Your Risk Areas Health Empower Yourself

your risk areas health empower yourself

SHANDS EMPLOYEE NEWSLETTER VOL. 9 NO. 3 | september 2013 NEWs notes

cover  Wellness at work

Check out our special 4 The 2013 worksite wellness results are in! wellness section with protect yourself during flu season tips and testimonials. 6 7 mark your calendar for benefits enrollment News&Notes UF Health | SERVICE VOL. 9 NO. 3 | september 2013 Wellness refreshed New&Next ...... 4 My entire wellness plan once revolved around a glass of homemade lemon- The latest system scoop ade — and only a glass of homemade lemonade — which I drank eight to 12 times a day for 10 days straight. I read somewhere that this was a cool way to Faces...... 12 lose weight, boost your energy, cleanse your system of toxins, end sugar and See who’s making news at Shands caffeine addiction, etc., etc. It was actually none of those things…. because it was just a glass of lemonade. Kudos...... 15 The lemonade thing was a terrible idea. It sounded bad and it tasted Recognition for standout bad, but I wanted to believe it would work because it was easy. After trying employees and programs countless other silly diet and exercise fads, I have finally realized that achiev- ing real health and wellness can be just as easy. All you need is the right To do...... 20 information, the right attitude and the right support. Ideas for your agenda UF Health Shands Human Resources empowers employees with a healthy dose of wellness information and support during Worksite Wellness Events held at Shands locations each spring. Participants can earn incentives Timothy m . Goldfarb for completing health screenings, speak with counselors about the results Chief Executive Officer and learn about other available employee wellness resources. You can read Wanda J . English more about our organization’s screening results as a whole, along with diet Senior Director, Strategic Communications and exercise tips, starting on page 4. and Public Affairs This fall offers even more opportunities to take charge of your wellness. Kim Rose During Benefits Open Enrollment (page 9), you can review your health, Director, Strategic Communications vision and dental plan choices to ensure you have the best coverage for your and Public Affairs preventative health visits or any specialty care you might need in the com-

ing year. Enrollers will be available for recommendations and assistance in Allison Wilson making changes to your plan. You will also have access to FREE flu vaccines Communications Coordinator through UF Health Shands Human Resources Occupational Health Services News&Notes Editor beginning Sept. 17. Read more about how this year’s vaccine will offer even Madelyn West more protection during flu season on page 6. Creative Services Coordinator We hope this issue of News&Notes offers ideas and inspiration to keep News&Notes Designer you focused on staying well the right way. Now let’s make a toast: Raise your To contribute to future issues metaphorical glass of homemade lemonade high. And pour it out. of News&Notes: Cheers! Phone: 352-265-0373 Fax: 352-265-0603 Allison Wilson To view News&Notes online, News&Notes editor please visit the Employee tab on BESTnet, located on the ShandsConnect Portal .

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UF HEALTH/SERVICE Expansion plans support your great work to serve patients

Dear Colleagues: UF Health continues to strengthen – because of you. omy. What we do know is that the public has confidence in Last month, we announced how we’re expanding clinical our ability to provide excellent patient care and outstanding services in Gainesville. customer service. They have expressed their confidence by We outlined major investments to our outstanding choosing you as their health care providers. If we work hard pediatric programs that will result in UF Health Shands to maintain the public’s confidence and they continue to Children’s Hospital becoming a 200-bed, world-class chil- select UF Health for their care, our board, I am confident, dren’s facility. In recent years, we have developed the bone will approve our plan. marrow transplant unit, the new Pediatric E.R. and our So, my request of you, my call to action, is this: please labor and delivery programs. Now we’re creating a new, continue your great work. Do everything you can to keep family friendly entrance and expanding the Pediatric Con- serving our patients to the best of your ability, and continue genital Heart Center and Neonatal ICU. We’ve invested to manage costs and resources. I am confident that because more than $100 million and will continue to support our of your efforts, our leaders and board members will con- young patients and their loved ones. tinue to invest in our future. We also announced exciting plans to build a new 240-bed specialty hospital tower on the south campus. With appreciation for all you do, When completed, it will house neuromedicine and car- diovascular services. I hope you’re as inspired as I am, because all of you have made this possible. Thanks to the work of our physicians, nurses and everyone who provides or supports Timothy M. Goldfarb clinical care, our patients have positive experiences and Chief Executive Officer continue to choose UF Health. President Dr. David Guzick UF Health Shands talks of the powerful momentum of our relationships with patients and referring physicians. They are happy with their service and spread the word. Success breeds success. Our hospitals are bursting with sustained high volumes which we expect to continue. We simply need more buildings and staff so that we can take care of our patients. Our board of directors authorized us to plan for the new tower. Before they approve the actual construction, we must be confident that our plan makes sense in the face of health care reform and the sputtering of the general econ-

News&Notes | september 2013 3 health empower yourself your risk areas

Our overall wellness score is up one point from last year. We still have work to do. A score below 80 74 indicates an elevated likelihood that individuals will develop certain medical conditions. 4 New&Notes | september 2013 NEW&NEXT

UF Health Shands | Service Wellness at work – The results are in!

