Winter 2012
yo u r gu i d e to h e a lt h & w e lln e ss
A Glance at 2012
in memory
In the last issue of @Affinity magazine, you met Leon Luker, an orthopaedic patient who received care at Mercy Medical Center (MMC). As the story goes, the resilience and gumption Leon exhibited during his long stay at the hospital touched the lives of those who cared for him and he quickly became part of the Mercy family. Through the relationships he formed with the surgeons at the Kennedy Center and rehab experts and nursing staff at Mercy, he became a recognizable face of the orthopaedic campaign for Affinity Health System, which kicked off in October. If you didn’t read his story in @Affinity, maybe you took note of the many billboards, bus displays, radio spots, and newspaper and TV ads that Leon appeared on. He graciously and humbly spoke about what orthopaedic medicine meant to him. On Wednesday, December 14, 2011, Leon suffered a medical emergency while driving and died as a result. Wild about the wilderness, flawless in his joke delivery and capable of curing low spirits with the flash of his smile, Leon’s love for life could be seen in the way he cared for his family, friends and Mother Nature. Medicine means something different for everyone, but the long and short of it is that medicine is personal. The closeness Leon had with Affinity is what we hope every patient feels when they come through our doors. With the newness that is this year, reflect on what is important in this life. Love, laugh, forgive, enjoy the little things, think positively and pursue your passions. We ’ l l m i s s y o u , L e o n . 2 | @Affinity
—Daniel E. Neufelder, President and CEO, Affinity Health System
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Our blog: alth.org/blog www.affinityhe Follow us:
AFFINITY HEALTH SYSTEM IS... • St. Elizabeth Hospital ‑ Appleton • Mercy Medical Center ‑ Oshkosh • Calumet Medical Center ‑ Chilton • Affinity Medical Group Clinics • Affinity Occupational Health For a complete list of Affinity clinic locations or to find a physician, go to our website at
www.affinityhealth.org
or call Affinity NurseDirect at
1-800-362-9900.
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c o n t e n t s WINTER 2012
F E AT U R E s
Affinity Health System Menasha, WI www.affinityhealth.org
9 A Glance @ 2012
President and Chief Executive Officer Daniel E. Neufelder, FACHE
We embrace the new year with a
glance at what’s to come in health care through a compilation of patient stories, environmental achievements, volunteer profiles, tidings of new technologies, life-changing wellness programs and kid-approved fitness.
Chief Administrative Officer Vince Gallucci Editorial Management Jennifer Wagner Mauk John Egan Alison Fiebig January 2012 • Volume 1, Number 3 The material in @Affinity is not intended for diagnosing or prescribing. Consult your physician before undertaking any form of medical treatment or adopting any exercise program or dietary guidelines. @Affinity is published four times annually by Affinity Health System. For permission to reprint any portion of this magazine, change your address, discontinue multiple copies or stop receiving @Affinity, please contact us at editor@affinityhealth.org.
C o v e r i l l u s t r a t i o n b y A n d y Po t t s
by the n umb er s
4 Ski Trails and Sweethearts
Catchy local and national tidbits
5 Outsmart the Label
ICE
INTEGRITY JUSTICE
CREATIVITY STEWARDSHIP
The mission of Affinity Health System is to live out the healing ministry of Christ by providing services that promote the health and well-being of the communities we serve, especially the poor.
Promise We promise to provide personalized care by listening, treating you with respect and putting your needs and interests first.
Values The way we accomplish our mission is as important as the mission itself. These values and traditions of our sponsors, Ministry Health Care and Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare, guide our actions.
Helpful tips to unriddling food label fibs
goo d eat ’n
6 A Chili Time of Year
Mission
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18
winte r
TEAMWORK
At Affinity Health System, our mission guides our actions.
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D E PA R T M E N T S
In Season
RV
Mission, Promise and Values
Photographs by Shane Van Boxtel, Image Studios
SE
© 2012 Affinity Health System. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without written permission from Affinity Health System.
A reader-submitted chili recipe gets a health-conscious makeover
Be well
7 Winter Wonderland Blues
A look at seasonal affective disorder
Illustration by Travis Foster Get gr een
8 Landfill Lane
Did you know there are six landfills in the Fox Valley?
afte r ca r e
18 The Pastor’s Husband Meet Dr. Robert Jones, a
neurologist with Affinity Medical Group in Oshkosh, and his wife, Kate, who are making a difference through medicine and ministry.
giving back
20 The Art of Volunteering An Affinity radiology
technician colors outside the lines
l ear n & l ive
22 Mindful Eating, Couples Massage and Online Childbirth Classes
Educational opportunities @ Affinity
kids @ affinit y
23 Word Scramble and
Shaving Cream Snow
Contests and games for children (and the young- at-heart) W i n t e r 2 0 1 2
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BY THE NUMBERS
2–29–12 Happy Leap Year! Make note; February 2012 has five Wednesdays. Between the years 1904 and 2096, leap years that share the same day . The most recent year of the week repeat when February was comprised of five Wednesdays was 1984. The next occurrence will be in 2040.
t r avis f o ste r
every 28 years
700 Between all the state parks, trails and
$414,832
forests, Wisconsin has about
700
miles of trails for cross
country skiing, a tradition that dates back to the early part of the 20th century when Scandinavian settlers brought their skiing tradition to this country as a means of travel to work.
The amount of funds raised by Affinity employees for its Give One! campaign, which supports Affinity Health System programs that advance care and services for patients and extends family support for community priorities through United Way Fox Cities and Oshkosh United Way.
6
In the 1860s, the brother of New England Confectionery Company’s (NECCO) founder began printing sweet sayings on candy. Today, pounds of NECCO about ® Sweethearts are made each year with sayings that have evolved over the decades. From “fax me” to “call me” and then “email me” to “text me,” sweet teeth can now enjoy Sweethearts® with modern day social media-savvy sayings like “tweet me.”
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6 million
550 550 ladies
Last October, attended Calumet Medical Center’s annual Night for Women event.
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in season Winter
winter 5 • good eat’n 6 • be well 7 • get green 8
Outsmart the Label The winter season often means trouble for Wisconsin diets. To help us pick out a white lie on a nutrition label, Dr. Sudeep Sodhi, a gastroenterologist and nutrition expert with Affinity Medical Group, dishes on food label fibs and imposters. By Alison Fiebig
T
ake the motto, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” and apply it to colorful, simple packaging of products in your local grocery store. Reading beyond “all natural,” “whole wheat” and “low-fat” is essential to understanding what you’re really eating. Dr. Sudeep Sodhi, a gastroenterologist with Affinity Medical Group in Appleton, understands the food label language and shares some tips and guidelines to help pick the healthiest item on the shelf. • Look at the serving size. At first glance, the calories, total fat, sodium and sugar appears low. Do not assume the contents of the package are one serving. “Food manufacturers sometimes understate the serving size,” Dr. Sodhi adds. “Many ice cream products state the serving size is half a cup. Who eats half a cup of ice cream?” • As a rule, strive for 5 percent or less per serving of the elements that you want to limit (fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium) and 20 percent more of fiber and calcium. • Read the list of ingredients and take note of the amount of processing the original ingredients have gone through to make the product. “Avoid buying items that list ingredients you do not recognize,” he says. • Sugar is labeled under different names, such as high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup solids, sucrose, dextrose, cane sugar, evaporated sugar cane and evaporated cane juice. These sugars can be present in the same product and listed as separate ingredients.
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• Select products with short ingredient lists. Ingredients have to be listed with the highest concentrations first according to FDA
“Health begins in grocery stores and kitchens rather than physician offices, ” Dr. Sodhi says. regulations, so spacing them out in this way lets them be shifted further down the list and thus appear to be present in lower quantities. • Go after fruits, vegetables and whole grains – foods that don’t require a label – as your fiber source. Fiber imposters, such as chicory root in fiber bars, do not have the same beneficial effects as whole grain and soluble fibers. Instead, food makers are adding something called “isolated fibers” made from chicory root or purified powders of polydextrose (a synthetic food additive) and other substances that haven’t been shown to lower blood sugar or cholesterol.
