Our Promise: Turning Knowledge Into Action

Transcription

1 A A periodic quarterly newsletter dedicated to to informing and and enlightening staff, staff, associates, associates and colleagues and colleagues of Promise of Promise Healthcare, Healthcare, Inc. Summer Inc Our Promise: Turning Knowledge Into Action In every organization, employees are instrumental in carrying out the company s mission. At Promise, whether we are in an office setting or on the hospital front, every employee plays a part in ensuring we fulfill our mission of providing quality care to our patients. Likewise, each employee s feedback is useful in uncovering strengths and opportunities for improvement within the organization. The employee opinion survey we distributed over the summer provided insight into how Promise Healthcare operates as a company from your perspective. From Survey to Implementation Following the survey, each facility and the corporate office received a detailed report on their respective survey results. All across the company, employee survey committees were developed to review results and create specific action plans that address key employee and organizational issues. Each facility has established a timeline and process for executing survey action items. Hospital Highlight: Promise Hospital of Salt Lake Over the past few months, the management team and staff at Promise Hospital of Salt Lake have worked tirelessly to bring their survey results to life. Our process began with breaking down our survey results into categories. From there, we identified areas of opportunity and successes in each category and used the information to create specific action plans per category. Lastly, we determined responsible parties for implementing and evaluating each plan, says Paula Hildy, Human Resources Director and champion of the survey implementation process at Promise Hospital of Salt Lake. (continued on page 11) PAGE 2 Keeping Our Promise Maintaining Our Focus PAGE 3 Successful Listening PAGE Medicare and Federal Regulations: Staying Ahead of the Curve PAGE 5 OIG s 2013 Work Plan: What To Expect in the Year Ahead PAGES 6-8 Promise Buzz: From Our Hospitals PAGE 9 Staff Spotlight: Leigh Anne Baker, M.S., CCC- SLP, BRS-S PAGE 10 A Wellness Success Story: Kendria McCrary s Road to Health, Fitness and Confidence PAGE 11 Our Promise: Turning Knowledge Into Action (Cont d) PAGE 12 Dancing with Promise

2 MANAGEMENT MESSAGE As we welcome 2013, we take a moment to reflect on the past year. While there were several challenges, we also enjoyed many successes; and with each experience we were able to learn and grow as an organization. Keeping Our Promise One of our major accomplishments this year was the expansion of our market share within the long-term acute care (LTAC) industry. Over the course of the year we also introduced new leadership at many of our hospitals: Jacqueline Hodge joined Promise Hospital of Phoenix as CEO in April, we welcomed Martha Heubach to Promise Hospital of San Diego as CEO in November, and Patrick Ryan transitioned from his role as Director of Physician Relations and Education (PRE) at Promise Hospital of Miss Lou to a broader role serving as Regional Vice President of PRE, in which he also provides support to Promise Hospitals in Baton Rouge. We are confident they will each continue to actively build upon Promise s solid foundation. This year, new changes lie ahead for our industry. With each new development, we will continue forward with renewed focus on providing quality care to our patients who are battling serious illnesses and injuries. Let us always remember the commitment we made to ourselves to continuously make healthy lifestyle choices, to our patients who are depending on us for the very best care, and to each other, as we make efforts to treat our fellow colleagues with the utmost respect. Best wishes to you and your loved ones in 2013! Peter R. Baronoff Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Howard B. Koslow President and Chief Operating Officer Larry Leder Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Dr. Mark H. Dawson Medical Director OPERATIONS MISSION Maintaining Our Focus With 2013 upon us, many exciting milestones lie ahead. We recently broke ground on a new longterm acute care (LTAC) facility in Southwest Florida. Located in Fort Myers, the new 60-bed Promise Hospital will serve as the first LTAC facility in the area. We also expect to begin construction on another LTAC facility in Miami Lakes in early second quarter. Designed as 60- bed, stand-alone hospitals, each facility will fulfill a community s need for our specialized services. These new facilities incorporate the innovative design features of the hospitals we built in Bossier, Miss Lou and the Villages with additional refinements. In concert with our recently opened Promise Hospital of Florida at the Villages, the three facilities will establish Florida as our third major market presence along with California and Louisiana. At Promise, our primary focus remains on delivering exceptional care and building our patient base. In order to do so effectively, we rely on the expertise and dedication of our staff. This past summer, we administered a company-wide employee opinion survey with the goal of obtaining and utilizing your feedback to improve the employee experience at Promise Healthcare. The results have been tabulated and each facility is actively working towards implementing an action plan and addressing key issues. In this edition of Promise Pulse, you will read about the noteworthy progress one of our facilities has made in response to their survey results. Also in this newsletter, you will learn about new developments and challenges facing our industry over the next year and how we are preparing for these changes. In the facility buzz section, you will read about various programs and events our facilities have put together and participated in; all of which align with several of our corporate pillars including quality, service, and people. Happy and Healthy New Year! Richard Gold EVP of Operations Promise Healthcare, Inc. 2

