SMALL TALK

Bulletin Board

Number 41!
The official rankings were released  for Modern Healthcare's Top 100 Best Places to Work in Healthcare.  Woman's is ranked 41st this year - up 59 places from last year! Thank you for making Woman's exceptional!

 

United Way Cookbook
The
Taste of Tailgating Cookbook
is now on sale. 
The cookbook is $5.00 and was brought to you by the
2009 Woman’s United Way committee.  It is a collection of recipes from employees throughout the organization. 
All proceeds from the cookbook will go to the Capital Area United Way, which has been serving the
Baton Rouge area since 1925.  This non-profit organization is a volunteer based network of people providing critical community services to those in need.  Cookbooks can be purchased in the Gift Shop.

 

  

We Can Do This
 By Teri Fontenot

As you know, our theme for fiscal year 2009 (which ended on September 30) was “We Can Do This” and our accomplishments were extraordinary.  While the rest of the country was dealing with a suddenly spiraling economy, we rapidly put plans into place to adjust spending.  Budgets were scrubbed, staffing plans were reviewed, and some equipment purchases were delayed.  Many staff took unpaid time off when the census dropped, others submitted cost savings suggestions that resulted in savings of over $100,000, and all of us were impacted by changes to our compensation and benefits programs.   We investigated new sources of revenue, added new programs and services, and increased advertising.  Due to our quick response to these challenges, and through the commitment and support of each other, we did it!  The year ended with high patient satisfaction, our budget met and a long list of other accomplishments for which we can all be proud.  So, I want to start the new year by thanking you for your commitment to our patients, and your support of the Woman’s Hospital team. 

Here’s the most recent news:

  • We ended fiscal year 2009 with a year-to-date patient satisfaction score of 94.25%. There were a few challenging months during the year, but as always, our team effort put us over the 94% threshold.

  • For the second year in a row, we’ve been named as one of Modern Healthcare’s “Best 100 Places to Work in Healthcare.”  In fact, we scored higher than last year in every single category!  Human Resources will be sending a supply of everyone’s favorite give-away item – badge clips – to your department soon in recognition of our Best Places to Work award.  We’ve also been nominated by Encore Louisiana (formerly the Louisiana Retirement and Development Council) as one of the top employers in the state for people 50 years of age and beyond.  Please vote daily, and ask your friends and family to vote for Woman’s, too, at encorelouisiana.com. Click on the upper right hand corner of the site.

  • We have completely exhausted our supply of seasonal flu vaccine.  Additional vaccine has been ordered, and you’ll be notified when it is received.  Our influenza vaccination compliance rate has increased from 52% last year to 77% this year!  Kudos to the Employee Health team and all the employees that received the flu shot.  

  • Julia Lively has resigned to pursue a job opportunity at Health Care Centers in Schools.  Please join me in wishing Julia much success.  Greg Smith will replace Julia as Vice President, Finance.  As some of you know, Greg worked in Accounting for several years, and served as Director of Accounting prior to his promotion to Vice President, Support Services.  Greg will now oversee Patient Accounting, Accounting and Medical Audit, in addition to retaining responsibility for Materials Management and Patient Services.  His former position of Vice President, Support Services has been eliminated.  Greg’s administrative responsibilities for Pharmacy, Environmental Services, Security, Child Development Center and Food Services have been reassigned to other members of the administrative team.  Congratulations, Greg, on your new appointment, and thanks to the members of the administrative team for their willingness to assume additional duties.

Thanks again for your support and I look forward to a most successful 2010.  We are doing this!

Benefits Fair
 By Therese Bourgoyne

Each year, employees have an opportunity to change their benefit elections (Open Enrollment).  Our annual open enrollment period begins November 18 and ends December 18.   If you would like to enroll, cancel or change your participation in any of the benefit plans, this is the time to do it.  To kick off the event, we will be hosting a Benefits Fair on Wednesday, November 18 through Saturday, November 21 at the times listed below.  Representatives from the insurance companies will be available to answer your questions. Stop by the fair and pick up the new 2010 Benefits Summary Booklet. 

We’ll offer two health plan options for the new plan year.  Employees currently covered on the Woman’s Hospital Health & Dental Plan, as well as new enrollees,  must sign on to the Employee Self Service website to choose a plan, make changes or cancellations.   Human Resources Benefits Staff will be available to assist you with online Open Enrollment.

If you are currently covered under the health plan and you do not sign on to ESS to choose a health care option, your current coverage will be cancelled at midnight, December 31, 2009.

