JANUARY 17, 2014
VOLUME 23 NO. 2
TRISH DELANEY, EDITOR
* NEW YEAR’S BABY 2014
A baby girl, Mercedes Alice, was born to Spencer residents, Michael and Joann Schock, on January 3 at 3:21 a.m.
and weighed 7# 9.6 oz. The family received a gift basket from Avera Queen of Peace Hospital, $50 in Mitchell
Bucks from the Mitchell Chamber of Commerce, and a quilt from the Heartland Quilters Guild.
* YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED
You are cordially invited to Gala 2014: The Great Gatsby – Vintage Glamour on Friday, February 7, at the
Highland Conference Center. The social begins at 5:15 p.m. with a six-course dinner and entertainment provided
by the Hegg Brothers to follow. There will be silent and live auctions throughout the night, and the Gatsby Bar will
feature specialty drinks. The dress is business casual or era appropriate attire. Tickets are $65 per person; please
RSVP by Monday, January 27. For tickets, please call the Foundation office at Ext. 6345 or purchase online at
www.AveraQueenofPeace.org. Also online is the menu, and a list of the auction packages, sponsors, and
committee members.
* GREAT NEWS. . .“FREE” PAYROLL IN JANUARY!
We will be observing a “free” payroll on Friday, January 31. “Free” payroll means no deductions for Health, Dental,
Midwest Partner FCU, ING Protective Life Insurance, Disabilities, and Wellness.
* THANK YOU FROM THE SISTERS FOR THE MONETARY GIFT
Dear Colleagues,
“Our heartfelt gratitude for each of you and your generosity this Christmas. You and your needs are in our daily
prayers and those of the Sponsors. It is a privilege to minister with you in the Avera Queen of Peace Region.
May peace and joy be yours in the coming year.”
With love and joy,
Sisters Roxanne Seifert, PBVM; Loraine Brown, PBVM; Deanna Butler, PBVM; and Gayle Volz, PBVM
* STROKE AND VASCULAR SCREENINGS
Did you know the Avera Queen of Peace Cardiopulmonary Services Department offers Stroke and Vascular
Screenings? Three screenings are available to indicate conditions that could lead to a ruptured aneurysm, stroke, or
heart attack. Each screening is $35 or you can take advantage of having all three screenings for a discount price
of $90. Appointments are available on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. If you know
of someone that could be at risk, please let them know about the service available at Avera Queen of Peace. For more
information or to schedule a screening appointment, call 995-2473.
* PHYSICIAN ROUNDING
One of the Organizational Excellence initiatives in 2013 was implementing Physician Rounding. In October, David
Balt, DO, Chief Medical Officer; Will Flett, CFO; Rochelle Reider, Vice President of Patient Services, and
Tom Clark, Regional President and CEO, began rounding on physicians each week. The schedule allows for each
physician to be rounded on at least once a quarter. The process is similar to Associate Rounding and has been well
received. The meetings have opened lines of communication, provided an opportunity for physicians to recognize
departments and associates, and provided a time to voice concerns and make suggestions for improvements in
processes. Rounding assists us in removing barriers to delivering excellent patient care. A Physician Stop Light
Report is shared with physicians each quarter at the General Staff meeting to communicate follow-up on suggestions
and concerns collected during Physician Rounding.
* RULES FOR WORKING WHEN ILL
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Associates having influenza are to remain off work until acute symptoms resolve.
PLUS
They must be at least 24 hours fever free without taking fever reducing medications.
If you have been exposed to someone with influenza I, a form needs to be completed by the exposed associate
checking every day for signs/symptoms. This needs to be completed for seven days after exposure and returned to
the Department Director. If you have any questions, please call the Infection Prevention/Associate Health
Department at Ext. 2542 or Ext. 5652.
