As of Friday, June 19, nearly 1,200 UH employees and friends have voiced their opinions about the proposed Hospital Franchise Fee by sending a letter to Gov. Strickland. If you have not already done so and wish to be heard, there is still time for you to participate.

 

An easy-to-use online letter is available at uhhospitals.org/gov or you may prefer to send your message via fax (614-466-9354) or by calling the governor’s local office at 216-787-3240.

 

A sample letter is available here and you may customize it to suit your individual needs.  If you wish to express your opinion by telephone, here are some points you may wish to consider:

 

• The Franchise Fee equates to a $717 million assessment on all Ohio hospitals over the next two years to help balance the state’s biennial budget

 

• For UH, there is likely to be a shortfall between what we would be “assessed” and what we would get back through an increase in Medicaid reimbursement

 

• As manufacturing, steel, banking, the automobile industry and others decline alarmingly, hospitals and health care organizations remain one of the few bright spots in Ohio’s economy

 

• It is both unrealistic and unfair to ask hospitals to bear the burden of the state’s budget crisis

 

• We urge Governor Strickland to work with our Ohio legislators to ensure all hospital assessment dollars are returned to the hospitals so we can continue to serve the health care needs of our communities

 

Remember, your participation is strictly voluntary. 

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UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital has once again been ranked among the top two hospitals in the country for neonatal care, according to U.S. News & World Report’s annual rankings of pediatric hospitals.

 

Unlike previous rankings, this year is the first year in which children’s hospitals were evaluated in 10 specialties and Rainbow earned rankings in eight of the 10 specialties.  This is significant because each year more than 160 children’s hospitals throughout the country participate in the U.S. News rankings.  

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Employees and their families are encouraged to visit the WELLNESS Matters online magazine and complete the confidential survey about their preferences in the areas of health, financial, work and life wellness by June 24. If it matters to you, it matters to UH. Don’t miss out on the final days to complete the survey and be eligible to win prizes.  The prizes include gift cards valued at $25 to $50 or the grand prize of free UH medical plan employee contributions at your current contribution rate for the remainder of the year.  If you win but you are not enrolled in a UH health plan, you will receive $300 in cash.  Your name and phone number are needed to be eligible for the drawing.  To maintain confidentiality, your survey data is submitted prior to entering your name and phone number.

 

Questions? Contact the HR Service Center at 1-877-HR1-PLACE (1-877-471-7522) Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

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Congratulations to Deforia Lane, MT-BC, PhD, who was awarded the OHA Albert E. Dyckes Health Care Worker of the Year Award by the Ohio Hospital Association. Deforia was one of 84 nominees statewide competing for this honor.

 

A 25-year employee of UH, Deforia serves as an associate director of the UH Ireland Cancer Center and the director of the music therapy program. Deforia and her team bring the miracle of music to stroke victims, the mentally disabled, abused children, geriatric clients, adult and pediatric cancer patients and the terminally ill. Deforia is an international authority in music therapy and has traveled the world lecturing on the topic. Her work has been recognized by a number of local and national media outlets including a segment on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams. View the story online by clicking here.

 

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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has become aware of a scam in which people posing as the Medicare carrier or Medicare Administrative Contractor are sending faxes to physician offices. The fax instructs physician staff to respond to a questionnaire to provide an account information update within 48 hours in order to prevent a gap in Medicare payments. The fax may have the CMS logo and/or the contractor logo to enhance the appearance of authenticity.

 

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This month's "Spotted around Campus" honors the excellent customer service of financial counselor Nancy Dempsey, a member of the Patient Accounting Customer Service team at the Management Services Center. Ms. Dempsey was nominated for this award by Jeanie Overholt, Program and Events Coordinator, who received an e-mail message from her mom asking to nominate Ms. Dempsey. To read the e-mail and view a picture of Ms. Dempsey, click here. Congratulations Ms. Dempsey and thank you for making the difference!

