March 2023 - The Pulse

Banner

In This Edition

Employee Appreciation Day

Staff Recognition Welcome to our New Co-Workers Did you Know? 
DAISY Award Education Corner Condolences
Department Spotlight National Health Observances Foundation News

 It's Employee Appreciation Day! 

Be on the lookout for a sweet treat today! 

Employee Appreciation


 Daisy Award Winner - Jane Hackfort!

DAISY Award

Jane Hackfort, RN, OCN was presented wJane Hackfortith the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses at a reception with her family and co-workers on Monday. The award is part of the DAISY Foundation's program to recognize the super-human efforts nurses perform daily.

A portion of the nomination submission read: "Jane is an exemplary nurse that makes a tremendous impact on the patients she cares for. She makes patients feel so special as she celebrates their successes, makes them laugh on hard days, and supports patients and family members when they are struggling. Hackfort FamilyTo give an example, a patient had a history of having severe side effects from her chemo infusions shortly after she would leave the cancer center. The doctor believed she was having a sensitivity to the cold caused by the chemo which was quite distressing to the patient. Jane took over this patient and encouraged her to stay after chemo treatment finished so she wouldn’t be alone when the side effects occur. After a while, the patient began to shake, had jaw tightness and difficulty swallowing/speaking. Jane reassured the patient that she would stay with her. Jane wrapped her head to toe in hot blankets and fed her sips of hot chocolate to warm her from the inside out. Jane stayed with the patient until she was feeling better. The patient was so thankful she didn’t have to be alone during this episode. Jane is such an asset to our team at St. Anthony. Our patients, their families, and coworkers are so lucky to have her!"

Thank you, Jane, for going above and beyond for patients, families, and our community! 

Pictured on the left is Jane's family at the DAISY reception.


Department SpotlightSt. Anthony Clinic - Carroll: Part 1, Pod 1

Over the next several months, we will be spotlighting the St. Anthony Clinics! This month, we are featuring Pod 1 in the St. Anthony Clinic in Carroll.

Front row: Amy Hoogestraat, primary nurse for Dr. Ciricillo & Dr.Pod 1 Anthony Ciricillo, M.D.

Second row: Destiny Simons, primary nurse for Dr. Pogge & Michaela Stoltenberg, float nurse for pod 1

Back row: Dr. Lindsey Pogge, D.O.

Here's what the Pod 1 Team has to say: 

We are proud when our patients refer their family and friends to us! We treat our patients like family, and that shows when they trust us enough to see us time after time and refer the St. Anthony Clinic. 

We are My eChart friendly! It is important for our patients to easily schedule appointments, access their health information and message us!

Did you know: We decorate our Pod for every season...thanks to Destiny!

Fun Facts from the Fun Pod: 

  • Dr. Pogge studied abroad in Germany during college.
  • Destiny recently earned her degree in addiction counseling & she's an only child.
  • Dr. Ciricillo won $2 in a pickleball tournament.
  • Amy owns 3 kayaks, 4 bicycles, 1 pop-up camper, and a truck. Most miles road on her bicycle in a day: 88 miles!
  • Michaela has broken her arm 8 times.

Stay tuned as we feature Pod 2 next month!


 Second Annual Mental Health Matters 5K Run/Walk

MHM 5K

This event was created to raise awareness and combat the stigma of mental health. There will be a silent auction, booths from mental health partners, as well as snacks and drinks. Bring the whole family!

All proceeds will go towards the needs of St. Anthony mental health patients. 

  • Sign-in begins at 8:00 am.
  • The run/walk will begin at 9:00 am.
  • The starting and finishing location will be at Graham Park in Carroll, IA. There will be course markers along the path.

Along with the run/walk, there will be a Silent Auction! You are invited to place your bid on the basket or item of your choice with many to choose from!

Registration is $20 per adult. Register by April 7, 2023, to receive a t-shirt.
Kids under 12 are free and do not need to be registered. (T-shirts for children are not available).

