OFREUDIAN NEWSLETTER TEAM

Pat Murphy
Nancy Mendoza
Jay Beiler
Beth Catton
Sue Fish
Jane Lynch

ARTICLES
FROM THE HEART BY CRS PAT MURPHY
MEET BETTE LOU DAVIS BY SUE FISH
KATIE MERICLE - NURSE OF THE YEAR SADDLEBACK HOSPITAL
OXFREUDIAN NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION 2007 BY JAY BEILER
THRILL SEEKERS AND SPORTS ENTHUSIASTS BY BETH CATTON
CULINARY FESTIVE DELIGHTS BY JANE LYNCH
OXFREUDIAN BOOK REVIEW BY NANCY MENDOZA

FROM THE HEART BY PAT MURPHY, CRS

Happy December, fellow Oxford Care Managers!!! I hope you are all well and filling up with Christmas Spirit here in early December. In Missouri, where I am living, we have already had over a foot of snow and temperatures in the single digits, so getting into the environmental spirit of Christmas isn’t too hard. And, from what I have seen and heard from my wonderful colleagues, we are all getting into the charitable spirit as well. Sometimes it is good to sit back, and reflect on the recent past, enjoy the present and look forward to the future. We have come far together, and have the opportunity to go even farther in the weeks, months and years ahead. We are privileged to work in the company of colleagues who really values us, not only what we do but also who we are. We have the privilege every day of interacting with people in a positive, nurturing way. Counting our blessings is a worthwhile exercise, and one I personally try to do every now and then. It helps to balance out our awareness and appreciation barometers. So during these beautiful winter days, whether yours are white and cold, or green and warm, please take a minute to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas, and know that you are absolutely loved and appreciated more than you know. I wish everyone in our little “Oxford family” a blessed holiday season and a fulfilling and exciting New Year.

MEET BETTE LOU DAVIS FROM THE PITTSBURGH TEAM BY SUE FISH

Bette Lou’s career in nursing started out as a Staff Nurse on a surgical open heart unit in a major Pittsburgh hospital. From there she moved onto a variety of traveling nurse positions, to a management position with home health agency, to a CCM with American Healthways. Bette Lou joined American Healthways in 2001.

While working as a CCM at the Pittsburgh CEC, she became a member of the Intranet project team. She developed the project plan, and coordinated both the development of the Intranet site and management of the site, and was responsible for training and documentation. Four years later, Bette Lou accepted a position as a High Risk Care Manager with the StatusOne division of Healthways. As a HRCM with StatusOne, Bette Lou takes pride in the fact that she can offer her high risk patients continuity in their care.

Because of Bette Lou’s technical expertise, she became comfortable quickly with working in a home based care management virtual world. As a “Power User” for her Pittsburgh telework team, Bette Lou is able to offer her team mates help with technical questions, and with new software roll outs when needed.

In 2004, Bette Lou obtained her Master of Science Degree in Management and Technology. One of her classes at Carlow University required her to come up with a business plan for a product to sell on the Internet. Her professor at the time was very impressed with Bette Lou’s product and he encouraged her to have the product patented. Bette Lou’s product, the Pet’s Pocket Locket, was inspired in some ways by her nursing career. She states “As a nurse, I talk to many patients who are very ill; and many are homebound, and their pet is all they have. What upsets many of these patients is when they take their pet to the vet to have them put to sleep; they come home from the vets with nothing more than an empty collar”. The Pet Pocket Locket is not just a memorial but can be used a tribute as well. Some may choose to save a lock of their pet’s fur; some may choose to save their pet’s baby teeth, or any other small object. With Bette Lou’s hinged locket, these items can be saved in a clear view compartment on the bottom and on the top there is a pocket magnet to hold a photo of the pet lover’s pet.

