A blessing from Fanwood

We have so many amazing employees to spotlight that it’s usually hard to pick which example to share each month! Today I wanted to share a parent’s email about Rachel De Lara (Service Coordinator, Case Management – Fanwood Plaza) and the Early Intervention Program as a whole.

“This email is to express my sincere gratitude for the excellent service my family has received through Early Intervention, all coordinated by Rachel De Lara. Having Rachel as our son’s case manager has been both a pleasure and a blessing. He will be turning 3 years this weekend and ageing out of the program. I cannot let this time pass without expressing how pleased we were not only with our case manager assignment, but with our therapists and the program itself.

Working with Rachel was both a gift and a blessing. She was very approachable and performed well above and beyond her responsibilities. She went out of her way to accommodate my needs as a working parent, responded to all inquiries with equal attention, and far exceeded my hopes and expectations as our case manager. Her dedication to what she does truly shows in her work, with excellent attention to detail, and professionalism from start to finish.”

This parent even went on to tell us how the Early Intervention Program has improved since her other child had been in the program!

“Our older son also came through Early Intervention in 2008-2009. Our recent experience with the program from then to the current program now, is truly night and day. I have to say the therapists provided for both of my boys were very good; the dramatic difference was in the case coordination. And it made every difference!

The changes made to EI since our first experience are very apparent in terms of increased and better communication, responsiveness to parent requests, qualifications of the coordinator, and the level of service provided. So I must congratulate you on both the very pronounced strides of improvement that have evolved within the program, as well as retaining a case manager like Rachel, with superior communication, organization, and interpersonal skills that were consistently demonstrated.”

Not only does this show how valued Rachel proved to be for this family, but the Early Intervention Program as a whole has proven to be so crucial in helping this family and other families in their services.

‘Tis the season for getting what you want

It is always interesting to me to see what “THE” gift of the season will be. I have overheard people basically negotiating their first born for one of those hoverboards. One set of parents gave their kids one for Hanukkah and already returned it after their son broke his wrists — 15 minutes after getting it!

Every one of my friends who has a child that is 10 years or under is asking for their own iPhone. Can you believe that?! The Hess truck craze was hot for a while, and they are still selling (and donating) those trucks like crazy. 

And I bet many of you remember the Cabbage Patch Kids dolls, and anything Star Wars has continued to be a big hit.

The only thing I really remember coveting as a child for Christmas was this doll. Isn’t she beautiful? 

Of course that was 46 years ago, but when I found this photo on google, she is just as beautiful as I recall her to be!  

So, I wanted to know, what was your most coveted gift as a child for the holidays?

Happy Holidays everyone!

Our kids have different abilities, not disabilities.

One of the greatest gifts we can give to the kids that we serve is showing them that they can accomplish anything they set their mind to. With a little hard work and some motivation from their loved ones, the sky is really the limit.

So when I got word that one of our patients, Ali Stroker, was making headlines on BROADWAY with her acting and singing I couldn’t wait to share the news with you all! She is staring in the Deaf West Theater production of Spring Awakening.

Ali is paralyzed from the chest down from a car accident when she was 2 years of age. She came to us for therapy and has been a shining star in her wheelchair ever since. But that didn’t stop her from pursuing her goals.

 

Here is Nichole Turmelle and her daughter, Zee, with Ali.

She has appeared on TV in “Glee,” “The Glee Project,” and onstage in “The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” at the Paper Mill Playhouse – just to name a few of her projects.

So, let’s tie this back to us and why I wanted to share this with you guys. Our kids sometimes need a little extra boost of confidence to tackle that hurdle during their therapy sessions. And each one of you help to give that to them, encouraging them to push harder and give it all they can.

The holiday season is a time for us all to think back on our blessings throughout the year and show thanks. So as we enter this holiday season, I want you all to know that its stories like this – about our kids and how well they are growing after they’ve left us – that make me thankful to work alongside each of you.

You do amazing things here at Children’s Specialized Hospital. You help our patients reach their wildest dreams.

And like Ali shared in the article written about her, our kids don’t have disabilities – they have different abilities. 

RWJ/Barnabas – The Rumor Mill

So, since my email last week with the update to the Robert Wood Johnson and Barnabas merger I’ve gotten A LOT of questions. I answered some of them during my State of the State meeting last week, but in case some of you didn’t attend I wanted to make sure I clear up any questions here on the blog.

You all know it is my preference to deal with the issues directly, so I will continue to share the rumors I have heard and ask that if there are others – please post them in the comments below and/or email them to me. If I have the answers and can address them, I’ll do so here on the blog.

So, let’s get started.

Rumor: Amy was fired from Children’s Specialized Hospital and they moved her out.

I was not fired. Although being President of Children’s Specialized Hospital is the best job in the world because of both the work we do and each of you, this is a promotion for me. My mother even joked that I’ll really have no life now because I’ll be so busy.

Rumor: Joe Dobosh is retiring.

I am not even sure where this came from but No is the answer. Joe Dobosh is not retiring. Eventually he probably will, but not at this time.

Question: Where will your office be?

I will have an office in Plum Street in New Brunswick, but most of my time will be spent on the road working with the hospitals in the Southern region of RWJ Barnabas.

Question: Will Warren take your office in New Brunswick?

Yes, when the time comes to make the transition I will move my things out of my office at our New Brunswick Somerset Street office and Warren will move in. I’ve already given him some tips on how to rearrange the furniture!

