Kindred AZ Holiday Party Pictures

The Kindred Holiday Party 2012 pictures are now available to be viewed and purchased, please visit:

www.cravephoto.wix.com/kindred2012



More details about the holiday party were on a previous post here.

We would like to give a special thanks to Avianna with Crave Photography for doing an outstanding job.

Holiday Message from Heidi Miller

One of the real joys of the Holiday Season is the opportunity to say Thank You. May peace and joy be yours this season and the coming New Year.

Happy Holidays,

Heidi Miller

Holiday Message from Karen Shammas

As we prepare for this busy and joyous holiday season, it is a time to reflect on the cherished and important things in life. When we think about what are those things that create meaning, those things that enrich our lives, those things that are hard to live without, they would have to be your family and close friends. Kindred is like a family and without all the support for one another it is very difficult to get through some of our challenges. The gift of family and the gift of friendship enrich each of our lives in incredibly significant and almost indescribable ways.

As another year comes to a close, I would like to thank you for all your hard work. Although it has been a very challenging year for the hospital we have so much to be proud of as an organization. Our quality and patient satisfaction scores are the highest they have ever been since we opened a few years ago.

On behalf of the administration team thank you for all you do to support our mission and the patients we serve. Best wishes to you and your family during this holiday season.


All the best,

Karen Shammas

2013 Mandatory Education Updates for Respiratory Therapists

EDUCATION UPDATES 2013

MANDATORY EDUCATION

                     FOR RESPIRATORY THEAPIST                 

 

PHOENIX EDUCATION ROOM

• FEBRUARY 4^TH     MONDAY    4 PM-7PM
• FEBRUARY 5^TH    TUESDAY    9AM-12 NOON or 1 PM- 4 PM

NORTHWEST EDUCATION ROOM

• FEBRUARY 6^TH  WEDNESDAY 9AM-12 NOON or 1 PM- 4 PM
• FEBRUARY 7^TH  THURSDAY    9AM-12 NOON or 1 PM- 4 PM

You must attend one session which last approximately 3 hours.  This is a classroom education in service. You may not attend late or leave early. These sessions contain important information on safe lifting, medication administration, I-Stat testing, APTT testing, proficiency testing, restraints, fall program, intubation, decannulation and more. If you do not attend one of these sessions you will be taken off the schedule as this new information is critical to safe patient care. NO MAKE SESSIONS OR SELF LEARNING PACKETS ARE OFFERED. Plan ahead to attend, and request one of the days off.

QUESTIONS ?: Contact Lisa ,Mike or Julie Ho 602-280-7231

Kindred Angels

Every once in awhile things don't quite go the way we planned. Sometimes we get a little down on our luck. We have all been there and for some of our Kindred family that time is now. It can be especially difficult to face such times during the holidays.

Throughout the course of holding different events and fundraising we got to witness first hand the generosity, compassion and love the staff here at Kindred have for one another. We received overwhelming participation and are so very proud to work with such caring co-workers.

By holding a bake sale, a silent auction, selling candy grams, sponsoring jean days and accepting monetary donations we were able to raise over an outstanding $1,200.00 to be shared by the Kindred Angels.

Each Kindred Northwest and Phoenix each selected three Kindred Angels that were nominated by staff totaling 6 Kindred families.

To our Kindred Angels we hope this makes things a little easier for you during this holiday season and know that your Kindred family is here for you.

Thank you to everyone who participated and/or contributed to any of the fundraiser activities. It is because of you that we were able to raise the amount we did.

A message from the CEOs:

Thanks to every one of our staff who contributed in one way or another to our Holiday Angel Program. Through your generous assistance we were able to provide 3 staff members from each facility with gifts cards to make their holiday a little merrier for their families.

Karen Shammas and Heidi Miller

Candy Gram + Caring CoWorkers = Success

I am pleased to report that the Candy Gram fundraiser for the Kindred Angel turned out to be a huge success! Between Kindred Northwest and Kindred Phoenix we raised over $550 in Candy Gram sales supporting our Kindred Angel! This was a great boost in fundraising to increase the amount each Angel will be receiving.

Thank you to everyone that sent a candy gram or simply made a monetary donation. Not only did you show your co-workers some love but you also contributed to the Kindred Angel, how great is that?

Happy Holidays!

December Birthdays

Happy Birthday to our December Birthdays        

Fun December Facts:

• Birthstone: Turqoise
• Zodiac Signs: Sagittarius and Capricorn
• Flower: Narcissus, holly or pointsetta
• December starts on the same day of the week as September every year and ends on the same day as April every year.

Phoenix December Birthdays

• Excalibur Rosalin, Food Svc Handler: 12/2
• Harry Groom, Materials Mgmt Manager: 12/10
• Keisha Miller-Usher, RN: 12/13
• Shawn Henne - Monitor Tech: 12/24
• Estrella Munoz, PCT: 12/25
• Irma Pierson, PCT: 12/25
• Grace Antunes, RRT: 12/26
• Ladonna Wooliver, RT Sup: 12/26
• Sonny David, ICU-RN: 12/30

Northwest Phoenix December Birthdays

• Elizabeth Ryan, RN: 12/03
• Sheila Nelson, Monitor Tech: 12/04
• Michelle LaPietra-Winn, Rehab: 12/06
• Roxanna Broughton, RT: 12/20
• Misty Matlock, RN-Sup: 12/22
• Judith White, RN-ICU: 12/22
• Elizabeth Eder, Monitor Tech: 12/27
• Mary Gleaves, RN: 12/28

Kindred Arizona Holiday Party 2012

Nearly everyone who picked up a ticket to the holiday party attended which was close to 200 staff members and guests. Thank you for making this year's holiday party a success.We hope you enjoyed yourself.

