Connections April 2020

One of the (many) reasons Evergreen has not only survived but thrived is our ability to adapt to, and often anticipate, changes in the world around us.

Our core principles have helped us face whatever challenges or situations have presented themselves over the years and we've done so with respect and compassion for our patients and each other. Of course, those previous challenges played out over the course of months or even years, while the Coronavirus has effectively changed our world in a matter of weeks. Still, our core principles continue to guide us well and I couldn't be prouder of how Team Evergreen has risen to the challenge of dealing with a fastmoving global pandemic quickly and willingly. A couple of weeks ago we were planning to gather for our annual Huddle. Now donning protective gear is part of our work day or even working from home if possible. But even though we may not see each other in the hallway or on the way to our parking spot on a daily basis, stories are pouring in about staff members who are going above and beyond, pulling together and doing whatever is necessary to keep our patients safe and healthy. This issue of Connections will tell some of those stories but there are many more. You might even have one of your own. If you do, please send it to EvergreenConnections via Outlook so we can share your story with the entire Evergreen family. Enjoy this issue of Connections, stay safe and keep on being awesome! - Ray Ganoe

Syringe Exchange in Buffalo has operated out of four different locations in two weeks to keep services going for people who use drugs.

Wellness Checks were an adjustment for patients, but staff were encouraged to use them as an opportunity to welcome people, thank them for coming in and make sure that they knew where they were going. This is important because so much has moved around in the last week and we've also welcomed many people for the first time who were referred by ECDOH. We're getting to spend time with people from areas and departments we don't often work in. When a good song comes on during a lull, we dance (six feet apart).

Harm Reduction staff have worked with wellness checkers to provide short term supplies to syringe exchange participants who come in without knowing hours have changed for now. * * * * *

Testing and sexual health registered nurse, Luann Bogdan, has a lot of experience caring for others. Beginning her career as a personal care aid before attending Sister’s Hospital School of Nursing, Luann has been a registered nurse for almost 36 years. In that time, she’s also raised five children and become a mother hen around Evergreen Health and Community Access Services.

You might even hear her being called Mama Lou! In our latest Team Evergreen interview, Luann talks about how important it is to not judge others and be present for people who need it the most, while still dedicating time for family and herself.

What made you think about going to Evergreen? Well, my daughter also works here. She works in IS and told me there’s a nursing position opening up at Evergreen and she said, “I told them ‘My mom would be great for this! She is hardworking and compassionate. She just loves people and she’s nonjudgmental.’ You gotta go for it!” But when I interviewed the first time, I didn’t get the position. I always believe that timing is everything. It wasn’t my time yet. So I just continued to work where I was working and nine months later, the position for testing and sexual health opened up.

I interviewed and pretty much on the spot, Helene Cacciato interviewed me said “I’m hiring you!”

She pulled me aside and said, “I can’t step on anyone’s toes but I’m going to hire you. I knew the minute I met you and you started talking, I gotta have her.” She just saw it in me, I guess!

I can feel your passion! What gives you that desire to help others? I am a mother of five, five adult children, so I’m very nurturing. But I’ve always been very nurturing, taking care of family members. Sometimes I’m maybe too much because I want to take care of everyone and they’re like, “I can do this myself.” So I need to step back but I love people. I love taking care of patients versus behind the scenes. I’d rather just take care of someone and really be there for someone. I really do love it.

Have you always had a nonjudgmental approach? I say yes, but we’re all human, we all judge to some degree. But you know what? It’s how you act on that judgment. You have to take a step back

and really put yourself in someone else’s shoes because you never know. You really don’t know anyone unless you walk in their shoes. My patients tell me that they’re very comfortable with me and I don’t judge. I’m like, “Hey, I’m not here to judge you. I can’t throw stones. I am here to help you.”

And that’s what we do here at Evergreen. I really feel that way.

Do you have a patient story you would like to share? Well, we do PrEP here also, besides our testing, and we have this young gentleman who would come here frequently for testing. He was very high risk and we kept trying to get him on PrEP. He is on his parent’s insurance and he was weary about them finding out. So we said, “Look, we’re going to call the insurance company. We’re going to get this rolling and get you started on PrEP. It doesn’t have to go to your parents, it can all be addressed to you.” I have to give a shout out to Jason Rein, our nurse practitioner, because he actually called the insurance company.

How do you help a patient open up? I do assure people because especially the first time people come in, they’re very nervous, so I just put it right out there, “Everything stays in here,” I tell them. I explain everything to them. Talk to me because that’s the only way I can explain things are if you tell me what’s going on.

