Virtual Education Simulation Test Center is world’s first accredited Level II Institute
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hristiana Care’s Virtual Education Simulation Test Center (VEST) has earned a three-year American College of Surgeons (ACS) accreditation as a Level II Education Institute. The VEST center is the first accredited Level II Institute in the world and the only accredited VEST center in Delaware. Meeting the demanding standards and criteria of the ACS program for the Accreditation of Educational Institutes places the VEST Center among an elite international network of sites offering the most advanced surgical education.
Clinical News OB/GYN teaching consortium welcomes Christiana Care
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Research is helping define what’s normal in fetal growth
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Center for Rehab achieves stroke specialty accreditation
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New 64-slice CT scanner at Wilmington campus
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General News Another top ranking in Summer Blood Challenge
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NewHonor Roll of Donors
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“The accreditation confirms the level of commitment that Christiana Care has to simulation technology and continuing medical education,” says Glenn Tinkoff, M.D., Associate Vice Chair for Emergency Surgery and Simulation. “And it validates that we have the resources, personnel and facilities to provide exceptional medical training.” According to the accreditation committee, VEST is “ahead of many centers in tools available to teaching faculty.”
Brian J. Levine, M.D., associate director of the Emergency Medicine residency program, coaches EM resident Joseph A. Zaremba, M.D., in the VEST Center. The mannequin, “J.B.,” is a gift from the Christiana Care Junior Board. procedure such as catheterization and coronary stenting for myocardial infarction 20 or 30 times andto do it 20 or 30 times before they do the procedure on a live patient. VEST also enables experienced surgeons to maintain their competency and to develop new skills.
In the past year, 129 surgeons, surgical residents and surgical team members have put in 190 hours of Opportunities to learn safely simulation time—in addition to VEST offers novices opportunities Trauma Team training and time to learn procedures and equipment spent in the surgical skills section without, as Dr. Tinkoff says, of Advanced Trauma Life Support “inflicting their lack of classes. competency on patients.” VEST enables them to see a
Acceptance to prestigious OB/GYN teaching consortium requires history of teaching excellence, advanced technology capabilities hristiana Care has joined an elite group as one of only 13 sites in the U.S. named to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Simulations Consortium, an innovative system for teaching OB/GYN residents surgical skills.
in the way residents learn that will ultimately improve patient safety and ensure better outcomes for patients,” says Richard Derman, M.D., MPH, FACOG, chair, Obstetrics and Gynecology. “We’re delighted to be part of this important, pioneering initiative.”
Christiana Care was selected based on a site visit in July, a history of excellence in teaching and its investment in the high-fidelity technology required for the program. Christiana Care’s Virtual Education Simulation Test Center recently earned Level II Institute accreditation from the American College of Surgeons.
Access to standardized curriculum
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“This is an exciting step forward
With the consortium, ACOG established a system of state-of-the-art surgical simulation centers to provide access to a standardized curriculum. Using sophisticated computerized simulation systems, visiting OB/GYN residents will train in intense, two-day sessions. Because many of the procedures that are
High-tech mannequins Noelle and newborn Hal in the birthing room in Christiana Care’s Virtual Education Simulation Test Center provide our OB/GYN residents opportunities to practice many times before they apply their skills to living patients.
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simulated are uncommon, practice drills help ensure optimal performance by doctors when an emergency does occur. In elite company Simulated surgeries and medical emergencies also are part of a strategy in which residents develop a sound foundation in basic surgical techniques, hand-to-eye coordination, repetitive skills exercises and other demonstrations of competency before they operate on a living person. Initially, nine centers were selected for the program, among them the Mayo Clinic, Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center in Phoenix and Northwestern University. Christiana Care is part of a second group of four. The goal is to expand to 24 centers that are strategically located in order to be geographically accessible to residents across the country. The other new centers selected for the consortium are: Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, N.Y.; Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore; and Louisiana State University, New Orleans. Christiana Care is a Center of Excellence for Women’s Health and ranks eighth on the East Coast in number of births with 7,249 deliveries in 2008.
Groundbreaking research will help establish a national pattern for normal fetal growth and development
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hristiana Care is participating in groundbreaking research to establish a national standard for normal fetal growth, gathering data to help doctors more accurately determine if babies are developing normally. “It’s a tremendously important project,” says Anthony Sciscione, D.O., director, Fetal-Maternal
Richard Derman, M.D., MPH, FACOG, chair, Obstetrics and Gynecology. “New findings defining what is normal for fetuses in utero will help all obstetricians determine whether they need to intervene to help effect the best possible outcomes for their patients.”
