issue 08-02
February 2008
Inside this issue …
Nutrition Services and local business owner receive recognition
On Feb. 4, City of Santa Ana council members presented HCA Nutrition Services/Network for a Healthy California Program and local grocery store owner David Jobran of C&C Market with a certificate in recognition of a public/private partnership to promote a healthy Orange County.
Network for a Healthy California Program staff worked with the Santa Ana grocery store owner to promote healthy eating by removing alcohol-related posters and replacing them with those featuring fruits and vegetables, as well as educating him about the benefits of displaying produce sold in his store in a more prominent, visible area.
After speaking with program staff, Jobran realized that he was in a position to make a positive impact in his surrounding Santa Ana community by making these simple changes. He soon moved his fruits and vegetables to the front entrance and placed several Network for a Healthy California posters throughout his store. He also asked his staff to wear Network t-shirts and aprons while working to give the store a more professional look, as typically seen in larger grocery stores.
Additionally, Jobran’s front store window which was originally emblazoned with alcohol-related advertisements, now features a mural inspired by the Latino Network for a Healthy Program Campaign. Through time, Jobran continued to enlarge his produce section and line his shelves with more groceries.
For more information about HCA Nutrition Services and the Network for a Healthy California Program, visit www.ochealthinfo.com/public/nutrition/nupac..
C&C Market owner David Jobran replaced his front store window with a mural
inspired by the Latino Network for a Healthy Program Campaign to promote healthy
eating in his Santa Ana community. On Feb. 2, Nutrition Services staff Elsa
Amezcua, Anna Luciano-Acenas, Maridet Ibanez and C&C Market owner David Jobran
received recognition from City of Santa Ana Council members.
Behavioral Health introduces new unit
As part of its ongoing efforts to improve the quality of its services and enhance the diversity of its workforce, HCA’s Behavioral Health Services (BHS) has established a new unit, the Office of the Consumer-Employee Advocate.
This project, funded by the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) and operated through BHS’ MHSA Training Program, is being spearheaded by Richard Krzyzanowski, who recently joined HCA specifically to design and implement ways to support and advocate for current and former consumers of mental health services who are also service providers with BHS and its contracted agencies.
Krzyzanowski came from Los Angeles County, where he worked for many years as a Patients’ Rights Advocate in their Department of Mental Health, and also served as a member and officer of the County’s Commission on Disabilities, the first person with a background in mental health to do so.
According to its Mission Statement, the Consumer-Employee Advocate works to support consumer-employees through: “Individual and systems advocacy dedicated to their effective integration into the workforce and education of the entire workforce about the value of consumer-employee contributions to the BHS mission.”
“Consumers who decide to become mental health professionals usually do so out of a deep-seated desire to contribute their insights and experience to the common project of building a healthier community,” Krzyzanowski said. “Those of us who received help when we most needed it are motivated to give back and help others, and those of us who didn’t get good help want to make sure no one else falls through the cracks.”
A major project Krzyzanowski is working on involves the creation of a “Consumer-Provider Association” for Orange County, an organization that will give consumer-employees a mechanism for mutual support, a forum for an exchange of ideas, and a way to advocate with one voice, when needed.
“I believe in empowerment,” he said. “We consumer-professionals need to roll up our sleeves and build some of our own structures, so we can show everybody we are capable of working with our colleagues as equals.”
For information about the Office of the Consumer-Employee Advocate or the Consumer-Provider Association, contact Richard Krzyzanowski at (714) 796-0138 or by e-mail at rkrzyzanowski@ochca.com.
Meet the HCA Compliance Committee
While primary responsibility for the Compliance Program rests with the Office of Compliance, the Compliance Committee is an important part of the Agency compliance program, assisting in the maintenance of a strong program. The Compliance Committee meets quarterly and includes the Chief Compliance Officer and other members of senior management from Behavioral Health, Public Health, Institutional Health, Administration, Human Resources and HCA Accounting.