Question: Will you still do your blog and the weekly wrap up?

This is a tricky one. No, I will not be in charge of the blog and the weekly wrap up anymore. Will Warren take over? That hasn’t been decided yet. Of course you’ll still be kept updated on what’s going on around the hospital, so much of what you’d normally share in the wrap up you should send to Megan Muller so we can share it in the Daily Huddles.

Question: Will Warren give us jean days?

I have no idea! This is something you’ll have to ask him about.

Question: Will you ever come back to see us?

You’ll still see me from time to time. I will attend events in my new role at all the hospitals and I will still be in New Brunswick (remember, I’ll have an office at Plum Street!). You may not see me as often, but I’ll still be around for sure.

Question: When is this going to happen?

The timing is dependent on when the Attorney General of New Jersey approves the merger. It could be a month or it could be a year. We don’t know the answer to this one yet, but I will share when I can. We are trying to be as proactive as we can so there are no surprises when this happens. That is why all three hospitals and our board have begun to discuss the movement of positions.

Question: Once Warren moves up, who will move into his role?

This is a great question, and from what I’ve heard some of you have already started to get some ideas on restructure! Warren will work closely with the Senior Leadership Team to determine this new structure. Most likely that wouldn’t occur until after I move into my new role.

Question: Are you still CEO now?

Yes! Until the day that this transition takes place, I will continue to be the CEO of Children’s Specialized Hospital and continue on with my responsibilities in this position. Consider it business as usual until you hear otherwise.

Question: Will Children's Specialized Hospital be remaining an affiliate of the merged hospital, or will we become the children's hospital within the new organizational structure?

We will remain as an affiliate of the hospital.

Question: There's the RWJ University Hospital Foundation, Saint Barnabas Medical Center Foundation, and Children's Specialized Hospital Foundation. Will these stay intact or be combined?

The Children's Specialized Hospital Foundation is free standing, and not part of this merger.

Question from the comments: Can we see a picture of Warren, have never actually met him!!!
Warren's photo is listed in his contact in the phone directory. A simple search would have brought him up for you! It's also listed under his Give a WOW! profile. But, to save you the hassle, here is one from us today.

I am aware that this announcement of my departure and Warren's promotion may have come as a surprise to some of you. But I want to assure you all that you’re in good hands here. Warren and I have worked closely for many years at Children’s Specialized. I have no doubt that he’ll continue to lead you all to reach new heights and accomplish even more than I have.

I know that as time goes on, there may be other rumors or questions that come about. I will continue to update you all when I have more information that I can share, but I would appreciate if there are other things out there that you are curious about, please let me know so I can put them to bed.

So, what else do you want to know?

I didn’t mean it like that…

If you watch the news, you may have seen a recent story about National Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio and the interaction that took place between a registration person and a 4-year-old girl and her mom. When mom began telling the registration person that the reason they were at the hospital was because a 4-year-old boy hit her daughter on the playground, resulting in her requiring stitches, the person (in an effort to make the child feel better) said, “I bet he likes you.”

Now, I can’t speak for this person but I think he probably meant to say, “I am sure he didn’t mean to hurt you…” But, after 35,000 shares of the Instagram picture of the child, this story took a like of its own that no matter how young the parties involved, violence is unacceptable and condoning it – especially when you are in a children’s hospital – it is can never happen. 

There is a question in Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In book that asks, “Where do you sit when you walk into an empty room?” Always, my first instinct is to think about who else will be in the room and whether there will be enough chairs for everyone.

Whether intentional or not, if you invite people to a meeting and don’t account for everyone, when someone walks in without a seat – regardless of who they are or what position they hold – they feel like the outsider; forgotten, maybe even unvalued. No one would ever intentionally devalue a colleague, but the perception is much stronger than the intent. Once you start down the path of having to explain, you have already lost.

We have power every day. I’m not talking about power because of your title. We have the power to influence in ways that we don’t think about frequently.

A kind word or a harsh word; a smile versus a sneer.

Every interaction with someone else is a chance to show who you are and what you stand for. We are flawed people and we do occasionally make thoughtless comments. Sometimes, like in my case, your mouth works faster than your head. At the end of those times, it is what you do next that matters.

National Children’s Hospital publicly and privately thanked the Mom for coming forward with the issue and allowed them to improve her experience with them.

For us, when those moments happen, we need remember to pause, go back, and make it better – whether with a parent or a colleague. The silence, before it is remedied, tends to be the the thing that eats away at you, causing unnecessary stress and pain. Let’s proactively avoid that.

Thankful for…

I've shared before that Thanksgiving has always been my Mother’s holiday. As an only child that meant that everyone came to our house and there was huge excitement. As my parents have gotten older, I now bring the turkey and sides while my Mom makes her three favorite things and sets the table.

It is always a dramatic scene trying to get the cooked turkey to their house, but somehow we always work it out!

When my parents were first married – over 59 years ago –  the story exists about how my  Aunt made an apple pie. Now, I am not sure what went wrong but my mother couldn’t cut the pie. No really, the crust was so hard that she ended up getting a carving knife for my Dad to do it.

This of course is all while trying to play it off as if nothing was wrong. It happened before I was born, but the story is still shared over and over.

There is also the Thanksgiving that my Mother’s goddaughter was 5 years old and decided that she was only eating peas and pumpkin pie. In our house, we could care less as long as she ate something. But it was quite a sight with the peas and pie on the same plate.

