Newsbriefs

Shuttle stop to relocate July 1

On July 1, the YNHH intercampus shuttle stop will move from York and Cedar streets to South Street, across from the Smilow Cancer Hospital entrance. The change is being made to provide faster service and less wait time between buses. For information, contact the Parking and Transportation Office, 203-688-2623, York Street Campus, or 203-789-5958, Saint Raphael Campus.

Two blood drives scheduled for July

The American Red Cross will hold two blood drives in July. The first is 7 am - 12:30 pm Thursday, July 2, Saint Raphael Campus cafeteria. To make an appointment contact Anne Baker, 203-789-4010. A second drive will be 7 am - 12:15 pm Tuesday, July 7, York Street Campus, East Pavilion special events area. To register for the YSC drive, visit the red cross website and use YALENHHOSP as the sponsor code.

Career exploration fair July 8

Employees are invited to a career exploration information fair, 9 am - 3 pm Wednesday, July 8, Saint Raphael Campus cafeteria. Employees must present their YNHH badge for admission. Representatives from area colleges and organizations will discuss educational programs, and additional resources will be available for employees exploring healthcare opportunities. For information, contact Cynthia Lowman, 203-688-1085.

Notes at noon concerts start July 10

Notes at Noon, the annual summer music concert series sponsored by the Yale New Haven Hospital Auxiliary, celebrates its 29th year this year. Beginning July 10, concerts will be held on seven Fridays, noon - 1 pm in the Hunter Courtyard at the corner of York and Cedar streets (weather permitting). This year's line-up includes:

July 10: Billy Cofrances Jazz Band;
July 17: Jeff Fuller and Friends, Latin jazz and big band;
July 24: 102nd Army National Guard Band;
July 31: The George Baker Band, R&B/jazz;
Aug. 7: Fran McIntyre and Friends, gospel/jazz/blues;
Aug. 14: Nu Haven Kapelye, Klezmer Big Band;
Aug. 21: Drew Fermo and Friends, soft jazz and mellow funk.

Dependent Tuition Loan Program applications due Aug. 1

YNHH's Dependent Tuition Loan Program allows eligible employees to borrow money for college tuition for their dependent children. To qualify, the employee must have completed the equivalent of at least five continuous years of full-time service (or a combination of full- and part-time continuous service), and the dependent child must be under age 25 and enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student. Employees may borrow up to $2,500 per child, per academic year, up to $10,000 maximum over four years. The hospital pays the interest on the loan while the student attends school; loan repayment begins once the child graduates or at the end of the loan term. Applications are available in the Benefits Office or can be printed from the benefits page on the YNHH intranet (click Application under Employee News/Events). Completed applications are due Aug. 1 to be considered for the fall semester. Employees who received a $2,500 loan through the program in December 2014 are not eligible for another loan until December 2015.

A Positive Difference campaign enrollment opens

A Positive Difference is the employee giving program created four years ago to make it easy for employees to include YNHH in their annual charitable giving. Employees have a choice of five funds to support; may give $2 or more per paycheck through automatic payroll deduction; and can change the amount or fund they're giving to at any time through Employee Self Service. A mailing explaining A Positive Difference will be sent to employees' homes this month. Employees who enroll in the program by Wednesday, Sept. 30 will be eligible for a drawing for an iPad. For more information select Positive Difference under the Pay tab on Employee Self Service, visit Positive Difference or call the Office of Development, 203-688-9644.

New blue safety boxes installed

In response to employee requests, the hospital has installed a number of new blue safety phone boxes along pedestrian routes employees commonly use: at the Grimes Center, 131 Sherman Ave., 2 Howe St., the corner of Scranton Street and Sherman Avenue and the Sherman-Tyler parking lot.

Smilow, Saint Francis, announce partnership

YNHH and Saint Francis Care, parent of Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center, recently announced a new partnership at Saint Francis, creating an integrated oncology services program to better serve the greater Hartford community. This new partnership brings the clinical program of Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven to the Saint Francis Campus and gives Saint Francis patients enhanced access to groundbreaking clinical trials, broader screening and diagnostic tools, treatment options, expanded psychosocial support and enhanced pain management therapies.

Replacement product to address medical tubing misconnections

YNHH is addressing medical tubing misconnections — a serious safety issue — by transitioning to new enteral feeding device connectors and associated drug delivery. Current pump sets, feeding tubes, gastrostomy tubes, enteral syringes and extension set connections will change. New connectors will be introduced over several months and affect physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, caregivers and patients across the continuum of care. When existing supplies of enteral feeding tubes and feeding tube bags/tubing and other enteral products are gone, they will be replaced with new product. For more information, contact Carol Codeanne Teixeira, RN, coordinator, Nursing Practice and Policy, 203.688.8331.