September 9, 1998, Vol. 20, No. 32
September 9, 1998,
Vol. 20, No. 32
Kissie delighted youngsters from the Hartley Family Center for hearing impaired children Sept. 2 during a morning visit of the Hershey’s Kissmobile. Using his sign language name, paraprofessional C.J. Jambrosic introduces 2-year-old Cooper Patterson to Mr. Kiss.
Get your new pager Sept. 14-18
Beginning today, the present (*5) system
for paging no longer functions. As of today, Sept. 9, the method
for dialing pagers will be:
1) Dial 9 to get an outside line
2) Enter 917 and the last four-digits of the
pager number you are paging
3) Enter phone number you want to be called and
press the "#" key
4) Hang up
You must dial 917 before dialing the
four-digit number for all pagers. .
During the week of Sept. 14-18, all employees
with all non-AirTouch pagers will receive their new pagers in the
Wyandotte Room. Those employees who do not have a pager today but
have requested a new AirTouch pager should also go to the
Wyandotte Room the week of Sept. 14-18. Employees can exchange
their pagers from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
All AirTouch pagers will have the 917 prefix.
Most employees will keep the same four digits as their hospital
pager number. If your old pager number was 5251, your new pager
number will probably be 917-5251. To find out your new pager
number, check with your department supervisor.
For more information, log on to:
www2.KUMC.edu/telephones/pagers.asp
The switch to new pagers is part of the
campus-wide change to a single paging system. This change also
results in significant cost savings, increased coverage areas,
the ability to page from Pulse and GroupWise, and increased
battery life.
KU Hospital Authority Retirement Plan Meetings Scheduled
The KU Hospital Authority will conduct
employee meetings to discuss the new retirement plans offered by
the Hospital Authority. The meetings will be during the week of
Sept. 14.
The meetings are for employees transferring to
the KU Hospital Authority:
* who are current Regents Unclassified
employees are participating in the Regents Retirement Plan
(mandatory 403(b) Plan);
* who are current participants in the
Regents Voluntary Tax Sheltered Annuity (TSA) Program (403(b)
Plan);
* who are current participants in the
voluntary State Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan);
* who are not currently participating in
a voluntary program, but are interested in participating in the
new KU Hospital voluntary program.
These meetings will not cover the KPERS
program since there will be no changes to this program.
Employees will learn how the new plan compares
to the Regents Retirement Plan. Employees currently in the
Regents Voluntary TSA Program and voluntary State Deferred
Compensation Plan will learn about the new plans. There will be
changes in the investment companies that will be participating in
the new voluntary programs so many employees will be required to
select a new investment company. Forms allowing salary reduction
will need to be completed by everyone.
The meetings will be in Sudler Auditorium.
Dates and times are:
Monday, Sept. 14:
7:30 a.m; 8:30 a.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 15:
1 a.m.; 1 p.m.; 2
p.m.; 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 16:
10 a.m.; 11 a.m.
Thursday, Sept. 17:
9 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 18:
1 a.m.; 2 p.m.; 3 p.m.
For more information, call Sandra Kwiatkowski at ext. 4500.
Emergency Department implements new security
At 2 p.m. tomorrow,
Sept. 10, the Emergency Department will implement its new
security system
The system uses card readers for employees and
a metal detector at the public entrance to the department. In
addition, the outside emergency entrance will be enclosed by two
large garage doors that will be operated remotely from inside the
department. After 9 p.m., everyone entering the hospital will
need to enter through the department’s metal detector area.
All physicians, nurses, support staff and
other employees either must have their employee identification
cards or go through a metal detector room to enter the Emergency
Department. The separate ambulatory patient entrance east of the
ambulance bay will require the public to pass through the metal
detector.
The new system will be in effect 24 hours a
day, seven days a week.
Brown bag seminar for students, residents
KU Medical Center students can gain a
better understanding of how stress and academic demands affect
your wellness during a Sept. 15 seminar, “Living Well,
Learning Well....Even When You’re Stressed.” The
seminar will feature Julie Wood-Warner and Phyllis Budin, MSEd,
Student Counseling Center staff.
