Patient-centered technology: LMH Health acquired on-campus PET scanner
Nothing can replace the caring touch of a healthcare worker, nor the expert clinical decision-making of a physician or advanced practice provider. But in today’s modern healthcare, technology is equally essential in providing diagnostic analysis and life-preserving care.
At LMH Health, advances in patient-centered technology have transformed the healthcare journey for many patients. Securing leading-edge, innovative equipment has led to more precise diagnoses, greater personalization for surgical implants — and, ultimately, improved treatments and healing.
The acquisition of a new, on-campus Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner will provide these same transformative healthcare services to the communities we serve. Thanks to $1.25 million in early gifts by donors and corporate partners, an additional $290,000 in support gained from the biennial Hearts of Gold gala in April, upcoming funds from the Penny Jones Golf Tournament, and onoing philathropic suport from
donors, the permanent PET scanner began imaging services for patients in July.
How does PET work?
A PET scan reveals how tissues and organs are metabolically functioning.
“Cancer cells are often metabolically hyperactive,” said Dr. Thomas Grillot, chair of the radiology department at LMH Health and radiologist with Radiologic Professional Services (RPS). “This means they metabolically function differently than healthy, non-cancerous or diseased cells and tissues.”
—continued inside
Bill and Marlene Penny with Louis Copt, right
STOCK IMAGE © GE HEALTHCARE
Dear partners,
2024 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Gail Vick president
Cindy Yulich vice president
Joan Golden secretary
Teresa Kempf treasurer
Mark Gonzales past president
Jane Blocher
Becki Dick
Marilyn Dobski
Lindy Eakin
Laura Hedges
Barb Heeb
Ernesto Hodison
Jason Hoover
Matt Hoy
Joe Hurla
Dr. Walter Ingram
Russ Johnson ex officio , lmh health president and ceo
Beth Llewellyn ex officio , lmh health board of trustees
Karin Rexroad
ex officio , lmh health volunteers
Sandy Praeger
Dr. Mike Thompson
You make so much possible for our community hospital. By investing in LMH Health, you make a difference in the lives of your family, friends and neighbors.
Over the course of last year, you provided nearly $3 million in philanthropic support for advancements in patient care, leading-edge technologies, and more — right here at home. In this issue, you can read about new ways your generous support makes a difference in our communities, including a new Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner.
You’ve also committed more than $7 million throughout the last two years to the expansion and renovation of the LMH Health Cancer Center. This comprehensive, Commission-on-Cancer-accredited program is home to multidisciplinary care that’s not only exceptional for a community hospital — it’s among the best anywhere. Renovations are patient and family focused and will support a healing environment that aims to improve the patient’s overall sense of well-being and hopefulness. More about our construction timetable appears in the following pages.
In this work, our donors carry on the spirit of Elizabeth Watkins, whose founding gift ensured that no person shall be excluded on account of race, physical, social or financial condition. You can read more about four tremendous people who embody Elizabeth’s giving spirit in our celebration of the Elizabeth Watkins Community Care Award.
This issue also includes information on deferred gifts. If you’d like to learn more about how you can help through estate planning or a planned gift, please contact Earl Reineman, major gifts and planned giving manger, at earl.reineman@lmh.org or 785-505-3317.
We often say that philanthropy is the difference between the maintenance of a strong institution and the evolution of an extraordinary one. Your support not only sends a powerful, affirming signal to our front line, it creates a remarkable partnership that allows us to provide an ever-increasing quality of care.
Again, you make so much possible for our community hospital. We are tremendously grateful for you.
In gratitude,
Rebecca Smith
Executive Director, LMH Health Foundation VP – Strategy & Communications, LMH Health
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© 2024 LMH Health Foundation
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A spring season to remember: Annual Meeting and Hearts of Gold recap
At the LMH Health Foundation’s 54th Annual Meeting in late February, the foundation team announced that nearly $3 million in philanthropic support from donors in 2023 supported patient care and new technologies right here at home. These funds are in addition to more than $7 million in donor-directed gifts designated specially toward the expansion and renovation of the LMH Health Cancer Center over the last two years.
Dr. Stephanie Schmidt, anesthesiologist and current LMH Health chief of staff, addressed attendees at the LMH Health Foundation Annual Meeeting.
“The generosity of our community members strengthens LMH Health and its mission to provide exceptional care for all,” said Rebecca Smith, LMH Health Foundation executive director and LMH Health vice president of strategy and communications. “Through donor support, we carry on the spirit of Elizabeth Watkins whose founding gift ensured that no person shall be excluded from quality healthcare on account of race, physical, social or financial condition.”
