Patrick Gaughand, Senior Vice President & Chief Values Integration Officer

Without fail, the people of Centura Health face the most challenging of situations with unwavering courage. This is especially evident in your compassion and caring over the past several months. Collectively, you assisted sick, stressed and scared persons impacted by the pandemic, responding with professionalism, self-sacrifice and a sense of responsibility and love for your neighbor. Your response is no less noble than that of the Good Samaritan, who in Jesus’ well-known parable heard the human cry and, moved by compassion, chose to willingly enter the chaos of another’s life, take on the other’s burden and provide support and care, bringing forth love, mercy, and hope.

Your commitment to our shared mission is inspiring and truly demonstrates the values our founders and foundresses instilled 138 years ago. Our ministry, our communities and our patients have been blessed by your servant’s heart, commitment to excellence, and dedication to amplifying health and wholeness during these unprecedented times.

As we close out this series of gratitude videos, please know in your heart that you have made a lasting difference for our patients and communities, and for one another; for this I remain deeply grateful. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do every day.

Watch: Gratitude for our incredible caregivers, part 5

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

Information Technology will go-live with a new version of our Lawson software resulting in suspended access to Lawson from 4 p.m. (16:00) Friday, Oct. 23 to 5 p.m. (1700) Sunday, Oct. 25. 

Lawson will be unavailable during this upgrade. Associates are asked to refrain from using the Lawson application after 4 p.m. (1600) Friday, Oct. 23.  Use of the application can begin again once the upgrade is complete at approximately 5 p.m. (1700) Sunday, Oct. 25.

The new version of Lawson boasts many enhancements including:
•    Additional functionality to help Centura Health continue to meet the needs of our incredible caregivers
•    Ongoing vendor support for software updates and resolution issues
•    Ability to implement the latest security and feature enhancements

The following applications or services will be impacted:
•    Lawson
•    MSCM
•    Landmark (process flow and Inbasket)
•    Punch Out
•    Expense Management
•    LBI

We appreciate your patience as we work to ensure you have the best tools available to support the valuable work you do.

Questions?
Please contact Mark Brandt or call the Service Center at (303) 643-4200.

 

Lexicomp Mobile, our convenient drug reference tool for clinicians, is a subscription-based service that must be renewed annually. If you use Lexicomp Mobile and have received a notification that the subscription is about to expire, you need to obtain an authorization code to renew your mobile subscription by mid-October.

In order to obtain this code:

1. Log in to Lexicomp online at http://online.lexi.com/lco/action/home. 
2. Click on Mobile Access codes:

3. Select your platform and choose existing customer.
4. You will then be provided an authorization code. Follow the directions outlined to update your subscription.

Information Technology (IT) will perform monthly maintenance and updates starting at 12 p.m. (1200) on Tuesday, Oct. 20, until 2 a.m. (0200 MT) on Wednesday, Oct. 21. This will involve planned downtime for the following applications (please reference the Workaround for each application):

Tuesday, Oct. 20, from 12 p.m. (1200) until 4 p.m. (1600) MT

Tuesday, Oct. 20, from 6 p.m. (1800) until 10 p.m. (2200) MT

Tuesday, Oct. 20, 10 p.m. (2200) until Wednesday, 10/21/2020 2 a.m. (0200) MT

We appreciate your patience as we conduct these maintenance activities, to keep our incredible people equipped with the latest tools and to ensure you can provide the highest quality, whole-person care.

Questions?
If you have any questions regarding this Monthly Maintenance Window, please contact your Clinical Informaticists by Facility.

 

Centura Health's injury prevention staff is providing a free monthly fall prevention webinar series for the communities we serve. If you are a caretaker for someone at risk of falling or have older adults in your life, this series will provide you with valuable information. 

We will cover multiple topics that may affect the life of your loved ones or those you care for. These webinars will give participants an opportunity to ask questions and get answers in real time from some of our top experts in the field. A new topic will be presented each month. Presentations will be recorded and offered with a live host on scheduled days and times. Participants can share this information with those they feel may benefit. The following are some scheduled topics:

• Statistics/cost of falls
• Moving about safety
• Home community safety
• Medication and falling
• Vision and falling

An estimated 276,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in the United States in 2020, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. However, 64% of breast cancer cases are diagnosed at a localized stage, for which the 5-year survival is 99%.

In Colorado and western Kansas, our incredible teams of caregivers work every day to screen for and treat breast cancer, and they do it while prioritizing COVID-19 safety precautions.

