Excela Insight 1/28/2021

January 28, 2021 Latrobe Area Hospital Aid Society Donation Page 2 Excela Westmoreland Hospital Auxiliary Donation Page 2 Compliment to Excela Health Staff Page 3 Grab and Go Meals Now Available at Westmoreland Hospital Page 4 Employee Engagement Page 4 New Faces Page 5

Volume 4 Issue 02 Stay Up-to-Date on COVID-19 Information Vaccine Information: Public Information We know that everyone is anxious to receive the vaccine, but based on current supply we are unable to make any additional appointments or place individuals on a waiting list. Individuals in the 1A group, please check the public Excela Health website here.

Internal Information For internal information please reference the COVID-19 information page on the Intranet here. The latest information can also be found in COVID-19 Fast Facts.

Updated Visitor Policy: Based on the latest COVID-19 data, as of January 27, 2021 Excela Health will allow limited visiting for patients in our inpatient nursing units. Read the full policy here.

Dr. Michael Szwerc Interviewed on ‘In Touch with Eric O’Brien’

Michael Szwerc, MD, Excela Health Thoracic Surgery, talks with show host Barry Banker about the Excela Health Advanced Lung Center and the services available to the community. The radio interview aired on Broadcast Communications, Inc channels.

Meet Dr. Brian Lace

Meet Latrobe native, Brian Lace, MD, Excela Health Thoracic Surgery. “I chose thoracic surgery because it’s a field that offered me the opportunity to take care of both patients with cancer as well as patients with benign disease of the lungs and esophagus” Learn more here

Listen to the interview here

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In the News Western Pa. Hospitals Struggle to Minimize Waste of COVID-19 Vaccine Doses “Excela Health received its first shipment of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine Dec. 17. It received 975 doses for each of its three hospitals — Westmoreland in Greensburg, Frick in Mount Pleasant and Latrobe.”

Read more.

Westmoreland County Vaccine Plan Remains Shot in the Dark for Now ““Vaccinating this large group will require a multifaceted effort with a great deal of cooperation between city, county, health systems and other entities. We look forward to working together with these groups to ensure that the citizens of Westmoreland County are protected against COVID-19,” Dr. Carol Fox said.”

Read more.

Pandemic Exposes Weakness in Pa. Counties Without Health Departments, Like Westmoreland “Dr. Carol Fox, chief medical officer, and her staff have held regular conference calls with first responders and emergency management officials to coordinate local resources. Fox also has regularly spoken publicly to warn of the pandemic's local danger.”

Read more.

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Latrobe Area Hospital Aid Society Donation The Latrobe Area Hospital Aid Society (LAHAS) recently made a $10,000 donation to the Latrobe Area Hospital Charitable Foundation for the purchase of five dinemaps at Latrobe Hospital. A dinemap is a portable work station which helps nurses and other clinical partners conveniently take blood pressure, pulse rate, temperature and oxygen levels. On hand for the check presentation (left to right) LAHAS President, Nancy McKinnon; LAHAS Treasurer, Earlene Sano; Excela Health Chief Development Officer, Albert Novak; and Excela Latrobe Hospital Vice President Patient Care Services, Maryann Singley.

Excela Westmoreland Hospital Auxiliary Donation

The Excela Westmoreland Hospital Auxiliary recently made a $10,000 donation to the Westmoreland Frick Hospital Foundation to benefit Excela Health Home Care & Hospice. The monies will benefit educational materials for families and the creation of support/care packages for family members, items that may be needed by family members when caring for loved ones. On hand for the check presentation (left to right) Excela Westmoreland Hospital Auxiliary President, Darlene Delaini; Excela Health Home Care & Hospice Manager, Jennifer Faris; and Excela Health Chief Development Officer, Albert J. Novak.

Get Moving with Excela Health MoveSpring is a fun, easy-to-use platform where employees can compete among each other through daily, weekly and monthly challenges. Challenges can be set at a department level or compete against all of Excela Health. MoveSpring is compatible with 90% of the consumer wearable device market including Fitbit, Apple Watch, Garmin and more. The app is available on IOS and Android devices. Sign up by going to app.movespring.com, and use the company code ‘Excela’.

For any questions please contact the Well-Being Center at wellbeingcenter@excelahealth.org.

Compliment to Excela Health Staff

In the News

Excela Health received the following note from a community health care worker who recently received their vaccine Frick Hospitals COVID-19 vaccine clinic at Frick Hospital: “Just wanted to send a note of thanks to all of the staff who are working to get those of us in the surrounding medical community vaccinated. I had my first injection this past Saturday morning and i was very impressed with the entire process. I have been working in the Outpatient Physical Therapy world for the past 33 years and I have managed for 30 of those years and I can say that your team was well coordinated and at peak working order that day. I congratulate your team on the fine work and you are all greatly appreciated.

I also want to commend your IT department for the set-up and ease of navigation in the registration process for the vaccination appointment. It was great that my second injection was automatically scheduled and also a wise choice on your part to make those of us registering to commit to the time and date for a second injection prior to being confirmed.

