A Weekly Publication for the People of Queen’s | Volume 20 | Number 11 | March 7, 2011
EOM Jenny Miller’s Work in ODR Outstanding
“What did I do?” was the stunned response from Jennifer Miller, health record
analyst, Oncology Data Registry, as she
entered a room of colleagues and friends
shouting, “surprise!”. Jennifer was there
to be honored for her selection as the February Employee of the Month. Paula Yoshioka, QMC Executive Vice President &
Chief Administrative Officer, said, “I take
personal happiness in this moment because as a cancer survivor, I know that everyone in this room had something to do
with my getting well. Jenny’s contribution
as an outstanding abstractor for oncology
research played a huge part in our recent
accreditation by the American College of
Surgeon’s Commission on Cancer.”
Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer Mark Yamakawa added,
“We really appreciate the example you
set for how we should treat each other
and our patients.” Jenny demurred, insisting, “All of you should be up here
with me—you are all a part of this.”
Jenny has worked at Queen’s for the
past 15 years. She originally worked
in medical records (at another facility)
before taking a registered health infor-
mation technician course. That certification led her to the oncology data registry field, and finally to Queen’s. She
explains her job as, “looking through
newly diagnosed cancer case records
to pull out pertinent diagnostic, demographic, and treatment information
for input into the database.” Typically,
the abstracted information goes into
the state registry, then to the national
cancer database, where it is used for research and studies.
“There is always something new to
learn,” Jenny added. “It’s never boring
or static; you really need to stay focused
and pay attention to details. ”
Jenny’s fans brought a variety of healthy
and mostly vegetarian dishes to the EOM
luncheon in reflection of Jenny’s personal
preference. “I eat mostly vegetarian and
I love to cook,” Jenny admitted, adding,
(Continued on page 2 .)
Project Evergreen Launches Phase 2 Efforts
Submitted by Project Evergreen
The Queen’s Hospital, now called
The Queen’s Medical Center, officially
opened its doors in 1859, a product of
the vision of Queen Emma and King
Kamehameha IV. Queen’s Mission is “To
fulfill the intent of Queen Emma and
King Kamehameha IV to provide in perpetuity quality health care services to
improve the well-being of Native Hawaiians and all of the people of Hawai‘i.”
Today, The Queen’s Health Systems
continues to work toward fulfilling the
founders’ vision through the provision of
quality health care. As stewards of this
rich legacy, Queen’s is responsible for
the sustainability of this vision. Project
Evergreen (Phase 1) was first launched
in 2008 as a way to establish and implement efficient processes and practices,
Service With C.A.R.E.
The Queen’s Medical Center has striven
to become one of the best health care
centers in the U.S. delivering high quality evidence-based practice. But there is
another essential piece to care: Patient
Satisfaction. That is, we are accountable
to patients’ perception of HOW they
received care, and thus our new motto:
Patients Are Our #1 Priority. Learn about
Press Ganey scores and what they mean,
QMC’s patient satisfaction goals, why the
issue is so critical, and more by attending
one of the following Service With C.A.R.E.
sessions. Come, refocus, and recommit to
who we are: health professionals committed to the BEST patient care in both excellence and service.
For all QHS employees
Register by visiting the Queen’s Intranet
at eww.queens under Org>Staff>
Education>Service With C.A.R.E.
DATE
March 11
March 14
March 22
March 28
March 31
March 31
2
TIME
12pm – 3pm
8am – 11am
8am – 11am
12pm – 3pm
8am – 11am
12pm – 3pm
LOCATION
Kamehameha Aud
QCC Aud
QCC 200
QCC Aud
Kamehameha Aud
QCC Aud
and to advance Queen’s operating performance through improved revenues and
cost containment. Financial goals were
achieved over the past two years with FY
2009 and 2010 financial benefits of approximately $20 million per year
Like all hospitals across the country,
Queens continues to face significant ongoing challenges in the wake of both a difficult economic environment and the uncertainty of the true impact of health care
reform. In the first half of this fiscal year,
volumes have been lower than budget and
this has led to lower revenue. Reduced reimbursements have also been realized because the number of underinsured and uninsured patients has increased and there is
continued pressure by the federal government through their Medicare audits in the
wake of health care reform.
Because of its responsibility to its
founders and the community, Queens
must have a solid financial base in order to continue to provide the resources
required for quality patient care. Thus,
Project Evergreen Phase 2, which will
take place over the next six to nine
months, is intended to be company-wide
and process-centered, with an emphasis
on applying best practices to QMC’s operFor Medical Staff
No registration needed. Just come!
DATE
March 15
March 16
March 17
March 18
March 23
March 23
March 24
March 29
March 29
March 30
TIME
4pm – 5pm
12pm – 1pm
4pm – 5pm
7am – 8am
7am – 8am
12pm – 1pm
12pm – 1pm
7am – 8am
12pm – 1pm
4pm – 5pm
LOCATION
QET 9 Ewa CR
QET 8 Ewa CR
QET 9 Ewa CR
QET 5 CR
QET 8 Ewa CR
QET 8 Ewa CR
QET 9 Ewa CR
QET 4 CR
QET 5 CR
QET 9 Ewa CR
ations in the revenue cycle, non-labor expense management, labor productivity,
and other areas. There are many Project
Evergreen initiatives that have already
been highlighted in previous Print Connection issues. For example, reprocessing
of certain supplies in the OR and linen
awareness are two highly successful nonlabor initiatives. At the end of last year,
the Linen Awareness Fair showed that
reducing linen by one pound per adjusted
patient day would save $200,000 a year.
