Mercy Holds Commissioning Ceremony for Dr. Eadie

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1 JUNE 4, 2018 Mercy Holds Commissioning Ceremony for Dr. Eadie A picture perfect spring day was the backdrop for Mercy Medical Center s Commissioning Ceremony and Blessing of Reginald J. Eadie, MD, MBA, President and Chief Executive Officer, Trinity Health Of New England. The program included remarks from Mark Fulco, President of Mercy Medical Center and its affiliates, and prayers led by Bradley Harmon, Executive Director of Mission Integration, and Sister Mary Caritas, SP, Vice President of the Sisters of Providence. The event was attended by colleagues, members of the Senior Leadership Team, Board members, representatives of Trinity Health Of New England, members of the Sisters of Providence congregation, and members of the local legislative delegation. During the ceremony, Dr. Eadie was presented with two meaningful gifts a symbolic Tree of Life plaque and the Seeds of Hope, a book that recounts the history of the Sisters of Providence congregation. During his remarks, Dr. Eadie provided what was perhaps the most well received element of the event when he read The Earth s Special Blessing of 1873, a poem that he penned for National Nurses Week with references to the Sisters of Providence and Mercy nurses. THE EARTH S SPECIAL BLESSING OF 1873 By Reginald J Eadie, MD In the beginning were God s creations What He made for man was a treat, But when He took that final glance He saw his work was still incomplete So He created the doctor as best He could But the patient s approval was without stamp So He gave a vision to his daughter named Florence And declared her the one with His lamp Because He needed a heart that was full of compassion And a hand with a soft gentle touch, He needed an eye that could see in dark times And a voice that never cried it s too much He needed more empathy and tad bit more sympathy Spread across this great land Needed someone to do what nobody else will, In a way that nobody else can! The mold of perfection, the sacrifice of a saint, To create Earth s much needed gift But with sickness and pain encroaching His people His work impeccable, yet swift He told Sisters of Providence: go prepare a place Of serenity, and let s eventually call it TRINITY And the human beings who assume this role, Must create Peace, that lives through INFINITY Erect 4 walls with a cross in the front I ll be the Rock, the sword and the shield So they did what He asked, but had one question left: Which City? And He answered: Springfield A city that once was lost and blind But now, has been found and can see I ll provide the Grace that the community needs But Sisters, you get them, A Mercy And Colleagues who give when there was nothing left, And those that hope even when futile For the down and out, the sick and shut-in They smile and make life worthwhile! But a profession was needed to subdue sorrow, Pain and hurt to curse For God so loved the world, you see That He blessed it with a Mercy Nurse

2 FULCO HOSTS COLLEAGUE TOWN HALLS Mark Fulco, President of Mercy Medical Center and its affiliates, recently held a series of Town Hall meetings to update colleagues on the latest developments at Mercy and Providence Behavioral Health Hospital, Trinity Health Of New England, and Trinity Health. Colleagues also had the opportunity to pose questions directly to Fulco following his presentation. Fulco began with a story about the early days of the Sisters of Providence who traveled from their home base in Holyoke to their new ministry in Springfield by rowing a boat across the Connecticut River. According to Fulco, this action not only reflects the importance of great teamwork and focus, it also illustrates how the Sisters have always kept their boat pointed in the direction of excellence. And we continue to follow their example, said Fulco, holding up an oar with the Trinity Health Of New England logo to demonstrate the message. We are better together, with both oars in the water, pulling hard for those we serve. During his presentation, Fulco provided information about the makeup of the leadership team at Trinity Health Of New England, outlined new regional integration efforts designed to encourage collaboration, and reviewed a scorecard of the region s priority strategic aims. Regarding the Springfield market, Fulco charted the course to operational excellence with information about improvement efforts that focused on several areas including Mercy