My cousin’s wife said that it took years to get used to what she refers to as, “The Thanksgiving March." If the weather was nice enough, there was a mandatory walk after dinner, before dessert. Keep in mind, this was way before my FitBit obsession!

The men would leave the table and go for a walk around the property. The women would stay back to wash dishes and get the table ready for dessert. My mother didn’t care about the walk – she wanted them out from underfoot!

Another reason why (besides the fun family memories) I love Thanksgiving is because it is a holiday that everyone celebrates in America. We are taking a day to count our blessings and to say Thanks for all that we have been given.  You know that at the top of my list is to work with each of you. You are the finest, most caring and talented group of people. Your selflessness towards each other and our children is extraordinary.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.

Do you have funny Thanksgiving stories that you would share? Or something that you’re especially thankful for?

Who is your person?

So, there are a few of you I can count on at every employee meeting to ask me a question. And when I say count on, I really mean count on. You guys are the first to raise your hand, and always willing to fill an awkward pause (although there rarely are any).

I know there are questions that you guys have, and I hope you know that I truly appreciate when people put it all out there on the table – especially the tough ones!

Theresa DeFosse (Rehab Tech, New Brunswick) is one of those people I can rely on when it comes to asking questions, so I asked her for some help on some blog ideas.

So, I want to share something with you guys. I can see the number of views that the blog gets, and I’ve noticed that the numbers have been dropping a bit.  I’ve asked you guys for some ideas on things you want to hear about, but I didn’t get many! 

Back to Theresa. She likes to think about it for a bit, and then will send me an email with some topics or issues. Recently, she sent me the push on reminding people why voting matters right before Election Day. You probably saw my email about it, so you can thank her for giving me that boost!

Well, it made me start to think about how much some of us use friends and trusted advisers to be better—better leaders, colleagues, parents, children,  friends, etc.

I am blessed with trusted colleagues and friends who I can work through any issues that come up where the path just isn't clear for me. It is such a gift to have these resources!

Yes, management books and Ted Talks provide tools, but there is nothing like that trusted friend or colleague who is going to tell you straight. And definitely nothing like that one person who will raise their hand and put issues on the table.

So who is that person for you – the person you go to when you need to work something out? What are the things you value about them? Or maybe you would be willing to share how you serve as that person for others and what lessons you have learned from these relationships?

Also, don’t forget to leave me some comments about topics you want me to talk about at the employee meetings. They are coming up fast!

Rock stars of Quarter 4

Doesn’t it feel like we just announced our first Employees of the Quarter? Time sure flies! Today we’re sharing our Employees of Quarter 4. These five (5) employees were nominated by their peers for having gone above and beyond in exemplifying our Core Values and Service Excellence Standards.

Our Q4 honorees are:

• Maria Fermin – Registration Rep, Patient Access Services, Hamilton
• Ryan Sharkey – Desktop Support Technician, Information Technology, Stevens Road
• Amy Norton – Intake Coordinator, Feeding Program, Mountainside
• Kimberly Baglieri – Occupational Therapy, Occupational Therapist, Mountainside
• George Greene – Maintenance Mechanic, Facilities Management, New Brunswick

We could tell you how great they are ourselves, but let’s let their nominator share why they nominated them:

Maria Fermin

“Maria is the epitome of a team player. She works so hard every day to make sure our patients and their families have a great experience at CSH. She is a jack of all trades whether working the greeter position, printing cards or just taking the time to talk to patients and their families. She knows all the patients by name, what kind of stickers they like and remembers everything they say to her. She makes everyone else's job easier and her personality lights up the lobby. She's great and I'm extremely proud to have her as a colleague.”

Ryan Sharkey

“Ryan is always available to help and goes above and beyond to find a resolution to any issue that comes up. He is very patient when dealing with all of the staff... He is a team player and exemplifies the Teamwork/Collaboration Value. He also shows the value of Excellence by knowing the various computer systems and always finding an answer if he does not have one immediately for you.”

Amy Norton

“Amy embodies every CSH value and service excellence standard. Because of her compassion and innovation, she went above and beyond her role as Feeding Team Coordinator to start the Kohl's funded community free developmental screening clinic program. Because of her excellence and teamwork, she went beyond that to make sure that daycares in low income areas had access to these clinics. This included holding a clinic in a family support organization that served the Haitian community, a group that is particularly hard hit and underserved. Because of her compassion and integrity, she linked child care program staff from high resource (Princeton) and low resource (Trenton program for the homeless) to ensure that ALL kids received quality services. Because of her pride in CSH, dedication, follow through, sincerity, and all CSH values, she reached out and created networks and connections, resulting in developmental screening training being incorporated for all quality child care programs in NJ, with CSH having the contract, and Amy designing and implementing the training curriculum. Because of her sense of fun, she uses her extraordinary baking skills to always make a treat for all Feeding and Autism Dept trainings and meetings, thus creating a literally nurturing and welcoming environment at all times.”

Kimberly Baglieri

“Kim was an OT student at our Clifton site and as a student she demonstrated a commitment to learning and to the practice of occupational therapy. As a student Kim exemplified Children’s values and was a committed member of the OT department and we knew she would be an asset to the Children’s team. While Kim is a relatively new clinician, her passion and dedication to her role at Children’s is seen in her embracing the job of updating the student lecture series. Kim has been leading the OT team and working collaboratively with the PT team to organize, revise, and develop interdisciplinary and discipline specific student educational modules so we can provide the best clinical education and experience to our next generation of clinicians. Kim’s passion for OT, her commitment to her purpose and dedication to her patients and families is apparent in her leadership with this project and in her daily interactions.”

