volunteering: an underwater adventure

SUPERMOM

A publication about the team that cares for our patients.

Fall 2020

VOLUNTEERING: AN UNDERWATER ADVENTURE

ONE STEP AT A TIME

OUR VOICE EDITORIAL BOARD

TA B L E O F

contents

On the cover DeShondra Sims, Orthopedics Coordinator,

Sterile Processing

Stay connected! Check out the gathering places for the latest information about CHI Memorial.

How are you serving CHI Memorial’s mission? Do you have a colleague

who inspires you? We want to share our team’s stories and how each

member leads, every day, as an example of compassion and strength. Please email information

to [email protected] for an opportunity to be featured in Our Voice.

Looking for reliable health advice and information? Visit Doctor TALK today at Memorial.org/doctalk.

MISSIONAs CommonSpirit Health, we make the healing presence

of God known in our world by improving the health of the people we serve, especially those who are vulnerable, while

we advance social justice for all.

CORE VALUESCompassion, Inclusion, Integrity, Excellence, Collaboration

3 THERE’S NO SECRET TO AGING—JUST KEEP MOVING!

4 SUPERMOM

6 ONE STEP AT A TIME

8 VOLUNTEERING: AN UNDERWATER ADVENTURE

10 ANNUAL BENEFIT ENROLLMENT

12 NEWS AND UPDATES IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Lisa McCluskey, MBA MANAGING EDITOR Sonia Moss CONTRIBUTORS Vickie Cox, MBA, PHR John Steele, MSM, PHR, SHRM-CP

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@CHIMemorialMELBC@MyLungCare

2 CHI Memorial | Memorial.org2 CHI Memorial | Memorial.org

Jacki SMITH

7 years // Patient Care Technician // 5 North

Jacki’s role model is her Aunty Millie, who’s 94 years old

and still does karate!

FUN FACT:

When many people reach retirement age, they envision a life of leisure with fewer responsibilities and more time to kick back and relax. Jacki Smith took the opposite approach.

AFTER RAISING A FAMILY in Pennsylvania and relocating to New Orleans before Hurricane Katrina chased her and her husband, Jim, to Chattanooga, Jacki Smith decided she needed something meaningful to do during her golden years. She began sitting for an older woman, and that eventually led her to becoming a certified nursing assistant at age 71.

“I’d always dreamed of becoming a nurse,” she says. “I spent my younger years raising kids and taking care of my family. Retirement wasn’t what it was cracked up to be for me and my husband, and I needed something to do. Unless you have a lot of money to travel or loads of grandchildren nearby, there isn’t enough to do to fill the time. I like to be with people, give something to this world and be productive. I enjoy being around young people, and I like what I do—it keeps me young.”

A BUSY BEEAt age 82, Jacki has a reputation for being an extremely hard worker—so much so that she rarely stops during her 12-hour shifts. Although she doesn’t follow a specific exercise routine outside of

work, Jacki tries to eat a healthy diet and walk about 10,000 steps every day.

“When people are hurting, I can give them a bath, apply lotion and help them feel better,” she says. “My exercise is on the floor helping people and providing comfort. When I’m home, I’m cooking, working in my yard and tending my garden. My husband and I have two cats to keep up with, and we cut our own grass. So I guess I’m doing more exercise than I thought!”

Jacki’s advice for staying positive about getting older and aging well?

“Don’t quit moving,” she says. “Don’t give up and sit. I really believe this one decision has kept me young and healthier than I would have been otherwise. When I’m interacting with patients, my age is a plus. We’re able to connect, and I can understand the things they’re going through. They see me and are inspired by what I can do, and that can even lift their spirits and encourage them to take the necessary steps to get well. That’s reason enough for me to keep going!”

THERE’S NO SECRET TO AGING—JUST KEEP MOVING!

OURVOICE | Fall 2020 3OURVOICE | Fall 2020 3

4 CHI Memorial | Memorial.org

DeShondra

SIMS

2 years // Orthopedics Coordinator

// Sterile Processing

DeShondra is an entrepreneur at heart, with dreams of opening

a catering business, a food truck and a screen-print T-shirt

business, among others!

FUN FACT:

SUPERMOMDeShondra Sims has always been determined to pursue her

dreams and inspire her family to do the same.

when her oldest daughter, Tyeshia, gave birth to DeShondra’s first grandbaby, Nyla Reign. Nyla was born at 27 weeks during the first phase of the pandemic and weighed 1 pound and 9 ounces. During the 86 days Nyla spent in the NICU, DeShondra and Calvin traveled back and forth to Birmingham to help in whatever way they could.

