This week in Stand-Up, we are reviewing our six codes of conduct from our Corporate Compliance program.

Our second code of conduct in our Corporate Compliance program is:  PHS’ employees and partners will comply with all applicable laws and regulations that affect our various businesses.  When you consider our whole continuum of care, we are covered by many different rules and regulations.  In fact, every building and every service we offer is subject to at least one set of rules and regulations.  This code of conduct just reinforces our intent to know and follow the appropriate rules.

Here are some examples of following the second code:

·  We will not engage in any unethical or illegal business activity.

·  We will not pay others for referrals of residents, unless we have
   a formal, written contract and the law provides for us to do this.

·  We will comply with all laws, rules, regulations and other
   documents to preserve our tax-exempt status.

·  We will conduct our business to further our charitable purposes
   and make sure that resources are available for the benefit of the
   community rather than for  the interests of any one individual.

·  Our bills will be correct and, when we submit bills for reimbursement,
   the information will be accurate with all the proper documentation.

·  We will maintain complete and accurate medical and billing records.

·  We will respect and protect the confidentiality of resident records
   and other personal information.

If you know or suspect that this code has been violated, tell your supervisor.  If there is no resolution to your concern, feel free to call the help line at 651/631-6168.

Dear Lord, sometimes the best way to spell “love” is T-I-M-E.  Help us to see the lives of the residents at Pres Homes with your priorities.  Show us how to respond with care and compassion so they feel they are each important.  Grant us the patience needed to work with each unique individual without delays in meeting the needs of the other residents.  We ask the Holy Spirit for the wisdom, energy and strength to respond promptly to all requests for our services.

We now lift up the joys and concerns that have been shared for prayer.  (Name them or pause in silence.)

Thank You for meeting our needs in Your good time.  Help us to serve that way too.  We pray in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

There are many aspects of our Corporate Compliance program.  We have tried to keep it simple by grouping our “do’s” and “don’ts” into six codes of conduct.  Today we will review the third code, which is:  PHS employees and partners will maintain ethical business relationships.  Most of us may think that we don’t have anything to do with this code on a day-to-day basis.  However, we each make choices that can reflect good or poor ethics.  Here are some examples of following this code of conduct:

·  We will be honest in doing our jobs and perform our duties in a way
   that promotes the public’s trust in Pres Homes.  It is everyone’s job
   to maintain Pres Homes’ integrity and reputation.

·   We will be honest in any claims we make about our services to
   residents, vendors, and others.

·   We will not use or reveal any confidential information regarding PHS.

·   We work on positive relationships with government programs and
   third party payers.

·   We will make sure that reports and information provided will be
   accurate, complete and timely.

·   We will deliver high quality care to residents no matter their
   source of payment.

If you know or suspect that this code has been violated, tell your supervisor.  If there is no resolution to your concern, feel free to call the help line at 651/631-6168.

Amazing God, thank You for making us with potential for growth and development.  When we think about babies and how much they need to learn in life, we marvel at how the process works.  We remember the Bible tells us “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.”  Like Jesus, our ability to grow and develop continues throughout our lives.  Help us to become all that we can be:  intellectually, professionally, educationally, personally and relationally.  Help us also pursue growth spiritually so our personal faith matures for our own good and the good of the residents.

We now lift up the joys and concerns that have been shared for prayer.  (Name them or pause in silence.)

This we pray in Christ’s name.  Amen.

This week we have been reviewing the six codes of conduct that are a part of our Corporate Compliance program.  All Pres Homes’ employees and partners (vendors, volunteers, board members and others) are required to follow these expectations.  The fourth code of conduct is:  PHS employees and partners will avoid both actual conflicts of interest and the appearance of any conflict of interest or improper behavior.  There has been much in the news lately about organizations and people who find themselves in trouble due to conflicts of interest.  We want to protect our residents and the organization, so we all need to know what we should and shouldn’t do to avoid doing or saying things that seem improper.

Here are some examples of what is expected:

·  We should not have other jobs that interfere with our ability to perform
   our duties at Pres Homes.

·   We should avoid any activity that conflicts with the interests of Pres
   Homes or its residents.

·   Notice and approval are required before Pres Homes does any kind
   of business with any company in which an employee has an interest,
   including without limitation a family relationship.

·   We should not accept or provide benefits that could be seen as
   creating conflict between our personal interests and Pres Homes’
   business interests.  This includes accepting expensive meals,
   gifts, refreshments, transportation, entertainment, or favorable
   pricing provided or received in connection with the job.

If you know or suspect that this code has been violated, tell your supervisor.  If there is no resolution to your concern, feel free to call the help line at 651/631-6168.

Wing Tips:

Today we are going to highlight one of the many great funds that Presbyterian Homes has created to help our residents.  Mission Benevolence is a fund that is used to help support residents across Presbyterian Homes who have outlived their resources, and need financial assistance.   If financial circumstances change and make it no longer affordable for a resident to stay within the Presbyterian Homes continuum of services, we want to be able to step in and offer assistance.  The Mission Benevolence Fund makes this possible.  In order to help this fund grow, Presbyterian Homes WINGS Wellness Program will be hosting a 5k FUNd Run Saturday October 16th at Boutwells Landing.  More information will be coming soon on how you can support this great cause!

Purposeful God, You are always at work in our world to accomplish Your will, and You invite us to partner with You to achieve Your purposes.  Thank You for the guidance You give in the Bible for our lives.  Thank You for the significance of what we do at Pres Homes, and for the ability to work together to develop goals and objectives.  Help us understand more clearly what we are doing, and why we are doing it.  Then enable us to support the ministry we share for Your glory.

We now lift up the joys and concerns that have been shared for prayer.  (Name them or pause in silence.)

We pray this so Your Name might be honored.  Amen.

Our fifth code of conduct in the Corporate Compliance Program is:  Pres Homes’ employees and partners will protect PHS’ property, and respect the property of residents and others with whom we do business.  As we have talked about many times in stand up, we have an obligation to be good stewards of the resources that we have.  The examples in this code simply give more definition to our practice.

·  We are personally responsible and accountable for the proper
   use of Pres Homes’ funds and property.

·   We need to get authorization before committing or spending
   Pres Homes’ funds.

·  We all have a duty to be productive during the time that is paid
   for by the residents.

·   We may only use computer and technology systems, networks
   and software consistent with Pres Homes’ licenses.  We all need
   to take reasonable steps to protect our computer systems and
   software from unauthorized access.

·   As covered in other codes of conduct, we need to make sure that
   Pres Homes’ information is kept confidential.

·   Any improper financial gain through misconduct involving misuse
   of Pres Homes’ or resident’s property is not allowed; taking or
   using property, including money, without prior permission is
   prohibited.

·   We cannot use Pres Homes’ or resident’s resources for our
   personal use.

·   We need to dispose of old equipment, medical waste or
   hazardous materials properly.

There are many different ways that we can show respect for the residents’ and organizations’ property and money!

If you know or suspect that this code has been violated, tell your supervisor.  If there is no resolution to your concern, feel free to call the help line at 651/631-6168.

Gracious God, You have made us each with unique strengths.  Each of us has knowledge and abilities to share.  Help us to respect one another, and to humbly serve outside of our job description.  Grant us the wisdom to understand that no job is above or below us.  Inspire us with the example of Jesus Christ who performed lowly service, even touching people others thought were unclean.   Help us to follow his example so we might experience the joy of serving.

We now lift up the joys and concerns that have been shared for prayer.  (Name them or pause in silence.)

In the name of Jesus, the Greatest Servant of all we pray, Amen.

We started the week looking at the first Corporate Compliance code of conduct, which is about providing high quality care to the residents.  We finish the week by reviewing the sixth and last code of conduct, which is about treating each other well.  The sixth code is:  Pres Homes ‘employees and partners respect each other as human beings and health care professionals.  Some examples of this code in action are:

·   We will show proper respect and consideration for each other,
   regardless of position.  Discrimination, harassment, abuse, or
   intimidation is not tolerated.

·   Applicants and employees will be given equal employment and
   advancement opportunities.

·   We strive to have a working environment free from all forms of
   offensive behavior, including sexual harassment and intimidation.

·   We promote a drug, alcohol, tobacco and weapon-free workplace.

·   Work and safety rules were created to protect us all.  We are
   expected to comply with these rules.

·   We are expected to conform to the standards of our respective
   professions and exercise sound judgment.

We all deserve to be treated well.  The only way that will happen is if we first treat others well.  If you know or suspect that this code has been violated, tell your supervisor.  If there is no resolution to your concern, feel free to call the help line at 651/631-6168.

Did You Know?

Today is National Grandparent’s Day, to honor grandparents, to give grandparents an opportunity to show love for their children’s children and to help children become aware of the strength, information and guidance older people can offer.

Faithful God, thank You for reaching out to us to provide the way for us to be reconciled with You through Jesus Christ.  Thank You for Your ongoing care for us.  Help us resolve any problems in our area of influence and in our positions at Presbyterian Homes.  Enable us to do so with patience, understanding, wisdom and persistence, always keeping in mind the well being of the residents and families we serve, as well as one another as staff.

We now lift up the joys and concerns that have been shared for prayer.  (Name them or pause in silence.)

This we ask in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Here is a great letter shared by Kari Ajack, Campus Administrator at Avalon Square in Waukesha, WI that illustrates how well her team demonstrates great service to all!

“Dear Friends at Avalon Square ~

I just want to thank you for the wonderful help we received from so many of your staff recently.  Saturday we celebrated Juanie’s 95th birthday with a large gathering in your multi-purpose room.  We also had an earlier lunch in the private dining room for 9.  Just everything was wonderful and we all had a most memorable time!

Dena was so fun and helpful in planning for the gathering.  She was available with all of the many decisions I made and with the change of plans!  I would never have been able to do it without her.  She’s so great in her position!

Mandi was our server for lunch ~ it was just delicious and so pleasant!  She also helped cut and serve Juanie’s favorite treat:  Pretzel Torte!  It has been fun to watch Mandi grow in her position too, as I think she started at Avalon Square while still in high school ~ she is always so professional!

Holly was also there and just “available” if we needed her ~ that was so reassuring for me!

…And the nice young woman at the front desk ~ Kristen ~ was doing some “extra” tasks, I’m sure...  There were many family and friends attending our celebration who had never been to Avalon Square before.

I bet many others helped too, although they may have been unseen ~ for each effort we are most grateful.  It was just a wonderful day!

Sincerely,

Jill (daughter) and Juanita, your 20-year resident

Holy God, Your perfect character is beyond our grasp.  You made the world good but because of sin there is pollution, germs and disease.  Yet You have come to us through Christ who forgives our sins when we confess them, and washes us as clean as new fallen snow.  Cleanliness is important for the health, safety and well-being of all at Presbyterian Homes, so give us eyes to see areas that need to be cleaned, and willingness to take steps to make them clean.

We now lift up the joys and concerns that have been shared for prayer.  (Name them or pause in silence.)

This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, the One who cleanses us from all our sins.  Amen.

Thanks to each of you for the role you played in contacting your legislators this past Legislative session ~ by phone, email, letter or personal visit.  Due to your efforts and the lobbying of others around the state our voice was heard.   The decisions were not all that we had hoped for, but were far better than they could have been.  At one point, we had heard that the cuts to our residents could have been as much as 10%, which would have had a significant negative impact on all of us!

As it turned out, state and county rate increases, if any, were nominal.  And while we don’t know final Medicare rates, we are planning for a 2.5% rate decrease.  So while the reimbursement news is better than what it could have been, it also challenging because costs for food, utilities, and taxes continue to rise and we need to find ways to pay for those increases.

[Facilitator:  Stop to see if staff has any specific
questions about your state or specific community.  Use this opportunity to go into more detail as appropriate.]

Even with these decisions, by God’s grace, we are pleased to let you know that staff will receive a 1% increase in pay, which will show on your October 15th paycheck.  The 1000-hour increases are staying in place, and at this time, we are not making any changes in benefits.

Tomorrow we will provide additional information about what these decisions and the current economic times mean for the residents and for you.

Hospitable God, thank You for the privilege of being a guest in the world You created.  Thank You for granting human beings both freedom and responsibility as fellow citizens on earth.  Grant us a sense of our own God-given worth and dignity so we can treat those around us with that same dignity.  Help us to honor the ones we serve by respecting their privacy and by behaving as guests in their homes.

We now lift up the joys and concerns that have been shared for prayer.  (Name them or pause in silence.)

We pray this in the name of the One who taught us to love our neighbor as ourselves.  Amen.