Scope August 22, 2013 Volume 35 Issue 16 B e r k s h i r e H e a l t h S y s t e m s E m p l o y e e N e w s l e t t e r BMC Celebrates Successful Joint Commission Survey In the wake of a successful Joint Commission visit in July, BMC put up the big top and employees celebrated the hard work all staff do to assure the medical center is in a constant state of survey readiness. A celebration was held in the BMC Courtyard on August 7th, where employees could gather and enjoy food and snacks and could buy fresh, locally grown vegetables at a farmer s market. The big top theme was evident throughout the event, with some staff in circus and carnival garb as they helped to serve refreshments to their colleagues. Above: Kim Obanhein, RN, left, and Louis Gainer got into the spirit of the day as they dished out ice cream and blueberry cobbler. At left: The theme for the Joint Commission survey celebration was the Big Top, and the BMC Courtyard took on the appearance of a carnival. More photos, page 2
2 S c o p e BMC Celebrates Successful Joint Commission Survey continued from page 1 Above, left: Employees had the opportunity to buy some healthy fare at a Farmer s Market at the celebration. Above, right: You can t have a big top atmosphere without a clown, and Becky Armstrong filled that role, and handed out popcorn to employees. At right: There s nothing like carnival food, and the cotton candy was as popular as ever under the BMC Big Top.
S c o p e 3 Dr. Bayliss Joins Cancer Care Team at BHS Berkshire Health Systems announces the appointment of Trevor J. Bayliss, MD, a board certified physician and specialist in Hematology Oncology, to the medical staff of Berkshire Medical Center and the Berkshire Hematology Oncology physician practice. Dr. Bayliss is accepting new patients and joins Michael DeLeo, MD, Paul Rosenthal, MD, and Harvey Zimbler, MD, in providing comprehensive Hematology Oncology services to patients throughout the Berkshires and surrounding area. A Berkshire native, born and raised in Williamstown, Dr. Bayliss returns to the area after fellowship training in Hematology Oncology at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire, where he also completed his residency training in Internal Medicine. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and has a medical degree from Albany Medical College. Dr. Bayliss is a graduate of Williams College. Trevor J. Bayliss, MD Dr. Bayliss is a member of the BMC Cancer Care team, physicians from a spectrum of specialties providing comprehensive care to cancer patients in the region. He specializes in medical oncology and in providing integrative cancer care, which includes supportive services for cancer patients in addition to their traditional medical and surgical care. For an appointment with Dr. Bayliss or one of his colleagues, call Berkshire Hematology Oncology, 413-443-6000. BHS Sponsors Diabetes Walk Walk the Rail Trail and Help Raise Funds for Diabetes Patient Needs Berkshire Health Systems will sponsor the Berkshire Diabetes Walk on Sunday, September 22nd at 9:30 am on the Ashuwilticook Trail, which will help to support Berkshire Medical Center s Diabetes Patient Needs Fund. Walkers will gather at Farnum s Crossing for the walk, which will run north to Route 8 and back, for a total of around three miles. Proceeds will support the BMC Diabetes Patient Needs Fund, which helps to reduce the financial barriers that diabetes patients have and offers support for patient education and medical care, including emergency medication. Pre-registration for the Diabetes Walk is encouraged. To register and for more information on the walk, call the BHS Diabetes Education Program at 413-395-7942 or ext. 7942. All donations made during the walk are taxdeductible. Diabetes is a serious disease with potentially devastating consequences if left untreated. It affects nearly 26 million Americans and those numbers are growing. The Berkshire Diabetes Walk is sponsored by Berkshire Health Systems with support from Roger s Team, a community walking team that has helped to raise support for Diabetes Education.
