March 12, 2021

Marking One-Year of Covid-19

A year to someday hang our masks (and hats) on ...It’s hard to put into words what we are feeling this week, 365 days after we began our official fight against COVID-19. When we ended the day (or for some of us working nights, began our day) on March 11, 2020, we started a marathon like no other. Along with other health systems around the nation and globe, we spent an unmeasurable amount of hours strategizing, planning, and making every preparation we possibly could to keep our community safe from the unknown.

COVID-19 took its grip on our community a little later than other parts of our nation, but when it did, we started living a life we had only seen, read, and heard about. And we have lived it day and night for the past 365 days to fight for you, our community, our loved ones, and the hope of returning to “normal” once again.

With every milestone reached along the way in this battle, including administering infusions, expanding our space for care, and providing vaccines, the light at the end of the tunnel grew a little more. Today, we are closer to “normal” times again.

We will never forget the loss, heartache, and sacrifices experienced during the last year. Yes, we are tired. But most of all, we are honored.We are honored to care for you, unprecedented days or not. You are our passion. You are our focus. You are the reason we work hard to provide compassionate care.

Someday, we’ll think about this year as being one to hang our masks (and hats) on. Until then, know that we will keep fighting for you so that we can see that day together. #FocusedOnYourHealth

This is a birthday to remember for Sarah Parker, RN in our Cardiac Step-down Unit (CSU). Yesterday marked one year since COVID-19 was officially declared a global pandemic. Last year, Sarah’s birthday was a day filled with fear and worry about the unknown. Being a critical care nurse, these emotions have not completely gone away for Sarah, but hope outweighs her fears and worries this year. “Hopeful is what I feel today,” Sarah said. “Instead of thinking about how many patients may not survive this week, I now think about how many we’re going to cure, treat, and vaccinate. There’s a lot more hope than fear in our future.” We are thankful Sarah’s birthday is a brighter one compared to this day last

year. This pandemic is not over, but hope is the fuel that keeps us running towards a finish line. Please join us in wishing Sarah a happy and hopeful birthday!

A Birthday To Remember

Wishing a very happy “Happy Retirement” to Katie Pace, LPN! Mrs. Katie has been at Ozarks Healthcare for an impressive 41 years. She’s seen two major name transitions, a lot of growth, and many patients while

Attention local teachers: COVID-19 vaccines will be available to you soon! Beginning March 15, Missourians in Phase 1B - Tier 3 will be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. This includes those who keep the essential functions of society running, including K-12 educators and school employees.

Starting March 15, Ozarks Healthcare will be traveling to area schools to provide teacher vaccination clinics. Teachers who wish to be vaccinated must register through the Missouri Navigator at covidvaccine.mo.gov/navigator/ using their school’s corresponding event code. Our first two teacher vaccination clinics will be held at the following schools:

March 15 - First doses of the Moderna vaccine administered at West Plains Elementary School (8 a.m. to noon)

March 15 - First doses of the Moderna vaccine administered at Richards R-V School (1 to 5 p.m.)

More teacher vaccination clinics and public vaccination clinics will be announced as they are scheduled. For more information, the Navigator Hotline can be reached by calling 877-435-8411.

caring for our community over the last 41 years! Our General Surgery/GI Lab said farewell with a sweet retirement luncheon. Enjoy some relaxation in your retirement, Katie! We are thankful for your dedication and all the compassionate care you provided for the past 41 years.

Happy Retirementto Katie Pace, LPN!

Teacher Vaccines

Look at this haul of newborn goodies we received to share with some of our babies born at our Women’s Center! Members of the West Plains chapter of the United Federated Republican Women (UFRW) collected baby care items such as soap, bibs, blankets, diapers, and more for our OB Department to send with new families as they leave our facility to go home. A UFRW member even created diaper bags by hand and filled them with thoughtful notes of encouragement! We continue to be so appreciative of our community’s generosity!