A BIG Congratulations goes out to the following employess for their dedicated years of service:

5 Years of Service

Abegail Acosta

Rosa Ayala

Sharon Baker

Kristy Beres

Debra Colbert

Cecilio Cordova

Sonny david

Cam DeFriese

Rita DeRemer

Esther Ewongwo

Clay Ferguson

Shelley Frassetto

Ruth Emma Hulinganga

Vicenta Jimenez

Lorna Lagmay

Josefina Olivas

Jennifer Osmussen

Sarah Pritt

Nicole Ray

Dianne Reilly

Karen Shammas

Norma Smith

Lana Therio

Binu Thomas

Patricia Valenzuela

Carmelita Washabaugh

10 Years of Service

Roger Baker

Lourdes Cabinian

Henry Cruz

Davina Doster

Carri Huerta

Mike Mikaelian

Pamela Ohlinger

Timothy Perry

15 Years of Service

Raquel Denmark

20 Years of Service

Roger Greteman

Physician of the Year

Dr. Christian Sciutto - NW

Dr. Michael L. Berman - Phoneix

Employee of the Year

Marilyn Balanon - Phoenix

Chelsea Estrada - NW

Patient Skin Champions

Krystyna Ostrowski - Phoenix

Junior Adame - NW

Manager of the Year

Paul Pilkington

A big thanks goes out to Heidi Miller, Karen Shammas, Kristy Beres, Omar Elenes and Chelsea Estrada for putting together and setting up this year's holiday decor.


A special thank you goes out to Avianna with Crave Photography for doing an outstanding job.

Kindred Angel: Bake Sale

A BIG THANK YOU goes out to all those who supported and donated to the Kindred Angel Bake Sale. With your efforts we were able to raise about $250 between the two hospitals that will help the 2012 Kindred Angel.

It was a wonderful event that even brought the participation of patient's families who not only purchased from the bake sale but brought in baked goodies.

Happy Holidays,

Culture Club

Employee of the Month: December 2012

Congratulations to Neil Hughes - LPN at Kindred Northwest and Omar Rodriguez - RT at Phoenix on being chosen Employees of the Month for December 2012 . Next time you see them give them a pat on the back for being a great asset to the Kindred Arizona Team!

Employee of the Month: November 2012

A big Congratulations to Shelly Erickson - RN-ICU at Northwest  and Vicenta Jimenez - EVS at Phoenix for being November's 2012 Employees of the month! These gals excel in all that they do. Please remember to say a congratulations to Shelly and Vicenta for a job well done.

Service Excellence for November/December: Compassion

The Service Excellence Standard for November and December is Compassion

In our day to day lives tasks become routine from waking up in the morning, to taking care of patients to making dinner. Everyone once and awhile something will remind you how very fragile we all are. It may be an accident on the highway, a friend getting sick, a reunion of a child and their military father, whatever it is that something tends to re-ground us.

In the spirit of compassion I want to share this story with you that involved such a small gesture but impacted someone's life greatly.

One Last Hug

At Genesis, we try to live our mission of providing quality and compassionate care to those who come to us in need as well as to their families. Sometimes the way the staff puts this mission into action makes us stop and catch our breaths in wonder and awe.

We recently had a patient named Walter who was nearing the end of his life. His family visited constantly and it was evident that his man was deeply loved by many. One evening Ursula, his wife of almost 70 years, was sitting at the beside in her wheelchair crying quietly. Her nursing assistant approached her. gently touched her shoulder, and asked, "Are you alright?" With tears in her eyes, Ursula looked at the nursing assistant and said, "I'd just like to hug him one more time."

The nursing assistant went to talk with Walter's nurse. Together, they reentered the room and suggested a plan to Ursula.  The two nurses carefully lifted Ursula out of her wheelchair and placed her on the bed right next to her husband. She turned to him and gave him a soft kiss and a caress on his cheek. Walter slowly opened his eyes, smiled back at her, and whispered in her ear. Then he placed his head against her shoulder and drifted back to sleep.

What Walter said to his wife remains a secret between the two of them. their caresses and stillness took them on a journey of memories, all lived in a single touch and a shared smile. In moments like this, our mission to our patients and their families is exemplified in all its meaning, potential, and poignant beauty.

- Submitted by Lavonne Dwinal, Genesis Medical Center, Dewitt, IA

What's Right in Healtcare: Compiled by Studer Group

With a small gesture on a nursing assistant's and nurse's part this woman and her husband's lives were deeply touched. It is reminders like this that make the biggest difference.

Thank you for all that you do,

Karen Shammas

CEO

Holiday Party 2012

Happy Holidays!

The holidays are upon us and Kindred Hospitals Arizona will be hosting a holiday party for employees and physicians. Employee tickets are FREE and guests tickets are $10 (one guest per employee).

Many thanks to all of our staff, you are truly appreciated and this event is for you!

Candy Grams for Co-Workers

Don't forget to show how much you love your co-workers!

All proceeds will support the Kindred Angles.