The seminar will be noon to 1 p.m. in Room C,
1025 Orr Major. It is sponsored by the Office of Student
Resources and Wellness, the Student Counseling Center, and the
Department of Student Services.
Chukuka Enwameka, PhD, and his colleague, Toshio Tsushima, DDS., of Japan, discussed laster technology with a company representative during the Congress of the Worldwide Laster Technology Association.
KU MedWest prepares for Winter opening
KU MedWest in Shawnee is readying
completion for a January 1999 opening.
The center, formerly Cedar Ridge, was
purchased by KU Hospital and KU Physicians, Inc., in 1995. It is
at I-435 and Midland Drive just south of WestGlen theaters.
Plans call for providing primary care
services, urgent care, outpatient surgery, specialty services and
wellness programs. Many of the physicians who see patients at KU
MedWest also will have office hours at the KU Medical Center main
campus. Others will have offices only at KU MedWest.
KU MedWest will have easy access for western
Johnson County and Douglas and Leavenworth counties.
Around KUMC...
What’s New
Prostate Cancer screenings set
KU Cancer Center will offer free PSA blood
testing and digital exams in observance of Prostate Cancer
Awareness Week September 20-26. Screenings will be 1-4 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 25. Call the prostate screening help line for an
appointment at ext. 4780.
Supervisor training is Sept. 15
“SuperTrax: Leadership in Action,”
KUMC’s leadership training for managers and supervisors,
begins Sept. 15. Interested persons should enroll as soon as
possible. The program is mandatory for all classified supervisors
and must be completed before permanent status can be attained.
Unclassified supervisors are strongly encouraged to attend.
Detailed information about the curriculum is on Pulse at
http://www.kumc.edu/HR/training.html. For more information, call
Training and Development at ext. 7542.
Breast Cancer group meets Thursday
Stephanie McLean, RPT, KU Medical Center
physical therapist, will discuss “Lymphedema Prevention and
Treatment” during the Thursday Breast Cancer Support Group
meeting in Wahl West Auditorium. The meeting begins with a 5 p.m.
social time. The program is 5:30-6:30 p.m. To RSVP for the
meeting, call ext. 7750. The support group meeting is sponsored
by the University of Kansas Cancer Center and Schering/Biotech.
Hearing/Speech offices, Audiology service move
The Hearing & Speech Department and Child
Development Unit Audiology Clinic have temporarily moved to the
third floor of the Miller Building while the ground floor of the
Child Development Unit is renovated. Staff continue to provide
hearing testing for children and adults and hearing aid services.
Audiology services and office staff will return to CDU in early
1999.
The clinic phone number remains 588-5730. To
contact, Sandy Keener, MA, CCC-A, or Kay Ulmer, call ext. 5735.
To contact Gwen O’Grady, MSPA, CCC-A, Susan Trouba, MA,
CCC-A, or Diane Wright, call ext. 5730.
Managing diversity seminar scheduled
Human Resources will present “EEO/AA:
Managing a Diverse Work Force” from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.,
Tuesday, Sept. 22 at a location to be announced. The program
provides practical guidelines for managing a diverse work force.
Discussion will focus on what constitutes illegal discrimination
in the work place, why discrimination occurs, the consequences of
discriminatory acts, proactive steps individuals can take to
value diversity in the work place, and a question-and-answer
session with the director of the Equal Opportunity Office. For
more information or to enroll, call ext. 5089.
KUMC departments show their commitment to caring
Congratulations go to the KU Medical Center departments and
staff who have adopted the KU Family Room. By adopting the room,
KU employees ensure that the families of hospitalized children
have a comfortable area to “get away from it all,” fix
some meals or snacks, shower and regroup.
Adopting the family room entails providing
financial support or supplies for the Family Room. Departments
that have adopted the KU Family Room in August and September are:
Surgery Billing, Radiology, Executive Vice Chancellor’s
Office, Pediatric Ethics Committee, Dykes Library, Dean’s
Office - School of Medicine, Volunteer Services, and Special
Education.
