January 9, 2024

Click for Aspirus Regional & Divisional Structure

Passion for excellence. Compassion for people.

Every day, we show compassion for our patients, their loved ones, and one another. Below are a few recent examples from our intranet's Recognition Wall. To recognize a co-worker or view more staff recognitions, click here.

Kayla Larson, Registered Nurse, Birthing Center, Aspirus Stevens Point Hospital

Kayla ~ Thank you SO much for your willingness to help out the Rhinelander Birthing Center in our time of need! You are amazing for stepping outside your comfort zone and helping our department! It was a pleasure to meet you, and I greatly appreciate all your help!

Kelsi Kahler, Medical Receptionist, Aspirus Divine Savior Wellness Center

Kelsi ~ You are the glue that keeps our clinics from falling apart! Thank you for being here day in and day out, being on the frontline, greeting our patients with your enthusiastic smile and positive attitude. We sure need a few more of you!

Marie Willfahrt, Manager-Environmental Services, Aspirus Riverview Hospital

Marie ~ Thank you for your extra work these past weeks. With less than ideal staffing, you are helping your team around the building. I heard about the recycling system change with quick turnaround. As usual, you have stepped up and will make it happen. Thank you for all you do for Aspirus Riverview.

Ashley Firkus, Registered Nurse, Surgery, Aspirus Plover Hospital

Ashley ~ Thank you for having the foresight to plan and prepare for patients. Thank you for your education to patients and families and having them prepared for surgery and how to take care of themselves when they go home.

Dana Marks, Registered Nurse, Emergency, Aspirus Stevens Point Hospital

Dana went out of her way to find other resources for a patient. She was caring and compassionate of this patient's needs, and got them to the correct place.

Jessica Slusser, Respiratory Therapist, Respiratory Therapy, Aspirus Riverview Hospital

Thank you, Jessie, for the extra effort displayed by coming in to help your team members complete tasks for a patient being discharged with home oxygen.

What Our Patients are Saying

Excerpts from recent NRC patient satisfaction surveys

Dr. Amanda Gaccetta, OB/GYN, Aspirus Doctors Clinic,

& Katelyn Frankwick, Physician Assistant, Aspirus Clinic-Marshfield

Had to schedule an emergency visit with Katie Frankwick at Marshfield location. I ended up needing a biopsy. She went above and beyond to get me an appointment that day. I drove to Wisconsin Rapids, where I was seen by Dr. Gaccetta. She performed the biopsy and was so kind and informed me of every possible outcome of the biopsy and next steps. I felt safe. Even though the procedure was painful, she made me feel taken care of. These people – all of them at Aspirus – are why I stay and recommend them to everyone I know. My family and their friends have switched over to Aspirus. Thank you for taking care of me and treating me with respect and kindness.

I cannot say enough about how grateful I am to have Katie Frankwick as my provider. She listens. She knows what's best for my health, and I trust her. She's always shown kindness and respect for my concerns and treats me like I matter. Thank you to all the team at the Marshfield location for taking such good care of me and my family. I hope a facility can be built in Marshfield to better serve those of us who use Aspirus and need further care, so we don't have to drive to Wausau, Wisconsin Rapids or Stevens Point.

ER Team, Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital

I really liked how my family was treated at this hospital. The nurses were the sweetest nurses we have encountered during my daughter's almost 3 years of life. Not only were they attentive to my daughter, they were able to calm my nerves and answer any questions I had. Having a hospital treat you with kindness when you aren't from the area and are scared is the most important thing, and they practice this perfectly.

Dr. Briget Matecki & ER Team, Aspirus Stevens Point Hospital

I was very satisfied with the care I received for severe abdominal pain. Nurses and attending doctor were all very efficient and caring. Also very thorough to make sure I was ready to leave. Couldn't be more satisfied.

David Nash, Physician Assistant, & Team, Aspirus Plover Clinic Walk-In

I was treated with care, respect and compassion from the minute I walked in the door. The front staff were extremely polite and friendly. The nurse who took me back to my room was very friendly and fun. David Nash was excellent and listened to my concerns. He was so humble and made me feel better just by being there, even though I was so sick. This is why I will always continue to support this team and continue going here. Hands down, 5 out of 5 stars. I'd give this clinic and David Nash 1,000 stars!!!! Thank you, everyone!!

Dr. Elizabeth Wood, OB/GYN, Aspirus Portage Clinic

Dr. Wood is very thorough on what she does and how she does it. I appreciate the time she takes and how she cares about her patients and answers all the questions and goes through things with you, including any labs or future things that need to be done... I have referred people to her. I think she's just a wonderful, wonderful doctor. I'm very thankful I have her and was able to get into her and have her as my primary. I hope she continues to be my doctor for many years to come. So kudos to her, because if you guys give kudos awards, she deserves one. She's an excellent doctor.

Patient Safety Tip

The Joint Commission (TJC) Definition of Suicide in Sentinel Event Policy Revision

Why: Effective January 1, 2024, there is a revision to the Sentinel Event Reporting Policy.

