Partners N E WS F R O M L MH HE A LTH F O U NDATI ON
Summer 2022
Dr. Jodie Barr counsels her patient. LMH HEALTH CANCER CENTER PHOTOS BY JASON DAILEY
LMH Health Cancer Center expansion project strengthened by philanthropy Support for the LMH Health Cancer Center expansion has grown strong over the past year, with community members and donors giving over $3.8 million to the project so far. LMH Health Foundation publicly announced its commitment in 2021 to raise as much of the anticipated $9 to $11 million cost as possible. The much-needed project will update the LMH Health Cancer Center’s space and greatly expand its square footage at its current Maine Street location.
Rebecca Smith, LMH Health Foundation executive director and LMH Health VP of strategic communications, said that philanthropy is key to making this project come to life and meet its full potential, and that she’s been deeply moved by the level of community support for this critical initiative. In June, the Capitol Federal Foundation announced a $300,000 grant for the cancer center expansion project. “The generosity of the Capitol Federal Foundation and all our donors is truly remarkable,” Smith said. “Donor support is the real difference maker for this project, and it’s what will ensure our ability to provide the highest level of cancer care for years to come.” —continued inside
A partner for lifelong health Dear neighbors,
2022 B OA R D O F D I R E C T O R S Mark Gonzales president
Gail Vick vice president
Lindy Eakin
Russ Johnson
treasurer
Jane Blocher
LMH Health is nationally recognized for our quality and service. Trust us for award-winning stroke and cancer care, certified care for chest pain, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and total hip and knee replacement surgery, and care that has earned high distinctions for expecting mothers and babies, all delivered with the Leapfrog Group’s highest rating in care and hospital safety.
s e c r e ta r y
Becki Dick pa s t p r e s i d e n t
Daryl Craft Barb Heeb Ernesto Hodison
Our physicians are among the best in the country with impressive credentials that rival many larger hospitals’ medical staffs. Like our residents, they are attracted to the small town atmosphere and the big city amenities that our area offers.
Joe Hurla Dr. Walter Ingram Russ Johnson ex officio , lmh
health president and ceo
Teresa Kempf Derek Kwan
Your health and wellness are important to us, and we welcome the opportunity to help you become more familiar with our services. In good health,
Danny Lewis Larry McElwain ex officio , lmh health
board of trustees
Devon Mihesuah Robert Fieger ex officio , lmh
LMH Health has been serving area residents just like you for over 100 years. The dedication of our caregivers is evident every day, whether celebrating new life, improving the quality of life, saving a life, or providing comfort and dignity at the end of life. We are passionate about what we do and are committed to providing quality medical care and excellent service to individuals, their families and those who support them.
Russ Johnson President & CEO, LMH Health
health volunteers
Livia Sexton Dr. Mike Thompson Cindy Yulich
316 Maine Street Lawrence, KS 66044
PA R T N E R S 316 Maine Street • Lawrence KS 66044 (785) 505-5005 LMH Health Foundation team: Amy Addington, Courtney Bernard, Erica Hill, Nicole Olson, Earl Reineman, Rebecca Smith, Becky Swearingen © 2022 LMH Health Foundation
GIFT INFORMATION I would like to make a gift of: $1,000 $500 $250 Other $ in support of LMH Health.
PS22
GIVING OPTIONS (choose one) My check is enclosed, payable to LMH Health Foundation.
$100
Please use my gift where most needed. I have included LMH Health in my estate plans.
Please bill my credit card: Card # Exp. date / CVV code Print name Signature Automatic monthly gift? Yes I prefer to give securely online: scan this code or visit LMH.org/donate I have called (785) 505-5005 to make a gift.
Name: Address: City, State, Zip: Preferred email:
Phone number:
No
LMH Cancer Center expansion project —continued from front LMH Health’s Cancer Center is known for progressive, integrated hematology and oncology care. It is home to National Cancer Institute trained physicians, multidisciplinary care teams and strong regional partnerships. Cancer patients at LMH Health have access to a wide range of clinical trials, comprehensive support programs, lifelong survivorship resources, a cancer prevention program and much more.
