McLeodnewsMARCH 2012

c a r i n g i n t e g r i t yp e r s o n q u a l i t y

McLeod Values in Action4 CARInG: Monitor techs help to save lives5 PeRsOn: sports Medicine Run/walk6 QUALITY: Foundation board member7 InTeGRITY: welcoming new Physicians

2 service excellence3 Accolades

8 Making Rounds 9 weight-loss strategies10 Looking Ahead

The next generation of computerized health-care information systems for managing patient documentation is coming to McLeod in April.

“It is exciting,” said Jenean Blackmon, Vice President of Information Systems and Chief Information Officer. “Soarian is the biggest undertaking that has ever happened with our computer system.”

Soarian is made by Siemens, which also produced the Invision system that currently is being used.

The Soarian implementation has been planned jointly for almost two years by Information Systems, Nursing Administration, and the Physician Advisory Committee.

The roll-out will be conducted in phases, with clinical functions available first and financials added later.

“We are breaking it down into phases,” Blackmon said, “to make it easier to man-age and for staff to absorb the changes.”

“Because Soarian is so different from what nurses, physicians, and other clinical staff have been using, training is essential,” she says. An extensive schedule of training recently began at McLeod Regional Medical Center and McLeod Dillon.

The length of training depends on the team member’s role in patient care. Nurses, technicians, or unit secretaries are required to take an eight-hour class. Others who do not use computer documentation will need to complete a four-hour or a one-hour class.

“If you use Invision, you will need Soarian,” Blackmon said. “Everyone needs to attend training. The old system will go away as soon as Soarian starts.”

The biggest change for staff will be the look of the system. Soarian is a web-based application that looks like pages on the Internet.

Advantages of Soarian are built-in features such as nursing documentation, medication reconciliation, and safety alerts. For example, if a physician orders a lab test and the result is critical for the patient, an alert will show up in the clinical summary to let him or her know to order medication or a repeat of the test.

“These triggers are based on findings from tests or other pertinent information about the patient,” Blackmon said. “The system alerts the nurse or another clinician to certain issues affecting the patient.”

McLeod Dillon has embraced the change to Soarian and will be implementing it first. “At McLeod Dillon, we have the opportunity to have the

Training Associate Nikki Perry (standing) works with clinical staff at McLeod Dillon to teach them how to use the new computer application Soarian. It will be piloted first in Dillon. A countdown to Soarian is available on the homepage of The Compass.

entire system up and see how it is working,” Blackmon said. “With a smaller-scale event first, we can see what works and what needs to be tweaked before we roll it out to the entire system.”

The McLeod Dillon team is looking forward to using the new applications.

“We are excited to be the first due to our physician leadership and engagement in the adoption of electronic medical records,” said Administrator Debbie Locklair.

“Using technology also will improve communication throughout the transitions in a patient’s care. By embracing this new technology, we can expand our access to specialists and services that otherwise would be limited for a facility our size. With our perseverance and commitment to patient safety, I believe we will have a successful implementation of Soarian,” she added.

soarian roll-out coming soon!Training essential for clinical staff who use patient documentation

McLeod News l March 20122

McLeod Newsis published by

McLeod Communications & Public Information.

Celia Whitten, editor (777-2695 or CWhitten@McLeodHealth.org)

Sidney Glass, photographer

www.McLeodHealth.org or www.mrmc.McLeodHealth.org

service

Sometimes it is important to get back to the basics. Often, we become so busy or overwhelmed with fancy tactics to improve our customer service that we forget to do the simple things.

This article is a call to action to each and every McLeod Health employee. Every one of us must commit to fulfilling the Service Excellence Standards by demonstrating them cheerfully and consistently — to every customer, every day.

It seems so basic, but we absolutely cannot allow exceptions. Every one of us must demonstrate these standards of excellence. If we allow exceptions, we allow ourselves to slip into mediocrity.

Rather, we should set high standards and live up to them, not accepting anything less than excellence from ourselves and our co-workers.

When we give ourselves “permission” to forego our Service Excellence Standards, we begin a steady decline toward being just “average.” Let me remind you — we at McLeod are not average, and we do not hire average people. McLeod Health is made up of excellent employees who know how to demonstrate excellence.

So, you may be asking, “What are the basics?” Let us review just five of the very first Service Excellence Standards that we all have learned.

1. Practice hallway courtesy. Never walk past a guest without acknowledging him or her. Keep your head up so you can see your guest coming. Every one of us must Look, Smile, and Speak to every customer, every time. We cannot allow exceptions if we are all to demonstrate excellence.

