Journeys, Spring 2013

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

SPRING 2013

JOURNEYS

Intensive caring Helping a family bond

JOURNEYS SPRING 2013

ON THE COVER: Stacey Stewart, RN, helped use iPads to link new mother Kelly Steeby, who was in the intensive care unit, with her baby Greyson in the neonatal intensive care unit.

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FROM OUR PRESIDENT

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INTENSIVE CARING AT BRYAN Teamwork and technology help family bond at Bryan

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NEW AT BRYAN Thanks to FAST Technique, they’re enjoying life again

10 BRYAN HEART

New heart cath approach saves Lana 12 BRYAN FOUNDATION

We’ve much to celebrate at Bryan!

Profile of David and Linda Sundberg 15 COMMUNITY BENEFITS REPORT 18 MEDICAL STAFF SPOTLIGHT

Ask the doctor: Do I need a hospitalist?

More than 400 honor trauma survivors and their heroes

20 MEDICAL STAFF UPDATE 22 IN SERVICE TO THE WORLD

From Lincoln to Rwanda, they share skills and compassion 25 IN SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY

Bryan and Lincoln Public Schools give them a VOICE 28 BRYAN COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES

Coming home to a whole new future

We remember nursing school leaders 32 COLLEGE ALUMNI NEWS 33 BRYAN STERLING CONNECTION 34 CRETE AREA MEDICAL CENTER

Ann redefines service as volunteer, Board member, friend

Innovative treatments bring patients back from death It takes innovative and aggressive treatments to save critically injured patients, and that’s just what the Nebraska Trauma System and Bryan Trauma Center celebrated April 4 at the 2013 Tribute to Trauma Champions. Page 39 has a recap.

You can see the inspiring stories of survivors Derek Stromp of Greeley and Adam Koenig of Lincoln!

36 VOLUNTEERS & CUSTOMER CARE

Trajectory takes Jordan from volunteering to med school 38 BRYAN LIFEPOINTE 39 TRIBUTE TO TRAUMA CHAMPIONS 40 ACHIEVEMENTS

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.

Go to bryanhealth.org/trauma-champions-2013 to see the videos, or use your smartphone’s QR application to access this code. View our photo album of the event at facebook.com/bryanhealth.

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 John Trapp, MD Chief of Staff, Bryan Medical Staff Bob Ravenscroft Vice President of Advancement Edgar Bumanis Director of Public Relations Paul Hadley Editor

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FROM OUR PRESIDENT

his issue of Journeys includes our annual community benefits report for fiscal year 2012. The stories you will read reinforce our commitment to support and collaborate with those who work so hard to make our community safe, vital and welcoming. Our total, quantifiable community benefit of $72.3 million attests to our unwavering promise, as your locally owned and governed, not-for-profit health care system, to always be there for all who turn to us for care, including those who cannot afford to pay.

Our commitment to be there for everyone who turns to us is built on the spirit and concern that our Board members bring to Bryan Health. These individuals, all busy leaders in our community, give of their time and share their expertise to guide our efforts to fulfill the Bryan Health mission of providing

excellent care and promoting health with a focus on quality, collaboration and compassion. Please take a moment to look at the names of Board members listed below — these are the individuals who not only bring life to the statement locally owned and governed, they inspire all of us to be our best, because our friends, family and neighbors deserve it.

Community. Future. Health. Helping you prepare for what’s next in your life will always be what’s next in ours.

Kimberly A. Russel President and Chief Executive Officer Bryan Health

Bryan Health

Bryan Medical Center

Bryan Foundation

Crete Area Medical Center

Bryan College of Health Sciences

Gene Brake Dave Dyke, MD Steven Erwin Jon Hinrichs, MD Andrew Hove Jr. Jack Huck William Lester Timothy Lieske, MD Michael Minnick Prem Paul, DVM, PhD Donde Plowman, PhD Kimberly Russel James Stange Gene Stohs, MD Ross Wilcox John Woodrich

Rev. C. Rex Bevins Gene Brake Sen. Kathy Campbell Carolyn Cody, MD Nicholas Cusick John Decker John Dittman Richard Evnen Brenda Franklin James Griesen, PhD Ron Harris Gary Hustad, MD David Keck, PhD Martin Massengale, PhD Beau Reid Kimberly Russel Gene Stohs, MD John Trapp, MD Lisa Vail, RN, DNP Ryan Whitney, MD John Woodrich

Sam Baird Brian Bossard, MD Richard Campbell Greg Dynek Charles Gregorius, MD Russell Gronewold Cathy Hedstrom Jon Hinrichs, MD Arthur Knox Janet Labenz Jaine Merliss Katie Miller Robert Nefsky Robert Norris Albert Owusu-Ansah, MD Trent Reed Kimberly Russel Robert Scott Renee Sjulin Beth Smith James Stange James Stuart III Cori Vokoun DeeAnn Wenger

Wayne Drummond Tad Eickman Ken Foster Carol Friesen Jason Hesser, MD Jack Huck Gary Lothrop, DVM Bob Ravenscroft Shirley Siedhoff

Rev. C. Rex Bevins Susan Gourley, PhD James Griesen, PhD Russell Gronewold Georgianne Mastera, PhD Andrew Merliss, MD Marilyn Moore, EdD Angie Muhleisen Erin Pemberton, JD, MSN Sameano Porchea, PhD Roger Reamer Kimberly Russel Maurice Russell Lisa Vail, RN, DNP John Woodrich

Bryan Enterprises Tom Ball Russell Gronewold Michael Minnick Angie Muhleisen Robert Nefsky Bob Ravenscroft John Reed, MD Kimberly Russel Kristian Rutford

Bryan Journeys 1

INTENSIVE CARING AT BRYAN

Justin and Kelly Steeby admire their baby Greyson. The newborn was cared for in Bryan’s neonatal intensive care unit while Kelly was a patient in intensive care.

2 Spring 2013

INTENSIVE CARING AT BRYAN

Teamwork and technology

Help family bond at Bryan

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wo days after giving birth to her baby boy, Kelly Steeby had yet to see him. But thanks to the ingenuity of Bryan staff, Kelly was able to blow a kiss to baby Greyson just before she was whisked off to have her own life-saving surgery.

Critically ill and on a ventilator in the intensive care unit (ICU) in the main tower of Bryan Medical Center, Kelly was separated from Greyson, who was in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the Family Birthplace.

Neither could physically reach the other. And this bothered Greyson’s nurses in the NICU. Laurie Ketterl, NICU nurse manager, explains, “We knew that Kelly was extremely sick and not totally out of the woods yet, and we wanted her to be able to see her baby before going back to surgery. So, we put our heads together and used technology to bring Greyson to her the best we could.”

Laurie had brought her iPad to work that day — and so had NICU co-worker Amanda Baker, RN — and they realized they could use FaceTime (which allows face-to-face conversations through tiny cameras on each iPad) to connect Kelly and Greyson virtually. Laurie contacted ICU nurse manager Mona Reynolds, and the two of them worked out the details. NICU staff rounded up Greyson’s neonatologist, Albert Ansah, MD, and nurse, Stacey Stewart, RN, to handle the iPad in the NICU while Laurie took hers to the ICU. “I held the iPad up to Kelly’s face and when Greyson’s picture came up she never took her eyes off of him,” Laurie recalls. “Dr. Ansah unwrapped Greyson’s fingers and toes and then picked up Greyson’s little hand and said to Kelly, ‘Hey, he is waving at you!’”

When it was time for Kelly to be taken to surgery, Laurie held the iPad so Kelly could blow her baby a kiss. “She kissed him right on the forehead of the live image on the screen, and on the other end, it appeared that Greyson received the kiss,” Laurie says.

“I was holding her hand and when she blew Greyson the kiss, he did something — he kicked — and no one in that room

Kelly Steeby soothes Greyson, who spent the first weeks of his young life in the NICU. After he was delivered by emergency C-section, Kelly was able to see him via an iPad transmission while she was a patient in the ICU. thought it was a coincidence,” recalls Kelly’s husband, Justin Steeby. “Everyone was crying — the grandmas, the nurses, everyone.”

“Kelly couldn’t talk because of the ventilator, but she just looked at me and mouthed ‘Thank you’,” adds Laurie. “I’ll always remember that.” n Turn the page to read more of the Steebys’ story.

Bryan Journeys 3

INTENSIVE CARING AT BRYAN

Team’s passion for excellence leads to happy ending

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elly and Justin Steeby are new parents whose story includes a team of committed and compassionate professionals who collaborated to help keep this family together.

Kelly and Justin had signed up to start classes at Bryan Medical Center in January in preparation for their baby boy, whose arrival was estimated to be about March 19.

But complications pushed that birth date forward.

Kelly has Crohn’s Disease, a chronic disorder that causes inflammation of the digestive tract, so she was under the care of maternal-fetal specialist Sean Kenney, MD. Though everything had been going well in the pregnancy and a normal delivery was planned, they were taking every precaution to ensure the healthy delivery for both mother and baby.

So, when Kelly woke with severe abdominal pain the morning of Dec. 20 — the first snowstorm of the winter — the couple was unprepared for a trip to the hospital that wasn’t expected for another three months.

Emergency surgeries After several rounds of tests and scans failed to reveal the cause of Kelly’s pain, her physician team — which in addition to Dr. Kenney included gastroenterologist Gary Varilek, MD, and surgeons Benjamin Hung, MD, and Kelly Krier, MD — decided it was time for surgical intervention.

Three hours before her surgery was to begin, Kelly’s water broke, and an emergency cesarean section was performed.

Baby Greyson was born on

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Jan. 2, at only 29 weeks, weighing 3 pounds, 10.9 oz.

Impressive teamwork

Though Greyson was small and needed intensive care due to his early arrival, an evaluation by neonatologist Albert Ansah, MD, determined the baby was stable.

