Report to the Community - St. Nicholas Hospital

M i s s i o n I n t e g r a t i o n A c c o u n t a b i l i t yTo my caregivers,Words cannot express theway I feel about all of you.Each and every one ofyou played a part in myrecovery. The care Ireceived from all of you,24-hours a day wasoutstanding. I was blessedto have you watch overme with love andprofessionalism whiletending to my physical andemotional well-being. I callall of you my angels!(from a patient)The Franciscan healing ministry is holistic, caringfor the spiritual and emotional needs of the patientand family. It also requires the appropriate use oftechnology. Both are integral dimensions ofcompetent and compassionate care. We engageall employees, volunteers, and lay leaders in thisholistic healing ministry. In the hospital-wideService Excellence Program, employees, regardlessof where they work, are patient care focused. Weare responsible for ensuring that a patient’s stay isa good experience. We provide Service BehaviorStandards training to our employees and evaluatethem through the performance evaluation process.Diane Beckmann, Certified OccupationalTherapy Assistant, (COTA), worked witha patient who was challenging to engage.She interested him in a wood project.Upon its completion she sought the expertadvice of Tom, Maintenance Technician IICarpenter, Plant Services. While Diane andthe patient talked with Tom about the stainingproject, the patient showed interest in Tom’swork area and asked if Tom would make him alap table. Tom asked the patient to draw it and hewould make it. The patient drew a small pictureof the table and a few days later Tom broughtthe finished table to the patient. Tom took theinitiative to make the table and offered to allowDiane and the patient to use his work area tostain the initial project that piqued the patient’sinterest and engaged him in his therapy.(Source: Reprint from the FISH newsletter)3We believe integrity of relationships and mutual respectbetween those served and those who render serviceare significant hallmarks of our Franciscan culture.We perform hourly rounding – aides, RNs andhousekeepers. We focus on asking our patientsabout their pain, whether they need to go to therestroom, or if they’d like help repositioning.The housekeepers may not be able to do thehands-on but they can ask and tell the patientsomeone will be right in. This Service Roundinghas shown a decrease in patient falls, less callsto the front desk, and higher patient satisfaction.Gloria Koenig, Director Orthopaedic/Surgical Unit.We offer assistance to our employees andvolunteers to help them recognize and understandtheir own and others’ personality traits – familyrelationships, and community interdependence – asintegral to the spirituality and best work style ofeach individual. Integrity and respect are significanthallmarks reflected through our relationships toexemplify the Franciscan spirit.Service Rounding isn’t comprised of any onething it’s a culmination of everything we do.During one of my rounds I overheard a wife ofa patient talking to a family member. She said,“His nurse is so wonderful and gives me hope.”Kathy Leonhardt, Director ICCU/CardiacCommitment to CommunityThe local and regional civic and Churchcommunities recognize St. Nicholas Hospitalas an enduring sign of Franciscan presencewith a history of stable, dedicated service.All of our programs, activities, and services centeron our mission. We provide an annual ClergyHealth Fair, car seat safety checks, and educationand screenings for many senior groups throughoutour service area. We also work with the schooldistrict to provide education and support topregnant teenagers and teenage mothers. Wecollaborate with many community organizationsthat work toward educating our community onsensitive social issues such as domestic violenceand drug and alcohol abuse.Our community involvement is an enduring signof our Franciscan heritage and offers us theopportunity to take our mission outside our walls.We incorporate, identify, and budget for thecommunity needs in the hospital’s annual goalsand objectives. We provide services such as renaldialysis and home health because without themmany would experience great hardships.8