Weekly Updates: Week of Nov. 30
COVID News
Penn State Health joins national campaign to #MaskUp
Penn State Health has joined 100 leading health care systems across the country in a campaign urging Americans to wear face masks.
Spearheaded by the Cleveland Clinic, health systems across the nation facing concerns about the increasing rate of infections and hospitalizations are sharing a unified message beginning with high-profile publications, including The New York Times, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and The Los Angeles Times. Additional local messaging will follow.
The joint message is simple but important:
“As the top nationally ranked hospitals, we know it’s tough that we all need to do our part and keep wearing masks. But, here’s what we also know: The science has not changed. Masks slow the spread of COVID-19. So, please join us as we all embrace this simple ask: Wear. Care. Share with #MaskUp. Together, wearing is caring. And together, we are saving lives.”
Hershey Medical Center nursing staff seeking COVID-19 testing must get house manager approval
All symptomatic Hershey Medical Center nursing staff must now be approved by their house manager as a critical employee before they contact Employee Health or the OnDemand screeners for COVID testing on evenings and weekends. As detailed in the Critical Symptomatic Employee and Housemate COVID-19 Testing Guidance, Employee Health will ask Hershey Medical Center nursing staff which house manager identified them as a critical employee.
Likewise, screeners who are accessed after-hours through the Penn State Health OnDemand App: Employee Coronavirus Screening for Critical Employees and Housemates Module also will ask for the approving house manager’s name.
As a reminder, Hershey Medical Center Employee Health’s standard hours for coronavirus screening are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and for critical staff Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The hours for critical staff testing via the Penn State Health OnDemand App: Employee Coronavirus Screening for Critical Employees and Housemates Module are Monday through Friday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. Instructions for using the module are provided within the Critical Symptomatic Employee and Housemate COVID-19 Testing Guidance.
Hershey Medical Center, College of Medicine designate five more break spaces
Starting today, Hershey Medical Center and College of Medicine employees will have five additional safe break spaces, capable of accommodating 110 people.
In ongoing efforts to keep employees and patients safe, Hershey Medical Center and College of Medicine leaders have identified the additional meal/break space that will be available for staff to use effective immediately through Monday, Jan. 4, 2021.
The additional rooms and capacities are:
- Junker Auditorium ― 34
- Lecture Room A (C4618) ―19
- Lecture Room B (C5621) ―19
- Lecture Room C (C6616) ―19
- Lecture Room D (C7619) ―19
The new break rooms are the third installment of a plan to make additional safe space available for employees to take breaks. Click here for a listing of other safe break rooms that have been made available.
Employees should follow room-occupancy and social-distancing requirements of six feet or more. They also should wear masks when they are not eating and drinking ― for example, visiting with colleagues, talking on the phone or reading. This applies in common dining spaces as well.
All COVID-19 safety and cleaning protocols are in place for these break spaces.
Other News
Hershey Medical Center offers first hybrid cardiac rehab program in central PA
Hershey Medical Center’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Program is rolling out a new option in response to requests from its patients and increasing demand for its services.
Called “hybrid cardiac rehabilitation,” the novel approach combines in-person visits with virtual visits through the Penn State Health OnDemand app. The hybrid option allows participants to complete a full 36-session cardiac rehabilitation program while reducing travel time and enhancing their safety. It’s the first hybrid cardiac rehabilitation program in central Pennsylvania.
In the hybrid model, patients make one in-person visit at Hershey Medical Center during each week of the program. They then conduct a second visit virtually. Patients receive all cardiac rehabilitation services—including individualized teaching—during in-person and virtual visits.
Hershey Medical Center Urology raises hair, funds for prostate cancer research
They entered November with clean cheeks, bare chins and smooth upper lips and exited with a mighty crop of natural face warmers and $100,000 for prostate cancer research.
Even COVID-19 couldn’t stop the Hershey Medical Center Division of Urology’s fifth annual No Shave November fundraiser from raising whiskers and cash. This year, more than 175 men from Penn State Health and Mid Penn Bank banished their razors for 30 days to help charity.
As usual, Rory Ritrievi, president and CEO of Mid Penn Bank, and Dr. Jay Raman, professor and chief of the Division of Urology, were each top fundraisers for the campaign. Every year, both men vie to see whose facial hair can raise the most currency.
Mid Penn Bank hosted weekly check-in videos on their Facebook and Instagram pages showing the progress of the campaign.
