INSIDE

1

…Check My NorthBay, Your Employee Portal, for News in

Real Tim

e…10.25.17

BudgetNearly

Ready forApproval

Adopt a School ProgramWill Go Live This Week

See BUDGET, Page 6

A trim and lean 2018 budget for NorthBay Healthcare will be considered by our boards of director in November, setting the stage for a new year marked by fiscal challenges on almost every level.

Income next year is expected to decline as health plans refuse to negotiate new contracts and arbitrarily pay less than previously agreed. Compounding the tight revenue side of the ledger are cuts in state and federal reimbursements.

“All of the new services and

NorthBay Healthcare’s “Adopt a School” program is gearing up.

Each year, NorthBay employees gather up their energy and generosity to adopt class-rooms at Eugene Padan Elementary School in Vacaville and Fairview Elementary School in Fairfield. NorthBay makes sure that every

See ADOPT. Page 10

An enthusiastic Sandy Piedra, director

of Emergency Services, (at right) reacts to news that

the Emergency Department expansion is ready to

open. Charlotte Oliu, R.N., (below, left) and Erica

Brunie, R.N., take a minute to pose in the new triage

room before things get hectic. See story, Page 15.

ED Expansion Opens!

New Hires 2New Physicians 2Week of Weeks 3 A Gift Coming 4Tennis Tourney 7 Nourish 8Pink Power 14Did You Know? 16

** FYI FIRE EXTRA **

Get Your Copy:

Available today at both hospital and GVAC cafes, on

My NorthBay and ShareSpace.

2

TO REMEMBERDATES

IN THE NEWSPEOPLE

LETTERS

DATES

PEOPLE

NEW FACESWELCOMEWELCOME

LETTERS

The NorthBay Center for Primary Care welcomes two new family practitioners:

Marikit Bituin Parker, M.D., has joined the North-Bay Center for Primary Care in Vacaville.

Dr. Parker earned her medical degree from Sil-liman University Medical School in the Philippines. She competed post-grad-uate training in family medicine at the University of Michigan – Mid Michigan Medical Center in Midland.

Angela Brennan, D.O., has joined the NorthBay Center for Primary Care in Fairfield.

Dr. Brennan earned both her doctor of osteopathic medicine degree and Master of Public Health degree at Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Vallejo. She completed a residency in family practice at Natividad Family Medicine Resi-dency – UCSF Affiliated in Salinas.

NorthBay Welcomes Two NewPhysicians to Primary Care

Dr. MarikitBituin Parker

Dr. AngelaBrennan

Marwin H. BalibreaPharmacy Tech IIPharmacy, VacaValley Hospital

John C. ChristodoulidesDirector, Facilities DevelopmentGreen Valley Administration Center

Courtney CrispinClinical Nurse INeonatal Intensive Care UnitNorthBay Medical Center

Tyler FustonInformation Tech AssistantIT Network OperationsNorthBay Medical Center Annex

Mariel Rosanne LimClinical Lab Scientist IIClinical Laboratory, VacaValley Hospital

Christina LopezPatient Access Ambassador IAdmittingVacaValley Hospital

Christie L. MartinezNurse Practitioner Hilborn Center for Primary Care

Keitha K. MountcastleClinical Practice ManagerClinical Support ServicesNorthBay Medical Center

Janita C. PatrickPatient Access Ambassador IIAdmittingNorthBay Medical Center

Veronica A. ReyesCertified Nurse AssistantUnit 1800 Med-Surg, NorthBay Medical Center

Lindsey K. SandersClincal Nurse IIEmergency DepartmentNorthBay Medical Center

Mae WeibleFood Services WorkerNutrition ServicesVacaValley Hospital

Christopher O. WrightStationary Engineer IPlant MaintenanceNorthBay Medical Center

TO REMEMBERDATES

IN THE NEWSPEOPLE

LETTERS

DATES

PEOPLE

NEW FACESWELCOMEWELCOME

LETTERS

11.01.17 Retirement Plan Meetings — VVHP Suite 29011.02.17 Retirement Plan Meetings — Penn Tab lobby11.02.17 Cancer Center Luncheon, GVAC11.03.17 Blood Drive, VacaValley Wellness Center11.07.17 Retirement Plan Meetings — GVAC Room 15411.17.17 Open Enrollment Deadline

SundayNov. 5, 2016,at 2 a.m.Set your clocks back one hour.

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A Busy Week of WeeksIn a week of weeks, NorthBay

Healthcare celebrates all those employees celebrating their professional affiliations.

Central Services Week and Physician Assistants weeks were just wrapping up when the Emergency Nurses had their celebrations Oct. 8-14.