But, unfortunately, Kelly was not. The cause of her pain was severe infection caused by a perforated bowel — a condition that resulted in several surgeries and an eventual bowel resection over the next two weeks. Kelly was in the intensive care unit from Jan. 2-18, and was finally dismissed from the hospital on Jan. 28.

“This was an unusual situation; I have been working with high-risk mothers since 1998 and until this year, I had never had a patient who needed a bowel resection while pregnant,” says Dr. Kenney. “We have had many women with Crohn’s who have been able to deliver without complications.”

It is not often that young mothers end up in intensive care after having given birth, so the fact that the labor and delivery nurse stayed with Kelly in the ICU for several hours was a comfort to the ICU staff.

Additionally, this collaborative approach helped to ensure continuity of care.

“I was impressed with the teamwork between the Family Birthplace and surgical staffs, as well as the neonatal intensive care and intensive care units in handling Kelly’s case,” Dr. Kenney comments.

Many of the nurses who took care of Kelly in the ICU Kylie Heflin, RN, was on the NICU team that cared for Greyson. Like many premature babies, he needed a feeding had babies of their own and provided a strong support tube in the weeks following delivery.

Kelly returns to the ICU to show off recent photos of Greyson to Sherri Selvage, RN, (left) and Lindsey Hoffstetter, RN — two of the nurses who took care of her and even helped husband Justin get control of his own health issues. system for Kelly and Justin. Two of the RNs with whom the Steebys bonded, Leah Harrington and Sherri Selvage, said that being about the same age and being mothers themselves helped them to really empathize with the young couple.

Caring for the whole family “I had preemie twins — so I think it helped for me to talk with Kelly as she trusted that I knew how it felt to have a premature baby,” says Sherri. “We just talked about normal things. We let them know what they needed and then just tried to not focus on that so much, so that they were more relaxed.”

“And Justin bonded with us both — with a light moment here and there in between the stress from an unbelievable

situation,” Leah adds.

Having his wife in the ICU and his firstborn in the NICU was overwhelming at times for the new father. And he had blood pressure issues. Sherri recalls, ”I told Justin, you have got to get that under control — you have a child now, you need to take care of yourself.

“He’s responded well. In fact, he Facebooked me just the other day to say, ‘My blood pressure is 130 over 90 — just thought you would want to know.’”

The Steebys were thankful that both intensive care units were on the same campus and benefitted from great collaboration between the two ICUs. “Whenever I wanted to go to see Greyson, the ICU nurses

Bryan Journeys 5

INTENSIVE CARING AT BRYAN

Nurses go above, beyond for patients would get me in my wheelchair, get my pole full of all kinds of pumps and wheel me down to the NICU,” Kelly says. “But I tired so quickly that I would only stay there for 20 minutes or so and then was ready to get back in bed.”

The nurses from both intensive care units could see that it was such an effort for Kelly to come over to the NICU in the wheelchair that she couldn’t even begin to think about bonding with her baby. So the NICU staff worked to make the experience better for Kelly by moving Greyson to a larger room and moving in a hospital bed so Kelly could actually lie in bed and hold her son for longer lengths of time.

Improving patient’s experience “That was above and beyond the call of duty,” says Justin.

“The nurses took it upon themselves to improve Kelly’s experience.”

Greyson went home from the hospital on March 24, and Kelly is back at work at the Bryan Child Development Center on Bryan West Campus.

“While we were in the hospital, Jennifer Fencl — the parent of one of my day care children — ended up being one of Greyson’s nurses in the NICU,” Kelly says.

“It was cool that I had been taking care of her daughter and then she was taking care of my little boy,” she continues.

“I see nurses every day as they drop off and pick up their children at the day care, but after everything we have been through, I have a whole new respect for what they do.” n Using iPads to help families communicate was so successful, the Bryan Foundation provided two new iPads for parents and visitors to use in the Women’s and Children’s Institute. See a related story on Page 13.

To learn how you can support the neonatal intensive care unit, intensive care and women’s and children’s programs at Bryan, call the Bryan Foundation at 402-481-8605.

6 Spring 2013

Neonatalogist Albert Ansah, MD, monitors Greyson Steeby’s progress in the NICU.

What is the NICU? A neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is an intensive care unit specializing in the care of premature or very ill infants. The NICU combines specially trained health care professionals with advanced technology designed for high-risk babies.

Bryan’s NICU is led by board-certified neonatologists and a highly trained, multidisciplinary team from nursing, radiology, respiratory therapy, anesthesia, pathology and other areas. This patient care unit is specially designed to care for our sickest newborns.

At Bryan, family-centered care is seen as families participating in a personalized collaboration between the medical team and family so that plans are tailored to meet the unique needs of each baby. n

NEW AT BRYAN

After a minimally invasive FAST Technique procedure, Sarah Kelly (left) is free from chronic heel pain. She enjoys everyday activities, like a walk with family dog Taco, husband Bryan and children Jacob, Austen and Lauren, as well as the demands of a busy nursing shift.

Thanks to FAST Technique,

They’re enjoying life again

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hen plantar fasciitis was causing Sarah Kelly severe heel pain, she seemed to be spending more time trying to find a way to get the weight off of her foot or devising creative ways for icing and stretching, than anything else. For a busy wife, mother of three and nurse whose work has her on those feet all day, this was not an ideal situation.

Jason Brownell, an investigator with the Lincoln Police Department and owner of a landscaping company, found himself in a similar situation with a painful elbow. The husband, father and avid golfer’s chronic elbow pain turned severe, limiting his motion, and he knew he needed more

help than the cortisone shots he’d been getting. Even fine motor skills like typing caused him discomfort. Work and daily tasks became impossible to accomplish.

Both of these individuals’ lives were dramatically altered because of chronic tendon pain. And both were helped by a relatively new procedure being performed at Bryan Medical Center by interventional radiologist Michael Budler, MD, of Advanced Radiology. He’s the first physician in Nebraska — and the first interventional radiologist in the country — trained to do this procedure, developed by Tenex Health.

“The FAST Technique — Fasciotomy and Surgical Tenotomy — is minimally invasive and done as an outpatient procedure and takes only about 15-20 minutes to perform,”

Bryan Journeys 7

NEW AT BRYAN

They’re back in the swing says Dr. Budler. The procedure, which is ultrasound guided, is a natural extension of what interventional radiologists do every day, Dr. Budler says.

“It just made sense to us; it was perfect for our skill set.”

where she works. Although reluctant at first, she decided it was worth a try, given how long she had suffered. She had the procedure in November 2012; the next day she felt immediate relief.

Patients appreciate benefits Dr. Budler explained that the technique is designed to remove the source of the pain, which is scarred and damaged tissue, without disturbing the surrounding healthy tissue.

He uses ultrasound to target the exact location of the scar tissue, and then inserts a small instrument about the size of a toothpick into the diseased area, delivering ultrasonic energy that breaks it up and removes it. Currently, the technique is used to treat plantar fasciitis, tennis or golfer’s elbow, jumper’s knee and Achilles tendonitis.

The FAST Technique achieves the same goal as surgery, but is performed under local anesthesia, in a non-surgical setting, with a much quicker recovery. Both Sarah and Jason appreciated this.

“I’d been dealing with this pain for about four and a half years,” Sarah says. “I’d had nagging pain in my heel when walking or standing still or at the end of the day when I was up on my feet. I ignored it for awhile, but it became hard to do anything active.”

In fact, activities with her family had to be planned around the severity of her foot pain at any given time.

Sarah saw a podiatrist, and she tried orthotics and stretching. She did a lot of research on the web and found creative ways to ice her foot.

“In my freezer door I had all shapes and sizes of ice packs depending on where my foot was hurting, or how I could get the ice pack to stay on while doing laundry. Sometimes I duct-taped the arches of my feet because I saw that idea on the Internet,” she says with a laugh. “It worked for a little while but then it stopped working so it was on to the next idea.”

Sarah thought this was just how it was going to be: Try one thing to relieve the pain, and then try another. Finally, she spoke with Dr. Budler in the Bryan Specialty Clinic,

8 Spring 2013

After Dr. Michael Budler (left) performed the FAST Technique, Jason Brownell says his elbow is nearing full recovery.

NEW AT BRYAN

no fine motor skills,” he recalls.

“I had seen Dr. David Samani before, so I figured it was time to go to an expert to figure out what was going on,” he continues. “Dr. Samani ordered an MRI and found a couple of ligament tears. He is the one who told me about Dr. Budler and this procedure.”

Makes all the difference

Police investigator Jason Brownell is again able to enjoy his passions — golf, landscaping and family activities.

“The following day it was a bit sore from the procedure, but the constant heel pain was immediately gone. It has made a huge difference in my quality of life. When you have pain like that sometimes you don’t realize what it does to you mentally, until it’s gone and then it’s like, ‘Oh, wow … I’m happy, and I’m not crabby!’” she says. Her kids and husband notice the difference, too.

Treating the pain Like Sarah, Jason lived with his discomfort for a time before it got bad enough to take action.

“It had been bothering me off and on for the better part of a year,” he says. “I would get cortisone shots, and it would help for awhile, but the pain always came back.”

Ultimately, the shots failed to work at all.

Last fall, he was moving some blocks around while building walls with his landscaping crew, when the pain told him what he didn’t want to admit: He had real damage and needed more extensive treatment.

“I couldn’t even extend my arm straight out and pick up a pop can and be able to hold it. It was a disabling, tearing pain when I extended my elbow. I couldn’t grasp anything, I had

Eight weeks later, and life is looking up for Jason.

“I swung a golf club for the first time since last August.

The arm was a little tender at first, but I went on a nice par run finishing the round out strong,” he says. “Although golf would be a delight to sneak back into my life on a regular basis, designing and applying landscape/hardscape features is a great passion of mine, along with horsing around with my two children. Life is much easier on my elbow now, and I can honestly say I am a fraction away from a full recovery.”

Dr. Budler is pleased with the outcomes of the patients he’s treated so far. In fact, he’s been asked to help train other interventional radiologists in the country on the procedure.

