A publication for the Anna Jaques community | February 2021 | E-Newsletter 5 (Issue 145)
Featured photo: 150+ notes of appreciation filled the Cafeteria hallway walls in the "Post-It Wall of Thanks."
As of March 1, staff are encouraged to take notes that they/their team were mentioned in to keep.
Quick Links
The inaugural issue of what will be a quarterly newsletter that highlights the latest in benefits resources for BILH staff.
Flu Shot Reminder!
If you have not gotten your annual flu shot, please call Employee Health and schedule an appointment at Amesbury Health Center, Monday through Friday, at 978-834-8190. All staff must either receive the flu vaccine or sign a declination.
Mark's Message
I find myself reflecting on “this time last year” - a time right before our hospital, and the world, were forever changed by COVID-19. Last February, my Newsbreak message to you was focused on gearing up for what would be a “transformational 2020.” We had just launched the New England Baptist Orthopedics Program, re-established the pulmonology service, and expected to break ground on the Stepping Forward Project in March to expand the operating room and main entrance. Little did we know what was in store…
 
2020 was transformational in ways we could have never predicted. Yet we met every challenge, and continue to do so, together as team.
 
We celebrated our AJH team, which is really like family, this month through the “Let’s Stick Together” employee appreciation campaign. We enjoyed simple pleasures, like weekly dress-down days, ice cream treats and surprise flowers that brought some much needed positivity and fun (see photos below). Staff and physicians also hung more than 150 notes of appreciation for their colleagues on the “Post-It Wall of Thanks” outside the Cafeteria. These notes represent the mutual respect that is deeply engrained in our AJH culture.

It is overwhelming to try to reflect on all that we’ve endured in the last year. What it always boils down to for me - is you. As we approach the one-year mark of the beginning of the pandemic on March 16, 2020, I encourage you to share your own reflections on your experience during the pandemic – whether that be lessons learned, moments that impacted you the most, community support, or funny advice. First-hand testimonials will be shared in a special issue of Newsbreak and a dedicated webpage next month as a “look back on 2020” to capture and preserve the incredible efforts of our organization (more details below).

The theme of “Let’s Stick Together” goes well beyond this month, as we know that together we can do so much more for our patients, community and each other.  

Mark

Mark L. Goldstein
President, Anna Jaques Hospital
COVID-19 Reflections - A Look Back on a Historic Year at Anna Jaques
Submit Your Story!
Help tell the story of how Anna Jaques Hospital responded to the COVID-19 pandemic through first-hand testimonials and reflections from AJH staff and physicians.

Reflections will be shared on a dedicated AJH webpage, and a handful included in a special Newsbreak edition, that will be shared on March 16, 2021 as we look back on this historic chapter and last year in our history. Instructions & Details:
  • Submit a 75-word (or less) reflection to [email protected]
  • Include a photo to accompany
  • Examples include: lessons learned, ways you adapted, pivotal moments, a motto or joke that fueled you, etc.
Reflection Example
"2020 has been a year of learning - as a team and as individuals. The Perioperative team weathered this tremendous year while continuing to serve our patients in remarkable ways. Emergency surgery continued, despite COVID-19. The APR was notably transformed into an ICU and treating patients within 24-hours. Staff worked on all nursing floors, including the ICU, and rotated to different shifts. It’s important to look back on these triumphs and appreciate the team effort that made them possible."
Wally Szuksta, Director of Peri-Operative Services
"Let's Stick Together" Month of Employee Appreciation
Snapshots of the AJH celebrating Go Red for Women Day, Valentine's Day, Super Bowl, Mardi Gras & Surprise Flower Day
Amesbury Health Center
Newburyport Five Cents Savings Inpatient Unit
Surprise flower day
Health Information Management
Storeroom
Surprise flower day
Food Services
Food Services
A flower for Dr. Bill Jackson
Stephen F. Salvo Shining Star - February
Patty Hazell, RN, BSN, Case Management
During the highest surge of COVID-19 patients, Patty Hazell, RN, BSN, of Case Management, did not hesitate to return to her former department in the ICU to support her colleagues in caring for critically ill patients.

