issue 07-05
May 2007
Inside this issue..
Mikhail and Osborne spotlighted for key project
contributions - Page 1
June blood drive coming
- Page 1
Dr. Kaddis receives award - Page 2
MADD recognizes Kite - Page 2
NAMI Education Director visits HCA for presentation - Page 2
Mitigating your risk factors - Page 3
National Nurses Week 2007 - Page 3
June Health Observances - Page 3
Spotlight on Excellence - Page 4
Payroll Tips - Page 4
Mikhail and Osborne spotlighted for key project contributions
Lydia Mikhail, Public Health Laboratory Manager and Roxanna
Osborn, California Children’s Services (CCS) Program Manager are noted for their
contribution and commitment in implementing two key computer systems within
Public Health Services, the Cerner PathNet Laboratory Information System and
Children’s Medical Services Network (CMS Net).
The HCA Public Health Laboratory recently completed a transition from a 20-year old computer system, which involved handwritten paperwork and longer wait times for test results to the electronic based PathNet system thanks to the coordination and implementation efforts of Lydia Mikhail. With the new system in place, users are able to register patients, request lab tests and transmit and receive results in about 2 days, all done electronically. Other benefits of PathNet include the ability to link all of the departments within Public Health, assurance of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance, as well as real time reporting as soon as a test is completed.
Lydia’s involvement in the project included on-site visits to other public health laboratories to discover best practices in order to implement the new system within the Agency, as well as face-to-face meetings with HCA program supervisors to understand clinical needs and expectations of upcoming process changes that the laboratory automation project would bring about.
“Lydia empowered laboratory staff to take ownership of their various field of expertise and display their talents in each area to help implement the PathNet project,” said Kindra Dimitriadis, Public Health Information Technology Project Manager. “Lydia’s contribution and dedication to this project and the Public Health Laboratory ensures that we can continue to meet the health care needs of the County and its residents.”
In addition to the PathNet project, another computer
transition within HCA Public Health Services also recently took place. Thanks to
the contributions and efforts of Roxanna Osborne, the CCS program has
successfully completed a transition from the ChildWatch computer data system to
the State electronic system called the Children’s Medical Services Network.
Roxanna worked as the project manager of this endeavor and served as the liaison contact for State personnel, the County of Orange Information Technology department and CCS staff, ensuring that all objectives have been met.
Roxanna’s task of project manager required a tremendous amount of coordination, communication, data review and travel to and from Sacramento. Through her efforts and working beyond normal expectations, Roxanna was able to effectively transfer 29,000 CCS client records and have CMS Net up and running, ready for use on the CCS “go live” date on March 5th.
“Roxanna took the initiative to pick-up extra technical skills and was responsible for keeping CCS staff on track every step of the way during this transition that began in 2004,” said Mary Davis, CCS Division Manager. “We appreciate her contributions and dedication to this project and in ensuring that the CCS program will continue to meet the health care needs of the children served by our program.”
June blood drive coming
A blood drive is planned for Wednesday, June 13th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at HCA’s 405 W. 5th Street building in the 4th floor conference rooms. If you’re interested in donating, please sign up online at www.givelife.org and enter the sponsor code OC1 or contact Amber Alford in HCA Volunteer Services at (714) 834-4144.
Regulations in the United States allow individuals to donate whole blood once every 56 days. Those who donated at the previous Hall of Administration blood drive on April 5th are eligible to donate once again. For specific eligibility requirements on donating blood, call (800) GIVE LIFE.
How
can I ensure a pleasant donation experience?
You’ll want a good night’s sleep the night before, and a good breakfast or lunch
before your donation. Drink fluids like juice, milk, or soda ahead of time. Take
your normal medications as prescribed. Ensure you have adequate iron level by
making iron-rich foods part of your daily diet. These include red meat, poultry,
fish, green leafy vegetables, iron-fortified cereals, nuts, raisins and prunes.
During your donation, relax. After your donation, have some juice and cookies in
the canteen. Then you can go about your daily activities, but avoid heavy
lifting or strenuous exercise for the remainder of the day.
How long does it take to donate blood?
The whole process takes about an hour. It starts with registration, a health
history and a mini-physical. Then comes the actual donation, which usually takes
less than 10-12 minutes. Afterward, you will be asked to spend a few minutes in
the “canteen” where you can have a light refreshment before returning to your
normal activities.
Who needs blood?
Under normal circumstances, every two seconds someone in America will need a
blood transfusion. Blood transfusions are used for trauma victims—due to
accidents and burns—heart surgery, organ transplants, women with complications
during childbirth, newborns and premature babies, and patients receiving
treatment for leukemia, cancer or other diseases, such as sickle cell disease
and thalassemia.
Dr.
Kaddis receives award
Congratulations
to Dr. Hoda Kaddis, California Children’s Services (CCS) Medical Director, on
receiving the 2007 CalOptima Circle of Care Provider Recognition Award.
