A publication for the Anna Jaques community | October 2021 | E-Newsletter 13 (Issue 153) |
|
Featured photo: 2021 Pink Up the Port winner is . . . Opportunity Works! AJH and organizations throughout the community helped raise awareness and promote prevention during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. See more below.
|
|
Stephen F. Salvo Shining Star: Bethany Stevens, Human Resources |
|
HR Team: (Front) Bethany Stevens, Matt Bennett, HR Leader. (Back) Jenn Sullivan, Rhonda Keith & Michelle Ford
|
|
Join us in congratulating Bethany Stevens, Human Resources Coordinator, as our Stephen F. Salvo Shining Star for October.
Bethany joined AJH just nine months ago and has made an immediate positive impact through her caring nature, calming presence, and strong work ethic that she brings to supporting the various needs of our workforce as a HR professional.
|
|
COVID-19 & Flu Vaccine Requirement Updates |
|
COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement
All staff must receive the first dose of a multi-dose vaccine series (Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech) or the single dose of the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine by Sunday, Oct. 31, as a condition of employment.
- Now offering the option to select the vaccine of your choice: Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech and Janssen/Johnson & Johnson
- Staff are still required to receive a second dose of the multi-dose vaccine series (Moderna or Pfizer) to meet the condition of employment
Flu Shot Extension & Additional Clinic Dates
In an effort to provide additional time to meet the flu shot requirement, BILH has announced that the deadline for clinicians and staff to be vaccinated against influenza has been extended to Sunday, November 28. Please note: the deadline for staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19 remains the same.
*NEW* Additional Flu Clinics will be held Tuesday (11/2) and Thursday (11/4) next week, from 3:30-7:30 p.m. on the Provident Unit (3rd Floor) Additional clinics and plans to accommodate the evening and night shifts will be forthcoming.
Questions? Contact HR at (978) 463-1035 or Employee Health at (978) 834-8190.
|
|
AJH Expands Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Unit |
|
Anna Jaques expanded the Child & Adolescent Psychiatry program, located at Amesbury Health Center, to add four new inpatient beds in response to the growing need for mental health services.
“Every available inpatient bed makes a real difference for a child and their family when they are facing a mental health crisis, and all of us at Anna Jaques are proud to be able to provide expanded compassionate care for our community around mental health issues,” shared Richard Maki, senior vice president and chief nursing officer.
Funding for the beds and the staff to oversee more patients came from the state along with donations by Institution for Savings. Click here to read Newburyport Daily News article for more information.
|
|
Glenn F. Focht, MD, Named Chief Medical Officer |
|
AJH is pleased to welcome Glenn F. Focht, MD, as the next Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Anna Jaques and Chief Operator Officer (COO) of Seacoast Affiliated Group Practice (SAGP) as of November 29.
Dr. Focht (pronounced “folk”) is an accomplished, thoughtful, and mission-driven physician leader with more than 25 years of experience leading high-performance teams. He has provided administrative oversight of the medical staff at multiple hospitals throughout his career, as well as the operations and leadership of large physician organizations.
Dr. Focht joins us from Connecticut Children’s Hospital where he had served as President of Connecticut Children’s Specialty Group since 2017. This multi-specialty group includes 200 physicians and more than 100 advanced practice clinicians. Prior to that, he was with Boston Children’s Hospital as the Chief Medical Officer for the Pediatric Physician Organization at Children’s (PPOC) for five years. He also held the CMO and Vice President of Medical Affairs roles at Milford Regional Hospital and Cooley Dickenson for many years.
Dr. Focht is board certified in internal medicine. He received his medical degree from University of Pennsylvania and completed his internship and residency at University of Massachusetts Medical School. Dr. Focht and his wife, Barbara, look forward to becoming active members of our community. Barbara is a practicing primary care pediatrician who started her own practice in 2011.
|
|
AJH Aid Association Continues Exceptional Support of Hospital |
|
On October 21, outdoors on the deck of Michael's Harborside, the Anna Jaques Hospital Aid Association held their Annual Meeting and presented a gift of $100,000 to President Mark Goldstein.
While expressing his gratitude on behalf of the Board and staff of AJH, Mark praised the creative efforts of the all-volunteer organization for the success of their fundraising activities under such challenging circumstances this year. The Aid Association gift will support behavioral health services, primary care in Seabrook in Seabrook, NH, the Stepping Forward Campaign, and the purchase of comfort teddy bears for use with young patients.
|
|
Arlene Phipps, MD, OB-GYN, Joins Women's Health Care |
|
|
|
Dr. Arlene Phipps joined Women’s Health Care and Anna Jaques Hospital this fall. Dr. Phipps is certified by American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and by American College of Surgeons in Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery.
Her clinical interests include high risk pregnancy, fibroids, and minimally invasive procedures.
Dr. Phipps was born in New York and raised in Dominican Republic. She graduated of the Universidad Iberoamericana School of Medicine. She completed her residency training at Bronx Care Health System at Mount Sinai.
|
|
Open Enrollment: November 1 - 19 |
|
This year’s Open Enrollment period will occur from November 1 to November 19 and is the perfect opportunity to explore the many new and existing benefits available to you. There is a new benefits website – BILH Benefits Central.
Helpful Tip: BILH Benefits Central is your one-stop shop to quickly learn more about your BILH benefits and navigate the many resources available to you. It also features links to your intranet pages, where you will be able to find information about your premium rates.
|
|
AJH Leadership: Additions & Transitions |
|
Welcome Steve Ciampa, Director of Finance
Steve Ciampa joined Anna Jaques this month as the Director of Finance. He brings over 30 years healthcare financial management experience, including 10 years as a community hospital Chief Financial Officer.