What followed was National Health-Systems Pharmacy Week Oct. 15-21, Healthcare Quality Week October 15-21, National Infection Prevention Week Oct. 15-22, Spiritual Care Week, Oct. 22-28, Respiratory Care Week Oct. 22-28, and Facilities and Engineering Week Oct. 23-29.

The theme of Emergency Nurses Week was “Safe Practice, Safe Care,” which is provided 24/7/365.

“Emergency nurses work with patients when a diagnosis has not yet been made and the cause of the problem is not known,” said Sandy Piedra, Director of Emergency Services. “Emergency nurses frequently contact pa-tients in the emergency depart-ment before the patients see physicians. In this situation, the nurse must be skilled at rapid, accurate physical examination,

early recognition of life-threat-ening illness or injury, the use of advanced monitoring and treat-ment equipment.

Our Pharmacy team had big plans to celebrate national pharmacy week with a Dollar Drug Sale, for employees on over-the-counter medicine, but decided to postpone it.

“We will reschedule to a later date and plan to donate all net proceeds to help NorthBay employees who were affected by the fire,” wrote Ryan Seo, director of Pharmacy.

He took time to thank phar-macists and pharmacy tech-nicians for their invaluable contribution to patient care in an email.

For HealthCare Quality week, Jessica Coyne-Lowe, Manager, Quality Improve-ment, acknowledged NorthBay’s Quality team in an email mes-sage.

“Through our dedication to patients, families and our com-munity we are able to support ongoing improvement processes and care delivery,” said Jessica.

The Quality Improvement Team works behind the scenes to

drive a culture of quality and safety; man-age informa-tion and data to our regulato-ry agencies; and promote change through process and outcome im-

provement data.For Spiritual Care Week,

NorthBay Chaplain Natalya Johnson offered a blessing of the hands in the VacaValley and NorthBay Medical Center cafes earlier this week. This year’s theme was “Hospitality: Cultivating Inclusion.”

NorthBay Healthcare Emergency Department nurses pose for a photo.

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Annual HolidayGift CertificateWill Soon BeOn Its Way

NorthBay Helps Teens

Become‘Inspired’

Brenna Benjamin, Trauma Outreach Coordinator, (above) shows a group of eighth-graders how to stop a bleed at the NorthBay Health-care booth Oct. 17 during the Inspire Dreams Start Now Career Fair event at the Ulatis Cultural Center in Vacaville. A similar event took place in Fairfield at the Kroc Cen-ter (below) on Oct. 3. Both events were sponsored by the Vacaville and Fairfield-Suisun Chambers of Commerce.

Donna Dabeck, manager of nursing recruitment and retention, poses with (left to right) Laura Kremko, R.N., and Anna Isip, R.N., at the In-spire Dreams Start Now Career Fair at the Kroc Center in Suisun City.

There’s a gift coming your way in the mail, courtesy of the NorthBay Healthcare Board of Directors.

It’s a gift certificate — valued at $35 this year — and it’s a token of apprecia-tion from the board during this holiday season.

Employ-ees are encouraged to spend their gift certificate in either of the hospital gift shops,

where North-Bay Guild mem-

bers have worked hard to assemble a wide array of “gifty” items, noted Jane Hilliard, director of Volunteer Services. To make it easier for employees to shop, Guild members are planning to open shops on Saturdays and after hours during the month of December.

Final dates and times have not been determined yet, but keep an eye on FYI, My NorthBay, ShareSpace and all-mail-user announcements.

If you choose not to use the gift certificate, don’t let it go to waste! You can transfer the gift certificate to one of several of NorthBay’s outreach funds, such as the Employee Emergency Fund, or the H.E.R.O. Fund. Employees may also opt to transfer the certificate to NorthBay Healthcare Foundation, and designate that it be used for a specific program or service, such as the NICU, the Adult Day Center, A Baby is Coming, or NorthBay Cancer Center.

Questions? Contact Tim Johnson in the Foundation at (707) 646-3132. Certificates are valid through Jan. 31.

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In the wake of a number of car break-ins at NorthBay Medical Center, security issued a re-minder last week to make sure that valuable items in your vehicle are locked away and out of sight.

NorthBay Security Director Jon Read said the break-ins occurred on Oct. 8, 10 and 16 and involved cars parked at the Gateway parking lot and in front of the MRI building adjacent to B.Gale Wilson Boulevard.

The burglars in each instance smashed out rear or side windows of the cars and took objects that were either in plain sight, or covered up but still in view.

“Please make sure all items of any value are stored out of sight,” he reminded employees.

The first break-ins happened between 8 and 9 p.m. on Oct. 8 and 10 and appear to involve the same suspects. They were driving a white, 2010 Toyota 4-door sedan, license plate No. 6LGM443, with a front left fender missing. The information was turned over to Fairfield police for further in-

vestigation.Anyone who sees the car on the hospital campus,

should call security at ext. 5050 or 5052. “Do not approach the vehicle. Observe from a safe distance and be a good witness,” Jon said.

