To share your accomplishments on the Transformation site on the portals, justclick on the Send Your Story link at the top of the page.

Transformation

Talking to our neighborsthrough social media 2

Clinical News

CPOE rolls out atChristiana Hospital 7

Oncology nurse Burbagewins national honors 8

General News

Upcoming Events 10

VNA teams with Walgreens 14

April dedicated to Healthy Delawareans 16

F O C U S

Clinical services usually come tomind when we think about the

care our patients receive. However,every encounter patients and visitorsexperience—from the time they call orarrive at our facilities until they leave—influences the likelihood they willrecommend Christiana Care to others.No matter how small, every employ-ee's contributions count.

Here are some everyday tips to con-sider for enhancing the experiences ofour patients and visitors:

n Say hello to create a welcomeenvironment.

n Help visitors find their way.

n Pick up trash to keep our environment clean and safe.

While not everyone has direct contactwith patients, we all affect the work ofothers and can support or influenceexcellence in patient care.

Think about it. When a surgical teamreceives complete or accurate instru-ment sets in the OR, procedures can

start on time. Meals delivered with adrink, eating utensils and condimentscan be consumed immediately andwith satisfaction. Pleasant telephoneconversations with our colleagues,patients and visitors have a positiveemotional effect on those who hear it.

Employees throughout the systemsurely can contribute many moreideas. It takes all of us workingtogether to take care of our neighborsand deliver the best care.

Why not share your accomplishments?Many departments and nursing unitsare implementing transformationalchanges, even seemingly small ones—from reducing the length of forms tolimit print costs, to ordering suppliesin bulk or devising simple ways tomake the patient experience moreenjoyable.

Whether your achievement, large orsmall, improves patient satisfaction,contributes to our financial success orpromotes quality and safety, we wantto hear about it.

Teamwork and service excellencehelp transform patient satisfaction

2 ● F O C U S A p r i l 8 , 2 0 1 0

On our Flickr site, users can find photos theyneed and perusers can browse through photos ofChristiana Care Health System life and times.

T R A N S F O R M A T I O N

Social media strategy: Put your voice where the people are

More than 175 million peo-ple use Facebook. Last

month, more than 23 million peo-ple downloaded a podcast.YouTube users view a millionvideos every day. And up to 80percent of Americans turn to theInternet to find health informa-tion.

As the number of social mediausers grows, Christiana Care iswell positioned with a coordinated,flexible strategy.

“The fundamental concept of com-municating online is that you needto put your voice where the peo-ple are,” says Shane Hoffman,Web services project manager forChristiana Care. “People’s livesare filled with their own routine,surfing sites they’re comfortablewith, creating their own channels

Social media networks like Facebook help neigh-bors easily find Christiana Care news,health tips,podcasts, presentations, physician blogs, eventsand online discussions. Twitter, another networkwith a different, staccato approach to online socialmedia, lets members “follow” each other.Christiana Care surpassed the 1,000-follower markon Twitter in February.

of information. So that means puttingour information where they are.”

Looking for mainstream audienceChristiana Care looks for sites thathave a mainstream audience and pro-vide tools for communicating withaudiences in a variety of ways,Hoffman says.

“YouTube gives us the ability to show-case our videos. iTunes allows users todownload our women’s health pod-casts and listen while they’re jogging.Flickr® is a place where people look-ing for photos can find them, but alsowhere people who aren’t looking canstumble across them, includingreporters and editors.”

Christiana Care was among a smallnumber of hospitals doing socialmedia when it got involved about ayear ago.

“As a health system, we’ve been onthe leading edge of using socialmedia,” Hoffman says.

In just a year, Christiana Care hasmore than a thousand followers onTwitter. But large numbers of follow-ers or comments isn’t ChristianaCare’s goal.

“We’ve learned over the past year that

there are almost as many social mediaexperts in the world as people usingsocial media. It’s all just communica-tion, and each one of these sites is atool,” Hoffman says. “We’re glad we

have a thousand Twitter fol-lowers, but that’s not thegoal. Our goal is to pro-vide good informationthat helps people.”

Christiana Care’sFacebook page sharesnews, health tips, pod-casts, presentations,access to physician blogsand invitations to events;sometimes, friends willstart an online discussionabout a post. IssuuTM, aless-common site, lets

users read, download and printChristiana Care publications. Twitteroffers such tips as how to soothe a cry-ing baby and when to seek help forchronic headaches.

Systemwide effortAs part of External Affairs, the WebServices team—Hoffman, Matt McCoy,graphics manager, and Director ScottMash—works closely with other areasof the health system to provide qualityinformation for all its social mediaefforts.

“Before we had our online presence, itrequired a lot of planning. We’ve beensuccessful in setting the stage for thefuture in our ability to integrate allthese tools and use each one for itsbest potential,” Hoffman says.

G O T A ‘ S O C I A L M E D I A ’ I D E A ?

If you are interested in or have an idea about howwe might use Christiana Care’s social media pres-ence to reach your patients or audience, please

contact Scott Mash at 302-327-3313.

And remember to follow us on Facebook, Twitter,Flickr, iTunes, YouTube and Issuu!

