Journeys, Fall 2014

FALL 2014

JOURNEYS “Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice …” – William Jennings Bryan

Surgical pioneer introduces innovations

Is your weight limiting your life?

JOURNEYS FALL 2014

01 FROM OUR PRESIDENT 02

SURGICAL PIONEERS Surgical innovation flourishes in Lincoln Patient who traveled from Europe recounts her successful care They introduced new approach for removing pituitary tumors

07 REHABILITATION

Back in balance 10

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BRYAN FOUNDATION Employee giving breaks records New scholarship helps fulfill students’ dreams IN THE COMMUNITY Hundreds Run to Overcome

12 MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

Peers provide special kind of support to mental health patients 14 BRYAN HEART

Latest technology treats abnormal heart rhythms 16 MEDICAL STAFF SPOTLIGHT

Ask the doctor: How is anesthesia used during surgery and

for pain control?

18 MEDICAL STAFF UPDATE 21

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VOLUNTEERS & CUSTOMER CARE Art with purpose LIFE AT BRYAN The world comes together at Bryan Health BRYAN COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES Simulation Center: Crucial safety net for learning When paths intersect: Retired hospital executive bonds with scholarship winner

28 CRETE AREA MEDICAL CENTER

Patient Advisory Council connects Crete Area Medical Center

and community

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eing overweight can take the joy out of life by limiting your ability to keep up with your kids or grandkids, impacting outings with friends and activities you’d like to pursue and causing concern about your health.

If you are overweight — and more than half of American adults are — you may be at risk for heart disease, stroke, diabetes, arthritis, sleep apnea and certain types of cancer. In fact, as your weight increases (especially to the level referred to as obesity), so does your risk for weight-related diseases.

You can take control of your health and your life.

Spend just five minutes with WeightAware, our free, online assessment to determine your risks. If you are at risk, we’ll help you get more information on weight loss options.

Get the facts, and get started today. We’ll help you the rest of the way.

This free assessment is online at bryanhealth.org/ online-screenings.

30 ACHIEVEMENTS 32 BRYAN STERLING CONNECTION 33 COMMUNITY CALENDAR

ALL ABOUT JOURNEYS

STAY IN TOUCH

Statesman William Jennings Bryan, one of the original benefactors of Bryan Health, said:

We welcome your comments. For more information about Journeys, contact the Advancement team by calling 402-481-8674.

To learn more about Bryan programs and services, visit us online at bryanhealth.org.

“Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.”

Journeys tells our story of how Bryan chooses to achieve. This free publication is mailed quarterly to our employees, physicians, volunteers and the communities we serve.

OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT Your contributions help us care for those who come to Bryan at every stage of life. To find out how you can participate, call the Bryan Foundation at 402-481-8605, or write to us at:

Bryan Foundation 1600 S. 48th St. Lincoln, NE 68506

Kimberly Russel President & CEO, Bryan Health John Woodrich President & COO, Bryan Medical Center Gary “Gus” Hustad, MD Chief of Staff, Bryan Medical Staff Bob Ravenscroft Vice President of Advancement & CDO Edgar Bumanis Director of Public Relations Paul Hadley Editor

FROM OUR PRESIDENT

“The thing that lies at the foundation of positive change, the way I see it, is service to a fellow human being.” — Lee Iacocca, former automotive executive

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omentum. Great things are occurring throughout Bryan Health, and each advance fosters further growth and more interest in Bryan’s mission and vision throughout the Midwest.

Record numbers of patients, including those requiring charity support, are turning to our medical centers for care.

More physicians are joining the Bryan Physician Network and Bryan Health Connect. And more of your friends and neighbors are choosing to support our work through charitable gifts, like those who helped us move the Bryan Independence Center into a wonderful new facility.

To support this level of growth, we depend on leaders of this organization, such as former CEO Gene Edwards, whom we catch up with on Page 26. During his decades-long career, he laid the initial blocks upon which today’s growth rests.

Our staff members and volunteers take extra shifts and learn new skills in a relentless, 24/7 quest to provide the safest, highest-quality care. And I’d be remiss to not call your attention

to the heroes on Bryan’s Medical Staff, who are integral to the health care advances occurring in our community. I salute the more than 600 physicians and midlevel providers on our medical staff, including Drs. Stohs, Semm, Gelber, Kutayli and Bejot featured in this edition of Journeys.

One other Lincoln health care champion needs to be mentioned. Sept. 22, the medical community and the Bryan family lost a respected physician and beloved colleague — gastroenterologist Douglas Dalke, MD. He touched countless families during his career in Lincoln, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.

Kimberly A. Russel President and Chief Executive Officer, Bryan Health

Ribbon cutting signals grand opening for new Bryan Independence Center Visitors flocked to the Bryan Medical Center West Campus late this summer to participate in a series of grand opening festivities that showed off the new home of the Bryan Independence Center.

At a Sept. 12 ceremony, Bryan Vice President and Chief Development Officer Bob Ravenscroft (left), Lincoln Mayor Chris Beutler, Bryan Independence Center and Pastoral Care director Jerome Barry, Bryan Medical Center President and Chief Operating Officer John Woodrich and Lincoln Chamber of Commerce President Wendy Birdsall cut a ribbon to celebrate the newest chapter in Bryan’s long history of support for behavioral health services.

Bryan Journeys 1

Surgical innovation flourishes in Lincoln Gene Stohs, MD, is one of the pioneers in endoscopic surgery. Some of his long-time team at Bryan Medical Center include Heather Ware, RN, (left), Becky Marshall, RN, and surgical techs Barb Fricke and Christy Krejdl.

Endoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive surgical approach in which an endoscope (a thin tube with a small camera) is placed inside a patient, either through a small incision or through a natural opening such as the nostril, to allow physicians to look at and operate on tissues within the body.

In this edition of Journeys, Lincoln surgeons who were early innovators and national leaders in endoscopic surgery share their stories.

2 Fall 2014

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or more than 25 years, Gene Stohs, MD, has been a pioneer of laparoscopic obstetric and gynecologic surgical techniques in the Midwest and on the world stage.

“Laparoscopic surgery is the term we use to describe endoscopic surgery performed within the abdomen, and it is a technique that gained momentum first in community hospitals rather than in medical centers,” notes Dr. Stohs. “In Lincoln, my partner Dr. Palmer Johnson and I foresaw that laparoscopy would be a dominant player in ob/gyn surgery long before surgeons in many other parts of the country. This is an example of physicians in private practice taking the technical lead for the benefit of patients, and we went on to do important work in the field.

“For example, we performed the first video camera surgery in Lincoln in 1988 and the first laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy in Nebraska in 1991. This is important because the

SURGICAL PIONEERS ‘gold standard’ for hysterectomies (removal of the uterus and/or Fallopian tubes and ovaries) is the vaginal approach, which is done to avoid the large abdomen incisions performed during abdominal hysterectomies. The role of the laparoscope is therefore to allow vaginal hysterectomies rather than abdominal hysterectomies as often as possible.”

Dr. Stohs also was among the first in the world to successfully operate on pregnant patients laparoscopically.

Local team led the way “So we were able to do some pioneering work right here at Lincoln General Hospital (now Bryan Medical Center),” he continues, “with a

Endoscopic procedures offer substantial advantages Endoscopic surgeries, which have been performed successfully by Lincoln physicians for more than two decades, offer these advantages over traditional longincision surgeries: n Lower rates of pneumonia and other postsurgical infections. n Less visible scarring. n Less blood loss. n Faster recovery period and quicker return to work. n Less postoperative pain, requiring less frequent use of narcotic painkillers.

wonderful operating room staff and scrub nurses, many of whom have been with us the entire time. And as we expected, other endoscopic disciplines eventually joined this effort throughout the world to the point that laparoscopic surgery has become more mainstream.”

Sharing success stories Over the years, Dr. Stohs has presented 60 lectures on laparoscopy and ob/gyn surgical techniques across the United States and Canada. Three of his videos were recognized as among the best at International Film Festivals of the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists.

“Today, community hospitals often have very experienced surgeons and staff working in the

Surgical techs Barb Fricke (left) and Cindy Strehle (far right) assist Gene Stohs, MD, and Jeffrey Tomjack, MD, of Gynecologic Surgeons and Obstetricians during a laparoscopic procedure at Bryan West Campus.

Bryan Journeys 3

SURGICAL PIONEERS endoscopic arena,” says Dr. Stohs.

“The range of surgical procedures being done endoscopically at Bryan is quite diverse, and it is important for people in the community to be aware of this because it means they don’t need to leave town to receive the obvious benefits of endoscopic surgery, and they can recover near their homes and families.”

According to Dr. Stohs, past chief of staff and former Bryan Medical Center Board chairman, other endoscopic procedures being performed in obstetrics and gynecology include treatment of tubal pregnancies, ovarian cysts and uterine fibroids, removal of pelvic and ovarian endometriosis and release of scar tissue or adhesions that develop within the abdomen.

Other surgical disciplines performing endoscopic procedures at Bryan include general surgery, otolaryngology (ear, nose and throat surgery), neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery and bariatric (weight loss) surgery.

Looking to future “Because of the obvious concern and debate right now about lowering health care costs, the future of laparoscopic surgery lies in minimizing expenses while maximizing patient results; that is, fewer complications, less operating time and using fewer disposable instruments and other unnecessarily expensive technologies,” Dr. Stohs says.

“Less has to be the new more!” n

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Patient who traveled from Europe recounts her successful care Tatiana Ungar is thankful for pioneering care she received in Lincoln 15 years ago.

“My name is Tatiana Ungar. I am 68 years old and was born in Siberia. My family now lives in Moldova, a beautiful, eastern European country between Romania and Ukraine.

“I had laparoscopic surgery performed

by Dr. Gene Stohs in 1999 to remove a uterine fibroid that had for many years caused me chronic bleeding, anemia, fatigue, irregular heartbeat, chest pain, dizziness and hypertension. In 1998, I experienced bleeding so severe that I nearly bled to death in a hospital in Moldova.

I first met with Dr. Stohs when I visited my daughter, Svetlana, who was then living in Lincoln, studying English and earning her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.

Dr. Stohs recommended a hysterectomy to remove the uterine fibroid, as this would stop the chronic bleeding and solve my related medical problems. Dr. Stohs explained that the hysterectomy could be done laparoscopically to avoid leaving a big scar, and it would shorten my recovery time.