3 HR NEWS Learning how to effectively communicate is fundamental to success in almost every aspect of life; particularly within the health care field. Delivering quality medical care depends upon effective communication between patients and providers. As discussed in the last issue of Promise Pulse, effective communication is a reciprocal process that includes sending messages so that the receiver comprehends the intended meaning of the message. The second component of effective communication is listening. Research suggests we only remember between 25% and 50% of what we hear. The breakdown of this statistic can be demonstrated as engaging in a 10 minute conversation with your colleague, patient or patient s family member, and only paying attention or retaining less than half of the conversation. The way to become a better listener is to practice active listening. This method of listening is most often used to improve personal relationships, reduce misunderstanding and conflicts, strengthen cooperation, and foster understanding. When using this technique, you must make a conscious effort to not only hear the words a person is saying; but, more importantly, try to understand the complete message being sent by the speaker. This skill requires us to use eye contact, objective processing and provide feedback to the speaker. It involves asking clarifying questions or restating what was heard to assure the intent of the message sent was correctly received. Active listening becomes particularly important when the communication includes emotional content. In our roles, when communicating with patients and their families where interactions are often times highly charged, active listening becomes even more imperative. Tips for Successful Listening Successful Listening If your goal is to fully understand and connect with the other person, listening effectively will often come naturally. If it does not, remember the following tips. The more you practice them, the more satisfying and rewarding your interactions with others will become. Focus: Intentionally focus on the person communicating with you. Be sure to enter the conversation with a positive, engaged attitude. Stop all non-relevant activities beforehand to orient yourself to the speaker or the topic. Active listening requires greater concentration than just a normal dialogue. Listen with your ears but also with your eyes and other senses. Avoid distractions: Be aware of distracters such as a noise coming through a window, loud neighbor, etc. If distracters exist, position yourself appropriately closer to the speaker. Avoid multi-tasking as that is a way to miss nonverbal cues. Avoid interrupting: Do not interrupt or try to redirect the conversation to your concerns. Listening is not the same as waiting for your turn to talk. You cannot concentrate on what someone s saying if you are forming what you will say next. Avoid seeming judgmental: In order to communicate effectively with a person, you do not have to like them or agree with their ideas. However, you do need to set aside your judgment and withhold criticism to fully understand them. Show your interest: Let the speaker know that you are interested in what is being said. Nod occasionally, smile at the person, and make sure your posture is open and inviting. By practicing active listening, you will become a better communicator, improve your workplace productivity and develop better relationships with those at work and in your personal lives. 3

