OAKWOOD HEALTHCARE SYSTEM VOLUNTEER VIBE

Q4 2014

The V

olunte

er V

ibe

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Compassion: Providing care with sincerity, sensitivity and dignity for those we serve.

Respect: Working with integrity and honor in all our relationships.

Excellence: Delivering superior results in the areas of Patient Experience, Physician Alignment, the Oakwood Team, Financial Health, Our Community and Program Growth.

Diversity: Creating an environment where individual differences maximize our collective capabilities

as a team.

Ownership: Demonstrating personal responsibility for our pride in Oakwood through our behaviors and actions.

IN THIS ISSUE

Note from Brian Connolly Garden Club Volunteers United Airlines, “Ben Flyin” Social Media Guidelines Spiritual Support Holiday Gathering Volunteer Needs Oakwood Hospital – Southshore Tree of Lights Note from Gayle Scodellaro Oakwood Hospital – Dearborn Flood Update Trick or Treat Pet Therapy High School Student Volunteer Scholarship Update

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A note from Brian Connolly President & CEO, Oakwood Healthcare In spite of what commercials might lead you to believe, the holiday season is a time of gratitude. That’s particularly true in a healthcare setting. No one expects to get sick or hurt at any time, especially during the holidays–and yet it happens. Any time people come to us for care, they’re likely to feel scared, lonely and vulnerable. Those feelings become even more acute when they’re missing holiday celebrations with friends and family.

Thankfully, you are there for our patients and their loved ones.

• You bring compassion to your work, so they know they’re in good hands. • You bring cheer and companionship, so they know they’re not alone. • You bring solace when news is heartbreaking, and you give them hope. • You see to the many details, so they can focus on recovery and returning to their

families.

You are there for them during the holidays, and they are truly grateful to you. I am grateful to you as well. The Oakwood Team has accomplished so much this year, in service to our patients. Of course, our most significant achievement this year also sets the direction for our future. I am talking about the formation of Beaumont Health. Building a $4 billion organization takes time, patience and faith. It requires living with some level of discomfort and uncertainty, knowing that the results will be worthwhile. Our success will hinge on our being able to keep the Patient Experience central to all we do – and I’m certain this will remain constant in 2015 and beyond. I am grateful to you for choosing to be part of the Oakwood Team and for making Beaumont Health the best place for care in southeastern Michigan. Thank you for all you do, and I wish you all the best during the holidays and into the New Year.

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Garden Club of Dearborn Garden Therapy and the PRISM Program

by Patti Mack, President, Garden Club of Dearborn

“In the garden I tend to drop my thoughts here and there. To the flowers I whisper the secrets I keep and the hopes I breathe. I know they are there to eavesdrop for the angels.” - Dodinsky

The earliest memories of the Garden Club of Dearborn’s therapy group came from Julia Fedoronko, a 48-year member who joined in 1966. At that time, the Garden Therapy group supported Eloise Hospital on Michigan Avenue in Wayne. The enthusiastic members planted flowers around the building and in one of the courtyards, and some also worked in vegetable gardens with patients. Julia remembered making tussie-mussies which are made to this day for the residents at Oakwood Common. Tussie-mussies are basically a nosegay or posy that is a small flower bouquet typically given as a gift. They have existed in some form since at least medieval times, when they were carried or worn around the head or bodice. The Garden Club of Dearborn’s Therapy Group moved to the Dearborn Heights Convalescent Home on Ford Road near Beech Daly in the early 1970s. Every spring they planted flowers in their courtyard. They also created floral arrangements with patients each month and sang songs, accompanied by one of our piano playing members. When Oakwood Common opened in Dearborn, the group decided to serve our community at that location. We have provided horticultural therapy every single month since the facility opened. Originally, all the flowers used for these projects were provided by the members. During the summer months, every committee member brought flowers and greens from their gardens. In winter, they would canvass the local funeral homes, asking them to save arrangements for the Garden Club to reassemble for patients, providing us flowers and large blocks of oasis to re-use. Then a few years ago, member Pat Knoop had the idea to grow our own flowers, and the Enabling Garden was born. Raised flower beds were provided by the University of Michigan-Dearborn gardens within the Environmental Interpretive Center. This produces enough flowers for most of the projects at Oakwood Common, as well as dried flowers for the cold winter months. Each month year-round, a Therapy Group member designs and gathers supplies for projects. The patients love our projects and are grateful. Some remember growing flowers in their gardens like the zinnias and marigolds that are often used in the summer arrangements. Although the group no longer sings, Garden Club member Jean Johnston plays piano while the group and the patients work on the arrangements. Another wonderful program the Garden Club of Dearborn supports is Oakwood’s Palliative and Restorative Integrated Services Model program. Christine Westphal, who directs the PRISM program at Oakwood Hospital – Dearborn, and Garden Club member Marge Engstrom initiated this collaboration. In 2010, Garden Club member Sharon Snider volunteered to support the program and is still involved today.

