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November 28, 2023

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In This Edition

  • Nov. 29: Last Day to Elect Benefits
  • Due Friday: COVID-19 Safety Program & COE
  • RN Nursing Licenses Coming Due
  • Prevent Slips, Trips & Falls this Winter
  • Holiday Decoration Guidelines & Tips
  • Aspirus Featured in WHA Community Benefits Report
  • ASH Nurse Leader Recognized as Community Hero
  • Aspirus Cardiology Nationally Recognized
  • Office of Medical Education Awards
  • The Importance of Documentation
  • Soothe Dry Winter Skin
  • Creating Space for Mourning

Tomorrow (Nov. 29) is Last Day You Can Elect Benefits

Last Chance

Your action is required!


Log in to Infor CloudSuite Global Human Resources (GHR) by November 29 to submit your benefit elections that take effect January 1, 2024.

 

If you do not submit your elections during Open Enrollment, your benefits will end Dec. 31, 2023, and you will not be enrolled in benefits for 2024

 

Open Enrollment materials and resources are available at aspirus.org/totalrewards, which provides access to materials outside of the Aspirus network.

Important

Due This Friday!

Don't miss the deadline

COVID-19 Safety Program

You must receive your COVID-19 vaccination or submit your declination form by 5 p.m. on December 1. Non-compliant employees will be removed from their work schedule until complete and may be subject to disciplinary action, up to, and including, voluntary resignation. See Vaccine Clinics schedule.

Reminder

Conditions of Employment (COE)

Our annual COE are due by December 1. COE for each employee includes:

RN License Renewals Coming Due

Deadline

Registered Nurse (RN) credentials in Wisconsin* are required to be renewed by February 29, 2024. The renewal period opens on January 10 and renewals will be valid until February 28, 2026.

 

If you currently hold an RN license in Wisconsin, you should receive email communication directly from the state and an account should be created for you in Wisconsin’s new LicensE platform. Do not register for a new account.

 

First-Time Logging into LicensE:

  • From the landing page, click “Forgot/Change Password?”  
  • Enter your username. Your username is: username
  • Complete the process by clicking the “Change or Reset Password” button. The password reset information will be sent to your account’s email address.
  • Reset your password.

 

Returning LicensE Users: 

  • If you have logged into LicensE before, log in with your username and password.

 

For more information, please see the LicensE Renewal Instructions.

 

*Michigan RN licenses renew every two years and communication comes from the state of Michigan based on the expiration date of your previous license.

Holiday Decoration Guidelines & Tips


The holiday season is upon us and many of us are getting festive and decorating.

 

As you celebrate at Aspirus, please follow these holiday decoration guidelines and tips (shared by your favorite holiday villains).

And, please, no poinsettias!

Do not bring live poinsettia plants into Aspirus buildings. They can cause allergic reactions in people with latex allergies.


Thank you for protecting the health and safety of our patients, visitors and team members.

Aspirus Featured in WHA Community Benefits Report

Aspirus Health’s community contributions are featured in a new report by the Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA). Showcasing the many ways hospitals give back to the communities they serve, the 2023 WHA Community Benefits Report found Wisconsin’s hospitals collectively contributed over $2.1 billion in community benefits and charity care in 2022.



Read about some of the ways Aspirus Health is serving our communities by clicking the button below.

See Full Report

Aspirus Stanley Nurse Leader Recognized as Community Hero

As part of the celebration of National Rural Health Day on November 16, Aspirus Stanley Hospital Emergency Department Supervisor and Trauma Coordinator Nicole Dekan, RN, BSN, was named a Community Hero by the Wisconsin Office of Rural Health. 

 

Each year the Office of Rural Health recognizes Community Heroes who have made an impact on health in their rural communities.

 

Check out the Northwest WI Division News to read more about Nicole and her honor.

