InTouchFrom the desk of Bill Sexton, Chief Executive Officer

Crossing Rivers Health is joining hospitals and health systems across the nation as we redesign health care and reshape work roles to transform care delivery models to improve care, reduce cost, and increase access to care. We are growing services in the Center for Specialty Care. Physicians and providers are joining our team to provide expert care in allergy, asthma and immunology; cardiology; otolaryngology; gynecology; endocrinology and

pelvic floor. The Center for Behavioral Health, located in the former C.A.R.E. office, has also welcomed new providers to offer expanded services for adults, children and adolescents with mental or behavioral health concerns.

Recent national and world events remind us that we need to be prepared. We conduct fire drills and other preparedness exercises so we are prepared to handle disasters or other emergencies. A violent intruder incident also presents unique challenges in a healthcare facility- what decisions need to be made regarding patients, visitors, or a medical procedure in progress? ALICE Training is scheduled on February 12th. ALICE is an acronym: A, Alert; L, Lockdown; I, Inform; C, Counter; and E, Evacuate. The training will provide employees with a proactive response approach in a violent situation.

Recently, the Des Moines Register made several inaccurate contentions about Critical Access Hospitals (CAH). In response, the Wisconsin Hospital Association provided additional content to better inform readers. • CAH designation is an alternative to Medicare’s prospective payment system.• CAHs account for less than 5% of the Medicare program costs. CAHs are subject to the mandatory sequester cuts, putting their Medicare reimbursement below the cost of providing care.• CAH designation qualifications- All CAHs receive state and/or federal Medicare approval to be designated as CAHs. • The article asserts that CAHS are not hospitals but, instead, some type of rural urgent care center. CAHs are hospitals that provide a full spectrum of care as needed by their communities governed by multiple state and/or federal hospital laws and regulations.• CheckPoint data show Wisconsin’s CAHs are exceeding the nation averages on four replacement mortality rates: - Joint replacement readmissions– 77% are better than the national average - Joint replacement complications– 70% are better than the national average - Hip replacement mortality– 100% are better than the national average - Overall patient satisfaction– 69% are better than the national average - Would recommend the hospital– 69% are better than the national average - CAH program has been extremely important to rural health care in Wisconsin and nationally, providing stability to rural hospitals serving over 60 million rural residents all across the country.

Our request to have direct access to Highway 35/18 has taken a step forward. With the help of our Partners to do traffic counts, we submitted a proposal to petition the FAA (Federal Aviation Association) to the City of Prairie du Chien. The Municipal Airport Commission has approved the proposal, and now the proposal will be presented to the Prairie du Chien City Council at their meeting on February 2nd. We will keep you informed.

It is a privilege to provide care to our families, friends and neighbors. We are very proud and appreciative to have you as a member of our team.

Bill SextonChief Excecutive Officer

RecipeCornerFrom Shelby Moose, Registered Dietitian Paper Bag Popcorn:One: Measure 1/4 cup popcorn kernels into a brown paper lunch bag.Two: Fold just the very top of the bag over 2 times so the ker-nels don’t spill out.Three: Microwave until there are more than 3 seconds between popping sounds – Around 2 minutes.Four: Carefully remove bag and flavor however you’d like. Add seasonings and shake in paper bag. Pour into bowl and enjoy!Seasoning idea: Toss olive oil, turmeric, dried dill, and small amount of sea salt in brown bag with popped popcorn, shaking well to mix ingredients.

February 2016Quarterly Newsletter of Partners of Crossing Rivers Health

Partners Annual Meeting

Tuesday, February 23, 2016The Barn Restaurant

Social 6 p.m. • Dinner 6:30 p.m.Tammy Thompson, Cardiac Rehab Manager, will be our speaker and will discuss Women's Heart Health and related issues.

The menu features: Beef Tips with Mashed Potatoes; Glazed Carrots; Salad; Dessert and Coffee.

Cost of the meal is $15. Please RSVP by Feb. 18th by calling Shawna Atterbury at 357-2621 or Alice Kirschbaum at 326-2570. We are looking forward to seeing you there.

