16 SEPTEMBER 1999 • Volume 1 • Number 27

Wyandotte County United Way asks for ‘Your Personal Best’

With a chorus of voices pledging to give their “Personal Best,” the 1999 United Way Campaign of Wyandotte County officially kicked off Sept. 8 at the Reardon Civic Center in Kansas City, Kan.
Several hundred civic leaders and representatives from businesses across the county gathered at the noon luncheon to celebrate the campaign launch. This year’s Wyandotte County campaign leadership team includes KUMC Vice Chancellor Roger Lambson, PhD, who serves as co-chair, and Dean of Student Services Dorothy Knoll, deputy chair, public services division on the Campaign Cabinet.

Vice Chancellor Roger Lambson, PhD, co-chair of the
Wyandotte County United Way Campaign, shows a quilt
representing this year’s campaign theme, “Strengthening
the Fabric of our Community.” Companies that meet their
United Way goals are entitled to add their logos to the quilt.

The theme for this year’s campaign, “Strengthening the Fabric of our Community,” is especially geared to helping area children and youth. As noted by Dr. Lambson at the kickoff, strengthening that fabric will require the commitment of individuals and businesses throughout the county.
“The fabric of our community is as strong as our children, our families and our neighborhoods—or as fragile,” he said. “The needs of the community where we work are significant and complex. As responsible businesses and workers, I believe we have an obligation to give something back to the community that supports us.”
Dr. Lambson also spoke on this year’s goal of “Giving Your Personal Best = Their Best Hope.” This approach, he said, allows individuals and organizations to define their personal best target, rather than placing an arbitrary dollar amount or upper limit on contributions.
From Oct. 25 through 29, KUMC will stage its local United Way campaign. This year, the campaign will consist of two teams—one for KU Hospital and one for the University—which will work in concert to raise funds. Mel Allen, director major division of radiology, will act as co-chair for the KU Hospital effort, and Rhonda Bailey, human resource generalist, will be co-chair for the University.
Each department or area will also have a United Way Ambassador, who will communicate information and coordinate activities for each area throughout the Medical Center. The week-long campaign will include a variety of activities for employees. Details on events and pledge procedures will be published in future editions of In The Center.

“The fabric of our community is as
strong as our children, our families
and our neighborhoods—or as fragile.”
Roger Lambson, PhD

“We’re excited that KU Hospital will run its own United Way campaign as a new organization this year,” said Allen. “The idea of ‘Giving Your Personal Best’ is an open challenge to all hospital employees to do everything they can to support children and youth in the community.”
“We encourage everyone to evaluate what they think would be a good contribution, and to do their personal best to assist our community,” agreed Bailey. “We care about the people around us, and we want KU Medical Center to be a key contributor in this campaign.”
The United Way of Wyandotte County supports a variety of social service, health and youth agencies serving individuals and families throughout the area. A full 99 percent of all KUMC United Way contributions stay in the Kansas City area. About 27 percent of KUMC employees participated in the 1998 campaign, contributing more than $160,000.

Hospital plans JCAHO, first anniversary celebration

The recent fair showcasing storyboards created for the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) survey was a great way to celebrate KU Hospital’s accreditation with commendation rating. But that’s just the beginning. In coming weeks, the hospital is planning a number of activities and events to tell the world about its achievements:
• Send thousands of letters from KU Hospital President and CEO Irene Cumming to area employers, managed care organizations and physicians announcing the JCAHO survey results.
• Send press releases to media announcing the successful survey that will be followed up by more in-depth articles.
• Stage a first anniversary celebration of the Hospital Authority, which will include a variety of activities to recognize the significant efforts hospital staff made in preparation for the JCAHO survey. The celebration is planned for late October. Look for more details in future issues of In The Center.

Don’t miss Irene Cumming’s KU Hospital Progress Report sessions, Sept. 22 and 23

Irene Cumming
President and CEO,
KU Hospital

KU Hospital President and CEO Irene Cumming will present the KU Hospital Progress Reports Wednesday, Sept. 22 and Thursday, Sept. 23. The Sept. 22 session will be from 6 to 7 p.m. The Sept. 23 report will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Both sessions will be held in the Wyandotte Room.

