Dear Cooper Team:
Across our nation and world, we are unfortunately seeing a rise in senseless violence. Most recently, Israel suffered a horrendous terrorist attack with civilians being brutally killed, injured, and kidnapped. This violence has caused profound pain within the Cooper University Health Care community. It is almost certain that more innocent civilians will lose their lives as the fighting escalates. It is at these times we must make a special effort to check on and care for each other. And despite all that we see around us, we must, without discrimination or prejudice, focus on our mission to serve, to heal, and to educate our communities. These are difficult times. As team members, let us continue to do our best to treat each other, and those we care for, as we would want to be treated. If you are struggling and would like to speak to someone, you can call The Employee Assistance Program at 800-437-0911.
What You Should Know This Week:
- This week, we launched our Engagement and Culture of Safety Survey. We hope that you will take some time to carefully review the information that was sent out, provide thoughtful feedback, and encourage other team members to participate. For more information, click here.
- Hospital Heroes. Congratulations to Generosa Grana, MD, FACP, Director, MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, and Tudor Jovin, MD, Medical Director, Cooper Neurological Institute, who were recognized as “Hospital Heroes” by ROI-NJ. Click here to read more.
- This Friday, October 13, mums are coming. Volunteers from The Michaels Organization and the Ronald McDonald House of Southern NJ are coming to Cooper to plant mums, as part of a community outreach program. We want to thank them for thinking of Cooper for their volunteer, team building initiative. Cooper is looking to develop similar volunteer opportunities to give back to local communities. If you want to volunteer for such a program or know of an organization that would like to partner with us on such a project, please contact Volunteer services at Volunteers@CooperHealth.edu.
- Cooper is proud to welcome four new military team members who will be stationed as part of the Army Medical Department Military-Civilian Trauma Team Training Program. Please join us in welcoming physician assistant Capt. John Maitha; trauma surgeon Maj. Robert DesPain, MD; emergency medicine physician Maj. Michael Lajeunesse, MD; and paramedic Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Hayen. For more information, click here.
- Today, October 11, is National Coming Out Day. At Cooper, we are committed to improving accessibility to compassionate, inclusive care without judgment and to ensuring that all of our team members feel comfortable being their authentic selves at work. To learn more about the services provided through the Center for LGBTQ+ Health, please click here. And stay tuned for more information about Cooper Pride, our LGBTQ+ Team Member Resource Group.
- This week is International Infection Prevention Week, which highlights the importance of infection prevention and the crucial role that infection preventionists (IPs) have in keeping our community safe and healthy. Thank you to all of our IPs for the invaluable work you do each and every day. To read more, click here.
- Happy Emergency Nurses Day and Emergency Nurses Week. We are proud to honor the dedication, compassion, and strength that emergency nurses display even in the most challenging times. Please join us in thanking our Cooper emergency nurses for the extraordinary care they provide to our patients. To read more, click here.
- Next Friday, October 20, Cooper will GO PINK to recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Team members throughout Cooper and MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper are encouraged to wear pink to show their support and raise awareness about breast cancer screening. We also encourage you to share pictures on Pulse+ of yourself, your coworkers, or your entire unit or department proudly wearing pink. For more information, click here.
- October is Health Literacy Month. During this month, we recognize the importance of making health information easy to understand for patients and families. To learn more about how we promote better patient outcomes, click here.
Reminders:
- Join us on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, as we celebrate Col. Kirby Gross, MD, and his retirement from the U.S. Army after 21 years of service. Col. Gross is a trauma surgeon assigned to Cooper’s Division of Trauma in the Section of Military, Diplomatic, and Field Surgical Affairs. All Cooper team members are welcome to join the celebration. Click here to read more.
- Give ‘em Pumpkin to Talk About. Now that our annual pumpkin decorating contest is officially under way, we hope to see pumpkins popping up on Pulse+ all month long. This year’s theme options are “sporty” or “scary” spice. Click here for more details.
- Week on the Wards. As part of their education at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, first-year medical school students gain early exposure to clinical hospital medicine and hospital operations during their week on the wards, or “WOWs,” at Cooper. From now through October 20, 2023, the students will be moving throughout the hospital in both clinical and non-clinical areas during all shifts. Please welcome them as you see them in your area or throughout the hospital. To read more, click here.
- Cooper’s 2023 Flu Vaccination Program will continue until Thursday, December 7, 2023. You can view the flu shot clinic schedule here. For more information about the flu clinic, click here. The new COVID-19 vaccine is also now available. For more information about the new COVID-19 vaccine, click here.
- Cooper will host the first New Jersey Social Determinants of Health Hackathon. The deadline to register has been extended to October 20, 2023. For more information and to register for the event, click here.
- Mindful Mondays. Join Cooper’s Compassion and Resiliency Experience Program to learn how to reduce stress and more. The next session is October 23, 2023. Click here to read more.
Other News:
- Click here to read the most recent Daily Dose, “It’s 10 p.m. Do you know where your thoughts are?” As always, you can view the Daily Dose archives here.
- We love positive patient feedback. Kudos to all who are making The Cooper Experience a reality, including Janiyah, Tisha, Alexa, Sam, Tria, Bernadette, and Drs. Bowen, Kaddissi, Rachoin, and Mark. Click here to read more.
- Do you have a favorite movie quote that you would like to see featured in the weekly co-CEO message? Send your most-loved movie quotes to MessageFromCoCEOs@CooperHealth.edu and check back each Wednesday to see if your quote was picked.
- Movie Quote: “Since when do vampires like baseball?”
Please email CEOQuestions@CooperHealth.edu with any questions or comments.
We hope everyone is having a healthy and productive week. We appreciate all you do for our patients and each other.