August 19, 1998, Vol. 20, No. 29
August 19, 1998, Vol. 20, No. 29
Sections of this page:
National bicycle tour stops at KUMC
Medical Center moves to Campus-wide paging system
Milk Mustache Mobile here Aug. 27
Colleen Johnson receives state award
Free cancer screenings offered
Specially designed wheelchairs meet patients’ specific needs
building new beginnings, remembering the past...
National bicycle tour stops at KUMC
Set aside your lunch hour Friday and join us as we welcome 10-year cancer survivor Dani Grady and her bicycling support team as they stop at the KU Medical Center on their 70-day, 3,600 mile cross-country, coast-to-coast bicycle tour. And watch for William R. Jewell, MD, director of the Kansas Cancer Institute, to be riding along with Dani and leading the way to the Medical Center.
The welcoming ceremony will be Friday in the circle drive just outside the Olathe Pavilion.
Dani's cross country trek will culminate on The Mall in Washington, DC. There, the tour will participate in "THE MARCH: Coming Together to Conquer Cancer."
If you are a bicycle enthusiast and would like to join the riders, call Pat Adams, ext. 4718, or e-mail her at padams@kumc.edu to get the bicycle route coming in from Lawrence to KU Medical Center.
Medical Center moves to Campus-wide paging system
KU Hospital, KU Physicians, Inc., and KU Medical Center will be changing to a single paging system in September. The system, implemented by AirTouch Paging, will require that most employees change their pagers and pager numbers.
On Thursday, August 20, there will be four, half-hour pager information sessions in the Wahl Hall West Auditorium. The session times are 11-11:30 a.m., 11:30-noon, noon-12:30 p.m., and 12:30-1 p.m.
Listed below are some of the benefits realized by switching to AirTouch Paging:
* Significant cost savings
* Increased coverage areas
* Ability to page from PULSE, GroupWise, and phone
* Increased battery life
Additional information regarding implementation will follow in future Topics issues, through e-mail, and the PULSE website at www2.kumc.edu/telephones/pagers.asp
Milk Mustache Mobile here Aug. 27
Got milk?
You will Aug. 27, when the Better Bones Milk Mustache Tour comes to the KU Medical Center campus. The tour is part of a 100-city campaign to educate people about bone health and how to get enough calcium in the diet.
Among the activities scheduled for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside the Olathe Pavilion, are free bone density tests and a milk mustache contest. Free educational information about bone health and calcium will be available. No appointments for the bone density test are needed. For more information, contact Amy Metcalf, ext. 1233.
Colleen Johnson receives state award
Colleen Johnson, nurse practitioner and Comprehensive Breast Center manager, has received a statewide award for outstanding participation in the "Free to Know" program. The Comprehensive Breast Center, in conjunction with the KU Cancer Center and KU Medical Center, participates in the "Free to Know" program. A national initiative, the "Free to Know" program pays for mammograms, clinical breast exams, Pap smears and pelvic examinations for women aged 50 and older who meet income screening guidelines.
KU Medical Center was one of five health facilities across Kansas to receive the special recognition. The award was based on the total number of women served under the program.
Free cancer screenings offered
KU Cancer Center is offering free skin cancer screenings to patients who have skin changes of concern. The screenings will be Friday afternoon, Aug. 28. Contact the skin screening help line for an appointment at ext. 4780.
Specially designed wheelchairs meet patients’ specific needs
Anna Hechler, seated, is delighted with a specially designed wheelchair, which has
removable armrests as well as footrests. “This chair makes it so much easier!”
she said. Also pictured is Anna’s physical therapy assistant, Jan Higginbotham.
KU Medical Center patients whose conditions hinder their mobility now have 20 new wheelchairs designed to meet their specific needs. The wheelchairs give a new independence to people with stroke, spinal cord injury, and paralysis, said Sara Dale Brandt, PhD, director of rehabilitation services.
The new wheelchairs augment an earlier purchase of 72 generic chairs that are used throughout the hospital. Among the special needs chairs are those that recline for patients who cannot sit upright due to spinal cord injury or paralysis. These chairs have removable arms and leg-rests to allow patients to move from bed to wheelchair without assistance. Also, small wheelchairs are available for children and wide wheelchairs are available for larger adults.
“The whole point is that patients will be able to actively participate in their care,” said Bonnie Swafford, physical therapist in rehabilitation services. This was an excellent example of nursing, rehabilitation services, materials management, the volunteer office and facilities operations all working together on a worthwhile project that exemplifies our main mission.”
Susan Mong, coordinator for volunteer services, agreed. Strong support from the hospital executive office, nursing and rehabilitation staff, materials management, and mechanical help from facilities operations made the project a success.