Aside from working on her invention, Bette Lou’s personal life consists of home remodeling and boating. When she moved into her current home, she completely gutted the home herself and then rebuilt it from scratch. She had no experience with this kind of work prior to becoming a home owner, but she states she went out and bought books on the subject and learned. As a single woman, she states “you either learn to do it or it does not get done”. She recalls one day when it took her six hours to replace a toilet ……but when the project was finally completed she could not help but to stand there and flush the toilet several times. With each flush of water, she could not help but to smile……after all, she could not believe she had successfully completed the project!!

In 1989 Bette Lou purchased her first boat and spent most of her weekends on the local Western Pennsylvania Rivers and lakes water skiing. She has since sold that boat and now enjoys the water by kayaking on the weekends.

KATIE MERICLE - NURSE OF THE YEAR AT SADDLEBACK HOSPITAL

Katie Mericle was named Nurse of the Year 2006 at Saddleback Memorial Medical Center Women’s Hospital. She was nominated by the Baby Alumni Club. The parents of infants and pediatric patients that received nursing care by Katie sent letters for this award. There will be an award presentation in January 2007 at the Ritz Carlton in Dana Point during annual Ritz Carlton wine tasting fund raiser. We are very proud of you Katie!

TOP 10 OXFREUDIAN NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS FOR 2007 BY JAY BEILER

1. Start each day by throwing darts at the latest workflow.
2. Add exercise to your work day by doing a Happy Dance whenever a doctor’s office gives out patient information.
3. Stay nutritionally balanced by eating a “Dr. Phil’s Shape Up! Bar” for each A1c documented.
4. Act out Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” whenever email arrives about yet another meeting.


5. Frame a copy of your performance evaluation after yearly bonuses have been funded.
6. Write a HRSS about yourself.
7. Contact Human Resources and ask why Nurse’s Day isn’t a company holiday.
8. Call the Help Desk and inform them that the dog ate your computer and Belkin Battery.


9. Find some way to celebrate Groundhog Day each day during the month of February.
10. Around the middle of January send the CEO a note observing that our company hasn’t changed its name yet this year.

THRILLS SEEKERS AND SPORTS ENTHUSIASTS BRAGGING COLUMN BY BETH CATTON

Diane Barnett-Chermak, LCM has the “need for speed!” Pictured here on her Quad in the desert Diane has been riding for only three years and writes, “Imagine taking up such a sport when you are over 50 years old. My Grandpa's brother was Ed Kretz who won the first Iron Man motorcycle race. He has a museum in Colorado. Guess it's in my blood. I love to go as fast as I can. I also love curves and modest jumps and mild motocross type terrain. We do a lot of exploring as well. My dog Addie likes to sit in front of me on the seat and take rides. Her balance has gotten quite good. She is upset when I take off without her. We ride in the desert. Ocotillo wells, Glamis, and out by the Salton Sea. I don't water ski much anymore so this thrills my need for speed.” Keep on riding Diane!

Fran Donovan son, Ryan
Be sure to watch for my son, Ryan Donovan, singing Happy Birthday to his sister Jennifer during an ESPN sport fishing competition next March.

My son Ryan lives in Dallas and was involved in 2 Sport Fishing tournaments in Cabo San Lucas in the last two weeks with prizes of more than $3 Million.

Ryan owns a sport fishing business in Cabo called RedRum Sport Fishing and is thus an avid sport fishing enthusiast. In the first event ESPN leased Ryan's boats for a 3 day televised competition with prizes totaling more than $3 million dollars for the largest fish. Ryan did not win any prizes but was able to sing Happy Birthday to his sister Jennifer while the ESPN cameras were rolling. So I'm hoping that might be broadcast rather than end up on the editing floor.

The competition was called "Who Wants to go Fishing?" and the folks from ESPN traveled around the country with a van blaring the question, "Who wants to go fishing?” As volunteers lined up, the folks from ESPN chose a large number of people from around the country and gave them all expense paid trips to Cabo San Lucas to compete in this event. ESPN will televise this competition some time next March.

