A View of the Future. VacaValley Gets Ready to Celebrate a Milestone. Guild to Close Secondhand Rose INSIDE. Goggles Give 3D Peek at Construction

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1 INSIDE Military Honors for Hospice Patient Page 8 Check My NorthBay, Your Employee Portal, for News in Real Time VacaValley Gets Ready to Celebrate a Milestone NorthBay VacaValley Hospital turns 30 this year, and to celebrate, a special reception has been planned for 1 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 23 in the hospital café. Employees are welcome to attend the reception, enjoy refreshments and toast the future. Included in the festivities will be a salute to 22 pioneers who were with NorthBay Healthcare when the hospital opened its doors in 1987, and who are still with our organization today, although some in different roles and in different facilities. See CELEBRATION, Page 2 New Hires 2 Third Quarter All Stars 3 Donate for Schools 5 Guide Books Out 11 A View of the Future Goggles Give 3D Peek at Construction Guild to Close Secondhand Rose Secondhand Rose Thriftique, operated by the North- Bay Guild, will close its doors this fall, reported Jane Hilliard, director of Volunteer Services for NorthBay Healthcare. The decision was not easy, and we tried everything we Henry Trudel, hospital facilities manager, uses Virtual Reality Goggles to review a 3-D model of the utilities placed on the roof of the new three-story addition to NorthBay Medical Center. Thanks to Virtual Reality (VR) technology, managers and staff are test driving their new departments long before they are physically constructed in the three-story wing of NorthBay Medical Center. Last week it was Engineering s turn for a final look at equipment on the roof of the new addition. This is an example of how we are running department teams through virtual tours of their new space and getting See GOGGLES, Page15 could to keep it open, but in the end, closing is the right decision, said Jane. The physical demands on volunteers, the cost of leasing the building and paying for utilities, repeated damage from See GUILD, Page 13 1

2 WELCOME NEW FACES Christina Adams Diet PAide Nutrition Services NorthBay Medical Center Tessa Bachamp MRI Technologist Solano Diagnostics Imaging - Fairfield Charity Blackford Patient Account Rep 1 Patient Accounting NorthBay Healthcare Vincent Colombano Occupational Therapist Occupational Therapy NorthBay Medical Center Deepinder Dhariwal Respiraotry Care Practitioner I Respiratory Therapy NorthBay Medical Center Bianca Hall Resource Specialist Inpatient Case Management NorthBay Medical Center Jacob Henry Surgical Technologist Surgery, NorthBay Medical Center Monica Hernandez Clinical Nurse II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit NorthBay Medical Center Poonam Kang Clinical Nurse I Surgical Unit 1600, NorthBay Medical Center Xavier Lopez Stationary Engineer I Plant Maintenance, VacaValley Hospital Dana Marin Procedural Technologist NorthBay Surgery Center, VacaValley David Martinez Food Services Worker Nutrition Services, NorthBay Medical Center Ashley McCarver Cardiac Ultrasonographer Tech NorthBay Cardiology Clinic Ana Mercado Clinical Nurse II Unit 1800 Med-Surg NorthBay Medical Center William Reed Painter Plant Maintenance, VacaValley Hospital Ashley Rogers Clinical Pharmacist II Pharmacy, NorthBay Medical Center Damaris Valera Assistant Vice President, Primary Care Center for Primary Care Maricel Velando Physical Therapist Physical Therapy NorthBay Medical Center Leysa Wagner Respiratory Care Practitioner II Respiratory Therapy NorthBay Medical Center 2 Signups Open for Bike Ride NorthBay Healthcare s 6th Annual Ride to Defeat Diabetes (R2D2) is Sunday, Sept. 10, and pre-registraton is now open, featuring a lower cost than waiting until event day. The 10-mile ride is $15 for those ages 13 and up; it is free for children age 12 and under. There is a $45 registration fee for the 25-mile ride, and the 60-mile ride registration fee is $70. On race day, registration is $20 for the 10-mile ride, $55 for the 25-mile ride and $80 for the 60-mile ride. Team Metric ride prices are $60 per person on a team of from four to six. T-shirts, a raffle ticket, lunch and refreshments will be provided for registered riders. Sign up at Celebration... (From Page 1) We wish to honor these healthcare professionals for their unending dedication to NorthBay and the people we serve, said Aimee Brewer, president of NorthBay Healthcare Group. It speaks volumes that they ve spent 30 years with us, and in some cases, even more. In addition, a special art project will be unveiled that showcases the hospital s past, present and future. After its dedication, it will be placed in poster frames in the hallway between 1-West and Diagnostics Imaging on the first floor. A special gift and cake will be given to all in attendance, and also handed out during later shifts.