George Greene

"George consistently meets all of our values/standards. He is reliable, courteous, & efficient in his follow-through. He wears a smile and anticipates the needs of others. George engages in innovative team approaches to making CSH a fun & safe environment. George comes to every encounter with respect & compassion whether for staff, patients, families, or vendors. George wears his pride in being a member of our staff & in his pride for our organization in his daily demeanor. George is calm no matter the situation – staff knows when he walks into a situation that it is under control. He is able to prioritize various aspects of the environment including not only safety but also patient/family needs and immediate or upcoming therapy/nursing needs. Most of all, George defines integrity. He is a pleasure to work with and it is an honor to nominate him."

Congratulations to all five of you for being recognized for your hard work and dedication to our patients, families, and each other. You will each be rewarded with a $50 gift card and an item of your choice from our Give a WOW! gift shop, as well as be considered for our Employee of the Year.

If you have a colleague that you feel should be rewarded for going above and beyond both at Children’s Specialized Hospital and in their community, please submit an Employee of the Quarter nomination in Give a WOW! Questions on how to do this? Please contact Megan Muller at x7135 or memuller@childrens-specialized.org.

Comment below to leave a congratulations message for each of our Employees of the Quarter.

State of the State – What do you want to know?

My oh my, where has the month gone!? We’re already approaching November, which means I’ll be starting my twice-a-year employee meetings very soon. We have some tentative dates scheduled for the end of November, so be on the lookout for the final dates soon.

This is your opportunity to open that line of communication with our senior leadership team and for us to really listen to what’s on your mind — your praises, your concerns, questions, and you all know how much I like a good rumor.

I’m putting together some things I’d like to share with you guys. but, these meetings are for YOU. It’s a chance for all of us to be completely available and transparent to answer any questions YOU have.

So, what’s on your mind? Comment below with some questions/topics that you’d like me to touch base on and we will do our best to include as many of your questions/topics as time allows.

Thank you in advance for all of your meeting input and efforts to improve our process.

Nasty Habits

Let’s get real today. Have you ever noticed a nasty habit of yours that you know you should curb, but thought “it’s not really a big deal?: Then, someone you are interacting with does that exact same nasty habit that you do and then all of a sudden you have an entirely new perspective on what you thought was no big deal?

Following? Let me share…

Last week I was asked to go to Washington, DC for what was described as a critical meeting between the leadership of two national associations. There were five people from each association, and then myself and another Board Member.

There had been some strains over the last couple of years due to changes in leadership and staff. Nothing bad happened, but these organizations had definitely lost their rhythm. This is a very big deal in Washington because nothing gets done without a coalition of people.

So here we are at this meeting, discussing some pretty heavy stuff and really trying to make some headway. Then what happens? All the members on the other side of the table begin looking at their smartphones – during the meeting!.

Disclaimer: NOT the people I was in a meeting with.

Now the phones didn’t ring – or vibrate as far as I know. No one began the meeting by saying they were waiting for an important phone call that they’d have to take – they just decided that the conversation happening at that moment did not require their full attention and that checking their email (or Facebook – who knows what they were doing) was more important.

Now, this is something I am HUGELY guilty of. I admit it! But, I am not sure I had ever been on the receiving end of this kind of behavior, as I was at this meeting. And, it really got to me!

It was never my intent to offend anyone if I checked my phone during a meeting, just as I am sure it wasn’t their intent to offend. Yet, I had taken a three-hour train ride to be here for this critical meeting and their behavior gave me the perception that my presence was not important enough for them to put their phones away for two hours.

The meeting went ok and we finalized some next steps and a game plan, but I couldn’t shake how annoyed I was – and frankly, still am. I felt disrespected, but even more I reflected on my own behavior knowing that it’s something I do.

I mean, I’ve stared down Governors and taken on Legislators for our kids, and even though I was fired up with passion and determination, this phone thing has left me feeling really shook up.

I often say that God gives you gifts when you least expect it and sometimes you don’t see these lessons as gifts. Let me tell you, this was a gift and a hard lesson for me.

So here is my apology – if I answered emails when we were in a meeting together, I apologize. It was never my intent to disrespect you. In no way do I want you to think whatever was on my phone was more important than what was going on in person.

While I hope I will never do it again, please know that I am on a journey to repair and improve. And there may be times when that nasty habit slips back in, but I’m going to try my hardest to break it once and for all!

So here is my question to you – have you ever seen someone else do something and think, “oh my goodness, I do that,” but didn’t realize it was a nasty habit until someone else did it? Or is there something you wish someone would stop doing?

In the meantime – phones down and eyes up for me. 

The Equipment Shuffle

Teamwork is one of our core values that we have that ensures we a) don’t burn out trying to do everything on our own and b) that our kids get the best care they possibly can while they are with us.

So when this example came across my desk (well, in my email inbox) I couldn’t wait to recognize this team.

We accept donations of medical equipment so that when families are in need of specialized equipment we can loan something out to them, or use the equipment for either LTC or the inpatient program. The donation process can be tedious for those who aren’t familiar with it. Each new piece of equipment needs to be cleaned, checked for safety, processed into inventory, and then stored until it’s needed.

Then the shuffle begins! No, not the dance (although I wouldn’t put it past the staff in Rehabilitation Technology do a little jig from time to time), but the equipment gets shuffled from one site to another, depending on where the donation is accepted and where it is needed.