Senior Management Changes
As the senior team prepares to welcome a new colleague with Dr. Folk, CMO, there have been thoughtful discussions about the changing needs of our organization, particularly as we further integrate with BILH. AJH is fortunate to have very talented and capable leaders who are comfortable adapting as needs change. The following organizational changes took effect this month:
-
Sandra Levin, Vice President, Chief Quality Officer, assumed responsibility for Occupational Health. This allows us to foster the natural synergies that exist between patient quality, patient health, and a healthy workforce. Sandra is passionate about health and wellness, and will bring a renewed focus on staff wellness to the forefront. Many thanks to Richard Maki, SVP, CNO, for his steady leadership to Occupational Health over the past few years, particularly as we navigated through COVID-19.
-
Danielle Perry has been named Vice President, Strategic Initiatives and will oversee the Switchboard and Volunteer Services, in addition to Patient Access which she took on last year. This aligns these key touchpoints with patients and families under one leader. Danielle’s public relations background will help elevate the important role these departments play in the patients’ experience, and emphasize the sharing of best practices and excellent customer service. Thank you to Bob Buchanan, CIO, and Mary Williamson, VP of Philanthropy for their outstanding support and leadership of the Switchboard and Volunteer Services, respectively.
-
Richard Maki was named Senior Vice President, Chief Nursing Officer for AJH. This title better reflects the breadth and depth of Richard’s responsibilities and is consistent with the other BILH hospitals.
|
|
Please Note! Temporary Lab Closures |
|
Due to staffing shortages, the Lab at Newburyport Medical Center is closed temporarily and the Lab at Haverhill Medical Offices of AJH will be closed intermittently.
|
|
Melissa Carey, Health Information Management, joined AJH 45 years ago as a Housekeeping Aide, then worked in Radiology as a secretary and finally landed in the HIM Department where she worked as a Transcriptionist. Melissa worked the evening shift, providing excellent transcription coverage. We will miss her smiling face coming into the HIM Department every afternoon. We wish her the best in her retirement.
Photo: (L t R): Back Row: David Ross, Karen Binette, Bonnie Stone, Dottie Pinkham. Front Row: Deb Vedrani, Nancy Coulliard, Sandy Manzo, Melissa Carey, George Wilson, Kevin Kilday.
|
|
|
Cindy Kuczwara, RN, Institution for Savings Unit, started 35 years ago as a Registered Nurse on the former 2 West Unit (now Newburyport Five Cents Savings Inpatient Unit). After many years on 2 West, she transferred to 3 West (now Institution for Savings Unit) where she has been working ever since. Cindy worked the overnight shift where she provided excellent patient care. Cindy has brought a positive influence on the unit both professionally and in attitude. We wish her a happy retirement.
Photo: (L t R): Jennifer Gauvin, RN, BSN, Cindy Kuczwara, RN, Mark Goldstein, President & Stephanie Wallace, RN.
|
|
|
"Spice Girls" of the Wound Healing & Hyperbaric Center: (L t R) Shannon McQueen, Denise Ryan, Amy Westgate, Amy Dumas, Denise Foley & Suzanne Mazza have fun for Halloween.
|
|
Halloween fun in HR: (L t R): Michelle Ford, Bethany Stevens, and Matt Bennett
|
|
Cancer Center goes "pink" for Breast Cancer Awareness Month on October 22. Employees and departments across the hospital incorporated pink to raise awareness and honor survivors.
|
|
In honor of National Midwifery Week, the nurse-midwives of Women's Health Care (WHC) organized a collection drive for Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center. Personal care items and gift cards were donated by staff and providers of WHC and the AJH Birth Center.
Pictured: Certified Nurse Midwives Lauren Mace (left) and Deanna Pilkenton (right).
|
|
Kelley Sullivan, Community Relations Manager (left), visited the Haverhill Farmers' Market to distribute the Community Health Survey. Pictured with Jeff Grassie, Market Coordinator.
AJH is proud to support community offerings like the Haverhill Farmers' Market that increases access to fresh, healthy foods.
|
|
Breast Cancer Awareness Month |
|
|
|
Margy Burrell of Hampton, NH, Advocates: Don't Put Off Routine Health Screenings
As published in the Newburyport Daily News' Breast Cancer Awareness Month Special, October 8, 2021:
In September 2013, Margy Burrell was scheduled for oral surgery, requiring routine prescreening including a physical exam with her primary care doctor. In part due to Burrell’s own mother dying from breast cancer at a young age, she didn’t typically like going to doctor’s appointments because she was fearful of what might be found during the appointments.. Click to continue reading.
|
|
After a hiatus last year due to the pandemic, AJH's Pink Up the Port photo contest returned with dozens of creative and impactful photos submitted that captured efforts in our community to encourage prevention this Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Opportunity Works was voted the winner (photo featured at top of newsletter), and was featured on the cover of the Newburyport Daily News on October 29 - though all of the photos helped raise awareness and encourage prevention.
|
|
Amesbury Chamber of Commerce submitted 30+ photos of women in our community sharing why they get their annual mammogram. |
|
Fairway Mortgage of Newburyport shares: "nobody fights alone." |
|
Haverhill Chamber of Commerce share: "Women supporting breast cancer research are the bomb!" |
|
Anna Jaques Hospital
www.ajh.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