UF Health Shands Human Resources and the UF Health Employee Wellness Council organized another successful Employee Wellness Initiative in March. The team hosted events throughout our Gainesville hospitals, office buildings and outpatient facilities to empower employees and offer wellness information and screenings. Attendees were enthusiastic and 2,817 benefits-eligible UF Health Shands employees participated. They received incentives for completing health-related activities before and during the events, including a health-risk assessment and biometric screening. The assessment measured eight risk areas that contribute to chronic disease and factor into an overall wellness score: weight, stress, depression, tobacco use, diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure and exercise. Participants received a personalized assessment, showing their results and highlighting where they could improve health habits. Wellness counselors were on hand to answer questions and provide additional information. In October, we will celebrate employee benefits open enrollment and remind you about the great health and wellness services available. Read on for more detailed information on our top risk areas and what you can do to health empower yourself improve your health. N&N your risk areas

WELLNESS SURVEY OUTCOMES

Top 4

risk areas Exercise Nutrition Weight Diabetes * of 2,817 participants surveyed 75.8%* 74.7%* 68.9%* 65.1%*

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UF Health | Quality Hi ho Silver, away!

Stay well this flu season by getting your vaccine; it’s 100 percent safe . UF Health Shands Human Resources Occupational Health Services will begin administering the flu vaccine Sept . 17 . Flu vaccines are available at no cost for all UF Health Shands staff and volunteers and to University of Florida College of Medicine credentialed faculty and staff who provide direct patient care . You must present your employee ID at the time of your vaccination .

88.8 % of participants had What’s different about the vaccine this year? OHS will administer a quadrivaliant vaccine — one that received their annual flu shot for protects against four different strains of the virus . (In the past, we have traditionally used a trivalent the 2012/2013 flu season. that protects against three strains .) There will also be egg-free and latex-free doses available for people with allergies . “The vaccine is 100 percent safe,” said Trina Girimont, A.R.N.P., UF Health Shands OHS director . “Getting your flu vaccine will not get you sick or give you the flu . In fact, it’s your best protection against the virus, and we don’t want any outbreaks among our workforce ”. All UF Health Shands employees must either be vaccinated or fill out an online declination form via HealthStream by Dec . 31 . Shands employees who get vaccinated by that date will earn extra incentives for Worksite Wellness Events in the spring . OHS will continue the flu vaccine campaign through April or as long as vaccination supplies last . OHS office hours are Monday through Friday at UF Health Shands Hospital (north campus) Room 1004 . This year’s flu vaccine campaign theme is based onT he Lone Ranger . You can also look for the traveling “stage coach,” as OHS team members will make at least one trip to each of the UF Health Physicians and other Gainesville facilities and departments to administer the vaccine . Stay tuned to News&Notes, Shands News and emails and fliers announcing updates, and vaccination dates and times during flu season . 56% don’t eat Employee participants responded to 10 nutrition questions about how frequently they our vegetables consume certain foods. Based on those results, 25.3% of participants have ideal nutrition levels, 34.7% have borderline nutrition levels, and 39.9% are high risk based on their nutrition practices. The prevalence of at-risk eating behaviors is 747 per 1,000 employees.

* Nearly two out of five participants were at high risk due to their nutrition practices.

WELLNESS SURVEY OUTCOMES Nutrition specifics for wellness event participants We are what we eat. 25.3% have ideal nutrition levels 34.7% have borderline levels 39.9% are high risk based on their Total Fats Total Fiber Total Fruits & Vegetables nutrition practices. Ideal: 18.7 % Ideal: 42.5 % Ideal: 32.9 % Borderline: 33.2 % Borderline: 23.9 % Borderline: 11.5 % Prevalence of at-risk eating: High Risk: 48.1 % High Risk: 33.6 % High Risk: 55.6 % 747 per 1,000 employees 6 New&Notes | september 2013 NEW&NEXT

UF Health | service Take charge of diabetes

It is crucial that we better understand and monitor diabetes . In March, 65 percent of the 2,817 Shands employees surveyed were identified as at risk for diabetes . (See sidebar) To help people with diabetes better manage 78% their condition, UF Health Shands Hospital female offers the Diabetes Self-Management Education Program . This program provides Viva Brown participants with the latest advances in medical care and education . WELLNESS SURVEY OUTCOMES Viva E. Brown, UF Health transplant assistant in the UF Health Shands Transplant Center post-kidney/pancreas transplant office, hasT ype 2 diabetes . She said that she was lax about keeping up with her diet, exercise and glucose levels before she was advised to enter the program . Who are we? “Even if you feel you are doing all the right things, you can still learn 21.9 % of participants were male something from this program,” Brown said . “Diabetes education is so 78.1 % were female important for gaining control of your diabetes and for staying on top of the latest news ”. The majority of participants were age 40-49 By working together to tackle diabetes, poor nutrition and weight issues, 39.9% percent of eligible UF Health Shands we can lower our risk for these health challenges and set a high standard employees participated in the wellness events for hospitals everywhere . As Brown said, “It is never too late to start doing something good for yourself ”.