• Be cautious of foods labeled “real fruit,” which is typically only found in small quantities. The main ingredients are corn syrup, sugar and white grape juice concentrate. Play it safe and go for products that indicate 100 percent fruit juice. Like a book, flip that product over and read into it. Your findings will determine whether or not you put it in your cart or slide it back on the shelf. M E E T T H E D O C TO R
Dr. Sudeep Sodhi is a gastroenterologist with Affinity Medical Group in Appleton. In addition to his regular endoscopic practice, he is interested in nutrition and integrative medicine. He is a graduate of Dr. Andrew Weil’s two-year fellowship in integrative medicine from the University of Arizona. He is board certified in gastroenterology, integrative medicine and nutrition. Follow him on Twitter @holisticgi! W i n t e r 2 0 1 2
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good eat’n Your recipes with a wholesome twist
A Chili Time of Year Guilt-free version of the meaty classic
B
ecca Heflin calls her Sweet Sweet & Spicy Tomato Bratwurst Chili and Spicy Tomato Bratwurst Chili “a taste of Wisconsin to be enjoyed all year Ingredients round.” The Appleton resident, who graduated 1 medium onion, diced from the food production program at Fox 1 medium green bell pepper, diced Valley Technical College in December, takes the 1 garlic clove, minced connection between the appetite and the soul 1 tablespoon Canola oil or use cooking spray to heart…or should we say, tummy. for no additional fat and calories “Growing up in the frozen tundra of 1 pound diced turkey bratwurst Wisconsin taught me early on to become a lover 16 oz. jar Newman’s Own Mango Salsa of foods that warm the body,” Heflin says. 16 oz. jar Newman’s Own Black Bean Jean Wagner, dietitian of Outpatient and Corn Salsa Nutrition Services at Mercy Medical Center, 12 oz. can black beans, drained made a few simple revisions to reduce the 2-3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, calorie content and total fat while improving chopped finely the nutritional quality of the chili. Wagner was 1/2 cup frozen corn niblets conscious in keeping the sweet, spicy flavor 14 oz. can diced tomatoes with green intended in the original recipe. pepper and onion “By choosing a turkey bratwurst instead of 4 ounces light or diet cranberry juice regular beef or pork for this recipe, you will have reduced the content of this recipe by 558 Preparation calories and 66 grams of fat,” Wagner says. 1. I n a large stock pot, add canola oil, onion, To reduce the total calories, substitute light pepper and garlic. Sauté until or diet cranberry juice in place of jam/preserves. onions are translucent. By doing so, the content will decrease by an additional 500 calories. “You can compare brands of the diced tomatoes with green peppers and opt for the brand with less sodium,” Wagner adds.
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2. Add turkey bratwurst and cook until browned. 3. Add remaining ingredients and bring to boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes. Makes 4-6 servings. Garnish with blue corn chips, low-fat shredded cheese and/or fat-free sour cream.
Take heart! February is not only the
month to celebrate Valentine’s Day, but is also Heart Disease Awareness Month. Here are a few tips on how to spice up your holiday the healthy way:
1. Order fish at dinner. Salmon, tuna or trout, among others, tend to be rich in omega-3 fatty acids, a form of polyunsaturated fats that is heart healthy. 2. Embrace your honey and nature’s sweets, such as fruit-flavored sorbets or other fruit-based desserts. 3. Mix up dessert by pairing dark chocolate with fruit. Some experts agree that compounds in dark chocolate called flavonoids help reduce the risk of some types of heart disease.
To submit your favorite recipe for consideration in an upcoming issue, please email us at editor@affinityhealth.org
be well
Winter Wonderland Blues To some people, winter brings snowfalls and shovels; to others, winter brings a form of depression. By Alison Fiebig
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inter in Wisconsin isn’t ideal. The sun sets at half past four, the sky is a frosty shade of grey and roaring winds do little to motivate activity. While some snowy spirits aren’t bothered by the multi-layered attire and waves of winter precipitation, others wonder, “Why go out?” Part of that population may suffer from a form of depression called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) in which someone with normal mental health throughout most of the year experiences predictable depressive symptoms during one particular season. It typically occurs in a recurrent cycle, year after year, and is statistically more prevalent in women (comprising 60 to 90 percent of people who experience the depressive seasonal pattern) and young adults. “In Wisconsin, SAD symptoms tend to begin during the autumn months (October and November) and become most severe during the darkest months (December and January). The symptoms begin to lift as the days get longer (February and March),” explains Dr. Kenneth Casimir, medical director of operations for Affinity Behavioral Health with Affinity Medical Group. “Because of the length of winter this far north of the equator, symptoms often do not resolve completely until April or May.” According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, SAD isn’t a specific diagnosis, but instead an indicator of major depression. A deficit in melatonin, a neurochemical involved in the regulation of our mood and functionality and produced by our brains during the hours of darkness, appears to be related to the depression associated with SAD. Symptoms of SAD tend to be similar to other forms of depression, such as decreased energy, inability to concentrate, increased sleep and daytime sleepiness, weight gain, loss of motivation for work, unhappiness and irritability, social withdrawal, and diminished interest in pleasurable activities. “Typically, you’d have the majority of those symptoms for about two winter seasons,” says Leah Diedrick-Williams, a licensed clinical social worker and behavioral health coordinator for Affinity Medical Home at the Calumet Medical Center Clinic in Chilton. “In between the winter seasons, there is a full remission. During the spring and summer months, the symptoms are essentially gone, but return in fall and winter.” She adds there is a long-standing history of using light therapy to treat SAD. These special
light boxes emit bright fluorescent light to mimic outdoor light and can be effective in causing a chemical change in the brain that lifts a person’s mood. When the light enters a person’s eyes, the retina alerts the hypothalamus (the portion of the brain that contains a number of small nuclei), which regulates sleeping, eating, body temperature and libido and is disrupted when a person suffers from SAD. “A common approach is to sit in front of such a light source for 30 minutes per day,” Dr. Casimir advises. “This is best done in the morning, in order to avoid the side effect of insomnia. Symptoms of depression typically improve within three to four weeks if light therapy is going to help.” Antidepressant medications or talk therapy are also effective. Dr. Casimir recommends spending time outdoors on sunny days to curb mild forms of seasonal depression and vigorous exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, three times per week, particularly during winter season. Diedrick-Williams adds, “Research supports that staying active helps reduce symptoms of
depression and is hugely important during winter months. I strongly recommend it to anyone with depressive symptoms.” Both Dr. Casimir and Diedrick-Williams suggest people who have had repeated seasonal depression should talk to a mental health professional about prevention methods, especially before purchasing a light box.
If symptoms are interfering with work and/or interpersonal relationships, make an appointment to see a health care provider as soon as possible. If you have thoughts of hurting yourself or anyone else, call Affinity NurseDirect (800-362-9900) or Affinity Behavioral Health (920-730-4411) immediately.