3 All Stars Shine in the Third Quarter Christina Garrett, Patrick Perkins, Molly Vang and Karen Zech are the latest members of the All Star team. Christina is an administrative support specialist in surgery at the NorthBay Medical Center. She joined NorthBay Healthcare in Her co-workers said that she is a joy to work with. She is compassionate and caring to her co-workers, patients, families and visitors. They also said that Christina juggles multiple forms of communication at the same time, both within and outside the OR and she does it effortlessly. They added that she goes above and beyond without prompting and it s always with a good attitude. Christina s co-workers told the All Star Patrick Perkins, a security officer at NorthBay Medical Center, with, from left, Tyler Jobson, Security manager; Jon Read, director of Security; and Aimee Brewer, president of NorthBay Healthcare Group. All Star Christina Garrett, administrative support specialist in Surgery at NorthBay Medical Center, with (from left) Konard Jones, president/ceo of NorthBay Healthcare; Traci Duncan, vice president and CNO; Jim Bollig, director of Perioperative Services; and Sam Shahin, clinical manager of Perioperative Services. All Star committee that she handles the stress of her job professionally and with a smile on her face, and she is always thinking of ways to help the department improve. Her ability to collaborate with leaders and peers to ensure everything runs smoothly is truly amazing. We hear that she has a great sense of humor and her co-workers feel she is an All Star at heart. Patrick Perkins is a security supervisor at NorthBay Medical Center and has been with North- Bay Healthcare since Patrick s co-workers told the All Star Committee that he exemplifies great leadership and that he goes above and beyond in keeping NorthBay safe. When the department is facing resource challenges, Patrick will report to work on his day off to help. He has a calm and effective demeanor and he inspires his team by being a true leader and by showing a higher standard of excellence. He is the go-to person who keeps his team up-to-date and works well with all departments. Patrick s positive attitude and the way he leads by example is truly inspiring and his team works to reach the standards he has set. Molly Vang is a patient services representative at the NorthBay Orthopedic Special- See ALL STARS, Page 4 3

4 4 All Stars... (From Page 3) ists practice. She joined North- Bay Healthcare in Her co-workers said that she puts her best effort into everything she does. She has an unparalleled compassion, empathy and dedication to her patients, co-worker and physicians. She embodies the true meaning of the NorthBay Way. One example demonstrated collaboration and her commitment to lean principles: She worked with other departments to create a process that resulted in eliminating over 500 unnecessary steps for her patients and reduced the patient wait time from three hours to 45 minutes. Karen Zech is a clinical nurse III at VacaValley Hospital on 1-West, and has been with NorthBay Healthcare since Karen s co-workers said that she is the go-to person for the staff members who are chemo certified. She makes sure they feel well-prepared and she facilitates staff training. They All Star Karen Zech, R.N., on 1-West at VacaValley Hospital, with (from left), Rhonda Martin, assistant vice president of nursing operations; Tracey Clifton, R.N., director of Med-Surg; Traci Duncan, vice president and CNO; and Flo Aruejo, R.N., clinical manager of 1-West. All Star Molly Vang, a patient services representative at the NorthBay Orthopedic Specialists practice, with (from left) Melissa Bermudez Ramirez, Jen Rodriguez Naranjo, Brittney Pieri, Sophia Aguilar and Director of Musculoskeletal Health Kevin Pattison. added that she is always calming and reassuring to staff and patients, which helps them feel that everything will go smoothly. She communicates with the nurses and physicians to make sure the patients receive the best possible care. Her co-workers consider her an invaluable resource to them and their unit by becoming the local expert in chemotherapy. Karen s co-workers also said that she will come in on her day off or stay late to make sure all goes well for her patients and the staff caring for them. Her hard work and commitment is certainly a big part of the successful new service NorthBay provides to our community. For promoting a positive work environment and for serving as a role model to others throughout the system, we congratulate Christina, Molly, Patrick and Karen.

