“The Healthiest Employers Awards recognize the companies that make wellness a reality for their employees and bottom lines,” stated Bill Roy, WBJ editor, in a special section of the business paper published on Feb. 16.  “It begins with a commitment to influence employee behavior,” he added.

The honorees were selected based on the results of a 75-question online survey and proprietary scoring system created by Indianapolis-based Healthiest Employers LLC.  The survey covered six areas of workplace wellness:  cultural and leadership commitment; foundation components; strategic planning; communications and marketing; programming and intervention; and reporting and analysis.

NMC’s administration initiated the hospital’s worksite wellness program in early 2008 to improve the health of its employees and their dependents, with the targeted result of reduced health care cost for the self-insured hospital. The NMC Wellness Action Team was organized to implement the early stages of the program. An on-site wellness coach has been a part of the program since 2009.

Health risk assessments (HRA) were offered for individual employees. More than 300 employees voluntarily participated in the first assessment.  Participation is tracked and aggregate data from the annual assessments is used to develop an annual plan for each year and to gauge the success of the program. Employees are allowed to pursue wellness activities on company time during their scheduled work shifts.

The top three wellness elements at NMC in terms of participation are health risk assessments; the “Maintain, No Gain” holiday weight-loss challenge; and the Health and Wellness Fair.

Rewards for participation are used as incentives. Rewards may be as simple as a snack coupon for a healthy item in the hospital’s Sunflower Café or a coffee mug with the challenge logo, to a diet and fitness journal or cash.

In 2012 the Wellness Program implemented the use of an online tool for personalized wellness information for participants, and a means to track participation points throughout the year. Participation points may be redeemed for a health-plan premium rebate on the last paycheck of the year.

Members of the NMC Wellness Action Team include Malea Hartvickson, Troy Slabach, Tony Wahl, Barb Darcey, Jason Adams, Andrew Parsons, Beth Selzer, Mindy Parry, Scott Roberts, and Todd Tangeman.

Newton Medical Center is a comprehensive 103-bed hospital in Newton, Kan., offering full-service medical care in Harvey, Butler and northern Sedgwick counties. For more information about Newton Medical Center, please call 316-283-2700 or visit www.newtonmedicalcenter.com.

Physicians prefer the superior magnification and instrumentation dexterity, plus decreased surgical procedure fatigue. Patients experience significantly less blood loss, which reduces the need for blood products and the risks associated with them. And with better patient satisfaction, the da Vinci Surgical System has clearly proven its value to the Newton community.

Please join us for a birthday celebration commemorating our one-year anniversary with the da Vinci Surgical System. Cake and punch will be served.

Monday, February 20, 2012
2-4 p.m.
Newton Medical Center lobby

The following providers offer procedures through the da Vinci Surgical System:

ENT — Dr. Philip Harris
General surgery — Dr. Stephen Cranston
Gynecology — Dr. Kent R. Bradley, Dr. Brenda Harkins, Dr. Angela Holdeman, Dr. Surinder Kumar, Dr. Emily Webb
Urogynecology — Dr. Kevin Miller
Urology — Dr. William Cho, Dr. A.J. Farha

Bonnie E. Tandoc ’94/00 has sculpted her own, distinctive health care career, one that takes advantages of her interests and skills — and she’s loving every minute of it. “I have the best of all worlds,” says Tandoc, an advanced registered nurse practitioner at Via Christi Clinic in Newton, Kan. “There’s never a minute of being bored.”

To say the least, her calling is diverse. She works in a variety of areas, including surgery and ob-gyn, but she’s also a counselor, and up to 50 percent of her workload involves advising breast cancer patients. It’s a subject she can relate to; she is a breast cancer survivor, having undertaken successful treatment for it five years ago. Adding to her work enthusiasm, a patient whom Tandoc diagnosed with breast cancer implored her to “not forget” her. “I was so shocked by that,” Tandoc says. “They feel so frightened and lonely — that made it easy to slip into the business of counseling people.”

Tandoc’s efforts have not gone unnoticed, and this past fall she was cited for her work by the Wichita Business Journal as a 2011 “Health Care Hero” in the nursing category. Her academic background is decidedly unconventional. Tandoc, who can speak Chinese and had a nursing degree when she enrolled at WSU, earned a general studies bachelor’s degree and went on to obtain a master’s degree in counseling. She then earned a Ph.D. in psychology from Kennedy Western University. Licensed and board certified, Tandoc joined Wichita Clinic (now Via Christi) in 1980 and has worked there since.

Tandoc’s practice is unusual is another way — it’s rare for patients to have a quick 10-minute appointment. “Most of my appointments are for 30 minutes; and sometimes we squeeze in 45 minutes. These women have a lot of needs beyond a physical exam. They have a lot going on in their lives; a lot of stress and depression —and sometime they just need someone to talk to.”

In all, NMC gave more than $4.4 million in charity care to patients in the region. Care is discounted based on a sliding fee scale.

“Newton Medical Center is a not-for-profit hospital which exists to serve the health and needs of the community,” said Steve Kelley, CEO of Newton Medical Center. “This includes everyone, not just those who can pay for their care.”

In addition, NMC provided more than $330,000 in financial and in-kind contributions during FY 2011, and contributed $270,000 to community benefit programs, community building activities, health professions education and community health improvement services. Such activities include the Dinner with the Doctor program, which provides free health information on a variety of topics throughout the year; child preparedness classes; support for Health Ministries, which treats low-income patients; and many other important causes.

