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e x e c u t i v e p e r s p e c t i v e

Fall 2012you

HCA Mission StatementAbove all else, we are committed to the care and improvement of human life. In recognition of this commitment, we strive to deliver high-quality, cost-effective healthcare in the communities we serve.

HCA ValuesIn pursuit of our mission, we believe the following value statements are essential and timeless.

We recognize and affirm the unique and intrinsic worth of each individual.

We treat all those we serve with compassion and kindness.

We act with absolute honesty, integrity and fair-ness in the way we conduct our business and the way we live our lives.

We trust our colleagues as valuable members of our healthcare team and pledge to treat one another with loyalty, respect and dignity.

We foster a culture of inclusion and diversity across all areas of our company that embraces and enriches our workforce, physicians, patients, partners and communities.

HCA

Chairman and CEO Richard M. Bracken

President and CFO R. Milton Johnson

Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications

and Marketing Jana J. Davis

Director, Internal Communications Richard Jonardi

Manager, Marketing Communications Mark Lee Taylor

Send comments to YOU.Magazine@hcahealthcare.com

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President Bobby Stark

Vice President Nicole Bates Provonchee

Chief Operating Officer Carlton Davis

Managing Editor Joe Morris

Creative Director Michael Ray Nott

Cover Image: Peyton Hoge

HCA’s Many Acts of Kindness

This year’s Frist Humanitarian Award recipi-ents have demonstrated compassionate care and made extraordinary contributions.

the humility these leaders displayed upon receiving our company’s highest honor was remarkable. clearly, each honoree felt he or she was compelled to respond to a need and help others through actions that, large or small, made a real difference.

the story of these three individuals is yet another chapter in a much bigger story, one that has been unfolding for more than 40 years. in addi-tion to the stories of Dick Adams, Dr. Frank cirisano and Kelli Jantz, this issue contains other legendary stories of response to human and societal needs. HcA’s responsiveness always goes above and beyond expectations, and that has been part of our culture since our founding.

When HcA co-founder Dr. tommy Frist, Jr. launched the tocqueville society for the united Way in 1981, he probably did not foresee that it would grow to more than 500 communities across the united states and around the world. De tocqueville members now give an average of about $600 million annually. Nor was it his goal to become the first recipient of the united Way’s Lifetime Achievement Award. in his acceptance remarks this spring, Dr. Frist said, “i am forever indebted to HcA for providing me a platform and encouragement over the years to work with organizations like united Way Worldwide.”

When HcA employees reached out to help fellow employees affected by the Florida hurricanes in 2004, they probably weren’t aware they were tak-ing the first step in creating an employee-run, employee-supported charity that was formalized in July of 2005. that was fortunate timing. the next month, Hurricane Katrina seriously disrupted millions of lives and HcA operations in New Orleans and across the Gulf coast. Luckily, regaining a semblance of normalcy was made possible through the Hope Fund.

this year, i have the privilege of serving as the executive sponsor for the caring for the community campaign conducted at the corporate office. similar campaigns benefiting the HcA Hope Fund will be carried out at campuses across the u.s. in addition to fundraising campaigns, many loca-tions will sponsor community service days where teams of HcA volunteers will visit not-for-profit agencies and provide thousands of hours of service. this collective commitment to HcA’s mission, of caring for and improving human life, is a shared accomplishment in which we all can take pride.

sincerely,

Joe sowellsenior vice president and chief Development Officer

INSIDE

REGIONAL ROUNDUP

FEAtURES

5 The Servant’s HeartHCA’s Frist Awards showcase the caring nature of employees, physicians and volunteers.

9 Burn Facilities Forge New PathsOverseas training and support highlight the extraordinary ways HCA’s burn centers help both their communities and others around the world.

10 Hope Fund Continues GrowthEmergencies don’t take time off, and neither do HCA employees’ efforts to keep the Hope Fund growing and helping those in need.

13 TAVR Procedure Takes OffNew process takes root at HCA facilities, and offers breakthrough technology for hard-to-treat patient population.

15 Tackling Lung Cancer Head On Screening program utilizes intake information, follow-up methods to boost lung-cancer preven-tion, survival rates.

DEPARtMENtS

3 Regional RoundupNews from around the divisions.

14 Safety & SecurityAt-risk facilities continue to receive upgrades in cameras, access technology and more as part of systemwide security enhancements.

16 Health & WellnessH2U’s coaching at-a-distance program rolls out to HCA employees; BConnected provides new way to access benefits; and Hannah Curlee marks one year on the road for H2U and HCA.

18 QualityhCare University trains the next generation of HCA’s information-technology specialists.

19 FacilitiesHCA prepares to open environmentally advanced facilities in Virginia.

Northeast ER Expands North Suburban’s Denver PresenceThornton, COWith its new Northeast free-standing emergency department, North suburban Medical center has greatly expanded access for resi-dents in the thornton area.

the 10,000-square-foot facility operates like a hospital-based emergency room (er), handling everything from minor injuries to more severe issues such as stroke or heart attack. it is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. prior to its opening, the nearest er was seven miles away. Now there is much better access to urgent care for North Denver residents, said Jen-nifer Alderfer, chief executive Officer of North suburban.

“the 10,000-square-foot facility has a dedicated trauma room, 10 private patient rooms, two of which are dedicated to pediatric care, on-site imaging services, including ct, ultrasound and digital x-ray, a full-service laboratory and a telemedicine camera,” Alderfer said. “thornton’s popula-tion is estimated to grow 34 percent over the next five years, so providing access to emergency care has become an absolute necessity. in the event of a heart attack or stroke, seconds matter.”

the new facility sits on nine acres that will eventually become a campus with medical office buildings and an ambulatory surgical center. it is the first phase of North suburban’s plan to grow along the i-25 corridor, Alderfer said.

HealthTrust Exec’s Diagnosis Inspires Book Nashville, TNFred Keller didn’t identify himself as an author a few years ago. indeed, writing a book was the furthest thing from his mind. As vice president of contracting for Healthtrust, he was more concerned with the ins and outs of keeping a successful HcA subsidiary going. And then, in the summer of 2009, he received the diagnosis that would change his life.

“When i found out that i had multiple sclerosis (Ms), i didn’t immedi-ately think i would write a book,” Keller said. “it’s a very complex disease, and i had a lot to learn. While there was a great deal to study regarding the medical aspects of the disease, there wasn’t much to help with the emotional side. i have great doctors and great family support, but i would go into the neurologist’s office and see people who were doing well, and others who were invalids. that bothered me. Not knowing what to expect from all this, my wife said i should start writing down what was on my

The Northeast ER means quality care closer to home for Denver residents.

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REGIONAL ROUNDUP

mind. A few weeks later, she asked to read it and afterwards, she told me it might be helpful to others. that was really the birth of the book.”

What Keller wrote would eventually become “i Awake to Another Day,” a chronicle of his journey with, and through, Ms. He de-scribes the writing process as therapeutic, something that helped him feel better about accepting what was going on in his life. “i wanted the message to be something that people could easily relate to, and that would simplify a lot of the emotional mystery around this disease. ultimately, i had to integrate Ms into my life and not allow my life to become integrated into Ms, and there were — and are — challenges in doing that. Writing helped me to overcome so much of this disease and to believe that there is a purpose and reason behind it, and knowing that is the most impor-tant thing in how you ultimately move forward.”

that combination of optimism and reality check doesn’t surprise anyone who works with Keller, said ed Jones, chief Operating Officer at Healthtrust.

“He’s never missed a beat at work, but sometimes would have a crutch, so we would know that he wasn’t feeling his best,” he explained. “to see someone doing that is inspirational, but the book lets us see the disease through his eyes, not from the outside. it’s just one more way that he thinks of everyone around him, and how he is better for that. that’s why people around here would run through walls for him.”

