LUNGS. Task. Focused. Love Your. $50 Screening for Employees. versus Patient Centered. More Inside:

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1 CREATED FOR THE EMPLOYEES OF DEKALB REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM WINTER 2014 Task Focused versus Patient Centered Love Your LUNGS $50 Screening for Employees More Inside: Come Get Your Morning Brew at Starbucks Take Advantage of FREE health programs offered by DeKalb Medical

2 CEO s Corner DeKalb Medical - A Great Year Ahead of Us! Happy New Year DeKalb Medical, we have a wonderful year ahead of us. With each new year many people like to focus on eating healthier, exercising more and enhancing their overall well-being. This year you will begin to see new programs and activities available for you to take part in conveniently in your workspace and designed to fit your schedule. We want to make sure that you are taking time to take care of yourself and not only focused on taking care of others. Concerned about your lung health? Come take advantage of our new lung screening program with a special discount especially for employees. We also opened a Heartburn Solutions Center to help you answer any questions and treat any issues you may be having with acid reflux and don t forget, your new benefits are now active, so be sure to schedule any appointments you may need to start the year off well. The illegal use of drugs and the abuse of alcohol are problems that can invade the workplace, endangering the health and safety of the abusers and those who work around them. As a health system, we have a responsibility to set an example of maintaining an environment free of substance abuse so we can stay true to our vision of becoming the healthcare provider of choice. We are committed to helping you stay healthy and this issue of I REACH! has all the details you ll need to get 2014 started in the right direction. We have another great year ahead of us DeKalb Medical let s get er done! Sincerely, As we continue to expand our wellness programs and provide more opportunities for a more cohesive worklife balance, there is one area of wellness we cannot overlook being a drug-free work place. 2 I WINTER 2014

3 I REACH! WINTER 2014 I REACH! DO YOU? CEO Column SYSTEM UPDATES Great New Changes In Service to the Community p. 4 New Leadership p. 6 DeKalb Medical Is Set To Earn a National Stroke Certification p. 6 DeKalb Medical Launches Heartburn Solutions Center p. 7 Task Focused Versus Patient Centered p. 8 We Focus On Length of Stay Because It s The Right Thing To Do p. 9 ICD-What? p. 10 How Employee Health Solutions Works Well 4 You! p. 10 Injured at Work, Call 501.HURT YOUR BENEFITS We re Making Improvements Based on Your Feedback p. 11 Love Your Lungs! Take Control of Your Lung Health p. 12 Do You Have a Primary Care Doctor? p. 14 Understanding Your Benefits p. 14 Tuition Reimbursement p. 15 Concerned About The Future Cost of Higher Education? p. 15 Clinical Ladders Program p. 15 Balancing Work and Being a New Mom? YOUR WELL-BEING ACCOLADES FOUNDATION NEWS CALL TO ACTION Helping You Take Care of You! p. 16 I REACH! 4 Health Activities p. 17 Q&A: 5 Things You Should Know About Being Baby Friendly p. 18 Upcoming Community Outreach Events and Activities More Than Just Great Patient Care p. 20 Nominate a Nurse Who Went Above and Beyond In 2013? p. 20 Breaking Records and Making Moves! p. 20 Stroke Bronze Quality Achievement Award p. 20 Upgrade to the Latest in Surgical Technology p. 21 What an Amazing Staff! Great Progress for Great Programs p. 22 DeKalb Medical Remembers the Life of Susan Parry p. 22 $1 Million More Reasons Why You Should Give to the Foundation p. 22 Congratulations Wish List Recipients How You Can Make a Difference! p. 23 Calling Volunteers! p. 23 The Physicians Care Clinic p. 23 Help Design the Next I REACH! T-Shirt p. 24 It s Time Take Your CBLs p. 25 The Effects of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace p. 25 Commit to be Drug Free! 3 I WINTER 2014

