I found myself suffering from the winter duldroms. Nothing wrong per ce - just feeling the weight of everything.
Trish West-Lowe sent me this link and it made me once again realize how much "how you see things" impacts what can be accomplished.
Let me know your take after watching this.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
2008 - A Very Good Year
My friends at Stevens Road taught me about a practice that they do around the solstice each year. They make wishes for the New Year and free themselves of the old things holding you back. They say it much more eloquently and with special poems and ceremony, but it made me wonder if you would be willing to share your wishes for the New Year and celebrations of last year.
As I think back over the past year, many fun and memorable things come to mind. Sitting at the NJBIZ employer event thinking that they had forgotten to call our name after we got to number five and then realizing we had won: receiving the letter from Modern Healthcare that we had ranked nationally as one of the best employers was a great event: the Autism walk in Point Pleasant and the Toms River folks giving me remedial changing your t-shirt instructions in the parking lot lessons without taking the other shirt off, is one memory that I am only fortunate there was no video for - only pictures when it was over: walking to the gala in NYC and seeing our children on the Times Square megatron, took my breath away: seeing one of our LTC kids ride a pony for the first time, when prior to that all he would do was scream on the unit because he wasn’t going down stairs: seeing athletes from 38 countries watch a baseball game and hang out, even though there was little common language between them: the first time I got to see the sign honoring my folks on the meditation room, still makes me choke up: walking through Mountainside after the renovations and the MOVE from Fanwood Plaza (I am still sore!):the employee meetings when I got to talk about the new vision and seeing tears in both of our eyes about what it is going to mean to create a world where every child would live to their maximum potential: when I got to see one of our little LTC children walk with her pink crutches to get her diploma at Fanwood School. There are many more but these are a few of the highlights for me.
As I mentioned in the last wrap up - it looks like we are well on track to achieve 9 out of 10 of our corporate goals. Truly I am so appreciative and thankful to work with people who give so much of themselves to achieve such greatness. Time and time again, we have pushed our selves, hit our goals and set the new goal. I will never forget that I asked the Senior Leadership team a few years ago how we would know when we got "there". A few of the team members corrected me and told me that you never get "THERE" - You achieve new things and than there is more to be done because our children always deserve us to be striving to make their lives the best they can be.
How about you? Do you have some highlights from last year you’re willing to share? Something memorable that might make you smile and bring a smile to others?
As I think back over the past year, many fun and memorable things come to mind. Sitting at the NJBIZ employer event thinking that they had forgotten to call our name after we got to number five and then realizing we had won: receiving the letter from Modern Healthcare that we had ranked nationally as one of the best employers was a great event: the Autism walk in Point Pleasant and the Toms River folks giving me remedial changing your t-shirt instructions in the parking lot lessons without taking the other shirt off, is one memory that I am only fortunate there was no video for - only pictures when it was over: walking to the gala in NYC and seeing our children on the Times Square megatron, took my breath away: seeing one of our LTC kids ride a pony for the first time, when prior to that all he would do was scream on the unit because he wasn’t going down stairs: seeing athletes from 38 countries watch a baseball game and hang out, even though there was little common language between them: the first time I got to see the sign honoring my folks on the meditation room, still makes me choke up: walking through Mountainside after the renovations and the MOVE from Fanwood Plaza (I am still sore!):the employee meetings when I got to talk about the new vision and seeing tears in both of our eyes about what it is going to mean to create a world where every child would live to their maximum potential: when I got to see one of our little LTC children walk with her pink crutches to get her diploma at Fanwood School. There are many more but these are a few of the highlights for me.
As I mentioned in the last wrap up - it looks like we are well on track to achieve 9 out of 10 of our corporate goals. Truly I am so appreciative and thankful to work with people who give so much of themselves to achieve such greatness. Time and time again, we have pushed our selves, hit our goals and set the new goal. I will never forget that I asked the Senior Leadership team a few years ago how we would know when we got "there". A few of the team members corrected me and told me that you never get "THERE" - You achieve new things and than there is more to be done because our children always deserve us to be striving to make their lives the best they can be.
How about you? Do you have some highlights from last year you’re willing to share? Something memorable that might make you smile and bring a smile to others?
