Connecting Together - November 2016

It’s Lovelights time of year again If you’d like to honor a loved one at this annual tree lighting ceremony at Beloit Hospital contact Roberta Henning in the Volunteer office at 608-364-5162 or rhenning@beloithealthsystem.org From left, Shyla Thayer, finance department and Cissy Frendahl, nursing administration

Connecting NOVEMBER EVENTS  Living with Arthritis Pain Friday, November 11 | 2:00pm Beloit Hospital Auditorium Learn about new developments at "Living with Arthritis Pain" a free informational seminar hosted by Beloit Hospital's Advanced Joint Care Center.

Take it to Heart Club Heart Healthy Holidays Tuesday, November 15 | 7:00pm Beloit Hospital Auditorium Bring your favorite holiday recipe to share and learn how to make it more healthy for your heart. Heart healthy snacks will be provided.

Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot Thursday, November 24 | 8:30am NorthPointe The annual 5K Run or a One Mile Run/ Walk now offers a Tiny Trot for kids 5 and under which is free and starts at 8:15 a.m.

Register online at http://bit.ly/2eLyJlu By scanning this code with your mobile device:

Focusing on employees and physicians whose dedication, efforts and talent create a BEST environment.

Congratulations to Michael Coogan, MD (Emergency) and Leighton Johnson, MD (Orthopedics) for living our values of Quality and Satisfaction.

Below is a recent story submitted by a grateful patient.

Hi, I was seen at NorthPointe’s from left - Drs. Leighton Johnson and Michael Coogan Immediate Care in September. I was treated by Dr. Michael Coogan and I cannot it went down before he could do the say just how lucky I feel to have gotten him surgery. that day. If it wasn't for him seeing the widening between my 1st and 2nd I had surgery in late September - three metatarsals, and believing it could possibly screws to stabilize my midfoot. I still have a be a lisfranc injury, I could have just been long road ahead of me, but it could have sent home with a midfoot sprain diagnosis been much worse. and told to walk it off.

Thanks to Dr. Coogan for recognizing how serious the injury could be if indeed it was a lisfranc injury. Because of his keen assessment, I followed up with an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Leighton Johnson at the Beloit Clinic. He also was a great doctor and he confirmed that I did have a lisfranc injury and would need surgery.

Because of the swelling, I had to wait until

Because of Dr. Coogan’s expertise in recognizing the injury, it has been a much easier road to go down than what could have been. Thanks to the staff at NorthPointe’s Immediate Care and to Dr. Coogan.

I owe the future recovery of my foot to him seeing this condition on my x-ray.

Thank you, A Grateful Patient

Value: Satisfaction

A kind word, a welcoming smile, and a top-notch level of professionalism can make all the difference for our patients—and they are grateful for all you do to make their experience positive and memorable.

Hello, I received a call from Jeff R. he had surgery yesterday and said that everyone in the OR was great and made his surgery fun.

He felt that Dr. Tania Balabanova was very personable and did a great job with him. He especially wanted to mention Heather Smith, RN, the nurse in ambulatory care who took excellent care of him.

Lillie Faircloth ,OR transporter was especially memorable as she knew of the patients

hard work in organ donations and he felt it was a “blessing” to cross paths with Lillie.

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Laura Ferrara ,MSN, RN recently finished her Masters degree in Nursing Leadership. Congratulations Laura!

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At-Home Healthcare was recently awarded a Patient Satisfaction Award of Distinction for superior performance in patient satisfaction in 2015. The team placed in the top 25 percent of Fazzi’s National Patient Satisfaction database.

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Beloit Health System has been recognized by Vizient for outstanding commitment to Partnership for Patients - a federal priority initiative lead by CMS to reduce rates of hospital acquired conditions and 30-day readmissions.

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Women’s Health Night Great job on the first ever Women’s Health Night at NorthPointe in October. The event featured mammograms, Pap tests, refreshments, informational displays and more!

Thank you all for engaging our patients with your teamwork giving him the best environment and making it fun and safe by using great communication, responsiveness and empathy.

You have the right focus and professionalism to live our values at Beloit Health System.