If you have two or more of the following characteristics and are over age 45, you may be at risk for Type 2 diabetes: • More than 35 inches around stomach area (measured around the belly button) for a woman; or more than 40 inches around 52% stomach area (measured around the belly button) for a man have ideal • Sedentary lifestyle stress levels • High blood pressure • High blood lipids (fats) • Gestational diabetes • Family history of diabetes WELLNESS SURVEY OUTCOMES • Of African American, American Indian or Hispanic cultural background Stressed out? Our prevalence of elevated stress levels is 473 per 1,000 employees

Participants’ Stress Levels Ideal: 52 % Borderline: 26 % High Risk: 21.3 %

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UF Health Fitness and Wellness Center | Service Get personal with fitness

Do you ever feel like your workout just isn’t working for you? Personal training can offer the extra accountability, motivation and expert instruction you need to reach your fitness goals . And those goals aren’t as far away as 50% you think . At UF Health Fitness and Wellness Center, athletic trainers and exercise exercise physiologists from UF Health Rehab Centers have developed a medically 2-3 days/wk based, supervised fitness and wellness training program . This program offers safe, medically based exercises designed to improve strength and fitness under the supervision of experienced athletic trainers and exercise physiologists . Training sessions can help bridge a return to general wellness for people who have completed a structured rehabilitation program . No pre- existing condition is necessary to participate, and the program can also be WELLNESS SURVEY OUTCOMES used as a cost-efficient alternative to personal training . Do we exercise? Learn more about the program at http://fitness .ufhealth .org . Participants’ regular exercise activity by the number of days a week they exercised for at What employees are saying least 20 minutes: about medical fitness

0-1 days/wk: 25.1 % (1/4) Julie Sablik, M.B.A., program manager 2-3 days/wk: 50.7 % (1/2) UF Health Aorta Center 4-5 days/wk: 19.2 % (less than 1/5) “UF Health Fitness and Wellness trainers have 6-7 days/wk: 5 % the ability to come up with exercises that work muscles you didn’t even know you had . I feel more energized, toned and healthy . It is so important to lead a healthy lifestyle not only for yourself, but as a health care representative . When you feel healthy and good about yourself it positively impacts all the other aspects of your life, and it has the 76% power to inspire others around you to jump Say YES! on the healthy lifestyle bandwagon . And with its ‘make your own schedule’ policy, I really never have an excuse not to go ”.

Carmen C. Yaniz, senior accountant UF Health Shands Finance and Accounting WELLNESS SURVEY OUTCOMES “I joined the medical fitness program in 2011 because I needed help losing weight and I didn’t know what types of exercises to do . I Can we change? was bored with my regular workouts and I 76.0% said they would change their lifestyles hated cardio . The medical fitness team not based on their health screening results. only manages to mix cardio into my exercise regimen, but also keeps me motivated Eat Healthier: 78.5% enough to come four, and even five, times a Lose Weight: 62.7% week — during my lunch break! I have more Exercise Regularly: 73.7% energy and confidence and am happy my two kids can look to me as an example of a healthy lifestyle ”.

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UF Health | Service The skinny on nutrition

More than half of UF Health Shands employees are at high or borderline risk for nutrition, diabetes and weight control issues, according to our 2013 wellness results (see page 4) . Kathryn Parker, R.D., L.D./N ., is our UF Health Shands Hospital Diabetes Self-Management Education and Nutrition Therapy program manager . She said it is important to understand the basics behind managing our diets, but the key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle may surprise you . “Stop dieting,” Parker said, “because it doesn’t work ”. When you diet through calorie restriction, you may lose a lot of water weight at first . However, the weight loss will not be permanent . Healthy food choices will help you tip the scale in the right direction, and you don’t have to go far to find them . The UF Health Shands cafeterias recently teamed up with the Partnership for a Healthier America and its Hospital Healthy Food Initiative in order to bring us more nutritious food options . With this partnership, UF Health employees, patients and visitors using our retail food services now have the opportunity to choose whole grains instead of rice, reduced fat-calorie meals and “better-for-you” foods next to the cash registers . You should also choose meals that are high in fiber and vegetables . The American Heart Association advises that a person consume 4 .5 cups of vegetables per day . Parker also suggests picking up natural foods the next time you go to the cafeteria . A serving of fruit, for instance, will quickly boost your energy, but will only cost you 60 to 70 calories . “If it’s a quick stop, grab a piece of fruit,” Parker said . “It will never make you fat ”.

UF Health Shands | Service Why choose GatorCare?

