Making The Rounds September 2013

CEO’s Corner… Dear Employees:

Fall is just around the corner and change is in our midst! Building is underway with the hospital’s new parking lot already under

construction as I write this letter. As we progress, we have made every attempt to minimize the number of trees that we will have to

lose. With improvement we often incur pain, but I am relieved to report that the majority of the mature trees on the hospita l’s

grounds will be saved. And I am extremely proud to convey that we will occupy the new 66,000 sq. ft. addition sometime next fall!

With all the changes going on, I began to ponder how many of you might have felt when I walked into the hospital almost two years

ago. Within months you observed the color of the hospital walls had changed, a new hospital logo was introduced; there was greater

emphasis on customer service along with a renewed priority placed on achieving our quality and customer-service goals. I find it

awe-inspiring that within the first year, we achieved our quality, patient-satisfaction and financial goals! For this, I would like to thank you. It is you – our employees –

who have made our hospital successful.

During the first year, we embarked on an initiative with the Studer group. For the past year, we have been taking leaders off-campus for leadership training. It is im-

portant that your director obtain the best training possible. Topics covered have been customer service, team building, and the high-middle-low performers. The as-

signment given to each director was to meet with each one of their employees and discuss your performance.

High performers in the organization can easily be spotted. They are the ones who consistently show up for work, complete their assignments, exhibit a positive attitude

and often ask their directors for additional work or opportunities to grow within the organization. Middle performers have similar traits, but often have an area-for-

improvement that needs some work. This could range from unexcused absences, the occasional display of a poor attitude, and untimely completion of assignments or

tardiness. If the middle performers heed advice from their managers, they can easily become high performers.

Low performers are the ones that take advantage. They call in sick the maximum allowed; they are frequently late for work; they complain about their work and their

leadership. Every organization has low performers. Low performers across all organizations keep the establishment from achieving excellence. I want to work in an

organization that is considered excellent.

I am asking every employee to re-commit to working here and giving 100% of themselves every time they walk through these doors. We have a goal of excellence, and

going forward we will reward those whose performance exemplifies excellence! Thanks for all you do.

Sincerely,

Jim Matney

Revised Employee handbook!

Revisions have been made to the Employee Handbook. The revised handbook is now available on our website at www.colquittregional.com. Printed copies are available in

your department or Human Resources. For your convenience, revisions are summarized on page 3 of this newsletter. Also, informational meetings are being held throughout

the month of September. All employees must sign an acknowledgement form located on the last page of the handbook. Acknowledgement forms are due in Human Resources by

October 1, 2013.

Colquitt Regional Medical Center Employee Handbook

Effective September 4, 2013, the revised Colquitt Regional Medical Center Employ-

ee Handbook will be available on www.colquittregional.com or hard copies may be

picked up in the Human Resources office. Informational meetings will be held to

review Employee Handbook revisions. Employees are welcome to attend a meeting

or review the handbook independently. All employees must sign an acknowledg-

ment form located on the last page of The Handbook. Acknowledgement forms

are due in Human Resources by October 1, 2013. The meetings will be held the

following days/times:

September 5th at 10:00 am in Education & Training

September 11th at 8:00 pm in the Cafeteria

September 12 at 4:00 pm in Education & Training

September 17 at 11:00 am in Education & Training

September 20 at 10:00 am in Education & Training

September 25 at 3:00 pm in Education & Training

If you have any questions, please contact Human Resources at extension 3533.

Colquitt Regional Medical Center

Employee Handbook

Revisions

2013

Leaves of Absence (Pages 4 – 8)

Expansion of policy definitions, process, and more detailed explanation of the Family &

Medical Leave Act.

Addition of Military Exigency Leave as required by the Family & Medical Leave Act

Electronic Mail and Voice Mail (Page 16)

Addition to the policy: “Under no circumstances shall employees use Hospital elec-

tronic communications to promote or solicit money for or memberships in any out-

side organization, including, but not limited to, social, civic, business, union, trade,

and community groups. Certain Hospital sponsored charities are our exception. “

Drug Free Workplace (Pages 18-19)

Addition to the policy under section entitled “Testing” on page 18:

“ Random drug testing- Employees in “safety sensitive” positions will be required to

submit to drug testing on a random basis. The term “safety sensitive employee”

means employees in positions whose duties, as determined by the Hospital, involve

responsibilities such as security, health, safety, or other responsibilities requiring a

high degree of trust and confidence. Selection of employees for random testing shall

be conducted through the use of random number generator or other neutral selection

process.” Note: Random testing will begin in November 2013.

