O c t o b e r 2 0 1 4

S P E C T R U M H E A L T H
C O M P A N I E S
Proudly serving the communities of Babbitt, Brainerd, Burnsville, Cook, Duluth, Ely, Eveleth,
Grand Rapids, Metro/Faribault, Orr, Rochester, St. Cloud, Silver Bay and Willmar

Eveleth/Virginia Office
2000 Siegel Blvd
Eveleth, MN 55734
218-741-3013
FAX: 218-741-1448

Twin Cities Office
6205 Crossman Lane
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076
651-451-0569
FAX: 651-455-1179

www.spectrumhealthcos.com

Discover Your Social Security Benefits from SocialSecurity.gov
Submitted by Lin Sook, Accounting Manager

Are you saving for retirement? Someday, each of us would like to relax and enjoy the fruits of our labor. In general, Americans
are not saving enough for that Someday when they will retire. Most dont have pensions and must depend on Social Security
for most of their income.
Social Security offers a my Social Security account to help people prepare for and manage their Someday.

With a my Social Security account you can:
Get your online Social Security Statement;
Verify your lifetime earnings;
See estimates of your future benefits;
Manage your benefits; and so much more.

Ten-thousand people reach retirement age daily and many are unprepared. Social Security encourages you and your employees
to plan now by opening a personal my Social Security account at socialsecurity.gov/myaccount. Opening an account online is
quick, safe, free, and easy.
Effective January, 2015 there will be significant
changes to our benefit options. Because of these
changes all employees are required to attend an
open enrollment meeting.

Changes include:
Benefit year change from October September
to January December
The addition of Preferred One medical
insurance
New life insurance carrier, Lincoln Financial

These meetings are designed to explain benefits,
complete the enrollment process, maximize tax
savings through participation and to answer your
questions. Benefit enrollment meetings are a time
to elect new, modify or terminate existing cover-
age.

REMINDER: You must re-enroll in flexible
benefits each benefit period. If you signed up for
medical or dependent flex during the short plan
year (October-December 2014) you will have to
enroll again for the January-December 2015 plan
year.
Tenative meeting dates & times:
St Cloud CFL/ HC- November 4th 1:00
Burnsville CFL- November 6th 1:30
Brainerd CFL/ HC- November 7th 10:00
Silver Bay CFL- November 10th 1:00
Ely CFL/ HC- November 11th 10:00
Babbitt CFL- November 11th 1:00
Cook and Orr CFL- November 12th 10:00
Eveleth/ Corporate- November 12th 2:30
Willmar HC- November 13th
Grand Rapids HC- November 13th
Inver Grove Heights HC- November 20th
Rochester HC- November 18th

Please send questions to:
humanresources@spectrumchealth.com
Benefit Open Enrollment

In keeping with our mission of provid-
ing client-oriented care and the use of
dedicated and professional staff, as an
organization we have asked for feed-
back from both those who serve and
those we serve. This has been in the
form of employee and client/resident
satisfaction surveys. In order for Spec-
trum to remain a successful organization, we must con-
tinuously strive to improve. The feedback we receive
helps us to measure our success and ultimately pro-
vides us with areas of opportunity and growth.

Similar to the listening sessions conducted in July, it
is our intent to share these results with you and provide
a comparison of satisfaction from year to year. For the
homecare and assisted living locations, these surveys
focus on nursing, administrative and ancillary services.
One question we pay particular attention to is if they
would refer our services to others. As an organization,
this is very telling regarding overall satisfaction. Alt-
hough surveys continue to be tabulated, results are in-
dicating that we provide excellent services and are
meeting and exceeding the needs of many of those we
serve. This is because of you!

As an organization, we want an environment and cul-
ture that serves our customers well, but one that also
meets the needs of our employees. The anonymous
employee survey covers many different areas through
its questions training, communication, supervision,
wages and benefits, teamwork and overall alignment to
the companies mission and values. All in all the sur-
veys reviewed up to this point are very positive. As
one would expect, there are areas we can and need to
improve in. We will do that.

Internal surveys aside, this coming November 4
th
, we
will have state and local elections for public office.
Each one of you, 18 and older, has a precious right to
VOTE. Many people around the world do not have this
ability/right!

Please take the time to understand who the candidates
are, and what their positions are on critical subjects.
Subjects like long term care reimbursement and the
Affordable Care Act. The elected officials directly im-
pact you, your families and your paycheck.

Thank you for all you do. Please vote.
Merle
H o r i z o n s P a g e 2
MESSAGE FROM THE OWNER / CEO
Merle Sampson
Babbitt CFL
Saphyre Johnson
Amy Johnson
Allison Hillman
Linda Kraines
Nancy Sleger

Brainerd CFL
Loree Besser

Burnsville CFL
Lois Armstrong
Marybeth Hallman
George Momanyi
Davella Nyaega
Karen Smith
Molly Bossart

Orr CFL
Tammy Adelmann

St. Cloud CFL
Dan Hall
Korrin Angevine
Brandi Scherping
Ely CFL
Amy Mather
Melanie Hangartner
Cassandra Anderson
Nancy Jones

Silver Bay CFL
Cheryl Aronson-
Hinton
Marisa Roberts
Darla Coleman

Eveleth HC
Elizabeth Schlaepfer
Susan Spranger-
Hedblom
Patricia Williams
Shannon Belange
Cassandra Juola

