NorthBay Healthcare Vice President and Chief Financial

Officer Art DeNio passed away sud-denly on Monday, Dec. 3, after a short illness, his family reported, noting, “We are devas-tated.”

“Our hearts and prayers are with

the DeNio family as they try to

1. OpEx 2020 Launched: Our “Eyes on 2020” strategic plan was com-bined with operational oppor-tunities found in a systemwide assessment to help us consis-tently deliver seamless care and maintain our indepen-dence. Many OpEx initiatives

1

…Check My NorthBay, Your Employee Portal, for News in

Real Tim

e…12.05.18

A Holiday BreakEnjoy this final FYI issue

of 2018. We resume publication on Jan. 2.

2018: A Year of StrategicGrowth, Accomplishments

From openings of new services and

facilities to celebrations of certifications and

accomplishments, it was a very good year for NorthBay

Healthcare. Here are our picks for the Top 10

stories of 2018.— Editor

From Urgent Care (top) to the new hospital wing (left) and ORX, NorthBay grew in 2018.

See TOP 10, Page 6

Intermittent rain storms couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm as NorthBay Healthcare and OLE Health officially made their in-novative partnership public with a grand opening event Thursday,

See OLE, Page 10

NorthBaySuffers a

Tragic Loss

NorthBay, OLE HealthCelebrate Partnership

See TRAGIC LOSS, Page 2

Art DeNio

2

TO REMEMBERDATES

IN THE NEWSPEOPLE

LETTERS

DATES

PEOPLE

NEW FACESWELCOMEWELCOME

LETTERS

TO REMEMBERDATES

IN THE NEWSPEOPLE

LETTERS

DATES

PEOPLE

NEW FACESWELCOMEWELCOME

LETTERS

Pablo DiazNutrition Associate INutrition ServicesNorthBay Medical Center

Victoria SatterwhiteMedical AssistantVacaville Center for Primary Care

Chelsea ScottNuclear Medicine TechnologistVacaValley Hospital

12.05.18 Retirement Plan Meetings, VacaValley Health Plaza, Suite 29012.06.18 Retirement Plan Meetings, Penn Tab Lobby12.08.18 Hospice Tree of Memories, GVAC12.12.18 Employee Appreciation Meals, Hilborn, NBMC12.13.18 Employee Appreciation Meals, NBMC, VacaValley, GVAC12.14.18 Employee Appreciation Meals, VacaValley12.14.18 Toy Drive concludes12.17.18 Adopt-a-School parties start at Padan and Fairview schools12.21.18 Holiday party at Center for Women’s Health 01.02.19 First FYI issue of 201901.31.19 Gift certificate deadline

Pair Promoted into Rolesof Human Resources Directors

Tina Jackson and Diane Ur-bano, Human Resources service managers, have been promoted into director positions.

“Tina and Diane will continue to support the facilities as they have historically,” according to Jim Andersen, vice president of Human Resources, when making the announcement.

Tina will take the lead role over recruitment and employee relations, explained Jim. Diane will continue in the lead role over compensation and benefits, he said.

“Understanding the overlap of responsibilities in these areas, they will continue to work collab-oratively to produce a consistent

product as we strive to move the organization,” Jim noted.

Both Tina and Diane have con-tributed their expertise to North-Bay Healthcare for more than 20 years, and this promotion ac-knowledges their overall scope of responsibility, level of knowledge and expertise, he added.

It’s Time for the Countdown to NorthBay’s Adopt-a-School PartiesNorthBay Healthcare’s Adopt-

a-School program is off and running, thanks to the more than 50 NorthBay departments and individuals who have stepped up to sponsor a class or two.

Parties are scheduled for the week of Dec. 17 at both Padan and Fairview elementary schools, and it’s time to get shopping!

Here are a few tips for a suc-cessful connection with your classroom: Make contact with your teacher; don’t stress! It’s a “wish” list; and confirm the date and time of the party.

If you haven’t printed out your class’s wish list yet, it can be found at http://author.north-bay.org/adopt/.

Diane UrbanoTina Jackson

make sense of this tragic loss,” President and CEO Konard Jones reported to NorthBay senior lead-ers, managers, employees and board members Monday after-noon. “We, too, will greatly miss Art as a friend, colleague and leader at NorthBay Healthcare.”