T R A N S F O R M A T I O N

Tricia Strusowski,MS, RN, director

of Cancer CareManagement, will bepart of a specialTechnical ExpertPanel appointed bythe National CancerInstitute (NCI) andthe Agency forHealthcare Researchand Quality (AHRQ)to develop a surveyof cancer patients

gauging their cancer care experience.

The NCI and AHRQ are forming thepanel to help ensure the survey andassociated materials will meet the

Tricia Strusowski

needs of cancer patients, careproviders and other users.

Panel members will be asked toreview and provide feedback duringtwo Webinars in May and on a varietyof other issues and topics as-neededvia e-mail.

“This is an expert panel put togetherby the National Cancer Institute, and Ican’t think of a better expert thanTricia Strusowski when it comes toestablishing the multidisciplinary careof the cancer patient,” says NicholasPetrelli, Bank of America endowedmedical director of the Helen F.Graham Cancer Center.

Strusowski advises agencies developing national satisfaction survey for cancer patients

Cancer patients now have a placeto exercise and receive rehabilita-

tion therapy at the Helen F. GrahamCancer Center with the opening of aSpecialty Rehabilitation Inc. (SRI)facility in March.

First in Delaware to offer specializedphysical and occupational therapy forpatients living with cancer, SRI pro-vides services for rehabilitation frommastectomy, gynecological, prostate,head and neck and colorectal cancers.Therapy is also available to addressdebilitation and fatigue and toimprove peripheral neuropathyresulting from chemotherapy.

For more information or to make areferral, call 302-709-3411 or visitwww.specialtyrehabilitation.com.

When Maryann Zucker of NewYork City began looking into

clinical research to help address arecurrence of lung cancer, her doctortold her about a clinical trial based inIndiana of a new drug that inhibitstumor growth.

With just a little digging online,Zucker and her son found an opportu-nity to enroll in the same trial substan-tially closer to home: The Helen F.Graham Cancer Center.

She enrolled in the Phase 1 trial and todate has taken the first roundof doses of amrubicin, ananthracycline, which doctorssay fights cancer by breakingapart DNA strands in thetumor cell. The trial is todetermine the maximum

Cancer patient commutes from Brooklyn for ‘terrific’ careamount of Ambrucin that a patient cantolerate.

The people at Christina Care are terrif-ic,” Zucker says. “If I had a choice ofanyplace just as close, hands down itwould be Christiana.

“I’m thrilled with my treatment athome too, but being an outsider inDelaware, I was welcomed and treatedwith so much enthusiasm it made mefeel like I was at home. Delaware islucky to have a place like Helen F.Graham Cancer Center,” she says.

Cancer Research Coordinator KathleenCombs, RN, says courageous patientslike Zucker deserve all the credit."These patients are pioneers in theirwillingness to try new drugs andshare their experiences with investiga-tors," says Combs.

Maryann Zucker ofBrooklyn, NY, (center)chose Christiana Care forclose-to-home conveniencebut she says the care andservices were ‘’terrific.”

4 ● F O C U S A p r i l 8 , 2 0 1 0

With Pearson’s assis-tance, Mrs. Lu wasable to get the surgeryshe needed. In earlyJanuary, she had thecataract removed fromher left eye at RoxanaCannon ArshtSurgicenter by oph-thalmologists from theeye clinic atChristiana Care’sWilmington campus.

Mrs. Lu also suffersfrom glaucoma, andthe ophthalmologistswere able to help withthat, too. Althoughshe had had glauco-ma surgery yearsbefore in China, thedrainage site in herleft eye had scarredover.

While they were performing the cataract surgery,attending physician Julianne Lin, M.D., and third-year resident Keith Mathers, M.D., also attemptedto improve the function of the drainage site.

‘they treat patients with kindness and respect’Mrs. Lu was delighted with her improved vision,and the care she received. “All the staff and doc-tors are very caring, and they treat patients withkindness and respect,” Wang says.

“The eye clinic really benefits everyone involved,”Dr. Lin says. “The residents learn to become bettersurgeons, the attending physicians grow as pro-fessionals, and patients like Mrs. Lu receive thecare they need.”

Like many older adults—an estimated 17 per-cent of the over-40 population in the U.S.—Zhi

Lu suffered from cataracts. In most cases, cataractscan be successfully removed surgically, but Mrs.Lu had dismissed the idea.

It was simply unaffordable, she told her family.She would have to do without it and accept thather vision would be poor.

Christiana Care Web site had the solutionBut her daughter-in-law, Lynn Wang, would notgive up, and while searching the Christiana CareWeb site she found a solution. She called SeniorServices and was put in touch with Tracy Pearson,one of four health coaches at Christiana Care’sCenter for Community Health, Wilmington Annex.

She determined that Lu and her husband,Shounian Cao, 79, were eligible for theCommunity Healthcare Access Program, orCHAP, which helps provide access to primarycare and other health services on a sliding feescale to uninsured people who meet incomerequirements.

Pearson also referred the couple to the DelawarePrescription Assistance Program and Delaware’sScreening for Life, a statewide, free cancer-screen-ing program.