Just want to purchase a shirt? Contact Mindi Rotert to get an order form. 

National Social Worker Month

Social Work Breaks Barriers! March is Social Work Month, and more than 700,000 social workers nationwide entered the profession because they have a strong desire to assist those in need and make our communities, our nation, and our world a better place for all. 

Although the social worker in each department fulfills a variety of roles and tasks, there are similarities. One being assessing each individual’s physical, mental, social and spiritual well-being, which guides practice and assists in identifying goals, needs, and strengths of the individual(s) they are serving.

St. Anthony Regional Hospital is privileged to have nine social workers in seven different departments.

Pictured front row from left: Melissa Schultes, Hospital Discharge Planner; Alex Harmening, Dialysis; Mindi Rotert, Inpatient Mental Health; Sara Skinner, H.O.P.E.S., and Journey Stork, Hospice

Back row from left: Luanne Kustra, Nursing Home; Abbie Mahannah, Hospital Discharge Planner; Emilee Lakner, Cancer Center, and Alex Willenborg, Inpatient Mental Health

Social Workers


Welcome

Meet your new co-workers who joined us this past month. 

  • Spencer Cowans - Food & Nutrition
  • Chelsey Gamblin - Med/Surg/Peds
  • Evan Hammer - Emergency Dept
  • Jennifer Happe - Patient Registration
  • Cole Jacobs - Rehab Services
  • Shayla Larson - Emergency Dept
  • Ku Moo - Nursing Home
  • Dannette Smith - Garden View

Get Referrals. Get Rewarded. $1,000 Referral Bonus!

Employee Referral Program

  • Organization-wide program.
  • Earn up to $1,000 for a referral that is hired into a part-time or full-time position (based on eligibility and guidelines).
  • Available via paper form on FastFlow.

Health Observances

Does your department have a national recognition day/week/month coming up? Please send us your photos and information and we'll share it here! Thank you. 

Let us share your stories! Tell us!


 Our condolences for your loss this past monthCondolences

  • Alicia Perry, Human Resources, for the loss of her father.
  • Cal Tigges, IT, for the loss of his brother-in-law
  • Billy Brown, Housekeeping, for the loss of his brother.
  • Amber Brown, F&N, for the loss of her brother-in-law.
  • Christina Johnson, Education, for the loss of her grandmother
  • Hallie Golay, Education, for the loss of her grandmother
  • Emma Larson, The Birth Place, for the loss of her grandmother
  • Trama Vetter, Carroll Clinic, for the loss of her grandmother
  • Cole Jacobs, Rehab, for the loss of his grandfather
  • Katie Decker, Radiation Oncology, for the loss of her father
  • Jane Roiland, Same Day Surgery, for the loss of her mother
  • Nancy Croghan, Chronic Care, for the loss of her brother-in-law
  • Megan Reischl, Clinic, for the loss of her uncle.
  • Shannon Hinners, QM, for the loss of her uncle.
  • Christy Poland (Central Distribution) for the loss of her brother-in-law.

CareersLet's add to our team and refer our friends to job listings.

St. Anthony is one of the largest employers in the Carroll area with more than 700 skilled and dedicated staff. YOU can help add to our team by forwarding the careers link to others who may be a good fit. Thank you!

View Job Openings

Happy Birthday

Best wishes to our co-workers who celebrate their special day this month. Click here for the full list. 


Lenten Message from Chaplain Angelo Luis

But now, O Lord, You are our Father,

We are the clay, and You our potter;

And all of us are the work of Your hand. Isaiah 64:8

Watching Youtube videos of pottery has been illuminating. I have a greater appreciation for God as an Artist.

In the videos, the artist is attentive with her hands as she forms the blob of clay into a beautiful object. Each vase that she makes is different from the other. They may have a similar shapes, but no two are exactly the same.

In Genesis, God formed humans from dust of the ground. He breathed life into it. From the beginning, he knew His creation was meant for goodness. He took a part of Himself and graciously shared it with us.