* AVERA QUEEN OF PEACE CANCER CENTER PUBLIC REPORT
The Avera Queen of Peace Cancer Center recently published a public report for 2012-2013. The report focused on
colorectal health and included an overview of the guidelines for screening and early detection, a colorectal cancer
survivor story as well as statistical information pulled from the Avera Queen of Peace Cancer Registry with national
comparison data. One page was devoted to summarizing all the screening programs provided during 2013 with
financial assistance from the Avera Queen of Peace Foundation. In 2013, Avera Queen of Peace provided screening
programs focused on colorectal cancer, skin cancer, and prostate cancer. Almost 300 individuals participated in
these screening programs. As an accredited cancer program by the American College of Surgeons Commission on
Cancer, Avera Queen of Peace is required to distribute a public report focusing on patient or program outcomes.
* AVERA QUEEN OF PEACE CANCER CENTER AWARDED GRANTS
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The Avera Queen of Peace Cancer Center was awarded a grant from the South Dakota Comprehensive Cancer
Control Program (SDCCP) for an online patient survivorship program. The grant will provide a pilot for an
online, interactive, platform for cancer survivors to access information about their survivorship. Information will
center around nutrition, Advanced Care Planning and Directives, physical activity, and will allow cancer patients
to connect with other survivors for peer support.
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A second grant has been awarded to the University of South Dakota in partnership with the SDCCP Treatment
workgroup and the Avera Queen of Peace Cancer Center from the South Dakota Comprehensive Cancer Control
Program for online video presentations for participation in Clinical Trials. The goal of this grant is to promote
clinical trials by creating five web-based products through educational processes and promotion of availability of
this information on the SDCCCP website to individuals across the State of South Dakota (general public) and to
medical care providers with a target date of May 2014 and an evaluation of the effectiveness and use of these
web-based resources by July 2014.
* AVERA MOCK JOINT COMMISSION SURVEYS
Brenda Olson, Director of Quality-Risk Management, wishes to express her appreciation for the work you are all
doing to maintain compliance to The Joint Commission standards and, more importantly, to provide quality, safe care
to our patients. Those efforts were evident in every location during the January 8-9 Mock Surveys by Avera.
The engagement and dedication of the associates and Medical Staff of Avera Queen of Peace was recognized by the
surveyors and is something we should all be proud of.
Brenda would like to note for the provider based clinics, this was their first experience with a Mock survey by Avera
and they all did an AWESOME job!!! Brenda notes that we have a few opportunities to work on before The Joint
Commission comes, but nothing we can’t handle.
* EDUCATION UPDATE
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Carolyn Klinkhammer, Program Coordinator for our Diabetes Education Program, chaired the annual Diabetes
Education Program Advisory Committee meeting on December 19. This is an annual meeting required by the
American Diabetes Association as part of our ADA Recognition Program and focuses on the year’s activities and
reviews our Diabetes Education Program to assure that it is meeting the current guidelines. Five members of the
committee and two guests were present at the meeting.
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Heartsaver CPR and AED training were provided to Troop 75 of the Boy Scouts of the Americas in December.
Thirty-five Boy Scouts and parents attended the training session. Thanks to Jean Brown, Cindy Easton, Brian
Baldwin, and Mary Froning who served as CPR instructors.
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An ACLS Renewal Course was held in December at the Mitchell Public Safety Building. The target audience
was the Mitchell City Paramedics. Avera Queen of Peace and the Paramedic ACLS instructors partnered to offer
the full day course. Rob Parker, NREMT-P, was the course coordinator, and there were 12 attendees. Thanks to
Pat Deinert and Melanie Ettswold who assisted with this course.
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Carolyn Klinkhammer attended the Dakota Wesleyan University Nursing Faculty and Avera Queen of Peace
Nursing Leader Partners meeting in December.
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Representatives of the American Cancer Society rounded to the Avera Queen of Peace Medical Department,
Outpatient Treatment Center, and the Surgical/Peds Unit to explain the patient services provided by the
American Cancer Society. Nurses were engaged with the representatives and asked patient centered questions
regarding the services that are available to enhance our partnership with the American Cancer Society.
The representatives also visited Avera Medical Group Surgery to share patient services that are available to their
clients and met with the Mitchell Area Cancer Support Group.
