What Work–Life Balance?

I receive many requests to speak about women and leadership. Unfortunately, the female CEO is still considered pretty rare, hence the number of requests. Invariably the issue of work–life balance comes up.

Interestingly in all of the books I have read and courses I have gone to, unless a woman is the speaker or author, the issue of work–life balance does not come up. They do address the issue of what kind of father or husband you want to be, but the "pressure" to be "balanced" does not have the same emphasis.  

I make this observation because here is my "secret" on work–life balance—there isn't any.

I am not saying you shouldn't strive for work–life balance or you shouldn't look for opportunities to minimize the stress in your life, but what I have seen more than anything is that it is the self-imposed rules and expectations that women place on themselves that cause the internal turmoil.

No, I am not blaming the victim here, but in examining the times in my life when I feel completely off balance and out of control, it is because I think that I should be able to "do it all." It’s not due to expectations that others put on me, but that I have things I have taken on myself.

I have an idea of what is expected of me and when I fall short of that—oh Nellie—the wheels come off the bus!

Have you seen the movie Groundhog’s Day? Where Bill Murray gets up and does the same thing day after day and nothing ever changes?

Some days I feel like that, or the gerbil on wheel that just keeps running but never actually gets anywhere.

One of the big revelations about turning 50 is that the world isn't going to come to an end if I miss one event, turn down one speech, or miss the annual shopping trip with my friends. Yes, I would like to be able to do all those things, but what really matters is being true to yourself. Take time to exercise, eat right, recharge, and be authentic in your relationships at home and at work. 

One of our Service Excellence Standards refers to being kind. The older I get the more important it becomes to extend kindness and take joy in the kindness that is extended to you.

The other "secret" is being kind to yourself. It will force balance and allow you to examine what really matters. Live purposefully, and be kind—the balance will come when you stop trying to prove yourself to everyone else and yourself. 

My Pie Secrets Revealed!

Let’s talk food. We’re approaching the holiday season and I know many of us can’t wait to try all the delicious dishes that will fill the tables.

Whenever I go to do a dinner party, my friends always ask me to bring a pie. See pie is my thing. It isn't something that most people make often, but when you show up at a gathering with a homemade pie it’s always a huge hit.

Fruit pies are my pies of choice. There are two very important "tips" that have been passed down in our family to ensure you have a great pie.

One I know came from my Great Aunt Doris. She was Portuguese with a warm heart, but she didn't ever have patience for nonsense. Her pie secret was touch the dough as little as possible or the crust gets hard.

The second for any fruit pies is to add a touch of nutmeg, whenever you are using cinnamon. The flavors go really well together. 

Below are some of the winning recipes from our 2012 pie competition. Do you have a favorite pie or a special recipe addition that you might be willing to share?

*Note: If you click on the image, it'll enlarge :)

Counting your blessings

When I was a little girl, I didn’t have my heart set on any one profession. Some children will say “I want to be a fireman” or “I want to be a teacher!” I didn’t know what I wanted to be.

Having the ability to help others solve problems and lead a better life was always my main driver, even if I couldn’t articulate it as a child the way I would actually do that.

As I write this blog from my desk, I am humbled at the chance to work with each of you and to be able to help so many children in New Jersey. It’s more than I ever imagined I could be a part of as a child thinking what I wanted to do when I grew up.

The question I often wonder is “How could I ever repay all of the blessings I have been given?”

We are approaching the Thanksgiving Holiday. It is certainly the time to reflect on that, but also to take stock on how you live that thanks every day. Whether it is helping someone lost in the parking deck in New Brunswick or collecting food for the soup kitchen that my church supports, I try to look for ways to demonstrate that I am well aware of the blessings I have in my life.

Many of the new families coming to our sites are afraid and unsure. But you immediately look to alleviate that fear and find ways to wrap ourselves around them; help them see what is positive about being at Children’s Specialized Hospital, not only the bad.

This time of year is also a reminder about the importance of our Children’s Specialized family and our own family for love and strength.

Are there ways you count your blessings? Maybe saying thank you to a friend in a special way? Sending a card to someone you haven’t spoken to in a while? Something else that you may want to share?

In the meantime, Happy Thanksgiving!

Thank you for letting me count on each of you and the chance to work side by side as one of the greatest blessings of my life.  

A heartbreaking poem to personalize Ebola

60 Minutes recently interviewed the care team who treated Mr. Thomas Eric Duncan, the first patient in the United States to be diagnosed with Ebola; he died from the virus in Texas. The poem below was written by one of the nurses who cared for him.

