ST. JOHN’S MARCI JULESON PUBLISHED IN ACADEMIC JOURNAL
Marci Juleson, RN at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital recently wrote on Honor’s Thesis on Issues and Concerns of Individual Living with Heart Failure. Her thesis was published in Lambert Academic Publishing (LAP). "Individuals with heart failure take on new responsibilities as their symptoms change," stated Juleson. "This affects all aspects of their life. This publication is an honors thesis that covers medications, statistics, and alternative therapies, as well as interviews three participants who were willing to share their stories of how heart failure has changed their lives." In college, Juleson enrolled in a research class where she had on opportunity to research heart failure, so she already had much of the information collected. She then enrolled in an honors class to write a thesis on the subject. "I soon discovered that research on Heart Failure was interesting, but there was a lot of just plain old information to review. I wanted to write a thesis more about the people with heart failure. I wanted to delve into how they cope with their condition on a daily basis." Juleson’s publication reviews everything from statistics to alternative therapies. "As a nurse, I feel it if important to keep up on medical changes other than Western Medicine. The Western Medicine philosophy is that when people get sick they must recover. The only problem is that people with heart failure never fully recover. For the rest of their lives, they must maintain a medical regimen that helps their symptoms." Juleson added, "As nurses and family members of people with heart failure, we need to remember the emotional aspects that this disease can have. Heart Failure will not go away, and these individuals are reminded of that every day. It can be very emotional for them, and they are sometimes reluctant to talk about it. It is important for family and health care workers to show compassion and understanding for these patients. St. John’s Lutheran Hospital has a wonderful group of staff nurses and aides who are willing to help patients. I look forward everyday to making a difference!"
ST. JOHN’S NURSE EARNS BACHELOR’S DEGREE WITH HIGH HONORS
A St. John’s Lutheran Hospital Acute Care Nurse, Heather Brown, RN has recently earned her Bachelors of Science Degree in Nursing from Western Governor’s University with a 4.0 grade point average. "I wanted to get my BSN in order to improve the quality and professionalism of care that I can offer the patients at St. John’s," stated Brown. Riki Cochran, Acute Care Manager at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital is proud to see her employees advancing their education. "Heather has really impressed me with her ability to connect professionally and personally with her patients. She is a very compassionate, caring nurse who is truly devoted to making those she cares for as happy as possible. Heather is anxious to learn and diligently looks for ways to improve on a daily basis – ultimately striving to be the best person she can be. She does a great job of juggling family life, work life, and school life, and I respect her go-get ‘em attitude!" Brown also plans on taking the next step in her academic career in the near future. "By completing my BSN, I became eligible, and have enrolled in a Masters of Nursing program to become a Mental Health Nurse Practitioner." Brown has been a nurse for 7 years, over two of which have been at St. John’s, and she was the recent recipient of the hospital’s Quarterly Caught ya Caring award.
ST. JOHN’S ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT EARNES PRESTIGIOUS CERTIFICATION
Tanya Goyen, CAP, and Administrative Assistant to the Vice President of Nursing Services and the Vice President of Allied Health at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital has earned her Administrative Professional Certification. In order to receive this prestigious certification, Goyen studied diligently for months in preparation for the 12 and one half hours of required testing. She travelled to Coeur d’Alene in May and sat for four exams in the areas of Office Systems and Technology, Office Administration, Management, and Advanced Organizational Management. She received her results in June, and was thrilled to see that her hard work and studying had paid off. She scored well above passing marks on all four tests. In order to maintain her Certified Administrative Professional title, Goyen must earn 90 continuing education credits and recertify every five years. Goyen is one of few people in Montana and the United States who have taken and passed the exams required to be a Certified Administrative Professional. "As of November of 2009, under 4,700 people held this certification in the United States, only 12 of which reside in the state of Montana," stated Goyen Cathy Wolfe, Vice President of Nursing Services at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital is proud of Goyen’s accomplishment. "This certification will allow Tanya to excel in the administrative area as she prepares to receive her Master’s Degree in Business from Western Governors. Tanya is organized, conscientious, professional, and extremely bright. Working with her is a privilege." Goyen has also been a member of the International Association of Administrative Professionals since February.
Marvin, Andy, Dale, & BJ
ST. JOHN’S PLANT OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT BECOMES LICENCED BOILER OPERATORS
B.J. Purdy, Marvin Mickelson, Dale Mohr, and Andy Williamson, the four staff members of the St. John’s Lutheran Hospital Plant Operations Department have been working and studying very hard in their quest to become licensed low pressure boiler operators within the state of Montana. In order to become licensed, each individual had to have 40 hours of hands-on training with the low pressure boiler and complete a 40 hour class, at the end of which, Purdy, Mickelson, Mohr, and Williamson had to pass an exam. This exam, however, did not grant them their licensure. It merely allowed them to sit for the state exam. In order to pass the state exam and become licensed, the men had to show expert knowledge of the functions and safety features of operating a low pressure boiler. They took the state exam on June 9 and received the good news on June 24th that all four had passed. Each of them was granted licensure for operating a low pressure boiler in Montana. "The staff of the Plant Operations department obtaining this licensure is a big part of patient safety as St. John’s. The boilers are the heart of the mechanical structure of the hospital. They provide all of the hot water to the building, along with humidity as needed," stated Tony Rebo, Plant Operations Manager. "I am very proud of my team for their accomplishment. They were very dedicated and worked extremely hard throughout this arduous licensure process."
Jess Shaw, Jordan Refsland, Devon Hoyer, and Sam Dasios
ST. JOHN’S HIRES AREA STUDENTS FOR SUMMER INTERN JOBS
Libby, MT – St. John’s Lutheran Hospital is proud to announce that they have hired four local students as summer interns. Devon Hoyer, Jordan Refsland, and Jess Shaw, all of Libby; and Sam Dasios of Troy will spend the summer working in various departments of the hospital. All four interns are in college and studying to be professionals in the medical field.
Devon Hoyer is attending Linfield College in McMinnville, OR where she is studying biology with the hopes of entering the medical field. "Originally, I was looking at a nursing degree, but after working in the Rehabilitative Services Department at St. John’s, I am leaning toward physical or speech therapy," stated Hoyer. "I wanted to work at St. John’s this summer to figure out where my passion in the medical profession lies, and St. John’s is giving me the opportunity to try a little piece of everything in the hospital. It’s an awesome experience! I want to thank St. John’s for the opportunity to expand my horizons. We are very fortunate to have a hospital in our community that offers its youth this experience," added Hoyer.
Jordan Refsland is attending Flathead Valley Community College and is working towards earning the degree of Associates in Radiology. "I hope to be able to take my degree and come back to Libby to get a job right her at St. John’s," exclaimed Refsland. "I applied for the job here this summer in an effort to get a better feel for the hospital environment, and I have certainly been able to do that. I am working in several departments and getting a feel for different areas of the hospital." I believe that my experiences this summer will help me decide if I’m choosing the right career. This intern position will also help me get a head start in my schooling," Refsland added.
Jess Shaw will be working in the Nursing Division all summer and is attending school at Flathead Valley Community College, after which she plans to attend Carroll College to finish pursuing her nursing degree. "I want to work with babies and delivery, and someday hopefully return to St. John’s to work until I retire," stated Shaw. "I wanted good hands on experience this summer to help me decide what part of the nursing field I want to pursue, and I am glad that the nursing team at St. John’s has been so welcoming, informative, and motivating so far!"
Sam Dasios is attending the University of Montana in Missoula, and is working toward an Applied Health Sciences Major. "I hope to have a health related job whether it be health education, health training, health promotion, or helping clients with nutrition and diabetes control," stated Dasios. "Working at St. John’s this summer is a great opportunity to fulfill my required internship in a facility related to my major. It’s also so close to home and very convenient," he commented. "This internship will help me gain valuable knowledge and experience in the various health related fields offered here at St. John’s. I get some practice communicating with patients, finding ways to assist them, and generally gaining experience that will benefit me in the future. St. John’s is a great place to work!"
Judy Marshall, SJLH Human Resources Manager is glad to have these four interns on board this summer. "St. John’s summer hire program provides an opportunity for four students to gain valuable exposure to the healthcare industry, acquire hands-on experience in one or more departments/fields, earn some income to support their educational pursuits, and assist Hospital departments with vacation coverage. An added benefit for the Hospital is the enhanced sense of excitement and enthusiasm the students bring to our environment. Ultimately, we hope that by providing a genuine work experience, more college-bound students will choose healthcare as their long-term career choice."
ST. JOHN’S EMPLOYEES GIVE BACK TO FAMILIES IN PARTNERSHIP
Libby, MT – The employees at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital are once again reaching out into the community and giving back to help local not-for-profits. On June 25th, SJLH held a hospital wide employee jeans day to raise money for Families in Partnership to help pay for lead testing kits. Employees were given the chance to wear jeans for a donation to the cause. Together, they raised over $260 for the worthy organization. Families in Partnership/Early Head Start is a federally funded program that serves low income pregnant mothers and children ages zero to three. As part of their health service, they provide lead screening which measures the level of lead in a child’s blood. Lead is a poison that can cause anemia, learning difficulties, and other medical problems in small children. If screening indicates a high lead level, the child is referred to a health professional for evaluation and treatment. Treatment may include removing the source of lead, nutrition counseling, iron supplements, medication to remove the lead from the blood, follow-up testing of the child’s blood, or referral for developmental testing. "Our team here at St. John’s is happy to be able to help Families in Partnership serve our community by providing funding for lead testing," stated KC Hoyer, Marketing Manager at St. John’s. "The over all generosity and philanthropic nature of the people in Southern Lincoln County never fails to humble and amaze me. The employees at St. John’s have proven to be no exception!" - 6/10
ST. JOHN’S SLEEP LAB DEPARTMENT RECEIVES PATIENT SATISFACTION AWARD!