* LETTERS WE LOVE TO RECEIVE
To Drs. Seifert and Howe, and third floor nurses and staff: “We wish to express our thanks to all of you for the
excellent care and kindness shown to us during our family member’s hospital stay. Wishing you many blessings in
the coming new year!” – Charles and Beverly Astell
Dear Queen of Peace: “Thank you so much for donating 100 Band-Aid holders to our children’s shoe box ministry.
The shoe boxes that were donated went to South America, Africa, and to American Indians. When the boxes were
delivered to the Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls, we laid our hands on the boxes and prayed over them. Thank you
for helping us to put smiles on 104 faces and two teachers boxes!” – Friends at Cornerstone Baptist Church
* AVERA BRADY UPDATE
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During December, associates at Avera Brady signed up to adopt a resident for the holidays, and gifts were given
during the campus Christmas parties. Veronnica Smith, Administrator, Avera Brady Health and Rehab reports
that every resident on campus (110 residents) received a Christmas gift! Veronnica extends her thanks to the
associates for helping make the residents’ Christmas extra special.
 Special associates –
o One of the residents lover (understandment!) Kenny Rogers. Associate Coleen Kirchhevel shared with one
of her co-workers about how much this particular resident loves Kenny Rogers and even suggested,
“Wouldn’t it be fun if she could attend the concert?” Associate Jamie Robinson purchased a ticket for the
resident, and she and Coleen took the resident to the concert. Associate Mary Newton volunteered her time
to drive the associates and resident on the Avera Brady bus. Needless to say, the resident was on Cloud 9!
o Associate Lorraine King enjoys doing cross-stitch, and in visiting with resident, she discovered there were
some who would like to try their hand at either learning or renewing their interest in cross-stitch. Lorraine
and associate Ashley Howard provided the needed materials and there are several ladies now doing
cross-stitch each week.
o The chefs at Avera Brady provided special touches for the Christmas meal. Chef Carl created a special
cherry glaze for the ham, and cook Stacey Ernster provided three awesome cheesecake options for dessert –
one with drizzled caramel sauce and apple topping, one with chocolate sauce with strawberry topping, and
one with chocolate sauce with cherry filling for topping. Residents loved their creativity and appreciated the
special attention.
o There is a resident at Avera Brady who currently yells out…those who are familiar with a nursing home will
know that happens occasionally. Assocaites Julie Whitehead and Heather Herr learned how to play WAR
with her which has helped the resident’s (and others around her) quality of life.
 Activities –
o The Avera Brady Assisted Living residents Christmas party was held December 18, and residents enjoyed
carolers from Mitchell Wesleyan, piano music by Cindy Novachich, Christmas gifts from the Salvation
Army, carolers from Modern Woodmen, Merry Tuba Christmas, Bingo, Sam Dee and Alison and Natalie
Buckley as volunteers, and many other volunteers who did one-on-one visits during the holiday season.
Residents also enjoyed Bingo with Marilyn and Cindy, a bus ride to look at Christmas lights, and a
New Years Eve party.
o Avera Brady County Store was held for residents on December 6 so the residents could shop for Christmas.
The community was very generous so residents had a large selection with items ranging from 25 cents to $10.
The event resulted in $200 for the Activity Department to use for future activities.
 Building Update –
o Work has begun on the Drives Dining Room and Shirley’s Cinema. This construction has closed one of the
dining rooms which has resulted in all 84 residents eating in the Vasek and Brook Dining Rooms for the next
three to four weeks. Associates are working together to make this a smooth transition. The pub will be the
final project which will begin as soon as the dining room and theatre are complete. At Vasek Villa, staff is
still providing finishing touches such as art work and donor signage, but otherwise residents have moved in
and are settled in!
 Avera Brady People –
o Margaret Neugebauer completed UAP training in November.