Value: Engagement

This is Pitches Be Crazy, the Medical Imaging department kickball team that played through Beloit Leisure Services this fall. The team was sponsored by the hospital radiologists, Beloit Radiology, LTD, including Dr. Goth, Dr. Lisk, Dr. Budihardjo, Dr. Junck, and Dr. Cherian .

They played Tuesday evenings at Leeson Park for 8 weeks, and it was a great opportunity for them to get together outside of work for some fun and exercise!

From left to right (front row) Beth, Jolene, MacKenzi, (middle row) Melissa, Stephanie, Jennifer, Karen (back row) Shavonne, Tiffany, Kayla, Donna, Tanya, Shannon. Not pictured: Abby & Erin.

Value: Satisfaction

Dr. Segal is a very caring doctor, he is very personable and talks to you like a friend.

He makes sure he answers all your questions and shows interest in your life and activities as well as your health.

Dr. Kind is the best foot doctor I have seen and his staff are great. He did an excellent bunion operation.

The registration staff in the Eye Center is fantastic, Joan Oldenberg, Eboni Pabst.

They are always pleasant and happy to help with anything I ask, even when it doesn’t relate to an eye appointment.

When I called to make this eye appointment, Joan Oldenburg helped me and when we were done scheduling, she helped me get MyHealth access for my son. I had trouble receiving the email notification to start the process. She looked into it and made sure I received the email that same day.

Dr. Elezi and Tracy Weston RN offer fantastic care and customer service. Very kind and easy to connect with. Dr. Elezi makes a great effort to connect with his patients and is very personable. Very glad to have been referred to Dr. Elezi, his demeanor, outlook and philosophy are a good match for me.

Heather Kinkade was very helpful registering my daughter for her appointment she explained everything that she was doing and was so kind.

I had an acute condition, Brian Mulder NP at NorthPointe responded so quickly with a return phone call and scheduling an appointment. Pleasantly surprised because I had never seen Brian as a patient before this. Brian was so kind. I appreciated that he saw me in the office and didn’t tell me to go to the ER or Immediate care. He also called me at the end of his day with results of the MRI. I have already recommended Brian to others.

Dr. Sage was wonderful from the first time we met him. Made my daughter especially comfortable! So glad he was our provider during this process. Dr. Sage is an amazing doctor. He listens to my concerns and offers a wide variety of solutions to

The Blue Ribbon of Patient Care Excellence is awarded to employees, workgroups, and physicians who received honorable mention in a Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survey to let us know how you achieve satisfaction for our patients.

meet my needs. He is prompt and straight to the point. We need more doctors like that.

Dr. Rehbein is wonderful. He explained things thoroughly and is always kind.

I’ve been seeing Dr. Karmakar since I moved back to Wisconsin in 2010 and I have full confidence in her. Dr. Karmakar is wonderful. She really listens to what I have to say and address any concerns I may have about my son.

Dr. Johanson is a wonderful doctor whom I would recommend to anyone. Dr. Johanson has given me the best possible care.

He knows my history and is very knowledgeable.

Dr. Boeve and Monica Freeman, audiologist, were amazing! This was my first experience with Monica Freeman and I only want to deal with her from now on.

Professional courteous and an expert in her field. Dr. Boeve addressed my concerns and was honest in his answers about pain after tonsil surgery. Very Friendly.

I really liked Dr. Bhattacharyya. He was so much better at everything than at another pain clinic I’ve been to. Also he didn’t push for come back. I really appreciated that.

Dr. Fitzgerald is by far one of the best doctors I have been fortunate to have. I am not a number to him, I am a person with thoughts, feelings and concerns about my health.

Laurie Showers RMA and Darla Olson RMA are the most caring, compassionate, friendly wonderful people I have ever had the pleasure of working with. They are knowledgeable, thoughtful, and kind. I am extremely satisfied and happy with their care. They are fabulous.

Daniel Holstrom LPN was one of the most conscientious nurses we have ever worked with. He is professional, thorough and friendly. We look forward to working with him again in the future.

Teasha Allen RN was so helpful when we asked her questions and she is very nice and easy to understand.

Dr. Frantz is a great addition to Beloit Health System, can’t compliment him and his staff enough for the great care they gave me through my shoulder surgery and recovery.