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get green
Landfill Lane
2009 Materials Discarded (million tons) od Fo
A look at our consumption behavior
gas collecting wells
top soil
waste
cover vegetation
r s s s s e te rd er od ic al le st as a i he h t l o a as t et G xt at as W bo O W W M r Pl Te Le d r Ya r& be
geomembrane
27.71
pe Pa
Anatomy of a landfill
b Ru
or plastic liner to isolate the trash from the earth to prevent ground water contamination. However, with little-to-no oxygen, the conditions are not ideal for decomposition. Excavated landfills were found to contain newspapers from 40 years ago with legible ink. By analyzing the materials we put into them, landfills become a great teaching tool by telling the story of our consumption behavior. For example, the amount of food waste reaching landfills is a concern. Today, it’s the single largest waste component of municipal solid waste in the United States. About 33 million tons of food waste reaches landfills where it becomes a source of methane, a gas that has “21 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide,” the EPA reports. This is why recycling, reusing and reducing have become powerful words in the modern age. It’s the same reason Affinity Health System’s environmental management system has the creative identity known as “RE” – the prefix in the English language to indicate repetition and restoration. One process improvement event launched on the program’s behalf involved the biomedical team at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton, which identified alkaline batteries holding a reusable charge after short-term use in devices. These batteries were reclaimed and used in nonclinical devices like pagers. The new process resulted in 1,771 batteries being rerouted. The batteries are then recycled for their copper and zinc
r&
W
hen I was in the third grade, I jumped off a table thinking Superman’s powers were my own. Unfortunately, the only thing we had in common was X-ray vision; the result of my fall was a fractured arm. I find myself reflecting on this incident as I drive by the landfill alongside Highway 41 in Oshkosh every day. As it turns out, the anatomy of a human being and a landfill have common traits. Both are structured to support material and weight. Both are layered to protect their interior and are more fragile than we know. Lastly, and perhaps the strongest trait, is the input/output relationship they share since daily human activities have a direct impact on landfills. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Americans contribute 4.6 pounds to a landfill every day (65 percent from homes and 35% from businesses, schools and hospitals). If we follow the trash trail from activities like the morning coffee to-go cup to the material waste we generate at home and the office, it adds up quickly. The majority of this waste – even though many components can be recycled, composted and incinerated – will end up in a landfill. Currently, there are 65 licensed solid waste landfills in Wisconsin – six in the Fox Valley area. Intricately engineered, they are designed to contain waste and according to Elizabeth Royte, author of Garbage Land, “most landfills are more like mummifiers than composters.” Like a giant bowl, landfills have a thick clay
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By Iqbal Mian, sustainability team leader at Affinity Health System
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
25.93 13.69 13.61 13.33 10.83 8.78 7.23 6.42
www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/materials/organics/ food/fd-discards.htm
instead of winding up in local landfills. The newly renovated emergency department at St. Elizabeth Hospital has tremendous sustainability features. Behind the scenes during deconstruction of its former spaces, more than 500 tons of material were recycled from items like wood, concrete, paper, ceiling tiles, glass and carpet tiles – all of which avoided the landfill. While it’s encouraging that the number of landfills around the globe has decreased, some have increased greatly in size and capacity. They prevent us from polluting in our own backyard. However, we can’t forget they also demonstrate the strong relationship between the human footprint and the earth.
geomembrane
waste Iqbal Mian Sustainability Team Leader, Affinity Health System
waste
drainage layer clay liner
geomembrane
i q b a l mian
ground water
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For more information on Affinity’s sustainability efforts, visit www.affinityhealth.org/green
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2 A Glance 0 1 2 Set your sights on the impacts and advancements
next eight pages, you’ll have the chance to learn
about life-changing care of The Center for
kids, the value of hospital volunteers, and more.
Forging ahead, we embrace the new year with a compilation of what Affinity means to the
community, folks it cares for and even its staff.
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A n dy
for surgery, a personalized fitness program for
by
and doctor relationship, what robots mean
Il l u str a ti o n
emergency department, power of the patient
Po t t s
Spine and Brain Health, the innovation of a new
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Show
The
Must
GOON n haro S y B ten Verbe
Quick triage and treatment helps one Appleton man keep on rocking
A
t 38, slowing down wasn’t something Jeremy Kratz ever anticipated. In fact, the hard rockin’ Fox Valley native was just days away from a once-in-a-lifetime concert when he underwent back surgery at Mercy Medical Center in Oshkosh to repair a ruptured disk. In what he and his girlfriend are calling a “miracle,” Kratz was out of the hospital the next day. Thanks to a well-coordinated team within The Center for Spine and Brain Health, Kratz – the stage manager and backup vocalist with a band called Kindred Soul – took the stage to open for KISS at Rock USA in Oshkosh just one week after his surgery. “He has never felt this good,” says Pamela Seefeldt, Kratz’s girlfriend. “Now he can really enjoy what he does.”
Between Hard Rock and a Hard Place
While his surgery had an overnight positive impact on his life, Kratz’s back problems didn’t develop quite that quickly. Two automobile accidents in his past initiated his problems; then two years ago, Kratz threw his back out, further exacerbating the pain, which he admits he just “lived through” much of the time. Eventually 10 | @Affinity
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the pain became so severe that Kratz was stooped over and walking with a cane. In addition, Kratz’s seizure condition created more serious problems. In April 2011, Kratz suffered a massive series of seizures lasting three hours, which left his already-injured back even more twisted and severely impaired. “His body was hunched over and his back looked like an ‘S,’” recalls Seefeldt. By June, after enduring months of unsatisfactory consultations and physical therapy at another provider, the tattooed rocker was sleeping upright on a sofa and barely functional. “I was getting desperate,” Kratz admits. “What finally did me in was I couldn’t sleep at night. I could barely move. Obviously, I couldn’t continue the way it was.” After seeing a physician’s assistant in Dr. John Pracyk’s Affinity Medical Group (AMG) office in Menasha, Kratz’s options were to have spinal surgery or face life in a wheelchair. Kratz, who was skeptical of doctors, kept thinking, “What can I do to get out of this?”
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Meet the band, Kindred Soul: Jeremy Kratz, Ray Kratz, Shawn Clauson, Chris Koentopp, Chris Lechner and Steve Forsberg.
Assembling the Affinity Team
Kratz was referred to The Center for Spine and Brain Health, which follows a protocol set up by Dr. John Pracyk, a neurosurgeon with AMG in Menasha and Oshkosh. The careful process allowed Kratz’s Affinity team to determine his medical complications and chart the next course of action. After a neurosurgeon, Dr. Robert Donley, learned of Kratz’s condition, he recognized Kratz was severely impaired. The excruciating pain stemmed from a ruptured disk. “The nerves get pushed over and pressed,” Dr. Donley acknowledges. “Besides severe pain, the patient can get neurological deficits.” Due to the severity of his pain and the need to do immediate surgery, Kratz met Dr. Donley just one day before his surgery was scheduled to occur. “Prior to meeting Dr. Donley,” Kratz recalls, “I was thinking about getting a [cortisone] injection [instead of surgery]. But I was totally at ease with his demeanor. His staff made me feel comfortable.” But while Kratz decided to go forward with the surgery, he had one caveat, which he voiced loud and clear. He wanted to be able to join the band the following weekend at Rock USA. “He was a young guy and he was in good health,” Dr. Donley explains, also noting it was his goal to get Kratz back on stage in time for the show. “He was exceptionally motivated.” He was also supported by Seefeldt and her two children, as well as his own two children, bandmates and friends. Kratz received additional support from Michelle Feucht, a registered nurse care coordinator at Mercy Medical Center. Previously a registered nurse in Dr. Pracyk’s office, Feucht now acts as the patient educator with The Center for Spine and Brain Health. After Feucht was notified of Kratz’s surgery, she met with him immediately to walk him through a patient guidebook and show a PowerPoint presentation on pre- and post-surgery expectations, pain control, caregiver tips and other essentials for surgery prep. “I bring patients in and tell them what to expect from point A to point B,” Feucht says. “It’s literally walking them through the process. w w w. a f f i n i t y h e a l t h . o r g / b l o g
“Patients have a lot going on; they have a lot to process, and it’s a lot for them to absorb. Having it reinforced is a way for it to sink in,” she says. “Jeremy was understandably anxious and very scared,” Feucht admits, especially because he was having surgery the next day. During Kratz’s surgery in July, a laminectomy was performed to remove some bone. “That allows me to get to the nerves themselves,” Donley says. “I use an operating microscope and identify the small blood vessels around the nerve, coagulate and divide and manipulate the [bone] fragments.” He then identified where the disk became torn and repaired the area.