Because it is a team effort to deliver excellent patient care, everyone will likely be
affected by Project Evergreen to some extent, since improved processes will need
to be developed. It is an opportunity to
improve organizational performance in a
collaborative, team-centered way. To that
effect, all employees are encouraged to
make suggestions or offer solutions, because those who actually perform the day
to day tasks in a department or area often
know best what will improve a process.
“We thank the Queen’s ‘ohana for their
continuing cooperation and dedication,”
said Paula Yoshioka, EVP and CAO. “As
we head into our 152nd year of providing
quality health care in Hawai‘i, we know
that we can count on our employees to
continue the King and Queen’s vision.”
Please feel free to contact executive
sponsors Paula Yoshioka, EVP and CAO,
at [email protected], or Rick Keene,
EVP and CFO, at [email protected]. Or,
contact Susan Abe at 547-4529 or at [email protected] for labor, non-labor and
clinical performance suggestions. For
revenue cycle issues, contact Amita Goyal at 547-4686, or at [email protected].
EOM Jenny Miller
(Continued from page 1.)
as she eyed the stuffed grape leaves, feta cheese-topped salad, and hummus, “I
love Greek food, too. This is so nice.” She
likes to create her own recipes after poring over cookbooks or watching cooking
shows for inspiration. “I like to tweak recipes to suit my own style. I’m going to try
a Thai stir fry this weekend.” Jenny also
enjoys jogging and participating in events
such as the Great Aloha Run.
“I enjoy the people I work with,” Jenny
(Continued on page 3.)
Go for a Nostalgic Ride in the Harkness Elevator
by Lisa Sekiya, Queen’s Volunteer
It wasn’t moving. Somebody didn’t close the
gate in the Harkness
elevator when they
went to the basement and exited the
building. That someone
was me. Oops, my bad.
I wasn’t used to riding in
an old-school elevator which
won’t budge if its gate and door
are not shut completely.
Take a ride in the elevator sometime.
You’ll travel more than a few floors. You’ll
feel a connection to Queen’s past and present. This is the four-story building’s original Otis elevator and, like some beers, the
lift comes with a born-on date: December
23, 1930. That made it 80 years old this
past Christmas. [Editor’s note: Harkness’s
4th floor office is accessible only by stairs.
When the building was used as a nurses’ dorm
and students rotated among the different
hospitals for one to three months at a time,
the 4th floor room was used as temporary living quarters until a regular room opened up.]
“The elevator reminds me of the movies, like Thoroughly Modern Millie,” says
Clinical Data Analyst Desiree Uyehara,
who works on the top floor. “They had
to do a flapper dance to make it work.”
Students, not dancers, were putting the
elevator to use after Harkness was built in
1932. The building served as The Queen’s
Hospital School of Nursing’s nurses’ dormitory until 1968. Retired Queen’s nurse,
Maggie Samson, lived there from 1961 to
remarked. “We offer each other a lot of
support, especially senior people like Lois
Chung and Gail Hirose. They are always
willing to share their advice and expertise.” Other staff members returned that
sentiment with regard to Jenny, commenting, “She has recently taken time to
teach me new skills to better my work.
I am truly grateful to work with such a
fine employee.” Deanne Doi, secretary,
Oncology Data Registry, said, “She’s attentive to every detail and will go way out
of her way to help anybody in the office if
they’re having a rough time. It’s great to
Lisa Sekiya feigns horror at the prospect of being trapped in the Harkness elevator as Glee
Stormont looks on.
1964. She recalls that some of the girls
would go down the fire escape at night instead of the elevator. Not because the elevator was haunted. They were sneaking
out to buy saimin and BBQ sticks.
Back then, the elevator’s “B” button
received a lot more use because the
laundry room was in the basement. Today, you could spend quality alone time
down there. The rooms are used mainly
for storage, although, in the 1980s, you
might have happened upon, er, a body
or two that belonged to the UH Medical
School. I heard rumors about that, and
finally got confirmation from Facilities
Engineering Manager Leslie Pang who
saw a few of them in 1986.
I no longer want to go alone to the
basement, so now I’m with Steve, the elevator repair guy. We’re looking down into the elevator pit. It’s the very bottom of
the shaft, and it’s where your keys would
end up if they fell through the crack between the elevator and the door. So not
to worry, all would not be lost. I quickly
scan the bottom hoping for a good find,
maybe a buffalo nickel. There’s nothing.
see Jenny named Employee of the Month
because otherwise, people in behind the
scenes jobs like hers just go unrecognized
for all the hard work that they do.”
Back on the elevator, I ask Steve if the
emergency phone really works. He picks up
the handset and gives it to me. An operator
answers and knows exactly which elevator I am calling from. I’m impressed. I also
push the alarm button to test it. Everything seems to be in good working order.