Getting the right equipment to the right site and department takes a team effort!

For this story, Sheila Blochlinger (Rehabilitation Technology Manager, Mountainside) gets the lucky straw since she is the one who got to see the happy child and family when we are able to loan a piece of equipment. 

She recently shared with me that we had an 8-year-old boy who came to us because he was just diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy. He could no longer walk and was falling down all the time. We have been trying to get him an adaptive stroller through his insurance provider, but it is still not approved. 

A stroller donation from the Toms River site was ready for him and Fresnel Pierre (Materials Management) had transported it to our Mountainside site. It was the perfect size for this child and it was in good working condition. 

Sheila was able to fit the stroller and show the family how to use it properly. His parents were thrilled but most importantly, the child was thrilled. He was finally able to get around without the fear that he’d fall and hurt himself.

Here is the best part. He sat in the stroller and looked in the mirror and said, “Now I look like a King, instead of a baby.” He was smiling ear to ear.

Did happy tears just stream down your face? Because they did for me when I heard this story!

This truly shows how many hands it takes to make a good thing happen and live our value of compassion and teamwork. Not just that, but this shows us all how to be an inspiration to the kids and families we serve!

Yes, we helped to make sure that this patient was safe as he moved around, but more importantly, we changed how he felt about himself. He felt like a King!

Thanks Sheila for sharing this story with me and allowing me the opportunity to share it here on the blog. And thank you to everyone in our Rehabilitation Technology department for ensuring that equipment is clean, safe, and stored until our kids are ready to use it.

Do you know someone that should be recognized on Access Amy for something they’ve done at Children’s Specialized Hospital? I’d love to hear! Share below in the comments or send an e-mail to Megan Muller at memuller@childrens-specialized.org. 

Our partnership with China begins

First, let me begin by saying what a tremendous honor it was to for Michael Dribbon (VP Rehabilitation Services and Program Development), Chris Haines (Chief Medical Officer), and I to represent Children’s Specialized Hospital to begin our new consulting relationship with LIH Olivia’s Place. So many of you have asked about our trip, so I thought this would be a great place to share with all of you!

I’m going to totally over share on this one, but Michael over packed. Ha! Standing in the United Airlines line for check in, he had to take out ½ a pound of stuff from his suitcase. He was carrying presents and other materials for the people we were going to meet, but it ended up making his bag weigh a whopping 70.5 lbs! They wouldn’t let him pay to send the bag as is, so we had to do some luggage juggling.

The first thing we noticed when we arrived was the very tall apartment buildings. Inside entire, multi-generational families live together in 1,000 square feet homes. I can only speak for myself, but it really struck me how many people are in such a small space; everything is so compact.

I have a whole new appreciation for rush hour in New Jersey! In Beijing, it took us almost 95 minutes to go 5 miles. One of our hosts described driving in Beijing to me like a boulder in the middle of a stream. The water just makes its way around the boulder on the sides and isn’t deterred. People, cars, and bikes all move the same way. It just goes. I spent a lot of time in the back of the van with my eyes closed!

Beijing Children’s Hospital had just begun to institute appointments to their outpatient clinics. Prior to the week we arrived, people would just line up at the wee hours of the morning outside of the clinic doors and wait – just like you would at a department store. When the doors would open, people would be lined up by which physician they needed to see, and then wait again to be seen.

The physician would spend an average of 3 minutes with each patient and see 500 or so patients a day. It was hard for us to conceive how all of this functions.

The inpatient hospital is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday-Friday. Just one nurse stays at night for the entire hospital. The families are expected to stay with their children to provide care over night and on the weekends.

Dr. Haines said he saw many children who had Guillain-Barre and other disorders that we also care for. There are so few surgeons so the things that we see as routine (e. g, feeding tube insertion) are not done because the clinicians can’t take the time away from the more traumatic surgeries that need to be completed.

Our role at Olivia’s Place is to provide expert advice as they open outpatient rehabilitation centers. Their first center was due to open the Monday after our arrival.

Their therapy staff was foreign trained and supplemented with therapy aides. The facility was beautiful and looked very much like ours. All of the patients are private pay, since the government insurance does not cover rehabilitation. It is their hope that they will be able to offer free care but that is an aspirational goal right now.

There were some things I saw there that I found hard to get used to. The signs in the bathroom at the hotel state, “Do not drink the water.” We had to use bottled water to brush our teeth. Also, in the closet there was a face mask with aerator on the front – think gas mask – in case the air was too polluted.

We got a chance to visit The Great Wall of China! It was 100 degrees outside that day. I sweated so much that the dye from my purse bled on my white shirt. There were attractive purple stains all over the back of my shirt and on my shoulder. The sights were beautiful, but I’m not sure how great I look in all the photos since I was so sweaty!

To make matters even more humorous, Michael and I have a bit of a fear of heights, whereas Dr. Haines was fearless during our adventures! Not only were we sweating because of the temperature, but I’m sure our nerves from being so high had something to do with it.

Also, giving a speech with a translator was very tough. You all know that I very rarely use notes and if I have them, I don’t keep to them. Well when someone is translating they read word for word on the slides. So, if you use words that aren’t on the slides and the translator doesn’t know them, well you can only imagine what gets translated.

It is clear to me that we have a unique ability to improve children’s lives in ways we can’t even begin to understand. We are continuing to provide assistance to our partners and hope that they will take us up on our offer to train side by side, both here and in China.

