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March 2016
Important Dates
MAR Chat with Charles
16
MAR Wellness Wednesday
16
MAR Spring Fling
20
MAR Company Store On-Site Sale
22
MAR Spring Blood Drive
23
MAR March Madness Fun
25
MAR Doctors Day
30
APR Spring Employee Forums
27-29
APR
30
2nd Annual MCP
Kickball Tournament
MAY Citywide Events Sale
10-11
JUL
30
1st Annual MCP
Volleyball Tournament
2016 Innovators Announced
The winners of this year’s HCA Innovators Awards at The Medical
Center of Plano have been announced! Please join us in saluting the
following projects, and the employees who have been rewarded.
Quality and Safety – “Safe Room Shields”
Rick Gulley, Tim Koscheski, Tom Tanner, KC Wortham,
and R.J. Wick.
Placement of a luminous, shield-shaped decal in the upper corner of
an interior door marks the room behind the door as a “safe room” –
one that can be locked manually from the inside. Clear identifying such
rooms is an inexpensive and effective way to help staff members locate
places of safety should an “active shooter” situation occur.
Service – “Onsite Discharge Pharmacy”
Chris Andrew, Megan Browder, Chad Friece, Keith
Klingsporn, and Christie Mitchum-Gutierrez.
Create a dedicated unit within the Pharmacy that deals solely with the
special needs of patients who are being discharged. The purpose of
this “pharmacy-within-the-pharmacy” would be to ensure compliance
with prescribed medical protocols, reduce readmissions associated with
non-compliance, and increase patient satisfaction.
Financial Impact – “Cervical Collar Change”
Courtney Pfeil and Melanie Vazquez.
Substitute the one-size-fits-all Vista® cervical collar for the Miami J® collar
currently in use. A clinical trial of the Vista® offers persuasive evidence
that hospital-wide adoption will result in significant cost-savings, as well as
more accurate sizing and increased patient satisfaction.
(continued on page 3)
The Company Store On-Site Schedule
Place & Pick-Up Orders
Tuesday, Mar. 22, 6:30 a.m. – Noon
The View
The Pulse
Editor / Joy Dover, Communications Coordinator
[email protected]
CEO Charles Gressle congratulates the winners of the 2016 HCA Innovators Awards at MCP.
Left to right: R.J. Wick, Tom Tanner, KC Wortham, Richard Gulley, Keith Klingsporn, Christie MitchumGutierrez, Gressle, Courtney Pfeil, Tim Koscheski, Chad Friece, and Christopher Andrew. Not pictured:
Megan Browder and Melanie Vazquez.
Our Mission
Above all else, we are committed to the care and improvement
of human life. In recognition of this commitment, we strive to deliver
high quality, cost effective healthcare in the communities we serve.
Help Us Celebrate Pulmonary
Rehabilitation Week
It’s Coming March 13-19
The Medical Center of Plano’s
Pulmonary Rehabilitation program was
first certified in 2003, but the program’s
existence dates to the early 1990’s.
Certification by the American
Association of Cardiovascular and
Pulmonary Rehabilitation must be
renewed every three years. Since 2003,
that objective has been achieved without
fail at MCP; the most recent renewal
came just last August. Prior to that time,
ours had been Collin County’s only such
certified program, and one of only a few
in the entire state.
Pulmonary rehab patients are placed
into one of two categories – those with
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) and those whose pulmonary
distress is attributable to some other
cause. Examples of COPD patients
include those with emphysema and
chronic bronchitis. Asthma, obesity, and
restrictive lung diseases fall into the
non-COPD category.
The Medical Center of Plano’s
Pulmonary Rehab class meets Mondays,
Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 1:00
to 2:30 p.m. Weights, treadmills,
stationary bikes, and NuStep recumbent
trainers are among the pieces of exercise
apparatus used in the class.
The goal is 45 to 55 minutes of
exercise. Although lung function itself
is not directly affected, muscle strength
and efficiency do improve. This makes
the act of breathing less laborious, and
leads to improved quality-of-life.
Studies have also shown that the social
impact of pulmonary rehab rivals its
physical benefits.
Anyone interested in Pulmonary
Rehab may contact program staff
members at 972-519-1253 for
additional information. F
2
Brain and Spine Hospital Unveils Dedicated Entrance
On February 8, the completion of work on a dedicated entrance and lobby
area for MCP’s Brain and Spine Hospital was celebrated with an official
ribbon-cutting.
The debut of the new gateway-to-care at the northeast corner of the
main hospital was attended by MCP senior leaders, and by physicians,
trustees, and other prominent members of the community.
MCP recently announced plans for further expansion of the Brain and
Spine Hospital, already one of the largest such facilities in the nation. The
Inpatient Rehab Unit will expand to the third floor of Building II for the
care of patients with traumatic head and spine injuries. F
Wellness Wednesday – March 16
March is National Nutrition Month, and Wellness
Wednesday, on the 16th, will serve up just about everything
you ever wanted to know about healthy eating.