Pediatric Emergency Room Earns KudosBrooksville, FL

children are frequent patients at emergency rooms, and once there, they usually have to deal with adult-sized issues. Not so at Oak Hill Hospital, which opened the first dedicated pediatric emergency room in citrus and Hernando counties last October.

“the American Academy of pediatrics and American college of emergency physicians saw that emergency rooms were not well equipped for pediatrics,” said cathy edmisten, rN, Oak Hill’s Di-rector of emergency services. “We decided to put some focus there, not only from a purely nursing perspective, but also to address a huge need in the community.”

“We closed our obstetrics unit several years ago, and pediatri-cians began referring to a competitor hospital,” edmisten said. “We still had a lot of children coming into our er, about 3,700 a

year, so we thought we might be able to offer a more com-prehensive pediatric service to the area.”

Working from guidelines by the emergency Nurses Association, a team

came up with what would be needed for a pediatric er, and dis-covered that the costs wouldn’t be prohibitive as much of the in-frastructure already was in place. repurposing the 2,200-square-foot unit cost about $55,000, and that included everything from bright paint to large-screen televisions and video-game consoles.

During the first full month of operation, pediatric er volume rose 46 percent over the previous year. More importantly, new practices such as a 24-hour follow up call to parents positioned Oak Hill as a trusted healthcare resource for area residents.

“We’ve heard everything from ‘i didn’t know you were here’ to ‘i can’t believe you’ve done this,’” edmisten said. “parents rave about the visit, about the nurses they met, about how bright and colorful the facility is. it really is a different feeling, and when they tell you that their child wasn’t scared, you know you’re onto something.”

Menorah Medical Center Serves Up Dining On CallOverland Park, KS

if you’re looking for pudding in a cup at Menorah Medical center, you’re out of luck. And the same goes for lumpy mashed potatoes, canned fruit and other hospital food of yore.

thanks to Dining On call, the hospital’s innovative food choice and delivery program, patients customize their meals from many

different options, all of which have been vetted by dieticians to meet specific nutritional needs. they also get to order it when they want, rather than having to wait for a set delivery time, said steve Achord, Food and Nutrition services Director.

“the patients really like hav-ing that control,” Achord said. “it really is more like ordering room service; it has that personal touch. We give them more choices, true alternatives, at every meal.”

Dining On call works using a 12-hour window for ordering, so patients who have tests coming up, or who might want to eat with family, can move their mealtimes up or back during that period. it gives them control in a situation where others are dictating much of their routine, Achord said.

“We’ve put dining back into the patient’s hands,” he said. “they call and speak to an operator, who has software displaying the diet plan for each patient. that allows the operator to filter out restricted items and assist patients with appropri-ate meal choices. We’ve created menus broad enough to give people abundant choices, even if they are on the most restricted diet.”

Menus delivered to patients also have markings for heart-healthy items, as well as carb counts, so the patient may pick and choose based on that information as well.

“We’ve refined the way the program works, and are always making it better, faster and more efficient,” Achord said. “people still think hospital food is bland and not good. We’re changing that perception thanks to the work of our executive chef and entire dietary staff. We’ve got a good program that allows people to have choice, and their choices are all high-quality dishes.”

fall | 2012 you 5

As a company, HcA is devoted

to providing outstanding patient

care. employees also give gener-

ously of their time to local civic

and philanthropic organizations,

further integrating the company’s

mission into the communities it

serves. And every year, the Frist

Humanitarian Awards recognize

those who do all that, and more, to

enrich the world around them.

this year’s honorees are no dif-

ferent. the three national award

recipients were first honored by

their facilities, then further en-

dorsed by nomination committees

at the division level and finally

selected from an amazing group of

finalists by a review team at HcA’s

corporate offices in Nashville.

every Frist Humanitarian Award

nominee, at every level, is someone

who is doing amazing things; the

final three represent the pinnacle

of a talented, giving group of

people.

And what a trio they are. From

taking personal tragedy and turn-

ing it into life-saving legislation

to bettering lives in impoverished

countries to being the smiling face

that calms fears and helps visitors

in the hospital, this year’s national

recipients embody all that is good

about HcA, and about caregivers

in general.

The Servant’s HeartFrist Humanitarian Award Recipients Highlight What It Is To Give

Dr. Thomas Frist Jr. with Kelli Jantz, this year’s Frist Award recipient in the Employee category.

Dr. Frank Cirisano, this year’s Frist Award recipient in the Physician Employee category, with Dr. Thomas Frist Jr.

COVER FEATURE

6 you fall | 2012

EMPLOyEE RECIPIENT Kelli JantzFrom the moment they are born, children are front and center in their parents’ lives. there’s always that little fear that some-thing might happen to them, an injury or worse. that fear came true for Kelli Jantz, and what she was able to accomplish from her personal tragedy will save thousands of young lives in colorado and beyond.

in 2004, Jantz’s son, Jake, died from a concussion sustained during a football game. He’d taken a blow to the head before, and it’s likely he died from second impact syndrome (sis), which occurs when a second head injury closely follows a first, which may or may not have been diag-nosed.

As a transplant coordinator at presby-terian/st. Luke’s Medical center in Denver, Jantz was used to counseling grief-strick-en families about the importance of organ donation. she and her family made the same brave choice, allowing Jake’s death to give life to others. she then embarked on a multiyear campaign to raise awareness of sis, speaking to thousands of parents, coaches, medical professionals and legisla-

tors. in January 2012, the colorado General Assembly passed senate Bill 11-040, the Jake snakenberg Youth concussion Act, which re-quires coaches of organized youth athletic activities to complete an annual concus-sion-education program. it also provides guidelines for taking players out of a game after a blow to the head or body, and requires medical clearance before they take the field again.

“Kelli turned her personal tragedy into legislative triumph, and her personal sorrow into public service,” said Mimi roberson, ceO of presbyterian/st. Luke’s. “she put a face on what it means to be selfless and loving.”

Jantz also serves as an advocate for reAp (reduce/educate/Accommodate/pace), a community-based concussion management protocol utilized in schools, emergency departments and pediatric practices across the state. she also inspired the Jake snakenberg Fund at the rocky Mountain Hospital for children.

the groups across colorado that wrote testimonials in support of her Frist Award nomination were unanimous in their praise.

“Kelli spoke to a group of over 500 of our coaches and parents recently, and gave a moving account of her very personal story,” said Jeff Glenn, president of the Jeffco Midget Football Association. “Her message resonated with our members and was some-thing they will never forget. We are forever grateful to her for

her tireless dedication to this important issue we face every year.”

For her part, Jantz said that she has not been alone on her journey, and with support from her family and friends, to coworkers and hospital leadership, she has been able to rely on the support of those around her as she fought to share Jake’s story and “be his voice.”

“A lot of people know now what needs to be done, and how to take care of themselves,” she said. “that is a beautiful tribute to Jake.”

Family and friends gathered at HCA’s corporate offices in Nashville for this year’s Frist Awards ceremonies.

Kelli Jantz

fall | 2012 you 7

PHySICIAN RECIPIENTDr. Frank Cirisano

When he was in medical school, Dr. Frank cirisano took part in a medical outreach program in Madras, india. When he returned home, he brought the plight of impoverished women with him, and has made medical care for them a significant portion of his life’s work ever since.

Now practicing at Aventura Hospital & Medical center in Aventura, Fla., Dr. cirisano leads teams to cambodia, the philippines, Nepal — and other countries — to bring gynecologi-cal care to women in the farthest-flung communities across the globe. He founded the Women’s cancer care Fund, a nonprofit entity that helps provide women with knowledge about the risks, prevention, early detection and treatment of gynecologic cancer. it also empowers them to become advocates for their own health.

Dr. cirisano’s own research efforts have been significant, working with cancer specialists at columbia university Medical center, Memorial sloane-Kettering cancer center, ucLA, cedars-sinai Medical center and the Duke university comprehensive

cancer center. And still, he said it is necessary not to just look at the causes and ways to prevent ovarian and other gynecological cancers, but to get out into the world and put that research into practice.

He characteristi-cally minimizes his achievements, prefer-ring to give the credit to all the people that

help make mission trips, surgeries, educa-tion and more happen every year.

“i am a member of three teams,” Dr. ciri-sano said. “On the direct patient care team, the glue is really the nurses who provide the patient care. At home, i have the support of

Dr. Frist Receives United Way’s First Lifetime Achievement AwardEFFORTS TO BOOST MAJOR GIVING RECOGNIZED

in 1981, the united Way of Metropolitan Nashville was struggling. While many of its donor companies had programs in place, the funds coming in were piecemeal at best. As a young ceO, Dr. thomas Frist, Jr. had been searching for

a philanthropic organization that could best use his support, and united Way caught his attention.

At the time, the organization had never received a single donation of more than $3,000, and that gift had come from HcA cofounder Jack Massey. Most individual giving was through payroll deduction, and usually topped out at around $100 per year. Dr. Frist set a $6 million campaign goal, 10 percent of which would come from gifts of $10,000 or more. those donors would make up a new entity within the united Way, the tocqueville society.

“i wanted to commit to something that needed my help,” he recalled. “i took the chairmanship, and we were able to build a successful local, then national cam-paign with the tocqueville society. Now that has become an international cam-paign, which is what happens when you have an idea with some stickiness to it.”

the society is named for Alexis charles-Henri de tocqueville, who visited America in 1831 and subsequently wrote, “i must say that i have seen Americans make a great deal of real sacrifices to the public welfare; and have noticed a hundred instances in which they hardly ever failed to lend a faithful support to one another.”

that 10 percent goal was met and surpassed the first year. Large gifts now top more than $7 billion per year globally, and from its Nashville founding the tocqueville society has grown to more than 500 chapters worldwide. in honor of his role in making this happen, Dr. Frist was awarded the united Way Worldwide’s first Lifetime Achievement Award for philanthropy.

the recognition caps a lifetime of charitable work for Dr. Frist, something he said is “part of my DNA. i learned the joy of giving your time, your resources, early on,” he said. “My father and mother were always involved in church, the Heart Association, our schools … so many things. it was expected of us, like brushing our teeth. i have tried to inculcate that into HcA, so that we have a platform to encourage us as a company, and our employees, to make life a little bit better for others not as fortunate.”

Frank Cirisano

Continued on page 8

8 you fall | 2012

my wife, Daria, and children, Natasha and tatiana. And then, there are all the volun-teers, sponsors and vendors who support the foundation.”

He also thanked the hospital’s manage-ment and administration for their ongoing efforts to ensure that he is able to continue growing the WccF’s work overseas while also taking care of patients stateside.

“He embodies all the characters this tribute stands for,” said Heather rohan, ceO of Aventura Hospital & Medical center. “He’s the surgeon, but he rolls the patient down the hall himself. through the Women’s cancer care Fund, he has per-formed hundreds of outpatient procedures and surgeries, and provided education not only to women, but also to doctors.”

WccF recipients also are unstinting in their praise.

“For the two years he joined us, Dr. ciri-sano performed 25 surgeries on the most complex and desperate of the Filipino poor,” said Dr. Mitchell A. schuster of the Bico clinic Foundation, where the WccF held two-week clinics in 2009 and 2010. “these were women who otherwise surely would not have survived. He worked under extremely adverse conditions in the oper-ating room. He was diligent, conscientious and able to reach the local staff as well as American medical students in attendance.

He is a fine teacher, an excellent surgeon and a great humanitarian.”

VOLUNTEER RECIPIENTRichard R. “Dick” Adams Jr. (1936-2012)

Although he was not physically present to receive his Frist Humanitarian Award, Dick Adams’ smile loomed as large over the gathering as it did with everyone he met during a life that touched thousands of hearts.

Adams, who was a volunteer at rose Medical center for more than 13 years, as well as at the rocky Mountain cancer cen-ter and cherry creek eye clinic, for more than a decade, lost his battle with cancer earlier this year. But he left behind a rich legacy of laughter and service, and his impact was such that he was chosen to be the Frist Awards’ first ever posthumous recipient.

“Dick was the perfect volunteer: Kind, willing to help, truly concerned about the welfare of oth-ers,” said Kenneth Feiler, ceO of rose Medical center. “And he tried to

bring fun wherever he could, even in a serious environment. One hundred percent of the patients who met him had their spirits lifted. We greatly miss his contribu-tions and personality, but his legacy will continue.”

Over 12 years as a volunteer at the patient information desk, Adams logged more than 8,000 hours of service. He also donated his time to community organiza-tions working to raise awareness of and provide research funding for heart disease and leukemia, as well as the volunteers of America food drives.

And if a tutu needed to be worn at the cardiac rehab class, he was the man to do it. He also ensured that the elf costume was not without an occupant during christmas festivities.

Adams used his love of classic cars to carry the message of the importance of prostate screenings and colon cancer awareness to men in his community. He also led a Heart Walk team for all HealthONe hospitals in the Denver area, raising more than $4,000 last year.

“He believed in participating,” said his widow, susan. “if he was here, he might be speechless for the first time.”

“Dad left the world a better place,” added his son, craig. “i never asked why he did all that volunteer work, but i suspect it was a love of people and making them laugh.”

the tales told by Dick’s fellow volunteers and friends gave life to his story:

“there was a contest during the Heart Walk to clap your hands as many times as possible in 30 seconds. He won.”

“He was the man who did everything.” “Dick took pride in his manhood, even

while wearing a ballerina outfit in public.” “He was fearless in everything

he did.” Dick’s legacy lives on in a very

personal way. Hospital staffers now wear “stay silly” bracelets to remember his message of love and laughter, a request made by his grandchildren.

And his daughter Jean now volunteers at rose’s information desk, the third generation in her family to do so. When she is behind the desk, she wears her father’s nametag.Dick Adams

fall | 2012 you 9

The groundbreaking practices at the Joseph M. still Burn center at Doctors Hospital of Augusta, Ga., and the Grossman Burn center at West Hills Hospital & Medical center, West Hills, calif., are helping both existing and future victims around the world.

A team from the Joseph M. still Burn center recently took part in Bolivia’s first-ever emergency disaster drill. Doctors and nurses spent a week there, where they worked with employees of a metal plant as well as members of the Bolivian military. they used makeup to simulate burn wounds on 63 people who portrayed victims, and also lent their expertise to the local medical teams participating.

“it was an eye-opening experience,” said Dr. richard cartie, a pe-diatric intensivist on staff at the Joseph M. still Burn center, who participated in the drill. “the city where the drill was held only has four ambulances for the entire residential population. they also only had five ventilators, which meant that we had to make some decisions when it came to which patients we helped first.”

the burn center team spent several days after the drill working

with the Bolivian participants, providing a list of recommenda-tions for improving existing conditions at the plant as well as other preparations that could be made. Burn experts were seen as essential, since the facility used for the drill is a metal processing plant and a crisis there would likely involve molten metal.

“Burns would be a primary concern, and they had no experience with them,” Dr. cartie said. “this trip was enlightening from the standpoint that i think we, as united states citizens, sometimes take for granted all of the amenities that we have in our hospitals and the tools we have at our fingertips every single day,” he said. “in a situation like that, where resources are extremely limited, you have to have rules about not saving the most severely injured be-cause it takes resources away from those with survivable injuries. their situation, and resources, led to some very practical conversa-tions about how to allocate resources.”

Burn Facilities continue to innovate At Home & Abroad

the Grossman Burn center at West Hills Hospital also has been busy with overseas efforts, and has also brought patients from other countries to its u.s. facilities for treatment.