All hospital employees are urged to attend these sessions, which cover the hospital’s financial outlook and the organization’s development. Employees will not want to miss these important messages about the hospital’s focus and accountability for the coming year.

Hemenway stresses research and science at University staff meeting

Drawing from the major themes he made in the 1999 KU Opening Convocation, Chancellor Robert Hemenway told a crowd of Kansas University faculty and staff gathered in Battenfeld Auditorium Sept. 9 that research and the advance of scientific literacy are among the major goals for KU in the 21st Century.
Hemenway reiterated his goal of bringing the resources of the Lawrence and KUMC campuses together to make KU the definitive research university for Kansas City. He added that KU has the potential to become one of the top 50 universities in the country in health science research.

KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway

Noting the current controversy over the recent Kansas Board of Education ruling to exclude evolution from public school science standards, Hemenway said the decision offers a unique opportunity for KU.
“Science is too important for us to say, ‘I don’t understand or it’s too complicated,’ ” he said. “We must become scientifically literate, and make KU the leader in educating scientists and citizens.”
He then announced three new goals for KU: to become the national leader in preparing basic science and health science professionals; to make scientific literacy part of all KU degree programs; and educate the public to be scientifically literate.
“I believe this decision creates an opportunity for KU to redeem Kansas,” he said. “Let’s see if a phoenix will rise from these ashes.”
Following Hemenway’s remarks, Executive Vice Chancellor Donald Hagen, MD, offered an update of the past year’s accomplishments and a look at the year ahead. Dr. Hagen noted most goals in the strategic plan developed when he came to KUMC four years ago have been met in the past year, including the creation of Kansas University Physicians, Inc. (KUPI), the expansion of KUMC’s outreach efforts, and the establishment of a separate governance board for KU Hospital.
For the coming year, Dr. Hagen said the University will focus on the service it provides in regard to research, faculty, students and human relations, and will align its clinical enterprises to ensure success. He added that the University will develop a strategic plan to give research efforts a clear vision and attract local investment. Dr. Hagen also recognized the KUMC faculty member who received a 1999 Higuchi Research Achievement Award, Sudhansu K. Dey, PhD, professor of molecular and integrative physiology.

Equipment with Y2K yellow stickers will be taken out of service Oct. 1

KUMC easily cleared the first hurdle of the Y2K bug testing Sept. 9, when computers throughout the medical center accepted the 9-9-99 date with no glitches. The notation 9-9-99 was used to mean “infinity” in some computer programming languages, prompting fears that systems would fail.
Now, the medical center moves on to the next step in preparation for the Year 2000 date change. As of Oct. 1, employees should not use any patient care equipment with a yellow Y2K sticker affixed. If you have any equipment with a yellow Y2K sticker that will not be replaced by Oct. 1, please contact Dave Cobb, ext. 2139, or Ron Sparks, ext. 2195, in Biomedical Technology, or Malcolm Cunningham, ext. 4898, in Hospital Information Systems.
Please note exceptions to this policy are Pyxis pharmaceutical dispensers and Marquette critical care monitors, which will be replaced during October with new systems, and BMSI EEG monitors, which will be replaced by the end of the year. Some PCs with yellow stickers, which tests show will fail only the automatic rollover from 12-31-99 to 1-1-00, will be turned off manually before the new year and will perform normally after the 2000 date change.

Front & Center

Rusty Ruff of door manufacturing company Boon Edam,
left, and John Carroll of Edelman-Lyon Co., recently
helped install the new revolving door at the main entrance
to KU Hospital.

Racquel Torres and Frank Lyles greeted visitors to the Environmental
Services display outside the Main Cafeteria Sept. 14. The display is part
of Environmental Services Week, which celebrates the services and
achievements of the department throughout this week.

Tamela Loos, Alumni and Community Relations, above, Dick Murdock,
KU Bookstore, and Tonya Arntz, Occupational Therapy student, were
among the volunteers who built the KUMC float for the annual
Rosedale Parade and Festival. The finished product, right, depicted
the Murphy Building facade.