5 Bring School Supplies to Help Students NorthBay Healthcare s popular Fill-the-Ambulance fundraiser is being resurrected to help students at Padan and Fairview elementary schools get ready to go back to school. If Padan and Fairview sound familiar, it s because they are the two schools NorthBay adopts every December for our Adopta-School program. Padan in Vacaville and Fairview in Fairfield are Title 1 schools, meaning they serve a low-income population and have a high population of English-language learners. Sponsored by NorthBay Healthcare Foundation, the drive will pick up your donations of back packs and school supplies in our fancy purple Trauma Ambulance at a location near you the week of Aug We re trying to make it as easy as possible for any employee who wants to contribute, said Jane Hilliard, director of Volunteer Services. You can even drop off a donation at the Guild gift shops in either hospital any time during that week, or to any Guild member you encounter. No time to shop for bargains? Cash donations are also welcome. Make your check out to NorthBay Healthcare Foundation and put Fill-the-Ambulance in the memo field. Collection dates are: Monday, Aug. 14: The first stop is Green Valley Administration Center. The ambulance will be parked outside GVAC between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m. for all employees in GVAC and the Green Valley Health Plaza to stop by and donate. Tuesday, Aug. 15: The ambulance travels to Hilborn Administration Center where it will park for HAC and Hilborn Center for Primary Care employees between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 16: Vacaville s Center for Primary Care, aka Nut Tree North, will see the ambulance parked out front between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 17: North- Bay VacaValley Hospital will be the stop for all employees on the VacaValley campus. Walk over from the Wellness Center, the VacaValley Health Plaza or the NorthBay Surgery Center at VacaValley to drop off between 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18: NorthBay Medical Center will see the am- bulance parked outside the Welcome Pavilion from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will be the drop-off spot for employees in the hospital, the Gateway Medical Building, the Annex, Penn Tab and the NorthBay Health Plaza. Suggested items for donation include: Back packs; spiral wideruled notebooks (solid colors); pocket folders; white copy paper; broad Crayola Washable Markers; Thin Crayola Washable Markers; Crayola Crayons (24 count); Expo dry erase markers (black only); colored pencils; assorted colored highlighters; white oneinch clear view binders; antibacterial wipes; tissues; pencils; scissors; composition notebooks; wide-ruled binder paper; individual pencil sharpeners with caps; construction paper; large Post-Its; small whiteboards; glue sticks and dry erase erasers. Our goal is to get all the supplies we can into the hands of children by the end of August, said Jane. Volunteers are welcome to help with the collections and deliveries to the schools. Call Jane at for information. 5

6 Paint Nite a Success! Paint Nite attracted a full house of budding artists eager to create an original painting at North- Bay Healthcare Administration Center on July 22. Participants began with an empty canvas and were led, step-by-step, by art instructor Rebecca Schiff, to paint a scene called Backyard Birdhouse with acrylic paint. In two hours, 28 artists completed their own unique versions of a tree and sunset. Bird houses varied from single sparrow shacks to elaborate bird bungalows. The event was sponsored by the Special Activities Committee. To propose a group activity for NorthBay employees, please contact Lorie Jarvis at ext The class (above) shows off its fine work. At left, (left to right) LoMai Goza, Maria Ibanez, and Nicole Canedo, a friend of Maria s, listen for tips as they create their work of art. Hospice Team of Volunteers is Honored A day of appreciation was enjoyed by the NorthBay Hospice and Bereavement volunteers at Il Fiorello Olive Oil Company in Suisun Valley. Volunteer coordinator Linda Pribble (far left) and her team of Hospice & Bereavement volunteers included (front row, left to right) Lynn Gallagher, Paula O Connor, Bonnie DiMichele, Christine Gomez, Elise Wigton, Deb Dennis, Janis Bunck, Brenda Boyd and (back row, left to right) Gloria Queen, George Daugavietis, Mike Goodwin and Mike McGee. 6

7 Changes at Center for Women s Health A reorganization and shuffling of physician schedules has resulted in some changes at the Center for Primary care facilities in Vacaville and Fairfield, all aimed at better meeting the needs of patients. It started as an experiment a few months ago. OB/GYN specialists Shanna Snow, D.O., and Rachel Villalon, M.D., started rotating into the primary care medical offices one half-day a week. Sleep medicine appointments by Dr. Donald Doyle offered on Saturdays once a month at the Hilborn CPC proved to be quite popular. And soon, the urology team of Herkanwal Khaira, M.D., Edward Wang, M.D., and Nurse Practitioner Julian Gallegos will hold office hours in the Vacaville CPC. This is a trend we plan to continue, said Wayne Gietz, vice president of Ambulatory Services. Locating specialty services close to where our patients live Dr. Lauren Weber Dr. Teresa Whitley Dr. Rachel Villalon Dr. Shanna Snow and work makes it easier for our patients to get care. The next step is to relocate two Center for Women s Health primary care physicians into CPC offices. Internal Medicine Physician Teresa Whitley, M.D., moves to the Vacaville Center for Primary Care on Aug. 7. Family Practitioner and Women s Health Specialist Lauren Weber, D.O., will move to the Green Valley Center for Primary Care on Sept. 12. With construction taking place at NorthBay Medical Center and parking difficult for patients, this move is to make access to our physicians easier for our patients. It will also create space for the ABC program to move from across the hall on the third floor and into the Center for Women s Health suite, unifying the practices under one name. We have additional services and resources at ABC such as a dietitian, a social worker and a registered nurse that will move over and be offered to all patients once we move, sometime this fall, said Diane Harris, director of outpatient women s health. New Wing s Walls Start to Take Shape Construction on the new addition to NorthBay Medical Center has reached another milestone framing of the walls has begun. Framing is underway for priority walls on the second floor of the three-story building. In other work, fire proofing of the steel structure is underway and site work for the dining room has started. See updates on NorthBay.org/hardhat. 7