“Tracy helped us so kindly,” Wang says. “Sheeven helped my in-laws find a geriatric specialist,Ina Li, M.D., who is taking good care of them andcommunicates with them in their native language,Mandarin Chinese.”

Health educators are a point of accessPearson and her fellow health educators serve asa point of access to usher people through a health-care system that can sometimes seem overwhelm-ingly complex. They help them to navigate lan-guage and literacy barriers and to locate afford-able health services. Pearson’s position is fundedby a federal government’s Health Resources andServices Administration Residency Training grantled by Lisa Maxwell, M.D., Family andCommunity Medicine Residency Educationprogram director.

Health coaches match patients with affordable care

Zhi Lu (right) with help from her daughter-in-law, Lynn Wang andHealth Coaches atChristiana Care’s Center for CommunityHealth at the Wilmington Annex, found aprogram to make treatment for cataractsaffordable.

T H I N K O F Y O U R S E L F A S A P A T I E N T

achieve professional growth. One new program supports our nurseswho wish to earn a BSN and/or MSNat the University of Delaware, whichoffers several nursing programs lead-ing to a bachelor’s or master’s degreein Nursing or a master’s degree inHealth Services Administration.We also offer full-time nurse managersa Nurse Manager Leadership Program.The new program specifically offersthe nurse manager an opportunity tocomplete their graduate degree(MS/MA) in conjunction with the sup-port of the Nurse Magnet initiative.SummaryChristiana Care has a comprehensiveTotal Rewards strategy, including:n Competitive base compensation. n Incentive compensation. n Pay supplements. n Benefits. n Employee safety. n Health and wellness programs. n Individual and group recognition. n Opportunities for development and

career growth. n Tuition assistance. n Other internal educational

programs. Our Work/Life Balance programsinclude:n Flexible staffing options. n On-site fitness centers. n Employee health services. n On-site child care center. n Convenience services. n Comprehensive paid time-off poli-cies.

Watch for the next systemwide update on Health & Wellness.

As part of Christiana Care’s com-mitment to being a Great Place to

Work, we offer competitive pay, gener-ous benefits, numerous learning andcareer development opportunities, anda variety of programs that supporthome and work/life balance.

Did you know that over the past twoyears, Christiana Care increased totalcash compensation nearly $38 milliondollars to maintain competitive paylevels and recognize and reward indi-vidual performance?

In 2009, we launched the newTransformation Rewards Program(TRP) to reward our collective effortsto make dramatic improvements inquality and safety, eliminate wasteand increase our overall financialstrength. Through TRP, eligibleemployees can receive systemwidecash awards of up to $1,200 when wereach specific financial and patient sat-isfaction results that help us transformhow we deliver care. The rewards pro-gram is one more way for all of us atChristiana Care to focus on transfor-mation and share in our collective suc-cess.Highlights of new and ongoing initia-tives and programs include: New benefits offeringsChristiana Care recently launched aprogram to help employees choosetheir auto, home, renters, pet andother insurance policies when buyingfrom the nation's leading carriers.Through the Christiana CareVoluntary Benefits Program, full-timeemployees can have premiums conve-niently handled through payrolldeduction, which helps reduce paper-work and save even more money.Encouraging healthy behaviorsChristiana Care wants to forge a part-nership for healthy living with you. To

do that, we must offer more than amenu of health coverage, income pro-tection and investment options. That’swhy we encourage employees to com-plete a Health Risk Assessment (HRA)and participate in a biometricscreening. The screening provides abaseline for your cholesterol levels,blood pressure, blood sugar, weightand other basic health indicators. Thescreening and your answers on theHRA questionnaire generate specifichealth-related information you can usein achieving your personal health goals.Tobacco cessation helpAs part of Christiana Care’s leadershiprole in addressing major communityhealth issues, we have amplifiedefforts to help employees and theirdependents quit using tobacco prod-ucts. In 2005, Christiana Care wentcompletely smoke-free both inside andoutside at all Christiana Care facilities.The next step in our journey is to helpemployees quit using tobacco prod-ucts by:n Offering free medication, nicotinepatches and counseling to employeesand their dependents. n Providing a medical premium dis-count of $15 per pay for employeesand their dependents who do not usetobacco, or who participate in a tobac-co cessation program offered throughChristiana Care. Christiana Care also promotes healthybehaviors by sponsoring programssuch as the 10-ton Challenge and theWalk with Spirit Challenge. More than1,300 Christiana Care employeesjoined the 10-week, 10-ton Challengeand collectively lost more than 5,000pounds, spurred on by weekly healthand wellness tips, quizzes and con-tests. More than 500 employees loggedtheir steps during the eight-week Walkwith Spirit Challenge. Enhanced tuition assistance programChristiana Care continually looks foropportunities to help employees in

6 ● F O C U S A p r i l 8 , 2 0 1 0

A G R E A T P L A C E T O W O R K

Total Rewards

Computerized Provider Order Entry now live at Christiana

Eight weeks after a successfullaunch at Wilmington Hospital,

Computerized Provider Order Entry(CPOE) is up and running smoothly atChristiana Hospital.

Although the launch at Christiana onMarch 23 was much larger in scale, itwas less complicated because many ofthe concerns had been worked out at

Wilmington, says Terri Steinberg,M.D., MBA, chief medical informationofficer.