The following week, Ryan caught several very large tuna and marlin in a TUNA competition but did not win the $3 million prize then either. For those who do not know much about sportfishing competitions, these fishing events are expensive and each competitor pays more than $1000 to compete in a 3 day event. The prize money is a complicated algorithm of how many people per boat, the weight of the fish, the length of the fish, etc.
Bless his heart is all I can say.”

Beth Catton’s Daughter, Jacqui
Our 11 year old daughter, Jacqui is an avid sports player competing in baseball, gymnastics, volleyball and especially, SOCCER! Jacqui has been in constant motion since she was able to crawl and developed a love for speed and competition early on. She is fortunate to be the youngest of our family of five children and benefits from the pummeling she has received from her older siblings by being “tough” and focused in competition.

Jacqui’s nickname bestowed on her by her friends is “ADIDAS”. For those of you who do not know what ADIDAS stands for it is the acronym: ALL DAY I DREAM ABOUT SPORTS. Jacqui has been the captain of her travel soccer team for the last 2 years and plays forward striker. She is trying out for a new club team that will have “premier” or the highest level of soccer status when she turns 12 next year. Her team recently won their age bracket at the Nike Harvest Cup in Orange County and she will be traveling and competing over the winter season in both the Celtic Cup and State Championship Soccer tournament in California. Our family teases her about this picture because she rarely looks this “sweet” when she is playing soccer. I am happy to say I am a “Soccer Mom” and loving it!

CULINARY FESTIVE DELIGHTS BY JANE LYNCH

Our Holiday Seasons – Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or the Winter Solstice – lead us to spend special time with our families and loved ones. We gather together and laugh, cry, hug, argue, sing, play…..and of course, EAT! “Breaking bread” together is one of the fundamental activities that bind us together….and how blessed we are to have so much to share.

Here are a few light-hearted recipes which hopefully will add a touch of joy to your festivities! We have the “Martha” version, for those of us who love to cook from scratch, and also the “Maxine” version, for most of the rest of us! Whichever approach fits you, the main thing is to enjoy making and eating them with your special people.


RECIPE #1 - SNICKERDOODLES

Snickerdoodles: "Fun to say . . . to sniff . . . to eat!"
This recipe is from my mother’s original
"Betty Crocker's Picture Cook Book", Copyright 1950.
(Consider this the “Martha” version!)

Mix together thoroughly :
- 1 cup soft shortening
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 2 eggs

Sift together and stir in:
- 2 3/4 cups sifted Gold Medal flour
- 2 tsp. cream of tartar
- 1 tsp. soda
- 1/2 tsp. salt

Chill dough.
Roll into balls the size of small wallnuts.
Roll in mixture of 2 tsp. sugar and 2 tsp. cinnamon.
Place about 2" apart on ungreased baking sheet.
Bake until lightly browned . . . but still soft.
(These cookies puff up at first . . . then flatten out with crinkled tops.)

TEMPERATURE: 400 degrees (mod. hot oven).
TIME: Bake 8 to 10 min.
AMOUNT: About 5 doz. 2" cookies.

MAXINE VERSION OF SNICKERDOODLES:
Buy a refrigerated roll of sugar cookie dough
Scoop into balls with a melon baler
Then roll in the mixture of sugar and cinnamon.
Bake per package directions.



Recipe #2 – THUMBPRINT COOKIES

“MARTHA”VERSION THUMBPRINT COOKIES
"Nut-rich . . . the thumb dents filled with sparkling jelly!" This “Martha Version” is also
from my mother’s original "Betty Crocker's Picture Cook Book", Copyright 1950.

Mix together thoroughly . . .
- 1/2 cup soft shortening (half butter)
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg yolk
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla

Sift together and stir in . . .
- 1 cup sifted Gold Medal flour
- 1/4 tsp. salt

Finely chop ¾ cup of nuts….walnuts, almonds or pecans.