4 eaders Welcome new leaders Patino Named Chief Information Officer Elizabeth Patino, MBA, was named Chief Information Officer and Vice President of Information Systems. Patino joined the organization with more than 25 years of information technology experience. Prior to joining DeKalb Medical, she served as the Chief Information Systems and Administration Officer for the Orlando Health System. While in this role she developed and managed the information system s five-year information technology strategic plan that was designed to support 30 Orlando Health strategic business projects. She was also influential in driving organizational patient first and clinical integration strategies. Patino is known for being a progressive leader and has been effective in developing teams that are able to achieve aggressive goals. Patino is a native of Georgia and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Valdosta State University and a Master of Business Administration from Wesleyan College. Arrington Promoted to Director of EEG and ECG Thomas Massey Arrington, RPSGT, MBA, RST was named the Technical Director for the Sleep Center and EEG. He is a native of New Orleans and has lived in the metro Atlanta area since It is his goal to grow sleep and EEG services by providing education to the community about sleep disorders and expanding the role of clinical sleep educators through extensive training opportunities and routine team feedback. Before joining DeKalb Medical, he served as the director of sleep and EEG for Covenant Health in Knoxville, TN, and the director of sleep services for Baptist Health System. Arrington earned his MBA in Finance and Strategy from Vanderbilt University and a Bachelor of Science in Management from Tulane University. Bryant Named Nurse Manager of the Joint Solutions Center (2200) Kimberly Bryant, RN, MSN, MBA, HCM, takes on the responsibilities of Nurse Manager for the Joint Solutions Center, a position that advances patient care by promoting and implementing excellence in nursing practice, education and research. Under Bryant, department nurses continue to ensure patient comfort and safety, and be an integral part of the multidisciplinary team that helps achieve optimum mobility and performance after surgery. Bryant intends to improve patient satisfaction while expanding the department s care process, and provide education to equip our nurses to care for more joint replacement patients. Before joining DeKalb Medical, Bryant was the Outpatient Nurse Manager of the Chronic Conditions Management program at Kaiser Permanente Northern California in Oakland. She has managed at several levels of the healthcare system, including medical-surgical orthopedic and spine units, and intensive care. She is a native of North Augusta, SC, and has lived in the metro Atlanta area since Bryant earned her Master of Science in Nursing as well as her Master of Business Administration and Health Care Management from the University of Phoenix. Clark Named Program Manager for The Wellness Center and Employee Health Solutions Hazel Clark is a three-time Olympian and seven-time U.S. National Champion Track and Field Coach. She has been featured as the face of three global Nike campaigns and has served as a sports commentator and television personality for NBC, CBS and ESPN. Most recently she worked as the business development manager for a local medical staffing firm where she focused on employee health and wellness. Clark is a native of South Orange, NJ, and has been in the metro Atlanta area since She believes in leading by example and will not ask anything from her team that she would not do herself. Through strategic goal setting, she plans to help enhance the environment of health and wellness for DeKalb Medical, and will identify the best possible ways her team can assist in this effort. Clark earned her Bachelor of Sociology degree from the University of Florida. Durr Named Joint Care Coordinator for the Joint Solutions Center (2200) Sheryl Durr, RN, MSN, CRRN, CWCN, COCN, DNPc, takes the responsibilities of this important role in the care process of patients who have joint replacement surgery. Durr helps patients from the day they make their decision to have surgery to the day they head home. She collaborates with insurance companies to provide a proper care plan, schedules pre-admission testing and pre-operative classes, collaborates with care management to assess after-surgery needs, coordinates home health and 4 I WINTER 2014

5 physical therapy, acquires special equipment and facilitates transportation from the hospital to home or a rehabilitation center. It is her goal to raise the standard of care and improve patient, staff and physician satisfaction. As developer of the Georgia Orthopedic Institute at Southern Regional Health System in Riverdale, Ga. where she also served as its clinical manager Durr provides invaluable experience to her role at DeKalb Medical. Most recently, she served as Director of Inpatient/Outpatient Wound Care for West Valley Medical Center in Goodyear, Ariz. She is a Doctorate in Nursing Practice candidate (DNPc) and on track to complete her program in Grippo Named Executive Chef for Food and Nutrition Services Sergio Grippo is an executive chef who is certified in various areas of the culinary arts. He has worked in the healthcare realm for the past several years; however, he is noted for being the personal chef to a Hare Krishna Spiritual Master in Vrindavan India for nearly a decade. He is a native of Argentina and has lived in the metro Atlanta area for the past 12 years. His passion and love for food are shown through his unique recipes and spin on healthy southern foods, and it is his goal to pass his passion and knowledge of food on to the food services staff. In his spare time, Grippo enjoys mixed martial arts and mountain biking. Hardin Named Director of Human Resources Cathy Hardin, MSA has lived in the metro Atlanta area for nearly three decades, making her transition to DeKalb Medical easy. She is responsible for overseeing the daily activities of the Human Resource department in areas such as compensation, benefits and recruitment. Her goals are to attract and retain the best talent for DeKalb Medical as well as improve processes within the department to enhance the on-boarding experience for potential and new hires. Most recently she was responsible for employee relations at Northeast Georgia Health System and served in a variety of leadership positions with Emory University and Emory Healthcare. Hardin enjoys volunteering, spending time with her family and cooking. She earned her Master of Human Resource Administration degree from Central Michigan University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from Southern University. Hogan Named Associate Medical Director for North Decatur Matthew R. Hogan, M.D., is a native of Philadelphia, Pa., but has lived in the metro Atlanta area for the past nine years. He earned his medical degree from Temple University and completed his residency at Emory. Hogan has been with the hospitalist program for several years and since this time has been an influential asset. Dr. Hogan has helped the program by serving as the director of the discharge clinic and has provided more visibility to the hospitalist program by serving on several hospital committees. His leadership style is direct and inclusive as he believes in leading by example. Before joining DeKalb Medical, Dr. Hogan worked for a hospital in Honolulu, HI. However, he chose southern hospitality over the beach life and began his professional medical career with the Piedmont Health System. His primary focus is to continue to help improve the quality of inpatient care. In his spare time, Dr. Hogan enjoys writing and spending time with his wife and children. Miaoulis Named Director of Information Security William Bill Miaoulis, CISM, CISA is a native of Montgomery, Ala. and has lived in the metro Atlanta area since He is responsible for the information security program for the system and will help ensure HIPAA standards and procedures are met. His goal is to design, implement and monitor processes within the department to minimize the probability and impact of a data security breach. Prior to joining DeKalb Medical, Miaoulis served as the Chief Information Security Officer for Phoenix Health System where he oversaw the HIPAA security and privacy consulting practice. He also worked for the University of Alabama managing data security, and is well versed in both the banking and energy data security. In his spare time Miaoulis enjoys playing golf, going to the beach and attending sporting events with his family. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration Finance from Auburn University. Mullis Named Program Manager of Employee Health Solutions Ron Mullis, MPAS, PA-C is taking on the responsibility of managing the newly created employee clinic and occupational health, now called WorksWell Onsite. Mullis is a native of Atlanta and joins the organization with extensive experience most recently working for Johns Hopkins Medicine (JHM) in the department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. In partnership with PepsiCo, Mullis operated two Atlanta-based onsite employer-sponsored clinics with JHM. In addition to managing these clinics, Mullis also designed and implemented a provider intranet, a corporate landing page and a health education portal. In the position, Mullis will work to improve the health of our community s workforce and provide a valueadded service to the employee of DeKalb Medical. In his spare time, Mullis enjoys playing the guitar and painting. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, his Master of Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and is currently pursuing his Doctor of Health Sciences degree. 5 I WINTER 2014