LIVING THROUGH FAITHDeShondra believes that setting an example of sacrifice, hard work and drive helps prepare her children for adulthood—no matter what path they choose.

“I’ve always told my kids not to let anyone tell you what’s impossible—don’t be scared to try new things and step out on faith,” she says. “Because if God wants it to happen, it’s already written. You have to make up your mind and keep working until that dream is realized. And no matter what, your dad and I will always be there to support you.”

This advice has served DeShondra’s kids well in their educational careers. Three of them have gone to college on either academic or athletic scholarships, and her oldest is currently pursuing a master’s degree at Alabama A&M University. Her youngest son, DaiShun, who plays football at Central High, hopes to follow in his siblings’ footsteps.

DO IT WITH HEARTWhen it comes to raising kids, starting a business or pursuing your passions, DeShondra’s advice is the same: You can do anything you set your heart and mind to do!

“There’s nothing wrong with opening a business and wanting a better life for yourself and your family,” she says. “To me, that’s worth working hard for. I’ve been up since 5 a.m., doing my job, and now I have errands to run and dinner to make. Everyone needs time to rest, but that can’t stop you from going after what makes your heart happy. You don’t have to stress about it; just pray about it!”

DESHONDRA SIMS LAUGHS out loud at the mention that some people consider her a supermom. “Who me?” she says. “I’m just a woman chasing my dreams.” This off-the-cuff remark is the perfect way to describe DeShondra—she’s a wife, mother of four, business owner, planner and dreamer.

Although she didn’t have a medical background, when she received a call back about a position in sterile processing, DeShondra decided to go for it. It was a bit overwhelming at first, but in time it turned into a job she loves. As orthopedics coordinator, she places orders for instruments surgeons need and ensures their instrument trays are properly prepared before surgery. Before coming to CHI Memorial, DeShondra and her husband, Calvin, stayed busy raising their family, chasing kids around the ballfields, flipping real estate and operating a day care for more than 12 years—all while working other jobs.

DeShondra notes that raising great kids and keeping her family happy and healthy wouldn’t be possible without the love and support of her husband, who always encouraged her to go after what she wanted. Her family was tested this spring


For Franklin Baker, living an active and healthy lifestyle has been a 20-year process.

ONE STEP AT A TIMEWHEN HE WAS a high-school hockey player, Franklin Baker remembers eating all the food, all the time, never giving thought to his long-term health—until he started college. As he learned about how food affects his body, he couldn’t help but begin to make slow shifts in his diet. The results were more energy, less fatigue and feeling stronger. Once he and his wife, Jenny, added kids to the mix, they realized how important their total lifestyle was, not just their food.

Last year, Franklin became a lifestyle medicine practitioner, focusing on treating, reversing and preventing chronic diseases by looking at the root causes. He looks at how our daily choices, like sleep, relationships and food, contribute to our overall health. Now, he and Jenny work together to make gradual tweaks and adjustments to their choices in hopes of living a more meaningful and quality life. And they admit none of it matters if they’re not also sharing the goodness with their kids, Luci and Levi.

“Living a longer life of purpose and quality is something I’d say we all want,” Franklin says. “In my work, my patients and I frequently talk about making lifestyle shifts that are doable and sustainable over the long term. For all of us, our physical, emotional and spiritual needs change throughout our lives, and learning to balance and navigate them can feel pretty overwhelming without someone to help. There’s no perfect way to live, eat or exercise—each person is on their own journey. For me, I focus on progress, not perfection.”

MAKE THE FIRST MOVEFranklin found his love of running at a young age and at 28, discovered the crazy sport of ultra-running. That year, his dad asked Franklin to join him for a 50-kilometer race as a birthday present. Franklin jokes that some people have interesting definitions of what constitutes a fun birthday. He claims to have almost died that day, and yet the friendships and encouragement from the ultra-running community pushed him to the finish.

Exercise has proven to help Franklin manage a tendency toward depression and helps push him out the door on the days when he just wants to sit on the couch. And while being active is enjoyable for him, shifting to a more plant-based diet has proven more difficult.

With the encouragement of their friends and solid research suggesting a plant-based diet allows the body to operate the most optimally, Team Baker (as they call themselves) has enjoyed the journey of incorporating more plants into their menu and playful activities in their daily routine with the kids.

“At first, we had the same concerns most people have about eating a plant-based diet,” he says. “I was pretty sure I’d be starving, malnourished and angry all the time. Thankfully, there are tons of food options and cooking techniques that make whole foods absolutely amazing. I’m more satisfied and less cranky eating plants than I was on a traditional American diet. My running is

stronger, I feel better, and I’ve got enough energy to play with my kids after a long day at work.”

