• Our Employee Suggestion Program total is now $94,000!  Here are the latest suggestions:

  • Replace surgical kit garbage can liners with more economical bulk liners – Sande Bardwell

  • Use less costly zip ties instead of twist ties to hold electrical cords – Hope Vines

  • Pay bills via wire transfer instead of by check in order to receive discount from vendor – Judy LeBlanc

  • Discontinue purchase of sickle cell kits – Paula Dufour and Marie Dendy

Sometimes suggestions are submitted but not selected for reward because there is no way to accurately measure the related cost savings.  One such suggestion is related to the Shred-It paper bins.  These bins should be used ONLY for confidential papers.  We are charged by the volume of paper deposited into these boxes, so please use the trash cans or recycle boxes for non-confidential papers.  

• The administrative team continues to make rounds.  Nancy Crawford and Paul Kirk recently visited employees in the BioMed, QA, Infection Control, Employee Health and the Assessment Center.  There were questions related to the Medicaid payment reductions, potential reductions in force, the hospital’s financial performance, reduction in the scope of the new hospital, and preparations for a pandemic flu outbreak.  These topics are addressed below.

• As you know, we were facing a severe reduction in Medicaid reimbursement during the 2009 legislative session.  The projection was a $14 million cut for the next year.  As a result of your emails and letters, and a very concentrated effort with lawmakers by our governmental relations team, administrators, physicians and supporters of Woman’s Hospital, the Department of Health and Hospitals has indicated that the negative impact will be reduced substantially.  We expect a 6.3% payment cut for all inpatient services and a 5.65% cut in outpatient care effective this month.  These cuts are in addition to the 3.5% cut in outpatient reimbursement that was implemented in February 2009.  However, payments that we receive for the most critically ill infants may be increased; if that happens, the overall reduction could be less than $1 million.  I’d like to again thank you for your active participation and support to achieve this better-than-expected outcome so that we can continue to provide high quality services to patients and employees.  We were definitely heard during the session due to our collective effort!

• The operational budget for fiscal year 2010 is now complete.  Thanks to the efforts of the leadership team, we were able to prepare a budget that should achieve our goals through continued expense reduction and increased revenue.  There is no planned reduction in force or elimination of services.  You may have noticed new billboards announcing our services around town, and ads in the newspaper.  We are also updating our web page, and will have Woman’s Hospital sites on Facebook, You-tube and Twitter.  These are just some of the ways we’re aggressively promoting our services in order to increase awareness, which will hopefully increase volume and generate revenue.  You can help by encouraging your family and friends to use Woman’s Hospital. Remember, men and children may receive care in our outpatient areas such as audiology, therapy, lab, imaging, just to name a few.

• We continue to work with architects and contractors to reduce the overall cost of the new hospital project.  This team is doing a great job to ensure that we will have a wonderful new facility that provides our patients with state-of-the-art quality care, but yet still be affordable.

• A task force is working on plans and preparations for a possible HINI flu outbreak. Seasonal flu immunizations will begin soon, and HINI immunizations will be offered when we receive our supply of the vaccine.  The Center for Disease Control is predicting a very active flu season.  Immunizations protect you, your family, your coworkers and our patients and visitors, so please take advantage of the free flu protection benefit offered to you as an employee of Woman’s Hospital.

As always, thanks for your support and commitment.

 

A preview of the new look	Marketing Staff pose at the unveiling the new look in the cafeteria

Triathlon Training
By Anne Shawhan

We are excited and proud of our members and Woman's employees for a great Triathlon race season! These events have made such an impact on women who never envisioned themselves as "athletes" and best of all - they are now part of our WH family! The Rocketchix Triathlon series was it's biggest ever this year with over 400 racers. We are seeing more and more women attempting their first triathlon (swim,bike,run). It's amazing to see these women all ages, sizes and backgrounds accomplishing goals they never thought possible." If you were a participant or an observer of the race it was hard to miss the enthusiasm and bright pink uniforms of the Woman's Center for Wellness Team. Their motto: T.R.I. - Train, Race, Inspire!
If this inspires you to begin to train for the next one - the Fitness Club at Woman's Center for Wellness offers an 8-week program for the beginner triathlete and those looking to improve their performance (and for those who just want the cute outfit and finish the race before sundown). Keep an eye out for off-season training programs starting this October. Call Anne at 924-8190 for information.
 

