Balanced Scorecards Updated to Better Reflect Clinic's Direction
Two years ago we announced our groundbreaking plan to become Carilion Clinic and enhance our focus on high-quality patient care, education and research. Since then, we've made considerable progress: The Board of Governors and department chairs are in place, we've broken ground for an outpatient clinic building, we've laid the groundwork for the foundation of a new medical school and much more.

The balanced scorecard continues to be a tool our organization uses to monitor and measure our progress. The scorecard for 2008 has been enhanced to better reflect our priorities and the core areas for improvement important to advancing the mission of Carilion Clinic.

We have specific goals and measures in each of seven focus areas to help track our success. These goals and measurements support our mission: to improve the health of the communities we serve. They also serve as a guide for how we allocate resources within the organization.

The seven focus areas are as follows:

• Access — Do we improve the quantity and timeliness of our patients' access to care?
• Quality/Patient Safety — Do patients receive quality care and are they safe while in our care?
• Patient Satisfaction — Do we implement changes to improve the level of satisfaction our patients have with the care they receive?
• Efficiency/Resource Management — Do we deliver the most effective care in the most efficient way?
• Practice Management — Do our practices operate as efficiently as they can and collect appropriately for services rendered?
• Integration/Group Practice — Do we design the care we deliver to increase teamwork, focus on the patient and work toward a true single group practice where every patient is part of the group, not just the individual physician?
• Education/Research — Do we continually improve the education we deliver to employees, residents and Jefferson College of Health Sciences students by developing a medical school jointly with Virginia Tech and increasing the research performed at Carilion Clinic?

Each of us has the ability to contribute to our scorecard goals. For example, many of you are learning to use Epic in preparation for the activation of the electronic medical record (EMR) at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital (CRMH) on July 26. The CRMH activation of the EMR is a key target in the Integration/Group Practice focus area. The eventual organization-wide use of a single EMR will allow us to function as a true single practice with clinicians throughout our organization sharing information and working as a team to provide high-quality, efficient patient care.

Under the Patient Satisfaction focus area, we track the percent of patient responding "excellent" when asked to rate the overall quality of care in the inpatient areas, the emergency department and in our physician offices. If you have any patient contact, you have the ability to positively affect our patients’ experiences in our facilities.

Posted 7/2/08

Employee Reimbursement Mileage Rate to Change July 1, 2008
The IRS has announced an increase in the standard mileage rate for the final six months of 2008. Citing "recent gasoline price increases," the IRS has increased the standard business mileage rate from 50.5 cents to 58.5 cents a mile for all business miles driven after July 1, 2008.

An Employee Expense Reimbursement Form with the new rate now is available on Intranet as well as a form for any mileage driven before July 1. To access the forms, choose Forms for the left-hand menu bar, then Employee Expense Reimbursement Form.

Also, don't forget that to help you save gas and money, we have partnered with RIDE Solutions, a pilot transportation program that provides carpool matching. In addition, RIDE Solutions can help connect commuting employees to transit routes and provides information on walking, biking and other alternative transportation options. To learn more about RIDE Solutions, click here or choose Benefits from the left-hand menu bar on the Intranet or Employee Hub, then RIDE Solutions from under the Work/Life Balance header. Click here for a printable flyer to post in your department.

Posted 7/1/08

CFO of the Year
Don Lorton, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of our organization, has been selected as Virginia Business magazine's CFO of the Year for large non-profit organizations. Each year, the magazine selects a CFO of the Year in five different categories: small not-for-profit organizations, large not-for-profit organizations, small private companies, large private companies and public companies. The awards recognize the contributions of chief financial officers to the success of Virginia businesses.

There were a total of 50 nominees this year. The winners were selected by a panel of judges including a former chairwoman of the Virginia Society of CPAs and four former award recipients. Mr. Lorton will be profiled in the August issue of Virginia Business magazine.

Posted 6/27/08

How to Get the Most Out of E-mail Distribution Lists
With 11,000 employees whose work is vitally important to the health and well being of more than 1.5 million people in southwest Virginia, our communication is critically important. Effective communication among our healthcare team is vital to quality patient care, and for all of our employees it is essential to carrying out our day-to-day duties.

In recent years, an increasing number of our e-mail communications are being sent via distribution lists. There are some important considerations you should think about, however, when it comes to getting the most out of our e-mail distribution lists.

Before any e-mail message is sent to a large distribution list, you should ensure that large distribution groups are appropriate for the message that will be sent. The following guidelines can be used as a checklist to ensure you are using e-mail distribution lists appropriately:

• The message being sent should be of broad interest to the targeted audience (all those on the list). The e-mail distribution list should not be used to communicate to a select portion of those on the list.
• Timeliness of the message should be considered. Is it urgent or is there time to distribute the information by other means?
• All messages must carry a definite and appropriate "from" address, as well as an appropriate "reply to" address if it differs from the sender.
• Messages should be sent to one person with the distribution group e-mail address in the blind copy line to prevent every one of the recipients from receiving another copy of the message if one person replies to all.
• Because not every staff member has or uses e-mail, distribution lists should not be used as the sole mechanism for distribution.
• Avoid using attachment files when sending to a large e-mail distribution list. These files greatly increase the size of the e-mails.
• If attachments are necessary to include on a mass e-mail, use standard formats such as Word or PDF, to ensure that recipients are able to open the files.

For more information, contact Kendall White, TSG, via GroupWise or at 224-3934 (73934).

Posted 6/26/08

A Talented Friend Could Help You Earn Up To $9,000
Employee referrals are one of our top resources for new hires. One way we encourage you to refer qualified applicants is through our Referral Rewards program, which gives our current employees a chance to earn extra cash up to $9,000 for referring their talented friends for hard-to-fill positions.

The referral bonuses are paid in increments over six to 24 months as long as the referred employee remains with Carilion. To be eligible to receive your Referral Rewards bonus, any applicants you refer must supply your name and title or job position when filling out their electronic applications. Job candidates must meet minimum position qualifications just like other applicants, and they must go through the application and interview process.

For a full list of positions and payout amounts, visit the Referral Rewards site on the Intranet (from the homepage, choose Get Involved! from the left-hand menu bar and then Referral Rewards).

Posted 6/25/08

Don't Forget the Solicitation and Distribution Process
We understand that your compassionate approach to supporting others is often part of your life both at work and at home. Many of you support charitable organizations through volunteering and participating in fun activities. While you may be excited to share information about these events with coworkers, we must ensure that solicitation (such as asking for donations) and distribution (such as posting flyers) do not disrupt patient care or inconvenience our patients, visitors or other employees.

All charitable events must receive approval before they can be promoted on Carilion property. This Solicitation and Distribution (S&D) process helps ensure that external organizations are treated similarly and that events support our mission of enhancing the health and welfare of the communities we serve.

You can find information to help you understand and complete the S&D approval process on the Intranet and Employee Hub. The Solicitation and Distribution Hub provides:

• Links to the S&D policy and approval form.
• Online tools to help you learn your responsibilities when submitting an S&D approval request.
• Commonly asked questions and answers.
• An S&D checklist.
• Tips for activities involving food.
• Links to other related online resources, such as our Community/System Events webpage and the online Employee Guide.

Posted 6/24/08

Carilion Receives Three Premier Annual Supply Chain Excellence Awards
Carilion Clinic has received honors in three of the hospital categories in this year's Premier Annual Supply Chain Excellence Awards. The awards are reflective of the day-to-day work of our Materials Management and Purchasing staffs in order to acquire safe, quality and efficient products at the best possible cost.

Data has been submitted on a quarterly basis, tracking our supply-expense performance over time. The results show that we have been performing well in comparison to other organizations.

Receiving honors in the 2008 Premier Annual Supply Chain Excellence Awards were the following:

• Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital — First place for community hospitals with less than 180 beds.
• Carilion Giles Memorial Hospital — Second place for critical-access hospitals.
• Carilion Clinic — Honorable mention for integrated delivery networks.