Jackie Klein RN is always so helpful and great with my daughter. It’s not always easy with a child with developmental delays, but Jackie is always makes my daughter feel important. Suzette Lovelle CMA and Jackie are very through and helpful. We always leave with a smile.

Lauren Chroninger L.P.N. and Mike Mason have been extremely helpful. They show concern and are knowledgeable to answer questions.

Dr. Leo is an excellent doctor. I appreciate all he does for me and his interest in my health. Excellent doctor.

Dr. Leo sang happy birthday to my 12 yr. old grandson. We’ll never forget it. But it was a midnight visit. I have complete trust in Dr. Leo I am always amazed at how he is so thorough and concerned.

All of my nurses on FCC were wonderful.

Shannon Pearson RN and Arlene Smock RN were awesome. The spent so much time with me. Very happy with the knowledge and care received from Donna Voightlander RN. Great nurses thank you.

Sheri Bennet in housekeeping was Excellent, very courteous. Room very well taken care of.

Eboni Pabst in registration was very courteous and helpful. Always smiling, never lost her cool. She kept on smiling and doing her job no complaints. Great example of a positive work ethic and attitude. I called with an immediate need. I was asked if I could come in immediately. I could and I did. I was seen by Dr. Lisek in minutes. Great work by all the staff.

Dr. Olszewski has always been there for me and takes care in explaining every-

Last month, the community was invited to wish a fond farewell to Peter Mahler, PhD, MD. Dr. Mahler has been a long-time physician at the Beloit Cancer Center.

His expertise and compassion will be missed. Community members and health system employees turned out to wish Dr. Mahler the very best.

Dr. Jason Duelge, a UW and BHS Radiation Oncologist, will continue the tradition of care at the Cancer Center.

By Nicole Morgan, Grief Program Coordinator, Beloit Regional Hospice Ten Practical Ways that You Can Offer Help and Support - from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization

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The holidays, especially the first ones after a loved one’s death, can be Nicole Morgan particularly difficult.

Friends and family members may be unsure how to act or what to say to support their grieving loved one. In general, the best way to help is to let them know you care. They need to be remembered, and they need to know their loved ones are remembered, too.

Friends and family members should not be afraid of saying or doing the wrong thing, because making an effort and showing honest concern will be appreciated.

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Here are some tips that grieving people have shared:   Be supportive of the way your friend chooses to celebrate the holidays. Some may wish to follow traditions; others may choose to change their rituals.  Offer to help with tangible tasks such as 

baking, cleaning or decorating.

Seemingly simple tasks can be overwhelming while dealing with grief.

Invite the person to attend a religious service with you and your family.

Offer to help with holiday shopping or share your favorite catalogs or on-line shopping sites.

Invite your friend to your home for the holidays.

Inquire if your friend is interested in volunteering during the holiday season.

Doing something for someone else may help him or her feel better about the holidays.

Make a donation in memory of your friend’s loved one as a reminder that his or her special person is not forgotten.

Remember not to tell your friend that he or she should be “over it;” grief is an individual process and there are no right or wrong ways to grieve.

If your friend wants to talk about the deceased loved one or feelings associated with the loss, LISTEN. Don’t worry about being conversational…. just listen.

Remind the person you are thinking of

him or her and the loved one who died.

Cards, phone calls and visits are great ways to stay in touch.

Hospice has more information about grief at the holidays available for anyone who would like copies. Some topics include The Griever’s Holiday Bill of Rights, ideas for a personal candlelight memorial and ways to ease your concerns about the holidays after the death of a friend or loved one. Please contact Nicole Morgan, Grief Program Coordinator, by calling her directly at 608-363-7239 or emailing nmorgan@beloithealthsystem.org.

Did You Know…

Many people are not aware that Hospice can provide grief support to anyone who has experienced the death of a friend or loved one. Hospice provides bereavement support to the families we serve AND to other members of the communities we work in whose loved ones were not involved in hospice or palliative care programs. Services include grief support groups, bereavement mailings, short-term one on one appointments in our office and services for children. Contact Nicole for more info.