Willmar HC
Diane Moots

H o r i z o n s P a g e 3
Needlestick Safety
Needlestick and other sharps injuries are a serious hazard in
any healthcare setting. Contact with contaminated needles,
scal-pels, broken glass, and other sharps may expose healthcare workers to blood that
contains pathogens which pose a grave, potentially lethal risk.
ACTIVITIES WITH POTENTIAL FOR NEEDLESTICK INJURIES
Home healthcare workers can be at risk for needlestick or sharps injuries when they:
Handle needles that must be taken apart or manipulated after use.
Dispose of needles attached to tubing.
Manipulate the needle in the client.
Fail to dispose of used needles in sharps containers.
Lack proper workstations for procedures using sharps.
Bump into a needle, a sharp, or another worker while either
person is holding a sharp.
Recap a needle.
Work too quickly.
HOW TO PREVENT INJURIES
Bring standard-labeled, leak-proof, puncture-resistant sharps containers to clients
homes. Do not assume such containers will be available there. Promptly dispose of
used needle devices and sharps, which might be contaminated, in the containers.
Plan for the safe handling and disposal of needles before use.
Store containers out of the reach of children, pets, and others not needing access.
Secure used sharps containers during transport to prevent spilling.
Follow standard precautions, infection prevention, and general hygiene practices.
Use devices with safety features provided by your employer.
If you experience a needlestck or sharps injury or are exposed to the
blood or other body fuid, immediately follow these steps:
Wash needlesticks and cuts with soap and water.
Flush splashes to the nose, mouth, or skin with water.
Irrigate eyes with clean water, saline, or sterile irrigants.
Report the incident to your supervisor immediately.
Complete First Report of Injury form with supervisor.
Seek medical treatment.
Seasonal flu shots are available
to employees throughout the
month of October.
Please see your Nursing
department for details.
PLEASE WORK SAFELY!
The Center for Disease Control reports that
cases of non-fatal occupational injury and illness
are higher among workers in the healthcare
field than among workers in any other industry.
Top injuries/illnesses include:
Sprains and strains
Slipped discs
Bloodborne disease
Broken bones
Infections

H o r i z o n s P a g e 4
Period Ending September 30, 2014

Lost Time Accidents..0
Injury-Related Days Lost this Month......0
Injury-Related Days Lost 2014...........0
Minor injuries Reported 2014..30

Please work safely!
Lost-time injuries drive up our cost of providing quality care.
humanresources@spectrumchealth.com


The (S)Miles Recogniton Programs purpose is designed to allow
all employees (or clients) to express appreciaton to any Spec-
trum employee who exhibits performance that goes above and
beyond normal expectatons. Spectrum (S)Miles are awarded to
employees who go above and beyond normal expectatons in the
areas of:




Each valid Spectrum (S)Mile is accompanied by ten Spectrum
points. Employees can use their accumulated points to purchase
Spectrum branded merchandise thru Spectrums Recogniton
Catalog. Please see your supervisor or administratve staf for
more informaton on how to give or receive Spectrum S(Miles).

This months Spectrum (S)Miles were awarded to:
Taylor Bakk, Melissa Beaune, Monica Brown, Felisha Cadena,
Dawn Carlson, Kathy Celley, Ethel Collins, Erin Elkins, Heather
Fealy, Nikki Field, Kathleen Gabrielson, Kara Kampa, Chelsie
Kennedy, Rutha King, Jen Lannigan, Debbie Lenzen, Corissa Lin-
dell, Lizbeth Thom, Robynn Lloyd, Misty Mealey, Anabel Nunez,
Cory Nynas, Ashley Penoncello, Shandy Potes-Mangra, Eliza-
beth Schlaepfer, Gayle Shoemaker, Alicia Sobyra, Mickaela
Whiteside and Shannon Woodworth.

They received recogniton from their supervisors or co-workers
for going above and beyond their day-to-day dutes. These indi-
viduals will receive points that can be applied towards Spectrum
merchandise. Thouands of (S) Miles have been given to deserv-
ing Spectrum employees since the program began in 2010.
Performance
Customer satsfacton
Safety
Teamwork
Cost savings
Leadership
Walls going up at Aurora Carefree Living
S Swords, knives, and similar costume accessories should be short, soft, and flexible.
A Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in groups or with a trusted adult.
F Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you.
E Examine all treats for choking hazards and tampering before eating them. Limit the amount of treats you eat.

H Hold a flashlight while trick-or-treating to help you see and others see you. Always WALK from house to house.
A Always test make-up in a small area first. Remove it before bedtime to prevent possible skin and eye irritation.
L Look both ways before crossing the street. Use established crosswalks wherever possible.
L Lower your risk for serious eye injury by not wearing decorative contact lenses.
O Only walk on sidewalks whenever possible or on the far edge of the road facing traffic to stay safe.
W Wear well-fitting masks, costumes, and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips, and falls.
E Eat only factory-wrapped treats. Avoid eating homemade treats made by strangers.
E Enter homes only if youre with a n adult. Only visit well-lit houses. Do not accept rides from strangers.
N Never walk near lit candles or luminaries. Be sure to wear flame-resistant costumes.
For more
information
about these
tips, visit:
www.cdc.gov/
family/halloween