SMALL CHANGES, BIG OUTCOMES In any new adventure, a key to long-term success is to start small. Franklin encourages others to pick one small change they’d like to make and become a pro at it. Consider adding more color to your plate or incorporating three 10-minute walks into your day. Make it a natural part of your routine, then build on it.

“Contrary to the misinformed belief that we should be able to break or make habits in 21 days, we’re all different and research shows, on average, it takes 66 days for a habit to feel natural,” Franklin says. “We need to give ourselves permission to take small steps and celebrate all progress, not just perfection. This is why we sometimes give up accomplishing our goals. We set ourselves up for feeling like failures when something doesn’t come quickly or easily. This stuff is hard, and no step is too small.”

Franklin Baker at the Lookout Mountain 50 Miler


• Hit the trails. Explore local trails, whether on bike or on foot. Not sure where to go? All Trails is a free app that can track your time, distance and elevation while guiding you along the way. Connect with local running groups like the Chattanooga Track Club or Scenic City Trail Runners on Facebook.

• Instill simple habits. When possible, choose to walk or ride a bike instead of taking the car. Skip the elevator and take the stairs. Park your car at the back of the parking lot to get some additional steps.

• Question yourself and reflect. What do you treasure most in life, and how does your health support that? Why do you want to be healthy? What would being in charge of your health look like? What are your top strengths, and how can you use them to support your well-being? Are there new habits you’re ready to develop? Do you know how you will you get there?

Making a lifestyle shift can, at times, feel overwhelming. It can be helpful to work with a Lifestyle Medicine Practitioner not just to have a resource, but also an advocate and ally who can offer encouragement.

“Lifestyle medicine isn’t just about our diet and exercise, it’s also about paying attention to our sleep quality, mental health and our relationships,” Franklin says. “Our diet is only one of seven key factors in moving toward an overall healthier life. If we ignore those other six areas, no matter what we feed our bodies, we’ll miss out on so many other positive health outcomes.”

Franklin BAKER

6 years // Physician Assistant // CHI Memorial Integrative

Medicine Associates

In the last 12 years, Franklin has run 80+ endurance races that are between 50 and 100 miles

long. His wife and kids are runners, too!

FUN FACT:

TIPS FOR ACTIVE FAMILY FUN

“In Chattanooga, there are so many great opportunities to get outside and get our bodies moving,” says Franklin Baker. “Choose something your family enjoys and that feels like playing, not working—think paddle boarding, hiking or swimming—and do it often!”

• Connect with other people. An 80-year Harvard study found that the single most predictor of happiness and longevity is having social connections.

• Do yardwork or wash the car together. Outside activities like these burn calories, too. The amount of physical activity that we do is a better predictive indicator of overall health than your weight on the scale.

• Let the kids choose. Walk around the block? Play a game of catch or tag? Practice soccer in the yard? No matter what they decide, your kids will enjoy their time with you.

• Plant a garden. The simple acts of planting, weeding and harvesting fruits and veggies will encourage you to get outside more often.

• Dance it out. Turn up your favorite tunes and show off your dance moves. Dancing will get your heart pumping and is the perfect indoor activity for a cold or rainy day.

• Optimize your sleep. Aim for seven to eight hours a night. Nearly one-third of our lifetime is spent asleep. Healthy sleep can impact your mood, metabolic factors, blood pressure, satiety and immune system, just to name a few.

Levi, Jenny, Franklin and Luci Baker

OURVOICE | Fall 2020 7

8 CHI Memorial | Memorial.org

IN 1994, MARY BETH CROOK was on a trip to the Cayman Islands with two close friends. They were interested in learning to scuba dive and decided to take a class. After a very short explanation and brief training about how to do a simple dive, their instructor took them first to a pier and then on to a shore dive. Completely inexperienced, Mary Beth and her friends went along, not realizing they were likely putting themselves in danger.

“Knowing what I know now, we should never have done a shore dive with so little training,” she says. “There was a storm brewing, and one of my friends got caught in a current and was pulled away from us. The instructor left me and my friend down at 60 feet, not knowing what we were doing at all. After we resurfaced, we were completely alone and treaded water for about 15 minutes before starting to swim to shore. Thankfully, another dive boat came along and picked us up.”

Mary Beth and her friends were finally reunited after the scary ordeal, but that didn’t deter her one bit from scuba diving. In fact, her love of being under water had firmly taken hold. “I felt like I was in a different world—it was beautiful and calm,” she says.

