Creative commons: Flickr.com/photos/chriskueh

Part of  our commitment to employee wellness

As part of Bon Secours Virginia’s investment in employee health and commitment to accountable care, we are initiating a nicotine-free hiring policy. Effective Nov. 30, 2011, nicotine users will not be eligible for employment within Bon Secours Virginia Health System.

The policy is an extension of our mission to provide good help and model good health for our patients, employees and the community. Bon Secours Virginia is part of a growing national trend to adopt a nicotine-free hiring policy and joins national health care leaders, including the Cleveland Clinic and Humana in encouraging a healthy lifestyle and reducing health care costs by promoting a nicotine-free environment.

We have prohibited smoking and the use of all tobacco products from inside the hospitals and facilities as well as the property immediately outside since 2009. Current employees will not be affected by the new policy. Bon Secours will continue to offer smoking cessation support, including classes and access to the American Cancer Association QuitLine.

“More than 12,000 Bon Secours Virginia employees care for and inspire patients every day,” said Peter J. Bernard, CEO of Bon Secours Virginia. “It is our responsibility to encourage our employees to be as healthy as possible and to offer creative and convenient ways to ensure their own health and wellness.”

Under the new policy, applicants for open positions at Bon Secours Virginia will be tested for nicotine as part of the pre-employment screening process.  Those who are denied employment due to a positive nicotine test are encouraged to take steps to stop the use of nicotine and reapply to open positions after a period of six months.

The nicotine-free hiring policy complements our employee wellness and employee assistance programs, which provide comprehensive health services, including mental health counseling, health management resources and an on-site employee clinic and pharmacy.

“Employee wellness is a top priority for Bon Secours Virginia,” said Bonnie Shelor, senior vice president of human resources. “The nicotine-free hiring initiative is the newest element of our ongoing commitment to employee health and wellbeing, and we are pleased that the majority of our employees are fully engaged in our overall wellness initiatives.”

According to the American Heart Association, smoking is linked to lung cancer, heart disease, stroke and other chronic lung diseases and is the most preventable cause of death in the United States.

Nicotine-free hiring is becoming a national trend among hospitals and health care systems. More than 6,000 U.S. companies have initiated these policies.

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Memorial Regional Medical Center is building a Healing and Community Garden designed to raise awareness of the importance of environment and provide a place of healing to the community. Patients, visitors and staff can find spending long hours in a hospital stressful. The natural setting allows them a place to go and reflect. It offers a quiet space for spiritual nourishment and healing.

In addition to spiritual nourishment, the garden is designed to provide physical nourishment through fruit bearing edible trees, plants and herbs that will be used in preparing healthy meals for patients and guests, as well as provide an opportunity for community health education.

Getting involved

Gardens thrive because of the care and upkeep they receive. If you would like to volunteer to help with the garden’s maintenance, please contact Rob Herndon, Director of Volunteer Services at Memorial Regional, at Robert_Herndon@bshsi.org.

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Now with nearly all Bon Secours Virginia hospitals certified through the Joint Commission’s Primary Stroke Center program, staff and physicians can more quickly identify and treat patients with acute stroke symptoms. That’s essential, because for every second during a stroke, 32,000 brain cells are lost.

“That’s the crucial piece of the whole puzzle — recognizing that something is not right and getting to the nearest Certified Primary Stroke Center immediately. There is a short time frame where we can provide treatment to open the blocked artery,” said Kimberly Pinna, RN, Neuroscience Coordinator for Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center and Richmond Community Hospital.

The Joint Commission’s program recognizes centers that provide exceptional care and outcomes for stroke survivors. Dr. Timothy Shephard, Vice President, Bon Secours Neuroscience Institute, saw the potential in Bon Secours Virginia developing a statewide stroke network. His vision is an integrated system with all stroke centers functioning together.

“No matter which facility the patient goes to, they’re receiving the same excellent standard of care required by The Joint Commission,” said Pinna.

Bon Secours Virginia has seven certified Primary Stroke Centers and all BSV facilities will be certified by the end of the year.

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Life’s complicated. Today’s patients need easy-to-use, high-quality health care provided with customer service standards — convenience, location, selection, free parking, same-day service — that make good health simple to maintain.