These awards indicate our attention and dedication to managing the supply chain on all levels and in all facility sizes. The formal awards were presented at the Premier Annual Breakthroughs Conference and Exhibition on June 11.

Serving 1,700 hospitals and more than 46,500 other healthcare sites, Premier is the largest healthcare alliance in the United States dedicated to improving patient outcomes while safely reducing the cost of care. Owned by not-for-profit hospitals, Premier operates one of the nation's largest healthcare purchasing networks and the most comprehensive repository of hospital clinical and financial information.

Posted 6/18/08

Take a Moment to Care for Yourself — Your Medical Benefits Can Help You Stay Well
Whether you're caring for patients directly or supporting those who do, sometimes it's easy to let your own health and wellness take a back seat. But, getting the checkups and tests you need, such as vision exams, cholesterol screenings and mammograms, can help you live your life to the fullest.

If you participate in one of our medical plans through Anthem, you and your family have access to a wide range of wellness services in addition to preventive care and screenings. Preventive services such as periodic checkups, well-baby care, mammography screenings, prostate specific antigen (PSA) tests and vision exams are covered at a low cost.

Anthem also offers several wellness programs to help you take charge of your health to lead a healthier, happier life. These programs include:

• 24/7 Nurse Line—Provides around-the-clock access to a team of nurses available to help with your healthcare questions or concerns.
• Future Moms—Promotes healthy pregnancies and provides valuable information to expectant women.
• Condition Care—A confidential program that provides you with tools and support to help you minimize the effects of a chronic condition, such as asthma, coronary artery disease or diabetes.
• SpecialOffers@Anthem—Provides discounts on a variety of health and wellness products and services, such as natural health and wellness products; acupuncture, chiropractic and massage therapy; fitness-club memberships and recommended health and wellness books.

By taking an active role in your healthcare, you can live a longer, healthier, more active life.

Posted 6/17/08

JCHS President, Dr. Carol M. Seavor, to Retire
Jefferson College of Health Sciences (JCHS) President Carol M. Seavor, Ed.D., will retire at the end of the 2008/2009 academic year. Seavor, who began her tenure at JCHS in October 2002, led the college through a period of unprecedented growth in curriculum and enrollment.

"It has been my honor and privilege to lead this college," Seavor said. "Having such an opportunity has been the perfect culmination to my career in nursing and healthcare. I leave with nothing but appreciation and admiration for the faculty, staff and students of Jefferson College and with deep gratitude to Carilion Clinic for supporting me in this endeavor, as well as for its commitment to furthering the education of our students, the healthcare professionals of tomorrow."

"We deeply appreciate Dr. Seavor's service to the college, the community and the cause of improving healthcare," said Mr. Steve Musselwhite, chair of the JCHS Board of Directors. "Her accomplishments exceeded our hopes and expectations and we offer our best wishes as she transitions to a well-deserved retirement."

"Dr. Seavor's leadership at JCHS played an important role in our efforts to improve patient care and service at Carilion Clinic," said Carilion Clinic President and CEO Edward G. Murphy, M.D. "JCHS's growth in size and curriculum allowed us to expand to meet the community's needs."

Seavor's retirement caps a distinguished academic career. She previously served as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the College of Nursing at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Dean of the School of Nursing for Charleston Southern University and Chair of the Nursing Department and Assistant Dean of St. Joseph's College.

Seavor's tenure at JCHS marked significant growth for the college, including record expansion of enrollment, from just over 600 in 2002 to over 1,000 in 2008. In addition, Seavor led the college in expanding the academic programs offered, including the addition of three bachelor's level programs and three graduate programs for a total of 15 degree programs—the most in JCHS history.

Seavor has also shepherded JCHS's expansion into the CRCH building, after Carilion Clinic consolidated services at CRMH in August 2007.

Posted 6/12/08

Celebrating a Family Graduation This Year? Take A Moment to Let Us Know
It's his moment, but it's your moment, too. You've nurtured him, encouraged him, supported him, and now he's ready to make his own way in the world. Graduation is a special time for families, with lots to reflect upon and lots to do. If your child is graduating this year, there's one more item for your checklist: updating your benefits.

As part of your Total Rewards package, you can participate in our comprehensive program of benefits, and Carilion makes a substantial contribution to the medical benefits costs for you and your family. To help you get the most value out of our medical and dental benefits, your premiums are deducted from your pay before tax—saving you money each month.

Since we provide pretax benefits, it's important to ensure that we’re compliant with the regulations outlined in our plan documents, including the rules surrounding who may be covered under our benefits plans. It's important to ensure that we’re only covering those who are eligible for our plans.

Under the guidelines of our benefits plans, you may cover your unmarried child if he is:

• Age 19 or younger and either a dependent for tax purposes or the subject of a Qualified Medical Child Support Order or an equivalent court order. (Coverage ends at the end of the calendar year of the 19th birthday.)
• Age 23 or younger and a full- time student. (Coverage ends at the end of the calendar year of the 23rd birthday or sooner if your child marries or graduates.)
• Over age 19 and physically or mentally incapable of self-support and covered under the plan before age 19.

Your child's benefits coverage must stop at the end of the month he no longer is a full-time student or marries. While you no longer may cover your child under your benefits after graduation, notifying us of the need to update your benefits within 31 days will help preserve your child's right to elect benefits through COBRA or convert them to an individual policy. If your child graduates this year, and is age 23 or over or will not be continuing as a full-time student, be sure to complete the follow steps:

• Complete a Benefit Enrollment Change Form and return it to the Benefits Department or your local Human Resources Department within 31 days of graduation to drop your child from your medical, dental and life insurance. Medical and dental benefits will end the last day of the month of graduation; life insurance will end on your child's graduation date. However, if your child is continuing as a full-time student at an accredited college or university, he may remain on your plan until end of calendar year he turns age 23 or graduates, whichever comes first.
  
  Once the Benefit Enrollment Change form has been processed, you will receive a packet in the mail from our COBRA administrator, Infinisource, with information regarding your child's eligibility to continue medical and dental coverage for up to 36 months. If you do not receive a packet from Infinisource within 31 days of the effective date of the change, contact the HR Service Center.

• To continue medical and dental coverage, complete and return the COBRA packet to Infinisource within the timeframe indicated in your packet. If the form isn't returned within the appropriate timeframe, your child may forfeit his rights to continue coverage. Click here for more information on COBRA.

• Request a Life Insurance Conversion Form, by contacting the HR Service Center, if your child wants to convert your coverage into an individual policy, if applicable. The form must be submitted within 31 days of the coverage ending date.

By notifying us of your child's graduation in a timely manner, you can help ensure that he makes the most out of his opportunity to continue his benefits coverage.

Posted 6/11/08

Respiratory Services Team Excels at Annual Sputum Bowl Competition
Recently, respiratory care professionals from Carilion Clinic Respiratory Services participated in the 31st Virginia Society for Respiratory Care State Sputum Bowl competition held in Virginia Beach. The team won the competition and now is qualified to compete in the national championship this December. The Sputum Bowl is an academic contest designed to stimulate interest and knowledge in the field of respiratory care.

The winning team was comprised of Derek Lemons, R.R.T., Lee Lewis, R.R.T. and Patrick Nichols, R.R.T.

Posted 6/10/08

Share Your Thoughts on Patient Safety at CMC— Participate in Our Online Survey
Every day, we work together to return each patient to a healthier life. Patient safety is key to what we do: it's essential to providing the best possible care for our patients. We know that you are committed to our patients and their safety. We also know that you have excellent suggestions and insight into how to provide and continually improve that care. That's why CMC is conducting a survey of our culture of patient safety.

For the next several weeks, CMC employees will have the opportunity to take a brief, anonymous online survey on our culture of patient safety. We are using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ) Hospital Survey of Patient Safety Culture, which has been used by hundreds of hospitals over the past several years. Several Carilion facilities have completed this survey already.

The survey is short—it takes only seven minutes to complete. You can access the survey by clicking on the CMC Patient Safety Culture Survey  icon on the right-hand side of the Intranet, Employee Hub and Nursing Services homepages or by clicking here.

