September is National Preparedness Month: Plan Now. Work Together. Be Ready.September 2011 is the 8th Annual Na-tional Preparedness Month (NPM), sponsored by the Ready Campaign in partnership with Citizen Corps and the Advertising Council.

This summer’s unusual events here in the northeast - tornadoes, earthquakes and hurricanes - demonstrated how im-portant emergency preparedness can be.

This year’s goal is to turn aware-ness into action by encouraging all Americans to take the necessary steps to ensure that their homes, work, and community are prepared for disasters and emergencies.

For more information, visit www.ready.gov or the Center for Emer-gency Medical Preparedness (CEMP) intranet page.

RxTraA publication for the staff of Hartford Hospital September 6, 2011 Vol. 67 No. 34

An emergency in a health care organi-zation like Hartford Hospital can sud-denly and significantly affect demand for its services or its ability to provide those services, so the organization must have an Emergency Operations Plan (EOP). An EOP provides an organized process for responding to, managing, and recovering from a variety of emer-gencies, both internal and external.

Making this plan involves identifying risks, prioritizing likely emergencies, at-tempting to mitigate them, and consid-ering potential emergencies in develop-ing strategies for preparedness. Because some emergencies originate in the com-munity, the hospital needs to collabo-rate with community organizations.

The EOP describes a comprehensive ap-proach for coordinating six critical ar-eas: communications, resources and assets, safety and security, staffing, util-ities, and clinical activities.

Based on the strength of the EOP, the hospital will be better prepared to ad-dress emergencies.

Hartford Hospital’s EOP was written us-ing guidance from the Joint Commis-sion’s chapter on Emergency Prepared-ness. The EOP is based upon a Hazard Vulnerability Analysis (HVA) that is con-ducted annually, that informs the hos-pital about the top threats that could impact the normal, day-to-day opera-tions of the facility. As circumstances change, so do the potential vulnerabili-ties of the hospital. Therefore, Hartford Hospital bases its emergency prepared-ness planning on the most current HVA.

Hartford Hospital’s Emergency Opera-tions Plan is an over arching, facilities-wide plan of action. Individual units of operation, i.e. floors, departments, ser-vices, etc. are required to have their own Emergency Response Plans in place.

Remember, the EOP is a living, breath-ing document. Updates and edits will be made as circumstances dictate, and these changes will be communicated to the hospital community.

Know What to Do!

•Locate our EOP on the intranet, and fa-miliarize yourself with it.

• Know what your role is during a hospi-tal-wide or unit-based emergency.

•Make sure you know how to find your unit’s Emergency Response Plan.

•Listen to the directions of your imme-diate supervisor and act accordingly.

If you have questions about the hospi-tal’s EOP or preparedness efforts, con-tact the Center for Emergency Medical Preparedness at 860-545-1082. For ques-tions about your unit’s Emergency Re-sponse Plan, ask your supervisor.

HH’s Emergency Operations Plan

2

The United Way Fair will be held Thursday, September 15, and volunteers are needed to make sure this event is a success!

Many opportunities and shifts are still available, from set-up (7 a.m.) to breakdown (4 p.m.). Two- to four-hour

shifts are available, and your volunteer hours would be a great example of living our value of caring.

If you can volunteer during the fair, please contact Goran Sisic at gsisic@harthosp.org or 860-545-1400.

Thank you from the United Way Committee!

Studies show that RELAXATION

improves health.Integrative Medicine offers staff the following services for $40:

• Massage• Acupuncture

• Reiki • Reflexology

Feel good. Be relaxed. Work better.

Call Integrative Medicine at 860-545-4444 for an appointment.

Volunteers Needed for United Way Fair

Ethics or compliance concerns?

If you have any business ethics or compliance concerns, please

contact your supervisor or call the Compliance Helpline, a confidential

service, at 1-800-431-5572.

Su usted habla Espanol, favor llamar 1-800-297-8592.

Saving the Brain: Prevention & Intervention

Advancing Medicine: Stories of Hope and Healing

Join us as we follow courageous patients battling brain-threatening illness. Some turned to us facing a life-threatening stroke and sought state-of-the-art care to save their lives. Others looked to prevent a stroke and with the help of extraordinary physicians, protected their quality of life.

Thursday, September 15, 20117:30pm to 8pm, WFSB Channel 3

See their dramatic stories and stay tuned after the show to chat online, or by phone, with our doctors.

HartfordHospital.org/AdvancingMedicine

I wasn’t going to let the threat of stroke slow me down. I listened to what needed to be done, did it and have never looked back.