The other break-ins occurred in the early morning hours Monday, Oct. 16. According to security, two additional vehicles were broken into in the MRI parking lot, however it involved a different suspect vehicle described as a 2017 Nissan Sentra with paper plates reading “Vallejo #1 NISSAN.”

Security officers were patrolling the exterior of the hospital at the time, however it appears they were being watched by the suspects because the two burglarized vehicles were discovered by security when the officer’s made their way back around to the front of the hospital at 12:30 a.m., after checking the rear parking lot.

Again, anyone who spots the suspect cars is asked to observe, not approach, the vehicles and call security at ext. 5050 or 5052.

Security on Alert After Car Burglaries

Cards Go to Las Vegas A MessageYou CanCling To!

Perhaps you’ve seen NorthBay Healthcare’s latest marketing campaign promotion, timed to coincide with Open Enrollment. Window clings touting NorthBay Healthcare’s membership in the Mayo Clinic Care Network are popping up on doors, windows and even elevators around our four campuses. Look closely, you may even see a billboard, hear a radio ad or see a video on cable television. The takeaway message? “Choose Well. Choose NorthBay.”

When the horrifying shooting tragedy happened in Las Vegas on Oct. 1, staff of NorthBay Healthcare hospitals knew the kind of steely resolve their colleagues working in the Emergency Departments (EDs) in down-town Las Vegas would need to get through the days and weeks to come.

That’s what inspired Magnet Program Director Barbara Rickabaugh and Emergency Services Director Sandy Piedra to send cards — signed by NorthBay doctors, nurses and techs — to University Medical Center Trauma Center and Sunrise Hospital.

Both of those hospitals received hundreds of patients after a lone gunman launched the deadliest mass shooting incident in U.S. history.

Shooting from the 32nd floor of the Man-dalay Bay Resort Casino, the gunman killed 58 people and left nearly 500 concertgoers wounded.

“The NorthBay staff felt it was a way to support those great workers in the EDs who had to handle the unimaginable. We wanted to get the cards signed and on their way to the staff of those hospitals right away,” said Barbara.

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Budget Ready for Board... (From Page 1)

advanced medicine we offer, and the growth in our primary care practices, are generating new income,” explained President and CEO Konard Jones. “But that ex-pansion unfortunately is offset by revenue losses.”

Most detrimental, Konard not-ed, are the mounting unpaid bills from two health plans — Kaiser Permanente Health Plan and Blue Shield California — which have shown no inclination to sit down to negotiate fair payment for the emergency care provided their members in our two hospitals. Currently, the two together owe NorthBay in excess of $30 million — and it continues to grow.

In response, NorthBay has filed lawsuits against both insur-ance giants. “The legal system is slow, so we do not believe our case will be heard in court until 2019,” Konard explained. “In the meantime, we tighten our belts very firmly and we do what we’ve

always done: push ahead.”Subject to changes made by

the boards of directors, here are key elements of the 2018 budget:w Funding and attention to

patient care is maintained to en-sure those who work bedside and in key support functions have the resources needed to provide compassionate care, advanced medicine, close to home;w Funds for an annual wage

adjustment or a monetary staff recognition is included (details to come);w An early retirement incen-

tive program will be rolled out in coming weeks, offering op-portunity to some employees near retirement to conclude their careers sooner;w Each new hire, each unfilled

position will be reviewed by a Position Management Committee to evaluate if and when it can be filled;w Some job functions will be

combined, and a couple of de-partments’ responsibilities will be absorbed by others (more details to come);w Overtime and missed meal

breaks are targets of budget reductions, closely monitored to control expenses; andw Travel, education,

conferences, marketing, public relations, community donations, facility management and other administrative expenses are markedly reduced in 2018.

“We can maintain the quality of care we provide next year,” Konard declared. “It will take all hands, everyone’s attention. It will require innovation and creative solutions when challenges arise. And I expect everyone to speak up when she or he recognizes a more efficient way of fulfilling our mission. Share your expertise. Share your commitment to doing it the NorthBay Way.”

NorthBay Healthcare continues to make patient safety its highest priority, however, budget constraints have spurred the difficult decision to disband the Performance Excellence Department, according to Vice President of Operations and Chief Quality Officer Nicole Brocato.

“The dedicated team of Lean practitioners has done great work for the past five years since we began the lean journey,” Nicole noted. “The four have accomplished a lot and those achievements will not be in vain.”

Trish Hackemack, Letitia Goodjoint, Isaac Brown and Gary Pilacinski helped frame and bring to light the importance of continuous improvement. Nicole added, “We thank them for their contributions and wish them the best in the future.”

Graduates of the Certified Lean Advisor program — nearly 100 strong — have returned to their units and departments with new process improvement skills that they can apply toward future projects.

“Our continuous improvement journey is not over,” Nicole said. “During the next six to nine months, we hope to identify the best approach to quality and performance improvement for NorthBay, given our resources,” Nicole said.

“As we evolve and look to additional improvement methodologies we will be creating a champion role to keep this important work moving forward.”

She added, “Be assured that this is an evolution in our continuous improvement journey and not an ending.”

Same Lean Goal, Different Path

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Smoke Doesn’t Derail Pro Tennis EventCongratulations to UCLA grad Macken-

zie McDonald for winning the 2018 NorthBay Healthcare Men’s Pro Championship tennis tournament, which concluded Oct. 15 at Solano Community College.

McDonald beat fellow American Bradley Klahn 6-4, 6-2 and topped the field of 32 world-ranked rising tennis professionals.

NorthBay Healthcare came onboard as the title sponsor this year, honoring the legacy of Dr. Chris Cammisa, who served as its chairman in the department of family practice. He also was chief medical officer at Partnership Health Plan from 1999 to 2010 before his passing in June 2014.

The on-site medical team was comprised of NorthBay orthopedic specialists, including Dr. Kevin Miller, a podiatrist who attended every day of the tournament and helped several players with minor injuries. Others on the medical team were Dr. Steven Siegel and Dr. Rob Petersen.

On the first Sunday of the eight-day competition, a pro-am event was held at Green Valley Country Club (prior to its manda-tory evacuation two days later). Competing were NorthBay team members Chris Matthews,

Dr. Siegel, Dr. Alexander Hazel, Ray Perriard and Stephen Pratt.

Despite the nearby Atlas Fire and the opening of an evacu-ation center for Green Valley residents displaced by the blaze, the tournament continued on a near-normal schedule. At the

conclusion of the event, a “bucket challenge” was held to raise funds for fire victims in which donors aimed for a target that triggered a dousing of pro players.

Podiatrist Kevin Miller, D.P.M., (center) poses with the winners of the men’s doubles at the NorthBay Healthcare Men’s Pro Championship.

Mackenzie McDonald of the United States took the top spot in the NorthBay Healthcare Men’s Pro Championship tennis tournament.

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By Michelle Cote, R.D.

I know many people share my enthusiasm when I say fall is the best time of year. Who doesn’t love pumpkin flavored everything, the changing leaves, cooler weather (wishful thinking right?) and of course my absolute favorite — Halloween?

Some people find it strange: a dietitian who loves Halloween. To me, however, fall and Halloween have always been more about the decorations, changes in cuisine (get the crockpot ready) and cooler weather, than about the candy.

Halloween doesn’t have to be all about the treats. Here are some tips on how you and your family can have both a safe and healthy holiday.

Hosting a party this year? Forgo the candy bucket and impress your guests with these spooky and healthy treats!

A quick Google search of “healthy Halloween treats” is sure to yield more than enough pictures and recipes to keep you busy! The trick is being able to tell what a healthy treat truly is. Look for recipes that use fresh fruits or vegetables, low fat dairy, whole grains, unsalted nuts/seeds, also recipes that limit added sugar and solid fats like butter or lard.

Some fun examples may include:w Fresh fruit or veggie tray shaped like a Jack-O-

Lantern or Frankenstein! Pair with a dip made from Greek yogurt, low fat cream cheese, pumpkin and spices (try spices like cinnamon or nutmeg for fruit dips and dill or parsley for the veggie dips).w Mandarin oranges, cheese sticks, bananas with

spooky faces.w Freshly popped popcorn mixed with unsalted

nuts.

w Homemade pumpkin seeds sprinkled with cinnamon or garlic (to ward off vampires!)w Smoothie with Greek yogurt,

vanilla, pumpkin, cinnamon.w Peanut butter stuffed celery with

raisin spiders.w Deviled eggs with chia seeds. w Homemade whole wheat pita chips

with pumpkin, hummus or veggie dip.w Fill your crockpot with a variety

of beans, lean meats like turkey or chicken and colorful veggies for soups, stews and chilis. Frozen veggies without seasonings or sauces can be great additions to soups/chili.w Experiment with in-season foods, such as

acorn/winter squash, pumpkin, pepitas/pumpkin seeds, or fresh cranberries.

Don’t forget games such as monster tag, bobbing for apples, pin the nose on the witch and of course, pumpkin carving!

If you plan to serve candy at your party or on Halloween, opt for bite-sized pieces instead of larger versions, or pass out nonfood items such as stickers/tattoos, pencils, erasers, spider rings/Halloween accessories, bubbles, glow sticks or even mini bottles of water!

