•Ine October, 1994

St. Joe's welcomesa new chaplain

By now we hope everyone has hadthe opportunity to welcome Father

ustin Flannegan, our new hospitalchaplain.

Father joined us this past summerand is available to minister to the spiri-tual needs of our patients and staff. Welook forward to a long and happy rela-tionship.

Welcome to the Medical Centerfam-ily, Father.

InsideDonna Thomas on food,winter ailments PAGE 2

Teen-age volunteers helpoufat St. Joe's

PAGE 3

Predict the firstsnow and eat outon us! PAGE 4

AFTER THE TOURNEY: Winners in the annual Hazleton-Saint Joseph Medical Golf Tournament at Edgewood-in-the-Pines pose with tourney officials after the July 28 event. From left: Bernard C. Rudegeair, CEO; Debbie Kaschak,committee member; winners Frank Stancato Ir., Tom Evanko, Dan Matriccino and Tony Bonomo; committee membersMary Malone and Jim Fisher and Dr. John Amentler, chairman. The tournament attracted 115golfers.

From the presidentOn Aug. 6, 7 and 8 the

Standard-Speaker and theTimes Leader carried articlesregarding the ongoing dis-cussion of Hazleton-SaintJoseph Medical Center andHazleton General Hospital.Two Times Leader reportsreviewed confidential draftdocuments that have been used duringthe informal discussions with KPMGPeat Marwick, the facilitator.

At the July board meeting of eachhospital, the boards did vote to enterinto a Letter of Intent. This beginsPhase Two of the discussion processwhich I have updated you on at em-ployee quarterly meetings. The articlein the Times Leader was based on draftdocuments which were leaked unoffi-cially. No final decisions have beenmade.

The respective boards are commit-ted to the Hazleton community. Thediscussions have been based on en-

Bernard C. RudegeairPresident and CEO

hancing healthcare ser-vices in the community.The information regard-ing possible reductionsand cutbacks was inac-curate.

The discussions withHazleton General Hos-pital have been ajourney

which started in July of 1993. Wehave continued, as the healthcaremarket around us has rapidly changed,with the goal to improve healthcarefor our community.

The coming months will continueto challenge the healthcare industry

.on national, state and local levels. Iwill continue to update you on theseevents as they progress.

Sincerely,

PAGE 2 --.------ . Life Line

Thoughts on food, pinkeye and morepressants. Young female athletes areparticularly susceptible.

Strengthening pelvic muscles withKegel exercises can help; also avoiding

caffeine, alcohol, acidic fruit juices, ar-tificial sweeteners, spicy dishes andchocolate, all of which can irritate thebladder.

By Donna M. Thomas, R.N.Employee Health Nurse

Can you believe it's fall already?Where did summer go? To those of youwho were fortunate enough to vacation- hope it was fun and relaxing. To thoseof us who didn't: maybe next year.

Let's start out with one of our favor-ite subjects - food, Americans are defi-nitely hooked on pizza. The nationalconsumption of mozzarella hasdoubled in the last 12 years.

Did you know that a me-dium, regular crust pizzawithout all the extras is equalto 9 grams of fat and 250calories a slice. Eat threeslices like most of us do andwe have all the fat we need forone day.

There is some hope - theregular crust pizza at LittleCaesar's and Domino's islower in fat and you can orderhalf the cheese.

It is becoming more evident thatcrunchy vegetables such as broccoli,cabbage, brussels sprouts and cauli-flower might be helpful against breastcancer. It is the component sulforaphanethat is in the broccoli medley that canstop or slow formation of the cancer.

It is never too soon to think aboutpreventing osteoporosis. Good adviceincludes:

• Get enough calcium. The NationalInstitute of Health recommends 1,000mg. a day for women 25 to 50. Dairyfoods or supplements are the best pro-viders.

• Exercise regularly. Walking,jog-ging, tennis and other weight-bearingactivities maintain bone strength. Seeyour gynecologist if periods are veryirregular; sometimes more estrogen isneeded.

It may appear that everyone is outthere walking, running or exercising,but young women are less physicallyactive. Between 1985 and 1990, sur-veys show the amount of time women

tf\ Timely Tips~ from Thomas

under 35 spent exercising - whetheraerobic or other - dropped 16 percent.

Pink eye or conjunctivitis, which isusually acontagious disease of children,is becoming more prevalent in an adultform. No one knows why, but it can bepotentially epidemic.

Unlike the child version, which isbacterial and passed by physical con-tact, the adult type is caused primarilyby an airborne virus that can be trans-mitted through coughs and sneezes. Thereis no cure, but until it clears, which isusually 1 to 4 weeks, cold compresses,eye drops or a prescription eye cream ortrip to the doctor are the best treatment.

To avoid spreading it, make sure noone else uses your towels, pillowcases oranything that comes in contact with youreyes.

It's not a problem women talk aboutopenly, but a large number suffer fromurine leaks. Weak pelvic muscles areusually the cause, but incontinence alsois a result of bladder infections, obesity,patients taking antihistamines or antide-

...

If a cold and flu aren't enough, mil-lions of women have to suffer from

cold sores. They are alsobrought on by stress, brightsunlight, chocolate and otherfoods.

In addition to avoidingall these, you can apply anSPF-15 lip balm on dayswhen you're out of doors.The prescription drugAcyclonis can relieve symp-toms and speed healing, butover-the counter creamsdon't help too much and

those with cortisone worsen cold sores.To avoid passing the infection, re-

frain from contact until the blisters arehealed in 5 to lO days.

Speaking of flu - don't forget flushots this week. Schedules are postedthroughout. Makeup shots can be givenup to Nov. 15. Call me at Extension449.