2. Use a complete greeting. We should always be the first to speak, with a smile and a pleasant tone of voice. Your customer should never have to get your attention, because it is your job to see him coming.

If you know his name, when you greet him be sure to say, “Good morning, Mr. Smith” or “Welcome, Mr. Jones.” Then, introduce yourself by name and role.

Remember, our customers feel important when we use their names, and each one has the right to know who you are.

3. Walk guests to their destination. When you see

someone who seems unsure of her surroundings, always offer assistance and escort her to where she wants to go.

4. Explain and talk about tasks. Never begin your work with a customer without explaining what you are doing and why you are doing it. You should explain every step of a process that your patient experiences, every time.

You should also explain what to expect after your time with the customer is complete, rather than leaving him wondering what the next step in his experience will be.

5. Always say, “Thank you.” At the end of an interaction, every single McLeod employee must thank their patient or customer for something specific. It can be “Thank you for your patience,” or “Thank you for answering all these questions,” or “Thank you for choosing McLeod.”

Every time you have a conversation, find a way to thank your customer for something.

Imagine what it would be like if we simply followed these basics. No visitor would ever pass through our hallways without experiencing a smile and a kind word from every employee.

Every patient would go home feeling appreciated, because he was thanked by each staff member who spent time with him. Every lost guest would receive a friendly offer to walk her to her destination.

Have you noticed how many times this article uses the words always and every? That is because a sign of true excellence is consistency.

If we are consistent and cheerful in how we demonstrate these behaviors, if we never allow ourselves permission to take short cuts, if we quit making excuses and make a personal commitment to live up to our Service Excellence Standards with every patient, every time, each of us will do our part — with no exceptions — to assure that we remain the region’s Choice for Medical Excellence.

— Cathy Lee FrederickAssociate Vice President, Service Excellence

Eleanor Jordan, a nurse in Radiology at McLeod Regional Medical Center, educates patients about the Special Procedures tests they are undergoing. Her Director, David Poston, says Eleanor lives the Service Excellence Standards with her patients every day.

commit to excellencewith each patientin every interaction

McLeod News l March 2012 3

Join McLeod in honoring our many outstanding physicians

Doctors’ Day Celebration

An online Thank-you is a gift your doctor will treasure.

Doctors’ Day is one day of the year set aside to celebrate and acknowledge the vital role our doctors play in protecting our health and well-being. At McLeod Health, nearly 750 physicians at Florence, Darlington, Dillon, Loris, and Seacoast go above and beyond every day to provide exemplary care for their patients.

Please join us in honoring your favorite physician or physicians by sharing your personal thoughts and expressions of gratitude.

It is easy to do. Just visit www.McLeodDocDay.org, and insert your comments. Or simply post your thoughts on our Facebook page — www.Facebook.com/McLeodHealth.

If you prefer to send a handwritten thank-you, please mail it to Doctors’ Day Tribute, McLeod Health Communications and Public Information, PO Box 100551, Florence, SC 29502-0551.

We will present the thank-you to your physician when McLeod Health hosts our Doctors’ Day celebrations in late March.

Ten registered nurses at McLeod Health have been selected to receive the 2012 Palmetto Gold Award. These nurses represent McLeod Regional Medical Center, McLeod Darlington, and McLeod Dillon.

They join the ranks of the 98 McLeod nurses who have received this outstanding award in past years. In fact, with the 2012 recipients, McLeod now has more than 100 winners in a program that recognizes 100 nurses annually from the Palmetto State.

The 10 McLeod Health nurses who are receiving the 2012 Palmetto Gold recognition are:

From McLeod Regional Medical Center — Wanda Campagnari, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit; Helen Hokanson, Obstetrical Outreach; Kathy Jenkins, Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit; Renee Kennedy, Operational Effectiveness; Shannon Moore, Coronary Care Unit; and Patricia Taylor, Trauma Surgical Care Unit.

From McLeod Darlington — Tim Smoak, McLeod Behavioral Health Services, and Ashley Owen Watford, Medical/Surgical Unit.

From McLeod Dillon — Mary Adams, Women’s and Children’s Services, and Sharon McLain, Surgical Services.

The Palmetto Gold Award is a program that was started by various nursing organizations throughout South Carolina as a platform to recognize nursing and to support nursing education with scholarship funds.

Each year, employers from across a wide variety of South Carolina health-care settings nominate their outstanding nurses to be considered as one of the 100 nurses honored with this prestigious award. The nominators are asked to provide evidence of how the nominee demonstrated excellence to the profession by addressing four areas of criteria. Those areas include promoting and advancing the profession of nursing; displaying caring and commitment to patients, families, and colleagues; demonstrating leadership by assisting others to grow and develop; and contributing to overall outcomes in the practice.