6 White Promoted to Director of Heart and Vascular Services Mick White MBA, BSN, RN is well known throughout the organization and has lived in the metro Atlanta area since He has an extensive background in critical care nursing having served in various leadership positions throughout his career in intensive care, emergency services, pediatric trauma and most recently cardiovascular services. His goal is to continue to improve the care provided in the Heart and Vascular department while growing volume. His management style is tailored to meet the needs of each of his employees as he believes no two people are the same, and in order to be an effective manager he strives to learn and better understand his staff daily. White is an outdoorsman who enjoys water sports and visiting the mountains. DeKalb Medical is Set to Earn a National Stroke Certification Through a comprehensive partnership between the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association and The Joint Commission, DeKalb Medical is working toward earning National Stroke Certification as a Primary Stroke Center. While DeKalb Medical is fully equipped to provide care to stroke patients, earning this certification will give us the stamp of approval from The Joint Commission and evidence-based guidelines for stroke care. CERTIFICATION BENEFITS According to the American Stroke Association, Primary Stroke Center Certification is important to hospitals because it: Improves the quality of care provided to patients Demonstrates commitment to a higher standard of service Provides a framework for organizational structure and management Provides a competitive edge in the marketplace Enhances staff recruitment and development Is recognized by insurers and other third parties It s important to know the warning signs of stroke? Simply remember F.A.S.T Face Drooping, Arm Weakness, Speech Difficulty and Time to Call. DeKalb Medical is set to earn this national certification in the summer of Contact Chika Ugwuoke, NP, Stroke Coordinator for more information. DeKalb Medical Launches Heartburn Solutions Center Located on the North Decatur campus in the Diagnostic Treatment Center, the Heartburn Solutions Center is open Monday Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Heartburn may be an occasional annoyance for many people, but for the approximately one-third of Americans who experience heartburn at least once a month, 10 percent of whom experience it almost every day, the pain and discomfort affect their quality of life. At the DeKalb Medical Heartburn Solutions Center, we understand that suffering with heartburn associated with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is frustrating and uncomfortable. Whether you have heartburn, regurgitation, swallowing difficulties or symptoms in your throat such as cough and hoarseness, GERD can make your life miserable. It affects eating habits, work productivity, sleep and your overall well being. You are not alone. In fact, GERD affects millions of people up to 40% of the population of the United States. Some try to modify their lifestyles while others take antacids or other over-the-counter medications. Others are prescribed powerful medications designed to be taken for life, and yet many still suffer and seek relief. Are you one of those? We understand and are here to help. In addition, our specially trained Nurse Navigator, Pam Briggs, R.N. assures you an outstanding experience overseeing the scheduling and completion of your evaluation and treatment. You have one single point of contact supplying access, education, convenience and support. If you would like to speak to someone about heartburn and its causes, symptoms or treatments, call RFLX (7359). 6 I WINTER 2014