Monday, December 22, 2008
Year In Review - Therapy Garden Video
It is hard to believe that 2008 is almost at an end .We have a lot to be proud of! We have had an outstanding year of accomplishments. This time last year we were settling into our new home in New Brunswick, we consolidated several of our sites and we’re still celebrating being named the Best Place to Work in New Jersey by NJ Biz and among the top 100 best hospitals to work in country by Modern Healthcare!
To close out the year, we had two things left to do in New Brunswick, open the pedestrian bridge from the parking garage and complete the therapy garden. I am thrilled to tell you that both were completed in December.
As you recall, the Therapy Garden was funded through a combination of employee contributions and friends and family of our former patients.
We created the garden to add some green in the middle of this concrete jungle, to take a part of Mountainside and Toms River with us. It is also a place where you each could be part of the creation of our new inpatient hospital. Truly, it is an amazing experience to go out there and read the names of those who gave and those who gave in honor or memory of loved ones. One of you told me that you gave in memory of your sister because you wanted her to be with you every day. It is a special garden of healing, both of the children who will receive their therapy there, and those who we celebrate.
Below is a video that the Foundation created that commemorates the opening of the garden and reminds us all why we have chosen to be a lasting part of Children’s Specialized Hospital.
Thank you for another wonderful year.
May the New Year bring good health and joy to you and your family.
To close out the year, we had two things left to do in New Brunswick, open the pedestrian bridge from the parking garage and complete the therapy garden. I am thrilled to tell you that both were completed in December.
As you recall, the Therapy Garden was funded through a combination of employee contributions and friends and family of our former patients.
We created the garden to add some green in the middle of this concrete jungle, to take a part of Mountainside and Toms River with us. It is also a place where you each could be part of the creation of our new inpatient hospital. Truly, it is an amazing experience to go out there and read the names of those who gave and those who gave in honor or memory of loved ones. One of you told me that you gave in memory of your sister because you wanted her to be with you every day. It is a special garden of healing, both of the children who will receive their therapy there, and those who we celebrate.
Below is a video that the Foundation created that commemorates the opening of the garden and reminds us all why we have chosen to be a lasting part of Children’s Specialized Hospital.
Thank you for another wonderful year.
May the New Year bring good health and joy to you and your family.
Children's Specialized Hospital Foundation's Therapy Garden Video
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Face to Face with the CEO
My thanks to all of you who attended and participated in the employee meetings. It is always good to have a chance to provide you an update on big picture issues that face our hospital, and be able to answer your individual questions. This time I asked Directors to solicit questions ahead of time and it was very helpful to be able to have those and answer them. Some of you also sent me questions from a request I made in the wrap up - those were also appreciated.
The best part of these meetings is the chance to be with all of you and have that face to face time. I was tremendously excited to share with all of you our new vision and mission adopted by our Board of Directors. This new focus is reaffirming that in these difficult times, uncertain times; we are still positioned with our eyes on the future and trying to make the best choices for our children and their families. Often these choices are comparable to Hobson choices - no matter what you do, there will be pain but you have to try and limit the people impacted and make sure we are doing what is necessary to be able to provide the core services to our children.
As I have listened to President Elect Obama speak over the last few weeks, he continues to talk about their being pain in order to get to a place of stability. We hope that his pain will not impact our children, but given the magnitude of the crisis in front of us as a country, it is hard to imagine that we all won’t be asked to do more with less.
Senior Leadership and the Director's will continue to work together to make sure that we have the focus on both our children and our finances. Your feedback, ideas and thoughts are always appreciated.
We have my entire presentation available on our intranet – take a look to see what our new mission, values are and where we stand on meeting our annual goals.
Thank you for your continued support for our children.
The best part of these meetings is the chance to be with all of you and have that face to face time. I was tremendously excited to share with all of you our new vision and mission adopted by our Board of Directors. This new focus is reaffirming that in these difficult times, uncertain times; we are still positioned with our eyes on the future and trying to make the best choices for our children and their families. Often these choices are comparable to Hobson choices - no matter what you do, there will be pain but you have to try and limit the people impacted and make sure we are doing what is necessary to be able to provide the core services to our children.