Art has been with NorthBay since 2001 and has been in-strumental in strategic planning endeavors, and securing funding for numerous building projects,

including the current three-story wing and ED expansion projects at NorthBay Medical Center, the surgery center and much more, said Theo Rallis, senior director of accounting.

Art is survived by his wife, Madelyn; his son J.R.; daughter-in-law Jamie; and two grandchil-dren, A.J. and Addison.

At press time, it was still too early to obtain details about services. Email and My NorthBay, the employee portal, will be used to communicate more informa-tion as it becomes available.

Tragic Loss ... (From Page 1)

The login is “adopting” and the password is “classroom.” Select your teacher’s class and click on “view details” to print the list.

If your class is having a pizza party, Cenarios Pizza offers a dis-count. For Fairfield, call 425-1000 and for Vacaville call 449-1900.

Questions? Call Stacy Ander-sen at ext. 3303.

3

OncologyPioneer toStep into

RetirementThere’s only been one man at

the helm of Radiation Oncology since its inception in 1987, and now that man is stepping into retirement.

Florian Ploch, M.D., medical director of Radiation Oncology for the NorthBay Cancer Center, will retire on Dec. 31. 2018.

Back in the mid-1980s, medi-cal staff treating cancer patients at then-Intercommunity Hospi-tal came to former hospital CEO Gary Passama with an idea: establish a radiation therapy ser-vice for hospitalized patients, and he agreed. When the Gateway Medical Plaza was built in 1986, it was designed to house the latest linear accelerator, and Dr. Ploch came from Napa to oversee the newly formed center as its medi-cal director.

Outpatient chemotherapy services became available to NorthBay patients once medical oncology and a clinical trials pro-gram were added to the center in the mid-1990s. In 1996, the center became the first civilian

facility in Solano County to earn accreditation from the Commis-sion on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons.

Over the years, Dr. Ploch has seen radiation oncology become more “targeted” in its ability to diminish tumors, he said, thanks to more sophisticated equip-ment and increased accuracy in the computing power needed to isolate them.

But, one thing has not changed over the years, he noted. “We have remained true to our original goals: to put the patient first and to keep up with technology. We’ve been able to do that with the retention of a

very good staff and the steady direction of James Long, M.D.”

“Dr. Ploch has been the con-tinuing force for the cancer program through many critical changes,” said Dr. Long, Cancer Center medical director. “Through his consistent leadership as Can-cer Committee Chair, NorthBay Cancer Center has maintained it’s certification by the Commission on Cancer of the American Col-lege of Surgeons as the first and, for many years, the only certified cancer center in Solano County. His devotion to the best interests of the patients set the standard for years to come. He will be sorely missed.”

The NorthBay Cancer Center’s annual report for 2017 is now posted and available for down-loading on NorthBay.org. You’ll find it under “Services” on the

NorthBay Cancer Center page.The annual report — which

marks 30 years since the North-Bay Cancer Center opened in 1987 — includes the 2017 Cancer

Registry Statistical Review and is published by the NorthBay Can-cer Committee, under the direc-tion of Florian Ploch, M.D.

NorthBay Cancer Center’s 2017 Annual Report is Online

Dr. Florian Ploch has been with the Cancer Center since it opened in 1987.

4

It was more soggy than foggy for Vacaville’s annual Merriment on Main celebration and community tree lighting, which attracted thousands of rev-elers. NorthBay Healthcare was there to join in the fun as well, with a card-board Santa sleigh (above) where visitors could pose for a group photo or a selfie. Volunteers (at right) also handed out modeling clay, glow sticks, NorthBay branded ear muffs and, of course, plenty of hot cocoa. HealthSpring Fitness was on hand as well, giving out branded canvas bags that proved quite popu-lar among visitors to the booth.

A contingent from NorthBay Healthcare, joined by Assemblymember Jim Frazier, (second from the left) shows off the tree purchased by NorthBay Healthcare Foundation President Brett Johnson (far right) to go in the lobby at NorthBay Va-caValley Hospital. The tree was one of 42 full-size trees available to the top bidder, or for a preset sale price at the 28th an-nual Festival of Trees gala Nov. 26 at the Vacaville Recreation Center. The event is a fundraiser for Vacaville’s homeless shelter, Opportunity House. NorthBay’s contingent included (left to right) Stacy Andersen, Susan Cianci, Wendy Jackson, Sally Wyatt and Brett Johnson.

It’s Tree Time

Plenty of families got a memorable keepsake from Merriment on Main by posing their children in the NorthBay sleigh for a photograph.

