Newsworthy

Dear Community Partners,

Here are today’s updates:

• Determining Precautions for Respiratory Illnesses
• Celebrating Veteran’s Day – and Showing Appreciation
• “To Your Health” on WIBW-TV Tonight
• October 2022 Person of the Moment – Kim Mizell, LPN

Determining Precautions for Respiratory Illnesses

RSV, Influenza, COVID-19. Respiratory illnesses are on the rise in the region we serve, including COVID-19 incidence rates and an increased number of team members quarantined because of COVID-19. This has triggered discussions with organization stakeholders – physicians, nurses, and clinic and hospital directors – to gain input and recommendations for next steps for COVID-19 transmission-based precautions. Precautions include masking, hand hygiene, door screening and other risk mitigation efforts.

Effective Oct. 6, the masking requirements at Stormont Vail facilities were relaxed for patient, visitors and team members, unless they met specific criteria or were in situations such as caring for patients in isolation or with suspected or confirmed respiratory or COVID-19 infection. That change occurred after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention removed the requirement for universal masking in health care settings in communities with lower COVID-19 transmission rates. At that time, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment was reporting that Shawnee County and other area counties had fallen below the “high” level of community transmission. High level is community transmission based on the 7-day rolling average of 100 new cases per 100,000 population.

New KDHE data indicates that Shawnee, Geary, Osage, Jackson, Coffey and Pottawatomie counties are back in the “high” level category, hence the need to re-open discussions to determine next steps.

Clinical Operations Group discussed and developed recommendations for potential next steps. Operating Committee is now seeking additional input from physicians and director groups about the various considerations raised and guidance on best practices to implement.

Celebrating Veterans Day – and Showing Appreciation

Veterans Day, which is Friday, Nov. 11, is a time to honor and show appreciation for those who have served in U.S. military as members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine, National Guard and Reserves. These individuals have dedicated their lives and time to serve us and our country.

Mike Nixon, System Director, IT Security, and an Air Force veteran, noted that there is a “commonality” between working in healthcare and being in military service – as both are “serving and giving of one’s abilities for others.” Having veterans in the workforce – and at our organization – can be powerful because they bring their vast knowledge and skills from their military experience.

As a veteran, Mike said he feels supported at Stormont Vail. “I feel Stormont does an exceptional job at supporting the veterans and those who work at Stormont who are in the military guard and reserve service,” he says.

Mike has great pride in his accomplishments during his 20-plus years of active duty service. He reflects: “There were both good and bad days, and some very good team members to get through it with, including my wife who is also a 20-plus year veteran. We were very fortunate to share our military service together. Looking back, I don’t believe I’d change anything. It’s through the experiences of my service that I have become the individual I am today.”

Mike served in active duty Air Force from 1983 until his retirement as an E-7 Master Sergeant in August 2004. He was stationed and deployed all around the world, from several different parts of the United States, Western and Eastern Asia and Europe.  During that time he served in three career fields, ultimately achieving the position of Base Multimedia Manager at Whiteman AFB. Thank you, Mike for your service, and for sharing your story.

For those who want to express their appreciation and support to veterans, Mike recommends to “not take for granted the freedoms that we all have that were secured and protected by the men and women of the military branches.”

The development of Veterans Day has roots in Kansas. U.S. Rep. Ed Rees, an Emporia native, introduced a bill into Congress establishing Veterans Day as a national holiday. The bill was then signed into law May 26, 1954, by another Kansan, President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Stormont Vail is extremely proud of our current and former service members. On Friday, Stormont Vail will hand out veteran appreciation stickers (until supplies last) for team members, patients and visitors who identify themselves as veterans. Stickers will be available at entry locations throughout the system.

“To Your Health” on WIBW-TV Tonight

Learn how our radiologic technology professionals make a difference in providing high quality care to our patients on tonight’s WIBW-TV “To Your Health.” This highlight comes during National Radiologic Technology Week. The segment will air 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.

October 2022 Person of the Moment – Kim Mizell, LPN

Help us to celebrate our October Person of the Moment at Stormont Vail Health. Kim Mizell, LPN, went above and beyond during a patient’s extreme time of need. It was because of her continued dedication and acts of service that our patient was able to receive the care that he needed.

When Kim Mizell had a patient whose labs indicated a critical value reflecting a degree of anticoagulation which needed to be treated with Vitamin K, she jumped into action. After calling the patient, patient’s spouse, and patient’s home number multiple times, but receiving no response, Kim called for a wellness check to be done. Furthermore, Kim took time out of her personal day to go to the patient’s house and inform him that his lab continued to be at a critical level and needed immediate treatment.

Kim then discovered another hurdle – the patient’s pharmacy was out of Vitamin K. Fortunately, Kim and her teammates never give up; after calling multiple pharmacies, they were able to locate the needed prescription.

During the office visit, it was discovered that the patient’s phone had somehow blocked all calls from Stormont Vail. Due to Kim’s perseverance, a pharmacy with available Vitamin K was found, the patient received the needed care, and Stormont Vail’s phone number was unblocked so future communication could be made with the patient and his spouse.

We are in amazement at the lengths our team members go to give the quality care promised. Congratulations on this award, Kim, you deserve it! Thank you for being an integral part of the Stormont Vail family.

We together,
Dr. Kenagy