Advanced Radiology at Bryan Medical Center now has the distinction of being an official Tenex Center of Excellence.

Still, he emphasizes that there are times when rest, physical therapy and medications can be effective for treating tendon pain.

“We always evaluate our patients. For some, rest and medications may be all they need. If it’s a case of chronic, previously untreatable inflammation and pain — this procedure can make all the difference in the world.” n To learn about the FAST Technique, call 402-481-3095, go online to bryanhealth.org/FAST-Technique, or use your smartphone’s QR application to access this code. The procedure is covered by most insurance plans and no physician referral is needed for a consultation. To schedule a consultation, call the Bryan Scheduling Center at (402) 481-5121.

To find out how you can support the work of Bryan, call the Bryan Foundation at 402-481-8605.

Bryan Journeys 9

BRYAN HEART

New heart cath approach saves Lana

Lana Miller-Wood and Bryan Heart cardiologist Matthew Johnson, MD, discuss the positive impact a radial catheterization has had on her health. Effects of cancer and ongoing heart-related conditions made Lana a candidate for this new approach.

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hile watching the Dr. Oz medical program on TV last fall, Lana Miller-Wood’s interest piqued during a segment about a more patient-friendly way of performing heart catheterizations through the wrist rather than through the leg.

“If I ever need another cath, I’m going to find someone who does it this way,” she remembers saying to herself.

Two months later, symptoms related

10 Spring 2013

to an ongoing heart condition led this cancer survivor to seek out Bryan Heart cardiologist Matthew Johnson, MD, who subsequently used this new method, radial catheterization, to open a 90 percent blockage in one of her main arteries.

“It was unbelievable — he made this tiny incision on my wrist that I barely felt.

There was a little bit of pressure when they put the stents in, but I truly had no pain.

After they put a plastic pressure bandage on my wrist, I went to my room, had dinner

— and then when they took the bandage off it was just such a tiny little mark — I barely even had a bruise.”

Comparing it to her previous catheterization about 12 years ago, where a vein in her leg was used for threading the catheter, Lana says, “This was much less uncomfortable than last time, when I had to lie still while they put pressure on the incision for quite a while.”

One of several Bryan Heart cardiologists who use the radial method,

BRYAN HEART Dr. Johnson estimates about 80 percent of the caths he performs are done through the wrist.

“Most patients are candidates for radial caths; however, I still go through the leg if patients have certain conditions, such as spasms or have had previous bypass surgery that makes the radial procedure more difficult.”

Dr. Johnson, who joined Bryan Heart last year, was a member of the team that implemented the radial cath program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine in 2010, and has seen the popularity of radial approaches in the United States increase dramatically in recent years.

Why the sudden popularity? He cites these reasons for increased utilization: n Catheters and instruments have im- proved and become more miniaturized, and stents are lower profile, allowing them to be used in the radial format; n Radial caths tend to result in less

discomfort, blood loss and shorter recovery time; and n The media, as well as patients who have had the procedure, are spreading the word about its benefits: less discomfort and faster recovery over the traditional method.

“Lana is not the only patient to come to us after hearing about the radial cath on TV or through the Internet,” Dr. Johnson muses. “Patients are more informed about their health care choices overall, and they are asking their primary care physicians to refer them to cardiologists who are proficient in new and less invasive techniques.”

This trend not only requires physicians to be on the cutting edge, but the hospital and other professionals must also evolve to welcome and support new procedures and technology.

“Our focus at Bryan is not only to improve quality and clinical outcomes but also to provide a high level of patient

satisfaction in the process,” Dr. Johnson explains, “and the radial cath approach is one way we are accomplishing our mission.” n

After a successful radial catheterization to unblock one of her arteries, things are looking up for heart patient Lana Miller-Wood.

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

Illustration courtesy of Terumo Interventional Systems

Bryan Journeys 11

BRYAN FOUNDATION

We’ve much to celebrate at Bryan!

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his issue’s cover story brings to life the very real difference gifts to Bryan can make in our neonatal intensive care unit and intensive care unit.

Your generosity also is impacting our Bryan Trauma Center — see the related articles on Pages 14 and 39 — as well as behavioral health.

Phase I of our Fine Line behavioral health campaign created remodeled areas for outpatient mental health (above).

We broke ground this spring on Phase II — a new Independence Center facility on the Bryan West Campus.

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We also just celebrated the successful completion of our Fine Line campaign!

Phase I was finished last fall, when we moved our outpatient mental health programs to larger, remodeled areas of the Professional Office Building on the Bryan West Campus.

We held a groundbreaking ceremony April 30 for Phase II and recognized people whose gifts will help fund construction of a new Bryan Independence Center.

In our Sterling Connection update you’ll read about a coin drive in which we’re partnering with our Bryan East Campus neighbor Holmes Elementary School. Funds raised will help purchase vein finders used for babies in our neonatal intensive care unit and children in our pediatric care. Kudos to Holmes Principal Haeven Pedersen for building enthusiasm for the project with his students and faculty and teaching them what can be accomplished when people work together.

This month we also welcome development officer Rachel Greene to our Advancement team. Rachel is a native of Omaha and graduated from Omaha Central. She attended Doane College and earned a degree in journalism from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Her work experience in Nebraska includes development director for the Capital Humane Society and district executive for the Cornhusker Council of Boy Scouts of America. In 2004 Rachel transitioned to health care when she became director of annual giving for the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. Then in 2007 she became Rachel Greene director of annual giving at the University has joined our of Tennessee Medical Center. Her passion Bryan team. for and understanding of health care is very evident, and she is eager to advance the mission of Bryan Health.

Lastly, I hope you enjoy the article about David and Linda Sundberg on Page 14, and if you would like information on how you can join the William Jennings Bryan Society or support Bryan initiatives, please call the Bryan Foundation at 402-481-8605.

Bob Ravenscroft, Vice President of Advancement

BRYAN FOUNDATION

Gift brings families together The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) staff has employed FaceTime technology several times since the Steebys’ experience at Bryan. (See story on Page 2.) And now it is even more convenient for NICU staff to use this technology because the Bryan Foundation donated two iPads to the unit.

“If parents are not here, but they have a smartphone or a tablet at home, they can call in and we can connect them so they can see their babies,” says nurse manager Laurie Ketterl.

“We are grateful the Foundation has chosen to help us offer this option to even more families.”

Bryan Journeys 13

BRYAN FOUNDATION PROFILE OF DAVID AND LINDA SUNDBERG

Their gift supports trauma care David and Linda Sundberg are longtime supporters of the hospitals that today comprise Bryan Health.

They met in the 1960s while they were students at the University of Nebraska — she was a Lincoln native; he was a Husker football player from Red Wing, Minn. After graduation, the young couple moved to Germany, where David was an Army pilot and their second child was born.

Links to Bryan Health were established soon after they returned to Nebraska.

David recalls, “Way back in about 1970, when Bob Brungard was chief executive of Lincoln General Hospital and Gene Edwards was the chief executive at Bryan, I made a visit for the Lincoln Jaycees to recruit a new vice president at Lincoln General — David Henry.”

The two hit it off, and the Sundbergs and Mr. and Mrs. Henry quickly became good friends.

“It was through that friendship that Bob asked me to join a council at Lincoln General related to community branding and financial development,” says David. “Being in the insurance business, I was later invited to draw up a proposal for a benefit plan for the hospital’s employees. The council approved that plan, and later Bryan’s human resources director invited me to create something similar for them.

“So I got to know a lot of people in the community as well as many department heads at both Bryan facilities — I’m still friends with Gene, who retired years ago.”

Besides those business and community service links, over the years the Sundbergs have turned to Bryan for their family’s health care needs. A son and daughter were born at the locally governed hospital, and Linda was a patient at Bryan about seven years ago.

“While walking from a business at the mall, I was hit by a car,” Linda says. “I had a traumatic brain injury, so the ambulance took me to the Bryan Trauma Center on the Bryan West Campus.”

14 Spring 2013

She was in a coma and remained hospitalized for 11 days before going to rehab.

“Thank heavens for the fabulous people we have working at Bryan, especially trauma surgeon Dr. Reginald Burton,” she says.

Linda notes that the trauma team recently was instrumental in helping a friend’s husband when he was seriously injured in a car crash.

Dave and Linda were frequent visitors during the following weeks.

She says, “I had gone through a similar thing, so I believed I could offer hope.”

Linda was at Bryan Medical Center for much of each day during that hospitalization. Their friend has since recovered, and the Sundbergs have continued a tradition of visiting the hospital staff.

“It’s very important for care givers to be able to see that patients they’ve treated even briefly in the emergency or the ICU have recovered and are doing fine,” Dave explains. “So, we make a point to go back to greet the nurses every Christmas. It gives us a chance to get to know the new staff, to renew old friendships and to show that we appreciate what they do.”

The Sundbergs also show their gratitude to Bryan Health.

They attend the annual Tribute to Trauma Champions recognition event, and they’ve named Bryan as a beneficiary of their whole life insurance policy and instructed the Bryan Foundation to direct their gifts to support the Bryan Trauma Center.

“Bryan is a treasure for our community. When we retired, we included Bryan among the entities that we would give to through our estate plan.” n To learn how you can support the work of Bryan, please contact the Bryan Foundation at 402-481-8605.

COMMUNITY BENEFITS REPORT

Bryan Health community benefits report Community receives more than $72.3 million

Cost reported for the year ended May 31, 2012 $12,194,031

Cost of charity care Free or discounted health services provided to patients who cannot afford to pay and who meet all the criteria for financial assistance. Charity care does not include bad debt.

$13,346,240

Unreimbursed cost of Medicaid and other public programs Represents the shortfall between the actual unpaid cost of providing care and payments received from the government.

$02,021,338

Health professionals education Cost of providing accredited training and education programs for physicians, nurses and other health professionals through residency education and continuing medical education, plus financial support of the cost of the College of Health Sciences.

