October 2023 Inside Inspira

Introducing Inspira Medical Center Mannington

Last December we began the integration of Salem Medical Center, an affiliate of Inspira Health, into our health system. Since then, we’ve gained a better understanding of the needs of staff and the community in which they serve. While progress has been ongoing, over the last few months we’ve been working closely with Salem employees to ramp up operational changes that would create efficiencies and streamline the processes necessary for completing integration. Today, I’m pleased to announce that Salem’s integration is now complete and it has been renamed Inspira Medical Center Mannington, effective immediately.

We acquired Inspira Medical Center Mannington because our two organizations share the same goal of empowering healthier communities. Now, as one united health system, we’re better positioned to achieve our mission and vision for a healthier South Jersey.

While there is still some work to take place in terms of further familiarizing our Inspira Medical Center Mannington counterparts with our culture and mission, as well as getting them fully up-to-speed on certain programs and resources, we remain committed to ensuring a seamless transition.

This is a milestone moment for Inspira, and I ask that you please officially welcome our new Inspira Medical Center Mannington counterparts with open arms.

Thank you all for your support and patience as we continue our work to expand our collective team for the greater South Jersey community.

Amy Mansue President and CEO Inspira Health

New

Designated Voluntary Behavioral Health Unit at Inspira Health

In September, Inspira Health announced a new designated voluntary behavioral health unit opening soon, pending state approval. The new unit has 19 voluntary beds for adults and is supplemental to Inspira Health Center Bridgeton’s 33-bed behavioral health inpatient adult unit, which is a mix of voluntary and involuntary beds. It was designed as a short stay unit that is meant to create system efficiencies while providing safe, compassionate, quality and timely care for the community. Inspira recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the unit’s opening and is expected to create up to several dozen new clinical and administrative jobs. Inspira’s behavioral health program recently received the 2023 Momentum Award for Partnership from the Acenda Institute of Health Innovation. Launched in 2022, Momentum Awards recognize individuals and organizations that are paving the way for the future of behavioral health care delivery. The new unit cost $3.55M.

EMS and Ground Transport Team Receives an American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® Award

We are honored to share that Inspira’s EMS and Ground Transport team has received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® EMS Gold achievement award for its commitment to offering rapid and research-based care to people experiencing the most severe form of heart attacks and strokes.

Mission: Lifeline is the American Heart Association's national initiative to advance the system of care for patients with high-risk, time-sensitive disease states, such as severe heart attacks and strokes. The program helps reduce barriers to prompt treatment— starting from the moment 9-1-1 is called, to EMS transport and continuing through hospital treatment and discharge. Optimal care for heart attack and stroke patients takes coordination between the individual prehospital providers and health care systems. This recognition by the American Heart Association truly emphasizes the tireless efforts of our team, as they work diligently to achieve the best clinical outcomes. We extend our gratitude to the American Heart Association for honoring Inspira Health. Congratulations to all our EMS and Ground Transport staff for their efforts in earning the Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold recognition to help our community.

Inspira Health Foundation Spotlight

Philanthropic Projects and Initiatives

As a highly reliable organization, Inspira is committed to providing our patients with the full continuum of care … but philanthropy enables us to do more. It allows us to go above and beyond to address the health care needs of patients in our region.

Contributions to Inspira Health Foundation help create programs and services that support our patients, advance cutting-edge technology and fund facility enhancements to enrich the health and wellness of our community. Together through philanthropy, we have been able to support projects and initiatives such as these so far in 2023:

• Adult Activity Books – Restocking an assortment of activity books, coloring books and colored pencils to have when patients contact Volunteer/Guest Services requesting something to do at Inspira Medical Centers Elmer, Mullica Hill and Vineland.

• Community Impact Initiatives – Supporting Inspira’s Community Impact initiatives designed to assist our patients with access in mind—including access to healthy foods, affordable prescription medication, resources to remove controlled substances from the community and preventive health screenings. These include initiatives such as the Food Farmacy, Dispensary of Hope program, Deterra distribution and Mobile Outreach for 2023 and 2024.