Dr. Kaddis is noted for her positive contributions to the community and for developing a collaborative and respected relationship with CalOptima, ensuring CCS programs are partnered in meeting the needs of their clients.
The annual CalOptima Circle of Care program was created to recognize those who make their members a priority in their practice and who provide them with compassionate and quality health care.
ADEPT staff attended the OC MADD Awards ceremony held on April 12 at the Nixon Library to support Dick Kite who received the 2007 Individual Diamond Service Award for his contributions related to alcohol and drug impaired driving. Pictured (left to right) are ADEPT Program Manager Marilyn Pritchard; ADEPT Research Analyst Dick Kite; Health Promotion Division Manager Amy Buch; and ADEPT Program Supervisor Carolyn Secrist.
NAMI Education Director visits HCA for presentation
The Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) program welcomed Joyce Burland, Ph.D., National Director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Education, Training and Peer Support Center on April 18th at HCA’s 405 W. 5th Street building to provide an informative presentation on two NAMI signature programs that she developed.
HCA staff in attendance learned about the NAMI Family-to-Family Education Curriculum, a free 12-week peer education program for families, and the NAMI Provider Education Program, a 10-week course taught by a team of family members and consumers that trains public agency line staff in skills fostering family-consumer-provider collaboration.
Dr. Burland is also the author of several NAMI publications including “Parents and Teachers as Allies: Recognizing Early-Onset Mental Illness in Children and Adolescents” and “What Hurts/What Helps; A Guide to What Families of Individuals with Mental Illness Need from Mental Health Professionals.”
For more information about NAMI, visit the national organization’s website at www.nami.org or the Orange County Chapter of NAMI at www.namioc.org.
Pictured (left to right) are Donna Wallis, Executive Director NAMI Orange County; Joyce Burland, Ph.D.; and Dane Libart, HCA Behavioral Health Services Family Advocate.
"The more obligations we accept that are more self-imposed,
the freer we are."
—John C. Schroeder
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
National Nurses Week 2007
Celebrated
annually from May 6, also known as National Nurses Day, through May 12, the
birthday of Florence Nightengale, the founder of modern nursing, National Nurses
Week honors all nurses who are working to improve the health and well-being of
the community.
This year’s theme of “Nursing: A Profession and a Passion,” demonstrates the passion nurses have for the profession and their strong commitment to health and safety. Often described as an art and a science, nursing is a profession that embraces dedicated people with varied interests, strengths and passions because of the many opportunities the profession offers.
Nurses have many roles, but share one profession. During the
month of May, HCA thanks the Agency’s nurses for their dedication and commitment
in providing services to our clients.
For more information about National Nurses Week, visit the American Nurses
Association website at
www.nursingworld.org.
Home Safety Month
National Asphasia Awareness Month
National Scleroderma Awareness Month
National Headache Awareness Week 3-9
Sun Safety Week 3-9
National Men’s Health Week 11-17
Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness Week 24-30
National HIV Testing Day 27
Behavioral Health’s Cultural Competency Program named Patricia Morales, a Clinical Social Worker I with Adult Mental Health Services as the recipient of the April 2007 Spotlight on Excellence Award.
Patricia works mainly with the Latino community at the Santa Ana Mental Health Clinic where she assists clients and their families in understanding mental illness and overcoming the stigma associated with it. She is acknowledged for her dedication in giving back to the community every day and for going out of her way in helping consumers and families understand and live with mental illness.
For Patricia, it is a great reward when family members of the severely mentally ill become advocates and active participants in their family member’s treatment. She is the first in her family to graduate and obtain a college degree. Patricia attended Cal State Monterey Bay and received a BA in Collaborative Human Services and a MSW in Social Work.
Pictured (left to right) are Ronnie Kelley, Patricia Morales and Rafael Canul.
Have YOU updated your claim forms?
Each calendar year the rate for reimbursing mileage is set by the IRS. The County in turn updates its rates based on provisions in various memoranda of understanding. HCA Payroll then updates the online Mileage and Other Expense Claim form. This electronic form contains formulas that will automatically calculate the amount to be reimbursed based on the updated rates.
However, if you are using an old form you may not receive the correct reimbursement, your reimbursement may be delayed, or your claim may be returned to you for correction. If you haven’t already done so, please go to the HCA Intranet and select Forms and then Payroll. You will find the most current Mileage and Other Expense Claim form, as well as instructions.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact HCA Payroll at (714) 834-5744, or by e-mail at HCAPAYROLL@ochca.com.
What’s UP is a newsletter for employees of the County of
Orange, CA, Health Care Agency.
Editors
Tricia Landquist
Howard Sutter
Anne Fialcowitz
Phone (714) 834-6644
E-mail tlandquist@ochca.com
FAX (714) 834-7644
Pony Bldg. 38-S, 4th Floor
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