“There were fewer systems issues—and a far higher level of confidence,”she says.

Two phases helped roll-outRolling out CPOE in twophases enabled Christiana tobenefit from the experiencegained at Wilmington, saysJames Newman, M.D., chiefmedical officer and patientsafety officer.

“Quite a few doctors hadbeen trained at theWilmington Hospital, andthey brought a level of com-fort and knowledge theycould share with their col-

Rodney Donham, M.D., of ChristianaMedical Group, reviews CPOE knowledgewith Lauren Kaiser, RN, on 5B.

Anna Taran,D.O., reviewssome CPOE processes withBonnyFolkestad onMarch 23 asCPOE goes liveat ChristianaHospital.

leagues,” he says. “The chairs ofdepartments and leaders of theMedical/Dental Staff were also veryvisible and engaged, and their pres-ence was calming.”

Dr. Steinberg and Dr. Newman notethat many physicians played an inte-gral role in helping to build the systemand that doctors will continue to pro-vide input to improve the design.

“It is tremendously impressive towitness the level of dedication andcooperation,” Dr. Steinberg says. “Thedoctors at Christiana Care are veryspecial people.”

A forest of technical support staffersclad in green vests was on hand toprovide launch-time guidance at bothhospitals.

Dramatic step forwrdCPOE is a dramatic step forward inimproving patient safety and healthcare efficiency. Because orders areentered electronically, the system elim-inates errors in deciphering doctors’handwriting. CPOE also reducesrepeat tests and improves turnaroundtimes for results. The technology pro-vides such conveniences as “smartmed” pick lists, with usual doses andmethods of delivery.

“Providers have come to accept thatCPOE is a reality—and a good thingfor patients,” Dr. Newman says.

Eppehimer came to Christiana Carefrom the George Washington (GW)University Hospital in Washington,D.C., where he was an associateadministrator with operational author-ity for a number of inpatient areas,including pharmacy, environmentalservices and physician relations.

Previously, he was the Director ofPhysician Relations at GW.

“Mike is a black belt in lean six sigmaand has had experience applying thisprocess to inpatient discharges,” saysVirginia U. Collier, M.D., FACP, HughR. Sharp Jr. Chair of the Department ofMedicine at Christiana Care HealthSystem. “This should be very helpfulas we work to improve the operationalefficiency of inpatient medicine units.”

Before joining GW, Eppehimer workedat the Advisory Board Company inWashington, D.C., where he helped to

Department of Medicine welcomes Mike Eppehimer

The Department of Medicine haswelcomed Michael Eppehimer as

vice president.

Michael Eppehimer

launch the Leadership Academy. Hehas a B.A. from the University ofMaryland and this spring complete hecompletes his Masters of HealthServices Administration from GW.

In his role as vice president,Eppehimer will work extensively onthe new Inpatient Medicine ServiceLine, according to Dr. Collier.“Although Mike’s main focus will beon improving the value we bring topatient care on inpatient medicineunits, he will be responsible for thedevelopment and operation of newprograms within the department. Hewill also work directly with me andVice Chair of Medicine RobertDressler, M.D., on interdepartmentalprograms and projects.”

Executive Assistant Dana Serfass isproviding administrative support. Toreach Eppehimer or Serfass, call 733-6383 or 6343, respectively.

fession at the local and regional levels, hermany performance improvement projectsthat have enhanced the quality of care ofpatients with breast cancer, and for being awell-respected leader and mentor.

"To have been selected to receive this awardnamed after a pioneer in the field of oncolo-gy nursing is an honor,” says Burbage. “It isa testament to the many talented nurses,physicians, managers and support staff whohave mentored me throughout my career aswell as the patients who allowed me intotheir lives.”

Burbage will receive the award on May 13in San Diego.

Darcy Burbage, RN, MSN, AOCN,CBCN, clinical nurse specialist at the

Christiana Care Breast Center at the HelenF. Graham Cancer Center, is the 2010 recipi-ent of the Pearl Moore Making a DifferenceAward from the Oncology Nursing Society(ONS).

ONS is a professional organization of 37,000registered nurses and other health care pro-fessionals committed to excellence in oncol-ogy nursing. The award is named for PearlMoore, a charter member of ONS whoserved as CEO for more than 25 years.

The award recognizes Burbage’s significantcontributions to the oncology nursing pro-

8 ● F O C U S A p r i l 8 , 2 0 1 0

Darcy Burbage receives top oncology nursing award

Darcy Burbage

The Delaware Academy of Medicine (DAM)honored Leslie Whitney, M.D. (left), with the2010 Lewis B. Flinn Presidents Award. Dr.Whitney retired from Christiana Care in 2000after more than 50 years’ service. He helpedbuild a state tumor registry and was part of a keynational initiative to have cancer designated as areportable disease. With Dr. Whitney above atthe annual DAM meeting is his son, ChristopherJ. Whitney, M.D., FACS.