• Trauma Response Nurse Recovery – Providing further education for our perinatal nurses at Inspira Medical Centers Mullica Hill and Vineland by sending them to an engaging workshop to better understand trauma through

To learn how your project or idea can be supported with Foundation funds, visit Inspira Health Foundation’s page on InspiraNet.

Be “All In” and Support Projects Like These

When you support the 2023 Employee Giving Campaign, you support the philanthropic employee-identified projects and initiatives within Inspira. Your donation helps fund employeeidentified projects like those listed above and helps improve care for our patients and community members.

Now through December 1, you can make your gift via credit card or payroll deduction. Plus, when you make your Employee Giving Campaign gift, you will receive an “ALL in!” badge tag to distinguish yourself as an Inspira Health supporter. Visit InspiraFoundation.org/Employee to learn more.

Vigi Rising Star Award

Inspira Health is dedicated to inspiring and empowering healthier communities by creating the highest quality and most desirable patient experience in the region. As such, we are continuously elevating our clinical excellence to best serve all. Today, we are proud to recognize and celebrate Inspira Medical Center Mullica Hill’s (IMCMH) Pharmacy team for being named the recipient of the 2023 Vigi Rising Star Award. The Vigi Awards, an annual awards program created by VigiLanz, a clinical surveillance company, celebrates how the vigilance of outstanding clinicians has contributed to healthier hospitals. IMCMH’s Pharmacy team is being recognized for its work on the clinical surveillance program, which has supported the department in identifying and tracking adverse drug events.

As an award winner, the IMCMH Pharmacy team will receive a donation to a charity of their choice. The team has selected Inspira Health Foundation. We send our congratulations to the Pharmacy team at Inspira Medical Center Mullica Hill for this notable honor!

31 Inspira Physicians Named 2023 Top Docs by SJ Magazine

SJ Magazine asked local health care providers to recommend which of their peers in the region they would send a family member to and nominate them as a Top Doctor. The doctors on this list, including those from Inspira, were selected due to their skill and knowledge, passion for their careers and compassion for patients.

We are happy to share that 31 Inspira Health physicians have been named 2023 Top Doctors by SJ Magazine. Covering a wide spectrum of specialties, from anesthesiology and cardiology to infectious disease and vascular surgery, these physicians bring experienced care to South Jersey's community, treating each patient with the same level of attention and compassion they would provide to a family member.

Congratulations to the Inspira physicians named SJ Magazine 2023 Top Doctors:

Anesthesiology

Glen Dragon, M.D., Robert Harowitz, M.D.

Bariatric Surgery/ Weight Loss

Christopher Bashian, D.O.

Rebecca Dawson, D.O.

Breast Surgery

Nandini Kulkarni, M.D.

Cardiology + Interventional

Cardiology

Kurt Kaulback, M.D.

Cardiology

Thomas Moccia, D.O.

Colon & Rectal Surgery

Gordon Callender, M.D.

Emergency Medicine

Andrew Trom, D.O.

Scott Wagner, M.D.

James Baird, D.O.

Family Practice

David Aderholdt, D.O.

Gastroenterology

Jeffrey Abrams, M.D.

Jennifer Copare, D.O.

Geriatrics

Rudolph DePersia, M.D.

Hospice/Palliative Care

Alyson Emmons, D.O.

Hospitalist

Charlton Olayemi, M.D.

Infectious Disease

David Galetto, M.D.

Occupational

Thomas Leeson, D.O.

Podiatry

Michael Calderone, D.P.M.

Michael Flatley, D.P.M.

Pulmonary

Gregory Breen, M.D.

Ho-Kan Cheng, M.D.

Sleep Medicine

Scott Rosenberg, M.D.

Surgery

Leon Kushnir, M.D.

Timothy Pilla, M.D.

David Lynch, M.D.

Thoracic Surgery

Charles Shieh, M.D.

