8 july 1999 • Volume 1 • Number 17

CARF commends Rehabilitation’s expertise and medical direction

In a significant event that is fast becoming routine, the Department of Rehabilitation Services was notified July 1 that its medical rehabilitation programs have been awarded three-year accreditation by CARF, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities.
The action marks the fifth consecutive three-year accreditation awarded to the KUMC rehabilitation program by the private, not-for-profit international accreditation body.
The notice follows an intensive two-day survey this spring of the program’s comprehensive integrated inpatient (adult) and brain injury comprehensive inpatient components, as well as a separate speech-language pathology component.
The award, which represents the highest level of accreditation, is bestowed to organizations that show substantial fulfillment of CARF standards.

Sara Dale Brandt, PhD, director of rehabilitation services. Her department received its fifth consecutive three-year accreditation July 1.

“We were very pleased with the outcome,” said Sara Dale Brandt, PhD, director of rehabilitation services. “We received no deficiencies in patient care areas, and we were commended for our staff expertise and excellent medical direction.”
The CARF survey summary observed, “It is evident that the focus of the overall program is truly the person served and family.”
A simultaneous survey conducted by CARF in collaboration with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association noted, “Overall, the speech and language services at KUMC enjoy skillful leadership, qualified and motivated team members and a stimulating work environment.”

Research, Academic Affairs leadership announced

Michael Welch, MD, formerly senior associate dean, research and graduate studies, has been named vice chancellor for research. He will develop and coordinate the KUMC research strategic plan and serve as president of the Research Institute.

Michael Welch, MD                      Joseph Bast, PhD

Joseph Bast, PhD, has been named interim vice chancellor for academic affairs. Formerly associate dean, research and graduate studies, Dr. Bast has been deeply involved with academic affairs issues for several years. He will serve as interim vice chancellor until a permanent replacement is selected for A.L. Chapman, PhD, who retired June 30.

Graham’s motto: students’ success is store’s success

Ask Kathy Graham what she likes best about working at the KUMC Bookstore and she’ll answer without the slightest hesitation.
“It’s the students,” she said. “I love my students.”
Graham, associate manager and buyer, recently celebrated her 25th anniversary with the bookstore. She is well known for taking a genuine interest in every student she meets.
“Kathy wants to see every student succeed,” said Andy Jett, director of the Student Union Corporation. “She treats students as individuals and helps them understand what it takes to be successful. She’s definitely one of the key people who makes our store a success.”
Graham, who orders textbooks, reference books and medical instruments, is respected for her expertise. Throughout her career, students and physicians have benefited from her knowledge of the medical book industry when choosing texts for classroom and reference use.
“Of all the different jobs I’ve had with the bookstore, I like this one best because it enables me to work more closely with students,” she said. “I enjoy getting to know our students on a personal level.”
This year Graham also celebrated 25 years of marriage with her husband David. Away from work, the couple enjoys spending time with family and lavishing attention on their two-year-old granddaughter.

Kathy Graham

“I plan on working at the bookstore for many more years,” she said. “My goals are to maintain a good relationship with the students and make sure they realize they can always come to me for any kind of help they need.”

Last week, colleagues honored Alice Junghans, center, retiring assistant professor and former chair of the Department of Health Information Management, School of Allied Health. Attending were Don Kellogg, interim chair, and Karen L. Miller, RN, PhD, dean
of the Schools of Allied Health and Nursing.

FY2000 tenure, promotions
Thirty-four KUMC faculty members from the Kansas City campus and seven from the Wichita campus received promotions or awards of tenure July 1.
The awards for fiscal year 2000 included seven KUMC faculty members who were named professor, one promoted to clinical professor, one to adjunct professor, 15 promoted to associate professor and six who were named clinical associate professor.
Several of the promotions included awards of tenure. Five KUMC faculty members were also hired with immediate tenure, and one School of Medicine-Wichita physician was awarded tenure.

New wellness programs
KU Med’s summer wellness calendar is hot off the press. The 20-page booklet features more than 70 entries for support groups, seminars and other community health resources for people served by KU Hospital and KU MedWest.
New in this issue are school and sports physicals, a comprehensive, long-term weight management program and classes offered by the community-based primary care clinics.
Covering July, August and September, the free booklet is available
at G114 KU Hospital.

Pediatric Delta Room helps families continue as families

Jill Ballou, RN, pediatric nurse and Kathy Davis, MS Ed, pediatric school teacher and child life coordinator in the new Delta Room for patient care and family support.

The most traumatic experience a family is ever likely to endure is when a child becomes seriously or terminally ill. From the moment of diagnosis, family life changes forever.
Days and nights are spent away from home. Siblings are separated. Sleepless nights are spent in chairs. Meals come from a paper bag. The normalcy of life before the illness becomes a distant memory.
The new Delta Room in the Pediatric Pavilion at KU Medical Center restores some of home’s familiar comforts, providing a place where the families of seriously ill children can continue to be a family.
The idea was developed by Martha Barnard, PhD, associate professor, behavioral sciences, Kathy Davis, MS Ed, pediatric school teacher and child life coordinator, and William G. Bartholome, MD, MTS, professor of pediatrics and history and philosophy of medicine.
“We wanted to offer families an environment other than the ICU where patient care is provided and where the emotional needs of the patient and the family are met,” Davis explained.
The private Delta Room features windows on two sides, providing the patient and family with natural light and a view of downtown Kansas City. An overstuffed sofa converts to a double bed to accommodate a parent or sibling comfortably. There is extra closet space, a microwave oven and a refrigerator.
The space and furnishings were secured with help from the national Delta Delta Delta sorority. Roger Scoggin, RN, NICU nurse and interior decorator, designed the room.
Nurses, social workers and pediatric psychologists serving the Delta Room received special training provided by Hospice of Kansas City. The 16-hour sessions address the integration of patient care with support for the entire family.
“The dying process should be a dignified, fulfilling experience,” said Jill Ballou, RN, KUMC pediatric nurse. Because the family has the resources of KU Medical Center at their disposal, they can concentrate on their child’s other needs, she explained, adding, “We want the child and the family to have good days.”
The realization of the Delta Room illustrates the dedication of the multidisciplinary teams involved in helping families navigate the toughest of life’s challenges.
“The family brings us with them on this journey,” explained Davis. “Our role is to provide support.”