4 CLINICAL & QUALITY UPDATE 2013 Medicare and Federal Regulations: Staying Ahead of the Curve With the onset of the new year, also comes new Medicare regulations. In addition, the Accountable Care Act, Affordable Care Act, and other federal regulations will greatly impact us in This year will bring about new challenges never before seen in the long-term acute care (LTAC) community. The moratorium on growth of new LTAC hospitals or expansion of LTAC beds has ceased as of January 1, This means the industry can once again expand into new markets and make much needed adjustments in existing markets. While it is an exciting time as the moratorium has been in effect since 2007, making this the first growth period many of you have seen in the industry, many changes lie ahead in Below is a list of the most prominent changes headed our way: 1. With the moratorium s elimination, returns CMS s 25% rule. However, CMS has provided us with a year s delay in its implementation and is also discussing eliminating the 25% rule altogether if the Medicare auditing program can provide the sense that admissions are appropriate. 2. An increase in chart reviews and audits from your MAC, RAC, CERT, ZPIC and MIC. The RACs are now allowed to complete pre-payment reviews just as the MICs and MACs. 3. Appeals arguing lack of good cause in the reopening of medical records for audit purposes will no longer be reviewed. Denials must be appealed based on the merit of the medical necessity and treatment provided, and for no other reason. 4. For the first time ever, LTAC hospitals must submit quality data to CMS under the pay for performance requirements of the Accountable Care Act. All LTAC hospitals must now report a) Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections; b) Ventilator Associated Pneumonias; c) Central Line Blood Stream Infections; and d) Hospital Acquired Pressure Ulcers or Advancement in Stage of a Pressure Ulcer. Two percent of each hospital s revenue is riding on good outcomes in these areas. Hospitals will have to learn the reporting components of this program and also ensure quality of care in these four areas is exemplary. 5. The DRGs have changes along with the base rate, relative weights and average lengths of stay. While payment is offset by the change in the Standard Federal Rate increase to $40,397.96, it will be even more difficult for hospitals with low CMIs to have optimal discharges in what we call the Sweet Slot while maintaining the 25-day rule requirement. So, what must we do to keep abreast of these changes? 4 1. Continue to educate our physicians and staff on the importance of their documentation and reviewing it regularly to ensure it supports the treatment of patients at an LTAC level. 2. Ensure that IHI bundles implemented two years ago are fully utilized in your hospital. Also, remember to use the Medline CAUTI kits which have yielded benefits within our organization. We have dropped 64% of our CAUTIs and BSIs. 3. Ensure that staff trained to report to Medicare on the CARE or NHSN systems have back-ups so that data entry doesn t fall behind if someone is ill or on vacation. This program requires reporting seven days a week and constant reviews. 4. Review admissions testing processes and ensure we are getting cultures on patients at admission to prevent taking hits for infections that are community acquired not hospital acquired. 5. Ensure turning schedules are being rigidly followed and that daily skin assessments are completed appropriately. Regular patient room checks and reviews of daily nurses notes are your best defense. 6. All case managers and coders have now been trained in clinical documentation. With this training comes the expectation that documentation education at each facility, especially with our doctors, will occur and that CMI will increase accordingly. 7. PRE s, admissions staff, etc. need to come together to identify the best programs at each facility and then brand and market it. For one hospital it may be wound care, and for another it may be vent patients. 8. Ensure all newly hired staff receive appropriate training. Call Mary Ellen Topper to set up training for case manager and admissions staff. We are here to support each hospital s needs.

