Please join us in celebrating the outstanding achievements of Johanna Velazquez, the recipient of the April 2017 DAISY Award. The DAISY Award For Extraordinary Nurses is a program adopted by Kaweah Delta to honor the super-human work nurses do for patients and families every day. Johanna was nominated by her patient for exemplifying the values of Kaweah Care.

KA MONTHLY PUBLICATION FOR KAWEAH DELTA EMPLOYEES MAY 2017

2017 April DAISY Award WinnerJohanna VelazquezOrthopedics/Surgery 4 South

2017 April DAISY Award Winner

Communi-K 1

What’s Inside Page 2

- Nurse Week Honorees- Employee of the Month

Daniel Florez

Page 3- Stroke Awareness Month

- Upcoming Events

Page 4- Partners in Care

Page 5- Service Award

- Meet the New Leaders

Page 6- Physician Recognition

- Guardian Angel

Submitted by: Antonia Lopez, Patient

I want to take this opportunity to commend Johanna for the exquisite care and high quality of attention given to my mother. Over the years, mom has been cared for/in the care of many nurses. Johanna is hands down the best in all ways!

Johanna was my mom’s nurse for three days. Mom was a struggle as dementia/sundowners condition made nursing challenging.

Attending the person, the human being: • Johanna observes, senses, connects with patients. She notices and looks for tiny and fleeting indications of changes in behavior. She does not “look and run”. • Gentle, confident, compassionate approach to nursing. From changing IV’s to repositioning body. • Soothing, encouraging tone of voice and facial and body gestures. Patient left to feel loved and understood. • Present. Never felt like Johanna was “in a rush”. I’m sure every patient, not just my mom, feels/felt like she was Johanna’s ONLY patient.• Communication with relatives. Johanna was patient with “redundant” questions. Able to explain the treatment and use language that was clear and understandable to common folk.

Please take a moment to acknowledge the impact that Johanna makes to your patients, their families and, of course, the Kaweah Hospital community.

DAISY Award Finalists:Dawn Arroyo, Labor and Delivery

Lynn Byrd, NICU

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Daniel FlorezEVS Aide (5 years)

Nominated by: Kayce Cornelius-Senseney

Behavioral Standards of Performance:

Daniel always displays respect towards our manager and all employees. He is very kind and respectful. In communicating, Daniel always lets us know if there are any problems within the environmental services office (i.e. our paper towel dispenser is broken). Regarding safety, Daniel always makes sure when he is cleaning, he does not leave anything lying around that someone may trip over. Aslo, Daniel displays a professional image by always looking clean and neat in his uniform.

Service Excellence Award Winner Employee of the Month

2017 Nursing Award Winnersand Nominees

CRITICAL CARE Honoree Greg Foucht, ICU MED-SURG Honoree Saundra Gonzales, 3S MCH Honoree Larry Logsdon, NICU NON-ACUTES Honoree Teresa Pardee, Hospice

Advancing New Knowledge and Innovation CRITICAL CARE Nominee Maribel Torres, ICU MED-SURG Nominee Elsa Guzman, 4N MCH Nominee Amanda Pacillas, MB NON-ACUTES Nominee Shannon Esparza Honoree Amanda Pacillas, MB

Service To Society CRITICAL CARE Nominee Norman Solis, CVOR MED-SURG Nominee Patti Collins NON-ACUTES Nominee Cheryl Weber, Hospice Honoree Cheryl Weber, Hospice

Advancing Practice CRITICAL CARE Nominee Abel Madrid, ICU MED-SURG Nominee Alisha Renteria, APN MCH Nominee Linda Ellison, APN NON-ACUTES Nominee Beth Hirsch, Wound Center Honoree Linda Ellison, APN

Excellence in Nursing Leadership CRITICAL CARE Nominee Tricia Vetter MED-SURG Nominee Emma Mozier MCH Nominee Rose Newsom NON-ACUTES Nominee Rose Newsom Honoree Rose Newsom

Medical Staff Officers - RN of the Year Honoree Ryan Munger RN, ED Honoree Elsa Guzman RN, 4N Honoree Evan Schmidt RN, ICU Honoree Heather Gerardi, LVN, FMC

Clinical Nurse Of The Year

In honor of National Nurses Week, we would like to thank all registered nurses in our community who answer the call to serve. Over 1,100 passionate and dedicated nurses in our district exemplify what it means to selflessley go above and beyond for patients.