~Lori Maniatis Treated for aneurysm to prevent stroke

3

Performance review time is right around the corner!

There will be a workshop on the performance management pro-cess for managers offered sev-eral times in September and October.

It will feature updates on the process, forms and time frames.

Facilitators are Kathy Dilozir, compensation manager, and Carol Snyder, human resources consultant.

• Tuesday, Sept. 6, 1–2 p.m.

• Thursday, Sept. 8, 9–10 a.m.

• Wednesday, Sept. 14, 9–10 am

• Thursday, Sept. 15, 1–2 p.m.

• Wednesday, Sept. 21, 9–10 a.m.

• Wednesday, Sept. 28, 9–10 a.m.

• Friday, Sept. 30, 1–2 p.m.

• Tuesday, Oct. 4, 1–2 p.m.

• Thursday, Oct. 6, 9–10 a.m.

• Tuesday, Oct. 11, 9–10 a.m.

• Thursday, Oct. 13, 2–3 p.m.

The workshops will be held in JB 118 at the dates and times listed above.

Please register using Health-Stream. Click on the tab ti-tled “Catalog,” and type “Perfor-mance Management 2011.”

Performance Review Workshops for Managers Scheduled Now Through Oct. 13

Obesity, Joint Pain & Exercise: What’s the Connection?Join us for a discussion on weight loss, joint pain, and the role of exercise in staying active and healthy.

Free educational seminar

Thursday, September 8, 20117pm to 8:30pmManchester Country Club305 South Main Street, Manchester, CT

Staying active is key to losing weight, but how do we do that when we suffer from hip and knee pain?

The more weight we carry, the harder it is for our joints to work. Developing arthritis is strongly associated with body weight and we need to understand the connection between obesity, joint pain and exercise and how to determine if weight loss surgery is the answer.

Our team offers a comprehensive approach in managing your health problems.

Join a panel of experts, including Allison Wiernasz, PT, DPT with Eastern Rehabili-tation Network, as they discuss the latest information and options regarding:

• Effects of excess weight on joints

• Effects of obesity on health

• Surgical options

• Outcomes after surgery

• Role of exercise therapy

Registration is requiredwww.hartfordhospital.org/communityeducation or call Health Referral Service at 860.545.1888

Pavlos Papasavas, MD Board-certified & Fellowship-trained Bariatric Surgeon

Mark Shekhman, MD, FRCSC Board-certified & Fellowship-trained Joint Replacement Surgeon

Darren Tishler, MD Board-certified & Fellowship-trained Bariatric Surgeon

Vertigo: What Sets Your World Spinning?

Free educational seminar

Thursday, September 15, 20117pm to 8pmHelen & Harry Cancer Center – Avon80 Fisher Drive, Avon, CT

Dr. Marc Eisen is the Medical Director for the Hartford Hospital Hearing and Balance Center. After a residency in otolaryngology at the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Eisen completed a two-year fellowship in Otology/Neurotology at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. His clinical interests include medical and surgical treatments of the ear, and hearing and balance disorders.

Danielle Messier is the Site Director of the ERN clinic in East Hartford. She received her Bachelors of Health Sciences, Masters of Physical Therapy, and Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Boston University. She devel-oped ERN’s headache management program and her clinical interests include vestibular rehabilitation, orthopedics, sports physical therapy and Pilates-based rehabilitation

Registration is requiredwww.hartfordhospital.org/communityeducation or call Health Referral Service at 860.545.1888

Danielle Messier, MSPT, DPT, cert MDT Eastern Rehabilitation Network

Marc Eisen, MD, PhD Board-certified in Otolaryngology Board-certified in Neurotology

This free seminar will provide you with valuable information on:• The common causes and treatment of

vestibular and balance disorders (dizziness)

• Recent developments in treating hearing loss

• Physical therapy evaluation and treatment approaches for common vestibular and balance disorders

What You Need to Know About Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)Hartford Hospital invites you to a free educational seminar to learn about lowering your risk of heart attack and stroke.

Free educational seminar

Thursday, September 22, 20117pm to 8pmEnfield Senior Center299 Elm Street, Enfield, CT

Dr. Sadiq specializes in peripheral vascular interventional procedures and is the Director of Vascular and Endovascular Medicine in the Division of Cardiology and Director of the Vascular Lab at Hartford Hospital.

Dr. Stein is fellowship-trained in cardiology at Mt. Sinai School of Medi-cine in New York City and is board- certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiovas-cular Disease, Echocardiography and Nuclear Medicine.

