“Large enough to be of service . . . small enough to care”

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The Official Newsletter of the Hillsdale Community Health CenterHillsdale, MI 49242 • (517) 437-4451

GIVING THANKSBy Jeremiah J. Hodshire,

Director of Organizational Development

During this time of Thanksgiving celebration, we must pause to say “thank you” to each of our employees and partners in health for their significant contributions in making our hospital a top rated health care facility! Employee commitment to quality health care services is what keeps our customers coming back for all their health care needs for well over 100 years! With the contribution of each of you, we have been successful in achieving significant accomplishments, including state and national rankings in quality, as well as named “Best Skilled Nursing Facility” from the US News & World Report. Our Voice of the Patient stories continue to sing the praises of hard working staff who dedicate themselves to helping others. In this edition, we introduce you to yet another satisfied patient who utilized our surgical and physical therapy services, quickly returning to his normal routines prior to the accident. We are also thankful of the many events which our staff members have sponsored this past year to make a noticeable difference in Hillsdale County. We are thankful for the hard work of the numerous staff who served on committees, volunteering a total of 2,300 hours to such events as local food banks, Run for Health, Junior Achievement, American Cancer Society, Molly Glitter Run, and other related community events.

At this time of year, we once again call upon the generosity of our staff and readers as many Hillsdale County food banks are low and in need of your help! I encourage you to consider making a food contribution to those in need by donating a non-perishable food item to HCHC’s food drive. Several of our managers have launched this initiative to support our community. We are accepting food donations from October 12-November 15th at Three Meadows Patient Accounts Office or Denise Lovinger’s Office. We thank you for all your hard work and accomplishments and on behalf of HCHC and we extend wishes for a happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

PRESIDENT’S REPORTBy Duke E. Anderson,

President & Chief Executive Officer

Recently, I witnessed hospital excellence at its best. The experience for me was personally intense and professionally gratifying. What I witnessed easily refutes the myth that small, rural hospitals cannot and do not deliver high quality healthcare that can only (supposedly) be provided in large medical institutions. What I witnessed was “medical poetry in motion,” pure and simple, and it was provided right here in our own Emergency Department (ED) at HCHC.

The experience started when I was in the Annex hallway and I heard a helicopter in the distance making its way toward our hospital for a landing. That, in itself, is not highly unusual. But, as I looked out of the front door of the Annex, I saw that the fire department had arrived as well and they were rapidly clearing a section of the parking lot. That could mean only one thing – a second helicopter was on the way. Not good. I hurried on my way to the ED to see what was going on.

The ED was as busy as I had ever seen it. Both trauma rooms were active with critically ill patients. At the same time, two other critically patients were brought in by ambulance, with another one on the way. The ED was congested with patients, our staff, and numerous family members of the critical ill patients. Was there utter chaos? It could have been, but it wasn’t. What I witnessed over the next hour or so was an extraordinary movement and flow of doctors, nurses, clerks, lab techs, radiology techs, housekeeping folks, and others coolly and collectively taking care of our patients and their families efficiently and effectively. It doesn’t get any better that that. Wow!

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for the great work that you all did and do every day at HCHC.

November2015

Hillsdale Community Health Center

“Large enough to be of service . . . small enough to care”

COmmuNITy BENEfITBy Valerie Fetters, Chief Financial Officer

Providing benefits to communities is at the heart of every hospital’s mission. These programs and services are designed to improve the health of our community members, and increase the access to health care. Community benefits are integral to the mission of Hillsdale Community Health Center and they are the basis of our tax exempt status. HCHC provides numerous community activities in support of the residents of Hillsdale County, such as several support groups and classes, including the breast cancer support group, breast feeding classes, birthing classes, nutrition education and diabetes education classes, as well as periodic health screenings, such as varicose vein, foot pain, cholesterol, and COPD screenings. HCHC also provides support to St. Peter’s Free Clinic in the form of laboratory tests and radiology exams at a cost exceeding $60,000. We also provide free flu shots to certain members of the community. HCHC participates in the local allied health student program, the intern and resident program, along with providing numerous high school loans for full tuition for allied health degrees in the amount of $558,000. Our financial assistance program also provides free or discounted health care to assist low income, uninsured, or underinsured individuals with their healthcare expenses. Last year, Hillsdale Community Health Center provided over $542,000 in gross patient charges to those in financial need. This is just a few of the ways our hospital supports the community and there are many more programs and services many of our employees participate with in an attempt to assist the residents of Hillsdale County.