“It is critical to the people we serve that we find a way to expand and update the cancer center, while remaining at our main location. Studies show that patients have better outcomes when treated close to home.” —Dr. Sherri Soule, oncologist at LMH Health The growth and success of LMH Health’s cancer care program has led to a steep increase in cancer-related services at the hospital, according to Sherri Soule, MD, oncologist at LMH Health. The cancer center is beginning to outgrow its space at the hospital’s Maine Street location. “Our cancer center has seen incredible growth, which has led to this opportunity for expansion,” Dr. Soule said. “It is critical to the people we serve that we find a way to expand and update the cancer center, while remaining at our main location. Studies show that patients have better outcomes when treated close to home.” The center’s oncologists and hematologists have extensive experience in treating a wide range of cancer types, including solid tumors, hematological cancers and benign blood disorders. The LMH Health Cancer Center currently offers approximately 50 clinical trials for cancer patients. The hospital is a member of the Masonic Cancer Alliance (the outreach network of The University of Kansas Cancer Center), which provides patients with access to additional clinical trials and the latest advancements in oncology treatment and care.
In 2020, the LMH Health Cancer Center earned official accreditation from the Commission on Cancer. This prestigious recognition is held by only 25 percent of U.S. hospitals. LMH Health joins just 11 other hospitals in Kansas with this outstanding credential. Generous community support has helped strengthen the LMH Health Cancer Center over the years. Recently, this support has made possible a new cancer survivorship program and bolstered funding to charitable care. “The community stands behind LMH Health,” said Jodie Barr, DO, oncologist at LMH Health. “We are who we are because the community supports this hospital, and we are able to take care of everyone.”
If you’d like to support the LMH Health Cancer Center expansion and renovation project, please make a gift online at LMH.org/donate or mail a check to LMH Health Foundation at 316 Maine St, Lawrence, KS 66044. For information about making a major gift or multi-year pledge in support of this initiative, contact Earl Reineman at 785-505-3317 or earl.reineman@LMH.org.
Empowering Women’s Healthcare With a revolutionary focus on accessible, compassionate, collaborative care, LMH Health Women’s Center helps Lawrence-area women prioritize their health. Michele Bennett, MD, FACOG, an OB-GYN at LMH Health, sees it in her patients — and in herself. “As women, we can be really good at taking care of other people, but sometimes we can have a hard time taking care of ourselves,” she said. Addressing this issue is the new LMH Health Women’s Center — a state-of-the-art, multidisciplinary facility focused solely on women’s wide-ranging healthcare needs. The center, which opened its doors in September of 2020, is located on the second level of the LMH Health West Campus and offers a wide range of services including breast health and mammography, ultrasounds, MRIs, gynecology, pelvic health, plastic surgery and general women’s health. But it’s the center’s extraordinary flexibility, accessibility and collaborative spirit that sets it apart.
“As women, we can be really good at taking care of other people, but sometimes we can have a hard time taking care of ourselves.” —Dr. Michele Bennett, OB-GYN at LMH Health
“This health center was designed to make it easy for women to seek healthcare.” —Dr. Jennifer Hawasli, breast surgeon at LMH Health
Convenience is key “From its inception, this health center was designed to make it easy for women to seek healthcare,” said Jennifer Hawasli, MD, a fellowship-trained LMH Health breast surgeon. “At our facility, everything related to breast health is in the same area. If a woman has a concerning mammogram or ultrasound, most likely I can squeeze her into my schedule for a consultation the same day.” This approach, Dr. Hawasli added, eliminates the fear women may feel while waiting for an appointment to address their concerns. Likewise, the health center’s patients benefit from its providers’ collaborative approach. “Today, breast cancer can be treatable, but it requires multidisciplinary care by multiple physicians. Having all the members of the breast cancer team under one roof and communicating with each other helps decrease stressors in our patients,” she said.