Oh What Fun it is to Ride!

5

Phase III of the NorthBay Medical Center Emergency Department is nearly done, and plans are in the works for a special staff preview party.

If all goes as planned, final approval on the project is expected by Wednesday, Dec. 12, making way for an Open House celebration from 10 to 11 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 14.

Check out the Emergency Department’s three new resuscitation rooms, three new patient-lift rooms and an expanded nursing station.

“This third phase will expand the bed capacity from 19 to 29 beds,” said Heather Venezio, director of Emergency Services. “We’ll also be well on our way to completion of the entire project.”

Phase IV, which involves the creation of a new staff break room and installation of a CT scanner will begin in January and is expected to take two months to complete.

Refreshments will be provided during the open house. No RSVP is necessary.

End of ED’s Phase IIIis Cause for CelebrationMark Your Calendar for Open House

A NorthBay Guild volunteer came up the winner in #HealthTipTuesday October drawing for a $50 Amazon gift card.

Lauretta Graham, who has volunteered with the Guild for many years, won the drawing by posting a comment on one of the weekly #HealthTipTuesday posts on the NorthBay Facebook page (Facebook.com/NorthBayHealthcare).

Everyone who posts a comment and shares the weekly health tips on Facebook is automatically entered into the drawing for a gift card — employees, included. The November winner will be announced soon.

You could be the next winner. Comment on and share our Tuesday health tips and you will be entered in the December drawing. Comment. Share. Win!

Guild Leader Our Latest#HealthTipTuesday Winner

North-Bay Guild volunteer Lauretta Graham

won a $50 Amazon

gift card for sharing and

comment-ing on our

#HealthTip Tuesday

Facebook posts.

Turkey Trot No. 1NorthBay Healthcare had a presence at both Turkey Trot events in Solano County this year. Assistant Vice President of Public Affairs Steve Huddleston (above, left) and Executive Assistant Stacy Andersen were there to greet runners at the Fairfield event at Solano Community College. On the same Thanksgiving morn-ing, a team from NorthBay HealthSpring Fitness joined forces to welcome runners to the first inaugu-ral Turkey Trot and Pumpkin Pie Gorge in Vacaville, starting at Centennial Park.

6

Top 10...(From Page 1)

have involved behind-the-scene changes that have resulted in cost savings. A few departments added new components, such as Specialty Pharmacy, which can generate millions in new revenue. In the end, some streamlining and restructuring affected a very limited number of positions and staff. Because of the work done so far, all eligible employees will receive a 3 percent wage adjust-ment in December.

2. Major Successes: It started in January, with the announcement that NorthBay Hospice & Bereavement earned its fourth star in the “We Honor Veterans” program. In March, NorthBay’s Safe Patient Han-dling program was honored with a Recognition of Excellence by the Atlas Lift Coach program. For the second year in a row, NorthBay Medical Center received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement award. It also received a posi-tive preliminary report from The Joint Commission. Women and Children’s Services Department earned a “Follow Up Award” from the California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative and a 2018 achievement award from Smart Care California for a low number of low-risk, first-birth C-sections. The Joint Replacement Program earned a two-year recertifica-tion for hips and knees from The Joint Commission and reported a 100 percent score on patient satisfaction. The NorthBay Medi-cal Group was honored as one of the top-performing and most improved physician organizations in the state by the Integrated

Healthcare Association. Primary and Specialty care providers received five out of five stars on Patient Assessment Surveys; the Chest Pain Center received posi-tive preliminary feedback on its survey; the Quality Department was honored again with a Pioneer award for excellence in using the electronic Health Record; Case Management aced the Western Health Advantage Healthplan Utilization Management and Case Management Audit; and our Magnet effort has passed its first important hurdle in the journey toward redesignation.

3. Urgent Care Opens: At the Nut Tree Plaza in Vacaville, Solano County’s first retail-based urgent care clinic has enjoyed an incredibly strong year, exceeding

all of NorthBay’s expectations. The facility, which opened in January, is a partnership between NorthBay and Direct Urgent Care, which has opened other similar patient-centric, high-tech clin-ics in the Bay Area. Because the facility had extra space available, Occupational Health elected to open a Vacaville location inside the facility in September. About the same time, orthopedic sur-geons began offering a Saturday sports clinic, which ran through football season, although it served athletes of all ages from a variety of different sports.

