Employees are encouraged to participate in the Connecticut Well-Being Survey, which is sponsored in part by all three Yale New Haven Health System hospitals. Siena College in New York State is conducting the telephone survey between now and October, so surveyors will call from the 518 area code. Questions will cover well-being and quality-of-life issues, and responses will be anonymous and completely confidential. Results will be published by DataHaven later this year to help local leaders better understand community priorities. For more information contact Augusta Mueller, community benefits manager, 203.688.3862.
YNHH's Complementary Service Department will host a labyrinth walk, 11 am - 1:30 pm Monday, June 22, Seminar Room, 55 Park St. Free and open to the public, the labyrinth walk is a meditative exercise that takes about five to 10 minutes and allows for contemplation and reflection. Additional labyrinth walks are scheduled for September through November; watch for future announcements. The YNHH Auxiliary is sponsoring the events. For more information call 203.200.6129.
Employees who will use the new ICD-10 codes in patient records will be notified about required HealthStream training that should be completed as soon as possible. On Oct. 1, 2015, the federal government is requiring healthcare organizations to change from ICD-9 codes — which have been used since 1979 — to new ICD-10 codes, which indicate diseases, signs and symptoms, abnormal findings and other information. For more information about ICD-10, including FAQs and helpful links, visit the ICD-10 site on the YNHHS employee intranet.
VHA Inc. recently recognized Yale New Haven Hospital and Yale New Haven Health System for sustainability achievements over the past year. The hospital increased environmental savings through several initiatives, including expanding clinical recycling to all operating rooms, increasing its recycling rate and volume of consumables that are reprocessed, and expanding sustainable food selections. YNHH also reduced the number of single-occupancy vehicles and implemented motion sensors to turn off lights automatically in unoccupied areas. Yale New Haven Health System was recognized for innovation and creativity in the supply chain management category for improvements in processing implantable devices at the system's three hospitals. Each year the health system purchases more than $45 million in implantable devices; automating this process reduced paperwork and saved time. VHA is a network of not-for-profit healthcare organizations serving more than 1,350 U.S. hospitals.