From Pain to Gain
When Kratz awoke from the several-hour surgery, he recalls, “There was absolutely zero pain,” a feeling he hadn’t had in years. He was also thrilled that he could finally feel his feet, which had been numb for so long. He was anxious to get out of bed and walk around. More importantly, however, he was focused on getting back on stage…in just one week. Kratz was released the day after surgery and spent the week recuperating and anticipating the band’s big gig. And while Seefeldt didn’t know what to expect the night of the concert, Kratz was back on stage in a limited capacity with some restrictions on heavy lifting, and sang one song with his five bandmates. It’s the career that fuels his passion and it’s one he didn’t want to give up too soon. “By my early 30s, I felt like I was 20 years older. It’s been so long since I’ve even been able to stand without a cane. I haven’t felt this good in 15 years,” says Kratz, with a smile on his face and a visible stroll in his step. Kratz hopes to pick up a guitar and play on stage with the band someday – one of his aspirations that might be possible now that he’s feeling physically able. And Seefeldt credits the Affinity team with giving her partner his life back. “Everything from A to Z was just a miracle,” she says. “It was just perfect.” W i n t e r 2 0 1 2
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By Becky Kopitzke
Wait is OVER
The
I
t’s a place you never imagine you’ll be. But if you are, it’s a place you hope to find comforting and efficient. The new Emergency Department (ED) at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton, which opened on October 25, 2011, was modernly designed with the visitors’ comfort and privacy in mind. “We asked more than 700 patients and their families for ideas,” says Gary Kusnierz, vice president of performance excellence for Affinity Health System. “We really took that feedback to heart.” Many points made by patients inspired the new design. Access has improved with the new ED entrance facing Oneida Street. Upon arriving, patients are escorted quickly to a private room with little to no waiting. Each room offers nature-inspired wall murals to absorb sound and soft daylight bulbs to reduce stress, sliding frosted glass doors to maximize privacy and dignity, and radiant heat panels over trauma beds to keep patients warm. The design process also included significant input from staff and physicians. “Every detail can make a big difference in providing you and your family with efficient, expert care,” says Laura Ruys, director of emergency services for St. Elizabeth Hospital. For example, all 22 emergency patient rooms are identical, down to the supplies that are stored in each cabinet. This translates to faster care when it matters most. Between October 25 and December 6 (the time this magazine went to print), 3,144 people had visited the ED. “This facility allows us to provide faster and better patient-centered care for our community,” says Travis Andersen, president of St. Elizabeth Hospital.
Making it Possible
That same month, the St. Elizabeth Hospital Foundation announced its first fundraising capital campaign in nearly 25 years to ask the community
for help in reaching a $6 million goal. The “It’s Personal Campaign,” which raised more than $4.9 million during its initial phase, was formally announced during an employee event that honored the years of dedicated, personalized care provided in the former emergency department. “I am very proud of the positive impact St. Elizabeth Hospital has had on the community and our health system,” says Daniel Neufelder, president and CEO of Affinity Health System. “Affinity is recognized as one of the top health systems in the nation and St. Elizabeth Hospital has been a part of this community for more than 100 years. We are excited about the opportunities to further serve the community as a result of this important project.”
Dynamic Duo
Like the ED, the Surgery and Procedure Area (SPA) is designed to meet patients’ wishes, including greater privacy and space for family members to join their loved one before and after surgery. The hospital’s SPA is busiest on weekday mornings and the ED sees the most traffic on weekends and evenings, when clinics are closed. While operating from a “universal care platform,” the two departments with opposite peak times were built adjacent to one other so emergency caregivers can flow patients into the SPA when needed, which increases the ED space from 22 rooms to 48. “It’s a forward-thinking strategy,” says Kusnierz. “The universal care platform is about providing the continuum of care our patients need in the least amount of time.”
An Affinity for Green
The new ED is a pillar of sustainable design. “We diverted 500 tons of construction waste from our landfills simply because we built within our existing carbon footprint,” Kusnierz explains.
The new Emergency Department at St. Elizabeth Hospital
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da r r i s l e e h a r r i s p h oto graphy
The new ED/SPA space used to be the Outpatient Rehab gym, library and conference rooms. Created partially from reclaimed, recycled and natural materials, this latest renovation is part of a major hospital construction effort expected to reduce energy consumption by 25 percent. “Our research, our methodologies, our sustainable design – it’s all linked back to delivering our promise of personalized care,” Kusnierz says.
We invite you to see for yourself. For a virtual tour of the new Emergency Department and SPA, visit www.affinityhealth.org/ edtour.
A rendering of the new Neenah clinic
Brownfield, Green Building
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hat used to be an industrial sleeping giant is now a bustling main street sinuosity. In fall 2012, Affinity Medical Group’s (AMG) Lincoln Street clinic in Neenah will cross town (after 39 years on Doty Island) and reopen on Main Street in a new, 31,500-square-foot facility on the site of the 130-year-old Glatfelter paper mill. Closed in 2006, the mill donated its seven-acre property to the city’s Community Development Authority for redevelopment. The clinic will be built on land that is referred to as a brownfield, which is property that may be contaminated by low concentrations of hazardous waste or pollution and has the potential to be reused after it is cleaned up. Both the city of Neenah and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) were called upon to handle contaminated soils and materials in an appropriate manner. “Soil contaminants are left over from the paper mill and we have to figure out the best way to utilize it,” explains Gary Kusnierz, vice president of performance excellence for Affinity Health System (AHS). “People often consider [clean-up] to be too expensive, so an old fence goes up and it becomes an ugly spot. In this case, we are dealing with it in strategic fashion to reuse the land for a state-of-the-art medical facility.” Most appealing to AHS was the site (next to Plexus on the western corner of the downtown district) is alongside a new plaza and will eventually be adjacent to a new park that will link to other trail systems and parks in the area. While the size of the site restricts the size of the building, AHS found the benefit of urban development to outweigh the challenge of sustainable design. Improving the economic health of the community and strengthening the stewardship value of AHS are only two of the positives achieved by this new build. Slated to be the tenth Affinity building to earn Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) merit, the clinic will resemble the prototype design with the stone and angled-glass facade but will be two stories instead of one. Other LEED qualifications include: minimal grass surrounding the exterior of the building, water w w w. a f f i n i t y h e a l t h . o r g / b l o g
Room to Breathe Oxygen. It’s more than the air we breathe; it’s a healing balm. Affinity’s hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) is saving lives and limbs 24 hours a day, seven days a week at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton – the only facility in the area offering life-saving HBO therapy for hyperbaric emergencies (such as carbon monoxide poisoning). The hospital recently installed two new chambers, which are larger and more comfortable than the previous models.
HBO therapy is…
• A painless treatment that uses 100-percent oxygen to heal damaged body tissue. The special chamber is two times more pressurized than the atmospheric pressure we live in every day. Patients recline on a bed inside the clear acrylic chamber to inhale pure oxygen, which speeds the body’s repair process. • Used in emergencies, such as carbon monoxide poisoning and smoke inhalation, to quickly replace toxic vapors with pure oxygen, and for routine care like healing diabetic foot wounds and tissue damaged by cancer radiation therapy. • Helping to salvage arms and legs crushed in auto accidents or industrial injuries. — Becky Kopitzke
For wound therapy, ask your doctor for a referral to St. Elizabeth Hospital.
efficiency and low-volume water fixtures throughout the building, the reuse of a pile of cement rubble left behind from the old mill as the base of the site, and the paint and wall coverings have a low volatile organic compounds (VOC) chemical content. “The whole project is a wise use of resources today and will allow us to carry on tomorrow,” Kusnierz says. — Alison Fiebig W i n t e r 2 0 1 2
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By Alison Fiebig
Heart
The
Debra Schuh partaking in her COURAGE graduation exam with the help of Taylor Richter, medical assistant.
to Change
Do you have the COURAGE to take on coronary artery disease?