“As it turned out, however, laparoscopic hysterectomies were not being performed in Moldova then — doctors were only performing so-called ‘open abdominal hysterectomies,’ which require a 5- to 7-inch incision across the abdomen. So, six months later, I

returned to Lincoln to have my surgery done laparoscopically by Dr. Stohs. By that time, I needed the surgery urgently, as my health had deteriorated because of chronic blood loss.

“My surgery took twice as long as expected — about two hours — because the fibroid had grown to the size of a grapefruit since my previous visit. However, the surgery went well, and Dr. Stohs said I should recover quickly.

“I required some pain medication, which was typical, and two days after my surgery I left the hospital to finish my recovery at my daughter’s home. I visited Dr. Stohs’ office before returning to Moldova to make sure I was healing well and that it was OK to fly back.

Overall, I felt so relieved after my surgery, and I healed quickly, as Dr. Stohs had predicted.

“That was 15 years ago. Now every time I visit my daughter in Nebraska, I go to Dr. Stohs for a checkup, and so far, everything is fantastic. The chronic bleeding and related problems are gone, and I feel full of energy, run my own business, and look younger than my age.

“To me, Dr. Stohs is a savior. The surgery he performed literally saved my life, and I am so indebted to him for what he was able to do for me 15 years ago. I feel so fortunate to have found him, because he is both an expert in his field and a considerate, thoughtful, intelligent and kind doctor. The laparoscopic surgery he performed greatly improved my quality of life and gave me a chance to see my grandchildren grow up. I also want to thank the staff at Bryan for their professionalism, kindness and caring before and after my surgery.” n To learn how you can support Bryan Health, contact the Bryan Foundation at 402-481-8605.

For information about laparoscopic obstetric and gynecologic surgery, contact Dr. Gene Stohs at

402-421-8581.

SURGICAL PIONEERS

They introduced new approach to removing pituitary tumors

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or well over a decade, an enterprising collaboration between Lincoln otolaryngologist Russell Semm, MD, and his neurosurgeon colleagues has brought the advantages of endoscopic surgery to Lincoln patients who have tumors of the pituitary, a pea-sized gland at the base of the brain.

“Back in 1997,” Dr. Semm explains, “Lincoln neurosurgeon Benjamin Gelber and I collaborated to be the first in Nebraska to perform endoscopic transsphenoidal pituitary tumor removal (ETPTR), which is endoscopic removal of a pituitary tumor through a patient’s nasal passages. This was very important, because this type of endoscopic surgery allowed the patient to avoid more invasive procedures typically performed to remove pituitary tumors at that time.”

Dr. Semm and Dr. Gelber went on to perform 15 ETPTR

surgeries that first year. ETPTR was just beginning as a state-ofthe-art procedure, which in those days was rarely done outside of major university medical centers.

To provide some history, ETPTR was developed in the 1990s as a less invasive alternative to trans-oral (“through the mouth”) surgeries and traditional, open surgical approaches that require opening the patient’s skull to access the pituitary gland from above. Dr. Semm points out that open surgical approaches place patients at much greater risk for complications, such as long-lasting or permanent changes in their mental and physical abilities, because such surgeries are more likely than ETPTR to cause significant injury to patients’ brain tissue.

ETPTR also is a less invasive alternative to the sublabial (“under the lip”) transseptal approach to pituitary tumor removal, which requires making a long incision under the patient’s upper

Ear, nose and throat specialist Russell Semm, MD, (left) and neurosurgeon Benjamin Gelber, MD, teamed up to introduce endoscopic removal of pituitary tumors in Nebraska.

Bryan Journeys 5

SURGICAL PIONEERS

Teamwork brings endoscopic procedure to Heartland lip and removing his or her nasal septum to reach the pituitary gland, an approach that can cause substantial facial bruising, swelling and blood loss.

Instead, during ETPTR, the otolaryngologist places an endoscope into the patient’s nostril, makes a small incision at the back of the nasal cavity to enter the sphenoid sinus, and then creates a small opening in the thin layer of bone separating the sinus from the pituitary gland. The collaborating neurosurgeon then operates through one nostril while the otolaryngologist works through the

Meriel Dissmeyer is thankful that the less invasive ETPTR approach (see diagram above) helped treat her headache and vision problems without complications.

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©MAYO FOUNDATION FOR MEDICAL EDUCATION AND RESEARCH. USED WITH PERMISSION.

endoscope in the other nostril to assist in removing the tumor.

“The ETPTR approach has revolutionized pituitary tumor removal surgery because it requires no external incisions and causes far less tissue injury than the long-incision and open surgical approaches,” says Dr. Semm. “This means the patient experiences much less pain, bleeding and swelling after surgery, and patient costs are lower because surgery times and hospital stays are shorter.”

Lincoln resident Meriel Dissmeyer experienced the advantages of ETPTR firsthand in 2011 when Dr. Semm and Dr. Gelber removed a benign pituitary tumor that was causing her severe headaches and vision problems.

“The doctors operated through my nose to remove the tumor, then monitored me in the hospital for five days. I did have some headache pain afterward, but all went well overall, and I had very little swelling or bruising,” Meriel says.

“I thought the surgery would be very scary, but the doctors were able to fix my problem, and the surgery was much less trouble than I expected.

“In 2014, we found that my tumor had

returned, but Dr. Semm and Dr. Gelber were able to remove it again, with another good outcome. Now I know that if the tumor ever does come back, they are right here in town to help me.”

She adds, “My experience was so much better than what happened with a close relative of mine, who also had to have a benign pituitary tumor removed.

Her surgeons had to operate through her eye socket, and she lost her left eye as a result. So I thank God for Dr. Semm and Dr. Gelber, and the fact that they can do this minimally invasive surgery.”

As of this year, Dr. Semm has collaborated with Dr. Gelber and fellow neurosurgeon Daniel Tomes, MD, on 189 ETPTR surgeries. “ETPTR lets us achieve very complete tumor removal and very successful outcomes overall,” says Dr. Semm. “Our typical surgical time has decreased from 6.5 hours in 1998 to under two hours today, and hospital stays for patients are now 2-3 days, with some patients actually able to go home from the hospital the next day.”

He adds, “Development of our ability to provide ETPTR in Lincoln has been a very successful team effort, in part because of the commitment of the biomedical communications department and operating room staff at Bryan, who supported our work on this surgical approach over the past 17 years. Their support helped make it possible for us to perform this highly technical surgery in a community hospital setting, which is a very significant achievement.” n To learn how you can support Bryan Health, please contact the Bryan Foundation at 402-481-8605.

REHABILITATION

As part of his rehabilitation following a severe stroke, Ray McCray uses an “arm bike” at Bryan Medical Center on the Bryan West Campus to regain strength in his right arm. The rehabilitation team is helping Ray improve his balance and reduce his risk of falling.

Back in balance

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few days before Christmas 2013, 24-year-old Ray McCray experienced a severe stroke that left him unable to walk or talk, and at high risk for falls due to balance problems caused by muscle weakness on the right side of his body. Now, only nine months later, Ray has regained much of his strength and abilities and can confidently

hold his new daughter, Zamyrah, three months old, and read to his four-year-old daughter, Shakayla. But these gains didn’t come without effort — they are the pay off for Ray’s determined work.

After his stroke, he was treated in the acute inpatient rehabilitation unit and benefited from many aspects of Bryan’s full range of rehabilitation services, including the interdisciplinary rehabilitation team, then outpatient speech, occupational and physical therapy.

“Ray worked very, very hard to learn to walk again,” says Polly Kubik, Ray’s physical therapist at Bryan Medical Center outpatient rehabilitation on the Bryan West Campus.

She assessed his specific strokerelated problems, and tailored individualized exercises to help him improve balance, strength and endurance.

Kubik says, “All these aspects are key to walking well and to preventing falls, which are a huge risk for many people after

Bryan Journeys 7

REHABILITATION

Balance retraining and fall prevention give patients back their lives

Rehabilitation services coordinator Linda Jeffery, OT, helps Ray with resistance training.

Polly Kubik, PT, assists Ray after testing his balance with the Balance Master apparatus.

Kubik assesses Ray’s foot alignment on the leg press during outpatient physical therapy.

strokes. Balance retraining is an especially important part of what we do.”

Neurohospitalist Sunil Nair, MD, explains further. “Preventing falls due to balance problems is one of our main concerns for patients recovering from stroke and for patients with many other medical conditions, as well.”

Dr. Nair continues, “Balance is maintained primarily by three body systems — vision, the vestibular system of the inner ear and kinesthetic sense, which detects changes in body position.

So, patients who have problems with any

of these balance-related systems are at increased risk for falls, and for related injuries such as head trauma and hip fracture. This includes patients with vision problems, stroke, head injuries, inner ear dysfunction, diabetic neuropathy and other neurological diseases, like Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.”

Rehabilitation services manager Ed Meelhuysen, PT, describes how falls, and even fear of falling, affect the quality of patients’ lives.

“We know that falls often lead to severe injuries among our older patients,

and that even fear of falling can cause older people to limit their activities severely, leading to poor physical condition and sometimes to social isolation, depression and anxiety,” he says.

“At Bryan inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, we’re specialists in diagnosing and treating balance problems, and are unmatched in the region in using new technologies to target patients’ specific problems to create a precise, individualized approach to treatment. This highly individualized treatment speeds patients’ recoveries — and it saves on

8 Fall 2014

REHABILITATION their health care expenses, because we can identify and avoid treatments that may not be as effective for them.”

Kubik describes front-line technologies used at Bryan to pinpoint causes of balance problems.

She says, “We assess patients using the Balance Master, a machine that determines how much of a patient’s balance difficulties are caused by problems in vision, kinesthetic sense and/or the vestibular system. We also have Frenzel Video Goggles, which record eye movements so we can explore where within the vestibular system the patient’s problem lies, then tailor our treatments accordingly. In addition, we use the computer-based InVision System to identify how well patients refocus their eyes after head movement — an important ability in maintaining balance.”

Exercise physiologist Cindy Kugler explains Bryan LifePointe’s role in balance retraining and fall prevention.