inpatient discharges, surgical volume and behavioral health services expansion. He also stressed the importance of the annual Colleague Engagement and Safety Survey and thanked those in attendance for their service and dedication. YOU ASKED, WE ANSWERED Colleague feedback provided during the town hall meetings is already having an impact. Following a colleague inquiry about recycling, initial steps have been taken to implement a recycling program at Mercy. ABOUT THE OAR When they first came to the region, the Sisters of Providence settled in Holyoke where they provided care to the sick and housing for orphaned children. As their ministry grew, the need to expand became apparent and in 1896, the Sisters opened the House of Mercy, a 30-bed hospital, on Carew Street in Springfield. Travel was more difficult without the roadways and bridges in place today, so the Sisters crossed the Connecticut River by boat, often making the journey early in the morning or late at night. Mark Fulco, President of Mercy Medical Center and its affiliates, was moved by the image of the Sisters rowing across the river to deliver care to those in need and commissioned the creation of a special oar that bears the Trinity Health Of New England logo. The oar symbolizes the marriage of our health ministry s past, present and future, reminding colleagues that by putting our oars in the water and rowing in the same direction, we can accomplish great things. In a show of solidarity, the oar has been signed by colleagues throughout the organization. It remains on display in the administration suite at Mercy Medical Center and colleagues are invited to add their signatures to the oar. AROUND MERCY Pancake breakfast Mercy Medical Center s Food Service Department stepped up once again to help out the Spirit of Springfield by mixing 500 gallons of batter for the World s Largest Pancake Breakfast. Special thanks to Matthew Schmidt, Lead Cafeteria Aide; Neil Walker, Cafeteria Manager; and Steven Gagnon, First Cook.

3 CELEBRATING NATIONAL NURSES WEEK Celebrated every May, National Nurses Week provides an opportunity to focus on the contributions of nurses for their leadership in enhancing health in the local community. The celebration also prompts a number of annual activities at Mercy Medical Center and Providence Behavioral Health Hospital. Mercy kicked off National Nurses Week activities with sweet treats and Cookie Wars where colleagues cast votes for the most delicious cookies in the competition. Later in the week, colleagues had an opportunity to shop at Vendor Day and nurses were treated to an ice cream social. The presentation of Nursing Excellence Awards to 11 Mercy nurses was the highlight of the week. The awards are particularly meaningful because the recipients are nominated by their colleagues for demonstrating an outstanding commitment to their patients and to Mercy Medical Center. At Providence Behavioral Health Hospital, Nursing Excellence Awards were presented to 10 nurses. The recipients were nominated by their colleagues for inspiring a patient or a team, being creative through innovation, or promoting positive changes for patients and their families. Earlier in the week, Providence nurses participated in Blessing of the Hands ceremonies, enjoyed Vendor Day and received notes of appreciation and candy grams from their colleagues. MERCY NURSING AWARD RECIPIENTS PROVIDENCE NURSING AWARD RECIPIENTS Kellie McLaughlin Julia Bennethum Sara Henderson Melissa Picard Laurie Lemoine Mark Engelman Heather Ghidoni Thomas Burgio Joann Powell Jean Travis Mary Jo Matroni Millie Prayzner Joe Scheer Katie Truesdell Jeff Lenahan Dana Frank Kathy Lawrence Melecio Tan Katie Williams Vernie Santiago Ellen Kupiec

4 Annual Brightside Golf Classic Set for July 23 Over 200 golfers are expected to participate in the 38th Annual Brightside Golf Classic on Monday, July 23, at Springfield Country Club in West Springfield. This event raises funds to continue Brightside s mission to support our community s most vulnerable children and their families, said Carrie Fuller, Executive Director of Fund Development for Mercy Medical Center and its affiliates. Two tee times are available. Registration and breakfast for the morning session will begin at 6:45 a.m. with a shotgun start at 7:30 a.m. Lunch and registration for the afternoon session will begin at 11:30 a.m. with a 1 p.m. shotgun start. The evening reception will be held immediately following the tournament from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Prices