Nominations compiled by JoAnn Donoghue, Human Resources In recognition and appreciation of outstanding effort and service to the patients, visitors or fellow employees, the following employees are being thanked. With our Values Initiative now rolled out across our health system, please recognize your coworkers using the new Employee to Employee Values Recognition form. You will find tablets with these forms located in your workgroup.

Gretchen Adams, BMH – Surgery, Engagement Connie Alf, BMH – Dietary, Engagement Andrea Amend, BMH – Surgery, Satisfaction Ruth Anderson, BMH - Snack Shop, Satisfaction Jennifer Auge, BMH – Surgery, Engagement Sheri Bennett, BMH – Housekeeping, Engagement Kristen Broderick, BMH - Critical Care Unit, Quality James Brooks, BMH – Engineering, Quality Anne Burger, BMH – Hospice, Engagement Jennifer Calkins, BMH – Pharmacy, Satisfaction Molly Carl, BMH - Palliative Care, Satisfaction Nancy Carlos, BMH – Housekeeping, Satisfaction Danielle Chermack, BMH – Oncology, Engagement Mary Lou Christensen, BMH – Oncology, Quality Brenda Collins, BMH - Critical Care Unit, Quality Susan Cullen, BMH – Ambulatory, Satisfaction Jeanie DeLong, BMH – Recovery, Satisfaction Christina Elliott, BMH - Family Care Center, Satisfaction Lillie Faircloth, BMH – Ambulatory, Satisfaction Laura Ferguson, BMH - Cath Lab, Engagement Monica Freeman, NP – Audiology, Integrity Jennifer Freund, NC - Internal Medicine, Quality Kathleen Garsow, BMH – Hospice, Quality Angela Giambartolomei, BMH – Housekeeping, Satisfaction Brenda Giese, BMH Surgery, Satisfaction Guadalupe Gonzalez, BMH – Housekeeping, Engagement Tammy Green, BMH - Critical Care Unit, Satisfaction Tracy Greenlee, BMH – Gastroenterology, Engagement Naomi Griffin, BMH – Surgery, Satisfaction Lynn Grimes, BC - Registration/Cashier, Satisfaction Mary Harper, BMH – Ambulatory, Engagement Heather Hasseler, BMH – Personnel, Integrity Sarah Holmes, BMH – Dietary, Engagement Beverly Ingolia, NC - Family Practice, Engagement Justin Johnson, OC - Lee Lane Physical Therapy, Engagement Zachary Jordan, BMH – Gastroenterology, Engagement Haley Kelly, BMH – Surgery, Engagement Tammy Kemp, BMH – Surgery, Engagement and Satisfaction Teresa Korbol, BMH – Laboratory, Engagement Cindy Kunkel, BMH – Dietary, Engagement Alexandria Legan, BMH – Oncology, Engagement Shelly Locke, BMH – Pharmacy, Satisfaction Stephanie Longman, BMH - Materials Management, Engagement Juan Lopez, BMH – Surgery, Engagement Christine Lundwall, BC – Housekeeping, Quality Jackson Maddox, BMH – Pharmacy, Satisfaction Corrine Marshall-Nitz - BMH - Multi Care Center, Quality Amber Matts, BMH – Surgery, Engagement Mary McCallips, BMH - Central Supply, Engagement and Quality Anderia McClinton, BMH – Hospice, Integrity Kristi McLaughlin, BMH – Surgery, Engagement Dawna McMillan, BMH - Critical Care Unit, Satisfaction Monica Miller, BMH – Surgery, Quality and Satisfaction