Urology

Michael Bernstein, M.D.

Vascular Surgery

Holly Graves, M.D.

Timothy Pilla, M.D.

Members of the Inspira Medical Center Mullica Hill Pharmacy team.

Wellness Corner

Diabetes: Know the facts and who is at risk

By Marita Schroy, M.A., B.S.N., R.N., C.D.C.E.S.

Diabetes is a disease that affects how your body turns food into energy. There are three main types of diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes, which affects 5 - 10 percent of the population, is an immune system disorder in which the pancreatic cells, which make insulin, are destroyed. Insulin is essential to the body’s functioning because it converts sugar into energy. This type of diabetes can happen at any age but usually develops in children, teens or young adults. The people most at risk for type 1 diabetes are those who have direct family members with diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common type. Those at risk for type 2 diabetes include people who have prediabetes (high blood sugar not quite at diabetes levels); are overweight or obese; are 45 years or older; have a parent, brother or sister with type 2 diabetes; are physically active less than three times per week; have fatty liver disease; or have had diabetes when pregnant or had a baby weigh over nine pounds. People who are African American, Hispanic or Latinx, American Indian, Alaskan Native, Asian American or Pacific Islander can also be at high risk for diabetes. Lifestyle changes, including weight loss (if you are overweight), a healthy diet and regular physical activity, may prevent or delay type 2 diabetes.

Many people with type 2 diabetes have insulin resistance—when your body cannot use insulin effectively, which, in turn, causes blood sugar levels to rise. Experts believe obesity, especially having excess fat in the abdomen and around the organs, is the primary cause of insulin resistance. Exercising, losing weight, reducing stress and getting enough sleep can help decrease or reverse insulin resistance.

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that people can develop while pregnant. Risk factors include having a previous pregnancy with gestational diabetes, giving birth to a baby over nine pounds, being overweight, being 25 years or older, having family members with type 2 diabetes or having a hormonal disorder called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). This type of diabetes typically goes away after you give birth, but can increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. Your baby is also more likely to become overweight or obese as a child or teen and more at risk of developing type 2 diabetes in adulthood. Similarly to type 2 diabetes, ways to prevent gestational diabetes include losing weight (if you are overweight), eating a healthy diet and getting regular physical activity.

Diabetes education and support is available at Inspira Health. Our team includes registered dietitians and registered nurses with certifications in diabetes education who work together to help you learn to manage your diabetes. Whether you are newly diagnosed or have had diabetes for years, we are here to help. Learn more about how we can help.

Coming Soon: A New Platform for Employees

As health care professionals, our sole responsibility is caring for and healing others, but it is equally important to care for ourselves. With that in mind, it’s more important than ever for our organization to increase our resources to better serve all of you and your health—both mental and physical. We heard you when you spoke up through our Employee Engagement Survey, and we want to provide you with more up-todate services to help better meet your needs. To that end, effective November 1, Inspira Health employees will have access to CuraLinc—a free service with well-being and work-life balance resources to help keep you feeling your best. This new platform will replace Carebridge, Inspira’s current Employee Assistance Program (EAP), in providing expert guidance to help address and resolve everyday issues.

CuraLinc offers several resources and components to guide and support you and your families. Services include:

• Short-term Counseling Services: In-the-moment support from a licensed clinician 24/7/365

• Mental Health Navigator: Emotional fitness assessment and care guidance

• Textcoach® Text Therapy: Exchange text messages, voice notes and resources Monday – Friday with a licensed counselor, for up to six weeks per issue, through the Textcoach® mobile and desktop app

• Animo Digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (dCBT): Self-guided resources to improve focus, well-being and emotional fitness

• Work-Life Balance Resources

o Legal Consultation: Free, 30-minute legal consultation with a local attorney per issue, by phone or face-to-face

o Financial Expertise: Planning and consultation with a licensed financial counselor

o Identity Theft Recovery: Free consultation and tailored action plan

o Convenience Resources: Referrals for childcare, elder care, home repair, housing needs, education, pet care, adoption and so much more

• Web Portal and eConnect® Mobile App: Connects you to confidential support and offers expert, searchable content

• Virtual (Video) Counseling: Confidential, virtual appointments via desktop or mobile

• Confidentiality: Program access will be anonymous and confidential unless required by law

CuraLinc will offer training and webinars in the coming weeks to help you understand their services and how to use them to your advantage.