Nurses are our colleagues, our friends, our family who care for us when we need them most. Nurses work in emergency rooms, hospital bedsides, school-based clinics, and homeless shelters with various roles - all of them with passion for patient care and safety.

5/5Friday | 5 am - 11 amNurse Week BreakfastMain Campus - Blue Room(refer to communication board for other locations and times)

5/10 Main Campus - Wed. | 11 am - 2 pmHospital Week BBQMain Campus - Blue RoomPlease see communication board for schedule, locations, dates and times.

5/11Thursday | 8:30 am & 12 pmPalliative Care - Hospice Care “What Everyone Needs to Know"MSC Auditorium - 402 W. Acequia Speaker: Helen Briggs McNealPlease email Diana Powell at diana.powell@genexservices.com for questions.

5/12Friday | 7 pmKD Rawhide Baseball NightRawhide Stadium300 N. Gidding St., Visalia

5/13Saturday | 7:45 am - 11 amMental Health Building Bridges"Every Mind Matters!"Kaweah Delta Mental Health Hospital5040 W. Tulare Ave., VisaliaCall for more information: x3300Free Walk for Wellness - 5k Walk/Run

5/13 Saturday | 8 amWalk with a Doc"Physical Activity and You"Blain Park3101 S. Court St., VisaliaInfo: 559-624-2416

5/25-26Thursday | 6:30 am - 5 pmFriday | 6:30 am - 4 pmScrub and Shoe SaleKaweah Delta Hospital GuildKaweah Delta Medical CenterBlue Room (Basement)For more info: 559-972-1880

Events

The mission of Kaweah Delta’s Stroke Program is to provide high quality, customer-oriented and financially strong healthcare services that meet the needs of patients who present with signs and symptoms consistent with acute stroke. The stroke program works diligently to provide evidence-based care for our stroke/TIA patient population. Our focus is to improve the care and outcomes of our stroke patients and minimizing disabilities. The program has earned the “Get with the Guidelines” Stroke Silver Quality Achievement Award and achieved top ratings in stroke mortalities according to HealthGrades. Our goal is to become Joint Commission Primary Stroke Certified within the year. Several key initiatives that have been implemented are:

• Streamlining both the ED and in-house stroke alert processes with the goal of giving Alteplase, a clot busting drug, to all eligible stroke patients within 45 minutes of arrival in the ED or when identified in-house (door to needle time).

• Continually looking at evidence-based best practices and how we can improve our door to needle time. We encourage input from the healthcare team and EMS to improve this time and provide the best outcome for our stroke patients.

• 24/7 tele-neurology coverage by our own local expert neurologists. Neurology hospitalist coverage is offered with the majority of our patients being seen by Dr. Pantera.

• Evidence-based stroke order sets are available with the expectation that they are used on all stroke/TIA patients when admitted to the medical center. The order sets are based on the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s guidelines and recommendations.

• Pertinent clinical practice guidelines, clinical pathways and other key documents related to stroke are located in PolicyTech for physician and staff reference.

• Community outreach and education through various formats are available to the staff and community through: Kaweah Delta’s website, cardiac screening events, and other community events.

• Dysphagia screenings are done by nursing for all stroke and TIA patients. Several processes have been put in place to improve compliance in this area. Collaboration with speech therapy and registered dietitian has helped improve how we manage our patients who are not able to swallow effectively.

• Collaboration with clinical education and human resources in providing education to our staff throughout the district.

May is Stroke Awareness MonthThe Road to Excellence in Stroke Care

S P O T A S t r o k e F A S T

FA C E A R M S P E E C H T I M Edrooping Weakness difficulty TO CALL 911

PARTNER IN CARE AWARD WINNERS!