This week, we celebrated #InternationalWomensDay. We celebrate all the women who have served their community by working at Ozarks Healthcare every day! We took the opportunity to visit with the three women who have been a part of Ozarks Healthcare the longest out of our female coworker population for a combined total of 130 years. We asked them why they are proud to be a woman working in healthcare. We’d like to share their responses with you below:

“I’m proud to be a part of a team at Ozarks Healthcare who ensures our community has the care they want and deserve.” - Ruth Warren, Senior Executive Assistant, Ozarks Healthcare Administration, part of Ozarks Healthcare since 1974“I started in healthcare as a candy striper (volunteer) and loved the contact I had with patients. From that time on, I knew I wanted to work in healthcare.” - Susan Thompson, LPN, Ozarks Healthcare Heart and Lung Center, part of Ozarks Healthcare since 1978

“I feel like I was given this opportunity to do what I love – helping people. I love helping patients get on the road to being well again.” - Sharon Hall, Ozarks Healthcare Cardiac Rehab Services, part of Ozarks Healthcare since 1980 Ruth, Susan, and Sharon represent a team of women who provide a wealth of skills, knowledge, and compassionate care through our health system. We are thankful for all they add to Ozarks Healthcare!

West Plains chapter of the United Federated Republican Women

(UFRW) donates Newborn Items to

Ozarks Healthcare Women’s Center

Celebrating the Women of Ozarks Healthcare

Ozarks Healthcare Behavioral Health Center (BHC) celebrates National

Flapjack Day

Ozarks Healthcare to offer Low-Cost Lab Screenings

Welcome to the Ozarks Healthcare Team!

Ozarks Healthcare Laboratory Services will conduct low-cost lab health screenings. Screenings available for a minimal cost are CBC, CMP, A1C, Lipid, TSH, PSA, and VIT-D. No appointment is necessary. Walk in at these Ozarks Healthcare locations: Lab Services, Alton, Gainesville, Mountain Grove, Mountain View, Thayer, Winona and West Plains (Walk-In Clinic).

Ozarks Healthcare Laboratory Services will conduct low-cost lab health screenings. Screenings available for a minimal cost are CBC, CMP, A1C, Lipid, TSH, PSA, and VIT-D. No appointment is necessary. Walk in at these Ozarks Healthcare locations: Lab Services, Alton, Gainesville, Mountain

Pancakes were cooked at BHC this week for the troops who stand in the gap and provide care for a vulnerable population. Pictured, left to right, Myriah Wallace, Jennifer Wheeler, Joy Anderson amd Stacee Peters, LPN. A special thanks to Rusty Wilson for cooking in Mountain Grove, and Rebecca Beville for bringing a healthy fruit dish!

We are excited to welcome our latest group of new coworkers to Ozarks Healthcare! Listed in no particular order: Katrina Kirk, In-Home Aide, Ozarks Healthcare at HomeJennifer Cook, Patient Safety Assistant Amanda Todd, Office Assistant, Ozarks Healthcare Women’s Health Heather Johnson, RNNatosha Bullock, Community Support Specialist, Ozarks Healthcare Behavioral Health CenterKatherine Carter, In-Home Aide, Ozarks Healthcare at Home

Adrian Lawing, In-Home Aide, Ozarks Healthcare at HomeKent Leichliter, Information Systems Manager Austin Blankenship, Phlebotomist

Welcome to Ozarks Healthcare!

Grove, Mountain View, Thayer, Winona and West Plains (Walk-In Clinic).

Get to know your numbers for blood sugar, cholesterol, thyroid, calcium, and more. Getting these numbers checked regularly and knowing what they mean is a great first step towards better health. Ozarks Healthcare Laboratory Services will conduct low-cost lab health screenings on the following dates from 8 to 11 a.m.:

March 23June 22September 21December 14

Screenings available for a minimal cost (cash or check only) are:CBC, CMP, A1C, Lipid (Complete Blood Count, Comprehensive Metabolic Panel, Diabetic Screening, and Cholesterol Screening) $35TSH (Thyroid Screening) $15PSA (Prostate Cancer Screening) $15VIT-D (Vitamin D Screening) $30

Visit any of these Ozarks Healthcare locations on the dates above for low-cost labs: Lab Services, Alton, Gainesville, Mountain Grove, Mountain View, Thayer, Winona, and West Plains (Walk-In Clinic).

For more information, call 417-257-6736.

Safety CheckTest your knowledge of Performance Improvement!Use these clues to fill in the blanks below.