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Please consider donating blood Friday, June 26, from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Rainbow Performance Area or 11 a.m.-6 p.m. in Lerner Tower room 2060. While every employee is encouraged to give, there is a special need for minorities to give because antibodies in blood are more common among various ethnic and racial groups. For example, patients with Sickle Cell Anemia are more easily matched with blood donated by African-Americans. Consider scheduling a time to donate – your blood could help save a life! For questions about blood donation, call 216-844-8172.

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Taking place Friday, July 24, from 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at Corporate College East, this all-day program will familiarize the audience with current knowledge and recent advances in the minimally invasive treatment options for prostate cancer, including:

 

• The latest in minimally invasive management
• The most innovative treatment options
• Therapeutics on the horizon

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Join the Rainbow Pediatric Trauma Center as they host “Pediatric Trauma Nursing Grand Rounds; Lessons Learned Dec. 24, 2008,” Wednesday, July 1, from 5-6 p.m. The discussion will be about the care of a family with four children who were involved in a serious car accident Christmas Eve, 2008. Staff involved in the direct care of the patients will trace the family’s progress through Rainbow, touching on lessons learned about multi-casualty care and maximizing family-centered care. A light supper will be served and CME and social work educational credit will be awarded to those who attend.

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UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital recently received re-verification of the Level I Pediatric Trauma Center. Site reviewers from the American College of Surgeons visited the trauma facility in April to verify that all operations, clinical care, outreach and education programs meet and exceed the rigorous standards. To celebrate this success, the Trauma Department will be on the Atrium Bridge Tuesday, June 30, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. All are invited to stop by for tasty treats, giveaways and trauma center information.

 

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Employees are invited to join the UH bike team for this year’s Peddle to the Point bike ride Aug. 15-16. The annual event benefits the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. If you are interested in joining the UH team or would like to make a donation, contact Pasquale Bisecco at Pasquale.Bisecco@UHhospitals.org or Brian Cox at Brian.Cox@UHhospitals.org.

 

 

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Looking to buy a home near UH Case Medical Center? The Greater Circle Living program is sponsoring a free trolley tour of available homes in the Fairfax, Buckeye-Shaker, Little Italy, University Circle and Glenville neighborhoods this Friday, June 26 from 5-7 pm.

 

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 A new eight-page guide for UH Copy Standards is now available for use systemwide. Please share the guide with anyone on your team who prepares correspondence and other communications materials.

 

For information contact Katelyn Glander at 216-767-8582 or Katelyn.Glander@UHhospitals.org.

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• A crane will be operating on Cornell Road adjacent to Mather Pavilion Saturday, June 27, for necessary work related to the Blood Bank expansion project. The crane will take-up a portion of the south bound lane and flag men will be in place to help direct traffic during this time. Work is expected to be complete in one day.

 

• The Cornell Bridge will re-open Saturday, July 4.

 

• On Monday, July 6, Cornell Road will be closed from Euclid Avenue to the entrance of the Cornell Road Visitors parking garage due to necessary construction work for the new Cancer Hospital. Patients and visitors should enter and leave the garage via the Mayfield Road entrance until September. Access to the ER will be available via Adelbert Road or Mayfield Road to Circle Drive. Look for further details online or in future issues of Weekly Report.

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This program, brought to you by UH Nutrition Services, MacDonald Women’s Hospital and Corporate Health, teaches participants skills and techniques needed to manage weight and create healthy eating habits. Weekly sessions begin Monday, July 13, and will continue every Monday from noon-1 p.m. at the Management Services Center, Rockford Boardroom. To register, call 216-844-4000.

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To register your child, infant to five years old, for a professional photo shoot, bring them to Westfield Great Northern in North Olmsted Thursday, July 9, through Saturday, July 11 from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. or Sunday, July 12, from noon-5 p.m. All proceeds raised in the Cleveland area’s contest benefit UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital. The $35 entrance fee includes an 8x10 color photo.