“Bert Voth (facilities operations machinist) was very instrumental in helping us get the wheelchairs labeled and getting them ready. He’s been great in helping us track where wheelchairs are and ordering parts and maintaining them,” said Mong.
“Our patients are truly appreciative of this,” said Swafford. “And so are the nursing and physical therapy staff. We can better serve our patients by having the appropriate equipment to treat them.”
Around KUMC....
What’s New
Use campus, not businesses' parking lots
KU Medical Center officials remind students and employees that they should not use nearby
restaurants or businesses' parking lots for their daily parking. Moreover, students and
employees are encouraged to remind patients and their families that public parking is
available at the Cambridge and Olathe facilities.
"It is getting to be a serious problem," said the manager of Taco Bell on
Rainbow Boulevard. "We have had customers complain and we've actually lost customers
because someone took the last parking spot, then walked across the street to the medical
center."
Students and employees can receive parking permits from Parking Services by calling ext.
5175.
Women’s Cancer Symposium features KUMC and other nationally known experts
KU Cancer Center's Carol Fabian, MD, and John C. Weed, MD, will be joined by Henry Lynch,
MD, nationally
known for his expertise in familial cancer, during a Sept.19 Women's Cancer Issues
symposium. A pre-conference reception will be Sept. 18.
All health care providers-oncologists, obstetricians and other professionals-are welcome
to attend the conference. Discussions will include genetic testing, hormone therapy, and
high-dose brachytherapy in gynecological cancer.
The conference will be at the Marriott/Muhlebach Hotel, 200 W. 12th Street. For
information call the Division of Continuing Education, ext. 4488 or fax 4486.
Student services book sale raises $1,100
Sale proceeds: The last book sale sponsored by the department of student services raised
over $1,100 which went to the community internship program. Student Services thanks
everyone who helped make the event a success. Anyone with questions, comments or ideas for
future book fairs should contact Anne Flaherty at ext. 6681.
Cancer survivors night at Royals Sept. 12
Cancer survivors and their families will celebrate together during the Cancer Survivor
Night at Kauffman Stadium Sept. 12. The celebration will include a 5 p.m. pre-game picnic
in Lot E of the stadium. A cancer survivor will sing the National Anthem before the 7:05
p.m. Royals game. The evening is sponsored by the Kansas Cancer Institute and the KU
Cancer Center in conjunction with the American Cancer Society Heartland Division, with
tickets donated by the Royals baseball team. Cancer survivors can reserve tickets by
calling 432-3277.
building new beginnings, remembering the past...
While construction of the Nursing Education Building (left) progressed through August, KUMC employees made plans for a memorial service to honor deceased loved ones. The service, to be in the memorial garden (below) honoring the late Shawn Storm, MD, a KU psychiatry resident, is planned for October.
Patients corner
As part of its focus on patient-centered care, KU Medical Center regularly surveys
patients for their thoughts on the care they received. Periodically, Topics will provide
summaries of those surveys. This week, Topics is publishing a letter sent to Donald Hagen,
executive vice chancellor, by a family whose loved one received care from the Pepper Grant
Stroke Rehabilitation Team at the KU Center on Aging.
Dr. Hagen:
My father suffered a stroke Jan. 15, 1998. He had the honor of meeting with Pam Duncan and
her stroke rehab team (Joni Stoker-Yates, Lisa Yockey and Andrea Thornton). He was not
able to walk without losing his balance, let alone walk a few feet. He is now walking
everywhere with his cane. The wheelchair has been returned to the home health agency.
Besides the physical assistance, they assisted in his recovery by building his confidence.
I just want you to know what a jewel we have at KUMC. We feel so fortunate for the
opportunity to work with this tremendous group of knowledgeable, dedicated professionals.
Thank you, Pam, Joni, Andrea, Lisa and anyone else I may have unknowingly left out.
Signed by Vernon Jenkins and Family and Laurie Kemble
At the beginning of this fiscal and school year, I would like to talk about the focus of what we do--the patients. We are the only academic medical center in this region. Without patients, we would have no reason, to open our doors. With this in mind, I want to talk about "patient-centered care," and how we all play a part in delivering this care. These come from the book, Through the Patient's Eyes.
First, patient-centered care acknowledges and respects the individual values, preferences and needs of each person. Many patients have said they felt like non-persons, that they lost their identity when receiving medical care. It seems, at times, as if we treat the disease but not the illness as the patient experiences it. The diversity of our patients challenges us to understand that patients’ beliefs, experiences and values affect their perception of care. As you encounter patients and their families in the elevator or hallway, training our future medical professionals or delivering hands-on patient care, recognize each as an individual and treat him or her accordingly.