Stop by the Coit Street Café between the hours of
11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and get information that will help you make
healthier choices as you plan your meals
While you’re at it, why not pick up a “Healthy Special” for that
day’s lunch? F
Podcast Winners
Congratulations to the winners of our January “Communication Matters”
prize drawing.
Lauren Newsom, 6th Floor
Tea Hatzmann, Cardiac Rehab
Mary Jo Kee, 24/7 Emergency Care
Sandra Cherry, Scheduling
Jyotsna Raj, Laboratory
Each winner receives a “Take me to Plano” gift.
Would you like to be a winner? Watch this month’s podcast, and enter
the drawing! F
The Medical Center of Plano | 3901 w 15th st | plano tx 75075 | themedicalcenterofplano.com | March 2016
Chaplain’s
Corner...
New Finance Leader Provides
Accounting Expertise
Compassion Fatigue
Please welcome Travis Strategier to MCP as the
hospital’s new Controller. In that capacity, he will
oversee all of MCP’s accounting functions.
Travis comes to us from Medical City, where he
served as Assistant Controller. He brings eight years
of accounting experience, the last two of which
Travis Strategier
have been spent with HCA.
A graduate of the University of North Texas, Travis currently
resides in Lewisville with his wife, Davy, and their three young children.
Travis’s hobbies include running, reading, and working on projects
around the house. Raised in Norman, Okla., he professes to be a fan
of the Oklahoma Sooners.
Osentowski to Lead BusinessDevelopment Efforts
Congratulations to Chris Osentowski
on his promotion to Vice President of
Business Development.
Chris joined the hospital’s leadership team last
April as a Business Development Director. In that
role, he led physician-recruitment efforts, as well as
Chris Osentowski
those related to the growth of key service lines.
In his new job, Chris will be responsible for the planning,
organization, coordination, and direction of hospital functions related
to our growth and business-development initiatives.
Chris holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from
Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, where he pitched for the
school’s NCAA Division I baseball team. After college, he played in the
Baltimore Orioles’ minor league system.
He later enrolled in the Fuqua School of Business at Duke
University, where he received an M.B.A. with a certification in Health
Sector Management.
Chris and his wife, Tam, live in Dallas with their two young
children. He enjoys spending time with his family and coaching his
son’s soccer team. F
Innovators Awards
(continued from page 1)
Each team received a commemorative plaque and a $1,000 bonus
check. They’ll now advance to the divisional round of judging, where
they’ll contend with other HCA North Texas innovators for $2,500 in prize
money. We wish all of them the best of luck.
MCP sincerely thanks every employee who submitted an idea during the
current annual cycle! F
Several months ago, I had a
particularly hard day. I had had
several bad cases to deal with, and
had identified with some of the family
issues involved. Thoughts of those
cases dominated my thinking for
several days.
I was suffering from compassion
fatigue. It is a form of PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder) that
frequently afflicts physicians, nurses,
therapists, emergency workers, and
other professional caregivers. A survey
done in 1994 showed that “86.9% of
emergency-response personnel
reported symptoms after exposure to
highly distressing events with
traumatized people” ... [and that] ...
“90% of new physicians, between 30
and 39 years old, say that their family
life has suffered as a result of their
work” (PBS Adult Learning Satellite).
Compassion-fatigue sufferers are
likely to experience dissociation,
anger, anxiety, sleep disturbances,
nightmares, and a feeling of
powerlessness. These behavioral
disorders may be accompanied by
physical symptoms such as nausea,
headaches, general constriction,
body-temperature changes, dizziness,
fainting spells, and impaired hearing.
All are important warning signals that
need to be addressed, lest they lead to
even more serious difficulties.
Here are a few things you may find
helpful if and when compassion
fatigue becomes a problem for you.
Please note, however, that reactions to
a traumatic event can differ widely
from one person to the next. Each of
us has a unique set of personality
traits that determines, to a
considerable degree, how he or she
can best get through a traumatic
experience and its aftermath.
(continued on page 8)
Published by and for The Medical Center of Plano healthcare team
3
Reminder
Employee Referral Bonus Program
We’ve seen good response to employees utilizing the
Employee Referral Bonus Program to earn cash. Thank
you for sending top quality friends and family members
our way to join the MCP team.
Any person you see as embodying the company’s
mission and values could be a good fit!
Simply go to the careers page at hcanorthtexas.
com/careers to review the current vacancies. A job
candidate must meet the stated requirements of the
position for which he or she may wishes be considered.
