For teenagers with developmental disabilities, transitioning into adulthood can be especially challenging. OHSU offers a program that helps people with special health needs increase their independence and autonomy. The program is called Supported Decision-Making. It provides tools to help families of children with special needs make decisions on day-to-day life issues such as living arrangement, health care and financial matters. In today’s podcast, hear from a mother and her daughter about...

Posters are a handy way to convey complex information in a streamlined format – and they’re relatively simple to create. By including the right elements and paying attention to visual design, any team or individual can elevate their work by turning it into not just a well-done project, but also a well-told story. Guests include: Debi Eldredge, Nursing Division Director of Quality, Research and Magnet Recognition

What does vision mean to you? A year-long exhibit called The Eye Love Project wants your perspective. The multi-media public awareness campaign will travel Portland throughout 2020 with the goal of sharing the wonder of vision and increase awareness of the importance of eye health. Guests include: Dr. David Wilson Director, Casey Eye Institute

Visitors to OHSU will have an opportunity to learn about Native health and how it is connected to community, the land and spirit. The OHSU Library is hosting a traveling exhibit called Native Voices: Native Peoples’ Concepts of Health and Illness. The exhibit examines health and medicine among contemporary American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians. It explores the ties between wellness, illness and cultural life through a combination of interviews with Native people, artwork and...

Most of the time, nurses are extremely busy taking care of patients — and sometimes they feel too busy to take care of themselves. To address this issue, a committee of nurses at OHSU looked at the science behind taking meals and breaks and created a campaign to address this important topic. With clever posters and a collaborative approach, the team – and ultimately, the entire nursing staff – is working toward positive change. Guests include: Tana Hall - Registered Nurse

A safety management platform at OHSU creates simplified tools for maintaining chemical inventories, inspection records and radiation safety. BioRAFT keeps everything in one place to support community safety and reduce accidents. It will also help maintain compliance with federal and state laws. Guests include: Elyse Paterson-Coleman – Safety Specialist 2, Environmental Health and Safety Thomas Ashton – Safety Specialist 2, Environmental Health and Safety

Two years ago, OHSU selected DNV Healthcare to replace The Joint Commission as the organization that performs onsite accreditation surveys. The purpose of these visits is still to validate that OHSU is meeting regulatory requirements – but there are some key differences in DNV’s approach. Rather than showing up to judge the hospital’s operations, they’re here to work collaboratively and confirm the positive work OHSU does for its patients every day. Guests include Cathy O’Brien, Director,...

Going green is more than a tagline, it’s a way of life. A new group called the Green Team is forming at OHSU to give guidance to departments on incorporating green initiatives in their everyday work. Guest: Madelyn Bryant – Health Unit Coordinator, Center for Women’s Health

When a child gets sick, education can often take a backseat to treatment. But that doesn’t have to be the case at OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, where hospital school meets children at their level with specialized curriculum and experiences – creating a sense of community and normalcy for patients and families. Plus, a bonus to this week’s podcast - celebrate the season with gratitude from the School of Medicine. Guests include: Jane Albertson – Teacher, Hospital School Program at...

For the past 12 years, OHSU students from all across the institution team up for the Health Care Equity Fair, a one-day event to provide important services to people from underserved communities. Hear from one of the co-organizers, who is a second year medical student, about how the event is part of bigger efforts to end health disparities and the impacted it has on the community beyond medical and health support. Guests include: Rachel Caron, M.D. Candidate, Class of 2022, co-organizer of...

CMS, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, requires that hospitals meet specific certification requirements for many of the programs they provide. Achieving certification demonstrates that the hospital meets or exceeds the appropriate standards of clinical readiness, patient safety and patient care. Recently, two teams from OHSU worked closely with DNV Healthcare – a worldwide accreditation and certification organization – to help create those certification requirements for two...