“We are proud of what we have been able to accomplish for burn survivors from all over the world who could not otherwise get the medical care they need,” said Dr. peter H. Grossman. “Our charitable treatment of patients from places like Afghanistan, iraq, Kenya, china and indonesia has really put what we do every day in valuable context. We are in the business of helping people and restoring lives. to be able to bring that level of care to

deserving people from disavan-taged parts of the world is truly gratifying.”

to reach more patients in need, the Grossman Burn centers has launched its Burn treatment, training and telemedicine program, which supports physicians and medi-cal communities in developing countries.

through the program, doctors from developing countries come to the Grossman Burn center at West Hills Hospital for extensive training. the center also now offers video links to

allow face-to-face consulta-tion between surgeons in the united states and doctors in remote areas of the world. pilot telemedicine projects have been launched in indonesia and Afghanistan.

in Afghanistan, the Grossman Burn Foundation, the center’s charitable arm, also is partner-ing with Direct relief inter-national and the u.s. Afghan

Women’s council to provide help to those suffering from debilitating injuries, burns and congenital deformities.

For more information about international adult burn sur-vivors who have been treated, visit http://bit.ly/YOu_burn_survivors. And to learn more about international child burn survivors, visit http://bit.ly/YOu_child_burn_care.

telemedicine Program Gives Worldwide Support

FACILItIES

Teleconferencing allows U.S. burn specialists to offer advice to col-leagues in other countries.

In Bolivia, burn specialists trained personnel to maximize limited resources when treating victims.

10 you fall | 2012

Where there’s life, there’s hope. it’s a common phrase, true, but nowhere

is it more apt than at HcA facilities, where lives are saved and changed every day, and where the HcA Hope Fund ensures that employees in crisis situations receive the same care and compassion that patients have come to rely upon.

Born out of a devastating hurricane season and desire to help colleagues, the Hope Fund idea came about in 2004 and was up and running within a year. the fund is operated and supported by HcA employees, and offers financial help to those who find themselves in a rough spot due to illness, domestic violence, natural disasters or other major events.

the Hope Fund is now one of the most visible reminders of a commitment to caring for others through philanthropy and volunteerism that originally inspired HcA’s founders, said Dr. thomas Frist Jr., co-founder and ceO emeritus.

“it was [retired chairman and chief executive Officer ] Jack Bovender’s extraordinary leadership during Hurricane Katrina that launched the HcA Hope Fund, so he really gets the credit for initiating the fund, but it has been nurtured and ex-panded by our current chairman richard Bracken and hopefully will be stewarded by the future HcA leadership. HcA has always been more than just an employer; it is a family of colleagues caring for patients and naturally as an extension, caring for each other. the Hope Fund allows us to have a formalized program to do what we have always done.”

John steele, senior vice president, Hu-man resources and Hope Fund chairman also is enthusiastic about the fund. “it has exceeded all of our expectations. We can reach out to members of the HcA family in

times of tragedy, and help them through difficult periods. i am very pleased that we have this organization connected to HcA that broadens our philanthropic activity and ability to care for others.”

since its founding, the Hope Fund has benefited from an amazing level of support from employees and facilities alike. each spring, hospitals that have engaged the most employees in supporting the fund through payroll donations are honored as part of a celebration of Giving during the annual Frist Humanitarian Awards ceremony (see feature, page 5).

Creating a sense of community“For us, the Hope Fund has become a

way to connect with each other,” said Don Morris, chief Human resources Officer at Wesley Medical center, Wichita, Kan., which earned top honors for large facili-ties (more than 1,000 employees) this year. “We look at the Hope Fund as something

that’s very advantageous to employees in a time of need, but also as a way to engage our staff. it proves to everyone that we, as a company, are more than just a place to work. We’re a family. in times of need we take care of each other, and the Hope Fund provides the vehicle to do that.”

Wesley employees raised almost $28,000 for the fund with about 34 percent of the total staff contributing, a number that grows every year thanks to a robust aware-ness effort, Morris said.

“We have a campaign kick-off barbecue,” he said. “We also celebrate with an ice-cream cart and t-shirts at the end of the campaign. in between, our team deploys throughout the entire hospital, setting up meetings and talking to people about the Hope Fund. that’s how we’ve gone from zero a few years ago to 34 percent now. We’re communicating information about the confidentiality and other aspects of the program. We’re also sharing stories of em-

HEALtHy WORk ENVIRONMENt

Support SystemHope Fund is Lifeline for employees

Above and left, West Hous-ton Medical Center CEO Todd Caliva fires up employ-ees at Hope Fund awareness event. Below right, contest winner Blanca Galvin.

fall | 2012 you 11

ployees who have received help, such as an employee who had a house fire and within a week’s time had gotten assistance.”

the “donate local, receive local” aspect of the Hope Fund is a powerful motivator for those who contribute, he added.

Local review starts process“Our Hope Fund committee, made up of

area care coordinators, pastoral care staff and Hr staff, reviews and makes decisions on applications,” Morris said. “part of their regular job is to take care of employees the same way they take care of patients. they get people the help they need, and the Hope Fund plays a part in that. they con-nect them with community resources, but also make sure that they get all the care we can provide in desperate situations. people aren’t always aware that something has happened to a coworker, because we are a big facility. these stories are a powerful testimonial to what your gift can accom-plish when you donate to the Hope Fund.”

Everyone contributes, benefits At smaller facilities, employees are a more tightly knit group, and so the Hope Fund becomes another component in a solid network of care, said Jean Williams and vanessa stewart, who co-chaired the campaign at spalding rehabilitation

Hospital in Aurora, colo., which took top honors for facilities with fewer than 500 employees.

Employees value Hope Fund“every employee here is aware of the

Hope Fund because Jean and i do so much talking about it,” said stewart. “We make sure we get face time with people to make them aware of the fund, and the types of problems that it helps remedy. We also make sure they know that it’s there for them, so it’s not just about giving money to help other people.”

the spalding team raised about $13,000 last year, with full employee participation. Five employees who had received help from the Hope Fund shared their stories, which inspired others to give. in fact, that was a driving factor in the facility’s incredible results.

“We have done some ‘Minute to Win it’ events [modeled on the television game show] to kick off our campaign, and we’ve had other things like ‘Jeans Day’ to raise money for the fund,” Williams said. “But the personal stories are really what make

employees want to give to the program. i can’t even describe the camaraderie that happens during the campaign. We had 90 percent participation the year before, so it’s always been strong. the great thing about the Hope Fund is that you know you’re going to help a coworker who may have nowhere else to turn.”

New employees are impressed, not just by the work of the Hope Fund, but also by the fact that it even exists, she added.

“it’s incredible to have such an inwardly-focused program,” Williams said. “You may donate for years, never thinking you’ll need it, and then something happens to you. For five people at spalding, which only has 220 employees, to get help, has been amazing. HcA is a big company, and it means a lot to our people that this is here, and that we’re not forgotten — we’re all part of one big team.”

Tragedy leads to supportthe Hope Fund has also been highly

visible at West Houston Medical center, this year’s honoree for mid-sized facilities (501-999 employees).

Cheryl TaylorNursing Scheduler,Spalding Rehabilitation Hospitaltwo hospitalizations meant three months away from work for cheryl taylor. that’s a terrible financial hit for anyone, no matter how well they might have prepared for life’s uncer-tainties. Fortunately for taylor, the Hope Fund kept her family going.

“i knew about the Hope Fund, and so i applied after i had used all my ptO (paid time off) and other benefits,” taylor said. “i had nowhere else to turn. it was pretty easy to get access to the paperwork and complete it. receiving those funds really helped when i had to be out of work to recover from surgery. i am so appreciative, and my family is too, for the help we received.”

storms in colorado and virginia, as well as the wildfires in colorado, left many HcA employees in need of assistance this year. the Hope Fund has responded.