The Sleep Lab Department at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital has won the battle for the Quarterly Patient Satisfaction Award (QPSA)! This award is given out quarterly to a St. John’s Lutheran Hospital Department that has received consistently high patient care performance scores. Patients who have received services at St. John’s are given a patient satisfaction survey to complete and turn in with their thoughts and opinions on it. The QPSA award is based on those completed surveys. Scoring a 98.7% on patient satisfaction for the months of January, February, March of 2010, St. John’s Sleep Lab Department was awarded the traveling patient satisfaction trophy, a $100 team award, and individual employee certificates of appreciation for their hard work, and dedication to their patients and their profession. The St. John’s Sleep Lab currently houses a 4-member staff: Department Manager Robert O’Rourke, CRT RPSGT; Andrea Jordan, CRT; Gina Villani; and Sarah Hogan, RRT make up the winning team. "Our Sleep Techs, Andrea Jordan and Sarah Hogan, make every effort to provide a great experience for our patients, and to offer top quality tests. The patient satisfaction award was one of the results of their efforts. There is a lot of background work that goes into each test as well, such as physician and vendor coordination, follow-up, and trouble shooting patient concerns. We have a great team to make this happen for our patients, and it shows," stated O’Rourke "Our job in the sleep lab is to provide our patients with high quality and reliable sleep diagnostic analysis, right here in Libby. We work closely with Board Certified Sleep Medicine Physician, Dr. Rolf Holle to manage patient care through sleep evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment. The best part about our program is that it allows the patient to receive all of their follow-up right here by their primary care provider, saving them the stress of traveling out of town for a doctor’s visit," explained O’Rourke. It is estimated that 40 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep disorders, and an additional 20-30 million are affected by intermittent sleep-related problems. What is unfortunate is that an overwhelming majority of sleep disorders remain undiagnosed and untreated. There are 84 classified sleep disorders, which can affect the quality of your sleep. They include sleepwalking, sleep terrors, tooth-grinding, shift work sleep disorder, daytime sleep attacks, and more. For more information about sleep disorders call Robert at 293-0179.
ST. JOHN’S LUTHERAN HOSPITAL CATCHES IT’S EMPLOYEES CARING!
At an all staff meeting on June 16, 2010, the St. John’s Lutheran Hospital Caught Ya Caring Award winners were announced. "The Caught Ya Caring program was created to give patients and their visitors an avenue to recognize individual hospital staff members and physicians for care that they feel is above and beyond the call of duty," stated KC Hoyer, Marketing Manager at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital. "Since the program started in July of 2008, we have had over 690 certificates turned in recognizing outstanding care. Recently, we decided to change the way that we award our employees who have been recognized for the excellent work that they do. In the past, we have awarded departments that have collectively received the most certificates. We are now focusing more on individual effort and award the top three employees who have been most recognized by our patients and their families. This has put a fun spin on the program, and has been the start of some healthy competition here at St. John’s. We encourage our patients and their family members to fill out the Caught Ya Caring certificates that are located in departments and waiting areas, and to be specific on them about who they are recognizing." This quarter, the first place Caught Ya Caring Award was given to Heather Brown, RN for her work in the Acute Care Department during the months of January, February, and M arch of 2010. In second place was Anne Nicks, RN also in the Acute Care Department; and coming in third was Cindy Sullivan, OT from the Rehabilitative Services Department. All three individuals were awarded with certificates celebrating their accomplishments and a $25 SJLH dietary meal card. For more information on the Caught Ya Caring program, or to find out how you can recognize an employee of St. John’s Lutheran Hospital for going above and beyond the call of duty, call KC Hoyer at 293-0106.
PUT YOUR CELL PHONE ON ICE
Libby, MT –The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that on a yearly average, over 1,500,000 emergency room patients can not physically provide contact information to emergency personnel. This is a problem with a fairly simple solution – put your cell phone on ICE. There are over 300 million cell phone users in the United States today and some, if not most, of those users have no idea that their cell phones can be the best source of emergency contact information, even if they are not the ones using it. The simple act of identifying your emergency contacts in your phone and labeling those people as ICE (In Case of Emergency) can help emergency responders and emergency room personnel contact your loved ones if you are in an emergency situation and are incapacitated. Lance Ercanbrack, M.D., General Surgeon at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital is an enormous advocate of the ICE program. "In very stressful times when people are injured, the ICE program makes it significantly easier to contact loved ones," stated Ercanbrack. He went on to explain that ICE has been shared with the emergency staff at St. John’s. "This discussion came up in one of our Trauma Conferences, which we use as a forum to discuss how we can better provide trauma care to the residents of Lincoln County. We were discussing a recent incident in which we were able to contact the family of an out of town emergency room trauma patient who was injured because he had ICE programmed into his cell phone. This made the job of locating emergency contacts and family members a breeze for the emergency personnel, and they were able to focus all of their attention on the patient, and give him the best possible care. We recommend that all owners of cell phones make sure that ICE is programmed into their phones." What does putting your cell phone on ICE mean? ICE stands for In Case of Emergency. It is a world wide program that enables emergency personnel to identify injured people and contact their loved ones to obtain necessary medical information. The program was started in the mid-2000’s and encourages people to enter emergency contact information into their phonebooks on their cells under the name ICE. You can also list multiple emergency contacts by entering ICE1, ICE2, ICE3, and so on as contacts in your phone book. How do you put your phone on ICE? You can add ICE to your cell phone in just a few easy steps. On your cellular phone, add a new contact to your phone book. Next you will enter the letters ICE, followed by the first name of the emergency contact you are entering. After that, you will enter the appropriate phone number for this emergency contact person. If you have more than one ICE contact, simply enter ICE(#), and the contact name. Each ICE name and number should be under its own contact in your cell phone. What do my ICE contacts need to know about me? It is important that your ICE contacts be provided with your phone list of family members, primary care physicians, and also your main work contact. They should be equipped with a list of your medical conditions such as allergies, current medications, and previous medical procedures. Make sure that you keep all of your information current and up to date with each of your contacts, and that you notify them of any changes in your medical history. What if I lock my cell phone? For security reasons, many cell phone users now lock their mobiles, requiring a pass code to be entered in order to use the phone. While this does hinder the emergency personnel’s ability to access ICE, many cell phone manufacturers have provided a way to specify some text to be displayed while the cell phone is locked. Contact your cell phone manufacturer to see if this is available on your phone, and to learn how to set it up. What if I don’t have a cell phone? If you do not own a mobile phone, there are websites available for you to print off an ICE pocket card which can be carried in your wallet or purse. The card is easily recognizable by emergency personnel, and provides a prominent place for you to put in your medical history, as well as your emergency contact and physician information. It is recommended that this card be placed directly behind your driver’s license in your wallet. One website where you can find the free ICE pocket card is www.medids.com. What are some other helpful ICE safety tips for me and my loved ones? • Remember, as you are adding ICE to your phone that day time phone numbers are not always effective, as many people work during the day. ICE contacts should include both day and night time phone numbers. • While driving, clip your cell phone onto your seatbelt; in the event of an accident you cell phone will not be thrown out of the car, or jostled around in the vehicle, making it difficult, if not impossible for emergency responders to find. • Log on to www.icesticker.com and sign up to receive an ICE sticker. These stickers can be placed on the back of your cell phone, alerting emergency personnel to the fact that you have emergency contact information programmed in to your mobile device. • If you have a children who do not have cell phones, log onto www.mationalemergencyid.com to find out how you can get a safe and effective national emergency identification card for your children to carry. • Now go put your cell on ICE!
ST. JOHN’S EMPLOYEE HEALTH AND WELLNESS DEPARTMENT RECEIVES SUPPORT SERVICES CUSTOMER SATISFACTION AWARD
Libby/Montana, St. John’s Lutheran Hospital Employee Health and Wellness Department has won the SJLH Support Services Customer Satisfaction Award for their outstanding support service performance scores. The semi-annual award is based on surveys that are completed by the hospital department managers for services that are provided to them by other departments within the hospital. Scoring a 98.6% on customer satisfaction for the months of January, February, and March of 2010, Susan Horelick, the one woman department also known as the SJLH Employee Health and Wellness Department was awarded the traveling customer satisfaction trophy, a $100 award, and an employee certificate of appreciation for her hard work and dedication to her customers and her profession. Horelick is very proud to be receiving this award from the other staff members at St. John’s. "I was happy to receive the Support Services Customer Service Award because that means that staff from other departments in the hospital think I am meeting their needs in the areas of Employee Health and Infection Prevention," stated Horelick. "This is gratifying because much of the time I am either hounding staff to get flu shots or other needed immunizations to protect themselves and our patients, or I am being the hand hygiene cop with a clipboard and spending time observing staff going in and out of rooms to monitor hand hygiene compliance! I know that both of these activities can be annoying for staff, so getting satisfaction scores high enough to earn this award tells me that the they do understand the importance of those activities in assuring we are delivering the highest quality of care and safety for our patients. That is award enough!" "The money that I received from this award is being used to purchase new infection prevention signage for our patient rooms. This new signage is more user friendly for our staff, as well as our patients, families, and visitors. While I may be a department of one, each staff member at St. John’s is involved with infection prevention, so it only makes sense to use the money to help everyone continue to make infection prevention the top priority."
W. R. GRACE & CO. RENEWS DONATION TO ST. JOHN’S LUTHERAN HOSPITAL
Libby, MT June 21, 2010 - W. R. Grace & Co. has donated $250,000 to St. John's Lutheran Hospital in Libby, Montana for the eleventh consecutive year. Since 2000, Grace has helped St. John’s provide high quality healthcare to the residents of South Lincoln County. The donations (totaling more than $2.75 million) have been used to establish a clinic for people with asbestos-related illnesses, train medical staff, purchase equipment (such as a Magnetic Resonance Imaging or MRI unit and new devices for a state-of-the-art laboratory), treat patients, and subsidize medical procedures. "As the sole community hospital in the area, we have had to continually increase our services and upgrade our equipment to meet the needs of our community," said Bill Patten, St. John’s CEO. He added, "We are thankful to Grace for its financial support over the past eleven years." In addition to the hospital donations, Grace funds a medical expense program for current and former residents of Libby who have asbestos-related conditions. To date, Grace has spent more than $17 million on the Libby Medical Program, which has over 1,000 current enrollees. More information about this program can be found at www.libbymedicalprogram.com.
ST. JOHN’S LUTHERAN HOSPITAL DIETARY DEPARTMENT STARTS TO "GO GREEN"
The Dietary Department at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital recently began a journey which will ultimately help the hospital, the community, and the environment. Going "green" is very important to Dietary Department Manager, Julie MacDonald. "I feel that even the little things we do can add up to making a difference in all of our lives and toward the sustainability of our planet."
A little change can go a long way. The department’s "Go Green" campaign is still in its first stages, but they are already seeing a difference in the mindset of the staff and community members who use their services, as well as in their pocketbooks.
According to MacDonald, the decision to Go Green was unanimous among the dietary staff. "We know that our services have a huge impact on our environment as far as waste goes, so we decided to cut back on non-biodegradable containers made from Styrofoam and aluminum."
Education was the first step. They posted signs throughout the dinning area and advertised in the employee newsletter encouraging staff and visitors to use the washable china in lieu of deposable Styrofoam plates and cups. "It was a slow start because we were actually teaching our staff an entirely new way to look at things," commented MacDonald. "Now that it has caught on, we are noticing the added bonus of a cost savings in our paper products! Did you know that it takes longer than 1,000 years for oil-based Styrofoam or any plastic made from petroleum to break down; and it will never become one with the planet, with the earth or water? That should be reason enough to change."
"We have always recycled on a minimal basis, but now we pay close attention to our cardboard and paper products, as well as our cans. To add to that, we make sure to shut our computers off at the end of every day, and we encourage other departments in the hospital to do the same whenever they can," stated MacDonald.
MacDonald is proud of her staff and the employees at St. John’s who have jumped on board with this campaign.
For more information, contact the SJLH Dietary Department at 293-0128.
Easy Tips for Going Green
Save Water • Fill your bottle with filtered tap water. • Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth and shaving. • Take shorter showers. • Use the dishwasher and washing machine only when they are full to avoid small partial loads which use the same amount of water as a full load. • Fix leaky faucets.
Save Energy • Shut down and unplug electronics. • Wash your clothes in cold water. • Turn off the lights when you leave a room. • Unplug any electronics that you are not using. • Dry your clothes on a clothes line instead of in the dryer. • Turn your computer off at night before bed. • Lower the temperature on your hot water heater. • Buy energy efficient light bulbs.
Reduce Waste • Exchange CDs, DVDs, and books instead of buying new. • Use refurbished electronics. • Use kitchenware products made of recycled materials. • Use both sides of the paper when printing and copying. • Walk or bike to work, instead of driving. If you must drive, consider car pooling. • Pay your bills online. • Buy rechargeable batteries. • Take reusable bags to the grocery store instead of using the paper or plastic they provide. • Start recycling.
ST. JOHN’S HIRES MATERIALS MANAGEMENT MANAGER
St. John’s Lutheran Hospital recently welcomed Lauralee Farnham as the newest member of their management team. Farnham has been hired to fill the Materials Management Manager position and has the immense experience of having worked in her field for over 30 years. Highly qualified and recommended, Farnham brings with her 28 years of experience in healthcare Materials Management. Her most recent position was with Pullman Regional Hospital in Pullman, Washington where she served as the Materials Management Director. While there, one of the highlights of her career was being responsible for the acquisition of the medical equipment for their new hospital. "It was the highpoint of my career, and I am excited to be able to share my experience again here at St. John’s. I love healthcare and meeting the needs of others," stated Farnham. In addition, Farnham is looking forward to working with her staff here at St. John’s. "My hope for our department is to have the most current technology available for Materials Management while providing an efficient and pleasant working environment for my staff and for the hospital as a whole." Farnham comes to Libby with her husband Michael who is a Senior Ag Investor for the State of Idaho. The Farnhams have two children and 5 grandchildren, including a new set of twins.
ST. JOHN’S VICE PRESIDENT OF ALLIED HEALTH EARNES MASTERS DEGREE
Jeanie Gentry, MHA, and Vice President of Allied Health at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital has recently earned her master’s degree in Health Administration. Gentry took her classes on-line through Montana State University. "This degree is very similar to a Masters of Business Administration, only it is healthcare focused since our field varies so much from most other businesses," stated Gentry. "I completed most of my class work at night after everyone else in the house went to bed; hence the severe sleep deprivation phase I went through!"
Gentry completed an intense curriculum including evidence based management, accounting & budgeting, healthcare economics, healthcare finance & reimbursement, human resources, healthcare marketing & strategy, health quality techniques, applied statistics, health information management, health law & ethics, and evidence based management in order to earn her degree. Her capstone thesis examined the effects that a Regional Electronic Health Record would have on Emergency Room Physician Satisfaction. The study focused on the implementation of the HIEM (Health Information Exchange of Montana) software. Gentry needed 40 credits in order to complete the degree. She completed 43, and graduated with all A’s.
Earning this degree while working full-time would be a challenge for anyone. Add to that triplets and family health issues and you find one very focused and determined individual. "It was definitely a challenge to do this on top of spending time with my family, coping with my husband’s cancer, and moving from Troy to Libby, but together as a family, we managed to make it all work! Sometimes, I think that it even kept me from absolutely imploding when I was going through a very difficult time in my life. However, I couldn’t be happier than to say that I’ve completed the degree!"
Bill Patten, CEO at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital is proud of Gentry for her great accomplishment. "Jeanie believes in life-long learning. She recently modeled this belief in a very tangible way when she graduated with her Master’s in Healthcare Administration. This degree will serve her well in her role as a member of my senior administration team. I applaud Jeanie’s commitment to completing this degree while carrying a full workload (and then some)! Strong work, indeed!"
FIRE STARTER AWARDS SPARKED AT ST. JOHN’S
St. John’s Lutheran Hospital recently awarded five "fire starter" awards to people who have gone above and beyond for the organization in the past year. "The fire starter award, admittedly, did not begin at St. John’s, but is a continuation and expansion on a tradition suggested by The Studer Group. The Studer Group is an organization which focuses on pushing hospitals to be the very best that they can be, and they are the group leading St. John’s Lutheran Hospital down it’s very own Journey to Excellence," commented Bill Patten, CEO of St. John’s Lutheran Hospital. The first of five awards given this year was given to Linda Matthews for her contribution and dedication to her patients and to building the SJLH Chemotherapy and Infusion Center at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital. The second fire starter award went to David Broderick for his leadership in the installation of the 16-slice CT to the Imaging Department. Thirdly, a fire starter award was presented to Becky Brundin for her accomplishments in the Diabetes Department at St. John’s and for being elected as the Montana Diabetes Educator of the Year. The fourth fire starter award was given to Lyn Thompson for her dedication, passion, and never-ending work in the laboratory. The final fire starter award was given to Dr. Jay Maloney for years of selfless service to St. John’s Lutheran Hospital, the Libby Volunteer Ambulance, the David Thompson Search and Rescue, and the community at large. "It gave me great joy to present these five individuals with Fire Starter Awards. They are a hard working group of people who have proven themselves, as well as their dedication to our organization and it’s Journey to Excellence," concluded Patten.
ST. JOHN’S RECOGNIZES DEDICATED EMPLOYEES
As part of hospital week, St. John’s Lutheran Hospital recognized employees who have demonstrated their dedication to the organization through longevity. All St. John’s employees who were recognized received a certificate of appreciation, as well as a St. John’s Lutheran Hospital lapel pin with a gem to represent their anniversary year.
St. John’s employees recognized for 5 years of service to the organization, and receiving a gold plated pin included Janie Bache, Jason Beck, Patricia Bernard, Patti Brown, May Cantelope, Joe Chopyak, David Edwards, Sandra Johnson, Mark Kroll, Bill Patten, Alana Smith, Ashley Thompson, Shawn Thrasher, Danell Wagner, and Gail Wasson.
Employees recognized for ten years of service to St. John’s and receiving a ruby stone in their pin were Nancy Barton, Tina Carlock, Shawn Clum, Martha Dahm, Sharon David, Dr. Lance Ercanbrack, Ruth Miller, Jay Moody, Carolyn Peterson, Deb Stoddard, Betty Textor, Faith Volkenand, and Glenda Williams.
Employees receiving an emerald stone in their pin for their 15 years of service were Melissa Rider and Cindy Sullivan.
Employees who celebrated their 20-year anniversary at St. John’s and received a diamond in their pin this year included Helena Cassidy, Debra Crawford, and Jane Pickering.
And exceeding the 20 year mark this year were three St. John’s employees. Susan Horelick received a certificate and gift for her 25 years at St. John’s. Finally, three employees, Loren Clausen, Sue Graham, and Randy Wiza were honored with certificates and gifts for their 30 years of service to the hospital.
DR. JAY MALONEY HONORED AS FINALIST IN COUNTRY DOCTOR OF THE YEAR COMPETITION
On Tuesday, May 11, Dr. Jay Maloney, Director of Emergency Services at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital, was honored for being one of four physicians chosen from 70 nominations submitted from across the Untied States, as a finalist for the coveted Country Doctor of the Year Award for 2009. The competition for this award was stiff. Seventy physicians with a variety of certifications and numerous years of medical practice and service to their communities were nominated, and four were chosen as finalists. "While Dr. Maloney didn’t bring home the award, he was a finalist and that was no small feat," stated KC Hoyer, Marketing Manager at St. John’s. "Dr. Maloney has been the stronghold in our Emergency Department and the inspiration that has motivated our volunteer ambulance and search and rescue services to be what they are today. He will always be a winner in our eyes." Dr. Maloney has been practicing emergency medicine at St. John’s for over 20 years. He guided the Emergency Department through a major renovation in 2002 that combined the Emergency Department with the Prompt Care Clinic. He has also seen the intense transformation that healthcare has taken in the last 20 years. Bill Patten, CEO honored Dr. Maloney for his lifetime achievements at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital and for all the contributions he has made to make our Emergency Department - one of the finest in northwest Montana. "Dr. Maloney is the mainstay in our ER," stated Patten. "Through his leadership we have seen this critical department evolve and grow to meet the demanding trauma related needs of our area. South Lincoln County is a better place to live because of his contributions. More than most doctors, Dr. Maloney loves the practice of medicine. He is a great teacher, both to his patients and also to his staff. You can see the passion in his eyes when he has the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life. We are a better hospital, and more personally, we are better people because of knowing Dr. Maloney."
Hospital Dietary Staff Members Earn Certification
St. John’s Lutheran Hospital’s Laurie Hutchinson, SSC and Candy Clark, SSC have recently gone above and beyond the call of duty to become Serv-Safe Certified. The Serve Safe Training and Certification Program focuses on the entire realm of food service safety, and leads the way in setting high food safety standards. The numerous topics and broad spectrum which Hutchinson and Clark were tested on include food allergies, pathogens, micro-organisms, cooling and heating processes, safe serving temperatures, and safe storing temperatures. The two were even able to stay right here in Libby at Flathead Valley Community College for their seminar and testing on April 13, 2010 "This training not only teaches all of the basic information, it also helps you understand all of the food safety risks faced by your operation", stated Hutchinson. "Once you are aware of the risks, you can find ways to reduce them, which will help you keep your operation, your customers, and your employee’s safe." Ms. Clark added that the program leads the way in setting high food safety standards. "The Serv-Safe Training and Certification Program provided us with the knowledge, skills, and abilities that we need to do our job." Julie MacDonald, CDM, CFFP, SSC and Dietary Department Manager at St. John’s became Serv-Safe Certified herself a few years ago. "St. John’s is committed to providing safe food for our customers. We try to build consumer satisfaction and confidence by training our staff on everything from the basics of hand washing to more complex topics, such as food born pathogens," stated MacDonald when asked why she encouraged her staff to take this training. Hutchinson was been in the food profession for 36 years, almost 3 of which have been with St. John’s. Clark has been with St. John’s for almost 2 years, and in the food profession for 16 years. For more information on the St. John’s Food Service Department, please call 293-0127.
Eve Moe, CST at St. John's uses the new Evotech System.
ST. JOHN’S GETS LATEST TECHNOLOGY IN ENDOSCOPE STERILIZATION
St. John’s Lutheran Hospital Surgery Department has recently purchased the first commercially available, FDA approved system that both cleans and disinfects endoscopes. The EVOTECH Endoscope Cleaner and Reprocessor System establishes a consistently high standard of automated endoscope cleaning and high level disinfection.
When Karen Edwards, RN, BSN, and Surgical Services Manager at St. John’s discovered that the company, Advanced Sterilization Products was coming out with this new system, she was excited about what it would mean for her staff and for the community they serve. "Prior to the EVOTECH going on the market in February of this year, all endoscopes had to be washed, scrubbed by hand, and then disinfected. This was very labor intensive for my staff, and unfortunately left room for human error."
The EVOTECH System provides a 33-minute reprocessing cycle time with a high standard of automated cleaning and high-level disinfection, both of which go above and beyond the professional society guidelines for manual cleaning of these instruments. "On top of eliminating the risk of human error in the cleaning of endoscopes, this new system allows faster turn-around time of the instruments and enables my staff to spend more time completing patient related tasks." commented Edwards.
The EVOTECH System’s ground breaking technology and advanced features provide the perfect solution to maximize efficiency and consistency. It includes several features that benefit the staff of the Surgical Department at St. John’s, as well as its patients. Among these features is a monitoring system that eliminates the need for staff to handle high-level disinfectant helping to eliminate the chance of staff exposure, and automated leak detection which helps ensure endoscope integrity.
"The EVOTECH System offers complete confidence that endoscope reprocessing is safe, fast, and consistent every time through a systematic process which includes 8 cleaning and disinfection cycles along with a computer tracking of all cycle parameters," concluded Edwards. "It is a great addition to St. John’s and will help us continue to provide top notch healthcare right here in Lincoln County."
The SJLH Diabetes Staff: Abbe Heemeier, Becky Brundin, Joan Bush, and Joni Moore
DIABETES PROGRAM AT ST. JOHN’S IS RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY BY THE ADA
For the over 17 million Americans with diabetes, having access to the education and ongoing support they need to successfully manage their condition is nothing less than vital.
St. John’s Lutheran Hospital Diabetes Department is proud to announce that the SJLH Diabetes Education Program has been recognized by the American Diabetes Association (ADA).
According to Becky Brundin, CDE, and Diabetes Department Manager at St. John’s, the application process to meet the required criteria to gain ADA recognition is lengthy, but well worth the effort. In order to receive the ADA recognition, the program at St. John’s had to meet national standards for credentials of instructors; tracking of data for national information bases, continuous quality improvement, and the use of ADA approved curriculum and educational materials. Because of the dynamic nature of diabetes, these standards are reviewed and revised approximately every five years by key organizational and federal agencies within the diabetes professional community
"We are proud to say that we have been providing specialized services to people with diabetes in Lincoln County for several years now. We love being able to provide the care that we do, and having ADA recognition really shows our patients and our community that we are dedicated to our profession," stated Brundin
St. John’s has two Diabetes Educators; Brundin and Joan Bush, CDE who are specialty trained and certified. They keep abreast of the latest trends in diabetes products, services and care by attending continuing education seminars and workshops; the latest of which was the Johnson & Johnson Diabetes Institute in San Jose, CA. This particular institute seeks to make diabetes care a reality by empowering health care professionals to improve the quality of life for people with diabetes. This year, Brundin was also elected by her peers as the Montana Diabetes Educator of the Year.
Brundin believes that, "learning is an ongoing process, for diabetic clients and for educators. With all the advancements in treatment and technology for people with diabetes, we have to stay current in order to make sure our clients are getting the best possible information about what is out there."
For more information about the Diabetes Education Program at SJLH, please call 293-0175.
ST. JOHN’S SAYS GOOD BYE TO LONG TIME VOLUNTEER
After 13 years, Gertie Clauw is retiring as a volunteer at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital. During her time as a volunteer there, she logged over 16,000 hours in the file room alone, and over 25,000 hours in all of her volunteer efforts combined. During her hours volunteering in the file room, she not only worked filing records herself, but trained other file room volunteers, kept records of who volunteered, how many hours they logged, and the miles that they drove monthly to do so. Gertie has also been very active in the auxiliary for the past 13 years, holding many leadership positions, including president.
Laurie Maloney, RN, CNOR, was recently certified with the CNOR credential, a professional designation specifically designed for nurses whose practice emphasis is in providing nursing care in the surgical setting. Certification recognizes the professional achievement demonstrated when an individual nurse’s knowledge in the perioperative role exceeds that which is necessary for competency and proficiency in practice. CNORs are valuable members of the health-care team. In 2005, the Competency & Credentialing Institute (CCI), the certifying body of operating room nurses, conducted research that showed certified nurses are more confident in their clinical abilities and have a strong commitment to quality patient care and continuing education. Results also supported the belief that patients were also more confident in the care they receive from a certified nurse. In general, nurses highly value certification and often seek it to fulfill intrinsic rewards such as professionalism and accountability. "Obtaining certification as a nurse in the operating room shows the commitment to excel in the surgical nursing profession. Getting the CNOR certification requires a lot of study time and hard work; in order to keep this certification, Laurie will have to take several credits of continuing education every year to ensure that she stays in touch with the latest technology and standards of care in the operating room," stated Karen Edwards, RN, BSN, and Surgical Services Manager at St. John’s.
SJLH Jeans Day Takes Off for WINGS
St. John’s Lutheran Hospital kicked off the annual WINGs Week by holding a Jean’s Day fundraiser for the cancer assistance organization. The employees of St. John’s Lutheran Hospital were given the benefit of wearing Jean’s for a donation of their choice. This year, the employees donated $632 to this worthy cause! WINGs is a grass roots organization that provides cash support for people in Northwest Montana who are being treated for cancer. The cash grants cover transportation, meals, and lodging expenses - things that can add a lot to the cost of having cancer and are not included under insurance coverage for treatment. Since 1997, WINGs has raised and distributed over one million dollars to people in need. "This year our employees reached an all-time high for donations to WINGs. I’m so proud of our employees for their tradition of giving to our communities," stated KC Hoyer, Marketing Manager at St. John’s. "Libby and Troy celebrate this program, not only monetarily, but in program volunteer time as well. It takes a combined effort, and our communities really shine when it comes to helping others. It’s our honor to be able to kick-off this very important week of fundraising."
Mark Heppe, M.D.; Dennis Keown, ED Manager; Robert O'Rourke, RT Manager; Rosie Bergroos, PA-C; and Jay Moody test out the new monitors.
Patient Benefits of New Monitors at St. John's are Vast
St. John’s recently celebrated the arrival of new GE DASH CapnoFlex CO2 monitors. "The purchase of the GE Dash 5000 is a result of recommendations from one of our trauma conferences. These conferences are designed to build upon success and improve systems, communication, preparedness, and outcomes for patients coming through the emergency department," stated Robert O’Rourke, CRT, RPSGT and Respiratory Therapy Manager at St. John’s. The patient benefits resulting from new monitors are vast. "Basically, this monitor takes all of the vital patient information that we currently view for patient care and puts it onto one easy to view screen. Instead of looking at four different monitors, we now look at just one for all of the information that we need. This allows us more time to focus on other aspects of the patient’s treatment. The new monitor also expands our capability to determine the patient’s carbon dioxide build up without performing a painful blood draw from the artery," stated O’Rourke. Dennis Lee Keown, RN, and Emergency Department Manager at St. John’s added, "As Robert stated, these monitors are capable of capnography monitoring which provides us with the measure of a patient’s carbon dioxide levels. This calculation can be used to determine if a patient is being adequately ventilated. From a patient’s perspective, poor ventilation can result in pneumonia, sever blood loss, pulmonary embolus, hypotension, and cardiopulmonary arrest. With this new non-invasive technology, we can continually monitor a patient helping us avoid these types of complications." O’Rourke also stated that the purchase of these monitors is another step into the future for St. John’s. "What the purchase of these monitors shows is the cooperation of the hospital as a whole, from the brainstorming and recommendations by the physicians and staff that provide the patient care, to administrative and financial support for the tools and equipment that are needed. This is a tangible step to St. John’s commitment to quality!" - April 2010
The G.R.E.A.T. Committee delivers their bags of hope to Linda Matthews, RN, OCN at St. John's Lutheran Hospital.
LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS DONATE GREAT HOPE BAGS MADE WITH LOVE TO CANCER PATIENTS AT ST. JOHN’S
Hope comes in many forms, but for Chemotherapy patients at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital, hope is coming wrapped up in a little blue bag. Thanks to the compassion of a group of local high school students known as the G.R.E.A.T. Committee, chemotherapy patients at St. John’s are receiving "Great Hope Bags Made with Love" when they come in for their treatment. Following in the footsteps of Tracy Anderson of Marysville, WA, a breast cancer survivor and creator of "Heart Love Bags & Baskets", area high school students have been providing chemotherapy patients with these wonderful blue bags for over a year now. This year, they added even more substance to their bags, and made their delivery to St. John’s with big smiles on their faces. Each bag made by the G.R.E.A.T. Committee includes lip balm, antibacterial hand spray, queasy pops to ease a queasy stomach, ginger tea, chocolate, thank you cards, pens, puzzle books, spiritual literature, prayer cards, informational literature about cancer and treatments, and a magnet from the American Cancer Society. The G.R.E.A.T. Committee is a small group of students that strives to build strong community relationships through their volunteer actions, as well as creating a fun and safe environment in the high school for students to interact. Their name comes from the Libby High school slogan which ties all of it’s goals into one of the five letters of the word GREAT, including specific goals under each of the following headings – graduation, responsibility, enthusiasm, attitude, and try. "We have different events and projects at the high school and in the community throughout the year. Among other things, our activities at the high school include movie nights, intramural sports tournaments, staff/student of the month awards, and spirit week. One of our community activities that the G.R.E.A.T. Committee is extremely proud of is our Wings fundraiser which is coming up this spring," stated Levi Neubauer, member of the committee. According to Linda Matthews, RN, OCN at St. John’s, the bags have lifted the spirits of her patients. "This is the second year that this committee has donated bags to our cancer patients at St. John’s. I just love handing them out, and seeing the big smile on the faces of my patients. They can’t get over the fact that young people are taking such a positive and active role in helping them heal. Thank you so much to the G.R.E.A.T. committee for caring about these cancer patients and taking action."
Pictured: David Broderick, SJLH Imaging Manager; Michelle Lamey, Wii and Wii Fit Winner; Doreen Gullingsrud, juicer winner; Kate Stephens, SJLH Marketing/Foundation Assistant; Noreen Garrison, winner of vest; Ruth Fenn, SJLH Cardiac Rehab Coordinator; Emma Caldwell, winner of SJLH umbrella; and Skyler Campbell, first aid kit winner.
SJLH "ROAD TO HEALTH" HEALTH FAIR ANOTHER SUCCESS
Once again, the Annual St. John’s Lutheran Hospital "Road to Health" health fair brought in over 600 delighted fair-goers to the Memorial Center on March 27, 2010. Entertaining those hundreds of community members were fifty-four exhibitors who brought their health related knowledge, tests, games, and trinkets to share with all who visited their booths. "Once again, St. John’s Lutheran Hospital gave away 200 free lipid and glucose tests along with a reduced rate for four additional blood tests," stated Susan Horelick, RN, Wellness Manager at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital. "In addition to those 200 free and reduced-cost screenings, 105 extra vouchers for reduced cost lab tests were purchased at the fair itself. It is so exciting to see our community members showing an interest in their health and going out of their way to have these very important screenings done. It makes St. John’s happy and proud to provide this service to the communities that we serve." "On top of all of that, at the fair, 175 random blood sugar tests were completed along with 185 blood typing tests and 85 bone density scans. These numbers make it clear that our communities care greatly about their health, and that is what this fair is all about," added Horelick. This year’s fair featured a children’s hospital as well as several drawings for large prizes. The children’s hospital, which was visited by hundreds of children and adults alike, included a full-out operating room complete with scrubs, surgical gear, and the childhood game Operation plus an Emergency Room and Acute Care station. In addition, the fair was also made exciting thanks to the community vendors and hospital departments who offered drawings and big giveaways. Some of the larger giveaways sponsored by SJLH departments were the "Get Fit Basket given by the Rehabilitative Services Department, a juicer given by the Marketing and Foundation Departments, and a Wii and Wii Fit Package given by the Imaging Department. Horelick is appreciative to the entire community for helping to make the fair a success. "All in all, this year’s fair was definitely a hit! Thank you so much to all of the vendors for showing up here for our communities and for giving away healthy trinkets and holding drawings for larger giveaways, to the ambulance services for bringing the ambulances here and giving tours in them, and to the fair-goers for showing an interest in your health! All of you make the fair as fun, exciting, and educational as it is, and we can’t thank you enough for that." For more information about the St. John’s Lutheran Hospital Wellness Program or Health Fair, contact Susan Horelick at 293-0164. – 4/10
Hannah Huck, CT
ST. JOHN’S IMAGING TECHNOLOGIST BECOMES CT REGISTRY CERTIFIED
Libby, MT – After 2 ½ years of on the job CT experience, and six months of specialized training, Hannah Huck, CT, Imaging Department Technologist at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital traveled to Spokane, WA on March 12, 2010 to sit for her CT Registry Exam. In order to become certified by the CT Registry, Huck had to prove a total of 125 competencies and then apply for the certification. "For me, the choice to become registered in CT was an easy one. It adds a level of comfort to the patients who come into our department. They like knowing that the tech taking care of them worked on this concentrated modality and was dedicated enough to become certified in it," stated Huck. "Getting certified was a lot of hard work, but I had a ton of encouragement from the techs and other imaging staff members. They are awesome to work with," she added. David Broderick, CT, CRA, and Imaging Department Manager at St. John’s is very proud of Huck for her accomplishment. "Hannah was extremely focused and driven to reach this goal. Having a tech achieve national certification adds a great deal of prestige and credibility to our department and our hospital. It takes a great deal of time and hard work to get these certifications. I am very proud of her," stated Broderick. - 4/10
Bill Patten, CEO
HEALTHCARE REFORM PART 2
The number of questions about how healthcare reform will affect individuals we are receiving at St. John’s have gone up since the President signed the first healthcare reform bill. As I have pondered how best to provide information, I have become acutely aware that my well-intentioned comments may be seen as partisan. Understandably, I have strong feelings about this legislation, both as it will affect me and my family, but also how it will affect the hospital I lead. I have researched options/resources I might share, and again found that many sources have a particular slant or bias. So instead of going into great detail about all the what-ifs and wherefores, I offer this brief summary of the bill recently passed legislation. To start with, there are two main parts of the reconciliation bill: one that "fixes" parts of the reform package that already is law and another that deals with student loans.
The reconciliation bill phases out over a 10-year period the coverage gap under the Medicare Part D drug program (the "donut hole"), it changes how Medicare Advantage plans are paid (the cuts to the Advantage plans account for a large portion of the projected savings), it refigures hospital market basket reductions, and moves up to 2014 the date reductions in disproportionate-share hospital payments start. While short on details, the bill also hopes to reduce healthcare fraud and abuse, especially within Medicare and Medicaid.
