brandy worked with a second peer specialist, Heather, during treatment. After completing detox, two weeks in a residential program and 10 months in a women’s sober-living house, Brandy moved out on her own.

“I have been sober now for three years. I am the general manager of a sober-living house in downtown Jacksonville and a certified recovery resident administrator,” Brandy said.

“I’ve started school with the goal of obtaining a bachelor’s degree in substance abuse counseling. I’ve rebuilt relationships with my family. And I was able to gain back full custody of both of my boys. Today I am happy and at peace. Life isn’t perfect but it’s good, and I would never in a million years want to go back to the way it was. I’m so grateful to Project Save Lives for being there when I needed it most.”

“ Against a problem this widespread and complex, only a collaborative approach can possibly provide the compassionate, personalized care that’s needed on the required scale. Ascension is well positioned to lead such collaborative efforts.”

— RICH A R D FOGEL , MD, FACC, FHR S, SENIOR V ICE PR ESIDENT A ND CHIEF CLINICA L OFFICER, CLINICA L & NET WOR K SERV ICES, A SCENSION

FROM TREATMENT TO PREVENTION

While Project Save Lives holds great promise, treatment programs aren’t enough. Recent data shows that the opioid crisis is not over; in 2021, overall drug overdose deaths increased by 15%.

As far back as 2014, Ascension markets began collaborating on comprehensive pain management programs to minimize opioid use and prevent substance abuse disorder. Today, there are opioid treatment and recovery programs in Ascension’s Alabama, Baltimore, Florida and Gulf Coast, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin Ministry Markets.

These programs have transformed the way we manage pain across Ascension, leading to a variety of improvements in care: reductions in the use of the most potent injectable opioids, in opioid use for patients undergoing knee and hip replacements, and in the number of narcotics prescribed in emergency rooms.

Ascension has put a number of successful interventions in place, including standardized pain assessment tools in the inpatient setting and ambulatory pain management guidelines for cautious and effective treatment of people with chronic pain; updated order sets containing lower doses of opioids that allow the physician to increase the dose based on individual patient needs; and educational tools focusing on use of nonopioid alternatives for various acute pain syndromes and supporting inpatient initiation of medications.

Another tool is medication management software that audits pharmaceutical transactions. Based on information from automated dispensing cabinets, Kronos, PeopleSoft and the electronic health record, it identifies anomalies or deviations in medication handling that require further investigation. Ultimately this new tool will help protect both associates and patients.

In addition, Ascension has introduced comprehensive measures to assess the effectiveness of pain management and opioid stewardship initiatives in both acute and ambulatory settings. And a guide available through Ascension myCare and posted on the Human Resources and SmartHealth member websites helps associates know where to go for substance use disorder resources.

In the near future, Ascension plans to expand these interventions to additional sites of care, such as Ascension Living.

TREATING SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS On a System level, Ascension has proactively assembled dedicated multidisciplinary teams to prevent and confront substance use disorders. The work is overseen by the Opioid and Pain Management Governance Committee, a core team of leaders across Ascension. Together with 13 Ministry Market-level committees headed by designated acute and ambulatory care opioid leads, the committee collaborates closely with Ascension Rx, Associate and Patient Safety, and members of the Behavioral Health Service Line. Their approach to patient care is based on four areas of emphasis: Prevention: Minimize opioid use when evidence does not support a benefit or if alternatives exist, and prevent harm from opioid use, including overdoses, and opioid misuse and abuse.

Identification: Identify patients at high risk of harm from opioids and clinicians with high opioid prescribing patterns and design ways to deliver appropriate, personalized care.

Treatment: Provide comprehensive holistic treatment options for opioid use disorder in all care settings.

Recovery: Improve access to comprehensive behavioral health services and community resources promoting recovery.

“Against a problem this widespread and complex, only a collaborative approach can possibly provide the compassionate, personalized care that’s needed on the required scale. Ascension is well positioned to lead such collaborative efforts,” said Richard Fogel, MD, FACC, FHRS, Senior Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer, Clinical & Network Services, Ascension. “We must continue to find creative ways to help people manage their pain while minimizing the opportunities for addiction in our communities.”

