Tom’s Blog

Thoughts and observations while driving home from Saint Francis Memorial Hospital

Last modified on 2011-10-26 00:56:10 GMT. 0 comments Top

Just the other day, President Obama declared that all American Troops would be coming home by the end of the year.

I heard this declaration in my car while driving home from work.  As I passed the financial district, I saw a gentleman riding his bright racing bike with a cell phone in his left hand and a Starbuck’s coffee and oversized cigar in the other.  In his mind he was saving time, multi-tasking, but I wondered, was he seeing his environment?

How many times have you passed by a school where every teenager is wearing headphones that in years past would have only belonged to Secret Service agents. Our children seem intent in their listening, but who and what are they listening to?

When I arrived home and my son was engaged in a bitter combat to the end with one of his computer games. But he was alone in the room. Was he really winning? 

Even at Saint Francis, a place where we care for patients and about people, I see countless people communicating by email or phone when they could get up for a minute and knock on the office next door – try communicating face-to-face and make it memorable. 

One of my family friends is an infantry Captain in Afghanistan. Last week he was wounded by shrapnel in a brief firefight. Thankfully he was transitioned home and is recovering.

As our brave men and women return home from their tour overseas,  I hope that we will make the time to be present– put down our earphones, look up from our iPads, X-Boxes, computers, TVs and all of the countless personal and yet, impersonal gadgets, and welcome our troops home. 

They deserve our undivided attention and gratitude for a dangerous job, very well done.

They will need our time and attention-REAL TIME.

Hats Off To Our Volunteers

Last modified on 2011-04-27 22:42:32 GMT. 0 comments Top

I want to personally and publicly applaud our wonderful volunteers during National Volunteer Recognition Week. We are truly grateful that you show up at Saint Francis every day, seven days per week, all hours of the day, to help us and make us look better. We could not run the hospital without you. Please know how much we value you and all of your devoted time and effort. I cannot thank you enough!

Sincerely, Tom

Community Paint Day At Saint Francis

Last modified on 2011-02-11 23:31:56 GMT. 0 comments Top

I am inviting all staff, volunteers, physicians and friends of Saint Francis to participate in Community Paint Day to be held here tomorrow, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12th BETWEEN 10:00 A.M. AND 4:00 P.M. 

We hope that you will participate in the painting process of Saint Francis Memorial Hospital’s MURAL PROJECT that will be on the second floor leading toward our new Operating Rooms and post Anesthesia Department.   THIS IS TRULY A HOSPITAL COMMUNITY EFFORT and we want as many people to get a chance to “paint a stroke onto our history.”  

I will also do some painting….PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE FUN AND MAKE SURE TO MAKE YOUR IMPRINT ON A BEAUTIFUL AND CREATIVE PROJECT!  For more information, please call Jennifer Lacson at 4125-353-6473

What’s Our Secret?

Last modified on 2010-12-09 18:11:54 GMT. 0 comments Top

Several weeks ago a person asked me how I thought Saint Francis could survive in the competitive arena of San Francisco. The person asked if I had a secret plan.  I thought it over and thought about whether or not I had a plan.  And the answer was immediate and strong; yes we do have a plan. It is achievable and will be the wave we ride to ultimate success. I decided that for the benefit of my questioner and for the general public we should uncover our secret plan and let the world know how we are going to do it. 

We will have a seismically safe building .  We have new Operating Rooms, ER,  Burn Unit, and plans for new ICUs. We have the instruments and equipment to provide ultimate care.   

Once I was told by an exiting department head that he didn’t know what went wrong, he always strove to be perfectly adequate.  Well we hire great, or soon to be great, employees. We know that we rely upon our doctors for our success; we are the most physician-friendly hospital in San Francisco. Our medical staff appreciates this and works with us.

We have the advantage of being the best value for cost facility in town while providing the best care in town.   Get the picture.  We are sneaking  up on our competition.  We have the best doctors, the best employees the best building and equipment. We are a good community citizen supporting our communities.   Our plan is clear and simple.   

Attract the best, be the best.    Simple isn’t it.   Now you know our secret.

Once In A Lifetime!

Last modified on 2010-11-12 22:59:26 GMT. 0 comments Top

It’s been a really nice week here at Saint Francis.  I was invited by the Giants and CHW to ride on a FLOAT during the World Series Parade.  After the parade, many people asked me what it was like?  My answer was that this was truly a once in a lifetime event.  I will never again see what seemed like a million people gather in absolute happiness and joy.  People were visible everywhere, not just walking and watching on Market Street, but in windows, on top of buildings and also 50 people deep – standing and watching.  There was total order and respect for our City’s heroes  - similar to ones’ imagination of a crowd gathering for the highest paid “rock stars” or even the Pope.

On the buses back to the stadium from Civic Center, there were police escorts at every corner and it was smooth sailing back to the Ballpark.  Along the way, every business emptied out onto the streets.  I remember one scene where six elderly Asian women wearing aprons walked down the street and took off and waved their aprons to the buses in celebration.   The police tell me that there was no crime other than a few indulgers who were celebrating in their own way.

The police were so well prepared that there was no possibility of any  thing getting out of hand – total peace and happiness in our City by the Bay.

CHW is lucky to have the Giants organization as our friend and partner.  The parade was sponsored by the Giants, CHW and several other organizations and truly highlighted everyday people realizing their dreams and being proud.  This was a truly a People’s Parade and a day that San Francisco will long be proud of.   As we have many challenges with Healthcare Reform, increased taxes, joblessness –for this one day and this point in time, happiness won over.