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Another blessing is the support we receive from local businesses and volunteers. Harry Miller’s Florist donates all the beautiful flowers used for the PRISM program every week of the year. While the flowers donated are not suitable for sale by the florist, they are still in wonderful shape and very beautiful. Sharon and Marge, along with other members of the Garden Club, collect bud vases so Volunteer Services no longer has to buy them. For example, Sharon found a resale shop by her cottage up north that gives her a box or two when she visits. Oakwood patients truly appreciate the work our Garden Therapy volunteers do, and they often remark how wonderful it is that someone from Dearborn would think to send them flowers. Sharon tells the story about riding the elevator a few months ago with a young man, who said he never got any flowers. She told him that if he was a patient, he would! When he said his wife was a patient in the hospital, Sharon assumed he was a new father since he was so young. He told her no; his wife was fighting cervical cancer for the third time. Sharon assured him that his wife would receive a vase—and she delivered it personally. The Garden Club of Dearborn members are a fantastic group of caring men and women who take pride in their community, are willing to extend a hand to make our world a more beautiful place to live, and care for one another on a daily basis. We’ve been so fortunate to have visionary members who make this world a little brighter.

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Michael Chami met a new friend recently. The three year-old, a patient at

Oakwood’s Center for Exceptional Families, received a small stuffed teddy

bear named Ben Flyin and his personal passport as part of United Airlines

Adventure Bear program.

The Adventure Bear program, which involves United employees partnering with

hospitals nationwide to deliver teddy bears to children in their care. The

program is supported through the generous cash and Mileage Plus holiday

contributions to the American Cancer Society. The program is one way the company is increasing its volunteer efforts and giving back to the community.

United Airlines employees visit the pediatric unit at Oakwood Hospital –

Dearborn and Oakwood's Center for Exceptional Families to deliver Ben Flyin, a teddy bear, and his passport to children on Oct. 15, 2014.

The effort was coordinated in tandem with Oakwood’s volunteer services.

Children in pediatrics at Oakwood Hospital – Dearborn and at Oakwood’s Center for Exceptional Families, received the bears.

“It brings us together as a team to do something outside of work and honestly

it’s a lot of fun. We do it once a year right before the holidays so it’s extra special,” said Nimir Jaffer, a United Airlines employee and

Dearborn resident who has coordinated the event for the past three years. “We chose Oakwood because we know they are committed

to helping the community and it brings so much joy to the kids. Plus, both my brother and I were born at Oakwood Dearborn, so it’s especially meaningful to me.”

Dana Callery, far left, delivers a teddy bear to three year-old Michael Chami and his mom Angela Khater, both of Dearborn.

Chami was pleasantly surprised to be a recipient of such a special and

unexpected gift. “He has been working with Dr. Youngs for a language delay with his speech,” said Angela Khater, Michael’s mom. “He

started by saying one word and not being able to express himself very well. Now, after six months of therapy and treatment, he is able to use complete sentences. He continues to work with the experts at the Center to advance his progress and communication.”

Each year for the past three years, United Airlines hosts a contest asking employees from all across the organization to help name the

bear. After more than 800 submissions, Ben Flyin officially joined his siblings Rhonda Globe and Oliver D. World. “The passport allows

kids to experience where he’s been. It’s especially meaningful for kids who haven’t had a chance to fly yet,” added volunteer Mitchell

Osman.

VOLUNTEERS BRING JOY TO KIDS WHO’VE NEVER “BEN FLYIN”

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Social media tools allow people to share, collaborate and publish on the Internet. It is An online “conversation” that happens on sites such as Facebook and Twitter as well as in blogs, forums and other types of interactive sites. While at home, some Oakwood personnel/volunteers may be interested in engaging in Internet conversations to support Oakwood’s organizational objectives. We recognize the networking opportunities social media offers and truly appreciate the support staff and volunteers provide in promoting Oakwood’s mission, vision and values in the community. We encourage sharing your passion for Oakwood with others and remind you, even while not at Oakwood, to keep following policies and guidelines in mind. Follow all applicable Oakwood Policies. For example, you must not share confidential or proprietary information about Oakwood, and you must maintain patient privacy. Among the policies most pertinent to this discussion are those concerning patient confidentiality, government affairs, mutual respect, political activity, computer, e-mail and internet use, photography and video and release of patient information to media. Social media is a dynamic medium with Web sites, technology, access constantly evolving. Whenever in doubt about the appropriateness of posting any content, contact Strategic Communications at 313.586.5400. Remember: knowingly releasing patient information is in violation of HIPAA and can result in a one-year jail sentence and a $50,000 fine. The most important aspect to remember about social networking is that Oakwood’s Electronic communication policy and other policies apply in this medium. In any Electronic communication you should always adhere to our core values of Compassion, Respect, Excellence, Diversity and Ownership. Before participating in any of these activities, please familiarize yourself with the following policies found on OakNet or ask your volunteer representative for assistance.