Referral bonus amounts vary according to the type of
position being filled. The program is currently restricted
to the following departments and positions:
Referral Bonus Incentive Amounts *
Position Title
Referral Bonus
Bedside RNs (with at least 12 months of experience) $2,500
Cath lab technicians
$2,500
Surgical technicians
$2,500
Infection control, sepsis, and stroke coordinators $2,000
Case management and social workers
$2,000
Rehab staff (LPTs, OTs, speech therapists)
$1,000
Mental health techs & patient assessment specialists$ 500
Respiratory therapists (RRT)
$ 500
* Subject to change pending talent acquisition.
The following are eligible to receive referral bonuses:
• All current employees affiliated with HCA North
Texas facilities;
• All full-time or Level III PRN positions are eligible.F
More Recruitment Initiatives
MCP is focused on recruiting talented new employees
using a variety of methods.
HCA North Texas Career Fairs
Career Fairs gather both clinical and non-clinical
healthcare professionals in a setting where it’s possible to
learn about all the opportunities our hospital has
available.The job fairs provide opportunities to speak
with recruiters and secure on-site interviews with hiring
managers.
Taleo Manager Webtop
This new online portal enables managers to view
candidates-in-process for positions currently available at
MCP. It facilitates ongoing communication between
managers and recruiters, as part of our ongoing effort to
enhance the recruiting process. F
Entertainment Discounts for Employees
Are you planning an upcoming trip to Orlando, Las
Vegas, California or New York City? If so, be sure to
visit TicketsatWork.com for an extensive list of
entertainment discounts available to MCP employees
(Company Code: MCPLANO). Here are just a
few examples:
• Walt Disney World Resort – Save over $30 plus 2
Days FREE
• Universal Orlando Resort – Buy 2 Days & get 2
Days FREE
• SeaWorld – Save up to 35% on unlimited visits
• Las Vegas Cirque du Soleil “Love” – tickets
starting at $60
• New York City Pass – Save over 20%
• Empire State Building Observatory – Save up to
25%
• Broadway Shows – Save 20%-50%
See the extensive list of discounts available on
TicketsatWork.com on our intranet home page
under the “Reference Documents” menu on the right
hand side of the page. Click on Tickets at Work
Discounts or email Lisa.Dodson@hcahealthcare.
com for more information. F
New Time-Clock Location
For your convenience, we have added a time clock by
the elevators that lead up to CCU, Respiratory, and
Neuro floors. F
Major Milestone Anniversaries
February
20 Years
William Haun, Pharmacy
25 Years
Pat Walker, Surgical Services
F
4 The Medical Center of Plano | 3901 w 15th st | plano tx 75075 | themedicalcenterofplano.com | March 2016
F irst
New Hire Spotlight
Y ear
Tracey Wilberger starts work
this month as a nurse-extern in our
6th Floor ICU Stepdown unit.
What brought you to MCP?
My mother worked at MCP when
I was growing up, and I had my son here. It was
a great experience. I have heard only good things
about MCP.
What are you favorite ways to spend your free time?
Reading, going to movies and dinner with friends,
and spending time with my 11 year-old son.
Favorite movie? Book?
The Proposal. Anything by James Patterson or
Nicholas Sparks.
Anything you’d like to share about your family?
Son, Taylor, is 11 years old. Also have two dogs.
What is your dream-vacation destination?
Love New York City and San Francisco, and would
love to see Italy. F
ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARIES
Congratulations to each of these employees on their
one-year employment anniversary with MCP.
JANUARY
Jeff Baker
Claire Bennett
Mahesh Bhanderi
John Black
Rheannon Bujakowski
Diana Castillo
Eric Clemencich
Kirollos Eskander
Elandus Jemison
Tayler Lacefield
Janet Ndura
Richard Ornberg
Nancy Thomas
Laura Urbina
Charles Vasquez
Bethany Wilkinson
FEBRUARY
Deborah Albrecht
Jave Blackburn
Kassandra Bragg
Amanda Butler
Carolyn David-Graves
Mollie Elliott
Angelica Flores
Lachanda Griffin
Elizabeth Hayes
Sarah Hayes
Annie Henning
Maria Juarez
Kasey Kiley
Lesley Koruthu
Roy Magjacot
Anh Meucci
Karen Moore
Nathayai Moore
Katherine Newby
Giang Nguyen
Ebereoma Nzeakor
Olivia Oliphant
Maneet Panesar
Kelsey Raher
Perla Ramirez
Gwendolyn Rost
Gladys Scales
Amanda Smith
Michelle Smith
Jaelyn Tosh
Tonja Womack
F amily
TMCP New Hires
Welcome to 52 of the newest
members of our MCP Family
