PresbyBulletin - Penn Presbyterian Medical Center

Presby Bulletin Digital Edition -- May 16, 2013

Greg Richter — Thu, 16 May 2013 11:23:28 -0400

PPMC Goes Mad

Katie Delach — Thu, 16 May 2013 11:09:03 -0400

Three hundred of Presbyterian’s staff and supporters gathered at Vie on Friday, March 15 to celebrate the 12th annual Presby fundraiser. Together with corporate sponsors, PPMC far surpassed its previous fundraising record ($88,000 in 2011) raising over $175,000.

Guests attended in their vintage best to fit this year’s Mad Men-inspired theme, Mad Party, and enjoyed an evening of glamour, swanky music and classic cocktails reminiscent of the 1960s.

The true highlight of the evening was honoring PPMC’s Chief of Medicine Jack Ende, MD, with the Hospital Hero Award. This annual award recognizes people who make vital contributions to Presby and share the spirit of loyalty and passion with the broader Health System. A special tribute video helped explain why Dr. Ende is truly Penn Presbyterian’s Hospital Hero.

Proceeds from the event will support the Penn Mesothelioma and Pleural Program. When treating patients with mesothelioma or pleural disease, Penn Medicine specialists offer more treatment options than most other health systems across the country and around the world. Funds raised at this year’s event will make it possible for Penn Presbyterian to continue to provide better outcomes to cancer patients and helps to give patients access to the most advanced treatment, surgical techniques and clinical trials.

Congratulations to all the staff and administration at Penn Presbyterian!

For more photos from the evening’s festivities, and to view the Hospital Hero tribute video, please visit http://2013ppmcmadparty.shutterfly.com/

Putting the Kids to Work

Katie Delach — Thu, 16 May 2013 11:08:17 -0400

Last month PPMC took part in another successful, “Take Your Kids to Work Day.” Over 200 children from PPMC employee families attended this year’s educational and entertaining activities. Each year, participating groups develop new interactive activities for children to learn about healthcare as a career choice and educate children on health prevention/ improvement. This year, kids received hands-on CPR training, learned about respiration therapy techniques, participated in simulated laproscopic surgery, and more!

Thank you to all our volunteers and participants for making the day a success and enhancing our culture of excellence at PPMC. Click through to the full story below for a slideshow of photos from the day’s activities.

Full Story

Open Enrollment Change Period – Until May 19

Katie Delach — Thu, 16 May 2013 11:06:37 -0400

Open Enrollment has ended but you have another opportunity to log in and make changes to your benefits or to enroll. If you have logged in and made changes, you were asked to print out your confirmation statement with your elections for the upcoming year.

Please review this document carefully since it lists the benefit elections that you made for the FY14 benefit plan year (July 1 – June 30). Please use the online enrollment website www.enrollone.com/uphs to make changes or corrections. If all of the information is complete and accurate, no further action is required. Please keep the printed confirmation statement for your records.

The enrollment or changes that you make during this time will take effect July 1, 2013. Once the enrollment period closes on May 19th, you will not be eligible to make changes to your benefits until either the next open enrollment period or you have experienced a qualified life event or status change that would allow you to make changes to your current elections.

If you have any questions, please contact the Benefits Department at 215.615.2675, option #4.

Annual Spring Health Fairs

Katie Delach — Thu, 16 May 2013 11:05:32 -0400

National Nurses Week (May 6-10) started with the center of PPMC’s Professional Practice Model and a fundamental component PPMC’s mission to serve the community. Under the Nursing Professional Development Council leadership, PPMC volunteers made the 5^th Annual “Spring into Health Community Day” a major success for local residents, meeting with more than 400 attendees.

Through both the “Spring into Health Community Day” and last month’s “The Sounds of West Philadelphia at Life – 3^rd Annual Community Wellness Day” volunteers met with over 1,200 people in the West Philadelphia community to learn more information and new ways to improve their health.

Stay tuned in future issues of the Presby Bulletin for more on how we celebrated National Nurses Week.

What’s Your Big Idea?

Katie Delach — Thu, 16 May 2013 11:04:53 -0400

Last year, two ideas, Patient Services Kiosks and myPenn Scheduler, were selected as the winners of Your Big Idea: Penn Medicine’s Innovation Tournament. Today, both of these ideas are a reality, thanks to the hard work of the Your Big Idea winners and skilled collaborators from all across Penn Medicine. In addition to those winning ideas, we’ve implemented dozens of other ideas that were submitted.