Mark your calendar for benefits enrollment UF Health physicians, practices and October is on its way, and with it comes the annual UF Health Shands benefits open specialty services are Tier 1 GatorCare enrollment period . Preventative health is key to wellness, so please pencil in some providers and it is more cost-effective to time to review your medical, dental, vision and life insurance selections from last year use Tier 1 providers . and assess any changes you may want to make to your 2014 plan . You can make Faculty and staff enjoy expedited access updates online through HR Self Service . to appointments through our UF Health Shands Human Resources Benefits enrollers will be available to assist GatorAdvantage program . employees in the UF Health Shands Hospital Atrium from 7 a .m . to 6 p .m . beginning Practices are in convenient locations, Monday, Oct . 7, and they will be available at several other locations in Gainesville including the recently opened UF Health during October . Stay tuned to Shands News for details . Pediatrics — Magnolia Parke . They have Benefits Information Days, which include enrollment assistance and onsite vendor several pediatricians and a nurse information tables, will take place 7 a .m . to 4:30 p .m . in two locations: Oct . 14 -17 at practitioner on staff . the UF Health Shands Hospital Atrium; and Oct . 18 at UF Health Shands Psychiatric The GatorCare plan does not require you Hospital and UF Health Shands Rehab Hospital . to have a referral to see a specialist . It’s important that you review and understand your plan and take advantage of the Provider directories and details about resources to ensure you and your dependents get the appropriate and best GatorCare are easily accessible online at coverage . Check your home mailbox for the annual benefits information packet and http://GatorCare .org . newsletter, and check your email inbox for updates during October .

News&Notes | september 2013 9 NEW&NEXT

UF Health | Service Geriatricians team up with trauma and surgery specialists New consult service helps tailor care for older patients

Lawrence Lottenberg, m .d ., UF College of Medicine associate professor of surgery and anesthesiology, and Laurence Solberg, m .d ., a .G .s .F ., UF College of Medicine chief of geriatric medicine and a member of the UF Institute on Aging

In Florida, adults age 65 and older account for 17 percent of the population. Yet they account for 55 percent of the injuries that require hospital admission, according to data presented last December at the Southern Surgical Association annual meeting. With the new service, geriatricians will perform an overall assessment of each patient, work with other physicians to deter- mine the best treatment plan and follow the patient during the entire hospital stay. Geri- atricians will also evaluate the combination of medicines the patient takes and spend time with family members to help them UF Health geriatrics specialists have understand their loved one’s condition and teamed with UF Health Shands Hospital medical needs. In addition, they will work critical care and surgery specialists to pro- with case managers and social workers to vide care tailored to older adults in the areas plan for when the patient leaves the hospital. of trauma, orthopaedic surgery and hospital Our team will assess whether the patient’s medicine. home situation is conducive to their heal- Trauma centers are designed to address ing and whether the patient has the type of severe injuries including head trauma, bleed- assistance they will need. ing and broken bones. But they are not as “This is really bringing a needed addi- prepared to handle some of the underlying tion to the hospital service and the com- reasons for patients’ trauma, such as falls, munity,” said Laurence M. Solberg, M.D., which are common among older adults. A.G.S.F., UF College of Medicine chief of “We can fix your broken wrist, but we geriatric medicine and a member of the UF can’t fix the root cause of why you fell,” said Institute on Aging. “This service puts expert Fred Moore, M.D., F.A.C.S., M.C.C.M., eyes on the patient to fully assess the situ- UF College of Medicine chief of acute care ation from an older person’s point of view. surgery. “Trauma centers were not designed Our team approach gives older patients the to take care of geriatric patients, and trauma best care and the highest chance for a mean- surgeons were not trained to provide robust ingful recovery.” N&N geriatric care.” That’s where geriatricians come in. They are well-equipped to address conditions common among older adults. Those include dementia, delirium, depression, falls, fractures, osteoporosis, use of too many medications and failure to thrive.

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UF Health | Service UF Health receives $3.7 million to bring personalized medicine to more Floridians

UF Health recently celebrated its first successful year of the personalized medicine program along with major funding that will advance the program to more patients and health care providers across the state . The National Human Genome Research Institute awarded a $3 .7 million grant to UF Health to support projects that show how patients’ individual genetic profiles may be used to better tailor clinical treatments . Since the UF Health Personalized Medicine Program launched, more than 1,000 heart patients have benefited from a routine genetic test that can reveal preferred medications to prevent heart attacks and strokes following certain heart procedures . The NIH funding will allow the program to extend this capability over the next four years, helping physicians better prescribe medications tailored to patients . Principal investigator Julie A. Johnson, Pharm.D., director of the UF Health Personalized Medicine Program led by the UF Clinical and Translational Science Institute, will serve as national chair for the NHGRI Genomic Medicine Pilot Demonstration network . The network includes projects at Duke University and Mount Sinai and a coordinating center at the University of Pennsylvania . “We are pleased to be able to continue UF Health’s role as one of the nation’s ‘early adopters’ of genomic medicine,” said Johnson, a distinguished professor of pharmacy and medicine and director of the UF College of Pharmacy’s Center for Pharmacogenomics . “This funding will be the catalyst that propels and expands our work within and beyond our academic health center to help the clinical world incorporate genetic information as a routine part of patient care ”. For more information, visit http://ctsi .ufl .edu .