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Ascension Virtual 5K a moving experience for many THIS YEAR’S EVENT EMPHASIZED SELF-CARE

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or the third year in a row, associates, community members, families and four-legged friends ran, walked, swam and hiked in the Ascension Virtual 5K. “This year we really wanted to emphasize self-care and how important it is for everyone’s holistic well-being,” said Deana Donovan, National Lead – Wellness, Human Resources, Ascension, who served as the Ascension Virtual 5K Planning Team Lead. “The better we feel in body, mind and spirit, the better equipped we are to take care of our loved ones, our patients, our communities and one another. So we try to provide experiences like the 5K to enable associates to focus on what matters most.”

In alignment with the theme “Take care of yourself so you can be there for others,” planning for this year involved several new aspects to engage and encourage associates where they are in their well-being journey.

WE LL- BE ING KU DOBOARD

The Well-being Kudoboard provides a space to gather in community to encourage and inspire others on their well-being journey. Leading up to the Ascension Virtual 5K, participants were encouraged to ask questions, post tips and share progress toward their fitness goals. After the event, participants shared photos of their experience. m y C ARE

RESOU RCES

Well-being Sessions, a training schedule and recordings available at the myCare website provided information on a variety of topics leading up to the event.

G ROU P PARTICIPATION

This year, associates could gather more freely with family and friends to take part in the event. Teams were formed at several Ascension locations so they could participate together.

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Ascension Virtual 5K participants posting photos to the event Kudoboard included, from top, Anna Overstreet, Performance Improvement Manager, Ascension St. Vincent’s Birmingham, Alabama; Arlene Caselli, RN, Nurse Educator, Ascension Resurrection, Chicago; Becky Hoffman, Administrative Coordinator, Ascension Standish, Michigan, and daughter Alivia and dogs Oliver and Phoebe; and Marie Stangl, Associate Vice President, Technology, Ascension Wisconsin.

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ALABAMA

Women’s Choice Award Ascension St. Vincent’s Birmingham received eight 2022 Women’s Choice Awards. The Women’s Choice Award for Best Hospitals identifies the nation’s best hospitals based on robust criteria, including clinical performance, patient satisfaction and accreditations. The hospital was recognized in the categories of Cancer Care, Heart Care, Minimally Invasive Surgery, Obstetrics, Orthopedics, Patient Experience, Patient Safety and Best Mammogram Imaging Center.

Patient experience awardees Ascension St. Vincent’s Birmingham and Ascension St. Vincent’s Chilton were named among the seven best hospitals in the state for patient experience using the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems scores from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Also, Ascension St. Vincent’s Primary Care Gardendale received the UnitedHealth United Hero Award. The award is based on the achievement of patient experience scores of at least 80%.

BALTIMORE

Top honors The Daily Record in Maryland, a statewide business and legal newspaper published in Baltimore, named Brandi Blevins, Director of Orthopedic Service Line, Ascension Saint Agnes, to its 2022 list of Maryland’s Top 100 Women, and Ed Lovern, Ascension Saint Agnes President and CEO, to its Power 30 Health Care List.

enrolled. The center offers a unique atmosphere that combines a comprehensive fitness experience with clinically driven pathways that allow members to customize activities to their clinical status. A medical advisory board oversees the continued development of health and fitness programming.

Tops in quality Lourdes Breast Care Center, Cardiac Rehab, Coumadin Clinic, Infusion Center, Wound Care and Orthopedics Riverside each received the 5-Star Excellence Award for Overall Quality of Care from Professional Research Consultants (PRC).

This designation is awarded annually to healthcare facilities, outpatient service lines, inpatient units and outpatient clinics scoring in the top 10% of PRC’s national client database for the prior calendar year.

FLORIDA AND GULF COAST

Providers recognized A total of 140 Ascension Medical Group providers across Ascension Florida and Gulf Coast were recognized as 5-Star Award winners by Professional Research Consultants (PRC). In 2021, these providers were highly rated by their patients and ranked in the 90th percentile or above when compared to the rest of the PRC national database.

