Mills-Peninsula Health Services (MPHS) recently earned a 2011 Waste Reduction Award from the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), reports Craig Branting, Environmental Health and Safety manager and safety officer.

According to CalRecycle, businesses generate more than half the state’s waste, so they play a major role in helping local governments cut the amount of garbage going to landfills. The state’s Waste Reduction Award Program (WRAP) recognizes organizations that have developed progressive and creative programs to significantly reduce the amount of waste they send to landfills – and saved money in the process.

“As an organization, Mills-Peninsula prevented more than 400 tons of waste from being sent to landfills and saved $135,000 in the process,” Branting said.

To achieve this, Mills-Peninsula’s waste-reduction planning team, called the Green Team, analyzed each process that generates waste, looking for opportunities to further reduce waste quantities.

The team also calculated how much waste MPHS didn’t generate. For example, each time staff used a tote bag to transport materials, they were not using a cardboard box, and each time they entered medical information into an electronic record, they were not using paper forms, Branting said.

“This award was earned by everyone at Mills-Peninsula who participated in waste reduction efforts by reusing, recycling, composting or any of the many other methods of waste reduction,” Branting said. “Printing on both sides of paper, recycling empty containers and using washable food service items – each small contribution to the effort adds up.”

Moving forward, the Green Team plans to increase awareness of recycling by placing more recyclable waste containers in key areas on site and hosting an e-waste recycling event for Mills-Peninsula and neighbors.

Green technologies are a key component of the new hospital, including a state-of-the-art ventilation system, energy-saving efficiencies and smart building management systems, the use of many earth-conscious materials (such as water-based paints and cabinetry made of renewable resources such as bamboo), low-flow plumbing fixtures, and an architectural design that takes advantage of natural light in all patient care and public spaces.

Following the opening of the new Mills-Peninsula Medical Center in May 2011, demolition of the old Peninsula Medical Center in Burlingame has been under way since October 2011 — a methodical process that will require approximately five more months to complete.

Some staff likened it to saying “goodbye” to an old friend when they left the old hospital building in May to move next door into the brand new 241-bed medical center. The new $630 million, six-story, 450,000-square-foot hospital is located at 1501 Trousdale Avenue in Burlingame, California.

Plans to demolish the old hospital have been in the works for more than a year. The multi-staged effort is now under the direction of Jeannie Austin, project manager with Mills-Peninsula’s Facility Planning & Development Department.

Extensive measures were put in place for neighborhood safety, which is why neighbors will not see a wrecking ball or explosive knock down. The slower process will create significantly less flying debris or danger posed by falling building materials.

“There are currently 22 demolition workers on site, most of them working on the northern side of the building’s interior. They are using small Bobcat machines to clear out the building, in preparation for structural demolition,” explained Todd Vasko, project manager from Silverado Contractors, Inc., the demolition contractor hired by Mills-Peninsula for this big job.

Silverado hired several subcontractors to do the extensive disconnection of electrical, plumbing and sewer systems. This large team will also conduct refrigerant recovery, a thorough process to comply with all local, state and federal standards for the safe removal chemicals found in air conditioning units, drinking fountains and refrigerators. 

Any and all metals and concrete will be 100 percent recycled. Salvage operations for copper and precious metals began in early December and are on-going.

 Once an area of the interior is completely emptied, the demolition team will move in the large wrecking machines to start taking the building apart. This systematic process began at the northern end of the building and will proceed toward the southern end until the building is gone.

The demolition crew separates waste streams to ensure that as much material as possible is recycled or reused. Concrete, structural steel and timber all have a value above that of basic demolition debris. About 80 percent of the old building will be recycled. 

Continuous air sampling and air monitoring is being conducted by an industrial hygienist. This professional monitors the dust particles in the air and regularly reports findings to the demolition team. Water suppression is being used to control dust wherever demolition is taking place.

The demolition project will take approximately five more months to complete, including the time required to haul away recycling and debris.  

After the demolition of the old hospital buildings is complete, the land will be converted to parking for approximately 300 vehicles.

For more information, hospital media contacts, and the latest news on the strikes and negotiations with the California Nurses Union, please visit: http://sutterhealthblogs.org/cnanegotiations

The California Nurses Union has announced their intent to strike Mills-Peninsula and three other Bay Area hospitals affiliated with Sutter Health on Thursday, December 22. At Mills-Peninsula, striking nurses will return on Saturday, Dec. 24.

