Weekly Updates: Week of Jan. 11
COVID News
Penn State Health begins vaccinating community health care providers against COVID-19
Penn State Health began offering COVID-19 vaccinations Monday to community health care providers and emergency medical services providers not affiliated with its medical centers.
As of Jan. 6, Penn State Health has been allocating a portion of the vaccine doses it receives from the Pennsylvania Department of Health for these community health care personnel. Starting today, the health system is holding vaccination clinics for these individuals at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Holy Spirit Medical Center and St. Joseph Medical Center. Clinics are open by appointment only.
“We’re happy to be able to offer COVID vaccines to this very important group of community partners,” said Dr. William Bird, a senior vice president of Penn State Health Medical Group. “Today marks a key milestone in making sure the vaccine reaches as many people as possible in the communities we serve.”
Hershey’s pre-procedural testing shifts from five to three days starting Jan. 18
Since Hershey Medical Center can now complete COVID-19 testing in house, it will begin swabbing patients scheduled for surgeries or procedures three days in advance of their appointments, shifting from five days in advance, starting Monday, Jan. 18.
The change will initially affect patients who must receive their COVID testing on Jan. 18 for a surgery or procedure scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 21.
As it transitions to the new arrangement between Jan. 18 and Monday, Feb. 1, Hershey Medical Center will continue to swab patients who arrive five days in advance of their appointments instead of three days.
The new schedule:
- Monday appointments tested on Fridays
- Tuesday appointments tested on Saturdays
- Wednesday appointments tested on Sundays
- Thursday appointments tested on Mondays
- Friday appointments tested on Tuesdays
Swabbing locations and hours:
35 Hope Drive
- 7 a.m.- 3 p.m. Friday, Monday and Tuesday
- 7 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday
Internal Medicine West (10 Conference Drive)
- 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday
College of Medicine pandemic response Friday round-up ― week of Jan. 4-8
College of Medicine leaders updated faculty, staff and students on Jan. 8 about the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic:
- Penn State Health expanded its employee COVID vaccinations to the third tier on Jan. 7 and expects to move to the fourth and final tier (where the remainder of our College of Medicine faculty, staff and students who have no patient contact are tiered) this week.
- Those working on-campus are reminded to fill out the University Return-to-Work Authorization form. If you have completed this form previously, you do not need to complete it again. For everyone still working at home, please continue to do so until further notice.
- Penn State has decided to delay the start of in-person classes and transition to a fully remote learning environment for the beginning of the spring 2021 semester. For more information, please refer to last week’s email. This delay does not prevent graduate students from performing their research activities in the lab.
People
Snoke is Holy Spirit Medical Center Physician of the Quarter
Holy Spirit Medical Center has named Dr. J. Stephen Snoke its Physician of the Quarter for December 2020 to February 2021.
Each quarter the Medical Staff Executive Committee presents the award to the nominee who receives the most votes for having exemplified the hospital’s mission, vision and values, as well as its SPIRIT standards.
Snoke’s nominator specifically mentioned his primary care practice of going above and beyond for all of his patients.
“He is an amazing doctor and truly cares for his patients,” the nominator wrote. “He memorizes everything about his patients and is always prepared to help. He is well liked by all of his patients, and they always say good things about him. As a patient of his, as well as a colleague, I truly believe that he is great at what he does and that he enjoys what he does.”
In addition to recognizing the recipient during the quarterly staff meeting, the committee also presents the provider with a plaque.