$01,490,202

Other community programs and subsidized services Activities and programs carried out to improve community health and wellness; and health care services that are subsidized because they meet an identified need in the community.

$00,406,349

Cash and in-kind contributions Cash and in-kind donations to other non-profit organizations for charitable purposes.

$42,875,142

Unreimbursed cost of Medicare Represents the shortfall between the actual unpaid cost of providing care and payments received from the government.

$72,333,302

Total cost of community benefits provided and the unpaid cost of Medicare

Bryan Journeys 15

COMMUNITY BENEFITS REPORT

B

ryan partnered with these organizations by financially supporting them in fiscal year 2012.

Nebraska-based nonprofit partner organizations: Antelope County Healthcare Association of Fundraising Professionals Beatrice Community Hospital Foundation Better Business Bureau Inc. Boone County Health Center Foundation Brain Injury Association CEDARS Child Advocacy Center Child Guidance Center Clinic with a Heart Community Medical Transportation Program

Community Memorial Hospital Foundation Crete Area Health Care Foundation Future Generations Health Care Foundation Heartland Aquatics Huskers Athletic Fund Interchurch Ministries of Nebraska Jefferson Community Health Center Junior Achievement of Lincoln Lancaster Crusade Against Cancer Leadership Lincoln Lincoln Association of Health Underwriters Lincoln Children’s Museum Lincoln Children’s Zoo

Throughout the year, Bryan and our co-workers, students, volunteers and families support education and community events. For example, we were at the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer awareness walk (above) and hosted Discovery Days events for students, like these from Waverly High School (right), who explored careers in health care.

16 Spring 2013

Lincoln East High School Post Prom Lincoln High School Post Prom Lincoln Medical Education Partnership Lincoln Rotary Club #14 Lincoln Southeast High School Post Prom Lincoln Stroke Partnership Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department Litzenberg Health Care Foundation Malcolm High School Post Prom March of Dimes — Nebraska Chapter Matt Talbot Kitchen Medication Assistance Program of Lincoln Memorial Health Care System

COMMUNITY BENEFITS REPORT

MilkWorks Martin Luther King Freedom Breakfast Mourning Hope NAMI Nebraska Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry Nebraska Medical Association Norris High School Post Prom Partnership for a Healthy Lincoln Pius X High School Post Prom Red Cross Cornhusker Chapter Remembering Our Children Saunders County Health Care Sewing for Babies

Southwood Lutheran Church St. Monica’s Tabitha Foundation Teach a Kid to Fish Team Heart Inc. The Arc of Lincoln The Madonna Foundation The Nebraska Cancer Research Center United Way Valley County Health System Foundation Voices for Children in Nebraska Voices of Hope Waverly High School Post Prom

Omaha elementary students (below) learned about hearing tests and other aspects of care while touring Bryan College of Health Sciences.

Wilber-Clatonia Public Schools Post Prom WorkWell Inc. York General Health Care Services Auxiliary York General Hospital National nonprofit partner organizations: JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes Alzheimer’s Association American Cancer Society American Heart Association

Crews from Bryan offered water to thirsty runners at Lincoln’s marathon (left) and helped fit bike helmets at the Kids’ Health and Safety Fair (below).

Bryan Journeys 17

MEDICAL STAFF SPOTLIGHT

Ask the doctor: Do I need a hospitalist?

Heidi Moser, MD, of Inpatient Physician Associates answers your questions about the role of hospitalists.

Q: What is a hospitalist and where did the name come from?

A hospitalist is a physician who practices inpatient medicine.

The name is derived via the same concept as other doctors, such as a cardiologist is a heart doctor, and a hospitalist is a hospital doctor.

Q: What is unique about a hospitalist?

Hospital medicine is a newer trend. We are unique in that our only practice location is the hospital (no clinic, no office, etc.).

Q: What are the benefits to having hospitalists on staff?

Since we only take care of hospitalized patients, we are more familiar with practices of hospital medicine. Because we’re physically in the hospital all day, we are available to readily address changes in patients’ conditions and treatment plans.

Our availability and expertise can reduce the time patients are hospitalized and can expedite care for critically ill patients.

Q: What size hospitals have hospitalists?

At first only larger hospitals used hospitalists, but it is becoming a trend in smaller settings, too. For example, there are hospitalist teams in Beatrice, Columbus, Lincoln, North Platte and Omaha.

Q: Where in the hospital do you usually meet your patients?

Most patients are evaluated in the emergency room, and we are asked to admit them if their primary care physician does not admit to that hospital. Some patients are seen in their primary care physicians’ offices, and their doctors contact us for direct admission; we meet those patients in their assigned hospital rooms, so the ER is bypassed completely. Another set of our patients are consults, in which a physician (often

18 Spring 2013

Dr. Heidi Moser and other hospitalists of Inpatient Physician Associates can be contacted by calling 402-481-8566.

MEDICAL STAFF SPOTLIGHT a surgeon or another specialist) is caring for a hospitalized patient and asks for our assistance in a certain aspect of their care (for example, diabetes, blood pressure management, etc.).

kidney disease, gastrointestinal disorders, etc. If we are dealing with something outside our scope of practice, then we ask a specialist to get involved, such as a cardiologist or surgeon.

Q: Do hospitalists deal with patients and families, too?

Interacting with families is a large part of my job. When patients are hospitalized, it is common for family or friends to be with them during admission, discharge and daily rounds. Families often have different questions or concerns than patients themselves and can be very helpful in our understanding of the home environment and special circumstances in caring for patients. In addition, patients who are very ill may be unable to make decisions or voice concerns, so we rely on families for that. It is customary for us to talk with patients and families about decisions related to treatment plans, updates or discharge plans.

Q: Is special training required to be a hospitalist?

Hospitalists complete an internal medicine residency and sit for internal medicine board certification. Much of internal medicine residency training is in a hospital setting, so we are well prepared to treat patients in the hospital. There is a oneyear hospital medicine fellowship program (an extra year of training) available, but it is not required to practice.

Q: What is the availability of hospitalists at Bryan?

My group IPA (Inpatient Physician Associates) has partnered with Bryan to be available in-house 24/7. We are available for admission and consultations and are responsible for any “code blue” events. To provide around the clock staffing seven days a week, our group of doctors alternates daily rounding and night-time coverage at both Bryan Medical Center locations.

Q: How do patients and families feel about having a hospitalist physician?

An increasing number of patients have heard about hospitalists. Some are concerned that their primary care doctor will not know what happened to them in the hospital, but their concerns are eased when we explain that their physician receives a

summary of their hospital stay, and some doctors

receive a phone call to discuss their patient’s stay

on the day of discharge or throughout their stay.

They appreciate that their hospitalist is in the

hospital all day if any needs arise.

Q: Do you specialize in certain types of medicine?

We are trained in general adult medicine that encompasses a broad spectrum of illnesses.

As general internists, we are equipped to manage a wide variety of illnesses, including infections, pulmonary and cardiac conditions, diabetic management, blood pressure control,

Q: Give an example of a typical day for a hospitalist.

Our days start off with updates from the overnight doctor of any changes in our patients since we last saw them. Then we go through our list of patients with our nurses and discharge planning team to assess where they are in their hospital stay and what else can be done to facilitate their treatment and discharge plan. Then patient rounds start — we decide who is the sickest and needs to be seen first. We see each of our patients in the hospital, and we talk with their nurses, specialist physicians and families.

Then we review lab and X-ray data, make any treatment plan changes that we deem necessary and document that in their charts. We also see new patients and consultations throughout the day. Other tasks involve answering pages from nurses, pharmacists and other ancillary staff members who have questions about patients, returning to talk to patients and families if they have additional questions that have come up since rounds were made, and completing paper work and electronically signing charts and dictations.

Q: What’s challenging about being a hospitalist?

When we only see patients in the hospital for a short period of time, it can be more difficult to build a relationship and a trust with patients and their families. We often have to discuss critical life and death issues and make difficult decisions, sometimes during our first few interactions. It is certainly a skill to improve on every day, in order to have a good working relationship with patients and families from the first meeting.

Q: Why did you become a hospitalist?

I enjoy the variety of illnesses and patients that I treat. I like the flexibility in our schedules. But mostly I chose hospital medicine for the acuity of care (level of illness) that is seen only in a hospital setting. No work day is ever the same!

Bryan Journeys 19

MEDICAL STAFF UPDATE

New faces at

Bryan

Welcome these colleagues to the Bryan medical community Alison Benson, MD, emergency medicine, joined Nebraska Emergency Medicine, 402-481-8644.

Dr. Benson earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of NebraskaLincoln and graduated in 2006 from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, Omaha.

She completed an emergency medicine residency at Truman Medical Center, Kansas City, Mo. Dr. Benson practiced in Kansas City before joining Nebraska Emergency Medicine.

Megan DeKam, DO, internal medicine, joined East Lincoln Internal Medicine, 402-484-4940.

She received a bachelor’s degree at Buena Vista University, Iowa, and in 2008 earned a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Des Moines University, Iowa.

Dr. DeKam completed an internal medicine residency and a vascular medicine fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.

She is a diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine. She has made numerous presentations related to internal medicine and vascular medicine and was the co-author of several medical journal articles.

20 Spring 2013

Linsey Haden, DO, family physician, is associated with Lincoln Family Medical Group, 402-488-7400.

Dr. Haden graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and in 2009 earned a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, Missouri.

She completed the family practice residency program of Lincoln Medical Education Partnership in 2012.

Sahra Niazi, MD, pediatrics, joined Complete Children’s Health, 402-465-5600.

She earned a bachelor’s degree at Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln, and in 2008 graduated from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, Omaha.

Dr. Niazi completed the pediatric residency program at Phoenix Children’s Hospital and Maricopa Medical Center, Phoenix, Ariz., as well as a pediatric dermatology fellowship at Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

She is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics. Dr. Niazi presented during teaching conferences at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, where she also contributed to research as a contributor and investigator.