4. ORX Opens: In March Orthopedics, Rehabilitation and X-ray united under one roof on the Hilborn campus, to offer a

Dr. Caesar Djavaheri-an (above) welcomes guests to Urgent Care at its grand opening. Dr. Jay Parkin (at left) speaks to the crowd at the ORX opening. Ann and Mark Sievers (opposite page, top) toast during Open That Bottle Night. Dr. Jessica Powers (bot-tom photo at right) chats with Lt. Col. Kenneth Bode during one of two Tribute to Veterans events.

See Top 10, Page 7

7

ley and Amy Davis. Mark, who serves as chair of the NorthBay Board of Directors, and Ann were recognized for being the found-ers of the Jubilee, while Stanley and Amy were tapped for their consistent and generous support of numerous NorthBay programs and services. The 2018 Jubilee raised just over $391,000.

9. New Home: Nursing Education and Clinical Practice teams celebrated their new digs in NorthBay Health Plaza with an open house in June. Clinical nurse specialists and the educa-tion team moved into their new space on the second floor, which also includes a secondary Sim lab. Having the office on the NorthBay Medical Center campus should prove to be convenient for nursing staff, according to JoAnn Munski, director of nursing edu-cation and clinical practice devel-opment, and complements the Sim lab at Green Valley Adminis-tration Center.

10. Tribute to Veterans: NorthBay Healthcare used the 75th anniversary of Travis Air Force Base and the 30th anni-versary of David Grant Medical Center as a reason to host our own first-ever Salute to Veterans

— includ-ing nearly 200 who work at NorthBay Healthcare. Employ-ees and physicians with mili-tary back-grounds were fea-tured in the Fall issue of Wellspring.

patient-centric service. Work began on the $5.9 million project in 2016, when architects, engi-neers, patients and department teams came together to create an efficient design to streamline care for patients.

5. Construction Continues: At a furious pace, work at North-Bay Medical Center moved ahead on the north three-story wing to ready it for its 2019 opening. When the year kicked off, most of the addition had been encased in glass windows and framing of walls had begun. By years’ end, patient rooms had received cabi-nets and equipment was being installed in the six surgical suites and kitchen. The Hard Hat Report continues to offer updates.

6. Progress in the ED: With beautiful state-of-the-art rooms completed last October, Phase III began in earnest in the Emergen-cy Department in 2018, which required closing off the heart of the old space for renovation. The former ambulance entrance was sealed off, creating a new footprint for larger trauma bays, one of which will be dedicated to cardiovascular resuscitation. Con-struction plans include a new CT scanner room, larger nurses’ sta-tion and, eventually, a new staff lounge. Phase III is expected to conclude later this month, and Phase IV will wrap up the project early next year.

7. NorthBay Healthcare and OLE Health: An innova-tive health partnership between NorthBay Healthcare and OLE Health was celebrated with a

grand open-ing of a second OLE Health clinic in Fairfield. (See full story, Page 1). NorthBay is providing 2,000-square-feet of space in the NorthBay Health Plaza to host the community-based health center, which primarily helps disadvan-taged families.

8. Jubilee Record: It was a good year in terms of fundraising for NorthBay Healthcare Founda-tion, as funds raised during Open That Bottle Night and the Solano Wine & Food Jubilee topped ef-forts of previous years. At Open That Bottle Night, more than $60,000 was raised to support the Mission to Serve program and $160,000 was raised during a live auction. Spirit of Philanthro-py awards were also presented to Ann and Mark Sievers and Stan-

Top 10...(From Page 6)

8

Stuck for a gift idea? A ticket to the 2019 Solano Wine & Food Jubilee might fit the bill.

NorthBay employees can purchase tickets for themselves, friends or family members through payroll deduction, and take advantage of an “Early Bird” discount at the same time.

Early Bird pricing is $75 per ticket and the deadline to sign up for this special arrangement is Jan. 4, 2019. There is a limit of four tickets per employee through payroll deduction, and to make this arrangement, contact Lou Lopez, Foundation Analyst in NorthBay Healthcare Foundation at (707) 646-3132, or LHLopez@NorthBay.org.

The 32nd annual event, with its “wine country casual” theme, is set for 6:30 p.m. on May 18, 2019 at the Harbison Event Cen-ter at the Nut Tree. Jubilee ticket prices go up to $100 after Open That Bottle Night on Feb. 23, 2019, and will be $125 on the day of the Jubilee, if not already sold out.