UF Health | Service Wi-Fi options help you stay connected at UF Health

No matter where you are on our UF Health campuses, you need information fast . To make this possible, the new Wi-Fi network installed in 2012 has been updated to provide even more convenient internet access .

What you need to know about It works in most patient care areas . Need help? our Wi-Fi network: Those using “shands” will use a shared If you have questions or need help, Note: The networks listed below can be generic ID and password provided by please contact the UF Health IT accessed by smartphones, tablets and the care team . Technical Support Center (aka the Help laptops . They are not intended for use Desk) at 352-265-0526 . Non-patient-related visitors to with medical devices or desktop UFHealth Visit http://news .my .shands .org for more computers . information and instructions for using Use “ufvisitor” Wi-Fi network . It works Faculty, staff, and students with each network . anywhere Wi-Fi is available in Shands current Shands or Gatorlink or UF campus facilities . credentials When connected to this network, Use the new “uf” Wi-Fi network . It open your browser for log-on works anywhere Wi-Fi is available in instructions . Shands, UFHP, or UF campus facilities . Those using “ufvisitor” will receive a Users need only a valid Shands or PIN for one week of temporary access . Gatorlink user ID and password to access this network . This network does not replace the Shands “guest” network . Patients and their visitors Use “shands” Wi-Fi guest network .

News&Notes | september 2013 11 FACES

UF Health | service UF Health among nation’s “Most Wired” IT recognized for high-quality services

In a hospital setting with around-the- ing and the Rothman Index and the Sepsis clock hours and a seemingly endless supply Surveillance programs, which help identify of caffeine, it’s not unusual to feel like we changes in a patient’s condition, combine to work in one of the “most wired” industries. improve overall patient quality, safety and But UF Health Shands hospitals and facili- experience. Cassel and Novak expect com- ties were among the nation’s “2013 Most ing systems such as Bar Coded Medication Wired” for a more literal reason: Excellence Administration and Epic OR/Anesthesia to in information technology. continue to improve the availability of inte- Hospitals & Health Networks maga- grated information to the clinicians – fur- zine, an industry-standard publication by ther improving patient outcomes. “This award is the American Hospital Association, spon- On the non-clinical side, the day-to-day about having the sors the annual “HealthCare’s Most Wired” tools employees use contribute to our com- survey. In its 15th year, the survey mea- munications efforts and efficiency. People- right software, sures development across four key areas: Soft, Microsoft Office and Outlook, as well infrastructure, business and administrative as our new Web presence work in tandem hardware, management, clinical quality and safety to support our collective business and com- (inpatient/outpatient hospital) and clinical munications efforts and serve our customers systems and integration (ambulatory/physician/patient/ effectively. community). To earn the “Most Wired” nod, A large part of making our organization processes in place an organization must achieve “core” compe- more tech-savvy means using the findings to enable clinical tencies across all areas. UF Health Shands from the survey as an improvement tool. Children’s Surgical Center (at Ayers) and UF Cassel’s team plans to use the survey results and business Health Shands hospitals and facilities were to see where other organizations are doing among 11 organizations in Florida to earn better than we are — looking for more processes to work that distinction. opportunities to improve. This is the first time UF Health earned “We will also use it to identify areas where increasingly the “Most Wired” distinction. UF Health we’re doing really well and congratulate our Chief Information Officer and Senior Vice staff,” Cassel said.“We’ve accomplished a lot in better.” President Kari Cassel said it summarizes three short years and this award is a great recog- Kari Cassel, UF Health Chief how far the organization has come in its nition of those efforts.” Information Officer and quest to implement high-quality systems that Please join us in thanking our IT col- Senior Vice President improve patient safety and quality of care. leagues for keeping us wired in all the right “This award is about having the right ways. N&N software, hardware, systems and processes in place to enable clinical and business processes to work increasingly better,” Cassel said. Everyone at UF Health is familiar with systems that Cassel’s information technology team maintains. On the clinical side, our Epic Electronic Medical Record is making a positive difference in patient care, said Don Novak, M.D., UF Health chief medical information officer and UF College of Medicine professor of gastroenterology. Additionally, RFID patient equipment track-

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UF Health Children’s Surgical Center and UF Health Florida Surgical Center | Quality Outpatient surgical centers shine

UF Health Florida Surgical Center faculty and staff enjoyed a pizza party to celebrate their successes in OR antibiotic administration . UF Health teams are collaborating more than ever to provide quality care for our patients, and the results are proving the power of teamwork. Through collaboration between nurses, surgeons and anesthesia team members, the UF Health Children’s Surgical Center (at Ayers) and UF Health Florida Surgical Center (off Hull Road and Southwest 34th Street) recently reached impressive milestones to perfect operating room antibiotic administration. As of June 28, the Children’s Surgical Center team marked more than 464 days and 3,000 cases without an antibiotic documentation failure. The Florida Surgical Center has exceeded 463 days and 8,000 cases without failure. When national Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP) measures were implemented by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the UF College of Medicine department of anes- UF Health Children’s Surgical Center staff also celebrated to recognize their thesiology and UF Health hospital staff made accomplishments in OR antibiotic administration . infection prevention a priority. With a combination of 100 percent chart review, active involvement of nurses, and imme- diate feedback to surgery and anesthesia providers, we not only met national benchmarks but we also exceeded them. Our surgery centers held breakfast and lunch celebrations for staff this summer to thank them for a job well done. N&N