Bonnie Anderson – Emergency Room
Tara Bain – Medical ICU Stepdown
Denise Bonilla – Neuro PCU
Jessica L. Bray – Cardiac Stepdown
Brittani N. Cole – Cardiac Stepdown
Carly C. Cross – Operating Room
Mary C. Davis – Antepartum
Melissa N. Davis – Critical Care Unit
Starlett N. Davis – Neuro PCU
Roland Diom – Neuro Trauma ICU
Ethan M. Dirickson – Facilities
Management
Allyson Fletcher – Neuro Trauma ICU
Deron D. Ford – Critical Care Unit
Ali A. Garza – Neuro Trauma ICU
Kali Hardy – Orthopedics/Trauma
Bayli Harney – Surgical Oncology
Olivia M. Hernandez – Div SchedulingNorth Hills
Anna S. Hoffman – Neuro PCU
Jami Hopkins – ICU Stepdown
Stacy R. Howland – Neuro PCU
Jillian L. Janak – Burn Clinic
Stephanie A. Johnson – Cardiac Stepdown
Shannon K. Kennedy – Labor and Delivery
Sonya J. Kuhn – ICU Stepdown
Ming Chun X Long – Medical ICU
Stepdown
Stacey Lopez – NICU
Miranda R. Marquette – Neuro Trauma
ICU
Kelsey R. Mickelsen – Emergency Room
Sherry L. Missildine – Neuro Admin
Hayley Mumm – Operating Room
Elizabeth J. Munson – Critical Care Unit
Lindsay B. Parker – Surgical Oncology
Rachael R. Peebles – Neuro PCU
Hilario Perez – Facilities Management
Ginger N. Prince – Neuro Trauma ICU
Christianne Ragland – Operating Room
Simone Raj – Medical ICU Stepdown
Patricia Ramirez – Trauma Svcs/EMS
Margaret R. Reed – GI Lab
Kathryn I. Revor – Histology
Raquelle Richard – Orthopedics/Trauma
Lashonda A. Riley – Respiratory Care
Lisa M. Rougraff – Neuro Admin
Shadi Salighehdar – Cardiac Stepdown
Lucy A. Sawatis – Operating Room
Stephanie Shortridge – Emergency Room
Bushra Sohail – Labor and Delivery
Margaret S. Strobel – Emergency Room
Tara M. Taft – NICU
Tincy Thomas – Labor and Delivery
Sarah Wells – Orthopedics/Trauma
Brittany R. Willeford – Women’s Satellite
Frisco
February 9th New Hires
February 23rd New Hires
Published by and for The Medical Center of Plano healthcare team
5
Radiology “King Pins” Roll to Victory
Thirty teams representing various MCP departments and units gathered
on January 31 for the 5th Annual MCP Bowling Tournament.
The always-popular event was organized by the Employee Advisory Group.
Congratulations to the “King Pins” from Radiology, who took home the
first-place trophy with a combined score of 1,323.
Special recognition also goes to the top individual bowlers in each of the
two games:
Game One
Anne Handley, “Critical Thinkers” (CCU)
Tommy Vawter, “The Inspirations” (Respiratory)
Game Two
Elizabeth Hayes, “Bowling for Strokes” (ICU Stepdown)
Jeremy Gollis, “Your Mom and Them” (IR/Specials)
King Pins (Radiology)
2016 Team Champions
The tournament benefited the HCA Hope Fund with $760
raised through this year’s registration fees. F
Emergency Department
Cath Lab
Sherri Steffens, Elyse Yapp, and
Joveda Fitzsimmons (left to right)
staffed the registration table for
the EAG who hosted event.
CCU
OSU
Administration
Pharmacy
Facilities
7th Floor
Finance
Material Management
Emergency Care 24/7
Scheduling
Scheduling
Cardiology
Respiratory
6th Floor
6 The Medical Center of Plano | 3901 w 15th st | plano tx 75075 | themedicalcenterofplano.com | March 2016
As Seen on MCP Facebook
Nurses Feel the Love
Thanks to Plano Florist, 500
MCP nurses each received a
rose for Valentine’s Day! F
World Cancer Day
Observed globally on February 4, this
event sought to raise cancer awareness
among all the world’s peoples, and to
spur even greater efforts in the search
for a cure. MCP proudly joins with
the Sarah Cannon Cancer Network
in the fight against cancer. F
Go Red
MCP leaders displayed their “Take me to Plano” pride at a recent off-site training event. F
HCA North Texas leaders are proud to GO RED with the American Heart Association. #TakemetoPlano
Published by and for The Medical Center of Plano healthcare team
7
To Catch a Thief
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Join us for a special spring
celebration featuring fun
for all ages with:
• Easter Egg hunts by age groups
(bring your own baskets)
• Pictures with the Easter Bunny
• Bounce house, train rides, balloon art,
face painting, DJ
• Carnival food
Important
Sunday,
March 20, 2016
2:00 pm - 4:00
Bob Woodruff Park
2601 San Gabriel Dr
Plano TX 75074
Egg Hunts
Will Start At
2:15pm
In mid-January, while crossing the sky
bridge, EVS Supervisor, Sam Unger
witnessed a man attempting to break into
cars on the hospital property. He ran to
the MOB entrance and shouted an alert
to Harrison Joseph, the valet attendant
on duty.