Patty shared this recognition, stating: “While I appreciate this award, all of Nursing, Case Management, Respiratory, Hospitalists, Intensivists, Radiology, Housekeeping, Lab, Food Services, Transport – are the real shining stars. We’re all working tirelessly to maintain the quality care that our patients deserve.”

Patty also gave the coveted President’s Parking Spot, a token of appreciation to the honoree, to one of her ICU colleagues.

COVID-19 Information
AJH Employee & Physician Vaccine Clinic Closes
Thank you for the extraordinary efforts of the
"Vaccine Team"

The ”Vaccine Team” led by Dr. Gail Fayre who championed the effort, has been working tirelessly since news that the vaccine would be available – operationalizing the distribution to staff and physicians in just two weeks. Since the launch of the Anna Jaques Employee & Physician Vaccine Clinic on December 16th in the Higgins, the team - comprised of staff from all different departments and areas of expertise - has run like a well-oiled machine. Registration, IT, Pharmacy, Vaccinators, and Administrators staffed the clinic in the Higgins at times up to 8 to 12 hours a day, 7 days a week.
 
All employees were offered the vaccine with the Vaccine Team administering over 3,000 total shots (Pfizer and Moderna), vaccinating more than 1,000 staff and 330+ medical staff members over 10 weeks. One of the things the team is proudest of is that virtually every single dose available to us was administered. This often meant scrambling at the end of the day to find a last-minute add-on to ensure no dose went to waste. The team also weathered two snow storms without missing a beat.
 
Everyone involved took time away from their current roles to support the clinic operations, juggling their responsibilities at the clinic and within their departments, and relying on others within the department to help out in their absence. This was a tremendous effort and by all measures was a huge success, as well as a model for hospital-based vaccination clinics throughout the state. Thank you and congratulations to all involved.
First Day of Clinic: December 16, 2020
Last Day of Clinic: February 25, 2021
Vaccine Team
Registration:
April Bayko
Sabrina Callahan
Marilyn Henkel
Darlene Lavin
Lisa Losh
Brianna Merritt
Val Rager
Jane Ronan
George Wilson
 
Vaccinators:
Stephanie Angelo
Chris Campbell
Jackie Carroll
Deb Ciampa
Sarah Comora
Judy Fayre
Pam Fox
Danielle Hoffman
Joni Johnson
Patrice Kellogg
Joann Knowles
Pat Powers
Nancy Ryll
Chris Turner
 
Pharmacy:
Hua Qi
Michelle Robbins Eric Warne 
 
IT:
Michael Antonowicz
Bob Buchanan
Erik Carter
Anne Lentz
Dan Lyons
Betty Preisner
Ann Schofield
Chris Schott

Administrators:
Karin Dieselman
Patti Douglass
Dr. Gail Fayre
Betty Lang-Holmes
Sandra Levin
Yinka Ojutalayo
Danielle Perry
Melissa Sharpe
Patient & Community Vaccination Efforts
For weeks, BILH has been working tirelessly to develop the infrastructure and operations to administer COVID-19 vaccines to thousands of eligible patients. In partnership with BILH, Anna Jaques and the City of Newburyport, the Newburyport Senior Center Community Vaccination Clinic opened on February 15th and has vaccinated over 1,000 patients to date. With the state releasing more doses effective March 1st, the clinic will ramp back up to scheduling over 1,000 eligible patients to receive their first dose per week, in addition to administering second doses, which will bring the clinic to 85% capacity.

Reference BILH's dedicated vaccine website at coronavirus.bilh.org/vaccine for the most current information.

Asymptomatic Employee COVID-19 Testing Moves to Amesbury: The Employee COVID-19 Testing Clinic, currently held in the Café Conference Room, will move to Employee Health at Amesbury Health Center effective March 3rd. Testing will be offered weekly, on Wednesdays from 8:30am-10:30am. Use this link to schedule an appointment.

A special thank you goes to Karen Kelleher, Director of Diagnostic Imaging, Jim Ryan, PTA, Cheryl Bamford, MA, and Chelsie Deschenes, MA, who staffed the testing clinic in addition to their already busy schedules and responsibilities, and to Gary Lee, VP of Clinical Services, who provided leadership to the program.