As I have listened to President Elect Obama speak over the last few weeks, he continues to talk about their being pain in order to get to a place of stability. We hope that his pain will not impact our children, but given the magnitude of the crisis in front of us as a country, it is hard to imagine that we all won’t be asked to do more with less.
Senior Leadership and the Director's will continue to work together to make sure that we have the focus on both our children and our finances. Your feedback, ideas and thoughts are always appreciated.
We have my entire presentation available on our intranet – take a look to see what our new mission, values are and where we stand on meeting our annual goals.
Thank you for your continued support for our children.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Steve Horner
It is with great sadness that I share with you the passing of our dear volunteer and friend, Steve Horner. He passed with great dignity, in his home surrounded by his family and those who love him.
Please keep his family and everyone here at Children’s in your thoughts as we grieve the loss of a truly special soul.
Funeral services for Mr. Horner will be held on Saturday, November 22 at 11 a.m. at the Church of Holy Innocents, 681 Prospect Avenue, West Orange. A reception will follow at the Cranford Hotel, One South Union Ave, Cranford.
Condolence cards may be sent to the family at 209 Holly Street, Cranford, New Jersey, 07016.
Please keep his family and everyone here at Children’s in your thoughts as we grieve the loss of a truly special soul.
Funeral services for Mr. Horner will be held on Saturday, November 22 at 11 a.m. at the Church of Holy Innocents, 681 Prospect Avenue, West Orange. A reception will follow at the Cranford Hotel, One South Union Ave, Cranford.
Condolence cards may be sent to the family at 209 Holly Street, Cranford, New Jersey, 07016.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
A Precious Gift
I know that I have written about random acts of kindness in one of my first blogs but something happened this weekend that brought it all home again. The daughter of our long time volunteer, Steve Horner, called this weekend and asked Janet Weston, Director of Volunteers, and I to come say our goodbyes.Steve has given over 8,500 hours to the hospital over his 20 years of volunteering. He was recently honored by NJBiz by being named the 2008 volunteer of the year. Steve worked mostly in the school program on our inpatient unit, but he was always available to help where he was needed.
Being invited into a family's grief, before the family member passes away, is a tremendously personal and generous thing for the family to do. Steve’s family made it very clear to me as I sat in their home that his life, after he retired and especially after his wife, Aurelia, died three years ago, was dedicated to spending time volunteering with our children.
Aurelia was also a volunteer, who encouraged Steve to donate his time to our children. As we sat with Steve and reminisced, his daughter grabbed one of two cards that was on the bureau in his bedroom. She told me that this card had arrived last week and was from Jackie Jones in our dietary department. His daughter went on to explain that Steve would come home and tell stories about all of us, but especially Jackie. He had a soft spot for her and the stories would be about - how she had given him a hug, or told him a story - things that I know Jackie never thought would be worth retelling to your family but she brought him tremendous joy. His daughter showed me how the card "sang" when you pushed the button and how much it had meant to him to get this card at home.
As I left that night, I was so thankful for the chance to have time with Steve and his family. Steve’s daughter reminded me how the little things we do make such a difference in people’s lives – in ways we may never imagine.
While I know Steve will join his dear wife Aurelia soon, he has given me a tremendous gift to remind us no matter how small the gesture is, showing that random act of kindness defines who we are as people and could add so much to someone's day.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Guest Blogger - Nursing at Children's Specialized Hospital
Guest blogging is Karen DeWitt, Ed.D, RN, CNAA, Vice President Patient Care
I have the distinct honor of being the first guest blogger on Amy’s blog. And what else would I talk about than my twenty years experience nursing and working here at Children’s Specialized Hospital.
During my time at Children’s Specialized, nursing staff has always demonstrated compassion and competence with our patients and families. Our staff continue to deliver great clinical care as evidenced by our outstanding outcomes. Creativity and innovation have been the hallmark of our practice. When I started my career at Children's Specialized I was the Director of Nursing/Pre Admissions Coordinator and backup weekend supervisor who on off hours was expected to go into a dark room and develop stat x-ray films. Not an easy feat!
Here are a few changes I have noticed over the past two decades:
The professionalism of rehabilitation nurses has grown tremendously. There is now a certification in this specialty (CRRN), demonstrating expertise to nursing peers, CARF and the public. I am proud of the CRRNs we have on staff and urge our RNs to consider obtaining this certification.
