Hospice worker is top employee
Holy Redeemer Health System recently named Jean Francis, volunteer coordinator and program manager for Holy Redeemer Hospice PA, its 2015 Employee of the Year.
“Jean Francis demonstrates the mission and values of Holy Redeemer in her work on a daily basis, working closely with patients, families and staff, as well as training volunteers to properly provide the kind of care and support that patients and families require,” said Patricia O’Brien, interim chief of the administrative office for HomeCare.
As volunteer coordinator, Francis trains her team to recognize the needs of veterans and their families as part of their commitment to the “We Honor Veterans” program. Whenever possible, she matches volunteers who are veterans with hospice patients who have served. They are also trained to recognize and respond to the special needs that many veterans face at the end of life.
Holy Redeemer is looking for new volunteers to assist with its hospice program. Contact Jean Francis at 215–698–3737 or [email protected] ••
Aria has new director of breast health program
Aria Health has tapped Dr. Jack Sariego as head breast surgeon and medical director of both the Breast Health Program and of Perioperative Services.
A Torresdale native and board-certified general surgeon, Sariego has more than 25 years of surgical, administrative and military experience.
Sariego will focus his clinical work on surgical cases. Aria’s Breast Health Program will cover all areas of breast health, focusing also on noncancerous treatments and working closely with other women’s health specialties at the hospital.
Sariego’s clinical practice will be based at the Torresdale campus, but he will oversee the Breast Health Program at the Frankford and Lower Bucks campuses, too.
Sariego will also streamline surgery, anesthesia and operating room schedules at each of Aria’s campuses.
Prior to joining Aria Health, Sariego served as professor of surgery and associate program director for surgery residency at Temple University. The bulk of his clinical practice was at Jeanes Hospital.
Sariego received his undergraduate degree in biology from the University of Pennsylvania, and then went on to receive his medical degree from Thomas Jefferson Medical College. He completed a surgical internship at Jefferson University Hospital and a surgery residency at the Medical College of Pennsylvania, where he also completed a fellowship/preceptorship in surgical oncology. ••
Aria Frankford nurse earns award
Aria Health has selected registered nurse Kristin Slattery as its latest DAISY Award recipient.
The DAISY Award is an international nurse-recognition program.
Slattery is known among fellow nurses, physicians, patients, families and team members for her clinical expertise, as well as her empathy and the positive impact she has on patients and families.
Slattery joined Aria Health in 1997 as a nursing assistant. She has been an Aria Health nurse since graduating from the Frankford Hospital School of Nursing in 2004. She works at the Frankford campus.
“Kristin has dedicated her 11 years in nursing to helping others and serving as a role model, displaying the art of caring and compassion,” said Debbie Trauffer, nurse manager at the Frankford campus. “She is a strong patient and family advocate who touches the lives of others in a personal, special way. Her empathy, flexibility, interpersonal skills, problem solving, quick response and sense of humor all display excellence in the role of a registered nurse and exhibits why she is such a valuable member of the team.” ••
Aria has new stroke program director
Aria Health promoted Dr. David H. Sirken director of its stroke program.
Meanwhile, Aria received the Get With the Guidelines — Stroke Gold Quality Achievement Award from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.
To receive the Gold Quality Achievement Award, Aria Health was required to complete 24 consecutive months of adherence to all seven Get With The Guidelines — Stroke Achievement measures with at least 85 percent of all eligible patients. These measures aim to reduce death and disability and improve the lives of stroke patients.
“Time is critical when diagnosing and treating a stroke victim, which is why our new Torresdale Emergency Department was designed to include a new, centralized CT scanner, allowing patients to be tested and treated within an hour of their arrival,” Sirken said.
Sirken brings more than 22 years of neurological experience to Aria’s stroke program. With Aria Health since 1993, he is board certified in neurology with a sub-specialty certification in vascular neurology.
Sirken previously served as the chief of the Division of Neurology.
For more information about the Aria Health Institute for Neurosciences, call toll-free 1–877–808-ARIA (2742) or visit AriaHealth.org ••
CTCA earns award
Cancer Treatment Centers of America, 1331 E. Wyoming Ave., has received the 3M Award for Excellence in Skin Safety.
The annual award recognizes and celebrates leading healthcare facilities that have implemented a patient care program resulting in sustained or improved skin integrity and maintenance.
Oncology patients are at a high risk for skin issues, and an internal review by CTCA in Philadelphia showed pressure ulcer prevalence rates as high as 11 percent. In 2012, the hospital — from the nurses on the front lines to senior management — embarked on a concerted effort to reduce the prevalence of skin-related problems by increasing education in the hospital and implementing new training measures.
Specifically, the hospital organized a Skin Wound Ostomy Team, and implemented a prevention program that included the creation of a defined skin care regimen; measures to control factors such as pressure, friction, shear and moisture; patient and family education; clinical training; and protocols that provide staff guidance for preventive care.
As part of the program, the hospital also adopted “Wound Care Wednesdays” to keep continued focus on these efforts. In the six months following the first “Wound Care Wednesday,” the hospital reported zero hospital-acquired pressure ulcers. Over 50 nurses volunteered for the SWOT, which reports high levels of satisfaction.
Bill Cruise, vice president and general manager for 3M Critical & Chronic Care Solutions Division, presented the award to CTCA’s Joe Rudolph at a conference.
“Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Philadelphia has implemented extraordinary steps to protect the skin health of its patients, and the results of those efforts are measurably clear,” Cruise said. ••
Nazareth nurse wins award
Nazareth Hospital nurse Theresa “Terry” Conejo was named the American Heart Association’s 2015 National Volunteer Advocate of the Year.
This designation is awarded in recognition of an individual who has made a generous commitment of time, energy and talent to assist the AHA in advocating directly to key lawmakers on heart and stroke issues.
Conejo was presented with the award during the AHA’s recent Lobby Day Luncheon in Washington, D.C.
The AHA recognized Conejo as Volunteer Advocate of the Year for her work as a community advocate, including her efforts testifying before lawmakers, and serving as a grassroots mobilizer on issues and legislation vital to AHA advocacy goals. She serves on the Pennsylvania Advocacy Committee and frequently meets with legislators at the state and federal level to promote heart health initiatives.
One of Conejo’s current focuses is AHA’s fight for a comprehensive smoke-free law for Pennsylvania. In recent months, she has contributed op-ed pieces about proposed smoke-free legislation to major news outlets across the state. She is also advocating for the proposed Pennsylvania Clean Indoor Air Act. ••
Nazareth Hospital earns award
Nazareth Hospital has received the Get With The Guidelines–Heart Failure Gold-Plus Quality Achievement Award for implementing specific quality improvement measures outlined by the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Foundation.
Nazareth earned the award by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of heart failure patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include evaluation of the patient, proper use of medications and aggressive risk-reduction therapies. Before patients are discharged, they also receive education on managing their heart failure and overall health and get a follow-up visit scheduled, as well as other care transition interventions.
“Nazareth Hospital is dedicated to improving the quality of care for our heart failure patients, and implementing the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines–Heart Failure program helps us to accomplish this goal by tracking and measuring our success in meeting internationally respected guidelines,” said Dr. Mathew Mathew, chief medical officer at Nazareth. ••
