Sarah (on right) and her daughter Lucy

At the First Friday celebration for the month of November, Sarah Brookins of the hospital’s Clinical Information Technology Department was named MCDH Employee of the Quarter.  Here are some examples of statements made about Sarah.  “She is a team player, responsive and respectful.”  “She is always willing to stop and help.”  “Always has a smile on her face.” ”Sarah is definitely a TRUSTED employee – she is a team player; responsive and respectful, understanding, easy to approach, and she gets things done!” Sarah receives a check for $150 and is eligible for 2011 MCDH Employee of the Year.  Congratulations Sarah!  You are very deserving.

3 Turkeys in the MCDH kitchen

On September 28, I continued my practice of conducting CEO Rounds in each department of our hospital.  This month I spent the day working in our Dietary department.  I began my day helping Bernardo to set up patient breakfast trays and taking the carts out to our nursing floor.  Next I had the honor of helping Daniel prepare the day’s lunch meal  It was “Turkey” Day.  That could have been refering to the day’s menu or the new kitchen helper for the day!  I wonder how many people know that Daniel, a local boy (born in our hospital) who made good, was trained at the Cordon Bleu School in San Francisco.  And how many of us knew that Daniel is skilled in making ice scupltors too?   Now that we know, don’t be surprised if you see an ice sculpture some time at MCDH.  My contribution for lunch was turkey stuffing.    If word of this gets out it is going to make it more difficult for me to play dumb on Thanksgiving.  After making the stuffing and the mashed potatoes, I was able to observe Kristy making up the menus for the next days meals.  I was impressed by her expertise in skillfully preparing meal choices for the next day. 

My next assignment was working the cafeteria line with Carol.  She was probably happy to have the help considering that everyone shows up for Turkey Day in our Cafeteria.  Our dining room is open to the public.  Where else can you get a turkey meal with all of the trimmings for only $6.00?  After lunch I was supposed to help Roy wash the dishes.  Somehow I got called out of the department and missed that part.  I promise to come back and help you with the dishes some time Roy.  I finished my day in the kitchen by helping Roy to set up the trays for dinner. 

October 28, 2011 MCDH Kitchen Team

As usual I came away from my day in a hospital department with a great appreciation for the wonderful work that all of the members of the MCDH family provide.  I got a lot of pride today from having an opportunity to help to serve our patients, our staff and our visitors.  It is really a privilege to be able to serve at Mendocino Coast District Hospital.

Pharmacy staff members pictured, Margaret Bradshaw, Lois Leister, Lil Paoli, Marie George

Mendocino Coast District Hospital is 38 years old and has a great need for a new Pharmacy department.   We have a top notch staff of Pharmacists and Pharmacist Technicians who work in a Pharmacy that has changed very little in all of those years.  Thanks to our U.S. Congressman Mike Thompson and the U.S. government, grant funds have been made available so that we can upgrade and expand our pharmacy.  The first step in expanding our Pharmacy is to vacate the existing department.  That step was accomplished today with the hard work of, not only the entire Pharmacy staff, but also the tireless work of our Plant Maintenance Staff.  The Maintenance Staff handled all of the “heavy lifting,” while the well organized Pharmacy staff pulled stock from shelves and placed it on carts that were wheeled from the current department into a temporary department that will be the home for our Pharmacy for the next 6 months.

Pharmacy and Maintenance staff were assisted by volunteer staff from a variety of hospital departments who came to help.  It was truly a team effort and a marvel to behold.  On Monday, construction work will begin on our new Pharmacy department.  We can hardly wait.  One thing that I know for sure.  6 months from now there will be another moving day.  And I am certain that it will be as well organized and efficient as the one that took place today.  Congratulations to Chief Pharmacist Lois Leister and her entire department, and to John Funderburk of Plant Maintenance and his entire department.  You all did a great job today!

Wayne Allen, CFO

I am very pleased to announce that Wayne Allen has accepted the position of Chief Financial Officer for Mendocino Coast District Hospital, replacing Bob Anderson.  Wayne is one of the best CFOs that I have ever had the pleasure to work with and I am could not be happier that he has chosen to come back to MCDH.  He was our CFO  from 2006 to 2008, during a period when MCDH converted to critical access hospital designation and achieved an impressive financial turnaround.    For the past 2 years Wayne served as the Chief Financial Officer for Northern Hawaii Community Hospital on the Big Island of Hawaii.  That hospital, too, thrived under his leadership.   With National Health Care Reform, the California budget crisis and our current economy, it is a difficult financial time for hospitals, including Mendocino Coast Hospital.  We are extremely fortunate to have Wayne Allen back on our leadership team.  Welcome home Wayne!

Kitty Bruning, Case Manager

I always look forward to my Adopt a CEO Day, or as some have called it “Bring Your CEO to Work” Day.  This week I spent an entire day working with our Case Managers, Phil Sullivan, Kitty Bruning and Ann Marie Cesario.  I soon learned that Case Managers hold the keys to helping our hospital patients (and their families and loved ones) make it through the , sometimes difficult, maze of services offered by our hospital.  They are also invaluable members of the team in assisting our doctors and nurses to accomplish their jobs.   It is not unusual for a patient to receive services in our Emergency Department, ICU, Medical/Surgical Unit and even our Swing beds.  All in one stay!  So it takes careful coordination and an incredible repertoire  of skills to assist in all of these areas.  I observed Phil negotiating with a patient like a Psychologist, as well as filling in with an extra pair of helping hands as a nurse.  I also saw Kitty consoling a family through a crisis event and smoothing the way for a transfer to a larger facility.  As I watched and observed, I realized that everyone needs a helping hand once in awhile.  And when a hospital is involved, those hands can mean the difference between a very bad day and a manageable day.  Our case managers are the helping hands that help our patients, our clinical staff, and our financial staff (and more) and they are often the first line of defense when a patient or visitor is having a problem with our system.  Thank goodness for all of our Case Managers.  Our staff and our patients and visitors are all very fortunate that they are here.

Our patients, guests and visitors may, or may not, know that Mendocino Coast District Hospital has a system in place to recognize excellence in the care and services provided by our Hospital staff.  The system is called the “Star” Card program.  Any of us, including patients, visitors, physicians, co-workers or volunteers, may recognize excellence by picking up a Star Card in any of the convenient locations and filling out the name of the employee to be honored and why.  Each month we receive between 20-40 cards for our staff.  Every time a Star Card is received, a copy is given to the honored employee, their manager and Human Resources.  All Star Cards are posted on a bulletin board outside of the Hospital Cafeteria each month by Tanya Wyldflower.  Beginning in April, we are selecting 1 Star Card each month for the “MCDH Star Card of the Month.”  The Star Card of the Month will be based upon extraordinary excellence.  For April, we have selected Deb Hendricks, ICU Charge Nurse.  In her nomination, written by the visitor of an ICU patient, “Deb is an excellent nurse.  Very caring.  Took care of my Aunt.  Always explained in detail with her care and prognosis.  Thanks Deb.”  Thank you Deb for the wonderful care that you provide to our ICU patients every day!