“We are located on a bus line,” said Dr. Bennett, a further illustration of the center’s push to streamline women’s healthcare. “Even if our patients have transportation hurdles, they can easily get to our center from almost anywhere in the greater Lawrence area and check off many of their annual screenings in just an hour or two. We even offer walk-in mammograms.” As a Commission on Cancer-accredited institution, LMH Health Women’s Center provides the capabilities of a larger hospital or academic center close to home — an asset for women walking through a new breast cancer diagnosis. Additionally, the LMH Health Women’s Center works hand in hand with LMH Health Imaging and the LMH Health Cancer Center to offer patients a state-of-the-art breast cancer risk assessment. The results can be lifesaving. “We focus on the full continuum of cancer care,” Dr. Hawasli said. “We are proud and privileged to offer the best and latest treatments available anywhere, right here in our community.” “Everyone at this center has an innate dedication to making it easy for women to access extraordinary healthcare,” added Dr. Bennett. “At the end of the day, we are people taking care of people.”
LMH Health Foundation offers vouchers to cover the costs of mammograms and breast biopsies. To learn how you can receive a voucher, please call LMH Health Patient Accounts at 785-505-5775. For more information or to schedule a mammogram call 785-505-3300.
WHY I GIVE
“You learn to make sacrifices in life because someone made sacrifices for you. It’s amazing to see people step up to the plate to support LMH Health and make it even more special.” —The Rev. Verdell Taylor Jr.
LMH Health recognized by Ingram’s Magazine as a “Best Company to Work For” in 2022 LMH Health has been recognized by Ingram’s Magazine as a “Best Company to Work For” in 2022. The Kansas City metro business magazine’s annual edition highlights companies that have developed a great work environment based on a variety of criteria including compensation, benefits, culture, development opportunities and more. “Right out of high school, I joined LMH Health as a secretary. Immediately, I fell in love with the family atmosphere and the commitment to improving the health of the community,” said Alyssa Austin, RN, BSN, clinical manager at LMH Health’s Lawrence OB-GYN Specialists. “Today as part of the leadership team, I am proud to give back to the city that I love. LMH Health puts patients first and empowers everyone to make the area a healthier place to live.” Leapfrog award In addition to being named as one of the best companies to work for in the region, LMH Health was recently awarded its fourth “A” grade in a row from the Leapfrog Group, a nonprofit group that serves as the nation’s premier advocate of transparency in healthcare specific to patient safety. LMH Health previously earned “A” grades from Leapfrog for fall 2021, spring 2021, and fall 2020.
Remote patient monitoring program provides effective, preventive care — at home LMH Health recently launched remote patient monitoring, an innovative new program to better serve patients with chronic and uncontrolled conditions at home.
Caitlin Bowlin, RN, is the LMH Health nurse who actively monitors patients enrolled in RPM.
Remote patient monitoring (RPM) is simple: Patients use a digital medical device at home to regularly capture their health data, such as weight, heart rate, blood pressure or blood sugar. The device connects to an application on their smartphone, which sends this data in real time to the patient’s provider to review — and intervene, if necessary. The RPM program is another step toward the preventive healthcare model that LMH Health has been adapting over the past decade, said Janette Kirkpatrick, MBA, MSN, RN, vice president of clinical excellence at LMH Health. “RPM makes healthcare more accessible to patients,” said Kirkpatrick. “With regular monitoring of a patient’s condition, providers are able to immediately recognize a problem and work with the patient to correct it. This will keep individuals out of more serious, emergency-department situations — and, ultimately, lower an individual’s healthcare cost.” RPM is part of LMH Health’s population health management program, which focuses on improving health outcomes of specific groups through patient engagement and care coordination. LMH Health’s RPM program currently focuses on patients with, or at risk for, chronic or uncontrolled conditions like diabetes, hypertension and heart failure. LMH Health plans to grow the program to monitor other diseases as more patients enroll RPM patients may use in the program.
