A Story of Peace

We have all spent a lot of time recently reflecting on the heroic efforts that have been undertaken to care for the patients displaced by the flood at St's Mary & Elizabeth Hospital and to restore hospital services to South Louisville. The efforts have been truly amazing and we continue to hear the many positive stories that have resulted from an otherwise devastating event. Today, however, I would like to re-focus some of that attention on another positive story that arguably does not get the same level of attention, though the stories are no less remarkable.

Our Lady of Peace (OLOP) is a psychiatric hospital in our system that also happens to be the largest provider of adolescent inpatient behavioral services in the country. Despite this, there are many people in our own health system who are unaware of this hospital, let alone the rest of our community and our Commonwealth. Perhaps it is because this is not a particularly "high-tech" environment or perhaps it is because of the stigma that is often associated with mental illness that OLOP does not get the attention or recognition that it deserves. But the truth is, there has been something very special happening in this facility each and every day for the past 58 years, that many people have not known or heard about. Across the country, many people with psychiatric and behavioral disorders go uncared for due to the lack of healthcare funding and support for these needed services. However, today there are about 180 children and teens at OLOP each day receiving treatment and help for some of the most challenging and difficult psychiatric illnesses that exist due to the caring physicians and team members of this facility.

Today was a particularly special day as OLOP unveiled its newest program and identity to the community - the "Children's Peace Center." Several special guests were in attendance to share their words and support of the Children's Peace Center including US Congressman John Yarmuth, State Representative Jim Wayne and Louisville Metro Councilman Jim King. Perhaps most touching though was the story told by Melinda, one of our Team Members. OLOP holds a special place in Melinda's heart because her daughter happened to be one of its patients. Melinda shared a very personal and heartfelt story of how her and her daughter's life had been saved by the staff at OLOP from the Oppositional Defiance Disorder that had taken over her daughter for four years. However, this life was not saved as a result of some breakthrough technology, or miracle cure, it was saved through a very personal and "high-touch" approach of people caring for people. While I have always had a soft-spot for kids, I don't think there was anyone in the room who wasn't moved by the story Melinda had shared with us. I commend her on her courage and bravery to share such a deeply personal story for all the world to hear.

The hope though, is that this won't be the last story that we will all be hearing. There are 180 stories in progress right now, and by building awareness for the Children's Peace Center, we will be able to help countless other children who are suffering and in need of help. It was great to see what a wonderful asset we have in our system and to hear about how we are improving the lives of our patients. Thank you for being such a great role model in living out our mission!

A Story of Peace

The show must go on!

Just two weeks after the flood that closed Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital, its doors have reopened to inpatients in the South end of Louisville.  For the past week, services have rapidly been coming back online due to the heroic efforts of our team members and their dedication to the hospital and its patients.  And in just a few days time, Louisville's second largest Emergency Department is already nearly back to its pre-flood volumes!

I had an opportunity to tour the hospital last week which was already well into the clean-up phase, but even still I was able to gain a better appreciation for the amount of damage that this flood had caused.  Inside, team members were busy putting the hospital back together after a total cleaning had taken place on one of the units. I have never witnessed a hospital closed due to conditions such as this, but I am so proud to see how well the entire organization has come together to support each other in this most unusual time of need.  

Wave 3 News recently aired a story that summarized the status of operations and the efforts underway to restore the hospital.  Special thanks as well to our marketing team for their efforts in keeping everyone well informed and in the loop on the progress being made each day.  Great photos and comments can be found on Facebook, Twitter, and the hospital's blog.

The show must go on!

Thoughts on flood, six words only!

This has been a tremendously challenging week, and yet one for which I hope everyone is very proud. Our census has continued to rise each day this week and yet we still keep finding new ways and places to take on new patients and care for those displaced by other hospitals in the community. Two major Emergency Department's in town have been closed since Tuesday which has effectively closed the front door to these hospitals. We have certainly felt the pressure and demand to compensate for that effect and I am happy to see how well our team has responded. Every department has been working overtime to make sure that our patients have been cared for, and cared for well! This is an event unlike anything we have ever seen or gone through, and we have sailed through it quite gracefully.

