Dome: A publication for the Johns Hopkins Medicine family

A publication for the Johns Hopkins Medicine Family

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Volume 60
Number 8
October 2009

Skyrocketing Survey
The Pediatric ED sets an example for boosting employee engagement.

They instituted a professional-practice model and put a purple-alert policy in place to relieve congestion. They started an orientation program for new nursing graduates to reduce the vacancy rate and implemented a computer charting system to help with work flow. Still, the Pediatric Emergency Department was stuck.

"Looking back on all the changes we’d made, I was disappointed when I got the [Gallup] scores in 2007," says Julie Welch, nurse manager of the Pediatric ED. "Employee engagement was pretty low."

To be exact, their grand mean score was 3.32, lower than the overall Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System score. After getting this year’s results, however, they celebrated with dinner and sparkling cider. Their score had shot up to 4.23.

FULL STORY

BRIEFCASE

WHAT'S nEWS

Flu Frenzy
Experts at the Centers for Disease Control are unequivocal about the best way to foil seasonal flu: Get vaccinated every fall. Considering that patient safety is an institutional priority, protecting yourself and others against influenza is a must. Flu shots and FluMist are now available at the hospital’s Broadway corridor—free of charge—to all staff, students and volunteers who work at The John Hopkins Hospital and University. Hours are Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Special hours on Oct. 1 and 15 are 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Oct. 4 and 10: 6 to 10 a.m. Note that this vaccination campaign concerns the seasonal flu and is NOT about the H1N1 flu vaccination. Details will follow when the H1N1 vaccine becomes available. Anyone with direct patient contact must receive the influenza vaccine or complete the online influenza questionnaire form (hopkinsmedicine.org) if they decide not to get the vaccine. Employees who have not received the influenza vaccine will be required to wear a mask within three feet of a patient. Vaccinated staff will receive a yellow ID badge clip to show that they have received the vaccination. Info: Debbie Dooley at ddooley3@jhmi.edu.

FULL STORY

Dome is an award-winning monthly tabloid for employees, patients, visitors and friends of Johns Hopkins Medicine.

HEADLINERS

Above and Beyond
Check out this year’s Employee Recognition awardees.

Wellness for Women
Fifteen years strong, A Woman’s Journey offers a cornucopia of topics to encourage healthier living.

Pumped up for Patients
The cardiac assist device team is on call 24/7 for 30-plus patients at a time.

Wilmer Wonders
More often than not, ophthalmology chiefs across the globe cut their teeth at Hopkins.

Shercese's Story
The handwritten medical chart is going digital on the East Baltimore campus.

Depth of Field
Five years strong, a workforce development program gives qualified employees a shot at upgrading their jobs.

Traveling Abroad?
Five years strong, a workforce development program gives qualified employees a shot at upgrading their jobs.

PICTURE THIS | PICTURE THAT

Kinetic Art
After nearly two decades, the 200 internal security officers patrolling The Johns Hopkins Hospital and 60 officers at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center are sporting a new look.