1. Success
Starts Here
March 2016
The energy and excitement building
is a result of several efforts to help
novice nurses find the right department,
feel comfortable in their new roles, and
support experienced nurses as they strive
to grow in their careers.The RN Residency
program is in its third cohort, and is a way
for new nurses to gain exposure to different
areas and find a department that’s a great fit
for both the nurse and their team.
In a 2014 study of the nursing industry and
culture by the RN Work Project, 17.5%
of newly licensed RNs leave their first job
within the first year, and one in three leave
within two years. This is important because
nursing turnover has a significant impact
on overall employee satisfaction, hospital
margins and patient safety.
“Word is traveling through
the nursing community and
throughout the southeast
about the program because
of the positive ways our nurses our reacting to
it. They’re telling other nurses and even sharing
their experiences on social media,” says Rhonda
Poulson, CNO, vice president, clinical operations,
at CHI Memorial. “Standardizing the first six weeks
of orientation before pursuing a clinical specialty
sets a solid foundation for long-term success.”
There are currently 41 new residents participating
in this new structured onboarding process, which
will make a total of 84 who will have completed
the orientation. The current retention rate for these
nurses is 93%, and 60 to 70 new nurses will begin
training in July.
CHI Memorial Nursing:
Recruiting and Retaining the Best!
Good things are happening in nursing at CHI
Memorial.
People
Rhonda Poulson,
CNO, vice
president, clinical
operations
One way CHI Memorial continues its mission to provide the highest quality nursing care is through an intensive RN
residency program. Participants receive a thorough orientation and acclimation to the hospital setting and their
respective departments before they begin caring for patients.
(continued on back page)

2. Expanded Space Breathes New Life and
Energy into Cardiopulmonary Rehab
Regular exercise is one of the proven
keys to living a longer and healthier life.
But knowing what to do, establishing
a routine, and sticking with it are all
challenges patients face – especially
those with cardiac, pulmonary function
or other health issues issues. The new
Lehman Center for Heart & Lung
Rehabilitation at CHI Memorial offers
the latest in exercise technology and
support from medical professionals – all
in a beautiful and open space.
According to the American Heart
Association, regular exercise training
increases cardiovascular function capacity
and decreases myocardial oxygen demand
in apparently healthy persons as well as in
most people with cardiovascular disease.
CHI Memorial’s program is medically
supervised, which mitigates the potential
risk of physical activity through supervision
and education.
“Cardiac and pulmonary conditions cause
shortness of breath that lead people to avoid
exercising, even though that’s exactly what
they need to do,” says Allan Lewis, MS,
FAACVPR, manager of cardiopulmonary
rehabilitation at CHI Memorial. “Now cardiac
and pulmonary rehab patients can exercise in
dedicated areas that the specific needs related
to their medical conditions.
A First in Class Exercise Facility
The bright and open workout floor includes
state-of-the-art cardio equipment like treadmills,
recumbent bikes, and lateral elliptical trainers
ergonomically designed to minimize impact on
major joints while training hip and leg muscles
sometimes missed by other machines.The expanded
range of free weights and exercise and stability
balls help improve core strength, which build up
the muscles that people use in their everyday lives
to twist, bend and keep their balance.
“We’re excited about the variety of group classes we
can offer like cardio fitness, balance, strengthening
and toning, yoga, and even healthful cooking
demonstrations,” says Lewis. “Cardiopulmonary
rehab has always focused on support and education,
and our multipurpose space opens a whole new
realm of possibilities and ways to engage the people
we serve.”
The prevalence of coronary artery disease in
patients over 45, coupled with increasing rates of
heart disease and obesity mean that many patients
easily meet physician referral requirements.
The new center now provides more ways than ever
before to help people lose weight and increase
strength and flexibility – all leading to positive,
long-term effects on good health. A self-pay option
and financial support are also available for qualified
applicants.
“CHI Memorial has been steadily working toward
preventative health programs that match the quality
of care people receive when they are in the hospital,”
says Lewis. “This is one more way we’re keeping
people healthier, out of the hospital, and helping
them improve their quality of life.”
For more information or to refer a patient to
cardiopulmonary rehab, call (423) 495-7764.
For information on programs offered at
CHI Memorial Hospital Hixson, call
(423) 495-7422.
Allan Lewis, MS,
FAACVPR, manager
of cardiopulmonary
rehabilitation
CHI Memorial is a Silver
Sneakers and Silver and
Fit provider, offering
programs that help seniors
get fit and live active lives.
People