My thanks to all who have volunteered and we will continue to keep you apprised.

Twelve years and counting…

September 29th marks my twelfth year at Children’s Specialized Hospital. On one hand it seems like it went so fast, but honestly it is hard to remember my life without Children’s Specialized Hospital in it!

There is so much that I think about as I reflect back on the last 12 years.

I remember so many of specific moments—Hurricane Sandy; moving to New Brunswick; opening Lakehurst, Clifton, Bayonne, Newark, Egg Harbor, Warren, and Plum Street; and all of the renovations in Mountainside! I look back on the children who have come into our lives, and the tremendous courage of each of them as well as and their families.

The smiles, laughter, and accomplishments of so many of you who have let me into your lives both professionally and personally.

All of the trips to Washington and Trenton to advocate for our children and our hospital, AND the families who have let me drag them all over Washington to tell their stories over and over again to anyone and everyone.

As the flood of memories comes back, the one commonality among them is the smiles and laughter.

The galas, the speeches, and the fundraisers all with special moments and shared joy. In the same respect, I remember the sorrow from the children and staff who were taken from us too soon.

Prominently displayed in my office is the beautiful book I received as a gift on my 10th anniversary. It includes letters from many of you and pictures of our children. It brings tears of joy to my eyes every time I look at it.

While I have many funny stories, nothing will ever top the story about Congressman Mike Ferguson coming to a check presentation in Mountainside. The Congressman was coming to do a press event about money he had secured for us for renovations in Long Term Care. If you know me well you know I hate photos with checks so I asked if the Congressman would read a book to the kids instead.

The kids had just come home from school and one of the little girls – who was the most charismatic, outgoing, spitfire we have ever had stay with us – was giving me a hard time about coming to the event. So now here I am begging her to come to this event and she asks me why the Congressman is coming. I tried my hardest to explain to her that he was coming to read us a story and people were going to take pictures, but she was just looking frustrated because she didn’t understand why. So, I said “He is bringing us cash.”

I didn’t think any more about the conversation and went off to meet the Congressman. The little girl comes in, wheels into the front row, and when he is all done reading the little girl has this face on—I am sitting right next to him so I know something is up.

He looks at her and asks, “Would you like to keep this book?”

This is the best part…

She replies to him with, “No, I want the cash!”

Now, you can imagine my face as I’m watching this whole thing go down (actually you can sEE it in the picture above!). I told her he was bringing money! Did I mention that the Star Ledger was there? I almost died! I never tried to explain away because there was just nothing to say…but out of the mouths of babes!

I can’t even begin to tell you what an honor it is to serve with each of you in our efforts to fulfill our mission of creating a world where every child can reach their full potential. Thank you for all that you give and your dedication to our children and each other.

Cheers to many more years of great things at Children’s Specialized Hospital.

It’s all about those apps

Earlier this month I told you about an invention that would make my life easier. Cell phones can really do it all nowadays, so I’ve been thinking a lot about smartphone apps.

I am fascinated by the different tools people have adopted to help them make their life easier; that one (or sometimes two or three) thing they have become so reliant on that it would be hard to imagine getting through the day without it.

I used the word "app," but the crutch can really be anything that has become necessary for you to get through your day.

I’ll share mine!

I don’t think I’m alone in sharing that the first and most obvious necessity is my iPhone. It truly has become the one thing I would turn around the car for if I forgot it at home. I have become so dependent on its uses and how connected it keeps me.

I often hear people say, "I have my life in there!" Since I’m always on the go, I can absolutely relate to that one.

So, what apps are on my phone? I have a few apps that are my go-to, but then others that I just think are really cool.

On the functionality side I guess it is those you would expect:

·         Google, - to get a quick answer to any question

·         Email, so I can stay on top of my email even when I’m not in the office

·         Fitbit, because you all know I’m obsessed with my steps

·         NJ.com, to stay up-to-date on news

·         Google maps, I’d be lost without it and love to check where I’m going ahead of time

On the fun side:

·         Shazam, so I can figure out what song is playing where I am and then purchase it immediately via iTunes (also another favorite)

·         Facebook, for obvious reasons!

·         Kindle app, so I can buy new books without having to lug them around

Amazon Smile is both a site and an app that I can’t live without. I am a one-click wonder. I get boxes every week from Amazon and it is has made my life so much easier when I don't have to worry about getting to the store to shop, but can order on line and from one vendor! Plus, I can justify my shopping habit with Amazon Smile since each order gives back to our kids!

The Asbury Park Press website has a data universe that will let you find any homeowner's address if they live in the State of New Jersey. It has been a huge help to me when sending notes to donors or some of you! I love not having to ask people for their address and keeping the element of surprise!

Before the end of this calendar year we’ll be coming out with two apps for our patients and families to use! Stay on the lookout for more about those two apps both here on Access Amy and through email and the huddles!

There’s got to be some things I’m missing, right? What are the items that you are you using that you would like to share? The apps or websites that you can’t live without!

So long sweet summer

Ok, so we have passed Labor Day weekend – the “unofficial” end of summer. While the calendar says summer doesn’t actually end until tomorrow, the beginning of September is usually the time most of us think of the going back to school or back to work.

I shared some of my goals for the summer, for example my summer reading list. Out of the six books I wanted to read, I read five of the six.