If you and any dependents are covered by a Centura Health Plan, all preventive care such as a mammogram is covered 100% by the plan. We encourage you to take advantage of this free opportunity that is offered annually and schedule a mammogram, or send the link to a colleague, friend or family member.

Do you know the signs of breast cancer?

Early warning signs:

• Skin changes, such as swelling, redness, or other visible differences in one or both breasts
• An increase in size or change in shape of the breast(s)
• Changes in the appearance of one or both nipples
• Nipple discharge other than breast milk
• General pain in/on any part of the breast
• Lumps or nodes felt on or inside of the breast

• A lump or mass in the breast
• Swelling of all or part of the breast, even if no lump is felt
• Skin irritation or dimpling
• Breast or nipple pain
• Nipple retraction (turning inward)
• The nipple or breast skin appears red, scaly, or thickened
• Nipple discharge
• A lump or swelling in the underarm lymph nodes

Centura Health is pleased to announce we are now accepting applications for our Sterile Processing, Pharmacy Tech and Medical Assisting Apprenticeships that will begin in January 2021! Apprenticeship programs offer a unique earn while you learn model allowing apprentices to complete education requirements and clinical hours concurrently while being a Centura associate. 

Medical Assistant: Offered through Arapahoe Community College, Front Range Community College (Denver Metro and Colorado Springs locations) or NIMAA (Durango, Kansas, Canon City and Summit County locations)
Requirements:
Demonstrated customer service and leadership skills; through high school organizational involvement and or previous employment.
Demonstrated basic office and computer skills.
Demonstrated basic knowledge of Microsoft Word, and E-Mail.
Attention to detail
HS Diploma/GED
BLS, Basic Life Support (BLS) from American Heart Association is required within 90 days of employment
 
Sterile Processing Tech: Offered through Front Range Community College (Classes take place at Avista Adventist Hospital)
Requirements:
Computer skills, required
HS Diploma/GED
 
Pharmacy Tech: Offered through Front Range Community College (Westminster Campus)
Requirements:
Previous experience within a pharmacy setting, preferred
Working knowledge of computer systems
HS Diploma/GED

For more information on the training programs and to apply, click here.

Questions?
Email CareerGrowth@centura.org 

Congratulations to the leaders across our connected ecosystem who successfully completed Centura Health’s Frontline Leader Development Program (FLDP)! 

Amid the uncertainty this year around the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, our FLDP shifted from in-person to a virtual format. Those who participated in the program showed strength and courage during an unprecedented time, investing in their professional growth and finding opportunities to continue to develop. Now, they will apply what they've learned in the space where they work as a leader.

Thank you again for your commitment to our people and your leadership development!

Avista Adventist Hospital                      
Annica Dino                        
Lisa Hermes                        
Melisa Moore                        

CHPG
Brandy Bird                        
Lisa Broekhuis
Cody Caffee                    
Michelle Economakos
Stephanie Kirk
Tina Savage
Paige Silverstone
Leah VanDeLoo-Walsh

Corporate Service Center
Abigail Clothier
Lora Diner
Paul Eckerman
Marion Hase-McLellan  
Lydia Holmes
Casie Lange
Marcus Maurer
Mary Menardi
Bradley Metts
Michael Miller
Darla Mills
Calvin Paries
Becky Peery
Richard Quinones
Nicole Roberts
Megan Sitek
Emily Watton

Castle Rock Adventist Hospital
Janine Carey

Littleton Adventist Hospital
Kate Battin
Jennifer Brooks
Stefanie Budler
Marcy Dickson
Nadine Jessen
Scott May
Debra O'Brien
Michelle Tucker

Longmont United Hospital
Heidi Huff
Desiree Rangel
Laura Snyder

Mercy Regional Medical Center
Morgan Kennedy
Christina Schuman

Porter Adventist Hospital
John Davidson
Danielle Grant
Carrie Karr
Timberly Klinestiver
Sara Leiter
Brenda Logan
Cari Zarlengo

Parker Adventist Hospital
Andrea Cabrera
Robin Gadsby
Melanie Gagnon
Cheryl Green
Erma Howerzyl
Christopher Lundy
Jason Miller
Stefani Roth

Penrose- St. Francis
Sherrie Gray
Anne Marie Kellner
Brent Lewandowski

St. Anthony Hospital
Pamela Ball
Jessica Buchanan
Monique Cichello
Jessica Donaldson
Micah Heath
Jennifer Manzanares
Ashlee Mitchell