Several hundred nominations usually are submitted. And, the competition for the Palmetto Gold Nurse recognition program has become more stringent as the number of nominations has increased.

To select the 100 RNs, a team of 12 nurses from across the state participate in a competitive, blind-review process. Nominees are not referred to by name or place of employment, so judges are unaware of who they are or for which institution they work.

Recipients of the 2012 Palmetto Gold Award will be recognized at the Palmetto Gold Gala on April 21 in Columbia. To support the future of nursing, proceeds from the Gala are used to provide a $1,000 scholarship to each of the approved programs in the state that educate RNs. Since the program began in 2002, Palmetto Gold has awarded $200,000, and an endowment has been established that now exceeds $100,000.

McLeod Regional Medical Center nurses who have been selected for the Palmetto Gold Award are (L to R) Wanda Campagnari, Helen Hokanson, Renee Kennedy, Kathy Jenkins, Patricia Taylor, and Shannon Moore.

McLeod Darlington winners of the Palmetto Gold Award are Tim Smoak (L) and Ashley Watford.

McLeod Dillon recipients of the Palmetto Gold Award are Sharon McLain (L) and Mary Adams.

Ten McLeod nurses chosen to receiveprestigious award

McLeod News l March 20124

THE VALUE OF

MCLeOd VALUes In ACTIOnCaring

Keeping a watchful eye on patients’ heart rhythms is so important that McLeod has a dedicated team of professionals who do just that all day long. The Telemetry Department serves as a vital link in the care of patients, to anticipate when a patient’s condition may be worsening and to quickly inform nurses before a crisis occurs.

On the fifth floor of the McLeod Tower at McLeod Regional Medical Center, just inside the front door of the Coronary Care Unit, is a large room where the monitor technicians sit behind a bank of heart monitors. Eighteen team members split up the three shifts, with four people working on each shift.

Two years ago, two departments, located in both the McLeod Tower and the McLeod Pavilion, were merged and moved to CCU under the direction of Trish Handley. Last year, they also began monitoring patients at McLeod Darlington.

“I am so proud of them,” Handley said. “They have a direct impact on mortality by picking up on minute changes in patients’ heart rhythms before those changes become issues.

“They have come together, working as a team so that we can make a significant impact for our patients,” she said.

“We are the eyes and ears for the nurses,” said Taneka Garner. “I enjoy being able to help save lives.”

“We rarely see patients, but that is all right,” said Margie Pierce. “As long as we know we are helping someone, it does not matter that we are not personally caring for them.”

Each of the techs observes four monitors, with the electro-cardiogram tracings of 16 patients on each monitor. By watching the different wave patterns, the techs can see when an abnormal pattern signals a heart attack or a cardiac event.

Even before alarms go off in the critical care unit or at the patient’s bedside, a monitor tech picks up the phone and calls either the patient’s nurse, the patient care supervisor, or the Rapid Response team to have them check on the patient.

Sometimes, the wire that picks up the heart’s electrical activity has come loose from the patient’s body, and the monitor tech just needs to let the nurse know to re-attach it. However, there are times when Telemetry notifies the patient care team of a critical cardiac event requiring assistance of the Rapid Response team to revive a patient and restore the normal heartbeat.

When that happens, the phone rings in Telemetry to let them know that the Rapid Response process has been initiated. The monitor tech who has been observing that patient pushes a button to print out the heart tracing. She then faxes or takes the tracing to the unit so that the team will have information about the

patient’s condition just before it began to change.Even though they are looking at the heart rhythms of about

64 patients at one time, the monitor techs have learned which patients require attention first. “If the ST segment is elevated, that patient may be having a heart attack,” Pierce said. “We immediately alert the unit in these cases.”

To keep up their skills, the monitor techs also are tested each month on different rhythms. Even with their self-study, AHEC courses, and classes at area colleges, sometimes what they see in “real life” stumps them.

When they see an unfamiliar rhythm, the monitor techs work closely together and rely on each other. “We learn something new every day,” Garner said. “If we see a different rhythm, we talk to the doctor, the CCU patient care supervisor, Trish, or each other, to try to figure out what it is.”

The techs also appreciate the teamwork and support that has developed between them and the nurses and physicians in the patient-care units. “When we call, it is for a reason — to save that patient’s life,” said Nikita Isaac. Working in Telemetry is “an adventure every day,” she added.