Distribution & Solicitation (Pages 20-21)

New policy with enforcement required.

No Harassment or Discrimination Policy (Pages 22-23)

Incorporation of “Discrimination” policy into the “No Harassment” policy.

Employee Committee News

Employee Committee Meeting

August 6, 2013

Members present: Staci DeRosso, Megan Ford, Jessica Ray, Larry Sims, Kesia Pettis, Holly Elkins,

Tracy Edwards, Julie Howell-Merritt, Camilla Harris, and Cheryl Gibson

Absent: Brianne Tomlinson, Dawn Johns, Pam Morgan, Ruth Ann Croft, Danny Massey, Raven De-

loach

The meeting was called to order by Megan Ford, President, who welcomed everyone.

The minutes from last month’s meeting were approved by Camilla and seconded by Tracey.

Treasurer’s Report: The General Fund has $19, 344.93. The Charity Fund has $6, 996.62. The Fu-

ture Fund has $833,713.89.

Suggestions: 1. Employees should only park in designated and valid parking spots. This will be re-

ferred to security; the committee is aware that parking will be an issue for the next several months due to

construction. 2. Traffic needs to be slowed down near Central Supply. This will also be referred to se-

curity. 3. There was a suggestion that we get special ID badges for family members of patients. This

will be referred to Dena Zinker.

There was an approved suggestion that the Colquitt Regional logo be placed on the nursing locators.

This is in the works and the person who suggested this will receive $25.

Charity/Future Fund: 1 out of 5 new employees signed up.

Memorials: There were 2 bricks purchased for the month of July.

Charity Requests: There were 6 requests: 3 approved and 3 denied.

Special Projects: The Packer t-shirts are now ready to begin sales. Each member was given a packet of

information.

Old business: None.

New business: The Benefits Fair is coming up in a couple of months. The committee decided that we

will purchase umbrellas for the employee gift this year, hopefully in the new hospital blue color.

With no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 12:30 p.m.

9/01 Susan Bennett 9/01 Cynthia Hale 9/01 David Lowery 9/03 Ashley Boring 9/03 Craig Kirkland 9/03 Gail Sparkman 9/04 Michelle Carter 9/04 Gina Sierra 9/05 Cheryl Brock 9/05 Mary J. Jackson 9/05 Peggy Zeigler 9/06 Latoya Copeland 9/06 Hannah Hoes 9/06 John Howard 9/07 Miranda Lord 9/07 Zerita Parker 9/07 Sula Ann Stam 9/08 Jeremy Davis 9/09 Christi Davis 9/09 Heather Steffen 9/09 Leisa Stone 9/09 Marlene Webb 9/11 Joan Myers 9/11 Heather Nelson 9/11 Sheri Pierce 9/11 Dophamia Ponder 9/11 Melissa Slocumb 9/12 Sherolyn Davis 9/12 Lisa Hewitt 9/12 Lauryn Niday 9/13 Tammy Gaines 9/13 Wanda Picon 9/13 Jonathon Stallings 9/14 Shawanda Grier 9/14 Emma Hankins 9/14 Lenore Jackson 9/15 Cecelia Bullard 9/16 Vicki Dampier 9/16 Jessica Fields 9/16 Carleen Powell 9/16 Karl Tatum 9/17 Linda Carter 9/17 Staci DeRosso 9/17 Barbara Gosselin 9/17 Kerri Holloway 9/17 Neali Inmon

9/17 Gloria Jenkins 9/17 Kenneth Sikes 9/17 Barbara Yeomans 9/18 Sheila Causey 9/18 Lori Folsom 9/18 Barbara Gibson 9/19 Yvette Coleman 9/19 Cynthia Gamble 9/19 Kelly Holton 9/19 Angela Hurst 9/19 Kelly Oxley 9/19 Maria Turrubiartez 9/19 Curtis Wilson 9/20 Alicia Murphy 9/21 Penny Cardwell 9/21 Monica Gibbs 9/21 Wanda Goble 9/21 Dawn Johns 9/21 Eric Slaughter 9/22 Michelle Covington 9/22 Regina Folsom 9/22 Tiffanie Gibson 9/23 Misti Carter 9/24 Kelly Goff 9/24 Bernard Hill 9/24 Shavaun Jones 9/25 Donald Garvitte 9/25 Debra Hayes 9/25 Teresa Smith 9/26 Jessica Edwards 9/27 Mark Brown 9/27 Lisa Childs 9/27 Tammy Golson 9/27 Kiwonna McIntyre 9/27 Amy Miller 9/27 Evelyn Williams 9/28 Cathy Beasley 9/28 Wendy Causey 9/28 Brenda Odom 9/28 Christal Pitts 9/28 Sabrina Shumans 9/28 Adam Taylor 9/29 Wendy Brown 9/29 Suzanne Causey

