The

Insider News from Washington Regional Medical System

March 2020

Message from the President & CEO Dear Team Members, As you know, we have all been working diligently over the last few weeks to prepare for the arrival of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Northwest Arkansas. This preparation has brought with it many new processes, and I want to express my appreciation and admiration for each and every one of you for your hard work and assistance in implementing these changes. We are on the front lines of

this unprecedented public health emergency. As the environment is ever-changing, keeping you informed is one of our top priorities. For now, I’d like to take a few moments to reiterate some important changes we’ve made in the last couple weeks. Screenings Washington Regional Medical Center has limited the number of visitors per patient and is screening all visitors, patients and staff upon entry to the hospital. The screening includes a daily temperature check and a short series of questions. Those who successfully complete the screening process are given a colored armband that must be worn at all times while on the hospital campus. To facilitate the screenings as efficiently as possible, we have also reduced the number of entry points to the hospital: Entry Points Open to Everyone - Patients, Visitors, Staff, Physicians and Vendors

• Main Entrance: 5 a.m. – 7 p.m., seven days a week

• Women and Infants Center (parking garage entrance): 24 hours a day, seven days a week

• Emergency Department: 24 hours a day, seven days a week

• Walker Heart Institute hospital entrance: 5 a.m. – 9 a.m. & 1 p.m. – 8 p.m., seven days a week

Entry Points Open Only to Staff, Physicians and Vendors

• CSS Loading Dock: 5 a.m. – 8 a.m., Monday – Friday

• Medical Center Loading Dock: 5 a.m. – 9 a.m., Monday – Friday

Washington Regional Medical System Clinics are now also screening patients, visitors and staff who enter all clinic locations. Upon entrance to the clinics, all individuals will answer a short series of questions and receive a temperature check. New Employee Benefits To support our team members during this unprecedented time, Washington Regional has implemented:

• A Coronavirus Major Disaster PDO Donation Program Policy to allow employees to donate their PDO to help other workforce members who may need this assistance.

• A temporary emergency leave policy to ensure team members have at least two weeks of paid sick days in the event they become ill with the coronavirus or are required to be quarantined as a result of exposure to the coronavirus.

• A major disaster support fund as an enhancement to the Make a Difference/Benevolence Fund that will provide financial grants to qualifying team members who have experienced extraordinary financial and other hardships as a result of COVID-19.

Caring for Our Community To efficiently diagnose and treat coronavirus, Washington Regional has implemented the following:

• Washington Regional Coronavirus Screening Hotline.

• Washington Regional Coronavirus Screening Clinic, located in the former McDonald Eye Associates building at 3318 N. North Hills Blvd.

• Washington Regional Drive-Thru Screening Clinic at the Eureka Springs Family Clinic.

• Dedicated Intensive Care Unit for patients with infectious respiratory conditions.

Social Distancing During the last week, Washington Regional has made the following changes to reduce community exposure to coronavirus:

• The Washington Regional Cafeteria (Tyson Commons) is available only to employees during this time. Along with the physicians’ lounge, seating has been rearranged to accommodate social distancing. Five Loaves and The Apothecary continue operations as usual, remaining available to visitors and staff.

• Non-urgent surgeries, procedures and diagnostic testing are being paused.

• North Hills Surgery Center has paused operations for two weeks.

• Washington Regional Center for Exercise has temporarily ceased operations.

• Washington Regional Volunteer Services Program has been temporarily suspended until further notice.

• Team members who can are working from home or off-site. To stay informed, please check your Washington Regional email regularly and visit the Coronavirus link on the intranet. If you have questions, please contact your manager or director. I have never been more proud to be part of this locally owned and locally governed not-for-profit system. I want to sincerely thank you all for exemplifying Washington Regional’s mission and for your support of these changes to help ensure the safety of our patients, visitors and staff. Thank you,

J. Larry Shackelford President & CEO Washington Regional Medical System

Blood Bank Excels The American Association of Blood Banks — the leader in the development of standards for blood banks and transfusion services — recently surveyed the Washington Regional Blood Bank, with excellent results. Assessment included compliance with AABB standards, code of federal regulations and federal guidance documents. The Washington Regional Blood Bank continuously strives to meet these standards, and we are proud of the staff members’ efforts to achieve such outstanding results in an initial survey. AABB’s accreditation program is designed to improve the safety of collecting, processing, testing, distributing and administering blood, blood products and cellular therapy products through assessment of the quality and operations system in place within a facility. The Washington Regional Blood Bank is the only one in Northwest Arkansas accredited by AABB.