Richard T. Hoppe, MD, FACR,
of Stanford University School of Medicine
was guest speaker at the Second Annual
Richard G. Evans Memorial Lecture Sept. 10.
The lecture is sponsored by the Department
of Radiation Oncology, Kansas Cancer
Institute and the KU School of Medicine.

Dan Hawley, left, William Vinyard and Moneera Haque were among those
attending the Retreat for Leaders of Student Organizations Sept. 11. Guest
speakers at the retreat included Executive Vice Chancellor Donald Hagen, MD,
and Dean of Student Services Dorothy Knoll.

Associate Dean for Student Affairs Rita Clifford, RN, PhD,
center, provided a sneak preview this week of the new
Nursing Education Building to fellow School of Nursing
staff members Alice Baker, left, and Diane Boyle, RN, PhD.
Dr. Clifford conducted tours of the building throughout
early September for School of Nursing employees.

Nursing students Jill Swanson, left, Dawn Ridgeway and Rebecca Burnan
modeled some of the latest styles in scrubs during the Scrub Sale outside
the Main Cafeteria Sept. 7 and 9. Ten percent of profits from the sale
benefited the Association of Undergraduate Students in Nursing.

People from across Kansas lined up for health screenings and free
information at the KUMC exhibit at the Kansas State Fair in
Hutchinson. Volunteers from various KUMC departments
participated in the annual outreach effort.

YouthFriends mentor city youth

Making a positive change in the life of a child can be one of the most rewarding experiences in life. For KU Medical Center employees looking for such an opportunity, YouthFriends may be the answer.
YouthFriends is an independent agency, which operates a flexible volunteer program, that connects adults with school kids aged 5-18 throughout Greater Kansas City. KUMC employees who volunteer to be a YouthFriend are placed at one of the two area schools adopted by the medical center: Rosedale Middle School and Frank Rushton School.
YouthFriends share their experiences with children, help with projects or simply listen to their young friends. Volunteers can also have lunch once a week with a student in the Lunch Buddy program.

Judy Dunmore, Molecular and Integrative
Physiology, left, was a mentor last year to
eighth-grader Nicole Ruiz.

Interested parties can sign up at a YouthFriends recruitment table that will be outside the Main Cafeteria from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 21 and Tuesday, Sept. 28. If you have questions, call Shelley Bratton, Alumni and Community Relations Office, ext. 1252.

Jayhawk practices expand system of services

As the leading academic medical center in the region, KU Medical Center continues to make excellent patient care and quality services more accessible to patients in Kansas City as well as surrounding communities. During the past year, KUMC has extended its system of services and grown to encompass a broader geographic market.
This includes the addition of KU MedWest in Shawnee and the Jayhawk Primary Care practices, with 10 locations throughout the area.
These Jayhawk community-based practices offer services in primary care, family practice, internal medicine and pediatrics.
Approximately 30 physicians and a total of 12 nurse practitioners and physicians assistants provide care to 70,000 patients per year. Most of the Jayhawk practices offer extended evening hours and Saturday hours for their patients’ convenience. The practices accept most major insurance plans.
Detailed maps are available from the Marketing Department. Call ext. 1291 for more information.

Jayhawk Primary Care Practices

Blue Ridge Family Physicians
12121 Blue Ridge Blvd., Grandview, Mo.
Creekwood Family Care
200 NE 54th St., Kansas City, Mo.
Family Care of Blue Springs
1523 S. 7 Hwy., Blue Springs, Mo.
Independence Family Medicine
620 W. 23rd St., Independence, Mo.
Independence Pediatrics
17500 Medical Center Parkway,
Independence, Mo.
Linwood Family Health Care
3139 Prospect, Kansas City, Mo.
Mission Family Health Care
6511 Johnson Dr., Mission, Kan.
Parkway Family Care
300 SE 2nd St., Lee’s Summit, Mo.
Picture Hills Family Medicine
6515 N. Cosby, Kansas City, Mo.
State Line Family Care
7611 State Line, Kansas City, Mo.

