The strength of our wings is rooted in the hearts of our people.
In 2010, each month we will be featuring the many "wings" that represent the Epworth Village team.
Epworth employs nearly 200 talented people who come with an array of precious talents to share. All of our employees have unique “wings” that combine together to help children and families spread their own wings and fly into brighter lives.
We hope you enjoy meeting some of our precious “wings” . . .
January Marcia Schlegelmilch introduces us to the Healthcare and Admissions Department.
Health Care ABCs
Epworth Village Department relies on letter ‘C’
By Marcia Schlegelmilch
The Health Care Department at Epworth Village relies heavily on the alphabet; specifically third on the well known list, the letter ‘C.’ That’s because ‘C’ is for caring, compassion and communication; three things the department demonstrates daily as it goes about the business of meeting the health care needs of clients and staff.
Lead Nurse Laura Miller RN came to Epworth Village with an extensive background in psychiatric nursing. Experience garnered at the Hastings Regional Center and Blue Valley Behavioral Health led to a part-time position at Epworth before coming aboard full-time three years ago. Miller, who is small in stature, has a mighty big spirit. She stresses the importance of communication as she outlines the make-up of her department.
“Deb Spencer (also an RN with a background in psychiatric nursing) and I have split up responsibility for the (six) cottages. We are on call during the week and rotate a week at a time responding to medical calls. We respond to all emergency/safety intervention calls too. On the weekend Kristi Weber joins the rotation. We also have a contract nurse,” Miller explains.
Having Weber, who is a nurse practitioner, on board is a real positive for the Health Care Department as she is able to review all labs and adjust medications. During an emergency/safety intervention call nurses are charged with monitoring client hydration and documenting the entire process. They have only a one-hour window in which to respond after receiving notice an intervention is underway.
Miller points out that the Health Care Department here at Epworth Village is multi-faceted. Of late, staff has been busy dispensing H1N1 and yearly flu vaccine. “We are also responsible for getting medication refills to the cottages. We track client and staff injuries and illness. If we have diabetic kiddoes we track their supplies. We notify the kitchen if clients have special dietary needs. We check lung capacities, take care of blood draws to monitor the effects of meds, we take heights and weights every month, communicate with parents and cottage staff, order all of the medications for the day treatment kids … some days it seems like we are just running from one place to the next.”
Joining RNs Miller and Spencer in the smooth running department are Health Care Assistants Staci Moorman and Wanda Doerr. “Staci schedules most all of the doctor and dental appointments and the eye exams. She transports clients to the appointments and makes sure they get to specialty appointments as well. She puts first aid kits together and works with Dr. Hotovy when he is here on Thursdays. We couldn’t get by without her,” Miller states.
“I love what I do. The paperwork is a lot at times, but I love working with the kiddos.”
Miller says Doerr is another important member of the Health Care Department. Doerr’s responsibilities include tracking vaccinations; along with medication aide certification for staff. Doerr also scans files, assists with heights and weights, immunization tracking of new clients and medical records in general along with a host of other duties.
“Employee physicals, infection control; along with required reports and tracking, administration of Hepatitis B shots for staff, medical administration records, med sheets for the units, ordering medications, teaching hygiene … We definitely don’t get bored,” Miller says, pausing for a minute to answer an incoming call.
“I love what I do. The paperwork is a lot at times, but I love working with the kiddos,” a smiling Miller comments sincerely.
Miller is passionate about her profession and says it is because of kids like 15 year old David (not his real name) who came to Epworth Village with uncontrolled diabetes.
“Through teaching (and monitoring) his diabetes stabilized. And when it did he didn’t know what a difference having his diabetes in control would make. He (David) said he would be sure and keep up the changes and stay with it when he went home. He didn’t know he could feel decent … it was exciting to see,” Miller tells.
Admissions Coordinator Brenda Sterns, along with Program Secretary Marla Chrisman work closely with Health Care. Sterns says, “I take referral phone calls, give families information about our procedure to admit and help them decide if we can help.”
Sterns also determines placement and works with Magellan care managers to obtain authorization for client stays. Sterns takes part in weekly reviews of client placement and need. Sterns also conducts tours, showing new clients and families the lay of the land. One of Sterns’ frustrations occurs when “we can’t find a way to help. We go above and beyond here to get kids help.”
One of Sterns’ frustrations occurs when “we can’t find a way to help. We go above and beyond here to get kids help.”
In order to accomplish this Sterns depends on lots of people. People like Doerr, Moorman and Chrisman. It is Chrisman who runs Dr. Howard’s weekly mental health clinic, types up client progress notes, takes notes at IDT’s for Sterns to use during reviews, serves as secretary for CSC meetings and keeps track of Vice President of Programming Kristi Weber’s schedule.
Sterns says this about Chrisman, Moorman, Doerr and the nurses, “We look out for each other.”
That is precisely what makes Health Care such a close-knit team. A tapestry hangs in the RN office, it reads, “With Gentle Hands and Warm Hearts.” It is from this office that gentle hands and warm hearts dispense health care through compassionate communication with clients, families and staff.
The Epworth Village Health Care Department is located on the second floor of the Central Administration Building on main campus. Staff also works out of a dedicated space at Epworth Village Learning Center.