As a special incentive, CMC employees will have the opportunity to receive a small gift and be entered into a prize drawing for one of five $100 prepaid debit cards for taking the survey. The prize entry form is separate from the survey and cannot be linked back to the survey, so your anonymity is protected.

Survey results will be communicated in the coming months and action plans may be developed.

Posted 6/5/08

Improve Your Health by Participating in a Virginia Tech Research Study
As previously communicated, we're partnering with Virginia Tech to create a medical school that has research as a key component of the curriculum. Through our partnership, Carilion employees may have enhanced opportunities to participate in health and wellness research programs through Virginia Tech.

Virginia Tech invites Carilion employees, their family members and the community to participate in Guide-to-Health, a free online-based research study that helps participants make permanent lifestyle changes to improve their health. The goal of the study is to see how an online program for inactive adults can improve their nutrition habits, increase physical activity through walking and keep them from gaining weight through providing them with the skills, support and information they need to accomplish these goals.

The study is funded by the National Institutes of Health and lasts for 18 months. Participants must be 18-63 years of age and not physically active. If you qualify for inclusion, you will log into a website each week to complete weekly coaching. In addition to the health benefits of the program, you will receive a digital scale and pedometer; a small financial stipend will be paid to those who complete the program's follow-up assessments. Participation in the program is completely confidential.

Posted 6/4/08

Dream Big—Prepare for Tomorrow While Putting More in Your Pocket Today
What are your dreams for life after work? Will you travel the world? Spend time with your grandkids or start your own business? Maybe your dream is simply enjoying your retirement without having to worry about your finances. By preparing for your future today, anything's possible. And, by saving for your future through our Retirement Savings Plan, you can even put more money in your pockets today.

To help you achieve your retirement goals, Carilion offers the 403(b) plan for Carilion's not-for-profit companies and the 401(k) plan for Carilion's for-profit companies, as part of our Total Rewards package.

How Can The Retirement Savings Plan Help Me?

• It reduces your taxable income because you're making pre-tax contributions. You can contribute from ½ percent to 50 percent of your eligible compensation, each pay period within IRS annual limits.
• Carilion contributes to your account each pay period, thus increasing the amount you can save.
• It's a convenient way to save, because contributions are made through payroll deductions.
• In addition to the tax savings you will receive from participating in the savings plan, you may qualify for the Saver's Tax Credit. To learn more about the Saver's Tax Credit visit www.irs.gov.

Carilion's savings plan offers a wide variety of investment choices and you decide how much control you have over your asset allocation. You can "Do-It-Yourself" by managing your own investment choices or have an investment manager, Advice Track, do it for you.

Enrolling in the plan and making regular contributions can help you prepare for your financial needs in retirement.

Posted 6/3/08

Looking for that New Home or Car or Just Need to Verify Your Employment?
Buying or leasing a new home or car is an exciting time. There's much to do and lots of paperwork to fill out. We want to help you complete the loan process as quickly and as easily as you can. To help, beginning June 1, 2008, we'll use VerifyToday to complete employment and salary verifications for you and your coworkers to make it as easy as possible for you to provide salary and employment information to vendors such mortgage companies and banks.

If you need verification of your employment (for example, when applying for a loan), ask the organization needing the verification to visit the VerifyToday website at www.verifytoday.com. To help ensure your information is secure, before any salary information is released, the requestor will be asked to provide a signed release from you.

Requests for employment verifications (verification of the dates of your employment with Carilion) will be verified through the site within minutes of the request. Requests for salary verifications will be processed within 24 hours, if requested Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Requests received on weekends may take longer to process.

VerifyToday will provide the following information:

• Title
• Start date
• End date (if applicable)
• Employee status (full-time, part-time, regular part-time, etc.)
• Hourly rate
• Year-to-date base pay
• Total base pay for the previous two years

If other information is needed, you should work with the requestor to determine other means of getting that information.

VerifyToday uses 128-bit SSL encryption in all of the areas of its website where your personal information is exchanged between its servers and the requestor's computer.

For more information, contact the HR Service Center via GroupWise or Internet e-mail at hrservicecenter@carilion.com or by phone at 983-3600 (33600) or 1-800-599-2537.

Posted 6/2/08

RIDE Solutions — An Alternative Transportation Service
Carilion is committed to providing a healthy environment and lifestyle for you, and we want to offer you ways to become more environmentally conscious. One way we help is by providing a benefit to assist with transportation concerns.

Beginning June 1, we will pilot a transportation program in the Roanoke and New River Valley areas. The program will be managed by RIDE Solutions, a regional alternative transportation service that provides carpool matching free of charge. Using computer mapping software, RIDE Solutions is able to match commuters based on origin, destination points and schedules. RIDE Solutions also connects commuting employees to transit routes and provides information on walking, biking and other alternative transportation options. In addition to RIDE Solutions, we will introduce several new services in the coming months that will help you save gas and money while helping the environment.

To learn more about RIDE Solutions or complete an application to join a carpool, click here or choose Benefits from the left-hand menu bar on the Intranet or Employee Hub, then RIDE Solutions from under the Work/Life Balance header. Click here for a printable flyer.

Posted 5/29/08; updated 6/19/08.

New Attendance Policy for Life Support Certification Classes
If your position requires life support certifications, the life support certification classes offered to you at no charge from the Life Support Institute of Carilion Corporate University are a valuable part of your Total Rewards package. The savings can be significant, particularly if you need multiple life support certifications.

Unfortunately, an increasing number of employees registered for the classes are not attending—the "no-show" numbers for 2008 are nearing 500. Because many of these employees are not canceling their registrations, other employees who are waiting to register are not given the chance to fill empty seats. The high number of no-shows negatively impacts the cost efficiency of our conducting the classes and the ability for staff to be certified in a timely manner.

To curb the number of no-shows, a new attendance policy and call-in process will go into effect on June 1:

• You must notify your manager and the Life Support Institute two hours before class if you are unable to attend.
• You and your manager will be notified of each absence in writing when you are a no-show for a life support certification class for which you have registered.
• You must pay for life support classes taken at Carilion Clinic for the remainder of the calendar year after missing two life support classes. Prepayment for classes must be made in cash, with a credit card or via payroll deduction. The cost cannot be paid or reimbursed from a Carilion operational cost center.
• You may attend a class given by another organization as long as it meets our certification requirements. You should check our requirements with the Life Support Institute before taking a class from another provider.
• No-shows will be tracked from June 1 to Dec. 31 for 2008. Beginning in 2009, no-shows will be tracked from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31.
• An exception to this policy may be made if your manager requires you to work based on staffing needs.

The cost for Carilion-sponsored life support certification classes are listed in the following chart.

For more information, please contact Cathy Cockrell, HR, via GroupWise or at 981-7854 (77854).

Posted 5/28/08

Reminder—There's Still Time to Enroll in a Retirement Education Session
To help you plan for retirement, we periodically hold retirement education sessions that you and your guest may attend. During these sessions, we provide information on both our pension plan and retirement savings plans. In addition, representatives from Wachovia and the Social Security Administration are available to answer questions. Several sessions are scheduled for 2008, the next of which will be held Wednesday, June 11, 6 to 8 p.m., Centennial Room, Carilion Human Resources Building, 1212 Third St., Roanoke. Click here for details on other available sessions.

Space is limited for this informative event, so you must preregister by Friday, June 6 by contacting the HR Service Center at 983-3600 (33600) or 1-800-599-2937 (toll free).

Posted 5/26/08

Ad Campaign Highlights Carilion Clinic's Community Presence
Carilion Clinic has launched an advertising campaign that emphasizes not only our commitment to improving our services and facilities, but also our presence in the community. The ads feature Carilion Clinic physicians and their medical accomplishments, as well as our talented healthcare team, with the tagline:

• "When you think about it, our people are good to know, especially when you need healthcare."