We had very nice weather at the very first Season of Lights Tree Lighting thtat was held at our new location on Friday, December 4, 2015. The ceremony began with Dawn Arnold, President of Partners, welcoming everyone and sharing the history of the program. Lance Wetter of the United Methodist Church of Mt. Hope and father of Malachi Donovan Wetter, one of this year’s tree-top star honorees, gave an inspirational message. A message was also given by Charlie Connell, Hospital Board President. Family members of tree-top star honorees, Floyd “Frog” Wilder and Malachi Donovan Wetter shared some wonderful memories of their loved ones, and a moment of silence honored their memory.

The Prairie du Chien High School Vocal Jazz Ensemble 'Out To Lunch' beautifully performed a couple of carols, which included leading everyone in 'Silent Night' as the tree was lit. Afterwards, we gathered in the George Family Education Center for delicious refreshments provided by our Nutrition Services.

We’d like to thank everyone who contributed to Season of Lights and Walk of Stars, and give a very special thank you to those in Administration, Communications, Maintenance, Environmental Services and Nutrition Services for their efforts to help make the lighting ceremony a very meaningful event.

Winter is here! I hope you are enjoying all winter activities– then coming home to a nice fire, where you can warm up again. I enjoy cross-country skiing with my husband. We both like being outside with friends and family; however, the best part is coming home to get warm in front of the fire to get the blood flowing again.

I have decided I would like to tell you a little bit about why I like being a Partner.

I love the new people you meet and volunteering whenever the hospital needs me. I will have to say, I have not been able to volunteer as much as I would like because of babysitting my twin grandchildren.When you greet people at the hospital, or just say hello to someone, there is always a smile on their face. That alone is something I look forward to.

I love the fact that Partners, with all their fundraising, can purchase items for different departments that were not in their budget. The thank you letters we receive put a smile on my face.

We award four $1,000 scholarships a year. I have had the privilege of delivering a few of the scholarships, the smiles on the graduates' faces is something you will never forget.

Being a Partner is very special to me. Life is about being happy, and I am very happy helping other people, and putting smiles on their faces.

Our Annual Meeting will be at The Barn Restaurant on Tuesday the 23rd of February with social at 6:00 pm and dinner at 6:30 pm. Hope to see you all there.

President Dawn ArnoldVice President Jane O’BrienSecretary Deanie KieserTreasurer Alice Kirschbaum

Volunteer Services Coordinator Shawna AtterburyDelores BonneyDonnette CarlsonIva MulhernMattie RademacherRuth Skelly

Board of Directors

Shawna AtterburyVolunteer Services Coordinator

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Dawn Arnold,President

We would like to thank all who contributed to the Seasons of Lights and Walk of Stars Fundraiser 3

HonoreesDonna Anderson Joe Hartley Marcella Mullarkey Darlene Wolfgram (2)Robert L. Balk Ivan Heisz Marie Mullarkey George WolfgramJenny Becwar Doc Henderson Walt Mumm Herman WolfgramDarrel Beneker Betty Howe Michaela Joy O’Brien Mabel WolfgramGary Beneker Eliese Howe Tammy PlondkeGlen Beneker Jack Howe Tres PowersRobert Beneker Lyman Howe Mildred PrewShirley Beneker Arlene Hubka Pete Prew

Terri Beneker Dean Jacobs Dr. Roger RademacherJim Bonney Janice Jacobs Milton ReadyNan Bonney Viola Jones Dorothy RolphNeil Bonney Michelyn Kirby-Lynch Sophie RoseRod Bonney Heidi Kirschbaum Dr. Sara RybarczykDan Bresnahan Frances Kneeland Anita ScherbringAmy Brunner Lawrence Kneeland John F. ScherbringJackson Brunner Lora Knott Vicki SchutteMatt Brunner Lela Koth Clinton ShedivyPeyton Brunner Raymond Koth

Elaine Shedivy (2)Hattie Bunders Anna Kruger Eli Shedivy (2) Eleanor Connell Jovie Kruger Harry Shedivy (2)Richard Connell Katy Kruger Lance ShedivyDoris Davies Livi Kruger Katie SimmonsRichard Davies Neil Kruger Walt SkaifeKay Day Lester Krugger Chuck StuckeySasha Dull Ruth Krugger Nancy StuckeyJerry Elliot Carrie LaPointe (2) Dave ToddMary Elliot Fred LaPointe (2) Janet TollefsonMary Lou Elliot

