The weekly newsletter for employees and friends of McLaren Bay Region and McLaren Bay Special Care

September 26, 2023 | Vol. 40, Issue 37

Editor: Nick VanHorn | (989) 894-6458 | nick.vanhorn@mclaren.org

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Watch above as we surprise Vickie Gentle, RN Care Manager in Case Management, by naming her our Employee of the Month for October!

A few notes from Vickie’s nomination:

“She is here before day shift, coming in to work, stays late if needed, and allows staff to call her at home if we are having trouble with anything. Vickie dedicates herself to her job, her patients, and the nurses couldn't do their job without her (or her brownies!) She is an extremely dependable Discharge Planner. She is the definition of "Excellence" in the hospital. We thank her for being so amazing!”

Congrats Vickie, and thank you for #DoingWhatsBest!

Last week, McLaren Health Care announced a partnership with Saginaw Valley State University that will provide all qualified full- and part-time employees wishing to further their education with a 30 percent discount on tuition and all associated fees for in-person and online courses through the university.

All McLaren Health Care employees throughout the state — regardless of job classification — are eligible for all undergraduate, graduate, and certification courses offered through the award-winning university, effective with the beginning of the 2023 fall semester.

“As an employer of choice, an aim of our organization is to support our team and foster ambitions to advance their careers and their decision to further their education,” said Kimberly Keaton Williams, McLaren Health Care Vice President of Talent Acquisition & Development and Chief Diversity Officer.

“With this very generous offer and mutually beneficial partnership with Saginaw Valley State University, McLaren staff will have access to a broad spectrum of course offerings. We’re grateful for this partnership and proud to offer it through our system.”

An annual flu vaccination is an important step in staying healthy for us, as well as our patients.

WHO: McLaren is requesting that ALL employees participate in the annual flu campaign, either by receiving the annual flu vaccination or signing an informed declination. This policy applies to all active McLaren Health Care employees and health care professionals (corporate and subsidiary employees), including but not limited to physicians, dentists, podiatrists, psychologists, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants with privileges at any McLaren Health Care site. HCP also includes members of the medical staff at any McLaren site. Also included are contract employees, vendor representatives, students, volunteers, and independent contractors. 

WHEN: October 1st – December 1st 

Flu shots are also available in Employee Health Services

Monday – Friday from 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. 

DECLINATIONS: Individuals wishing to decline vaccination will be required to sign an informed declination form stating their rationale for declining. Please submit completed documents to your local Employee Health office. Forms can be found on the McLaren Flu Resource Page or your local Employee Health Office. 

OPTIONS: Employee Health will accept outside documentation of flu vaccination. Please complete the appropriate form and return it to employee health at your subsidiary. Forms can be found on the McLaren Flu Resource Page or your local Employee Health Office. 

September 25 through September 29 is National Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Week!

APP Week honors the contributions of Physician Assistants/Associates, Nurse Practitioners, Certified Nurse Anesthetists, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Certified Nurse Midwives, and Certified Anesthesiologist Assistants.

This week, we recognize and celebrate this important group of providers and their efforts to elevate the fields of medicine and nursing to ensure our patients receive high quality, evidence-based care.

The CAPE team is excited to announce two SPOOKTACULAR Halloween events!

1st ANNUAL TRUCK-OR-TREAT

Sunday, October 22, 2023

Noon until 2 p.m.

McLaren Bay Region

In the parking lot on the corner of 16th and Mulholland

You won’t be able to miss it! 🎃

RSVP YOUR KIDDOS:

If you will be bringing your little witches or ghouls, be sure to RSVP by October 18th to Ashley.oliver@mclaren.org

RSVP YOUR VEHICLE:

Get together with your co-workers, decorate a car, grab some candy, and hand it out to the little goblins. Be sure to RSVP your vehicle by October 18th to Ashley.oliver@mclaren.org. 

Don’t be a scaredy-cat. Get your department signed up today!

PUMPKIN CONTEST

October, 20th

Pumpkins will be ready for pick up.

October, 27th

Judging will take place.

More details to follow for this frightfully fun event!

An organ donation occurred at McLaren Bay Region in September. Our staff's dedication to making this happen gives hope to the roughly 2,700 people in Michigan waiting for life-saving organ transplants and the many thousands more who would benefit from tissue transplants.

A 66-year-old became a donor.

• A 72-year-old received a kidney.

• A 73-year-old received a kidney.

• Their liver was also recovered for research.

Many of our employees and physicians participated in this donation.

Gift of Life Michigan would like to share their gratitude and thank our team for our contribution to the success of organ donation and transplantation.

Download the original flyer HERE.

Submitted by Laura Love, Community Health Education Specialist

Breast Cancer Shirts

Don’t miss out! The deadline to order these awesome breast cancer awareness shirts is Thursday, September 21, 2023, at midnight! All the information to order is below and attached.

