issue 07-01
January 2007
Inside this issue..
Dedicated to
improving health disaster response - Page 1
Agency Strategic Plan—a road map for the future
- Page 1
Call
for 2007 Team Excellence Award nominations - Page 2
Still time for a flu shot! - Page 2
February Health Observances - Page 2
Operation Santa Paws visits ACS - Page 3
BOS honors county food drive donors - Page 3
HCA holds blood drive - Page 3
Tips for a healthy new year - Page 4
Mileage update for 2007 - Page 4
Compliance Update - Page 4
Dedicated to improving health disaster response
Professional, positive and dedicated are just a few of the words used by staff to describe Vicki Bowman, Administrative
Manager I for HCA’s Health Disaster Management Division. In her current role, she is responsible for improving the preparedness and response of the Health Care Agency in the event of a health related disaster.
Vicki manages the Agency’s communication resources and utilization of the ‘InLogic’ Notification System, ensuring that HCA personnel are listed in the system and can rap-idly be notified in a disaster, as well as providing support to exercise and event operations. She trains managers and administrators in all Agency departments and serves as technical advisor for the Health Emergency Operations Center and the Distribution Center Warehouse.
“Vicki’s skill in plan development and logistics has been invaluable in expansion of HCA’s response capabilities in the event of a disaster,” said Terre Duensing, Health Disaster Management Division Manager.
Vicki has also participated in the development of the Orange County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), where she works alongside Peggy McCormick to recruit and train community volunteers to assist the Agency in responding to a public health emergency. Currently, the OC MRC includes more than 350 members.
As a retired Army officer with expertise in the field of personnel and logistics, Vicki’s last assignment was at the Presidio of San Francisco prior to starting her career with the Health Care Agency in 1997.
“Every day is unique when dealing with emergency preparedness,” said Vicki. “From conducting communication drills to preparing for a major exercise; it all requires team work and resourceful-ness and I’m thankful to be working with such a wonderful team at HCA.”
Most recently, Vicki served as the Exercise Director for the November 3, 2006 flu vaccination Point of Dispensing (POD) Exercise. Held at three different sites around the county, the exercise utilized close to 500 city, fire, law and HCA staff, college students and volunteers, which resulted in the vaccination of 2,873 Orange County residents.
"The exercise took one year in planning, coordination and training," said Terre Duensing. "Vicki's leadership was a driving force in the overall success of this event."
In her spare time, Vicky enjoys reading fantasy and science fiction novels and is a Star Trek and Star Wars fan. She is also a Red Cross Instructor and volunteers to teach monthly CPR classes. Vicki is also active with the Delta Zeta Sorority and currently serves as the Financial Advisor to the Cal State Fullerton Chapter.
In the future, Vicki hopes to remain with the Health Disaster Division until retirement within the next 5 to 10 years and then she plans to pursue volunteer work with her church.
Agency Strategic Plan—a road map for the future
Completing a process that lasted more than a year, the Health
Care Agency’s 2006-2010 Strategic Plan has been approved by the Office of the
Director and posted to the HCA website at
www.ochealthinfo.com/admin/strategicplan.
“The Strategic Plan is a little like a road map that will help to guide the Health Care Agency through the next several years,” said David Thiessen, Chief of the Office of Quality Management. “The direction provided by the Agency’s Vision, Mission, Goals and Values will be important as we move forward and meet the challenges the future will bring.”
An important part of the Strategic Plan development process was an employee survey conducted in early 2006, with more than 940 HCA employees providing their opinions and insightful comments. “It was encouraging that over 95% of HCA employees participating in the survey understood how their own work, and the services provided by their program, contribute to the Agency’s Vision, Mission and Goals,” said HCA Director Julie Poulson. “It was also great to see the number of comments (over 10,000 total responses) that we received from staff about the Agency’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as the opportunities and potential threats that may impact the Agency in the future.”
The County of Orange has also embarked on a strategic planning process that resulted in the adoption of a County Mission Statement at the Board of Supervisors’ December 19th meeting. The County’s new mission statement is:
“Making Orange County a safe, healthy, and fulfilling place to live, work, and play, today and for generations to come, by providing outstanding, cost-effective regional public services.”
As the County’s Strategic Plan development process continues, refinements will be made to HCA’s Strategic Plan to ensure the plan is in harmony with the County’s strategic direction.
Call
for 2007 Team Excellence Award nominations
S
Animals at ACS received a variety of donated items that were collected by the non-profit group through a donation drive held during the month of December. Local pet organizations, pet stores and business owners placed drop-off boxes in their facilities to collect items for the drive.
It’s not too early to begin donating to Operation Santa Paws 2007. The group is encouraging animal lovers to purchase a new dog or cat toy, treat, supply or pet store gift card that will be de-livered in time for Christmas to shelters and rescues around the Southland. For more information and a list of suggested items to donate, visit the Operation Santa Paws website at
www.santapaws.info.