Sam and Harrison then put in a call
to the Plano Police Department as they
pursued the suspect, who fled carrying
a duffel bag of previously stolen
property. Within a few heart-racing
minutes, the suspect had been
apprehended and arrested.
Senior leaders recently recognized Sam
and Harrison for their alertness and quick
action, which prevented a possible theft on
our campus. Let this serve as a reminder
to all of us of how important it is to be
aware of your surroundings.
“See something, say something!” F
RSVP required by MARCH 14TH to
[email protected]
Employee Name, # of adults, children & child’s age(s)
Left to right: Patrick Figures, Associate COO;
Wray Borland, Director of Operations; Harrison
Joseph, Lone Star Valet; Sam Unger, EVS
Supervisor; Charles Gressle, CEO; R.J. Wick,
Security Supervisor.
Chaplain’s Corner (continued from page 3)
First, find someone you can trust and be honest with as you talk about what’s going on in your life. The Bible says that
we are to confess our sins to one another. The literal meaning of the Biblical word for “sin” is “to miss the mark.” It may
refer not just to the bad stuff we do, but also to those areas in which our lives are out-of-balance. The fifth chapter of the
Letter of James tells us to confess and pray for one another, in order that we may be healed. By opening up to someone,
you can help heal your wounds.
The next thing to keep in mind is the importance of maintaining a healthy perspective on life’s happenings. If all you
do is think about how awful this or that event was, you’ll be apt to blow it all out of proportion. As painful experiences
come and go, stay focused on the broader context and take a long view of things. Remember that God is in control and
leave the outcome to Him.
Finally, make the decision to believe in yourself and the God who made you. You do have a choice. Family legend
has it that, if one of my father-in-law’s kids came to the breakfast table in a bad mood, he would send that child
back to bed. “Come back when your attitude has improved,” he would say. Choose a positive focus for your mind
and your day. Two great Christian doctors wrote a book several years ago called Happiness is a Choice. It is a good
read if you get a chance.
Do you find yourself in the clutches of compassion fatigue? Don’t ignore it. If you need help, call me or the
Employee Assistance Program. You don’t have to suffer.
Blessings, Chaplain Garry Higgs
8 The Medical Center of Plano | 3901 w 15th st | plano tx 75075 | themedicalcenterofplano.com | March 2016
Congratulations to Nurse-Residency Graduates
Nurse-residents who began their MCP journey last winter
graduated from the one-year program on February 2.
During the past year, the program’s graduates
successfully made the transition from student-nurse to staff
nurse. They attended monthly debriefing sessions that
covered a variety of topics. In addition to the time spent in
debriefing and reflection, they received information on core
concepts such as evidence-based practice.
The program is intended to support those just starting
out in the nursing profession at MCP, encouraging them to
persevere through the challenges and changes they must
inevitably encounter. It is led by the Center for Learning’s
Laurie Clemencich, BSN, RN-BC.
Special thanks to Mary Bailie, Erika Sachs, and
Kathryn Meyer for their tireless help mentoring this
outstanding class of residents.
February 2016 graduates of the program included:
Deborah Albrecht, Cardiac Stepdown
Will Cross, Emergency Department
Kara Decell, ICU Stepdown
Jordan Echols, Neuro PCU
LaChanda Griffin, Emergency Department
Elizabeth Hayes, ICU Stepdown
Sarah Hayes, Surgical Oncology
Annie Henning, Neuro ICU
Maria Juarez, ICU Stepdown
Leslie Koruthu, Ortho/Trauma
Anh Meucci, OR
Kristin Minor, NICU
Jessica Nguyen, Med/Tele
Olivia Oliphant, Emergency Department
Dejin Omer, NSPCU
Perla Ramirez, Cardiac Stepdown
Gwendolyn Rost, Ortho/Trauma
Amanda Smith, CCU
VM Smith, Neuro PCU
Jaelyn Tosh, NICU
Erin Townsend, Cardiac Stepdown
Johnathan Warner, Cardiac Stepdown F
Nurse-Residency Graduates
6th Floor
Ortho-Trauma
OR
MCP in the News
Media Spotlight Shines on Trauma
Team’s Tornado Response
All across North Texas, first responders mobilized
quickly to rescue and care for those injured when
tornadoes ravaged the region on December 26.
Here at MCP, preparations for a disastrous
weather event with multiple casualties had begun
long before, as a standard part of the hospital’s
emergency and trauma training. In early February,
KTVT-TV/ Channel 11’s Andrea Lucia took
viewers behind the scenes in MCP’s Emergency
Department for an in-depth look at our response
to the tornado outbreak.
