SMALLTALK
 

READY, SET, JUMP INTO PRESCHOOL

This program is designed to prepare children
(4 - 5 years of age) for preschool.   Using the "Handwriting Without Tears Pre-K Program" by Jan Olsen, children will learn directionality, body awareness, colors, and shapes.  Handwriting readiness activities will be introduced. This program will be instructed by an occupational therapist and will include parent education for home activities.

 Mondays & Wednesdays
 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
July 7th - July 30th.
Cost:  $160.00

For more information, please call Therapy Services at 924-8450
 

Gas-saving Tips

 We are all feeling the pinch of regularly rising gas prices.  Fortunately, there are a few things we can do to ease the pain:

  1. Keep your vehicle clean, or at least cleaned out.  Every 100 pounds of cargo (heavy bags of pet food, recyclables, etc.) cause a decrease of 1-2% in your car’s fuel efficiency, meaning you have to fill up more often.
     
  1. Check your tires’ air pressure – maintain levels recommended in your owner’s manual.
     
  1. Maintain your vehicle’s fuel and air filters.
     
  1. Make sure your gas cap is in good repair and closed tightly to avoid evaporation.
     
  1. Spend less time circling parking lots looking for a closer space – you will save time and gas parking at the first available space and walking.
     
  1. Only use the grade of fuel your vehicle needs – check your owner’s manual for the minimum grade needed.
     
  1. Be easy on the brakes – coast or slowly apply the brakes when stopping; avoid slamming on the brakes.
     
  1. Use your air-conditioning – having the windows down increases the drag on your vehicle and forces it to use more fuel to compensate.

If you are traveling:

  1. Buy gas locally – prices are likely to be higher on frequently traveled roadways and smaller towns.
     
  1. Choose an exit with several gas stations – you will have more options; greater competition for your business is likely to equal lower prices.
     
  1. Use cruise control to maintain a steady speed and avoid unconsciously speeding up and using more gas.
     
  1. Slow down.  According to CNN Money, driving 60 miles per hour instead of 70 miles per hour is the equivalent of saving $.54 per gallon.

 Find the best local gas prices at any of the following websites:

www.wfmf.com/pages/gasprices.html

www.gasbuddy.com

www.louisianagasprices.com

These and other tips and articles can be found at www.msnbc.com and www.independenttraveler.com

Also, information on public transportation available in Baton Rouge can be found at www.brcats.com.  The website has all the information you need on the Capital Area Transit System, including stops, routes, fares, and other details.
Parking Update

 We have reviewed the data collected in the garage since Monday, June 2nd, and are making the following change to garage parking effective immediately:

2nd & 3rd shift employees arriving for work between 2pm and 5:30am may resume parking on the 5th floor of the garage.  The 2nd and 3rd shift employees should park on the 5th floor, 5th-6th ramp and 6th floor of the garage.

We had previously asked those employees to park on the 5th-6th ramp and higher during the last several weeks to allow us time to collect data and analyze available parking on the 5th floor of the garage.  The parking policy will be updated to reflect the change above.

 Surveillance cameras have also been added to the following areas:

            - Parking areas in the garage

            - Parking garage elevator lobbies

            - Employee surface parking (additional camera coverage)

            - BAT Center parking lots

The cameras will be installed over the next several weeks and will be integrated into our existing security system.

If you have any questions about the information above, please contact the following: Khipi Parker, HR, ext 8261; Jim Judice, Security, ext 8517; Orlando DeMoss, Security, ext 5274 or Greg Smith, Administration, ext 8246.


OR Celebrates National Time Out Day
On Wednesday, June 18, OR staff and doctors celebrated National Time Out Day.  This is an ideal opportunity to encourage your staff and colleagues to take a “time out” for patient safety.

Wrong-site surgery and other preventable mistakes still occur too frequently in US operating rooms. National Time Out Day was started to raise awareness about the importance of requiring the entire surgical team—including physicians, nurses, and surgical technologists—to pause before all invasive procedures to communicate as a group and confirm key information about the patient and procedure to help prevent errors from occurring.
Service Recognition Update

5 Year Awards:

  • Crystal Bailey (Assessment Center)

  • Mindy Becnel (Respiratory Care / EKG)

  • Lisa Martinez (HCSO)

  • Kristy May (Health Information Management)

  • Mary Paille (Mother / Baby)

  • Boni Patty (Mammography - Tower)

  • Patricia Trusclair (HME)

10 Year Awards:

  • Helen Berry

    • (Mammography on-site)

  • Larene Chase (Environmental Services)

  • Hilde Chenevert (Data Analysis)

  • Julie Craven (Radiology)

  • Inga Henagan (NUR-ED Implementation)
 

 

15 Year Awards:
 Amanda Davis (Patient Accounting)

20 Year Awards
Lisa Reese (Quality Utilization Management)

25 Year Awards

  • Sular Kenney (Environmental Services)

  • Rosemary Lawson (Oncology/Gyn)

  • Nancy Terrell (Patient Accounting)

35 Year Awards
Juanita Scharnett (Mother/Baby)

36 Years and Counting...
Congratulations to Lynn Griggs.  She celebrated her 36th nursing anniversary on Tuesday, July 1 by wearing all white and her "Charity Cap".  She will continue to do this every year on her anniversary until she retires.  She is doing this as a reminder to help keep Charity Hospital of New Orleans "ALIVE".  Congratulations Lynn! 

Career Ladder

Nursing congratulates the following applicants approved to enter, continue and/or advance in the Career Ladder Program:

New Applicants:
  • Lynda Adams, RN II, CNIC
  • Kacey Fontenot, RN II, Mother/Baby
  • Julie Fresina, RN II, CNIC
  • Erin Hurt, RN II, Mother/Baby
  • Nicole Landry, RN II, Mother/Baby
  • Bonnie Mire, RN II, CNIC

Maintained Status:

  • Kahne Caraccioli, RN III, Surgery
  • Linda Clouatre, RN III,Surgery
  • Cynthia Evans, RN II, Mother/Baby
  • Nicole Fox, RN III, CNIC
  • Lauren Landreneau, RN III, Day Surgery
  • Laurie Legrange, RN III, Mother/Baby
  • Emily Lepard, RN III, Day Surgery
  • Amy McCurdy, RN III, Mother/Baby
  • Stephanie Powers, RN III, CNIC
  • Lynn Rumfola, RN II, CNIC
  • Kristy Smith, RN II, Mother/Baby
  • Cindy Thomas, RN III, Surgery
  • Cassie Wyble, RN III, Mother/Baby

     
     

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