“This important study adds to the seminal body of NIH-funded research on mothers and infants being conducted at Christiana Care.” —Richard Derman, M.D., MPH, FACOG Chair, Obstetrics and Gynecology
Medicine and the principal investigator. “The data will help us redefine what is too small and what is too big.” One of only six institutions in the U.S. selected for a $1.136 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, Christiana Care is the first to enroll expectant mothers in the three-year program. Focuses on low-risk women The study focuses on low-risk women, ages 18-40 and of all ethnicities, who are living above the poverty line. Women who are poor, smoke, abuse drugs, are obese or outside the age bracket are ruled out because those risk factors affect birth weight. “We’re looking at the normal standard,” says Stephanie Lynch, research manager and study coordinator. Christiana Care’s large, diverse population—7,249 babies were born here last year—and proven track record in OB/GYN research make it an ideal institution for the project. “This important study adds to the seminal body of NIH-funded research on mothers and infants being conducted at Christiana Care,” says
The study will help determine what effect the race of the mother and the gender of the fetus have on development. For example, Asian babies tend to be smaller. Male babies typically weigh more than females. Moms who are larger have larger babies. As an example of how ethnicity and gender affect fetal growth, Dr. Sciscione contrasted the cases of two women, whose babies both weighed five pounds after 37 weeks of gestation. “If mom is Asian, hasn’t gained much weight and is having a girl, five pounds is probably healthy,” he says. “But if mom is Caucasian, has gained a lot of weight and is having a boy we need to look for infection, genetic abnormalities or other problems.” Mothers in the program receive free, state-of-theart 4-D ultrasound tests five times throughout their pregnancies. Regular blood tests can pinpoint such variables as eating a healthy diet. “We can establish an individualized growth curve for the fetus,” Dr. Sciscione says. “And the moms will get some wonderful ultrasound pictures.”
Employees help each other when the chips are down with direct aid through our unique crisis leave program
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nly a few months after the deaths of both her parents, Traci Talbot, a patient care technician II, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. “I was already devastated—and then I found out I was seriously ill, too,” she recalls. Unable to work and wondering how she would pay her bills, she turned to Christiana Care’s Crisis Leave Bank (CLB), which granted her 80 hours in pay. CLB is an employee-funded program that provides time off with pay for colleagues who have used all their accumulated paid leave hours coping with a personal or family crisis. How CLB works To fund the program, employees donate their unused paid leave hours, which they may do at any time throughout the year by completing a Web form at HR Online. The donated hours are converted to their cash value, based on the hourly rate of the employee who makes the donation. Hours are paid out to eligible employees at their base rate. If an employee making $20 per hour donates 10 hours of unused paid leave, for example, CLB would have $200 to help fund requests. Then, if an eligible employee making $10 per hour requests help, the employee could receive up to 20 hours of pay from CLB. Since it was established in December 2007, CLB has provided financial assistance for 22 employees who were struck by catastrophic life events. During the most recent open enrollment period, nearly 100 employees
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donated paid leave valued at more than $32,000 to help colleagues, many of whom they will never meet, notes Employee Relations Director Kerry Delgado. “The support I’ve received from Christiana Care has been overwhelming,” Talbot says. “Knowing how much my coworkers care for me has really helped me through.” Raising awareness is key Kathy Worthy, a weekend med-surg nurse, says raising awareness of CLB is important. When she petitioned for help after undergoing a double mastectomy followed by chemotherapy and radiation, the bank was out of hours.
Fortunately, an influx of donations resulted in Worthy’s receiving 40 hours of pay. “I got a full paycheck at a time when I really needed it,” she says. “I can never say thank you enough to CLB and my wonderful coworkers at Christiana Care.” Christina Myers, a pharmacy technician, had heard of CLB but never realized she would need it someday. But when her chronically ill, year-old daughter, Riley, was hospitalized for a month, the family’s already drained resources went dry. “My paid time off was gone, everything was gone,” she recalls. But thanks to CLB, Myers received a check for the last two weeks of the six weeks she was unable to work. “When you’re dealing with a family crisis, it’s good to know your employer is on your side,” she says. “I feel good about working at Christiana Care.”
Crisis Leave Bank
The Crisis Leave Bank helped Pharmacy Tecnician Christina Meyers (above) when her daughter Riley was hospitalized for a month.
