Rx For Good Health In The Community - Trinitas Hospital

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page 6Photo right:Sr. MarionScranton, SC,Director ofCommunityInitiatives,conducted theprayer serviceat the chapel.Trinitas Generosity Swells atThanksgiving and the HolidaysFor the second year, the hospital family responded to the call of theCommunity Initiatives Department to give generously to local families forThanksgiving. Nearly 50 departments participated in collecting food items,creating more than 80 baskets that were blessed prior to being distributed toindividuals and families in Elizabeth and surrounding towns.In other related holiday giving, Trinitas Hospital employees againparticipated in the “Adopt-a-Family” program, reaching out to 14 familiesfacing terminal illnesses. Thanks to a generous donation from the Auxiliary ofTrinitas Hospital, children of these families also received brand new wintercoats. “Giving Trees” helped provide gifts for children while donations to theTrinitas Health Foundation helped decorate “Trees of Care” with ornamentsbearing the names of loved ones, friends and co-workers.Making a Renewed Commitmentto Customer ServiceRespiratory Care and Sleep Disorders Center StaffsDevelop New StrategiesSpurred on by the Customer Service Ambassador program,members of the Respiratory Care Department and Sleep DisordersCenter recently developed refined tactics to deliver quality patientcare in a responsible, compassionate manner. Keeping in mind theimportance of treating every patient with dignity and respect andstriving to meet patient needs in a timely manner, the departmentidentified key strategies to accomplish their goals. There are 50employees in the two departments who work all shifts. Thebrainstorming exercise to define their goals and mission gave bothgroups a greater awareness and “ownership” of ways to promotepositive customer service for patients, as well as fellow employees.As a group, the departments compiled a list of more than a dozenways to improve customer service, including being respectful andconsiderate of others, treating every patient concern as important,assisting other disciplines to ensure exceptional patient care, managingtime efficiently, and being open to new challenges.After reviewing staff input, Department Director, Kim Shafer,RRT, also developed a list of goals to strive for as director, includingproviding timely feedback to problems and their resolution, beingopen to suggestions and ideas, promoting professional growth for thestaff, and providing appropriate resources to get work done effectively.Respiratory Department members gather round their “tools ofthe trade.” From left to right, in background, Jeff Jean-Jerome, CRT, Liz O’Campo, Office Manager, Manny FojoPrieto, RRT, and Donna Lee, RRT. In foreground are DianaKass, RRT, Mary Keating, CRT, and Department DirectorKim Shafer, RRT.“This evaluation proved to be a learning experience for all of us,”explained Kim, adding, “We’ve become ‘kinder’ to one another, thanks topointers we’ve shared with each other. We’ve always been conscious about howwe treat our patients. Now, we’re much more conscious about how we treatone another.”A large orange neon poster listing the departmental Mission and Goals isdisplayed prominently in each area to remind everyone of their commitmentto Customer Service.(From left to right) Registered Polysomnographer Sandra Land, Director Kim Shafer,Polysomnographer Carol Birritierri, Secretary Brinnia Roa, and Polysomnographer MariaCaro photographed in the office area of the Sleep Disorders Center.
Trinitas Hospital Aids Victimsof Toxic Gas LeakNumerous departments responded to a noxious gasemission that affected about 50 people at a location on NorthAvenue near Jersey Gardens Mall in Elizabeth in September.Although those involved in the exposure to the sulfur dioxidefumes had been decontaminated on site, most were thenrushed to area hospitals.When news of the incident came in, the EmergencyPreparedness team, paramedics, Emergency Room staff, andother personnel mobilized. In less than 10 minutes, theEmergency Preparedness Team and members of theFacilities Management Department erected the hospital’sdecontamination tent outside the Emergency Room. Amongthe 22 people who were brought to Trinitas where theyunderwent an additional decontamination was Trinitas’ ownfirst responder, paramedic David Guadiane.Those exposed to the sulfur dioxide fumes were treatedfor upper respiratory complaints in the Emergency Roomwhere respiratory therapists administered oxygen therapy toAfter the patients were treated, members of the Facilities Departmentused their muscle to dismantle and store the decontamination tent.relieve the burning sensations in their throats. Most of the people affected were from the North Jersey area, but at least twomen who were from Kentucky and Colorado were offered over-night accommodations at the hospital free of charge.Patient Access Services worked closely with each person to assist in contacting relatives since, at the first decontaminationsite at the scene, they had surrendered their clothing, wallets and, in many instances, their cell phones. Food Services offeredsnacks and meals as needed. Security pitched in to provide several victims transportation back to their homes.Following the event, Michael McIntyre, Director ofSupport Services, expressed his pride in the groups thatreport to him. “The members of the hospital’s departmentsthat serve as our infrastructure helped our nursing andemergency staffs to respond efficiently,” he said, adding,“Without their dedicated work behind the scenes, the eventwould not have flowed as easily and seamlessly as it did.”As the news event unfolded, reporters from Channel 4News, News 12 New Jersey, Channel 9 News, Fox 5 News,CBS News Radio 880, the Associated Press, and The Star-Ledger visited Trinitas to file their stories. Many of theresulting reports that appeared on the late night news andin the next morning’s papers spoke positively about thehospital’s swift, professional, and caring response.page 7Photo Left:Peter Haskell,New Jerseyreporter for CBSNews Radio 88,conducted aninterview withBernadetteCountryman,Senior VicePresident ofClinical Operations,and Chief NursingOfficer, that airedthroughout theevening onmetropolitan areaair waves.Living with “the Blues”Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as SAD, piqued the interestof the audience who came to hear Purabi Bharatiya, MD, MedicalDirector, Inpatient Psychiatric Unit of the Department of BehavioralHealth and Psychiatry, discuss how reduced hours of daylight in the falland winter can occasionally cause some people to experience symptoms ofdepression. The seminar was part of the Women’s Health and EducationLecture series that drew audiences for numerous health related topicsthroughout 2006.
Page 1 and 2: Winter2007Rx for Good Health in the
Page 3 and 4: Gary S. Horan Named toState Chamber
Page 5: Trinitas Hospital Website ThrivesMa
Page 9 and 10: Dear Mr. Horan,Thank you so much fo
Page 11 and 12: Spotlight On:Bloodless Medicine and
Page 13 and 14: Cancer and Heart Disease areFocus o
Page 15 and 16: A Fond FarewellGloria Piserchia Ste

Rx For Good Health In The Community - Trinitas Hospital

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