7 Task Focused versus Patient Centered There once were five siblings who couldn t seem to agree on anything. They argued constantly about who was the smartest, who was the most responsible, who had the most dedication they even argued about who deserved the most recognition. Their father eventually became fed up with all the arguing and went outside, picked up 10 sticks and handed one stick to each of his children. He then asked them to break their sticks individually - with little struggle each stick was broken. Next, the father bundled the remaining five sticks and asked each of his children to break the bundle no one could do it. After great efforts to break the bundle, the father explained that individually people have personal strengths that may help them in a certain area of life, but when strengths are bundled together, the group can be unstoppable. Moral of the story, we each add value to the DeKalb Medical, and more importantly we have a common goal of earning our patients trust every day through our uncompromising commitment to quality. But let me ask you, are you TASK FOCUSED or PATIENT CENTERED? When you come to work is it your only objective to complete the items you have sketched out on your to-do list, or do you consider how your work affects the overall operation of DeKalb Medical? If you haven t taken an opportunity to take a step back and really think about how your job could positively or negatively affect others within the system, I challenge you to do so. TASK FOCUSED I m on my way to a meeting, so I ll let someone else direct this visitor to their intended location. That s not my job to pick up that piece of paper on the floor. All my work is done, so I guess I can just relax for the rest of the day or catch up on personal business. I have a lot going on in my personal life, so I hope none of these patients or visitors aggravate me today. I am so fed up with some of the processes here, and I m going to let others know how I feel. PATIENT CENTERED I know I m on the way to a meeting, but let me direct this patient to the appropriate location so they don t get lost. I understand that keeping this facility clean is important to the overall image of DeKalb Medical, so I don t mind picking up a piece of paper on the floor. Let me see if my co-workers need help since I have some extra time today. Let me give my manager and/or coworkers a heads-up that I have some things going on in my personal life that may affect my performance today so they can assist me if I need help. I know process improvement takes time, so let me talk with my manager about some ways that may help our department run smoothly as I don t want give patients and visitors a negative impression of DeKalb Medical. At DeKalb Medical, we can apply this same patient-centered thinking to our daily work lives. Although we may have specialized skills that make us great in our individual areas, without the aid and assistance from other departments within the hospital, our efforts may go unnoticed. Ask yourself this question: How can my efforts help someone else? Once you have the answer, put it into action and encourage someone else to do the same. For more information on how the Service Excellence department can assist you, please call I WINTER 2014

8 why We Focus on Length of Stay because it s the right thing to do! What does length of stay have to do with DeKalb Medical? If we reduce our average length of stay by just one day, we would have 30,000 less patient days per year. One patient day is the total number of days all of our patients spend in the hospital. How does reducing patient days save us money? Wouldn t we get paid more if the patients stayed here longer? No one likes to be in the hospital longer than they have to, especially when it s for an unplanned visit. The less time a patient spends in the hospital, the less chance of an infection or other complications. Therefore, it s extremely important that we plan and deliver care appropriately because our primary objective is to do the right thing for our patients and their families, every time. Think about this in your personal life. If you go to get your car serviced with an expectation of getting in early so you can go on with your day but are forced to sit and wait, with no clear understanding of what happens next, your perception of that establishment may be negative. The same holds true with our hospital and our patients. It s our responsibility to keep them informed on what to expect while they are in our care so they can plan and prepare. Although we don t like to always think in terms of finances, when we come to work to care for patients, the cost of care is an important fact, and keeping that cost as low as possible, while maintaining quality, is crucial for our success. We need to have a positive bottom line so we can invest in our facilities, our technology and you. FIRST: Unlike a hotel stay, we generally don t get paid by the day; we get paid by the admission. If a patient is admitted with a diagnosis that Medicare says is worth $1000, we get reimbursed $1000 whether they stay one day or ten days. Imagine how much more it costs us to take care of a patient for ten days in comparison to one? If you add up the supplies, salaries, tests, food... you get the picture. This is a major financial responsibility. SECOND: So, just considering the salary expense alone, a reduction of 30,000 patient days would reduce the number of hours caring for patients by 720,000 hours which would in turn prepare us for future growth. As we move patients in and out of our system efficiently, we can provide care to a larger number of people, and we ll have the capacity to take care of these new patients who are being admitted. Historically, we ve been growing about 2 percent per year, but now with the growth of our physician practices and additional services we ve added, reducing LOS means we need room to grow. THIRD: We all know that complications may occur and unforeseen circumstances may come up, but think how much more understanding people are when they are kept informed and up to date along the way. Although our service may be superior, ultimately all our patients and their families want to do is go home. Providing our patients with better customer service and safer care is simply the right thing to do! 8 I WINTER 2014