The reconciliation bill delays the implementation of a 40% excise tax on high-cost insurance plans until 2018, it adds a new Medicare tax on investment income (although, interestingly enough, the tax will not be used to fund the Medicare program), and it generally bars insurers from dropping coverage after a person becomes sick. Again, in an effort to not take sides, I offer the following websites that provide a fairly good summary/perspective on many aspects of this issue. Enjoy! Bill Patten, CEO
I have been receiving many questions regarding the recently passed insurance reform bill and have been asked to give my opinion of the legislation. And more importantly, I have been asked to summarize how this new law will affect St. John’s.
The short answer is, I really can’t say; no one can. Until the Senate takes up the "fix bill," and then, if it is changed at all and goes back to the House, we really won’t know for certain what the reform package will actually include and when it will begin to take effect. The original Senate bill contains a number of provisions that will be very good for Critical Access Hospitals like St. John’s. These provisions address longstanding weaknesses or deficiencies in this federal payment system. That is the good part.
The concerning part is that many elements of the bill are very vague; things like bundling, value based purchasing, and the medical home model. While interesting in theory, and possible in much larger communities/facilities, these ideas and the actual language in the bill are quite vague. In addition, the bill will need to work its way through the federal bureaucracy before it can be implemented, most notably the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services, and that process will need to be completed before we will really be able to determine the real impact on us. Add to that the fact that numerous provisions of the legislation are not scheduled to go into effect for several years, my advice is that we all need to be patient and continue to monitor these topics as they unfold.
For right now, St. John’s will work with our local employers as we see how some of the immediate provisions will be put into effect and the cost these provisions will have on our current health policies. Examples that come to mind include the requirement that there be no life-time limit on a policy, or that adult children will be able to stay on their parent’s policy until the age of 26; these changes go into effect this year, but we don’t know how the rates of St. John’s current policies, or those of our local businesses, will be affected by these new requirements. After all, improvements in benefits always come at a cost.
Each of us has our own opinion about whether this legislation is a good idea or not and St. John’s won’t get in the middle of that debate. We have many state and federal requirements that will be affected by these changes, and we are in regular contact with our elected officials to make sure we don’t overlook anything. As we have done for more than 50 years, we will find a way to work through all of the changes in these government rules and regulations; we will make sure that we continue to provide you with the high quality healthcare services you need, right here, close to home!
The SJLH Foundation Board Row 1: Lora Ercanbrack; Amy Bennett; Rep. Jerry Bennett Row 2: Kate Stephens, Foundation Assistant; Jody Apple; Susan Cox; Lance Ercanbrack, MD; Bill Patten, CEO Row 3: Leslie Jaqueth; Tony Rebo; Frank Votapka; Dave Cox; KC Hoyer, Executive Director
SJLH FOUNDATION THANKS OUTGOING BOARD MEMBER AND WELCOMES NEW FACE
St. John’s Lutheran Hospital Foundation is sad to be losing one of its members. Dave Cox, realtor at Northwest Realty is retiring from the board as of April 1, 2010. "First of all, we want to extend a sincere thank you to Dave for his years of service to the St. John’s Lutheran Hospital Foundation. We are sad to see Dave leave, and appreciate all the help he has given us through-out the years," stated KC Hoyer, Executive Director for the Foundation. "Our hospital foundation board is one of the most active in South Lincoln County. They are famous for stepping up to the plate for causes that they are passionate about; Dave is no exception, and he will be missed." "While we are sad to say good-bye to Dave, we are excited to welcome our newest member Leslie Jaqueth to the board," added Hoyer. Jaqueth is completing Kerry Munro’s board assignment, and then beginning her own 3- year term beginning April 1, 2010. "With new faces to the board, comes the new ideas and innovative thinking that keeps our board rolling." Jaqueth and her husband, Rick, own and operate Libby Drug Store, and she is a Certified Aerobics Instructor at the Montana Athletic Club. "Leslie will be such an asset to our board," said Hoyer. "She has volunteered at our Festival of Trees Fundraiser for years. The members of the Foundation Board enjoyed working with her so much at that event, that they were thrilled when she agreed to join them in our quest to raise money for the new hospital." Jaqueth also brings a new perspective on rural healthcare to the board, having owned and operated Libby Drug for 12 years. "It’s difficult for rural healthcare providers to compete with neighboring larger urban facilities," added Jaqueth. "We may not always be able to compete with discount pharmacies, but we can always offer that home town touch and great service that Libby and Troy are famous for. We know and care about the people that we serve, and that makes a difference. I know that St. John’s struggles with these same issues. Anything I can do to make sure that our hospital is here for me and my family when we need it, I will." For more information about the St. John’s Lutheran Hospital Foundation, or about how you can donate to the new hospital fund, please contact KC Hoyer at 293-0106. – 4-10
ST. JOHN'S BRING ON NEW EMERGNECY DEPARTMENT MANAGER
Libby/Montana - St. John’s Lutheran Hospital recently welcomed Dennis Keown, RN as the newest member of their management team. Keown has worked in healthcare for 39 years, 31 of those years as a nurse. He comes to St. John’s from Down East Community Hospital in Machias, Main where he worked as the Outpatient Director. "I look forward to the challenge of enhancing internal processes as well the improving patient satisfaction within the Emergency and Prompt Care Departments at St. John’s. Everybody here has been very welcoming, and I am excited to dig in and get started," stated Keown. Cathy Wolfe, Vice President of Nursing Services at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital is thrilled to have Keown on board! "Dennis comes to us with vast Emergency Room and Management experience; he also has familiarity with small Critical Access Hospitals from his work in Maine and Texas. We are excited about him putting this knowledge to use at SJLH, and look forward to his success here at St. John’s!" – 3/10
ST. JOHN’S LUTHERAN HOSPITAL BOARD OF TRUSTEES ELECTS NEW CHAIRMAN
Libby MT – On March 1, 2010 the St. John’s Lutheran Hospital Board of Trustees elected a new leader that will help guide them into the future of healthcare in Lincoln County as they work to build a new facility. Kathy Nelson will replace Niles Nelson, who led the board for four years, as the new chairman beginning April 1, 2010. "Niles Nelson recently completed his term as Chairman of the St. John’s Hospital Board. With his leadership, the Board completed a master planning process and made the decision to build a new hospital. Niles provided strong leadership throughout these important decisions; he made a significant difference for the future of St. John’s," stated Bill Patten, CEO of St. John’s Lutheran Hospital. "Looking to the future of St. John’s, I look forward to working with Kathy Nelson and the other officers of the Board as we continue to plan for the new hospital and position St. John’s to continue to serve our communities. Kathy has been an active and engaged Board member, and I look forward to her leadership as president." Nelson has spent most of her life right her in South Lincoln County. She moved to Libby as a 5th grader with her parents Clarence and Irene Kutz and graduated from Libby High School. Nelson and her husband Dave returned to the area in 1974 and have lived here ever since. "Our leisure activities include gardening and landscaping, tennis, hiking, cross-country skiing, photography, woodworking, and cheering on the Libby Loggers and Troy Trojans," stated Nelson. "Helping to guide an organization whose goal it is to provide ‘Excellent Healthcare Close to Home’ is a huge responsibility and privilege, and I’m excited to be a part. In our time in Libby, we have watched the healthcare community evolve from a country-doctor scene to a gifted, proficient culture that any small-hospital region would be proud to call their own," added Nelson. "This is a pivotal time for St. John’s Lutheran Hospital as we continue to work toward the construction of a new facility in which our patients will still receive the outstanding care which they already count on, and where physicians will be even better able to provide their excellent and expanded services." Chari Lucas, President of Lincoln County Credit Union and Russ Barnes, owner of Lincoln County Title will remain the Vice-Chairman and Secretary/Treasurer of the board for another term, respectively. – 4-10
Back Row L to R: Toni Franke, Melissa Rider, Sue Graham, Machelle Brossman, and Janeen Lewis. Front Row L to R: Cindy Peek, Annie Vignali, Erin Leighty, Betty Textor, Gayl Smith, and Judy Marshall.
St. John's Supports TBI
The month of March has been designated Brain Injury Awareness Month, a critical time when the Brain Injury Association of America and its partners strive to build public awareness and education. The week of March 14 – 20 has specifically been designated as Brain Awareness Week. This is an international campaign dedicated to advancing public awareness about the progress and benefits of brain research, and the employees at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital wanted to do their part to help by participating in a Jeans Day Fundraiser to benefit the North Valley Traumatic Brain In jury Support Group. They raised close to $300 on Friday March 19, 2010. For a donation to the TBI Support Group, the employees received the opportunity to wear jeans to work, and to support this worthy cause.
FUNDRAISING EFFORTS FOR NEW HOSPITAL MEETS HALF WAY MARK!
$50,000 lead gifts for the SJLH Foundation New Hospital Campaign. Pictured: Rep. Jerry Bennett, SJLH Foundation Chairman; Devi McCully and Connie Everett, Board Members, Lincoln County Credit Union; Lora Ercanbrack, SJLH Capital Campaign Committee Co-Chair standing in for Shan & Barb Bush of A-L Compressed Gases; Gary Spencer, Branch Manager of Glacier Bank in Libby; and Bill Patten, SJLH CEO.
$750,000 committed in support of a New Hospital for Libby and Troy
Who says money doesn’t grow on trees, was the theme at a hospital fundraising celebration on Thursday, March 11, 2010, marking the half way goal that the Capital Campaign Committee and Foundation have reached in their quest to raise $1.5 million for the new hospital project.
