Issue 01-5 May 2001

May 2001

Issue 01-5 May 2001

Royalé facility opens to gala celebration

A big turnout was fitting for a big day to mental health advocates in Orange County as grand opening festivities were held April 26 for the new Royalé Mission Viejo facility. An estimated 300 people attended the ribbon cutting ceremony and program of celebration, including Board of Supervisors Chair Cynthia P. Coad, Third District Supervisor Todd Spitzer and First District Supervisor Charles Smith. They joined HCA Director Julie Poulson, Deputy Agency Director/ Behavioral

Health Services Doug Barton, Mission Viejo Mayor Pro-Tem Susan Withrow and Howard Black of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill— California in officially kicking-off this landmark venture. Royalé Mission Viejo will provide the first in-county, long-term mental health rehabilitation programs, providing greater convenience for consumers and their families. The project is also the first funded in part through Tobacco Settlement funds to become operational. The 80-bed facility also offers a Psychiatric Health Facility for individuals needing short-term inpatient services and is scheduled to house an outpatient clinic for HCA Behavioral Health Services. Visitors commented on the beautiful setting and amenities, including a swimming pool and tennis court to be used for recreational programs. The building also houses areas to help consumers gain needed vocational and in-dependent living skills to assist in their transition back to a community setting.

Annual luncheon honors HCA nurses

T he many roles played by nurses in the Health Care Agency and in Orange County were celebrated May 8 during the annual HCA Nurse Recognition luncheon, held at the Hyatt Regency Alicante in Garden Grove. Following the theme "Celebrating The Versatility Of Nursing," HCA Director Julie Poulson recognized the contribution of nurses in Public Health, Behavioral Health and Medical and Institutional Health Services, noting that HCA employs more than 500 nurses. She also recognized those who serve in non-nursing roles, including supervisors and managers.

While the luncheon emphasized the diversity of nurses, the event also provided an opportunity to recognize their common ground. Event co-chair Christine Ford led the hundreds of nurses present in reciting the Florence Nightingale Pledge, rededicating their careers to the principles of the profession. The versatility of nurses was also the subject of the keynote address offered by Judy Paull, RN, MS, CS, the Director of Psychiatric Services at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs. More than 400 people attended this year's Nurse Recognition luncheon and enjoyed a variety of educational booths and displays.

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Issue 01-5 May 2001

"For the Record . . ."

T he Custodian of Records office has introduced a new on-line form to assist the public in obtaining needed records. HCA's website offers a Custodian of Records authorization form that can expedite the process of copying and releasing medical records. Website users can follow step-by-step instructions on how to complete the new form, which can be found at www.ocgov.com/ hca/custrecords.htm. Along with the new medical records release form, the public can also access other forms to request public records such as administrative, animal care, environmental health and hazardous waste site records. The Custodian of Records office is always available to provide personal assistance for easy access to patient and public records. The office can guide you and the public through the maze of laws, codes and confidential statutes that relate to records. If a client, attorney, insurance company, or even the media should contact you for records, please call the Custodian of Records, Sue Warnke, at (714) 834-3079 or the office at (714) 834-3536 for help in processing the request.

Custodian of Records office staff include (l-r) Cindy Estrada, Sue Warnke, Leo Garcia and Jovita Gonzales.

HCA unveils new Marine Study Center

A major step in Orange County's efforts to protect ocean recreational water re-sources was taken April 21 with the unveiling of plans for a Marine Studies Center on Shellmaker Island at Newport Beach. The Center will include a 4,000 square foot water quality laboratory to be operated by the Health Care Agency. The project will be made possible by $1.2 mil-lion in Tobacco Settlement funding approved by the Board of Supervisors and is scheduled to be completed in 2003. Cooperation between numerous agencies has been the key to advancing plans for the Marine Studies Center. HCA is working with the California Department of Fish and Game, the California Coastal Commission, City of New-port Beach, the University of California Irvine and other partners to make the Center a reality. An aquarium, interactive exhibits, an amphitheater, walking trails and tide-pool simulations will make the Center a hands-on experience. Visitors will even be able to view HCA staff working in the Water Quality Laboratory as they monitor the quality of water samples taken from locations all along the coast. The new facility will allow HCA to take advantage of advances in water quality testing as the Agency seeks to locate the source of pollutants. HCA staff members participate-HCA Director Julie Poulson checks out water testing equipment at an HCA booth.