5 LEGAL & COMPLIANCE MATTERS OIG s 2013 Work Plan: What to Expect in the Year Ahead As the primary governmental entity responsible for protecting the integrity of the Medicare program, the Office of the Inspector General s (OIG) focus is on improving Medicare s economy, efficiency and effectiveness; and, holding health care providers accountable who do not meet Medicare requirements and violate federal laws. Throughout the year, the OIG identifies areas within the programs, for which they have oversight authority, that are most in need of attention. Based on their findings, the OIG sets priorities and creates an annual work plan. This work plan gives health care providers insight into what the OIG considers to be areas prone to fraud, waste and abuse. It serves as an important resource for health care providers to ensure they are performing their duties and providing services in compliance with the OIG work plan. How Long-Term Acute Care Hospitals Are Affected The 2013 OIG work plan targets several areas which are of interest to long-term acute care (LTAC) hospitals. In accordance with the work plan, the OIG is going to investigate the extent to which Medicare made improper payments to health care providers for interrupted stays at LTACs in An interrupted stay occurs when a patient is discharged for treatment and services that are not available at the LTAC and is readmitted back to the same LTAC within nine days. More specifically, if the patient returns to the LTAC within three days, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) considers the acute care services included in the LTAC s DRG payment. As of 2013, the OIG is going to identify readmission patterns and determine the extent to which LTACs readmit patients directly following interrupted stays. According to previous OIG work, vulnerabilities have been identified in CMS ability to detect readmissions and appropriately pay for interrupted stays. Additionally, the OIG has committed more funds than ever before to combatting fraud, waste and abuse within the Medicare system. As such, it is critically important for all Promise employees to be aware of their responsibilities and report concerns regarding fraud and abuse. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the corporate compliance or legal department. The entire 2013 work plan is available at the Office of Inspector General - U.S. Department of Health & Human Services website. 5

6 PROMISE BUZZ FROM OUR HOSPITALS Promise Hospital of Miss Lou Congratulates Laurie Pere, RN on Recent Promotion Promise Hospital of Miss Lou is proud to announce that Laurie Pere, RN has been promoted to VP of Physician Relations and Education. Excelling in her previous role as RN Case Manager, Laurie has a wealth of experience in the Miss Lou health care market as well as a solid reputation among our local medical professionals. Prior to joining Promise, Laurie served as Nursing Instructor/Department Head for Central Louisiana Technical College. She also has several years of nursing experience working in various hospitals in Louisiana. Laurie Pere, RN We are pleased to have Laurie on our team and wish her success in her new role! Promise Hospitals of Baton Rouge Kick Off Live Fit Program Our Baton Rouge facilities recently celebrated the launch of our brand new Live Fit program. At the event, employees were introduced to the program and given an opportunity to provide feedback on different types of activities and resources they are most looking for in a wellness program. As part of the program, our facilities are partnering with Nutrition students at the local universities who are volunteering as personal Wellness Interns for our staff. Each facility has developed a Live Fit Wellness Team consisting of our Wellness Interns, Registered Dietitians/Nutritionists, Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, Nurses, Respiratory Therapists and HR personnel. An array of wellness services are being provided to employees including: Initial Wellness Assessment Wellness Resource/Referral Center Healthy snacks, educational materials and door prizes were handed out to participants General and Individualized Wellness Education/Counseling Ongoing Wellness Activities such as healthy recipe contests, walking competitions and much more The enthusiasm of our employees is truly exciting to see, says April Cintron, Director of Dietary Services and Live Fit Chairperson. All of our Baton Rouge facilities are inspired and ready to press on towards our wellness goals! Staff at Promise Hospital of Florida at the Villages Walk Their Way to Better Health Taking advantage of the cooler temperatures, Promise Hospital of Florida at the Villages recently implemented a Walking Club as part of our wellness program. Each day at 12:30 p.m., the group meets at the time clock and circles the hospital grounds for a half hour. Totaling about 1.2 miles, the brisk walk is quite energizing and contributes to a refreshed and renewed outlook for the remainder of the afternoon. If 12:30 p.m. finds one of our staff members in a meeting or involved in patient care, employees are encouraged to find another time during their day to grab a colleague and head outside for a few minutes. Walking is great exercise, says Debra Koske, champion of the walking club initiative. It is great to spend time outdoors enjoying the scenery while burning calories at the same time. At Promise Hospital, the excitement is catching on! Our walking group continues to grow week by week. 6