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“Personal goals are set at each visit and followed up on between visits (via telephone),” Dr. Peterson says. “With labs done approximately every three months, patients received immediate feedback on their progress.” Anyone with a history of coronary artery disease, heart attack, bypass surgery or “heart disease equivalents” (abdominal aneurysms, peripheral arterial disease, carotid artery disease, history of stroke or diabetes) is eligible for COURAGE. A referral is not needed. The patient’s cardiologist is also involved throughout the program. Debra Schuh enrolled in the program after suffering a heart attack at the age of 46. She spent 24 hours in the Intensive Care Unit and another 48 in the heart unit. Surgical remedy was not an option due to the location of the blockage (in a lower left vessel of her heart). Schuh attended three months of cardiac rehab at St. Elizabeth Hospital before joining COURAGE. “One major lifestyle change for me was fitting in 40-50 minutes of exercise at least six times a week,” says Schuh, an Appleton resident who will graduate from the program in January 2012. “The second hardest change was coming up with healthy meals that everyone could enjoy. I’ve learned to read food labels very carefully and to make wiser choices.” Equipping Schuh with the knowledge and faith to kick old habits, the COURAGE program also shed light on her genetic history with heart disease. She learned how crucial lifestyle changes are to those at risk. “It was up to me (to change), but the program offered a lot of information and support while going through that difficult time,” Schuh adds. It’s never too late to find your COURAGE. For more information on the program, call the COURAGE Clinic at 920-730-7669.
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ive years ago, a study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine on a preventative health care trial that assessed different treatment plans in reducing heart events and death in patients at high risk of a heart attack, stroke or transient ischemic attack. The C.O.U.R.A.G.E. (Clinical Outcomes Utilizing Revascularization and Aggressive Drug Evaluation) Trial inspired medical experts at Affinity Health System (AHS) to fight heart disease through preventative health care. AHS started its own 12-month COURAGE program – a model based on a program from Mayo Clinic – as a “boot camp” for aggressive prevention of heart and other vascular disease for adults who need guided management to fight their risk factors. The goal is to avoid heart procedures or surgery by making lifestyle improvements and taking the right medications. The program takes a personalized approach by bringing a team of health care experts together in one place at one time to see each patient. Board-certified cardiologists from St. Elizabeth Hospital’s Heart, Lung and Vascular Center, registered nurses, exercise physiologists, registered dietitians and a doctor of pharmacy and a medical assistant make up the COURAGE team. “Many patients would not be able to receive this in-depth education and assessment if not in COURAGE,” says Dr. Sara Lynn Peterson, a clinical pharmacist who sees patients to determine their medication regimen and educate on laboratory values and lifestyle changes. “Patients [in the program] take a more personal, vested interest in their health.” During the program, patients move through different structured visits. For example, at the COURAGE team visit, patients see multiple providers and receive a personalized exercise prescription and nutritional plan.
Healing Helpers: In Their Own Words
“Your gratitude is their pay. Have you thanked a volunteer today?”
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ithout the help of hospital volunteers, there would be no one to escort visitors, run the gift shop, assist with cholesterol screenings, deliver supplies and equipment to and from nursing units or provide transport of stable patients. Who would distribute new magazines to designated waiting areas, fetch wheelchairs, assist with community outreach programs, help with clerical work, or keep patients in the hospital company? Meet two volunteers who give a little time each week in a big way.
Name: Paige Anunson
Age: 21-year-old senior at the University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Hospital: Mercy Medical Center, Oshkosh Department: 5th floor subacute/rehab units Shift: Two hours a week, every other week Volunteer since: May 2010 Duties: I am able to interact with the patients by having 1:1 visiting sessions; bringing patients’ visitors coffee or other things they may need; taking the patients outdoors to enjoy the weather (though that doesn’t apply now with the winter weather); running errands; and filing on days patients are asleep or do not wish to interact. Favorite responsibility: To make sure the patient forgets – if just for a moment – they are sick and in the hospital. Fond memory about volunteering: One time, a group of young girls came to the floor to give a magic show on their day off. After the show, I took them around the floor. The girls asked the patients if they would like to have their nails painted. While the girls painted their nails, the patients would share stories and ask the girls questions about school. The interaction benefited not only the patients but the girls, too. My elevator pitch to get someone interested in volunteering at Mercy: I was instantly impressed by how organized the volunteer program was and the “open arms” approach by the staff. From day one, I felt like the staff treated me like a long-lost family member instead of just another volunteer to keep on track.
Name: Marv Nennig
Age: 82 Hospital: St. Elizabeth Hospital, Appleton Department: Welcome Center (lobby) Shift: Two four-hour shifts a week Volunteer since: 2008, after retiring from a 50-year career as a barber in downtown Appleton Duties: Escorting and greeting people, sometimes grabbing a wheelchair and taking them to where they need to be. Favorite responsibility: When I first started, I was working at the registration desk. Now, I get to do a variety of tasks, but guiding people and talking to them along the way is what I enjoy most. I’m good at making small talk! Being at the welcome desk, we’re usually the first folks that people see. It’s our job to get them started on their visit. Why I volunteer at St. E’s: It keeps me active and it’s good exercise. A fellow volunteer wears a pedometer and on busy days we walk as much as two miles. Plus, the hospital needs our help. My elevator pitch to get someone interested in volunteering at St. E’s: Get out of the house and get going! w w w. a f f i n i t y h e a l t h . o r g / b l o g
Marv
Paige
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Care & Camaraderie At the age of 16, Jennifer Marquette started to experience excruciating stomach pains, but it would take six years before she received a diagnosis. “I was always running to the bathroom,” Marquette explains. “I went years having diarrhea all the time and thinking it was normal.” When she was 21 years old, she became so ill that she was falling to the ground with sharp, stabbing pains. After bouncing around from doctor to doctor, she was referred to Dr. Khalid Alam, a gastroenterologist with Affinity Medical Group in Menasha. After having a colonoscopy, Dr. Alam diagnosed Marquette, now 37, with Crohn’s disease, which causes inflammation of the lining of the digestive tract and can lead to abdominal pain, severe diarrhea and even malnutrition. The condition, of which there is no cure, is marked by periods of improvement followed by flare-ups. Three different sections of Marquette’s intestines were discovered to be diseased but Dr. Alam wanted to avoid surgery. “He went over the options and made me feel confident, reassured and we decided together that medicine was the best route,” she says. “Knowing now what the medicine has done for me, he has helped me live a full life.” But what was right for Marquette might not be right for another Crohn’s patient. “My goal is to be proactive and protect patients’ interests while preventing them from surgery,” says Dr. Alam. With more than 40,000 colonoscopies/endoscopies under his belt,
Dr. Alam specializes in screening colonoscopies and detecting abnormal growths. By having a patient swallow a scope, he can also examine the esophagus, stomach and intestines for esophagitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Barrett’s disease and stomach ulcers. Dr. Alam also uses an endoscope to perform endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatographies (ERCPs) to exam the inside of the stomach and inject dyes into the ducts in the biliary tree and pancreas so they can be seen on X-rays. “My eyes are trained to go after the right spots and find polyps,” Dr. Alam says. “Your eyes don’t see what the mind doesn’t know.” Dr. Alam was confident he could treat Marquette with the least aggressive approach, even after she went undiagnosed for so long. “Patients can have a normal life expectancy if they comply with medical regime,” Dr. Alam explains. “It’s a joint effort between the gastroenterologist and the patient.” Marquette reflects on the years before she was diagnosed and remembers feeling helpless and misunderstood. “I thought I’d have to deal with the pain my whole life,” Marquette says. “After every colonoscopy, Dr. Alam is always right there to reassure. He’s been my guardian angel. We talk about me for about five minutes and then we move on to family and travel! I now consider him to be my friend.” Acknowledge Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month this March by making an appointment to get a colonoscopy. Call 920-223-3550 (Oshkosh), 920-738-2184 (Appleton) or 920-849-3826 (Chilton). — Alison Fiebig
Space AGE Medicine It’s time to change the way you think about robots.