“We continue strength, flexibility and endurance training after inpatient and outpatient physical therapy have finished their work. Together, we’re very successful in helping patients break the cycle of inactivity related to balance problems and fear of falling,” she notes.

Meelhuysen describes the vision for Bryan’s fall prevention and balance recovery services. “Next year we’ll offer community-based fall risk assessment, such as at senior centers, using a portable Balance Master to screen for problems in vision and the vestibular system,” he says. “We’ll also use the portable Balance Master to evaluate athletes who are at risk for concussion injuries. We can then decrease their

concussion risk by teaching them protective responses that help them avoid head injuries when they play.”

He emphasizes, “Most importantly, we’ll continue to get information out to our community and health care providers that falls are caused by specific problems that can be detected, targeted and treated.

“The take-home message is that falls are not an inevitable part of aging.

Our goal is to decrease the incidence of falls, as well as the fear of falling and social isolation that go along with balance problems, and help give patients their lives back.” n To learn how you can support Bryan Health, contact the Bryan Foundation at 402-481-8605.

7 ways to fall-proof your home Every year, 2 million older Americans seek emergency care for fall-related injuries, and 20,000 older adults die because of injuries from falling.

Falls are not, however, an inevitable part of aging!

Reduce your risk for falls at home by following these simple steps: v Remove throw rugs. v Keep objects (books, clothing, etc.)

off the floor and stairways to eliminate tripping hazards.

v Use a step stool with a hand rail to

reach high shelves. Never use a chair as a step stool.

v Attach adhesive nonslip treads to

wooden stairs and exterior steps.

v Place nonslip mats or adhesive

strips on the tub/shower floor.

v Install a shower seat and hand-held

shower if you have balance problems. Install grab bars inside the tub and beside the toilet.

v Use night lights to light the way

from your bed to the bathroom at night.

Stroke survivor Ray McCray of Lincoln proudly poses with Shay Ramsey and their infant daughter, Zamyrah.

Bryan Journeys 9

BRYAN FOUNDATION

Employee giving breaks records Every fall Bryan Health employees come together in the spirit of giving to participate in the Employee Campaign. In the past four years, co-workers have given $2.2 million to the Bryan Foundation, United Way and Community Health Charities.

This year’s campaign surpassed expectations, raising more than $475,000, which set a new record and topped our goal by nearly $50,000, and exemplified the dedication Bryan employees have for our mission of service, leadership and excellence.

Fifty-two percent contributed during this year’s campaign. Because of this generosity, coupled with community support, the Bryan Foundation was able to advance several endeavors.

For instance, these gifts helped us reach the level needed to begin construction of a rooftop healing garden for the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Employee gifts also advanced Bryan College of Health Sciences scholarships.

Nearly $40,000 will help students pursue dreams to care for tomorrow’s patients.

As one of the largest employers in southeastern Nebraska, we recognize our responsibility to help others. This was very evident during the Employee Campaign, where employees designated more than $75,000 to support the United Way and Community Health Charities.

This collective effort truly illustrates the impact of giving — this simple act of kindness for others — on generations to come.

— Bob Ravenscroft, Bryan Vice President and Chief Development Officer

10 Fall 2014

New scholarship helps fulfill students’ dreams

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ev Taylor (Class of ‘51) and her husband Bob are proud to help future nurses with college expenses.

“When I was a little girl, I dreamed of becoming a nurse,” she recalls. “I came from a large family in Scotia — and my older sister was a nurse — but I felt that the only way I could go to college was to work hard and save money after graduating from high school.

“One day my father told me that if he was careful with his money and made some sacrifices, I would be able to go, too. That taught me something about priorities.”

She persevered, earning her Bryan School of Nursing diploma in 1951.

“My first job was in surgery at Bryan,” Bev says. She also worked at the Veterans Administration Hospital for a year, but returned to Bryan’s operating rooms.

Bev and Bob married two years after her graduation from Bryan. She made many memories during her seven years as a surgical nurse, including being on the team that performed the first open heart procedures at Bryan.

“Eventually, Dr. Hiram Hilton asked me to be his surgical nurse; he was a great general surgeon and a wonderful person,” says Bev. She traded her nursing career for the role of stay-at-home-Mom and has no regrets about raising the couple’s three children in Lincoln.

Although the Taylors are officially retired — Bob sold his barber shops more than 20 years ago — he still cuts hair at the V.A., and Bev — a former area co-coordinator for Kansas City-based

Bob and Bev Taylor established a scholarship to help students attend nursing school.

Stonecroft Ministries — teaches weekly Bible studies. The Taylors have eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

“I made many friends at Bryan and am still in touch with some, such as former School of Nursing director Phylis Hollamon,” she adds.

“Bob recognized the love I have for nursing, so as a surprise for me, he worked with the Bryan Foundation to establish the Beverly Brown Taylor Scholarship so that every year we can help send someone through nurse’s training who could not otherwise afford it.” .n To learn how your gift can support Bryan College of Health Sciences, please call the Bryan Foundation at 402-481-8605.

IN THE COMMUNITY

Hundreds Run to Overcome More than 1,300 participated Sept. 28 in the Bryan Health Run to Overcome.

Proceeds from this annual event support mental health education and research.

We hosted a kids’ one-mile run and 5K and 10K events in the neighborhood surrounding Lincoln Southwest High School.

Runners came in all sizes and skill levels — from Brandon Daniel (#1050) and Francis Bossaert (#1046) to Shannon Engler (#154) — and all participated for a good cause.

Mrs. International (and former Husker runner) Maggie Thorne presents the Women’s 10K 2nd Place award to Joni Williamson, fastest female Bryan employee.

Parker Gillham-Helmink (left) and Ian McDaniel take a break after their race.

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MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

Peers provide special kind of support to mental health patients

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anelle Jensen begins her day in the mental health emergency department on the Bryan West Campus like a lot of other busy staff members.

She checks on patients, explaining intake processes to them, asking them what they need and helping to make them comfortable and less apprehensive or ashamed. But Janelle is not a doctor or a nurse. She is a peer specialist.

Peer specialists, or peers for short, are people who have had their own mental health hurdles and who have been successful in their recovery. They have experience with the behavioral health system and are an important part of the mental health care team at Bryan.

The mental health emergency department sees about 500-600 patients in an average month, says mental health services counseling and program development manager Dave Miers, PhD. The peers’ work will touch at least half of these people.

added emphasis on wellness groups and the inclusion of adolescent patients to our contacts,” Dr. Miers says.

Thanks to a new CHE grant, Bryan was able to hire four peer specialists. Bryan’s peers received extensive training and certification before beginning their work with patients in March 2014. Peers also were certified through a national program and trained to work with patients of all ages. Youths they serve at Bryan are 1418 years of age. Peers use different ways to reach patients once they return to their

Inspired to become a peer

Program warmly received Beginning in 2010, the Nebraska Mental Health Association worked with Bryan to place peers in the hospital to work with adult mental health patients through a grant from the Community Health Endowment (CHE) fund. The program was successful and warmly received by staff and patients alike.

“When that grant was exhausted, the mental health leadership team at Bryan wanted to continue the program with

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communities, such as cell phone texting to remind the teenagers about group meetings scheduled during the week or to offer supportive thoughts on recovery.

“Peers help in so many ways,” says Linda Knudsen, LCSW, education coordinator for mental health services at Bryan. “They are able to use their own life experiences to help people in a way that others on the health care team are not,” she explains. “They can help patients make sense of what will happen if admitted, and they give them a lot of information to try to decrease their anxiety about being here.”

Peer specialists Janelle Jensen (left) and Rhonda Cron lead a Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) group.

Janelle can relate to that. She experienced her own struggles with mental health when she was a teenager.

She was hospitalized briefly and had psychiatric and therapy support. While attending Southeast Community College, Janelle did an internship at the Keya House, a peer-run respite house. There, Janelle got to see the work peers were doing, and this inspired her to focus her efforts on becoming a peer specialist.

“I always think back to my time in crisis and wished I had peer support available,” she says.

One of the important roles of the Bryan peers is to lead what are called WRAP groups. There is another education and certification process to become a WRAP facilitator. WRAP stands for Wellness Recovery Action Plan, and

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

Janelle and Rhonda say the peer specialist program provides kinship for peers, as well as for participants in Bryan’s mental health services programs.

these plans are a cornerstone of the wellness and recovery process, Dr. Miers says. When peers lead wellness groups on the mental health patient floors, they introduce the WRAP concept. At discharge, patients will have identified wellness tools that encourage self-care strategies.

Because patients may go from crisis to intervention or treatment in a fairly short time, individualized WRAP plans help keep patients on the path to recovery. They are created by the patient, so that each person can focus on his or her own mental health. Each WRAP includes tools, daily maintenance plans, triggers and early warning signs. WRAP

plans encourage personal responsibility.

Positive connections with youth Linda Kimminau, RN, BSN, is nurse manager for Bryan youth mental health services.

She says the peers have made a definite connection with the teenagers in the youth inpatient area.

“The peer specialists are helping the teens develop individual skills to manage their own wellness and recovery,” she says. “Several of our former patients are now attending the WRAP group that encourages continued personal control of daily challenges.”

For Janelle and her fellow peers, the

benefits of the program are many. Not only do they provide information and kinship to those at perhaps their lowest point in life, but peers also help one another, knowing that recovery is an ongoing process, and that everyone has a bad day now and then.

“We have tough days here, but I’m always pulled back to ‘This is where I’m supposed to be,’” she says.

“On a personal level, it shows me too that there is definitely hope, that we all have something to offer. In peer support it’s live and grow, give and take, and I’m continuing to learn from the peers that I offer support to, and that is really important to me.”

And for patients?

“It’s helping them see that they have worth. Helping them find the things that work and get rid of the things that don’t work. At the end of the day, knowing that I was there, that someone came to us at their worst and I was able to be there and sit with them, to offer support…that’s a big deal, and it keeps me going,” says Janelle. n Emergency mental health care/ crisis assessments to determine if hospitalization is needed are available 24/7 from the mental health emergency department. For non-emergency mental health care, contact the Bryan Counseling Center at 402-481-5991.

Online confidential depression, anxiety and alcohol screenings are available at bryanhealth.org/online. For more information about mental health services and the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) community groups, visit bryanhealth.com/mental health.

To learn how you can support the work of Bryan Health, please call the Bryan Foundation at 402-481-8605.