Employees honored for work milestones
Congratulations to the following Penn State Health employees who are celebrating a milestone work anniversary between Jan. 6 and Jan. 12. They put our values into action every day:
40 Years of Service
- Debra Verne, Legal Services, Hershey
30 Years of Service
- Raymond Reichwein, Neurology, Hershey
25 Years of Service
- Bonnie Keefer, Medical Group Clinic Schedule Maintenance, Hershey
- Brenda Ruhl, Patient Logistics, Hershey
20 Years of Service
- Stacey Cannon, Pulmonary Rehabilitation Diagnostics, Holy Spirit
- Janelle McLeod, Clinical Nutrition Services, Hershey
- Teresa Rhodes-Smith, Emergency Services, St. Joseph
15 Years of Service
- Christine Bachorz, Medical Group Practice Sites Administration, Hershey
- Erica Brenner, Pharmacy Services, Hershey
- Susan Dieter, Radiology Diagnostics, St. Joseph
- Karen Fancovic, Pediatric Acute Care, Hershey
- Trisha Klein, Cardiology Services, St. Joseph
- Wendy Laverty, Revenue Integrity, Hershey
- Jane Lawrence, Treasury Services, Hershey
- Kerry Rose, Information Services – Clinical, Hershey
- Kaitlin Snook, Clinical Staffing Office, Hershey
- Marcy Thompson, Penn State Health Medical Group – Nyes Road
- Debra Yodfat, 7th Floor Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Hershey
10 Years of Service
- Thomas Barkley, Adult Intensive Care Unit, Holy Spirit
- Jose Rodriguez, Environmental Services, St. Joseph
Employees are recognized for their time at Penn State Health. Recognition begins on the 10th anniversary and is given in five-year increments. Employees from every entity within Penn State Health are included in these recognitions, but not every entity may have an employee with a work anniversary during this time period. For questions about work anniversary dates, contact the HR Solution Center at hrsolutions@pennstatehealth.psu.edu or 717-531-8440.
Events
College of Medicine plans town hall Jan. 19
College of Medicine leadership will hold a virtual town hall to discuss their continued COVID response on Tuesday, Jan. 19, at 4 p.m. To facilitate the flow of information and answer as many questions as possible, questions should be submitted in advance. If you have a specific question, submit it here by noon Wednesday, Jan. 13. To add the event to your calendar or for Zoom information, visit this link.
Holy Spirit Medical Center employees invited to connect with hospital leadership Jan. 20
Holy Spirit Medical Center employees can talk with senior-level managers and their colleagues during CONNECT with Senior Leaders, an informal Zoom meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 20, from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Employee questions and feedback are welcome during the meeting.
Register by noon Tuesday, Jan. 19. Confirmation will be sent via email, along with a Zoom meeting invite and instructions for how to join. Email Allie Pochak with any questions or call 717-972-4134.
Mandated reporter training available Feb. 19
The American Academy of Pediatrics will present “Recognizing and Responding to Children at Risk,” a two-hour mandated reporter training hosted by a physician and a local Children and Youth Services employee on Friday, Feb. 19, from 7 to 9 a.m. via Zoom.
Open to 75 licensed professionals only, pre-registration is required. Register by contacting the Holy Spirit Medical Center Quality Dept. at 717-972-4286 or email cmattrick@pennstatehealth.psu.edu. The deadline is Friday, Feb. 5.
In order to have the completion credit sent to the individual’s respective licensing board, pre-registration requires the following information:
- Employee’s name, exactly as it appears his or her on license
- License number
- Date of birth
- Last four digits of Social Security number
This training is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.
Other news
Massini: Penn State Health embodies ‘all hands on deck’
Penn State Health CEO Steve Massini emailed employees on Tuesday about the health system’s pandemic response and its efforts to vaccinate employees and learners.
Among the key points:
- Our hospitals continue to care for a high number of patients with COVID-19, and our health system faces a challenge with a high number of employees unable to work because of infection or quarantine. I appreciate the willingness of so many of you to step out of your usual roles and shifts to help meet our needs. We’ve truly embodied “all hands on deck” during this pandemic.
- Beginning later today, staff will start to see invitations to self-schedule your appointment. The email will come from covid19vaccine@pennstatehealth.psu.edu. Please don’t delay, as doses are limited. Receiving the vaccine is voluntary, but we do know this is one way to help minimize the spread of COVID-19 and save lives. I encourage you to visit our resources and learn as much as you can.