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The UH Ireland Cancer Center and the American Cancer Society (ACS) have teamed up for the Pan Ohio cycling tour that will raise money and awareness for the Society's Hope Lodges in Ohio and support programs for cancer patients. This tour across the state will start in Cleveland July 30 and end in Cincinnati Aug. 2. Come to an informational session hosted by UH and ACS in the Atrium at UH Case Medical Center, Thursday, June 25, from noon-1:30 p.m. You are welcome to bike all four days, three days, two days, or one day. For more information, contact Katie Stroh at 216-767-8558.

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Sponsored by UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, volunteers can sign up for the Be the Match Registry Friday, June 26, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on the Atrium Bridge at UH Case Medical Center. To join, you must be between the ages of 18 and 60 and meet certain health guidelines. Questions? Call 1-888-862-7769 Ext. 103 or visit bethematch.org.

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The Auxiliary of UH Case Medical Center is sponsoring a vendor sale featuring the designer inspired handbag fundraiser, Boutique to You. Stop by the Atrium Thursday, June 25, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Friday, June 26, from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Auxiliary of UH Case Medical Center.

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• The Relay for Life team from UH Westlake Health Center, which raised $14,507 for the Relay for Life walk at Westlake High School. Thanks to all who contributed to fight cancer and raise awareness of cancer prevention and treatment.

 

• Anna Liner, RDCS, FASE, who received the Cardiovascular Sonographer Research Award at the 20th Annual American Society of Echocardiography Scientific Sessions for her research titled “Echocardiographic Assessment of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Induced by Overexpression of C-Myc.”

 

• Linda Dundon, RN, Director of Rehabilitation Services at UH Extended Care Campus, who received the Claims & Litigation 2009 Patient Safety Award.

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*Click here to view IT&S Updates & Outages throughout the week.

Monday, June 22:

Lerner Tower- basement and floors one, two, three and four only, network upgrade. Brief and intermittent interruptions affecting Cisco phones, computers, printers and other devices. Onsite IT&S personnel will coordinate downtime prior to interruption and assist medical staff members to help avoid losing data and system updates, starting June 22 at 11 p.m.-June 23 at 7 a.m.

 

Tuesday, June 23:

Mather Pavilion- sub-basement, basement and first floor only, network upgrade. Brief and intermittent interruptions affecting Cisco phones, computers, printers and other devices. Onsite IT&S personnel will coordinate downtime prior to interruption and assist medical staff members to help avoid losing data and system updates, starting June 23 at 11 p.m.-June 24 at 7 a.m.

 

Clinician Portal, scheduled maintenance, starting June 23 at 11 p.m.-June 24 at 5 a.m.

 

Wednesday, June 24:

Mather Pavilion- second and third floors only, network upgrade. Brief and intermittent interruptions affecting Cisco phones, computers, printers and other devices. Onsite IT&S personnel will coordinate downtime prior to interruption and assist medical staff members to help avoid losing data and system updates, starting June 24 at 11 p.m.-June 25 at 7 a.m.

 

Thursday, June 25:

Foley, network upgrade. Brief and intermittent interruptions affecting Cisco phones, computers, printers and other devices. Onsite IT&S personnel will coordinate downtime prior to interruption and assist medical staff members to help avoid losing data and system updates, starting June 25 at 11 p.m.-June 26 at 7 a.m.

 

Cornell, network upgrade. Brief and intermittent interruptions affecting Cisco phones, computers, printers and other devices. Onsite IT&S personnel will coordinate downtime prior to interruption and assist medical staff members to help avoid losing data and system updates, starting June 25 at 11 p.m.-June 26 at 7 a.m.

Cornell garage and modulars one, two and three- network maintenance, brief and intermittent interruptions affecting Cisco phones, computers, printers and other devices, starting June 25 at 11 p.m.-June 26 at 7 a.m.

 

Friday, June 26:

Oracle Applications, scheduled maintenance, starting June 26 at 6 p.m.-June 27 at 2 a.m.

 

Markview, scheduled maintenance, starting June 26 at 6 p.m.-June 27 at 2 a.m.

Click here to download a printable version of this week’s UH Weekly Report. Please share this issue with team members who do not have access to e-mail.
 

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