Bryan Journeys 13

BRYAN HEART

W. Michael Kutayli, MD, of Bryan Heart uses the new Stereotaxis Epoch technology to treat complex heart arrhythmias.

Latest technology treats abnormal heart rhythms

A

racehorse trainer for 24 years, Gordon Hansen wasn’t used to being sidelined by extreme fatigue. But his atrial fibrillation, a condition where the electrical system of his heart did not keep it in a steady rhythm, was doing its own racing, beating so fast it was tiring out his body.

After several years of trying various medications with limited results, a referral to Bryan Heart electrophysiologist W. Michael Kutayli, MD, resulted in Gordon undergoing a robotic cardiac ablation procedure that returned his heart to a healthy rhythm.

“I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve felt this great,” Gordon says. “Dr. Kutayli and Bryan have given me a new life.”

The procedure Dr. Kutayli performed Gordon’s ablation using Bryan Medical Center’s newly installed Stereotaxis Epoch platform, an advanced computer-controlled technology that allows the physician to navigate magnetically driven catheters within the patient’s heart

14 Fall 2014

with robotic precision.

The physician uses sophisticated software to draw a highly detailed 3D map of the diseased cardiac tissue and drive powerful magnets positioned near the patient. Following the map, the magnets lead a soft catheter gently through the patient’s heart by guiding the catheter’s magnetic tip.

Though Stereotaxis can be used for many types of abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias), it is especially helpful in treating more complex arrhythmias, like Gordon’s atrial fibrillation, that require more detailed mapping and are higher risk procedures. “Dr. Kutayli called my atrial fibrillation ‘stubborn,’” Gordon says, “as it required extensive mapping and ablations.”

“That is one of the advantages of the Stereotaxis technology,” adds Dr. Kutayli. “It allows us to treat multiple problem areas during one procedure.”

Bryan’s new Epoch is not just the only such system in Lincoln, but also is the first in the Midwest with closest installations in

BRYAN HEART Kansas City, Denver and Rochester, Minn.

Having used Stereotaxis for many years, Dr. Kutayli recognizes important benefits of the new platform.

“The benefits of Stereotaxis are amplified with the Epoch upgrade because now we have much more accurate and continuous, real-time motion on the catheters, resulting in enhanced patient safety due to less risk of perforation and less radiation exposure,” he says.

Gordon Hansen says, “I don’t know how long it’s been since I felt this great.”

Top-notch program Dr. Kutayli, who has been with Bryan Heart for four years, was attracted to the organization for many reasons, foremost to be able to work with electrophysiologist Andrew Merliss, MD, the medical director of the Bryan electrophysiology (EP) program. Well known in national circles, Dr. Merliss came to Lincoln in 2002 after teaching at Harvard Medical School and other Boston-area hospitals and at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine. He created a stateof-the-art atrial fibrillation program at Bryan, which included one of the first Stereotaxis installations in the country.

Dr. Kutayli treated many patients using Stereotaxis as a fellow at Case Western University Hospitals of Cleveland and had no idea that a hospital outside of a large metropolitan area would have such advanced technology.

“Some people may not realize that Bryan is at the forefront of technological advancement for an array of electrocardiology procedures, with a state-of-the-art EP lab and a staff that is second to none,” he says.

The physician attributes this achievement to strong leadership within Bryan Heart and the health system.

“Dr. Merliss is a very progressive cardiologist who is always interested in trying new technologies for the betterment of his patients, and Bryan’s senior managers have supported his vision,” Dr. Kutayli points out.

He notes many hospitals are slow to support new technologies and instead rely on manual techniques that have been successful in the past; however, a growing number of complex cardiac interventional procedures require technological solutions that enable physicians to treat areas of the heart previously unreachable or potentially unsafe with manual techniques.

Dr. Kutayli adds, “Patients can rest assured that we are committed to providing the most advanced technology and expertise for managing routine, as well as complex arrhythmias right here — at Bryan.” n To learn how you can support the work of Bryan Health, please call the Bryan Foundation at 402-481-8605.

Bryan Journeys 15

MEDICAL STAFF SPOTLIGHT

Ask the doctor: How is anesthesia used during surgery and for pain control?

Thanks to advances in medical research, patients of all ages are able to undergo anesthesia safely for surgery and diagnostic procedures. However, patients and their loved ones still have questions related to the use of anesthesia. To shed some light on this topic, we sat down with Terry Bejot, MD, a board-certified anesthesiologist at Bryan Health.

Q: What does an anesthesiologist do?

An anesthesiologist is a doctor who specializes in determining the method of anesthesia, monitoring requirements and pain control for patients undergoing operations to minimize the risk of complications.

An anesthesiologist monitors a patient’s condition during surgery and adjusts the anesthetic or performs other procedures to keep the patient safe. Afterward, the anesthesiologist is available for consultation for postoperative care.

Q: What types of anesthesia are available?

The types of anesthesia are general anesthesia, regional anesthesia and conscious or deep sedation.

Q: What happens during anesthesia? How come we don’t feel pain?

Pain travels from a painful stimuli (typically an incision) through nerves that specifically transmit pain impulses to the spinal cord.

These impulses travel from the spinal cord to the brain where they are interpreted as pain and pain intensity. For general anesthesia, medications or gases can be used to render the patient in a controlled unconscious state where pain is not sensed by the mind. For regional anesthesia, the sensation of pain is blocked by stopping transmission of pain impulses at the spinal cord or peripheral nerve.

16 Fall 2014

Q: How do you know how much anesthesia to give a patient?

There are general guidelines for the amount of anesthesia to give, but the anesthetic must be tailored to a patient’s individual needs. An anesthesiologist follows the patient’s response to the operation and anesthetizing medications, and adjusts the doses needed for surgery.

Q: Are there special considerations for children undergoing anesthesia?

Pediatric patients are smaller and have a slightly different physiology than adults, with smaller veins, arteries, nerves and airways, as well as a higher oxygen consumption and metabolic rate.

For this, we must adjust our approach in administering anesthesia. Other considerations are emotional challenges of the child and parents; gaining their trust is important to alleviate anxiety.

Q: What should I expect when under general anesthesia?

General anesthesia is performed in the operating room. It’s like someone turns out the lights and then quickly turns them back on. While the lights were out, the operation was performed in what seems like a short amount of time to you.

Some patients report being in a dream-like state. Others say they feel like they were floating

Te “A Ih co of hi in to pa

MEDICAL STAFF SPOTLIGHT and then they heard a voice, telling them that it’s time to wake up.

Q: Do people ever have side effects from anesthesia?

The most common side effect is nausea and/or vomiting. Rare allergies have been reported. There has been a concern about neurotoxicity of anesthetic drugs to pediatric patients, which is currently being researched by academic investigators.

Q: What is the chance of a serious complication from anesthesia?

Serious complications from anesthesia affect around 1 in 50,000 200,000 depending on the study. Anesthesia has become much safer over the last few decades, despite riskier

operations and a patient population with rising

co-morbidities.

Q: Why is it important not to eat or

drink anything for several hours

before my surgery?

During a general anesthetic,

your airway may be unprotected from the contents of the stomach regurgitating into

the lungs (aspiration), which

can lead to pneumonia.

This risk can be minimized

by not eating or drinking

anything 6-8 hours before the operation, or even

longer for patients with

chronic conditions.

erry Bejot, MD, says,

As an anethesiologist, have the chance to ollaborate with a team

f highly educated,

ighly motivated

ndividuals working

ogether to improve

atient outcomes.”

Q: Can my current medications interfere with anesthesia?

There are some medications to avoid, such as certain appetite suppressants or natural remedies, because they make an anesthetic very risky. Others lower the amount of anesthesia needed. Overall, it is best to follow your health team’s recommendations.

Q: What education and training does an anesthesiologist have?

An anesthesiologist typically has a four-year college degree, a fouryear medical degree (MD), a four-year residency, where the physician studies anesthesia and critical care, and a one- to two-year optional fellowship where an anesthesiologist performs research and studies a subspecialty. Fellowships can be in cardiac, pediatric, obstetric, critical care, pain and neuroanesthesia.

Q: Is a nurse anesthetist the same as an anesthesiologist?

Nurse anesthetists typically have a four-year nursing degree, followed by at least two years of ICU experience and a two- to three-year study of anesthesia. (Graduates of Bryan College of Health Sciences’ 36-month program earn a Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice degree.) While nurse anesthetists are a critical part of the care team, the breadth and depth of study for a nurse anesthetist is not the same as for an anesthesiologist. For hospitals where critical or high-risk cases occur, nurse anesthetist and anesthesiologists work together to provide the skills needed to care for these difficult patients. In hospitals where low or medium risk cases occur, you will find nurse anesthetists providing the anesthesia skills needed for a good outcome.

Q: Why did you decide to become an anesthesiologist?

I like many things about anesthesia. I have the opportunity to work a wide variety of cases and interact with a diverse group of patients.

I also get to perform technical procedures (pain blocks, airway manipulation, echocardiography, ultrasound) and use techniques and drugs to treat an array of diseases that patients have while they are having an operation. I have the chance to collaborate with a team of highly educated, highly motivated individuals working together to improve patient outcomes. Not too bad of a place to work!

Q: What are the most challenging and rewarding parts of your job?

The most challenging part of being an anesthesiologist is lack of time with family. A significant amount of work is involved to review articles, attend meetings, establish protocols and guidelines, review equipment, review new medications, and review outcomes in order to provide a safe environment for patients. Luckily, my family is very supportive.

The most rewarding part of the job is being able to do obstetrical anesthesia. Providing an obstetrical anesthesia means I get to see babies being born. It’s the best thing ever — I never get tired of it!

If you have questions about anesthesia, ask your physician or call Associated Anesthesiologists at 402-489-4186 for more information.

To learn how you can support Bryan Health, please contact the Bryan Foundation by calling 402-481-8605.

Bryan Journeys 17

MEDICAL STAFF UPDATE

New faces at

Bryan

Welcome these colleagues to the Bryan medical community Luke Anschutz, MD, pediatrics, has joined Complete Children’s Health, 402-465-5600.

Dr. Anschutz received an undergraduate degree at the University of Kansas, Lawrence, and earned a medical degree in 2010 from the University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City.