Jodi Chen Nienaber, MD, infectious diseases, joined Consultants in Infectious Disease, 402-489-1110.

Dr. Nienaber received a bachelor’s degree in cell and molecular biology at Duke University, Durham, N.C. She graduated in 2007 from Duke University School of Medicine, where she also completed an internal medicine residency.

Before moving to Lincoln, Dr. Nienaber completed a fellowship in

MEDICAL STAFF UPDATE infectious diseases at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.

She is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Academy of HIV Medicine.

Troy Rustad, MD, FAAD, dermatology, has rejoined Rustad Dermatology in Lincoln, 402-484-6222.

Dr. Rustad graduated from George Washington University, Washington, D.C., in 1988 and completed an internal medicine internship and residency at Mayo Graduate School of Medicine, Rochester, Minn., and a dermatology residency at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.

He is board certified in dermatology and is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Dr. Rustad was in practice in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, where he founded the dermatology department at a metro area clinic system and was head of Mohs Surgical Services and medical director of the associated medical spa.

He joined his father, Elliott Rustad, MD, in 2012 and formed Rustad Dermatology PC. He has added a psoriasis treatment center, comprehensive patch testing for contact dermatitis and a full array of laser treatments.

Zakaria Siddiqui, MD, general psychiatry, joined Bryan Heartland Psychiatry, 402-483-8555.

He graduated from Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, India.

Dr. Siddiqui completed a Creighton/ University of Nebraska Medical Center residency in general psychiatry in 2004 and is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

He has a research background at Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, N.Y. Dr. Siddiqui practiced in Omaha, as well as at the Lincoln Regional Center. His experience includes managing a crisis center for several years, and he

has published several articles in various medical journals. .

Daniel Surdell, MD, neurosurgery, of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, 402-559-9611, will hold clinics at Neurological and Spinal Surgery.

Dr. Surdell received a bachelor’s degree from Creighton University and in 2000 graduated from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, Omaha.

He completed a surgical internship and neurosurgical residency at the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Oklahoma City, a neurovascular surgery fellowship and a cerebrovascular surgery fellowship at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago.

Dr. Surdell was a clinical associate at the Feinberg School and is an assistant professor in neurosurgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha. He has authored many research articles in medical journals.

Ruilin Wang, MD, family practice, joined Southeast Lincoln Family Medicine, which is part of the Bryan Physician Network, 402-483-8500.

Dr. Wang earned her medical degree from Shandong University College of Medicine and in 1989 completed an internal medicine residency program at Beijing Medical University Ji Shui Tan Hospital Beijing, China.

She then did an internal medicine internship at Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta, Ga., and a family practice residency at Creighton University Medical Center, Omaha.

Dr. Wang is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine.

She practiced in Omaha and Lincoln before joining Southeast Lincoln Family Medicine.

Bryan Journeys 21

IN SERVICE TO THE WORLD

From Lincoln to Rwanda, they share skills and compassion

H

ave hearts — will travel.

And when those hearts belong to Bryan’s Robert Oakes, MD, Vic Grdina, CCP, LP, and Sheryl Sanders, RN, they’re willing to travel more than 7,000 miles to Rwanda, an African country about the size of Maryland.

Their mission? To heal hearts ravaged by rheumatic heart disease, a chronic heart condition caused by rheumatic fever

and repeated bouts of untreated strep throat.

“It’s a death sentence for the people of Rwanda,” Dr. Oakes says, “unless there’s a group to help them.”

Team Heart is that group. It’s a nonprofit organization of medical volunteers that travels to Rwanda to perform heart surgery on people ages 14 to 44. It’s the group Dr. Oakes, Vic and Sheryl traveled with in February to Kigali, Rwanda’s capital, to share their skills and help save lives.

“In the U.S., if you get strep throat, you get antibiotics,”

Perfusionist Vic Grdina traveled to Kigali, Rwanda, to help Team Heart perform life-saving surgeries at King Faisal Hospital.

Dr. Robert Oakes, shown here a young patient who received surgery this year, has participated in three medical missions to Rwanda.

These three Lincoln colleagues witnessed charging elephants and other wildlife in Africa, viewed native art exhibits and brought home satisfying memories and handmade treasures (at right and on Page 24).

22 Spring 2013

IN SERVICE TO THE WORLD Since 2007, Team Heart has partnered with the Rwanda Heart Foundation, the Ministry of Health and Rwandan citizens to assist the country in building an independent, sustainable cardiac surgery program so Rwandan medical personnel can perform heart operations on their own. In addition to life-saving surgeries, the team supports programs to identify and treat sore throat infections that may lead to rheumatic heart disease.

The third trip for Dr. Oakes and the first for Vic and Sheryl, they worked alongside Team Heart volunteers from other states and, very importantly, Rwandan medical staff.

Preparing for the future

Sheryl Sanders, RN, (in red) applied her Bryan ICU experience to help care for these patients and train other nurses.

says Dr. Oakes, a cardiothoracic surgeon with Bryan Heart. “In Rwanda, you just kind of tough it out. It’s rare to get tested; it’s rare to get antibiotics.”

This infection, so easily treated in the United States, in Rwanda becomes an autoimmune disease that attacks and destroys heart valves.

“The only way to fix people at that point is to do open heart surgery and replace the valves,” Dr. Oakes says.

Meeting immediate needs In a country of 12 million people that has only four cardiologists and an average yearly income of about $570 per person, there’s no way to accomplish this without foreign help.

“While part of our mission is to care for sick patients, another part is to help train the Rwandan medical personnel, so in the future they can care for themselves,” says Vic, a perfusionist at Bryan. He operated the heart-lung bypass machine during surgery, which is used to keep the patient’s blood flowing until the heart can be restarted.

“My experience in Rwanda gave me a new appreciation for what I have here at Bryan,” Vic says. “Every day we have the opportunity to impact somebody’s life who needs our help.”

When Team Heart arrived, they set up the operating room and then began one of the most difficult tasks — choosing 16 from about 40 gravely ill Rwandans who had been identified prior to the team’s arrival.

“Five to 10 of the people are so sick they won’t make it through surgery — they’re hoping you’ll tell them yes, and you have to tell them no,” Dr. Oakes says. “There’s a group that’s sick and can’t wait any longer — if we don’t operate on this trip, they’re not going to make it. Then there’s a large group that if they were in the U.S. would get an operation now, but they’re not as sick as some of the others and may be able to make it until next year.”

The operating room abuzz with one or two cardiac surgeons,

Bryan Journeys 23

IN SERVICE TO THE WORLD

Trip to Africa changed lives the anesthesiologist, perfusionist and nurses, as well as an equal amount of Rwandan medical personnel, the care givers aimed to do two surgeries daily for eight days straight, starting at 8 a.m. and ending as late as 10 p.m. or midnight.

Each day brought intense emotions from the patients (some of whom were orphans left parentless by the genocide in 1994) and their extended families, matched only by the intensity of a medical staff determined to save lives.

“It’s amazing how trusting the people are,” Dr. Oakes says. “Imagine a group of foreigners who don’t speak your language and who tell you they’re going to open your heart, do surgery and then leave. It’s got to be tough.”

Sheryl, a nurse in Bryan’s intensive care unit, rotated between the intensive care and step-down units in Rwanda doing what she does right here at home. She also taught the Rwandan nurses postoperation heart recovery skills.

Her favorite place was the step-down unit — the “in between” transitional care area where patients recover before being discharged.

“It was like the magic step that convinced patients they were going to survive,” Sheryl says.

“They were so grateful to be alive. How loving and compassionate they were to each other in offering

24 Spring 2013

support and even nursing each other back to health.

“There were hugs, kisses and happy tears. One of the boys is going to become a nurse, so I gave him my stethoscope as my encouragement for him to drive forward with his goals.”

“From what I hear, the patients grow and feel like new people,” says Vic. “They can become productive family members, functional citizens, and who knows the impact they will have on their family, country or world. I’m glad to have had a small role in the care that gave them a new outlook on life.”

Three hearts on a mission — here and there.

“The underlying thing is caring for people unconditionally, and it shouldn’t matter how or where the opportunity arises,” Dr. Oakes concludes. n To learn how you can support the work of Bryan, contact the Bryan Foundation at 402-481-8605.

Want to see more photos of the Team Heart mission trip? Use your smartphone’s QR application to access the code at left, or go to bryanhealth.org/rwanda.

IN SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY

Bryan and Lincoln Public Schools

Give them a VOICE

Gigi Oestmann, a student in Lincoln Public School’s VOICE program, stocks shelves in Bryan’s off-site warehouse.

W

ord problem: Ten to 12 special education students travel by bus each school day to Bryan Health instead of to a classroom. While there, these students perform real-life job tasks and learn skills that build confidence and foster independence. At the end of the school year, what does this add up to? Ten to 12 students well on their way to a positive transition from high school into adult living.

That’s the goal of these students, ages 18-21, who are enrolled in Lincoln Public School’s special education VOICE program — Vocational Opportunity in Community Experience.

It operates outside the traditional high school environment to provide students relevant educational and vocational experiences in community settings.

For 24 years, Bryan Health has partnered with the school system as one of these settings, and more than 480 students

have worked in various hospital departments, according to distribution manager Jackie Roth, who is responsible for Bryan’s East and West warehouse locations, mailroom, shipping/ receiving, inventory control and printing services.

At the Bryan Health Distribution Warehouse, students have meaningful and productive experiences as they do workplace tasks alongside other students and employees.

“I really like the work we do in the VOICE program, and I see it as so completely practical and necessary for the students we serve,” says Wayne Schaber, a certified special education teacher with Lincoln Public Schools, and the students’ “boss” at the job site.

Wayne adapts job tasks around the students’ strengths and limitations, and two part-time paraeducators — Gary Dorn and Liz Martinez — assist him and the students in accomplishing the work. Bryan’s inventory coordinator Deb Donovan plays

Bryan Journeys 25

IN SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY

Students teach us about a key role in verifying the accuracy of the students’ work and coordinating the workload and priorities. The rest of the distribution staff helps when students have questions.