To learn more about the CLB program and other Great Place to Work benefits, visit HR Online. If you have further questions, call the HR Service Center, 302-327-5555.
The Crisis Leave Bank gratefully acknowledges these employees for contributing paid leave hours
“Knowing how much my coworkers care for me has really helped me through.” —Traci Talbot, PCT II
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Drug trial at Helen F. Graham shows promise for advanced pancreatic cancer
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ast spring, when 61-year-old Carl Mockert of northern New Jersey learned he had Stage III pancreatic cancer, he and his brother Walter searched for the latest treatment options. At first, they found nothing nearby beyond standard chemotherapy, not even in New York City. Then, Walter read about an exciting new clinical trial for Carl’s type of cancer, offered at only five sites around the country. The Helen F. Graham Cancer Center at Christiana Care is one of them. Delivers a one-two punch The phase IB trial, sponsored by Immunomedics, Inc., delivers a one-two punch to knock out cancer cells. The winning combination is an exciting new compound, hPAM4, a humanized antibody
that specifically targets pancreatic cancer cells, piggybacked with a powerful cancer-killing radioisotope (yttrium-90). Patients with previously untreated, advanced pancreatic cancer receive the radiolabeled hPAM4 intravenously in combination with gemcitabine, a chemotherapy drug and radiation sensitizer, in fourweek treatment cycles. Earlier studies showed the combination of radiolabeled hPAM4 antibody and gemcitabine controlled pancreatic cancer growth better than either agent alone. Mockert is the first to begin a second cycle after an early positive response to treatment at the Graham Cancer Center, where Kathir Suppiah, M.D., his oncologist/hematologist, provides his care. “The hospital is first rate and the staff is super, encouraging, supportive and friendly,” he says. “And that keeps me thinking positively. The hPAM4 trial offers hope to those of us with pancreatic cancer who up to now had few treat-
Kathy Combs, RN, prepares Carl Mockert for hPAM4 therapy 6
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ment options. I feel I’m getting the best care out there.” Not like chemotherapy What is unique about this treatment is the ability to administer very strong doses of cancer killing radiation directly to the tumor with very little collateral damage, according to principal investigator Michael Guarino, M.D., director of Pharmaceutical Trials at the Graham Cancer Center. “With standard chemotherapy alone, you are cooking the good cells with the bad,” says Dr. Guarino. “With this new treatment, potentially only the cancer cells get fried.” Trial participants receive only one-fifth the standard dose of gemcitabine, lessening impact on normal tissues and minimizing unpleasant side effects like nausea and fatigue. Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. Too often, symptoms appear only after the disease has progressed to the point where effective treament is difficult. Potential for early detection Preliminary data from other studies suggest the hPAM4 antibody may be useful in detecting early pancreatic cancer as well as in targeting more advanced forms of the disease. So far, six patients have completed their first round of treatment at Christiania Care, and at least two more have entered the trial. Although it is too early to talk about results, Dr. Guarino says there are indications the treatment is on target.
Did you know? Colored wristbands standardized The Delaware Healthcare Association announced Sept. 14 implementation of a voluntary initiative among Delaware hospitals to standardize the use of color-coded patient wristbands. All Delaware acute-care general hospitals are now using the following colors and meanings to convey specific information to physicians and nurses about patient care:
Magnet Video players are on board
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he Magnet in Three Words Video selection committee has spoken. Twenty-four people auditioned Aug. 20 for roles as singers and dancers in the video, which celebrates Christiana Care’s bid for a place in the American Nurses Credentialing Center ’s Magnet Recognition Program.
Gale Duncan, RN, 3A/4B Richard Cohen, Administrative Assistant, Helen F. Graham Cancer Center Versa Belton, RN, Wilmington Crisis Intervention
Andrea Squire, RN, Cardiovascular Research Andre Dillard, Service Assistant, Food and Nutrition Services
Red for patient allergies.
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Yellow for a fall risk.
Singers:
Color-coded wristbands quickly convey critical patient information to health care workers during an emergency or when a patient is non-responsive. They are an important part of ensuring timely care. Christiana Care adopted the wristbands in July.
Gale Bucher, RN, VNA
Krista Brazell, RN, Cardiovascular Research
Talented employees selected include:
Purple for do-not-resuscitate preferences.
Roseanna Heffernan, RN, 3B/C
Currently in the editing stage, the video is to be released in October.