Roll into 1" balls. Dip in slightly beaten egg whites. Roll in finely chopped nuts (3/4 cup). Place about 1" apart on ungreased baking sheet. Bake 5 min. Remove from oven. Quickly press thumb gently on top of each cookie. Return to oven and bake 8 min. longer. Cool. Place in thumbprints a bit of chopped red and green candied fruit, sparkling red jelly, or tinted confectioners' sugar icing.

TEMPERATURE: 375 degrees (quick mod. oven).
TIME: Bake 5 min., then 8 min.
AMOUNT: About 2 doz. 1 1/2" cookies.


MAXINE VERSION THUMBPRINT COOKIES
Buy another package or two of refrigerated sugar cookie dough.
Form balls about 1” around, dip in beaten egg whites, roll in the chopped nuts.
Bake for a few moments of the time specified on the package of cookie dough.
Remove, and press your thumb on top of each one to
form a little indentation.
Add a bit of red jelly, or chopped candied fruits…red and green candied cherries are pretty…or whatever else you can think of.
Finish baking as directed.

OXFREUDIAN BOOK REVIEW BY NANCY MENDOZA

What is better than reading a good book on a chilly evening in front of the fireplace. Below are 4 co-worker recommended books with reviews that you may find worthwhile and pleasurable reading.

1. Recommendation by Pat Murphy


In the Land of the Grasshopper Song by Mary Ellicott Arnold and Mabel Reed.

In 1908 two young women -- the authors of this book -- accepted Indian Service appointments as field matrons for the Karok Indians in the Klamath and Salmon River country of northern California. Although the area had been the scene of a gold rush some fifty years earlier, they write in the Foreword, "the social life of the Indian -- what he believed and the way he felt about things -- was very little affected by white influence. The older Indians still had the spaced tattoo marks on their forearms, by which they could measure the length of the string of wampum required to buy a wife . . . . The white men we knew on the Rivers were pioneers of the Old West . . . . All around us was gold country, the land of the saloon and of the six-shooter. Our friends and neighbors carried guns as a matter of course, and used them on occasion. But the account given in these pages is not of these occurrences but of everyday life on the frontier in an Indian village, and what Indians and badmen did and said when they were not engaged in wiping out their friends and neighbors. It is also the account of our own two years in Indian country where, in the sixty-mile stretch between Happy Camp and Orleans, we were the only white women, and most of the time quite scared enough to satisfy anybody."

Quite interesting.

2. Recommended by Jane Lynch



Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen

“A splendid book.”
It goes full circle, from the protagonist (Jakob Jankowski) joining the circus as a young man at the beginning of the story to his "escape" from a nursing home at "age 90 or maybe 93," when he departs with a kindly man on a modern circus train. Such a perfect ending!

The interim is filled with the gamut of human emotions and interactions, good and evil, funny and tragic, love and hate, in a milieu filled with circus animals and "circus freaks."


3. Recommended by Nancy Mendoza

The Whistling Seasons by Ivan Doig.

This novel takes place in Montana during the early 1900s and centers around the lives of a widowed father and his three 3 school-age son, the town’s one room schoolhouse, a hired house keeper, and the housekeeper’s intellectual and interesting brother.. A refreshingly wonderful story.


4. Recommended by Mary Jaeger


My Sisters Keeper by Jodi Picoult.

The story addresses a family who has a child who develops a rare type of leukemia. They cannot find a donor match for her so they have another child, a "Genetic Match" so she can be a "cord blood donor" for her sister
But as the years go on, the little girl is expected and needed for many procedures and to be an ongoing donor. Now at age 15, her parents want her to donate a kidney. She hires a lawyer to become medically emancipated from her parents. The book is written from each person’s perspective and their roles in the matter. It addresses many ethical issues in medicine today.

A LOOK AT HISTORY AND HOME COMPUTERS

Jane Lynch's beautiful dog Colleen. She is ready to be Santa's Helper.



Photo taken by Jay Beiler of Central Park, NY.





HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND HAVE A WONDERFUL NEW YEAR!