Sponsors are already lining up to help support this event, noted Craig Bryan, Jubilee committee chair. Presenting Sponsors for 2019 are Al and Patt Shaw, Lee and Valerie Freeman, DPR Con-struction, Western Health Advan-tage, Dennis and Alex Landis, Heidi Y. Campini and Paradise Valley Estates.

For more information about the Jubilee itself, go to www.NorthBayC2C.org.

ConsiderGiving the

Gift ofJubilee

Tree of Memories Event at GVAC Dec. 8The holiday season can be hard on those suffering the loss of

a loved one, but honoring their memory can help ease the pain. NorthBay Hospice’s annual Tree of Memories offers people a chance to pause during this time to remember their friends and family members during a thoughtfully coordinated ceremony.

The two-hour ceremony, set for Dec. 8 at 1 p.m., will be held at NorthBay Healthcare’s Green Valley Administration Center, 4500 Business Center Drive in Fairfield. It includes light refreshments, music, reading of names, and a slide show of digital images of loved ones lost.

Before the ceremony begins, guests will receive a free orna-ment to place on the evergreen tree in memory of their loved ones.

Every year for the past several years, special keepsake orna-ments have also been made available. This year’s version is a dove suspended in a 24K gold-plated oval ring and is available for a minimum donation of $20. Donations help fund NorthBay Hospice & Bereavement programs.

These special ornaments can be ordered in advance. Contact Lou Lopez, NorthBay Healthcare Foundation, at LHLopez@North-Bay.org, or call (707) 646-3132.

Hospice patient Denzel Watkins had a wish to see his friends at the Fairfield Senior Center again, and NorthBay Hospice’s Dream of a Lifetime program made his wish a reality recently. Denzel had been a daily visitor to the center’s pool room, and had not seen his friends since being placed in a skilled nursing facility last Septem-ber. The Dream Team arranged to have a wheelchair van equipped with oxygen transport him from his skilled nursing facility to the Senior Center’s pool hall for an afternoon of lunch and camaraderie, just in time to coincide with the group’s monthly meeting and tournament. The Hospice Dream Team also made sure that Denzel had finger food and dessert to contribute to the group’s potluck lunch. “The patient was very appreciative of the transportation coordination and had a great time with his friends,” reported Thrieza Zapanta, clinical social worker. Denzel was accompanied on his outing by Nieko Passion, home health aide, and John Ryland, hospice nurse.

Dream Reunites Patient with Pals

9

A gift of thanks went out to all NorthBay Healthcare employees recently from the Board of Directors, as a way of showing their appreciation for the service we all — in many ways — have provided to our patients and the community over the past year. It’s a gift certificate worth $35, to be spent in a variety of ways.

You can choose to spend the funds in the NorthBay Guild Gift Shops at either hospital, or you can chose to donate the funds to one of NorthBay’s programs or departments, including but not limited to the Employee Emergency Fund, the Helping Employees Reach Out (H.E.R.O.) Fund, the Cancer Center or the

Don’t Forget to Spend Your Holiday Gift CertificateAdult Day Center, for example.

But, should you decide to do some browsing in the gift shops, expect to find some neat items for yourself or as gift ideas for children, family members or friends, noted Jane Hilliard, director of Volunteer Services for NorthBay. To redeem the certificate, all you have to do is select your items, bring them to the cash register and swipe your badge.

Gift shop hours have been extended to accommodate different shifts. The shop will

be open until 7 p.m. on Thursdays at NorthBay Medical Center, and until 6 p.m. on Fridays and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays at VacaValley Hospital.

Guild members will also bring items to

the Vacaville Center for Primary Care from 11:30 a.m.

to 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 11.The certificates should be

redeemed by Jan. 31, after which time unredeemed funds will be rolled over to the NorthBay Guild Wish List fund. Questions? Contact Carlos Battley, Guild analyst, at ext. 3136.

NorthBay Healthcare is accepting donations of unwrapped toys for its annual holiday party Dec. 21 for children whose families use the NorthBay Center for Women’s Health.

You can drop off your un-wrapped toy in a bin at Green Val-ley Administra-tion Center, the Hilborn Admin-istration Center, NorthBay Vaca-Valley Hospital, VacaValley Health Plaza, Gateway Health Care Plaza, NorthBay Medical Center (with the valet) and Urgent Care now through Dec. 14.