Celebrating our 20172North

4North/ AHD

3North

Broderick

4Tower

4South

2South

3South

3West

ICU

CVICU

CVICCU

L&D

Mother-Baby

NICU

Peds

OR

ED

CVOR

ASC/Flex/PACU

Maryann Flores, CNA

Gilbert Maldonado, CNA

Maria Ibarra, CNA

Ramona Cullen, CNA

Lucas Smith, HUC

Tasha Silva, FP, LVN

Jennifer Nicolas, CNA

Hortencia Garcia, HUC

Valerie Delgado, CNA

Claudia Mulvaney, HUC

Jose Rivera, RT

Michael Chapman, RT

Rebecca Sanchez, EVS

Debbie Seeger, Nursery Nook

Johnny Mata, RT

Anabela Lamb, Admin Asst.

Tony Gonzalez, STA

Susan See, HUC

Jesse Alafa, Aide

Alissa Adkins, US

TCS

Subacute

Mental Health

Rehab

V-Dialysis/ CAPD

Hospice

Private Home Care

Float Pool

Home Health

Specialty Home Care

Cath Lab

Case Mgmt

UCC

Sequoia Prompt Care

Rural Health Clinics

Endoscopy

CDMC

Wound Center

Olga Martinez, LVN

Torianne Gregory, CNA

Frank Walker, LVN

Danielle Phillips, UR Specialist

Helen Urunday, Medical Secretary

Sarah Bernard, LVN

Rosaura Amick, PCA

Tasha Silva, LVN

Art Ramirez, Care Coordination Specialist

Lillian Monks, LVN

Sonja Qualley, Data Analyst

Belen Contreras, Admin Asst

Karen Avila, MA

Lisa Cunha, LVN

Teresa Garcia-Sandoval, LVN

Sue Wallen, LVN

Wendy Walters, Community Advocate

GInaRae Loza, Patient Access Specialist

DAISY Award Finalists:Dawn Arroyo, Labor and Delivery

Lynn Byrd, NICU

Last month, Kaweah Delta’s Spanish interpreter Marivel Topete was recognized as the 2017 California Healthcare Interpreting Association (CHIA) Interpreter of the Year! CHIA is an organization dedicated to improving the quality and availability of language services in health care. To obtain this prestigious statewide recognition, the CHIA board of directors vote on the interpreter they feel has been the most dedicated and influential at their respective healthcare system over the past year. Furthermore, CHIA directors review nominees’ involvement and role in the community they serve.

Marivel is also the past recipient of the Kaweah Delta Emergency Department’s award of interpreter of the year for 2014 and 2016. However, in attendance at the annual CHIA conference, the nomination and recognition left Marivel speechless as it came as a total surprise.

“Receiving past awards from Kaweah Delta demonstrates that what I do here is very important and valuable in the patient experience,” said Marivel. “Receiving the CHIA award validates the fact that what I do as an interpreter, where ever I go, makes a difference in someone's life. It gives me great honor having received the CHIA Interpreter of the Year award. I enjoy and love interpreting. It makes me happy, keeps me grounded and humble.”

As a mother of seven with only one child left at home, Marivel felt 2016 was the year to dedicate her time to complete her degree and elevate her commitment to her profession. In December of 2016, Marivel obtained her master’s degree in human development with an emphasis in leadership, education, and human services from Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena.

“Given Marivel’s history, dedication to her profession and the outstanding feedback from Kaweah Delta staff, it is very well deserved,” said Fernando Pineda, interpreter services manager for Kaweah Delta.

2017 CHIA Interpreter of the Year M EETNew

Gloria SimonettiEmployee Health Services Manager

Scott FurrerDirector ISS Technical Services

Malinda TupperDirector of Revenue Cycle Patient Financial Services

LEAD ERS

5/5Friday | 5 am - 11 amNurse Week BreakfastMain Campus - Blue Room(refer to communication board for other locations and times)

5/10 Main Campus - Wed. | 11 am - 2 pmHospital Week BBQMain Campus - Blue RoomPlease see communication board for schedule, locations, dates and times.

