USC Verdugo Hills Hospital was selected as a favorite workplace by readers of local newspapers. The Assistance League of Flintridge donated new clothing to USC-VHH patients through their CAP Care Kits program, which has provided clothing to patients upon discharge for over 10 years. Lauren LeBaron was hired as the new controller at USC-VHH and has over 20 years of healthcare accounting experience.

1. Voice
verdugo
June - July 2014
USC-VHH designated
as a favorite workplace
Readers of the San Gabriel
Valley News Group (Pasadena
Star-News, San Gabriel Valley
Tribune and Whittier Daily
News) selected USC Verdugo
Hills Hospital (USC-VHH)
as a “Favorite Workplace” in
a recent readership survey.
Thank you to all of our
employees and volunteers
for making USC-VHH a
wonderful place to work!
(L to R) Olga Cedeno, Donald Weir, Pat Rademacher, Evelyn Barley, Sue Hailey, Richard McDaniel.
Assistance League
of Flintridge donates
new clothing to
patients of USC-VHH
USC Verdugo Hills Hospital
(USC-VHH) takes exceptional
pride in the quality of its patient
care. Assistance League® of
Flintridge is working with
USC-VHH to further enhance
patient care by donating new
clothing and other necessities
for patients through the Cañada
Auxiliary of Professionals (CAP)
Care Kits program.
CAP is an auxiliary of Assistance
League® of Flintridge. For more
than 10 years, CAP has provided
Care Kits to patients who need
new clothing upon discharge.
“In certain cases, a patient might
arrive unexpectedly to the hospital
and upon discharge is unable to
use the same clothes,” said Olga
Cedeno, manager of volunteer
services at USC-VHH. “Assistance
League® thoughtfully saw and
filled this need by donating new
clothing packets.This great act
of caring for others from CAP
allows a dignified and respectful
discharge for the patient.”
Since its inception, the CAP Care
Kits program has been a strong
benefit to the patients of USC-VHH
and continues to evolve. As the
program
has grown,
the need
has also escalated, with nearly 100
Care Kits delivered from June of
2013 to May of 2014.To keep up
with the demand, CAP has made a
conscious effort to spend smarter by
keeping track of current inventory
at USC-VHH.This, coupled with
online shopping, has allowed CAP
to cut costs while still meeting the
needs of the hospital.
Assistance League® is a national
organization whose mission is
to provide compassionate and
caring services to individuals in
communities across the nation.
Assistance League® of Flintridge
is a La Cañada Flintridge
(LCF)-based chapter dedicated
to the philanthropic needs in
LCF and neighboring areas.
“This amazing group manages a
wonderful program that is caring,
thoughtful and supports patients
at a time when they need it the
most. We appreciate the individual
contribution from each and every
member of CAP and are incredibly
grateful to have been embraced
by them,” Cedeno said.

2. 2
Lauren LeBaron joins USC-VHH
as new controller
Lauren LeBaron has recently joined
USC Verdugo Hills Hospital (USC-
VHH) as the hospital’s new controller.
LeBaron has more than 20 years of
healthcare accounting experience, of
which the last 16 years have been as a
hospital controller. He has worked at
several hospitals, including Monterey
Park Hospital, Century City Hospital,
Midway Medical Center, Hollywood
Presbyterian Medical Center and
Valley Presbyterian Hospital. He
most recently comes from Marina
Del Rey Hospital.
In his new role at USC-VHH,
LeBaron will primarily oversee the
day-to-day accounting, accounts
payable and payroll. Additionally,
he will lead various audits and prepare
the annual budget for the hospital. “I
aim to provide the executive team and
department managers with improved
financial information to assist them in
performing their roles more effectively,”
says LeBaron.
With a master’s degree from Boston
University in Brussels, LeBaron began
his career as a Medicare auditor and later
worked for The Walt Disney Company
and Universal Studios Hollywood.
A 21-year resident of Silverlake,
LeBaron has a passion for traveling.
His recent international trips have
been to India, South Africa, Bali,
France and Hungary. When he isn’t
jet setting throughout the world, you
can find him relaxing and playing
18 holes in Palm Springs.
Annetta Rhinesmith joins USC-VHH
as director of patient safety
Annetta Rhinesmith has been named the director
of patient safety at USC Verdugo Hills Hospital
(USC-VHH). She has spent most of her time
training with the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) and the Society for Healthcare
Epidemiology of America, and has also received
certificated training at Harvard University.
Additionally, Rhinesmith is exceptionally familiar
with the field of healthcare as she has 32 years of
experience in the nursing profession and is a member
of the Association for Professionals in Infection
Control and Epidemiology and the National
Patient Safety Foundation.
As a nurse at Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital,
Rhinesmith and a team of professionals collaborated
on the implementation of preventative measures
for ventilator-associated
pneumonia (VAP), central
line-associated bloodstream
infection (CLABSI), and
sepsis.The development
of these measures was
instituted by CDC,
Institute of Health
Improvements (IHI), Volunteer Hospital Association
(VHA) and other research organizations. Her team
received national recognition by proving that it is
possible to prevent VAP and CLABSI and decrease
the mortality rate associated with sepsis.
“My goal for the hospital is to continue to be
recognized as a safe hospital and to become recognized
as a state-of-the-art healthcare facility that is driven to
Lauren LeBaron
Annetta Rhinesmith
See RHINESMITH, page 3