HfAP ACCREDITATION – EmBRACE ITBy John Robertson, Director of Quality

Every three years, HCHC must demonstrate compliance with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) standards of operation and care, to remain a hospital in good standing so we are able to provide and be paid for services we provide. This is a lengthy, and sometimes, tedious process. HOWEVER, it is also absolutely necessary. Hillsdale Community Health Center provides a wide range of, often complex, health services to the Hillsdale community and many surrounding communities. It is incumbent on us to demonstrate that we are providing this care in facilities that meet all current construction standards and by staff who meet the highest standards of education and clinical competency.

In our last two on-site inspections, we have demonstrated this extremely well. In 2010, we met 97% of all standards and in 2013, we surpassed that, meeting 97.5% of the standards. These survey results assure that policies and procedures have been reviewed and are up to date with the latest Standards of Care, process improvements are continual and comprehensive, staff are aware of, and follow, the guidelines and protocols established, and that we are guided by administrators and a Board that are fully aware of all of these requirements and accept the responsibility that comes with them.

Pretty heady stuff to be sure, but at the end of the day, if it was your loved one who was walking into our ED, being admitted to our hospital, or getting OP services from the many service providers who walk our halls, wouldn’t you want to be sure they are fully prepared to do this work in the most efficient, accurate and effective way? I know we provide fantastic care and you know it too, but for CMS (the one who pays the bills), HFAP is that assurance. I say, bring them on.

NOVEmBER IS NATIONAl DIABETES mONTHDiabetes Education and Support: Everyone Has a Role. What’s yours?

By Emily Lambright, R.N. If you have diabetes or care for someone living with this disease, you know that diabetes education and support are important to help people with diabetes stay healthy.

More than 29 million Americans have diabetes and it is estimated that one in every four people with diabetes does not even know they have the disease. If left undiagnosed or untreated, diabetes can lead to serious health problems, including heart attack and stroke.

The National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) and the HCHC Diabetes Education Program want you to know that diabetes education is needed throughout a person’s lifetime, not just at diagnosis. Having a network of support can also help a person better cope with the day-to-day demands of living with diabetes.

Whether you are a person living with diabetes, a family member, caregiver, health care professional, or a part of the community, such as an employer, member of the school staff, or clergy, you have an important role to play when it comes to diabetes education and support.

HCHC Diabetes Education Program offers two locations to meet your needs. The Outpatient Program is located on main campus at 168 S. Howell St and the Diabetes Clinic is conveniently located at 30 S. Howell St. in Hillsdale. Our goal is to ensure you have the skills, knowledge, and support you need to successfully manage your diabetes. Topics covered include: Medications, blood glucose monitoring, nutrition, exercise, reducing risks of complications, coping with diabetes, and problem solving. We serve all residents regardless of insurance coverage.

In honor of National Diabetes Month, the HCHC Diabetes Clinic is hosting several educational events to help people increase their self-management skills to better control diabetes. These events include presentations entitled Managing Diabetes: The Next Step, Diabetes & Holiday Eating, as well as Grocery Store Tours held at Kroger. Registration is required. Please contact Emily Lambright, RN BS CHES CDE at 517-437-7533 for information and event details.

For more information on diabetes resources visit the NDEP website at www.ndep.nih.gov or the American Diabetes Association at www.diabetes.org.

Hillsdale Community Health Center

“Large enough to be of service . . . small enough to care”

2015 RuN fOR HEAlTHBy Denise Lovinger, RD, CDE, Director of Nutrition Services

It was a perfect fall day for HCHC’s 4th Run for Health. 110 participants walked or ran the 5K/10k course. We, again, awarded cash prizes for runners who broke the course records. They did not disappoint - we had 3 record breakers: Two women who broke the 5K-one at 19:20 and the other at 19:44. A female also broke our 10k record coming in at 39:40. The purpose of this event is to promote wellness to our hospital family and the community through physical activity. Many thanks go to the employees who volunteered their time and to the employees who participated.

T-shirts are available for purchase, $10. Please contact Denise (5270) or Emily (5205) if you would like to purchase a t-shirt.