Lanny Edelsohn, M.D. (right), received aplaque expressing appreciation for 23 yearsof service to Christiana Care as sectionchief of Neurology, presented by VirginiaU. Collier, M.D., Hugh R. Sharp Jr. Chair ofMedicine (left) at Medical Grand Roundson March 25.

Publishing, presentations, appointments, awards

Losses” recently published by GriefIllustrated Press of Omaha, Neb., isavailable to order online atwww.centering.org.

Presenting

Omar Khan, M.D., presented“Writers Without Borders” inFebruary as guest speaker at aLunch & Learn lecture series atWilmington Friends School.

Edwin L. Granite, D.M.D., pre-sented "Oral Manifestations ofSystemic Disease" to the DelawareNurses Association at the 2010RN/APN Healthcare UpdatesConference at WilmingtonUniversity in March.

Ogochukwu Okpala, M.D., MPH,associate director of theOB/GYN residency program,orally presented “A RandomizedTrial Of Two EducationalModalities In Ob/GynEducation: Podcasting VersusTraditional Reading,” at the 2010Annual APGO/ CREOG meet-ing in March.

Appointments

Omar Khan, M.D., has beenpromoted to clinical associateprofessor at Drexel Universityand appointed as a member ofthe board of directors of theDelaware Academy of Medicine.

Awards

Howard W. Zucker, D.D.S.,Director and Section Chief ofImplant Dentistry, received theTeacher of the Year Award in theDepartment of Oral andMaxillofacial Surgery and HospitalDentistry.dinner/ceremony onMay 16.

Publishing

An article titled “Learning AboutTeams by Participating in Teams,” byOmar Khan, M.D., et al., has beenaccepted for publication by AcademicMedicine.

Omar Khan, M.D., Javid Gilani,M.D., et al., published an article titled“No More Doritos And Lobster Tails:A Case Of Life-Threatening SublingualHematoma,” in the Delaware MedicalJournal 2009 July; 81(7):255-8.

Gabrielle Snyder-Marlow, DeniseTaylor, RD, and James Lenhard,M.D., pubished an article titled“Nutrition Care for PatientsUndergoing Laparoscopic SleeveGastrectomy for Weight Loss,” in theJournal of the American DieteticAssociation. 2010;110:600-607.

Lee Ann Riesenberg, Ph.D., RN,Jaime L. Massucci, M.D., JessicaLeitzsch, et al., published an articletitled “Residents’ and AttendingPhysicians’ Handoffs: A SystematicReview of the Literature,” in AcademicMedicine, Vol. 84, No. 12 / December2009

Maureen A. Seckel, RN, APN, CCRN,Carol Gray, FNP, Megan B. Farraj,Pharm.D., and Gerald O’Brien, M.D.,published an article titled“Undiagnosed Pulmonary ArterialHypertension at 33 Weeks’ Gestation:A Case Report,” in Critical Care Nurse,2010;30: 45-52

Nicholas J. Petrelli, M.D., publishedan article titled “A Community CancerCenter Program: Getting to the NextLevel” in the March Journal of theAmerican College of Surgeons.

A short story by Gail Sezna titled “MyBoys—A Mother's Story after Multiple

Medical Education Center, a comprehensiveone-day program covering important currentissues in infectious diseases, for all physicians,pharmacists and allied health professionals.Registration fee is $50/$75 at the door if seatsavailable; students and emeritus $25/$35 atthe door; residents/fellows admitted free butmust pre-register. Register via the portals.

The "Lucky 7" Evening in Monte Carlo,hosted by the Friends of the Helen F.Graham Cancer Center, Friday, May 14in the Gold Ballroom at the Hotel duPont, 11th and Market streets,Wilmington. Proceeds support the Centerfor Translational Cancer Research and theCancer Special Needs Fund at the HelenF. Graham Cancer Center. E-mail jgold-ston@christianacare.org for more informa-tion or to be added to the invitation list.

The 2010 Christiana Care DelawareMarathon Running Festival, Sunday,May 16, Tubman Garrett Riverfront Park,Wilmington, includes Delaware’s oldestand largest certified road-runningmarathon, half-marathon and a four-per-son team relay marathon. Volunteersneeded. See www.delawaremarathon.org. Aportion of the proceeds benefits theCenter for Heart & Vascular Health.

The annual George A. Zurkow GrandRounds lecture, this year give by Eric J.Dierks, M.D., D.M.D., FACS, is titled“The Evolution of Maxillo-MandibularReconstruction: From Creative BeardTrimming to Computer-Guided FreeFlaps.” Sponsored by Christiana CareHealth System at the John H. AmmonEducation Center. May 19, 6-8:30 p.m.(A lite dinner will be served at 6).Contact Cheryl Klecko, PhysicianRelations, 302-733-1961, or e-mailcklecko@christianacare.org.

Upcoming eventsTrauma Program hosts the 10thThinkFirst 5K and 1K Children’s FunRun on April 15 to support communityinjury prevention efforts. Register atwww.races2run.com.

COPD Lecture Series, April 20, 1:30-3:30 p.m. Topic: Pulmonary FunctionTesting. Christiana Hospital, Room1100. To register, call Debbie Wood733-2562.