The Talk Like Ted book was fabulous and I have already lent it out, especially if you do any presentations or public speaking.  The key take away I got from this book was the art of saying less but having a bigger bang with your messages.

I also read “Do the KIND Thing,” “The Vacationers,” “Beautiful Ruins,” and Sue Grafton’s “X.”

The last book I still have yet to read is “The Oz Principle.” Of course I picked up other books to read along my travels! I told you about “Touchpoints” a great management book that brought together so many of the things we have been working on as part of our management growth.

I also read "Every Last One" by Anna Quindlen which I loved and the "Beautiful Bureaucrat" which I hated.

My August was filled with travel — China and Japan you already know about, but this month also had two wedding back to back. I have now reached the age where my friends’ kids are starting to get married! Both weddings will put me back on planes to Florida and South Carolina. After doing the 13 hours to Asia, these are a walk in the park! 

While I didn't get as much relax time as I would have liked, I did spend a great deal of time thinking about the future. Not only are we working on the RWJ/Barnabas merger, we are also preparing to embark on updating our three year strategic plan in 2016. This is the time when we look both ahead and back. What have we accomplished over the last three years, what is left to do, and how does that fit with both what our families want and the current state of our health care environment?

You have heard me say many times that I do not believe the healthcare delivery system will look anything like what it does today, or in the very near future.

The minute clinics and easy access clinics are now on every major corner. I believe the next big thing will be the ability to make use of your medical information. While many of us have electronic medical records, they’re still not easy to access or are unavailable without going through many steps. I think sharing protected health information will become as easy as sharing access to an app with your provider – regardless of where you are.

The technology is coming too. Accessing doctors via telemedicine will be the standard, not the exception. While we and others have begun to dabble in it, it will be more common than going for an office visit.

So yes, I guess you could say I spent a lot of the summer thinking about how we will fit all of this in and what it will ultimately mean for our continued growth and efforts.

So how about you? What did you do or think about this summer? I would love to hear summer vacation stories too!

My most prized possessions

I’m sure we all have that one treasured keep sake from a special time in our lives, event, or loved one that brings you joy every time you see it. Right? 

In my home and my office, I have a number of pieces of art and pottery that either has been given to me as gifts or, in some cases, my Mother made. Each one has a story and brings me back to a moment or memory that makes me smile. 

There is a small round vase on the table in my office that I bought in California when I was at a Children's Hospital Association meeting with a former colleague from Robert Wood Johnson. Every morning when I walk into my office I am taken back to that wonderful day spent with her, and smile at my fortune to still have her as a friend although our roads are now much different. 

I also have a ring that I wear often. I bought it after a dear friend from church lost her fight to ovarian cancer at the age of 45, leaving three children under the age of 14– two of which have special needs – and a husband who cared for her through every moment of her illness. The ring was a splurge, but her death was a reminder to me of how precious life is.

As you know, I am still blessed to have both my parents, but I am sure that there will be things of theirs that I can't imagine living without. Fortunately I haven't had to cross that bridge yet.

What’s your prized possession(s)? What’s that one (or two, or three) thing that brings you much joy or you hold dear to your heart? 

This would make my life easier...

Think back on the last decade or so; think about how far technology has come. Portable DVD players and digital cameras were becoming popular. Today, we get both features in our cell phone!

I’m sure I don’t speak for myself when I say that I’ve taken a lot of these technological advances for granted over the last few years. For example, my iPhone!

With my iPhone, I can FaceTime all of my loved ones and relatives in a real-time way from anywhere in the world at any time. A few friends and I were recently recalling standing in line in college during the ‘80s to use the payphone! Can you imagine having to schedule a weekly call to your home from a payphone, instead of picking up your personal cell phone from anywhere and just tapping the screen?

I remember using FedEx for the first time and thinking it was insane that it could be sent over night. Today, we can “Zip” a document and send it anywhere in the world immediately. 

Ok, here is my point.

All this chat about technology got me to thinking: If I could invent anything to make my life a little bit easier, what would it be?

I think the one invention I could really use would be some sort of transportation magic that would allow me to either be in multiple places at the same time or travel quickly. You know, sort of a "Bewitched" wiggle of my nose and POOF I’ve gone from Egg Harbor to Clifton at the blink of an eye.

Another thing I thought of was to clone myself! Some days there is just SO much to do that I could really use another one of me. Could you imagine my shoecloset if that were possible?

If you could invent any one thing to make your work or personal life easier or more efficient, what would it be? 

Leadership: Tough Minded & Tender Hearted

A few weeks ago I asked you all for recommendations for summer reading. Sue Winning went one step further and loaned me a great book - "TouchPoints: Creating Powerful Leadership Connections in the Smallest of Moments" by Douglas Conant.

I couldn’t wait to share some of the things that I took away from this book with all of you.

The book talks about many tools and strategies you can utilize to be both "tough minded and tender hearted." Simply put, we will still get the results we strive and work for, but we still care about the people around us and on the path along the way. 

One section talked about identifying one thing you would change in yourself as a leader or that you would change in your boss.

This sure made me think about what I would change in my leadership style! When I actually said it out loud I knew it was unrealistic, but I would want my boss to have the same priorities that I have for his time. Even though the parts of his job that impact me are probably less than 25%, it is totally unrealistic that he would concentrate at the same level of intensity or priority that I do about the same issues.

Getting some perspective on that was tremendously helpful for me and made me a lot more appreciative of what it takes to stand in his shoes.