- In 2021, we will roll out Penn State Health Reimagined, a new program that will improve the way we work, find and hire talent, procure supplies, and manage our budgets, projects and assets.
Holy Spirit Medical Center is a Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery
Capital Blue Cross has designated Holy Spirit Medical Center a Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery. Blue Distinction Centers are nationally designated health care facilities that show expertise in delivering improved patient safety and better health outcomes, based on objective measures that were developed with input from the medical community and leading accreditation and quality organizations.
“This designation is confirmation that we are delivering the life-changing outcomes our patients want and need,” said Dr. Richard Griffiths, director of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. “It also is a symbol to patients that we are committed to walking with them every step of the way.”
Facilities designated as Blue Distinction Centers for bariatric surgery must demonstrate a commitment to quality care, resulting in better overall outcomes for bariatric surgery patients. They offer a broad range of bariatric surgery care services, including inpatient care, postoperative care, outpatient follow-up care and patient education.
Holy Spirit Medical Center recertified as Advanced Primary Stroke Center
The Joint Commission has renewed Holy Spirit Medical Center’s certification as an Advanced Primary Stroke Center.
The hospital first earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval and the American Stroke Association’s Heart-Check mark in 2013. Every two years since, Holy Spirit Medical Center has undergone a rigorous onsite evaluation and demonstrated continued compliance with nationally developed standards for stroke care.
“We are pleased to be recognized for our commitment to providing expert stroke care to our patients and the community,” said Dr. Bret DeLone, vice president of medical affairs. “Our team’s focus on implementing evidence-based practice, establishing effective protocols and incorporating innovative technology continues to deliver superior outcomes for our patients.”
Consider organizational values, reputation on social media
Penn State Health CEO Steve Massini and Penn State College of Medicine Interim Dean Dr. Kevin Black shared in their message last week about the events that took place in Washington, D.C., “We are strengthened by our values of Respect, Integrity, Teamwork and Excellence. Our values must remain at the heart of everything we do.”
A poorly placed comment or photo on social media can contradict the organization’s values and also pose significant risk to its image.
As representatives of Penn State Health and the College of Medicine, employee interactions with one another, within their communities and on social media are a reflection of who Penn State Health and the College of Medicine are and what they represent as organizations.
Review the Penn State Health personal use social media policy and the College of Medicine social media policy. Postings to social media sites by employees, even when made in a personal capacity, could have workplace consequences that may subject them to disciplinary sanctions.
Everyone should hold conversations, interactions and social media posts to the highest standards and commit to being aligned with and champions for Penn State Health values.
Get ready for winter weather: update your contact information in Penn State Health Alerts or St. Joseph alerting system
Be prepared for the next snowstorm or other severe weather event by updating your preferred contact information in the Penn State Health Alerts emergency notification system.
Powered by the Everbridge platform, Penn State Health Alerts can communicate potentially lifesaving information. Alerts include severe weather, IT and power outages, missing infant or children alerts, workplace violence and other incidents. The emergency notification system enables instant communication via phone, email, text messaging, mobile app and other channels.
Those who use personal devices, such as cellphones, or personal email addresses for work should consider adding their alternate contact information to the Penn State Health Alerts system.
Penn State Health St. Joseph uses a different module of Everbridge than the rest of the system. Employees should make sure their manager has their most current contact information.
The Penn State Health Alerts emergency notification system replaces Holy Spirit’s VOLO application.
Penn State Health updates its Code of Conduct
Penn State Health has revised its Code of Conduct and will include it in the annual compliance training for employees, which will be assigned on Tuesday, Jan. 26.
The code reminds employees about the standards of conduct expected of them and how their actions affect Penn State Health and its mission. It has been expanded to address the health system’s relationships with patients and their family members, Penn State Health and its employees, third parties with which Penn State Health does business and ethical business practices.
The Code of Conduct also evaluates different scenarios according to the standards of conduct in the code and incorporates Penn State Health’s mission, vision and values.
For questions, contact A. Nicki Campbell, director of compliance operations.
Accelerating innovation: course boosts biomedical ideas, College of Medicine’s mentor role
Penn State College of Medicine is included in a $3.1 million, three-year grant to take on a role as a national mentor for the I-Corps@ National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) program.
The goal of the grant is to allow College of Medicine I-Corps staff to teach the five-week course to others who can then conduct it at their own universities. The College of Medicine is working with Case Western Reserve University and the University of Buffalo.
Kevin Harter, associate dean of medical innovation and director of the Center for Medical Innovation, said biomedical students, faculty and researchers have no shortage of great ideas, but many don’t know how to move ahead with them. The I-Corps program helps them reach a product development phase or successfully apply for a critical grant.
Harter, associate dean of medical innovation and director of the Center for Medical Innovation of the College of Medicine, said the overall goal of the program is to improve the health of communities by speeding up the process of moving new discoveries from research labs into new treatments and cures for patients.
Institute podcast highlights research on exercise in cancer treatment
Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute released the latest episode of its “Engage” podcast featuring Kathleen Sturgeon, assistant professor of public health sciences, discussing her research into the use of exercise in cancer treatment. Sturgeon is a scholar in the institute’s Early-Stage Investigator Training Program.
This program invests in early-stage faculty establishing their research programs through a formal curriculum, mentorship and protected time for conducting research work. Each episode of “Engage” aims to help listeners learn about the research process and how Penn State helps improve our neighbors’ and communities’ health. “Engage” is available on all major platforms, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Reminder: Access to Geisinger email and SharePoint ends Jan. 31
Access to Geisinger email, email folders and SharePoint for all former Geisinger Holy Spirit, Spirit Physician Services Inc. and West Shore ALS employees ends Sunday, Jan. 31. An automated migration tool will not be available. Staff should continue to manually transfer emails and files to Penn State Health systems. Two methods to transfer manually are:
- Forward individual emails to your @pennstatehealth.psu.edu email address.
- Create a new email message and attach a group of emails to the new email message. Then send the email message to your @pennstatehealth.psu.edu email address. Note that there is a 25 MB limit on email message size.
Email contacts and calendar appointments should be recreated in the Penn State Health email. Employees should recreate contacts before their calendar appointments so all contacts are available. See the Information Services page on the Holy Spirit Infonet for job aids. If you have questions about where to store SharePoint files, please discuss with your departmental leadership.
Holy Spirit seeks staffing for Medical Center screening desk
Holy Spirit Medical Center needs staffing for its screening desk seven days a week, especially on the weekends from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on weekdays from 3 to 7 p.m.
In addition, staff members who can be on call are needed to fill shifts when there are cancellations. Duties include asking screening questions, taking temperatures and checking the Epic electronic medical record system to see if visitors are approved. Staff who don’t use the system will receive access and training for Epic.
Managers should review the main screening entrance desk schedule (they must sign into their Geisinger portal for access). They should inform Calvin Beidleman, Theresa Price or Tiffany Jenkins which shifts their team can fill. Organizers hope to fill standing shifts for consistency.
Wellness Wednesday: Celebrate National Gluten-Free Day with a tasty dish
To celebrate National Gluten-Free Day, try brown rice pasta ― gluten-free pasta, chicken and broccoli baked in a creamy, low-fat sauce.
Check out the BeWell Employee Wellness Toolkit and for information on wellness resources, visit the PRO Wellness BeWell Employee Wellness website.
New system for biosafety protocol submissions coming this spring
A new web-based system, Centralized Application Tracking System Safety (CATS Safety), will provide investigators, staff and committee members with a streamlined system for managing biosafety protocols. CATS Safety is supported by the Office of Research Affairs, Research Quality Assurance, Office for Research Protections and the Office of Research Information Systems in partnership with an advisory committee of biosafety subject matter experts at Penn State.
A pilot go-live of CATS Safety is set to launch in the spring with a full launch expected in the summer. To learn more, visit the CATS Safety website.
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