Please join us in congratulating Dr. Valerie McKinnis, Hospitalist and Physician Director of Informatics, who was awarded the 2019 Mission Award. Dr. McKinnis was announced as recipient of this prestigious honor at the annual Employee Recognition Banquet held on Sept. 15 at Durango's James Ranch.

Mercy’s Mission Award is presented to an associate who consistently lives out the Mercy and Centura Health values of respect, integrity, compassion, excellence, imagination, stewardship and spirituality, both at work and in the community.

Dr. McKinnis doesn’t just represent the mission, she portrays the very soul of the mission through her spirit. With empathy, expertise, and action, she brings the Mercy mission directly and immediately to those most needing it.

She is a physician who will do the work of a nurse, the sleuthing of a doctor, and the giving of a missionary.

With one voice, the group who nominated her described a time when this medical professional offered hands-on work to a patient. She cooled the patient’s face with a washcloth and helped her clean up in the bathroom. And then offered to pray with the patient and family.

Dr. McKinnis carries the mission not only to the local community, but also internationally. Her nomination stated she is “completely passionate about providing health care to the people of Tanzania” as the physician leader to the Mercy Health Foundation’s mission to Dareda Hospital.

Her peers recounted that in 2018 this doctor diagnosed an African patient’s pulmonary embolism (using an ultrasound/echo machine donated by Mercy.) Medication on hand at Dareda Hospital was not enough, so this doctor paid for the patient’s family to buy medication in the nearby city, a day’s bus ride away. Not knowing if the patient would survive, she returned with the team the next year to a surprise visit from the recovered patient and his family (pictured right). It was a day of rejoicing.

At home, the Mercy ambulatory clinics also rejoiced, with her Epic Optimization project to address issues in each clinic. As Physician Director of Informatics, Dr. McKinnis' work caught Centura’s attention, and the system is replicating her work throughout the network.

Please join us in thanking and congratulating Dr. Valerie McKinnis the 2019 recipient of Mercy’s Mission Award!

Join us next week when we will feature the 2019 Mission Ambassador.


 

On Saturday, Oct. 19, the Durango Herald printed an op-ed written by me. In it I respond to the recent letters to the editor published by the Herald, many of which contained misinformation and spread confusion. If you missed this letter, I encourage you to take a moment to read it below.

In the op-ed I ask community members to call me directly with their questions and concerns. I not only want the opportunity to confront this misinformation directly with facts, but to also share the reality of the current state of health care and how Mercy and Centura Health are proactively preparing for the future.

I hope that each of you know that you can reach out to me or any member of Mercy’s Senior Leadership Team with your questions and concerns. We are here to support you however we can. You can reach me by phone at ext. 793907 or by email at WillMcConnell@Centura.org.

The business of health care may be changing but we’re still the same compassionate, mission-driven hospital we’ve always been, and together I’m certain we can carry Mercy’s legacy on for generations to come.

“While my wife, our four kids and I have been a part of the Durango community for a relatively short portion of Mercy’s 137-year history – nine years this past September to be exact – to our family, this is home. As our children have grown up and we’ve immersed ourselves in this community, their memories and ours are rooted here.
 
In addition to remembering the beauty of Durango when we first arrived, I was also proud to listen to my neighbors’, friends’ and communities’ views of the incredible caregivers and exceptional hospital I had just joined and their experiences of the outstanding quality of care that patients receive there.
 
Being a leader in health care has challenges. It’s no secret that some of the most complex issues facing the health care industry are affordability and transparency – so how will we address the cost issues associated with quality health care?
 
I will boldly state what we all know – to be meaningful, it must come from all of us – hospitals, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, health care providers and even consumers.
 
Providing health care in today’s political and economic landscape is difficult. As we seek ways to keep quality health care services close to home, the change required to accomplish this goal is often disruptive and can have a disproportionate impact on close-knit communities. Change feels different when the affected people are friends and neighbors.
 
I feel that deeply. Tough decisions have been made, and future tough decisions will need to be made, to balance the cost of care with access, quality and service offerings.
 
As the second largest employer in La Plata County, Mercy is a strong hospital, both financially and with regards to quality. That strength allows us to provide a breadth of services not often found in communities our size. Making sure the future of those services continue is a critical factor in any decision Mercy makes.
 