7 PROMISE BUZZ FROM OUR HOSPITALS Promise Hospital of Phoenix Applauds Nanette DiMercurio on Hall of Fame Induction Serving as Staffing Coordinator at Promise Hospital of Phoenix, Nanette DiMercurio has proven to be an excellent and dedicated employee. Therefore, it came as no surprise when Nanette was recently selected out of hundreds of individuals to be inducted into the Pima Medical Institute Hall of Fame. Before joining the Promise team, Nanette was employed by the Pima Medical Institute. Although she left the organization in May 2012, Nanette was chosen for this prestigious award in recognition of her prior contributions to the institute. The Pima Medical Institute bestows this honor only once every ten years, and to one individual at each campus. According to Richard Luebke, CEO of Pima Medical Institute, Nanette s extraordinary contributions continue to yield benefits. Nanette was an enormous asset to the Career Services team. She demanded a high level of professionalism from students and graduates. Her efforts set our students apart from other career colleges, said Richard as he presented her with the Hall of Fame plaque. Nanette DiMercurio At Promise Hospital of Phoenix, we are very pleased her successes were recognized, and are grateful to have such an outstanding and committed employee on our team. Great job Nanette! Promise Hospital of Salt Lake: Staff Learns About Patient Rehabilitation Challenges Through Hands-On Experience In honor of Physical Therapy Month, Promise Hospital of Salt Lake recently put together a creative and fun challenge for all staff to partake in. The purpose of the event was to provide staff with a better understanding of the challenges our patients experience on a day-to-day basis. To add flair and incorporate Halloween celebrations, staff came dressed in colorful 80 s themed costumes to the event We don t always know the true challenges our patients face until we ve had an opportunity to walk in their shoes, says Shanlon Ashworth, Physical Therapist at Promise Hospital of Salt Lake. Our rehab team set up 5 physical tasks for our staff to complete. They were able to feel firsthand the kind of obstacles our patients have to overcome each day. Staff was presented with a combination of various timed activities that tested their balance and forced them to use their non-dominant hands and legs to complete the challenges. With over 40 staff members from various departments participating in the event, the day was quite successful. Thank you to Rob Marshall, Occupational Therapist, and the rehab team for putting together this fun and educational group activity. Promise Healthcare Employees Hit the Pavement for a Worthy Cause In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Promise Healthcare corporate employees joined with 11,000 local community members to participate in the American Cancer Society s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Annual Walk. In our very own Team Pinky Promise t-shirts, over 25 Promise employees and family members completed the 5k walk. Exceeding our group fundraising goal, Team Pinky Promise raised over $1,000! This event created a great opportunity for our staff to stay on track with our wellness goals while supporting a greater cause that affects so many people. 7

8 PROMISE BUZZ FROM OUR HOSPITALS Promise Hospital of East Los Angeles Welcomes New Graduates Aboard Having recently implemented a New Graduate Program, Promise Hospital of East Los Angeles welcomes 9 new graduates to our team! As part of the program, recent graduates attended a 12 week course, developed and taught by Aimee Garner, Director of Education at Promise Hospital of East Los Angeles. Requiring participation in an eight hour didactic day per week, the program well prepared each graduate for the challenging and fast paced environment of nursing. Graduates also went through a rigorous panel interview process including critical thinking and critical scenarios. Each candidate was selected based on their points earned from the panel interview, instructor letters of recommendation, an essay on why they wanted to work at Promise Hospital and the importance of long-term acute care, as well as on their communication skills and previous internship hours. With over 100 applicants, the competition was fierce! Our new graduates were celebrated with a special luncheon where they were presented with a certification of completion. Congratulations to all our new hires: Lisa Valentincic, RN Nina Bun, RN Ji Constan, RN Estrella Garcia, RN Fernando Fuerte, RN Aaron Tanglao, RN Jennifer Hoder, LVN Crystal Bettencourt, RN Colleen Nguyen, RN Promise Hospital of Louisiana s Physical Therapy Program: Improving and Restoring Quality of Life A major focal point of long-term acute care (LTAC) rehabilitation is helping patients regain function so they may return home and live healthy independent lives. At Promise, our physical therapists address a number of critical issues affecting a patient s function. These issues typically include chronic pain, muscle weakness, joint dysfunction, difficulty moving, general debility, gait disturbances, and balance problems. To alleviate or minimize these issues, our therapy team focuses on 3 core objectives with each patient: Challenge the patient s cardiovascular status Challenge the patient s pulmonary status Engage the patient mentally Promise Hospital of Louisiana Rehabilitation Team In an LTAC setting, these core objectives are fundamental in achieving great results. Our staff also includes a Mobility Team in the treatment process to mobilize patients out of bed. Additionally, we incorporate group therapy in the overall treatment plan. By engaging our patients in fun activities, complications caused by depression are significantly reduced. Our team has a vital understanding of the critical role physical therapy plays in a patient s recovery. By implementing our core objectives, we have seen several of our patients achieve incredible outcomes. Thank you to Ronnie Wagley, Director of Rehabilitation and to our outstanding physical therapy team who work hard every day to improve the quality of life for our patients. 8