Regularly, the students assemble admission packets, new-mom supply kits with a mug and personal care items, and new-baby supply kits with a washbasin, cradle cap, baby wash and wipes, diapers and a blood pressure cuff.

They also maintain the break room, wipe off tables and vacuum carpeted areas, routinely empty trash from various locations, collect and compact cardboard boxes for recycling; label products, and stock shelves.

“The tasks give students the chance to see what it is like to come in to work each day, set goals and accomplish a task entirely on their own,” Wayne says. “For some it is a totally eyeopening experience.

They go away with a better idea of what it is like to work in a warehouse.”

Students receive Keaton Drews (left) helps special education teacher Wayne Schaber stack pallets in the warehouse.

26 Spring 2013

elective credit toward graduation requirements, and the tasks they perform benefit Bryan by helping maintain labor costs even though workload has increased.

They learn academic, motor, social and communication skills that help build positive employer/employee relationships and help them become successful members of their community.

“Our Bryan employees interact with the students the same as with their coworkers,” Jackie says. “At times, we have challenging situations with students, and it has been a great learning experience in tolerance, patience, acceptance and compassion.”

Casey Dalrymple (above) is all smiles after completing her assignment, and volunteer Tom Patterson (red sweatshirt at right) gives Wayne a thumbs-up as he assembles information packets.

Wayne adds, “Several workers will stop and take time to have conversations with the students when they see them in the shelving area; some will stop and talk while we are labeling; and once in a while a worker will stop and ask us to assist

IN SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY

acceptance with a special project.”

An activity Wayne started this year further encouraged these relationships.

He and the students interviewed and photographed the warehouse employees to learn their names and jobs. Similarly, the students made posters about themselves so the Bryan staff could become familiar with them.

Growth in confidence and independence is a primary measure of success in the VOICE program, and Jackie has seen this first-hand.

“I remember one student who continually grew in his independence and managed all of the trash and maintained the receiving area by sweeping and

my former students.”

Time and time again, Wayne says he is amazed at what these students learn and understand — even when the educators don’t think they are paying attention.

One student with autism can speak, read and communicate, but it is difficult for him. Wayne says he has seen the student go from working only on what was placed on his table for him, to walking over to the community table to pick out items on his own.

Bryan co-workers Joe Synhorst (left) and Steve Nichalson often work side by side with Erik Cox and the other students. picking up.

“Another student liked the work so much that, after completing the VOICE program, he now volunteers at the warehouse two hours a day, five days a week,” she says. “He is an excellent worker and has volunteered since August 2005 for more than 2,700 hours.”

What about the future? Many of the program’s community partners hire several students each year, and Bryan hosts an annual ceremony for graduating students from all of the VOICE locations.

“At the annual VOICE recognition ceremony, we honor a recent graduate who has made strides in obtaining competitive employment and is living semi-independently,” Wayne says. “It is a very positive and rewarding experience to look through the list of past recipients or nominees and to see the names of some of

Paraeducator Liz Martinez and James McCarthy bundle and label supplies.

“He is exhibiting self-determination — a hard thing for a young man with autism.

And he is showing that he can advocate for himself by choosing what he wants to do and not waiting for me to bring it to him.”

What do 10 to 12 VOICE students plus their Bryan Health experience equal?

Ten to 12 students well on their way to a positive transition into adult living. n

Bryan Journeys 27

BRYAN COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES

Coming home

After graduating in December from Bryan College of Health Sciences, Beth Mais, RN, brought her new nursing skills back to Beatrice Community Hospital.

28 Spring 2013

BRYAN COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES

I

n a world where technology drives many aspects of nursing, Beth Mais is impacting lives through the power of compassionate care.

“I’ve been on the patient side of nursing. I know how important empathy is in the recovery process,” she explains. “I strive to provide quality health care while making sure patients know we have their best interests at heart.”

A recent graduate of Bryan College of Health Sciences Nursing Program, this Beatrice resident is reaping the rewards of her education. Though life hasn’t always been easy, Beth’s journey is sure to inspire others to pursue their dreams.

A rough start Having grown up in an unstable home environment, Beth suffered from low self-esteem and fear. Though she’d initially considered college, her dreams and aspirations were pushed aside. And the financial responsibility of higher education was simply overwhelming.

Instead, she began working as a nurse’s aide, developing her skills in nursing homes and homes for developmentally disabled individuals. Compelled by compassion, she loved helping people but wasn’t sure she was talented enough to become a nurse.

Life-changing experience

to a whole new future

A series of health issues landed Beth in the hospital, sending her through a whirlwind of doctors and diagnoses.

Throughout the experience, Beth analyzed the type of care she was receiving as a patient. As the illness ran its course, she was eventually placed on disability, where she was expected to remain for the rest of her life.

“They’d basically given up on me,” she says. “I decided I wasn’t going to accept that.”

One day, while sitting in her living room, she had an epiphany — she was going to be a nurse.

“All of a sudden, a thought entered my mind. ‘I’m not disabled. I can do something! I am going to be a nurse!’” Beth recalls.

Beginning steps Calling Southeast Community College (SCC) the next day, Beth enrolled in classes for the upcoming semester.

Several breakthrough presentations, including Education Quest’s “Reaching Your Potential Scholarship,” provided the

Bryan Journeys 29

BRYAN COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES

Advisors help Beth succeed encouragement and support that led her to graduate with honors from SCC. Beth initially planned on entering an LPN program, but her advisors challenged her to paint a bigger picture.

“They said, ‘There’s nothing wrong with the LPN program, but you’re RN material!’” she says.

“No one had ever pushed me to excel at such a high level. They motivated me to pursue my RN degree.”

Becoming a registered nurse When searching for a registered nursing program, Beth set her sights on Bryan College of Health Sciences Nursing Program.

“The reputation of the school, the skill level of the students and the number of clinical hours in the program truly excited me. I knew it would be a lifechanging experience,” she says.

Though she’d considered other schools, Beth was most anxious for a reply from Bryan College of Health Sciences. “I knew the competitive nature of Bryan. I wasn’t entirely convinced that I was the type of candidate they were looking for.”

She certainly was.

Once accepted into the program, Beth poured herself into her studies and clinical rotations, soaking up as much information as possible. Bryan’s instructors recognized this nontraditional student’s unique life experience and embraced it as a teaching tool with the other students. Positioned as a role model among her peers, Beth was nominated for the March of Dimes student nurse award, which she won in October 2012.

When the workload or the information became overwhelming for Beth, her advisors stepped in.

“They continually encouraged me. ‘We see something in you,’ they would say. My advisors helped me reprogram my mind. I learned to believe I was a nurse,“ she says.

30 Spring 2013

The focus on career preparation was one of the things Beth valued most.

“From the minute you enter the program, the instructors and staff are preparing you to graduate. From handson clinicals, to nursing trends, to test-taking skills, you’re being prepped from day one.”

A bright future Beth plans on returning to Bryan in the fall to begin working on a master’s degree. In the meantime, she humbly offers words of wisdom to all who will listen: “It is possible to live happily ever after. Don’t let other people determine your path in life. You can choose a different future.”

After graduating from Bryan College of Health Sciences in December 2012, Beth accepted a position with Beatrice Community Hospital, the same place she began her career as a nurse’s aide.

“It’s nice to work close to home where I can enjoy time with my family and build my skills at a brand-new hospital.”

Working as a registered nurse in acute care, Beth is pleased to have an opportunity to refine her skills while caring for individuals who have a variety of conditions, from pediatrics to geriatrics. Patients know they are in good hands as she excitedly introduces herself each day: “Hello, my name is Beth. I’m going to be your nurse today.”

It’s a simple sentence, but one that still creates butterflies of excitement in her stomach.

For Beth, the future is now. n For information about the Bryan College of Health Sciences, call 402-481-8697 or 1-800-742-7844. Go to bryanhealth.org/ academicprograms, or use your smartphone to access this QR code.

BRYAN COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES

Elaine Garrison

Margaret (Strawser) Pavelka

Dorlene (Saylor) Pickerel

Alta Wickless

We remember nursing school leaders Four long-time Bryan School of Nursing faculty members and administrators passed away in recent months.

Elaine “Gary” Garrison (Class of 1951) died Jan. 15 in Cozad.

She was 82.

She was appointed to the faculty in 1953 and was the nursing school’s director from 1982-1991. During her 40-year career, she fulfilled a personal quest for continuing education, earning a bachelor’s degree from Nebraska Wesleyan University in 1961 and a master’s from the University of Nebraska in 1978.

Her obituary notes that she proudly served in many nursing organizations, including four years on the State Board of Nursing.

“Elaine was known for her dry humor and no-nonsense attitude,” recalls Bryan College of Health Sciences Provost Kay Maize.

Margaret (Strawser) Pavelka (Class of 1946) died Oct. 29, 2012, at age 88.

She also earned a bachelor’s degree from Nebraska Wesleyan University and a master’s in psychiatric nursing from the University of Nebraska, where she completed coursework toward a doctorate.

Pavelka was assistant director of nursing education at Mary Lanning Hospital, Hastings, 19531956, and director of nursing at Glenwood (Iowa) State School, 1957-1960, before serving as Bryan School of Nursing’s director from 1960-1971.

She was the executive director of the Nebraska Board of Nursing.

Assistant Professor Shirley Retzlaff remembers, “Our class did not get to have a review for the State Board exam, so she did the review in her home for us. I always

appreciated the time she took to do this. I also was on the School of Nursing Alumni Association Board with her for many years and enjoyed working with her — but out of respect could never call her by her first name. She was always ‘Mrs. Pavelka’ to me.”

Dorlene (Saylor) Pickerel died Jan. 25. She was 88.