This free seminar will provide you with valuable information on:• How to identify the symptoms of

peripheral artery disease (PAD)

• When to talk to your doctor about PAD symptoms

• Treatment options and how to reduce the risk for heart attack and stroke

Registration is requiredwww.hartfordhospital.org/communityeducation or call Health Referral Service at 860.545.1888

Russell Stein, MD Board-certified & Fellowship-trained Cardiologist

Immad Sadiq, MD Interventional Cardiology Vascular Medicine

Farewell Reception for Fr. Ibekwe Thursday

There will be a farewell reception for Fr. James Ibekwe from Pastoral Care on Thursday, Sept. 8, from 2-4 p.m. in the Special Dining Room. For

more information, contact Roz Greco, 5-2294.

Clinical Ethics Forum To Be Held Thursday

The Clinical Ethics Forum will be held Thursday, Sept. 8, from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. in Conklin Rooms 139 and 140. This is an opportunity for Hartford Hospital’s professional staff to discuss selected cases from the intensive care unit focus-ing on the issues of moral/ethical rele-vance that arise in caring for patients and their families. The Ethics Commit-tee members will be present and will guide the discussion so as to highlight moral dilemmas, suggest options for resolution, and to identify solutions for future practice. Two cases from Bliss 11I have been selected; one is being present-ed by the nursing and midlevel staff and the other is being presented by Pastoral Care. Lunch will be provided. Capacity is 75. Contact Dr. Barbara Jacobs, director of the ethics consultation service, at bja-cobs@harthosp.org.

Fall Fitness Classes Start Next Week!Starting Monday, Sept. 12, the Fitness Center will offer Fall Fitness classes Monday through Thursday at noon and evenings at the Employee Fitness Cen-ter, Barney Building. New classes in-clude Metabolic Boot Camp on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; Metabolic Madness on Mondays and Wednesdays; and Fall Into Yoga on Tuesdays and Thurs-days. For more infor-mation, call 860-545-3077 or email egenga@harthosp.org.

Lois Marks Retirement Reception Sept. 15Come celebrate Lois Marks’ retirement on Thursday, Sept. 15, from 2 to 3 p.m. in the 5th floor cafeteria in the Curtis Building on Hartford Hospital’s Newing-ton campus. Refreshments will be pro-vided. Lois has been a committed em-ployee of ERN/HH for 22 years. For more information contact Judi Zysk or Lauren Frisbie at 860-696-2500.

Join the Hartford Chapter of National Association of Hispanic NursesThe National Association of Hispan-ic Nurses, Hartford Chapter, invites you to join us at our month-ly meet-ings every first Thurs-day from 6-8 p.m. in JB 118. Re-freshments will be served. Call Diane Wilson at 860-841-9877 or dwilsonmsn@gmail.com. See the national website at NAHNnet.org.

Volunteers Needed for Flu Shot Clinic Oct. 28 in Heublein HallVolunteer nurses and many other staff from Hartford Hospital and the Hartford Department of Public Health are needed to register participants and administer vaccines at a Hartford Community In-fluenza Immunization Clinic on Oct. 28 in Heublein Hall. Please sign up to be a HERO and help at this event. We espe-cially need bilingual volunteers (Span-ish, Portugese, Bosnian, Russian and Pol-ish). We are also seeking volunteers who have a gift for putting people at ease during the event. For more informa-tion, contact Jane Reardon at 545-2303 or jreardo@harthosp.org.

Staff Must Complete Required E-Learning on HealthStream by Sept. 30The annual E-Learning courses on HealthStream that are required for staff must be completed by Sept. 30. Please note that heavy usage of HealthStream close to the deadline slows the system, so don’t put it off.

New Class Offered on HealthStream Report Generation

A class for department managers, ad-ministrative staff or staff members that generate HealthStream compli-ance reports for their departments will be offered in the ERC Health Science Library (computer area): • Monday, Sept. 12, 9-10 a.m. • Tuesday, Sept. 13, 9-10 a.m. • Friday, Sept. 16, 1-2 p.m.

At the conclusion of the course, partici-pants should be able to generate an as-signment completion report in Health-Stream which gives a status on who in their department has/has not complet-ed their required courses. Please register via HealthStream. For more information, contact Erica Cormier at 860-972-1669.

Farm Stand FridaysJoin us at the Seymour Square Farm Stand on the concrete plaza between the Conklin Building and Connecticut Children’s Medical Center every Friday, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., through early October. The Seymour Square Farm Stand is WIC certified and coupons are accepted as a form of payment.

Happening at Hartford Hospital