9 SPOTLIGHT ON Staff Spotlight: Leigh Anne Baker, M.S., CCC-SLP, BRS-S Leigh Anne Baker, M.S., CCC-SLP, BRS-S Leigh Anne Baker, speech pathologist at Promise Hospital Baton Rouge, has officially added a new professional title to her name. Having recently completed certification with the Specialty Board on Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders, Leigh Anne now serves as one of 200 Board Recognized Specialists in Swallowing in the United States; and, the only Board Recognized Specialist within the state of Louisiana. Since 2009, Leigh Anne has been an asset to the Promise team as well as to her community. She has presented on the local, university and state level on communication, swallowing evaluation and treatment of patients with tracheostomy tubes requiring mechanical ventilation. As a member of the broad speech therapy community, it was important to me to specialize in an area of practice that relates to my clinical population as well as one that sparks my interest. My position at Promise Hospital has given me the opportunity to develop a speech therapy program specifically for acute care patients with dysphagia, especially those with tracheostomy tubes requiring mechanical ventilation, says Leigh Anne. Akin to Board Certification that qualified physicians hold, Leigh Anne s newly acquired certification is quickly becoming the standard for identifying speech-language pathologists who are experts in dysphagia, or swallowing disorders. To receive board recognition, Leigh Anne was required to complete 75 hours of continuing education, three years clinical experience with at least 350 hours of dysphagia evaluation and treatment per year, advanced skill documentation in scholarship and training plus passing a 2- hour board exam on pediatric and adult aspects of swallowing and swallowing disorders. Along with her new certification, Leigh Anne has also recently completed training to become a Clinical Consultant for Passy- Muir, Inc. The Passy-Muir valve is a medical device used by tracheostomy and ventilator patients. As a consultant for Passy- Muir, Leigh Anne provides education and lectures to medical professionals in forums such as in-services, seminars, exhibits, etc. on the medical device. This March, she will be serving as a Passy-Muir Clinical Consultant at Promise Hospital of Salt Lake. We congratulate Leigh Anne on all of her professional accomplishments and are proud to have such expertise on our team. Great job Leigh Anne! Leigh Anne utilizing the Passy-Muir speaking and swallowing valve on one of her patients at Promise Hospital Baton Rouge 9

10 HEALTHY HEROES A Wellness Success Story: Kendria McCrary s Road to Health, Fitness and Confidence For Kendria, Pharmacy Tech at Promise Hospital of San Diego, weight management and exercise had never been at the top of her priority list. As a young mother still in school and the sole provider for three children, there was little time for Kendria to focus on herself. On top of that, Kendria grew up in a large family where get-togethers were mainly centered around big meals and the value of eating healthy and daily exercise was never instilled. Often times, she would begin diet and exercise programs but was never consistent. Kendria soon realized that in order to truly attain her weight loss and exercise goals, an inner change had to take place first. Once Kendria made the decision that her health was worth the sacrifice and she wholeheartedly committed to changing her lifestyle, everything began to fall into place. I made a pact with some of my Promise co-workers to get healthy. Since then, we have all been working hard and are always encouraging and pushing each other to keep going, says Kendria. To carry out her pact, Kendria began following the Weight Watchers Points Plus plan and signed up for personal training sessions at her local gym. Immediately, she started seeing results. Never in my life have I had so much energy and confidence. I feel amazing! Each day I get a little closer to my goal. I am finally going to be the healthy, fit and confident woman I am meant to be! Congratulations to Kendria and all our other Promise employees who are on the path to living a healthier and happier life! BEFORE 10 AFTER