This graduate of Saint Elizabeth Hospital School of Nursing taught there before joining the faculty at Bryan School of Nursing in 1968.

“Dorlene taught medical/ surgical nursing for many years.

Her specialty was orthopedics.

She loved her students, and they learned a lot from her,” says Diane Kathol, Dean of Health Professions at Bryan College of Health Sciences.

Pickerel earned a bachelor’s degree from Nebraska Wesleyan

University in 1981. Her obituary notes she was proud to have taught hundreds of Nebraska’s best nurses.

Alta Wickless died Nov. 8, 2012, at age 92.

She graduated from Missouri Methodist School of Nursing, St. Joseph, in 1941. She began her nursing career at Missouri Methodist Hospital and was on Bryan’s nursing staff from 19471969. She joined the nursing school faculty in 1970.

Maize says, “Alta was able to bring things to life with the sharing of her experiences. She had a wonderful sense of humor and caring toward her students.”

Kathol adds, “Alta taught medical/surgical nursing. She loved the students, and they loved her — she even referred to herself as ‘Granny.’”

Bryan Journeys 31

COLLEGE ALUMNI NEWS

Events for you June 7-8

Alumni Weekend nears

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he Bryan College of Health Sciences Alumni Association is pleased to be hosting reunion events Friday and Saturday, June 7 and 8, for graduates of Bryan School of Nursing, Lincoln General Hospital School of Nursing and Bryan College of Health Sciences.

Fifty-year reunions of the 1963 graduating classes from Bryan School of Nursing and Lincoln General Hospital School of Nursing are among the special events.

Here’s a list of Alumni Weekend activities.

Remember: Reservations and prepayment are required.

Friday, June 7 Presidential Teas n

Bryan School of Nursing Class of 1963, 10-11 a.m., Fairview n Lincoln General Hospital School of Nursing Class of 1963, 3:30-4:30 p.m., Alumni Museum, Bryan West Campus

Saturday, June 8 Bryan College of Health Sciences, 5035 Everett St. n

10:30 a.m. — Annual Business Meeting in Classroom 200 n 11 a.m. — Registration n Noon — Alumni Day Luncheon and Program in Classroom 204 To make reservations or learn more about these events, please contact Brenda Neemann by calling 402-481-8692, or email her at brenda.neemann@bryanhealth.org.

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Share memories and catch up with friends, like these members of the 50-year classes from Lincoln General Hospital School of Nursing (above) and Bryan School of Nursing (below) did in 2012.

BRYAN STERLING CONNECTION

You’re important to us

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t takes a team to keep programs — like Sterling Connection — vibrant, bringing you membership benefits for more than 25 years.

For example, you may find Justin Pfeifer at a seminar or DeEtta Mayrose as your tour director on a Sterling Connection trip. Connie Svik and Lori Lee often are the first people to greet you inside our office, and all of us help answer your telephone questions.

We also are blessed with great volunteers who help with Sterling Connection and projects on behalf of the Bryan Foundation and our public relations and marketing efforts.

Members are important to us! If your address has changed, visit bryanhealth.org/ SterlingConnection or call 402-481-3355, so you will not miss any of our mailings.

We look forward to continuing to provide you resources to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle and to provide additional help in the event you need healthcare services.

Until next time, Kathy Wolf, program manager

It’s Ice Cream Social time!

Help our NICU babies!

Sunday, June 23 1:30-4:30 p.m. Bryan Medical Center, Bryan East Campus, Plaza Conference Center, 1500 S. 48th St. Join other Sterling Connection members for an afternoon of socializing, ice cream and music by the Oasis Bluegrass Band.

Bring your spare change! Bryan has partnered with Holmes Elementary on a Change that Counts drive. The goal is to collect one million coins and use the funds for vein illuminators that help doctors and nurses see small veins of children during blood draws.

To register for the Ice Cream Social, go to bryanhealth.org/calendar, or call 402-481-8355.

Justin Pfeifer pours donated coins into the container in the Bryan Medical Plaza — Holmes Elementary students are helping us collect a million coins to buy equipment for pediatric and NICU patients.

Bring change to make a change!

Sterling Connection Join us for travel in 2013 We offer a variety of wonderful travel opportunities, ranging from one day to six days. Sterling Connection tours sell out quickly, so make reservations early!

Brochures for these trips are available at bryanhealth. org/travel.

Download your chosen brochures, or call 402-481-3355 or 800-742-7844, and ask for Bryan Sterling Connection.

Nebraska Wine Passport Tour Saturday, Sept. 28 Omaha Day of Fun Tuesday, Oct. 22 Railroads of New England Tuesday-Sunday, Oct. 8-13 Mystery Christmas 2013 Tuesday-Saturday, Dec. 10-14

Bryan Journeys 33

CRETE AREA MEDICAL CENTER

Ann redefines service as volunteer, Board member, friend

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wenty years ago, Ann Kelsall walked into the business office at the Crete Hospital and announced: “I’m here to volunteer.”

She wanted to say thanks, and volunteering was her way to express that.

Ann had moved recently to Crete from New Jersey.

She knew few people in Nebraska when she was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer. During a year of weekly chemotherapy, she came to know and appreciate the care she received from the hospital’s medical staff.

By volunteering, she became part of the organization she admired. Through the years she helped out not only the business office, but materials management and archives. She also became an 18-year member of the Crete Area Health Care Foundation Board. When the hospital became the Crete Area Medical Center and moved to its current location, she was there, part of its test run, portraying a patient on a stretcher.

At age 88, Kelsall still arrives at CAMC two mornings a week, steady as the sun. She works in three-hour shifts.

Not many people say thanks like Ann does.

Then again, there aren’t many people like Ann.

Career spans Wall Street to the Heartland Ann grew up in New Jersey, a second-generation American.

She studied music, but took a temporary job in New York City and found her career. Her time in the insurance industry took her from a job at the Episcopal Church to a role with a life insurance agency on Wall Street.

“That was pretty exciting,” she recalls. “I was young and the war was over and people were rebounding from the tough times. I dressed to the nines every day.”

Her career also included years as an accountant for International Schools Services in Princeton, N.J. She probably would have finished her career there, but the company conducted a large percentage of its business in Iran, and 10 months before the U.S. Embassy takeover took place, the

34 Spring 2013

company had to lay off half its staff, including Ann. During her job search, she answered a two-line ad in a newspaper, which requested a “mature individual.”

That’s how she came to be an accountant in the business office of Doris Duke’s New Jersey estate. Of the famous tobacco heiress, Kelsall says simply: “Her life was very different from my lifestyle …”

But she learned a lot, she says, and worked for Duke until retirement.

Ann’s next unexpected move was to Nebraska. Her nephew was a longtime faculty member at the University of NebraskaLincoln, and Ann and her sister, Helen, moved to be near him.

Ann picked the small college town of Crete as her home, but those early years in Nebraska were tough. Her sister died of throat cancer five weeks after their move. The next year, Ann was diagnosed with colon cancer and fought her first battle with the disease.

Victory over cancer reveals secret to life Cancer changes you, she says. ”It makes you know how lucky you are to be here. What you used to think was important or something that upset you — it doesn’t matter anymore.

Everything pales in comparison.” After a second victory over cancer — Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in 1999 — one of her favorite sayings is, “Life remains a precious pursuit.”

Ann has always known she would work as long as her health allowed.

“I spent my life working, so I’m not going to sit here and vegetate,” she says, gesturing around her apartment in Doane Village.

She chose CAMC as the recipient of her time and work ethic. That’s one of the secrets to success as a volunteer, in her experience.

“People tend to spread themselves too thin. Pick one or two. Be dependable.”

She also advises volunteers to be content in their role: “Do

CRETE AREA MEDICAL CENTER

Ann Kelsall brings business savvy, friendliness and passion to her role as a volunteer in the materials management department at Crete Area Medical Center.

the job and go home. Don’t make a lot of suggestions on how to do things; you are there to help.”

Ann volunteers with passion and purpose. She once filed folders in the business office and balanced checkbooks — even edited a handbook to make it gender neutral. She worked in materials management so long they gave her a designated desk area. In that department, which purchases all the supplies needed to run a medical center, she tags, files, organizes and mothers. She sends cards when co-workers are ill and listens to what is going on in their lives. She’s sharp, witty and worldly, says Jan Buchanan, materials manager.

“She’s a wonderful woman, a great friend, one-of-a-kind.

She makes such a difference in our department. I don’t know if we could do without her,” the manager notes.

Ann also created an archive of CAMC’s printed materials,

compiling a scrapbook of all the printed materials and hospital mentions she can find, resulting in a handy historical reference.

Decades of service Sometimes, even she’s surprised at how many years have passed since she walked into the business office to give back to the hospital that helped save her life.

“I’m not sure if people are amazed by it or bored, but I’ll keep volunteering as long as I can.”

Twenty years.

Some 3,800 volunteer hours of service.

Certainly service redefined. n

Bryan Journeys 35

VOLUNTEERS & CUSTOMER CARE

Trajectory takes Jordan Jordan Crittenden’s experiences as a Bryan employee and volunteer led to an interest in becoming a chest and heart surgeon.

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veryone wants Jordan Crittenden. He is modest about it, but if Jordan could be in four places at once, there would be no shortage of people eager to have him. He’s a popular volunteer and employee.

In November 2010, Jordan, now 26, started volunteering in Bryan’s Emergency Department. His younger sister had volunteered at Bryan, so he thought it would be a great place to get involved. In the ED, he cleaned rooms, transported patients and restocked shelves. It wasn’t long before the department wanted to hire him, and he became a paid registrar, working nights during the week, overnight on the weekends, and going to college at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln during the day.

He needed a new space to volunteer. So he ended up in an unlikely place — the nursery.

36 Spring 2013

“I rocked babies for three hours on Saturday mornings. It was an entirely new experience, but I came to like it quite a bit,” he says.

Then the outpatient pathology laboratory came calling.