Second, patent-centered care is coordinated and integrated. Patients and their families don't know or care about where the caregiver works. To them, anyone taking care of them is part of KU. And they expect an institution with our reputation to provide flawless, seamless care. At some point, each of us can help a patient or his family and friends. Own that opportunity. Help them with what they need. Let them see that we are a team and that outstanding care is provided across our institution.
Patient-centered care also involves communication in words the patients understand. We are an academic medical center, and our patients interact with many different people during their care. Many questions are asked of them, many tests run on them and many people enter and leave their rooms. Don’t assume the patients and their families know who you are and why you are there. Always take the time to introduce yourself and let them know why you are there. If you are providing direct care, make sure that they have the information they need to truly understand their situation, testing and treatment. This will help alleviate fear and anxiety and make them feel like a partner in their care and treatment.
Physical comfort is also important in patient-centered care. In the eyes of the patient, providing for their physical comfort is a basic need. This includes helping the patients manage their pain, respectfully assisting with daily living and ensuring that their surroundings are clean, comfortable and pleasant. Each of us plays a role in providing for the comfort of patients. Each of us can work to ensure that we provide an environment that makes the patients and their families feel at home. Each of us can make this a place that looks as if it is cared for.
Equally important is involvement of family and friends. We see family members in the hospital every day. A kind word or helpful directions go way to reducing their stress. This lets them focus their energy on the patient. In addition, knowing that the KU community supports their friends and family can help eliminates some of our patients' concerns, allowing them to focus on healing.
We are all, in some way, responsible for making KU a patient-centered organization. Many of you are already doing these things and more on a daily basis, and I thank you. Just imagine what it will feel like for our patients when everyone is doing his or her part. Help me make that a reality.
Automotive
For Sale: 1990 Acura Integra, 2-dr, white with power windows, A/C, power moonroof,
5-speed, spoiler, and only 86,000 miles. Excellent condition and very reliable. Asking
$5,800. Call Allen at 960-1746.
For Sale: 1991 Chev Cavalier, 65000 miles. ood condition, $4,000. Call Helen, 422-5661.
For Sale
For Sale: Washer and dryer, $250. Dining room table, $25, and twin bed, $20. Call
631-8048 or 763-2210.
For sale: Craftsman LT10 10-hp riding lawn mover. Runs well, mowing deck needs work. $100.
Call 287-4416 after 5 p.m.
For Sale: Signet clarinet, 'intermediate' level, very nice, very well taken care of,
retailed at $900, sell for $250 OBO, Janie 722-6875
For Sale: Boys and girls clothes. Good condition, some still new. Boys aged 4 to 14 years.
Girls aged 9 to 15 years. Contact Jessica at 840-7271
For sale: Full size mattress and box spring. Good condition. $90 or best offer. Black
dresser. Fair condition. $25 or best offer. Call 362-8407 or leave a message.
For Sale: Chiefs tickets. Sept. 6 vs. Oakland; Sept. 20 vs. San Diego; Oct. 4 vs. Seattle;
Nov. 1 vs. NY Jets; Nov. 29 vs. Arizona; Dec. 13 vs. Dallas. Call
422-1831 after 6 p.m.
For Sale: Snapper lawnmower. Recently tuned up, in great condition. Price negotiable. Call
Helen, 422-5661.
Housing
For Rent: 1 bedroom, 1 bath home two blocks from KUMC. Central A/C, deck, fridge, stove, garbage disposal, fence, off street parking, washer, and dryer. Available now. $410 a month. Perfect for busy student or resident. Call 531-0097.
Free
Free: Schaefer upright piano. Good starter/beginner instrument. Call 962-4464.
Wanted
Wanted: Riders to share in new Van pool from Lawrence to KUMC. New 7-passenger van available September. Need dedicated driver and several riders. Monthly fee (waived for driver). Hours to be negotiated. For more information, call Bev, 346-0349.
Topics Information
Topics is the employee publication of the University of Kansas Medical Center.
It is published weekly by the office of Public Relations and Marketing. The deadline for
submitting news briefs for consideration is noon on the Wednesday before they are to
appear. For longer articles or features, contact the editor in advance.
Send story ideas to Leslie Champlin, acting editor, G114 Hospital, or e-mail: lchampli@
kumc.edu or call ext. 1602
Topics ad policy
Send or bring your ad to Topics, G114 KU Hospital, or fax to ext. 1225, or e-mail:
lchampli@kumc.edu by noon Wednesday of the week before it is to run.
Ads run free of charge for employees, students and volunteers. For-sale ads are limited to
three items. All ads must include the advertiser’s name and work extension (or
medical student box number) for verification.
Only home phone numbers --- no pager numbers or KUMC extensions --- will be published. No
ads for commercial services or pets for sale will be accepted. Ads will not be taken by
telephone. Only one phone number per ad.
Ads may be a held a week if space is limited.
Prepared by Printing Service Imaging