You’ll still have to watch your step when
getting on or off the Harkness elevator.
Unlike today’s modern elevators, it has no
leveling device. That means it could stop a
few inches higher or lower than the floor.
The distance is affected by a number of
factors, including the weight of the people
and cargo that went before you, and the
day’s temperature and humidity.
That’s part of the elevator’s Old World
charm. It offers a sense of nostalgia to the
office employees who now work in Harkness. Linda James, an administrative secretary there, agrees. “It’s cool. It reminds
me of the old department store elevators,”
she says. “Just because you’re old, doesn’t
mean you stop functioning. Sometimes old
is better, whether it’s an elevator, or you.”
And this elevator’s still got it—able to
carry a load of 1,000 pounds and move
100 feet per minute in a single bound.
So the next time you’re passing the
Harkness Building, why not stop for a
quick trip down memory lane? Step inside
the elevator and enjoy the ride. Just remember to close the gate when you leave.
3
Fidelity Gears Up
A Weight Watchers introductory session will be held on Tuesday, March 8,
from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm at the Women’s Health Center classroom. Learn
how to lose weight sensibly and keep it
off at this free presentation.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
So You Think You Can Cook? Harkness
dining room wants your original salad
entree recipe. The top four recipes will
win a $25 gift card redeemable at Café
Aloha, Café Queen’s, or at the Harkness
Dining Room and be featured in April’s
showcase special. All recipes must include a protein and use readily available
ingredients. Employees and volunteers
of QMC, QHS, QDC and the POBs are eligible. Turn your recipe in at the dining
room by 4:00 pm on Monday, March 14.
Winners will be announced on April 4.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
There’s still time to join a team for
the ADA diabetes walk on March 19.
All walkers who raise at least $50 in
pledges will receive a specially designed
QMC walk shirt. Register at www.diabetes.org/stepouthawaii.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
All QHS employees are eligible to receive discounts for upcoming performances at the Hawai‘i Theatre. Each
production has it’s own discount pass-
The Fidelity Retirement Benefits Customer Service lines and the online website
NetBenefits is now available for certain
services. Please visit www.fidelity.com/
queenshealth or call 1-800-343-0860. Beginning the week of March 6, you can:
• Enroll in the 401(k) plan.
• Designate your beneficiaries. (You
MUST make new elections, your beneficiary designation with ING will not
transfer to Fidelity).
• Set up your e-mail preferences.
• Change your contribution percentages and future elections.
• Set up a PIN.
• Review investment option information and request mutual fund prospectuses.
Please call the Fidelity Retirement
Benefits Line at 1-800-343-0860 if you
have any questions or need assistance.
word, listed here in parenthesis: JUMP!
(Kung Fu); Defending the Caveman (Club);
Laughter and a Barbershop Song (Song); A
Tribute to R. Alex Anderson & Helen Desha Beamer (Sweet); A Tribute to Vicki I‘i
Rodrigues and ‘Ohana (ohana). Make a
reservation at the box office or call the
Hawai‘i Theatre box office at 528-0506.
Visit www.hawaiitheatre.com for more
information about each production.
Sell:
Prom dresses: (1) brand new, blue,
Princess bride. (2) Claudette Lime, one lt
grn & one brown (used once). Sizes 2-6.
Orig price $300-$350. Will sell @ good
prices. Call x5418 or 953-7840.
Rent:
McCully: 5/3/2. Clean & well maint. NS, no
pets. $3,000. Call 258-3366 for more info.
Room: $500 dep req. $500 incl utils. Call
808-450-2921.
Misc:
Needed: 1 BR apt in a walk-up on 1st flr, nr
QMC. Between Nuuanu & Punahou pref.
Please call Kimi @ 386-3855.
Yard maintenance: Call 808-450-2921.
Avon: Call 808-450-2921.
Backhoe: For rent w/operator. $480/day.
Call 808-450-2921.
The Print Connection reserves the right to edit
or refuse any ad. The Print Connection does not
make any warranty about the fitness of any product or service listed in Q-Mart.
Weekly
The Queen’s Print Connection is published
by Creative Services. If you have news or
wish to opine, call us at 537-7532 or e-mail
[email protected]. News deadline is the
Monday prior to publication.
QHS/QMC President. . . . . Art Ushijima
Publisher. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Roy Cameron
Eat Right with Color is the 2011 theme for National Nutrition Month and March 9 is Registered
Dietitian Day. Queen’s RDs hosted a booth at last week’s Farmer’s Market and offered nutritional
tips and a chance to win a reuseable shopping bag filled with goodies. “It goes back to the basics
of building a healthy meal by promoting a variety of colorful fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low fat
dairy, and lean proteins which help maintain good health,” says Heather Machado, RD. QMC RDs
can be seen in action at Eat a Rainbow, a series of free cooking demonstrations held at the Women’s
Health Center every Thursday in March from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. Call 537-7117 for reservations.
4
Editor/Writer. . . . . . . . . . . . Jason Kimura
Assist. Ed./Writer. . . . . . Glee Stormont
www.queens.org
The Queen’s Medical Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation.
Please recycle