10/01 Susan Blanton 10/02 Jill Matney 10/02 Beth Middleton 10/03 Lynn Hinson 10/03 Alicia Horkan 10/04 Tim Elder 10/04 Ashley McGowan 10/05 Mary Pat Goodman 10/05 John Norman 10/05 Ericka Sanchez 10/06 Max Moore 10/08 Ed Barrow 10/08 Jessica Giles 10/08 Marsha Summerlin 10/09 Bonnie Illian 10/09 Anne Strickland 10/09 Pam Summerlin 10/10 Paul Bynum 10/10 Jeanna Odum 10/11 Monike Smith 10/12 Staci Sutton 10/13 Josh Stitley 10/13 Lamar Weeks 10/14 Christy Chason 10/14 Lori Beth Wiard 10/15 Janett Williams 10/16 Keizzie Collins 10/16 Neva McMullen 10/16 Brandie Morton

10/17 Melissa Shiver 10/17 Justin Summerlin 10/18 Laura Durrence 10/19 Jeremy Beck 10/19 Linda Deas 10/19 Bethany Lewis 10/19 Betty Lewis 10/19 Kristy Peeples 10/21 Nicky Hilton 10/22 Teresa Courtney 10/22 Cheryl Gibson 10/23 Kenya Collins 10/23 Betty Fowler 10/23 Dorothy Jones 10/23 Ed Ramos 10/24 Dustin Hart 10/25 Angie Herndon 10/26 Tamara Ashley 10/26 Beth Skidmore 10/27 Tracy Bridges 10/27 Lauren Fender 10/28 Kathy Weeks 10/29 Christie Johnson 10/30 Michael Barnes 10/30 Wendy Middlebrooks 10/31 Avery Castleberry 10/31 Debbie Norman 10/31 Summer Richmond

Misti Carter was named

Employee of the Month

for July 2013. An em-

ployee of Colquitt Re-

gional Medical Center

since November 2010,

Misti works on the 3rd

Floor Medical/Surgical

department . In her free

time, Misti enjoys spend-

ing time with her children-

Adrian & Natalie.

Colquitt Regional Medical Center Employee of the Month

July 2013

Casey Jo Bennett was recent-

ly named Employee of the

Month for August 2013. Ca-

sey Jo works in the Emergen-

cy Room and has been em-

ployed with Colquitt Region-

al Medical Center since May

2006. Casey Jo enjoys

spending time with her hus-

band Brian and sons– Owen

& Parker. They enjoy travel-

ing to the beach. Casey Jo &

her family are expecting a

new baby in March 2014.

Colquitt Regional Medical Center Employee of the Month

August 2013

Human Resources is in the house! Human Resources will have extended hours on Wednes-

day, September 11, 2013. If you need our assistance,

please come see us. Nick Pappas, Retirement Consult-

ant will also be here on this day to conduct individual

retirement meetings. If you would like to schedule an

appointment, please call Human Resources at extension

Patient Satisfaction Scores ER Scores by Discharge Date

As of 8/30/13

June: 82 surveys July: 132 surveys to date August: 35 surveys to date

If we keep up this momentum, August will have the highest scores of the three months!

HCAHPS Domain Data by Discharge Date

As of 8/30/13

June: 74 surveys July: 80 surveys to date August: 26 surveys to date

63.4

79.1

74.2

85.3

68.8

71.5

40.5

84.7

69.7

80

64.5

78.8

66.7

68.8

58.4

79.4

70.3

81.2

83.3

88.8

75.6

61.2

53.6

88.7

0 20 40 60 80 100

Rate the Hospital

Communication with Nurses

Responsiveness of Staff

Communication With Doctors

Hosp Environment

Pain Management

Communication About Meds

Discharge Info

Aug/Date

July/Date

June

35.9

50

42.7

51.2

41.4

41.5

52.3

46.6

33

51.8

48.8

50.8

45.4

43.7

52.9

47.2

37.6

64

67.5

57.5

53.1

58.2

70.5

64.5

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Arrival

Doctors

Fam/Friends

Nurses

Overall Assessment

Personal Issues

Per Insurance Info

Tests

Aug/Date

July/Date

June

Banner Winners

Congratulations to the Maternal/Infant Unit for winning

the Nurse Communication Banner for the month of June!