Recipients of the 17th annual Elizabeth Watkins Community Caring Award were also recognized during the Annual Meeting. The award celebrates people and organizations who have provided significant service to LMH Health and community healthcare.
In late April, the Foundation hosted its biennial Hearts of Gold gala, benefiting advances in patient-centered technology, such as an on-campus, permanent Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner.
This signature, black-tie celebration was held at the University of Kansas’ most contemporary venue — the Grand Forum at the Burge Union. Live and silent auctions provided guests with the chance to bid on one-of-a-kind art, unique travel destinations, sparkling jewelry and more. Longtime donor Dana Anderson also supported two Chance of a Lifetime opportunities to attend incredible athletic events courtside at Allen Fieldhouse or in a luxury suite at the new David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.
Early figures indicate that this philanthropic event raised approximately $290,000.
Clockwise from left: Derek Kwan — a marvel as master of ceremonies; Dr. Michele Bennett and Dr. Christina Salazar; Gary and Connie Sollars; Pat Brown, Cassandra Eanes-Brown and Jason Edmonds
PHOTOS COURTESY OF CARTER GASKINS AND JEFF BURKHEAD
Celebrating Watkins Award recipients
The Elizabeth Watkins Community Caring Award celebrates people and organizations who have provided significant service to LMH Health and community healthcare. This year’s honorees were recognized at the Foundation’s annual meeting in late February.
Becki Dick has volunteered for the LMH Health Foundation Board for a decade, including serving as president. She and her husband, Gary, are strong advocates of LMH Health and important health initiatives throughout Douglas County and in their home community of Baldwin City.
“I feel it’s important to have a representative on the board who lives outside the city limits of Lawrence to share information and challenges from a small-town perspective,” said Dick. “And we choose to philanthropically support our community hospital because everyone deserves to have access to the best healthcare available, regardless of who they are or their ability to pay.”
The Dick family has been incredibly supportive of the LMH Health Cancer Center expansion and renovation, the Help & Healing Fund, LMH Health West Campus and patient-centered technology initiatives that make big differences in patient care.
“We are invested in making our community a happy and healthy place to live, work and play,” said Dick.
According to Michael Miller, the motto of the volunteers in the LMH Health Cancer Center is, Pamper the patient; support the staff
“I try to help patients feel a little more comfortable, and I support the staff by doing tasks that enable them to spend more time with our patients,” said Miller.
Miller chose to volunteer at LMH Health because he felt he could do some good for other people. After 18 years and more than 6,000 hours in volunteer time, he has accomplished that and so much more. Named the 2022 LMH Health Volunteer of the Year, Miller trains new volunteers and mentors student volunteers at LMH Health, staying in touch with many students for years past their time at the hospital.
He and his wife, Pat, believe in the hospital’s mission to provide excellent healthcare for all people in our community, and they have supported this mission through philanthropic contributions for the Cancer Center renovations and through the hospital’s Help & Healing Fund, which provides medication, medical equipment, supplies, food or transportation for patients in need following a hospital stay.
Shari Raybern shares her personal cancer experience — and 23 years of survivorship — with other patients receiving care in the LMH Health Cancer Center.
Whether it’s assisting with warm blankets or providing a sip of orange juice, Raybern enjoys being able to make each patient’s cancer journey as easy as possible. “
The patients are so appreciative and super positive,” said Raybern. “I want to do all I can to help them.”
She and her late husband, Don, supported the renovations planned for the Cancer Center, which will soon be underway. Enhancements to the Cancer Center will reflect a sense of comfort and healing — similar to the tremendous volunteer spirit Raybern brings to her time with patients. She has volunteered in the Cancer Center for 11 years, and is also instrumental in training new volunteers, organizing the holiday poinsettia sale, and serving on both the special projects and scholarship committees as the member-at-large for the LMH Health Volunteers Board of Directors.
After retiring from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, John Spurgeon thought he would check in at the LMH Health Volunteers office and learn more about giving back.
Nearly 12 years later, he has logged more than 1,500 hours of volunteering in the LMH Health Cancer Center and has served on the finance committee for the LMH Health Volunteers.
“The Cancer Center prolonged my life,” said Spurgeon. “Now, Karla and I have a plan to make a gift [to LMH Health] every year. It’s a win-win situation.”
A three-time cancer survivor, Spurgeon and his wife, Karla, also have contributed toward the expansion planned for the Cancer Center.
For the time being, Spurgeon has stepped away from his volunteer responsibilities as he battles yet another cancer diagnosis. He continues to serve on the finance committee for the LMH Health Volunteers and looks forward to returning to his volunteer role in the Cancer Center, bringing a much-needed snack to patients during their visit.
PET technology coming to LMH Health
continued from front page
Patients who need to complete a PET scan are injected with a radioactive medication (also known as a tracer) prior to the procedure. An additional medication can also be given to the patient in advance to help aid in relaxation.