Content: TJC defines a Sentinel Event as a patient safety event (not primarily related to the natural course of the patient’s illness or underlying condition) that reaches the patient and results in death, permanent harm or severe temporary harm.

Prior to January 1, 2024, a suicide of any individual receiving care, treatment, or services in a staffed around-the-clock care setting or within 72 hours of discharge, including from the hospital emergency room, is the definition of a Sentinel Event.

After January 1, 2024, the definition of suicide changed to be: Death caused by self-inflicted injurious behavior if any of the following apply:

While in a health care setting
Within 7 days of discharge from inpatient services
Within 7 days of discharge from emergency department (ED)
While receiving or within 7 days of discharge from the following behavioral health care services: Day Treatment/Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)/Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), Residential, Group Home, Transitional Supportive Living

For more details and a list of other potential Sentinel Events, please review “Sentinel Event Reporting (System)” in PolicyStat.

Call to Action: Immediately notify Quality or Risk Management of any Sentinel Event and submit a SafetyZone event.

Questions?

ASP – Amanda Walloch, Director - Quality Improvement, Amanda.Walloch@aspirus.org

ADS – Annie Allen, Director - Quality Improvement, Annie.Allen@aspirus.org

ARH – Vicki Peshek, Director - Quality Improvement, Vicki.Peshek@aspirus.org

South Division News

La Vita Staff & Members Donate Gifts for Tivoli Residents

Our Aspirus Tivoli Community residents were treated to personally selected holiday gifts, thanks to the members and staff of Aspirus La Vita Fitness Center.

The fitness center set up a "giving tree" decorated with handmade paper angels. Each angel listed a Tivoli resident's name and gift suggestion. The suggestions were provided by our Tivoli team members.

The fitness center's staff and members quickly selected all the angels from the tree and started shopping.

Last Thursday, the gifts were delivered to our Tivoli residents by Sydney Renik, La Vita Manager, (left) and John Brill, EVS Specialist.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this generous and caring gesture. You truly brightened the holidays for our Tivoli residents!

Meet Our New South Division Team Members

Ciara Doremus

Physical Therapist Assistant

Therapy

Aspirus Divine Savior

Wellness Center

Jasie Manternach

Environmental Services Aide

Housekeeping

Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital

Terri Fischer

Registered Nurse

Birthing Center

Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital

Angella Arms

Registration Coordinator

Patient Access - Registration

Aspirus Divine Savior Hospital

Cold Days Call for Warm Cookies

Cookie sales are 2nd Thursday of every month

Order Form

Southeast Division News

Brian Cook Honored for Good Catch

Congratulations to Brian Cook, Team Lead of Imaging at Aspirus Stevens Point Hospital. Brian is our most recent Good Catch Award winner.

Brian caught that a patient had forgotten to remove their hearing aids before their MRI exam. Due to the strong magnet used for an MRI, leaving the hearing aids in could have been very dangerous.

Great job caring for our patients and keeping them safe, Brian!

Meet Our New Southeast Division Team Members

Gregg Kvatek

Registered Nurse

Surgery

Aspirus Plover Hospital

Makenze Dix

Speech Therapist

Therapy

Aspirus Stevens Point Hospital

Michael Bennett

Nurse Technician II

Med Surg

Aspirus Stevens Point Hospital

Nia Mork

Medical Assistant

Aspirus Iola Clinic

Taylor Young

Counselor & Clinical Therapist

Aspirus Behavioral Health Clinic-Wilshire Boulevard

Southwest Division News

Meet Our New Southwest Division Team Members

Desirae Glodowski

Nurse Technician II

Emergency Room

Aspirus Riverview Hospital

Ryan Doyle

Laboratory Assistant

Aspirus Doctors Clinic

Alec Guldan

Environmental

Services Specialist

Environmental Services

Aspirus Riverview Hospital

Sarrah Athens

Environmental

Services Specialist

Environmental Services

Aspirus Riverview Hospital

April Gruenke

Supervisor of House

Nursing Administration

Aspirus Riverview Hospital

Amanda Taczak

Medical Assistant

Aspirus Doctors Clinic

Church Donates "Backpacks of Blessings"

An area church is helping our patients who are homeless or less fortunate. Twenty "Backpacks of Blessings" were recently donated to Aspirus Riverview Hospital's Kindness Closet.

The backpacks and their contents were donated by members of The River Church in Wisconsin Rapids. Wayne Munro, Team Lead of Security with Aspirus Riverview, coordinated the donation.

The backpacks contain hygiene products, warm winter essentials, and food to help our neighbors in need get through the cold winter months. For a key to the Kindness Closet, reach out to your leader or contact Security at 30999.

Thank you to Wayne and his fellow church members on behalf of all those helped by their generosity and caring.

Back the Pack Friday at the Water's Edge Café

Show Your Team Spirit!

In honor of the Packers making the playoffs, Aspirus Riverview team members are invited to wear their favorite team jersey/shirt on Friday, January 12. (Note: It is not a jeans day.)