Faculty, staff can help with student
recruitment
Though the 1998-99 academic year has just
started, KU admissions and scholarship staff already have begun
recruiting students for the 1999-2000 school year. And they are
asking for assistance. The help they seek: Names of top high
school students who should be contacted by KU recruiters.
“One of the keys to the success of our
recruiting effort is the special emphasis we place on
personalizing our recruiting process for student scholars through
our many faculty and staff,” said Kathleen
McCluskey-Fawcett, associate provost, in a letter to KU Medical
Center Executive Vice Chancellor Donald Hagen.
Faculty and staff who have names of
prospective KU students can contact Alan Cerveny, the Office of
Admissions & Scholarships, 126 Strong Hall, and provide the
students’ names.
New diagnostic test improves women's
health care
A diagnostic test that dramatically improved
women's health care has just gotten better at KU Medical Center.
The original test--the Pap smear to detect
cervical cancer--has reduced cervical cancer deaths by 75
percent. Its success compensated for false positive results that
sent women into additional, expensive diagnostic procedures.
The new test--the Thin-Prep Pap
Smear--increases accuracy in detecting abnormal cells and
identifies potential problems much earlier than its predecessor,
said Patricia Thomas, MD, professor of pathology and laboratory
medicine. KU Medical Center is the only Kansas City area hospital
that offers the Thin-Prep test.
The physician places collected cells in a vial
that is centrifuged to separate the cells. The solution is then
pulled through a filter, which disperses cells in a single layer.
Placed onto a slide, the cells are stained and viewed. Thin-prep
Pap smears enable laboratory technicians to see more individual
cells. The greater clarity decreases the false positive results
and increases the early identification of problems, said Dr.
Thomas. The result reduces costs, since fewer women undergo
unnecessary colposcopies or biospies.
Donald Hagen, EVC
Last week was another whirlwind of activity as the school year
got into full swing, the hospital authority transition continued
moving at a rocket’s pace, and I worked to stay ahead of the
rocket. I did take time to celebrate my completion of my third
year as Executive Vice Chancellor. It’s been quite a ride
already. Fortunately, I had a supportive Chancellor in my
efforts, and a great team to work with. We’ve accomplished a
lot. I truly believe the changes we have made, from the formation
of KUPI to the Hospital Authority Board, will serve us well in
our future. I foresee an expanded patient base, the recruitment
of excellent research talent and great educational opportunities
for our students.
Working through new teams we can continue to
beautify our neighborhood, increase our volunteer activities and
make new friends and attract new donors. And always, we need
toimprove communications. I always encourage your suggestions and
the faculty has done a wonderful job giving me solid ideas.
For the first time, the annual
Chancellor’s Convocation given on the Lawrence campus was
broadcast to the Medical Center here and our Wichita campus
location. Friday, Chancellor Hemenway and Provost Shulenburger
updated us on the progress of Initiate 2001, the strategic
planning session that began last fall. After the presentation we
had time for questions and we interacted with our colleagues in
Lawrence and Wichita.
Cooperation with these colleagues continues to
increase. Our academic-research joint planning retreat in
Lawrence this week was a great success. There are so many areas
where cooperation between the campuses will bring all of us
greater success for ourselves and our students. I am really proud
of what you all have accomplished in the last three years, and
this is the year that the real action begins.
Molly and Matthew Kirse Memorial Golf Tournament co-founders
Jennifer Kirse and Alan Organ, MD, present a check for $13,543 to
Carol Lindsley, MD, chair of pediatrics at KU Children’s
Center. Jennifer and John Kirse founded the tournament in memory
of their children.
Classifieds
For Sale
For Sale: Starlight tickets to Earth, Wind and Fire/Ojays, Isley
Brothers. Paid $120. Will sacrifice. Call Craig at 432-0310.
For sale: Color TV, $20. VCR, rarely used, $40. Wood patio bed
and mattress in good condition, $30. Call 685-4001.
For Sale: 56-inch Toshiba(big screen) television. Great for
football games basically new. Call 358-9893.