He completed a pediatric residency at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo. Philip Boucher, MD, pediatrics, has joined the Lincoln Pediatric Group, 402-489-3834.

Dr. Boucher earned a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Pathology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2007, and a medical degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, Omaha, in 2011.

He completed a pediatric residency at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Children’s Hospital and Medical Center in Omaha.

18 Fall 2014

Amanda Buskevicius, MD, obstetrics and gynecology, has joined Physicians for Women, 402-488-4022.

Dr. Buskevicius earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2006 and graduated from the Creighton University College of Medicine, Omaha, in 2010.

She completed a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha.

Brian Gartrell, MD, otorhinolaryngology, has joined Ear, Nose and Throat Specialties, 402-488-5600.

Dr. Gartrell earned a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences at the University of NebraskaLincoln in 2005 and a medical degree at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine in 2009.

He completed his residency in otolaryngology/head and neck surgery at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wis..

Before joining Ear, Nose and Throat Specialties, Dr. Gartrell was involved in clinical research of vascular tumors of the head and neck, congenital vascular anomalies, radiology of the temporal bone and cochlear implantation.

Ruthri Goodwin, MD, hospitalist, has joined Inpatient Physician Associates, 402-481-4136.

Dr. Goodwin graduated in 2011 from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, Omaha, where she also completed an internal medicine residency.

Before joining Inpatient Physician Associates, she practiced in Omaha and was a UNMC Midtown Clinic Board member.

MEDICAL STAFF UPDATE Susan Howard, MD, psychiatry, has joined Bryan Heartland Psychiatry, 402-483-8555.

Dr. Howard earned her medical degree at Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, in 1991.

She completed residency training in psychiatry and attended one year of the University of Nebraska Medical Center/ Creighton University Child and Adolescent Fellowship program. Dr. Howard is certified by the American Board of Addiction Medicine and the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

Before joining Bryan Heartland Psychiatry, she had a regional private consulting practice in central Nebraska and provided medical director or psychiatric consulting services to nonprofit, private and government agencies.

Cory Munger, MD, PhD, hospitalist, has joined Inpatient Physician Associates, 402-481-4136.

Dr. Munger earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biology/Biochemistry at Cornell College, Mount Vernon, Iowa, in 1996, a Master of Arts in Biology at the University of Nebraska-Omaha in 2000, a Master of Forensic Science from Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln, in 2003, and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, in 2007.

He received his medical degree in 2011 from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, Omaha, and completed an internal medicine residency at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Sunil Nair, MD, neurohospitalist, has joined the Bryan Physician Network, 402-481-4474.

Dr. Nair earned a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) at Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Medical College, University of Pune, India, in 2002.

In 2009 he received a Master of Science in Systems Biology and Physiology from the University of Cincinnati, Ohio. He also completed a neurology internship and residency at the University of Toledo, Ohio, as well as a clinical neurophysiology/EEG fellowship at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Brad Olberding, MD, general surgery, has joined General Surgery Associates, 402-483-4292.

Dr. Olberding completed his undergraduate studies in exercise science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2005.

He earned a medical degree from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, Omaha, in 2009 and completed a surgical residency at Phoenix, Ariz.

Dr. Olberding has served in the Army National Guard since 1998 as a flight medical technician and medical provider during operations in Omaha, Kuwait and El Salvador.

Kyle Pfeifer, MD, interventional radiology, has joined Advanced Radiology, 402-481-3095.

Dr. Pfeifer received an undergraduate degree from Augustana College, Sioux Falls, S.D., in 2004 and earned a medical degree in 2008 from the University of Minnesota Medical School, Duluth and Minneapolis.

He completed an internship at Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, in 2009, a radiology residency at Creighton University Medical Center, Omaha, in 2013 and a fellowship in interventional radiology at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.Dr. Pfeifer is certified by the American Board of Radiology. While completing his residency and fellowship, he practiced at Fremont Area Medical Center.

Jordan Rixen, MD, ophthalmology, has joined Eye Surgical Associates, 402-484-9000.

Dr. Rixen graduated from Iowa State University, Ames, with an undergraduate degree in Biology in 2005 and received his medical degree from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, in 2009. He completed an internship at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, LaCrosse, Wis., and a residency in ophthalmology in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences of the University of Iowa, where he also completed a fellowship in cornea, external disease and refractive surgery.

Bryan Journeys 19

MEDICAL STAFF UPDATE Julie Walcutt, MD, trauma surgery, has joined Nebraska Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, 402-481-4012.

Dr. Walcutt earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biology in 2004 and a medical degree in 2008 at Washington University, St. Louis, Mo. She completed a general surgery residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, in 2013 and a surgical critical care fellowship at the University of Missouri, Columbia.

Dr. Walcutt is board certified in general surgery and surgical critical care.

Jesse Weir, MD, anesthesiology, has joined Associated Anesthesiologists, 402-489-4186.

Dr. Weir earned a bachelor’s degree from Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colo., in 2006.

He graduated from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, Omaha, in 2011, then completed a residency and internship at the University of Kansas Medical School, Kansas City.

Jeffrey Wienke Jr., DPM, podiatry, has joined Capital Foot and Ankle, 402-483-4485.

Dr. Wienke received a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education/Exercise Science from Minnesota State University, Mankato, in 2004, and earned a Doctorate of Podiatric Medicine at Des Moines University, Iowa, in 2009.

He completed a 36-month comprehensive training program with extensive focus on amputation prevention/ limb salvage, reconstructive rearfoot and ankle surgery, deformity correction, trauma, external fixation and peri-operative/medical management at Trinity Regional Medical Center, Ft. Dodge, Iowa. Rotations at Columbus, Ohio, La Jolla, Calif., Chicago, Iowa City and Dallas were part of that training.

Dr. Wienke was on the residency training program faculty at Trinity Regional Medical Center and was a clinical instructor in the Department of Surgery at the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, Sioux Falls.

20 Fall 2014

We remember Dr. Douglas Dalke Gastroenterology specialist Douglas Dalke, MD, FACG, died Sept. 22 of injuries suffered in a traffic accident in south Lincoln.

Dr. Dalke was 57. He is survived by his wife, Karen, and their three children; his mother; his sister, Jan Dalke Anderson, and her husband, John Shaulis; as well as an aunt and uncle, nieces and nephews.

This Nebraska native graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University in 1979 and earned his medical degree at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, Omaha, in 1982. He then completed an internal medicine residency at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, where in 1989 he also completed a gastroenterology and hepatology fellowship.

Dr. Dalke was certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology by the American Board of Internal Medicine. He was named a Fellow of the American College of Gastroenterology in 2006.

He joined Gastroenterology Specialties in 1990 and during his career in Lincoln was active in clinical research with an emphasis on Hepatitis C, including multiple presentations at national meetings.

Dr. Dalke was the current medical director of Bryan’s GI Lab, and he was the medical advisor for the local chapter of the Ciliac Sprue Association and served on the Community Blood Bank Board of Directors. He was involved in the American College of Gastroenterology and was a past president of the Nebraska GUT Club. n

VOLUNTEERS & CUSTOMER CARE

Art with purpose Splashes of color from the imagination.

Labors of working artists. Collected to share with others. To create mood and message. To promote healing in a place of healing.

Artwork at the Bryan Medical Center has become a focus of attention, a new arm of Bryan Volunteers and Customer Care.

Director Ellen Beans was asked to form an art committee for Bryan Medical Center.

“I reached out into the community and located four volunteers who have a wonderful knowledge of art, a true understanding of the healing power of art and want to help Bryan increase its commitment to art and the positive impact it can have,” Beans says.

The four volunteers are Wendy Jane Bantam, artist; Anne Pagel, curator for the Robert and Karen Duncan Art Collection; June Pederson, executive director of Aging Partners; and Valery Wachter, artist.

The Art Committee has four goals. To: • Create and operate an art gallery.

• Preside over and implement the process of the donation of art to Bryan.

• Aid in selecting art.

• Conduct an inventory of current artwork owned by Bryan Medical Center.

The mission of the Bryan Medical Center Art Gallery is to promote healing, to enhance quality of life and reaffirm the human spirit through the visual arts.

As Wachter explains, “The visual arts can have a healing effect because they can trigger a memory or a feeling that words alone can’t provide. Images can evoke pleasant, calming or reassuring emotions. They can

Ellen Beans (left) and the Bryan Art Committee — June Pederson,, Valery Wachter, Anne Pagel and Wendy Jane Bantam — pose near a display of Bantam’s work. bring order to a chaotic world that may seem out of control for the person experiencing health issues. Viewers are taken away from their reality for a moment. At their very best, visual arts can provide beauty, joy and a lifeaffirming experience.”

At the first Art Committee meeting, the group decided to open the gallery on Sept.

2. The gallery is on the Bryan East Campus, straight ahead from the medical center’s front lobby, past the elevators and in a prominent spot at the end of the hallway.

Bantam was the first featured artist, followed by Wachter. The committee developed an application process for choosing future artists, and a new Nebraska artist will be featured each month.

Another committee project involved selecting a design for a Breast Cancer Awareness scarf.

“We’re using a wonderful design titled, ‘Blue Water — Pink Reeds,’ created by Wendy Jane Bantam,” says Beans. “These scarves are being sold to raise awareness. What a unique, worthwhile project for the committee to undertake! As part of the Volunteers and

Customer Care team, we feel privileged to represent Bryan on this committee. It feels as if we are involved at the beginning of something wonderful.

“And our department will benefit, too. A percentage of proceeds from art sold in the gallery will be used by volunteers for the Special Needs Clothing Project that provides clothing for patients at dismissal who need something to wear home.” n We should talk … about you becoming a volunteer! We are looking for volunteers to serve as Emergency Department unit assistants on the Bryan East Campus.

We have shifts available Sunday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to midnight. Whether you are thinking about entering a medical field, currently studying in the medical field or just want to see what medicine is about, the Emergency Department is the perfect place to volunteer and gain valuable experience. This can be a very busy place, and you can be of great assistance by accomplishing tasks that add value to the patient’s experience.

For details, please call 402-481-3032.

Bryan Journeys 21

LIFE AT BRYAN

World comes together at Bryan Health University of Nebraska-Lincoln student Anna Gronewold was a member of the College of Journalism and Mass Communications class that produces Mosaic, a senior-level course that covers Nebraska’s refugee communities. Her article and photos of refugees who work at Bryan were featured on the website at nemosaic.org.