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UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital | People Child Life welcomes new director Experienced leader will build upon strong program foundation

In August, UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital welcomed Chris Brown, Chris Brown, m .s . M.S., as the new director of the Child Life department. The Child Life team helps children and their families cope with the stress and anxiety of hospital- ization. Brown, who has been working with Child Life programs across the country for 30 years, was attracted to UF Health because of our reputation as a highly rated academic health center. “UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital’s Child Life team is not only experienced and motivated, but it has full support from both the nursing leadership and the hospital administration,” Brown said. “It’s the perfect environment for growth and research.” Brown will build off the foundation established by retired Child Life Supervisor Marilyn Close-Battoe, who has been a child life specialist for 26 years. Brown hopes to use UF Health’s innovative culture to Child Life’s advantage. Priority projects range from determining how to financially support Child Life services in areas that are currently without coverage, to dem- onstrating the effectiveness of Child Life services in areas such as pain management, medical outcomes and patient-family satisfaction. Marina Cecchini, M.P.A., UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital admin- istrator, said she is excited to have Brown become part of the UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital team in the newly created position of director. Cecchini said, “She joins us with extensive experience in building and developing Child Life departments within children’s hospitals and shares our vision for making UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital is a place where care and compassion come together.” N&N

“UF Health Shands Hospital’s Child Life team is not only experienced and motivated, but it has full support from both the nursing leadership and the hospital administration. It is the perfect environment for growth and research.”

Chris Brown, M.S., new director of the Child Life department

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UF Health Shands Hospital | People Engagement in action Employee engagement tops the charts on Medicine Unit 64

For Mia Belleville, M.S.N., R.N.-B.C., B.C., UF Health Shands Hospital Medicine Unit 64 nurse manager, employee engagement is all about action. Her innovative approach to action plan- ning following the 2013 Shands Employee Engagement Survey was highlighted by her unit’s improvement on every survey item. The Unit 64 team also scored 90 percent favorable on all the “Power Items” — the 15 survey items that provide the most accurate snapshot of employee engagement. She met all her action goals from the previous year and is working hard on new goals and projects to enhance engagement among her staff. “The survey has always been an important tool that gets to the heart of staff issues and con- cerns,” Belleville said. “But I want my team to Chad Rhoden, r .N ., b .s .N ., and Khalidah know it’s more than just a survey and that I am Smith, r .t ., UF Health Shands Hospital going to use their feedback to improve things on Respiratory Care therapist, worked together our unit.” to improve processes and address the survey To keep this idea top-of-mind, Belleville is item: “Different units of our organization developing a board to be kept in the staff lounge work well together ”. that visually displays her team’s actions taken to Mia Belleville, m .s .N ,. r .N ., b .C . improve items on the survey. The board contains brief summaries of the steps, while more detailed project summaries will be kept in a binder at the nurses’ station. This year’s action plan is focused on the two survey items: “I am involved in deci- “I want them to feel like they are sions that affect my work,” and “Different involved in decisions and that they can units of our organization work well togeth- come to me with suggestions,” Belleville said er.” With this in mind, charge nurse Chad of her team. “And that we will problem-solve Rhoden, R.N., B.S.N., invited a respiratory and adapt and tweak processes until they therapist to one of the team’s daily huddles. work.” They used this opportunity to address the Keep reading News&Notes for more difficulties the nursing team was having information about the survey and stories when trying to reach respiratory therapists. about teams that have achieved success in It turned out they were using the wrong the improvement process. If you have a story phone number – and, just like that, things you would like to share, please email Lauren on Unit 64 greatly improved. Belleville Irizarry, UF Health Communications coor- also plans to begin taking action steps to dinator, at [email protected]@shands.ufl. improve working relationships with the UF edu. N&N Health Shands E.R. over the next year.