9 ICD-What? For the past 30 years, staff and information systems have utilized codes under version nine (9) of the international classification of diseases, or what we commonly call ICD- 9. This version contains more than 17,000 codes that are associated with specific medical categories. However, ICD-9 has become outdated and inconsistent with current medical practices. Also, the structure of ICD-9 limits the number of new codes that can be created, and many ICD-9 categories are full. ICD-10 contains more than 141,000 codes and accommodates a host of new diagnoses and procedures. Transition to ICD-10 has been federally mandated as a requirement for all hospitals across the country, effective October 1, What Are Some of the Reasons for ICD-10? ICD-10 codes allow for greater specificity and exactness in describing a patient s diagnosis and in classifying inpatient procedures. ICD-10 will accommodate newly developed diagnoses and procedures, innovations in technology and treatment, performance-based payment systems and more accurate billing. ICD-10 coding will allow for more precise methods of detecting fraud. The ICD-10 Readiness Project at DeKalb Medical has kicked off and our goal is to ensure there is a seamless transition to this new coding process. ICD-10 is everyone s responsibility and planning will pick up steam this month, so stay tuned for more ICD-10 news coming soon! If you or your team are impacted by ICD-10 or have questions regarding implementation, please feel free to askicd10@dekalbmedical.org. Come Get Your Morning Brew At Starbucks! Starbucks is now conveniently open at the North Decatur campus in the Women s Tower next to Subway. The Bistro Café Starbucks offers a quality drink menu along with tasty pastries, baked fresh daily. The cost is consistent with local Starbucks prices; however, gift cards are not accepted at this time, so please bring CASH or a CREDIT CARD to make a purchase. The hours of operation are as follows: Monday Friday 6:30 a.m. 4:00 p.m. The energetic staff is ready to greet you with great service and a smile. 9 I WINTER 2014

10 HOW EMPLOYEE HEALTH SOLUTIONS WORKSWELL 4 YOU! B Through partnership with the best health providers, top-performing organizations and empowered employees, we build a culture of health within the community we serve, is the mission for the Employee Health Solutions (EHS) department. From injury to wellness, Employee Health Solutions is charged with delivering a continuity of health and wellness services to optimize employee health, as well as business performance. CONTINUITY OF HEALTH & WELLNESS SERVICES FOR EMPLOYEES Injury Care & Work Safety Illness & Accident Prevention Health & Wellness Promotion HURT WRKS WELL WorksWell Clinics Hazardous Materials Exposure Eye Injuries & Lacerations Splinting Drug Screens Immunizations TB Screening WorksWell Onsite Occupational Health Services Health Risk Assessments Biometric Screening Health & Safety Fairs Flu Immunizations Ergonomics & Biomechanics The Wellness Center Fitness Assessments & Plans Nutrition Assessments & Plans Personal Training & Massage Fitness & Wellness Classes Health Coaching Group Education Programs Employee Wellness Program Design & Implementation DO YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO IF YOU GET INJURED AT WORK? Now all you have to do is call HURT (4878). When you call this number an experienced nurse will walk you through your entire process from start to finish. Please note: injuries include, but are not limited to, blood and body fluid exposures, and workplace accidents. So, if you re injured at work remember to call 501.HURT! 10 I WINTER 2014

11 BEnefits Your Benefits Love Your Lungs: Lung CT Screening Program for DeKalb Medical Employees Have you smoked cigarettes? Been exposed to Radon? Ever had lung disease? If so, you may meet criteria for a Lung CT Screening. It s quick and it could add years to your life. Here s why: A Lung CT scan can detect abnormalities that are missed by chest X-rays and pick them up earlier in development, increasing survival rate. DeKalb Medical has begun offering low cost, low dose CT scans to screen for lung cancer. There s no need to put off this quick, simple test. You can take advantage of a special discounted rate for DeKalb Medical employees at DeKalb Medical s Lung Cancer Center of Excellence. Although Lung CT screening is typically not covered by insurance, as part of our I REACH! for Health commitment to employee wellness, DeKalb Medical has made this screening available to employees at the low cost of $50. That s it: $50 which also includes the interpretation by a radiologist. (Currently, the charge to the public for this screening is $149.) Schedule your appointment today by calling LUNG and be sure to mention that you are an employee. The cost for DeKalb Medical employees is ONLY $50! high risk category includes: Age 55 and older who are current or former smokers who have quit within the past 15 years. Men or women with a history of at least 30 pack years of smoking. A pack year is defined as the number of packs smoked per day multiplied by the number of years smoked. For example, one pack per day for 30 years equals 30 pack years, as does two packs per day for 15 years. People who have been exposed to known carcinogens, such as asbestos, radon, lead and cadmium. People with other lung diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or pulmonary fibrosis. For more information visit and search the word lung. If you or someone you know meets the criteria, please schedule a screening or request more information by calling DeKalb Medical s Lung Cancer Screening program at LUNG (5864). 11 I WINTER 2014