11 Continued from Page 1 Our Promise: Turning Knowledge Into Action By selecting a few main survey areas to concentrate on, Promise Hospital of Salt Lake was able to create targeted objectives. Three of their focus areas included teamwork, employee engagement and training and development. In the teamwork category, Promise Hospital of Salt Lake is making significant strides in how well each department connects with other departments from a patient care perspective as well as an employee morale perspective. We are building upon how well each individual department interacts among their own team and coming up with ways to enhance how all departments work together overall, explains Paula. Each department has made a commitment to increase daily communication with other departments. Human Resources is also supporting the initiative by providing staff with various training tools and activities on building teamwork. Making the Most of Post-Survey Action Planning In order to continue growing as an organization, we all must embrace improvement opportunities and work together to cultivate change that will create a better working environment and, ultimately, higher quality of care to our patients. As action planning is implemented in your facility, we ask that you continuously provide feedback. At Promise Healthcare, we are committed to improving all of our hospitals and our employees experiences. In order to reinforce employee engagement, the facility is also taking active steps to ensure employees have the proper expectations and consistent feedback to perform their job duties effectively. Our department managers have taken responsibility for mentoring their staff, acknowledging positive work habits, and providing feedback to their employees, says Paula. We are also adding an Appreciation Station to our facility, where employees can leave positive comments about other employees. Every so often, comments are compiled and relayed to the appropriate person. As part of Promise Hospital of Salt Lake s training and development initiative, an overall assessment of each department s training and education requirements is under way. Internal education and training programs are being developed that will utilize the skills and knowledge of more experienced individuals to assist less experienced individuals increase their skill set. Each department is also researching outside training opportunities and encouraging their staff to take advantage of the tuition reimbursement programs. Overall we have made great progress on our survey initiatives at Promise Hospital of Salt Lake and I am proud of our management team s dedication to this process. Each month our action planning team meets to review and evaluate our efforts. It is important to us that our employees know how much we value their opinions and that we are following through on each of our initiatives, says Linda Hook, CEO of Promise Hospital of Salt Lake. 11

12 SPOTLIGHT ON Dancing with Promise Inspired by the samba, foxtrot and cha cha routines that glide across our t.v. sets on the hit ballroom dance show, Dancing with the Stars, our corporate office recently took part in a private dance lesson. Led by professional ballroom dancers at the highly acclaimed Fred Astaire dance studio, corporate staff was introduced to several styles of dance including salsa, merengue, and the hustle. The dance class was a big hit with our staff. It also provided an opportunity to stay in step with our fitness goals while engaging in a fun group activity, said Nancy Spivack, VP of Human Resources at Promise Healthcare. Several staff members were interested in signing up for additional classes. To cap off the outing, Peter Baronoff, Chairman and CEO of Promise Healthcare, Inc., treated the class participants to his dance routine as performed at the George Snow Scholarship Fund fundraising event, Boca s Ballroom Battle: Dancing for Dollars. The Boca Raton based charity, which raises funds for deserving individuals in need of financial assistance to pursue higher education, has hosted the event for the past five years. Paired with professional ballroom dancers, Peter competed against several other local community leaders in the dance-off. While putting in many hours of rehearsal time in hopes of winning the coveted mirror ball trophy, the ultimate satisfaction for every contestant is to know their fundraising efforts contributed to a worthy cause. Accomplishing his number one goal, Peter raised $80,000 for the organization, the highest contribution of all the competitors, and surpassing the amount of money raised at last year s event! Thank you to all the employees across the company who made a contribution to the George Snow Scholarship Fund. It is in moments like these that truly showcase the Promise spirit of giving back to the communities in which we live and serve. 12