4 NOVEMBER 1999 • Volume 1 • Number 34

KU Med honors employees’ service at Nov. 5 ceremony

Anyone who understands business will tell you that an organization is only as strong as its employees. In appreciation of the hard work and dedication exhibited by hospital employees, KU Med will stage a Hospital Employee Recognition Ceremony Friday, Nov. 5 in the Fountain Courtyard.
Among those who will receive special recognition is Alice “Elizabeth” Anderson, who this year celebrates 46 years of service.
Anderson joined the Dietary Department in 1953. In those early days, she worked up to six days a week to ensure that patients received a good meal. She also remembers going from room to room serving hot meals—prepared from scratch—from a cart. Always a friendly face to those she served, Anderson was known to give her patients extra coffee during her rounds.
Anderson recalls other changes at KU Med since the 1950s. Back then, nursing students wore starched caps and lived at the hospital, and patient wards were segregated. She also noted that the days were long, often beginning at 6 a.m.

Alice “Elizabeth” Anderson will be recognized for her 46 years of service.

“We didn’t have computers, so we had to get there early and write out menus for each patient,” she said. “I had to get up at four in the morning and take the bus to work.”
In addition to the long hours, Anderson and her co-workers were paid only once a month. Anderson added that, when retirement money was taken out of employees’ paychecks for the first time in the 1960s, it caused something of a controversy in the Dietary Department.
“People were complaining about it, saying they should have asked us before taking the money out of our checks,” she said. “But now, of course, I’m glad they did it!”
Anderson retired from full-time duties in 1995. Since then, she has continued to work part time in the Dietetics and Nutrition Department. She and other employees with 25 or more years of service will be honored Friday at a brunch from 9-11 a.m., which will feature remarks by KU Med President and CEO Irene Cumming and University of Kansas Medical Center Executive Vice Chancellor Donald Hagen, MD. Employees with five to 25 years of service will be recognized at a reception from 2-5 p.m.

Former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, MD, was honored
at the first KUMC Gala, Oct. 30. During the Gala weekend,
Dr. Koop also addressed more than 200 students from area
health care programs, urging them to become involved politically.

Executive Forum

Building a service culture at KU Med

Bob Page-Adams
Vice President, Organizational Improvement
KU Med

Learning about good customer service skills is important, and to that end we have begun a process to reinforce these skills for all of our employees. But building a service culture takes more than eight hours in a classroom. Each of us must put these skills to use in our daily interactions if we are to make KU Med the leading example of service in the region.
To reach our goal, we all must become problem solvers … identifying and fixing issues on our units or in our departments that block us from providing the most customer-focused care possible. Many of the hospital directors and managers have already begun this process by looking at the issues identified by the patient satisfaction survey. Nursing has implemented several best practices that have been successful at other hospitals. Additional teams have been formed to address opportunities for improving performance in other survey sections, including admissions, tests and treatment, environment, personal issues, discharge and visitor relations. In addition, another group is working to increase the number of surveys returned so that we receive input from more of our patients.
These groups are looking at hospital-wide issues. But good service is personal, occurring between small groups of people. Therefore, each of us is a critical link in providing that service. We have demonstrated our creativity in the past, and each of us needs to focus that creativity on meeting the personal and practical needs of our patients and their families. Fix the things that you can. Delight patients and their families when possible. And finally, escalate issues that can’t be solved at a departmental level. We are making progress building our service culture but it will take the commitment of each of us to make it a reality.