8 Veteran and NorthBay Hospice & Bereavement volunteer Mike McGee (at left) shakes hands with Vernon Spridgen following the military pinning and presentation ceremony at his Vacaville home. Volunteer Coordinator Linda Pribble (below) speaks to guests about Vernon s military service. 8 Military Pinning of Hospice Patient On a steamy June afternoon, a team from NorthBay Hospice & Bereavement conducted its firstever military pinning ceremony at the home of a Vacaville hospice patient, thanking him for his service in the U.S. Air Force and the Air Force Reserves. Vernon Spridgen retired from Travis Air Force Base in 1998, after a lifetime of service and started a carpet business in Dixon. He was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig s disease about a year ago. As part of the We Honor Veterans program, NorthBay Hospice & Bereavement s mission is to offer veteran hospice patients and their families the support they need at end-oflife, explained Linda Pribble, volunteer coordinator. When Vernon s wife Joan mentioned that a special ceremony would mean a lot to him, Linda rallied the team. Shortly after Linda s conversation with Joan, Vernon s health started to decline, so we had to move quickly, said Linda. She worked with Hospice Chaplain George Dix, Clinical Social Worker Thrieza Zapanta, Dr. Terrell Van Aken and volunteers Mike McGee and Holly Bell to coordinate the ceremony. Mike is one of several veteran volunteers who specifically are recruited and trained with the hospice program to reach out to veterans at the end of life. Joan promised to assemble some family members and neighbors, which turned into a house full of people the day the North- Bay hospice team arrived. Photos by Holly Bell There was a buffet table filled with food and drink; neighbors, church friends, and family packed the home, recalled Linda. Vernon was dressed and looking very alert and happy in his wheel chair. Since he was unable to speak due to the disease, he held his writing board, quickly scribbling humorous messages to his friends. The ceremony began with introductions, followed by the pinning. Vernon was presented with a certificate explaining NorthBay s involvement in the We Honor Veterans program, and thanking him for his military service and the sacrifices he made. At that point, we asked if there were any more veterans in the room, said Linda. Many hands rose. Veterans, including Vernon s sister, Barbara, stepped forward and saluted Vernon, as he beamed. See MILITARY, Page 9

9 Consultants Impressed During Visit A two-day visit in July offered consultants Mike Rona and Patti Chrome of Rona Consulting a chance to observe 18 areas of NorthBay Healthcare and to speak to leaders and staff in those areas, reported Trish Hackemack, director of Performance Excellence. The visit kicked off with a tour Mike Rona of the Vacaville Center for Primary Care, hosted by Vice President of Ambulatory Services Wayne Gietz and Mary Jameson, service line development manager. Next, at the Wellness Center, Mike toured the NorthBay Cancer Center with Teresa Langley, assistant vice president, oncology; and the Center for Orthopedics with Justine Zilliken, assistant vice president, cardiology; Orthopedic Program Manager Cyndy Giaquinto; and Kevin Pattison, director of musculoskeletal health services. At NorthBay VacaValley Hospital, Tracey Clifton, R.N., and Flo Aruejo, R.N., showed him 1-West and Brian Johnson, R.N., did the honors with the Emergency Department. On the NorthBay Medical Center campus, Mike spoke with Ed Ballerini and his Clinical Informatics team, Kim Williamson and the Catheterization Lab team; Shelley Johnson with ICU, and Joan Forbush, with Unit Mike had some good and helpful ideas on how we could make the outcomes on our unit quality boards easier to see and show that we ve improved, said Shelley. Mike spoke with President and CEO Konard Jones and other senior leaders over dinner Wednesday and at the Lean Steering Committee meeting Thursday morning. While in Green Valley, Mike and Patti spoke with leaders from IT (Rick Llewelyn and Dana Knight), Human Resources (Tina Jackson and team), Finance (Debbie Patti Chrome Burns), Supply Chain (Pam Venturi and team), and Strategy and Business Development (Sarah Jewel). Thursday ended with visits to our lab (Jerry Simmers and staff), Pharmacy (Ryan Seo and staff) and the Emergency Department. Even though the team was here for a brief visit, they were able to meet our team, ask questions, and provide wonderfully helpful suggestions for improvement on some of our processes and tools for lean initiatives, said Tina. In this case, little was much! The pair reported a widespread awareness of Lean and an eagerness to learn more. Mike credited the Performance Excellence practitioners with really knowing their stuff. He also commented on being able to see improvement efforts (visual management) in areas such as the ICU and ED. The leaders and staff shared excitement about the strategic plan, Eyes on 2020 and our commitment to continuous improvement, he noted. As for areas of improvement, Mike suggested more visual management linking unit level improvements and metrics to Eyes on 2020, as well as more education/practice with process improvement methods and tools. Military Pinning of Patient... (From Page 8) Guests were encouraged to share stories and fond memories of Vernon. What came next was much laughter, singing and words of inspiration. A testament to the life of a man who was living fully, with courage and humor the way he always had, said Linda. Vernon died on July 4 at the age of 59 surrounded by Joan, his wife of 35 years, two daughters and family, reported Linda. We live near a military community with Travis Air Force Base and David Grant Medical Center as neighbors, said Ed Lowe, executive director of NorthBay Hospice & Bereavement. We are here to meet and support them through the We Honor Veterans program that our hospice aligned with in Since that time, NorthBay Hospice has earned three out of four stars for its dedication to the program and is currently working on attaining the fourth and final star of competency. It was our honor to offer this ceremony to celebrate Vernon and his accomplishments with his family in such a touching way, said Linda. It is our hope we can continue to offer this service to other veterans in our community when the time is right. 9