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eet the da Vinci Surgical System - a robot-assisted approach to minimally invasive surgery considered to be the most advanced surgical technology available. Fourteen area physicians are using the da Vinci to operate at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton. Dr. Melissa Koehler, obstetrician and gynecologist with Affinity Medical Group (AMG), and her colleagues have performed more than 166 surgeries with the da Vinci system since August 2010. Most commonly used for hysterectomies, the robot is now advancing into other
“When people think of the of the machine doing the it at all. The surgeon tells to move. It allows for more
robot, they think work. That’s not the robot where precise control.”
– Dr. Melissa Koehler
gynecology, urology and general surgeries as more AMG physicians are adopting this specialized skill. “When people think of the robot, they think of the machine doing the work,” said Dr. Koehler. “That’s not it at all. The surgeon tells the robot where to move. It allows for more precise control.” According to Dr. Christopher Wagner, an AMG general surgeon at St. Elizabeth Hospital who performs robot-assisted colon surgeries, the robot allows greater capabilities. The system creates 3D video graphics of the inner body during 16 | @Affinity
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surgery, which Dr. Wagner says are “far superior” to previous tools. “The da Vinci instruments actually bend inside the body, allowing us to get into deep places and maneuver just as our wrist would,” Dr. Wagner explains. “It’s a safer, more efficient, improved surgery.” And patients can tell the difference. The da Vinci makes smaller incisions, reduces bleeding and transfusion needs, diminishes pain, discomfort and wear on the body and shortens recovery time (many patients go home the next day). Dr. Wagner’s first da Vinci patient reported feeling no pain after her colon surgery. “She wasn’t even taking any pain medication,” he recalls, which is a remarkable improvement compared to traditional surgery. AMG surgeons discuss the benefits and the costs with each patient, according to their unique health care situation. “We don’t do robotic surgery just because we can,” says Dr. Steve Baughman, a urologist with AMG who performs a variety of robotassisted surgeries. “Outcome data, with proven benefit, need to be counseled to all patients prior to leading them to robotics.” As Affinity’s surgery capabilities expand, more patients reap the benefits of robot-assisted surgery. “It’s an exciting time,” says Dr. Wagner. “We are cautiously utilizing this tool, maximizing our current technology to improve our surgeries.”
– Becky Kopitzke
Ask your surgeon if they are operating on the Fox Valley’s most advanced robotic surgery platform at St. Elizabeth Hospital.
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Confidence for Kids lison A y B ig Fieb
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hen Nathan Preston was diagnosed with high cholesterol at the age of eight, his mom, Suzette, knew a change had to be made. “You need a full-system approach that works with the whole family to make [the changes] long-lasting,” she says. “At that time, we couldn’t find anything in the area that we felt could help us.” That was until 2010, when Affinity Medical Group (AMG) launched Kids Underground (KU), a three-pronged approach to getting at-risk children and teens healthy by means of physical fitness, nutritional guidance, social and emotional support and much more. Underground Functional Fitness, a Menasha-based fitness facility, partnered with AMG to help educate and inspire kids ages 6-17 to lead a healthy lifestyle. Initially, Nathan wasn’t thrilled with the idea of the program. “To him, it was one more thing we were making him do,” Suzette explains. “But by the time the first session was over, he was pleading to go back.” Dr. William Kasper, a pediatrician with AMG in Neenah, has seen child obesity first-hand. As a primary care physician, he promotes healthy living for growing kids but he didn’t have many resources to help children with their weight management before the KU program. “I see weight particularly problematic when kids hit middle or high school,” he says. “Once they hit middle school, they’re more sedentary. They get behind on their activities and their BMI (body mass index) creeps up. It’s a difficult cycle.” Suzette believes the exercise portion of the program motivated Nathan
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the most. A combination of individualized attention from coaches and participating with other kids with similar needs in the program helped her son realize that being active can be fun. David Brown, owner of Underground Functional Fitness, and his training team spend two days a week in the gym with the kids to work on strength and movement. “We are finding that the children have the ability to control their bodies and move better,” Brown says. “When that happens, we know the children’s bodies are becoming stronger, which improves balance, coordination and increases the ability to use more energy. We also want to provide the children with an education to promote a healthy lifestyle.” Some of the changes include reduced body fat, improved behavior at home and school, an increase in confidence and the ability to sustain physical activity for a longer period of time. “My studies have led me to believe that the children who aren’t top athletes are scared of exercise because they’re afraid to embarrass themselves or they believe they’ll get hurt,” Brown says. “We show them how to have fun with exercise.” The program might be targeted to kids, but families of the young participants are learning how to commit to making a change together. “It’s not just nutrition, not just exercise and not just behavioral change,” Suzette says. “You need all three components working together to support a change and you need to make it as a family. Now he asks me, ‘What’s our activity going to be today, mom?’ This program has built his confidence and he realizes he can say, ‘I’m doing something good for myself.’” Amy Nielsen’s daughter, Hannah, enrolled in the program at the age of 10. Today, Amy can say her 12-year-old carries herself differently. “Because of the program, Hannah is more confident, more energetic,” Amy says. “But I can’t just let her do all the work. At home, everyone plays a role in it.” Both mothers credit the educational sessions with the psychologist and dietitian as a way for kids and their families to confront the everyday issues and choices. “Anyone of the KU practitioners (including the Affinity Health System nutritionist and behavioral health psychologist from AMG) can sit down with the families and have open conversation because we want to let the kids know they are special,” Brown says. Kids Underground is subsidized through a privately-funded grant within the St. Elizabeth Hospital Foundation to support kids and families who are interested in enrolling in the program and need financial assistance. For more information call Julia Salomón, corporate dietitian and nutrition educator for Affinity Health System, at: 920-223-2308. W i n t e r 2 0 1 2
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after care
Get to know your care provider
By Alison Fiebig
Thirty years ago, Robert W. Jones married Kate Croskery. Today, Bob is a neurologist with Affinity Medical Group and Kate is a United Methodist pastor. Here’s a look back at their love story – a fine mingling of medicine, ministry and music.
he year was 1980, and Robert Jones and two other medical school students were enjoying a night out at a popular haunt when he spotted his future wife. “He told me his name was Bob Jones, that he had just graduated from Harvard, and that it was his first day of medical school,” Kate Croskery-Jones remembers. “I asked him if I could see some identification. So he showed me his driver’s license!” It was true; it was Bob’s first day at the University of Cincinnati’s College of Medicine and Kate was working at a Japanese restaurant as an office manager. Today, Bob is a neurologist with Affinity Medical Group at Mercy Medical Center in Oshkosh, and he and Kate will celebrate 30 years of marriage this September. Prior to Bob accepting the position with Affinity last August, the Joneses lived in Kenosha for 23 years where Bob started his practice. He specializes in head traumas, epilepsy, strokes, muscular dystrophy, migraines, Parkinson’s disease and neuropathy. But when he isn’t seeing patients, you will find Bob performing at church, wherever Kate is the pastor. Whether you call Kate the doctor’s wife or Bob the pastor’s husband, it wasn’t always medicine and ministry for the couple. They married during Bob’s third year of medical school and settled in Chicago where Bob was a resident at the University of Chicago and Kate attended Chicago-Kent College of Law. Bob completed his undergraduate degree at Harvard University, but he didn’t always have his heart set on medicine. He set out as an American history major, taking not even one science class his first year. But what he did have his heart set on was helping society. Bob enrolled in a class called “Human Motivation,” which introduced him to psychology, psychiatry, psychoanalysis and behavioral neurology.