Meanwhile, we also believe in advancing the health of our communities. Some ways Mercy does this is through health and education programs in weight management, diabetes wellness, literary sponsorships for community youth, grocery store tours, breastfeeding and lactation consultation, athletic trainers serving the regional youth athletic programs and financial support for Manna Soup Kitchen.
 
By Mercy being part of Centura Health, we benefit from lower supply costs and better purchase pricing for the latest technology, such as the one-stick blood draw technology introduced this summer that reduces discomfort for patients who need to stay in the hospital. In addition, as part of the Centura health system, we connect people in this community with outstanding services on the Front Range when they need them.
 
Centura Health is proud to be a willing and committed partner to this community while all of us search for a solution in reducing health care costs in La Plata County. We’ll continue to deliver the same high-quality, whole-person care that residents and visitors have come to rely on since 1882, and we hope that all of us can work together to make care become significantly more affordable.
 
I welcome the opportunity to discuss community concerns directly and can be reached during office hours at 764-3907. If unavailable at the time of a call, I will strive to get back with individuals in a timely fashion.
 
Centura and Mercy are committed to making health care better wherever we are. I believe that this community has a lot to be proud of, and it is my goal to make sure Mercy stays at the top of that list.”
 

“Early Christian monks went out to live in the desert in order to find emptiness. Modern life is becoming so full that we need our ways of going to the desert to be relieved of our plenty. Our heads are crammed with information, our lives busy with activities, our cities stuffed with automobiles, our imaginations bloated on pictures and images… our homes cluttered with gadgets and conveniences. We honor productivity to such an extent that the unproductive person or day seems a failure.”

Psychotherapist, author, and former monk Thomas Moore holds that in our culture it verges on the sacrilegious to claim that less is more, that slow may be preferable to fast, or that doing nothing can be time well spent. We seem to have made a religion out of information, accumulation and acceleration. We worship at the altar of productivity and fullness, and have lost any appreciation for the value and virtue of emptiness - the spaciousness our souls require like our bodies require air.

It has been said that nature abhors a vacuum; and so it seems does human nature. We fill the void of silence with noise, the void of inactivity with busyness and the void of simplicity with more things than we need. Having fallen prey to the culture’s dictate that more is better, we would do well to heed the message offered by minister and peace activist William Sloan Coffin who stated that there are two ways to be rich: one is to have a lot of money and the other is to have fewer needs.

There can be a great deal of beauty in deserts, but as a metaphor, they usually symbolize those times in life when we experience dryness and difficulty, struggle and hardship; deserts of this sort are “places” from which we would rather escape than linger. But if we value the life of our soul, if we learn from the example of monks and others who recognize the importance of emptiness, we come to realize that deserts can be times of quiet, inner peace when we reprioritize where we put our time and energy, and get back to the basics of living a simple life, one devoid of the fullness that does not satisfy.    

The wisdom of living a simple life is beneficial not only for each of us, but for all of us, a truth reflected in the saying “live simply so others can simply live.” Despite differences and distances ethnically, religiously, politically and geographically, we are  connected to one another; how we choose to live, impacts both the planet and its people.

Tom Stella, NCC
Corporate Chaplain
tomstella37@gmail.com

Please read this positive review praising Amy Tichy-Smith, Physical Therapist, Mercy Integrated Physical Therapy:

"Amy is awesome. Very thorough and is an expert on many different physical therapies. She sets you up for home self-care as well."

Mercy is pleased to announce that Mercy Home Health was recognized as a Top 500 HomeCare Elite agency by Ability and DecisionHealth.
 
Now in its 14th year, HomeCare Elite identifies the top 25 percent of agencies based on performance measures. This year, those measures include quality of care, quality improvement, patient experience, best practices implementation and more. Since 2005, Mercy has been recognized as a “top 100” agency six times, as a “top 500” agency five times, and among the top 25 percent of agencies twice.
 
"It takes true dedication and tremendous hard work to be named in the top home health agencies in the country,” said Tina Gallegos, Director of Mercy Home Health and Hospice of Mercy. “This designation is a direct indicator of the commitment of our staff who work tirelessly to deliver quality, compassionate care to our patients. We are thrilled to share this remarkable achievement with the communities we serve."
 