Toys can be for babies up through children age 12.Each year for the past 15 years, up to 225 children have received

toys from the one-day holiday event, and have a chance to meet with Santa. Employees volunteer as elves to run a holiday craft table and guide children and their families through the third-floor medical office which becomes Santa’s Workshop for the day.

Don’t have time to shop for a toy? Consider making out a check to NorthBay Healthcare Foundation, with a note in the memo field indi-cating CWH Holiday Celebration.

Toy Drive Needs Your Donations

If friends and family are asking you insurance ques-tions that you can’t answer, don’t despair, help is here. You’ll find it at: northbay.org/patients-visi-tors/ask-Kelly-FAQ.cfm.

Click on “Health Plans and Insurance” for an up-to-date list on what health plans are accepted and consider North-Bay “in-network.”

And if all else fails, you can ask Kelly Rhoads-Poston, se-nior marketing representative, at (707) 646-3280.

She can not only help navi-gate the insurance landscape, but she’s pretty good at help-ing folks determine which physician would best meet their needs.

Have Insurance Questions?

Kelly Can HelpYou Find Answers

10

OLE Health, NorthBay ... (From Page 1)

Nov. 29.At a podium set in front of

OLE Health’s colorful “Live Life Well” panels, a series of speakers explained to a crowd of local dig-nitaries, board members, manag-ers and staff why it’s a perfect partnership of two like-minded, patient-centric health organiza-tions coming together to care for the community.

“We are now able to provide a whole range of services for our patients, all under one roof, so it reduces any barriers for patients getting care,” said Alicia Hardy, CEO of OLE Health.

She shared a couple of stories on patients already seen at the new Fairfield site, including one homeless patient with shoes that were too small to wear. “Her feet were horribly blistered and the team treated her and bandaged her feet but she couldn’t get her shoes back on,” she explained.

The woman was prepared to leave and just buy new shoes later when a staffer jumped into

action, going to her own car to pull out a spare set of sneakers and giving them to the patient.

“I said to her afterward what an incredible thing that was for her to do and she said, ‘Oh, any medical provider would do that.’ That demonstrates the caliber

of staff and providers we have here.”

Wayne Gietz, vice president of Ambulatory Services, praised the collaboration as well.

“This is going to be sustained and going to continue to grow

OLE Health CEO Alicia Hardy shared stories of some of the first patients to enter the new OLE Health facility at the NorthBay Health Plaza.

NorthBay Healthcare Vice President of Ambulatory Services Wayne Geitz (at left) shares his vision of the partnership with an audience at the grand opening event Nov. 29. NorthBay’s Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer Traci Duncan (above, left) shakes hands with Fairfield Mayor Harry Price during a tour of the facility, led by Raquel Beltran, OLE’s director of Operations and Facilities.

See OLE, Page 11

11

and I think what we are looking at to-day will look different three months, six months, a year down the road,” he said.

“There are all kinds of opportunities when you put together two organiza-tions with one goal in mind: the goal of a healthy community.”

Through a community benefit, North-Bay is providing OLE Health with 2,000 square feet of space on the first floor of the NorthBay Health Plaza. It was previ-ously occupied by orthopedics.

It’s a win for NorthBay because disad-vantaged patients who might otherwise come to the emergency department for non-emergent care can now be directed across the street to OLE Health. It also provides a new option for discharge plan-ners to connect uninsured and underin-sured patients to comprehensive primary care and social services.

OLE Health is a federally qualified health center, which means that unlike NorthBay, it receives enhanced reimburse-ment for caring for the disadvantaged.

The new medical office in the health plaza is OLE’s second in Fairfield. The other is in West Fairfield, just off Chad-bourne Road.

OLE ... (From Page 10)

A large crowd, including em-ployees, dig-

nitaries, board members and

staff squeezed into the wait-

ing room for the grand opening

event Nov. 29 at OLE Health’s new

Fairfield office in the NorthBay

Health Plaza.

OLE Health’s team (at left) was all smiles dur-ing the event. Raquel Beltran, OLE’s director of Operations and Facilities, (below, center) answers questions dur-ing a tour, which included Sabine Goerke-Shrode, Chuck Timm, Dora Tamayo and Cath-erine Cook.

12

PHOTO FUN WITH THE NEW WING: Hey, What is That Thing Anyway?