Orthotics accreditation
KU Hospital has been awarded a three-year accreditation in orthotics and prosthetics by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics, Inc., Alexandria, Va. The KU Orthotics and Prosthetics Department was recognized for achievement in the areas of organizational management, professional staffing qualifications and responsibilities, patient care management, quality assurance and facility and safety management.

Christmas in October
The 1999 Christmas in October, a city-wide volunteer effort to rehabilitate houses for the elderly, will be 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, in the Blue Hills Community of Kansas City, Mo. KUMC has committed to work on six houses, and volunteers are needed. Lunch will be provided, and a post-party including entertainment and food will take place in Blue Hills Park. If you would like to participate, or if your department would like to organize a group, e-mail Shelley Bratton at <sbratton>. Please include full name(s), department(s), KUMC extension(s) and home mailing address(es).

H. William Barkman, Jr., MD, center, with KMBZ’s
Ellen Schenk and Noel Heckerson.

Barkman on KMBZ Radio
Starting Sept. 16, H. William Barkman, Jr., MD, MSPH, chief of staff of KU Hospital, will be featured every Thursday morning on “Medical Minute” on the KMBZ News Radio 980 Morning News with Noel Heckerson and Ellen Schenk. From 6:20-6:23 a.m., Dr. Barkman will answer questions on a variety of health-related topics, including new programs and services, the latest research trends, patient care and education.

KC READS book fair
On Saturday, Sept. 18, from 1-4 p.m., KC READS will receive a percentage of sales at all four Barnes & Noble locations in the Kansas City area. Proceeds will be used to purchase books for KC READS. Vouchers are mandatory for purchases. You can pick them up at the KC READS table in each store between 1 and 4 p.m.

PT continuing education
On Thursday, Sept. 23, the Department of Physical Therapy Education will present “Managed Care and PT Practice: Surviving and Thriving In The Challenging Job Market,” 4:30-8:30 p.m. in Lied Auditorium. Participants will learn trends in managed care, develop strategies for coping with the job market and explore new ventures in the changing health care environment. For more information, call Janice Loudon, ext. 6914, or e-mail <jloudon>. Free parking is available in the staff parking lot at 39th and Rainbow.

Auxiliary Bazaar
Mark your calendars for this year’s annual KU Hospital Auxiliary Bazaar, Oct. 27 and 28 in the hospital lobby. Items will be available for all your holiday shopping. The Bazaar Luncheon is back as well, with seatings at 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., Oct. 27 in Delp Cafeteria. Tickets are $6– available at the hospital lobby gift shop or the Sunflower gift shop.

FOR SALE:
36-in. gas fireplace set, includes grate, logs, embers, and screen, 1 yr. old, lifetime guarantee papers included, paid $425, asking $200 OBO. Call 454-9932.
Used 22-in. Magnavox console TV w/remote, good cond., take best offer, you haul. Call 236-4535 or
362-4395 and leave message.
Fashion ring, 14K gold, size 5, 23 tapered baguettes, appraised at $660, will sell for $500; bridal ring set, size 5, 14K gold band w/marquis and 6 tapered baguettes, 16-point diamonds, appraised at $2,695, will sell for $1,500; white wedding gown with bustled train, size 10, cleaned and preserved, veil and shoes size 8M, will sell for $1,000. Call Donna, 362-2349.
Huge 4-family garage sale, everything imaginable, 5711 Rockhill Road, Sept. 16, 17 and 18, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

AUTOMOTIVE:
1986 Honda Accord, stick, new tires, 160K mi., runs great but had some body damage and rust, $700 OBO. Call Lucas, 789-8131.
1997 Honda Civic LX, 4-dr., automatic everything, CD, cruise, 42K mi., very clean, $11,750 OBO.
Call 422-5010.
1981 Ford LTD Crown Victoria, power windows, door locks and seats, cruise control, AM/FM radio, tilt wheel, A/C needs work, exc. shape otherwise, 111K mi., has been sitting, only driven once every two weeks, great for second car, folks car, both in nursing home, $1,600 OBO. Call Dave, 362-9010, and leave message.
1991 Saturn SC, black, 2-dr. coupe, 154K mi., 5-spd., clean, good cond., but no A/C, $1,200. Call 468-4074.
1993 Nissan Altima GLE, 4-dr., automatic, A/C, CD/cassette, metallic gray, sunroof, full power, gray leather int., tinted glass, spoiler, 69K mi., $7,500 OBO. Call 913-321-5492 or 816-346-5131 (voice mail).