News&Notes | september 2013 15 KUDOS

UF Health | Service New iPhone app fuels better outcomes for DBS patients

More than 100,000 people worldwide have received deep brain stimulator device implants to help treat their neurological diseases. As the number grows, so too does the health care industry’s need to better care for these patients. The UF Health Center for Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration team now offers a new iPhone app for clinicians and patients to measure the battery life left in DBS devices and to improve quality of patient care. The app was recently released through the Apple store under DBS BE or deep brain stimulation, or DBS Battery Estimator/calculator. “Over the past several years, we have implanted nearly 1,000 of these devices and we have studied their short- and long-term benefits and side effects,” said Michael S. Okun, M.D., UF Center for Movement Disorders co-director. “One important lesson we discovered in our research, was that if the battery, also known as the neurostimulator, was partially depleted, or even ran out of juice, the symptomatic effects for patients with Parkinson’s disease, tremor, dystonia, and even neuropsychiatric diseases could be devastating. In some cases, battery depletion could lead to rebound of motor symptoms like tremor or dystonia, but in other neuropsychiatric conditions it could lead to suicide attempts or other devastating consequences.” Okun and two students, Mike Montuno, a UF College of Medicine student, and Andrew Kohner, a high school student, studied the phenomenon as a summer research project. Their work culminated in a paper in PLOS ONE and a simple iPhone and Droid app for clinicians and patients. Recently a second UF College of Medicine student, Kaihan Fakhar, published a follow-up paper in PLOS ONE documenting that the DBS rebound phenomenon truly existed in humans, and proposing an algorithm for clinicians and patients to follow to avoid the DBS battery related issue. “We wanted to develop a simple tool and put it in the hands of clinicians and patients so that at every doctor’s visit, battery life of the deep brain stimulator could be quickly assessed in less than a minute and a pre-emptive battery change could be scheduled before re-emergence of bothersome and potentially devastating symptoms,” Okun said. “The tool can also be used by patients as long as they ask their doctors to write down their stimulation settings for them at each visit. The tool is not perfect as battery life predictions are just predictions, but along with the new proposed quality improvement bedside pathway, it will hopefully help tens of thousands of bionic patients live better lives.” The app was developed as a collaboration between the UF Health Center for Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration and James Oliverio from the UF Digi- tal Worlds Institute. The app is compatible with iPhone, iPod touch and iPad.N&N

16 New&Notes | september 2013 KUDOS

UF Health Florida Recovery Center | Service New program helps FRC patients step toward recovery

The UF Florida Recovery Center – Tampa intensive outpatient program staff are implementing a program that aims to help patients through addiction recovery. Making AA Easier is a program that counselors can implement with patients who are preparing to transition into the culture of Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anony- mous. These 12-step groups are widely available as a source of support for individuals with alcohol and drug problems, and involvement in AA and NA has been associated with alcohol and drug abstinence in dozens of studies. “Making AA Easier is an evidence-based practice that is fun and engaging for the patients and staff alike,” said Brianna Shupp, a UF Health Florida Recovery Center – Tampa substance abuse tech. “Since implementing this program only 90 days ago, we have noticed a dramatic increase in 12-step program engagement.” One of the primary goals of Making AA Easier is to introduce patients to a group setting in which open and honest sharing takes place. As part of the program, counselors in our Tampa facility are facilitating group dis- cussion sessions with patients on topics such as finding meetings, sponsorship and spirituality. The objective is for patients to be more recep- tive to AA and NA meetings and begin attend- ing them while in treatment. Research shows that early and intense 12-step involvement by addiction patients is significantly predictive of long-term success. Prior to implementing the Making AA Easier program, only about 50 percent of UF Health Florida Recovery Center – Tampa patients attended AA meetings. “Now we are seeing 80 percent participa- tion,” Shupp said. The UF Health Florida Recovery Center operates outpatient programs in Gainesville, Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville for people who are learning to live a sober life after addiction treatment. For more information, visit http://floridarecoverycenter.ufhealth.org.N&N

News&Notes | september 2013 17 KUDOS

UF Health Shands Rehab Hospital | Service Physicians and staff make history Rehab hospital admits first LVAD patient

Care medical director. He chose to col- Alan and Lisa Oelschlager laborate with the staff at UF Health Shands Rehab Hospital to make history. Prior to Oelschlager’s admission, UF Health Shands Rehab Hospital had never admitted a patient with an LVAD device. Oelschlager was admitted in April. When he arrived, he couldn’t walk or talk. But he said he wasn’t afraid because he trusted his team of doctors and nurses to make sure everyone had the proper training to take care of him. Lisa Dowd, B.S.N., R.N., C.R.R.N., N.E.-B.C., director of nursing and patient services at UF Health Shands Rehab Hospi- tal, said the biggest hurdle for staff was also “This is an fear of the unknown, which they overcame through teamwork and support. exciting time for “Dr. Aranda’s team was great,” Dowd said. “They said they would do whatever we all of us,” Dowd needed them to do to make this happen, because this was the best place for Mr. Oel- said. “We are s c h l a g e r.” doing things for The rehab nursing and therapy staff took hours of training to understand Oel- the first time, schlager’s condition and the LVAD implant before he arrived. and it is all Six days after undergoing open heart sur- “In the beginning, this was new and gery to receive a permanent left ventricular frightening,” Dowd said. “But now, it’s been because we are assist device (LVAD), Alan Oelschlager almost four weeks that he’s been here, and working together. suffered a stroke. From that day forward, staff confidence levels are through the roof.” he and his wife, Lisa, began the journey to Dowd said this is an excellent example It’s an awesome recovery. of collaboration between the doctors and After a two-month stay at UF Health nurses at UF Health Shands Hospital and accomplishment.” Shands Hospital, it was time for Oelschlager the doctors, nurses and therapists at UF to be discharged to a rehab facility. Though Health Shands Rehab Hospital. Lisa Dowd, B.S.N., R.N., Oelschlager lives in Deltona, Oelschlager’s “This is an exciting time for all of C.R.R.N., N.E.-B.C., director of cardiologist, the LVAD team and Oel- us,” Dowd said. “We are doing things for nursing and patient services schlager’s physical and occupational thera- the first time, and it is all because we at UF Health Shands Rehab pists decided he should go to UF Health are working together. It’s an awesome Hospital Shands Rehab Hospital. accomplishment.” N&N Oelschlager’s cardiologist is Juan Aranda, M.D., F.A.C.C., UF Health Shands Transplant Center heart transplant program director and UF Health Shands Hospital Unit 54 Cardiac Care and Intermediate