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Dancers:
Nancy Huebner, RN, Cardiology Research Karen Davis, RN, NICU Lynn Jones, Patient Resources Navigator, Helen F. Graham Cancer Center Carolyn Zsoldos, RN, Clinical Informatics Ellen Coyle, RN, 4E David Garnett, RN, 6N/S
Kim Beeby, PT, VNA “This project has been a lot of fun because so many staff participated in the video, either in the planning efforts or the actual production,” said Carol Boettler, MS, RN, BC, Magnet Project Manager. “Watch for the video premiers at both hospitals and other locations in October!”
Flu vaccine campaign goal: 100% Christiana Care's seasonal flu vaccine campaign began Sept. 16. Check the portals for announcements about flu vaccine administration dates, times and locations. Our goal is 100 percent participation. Christiana Care is again participating in the Joint Commission Resources Flu Vaccination Challenge. Christiana Care met the challenge last year by vaccinating 70 percent of the employee population.
Free bone density screenings Christiana Care Imaging Services will provide free bone density screenings by appointment at Limestone Medical Center, 1941 Limestone Road, Suite 204, Wilmington, Del. Screenings begin Oct. 5 and will be held on the first Monday of each month, 9 a.m. to noon. To schedule a free screening, call 302-623-CARE (2273).
Application update Christiana Care received notice Sep. 16 from the American Nurses' Credentialing Center (ANCC) that our five Magnet application binders passed review by the Magnet survey team with a score of excellence. We are now preparing for a four-day site visit in November by four ANCC nurse surveyors.
Christiana Care Medical Group launches Hospitalist Partners Christiana Care Hospitalist Partners (CCHP), a Christiana Care-employed practice, began caring for patients at Christiana Hospital on Aug. 24.
The following physicians (with Web page numbers) comprise Christiana Care Hospitalist Partners:
Serving patients of primary care providers employed by Christiana Care, CCHP is starting out with selected Christiana Care primary care practices.
Surekha Bhamidipati, M.D.: 7066
Patients of Christiana Care employed primary care providers admitted to Wilmington Hospital will continue to receive care from the Internal Medicine and Family Medicine teaching services.
Mina Rim, M.D.: 3036
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Formulary Update
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Attending on service: 7700 Joseph Deutsch, M.D.: 4042 Jude Ediae, M.D.: 6849 Erin Meyer, D.O.: 1019 Edmondo Robinson, M.D., medical director: 3669
Portal links to H1N1 and seasonal flu information Christiana Care has created a Web page dedicated to H1N1 Flu for all employees and staff. Find the site on the green banner near the top of the portal home page. The page provides information on seasonal and H1N1 flu, including frequently asked questions, useful posters or handouts for clinics and other patient areas, and links to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Delaware Division of Public Health and other resources.
National speaker to address Cultural Barriers to Quality and Safety avid B. Nash, M.D., MBA, will lecture on Cultural Barriers to Quality and Safety, Oct. 1, from noon to 1 p.m. at the John H. Ammon Medical Education Center Auditorium. This is the inaugural lecture presented by the Christiana Care Chapter of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Open School for Health Professions.
care issues and become active in improving the quality of care in their own practice,” says chapter leader Matthew Judd, D.O., administrative fellow of the Christiana Care Emergency Department.
The Open School, an online curriculum in quality improvement, provides those at the patient bedside the tools to improve their practice and the care in their institutions.
Registration is requested to ensure adequate seating. Christiana Care staff can register on the portal through the Education Center. All others may register by contacting Loretta Consiglio-Ward at 302-733-4759 or LConsiglioWard@christianacare.org.
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Forum is open to those who want to improve quality “The Christiana Care chapter is a forum open to those who want to meet informally to discuss health
Wilmington honors Graham Cancer Center’s Nora Katurakes
Dr. Nash’s lecture will be videoconferenced to Wilmington Hospital, Room 8119. Lunch will be provided
If you are interested in joining the chapter, contact Dr. Judd directly at 302-388-7941 or mjudd@christianacare.org. For more information on the Open School, visit http://www.ihi.org/IHI/Program s/IHIOpenSchool/.
David B. Nash, M.D., MBA, founding dean of the Jefferson University School of Population Health, has been named to Modern Healthcare’s list of the top 100 most powerful persons in health care.
Nora C. Katurakes, RN, MSN, OCN, will receive a 2009 Wilmington Award.