Now, The Your Big Challenge will focus on finding opportunities to be more efficient while continuing to excel at our tripartite mission of Patient Care, Teaching & Research. The Challenge includes some new features and enhancements—including the Prove Us Wrong Challenge, where you’ll have a chance to develop your idea even if it doesn’t make it through to the next round right away. Most importantly, we’ll implement more ideas than last year, by providing you with the training and resources to pursue your teams’ ideas independently.

The new Your Big Idea Cost-Savings Challenge is now open. The deadline to submit your idea is June 7. Winners will be announced the week of June 24, 2013. For more information, please visit www.pennmedicine.org/YourBigIdea.

Presby Bulletin Digital Edition -- May 3, 2013

Greg Richter — Thu, 02 May 2013 11:44:30 -0400

Open publication

PPMC and Penn Medicine CAREs in the Community

Katie Delach — Thu, 02 May 2013 10:35:32 -0400

As University City High School (UCHS) students reach the stage of making significant life decisions, a Penn Medicine CAREs grant funds a program to provide them with resources and training to help along the way.

The new program at nearby UCHS, one of the Netter Center for Community Partnership’s university-assisted community schools, includes two parts. The first consists of health education lectures delivered to UCHS students by Family Medicine residents. The second is an internship program for older students interested in medical careers who are enrolled in UCHS’ Twilight classes, an evening school program for students over 17.

Full Story

Heartfelt Thanks

Katie Delach — Thu, 02 May 2013 10:34:45 -0400

An excerpt from a letter to Allen Fasnacht, BSN, RN, from Kathleen Sonnie, MSW, Program Coordinator at Bethesda Project Spruce Street, a permanent housing establishment for 16 women who were previously homeless.

On Friday, February 15, 2013, several of your nurses volunteered to come with dinner and dessert to celebrate Valentine’s Day with the women. I would like you to know who these wonderful women were: Kathy Farrell, Holly Strine, Angela Jorden, Antoinette Gharlet, Bianca Innaurato, Lindsey Hamilton, Shon Johnson, and Esther Wood.

They not only brought a delicious dinner but also provided all of the paper goods for Valentine’s Day. The nurses served the dinner and provided enjoyable conversation. I commend them for their care, respect, and concern for the women. Blessings on you and your work at Penn Presbyterian!

Remembering Frank H. Gardner, MD

Katie Delach — Thu, 02 May 2013 10:34:14 -0400

Frank H. Gardner, MD, a former professor of Medicine at Penn Medicine and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, died at his home in Galveston on April 6, at age 93.

Full Story

A Concert to Benefit JDRF

Katie Delach — Thu, 02 May 2013 10:32:51 -0400

The 3rd annual Rockin’ Docs for Diabetes Cure will be held on Friday, May 10, 2013, at the World Cafe Live in Philadelphia, PA, starting at 7:30 PM and is open to all ages. This benefit concert is a fundraising event sanctioned by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), the largest charitable funder and advocate of diabetes research worldwide (and originally started right here in Philadelphia). All profits generated will benefit JDRF (a 501c organization) towards their mission to find a cure for type I diabetes and its complications.

Building on the success of our last two shows, the Rockin’ Docs concert will feature four established local bands which include multiple doctor-musicians from several major hospital centers in the Philadelphia area. This year one of those bands will be Blue Bizness which features Dr. Zeller and a guest appearance by Dr. Einhorn, both from UPHS’s medical staff Tickets are $27 in advance or $30 at the door. For tickets and more event information, please visit www.rockindocs.org.

Annual Total Compensation Statements Now Available Online!

Katie Delach — Thu, 02 May 2013 10:31:48 -0400

Your annual Total Compensation Statement gives you a “big picture” view of the value of your UPHS pay and benefits. The newest statement, showing the total value of your benefits and compensation for the period January 1, 2012 – December 31, 2012, is now available online. Visit the Human Resources website, www.uphshrandyou.com and click on one of the links for the Total Compensation Statement.

NEW this year: It’s easier to access your statement! Just use your network ID and password.

Did you know your statement is also a valuable tool to use in retirement planning? Review the Retirement section to be sure you’re participating in all the retirement plans that you’re eligible to join and that you’re making the most of your opportunities to plan for your future.