Bolted to the floor of what will become the “hybrid” operating room on north wing’s third floor is this structural anchorage plate (left) nicknamed the “Wagon Wheel.” Eventually a Siemens Pheno — a cutting-edge piece of robotic imaging and surgical technology, above — will be attached to this “wagon wheel.” What is a hybrid OR and what are the advantages of having one? Hybrid ORs are typically larger rooms with higher ceilings and lead-lined walls that have been constructed to blend a traditional operating room with an image-guided interventional suite. Highly complex, advanced, image-guided surgical procedures can be performed here, as well as minimally invasive ones. Hybrid ORs are advantageous for those times when a surgeon might need to quickly convert from a minimally invasive procedure to an open one — depending on need — and the staff and equipment will already be in place. This avoids the need for duplicated equip-ment, resources, supplies and staff. The Pheno itself is a robotic device with multiple imaging capabilities. It has an integrated surgical table that supports a wide range of procedures and patient types, from pediatric to bariatric, and can accommodate any positioning need for everything from spinal fusions to aortic valve replacements.

Admitting, Registration Make Check-in ChangesRecent changes in Admitting

and Outpatient Registration at NorthBay Medical Center have proven so successful that similar changes are now occurring at NorthBay VacaValley Hospital, ac-cording to Terese Davis, director of Patient Access and Communi-cations.

The main idea is to handle pa-

tient check-ins for routine tests, such as lab or radiology services, and scheduled appointments dur-ing regular business hours.

After hours, patients with “STAT orders” or urgent requests should check in at the Information Desk in NorthBay Medical Center and at the Emer-gency Department desk in Vaca-Valley Hospital.

Regular hours of operation for Diagnostic Imaging and Labora-tory for both NorthBay Medical Center and VacaValley Hospital facilities will be 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday; and closed on Sunday. After hours, only urgent diagnostic imaging and laboratory services will be available.

13

Chat Puts Spotlight on Opioid CrisisThe epidemic of opioid addic-

tion and deaths took center stage during the latest #OurDocTalk with NorthBay Healthcare Chief Medical Officer Seth Kaufman, M.D.

Some 1,500 young adults misuse opioids daily in the United States, Dr. Kaufman explained during the live streaming video chat on the NorthBay Facebook page. “Half of them obtained these medications from family or friends, and along with that, 20 percent of young deaths are opioid related,” he said.

In addition to such sobering statistics, Dr. Kaufman explained what opioids are and how they are supposed to be used as well as how they are often misused. The pain relief medications can be highly addictive and require care in prescribing and use.

“When you are talking acute and chronic pain, it’s about re-lieving pain but the ultimate goal is to get the problem solved so the patient can be func-tional again and that’s where opioids can cause a problem,” he ex-plained, “because they don’t necessarily im-prove function. They can in the short term, but as you use them it requires higher and higher doses. In the long term is where you develop tolerance and the potential for addictions and they don’t neces-sarily help function when you get that far out (in time).”

Opioid medications are not a cure, but rather a pain reliever to be used for a certain time, he added.

The crisis in the country comes from people overusing the drugs, or using them recreation-ally or in combination with other

pain relievers.“They are very effective

for short-term pain relief, but the side effect is slowing your breathing down and if you over-

dose, you can stop breathing. We see this with accidental over-doses or when they are combined with other things and in recreation-al drug use where they are using it to get high

and use too much,” Dr. Kaufman said.

He emphasized that anyone can develop an addiction issue with opioids.

“These medications can cause a chemical addiction. Over time, they change the receptors in the body so everyone is at risk of ad-diction,” he said.

He added that knowing the signs of addiction is important. If someone is not as functional as they once were, or stops show-ing up for work or school or

social gatherings or experience an escalation in the need for the drug, wanting more and more pills, these are warning signs, he noted.

Solano County is not immune to the problem, he added. “We are not necessarily worse than other counties in the country but we are not necessarily better, ei-ther,” he said. “We definitely have work ahead of us.”

He said Solano has a lot of resources locally for addiction treatment and he encouraged those who are prescribed opioids or who are taking the drugs to become as educated as possible by talking with their doctor and researching on CDC.gov.

And he added that anyone with these drugs in their home, should take steps to secure them in a locked cabinet. “You don’t want children to get ahold of this and you don’t want anyone but you taking your prescriptions,” he said.

NorthBay Healthcare’s Chief Medical Officer Seth Kaufman, M.D., pauses for a photo before his #OurDocTalk Facebook Live chat on opioid safety.