Her special report, “Tested by a Tornado,”
showed how Dr. John Saad and Dr. Al West
swiftly assembled a special team of physicians,
nurses, nurse-practitioners, and support staff to
treat incoming tornado victims.
A total of 12 patients with storm-related
injuries were received at MCP. Five were classified
as “Level 1,” the highest level of severity. The
remaining seven were termed “Level 2” –
meaning they were hurt badly enough that their
care still required a team approach.
In addition to the Emergency Department,
many other departments in the hospital were
directly involved in caring for tornado casualties,
including the intensive-care unit, Radiology,
Laboratory, and Environmental Services.
Coordination for the Channel 11 shoot was
provided by Melissa Sauvage and Holly
Yarborough of MCP’s Community and Public
Relations team. F
Published by and for The Medical Center of Plano healthcare team
9
Employee Advisory
Group Prepares for
New Term
April will mark the
beginning of a new term for our
Employee Advisory Group.
It’s time for us to express our gratitude
to the EAG members who will end their
two-year terms at the end of this month.
They are: Joveda Fitzsimmons, Chair;
Amy Greif, Women’s Services; Gary Costen,
7th Floor; Renee Elsner, Neuro PCU; Mercy
George, Laboratory; Gailann White,
Rehabilitation Therapy; Nicole Bullock, Food
and Nutrition Services; Robin Watson,
Scheduling; Eric Wilson, IT&S.
Special thanks go to Joveda
Fitzsimmons, who did a remarkable
job as the organization’s chair for 2015
and a portion of 2014.
Succeeding Joveda will be Sherri
Steffens, from the Pharmacy. New
members are needed to fill other
EAG vacancies. If you have an
interest in serving, speak with your
manager, or contact Elyse Yapp in
Human Resources. F
Employee of the Month
Nominations Sought
Does one of your co-workers
display “Excellence Always” behavior
that goes above and beyond?
Do you know how to go about
nominating him or her for an
“Employee of the Month” award?
It’s as simple as going to the
SharePoint home page and clicking on
the “We Recognize – Rewards
Program” button in the navigation
bar on the left-hand side of the screen.
Each month, the MCP Rewards and
Recognition team reviews the
nominations it has received, and then
selects the winners.
Each Employee of the Month
recipient receives 5,000 recognition
points, a certificate, and cupcakes
delivered to the entire department he
or she represents.
Recipients also become eligible for
Employee of the Year recognition,
which is good for 100,000 points. F
March 30 is Doctors Day
As our annual observance of Doctors Day approaches,
I thought it might be of interest to hear how it came to
occupy its assigned date on the calendar.
March 30 was officially signed into law as National
Doctors Day by President George H. W. Bush in 1990.
However, the date’s history goes back a little further.
Dr. Khang Tran, It was selected in 1933 by the wife of a surgeon in
Chief Medical Georgia, to commemorate the first surgical use, in 1842,
Officer
of general anesthesia.
This year, MCP employees are reminded to take time to
recognize the hospital’s physicians for all they do on behalf of our patients
and for the community at-large. Remember the doctors who care for you and
your loved ones, and also those who serve our hospital in leadership roles.
Here is the list of our current leaders.
2016 Medical Staff Officers
Chief of Staff
Dawn Bankston, MD (Ob/Gyn)
Vice Chief-of-Staff
Mark Gamber, DO (Emergency Medicine)
Secretary
Al West, MD (Surgery – Trauma Surgery)
Past Chief of Staff
Agnes Kinra, MD (Internal Medicine)
MEC Member-at-Large
Scott Van Poppel, MD (Critical Care Medicine)
MEC Member-at-Large
Brent Morgan, MD (Neurosurgery)
MEC Member-at-Large
Matt Carrick, MD (Surgery – Trauma Surgery)
Credentials Committee Chair Brandon Meek, DO (Emergency Medicine)
Department Chiefs/Vice-Chiefs
Medicine
Robert Johnson, MD – Chief
Lakshmi Karthik, MD –Vice-Chief
Surgery
Jeff Angobaldo, MD – Chief
Bradford Bader, MD – Vice-Chief
Ob/Gyn
Daryl Greebon, MD – Chief
Heather Bellanger, MD – Vice-Chief
Anesthesiology
Jean Waddle, MD – Chief
David G. Axmann, MD – Vice-Chief
Pediatrics
Scott Katz, MD – Chief
Oluwatoyin Abiodun, MD – Vice-Chief
Lab Sciences
Hank Huffman, MD – Chief
Edward Wooten, MD – Vice-Chief
Family Medicine
Rosie Walia, MD – Chief
Robert Shields, DO – Vice-Chief
Cardiovascular
John Duncan, MD – Chief
Mikko Tauriainen, MD – Vice-Chief
Emergency Medicine
John Saad, MD – Chief
Zachary J. Basselle, DO – Vice-Chief. F
10 The Medical Center of Plano | 3901 w 15th st | plano tx 75075 | themedicalcenterofplano.com | March 2016
Excellence Always
Employee Recognition
Congratulations to our employees who were mentioned
favorably in cards and letters and recognized by managers
last month. Their caring ways have been recognized by our
guests and fellow employees.