Third Floor Medical/Surgical will maintain the banner for

the month of June for Willingness to Recommend!

Congratulations to both departments!!

KEY WORDS

Key Words in talking to patients:

“Our goal is to always provide you with very good care. If we are not meeting those expecta-

tions, please let us know”.

“Our hospital is under construction to give us more space as our patient population continues to

grow. I assure you, it will not affect the quality of your care”.

AIDET A– Acknowledge

I– Introduce

D– Duration

E– Explanation

T– Thank You

“Is there

anything else I can do for you?”

Employee Health & Wellness First Employee to lose 13%!!

13% Loss in Body Weight in 2013

Linda Mead won “You Make A Difference Coins” for

being the weekly winner in the 13 in 13 competition.

Linda has already reached her 13% goal! Congratula-

tions to Linda and all the other employees. Keep up the

good work!

500 Pounds Lost I just want to congratulate the employees of Colquitt Regional Medical Center for losing 500

pounds in the 13 in 13 Competition thus far. There are 156 employees competing for the grand

prize. If you have not signed up, it is not too late! Come to Human Resources on

Thursdays between 7:00 am-3:00 pm. The grand prize is $500 and the competi-

tion will end December 2, 2013.

Make sure to watch your emails for the scheduled events that are held daily and

weekly for Employee Health & Wellness. I hope to see you there!

Blake Williams

Employee Health & Wellness Coach

Health & Wellness Spotlight Congratulations Detra Little of Maternal/Infant Unit!

I started a major lifestyle change for myself on May 9, 2012. I was tired of taking three different blood pressure medi-cations every day and was tired of just being tired.....I started this challenge by slowly increasing my activity by joining the YMCA and started with working out in the water to ease the pain on my joints and bones. I joined Anytime Fit-ness due to being able to go to the gym at any time on any day and started walking on the treadmill, slowly increasing activity and challenges while losing the weight. I now walk on the treadmill for at least one hour every day and will start strength training this week. At the beginning of my journey, I started logging my foods and activities using myfit-nesspal.com and as of this week I have consecutively logged every meal for the past 467 days!!!! I plan my meals

every week, cooking one day for the work week and follow my plans with very little difficulty. I now see myself in a different light, my self-confidence has increased and my overall happiness and health has been amazing. To date I have lost 55 lbs., I am now down to one blood pressure medication daily and my whole family has joined into my lifestyle change with great enthusiasm and support. I continue to set new goals and challenges for myself and with the great support and determination of my family, friends and co-workers, I know I can do this and I am so excited about my future!!!

Employee Forum August 8, 2013

2:30 p.m. Topic Notes/Disposition Overtime clarification CEO prefers overtime instead of being

overstaffed and sending employees home. Overtime can be approved if busy.

Rumor of employees working off the clock CEO states it is illegal for anyone to work off the clock. If an employee is working, it is mandatory the employee clock in.

Can consideration be given to another plan; CEO states it is either/or. Polled and most therefore, employees will not have to use their employees preferred the 6 extra PTO days. PTO for an un-scheduled absence? How many days must an employee be out of work 6 days; however if they are out on FLMA or before they can use from their extended illness due to surgery, they can immediately use bank? hours from their extended bank. If duty calls you to work overtime on one day YES – if you take off during the same week can you take that time off the next day? the overtime occurred.

Do we still have the emergency fund? Heard YES – that was only a rumor. 50% of your that all employees’ donations were being donation goes to building fund and 50% to given to the building fund. charity fund. How much money in building fund and charity Approximately $835,000 in building; fund? approximately $20,000 in charity-per CFO.

Can we place the minutes from the Employee YES – we can do that. Committee meeting in Making the Rounds?

Can we do more advertising of our hospice Maybe in the future – will only advertise for services? new doctors during the summer. Our hospitalist program and the patients We now have 4 anchors; therefore a patient treated by a different physician daily. should see the same doctor for at least 4 consecutive days.

With new construction, how many beds will We are currently licensed for 155 beds and we gain? that will remain the same; however we will have 102 private beds once the construction is complete.

Will we get badge swipe system? YES – once new construction is complete.

Can we install keypad on door near YES – will forward to Facility Operations to Radiology; therefore employees of those areas address. will have easier after-hour access.

