As of this past Saturday, April 13,2013, our corporate website, www.carondelet.org, has an impressive, new look that ties cohesively to Carondelet’s “Be well” brand identity. Read More... Click here for Portal Access Instructions.

If you are unable to access Cerner due to an error indicating there are “No Terminal Server Licenses Available”, please open this file and double-click on “MSLicensing.reg” to run the fix. After running the application, please try accessing again.

Electronic books provided by the CHN Medical Libraries can now be accessed from your smartphone or other mobile device. Stat!Ref, the source of nearly 200 e-books in the health care fields, just released iPhone and BlackBerry apps. An app for Android will be available soon.  More Information...

Please read the attached Advocacy Alert about the potential impact on healthcare from the Debt Ceiling Negotiations, and Representative Gabrielle Giffords’ return to the House floor on Aug. 1.  Read Message...

Please read this special message from Carondelet St. Mary’s Hospital CEO Winnie Fritz about an exciting renovation project at the hospital.  Read Message...

Health Alert: Investigation of an increase in Guillain-Barré Syndrome, Arizona

The Arizona Department of Health Services, in conjunction with local health departments and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is investigating a cluster of acute flaccid paralysis in Arizona. Eight cases have been identified. Five of these cases have been confirmed as Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) based on clinical, laboratory, and electrodiagnostic features. Onset of neurologic symptoms have ranged from May 28, 2011 to June 23, 2011 and have occurred 1-2 weeks after diarrheal illness. The majority of the cases are male. Ages range from 18-76 years.

GBS is a serious neurological disorder involving damage to the peripheral nerves. The condition is thought to be caused by an immune reaction, generally in response to an antecedent illness or infection, that leads to nerve damage. GBS is typically characterized by the acute or subacute onset of progressive, symmetrical weakness in the legs and arms, with loss of reflexes. Sensory abnormalities, cranial nerve abnormalities such as facial weakness or difficulty swallowing, and paralysis of respiratory muscles also can occur.

ADHS is requesting that clinicians notify their local health department of any cases of acute flaccid paralysis or Guillain-Barré Syndrome. In addition to routine diagnostic testing, we are requesting that healthcare providers submit stool, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum specimens from suspected cases to the Arizona State Public Health Laboratory. For each sample, a microbiology submission form should be completed. Please mark the Outbreak box and list the Outbreak Name as AFP on the submission form. Samples should be shipped to Bureau of Laboratory Services: 250 N. 17th Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85007. For questions about packaging and submitting specimens, refer to the Guide to Laboratory Services.

If you have any questions, please contact your local health department or the Arizona Department of Health Services at (602) 364-3676. Thank you!

**DISTRIBUTED BY THE ARIZONA HEALTH ALERT NETWORK

Case Management Conference For Patients With Cranial and Spinal Diseases: Oncologic, Vascular and Functional Neurologic

DATE: Every 2 weeks on Wednesday from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM. *Lunch will be provided.

May 11th, 25th June 8th, 22nd July 6th, 20th
August 3rd, 17th, 31st September 14th, 28th
October12th, 26th November 9th, 23rd December 7th, 21st

PRESENTERS: Dr. Eric Sipos, Dr. Michael Manning, and Dr. David Frye
The speakers disclose no financial interest that would constitute a conflict of interest.

LOCATION: Planning Room in Suite #185, St. Josephs Medical Plaza II

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1. Discuss neuro-oncology, SRS, radiation therapy and neurosurgery.
2. Debate treatment options in a multidisciplinary forum.
3. Produce patient management decisions with all critical parties

Carondelet Health Network is accredited by the Arizona Medical Association to provide Continuing Medical Education for physicians.

Carondelet Health Network designates this live activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits ™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Please contact Jan Draper, RN, 546-1778 for questions and if you have a case you would like presented.

May 11, 2011

Dear Physicians, Colleagues & Associates:

As many of you are aware, we have elected to terminate six of our contracts with Pima County/Bridgeway. Our contract termination also follows the move by the State of Arizona‘s Medicaid program, AHCCCS. The Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS) contract for patients living in Pima or Santa Cruz counties was awarded to Evercare Select. We are currently in discussions with Evercare Select so that we can continue to provide services to our patients.

The decision to terminate this specific group of AHCCCS contracts involved careful consideration. The Pima/Bridgeway group of contracts has historically paid us significantly less than what it costs us to care for this patient population. This does not mean that these patients will no longer have coverage. AHCCCS will be notifying all patients impacted of their coverage options. For our ALTCS patients at Holy Cross the coverage option will be Evercare Select.

The decision is a financial decision, however it does not detract from our mission to provide care for the poor and vulnerable. Our patients will have coverage options through a different contract under AHCCCS. The termination dates impacting specific facilities and programs are as follows:

• St. Mary’s Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Holy Cross Hospital (including ancillary): 5/1/11
• Carondelet Heart & Vascular Institute: 7/1/11
• St. Mary’s Hospice: 7/1/11
• Holy Cross Hospital SNF: 7/1/11 (current SNF patients can be seen through 9/30/11

Patients who are dual-eligible are NOT affected by the cancellation of these contracts. These patients may be seen at any Carondelet facility indefinitely. Dual-eligible refers to patients with ‘primary’ insurance through any insurance except Pima Health Systems/Bridgeway and with AHCCCS as ‘secondary’ insurance through Pima Health Systems/Bridgeway.

We continue to work with Pima Health System/Bridgeway to transition patient care as seamlessly as possible. We will notify you of any updates/changes as soon as information is available.

If you have questions/concerns, please let us know and we will address those issues immediately. Please call (520) 872-7208 for assistance.

Sincerely,

Deb Mohesky
EVP, Chief Financial Officer

May 10, 2011
In an effort to decrease noise at night and provide an environment conducive to rest and healing, we are requesting that overhead paging for physicians and overhead announcements not occur between the hours of 2000 thru 0600 at Carondelet St. Joseph’s Hospital. Associates will be asked to contact physicians via their pagers instead. We appreciate your cooperation with the important step to enhance our patients’ satisfaction.

Check out the latest edition of The Tablet, the Carondelet Health Network Pharmacy and Therapeutics newsletter, which has been posted in the Newsletter section the internal Pharmacy website. The following link can only be accessed from within a Carondelet Health Network facility.

Link to The Tablet