F

ree chips and salsa are being offered today, on a long table in the middle of the cafeteria next to a poster advertising 3D mammograms.

Hawa Mohamed, 58, swirls a corn chip in her Tupperware container of lentil soup from home.

“What are these for?” she asks Nyabiey Riek, 43, who is sitting next to her.

Nyabiey and the two other women at the table, wearing identical maroon-colored uniforms, are unsure.

“Peace and love! Peace and love!” Yanira Reyes, 47, swoops in late. Usually she is first to arrive, first to unfold four or five paper napkins as makeshift place mats for her friends.

“Do not talk to me,” Zymrite Memeti, 44, mumbles, chewing spinach pita she made on her day off yesterday. “I am very busy today.”

“Zuma, why do you always eat that?”

Guadalupe Alvarado, 49, asks, using the nickname they have adopted for Zymrite at the hospital.

“It’s, like, a national dish, they eat every day in her country,” Hawa explains.

It’s been like this every day for at least five years: mingled sounds, languages and smells wafting from the 11:30 a.m. lunch group in the back of the Bryan Medical Center cafeteria.

In the past two decades, Hawa and Nyabiey escaped Sudan, Yanira left El Salvador, Zymrite fled Kosovo, and Guadalupe immigrated from Mexico. Bryan Health employs more than 60 refugees and immigrants from 21 countries in the environmental services department at Bryan East Campus on 48th Street.

The hospital doesn’t specifically market housekeeping jobs to refugees, environmental services supervisor Mike Hanigan says, but openings spread throughout Lincoln refugee communities like wildfire. Many new employees start on second shift, cleaning Bryan’s administrative offices in the afternoons

Guadalupe Alvarado (left), Zymrite Memeti, Yanira Reyes and Hawa Mohamed discuss their housekeeping shifts during lunch in the cafeteria on the Bryan East Campus. Environmental services has employees originally from Afghanistan, Bosnia, Burma, El Salvador, Guam, Guatemala, India, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Korea, Kosovo, Liberia, Mexico, Moldova, Palau, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Sudan, Ukraine, Uruguay and Vietnam.

22 Fall 2014

LIFE AT BRYAN

Zymrite offers a blueberry pastry to Guadalupe (left). and evenings. Second shift requires minimal patient interaction; often second-shift workers speak little to no English.

“Oh, it was so bad,” Zymrite said, remembering her arrival in Lincoln from Kosovo with nothing and no way to communicate. She would point and nod in the grocery store — Clorox, salt, sugar, flour — but she had no way to know if the products were what she wanted.

They all started there. But through jobs like housekeeping at Bryan, they were forced to learn English. Language became the common denominator.

On Saturday, Nyabiey brings a Styrofoam cup full of dried fruit she offers around the table.

“Would you like some ...?” Her unfinished question trails off, and she glances at Hawa for the English word. Hawa doesn’t know. Together the group brainstorms, their mouths forming around hard English consonants, searching for a word they know but can’t place.

“Blue …”

“Kray …”

“Cher …”

They remember I’m there. Five faces turn.

“Cranberries,” I say.

“Cranberries! Yes,” Guadalupe confirms.

“Very good for your urinary tract.”

Now they are all fluent in English and work first shift. They talk with hospital staff and patients — “Hello, my name is Yanira,

and I’ll be cleaning your room and bathroom.”

The 30-minute lunch break has become an international marketplace of food and new words.

“It’s called conserva,” Yanira says, handing a cube of pink frosted candy to Hawa.

“We make it in my country.”

Hawa chews politely on the block of sugar and coconut. She doesn’t love it, but she’s content with the idea of learning something new. She and Zymrite test out Spanish phrases they’ve picked up from Yanira and Guadalupe.

“I know manana, mucho trabajo and poquito dinero,” Zymrite says, accompanied by her signature husky laugh.

Group members vary throughout the week, depending on who has a day off and who is skipping lunch to save money. Bedrie Ademi, 38, sits with them only when Zymrite is gone.

Bedrie and Zymrite share similar stories — Serbian soldiers invading their homes in Kosovo and crowded refugee camps in Macedonia.

They arrived in the United States only a year apart in the late 1990s and bring the same stuffed pita bread to lunch. But linked by their country, their rivalry focuses on perceived differences in treatment from supervisors and staff, Hanigan says.

Hanigan makes it a point to be intimately aware of his employees’ struggles, exacerbated by cultural differences — fears of law enforcement, abusive husbands, family members wrapped up in the drug trade and children’s difficulty assimilating to American schools. It’s important to be aware of the forces that lead people to where they are today, he says.

But that doesn’t mean he holds them to different standards than a native-born employee.

“We’re not a family,” Hanigan says. “We’re a community.”

Refugees often stick to the pockets of communities formed by other immigrants in the city who share a common birthplace. Family ties determine where they are resettled, and language shapes the interactions. Workplaces like Bryan are unique, says Karen Parde,

Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services refugee coordinator.

“Where you have a group of employees that are working together, those barriers are broken,” Parde said. “They do become friends and communicate. That’s not just refugees, that’s people like you and me. If our work environment puts us in a setting where we are surrounded by people different from us, we do form those friendships.”

Hawa is not the oldest, but she calmly and quietly cares for the other women. Before moving to Lincoln, she taught English at the University of Khartoum and later in Egypt and Oman. Though her degrees didn’t transfer to the United States, she remains an educator. She helps new refugees fill out their electronic time cards. Her eyes, hidden behind a soft head scarf and pink eyeglasses, carefully scan employee

Yanira giggles at a co-worker’s joke.

announcements in order to explain current hospital events to her lunch table.

It’s not the same as Sudan or the Middle East, Hawa says. There are challenges in working long, hard days with people from so many different backgrounds. But she won’t spend her lunch break anywhere else.

“They are good people,” Hawa says. “We are all the same.” n See more at: http://cojmc.unl.edu/ mosaic/2014/05/12/world-bryancafeteria/#sthash.d1gxvz94.dpuf.

Bryan Journeys 23

BRYAN COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES

Center for Excellence in Clinical Simulation

Crucial safety net for learning

I

t only took one slip for Katherine Meyer to learn. As a new nursing student at Bryan College of Health Sciences, Katherine had given blood pressure medication to a patient with already low blood pressure. The patient recovered, but if he hadn’t, it would have been a learning experience instead of a tragedy. That’s because Katherine was learning on a high-fidelity mannequin in the college’s Center for Excellence in Clinical Simulation, located on the Bryan West Campus.

“I will never do that again,” Katherine emphatically says. “Lesson learned!”

Fast forward three years: A “patient” with all sorts of troubles has gone into labor. It’s up to Katherine and her fellow juniors — who now have more education and simulation experience under their collective belts — to make sure her labor and delivery are successful.

In a nutshell, here is how this simulation exercise unfolds: Early in the semester, students Students Katherine Meyer (left) and Holly Meredith discuss a “patient’s” care while instructor receive reading assignments related to their Betsy Perez, RN, continues to speak the role of the patient to students in another room during simulation experience for the mother/baby a childbirth simulation exercise in the Simulation Center. rotation. The simulation experience follows the students’ hospital rotation and assists them in bridging gaps from About halfway through the scenario, the student groups trade classroom and clinical rotation. On the scheduled day at the Simulation places, performing reports, just as they would on patient floors with Center, students are divided into two groups — one group is in the other nurses at the end of a shift. When the patient simulation is over, room with the patient, playing various roles; the other group observes they gather for a debriefing with their professor to assess their work. on a monitor in a different room. Roles — from charge nurse, to The beauty of simulation, say instructors and students, is the ability documenting nurse, to a member of the patient’s family — are literally to have this hands-on experience — and face such critical situations drawn from a hat, so no one knows ahead of time which part he or she — in a safe learning environment. “Safe” is a word used often by will be playing. students.

The only thing the observation group sees and hears is the voice Katherine says students feel very positive about their simulation of the patient — spoken into a microphone and piped into the patient experience. “We feel like it’s a great learning environment for us room — and their fellow students. They do not know the minute because when we are on the floor during clinicals, we can’t, as details of the scenario — things that professor Barbara Sittner, PhD, students, care for patients with serious complications,” she explains.

RN, has developed beforehand and instigates via microphone and “We study various situations in class, but in the simulation lab, they headset. Instructor Betsy Perez, RN, sits next to Dr. Sittner at her own make those complications happen, so we get to use our knowledge console, portraying a very distraught woman in labor. to care for such a patient — and it’s safe,” she adds. “Even though the

24 Fall 2014

BRYAN COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES

effort, which is great because when you go patient isn’t real, the situation feels real, and to work in the hospital you work with others we will be able to use this in our nursing — people from respiratory care, social work, practice. We don’t want to make mistakes, other nurses, doctors — so the role playing but we also don’t have to be nervous about carries over, too.” messing something up as the sole nurse — Jessica Warren, RN, MSN, is the center we learn from it.” coordinator and assistant professor at the This is not only from the very important college. She notes that simulation is part clinical side, but also from the interpersonal of every class that nursing students take side.

High-fidelity mannequins are programmed at the college, from learning head-to-toe “It goes beyond medical care,” says junior to simulate medical conditions. assessments, to critical care scenarios, to Claire Bajewa. “We do a lot of preparation for labor and delivery. The center also is used for current Bryan Medical our clinical rotations. We study the diagnosis, co-morbidities, what’s Center staff competency assessments. keeping the patient here … we are so focused on the medical side we From the beginning, simulation education has been a collaborative sometimes forget about the therapeutic side, communicating with partnership with Southeast Community College; its students also use patients, reassuring them and their families. Simulation lab is a good the simulation lab, and the mannequins are used for trauma education place to practice how to conduct yourself with patients. Even though and training. the patient is technically a mannequin, and the others in the scenario “We are very fortunate to have the Simulation Center,” Jessica are students, it helps you better interact with patients and helps you says. “That Bryan Medical Center has provided the college with a refocus and guide your care.” functioning patient care unit for this important training is a good Katherine agrees: “We help each other out. It’s a collaborative example of our collaborative relationship.”