Amy Rouse, Angela Page, Erin Huddleston, Ellen Jenkins, Gina Golda, Janie Pearson, McCall Dempsey, Kristy Mayes, Susan Goudeau, Dr. Liz. Seiter. Back Row: Alanna Williams, Janet Britt, Shelly Worhtington, Anne Shawhan and daughter Madeleine, Liz Harris, Lauren Whittle.

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: 

HerHeart Cardiovascular Wellness for Women – Woman’s Hospital and the Baton Rouge Clinic are now offering a comprehensive cardiovascular wellness program. The HerHeart program is unique in its blending of traditional and emerging technology to accurately identify women at increased risk for developing heart disease.  Join Dr. David Carmouche for this informative hour and be proactive in managing your cardiovascular health. 

September 8, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM, Free! 

The Facts and Myths on Nutritional Vitamin and Health Supplements – Natural and herbal treatments for symptoms and illnesses have risen in popularity.  Sorting through the various brands, types, and health claims is even trickier than reviewing fad diets!  In this 45-minute education course, our Registered Dietitian will give you the facts on supplements and provide you with the information needed to choose what is best for you.

September 9, 10:30 AM– 11:15 AM or 5:30 PM – 6:15 PM, Free!

Keeping the Pieces Together When it All Seems to be Falling Apart – What your body never had, but you always needed, an owner’s manual to aging gracefully and staying young inside and out.  Discover which pieces seem to fall apart, how to put them back, and how to keep them where they should be.

September 22, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM, Free! 

Women, Metabolism and Weight Loss – Join us for an interactive discussion about the latest research on weight loss, metabolism, and what this means for women.

September 30, 10:0 AM – 11:00 AM or 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Free!

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.

Louisiana Saturday Night Cooking Class – What makes the fall season in South Louisiana so unique?  The food, the fun and the football tailgaters! Learn how to prepare and modify your favorite tailgating and party foods.  Create the same dishes we love but with less fat, sodium, and calories.  These recipes are sure to score big with your family and friends.

September 16, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM or 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM, call for pricing

Women Fitness and Weight Loss  - Comprehensive 3-month program that includes individual consultations with our exercise physiologist and registered dietitian plus 36 one-hour exercise sessions, two metabolic testing sessions, program education binder, heart rate monitor and diet minder journal.

September 14 – December 9, exercise sessions are held on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, 6:00 PM- 7:00 PM, call for pricing. Payment plans available.

Fitness Programs

Posture 101 – This 6-week program consists of evaluating your posture then developing and practicing your individualized posture program. Taught by Jane Trahan, PTA, Certified Personal Trainer and will include other disciplines to examine other ways to address posture issues.

October 8 – November 12, Thursdays,  6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Swimming Base Training – Build endurance, strength and speed by participating in this 10-week swim training program.  Maintaining good technique will also be the focus of each 90-minute group session.  The coach will format 2 independent practices for each participant.

October 16 – December 18, Fridays, 5:30 AM – 7:00 AM

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.

September 24, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Fibromyalgia 101 - Learning how to manage the cycle of pain and taking control over your symptoms are keys to living well with this condition.  This introductory class offers safe and gentle exercise, ideas for pain management, self-help strategies, and lifestyle modifications.

September 29, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM

Therapy Center Children’s Programs 

TEAM Readers - Does your child struggle with reading, read below grade level and/or have dyslexia?  TEAM Readers is an eight-session program geared for children in the 1st through 5th grade.  Using a language-based approach to reading, a certified speech-language pathologist will help your child improve reading fluency and comprehension, increase vocabulary, improve word attack (similar to phonics), and learn decoding skills.
No classes November 24 and November 26 – Thanksgiving break

1st & 2nd Grade – October 13 – December 8, Tuesdays, 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM

3rd – 5th Grade – October 15 – December 10, Thursdays, 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM