August 5, 2013

Having a Ball at Employee Picnic 2013!

Covenant employees had a ball at the 2013 Employee Picnic. This years theme was, Take me out to the ball park. One of the highlights of this years picnic was the hot dog eating contest. Take a look inside on page 3 for more scenes from the event!

COVENANT OPEN LINE COLUMN

From the Desk of Mark Gronda, Chief Financial Officer/VP: MyChart
A key piece of our mission depends on you. In the 21st century, providing extraordinary care to every generation requires our patients and employees to be actively engaged in decisions impacting your healthcare. Thats why we provide MyChart, a high-tech computerized patient system that provides you with the tools you need to take a key role in your health care, under the guidance and expert advice of your primary caregiver.
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urgent medical questions or test results. And, you can research medical conditions or get information on healthy living tips and classes available here, at Covenant HealthCare.

Its all secure and its a free service. Recently, Covenant took a step to further improve patient access to medical records. This month we rolled out a new service offering MyChart to patients in the Emergency Care Center. The service will ofcially be available in October. Now you will be able to see your after visit summary discharge instructions everything you were given in an electronic form that you received at the hospital. Getting started is easy. For more information or assistance in enrolling in MyChart, see your primary care provider. If you have questions, call the MyChart Patient Support Line at 583.6014, Monday through Friday during normal business hours, or email Lori Revard at lrevard@chs-mi.com. Wed like to hear your thoughts on MyChart. Lets talk about it.

Unfamiliar with the Service? Heres a quick introductory snapshot of the benefits of MyChart:
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It offers 24-hour access to your medical records. You can track your medical history, your childs or a parent for whom you are the care provider (with permission). You can request or cancel an appointment, receive reminders for important annual checkups, renew prescriptions from the comfort of your home or the convenience of your smartphone. You can communicate with your physician about non-

KEEP THE OPEN LINE OF COMMUNICATION GOING! Please share your thoughts about any topic of concern or interest in the Open Line forum by sending a message to the OpenLine group in Lotus Notes.

CEO Talks Budget

By Spence Maidlow, Covenant HealthCare CEO
Nutrition Services staff keep the grill fired up for the hot dog eating contest.
As we continue to fulfill our mission of extraordinary care for every generation, we cannot ignore the significant economic obstacles we were able to maneuver around during fiscal year fiscal year 2013, or the fact that more challenges are inevitable. To thrive in this new climate of healthcare reform we have had to make strategic adjustments to insure that we are able to continue to be fiscally responsible and at the same time maintain the utmost level of service to our patients and their families. and steady our course and end the fourth quarter (April, May and June of 2013) we were able to get back on track. In spite of these obstacles, Covenant remains firm in its commitment to our community and its citizens. Our mission hasnt changed and neither has our resolve. We continue to rank among the top ten percent of hospitals nationwide in terms of patient satisfaction achieving the 90th percentile in customer satisfaction and high quality ratings as compared to national benchmarks. We will continue to work to find new ways to remain financially strong, and maintain a continued focus on high quality, customer satisfaction and employee engagement. Together, we can and we will, work through the changes and challenges of healthcare reform.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Children's Center News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 VanGelderen Join Cancer Fight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Cancer Prevention Study
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We Need You on the Red Carpet! . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2013 Employee Picnic Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Hospice Holds Special Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Focus on Our Physicians Baby Care 101 Items of Note Covenant Mailbag
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We will continue to work to find new ways to remain financially strong, and maintain a continued focus on high quality, customer satisfaction and employee engagement.

Some of the challenges we faced in FY13 and in creating our FY14 budget include:
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The recent federal government sequester resulted in a 2% decrease in Medicare reimbursement which means $4.5 million less revenue each year from Medicare. Inpatient discharges trended below budget for most of the year, which generated $1.8 million less net income than anticipated. Covenants cost for employee benefits, primarily health care, rose by over six percent or $3.5 million.

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Due to the actions of Covenant Leadership and hard work of our employees, we were able to meet the challenges

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Extraordinary care for every generation.

Childrens Center Gets New Sandboxes!

by Callie Hagen, Covenant Volunteer
There are lots of exciting changes happening at the Covenant Childrens Center, including a new playground. The new equipment and landscape is courtesy of a donation from the Covenant HealthCare Foundation. Members of the Facilities Services department constructed sandboxes and raised bed gardens. Parent Alison Martin donated plants for the garden, which included watermelon, cantaloupe, popping corn, cherry tomatoes, cabbage, strawberries and more. I just have to say a GREAT BIG THANK YOU, said Center manager, Lyn Wise. Our deepest gratitude to Carol Cottrell and the Foundation for their generosity and many thanks to Alison Martin, Facilities Services, including Jim Brown, Matt Dijak, Dave Worden and Ken Valley for their hard work on the playground! She points out that the new playground features allow the students to have fun while theyre learning and in effect, bring the classroom outside. The sandboxes help to develop a childs cognitive skills and the playground equipment helps develop their gross motor skills, she said. Mrs. Sue, helped the children with planting and they cant wait for the harvest! The playground and gardens look awesome thanks to the efforts of all of these caring people. They have our deepest gratitude and the children are ecstatic! There is other exciting news at the Covenant Childrens Center. The Center is currently pursuing a quality designation certification through the Quality Child Care Initiative, endorsed by the Saginaw Intermediate School District. As a member of the Quality Child Care Initiative, the Childrens Center is committed to not only meeting state licensing standards, but to go beyond providing safe and healthy care to also providing care that supports all aspects of a childs development.

Carmen VanGelderen, Inpatient Oncology Manager and PICC Team Manager

To achieve the quality designation, the center, in addition to the playground, has purchased new books, educational materials, toys, games and a new curriculum. The Center has also made changes to the physical environment in each of the classrooms in order to promote optimal development at each age level. New chairs, tables and climbers have been purchased, walls have been painted, and rooms rearranged as recommended by the quality guidelines. Feel free to stop by and check out the many improvements. Its still a work in progress! The Childrens Center is now accepting enrollment applications for our Pre-K program and for infants through three years of age. Please call 3.4130 or 3.4647 for information or to schedule a tour!

Carmen VanGelderen Joins the Fight Against Cancer

by Hannah Maine, Covenant Volunteer
As Covenant employees, we see cancer affect the lives of many, including our colleagues. Carmen VanGelderen, Inpatient Oncology manager and PICC Team manager, has witnessed the ght against cancer every day, in her personal and professional life. So, she decided to join the ght and make a difference. Not only did Carmen enroll in the American Cancer Society's Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3), but she volunteered in the enrollment process as well. CPS-3 is a survey-based study used to nd lifestyle, environmental and genetic factors that cause or prevent cancer. When asked why she joined, Carmen responded quickly, I rmly believe that many of the cancers that we have diagnosed, especially in the past 10 years, are related not just to smoking but to other extrinsic factors... But her motivation really comes from her patients; I see day in and day out the medications that we give and the devastating effects that they have on the patients. And my rm belief is that, there's got to be a better way. Working at Covenant for 12 years, and in her position for two years, cancer is a large part of Carmen's every day, in more ways than one. Both her father and grandmother died of cancer, directly affecting how she practiced nursing. She hopes that being a part of the study, somewhere along the line, somebody will nd another connection that will help save somebody else. With the CPS-3 study enrollment coming to our campuses in August, Carmen encourages other employees to sign up, It's about our future. It's about saving our kids. To join Carmen in the ght, visit cancer.org/GLBRcps3 for more information on CPS-3 and enroll for CPS-3 August 8 from 2:00 pm - 5:30 pm at Harrison campus or August 13 from 10:00 am- 1:30 pm at Mackinaw campus.

Child Care Rates/Options for Employees

Number of days 9 hours or less More than 9 hours Sick days/ calendar year

2-day (minimum) 3-day 4-day 5-day

$80.00 $115.00 $150.00 $185.00

$110.00 $160.00 $210.00 $260.00

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20% discount for each additional child Drop-in rate: $5.00 per hour must call morning of for availability Parents will be billed for the number of days they schedule their children (plus any additional days added afterwards). For Covenant employees who receive an excused absence (EA) at work, accounts will be credited and the day will not count against the childs yearly sick days.

Left to Right: Brady and Aiden Packer explore the garden; Scott Cozzolino takes a break from the sprinklers to ride on the slide; Soraya Zitouni jumps for joy with a hula hoop.

Local Hospitals Partner with ACS to Enroll Participants in Cancer Prevention Study-3
by Kristin Knoll, Staff Writer
The American Cancer Society, Covenant HealthCare and St. Marys of Michigan are asking those who live and work in the Great Lakes Bay Region to enroll and participate in a national research study to help researchers better understand the lifestyle, genetic and environmental factors that cause or prevent cancer. This year, people in the Great Lakes Bay Region can join the movement to help create a world with less cancer and more birthdays by enrolling in the American Cancer Societys research study called Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3).

To register for an appointment, visit: www.cancer.org/GLBRcps3. APPOINTMENTS WILL BE AVAILABLE IN SAGINAW:

Thursday, August 8, 2013 Covenant HealthCare Harrison Campus 1447 N. Harrison Saginaw, MI 48602 2 pm 5:30 pm Tuesday, August 13, 2013 Covenant HealthCare Cancer Care Center 5400 Mackinaw Saginaw, MI 48604 10 am 1:30 pm Thursday, August 15, 2013 St. Marys of Michigan Main Campus, HEC Lobby 800 S. Washington Ave Saginaw, MI 48601 9 am 12:30 pm

How can you participate?

The enrollment process involves two steps. The first step takes place at home, where participants complete a detailed survey. This survey will ask information on lifestyle, behavioral, and other factors related to health. The next step takes place at a local enrollment event, where participants will be asked to read and sign an informed consent, complete a brief written survey, provide a waist circumference measurement and a small blood sample (similar to a doctors visit, seven (7) teaspoons total). The blood sample will be taken by a certified, trained phlebotomist. Periodically, participants will receive a survey at home to update their information.

Who can join the study?

The study is open to anyone in the United States and Puerto Rico who is willing to commit to the study longterm which means completing periodic follow up surveys at home for the next 20-30 years, is between 30 and 65 years old, and has never been diagnosed with cancer (not including basal or squamous cell skin cancer).

What more can people do?

Bring friends and tell everyone about this historic opportunity to save lives and be part of cancer prevention in the local community and across the world. To learn more, visit cancer.org/cps3 or call 1.888.604.5888.

Red Carpet Testimonial Attention Front Line Staff!

Were talking to YOU! Mark your calendars for Thursday, August 15 for the Red Carpet Premiere Night as well as our new daytime event: Crumpets & Croquet. As the faces of Covenant, it is important you are there to represent our organization, help support the worthy Covenant Foundation beneciaries, and have a fun night out with co-workers, friends and family. As Covenant employees, you are able to purchase tickets for the Red Carpet Premiere Night at a discounted rate of $80. Crumpets & Croquet tickets may be purchased for $35 and tickets may be payroll deducted. This fundraiser is open to everyone and anyone and we encourage all staff and departments to join us! Make sure you have August 15 off on your schedule ... we want to see you there!

RED CARPET EVENTS!

August 15, 2013
Ladies on the Links
The exclusive event is for the serious female golfer. Light breakfast and practice range begins at 7:30 am at Apple Mountain in Freeland with a shotgun start at 8:30 am. Luncheon and awards ceremony following golf.

Attendees launched floating sky lanterns in honor of the 301 Hospice patients cared for in the past 13 months.