SEAD makes desire to learn, grow a reality

Dorothy Knoll, PhD
Dean of Student Services
University of Kansas Medical Center

“Plant a SEAD . . . watch it grow.”
When Students Educating and Advocating for Diversity (SEAD) was started at the University of Kansas Medical Center during the 1996-97 school year, this theme for the SEAD T-shirt was designed by a student. Now, three years later, this theme is reality.
I just received notification that my professional group, the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, Region IV-West, has recognized the University of Kansas Medical Center and the student organization SEAD for the Innovative Program Award, which will be presented this weekend in Omaha, Neb. Region IV-West consists of 10 states and two regions of Canada.
The “Caring Shows No Prejudice Lecture Series: A Discussion on Diversity,” which was showcased at KUMC during the 1998-99 school year, is being commended because it resulted in improved education activities, involved collaboration with other university departments, showed evidence of effectiveness and encouraged diverse and/or multiple subgroups to participate. What does this mean exactly?
From my viewpoint, it meant that students, faculty and staff at KUMC wanted to know more about how Caring Shows No Prejudice, specifically in the areas of homophobia, religion, poverty, race and abortion in health care. It meant there was standing room only for each of the five programs. It meant that dialogue continued through a website.
It meant that we had a desire to learn from and about each other. It means that we need to continue to “Plant a SEAD . . . watch it grow.”

Student News

Call for research papers
The Midwest Student Biomedical Research Forum (MSBRF) will be held in Omaha, Neb., Feb. 18 and 19, 2000. The forum is an opportunity for students to present their research and have it judged by faculty from the University of Nebraska and Creighton University medical schools. This year, MSBRF is seeking presentations of original basic and clinical science research by health science, graduate and MD/PhD students, interns and residents. Cash prizes will be awarded. The deadline for submission of abstracts is Nov. 30. To request an application, call 402-559-4152 or e-mail <conted@unmc.edu>.

Students send SOS for clothing

Crosslines employees will work with students during the SOS clothing drive,
Nov. 12 and Dec. 10. The organization provides clothing and food to families
in need throughout Wyandotte County.

The Student Organization for Surgery (SOS) in partnership with Community Relations and Crosslines is holding a drive for clothing, coats, new socks and underwear to benefit needy residents in the area. Donations may be made in barrels that will be located in the Main Cafeteria, Delp Cafeteria, Dykes Library, the Student Services area, the Support Services Building, Facilities Management and the Alumni and Community Relations Office on Nov. 12 and Dec. 10. Donations of non-perishable foods are needed as well.
Crosslines is an organization that provides clothing and distributes food to needy families in Wyandotte County. If you have questions or need more information, contact Shelley Bratton, ext. 1252.

Women’s Wellness group seeks to raise health care providers’ awareness

A new student group on campus this year, Students for Women’s Wellness, believes the best way to promote the health of women is to raise awareness and to educate current and future health care providers, regardless of their specialty or gender. To accomplish this goal, the group will provide a variety of programs, service activities and mentoring opportunities in coming months designed to further the wellness of all women.
Students for Women’s Wellness kicked off the semester with a discussion led by faculty sponsor Valerie Montgomery Rice, MD, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, which explored the meaning of women’s wellness and the role the group will play in the medical center community.
In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the group hosted a lecture in October by Shari Kretzschmer, RN, of the KU Cancer Center, who spoke about recent developments in breast cancer prevention. The next presentation, set for noon, Nov. 17 in Wahl Hall East, will feature Barb Latnis-Bridges, RN, EdD, ARNP-C, and Belinda Vail, MD, assistant professor, family medicine, who will speak on contraception. Future programs will include a holiday event and programs on mental health in women, sports injuries and traumatic violence.
Group officers are medical students Carrie Swartz (founder), Kerri Korte, Jennifer Miller and Lisa Brown. The group now includes about 80 members. For more information, see the Students
for Women’s Wellness website at www.kumc.edu/sww or e-mail <sww>.

Front & Center

Three-year-old Elia Hernandez, with father Eligio, was one of many young patients who enjoyed the Pediatrics Halloween Party Oct. 29. Also at the party were cavewoman Diane Fagen, Radiation Oncology, pirate Fritz Achen, Information Resources (who won the grand prize in the adult costume contest), French maid Ruth Young, HIS, and clown Sarah Kerwin, KU Endowment Association. Others who decked out for Halloween included Jennifer Holt, Medical Records, who portrayed Ellie Mae Clampett in her later years, and the “Sisters of Moonlight” of KU MedWest, Barbara Hope, Sharon Hindman, Diane Nichols and Karen Hinkle.

Sonny Andre, one of the “Breakfast Brothers” on KPRS HOT 103 JAMZ,
interviewed Vice Chancellor for Administration Ed Phillips during the
United Way Ice Cream Social, Oct. 28.

