Welcome to Franciscan Health System, St. Clare Hospital, St. Francis Hospital and St. Joseph Medical Center, part of Catholic Health Initiatives. This brief orientation will give you a better understanding of our hospitals and assist you on your first day at work. It does not take the place of hospital orientation. You will still attend an 8 hour orientation on the 2 nd Monday of the month. At that orientation each of the 4 topics discussed today will be explained in more detail. Today you can follow along with the handouts. Franciscan Health System or FHS has a mission to provide healing to all in our community who need it The core values of the Franciscan System and of Catholic Health Initiatives, our parent organization, are a part of our every day life. Our core values are: Reverence, Integrity, Compassion, and Excellence Reverence gives shape to the relationships in which we live. Giving respect to patients, families, coworkers, and physicians by treating all equally is our first value. Integrity focuses on work place ethics and moral beliefs for our selves and others. It means being honest. Integrity is our second value.
Compassion to all, from infant to elder adult, treating all with dignity and respect, a way of being with others is our third value. Striving for and attaining excellence is our last value. Reaching into ourselves and being all that we can be. With a strong commitment to the values and a belief in ourselves we at FHS are moving toward creating a healthier community Today we are going to touch lightly on four major elements of our work environment: Standard precautions, emergency codes, safety, and age specific techniques
The practice of Standard Precautions is essential in a hospital setting. The use of Personal Protective Equipment is required to protect you and your patients. Gloves and gowns, masks and respirators, goggles and shields are available for use throughout the hospital when in contact with any body fluid. Your mangers will tell you where the Personal Protective Equipment is located and how and when to use it. Handwashing is the first line of defense against all disease, especially the drug resistant diseases of today. The procedure for hand washing is simple. Turn on the warm water, wet hands, apply soap, vigorously rub all surface areas for at least 10 seconds, dry hands with a paper towel and
turn off the water with the paper towel. Hand washing should be done after patient contact, after removing gloves, before and after eating and after using the restroom. In a hospital we have special ways of alerting employees to emergency situations; they are called codes. To get an emergency operator to assist you and call a code dial 5555. When calling the operator specify the code, and the location of the problem. Codes are called for problems within the hospital only; all incidents outside the hospital, including the parking lots are 911 calls. Code 4 is the code for someone whose heart or lungs have stopped functioning, someone who has fallen and can not get up, or someone who is ill in a non-nursing area. By dialing 5555 and calling a code 4 you will receive help from nurses and doctors. Code Orange is called when a patient or visitor is out of control and help is needed to calm them or restrain them from hurting themselves or others. Help will come from security and other departments.
Code Red is for smoke or fire. In addition to calling a code red, you must also pull the nearest fire alarm. We use the acronym RACE for the behavior we follow. Rescue anyone in danger from the immediate area. Alarm activation by dialing the 5555 and pulling the alarm. Confining the fire by closing all doors and windows. Extinguish and or evacuate the surrounding area on the order of the fire captain Code 9 alerts the hospital that someone, usually an infant, has been abducted. The code closes down the hospital and initiates a visual screening of anyone leaving or entering the hospital. A disaster code announces that multiple casualties will be coming to the hospitals, or that there is an internal problem. Your duties during a disaster may be different from your normal duties. Review your department s disaster procedure.
These codes and your responsibility will be discussed in detail in your department, remember to ask someone to review these with you. Safety in the workplace is an important part of daily life. Using equipment only after instructed and with proper safety procedures is essential in any task. You will be instructed on all equipment you will use. Getting assistance with moving heavy objects, using proper body mechanics, using equipment or assistance from other workers is a must. Taking care of your back and hands is important to your health and wellbeing. We give treatment and communicate to our patients, visitors and fellow employees by using age specific techniques. In any age group, from infant to older adult there are certain physical, mental, and emotional traits that we must recognize. Always remember to communicate with patients and visitors using the age specific guidelines.
This concludes your introduction to us. Again, welcome to the Franciscan Health Care System. Education Services is available to help you with your orientation. Please feel free to call or come see us at any time.