Nora C. Katurakes, RN, MSN, OCN, manager, Community Health Outreach and Education for the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center, will be one of the 2009 recipients of the annual Wilmington Award. The annual awards recognize and honor outstanding accomplishments of Wilmington citizens in health science, community service, education, the arts and 11 other areas. Katurakes will receive the award on Wednesday, Oct. 7 at a ceremony for winners starting at 5:30 p.m. in Wilmington City Council chambers, 800 N. French St.
Family-centered care helps overcome postpartum stroke
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n July 23, Vanessa Mazza delivered a healthy baby boy, Storm, Jr. On July 27, she was on life support, barely surviving a massive stroke. Fast forward to September. Mazza is holding her baby— thanks to family-centered care at Christiana Care’s Center for Rehabilitation at Wilmington Hospital that allowed Storm Jr., to remain with her through her recovery. Being able to hear and touch him gave Mazza reason to fight, even when she couldn’t take care of him. “Christiana Care saved her life,” says her fiancé, Storm McCall.
stay together and participate in the patient’s rehabilitation. Keeping the family together Her rehabilitation team integrated infant care into Mazza’s physical and occupational therapy, providing a baby doll to practice with until she could safely hold, carry and care for Storm, Jr. “Having her fiancé and baby here was immensely therapeutic for Vanessa,” says Sharon Kurfuerst, Ed.D, OTR/L, FAOTA, administrative director, Rehabilitation Services. “Even when she struggles, Vanessa pushes through because her ultimate goal is to care for her child.”
Mazza has regained her voice, improved the weakness on her At the Center, Mazza stayed in one right side, and is relearning activiof four private, family-centered ties of daily living. care rooms that allow families to
A neuropsychologist helps her cope with the psychological trauma of her injury. The rehabilitation team also taught Mazza and McCall what to expect when they got home and what they will need to do to continue her recovery. “Because we know what we have to do now, we feel like we can really do this and make it work,” says McCall. “We are truly rehabilitating the family,” says Kurfuerst. “This is what excellent rehabilitative care is all about.” Mazza agrees. “Because of my team, I can be a mom now. We can be a family.”
CARF accredits inpatient rehab and stroke specialty programs The comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation program and the stroke specialty program at Christiana Care’s Center for Rehabilitation at Wilmington Hospital each received a threeyear accreditation from the Commission for Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), an internationally acknowledged, leading independent accreditor of rehabilitation facilities. Visiting Christiana Care in June, CARF surveyors commended the center ’s dedication to including patients and family members as part of the health care team. They also remarked on the center ’s use of exceptional interdisciplinary communication and teamwork.
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Focus on Excellence—Best Practice Medicine Hand-Off Communcation: a Round Trip Ticket
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onsistent with our strategies for engaging staff in continuous improvement and best practices, we regularly review important topics in FOCUS to help reinforce safe-practice behaviors. These tips reinforce information and enable staff to better articulate our safety practices during an unannounced survey. Q. What is hand-off communication? A. Hand-off communication is an interactive process of passing patient-specific information from one caregiver to another for the purpose of ensuring continuity and safety of patient care. Q. Why is hand-off communication important? A. Hand-offs or transfer of patient care from one health care provider to another are known to be vulnerable to communication failures and have the potential to result in medical errors. Standardizing hand-off communication helps ensure that information about a patient is communicated in a complete and consistent manner. Q. What process has been implemented to improve hand-off communication during patient transport? A. The Round Trip Ticket is a mechanism to communicate information between Nursing and ancillary departments for patients being transported by Patient Escort. The Round Trip Ticket provides the following: n
Important patient safety alerts.
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Key clinical information.
Sending and receiving staff member ’s name and contact phone number allowing for the opportunity to ask questions and have them answered. n
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Reference for duration of oxygen flow calculations.
It is important to document complete and accurate information on the Round Trip Ticket every time a patient is transported by Patient Escort in order to optimize patient safety and reduce risk. To ask questions, contact the content expert, Susan Mascioli: 302-7335928. To reach the Safety Hotline, call SAFE (7233) from within Christiana or Wilmington hospitals. From outside the hospitals, call 302-623-SAFE. Further information is available in the Archives of Best Practices. From your portal, choose Focus on Excellence, Joint Commission Readiness, Ongoing Strategies, Educational Strategies, Monthly Q&A.