Mercy's achievement coincides with sister Centura home health agencies that were recognized as HomeCare Elite winners, including Centura Health at Home – Penrose St. Francis Health, Colorado Springs and Centura Health at Home, Greenwood Village. A total of 31 home care agencies in Colorado were named among the top 25 percent in the nation.
 
A distinction of this caliber sets Mercy and Centura Health apart as the leading provider of home health care services regionally and statewide. Our health care professionals exemplify our unwavering commitment to clinical excellence and superior patient outcomes, and are a testament to the high-value care patients can expect from Mercy Home Health, Mercy Regional Medical Center, and Mercy clinics and services.
 
Please join us in congratulating Mercy Home Health for this outstanding achievement!
 

For six years, Mercy has proudly partnered with Animas High School (AHS) to support the school’s LINK (Learning Internships for New Knowledge) internship program. According to the AHS website, the LINK program “exemplifies our belief in the value of student-centered, personalized instruction that connects learning to the adult world.”
 
During their junior year, AHS students are paired with area professionals for a three-week period during which students are exposed to real world experience in their chosen fields. The internships take place in the spring when students spend 30 to 40 hours a week gaining experience.
 
Janae Hunderman, AHS Career Counselor and Internship Coordinator, supports students in finding internships that allow them to dive into their passions, interests and potential career paths. “I present the students with the different internships available in the community,” Janae explained, “then the students connect with potential mentors that appeal to them.”
 
“During their internships some students may find their career path and go on to pursue it following high school graduation. While others may decide it isn’t for them, which is good because they aren’t spending time pursuing training or education for a career that isn’t right for them,” Janae added.
 
AHS seniors have the option to continue participating in the LINK program. They can gain credit by spending at least 4 hours a week or 60 hours a semester with a mentor. This allows AHS seniors to deepen their professional experience.
 
“I want to extend a huge thank you to Mercy and all the local businesses for providing amazing opportunities for our students to explore their interests,” Janae said. “I’m so grateful for the number of professionals in our community who are willing to take our Ospreys under their wings.”
 
Since 2013, Mercy has hosted 20 AHS student interns. Thank you to Dr. Kane Anderson, Amy Tichy-Smith, Susie Tipton, Amber DeHererra, Dr. Douglas Orndorff, Dr. Kim Priebe, Jennifer Townsend, Dr. Michael McCallum, Rebecca Martinez, Christy Schuman, Jennifer Cioppa, Raena Douglas and Clay Lowder for your willingness to mentor local students. A special thanks to Susie Tipton, RN, Education Coordinator, and Kristina Joseph, Education Business Support, who work with AHS to help match interested students with Mercy professionals.
 
For more information about the AHS LINK program, visit https://ahsinternships.weebly.com or email internship@animashighschool.com.

It is with sincere gratitude for all that she has accomplished, that I announce that Chris Gerding will leave her position as Practice Manager 2 of CHPG-Southwest Colorado primary care clinics, Mercy Family Medicine (MFM) and Mercy Internal Medicine (MIM), as well as her role as operational leader of the Mercy Diabetic Education Program effective Nov. 1, 2019.

In addition to her length of service in health care, I would like to honor all that Chris has accomplished during her time at Mercy:

• She was instrumental in developing and maintaining a nationally recognized Comprehensive Primary Care Plus (CPC+) and certified, patient-centered, medical home program.
• Instrumental in the development and maintenance of primary care’s Direct to Employer Program partnership with La Plata County.
• By implementing the Radical Convenience Plan in FY19, Chris significantly improved access to as well as the finical success of Mercy’s primary care clinics. This plan was successful in increasing the number of patients served in our communities.
• As dyad partners, Dr. Krista Ault and Chris were instrumental in the integration of certified diabetes educator Kim Ayers, CDE, into Mercy’s primary care clinics. Kim’s availability has made a significant, positive impact on Mercy’s diabetic patients and the program has been endorsed by Mercy’s primary care providers.
• Chris worked with Tamra Lavengood, RN, Clinical Performance Coordinator and CPC+ Coordinator, to integrate behavioral health services into Mercy’s primary care clinics. This program has also been of significant value to patients who have experienced an improvement in their overall wellbeing. This program is also endorsed by primary care physicians and advanced practice providers as a best practice.