The Compliance Committee advises the Compliance Officer regarding compliance issues and areas of potential compliance risk
Coordinates compliance activities for each service area
Provides input on Compliance P&Ps, annual plans and reports, training, information line, risk assessments, corrective actions, system improvements, best practices, interpretation of new laws and regulations
Participates in Compliance investigations
Committee members are advocates for the compliance program
Jeffrey A. Nagel, Ph.D., CHC, Chief Compliance Officer, Office of Compliance
Thea Bullock, CHC, Assistant Compliance Officer, Office of Compliance
Lisa Bauer, Manager, Human Resources
Nancy Bowen, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, Public Health Services
Alan Edwards, M.D. , Medical Director, Behavioral Health Services
David Horner, Ph.D., Division Manager, Behavioral Health Quality Improvement & Program Compliance
Deborah Lynn Fiorica, Manager, Public Health Quality Improvement & Program Compliance
Alice Moore, Division Manager, Contract Development & Management Services
Maureen Robles, Division Manager, Institutional Health Services
Richard Sanchez, Director, Environmental Health
Teri Schultz, Chief Information Officer, Information Technology
Howard Sutter, Public Information & Communications Specialist, Office of Quality Management/PIO
Alice Sworder , Manager, HCA/Accounting
A link to the Compliance Committee web page can be found at: http://balsam/intranet/compliance/committee_members.asp.
Many employees have two retirement deductions on their pay stubs. One is for the normal retirement deduction calculated by a rate set by the Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS) and is based on the employee’s age at the time of entry into the system. For detailed information on this deduction visit the OCERS website at www.ocers.org, or call OCERS at (714) 558-6200 or (888) 570-6277.
The second retirement deduction (“PCKUP”) is a rate negotiated between the County and labor unions that employees pay to enhance their retirement benefits. For more information on this deduction, refer to your particular memorandum of understanding (MOU) or contact your labor organization.
For other questions related to payroll deductions, please visit the County Intranet website at http://ocintranet.ocgov.com/. Under Reference Information, click on Claims & Disbursing. Under Payroll FAQ, click on Deduction/Withholding.
For general payroll questions, please contact HCA Payroll either by e-mail at HCAPayroll@ochca.com, or by telephone at (714) 834-5744 between the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday.
CHDP: Providing a gateway to care
The Child Health and Disability Prevention (CHDP) program is a health promotion and disease prevention program serving California’s infants, children, and teens. Each local health department in the State of California has a CHDP program. The Orange County CHDP Program is located at the 17th St. Clinic in Santa Ana and has a wonderful and dedicated team of CHDP nurse consultants/public health nurses administering the program on a day-to-day basis.
CHDP nurse consultants acquire and maintain complex knowledge of federal, state and local health laws, HIPAA, Medi-Cal regulations, policies and procedures. The nurse consultants certify and recertify 254 CHDP medical practices incorporating more than 1,103 practitioners in Orange County who currently provides approximately 70,975 comprehensive health assessments to low-income children.
CHDP public health nurses are responsible for the development and implementation of standards and guidelines for the provision of quality preventive health services to eligible children in the County of Orange as follows:
Licensure credentialing: Recruitment, enrollment, disenrollment
Quality assurance: Facility and medical record review audits of providers’ offices, desktop reviews, performance measures, client surveys
Trainings: CHDP, BMI (Body Mass Index), Dental, Vision, Audiometric, Asthma
Consultation: Billing, Health Assessment Guidelines, State Program Manuals
Care coordination/Referral/Follow-up: Collaborate with Medi-Cal managed care networks, Child Treatment Unit (CTU), California Children's Services (CCS), Pulmonary Disease Services (PDS), Newborn Hearing Screening Program (NHSP), Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program (CLPPP), Regional Center, and Children and Youth Services (CYS) to ensure eligible children receive health services in a timely manner
Policy enforcement: Assess, develop and revise CHDP policies and procedures
Since the CHDP program is not clinically based, CHDP public health nurses do not provide direct patient care. Instead, the public health nurses are administratively responsible and ensure providers are meeting the Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) requirements. Community partners, providers, and clients of Orange County can definitely depend on CHDP public health nurses’ commitment to building a better and healthier community.