Elective Surgery Resumes: Anna Jaques began ramping up inpatient elective surgeries and has the capacity and staffing to return to 100% OR capacity at this time.  

New Hours of Operation for Patient COVID-19 Testing: As the demand for COVID-19 testing continues to decline, Anna Jaques will reduce the hours of operation of the COVID-19 testing for patients located in the tent outside of the ED. Effective March 1st, the COVID-19 Testing Tent will be open 12 pm – 5 pm, 7 days a week. The process for ordering and scheduling these tests remain the same. 

Seeking Clinical Staff Volunteers to Support COVID-19 Patients: Based on a similar, successful employee volunteer program currently running at BIDMC-Plymouth, AJH is putting out a call for fully vaccinated, clinically certified employees to consider volunteering to be a conduit between COVID-19 inpatients and their families. Contact Cheryl Satryb at [email protected] to learn more or sign-up.
Welcome New Leaders & Teams
Best wishes to two longtime hospital leaders, Rich Doolan and
Linda Sowder, who both retired in December
Rich Doolan retired after 16 years of service as Director of Materials Management. Rich has been an integral part of Anna Jaques’ success over the years, having spent the better half of his impressive career providing hands-on support and leadership to our hospital. Linda Sowder, Manager of Purchasing, retired after 29 years at AJH. Linda earned her reputation through her years of hard work, devoted service and a team-work approach.

On behalf of AJH, we thank both Rich and Linda for their tremendous leadership and contributions to the hospital. 
Brooks McQuade
Director, Materials Management 
Brooks McQuade joined AJH this February as Director of Materials Management. He brings 20 years of experience in Materials Management and Supply Chain, including contract negotiations, inventory management and value analysis. Most recently, Brooks was Supply Chain Director at Frisbie Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New Hampshire, and is very familiar with the unique challenges and opportunities facing smaller hospitals today.

Brooks will provide leadership to the Purchasing and Storeroom teams, and will collaborate with BILH Supply Chain leadership on system initiatives.
Linda Rockwood
Director, Laboratory Services
Linda Rockwood joined Anna Jaques in January as Director of Laboratory Services. Linda joins AJH from New England Baptist Hospital (NEBH) where she served as Laboratory Operations Manager/Transfusion Safety Officer for four years. Prior to that, she was the Blood Bank and Donor Services Supervisor at NEBH for 12 years. She also spent time as the Evening Shift Supervisor at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and started her laboratory career at Saratoga Hospital, Saratoga Springs, New York.
Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehabilitation Team
In January, AJH resumed the Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab programs in a newly renovated and co-located space - and with a new team.

Welcome members of the team (listed in order as pictured above):
  • Claudia Oliva joins AJH as the new Coordinator, overseeing both the Cardiac Rehab and Pulmonary Rehab programs. She previously worked per diem in the AJH Cardiac Rehab Program while working full-time at the Cardiac Rehab Program at Lahey Danvers where she was directly involved in preparing its program for American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) certification – an effort she will help lead at AJH.
  • Anne Marie McGuire joins the team as Clinical Secretary and brings a wealth of experience and has worked across the healthcare continuum.
  • Sarah Melville, RT, re-joins the the Pulmonary Rehab program part-time and brings years of experience and leadership at AJH to the team.
  • Sharon Dalton, Exercise Physiologist, joins us from Winchester Hospital’s Cardiac Rehab Program. She has several years’ experience in adaptive wellness and exercise prescription with neuro-based rehab patients.
  • Lynda Kuhne, MBA, PT, ATC, Director of Rehabilitation & Ancillary Services, continues to provide leadership to the programs.
  • Amy Kimball, RN, (not pictured) joins the team part-time and brings 15 years of experience in nursing, 12 of which were in Cardiac Rehab and Telemetry.
Please note: Staff and physicians are no longer allowed to utilize the exercise equipment in the Cardiac Rehab gym.
Stepping Forward Project Update
This week, the Stepping Forward Project reached an exciting milestone and received its building permit from the City of Newburyport. The project expands AJH operating room capacity for the first time in 25 years, and renovates our main entrance and the corridor into the surgical suite for improved patient and visitor access. Columbia Construction has been working closely with the AJH Building Committee and anticipates construction to begin this March, and take approximately 12 months to complete.