"What's UP!" is a newsletter for employees of the County of Orange, CA, Health Care Agency.

Editors . . . . . .

Howard Sutter

Pat Markley

Anne Fialcowitz

Your Input

Phone . (714) 834-5109

Fax . . . (714) 834-7644

E-mail: HSutter@hca. co. orange. ca. us

Pony . . Bldg. 38-S, 4th Floor

Grant receives kudos for service

The Orange County Board of Supervisors honored William Grant, D. V. M., with the May 1 presentation of a proclamation saluting his service to the Orange County Animal Care Services Advisory Board. Dr. Grant is pictured here with Dr. Julie Ann Ryan Johnson, Director of Animal Care Services.

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Issue 01-5 May 2001

How can we serve you better? by HCA / Human Resources

With all the new technology changing our lives every day, Human Resources (HR) is always looking for ways to use their full capabilities to serve you. In some cases, your help is needed, as well! Here are some tips on how you can help HR serve you better: For your convenience, HR now has a reference page on the HCA Intranet. Among lots of great information, the HR page contains a directory of "who's who" with phone numbers and e-mail addresses to help you get directly to the right person. Please help HR utilize voice mail effectively by leaving a detailed message with your question or request, full name and return phone number so they can already have the answer ready when they return your call! HR's goal is to respond to you as promptly as possible. All HR staff have e-mail if you would prefer to contact them electronically. Sometimes a more complex question and answer can be relayed more easily and clearly in writing with e-mail. The 17 most frequently requested forms are now on-line on the HCA Intranet! The address to access the forms is http://balsam/intranet/hr/forms.asp.

Whenever possible please give HR two days advance notice when you need an employment verification letter, any copies of your past applications (performance reviews, etc.), a new County I. D. card, or an appointment to see your HR file. Don't forget about the County-wide on-line telephone directory when trying to locate another employee's phone number. It is located on the County Intranet page. Most importantly, don't forget to update your own phone number in the directory if you have any changes. Your help to keep this directory accurate is appreciated! HR is always open to suggestions!

If you have any suggestions on how HR can serve you better, please e-mail them to HR@ochca.com. If you don't yet have access to the intranet, HR is ready to serve you the good old-fashioned way, by phone and PONY mail!

Washburn chosen for Excellence Award

April's "Spotlight on Excellence" Award from Behavioral Health's Cultural Competency Program was presented to Bill Washburn, LVN, a Service Chief in Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services. Pictured following the award presentation at the monthly Mental Health Board meeting are (l-r): Veronica Kelley, Cultural Competency; Bill Washburn; John Van Sky, Ph. D., ADAS Program Manager; and Rafael Canul, Cultural Competency.

Supervisors honored for service

HCA supervisors were in the spotlight May 2nd for the Agency's first Supervisory Management recognition program, held at the Sisters of St Joseph of Orange Auditorium. Agency Director Julie Poulson saluted the supervisors for their essential role in HCA operations, noting the daily challenges faced in making HCA programs run smoothly. "we don't say enough how special and important you are to our organization," stated Ms. Poulson.

Each of the almost 120 super-visors present was called to the stage and presented with a Certificate of Appreciation. The stage was packed as representatives of Behavioral Health, Financial & Administrative Services, Medical & Institutional Health, Public Health, and Regulatory Health were honored by their colleagues.

Financial and Administrative Services supervisors (left to right) Alice Manning, Sue Warnke, Lidia Marin, Boyd Donavon, Jody Barrera, and Thurman Hodges

We're on-line!

You can check out the latest issues of the Health Care Agency's newsletters by using this URL:

http://www.ochealthinfo.com/newslett.htm

We will keep current issues on line for a year. Let us know how you like the convenience!