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ew software that integrates documentation and digital photography to track healing enables the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) to monitor wounds more closely with fewer home visits. In the past, travel demands limited the number of patients that a VNA wound care specialist could see in a day. Now, two specialists remotely manage more than 400 wounds statewide. Two additional specialists assist field nurses with difficult wounds or new treatments. The new software classifies wound cases in one of four categories— those in decline, new referrals, follow up and stable or improving. Depending on the wound, the program suggests protocols and treatments, which VNA wound care specialists Margie Bloom, RN, WCC, Kylin Gilmore, RN, WCC, Patricia Preston, RN, WCC, and Patricia Woods, RN, WCC share with field nurses to improve care. “You can’t appreciate the complexity of the wounds VNA cares for until you actually see them,” according to Rhonda S. Combs, RN, MSN, VNA senior vice president and chief operating officer. “Combining imaging and documentation in one view enables VNA’s four certified wound care nurses to intervene quickly and work with patients’ physicians to revise treatment when necessary to speed healing.”
CDC report: there is too much fat, salt and sugar in the average American’s diet daily and men to 150 calories, or nine teaspoons. According to a 2004 government survey by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, on average we now take in 355 calories—or 22 teaspoons—of added sugar each day. Avoid soft drinks What’s the sugar culprit? Soft drinks rank high on the list. A single can of soda contains more sugar than the maximum AHA recommendation for women. So drink flavored waters or, better yet, plain water. Substitute natural sugars for processed sugar. Stock up on raisins, apples, bananas, pears, melons and citrus fruits. For a healthier diet, build meals around fruits, vegetables, whole-grain breads and cereals, low-fat dairy products, nuts, peas, beans, fish and lean meats.
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ere’s food for thought:
Two-thirds of Americans are overweight. According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report, on average we weigh 25 pounds more than we did in 1960. Why? Because most of us eat too much fat, salt and sugar. Breaking those bad eating habits But we can break our unhealthy eating habits. Try to eat a variety of foods every day. Skip the bagel with cream cheese and coffee with cream and sugar, the cheeseburger and fries and regular soda, the fettuccini Alfredo with bread and butter. Instead, build meals
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around fruits, vegetables, whole grain breads and cereals, low-fat dairy products, nuts, peas, beans, fish and lean meats. General rules for a good diet As a general rule, eat one serving of protein, two pieces of fruit and a salad every day. In your salad, include a selection of fresh ingredients, such as carrots, celery, bell peppers, onions and cabbage. Add no more than a tablespoon of dressing, and toss the salad well—to make the dressing go further. The American Heart Association (AHA) urges Americans to cut back dramatically on processed sugar consumption—women to no more than 100 calories, or six teaspoons
At the grocery store, think before you buy. If you don’t bring junk food, cakes and fatty cuts of meat into your home, you will be much less likely to eat them. Inspect labels on the food you do put in your shopping carts. Note the fat and sodium content. Look for buzz words that indicate added sugar, such as syrup or HFCS (high fructose corn syrup). Go easy on the salt When you are cooking, go easy on the salt. Try using half the amount you usually would and substitute a few shakes of low-salt seasoning or fresh or dried herbs. After a few weeks of eating nutritious foods and resisting empty calories, you will have more energy. You will feel better and function better—thanks to healthy food habits.
New CT scanner at Wilmington campus improves patient care, efficiency and service
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hen it added the Siemens 64-slice computed tomography (CT) scanner in August, Christiana Care’s Wilmington Hospital transformed patient care. In 10 to 20 seconds, the scanner delivers high-resolution images in elaborate detail, allowing health care providers to make more informed diagnostic decisions and begin intervention and treatment more quickly.