10 Work Finishes on Unit 1700; Unit 1600 is Next Phase 1 of the acute care units refurbishment project is complete and patients are once again housed on Unit Phase 2 of the project began Monday with the closure of Unit The unit will be closed to admissions through Aug. 28. We have been very fortunate in that throughput has not been impacted as the expected summer census lull has been realized, said Rhonda Martin, R.N., assistant vice president, nursing operations. For the month of August, dialysis equipment and storage will be relocated to 1601 and access will be open at all times. And, the south side hallway that leads to the Same Day Center will remain open for through traffic. Communications and updates will be delivered to all users regarding each phasing and any potential impact, Rhonda added. Celebrating NorthBay All Stars! The annual All Star receptions were held at VacaValley Hospital, NorthBay Medical Center and Green Valley in July and August to pay tribute to dozens of stellar employees who have earned the All Star distinction through the years. Above, (from left) All Stars Jennifer Veler, Tony Molina, Nester Lucas, Sue Patzer and Susan Henry display their All Star water bottles. Do you work with a potential All Star? All Stars are employees who have demonstrated exceptional performance through their guest relations and job skills. If you do, pick up an All Star nomination form at the nearest time clock or online in ShareSpace and submit your candidate to Lorie Jarvis in Human Resources. All Stars are selected four times a year and profiled in FYI. (Note, the All Star program is designed for staff to nominate co-workers for recognition. Directors, managers and physicians are not eligible for nomination.) For more information, call Lorie at ext Good Rate for Massages Do you ever feel like you need a break? Like you could use a massage? Now you can get both, thanks to a generous offer from NorthBay HealthSpring Fitness. Starting in August, HealthSpring s massage therapy staff will offer some great discounts to all NorthBay Healthcare employees. If an employee is already a member of HealthSpring, they will receive 15 percent off the current member rates. If they are not a member, they will receive the current HealthSpring member rate. The offer is available for all types of massages, starting Aug. 1, through the end of the year. Massage styles include Swedish, deep tissue, sports massage and trigger point/ myofascial. Check out the website at HealthSpringFitness.org/massage for rates. 10 Respiratory Fit Testing Scheduled Annual Respiratory Fit Testing for all employees who enter isolation rooms is scheduled through August. The compliance date for this condition of employment is Oct. 31. Anyone who does not come to a clinic will need to visit Occupational Health for fit testing prior to that date. If you have questions about the test, please call Employee Health at VacaValley Wellness Center, Room Nut Tree Road, Vacaville Aug. 2, Aug. 4, Aug. 11, Aug. 14, Aug. 21, Aug. 24, Aug. 30. NorthBay Health Plaza, Room B. Gale Wilson Blvd., Fairfield Aug. 3, Aug. 7, Aug. 16, Aug. 23 NorthBay Medical Center, Medical Staff Office Conference Room 1200 B. Gale Wilson Blvd., Fairfield Aug. 10, Aug. 31 All clinics are 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.