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Life is for most of us a continuous process of getting used to things we hadn’t expected.
—Martha Lupton
Wagner Award nominations due March 3
With the deadline of March 3 approaching soon, be sure to submit your nominations for this year’s Gerald A. Wagner Excellence in Health Education Award.
HCA is once again partnering with the Orange County Coalition for Health Education (OCCHE) to celebrate Public Health Week during April 7-13, with this year’s theme “Climate Change: Our Health in the Balance.”
We invite you to nominate an individual working in any health-related capacity in Orange County who has proved to be outstanding in health education, health promotion, and exceptional in their delivery of services to the community.
Health care professional titles that would be considered for this award program include: Medical Doctor, Dentist, Nurse Practitioner, Registered Nurse, Social Worker, Psychologist, Public Health Nurse, Registered Dietician, Health Educator & related staff, Physician’s Assistant, Teacher and Allied Health Professional.
To nominate an individual, please complete and return the nomination form on page 5. Nominations are due Monday, March 3 and can be sent to:
Amy Buch
Orange County Coalition for Health Education
12 Civic Center Plaza, Ste.127
Pony Mail: Bldg. 12HP
Santa Ana, CA 92701
E-mail: ABuch@ochca.com
Fax: (714) 834-3492
For more information about National Public Health Week, visit the American Public Health Association’s website at www.nphw.org.
DOWNLOAD PDF OF NOMINATION FORM HERE
Naku receives OCNAACP 2008 Citizen of
Distinction Award
Congratulations to Mubula Naku of HCA’s Health Promotion/Tobacco Use Prevention Program (TUPP). On February 2, 2008 Mubula was recognized by the Orange County Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (OCNAACP) with their 2008 Health Care & Community Citizen of Distinction Award.
Mubula is a Senior Public Health Educator and co-founder of the Orange County Coalition for Health Educators. He is responsible for planning, implementing, and evaluating public health programs that focus on work-site analysis and coordination of access to tobacco cessation services at health care sites in Orange County.
Early in his career in the field of public health Mubula worked for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the 1980’s. He contributed to work in promoting ways to curb HIV/AIDS infections rates in the United States. Over the past 20 years, Mubula has become a nationally recognized expert in public health programs for the prevention of communicable diseases and tobacco use cessation. Mubula has written a self-help guide to smoking cessation, which is available through the Tobacco Education Clearinghouse of California.
The OCNAACP has been reaching out, and giving back to the
diverse community of Orange County for 62 years. The Mission of the OCNAACP is
“to improve the political, educational, social, and economic status of minority
groups; to eliminate racial prejudice; to keep the public aware of the adverse
effects of racial discrimination; and to take lawful action to secure its
elimination.”
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You can’t have a better tomorrow if you are thinking about yesterday all the time.
—Charles F. Kettering
My RD says … “It's a matter of fact!”
The National Nutrition Month® March 2008 theme “It’s a Matter
of Fact!” urges consumers to look beyond the myths of nutrition and focus on
scientific based facts like:
Think nutrition-rich rather than “good” or “bad” foods
Prepare, handle and store food properly to prevent food-borne illnesses
Don’t fall prey to food myths and misinformation – they may harm you
Read food labels to make smart food choices
Get your food and nutrition facts from the expert: a Registered Dietitian
Sponsored by the American Dietetic Association (ADA), the largest organization of more than 67,000 members, a majority of whom are Registered Dietitians and dietetic interns, promotes this annual campaign focusing on the importance of good nutrition and healthy lifestyles in March.
This year ADA proudly announces the first-ever Registered Dietitian Day on March 10, 2008! This day will commemorate the dedication of Registered Dietitians (RDs) as advocates for advancing the nutritional status of Americans and people around the world. As the nation’s food and nutrition experts, Registered Dietitians are committed to improving the health of their patients, community and yes, their co-workers, too.