4 S c o p e Berkshire Medical Center & Fairview Hospital Recognized Nationally for Implementing Quality Heart Failure and Stroke Care Berkshire Medical Center and Fairview Hospital have been recognized in the Best Hospitals Issue of US News & World Report by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association for performance in treating heart failure, and BMC has been honored additionally for stroke care, using the association s Get With The Guidelines program. BMC, a national leader in the Get With The Guidelines program, is recognized as having achieved Gold Plus recognition, the highest level of achievement, for two or more consecutive years of adherence in heart failure and stroke. BMC was the first hospital in the United States to be honored with awards for both stroke and heart failure, holding nine consecutive yearly awards for outstanding care of stroke patients and seven consecutive yearly awards for care of patients with heart failure. Fairview Hospital was honored for Gold Achievement recognition for care of patients with heart failure for 2013, the second straight year of achievement. In 2012, Fairview was recognized for Silver Achievement for heart failure. BMC and Fairview join other performance achieving hospitals featured in an insert in the August America s Best Hospitals issue of US News & World Report. GWTG is a hospital based quality improvement program designed to ensure that hospitals consistently care for cardiac and stroke patients following the most up-to-date guidelines and recommendations. The program provides three modules that address coronary artery disease, heart failure and stroke. Upon meeting each module s criteria, hospitals are recognized if at least 85% of their heart failure or stroke patients are treated and discharged according to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association s recommendations, which lead to better patient outcomes. The American Heart Association is pleased to recognize its top Get With The Guidelines participants, said. Lee Schwamm, MD, national chairman of the Get With The Guidelines steering committee, associate professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School and Vice Chairman of Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital. Healthcare providers who use Get With The Guidelines are armed with the latest evidence-based guidelines and immediate access to clinical decision support, using a set of tools that have been shown to improve delivery of evidence-based care. The goal of this initiative is to improve the quality of life and help reduce deaths and disability among patients with heart disease and stroke.
S c o p e 5 Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Lectures on the Horizon Free community lectures on Orthopaedic care and Rehabilitation are being held in the coming weeks. Both are free and open to all. Hip & Knee Replacement Berkshire Health Systems and Berkshire Orthopaedic Associates present a lecture in September focusing on the latest advances in hip and knee replacement, including the state-of-the-art Anterior Approach for hip replacement. Hip & Knee Replacement: State of the Art and Close to Home, will take place on Wednesday, September 11th from 6 to 8 pm at the Berkshire Hills Country Club in Pittsfield. Drs. Kevin Mitts and James Harding will discuss the latest advances in hip and knee replacement surgeries, including the new anterior hip procedure and customized knee replacement. The event will also feature personal experiences of BMC Joint Replacement Program patients and a question and answer period. Pre-registration is required for the event, as seating is limited. To register, call 413-447-2060 or register online through either the BHS Employee Web Portal or the BHS website (www.berkshirehealthsystems.org). Strength Training for Runners Berkshire Medical Center s Rehabilitation Services will hold a lecture on running in August. Strength Training for Runners will be held on Thursday, August 29th from 5:30 to 7:30 pm in the BMC Center for Rehabilitation, BMC Medical Arts Complex, 777 North Street, adjacent to the main medical center. Keelin Godsey, DPT, CSCS, and William Milhizer, PT, DPT, physical therapists at the BMC Center for Rehabilitation, will discuss training mechanisms for runners to build strength, and will be joined by Kent Lemme of the Berkshire Running Center. The program is free, but seating is limited and registration is required. To register, call 413-447-2238. Wellness Insurance Requirements Help Open Enrollment is Around the Corner! The Wellness Staff will be available to assist you with your Wellness Insurance Requirements at these sessions: Wednesday, 9/11 7:30 am - 10 am 11 am - 2 pm BMC, Outside PDR C Thursday, 9/12 7:30 am - 10 am Thursday, 9/19 11 am - 2 pm Thursday, 9/26 BMC, Outside PDR A Monday, 9/30 7:30 am - 6 pm BMC, Inside PDR A Tuesday, 10/1 7:30 am - 10 am 11 am - 2 pm BMC, Outside PDR A If you would wish for a staff member to come to assist your specific department, please give us a call at ext. 3100.