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* TWO-WAY VIDEO UPGRADE
Kristi Riggs, Director of Medical/ICU/Swing Bed, reports that the two-way video upgrade for eICU monitors has
been installed. This upgrade was funded by the Avera Queen of Peace Foundation, and the Foundation Board visited
the department on December 16. Dr. Heisler from the eICU graciously demonstracted and spoke to the Board
members about the wonderful capabilities the eICU provides for Avera Queen of Peace. Dr. Heisler was very
complimentary of Avera Queen of Peace physicians and nurses, and shared how having eICU has allowed many
patient to remain in Mitchell for their care rather than transferring them to Sioux Falls. He added that for those in
need of transfer to Sioux Falls, the eICU provides the assistance in beginning the transfer. Kristi shared with the
Foundation Board members that having the eICU involved with the transfer makes the transfer almost seamless and
allows the physician and nursing staff at Avera Queen of Peace to focus their attention to the patient at the bedside so
they are not having to make numerous phone calls involved with a transfer.
* GET SMART ABOUT AVERA CHART
AveraChart is Avera’s new patient online portal to the electronic medical record which will be introduced throughout
Avera in early 2014; you’ve heard about AveraChart as the name of our EMR. Now, AveraChart is expanding to
our patients through the Avera public website. AveraChart will initially roll out in the Avera St. Luke’s region, and
then continue launching throughout the Avera system. The rollout will occur in phases both in terms of dates and
full functionality. AveraChart allows our patients to have access to certain aspects of their electronic medical record
through a secure portal on the Avera public website. It’s completely confidential, convenient, and easy to use.
The AveraChart will allow us to better engage with our patients and encourage them to take greater control of
their health outcomes. A patient portal is also important in meeting federal Meaningful Use criteria to avoid
losing Medicare reimbursement dollars, which could in turn impact jobs, pay raises, facility improvements, and more.
Meaningful Use simply means that we need patients to access and use AveraChart, and all of us at Avera are working
on meeting the specific requirements. Through AveraChart, patients can:
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Message their care team
Request prescription renewals
Review test results
View upcoming appointments
See their visit history
View their hospital bill
And more
While AveraChart is important because of Meaningful Use and because of patient satisfaction, it can also make life
easier for associates…it could mean fewer phone calls for prescription renewals or test results, and less paperwork.
So what can Avera associates to do help?
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If you work in registration of admissions, be diligent about gathering patient e-mails and, after the rollout at
Avera Queen of Peace, help your patients enroll.
Encourage patients to use AveraChart – brochures and other marketing materials will be available.
Make sure you fully understand any assigned role you have in launching AveraChart.
Please be excited and positive about this new service when visiting with patients, and keep any frustrations
you have related to working with a new system “behind the scenes.”
If you are a patient at an Avera hospital or clinic, use AveraChart. Message your provider, and check and
respond to messages.
Avera has a large team dedicated to this project with representatives from all regions. They are working on every
angle to launch this project successfully. This committee knows that there will be challenges, and they are asking for
your patience on this project. There will be a lot of questions, and more information will be forthcoming!
* ANNUAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS FAIR
The annual Chamber of Commerce Health and Wellness Fair is scheduled for Saturday, February 1, from
8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Mitchell Christian School. Avera Medical Group Surgery will host a booth on breast health,
and Avera Medical Group Optometry is teaming up with the Palace City Lions Club to share information on vision
screening and diabetic retinal photography. There will also be booths hosted by Avera Medical Group Pediatrics on
children’s food portions, Avera Urgent Care on basic first aid, Sleep Lab on sleep studies, Cancer Center on cancer
prevention, Nutrition and Education Services on diabetes awareness, Wellness Center on BMI and body fat analysis,
and the Lab will be offering a lipid profile screening.
In addition, Jessica Claussen, MD, Avera Medical Group Ophthalmology, will present on “Your Eyes are
the Windows to Your Health” and Christopher Hart, DDS, will present on “Healthy Smiles for a Lifetime.” Plan to
attend – admission is free.
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* AVERA PLANNING
The Avera Regional Presidents and CEOs, David Flicek; Tad Jacobs, DO; and Fred Slunecka, met late last year in a
planning session to outline Avera’s positioning for future operations. The group concentrated their discussions on
six considerations:
 Leveraging assets for the future
 Managing issues of human resources
 Using data going forward
 Applying technology and research
 Promoting the mission in the future
 Delivering on a brand promise
On December 11, the Administrative Councils of the six regions met in De Smet using the same six categories and
some additional planning exercises. Both groups followed an Avera format of developing strategies in each of the
six categories, and then participating in an exercise where they could determine which strategies deserved the
greatest amount of attention. Although these planning meetings, which focused on standardization and
consolidation, do not replace a formal strategic plan, the outcomes and vision provide additional emphasis and input
to the strategic plan process. Another outcome of these meetings was the decision to explore an organizational
structure which will move Avera forward with appropriate job descriptions, communication, and discussion to create
centralization of appropriate functions.