As the patient passes through the large opening of the scanner, the tracer collects in those areas of the body where cells are functioning abnormally, appearing more prominent on the scanned image and therefore pinpointing the location of the disease. Indications of diseases typically show up on a PET scan well before other imaging tests such as CT or MRI.
“PET is the gold standard for staging a wide range of cancer diagnoses for treatment — either surgically, through chemotherapy or otherwise,” said Dr. James Mandigo, also a radiologist at LMH Health and with RPS. Dr. Mandigo is fellowship-trained in nuclear radiology, which also happens to be the classification for PET services.
“It’s invaluable in evaluating how a tumor is or is not responding to treatment and in determining if the cancer has metastasized to other sites in the body.”
—Dr. Christina Salazar “
Being able to have that level of specificity to determine the amount and extent of damage to heart muscle ... is invaluable to my patients at risk for heart disease, post heart attack or in determining the progression of a patient’s heart condition.”
PET and your heart
A PET scan can also be used to evaluate the impact of heart damage after a cardiac event, such as a heart attack, or the progression of heart disease. As mentioned before, a PET scan evaluates how tissues metabolically function when a tracer is injected into the body. Since heart tissue is muscle, it is highly metabolic; therefore, if it is diseased or damaged, its images will look markedly different from healthy components on a PET scan.
Mobile vs permanent
LMH Health has utilized a mobile PET scan service for years. Housed inside a large semi-truck and trailer, patients walk outside in all kinds of weather to complete their scans in the mobile unit. Availability is limited to only one day a week on the Main Campus, and just 16 patients can be scanned on that day.
“We often fill [that schedule] to capacity very quickly,” said Dr. Grillot. “Many weeks, there are more oncology orders for patients than opportunities to scan them in a day. This leaves little space for non-cancer patients, creates delays or inadvertently compels a patient to travel outside of Lawrence for care.”
The mobile unit is susceptible to weather-related and driver delays, which can postpone imaging until the following week. The travel unit also has a higher operating cost in comparison to a permanentlyplaced machine, and results can take extra time to return to the ordering physician.
“Our radiologists are outstanding and read results so timely, sometimes the same day or next day,” said Dr. Sharon Soule, oncologist with the LMH Health Cancer Center.
Cost should never be a barrier to care. Financial assistance options are available for persons who are uninsured or underinsured. To learn more, contact LMH Health Patient Accounts at 785-505-5775.
“The level of accuracy and detail in heart images produced by a PET scan are just second to none,” said Dr. Christina Salazar, cardiologist with Cardiovascular Specialists of Lawrence. “Being able to have that level of specificity to determine the amount and extent of damage to heart muscle, areas of reduced blood flow, and whether we need to recommend surgery or other procedures/ treatments is invaluable to my patients at risk for heart disease, post heart attack or in determining the progression of a patient’s heart condition.”
“A permanent PET scanner will expedite evaluation and access to treatment. If we have to send someone to the KC Metro for a PET, results can take several days or up to a week or more.”
Next steps for PET
Construction on the permanent space for the PET scanner began on March 25. The all-digital scanner began imaging on patients in July.
At the start, PET scans will be available for certain oncology and cardiology patients, with a provider referral. In the future, LMH Health hopes to expand testing to prostate cancer and certain neurological conditions and diseases.
Dr. Christina Salazar addressed the crowd at the Hearts of Gold ball, outlining the benefits of PET for cardiology patients
LMH Health earns Blue Distinction® Center+ designation for knee and hip replacement surgeries
LMH Health was recently recognized by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas (BCBSKS) as a Blue Distinction® Center+ for Knee and Hip Replacement, part of the Blue Distinction® Specialty Care program.
Facilities designated as Blue Distinction® Centers+ demonstrate expertise in total knee and total hip replacement surgeries, resulting in fewer patient complications and hospital readmissions.
Quality is key: Only those facilities that first meet nationally established, objective quality measures will be considered for designation as a Blue Distinction® Center+.
People in the community and surrounding areas can feel confident that they will receive total joint care that rivals that provided anywhere in the country.”
—Dr. Adam Goodyear
Leave a legacy
“This designation is an extremely important milestone demonstrating the dedication of LMH Health and OrthoKansas to the highest quality and most cost-effective total joint care,” said Dr. Adam Goodyear, orthopedic surgeon at OrthoKansas and LMH Health vice chief of staff. “People in the community and surrounding areas can feel confident that they will receive total joint care that rivals that provided anywhere in the country.“
Blue Distinction® Centers+ for Knee and Hip Replacement include hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers (ASC). All designated
facilities must maintain national accreditation, and ASCs are also required to have an advanced orthopedic certification.