12 Do You Have a Primary Care Doctor? If not, the DeKalb Medical Physicians Group has 15 locations with more than 40 providers for you to choose from. Taking care of patients means we need to take care of ourselves, so make sure you align yourself with a primary care physician today. Centerville Primary Care 3555 Centerville Highway Suite 100 Snellville, GA Ph: Fx: Downtown Decatur Family Medicine 200 E. Ponce de Leon Avenue Suite 110 Decatur, GA Ph: Fx: Flat Shoals Internal Medicine 4153-B Flat Shoals Parkway Suite 200 Decatur, GA Ph: Fx: Killian Hill Primary Care 4120 Five Forks-Trickum Road SW Suite 104 Lilburn, GA Ph: Fx: Montreal Internal Medicine 1462 Montreal Road Suite 303 Tucker, GA Ph: Fx: Mountain East Family Medicine 4120 Five Forks-Trickum Road SW Suite 105 Lilburn, GA Ph: Fx: North Decatur Primary Care 2675 N. Decatur Road Suite 601 Decatur, GA Ph: Fx: North Tucker Primary Care 2892 Mountain Industrial Boulevard Tucker, GA Ph: Fx: Oak Grove Family Medicine 2840A LaVista Road Decatur, GA Ph: Fx: Rockbridge Family Medicine 1192A Rockbridge Road Stone Mountain, GA Ph: Fx: Rockbridge Family Medicine - Snellville 1800 Tree Lane Suite 120 Snellville, GA Ph: Fx: Stonecrest Primary Care 8225 Mall Parkway Suite 100 Lithonia, GA Ph: Fx: Stone Mountain Primary Care 5462 Memorial Drive Suite 202 Stone Mountain, GA Ph: Fx: South DeKalb Primary Care 1290 Columbia Drive Decatur, GA Ph: Fx: Winn Way Internal Medicine 487 Winn Way, Suite 202 Decatur, GA Ph: Fx: I WINTER 2014

13 DeKalb Medical Primary Care H LAWRENCEVILLE CHAMBLEE H EMORY H VA HIGHLANDS LAVISTA DUNWOODY Oak Grove SCOTT BLVD H D town Decatur H North Decatur Winn Way E PONCE DE LEON South DeKalb 85 Montreal 78 JIMMY N Tucker CLARKSTON Stone Mountain CARTER BLVD. MEMORIAL DR SMOKERISE LILBURN LAWRENCEVILLE HWY MOUNTAIN INDUSTRIAL BLVD. HUGH HOWELL MEMORIAL DR H LITHONIA ROCKBRIDGE RD Rockbridge REDAN Mountain East Killian Hill STONE MTN STONE MTN PARK KILLIAN HILL RD S. ROCKBRIDGE RD 5 FORKS TRICKUM RD SW HWY-124 H Rockbridge Eastside SNELLVILLE Centerville HWY Flat Shoals FLAT SHOALS PKWY Stonecrest H CONYERS 75 H DeKalb Medical Hospital H Other Hospital 13 I WINTER 2014

14 Welcome to UMR, A United Healthcare Company Benefits Are Now Active! During October s open enrollment period all DeKalb Medical employees were required to select a new health plan. By now you should have received a new identification card from UMR, our new health plan administrator. Your Coventry ID card is no longer valid and should be discarded. PLEASE NOTE, if you elected to participate in a Flexible Spending Account in 2014 you should also have received a new BENNY debit card. HSA members should have received a card rom Optum Bank. Be Informed! HRA plan members do not have a debit card. When you visit your physician or healthcare provider, UMR will pay your medical claims automatically. For a full explanation of all benefits, please review the 2014 Benefits Booklet available on the Benefits homepage of the intranet. Confused about Benefits? The Benefits department will host a campaign called Know Your Plan. The goal is to provide continued education to all DeKalb Medical employees so you can stay informed and engaged about your new health plan. Details will be announced on a later date, so stay tuned! Tuition Reimbursement Take advantage of our enhanced benefits to our tuition reimbursement program to include: reimbursement of tuition and required textbooks for degree programs. Up to $3,000 Annually for Full-Time Employees Up to $1,500 Annually for Part-Time Employees *NEW*: Reimbursement for Professional Certification Programs Up to $700 Annually for Full-Time Employees Up to $350 Annually for Part-Time Employees Eligibility requirements apply. Detailed information is available on the Benefits homepage of the intranet. AVAILABLE NOW! - New Educational Partnerships We have partnerships with the educational institutions below. Each has agreed to provide DeKalb Medical employees with tuition discounts. Chamberlain College of Nursing 15% tuition reduction Application fee waived for RN to BSN programs BSN nurses can earn their MSN in two years Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University 10% tuition reduction for all degree programs University of Phoenix 5% tuition reduction for all degree programs Walden University 10% tuition reduction for all degree programs 14 I WINTER 2014