More slices means more detail In computed tomography, an X-ray tube rotates around the body, producing a series of cross-sectional images, or slices, of a part of the body from many different angles. Then, a computer constructs a three-dimensional image, or tomogram, of the body structure. Because the new scanner produces this image from 64 slices rather than the traditional 16 slices, the image is more detailed. And because the new scanner conRadiologic Technologist Hope Townsend scans a patient with the new 64-slice CT structs the image much more rap- scanner adjacent the Wilmington campus Emergency Department. idly, essentially “freezing” structures such as the heart, the images diagnostic tool for cardiac, vascuED staff. And ED patients don’t are clearer. lar, neurology and cancer patients. have to go from downstairs to upstairs, where they sometimes The speed makes it particularly Adds value to ED services had to wait.” effective in evaluating critically ill Because of its value to emergency and trauma patients in the A grant from the U.S. Department care, the new scanner is located Emergency Department (ED) and of Health and Human Services’ next to the ED, enabling faster for acquiring reliable data from Healthcare and Other Facilities turnaround times and improving patients who may have difficulty (HCOF) funds, designated to the flow of patients through the holding their breath, such as chil“modernize healthcare facilities,” ED. “The scanner has made a big dren. underwrote a third of the cost of difference,” says Karen Pietlock, the new tool. The high resolution and clear, BS, RT, Radiology manager. detailed images make the scanner “It’s more easily accessible for the a powerful, non-invasive
Author honors mentor, Michael Rhodes, M.D., in new book
Glen Tinkoff, M.D. (left), associate vice chair for Emergency Surgery and Simulation, and Linda Laskowski Jones present Dr. Rhodes with a copy of a new pocket manual for trauma, "Nurse to Nurse Trauma Care: Expert Interventions," dedicated to him.
Linda Laskowski Jones, RN, MS, ACNSBC, CCRN, CEN, vice president, Emergency, Trauma & Aeromedical Services, presented Michael J. Rhodes, M.D., chair of the Department of Surgery, with a personally inscribed copy of a new book, called "Nurse to Nurse Trauma Care: Expert Interventions" (McGraw-Hill, 2009), by Donna Nayduch, RN, MSN.
M.D., FACS, chair, Department of Surgery, Christiana Care Health System, Wilmington, Delaware. He was my mentor in trauma care who spent endless nights with us in the shock trauma ICU in Allentown, Pennsylvania. His dedication and knowledge of trauma was the inspiration for me. Like a doting father, he sent me off to my first trauma coordinator position with confidence. The passion in this book mirrors the passion for the trauma patient that he demonstrated every day. It is that foundation upon which my trauma knowledge is built and for which I am forever grateful to him."
Nayduch dedicated the book to Dr. Rhodes with these words:
Laskowski Jones, who served as a reviewer and contributor for the text, says the book is "a great tribute to Dr. Rhodes’ lifelong commitment to trauma care.”
"I dedicate this book to Michael J. Rhodes,
Christiana Care Wins Summer Blood Challenge Christiana Care has won top honors in the 2009 Blood Bank of Delmarva’s Summer Blood Challenge with the highest overall number of blood donations, point total and number of new members. Christiana Care recruited 595 blood donors and 183 new Blood Bank members. “Your support of the Blood Bank of Delmarva’s Summer Blood Challenge, and throughout the year, not only helps the Blood Bank fulfill its mission, but helps Christiana Care fulfill our mission as well,” says Bob Laskowski, 14
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M.D., Christiana Care president and CEO. During the past 12 months, Christiana Care received 40,700 blood products from the Blood Bank of Delmarva. The Blood Bank honored Wendy Felts, a nurse practitioner in the NICU, for the most individual blood donations during the Summer Blood Challenge. She donated platelets eight times and participated in the 5K in July.
From left: Bob Travis, president and CEO of Blood Bank of Delmarva, Wendy Felts, Teresa Cathell, assistant to Executive Vice President Gary Ferguson, and Dick Pierce, Blood Bank board chairman.
United Way of Delaware campaign runs through Oct. 30
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hristiana Care’s United Way of Delaware campaign kicked off this year on Sept. 8 and runs through Oct. 30. By participating in the campaign, employees help United Way of Delaware address some of Delaware’s most pressing social problems. Christiana Care’s goal is for 4,172 employees to give to the campaign this year. With your generosity, we will meet and surpass our goal. Every gift is important, no matter what the size. As in previous campaigns, employees may designate to support:
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The Community Impact Fund.
Five specific focus areas within the Community Impact Fund. n
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Your User ID is your badge number. The password is unique to United Way’s system. If you forgot your password, click on the link to get into the E-Pledge System and click on the “Forgot Password” button. Enter your
badge number and e-mail address and the password will be e-mailed to you. Thank You in advance for your generosity as we work together to reach our goal and support our neighbors.
How to designate your UW gift to a specific agency For example, you can designate Christiana Care’s Visiting Nurse Association and/or other areas of Christiana Care. Use the agency search key at www.uwde.org to find organizations you want to support. If you choose to designate where your dollars go, the minimum gift is $25. Christiana Care is again using the E-Pledge system on the United Way of Delaware’s Web site. Go directly to the United Way EPledge System http://www.uwde.org/epledgere direct.asp or access it through the portals.