Children’s Specialized developed a clinical ladder fifteen years before the practice became popular. Nurses who want to remain at the bedside can do so while achieving promotions and salary increases.
Another addition over the past twenty years is the position of restorative nursing assistants in long term care and rehab , This valuable position was added to facilitate bedside carry over of therapeutic interventions.
Nurses have become vital, participating members of our program teams. Like all great programs, this has been an evolutionary process. Nurses are assigned to teams and nursing representatives participate in patient care meetings and also the team program development meetings. At both meetings, nurses have a voice in program planning.
The Staff Nurse Advisory Committee was established as an additional way to involve staff nurses in decision making. It was initiated to address the rapid growth of change in rehab care and provide me with direct feedback from staff, which has guided me many times in decision making. Nurses are active on the Nursing Practice Committee which now utilizes evidence based research to establish best practices.
Nursing in Long Term Care has really grown as a service and is as large as our inpatient rehab program. All of our nursing assistants are now certified, demonstrating their special qualifications to care for this population. Last year, Judy Potter became the LTC Administrator / Nursing Administrator for both LTC sites. Mountainside LTC no longer has to share the Director of Nursing with Inpatient Rehab. Judy rounds with the staff on a regular schedule to keep in touch with their needs.
Opportunities have expanded for nursing staff to work in the outpatient settings with the addition of Pediatric Practice, Medical Day Care and new outpatient sites.
Let’s all take a few minutes to share your war stories or fond memories while nursing at CSH. Does anyone remember the Craig bed?
I’m sure there are many of you who have a fond memory or two. Please do not mention patients by name…
I have the distinct honor of being the first guest blogger on Amy’s blog. And what else would I talk about than my twenty years experience nursing and working here at Children’s Specialized Hospital.
During my time at Children’s Specialized, nursing staff has always demonstrated compassion and competence with our patients and families. Our staff continue to deliver great clinical care as evidenced by our outstanding outcomes. Creativity and innovation have been the hallmark of our practice. When I started my career at Children's Specialized I was the Director of Nursing/Pre Admissions Coordinator and backup weekend supervisor who on off hours was expected to go into a dark room and develop stat x-ray films. Not an easy feat!
Here are a few changes I have noticed over the past two decades:
The professionalism of rehabilitation nurses has grown tremendously. There is now a certification in this specialty (CRRN), demonstrating expertise to nursing peers, CARF and the public. I am proud of the CRRNs we have on staff and urge our RNs to consider obtaining this certification.
Children’s Specialized developed a clinical ladder fifteen years before the practice became popular. Nurses who want to remain at the bedside can do so while achieving promotions and salary increases.
Another addition over the past twenty years is the position of restorative nursing assistants in long term care and rehab , This valuable position was added to facilitate bedside carry over of therapeutic interventions.
Nurses have become vital, participating members of our program teams. Like all great programs, this has been an evolutionary process. Nurses are assigned to teams and nursing representatives participate in patient care meetings and also the team program development meetings. At both meetings, nurses have a voice in program planning.
The Staff Nurse Advisory Committee was established as an additional way to involve staff nurses in decision making. It was initiated to address the rapid growth of change in rehab care and provide me with direct feedback from staff, which has guided me many times in decision making. Nurses are active on the Nursing Practice Committee which now utilizes evidence based research to establish best practices.
Nursing in Long Term Care has really grown as a service and is as large as our inpatient rehab program. All of our nursing assistants are now certified, demonstrating their special qualifications to care for this population. Last year, Judy Potter became the LTC Administrator / Nursing Administrator for both LTC sites. Mountainside LTC no longer has to share the Director of Nursing with Inpatient Rehab. Judy rounds with the staff on a regular schedule to keep in touch with their needs.
Opportunities have expanded for nursing staff to work in the outpatient settings with the addition of Pediatric Practice, Medical Day Care and new outpatient sites.
Let’s all take a few minutes to share your war stories or fond memories while nursing at CSH. Does anyone remember the Craig bed?
I’m sure there are many of you who have a fond memory or two. Please do not mention patients by name…
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