Bob Johannes, president of the Greater Kansas City Cancer Golf Association,
presented KU Med President and CEO Irene Cumming and Senior Vice President
and COO Jon Jackson with a check last week for KU Med’s participation in the
16th Annual Cancer Golf Classic. KU Med is one of 15 recipients of the tournament’s
proceeds. Distributions are made based on each company’s level of participation.

Jason Robinson, MD, Surgery-Urology, was recently
named the 1999 Pfizer Scholars in Urology Grant recipient
of the University of Kansas Medical Center. Dr. Robinson
was chosen for his efforts to advance the science of urology
and improve patient care.

KU Med President and CEO Irene Cumming and Senior Vice President and COO Jon Jackson
cut the first piece of cake at the KU Med anniversary celebration Oct. 27 in Francisco Lounge.
The cake was decorated with memorable scenes from the hospital’s first year of governance
by the KU Hospital Authority.

Melissa Adair, LPN, administers a shot to a Shawnee resident
during the KU MedWest free flu shot event Oct. 29. More than
1,500 shots were given.

KU School of Allied Health encompasses a wide range of health care professions

Although it rarely receives the attention given to marquee schools like medicine and nursing, the KU School of Allied Health plays an important role in the education of many health care professionals.
“Allied health professions comprise more than 60 percent of the entire health care workforce, spanning over 200 distinct disciplinary groups,” said Ken Davis, director of outreach for the KU School of Allied Health. “Approximately 2 million allied health professionals are employed in the United States today.”
The term “allied health” represents all health-related disciplines with the exception of nursing, medicine, osteopathy, dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry, pharmacy and podiatry.
“Although a lot of people outside the school aren’t exactly sure what allied health means, they do recognize many of our disciplines,” Davis said. “At KU, the School of Allied Health is comprised of 10 academic departments: Biometry, Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Cytotechnology, Dietetics and Nutrition, Health Information Management, Hearing and Speech, Nurse Anesthesia, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Respiratory Care.”
Annual enrollment in KU’s allied health programs typically exceeds 400 students, and the school averages more than 200 graduates each year. “Most of our departments offer two-year programs,” Davis said. “Our graduate level programs include Dietetics and Nutrition, Hearing and Speech, Nurse Anesthesia, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy. We offer our remaining programs at the baccalaureate level.”
Karen L. Miller, RN, PhD, FAAN, holds a joint appointment as dean of the School of Allied Health and dean of the School of Nursing. Approximately 90 School of Allied Health faculty members serve under Dean Miller’s leadership.

Steering Committee, ambassadors receive
vote of thanks for United Way campaign

If you haven’t already, please be sure to turn in your pledge card for the 1999 United Way Campaign. Final results of this year’s campaign will be reported in a future issue of In The Center.
KU Med and the University of Kansas Medical Center send a big thanks to all who helped put the campaign together.

Steering Committee
Mel Allen, KU Med Co-Chair    DeeDee Attebery     Moffett Ferguson    Avis Moore
Rhonda Bailey, KU Co-Chair    Debra Brogden    Amy Howle     Jan Schmidt   
Don Branson, KUPI Co-Chair    Diane Clark    Alisa Lange     Stacey Snakenburg
Shelley Bratton, Coordinator    Clara Dragush    Tamela Loos     Carol White