Lynda Campbell, LPN, the chief monitor technician, says the Telemetry team is a family that likes being the “silent part” of the hospital. “We are the eyes for all the units, and the patients can rest easy knowing someone is watching over them 24/7,” she said. “We see it as an extension of helping with patient care.”

Six members of the Telemetry Department team gathered for a photograph at the end of one shift and the beginning of another. They are (front, L to R) Lynda Campbell and Donna Rogers, (back) Kim Conyers, Margie Pierce, Taneka Garner, and Nikita Isaac. The department includes 18 techs who monitor patients’ heart rhythms for signs of heart attack or cardiac arrest.

Monitor technicians help to save livesTelemetry team members alert to heart rhythm changes before patients go into crisis

McLeod News l March 2012 5

THE VALUE OF

MCLeOd VALUes In ACTIOnPersonThe McLeod Sports Medicine Challenge Run/Walk will be

held on Saturday, March 17. The annual event begins at 9 a.m. with the 5K and 10K run/walk.

The course is designed for both competitive and recreational athletes. Runners and walkers can participate for prizes in any

of these divisions — 5K Run/Walk, 5K Wheelchair, 10K Run, and 10K Wheelchair.

McLeod staff, military personnel, and high-school track and cross-country athletes who pre-register by the March 9 deadline can register for $12. Normal registration is $15; race-day registration is $20. Registration costs include a T-shirt for each registrant.

In addition, walkers can join a one-mile Pet/Fun Walk at a cost of $5 for each person or animal or $10 for a family (no T-shirt is included).

The USA Track and Field-certified course begins at Briggs Elementary School in Florence. Race-day registration is from 7:30-8:30 a.m. Pet/Fun Walk registration is at 9 a.m., with the walk beginning at 9:40.

Prizes will be awarded to the top three overall male and female winners. Prizes to overall winners include $100 for first place, $50 for second, and $25 for third.

A male or female runner who sets a new course record will receive a $100 cash bonus. Medals also will be awarded to runners in each age division.

Race proceeds benefit the Geoffrey Kier Memorial Athletic Excellence Award Scholarship Fund. A scholarship is awarded annually to four college-bound high-school senior athletes.

For more information or to register, call McLeod Sports Med i cine at 777-5043 or visit www.McLeodMotion.org to

sports Medicine run/Walk slated for March 17

Runners of all ages gathered at Briggs Elementary School in Florence last year for the McLeod Sports Medicine Challenge Run/Walk, pictured above. It will be held this year on Saturday, March 17.

Dr. Jeniqua Duncan of McLeod Family Medicine Center inspired attendees as the physician guest speaker in February for the 2012 Red Heart Healthy Luncheon.

McLeod Loris Seacoast served its community in January with its annual Health and Wellness Fair. Diana Caison of McLeod Seacoast drew blood for one of the free and reduced-cost health screenings. Staff from the hospitals and the physicians of McLeod Physician Associates were on hand to share information on diabetes, heart health, smoking cessation, preventive care and wellness, diet and nutrition, and hospital programs and services.

McLeod Sports Medicine is hosting a Running Clinic on Saturday, March 3, at the McLeod Health and Fitness Center. It is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.

The Running Clinic is for runners and triathletes of all abilities who want to get the most from their training, stay injury free, and learn more about the sport of running.

The clinic is interactive, with a drop-in format. Attendees can participate in 3D video gait analysis (Dartfish), Kineseo taping, injury screenings and prevention, cholesterol screenings ($10), and blood pressure screenings, as well as obtain nutrition information and tactics to personalize training.

For more information, call 777-8167.

Clinic planned for runners

Health and wellness events offered by hospitalsdownload a brochure.

You also can register online at www.CarolinaRunningCompany.com.

McLeod News l March 20126

THE VALUE OF

MCLeOd VALUes In ACTIOnQuality MCLeOd VALUes In ACTIOn

Two new additions to the McLeod Hospice House are now visible. Part of the McLeod Foundation’s One Vision, One Future campaign, this expansion will provide end-of-life care for 12 more patients. The construction is expected to be completed this summer, with the opening of the extra beds in the fall. McLeod Foundation Executive Director Jill Bramblett is excited about the support of the community in already pledging more than $5.45 million to build facilities that will ‘have a lasting impact for future generations.’

Florence businessman Tim Cunningham has been giving generously to the McLeod Foundation for many years, both with his time and his donations to its many worthy projects. He first served on several committees and then was elected as a board member in 1999.