The ad campaign began with five television commercials. The 30-second TV commercials focus on our emphasis on patients and patient safety, and feature physicians and available treatments in the following areas:

• Surgical care
• Cancer treatment
• Research and nursing care
• Emergency services and surgery
• Neurosurgery

Our TV ads have been followed by radio and print campaigns, featuring the same themes. Showcasing our physicians, staff, treatments and services shows that we are valuable members of the communities we serve and encourages viewers to make Carilion Clinic their first choice for healthcare.

To view our ads, click here or visit the carilion.com homepage, click on the About Carilion link on the left side menu bar, then click the Visually Changing – Advertising Campaigns link. 

Posted 5/23/08

Carilion Clinic Participates in Corporate Olympics
In June, Carilion Clinic will be participating in the 13th Annual Corporate Olympics to benefit the West End Center for Youth. For our team to be successful, we need you and your coworkers to volunteer to participate in the following events:

• Bowling (two males, two females)

• Tennis (male or female)

• Basketball (three on three)

• Volleyball (four on four, co-ed)

• Racquetball (single, male or female)

• Tug-O-War (four males, one female)

Below is a schedule of the events being held June 19-21:

• Bowling: Thursday, June 19, 7 – 9 p.m., Lee Hi Lanes, Salem.
• Tennis: Friday, June 20, 5 – 9 p.m., Sun Tennis Center, Starkey Road.
• Basketball, Racquetball, Volleyball: Saturday, June 21, 9 a.m., Carter Athletic Center at North Cross School.
• Tug-O-War: Saturday, June 21, 1 p.m., Carter Athletic Center at North Cross School.

In addition to competing, participants also are asked to raise money for the West End Center prior to the Olympics. Click here for a flyer.

Posted 5/22/08

Random Acts of Wellness Winners are Announced
During National Hospital and Healthcare Week, several of your coworkers got "caught in the act" by the "Wellness Warriors" for being healthy. Their names were entered into drawings for several prizes. Below is a list of the winners:

• 6 mos. membership to RAC or BAC: Nikki Williams, CASB
• 6 mos. membership to RAC or BAC: Natasha Boy, L&D, CRMH
• $100 Gift Certificate to Dick's Sporting Goods: Eileen Montoni, Ultrasound
• $100 Gift Certificate to Dick's Sporting Goods: Dina Cole, PACU
• Nike Gym Bag: Heather Menzies, CPTS
• Nike Gym Bag: Angel Wheeler, HIM
• Hand Held Weight Set: Regina Mabe, HR
• Hand Held Weight Set: Brittany Shultz, Peds ED
• Digital Scale/Body Fat Analyzer: Jac Nazario, Peds Dental Clinic
• Digital Scale/Body Fat Analyzer: Debbie Barnes, L&D, CRMH
• Fitness Ball and Exercise Tube: Penny Price, Med Ed
• Fitness Ball and Exercise Tube: Jackie Martin, NICU
• "Walk at Home" Fitness CD: Sydney Taylor, Perinatal Council
• "Walk at Home" Fitness CD: Angela Stroupe, Rehab

Posted 5/22/08

Share Your Thoughts on Patient Safety at CMC—Participate in Our Online Survey
Every day, we work together to return each patient to a healthier life. Patient safety is key to what we do: it's essential to providing the best possible care for our patients. We know that you are committed to our patients and their safety. We also know that you have excellent suggestions and insight into how to provide and continually improve that care. That’s why CMC is conducting a survey of our culture of patient safety.

For the next several weeks, CMC employees will have the opportunity to take a brief, anonymous online survey on our culture of patient safety. We are using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ) Hospital Survey of Patient Safety Culture, which has been used by hundreds of hospitals over the past several years. Several Carilion facilities have completed this survey already.

The survey is short—it takes only seven minutes to complete. You can access the survey by clicking on the CMC Patient Safety Culture Survey icon on the right-hand side of the Intranet, Employee Hub and Nursing Services homepages or by clicking here.

As a special incentive, CMC employees will have the opportunity to receive a small gift and be entered into a prize drawing for one of five $100 prepaid debit cards for taking the survey. The prize entry form is separate from the survey and cannot be linked back to the survey, so your anonymity is protected.

Survey results will be communicated in the coming months and action plans may be developed.

Posted 5/21/08

Congratulations to Our Spring Recognition Word Search Contest Winners
Last month, over 1,000 completed word searches were turned in from throughout our organization. Ten winners were drawn randomly from the submissions entered. Congratulations to the following winners:

• Andy Arrington (CPTS, LLC)
• Heather Brush, R.N. (CRMH)
• Carol S. CdeBaca (CRMH)
• Rhonda Dotson (CNRV)
• Tonya Hawkins (Presbyterian Labs)
• Sherry H. Kline (CMG)
• Greg Shawver, M.D. (CGMH)
• Nancy M. Spencer (CRMH)
• Kimberly Williams, R.N. (Private Duty/CRMH)
• Robin Wunderlich (CFMH)

Each winner receives a $50 prepaid debit card that can be used like cash anywhere cards are accepted.

Posted 5/20/08

Another Successful Spring Recognition Celebration
Thanks to everyone for helping to make this year's Hospital and Healthcare Week a successful one. Each year we honor you for your dedication to making our organization the healthcare leader in our region. Last week, we held a variety of different activities and celebrations to recognize our outstanding employees and their commitment to the communities we serve.

We had a great week and were able to capture some of the fun moments on camera. Below are photographs from the week:

Above, the hula dancer posing with employees at the Roanoke cookout.	Above, Bill Jacobson, VP, Administration, at CFMH's cookout.
Ed Hamilton, Strategic Development, receiving his 35-year service award from Don Lorton, EVP, Strategic Services, at the Roanoke-based cookout.	James Tyler, VP, Administration, at CGMH's cookout.
Annette Blackwell, HR, and Dave Bittle, Respiratory Services.	Monica Hubbard, HR Service Center.
The food tent at the Roanoke-based cookout.

Posted 5/20/08

Mutt Strut Fundraiser for Hospice Features Dogs, Competitions and Fun
It should come as no surprise that dogs have a prominent role in an upcoming Carilion Hospice fund-raising event, considering that Delta-certified dogs have such an important role in the Carilion Hospice pet therapy program. This program involves volunteers who take their specially-trained dogs to visit our hospice patients.

The Carilion Hospice Mutt Strut will give dogs and their owners a chance to have great fun while raising money for Carilion Hospice patients and their families. The Mutt Strut is a fun-filled, competitive event, scheduled for Saturday morning, June 7 at Smith Park Pavilion on Wiley Drive SW, Roanoke. Registration begins at 9 a.m. and the dog competitions begin at 10 a.m. The event is scheduled to end at noon after the Best in Show Award is presented. Admission is $15 per dog before May 31 and $20 per dog after May 31. There is free general admission for those attending the Mutt Strut without a pet.

The fundraiser will include several pet showcase competitions, including contests for the smallest dog, the largest dog, the hairiest dog and the dog with the longest tail. Additional competitions will include a dog/owner look-alike contest, a craziest trick event and a best dressed competition. In addition, a pet therapy presentation will be conducted by Jan Stice, a pet therapist who also administers Delta certification 

Registration forms for Mutt Strut are available by clicking here. Rules and regulations for the event are included on the registration form.

The idea for the Mutt Strut fundraiser came from the success of Hospice's pet therapy program. The dogs in this program provide great comfort and joy to Hospice patients, according to Sue Huntington, volunteer coordinator at Carilion Clinic.

"It is wonderful to see how our patients, many of them gravely ill and not very responsive, just light up when these gentle and friendly dogs arrive," Sue said. "It's also wonderful for the patients' families to see them brighten up."

To participate in the pet therapy program, dogs must have Delta certification, which requires extensive testing to ensure that the dogs have the right kind of temperament and can be trusted in a variety of stressful situations, such as crowded rooms or being around strange noises and smells. The dogs also have to have all of their shots up to date and be bathed before their patient visits.