Great Catch of the Month

Natasha Emiliano, support service aid

Inspira Medical Center Mullica Hill Environmental Services

This Great Catch highlights the importance of consistently Paying Attention to Detail using our High Reliability tool STAR (Stop-Think-Act-Review) to ensure Safe Sleep for newborns.

Natasha Emiliano, a support service aide in Environmental Services, was working on MotherBaby at Inspira Medical Center

Mullica Hill. Paying Attention to Detail, Natasha found a mother appearing very sleepy while holding her newborn. Natasha immediately took a STAR Moment to Speak Up for Safety and notify the care team on the Mother-Baby unit.

• STOP - Natasha paused when she found a mother appearing very sleepy while holding the newborn.

• THINK - Natasha thought about the risks of unsafe sleeping.

• ACT - Natasha notified the care team that the mother was appearing very sleepy while holding the newborn.

• REVIEW - The care team on the Mother-Baby unit ensured risks to the baby were mitigated, provided education about safe sleep to the mother, shared the situation with their manager and shared the situation with the unit for awareness and shared learning.

Had Natasha not taken a STAR Moment to ensure Safe Sleep of the baby, the baby could have potentially been harmed. This is why we must be Paying Attention to Detail using our High Reliability tool STAR (Stop-Think-Act-Review) to reinforce our best practice Safe Sleep Program.

Thank you, Natasha, for Paying Attention to Detail using our High Reliability tool STAR (Stop-Think-Act-Review) and living our Inspira value of Reliability.

Speak Up for Safety Great Catch

Alexis Mullarkey, R.N. Inspira Medical Center Mullica Hill, 4th Floor West

This Great Catch highlights the importance of consistently Applying a Questioning Attitude using our High Reliability tool, Validate and Verify, to ensure safe and reliable care. The 2023 World Patient Safety Day theme, "Engaging patients for patient safety," and the 2023 slogan, "Elevate the voice of patients," are both reflected in this story.

Alexis Mullarkey, R.N., on 4 West at Inspira Medical Center Mullica Hill was providing care for a patient diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism and was started on a heparin drip upon her arrival in the emergency room. Alexis received a phone call from the patient’s daughter informing her that prior to being admitted, the patient had severe headaches and frequent episodes of vomiting.

Applying a Questioning Attitude, Alexis reviewed the patient’s chart to Validate and Verify whether a CT of the head had been ordered. Alexis promptly identified that a CT had not been ordered and took immediate action by contacting the patient's physician. She shared the daughter's concerns and advocated for a head CT. The physician, in agreement with the recommendation, ordered the CT, which subsequently revealed a bifrontal intraparenchymal hemorrhage.

This critical intervention not only exemplifies patient and family engagement but also emphasizes the importance of Applying a Questioning Attitude and Verifying information to

provide safe and reliable care. The heparin drip was promptly discontinued, and the patient was transferred to the ICU. Ultimately, the patient received a higher level of care via helicopter transfer to Cooper.

Jennifer Kittel, nurse manager on 4 West, highlighted the seamless collaboration and communication among various departments such as the ICU, cath lab/IR and CT, once the patient's head CT results were available.

Alexis's commitment to patient safety and her timely intervention ensured that the patient received the necessary and appropriate care, highlighting the importance of engaging patients, their family and continuously Applying a Questioning Attitude using our High Reliability tool Validate and Verify

Alexis, by Applying a Questioning Attitude using our High Reliability tool, Validate and Verify, you showed your commitment to the Inspira Value of Reliability. We extend our gratitude for your unwavering dedication.

Family Fun Fest is Back!