The 13th Annual Medicine Ball, spon-sored by the Junior Board of ChristianaCare, on Friday, April 23, 7-11 p.m., atthe Wilmington Country Club. Proceedssupport scholarships and continuingeducation for nursing and allied healthprofessions at Christiana Care. E-mailjgoldston@christianacare.org for moreinformation or to be added to theinvitation list.

FundaMENTAL Health, BottomlineSense, a forum for discussing how toimplement health promotion programsand comprehensive behavioral healthservices at work to improve employees’health and a company’s bottom line,April 28, 7-9 p.m. at the John H.Ammon Medical Education Center,Christiana Hospital. Speakers includeRobert J. Laskowski, M.D., MBA, presi-dent and CEO, Christiana Care HealthSystem, Harold Rosen, M.D., chair ofthe Christiana Care Department ofPsychiatry, David Shern, Ph.D., presi-dent and CEO of Mental HealthAmerica, and Timothy J. Gardner, M.D.,medical director of Christiana Care’sCenter for Heart & Vascular Health andpast president of the American HeartAssociation. To register contact RobertaFishgold by e-mail atRFishgold@mhainde.org or call 302-654-6833.

Delaware Ovarian Cancer Foundation'sTEAL Ribbon 5 K Run/Walk to FightOvarian Cancer, sponsored by theHelen F. Graham Cancer Center will beSunday, May 2 at Dravo Plaza on theWilmington Riverfront. Registrationbegins at 7:45 a.m. with the run/walkstarting at 9:30. The event will raiseawareness and provide education aboutovarian cancer. For more informationcontact Nora Katurakes at 623-4628 ornkaturakes@christianacare.org. Registeronline for the race at www.races2run.com.

Free skin cancer education awarenessand screening for qualified participants

on Monday, May 10, Tuesday, May 11and Monday, May 17, sponsored byChristiana Care’s Community HealthOutreach & Education Program and theDelaware chapter of the AmericanAcademy of Dermatology, each dayfrom 5:30-7:45 p.m. at the Helen F.Graham Cancer Center.

To qualify for a screening, the followingmust apply:

n You have not attended a free skincancer screening before.

n You have never had a skin cancerscreening by a physician or dermatologist.

n You do not have health insurance.

n You have a family history of skincancer, or you have a sore that won’theal.

Each educational session is the sameand includes information on conduct-ing a self exam, risk factors for skincancer and how to protect yourself andyour family. Register to attend one of theevents by calling 302-623-CARE (2273).

The 47th Annual William J. HollowayInfectious Disease Symposium, May 11,7:30 a.m.-4 p.m., at the John H. Ammon

1 0 ● F O C U S A p r i l 8 , 2 0 1 0

Secondhand smoke can lead to heartdisease and lung cancer.

Living with a smoker increases a non-smoker’s risk of lung cancer by up to30 percent, according to the SurgeonGeneral. Each year, more than 3,000Americans die of cancer related to sec-ondhand smoke. In addition, it is acontributing factor in about 46,000deaths from heart disease annually.

Secondhand smoke—that is, emissionsfrom burning cigarettes and exhaledsmoke—also is known as involuntarysmoking or passive smoking. That isbecause nonsmokers who inhale otherpeople’s smoke take in nicotine andother toxic chemicals just as smokersdo, without taking a single puff.

The good news is that some smokersthink of the well-being of others as anincentive to kick the habit. They wantto quit because it is good for theirloved ones, as well as themselves.

Some neighbors especially vulnerableThat makes sense. Children, pregnantwomen, old folks and people withheart and respiratory problems areespecially vulnerable to chemicalsfrom tobacco.

Babies exposed to secondhand smokehave increased odds of Sudden InfantDeath Syndrome, or SIDS. Kids whogrow up with smokers have more earinfections and colds. They developbronchitis, pneumonia and severeasthma more often than children wholive in smoke-free environments.

Adults are more likely to suffer fromeye and nasal irritations, as well assuch serious conditions as emphysema.

Women who smoke are at greater riskof having low birth-weight babies—and so are women who do not smokebut are exposed to second-handsmoke.

In Delaware, smoking has beenbanned in the workplace and in publicspaces. Still, the American CancerSociety estimates that at least 35 per-cent of children in the United Statesgrow up in homes where a parent orregular visitor smokes. Hazardous lev-els of smoke also build up quickly incars.

No safe level of secondhand smokeThe fact is, there is no safe level ofsecondhand smoke, according to theU.S. Environmental Protection Agency.But there is abundant help in creatinga smoke-free environment. As part ofChristiana Care’s commitment to cre-ating a tobacco-free workforce,employees who want to quit smokingcan receive free medications, face-to-face counseling and other support.

To learn more, contact EmployeeHealth at 302-428-2285 at theWilmington campus or 302-733-1512on the Christiana campus. Delawarealso offers the toll-free Quitline. Thenumber is 866-409-1858.

C A R I N G F O R Y O U R S E L F

Second-hand fumespose health riskfor nonsmokers

Learn aboutheart and

vascular health

porting departments with paper or electronic diamondswhen they are doing quality work.

n Discuss accomplishments and goals at your next meetingwith your manager. If routine meetings are not scheduled,follow up with your manager to schedule a progress meet-ing.

n Look for opportunities to stretch, grow and get involved,such as performance improvement initiatives or problem-solving projects. Ask to participate!

n Keep channels of communication open. Be willing toshare constructive feedback, as well as receive feedback,regarding performance opportunities.

n Solicit feedback from mentors, staff, physicians, etc., toidentify opportunities to support your development.