As we go through the season of Lent, let us not only acknowledge our mortality, but also our potential to bring out the goodness of God. For just as God was an artist in creation, we are to shape our lives and in others in a way that brings the best of our ourselves.

Lastly, pottery can break, but it can be mended. Our lives can be broken, but we are capable of putting things together. Medicine can do it. Communities can do it. You can do it.

- Chaplain Angelo 

The PlateMeatless Recipe Ideas for Lent

In a rut for recipe ideas on Fridays during Lent? Get adventurous and try one of the recipes below! Don't forget about the various fish fries in our communities. YUM!

Easter Lilies


Education Corner: Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Provides Emergency Readiness

An automated external defibrillator, or AED as it is commonly called, is now available for use in the Education Center, thanks to funding provided by the Carroll County Community Foundation. The AED is located in the hallway near the St. Anthony Meeting Room. Having the AED readily accessible to an area of the hospital that hosts frequent community and employee meetings enhances our response readiness and ultimately may save a life.

What is an AED?

An AED is a portable device used to revive someone from sudden cardiac arrest. This usually occurs when a disruption in the heart's electrical activity causes a dangerously fast heartbeat (ventricular tachycardia) or a fast and irregular heartbeat (ventricular fibrillation). Either of these irregular heart rhythms keeps the heart from pumping effectively and can cause it to stop.

When this happens, the brain and other vital organs don't get the blood and oxygen they need. This requires treatment within minutes to prevent death. The sooner the heart's rhythm is restored, the lower the risk of damage to the brain and other organs.

Learn to Use an AED – AEDs are easy to use - Contact Education Services at 5243 or education@stanthonyhospital.org to request a “hands on” training session for yourself and/or for your team!


St. Anthony Foundation News: Scholarships

Scholarships2023 Scholarship applications are available through the St. Anthony Foundation are due March 31, 2023. Only one application is needed to qualify for all the scholarships offered through St. Anthony. A fillable PDF application is available through email or online HERE. Completed applications must be received by Friday, March 31, 2023. If you have any questions, email or call the Foundation office at x5287.

These scholarships will payout after the fall semester of 2023, so students will need to be enrolled in school in the spring semester of 2024. In 2022, we awarded $22,950 to 34 students. Since the beginning of the scholarship program in 2003, $228,950 in awards have helped 310 students achieve their goal of continued education in health care.

We also want to encourage any of our staff who are enrolled in college courses to apply for the Iowa Hospital Education & Research Foundation scholarships which are valued at $3,500. Click this link to apply.


Did You KnowThe ICU has Quiet Time

The St. Anthony ICU is piloting an initiative, “Quiet Time”, to increase the patient experience during their hospitalization. Quiet time is a multidisciplinary initiative to increase non-disturbance time. We aim to decrease the noise in and around patients’ rooms during these hours providing patients an opportunity to rest and recover. Providing a quiet and interruption-free period facilitates sleep quality and continuity, which in turn enhances patient recovery and healing.

  • When: Monday, February 20th from 1 pm-3 pm for 6 weeks

To support rest and sleep staff will dim lights, turn the volume on TV down, offer Cares Channel, offer eye masks and ear plugs, coordinate care to reduce unnecessary entry into rooms, prep rook ahead of time (remove dirty trays, check IV pumps, toilet patients), time non-urgent orders outside of 1-3 pm, and limit visitation. Family and visitors will be asked to silent phones, utilize visitor lounges, limit movement within the unit, use ear buds, etc.

Patients will be informed of this on admission and reminded prior to quiet time periods.


Social

Check us out at: 

In addition, HealthView is published quarterly with various educational and informational topics. 

Photo of the Month

Winter Beauty

Nancy Croghan, Chronic Care Center, submitted this 'winter beauty' photo. As we look forward to Spring, let's be grateful for the Winter season. 

Winter Beauty


If you have items to submit for The PULSE, please contact Brandi Strautman.
Published on the First Friday of each month