SPRING 2021 ADVICE. REAL STORIES. PRIMARY CARE Why it’s so TRUE important PEOPLE. LOCAL LOCAL DOUBLE THE NEXT LEVEL OF DUTY Rochelle Kubaskie WOUND CARE takes on new role of Program Coordinator Carmen Liebelt: leading Obstetrics & Infusion Center New Wound Care Center is a “dream come true” SLEEP TIGHT Tips for a good night’s rest from our sleep expert WHAT’S INSIDE... Mary Beth White-Jacobs Chief Executive Officer, BRMH EXCELLENCE ONLY HAPPENS CONTENTS WITH EXCELLENT PEOPLE Employee Spotlight ........... 2 Everything we do at Black River Memorial Hospital is about servingexcellent others, people. and And, to be successful, we need people to help people. No, we need Sleep Tight................... 2 we have that with Kathy Piette-Smetana and Kristal Schreiber. They work in our Next Level of Wound Care .... 3 Health Information Department and are two of our longest-tenured employees. They’ve contributed so much to BRMH over the years, and their careers speak to Primary Care ................. 5 why we are in the 90th percentile nationally among organizations of our size in length of tenure. I have many shared memories over all those years with Kathy and Infuse Hope ...................7 Kristal, and you can read about their special friendship on the next page. Coloring Page ................ 8 There are a lot of good folks helping people in our Black River Healthcare Clinic Community Partnerships ..... too. It’s hard to believe it’s already been open nine months. If you don’t have a 9 primary care provider or want to establish care with one closer to home, I urge you Community Spotlight ....... 10 to connect with the clinic and make an appointment, because having one will lead to a healthier life. (Page 5) Double Duty ................ 11 I’m thrilled to let you know about an expansion of our services that grows care close Financial Tips ............... 13 to home. We’ve partnered with Healogics, the industry leader, to develop a Wound Care Center (Page 3) providing advanced care for chronic, non-healing wounds, Recipe and Puzzles ...........14 opening in May. And our new Infusion Center, where our first chemotherapy occurred in February, has a new director, Rochelle Kubaskie, who also guides our Obstetrics Department. Her leadership in both areas is so important, and she has an interesting story (Page 11) of having worked on both ends of the spectrum of life. As always, it comes back to helping people, and you can depend on all of us at BRMH to continue to explore the best ways to improve the health of our communities. Excellence Always, 1 MOMENTUM TIPS FOR BETTER + OF MEMORIES SLEEP SPOTLIGHT 0 Years Sure,4 counting sheep will work 8 sometimes, but there are proven ways to help you fall asleep and get a good night’s rest, says Paula Voskuil, respiratory sleep technician at Black River Memorial Hospital. Here are some of the key ones: EMPLOYEE EMPLOYEE IT’S A ROUTINE THING Going to bed and waking up at the A “stolen” neighbor, a cartwheel “Kristal and (her husband) Steve were same time every day helps stabilize challenge, and a shoulder to lean on. there for the whole thing,” Kathy says. your circadian rhythm, or body clock, “It’s nice to know you have people in Coworkers first and friends ever since, 1releasing hormones at the right time your corner.” Kathy Piette-Smetana and Kristal to make you feel sleepy or awake. Schreiber share a trove of cherished Many laughs have been shared as well, Varying from your routine can “jet memories working a combined 84 years like the time many years ago when lag” your body, Voskuil says, “and at Black River Memorial Hospital. Kristal accepted a challenge to do that really can throw off your sleep.” a cartwheel in the office. She nailed “There are so many” memories, Kathy LIGHTS OUT it. “That’s something I never let her says. “It’s a great place to work. It’s a Voskuil says you should turn off forget,” Kathy says. family.” your screens at least an hour before The same can be said for “the fact bedtime. The blue light emitted from The pair have worked together for 35 Kristal took the best neighbor we ever them “wakes your body up” and can years, with Kristal joining Kathy in had away from us three years ago.” That 2prevent the release of melatonin, the the Health Information Department would be Steve, who lived next door to hormone produced by your body that after spending her first seven years Kathy and her husband, Tony, for 30 makes you sleepy. at BRMH as a ward clerk. Kathy has years. Happily, the move was meant to spent her entire 42-year career in Health CUT THE CAFFEINE be as Steve and Kristal were married in Information. Some of their duties have Caffeine is a stimulant, which is the March 2020. included