Thank you, Sue, for lending me this book. It has helped me to become a better leader, as well as to be led.

So just think about that for a minute – are there things that you wish your boss would do differently for you? Would you be so bold to share them? 

In doing so, you may provide valuable insight to yourself as well as your boss! 

The Winners Are…

As you know, with our redesigned Employee Recognition Program we have introduced the Employee of the Quarter/Year component. This program recognizes five (5) employees each quarter who go above and beyond in exemplifying our Core Values and Service Excellence Standards.

Our Q2 honorees for 2015 – and our Employees of the Quarter – are:

• Adrienne RobertielloAutism Educator, Autism Program, Fanwood
• Beth Anne DoboshDirector of Corporate Foundation Relations, Foundation Department, New Brunswick
• Cynthia GreenPhysician Relations Representative, Business Development Department, New Brunswick
• Haig MinassianSystems Analyst, Strategic Improvement Department, New Brunswick
• Melissa SmithClinical Lead – ST, Administration, New Brunswick

Here’s a little peak into what their nominator had to say about them:

Adrienne Robertiello

“[Adrienne] is a visionary who routinely looks for and creates opportunities for CSH to shine and to broaden our reach. For example, not only has Adrienne created resources to improve safety for people affected by ASD, she has also instructed countless emergency providers how to recognize people with special needs and how to more effectively communicate and anticipate in order to prevent emergency situations and/or to better handle situations as they arise…She tirelessly works to make improvements to the Hub and to add practical information that is accessible and also promotes the expertise of CSH…Adrienne is always willing to help others with various projects, including using her graphic arts

background to create professional posters and flyers, problem solve situations involving patient/family needs, and hook up families and staff with community resources.”

Beth Anne Dobosh

“Having grown up with an aunt who had Down syndrome, Beth Anne had a special place in her heart for people with disabilities and she knew she wanted to make a real impact for an organization that helped children with special needs. Lucky us, because during her 7 years here at Children’s Specialized, Beth Anne has developed into a dynamic, multi-skilled leader under the guidance and direction of Phil Salerno, among others. Beth Anne has too many accomplishments to list; millions of dollars raised; numerous corporate partnerships that have blossomed into signature relationships with multi-tiered levels of support from monetary, grants to thousands of volunteer and corporate service hours. Beth Anne has been a part of our Community Engagement Pillar since its inception and has helped lead many successful changes and initiatives to increase our community engagement events. What’s important to understand about Beth Anne’s work is that she has to inspire and motivate others to give, to volunteer, to grant funding and to commit to helping our cause – to be successful with any of those tasks it takes an incredible amount of passion and skill.”

Cynthia Green

“Cindy always goes above and beyond to provide VIP concierge service to every family. For example, not only does she arrange car service if needed, she gets them local gym membership, purchased a bathing suit for a child who did not have one so the patient could participate in aquatics, and found a poster of a patient's favorite hockey team for a patient who lived in California and was extremely homesick. She shows this same compassion, sincerity, commitment, and anticipation of unstated needs with co-workers. For example, she has befriended the troubled young son of one of the staff in New Brunswick, providing a listening ear when he visits, making sure that he has a snack and help with games to keep him busy while his parent prepares for home. She travels throughout the NJ-PA-NY-CT area to tirelessly promote CSH programs…Her eyes and ears are always open for patients, families and staff interests and needs…Many of the families who contact Cindy are extremely anxious about the health of their children. Cindy acknowledges their concerns and follows through 100% of the time…Cindy has been singled out by many inpatient and outpatient families for going above and beyond.”

Haig Minassian

“Haig worked throughout the past year to prepare for the roll out of both the Tablet Registration and the Patient Portal and has been the point person for both projects. Both of these projects are responses to the expressed need of patients and families and seek to improve the experience of those we serve while also increasingly efficiency and keeping our organization at the forefront of the marketplace. Haig has been working incredibly long hours throughout the state to make sure that the tablet roll-out is successful, and he balances a great deal while also training staff, anticipating concerns, and problem solving on the go. He keeps the strategic aspects of the project in mind in the face of daily minutia that also needs to be addressed…I've been particularly impressed at how I have seen him grow in recent months as he interacts with a wide spectrum of people in many roles with a wide spectrum of personalities and life experiences. He has been very encouraging to staff who are learning something new.”

Melissa Smith

“As a clinical lead [Melissa] has the opportunity to influence so many by sharing her clinical expertise using evidence based practice and the most current literature both in one on one mentoring and in workshop settings. She continues to support the inpatient teams with leadership and provision of highly skilled Speech services in a family centered environment. She is truly impacting inpatient and outpatient services by being compassionate and caring mentor to make a positive lasting difference for many staff and patients... Melissa has truly taken on her new role with a passion, she understands the importance of being committed to developing and growing her own leadership skills so that she can have a greater influence on improving our clinical lead team and in turn the organization.

Congratulations to each of you and thank you to the team members who took the time to recognize all who were nominated!

Each of these individuals will be rewarded with a $50 gift card and an item of their choice from our Give a WOW! gift shop, as well as considered for Employee of the Year.

Please join me in congratulating each of our honorees for their dedication to Children’s Specialized Hospital both in the comments below and on Give a WOW!

If you have a colleague that you feel should be rewarded for going above and beyond both at Children’s Specialized and in their community, please submit an Employee of the Quarter nomination in Give a WOW! Questions on how to do this? Please contact Megan Muller at x7135 or memuller@childrens-specialized.org.