3. 3
Angela Peachy-Larson named risk
manager at USC-VHH
Angela Peachy-Larson has been appointed as the
new risk manager at USC Verdugo Hills Hospital
(USC-VHH). Peachy-Larson worked at Pomona
Valley Hospital Medical Center for the past 10 years,
where she spent the last six years in risk management
and patient relations.
Avoiding risk issues and assisting patients have been
staples throughout Peachy-Larson’s career, as she
has helped develop many new hospital programs and
policies that serve to mitigate costs and enhance safety
house-wide.Those programs include the Interpreter
Service Committee, Safety Committee and Patient
and Family Centered Care Committee. She currently
serves on the board of directors for the California
Association for Patient Relations, which is an
organization working to develop a state certification
program for advanced patient advocacy. She is also a
member of the American Society of Healthcare Risk
Management.
In her new position as risk manager, Peachy-Larson
will continue to make improvements at USC-VHH
to avoid future incidents, whether the incident is
affecting patient safety,
environmental safety
or equipment safety.
When incidents do occur,
she is responsible for
investigating them and
implementing changes based
off of them. She also works
closely with USC-VHH’s legal counsel to ensure that
the hospital is compliant with all rules, regulations,
policies and protocols.
“My goal is to develop a well-defined risk program
for USC-VHH. I want to work with the staff to help
make improvements to our hospital and to enhance
the programs that are already in place.The number
one goal is to make USC-VHH the best it can be!
The vision is to always strive for excellence,” says
Peachy-Larson.
Married for 17 years, Peachy-Larson is mother to
three boys that always have her running around. On
the weekends, you can find her at a soccer game, the
beach or barbequing with friends.
Angela Peachy-Larson
provide the highest quality care, keeping patients and
their families as predicates at the center of safe care,” says
Rhinesmith, who holds a master of public health with a
concentration in epidemiology.
As a Los Angeleno, Rhinesmith knows the area well and
certainly knows the patient demographics. She has a true
passion for her work, and her concern for the safety of patients
and families extends beyond to her coworkers. In her words,
“paramount to serving the patient is the health and well-being
of the provider, thus it is a requirement of the greatest import.”
Rhinesmith
Continued from page 2
Verdugo Voice is produced bi-monthly
for the staff and volunteers of
USC Verdugo Hills Hospital. Comments,
suggestions and story ideas are welcome.
Please contact Celine Petrossian at
(818) 952-2213 or
Celine.Petrossian@vhh.usc.edu.
Debbie Walsh
CEO,
USC Verdugo Hills Hospital
Deborah S. Fullerton
Associate Vice President,
USC Health Sciences
Public Relations and Marketing
Celine Petrossian
Marketing and Public Relations Specialist,
USC Verdugo Hills Hospital
Kyle Herron
Writer/ Photographer
Kathleen Morris
Designer