Enrollment for benefits, cancellations and changes must be completed no later than Friday, December 18, 2009 by 4:30 PM.  The effective date for most elections or changes will be January 1, 2010.  Benefits information will be mailed to your home before the Benefits Fair.  If you’ve moved, please sign on to Employee Self Service to update your mailing address.

Benefit Fair Schedule
Wednesday, November 18, 10 AM – 4 PM, Conference Rooms 1, 2 & 3
Thursday, November 19, 7 AM – 2 PM, Conference Rooms 1, 2 & 3
Thursday, November 19, 9 PM – 1 AM, Conference Rooms 1, 2 & 3
Friday, November 20, 2 PM – 8 PM, Conference Rooms 1, 2 & 3
Saturday, November 21, 9 AM – 1 PM, Conference Rooms 1, 2 & 3

Bonus Check Distribution Schedule
Wednesday, November 18, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Conference Rooms 1, 2 & 3
Thursday, November 19, 7:00 AM - 10:00 AM, Conference Rooms 1, 2 & 3
Thursday, November 19 - Friday, November 20, 9:00 PM - 1:00 AM, Conference Rooms 1, 2, & 3
 Halloweenie
Congratulations to our Costume Winners

Individual Category
1st Place – Allen Beaman with “Blind Referee”
2nd Place – Karen Paine with “Genie Simmons”
3rd Place – Rebecca Barnes with “The Hippie”

Group Category
1st Place – Lab with “H1N1 – Swine Flu”
2nd Place – Radiology with “Boxing out Breast Cancer”
3rd Place – Nursing Administration with “A Royal Flush”
 

A Royal Flush - Nursing Administration

Teri Fontenot and Donna Bodin

The fantastic judges - Sarah, Rosemary, and Angela.

Lab with H1N1 – Swine Flu

Radiology is ready to rumble!

Allen Beaman

Congratulations
 The flu vaccine team was honored at October's Leadership meeting for their hard work.  Thanks for all you do to help keep Woman's exceptional!
 

Calendar of Events
 Available to employees, fitness center members and the general public. Register at the Fitness Club service desk or go online to view details at www.womans.org.

Upcoming Free Seminars: 

Living Tobacco Free - A representative with the Louisiana Tobacco Free Living Campaign will provide information on how to create a smoke free home and methods of cessation.  The dangers of tobacco use, second hand smoke and how it affects pregnancy and children will also be addressed.

Wednesday, November 4, 6:00 PM – 6:45 PM 

Slow Down and Unwind for the Holidays – As we move into the heart of the holiday season, join us for a slow, delicious, tension dissolving yoga practice.  Discover for yourself the quiet, ever present center of support inside each and every one of us.  Take home tips and tools for deep relaxation anytime and anywhere.

Sunday, November 15, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Nutrition Programs 

Join “Nutrition Bites” to discuss healthy eating and receive nutrition counseling and education in a group setting.  We offer morning and evening sessions that meet bimonthly for 30 minutes.  A weight tracking program and an individualized meal plan guide are included.

Mind & Body Programs
Pilates Reformer Classes – An essential principle of Pilates is relaxation.  Learning to release tension in the body can translate to flow in movement and in our lives in general. Consider learning to relax through Pilates Reformer equipment instruction.  Our professionals can help you strengthen without bulk, tone thighs, tighten abdomen, gain flexibility.   A variety of class days and times are available. Please visit womans.org for more information. 

Svaroopa® Style Yoga Basics – These classes are suitable for new and experienced students.  Poses drawn from the first six themes of Svaroopa® yoga target the core of the body while providing a powerfully transformative practice working on all levels, physical, mental, and emotional.  Class packages available.

Mondays, 6:45 PM- 8:15 PM
Tuesdays, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM

Svaroopa® Basics & Beyond - Learn to carry your “bliss” off the blankets and into your life.  Build on foundational poses, practice finding the strength of your arms, legs and abdominals without tightening your spine.  Explore standing poses, seated poses, moderate inversions, classical poses and twists.

Wednesdays, 6:35 PM – 8:05 PM

Svaroopa® Yoga:  Serenity for your Mind & Body – Discover how Svaroopa® yoga brings a sense of serenity by engaging your deeper faculties of awareness with physical activity and by quieting the mind at the same time.  Opening your mind will result in opening your whole body.  All of the poses are done in a gentle and supportive manner

Thursdays, 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM


 Therapy Center Adult Programs

 Kegels, What You Need to Know About Your Pelvic Floor - Learn how to gain control over your pelvic floor muscles and how to prevent urine leakage, pelvic pain, and related conditions. Registration required – call 924-8709 for more information.

Thursday, November 12, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM