Issue No. 20 - Feb 2018

AUBMC "Together We Care Better" Training Phase

"Together We Care Better" Training Phase

The AUBMC Human Resources, in collaboration with Patient Affairs, is launching its "Together We Care Better" training phase across the Medical Center.

This training phase is part of the AUBMC "Together We Care Better” campaign launched last September and aims at enhancing employees’ skills, behaviors, and overall performance when dealing with all AUBMC stakeholders.

The program adopts a blended learning approach that entails on-the-job training, interactive workshops, appealing brochures, and engaging videos.

Departmental champions will be assigned to promote the five dimensions of Staff Attitude in line with AUBMC standards of behaviors.

This will grant employees the experience of learning based on a holistic approach.

Click here to access Employee Attitude Brochures

Tips for Limiting Usage of Cell Phones at Work

Ok, let's deal with it, who isn’t tempted to enjoy the convenience of mobile phones? The ability to contact family members, search for recipes, chat with friends, post your baby's photo and plan for the upcoming weekend is pretty appealing to everyone. And what is even more amazing is the fact that all these tasks can be done with just a few touches regardless of where you are or what you are doing... even if you are at work!

While mobile phones have become an integral part of our lives, their over-usage can distract you from doing other important tasks, especially when you are at work.

Tips:

Here are some tips that can help you minimize your usage of mobile phones at work:

Silence your mobile phone. Allow exceptions for emergency phone calls (ex: family members) but always disable notifications and sounds that tempt you to pick up your phone with no real need.
Keep your mobile phone out of your sight. Put it in a desk drawer and check it occasionally.
Limit mobile phone usage to free time and break time only. Enforce self-control over using it during work hours. Remind yourself periodically that using mobile phones at the expense of work is unprofessional.
Never take your phone to the washroom! Cellphones in meetings are very distracting, so avoid taking them along, and if you do so, never open it or look at it for unrelated tasks (for example to check your calendar). Otherwise, keep it in your pocket.

AUBHealth Updates

AUBHealth December Fun Activities

As a token of appreciation to the AUBMC community for their commitment, support, and unmatched interdisciplinary work on a single project, the AUBHealth team, in collaboration with the Office of Communications and Public Relations, the Department of Human Resources, and the Children’s Cancer Center of Lebanon (CCCL) engaged the community throughout December with fun activities; they added an epic flavor to welcome 2018! Have an Epic New Year!

AUBHealth Super Users Assembly

On December 15, 2017, Ms. Katia Damer, AUBHealth Super Users coordinator, was joined by Dr. Ghassan Hamadeh to kick off the first Super Users assembly. Ms. Damer discussed with the attendees their role and the timeline of their training. She informed them about the scheduled monthly assemblies.

Super users will play a vital role during training, Go-Live, and post Go-Live. They will be available to provide support to AUBHealth stakeholders whenever and wherever needed; they are its “Super Heroes”.

Mindfulness Sessions Offered to All Employees

The Health and Wellness Center held a free introductory mindfulness meditation session on Wednesday, November 29, 2017 to AUB and non-AUB community members guided by Reiki and Karuna Master, Mrs. Nawal Fleihan. Participants enjoyed an evening of peace and relaxation during which they got the chance to develop their meditation practice by de-stressing the mind and healing the body.

To register for the weekly Mindfulness sessions, contact the Health and Wellness Center at wellness@aub.edu.lb or 01-350000 ext. 8030.

Other Employee Wellness Activities

Healthy Holidays:

Keeping up with its annual tradition, the Health and Wellness Center organized in collaboration with the Clinical Nutrition Department the yearly "Healthy Holidays" awareness event at the AUBMC Cafeteria on Thursday December 21^st, 2017. Participants got the chance to share their healthy resolutions, engage in interactive activities, and receive nutritional advice related to healthy and mindful eating during the holidays.

First Aid Training:

The Health and Wellness Center and the Environment Health, Safety, and Risk Management (ESRM) in collaboration with the Red Cross, held two First Aid Training sessions among AUB staff. The sessions aimed at preparing participants with the necessary skills and techniques related to various first aid topics such as trauma, severe burn, cardiac arrest chest compression and rescue breaths, serious wounds, and more.

Christmas 2017 Human Resources Activities and Celebration

As part of its annual tradition, AUBMC’s Department of Human Resources organized a Christmas season full of surprises and activities. These included:

The annual “Best Christmas Tree” competition which attracted all units who competed to construct the most appealing Christmas tree.
The annual “Best Christmas Ornaments” competition which was branded under AUBHealth’s theme: bees.
The HR crossword puzzle which was solved correctly by 140 employees, three of whom were randomly selected for a cash prize.
The distribution of Christmas cakes by the HR team to all units across AUBMC.
A Christmas celebration which took place –as usual- in Issam Fares Lecture Hall. This year’s celebration featured:

Diary of a New Employee at AUBMC

By: Hussein Soueidan, Coordinator, Evidence-based Healthcare Management Unit -Joined AUBMC December 2017.

It was a busy day of September 2017 when the phone rang, and a gentle respectful voice calling from the HR department at AUBMC scheduled an appointment for me to sign my job offer on the following day.

As anyone could imagine, joining AUBMC has been my main goal for a long time. However, it was always associated with minor dreads of how to fit in there and how to keep up with the pace of the institution. But what I did not think of was the warm reception and smooth on-boarding process after I joined.

Before my assigned official day of start, I received a Welcome Email. The feeling of being surrounded by a team was a great pleasure. The email was very clear with details on how, when, and what to do. Being a newly recruited employee, I found having a clear checklist very useful.

My first day at work was much easier than I expected. The office desk was already set, and the colleagues at the unit were super welcoming. The assigned body, a term that gives a sense of family belonging at the institution, was a great help indeed. The assigned body is a colleague, who previously joined the workplace and is able to guide the newly-recruited employee through the basic workflow process and break the ice of on-boarding. That was calming indeed.

Within the very first few days, my supervisor sent a welcome email to the unit members and colleagues introducing me to everyone. It was nice to feel that I could blend very easily and get to know the workflow smoothly. A few days later, the HR department organized a detailed orientation for the newly recruited employees.

As my colleagues walked me through their work topics, I was given my tasks one after the other in a logical manner. Assignments were done in an atmosphere of cooperation and support; I was always able to ask for feedback and consultation when needed.

What really impressed me was the cooperative and open environment within the institution. I was repeatedly asked for my feedback and input in a verbal and documented manner. This really relieved me and gave me a sense of appreciation to the wonderful team.

The individual commitment to making a beautiful workplace for the newly recruited team members was undoubtedly highly reflected during my first steps at AUBMC. For that, I owe my colleagues and friends here a great deal of respect and gratitude.