Eyes on UCH: A round-up of goings-on, big and small Sanders Named Chief Nursing Officer Carolyn L. Sanders, RN, PhD, was named the hospital s Vice President of Patient Services and Chief Nursing Officer, effective April 6, President and CEO Bruce Schroffel announced in a February 16 e-mail to staff. Sanders, who joined UCH as a staff nurse in the MICU in 1989, will replace Colleen Goode, who retires April 3 after 12 years in the top nursing position. Since March 2008, Sanders has served as Associate Chief Nursing Officer. Carolyn is a thoughtful individual and a skilled clinician; she will be a great addition to our management and leadership team, Schroffel wrote in his e-mail. [She] is committed to working with our team to further raise the bar of quality, excellence, and collaboration with nursing, staff, and faculty for nursing and all patient care services at University Of Colorado Hospital. Schroffel also thanked the search committee, headed by Greg Stiegmann, MD, and Deb DeVine, RN, MS, for leading the national search for a new CNO.
Step into Gear Gears Up Step into Gear, the latest round of the hospital s participation in the America on the Move program, began February 9 with 64 teams and more than 700 employees. Teams represented clinical areas in both the outpatient and inpatient settings, as well as a wide variety of hospital departments, including Human Resources, Development, Marketing, Clinical Lab and Finance. A number of satellite clinics are also participating. During the six-week challenge, participants will don pedometers to keep track of their steps and record other physical activity. Program organizers began sending out weekly Monday E-Blasts to all participants with articles written by team coaches, motivational information and articles on healthy eating and living from hospital dietitians. To submit E-Blast ideas, contact stepintogear@uch.edu. President and CEO Bruce Schroffel helped kick-off the challenge February 4, addressing participants in front of the Leprino Building before leading them on a one-mile walk around campus. During the challenge, Schroffel will also ask random staff members if he can see their pedometers. Those who have one are eligible for a prize.
Show Your Safety Awareness Been working on a patient safety project? Let your colleagues know with a poster and grab a prize. The contest, which kicks off March 3, will help to promote Patient Safety Awareness Week, March 9 to 13. The theme: Patient Safety: One Partnership, one Team. Stevan Hidalgo, head of the Patient Safety Awareness Week Planning Task Force, says the poster contest is open to all areas or departments at UCH, from inpatient clinical areas to ambulatory clinics to Food and Nutrition Services to Health Information Management. Participants will be asked to illustrate how their department or area incorporates patient safety into their daily operation, Hidalgo says. It s a chance to be creative, have fun with coworkers, and win one of three prizes. Human Resources, the contest sponsor, will supply entrants with poster boards and up to $25 in art supplies such as markers, stickers or glitter. Poster boards will be distributed to participating areas on Monday, March 2; the deadline for submission of completed posters is Tuesday, March 10, at 5 p.m. Members of the Task Force and Leadership representatives will judge the posters. All entries will be available for viewing during other activities planned for Patient Safety Awareness Week. To participate, contact Stevan Hidalgo, in Clinical Excellence & Patient Safety, via email (stevan.hidalgo@uch.edu) or phone (x86983) by February 26.
Bike to Work Day, Winter Style Who says it s too cold to bike in the winter? Warm up with the first annual Winter Bike to Work Day, February 19, sponsored by the Fitzsimons Transportation Management Association. Pedal through the dark days of winter, then stop by the circle drive in front of Building 500 from 7:00 to 8:30 a.m. (snow or shine) for refreshments. (In the event of inclement weather, refreshments will be served in the 1st floor atrium of Building 500). Register online at www.fitzsimonstma.org for prizes. Credit Union Visit on Tap Interested in becoming a Public Service Credit Union (PSCU) member? Malcolm Johnson, Anschutz Branch Manager, will be in the Garden View Café February 19 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to answer questions. All UCH employees are eligible to join. For additional information, visit http://www.pscu. org/uch/.
Books a Welcome Sight for Burn Unit An Aurora Girl Scout troop presented the Burn/Trauma ICU with a bookcase they constructed and enough books to fill it February 17. With the donations, Troop 1811 fulfilled the Bronze requirement for community service, the highest designation possible. Burn/Trauma ICU manager Mary Holden, RN, MS, gratefully accepted the books, which will reside in the Neuro ICU waiting area. Burn victims frequently require extended stays to recover from their injuries, she explained. The additional reading material makes life a little easier for their families during long waits. The troop built the bookcase over two weekends, said Troopmaster Stacy Stein, then collected all the books. Holden said the troop contacted her to volunteer their services. Member of Aurora Girl Scout Troop 1811 receives certificate from Burn/Trauma ICU Nurse Manager Mary Holden (above) Feb. 17. Clinical Nurse Educator Cameron Boyle (far left) looks on. Troopmaster Stacy Stein and troop member display homemade bookcase and donated books they presented to the Burn/ Trauma ICU. Subscribe: The Insider is delivered free via email every other Tuesday. To subscribe: uch-publications@uch.edu Comment: We want your input, feedback, notices of stories we ve missed. To comment: uch-insiderfeedback@uch.edu