Jordan started as a clinical laboratory receptionist, where he continues to volunteer today. He greets patients, sorts orders, answers the phone and copies insurance cards.

“Jordan is an exceptionally positive person,” says Ellen Beans, director of Volunteers and Customer Care. “He offers a smile to everyone he encounters and seems to have an endless source of energy.”

His volunteerism is not just restricted to Bryan. He also has volunteered at the People’s City Mission Free Clinic, where he used his training as an emergency medical technician, and the People’s Health Center.

VOLUNTEERS & CUSTOMER CARE After a promotion to a supervisory role in the Emergency Department, he transferred in April 2012 to an oncology/ neurology unit on the Bryan East Campus to be a unit secretary. He enters physician orders, takes care of consent forms and supplies, answers the phone, does discharge planning, and arranges physician consultations. “It keeps me busy,” he says.

Even though he is gainfully employed at Bryan, he continues to volunteer.

“The motivation to continue is driven by a desire to give back,” Jordan points out. “Volunteering in many ways correlates to my current job, and many of the relationships I have fostered in health care; both have played a key role in getting me to the place I am today. In light of that, it only seems fitting that I continue to try and give back as a token for all that has been given to me.”

Now he has another place that wants him. He’s just been accepted to medical school at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He found out the good news in January, and classes

begin for him in August.

“I plan to go into cardiothoracic surgery because my interest in that field grew when the heart surgeons and a cardiologist from Bryan Heart let me shadow them — one even gave me a recommendation to UNMC,” Jordan says.

“Volunteering at Bryan was the genesis of the trajectory that has brought me here,” he noted in his medical school application. “Through the giving of my time, I was granted an opportunity to both gain experience and exposure to the medical field and to make an impact in people’s lives.” n Ellen Beans points out that 10 other Bryan employees also volunteer in various capacities on the Bryan campuses.

To find out about volunteer opportunities at Bryan Medical Center, please call 402-481-3032, or visit bryanhealth.org/ volunteer. Information sessions are being held in May. To support the Volunteer Resources Fund, contact the Bryan Foundation by calling 402-481-8605.

from volunteering to med school

Every week, this Bryan employee switches his unit secretary scrubs for a volunteer’s uniform.

Bryan Journeys 37

BRYAN LIFEPOINTE

Keith Pohl shows heat-winning form during the swimming portion at LifePointe.

Stacy Sehnert ran the treadmill leg for her team at the indoor triathlon.

Athletes, like Tim Shomaker, were in a zone while searching for personal bests.

Paddling, padding or pedaling, triathlon’s a hit!

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he first-ever Bryan Health Indoor Triathlon drew more than 110 individual and 3-person teams to the Bryan LifePointe Campus Feb. 16 for an energizing day of competition.

Event coordinator Justin Pfeifer — himself an outdoor triathlon enthusiast — says, “This unique challenge measures how far competitors swim in a pool, cycle on a spin bike and run on a treadmill in an allotted time period for each portion.

“Our indoor triathlon was a great way for participants to stay motivated during the colder months, check progress of training for warmer weather events or try a new endurance challenge of a triathlon in a safe environment.”

He adds, “Dozens of Bryan co-workers and volunteers from

38 Spring 2013

the hospital and College of Health Sciences helped make this successful. We received many positive comments about the organization of the event, as well as LifePointe for hosting.”

Here are the top finishers: All Male Team: The Stooges, composed of David Reese, Russ Gronewold and John Woodrich.

All Female Team: Tri with a Heart On, composed of Sarah Schroeder, Kendra Rivera, Stacy Sehnert.

Co-ed Team: The Trifecters, composed of Meghan Gibbons, Robert Gibbons and Paige Trevarrow.

Overall Male Winner: Jeff Kanger.

Overall Female Winner: Caitlyn Parmelee. n

TRIBUTE TO TRAUMA CHAMPIONS

Tribute to Champions honors survivors and the heroes who saved them It takes innovative and aggressive treatments to bring critically injured patients back from death, and that’s just what the Nebraska Trauma System and Bryan Trauma Center celebrated April 4 at the 2013 Tribute to Trauma Champions.

Fourteen-year-old Derek Stromp of Greeley lay trapped under an ATV. He was not breathing, his color blue, when family and the EMS rescue squad arrived. They prepared him for rapid transport, but the ambulance blew a tire. Knowing there

Trauma survivors Adam Koenig (left) and Derek Stromp (right) celebrate with Reginald Burton, MD, director of trauma and surgical critical care at Bryan.

was no time to delay, they kept driving while administering two shocks to Derek and continued CPR before seeing signs of life. Next came aggressive hypothermia treatment and myriad additional procedures and interventions from Bryan’s team at the Bryan Trauma Center, who stopped at nothing to save Derek.

By all rights, Adam Koenig of Lincoln should not have survived his motorcycle crash. He owes his life and remarkable progress to the dedicated first responders and Bryan Trauma Center staff. On top of his extensive injuries from the crash, Adam suffered two cardiac arrest episodes. He is the first trauma patient at the Bryan Trauma Center to be placed on a machine that acts as an external lung. The innovative use of this Extracoporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) was a turning point in saving Adam’s life.

More than 400 attended the event to hear stories of their survival and honor the heroic life-saving measures taken by family members, first responders, physicians and Bryan staff. n

Ruth Radenslaben, RN, won the 2013 Trauma Director’s Award.

Go to bryanhealth.org/ trauma-champions-2013 to see their stories, or use your smartphone’s QR application to access the code at right.

There were champions from wall to wall at the Rococo Theatre April 4. Bryan saluted 149 during the annual Tribute to Trauma Champions.

Bryan Journeys 39

ACHIEVEMENTS

Surveyors certify stroke care, ventricular assist Survey teams from the Joint Commission granted two-year certification of Bryan’s ventricular assist device program and approved continued certification of the stroke program.

Lisa Vail, vice president of patient care services, says, “I am pleased to share that as a result of the hard work and dedication of our comprehensive multi-disciplinary team, we passed the survey of our Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) program in all areas with no requirements for improvement notations.

“The team’s efforts exemplify the mission, vision and values of Bryan.”

She also notes, “Our stroke program’s surveyor was extremely complimentary of the high quality of care stroke patients receive at Bryan.” n

40 Spring 2013

Lisa Vail, chief nursing officer

Vail leads patient care services Lisa Vail, RN, DNP, is chief nursing officer and vice president of patient care services.

Bryan’s newest senior manager comes from Liberty Hospital of Liberty, Mo., where she served for 18 years. For the past four years, she was vice president of patient care services.

Vail earned a Bachelor of Arts in Nursing at Luther College, Decorah, Iowa, and a Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice in organizational leadership at the University of Kansas School of Nursing, Kansas City. n

Bryan CEO Kim Russel (left) with SynerScan developers Ben Leduc and Raymond Page, Bryan Chief Information Officer George Carr, SynerScan designer Katie Hottovy and Brett Byman of business development, Bryan clinical informatics manager Connie Ganz and Lincoln Chamber of Commerce President Wendy Birdsall

Bryan and Lincoln businesses salute entrepreneur spirit SynerScan won the first-ever Lincoln Health Care Connect design competition.

Four teams of entrepreneurs presented possible solutions to this challenge from Bryan: Help us to be even better with our hourly patient safety rounds. SynerScan’s winning presentation secures a four-month partnership with Bryan to further develop their concepts and to trial their technology solution.

Health care organizations and the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development established Lincoln Health Care Connect to support entrepreneurship while encouraging the emerging tech scene to solve nationwide health care challenges. n

Russel selected for AHA Regional Policy Board Kim Russel, president and chief executive officer of Bryan Health, has been elected to a three-year term on the American Hospital Association’s Regional Policy Board.

The Regional Policy Board advises the AHA Board of Trustees on health policy issues that impact aspects of national and local health care systems. n

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Bryan Kids’ Health & Safety Fair n Saturday, June 8, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Where? Zone B Parking Garage at the Bryan East Campus, 1600 S. 48th St. It’s free! No registration required!

This annual event provides families with opportunities to learn about the many children’s health and safety programs offered by Bryan Health and other Lincoln organizations.

With a multitude of interactive displays, demonstrations and entertainment, this is an opportunity for kids and parents to learn valuable health and safety lessons in a fun and festive atmosphere.

For details, call 402-481-8855, or go online to bryanhealth.org.

at 402-436-5516, or go to cheannualmeeting2013.eventbrite. com.

Bryan Health Run to Overcome n Sunday, Sept. 29.

Where? Lincoln Southwest High School and surrounding neighborhood.

Kids 1-mile Fun Run begins at 12:15 p.m.

5K and 10K races start at 1 p.m.

Cost: Kids Run is $10 and includes a T-shirt; 5K and 10K runners pay a $20 fee, which includes a T-shirt, or $25 for a short-sleeve dri-fit shirt.

Bryan Health Run to Overcome brings hopeful awareness of mental illness, and proceeds will benefit mental health services.

Registration opens Friday, June 1. For more details about this event, go to bryanhealth.cvent.com/2013run, or contact Justin Pfeifer by calling 402-481-8855.

How Creativity Will Save Health Care n Wednesday, June 12, 3 - 4 p.m.

Where? Bryan Plaza Conference Center, Bryan East Campus, 1500 S. 48th St. It’s free! But you must register!

Hear Jay Parkinson, MD, MPh. His design firm, The Future Well, dreams up, designs and builds products and services that inspire health and happiness.

Last year his company launched Sherpaa, a health service in New York City that connects employees to a group of doctors via email and phone to resolve health problems 24/7.

Fast Company called Parkinson the Doctor of the Future and one of the Top 10 creative people in health care. See for yourself!

This event is free.

For more information about this presentation, contact the Community Health Endowment

Bryan Journeys 41

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

Address service requested

Trauma As Nebraska’s first American College of Surgeons verified Trauma Center, the Bryan team stands ready to serve at a moment’s notice, providing life-saving care to our region’s most critically injured patients. bryanhealth.org

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