But when he and his family made donations to the McLeod Hospice program — by designating gifts to sponsor trees for the annual Tree Lighting ceremonies and later by making a donation to the McLeod Hospice House — he never dreamed that anyone in his family would be directly helped by that donation.

His mother, Billie Cunningham of Darlington, had been a McLeod volunteer for about 15 years, working in the Women’s Resource Center and an intensive care unit waiting room.

In January, she became ill and needed more care than the assisted-living center where she had been residing could provide. McLeod Hospice staff also had already been assisting in her care by making visits to her.

When her health declined, she was moved to the McLeod Hospice House. The generous donation by her son and his family had been recognized with a plaque outside a patient room. Coincidentally, it was to that room that she was admitted, without a request from the family.

“I told her she was in the room we had named,” he said. “I feel like she understood. I knew it would have been a comfort to her.”

Cunningham’s interest in McLeod Hospice grew out of his background in the health field. He has a master’s degree in public health administration from the University of South Carolina and worked at the Pee Dee Health Systems Agency. The health plan that he helped develop in the 1980s for the Pee Dee region identified the urgent need for a hospice program.

“Hospice is what got me started and was the driving force for me to be involved in the work of the McLeod Foundation,” he said. “It is my passion.”

Although the Hospice House was not open then, his father was cared for through McLeod Hospice by nurses, volunteers, and other staff who visited him at home.

Cunningham also was influenced by Dr. Mary Dean Brewer, an executive director of the McLeod Foundation who died before her dream of a Hospice House was realized. “I think of her when I visit the Hospice House,” he said.

“It is such a great addition to our program that we needed here. And, it is a comfort for the family to be surrounded by people who understand. The family receives as much support as the patient.”

Cunningham added that he stays involved with McLeod Health because he feels he is making contributions to improving the quality of people’s lives in our area and is very impressed with the staff of the McLeod Foundation, which is led by Executive Director Jill Bramblett.

Recently, those contributions were confirmed when someone recognized his name and connected it to the room his family had sponsored at the McLeod Hospice House. “Her mom had been in that room, and she told me about the good care that had made such a difference to her family. That was quite gratifying,” he said.

Tim Cunningham, a member of the McLeod Foundation Board of Trustees, stands beside a patient room in the McLeod Hospice House. His family’s generous gift to the McLeod Foundation is acknowledged by a plaque beside the door. As part of his dedication and interest, he also has committed to supporting the new expansion.

Mcleod Foundation board member donates to help improve lives

McLeod News l March 2012 7

THE VALUE OF

MCLeOd VALUes In ACTIOnIntegrityWelcoming new physicians

Dr. Jane senseneyFlorence diagnostic

AssociatesMcLeod Medical Plaza

800 e. Cheves st., suite 200, Florence

Dr. Jane D. Senseney has joined Florence Diagnostic Associates and McLeod Physician Associates as an Internal Medicine physician.

Dr. Senseney comes to McLeod from the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston. She also served as an assistant professor for the Department of General Medicine/Geriatrics at the Medical University of South Carolina.

In addition to internal medicine, Dr. Senseney specializes in geriatrics, palliative medicine, and rheumatology. She is board certified in internal medicine and palliative medicine.

After receiving a medical degree from MUSC in 1992, Dr. Senseney completed residencies there in internal medicine and rheumatology.

Dr. Ifeanyichukwu Eruchalu has joined McLeod Pulmonary and Critical Care Associates and McLeod Physician Associates as a Pulmonary Medicine physician.

He comes to McLeod from Southern Pulmonary Center in Gastonia, NC, and is board certified in critical care medicine and pulmonary diseases.

Dr. Eruchalu received a medical degree in 1989 from the University of Nigeria College of Medicine in Enugu, Nigeria.

He completed a residency at Mount Sinai School of Medicine/North General Hospital in New York City and a fellowship at Boston University School of Medicine.

Dr. ife eruchaluMcLeod Pulmonary &

Critical Care AssociatesMcLeod Medical Plaza

800 e. Cheves st.,suite 200, Florence

Welcoming new Director

internal medicine, pulmonary physicians join practices in Mcleod Medical plaza

Kellie Akahara is excited about her new position as Director of Hemodialysis and about what she can bring to the community to help patients facing the prospect of treating kidney failure with dialysis.

Working with renal patients is “my passion,” the Missouri native says. Although she was in administrative and management roles in both Florida and Arizona before coming to McLeod, Akahara also has worked as an acute-care nurse. She has a bachelor of science degree in nursing from Webster University and plans to begin studies for an MSN degree in the next six months.

