Rxtra 10 17 for web

RxTraA publication for the staff of Hartford Hospital October 17, 2011 Vol. 67 No. 39

October 17-21: National Hospital Pharmacy Week

October 23-29: National Respiratory Care Week

Pharmacists are valuable and integral members of the health care team. They play a critical role in preventing medication errors, ad-vising prescribers on the best drug choices, and working directly with patients to ensure they understand how to use their medications safely and effectively.

The pharmacy staff will have a display in the main lobby on Wednesday, Oct. 19 from 7 a.m.-4 p.m. to answer questions about your medications. They will also provide medication cards, pill boxes, and gen-eral printed information on the proper use and dis-posal of your medications. This is a great opportu-nity to learn more about your medication and meet the Hartford Hospital pharmacy staff!

Respiratory care specialists evaluate, treat and care for patients who have breathing dis-orders. Respiratory care specialists work in all areas of the hospital. They are usually part of the emergency team during resuscitation. They work in the intensive care units manag-ing ventilators, giving breathing treatments and performing various tests. They will work with all ages of patients from premature in-fants to geriatric patients.

About 90% of respiratory therapists work in hospitals with the department of respirato-ry care, anesthesiology, emergency medicine or pulmonary medicine. They are an integral part of the patient care team.

Dr. David Hull, retiring director of the transplant program, was honored for his 24 years of service and leadership and was welcomed to his new position as the program’s emeritus director on Wednesday, Oct. 12 at the Education Re-source Center.

“This coming together is such an ex-traordinary reflection on the contribu-tions made by Dr. David Hull, and what he’s meant to our community, what he’s meant to count-less patients, and what he’s meant to every aspect of this institution,” said Jeffrey Flaks, president and CEO.

“Here at Hart-ford Hospital, we strive to live our values every day, and I can’t think of anybody who has done that more than Dr. Hull,” he said. “I’ve never encountered a physi-cian who is more dedicated to his work, who is more committed to his patients and their families, and to doing the right thing.”

Cathy Yavinsky, nurse director of trans-plant and dialysis, shared several mes-sages from colleagues about Dr. Hull: “He is absolutely relentless in his pursuit of

what we thinks is best for patients and the program;” “Patients describe him as the man who saved their lives;” and “He elevates the day-to-day work we do by reminding us of the spiritu-ality of the gift of life.”

Dozens of transplant re-cipients attended the cel-ebration, and Hull asked if

a n y o n e would be w i l l i n g to come forward and tell what or-gan they had re-c e i v e d . P a t i e n t after pa-t i e n t stepped forward,

35 in all, most tearfully expressing gratitude that they were alive and thank-ing Hull for his work.

“I received a liver in Febru-ary of 1999, and Dr. Hull, you were one of the doctors who did that transplant,” one man said. “Words fail to express the depth and breadth of my gratitude to you.”

“You are a hero,” another said. “Because of you, I am here today. I received my liver in 1999, and I’m doing very well. I don’t know how I could ever repay you.

The Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons has granted three-year accreditation with commendation to the cancer program at the Helen & Harry Gray Cancer Center, recognizing its commitment to the community and patients, demonstrated through cancer services, the scope of high quality care provided, and a program of studies that improve access to patient care and patient outcomes.

Receiving care at a CoC-accredited cancer program means that patients will have access to comprehensive and multidisciplinary care, clinical trials, cancer education and support, a cancer registry, and high quality care close to home. The Commission on Cancer is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving survival rates and quality of life for cancer patients. Accreditation is given only to cancer programs that have voluntarily committed to providing the highest level of quality care, and have undergone a rigorous evaluation process and performance review.

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Hull was presented with a plaque on behalf of the transplant staff.

It read:

“The gift of life for our patients;

The gift of inspiration for our team.”

Dr. David Hull Honored for 24 Years Of Service And Leadership To The Transplant Program

Hartford Hospital President/CEO Jeffrey Flaks congratu-lates Dr. David Hull for his service and leadership to the Transplant Program.

Helen & Harry Gray Cancer Center Granted Accreditation with Commendation

All Hartford Hospital staff must be immunized against influ-enza this fall, or sign a declination form. Free flu vaccinations will be available for all staff and volunteers (with ID badge) starting Oct. 25 at the following times and places:

Occupational Health Services, Brownstone Basement:

•Tuesday,Oct.25,7a.m.-5p.m.

•Wednesday,Oct.26,7a.m.-5p.m.

•Thursday,Oct.27,7a.m.-5p.m.

Cafeteria, Dining Room A:

•Monday,Oct.31,7a.m.-2p.m.

•Tuesday,Nov.1,7a.m.-2p.m.

IOL - Thursday, Nov. 10, 7 a.m.-5 p.m.:

•7-9a.m.,Donnellylobbyconferenceroom2

•9:30-11a.m.,ResearchBuildingfirstfloorconferenceroom

•11:30a.m.-2p.m.,CommonsBuildingcafeteria

•2:30-5p.m.,Donnellylobbyconferenceroom2

Newington Campus - Jefferson House

•Thursday,Nov.10,7-9a.m.and2:30-4p.m.

(Available for Cedar Mountain Commons staff)

Newington Campus – Curtis Building

•Wednesday,Nov.16,2:30-4p.m.

Next year we will have universal flu vaccination.

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Flu Shots Available Starting Next Tuesday

Results are back from the physician sur-vey conducted at Hartford Hospital June 8 to July 12.