seizures in people with epilepsy. These experiences in neurology inspired him to pursue the specialty. After finishing his neurology residency in 1988, Bob accepted a position managing neurophysiology laboratories at several hospitals in and around Kenosha, which is where Kate lived as a young girl. In 1998, Kate answered a call to pastoral ministry after 10 years of practicing law. In 2007, she became the pastor of Central United Methodist Church in downtown Milwaukee. Even as a clergy spouse, Bob’s role in the faith community is also long-standing. With a brother, John, who is a pastor in Rhode Island and father-in-law who is a pastor in Cincinnati, Bob has always been an active member of his wife’s congregation through music and performance. “Our faith community has always been very important to us,” he explains. “My mother was a piano teacher, and she inspired me to continue with music. Music is good for the soul.” And it’s been feeding his soul since the age of eight. His mother taught him to play the piano and he picked up the trumpet for a short while in high school. At Harvard, he studied music theory and composition. Today, his main focus is on vocals; he sings in the church choir alongside his two — kate croskery-Jones daughters, Virginia and Caroline. (And if the choir isn’t performing at the service on any “By the end of the year, I decided that I would not only study history, given Sunday, you can find him playing the keys.) Their son, Griffith, but make history by becoming a medical scientist,” he says. rounds out the family as a percussionist. After choosing to major in biochemical sciences his sophomore “Music is a big part of worship,” Kate says. “Bob is always giving me year, Bob worked alongside Nobel Laureate Konrad Bloch; Dr. Susan suggestions.” Leeman, a well-known neuroscientist who is credited with discovering In 2000, Bob edited and published a musical that his brothers, John Substance P, a neurotransmitter related to the sensation of pain; and and Thomas, composed called “Proclaim Jubilee,” which combined rock, Dr. Marc Dichter, a famous neurologist recognized for his work on hip hop and traditional gospel rhythms with a message of forgiveness biochemistry of anticonvulsant medicines, which are used to control and debt-relief for the world’s poorest countries. Bob acted as the overall
“Most of us make time for whatever it is that is important to us.”
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“I feel that I make a difference in the community through my practice of medicine by offering personalized services and focusing on the health of the whole person.” — D r . R ob e rt W. J o n e s
Bob Jones
producer, forming a multi-congregational cast, publicizing the musical and even introducing the idea to the Clergy Association. Kate helped build a social justice campaign that called for the forgiveness of the billions of dollars owed to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund by Guatemala, Africa and other third-world countries. Bob and Kate share a passion for social issues and global causes. As an attorney and pastor, Kate also served as a chaplain and prevention services coordinator at WoMen and Children’s Horizons, Inc., in Kenosha. She is currently completing a doctorate in clinical social work. From professional to parent and pastor to performer, one might wonder how these two make time for each other when they wear so many hats. “Making time for each other has to be intentional,” Kate says. “Most of us make time for whatever it is that is important to us. I’m blessed to have someone who loves me, a strong, healthy body and mind, and the opportunity to work.” So, when they have the time, they take their bikes for a spin, enjoy the snow on cross-country skis, go out to a movie or scout the sushi scene in the Fox Valley. While Bob has found a home at Affinity, Kate is waiting to learn if she will be appointed to serve a United Methodist church in the area. Whatever the outcome, the couple has faith in the future. “I feel that I make a difference in the community through my practice of medicine by offering personalized services and focusing on the health of the whole person, including psychological, social and even spiritual considerations,” says Bob. “That is what a community of caring is about, and I am happy to now be living in Oshkosh, continuing to develop my practice, and moving forward.” w w w. a f f i n i t y h e a l t h . o r g / b l o g
Kate Croskery-Jones
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giving back
The
By Jennifer Pinnow, radiology technician at Calumet Medical Center Photographs by Shane Van Boxtel, Image Studios
art of Volunteering Each issue, we’ll share the story of an Affinity Health System team member who volunteers at a local nonprofit organization. Affinity is committed to supporting local organizations and charitable events aligned with our mission of providing services that promote the health and well-being of the communities we serve.
Left: Jennifer Pinnow (upper right) and the ART Attack! group
Creativity wasn’t really my forte growing up. But, here I was about to participate in facilitating an after-school, extracurricular arts program for students in the Chilton area called ART Attack! Upon entering Room 109 at Chilton Middle School, Geri Justinger, president of ART Attack!, greeted me with a warm smile and put me to work. There was thread to cut, chairs and tables to organize and scissors and glue to distribute; these all being only a few of the preparations that had to be made before the children arrived. As we waited for the children to appear, Justinger’s passion for the arts was immediately evident as we discussed the lack of funding most art programs receive. She explained that Chilton schools do a marvelous job encouraging the arts, but she was here – along with several other volunteers – to take it one step further and give children an outlet to express their creativity in a positive, structured after-school environment. At the sound of t he final school bell, elementary students excitedly filed in one by one, each choosing a place where they would enjoy an afternoon snack. (Inspiration for art had to begin on a full stomach.) Three different art stations had been established. Station one provided the kids with the opportunity to transform their clay projects (created the previous week and fired in the kiln) into masterpieces using crayons and paint. Peanut People were the basis of station two. Paint, glue and other decorations, such as feathers and fabric, were used to transform an ordinary peanut into an extraordinary character. My favorite was station three, where numerous materials were provided with limited instructions. A canvas board was handed out and the children were told to create a collage. It took me a few minutes to cozy in. Although I love working with 20 | @Affinity
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children, I was unsure what my role would be for the day. Most of the children had a vision and wanted to show their interpretation of it. As time passed, the creative energy became electric and amplified my desire to get my hands dirty and see what kind of creative fire I could ignite within myself. I pulled up a chair at the peanut people station where a small group of girls were absorbed in their project. They welcomed me immediately, quick to share paint and paper. The caring approach each student had was comforting and it demonstrated that children are still learning the importance of accepting others and working together. Elle, Anna and Katie really made an impression on me. It was the first time at ART Attack! for Anna, but from the interactions she had with the other children and adult volunteers, you could have pegged her as a regular. Elle and Katie were sisters with a very unique style. Combining all the colors of paint together made a very undesirable shade of brown, which eventually ended up on their hands instead of the peanuts. I discovered Elle’s favorite subject in school was art and that she looked forward to this program because it was an additional opportunity to participate in something she truly enjoyed. As the kids packed up to leave, I had the opportunity to process the events of the day. Here was a fantastic organization in a community I am a part of that I had been virtually clueless about; this was a little unsettling. It’s easy to see the needs of others in the hospital setting I work in, but the challenge is to get out in the community and help organizations that champion personal growth and development. ART Attack! is growing. Folks who have a passion for art, children and community involvement (though experience in arts and crafts is not a requirement) are encouraged to contact ART Attack! for volunteer opportunities. Email: info@artattackwisconsin. com or call 920-418-4078 for details.
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Foundations for Giving Back
By Alison Fiebig
Caring for the Classroom @ Affinity
ART Attack! is a non-profit 501(c)(3) arts organization serving the greater Calumet County Area. The mission of ART Attack! is to foster and promote the visual arts in the community through education and opportunity; offer a constructive and supportive environment for empowering self-expression through the arts; and cultivate a lifelong love of the arts. ART Attack! facilitates an after-school, extracurricular arts program for students in the Chilton area in grades 1-8. In addition ART Attack! continues to partner with local area businesses and organizations to facilitate community-based art projects. An exhibit of artwork by after-school participants is located in the vestibule near the Emergency Department at Calumet Medical Center.
I
To make a tax-deductible, charitable donation to support these and other projects at Mercy Health Foundation and St. Elizabeth Hospital Foundation, please visit www.affinityhealth.org and under ‘About Us’ click on ‘Foundations’.