“This last year, I have had the opportunity at work to learnand grow”

Learning is not limited to the classroom; in fact, most learn-ing occurs outside formal settings. Look for special projects,assignments or activities that will develop your ability totackle newtasks. Talk to your manager about your careergoals and develop a plan for acquiring the knowledge nec-essary for attainment of these goals.

What can you do?

n Take advantage of the tuition assistance program.

n Read! Research a topic that interests you and share yourfindings at your next staff meeting.

n Take advantage of a training program or seminar. Whenyou return to the workplace, look for opportunities to applyyour new skills or knowledge as soon as you can—this iswhere the real learning takes place!

n Teach a new staff member how to do a task; ask moresenior staff members to show you how to do somethingthey do really well. Volunteer to help orient new employees!

n Join an association dedicated to supporting the growthand development of your profession.

n Look for opportunities to improve your department as aplace to work and volunteer to help implement your ideas.

n Submit a performance improvement project as part ofChristiana Care’s Annual Performance ImprovementAwards.

As we continue our journey of making Christiana Care aGreat Place to Work, consider how you would respond to the

following employee engagement statements from our survey:

“I have a best friend at work”

The best work environment is one where teams and teammembers support and trust one another. This statementmeans that you have someone at work that you trust andcan talk with when you need a friend. Individuals whoestablish genuine friendships know that co-workers will“pull them out of the weeds” in difficult work situations.Teams that have genuine trust are more productive, result-ing in high levels of service to our patients.

What can you do?

n Be positive and supportive of your co-workers.

Identify commonalities with your team members (e.g., hob-bies, clubs).

n Offer to help a co-worker with a challenging project ortask.

n Start a book club or a car pool.

n Invite new co-workers to lunch and try not to excludeanyone at meal times.

n Ask a co-worker to be a fitness partner and take advan-tage of Christiana Care’s wellness trails or fitness centers.

n Congratulate your co-workers on accomplishments andachievements.

“In the last six months, someone at work has talked to meabout my progress”

We all need feedback to know how far we have come and totrack our progress. It is important to identify signs ofprogress and growth, no matter how small. We can supportour co-workers by recognizing accomplishments and pro-viding encouragement to reach goals, both professional andpersonal.

What can you do?

n Set goals for yourself, both personal and professional.

n Use the electronic performance management journal torecord your accomplishments, as well as your challenges,and to identify learning opportunities and celebrate successes.

n Recognize co-workers within your department and sup-

E M P L O Y E E E N G A G E M E N T

Q 10: Best Friend at Work. Q 11: My progress. Q 12: Opportunity to Learn and Grow

1 2 ● F O C U S A p r i l 8 , 2 0 1 0

(From left) first row, Christiana Care President and CEO Robert J. Laskwoski,M.D., Deborah Tuttle, M.D., neonatologist, Fern Butler, RN, Christiana CareNICU, Les Dukart, Ronald McDonald House Charities Philadelphia region, PamCornforth, director of Ronald McDonald House of Delaware, Michael Waite,president board of directors, Ronald McDonald House of Delaware. Second row,Chip Davis, vice president, Corporate External Relations for AstraZeneca, TyroneJones, AstraZeneca, Linda Bakomenko, Christiana Care Design Services, Mrs.Barbara Dukart, board member, Ronald McDonald House of Delaware.

New Behavioral Health Center opens house to neighbors

The newly renamed Center forComprehensive Behavioral

Health’s new home enhances outpa-tient psychiatry services by consolidat-ing care in a single setting.

Formerly on several floors inWilmington Hospital, the center nowcombines outpatient services in a10,000-square-foot space at 201 W.14th St., in a building near HerculesPlaza previously occupied by BlueCross Blue Shield of Delaware.

Draws clinicians closer together“This allows our clinicians to worktogether more closely, improves com-munication and allows patients toshift levels of care without the need tomove to a new location or work with anew group of staff,” says HaroldRosen, M.D., chair, Department ofPsychiatry. “We believe this willimprove continuity of care anddecrease the risks associated with thetransfer of care between clinicians.”

Helps improve tracking outcomesConsolidation also will help the centertrack outcomes, with the goal ofreducing the cost of care across anepisode of illness.

The move includes adult services aswell as the Herman Rosenblum Child& Adolescent Center, which servespeople ages 13-18.

“With the new center, we believe theDepartment of Psychiatry is best posi-tioned to offer adult psychiatric andbehavioral health care across the con-tinuum, from emergency servicesthrough inpatient, outpatient andadvanced procedural interventions,”Dr. Rosen says.

The newly redesigned Ronald McDonald Family Room at ChristianaHospital's NICU celebrated with an official ribbon cutting March 31.

The facility provides patients' families more comfort and privacy.

