Beacon Bits, July 10 edition
We’re toasting award winners today, naming coloring contest winners, and celebrating one associate’s visit to the White House. More than two dozen associates are featured in today’s news roundup. Maybe your colleague? Your manager? Or YOU?
Without further delay… Up, up and away!
Three Elkhart General Hospital associates extraordinaire received special recognition at the annual Indiana Patient Safety Summit in Indianapolis for their innovative efforts in a recent communication with hospital associates.
Using the movie “Up” characters as a theme, and through extensive recruitment of leadership, these associates developed a campaign that attracted a great deal of attention and positive response from associates.
From left to right, these creative thinkers are: Phyllis Miller, RN, Billing & Systems Analyst, Clinical Decision Support, Brianne Poorman, RN, SCU, Shift Coordinator, Med-Surg Nurse Educator, Dawn Wilkins, RN, Infection Preventionist.
Where’s Carl Risk? That’s him, right up front, posing as an”Up” movie character.
The trio was nominated by Shelby Morse, RN, MSN, Executive Director of Quality at Elkhart General, for the fun and effective campaign they rolled out during Patient Safety Week and for the rollout of the Culture of Patient Safety (COPS) Survey. In fact, Morse said Elkhart General had a record number of responses to surveys.
The Indiana Patient Safety Awards were established to honor commitment and enthusiasm for improving patient safety in hospitals and communities across the state.
The Innovation Award that Phyllis, Brianne and Dawn received recognizes an individual, group or program that developed innovative ways to improve, encourage or enhance patient safety within their hospital, health system or other organization.
And for going above and beyond.
“Putting these three innovative and creative thinkers and doers together resulted in a very successful, fun and exciting rollout to the week and Up Campaign,” Morse said. “Patient safety is job one for this trio and the excitement created was tangible even after the event.”
Dawn Wilkins and Brianne Poorman dress up as “suds” to reinforce the importance of hand hygiene.
What more can we say, except — way to go! Thanks for all you do for Beacon.
Here’s another amazing associate accomplishment…
Ashley Hesla was recently honored by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development’s “Jobs for America’s Graduates” program as a successful participant during her time in the work-based learning component of the program. Ashley, who is pursuing a degree in social work at Indiana University South Bend and works full time in Nutritional Services at Memorial Hospital as a cleaning associate, was invited to the White House during Workforce Development Week. Ashley met policy makers including Department of Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta.
“Overall their trip was a success,” a workforce development press release said. “Jobs for America’s Graduates students have a history of facing challenges head on and seizing opportunities. Equipped with the knowledge and job training from the program, they now have the chance that many individuals who have faced similar challenges would never have dreamed of exploring.” Congratulations, Ashley!
Christi Mullen’s 1st Place coloring page.
We also want to congratulate the winners of the I <3 Benefits coloring page contest.
1st Place was awarded to Christi Mullen, who works at Main Street Medical Group. Sara Bell came in 2nd Place and Kelli Mcgilvra placed 3rd. “We are honored to have such creative associates among us,” says Dawn Gillispie.
This is too much fun. Let’s give some more shout-outs.
Here’s one for Kaitlin Wiley, the dietetic intern at Elkhart General Hospital, for creating the recent cafeteria customer satisfaction survey. The results of this project “will allow us to analyze the response to our current offerings and help us determine what future offerings will be made available,” says True Sproull, Retail Manager, Nutritional Services.
Here are a few quick reminders of events happening this week…
Beacon’s annual Wellness Fair is happening from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday in Auditorium B at Elkhart General and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday on the patio outside Innovation Café at Memorial Hospital.
The annual Virtual Wellness Screening is taking place now. All Beacon associates and their spouses who are covered under the Beacon Medical Plan must schedule and complete a screening. Don’t wait until the last minute to schedule yours.
Is your department looking for a team-building activity?
Jane Conwell rallied associates in the Human Resources department to make a Tuesday evening dinner for patient families staying at or using the Ronald McDonald House in downtown South Bend.
The HR participants included (back row, from left to right): Sara Bell, Aaron Reynolds, Lesley Heckaman, Katie Smith, Dawn Gillespie, Erin Odiorne, Rachel and Chris Robinson, Judy Finkler and Steve Eller, Chief Human Resource Officer, In the front row are Stacey and Lucy Chrzan and Jane. Steve enthusiastically noted, “It was a great experience!”
Get out your calendar and save these dates…
Registration opens Saturday for “The Bright Side, a Women’s and Children’s Health Symposium” that’s planned for Friday, Nov. 3 at Windsor Park Conference Center, 4020 Edison Lakes Parkway in Mishawaka. For additional info, contact Kim Brassell.
Beacon associates rallied and donated when the Blood Bank needed it earlier this summer. “We had 96 people come through and were able to collect 74 units. This drive really helped get our supply up, so we are very grateful,” said Erin Noonan, Blood Donor Recruitment Specialist with The Medical Foundation.
The final Blood Drive of the summer is planned for Thursday, Aug. 17. More details in the weeks ahead.
If you’ve been wondering what happened with the Unity Car auction by The Bergamot, who spent much of their year traveling across the U.S. gathering signatures on the car, your wait is over.
“Nathan and Jillian sold their Unity Car on eBay and raised $1,500 for Music Therapy at Beacon Children’s Hospital,” says Paul Davis, Gift Officer, Beacon Health Foundation. Char Swoveland, co-owner of The Market @ Junk Evolution in South Bend won the auction and the car.
We appreciate the generosity of these South Bend natives!
And that’s not all.
Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar raised more than $11,100 in a recent two-week fundraiser and “Tip a Cub” event co-sponsored by the South Bend Cubs.
From left to right in the photo, you’ll find: Beau Leamon, Director of Operations, RMH Franchise, Ryann DeMoss, Senior Major Gift Officer, Beacon Health Foundation, and her son, Owen DeMoss, South Bend Cubs President Joe Hart and Todd Zelko, General Manager of the Mishawaka Applebees, 4515 Lincoln Way E., Mishawaka.
Thank you ALL for supporting the Children’s Hospital.
And before we go…
We want to wish Memorial Hospital President Larry Tracy a happy 1 year anniversary!
Dale Patterson, MD., Director of Memorial Family Medicine Residency Program, recently celebrated 10 years with the health system. Congratulations to these leaders!
That’s all for this edition of Beacon Bits.
Have some news to share with us? Email us today. Don’t wait. Tell us what your department and team is doing. Send us details and pictures.