15 Concerned About the Future Cost of Higher Education? Payroll Deduction for Georgia College Savings 529 Plan The Benefits and Payroll departments have teamed up to offer DeKalb Medical employees the convenience of payroll deduction through participation in a Georgia College Savings 529 Plan. This offers employees the opportunity to open an account and contribute money via payroll deduction to Georgia s Path2College 529 Plan on behalf of a beneficiary who may include: a child, grandchild, niece, nephew or other relative. Employees can contribute as little as $15 per pay period. DeKalb Medical s enrollment process and forms are available on the Benefits homepage of the intranet. Detailed information about Georgia s Path2College 529 Plan can be found at: CLINICAL LADDERS PROGRAM What is it? A two-step advancement program for Nursing Professional Progression Designated to promote professional excellence, autonomy, reward achievements, and contribute to recruitment and retention of qualified nurses Benefits? Improved Patient Care and Satisfaction Bonus Available Enhanced Professional Identity Recognized Clinical Excellence Personal Growth and Achievement Increased Job Satisfaction Applications are available on the intranet. Balancing Work and Being a New Mom? We understand the difficulties of work-life balance, and one of the hardest things for a new mother to do is return to work. However, after you find the proper childcare and get into a routine of coming back to work, there s now the pesky problem of what to do about breastfeeding? DeKalb Medical has dedicated space for you to pump your breast milk, without the worry of interruption. on-site pump locations North Decatur Room 2700 K main building, 2 nd floor in the non-clinical area past the 2400 unit Key code: 5787# Room women s tower 4 th floor near special care nursery Key code: 2580# Hillandale Room rd floor no code or key needed for entry Downtown Decatur Location may vary, please talk with your manager for available space. Top Three Questions: 1. Do I need to make an appointment? No. Making an appointment is not required. The rooms are available on a first come, first serve basis. All rooms are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 2. Are pumps available, or should I bring my own pump? Please bring your own pump as DeKalb Medical does not provide pumps for employee use. However, pumps and carrying bags are available in Women s Tower gift shop for purchase. 3. Where should I store my milk after it s pumped? Employees should bring an insulated lunch bag with freezer packs to store their milk. Lactation Consultants are available seven days a week between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. if you have questions or need assistance I WINTER 2014

16 health Your Well-Being I REACH! 4 Health Activities I REACH! 4 Health is Gearing Up for 2014 This year we re taking Wellness Wednesday to the next level and incorporating NEW concepts, NEW programs and NEW opportunities for you to REACH your goal of total wellness. The Four Key Targets of I REACH! 4 Health Include: Improve Sleep Reduce Stress Eat Healthy Get Active Each Wednesday we ll focus on a different target and will provide you with innovative ways to incorporate these initiatives into your daily life. SESSIONS INCLUDE: Desk Top Yoga The Working Parent Cooking for Kids Financial Health Walking Groups and much more! Stay tuned for more to come. We re excited about this journey to total wellness! 16 I WINTER 2014

17 Q&A: 5 Things You Should Know About Being Baby Friendly! The new year brings new adventures and for those planning to have a baby, DeKalb Medical is a top-rated facility. We spoke with Jamie Ray, Lactation Manager about the new Baby Friendly initiative DeKalb Medical is taking part in to learn more about advancements in the Women and Infants department. 1. What does Baby Friendly mean? Baby Friendly is a global program initiated by UNICEF and the World Health Organization to encourage and recognize hospitals that offer an optimal level of care for breastfeeding. 2. How many hospitals are currently recognized through this program? 20,000 Globally 143 in the United States Zero in Georgia DeKalb Medical is one of only seven facilities in Georgia chosen to take part in this initiative and will hopefully be the first to receive our 5-star rating. Lympha What? What is Lymphedema? Why does it occur? How can it be prevented? DeKalb Medical s Outpatient Rehabilitation Services department offers answers to these questions during an informational group class led by a certified lymphedema therapist. Call one of the numbers listed below for more information or to register. Hillandale: or North Decatur: What is the purpose of this initiative? To increase the proportion of infants who are exclusively breastfed throughout their hospital stay and ultimately through the first six months of birth. To help improve health outcomes for mothers and babies. DeKalb Medical serves a largely diverse community of people, and we have found that the term Baby Friendly resonates more than simply saying breastfeeding. Therefore, we want to be able to provide a more culturally acknowledged form of care to our patients. 4. What are the health benefits of breastfeeding? Breast fed babies have a lower risk of: ear infections, diarrhea, asthma, obesity and type 2 diabetes. Some research has shown that breastfeeding can also reduce the risk of type 1 diabetes, childhood leukemia and sudden infant death syndrome. However, for the mother, breastfeeding is linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, breast cancer, ovarian cancer and postpartum depression. 5. How do I find out more information? For more information, please call Thank you to the hardworking staff and physicians who are working diligently toward helping us earn this designation! We appreciate your dedication. 17 I WINTER 2014