When she returned home, Mary Beth and her husband were certified in scuba diving and started planning their vacations around famous dive spots, including the Caribbean and Roatán, the southernmost island in Honduras. It seemed there was never enough time or trips that could fill her love of diving. Then, she discovered a volunteer opportunity that would do the trick.

DIVING IN WITH BOTH FEETIn January 2019, Mary Beth learned about volunteer diving at the Tennessee Aquarium. The application process was rigorous—it

included an extensive written test and water test in addition to 25 previous open water dives. From the roughly 50 people who applied, less than 10 were chosen to complete

the training and become regular volunteers.

“It wasn’t an easy thing to get through

the screening process, and many people dropped out along the way due to the time commitment,” Mary

FUN FACT:

Mary Beth CROOK

12 years // Registered Nurse // Employee Health

Mary Beth Crook’s mother was a seamstress, and she’s the only one of her sisters who developed a love of sewing. She makes dresses for

her grandkids and purses and wallets that she gives away to

family and friends.

VOLUNTEERING:

AN UNDERWATER ADVENTUREBeth says. “But for me, this was an opportunity to help my community and do something I loved much more frequently than I normally would be able to do.”

As a diving volunteer at the Tennessee Aquarium, Mary Beth is on a team of six other divers that feed the sharks and take care of the ocean journey tank. On the days they’re scheduled to volunteer, the divers are in the water by 9 a.m. scrubbing the walls, windows and four quadrants of the tank to ensure it stays clean for the fish and other sea life. Because the exhibit doesn’t include live coral, fish don’t come around and eat the algae that grows on nearly everything. It’s part of the reason why volunteers are needed to maintain it every day. During these dives, two divers guard the sharks, three are scrubbing, and one stays above the water to help in case of an emergency.

“After cleaning the first tank, the team splits into two groups—three go to the river journey tank and three stay at the ocean tank,” she says. “Two divers spend the next hour underwater where they talk to the crowd, answer questions and discuss the different animals in the reef. During the show, you’ll see that one person is talking and the other is protecting the shark with an underwater fence. It’s actually more concerning that a diver could accidentally bump into a shark and startle or injure it, not the other way around.”

FINDING HER SCHOOLEven though there’s quite a time commitment for divers, volunteering at the Tennessee Aquarium isn’t a sacrifice for Mary Beth because it affords her the opportunity to regularly do something she loves. She likes interacting with aquarium guests and particularly enjoys diving around the holidays, when she dresses up as characters like Elsa for Halloween and Santa Claus at Christmas. She’s also thankful for the relationships formed through a shared passion.

“Being around experienced divers helps you develop better diving skills,” she says. “I’ve learned so much about how to take care of my own equipment in addition to becoming a more confidant diver. I’ve gotten to know and made friends with people on my team and other fellow divers. I love learning their stories and where they go on diving trips. It gives me great ideas for my next adventure. Nothing beats being with seasoned divers who love it just as much as I do!”

A scuba diving trip helped Mary Beth Crook discover a passion she could use to give back.


If the date you become newly-eligible for benefits is ... Here’s how to enroll for 2020 benefits Here’s how to enroll for 2021 benefits

Before Dec. 2, 2020 AND you did not finalize benefit elections in Workday before Sep. 18, 2020

Workday MyBenefits: You must re-enroll for 2021 benefits

Dec. 2, 2020 or later No need to enroll on Workday (your eligibility for benefits begins in 2021) MyBenefits: Enroll for 2021 benefits.

ANNUAL BENEFIT ENROLLMENT: OCT. 29–NOV. 18, 2020

Times change, lives change and people change. Annual Benefit Enrollment for 2021 is your time to review your current benefits and consider your needs for the upcoming year—the coverage you have today may not be the best fit for you and your family in 2021.

INTRODUCING MYBENEFITS AND THE COMMONSPIRIT HEALTH BENEFITS CONTACT CENTERMyBenefits, our new benefits information and enrollment site for all CommonSpirit employees, launches Oct. 15, 2020. The site serves as your key resource for ongoing education and important benefits information. We encourage you to visit MyBenefits once the site goes live to explore your 2021 options.

Also available on Oct. 15, 2020, is the CommonSpirit Health Benefits Contact Center. This resource gives you one number to call for live support with your benefit-related questions.

Please note: The complete MyBenefits site (with information about retirement, time off and all other benefits) will be available starting Jan. 1, 2021, when our current well-being pages on InsideCHI will retire. Information about your current 2020 benefits can still be accessed on the well-being pages through Dec. 31, 2020.

IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES

Oct. 15, 2020Start exploring your 2021 options and access benefits compliance materials on MyBenefits.