In closing, just wanted to sharean inspiring poem written by CaroleLarsen, a cancer victim:

What Cancer Cannot DoCancer is so limited ...It cannot cripple love,It cannot shatter hope,It cannot corrode faith,

It cannot eat away peace,It cannot destroy confidence,

It cannot kill friendships,It cannot shut out memories,

It cannot silence courage,It cannot invade the soul,

It cannot reduce eternal life.It cannot quench the Spirit,

It cannot lessen the power of theresurrection .

Life Line

Pennsylv~il Dutch C.nuntryunastci"Gountv

Teen-agevolunteershelp out atSt. Joe's

More than 100energetic young peoplefrom the Hazleton area joined the rankand file of our staff this summer as partof "Summer Volun-TEEN '94."

This year's program provided 30departments in the hospital with volun-teer staff for a period of eight weeks.New volunteer placements were theOutpatient Department, Audiology andCAT Scan.

The young volunteers contributed atotal of 3,800 hours of service.

This year's Volun- TEENS were hon-ored with an awards ceremony in thecafeteria. Certificates of appreciation,service pins and special presentationswere given to our teen "staff."

Six ofthe teens won three-year pins:Amanda Gettig, Operating Room volun-teen; Bethany Klein, Nursing volun-teen; Staci Klein, Pharmacy volun-teen;

PAGE 3

Hazleton-Saint Joseph Medical Center's Volun-TEENS '94.Michael John Matteo, ICU and Stock from the White House, letters from Presi-Room volun-teen; Melissa Moran, Nurs- dent Clinton and pins from the Points ofery and CAT Scan volun-teen, and Erica Light Foundation.Price, Housekeeping and Nursing volun- It was great to have such an over-teen. whelming response to this year's pro-

Twenty-eight of our teens also were gram and such a wonderful showing byawarded the President's Youth Services St. Joe's staff for the ceremony. A spe-Award. Recipients were selected on two cial "thank you" to all the departmentslevels, presidential and national. Recipi- and staff that made the program such aents on each level received certificates great success.

Free! $500 inSavings on aPennsylvania

Dutch Getaway!

Ask for your free Winter Getaways Brochurecontaining $500+ worth of discounts on lodging,

attractions, restaurants and shopping.

Available in Personnel,arf

PAGE 4 --------- Life Linel -

Predict 1st snow,win a free mealAre you ready for the winter snow?To ease the pain, we'll offer a gift

certificate to the Ovalon restaurant tothe employe who predicts the first inchof snow on the Medical Center's frontlawn after Nov. 1.

Measurements will be determined bythe Snow Committee.

Entries need to be in by Oct. 31, sowe won't count any October storms(Hope we don't get any!)

In the case of multiple correct en-tries, the winner will be chosen by adrawing.

So hurry, send your entry to Person-nel by Monday, Oct. 31.

Open LineWe received a recent Open Line ques-

tion regarding parking on Eighth Streetnext to the Business Office.

The suggestion was that those spotsbe designated for visitors and not usedby employees. Unfortunately, since thatis on-the-street parking, we cannot des-ignate spaces.

Employees are reminded, however,that we have two lots available: Eighthand Wyoming and Seventh and Churchand you are encouraged to use these lots.

Don't forget to place your commentsand questions in the Open Line boxlocated on the information desk in thelobby. Signed forms will receive a per-sonal reply; we will try to answer un-signed requests in Lifelines.

• Tanya Piehota, PT;• Dianne Wysocky, Regis-

tration Clerk;• Ann DeMauro, MLT, .

ASCP;• Anthony Urillo, PT;• Katherine Lo, Pharma-

cist;• Deborah Naradko, OT;• Tom Blackwood, R.N.-

3M/S;• Tracy Brennan, Nuclear TRAVELERS: If you think they look happy, you're right.

Med Tech; Sisters Generosa, Rita Marie and Celinia had a wonderful• Gerald Flowers, Build-· time on their visit to the Holy Land and we're happy to have

ing & Grounds Tech; them back.• Heidi Spangenburg,

Housekeeper;• Gina Romancheck, R.N.-

3M/S;• Mary Howay, PTA;• Margaret Hassler, OR

Tech;• DianaTarone,R.N.-3MI

S.

Congratulavons----------• Paula Triano and Dale

Fey, who were wed at MostPrecious Blood Church Sept.3. Paula is our EducationalCoordinator.

• TomandSandiKulick,

on the marriage of theirdaughter, Jennifer, to KeithLaylo at Holy RosaryChurch on Sept. 10. Tomworks in Security and Sandiis the secretary in Personnel.

Lif~Lin~-----,1111mllll¥III~-

President and CEOBERNARD C. RUDEGEAIR

Director of Public Relationsand Marketing

PATRICK J. WARD

Welcome to the followingemployees who havejoined theMedical Center fami!y:

• Shelly Lee, MedicalRecords Clerk;

• Margaret Yost, MedicalTranscriptionist-Radiology;

• John Regula, Director ofMIS;

• Dennis Ganc, Health andFitness Aide;

• Mary Ellen Smith, Per-Diem, R.N.- Industrial Medi-cine;

• Sara Bankes, PharmacyAide;

• Kim Braskie, Unit Clerk1-3 MIS;

• Carmen Marsit, HighSchool Aide-Medical Records;

• Cynthia Kardisco, Direc-tor of Patient Accounts;

• Kelly Fisher, MedicineReconcilliation Clerk;

• Maria Damiano,Audiologic Tech;

• David Broskoskie, Bio-MedTech;

• Dorothy Sweet, SatellitePhysician Practice Manager;

• Theresa Kringer, HomeHealth Aide;

• Michael Lesher, Phar-macy Aide;

• George O'Gorman, Per-Diem R.N.-ER;