August / September 2013
S H A R I N G T H E PA S S I O N W I T H F R I E N D S A N D A S S O C I AT E S O F P R O V I D E N C E H E A LT H C A R E N E T W O R K
“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God who inspires them all in every one. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
1 CORINTHIANS 12:4-7
Partnering to Provide Compassionate End of Life Care
Providence Hospice Announces Opening of Providence Hospice Place at Providence Park’s St. Catherine Center
by Erin Rogers, Marketing and Communications Specialist
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The Spirit of Providence is designed exclusively for our associates and friends: Ascension Health Health Professional Af?liates Medical Staff/Retired Physicians Providence Health Center Board of Trustees Providence Foundation Board of Trustees Founders Society Providence Forum Providence Healthcare Network Advisory Board Ethics Committee Providence Volunteer Services Providence Health Alliance Board of Directors Providence Nursing School Alumni Family Practice Residency Staff
rovidence Hospice and Providence Healthcare Network have a long history of partnering together to provide quality compassionate care in Waco. Over the years, many Providence Hospice healthcare providers have compassionately cared for terminally ill patients at Providence Health Center and in-home settings as well. Many terminally ill patients would prefer to spend their last days at home, but their medical condition requires that they remain in the hospital in order to receive continuous medical care. Providence Hospice has announced plans to open Waco’s ?rst inpatient hospice unit, Providence Hospice Place, which will allow for terminally ill patients to receive round-the-clock medical care in the comfort of a home-like setting. Renovations are underway to transform 6,000 square feet of St. Catherine Center’s second ?oor into eight patient suites, designed with both the patient and their loved ones in mind. Having family members by their side is an important part of a patient’s care during the ?nal stages of life. The Providence Foundation granted the funds to purchase 24 fold-out sleeper sofa beds so that family members can comfortably stay with their loved one day and night. The unit will also be staffed with a team of specialized hospice nurses, social workers, chaplains and volunteers, experienced in caring for terminally ill patients and their families. “St. Catherine Center has worked closely with Providence Hospice for many years to provide superior end-of-life care,” said Michael Olmstead, Providence Healthcare Network’s Vice President of Long-term Care. “This is a logical progression in that relationship. Providence Hospice Place will simply be the next step forward.” Providence Hospice Place is scheduled to open fall 2013, and will immediately ful?ll a community need by providing the best quality care and comfort possible for the end-of-life patient.
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Honoring Past Board Chair Sister Marie Therese
by Erin Rogers, Marketing and Communications Specialist
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2 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 6 6 8 8 8 9 A Letter from the President Providence Foundation Celebrates 20 Years Providence Foundation Spring Grant Awards Mark Your Calendars! Notes from Sister C: The Joy of Vatican II Central Texas Cancer Network Breast Cancer Program Providence Park Celebrates 10 Years Compliance Corner: Fraud and Abuse Chaplain’s Corner Wellness Corner: Meditation Motivation Palliative Care Corner: Complete Continuum of Care Foundation Hosts High Tea Forum Summer Party 2013 Associate Picnic
ospitals across the nation rely on their governing boards to help make decisions that not only demonstrate strong leadership, ?nancial stewardship and direction, but also exhibit a vested interest in the quality of healthcare being delivered. Of the many core competencies Ascension Health looks for in its board leaders, one that perfectly describes past board chair, Sister Marie Therese Sedgwick states: “possesses courage to lead with care, candor and decisiveness.” Sister Marie Therese was appointed by Ascension Health as board chair July 1, 2009 and in her four-year tenure, her ability to “provide team-oriented leadership in support of the organization’s Mission, Vision & Values” has led us through exciting growth at Providence. From the opening of the F.M. and Gloria Young Tower, the Breast Health Center, to the completion of the Women and Newborns Center, Providence has expanded to meet the healthcare needs of our community. But perhaps what Sister Marie Therese is most passionate about is the work our Providence team is doing to continually improve our quality of care. Evaluating quality and safety improvement efforts is important to see where we stand, benchmarked against other healthcare providers across the nation. By becoming a High Reliability Organization, and implementing initiatives such as daily huddles and rounding, we can help ensure that “excellence with compassion is experienced by all persons [we serve].” “When patients step through our doors, they are at their most vulnerable. It is our role to put their minds at ease, treat them with respect and provide the best possible care for healing. That is why we are here,” Sister Marie Therese said. “Sitting in a board room isn’t worth much unless you are making decisions that ensure patients receive quality compassionate care.” Sister Marie Therese will continue to serve as a board member here at Providence and her commitment to great leadership expands past her role here at Providence. She has also simultaneously served as the Board Chair of Daughters of Charity Services San Antonio (DCSSA) and ?????????
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