4. 4
Rachel Oksun
Rachel Oksun appointed to USC-VHH
clinical nurse specialist
Rachel Oksun has been named clinical
nurse specialist (CNS) for the stroke
program and sepsis initiatives at USC
Verdugo Hills Hospital (USC-VHH).
With a master’s degree in gerontology,
Oksun is seasoned in healthcare as
she has experience in medical surgery,
telemetry and home health case
management. She most recently was
a part of Providence Saint Joseph
Medical Center.
With advanced clinical knowledge and
strong leadership and communication
abilities, Oksun fits well into her new
role. Her primary responsibilities entail
working closely with patients, families
and healthcare providers to facilitate
quality stroke care and preventative
measures. In addition, Oksun is
instrumental in program development,
planning, assessment and performance
improvement for stroke and sepsis care.
She plays an important role in guiding
the efforts for the hospital’s stroke
recertification while also auditing
medical records to ensure that the
standards of compliance are met.
“My goals [in my new role] are to
provide compassionate, timely and
comprehensive patient-centered
care to our stroke patients; provide
personalized patient, family, community
and professional education with a
focus on stroke awareness, prevention,
treatment and best practices; and to
maintain our primary stroke center
certification for higher standards
of care for our patient population,”
says Oksun.
Living in the San Fernando Valley,
Oksun is excited to interact with the
patients at USC-VHH. When she isn’t
tending to her patients, she is a mother
to three children who keep her busy.
Richard Scott transitions into
engineering manager at USC-VHH
Richard (Rick) Scott, a seasoned USC Verdugo Hills Hospital (USC-VHH)
employee, has recently taken over the role of engineering manager. Scott has a
wealth of experience in the medical engineering community, as he has been an
engineer at USC-VHH for more than 14 years.
This new role is a natural transition for Scott, as he has taken on a bevy of
engineering responsibilities during his time at USC-VHH. He not only led the
engineering department during USC-VHH’s search for a new director of plant
operations but also has been an integral part of the engineering team. Scott
ensures that the hospital’s plant operations, boilers and air conditioning systems
continue to operate smoothly and efficiently. When there is a repair needed,
Scott is the man to call. He is known to repair everything – from nurse call
systems to patient beds.
“My goal is to make sure that patient care is the number one priority.
I want to ensure that the patients know that they are in a safe and comfortable
environment,” says Scott.
Richard Scott

5. 5
Hospital wellness program helps
seniors regain strength and mobility
Seniors searching for a regular
exercise regimen under medical
supervision are encouraged to
look into USC Verdugo Hills
Hospital’s (USC-VHH)
Get Up & Go program, a
comprehensive wellness exercise
program that helps seniors in the
community maintain their strength,
coordination and mobility.
Taught by a licensed physical
therapist, the group classes are
for seniors ranging in age from 70
to 95. Participants learn strategies
to handle various balance and
strength-robbing ailments that may
include sclerosis, vertigo, hip and
knee replacements and inner-ear
problems. More than 1,000 seniors
have participated in the program,
since it began in 2007.
Participants have the opportunity
to receive expert advice and
instruction while working in a
group setting to foster wellness.
Overall, the Get Up & Go program
can help seniors achieve and
maintain a healthy lifestyle and
decrease the risk of cardiovascular
disease, obesity, diabetes and other
health-related conditions.
Longtime class participant Jerry
Taylor, 73, said the program helped
him stay active despite a potentially
debilitating diagnosis.
“Many years ago, I was diagnosed
with spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA),
meaning I would have a progressive
degeneration of my basic coordi-
nation and walking abilities and
would eventually need a cane or
wheelchair,” he said. “Now, after
seven years of participating in
the Get Up & Go program at
USC-VHH, I have not only been
able to avoid a wheelchair and
slow the effects of SCA but have
also strengthened my flexibility
and muscle tone.”
“Thanks to this program and the
wonderful instructors, I am still
able to play with my grandchildren
and live independently,” he added.
“Thanks to this program
and the wonderful instructors,
I am still able to play with
my grandchildren and live
independently.”
— class participant
Jerry Taylor
Fitness tips from
Get Up & Go instructors
Cynthia Cancelosi, PT, CSCS,
and Juliette Norman, DPT
· Set aside time every day
for exercise
· Do a little something extra
every day. For example, take
the stairs instead of an elevator
or park far away to walk a
little extra.
· Combine strengthening,
stretching and cardio
movement
· Work out with a buddy to
motivate each other
· Listen to your body and stop
if painful
· Try brushing your teeth
while standing on one leg
to incorporate some balance
training every day
· Drink fluids to stay hydrated
(water is best)
· Try something new to jump
start your fitness, such as a
new exercise class
· Remember a body in motion
stays in motion, but a body
at rest stays at rest - so just
start moving