Top safety grade Four Ascension Florida and Gulf Coast hospitals were recognized with a Leapfrog safety grade of “A”: in Florida, Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola, Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast in Miramar Beach and Ascension St. Vincent’s Southside in Jacksonville; and in Alabama, Ascension Providence in Mobile.

ILLINOIS

Service to community cited Ascension Holy Family was one of 10 Des Plaines, Illinois, businesses and individuals honored with the 2022 Community Enhancement Award for its service to the community, volunteerism, donations and business success.

Center receives grant Ascension Illinois’ Center for Mental Health and the Arlington Heights police department received a $250,000 federal grant for a crisis counselor to work with officers on calls involving people suffering from a mental health crisis.

Heart center recognized Ascension Saint Mary Kankakee received Chest Pain Center reaccreditation from the American College of Cardiology for its demonstrated expertise in and commitment to treating patients with chest pain.

The renewed accreditation, first achieved

The Lourdes Health & Fitness center in Binghamton, New York, offers clinically driven exercise programs.

BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK

Fitness facility opens Lourdes Health & Fitness opened in May with more than 3,000 members

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in 2018, is based on rigorous on-site evaluation of the staff’s ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients who could be experiencing a heart attack.

Team transforms TAVR Ascension Alexian Brothers Elk Grove Village is the first Illinois hospital to offer same-day transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedures. TAVR is a minimally invasive procedure to replace a narrowed aortic valve that fails to open properly that usually requires a short hospital stay. When the pandemic caused a pause in elective procedures in 2020, a clinical team led by Andrei Pop, MD, Structural Heart Director, used the time to find a way to perform the procedure with same-day discharge.

INDIANA

Associates honored for servant leadership The organization Leadership Everyone honors individuals, projects and organizations that make significant, collaborative contributions to improve and transform the Evansville community. During its 27th annual Celebration of Leadership Awards Ceremony, these Ascension St. Vincent Evansville associates received awards for their examples of servant leadership: Sheila Hauck, RN, Director of Nursing, Ascension St. Vincent Evansville, has mentored countless nurses and provided leadership to nursing quality, oncology services and palliative care. She established a navigation program for Ascension St. Vincent Evansville’s Cancer Center to ensure that newly diagnosed cancer patients receive timely, equitable services across the care continuum. Her leadership extends into the community through her collaborations with multiple organizations.

Kelly Paul, RPh, Ascension St. Vincent Epworth Crossing Pharmacy, devoted countless hours to organizing and refining

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Ascension COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic operations. She also created a curbside pickup system so patients had a safe way to get their prescriptions.

In collaboration with the University of Evansville’s LatinX Community Health ChangeLab, Amy Jo Sheeley, Manager of Practice Operations, Ascension Medical Group St. Vincent, has worked to help address health disparity. More than 100 people in the LatinX community received COVID-19 vaccinations at two vaccine clinics hosted by Ascension St. Vincent Evansville. This collaboration started with a project focusing on OB-GYN patient education and has expanded to include COVID-19 vaccinations and various cancer screenings. These initiatives fully align with our ABIDE framework.

KANSAS

Center offers specialized therapies The Cancer Institute at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis in Wichita is now an approved site for four chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies, offering new hope to patients with certain blood cancers that have returned or stopped responding to treatment. It is the state’s only provider outside the Kansas City metro area to offer this type of immunotherapy, which uses a person’s own modified cells to fight cancer.

Sheila Hauck, RN

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Kelly Paul, RPh

3D process advances cancer care Ascension Via Christi Cancer Center introduced a 3D printer and specialized software to create patient-specific radiation therapy devices for treating some skin and breast cancers. The process helps tailor the radiation to the size of a tumor or lesion, sparing healthy tissue and provides superior dose distribution.

Hospital expands services Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg expanded ultrasound and echocardiogram services to its nearby rural Fort Scott clinic, allowing residents more access to close-to-home diagnostic cardiology, obstetrics and general imaging services.

