Newsworthy

Dear Community Partners,

Here are today’s updates:

• Team Effort Is Supporting Magnet Prep
• “To Your Health” on WIBW-TV Tonight: Welcome Baby Jubilee
• Sports Physical Clinic Will Be May 7
• SCHD Opens COVID-19 Rapid Testing Site
• Picnic with the Pups

Team Effort Is Supporting Magnet Prep

Preparing all the documentation for Stormont Vail Health’s fourth designation as a Magnet healthcare organization is no small task.

Just ask Paula Sanders and the steering committee members who are painstakingly combing through documents, quality data and meeting minutes to tell the amazing story of the Stormont Vail nurses and interdisciplinary team.

There are 60 standards that Stormont Vail must meet to achieve this quality accreditation through the American Nurses Credentialing Center. The standards range in topics from research, nursing practice and structure and leadership, with some requiring data to support the narrative.

As the Magnet Program coordinator, Paula is overseeing the development and writing of the document with a team of nurses who are all learning about Magnet standards as they go. “We’re growing document writers,” Paula said. The group meets every two weeks, but often confer in between meetings.

“We’ve all learned a lot about Magnet and the power of Magnet and what our clinical nurses bring to the table,” says Paula. “What’s inspiring to me is that we are telling the stories about before the pandemic, during the pandemic and what we are doing now. It makes you proud of Stormont Vail nurses and our whole team. All of the stories are remarkable.”

Other Magnet steering committee members are Kim Bales, Dena Brake, Brian Coover, Kim Dick, Sue Iverson, Tammy Newberry, Brooke Oxandale, Erika Parker, Jessica Pfrang, Allison Reid and Julia Wiebler.

Kim Bales, Clinical Transformation Project Manager, is identifying data for several of the standards. She says the stories really highlight what the nursing profession is achieving throughout the organization. The accreditation is for four years – and the standards are updated with each application. There are 60 standards this time and many focus on ambulatory areas. “They have really shined,” Paula says.

To support recruitment and retention of nursing staff, Magnet promotes professional development for nurses, which includes education and training and certification. The nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Council is currently doing a study about the value of specialty nurse certification. A survey has been sent to all Registered Nurses to learn more about their perceived value of certification and to collect information about barriers to certification. All RNs are asked to complete the survey by the May 4 survey deadline.

 “To Your Health” on WIBW-TV Tonight: Welcome Baby Jubilee

Birthplace team members Melinda Theis and Laura Odom will share information about the upcoming Welcome Baby Jubilee on tonight’s “To Your Health” segment at 10 p.m. on WIBW-TV, Channel 13. The segment will typically repeat at 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. Fridays on 13 News This Morning and be posted on wibw.com. Welcome Baby Jubilee, a free event for new and expecting moms, will be 2 to 4 p.m. May 1 in the Centennial Rooms in the Pozez Education Center.

Sports Physical Clinic Will Be May 7

As summer training is around the corner for next year’s sports season, call the team you trust for a physical. Get your child’s 2022-23 sports physical done early by taking advantage of Stormont Vail’s  sports physical clinic. Student athletes can get their physicals from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Saturday, May 7, with our specially trained Sports Medicine doctors at Cotton O’Neil.

The clinic is open to student athletes from all area high schools and junior highs who are playing sports next year. Cost is $20 per physical. The clinic will be at Cotton O’Neil Kanza Park, 2660 S.W. 3rd St., Topeka. Please enter the West doors and proceed to the 2nd floor.

For more information, call Cotton O’Neil Orthopedics & Sports Medicine at (785) 270-8880 or visit stormontvail.org. Schools contracted with Cotton O’Neil athletic services will receive a donation to their athletic program with student participation.

SCHD Opens COVID-19 Rapid Testing Site

Shawnee County Health Department has opened a free COVID-19 rapid testing site at 2701 S.W. East Circle Drive. It is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays. Visitors stay in their vehicles while self administering a rapid antigen test via a lower nasal swab. Results are available same day. Prior registration is not necessary, but encouraged. Individuals may register online, by visiting the SCHD Testing Options webpage or by using the QR codes found on SCHD social media pages or onsite at the testing location.

Picnic with the Pups

Several volunteers of Stormont Vail’s Paw Squad will be in the Stormont Vail Hospital courtyard from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, April 29, to celebrate National Pet Therapy Day. Team members and visitors are invited to stop by to get some pet therapy. If there is inclement weather, the Paw Squad volunteers will be in the lobby of Pozez.

We together,

Dr. Kenagy