Jim Lafferty, executivedirector of the MentalHealth Association inDelaware (seated) gets abriefing from PsychiatryDepartment ChairHarold Rosen, M.D., onthe latest treatment forsevere depression,Transcranial MagneticStimulation therapy,now available at theCenter for ComprehensiveBehavioral Health.

Ronald McDonald gift comforts visitors

Christiana Care Visiting NurseAssociation (VNA) nurses are

constantly concerned about patientstaking their medications correctly. Soare the pharmacists who fill those pre-scriptions.

When local Walgreens pharmaciesapproached our VNA about sharinginformation and partnering to findways to keep patients safer, VNA rec-ognized a good idea for improvingcommunity health, especially amongthe elderly.

VNA nurses and community-basedpharmacists are forming a powerfulalliance to transform home health caredelivery through medication reconcili-ation, education and dialogue. Soon,they also will join with the Vial of Life,a national project that engages emer-gency medical technicians (EMTs) asyet another partner interested in shar-ing and benefitting from accuratemedication information for homehealth care patients.

The program ensures that a homehealth care patient’s medical informa-tion is stored on the patient’s refriger-ator door and that a magnetic decal onthe alerts EMTs to it.

As part of the National Nurses Week cele-bration in May, Christiana Care’s

Professional Nurse Council (PNC) hasengaged Liz Jazwiec (jazz-wick), a nationallyrecognized speaker specializing in improvingcustomer and employee satisfaction.

Jazwiec’s health care background includes 25years as a registered nurse and managementpositions that include vice president of patientcare and director of emergency services.

Jazwiec gives organizations that “shot in thearm” needed to move beyond self-imposedlimits and toward the commitment and actionnecessary to transform the culture of service.She will appear May 6 from 2-3 p.m. in theJohn H. Ammon Medical Education Centermain auditorium. All are invited. Please regis-ter through the portals, Education Center.

Liz Jazwiec to sharerecipe for transformingculture of service

Nationally knownspeaker, customer- andemployee-satisfactionexpert Liz Jazwieckicks off Nurses WeekMay 6 at the John H.Ammon MedicalEducation Center.

VNA nurses, Walgreens allyfor patients’ safety

VNA nurses and community-based pharmacists focus on dia-log to improve patient safety.

1 4 ● F O C U S A p r i l 8 , 2 0 1 0

It’s Magnetic!“Forces of Magnetism”

Force 14: Professional Development

Christiana Care values and supports the personal and professional growth and development of staff, with emphasis on career development services. Programs promote leadership/management development as well as formal education,

professional certification and competency-based clinical training.

Force 10: Community and the Healthcare Organization

Relationships established within and among Christiana Care and all types of health care organizations and other community organizations help developstrong partnerships that support improved client outcomes and the health of the communities they serve.

The ChristianaCare Center

for ReproductiveHealth and theChristiana CareDepartment ofObstetrics and Gynecologyis pleased toannounce DavidGrimes, M.D.,FACOG, FACPM,will presentOB/Gyn GrandRounds April 28.

Dr. Grimes is vice president ofBiomedical Affairs at Family HealthInternational and clinical professor inthe Department of Obstetrics andGynecology at the University ofNorth Carolina School of Medicine.

He is board certified in OB/Gyn andPreventive Medicine. He has taughtat the medical schools of EmoryUniversity, the University ofSouthern California, University ofCalifornia-San Francisco, and theUniversity of North Carolina.

Dr. Grimes’ research interests havefocused on fertility regulation, tech-nology assessment, sexually transmit-ted diseases, and clinical epidemiolo-gy.

He has published more than 300peer-reviewed articles, 40 textbookchapters and several books. Heserves on the editorial boards of TheLancet, Obstetrics and Gynecology,Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey,and Contraception.

David Grimes, M.D.

Special OB/GYNGrand Rounds

Celebrate National Volunteer Week at Christiana Care April 18-24

Gov. Jack Markell and HeatherBittner-Fagan, M.D., display theofficial document declaring April “Healthy Delawareans Today &Tomorrow Month.”

101,000 individuals—one in nineDelawareans, live here without healthinsurance. About 56 percent ofDelaware's uninsured are employed.

"Our health influences every aspect ofour lives, including how much energywe can devote to our families, com-munities and workplaces," saysMarkell. "By spreading the wordabout existing local health careresources, we ensure that Delawareanshave a chance to improve their qualityof life."

Resources available to Delawareansinclude 2-1-1, a toll-free hotline forhealth and human service referrals.Representatives are available on week-days from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., andresources also are available online byvisiting www.delaware211.org.

Healthy Delawareans Today & Tomorrow

Declaring April “HealthyDelawareans Today & Tomorrow

Month,” Gov. Jack Markell creditedthe United Way, Christiana CareHealth System, AstraZeneca and manyother groups who came together sev-eral years ago to meet the health careneeds of uninsured Delawareans.

The official kickoff of the month-longobservance April 1 was at ClaymontCommunity Center, one of a networkof agencies that offers health care serv-ices regardless of ability to pay.

Heather Bittner-Fagan, M.D., a familymedicine specialist from ChristianaCare, volunteers as the medical direc-tor at center’s clinic, where many newpatients have sought medical helpover the past year. An estimated