For Sale: 1995 Bundy Alto Saxophone 1995, good as new. Call Kathy
at 764-7657.
For Sale: Sofa and loveseat, peach and off-white striped, great
condition, both for $200. Call 361-6412.
For Sale: Motorola ‘flip’ analog cellular phone.
Includes two-battery charger and extra (thin) battery. $40 or
best offer. Call 894-9425.
For Sale: Girl’s Huffy 12-speed bicycle, White Heat, barely
ridden. $25. Call Beth 334-5354.
For Sale: Pair of Bose 301 speakers, $75. Brentwood rocking
chair, $35. Call 262-0458.
Free
Sears 40-inch electric stove, avocado, two ovens (one large and
one small), large storage drawer, self cleaning, works well. Free
to anyone who can pick it up. Call 452-5439.
Automotive
For Sale: 1984 Nissan Maxima, 106,000 miles, automatic, always
garaged, well-maintained, great shape, very dependable, $1,900.
Also, 1986 Plymouth Voyager LE, four-cylinder, 81,000 actual
miles, all power, good condition, reliable, $3,000. Call
383-2335.
For Sale: 1994 Honda Accord LX, four-door, five-speed, automatic
windows and locks, AM/FM Cassette, 72,000 mostly highway miles.
Call Beth, 334-5354.
For Sale: 1991 Thunderbird. Excellent condition.
Air-conditioning. Automatic. Driver-side airbag. New battery.
90,000 miles. $4,500 or best offer. Call 831-1552 after 5:30 p.m.
For Sale: 1991 Mercury Sable, excellent condition inside and out.
Brand new transmission, no rust, regular maintenance. 95,000
miles. Asking $5,000. Also,1989 Chevy S-10 pick-up. New tires and
muffler, newer transmission, great body. Very good condition.
96,000 miles. $2,600. Call 962-9973.
For Sale: 1976 Pontiac Grand Prix, V-8, new tires, brakes,
muffler system, and battery. Runs well, $500 or best offer. Call
Gary, 441-2630, after 5 p.m.
Housing
For Sale: Three-bedroom, two-bath home, walking distance to KUMC,
central air conditioning, new carpet, off street parking.
$52,000. Call 338-2822.
For rent: Spacious duplex at 79th and State Line. Great location;
close to everything. Two stories, two bedrooms, 1bath, basement,
detached garage, large patio, nice yard. Available October 1.
$600/month. Call 444-9513 for details.
Roommate Wanted: Two blocks from KU. Call 722-1091.
Wanted
Situation wanted: Adult female will live in to care for disabled
or elderly person in lieu of rent. References available on
request. Call 677-2553.
Riders and drivers wanted to share in new vanpool program from
Lawrence to KUMC. Luxurious 7-passenger mini-vans available.
Affordable monthly fares (waived for drivers). For more
information, call Beverly Clark at KC Area Transportation
Authority (The Metro), 346-0800.
Ride Wanted: Vicinity of Blue Ridge Cut-off and 40 Highway.
House: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call Larry, 353-2751, after 6 p.m.
Study Subjects
Migraine attacks
Wanted: Subjects with clear-cut migraine attacks, one to four a
month, for placebo-controlled trial of non-toxic medication to be
taken as a preventive for three months. Subjects must be aged
18-60, otherwise in good health, not subject to daily headache
and willing to report by phone weekly. $25 compensation on
completion. Call Ms. Adkins, ext. 6916.
Pain control is focus of Resource Nurse
program
“Pain: Myths, Barriers and
Solutions” is the topic of the Pain Resource Nurse program
to be 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, in Battenfeld
Auditorium. Judith Paice, RN, PhD, FAAN, of Rush Presbyterian-St.
Luke’s Medical Center, Chicago, will be guest speaker.
The program includes sessions on
patient-controlled and epidural analgesia, acute and chronic
pain, geriatric and pediatric pain and the ethics of pain
management. The seminar provides eight continuing education
credit hours.
For more information, call ext. 6554.
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.
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