January 30, 2024

Regional & Divisional News

Click to see what's happening locally:

• Central WI Region
• UP Region
• North WI Division
• Northeast WI Division
• Northwest WI Division
• South WI Region

Don't know your region or division?

Click the map to find out.

In This Edition

• St. Luke's Affiliation Update
• Earn a Bonus for Referring a New Team Member
• HealthStream Password Changes
• Nurse Residency Graduation
• Aspirus Heart Care Celebrates Milestone
• Wear Red This Friday
• Redeem Your Holiday Gift by Jan. 31
• Blood Supplies Aboard Aspirus MedEvac Helicopters
• Fit for Life: Q1 Wellness Challenge
• Wellness Webinars: Health Plan Premium Discount Program
• Collaborating Against Human Trafficking
• Guide to a Healthy Weight

Exciting Updates

Progress toward St. Luke's affiliation

In case you missed it, click the image to watch a brief message from Aspirus President and CEO Matt Heywood that features exciting updates about our progress toward our affiliation with St. Luke’s.

Earn a Bonus for Referring Someone Who Joins Our Team

Know any good people interested in joining a strong and growing health system? You can earn a bonus if you refer someone who joins our Aspirus Health team!

$500 Bonus

Employee

$2,500 Bonus

Critical Position

$10,000 Bonus

Physician

Click the images above for details and scan the QR codes for the full policies.

• Employee Referral Bonus Program (employee & critical position)
• Physician Referral Bonus Program

Visit careers.aspirus.org to view current career opportunities at Aspirus.

HealthStream Password Changes

Our HealthStream education platform is updating its security standards for user passwords. Starting February 1, you will be prompted to reset your HealthStream password at initial login if you have not changed your HealthStream password in the past 90 days to meet the new requirements. Going forward, you will be required to change your HealthStream password every 90 days.

New HealthStream passwords will be required to contain:

• 8+ characters
• 1 uppercase letter
• 1 lowercase letter
• 1 number
• 1 symbol (!, #, $, %, etc.)

Instructions are available on the HealthStream login page to assist in resetting a password if needed. Please contact the Aspirus IT Service Desk at 715-847-2300 or 800-297-8780 with any HealthStream password issues.

Nurse Residency Graduation

Aspirus Health celebrated Nurse Residency graduates at a ceremony on January 25. The graduation was the culmination of six months of learning and professional development that included supportive debriefing, critical skill development, and expansion of decision making. Nurses from Aspirus Langlade, Medford, Merrill, Stanley, Tomahawk and Wausau were among those graduating from this systemwide program.

Congratulations to the following graduates:

The Nurse Residency program is offered systemwide throughout the year. Newly licensed nurses are enrolled in this program, which offers monthly e-learning and live classroom events. More than 80 nurses completed the program in 2023. The next group of nurses will start the program in February.

Thank you to Clinical Educator Emily Hess of Aspirus Wausau Hospital’s Medical Pediatrics Unit for being the main facilitator for this group of graduates along with Jennilee Mann, Nursing Professional Development Coordinator, OL&D, who leads the team to collaborate with leaders for enrollment. 

Aspirus Heart Care Reaches WATCHMAN Milestone

Dr. Marcus Sublette, Interventional Cardiologist with Aspirus Heart Care, recently implanted the 400th Watchman device at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.

WATCHMAN is a permanent implant designed to reduce the risk of stroke in patients with AFib who cannot tolerate anticoagulant medications. The device is typically implanted via a minimally invasive procedure into the left atrial appendage to prevent blood clots from forming and entering the bloodstream. More than 90% of stroke-causing clots that come from the heart are formed in the left atrial appendage.

Aspirus Heart Care was the first program in the area to offer the innovative WATCHMAN implant in 2016.

Congratulations to the team on this milestone.

Pictured (from left): Christa Shilman (from Boston Scientific), Kaye James, Dr. Marcus Sublette, Jim Kopetzky and Todd Schisel.

Wear Red This Friday

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.

This National Wear Red Day – Friday, February 2 – rock your favorite red work attire and show your heart some love!

When we take care of our hearts as part of our self-care, we set an example for those around us to do the same. You can help protect your heart against heart disease with self-care, like moving more, eating healthier, managing stress, not smoking/vaping, and getting enough quality sleep.

Do you know your heart health risks?

Take our Aspirus Heart Health Assessment to learn your heart’s biological age and discover tips on risk factor reduction.

Post photos of you and your co-workers wearing red on February 2 in recognition of National Wear Red Day.

Look for the Wear Red Day banner on the intranet homepage.

Last Chance!

Redeem Your Holiday Gift by Jan. 31

Critical Lifesaving Measures

Blood supplies aboard Aspirus MedEvac helicopters

Crucial blood supplies aboard Aspirus MedEvac helicopters are lifelines for critical patients enroute to the hospital.

Flight RN Kevin Mittelsteadt emphasizes the critical role of blood transfusions in emergencies. Your donation can truly save lives. Give blood!

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

Quarter 1 Wellness Challenge

Open to all employees!

Click image above to view as a PDF.

Wellness Webinars

Learn about the Health Plan Premium Discount Program

Got questions? We have answers.

Learn more about this year's Health Plan Premium Discount Wellness Program. These webinars are a convenient way for you to access information, participate in discussions, and ask questions.

Sign up for a Webex session by clicking the Register link for your desired date/time.

A Unified Front: Collaborating Against Human Trafficking

Human trafficking isn't just a city issue; it impacts even small, rural communities.

Aspirus Health RN & SANE Coordinator Amy Riegert and The Women’s Community, Inc., Anti-Human Trafficking Advocate Brenda Bayer collaborate to combat trafficking.

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

Lifestyle Matters: Guide to a Healthy Weight

More than 40% of Americans face obesity, increasing the risk of serious health issues.

Aspirus Family Medicine Physician Dr. Madeline Oestreich offers practical guidance on nutrition, exercise and self-compassion for a holistic approach to achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.

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

Remember to Check Out Your Local News

Click the links below for your region/division to see what's happening locally.

Regional & Divisional News

• Central WI Region
• UP Region
• North WI Division
• Northeast WI Division
• Northwest WI Division
• South WI Region

Don't know your region or division?

Click the map to find out.