Avera Bulletin - April 2008

 

Welcome Avera O’Neill Family Medicine

Avera recently welcomed Avera O’Neill Family Medicine to the Avera family. Avera O’Neill Family Medicine is a joint venture between Avera Sacred Heart Hospital and Avera St. Anthony’s Hospital. The clinic, formerly O’Neill Family Practice, has four physicians: Drs. Jay Allison, Barbara Gutshall, Preston Renshaw and Matthew Winkelbauer. There also are two nurse practitioners: Shelly Herrington and Sharon Spencer.

Avera O’Neill Family Medicine joins Avera Sacred Heart Medical Clinics in Crofton, Hartington and Niobrara; Avera Holt County Medical Clinic in O’Neill; and Avera Pierce Medical Clinic.

 

Cardinal Health Awards Avera McKennan $35,000 to Fund Patient Safety Initiative

To help with its initiative, Saving Lives in Rural Communities, Cardinal Health recently announced the award of $35,000 to Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center as part of a $1 million grant program for new and innovative programs at 34 hospitals, health systems and community health clinics across the country.

Avera McKennan identified rural hospital participation in the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) 5 Million Lives Campaign as a high priority in Avera’s service area. The grant will be used to provide education and tools for the Campaign’s safety platforms, work individually with rural hospitals to design a patient safety program and to recognize top performers in patient safety. Ultimately the goal is to increase patient safety and save lives.

“With Cardinal Health’s support, Avera McKennan will be able to improve patient safety and the quality of care in our region,” said Fred Slunecka, president and CEO of Avera McKennan. “This will have a tremendous impact on our community and will hopefully serve as a model for other health care facilities across the country.”

More than 10 percent (700 organizations) of the nation’s hospitals applied for the grants. In choosing recipients, Cardinal Health looked for projects that respond to a clearly identified, high-priority safety issue; collaborative programs; projects that apply new thinking and approaches to development of solutions; model programs that can be replicated at other organizations; and demonstrable and sustainable measures to ensure that improvements last over time.

 

Support the ‘Big Give’ Benefit for Children

In a local version of Oprah’s Big Give, KSFY and the Argus Leader have challenged four Sioux Falls businesses – Citibank, Target, One Person Big Difference and Avera McKennan – to multiply $2,500 seed money to help needy individuals or worthy programs. Avera McKennan invites Avera colleagues to “Buy Cheap” and “Give Big” with proceeds going to a great cause – children. Ways to give include:

• Purchase Storm tickets for only $10 (regularly $16.50) for the April 19 game. All proceeds from these sales will go toward the “Big Give.” Call the Avera McKennan Marketing Department, (605) 322-7950, to purchase your tickets.
• Donate on-line at www.AveraMcKennanFoundation.org. Select Together for Kids on the right side and go to the donation form. Earmark your gift for the “Big Give” under “tribute information” on the form.

Proceeds will go to Pediatrics at Avera Children’s Hospital and Clinics toward a fund to add a second Child Life Specialist, fill the “Treasure Chest” with teen-friendly items and purchase video phones at the Walsh Family Village. All funds must be in to KSFY by April 18, so act now.

 

Think Pink Thursdays

April 17 is “Think Pink Thursday” to remind women on a monthly basis to Think Pink! – do a monthly breast self-exam and schedule an annual mammogram as needed. Learn more at www.AveraThinkPink.org. Wear pink in support of breast health awareness.

 

People News

Mike Healy, chief financial officer at Avera Sacred Heart, was recently fêted by the South Dakota Health and Finance Management Association with a recognition roast to honor 40 years with the association.

 

Calendar
2008
April 17-19	Avera Leadership Conference, Marriott Minneapolis City Center
May 7	Avera PACE Conference, Sioux Falls
May 10	12th Annual Hagen’s Walleye Classic benefit for Avera Queen of Peace, Snake Creek Recreation Area, Platte
June 13	Avera St. Luke’s Charity Golf Tournament, Aberdeen
June 19	Avera Gerontological Care Conference, Sioux Falls
June 15	Fourth Annual Corn Palace Stampede Rodeo Art Show benefit for Avera Queen of Peace, Mitchell
June 23-24	Avera Summer Administrators’ Conference, Village West, Okoboji
Aug 16	14th Annual “Caring for Kids” Golf Tournament benefit for Avera Queen of Peace, Mitchell
Aug 27	Avera Quality Congress, Sioux Falls
Oct 9	Avera Rural Health Conference, Sioux Falls
Nov 6	Avera Nursing Conference, Sioux Falls
Nov 15	“A Splash of Spirits” benefit for Avera Queen of Peace, Mitchell
Nov 22	Char Greenway Memorial Bowling Tournament benefit for Avera Queen of Peace, Mitchell
2009
March 18-20	Avera Health Board Educational Retreat, Tucson
April 14 or 16	Avera Management Conference, Sioux Falls
May 6	Avera PACE Conference, Sioux Falls