Akahara enjoys the closeness that develops between nurses and renal patients whose chronic condition may require frequent hospitalizations. She also feels that she has become more empathetic by working with this group of patients.

“That could be my family or me,” she said. “When patients end up in the ER in renal failure, it is a crisis for them. It impacts the entire support system of the family and whatever resources are available.”

The 28 team members Akahara manages in Hemodialysis stay busy performing 400 treatments a month. Most patients require the three-hour treatments three times a week. In addition to staffing the eight inpatient dialysis stations, nurses go to the critical care units to dialyze patients if they are too sick or cannot be moved.

The challenge for her team is the acuity of the patients, Akahara says. “We have a number of fragile patients here. They can get sick very quickly. You form a relation-ship with the patients who come here frequently. You get attached to them.”

A challenge for Akahara in her new position is to put education programs in place that will slow the progression of kidney disease. “Getting education out to those who are at risk is so desperately needed, but I’m up to the challenge,” she said.

“I have no doubt that I can bring education to the community and help these patients. I look forward to being here and serving the community in the McLeod tradition,” Akahara added.

Hemodialysis Director Kellie Akahara has been a certified nephrology nurse for 12 years. She invites other departments to be partners in education to prevent kidney disease and its complications.

Supporting patients excites new director

McLeod News l March 20128

MAkInG ROUndsMcLeod FlorenceHemodialysis

Congratulations to Celestine Wright. She received her bachelor’s degree in December and is now working on her master’s degree.

trauma surgical care unitBest wishes to Tonja Tart on

her recent marriage to Denny Seif (CVICU) and to Deanna Tedder on her marriage to Jesse Parrott.

Congratulations to our Palmetto Gold recipient Patricia Taylor. We are very proud of you for your hard work and dedication.

Congratulations to Amie Berry on the December 16 birth of her daughter. Sophia weighed six pounds, eight ounces.

emergency servicesOur condolences to Shirleen Green

and Robin Lewis on the death of their fathers.

Congratulations to Ginny Bazen and husband Shawn on the birth of their daughter, Grace Morgan.

laboratoryCongratulations to Mary Brackett

on completing the McLeod Leadership Academy. Way to go, Mary, for all your hard work and achievement!

Congratulations to Terry Bailey on the birth of her first grandson. Jackson Cooper Shirley was born on January 21.

Best wishes to Rachael Dampier-Hufnagel on her recent marriage to James. May you have many happy years ahead!

radiologyCongratulations to Ashley

Houseknecht on passing her abdomen boards in ultrasound.

reservations & schedulingOur condolences go to Melanie

Mastle and her family on the death of her sister, and to Lena Butler on the death of her mother.

cVicuCongratulations to Kathy Jenkins

for winning Palmetto Gold. We are so proud of you!

Congratulations to Lauren Bailey and Lance on the January 21 birth of a son. Jackson Cooper weighed nine pounds, five ounces.

respiratory careCongratulations to Lakeisha

Perkins and her husband on the January 25 birth of their baby boy. David Benjamin weighed nine pounds, 12 ounces.

occupational Health servicesCongratulations to our staff who

have completed advanced training. Debra Todd of McLeod Loris com-pleted Urine Drug Screen training. Janet Hyman and Sakenia Frierson completed PPD (tuberculosis) reader certification.

Jessica Thrower and Joan Rink completed the tuberculosis control course given by the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control.

Alison Dozier, onsite nurse at Heinz, became a certified instructor in Basic Life Support.

Jessica Thrower and Sakenia Frierson became certified in Breath Alcohol Training.

Ernestine Morris has retired after a 55-year nursing career. She enrolled in the McLeod School of Nursing in 1957 and retired with McLeod Occupational Health. Her nursing career included 30 years of service at DHEC, work in such area industries as Wellman, and she served McLeod Dillon as their employee health nurse. She has been a great friend and co-worker, and we wish her the best.

communications & public information

A special congratulations to newly certified child passenger

safety technicians. They are Ashley Costas of Safe Kids Pee Dee/Coastal, Stacey Mott of McLeod Loris, Barbara Thrasher of NICU, Kim Landreth and Jonathan Moore of the Florence Fire Department, and Josh James and Jimmy Cantey of the Florence Police Department.

McLeod Darlingtonadministration

Congratulations to Ashley Watford of Medical-Surgical and Tim Smoak of McLeod Behavioral Health on being named recipients of the Palmetto Gold award. We are very proud of both of you.

McLeod Physician AssociatesDillon pediatrics

Congratulations to Lashay Thompson and husband Mervin on the January 20 birth of their daughter.