In the comings weeks as we near closer to construction, there will be weekly email updates for staff to anticipate how the project may impact the work day.

Nearly 200 donors have contributed to the $3.7M raised to date toward our $4M fundraising goal. The popular inscribed brick program is the focus of the community and an AJH employee campaign to help meet our goal. Learn more or donate online at ajh.org/steppingforward. 
A rendering of the renovated Main Lobby
Example of the "brick program" - click image for more details.
Compliance Corner:
Securing Protected Health Information (PHI) in Open Spaces
What is Protected Health Information (“PHI”)?
PHI is any information that identifies the patient and is about his/her past, present, or future physical, mental health or condition, treatment or payment for treatment.

What is Personal Information (“PI”)?
PI is generally an individual’s first name or initial and last name in combination with any one or more of the following data elements: (a) Social Security Number; (b) government issued ID; or (c) financial account numbers, login and passwords.
How Can You Protect PHI/PI in Open Spaces?
  • Storing/Destroying PHI/PI: Use locked bins, shredders or other secure means when documents are not in use or when disposing of paper PHI or PI.
  • Screens: Turn computer screens away from public view to reduce the risk that others are able to read information. Be sure to lock your computer every time you step away.
  • Conversations: Always conduct conversations involving PHI/PI in private, avoiding public areas such as cafeterias and elevators. If possible, use a low voice so as to minimize the opportunity to be overheard.
  • Paper documents: Keep patient paperwork with PHI/PI faced down on counters, placed in holders or turned backwards if attached to curtains or wall files. Never leave records unattended in public areas.
  • Printers/Faxes: Pick up, as soon as possible, papers containing PHI/PI from printers and fax machines
Visit AnnaOnline for to view the full compliance policy management database. 
Special AJH Stories
Birth Center Nurses Deliver Within Five Days of Each Other
Birth Center and Pediatric nurses - Emily Grossman, RN, Kristen Ciulla, RN, and Katelyn Browne, RN - became patients themselves this month and welcomed their own newborns at Anna Jaques Hospital...within five days of each other.

Welcome to the AJH family babies Thomas Anthony, Noa and Skyler!
Kristen Ciulla, RN, and baby Thomas Anthony Jr.
Emily Grossman, RN, Pediatrics and baby Noa
Katelyn Browne, RN, Birth Center, and baby Skyler
The Carter's AJH Love Story
In honor of Valentine's Day, Erik and Tanya Carter shared their story . . .

“To think this photo is taken outside the Anna Jaques Cafeteria where we first met working in the Dietary Department - and that we’ll be celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary next month!

Today, Tanya is a RN in the ICU and I work as an IT analyst. Accustom to working different shifts, we’ve been through many stages of life both working at the hospital – from driving to work together, to swapping cars with the kids still in car seats, to watching our kids drive to work at AJH themselves."
Employee Orientation Goes Virtual
In partnership with BILH and in response to the current climate, the Anna Jaques Human Resources Department will transition to hosting virtual New Employee Orientations as of March 1st.

Newly hired employees will now be able to watch our leaders present important information through interactive Zoom sessions, videos and clips and audio recorded PowerPoint presentations. Employees will be asked to watch and complete the virtual new hire orientation in full, submitting an attestation at the end that signifies they have completed the orientation in its entirety. This attestation will also offer new employees an opportunity to submit questions and feedback about their experience.

If you have any questions regarding the virtual New Hire Orientation, contact Human Resources at ext. 1035. 
National Doctors' Day is March 30th
In honor of National Doctors’ Day on March 30th, we invite grateful patients to celebrate the dedicated men and women who keep our community healthy. This year in particular is especially meaningful as we recognize all those who have worked tirelessly to care for and protect our patients over this past year.

Notes of appreciation and/or gifts to support the Healthcare Heroes Fund can be sent to the Anna Jaques Community Health Foundation. Visit ajh.org/giving for details. 
Anna Jaques Hospital
www.ajh.org