Posted 5/16/08

CNRV Hosts Sixth Annual Child's Health and Safety Day
Children of all ages are invited to enjoy the fun activities planned for Child's Health and Safety Day at Carilion New River Valley Medical Center (CNRV) on Saturday, May 17, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will be held behind the Medical Center near the gazebo. Health and wellness experts will be present to help children learn how to have safe fun by wearing safety gear and respecting bike safety laws.

The CNRV Emergency Department will be giving away bike helmets to children on a first come, first-served basis. Law enforcement officials also will perform car seat safety checks. Bring along your kids' bikes for a bike/trike rodeo in the back parking lot of CNRV and enjoy free refreshments, a balloon magician, giveaways and more.

Posted 5/12/08

Retirement Education Sessions Can Help You Make the Most of Your Future
Our pension and retirement savings plans are valuable pieces of your Total Rewards package, and we are committed to helping you make the most of these benefits. To help you learn more, we periodically hold retirement education sessions where we provide information on both our pension plan and retirement savings plan. In addition, representatives from Wachovia and the Social Security Administration are available to answer questions. Several sessions will be provided so that you can attend. Below is a schedule of this year's sessions:

• Roanoke: Wednesday, June 11 from 6 to 8 p.m., Centennial Room, Carilion Human Resources Building, 1212 Third St. (Please preregister by Friday, June 6.)
• Roanoke: Wednesday, Sept. 17 from 6 to 8 p.m., Centennial Room, Carilion Human Resources Building, 1212 Third St. (Please preregister by Friday, Sept. 12)
• New River Valley: Wednesday, Sept. 24 from 6 to 8 p.m., Fireside Room A, CNRV. (Please preregister by Friday, Sept. 19.)
• Roanoke: Wednesday, Nov. 12 from 6 to 8 p.m., Centennial Room, Carilion Human Resources Building, 1212 Third St. (Please preregister by Friday, Nov. 7.)

Space is limited for these informative events, so you must preregister by the deadlines listed above by contacting the HR Service Center at 983-3600 (33600) or 1-800-599-2937 (toll free).

Posted 5/9/08

Enhancements to our Retirement Savings Plan Funds
The investment that we make in our employees' retirement benefits is an integral part of the Total Rewards package that we offer, and we are committed to helping you make the most of this benefit. Since investment choices are the most important factor in determining how a savings portfolio will perform over time, it is critical that your money be invested wisely.

We routinely review the funds offered in our retirement savings plans; as part of a recent assessment, we have determined that it is in our employees' best interest to enhance our plans by adjusting our investment offerings. Effective Friday, May 30, 2008 the Oakmark International Value Fund I will no longer be offered and the American Funds EuroPacific Growth Fund R4 will be added. Employees with balances in the discontinued fund will have those balances transferred automatically to a fund with a similar risk and reward profile. If you participate in Advice Track you will not be affected by the fund change. These changes will take a brief transition period from Wednesday, May 28, 2008 at 4 p.m. until Friday, May 30, 2008 at 9 a.m. During this period, you may access your account; however, you will not be able to make changes.

Posted 5/9/08

Medical School and Research Institute Legislative Update
A little more than a year ago, we announced our plans to partner with Virginia Tech to create a jointly operated medical school and research institute. One of the key steps to advancing this initiative is securing funding.

On April 23, the Virginia General Assembly approved a capital projects bond package that includes $59 million in funding for the facility for the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute. The legislation, House Bill 5001 and Senate Bill 5001, received overwhelming support and passed without a negative vote.

The overall package includes about $1.5 billion in capital funding for facilities at state colleges and universities, mental health, state parks and state government. The package now will go to Gov. Tim Kaine for his signature and will become law upon his approval.

Posted 5/7/08

Wellness Hub Can Help You Live Longer—and Better
Want a healthier, happier life? By making just a few changes and choosing healthier options you can live longer—and better. Whether you want to lose a few pounds, get active or manage a health condition, a new resource can help.

As a Carilion employee, you and your family can participate in a variety of wellness offerings, including weight-loss programs, health screenings and classes, that can help you live healthier and meet your wellness goals. To help you learn about some of the many available options, we've created the Wellness at Carilion hub.

The site features details on programs available through our medical and dental benefits, offerings of our internal departments, fitness discounts, frequently asked questions and more. The Wellness at Carilion hub is available by clicking here or by selecting Benefits from the menu-bar on the left-hand side of the Intranet or Employee Hub homepage, then Wellness Hub from under the Health and Wellness header or by clicking on the Wellness at Carilion icon on the right-hand side of the Intranet or Employee Hub homepages.

Posted 5/6/08

Celebrate Week of the Nurse with Movies in the Park
Join Carilion Magnet nurses in celebrating Week of the Nurse by coming to Movies in the Park on Friday, May 9, 2008 at Elmwood Park. The movie is National Treasure (rated PG-13). Carilion is sponsoring the entertainment for the event. There will be inflatable activities, games, prizes and face painting before the movie.

The carnival activities begin at 6 until 10 p.m. and the movie will start at dusk. Bring your family and enjoy an evening of adventure and entertainment.

Week of the Nurse is being celebrated May 4-10, 2008 with activities across our organization. Visit the Week of the Nurse Hub to find information about these activities and events throughout the week. For more information, contact Katherine Chalflinch, Orthopaedic Services, via GroupWise or at 981-7269 (77269).

Posted 5/5/08

Random Acts of Wellness Week
Join in on the fun of being healthy! During the week of our Spring Recognition activites, get "caught in the act" of being healthy and be entered into drawings for several different prizes. The Carilion Clinic "Wellness Warriors" will be on the lookout for staff participating in the following activities:

• Taking the stairs.
• Walking during breaks.
• Washing hands or using hand sanitizer.
• Eating healthy meals in the cafeteria.
• Drinking water.
• Using exercise bands or doing exercises at their desks.

If you are caught displaying any type of wellness-related behavior, you will automatically be entered to win one of the following prizes:

• Two six-month memberships to the RAC, BAC or Zoom.
• Two $100 gift certificates to Dick's Sporting Goods.
• Two sets of hand-held weights for home or the office.
• Two fitness ball and exercise tube sets.
• Two Nike gym bags.
• Two digital scales/body fat analyzers.
• Two Leslie Sansone "Walk at Home" fitness CDs and bands.

The "Wellness Warriors" will be at the following locations:

• CASB on Monday, May 12.
• TSG on Tuesday, May 13.
• CRMH on Wednesday, May 14.
• HR during the morning on Thursday, May 15.
• Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital (CRCH) during the afternoon on Thursday, May 15.
• Rehab on Friday, May 16.

The warriors also will be secretly visiting other Roanoke-affiliated offices during the week, so be prepared to be healthy!

Posted 5/2/08

Q: What do you see as Carilion Clinic's advantages?
A: The first advantage is that it is patient focused. This means that everything we do is ultimately to improve patient care and patient satisfaction. We have to create seamless, integrated systems of care that will be more efficient, less expensive and result in better patient outcomes in terms of safety and the quality of care.

Q: Why did you choose to accept your current position?
A: I chose my position for several reasons. First, it is very exciting to be on the ground level with the establishment of a new medical school that will be creating thought leaders in medicine for the future. Not many medical schools have been created in the last quarter century. It is a very exciting opportunity for me because I have been heavily invested in medical education for most of my career. Second, I was attracted
by the opportunities that come with Carilion Clinic — offering new systems of healthcare delivery and bringing quality initiatives and safety into the healthcare arena. On a personal note, I find the Roanoke area and this region very attractive. I like the people here and the opportunities in the community.

Q: What do you see as your greatest opportunity in your new role?
A: My greatest opportunity is to help develop an integrated system of care that we at Carilion are moving towards. It is exciting to be expanding our education programs for the medical school and graduate medical education, along with specific fellowships and residency programs.

Q: What is your vision of success for Carilion Clinic?
A: I like to define success in measurable terms. I think that we will measure success in the satisfaction that patients and families have for the care received from our physicians and from our hospitals and clinics. We also will measure success by achieving national recognition for creating an organization that exceeds expectations
of quality, safety and efficiency of care. Yet another level of success we will achieve is when we enroll our first medical students at the school and create a nationally recognized research program in partnership with Virginia Tech.

Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?
A: I enjoy running, fishing, cooking and spending time with my family.

Posted 4/30/08

Carilion Community Blood Pressure Event Seeks to Break Guinness World Record
Update: According to our preliminary count, we took 2,329 blood pressures over a 24-hour period. We are waiting to receive final confirmation that we broke the record. Final results will be posted soon.

In recognition of May being National High Blood Pressure Education Month, we have the opportunity to educate the community on this important health issue. To promote awareness in a fun and unique way, we will attempt to break a Guinness World Record for the most blood pressures taken over a 24-hour period. This 24-hour free event will take place at Valley View Mall in Roanoke, beginning on Friday, May 16 at 3 p.m. and ending at 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 17.

We're looking for volunteers to help by working two-hour shifts to either take blood pressures (licensed and certified staff) or record data (Excel spreadsheet skills). To volunteer, please contact Carilion Clinic via GroupWise or at 266-6000 (76000).

The current Guinness World Record for the number of blood pressures taken in a 24-hour period is 2,302, which means we need to screen 2,303 adults or more. Please support our attempt to break the Guinness World Record by planning to attend and encouraging your family and friends to join us for this exciting event.

Click here to see a printable flyer about the event.

Posted 4/29/08

McNamara joined Carilion Family Medicine, Associated Physicians in Waynesboro in 1992, serving as regional Medical Director for CMG. In addition to his medical degree from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, McNamara holds a B.A. in economics from Columbia University, and a master's degree in Medical Management (MMM) from Carnegie Mellon University.

"It's not easy to pull yourself off the front lines of medicine in mid-career," McNamara says. "But I like looking at the big picture, and medicine is facing major challenges. It is important for physicians to take a leadership role and work toward solutions that are in the best interests of our patients and communities."

McNamara believes CSJH is well-positioned to move in that direction. His association with the hospital dates back to 1992, when he worked part-time in the Emergency Department of the old Stonewall Jackson Hospital facility.

"I'm pleased to be working with people who are so committed to their patients. We will continue working together to focus on our core services. I want our community to know that they will receive the highest quality OB, orthopedic, surgical, pediatric and general medical care right here at home," McNamara says.

Posted 4/28/08

Free & Clear - Smoke Cessation Benefit
There is no better time than the beginning of a new year to become tobacco free. We are pleased to continue offering you the Free & Clear® Quit For Life™ Program as a benefit at no cost to you.

Free & Clear is an award-winning program based on 20 years of research and clinical experience. It has helped thousands of people take control of their lives and their health by quitting tobacco.

Free & Clear gives you one-on-one telephone-based treatment sessions with a professional Free & Clear Quit Coach. Once you enroll, support is available even if you quit and start using tobacco again during the treatment program.

When you enroll in the program you will receive:

• Phone-based treatment sessions scheduled at your convenience.
• Unlimited toll-free telephone access to the quit coaches for the duration of your treatment.
• Recommendations on type, dose and duration of medication if appropriate.
• Delivery of recommended nicotine replacement products (over the counter medications).
• A Quit Kit of materials designed to help you stay on track between calls.

Available to all Carilion Clinic employees and their immediate adult family members, the cost of the Quit For Life Program is completely paid for by Carilion. This includes the treatment sessions, the Quit Kit, and nicotine replacement, if recommended by your quit coach.

Quitting tobacco is like learning to ride a bicycle. Nobody does it perfectly the first time - and it's easier with someone there to help you. Many people try to quit several times before they finally succeed. So think of yourself as a "learner" as you go through this process.

Posted 4/24/08

The next WHU program will feature Robert Siciliano, a personal security and workplace safety expert. Mr. Siciliano will address personal safety and will talk about the importance of trusting your intuition and finding your inner strength. In addition, he will demonstrate basic self-defense techniques that can be used in dangerous situations.

You are invited to attend a presentation on Thursday, May 1, 2008 from 8 to 9 a.m. (registration at 7:30 a.m.) at the Roanoke Higher Education Center, Room 209. The presentation will include a light breakfast, speaker presentation and a question and answer session. As an additional benefit to you, Carilion has discounted the usual $15 fee. Participants will pay a $5 registration fee at the door. Registration is required. For registration or more information, call Carilion Clinic at 266-6000 or 1-800-422-8482. Click here for a printable flyer about the event.

Shuttle services will be provided from CRMH and CASB. The shuttle will start at 7:15 a.m., first leaving CRMH and then going to CASB. Parking tickets will be validated at registration.

Posted 4/23/08

JCHS Conducting Survey to Measure Interest in New Educational Programs
The Jefferson College of Health Sciences (JCHS) provides valuable educational services to our community, and specifically to many Carilion Clinic employees. In an effort to continue providing educational programs that best meet the needs of our employees, JCHS is currently conducting an online survey for Carilion Clinic employees in order to assess the demand for creating various new graduate and undergraduate educational programs.

One possible new program that will be assessed in the survey is a master's degree program in health administration. The undergraduate program in health administration has been successful, and the college has received requests for a master's level program. The survey will capture and quantify the degree of employee interest for such a program, as well as other specific degree programs.

We encourage you to take the survey by clicking here. The survey will be available until May 5. We also ask that you encourage your coworkers who are interested in furthering their education to participate in the survey. As an extra incentive to participate in the survey, respondents can enter a drawing for a $100 prepaid debit card. The anonymity of each respondent's data is ensured, as the responses will not be linked to personal identifiers.

Posted 4/22/08

The word search and contest rules were included with your April 18 paycheck. Copies of the word search also may be downloaded from the 2008 Spring Recognition Hub or by clicking here.

As a reminder, the deadline for the submissions is Friday, May 2, 2008. Your completed and submitted word search is your entry into a random drawing for ten $50 prepaid debit cards that can be used like cash anywhere credit cards are accepted. Completed word searches may be submitted to Amanda Hornady, Human Resources, 1212 Third St., Roanoke, VA 24016.

Watch for an announcement of the contest winners on the Spring Recognition Hub on the Intranet and Employee Hub during our celebration of Hospital and Healthcare Week, May 11-17, 2008.

Posted 4/21/08

Carilion Breaks Ground for New Carilion Giles Community Hospital
On Friday, April 11, we broke ground for a new hospital in Giles County. Hospital Administrator James Tyler joined President and CEO Ed Murphy, M.D., Board Chairman James Hartley, Congressman Rick Boucher and a host of community supporters to ceremonially toss the first shovels of earth.

"This is an incredible thing for our community," Tyler said. "A hospital brings so much benefit, economic and health-related. The outstanding staff of this hospital and the people of this region have supported each other for so many years, it’s wonderful that we will have a facility to be proud of for generations to come."

In addition to the groundbreaking, hospital officials unveiled a new name for the new facility—Carilion Giles Community Hospital, to underscore its commitment of services to the community, and the community's support.

Site preparation on the former Dogwood Farm Property is already underway for the construction of the $50 million, 85,000 square-foot hospital. The new facility is 25,000 square feet larger than the existing hospital and will have room for additional services, including stereo-tactic breast biopsy, nuclear medicine and rotating specialists. The new hospital will be finished in the spring of 2010. Once it is complete, hospital staff will spend several months training in the facility and becoming familiar with new equipment before patients are moved.

Posted 4/18/08

Online Tools to Learn More
Our online resources will help you and your employees learn more about this year’s events and provide you with ideas and tools to recognize your employees.

• Visit the Week of the Nurse Hub to learn more about the week’s activities across the organization, our Healthcare with a Human Touch Award recipients and Thomas L. Robertson Honorary Nursing Education Award, JoAnn Brinkman Nursing Scholarship and the Human Resources Development Seay Education Scholarship recipients.
• Visit the 2008 Spring Recognition Hub for information on cookout and award ceremony schedules, our Hand-in-Hand for Health Award recipients and a listing of the approximately 1,300 employees receiving service awards this year.