Halloween is a good time to teach children about the importance of moderation. Let them choose a few pieces of candy to eat the night of, and then separate out the favorite candy to be saved and spread out over a period of time. Parents should always be sure to check the treats before letting the little ones dive in.

Have a happy, healthy and safe Halloween! The author is a registered dietitian with NorthBay Healthcare.

Halloween Treats Can Be Healthy

With absolutely gorgeous indoor pools, NorthBay Health-Spring Fitness has swim lessons year-round, and is offering a spe-cial deal for NorthBay Healthcare employees at its Vacaville facility. All NorthBay employees who are members of the fitness center will receive 10 percent discount

off the member rate for group weekday sessions beginning Oct. 30 and 31. NorthBay employees who are not members will be offered the classes at member rates.

The Monday-Wednesday class-es start Oct. 30 and run through Nov. 22.

The Tuesday-Thursday classes start Oct. 31 and run through Nov. 21. (Sorry, but Saturday lessons are not available at the discounted price.) Read more details about swim lessons at healthspringfitness.org/swim.

Want a private lesson? Email John Zdankus at John.Zdankus@NorthBay.org.

HealthSpring Offers Employees Special Rates on Swim Classes

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Talk of NorthBay Toastmas-ters Club returned to the win-ner’s circle earlier this month as club member Robin Miller took first place in the District 39, Division D humorous speech contest.

Robin is the social media and online specialist for NorthBay and won with a speech titled “Wonder Woman’s Got Nothin’ On Me!” The win means she will compete against the winners from the other eight divisions within the district at the organization’s fall conference, which is sched-uled for Nov. 10 and 11 in Lake Tahoe.

There’s only a few days left to swipe your ID badge on purchases in our café and gift shops to be entered into a contest for prizes.

Not only could you win, but it also helps reduce long lines and wait times at the checkout stands.

Badge-tober, a promotion for the month of October, has included weekly raffle prizes for employees who use their badge to make a purchase. Use your payroll deduction receipt as your ticket and just drop it in the raffle tub in the cafés. Winners will receive $10 credits for the cafés or gift shops. There is one winner at NorthBay Medical Center and one at VacaValley Hospital each week.

Participation in payroll deduc-tion requires you to fill out a sim-ple form. The forms are located in the café and Guild gift shops. Forms are also available for download from the ShareSpace home page. Just click forms and under finance, click on the Point of Service payroll deduction authorization form. Fill out the form, turn it in to the café or gift shop, and you’re done. Enjoy the convenience of not having to use cash or credit cards.

“A simple swipe is all it takes to make a payment. No one digs for change,” said NorthBay Nutri-tion Services Director Kathleen Shafer. “These quick payments translate to shorter lines, and in a fast-paced environment like healthcare, how long you spend standing in line matters.”

Don’t forgetTo Swipe forYour Meals

IT’S BADGETOBER!

More than 400 employees took advantage of NorthBay Health-care’s benefit fairs at Green Valley Administration Center and Vaca-Valley Hospital last week, meeting representatives from carriers for health, dental, vision, employee assistance, flexible spending, life insurance, retirement and supplemental benefit plans.

That means about 2,300 employees still need to complete their benefit elections by Nov. 17. An e-mail blast went out Oct. 23 with dates and times when computer labs will be open to employees. If you do not have any changes, you do not need to complete a new enrollment. The only exception is if you participate in the Flexible Spending Account.

All changes made by Nov. 17 take effect January 2018, other than those requiring underwriting (life insurance, critical illness, long-term disability.) After that, changes can only be made for employees who have an IRS-qualifying life event, such as birth, death, divorce or marriage. Questions? Call ext. 3313.

Hundreds Visit Benefit Fairs

Talk of NorthBaySpeaker WinsAnother Trophy

Robin Miller poses with District Director Zack Souza.

Human Resources staff facilitating at the Green Valley Administration Center Benefit Fair include (left to right) Teresa Williams, Diane Urbano and Mark Aguirre.

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The holidays can be a challenging time if you’ve lost a loved one during the year. NorthBay Hospice’s annual Tree of Memories — set for Saturday, Dec. 2, at 1 p.m. — offers people an opportunity to remember their friends and loved ones during a thoughtfully designed ceremony.

The two-hour ceremony will be held at NorthBay Healthcare’s Green Valley Administration Center, 4500 Business Center Drive in Fairfield, and it includes music and a reading of names, followed by light refreshments.

Before the ceremony begins, guests receive a free paper ornament to place on the evergreen tree in memory of their loved ones.

Tree of Memories will again pay a special tribute to Pearl Harbor veterans.