Hospice Rejoice and Remember Service

The James E. Cartwright Care Center creates a home-awayfrom home environment for its hospice patients. On June 13, 2013 they celebrated the lives of 301 hospice patients cared for in the past 13 months. The VNA Hospice Rejoice and Remember service was held at the Cartwright Care residence in order to honor and remember their past year of patients and service. In tune with the Cartwright Center's year round at-home and personal environment, the staff members and volunteers mentioned each of the 301 patients individually, sharing memories and readings of hope and encouragement. Music specically selected for the occasion was performed while oating sky lanterns were released into the sky, symbolizing the families continuing love and endless memories. After the organized service, the celebration continued as guests were invited to join staff and volunteers to share stories and memories over refreshments provided by the VNA Hospice volunteers. The Cartwright Care Center provides a warm and comfortable environment that is very personal and specic to each individual patient and the VNA Hospice Rejoice and Remember Service honored the patients and the Center well.

Crumpets & Croquet

This year, there is a new way to participate in Red Carpet. For those of you who want to be part of the day time events, but golf is not your cup of tea, join us for a different cup of tea wearing your most festive wide brim hat of course! Women will have the chance to enjoy summer refreshments on the lawn, a round of croquet followed by a delicious lunch, as well as opportunities to indulge themselves.

Red Carpet Premiere

A fun-filled evening of gourmet food and gaming events from 5:30 pm through 11:00 pm at Apple Mountain in Freeland! Snappy casual dress for this blockbuster bash of blackjack, with opportunities for auctions, raffles, door prizes, and more!

August 16, 2013

Premiere Golf Classic
Full breakfast and practice range starts at 8:00 am followed by a shotgun start at 9:30 am. Did we mention you can also pick up pointers while playing with a PGA golf professional at Apple Mountain, a 6,947 yard course with seven miles of continuously paved cart path? Dinner and awards banquet to follow golf.

Bethany Warezak, RN, (white jacket on the left) 7 Main, Red Carpet Committee Member.

For information on tickets, sponsorship opportunities, or how to participate, please call 3.7604.

2013 Employee Picnic Highlights

Top Row, left to right: Covenant Volunteers enjoy the picnic; Eight contestants chowed down for the victory at the hot dog eating champion. Katie, COTA/L, Physical Medicine & Rehab, walked away with the victory! Bottom Row, left to right: Jamie, HR secretary and Jodi, HR Benefits Technician, manned the Speed Pitch booth; Timothy, Applied Systems put his best foot-long forward; Throwing it right down the middle like a pro!

COVENANT

Spiritual Snack for the Soul...

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. ~ Marcel Proust

Baby Care 101

Baby Care 101 is now offered in a weekend condensed version. The Childbirth Education class is traditionally offered in three week sessions, for two hours each week. Many parents find it difficult to attend all sessions, and miss out on important information regarding the care, growth and development of their baby. Therefore, we are offering a one day weekend class on Saturday, August 10, 10:00 am -3:00 pm at Covenant Andersen Lecture Theatre. To register, call 3.4135. If you have any questions, contact Heidi Churchfield at 3.4503.

Mr. Maidlow,

Physician of the Month

The physician of the month in August 2013 is Joel Knaack, DO of hospital medicine. Board certied in internal medicine, he joined Covenant's Hospital Medicine Program in October 2009. Comments from patients: Excellent doctor. AAA+ rating. So caring, warm, and friendly. Dr. Knaack was a denite plus in my treatment and care. Dr. Knaack was excellent. Great interpersonal skills, informative, and courteous. Congratulations, Dr. Knaack!

rdinary re with you the extrao in SICU. I want to sha Kluck and I am an RN My name is Charlene my Randy. to come to care that was given to Saint Marie, Michigan to Saginaw from Sault en driv e to be had her r the him g bro brin me to On June 6, 2013, my ing well and would like t he had not been feel h the care that tha wit ted sed sta res He imp nt. y ena ver Cov , my brother was the time in ECC. we arrived in the ECC results and POC during seen. From the time is kept us informed of Chr RN and bel Dei ided to he was receiving. Dr. ly ill. On June 12, we dec found to be very critical was dition He 0. con #66 his U and HIC to suffer admitted to but we did not want him My brother was then sister pass a cult decision to make, had diffi y just ver a had s I Thi as , t. and me remove life suppor easy time for my family sening. This was not an was progressively wor on May 25. was the support for my away suddenly in Florida just extraordinary, as d to HICU, his care was itte adm g bein r the From the time of my bro t e some of the staff tha family and myself. ther. I would like to nam and 7 pm d in the care of my bro am olve 7 inv h bot was U; who HIC , ne RN U; Erika, I am thankful to everyo I am so , SICU; Whitney, RN, HIC er and Dr. Shanawani. brother: Stephanie, RN bie Dutton, HICU manag directly cared for my Deb U; HIC , NCA ia, ily. We truly know Jul fam and U; and r HIC , the RN bro ry, my Ter to given Lori, RN, HICU; and support that was all the care, compassion thankful to you all for employees. t bes the h wit e sibl p t care pos support that Audrey Rup that he received the bes d at this time, and for the port that I have receive sup the all for all you I am truly thankful to time. n me in SICU during this and co-workers have give Sincerely,