include green fees, golf cart, breakfast and/ or lunch, a gift and swag bag, and reception featuring cocktails, food stations, auction, networking and live entertainment. On-course food and beverages will be provided by our sponsors throughout the day. Golfers will also be eligible for a chance to win prizes and participate in raffles during the day. The 2018 Golf Classic Chairs are John Kendzierski, Founder and Director, Professional Dry Wall Construction, Inc.; Matt Sosik, President and CEO, Easthampton Savings Bank; Hank Downey, Vice President, Commercial Loan Officer, Florence Savings Bank; and Dan Moriarty, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Monson Savings Bank. The chairs are excited to welcome the region s banking and business leaders to partner with Brightside in helping our community s children and families. Brightside for Families and Children provides inhome counseling and family support to over 650 children and their families throughout Western Massachusetts. Services include resource coordination, parenting skills development, behavioral technique instruction, community support programs, and other programs tailored to prevent hospitalization from occurring. Specialized assessments such as neuropsychological evaluations and testing are also available. Each year, the Brightside Golf Classic attracts more than 200 business leaders from the Greater Springfield area who support the work and mission of Brightside. For more information on sponsorships, donations, and attending the event, please contact Suzanne Boniface at or Suzanne.Boniface@sphs.com. Information is also available on our website at Celebrating the Contributions of Mercy Volunteers Mercy Medical Center s annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner honored volunteers for their service throughout the Mercy campus, including assistance in the Sister Caritas Cancer Center, the Emergency Department, on inpatient floors, and at the front desks at Mercy and Weldon Rehabilitation Hospital. Mercybased volunteers also provide services at Providence Behavioral Health Hospital. In addition to the opportunity to socialize and enjoy dinner together, volunteers were presented with awards for years of service milestones of 5 to 15 years. Kathleen and Michael Haskell, a husband and wife team from Springfield, were honored for 15 years of service as Eucharistic Ministers at Mercy. Our volunteers range in age from 16 to 94, and whether they are highly visible or work behind-the-scenes, we are aware of their contributions and appreciate all that they do, said Nancy Reilly, Manager of Volunteer Services, Mercy Medical Center.

5 Sisters of Providence Break Ground on Affordable Housing for Elderly The Sisters of Providence have broken ground for the construction of 36 units of elder affordable housing at the Hillside at Providence campus in West Springfield. The $10 million housing development will be known as Hillside Residence. The innovative project will integrate a non-profit model of affordable housing for frail elders over age 62 with the health and care management services of Mercy LIFE, a Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly or PACE. Both organizations will be located on the same 27-acre campus that is devoted to elder care. Noting an appropriate quote from St. Francis of Assisi, The journey is essential to the dream, Sister Kathleen Popko, SP, President of the Sisters of Providence, recapped efforts to secure support and funding for the innovative project. Our eight-year journey to this moment expanded and sharpened our vision, tested our determination, enlarged our circle of friends and committed supporters of this initiative, she told those gathered for the groundbreaking. Perhaps the journey, though difficult, lengthy and challenging, was essential to engage enough committed people that we could bring together the health care community and the affordable housing community in ways that might not have worked in the past. The project, funded by both public and private entities, was awarded state and federal monies from the Housing Stabilization Fund, the National Housing Trust Fund, the Housing Innovation Fund Program, and the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program. In addition to the Sisters of Providence, private funds included a foundation grant from the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation and a grant from the Community Preservation Committee in West Springfield.