11 Guide Books Have All the Answers* As a 50-page Continuous Survey Readiness Guide went out to every NorthBay Healthcare employee in late July, the accreditation and licensure team of Heather Resseger and Cody Zamora pored over the latest results of a mock survey and prepared to keep the organization laser-focused on maintaining the highest of standards. A second mock survey, conducted by Vizient July helped identify key areas that need immediate attention, according to Heather Resseger, director of inpatient quality, accreditation and licensure. Tasks that must be addressed include: *At Least to Most Survey Questions NorthBay Will Face Properly storing oxygen tanks; Properly discarding shipping boxes and cardboard; Keeping exits and hallways clear; and Making fire extinguishers readily accessible. There were also a number of positive comments. One surveyor was impressed with the environment of care and identified no issues for the kitchen. Surveyors also praised NorthBay Medical Center on eye wash processes and the pharmacy staff on their check list protocol. They noted significant improvements in the operating room and central supply. Nicole Brocato, vice president and chief quality officer, shared that other hospitals are reporting earlier visits from The Joint Commission than in years past. Although NorthBay Healthcare s cutoff date is Oct. 10, officials expect auditors to arrive in September. Finding and fixing any potential violation has become imperative since The Joint Commission established a new SAFER (Survey Analysis For Evaluating Risk) Matrix Jan. 1, which identifies risks by scope and likelihood to harm a patient, staff or a visitor, explained Cody, program manager for accreditation and licensure. The new methodology looks at every finding, whether it is observed once or multiple times and scores it on the SAFER Matrix, explained Heather. This may result in an increase in the number of survey findings compared to previous surveys. An earlier mock survey found 250 deficiencies. Every finding now requires a completed 60-day Evidence of Standards Compliance (EOC) for submission. That means that an earlier survey is good, because we don t want to be writing reports into Thanksgiving, said Nicole. I know we feel the pressure, but it s nearly our time to shine, she Handy booklets offer information every employee needs to know for our organization to be continuously ready for any survey. said. Teams of managers continue to do rounding through the hospitals and at medical offices under the hospital license, with clipboards and checklists in hand. The idea is to find these things and fix them before the auditors show up, said Heather. The continuous survey readiness guide was developed by Cody, along with input from NorthBay Healthcare TJC Chapter chairs, to provide education and useful information regarding accreditation standards to continuously improve processes and provide great care to our patients. The guide provides answers to common survey questions, survey tips, and helpful checklists for the environment of care. As we get closer to our next TJC accreditation survey, the guide should support each employee throughout the survey and every day after, said Cody. Continuous readiness is the goal. We need to be ready at every moment, every day, for every patient. 11

12 Facebook Fans Get the Scoop on Feet Followers of the NorthBay Healthcare Facebook page were treated to plenty of information on everything from arthritis to flat feet during the most recent #OurDocTalk chat. NorthBay Podiatrist Kevin Miller, D.P.M., spent a half hour July 26, answering questions posted in advance on the Facebook page and despite some technical problems with Facebook, managed to share tips and information on the latest in foot and ankle care. Asked about options for treating flat feet and plantar fasciitis, Dr. Miller recommended orthotics as the best way to start with treatment. They will help hold the foot and stabilize your arch. Lots of people have flat feet, and some require more than just an orthotic. Depending on the severity, some people require surgical correction, he noted. Plantar fasciitis also responds to orthotics, as well as anti-inflammatory meds. If these issues are persistent, then it s time to go see a doc. Drop foot, the inability to lift the front part of one s foot off the ground when walking was the subject of another question on whether there were any new medical discoveries or treatments. Well... bracing and medical orthos are the standard of care to treat drop foot, Dr. Miller noted. There is surgical correction for drop foot based on each individual case. And the doctor had advice for one Facebook fan on dealing with aching feet during long walks or other activity. Comfortable shoes, he wrote. Stay active! If things get Kevin Miller, D.P.M., chats via Facebook about foot pain and problems. too bad, go see your doctor. Managing the pain of arthritis was a question from one frustrated poster who noted that they have tried everything from ice and elevation to physical therapy and surgery. Dr. Miller said anti-inflammatory medications are used to help with pain. In regard to surgery, we have new options for ankle arthritis, including ankle replacement, which allows for continued activity without loss of mobility. The chat can be viewed on Facebook.com, search for North- Bay Healthcare, and a transcript will be posted on NorthBay.org. 12 Writing Can Help Provide a Voice During Grieving People who find it hard to talk about their grief may be comfortable writing about it. That s the premise behind a North- Bay Hospice & Bereavement Center class on grieving and writing. Voicing Grief through Writing is for people who like to journal, or would like to learn, the center said. The evening class is from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Aug. 1 through Aug. 22. A therapist and two bereavement volunteers facilitate this class. The classes are free and open to community members. The class is recommended for those who have already had some bereavement counseling. They will take place at 4520 Business Center Drive, Suite 110, in Fairfield. Call or send an to lpribble@northbay.org for more information.