The Heart Failure Program at Christiana Care’s Center for Heart & Vascular Health presents a Heart Failure Summit on Friday, Oct. 30, 7:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., at the John H. Ammon Medical Education Center. A $20 registration fee is due by Oct. 19 by check payable to Christiana Care Health System, mailed to Chris Friday, Heart Failure Program, Christiana Hospital, Suite 2E99, 4255 Ogletown-Stanton Road, Newark, DE 19718. With your manager’s approval, you can complete a journal transfer for payment to come from your department cost center. Please provide your name, department, manager’s name and cost center to Chris Friday. You may also register on the Education Center. For more information, contact Chris Friday at 733-1507 or cfriday@christianacare.org.
Computerized Physician Order Entry is a powerful tool that will transform patient care
No one will be left to fail
Continued input will sustain improvement
Chief Medical Information Officer, Terri Steinberg, M.D., MBA, tells listeners at at Grand Rounds, July 30 that for some departments, the next few years will be “a hybrid of computers and paper.”
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Upcoming events
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New display honors donors who generously give to Christiana Care
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he Office of Development this month unveiled a new Annual Donor Wall in the lobby of Christiana Hospital, across from the Outpatient Pharmacy. Each year, thousands of people, as well as businesses and foundations, make charitable gifts in support of Christiana Care’s mission and programs. Last year, more than 3,800 donors gave or pledged more than $23 million. Over and over again, donors tell us they give to Christiana Care because of the care they or a loved 18
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one received from our physicians, surgeons, nurses, social workers and other allied health professionals. That’s why the new honor roll design features images of people providing the high-quality care that earns us our reputation for professionalism and excellence. All gifts, no matter what size, are greatly appreciated. If you are a donor who contributed $100 or more between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009, with your permission, your name will appear on the honor roll in January 2010.
Once the construction of Wilmington campus expansion is complete, a similar wall will be installed there as well. If you have questions about the Honor Roll of Donors, becoming a Christiana Care donor, or other matters concerning the Office of Development, please contact the director, Joel Kelly, at 302-327-3319.
Heather Haggerty, MOTR/L, shares personal story in Oprah
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n the September issue of Oprah magazine, Heather Haggerty, MOTR/L, discusses her experience raising Padraic, her tenyear-old son who was diagnosed with autism just before his third birthday. An occupational therapist at Christiana Care Rehabilitation Services Pediatric program, Haggerty uses her personal perspective in professional her role as an occupational therapist.
Allowing children with autism the childhood they deserve Children with autism account for 20 percent of the program’s more than 1,500 outpatient visits to children each month. “I wanted readers to understand that choosing to meet children where they are and love them with autism, instead of trying to ‘fix the problem,’ is not failure. It is allowing them the childhood they deserve,” says Haggerty. According to Haggerty, the key to successful therapy is developing a relationship with each child “where the child is now” and using trust to help the child move from one level to the next. “For a child with autism to reach even small milestones, such as sharing eye contact, is a success,” she says. Children with autism struggle with social reciprocity. They may be able to solve problems independently, for example, but cannot mimic other people’s actions. And because they
typically exhibit extreme language delay, their inability to express themselves may result in alternative behaviors such as aggression that affect their relationships with family and peers. Children with autism are extremely complex “Children with autism are extraordinarily complex and completely different one to the next,” says Pamela Green, BSED OTR/L, clinical supervisor, Rehabilitation Services, Pediatrics. “Heather is courageous to work with children with special needs when she has one at home. But having a child with autism makes her a better therapist because she understands the challenges families face in a way others cannot.” Christiana Care’s Rehabilitation Services treats birth- to school-age children struggling with grossand fine-motor milestones, language- or social-interaction delays, and cognitive, problem-solving and attention difficulties. For more information, call Pam Green at 302-733-1037. Sept. 24, 2009 FOCUS
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Doctors for Emergency Services commits financial support to Campaign for Wilmington Campus Representing Doctors for Emergency Services, PA (DFES), John Madden, M.D., and Leonard Nitowski, M.D., present a check for $100,000— the first installment of DFES’ leadership commitment to the Campaign for the Wilmington Campus—to Bob Laskowski, M.D., President and CEO, and Carol Ammon, Chairman of the Board. In recognition of their gift, the new lobby in the expanded Wilmington Emergency Department will be named in honor of DFES.