18 Want to Learn More Here are some great FREE health opportunities offered RIGHT HERE at DeKalb Medical Where Heart Meets Health Cardiovascular diseases affect the heart or blood vessels, and they are the most frequent cause of death worldwide. Learn how you can achieve long-term heart health from our panel of experts from the DeKalb Medical Heart and Vascular Institute. February 13, 6 8 p.m. DeKalb Medical Theatre, North Decatur Campus Healthy Life Tips And Weight Management For The Whole Family Join our panel of DeKalb Medical primary care physicians to learn how you can keep your New Year s resolutions for managing weight, improving health and living healthy! Advice will apply to all family members because it s much easier to live healthy when everyone has the same goal. January 23, 6 8 p.m. Community Room at DeKalb Medical at Hillandale Know Your Body, Know Your Birth Options Learn the keys to having a healthy pregnancy and discover the many birth options available to you. This seminar offers an overview of pregnancy care and birth options presented by DeKalb Medical obstetrics and maternity services. An optional tour of the maternity area is held after the program. February 25, 6 8 p.m. Dr. Bobbie Bailey Tower Auditorium, North Decatur Campus Heart Healthy Living In recognition of American Heart Month, Tenecia Allen, M.D., a DeKalb Medical cardiologist, will share tips for improving your heart health and safeguarding against many heart issues, including cholesterol build-up, stroke and cardiac arrest. February 18, 6 7 p.m. Community Room at DeKalb Medical at Hillandale Overcoming Chronic Knee Pain Join DeKalb Medical orthopedic surgeon Jeff Traub, M.D., as he talks about the latest advances in the treatment of knee conditions, including knee replacement surgery. Guests wishing to take a tour of the Joint Solutions Center should meet in the Theatre at 5 p.m. March 6, 6 7 p.m. DeKalb Medical Theatre, North Decatur Campus 18 I WINTER 2014

19 About Your Health? Preventing And Recovering From Sports Injuries Join Augustine Conduah, M.D., a DeKalb Medical orthopedic surgeon, to learn how you can minimize your chance of injury while exercising or participating in sports. He will also talk about treatments should an injury occur. March 13, 6-7 p.m. Community Room at DeKalb Medical at Hillandale Is Heartburn Burning You Up? Do you wonder if you will be taking antacids and pills the rest of your life to treat your heartburn? Hear from DeKalb Medical s Heartburn Solutions Center professionals as they discuss how you can keep chronic heartburn from disrupting your life. March 18, 6 7p.m. DeKalb Medical Theatre, North Decatur Campus Hip Pain Solutions Join DeKalb Medical orthopedic surgeon Chris Haraszti, M.D., as he talks about the latest advances in the treatment of hip conditions. Guests wishing to take a tour of the Joint Solutions Center should meet in the Theatre at 5 p.m. March 25, 6 7 p.m. DeKalb Medical Theatre, North Decatur Campus American Red Cross Blood Drives Did you know that every pint of blood saves three lives? Pre-registration is not required, but you can schedule an appointment online at redcrossblood.org using sponsor code: demece. As a thank you for giving, you will receive a lunch coupon for the DeKalb Medical cafeterias and participating restaurants on campus. Parking validated at North Decatur and free at our Hillandale campus. North Decatur Campus 12 6 p.m. Dr. Bobbie Bailey Tower Auditorium North Decatur Campus Thursday, February 6 Wednesday, April 9 To register: go to and hit classes, or call WELL. DeKalb Medical at Hillandale Community Room 12:30 5:30 p.m. Thursday, January 16 Thursday, March I WINTER 2014

20 CONGRATS Accolades Nominate A Nurse Who Went Above And Beyond In 2013? HOW? VISIT the website: celebratingnurses SHARE your story on why this individual is a great nurse SUBMIT as many names as you can think of from DeKalb Medical! nomination deadline is: Friday, January 31 Recognition will take place during Nurses Week 1000 DAYS WITH NO VAP! The Hillandale ICU set a record after going more than 1000 days without a ventilator associated pneumonia incident. This is a major accomplishment and should not be taken lightly. In 2002, an estimated 250,000 healthcare-associated pneumonias developed in U.S. hospitals and 36,000 of these were associated with deaths. 1 Thank you to everyone who contributed to this great accomplishment! 1 Klevens RM, Edward JR, Richards CL, et al. Estimating health care-associated infections and deaths in U.S. hospitals, Public Health Reports 2007;122: Available at DeKalb Medical Received The American Heart Association/ American Stroke Association s Get With The Guidelines Stroke Bronze Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes our commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of stroke care by ensuring that stroke patients receive treatment according to nationally accepted standards and recommendations. The associations recognized DeKalb Medical for achieving at least 90 consecutive days of 85% or higher adherence to all Get With The Guidelines Stroke Achievement Indicators to improve quality of patient care and outcomes. DeKalb Medical Recently Upgraded To The da Vinci Si Surgical System This new robot is an extension of laparoscopy and will allow surgery to be performed remotely by a surgeon. It is more beneficial over a standard laparoscopy unit, as it has many added features including ergonomics, 3D viewing and seven degree wristing, which allows the surgical instruments to function more like the natural motion of a human wrist. DeKalb Medical surgeons are ecstatic about this new addition, as the demand for Si robotic surgery continues to increase. 20 I WINTER 2014