Social Media & What We Can Learn From Our Teenagers

Last modified on 2010-08-20 00:11:37 GMT. 0 comments Top

Yesterday I was surprised when three strangers walked up to me and commented on one of my blog posts. Being a late bloomer to social media and the blogosphere, it is nice to know folks are reading what I am writing here .

I started thinking about this and related it to what  happened at my home the previous day.  My wife was watching our television when she pushed an incorrect button and the picture went dead.  She  pushed several more buttons to get the picture back – but no luck.     

Calling our son, Tommy, who was playing a computer game – she knew she had an immediate fix.

After insuring that his favorite dish would be served for dinner, my son pushed two buttons and all was right in the TV world.

This brought home the idea that I should not be surprised by the growth of social media. The new world is upon us and MORE BABY BOOMERS AND SENIORS WILL HAVE to continue to adapt to these new technologies while my teenage son and his peers have entirely embraced this new world.   Good luck in the new world,   Tom

The Saints Roll Out an ER Campaign

Last modified on 2010-06-23 17:39:46 GMT. 0 comments Top

Saint Francis Memorial Hospital and St. Mary’s Medical Center have collaborated on a new ER campaign. It’s all about seeing patients in a timely manner.  Both our hospitals see ER patients in under 30 minutes. Of course in a critcal emergency or ambulance drop-off, patients are seen within seconds. Our waiting rooms are practically empty and we like it that way.  The national average ER wait time is approximately 4 hours. guaranteeing a 30minute wait time is extraordinary.

Beginning in July commuters will see pillar and poster ads in Bart and Muni underground stations, as well as  Muni bus wraps all around town with similar ads.

From the President…

Last modified on 2010-05-27 22:41:34 GMT. 1 comment Top

 

Over the past four days the Staff of the Centers for Sports Medicine have been hosting 24 physicians from Mainland China. Our experts have been sharing clinical information and last evening Dr. Jim Garrick invited the entire group to his home for a celebration of the visit.  After leaving the reception last night I tuned in to the late night news only to hear that the international relations between the US and China are worsening. I thought to myself, how can overall relations be worsening when I just left a group of Chinese and Americans separated by language but joined by friendship and a common goal of bringing better health care to our respective citizens. 

It became clear to me that maybe what the world needs now is more exchange programs and uplifting goals and fewer political missions that draw the worst out in in both parties. I trust that our Chinese guests will return home and spread the word that our two countries can and do get along when left alone to do so.

A Successful Cholesterol Campaign!

Last modified on 2010-05-25 17:27:36 GMT. 0 comments Top

Congratulations to the 103 employees who took advantage of our Complimentary and Anonymous Lipid Screening.  The results are in and 47% of our test population have an elevated cholesterol (that’s the bad news).  The good news is that these employees who tested higher than normal, can start doing something today to reduce their cholesterol levels.  Since this was such a successful campaign, we plan to repeat the offering in the near future with the help of our Pathologist Harris Goodman, MD.  Stay tuned for more details!

Chinese Delegation Arrives on Monday

Last modified on 2010-05-24 17:45:28 GMT. 0 comments Top

 

I want to share with our colleagues and friends, that the Centers for Sports Medicine have been chosen by the China State General Administration of Sports (CSGAS) as the location for a four-day exchange of western sports medicine.  East meets West.  We will host a team of 25 Chinese sports physicians, who are the official administrative body of the China Sports Federation and the Chinese Olympic Committee.  Medical Director James Garrick, MD and his team of sports physicians and therapists will discuss the latest treatments for knee and joint replacements; shoulder, hip and spine injuries; and podiatry and dance medicine therapies.  Tours will be conducted of our Sports Centers, our new Operating Suites as well as the Training Room at the AT&T Ballpark and our Saint Francis Health Center at the Ballpark. 

We are very honored to have been selected by this prestigious delegation from the People’s Republic of China.  Join me in giving them a very warm welcome to San Francisco and Saint Francis.

Your Opinion Counts!

Last modified on 2010-05-24 17:47:06 GMT. 0 comments Top

 

Just a quick note to all our Saint Francis employees…it’s that time of year again: DOC Survey!!!  Don’t miss out on the  raffle with cash prizesof  $1000, $750, $500 and $250. Nothing pleases me more than to surprise the lucky winners. 

On a serious note we value your opinions and we want to hear from you. Our employees are our most valuable asset, so please take 5 minutes or less and complete the survey by May 21st.  The DOC survey icon is located on Departmental desktop computers within the hospital. 

Thanks for all your hard work and dedication!

Greetings From Our President

Last modified on 2010-05-24 17:48:33 GMT. 2 comments Top

Hi Tom Hennessy here at Saint Francis Memorial Hospital.  I am taking my first leap into ”Blogging.” A Couple of weeks ago we hosted a luncheon for our wonderful volunteers, many of whom are retired individuals. I asked the group how many were “tweeting” and I got a show of hands of at least 20 people (in a room of 120). I was impressed and when I asked how many were on Facebook, practically every hand was held up. I thought Oh My I had better get with the program, so I am writing my first blog and message on Facebook. As I get my feet wet with this new tool for communication, I invite you to stay connected and keep an eye on our blog and become a fan on Facebook.