Simulation education in nursing is growing, and the college is becoming renowned for teaching educators who want to learn how to incorporate this technology into their programs or create their own simulation centers. An online graduate certificate in simulation education offered at the college plays a role in this. The current class has 10 students enrolled from around the United States and Canada.

The program is taught by Dr. Sittner, who has been at the forefront of simulation in nursing education — first at Creighton University and the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Nursing and now at Bryan — and recently was named a Fellow in the Academy of Nursing Education by the National League for Nursing. She has cowritten articles on simulation in several nursing journals.

“We are so fortunate at Bryan because everything is integrated throughout the curriculum,” she says. “People here understand simulation, whereas other institutions are buying simulators, but they really don’t know what to do with them. We hope to help with that.” n Dr. Barbara Sittner (top center) discusses the childbirth simulation exercise with nursing students at the Simulation Center.

To learn how your gift can support Bryan College of Health Sciences, please call the Bryan Foundation at 402-481-8605.

Bryan Journeys 25

BRYAN COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES

Retired hospital executive bonds with scholarship winner

When paths intersect

S

itting tall in a recliner in the corner of his room, former Bryan Memorial Hospital President Gene Edwards is proud to announce that he’s wearing a new shirt.

“I knew I was going to have my picture taken, so I needed to look good,” he says. “Plus, I knew Kelsey was going to be in the picture as well, so I didn’t want her to give me a hard time about me wearing another one of my old favorites.”

Kelsey Sell smiles. This type of banter back and forth is a pleasurable aspect of her relationship with 89-year-old Gene. As a nursing student at Bryan College of Health Sciences, Kelsey has the opportunity to serve individuals who live in different types of senior living communities.

Her relationship with Gene, however, is different. While she takes care of him, he takes care of her through a nursing scholarship established by the Edwards family.

Long career in administration It was the late 1940s. After serving in World War II, Gene discussed his future plans with a friend’s father, who encouraged him to look into hospital administration.

At that point, the idea seemed foreign to Gene.

“I remember saying, ‘What the heck is that?’ Thankfully, I gave it a shot, and the rest is history.”

In 1952, he received a master’s degree in hospital administration from Washington University in St. Louis. He and Jackie, his high school sweetheart turned wife, were ready to take on the world.

26 Fall 2014

Gene started his career at a small hospital in Hiawatha, Kansas. In 1955, he accepted the administrator role at Bryan Memorial Hospital (now Bryan Medical Center on the Bryan East Campus). He and his family were looking forward to building a life in Lincoln.

His days were filled with empowering medical teams and growing the organization from a small hospital to a regional multispecialty medical center. Jackie devoted every minute to their daughters — Pam, Patty and Mary Kate. She also had an affinity for Bryan’s nursing students.

“She entertained them every year for graduation,” says Gene. “She was a teacher and encourager at heart. They all loved her.”

Unfortunately, life as the Edwards family

Kelsey Sell helps former Bryan President Gene Edwards with his exercise program.

knew it came to an abrupt halt in 1984. After dealing with a roaring headache for several days, Jackie collapsed on the floor of their home. She was taken to surgery on April 20, and a brain tumor was discovered. She had had a clean CAT scan only three months before, so the tumor was incredibly fast growing. Jackie died April 22, Easter Sunday.

Honoring memory To honor Jackie, the family established a nursing scholarship through the Bryan Foundation.

“We wanted the scholarship to reflect the type of person Jackie was,” says Gene. “She was so outgoing and friendly, always willing to help.”

To be eligible for this scholarship, among other qualities, recipients must be known for having a smile at all times, an optimistic outlook and a selfless spirit. This particular criterion is what directed a committee at Bryan College of Health Sciences to select student Kelsey Sell.

Fulfilling destiny “I’ve always wanted to be a nurse,” Kelsey says. “When I was little, my mom had thyroid cancer. After one of her hospital visits, I just knew a career in nursing was my calling.”

To get a head start on her dream, Kelsey became a certified nursing assistant in high school, working at a Lincoln-area nursing home. After graduation, Kelsey enrolled at Bryan. She submitted her scholarship application every year, hoping to offset the cost of tuition, books and room and board.

In 2014, her efforts paid off. Kelsey was awarded the Jacqueline Edwards Scholarship.

BRYAN COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES

Gene enjoys visits with Bryan School of Nursing student Kelsey.

Each year, the foundation hosts a luncheon for scholarship recipients to meet scholarship donors. Although Gene was unable to attend that year due to illness, Kelsey and Pam, Gene’s oldest daughter, were able to connect.

Pam was taken by how much Kelsey reminded her of her mother.

Because Gene had not been able to meet Kelsey, DeEtta Mayrose, major gift officer with the Bryan Foundation, arranged an introduction. At this meeting, Gene, Kelsey and DeEtta were joined by Phylis Hollamon, special friend and former president of the Bryan College of Health Sciences, and Elizabeth O’Doherty, one of Gene’s granddaughters.

His daughters were so impressed with

Kelsey and thought it would be great if she could visit their dad and help him with his exercise program. Both Kelsey and Gene thought this was a great idea and the two quickly bonded.

A couple of afternoons a week, Kelsey assists Gene with his exercises and balance along with engaging in fun banter. Gene enjoys helping Kelsey through her schooling, giving her pointers along the way.

“I like curious minds,” he says. “Kelsey has that.”

Kelsey considers herself fortunate to be able to work with a man who is not only her scholarship donor, but also a mentor and leader in the world of health care.

“You are the patient’s advocate,” he says.

“The patient should be at the center of your decision-making process.”

Kelsey says she’s thankful for the wisdom he offers each visit.

Gene points to his wrinkles and says, “Yes, when you get this wise, it will show on your face, too.”

Kelsey notes that her time at Bryan has been outstanding. She feels prepared for nursing in the real world due to hands-on experience built into the nursing program.

“It’s nice to hear you say that,” Gene says.

“That restores my faith in education.”

Kelsey hopes to work as a labor and delivery nurse after she receives her nursing degree in May. She is thankful for the scholarship and its impact on her future. She says she’s been able to focus more on school and worry less about working and student loans.

Humor among friends Gene rises out of his chair and walks toward the door.

Kelsey takes hold of his arm and walks alongside him.

“Glad to have you here today, High Pockets,” he says.

High Pockets. The nickname Gene gave Kelsey because of her long legs.

Gene said he likes to nickname those who work with him and the ones who can take a joke.

“My wife had a great sense of humor, and I see it in Kelsey, too.”

It’s evident this scholarship match-up was meant to be. n

To learn more about the Jacqueline Edwards Scholarship, call 402-481-8287.

To learn how your gift can support Bryan College of Health Sciences, please contact the Bryan Foundation at 402-481-8605.

Bryan Journeys 27

CRETE AREA MEDICAL CENTER

Patient Advisory Council connects Crete Area Medical Center and community

K

aren Morris of Crete and her mother, Jacque Wisman, spent a long Sunday afternoon in the emergency room of Crete Area Medical Center. That was a return visit for Wisman, whose recurring nose bleed persisted even when cauterized.

It would have been easy for Emergency Department staff members to focus that day on more pressing cases or seem indifferent to Wisman’s distress.

Instead they were attentive, patient, encouraging. One nurse in particular checked on them throughout their ED layover. When Morris was later asked to serve on CAMC’s new Patient Advisory Council, that nurse and the care her mother received that day were reasons she said, “Yes.”

Experiences bring positive changes Former Crete Area Medical Center patients and family members comprise the Patient Advisory Council. Chuck Vyhnalek (standing, left), Milo Pesek and Rudy Homolka, and Karen Morris, (seated, left), Mari-Ann Pesek and Jane Homolka are on the new council.

28 Fall 2014

High praise Mari-Ann and Milo “Mike” Pesek of Swanton also agreed to join the council, after Mike spent 18 spring days in the hospital for knee replacement surgery and a subsequent infection, with Mari-Ann at his side. Mike left the hospital with his new knee and two favorite sayings about his stay: “They liked me so much they didn’t want to let me go home.” (Kidding.)

“And I can’t heap enough praise on them.”

(Serious.)

Not all feedback from the council will be so positive, but that’s the point, says CAMC Chief Executive Officer Tad Hunt.

The new Patient Advisory Council is about

CRETE AREA MEDICAL CENTER

listening, learning and improving.

“What we’ve heard, over and over, is that patients just want us to listen,” Hunt says.

Two-way street The council gives patients and their family members a voice and ears willing to listen. It’s creating a partnership among Crete Area Medical Center, its Wilber Clinic and a cross-section of the people who use its services, from the emergency room to outpatient care.

The goal is to bring patient and family perspectives directly into the planning, delivery and evaluation of care. Council members’ insights improve quality of care and patient experiences, notes Jayne VanAsperen, RN, director of Quality and Organizational Improvement, who serves as liaison for the new council.

It’s intended as a two-way street, with members relaying news to their communities and in turn sharing the praise and concerns they hear. “We want to know what they’re saying to their neighbors,” Hunt says, smiling.

The Patient Advisory Council is made up of four former patients and two family members of patients. They each sent in stories and comments related to their experiences and then met as a group over the summer.

After only a few months, much has been learned from the group, VanAsperen says. They found it’s the little things that resonate in patient care: Calling a patient

“I hope the council helps convince people that the care they need is here.”

— Mari-Ann Pesek

by the wrong name, even if immediately corrected, erodes patient confidence. Not being able to get through on the phone on a busy Saturday morning when you really can’t wait until Monday. Getting a confusing hospital bill in the mail. “We want to help effect change where change needs to happen,” says Morris.

The challenge for council members will be to offer a balance of praise and criticism; Morris says the medical center needs to hear criticism in order to improve, as well as praise to know what’s working. She says, “I think it’s good that CAMC is not only asking for feedback but also for ‘What do you hear in the community?’ We can take that to the hospital and say ‘This is what’s out there.

This is the image we need to address.’

We’re empowered to move issues forward in a formal way.”

She’s no stranger to hospitals, such as the University of Nebraska Medical Center, where Morris won a hard-fought battle with cancer. She’s proud of the

way her hometown hospital measures up. She considers the current team of providers to be a great strength. “They are truly invested in the community, and I appreciate that.”

The council’s first task? Tour the hospital with a discerning eye; that visit impressed the Peseks and showed them features they weren’t aware of.