Mcleod urologyOur condolences to Karen Godwin

on the January 31 death of her father.

McLeod Loris Seacoastcommunications & public information

Congratulations to Stacey Mott on successfully completing the National Child Passenger Safety Certification Training. As a certified technician, Stacey will be able to explain car-seat installation procedures to parents and caregivers. As Outreach Coordinator for McLeod Loris Seacoast, Stacey plans and conducts health screenings, education classes, and wellness events throughout the McLeod Loris Seacoast service area.

physical rehabilitationCongratulations to Hailey Hymas

on her recent graduation from Horry-Georgetown Technical College as a physical therapist assistant.

McLeod News l March 2012 9

McLeod Health Eating Well Strategy

Strategies:Here are things you can do to help make exercise more enjoyable.

Obstacle:

I do not like to exercise.

— from Mayo Clinic: Healthy Weight for Everybody

Strategies for overcoming weight-loss barriers

People who do not like to exercise generally view physical activity as painful or boring. It does not have to be either.

From among the many forms of physical activity, you are bound to find something enjoyable. Experiment. Find something that piques your interest and try it out.

� Try not to focus on exercise only. Think of enjoyable things to do in which you are physically active — working in your flower garden or helping a friend with a building project. How you frame physical activity in your mind can make a big difference.

� Exercise with a friend or a group. That way, you can socialize while you exercise, making the time go faster and the task seem less boring or painful.

� Mix things up. Do not feel tied to one activity, such as walking. On occasion, try biking or swimming instead.

� Listen to music. Upbeat music can rev you up and make your workout seem easier. It can also make time pass more quickly.

— Kitty Finklea, McLeod Health & Fitness Center

There are many reasons why people might not want to exercise — not enough time, too tired, bad weather, or fear that they might hurt themselves. And, then some people find the thought of sweating on a treadmill not appealing at all.

Americans have definitely become more sedentary. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that only 16 percent of Americans over age 15 engaged in regular physical activity in a three-year period (2003-06).

Over the past several decades, the technological advances of television and computer have led to a more inactive lifestyle, and this inaction has become the norm. Our society as a whole does not promote daily movement. It is much easier not to move!

Lack of activity is linked to increased risk of all kinds of diseases, so physical activity of mild to moderate intensity can improve health.

How much activity is needed to stay healthy? First, consult your physician to recommend an exercise plan that is safe for you. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends at least 30 minutes of activity five days per week.

It needs to include three types of activity — cardiovascular or heart-pumping exercises, strength training to preserve muscle strength, and stretching to maintain flexibility.

While running on a treadmill and lifting weights can help meet this requirement, there are many different ways to work toward this goal. Dancing, gardening, walking, car washing, housecleaning, and basketball can all help meet the cardio-

vascular goal. Strength training is also important to build and preserve lean muscle mass. Even seniors in their 80s and 90s benefit from strength training. Talk to a personal trainer to tailor a program for you. Stretching can keep muscles limber for daily activity.

To keep you motivated to move, think about becoming more active in any way you might enjoy. Even if you have debilitating physical challenges, you probably have the capacity to move more. And in addition to decreasing risk of disease, movement helps increase blood flow, improve mood, and enhance weight loss.

Strategies to consider:• Count active chores toward overall activity level.• Make more steps whenever you can — park farther away,

take the stairs, go a longer way.• Look for activities you consider fun — dancing, gardening,

sports, hiking, walking dogs, or anything that keeps you more active.• Play outdoors — sunshine increases Vitamin D and

serotonin levels as well as overall mood.• Brief times count! Metabolism and fitness level is boosted

with as little as 10 minutes of activity. Contact McLeod Health and Fitness Center at (843)777-3000

or log on to http://www.McLeodHealth.org/Wellness/fitness.cfm for more information on a personalized fitness program.

� Take advantage of introductory classes or exercise videos to learn basic skills and techniques.

� Focus on the benefits of activity instead of the activity itself. Think of your workout time as personal time for you. Reflect on your goals and remind yourself how good it will feel to achieve them.

To stay motivated, try different exercise options, levels of activity

Elizabeth Ritchie (L), a nurse in the Oncology unit, works with trainer Kim Fredrick in the Inches A Way Nutrition and Exercise class. Ritchie is excited about already seeing results since beginning the class in January.