13 Guild... (From Page 1) leaks during the rainy season, pest problems and competition from forprofit second-hand businesses were key factors in the decision. Secondhand Rose opened to much fanfare on Valentine s Day 2013 at the 322 Parker St. location and at the time had about 25 volunteers who worked shifts Tuesday through Sunday. Today only about a dozen volunteers fill the essential roles, ringing up deals for customers, receiving and sorting donations, and keeping the store clean. The store moved from a much smaller location on Main Street, where it was known as the NorthBay Guild Thrift Shop for many years. The first incarnation of Secondhand Rose was a little shop in downtown Fairfield, where Jane s mom, Amanda Heariet, used to work as a Guild volunteer. Shortly after that, a second Secondhand Rose opened on Butcher Road in Vacaville, recalled Jane. The current Parker Street venue proved an excellent spot for NorthBay Healthcare to host Merriment on Main activities during Vacaville s annual tree-lighting event every holiday season. In addition, the shop participated in Downtown Vacaville events, such as Ladies Nights and wine strolls. We loved being there, and we loved helping the community, said Jane, who explained that many donations were made to support at-risk and homeless individuals through the years. We gave a lot away, because it was the right thing to do, she said. The thriftique partnered with Secondhand Rose was the site of Merriment on Main festivities during the holiday season in downtown Vacaville for five years. Guild volunteers and employees served hot chocolate and cookies for the crowds. Soroptimist International of Vacaville for its Dream Maker program, hosting a monthly $100 shopping spree for a woman trying to rebuild her life. It also partnered with the local service club on Operation PROMises, an annual event that collects donations and provides a prom closet for local teens who can t otherwise afford to attend their proms. We re going to continue to support Operation PROMises, and Dream Makers, said Jane, who explained that NorthBay Healthcare Foundation has some storage space that can be used to store the gowns and career-style clothing the two programs need. When it s time for donations, it will be a place where donations can be dropped off, she said. Efforts to liquidate much of the store s inventory will begin soon, said Jane. The plan is to close Secondhand Rose in late September or early October. Officially, they must be out by Oct. 31, when the lease expires. Once we re out of the thrift shop business, we can bring our volunteers back into our hospitals to put more focus on patient outreach, said Jane. That s at the center of our mission, providing compassionate care, close to home. Still Time to Sign Up for EBP Event There is still time to register for NorthBay Healthcare s 4th Annual Evidence-Based Practice & Nursing Research Symposium. The symposium is open to all health care professionals who are interested in exploring the challenge of delivering evidence-based care and attempting to keep pace with the latest recommendations for excellence in clinical practice. Elisa Jang, RN, clinical nurse specialist, Translational Research with NorthBay, said the event, scheduled for Friday, Aug. 25, at the Green Valley Administration Center, 4500 Business Center Drive in Fairfield, will feature an exciting agenda filled with EBP pearls! including interactive skill-building workshops. Participants will have the opportunity to hear about EBP initiatives, Quality Improvement/New Innovation projects, and research studies that are being done at other organizations, Elisa said. And the symposium will also feature a special panel presentation on how to sustain EBP in one s organization. The theme for the symposium is Building an Evidence- Based Practice Culture on the Frontline and the keynote speaker is Cynthia Bautista, an associate professor at the Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Conn. For more information and to register for the symposium, visit NorthBay.org/symposium. 13

14 14 NorthBay Endocrinologist Miya Allen, M.D. (center), poses for a photo with Linda Selvidge, program outreach coordinator; and Rajul A. Patel, PharmD, PhD., from the Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of the Pacific Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. The Medicare Health Fair (below) offered several health screenings as well as counseling on the Medicare Part D drug benefit program. Medicare Senior Health Fair a Success Fifty people braved the heat July 16 to attend the Medicare Health Fair, sponsored by the University of the Pacific and held at the NorthBay Healthcare Green Valley Administration Center. This worked because we were able to partner with NorthBay, said Raj Patel, professor of Pharmacy Practice for the University of the Pacific. He said he was pleased by the number of people arriving throughout the morning, especially since it was his group s first effort in Solano County. The program helps seniors with their Medicare Part D pharmacy benefit by having counselors available to talk about all their medications. They check to make sure that the medications can work together with the over-the-counter drugs the participants are taking. The program also looks to see if a cheaper prescription program would benefit the seniors. Potentially people could save thousands of dollars by changing to another plan. In addition to Medicare Part D drug counseling, participants attended a health fair that included screening for high blood pressure, anemia, bone density, cholesterol, diabetes and asthma/copd. I have lots of great things to say about the organizers of this program, said Endocrinologist Miya Allen, M.D., who was instrumental in bringing the program to Solano County. I first learned about the Partners in D initiative during my residency at UC Davis. I was impressed by this group of pharmacists and pharmacy students who created this program to help seniors maximize their Medicare Part D benefit and navigate the complexities of coverage. Begun in 2006 in parallel to the start of the Medicare Part D benefit, the program has been recognized nationally for community service.