Did you know the County and HCA have many RDs through out its various programs? Learn more about what it takes to become a Registered Dietitian. How can RDs help? And why you might need an RD on your side? Join us in the celebration of RD Day on Monday, March 10 at the Hall of Administration entrance where you can learn the answers to these questions and much more about National Nutrition Month®.
HCA Nutrition Services has other National Nutrition Month® activities planned for March, which include:
An interactive nutrition education display board at the entrance of the 17th St Clinic and in the lunch area
Informative posters by the entrance at the Hall of Administration with pamphlets and handouts
Displays, classes and pamphlets on National Nutrition Month® in WIC clinics throughout the County
Healthy recipe contest for HCA Nutrition Services staff
Special luncheon to celebrate and honor RD Day
For more information about HCA Nutrition Services and “National Nutrition Month® March 2008,” please call (714) 834-7986.
National Brain Injury Awareness Month
National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
National Endometriosis Awareness Month
National Multiple Sclerosis Education and Awareness Month
National Nutrition Month®
Save Your Vision Month
National Patient Safety Awareness Week—2-8
National School Breakfast Week—3-7
National Sleep Awareness Week®—3-9
National Inhalants and Poisons Awareness Week—6-23
World Kidney Day—13
American Diabetes Alert Day—25
We all know that eating fruits and vegetables are essential for good health. They provide vitamins, minerals, and fiber, and can even reduce risks for many chronic diseases. However, did you know that current research shows that eating fruits and vegetables may actually help us lose weight?
Since fruits and vegetables are high in fiber and water content, they increase the volume of foods and help make us feel fuller. When we feel full, we are less likely to nibble on empty calorie foods (low nutrient dense, high calorie foods, like processed snacks and candy).
Replace spinach, onions, or mushrooms for one of the eggs or half of the cheese in your morning omelet. The vegetables will add volume and flavor to the dish with fewer calories than the egg or cheese.
Cut back on the amount of cereal in your bowl to make room for some cut-up bananas, peaches, or strawberries. You can still eat a full bowl, but with fewer calories and more taste.
Substitute vegetables such as dark lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, or onions for one slice of cheese and one ounce of meat in your sandwich, wrap, or burrito. This new version will fill you up with fewer calories than the original.
Add in 1 cup of chopped vegetables such as broccoli, tomatoes, squash, onions, or peppers, while removing 1 cup of the rice or pasta in your favorite dish. The dish with the vegetables will be just as satisfying but have fewer calories than the same amount of the original version.
For more ideas on using fruits and vegetables to help you lose
weight, visit the online brochure at
www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/nutrition/pdf/CDC_5-A-Day.pdf
Source:
www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/nutrition/pdf/rtp_practitioner_10_07.pd
Leadership graduates celebrate achievements
The Health Care Agency’s Leadership Development Program celebrated an important milestone on January 31st, as the first graduates of the program received certificates of completion saluting their accomplishments in the new program.
HCA’s Leadership Development Program is designed to provide staff with ongoing leadership training opportunities that contribute to an individual’s professional growth and development, while also ensuring that HCA remains a strong and vibrant organization through a well-trained and capable workforce. The graduation ceremony was held at California State University, Fullerton’s Garden Grove campus and featured remarks by several of the graduates, including Sue Beck, the first to complete the coursework in the Level II Advanced Leadership curriculum.
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| Assistant Director Dave Riley and Agency Director Julie Poulson are pictured with Sue Beck (center) who is the first indiviual to complete the Level II Advanced Leadership curriculum. | Leadership graduates pose for a group photo during a Jan. 31 event held at California State University, Fullerton’s Garden Grove campus where they received certificates of completion saluting their accomplishments in the new program. The event featured remarks by several graduates and also congratulated Sue Beck on being the first to complete the Level II Advanced Leadership curriculum. |
Celebrating American Heart Month
Celebrate American Heart Month during February by taking steps
to prevent and control factors that could put you at greater risk for coronary
heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States and a major cause
of disability.