You sometimes have to give news people don’t want to hear. How do you approach that? You have to read the patient. By telling someone that maybe they’re HIV positive, you just kind of ease into it and read them. It’s hard to explain. I feel like I can say, “You’re in a good place. We’re going to help you. We’re going to guide you. We’re going to take care of you. We’ll do some confirmation blood work and we will be with you every step of the way.” And I make myself available to patients.

I constantly give out my card and I truly mean it. If you need anything or you just need to talk to someone, and you need help or have any questions or concerns. Please call me. I really do mean it.

Is it hard to deal with that emotionally? It was. It’s not that it isn’t anymore. But it’s something that

you grow into a comfort zone, because I was very nervous the first time I had to tell someone they were HIV positive. It is difficult but you have to have a tough exterior to handle your own emotions.

What do you like to do when you’re not working? Obviously I love spending time with my children and my husband, Paul. He works second shift so it can be difficult. But those moments when we are together are wonderful. We have two very fun vintage cars that my husband restored: a 1969 corvette and a 1969 little British MGC. We like to take those out, obviously only in the nice weather because those don’t ever see snow. My husband does all the maintenance and restoration. He’s a jack-of-all-trades. I got a good one! And he’s been very loving and accepting of my children. He never had children. He has embraced my children.

That’s wonderful. How did you and your husband meet? We met at a car show. You know what it was, the thing that really brought us together was my twin brother restored our dad’s MG52 and

he was debuting it at this car show. Our dad had passed away 21 years earlier. Paul disclosed to me, “I noticed you walking around.” I was with my sister and I said, “You noticed me? Not my sister?” and he said, “No, I noticed you.” He said he didn’t know who I was at the time and then I walked over to my brother and he goes “That’s his sister!” Unbeknownst to us, we went to high school together!

It’s so nice to hear those stories because dating in mid-life can be hard. It is hard! I was done before I met him and I was happy. I had a little cute apartment in North Buffalo near the kids and I loved my life. But I love it even better now.

I heard you’re going on vacation soon. Are you excited to decompress in Florida? Absolutely.

We literally just chill on the beach the whole week. We go out to dinner every night and we are just very low key. There’s nothing really to do. We found a cute little Airbnb six houses in from the beach. We walk all around. It’s so nice. There’s always live music and we can walk on the beach. I don’t need a lot. I like nice things, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t require a lot in my life. It’s obviously, corny and cliché, but I want good health, I want love, I want happiness. I love my peace. Peace love and happiness, that’s what I’m about. I don’t require a lot in my life. I’m just grateful that I’m standing upright every morning and I get up and I can come to work.

It’s nice to appreciate the little things because there’s so much that other people don’t have. So true! I definitely feel very blessed.

Thank you, Luann, for spreading peace, love and happiness around Evergreen. We see you!

Click HERE to see more TeamEvergreen profiles on the agency blog.

Top: Coco is not a big fan of the laptop since it means she can’t sit on my lap, hence why she is refusing to look at me in the picture. And then just a shot of my lazy coworkers, Coco and her best friend Beans!

- Dana McHale, quality assistant * * * * * Bottom left: Zoom meeting screens have become a familiar sight to Evergreen staff. Here's HR checking in. * * * * * Bottom right: Kudos to our everyday hero Laurie Matson!

When Buffalo’s wellness check-in desk needed medical equipment, Laurie took the initiative to drive up essential equipment needed to screen patients and employees for symptoms related to COVID-19. She met with Grant Rodgers halfway for a trade-off. We're grateful for #TeamEvergreen pulling together to keep us all healthy!

I wanted to share something that I feel privileged to witness. During this time of uncertainty and constant change, the teams from primary & specialty care have pulled together incredibly. We swiftly moved testing & sexual Health to the 2nd floor in order to make room for a designated area for sick patients. This was a complete workflow change with minimal notice.

Everyone pulled together to make it happen! We are constantly assessing schedules and looking for ways to improve care with the knowledge and guidance we have by our governing authorities. Everyone has been flexible and receptive to change. I have also seen staff from other areas become willing to step out of their usual role to jump in and support wherever they possibly can. This has been quite humbling to see. People reaching out to see how they can help, this is in my opinion, the true Evergreen spirit! IT and information systems have been spread very thin to meet everyone’s needs and have been amazing the entire way! Our communications team has been shifting priorities to ensure we are keeping staff updated in a mindful way which is a difficult balance! Facilities has been working tirelessly to keep our buildings as clean as they possibly can! So many people to thank for all that they have done!

- Melissa Gulino

Mark your calendar! The submission

If you were unable to view Ray’s Town Hall presentation, or if you have additional questions, you can submit them via Outlook at COVID19Questions. A video of the presentation along with a transcript of the questions and answers will be distributed soon.

In addition to Ray’s daily email messages, you can find up to date information about how Evergreen is dealing with the situation by logging in to the ADP portal or checking the agency website.

deadline for the May 2020 issue of Connections is Friday, April 17.