When there is so much swirling about this virus, I thought that this was a great first-person account of what it was like to care for this man. It is another reminder of the special tasks we are asked to do as healthcare professionals, most of them that can never be understood by the media or those who haven’t been given this responsibility or gift. 

Let me know if after reading this, it altered your opinion of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital or the people who cared for him.

A message to you

Inspired by the Texas Health Resources* Family

You came to us sick, frightened, confused

What happened next became international news.

We saw you so ill, with everything to lose

Our goal was to help you because that’s what we do.

Alone in a dark ICU room

We fought for your life, our team and you.

We cared for you kindly

No matter our fear

You thanked us each time that we came near.

As each day pressed on, you fought so hard

To beat the virus that dealt every card.

No matter how sick or contagious you were

We held your hand, wiped your tears, and continued our care.

Your family was close, but only in spirit

They couldn't come in; we just couldn't risk it.

Then the day came we saw you in there

We wiped tears from your eyes, knowing the end was drawing near.

Then it was time, but we never gave up

Until the good lord told us he had taken you up.

Our dear Mr. Duncan, the man that we knew

Though you lost the fight, we never gave up on you.

All of us here; at Presby and beyond

Lift our hats off to you, now that you’re gone.

You touched us in ways that no one will know

*Texas Health Resources is the company that owns Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital.

A girl can never have too many shoes. What’s your weakness?

Do you have a guilty pleasure or collect something you really enjoy? Something that you believe, if compared to others, you would have way more of or feel more strongly about?

 

Well, mine is shoes. I think it may be genetic; my mother has a thing for shoes too.

For me, it’s not just any shoes – my collection is filled with three specific types of shoes.

I have shoes for work – high heels, usually with a 3-inch heel (or higher when I was younger) and many different colors and patterns. On the weekends I wear mules – I love sliding them on without a struggle.Finally, all summer long I’m trotting out in my sandals; usually a flip flop, but with more heft to it.

I am generally pretty conservative in my choice of clothing due to both my personal style and what I think my role as CEO requires. Being able to throw on a pair of high heels allows me to add a little splash of my personality.

So, how about you? What is your “thing” and how do you share it with the world? 

Your benefits questions answered

Thank you everyone who posted questions or shared personal stories on yesterday’s blog post.  It’s important that we have this dialog to ensure everyone has the most accurate information. 

This post will answer each of the questions posted on yesterday’s blog post.

What is self-insured plan? What does that mean to the subscriber over all?

Rather than paying the insurance company to pay out healthcare claims, we pay them ourselves. It doesn’t affect you as the subscriber; it’s simply the method we use to pay for claims.

How much of my insurance is being paid by Children's verses the amount that is the employee? Percentage wise?

We can only share the percentages for 2014, as the 2015 percentages have not yet been calculated. The hospital pays between 77% and 95% of the insurance. The percentage will vary depending on which tier you fall in and which plan you are subscribing to.

General question - Why do many companies like ours opt for self-insured plans vs. fully insured? What are the pros/cons for this decision?

Large employers use a self-insured plan when their premiums go up very high; they evaluate whether it is more beneficial to pay their claims directly and purchase stop loss insurance, or continue to pay the premium and allow the insurance carrier to pay the healthcare claims.

The pro is that by being self-insured, we manage our own risk. We don’t have to pay extra for the insurance company to pay our claims; in essence we are saving about 20% of the cost. The con is we can’t estimate the amount of claims we will be responsible for; however, we purchase insurance to protect us.

Is there a yearly benefit maximum for prescriptions?

On page 11 of the 2015 Benefits Guide you’ll see more details about our Express Scripts Prescription Drug Plan. This page states that there is an out-of-pocket maximum of $2,500 for individuals and $5,000 for families. Once a member/family has paid for scripts up to the out-of-pocket maximum associated with their plan within a calendar year, scripts will be covered 100% for the remainder of that calendar year.

Can the FSO maximum be raised? I exhausted my FSO account by June, having requested the maximum deduction ($2,500).

I think you meant to ask about the FSA maximum. The FSA maximum is set by the IRS, that’s not something Children’s Specialized or QualCare has a say in. Unfortunately it cannot be raised and the maximum deduction remains $2,500.

If the Core Plan does not cover vision, do you offer a separate vision plan that covers annual exams and glasses/contacts?