Beginning January 1, OHSU Health will begin operating a new Integrated Delivery System as part of its participation in Health Share of Oregon and the CCO 2.0. CCOs are coordinated care organizations which serve Oregon’s Medicaid population. Learn what this means for OHSU and for patients. Guests include: Katrina McPherson, M.D., chief medical officer, Office of Health Plan Services Johanna Warren, M.D., associate professor of family medicine, OHSU School of Medicine

OHSU recently won an award for sustainability. Kelsey Huwaldt sits down with members of the OR to discuss what efforts went into receiving this award. Guests include: Patty Kimbro – Nurse Manager Dan Nehls – Sustainable Operations Manager Jessica Watson – Registered Nurse Alex Farnham – Surgical Services Technician

34.9% of Oregonians live in rural and frontier communities where there is limited access to healthcare and providers. The Office of Rural Health at OHSU works to support Oregon's rural health clinics and critical access hospitals to strengthen the rural healthcare delivery system through a variety of services. Guests include: Robert Duehmig - Interim Director, Office of Rural Health Emma Felzien OHSU M.D. Candidate, Class of 2020 Raquel Moore - OHSU P.A., Class of 2020

When a child gets sick, education can often take a backseat to treatment. But that doesn’t have to be the case at OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, where hospital school meets children at their level with specialized curriculum and experiences – creating a sense of community and normalcy for patients and families. Guests include: Jane Albertson – Teacher, Hospital School Program at Doernbecher Children's Hospital Brenna Messner – Former student and patient at Doernbecher Children’s...

The Daily Management System is a core component of the OHSU Performance Excellence System (OPEx) and an important part of a successful lean organization. A recent restructure of the training session creates a more hands-on approach to improvements – getting teams ready for their day. Guests include: Alphonse Nwerem - Performance Improvement Consultant David Quitmeyer - Director, Respiratory Care Services

House bill 2220 passed this spring, allowing dentists to provide vaccinations to their patients. The law takes effect, Jan. 2020. The OHSU School of Dentistry has launched the program along with a new vaccination training program for dental school students. Guests include: Phillip Marucha – Dean, School of Dentistry

“Health literacy” describes a person’s ability to understand and process health information — and it’s deeply affected by the complexity of the message, the physical and emotional state of the listener, and much more. OHSU’s Creative Director Megan Pugmire and Family Medicine Physician Cliff Coleman are both deeply involved in work that’s focused on improving health communications. The two of them sat down to talk about what staff members at OHSU can do to present complicated information in...

Employee benefits are one of the most important aspects of a person’s employment, and are often a factor in the decision to join or stay with an organization. OHSU will hold its annual Open Enrollment beginning October 21st, when employees have the chance to choose a benefits package that best meets their needs. Guests include: Andrea Cahoe Supervisor, HR Service Center

On Sunday, Oct. 27, OHSU, Portland Fire and Rescue, American Medical Response and Portland Police, will participate in a full-scale active shooter simulation exercise. Practice and preparation for the worst could save lives and improve OHSU’s ability to respond. Tom Forsyth Training Lieutenant, OHSU Police Heath Kula Chief, OHSU Police, Director, Public Safety Susan Ferguson Health Care Emergency Manager

Introducing kids to health careers in middle school and high school significantly improves their chances of continuing their education in a health science field. An OHSU program called On Track is working with Oregon middle and high schools to increase the number of students from underrepresented minority backgrounds in the health sciences and in Oregon's biomedical workforce. Guests include: Kathryn Lenahan - Program Manager Azalea Martinez - Administrative Coordinator Danielle Jones -...

The Oregon Clinical and Translational Research Institute, OCTRI, community research hub is working to improve the health and wellness of all Oregonians. Engaging researchers, community members and organizations together - to support each other in community-based research. Guests include: Jackie Shannon - Professor Steven Blakesley – OCTRI, Senior Research Assistant Marlene Putman - Administrator, Tillamook County Health & Human Services Department

The Pacific Northwest Transplant Bank, based at OHSU, is part of a national network that collaborates with hospitals to bring organ and tissue donations to the recipients who need them. Executive Director Mike Seely shared with us some of the meaningful stories that have kept him going over 28 years with OHSU – and how we can register as donors ourselves. Guests include: Mike Seely outgoing executive director, Pacific Northwest Transplant Bank

The Spark Health Evaluation program is a starting point for understanding your health and what risk factors you may face. Spark offers anyone who completes a Spark Health Evaluation free enrollment in a Health Enhancement Program. Guests include: Kimberly Regner Program Technician Beth Kempton Senior Research Associate

In May, nearly 2 thirds of OHSUians shared their voices in the 2019 Employee Survey. In August, those results were shared with leaders, and by Oct. 31, those leaders will share their department’s results with their teams. All of this leads to action planning as a team, which need to be determined by Jan. 31, 2019. Guests include: Katy Fonner Senior Organizational Development Consultant