Join Inspira Health on Saturday, October 28 •11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Salem County Fairgrounds

735 Harding Hwy, Woodstown, NJ 08098

*Rain or Shine*

•Children's Costume Parade at Noon

•Meet & Treat! (just like a trunk or treat but meet with Inspira Health services)

•Festive Activities

•Birds Hall of Famer Hugh Douglas will be there to sign autographs and take photos

•Food Trucks

•Interactive Games

•Health Screenings & Wellness Information

•Music by the Billy Walton Band

•Hayrides

For more information, please visit inspirahealthnetwork.org/family-fun-fest-2023

Save the Date: Service Anniversary Celebrations

Service anniversaries are important milestones in your career. Every year, Inspira honors and thanks those celebrating anniversaries for their dedication to our organization.

If you’re reaching a service milestone in 2023, we’d like to celebrate your achievement. Please save the date for the 2023 Service Anniversary celebrations taking place this fall.

Celebration for 5-15 Years of Service

The Grove at Centerton

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Celebration for 20-50 Years of Service

The Grove at Centerton

Thursday, November 30, 2023

Inspira Health Foundation Annual Golf Tournament

Inspira Health Foundation's annual golf tournament was held on Monday, September 11, 2023 at Seaview Hotel and Golf Club. The Foundation raised more than $330,000 to help support nursing education and increase access to health care for community members. Thank you to the Foundation team for planning another successful golf tournament and congratulations on raising a record amount! See more event pictures.

GET YOUR FLU SHOT

Mid-September - November 30

In an effort to keep our patients, families and ourselves safe, Inspira Health requires that all employees receive the influenza vaccine.

A few reminders about the mandatory flu vaccine campaign:

•Receiving the influenza vaccine is a condition of employment at Inspira Health, and it has been the law in the State of New Jersey since January 2020.

o The program includes employees, students, volunteers, contracted staff and physicians working within the walls of Inspira Health.

•If your plan is to request a Medical Exemption for the 2023-2024 flu season, you must submit medical records documenting evaluation and treatment for the condition for which you are requesting exemption by October 1, 2023 No request will be reviewed without supporting documentation. Medical Exemption requests received incomplete, and/or after the deadline will not be reviewed.

•The request must be completely filled out by a medical provider (Medical Certification form may be obtained from Employee Health)

•An approved Religious Exemption from the COVID vaccine does not automatically exempt one from receiving the flu vaccine. If you have not already done so, a request for Religious Exemption from the flu vaccine must be completed separately and submitted to the HR Service Center through Oracle. Religious Exemption requests must be completed every year.

•If you will receive a vaccine at one of Inspira Health’s clinics, you must have your consent form completed prior to attending the clinic. There will be no blank consents available at the clinics. A link to the 2023 consent form will be provided in email when the Inspira Health clinic schedule is finalized.

•As in years past, we are expecting support from departmental volunteers. Most employees will have their vaccines available within their departments.

•Flu vaccines will not be administered in the Employee Health offices at Vineland or Mullica Hill.

Additional information:

•If an employee is on Leave of Absence between September and November 2023, they will need to receive or provide documentation of receipt prior to being cleared to return to work.

•You may receive your flu vaccine at any one of the following places:

o In your department: see your department “deputy”

o Urgent Care Employee Flu Vaccine Centers in East Vineland, Glassboro and Laurel Springs

o The Retail Pharmacies at Inspira Medical Centers Mullica Hill and Vineland; walk-ins are available Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., starting in mid-September

o Scheduled vaccine clinics (schedules forthcoming)

o At another place of employment

o A community pharmacy or your physician’s office

•If you receive a vaccine outside of Inspira, you must provide documentation with your name, date of the vaccination, vaccine lot number and vaccine expiration date.

LearningBoards

What is a learning board?