6 S c o p e Fall into Fitness To pre-register for these programs, go to the WellnessWorks website https://www.bhswellnessworks.org Yoga Programs Fairview Hospital, Andrew s House Starts September 3 rd Weekly classes for less than $25 per month. Mondays; 4:30-5:30 pm (slow pace) Thursdays; 4:45-6:00 pm (moderate pace) Contact: Phyllis LeBeau, ext. 9645. Visit the WellnessWorks page of the employee portal for more information on any of our programs. Hillcrest Campus Elm s Classroom Starts September 5 th Carol Harty, Kripalu trained instructor is offering her popular 5 week program starting on Sept 5th at 5 pm. Come 10-15 minutes early, bring a yoga mat and wear comfortable clothing. Cost: $25. To sign up, contact Carol Harty or Stephanie LaRoche at ext. 2784. Exercise Keeping it Simple Starts September 4 th This 4 week program is held at Berkshire Nautilus Monday and Wednesday at 5:00 pm and includes cardio, strength and flexibility exercises in a private exercise room with a trainer. Cost: $69 for non-members $49 for members. Beginners Bootcamp Starts September 16 th Regardless of your fitness level this 5 week boot camp is bound to challenge you and effectively help you make positive changes. Monday & Wednesday 4 5 pm or Tuesday & Thursday 4:30-5:30 pm. Cost: $30 for each 5-week session. Train to Run Starts September 18 th at the Berkshire Running Center 42 Summer St. The Berkshire Running Center offers this 6 week program aimed at educating and motivating employees/spouses who want to improve their running skills or incorporate running into their lives. The program includes information about cardiovascular fitness, weight training, nutrition, motivation and support. Wednesday 5:30 pm & Saturday 8:00 am. Cost: $60. The Taste of Health for BHS Employees and Spouses September 24 th at 5 pm in Private Dining Rooms A & B Simple Steps to a Healthy Heart Come to sample heart healthy snacks Bring your most recent cholesterol lab values to learn more about what your numbers mean and how you can lower them or keep them at a healthy level Learn simple steps for a healthier heart All Participants will be entered into a drawing for a Heart Healthy Basket Pre-register for this workshop on the WellnessWorks web-site. The Truth About Carbs Sessions start September 3rd Congratulations to the July Winners for the Wellness Drawings! For completing the online Health Assessment Russell Davis, Anesthesia: 1 month Exercise-Keeping it Simple program Patty Nicklaw, BVNA: Wellness gym bag Moriama Arce, FVH Admitting: Dick s Sporting Goods gift card For completing the Birthday Month Wellness Screening Caitlyn Tatro, MAC Lab (pictured): Cranwell spa day Wayne Speyrer, Care Navigation: Dick s Sporting Goods gift card Paula Bush, Finance: Dick s Sporting Goods gift card Caitlyn Tatro
Job Opportunities Berkshire Medical Postings, 08/16/13 NOF RN 32 Hr/E. 40 Hr/N Night Special Emergency Department RN 40 Hr/N Night Special, 24 Hr/N, 28 Hr/E/N 2 South RN 40 Hr/N Night Special Endoscopy RN 32 Hr/D Psychiatry/Jones II/Jones III RN 40 Hr/N Night Special Hillcrest Family Health LPN 16 Hr/D Emergency Department Nursing Assistant 32 Hr/E, 16 Hr/E, 32 Hr/D/E 2 South Nursing Assistant 16 Hr/D NOF Nursing Assistant 32 Hr/N Behavioral Sciences/McGee Unit Intervention Counselor II, 40 Hr/D Pharmacy Staff Pharmacist 20 Hr/D Pharmacy Pharmacy Tech 20 Hr/D Lab General Med Tech 32 Hr/E Maternal Child Health Unit Coordinator 16 Hr/E OR Perioperative Aide 24 Hr/E Hillcrest Family Health Clinical Support Rep 40 Hr/D Hillcrest Family Health Medical Assistant 40 Hr/D Cardiology Professional Services Medical Assistant 40 Hr/D Dental Services Dental Receptionist 40 Hr/D Food Services Dietary Aides, (5)Non-Scheduled, 8 Hr/N Neurology Clinical Support Rep 40 Hr/D Berkshire Visiting Nurse Association Postings, 08/16/13 Skilled Nursing Community Health Nurse 32 Hr/D, Non-Scheduled Fairview Hospital Postings, 08/16/13 Wound Center, Hyperbaric Medical Assistant, Per Diem Case Management, Case Manager, Per Diem Med/Surg, Registered Nurse, Per Diem Wound Center, Registered Nurse, Per Diem Rehabilitation, Physical Therapist, Per Diem S c o p e 7 Scope Please direct any comments, questions or suggestions for Scope to Development and Community Relations at 447-2060. Editor: Ruth Blodgett Writers: Mike Leary, Elzbieta Lauren Smith Ala Trzepacz Layout and Printing: Deirdre McKenna, Materials Management Scope is printed on paper with post-consumer recycled content. BMC Cancer Center Open House Save the Date: Wednesday, August 28 th 9:00 am to 6:00 pm All Employees and the Community Invited. Tour the first completed phase of the new Cancer Center, including the new offices of Berkshire Hematology Oncology and BMC Infusion Suite. Shuttle buses for employees will run throughout the day from the main BMC campus to Clocktower to the Hillcrest Campus and back. Pickup will be at the main BMC entrance and the main Clocktower entrance.