Thank you for delivering Excellence Always. The *s
indicate multiple compliments!
6th Floor ICU
Stepdown
Jessica Cozby*
Dee Tosomboon***
Raji Augustine*
Jennifer Ratcliff***
Isabelle Njomgang
Marisela Villarreal***
Robin Vachon
Kayla Pochintesta
Katie Rothardt
Diana Dake*
Elizabeth Hayes*
Edelma Mejia*
Tisha Rushing**
Jacqueline Pennell
Cheryl Kozma
Amanuel Tesfamariam
Maria Juarez
Janice Bolan
Jeannine Garcia
Jenna Hitchcock*
Crystal Rodriguez
Cassidy Van*
Howard Sorenson
Mary Melles
LemLem Tecle
Tara Smith
Kara Decell
Rose Akwaowo
Neuro ICU
Melissa Loftin
Theresa Fertic
Pat Naicker
Patrick Basnet
Lorraine Chidester
Jen Frye
Aaron Ledbetter
Lauren Nguyen
Leeza Kolev
Elizabeth Leonard **
Edel Astronomo
Julie Thornton
Roy Magjacot
Erin Coultrip
Lynn Culp
Stephanie Koonz
Sam Allen
Victoria Tarasevich
Lynn Buensuceso
Muy Seng
Greg Balogh
Ivy Jucaban
Jeff McManus
Brin Davis
Manjeet Singh
Neuro PCU
Ann Gines***
Maria Ruiz******
Kaylynn Armstrong*
Jeremy Freeman*****
Mike Curry**
Tessa Lim*
Jennifer Jameson*
Maile Williams*
Bincy Elizabeth Mathai*
Charlie Mbumwae**
Dejin Omer*
Felicia Lloyd**
Lakrystal Martin*
Revin Mustafa*
Maryam Torkamani*
Teresa Pech*
Sam King*
Jordan Echols*
Bridget Bernecker*
Tanya Stanley*
Nursery/Lactation
Erin Guymon
Maria Barrett
Janice Blum *
Pat Busch *
Mila Caragan **
Jose Castelo
Tawney Halbert ***
Edith Hall *
Elizabeth Joseph **
Angela Kroeker
Lindsay Linehan
Morley ******
Jennifer Paiz
Jennifer Redus *
Sherri Simpson **
Mindy Worrell ***
Ortho/Trauma
Alexandra Adams **
Zufan Admassu
Esther Areba ***
Che Bell *********
Lolita Brown **
Aimee Carrothers
Abby Chekenyere ***
Amedeus Coleman ****
***
Troy Coleman ********
Laurie Eagleson ******
Judie Eggl **
Jill Ellis ******
Bonny Glenn *******
Cayley Gover ****
Adam Hutchison ***
Ivy Jones ****
Anna Kacprzynska ***
****
Lesley Karuthu ***
Abebe Kassa *******
Kaitlyn Kelly **
ChiChi Kenea ******
Jenny Krafft ***
Shama Lakhani *
Chandra Larson **
Alyssa Lanoo **
Lilian Mabiru **
Teresa McCullough **
Margie Nichols *****
Thao Norman*****
******
Komal Rao
Cristina Reid **
Gwen Rost ****
Luisa Salazar ****
Gladys Scales *****
Vandhana Shibu *****
Doneil Smith **********
Nicole Smith
Kim Sprabary ******
Jessica Vickers **
Cynthia Waddleton ****
Ruel Walker-Banks *****
Kelly Warren ***
Rochelle Williams
Postpartum
Sandra McRight *****
Naouale Alami *
Silgi Augustine **
Stephanie Bassford **
Courtney Beltz *****
Margo Brooks
Amber Brown *****
Lena Cain *******
Helen Cruz *
Carmen Davis ******
Kelley Ellis **
Fatemeh Fashandi
Faith Gay-Wilson **
Amy Greif **********
Joo-Hyung Lee ******
Bindu Mani ****
Amy McCarthy ***
Melissa Neal **
Terry Rabon *****
Meg Reid ************
Omara Serrato
Keysla Square **********
Lillian Vinson *****
Cristina Cole *
Chat With Charles
Since June, our monthly
“Chat With Charles”
meetings have enabled us to
have some quality time with the employees newest
to the MCP team (90 days or less since start-date).
The idea is to give new staff members an
opportunity to meet with senior leaders, and
share with them what has gone well during their
initial onboarding time, and what could have
gone better.