In addition to meeting these quality thresholds, hospitals designated as Blue Distinction® Centers+ are on average 20 percent more cost-efficient in an episode of care compared to other facilities.
“We are committed to giving our members access to the best in healthcare and appreciate our provider partners at LMH for joining us in that effort,” said Matt All, president/CEO pf Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas. “Each facility recognized as a Blue Distinction® Center+ is meeting rigorous quality metrics in all phases of their knee and hip replacement programs and, in doing so, delivering better care for our members and all Kansans.”
We often say that philanthropy is the difference between the maintenance of a strong institution and the evolution of an extraordinary one.
Estate planning or planned giving is the result of a person’s incredible foresight to develop a strategy to support that evolution for the people and organizations that they feel most passionate and philanthropic toward.
In the case of LMH Health, a planned or estate gift ensures that high-quality healthcare continues to be available to everyone for generations to come. This aligns your gift with the hospital’s founding planned gift provided by Elizabeth Watkins. Estate or planned gifts from other generous donors have helped to support:
• capital improvements, like the development of the LMH Health West Campus
• technology upgrades, such as the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner
• financial assistance for those patients who are underinsured or uninsured
• educational scholarships for healthcare workers and nurses
• many other important purposes for the ongoing care needs of the communities we serve.
A planned gift may enable you to make a more significant contribution than you previously thought possible, while allowing you to meet other financial, philanthropic and estate-planning goals. Planned gifts may offer you increased annual income, immediate and carry-over tax deductions, and/or relief from capital gains taxes. Also, if your gift is made through a bequest, it can defray the tax burden on your heirs.
We can provide you with practical ideas about the best methods for achieving your objective of supporting the hospital. We also strongly encourage you to consult with your attorney, tax advisor and/or financial planner to determine a plan that assures you that you’ve taken care of the people and organizations that you care most about — for now, and into the future.
For more information, please contact Earl Reineman, major gifts and planned giving manager, at earl.reineman@lmh.org or 785-505-3317.
LMH Health Cancer Center renovations are underway
Renovations are underway at the LMH Health Cancer Center. Design and construction teams began creating an environment that cultivates healing and focuses on a patient-first experience in July. The Cancer Center renovations are planned to be finished by mid-tolate 2025.
Enhancing the Cancer Center space to reflect the sense of comfort and healing provided by the care team was a collaborative process among doctors, staff and architects. Aesthetic changes and additions to the Cancer Center will include:
• a family lounge
• a healing garden
• more natural light
• an open atmosphere for seamless patient experience
• computer screens in each patient/consult room
• an expanded waiting room.
Creating a design centered around a healing environment aims to improve patients’ overall sense of well-being and hopefulness, and is known to accelerate recovery, reduce stress and anxiety, shorten hospitalizations, reduce medication use and lessen pain.
Renovations to the Cancer Center are expected to cost $11 to $12 million. The LMH Health Foundation is grateful to have received more than $7 million in philanthropic support from community members and foundations and continues to accept donations.
Designs for the soon-to-be renovated LMH Health Cancer Center are centered around creating an environment that aims to improve patients’ overall sense of well-being and hopefulness.
316 Maine Street
Lawrence, KS 66044
Thank you for your Hearts of Gold
We are grateful to everyone who joined us for the 2024 Hearts of Gold gala. All funds raised through this year’s gala support patient-centered technology at LMH Health — such as the new permanent Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner, delivering the highest-quality, most precise imaging service to our campus on a daily basis.
THANK YOU TO THESE 2024 SPONSORS
Platinum
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas
Gold
Edmonds|Duncan Registered Investment Advisors
P1 Construction, LLC
Spencer Fane
Silver
ACI Boland Architects
Emprise Bank
Lockton Companies
Meritrust Credit Union
The University of Kansas Health System
Truity Credit Union
Looking ahead to the Penny Jones Open!
Join us at the Penny Jones Open Golf Tournament on Friday, September 6, at Lawrence Country Club to support your community-owned, not-for-profit hospital. LMH Health serves the healthcare needs of our family, friends and neighbors — regardless of an individual’s ability to pay — and provides services and treatments that are not only exceptional for a community hospital, but among the best anywhere.
Dr. H. P. “Penny” Jones was a member of the Lawrence medical community for more than 60 years. Before retiring at age 80, Dr. Jones served as Chief of Staff at LMH Health, president of the Douglas County Medical Society and the State Board of Health. This tournament is named in honor of Dr. Jones who used his love of golf to promote healthy lifestyles.
To learn more, secure a corporate sponsorship or register your foursome for the event, visit lmh.org/pennyjones or scan this QR code.