WELL DONE! All aspects of the process were VERY well carried out. There are several other health care facilities in western PA who should learn from your approach to this historical event in our area.

I cannot thank you enough for all that you have done for those of us in the surrounding health care community.

Excela Health Seeing Fewer COVID-19 Hospitalizations, Though Number Remains High “Hospitalizations of COVID-19 patients at Excela Health appear to have leveled off, but the overall total number still remains high, according to Dr. Carol Fox, chief medical officer.”

Read more.

Study: U.S. COVID-19 Patients Face More Mental Health Issues; Excela Health Bracing for Uptick “George Mizikar, behavioral health services director for Excela Health, said he expects to see an uptick in mental health issues now that Westmoreland County is seeing the same type of infection spikes as other areas.”

Read more.

Thank you again and I pray for continued health to all of your staff.”

Upcoming Virtual Job Fair Tell friends and family to start their career with Excela Health! The Excela Health Talent Acquisition team is hosting two virtual job fairs on Wednesday, February 3 on Indeed.

To join the Operating Room Registered Nurse and Surgical Technician session, click here.

To join the Registered Nurse and Nursing Assistant session, click here.

Excela Health Mall Walkers Kicks Off 10th Year

Sign up to have Excela Health Mall Walkers emails sent to you here.

SARY IVER 1 0TH ANN

Mall Walkers

In Partnership with Westmoreland Mall

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Employee Engagement Tobacco Free Policy Update The strengthened tobacco free policy went into effect on November 19. Since then great feedback has been received about the update. Questions about the new policy can still be submitted here, and are annonymous. View previously answered questions here. As a reminder, staff are still permitted breaks, but the use of tobacco during their work shift, including breaks, will be subject to progressive discipline through the Corrective Action Policy #63. All staff must be sure that the odor of tobacco is not present on their breath and/or clothing prior to starting their work shift and during their work shift.

Meet One-On-One with a Fidelity Retirement Planner With the stress of the pandemic, you may be feeling uncertain about many things, including your finances. Fidelity is here to help you and is only a click or a phone call away.

Fidelity is hosting complimentary one-on-one consultations with a retirement planner. Appointments are available February 13 and 14. Schedule your appointment online today or call Fidelity at 1-800-642-7131.

W2 Documents Now Available on UltiPro For those that have elected to receive their W2 electronically, they are now available on UltiPro. To access: Log in to UltiPro Go to the ‘pay’ section Select ‘W2’.

Grab and Go Meals Now Available at Westmoreland Hospital Try the new grab and go meals at the Side Street Café at Westmoreland Hospital! The menu variety includes selections such as sliced roasted turkey with cornbread stuffing, gravy and a side of buttery corn nibblets, and more. All meals are priced just under five dollars and are presented in individual heat and serve containers so everyone can enjoy their favorites.

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Kudos & Recognition Thank You Laurel Surgical Center Staff “I am really impressed with Dr. Johns and the nursing and support staff at the center. Everyone that I had contact with was so super sweet, upbeat and helpful.

I would definitely use this center again if needed.”

Department/Service Line Recognitions January 1/24 to 1/30- National CRNA Week February 2/1 to 2/7- PeriAnesthesia Nurse Awareness Week 2/14 to 2/20- Cardiovascular Professionals Week 2/18- Critical Care Nurses Day Want to have your department/service line recognized?

Click here to submit information.

Share Your Story Have something that you would like to share with the Excela Insight staff for future editions? Email information to insight@excelahealth.org

New Faces Latrobe Hospital

Home Care & Hospice

Neurology/Joint Works Brittaney Tinkey, Technical Partner Nursing Pool Alleysha Hauser, Technical Partner Julie Kucherer, Technical Partner Mia Lynn, Technical Partner Progressive Cardiac Unit Sarah Washabaugh, Technical Partner

Home Care Brandy Bruno, Certified Nursing Assistant Physical Therapy Stacey Donahue, Physical Therapist Assistant

Westmoreland Hospital Accounting/Finance Patrick Sior, Accounting Clerk Inpatient Physcial Therapy Sarah Benson, Speech Pathologist Laboratory Services Karen Saula-Baranick, Medical Secretary Medical Surgical Unit 3D/3E Katrina Davis, Technical Partner Robert Hammond, Technical Partner Gabriella Scherff, Technical Partner PCU 1D Deanna Smail, LPN, IV Certified

EHMG Cardio Thoracic Surgery Mitsugu Ogawa, MD Family Medicine Excela Square Frick Family Medicine Christina Ambrisco, LPN Weldon Family Medicine Amanda Timko, Office Supervisor General Surgery Greensburg Hannah Sheffler, Patient Services Associate Neurology Greensburg Krista Dansak, Patient Services Associate Neurosurgery Excela Square at Latrobe Karen Cribbs, Patient Services Associate Pulmonology Westmoreland Hospital Anastasia Sokolova, LPN

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