Leo LaPointe (2) John TrautschMike Elliot Alice Larson Elijah VaughnKent Foley Mary Linderbaum Emily VaughnTom Foley Dorothy Marx Carolyn WelshLawrence Fox Ronnie Marx Jerry WelshNellie Fox Elaine Mast Malachi Donovan WetterFreida Farrell Fred Mast Faye WiethornCheri Fraser Kay Mast Floyd “Frog” WilderPenny Grassel Junior A. Mikkelson Gerry WillerIrma Gunsten Leo Mullarkey Jack Winkers

Gale Beneker Kelly MundtGlen Beneker Oliver OswaldDebra Dwornik Dr. Roger Rademacher

Pat Foley Becky RooneyDustin Fortner Gary ScottBarbara Govier Tubbs John Steger

Donald Heiring Jonathan StegerKatie Henderson Hart VaughnBernice Huygens Margaret WachterJohn Huygens Matthew “Skip” WebbDarrel Koth Tom White

Keith Kozelka Jack WinkersPaul Kueter Sue MaraLindsey McMillanDennis MorovitsBill MulhernNadeen Mulhern

Season of Lights and Walk of StarsDuring the 2015 holiday season the tree-top stars shined in memory of

Floyd ‘Frog’ Wilder and Malachi Donovan Wetter

Star Honorees

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Abby Burns, RN in Nursing Services, and Jane O’Brien, Vice President of Partners, are pictured with the kindle purchased by Partners for the Emergency Room. The Kindle will help make children more at ease during a procedure or exam.

In December, Partners donated items in gift bags for the residents of Assisted Living and patients

who were in the hospital on Christmas Day. Thank you Alice Kirschbaum and Jan Wiesensale for putting the gift bags together! Pictured is Leona Carl

receiving a gift bag from Santa, played by Mike Ulrich.

A Light For All Seasons continues to honor loved ones in the new hospital. Have you noticed A Light For All Seasons honorees’ presentation as you enter Crossing Rivers Health on the main entrance TV monitor?

The fundraiser began in 2001, and is a special way of honoring a loved one, as a memorial, a get-well wish, a birthday or family anniversary, or simply a way to say thank you. In addition to having your loved featured in the main lobby of the hospital, each honoree is also remembered in the Courier Press and on WPRE and KCTN. For a minimum donation of $25 “A Light for All Seasons” can shine for someone you want to recognize.

If you would like to honor your loved one, please contact Iva Mulhern, Project Coordinator at (608) 326-9062 or ijmulhern@mchsi.com. You may also contact Shawna Atterbury, Volunteer Services Coordinator at (608) 357-2621 or shawna.atterbury@crossingrivers.org. Or you may send or drop off your donation and a 5x7 picture of your loved one to: Crossing Rivers Health Attn: Shawna Atterbury, Volunteer Services Coordinator 37868 US Hwy 18, Prairie du Chien, WI 53821

We would also like to recognize Lorna Davis, who has been coordinating the project since the very beginning. After 15 years of doing a wonderful job, she has decided to take a break. We would like to thank her so very much for all her years of hard work and dedication.

Your donation will help Partners continue their endeavors of funding numerous hospital projects.Thank you for supporting Partners Lights Program!

Jerry's Gift ShoppeShawna Atterbury

I am pleased to say that the first Christmas Season in Jerry’s Gift Shoppe went very well. The volunteers and I were kept busy keeping the shelves stocked, and a few items sold out before we were able to get them to the shelves! Now we are on our way to the next holiday…Valentine’s Day. If you’re looking for a unique gift for that someone special, Jerry’s Gift Shoppe has a fantastic selection. As always, we have items for men, women, children, and babies and quite frequently, have new items including Crossing Rivers Health performance sweatshirts and jackets in a variety of men’s and women’s sizes. Be sure to check out and like our Partners of Crossing Rivers Health Facebook page for upcoming events and new items arriving in Jerry’s Gift Shoppe.