Ambassadors
Chris Allen    Paul Dureka    Enid Jacobs     Miranda Rosenberger
Jackie Atkins    Linda Edwards    Nyla (Skie) Japp     Gail Sahlfeld
William Barkman    Jim Evans    Nakia Johnson     Trina Sanjurjo
Valarie Biscanin    Betty Ewell    Kal Kerns     Tammy Shepard
Lynn Boehm    Diane Farley    Jo Ann King     Judi Smedra
Sally Brandt    Judy Frances    A.C. Lawrence     Cindy Smith
Charlene Bridgeford    Amy Franken    Diane Lee     Cora Sorensen
Phyllis Budin    Mimi French    Brenda Magenhemier     Annie Stanley
Kay Cage    Susan Lynn French    Shawna Martin     Francis Sun
Eva Callahan    Vancene Funderburke    Joella Martinez     Lisa Sweatt
Patricia Casas    Michael Garrison    Deborah May     Sharon Taylor
Mark Cederburg    Kathryn Hahn    Megan Milam     Susan Tedder
Dave Cobb    Jim Halling    Tim Mulloy    Abe Teferra
Steve Colson    Diana Hardesty    Karen Odom     Carol Thies
Tina Conchola    Ruth Heaton    Wilma Oliver     Mary Ellen Vincent
Dan Conyers    Rebecca Hegarty    Fred Pervical     Connie Williams
David Cook    Dedre Hilbolt    Roxanne Perucca     Denise Wilson
Steve Corbett    LaTanya Horn    Claudette Patterson     Danielle Wolfe
Vicki Costigan    Nancy Howe    Wes Petterman     Linda Wollum
Lisa Cubit    Lucinda Hudlow    Kathy Ramsey     Jamie Wyand
Rachel Curry    Pat Huffman    Madonna Reed     Cathy Yonkey
Pat Dintaman    Debby Jackson    Kim Rock     Deanna Zerr

Tuition assistance
Full time State of Kansas employees who have worked at the medical center
for at least six months are eligible to apply for tuition assistance. The application deadline for the Spring 2000 semester is Dec. 3. Applications may be obtained in University Human Resources, 1044 Delp, or by calling ext. 5099. Application forms are also on Pulse at www2.kumc.edu/hr/
training/tuition.html.

Native American Heritage
KUMC will recognize Native American Heritage Month during the
week of Nov. 15-18. Various Native American menu items will be served in
the Main Cafeteria, and displays high-lighting Native American culture will
be set up in Dykes Library and the KU Bookstore. In addition, the film “Issues in Native American Culture” will be shown in Sudler Auditorium on Thursday, Nov. 18 at 4:30 p.m. An open discussion with Shirley Hoskins, executive director of the Native American Health Coalition, will follow.

Radiology display
The Department of Radiology will celebrate National Radiologic Technologist Week, Nov. 8-12, with a display on the 2nd floor of KU Med by the link. The display will include information about the jobs performed by different radiology technicians, and photographs of department employees. Balloons and radiology fact sheets will also be distributed.

Celebration of Lights

The Eckerd Celebration of Lights, a drive-through light display that benefits Children’s Miracle Network, will run Friday, Nov. 12 through Sunday, Jan. 2, at Shawnee Mission Park, 7900 Renner Road. The site is open 6-10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 6-10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Admission is $10 per car. The annual holiday event is presented by Eckerd Drugs, a sponsor of CMN. Last year, close to $20,000 was raised to benefit deserving children and their families at KU Med and Children’s Mercy Hospital, local CMN affiliates.

MEDLINE classes
Dykes Reference Library will sponsor two MEDLINE search classes next week. “Searching MEDLINE Using WinSPIRS” is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 10, from 2-4 p.m. “Searching MEDLINE Using PubMed” will be held Thursday, Nov. 11, 2-4 p.m. Both classes are free to University
of Kansas students, faculty and staff, and will take place in Wahl Hall West, Room G018. Register online at www2.kumc.edu/
scripts/classes/dykesregister.asp.

Encore Customer Service
There’s still time to enroll in Encore Customer Service, the customer relations program offered by University Human Resources. The first session will be Tuesday, Nov. 9, 9-11 a.m. A second session will be Wednesday, Dec. 15, 1-3 p.m. KU Med employees may attend with permission from their department heads. To enroll, call University Human Resources, ext. 5099.

