Our connected ecosystem across Colorado and western Kansas has been presented with an unprecedented challenge this year with the emergence of the global COVID-19 pandemic. The need for our communities to come together in collaboration to address the coronavirus has been essential in working to remain whole and healthy.

To support the mitigation of new COVID-19 cases across Colorado, we have launched a public service announcement (PSA) campaign to remind residents to keep themselves, their families and fellow community members safe during the ongoing pandemic. We are also extending our campaign to western Kansas, as that region has been particularly hard hit by COVID-19 in recent months. 

Centura’s Senior Vice President of Strategy, Dean Sanpei shared that our efforts are in coordination with state and local leaders, agency officials and health systems to provide greater awareness of COVID-19 precautions.

“While Colorado and Kansas have done a good job in reopening the economy, we need to continue to focus on wearing masks when around others, maintaining safe social distancing, and properly washing our hands.” Dean shared. “These time-tested, very basic personal interventions are still the best defense against an epidemic until a safe and effective vaccine can be administered.”

We will be sharing these messages through paid advertising, earned stories in local media, and our owned channels such as our websites and social media. Dr. Shauna Gulley, our Chief Clinical Officer and Pediatric Internist, was recently featured in Healthline, sharing helpful tips on how to speak with children and teens on the importance of mask wearing. You can read it here. https://www.healthline.com/health-news/from-toddlers-to-teens-how-to-talk-to-kids-about-wearing-masks

We are excited for this campaign and if you haven’t seen it just yet, you’ll see these messages soon in the following places that will include the #MaskUpCo hashtag:

• Walmart pharmacy screens
• Apartment and condo posters
• Hand sanitizing stations
• Billboards
• Paid social messages on Facebook and Instagram
• Local newspaper placements (print and digital)

Join us on September 17 and 18 for this year’s virtual symposium. CME/CE will be offered. 
 

DAY 1 • Keynote Speaker: Martin Schreiber, MD   Professor of Surgery, OHSU (Oregon Health & Science University)   "Stem Cells in Trauma, The Dawn of a New Era" • Full Spectrum Case Study: Skier vs. Pole • Trauma Resuscitation Scenario Competition & Demonstration • Trauma Survivor T-10 Panel Day 2 Solheim Interactive Trauma Course This day-long seminar starts with a dispatch call of this scenario occurring and from this point forward, participants are invited to literally guide this patient from his initial treatment on scene through the first 24 hours of his care in the emergency department, operative suites and intensive care unit. ON-DEMAND Six one-hour sessions available through October 31, 2020 COST Pre-Hospital $15 RN & Allied Health $25 Physicians $50 REGISTER NOW!

CME/CE will be offered • Accreditation Statement - The Centura Health CME designates this Other activity a combination of live and enduring material for a maximum of 10.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. • Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider #14053, for 10.5 contact hours. Attendee must retain this certificate for at least 4 years after the completion of the educational offering. • "Interactive Trauma: Beyond the Moment of Impact" activity code 180912-OR-C-R1 has been approved for a total of 8.25 contact hours. This continuing nursing education activity was approved by the Emergency Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Questions: RobertHayes@Centura.org

The life of Tom Fritz, who was known and liked by many Centura Health co-workers particularly at the Havana and Mineral Circle offices, was celebrated during a memorial service on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2020 at Spruce Hill Community Church in Black Forest. Tom, 54, died on March 15 from a health condition while spending time with his family. Born Thomas Joseph Fritz on Aug. 3, 1965, he grew up alongside his brother and four sisters in Belleville, Ill.

In 1973, Tom’s family moved to Charlottesville, VA and purchased a KOA campground. This is where Tom began his lifelong love of nature. He also enjoyed outdoor athletics, and he participated in high school cross-country/track and ran in the Richmond Marathon.

Tom earned his finance degree from Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Business and a master's degree in Business from James Madison University. He paid his own way through college by working as a teaching assistant, waiter and owner of a moving service. It is this incredible work ethic that many Centura associates also witnessed.

“Tom was always focused on doing everything he could for Centura as an organization, as well as for those with whom he worked,” said David Solomon, Vice President of Accounting. “And he always did those things from a place of genuine sincerity and a desire to make the things around him better.”

After graduating, Tom moved to Colorado when he fell in love with the mountains during a motorcycle tour across the U.S. This is where he met Alyson, who he married on July 26, 1997. Always working to better himself, Tom studied and passed his CPA exam, beginning his successful career working for such companies as Qwest, AT&T, Jeppesen, Children's Hospital Colorado and finally Centura Health, where he worked for nearly 10 years and served most recently as the company's tax manager.

Tom acknowledged his greatest achievement was his family, and he is survived by Alyson, his daughter Nicole, 17, and his son Tyler, 14. He supported his children proudly through every endeavor, and also was a great example to the community as he was known for lending a helping hand – Boy Scouts, 4H and the girls' basketball program at Ponderosa High School, to name a few – wherever needed.

Friends of Tom at Centura Health say they will remember his positive attitude and friendly, light-hearted personality. Martha Peterson is a Business Support specialist who worked with Tom for years at the Havana office before he moved to the Mineral Circle office just a few months before passing. She recalls how Tom lived on a farm and enjoyed talking about his experiences.