“I hope the council helps convince people that the care they need is here,” Mari-Ann Pesek says.

“There was an energy after that tour — a sense of purpose that ‘This is our hospital and we are here to make it even better,’” adds Hunt.

Perfect fit The council is a perfect fit with CAMC’s focus on providing a Medical Home. This patient-centered approach to health care includes a push to engage patients with their care team. “With this council, we’re walking the talk and not just saying it. That’s huge,” says VanAsperen, a 28-year employee of CAMC. “We owe this to our patients. This is that compassion piece of health care,” Hunt affirms.

The council will meet quarterly, take part in discussions with staff and work on an improvement project.

Anyone interested in learning more about the council should contact Jayne VanAsperen at 402-826-6546 or email her at jvanasperen@bryanhealth.org. n

Bryan Journeys 29

ACHIEVEMENTS

Nursing organization salutes five for leadership The Nebraska Action Coalition recognized five Bryan Health colleagues Sept. 18 at its 40 Under 40 Nurse Leaders awards banquet. Honorees are: n Jenna Dubas, MSN, RN, assistant professor, Bryan College of Health Sciences.

She says, “As a nurse educator, I have learned that good leaders clearly communicate expectations. They involve others in setting goals and utilizing those goals as a springboard for action. I have learned the importance of listening before speaking and the value of empowering and mentoring novices to engage in leadership roles that will promote success.” n Stephanie Hollman, BA, LPN, Crete Area Medical Center outpatient clinic.

“To me, this honor symbolizes a commitment to the advancement of health care delivery, dedication to make a difference, and leading by example,” Hollman notes. “As a nurse leader, I see my role as helping inspire others to bring out their best. The teams I lead need to feel that I not only care about them, but I also believe in them and will support them, whether as a mentor, role model, cheer leader, or by offering a shoulder to cry on or by rolling up my sleeves and pitching in.” n Dawn Isaacs, MSN, RN, nurse manager, Bryan Medical Center.

“An effective nurse leader demonstrates passion, compassion and dedication to helping people in times of vulnerability and illness,” Isaacs says. “My vision for leadership is to maintain a constant connection with the front line staff. In a constant and ever-changing environment, it is essential to work closely with the team who works directly with our consumers — the patient or the physician — and support them with tools they need to be effective,” she says.

30 Fall 2014

Margaret Woeppel (left), Stephanie Hollman, Dawn Isaacs, Katie Kranau and Jenna Dubas are among the statewide list of 40 Under 40 Nurse Leaders. n Katie Kranau, MSN, RN, Emergency

n Margaret Woeppel, MSN, RN, Bryan

Department nurse manager, Bryan Medical Center.

Kranau says, “Creating excuses is part of human nature; how those excuses are handled is part of a good leader. We are challenged to be the best — to achieve the best patient satisfaction scores, the best financial results, the best employee and physician engagement scores — and to provide the best quality care. This cannot be achieved by one person; it is achieved by the team that one person leads.”

Health regional services consultant.

“One of the greatest lessons I would like to pass on to aspiring nurses is that you have chosen an ever-changing profession.

To be a successful leader, you must not only accept and own the constant change, but you also must be able to drive others to accept and implement change,” Woeppel says.

“It can be uncomfortable, but it’s an indispensable responsibility.”

ACHIEVEMENTS

Robbie Dumond, RN, is on the Nebraska DHHS Trauma Advisory Board.

Sharon Harms, CRA, received an Association for Medical Imaging Management Award.

Laurie Ketterl, RN, was saluted for using iPads to link a hospitalized mother and newborn.

Christina Saum, MT, won the Regional Member Award for her leadership in the ASCP.

Dumond tabbed for trauma board

Harms cited for excellence

Coalition calls Ketterl Hospital Hero

Saum receives ASCP award

Robbie Dumond, RN, has been appointed to a threeyear term to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services State Trauma Advisory Board.

Dumond has served as trauma and emergency preparedness manager at Bryan Medical Center since 2012.

His day-to-day responsibilities include managing Bryan’s Level Two Trauma Center, as well as emergency preparedness endeavors at the medical center. He is the board’s trauma nurse representative. For more than 25 years, Bryan has been the designated Trauma Center for southeast Nebraska. n

Bryan Medical Center radiology director Sharon Harms, CRA — who was recognized earlier this year as a Distinguished Alumna of Southeast Community College’s radiologic technology program — received the AHRA (American Healthcare Radiology Administrators) Award for Excellence in Medical Imaging Management.

This award recognizes excellence in leadership. Harms was selected for exceptional innovation, leadership and administrative capabilities.

The Association honored Harms in August at the AHRA Annual Meeting and Exposition at Washington, D.C. n

Neonatal intensive care unit manager Laurie Ketterl, RN, was featured as a Hospital Hero on a website of the Coalition to Protect America’s Health and on the Health Forum web page, a subsidiary of the American Hospital Association.

The “Mother and Child Reunion” story recounted Ketterl’s efforts to use iPads to connect a seriously ill Kelly Steeby in the intensive care unit with her newborn son, Greyson, who was in the NICU. You can read the article by logging onto protecthealthcare. org/hospital-heroes/entry/ laurie-ketterl. n

Christina Saum, MT, received the 2014 Regional Member Award for the North Central Region of the ASCP (American Society for Clinical Pathology).

Saum is the laboratory section coordinator-microbiology at Bryan.

The award recognizes her spirit and passion for laboratory medicine. She introduces high school and college students to the profession during Discovery Days and Bryan Health Career Camp and as a clinical microbiology instructor for Southeast Community College.

She also has presented a microbiology review at state and regional ASCP meetings. n

Bryan Journeys 31

BRYAN STERLING CONNECTION

Your connection to fun and friends

I

n the coming months, you will have many opportunities to connect with fellow Bryan Sterling Connection members.

Watch for information in future editions of Journeys magazine, or visit us online at bryanhealth.org.

Sterling Connection

Holiday Social nears It’s Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014, from 1-4 p.m.

Get in the holiday spirit with Sterling Connection. More details are coming soon. Call 402-481-3355 to become a member.

Adventures await in 2015 Trip brochures will be available Dec. 1. Visit bryanhealth.org/ travel to download your brochures, or call 402-481-3355 or 800-742-7844.

Here are just a few of the trips ahead:

Multiday tours Gulf Coast Discovery — March 21-30.

Explore the beautiful Gulf Coast. From a shrimping expedition to lighthouses, gorgeous Bellingrath Gardens and a dolphin cruise, you will see the best of the Gulf Coast.

Nova Scotia & Prince Edward Island — June 30-July 7.

Venture to the land of Green Gables. Learn about the rich maritime history of Nova Scotia and see the scenic Maine coast on this vacation to the Maritime Provinces of Canada and Maine.

Smoky Mountains: Music, Majesty & Praise Tour — Oct. 19-28.

Travel to the heart of the colorful Smoky Mountains. See popular attractions, such as Loretta Lynn’s Ranch, Grand Ole Opry, Dollywood, Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Biltmore House and Gardens, and much more.

One-day trips Sandhill Cranes Migration — March 19.

Witness the annual migration of thousands of Sandhill Cranes as they make their way through the very narrow fly-way of the Great Plains to the breeding grounds down south. As a special treat, see them come to roost on the Platte River from an observation blind.

Don’t miss this miracle of Mother Nature.

Celebrate Czech Heritage — May 5.

Come with us to Wilber — the Czech Capital of Nebraska — and discover the rich roots of its heritage on this fun one-day trip.

The Bryan Sterling Connection team is here to assist you!

We are program assistants Pam Bly (left) and Lori Lee and program manager Kathy Wolf.

32 Fall 2014

Glenn Miller Festival — June 12.

Join Glenn Miller fans from around the world as they converge in Clarinda, Iowa, for the annual celebration of the music and memory of this famous band leader. It will be a day filled with new and familiar music from music groups from around the world along with a tour of Miller’s birthplace and much more.

COMMUNITY CALENDAR Bryan Community Health Education and Sterling Connection present:

Shine a Light on Lung Cancer Thursday, Nov. 13, 6:30-8 p.m.

Bryan Health, in partnership with Lincoln Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates, Nebraska Hematology & Oncology, Nebraska Pulmonary Specialties, Southeast Nebraska Cancer Center and Williamsburg Radiation Oncology Center, invites you to join us for the Shine a Light on Lung Cancer Vigil. This event provides hope, support, and compassion for all affected by this disease.

Bill Johnson, MD, of Nebraska Pulmonary Specialties will describe why this event is important, and two survivors will share their stories.

For more information, call 402-481-5400.

Cost: Free, and no registration is required.

Where: Bryan East Campus, Plaza Conference Center, 1500 S. 48th.

A Healthier you in 2015!

Thursday, Jan. 8, 6:30-8 p.m.

Want to be the healthiest you can be in the New Year? Ashley Larson, registered dietitian at Bryan LifePointe, will talk about

everyday changes to get you on the path to a healthier lifestyle.

Learn about making better food choices, the importance of meal planning, self-monitoring and moving more throughout the day.

Cost: Free, although pre-registration is required.

Where: Bryan East Campus, Plaza Conference Center, 1500 S. 48th.

To register, go online to bryanhealth.org/calendar, or call 402-481-8886

2015 Bryan Indoor Triathlon Saturday, Feb. 21.

First wave begins at 8 a.m., and a new wave begins every 35 minutes.

The total triathlon event will be 75 minutes. n 10-minute swim in lap pool, n 10-minute transition, n 30 minutes on a spin bike, n 5-minute transition and n 20 minutes on a treadmill.

Not comfortable doing this alone? Find two friends and compete as a team!

Team categories are all male, all female and coed.

Cost:

Individual is $25, or $75 for a team.

Where: Bryan LifePointe Campus, 7501 S. 27th.

To learn more, go to bryanhealth.cvent.com/2015tri, or call 402-481-8855.

Special Holiday Packages

From pampering experiences to fitness to gift cards to use as you choose, our holiday specials package the best of The Spa at Bryan LifePointe and Bryan LifePointe Fitness!

Learn more at bryanhealth.org/holidayspecials.

The Gift of “Ahhh...�

Bryan Journeys 33

1600 S. 48th St., Lincoln, NE 68506

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Forward. Together.

Collaboration. Focus. Commitment.

These are the hallmarks of a successful team.

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