HOUSING:
For Rent: 1BR apt., vaulted ceiling, fireplace, artist window, W/D hookups, ceiling fans, appliances, top floor, I-35 & 75th, avail. immediately, $625/mo. + $85/mo. util. Call 913-236-9786.
For Sale: 7700 Fairway, Prairie Village, $158,000, great location, exc. schools, 4BR, 3BA, fin. basement, white European kitchen, hardwood floors in living room, dining room and upstairs bedrooms, large skylight, ceiling fan, gas and WB fireplace, master bedroom overlooks brick patio/walkway, fenced yard. For appointment, call Pat Whalen, 341-9297.
Apartment Share: 2BR, 2BA in a beautiful resort-like apartment complex, 8 min. drive from KUMC, 5 min. walk to shopping center, W/D hookup, pool, tennis court, free fitness center, $385/mo. + util., avail. immediately. Call 236-5639 after 6 p.m.

WANTED:
Reliable KUMC employee to share driving to and from Lawrence. Reduce stress, reduce costs, improve parking, save the environment. Call Chris, 785-843-1919.
Young Christian grandmother has daycare opening for 3- or 4-yr-old boy, 3-yr-old grandson needs a playmate, near 47th & Mission Road, M-F only, must be picked up by 5:15 p.m. Call 432-4691 daytime.

STUDY SUBJECTS:
KUMC Clinical Pharmacology is seeking healthy, non-smoking women 18-65 who are not pregnant, nursing, overweight, and who do not have a serious or chronic illness, for a federally sponsored clinical study on an ingredient of broccoli that is being developed for the prevention of breast cancer. Qualified participants receive laboratory tests and results and study-related medical care at no cost. Contact Holly Smith, Clinical Pharmacology, ext. 6058, or e-mail <hsmith>.

coming
UP

Friday, September 17:
•    Pediatric Grand Rounds, “Stereoisomers in Medicine,” 8-9 a.m., Lied Auditorium.
•    Psychiatry Grand Rounds, “Therapeutic Solutions to Late Life Dementia,” 10:30 a.m., Clendening Amphitheater.
•    NIH Roundtable CenterNet Broadcast, “Bone Marrow Transplantation,” 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Lied Auditorium.

Tuesday, September 21:
•    Kansas Cancer Institute Research Round Table, “Regulation and Function of Metallothioneins During Pregnancy,” noon, Lied Auditorium.
•    Freshstart Smoking Cessation Program, 5-6 p.m., Dykes Library Conference Room.
•    Searching MEDLINE Using PubMed, 5-7 p.m., Dykes Library.

Wednesday, September 22:
•    Community Outreach Project Book Fair, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Wyandotte Room.
•    KUMC Interfaith, noon-1 p.m., 3041 Wescoe.
•    Community Health Seminar, “Analysis of Various Media for Inorganic Compounds,” noon-1 p.m., 1023 Orr-Major.

Thursday, September 23:
•    Community Outreach Project Book Fair, 7 a.m.-5 p.m., Wyandotte Room.
•    Research Seminar, “Smoking Cessation Efforts in Rural Primary Care Practices,” noon-1 p.m., G567, KU Hospital.
•    Searching MEDLINE Using PubMed, 2-4 p.m., Dykes Library.
•    History and Philosophy of Medicine Fall Lecture, “The Impact of the French Revolution on Modern Medicine,” reception at 4:30 p.m., Clendening Library, lecture at 5 p.m., Clendening Amphitheater.
•    Freshstart Smoking Cessation Program, 5-6 p.m., Dykes Library Conference Room.

IN THE CENTER
Donald Hagen, MD - Executive Vice Chancellor KUMC
Irene Cumming - CEO and President KU Hospital
Ken Arnold - Editor

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.

Prepared by Printing Service Imaging