In order to receive a Total Compensation Statement, you must be a UPHS employee, enrolled in UPHSflex benefits, and have a hire date on or before June 30, 2012.

Looking for Fresh Fruits and Veggies?

Katie Delach — Thu, 02 May 2013 10:31:02 -0400

Greensgrow Farm is a national leader in bringing fresh local produce and healthy food items to urban neighborhoods. For 10 years Greensgrow has offered a unique buying club called a CSA (community-supported agriculture) program. Each week, CSA members sample a basket of the best food the region has to offer. And now, you can pick up your basket just down the street from PPMC!

Full Story

Presby Bulletin Digital Edition -- April 19, 2013

Greg Richter — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 12:44:48 -0400

Open publication

National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week

Katie Delach — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 12:17:21 -0400

The Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine at PPMC will be celebrating National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week (NMLPW) from April 22^nd through the 26^th.

NMLPW is an annual tribute to the laboratory professionals and pathologists who play a vital role in every aspect of health care. Since they often work behind the scenes, few people know about the critical testing they perform each day.

Please join the department for their annual tours of the labs on Thursday April 25^th from 10 am to 2 pm - every hour on the hour. Tours will provide a “behind the scenes” look at the labs and a meet-and-greet with the great professionals who make it all happen!

It Is Easy Being Green

Katie Delach — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 12:16:34 -0400

Join PPMC faculty and staff for Presby’s first Green Lunch Talk! On Tuesday April 23, the

Presby Eco-reps, Presby Green Committee, and the Nursing Advisory Council (NAC) will host a lunch-and-learn event focused on building sustainable best practices for “going green.” The Eco-reps and the NAC have collaborated on linen use reduction, and are working on reducing red bag waste as this year’s project. Free pizza and beverages will be provided. All Presby employees are encouraged to attend.

Date: Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Time: 11:00am-12:30pm

Location: PHI 106

Speakers and Presentations:

Andrea Keriner, advisor for the Penn Green Campus Partnership; Sustainability 101
Liz Rath, co-chair of the Presby NAC; Presby’s green initiatives (recycling, energy conservation)

For more information, please contact Lise Bauman at Lise.Bauman@uphs.upenn.edu

2013 Philadelphia Science Festival

Katie Delach — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 12:14:17 -0400

The University of Pennsylvania will celebrate the 3^rd Annual Philadelphia Science Festival from Thursday, April 18 through April 28, 2013. Click here for a full list of the activities in which Penn Med’s faculty, students, and staff are spotlighted.

Full Story

PPMC CCU Turns 50!

Katie Delach — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 12:13:20 -0400

Nurses return to PPMC to celebrate the country’s first CCU

In the 1960s, as the knowledge of cardiology expanded, so did the skills needed to care for these patients. During this time, with the inception of the CCU, nursing had to assume the skills needed for cardiac monitoring and defibrillation, breaking down the barriers between the scope of nursing and physicians. Having a nurse recognize a fatal arrhythmia and saving a patient’s life by defibrillation without the guidance of a physician was the first step in advancing and expanding the role of the CCU nurse. This was done the very first time at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center.

Full Story

Thanks, Docs!

Katie Delach — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 12:10:51 -0400

From left: Leonard Rosenfeld, DO, and Timothy Clark, MD

PPMC hosted its annual Doctors’ Day Breakfast on Wednesday, April 3, to celebrate National Doctors’ Day. Physicians and residents came to the Wright-Saunders rotunda to enjoy a delicious breakfast and socialize with colleagues and members of hospital administration.

Full Story

2013 National Patient Safety Awareness Week

Katie Delach — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 12:07:31 -0400

Congratulations to the winners of the 2013 National Patient Safety Awareness Week Fair!

Platinum Prize – 5South’s “Call Me Safely” fall prevention video

Two team members – Anu Pullukattu and Kristin Covely – will be attending the 2013 National Patient Safety Congress in New Orleans in May. The trip is made possible with the generous support of PPMC’s Medical Staff. Congratulations 5 South!

Gold Prize – the SICU’s “SWARM” video and display featuring the B101 Bee on the day of the fair!

Silver Prize – the MICU’s “Ring My Bell” display raising awareness of alarm fatigue, a new 2014 National Patient Safety Goal.