A nurse’s home was one of hundreds engulfed in a raging wildfire leaving her family displaced for months.

A food services worker with three special needs children, one on an electric breathing machine, was left without electricity for more than five days in sweltering heat.

A respiratory therapist and her family escaped at 2 a.m. from a tropical storm that left their home flooded in three feet of water.

thanks to your support of the Hope Fund, we had

Hope Fund’s Reach Is Nationwide

helped 54 employees and their families in these areas with more than $53,125 at press time. in addition, thousands of dollars in critical assistance have been disbursed to many other employees suffering from unexpected crises

including a house fire, death of a spouse and terminal cancer — the kind of needs the Hope Fund sees and responds to every day.

times like these remind us how impor-tant it is to care for one another.

The recent Colorado wildfires are just the lat-est example of a situation where the Hope Fund made a huge difference for HCA employees.

12 you fall | 2012

“We have experienced catastrophic events in our hospital,” said todd caliva, ceO. “several people here have received Hope Fund assistance, but in February 2011 something happened that really changed the lives of many people here at West Houston.”

A fire at a nearby daycare center killed and injured several children, some re-lated to hospital employees. One nursing assistant lost her son, and her daughter was severely burned. Hospital employees rallied around her in many ways, and the

Hope Fund was there too. “Our er received several of those

children, and our employees were treating them,” said carol Melville, West Houston’s Director of Human resources, who led the most recent Hope Fund campaign. “At the same time, one of our nursing assistants in another department learned that her two children were victims of that fire. she didn’t have the money to bury her son, and the Hope Fund assistance meant one less worry for her at a truly horrible time in her life.”

that tragedy obviously shaped how the Hope Fund is seen at the hospital.

“i preach that all the money is for the fund, not for any administrative costs,” caliva said. “this money stays in the fam-ily, and it’s personal for us.”

One aspect of the Hope Fund that is often overlooked is the local committee. these are the employees who are a part of the reviewing process. Often it is tough hearing stories about loss and misfortune, said Latoya Muex, Human resources Gen-eralist at parallon Business performance Group in Dallas, and a grant coordinator.

“i get the application, and all identifi-able information is removed so that the applicant remains confidential. i submit that to the local committee, and then they choose the ones to forward to the Hope Fund offices in Nashville for final review,” Muex said. “i have been with HcA for about 16 months, and had never heard of something like the Hope Fund until i came here. i certainly haven’t been exposed to

a similar program at any place i’ve ever worked.”

For Muex, the program reinforces one of the core beliefs of HcA: every person is valued, whether employee or patient, and we treat them accordingly. it also serves as a strong reinforcement of the power of community. “HcA appreciates your being a part of the family, and is here for you,” she said. “there are some qualifications you have to work through if you apply, but we’re here for you. We make sure every application is reviewed. We want to help.”

Flexible approach helpfulthat has sometimes meant some “out

of the box” assistance, such as when a hailstorm blew through Dallas-Fort Worth in the spring and several employees had cars severely damaged, even totaled.

“that type of problem is not a tradi-tional Hope Fund issue, but the company recognized the extraordinary need,” Muex said. “some people did not have the money to fix or replace their cars. the Hope Fund allowed them to receive money for repairs so they could continue to get to work.”

Her team deals with requests within a week, because she’s well aware of the ur-gent nature of most applications. “these are immediate problems,” she said. “it’s important to act fast once i’ve received all the documentation and information from the associate, because this is such a great program. i’m fortunate to be a part of it, and it’s a beautiful thing to see in action.”

Ruth ChavezNurse, Rio Grande Regional Hospital, McAllen, TXAs a nurse, ruth chavez knows how to care for people. When it comes to caring for herself, she needed a little extra help. As she deals with a third recurrence of breast cancer, she has leaned on the Hope Fund.

“My physician advised me to stop working when the cancer struck a third time, because i needed to focus on treatment,” chavez said. “i had already gone through all my extended illness and ptO benefits, so i had no money coming in. the Hope Fund has let me focus on my recovery, and the response was very quick. it was wonderful to have a helpful place to turn, and the money provided a bridge as i was exploring all my options.”

chavez has wrapped up her latest round of chemotherapy, and doctors tell her that there has been dramatic improvement in her condition. Now she’s in the process of follow-up scans and lab work, and coping with some side effects, but she still has a positive outlook.

“i am hoping and praying that things continue to look good,” she said. “i am looking forward to feeling better, and going back to work. i want to tell other people about the Hope Fund, and what it did for me; it really meant everything. i want to get out there and promote it, so we can all continue to help each other at my hospital, and at all the other HcA facilities.”

Team HCA’s growing presence in the Coun-try Music Marathon is another way HCA em-ployees pull together for the Hope Fund.

fall | 2012 you 13

New Lease on LifeTAVR Procedure Expands HCA Hospitals’ Heart-Valve CapabilitiesSeveral HCA hospitals are investing in new equipment and training to treat aortic stenosis, a narrowing of the heart valve that causes fatigue and eventual heart failure. the procedure, known as transcatheter Aortic valve replacement, or tAvr, is much less stressful than open-heart surgery, and is an exciting, new option for older or non-operative patients who are not good candidates for more invasive surgery.

that was the case for actor Jim Nabors, most famous for portraying Gomer pyle on television. At age 82, he underwent the procedure and was up and around the day following surgery. similar results have been reported at HcA hospitals, where tAvr surgical suites have been created and interventional cardiologists and surgeons are integrating the procedure into the full comple-ment of heart-treatment options.

“We did our first procedure April 25, and are thrilled to have this procedure to offer to our elderly patients who are not quali-fied surgical candidates,” said Joan rotnem, Director of surgical services at sunrise Hospital & Medical center in Las vegas.

HcA’s tAvr interventional cardiologists and surgeons use a valve manufactured by edwards Lifesciences, and perform the surgery in a surgical suite that’s a hybrid of a traditional operat-ing room and a cardiac catheterization lab. the multimillion-dollar suites also will be used for various adult and pediatric cardiovas-cular and peripheral vascular procedures.

Less Invasive Surgery Means Quicker RecoverytAvr surgery involves an incision similar to one made during

a catheterization process. the physician deploys the new valve via a catheter under fluoroscopy. recovery is much faster than open-heart valve replacement, with patients up and talking within hours.

“Our first patient was sitting up in bed and talking when i visited him two hours later,” rotnem said. “He was telling us that we should name the procedure after him.”

For physicians, the new capability means not only can they offer more to patients, they also can work with surgeons and other col-leagues in a more collaborative fashion to treat heart patients.

“this is a revolutionary and transformational therapy,” said Dr. rafael valencia, an interventional cardiologist who is a member of sunrise’s heart team. “it’s not just a procedure, but a whole new way of approaching cardiovascular medicine.”

tAvr allows heart programs to capture an entire new group of patients, those deemed as too high risk for regular surgery. it also allows for much more collaboration, Dr. valencia added.

“We have nurses, administrators, cardiothoracic surgeons, car-

diologists … the whole team together now,” he said. “Often we did not know what procedures the others were doing, but now we can look at each patient, and explore the options for their treatment with our new capabilities.”

that’s exactly the outcome that Dr. steven Manoukian, HcA’s Medical Director of cardiovascular services, had in mind when he and his team began looking at what tAvr could offer patients. the HcA system was already heavily involved in the early research phases of tAvr, since Medical city Dallas Hospital acted (and continues to act) as a leading trial partner for the procedure. that facility has now performed more than 300 procedures.

“Developing a network of high-quality, experienced tAvr programs will facilitate access to this promising procedure across HcA. From the research perspective, one of the many benefits of performing this research within the HcA system is the opportunity to bring potentially superior therapies like tAvr to our patients at an earlier time point,” said Manoukian, who also is Director of cardiovascular research for the sarah cannon research institute.

the tAvr program will be up and running by late 2012 at clear Lake regional Medical center, Webster, texas, and based on input

from other facilities and their own research, the doctors and staff there are eager to get started.