Vision coverage is included in the Plus plan. We offer Vision Service Plan (VSP) for all of our employees enrolled in the Core plan. For more details on the coverage offered with VSP, please see page 13 in the 2015 Benefits Guide. To see the payroll contributions, please see page 18 of the 2015 Benefits Guide.

As the above person asked I have a child with vision issues and we see the doctor a few times a year and she may need some procedures done. Are you telling me that VSP does not cover that so switching to the Core plan would not be in my best interest after all even if the doctor is listed on that QualCare website?

The VSP insurance must be purchased separate if you are enrolled in the Core plan. Eye exams are covered in both the Core and Plus plan. To see the payroll contributions, please see page 18 of the 2015 BenefitsGuide.

What would happen if you choose to leave your employment and want to purchase cobra. Would the costs of the 2 plans be significantly different?

COBRA insurance allows you to keep your health insurance for a certain amount of time after you resign from your position at Children’s Specialized Hospital. Since you’d no longer be considered an employee at Children’s Specialized, we are not required to subsidize your payments; therefore, you’d be responsible for the complete cost on your own. If you enroll in Cobra, you’d keep whichever plan you’re enrolled in (Core or Plus) and have an additional fee for COBRA.  

Hot Topic - Benefits

It’s no secret; the employee deductions for our QualCare Plus plan will be increasing dramatically for 2015. We have developed this blog post to help you better understand the differences and similarities between both plans that we offer through Children’s Specialized Hospital. Below you will see some of the common questions regarding our benefits for 2015.

How come QualCare raised the rate?

This is a very popular question. We purchase access to the QualCare network each year. This means we are able to use their network of doctors and get the discounted rates that they are contracted with those doctors. However, we (Children’s Specialized Hospital) are self-insured and pay dollar for dollar for the cost of care for our employees. QualCare is not responsible for the increase in cost. The increase is beyond our control and driven by the overall increase in the cost of health care. We continue to work with QualCare to offer two great plans for you to choose from, to give you an option that best meets the needs of your family.

Why is only the Plus plan increasing?

The vast majority of the costs reside in the Plus plan, and therefore all of our increased costs have been pushed to the Plus plan in order to keep the Core plan – a very rich plan – at an affordable rate. The Plus plan is considered a “buy-up plan” – you pay a higher rate for the peace of mind that you are paying now in case you want to limit your out-of-pocket expenses at time of service. Regardless of if you need to use the benefits provided by the Plus plan, you are paying for them with each pay check.

Why are you suggesting we all chose the Core Plan?

We are not trying to “bully” anyone with this recent increase, as suggested in a recent question submitted through our Intranet forum. In fact, many organizations offer only one benefits plan to their employees. We are giving you the option of two plans that offer essentially the same coverage, and helping you make the best decision for you and your family. The only benefit covered in the Plus plan that is not covered in the Core plan is vision. All other benefits covered in the Plus plan are covered in the Core plan.

False: The doctors between the two plans are different.

One of the common misconceptions I’ve heard is that your doctor won’t be covered if you switch plans. That’s incorrect. You can visit the same doctors regardless of if you are in the Core or the Plus plan. As long as your doctor accepts QualCare POS insurance, your doctor is considered in-network.

If you choose to visit a doctor who is out-of-network, you have the same out-of-network benefits between the two plans and are responsible for the same out-of-pocket maximum. The only difference between the Core and Plus plan in regards to out-of-network doctors is you are required to pay 10% more of your coinsurance fees if you are in the Core plan than if you are in the Plus plan. Just 10% more! In the grand scheme of things, that difference is minor compared to your total expense throughout the year.

Let’s break it down

*This comparison compares both plans for an employee who makes less than $30,000 per year and is enrolled in an individual plan who only visits an in-network provider.

	QualCare Core Plan	QualCare Plus Plan
Deductions in each paycheck	$15.52	$125.70
Deductible	$500	None
Coinsurance	Plan pays 80%	Plan pays 100%
Out-of-pocket max	$2,000	$2,000
Copay	$15 PCP $15 Specialist	$15 PCP $15 Specialist

Some key terms you’ll need to know while we go over this chart are:

• Deductible: Amount a member pays for care before the plan begins to cover expenses
• Copay: Member cost for routine services
• Coinsurance: The percentage of costs a member must pay for care after the deductible has been met.
• Out-of-Pocket Maximum: The absolute maximum amount you’ll pay annually. Your medical copays, deductible and coinsurance responsibilities will accumulate toward the plan’s out-of-pocket maximum.