14

Greg Habel of DPR Construction took time on Nov. 29 to lead a tour of physicians and leaders from the Medical Executive Committee on a

tour of the new three-story wing at NorthBay Medical Center. The group started on the third floor, getting a preview of the new surgical suites,

in various stages of completion. Suites include two hybrid suites, and dedicated surgery rooms for cardio-

vascular and neurology cases. The contingent worked its way down —

to patient rooms on the second floor, and to Diagnostic Imaging, Central Services and Nutrition Services on

the first floor.

MEC Leaders TakeTour of the New Wing

Greg Habel of DPR Construction (far left) prepares to lead a tour of NorthBay leaders through the three-story wing. They included (left to right) Vicki Allison, interim director of Medical Staff Relations; Chief Medical Officer Dr. Seth Kaufman; Dr. Pushkar Pandey; Dr. Godfrey Wong; Dr. Adam Tibble; Dr. William Fulton; Dr. James Bronk; NorthBay Health-care Group Presi-dent Aimee Brewer and Chief of Staff Dr. Pete Zopfi.

Greg Habel of DPR Construc-

tion (center) explains the

layout of rooms on the third

floor to a team of physicians

from the Medi-cal Executive

Committee.

15

Holiday Feast is Coming Soon

In the spirit of appreciation and thanksgiving, NorthBay Healthcare is inviting all employees to at-tend one of several holiday meal celebrations planned to span four campuses over a three-day period in December.

It starts on Dec. 12 at the Hil-born and NorthBay Medical Center campuses and wraps up Dec. 14 in the wee hours in Vacaville.

“Our organization has faced many challenges in 2018, but thanks to our creative, dedicated and hard-working employees, we have also enjoyed huge success-es,” said Aimee Brewer, president of NorthBay Healthcare Group.

“Our senior managers all agreed

that we wanted to take time dur-ing this holiday season to thank our employees for all that they do to help us accomplish our mis-sion of bringing compassionate care and advanced medicine close to home, for our patients and the community,” said President and CEO Konard Jones.

The meals will feature turkey, stuffing and all the traditional fix-ings, provided by Kinder’s BBQ.

In addition, there are plans for a raffle and a “gratitude” table. Holiday attire is encouraged, but not required.

And unlike the employee appre-ciation meals scheduled each May, managers will get a break from serving duties so they, too, can enjoy the meal, said Aimee.

Crews used a large crane to lift NorthBay VacaValley Hospital’s new emergency power generator off a truck trailer and place it within the central utility plant service yard on Tuesday, Nov. 27. The new generator will pro-vide backup power if power goes out for any reason.

Mark Your Calendars!

An Uplifting Experience

16

A team from Vacaville Firefighters Association Local 3501 stopped by the NorthBay Cancer Center Wednesday to drop off a check for $6,370, funds they raised during the Passionately Pink for a Cure fund-raiser at Pietro’s No. 1 in October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

NorthBay Cancer Center staff, physicians and se-nior leadership, including NorthBay Healthcare Presi-dent and CEO Konard Jones and NorthBay Healthcare Foundation President Brett Johnson, greeted the envoy, which included a fire truck, an ambulance and seven firefighters.

There was even time for a push-up challenge between oncologist J.D. Lopez, M.D., and firefighter Luke Iott.

After the check was presented, firefighters took time to tour the third-floor infusion wing and visit with cancer patients, some of whom asked for photos and selfies with the team.

They also chatted with oncologist Brian Vikstrom, M.D., about the life-saving work that’s done every day at the cancer center.

“We’re just proud that we can contribute to an organization that’s providing local care to our commu-nity,” said Luke.

“We’re very pleased to have the support,” said Lori Muir, director of Oncology Services. “This goes a long way in helping our patients, some with very basic needs such as transportation or child care, while they receive infusion treatments.”

Tickled PINK By Firefighters’ Donation

Firefighter-Paramedic Luke Iott (above) shakes hands with NorthBay Healthcare employee and cancer patient Mary Ste-phens (above.) Luke accepts the pushup challenge issued by oncologist J.D. Lopez, M.D., (below, at right). More photos and a video can be seen on NorthBay Healthcare’s Facebook page.

Vacaville firefighters joined NorthBay Cancer Center staff, physicians, and leadership in front of the Cancer Center to present a check for $6,370. Firefighter-Paramedic Joe Scar-rott (above) shakes hands with patient Maria DeVasquez and says hello to her grandson, Jo-seph, during the visit.