PATIENT KUDOS
I am an employee of St. Luke’s and recently I was on the other side of the stretcher. I just want to tell you about my experience. I was a patient on Ambulatory Surgery. From the moment I arrived I was treated very professionally. I see this group of people almost daily, but was treated like I was any other patient. Everything was explained fully from my check in with Nancy on ASU. Then I was escorted to my room by Asmenia who was very sweet and made me feel very comfortable. Then Amy K. came into the room and she treated me like I was a stranger. She introduced herself and asked for my name and birth date. It went very smoothly. As I was alone at this point and was reading I heard all the other staff members bustling through the halls. I could hear the start of their conversations with their patients and each was very professional and reassuring to them.
Then Jim Ball, (transport aide from the OR), came to pick me up and again acted very professional, asking for all my information. Bob was also picking up my roommate and asked all the pertinent questions and made her feel at ease. I was very impressed by the care I received in ASU.
On arrival to the holding area Laura G. was very kind and professional. There were a few people who poked their heads in to say hi which I appreciated greatly. Thanks to Lilly, Sue, Kevin and Meghan. Then, Dr. Khaliqi spoke to me about the anesthesia plan of care. Stephanie C. came out to the holding area and as before asked all the pertinent questions. She took me to the operating room and told me who the surgery tech was (Flo W.). We said our hellos and they made sure I was comfortable before my anesthesia started. I remember Stephanie saying, "We will take good care of you," and they did. I felt very safe. I know these people do a great job every day. After surgery I went to PACU, and Barb S. took great care of me as well, making sure I was comfortable. I couldn't have been in better hands.
I know I work with these individuals but I feel they treat everyone in the same professional and caring manner every day. You should be proud of these departments.
- Grateful patient and employee
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SAY “YES, AND…”
This week, along with thousands of other people, I went to Hamilton College to see Tina Fey, the actress, comedian, producer and writer. She shared a great deal about her career and her perspective on life lessons. One of the things she said really struck a chord with me. In talking about the “Rules of Improv,” she noted that it’s always important to say “Yes, and...” What this translates to in everyday life, not just improv, is agreeing to do something then adding something of your own – to make a further contribution. This is a lesson we can apply to both our personal and professional lives. As one business expert noted in the research I did on the Rules of Improv, “Don’t be that guy in the office who sits in meetings with nothing to add to the conversation. Take what your team has created and add something to it.”
I didn’t think about the rules of improvisational comedy, but I think there is a lesson here for all of us. The Four Rules of Improv and how they relate to how we communicate and interact with each other:
- Rule 1: Say Yes. The first rule of improvisation is AGREE. Always agree and SAY YES. ... (And that means be a helper.)
- Rule 2: Say Yes AND. The second rule of improvisation is not only to say yes, but YES, AND. ...(Suggest ways to help even more)
- Rule 3: Make Statements. The next rule is MAKE STATEMENTS. ...(Don’t talk to talk, but ensure you contribute.)
- Rule 4: There Are No Mistakes. THERE ARE NO MISTAKES, only opportunities. (This speaks for itself.)
Thank you, Tina Fey, for giving us all something to think about!
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CAMPAIGN FOR QUALITY – A RESOUNDING SUCCESS!
Last Friday nearly 500 physicians, healthcare workers, students and community members from across New York State attended the 18th annual MVHS Campaign For Quality (CFQ) at Hamilton College. The speakers were fantastic! Thanks to Colette Wilk and the CFQ team for their hard work to make this day a success!