McLaren is excited to host an online storefront to support Breast Cancer Awareness! Check out the attached flyer or the link below to see the awesome Wonder Woman-themed breast cancer awareness shirt. The shirt cost is $22 (sizes 2XL and above will have an additional charge per shirt).

https://mclarenbreastcancerfundrasier2023.itemorder.com/

A portion of every shirt sale will support the McLaren Bay Medical Foundation’s efforts to assist our breast cancer patients right here in our community!

Orders can be picked up at McLaren Bay Region in the main lobby (outside the cafeteria) on Thursday, October 5th, between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Other arrangements can be made for offsite orders.

A HUGE thank you to the Bay Diagnostic Center team for the shirt design and their passion for breast cancer awareness!

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

We hope you can join the McLaren Bay Region/Karmanos Cancer Institute team at the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk on Saturday, October 7, 2023, at Krossroads Park, Saginaw. The event opens at 9:00 a.m. and the walk begins at 10:00 a.m. The attached flyer has a link to join our team. We would love to see everyone there! For more download the flyer HERE.

Jean Day!

Friday, October 6, 2023, is Wear Pink & Jeans to Work Day! For just $5, you can buy the right to wear jeans and pink or McLaren logo wear to work on Friday, October 6th. All proceeds from Jean Day will be given to the American Cancer Society. To participate, please send your $5 to Laura Love, Community Health Services, East Medical Mall.

Champions are central to the success of patient safety practices and the improvement of the safety culture. We wanted to congratulate our three newest patient safety champions on a job well done.

ZEKE HILL

Pharmacy

LYNETTE MUNSEL, RN

OB

Thanks for helping to keep our patients safe!

Thanks to the Good Samaritan Rescue Mission, next month is Socktober! Look for the donation box in the Cafeteria beginning on October 2nd.

Date: October 11, 2023 

Topic: DVT and PE- Contemporary Management of Venous Thromboembolism: Nicolas Mouawad, MD

Time: 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Location: Johnson East & West and Microsoft Team

Join on your computer, mobile app or room device

Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 211 904 589 630

Passcode: zXQKTn

Or call in (audio only)

+1 810-275-1295,,326652247#  United States, Flint

Phone Conference ID: 326 652 247#Find a local number | Reset PIN

Learn More | Meeting options

Grand Rounds provides a forum for healthcare providers to share clinical expertise and experiences, best practices and other topics of interest that help improve patient outcomes and enhance the patient experience. By presenting the research-based knowledge in conjunction with clinical scenarios, the participants can apply the new knowledge to their clinical practices.

Download the full flyer HERE for more details.

Hey, McLaren Bay Region employees! With our BACC membership, we get to attend all after-hours events. These events are great places to interact with some of our local professionals and patients. Bring your team to network, eat, and enjoy a beverage.  

Upcoming Events:

Thursday, October 19, 2023

5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Growers Choice Insurance,

2880 E Beaver Road

Kawkawlin, MI 48631

Thursday, November 16, 2023

5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Vinny's Pizzeria,

168 Uptown Drive

Bay City, MI 48708

JOIN US FOR THE SIXTY FOURTH ANNUAL CHARITY BALL!

When: Saturday, November 18th, 2023

Where: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Downtown Bay City-Riverfront

RECENT GRANTS AWARDED

The following grants were awarded at the McLaren Bay Medical Foundation’s last grant cycle. The next deadline for grant requests is October 1. Click HERE for the grant application.

• Educational Materials for Community Members – $2,803.28. Educational brochures and flyers that support our health and cancer screenings. Materials also to be used to support community health fairs, educational programs and support groups.
• Equipment for Community Health Screenings – $2,719.26. Three otoscopes with rechargeable handles and 3 head lamps for use during the Oral, Head & Neck Cancer screenings. 
• Activity Kits – $3,500. Sensory/calming objects and activities for patients who are confused, have dementia or are autistic. Twelve kits to be used to help calm patients. One kit for each inpatient unit and emergency department.
• Supplies to Improve Patient Experience and Mental Health – $11,400. Supplies and equipment focusing on physical activity, musical appreciation, creative expression, education and cognitive functioning in the behavioral health units.
• Kangaroo IRIS Feeding System Education Program – $3,949. Educational materials and skill validation equipment for RNs to increase competency in nasogastric tube placement.
• EKG Certification Education for ISD Students – $1,600. Bay Arenac ISD Career Center students in their Health Technology program have a regular rotation at McLaren Bay Region. Completion of this educational program will certify students in giving EKG testing.
• Infection Prevention Training – $1,425. Provide intense fundamental infection prevention training for our new prevention infection department lead. 
• Chapel Furnishings at McLaren Bay Special Care - $973.50. Enrich the quality of the MBSC chapel for use by patients and staff.
• Rehab Treadmills – $13.380. Two treadmills for cardiac rehab and respiratory care/pulmonary rehab.
• Automated Disinfection System – $8,995. A high level automated disinfection system for the Bay Diagnostic Center for Women location.
• Patient Gift Bags – $5,443. Purchase items for patient gift bags during Breast Cancer Awareness Month – October.
• Electrical Outlet Installation – $1,580. Install an outlet at the West Branch Medical Building for plugging in electric cars. The total cost of this grant was donated by a McLaren doctor.