Back in the days when Evergreen was AIDS Community Services, making a good first impression was easy. Our one office, on West Tupper Street, had a front door and a switchboard. That’s it. No website, no email, no social media accounts on Facebook or Twitter. The face that greeted you at the front door or the voice that answered the phone set the tone for a patient’s experience with the agency. A Things are more complex today. A good first impression is just as important as ever, but it could come from a variety of places and in a variety of ways. A new patient may interact with several staff members before getting to where they need to be, and each interaction is equally important to the process of helping patients feel welcomed, respected and cared for. A Charles Hunt is a Front Desk Operator in Primary & Specialty Care. Charles answers phone calls, greets patients and assists them with wayfinding. He schedules appointments for returning patients, and arranges transportation or interpretation services if needed. “I enjoy helping people,” said Charles. “Sometimes they don’t know what to do or where to get the assistance they need”. A Charles goes above and beyond when it comes to helping our patients. “Last winter a patient came in wearing just a hoodie,” he recalled. “He said he didn’t have a winter coat.” Charles brought in an extra coat and a pair gloves, and when the patient returned a few days later, Charles gave him the warm clothes. That’s the caring, generous spirit of #TeamEvergreen! A “I really enjoy working at Evergreen,” he said. “The work environment is great. The warm, friendly atmosphere makes it a great place to work.” A Charles was born and raised in Buffalo. “I went to Hutch Tech High School, ECC and then UB,” he said. “I was also in the army, and I worked at ECMC for 22 years before coming to Evergreen”. Charles is married “with two beautiful daughters and four wonderful step-children”. He loves to travel, golf and play guitar. Evergreen is fortunate to have Charles making great first impressions for us every day!
Connections
If you asked someone what they know about health care compliance, most people would probably mention HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. While it’s true that HIPAA is, along with other federal and state laws, a large part of healthcare compliance here at Evergreen, our compliance program is more than just following the rules. It’s also about creating a culture of compliance where everyone understands their responsibilities. This article will help you understand who’s on the Evergreen Compliance team as well as your role as a team member.
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Ultimate responsibility for Evergreen’s compliance program rests with the Association’s Board of Trustees. Through their adherence to the Corporate Compliance Plan along with Evergreen’s ethical standards, code of conduct and zero tolerance of fraud, waste and abuse, the Board of Trustees sets the standard for corporate compliance throughout the organization.
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Matthew John Pasquarella serves as Corporate Compliance Officer (CCO) for Evergreen Health,
the Pride Center and Community Access Services. The primary duty of the CCO is to develop and monitor the implementation of a corporate compliance program across the organization.
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David Haefner serves as the Director
of HIPAA Security. He assesses Evergreen’s compliance with the requirements of the HIPAA Security Rule and assists the CCO in developing a culture of compliance at Evergreen through compliance programs and staff education. v
Evergreen management supports and maintains the culture of compliance through adherence to the Corporate
Compliance Plan and by maintaining open lines of communication with employees on compliance issues.
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Last but
not least there is you, the employee. You’re an important member of the compliance team. Evergreen counts on you to participate in its culture of compliance by adhering to and being aware of your compliance requirements, by telling us when you see instances of fraud, waste and abuse, retaliation, discrimination, conflicts of interest and breaches of PHI or by voicing any concern you have. We want to hear from you!
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Reporting compliance issues: as an employee you
can report compliance issues in a variety of ways. Matthew John Pasquarella and Dave Haefner are available to hear your concerns by email, a phone call or stopping by in person. You can also report your concerns to your supervisor. If you wish to report anonymously use the Evergreen Compliance HelpLine at 716-541-0663. Remember, Evergreen has a non-retaliation policy that protects you in good faith reporting of your concerns.
Connections
The Evergreen Diversity & Inclusion Council’s second annual Kupatana Celebration will be held on October 24th, 2018. Kupatana is Swahili for harmony. It has come to mean a celebration or peaceful gathering. Stop by the Staff Lounge to enjoy foods from many cultures, hear music and learn more about your coworkers!
That’s a tough one, but I’ve recently enjoyed bringing the fixings for ice cream sammies. Especially if they feature Lexington Co-op chocolate chip cookies! - Rachel VoelkleKuhlmann A My favorite dish at a barbecue gathering is fruits, wings, and potato salad. - Magali Maldonado A My favorite dish is my Cheesy Creamy Buffalo Wing Pasta. It’s so yummy and yet so bad for you. - Kimberly Herrington A Salt potatoes. - John Carocci A I love grilled corn on the cob with butter and parmesan cheese. To die for! - LaTanya Walton
A Amanda LaFleur A Heather Fangsrud A Heather Maloney A Ian Schunk A Jennifer DeMarsh A Jim Gerwitz A John Carocci A Karen Brown A Kristen O’Connor A Kyle Botsford A LaTanya Walton-Brown A Liza Pereira A Natalie Jackson A Quinn Lee A Renee Posey A Stefanie Warnick A Theo Herman
The Fun Collective (FunC) is a brand new employee engagement committee at Evergreen. FunC was created to boost employee morale and is made up of employees from all across the Association — from every department, building, and location. FunC’s mission is to recognize and celebrate the hard work and dedication each employee brings to this company. The Evergreen Association’s success comes directly from its employees! FunC will be hosting a variety of events throughout the year to show appreciation to employees. Our first will be held on August 7 from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. in all locations, so get ready. FunC is in full effect! Planning and discussion take place at FunC meetings and we’re always looking for new members and ideas. If you’d like to join FunC or attend the next meeting please reach out to Jocelyn Leising, Training Support Assistant.