18 New&Notes | september 2013 KUDOSKUDOS

UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital | Service First priority: Safety

In May, faculty and staff at UF Health Shands Children’s caregivers, from the medical students to faculty, nurses and Hospital spearheaded an effort to revamp hospital safety by other team members . Collins said there has been an overall initiating a monthly “safety day ”. improvement in awareness about responsibility and accountability at the hospital, and she has already seen a rise Shelley Collins, M.D., F.A.A.P., UF Health Shands Children’s in patient safety reports being filed . Hospital Pediatric Inpatient Services medical director and UF College of Medicine pediatrics assistant professor and chief, “The experience of the patient can only get better if everyone said prior to this new initiative, pediatric safety meetings were is included in discussions about patient needs, their safety and primarily informational and did not include the full staff that the quality of care they are receiving,” Collins said . interacts with the patients . The hospital has already achieved recognition for its new “I think the safety meetings in the past were useful but limited safety efforts . UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital has been in scope,” Collins said . “We are now making an effort to be named as one of 16 sites for a study on the global assessment more proactive rather than reactive in our curriculum ”. of pediatric patient safety, which is sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the Centers for Now, each safety day meeting is centered on a safety theme . Medicaid and Medicare Services . This program is a vital step Topics vary and include issues such as communication, toward identifying ways to prevent adverse events teamwork, safe surroundings, quality-of-care standards, surrounding hospitalized children . efficiency and appropriate emergency responses within the hospital . “All of the focus is on keeping the patient at the center of all that we do,” Collins said . “We are not perfect but we are The new program addresses all levels of learners and working hard to get there ”.

UF Health Shands Hospital | Service UF Health equips officers with trauma kits

The latest weapon in the arsenal of area law enforcement officers doesn’t fire bullets or spray tear gas . It’s a trauma first-aid kit being deployed for those injured in motor vehicle accidents, shootings, stabbings and industrial accidents . Equipping Gainesville officers with these kits has been the mission of Gainesville Police Department Lt . Dan Stout . He recognized the need for officers to be able to treat themselves, the public and each other in the aftermath of incidents involving high- powered assault weapons . Now, thanks to recent financial support from UF Health Shands Hospital, the agency has provided trauma kits and training to the remainder of its 300 officers . “Every day, these officers put their lives on the line for us, and we wanted to show them how much we value their service to our community,” said Ed Jimenez, UF Health Shands Hospital chief operating officer and senior vice president . “They were short 30 kits, so we stepped in and helped them completely outfit the department ”. The trauma kit mirrors its battle-ready counterpart carried by each member of the u .s . armed forces . It contains: a tourniquet to stem blood flow, gauze for injuries not appropriate for tourniquet use, a military grade bandage and a chest seal designed to treat open chest wounds . “Blood keeps flowing whether the ambulance arrives or not,” Stout said . “With a trauma kit, we can apply lifesaving interventions . A simple first-aid kit is useless in massive blood-loss situations ”. Each complete trauma kit costs $100, plus the expense of replacing the gauze, because its blood-absorbing compound expires every three years . GPD officers hope more law enforcement agencies will adopt use of the trauma kits as word spreads of their role in saving lives .

News&Notes | september 2013 19 TOTO DDOO

UF Health Shands | People Be the ONE this October

How can you harness the power of one? This October, Shands employees at UF Health will learn how with our annual United Way campaign: The Power of One . It takes just one person to make a lasting impact in our community . One has the power to touch multiple lives . One has the power to start the ripple that affects a team, an organization, a culture . Our employees are linking together again to show that the power of one is an unstoppable force . Our involvement with United Way of North Central Florida has a direct impact on improving education, income and health in our community through the programs of 26 United Way Community Impact Partner Agencies, such as our very own ElderCare of Alachua County . Not to mention that many UF Health departments partner with the United Way team throughout the year in various community events such as book drives, food drives and delivering Meals on Wheels . Soon you will learn how to get involved and become a Power of One champion within your department or unit . Managers will receive information packets with various communications tools to run a successful campaign, including goals, a calendar of events, involvement incentives and more . Additionally, information and resources will be available through the ShandsConnect Portal . Be the one to make change happen!

News&Notes | september 2013 20