McLeod News l March 201210

coMMunity eVentsMobile Mammography unit screenings (Call 777-2095)

Tues., March 6, 8:30 am-4 pm, McLeod Family Medicine TimmonsvilleThurs., March 8, 9 am-4 pm, Live Oak Medical Center, KingstreeTues., March 13, 8:30 am-3:45 pm, Pate Medical Associates, BishopvilleWed., March 14, 9 am-4 pm, Williamsburg County School District, KingstreeThurs., March 15, 8:30 am-4 pm, McLeod Family Medicine JohnsonvilleMon., March 19, 8:30 am-4 pm, Town of Lamar at Piggly Wiggly, LamarTues., March 27, 8:30 am-4 pm, McLeod Family Medicine Lake City

special obserVancesMarch is: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Awareness Month, National Colorectal

Awareness Month, National Endometriosis Awareness Month, Eye Donor Month, Hemophilia Month, Kidney Month, Mental Retardation Awareness Month, National Nutrition Month, Save Your Vision Month, National Sleep Awareness Month, Workplace Eye Wellness Month

March 4-10 — Juvenile Arthritis Awareness WeekThurs., March 8 — World Kidney DayMarch 11-17 — Pulmonary Rehabilitation WeekMarch 12-18 — Brain Awareness WeekMarch 18-24 — National Poison Prevention Week, Inhalants & Poison Awareness WeekSat., March 24 — World Tuberculosis DayTues., March 27 — American Diabetes Alert Day

american red crossblood drive

Register for a donation time at www.GiveLife.org/index.cfm?

Sponsor=McLeodor by calling 777-4214 for McLeod Darlington

or 777-2005 for McLeod Dillon.

Bring a first-time donor and be entered into the drawing for prizes.

Your donation not only saves lives but also helps McLeod

receive discounts on blood products.

looking aHeaD

Wed., March 1410 am-4 pm

McLeod darlington

tues., March 201-6 pm

McLeod dillonAuxiliary Room

third thursday with kohl’s safe seats

(monthly) Thurs., March 15, 4-6 pm, Kohl’s parking lot, Florence

(Free; bring child & child safety seat.Call 777-5021 for information.)

McLeod Diabetes CenterMonthly support group

(Free; call 777-6000) Mon., March 12, 6:30-7:30 pmCelebrating National Nutrition Month

Topic: Rate Your Plate

Medical Park East, Suite 290, conference room

training prograMs pee Dee aHec: basic ekg interpretation

Tues., March 6, 9 am-3:15 pm, Family Medicine Center, classrms A & Bpee Dee aHec: opioid Maintenance in pregnancy Thurs., March 15, 9 am-1:15 pm, Family Medicine Center, classrms A & Bpee Dee aHec: Making sense of lab Values & blood gases Mon., March 19, 9 am-4:15 pm, Family Medicine Center, classrms A & Bpee Dee aHec: intermediate ekg interpretation Tues., March 20, 9 am-3:15 pm, McLeod Medical Plaza, conference centerpee Dee aHec: 2012 renal symposium

Thurs., March 22, 9 am-4:15 pm, McLeod Medical Plaza, conference centerpee Dee aHec: culture, therapy, & Healing: practicing cultural competence in calamity Fri., March 23, 9 am-12:15 pm, Family Medicine Center, classrms A & B

•see if your diet is healthy•Learn fun tips for eatingfor a healthy weight•sample a healthy & delicious new recipe

To register for Pee dee AHeC classes, call 777-5343.

McLeodPhysician Associates

Dr. Anna Jane Senseney Joins McLeod’s Distinguished Team Of Florence Diagnostic Associates.

Florence Diagnostic AssociatesMcLeod Medical Plaza, 800 E. Cheves Street, Suite 200, Florence

843-662-1502 www.McLeodHealth.org

McLeod Physician Associates and Florence Diagnostic Associates, including Dr. Conyers O’Bryan, Dr. Fripp Ducker, Dr. Michael Mitchell, and nurse practitioner Sharon Gulledge, are very pleased to welcome Dr. Anna Jane D. Senseney to the practice. An experienced and compassionate physician, Dr. Senseney is board certified in Internal Medicine and Palliative Care. “I have known and admired the care provided by many of the physicians in the practice, and it is exciting to join one of the area’s most respected and established internal medicine teams,” she stated. “It is also a privilege to be a part of the McLeod Health organization, which has such an outstanding reputation for patient-centered care.” Originally from the area, Dr. Senseney is delighted to be back in the region and looks forward to welcoming new patients and their families to the practice.

Left to right: Dr. Fripp Ducker, Dr. Anna Jane Senseney, Dr. Conyers O’Bryan, Dr. Michael Mitchell, and Sharon Gulledge, NP