In the News
Hats Off for Hospice is coming September 12th and 13th
Black River Memorial Hospice is bringing back its very successful variety show, Hats Off for Hospice, September 12th and 13th at the Lunda Theatre with the theme “Hats Off goes to Broadway.” While Ole and Lena explore Manhattan, you will be able to enjoy many favorite Broadway tunes.
The show is a fund-raiser for hospice and it will showcase many talented hospital and clinic providers, employees, volunteers and community members. The public is, again, invited to be a part of the show in a variety of ways.
The show’s director will be Ben Boardman, M.D. Dr. Boardman has years of theatre experience and has been involved in many productions.
For more information, contact Terri Boardman at the hospital at 284-1392.
Sixty students learn to be responsible baby-sitters
The Annual Baby-sitting Clinic, which is sponsored by Black River Memorial Hospital and its Partners, was held the afternoons of June 17 - 19 at the Black River Falls Middle School. There were 60 students who participated this year. The clinic trains students to be responsible, creative and safety-conscious baby-sitters. The eight-hour clinic was open to any student who had completed the 6th grade and it drew students from Black River Falls, Hixton, Alma Center, Merrillan, Melrose, Humbird, and Taylor.
Professionals from the hospital, community, Partners and Sheriff’s Department donated their time and expertise to teach these classes.
Topics and speakers included the following: “Guidelines for Sitters” and “Fire Safety” – Mary O’Brien; “Bathing” – Jenette Simonson, RN; “Dressing” – Jessica Meek, RN and her twin babies Henry and Grady; “Feeding” – Becky Amberg, RN; “First Aid” – Grayce West, RN; “Responding to Emergencies, Rescue Breathing and Choking Interventions” – Randi Arneson, RN; “Safety and Legal Responsibilities” – Sheriff’s Deputy Nicholas Gray; “Baby-sitting Kits” – Mary O’Brien, Jenni Hill, Linda Fischer, and Jill Kaphengst.
On the last day, students had the opportunity to direct questions to parents Connie Helstad and Pam Antonelli. At the end of the three days, students were given a test and were awarded certificates of course completion.
Coordinators of the Baby-sitting Clinic were Mary O’Brien and Jenni Hill with assistance from Sue Nordahl from the hospital’s Education Services Department. Members of Partners who assisted with grading the tests were Jill Kaphengst and Jeri Muth. Funding for the clinic comes in part from a Lunda Charitable Trust grant.
Mayor Proclaims June as Long-Term Caregiver Month
The Jackson County Healthcare Workforce Alliance (JCHWA) and the Wisconsin Long-Term Care Workforce Alliance (WLTCWA) joined Black River Falls Mayor Ron Danielson in proclaiming June as Long-Term Caregiver Month. Mayor Danielson signed the official proclamation in the Dorothy Halvorson Conference Room at Black River Memorial Hospital on Monday, June 2, 2008. This event was held to recognize and extend appreciation to long-term caregivers, both paid and unpaid, for their tremendous contributions to the quality of life of area citizens who depend on these workers. Long-term caregivers and representatives from their employing agencies attended the signing event.
Governor Jim Doyle recently signed the same proclamation for the State of Wisconsin, also in an effort to recognize the hard work and dedication of long-term care caregivers in our state. Charlotte Fleischmann, long-term care project coordinator at Jackson County Health and Human Services says that more and more disabled and elderly residents rely on these workers for assistance with activities of daily living that many of us take for granted. “Without long-term caregivers, many people would not be able to remain in their homes, or would fail to thrive in other long-term care settings, and their longevity would be substantially decreased,” she says.
The Wisconsin Long-Term Care Workforce Alliance (the state-level “parent organization” of JCHWA), and the Wisconsin Association of Area Agencies on Aging (W4A) are sponsoring, and now accepting nominations for the 2008 Caregiver of the Year Spotlight Award for certified nurse assistants, resident assistants, home health aides, home care aides, personal care workers, rehabilitation aides, adult day care workers, medication aides, or other direct caregivers. The sponsors are also seeking nominations of social workers, directors of nursing, and other supervisors of direct care workers for the 2008 Cornerstone Award, as well as nominations of facility or agency administrators for the 2008 Administrator Award.
All awards will be presented at each winner’s workplace, and each of the three award winners will receive a $200 cash award from W4A. The nomination deadline for these awards is June 15th. If you would like to nominate someone from our area, please contact the JCHWA at 715-284-4301 extension 344 for a nomination form.