“We have a dedicated heart program and Heart Hospital on our campus,” said charles Laird, chief Operating Officer. “the tAvr program allows us to continue to build the program and grow into a greater depth of service. “

At tristar centennial Heart & vascular center in Nashville, five procedures had been completed by June. the results have im-pressed everyone involved.

“We have an option that has opened up a whole new alternative for folks who before had pretty dismal outcomes,” said Dr. John riddick, an interventional cardiologist who has taken part in sev-eral tAvr procedures. “the two-year mortality rate was between 50 percent and 70 percent for these people, which is worse than most cancers. Now, they not only have access to a new procedure, but one that almost immediately gives them an improved quality of life as well.”

qUALIty

14 you fall | 2012

Improving safety and security for patients and employees is an HcA priority. to that end, work to install new equip-ment and update technology at hospitals throughout the company continues as part of a multi-year project.

“thirty of the 50 facilities we have identi-fied as high-risk are currently in some type of construction phase. it is our intention to finish up the high-risk locations by 2013, if not sooner, and in the meantime we are evaluating and surveying the facilities that were identified as medium risk, so that we can begin work on those,” said tim portale, chief safety & security Officer.

those hospitals have been tasked with completing a self-audit of their needs, which will then be used with an onsite audit to build a gap analysis and then chart out the specific needs for each location, portale said.

“We are looking at expanding our parking lot light program, which will factor into those plans, as well as continue to add cameras and other security features where they are needed,” he said.

At stonecrest Medical center, smyrna, tenn., the exterior parking-lot lights were replaced with 152 new LeD fixtures, while 12 LeD wall packs were added in areas where employees had expressed concerns about getting to their vehicles after dark. All told, the renovations came in at around $400,000, and have been a welcome addition to the campus, said Zachary Mccluskey, chief Operating Officer.

“the new parking area lighting fully il-luminates spaces that were previously dark,” Mccluskey said. “Now, our entire campus is illuminated with lighting that maintains high intensity for the long term, whereas the previous lighting intensity diminished after a short period of time. inside the hospital, the improved monitoring systems have provided our security team with a higher level of access control within high risk areas, such as the emergency Department (eD), and areas where we’re caring for new mothers, infants and behavioral health patients.”

the cost savings from the more robust security system have funded additional security personnel to be stationed in eDs during evening hours, something Mcclus-key said is a real game-changer.

“We have about 45,000 visits to our eD every year or about 125 people a day,” he said. “emergency departments pose a

higher risk of violence, so having additional security personnel available during times when our patient volume is higher has been awesome. the improvements have also allowed for additional security personnel to patrol staff parking areas, so our employees feel safer when they leave the building. it’s really been a significant employee satisfier.”

that’s the kind of feedback every hospital will be providing, portale hopes, noting that it’s a foundational approach that will be expanded over time.

“this security initiative is becoming part of our operations management plan,” he said. “We are going to have our facilities config-ured a certain way to meet security needs, but also mandate certain requirements for the deployment of security equipment in our new facilities as well. We want to standard-ize our security protocols, while also ad-dressing the specific needs of each location.”

Lighting, Security Upgrades Continue

SAFEty & SECURIty

One hospital that has benefited from the enhanced focus on safety and security is StoneCrest Medical Center in Smyrna, Tenn., where just-finished improvements included:

• seven new access control doors• a new CCTV recording system• 35 Cisco IP cameras• integration of 73 existing cameras

into the new recording system• 2 new duress (panic) alarms• 3 new emergency call boxes in the

parking-lot areas.

StoneCrest’s security up-grades benefit patients and employees alike both inside and outisde the hospital building.

fall | 2012 you 15

Lung Cancer Screening Program Focuses on Early Detection, PreventionBecause it has few symptoms early on, lung cancer often isn’t discovered until the disease is well developed. preventative screenings for high-risk individuals is the answer, but they are of limited benefit without other programs, such as smoking-cessation and follow-up. in short, the best way to head off lung cancer is a multipronged approach, and that’s just what the HcA cancer care Network in the richmond/spotsylvania, va., region has done.

the network has 11 sites in the area, including four hospitals within a 75-mile radius, and all are a part of the program. that means patients have many options for where to enter the system, and that has helped boost participation. the goals are to provide a broad program of detection, with multiple entry points for an area with far-flung residents, and one that is streamlined and easily replicable at other HcA facilities, said esther Muscari Desimini, vice president, Oncology services, HcA virginia. Desimini began working on the concept a few years ago while researching studies being conducted by cornell university and the National institutes of Health (NiH) as a part of the National Lung screening trial.

National data, local applications“We believed in the data they were collecting, which showed

that more people would survive lung cancer if it was detected very early,” Desimini said. “Our doctors were interested in conduct-ing screenings at the hospitals, but there really hadn’t been any research. the NiH trial looked at heavy smokers, and when the institute’s results were examined in 2010 there was a significant reduction in deaths thanks to the screenings. We then had the evidence, and began working on the infrastructure.”

participation in the program begins once someone has expressed interest and is found to be a viable candidate. A screening nurse coordinator conducts a review of the applicant’s health and cigarette-smoking history. He or she will receive a low-dose ct

scan, a follow-up visit with a lung specialist and, if necessary, be referred to a smoking-cessation program. that process is repeated yearly for the duration of the participant’s involvement.

“What we created was a program with a comprehensive and personalized process, not just a test that would also perform screenings,” she said. “On the front end, there’s a review of the clinical appropriateness of each applicant, supportive research, and a signed consent. We have a Nurse Navigator who facilitates this part of the process. she puts that person into the system, at the most appropriate location among four hospitals or seven imag-ing centers.”

Heavy smokers are simultaneously steered to smoking cessa-tion programs, so the screening step has the additional benefit of risk-reduction for people who might not otherwise be inclined to participate, she added.

“some patients are being encouraged and guided into the screening by family members, rather than self initiation, because they hear about the cessation element and it addresses the family members’ fears,” Desimini said. “that’s been a wonderful, valuable component that we didn’t consider when setting up the program.”

Program provides ongoing patient careOnce a patient is enrolled, he or she is walked through the

how-tos of the program. After the ct scan, the patient meets with a pulmonary surgeon or other specialty physician on the screening if a problem is indicated. if everything is clear, the patient will be tracked and 12 months later, a follow up screening occurs.

since launching the program, cancer and other issues have been tracked by the study team, and in time, data collected should prove the value of early screening and detection in lung-cancer prevention, Desimini said. the program has been recognized by the National Lung cancer Alliance, and HcA testing sites are promi-nently listed for those seeking screening.

“One criticism of a lung ct scan is that a benign incidental finding is common, so it raises an alarm for nothing, but the nurse navigator responds to anxieties and connects people with appro-priate follow up,” she said. “even if there’s nothing wrong, smoking cessation is a good side benefit for this population, most of whom are heavy smokers. Our biggest concern is that we don’t provide such a high degree of peace of mind that they continue smoking.”

Desimini said she’d like to see this effort, and others like it, create a screening mentality for lung cancer similar to colonosco-pies and how that procedure has become a “must-have” for people who wish to prevent colon cancer. With a cost of $250, the fee is comparable to the cost of other preventative screenings.

“some of these people are terrified, because they are either heavy smokers, or smoked a lot when they were younger and then quit,” she said. “the test, coaching and education gives people relief and peace of mind, and that’s a beautiful thing to see.”

tECHNOLOGy

Breathtaking

The Cancer Care Network Leadership team in HCA’s Virginia division.