"We continually hear how our economy has affected our country, but the economy hasn’t broken the spirit of the people of South Lincoln County," stated KC Hoyer, Executive Director of the Hospital Foundation. "When we are compared to other ‘wealthier’ communities I always say that it isn’t a fair comparison because the people of South Lincoln County have something far superior to wealth, we have generosity and spirit; and that’s a combination that makes miracles happen."
Raising $750,000 in less than twelve months is nothing short of a miracle according to Lora Ercanbrack, Co-Chairperson of the Committee that is leading the charge in this fundraising effort. "We have been at this for just over a year now and I am so humbled by the response our communities have given our effort," said Ercanbrack. "A project like this only happens once in a lifetime. People just really want to do their part to leave their legacy. Now that we are hoping to break ground in a year or so, we will really ramp up our fundraising efforts. "
The capital campaign’s first three lead gifts from Glacier Bank, Lincoln County Credit Union, and A-L Compressed Gases were applauded for their commitment to keep quality healthcare at home in South Lincoln County. "Rural community health centers are unique in that they have to offer the same services that larger healthcare centers provide, but many of those health care providers are only open 9 to 5," said Gary Spencer, Branch Manager of Glacier Bank in Libby. "Rural hospitals have to provide comprehensive services like emergency rooms, imaging and laboratory services, and inpatient wings 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and those services are expensive. All of us who support the new hospital project realize the need for these extensive services, and are happy to do our part to keep them available when our communities need them."
The new hospital project is moving along as planned. The Design Development phase is set to be completed by the end of April. Swank, the Construction Manager, will need 3-6 weeks to get bids/estimates. By mid-June the hospital administration should receive the Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP). At that point the hospital can continue negotiations with lenders.
"We have worked through the design and equipment phases a number of times and have narrowed the estimated price of the project to 33 million," added hospital CEO Bill Patten. "When we were in DC promoting the project we met with HUD and USDA to discuss lending options. Senators Baucus and Tester and Representative Rehberg took time out of their busy schedules to visit with us about our recent appropriation request for inpatient equipment. They continue to support our project."
According to Patten, the project has been on the front burner since the announcement a year ago. "We have continued to move forward on this project since day one. One thing that we do not want to do is rush into this project and put the hospital in financial jeopardy," Patten commented. "Doing it right the first time is much more important to us than doing it quickly. Once the final bid is in we can move forward on lending. If that goes smoothly, we hope to break ground in the spring of 2011."
For more information on the hospital project please call KC Hoyer at 293-0106.
St. John’s "Road to Health" Health Fair is Just Around the Corner
Libby, MT - Spring has sprung here in Lincoln County, and that can only mean one thing, it’s time for the St. John’s "Road to Health" Health Fair. Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 27th, and make sure to be at the Memorial Center between 9:30 am and 1:00 pm to enjoy this annual health extravaganza! The St. John’s "Road to Health-Fair" celebrates health and wellness with the community by bringing together a wealth of information. Among the booths and fair exhibits will be wellness related displays and activities including reduced or free health screenings, alternative & complementary therapies, body mass index testing, bone density testing, blood pressure checks, blood sugar level checks, fitness activities, and emergency services. This is a family affair including a children’s hospital, which is being put on for the youngsters by the Nursing Department at St. John’s. The children’s hospital will include information about basic first aid, a pin-the-bandage game, an operation game including full surgical costumes, and education about blood pressure and heart rates. Attendance has its benefits. Fair vendors are gearing up to give away fantastic prizes. Free drawings for health and family related prizes include a Wii and Wii-Fit package, a juicer, a digital camera, a swing set, and more! Discounted screening vouchers will be available for those who missed the pre-fair screenings. Tests include total cholesterol (LIPID), glucose, glycohemoglobin (A1C), anemia, prostate (PSA), and thyroid (TSH). Fair goers who sign up for the Logger Run, which is held on June 26, 2010, will also receive vouchers for discounted screenings. As always, local medical providers will be on hand to answer questions concerning the pre-fair health screening results or other health concerns. "The Health Fair is designed to provide people of all ages with information about a wide variety of health and wellness topics and resources in our community, all in a fun, fair-like atmosphere," commented Susan Horelick, Wellness Coordinator at St. John’s. "This year, to help offset the cost of bringing bone density testing here, there will be a minimal $5.00 charge. However, beginning this year your bone density results will be sent directly to your physician." For more information about the health fair, contact Susan Horelick at 293-0164. - 3/10
SJLH Social Worker and Bereavement Coordinator Pamela Crabtree discusses the bereavement program with Sharren Coehauer.
NEW BEREAVEMENT COORDINATOR PLANS TO BRING NEW COMMUNITY PROGRAM TO ST. JOHN'S
"I have always wanted to serve others since I was a child. As a Bereavement Coordinator, I will have the opportunity to walk beside you using my experience and education as needed," stated Pamela Crabtree, MSW, and new Bereavement Coordinator at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital. Crabtree holds a masters degree in Social Work from Eastern Washington University in Cheney, WA, as well as a certification as a school social worker, and a foundation certificate in drug and alcohol studies. She has been in the field for 10 years, and has big plans for her role at St. John’s and for the communities that the hospital serves. Laura Sedler, MSW and long time employee of St. John’s is excited about the new ideas that Crabtree brings to SJLH. "Ms. Crabtree brings a lot of experience and enthusiasm to our St. John’s team; she is particularly excited about expanding our hospital’s bereavement care program into the community." Crabtree plans to provide community support offering the opportunity to address any questions or concerns regarding the SJLH Bereavement Program. "I am looking forward to having the opportunity to offer reassurance and understanding about the grief process; making known the availability of local support systems; pastoral, other counseling; and the hospice library, for example." She also has a desire to provide more than just immediate support for community members that seek her help. "I want to provide continued ongoing support to family after a loved one has died. If intensive counseling is needed, I am open to do one-on-one counseling or group sessions. I will set up appointments and conduct counseling as needed in the best setting for the people that I am helping. I am also excited to organize and facilitate support groups to encourage help and support to the bereaved through social activities such as picnics and plays," added Crabtree. Sheree Comer, RN, MS, COS-C, CPHM, and Home Health/Hospice manager at St. John’s is also thrilled about what Crabtree can bring to the hospital and the community. "Laura Sedler has done a remarkable job of handling patient bereavement in the past, but with the job of social worker for Home Health and Hospice, as well as her role as the volunteer coordinator, it is clear that there was too much work for one person. Pam is a welcome addition to our team, and will be able to provide needed and consistent bereavement services for the communities we serve. Bereavement support, counseling, and other services are greatly needed in our area to facilitate handling grief and loss after a patient’s death. We are thrilled at being able to offer new services to our population and provide the quality care people have come to expect from St. John’s." For more information about the SJLH Bereavement Program, contact the Home Health and Hospice department at 293-0180.
"Time is Brain" New Technology at St. John's Helps Physicians Treat Stroke Victims
In developed countries, stroke is the third leading cause of death. Each year, stroke occurs in more than 700,000 patients leaving many with disabilities and unable to resume their previous lifestyle or employment. This makes the social and economic impact of stroke one of the most devastating in medicine. There is an FDA approved drug called tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA, that in some patients can help reverse the disability of stroke if given within the first 4 1/2 hours after the stroke has occurred. So, "time is brain" when it comes to the assessment and treatment of stroke patients. The faster a patient receives proper treatment for stroke, the better the chances for recovery. St. John’s Lutheran Hospital is working hard to make sure that this is an option for stroke patients in South Lincoln County. Using videoconferencing and image sharing technology, St. John’s Emergency Room Physicians can work with stroke specialists miles away to examine patients at SJLH, help diagnose the problem, and recommend a plan of care. Often times, within the first 4 ½ hours of a stoke, that plan of care includes the medicine, tPA. "This telestroke program gives our Emergency Room Physicians the option to interact with a stroke expert within minutes. Before we began this program, we didn’t have the option to speak with a stroke specialist this rapidly. Because of these challenges, administering tPA was always a guessing game for us. Especially since the drug comes with certain risks, we don’t want to administer it to patients unless the reward greatly outweighs those risks," stated Jay Maloney, M.D. at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital. "It gives emergency physicians peace of mind to know that when we administer this medicine, we are doing it with the recommendation of an expert in that field. Now, we can administer the drug quickly, and we know that we are doing the right thing for our patients! We are continually working to bridge the gap that exists in rural medicine. Because of where we choose to live -- we have too!"