The funds:
- support the analysis of statewide prostate cancer rates, including identifying areas of higher incidence and more aggressive disease
- provide an annual free prostate cancer screening program in central Pennsylvania
- further involvement in the Pennsylvania Urologic Research Collaboration, which enables cooperation between Pennsylvania programs to help men with prostate cancer or suspected prostate cancer
The Cornerstone Coffeehouse in Camp Hill, Al’s of Hampden in Enola, Tower Porter Improvement Organization and Halifax VFW also helped raise funds for the effort.
College of Medicine students create medical journal
A group of fourth-year College of Medicine students created the Penn State Journal of Medicine as a way for other students to showcase and disseminate their research.
They published the inaugural edition online in October.
“Once we started talking about it, there was quite a bit of interest,” said Rahul Gupta, a fourth-year emergency medicine student and one of four editors who produce the journal.
The plan is to publish the journal once a year. For the first edition, nearly 40 papers were submitted, and 13 were chosen for publication.
Students, staff find opportunities to give thanks, talk about gratitude
Leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday was a stressful time for College of Medicine students with exams, work and the loneliness caused by COVID-19.
Some people, such as Dr. Emmanuelle Williams, associate dean of student affairs, hoped to provide a positive outlet for students and an opportunity for them to think about their gratitude.
Williams held a virtual “Friendsgiving” dinner for medical school students where guests were asked to refrain from talking about the pandemic or classes.
Caroline Eisele, a first-year medical student, created a “Gratitude Wall” in the student lounge at the College of Medicine, allowing students to write what and who they are grateful for this time of year.
And Lauren Talhelm, who works in the Graduate Medical Education (GME) Office, recently was the main organizer of a “GME We Are Thankful” event in the dining rooms at Hershey Medical Center. She handed out food and small gifts.
Stay safe while shopping online
The holiday season is a prime time for hackers, scammers and online thieves. While you are online looking for the best gifts and deals, hackers are looking for weaknesses in your devices or internet connections and ways to extract personal and financial information through fake websites or charities.
The best defense against these threats is awareness. Here are a few simple steps we can all take to be more secure:
- Check your devices and accounts. Make sure the device you’re using to shop online is up-to-date. Review your accounts to ensure you are using strong passwords and two-factor authentication, where available.
- Only shop through trusted sources. Think about how you’re searching online for deals. Are you clicking on links in emails and ads on webpages? Make sure that you are interacting with reputable, established vendors.
- Use safe methods for purchases. If you’re going to make that purchase, what information are you handing over? Before providing personal or financial information, check the website’s privacy policy and make sure you understand how your information will be stored and used. Use a credit card as opposed to a debit card.
More tips are available on the Safe Shopping Infonet page.
Research
Cancer Research Day focuses on career paths
Faculty, staff, trainees and students virtually attended the third annual Cancer Research Day on Oct. 31 to present their research, learn about cancer research careers and discuss career development.
While the annual event looked different this year, attendees experienced a full schedule with featured and guest speakers, trainee presentations, a poster session and a career panel that highlighted the breadth of cancer research in basic, clinical and translational science.
People
Lyn-Sue recognized for Exceptional Moments in Teaching
Dr. Jerome Lyn-Sue, associate professor of surgery at Penn State College of Medicine, is featured for December in the “Exceptional Moments in Teaching” program.
“Dr. Lyn-Sue would take time before every case to review a topic with me, including the relevant anatomy, clinical presentation, diagnostic work-up, treatment and prognosis/complications for that specific condition,” a student wrote. “This usually involved a question-and-answer format. He created a safe learning environment where I felt comfortable asking questions or admitting when I didn’t know the answer.
“He also often gave me topics to look up to expand my clinical knowledge, and we would discuss these topics during the next time I worked with him. There were several questions I felt confident answering during my shelf exam because I remembered discussing the topic with Dr. Lyn-Sue. He also gave me many chances to get involved in the operating room, which made my surgical experience memorable.”
College of Medicine employees mark work milestones
Congratulations to College of Medicine employees who celebrated a milestone work anniversary between Sept. 1 and today.
45 Years of Service
- Thomas Lloyd, Public Health Sciences
35 Years of Service
- Ralph Keil, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Loren Evey, Neural and Behavioral Sciences
30 Years of Service
- Brenda Kline, Public Health Sciences
25 Years of Service
- Susan Boehmer, Public Health Sciences
- David Mauger, Public Health Sciences
- Heidi Payne, Surgery
15 Years of Service
- Zhexi Ma, Medicine
10 Years of Service
- Atrya Reigle, Comparative Medicine
- Rebecca Volpe, Humanities
- Sarah Ballard, Neural and Behavioral Sciences
- Jonathan Foulds, Public Health Sciences
- Prasanna Karunanayaka, Radiology
- Kimberly Palm, Clinical Research
Employees are recognized for their time at the College of Medicine, and recognition is given in five-year increments starting on their 10th year. For questions about work anniversary dates, contact HR Shared Services at 814-865-1473 or submit an inquiry via worklion.psu.edu.
St. Joseph names October Daisy Award winners
Penn State Health St. Joseph presented DAISY (Diseases Attacking the Immune System) Awards on Oct. 23 to two nurses, Mary McDevitt and Ashley Lessman, for their skillful, compassionate care and their daily support of patients and families.
Colleagues recognized McDevitt, who works in case management, for being a strong role model who goes above and beyond in all situations.
Lessman’s nomination mentioned that “Ashley does an amazing job with breastfeeding moms and their babies,” and that others seek her out for hands-on help with patients.
Events
Webinar: Health disparities facing Native American and indigenous communities Dec. 9
Research on Race and Ethnicity-Based Disparities will present a session on Native American and indigenous populations on Wednesday, Dec. 9, at noon. Sign up for the virtual program here.
St. Joseph offers registrations for Women2Women and De Mujer a Mujer virtual events
Women2Women, a program of the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance, closes 2020 with these virtual offerings in December.
Aida Lone is a testament to living the American dream, having left poverty in Communist Albania and now operating her own business. Join her Thursday, Dec. 10, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., as she presents “Anything is Possible.” Lone will share her personal story and offer advice on how to reach your goals.
Women2Women will host a holiday happy hour Thursday, Dec. 17, from 6 to 7 p.m. that will include games and prizes.
If interested in attending any of these virtual events, contact Julia Nickey, regional director of marketing and communications at St. Joseph, a founding sponsor of Women2Women. Visit the organization’s website to learn more.
Wellness Wednesday – virtual restorative yoga workshop
Looking to chill? The Virtual Restorative Yoga Workshop offers the chance in the comfort of your own home.
Each supported pose, demonstrated by an instructor, helps you relax using as little physical effort as possible. It’s a great way to end your day.
What are the benefits?
- Lower your stress by allowing the body to rest, relax and enter the parasympathetic nervous system to decrease your heart rate and blood pressure.
- Release muscular tension using as little physical effort as possible by using props to allow your body to feel at ease.
Register online. Classes start Wednesday, Dec. 9, from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m.
Check out the Wellness Toolkit for more information regarding wellness benefits and for additional wellness resources visit the PRO Wellness BeWell Employee Wellness website.
Lunch and Learn series: ‘Burnout in the Pandemic Era’ Dec. 15
Kelly Holder, director of the Office for Professional Mental Health at Penn State Health and the College of Medicine, will present “‘I was Already Fried’: Burnout in the Pandemic Era” Tuesday, Dec. 15, from noon to 1 p.m.
The virtual session is part of Clinical Documentation Improvement’s Lunch and Learn Series.
Zoom: https://pshealth.zoom.us/j/94800036704?pwd=NVBGakg0dm1qMkdldjloQ29kaGxndz09
Holy Spirit Medical Center calls employee artists for annual show
Holy Spirit Medical Center is seeking participants for its fifth annual Employee Art Show on Friday, Jan. 15, 2021.
All forms of art will be welcome, including calligraphy, carvings, clay sculptures, drawings, jewelry, knitwear, paintings, photography, quilts, stained glass, string ideas and wood burnings. Employee artists will have a 5-foot-wide space in the hospital auditorium to display their artwork. During registration, they will have the option of requesting a table that is approximately 4 feet long by 18 inches wide.
To register, email Sister Mary Joseph Albright, mission integration officer, or call 717-972-4289 by Friday, Dec. 18. The art show will move forward with a minimum of 15 registered participants.
On the day of the show, visitors to the art show must follow COVID-19 safety precautions, such as wearing masks and maintaining a social distance of at least six feet.
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