FOR SALE:
Matching couch and chair, beautiful multi-colored paisley on black background; dining room set, dark pine trestle table, 5 regular and 1 arm chair, large lighted hutch w/glass doors. Call 962-9973.
Snow blower, Yard Machine by MDT, 2-stage, 8 HP 4-cycle Tecumseh motor, elec. start, used four times, $841 new, will sell for $550. Call Steve, 648-4103.
All wood twin bed w/mattress and red/navy plaid flannel bedding, seldom used, $75. Call 381-5113.
Estate Sale, Saturday, Nov. 6, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., furniture, rugs, pictures, dishes, etc. 4146 State Line.
Fifth Annual Crafts at the Clubhouse, Nov. 12, 4-8 p.m., Nov. 13, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., free admission, two raffles every hour, all-you-can-eat taco bar, homemade chili, fresh baked cinnamon rolls, Lake of the Forest, K-32 Hwy., between Edwardsville and Bonner Springs, Kan. (I-435 at Exit 9).

AUTOMOTIVE:
1990 Nissan Sentra XE, 4-dr., 5-spd., A/C, rear window defrost, new tires, muffler and brakes, no rust. Call 441-8560.
1997 Mercury Tracer LS, 4-dr., auto, A/C, new brakes, CD player, 48K mi., like new, $7,200. Call 432-4928.
1993 Ford Tempo GL Sedan, 4-dr., 83K mi., A/C, power steering, windows, seat, tilt wheel, cruise control, AM/FM cassette, $3,800. Call 432-2899.
1993 Ford Probe, 5-spd. manual, 71K mi., CD changer, A/C, exc. body and mech. cond., $5,500 OBO. Call 493-8547.
1986 Cadillac Sedan de Ville, 4-dr., 53K mi., gold w/gold leather int., all elec., AM/FM cassette, A/C works exc., wire wheels, Michelin tires, new spare tire (never used), very clean, needs trans., make offer. Call 561-2491.
1995 Ford Ranger XLT, 43K mi., great cond. Call 942-8909.
1990 Hyundai Excel, 4-dr., light blue, clean, no dents, needs engine repair, everything else works, $300 OBO. Call Lester, 816-765-8650, after 5 p.m.

Benefits enrollment deadline is Nov. 5
The deadline for KU Med employees to enroll for year 2000 benefits is Friday, Nov. 5. All employees should complete the Year 2000 Benefits Enrollment Form, keep the green copy for their records and return the other four copies to KU Med Human Resources.
This year’s benefits are changing, and every employee must enroll to receive them. Those who do not enroll will not receive coverage for next year.
If you have any questions about enrollment, contact your supervisor.

coming
UP

Friday, November 5:
•    Kansas Cancer Institute and Kansas City Clinical Oncology Program, “Breast Cancer Prevention: Incorporating New Data into Clinical Practice,” 8:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m., Doubletree Hotel, Overland Park.
•    Psychiatry Grand Rounds, “The Side Effects of Antipsychotic Compounds,” 10:30 a.m., Clendening Amphitheater.

Saturday, November 6:
•    Free flu shots, 9 a.m.-noon, Picture Hills Family Medicine, 6515 N. Cosby, KC, MO.

Monday, November 8:
•    Alzheimer’s Disease Support Group, noon-1:30 p.m., Delp Cafeteria.
•    Alzheimer’s Disease Caregiver’s Workshop, 5-7:30 p.m., Delp Cafeteria.

Tuesday, November 9:
•    Kansas Cancer Institute Lecture, “Translational Breast Research: Modulation of Blood and Breast Biomarkers by a Novel SERM in a Phase IA Chemoprevention Trial,” noon, Lied Auditorium.
•    Center on Aging Research Seminar, “Psychological Resilience In Older Adults,” 4-5 p.m., Clendening Amphitheater.

Wednesday, November 10:
•    Community Health Seminar, “Laboratory Diagnosis of Cancer,” noon-1 p.m., 1023 Orr-Major.
•    KUMC Interfaith, noon-1 p.m., 3041 Wescoe.
•    Center on Aging Ethical Analysis Seminar, noon-1 p.m., 4050 Wescoe.
•    Free diabetic foot screening, noon-5 p.m., KU MedWest.
•    Department of Ophthalmology and KU Continuing Education, “Lens Selection and Cataract Surgery in the Year 2000,” 4:45-6 p.m., G032 Lied Auditorium.

Thursday, November 11:
•    Breast Cancer Support Group, 5:30-7 p.m., Radiation Oncology 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.

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