5/11Thursday | 8:30 am & 12 pmPalliative Care - Hospice Care “What Everyone Needs to Know"MSC Auditorium - 402 W. Acequia Speaker: Helen Briggs McNealPlease email Diana Powell at diana.powell@genexservices.com for questions.

5/12Friday | 7 pmKD Rawhide Baseball NightRawhide Stadium300 N. Gidding St., Visalia

5/13Saturday | 7:45 am - 11 amMental Health Building Bridges"Every Mind Matters!"Kaweah Delta Mental Health Hospital5040 W. Tulare Ave., VisaliaCall for more information: x3300Free Walk for Wellness - 5k Walk/Run

5/13 Saturday | 8 amWalk with a Doc"Physical Activity and You"Blain Park3101 S. Court St., VisaliaInfo: 559-624-2416

5/25-26Thursday | 6:30 am - 5 pmFriday | 6:30 am - 4 pmScrub and Shoe SaleKaweah Delta Hospital GuildKaweah Delta Medical CenterBlue Room (Basement)For more info: 559-972-1880

Dr. Mandeep Bagga - Recognized by Darlyn Cabral

“Thank you for all you do. I appreciate you.”

Dr. Kamel Kamel - Recognized by Dianycza Covarrubias

“Dr. Kamel goes above and beyond for his patients. He is also a great physician to collaborate with. He works well with nursing staff and patients are always complimenting his bedside manner and care. Kaweah Delta is lucky to have him as a part of our team.”

Dr. Dustin Varesko - Recognized by Dianycza Covarrubias

“Dr. Vareasko goes above and beyond for his patients and also in working with staff. He is very approachable and is very prompt at answering phone calls. He is also very thorough in his work. We are very lucky to have him as a part of the Kaweah Delta team.”

Dr. Samuel Matsuo - Recognized by Rosalie Padilla

“Patient arrived to inpatient rehab then decided to go AMA. Dr. Matsuo was supportive of the staff; upon notification, he came to the room and talked to the patient and family. He was calm and sincere to both patient/family and rehab team. Thank you, we are honored to have you as one of our MDs.”

Dr. John Hipskind - Recognized by Angelia Snyder

“My brother was an ED heart attack patient on 3/24/17 and Dr. Hipskind did a wonderful job and was very attentive to him and our family. We very much appreciate all he did to make sure my brother is still here with us. Thank you soooo much.” Dr. Nallathamby Thayapran - Recognized by Angelia Snyder

“My brother was a heart attack patient on 3/24/17. I would like to thank Dr. Thayapran and his team for doing an amazing job taking care of him. Thanks to you and your team he is still here with us. Thank you soooo much!”

Dr. Marwan Zoghbi and Dr. Vajeeh Siddiqui - Recognized by Bob Pierce

“Dr. Siddiqui and Dr. Zoghbi do stand out as a couple of doctors who communicate really well. I appreciate that they take the time to really study the patient’s chart before actually seeing the patient. They make sure they are well informed and that means a lot to both the patient and to nursing staff. These doctors also listen to the input of nurses and if the nurse’s assertions are a bit off, they don’t point it out. Instead, they take it as an opportunity to teach the nurse. Everyone gets better when working with doctors that have this approach. ”

Dr. Carlos Guerra-Sanchez - Recognized by Jammie Kohen

“Dr. Guerra always goes above and beyond for his patients. I really appreciate how thorough he is with his assessments and subsequent testing of babies on Mother Baby. Dr. Guerra also goes out of his way to communicate with his patient's families and nurses. He always calls the nurse taking care of one of his baby's as soon as he puts the discharge orders in the computer. Dr. Guerra's extra efforts are noticed and appreciated by us all! Thank you so much for all that you do!”

DoctorRecognition

Lori Winston, M.D.