MICHIGAN

Sue Hanna receives award Sue Hanna, APACHE Coordinator, Critical Care, at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo, received Gift of Life Michigan’s prestigious 2022 Champion Award.

Sue is one of 17 individuals, four organizations and one hospital to be honored; the award recognizes her efforts to promote organ and tissue donation through her work as a donation liaison.

Robotic surgery reaccreditation Ascension Genesys Hospital in Grand Blanc achieved reaccreditation as a Center of Excellence in Robotic Surgery by

Amy Jo Sheeley

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Surgical Review Corporation. Christopher Ash, DO; Mark Mattingly, MD; and Carol Powers, DO, became accredited as Surgeons of Excellence. Ascension Genesys Hospital was the first hospital in Michigan to receive accreditation in 2016.

MD, emergency medicine physician at Ascension St. Mary’s Hospital, as well as recognized hospital associates with the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Mission Award for their support and dedication to patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Care of older adults cited The Institute for Healthcare Improvement recognized Ascension Providence Rochester Hospital as a Participant Level Age-Friendly Health System. This designation recognizes a system-wide commitment to improving the health and well-being of older adults.

Top 100 honor Ascension St. Joseph Hospital in Tawas City was named one of the Top 100 Rural and Community Hospitals in the U.S. by the Chartis Center for Rural Health. To determine the list, the Chartis Center used the Hospital Strength INDEX, which assesses performance in inpatient market share, outpatient market share, quality, outcomes, patient perspective, cost, charge and financial efficiency.

Nightingale awardees Oakland University Nightingale Awards for Nursing Excellence recognize exceptional nurses who demonstrate leadership traits and routinely go above and beyond to deliver quality care. Four Ascension Michigan nurses were recognized: Excellence in Advanced Practice Nursing winner Makenzie Thimm, Ascension Southeast Michigan Metro East & Metro West Regions; Excellence in Nursing Leadership winner Ashton Austin, Ascension Providence Hospital, Southfield Campus; Post-Acute Care & Specialty Nursing winner Karen Habte, Ascension Providence Hospital, Southfield & Novi Campuses; and OU School of Nursing Distinguished Alumni runner-up Sara Schwartz, Ascension Providence Hospital, Novi Campus.

Virtual event a success For the second year, Ascension St. Mary’s Foundation in Saginaw held its Cornette Corantine fundraising event virtually.

Through sponsorships, donations and an online auction, the foundation raised over $104,000 to support the purchase of a second MRI table to reduce turnaround time and enhance patient experience.

The event also honored the Spirit of St. Vincent Award recipient, Steven McLean,

Gift supports pediatric care A multimillion-dollar investment from Mary Ann Van Elslander supports the Your Child, We Care campaign at Ascension St. John Children’s Hospital in Detroit.

The gift brought the campaign to its baseline goal of $18 million to make changes that enhance privacy, improve comfort and elevate the care experience. The gift supports a multimillion-dollar renovation that will expand the inpatient pediatric unit and create a dedicated hospital entrance for women and children.

OKLAHOMA

TeamBirth collaboration Ascension St. John launched a national collaboration with TeamBirth, a program designed to improve maternal and neonatal outcomes. The statewide implementation of TeamBirth is funded by the Oklahoma Department of Health and is the centerpiece of the Delivery Decisions Initiative of Ariadne Labs, a center for health systems innovation at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Rehab hospital groundbreaking Representatives from Ascension St. John, Encompass Health and the city of Owasso held a groundbreaking ceremony for a 40-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Owasso. The facility is the second venture between the two organizations, which jointly own St. John Rehabilitation Hospital located next to Ascension St. John Broken Arrow. Completion is expected in 2023.

TENNESSEE

Reducing food waste Kitchens across the Ascension Saint Thomas campuses are striving for zero waste through tactics that include precise calculations for meal planning and use of food digester machines and recyclable eating utensils. Ascension Saint Thomas is also exploring ways to divert uneaten prepared meals and excess ingredients to local community members in need.

GYN emergency department Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown celebrated completion of its Obstetrics and Gynecology Emergency Department (OB-GYN ED) with the opening of its GYN ED. Located next to the OB ED, the GYN ED advances the hospital’s vision of offering comprehensive, convenient and personalized care.

Stroke intervention Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford is now the first facility in Rutherford County to offer thrombectomy, a potentially lifesaving stroke intervention. Previously, stroke patients required transfer to Nashville to receive this intervention.

TEXAS

Maternal Care Center opens Dell Children’s Medical Center in Austin opened a Maternal Care Center, which allows for the highest level of specialized

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care before, during and after delivery at Dell Children’s. Mothers diagnosed with complex and rare fetal conditions who are patients of the Comprehensive Fetal Care Center at Dell Children’s can receive their obstetrical care at the Maternal Care Center on site.

Neonatology program expands Ascension Providence in Waco expanded its neonatal provider care team by adding five neonatal nurse practitioners. These clinicians have extensive experience in recognizing, evaluating and stabilizing newborns with unexpected health complications, as well as educating families about newborn care and needs.

Spanish-language stroke mnemonic Maricela Wilson, Stroke Outreach Coordinator at Ascension Seton in Austin, developed a mnemonic for reducing stroke recognition disparities in Spanish-speaking communities: AHORA. Meaning “now” in Spanish, AHORA contains the elements of the English mnemonic FAST (Facial drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulties, and Time to call emergency services) and adds the symptom of a terrible headache that is unlike past headaches. Sudden severe headache is an important predictor of hemorrhagic stroke, a debilitating type of stroke experienced more frequently among Hispanic populations. AHORA stands for Andar (walking), Hablar (speech), Ojos (eyes), Rostro (face and head), and Ambos brazos o piernas (both arms and legs). Emergency medical services programs around the country have begun adoption of the Spanish-language tool.

Center offers specialty care Ascension Seton Health Center Lamar is a new multispecialty health center offering patients convenient access

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to cardiovascular care, spine care and outpatient imaging services.

WISCONSIN

Dr. Julie Doniere honored Julie Doniere, MD, Emergency Medicine physician at Ascension St. Joseph and Ascension St. Francis Hospital, was honored among the “Women of the Year”

by USA Today. The program honors one remarkable woman from every state who leads and inspires, promotes and fights for equity, and champions change.

EMS Director Andy Sandler recognized Andy Sandler, EMS Director, Ascension Wisconsin, was included among the inaugural “10 Milwaukee Healthcare Executives to Know” by the Milwaukee Business Journal.

Clinic opens The Ascension Medical Group Wisconsin – Mequon clinic opened and provides primary and specialty care services including behavioral health, neurosciences, podiatry, dermatology and imaging.

Hospital named to top 100 Ascension Calumet Hospital was again named a Top 100 critical access hospital based on Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX results.

The program honors outstanding performance among rural hospitals.

Kevin Bozic, MD, MBA, FAAOS

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Program treats depression Ascension St. Elizabeth began offering transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy for patients with medication-resistant depression and/or anxiety. The program has been well received by patients, with an 84% success rate.

ASCENSION GLOBAL MISSION

Responding to disasters One role of Ascension Global Mission (AGM) is responding responsibly to both natural and man-made disasters; reputable international relief organizations emphasize that the best response is to send financial donations rather than goods and materials, which can disrupt local economies. In solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Ukraine, and those in Haiti who continue to suffer from last year’s earthquake and storms, AGM provided direct funds to Catholic Relief Services and the Daughters of Charity in Ukraine, and funding to organizations on the ground in Haiti that provide direct care to the impacted population.

ASCENSION LIVING

Memory support advancing Ascension Living is finalizing construction of new assisted living memory support residences on existing senior living campuses, including Ascension Living

Edward T. A. Fry, MD, FACC, FSCAI

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Bethlehem Woods Village in La Grange Park, Illinois; Ascension Living Sherbrooke Village in St. Louis; and Ascension Living Providence Village in Waco, Texas.