July paychecks will reflect reduced group life rates

Many State of Kansas and KU Hospital Authority employees will notice lower rates for taxable group life insurance on their first paycheck in July.
The change affects those who receive an annual salary of at least $33,333.33. If you have questions, contact your payroll office.
Additionally, both hospital and state employees will see new lower rates for optional group life insurance on their July 23 paychecks. If you have questions, contact the hospital or University benefits office.

FOR SALE:
Personally Yours Mendella double breast pump,
3 months old, all attachments, $179 retail, will sell
for $100 firm. Call Nancy at 829-5385.
1994 Bayliner Rondezvous 26’ Deck Boat. 175 Mercury OB motor, Bimini and cover, trailer included. Carpet and seats in great condition. Double sinks, porta potty (never used), lots of storage. $15,500.
Call 962-4977.
1982 Supercat ultralight kit plane, 900 Kawasaki engine. Plane is unfinished, plans included. $3,000 obo. Call 962-4977.
Go-Cart and Trailer. Like-new White Fox II, two-seater, with 5 HP Tecumseh engine and all-steel single axle trailer, originally $1,200. Selling for $900. Call 345-9524.
Moving sale. Dining table, couch, computer table,
TV stand, 19-inch TV, beds, bunk bed, lots of other items. Call 814-7384.
Basketball goal, good condition, free to home with kids. Golf clubs and bags, good to near-new condition, cheap. Call 362-2492.
AUTOMOTIVE:
1986 Ford Ranger, 149K miles, V6, new tires and battery, some rust, runs good, $600. Call Paul at
362-8983.
1994 Chrysler LeBaron Convertible GTC, 47K miles V6, new tires and brakes, excellent condition, $7,500. Call David at 914-5051 or 341-6575.
1989 Toyota Corolla SR5, 2 door, black, 152K miles, power steering, a/c, 5 speed, $2,600 obo.
Call 262-8938.
HOUSING
1986 Skyline Mobile Home, 14 x 60, 2 bedroom, 1 bath, central air/heat, 8 x 16 covered porch, 10 x 10 storage building, 20 minutes from KU, very good condition, $13,000. Call 328-1079.
PETS
Free kitten. Beautiful, friendly female tan tabby needs a good home. 13 weeks old, affectionate and playful, litter box trained, sweet. Has had first two rounds of vaccinations, very healthy. Call 962-4892.
POSITION AVAILABLE
Postdoctoral position available immediately to investigate therapeutic effectiveness of bone marrow transplantation on experimental models of disease.
Call ext. 7420.

3rd Annual Molly and Matthew Kirse
Memorial Golf Tournament
Benefiting KU Children’s Center

Friday, July 23

Iron Horse Golf Course
15400 Mission Road
Leawood, Kansas

7 a.m. breakfast
8 a.m. shotgun start

$125 per player includes cart & green fees, golf shirt, continental breakfast, buffet lunch, beverages, prizes.

For information call
Linda Schuck ext. 6301

coming
UP

Monday, July 12:
•    National Stuttering Project Support Group, 7-9 p.m., 1018 Orr-Major.
•    Heart of America Alliance for the Mentally Ill support group, 7-9 p.m., Kansas City Community College Continuing Education Building, 7250 State Line.
•    Alzheimer’s Disease Support Group,
noon-1:30 p.m., Delp Cafeteria.
Tuesday, July 13:
•    Kansas Cancer Institute Research Round Table, “Chemoprevention of Breast Cancer by Selenium Compounds: Model Studies”, noon, Lied Auditorium.
•    Cognitive Therapy Addiction Treatment,
1-2:30 p.m., Family Medicine Clinic.
•    Burn Survivor Support Group,
6:30-7:30 p.m., Hurlbut Recovery Pavilion.
•    “How to Communicate with Your Physician,” 7-8 p.m., KU MedWest Community Room.
Wednesday, July 14:
•    Diabetes Self-Management Series,
9-11 a.m., Room 1107, KU Hospital.
•    Hepatitis Support Group, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Prairie Room.
•    KUMC Interfaith Discussion, noon-1 p.m., Room 3041 Wescoe.
•    Best Beginnings Parenting Class,
11:45-1 p.m., OB/GYN office.
•    “Speech and Language Development in Young Children,” 7-8 p.m., KU MedWest Community Room.
Thursday, July 15:
•    Burn Patient Family Support Group,
6-7 p.m., Burn Center Waiting Room.
•    “Self Esteem: A Family Affair,” 7-8 p.m.,
KU MedWest Community Room.

IN THE CENTER
Donald Hagen, MD - Executive Vice Chancellor KUMC
Irene Cumming - CEO and President KU Hospital
Ken Arnold - Editor
Leslie Champlin - Writer
Jim Burton - Graphic Designer

IN THE CENTER is the employee and student 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 is noon on the Thursday before they are to appear. Send story ideas to Ken Arnold, editor, G114 Hospital, or e-mail: <karnold> or call ext. 1298.

Ad Policy
Send or bring your ad to G114 KU Hospital, or fax to ext. 1225, or e-mail: <karnold> by noon Thursday 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 held a week of space is limited.

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