Call the CommonSpirit Benefits Contact Center for support.

Oct. 29– Nov. 18, 2020 Go to MyBenefits to enroll for 2021 benefits.

Through Dec. 31, 2020 Access information about 2020 benefits on the well-being pages.

Jan. 1, 20212021 benefit elections become effective.

Complete MyBenefits site goes live, with all benefits information in one place (the well-being pages will retire).

HOW TO ENROLL OR CHANGE BENEFITS IN LATE 2020We’re moving from Workday to a new benefits enrollment system, MyBenefits, for 2021 and beyond, so you may need to access two different systems to enroll or make changes to your benefits—Workday for 2020 benefits and MyBenefits for 2021 benefits.

FOR NEWLY ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEESIf you’re newly eligible for benefits, use the chart below to determine how to enroll for 2020 and/or 2021 benefits.

If you’ve already finalized 2020 benefit enrollment or changes in Workday before Sep. 18, 2020, this information doesn’t apply to you. Your elections will carry forward to MyBenefits for 2021 with the exception of your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) elections and Health


If ... Here’s what to do for 2020 AND do this for 2021

You have a new child (birth or adoption) and you did not finalize your enrollment in Workday before Sep. 18, 2020.

Call the Employee Central Contact Center at (844) 450-9450 within 60 days of the event.

You must also enroll your new child to have coverage in 2021. You can do this on MyBenefits during Annual Benefit Enrollment, Oct. 29 through Nov.18, 2020, or during the correction period, Nov. 20–25, or by calling the CommonSpirit Health Benefits Contact Center after Nov. 25, depending on the date of the birth or adoption.

You are making benefit changes before Dec. 2, 2020.

Make your changes for 2020 on Workday.

For qualified life events, make sure to complete changes within 31 days of the event.

You can make changes to optional life insurance and beneficiary designations at any time.

You must make the change again: it will not carry forward to 2021. You can do this on MyBenefits during Annual Benefit Enrollment, Oct. 29, 2020 through Nov. 18, 2020, or during the correction period, Nov. 20–25, or by calling the CommonSpirit Health Benefits Contact Center after Nov. 25, if you are still within 31 days from the date of the qualified life event.

You are making benefit changes on Dec. 2, 2020 or later.

Call the CommonSpirit Health Benefits Contact Center at (844) 450-9450, and select Option 1.

You must make benefit changes due to a qualified life event or employment event no later than 31 days after the event; no later than 60 days after having a new child (birth or adoption). You can make changes to your optional life or beneficiary designation anytime.Example: Getting married on Oct. 19, 2020, and adding your spouse to your coverage.

Step 1: Go to Workday and add your spouse no later than 31 days after the date of your marriage—which in this example would be Nov. 18, 2020. This is for coverage effective as of the date of your marriage, Oct. 19, 2020. You must also complete step 2*.

Step 2: Go to MyBenefits (during Annual Benefit Enrollment) or call the CommonSpirit Health Benefits Contact Center, and add your spouse to your coverage for 2021, no later than 31 days after the date of your marriage—Nov. 18, 2020, in this example. This is for continued coverage effective Jan. 1, 2021, for your new spouse.

* Starting Dec. 2, 2020, coverage will be effective the first of the month following the date you complete your change in the MyBenefits system. You will still have 31 days after the date of your marriage to complete your change.

IMPORTANT: If you add your spouse to your coverage in Workday for 2020, but not in MyBenefits for 2021, your spouse will be added for 2020 only but won’t be covered in 2021.

To enroll in Workday, go to InsideCHI, select the “Tools” button found on the left navigation menu. Next, select Workday from the “Quick Links” list.

To enroll in MyBenefits, go to home.CommonSpirit.org/employeecentral/mybenefits.

For Questions or Assistance: Call the Contact Center at (844) 450-9450, and select Option 1.

Savings Account (HSA) elections. You can enroll in an FSA, make HSA elections or make changes to your 2021 benefits on MyBenefits during Annual Benefit Enrollment, Oct. 29 through Nov. 18, 2020.

FOR EMPLOYEES MAKING CHANGES TO BENEFITS, DEPENDENTS AND/OR BENEFICIARIESIf you’re making changes to your benefits, dependents and/or beneficiary designations on Workday in late 2020, you may also need to make the changes again on MyBenefits. You can make benefit changes as the result of a qualified life event such as marriage, the addition of a new child or an employment event that affects your benefits (for example, a change in your FTE status). You may make changes to your optional life insurance and beneficiary designations anytime.


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volunteering: an underwater adventure

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