The union has also given formal strike notice at: Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, Sutter Delta Medical Center, Sutter Solano Medical Center and Eden Medical Center and could issue strike notice at that hospital as well.

Mills-Peninsula’s contract with a staffing agency requires us to pay replacement nurses for a minimum of five days. In compliance with the contract, we have maintained a five-day replacement period in previous strikes because paying both regular and replacement staff doesn’t meet our affordability – or common sense – goals.

However, the union’s decision to strike during the holidays presents its own, different challenges. The staffing agency’s ability to fulfill our order depends in part on ensuring replacement nurses can get home in time for the holidays. Because of that stipulation and with respect for our non-union staff, physicians, patients and families in the holiday season, we are shortening the replacement period by one day. Replacement nurses will spend the first two days in training, provide patient care for two days and return home on Dec. 24.

Sutter Health Nurse Pay and Benefits Remain Industry Leaders
Sutter Health hospitals know that providing the very best care for our patients starts with taking good care of our nurses. A nurse who chooses to work full-time at a Sutter Health hospital that has a contract with the California Nurses Union earns:

• An average of $136,000 per year
• An employer-paid pension plan worth $84,000 per year on average in retirement
• 40 paid days off per year

A part-time nurse earns an average of $105,000 per year and receives virtually the same benefits.

What’s more, nurses across our network are respected, influential members of our health care team — many holding positions on decision-making councils related to delivering the highest levels of quality care.

Despite these generous wages and a rewarding work environment, the union is asking for new and enhanced benefits that will increase the cost of health care. The union demands:
     • Free health care for life after retirement
     • To double their current retirement benefit — even though the average Sutter Health full-time nurse earns an annual $84,000 pension for life.

The California Nurses Union is calling its second strike in less than three months. This union has called more than 100 strikes against California hospitals in the last 3 years.

It is always tough for patients and families to be in the hospital, but it’s especially difficult during the holidays. Unfortunately, the union has chosen to strike during this time.

Quality Patient Care Will Continue During the Strike
Our hospitals will take steps to preserve quality patient care in the wake of the union’s strike. Our hospitals are exploring all available options to ensure high-quality care for our patients is not interrupted.

 Annual ‘Top Hospitals’ List Measures Hospitals for Commitment to Transparency, High Quality Care

The Leapfrog Group’s annual class of top hospitals – 65 from a field of nearly 1,200 – was announced December 6, 2011, in Washington, D.C., and included Mills-Peninsula Health Services in Burlingame, California, for the second time in two years. The announcement came at Leapfrog’s Annual Meeting where the group celebrated the five-year anniversary of its ground breaking Never Events Policy.

Accepting the award for Mills-Peninsula Health Services was Chief Operating Officer Dolores Gomez.

“The Leap Frog award requires a minimum value score of 69 or greater and Mills-Peninsula achieved a score of 83, so we are far above the threshold,” said Gomez. “It is an incredible experience to be recognized for quality, and efficiency and safety out of more than 1,200 hospitals in the nation. We are proud because receipt of this honor validates that our efforts to provide the very best care to out patients are working.”

The selection is based on the results of the Leapfrog Group’s national survey that measures hospitals’ performance in crucial areas of patient safety and quality.  The results of the survey are posted on a website open to the patients and families, the public and employers and other purchasers of health care. It is the most complete picture available of a hospital’s quality and safety.  The website is www.leapfroggroup.org.

The survey, which launched in 2001, focuses on four critical areas of patient safety: the use of computer physician order entry (CPOE) to prevent medication errors; standards for doing high-risk procedures such as heart surgery; protocols and policies to reduce medical errors and other safe practices recommended by the National Quality Forum; and adequate nurse and physician staffing. In addition, hospitals are measured on their progress in preventing infections and other hospital-acquired conditions and adopting policies on the handling of serious medical errors, among other things.

The Leapfrog Group is a coalition of public and private purchasers of employee health coverage founded a decade ago to work for improvements in health care safety, quality and affordability.  The annual survey is the only voluntary effort of its kind.  More information is available at www.leapfroggroup.org.

Read the complete list of 2011 Leapfrog Top Hospitals.

For most people, the winter holiday season, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and the New Year, is a happy time filled with parties and gatherings with friends and family. For others, this time of year can be a time of loneliness, anxiety and depression, all of which can contribute to addiction.