I was touched by the letter that I posted the other day and I was interested in what others were thinking and feeling. Given that many are not apt to write lengthy letters, I had an idea based on a recent blog posting on Harvard Business Review. The post talked about the essence of simplifying a given thought or feeling on a subject in a very simple and memorable way - using just six words! The post was based on a project that originated out of Smith magazine's Six-Word Memoir.

Given the week we have had, I thought it would be a fun way to wrap-up by seeing what each of you thought about the week in just six-words. Click on the "comments" link below and give it your best shot. To up the stakes a bit, I will treat the best 6-word memoir to lunch with me (although some may not consider that a prize I know!). Of course, to win you must identify yourself so I know whom to contact! Have a great weekend, and let the comments roll!

My six words to our team: Thank You! Your effort sincerely appreciated!

My six words on the week: Flash Flood + Great Team = No Problem!

Thoughts on flood, six words only!

Team Members - Fully Present

After drying out after yesterday's flash flood, I wanted to share a note I received from one of our Critical Care Nursing leaders after reflecting on the day's events. I couldn't have said it better myself, and appreciate her taking the time to capture the teamwork and selflessness we have seen over the past couple of days. Thanks to our entire team for the heart and dedication that you have shown and the spirit that defines the essence of Jewish Hospital!

Reflection (Written by Joris K., night of August 4 and morning of August 5^th following record rainstorm which closed St. Mary’s Hospital)

We know that customers want our full attention when we are with them. How frustrating it is to purchase a product in a store and have the store clerk answering the phone, while dealing with other issues, when all you really want is to check out and be on your way. It is also frustrating to go to a restaurant and have your meal arrive only to wonder, “how did I get that-it wasn't what I asked for?”

I see this in healthcare so often. Team members bring "personal problems", and other stressors to the job-our attention is just not 100% there, and our patients feel this so strongly. I believe what patients really want is someone's full attention to assure they are getting what they need to feel better.

Yesterday was such a great example of why I am so proud to work at Jewish Hospital. We came together-giving every bit of our attention as health care providers to open units that had been closed for weeks, and to assure that everything was 100% ready for whatever rolled into our door from St. Mary's. We gathered supplies, checked emergency equipment, rebooted computers, made beds, mopped floors, and did everything in our power to assure readiness. I saw a unit make a banner to welcome St. Mary's and their patients, I observed nurses offer their St. Mary's colleagues rides home and money for unexpected emergencies when their purses and money were left behind. I saw team members lined up at the nursing units entrance welcoming the stretchers carrying the misplaced patients and confused families to our facility. One director came to assist a unit and did things like putting batteries in dead telemetry packs, finding water pitchers and urinals; one AVP put on scrubs and assisted in getting meals to patients who had not been able to eat all day due to the water in the kitchen at St. Mary's. Throughout the entire day and evening, I never heard anyone say, "I don't have time". Instead we washed away all the lines that usually differentiate us from different professionals and departments and came together to provide whatever the patient and our new teammates needed. Yesterday we were not nurses, we were not pharmacists, we were not radiology technicians, instead, ­we were all team members bonded together to assure that our patients were safe, and protected during a very vulnerable time.

We were fully present, not just physically present. Sometimes healthcare is about profound moments, sometimes it is about pills, bedpans, and dressing changes, but it is always about being there for people who need you. We sure came together to do that yesterday-my sincere wish is that our St Mary’s patients and colleagues feel this warmth and welcome on the last day they are here as strongly as they did on their first day here.

Team Members - Fully Present

When it rains, it pours!

Here's something you don't see everyday! A city transit bus driving up to our Emergency Department bay bringing us 20 patients from our sister hospital after it had to be evacuated due to a flash flood in Louisville today. The storm dumped a record 6.5" of rain in one hour in one of those rare 30-year floods. All things considered, we "weathered" the storm without any serious injury or harm to our patients, but by the end of the day almost 100 patients had to be transferred out of St. Mary's hospital via bus and ambulance. We absorbed the majority of those patients and gratefully the nurses and staff to care for them as we opened every available unit to accommodate this need.

It was a true testament to the teamwork and innovation of our entire team. From nursing to engineering, dietary to transport, accounting to care management and everyone in between, it was literally an all-hands-on-deck adventure to accommodate a 20% increase in our census in a matter of a few hours. During times of need, our team really knows how to deliver and it makes me proud to be a part of this team! On behalf of our grateful patients and system, I want to give you all a big THANK YOU!

When it rains, it pours!