Furthermore. if you are interested in volunteering as a greeter at the North Entrance Desk or as a clerk in the gift shop, please contact me for more information at (608) 357-2621 or at shawna.atterbury@crossingrivers.org.

We would love to get you involved in our organization!

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Partners of Crossing Rivers Health Volunteer Form

Name:

Address:

Email:

Phone:

Please check areas of interest:lGift Shop l Season of Lights lScholarships l Angel PocketslBaby’s 1st Books l Blood DriveslChristmas Social l Fundraising lBook Fairs lGeranium SaleslPublic Policy EducationlCommunity Health EducationlNorth Entrance Volunteer DesklCrossing Rivers Health Assisted LivingPlease check level of interest:lActive Volunteer Çomplete volunteer orientation, meet the medical requirements, provide 24 hours of documented volunteer service in a calendar year, attend required amount of in-services

lCommunity Member Attend one-time or intermittent basis to provide a program or services (e.g. music, church services, pet therapy, book fair) but not interact daily with patients, residents, or tenants, not required to have specific training or screenings.

lContributing Member Support our organization with a monetary gift of a minimum $10 Partners dues.

Volunteer Liaison37868 US Hwy 18 l Prairie du Chien, WI 53821

608.357.2621

Monday, March 7 — 9 am to 5 pmTuesday, March 8 — 7 am to 3 pm

Crossing Rivers Health George Family Education Center

Partners are again hosting this two-day event offering a diverse selection of books, cards, inspirational items, educational books, cookbooks, music, and gift items at an incredible value.

The Book and Gift Fair offers the perfect opportunity to check out some bargains and support Partners of Crossing Rivers Health.Proceeds from the fundraiser will be used to support hospital projects and equipment purchases.

Check out the bargains at Partner'sBooks are Fun - Book Fair

Children’s Books, How-to-Books,

Gifts, Cards & more!

Mail or drop off to:

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Community Health EducationWhen getting ready to prepare my newsletter article I realized that, because the last newsletter was in November, I focused on COPD Awareness Month. I want to backtrack and share some

information from the October Western District Meeting hosted by Partners of Moundview Memorial Hospital and clinics in Friendship, WI.

I presented my District CHE oral report and distributed packets of local monthly reports for 13 local CHE’s. Of course the program was an overview of lung disease, pulmonary function tests, and treatments. Speakers were Linda Charles, RN, BSN, MSN, GNP, and Corrinne Kniprath, RT. They provided information on the following:

Lung Disease: 2 types 1. Restrictive: Unable to get air in Interstitial lung disease, Sarcoidosis

2. Obstructive: Unable to get air out COPD (chronic bronchitis and/or emphysema), Asthma, Cystic fibrosis, Bronchiolitis

How do we test and diagnose? PFT: Pulmonary Function Test, CT Scans, & X-Rays

How do we treat? Restrictive: Steroids, oxygen, BIPAP Obstructive: Short & long acting inhalers & oxygen, Retainers: Drive/trigger to breathe, normal CO2 rises, we take a breath Retainers: O2 falls we take a breath Turning up O2: If you put on high flow of O2, and O2 doesn’t fall there is no drive/trigger to take breath. The presenters addressed questions as well and were knowledgeable.

At this time I am planning a Health Education project for the community. Hopefully, it will be held in April. The subject will be lung issues. More information will come later.

Learn More To Breathe Better

Ruth Skelly, Community Health Educator

Advocacy Day is set for March 30, 2016. The keynote speaker is Rick Pollack, President and CEO of the American Hospital Association (AHA). He’s been a member of AHA’s advocacy team for the past 33 years and will share his Washington DC insider’s view of federal issues in a presidential election year. Our bipartisan legislative leaders’ panel will round out the morning session followed by a luncheon keynote address from Gov. Scott Walker (invited). Then it’s off to the State Capitol for legislative meetings. WHA provides an issues briefing and schedules all meetings for you. I have attended in the past, and have really learned a lot. If you’re interested in attending please contact Shawna Atterbury, Volunteer Services Coordinator, at (608) 357-2621 or shawna.atterbury@crossingrivers.org by Wednesday, March 23, 2016.