Washington Regional's food and nutrition experts celebrated with Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan, who signed

proclamations recognizing March as National Nutrition Month and March 11 as Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day in the

City of Fayetteville.

Shannon O’Neil, RN, of Cardiology is the latest recipient of the DAISY Award for extraordinary nurses. A patient’s loved one wrote: He came in for an angiogram for a work release after a work accident and ended up with a triple bypass! After recovery we came to 3200 and had Shannon almost every night. She went MORE than above and beyond her job. She

was so informative about meds, procedure, absolutely everything we needed. She kept folks out of our room when he needed rest and was right there when we needed her. She was so compassionate and kind and well educated and just treated us like family.

Washington Regional Hosts Governor, Other Leaders

Washington Regional President and CEO Larry Shackelford hosted a roundtable discussion March 16 with Governor Asa Hutchinson and 30 regional health care and education leaders to discuss the state and regional response to COVID-19. In addition to the governor, the panel included Arkansas Secretary of Health Dr. Nate Smith, Surgeon General Dr. Greg Bledsoe, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Chancellor Dr. Cam Patterson and Secretary of Education Johnny Key. The presidents of Mercy NWA, Northwest Health and Arkansas Children’s Northwest were on hand for the discussion, as were regional education officials including the chancellor of the University of Arkansas, president of NorthWest Arkansas Community College and administrators from Northwest Arkansas public school districts. Stakeholders discussed ways health care and education officials can collaborate to help ease the burden on health care workers and others in our community concerning childcare and access to food during these unprecedented circumstances.

March is Nutrition Month!

Idea Team Update To help improve IV pump management, the EKG Equipment Team assumed responsibility as of February 2020 for ensuring that each nursing unit has a predetermined “par” level of IV pumps. Collaboration among EKG, Environmental Services and nursing teams made this possible, saving Washington Regional an estimated $124,231 each year in equipment search time.

Washington Regional’s Shine the Light on Safety initiative provides a way for employees to report any situation they feel could impact patient, employee or environmental health and safety. In the Healthcare SafetyZone Portal (Clarity), a form titled Shine the Light on Safety allows employees to communicate any situation they think is a safety concern. The initiative also offers a safety focus each month, as in this tip from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration:

Shine the Light: Preventing Injuries

Hospital safety refers to freedom from accidental or preventable injuries produced by medical care. Per OSHA, hospitals have serious hazards — lifting and moving patients, needle sticks, slips, trips, falls and the potential for agitated or combative patients or visitors — along with a dynamic,

unpredictable environment and a unique culture. Workplace safety also affects patient care. Manual lifting can injure caregivers and can put patients at risk of falls, fractures, bruises and skin tears. Caregiver fatigue, injury and stress are tied to a higher risk of medication errors and patient infections. WRMC is diligently working to reduce injuries and address employee safety concerns. OSHA states: One of the most effective ways to reduce workplace hazards and injuries is through a comprehensive, proactive safety and health management system that can find and fix workplace hazards before employees are injured or become ill. Through a collaborative team effort, employees can assist through the Shine the Light on Safety program and report concerns to leadership. CAUTI Learning Focus for March: Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are the most frequent type of healthcare-acquired infection, accounting for up to 80% of hospital-acquired infections. CAUTIs can lengthen hospital stays, increase morbidity and mortality, and raise health care costs. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services no longer reimburses hospitals for additional costs generated by CAUTIs. CLABSI Learning Focus for March: Although a 46% decrease in central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) occurred in hospitals across the U.S. from 2008-2013, an estimated 30,100 still occur in intensive care units and wards of U.S. acute care facilities each year. CLABSIs are serious infections typically causing a prolonged hospital stay and increased cost and risk of mortality. CLABSI can be prevented through proper insertion techniques and management of the central line.