devices like this blood pressure monitor or blood glucose monitoring system and test strips.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 6 out of 10 adults in the U.S. have a chronic condition, while 4 out of 10 adults have two or more chronic conditions. To assist uninsured patients and those who are unable to pay the out-of-pocket cost for RPM, the LMH Health Foundation is providing donor funds to cover the cost. “Through the pandemic, we realized the value of remote services,” said Kirkpatrick. “RPM is one vital way that LMH Health is ensuring access to quality healthcare for all community members.” The health data collected by the devices is transmitted directly to the patient’s record. Significant changes in health — like blood pressure measuring too high — trigger a notification to the provider who can review the result in real time and call the patient to check in. Caitlin Bowlin, RN, is the LMH Health nurse who actively monitors the patients enrolled in RPM. She reaches out to patients when their health changes and communicates with their primary care physicians or other specialists as needed.
Bowlin, who previously worked 10 years in emergency nursing, said that moving to a role that focuses on preventive care was a positive change for her. “I’m used to caring for people who come to the hospital because they’re sick,” said Bowlin. “Working on the RPM program is amazing — we are catching things early, and we are able to intervene when we see an individual’s health trends going the wrong way. We are hopeful this will decrease unnecessary visits and decrease hospitalizations altogether.” Although LMH Health’s RPM program has only existed for a few months, Bowlin has already seen the benefits of the program. “Patients feel cared about, knowing that someone is keeping an eye on their health,” Bowlin said. “People really like this one-on-one care and having an additional provider they can reach out to when needed.” Gregory Schnose, MD, FACP, a physician at the Internal Medicine Group and director of population health at LMH Health, said that RPM can make healthcare for chronic conditions more efficient and effective. For example, patients with diabetes who regularly monitor their blood glucose level will write down their numbers in a log and review it with their physician at an appointment. However, appointments are usually at a three-month interval, which can be a long space of time. “With RPM, the data is automatically sent to our care team and continuously reviewed,” said Dr. Schnose. “Questions are answered more quickly and adjustments to medication, diet or lifestyle can already be addressed ahead of the patient’s next visit. This way, the patient can get ahead of the game in terms of controlling their disease.” To participate in the RPM program at LMH Health, a patient must have a primary care provider at one of LMH Health’s clinics. If you are interested in using RPM to help manage your health, please contact your provider. “I hope that our national healthcare system will shift more toward preventive care, like we are doing at LMH Health,” Bowlin said. “RPM is one of the building blocks in this shift to preventive medicine.”
WHY I GIVE
“At some point, everyone will need medical attention. Lawrence is fortunate to have the best. That is one of the many reasons I support LMH Health.” —Shirley Anderson
“People really like this one-on-one care and having an additional provider they can reach out to when needed.” —Caitlin Bowlin, RN, LMH Health nurse
Do you want to take charge of your own health and think remote patient monitoring is right for you? The LMH Health population health team is enrolling new patients now. Call your LMH Health provider today.
Your gifts at work Medication for refugees The foundation provided funding for medications need by refugees from Afghanistan who arrived in Lawrence in late 2021. This funding came from our Charitable Care fund. Medication for sexual assault survivors The foundation partners with LMH Health’s Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) to provide antibiotics and HIV prophylaxis medications free of cost to sexual assault survivors in need. This is made possible by the Help & Healing Fund.
Family viewing room The foundation provided funding for the construction of a new, larger morgue with a private family viewing space. EchoTable for cardiac ultrasound A new EchoTable was needed in our outpatient echo clinic. This table provides increased patient positioning comfort, safer technologist ergonomics and a more efficient exam time.
316 Maine Street Lawrence, KS 66044
Mark your calendars! Our two special events this year will benefit the LMH Health Cancer Center expansion. Corporate sponsorships are available and going fast — visit LMH.org/Foundation or email Foundation@LMH.org for more information.
Penny Jones Open Golf Tournament
Hearts of Gold Gala
Enjoy 18 holes in a 4-person scramble format, morning and afternoon flights.
Celebrate exceptional cancer care in our community at this spirited, black-tie event with dinner and a live auction.
September 9, 2022 Lawrence Country Club
October 22, 2022 The Forum at KU’s Burge Union