A slideshow of digital images of loved ones lost will be shared at the event. Anyone wishing to submit a photograph of a loved one is asked to send it to bereavement@NorthBay.org by Nov. 29.

A special butterfly ornament, suspended within a 24K gold-plated spiral, with two Austrian

teal crystals on each wing, will commemorate the 30-year anniversary of NorthBay Hospice & Bereavement. The requested donation for the ornament is $30, or $1 for each year of service Hospice has been provided to Solano County residents.

Ornaments can be ordered in advance by contacting Tim Johnson in the NorthBay Healthcare Foundation, at (707) 646-3132, or at txjohnson@NorthBay.org. Orders should be placed by Nov. 25. All proceeds from the donations are used to help fund the NorthBay Hospice & Bereavement Program.

For more information, contact NorthBay Hospice & Bereavement at (707) 646-3517.

Adopt...(From Page 1)

Special Tree of MemoriesOrnament

classroom at the two schools is “adopted” by NorthBay to fulfill as much on the teachers’ wish lists as possible.

The new principals and some new teachers at both schools have heard about what NorthBay does at their school and they are very much looking forward to NorthBay’s arrival.

Adopt a School organizers Syl-via Spanos and Stacy Andersen are compiling the classroom wish lists from both schools. Wish list items usually include everything from paper and pencils to books, games and playground balls. Classroom party popular items are pizza parties, cookies, cup-cakes, and even small gifts for the children and teachers.

The wish lists will be posted online sometime this week. The “GO LIVE” date will be announced a few days prior by email.

Be on the look-out for Sylvia Spanos’ email. Once the wish lists “go live” an employee repre-sentative from each department can review the lists and match a classroom to their department. Remember, small departments can team up with other small departments.

A special butterfly ornament, suspended within a 24 karat plated spiral features two Austrial teal crystals on each wing.

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This year, Employee Health is bringing flu shots directly to you. For NorthBay Healthcare employees, obtaining a flu shot or signing a waiver by Oct. 31 is a condition of employment. Those who decline the vaccine will be required to wear a mask in patient care areas during flu season — Nov. 1 through March 31.

Employee Health strives to be “paper free” this year, with all vaccination forms available electronically. The declination form is also electronic and can be signed during rolling rounds. Those who receive their flu vaccination elsewhere are asked to scan their proof and email it to Employee Health.

If you miss the opportunity to be vaccinated at work, you are

Rolling Flu Clinics Cometo Employees Wednesday, Oct. 25

7:30 to 11:30 a.m. 12:30 to 4 p.m.

NorthBay Health Plaza

Thursday, Oct. 267:30 to 11:30 a.m.

12:30 to 4 p.m. NorthBay Health Plaza

Monday, Oct. 30Skills Fair, GVAC

Tuesday, Oct. 31Skills Fair, GVAC

FLU CLINICSCHEDULE

Flu Icon

Many Champions Promote Blood Drive

Physicians JoinFlu CampaignA campaign to promote flu

shots for NorthBay Healthcare’s younger patients has launched on the NorthBay.org website.

The effort, which coincides with NorthBay Healthcare’s “Eyes on 2020” Strategic Plan, includes video messages from some of our doctors as well as patients who have learned the importance of yearly influenza vaccinations. Featured physicians include Shanaz Khambatta, D.O.; Grego-ry Warner, M.D.; Jessica Powers, M.D.; and Rachel Villalon, M.D.

Influenza is a serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. We want to help our patients do all they can to make sure their fam-ily stays healthy and flu vaccina-tion is one of the best ways to do that.

You can view the page and videos online at www.NorthBay.org/flushot.

welcome to come to Employee Health between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Information about flu and a complete vaccination clinic calendar can be found on ShareSpace.

Go to Quick Links and scroll down to “Flu Clinic.”

Although NorthBay Health-Spring Fitness member Suzanne Clark has stepped forward to be the champion of NorthBay Healthcare’s Nov. 3 blood drive, she is not alone. A full team of champions are encouraging would-be donors to sign up in ad-vance, in order to have a smooth donation process on Nov. 3.

Suzanne regained strength at HealthSpring Fitness after an ordeal with Guillain-Barre syn-drome literally knocked her off her feet. To recover, she needed five treatments of a special blood product, and each one required 1,000 units to produce. That has inspired her need to give back. She is a member of Soroptimist

International of Vacaville, and her club is co-sponsoring the event, along with NorthBay Healthcare and HealthSpring Fitness.

Other champions include:Leticia “Lulu” DeGracia, a

certified phlebotomy tech, had a similar experience. Her daughter was diagnosed with Kawasaki Syndrome and she too needed the special blood product.