June Health Observances

National Safety Month

Childhood Drowning & Prevention Awareness Month

National Cancer Survivors Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . June 3

Men's Health Week . . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . June 11-17

National Community Health Nursing Week .. . .. . June 18-25

National HIV Testing Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . June 27

National Sobriety Checkpoint Week . . . . . . . .. .. .June 30-July 4

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Issue 01-5 May 2001

Blood Drive gears up

HCA employees will once again have the opportunity to give the gift of life by donating blood during the County of Orange Summer Red Cross Blood Drive to be held in July. This is a unique opportunity for you to have a rewarding connection to the people you help. As a blood donor you are giving a living part of yourself to make the difference between life and death for another person. Many sites located throughout the county are being scheduled for this important event. Please be watching for the date and location most convenient for you. While donating blood is a simple, safe process, we do realize that many of you have concerns, if not fears, about becoming a blood donor. That's why we have arranged a personal consultant for first time donors, Herm Perlmutter, who will be available to answer your questions about becoming a blood donor. If you'd like more information on the blood drive, please call Volunteer Services at 714-834-6620.

"Current" conservation efforts

The hard fact is we're going through an energy crunch that will probably be with us for a while. Right now we face the real possibility of energy rates soaring as much as 40%. Limited resources combined with the upcoming summer season may mean the worst is yet to come. Industry sources predict the possibility of having 34 days on which we experience energy shortages or blackouts. The only control we have over this uncertain situation is our own efforts to conserve electricity as individuals and together as a workforce. The HCA Executive Team recently initiated an Energy Conservation Pro-gram with the intent of meeting the CEO directive for all Agencies and Departments to reduce energy consumption by 10%. The Executive Team authorized the Facilities Support/ Real Estate Division to set up an Energy Conservation Committee that will evaluate building operations and develop policies and guide-lines to conserve energy throughout the workplace.

The Committee's first step in saving energy was started with a survey of all HCA buildings to identify non-essential equipment and appliances. Survey results will subsequently be used to identify ways to further conserve energy. Look around your office and talk with your co-workers to see if there are any incidental items, non-essential equipment, or perhaps overhead lighting that can be turned off. If you think your involvement with energy conservation is insignificant and doesn't matter, please think again. A little effort on everyone's part can reduce total consumption in a dramatic way. As an example, if everyone in California simply unplugged such incidental items as VCR clocks or cellular telephone battery chargers the energy savings would equal the output of three power plants. So please keep in mind that the "power" of working together to conserve energy can help to overcome the "current" energy crunch.

Runners compete for healthier lifestyles

A month long celebration of World No-Tobacco Day kicked off April 29 th with over 1,600 runners participating in 5K and 10K races and Kid's Fun Runs in the scenic Newport Beach Back Bay. "Around the Bay for World No-Tobacco Day" is staged annually by the Orange County Tobacco Use Prevention Coalition and Orange County Health Care Agency Tobacco Use Prevention Program (TUPP). More than 400 volunteers, sponsors, and vendors, and over 1,000 participants joined in the festivities, which included free food and live entertainment. HCA Director Julie Poulson and Orange County Department of Education Superintendent Bill Habermehl welcomed the crowd and presented awards to the runners. World No-Tobacco Day is May 31st . The day was highlighted by tobacco education game booths developed and staffed by youth to assist participants in learning the dangers of tobacco use while earning prizes for their participation. In fact, the race and event was planned with youth in mind and they provided leadership in creating and supervising the activities through-out the day by volunteering on the race course, staffing the booths, announcing, and performing as mascots.

Nutrition Services would like to congratulate Beryle Koenig of Public Health Field Nursing, who won a colorful cookbook donated by the American Cancer Society for correctly answering the questions to the nutrition quiz featured in the March What's Up as a part of National Nutrition Month. If you'd like to check your nutrition knowledge, the answers were: 1-D, 2-C,

3-B, 4-B, 5-B. Until next year, healthy eating!

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