Connections
The Exchange conducted outreach at the annual Great Blue Heron Music Festival in Sherman, New York. More than 600 festival attendees received educational materials detailing how substance-related medical emergencies can be prevented. More than 60 people were trained to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose, and they all now have a Narcan kit. - Ian Eastman
Birthdays Tia Johnson......................August 3 Melissa Murray.................August 4 Ekua Mends-Aidoo............August 6 Jessica Schifano................August 8 Mayerling Garofalo...........August 8 Christopher Banks............August 9 Charles Smith...................August 11 Jonathan Puma.................August 11 Melissa Gulino.................August 13 Marques Elder..................August 13 Becky Siuta......................August 14 LeAnna Shanks.................August 14 Carolee Corbitt.................August 14 Susan Symonds................August 14 Thomas Fronczak.............August 16 Annette Leisten................August 16 Amy Usiak........................August 17 Michael Ludwick..............August 20 Magali Maldonado............August 21 Megan Mogavero..............August 22 Dina Gorzynski.................August 24 Sarah Hairston.................August 25 Jacquelynn Brink..............August 27 Patrick Hildenbrandt........August 28 David Haefner..................August 28 Arlene Andrade................August 30
Anniversaries
Evergreen’s efforts to create a work culture that encourages healthy behaviors and choices among staff were the subject of an article in a recent issue of the Popular Health Collaborative (PHC) newsletter. The PHC, supported in part by BlueCross/BlueShield, Independent Health and Univera Healthcare, works to improve the overall health of Western New Yorkers by “connecting diverse groups and aligning resources and expertise”. They offer a variety of health initiatives including a Keys to Health data website, a diabetes prevention program, and a healthy retail program, which encourages smaller retail venues to stock healthy snack options.
Christina Cornell..................... 1 year DeJuan Burnell........................ 1 year Lindsay Kelly........................... 1 year Megan Mogavero..................... 1 year Shirley Swenson...................... 1 year Margaret Prell......................... 1 year Sarah Conboy.......................... 1 year Lauren Voelkle........................ 1 year Ekua Mends-Aidoo................... 2 years Deion Simmons....................... 2 years Elizabeth Pijanowski................ 2 years Leslie Anderson...................... 2 years Quinn Lee............................... 2 years Rebekah Russell...................... 2 years Josh Matecki........................... 2 years Eliud Kosgei............................ 2 years Jason Rein............................... 2 years Aaron Patterson...................... 2 years Nicole Dommer....................... 3 years Jessica Stack............................ 3 years Kimberley LaVare.................... 3 years Brian Orlikowski..................... 3 years Andon Ticco............................ 3 years Tatesha Russell........................ 3 years Cherrelle King......................... 3 years Joseph Ryan............................ 3 years Misty Wolff............................. 4 years Melissa Talbett........................ 4 years Kyle Botsford........................... 4 years James Thompson..................... 4 years Roy Golia................................ 6 years Cord Stone.............................. 7 years Cecil Sutton............................. 8 years Murray Wire............................ 10 years Lizzie Vazquez......................... 10 years Kate Gallivan........................... 12 years Trish Hopkins......................... 14 years Richard Smiley........................ 18 years
Just a reminder — all employees of the Evergreen Association may continue to take advantage of the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) employee benefit through Child & Family Services. You and anyone in your household can receive FREE and CONFIDENTIAL consultation and counseling for a wide range of personal and family issues including but not limited to depression, marital difficulties, concerns about your children, alcohol and drug use, gambling problems, concerns about an ill or aging relative, concerns or questions about child care options, personal budgeting problems, legal concerns, nutritional concerns and more. EAP benefits are available to your family members or significant others who reside with you. As an Evergreen employee you’ll be eligible to meet with an EAP Counselor for up to four consultation visits per issue at no cost to you. If your issue requires further or more specialized services, EAP staff can refer you to other appropriate resources in the community. Your health insurance benefits may cover the cost of additional services required, and most agencies have sliding fee scales. It’s important to emphasize that all services are provided on a confidential basis by the EAP. EAP has multiple, convenient office locations, and daytime as well as evening appointments are available in order to accommodate your work schedule. Please don’t hesitate to call the EAP for further information or assistance with any personal issue you may be having. We would also encourage you to visit the EAP website at EAP.cfsbny.org. Click on Employees. Your user name is EAP4U. Your password is 716employee. See EAP’s advertisement on the next page for more information.