Other conditions that affect your heart or increase your risk of death or disability include arrhythmia, heart failure and peripheral artery disease (PAD). High cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, tobacco and secondhand smoke are also risk factors associated with heart disease.
Participating in a healthy diet and active lifestyle are the best weapons you have to fight heart disease. It’s important to remember that it is the overall pattern of choices you make that count. The American Heart Association offers the following daily food choices to help you get a start on a healthy heart:
Choose lean meats and poultry without skin and prepare them without saturated and trans fat.
Select fat-free, 1% fat and low-fat dairy products.
Cut back on foods containing partially hydrogenated vegetable oils to reduce trans fat in your diet.
Cut back on foods high in dietary cholesterol. Aim to eat less than 300 mg of cholesterol each day.
Cut back on beverages and foods with added sugars.
Choose and prepare foods with little or no salt. Aim to eat less than 2,300 mg of sodium per day (or less than 1,500 mg if you are in a higher risk group for high blood pressure).
If you drink alcohol, drink in moderation. That means no more
than one drink per day if you’re a woman and two drinks per day if you’re a man.
When eating out, keep track of your portion sizes.
Physical activity in your daily life is also an important step in preventing heart disease. Incorporate a few simple steps at home, at work and at play to increase the amount of physical activity in your life.
For more information about American Heart Month or coronary heart disease, visit the American Heart Association’s website at www.americanheart.org or the Center for Disease Control’s website at www.cdc.gov.
Employees recognized at Awards Ceremony
HCA employees received recognition for their years of
dedicated service at an Employee Recognition Awards ceremony held on Feb. 7 at
the County Hall of Administration. The following is a list of service awards
presented:
5 Years of Service 20 10 Years of Service 32 15 Years of Service 14
20 Years of Service 11 25 Years of Service 4 30 Years of Service 5
5 Years of Service—20
10 Years of Service—32
15 Years of Service—14
20 Years of Service—11
25 Years of Service—4
30 Years of Service—5
30 Years
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| Thuyet Nguyen from Public Health Services celebrated 30 years of service to the County and was recognized by Agency Director Julie Poulson and Public Health Services Deputy Agency Director David Souleles. | Lisa Martin from Animal Care Services celebrated 30 years of County service and received a certificate and pin from Agency Director Julie Poulson and Public Health Services Deputy Agency Director David Souleles during the Feb. 7 Employee Recognition Awards. | Agency Director Julie Poulson and Chief of Behavioral Health Operations Mary Hale congratulated Alan Albright on celebrating 30 years of County service and presented him with a certificate and pin to commemorate the occasion. |
25 Years
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| Celebrating 25 years of County service, Mark McDorman from Medical and Institutional Health Services received recognition from Agency Director Julie Poulson and Institutional Health Services Division Manager Maureen Robles during the Employee Recognition Awards held on Feb. 7. | Public Health Services staff member Loralee Page-Ortez received a certificate and pin to commemorate 25 years of County service from Agency Director Julie Poulson and Public Health Services Deputy Agency Director David Souleles. |
20 Years
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| Celebrating 20 years of County service, Linda Price from Medical and Institutional Health Services received a certificate and pin from Agency Director Julie Poulson and Institutional Health Services Division Manager Maureen Robles during the Feb. 7 Employee Recognition Awards. | Julie Koga of Public Health Services received recognition from Agency Director Julie Poulson and Public Health Services Deputy Agency Director David Souleles for 20 years of County service. | Assistant Environmental Health Director Denise Fennessy celebrated 20 years of County service and received recognition from Agency Director Julie Poulson and Public Health Services Deputy Agency Director David Souleles. |
15 Years
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| Celebrating 15 years of County service Vincent Sholl of Behavioral Health Services received recognition from Agency Director Julie Poulson and Chief of Behavioral Health Operations Mary Hale. | Celebrating 15 years of County service, Lorraine Marquez of Public Health Services received a certificate and pin from Agency Director Julie Poulson and Public Health Services Deputy Agency Director Dave Souleles. |
10 Years