* ’ROUND AVERA QUEEN OF PEACE
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Pat Reiner, Director of Infection Prevention/Associate Health, reports that the Reportable Disease Reports,
formerly done at the Avera Queen of Peace Laboratory, are now automatically sent to the South Dakota
Department of Health (SDDOH). In addition, Pat is working with the Avera St. Benedict Infection Prevention
staff regarding this new automated process of reporting lab directly to SDDOH.

Kay Thomas, Clinic Manager, Avera Medical Group Optometry, and staff, along with the Palace City Lions
Club, has prepared 888 pairs of glasses to send to a VOSH project. Kay is a member of the group that will leave
February 1 for a mission trip to Gosmas Placio, Mexico.

Avera Medical Group Optometry will be participating in the Health Fair on Saturday, February 1, with glaucoma
pressure checks and spot screening, partnering with the Palace City Lions Club.
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Sam Laufmann, Wellness Coordinator, reports that even though the holidays and cold caused the attendance to
be a little lower than normal at the Wellness Center, membership has hit a new high with 419!
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Congratulations to Dr. April Willman and her husband Dave on the birth of a baby boy, Jason Zayne, on
December 30. Dr. April is taking family medical leave starting in January. Dr. Katherine McGraw will be filling
in for Dr. Willman at Avera Medical Group Pediatrics during most of Dr. Willman’s absence.
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April Willman, MD; Heidi Gehrke, CNP; and Teresa Gebel, RN, attended the 13 th Annual Avera Children’s
Pediatric Symposium on November 22.
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Congratulations to April Willman, MD, Avera Medical Group Pediatrics, who recently passed her Boards and is
now a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and will now use the initials FAAP after her name.
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Over the holidays Avera Medical Group Pediatrics staff put up a Christmas tree with mittens and caps and
encouraged patients in need to help themselves. In addition, one of the associates has a chronically ill newborn,
and the staff took up a collection so that the couple could go out and spend some quality time together, and also
offered babysitting services to the couple.
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The Cardiopulmonary Services Department sponsored two families in Hanson County for Christmas; the
department also donated four turkeys to the Mitchell Area Food Pantry and made a cash donation to Pathway
clients.
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Kristi Riggs, Director of Medical/ICU/Swing Bed, reports that MedSafe continues to go well in all of her areas.
Scanning rates are excellent with reports showing a 98% compliancy rate.
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Chris Lippert, Director of OR/SameDay/ED, reports that the washer for SPD has been installed and is fully
functional.
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Pat Reiner, Director of Infection Prevention/Associate Health, reports that the TheraDoc Infection Control
Software has been installed which eliminates Safety Surveillor effective December 31. In addition, Pat has been
working with Avera St. Benedict and Platte Health Center Avera Infection Prevention staff regarding the new
automated process of reporting lab directly to the South Dakota Department of Health.
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* * * HR HiLites * * *
QUALIFYING EVENTS
Although you must enroll in insurance benefits during the first 30 days of benefits eligibility, you can change your
coverage during the year if you have a qualifying event. The changes you may make depend on the type of qualifying
event that occurs. A qualifying event can be:
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Marriage, divorce, legal separation
Birth of a child, adoption, placement for adoption
Loss of other coverage
New eligibility for other coverage
If you experience a qualifying event, you must notify the Human Resources Department within 30 days following the
event.
Dental Insurance Coverage: If you experience a qualifying event that causes you to lose coverage, you can enroll in
the plan the first of the month following your loss of coverage. You can also change from a family plan to a single
plan. However, you cannot cancel a single dental plan until open enrollment, with an effective date of January 1.
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