6 Trinity Health Leaders Visit Mercy Left photo: Criss Sutton, Maggie Whitten, Jaime Dircksen, and Beth Geno at the future Springfield Public School Culinary & Nutrition Center. Right photo: Doreen Fadus examines the hydroponic produce being grown at the WellSpring Harvest Greenhouse. Leaders of Mercy Medical Center s Community Health Department recently hosted a visit by their corporate counterparts from Trinity Health. Having the opportunity to be in Springfield, seeing the work being done, is incredible, said Jaime Dircksen, Director of the Community Health Institute for Trinity Health. It s clear there is a great team here moving both TCI and the health and well-being of this community forward. We re honored to be a part of the transformation of Springfield. The visiting team discussed the health ministry s support of local efforts to address the root causes of health issues with Mark Fulco, President of Mercy Medical Center and its affiliates; Dan Keenan, Vice President of Advocacy and Government Relations for Trinity Health Of New England; and Mercy Community Health Department leaders. In addition to touring the Health Care for the Homeless clinic, the team met with the members of the Live Well Springfield coalition that are participating in the Transforming Communities Initiative (TCI). During the visit, they were able to view some of the progress made in the second year of the five year grant, in reducing youth smoking and obesity rates through tobacco resistance, and expanded access to healthy eating and active living opportunities. Bike Donation Drive What do staff members from Thoracic Surgery, the Emergency Department, the Sister Caritas Cancer Center, Pharmacy, and Pathology all have in common? Participation in Mercy s second annual Bike Week Donation Drive! Thanks to the generosity of Mercy employees, over a dozen kids will receive new bikes, said Sean Fallon, Manager of Community Benefit. Fallon coordinated the donations on behalf of the community bike shop, RAD Springfield. All donated bicycles will be offered to local youth upon completion of an Earn-A-Bike program, where they learn repair and safe riding skills. Alex Weck founded the RAD Springfield community bike shop a few years ago to increase access to equipment and training in underserved Springfield neighborhoods. Safe and responsible biking is hands down the most cost effective transportation mechanism in an urban area, not to mention the healthiest, said Weck. Our work with Springfield College allows area youth to gain access to a bicycle free of charge through volunteering to become leaders through learning bike repair. The visit culminated in a tour of two new facilities that have been partially funded through low-interest loans, as part of TCI. Trinity Health is grateful for the opportunity to be part of the Culinary & Nutrition Center, as well as the Wellspring Greenhouse. We are blown away by the progress of each of these initiatives and excited to see how they will benefit the community by providing access to healthy foods and economic advantages, said Dircksen. Learning about Substance Use Disorder Just weeks after advocating at the Massachusetts State House to increase the age of tobacco sales to 21, the Peer Health Advocates of the Mason Square Health Task Force spent an evening at Providence Behavioral Health Hospital to learn more about substance use disorder as a brain disease. A team of providers led the group through the long process of recovery, to complement their knowledge of prevention. Nurse Manager Loretta Kapinos described how to identify some signs of substance use disorder, and the process of withdrawal and detox. Clinical Psychologist Edna Rodriguez discussed the importance of Clinical Stabilization Services (CSS) for helping patients develop coping skills to get them on the road to recovery. Nurse Manager Gwen Fenton urged the youth to fight the stigma that can prevent recovery support and services. Clinical Social Worker Miriam Lexie led the group on a tour of the outpatient Methadone Clinic and highlighted the role of individual and group therapy in preventing relapse. In addition to building their capacity as Peer Health Advocates, the evening was a professional development opportunity. By working with high school students we are exposing them to potential career opportunities and influencing them in positive ways, explains Jaime Dircksen, Director of the Community Health Institute for Trinity Health. These youth are creating a solid foundation to build a successful future for themselves and their peers. Peer Health Advocate Reynaldo Sanabria agrees saying, It was a great experience. I learned about the different kinds of help and treatment available to patients at Providence Behavioral Health Hospital. Also, the process it takes to help patients become drug free. Sanabria also looks forward to taking what he has learned into his Mercy internship this summer and to nursing school in the fall. RAD is based in a Springfield College garage, but travels across the city with bicycles and repair tools in tow. You can find them downtown on Monday afternoons at Make-It-Springfield for free repairs, or Thursday afternoons in the Forest Park Library for after-school youth bike repair clinics. For a full schedule, visit their website: New Date for Complete Streets Demo Day! The Transforming Communities Initiative (TCI) is sponsoring a demonstration of Complete Streets on Saturday, June 30, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lincoln Elementary School in Springfield. TCI partners will be creating temporary bike lanes and enhanced crosswalks to show residents what future city street improvements will be like. Residents will have opportunities to test out the bike lanes in a Bike Rodeo, learn about road enhancements in Walk Audits, and advocate for safe street design near their homes and schools. Enjoy the warm weather with food trucks, music, and cycling fun! Please send submissions to Mary Orr, Media Specialist, Marketing Department, phone: , Journal online at sphsma.che.org or MercyCares.com.