NEW PHARMACIST WELCOMED AT ST. JOHN’S
Libby/Montana - St. John’s Lutheran Hospital recently welcomed Amie Wells, RPh as the newest member of their management team. Wells has been hired to fill the Pharmacy Manager position. She holds a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) from the University of Montana, as well as a Montana state license. Wells has worked in healthcare field since 2008, and has been a pharmacist since June of 2009. She comes to St. John’s from Well Life Pharmacy in Bonner’s Ferry, ID. Cathy Wolfe, Vice President of Nursing Services at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital is overjoyed to have Wells on board! "I am thrilled that Amie has decided to join the St. John’s team. Since she grew up in this area, and is returning home, we are sure that she will be a great fit for our organization and our community. " Wells comes back to the area with her husband Michael who is also a pharmacist working at Kootenai Drug in Troy. - 2/10
ST. JOHN’S WELCOMES DR. BRIAN BARSTAD
Libby, MT - St. John’s Lutheran Hospital is proud to welcome a new member to their Emergency Department Team of Physicians. Brian Barstad, M.D. comes to St. John’s Lutheran Hospital by way of Gateway Family Health Clinic in Hinckley, Minnesota. "We are thrilled to have Dr. Barstad on board in our emergency room! He is a joy to work with, and we know that he will be a perfect fit for our hospital and for our community," stated Jay Maloney, M.D. and Director of Emergency Medicine at St. John’s. Dr. Barstad is board certified in family practice medicine. He completed his undergraduate degree at Concordia College in Moorhead, MN and attended medical school at the University of North Dakota, School of Medicine in Grand Forks, ND, where he also completed his residency. In addition to that, Dr. Barstad did an internship at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center in Fort Gordon, GA, and spent 4 years as a physician in the military. Dr. Barstad enjoys a plethora of outdoor activities. "My favorite outdoor activities include hunting – especially for pheasants – fishing, downhill skiing, and golfing. Literally anything where there are no or very few mosquitoes," joked the Minnesota native. "My favorite sport is football, and I am a Vikings fan. I still have season tickets and plan to keep them...the Amtrak goes from here straight into Minneapolis!" Barstad also coached his oldest daughter’s soccer team and helped out with the local basketball team in Minnesota. "With Dr. Barstad’s background in Emergency Medicine, his love for the out of doors, and his focus on community and family, he’ll be great fit for our area," added KC Hoyer, Marketing Manager at St. John’s. "He’s such a great asset to our Emergency Department, that even the Green Bay Packer backers on the hospital team can overlook his ‘Viking Condition’; I’m sure it can be treated!" Barstad moved to Libby in February, and will soon be joined his by his wife, Jennifer and their four children Brianna, Joesphine, Jacob, and Noah. - 2-10
Jimmy Ray Fincher receives an infusion treatment from Linda Matthews, RN, OCN at the SJLH Chemotherapy and Infusion Center
Additional Services In Chemotherapy Department at St. John's Lead to Name Change
Chemotherapy and Infusion Center
Libby/Montana - St. John’s Lutheran Hospital is proud to announce their new Chemotherapy and Infusion Center. According to Bill Patten, CEO at St. John’s, the Chemotherapy Department has been steadily increasing their services and their patient numbers for years. "In 2007, we moved the Outpatient Chemotherapy Department to a larger area to accommodate their growth," said Patten. "As a result of this change the number of services that they offer multiplied substantially. In an effort to recognize this growth, we decided to rename them the Chemotherapy and Infusion Center, a name befitting the additional services that they can provide." In addition to Chemotherapy, the Center also provides a variety of infusion therapies. Infusion therapies are intravenous medications that patients need to have on a regularly scheduled basis. "There are many different types of infusion therapies that physicians order for their patients to receive, and they all have to be closely monitored for side effects," stated Linda Matthews, RN, OCN and Center Coordinator. "We work closely with our doctors to monitor dosage and frequency of treatments. Offering infusion therapies, as well as outpatient chemotherapy saves our patients the time and expense of travel, especially when they are feeling weak or in pain." The Center offers a number of infusion therapies including Remicade (for Rheumatoid Arthritis and Crohns), Orenica (for Rheumatoid Arthritis), Venofer (for Anemia or Iron Deficiency), Prolastin (for Alph1 Antitrypsin Deficiency), IVIG (for Auto Immune Deficiency), Solu-Medrol (for Multiple Sclerosis), Reclast (for Osteoporosis), Thyrogen injections (for patients undergoing Thyroid Cancer scans), and Blood Product Transfusion.
"It’s amazing to think that we have only been in our new area for a little over three years and we are already out-growing it," added Matthews. "I am so looking forward to the completion of the new hospital. The added space will provide a more comfortable area for patients that require wheel chairs or walking devices. And, it will offer enough room for family members to stay with their loved ones during the procedure. These are the human touches that small hospitals like St. John’s are famous for providing. We’re just lucky that we can offer it all locally." For more information about the Chemotherapy and Infusion Center, please contact Linda or Connie at 293-0121.
Daryl Smail, RN gets "hands on" trauma training at the conference while nurses Amy Hays, Roy Moore, and Riki Cochran look on.
Hospital Nurses Complete Trauma Training
Libby/Montana - On February 10-11 and 13-14, 22 nurses from St. John’s Lutheran Hospital completed a 20-hour Trauma Nurse Core Course (TNCC) endorsed by the Emergency Nurses Association. Trauma nursing, as a discipline, refers to the process and content of all the different roles nurses have in the care of a trauma patient. Trauma is often referred to as the neglected disease of the twenty-first century. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) reports that trauma related injuries in the United States are estimated to exceed 160,000 deaths each year, ranking it as the 5th most common cause of death. It is the leading cause of death for Americans 44 and younger -- with children and youth comprising 25% of all traumatic deaths. But most alarmingly, it is estimated that 60% of all injury/trauma related deaths in the U.S. occur in rural areas - even though only 20% of the nation’s population live there. "It is a well known fact that rural people suffer more trauma than those living in urban areas. We are more self-reliant, and we tend to live life more extreme than those in urban areas, especially here in Lincoln County," commented Cathy Wolfe, RN and VP of Nursing at St. John’s. "That’s why we are bringing the training to St. John’s. Because the question is not if a trauma will happen, it’s when. Being prepared for our community when they need us is simply what St. John’s is all about."
TNCC was built on the principle that optimal care of the trauma patient is best accomplished within a framework in which all members of the trauma team use a systematic, standardized approach to the care of the injured patient. Emergency nurses are essential members of the trauma team. "Educating and training nurses to provide competent trauma care can significantly reduce morbidity and mortality of trauma patients," added Wolfe. "Emergency nurses play a variety of roles during a trauma, and they must be proficient at all of them. In a trauma situation there is just no time to open a textbook. You have to always be at the top of your game." According to Wolfe, the Trauma Nurse Core Course is in high demand all across the country. "We waited a long time for an instructor to be available to come to Libby, and it was well worth the wait. Our nurses show their dedication to our communities by continuing to get the advanced education and certifications you would expect in larger hospitals. They have to be prepared for just about anything….and they are."
DON’T MISS THE BUS
Local Diabetes Support Group arranges free transportation to nationally renowned Diabetes Conference.
The Third Annual Taking Control of Your Diabetes, (TCOYD) conference and health fair will be held March 20, 2010 in Kalispell, bringing national and local medical experts in diabetes care to people with all types of diabetes, those at risk for diabetes, and their loved ones for a day of highly informative and motivational programs. The Libby Diabetes Support Group is once again making it possible for anyone who has, or is associated with, diabetes to go to this nationally acclaimed (TCOYD) conference. This will be the third year that this volunteer group has worked with the TCOYD coordinators to get the bus transportation sponsored. "We didn’t want the price of gas to deter people from attending the conference, so we asked the TCYOD coordinator to help us sponsor a bus and they were more than willing to help," said Becky Brundin, Diabetes Educator at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital. "The support group members have learned the importance of keeping up with the latest information and treatment options for diabetes. This conference is one way for them to reach out to others in the community--encouraging them to take every opportunity to improve their own quality of life." TCOYD participants can hear lectures, participate in screenings, and speak one-on-one with diabetes specialists including physicians, exercise specialists, dietitians, diabetes educators, podiatrists, pharmacists and ophthalmologists. Reflecting on the many years she has worked with the support group, Brundin added, "Over the year’s Libby has developed a quality support group program in order to meet the needs of people who want current information to help better manage their diabetes. The vision of the program comes from the dedicated members who not only want to enhance their self-care and disease management, but also want to provide a way to help others; the free transportation to the TCOYD conference is one way to get others involved." For more information about the conference and the free transportation please call Becky at 293-0175.
St. John’s O’Rourke Earnes Highest Sleep Technologist Credential
Libby/Montana – Robert O’Rourke, CRT, RPSGT, and Respiratory Therapy Department and Sleep Lab Manager with St. John’s Lutheran Hospital has earned the Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT) credential. This internationally recognized credential represents the highest certification in the field for health care professionals who clinically assess patients with sleep disorders. To obtain this credential, a technologist must have necessary clinical experience, hold CPR certification, adhere to the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT) Standards of Conduct, and pass the RPSGT credentialing exam. The BRPT is an independent, nonprofit certification board that seeks to cultivate the highest professional and ethical standards for polysomnographic technologists by providing an internationally recognized credential – the RPSGT. The credential course is the first NCAA-accredited program of its kind. With more than 40 million Americans affected by sleep disorders, it is important for patients to seek out sleep clinics that employ Registered Polysomnographic Technologists. The RPSGE credential is a symbol of quality, responsibility, and credibility, indicating that the credentialed technologist has a level of experience and competence aligned with an international standard. "O’Rourke’s achievement of the RPSGT credential represents a commitment to the highest professional and ethical standards for public health and safety," stated Jeanie Gentry, Vice President of Allied Health at SJLH. "This credential will allow Robert to do more work on our Sleep studies here in Libby rather than needing to utilize outside technical help from Missoula or Kalispell. And that should make our turnaround times for tests faster. As always, it’s for our patients!" A polysomnogram is a test that records the patient’s physical state during various stages of sleep and wakefulness. It provides data that is essential in evaluating sleep and sleep-related complaints, such as identifying sleep stages, body position, blood oxygen levels, respiratory events, muscle tone, heart rate, amount of snoring, and general sleep behavior. Currently, there are more than 14,000 polysomnographic technologists certified by the BRPT internationally. Additional information about the RPSGT can be found at www.brpt.org. For additional information about the SJLH Sleep Lab, call 293-0163. – 2/2010
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