In the new residences, resident care will be designed around what is familiar and comforting. From color choices to noise control, lighting and room layouts, everything is being taken into consideration to honor each resident’s unique needs.

ASCENSION VENTURES

New investment, capital Ascension Ventures announced a new investment in RefleXion Medical, developer of a biology-guided radiation therapy platform. Several other Ascension Venture portfolio companies raised capital recently, including Compassus, Help at Home, Imperative Care, MindPath, Regent Surgical, Renovia and STRM.bio.

Surgery and Perioperative Care at Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin.

will use the data collected to guide its strategic planning for the future.

THE RESOURCE GROUP

COMMUNITY HEALTH MINISTRIES

Fiesta holiday Children in the Head Start and Early Head Start programs at Ascension DePaul Services – San Antonio’s DePaul-Wesley Children’s Center celebrated Fiesta San Antonio with a parade of floats and Tex-Mex food booths in each classroom.

The annual event salutes the heroes of the battles of the Alamo and San Jacinto.

MEDXCEL

Survey results positive Medxcel’s annual Voice of the Customer survey showed that its customers, including Ascension markets, are pleased with its support and services. Medxcel

New interns welcomed The Resource Group welcomed a new class of college interns in May. Last year’s class of 26 interns gave a resounding endorsement of the program, with 100% recommending The Resource Group as a place to work. The reputation of the internship program was validated by the more than 600 applicants who applied this year, resulting in the recruitment of 35 bright, diverse and dynamic students from 22 universities and 21 areas of study.

Many of them are expected to become full-time associates in the future.

CLINICAL & NETWORK SERVICES

Drs. Fry and Bozic appointed to national roles Edward T. A. Fry, MD, FACC, FSCAI, Chair of Ascension’s National Cardiovascular Service Line as well as the Cardiology Division and Cardiovascular Service Line at Ascension St. Vincent Indianapolis, was selected to serve as President of the American College of Cardiology Board of Trustees. Dr. Fry is a founding member of the Ascension St. Vincent Heart Center in Indianapolis. Ascension Texas Orthopaedic Surgeon Kevin Bozic, MD, MBA, FAAOS, was named First Vice President of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Board of Directors. As First Vice President, he is in the second year of a four-year term of service during which he will serve as President of the AAOS board in 2023-24. Dr. Bozic serves as Chair of the Ascension Musculoskeletal Service Line and is the inaugural Chair of

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WE ARE ASCENSION

Jennifer Belue, LCSW Social Worker Ascension Rx

Cultivating long-term relationships with patients is one thing Jennifer Belue, LCSW, loves about her role as a social worker within Ascension Rx. “It’s uncommon for social workers to be embedded in the pharmacy,” she said. “This role has provided me with an opportunity to have long-term relationships with patients. Some of the people I’m caring for have been with this program since it launched in 2006.”

Jennifer began her position on the pharmacy team about the same time that Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital West, Nashville, Tennessee, was launching its Dispensary of Hope, a charitable medication distributor. Dispensary of Hope, a subsidiary of Ascension, is dedicated to providing pharmacies and safety-net clinics with reliable access to medication that has been donated by pharmaceutical manufacturers.

“Most of my patients are working but still unable to afford their healthcare,” Jennifer said.

Working mainly at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital West, she supports five pharmacies within Ascension Tennessee, helping with policy making and implementation, education, training, and change management. New pharmacists and technicians train with her to learn more about the issues that patients face and Ascension’s guidelines for supporting them holistically.

“In addition to their medications, these patients often need other support such as shelter, food and help paying for utilities,” she said. “Our jobs are more than filling prescriptions. We help people in other ways, and this is the reason that so many associates stay with Ascension.”

The Dispensary of Hope filled over 1 million 30-day prescriptions in 2021. Ascension, through Ascension Rx’s Medication Access Team, also provided over $76 million in medication assistance in fiscal year 2021 through various programs, and that number was expected to at least double in fiscal year 2022.