We’re happy to say that a number of things
have already been fixed or adjusted using the
input we’ve gathered. You spoke, we listened!
Here are some examples.
Hand sanitizers
A request was made to have more hand sanitizers throughout
the hospital.
Resolution: Our Infection Prevention team quickly
conducted an audit to locate areas with the hospital requiring
installation of wall-mounted hand sanitizer dispensers.
Thirty-two dispensers were installed with the help of EVS
and facilities.
Telephones in the Operating Room
The phones in the OR were described as being from the
1980s. A request was made for a better system in the OR to
facilitate communication.
Resolution: New phones were installed.
Nursing internship postings
Staff determined that HCA nurse-intern positions are posted
late in comparison to those of competitors, and do not
coincide well with the job-search process that precedes
graduation from nursing school.
Resolution: HCA’s division offices have been working to
adjust posting dates for division-wide internships, to make
them more timely for those approaching graduation from
nursing school. February intern positions were posted earlier
than had previously been the case, and July positions are
on-track to post earlier than in 2015.
Scrub allowance for externs transitioning to RN positions.
A nurse-extern gets a scrub allowance when he or she starts
with us as a patient-care tech, but not when transitioning to an
RN role.
Resolution: Allowance obtained for July and October
externs who transitioned to nursing positions.
Look for more updates as we move forward! F
Published by and for The Medical Center of Plano healthcare team
11
A Message from the CEO, Charles Gressle
Great Things Are Happening
at MCP
If you have been paying attention to
the news and following MCP on
Facebook, you’re already aware of the significant
growth and progress that have taken place here since
the first of the year, including being voted once again
“Best Hospital” and “Best Emergency Room” by
readers of Plano Star Courier.
Last month we put the finishing touches on our Brain
and Spine Hospital, when we cut a ribbon marking
completion of its dedicated entrance and lobby area. This
was followed by the exciting announcement of HCA
North Texas’s intention to purchase Forest Park
Medical Center in Frisco. The acquisition will be made
official at the end of the month, at which time we’ll share
additional information about plans to integrate Forest
Park into the MCP family.
Elsewhere in this issue of the Pulse, you’ll see an article
about the coverage our Emergency Department
received from CBS 11 for the expert care it provided to a
dozen of the most seriously injured victims of the December
tornadoes. We can all feel proud that our hospital is well
prepared to deal with a disaster of this magnitude.
Another win for us was the announcement last month of
our recognition as a National Pancreas Foundation
Center. We were one of only two hospitals in North Texas
to be awarded this prestigious designation. This validation
of our digestive health service-line is well-deserved.
Speaking of wins, please join me in congratulating
the winners of this year’s Innovator Awards. The
purpose of the awards program is to stimulate out-ofthe-box thinking by employees in every sector of the
hospital’s operations, resulting in practical
improvements. This year’s winning submissions were
certainly worthy of the recognition
Also in this issue, you’ll notice a deliberate focus on
our First Year Family with the inclusion of
new-hire class photos, one-year anniversaries and an
update from “Chat with Charles.” As of midFebruary, our first-year turnover was at 32 percent.
Our goal is to reduce this to 25 percent or less. To
achieve our goal we need to ensure new employees
feel welcome, engaged, and happy in their decision
to join and remain a part of the MCP family. I hope
you will join me in this effort.
There are two upcoming events I want to
highlight. On Sunday the 20th, the EAG will host
the annual Spring Fling. Plan to bring the children
and grandchildren out to this family-fun event,
which features Plano’s best Easter Egg hunt. You
can find more information about it on page 8.
The second date to circle is March 30 – Doctors
Day. Please plan to convey to the members of our
medical staff your appreciation for the faithful
service they render to our patients, our hospital, and
our community. I have the highest regard for our
physicians’ loyalty and dedication, and hope you
will join me this month in expressing gratitude.
In closing, I would also like to extend to each of
you my appreciation for the way you work selflessly
on behalf of our patients. As a trauma hospital,
there are going to be tough days in which we need
to take care of each other and remember why we
chose the noble profession of healthcare.
“Above all else, we are committed to the care and
improvement of human life.” When we live out our
mission, great things are sure to continue happening
at MCP, and in the lives of those who work here.
With greatest respect and admiration,
Charles F
MCP Again Leads the Way in Newspaper Survey
It’s no surprise. The Medical Center of Plano has once again been singled out as having Plano’s “Best Hospital” and the “Best
Emergency Room” by the readers of the Plano Star Courier.
“Hats off” to everyone who helped MCP garner these twin accolades, and especially to the hospital’s Emergency
Department on extending its winning streak. F
12 The Medical Center of Plano | 3901 w 15th st | plano tx 75075 | themedicalcenterofplano.com | March 2016