Bidding on items in Mercy's MOX Auction (Mercy Online AuXion for Tanzania) will end at 11:59 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25. 

Now is your opportunity to bid on the amazing items donated by your Mercy peers including:

• Trickle Creek Ranch Black Angus Beef Package (approximately 17 lbs.) Value: $120 (Donated by Missy McMenimen)
• Sierra Railroad #3 Double Header photo taken Sept. 19, 2019 by Dr. Martin Pirnat Value: $300
• Handmade stitched seed bead earrings (gold, turquoise, red, and black) Value: $75 (Donate by Amber DeHerrera)
• Framed Buffalo picture Value: $200 (Donated by Dr. Kim Furry)
• AND SO MUCH MORE!

Trick-or-Treat! Child Care is heading your way,
We hope you can join us in Halloween day!
 
If you would like to know more about this annual tradition,
Please read along as we have changed up the mission.
 
In previous years we took our parade inside,
But as cute as this was, we left feeling quite fried!
 
Please take a moment to meet us outside this year,
We guarantee you will smile from ear to ear!
 
Following the curved sidewalk of the main front doors,
We will pause for a moment to collect that candy of yours!
 
To be respectful of patients heading in or out,
We’ll walk slowly and remember not to shout.
 
We will be leaving our school at 9:30ish,
We hope to see you there, that is our greatest wish!
 

In order to continue delivering the highest quality care possible, we must provide our people with the tools and resources you need to help you fulfill your purpose. That’s why we have processes in place to make sure you have access to the supplies you need, when you need them.
 

Categories that will not be approved for reimbursement via XM include (but are not limited to): Amazon.com purchases** Supplies & Equipment involving Patient Care Physical Therapy & Sports Equipment Dental Supplies & Equipment Stethoscopes Pharmaceuticals Baby Items & Toys Office Supplies & Equipment Print Uniforms & other Apparel Facilities Housekeeping Services Computers, Laptops, & Accessories IT Equipment & Software Furniture & Upholstery Appliances Artwork Educational Materials & Books Coding & Billing Books Capital Equipment Purchased not Shipped to Facilities Entertainers &/or Venue Deposits* Advertising* Awards, Gifts &/or Gift Cards* Promotional Items & Marketing* *Items in these categories may be purchased via PCard but require pre-approval documentation from Supply Chain or IT. **Integration of Amazon.com purchases is in progress; until this integration is completed you may continue making these purchases via PCard. This temporary exception does not apply to Ambulatory and CHPG locations.

Supplies available through Centura Health Supply Chain have been approved by our clinical teams, contributing to a safer environment for our patients and associates. These products meet regulatory standards, including recall communication. We also leverage our purchasing power as an enterprise to ensure we are the best stewards of our resources.

Recently, we’ve seen an increase in reimbursement requests for supplies and services purchased outside of our approved supply chain channels. Please remember: Products available through contracted sources (medical supplies, office supplies, equipment, etc.) must be obtained via Centura Health Supply Chain. Please contact your local supply chain representative for assistance procuring these supplies and services.

Any items or services that should be procured through Supply Chain are not reimbursable through the Expense Management (XM) System. There will be no further exceptions granted for out of pocket or PCard expenses.*

All associates are expected to be good stewards of our policies and exercise good judgment when making purchasing decisions. Additionally, it is the responsibility of any supervisor, manager, director and/or executive with approval authority to ensure that associates within their realm of responsibility adhere to Centura Health’s policies and procedures.

For further details about expense reimbursement and PCard use, please see:

• Travel and Business Expense Reimbursement
• PCard Program Policy

We’re pleased to announce that Centura Health has partnered with Imalogix to deliver a comprehensive management solution that will help transform our imaging data across the system. This opportunity yields a new management tool that allows us to transform our imaging data into actionable insights, optimizing clinical and operational performance.

In accordance with a Joint Commission standard related to fluoroscopy, effective Jan. 1, 2020, Imalogix will allow Centura Health facilities to meet that regulatory standard and also allow us to provide a better patient experience by balancing the right dose and image quality to improve clinical outcomes and lower risk. Departments most directly impacted include CT, IR and Cath Lab.