A learning board is a visual management of new, working and solved problems that get in the way of efficient, safe and reliable work for our team members and patients. We sometimes refer to the learning board as a “pebble board” because we each have pebbles in our shoes that slow us down, and we’d like to identify them and remove them. The learning board is typically a red, yellow and green board that is connected to or near the huddle board. Staff members are empowered to post issues that “get in the way” or could be improved or fixed to the board at any time of the day or night. Issues posted on the board are discussed at huddle. By having a learning board in our department, our team can identify issues that are causing frustration, unnecessary time, extra waste or risks to employee and patient safety, quality or experience. Staff can use the learning board to identify areas of opportunity and present ideas for innovation. Once issues are posted to the learning board, the leader and team hold accountability to resolve the pebbles and celebrate the resolution, once it’s reached. This board does not replace safety event reporting.

We should post any improvement projects we are doing on the unit here, as well (ACA action plans, committee projects, etc.).

New – red: All staff should post ideas (pebbles) here with a brief description. It’s helpful if you add your name and the date as well.

Working – yellow: Move the idea to this section once the team decides it’s something we will work on. Please add the date we start working on it for accountability.

Solved – green: The trophy case! All of our solved issues collect here. These are all the pebbles we’ve removed from our shoes and will help us have our best days at work. If the solved portion of the board gets too full, make sure to count before removing or erasing pebbles so we can see how many issues we’ve solved.

Tips:

• Anyone in the department can post to our learning board at any time of day. We all have voices and we all see opportunities for improvement.

• We must encourage each other to post things to the learning board instead of putting a band-aid on the issue. When we post to the board, we will work toward a solution to prevent the recurrence of the issue.

• You can share your ideas and help solve problems by joining project teams and conversations about how we can resolve the issues.

• Your managers and leaders still have an “open door” policy when needed, but it’s helpful to put pebbles on the board to discuss as a team and hold each other accountable.

• We may not be able to solve every issue, but we can talk about it as a team.

Example Issues Posted to Learning Boards:

• “At discharge, it takes too long to find a wheelchair.”

o Solution: The manager budgeted for more wheelchairs and the team worked to create a parking lot for wheelchairs.

• “When there is an emergency in L&D, we don’t have the supplies at the ready.”

o Solution: The team created an emergency kit with necessary supplies for L&D.

• “Empty oxygen tanks are put back in the rack with full oxygen tanks.”

o Solution: The manager budgeted for more oxygen tank holders, the team clearly identified empty, partial and full and also instituted a daily check.

• “The process for requesting supplies is too hard.”

o Solution: The team created a shared spreadsheet and a deadline for supply requests.

Discussion Questions:

How can we make it easier to remember posting to the learning board when you identify a pebble in your shoe? Here are some prompts to get your team started:

• What is one pebble in your shoe that slows you down or gets in your way of being able to do your work? Let’s post it to the learning board!

• What is one issue we can choose to work on together to improve your work and/or the care of our patients?

• Let’s celebrate all the issues we have resolved so far this year (Solved section of the board)!

• Let's set a goal for the number of issues we post to the learning board:

o Number per week or month

o Number per employee per month

o Number resolved per week or month

Do you have an item on the Solved (green) section of your learning board that you would like featured in an upcoming edition of Inside Inspira?

Please contact Katy Perez, associate project manager, Quality and Patient Safety, at PerezK@ihn.org for further information.

Share a pair to show you care!

October 1 - October 31, 2023

Donate new socks and place in the donation drop boxes located in our cafeterias. Socks will be donated to homeless shelters in our service area.

Ambulatory sites: please interoffice mail sock donations to the Food and Nutrition department at Inspira Medical Center Vineland.

Did you know socks are the most needed, but least donated, item in homeless shelters? With your donation, we can help people get back on their feet!

Bridgeton

Judy Santos and Alexandra Selleck

Vineland

Joanna Galletta and Beth Sweet

Mullica Hill

Karen Freeman and Bradee Rojas

Woodbury

Gayle Gasparon

Mannington

Raquel Alvarado and Pam Rullo

Elmer

Jenine Seserko

Ambulatory

Denise Lambrecht