We know that the Bon Secours St. Francis Watkins Centre will be this for the 18,000-20,000 patient visits that are expected in the first year of this free-standing emergency department and diagnostic center. The Watkins Centre is being constructed at Route 288 and Midlothian Turnpike in western Chesterfield County, near St. Francis.

Bon Secours is healthy and growing and excited to open this new facility in November 2011. Look for the job postings for Watkins Centre on www.bonsecours.com this month and apply!

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Now, you can have access to your own medical information, securely, in the palm of your hand. The free MyCart iPhone app is available in the iTunes app store. You can also access the same information on your computer via the MyChart web page. An Android version is coming soon. To use the app or website, you must be registered for the free MyChart service. To receive a registration code and learn more, contact your Bon Secours physician or call 359-WELL. Once you have downloaded the app, scroll through the list until you find MyBonSecours.

Next, you need to enter your MyBonSecours user name and password.

Its that simple. With the MyCart app, you have instant access to your medical information. You can also send a private email to your physician or their office. All communication between the app, or MyChart web site, and your physician is encrypted, so it is secure and safe from prying eyes.

Want to learn more? Watch Dr. Ed Glynn tell WRIC about MyChart.

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Richmond Ambulance Authority (RAA) and Bon Secours Virginia Health System, in partnership with Motorcycle Virginia, Inc., today launched a new program designed to save the lives of injured motorcyclists. The program provides free identification data cards that will help first responders provide rapid and accurate medical assistance to riders involved in accidents.

The data cards, officially known as Rider Alert cards (www.RiderAlert.org), are placed inside riders’ helmets and contain vital, life-saving information, emergency contact and any important medical history. When first responders arrive on the scene of a motorcycle accident, a one-inch, round sticker on the outside of the helmet will indicate that the biker has the Rider Alert card. The sticker also warns bystanders not to remove the helmet, which could prevent further injury.

In developing the Rider Alert card, RAA engaged both bikers and first responders, to determine the most effective way to provide rider emergency contact and medical information.

“Motorcycle accidents and fatalities are on the rise in Virginia,” said Rob Lawrence, chief operating officer of Richmond Ambulance Authority. “This card is born out of experience – it has been designed by paramedics who have been on both sides of an accident as the injured rider or as medical help. Accessing this basic information after a motorcycle accident can sometimes be impossible. This small tool could mean the difference between life and death.”

“We are so pleased to be involved with such an innovative program,” said Toni Ardabell, CEO Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital. “This truly is a program that can provide critical information, allowing first responders to give injured cyclists the best possible onsite care before transporting them to our emergency departments.”

In 2010, there were 76 motorcycle fatalities and more than 2,191 crashes in the Commonwealth of Virginia, according to preliminary numbers provided by the Virginia Highway Safety Division of the Department of Motor Vehicles. These numbers were up from 71 fatalities and 2,115 crashes in 2009.

RAA based the idea of the Rider Alert cards on a program called CRASH Card, which was developed in the United Kingdom two years ago by the Ambulance Motorcycle Club. Since its creation, more than 325,000 CRASH Cards have been distributed to riders in Europe.

RAA and Motorcycle Virginia began discussing how to bring a similar program to Virginia last year. They teamed up with several organizations, including Bon Secours Virginia Health System, which offered its support, and has helped the project advance through the concept and design stages to its launch. The Rider Alert card program is the first of its kind in the United States.

Rider Alert cards will be available at the Richmond Ambulance Authority, Chesterfield Fire and Rescue station and New Kent County Fire station, as well as through partnerships Motorcycle Virginia has established, including local members of the Virginia Motorcycle Dealers Association.

In addition, the cards can be accessed via the Rider Alert card Web site, www.RiderAlert.org.

“Motorcycle Virginia has strong relationships throughout the state with organizations that are excited about this program and know the safety benefits it will have for riders,” said Steve Witmer, corporate director of Motorcycle VA. “There are more than 100,000 registered motorcycle riders in Virginia, and we will use our resources to get the Rider Alert card into as many of their hands as possible.”

RAA encourages all motorcycle riders to get their own Rider Alert card, fill it out and put it under the lining of their helmet. Then, peel off the one-inch round sticker and secure it to the right side of their helmet or helmet visor. Each card is produced in a special waterproof paper that can be written on with a ballpoint pen, and should be able to withstand the environment inside a rider’s helmet.