Due to a quick turnaround, you will see this work emerge over the next few weeks and may be asked to partner with clinical engineering or physics team to allow Imalogix to access the data directly from the scanners. Patient dose data is quickly retrieved and converted into a trackable metric. Real time alerts will notify technologists when patient dose has exceeded thresholds. Reports can be generated that will allow us to compare protocols across the system.  

Through Imalogix we will:

• Elevate the standard of care
• Provide a better patient experience by reducing repeat scan 
• Balance the right dose and image quality to improve clinical outcomes and lower risk
• Automate and meet The Joint Commission radiation dose reporting standards

We must be good stewards of our benefits – keeping costs low for ourselves and one another. As part of these efforts, we routinely affirm that dependents covered by our benefit plan are truly eligible for the plan(s) in which they are enrolled and/or are exempt from the spousal surcharge.

We are partnering with Consova, a third-party agency, to perform a dependent eligibility verification of all dependents (spouses/civil union partners included) covered by Centura Health medical, dental and/or vision plans. This audit will also validate that the spousal surcharge is appropriately applied.

You may be asked to provide: Marriage certificate; Federal tax return; Birth certificate; Adoption certificate; Court order/QMCSO; and/or The Benefit Verification and Information Release Authorization Form

Here’s what you’ll need to do
If you cover a dependent and/or spouse, you will receive a mailing from Consova at your home address (as listed in Lawson Employee Self-Service) around Oct. 23. Upon receipt, please review your list of dependents to ensure they meet the eligibility requirements.

You will then need to follow the instructions provided to submit the required documents for dependent eligibility verification. In addition, if you cover a spouse and currently do not pay a spousal surcharge, you will also need to submit documentation to confirm that your spouse is not eligible for employer-sponsored health coverage elsewhere.

Any and all information you provide to Consova is kept secure and confidential.

What if I do not respond?
Consova is focused on making this necessary process as easy as possible for you. The deadline for response will be included in your letter. Please understand that no response could result in termination of coverage for your dependent(s) and/or the spousal surcharge of $100/month ($46.15 per pay period) being applied.

Why is Centura Health conducting an audit?
The cost of care continues to rise across our country, and we continue to evaluate ways to keep our costs low for our incredible people. Covering ineligible dependents increases cost, which are shared, in part, by our associates, through premium contributions. So that you have affordable options when it comes to your health care coverage, we need to ensure that only eligible dependents are enrolled in our plans.

Questions or comments?
Please watch your mail for a packet from Consova, our third party administrator. This mailing will provide details to support you through this process and contact information for Consova’s Dependent Eligibility Verification Assistance Center.

Evidence-based error prevention techniques are designed to dramatically reduce individual errors, and thereby reduce events of patient harm. Health care systems that have adopted these proven techniques have seen 50 to 80 percent reductions in events of preventable harm to their patients. 

For us to achieve our goal of Zero Harm, it is required that all associates, leaders and medical providers attend and participate in a Universal Skills training session. You should have received an email from HealthStream (HS-Alerts) indicating that a new assignment has been loaded to complete. You will use the LEARN platform to register for one of the in-person sessions offered at your facility. Space is limited for these sessions, so you are encouraged to sign up early.

Thank you in advance for your support in leading our efforts to prevent harm and we look forward to seeing you at an upcoming Universal Skills training session.

Questions?
Contact your direct supervisor or Crystal Robertson, Quality Director, at CrystalRobertson@Centura.org.
 

There are some pervasive misconceptions regarding individual email communications, particularly that they are more widely read than newsletters, the intranet or other materials.

First, let us be clear that there is no substitute for face-to-face interactions among teams and with team leaders. That is a primary reason for distributing our bi-weekly Lightbulb Thursday newsletter to all supervisors and above – to inform Centura Health leaders of important initiatives that they may then share with their direct reports in meetings, daily huddles, etc. We highly encourage associates and leaders to communicate news directly with one another whenever possible, as a primary best practice.

In the absence of this interaction, visual alternatives can provide a worthy backup. However, while it is understandable to believe that emails are efficient and effective, statistics and experience within our organization have not supported this theory. Over the past few years, open rates for local newsletters have consistently tracked very high, while growing discouragement has been vocalized from staff regarding the volume of daily emails.