Donnette Carlson, Public Policy Education

March 30, 2016

What volunteerism means to you

“I always enjoy my time volunteering in Jerry’s Gift

Shoppe. I have fun visiting with the staff and other shoppers.”

– Dode Bonney

“Being a volunteer keeps me active and connected to

the community. Volunteering at Crossing Rivers Health lets me choose my hours and enjoy the

variety of tasks.” – Jane O’Brien

“I feel fortunate in my life, so I like to spread the

wealth and volunteer.” – Donnette Carlson

“Volunteering is special to me because of all the lives we are able to touch. At

Crossing Rivers Health, we have the opportunity to give a smile to everyone we

meet and brighten their day. There are many opportunities to volunteer through Partners, no matter what your interests;

there is a place for you!” – Iva Mulhern

Corporate ComplianceNow that we are in the information age, privacy is becoming more and more of a concern. In order to protect privacy and curtail privacy infringements, the Federal Government enacted the Health Insurance Portability and

Accountability Act of 1996 or mostly known as HIPAA. HIPAA regulations cover more than privacy, but for our purposes the privacy issues are what matters.

HIPAA at its most basic concept says that the patient has a right to privacy and that we respect that right. The patient has the right to determine the amount of information to be given out, and to whom it is given, unless it is for patient care, billing, and quality assurance/improvement.

This includes talking about the patient to the patient’s family and friends, police, press, and anyone not directly responsible for patient care. Everyone is responsible for maintaining the patient’s privacy. This includes not interviewing the patient in front of bystanders, family and non-EMS personnel. The challenge is to treat the patient, with what looks like our hands tied behind our back; there are ways through this such, as asking permission from the patient to speak freely to avoid breaking federal laws.

Breaking a federal law is no small infraction. This violation can cost you personally $5K or more. In our small community, it is so easy for people to talk. If you discuss any of a patient’s information, you are violating HIPAA. If you are ever in doubt, I am here to guide you. We can work together to garner a better understanding of unique circumstances that come about when volunteering at a healthcare facility. We are in this together. and we are in it for our patients!

Taegan Stine, Corporate Compliance Officer

Win a $5.00 gift card to Jerry’s Gift ShoppeFor a chance to win drop off the completed crossword puzzle at Jerry’s Gift Shoppe or theConcierge Desk at the Main Entrance of Crossing Rivers Health or you may mail it to:Crossing Rivers HealthAttn: Shawna Atterbury, Volunteer Services Coordinator37868 US Hwy 18Prairie du Chien, WI 53821

Entries need to be submitted by March 31, 2016.

Name Phone#

Congratulationsto Laurie Fritz, Respiratory Therapy! She was the winner of a $5 gift card to Jerry's Gift Shoppe for participating in the Thanksgiving Word Scramble featured in the September issue of In Touch.

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Candy

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EclipseCrossword.com

37868 US Hwy18Prairie du Chien, WI 53821

Annual Meeting Reservations Due ..................February 18

Annual Meeting ....................................................February 23The Barn Restaurant

6:00 p.m. Social ...............6:30 p.m. Dinner

Partners Board Meeting .........................March 1, 7:30 a.m.

Spring Book and Gift Fair .................................. March 7 & 8

Partners Board Meeting ............................April 5, 7:30 a.m.

Geranium and Basket Sale ............................................... TBA

Partners Board Meeting ............................ May 3, 7:30 a.m.

Geranium and Basket Sale Pick Up ................................ TBA

Newsletter Committee• Ruth Skelly • Iva Mulhern

• Shawna Atterbury • Shelly Mikkelson

SAVE THE DATE

Crossing Rivers Health Foundation presents

LaSoirée 2016

S a t u r d a y , A p r i l 9 , 2 0 1 6The Dousman House, Prairie du Chien, WI

• Cocktails 5:00 pm • Dinner & Entertainment 6:30 pm

• Live Auction 8:00 pm • Music & Dancing 9:00 - midnight

crossingrivers.org/foundation • 608.357.2140