HR Newsletter - Spring 2023 Edition 3

COVID PROTOCOL UPDATES

NEW TESTING PROCESS FOR TEAM MEMBERS

• Effective Monday, March 6, 2023, CARTI will no longer require PCR testing for all respiratory illnesses.

• Testing with a rapid test will be acceptable and may be completed when symptoms begin but will likely require repeat testing within 24 hours if symptomatic.

• You will need to send a picture of the test to the Occupational Health (OH) phone (501.414.3047) with test result, id badge, and the date written on a piece of paper. Again, OH will guide you through this process.

• Please keep a testing kit available at home as needed and we will replace with a test kit when you return to work.

• You will still be required to notify Occupational Health when you have symptoms at 501.414.3047 before coming to work. The reporting process has not changed.

QUARANTINE CHANGES FOR TEAM MEMBERS

• Team members who have a positive family member will no longer be required to quarantine if they are asymptomatic.

• The exposure must still be reported to Occupational Health at 501.414.3047.

• Home testing will be required on days 3 and 5 as guided by Occupational Health Team.

• Again, please keep testing kits available at home and these will be replaced as needed.

EXPECTED QUESTIONS

What other protocol changes are coming? The Covid Protocol Committee is meeting regularly to discuss the transition process and will be announcing any changes and timelines as decisions are made.

What about mask requirements? A decision has not been made regarding masks at this time as we are waiting on more guidance from the CDC.

Will the COVID Vaccination still be required? Yes, the Mandatory COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccination and Exemption processes will remain in effect as this is very important step to keep our patients safe.

What changes will be made for patients? We are continuing to work through these questions and will have more information soon, but no changes as of now.

Again, please feel free to reach out with questions and keep an eye out for important updatesh.

SYMPTOMS

Please notify Occupational Health if you have a known or suspected exposure, especially if that person lives in your home. Please notify Occupational Health if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

Scratchy or Sore Throat

Loss of Voice or Hoarse

Fever

Chills

Night Sweats

Cough

Congestion

Runny Nose

Allergy Type Symptoms

Body Aches

Fatigue

Headache

Dizziness

Nausea

Vomiting

Diarrhea

This list is not all inclusive, if you have a symptom that changes how you normally feel, please call Occupational Health.

CARTI CLASSIFIED ADS

Did you know about our Classified Ads page on CARTINet? This feature will allow you to create and browse ads/inquiries within CARTI.

Plan on doing some spring cleaning? Bound to find something you no longer need, but that could still be useful to someone else? Post it on our Classified Ads page so that interested parties can contact you directly. Please remember to use your personal contact information in postings and please remove your postings after 30 days.

CARTI INCLUSION COUNCIL

LISTEN | LEARN | PROPOSE

The CARTI Inclusion Council’s purpose is to recognize and embrace the diversity at CARTI while educating and advocating towards inclusion to build a culture that intentionally values the uniqueness of our team members and those we serve.

Key Terms in Inclusion

DIVERSITY

The variety of traits, seen and unseen, in a community.

INCLUSION

The practice or policy of including and integrating all people in the group

ACCESS

Opportunity to fully participate.

BELONGINGNESS

The feeling associated with being included and adding value.

EQUITY

State of being equal; allocating resources and opportunities as needed to create equal outcomes.

EQUALITY

Giving everyone the same resources; fair and impartial.

Find more information about the Inclusion Council on the CARTInet.

DAISY AWARD

SARAH PASSMORE

We were so excited to award our third-ever DAISY Award here at CARTI! SARAH PASSMORE IS DESCRIBED AS A SPECIAL NURSE WITH A CONTAGIOUSLY POSITIVE ATTITUDE. She comes in each day with a smile, a warm heart, and big eyes. She has shown to be so empathetic while helping patients navigate one of the most stressful and challenging moments of their lives. SHE MAKES HER PATIENTS FEEL AT HOME.

LISA LONGINOTTI

Lisa was our fourth Daisy award recipient. Lisa’s knowledge of oncology is incredibly vast and her love and compassion for our patients is equally as big. In the past year she has taken new nurses under her wing and put in countless hours to ensure that they feel welcome and receive the knowledge and skills to take care of our patients with compassion and pride.