Elizabeth Gladney, R.N., Stroke Program manager, whose son was also diagnosed with Ka-wasaki disease and needed many units of blood to produce the treatment that saved his life.

Katie Lydon, R.N., director for Womens and Children’s Ser-vices, was part of the team that

delivered unit after unit of blood as a young mother nearly bled out during a harrowing delivery.

Jennifer Veler, R.N., has been a regular donor since she joined the Air Force in 1992, and a consistent champion of North-Bay’s blood drives.

The drive will begin at 9 a.m. and runs through 4 p.m. in the conference facility on the first floor of the VacaValley Wellness Center.

Donors are encouraged to book an appointment in advance online, and thus save themselves from having to wait. Visit www.bloodsource.org/drives and enter location code H101. Walk-ins will also be welcome.

12

Design aPoster

for WorldDiabetes Day

NorthBay Center for Diabetes & Endocrinology is calling on all creative NorthBay Healthcare employees to participate in its first-ever World Diabetes Day Poster Contest.

World Diabetes Day is a global awareness event led by the International Diabetes Federation, and is held on Nov. 14 every year. Each year focuses on a different theme related to diabetes, a largely preventable and treatable non-communiable disease that is rapidly increasing in numbers worldwide. Solano County ranks 12th in the state for residents who have been diagnosed with the disease.

This year’s theme is, “Women and Diabetes — Our Right to a Healthy Future.”

The campaign will promote the importance of affordable and equitable access for all women at risk for or living with diabetes. Campaign materials and ideas can be found on www.idf.org.

Please submit your posters to the Center for Diabetes & Endocrinology by Nov. 10.

The first prize winner will be announced on Monday, Nov. 13. Lunch and drinks will be provided courtesy of Diggers Deli and Jamba Juice.

The winning poster will be showcased during our World Diabetes Day celebration from noon to 3 p.m. in the VacaValley Hospital conference room on Nov. 14. There will be risks assessments, a game wheel and information provided.

And Justice for All ...NorthBay Healthcare’s team of

Tammy Stogner, patient education coordinator for the Center for

Diabetes & Endocrinology, (above, left to right) Centers for Disease

Control Intern Kiersten Reid, Trauma Prevention Outreach

Coordinator Brenna Benjamin and Public Affairs Executive Assistant

Stacy Andersen, teamed up to host a NorthBay booth at the Solano Family Justice Center

Health Fair Oct. 7 in downtown Fairfield. Tammy shared information

on diabetes while Kiersten and Brenna spun the wheel and invited children to answer questions about

how to be safe. The event was in partnership with the Solano County

District Attorney’s Office and Solano County Health and Social Services.

Michelle Saldana, physical therapy assistant at NorthBay Healthcare, will discuss activities and exercise for patients with cardiac and pulmonary limitations when the NorthBay Cardiac Edu-cation Series offers its quarterly presentation in October.

The presentation will be at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 26,

Cardiac Lecture on Tap Oct. 26at the VacaValley Health Plaza, 1010 Nut Tree Road, Suite 290 in Vacaville.

Lectures geared toward help-ing cardiac patients and their caregivers are scheduled on the fourth Thursday of the month in April, July, January and October.

Lectures are free, but guests are asked to register by calling (707) 646-5072.

13

Between wildfires and questions on legal issues, it took a little longer than usual for NorthBay Healthcare’s Public Affairs team to post our Fall Open Staff Report.

It’s now online on My NorthBay, your employee portal. You’ll find a short video presentation by President and CEO Konard Jones, as well as questions and answers shared during the meetings, which took place in September and October at all four of our NorthBay Healthcare campuses.

Open Staff finallyPosted on Portal

Vaca ChristianStudents Visit

NorthBay

Donna Dabeck (left), manager of nurse recruitment and rentention, led a class of juniors and seniors from Vacaville Christian High School and teacher David Kuch on a tour of NorthBay Medical Center.

Environmental Services Aid Eric Blankenship (at left) prepares a bed in Unit 1800 South. Opening Day came on Friday, Oct. 20.

Unit 1800 South Opens for AdmissionsOn Friday, Oct. 20, NorthBay

Medical Center reopened Unit 1800 South for admissions, officially concluding the end of Phase 3 for acute care refurbishments, according to Rhonda Martin, assistant vice president of nursing operations.

“The entire project has been nothing less than a demonstra-tion of collaboration among many individuals and departments,” said Rhonda “We did have to extend our completion goal by 14 days but do realize, we have un-dergone two inspections by The Joint Commission and one natu-ral disaster since we embarked upon this phase. Through it all, we have continued to manage patient throughput and we now have patient-ready rooms on all three units in time for our seasonal uptick in census.”