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And congratulations to the 2019 Milotte Award winners, announced at the CFQ dinner last Thursday:
- First Place - Ligature Risk Mitigation Patient Safety Project
- Marianne Baker, Scott Buddle, Brian Croghan, Jillian Doyle, Marie Elliott, Sara Fisk, Shelly Forrester, Margaret Haughton, Courtney Leonard, Linda Lovrin, Miya McCann, Sharon Palmer, Rita Popeo, Courtney Riesel, Keith Roach, Lisa Rocci, Angela Rose, Gregg Sponburgh, Robert Starsiak and Nancy Traxel
- Second Place - Sepsis Process Improvement
- Dr. Affaf Munir, Kathy Fischer-Handzel, Dr. Maria Gesualdo, Chris Houle, Lisa Hrynuk, Dr. Afsar Khan, Joan Klingbail, Linda Lovrin, Laurel Lange, Chris McCorduck, Sr. Catherine Michael, Wendy Miller and Vadim Protasovitskiy
- Third Place - Employing New Enhanced Recovery Goals for Bariatric Surgery
- Dr. Brian Boyle, Katy Campbell, Dr. William Graber, Christopher Houle, Evelyn Mariani, Angela Soja and Ryan Watson
- Honorable Mentions: Glucose Management; Integrated Behavioral Health; Is Change Good? What Happens When You Change; Contact Precaution Requirements and Medication Reconciliation Performance Improvement.
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SHOUT OUT TO…
MVHS Respiratory Therapists for their contributions to patient care as they celebrate Respiratory Care Week.
Members of our Quality Management Department who help to improve the care and services to our patients every day – enjoy celebrating Healthcare Quality Week!
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CONGRATULATIONS DOMINICA!
Dominica Paladino, MS, program manager for the Family Medicine Residency Program, recently became board certified by the Training Administrators of Graduate Medical Education (TAGME) organization. Successful certification acknowledges the expertise needed to successfully manage graduate medical education programs and to recognize those who have achieved competence in all fields related to their profession. Dominica is the first person within MVHS to have earned this board certification in the field of graduate medical education. Nice job!
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UPDATE ON MVHS REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
Have you been to Downtown Utica and seen the medical center footprint lately? A great deal of work is being done on abating the buildings within the fenced-in construction site. Soon demolition will begin. Yesterday, donors from the MVHS Foundation were given tours of the footprint, it was quite impressive!
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We are in the final stages of securing our financing from investors and the bond market. Our bonds are now on sale in the market and we’re fielding calls for more information. We are pleased with the level of interest. Yet another step forward in making the regional medical center a reality!
We've also closed on the last property underneath the footprint of the new medical center building! And, we are working on finalizing a date in early December for the groundbreaking of the medical center – more details to come soon!
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WHICH PUMPKIN DID YOU VOTE FOR?
This week the staff at the RNC held a pumpkin decorating contest – here’s just a few entries. The winner will be announced later today. Very creative!
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CENTERING PREGNANCY FAMILY REUNION
This week, we held a reunion for the families who were part of our Centering Pregnancy program that provides group support for women from pregnancy through birth and early childhood.
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UPCOMING EVENTS AT MVHS AND IN OUR COMMUNITY
GROUPTACULAR, Saturday, October 26, 9:30 a.m., Utica City Hall. Join the MVHS MyCare team and the The Fitness Mill for a GROUPTACULAR group fitness class to benefit breast cancer, with a live group fitness workout, costume contest, live DJ and basket raffles. We hope to see you there!
Celebrate World Stroke Day at CoreLife Eatery, Tuesday, October 29, 5:30 p.m. Join Dr. Varun Reddy, director of the MVHS Stroke Center, in a discussion about ways to prevent and treat stroke. This event is FREE to all, so bring a friend and enjoy a complimentary hand-crafted beverage from CoreLife!
Special Service hosted by Spiritual Care, Friday, November 1, 12:15 p.m., St. Marianne Cope Chapel, St. Elizabeth Campus. To celebrate All Saint’s Day and All Soul’s Day, Deacon Paul Lehmann will hold a special service. If there is a co-worker who passed away this year who you’d like to remember, please contact Deacon Paul.
CycleNation, Thursday, November 7, 5 p.m., Thrive Athletic Center. Want to contribute to raising awareness about stroke? Then pull together a team and become part of CycleNation, a cycling event with stationary bikes and competitive teams, all raising funds for a good cause. And, our own Dr. Varun Reddy will be one of the celebrity cyclists! Click HERE for more information.
MVHS Benefits Enrollment, October 29 through November 15. Look for details in the enrollment packages being mailed to your home this week.
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BE SURE TO FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA!
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