August 23, 2022

ALH Recognized for Sustainability Efforts

Aspirus Langlade Hospital earned Practice Greenhealth’s 2022 Partner for Change Award in recognition of our achievement and innovation in health care sustainability.

Practice Greenhealth is the nation’s leading organization dedicated to environmental sustainability in health care. The Greenhealth Partner for Change Award recognizes superior performance in environmental sustainability, covering a range of different sustainability programs and activities.

Six other Aspirus locations also received this award: Aspirus Iron River, Aspirus Ironwood, Aspirus Keweenaw, Aspirus Medford, Aspirus Riverview and Aspirus Wausau. 

Members of the ALH Green Team are pictured with the award: Kevin Foley, Penny Matuszewski, Jason Noskowiak, Cherie Olson, Deakin Washatko and Kurt Sippl. Other members of the Green Team not pictured are Katie Snipp, Carolyn Cahak, Katie Sislo, Angela Koca and Leah Lex.

ADRC Offering Evidence-Based Family Caregiver Class

The Aging & Disability Resource Center of Central Wisconsin is offering two opportunities for caregivers to participate in an evidence-based family caregiver class this fall called Powerful Tools for Caregivers. 

The class meets weekly for 6 weeks. The next series starts in September. 

One option is an in-person class in Merrill; the other option is a virtual class where caregivers can connect to the class virtually from home, which is great for anyone outside of the community where an in-person class is offered or for those who can't get away from home for an in-person class.  

More Information

ALH Walk to End Alzheimer's Team Activities

Denim and Purple Days:

Wednesday, September 21: World Alzheimer's Day

Friday, November 4: Kickoff of Alzheimer's Awareness Month

For a $5 donation you can support the cause.

Walk to End Alzheimer's - Antigo

Saturday, September 10

Antigo Middle School

8:30 a.m. - Event Opens

9:40 a.m. - Opening Ceremony

10 a.m. - Walk Begins

If you have questions, please contact Christy Hitz.

Brown Bag Drive for Food Pantry a Success

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Brown Bag Drive for the Antigo Community Food Pantry

Your efforts resulted in hundreds of bags being collected, which will be a great help to the Pantry.

If you have any questions about this drive or the needs of the pantry, please contact Bonnie Hessedal, RD, CDCES, at 715-623-9200 ext. 36119.

Newly licensed Pharmacist Matt Heule  

Pictured: Erika Spencer, Noelle Federman, Francis Herzog, Blayne Zeis, Mackensie Fleischman, Carolyn Kraska, Mathew Heule and Sherry Bunten

Stephanie Riemer on your one year of service. Stephanie is an RN in the Birthing Center.

Pictured: Katie Snipp, VP of Patient Care & Chief Nursing Officer; Stephanie Riemer; co-workers Cheryl Dettlaf and Amanda Morenz; and Whitney Headson, Manager Med/Surg

Additional congratulations to Environmental Services employee Kristina Grassman and her husband, Jeremy, on the birth of their daughter, ILah Lorinda, on August 9.  

Don't Delay...Do Your COEs Today

HealthStream assignments launched on July 1 as part of our annual Conditions of Employment (COE) that ensure Aspirus team members are compliant with regulatory requirements and educated to provide excellent service. Annual courses and competencies assigned in HealthStream are due by December 1, 2022.

COE for each employee includes:

• HealthStream assignments (in the “to do” tab within the portal).
• PolicyStat acknowledgments, if applicable.

Annual influenza program

Participation in our annual Employee Influenza Vaccination Program will be due by October 31, 2022. Look for additional information on this year’s flu program in August and September. In the meantime, don’t wait to complete your other COE. Non-compliance on these requirements is something regulatory agencies like Joint Commission and OSHA check during their site visits.

Please contact your local Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP) with any questions.

COVID Weekly Transmission Report: Week of 8.15.2022

Employees are reminded our COVID-19 attestation, testing, return-to-work and patient care processes have not changed. 

In patient care areas, masks are still required and those used must be provided by Aspirus. They cannot be brought from home and eye protection is still required with every patient encounter. 

Face shields are still the preferred form of eye protection for all patient encounters. However, the foam-lined glasses are now an option for COVID-negative and non-COVID suspect (PUI) patients. These glasses have been approved at the system level.

If you develop symptoms, do not come to work. You need to complete the online attestation and schedule a test through MyAspirus. If your test results are negative, you can return to work.

If you test positive, Aspirus Employee Health & Wellness (EHW) will direct your return to work.

You must wear a mask at work after being COVID-positive until it has been 10 days since your positive test or the start of your symptoms.

Thank you for continuing to do your part to create the safest possible environment for each other and our patients. 

Employee COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics

Boosters, first and second

Call Stacey in Employee Health at ext. 39708 to schedule an appointment.

• Be sure to bring your COVID-19 vaccination card to support proper documentation of your vaccination series.
• Second boosters are available for employees 50 years and older, and must be at least 4 months from last booster.
• Post COVID-19 vaccine, there will be a 15-minute waiting period before returning to work.
• Please ring Employee Health doorbell located at the reception desk.

Regional Communications Coverage

If you have items that require the assistance of the MarCom team locally, please contact Aspirus Manager of System Communications & Engagement Tom Weaver who is providing interim coverage (715-847-2000 ext. 51455). Please provide any items for this newsletter by end-of-day Friday for use the following week.