16 you fall | 2012

HCA and H2U Partner for New Health Coaching ProgramWhen trying to make healthy lifestyle changes, getting started and maintaining can be very hard. receiving support from others can make the difference between success and failure. that’s why the HcA Wellness program is introducing the H2u Health coaching program this year. eligible HcA-affiliated employees who are facing certain health challenges will have the opportunity to connect one-on-one with a personal health coach through videoconferencing.

How can you participate?Complete a qualified health screening

by Nov. 30, 2012: Log in to HCArewards.com and click on schedule a Health screening to make an appointment.

Take the Personal Health Assessment by Dec. 31, 2012: Once your screening results have been posted, log in to HcAre-wards.com and click on “take the personal Health Assessment (pHA).”

Enroll in Coaching: if you receive cer-tain moderate- to high-risk scores, you will be eligible to participate in the H2u Health coaching program.

Earn Wellness Credits: if you enroll in an HcA medical plan for 2013, you can earn up to $400 in Wellness credits in a Health reimbursement Account (HrA) when you enroll in the program and complete certain milestones.

What is Health Coaching?participants in the H2u Health coach-

ing program will meet online with health coaches during four sessions using a computer with high-speed internet access,

a webcam and a microphone.* coaches will focus on nutrition, physical activity and stress management to help partici-pants establish realistic goals and improve health scores. it will also include online learning assignments and follow-up lab screenings.

“individuals engaged in coaching will be energized and challenged to do the work needed to reach their desired outcomes,” said Len smith, ph.D., Director of Health & Wellness coaching. “coaches are col-laborative and co-creative partners in the participant’s journey to develop their vi-sion of wellness and reach his or her goals. participants are assisted in connecting the dots between who they are and who they want to be, and then shown how to take the incremental behavioral steps that enable them to succeed.”

H2u coaches are all healthcare profes-sionals — registered nurses, registered dieticians or certified diabetes educators, exercise physiologists, psychologists or other credentialed counselors. each coach must meet H2u’s rigorous requirements and complete Wellcoaches® training,

which emphasizes understanding human behavior change and motivating individual achievement.

Built on successthe H2u Health coaching program

evolved from a three-year pilot program in which health coaches met with employees at their worksite. videoconferencing was introduced last year to determine if the technology could deliver a convenient, therapeutic coaching experience that did not sacrifice the personal connection be-tween the coaches and the employees. After a year of field-testing, the results speak for themselves.

bENEFItS

candid cameras

New Action Steps for EveryoneOnly employees with certain moderate- to high-risk health scores will be eligible to participate in the H2U Health Coaching Program. However, if you receive low-risk scores, you will be eligible to create an H2U Health Action Plan, which can help you improve or maintain your overall health. Employees who enroll in an HCA medical plan for 2013 can earn $400 in Wellness Credits in a Health Reimburse-ment Account for 2013.

H2U’s Health Coaches meet employees online, allowing for convenient access that fits busy schedules.

fall | 2012 you 17

Welcome to Bconnected Introducing A New Way To Access your BenefitsAs of Aug. 1, Bconnected replaced Lifetimes connections as the service provider for HcA’s Health & Group benefits and 401(k) plan.

What does that mean for you? the good news is that there are no changes to your benefit plan options or providers, and there are no changes to your HcA 401(k) plan account contributions or investment options.

But, changing to Bconnected does allow HcA to offer better services. For example, you will have just one password to access your benefits account online or by phone. that’s right, just one password to access all of your benefits!

Other new features include an option to chat online with a Bconnected representa-tive to get the answers you need, as well as a new HcArewards.com mobile app for your Apple or Android device so you can get rewards information on the go.

Because we are using a new system, you must create a new password to access your account. this password will become your ticket to get into your account online at HcArewards.com, or over the phone at (800) 566-4114. if you haven’t accessed your account since Aug. 1, follow these steps: Go to HcArewards.com and enter your HcA 3-4 iD. then enter the last four digits of your social security number and your birth date and follow the instructions to create your new password.

this will activate your account. Log in with your HcA 3-4 iD and new password, and click on Bconnected to access your account.

to access the Bconnected automated phone system or speak to a service center rep-resentative, call (800) 566-4114. representatives are available Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., central time (except holidays).

curlee reaches One-Year Milestone In the year since she wrapped up her “Biggest Loser” appearance, Hannah curlee has been a one-woman fitness revolution for HcA hospitals, thanks to her role as Director of Health engage-ment with H2u. she has traveled the country, speaking to employees about the benefits of diet and exercise. YOU caught up with her during a short stop in Nashville:

On her one-year anniversary: Maintaining my weight is the accomplishment of which i am most proud. i spend almost 90 percent of my time on the road, so when it comes to food advanced planning has been an important part of that success. i request a mini fridge for every stay so i can limit eating out and eat the same foods from home. i always make sure there is a local gym that i contact in advance or make sure the hotel has a fitness facility. i always travel with my exercise bands and a jump rope so there is no excuse if i get to my hotel room late and the gym is closed!

On her work with H2U: i travel to HcA facilities and promote health and wellness. i visit H2u programs across the country, as well as companies that are looking to start a wellness program. Many people come to these events because they watch ‘Biggest Loser’ and want to see if i have kept the weight off. i talk about health and wellness, but most of all hope and the ability to overcome obstacles. there is always something for everyone, even if you are not trying to lose weight. it is about total wellness which is your mind and body and living your best life. that’s what H2u has helped me to do.

“the rapport and the relationship between the coaches and participants has been the highlight of the program,” explained sherree telford, rD, LDN, cDe, Director of Health and Wellness coaching. “participants have time to discuss their screening results with their coach so they understand what those results mean. the coach and participant work together to create a wellness vision, with three-month and weekly goals that move the partici-pant closer to fulfilling that vision.”

this coaching partnership is flexible enough to adapt to successes and setbacks of the participants, making it more likely that participants’ new habits and health improvements will stick.

“Fundamental to our approach is a focus on movement and nutrition,” said smith. “We believe that addressing these lifestyle issues through the coaching experience will have a positive impact on nearly all chronic conditions and health risks. there also are potential incentives for participa-tion and completing the program.”

the coaching program also allows participants who meet specific criteria to receive medication therapy management assistance. H2u’s pharmacy director will work with HcA’s clinical services Group to help participants better understand why they are prescribed certain medica-tions, how the drugs work and what side effects they might experience.

H2u expects to see a high level of participation in its new coaching program. the program also will continue to expand within the workplace as H2u increases opportunities for in-person coaching onsite at select HcA-affiliated locations in the future.

“We’re excited about the future of this program and all that it offers HcA-affiliat-ed employees,” said smith.

For more information, refer to the infor-mation you received in the mail or log in to HcArewards.com and click on H2u.

Note: if you are an employee at a facility with a collective bargaining agreement or a facility that mirrors the benefits of a facility with a collective bargaining agree-ment, the HcA Wellness program may not be available to you. check with your facil-ity’s Human resources office for details.

*A phone option will be available if you do not have the necessary equipment for videoconferencing.

18 you fall | 2012

Sometimes you learn things in a staff meeting that aren’t on the agenda. that was definitely the case at a clinical services Group gathering in early 2011.

“We were talking about Meaningful use, and our electronic Health records (eHr) strategy across the company,” said Mary Mirabelli, vice president and chief project Officer of the clinical services Group (csG). “We had a lot of work to do to ensure that we could convert the last vestiges of our patient records that needed to be electronic. We had been about 65 percent electronic for quite some time, but we knew we needed a lot of people to help us execute this huge, crucially important agenda for us as a company.”

that’s when the light bulb went off.“We were in a meeting, about 80 people,

and i asked how many people were under 30,” Mirabelli recalled. “two hands went up, and i knew we were in trouble. We needed hundreds of people, and we knew that getting more experienced people was difficult because these jobs were going to involve a lot of fieldwork. so we began looking at how we could go about ‘growing our own’ from within.”

that led to the formation of hcare university, which graduated its inaugural

class of 25 employees last summer, had its second session in July and plans a third in september. recruitment was done at four universities in tennessee, with students from a variety of backgrounds sought for the newly created eHr implementation specialist position within the eHr pro-gram Office. each of the new hires spent six weeks in hcare university, learning not only the ins and outs of eHr implemen-tation, but also the history of HcA as a company, how to work with diverse groups of people, how to lead meetings and more.