Helping Our Community

Team members and community members have asked how they can help during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s how to help:

Employees can make a one-time gift to the Employee Disaster Support Fund. This will assist fellow team members experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19. To make a gift, go to: www.wregional.com/employeesupportfund.

Community members can also support Washington Regional during this uncertain time by visiting: www.wregional.com/responsefund.

March 5 was National Hospitalist Day. We celebrate our hospitalists’ contributions to

patient care and to the fastest-growing specialty in modern medicine.

During Social Work Month we honor those who help patients and their families navigate

some of life’s most challenging times.

Linen Awareness Washington Regional recently recognized Linen Awareness Day by celebrating our staff and providing education on use and handling of linens. This annual observation is designed to help all Washington Regional team members realize the role that we each have in maintaining the quality and longevity of our hospital linen. Shown here are just a few of those who work every day to reduce linen expenses while also incorporating sustainability principles and maintaining patient-focused care and safety.

John C. Frank, M.D., recently joined Washington Regional as an emergency medicine physician. Dr. Frank earned his medical degree at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and completed an emergency medicine residency at Louisiana State University. He previously served as an emergency

medicine physician at Our Lady of the Sea Hospital in Cutoff, Louisiana.

Meagan Backs, PA-C, recently joined Washington Regional Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Clinic, where she works alongside Drs. Charles Cole, James Counce, Robert Jaggers and Russell Wood, as well as Kristin Martinez, PA-C, Rhagen Panyik, PA-C and Kathleen Smith, APN, DNP. She earned a Master of Physician

Assistant Studies from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and a bachelor’s in kinesiology from the University of Arkansas. She is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the Arkansas Academy of Physician Assistants.

F. Levi Hudson, PA-C, recently joined Har-Ber Family Clinic in Springdale, where he works with Dr. Steven F. Spencer. Levi previously worked as a Physician Assistant at Washington Regional’s Shiloh Clinic. Levi earned a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Harding University and a Bachelor of

Science from the University of Arkansas. He was voted 2018 Physician Assistant of the Year for the Washington Regional Clinic System.

Krista Scott, a Registered Nurse in ICU/CCU, recently achieved designation as a Critical-Care Registered Nurse. She has been at Washington Regional for three years and graduated from the University of Arkansas with bachelor’s degrees in exercise science and in nursing.

She also earned certifications in Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support, Trauma Nurse Core Course and midline catheterization.

Nicole Cenobio, MSN, RN, Medical-Surgical Clinical Coordinator, recently earned a Master of Science at Grand Canyon University in nursing leadership in health care systems. She earned a bachelor’s in nursing from Chamberlain University and an associate in nursing from NorthWest Arkansas Community College. Nicole,

who has been at Washington Regional a total of 21 years, also earned certifications in chemotherapy and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support.

Nell Sisco, RN, SCRN, Clinical Coordinator for Neuro ICU/Neuro Progressive, recently achieved designation as a Stroke Certified Registered Nurse. Nell, who has been at Washington Regional for more than five years, earned an associate degree in nursing from NorthWest Arkansas

Community College.

New Providers Team Member

Achievements

Retiring After More Than 42 Years as Nurse, Educator Washington Regional said goodbye to one of our longest-serving team members, Kandy Johnson, RN, BSE, CDE, who retired March 14 after 42 and a half years of service. She began in 1977 as a staff/charge nurse and continued as nurse educator. During this time she also had the opportunity to serve as Baptist School of Nursing-Northwest and University of Arkansas nursing adjunct faculty. After 17 years of clinical practice, her next 17 years were spent in the development and promotion of Washington Regional’s K-5 comprehensive health education program, Kids for Health™. The program began in Washington County schools and was later adopted by the Arkansas

Department of Education as a recommended curriculum for elementary schools across the state. Kandy’s last nine years at Washington Regional were as Certified Diabetes Educator at Endocrinology Clinic. We are proud of Kandy’s accomplishments and are grateful for her service in improving the health of our community.