THERE IS NEVER A DOUBT IN THE 35 YEARS THAT LISA LONGINOTTI HAS BEEN AT CARTI, THAT SHE IS DESERVING OF SUCH AN AMAZING HONOR. Congratulations Lisa on being this quarters DAISY honoree.

NOMINATE

THE NEXT DAISY AWARD WINNER

Each quarter, CARTI will recognize a DAISY honoree. One team and one leader will also be recognized annually during the Nursing Excellence Awards. For more details on the next nomination round please contact Amy Ehrhardt at 501.906.3099

SARAH PASSMORE, RN

LISA LONGINOTTI, RN

CARTI INFORMATION

NURSE EXCELLENCE AWARDS

Nominations are open for staff to nominate a nurse for one of three categories:

• Best Supporting Nurse/CARTI Spirit, Nurse Leader, Nurse of the Year. Nominations will close April 19.

• To find the Nurse Excellence Award Criteria, search it on CARTInet.

• Ready to nominate someone? Scan the QR code to fill out thenomination form.

2023 ARKANSAS COMPASSIONATE NURSE AND NURSE EDUCATOR NOMINEES

We are excited to share that once again three of our outstanding nurses have been nominated for recognition.

2023

Sherri Horton, RN

Lynn Richardson, RN

WORK ANNIVERSARIES

June 14 is a day that could be significant to people for many reasons. It is Flag Day and National Shortcake Day! Maybe it is your mom’s birthday. Maybe it was the day that you stepped through the threshold of your first home. Maybe it was the day that your company went live with new software or opened a new location. For me, it was my first day at CARTI. It is my work anniversary.

It is a date that I do and will continue to look forward to every year. It is one reminder of why I come to work every day. It signifies my loyalty to the missions that drive CARTI. You dedicate a third of your life to your company and that should be celebrated, by you, your team, and your leadership. Work anniversaries remind the company and the employee about what is important: accomplished goals, strong team development, meaningful contributions, and realization that your people and purpose is what sets you apart. Even the simplest of acknowledgements of work anniversaries remind employees that their company appreciates and sees them.

On CARTINet, under the Team Members tab, there is a page that spotlights our teams’ work anniversaries: CARTIversaries I encourage each of you to take a moment each month to see who you know on that list. Send them a quick email or text. Leaders, make note of when your team members’ anniversaries are and acknowledge them. You never know the impact that you’re making. CARTI is what it is because of the people that serve our patients and our community. Be proud of yourselves and celebrate it.

- Sunny Worthington

2023 OUTSTANDING NURSE EDUCATOR NOMINEE

Lynda Jo Palmer, BaEd, Rn, NPD-BC

COMPASSIONATE NURSE NOMINEES

CARTI MOUNTAIN HOME

In the 1980s, the CEO of CARTI at the time, worked with the Baxter Regional Medical Center team to provide radiation care to patients in northern Arkansas and southern Missouri. In 1989, CARTI Mountain Home officially opened its doors, becoming the third CARTI location after the St. Vincent campus and Searcy.

The Mountain Home treatment facility started with Dr. Gary Wells, Kelly Davidson (RN), Katrina Clements (office supervisor and scheduler), Susan Lyon (receptionist), Kay McHughes (therapist and dosimetrist), and Nadra Woods (therapist). Doug Tanner was our first full-time dosimetrist. Since then, the team has steadily grown. Our patients have been served by Gene Sadowski (therapist), Jackie Tanner (therapist), Susie Engleman (therapist) and Darrel Wayne Martin (therapist). Our current team includes Dr. Kristi Gast, Dan Ryan (dosimetrist), Pam Tornquist (LPN), Ron Martin (RN), Sheila Curtis (office administrator), Stephanie Davis-Osborne (therapist), Rachel Luther (therapist), Robin Horton (therapist), Stacie Jones (therapist) and Sarah Talley (PSS).