New for 2016!!• This run/walk will feature a new course, a 5K run/walk course only. (no 10K)• All proceeds from the Run for Health will benefit our local food pantries.• Costumes are encouraged! (Fall, Halloween)• Date TBA-please check our Facebook page for next year’s date and for more information about next year’s Run for Health.

flu SHOT AND fIRE DAy

BACK IN THE Gym – SETTING NEW RECORDSBy Jeremiah J. Hodshire, Director of Organizational & Business Management

Dan Boyd is no stranger to hard work, intense schedules and physical conditioning. In fact, it has been his motto all of his life and demonstrated in his career and his personal life. Born and raised in Hillsdale County, Dan graduated from Waldron Schools, attended law school at the University of Michigan, and has been a practicing attorney for 36 years.

For a man who works out every day and prides himself on remaining physically fit, a fall on the ice was a significant setback for him. In late January 2015, Dan was walking to his car when he hit a patch of ice and fell to the ground. The fall was so hard that it caused a complete tear in his shoulder. He immediately drove himself to the hospital and the news he did not want to hear was told to him –possible surgery. Upon his visit to the ED, Mr. Boyd stated, “The services and your staff were great”.

Within a very short timeframe, Dr. Collins scheduled surgery for Dan and he was taken in for the repair. Given his healthy lifestyle, this was Dan’s first introduction to healthcare and he stated, “Dr. Collins was great and the surgery staff was wonderful.” After a successful surgery to repair the tear, Dan spent the next three months utilizing HCHC therapy services for recovery. The physical therapy services provided the much needed strength conditioning to put him back on the weight bench

lifting. His PT treatments put him back in the gym and this would not have been possible without the surgery and physical therapy services provided by the hospital. Dan stated, “I was really pleased with the care I received” when expressing his appreciation for the hospital staff and physical therapy services. He further stated, “I don’t know what I would do if I could not workout. I love working out; it gets me ready for the afternoon and helps me focus.”

Hillsdale Hospital, Dr. Barry Collins, and Agility Health PT Services helped Dan get back on the bench and the results of his recovery speaks volumes. Dan hit his 200 pound weight lift on the bench press, which was something he never thought he would see had it not been for the surgery to repair his tear. “I am about 100%, which is good for a guy like me” explained Boyd with a laugh in voice. Regardless, if it is at work, home, or in the gym, Dan has bounced back, thanks to the dedication of outstanding healthcare professionals at Hillsdale Hospital providing the best care in orthopedics, emergency medicine, and physical therapy.

CONGRATULATIONSto Becky Hodos and Pam Penix

for attaining the distinctionof Certified OR Nurse (CNOR)

Hillsdale Community Health Center

“Large enough to be of service . . . small enough to care”

Hillsdale Community Health Center

“Large enough to be of service . . . small enough to care”

November 1 . . . Emily McArthurNovember 2 . . . Amy StollNovember 3 . . . Lois BradyNovember 3 . . . Jaime CalerNovember 3 . . . Jessica WrightNovember 5 . . . Tammy AckerNovember 5 . . . Robert GuiseNovember 5 . . . Norris MarchNovember 5 . . . Scott PetersonNovember 6 . . . Lindsay BuelowNovember 10 . . Tammy Gibson

November 11 . . Valerie FettersNovember 11 . . Thomas GaskellNovember 12 . . Jessica DickinsonNovember 13 . . Sarah O’HeranNovember 14 . . Rebecca BrownleeNovember 15 . . Lindsey BirkNovember 15 . . Tracey BumpusNovember 15 . . Patricia CoxNovember 15 . . Nichole MurphyNovember 15 . . Michelle Vanderpool

November 16 . . Alicia ShewmanNovember 18 . . William StubbinsNovember 20 . . Heidi HolmesNovember 21 . . Marcia FishNovember 21 . . Margaret FryNovember 22 . . Ashley RodenNovember 24 . . Amanda WoodardNovember 25 . . Mary BiegnerNovember 27 . . Ella MannNovember 27 . . Lindsey RumlerNovember 29 . . Michelle Wheeler

S E P T E M B E RG O L D S TA R S

Chris ScoutenCardiopulmonary

NOV E M B E R B I RT H DAYS

WELCOME

Joanne KellerHousekeeping

Brittany mclain, NASkilled Nursing Facility

Jessica Hunnaman, RNEmergency

Heaven SiglerEWS

Al StrubleMaintenance

Brittany mounsey, RNEmergency

Grover CampbellLaboratory

S E P T E M B E R

N E W H I R E S

THINK PINKBreast Cancer Awareness Day

October 23, 2105