Unit 1800 North opened sev-eral days earlier than planned, when concerns about wildfires in Northern California prompted organizers to expedite the pro-cess and ready 15 beds ahead

of schedule, opening the area to patients on Oct. 9.

The remaining rooms in Unit 1800 South opened less than two weeks later.

“I want to thank our colleagues in the Emergency Department for their patience during this refurbishment,” added Rhonda.

Construction crews will continue work in and around the acute care units as the main hallway that intersects all units still need some floor work.

Karina Perez, Pharmacy technician, checks out supplies in preparation for the opening of Unit 1800.

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PINK POWERat Pietro’s No. 1It was a packed house at Pietro’s No. 1 in

Vacaville Oct. 11 for the annual Passionately Pink for A Cure event.

Despite the ongoing battle against wildfires in Sonoma, Napa and Solano County, Vacaville firefighters turned out in force to serve pizza and raise funds for the NorthBay Cancer Center.

“This year brings on a whole new meaning be-cause of the last couple of days experiencing the devastation with the local fires,” noted Matt Moreno, president of the Vacaville Firefighters Association. “There was a question of whether we were going to the event or not, however there are a few of us who just got off the line and wanted to come out and make an impact … and something like this really brings the community together and is a good positive distraction from everything else that is going on. It’s a way for everyone to come together and see some good in the world … to have a relaxing evening and let us serve you pizza for a great cause.”

The tally for the night is still being calculated but Teresa Langley, assistant vice president of oncology

and neuroscience services, said the effort means a great deal to the cancer center.

“The NorthBay Cancer Center is most grateful for the firefighters who took the time to remember our patients during a most difficult and tiresome time for them and their families,” she said, adding heartfelt thanks for their ongoing work in the disaster areas.

NorthBay Healthcare will present “Using Your Genes to Fight Cancer,” featuring Mayo Clinic Oncologist Alan H. Bryce, M.D., and NorthBay Cancer Center Oncologist James Long, M.D., from noon to 1:30 p.m.

Nov. 2 at the Green Valley Administration Center.

Your genetic blueprint offers clues that lead to better diagnoses, earlier intervention and custom treatment plans and this luncheon event will feature

experts who can explain how the new field of precision medicine is transforming the future of health care.

Cost is $15. Sign up at https://northbayprecision.eventbrite.com or call 646-3280.

Using Genes to Fight Cancer Will Be Topic of Nov. 2 Lecture

Vacaville fireman Nick Lehmann poses with Cody Bassey, who was passing the boot for donations.

Firefight-ers (far left) handed out pink carnations to women who attended the Passionately Pink for A Cure event. North-Bay Healthcare Foundation President Brett Johnson (left) had a hug and smiles for Public Rela-tions Specialist Sally Wyatt at the event.

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ED Team Moves Into Expanded Area

Without much fanfare, NorthBay Medical Center’s Emergency Department began taking its first patients into its freshly painted, expanded space Wednesday, Oct. 18, not long after a state inspector gave the final thumbs up.

By 7 a.m. Thursday, the Patient Access and triage teams had moved in, making it business as usual in its new quarters, according to Sandy Piedra, director of Emergency Services.

At that point, the old ED lobby, entrance, patient check-in, rapid treatment area, triage and three patient rooms were closed so Phase II can begin.

The new space allows the ED to adopt a new process, thereby having ambulatory patients seen in more traditional exam rooms, saving actual hospital beds for the really sick patients, explained Sandy.

A corridor west of the entrance is a waiting area for the ambulatory patients once they’ve been seen by a physician.

“Sometimes they’re waiting on lab results, and they need a place to wait,” said Sandy.

The expansion adds eight new patient rooms, as well as a triage area big enough to handle two patients at a time.

“Everything’s running smoothly so far,” said Sandy. “We’re finding little things we want to fine-tune, but that’s not a surprise. The construction crew has done a fabulous job creating a bright and healing environment for us and our patients. We are so pleased to be able to occupy

this beautiful, new, expanded space.”

For those who need to enter the department to assist in patient care, two back entrances can still be accessed with a badge.

There is also an entrance just past the Welcome Pavilion into the main ED waiting area. Visitors can enter that way, or they can come directly into the ED by using the previous hospital entrance, on the south side of the building.

“I want to thank hospital leadership for their support,” said Sandy, also giving a shout out to

the construction team, as well as staff in Engineering and Biomed, IT, Environmetal Services, Quality and more.

Project Adds EightPatient Rooms,

Triage and More

Chris McConnell, R.N., takes down a construction sign on the entrance to the new ED area.

The new waiting area for the Emergency Deptment (above) gleams bright and fresh, just an hour before the first pateints were allowed to enter. Although most rooms have walls and doors, two of the areas are separated with curtains, allowing for flexibility.

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