BOS honors county food drive donors
County of Orange employees were honored before the Board of Supervisors in December for their contributions to the county’s annual food drive that assists needy families during the Holidays.
This year’s drive resulted in the collection of more than 13,000 pounds of food, which will provide thousands of meals for the hungry. The Health Care Agency alone collected almost 2,200 pounds of food during the 2006 drive. Individual Health Care Agency staff received special recognition at the Board meeting for their efforts. Among those recognized was Margarethe Smith, a Behavioral Health Services staff member in Fullerton, who collected donations from her coworkers and used those donations to purchase more than 120 pounds of food. Also recognized was Linda Rappaport, a Behavioral Health staff member from Laguna Beach, who spearheaded efforts to collect food for the pets of vulnerable and homeless individuals.
Our thanks and congratulations for the hard work and generosity of the HCA staff who contributed to this worthy project.
A blood drive will be held at HCA’s 405 W. 5th Street building in Rm. 433 on February 1st from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Those interested in donating can obtain more information about registering from Amber Hannigan, HCA Volunteer Services at ahannigan@ochca.com or (714) 834-4144.
If you’re unable to participate in the February 1st drive, there’s still always time to give. Visit the American Red Cross Online Donor Appointment Scheduling system at www.givelife.org or contact the local Orange County Red Cross at (714) 841-5300 for more information.
It’s a new year and the perfect time to make lifestyle changes that will help you become more healthy and energized! To help jump start your “healthy” New Year, the California Department of Health Services (DHS) created monthly California Fit Business Tips to educate working Californians on the importance of fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity.
Each month, Fit Business Tips features a fruit and vegetable of the month and provides information on its health benefits, storage, how to select the fruit or vegetable at the grocery store and preparation ideas including healthy recipes.
Healthy alternatives don’t have to include bland and flavorless meals. a healthier year by adding some of the featured fruits and vegetables to your diet. For more information on the monthly Fit Business Tips or to sign-up to receive the Tips by e-mail visit the DHS website at www.dhs.ca.gov/ps/cdic/cpns/worksite/ws_fittip.htm.
Mileage update for 2007
A new rate for mileage went into effect on January 1, 2007. The standard rate for mileage reimbursement set by the IRS is 48.5 cents per mile. The negotiated rate for units represented by OCEA when the miles driven are equal to or exceed 250 in one month, is 10 cents over the standard rate. (OCMA members, as well as contract and extra help employees are not entitled to the higher rate.) Also, an important change has been made to the mileage rate code for 250 miles or more for 2006, and is noted below. Only the following rate codes are valid.
Miles driven in one month less than 250:
Rate/Code
MI445
Time Period
Jan-Dec 2006
Calculated Rate
.445
Rate/Code
MI485
Time Period
Jan-Dec 2007
Calculated Rate
.485
Miles driven in one month equal to or greater than 250:
Rate/Code
MI545
Time Period
Jan-Dec 2006
Calculated Rate
.545
Rate/Code
MI250
Time Period
Jan-Dec 2007
Calculated Rate
.585
Per County Travel policy section 18.6.1 “Expense claims for travel should generally be filed within 30 days from the end of the travel event. However, such claims should not be filed more than once per month, and no payment will be disbursed for claims filed beyond 12 months from the end of a travel event.”
You can find additional information, as well as the electronic version of the Mileage and Other Expense claim form on the HCA Intranet under Forms/Payroll at http://balsam/intranet/forms.asp. If you have any comments or concerns please contact HCA Payroll at (714) 834-5744 or by e-mail at HCAPAYROLL@ochca.com.
"The final forming of a person's character lies in their own hand."—Anne Frank
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the staff, supervisors, managers and contractors that completed the 2006 Annual Compliance Training. This year, nearly the entire Agency completed Compliance Training prior to the January 10, 2007 deadline.
The Compliance Program recognizes that this accomplishment was made possible through the efforts of staff assisting one another, as well as the support and encouragement of supervisors and managers.
Regulatory Health Services has won the 2006 HCA Compliance Cup by being the first HCA service area to have 100% of the staff complete compliance training. The trophy was presented to Mike Spurgeon, Deputy Agency Director for Regulatory Health Services at a recent Executive Team meeting. Other service areas were not far behind, so kudos on all your efforts as well.
Sincerely;
Jeffrey Nagel
Chief Compliance Officer
HCA Office of Compliance
The HCA Compliance
Program offers a confidential
telephone hotline to voice
your concerns about any
situation that may conflict
with Compliance Program
principles. You may call the
hotline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at:
(866) 260-5636
"Happiness is a conscious choice, not an automatic response." —Mildred Barthel
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