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i m ag e z oo / stoc k i l l u st r atio n so u r c e
SNAPSHOT
n September 2009, an equipment need emerged at the School of Radiology within Mercy Medical Center in Oshkosh. The original X-ray lab simulator, which was utilized long before the hospital switched locations in June 2000, was in need of replacement. Students enrolled in the School of Radiology’s Program in Radiologic Technology utilize the simulator to learn basic X-ray positioning and proper radiation techniques for various radiographic examinations. The program prepares students for entry-level radiography positions. As it turned out, the cost to replace the parts outweighed the budget and a new non-ionizing radiographic room would cost about $17,000. The program was in jeopardy without the simulator. Because equipment needs for the school are not a regular budget item, new equipment must be privately funded. After applying to the Mercy Health Foundation (MHF) for a grant, the School of Radiology was presented with the money for a new lab, which was installed in January 2010. “Everything we do is viewed through a filter of what will directly benefit patients and the significance of impact,” says Vicki Schorse, executive director of MHF. “Radiology services are a critical part of health care and, in many ways, is one of the most important to our work, touching almost every patient at some time.” By supporting new equipment for the program, MHF advanced health services provided by Affinity Health System (AHS) and enhanced the quality of care provided to Affinity Health System patients through upgraded training equipment and facilities. “We appreciate the confidence and support from the Foundation for this educational opportunity for students in the health sciences,” says Jim Werner, program coordinator for the School of Radiology. Schorse adds, “Philanthropy is and will be ever more critical to preserving and creating the health care we all desire.” Similarly, the Affinity Health System School of Medical Technology, founded in 1967 and housed at St. Elizabeth Hospital, is a nationally-certified clinical laboratory science program for college seniors or graduates who compete in a rigorous process to fulfill their internship requirements. The school is the only training program for medical technologists in northeast Wisconsin, offering a nine-month program to students pursuing careers as clinical laboratory scientists/medical technologists. In January of 1979, the estate of a woman, who was only identified as Mrs. Lemke, distributed $110,000 to the Foundation for use in supporting the School of Medical Technology. The motive of her generosity was never clear, but the funding was utilized for many years. In December 1998, then-school director Carla Salmon requested the Foundation move the remaining balance to an endowment fund so there would be a source of perpetual funding for the school. Every year, six college students are selected for enrollment. The students are taught by Affinity Health System laboratory professionals through classroom instruction and online coursework, along with hands-on laboratory experience. At the time of their graduation from the program, approximately 50 percent are offered positions within Affinity Health System.
learn & live
Educational Opportunities at Affinity
Mindful Eating
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any people know what to eat but have difficulty with how much to eat and putting nutrition and fitness recommendations into practice can be challenging. In a new class called Mindful Eating, participants will learn how certain simple strategies can produce lasting lifestyle changes. Lori Deering, a registered dietitian and community health educator for Affinity Health System, will guide you through several mindful eating practices to establish a mind/ body connection and help you stay the course to a healthier you. “There are cues in our environment that set us up to overeat,” says Deering, who also teaches HUGS: Staying Off the Diet Roller Coaster, an eight-week program that promotes positive lifestyle changes in the areas of healthy eating, fun physical activity, positive self esteem and body image. “Mindful Eating will teach people how to build an awareness of when you feel hungry or full.” The two-hour class will be offered on January 17 at the Park View Drive Clinic in Greenville (as well as May 3) and on March 13 at the Koeller Street Clinic in Oshkosh. Contact NurseDirect at 1-800362-9900 to sign up for Mindful Eating or HUGS.
Online Childbirth Class
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f you are unable to attend one of our community childbirth classes due to time constraints, scheduling conflicts, bed rest or simply to avoid the winter weather, The Gift of Motherhood is an excellent, convenient option for you and your birthing partner. This web-based program for both PC and Mac users includes animated illustrations, videos and interactive activities. High-speed internet is recommended, but the program will work with dial-up. After you have paid for the program, a special code along with a corresponding book will be mailed to your home. The special code will be good for 90 days following the first time you log on. Call NurseDirect at 1-800-3629900 for more information.
Couples Massage
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hange up your Valentine’s Day routine this year with a couples massage class at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton. Tammy Gillespie, a registered massage therapist, will help couples experience a new avenue of communication by means of massage in order to relieve stress and tension. She will teach you the proper techniques to use on the head, neck, shoulders, back, arms, hands, legs and feet as well as ways to reduce risk of injury while giving a massage. Register for the February 18 class by calling NurseDirect at 1-800-362-9900. To review all classes and seminars offered, visit affinityhealth.org, click on “health resources” then “class registration.” Register online or call NurseDirect at 1-800-362-9900.
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Winter 2 01 2
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ki d s
1. NWSOEOSHS
You wear these hardwood frames that have cross-stitched material on your feet so you don’t sink into the snow. ________________________ This is a land vehicle that you can drive in the snow and across a frozen lake. ________________________ What activity requires you to lace up two boots on your feet so you can glide across the ice? ________________________
Forget snowsuits and put on your art smocks because we have the perfect solution for playing with snow without having to go outside! Step One: Mix equal parts shaving cream and glue (if you’d like your snow to have color, mix a small amount of glue with a drop of food coloring in a plastic bowl).
2. EWBOOIMNLS
3. NIC TKAIESG
CREATION
Step Two: Using a Popsicle stick, tongue depressor, paint brush or Q-tip, mix and mold the substance on a paper plate or piece of construction paper. Step Three: Add any other materials (rice, noodles, feathers, ribbon, buttons) to bring the masterpiece to life.
4. KCYEOH
What team sport is played on ice and players skate back and forth with wooden sticks with the goal to score on the opponent by 5. DNLIEDGS shooting a rubber puck into a net? In order to do this, you must first ________________________ climb to the top of a snowy hill. ________________________
7. FHC NIIEIGS
The practice of catching aquatic animals with lines, hooks or spears through an opening of a frozen body of water. ________________________
6. OOC AOCTH
This is a warm chocolate drink served in a mug. ________________________ Word scramble solutions:
eat on the playground? A: Recess Pieces! Q: How do trees get on the Internet? A: They log in!
Q: When is the moon heaviest? A: When it’s full! Q: What did the Atlantic Ocean say to the Pacific Ocean?
Unscramble the answers to the questions about winter sports and activities.
MAKE YOUR OWN SNOW
1. Snowshoes 2. Snowmobile 3. Ice Skating 4. Hockey 5. Sledding 6. Hot Cocoa 7. Ice Fishing
Q: How do you fix a tomato? A: With tomato paste. Q: Why should bowling alleys be quiet? A: So you can hear a pin drop! Q: Why
WORD JUMBLE
Q: Where do books sleep? A: Under their covers! Q: What is faster, hot or cold? A: Hot, because you can catch a cold! @
A: Nothing, they just waved. Q: What kind of ship doesn’t sink? A: Friend-ship!
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W i n t e r 2 0 1 2
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@Affinity
coach go to the bank? A: So he could get his quarter back! Q: What country did candy come from? A: Sweeten! Q: What candy do you
do basketball players love cookies? A: Because they can dunk them! Q: Why did the football
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Affinity Health System 1570 Midway Pl. Menasha, WI 54952
sn @ps
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The Convo y of Hope or ganization the Fox Cit rolled into ies on Octob er 8, 2011, to 5,000 peop serve le strugglin g financially profit even . The nont united 1,0 00 local vo from local su lunteers pp profits, chur ort agencies, other no nches, govern m community service orga ent agencies, nizations an medical an d d health pro fessionals, 20 Affinity including Medical Gro up provider time and ho s, to give pe to peop le in our co mmunity.
We do n’t jus t care we’re p for the roud t comm o be an unity, Here i active s a glim p art of pse of activit it. some o ies in t f our r he com ecent munit ies we serve.
of ded the tour people atten In this picture, 0 50 1, t ou ent. 11, ab y Departm er 12-23, 20 ors, From Octob ospital’s new Emergenc clinical nurse educat th H tients h bo pa et e, ct ab ek pa liz nd E im . Li St d Jeanine d rooms will an an an t m en er pm H Mary new equi te how the . demonstra t simulator en ti pa a n, by using iSta
Team membe rs from Affini ty Medical G window even roup’s Ripon t during the clinic joined annual Dicke in downtown in the living ns of a Chris Ripon. Inspire tmas, a Victo d by the Nat film, the grou rian festival ional Lampo p adorned a on’s Christm downtown bu movie and us as Vacation sine ed props like an RV (remem ss window, acted out pa Affinity scar rts of the ves and 300 ber Cousin Ed cookies wer die?). More e handed ou than 800 t to event-go ers.