medical coding, processing last thing you need when trying to charges, and working to resolve The couples are friends, and their good fall asleep. Additionally, dehydration insurance claim denials. times will continue, but the work chapter can create barriers to sleep. So ditch of Kristal and Kathy’s friendship will 3that second cup of coffee for a glass “It’s a good place to work. They treat us end on April 30 when Kathy retires on of water, and better sleep may follow. well,” Kristal says. the day of her 42nd work anniversary. SUNNY SOLUTION From transcribing doctor orders in the “I’m really happy for her, but I’m really Anxiety “definitely will throw off beginning to pushing a button now and sad for me,” Kristal says. “She sees the your sleep,” Voskuil says, and she “voila! It’s all done for you,” Kathy says, good in everything, always so upbeat suggests a dose of sunshine. “For the friendship has grown as the hospital and positive. She’s a wonderful person.” some reason, it can just lift your has too. attitude.” During the darker months The feeling is mutual. “She’s a great Kathy found great comfort in the 4of winter, that can be a challenge, friend,” Kathy says. “I can tell her friendship in February 2019 when she and B-Home Services and Supplies anything.” had “pretty dramatic health issues” and sells therapy lights that Voskuil says was mourning the loss of a coworker. have shown to be effective. Kristal Schreiber (left) and Kathy Piette-Smetana have been friends and co-workers for decades. BRMH.NET 2 BUILDING A BETTER PATIENT EXPERIENCE WOUND CARE CENTER WOUND CARE ADVANCES TO THE NEXT LEVEL CARMEN LIEBELT WILL HEAD UP NEW CENTER OPENING THIS SPRING 3 MOMENTUM armen Liebelt has been rendering wound care at Black C River Memorial Hospital for 16½ years in her role as a physical therapist. It was time for a change— one she was hoping for. Liebelt will be the program coordinator of the new Wound Care Center slated to open in the spring. “I’m so excited about this project, I MILLION can’t even tell you,” she says. “This AMERICANS definitely has been a dream come true for me. I have worked on this project The6.7 estimated number of Americans on and off for years, and this time affected by chronic wounds, a number persistence paid off. It was the right time for the hospital to pursue the that is rising fueled by an aging expansion of this service line.” population. The Black River Memorial Hospital Wound Care Center will offer an evidence-based, systematic approach to advanced wound care for people living with chronic, nonhealing wounds such as those suffering from diabetic ulcers, pressure ulcers, infections, compromised skin BRMH teamed with Healogics®, grafts and flaps, and wounds the nation’s leading provider of that haven’t healed within a wound care, to develop the center. reasonable time frame. The partnership will give BRMH Patients will have more freedom, access to new individualized treatment technology, and the ability to be plans, which may include progressive with its wound care specialized wound dressings, treatment, Liebelt said. “That’s debridement, compression beyond exciting to me.” therapy, advanced cellular The center will be located in the products and topical growth Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation factors, edema management, Department and will be staffed by and/or noninvasive vascular Liebelt, a physician medical director, assessment. “Having medical advanced practice providers, and providers as part of our Wound nursing staff. A referral will not be Care Center really brings out a required to receive care at the center. whole new realm of possibilities,” Liebelt says. “We’re going to be able The Wound Care Center comes on to give patients the care that they the heels of the recent openings of need.” the Black River Healthcare Clinic and the Infusion Center. “We And that care will be close to home, thought this would be a perfect eliminating the need for local time and a great fit with all the new patients to travel long distances service lines we were offering,” for advanced wound care. “We Liebelt said. are going to work with the patient’s provider team to ensure comprehensive care,” Liebelt says. BRMH.NET 4 HAVING A PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER IS ONE OF THE HEALTHIEST DECISIONS YOU CAN MAKE Cost, access, and perceived need are among the main barriers to people having a primary care provider. Black River Healthcare Clinic addresses these issues for Jackson County area residents by providing another option where they can receive primary care that improves their physical and mental health at a lesser cost than emergency care or relying only on specialists.