“The holidays can be a time of heightened emotion about life events and memories of past events, like the loss of a spouse or another important person,” said William Glatt, M.D., Mills-Peninsula’s Medical Director of the Chemical Dependency department who brings over 30 years of experience to the program. “It can be a time of great loneliness which can kindle or increase drug and alcohol addiction.”

Based at the Mills Health Center in San Mateo, Mills-Peninsula’s Chemical Dependency Department is the only medically managed detoxification service on the San Francisco peninsula, and one of the few Chemical Dependency programs that accepts patients covered by Medicare insurance.

Mills-Peninsula Health Services’ Chemical Dependency programs include inpatient (hospital-based) and outpatient (clinical) treatment, acute detoxification, an innovative 28-day rehab program, an intensive 12-week outpatient program and a Relapse Prevention/Stabilization program to ensure participants’ success in ending drug and alcohol abuse.

How Winter Holidays Can Contribute to Addiction

Depression and substance abuse affect people of all ages. “Isolation is painful, made even more so when imagery of the Holiday season features happy gatherings of family and friends,” said Dr. Glatt. “This heightened sense of loneliness can drive a person to ‘self medicate’ with drugs and alcohol in an effort to ease their distress. Addictions spike this time of year.”

The medical consequences of drug addiction are many and often serious, including death. This makes it vital that treatment and rehabilitation be supervised by an addiction medicine physician because the impact of addiction can be life threatening. Drug abuse can provoke cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer, lung disease, hepatitis and autoimmune diseases.

Symptoms of Addiction

The most common symptoms and behaviors that may indicate that someone is abusing include:

• avoiding friends and family members
• getting high or intoxicated on a regular basis
• lying, particularly about if or how much they are using or drinking
• giving up activities they used to enjoy
• performance at work or school suffers
• missing school or work
• feeling depressed, hopeless or suicidal
• getting in legal trouble

A psychiatrist or qualified mental health professional usually diagnoses substance abuse. Indicators vary depending on the substance abused, the frequency of use, and the length of time since last used.

For more information or to schedule an assessment at the Mills-Peninsula Health Services’ Chemical Dependency Program, call 650-696-4666 between 8:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. On Saturdays, people can call between 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Just in time for the holiday season, Mills-Peninsula Health Services and Sutter Health have given a $33,500 donation to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties.

The funds are a portion of a quarter-million-dollar donation by the Sutter Health network to 29 food banks throughout Northern California, which will help provide more than a million healthy meals to families in need.

Food banks say that monetary donations help maximize the amount of food available for the hungry – in many instances, a $1 donation can translate to over $5 worth of distributed food.

On average, every dollar donated translates to 4.5 meals provided by regional food banks. This year’s donation – made on behalf of our network’s 48,000 employees, physicians, staff and volunteers – will help provide more than 1 million meals.

“Many of our patients and neighbors are still struggling to afford healthy, regular meals,” says Pat Fry, president and CEO of Sutter Health. “We recognize that health care extends beyond the walls of our care centers. Wellness begins in our communities with a healthy meal on the kitchen table. We hope that by supporting our local food banks we can provide some comfort this holiday season.”

The Sutter Health network of care has donated $762,500 over the past three years to food banks in local communities. The donations are provided on behalf of the health care network’s 48,000 employees, physicians, staff and volunteers as an extension of Sutter’s not-for-profit mission.

Complete list of food banks which received donations from Sutter Health. 

Would you like to help? Volunteer, donate online or drop off food donations at your local food bank:

• Community Services Agency (drop off location in Mountain View)
• Second Harvest Food Bank (drop off locations in San Carlos, San Jose and Santa Cruz)
• Alameda County Community Food Bank (drop off locations in Berkeley, Dublin, Fremont and Oakland)

Burlingame, CA — November 14 is World Diabetes Day, an international event started by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and World Health Organization (WHO) to raise awareness and education on diabetes. Today, WHO estimates that more than 220 million people worldwide have diabetes. Without intervention, this number is expected to more than double by 2030.

Every ten seconds, two people in the world develop diabetes and one person dies of it. In the United States, California has more new cases of diabetes each year than any other state in the nation, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA).

On California’s San Francisco Peninsula, Mills-Peninsula Health Services educates patients and the community year-round about diabetes risk factors and what people can do to prevent or reduce their risk of this growing trend.