To access the Week of the Nurse or 2008 Spring Recognition hubs, click on the appropriate iconon the left-hand side of the Intranet or Employee Hub homepages.

Roanoke Cookout Update
During the Roanoke-based event, hundreds of service-award recipients will be recognized. Recipients with five years of service will be recognized as a group at 11 a.m., and recipients with 10 or more years of service will be recognized individually throughout the day. If you are receiving a service award for10 or more years of service and want to be recognized at the Roanoke event, please RSVP to the HR Service Center via GroupWise or e-mail at hrservicecenter@carilion.com or by phone at 983-3600 (33600) or 1-800-599-2537 by Monday, May 5, 2008. Detailed information on the dates and times of recognition ceremonies is available on the 2008 Spring Recognition Hub. You are strongly encouraged to ride the shuttle because parking is not available at this year’s event. Click here for cookout specifics including the shuttle schedule.

Public Recognition
As part of Week of the Nurse and Hospital and Healthcare Week, recognition advertisements will appear in The Roanoke Times and other community newspapers. The Week of the Nurse ad will feature the Healthcare with a Human Touch Award recipients and will be published on Thursday, May 1 and Sunday, May 4 in The Roanoke Times. The Hospital and Healthcare Week ad will feature our Hand-in-Hand for Health Award recipients and will be published on Thursday, May 8 and Sunday, May 11 in The Roanoke Times.

For more information, contact the HR Service Center via GroupWise or e-mail at hrservicecenter@carilion.com or by phone at 983-3600 (33600) or 1-800-599-2537.

Posted 4/17/08

Based on your feedback and requests, we provide you with an online resource to help you learn more about local businesses that offer discounts and special services to Carilion employees. You may access the site by clicking here or by selecting Benefits from the left-hand menu bar of the Intranet or Employee Hub homepage, then Employee Discounts from under the Financial Management header.

To receive the special services listed on the site, all you need to do is show the business your Carilion ID badge. Some discounts are standing discounts and others are only for a set time - be sure to check the site often for the most recent information.

Businesses may change their offerings at any time and Carilion receives no financial or other benefit from the participating businesses. In addition, the site is for informational purposes only and does not imply endorsement from Carilion.

For information on a specific discount, please contact the vendor directly.

For more information, HR Service Center via GroupWise or Internet e-mail at hrservicecenter@carilion.com or by phone at 983-3600 (33600) or 1-800-599-2537.

Posted 4/15/08

Research Day will include poster displays that will be judged, oral presentations and an awards ceremony for outstanding research. In addition, a keynote speech will be presented by Dr. Marschall Runge, the Marion Covington Distinguished Chair and chairman of the Department of Medicine at the University of North Carolina. Dr. Runge’s background includes serving as president of Bristol-Myers Squibb, associate professor at Emory University, chief of cardiology at Texas Medical Branch in Galveston and director of the Sealy Center for Molecular Cardiology.

Research Day offers students, faculty and staff in biomedical research at Carilion Clinic a public forum for presenting their research and an opportunity to receive feedback from their colleagues.

The deadline for poster abstract submissions is Thursday, April 17. Abstracts chosen for poster presentation will be announced April 25. Abstracts must be submitted electronically to the Research Department by e-mailing research@carilion.com. Click here to learn more about abstract requirements. If you would like to attend the event, please register with Carilion Direct at 266-6000 or 1-800-422-8482 by Thursday, May 1.

For more information on Research Day, contact Carrie Boyd, Research, via GroupWise or at 224-6751 (86751).

Posted 4/9/08

Carilion Clinic Sleep Center—Westlake Finds Success at Smith Mountain Lake
About 30 percent of adults suffer from symptoms of insomnia and nearly 80 percent do not get a sufficient amount of sleep, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). These sleep disorders have been linked to irritability, depression, a lack of concentration, high blood pressure, stroke and heart disease.

With sleep disorders becoming an increasing medical concern, our Carilion Clinic Sleep Center continually seeks better ways to care for people with these ailments. This included an expansion of our sleep center services when the Carilion Clinic Sleep Center—Westlake was established last fall at Smith Mountain Lake.

Our sleep center in Westlake quickly made a positive impression with the people we serve. The sleep center, along with our Urgent Care Center in Westlake, was recognized by readers of Discover Smith Mountain Lake magazine as the "Best Medical Service" at the lake and received a Platinum Award from the magazine publisher.

The Westlake sleep center is designed to be a comfortable setting for evaluation and treatment of a variety of problems, such as sleep apnea, snoring, restless leg syndrome, insomnia and excessive daytime sleepiness.

"Carilion Clinic is pleased to offer this specialty testing service in the Smith Mountain Lake area," said Gary Kirby, vice president, Department of Medicine and Behavior/Psychiatry System Services-Therapeutic Services. "We had a significant number of lake area residents coming to the Carilion Sleep Center in Roanoke and recognized the opportunity to expand this service in the lake community."

Posted 4/8/08

Women's Health University Hosts: Robert Siciliano
Finding Your Inner Strength
As part of our mission to improve the health of our employees and the communities we serve, Carilion is hosting a complete series of Women's Health University (WHU) programs. Many WHU programs are available to the public, but you are invited to participate in these events as well.

The next WHU program will feature Robert Siciliano, a personal security and workplace safety expert. Mr. Siciliano will address personal safety and will talk about the importance of trusting your intuition and finding your inner strength. In addition, he will demonstrate basic self-defense techniques that can be used in dangerous situations.

You are invited to attend a presentation on Thursday, May 1, 2008 from 8 to 9 a.m. (registration at 7:30 a.m.) at the Roanoke Higher Education Center, Room 209. The presentation will include a light breakfast, speaker presentation and a question and answer session. As an additional benefit to you, Carilion has discounted the usual $15 fee. Participants will pay a $5 registration fee at the door. Registration is required. For registration or more information, call Carilion Clinic at 266-6000 or 1-800-422-8482. Click here for a printable flyer about the event.

Shuttle services will be provided from CRMH and CASB. The shuttle will start at 7:15 a.m., first leaving CRMH and then going to CASB. Parking tickets will be validated at registration.

Posted 4/7/08

Science Museum of Western Virginia Hosts That 70s Weekend
During the weekend of April 11- 13, the Science Museum of Western Virginia will be celebrating its past and future by hosting a disco fundraiser and a weekend of fun. In recognition of Carilion's support of the Science Museum's future transformation plans and its That 70s Event, all Carilion Clinic employees and their immediate family members are invited to visit the Science Museum free of charge, on the following two weekends: April 11-13 and April 18-20. The museum closes at 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 12. Visit the website at http://www.smwv.org/ for times and additional information.

Planetarium star shows will be free to you on those dates, and you also will receive a discounted rate of $3 per person for the Lewis and Clark MegaDome film. You must check in at the fourth floor admissions desk, show your Carilion ID badge and give the front desk staff your home zip code.

The museum has undertaken a reinvention that will transform it into three entirely new galleries over the next three to five years: Healthy Bodies, Healthy Earth and How It Works, plus a preschool Discovery Room. First exhibits are in place: bigMouth (Healthy Bodies), Living River (Healthy Earth), and In the Glow: The Science Behind the Art of Neon (How It Works). Living River features hands-on aquatic specimens from the coast, Lewis and Clark, one of the most popular National Geographic films of all time, is a big-screen adventure that chronicles Lewis and Clark's expedition of discovery. The Sky Above Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood is a new planetarium star show for children.

Like Carilion, the Science Museum of Western Virginia is a not-for-profit organization. While our mission focuses on improving the health of the communities we serve, the museum's mission is education for the community—specifically, to make science and technology accessible to all people by being an outstanding regional institution that ignites and nurtures life-long learning.

For more information about the Science Museum and its exhibits, call 342-5710 or visit its website at http://www.smwv.org.

Posted 4/3/08

'You RX CEPTIONAL' Award Goes to Cathi Biggs of Giles Medication
Cathi Biggs, coordinator of the Giles Medication Assistance Program, was selected as this year's winner of the "You RX CEPTIONAL" Award by the Virginia Health Care Foundation. The award recognizes the dedication, service and value of Virginia's medication assistance caseworkers and their contributions to medication assistance programs and patients.

