Revenue Management VP, Gerrit Ostermick

As I reflect on our COVID-19 response, I am humbled by the stories of our people collectively caring for the whole person – mind, body and spirit – to ensure all needs are met. We each have a unique story about why we were called to health care and it was amazing to see all of you respond, and thrive, during such a difficult time. I am grateful for all of our caregivers, and I was so impressed with your ability to respond to such a unique situation; everything from your skill, dedication and compassion to the support staff’s willingness to help in any way they could. I am proud to be a part of Centura Health, and I want to thank each of you for everything you do for our patients, communities and each other.  

I hope you enjoy these videos as much as I did. They capture the grateful sentiments of our patients and communities.

Watch: Gratitude for our incredible caregivers, part 3

All associates must submit proof of flu vaccination or an approved religious or medical exemption by Sunday, Nov. 15. Receiving a flu shot or submitting an approved exemption is a condition of employment. Click here for a schedule of associate vaccination opportunities.

An annual influenza vaccine is the best defense against seasonal flu, keeping you healthy and making a meaningful impact 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 – and getting immunized against the seasonal flu is extra important this year as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. 

Make sure to get your flu shot by Nov. 15. Associate vaccination opportunities are available now across our system and will continue through the end of October. Flu shots remain a requirement for all health care workers, in accordance with state regulation, regardless of current COVID-19 masking and social distancing measures.

The health and safety of our incredible people remains our top priority, and as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, flu vaccination options may look a little different this year. Each Centura facility will be delivering associate vaccines in the way that makes the most sense for that location, but options may include:

• Roaming vaccination carts that come to you
• Traditional clinics with social distancing and enhanced preventative measures in place
• Vaccination by appointment with your local occupational health nurse

• your name
• the date you received your vaccine
• the manufacturer, lot number and expiration date of the vaccination

We are excited to announce the official launch of Newly Hired Mentoring Program! This 12-week mentoring program is designed to connect newly hired associates and leaders (mentees) with colleagues (mentors) who will provide personalized guidance and enhance the new hire’s onboarding experience, ultimately laying a strong foundation for success. 

Newly hired associates and leaders are invited to participate in the program as mentees.  Associates who have been with Centura Health for at least six months, are in good standing, and are invested in welcoming and onboarding new associates are invited to participate in the program as mentors.  Sign up to mentor a newly hired associate or leader using this link.
Click here:  MentorNomination

Mentors and mentees will build a supportive, professional relationship over the course of three months to ensure mentees have all the information they need, develop a network, and feel a sense of belonging.  Key areas of focus for the newly hired mentoring program include Department Knowledge (tools and resources, key people, and core business functions) and Organizational Knowledge (2025 strategy and goals, system/ entity structure, and system/ entity culture). To further enhance the mentoring experience, mentoring pairs will have access to virtual mentoring technology, MentorcliQ.  This software will support the mentor and mentee throughout their mentoring partnership. 

Questions?  Email: mentoring@centura.org

Get ready for Security Awareness Month to kick off on Monday, October 5 and continue through October 25! The Risk Management team will email security awareness training to all associates each week on topics that support our ongoing efforts to protect and secure Centura Health’s patient data and network infrastructure.

Complete each of the four videos, and you will be entered into a drawing to win one of several great prizes. Complete all four weeks of training, and you will have a chance to win one of two grand prizes – a Yeti Flip 8 Cooler or a Cornhole set! 

We appreciate your partnership in ensuring our organization’s security and look forward to a month of awareness, learning and a little fun.

A new FAQ document is now available on My Virtual Workplace that will answer many of your questions around Centura's tuition reimbursement.

All tuition reimbursement requests, pre-approvals and inquiries must be submitted through the Self Service Hub. Below are links that provide direct access to the tuition reimbursement page in the Self Service Hub, the Quick Guides containing step-by-step instructions for both pre-approval requests and tuition reimbursement requests, and the tuition reimbursement policy. 
 

• Self Service Hub-Tuition Reimbursement
• How to Submit a Pre-Approval Request
• How to Submit a Tuition Reimbursement Request
• Tuition Reimbursement Policy

This is the last in a series of articles as part of National Suicide Prevention Month, a chance to understand, to learn, and to possibly one day even help prevent someone you know from taking his or her life.

After all, our Centura Health mission to extend the healing ministry of Christ includes not just body and spirit, but a focus on the mind as well. Behavioral Health, which includes suicide prevention, is a key part of that mission.

In the article below, Gina Myers, LCSW, a Crisis Assessment Specialist, shares a Colorado teenager’s feelings about the struggles she and her peers often face, and what she wants adults to know.

“I wish they understood sometimes it’s ok not to be ok,” says Kate, an 18-year-old senior from Douglas County. Kate graciously agreed to share some insights into what today’s teens struggle with when it comes to mental health and suicide. She explains that young people experience a tremendous amount of pressure from social media, parents, and school teachers. She says that sometimes it can feel like there is “no escape” from expectations of perfection from teachers, family, and even friends. “We are constantly told by our teachers we can simply work harder even though we are working our hardest.”

According to a 2017 report from the Office of Suicide Prevention,17% of high school students reported seriously considering attempting suicide during the past 12 months (this includes 12.5% male students and 21.5% female students, as well as 44.8% of gay, lesbian or bisexual students). This has led to state initiatives to prioritize efforts in youth suicide prevention, including the statewide implementation of Zero Suicide, and a youth-centered campaign with Colorado Crisis Services.

Anyone who has known a teenager or has been a teenager (all of us), probably knows that many influential discussions take place amongst peers. Kate explained that it’s difficult for teens and young people to talk with each other openly and honestly about issues such as depression, anxiety, substance use, or abusive relationships.

There also seems to be an idea amongst friends and adults that if someone doesn’t “look depressed,” and is doing well in classes, she is not struggling. Kate wishes teens could talk more honestly about their struggles but feels that oftentimes they receive messaging that talking about feelings—especially hard feelings—is not OK. She says it’s also difficult for young people to reach out for help or accept offers of help that are given.

There are many ways for teens to access help for mental health or suicide that are accessible to their age group, including texting the Colorado Crisis Line, participating in a HopeGroup, or contacting the Trevor Project.

Unfortunately, Kate, like many young people in Colorado, has recently lost a friend to suicide.  She noticed that when this tragedy happened, it mobilized her community to check on friends, neighbors, and family, and Kate believes that we cannot continue to wait for young people to suffer to the point of wanting to die. A piece of advice she wants the community to remember is to follow-up with the young people in your life because “when we are ready to talk, as long as we trust you and know you are there for us, we will talk.”

Despite the mounting pressure of senior year, rapid changes in routines due to COVID-19, and her recent loss, Kate remains hopeful about changes that need to happen, and says, “I want to make sure everyone knows they have a place in this world, and that they weren’t put here by accident.”

Gina Myers, LCSW
Crisis Assessment Specialist
Zero Suicide Initiative Coordinator
Centura Behavioral Health/PEPCS

For more information about teen suicide prevention efforts in Colorado,  click here to watch a short video by the City & County of Denver.

If you or someone you love needs to talk, the Colorado Crisis Line is free, confidential and available 24/7: 1-844-493-8255 or text TALK to 38255. For a list of local and regional suicide hotlines in Kansas, see Suicide.org.

You also can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 24/7 for free, confidential support: 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Centura Health provides a number of resources to help our associates navigate difficult situations, including our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which is a great resource for counseling services and other mental well-being support. You can reach Profile EAP by calling 800-645-6571.