On November 9, 2011, Mills-Peninsula is holding a free workshop about diabetes prevention in San Mateo. “An Ounce of Prevention: Pre-diabetes Workshop” is open to the community, and participants will learn tips for healthier eating and establishing an easy-to-follow exercise program.

Preventing Type 2 Diabetes

“Often people think they can’t make any changes, but small steps can produce big rewards in preventing type 2 diabetes,” said Donna deKay, R.D., certified diabetes educator and outpatient nutritionist at Mills-Peninsula Health Services.

Recently, a landmark three-year study of 3,234 people, called the Diabetes Prevention Program, found as little as 30 minutes of moderate physical activity a day, coupled with a weight loss of five to 10 percent of body weight, produces a 58 percent reduction in risk of developing diabetes. This diet and exercise approach was as or more effective than medication in slowing and preventing diabetes.

“A diagnosis of pre-diabetes is a great time to take action. We can turn back the clock,” deKay said.

Pre-diabetes

Pre-diabetes means blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes. Unless they take action, people with pre-diabetes are likely to develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years. According to the ADA, 79 million people in the United States have pre-diabetes and most don’t know it. People with high blood pressure, high cholesterol and a family history of diabetes are at a higher risk for diabetes.

Online Diabetes Risk Test

The ADA website offers a short Online Diabetes Risk Test to help people determine whether they are at low, moderate or high risk for developing type 2 diabetes. The test asks simple questions about weight, age, family history and other potential risks for pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes. If an individual is at high risk, he or she is encouraged to talk with their health care provider.

Mills-Peninsula Honored for Diabetes Services

In October 2011, Mills-Peninsula was honored with the California Department of Managed Care’s Right Care Initiative’s gold level of achievement for meeting or exceeding standards for controlling patients’ diabetes and cardiovascular conditions to ensure their best possible health.

Also in 2011, for the ninth consecutive year, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) awarded Mills-Peninsula Health Services’ outpatient diabetes and nutrition services with the ADA Education Recognition Certificate, recognizing quality diabetes self-management.

Learn more:

Diabetes education, prevention information on Mills-Peninsula Website

American Diabetes Association Website

International Diabetes Federation Website

Details, registration info on November 9 “An Ounce of Prevention: Pre-diabetes Workshop,” offered by Mills-Peninsula Health Services

20 Fire Departments from Seven Cities Practice High-rise Rescues

Burlingame, CA — Since the new Mills-Peninsula Health Services Medical Center opened in May 2011, the old hospital has remained largely quiet while preparations for demolition have been underway.

 On Friday, October 28, the old eight-story medical center, located on Trousdale Avenue beside the new Burlingame hospital, was anything but quiet and empty.  The Central San Mateo County Training Division & San Mateo County South Zone Training, in cooperation with Mills-Peninsula Health Services, hosted more than 20 fire companies from seven cities, each with multiple engines and trucks.

Dozens of firefighters – from cadets to senior commanders – dressed in full safety gear and practiced rescue protocols in the unlit halls of the empty hospital. They worked in simulated water-based smoke, some using infrared goggles to detect “victims” in need of rescue and evacuation. There was rapid decision making and constant communication as the teams performed the drills with efficiency and spirit.

Incident Commander Kevin McWhirter,  Division Chief of Training for the Millbrae/San Bruno Fire Departments, oversaw the 20 companies from fire departments from Menlo Park to South San Francisco. Carl Levon Kustin was deputy and Jake Pelk was the safety officer.

For more than a year, Mills-Peninsula Health Services has been planning with local fire departments to use the old hospital for this series of safety trainings prior to demolition of the old structure.

“This was a rare and valuable training opportunity for Peninsula fire departments which typically conduct training in one- to four-story buildings,” said McWhirter. “Because the old hospital is similar to a high rise that is comprised of several separate structures, it was a useful chance to simulate rescues and fire control for much taller structures.”

These exercises tested San Mateo County’s response plan and confirmed the importance of cooperation between first responders, facility staff and on-site contractors.

To date, there have been six full-day training sessions, each of which included:

• Implementation of the new San Mateo County High-Rise Policy
• Staging 8 to 10 engines and other rescue equipment
• A full “wet” drill; pumping and directing water from ground level to top floors using existing standpipe systems.
• Search and rescue operations including breaking through locked doors in the dark and/or simulated, water-based smoke.
• Evacuating “victims” from the building.

