Oct. 30, 2009BulletinMercy prepares to Combat Hunger

According to the Food Bank of Iowa, nearly 12 percent of the state’s households – and one out of every six Iowa children – do

not have enough food to meet their basic needs. As a result, food pantries and nonprofit agencies in Iowa were asked to distribute more than five million pounds of groceries to individuals and families in need last year.

To help the Food Bank of Iowa replenish its emergency food supply before winter arrives, Mercy is proud to be a sponsor of the 19th Annual Combat Hunger Food and Fund Drive – an event designed to increase community awareness of Iowa’s critical hunger problem. Because many in the Mercy Family are blessed and able to share their excess with those who are less fortunate, everyone is encouraged to donate what they can.

This year, Mercy Family members have several ways they can participate. First, employees can drop off cash or non-perishable food items at one of the Mercy collection sites between Thursday, Nov. 12, and Sunday, Nov. 15. One food item equals one pound and each dollar equals two pounds; checks can be made payable to the Food Bank of Iowa.

At Central Campus, all donations should be taken to Receiving on A-Level between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Nov. 12-13, or to Public Safety on A-Level on Nov. 14-15. Mercy West Lakes employees can drop off items in the Receiving area on

Level 1. Mercy Clinics need to contact Patrick Maher, Transportation manager, at x-38269 by Friday, Nov. 6, to arrange a pick-up at their location. For more information, please contact Sarah Todd in PR and Marketing at x-38368.

Employees will also have an opportunity to donate items between 7:30 and 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 17, when Star 102.5 FM does a live broadcast from the West Entrance at Central Campus. Those who participate in the special drive-through collection will have a chance to win prizes from the radio station.

Finally, employees can donate their time and volunteer on Nov. 19 or 20 at a Dahl’s Foods store or at the Combat Hunger encampment on the corner of 12th Street and Locust in downtown Des Moines. For more information about available opportunities or to sign up, please visit www.combathunger.com.

Mercy receives 2009 Economic Impact Award

ItEMs MOst NEEDED BY tHE FOOD BANk OF IOwA:

• Cold cereal• Canned meats• Peanut butter• 100% fruit juice• Boxed meals• Paper products (toilet paper, paper

towels, diapers and baby wipes)

Other non-perishable foods, such as canned fruits and vegetables, soup, oatmeal and pasta are also welcome. Please check expiration dates on all items. the Food Bank of Iowa cannot accept items that have been opened or home-canned goods.

On Oct. 27, the Greater Des Moines Partnership, Des Moines Business Record and RsM McGladrey presented Mercy with a 2009 Economic Impact Award at the annual Celebrate Business & Economic Impact Awards Luncheon at the Hotel Fort Des Moines. the award recognized the positive effects Mercy Medical Center – west Lakes has had on the community’s economy.

Mercy was one of five Economic Impact Award winners honored at the luncheon this year for its contributions to the local economy in terms of job creation, capital investment and facility expansion.

Healthy Living Center offers new cardiac nutrition class

the YMCA Healthy Living Center – a partnership between Mercy and the YMCA of Greater Des Moines – will soon begin offering a new cardiac nutrition class. the three-week “‘Y’ to Be Healthy” series will focus on nutrition and wellness education and feature cooking demonstrations and recipe makeovers.

Classes will be held at the Healthy Living Center (12493 University Ave., Clive) on Nov. 3, 10 and 17 from noon to 1 p.m. the series is free to YMCA members or $20 per class/$55 per series for non-members. to register, please call 226-9622 or visit www.healthydm.com.

Mercy is preparing for its Annual Benefits Enrollment period for the 2010 plan year (Jan. 1 – Dec. 31, 2010), which will take place between Friday, Nov. 6, and Friday, Nov. 20. Employees should receive their benefits packet at their home address within the next week. As a reminder, this is the only time during the year employees can make changes to their benefit elections without having a qualifying life change. It is also the time to enroll in medical and/or dependent care flexible spending accounts for 2010.