Red Carpet Admission and Raffle Tickets: The 2013 Red Carpet Events are

Items of Note!
Farmers Market Moves: Just a few
more days until the Downtown Farmers Market leaves its temporary location at the Saginaw County Health Department, 1600 N. Michigan. The market is here until August 8. It is open each day from 10 am until 3 pm in the south end parking lot. Come and purchase fresh fruits and vegetables along with other goodies from the Downtown Farmers Market. If you have questions, call 758.3733.

Charlene Kluck

Covenant Connections is published the rst and third Mondays of each month for the staff and volunteers of Covenant HealthCare. If you have ideas or submissions on topics that you would like to see in future issues of Covenant Connections, please contact the editor directly. Shena Camese, Editor 989.583.7653 Tel 989.583.7667 Fax Email: SCamese@chs-mi.com

drawing near, and again this year tickets to the Premiere, 5:30 to 11 pm Thursday, August 15, are discounted for Covenant HealthCare employees. Employee tickets cost only $80, down from the $100 face value. Also, tickets for the new event Crumpets & Croquet are for sale $35 per person. This event will feature summer refreshments, a round of croquet, lunch and indulgences for women throughout the day. Again this year raffle tickets are being sold for a chance to win outstanding prizes, such as a $1,000 gift certificate to Art Sample/ Fieges Interiors, $1,000 in cash, $300 in area dining gift certificates and so much more. Cost is $5 per ticket (or five for $20). Tickets for the Red Carpet Premiere, Crumpets & Croquet, and the Red Carpet Raffle will be on sale from 10:30 am 2:00 pm on August 6 and 18. For more information on Red Carpet Events, please call the Covenant HealthCare Foundation at 3.7600 or go online to www.covenanthealthcarefoundation.com.

Mandatory TB Shots Through August: It is important that all Covenant

HealthCare employees, staff and volunteers are TB compliant. Those who were unable to take advantage of the 27 TB clinics offered to be TB compliant can visit Employee Health at: 600 Irving, second floor, during the following scheduled hours: TB TESTING Only Tuesdays, 9:00 am - 11:00 am TB READING Only Thursdays, 9:00 am -11:00 am.
Currently, Covenant is at 94.16% compliant with required annual TB testing and striving for 100% compliancy. Employees should make every effort to become TB compliant ASAP. Please observe the specified clinic hours so that we may better serve employees and promote Employee Health workflow. TB testing should be made by appointment, and only when there is no other alternative, by calling Jennifer Jarabeck at 3.6018, Ellen Schultz at 3.4284, Pam Miller at 3.4285 or Sandy Lorenz at 3.6188.

Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Graduation Celebration:

Amy Quackenbush, Assistant Editor, Graphics & Layout

You are cordially invited to attend a graduation service and luncheon for our CPE Chaplain Residents: Aaron Alvarez, Connie Leininger, Caleb Walcott and Tricia Ware. The service a grateful celebration of their learning, growth, and pastoral care is on Friday, August 16 in the Cooper Chapel from 11:00 am to 11:30 am with a luncheon at Horizons Conference Center at 12:30 pm (cost is $12.50 per person). Please RSVP for lunch to Bonnie at 3-6042 or bjballard@chs-mi.com by Monday, August 12.