15 Henry Trudel (left) hospital facilities manager, uses VR Goggles to review a 3-D model of the utilities placed on the roof of the new addition, while Jonathan Savosnick, of DPR Construction, operates the computer. Below, Engineering staff watch a monitor to share Henry s view of the roof. Goggles... (From Page 1) input while it is still easy to make changes, explained Eric VanPelt, project development manager. Wearing HTC Vive VR Goggles and holding hand controls, engineering staff could step onto the roof and maneuver around to examine a maze of pipes, vents and utilities. For Engineering, ensuring easy access to the systems they maintain was an important goal of the VR tour. During a previous look they found potential conflicts and made suggestions, and now they were reviewing the results. The wrong placement of a single valve could have a big impact on how they do their jobs. Henry Trudel, hospital facilities manager, was first to don the goggles. Yeah this all looks good, he said, pointing out where they previously had an issue with access. Others in the room could follow Henry s view on a large screen monitor. DPR Construction has been on the forefront of using VR on their projects. We re taking all of the systems that go into the project and coordinating them on the computer, said Jonathan Savosnick, building information modeling (BIM) project leader for DPR Construction. For NorthBay s addition, each trade (electrical, plumbing, etc.) created a model detailing their piece of the construction project. The models were then loaded into a computer, layered together and a clash report was generated detailing where collisions of materials were located. This allowed each trade to make adjustments until all the puzzle pieces fit together before construction begins. In addition to Engineering, VR tours have been taken by Surgery, Imaging, Nursing and Nutrition Services. A mock patient room was set up for Nursing to give staff a feel for the new environment in addition to the goggle tour. 15

16 Processed Food: Our Friend or Foe? 16 By Kathleen Shafer, R.D., M.A. Greasy fast food! Salt! Fat! Preservatives! Chemicals! What are we really talking about when we use the term processed food? You hear about processed foods being blamed for obesity, Type II diabetes, heart disease and even cancer. Should you avoid all processed foods to stay healthy? It actually depends on the food. When we discuss processed food, we are talking about any food that has been changed in some way prior to consumption. There is a wide range in regard to the amount of processing a food might go through. There are convenience foods that remain in their original state. Bagged salad veggies, bagged baby spinach, stir fry veggie mixes, and fresh apple slices are examples. The main processing on these foods is washing, trimming, bagging, and sometimes adding something to stop the oxidation process (ie: keeping apples from browning). There will not be added sugars or salts on these types of foods. They are convenient when you are short on time but they will cost more than cleaning, chopping or trimming the food yourself. Some foods are processed a bit more certain foods such as canned tomatoes, frozen fruits and vegetables are processed at their peak to preserve nutrient quality and freshness. You may have some added salt or sugar. Make sure to read the package or can. The main processing here is washing, trimming and processing the foods to can or freeze. And some foods experience even more processing. These are combined ingredients turned into something else. This includes things such as jarred spaghetti sauces, bottled salad dressings, barbeque sauces, stir fry sauces and even some frozen pastas. While these are a time saver, they can have quite a few hidden ingredients you do not want. Look for high fructose corn syrup, sugar, sucrose, sodium chloride, palm oil, soybean oil and any other item that you can t pronounce. Those are probably the added preservatives. The whole foods that make up these ingredients have been changed into a new product and normally isn t recognized as the original, (ie: cheese raviolis) and while that is not always bad, it does make sense to review the ingredients and the nutrition DATES TO REMEMBER Retirement Plan label to make sure you are comfortable with what is in there and the amount of calories, fat and sodium. Heavily processed foods include most fast food along with many processed entrée/dinner type foods in the frozen food section. These should be limited if at all possible. Using your grocery store to save you some steps with minimally processed foods can be a great idea to save time and allow you and your family to eat healthy. The author is a member of NorthBay Healthcare s Wellness Committee and writes a monthly column for FYI. She has been a dietitian for more than 20 years. your ideas or questions to her at KShafer@ NorthBay.org. Meetings GVAC Room Retirement Plan Meetings VVHP Suite Retirement Plan Meetings Penn Tab lobby Baseball Game: Oakland As VacaValley Hospital 30th anniversary celebration, 1 p.m., cafe EBP Nursing Research Symposium, GVAC Labor Day holiday Ride to Defeat Diabetes, VacaValley Hospital campus