To help employees prepare for annual enrollment and choose the plans that best meet their individual needs, everyone is encouraged to visit www.wellmark.com to view their health care activity, medical

claims and out-of-pocket spending for 2009. Knowing this information can assist in making the most educated benefit choices for 2010.

In addition, a short video is available on MercyNet that talks about changes to benefits and planning for Annual Benefits Enrollment. It is posted under “Employee Benefits Communications” in the Human Resources community.

Finally, Mercy’s Human Resources business partners soon will be visiting departments to discuss benefits and answer questions. Employees should check with their supervisor to find out when their department’s meeting is scheduled.

BULLEtIN

Volume 09 Issue 43 | October 30, 2009

the Bulletin is published weekly for employees and friends of Mercy Medical center, 1111 6th Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50314-2611.

Editorial staffErin Kennedy Kurth ..............................................................EditorHeather Hyatt ....................................................................Designer Lisa Jones .......................................................................contributor Megan Jorgensen .......................................................contributor Gregg Lagan ................................................................contributortraci McBee .................................................................contributorSarah todd ...................................................................contributor Kate Westercamp ....................................................contributor

Laura Vanden Bosch .........................................................Director

If you are interested in submitting an article or information to be printed in the Bulletin, send it to Erin Kurth, PR and Marketing, or call (515) 247-3050.

CONGRAtULAtIONs tO...Jenna Akers, ccU, and Doug Akers, Maintenance, on the birth of their daughter, Kayla Marie. Kayla was born on Oct. 8 and was welcomed home by Mason, 3.

Cindy Chicoine Mather, Riverside Rehab, and cory, on the birth of their son, Elias Richard. Elias was born on Sept. 24 and was welcomed home by Spencer, 3.

katia Foust, Mercy West Lakes IcU, and Greg, on the birth of their daughter, camille Evylin. camille was born on Oct. 18 and was welcomed home by cassandra, 15, christian, 11, cebastian, 3, and calvin, 1.

Anna Gerber, NIcU, and Ryan, on the birth of their daughter, cameron Marie. cameron was born on Sept. 26 and is the couple’s first child.

Phebe kora, and Isaiah Danga, on the birth of their son, Daniel Isaiah Mida. Daniel was born on Oct. 14 and was welcomed home by Nura, 2.

katie McCann, 5 North, and Adam, on the birth of their daughter, Ashlyn. Ashlyn was born on Sept. 26 and was welcomed home by Keeley, 11, and tanner, 4.

Adrienne Messer, Labor and Delivery, and Ben, on the birth of their daughter, Kelsey Elizabeth. Kelsey was born on Oct. 11 and was welcomed home by Kade, 2.

kelly Mosher, PIcU, and Nathan, on the birth of their daughter, Scarlett Jo. Scarlett was born on Sept. 30 and was welcomed home by Jaxton, 1.

wendi Peterson, Mercy child Development center, and Mat, on the birth of their daughter, Shelby Ann. Shelby was born on Oct. 23 and was welcomed home by Daven, 2.

shelli Quam, Medical Imaging, and Scott, on the birth of their son, Brady. Brady was born on Oct. 20 and was welcomed home by Bryson, 2.

todd smothers, Mercy Urbandale Physical therapy, and Marsha, on the birth of their son, charlie David. charlie was born on Sept. 25 and was welcomed home by cael, 1.

sarah Yurcek, NIcU, and Kris Burclaw, on the birth of their daughter, Aubrie Kirsten. Aubrie was born on Oct. 17 and is the couple’s first child.

OUR sYMPAtHY tO... Anna Brown, Home Health Services, on the death of her father.

Jodie Conrad, IcU, on the death of her father-in-law.

terri Cromer, IcU, on the death of her father.

Jan Erpelding, Mercy North Imaging, on the death of her stepfather.

kay Faro, Surgical Affiliates, on the death of her father.

Pat Olson, Mercy North Imaging, on the death of her grandmother.

Yolanda Ortiz, Home Health Services, on the death of her daughter.

sue Reams, clinical Nutrition Services, on the death of her mother.

Annual Benefits Enrollment begins Friday, Nov. 6