Program Preps Specialists “it was so difficult to find the right fit

for these jobs,” said Mary speciale, Avp of electronic Health record implementation, who was tasked with setting up hcare university. “We needed people who could implement these clinical systems and handle some project management, but who also were very technologically savvy. there weren’t many in the marketplace, so we developed our own. We designed a cur-riculum and are teaching these new hires skills enabling them to become it special-ists with a strong affinity toward eHr implementation. We’re pleased, because this is helping us build careers, not just fill

jobs.”the newly minted eHr implementa-

tion specialists fanned out across the HcA enterprise, and quickly got to work putting eHr systems into place. they say the training was invaluable, and let them literally hit the ground running.

“i wanted to get into healthcare upon graduating college, and this was a wonder-ful opportunity to begin my career,” said erica Zanghellini, implementation special-ist. “My degree is in Human and Organiza-tional Development, with a concentration in Health services and Organizational effectiveness. this major aligned perfectly with the implementation specialist pro-gram, and provided me with a transferable skill set that could be utilized in a hospital setting.”

Grads are biggest boostersZanghellini has been a team Lead for the

West Florida Division vitals Now project, which implements bedside devices to record vitals that are then instantly trans-ferred to the existing eHr system. she now works at centennial Medical center in Nashville on the Advanced clinicals with cpOe initiative.

“it was great to train with other young individuals new to HcA,” she said. “One of the best things about the orientation program is that it is so broad in scope. it encompasses everything from learning about HcA and its culture to hands on clinical application of learning. it went beyond just the it work itself.”

that’s the kind of feedback Mirabelli said she was hoping for when hcare uni-versity was just a working concept.

“We knew we needed people, and when we received 400 applicants for 25 spots we knew we were onto something,” she said. “Now we have, and are adding to, a work-force that looks forward to being on the road and can learn very quickly. they have been a delight, and have raised the bar for all of us in terms of their energy and enthusiasm, and the quickness with which they adapt to new technology. retention has been fabulous, the feedback from the field has been outstanding … i think they are going to be invaluable to us.”

qUALIty

Back To Schoolhcare university provides Boost to clinical services eHr efforts

fall | 2012 you 19

For some companies, being environmentally friendly means adding a few recycling bins throughout the building, and turning off lights in empty rooms. HcA is taking much larger steps at two virginia facilities, with changes that will keep the company at the forefront of sustainability.

the first is West creek Medical center, a newly constructed, freestanding emergency department in richmond. the facil-ity, which is now open to patients, is the company’s first to use geothermal energy for part of its heating and cooling needs.

Geothermal Energy Provides Year-Round Savingsthe concept of geothermal energy is fairly simple, according to

Greg stein, vice president of Design and construction. At six feet under the earth’s surface, the temperature remains close to 56 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. pipes are inserted into the ground, and water circulating through those pipes extracts the latent ground temperature and uses it to help heat or cool the building. Because that energy is not enough to sufficiently heat or cool the entire facility, electricity is used in conjunction with geothermal energy at West creek. the facility’s heat-pump system is able to take advantage of the tempered water as an energy source and operate much more efficiently than a traditional system.

“While the initial cost of geothermal installation might be more expensive than a traditional system, over the life of the building you’re being more responsible and saving energy,” stein said.

the second facility that’s furthering HcA’s sustainability efforts is a medical office building (MOB) in reston that will be HcA’s first LeeD-certified building. LeeD stands for Leadership in energy and environmental Design, and is a widely accepted standard by

which green buildings are measured.“HcA has been active in many ways, for a number of years, to

operate buildings that are sustainable,” stein explained. “it wasn’t a big deal for us to make the little bit of a stretch to become LeeD-certified.”

LeeD certification works like a grading system, said chris powers, Design Manager. Buildings are given points for complying with items in several ecological categories, including sustainable site development, water savings, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, innovation in design process and regional priority.

LEED Certification Within Reachcurrently buildings need at least 40 points to become LeeD v3

certified. Based on the design, the reston MOB will be eligible for at least 48 points, most of which come from the sustainable site category.

the reston MOB is scheduled to open in mid-2013, but official LeeD certification will not be awarded until about a year after the building is open and sustainability efforts have been confirmed.

For HcA, being a leader in sustainability is one way to stay ahead of the curve, stein said. Geothermal energy is being used with increasing frequency in residential and commercial de-velopments, and once the calculated savings at West creek are confirmed, HcA may consider using geothermal energy in other facilities. Furthermore, more and more buildings in the united states are becoming LeeD-certified, so the reston facility is a good place to put theory into practice.

“it’s a glimpse of things to come,” stein said.

FACILItIES

LeeD-ing the Way

Groundbreaking, environmentally friendly facilities opening in Virginia

HCA’s Reston medical office building is the company’s first LEED-certified structure, and will be used as a model for future environmentally friendly construction projects.

ONE PARK PLAZANASHVILLE, TN 37203 PRSRT STD

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PAIDHCA

Missing Man Memorial Pays Tribute To Military, Honors Local VetsCaring for veterans is a big part of what the new Medical Center of Trinity, Fla. does, and the facility’s deep respect for the U.S. military is on display every day since the dedication of a Missing Man Memorial.

The memorial honors military personnel who are missing in action and/or prisoners of war, and is the most visible of Trinity’s many efforts to honor and care for veterans in the Pasco County area. Some 55,000 vets live in the county, and 30 percent of its residents have a family connection to the military, so this group is an important focus for the hospital. In fact, many local veterans have told hospital officials that they want to receive treatment at Medical Center of Trinity thanks to its recognition of their service, said Mary Sommise, director of marketing, who adds that a veteran was responsible for the idea in the first place.

“We were out in the community, introducing ourselves ahead of our move into the new facility, and began talking to a gentleman who was a 21-year veteran of the Air Force,” Sommise said. “He

also worked to get a USO facility at Tampa International Airport. That conversation launched an incredible collaboration with several local veterans’ groups to create an unbelievable flag-raising event at our dedication last November. We had Rolling Thunder [a group that works to raise POW/MIA awareness], local veterans, color guards, high-school students, business leaders and elected officials all taking part. It was an amazing way to introduce our hospital to the community.”

Part of the ceremony focused on a Missing Man table that had been set up for the event, and Trinity officials asked the veterans groups if a permanent table could be placed in the new facility. Everyone was in agreement, and when Trinity officially opened in February a full-scale ceremony was conducted.

The hospital’s table has a few nuances when compared to those at most military bases around the world. It is outside the dining area, but where an army base’s table would have just one place setting to reflect that branch of the service, the Trinity table has six settings to

reflect all 5 branches of the U.S. military with the 6th place reflecting civilians. It is maintained by hospital volunteers.

The hospital also flies the Prisoner of War (POW) flag along with the U.S. flag, something else that local vets have noticed.

“We had one patient tell us that he had been going to another hospital, but when he saw the POW flag, he chose our hospital for his procedure,” Sommise said.

“We wanted to have something that was designed to create awareness and a remembrance of all those who have not come home,” added Trinity CEO Leigh Massengill.

“We are a community hospital, and veterans are such an important part of our community. They are a tremendous group of people, and it has been a highlight for all of us to work with them.”

Other HCA facilities interested in flying the POW flag, or having their own Missing Man memorial installed, may obtain more information on the process and requirements by emailing HiringVeterans@HCAHealthcare.com.

FACILItIES

The Missing Man Memorial at Medical Center of Trinity rec-ognizes all branches of the U.S. military.