Potholes are located in parking lots. Will forward to Facility Operations to address.

Will Jim Matney stay here? YES per CEO – 15 to 20 years

Medicine from Pharmacy during weekend. If you need medicine then you can get them.

New dress code NO – but current dress code is being enforced.

Why can’t all employees wear their blue shirts? Decision made by Directors; they run their departments.

Colquitt Regional Volunteer Auxiliary has chosen to give all the newborn babies delivered at

Colquitt Regional Medical Center a new blanket as its community project. Blankets were pur-

chased for more than 800 babies and will be given out as the infants are discharged from the

hospital. In addition to the blankets the volunteers will donate toys to the children’s closet at the

hospital. These toys will be given to pediatric patients at Colquitt Regional Medical Center. Pic-

tured are Anita Johnston, RN and Dorothy Crapps, Volunteer Auxiliary member, after they

wrapped the first baby in the new swaddler.

Keep Calm

Call a Volunteer

9181 or 3534

Volunteer Auxiliary

The Pink Pearl

at

Colquitt Regional Medical Center

New Hours:

Monday: 9:00 am-8:00 pm

Tuesday: 9:00 am-8:00 pm

Wednesday: 9:00 am-4:30 pm

Thursday: 9:00 am-8:00 pm

Friday: 9:00 am-8:00 pm

Saturday: 10:00 am-2:00 pm

Come check out our new merchandise! New payment schedule through payroll

deduction.

Benefits 411

Employee Assistance Program– Employees & family members have access to the employee assistance program at Colquitt Regional Medical Center provided by Anodyne Counseling. Counselors include Yvonne Cox, PhD and Margaret McDaniel, LCSW. Please contact the Employee Assistance Program at

985-8452 for more information.

Nick Pappas will be here on September 11, 2013 to conduct individual retirement meetings beginning at 1pm. Please call

Human Resources at ext. 3533 to schedule an appointment.

You may now fill two months of prescription drugs (excluding narcotics & new prescriptions) in the Colquitt Regional Phar-

macy.

AFLAC reimburses $50 per year for wellness screenings such as Mammograms, Pap Smears, Colonoscopies. Claim forms

are available in Human Resources.

Pay Day Winner

And the winner of the S.O.P. Pay Day for the month

of August 2013 is...

Angela Booth Pezant, Outpatient Surgery

Angela is the winner of $25.00. Her name was sub-

mitted for “Being mentioned by a patient on a com-

ment card that you were nice.” Angela displayed

the Standard of ATTITUDE.

Congratulations, Angela, and to all employees whose

names were submitted in the S.O.P. boxes for ex-

emplifying a Standard of Performance. All other

WOW cards that were in the boxes are being

mailed to you.

From my heart to yours…Rev. Hugh Ward, Chaplain As hospital chaplain and as the chaplain of hospice, I stand by people everyday who are facing the limits of life.

Because of the brevity of life and the finality of death, all of us either publicly or privately seek some assurances about life

after death for our loved ones and ourselves.

We wrestle about the suffering of the dying. We feel pain because of theirs. But we come to the One who created us because that is where life begins. God’s heartbeat became the life of humanity. We are God-breathed creatures. Thus, I am convinced that no one is more concerned about death than God. For God’s story is the unfolding history of

how God attempts in every way to preserve the gift of life for us no matter how we trivialize life or take it for granted.

God is the vigilant preserver of life for us all. I am certain that God’s heart is moved and touched by our tears. We have reason for tears. But let us remember that there are no unimportant tears to God. These are the words, the inspirations, that give comfort and reason for hope; words

that enable us to stand firm in faith even in the face of life’s most difficult moment.

Ernest Becker, an anthropologist, gave voice to our deepest anguish about death. He said: “This is humanity’s age-old dilemma in the face of death: what is feared is not so much extinction, but extinction with insignificance. Human beings want to know that their life has somehow count-ed, that it has left a trace, a trace that has meaning. And in order for anything once alive to have meaning, its effects must remain alive in eternity

some way.” He is not talking about a granite headstone. He wants a person’s life to have accomplished something that is remembered.

I would introduce this thoughtful man to St. Paul who wrote, “...Love never gives up; keeps going to the end…love never dies.” Thus, I have come to know that the greatest gift we are able to give to those who face the unraveling of life is love, which translates so wonderfully into tenderness,

compassion and kindness. Those who are loved retain a place of significance in our lives.

SAVE THE DATE! Employee Benefits Fair– October 24 & 25 in

the Educational Services Classrooms.