Aspirus Cardiology Nationally Recognized

for efforts to improve blood pressure control

Aspirus Cardiology was recognized by the American Heart Association (AHA) and American Medical Association (AMA) for its commitment to improving blood pressure (BP) control rates, earning Gold Plus-level recognition as part of the Target: BP™ initiative.

Read More

Congratulations to our entire health care team for your commitment to excellent care.

Congratulations

Office of Medical Education (OME) Awards

 

The Aspirus Office of Medical Education (OME) recognizes collaboration and contributions made by Aspirus Physicians and Advanced Practice Clinicians (APCs) as clinical teachers for medical students and advance practice clinician students.

 

This is the fifth year OME has recognized these efforts throughout the Aspirus system.

This year’s Vision Award goes to Erika Crockford, DO, with the Aspirus Eagle River Clinic.

Dr. Crockford exemplifies and models Aspirus as a learning institution. She recognizes and demonstrates that medical education is a catalyst for creating healthy and thriving communities and has helped expand Aspirus’ capacity for clinical medical education.

 

Below is a submission by a student of Dr. Crockford.

 

“Dr. Crockford has been great to rotate with! I enjoyed all aspects of the rotation, from outpatient office visits to inpatient rural medicine! She was a great teacher in all aspects; I learned a ton from the month with her.” - Medical Student

Additional OME Award winners will be announced in future editions of Aspirus News Now and on our Aspirus social media channels.

The Importance of Documentation


We continue our extended look at Corporate Compliance and Ethics to share related tips from our compliance and privacy partners to help you avoid some common pitfalls.

This week Kari Allen, Compliance Partner, highlights some important documentation-related areas that pertain to corporate compliance:

 

  • Billing, charging, reimbursement, coding or documentation – Accurate and well-monitored billing, documentation and coding processes are crucial to preventing errors that can have serious consequences, including allegations of fraud, significant legal costs, loss of reputation, facility closures, and even criminal penalties.

 

  • Minor Guarantor – Minors, in most cases, should not be listed as their own guarantor – the person who is identified as being responsible for paying the bill for services. Minors generally cannot legally contract for or authorize their own medical care except in cases where they are considered emancipated, or they are seeking mental, substance abuse or pre-natal care.

 

Remember, if it’s not documented, it didn’t happen. Here are some important concepts to consider when it comes to documentation in patient records:

 

  • Patient Care – The patient records provide the documented basis for planning patient care and treatment.
  • Communication – Patient records are an important means by which physicians, nurses, patients, and other health care staff communicate with one another about patient needs.
  • Legal Documentation – Patient records become legal records because they describe and document care and treatment.
  • Billing and Reimbursement – Patient records provide documentation that patients and payors use to verify billed services.
  • Research and Quality Management – Patient records are used in many facilities for research purposes and for monitoring the quality of care provided.

 

Look for the “Compliance Program” link under the Life & Career menu on the intranet to learn more about our compliance team and program.

Simple Changes to Soothe Dry Skin this Winter

Our skin is the canvas of our well-being. Let's keep it fresh, vibrant and well-hydrated, all year round.

 

Nikole Larkin, Nurse Practitioner at Aspirus Plastic Surgery & Aesthetics, recommends simple changes to soothe dry skin this winter.

Read More 

Visit the Aspirus Media Center for other recent stories featuring Aspirus experts.

Creating Space for Mourning

Find grief support with yoga, breathwork & movement

The holidays can be a trying time when we’ve lost someone dear to us. Those in mourning will be given a time to gather, with the support of tools to help navigate grief.

 

Tuesday, December 12

6-8 p.m.

5 Koshas Yoga & Wellness

(Registrants may attend in person at the studio or online via Zoom.)


Presented by Mary Kluz, RYT-500, BS, MS, and Aspirus Bereavement Program Lead Amy Kitsembel, MEd, FT, CSW.

Scan the QR code or click the link below for important details and registration/fee information.

Learn More

Remember to Check Out Your Local News


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