Mountain Home has positively shaped the lives of our patients. It’s also been at the heart of many of our employees’ memories. Jim Beaty would drive up on Monday and stay in a hotel until Saturday morning to provide engineering support for the center’s first six months. The engineering department designed and built the first computer-operated conventional simulator, one of the first in the field, with programming written by Larry Berkley, CARTI’s head of physics. A patient, who happened to be a Justice of the Peace, married Doug and Jackie Tanner in the lobby.

Mountain Home will always be special to CARTI. To our team, please know we are proud of you and will miss you. You have saved many lives in this community and the region. On behalf of the entire CARTI family, thank you for your hard work and tireless dedication to our patients. As CARTI Mountain Home closes its doors we know the newly constructed Highlands Oncology will serve many patients in northern Arkansas well.

From left to right: Robin Horton, Stephanie Davis-Osborne, Kelly Davidson, Katrina Clements, Rachel Luther and Sheila Curtis.

Standing (L to R) Katrina Clements, Sheila Curtis, Kelly Davidson, Dan Ryan, Stacie Jones, Pam Tornquist. Sitting (L to R) Stephanie Davis-Osborne, Dr Gary Wells, Robin Horton and Rachel Luther.

Stephanie Davis-Osbourne, Rachel Luther, Robin Horton and Stacie Jones

CARTI FOUNDATION

THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 6 - 8:30 P.M.

To purchase tickets or to volunteer for the event, please go to CARTI.com or contact Michaela Johnson, MDJohnson@CARTI.com or 501.660.7616

Tour de Rock

Join the CARTI Foundation for the inaugural CARTI Salute! a delightful evening of progressive wine and food pairings in the beautiful gardens of the CARTI Cancer Center in Little Rock. Featuring wines from different regions of the world - Northern California, Australia/New Zealand and South America - accompanied by an authentic dish prepared by local celebrity chefs. All proceeds from Salute will support CARTI’s Patient Assistance Program.

Tickets are $100 each and Patron tickets are $250 each. *Tickets are limited.

We are looking for volunteers to help make this event a success. All volunteers will receive a Salute! volunteer t-shirt.

Help Celebrate 20 years of Tour de Rock! Save the date and plan to join us for the 20th annual Tour de Rock, on Saturday, June 3. Ride or volunteer with us to make a difference for those fighting cancer.

Sign up using the QR code or go to https://carti.ejoinme.org/TDR2023

BECOME A HERO OF HOPE FOR CARTI PATIENTS

No one chooses cancer, but when they choose CARTI, they are choosing you. You are their comfort in the storm, their Hero of Hope by giving of your time, skills and compassion.

The FY24 CARTI Team Giving campaign is one more way you can make a different. This campaign gives you a unique opportunity to support CARTI in ways that are most meaningful to you.

The campaign will kick-off in April and payroll deductions will begin with the first pay period in July 2023.

In the FY22 campaign, our team members contributed more than $100,000. This generosity has translated into patient assistance, clinic support, leading-edge equipment, and more. Deductions for the FY22 campaign will end with the last pay period this coming June.

We know you work hard for our patients. Supporting the annual Team Giving campaign takes your commitment beyond CARTI’s walls and meets our patients’ needs where they are. We hope you will consider supporting the new campaign.

If you have any questions about CARTI’s Patient Assistance Program or other ways your gift will make an impact, call the CARTI Foundation at ext. 8813 or email Meredith.Hale@CARTI.com.

The CARTI Job Shadowing program allows students to observe clinical and/or non-clinical staff for education and development purposes. This experience allows the student to follow and observe a healthcare professional while they carry out their responsibilities at CARTI. Job shadowing learning sessions will be scheduled for individuals only, not groups. Students are required to have COVID-19 vaccinations for job shadowing.

If you hear from any students that may be interested in a job shadowing opportunity at CARTI, please direct them to the Careers Page of CARTI.com where they can find an application form.

For more information, please contact Katie Swearingen at Katie.Swearingen@CARTI.com or 501.296.3421.

JOB SHADOWS ENGAGEMENT SURVEYS

We are happy to inform you that we have sent out our engagement survey, and you can fill It out April 3rd-April 14th. We want to hear from you! If you do not receive a survey email from Gallup please let HR know as soon as possible.