1. What is OZH’s Performance Improvement (PI) model?2. Are results of PI/PSC activities and/or Risk Management issues utilized to develop educational offerings?3. What is a reactive process to look at something that could have caused harm to a patient?4. What is one National Patient Safety Goal?5. When do coworkers receive education on Performance Improvement (PI)?6. What is one type of PI data that is monitored due to high risk?7. Failure Mode Effects Analysis or ____________ ?8. What is used to monitor performance improvement processes?9. What is the first step in the PI model (PDSA)? This is the P in PDSA.10. What is the multi-disciplinary team that provides oversight of our organization’s PI?11. Who is responsible for patient safety?12. Patient ________________ feedback is received from Press Ganey and HCAHPS.13. The organization collects data to _______________ its performance. 14. We assess _____________ with every patient encounter and/or visit.15. Who is the Patient Safety Officer?16. PI model (PDSA) - What does the D in PDSA stand for?17. OZH encourages what type of environment to maximize patient safety and reduce risks to patients? 18. Complete a ____________ report for a patient safety concern.19. What is completed on admission to ensure safe medication administration?20. Are patient experience surveys a form of PI?21. The PI/PSC meets ______________ .22. PI Model (PDSA) Do this to implement the change or abandon the plan. This is the A in PDSA.

PDSAACTYES (appears twice in the puzzle)MONTHLYRCAMEDICATION RECONCILIATIONFALLSEVENTORIENTATIONNON-PUNITIVE REPORTINGRESTRAINTSDO

FMEACATHIE EIKERMANNDATA COLLECTIONPAINPLANMONITORPI/PSCEXPERIENCEEVERYONE

Quality Corner Survey Readiness Puzzle

HUDDLE UP

Word Clues: Word Choices:1. PDSA2. YES3. RCA4. FALLS5. ORIENTATION6. RESTRAINTS7. EMEA8. DATA COLLECTION9. PLAN10. PI/PSC11. EVERYONE12. EXPERIENCE13. MONITER

14. PAIN15. CATHIE EIKERMANN16. DO17. NON-PUNITIVE REPORTING18. EVENT19. MEDICATION RECONCILIATION20. YES21. MONTHLY22. ACT

Puzzle Answersfrom last week listed below

Great God and Creator, we thank You for all you have blessed us with, especially for Your presence with us day in and day out. We pray for those who are sick and we ask for grace, mercy and wholeness. For those with troubled minds, we ask for strength and courage. For those whose hearts that are troubled we ask for peace and comfort. May Your abiding love be with each of us this day. In Your Holy name we pray, Amen.

- Weekly prayer brought to you by the Ozarks Healthcare Chaplains

Weekly Prayer

Be sure to check your NetLearning to make sure you are up-to-date.

The café will now be open from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. with hot meals available until 9:00 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with hot food available until 1 p.m. Visitors will also be allowed to carry out meals. No cash is accepted. Only credit card and payroll deduct is accepted.Beginning January 6, Happy Hour will be held every Wednesday from 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. We will have a specialty snack and drinks available.

Turkey W/ Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Cornbread Muffins, Chicken Tenders, Potato Soup, Apple Crisp

Cook’s Choice;Breakfast options: Eggs, bacon, biscuits & gravy, sausage (Offered Daily).

Chicken Parmesean, Penne Pasta w/ Marinara, Broccoli, Cheese Burger, Fries, Vegetable Soup, Chocolate Lava Cake

Sweet & Sour Chicken, Rice, Eggroll, Fried Fish Sandwich, Fries, Broccoli Cheese Soup, Peach Pinwheel

Burrito Bar, Stuffed Pepper Soup, Cinnamon Apple Cobbler

Lemon Pepper Tilapia, Carrots, Sauteed Spinach, Pepperoni Pizza, Cheese Pizza, Chefs Choice Soup, Bread Pudding

Monday, March 15

Sunday, March 14

Saturday, March 20

Tuesday, March 16

Wednesday, March 17

Thursday, March 18

Friday, March 19

Education

Cafeteria Menu

HUDDLE UP

Cook’s Choice

Don’t forget: ALL coworkers, patients, and visitors, MUST wear a mask at ALL times, in ALL patient areas and common areas across ALL Ozarks Healthcare facilities (including non-patient areas).

We’re excited to announce that from March 15-19, we’re offering FREE beverages will be offered to healthcare workers at your local McDonald’s March 15-19!

To redeem the offer, simply show your ID or badge to get a FREE Large Soft Drink or Sweet Tea in the drive-thru! No other purchase is necessary, and hours may vary by location.

#MaskUpOzarks

Ozarks Healthcare

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