8 Thanks and Recognition I have been hospitalized many times in (other hospitals). My care here during multiple hospitalizations over the past several months is the most consistently high quality, professional, personal care I have ever received. I feel safe here. Comment from a BMC Oncology patient I was pleasantly surprised, considering the fact I was in the hospital. The food, the staff and the atmosphere were all contributing factors to my healing process and discharge in a positive way. Comment from a BMC Telemetry Unit patient My son s physical therapist was usually Keelin Godsey. Keelin was excellent. Very encouraging and tailored my son s program to his specific needs. It was very helpful that Keelin is an athlete and geared towards our son s goals. Comment from a family member of a BMC Center for Rehabilitation patient Not a bad thing to say at all. Everyone, the nurses, the doctor, the anesthetist, the front desk people, were beyond caring, sweet, and very nice. They even called when I was home to check on me. I could not have asked for better care. Thank you so much. Comment from a Crane Center for Ambulatory Surgery patient It is hard to remember all the names of the wonderful people who cared for me, but all of the nurses I had for three days deserve recognition for being caring and extraordinary care givers. Comment from a BMC Orthopaedic Unit patient This is to inform you and the local community of what an extraordinary job the fire department, EMS, and ambulance service did to rescue my husband and I from a head-on collision on July 20 on Route 102 in Lee. They were prompt, efficient, and caring. I would like to cite Captain Jim Hunt in leading this group. The care at Berkshire Medical Center was extraordinary too. We are most fortunate to be alive and are on the road to recovery. Letter to the Editor that appeared in the August 15, 2013 edition of the Berkshire Eagle and signed by Judith and Howard Mayer of Florida In Memoriam Jane Geary Rudolph, who formerly worked for the Berkshire Visiting Nurse Association, died on August 1st at the age of 64. Loretta Dorgan Stracuzzi, a Licensed Practical Nurse at BMC for many years, died on August 3rd at the age of 80. Winifred Winnie Littlejohn, a Licensed Practical Nurse at the former St. Luke s Hospital and later BMC, died on August 3rd at the age of 88. Elinor J. Gracyk, who worked as a Registered Nurse at the former St. Luke s Hospital, now BMC, died on August 7th at the age of 72. Eleanor C. Brazeau, who worked as a Registered Nurse at the former St. Luke s Hospital, now BMC, died on August 12th at the age of 84. The staff of Berkshire Health Systems offers its deepest condolences to their friends and family. Chaplain s Corner S c o p e By Sister Colette Hanlon, SC, BMC Chaplain Small Wisdom I often come across quotes which seem to pack in so much wisdom that I cut them out to leave them in a prominent place to ponder for awhile. Two, from English authors, are quoted below. The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to love our enemies: probably because they are generally the same people. G.K. Chesterton In fact almost all holy writings focus on the role of love of neighbor and of self, so there must be a universal invitation to deepen our care. Did you ever think of how we tend to both love and dislike ourselves at the same time? Well, the same experience can happen with friends who sometimes appear to be our enemies. Some additional wisdom from C.S. Lewis: Do not waste time bothering whether you love your neighbor; act as if you did. As soon as we do this we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will probably come to love him (or her). Small, but incredibly deep wisdom to ponder during these summer days.