The Press Ganey survey was designed to assess physician satisfaction and en-gagement. Results rank the satisfaction level of the medical staff as average for institutions of our size and complexity.

Twenty-nine specific questions asked about quality of patient care, ease of practice, communication and collaboration.

Out of the 840 physicians surveyed, 44% responded. (The national average is 40-45%.)

Our overall mean score was 76.7, which put us in the 49th percentile com-pared with 408 comparable facilities nationwide.

“We are very interested in knowing the satisfiers and concerns of the medi-cal staff, and this survey helps iden-tify what those are,” said Jeffrey Flaks, president and CEO. “Results show us that the satisfaction level of our phy-sicians is comparable to other insti-tutions; but we want to do better. We have heard your concerns, and we will work with the medical staff to respond to those concerns and move the institu-tion towards top decile performance in all areas.”

Strengths were identified as:

•qualityofnursingstaff

•visibility/accessibilityof administration

•communicationbetween physicians and administration

•degreetowhichphysiciansare involved in decision making

•turnaroundtimeforradiology results and lab results

•staff’sconcernforyourpatients

•easeofadmittingpatients

Opportunities for improvement were identified as:

•responsivenessofadministration to ideas and needs of medical staff

•degreetowhichphysiciansare treated as valued members of the medical staff

•degreetowhichadministration seeks mutually beneficial solutions to physician issues

•timelinessoffollow-though on orders

•easeofschedulingoutpatient surgery, tests/therapy, and inpatient tests/therapy

•accesstopatientinformation

“We are looking at the areas that were identified as needing improvement, and we are taking action to make them bet-ter,” said Dr. Joseph Klimek, vice presi-dent of physician relations.

Committees have been formed to devel-op action plans to improve:

•communicationandcollaboration

•qualityofpatientcare

•easeofpractice.

These action plans will be presented to the medical staff at the semi-annual meeting on December 1.

Physician Survey Results: “We did well; we will do better.”

Benefits Open Enrollment is Almost Here Telephone/online enrollment for benefits begins Nov. 1–16 (details will be avail-able soon.) To help you get ready to make these important decisions, there will be informational sessions held every day next week, with representatives from Aetna and Delta Dental as well as var-ious other vendors available to answer your questions. Sessions will be held:

• Monday, Oct. 24, 11-1:30, HH Cafeteria

• Tuesday, Oct. 25, 11-1:30, Newington 5th Floor Connector

• Wednesday, Oct. 26, 11-1:30, IOL (Hartford Room)

• Thursday, Oct. 27, 7-9:30, HH Cafeteria

• Friday, Oct. 28, 11-1:30, HH Cafeteria

Please visit during these times to ask all of your benefit questions. This will be in-formational only; enrollers will not be onsite.

Jewelry Trunk Show in Auxiliary Store Thursday Cookie Lee and her Jewelry Trunk Show will be at The Auxiliary Store, Thurs-day, Oct. 20, 2011 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Uptown, Downtown, Dress Up or Dress Down, Cookie has this and much more.

N95 Respirator Fit Test Sessions Scheduled

Now that FY 11 has been completed, it is time to start our annual N95 Respira-tor Fit Test Sessions again. Staff should do their annual fit testing in the anni-versary month from when they last were fit tested. (If you were fit tested in December 2010, you should do your annual fit test in December 2011.) Ses-sions have been added to HealthStream for the first quarter of FY 12. Sign on to HealthStream, click on the “Catalog” tab and search for “N95.” All sessions will be held on ERD 4 East Side, with the EMS staff. This is a mandatory annual re-quirement, and sessions are limited. Please do not eat or drink (except wa-ter) at least 15 minutes prior to your fit test. New this year: There are now three ap-proved N95 masks: 3M 1860 (small and reg-ular), Kimberley Clark PFR series (small and regular) and the 3M 1870 (one size). The 3M 1870 is not currently stocked, and for staff fitted to that model, it must be purchased through Materials Management. Please contact OH at 860-545-2175 for medi-cal surveillance questions, and Industri-al Hygiene at 860-545-2661 for technical questions on the fit test process or assis-tance with HealthStream.

Healthy Eating During the HolidaysBring your l u n c h , and learn about the benefits of meal por-tion man-agement, d i a b e -tes iden-tification and management. This free program will be held Wednesday, Oct. 26 from 12-1 p.m. in the Special Din-ing Room. Registration is required; go to www.harthosp.or/event/678. For more information, contact Andrew Pete at 860-545-1257 or [email protected].

Library Month Offerings

In celebration of Medical Library Month we have two special programs in the Li-brary Classroom:October 18, 12-1 p.m.: Concussion to Consequence: Managing Sport-Related Concussion On & Off the FieldOctober 19, 10-11 a.m. and again at 11 a.m.-Noon: DynaMed Demonstration – evidence based point of care data base, easily accessible on all devices, compre-hensive and updated daily.RSVP to Sheila Hayes 860-545-2416.

“Alert to Abuse” Training A training event to outline a new tool for domestic violence health care inter-vention will be presented Friday, Oct. 28, from 1-2 p.m. in JB118. Information about domestic violence, best practice standards, and clinical skills will be dis-cussed. The program is free, but regis-tration is required. Please contact Danica Delgado at [email protected].

Happening at Hartford Hospital

Compliance Questions or

Concerns?

If you need to obtain information about compliance issues or raise

concerns regarding internal and regu-latory practices or policies,

please contact your supervisor or call the ComplianceLine, a

confidential and toll-free service, at

1-855-HHC-OCAP

or online at

HHC.OCAPComplianceLine.com