For more information, please contact Katie Swearingen at 501.296.3421 or Katie.Swearingen@CARTI.com

CARTI SURGERY CENTER

When the CARTI Surgery Center opens soon, it will become the only cancer-focused surgery center in Arkansas – and one of few in the nation. It will provide a space for many patients to continue their cancer journey without having to leave CARTI or enter a hospital setting.

This leading-edge surgery center will be equipped with advanced technology and innovative operating rooms over 57,000 square feet. The facility features:

• 8 private rooms

• 12 recovery rooms

• 14 pre-op and post-op rooms

• 3 procedure rooms

• 6 large operating rooms

• Minimally invasive surgical robots

Have a look at our new and first CARTI Surgery Center staff members! These individuals are helping pave the way for others to join in the near future.

CARTI UROLOGY EXPANDING

CARTI’s urology department offers comprehensive urology services for men and women. With the most advanced technologies and treatments available, CARTI’s specialists treat urological conditions including: HPV; stones of the ureter, kidney and genitourinary; prostate, impotence and erectile dysfunction; Peyronie’s Disease; hernia; epididymitis; orchitis; gout; fertility issues and other conditions of the urinary system. Additionally, in conjunction with CARTI’s team of expert cancer specialists, they treat cancer-related conditions of the bladder, testicles, kidney and prostate.

WELCOME!

• Dr. John Brizzolara, Urologist, will join us in May.

• Toronsa Simpson, Urology APRN, joined us in March.

DAVID C. JACKS, MD JOHN BRIZZOLARA, MD TORONSA SIMPSON, APRN

CARTI TORNADO RESPONSE

The safety and well-being of our team members is of utmost importance, and we are here for you. We would like to identify any team members that may have been impacted and have needs because of this storm. If you have needs, please take a moment to complete the two-question survey below. We will utilize the results of this survey to identify how CARTI may provide assistance. We will be monitoring all identified needs real time and will be following up with you individually.

Many of you all have reached out to see how you can help our CARTI family in this time of recovery after the damaging tornadoes. THANK YOU for your support and willingness to help your fellow team members. WE HAVE SET UP A PAGE ON CARTINET FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WOULD LIKE TO OFFER DONATIONS (FOOD, CLOTHING, HOUSEHOLD ITEMS). If you are able to donate anything to help our team members through the tornado recovery process, please post the assistance you can provide in the “Tornado Assistance” forum on the Classifieds Ads page. You can “Post New Message” to this form and complete the information. Please be sure to include your preferred contact information in the post. Team Members who need assistance can search the posts and respond directly with the individual posting the donation via the preferred contact information.

Scan this QR code to complete the survey:

WELCOME

SHYANN RENFROE, MD Breast Imaging Specialist The Breast Center at Pine Bluff

JOHN BRIZZOLARA, MD Urologist CARTI Urology

KRISTOPHER MAGNUSON, MD Anesthesiologist CARTI Surgery Center

CARTI HAPPENINGS

CARTI has been chosen as one of eight healthcare systems to take part in 5-year federally funded grant program worth $750,000. The program aims to enhance immunization rates in patients with cancer and blood disorders. The grant is provided by the CDC and administered by CMSS, who partnered with the American Society Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

ASCO will handle the project activities, which will include quality training, clinical guidance, professional education, and patient education. The first project activity is participation in ASCO’s Quality Training Program (QTP), a six-month training course that focuses on quality improvement methodologies, education pertaining to project goals, and coaching support throughout the project. The CARTI team’s primary objective will be to capture vaccination status.

The CARTI QTP team members include Dr. Sam Makhoul (Physician Champion), Catherine Smith (Program Manager), Traci Niece (Interim Senior Director of Quality, Safety and Risk), and Amy Ehrhardt (AVP, Nursing). On January 10, 2023, the CARTI group traveled to Alexandria, VA for the first onsite Quality Training Program at the ASCO headquarters.

To learn more scan the QR code

Do you have ideas for improvement involving the patient experience, team member experience, or other? Submit your ideas in our Idea Bank on the Intranet.

Do you want to submit something into the next newsletter? Send your submissions to Michelle.Odom@CARTI.com.