3. CHI Memorial has invested in a smarter and
faster medical image system called TeraRecon,
a flexible technology platform that improves the
image viewing experience, interpretation, and
sharing and collaboration capabilities across the
hospital system. Because many health conditions
are imaging intensive, the system’s advanced
viewing and post-processing tools can make the
difference in how these conditions are managed.
“TeraRecon is an advanced visualization program
that allows radiologists or other physicians to
identify and isolate a specific area of the body and
see it unhindered by other internal structures,”
says Charles Piez, M.D., chief of radiology at
CHI Memorial. “One important application
is the evaluation of blood vessels throughout
the body to determine the amount and exact
location of stenosis that can impact vascular
procedures. The automatic and precise measuring
technology provides a consistent, straightforward
measurement of internal structures that can be
reproduced.”
TeraRecon is also valuable for its ability to fuse
three-dimensional and two-dimensional images
into one and manipulate the output based on data
sets pre-installed or specifically entered by the
physician. It displays the single image in black
and white and color, making it easier to identify
and isolate specific areas of concern. These
intuitive viewing capabilities and advanced post-
processing tools integrate with CHI Memorial’s
PACS (picture archiving communication system)
and have the potential to change the way
images are used in diagnosis and treatment
of a wide variety of health conditions.
“The goal for this application is for
physicians and technologists to have a
more streamlined and efficient experience,”
says Christy Sentell, imaging technical
coordinator and patient care liaison. “It’s
designed to offer a broader use of the
technology throughout specialty areas and
foster closer collaboration with referring
physicians.”
Bothphysiciansandcliniciansareengaged
with the implementation process, and
several radiologists are currently using the
platform. Super-users have been trained
in each clinical area and are working to
educate the larger team.Afull go-live for
TeraRecon is targeted for April.
“This system is more than simple
viewing – it meets the needs of multi-
specialty clinicians who need a more
flexible viewer to accommodate
the wide range of clinical uses they
encounter,” says Dr. Piez. “We’re
excited to improve the accessibility,
performance and clinical functionality
that ultimately impact nearly every
area of the hospital system.”
Seeing
Things
Clearly
Integrated Imaging
Software Improves
Function and Accessibility
Technology
Charles Piez, M.D., chief of radiology

4. ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Memorial Hospital
2525 deSales Ave
Chattanooga TN 37404
CHI Memorial Nursing (continued from p.1)
Listening then Leading
Each month, Poulson goes on a “CNO
Roadshow” where she visits different
departments to talk with nurses, listen to their
suggestions and concerns, and quickly address
problems. It’s also a chance to share the ways
nurses are improving processes and patient care.
Nurses who have left to go to other hospitals are
now making their way back, and since July 16%
of all experienced nursing hires were rehires.
Developing a culture and work environment
based on open communication goes a long way
toward improving job satisfaction and retention.
Expanding the Vision
In an effort to attract and retain the best and
brightest talent, Memorial has increased nursing
salaries as a market adjustment to ensure
they are regionally competitive while also
communicating the availability of free or
low-cost continuing education opportunities.
Clinical, educational and leadership tracks
are also being developed to help guide nurses
as they think about career advancement.
“I want CHI Memorial to be a place where
everyone can grow. As leaders, it’s our
responsibility to know that people want
to do new things and be ready to support
their efforts and provide opportunities,”
says Poulson. “My focus is to improve
the lives of our patients and staff while
providing opportunities and encouraging
professional development. The more we
can grow and develop the employees we
have, the stronger we will be.”