Earlier this year, more than 60 fire and police companies toured the new hospital six weeks prior to the May opening so they would be familiar with the building’s layout and evacuation routes. They also shot video for future safety trainings.

“Now that the new hospital is open, the old hospital is slated for a multi-staged demolition,” said Larry Kollerer, project manager. After the demolition of the old hospital buildings is complete, the land will be converted to parking for approximately 300 vehicles.

Note to Media: Video link for use in your stories http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXJC5aip1DU

Contact:

Cynthia Greaves
Public Affairs
greavec@pamf.org
650-934-8614 office
650-444-3019 mobile

Burlingame, California — In  October 2011, Mills-Peninsula was honored with the California Department of Managed Care’s Right Care Initiative’s gold level of achievement for meeting or exceeding standards for controlling their patients’ diabetes and cardiovascular conditions to ensure their best possible health.

The Right Care Initiative (RCI) was launched in 2007 as a public-private collaborative effort to improve clinical quality in three key areas: cardiovascular disease, diabetes and hospital-acquired infections, and to rank among the best in the nation on critical metrics of how well care is being managed.

The Mills-Peninsula Division of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation is one of only 11 medical groups statewide that met the RCI’s gold level of achievement – reaching the national 90th percentile target for performance in cardiovascular and diabetes measures.

“It’s a true honor to receive this award,” said David Boyd, Ph.D., Mills-Peninsula’s Division’s director of quality. “It recognizes the dedicated and collaborative work between our doctors, patients, our quality improvement committee and staff over the last five years to improve the care and outreach to our patients with chronic health conditions.”

Since 2006, the Quality Improvement Department at Mills-Peninsula has provided doctors with regular reports of their patients who have poorly controlled diabetes and cardiovascular conditions. The reports detail what medications have been prescribed to the patients and whether they are filling their prescriptions. The doctors can then use these reports to remind patients either to fill their prescriptions or change their medication regimens, if the current medications are not controlling their health conditions adequately.

Cynthia Sevenants, a certified wellness coach at Mills-Peninsula, also reaches out to patients, helping them make the lifestyle changes necessary to improve their health. Sevenants provides ongoing coaching and support on dietary and exercise recommendations and helps patients understand the benefits of taking their medications.

“We know that patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease need long-term and ongoing support to help them successfully manage their health,” said Boyd. “This award validates our physicians’ and staff’s efforts and the positive impact of focusing on patients with chronic conditions to improve their health outcomes and prevent complications.”

Pictured left to right: Gerry Schwinges, Burlingame Safeway store manager, Christy Duncan-Anderson, executive director of the Safeway Foundation, Harriet Borofsky, M.D., medical director of breast imaging at Mills-Peninsula Women’s Center, Larree Renda, chair of the Safeway Foundation, Gloria Brown, chair of the African-American Community Health Advisory Committee, Karl Schroeder, president of Safeway’s NorCal Division

Program provides free mammograms, diagnostic testing and educational services for underserved women in the area.

Burlingame, California — To mark the grand opening of their new Burlingame, Safeway donated $20,000 to Mills-Peninsula’s Community Breast Program, which provides free mammograms, diagnostic testing and educational services for underserved women in the area.

On Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011, Harriet Borofsky, M.D., medical director of breast imaging at the Mills-Peninsula Women’s Center, was presented with a check at the store’s grand opening. Also present at the event were Terry Nagel, Mayor of Burlingame, and Karl Schroeder, president of Safeway’s NorCal division.

For the past three years, Safeway has partnered with the Women’s Center and the Community Breast Program, providing donations and support. As a result of this partnership, more than 500 women have received screening and diagnostic mammograms to date, and more than five cancers have been detected.

“Mills-Peninsula has set a goal to expand the Community Breast Program to reach and educate more medically underserved women in our community,” said Lisa Scoffield, regional director of Corporate and Foundation Relations at Mills-Peninsula Health Services. “This new donation from Safeway, which is in addition to their continued support, will be used to grow the program and bolster outreach efforts.”

Specifically, the program’s growth goal is to increase the total number of screening and diagnostic mammograms from nearly 300 in 2011 to at least 500 in 2012.

The Community Breast Program is a partnership with the African American Community Health Advisory Committee.