The JCHWA is a nonprofit group comprised of representatives from various healthcare and other agencies serving Jackson County, all of whom are interested in direct care workforce development. The group’s primary mission is to improve Jackson County’s long-term care workforce through recruitment, retention, and recognition of long-term care workers. JCHWA’s membership includes Black River Memorial Hospital, Creative Community Living Services, Inc., Family Heritage Care Center, the Ho-Chunk Nation, Jackson County Department of Health and Human Services, and Western Technical College, to name a few, and new members are always welcome. Please join us in proclaiming June as Long-Term Caregiver Month by thanking these caregivers!
Black River Memorial Hospital Receives Laureate Award for
Workplace Excellence
Black River Memorial Hospital (BRMH) has been named the recipient of The Jackson Group’s prestigious Laureate Award for Workplace Excellence. Alan Jackson, President of the Jackson Group presented the award to the hospital’s leadership on Monday, April 28, 2008.
The Laureate Award for Workplace Excellence was awarded to BRMH based on 2007 Employee Survey results that exemplified excellence in accordance with The Jackson Group’s criteria. BRMH has been engaged in this measurement process with The Jackson Group on an annual basis since 2005.
The results of the 2007 Work Climate Survey were evidence of efforts made by Black River Memorial Hospital to invest in the human capital of their healthcare organization by making sound management decisions that have been well received by both associates and managers,” said Jackson. “Through these efforts, it is apparent that leadership has built a very positive work climate for their associates.”
BRMH offers comprehensive, diverse services to meet the healthcare needs of individuals and families in the Black River Falls area. Their services range from emergency care and obstetrics to surgical care and hospice. With their team of dedicated professional staff and state-of-the-art technology, BRMH is committed to providing the highest quality of care possible.
The Jackson Group was founded in 1976 and is a full-service survey services and consulting group serving various markets and industries with a specialized division focused on healthcare. The organization is located in Hickory, North Carolina.
Ashley Huber honored at statewide Health Care Employee Recognition Program
For someone who wrote that she was always a little scared of the elderly, working as a home health aide with Black River Memorial Hospice and Homecare helped her to overcome that fear and is leading her to a new career. “One day I decided that I would just try and see what it was like to work in assisted living, just because I’ve always loved helping people,” wrote Huber. “It turned out that I love my job and it made me want to boost my career into becoming a registered nurse. I am in the process of becoming an RN right now.”
These were feelings Huber put on paper in an essay she submitted for the 2008 Wisconsin Health Care Employee Pride Program. Employees were asked to describe what led them to choose an occupation in health, and why they decided to work in a hospital. Hundreds of health care employees submitted essays. A committee at each health care facility selected their winning essay, and that person was invited to attend a recognition dinner at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells on May 1.
Huber joined 76 other health care employees from across the state who were honored. In attendance with her from Black River Memorial Hospital were Stan Gaynor, CEO, Mary Beth White-Jacobs, RN, BSN, MHA, Director of Patient Care Services, and Shawn Callisto, RN, Manager of Black River Memorial Homecare.
The program, sponsored by the Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA) is designed to celebrate the health care workforce and recognize their “truly amazing” contributions to the health of their communities, according to WHA President Steve Brenton.
“People who work in hospitals are among Wisconsin’s most dedicated and valuable employees. It takes special people to care for others and our communities are richer, safer and healthier places to live because of these professionals,” Brenton said. “Whether they are on the front lines, or supporting those who deliver patient care, every health care employee helps improve the health status in the community where they live and work.”
The 76 honored employees represented nearly 60 different health care occupations, including predictable professions like nurses, physical therapists, and radiology technicians, but also massage therapists, financial services specialists, environmental services and food service.
The fact that hospitals offer secure jobs with family-sustaining wages and benefits makes them desirable choices for employment, according to WHA President Steve Brenton. But training, recruiting and retaining a workforce large enough to meet the growing demand for health care is a constant challenge for hospitals and other health care providers. (See new WHA workforce report: www.wha.org)
“Health care today offers people an opportunity to work in a high-tech, yet high-touch, environment. By showcasing the personal stories of health care employees, we are able to share the rewards of choosing a career serving others,” Brenton said. The essays are posted at www.wha.org.
Ashley Huber concluded her essay by writing, “Everything I do in my job reaffirms my decision about my career. Helping people, making people smile and laugh, helping people live on their own so they don’t have to leave the comforts of their own home, helping the sick ones stay at comfort, and making one at peace; all of these reaffirm my decision to work in the health care field.”
The recognition program is co-sponsored by the Wisconsin Society of Healthcare Human Resources Administration, and the Wisconsin Organization of Nurse Executives.