“Tom was an absolute joy here in the office at Havana – upbeat, kind, respectful, thoughtful, friendly and hard-working – and he loved his family very much,” Martha said. “Always smiling and telling you about his family and his life on the farm. We could not wait every week to share our weekend stories.”

Konrad Garcia in Badging & Fleet echoed Martha’s comments.

“Tom Fritz was a great man. He loved his family and was quick to boast about any of his children’s achievements. He also loved the outdoors and took any opportunity to be in nature,” said Konrad, who started his own farm and often sought advice from Tom regarding its care. “He was the type of man who would do anything to help another person. If you needed advice, you could always count on Tom to listen and he would never steer you wrong. He was a kind soul and will truly be missed.”

Those wishing to send sympathies and/or donations to the Fritz family may do so via Pastor Boyd Bailey of Spruce Hill Community Church, 4820 Walker Road, Black Forest, CO 80908. Questions can be directed to him at sprucehillcommunitychurch@gmail.com.

Review our Weekly Webinar Series
 

The Centura Health Foundations have partnered with Walden University for a new scholarship opportunity available to all Centura Health associates. Walden University has generously donated 30, $15,000 scholarships to Centura Health associates who enroll in a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral program and begin classes on or before December 31, 2020 at Walden University. For scholars whose degree program exceeds $15,000, your local Centura Health hospital foundation will provide a 50% matching gift to each scholarship winner (not to exceed $7,500).

With more than 80-degree programs and more than 385 specializations and concentrations, Walden University can offer Centura Health associates a way to build highly transferable skills that can be immediately applied, as well as a pathway for greater career success. To qualify for a scholarship, the degree program you enroll in must meet the hiring needs of Centura Health. With only 30 scholarships available to Centura Health associates this will be a highly competitive application process.

This unique opportunity is powered by philanthropy and would not be possible without the generosity of Walden University and our community of donors, including many associate donors. 

To learn more about this incredible opportunity please join us for a virtual Q & A on Tuesday, August 18 at 12 p.m. MST. You can register for it by clicking, here.

You can also visit WaldenU.edu/CenturaHealth-Scholars to learn how to apply, eligibility and requirements, and important deadlines. 

We recognize the vital importance of high-quality CPR competency, performance and delivery. That’s why, as part of our HRO journey, we are implementing Resuscitation Quality Improvement^® (RQI^®) training for BLS, ALS and PALS CPR certifications at all Centura hospitals* in a phased rollout. This training will launch at our hospital on Sept. 1.

To date, the majority of our clinicians who are required to maintain CPR certification have been required to complete a recertification course every two years that can take up to two full days of their time. However, The RQI^® approach, developed by the American Heart Association^® and Laerdal^®, eliminates the need to attend a certification class every two years, minimizes the amount of time caregivers are off the floor for training, and enhances patient safety, as the quarterly cadence ensures caregivers are always up to date on the latest best practices.

Beginning Sept. 1, caregivers will need to complete trainings once per quarter in order to maintain their perpetually-valid RQI^® verified resuscitation eCredential. If your role requires BLS, ALS or PALS certification, you will receive email reminders as your due dates approach. Simulation stations will be available onsite, and each simulation session will take less than thirty minutes to complete.

Please note, upon go-live of RQI^® training at our hospital, biannual recertification course fees will no longer be an approved expense. We appreciate your support in ensuring 100% compliance with the RQI^® training cycle, which provides significant benefit to both our associates and our patients.

Questions?
Contact Rachel Miles, Vice President of Nursing Operations, at RachelMiles@centura.org.

*Please note, at this time, this transition only applies to Centura hospitals. Associates at ambulatory and clinic locations who require CPR certification should continue participating in biannual recertification trainings at this time.

Mike Kendrick named Vice President, Supply Chain

 

“I’m on a mission to deliver excellent service and value to our customers.”

Mike Kendrick has been named Centura Health’s new Vice President for Supply Chain, reporting to Eddie Sim, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer. He has been serving this position in an interim role since early June. 

Mike will continue to share his passion for providing excellent service and delivering value to our ministry. His commitment will deepen our relationships with our contracted partners to ensure we meet the needs of our communities, our neighbors, our caregivers and our physician partners. Mike’s responsibilities include developing and implementing supply chain management initiatives across our connected ecosystem, working in collaboration with our entities. He’ll also oversee the development of contracts and pricing agreements for all our non-labor related expenses and information technologies.

Before joining Centura Health, Mike most recently worked as the Vice President for Strategic Sourcing and Procurement for Tenet Healthcare in Dallas, where he established Tenet’s national ability to manage $800 million in purchased services that were previously managed at the hospital level. He also implemented several purchased services sourcing initiatives that resulted in a savings of $77 million for the company.

Mike earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Truman State University and a Master of Arts degree in finance from Webster University. Outside the office, he enjoys spending time outdoors with his family skiing, hiking, biking, fishing and golfing.

Questions or comments?
Contact Eddie Sim at EdwardSim@Centura.Org.