Rider Alert cards are free and are provided with an information letter containing details of the program and full instructions where to place the card and where to place the round sticker.

“The potential for this program to go viral is very strong,” said RAA’s Lawrence. “We have already had discussions about the Rider Alert launch with other EMS agencies in the U.S., and the level of enthusiasm has been immense. Fort Worth, Texas looks to be the next market to roll out Rider Alert.”

“Everything is bigger in Texas, and motorcycling is no exception,” said Matt Zavadsky, director of operations of Med Star EMS in Fort Worth, Texas. “A long riding season and high population results in thousands of motorcycle accidents in Fort Worth each year, and we are looking forward to implementing the new national model for motorcycle crash victims developed by the Richmond Ambulance Authority. Once again, RAA has demonstrated its national and international leadership through yet another innovative program that will benefit the entire country.”

In the meantime, the Virginia rollout of Rider Alert continues in Fredericksburg, Va. on Saturday, April 16, where Rider Alert cards will be distributed at the Morton’s BMW spring open house.

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Contact: Casey Kopcsak

804.435.8662

Melissa Jones for Bon Secours Virginia Health System

804.762.9400

Rappahannock General Hospital and Bon Secours Virginia Sign Letter of Intent

Goal is to affiliate and enhance patient services

Kilmarnock, VA (April 4, 2011) – Rappahannock General Hospital and Bon Secours Virginia Health System have signed a letter of intent to move forward with discussions that may ultimately lead to a formal affiliation agreement between the two entities.

“The signing of the letter of intent is the first step in what we hope will become a strong clinical affiliation,” said Jim Holmes, CEO of Rappahannock General Hospital. “We have had a long-standing relationship with Bon Secours in a number of areas, and this agreement will allow formal exploration of how we together can enhance medical services to our community.”

Bon Secours Virginia Health System is comprised of seven hospitals in Richmond and Hampton Roads, making it one of the largest not-for-profit health systems, and the only faith-based health system, in Virginia.

An affiliation agreement would make it possible for Rappahannock General Hospital to provide expanded services to the community without relinquishing control over services or adjusting operations. “Our goal always is to provide the best possible patient care,” said Holmes. “If this agreement comes to fruition, it will be the perfect partnership, allowing us to expand services and continue to operate as an independent sole community hospital.”

“Our goal in this process is to work with Rappahannock General in a way that benefits the hospital and the community it serves,” said Peter J. Bernard, CEO of Bon Secours Virginia Health System.  “We intend to work within the parameters of the current Rappahannock model, providing what services we can to enhance the hospital’s offerings to the community.”

About Rappahannock General Hospital

Rappahannock General Hospital is a 76-bed facility opened in March 1977 as an independent, community owned, not-for-profit health care facility.  The Hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.  The physicians, nurses, healthcare professionals, administrators, and employees are dedicated to the Hospital mission “to provide quality, compassionate care to all patients in the most cost-effective manner.”

About Bon Secours Virginia Health System

Bon Secours Virginia (BSV) is the fourth largest and only faith-based health system in Virginia. It is comprised of Bon Secours Richmond and Bon Secours Hampton Roads. Bon Secours Virginia includes seven award-winning hospitals: four in Richmond (St. Mary’s Hospital, Memorial Regional Medical Center, Richmond Community Hospital and St. Francis Medical Center) and three in Hampton Roads (Maryview Medical Center, DePaul Medical Center and Mary Immaculate Hospital). Bon Secours Virginia is part of the Bon Secours Health System, headquartered in Marriottsville, Md.

Bon Secours brings together a network of hospitals, primary care practices, ambulatory care sites and continuing care facilities to provide quality health care services to thousands of Virginians. The not-for-profit Catholic health system employs nearly 11,000 people, 7,000 in Richmond and 4,000 in Hampton Roads. Bon Secours Virginia hospitals offer a full-range of services including cardiac, women’s, children’s, orthopaedics, oncology, neurosciences, surgery.

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“We offer a wide variety of things,” said Cindy Stutts, Bon Secours’ administrative director for employee wellness and employee assistance. “We offer everything from Weight Watchers at work to an incentive plan in which employees keep track of their preventive screenings. We have exercise classes at various sites.”

Bon Secours Richmond was recently featured by the Richmond Times-Dispatch about its employee wellness programs. To read the whole article, click here.

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