If you are in the core plan:

• You’re contributions to your benefits over the entire 2015 year will be: $403.50
• In order for your insurance to begin paying for 80% of the services you need (coinsurance), you are required to pay $500 yourself (deductible)
• In order for your insurance to pay 100% of the services you need, you must first pay $2,000 out of pocket (out-of-pocket max)
• This includes all copays, deductible, and coinsurance responsibilities
• The total amount that you’d have to pay throughout the year (your out-of-pocket max [including your copays] + your contributions) before every doctor’s visit and service is covered 100% would be $2,403.50

If you are in the Plus plan:

• You’re contributions to your benefits over the entire 2015 year will be: $3,268.20
• You do not need to meet a deductible for your insurance to begin paying 100% of the services you need (not inclusive of copays)
• In order for your insurance to pay 100% of your services (in this case, your copays only), you must first pay $2,000 out of pocket (out-of-pocket max)
• This means you are responsible for $2,000 in copays before they are paid for by your insurance
• The total amount that you’d have to pay throughout the year (your out-of-pocket max [in this plan, only your copays] + your contributions) before every doctors visit would be covered 100% would be $5,268.20

We refer to the Plus plan as our “buy-up” plan. It gives you the peace of mind knowing that you have a set fee that comes out of each paycheck, and the only thing you’ll be responsible for should you ever have any unexpected healthcare need is your copay (as long as you stay in network).

The Core plan is referred to our basic plan, but is still a very rich plan – it is more affordable, but still offers great coverage. The Core plan requires you to plan yourself, do some of the guess work on your own. You’ll have to reach a certain amount of expenses from your own pocket before you have the luxury of leaving the guesswork to the insurance company.

In fact, we offer a program called Flexible Spending Account that helps you to plan for those unplanned expenses.

If you look at the information I just shared with you and take advantage of the Benefits Calculator that was e-mailed to you, you’ll see that you can in fact save money versus having an increase in your costs.

The Children’s Specialized Hospital open enrollment period will run from November 9 through November 19. If you have any questions about your benefits, please call Victor Vena at x5497 or Dana Pettiford at x5560.

Amy B. Mansue President & CEO

Warren Moore Executive Vice President & COO

Dr. Oz (the superhero) visit Children’s Specialized

On Monday, October 27, Dr Mehmet Oz dressed up like Superman and joined our special super hero window washers to surprise the kids at our New Brunswick location. They were all a huge hit! The smiles on the kids’ faces were priceless!

He was so great with the kids, as you’ll see in the video clip below. We were featured on his show yesterday, November 4. Dr. Oz’s objective was to share the importance of having fun in medicine and the kids certainly had a great time! What’s more important is that he featured all of the great work you all do and the tremendous efforts you all go to ensure our kids have fun while in the hospital.

Thanks again to all involved that helped make this happen, we’ve shared this clip on our social media pages. When you get a chance, please share the post within your social media circles to help us increase our outreach.

Get out there and vote!

Today is election day and every member of our House of Representatives and one of our US senators is up for re-election; there are a variety of local races too.

In New Jersey, unless there is a presidential election, only one third of eligible voters actually go to the polls. That means roughly 30 percent of New Jersey residents select who will represent us in Congress. Kind of an alarming statistic, don’t you think?

Now, if these 30 percent of voters think like you, then I bet you’d be content, but for the residents who may hold different views than you, by not voting you have given up your right to be at the table.

You may have already heard this, but in my first job out of college I worked in Washington, DC for Congressman Jim Florio. There, even at the age of 23, I learned first-hand just how important that single vote and your voice is. People would come in all day long to discuss changes or support for the issues they were passionate about, just like I do when we go down to Washington with our families!

Even more, what I saw during my time in Washington was very few people taking the time to weigh-in on an issue or write to their elected officials directly!

The constitution is set up so we can all participate, free of charge, and vote each November. It is your chance to ensure that someone who thinks like you represents your voice in Congress. Voting can’t guarantee that your candidate will win the election, but it does mean that at least you were heard.

I have included a list from the League of Women Voters of candidates’ positions. The group is a non-partisan group – they can’t endorse anyone, but they share the responses from candidates to questions  that were asked.

If you are not sure who your elected official is, this tool allows you to submit your address and find out! Also, click here to find your voting location.

Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. today. Please take the time to vote – for yourself and our kids.