Dr. Mohuddin, BMH – Surgery, Integrity Elizabeth Mondragon, BMH – Intermediate, Satisfaction Dr. Cris Myers, Pathology Associates, Quality Meghan Oldenburg, BMH – Surgery, Engagement Marcia Oliver, BMH – Recovery, Quality Ellyn Ostenson, BMH – Dialysis, Engagement Eboni Pabst, BC – Registration, Satisfaction Dr. Willis Reiker, Pathology Associates, Engagement Julie Riese, BC – Administration, Satisfaction Rachel Risse, BMH – Oncology, Quality Denise Risseeuw, BMH Critical Care Unit, Quality Jalisa Royster, BMH – Dietary, Engagement Janet Ryan, BMH - Critical Care Unit, Quality Kim Sanda, BMH – Pharmacy, Quality Josue Sandoval, BMH – Surgery, Engagement Karen Schenck, BMH – Hospice, Engagement Entire Team of BMH - Nutritional Support Service, Engagement Deloris Slagoski, BMH - Materials Management, Engagement Thomas Stelter, BMH - Bio-Med, Quality and Satisfaction Ashley Thompson, BMH - Nursing Float Pool, Engagement Kayce Thompson, OC - Lee Lane Physical Therapy, Satisfaction Karen Tinder, BMH - Central Supply, Engagement and Quality Stephanie Todd, BMH – Personnel, Quality Kristin Toon, BMH – Dietary, Engagement Tami Voldrich, OC - Occupational Health, Engagement Dr. Lu Wang, Pathology Associates, Engagement Mercedes Webster, Occupational Health, Quality Brenda Williams, BMH – Intermediate, Quality Amber Wilson, BMH – Pharmacy, Satisfaction Christine Woodard, BMH – Ambulatory, Engagement Nutrition Services Team - Beloit Health System, Engagement

Keeping patients and visitors safe by learning how to prevent falls was the purpose behind Fall Prevention Awareness Day in September at NorthPointe. The event was organized by Bringa Johnson, PT and provided information about avoiding falls. Judy Simonds, Alertline Coordinator (pictured above) hosted a table at NorthPointe during the event to share information about the AlertLine program available through Beloit Health System.

The Board of Community Against Cancer (CAC) recently presented a check for $6,500 to Beloit Cancer Center and Beloit Health System Foundation. The funds were raised by CAC and designated to assist the children of cancer patients in Beloit. Their fundraising campaign was named the “Let Them Be Little” fund.

In June of 2016, the Board of Community Against Cancer (CAC) approved the creation of the “Let Them be Little” Fund.

The purpose of this new fund is to provide special gifts or activities to children of cancer patients, who are silently impacted when a parent/caregiver is diagnosed with cancer. These children are sometimes forced to grow up too fast.

The CAC believes that if a parent/caregiver can see their child happy and smiling, it will improve the patient’s mental and emotional state.

Receiving the check are Sharon Cox, (left) Director of Beloit Cancer Center and Lara Hermann, (right) Executive Director of Beloit Health System Foundation. The Community Against Cancer Board Members pictured are Tracy Hannah, Becky Reynolds, Jamie Burkee, Karie Larson, Josette Fillbach.

Nomination forms to receive funds can be found at communityagainstcancer.org and should be returned to Beloit Health System Cancer Center, 1670 Lee Ln, Beloit, WI 53511.

The Board of Community Against Cancer will meet quarterly to review the nomination forms and all distributions will be made through Beloit Health System Foundation.

The following employees were honored last month for 25 years of service. Special thanks to all of them for their commitment on continued great work.       

Connie Alf, BH Dietary Sarah Barmore, BC Radiology Tammy Becker, BH Quality Assurance Alys Bergen, BH Ambulatory Nicola Boeck, BH Physical Therapy Rebecca Busch, BH Housekeeping JoAnn Christiansen, BH Laboratory

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Kelly Coxe, Cancer Care Rad Therapy Cosette Dawson, BH Cath Lab Juliene Ewers, BC Pediatrics Sherry Feuillerat, BC Insurance/Billing Linda Hammer, BH Laboratory Jamie Hodge, BC Convenient Care Patricia Huebschen, Quality Assurance Ronald Kodras, MD, Internal Medicine Shelley Locke, BH Pharmacy Mark Lopp, BMH Laboratory Sharon Mentele, BC Radiology Deborah Moriarty, BH Pharmacy

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Linda Pechnik, BH Vascular Therapy Kelly Reidenbach, BC Nursing Admin Andrea Richter, BH Quality Assurance Margaret Seaverson, BH Dialysis Dail Shepherd, BH Nursing Admin Sarah Starmer, BH Comm. Relations Kerri Sweeney, BH Quality Assurance Mary Tatge, BH Sleep/EEG Brenda Williams, BH Intermediate Gail Yanke, BH Dialysis Paula Yanke, BH Dialysis