Associates from various positions, facilities and levels, including leadership, have admitted to deleting emails from senders that overuse the medium. They have stated that frequent interruptions with redundant or irrelevant information causes them to “tune out” to all messages – even those which might be particularly important for them to pay attention to.

This is where consolidating messages into a singular communication vehicle, such as a newsletter, allows readers to pick and choose all at once which items are important to them. Newsletters also hold associates accountable for remaining informed, as they are expected to review fewer electronic messages overall.

While there are occasions that are unforeseeable and emergent, most communications can be thoughtfully carried out as part of a larger strategy. With enough lead time (generally two weeks), your Corporate Communications team can assist you with a plan to optimize visibility and impact for your respective audiences.

For more information about deadlines for content submissions, contact SarahSilvernail@Centura.org.

As you age, you naturally lose muscle strength and balance. If you are beginning to feel a loss in your sense of balance, Mercy Sports Medicine’s balance program is for you.

Six Weeks to Better Balance and a Stronger Self is designed for anyone who wants to improve their balance and is geared toward those who are starting to decondition as a result of aging. A new session will take place from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays beginning Nov. 4. 

Participants can expect different stations to challenge their balance in a safe environment. Examples include: Holding a single-leg stance while practicing on a weight shift station which allows participants to improve their balance when navigating every day areas of challenge such as curbs. The program is great training to successfully handle simple tasks such as walking across an uneven lawn.

Each session will include education and three to four exercises you can to do safely at home. Most importantly, you will leave each session with the confidence to stay active.

The cost of the series is $150. Call to reserve your spot today: 970-259-9530.

Change. We’ve faced a lot of it lately and the reality is we’ll face more. The following quote, attributed to American author John Maxwell, resonates with me: “Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.”

As health care workers we know about change. Life altering changes occur within the walls of our hospital and clinics daily. We know acutely both the benefits and the pitfalls associated with it. The business of health care can be difficult, but we face the challenges because of our desire to help others.

Lately some in our community have expressed publicly their frustration, and their fear of what Mercy’s future may hold. I realize that some of you are experiencing these same frustrations and fears, and I want to talk about them.

I encourage you to attend one of the following Town Halls in conference rooms A and B and share what’s on your mind:

• 5:00 p.m. Oct. 28
• 5:00 p.m. Nov. 11
• 7:00 a.m. Nov. 12

Mercy associates Vanessa Hamer and Jill Nelson will be available to weave silk shimmers into your hair from noon to 1:00 p.m. in Mercy's front lobby on the following dates:

• Oct. 22
• Oct. 28
• Oct. 31

Lynda Berger, RN, HWNC-BC, TLC Team, or Josh Magyar, Chaplain, will facilitate "Cultivating Emotional Health and Resilience in Your Life" from noon to 1:00 p.m. Monday, Nov. 4, in Conference Room D.

Join us for an opportunity to practice skills that lead to more happiness and balance in your life!

Participants will learn ways to handle challenging situations including:

• Transforming difficult relationships and situations
• Working with uncertainty and anxiety
• Cultivating resilience and emotional intelligence
• Developing inner happiness
• Improving communication skills:
  • Non-violent communication (NVC)
  • Motivational interviewing
  • Coaching
  • And more!

An annual influenza vaccine is the best defense against seasonal flu, keeping you healthy and making meaningful impacts in the lives of those around us. It is our responsibility to the people we serve to help protect the whole health of our communities by preventing the spread of illness.
 
Make sure to get your flu shot by Nov. 15. 

All associates must submit proof of flu vaccination or an approved religious or medical exemption by Friday, Nov. 15. Receiving a flu shot or submitting an approved exemption is a condition of employment. View Centura Health's Influenza Vaccination policy here.

Vaccination clinics have begun and will continue across the system through the end of October. Associates and providers may attend any Centura Health-sponsored clinic to receive your annual vaccination.

The last Mercy flu clinic will take place on the following date:

• 6:00-10:00 a.m. Oct. 29 in Conference Room C

Keri McCune, Mercy's infection prevention manager, received her flu vaccination. Have you?