SOCIAL NETWORKS encourage people to stay in contact with each other, often centered on the interests of their users (business networks, friends networks, tastes in music, etc.) BLOGS are (mostly individual) web sites with regular entries of commentary or description of events, which can be commented by readers. Many blogs have become a respected news sources in the fields of politics, science, technology, and entertainment. WIKIS are collection of web pages designed to allow anyone who accesses them to add or modify their content. They are typically used to store the collective knowledge of communities. EVALUATION COMMUNITIES provide collective evaluations (ratings) and comments on already existing web content or consumer products. TAGGING COMMUNITIES add categorizing keyword (tags) to existing online content, making it easier for other people to find and digest it. SOCIAL MEDIA AGGREGATORS are tools to display content from various sources traditional news sources and news from the tools described above. This eliminates the need to visit many different websites to stay up-to-date.

• Electronic communication

policy • HIPAA privacy information • Internet usage policy • Organizational code of conduct • Behavioral standards

Oakwood-Dearborn Spiritual Support Volunteer Holiday Gathering

Twenty-three Oakwood Hospital – Dearborn Spiritual Support volunteers celebrated the holidays on November 21 at the Oakwood Wellness Center. Chaplain Marianne Burnett, spiritual support volunteer coordinator, offered a Thanksgiving devotional, adding how grateful she is to the volunteers for all they do. There were plenty of snacks, punch, sharing of stories, and games—with a grand prize going to Richard Adamian for finding a Christmas tree sticker on the bottom of his plate. Richard won a gift card to Branches, the Oakwood Hospital Gift Shop. Volunteering at Oakwood has meant so much to these people. It has changed their lives, in addition to the countless patients whose lives have been touched by a visit from a spiritual support volunteer.

Ask your friends to join the Oakwood Volunteer Program. Oakwood Taylor and Oakwood Southshore are in need of volunteers for the following areas:

• GIFT SHOP • WELCOME CENTER GREETERS • EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT GREETERS • NURSING UNIT VOLUNTEERS

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT VOLUNTEER SERVICES REPRESENTATIVE EBONY CONNER AT EBONY.CONNER@OAKWOOD.ORG.

We need your assistance!

What’s happening at Oakwood Hospital – Southshore: The Tree of Lights

Once again, the volunteers at Oakwood Hospital - Southshore contributed hours of skill and love to create the “Tree of Lights.” Norma Horvath took the lead, bringing in a volunteer team on November 21 to set up this spectacular display in the hospital’s main lobby. 2014 marks the 24th year Oakwood Southshore has sponsored the “Tree of Lights”. It is surrounded by the Angels of Southshore, and our major sponsors and honorees are listed near the tree. A Book of Honor is also on display, featuring pages dedicated to those being honored or memorialized along with the donors’ names. When you’re at Oakwood Southshore this holiday season, be sure to take a look.

A Note from the Manager of Volunteer Services

I am glad to take this opportunity to thank every one of you for the services you have provided throughout this past year. Oakwood is incredibly fortunate to have such dedicated volunteers. This year, you have shared your gifts in so many ways: escorting patients, serving the emergency departments and unit nursing areas, working in the gift shop, providing spiritual support, and so many more. Thank you for sharing your compassion to ensure Patients Come First. Enjoy this holiday season! Gayle Scodellaro Manager, Volunteer Services

The Volunteer Services department will be closed from December 24, 2014 until Monday January 5, 2015. We wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!

Construction continues to restore the emergency

department at Oakwood Hospital – Dearborn.

The unit is expected to reopen in March 2015.

On special occasions, each of Oakwood’s three pet therapy groups—Fur Angels, Pet a Pet and Therapy Dog International—dress up their therapy dogs to celebrate. This Halloween, Pet a Pet took photos of their visit to Oakwood Hospital – Taylor. These amazing animals faithfully bring joy, smiles and laughter to our patients and their families.

Photos courtesy of Pet a Pet

Trick or Treat from Pet Therapy

Attention High School Student Volunteers graduating in 2015

2015 volunteer scholarship applications will be available starting January 5. Please contact your Volunteer Representative.