April 22, 2013
Benefits Open Enrollment Kicks Off May 3
Employees who are eligible for benefits should have received a
newsletter sent to their homes with details regarding the Benefit
Open Enrollment period beginning Friday, May 3, through
Saturday, May 18. This newsletter outlines the benefit changes
and what you need to do to make your selections. If you haven’t
received yours yet, click here to view it now. For information about
your current benefits, login to your MyHR portal and visit the
Benefits Service Center page.
New Socially Just
Contributions Program Rolls Out
The St. Joseph Health vision of health care considers
access to health care a right for all persons. In support of
our Mission and value of Justice, SJH has rolled out a
new benefit program called Socially Just Contributions.
The program helps ensure eligible employees have
affordable access to health care by providing discounts to
help pay for SJH’s lowest cost medical plan. Click here to
view the program flier.
Today is National Earth Day, a day to recommit to
environmental stewardship. Did you know your eating
choices affect the environment?
Attend the upcoming St. Joseph Health Earth Day
Open House, sponsored by the Mission and Values
Committee, and learn how to change your eating habits
to better your health and the earth’s well-being. Please
RSVP to the event by accepting the Outlook meeting
request sent on Friday, April 19. Refreshments will
be provided. Locations and times shown to the left.
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Watch a video on “What Are We Really Eating?”
Pick up information on genetically-modified foods
(GMOs), Orange County farmers markets and more.
Enter to win raffle prizes.
Enjoy a healthy snack.
“I love being in health care and being a nurse.
From the time I was young, I knew this was my
calling. Growing up, my family was very close.
When my youngest brother was born blind at birth,
this brought our family even closer. My family’s
resilience and commitment to each other gave me
the growing desire to help others in need, and
resonates with me every day in my profession.
Celebrating Nurses and
Health Care Professionals
Each May, the nation recognizes America’s
health care professionals through National
Nurses Week and National Health Care
Week. This year, to celebrate our own
St. Joseph Health family, The Huddle would
like to spotlight your journey to health care.
Nursing is an art and a science. The science is
what you learn in school. The art is what you learn
at the bedside. Knowing you’ve made a meaningful
difference to moving a patient toward better health is
very fulfilling. After being a nurse for 22 years,
11 of those years at St. Joseph Hospital, Orange,
I thought it would be great to see
if I could make an impact for
multiple ministries by working in
the system office.”
What inspired you to work in
health care?
Share your story by emailing
[email protected]. We’ll include your
story in an upcoming edition of The Huddle
and you’ll be entered in a drawing to win
Angels Baseball giveaways.*
*Angels, Angels Marks, and Los Angeles Angels of
Anaheim are registered trademarks of Angels Baseball LP.
— Tammy Alvarez, M.S.N., R.N., C.C.R.N., executive
director of performance improvement, St. Joseph Health
Mission Hospital Joins March of Dimes Study
to Reduce Early Elective Deliveries for Babies
March of Dimes partially funded a recent study published in the Obstetrics &
Gynecology journal that showed multistate, hospital-based quality improvement
programs can be very effective at reducing unneeded premature deliveries for
babies. Mission Hospital (MH) was one of 25 hospitals in the nation to participate
in the study and saw “… a tremendous improvement in the reduction of early
deliveries” said Marvin D. Posner, M.D., medical director of maternal-fetal
medicine, Mission Hospital, during the one-year project.
MH is one of the first hospitals in the nation to adopt a perinatal quality
improvement program. St. Joseph Hospital, Orange and St. Jude Medical Center
have also followed the March of Dimes guidelines to reduce the occurrence of
early deliveries when there is no medical need to do so.
Click here to read the full press release. Watch this NBC news clip on the story,
which aired nationwide.
A Shout Out to Our Health Care Volunteers
This week is National Healthcare Volunteer Week, a week that honors a special group of individuals who
enrich the lives of patients and community members through their significant acts of service. Last year,
more than 90 St. Joseph Health system office employees spent 400 hours giving back to the community,
according to the community benefit department. Thank you volunteers for the time you give, the smiles you
bring and the compassion you provide.
Say Thanks to Our
Administrative
Professionals!
Join us in recognizing and honoring
our SJH administrative
professionals on National
Administrative Professionals Day,
this Wednesday, April 24. Express
your appreciation by sending a
thank you eCard via CAREnet.
New Early Bird Hours at C+M
Coffee Kiosk at Park Place
Craving coffee? Beginning
today, the C+M (Coffee and Milk)
kiosk located next to the Market
Café at Park Place will open
even earlier. Stop by 7:30 a.m.
to 4 p.m. to get coffee, espresso
or a sweet pastry.