Currents 12/18/13 Christmas Time is Here at Our Lady of the Lake Christmas Party 12/19 The day shift Christmas Party is tomorrow from 2 – 4 pm in the 1st floor of the Heart & Vascular Institute and the Assisi Garden. Join your coworkers and Santa to celebrate with Christmas music, refreshments and a smile booth. Christmas Mass 12/20 Please join us for a special Christmas Mass in the OLOL Rosary Chapel on Friday, December 20 from 11:30 am – 12:15 pm. All are welcome to attend. Night Shift and Rehab Parties already complete Santa already spread Christmas cheer among your coworkers and our patients with visits to the Night Shift and Rehab Christmas parties. Rehab had a joyful reunion of former patients and their caretakers. One former patient thanked team members in Rehab for helping him learn to walk again and showed his strength by bringing the choir he direct with him to perform, St. Alphonsus Elementary School 3 rd, 4th and 5th graders. Santa and his elves rounded through the hospital and delivered food for the Night Shift Christmas celebration. Holly Clegg book signing Holly Clegg, local healthy cooking expert and cookbook author has partnered with Our Lady of the Lake to provide her signature Trim&Terrific® meals and desserts in the hospital Cafe. On Friday, December 20 Holly will be in the Hospital Cafe to introduce new recipes that will be soon be served as our Healthy Lives option. She will sign and sell her cookbooks. Representatives from Healthy Lives and Geaux Lite will be present to encourage healthy decisions by our team members. Pat Whaley (story from Kelly) Holiday Safety Tips from Security This time of year everyone needs to have a heightened awareness of their surroundings and take reasonable steps to help maintain a safe environment for our patients, visitors and team members. Security is available and on alert; but they cannot be everywhere at all times. Security has gathered these tips to maintain a safe environment for our patients, visitors and team members: Think Safety Realize that your actions are important – don’t become a victim. Always use good judgment. ALWAYS TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS- If something or someone makes our uneasy – walk directly to a place where there are other people. When leaving work, please leave in a group (safety in numbers). If this is not possible, please contact Security for an escort – Ext. 8825 Traveling to and from work: When walking to your vehicle be aware of your surroundings. Even if your car is locked, you should always look underneath it from a safe distance. From 20 feet you should be able to look under your car to the other side without crouching. Check the interior (back and passenger) before entering your vehicle. Have your keys in hand. Avoid taking your eyes off the surroundings. You could also use these keys as a defensive tool if needed. When walking to or from your car, walk with confidence and determination. Doing so portrays “I will not be a victim”. Lock your car in parking lots and when driving- especially when you are driving in an unfamiliar area. Don’t carry a large amount of cash in your purse or wallet. Don’t leave valuables or gifts exposed in your car. Portable GPS systems should also be put away. At work all staff should: Keep wallets, purses, phones, iPads and other valuable items locked in a safe place. 99.9% of all stolen personal property has been taken from unlocked, unsecured areas. Placing a purse in a cabinet or unlocked locker should never occur. If you want your property safe, please lock it up. Report suspicious activity to Security immediately. Don’t let unauthorized people “tailgate” through card access controlled doors. Encourage patients to send personal items home with family. You have to be willing to do what it takes NOT to be a victim. NO ONE can keep you safe but YOU! This requires effort and thought on your part. Keep Calm and Give Blood The annual team member blood drive starts tomorrow, December 19 with a kick-off event in the Auditorium from 10 am – 4 pm. “Pizza for a Pint” events are on December 27 and 30 in the Blood Donor Center. Donate any day during the Blood Donor Center’s regular hours until we reach our goal of 500 donations. Blood Donor Center hours: Monday - Thursday, 8 am - 6 pm Friday, 8 am - 4:30 pm Saturday, 10 am - 2 pm If you donate, you receive a free t-shirt and a chance to win other great prizes! This is the last blood drive in the area until after January, so your giving will help us ensure we have enough of this precious community resource. Congratulations to Kelly Zimmerman – FSA Recipient Congratulations to Kelly Zimmerman, Senior Public Relations Specialist in Marketing for winning a Franciscan Service Award. She answered the call to serve the Franciscan Missionaries of our Lady over 8 years ago. She is described as a “go to” person because of her vast institutional knowledge. Kelly is always willing to share that knowledge and consistently responds timely to issues that arise in the life of our organization. One co-worker stated,” Kelly works hard to balance her commitment to work with her home life.” A mother of 2 young children, she is as compassionate with her family as she is with the patients and team members she serves. Kelly, we believe that we are a better organization because you share your gifts and talents with us. We joyfully recognize your Spirit of Healing. Congratulations on being named the September 2013 Franciscan Service Award Recipient. (Photo caption) Kelly was shocked when her Marketing coworkers and managers presented her with the FSA last week. Healthy Holiday recipe from Holly Clegg Recipe and YouTube Video Volunteers needed to support the Louisiana Marathon Clinical and non-clinical volunteers are needed to staff the medical tent at the Louisiana Marathon on January 19, 2014. Staff needed includes: physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses and non-medical staff. Please contact Randee Rousseau (randee.rousseau@ololrmc.com, 765-8037) for more information or to volunteer. Sign up by Monday, December 23. Snapshots Rehab Christmas Party Night Shift Christmas Party Kelly Zimmerman FSA This Week @ the Lake 12/19 – Keep Calm and Give Blood Kick-off event 12/19 – Day Shift Hospital Christmas Party 12/20 – Christmas Mass 12/20 – Holly Clegg Book Signing 12/21 – Louisiana MED on Cable 9 12/21 – Holly Clegg Book Signing 12/27 – Pizza for a Pint Blood Donor Event