St. Anthony North Health Campus
Debra Connelly
Mallorie Merboth
Kimberly Postle
Ian Wurst
Christine Young

St. Catherine Hospital
Kristi Hopkins

St. Mary Corwin
Christina Abney
Katherine Fonseca
Michelle Schaefer
Christine Shew
Danielle Wells

St. Thomas More
Marco Vegas




 

We often consider malnutrition in the context of undernourished populations, but the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) defines malnutrition as “any nutrition imbalance,” and the World Health Organization states that malnutrition includes “undernutrition, inadequate vitamins and minerals, overweight, obesity, and resulting diet-related noncommunicable diseases.” According to these definitions, malnutrition has many different presentations and it is prevalent in every country in the world. Malnutrition has multiple detrimental outcomes for hospitalized patients, and healthcare providers should be aware of the criteria that provides the basis for a malnutrition diagnosis. Clinical dietitians play an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of malnourished patients in the hospital setting.     

According the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), malnutrition is likely to double the admission time of a patient, increase their medical cost by $18,600, and triple their mortality rate. The AHRQ also estimates that 1 in 3 hospitalized patients are malnourished, roughly 15,000 malnourished hospitalized patients go undiagnosed, and rates of readmission are 1.6 times higher for malnourished patients. It is also important to note that black, low income, and elderly patients are admitted to hospitals with higher rates of malnutrition.   

In 2011 The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics partnered with ASPEN to establish clinical criteria to identify and diagnose malnutrition in the hospital setting. According to this, now widely used criteria, patients must present with at least two of the following characteristics in order to be diagnosed with moderate or severe malnutrition: insufficient food intake compared with nutrition requirements, weight loss over time, loss of muscle mass, loss of subcutaneous fat, localized or generalized fluid accumulation and measurably diminished grip strength. Albumin and prealbumin are not recommended to be used as markers of nutrition status.

After an initial nutrition screen by an RN, the registered dietitian (RD) performs a nutrition assessment on any patient at risk for malnutrition. The Nutrition Focused Physical Exam (NFPE) is one tool used by the RD to physically examine the patient based on the ASPEN malnutrition criteria. During this exam, the RD examines fat stores and muscle throughout the body. They look for bony protrusions and hollow depressions where fat stores or muscle mass would be visible in a healthy patient. They also examine the patient for pitting edema around the ankles and feet, which can indicate protein deficiencies and mask weight loss. The NFPE might also include a measure of hand grip strength using a tool called a dynamometer.

Many micronutrient deficiencies can also be identified during the NFPE. For example, thin or patchy hair might indicate an iron, zinc, biotin, or protein deficiency; Bitot’s spots (white or grey spots on the eyes) might be symptomatic of a vitamin A deficiency; a swollen tongue might be caused by a folate or niacin deficiency; and concave nails might be concerning for an iron deficiency. After a diagnosis of malnutrition has been established, the RD works with the rest of the multidisciplinary health team to establish a plan of care, including nutrition education, dietary supplement recommendations, calorie and protein need estimations and goal setting. 

Gail Gerwitz, the founder of Nutrition Day in the US, states that “malnutrition can be invisible to the eye and is rampant in U.S. hospitals because it is not always top of mind.” Broadening our definition of malnutrition to include “any nutrition imbalance” is a critical first step in recognizing malnutrition in hospitalized patients, and the overall incidence of malnutrition. Identifying and diagnosing malnourished patients, or those at risk for becoming malnourished, requires a multidisciplinary approach based on clinical, evidence-based criteria, and the RD-performed NFPE. The treatment of malnutrition also requires a team approach with education and continuous monitoring.

This nutrition tip was provided by Alice Kimbrell, RDN, Saint Anthony Summit Medical Center

For more information, pleas visit the following websites:

• https://www.nutritioncare.org/guidelines_and_clinical_resources/Malnutrition_Solution_Center/
• https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malnutrition
• https://www.hcup-us.ahrq.gov/reports/HCUPMalnutritionHospReport_083018.pdf
• https://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/0216p36.shtml
• https://www.eatright.org/food/nutrition/healthy-eating/what-is-the-nutrition-focused-physical-exam
• https://www.nutritionday.org/

Security Awareness Month kicked off on Monday, Oct. 5 and will continue through Oct. 25! During October, 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! Weekly winners will be announced every Friday.  

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