A Hand-in-Hand for Health Award recipient in 2007, Cathi earned the "You RX CEPTIONAL" Award for her significant contributions to the Giles Medication Assistance Program (GMAP) and its clients. She has been the coordinator of GMAP since 2000 and has been instrumental in helping the uninsured and underinsured obtain much needed prescription medications.

Since 2000, GMAP has enrolled 1,239 patients and has delivered over $5.1 million dollars of requested medication. Over 24,900 prescriptions have been filled.

Before receiving the RXRelief Virginia grant in 2005, GMAP's only caseworker was Cathy and the program was open only to Giles County residents or non-resident patients who were under the care of a Giles County physician. Through Cathi's guidance, the program now employs an additional full-time certified pharmacy technician and has expanded into Craig County and Monroe County, W. Va. GMAP also is assisting patients from Montgomery County, Pulaski County, McDowell County, W. Va., Mercer County, W. Va. and Summers County, W. Va.

In 2006, when GMAP lost nearly all of its Medicare-age patients to Medicare Part D, Cathi started rebuilding the program by focusing on patients ages 64 and younger who had no prescription coverage, and her efforts proved to be effective in rebuilding patient enrollment.

Cathi also represents GMAP through her membership with the Giles Pharmacy Task Force, a quarterly gathering of community pharmacists and healthcare professionals, and her participation has led to many referrals.

Recently, Cathi has been meeting with the new Giles Free Clinic to develop a process for helping the clinic's patients with their medication needs.

Posted 4/1/08

Training Top 125:
Carilion Recognized for Superior Workforce Training
Thanks to the comprehensive education and training that is available to us through Carilion Corporate University, Carilion Clinic is recognized by Training magazine as one of the best organizations for employee support and development through workforce education and training. Our Corporate University received particularly high marks for forming partnerships with colleges and universities to encourage us to continue our formal education.

In the 2008 Training Top 125 rankings, Carilion Clinic is ranked number 100 for workforce education and training of employees. The number 100 ranking is up from last year's rank of 111.

The Training Top 125 Award recognizes organizations that create an educational environment by supporting lifelong learning for employees, providing comprehensive employee training, implementing an outstanding training program within the last 12 months and delivering return on investment through training and best practices.

The Training rankings include a compilation of detailed data that evaluate a number of workforce training and education components, including each organization's:

• Training tied to business objectives.
• Number of trainers.
• Employee turnover and retention.
• Leadership development.
• Tuition assistance.
• Corporate university.
• Certification.
• Dollars spent on training.
• Percentage of payroll devoted to training, education and employee development.

For more information about our Corporate University, please contact Becky Dooley, Human Resources, via GroupWise or at 224-4601 (84601).

Posted 3/28/08

Hospice to Host National Bereavement Teleconference
Each year the Hospice Foundation of America (HFA) presents a nationally recognized distance learning program, live via satellite and webcast, to more than 125,000 people in 2,000 communities. For more than a decade, this annual educational program has been instrumental in educating healthcare professionals and families on issues affecting end-of-life care. The program provides an opportunity for a wide variety of professionals to share and exchange ideas and obtain continuing education credits.

This year, HFA's 15th Annual National Bereavement Teleconference focuses on "Children and Adolescents." The teleconference will focus on the experience of grieving children and adolescents and the ways that all hospice professionals, educators and counselors, parents, social workers, physicians, grief counselors, funeral directors and clergy can best support these populations as they cope with loss and grief. Moderated by Frank Sesno, professor of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University and special correspondent with CNN, the program will be broadcast Wednesday, April 16 from 1:30 to 4 p.m., EDT.

The broadcast is sponsored in part by a grant from the Foundation for End-of-Life Care and produced in cooperation with the Adventist Communications Network, the Association for Death Education and Counseling, the National Association of Social Workers, the Department of Veterans Affairs Employee Education System and the Compassionate Friends organization.          

The teleconference is produced by HFA, a not-for-profit organization, which acts as an advocate for the hospice concept of care through ongoing programs of professional education, public information and research on issues relating to illness, loss, grief and bereavement.

Posted 3/27/08

2007 FSA Deadline is March 31
As part of your Total Rewards package, our Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account give you the opportunity to pay for eligible healthcare and child or elder care expenses on a pre-tax basis.
 
To provide you with the best opportunity to spend all of the funds in your healthcare and dependent care account, participants in the FSA plans have until March 15, 2008 to spend 2007 funds for eligible expenses. The deadline for submitting a reimbursement request for your 2007 FSA is March 31, 2008.

To be reimbursed for eligible expenses you must complete a reimbursement form and include an explanation of benefits (EOB) or detailed receipt as proof of services provided to the plan administrator, SHPS, Inc., by March 31, 2008. For your convenience, reimbursement forms for the Healthcare FSA and Dependent Care FSA are located on the Employee Hub by selecting Benefits from the left-hand menu bar, then Forms.

Submit your forms via fax or mail at: 

Fax:     1-866-643-2219 (Toll Free)

Mail:     SHPS Spending Accounts
            P. O. Box 34700
            Louisville, KY 40232

If you have additional questions regarding your 2007 FSA account, contact SHPS at www.mySHPS.com or call SHPS Customer Service at 1-800-678-6684.

Posted 3/26/08

'Contempt of Court' Interactive Dinner Theater Benefits Children's Miracle Network
You are hereby summoned by The Little Dinner Theater Players to perform "jury duty" at their interactive dinner theater event to benefit Children's Miracle Network of Central Virginia. Help decide the outcome of one of the most comical civil cases ever to be staged while enjoying a delicious dinner. You could be called upon as a plaintiff, defendant or witness during the course of this unique theatrical experience.

The Little Dinner Theater Players have partnered with Children's Miracle Network to produce "The Miracle Tour," a series of theatrical dinner events featuring the interactive legal comedy "Contempt of Court." Roanoke performances will take place at the Jefferson Center on Friday, March 28 and Saturday, March 29 at 7 p.m. on both evenings. "The Miracle Tour" will continue in Lynchburg, with shows at the Holiday Inn Select at 7 p.m. on April 4 and 5 and 1 p.m. on April 6, and at the Smith Mountain Lake Mariners Landing, with shows at 7 p.m. on April 18 and 19 and 1 p.m. on April 20.

"The Miracle Tour" will benefit The Children's Miracle Network of Central Virginia, whose mission is to raise funds and awareness for local Children's Miracle Network hospitals, including Carilion Clinic Children's Hospital. These funds stay in the region and provide vital medical equipment, emergency transport and special services involved in the treatment of babies and children in our community.

Tickets are $45 each and include dinner, the show, tax and gratuity. A cash bar also will be available. Please call The Little Dinner Theater Players at (434) 239-7250 for ticket reservations or visit www.littledinnertheater.com.

Posted 3/25/08

Medication Override Initiative Safety Team Receives Baxter-AACN Excellence in Patient Safety Award
The Carilion Clinic Medication Override Initiative Safety Team has been selected to receive the Baxter-AACN Excellence in Patient Safety Award. The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) recognizes the outstanding and valuable contributions that our team makes to the profession each day.

The Medication Override Initiative Safety Team, comprised of nursing, pharmacy, human resources, quality management and technical services representatives, participated in a project, "We're OVERRUN with Thanks!" The purpose of the project was to improve medication administration using medication barcode technology and to demonstrate that technology does not replace professional responsibility to patient safety. The team reviewed each step in the medication administration process and began implementing solutions that were identified. As a result, compliance targets improved and medication errors decreased. Early commitment to "whatever it takes to do the right thing for the patient" was embraced and the team's accomplishments were highlighted in a nomination submitted to the AACN.

Posted 3/25/08

You may want to recognize a physician for several different reasons. Perhaps she prescribed excellent treatment for a difficult diagnosis, or adjusted a process in such a way that coworkers found it easier to perform. Physician-spec