Be sure to get your content in before the deadline to guarantee placement.

Top: Andy Kiener bypasses the ticketing system to ask IT for help with his monitor. Andy also reports that "every time the Jabber alert goes off, my co-worker gives me a dirty look!" Bottom: Evergreen Health board member Jan Barrett sent delicious cupcakes to the agency in appreciation for maintaining services to patients and the community. Thank you for the sweet surprise, Jan! * * * * *

Birthdays Eva Baez......................................................... April 1 Rosemary Roche........................................ April 3 Gideon Belin................................................. April 5 Heidi Buesink.............................................. April 6 Dale Kingston.............................................. April 7 Laurie Matson............................................. April 7 Paula Brudo-Jurek.................................... April 8 Stephanie Maynard................................. April 9 Julie Rapp...................................................... April 9 Ebony Burroughs...................................... April 10 Roy Golia........................................................ April 10 Kelly Craig.................................................... April 11 Jessica Glaser.............................................. April 12 Ashleigh Brown......................................... April 13 Renee Hartson............................................ April 13 Michele Messina........................................ April 14 John Argo...................................................... April 17 Maria LoTempio......................................... April 17 Elise Robinson............................................ April 19 Melissa Talbett........................................... April 19 Kristen Bechdel.......................................... April 19 Andrea Ace.................................................. April 21 Kimberly Harding..................................... April 23 Jorge Heredia.............................................. April 23 Elijah Jimerson........................................... April 25 Marielena Camacho................................ April 25 Alex McGann............................................... April 25 Ashleigh Worthy....................................... April 25 Jamie Keuck................................................. April 29 Khristopher Decker................................. April 29 Jeffrey Caliano........................................... April 29 Kaily Golba................................................... April 29 Carinne Medley......................................... April 29 Cherrelle King............................................ April 30

Anniversaries Victoria Godfrey..........................................1 Year Dabrielle Wright..........................................1 Year Alexandria Aiello.......................................1 Year Kanwalnain Bawa......................................1 Year Tiffany McCloskey.....................................1 Year Heather Wilson............................................1 Year Kristine Spada..............................................1 Year Thomas Foels................................................1 Year Latisha Maxwell...........................................1 Year Alecia Klein....................................................2 Years Gaia Oliver......................................................2 Years Josephine Rivera.........................................2 Years Eva Baez...........................................................2 Years Gideon Belin...................................................2 Years Stefanie Warnick.........................................2 Years Jenna Gallitto................................................2 Years

Annual Trainings Roll Out It’s that time of year again! Annual training time is quickly approaching. The first round of annual trainings will be available on Evergreen University in mid-April so be sure to give yourself enough time to complete the required trainings. There will be additional email communications in the next few weeks, so keep your eyes open!

Carinne Medley...........................................3 Years Ryan Trubits..................................................3 Years Gloria Kornowski........................................3 Years Michael Blasdell...........................................4 Years Charles Hunt..................................................4 Years Tamara Miller...............................................4 Years Julie Falk..........................................................6 Years Ian Schunk......................................................6 Years Kimberly Brown..........................................6 Years Michael Lee....................................................7 Years

If you have any questions, please contact Jocelyn Leising.

Katherine Kawa...........................................7 Years Jacquelyn Dixon..........................................8 Years Matthew John Pasquarella.....................17 Years Toni Hernandez...........................................24 Years

Recognizing Excellent Work

Publisher/Layout 1.

Dial extension 2222.

2. Follow the prompt to record the Code Blue or Mr. Webber and say the exact location and building of the incident.

3. Hang up your phone. This will prompt your message to be broadcast to all Evergreen locations.

John Carocci

Copy Editor Melissa Meyer

Contributors Jocelyn Leising Shakiya Bell Melissa Meyer

4. The Code Blue team and Security will respond to the incident.

at Evergreen

You'll have 30 seconds to record your message. If you're not done in 30 seconds, you'll be cut off and your message will be automatically broadcast. It's imperative that you say the location and building in your message: “Code Blue in the men’s lobby bathroom in the Elmwood building” or “Could Mr. Webber please come to the Mathews building counselor room?.” The Code Blue/ Mr. Webber Softkey has been removed from all phones.

Connections is the monthly newsletter for employees and Board members of Evergreen Health and its affilliates, the Pride Center of Western New York and Community Access Services. Please send us your story ideas, photos, feedback or just a friendly hello at Evergreen Connections via Outlook.

Top left: Andi Ace and Jamie Major have a big (little) fan! Top right: Miss Evie relaxes with dad in a little (big) chair. Thank you Tess Lane for the great photos! Left: Maggie Barnett with her new office assistant, Charlotte.