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| Behavioral Health Services staff Bernice Dunlap and Adrian Williams received a certificate and pin for their 10 years of service from Agency Director Julie Poulson and Chief of Behavioral Health Operations Mary Hale during an Employee Recognition Awards ceremony held on Feb. 7. | Emergency Medical Services staff member Ginny Rowan received recognition for her 10 years of County service from Agency Director Julie Poulson and Emergency Medical Services Program Manager Greg Boswell. | Medical & Institutional Health staff Theresa Moon and Ha Nguyen-Vazquez received recognition on their 10 years of County service from Agency Director Julie Poulson and Institutional Health Services Division Manager Maureen Robles. |
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| Celebrating 10 years of County Service, Public Health staff pictured (left to right) Marlene Torres, Renee Jenkins and Karyn Doan received a certificate and pin from Agency Director Julie Poulson and Public Health Services Deputy Agency Director David Souleles. |
10 & 5 Years
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| Financial and Administrative Services staff pictured (left to right) Bonnie Birnbaum, Ana Palma, David Kennedy and Jennifer Bernsen celebrated 5 and 10 years of County service and received recognition from Agency Director Julie Poulson and Quality Management Chief David Thiessen. |
5 Years
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| Public Health Services staff members pictured (left to right) Nellie Vasquez, Andrea Tierney, Susanna Ganey, Alicia Fuly and Debra Cross received recognition from Agency Directory Julie Poulson and Public Health Services Deputy Agency Director David Souleles for their 5 years of County service. | Cynthia Aguirre and Andrew Inglis of Behavioral Health Services celebrated 5 years of County service and were recognized during the Feb. 7 Employee Recognition Awards by Agency Director Julie Poulson and Chief of Behavioral Health Operations Mary Hale. | Emergency Medical Services Program Manager Greg Boswell celebrated 5 years of County service and received a certificate and pin to commemorate the occasion from Agency Director Julie Poulson and Institutional Heath Services Division Manager Maureen Robles. |
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Great crisis produce great men and great deeds of courage.
—John F. Kennedy
Cultural Competency Spotlight on Excellence
Behavioral Health’s Cultural Competency Program named John
Kane of Older Adult Mental Health Recovery Services as the recipient of the
January 2008 Spotlight on Excellence Award.
John currently serves as a Mental Health Specialist for Older Adult Services (OAS) and is recognized for his commitment and dedication to clients and co-workers alike. He often takes on extra work assignments each month in order to relive his peers from their extra workload and is known for following the mantra of “it’s never too late.” John is also recognized for going the extra mile for patients under his care.
Prior to joining the County, John worked for the LA Times for 41 years. After retiring, he attended Saddleback College where he studied to become a certified Addiction Treatment Counselor. He then joined the OAS Substance Abuse Resources Team (START) Program as a Drug and Alcohol Counselor. During this time, he attended Cal State Fullerton and received a BS in Human Services and a MS in Gerontology.
Pictured (left to right) are Ronnie Kelley, John Kane, Dan Conditt and Rafael
Canul.
New Smoke-Free Car Law takes effect
Effective January 1, 2008, a new health and safety code law took effect which bans the smoking of any cigarette, pipe or cigar in a moving or parked vehicle while a youth younger than the age of 18 is present.
According to the California Department of Public Health, children are especially at risk to the harmful health effects caused by breathing secondhand smoke in confined spaces such as a car or truck.
The harmful chemicals in secondhand smoke can remain in the air and on surfaces in a car or truck for many hours, and even days, after a cigarette has been smoked. These chemicals stick to surfaces, such as a child’s car seat, making it a potential hidden source of danger for children.
City Police Officers, Sheriff Deputies and California Highway Patrol Officers enforce the new safety code law and can fine smokers up to $100 for smoking in vehicles when youth are present.
For more information about the new law, contact HCA’s Tobacco Use Prevention Program at (714) 834-2904. For free smoking cessation assistance, call (866) NEW-LUNG.
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Beautiful faces are those that wear whole-souled honesty printed there.
—Ellen P. Allerton
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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