Volume 9 Issue 6 March 21, 2014

PRESBYbulletinPenn Presbyterian Medical Center

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PPMC RECEIVES GET WITH THE GUIDELINES-STROKE SILVER PLUS QUALITY ACHIEVEMENT AWARDPenn Presbyterian Medical Center recently received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Silver Plus Quality Achievement Award. The award recognizes commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of stroke care by ensuring that stroke patients receive treatment according to nationally accepted standards and recommendations.

“This award is a testament to all the hard work that our staff at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center has done toward caring for our patients with cerebrovascular disease,” said Claude Nguyen, MD, assistant professor of Neurology and director of Stroke Services at PPMC. “Along with our telemedicine program and upcoming involvement with clinical trials, Penn Presbyterian continues our commitment to provide the best care possible for our community.”

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Colorectal Cancer Awareness MonthEvery Friday throughout the month of March, faculty and staff in PPMC’s department of Gastroenterology will be decked out in blue Colonoscopy t-shirts in recognition of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.

Established in 2000 by the Colon Cancer Alliance, the annual month-long observance seeks to raise awareness around the importance of early detection and prevention of colorectal cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among cancers that affect both men and women, colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon or rectum) is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Every year, about 140,000 Americans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and more than 50,000 people die from it. If you’re 50 years old or older, getting a screening test for colorectal cancer could save your life.

This award is a testament to all the hard work that our staff at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center has done toward caring for our patients with cerebrovascular disease ”

Contact Us: Katie Delach | katie.delach@uphs.upenn.edu | http://news.pennmedicine.org/inside/presbybulletin/

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To receive the Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Silver Plus Quality Achievement Award, PPMC had to achieve at least 12 consecutive months of 85 percent or higher adherence to all Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Quality Achievement indicators and at least 75 percent or higher compliance with six of 10 Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Quality Measures during that same period of time, which are reporting initiatives to measure

PPMC RECEIVES GET WITH THE GUIDELINES-STROKE SILVER PLUS QUALITY ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Health Screenings Signal Spring is on the Way

UPHS Annual Health Fairs Start April 1st

SAFETY AT PENN MEDICINEPPMC Security works hard to protect our patients, families, and employees, but keeping personal items safe is a team effort. The theft of personal items can have serious consequences, including identity theft and the loss of things that are of personal and professional significance. To help keep your personal property safe, please remember to:

•Lock your door whenever you leave.

•Use a U-Lock on your bike, not a cable lock.

•Take personal property with you or keep it locked in a desk drawer or cabinet.

To learn more about unattended theft and safety at Penn Medicine, please see the Presby Bulletin online.

Many thanks to the group of PPMC volunteers who recently joined at the Time for Healing Ministries (formerly the Highway Church of Christ) to offer free health screenings and education to members of the community. The gathering earlier this month was one of the first of what is typically a very heavy Spring season of community events and health fairs held throughout the city to raise awareness about routine health care and prevention.

“It was wonderful to see the children of our PPMC family so excited to participate in our community outreach event,” said Kevin Kates, BSN, RN, CEN, clinical nurse IV in the Emergency Department and co-chair of the Nursing Shared Governance Leadership Council at PPMC. “Events like these make PPMC more than just a hospital, we are a family of caring individuals committed to the community which we serve. This was a great way to kick-off a new season of community health fairs.”

Nurses, doctors, pharmacists, and dieticians attended the event to provide local residents and members of the congregation with educational information on blood pressure screenings, early screening and prevention of colon cancer, warning signs of stroke, fall prevention and nutrition. The event was capped off with a performance from the congregation’s praise dancers, and a workout session for all attendees.

“Teamwork from all our volunteers made the day special,” said Susan Chodoff, director for Regulatory Affairs and Accreditation Compliance at PPMC. “We’re excited for the upcoming Philadelphia Science Festival, our annual Spring Into Health fair and all the other community events we’ll be taking part in over the next few months where we have the opportunity to engage with the local communities and spread a healthy message.”

The UPHS annual Health Fairs and Open Enrollment are just around the corner! We are continuing to put the spotlight on your health through our Wellfocused Healthy Rewards program. Stop by the UPHS health fair in the PPMC cafeteria on Thursday, April 3, from 10am-2pm, to learn more about the healthy rewards program, your medical and other health benefits, get a biometric screening, and be entered into raffles to win prizes!

Look for more information coming to you at the end of March about open enrollment which starts on April 14th!

PPMC volunteers with Bishop Grant of the Time for Healing Ministries