Newton Medical Center’s contributions would not be possible without the support of its physicians, Kelly says.

“When you see the hospital providing charity care, you can be certain that there is a physician involved,” he said. “And they participate not because they will get paid, but because it is the right thing to due. Many of our physicians and nurses volunteer not only to treat and care for patients but also to provide education and support for many entities in our community.”

In a down economy and with rising health care costs, Newton Medical Center recognizes the increase in need for charity care in the community, Kelly says: “We will continue to strive to contribute and meet the needs of the surrounding communities.”

Newton Medical Center is a comprehensive 103-bed hospital in Newton, Kan., offering full-service medical care in Harvey, Butler and northern Sedgwick counties. For more information about Newton Medical Center, please call 316-283-2700 or visit www.newtonmedicalcenter.com.

Both are highly contagious respiratory diseases. Measles is caused by a virus, while pertussis is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis.

Measles causes fever, runny nose, tiredness, cough and a blotchy rash all over the body. It is spread through the air by breathing, coughing or sneezing. It is so contagious that any person who is exposed to it and is not immune will probably get the disease. Measles can be spread to others from four days before to four days after the rash appears.

Pertussis is marked by a cough that lasts longer than two weeks and is also accompanied with at least one of the following symptoms: paroxysms of coughing, inspiratory “whoop,” and post-tussive vomiting without any other cause. The disease can also cause pneumonia, seizures, hypoxia and encephalopathy.

These viruses are relatively rare in the U.S. However, when there is an outbreak, it’s important to protect yourself.

RN Kelley Newsom, the infection control coordinator at NMC, offers these suggestions:

• Avoid contact with anyone who has respiratory systems.
• Cover your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing (preferably by using the bend of your elbow).
• Use tissues to contain respiratory secretions. Dispose of used tissues in a waste receptacle.
• Practice proper hand hygiene after contact with mucus and contaminated objects (wash using soap and water, alcohol-based hand sanitizer or an antiseptic hand wash).
• Stay home if you exhibit these symptoms: fever, runny nose, tiredness, cough and a blotchy rash on the body.

Also, talk to your doctor about whether your vaccines are up to date. Women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant should not receive some vaccines. Anyone considering the vaccine should talk with a doctor first.

The KDHE contributed to this report.

This year is no exception, with the association donating nearly 11,000 volunteer hours to NMC during fiscal year 2011. In addition, the group has pledged $18,000 in fiscal year 2012 to help fund equipment that will enhance patients’ experiences everywhere from the maternity wing to outpatient infusion services.

“We cannot overstate how grateful we are for the tireless efforts of our Community Association volunteers,” said Steve Kelly, Newton Medical Center CEO. “Each time they answer a phone or knit a baby cap, we are reminded of how invaluable they are to our mission of providing our patients with personal, high quality care.”

Volunteers help staff the front desk, the surgery center, the in-hospital waiting room, the gift shop and the maternity wing. In addition, they knitted more than 300 baby caps and stitched more than 60 stuffed animals for pediatric patients in 2011.

Through their fundraising efforts, NMC will be able to purchase a dry-bath thawing chamber for the laboratory; a portable ventilator; temporal-artery thermometers for new mothers and their babies; four new wheelchairs; and other patient amenity items.

The Community Association has partnered with the Medical Center in ministry to its patients for many years. President Linda Tompkins currently leads the group.

Newton Medical Center is a comprehensive 103-bed hospital in Newton, Kan., offering full-service medical care in Harvey, Butler and northern Sedgwick counties. For more information about Newton Medical Center, please call 316-283-2700 or visit www.newtonmedicalcenter.com.

Thanks for the card, Andrew. We’re so glad you got your Spidey powers back and are feeling better!

Dr. Goering joined Via Christi Clinic in 2000 and sees patients at Via Christi Clinic in Newton ( 720 Medical Center Drive , Newton , KS ). Appointments can be made by calling 316.284.5155.

Established in 1947, the multi-specialty group formerly known as Wichita Clinic was acquired by Via Christi Health in 2010. With more than 160 doctors practicing in more than 40 specialties, Via Christi Clinic (viachristiclinic.com) is one of the state’s largest outpatient multi-specialty group practices and is accredited by the Accreditation Association of Ambulatory Health Care. The organization presently has 14 locations in Kansas and the Wichita metropolitan area.  More than a half million patient visits were made to Via Christi Clinic in 2011. Via Christi Clinic currently operates in Sedgwick, Harvey and Butler counties.

Two seconds — that’s how often someone in this country needs blood. Most of us will need blood or know someone who will need blood in our lifetime. Right now, your donation may make a difference to someone in need. All blood types are welcome.

The blood drive will take place Monday, Feb. 27, 10:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m. at the Medical Plaza of Park City, 61st St. North and Hydraulic Ave.

By appointment only — please call the Medical Plaza of Park City at 316-440-4466 to schedule your donation. Donors must be at least 16 years of age with parental consent, a minimum of 110 pounds and feeling well the day of the donation.

Visit redcrossblood.org to learn more about the donation process and what to expect if you are a first-time blood donor.

Dominik Lane Ray was born at 1:47 pm on Jan. 1 to proud parents Kimberly Anderson and Michael Ray. The family received a gift basket from NMC and local businesses.

Dominik’s swag included baby clothes, receiving blankets, a handmade quilt, fresh flowers, photography services and Newton Bucks for use at participating stores, among other goods.

Congratulations to Dominik and his family!