Network: December 2008
Members of the Team
Tobacco Free Environment Update
On November 20, 2008 – to coincide with the
American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout – the following Sentara facilities became tobacco free:
- Sentara CarePlex Hospital
- Sentara CarePlex West
- Sentara Port Warwick
- Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center
- Sentara Corporate offices
- Sentara’s Data and Recruitment Centers
- Sentara Home Care and Optima Health offices.
On January 1, 2009, the entire medical campus encompassing Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters (CHKD) and Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS), including all ancillary departments, will become tobacco free.
Sentara facilities that are already tobacco free:
- Sentara Leigh Hospital
- Sentara Obici Hospital
- Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital
- Sentara Bayside Hospital and Sentara Princess Anne campuses
Tobacco free means no smoking, chewing tobacco or snuff is permitted anywhere on the campuses, including in cars or in parking lots.
Sentara supports and celebrates every team member who quits tobacco and aids their efforts by offering various tobacco cessation program options to employees, their spouses and the community. Sentara Health and Preventive Services Tobacco Cessation Program Educator Alverine Mack, MS, RN, CTTS, a reformed smoker herself, reaches out with compassion to people like Optima Health member Josephine Thomas, who had smoked for most of her life. Mack’s help empowered Thomas to quit smoking, a choice she realizes has many benefits. “It has given me better health and added a few more years to my life,” she said.
Employees may learn more about Sentara-sponsored smoking cessation programs on
WaveNet (link will require employee login).
Watch Josephine Thomas’ video testimonial.
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| Sentara volunteers plant shrubs at the KidsZone community playground in Suffolk. |
United Way Day of Caring a Success
More than 200 Sentara employees spent the day painting, landscaping, cleaning, trash collecting, doing office work and more at 10 community agencies during the annual United Way Day of Caring 2008. The event was held September 12, 2008, on the Southside and Lower Peninsula and September 10, 2008, on the Upper Peninsula. Sentara’s systemwide United Way goal was to raise $875,000 to help the communities we serve. Thanks to all who donated to the campaign and who demonstrated Sentara’s active involvement in our community through Day of Caring.
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| Brandon Buck |
Sentara Integrity: Doing the Right Thing
All Sentara team members are required to complete Compliance and Ethics Training each year, now available on WaveNet (link will require employee login). According to Greg Burkhart, chief compliance and ethics officer for Sentara, “Compliance training is required because we want each employee to have a clear understanding of what is expected of them in the work environment. The training is designed as a resource for employees. Our business environment demands that we always act responsibly, with integrity and as a team so that we can ensure our patients and our community that Sentara team members have uncompromising values and can be relied upon to do the right thing.”
A good example of a Sentara employee who embodies Sentara’s integrity model is Brandon Buck, equipment associate at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. On three separate occasions this past summer, Brandon discovered vending machines around the hospital slightly ajar with the money inside in clear view and attainable. Each time he immediately notified security and stood by until the machines were secure. Thanks to Brandon and all Sentara employees who take pride in acting with integrity.
Sentara eCare Health Network® Update
During the fall the Sentara eCare Health Network® has been rolled out at Sentara Bayside Hospital and Sentara Princess Anne Health Campus (September 21) and Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital (October 26).
Steve Porter, administrator of Sentara Bayside Hospital and Sentara Princess Anne Health Campus, expressed his appreciation to Sentara Bayside and Princess Anne staff members and physicians for the professionalism, teamwork and spirit of cooperation that made their implementation such a success.
He noted, “This was a true team effort, and we’re proud to be one of only a few hospitals across the country that have attempted implementation including Computer Physician Order Management (CPOM) and succeeded in this endeavor. We realize our success is also due in part to the ongoing efforts of Sentara Information Technology staff and Sentara Leigh management and clinical teams, who paved the way for us by going live earlier this year. We appreciate the level of support they provided to us prior to and during our implementation.”
Upcoming Sentara Hospitals to Go Live with Sentara eCare Health Network®
- Sentara Norfolk General Hospital – March 28, 2009
- Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center – August 2009
- Sentara CarePlex Hospital / Sentara Port Warwick – October 2009
- Sentara Obici Hospital - 2010