vol: 5 issue: 3
Free Screening, Priceless Outcome
Farmer Ron Gladbach says he never would have known he had skin cancer if not for a free WELLAWARE screening.
page 16: Howard county’s unique idea to improve the health of its citizens
Table Of Contents Page 12
Page 16
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Boone Hospital Center’s mission is to improve the health of the people and communities we serve.
Jim Sinek President
Ben Cornelius Communications and Marketing Manager
Jessica Park Marketing Coordinator
Madison Burke Mulitmedia Marketing Specialist Photos By
L.G. Patterson Molly Henke Contributing Writer
Jacob Luecke
5...................................................... A Note From Boone Hospital President Jim Sinek 6.....................................................................................................
myBoone Health Stories
8................................................................................................................ Hospital Headlines 10............................................................................................................... Big Things In 2016 12...........................................................................................................................
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter Instagram and Pinterest. Please submit comments or feedback to bcc1170@bjc.org or call 573.815.3392
1600 East Broadway Columbia, MO 65201 573.815.8000 For a free subscription, call 573.815.3392 or visit myBooneHealth.com and click on the subscription link on the right side of the page.
New Arrivals
14................................................................................ Free Screening, Priceless Outcome 16............................................................................... Howard County Dances For Health 18.......................................................................................................................
Fun In The Sun
20......................................................................................................................... 23....................................................................................................
Take A Break!
A Leader In Health Care
24.........................................................................................................................
Caring Voices
26...........................................................................................................................
Honor Flight
28........................................................................................ Getting To Know A BHC Doctor 29.......................................................................................... Getting To Know A BHC Nurse 30..................................................................................................................... 31...............................................................
Supportive Care
News From The Boone Hospital Foundation BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Summer 2015
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Sign our petition at boone.org/need
A Note From Jim
The “Need” For A New Hospital – Or An “Illusion?”
A Jim Sinek President Boone Hospital Center
“This is a critical issue relative to ensuring the continued financial viability of your local community hospitals to meet the health care needs of your community, county and region.”
n application has been filed with the State of Missouri seeking approval to build a new hospital in Columbia. If approved, the new hospital would become the sixth hospital in Columbia. The applicant is Fulton Medical Center, Fulton, Mo., which is located approximately 24 miles from Columbia. The application, which is now before the State of Missouri’s Certificate of Need (CON) Committee, proposes 10 medical/surgical beds, two operating rooms, and an emergency department. The proposed hospital would be located within the city limits of Columbia, north of Lenoir Woods Senior Living center along Highway 63. There are currently five hospitals operating approximately 1,100 beds within five miles of this $40 million proposed hospital. These hospitals include Boone Hospital Center, University Hospital, Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital, and Landmark Hospital. New hospital proposals must receive approval from the state because the state government and Missouri taxpayers have a direct interest in containing health care costs. Adding more beds to an area that already has an excess capacity of beds is illogical and reflects the very duplication of expensive health care services the CON law was created to prohibit. Adding hospital beds to a community that already has a more than adequate supply will cause health care costs to rise, consequently resulting in additional costs to taxpayers. In its application, Fulton Medical Center asserts there is a lack of access to convenient and accessible inpatient care in Fulton, Mo., Callaway County and a few Columbia zip codes. Stating there are only 18 existing medical/surgical beds in Fulton to serve more than 68,000 people establishes the illusion of need. To provide more “convenient and accessible hospital beds” for the citizens in the application’s defined geographic area, the applicant proposes to build the new hospital 24 miles from Fulton, in Columbia, and within five miles of the aforementioned five hospitals that currently have existing capacity to serve more patients. You see, the applicant had to devise a way to meet the one major quantifiable CON criteria to justify “need” for additional beds. By designing a gerrymandered geographic region which bumps right up against and skirts around five existing hospitals in Columbia, the applicant created a population base big enough and an existing number of beds within that region small enough to make the mathematics works. They assert that 120 beds are needed in the gerrymandered region and that there are only 18 beds in existence — a creative but
concerning methodology to meet the CON criteria. The illusion continues with the proposed placement of the new hospital. Not in Fulton, where reasonable minds would assume it would be located, but in Columbia. At Boone Hospital, we don’t believe creating illusions is the way to establish need or a quality health care facility in a community to conveniently serve the needs of patients. Like the majority of hospitals in Columbia, Boone Hospital Center is a nonprofit, communitybenefit organization that invests heavily in the community, Boone County and mid-Missouri. We provide comprehensive services, many of which are not profitable, to all patients to meet their needs and improve their health. Our ability to continue providing these services is dependent upon being able to achieve a financial return that allows us to cover our costs with a reasonable surplus that is reinvested in our medical services, facilities and staff. The Fulton Medical Center is owned primarily by Nueterra, a for-profit company headquartered in Leawood, Kansas. Nueterra’s responsibility is to its shareholders to produce profits, which are paid as dividends, not to reinvest dollars in Boone County and mid-Missouri. As a for-profit company, Fulton Medical Center does not have to adhere to the same standards of providing care for all patients, investing in vitally necessary medical services that are not as profitable as others, or establishing outreach services to the community. Our nonprofit hospitals provide all of these services. Here’s what all of us can do: • Encourage the CON Committee members to deny the Fulton Medical Center application for building a new hospital in Columbia; • Make sure CON Committee members are aware of the gerrymandering methodology Fulton Medical Center has used to give the illusion that more hospital beds are needed; and, finally • Make our voices heard by the CON Committee members by signing the petition opposing this application. Petitions in opposition of the CON application can be found at www. boone.org/need. This is a critical issue relative to ensuring the continued financial viability of your local community hospitals to meet the health care needs of your community, county and region. Let’s not play illusory games with defining “need” at the expense of patients, taxpayers, and the citizens of Boone County and mid-Missouri.
BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Summer 2015
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myBoone Health Stories Visit myBooneHealth.com To Read More — And Share Your Own Story
Departing CNO Mary Beck Served Boone for 22 Years
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n May 2015, Dr. Mary Beck, DNP RN, NE-BC, Boone Hospital Center’s vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer, announced her plans for the next chapter in her distinguished career, when she will begin teaching in the Doctor of Nursing Practice leadership program at the University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing this fall. Mary has served Boone Hospital Center and the citizens of mid-Missouri for more than 22 years. She joined Boone Hospital Center in July 1990 as a patient care director and became vice president of patient care services in September 1999. During that time, Mary has been a respected and influential administrator who is known by Boone Hospital’s physicians, employees, trustees, patients and community for her progressive leadership and advocacy for quality patient care, patient safety, evidence-based practice and improved clinical outcomes. Mary promoted professional development and lifelong learning among patient care staff and led by example when she earned her doctorate degree in Nursing Practice in 2009 from Rush University College of Nursing. With Mary’s leadership, Boone Hospital Center became one of only 1 percent of hospitals worldwide to achieve Magnet designation for excellence in nursing three times. These designations were received in 2005, 2009 and 2014. She also was involved in the design of the hospital’s south patient tower, which opened in June 2011, working with the team of health care professionals and architects to create a patient- and familycentered design for the provision of care.
“The patient was the center of the team’s decisionmaking,” Mary says. “Without hesitation, I reminded the design team of ‘nothing about me without me,’ meaning how does this impact the patient’s involvement in their own care?” She also was involved in selecting color schemes, fabrics, and artwork in the lobby and on patient care units — creating a healing environment that will be reflected in the new Boone Hospital south campus. Mary is well known in the community for her contributions to the nursing profession. In 2012, the pre-nursing students of the University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing honored Mary by naming the third floor of their Galena Hall dormitory the “Mary Beck House.” She received her Master of Science in Nursing at the school in 1984. She also has received the University of Missouri Alumni Association Citation of Merit award for her professional commitment to the field of nursing. Mary says about her time at Boone Hospital, “It has been my privilege to work with the outstanding health care professionals of Boone Hospital Center for more than 22 years. The commitment to providing excellent, compassionate patient care and advocating for patients and their families is amazing. Indeed, this commitment is exhibited by every employee, as we all take care of patients, whatever our role is in the organization. This hospital is a benchmark for hospitals across the country as it lives the mission of improving the health of the people and communities we serve each and every day of the year throughout mid-Missouri. My life is indeed richer for the opportunity to serve as a director and chief nurse, and I am forever humbled and grateful.” Congratulations, Mary Beck, and thank you for all you have done to make Boone Hospital Center a great place to work and to receive health care.
Superior Care William A. Ryan II
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have recently returned home from an eight-day stay at Boone Hospital Center. I came in to the ED with chest pains and other various symptoms on Thursday, April 2. Catheterization the next day, CAB x 4 on Monday, April 6. I returned home following surgery on Friday, April 10. I truly hope you will check your
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records for ED staff members, every nurse, tech, housekeeping, food service person, X-ray/P.T/O.T/blood reps, because I received excellent and compassionate service from every one of them. I am feeling so much better physically, and I know that it is clearly due to the superior care that I received from your staff !
In my work as a local church minister, I am in Boone and other hospitals a lot. I thought I knew how special Boone Hospital was before. However, I must acknowledge that my experience as a patient there has only deepened my gratitude and thanks that we have for this hospital that serves the community with such excellence!
Share your story myBooneHealth.com
Barry Chambers, MBA, CPA, Named Chief Financial Officer of Boone Hospital Center
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arry Chambers has joined Boone Hospital Center as the chief financial officer. Barry comes to Boone with a vast amount of finance experience in the health care industry. Originally from Rolla, Mo., Barry attended Drury University in Springfield where he obtained his bachelor’s degree in accounting. Barry also holds a master’s of business administration degree and a certification in public accounting. Throughout his 25-plus-year career, he has served as the chief financial officer of stand-alone hospitals and integrated health systems in both rural and urban settings. “I am very excited to return home to Missouri and work for an organization as innovative and well respected as Boone Hospital Center,” Barry says. “I look forward to becoming part of an already strong team.” Most recently, Barry has served as the vice president of finance for Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge, La., an 800-bed hospital that is part of the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System.
Robin Blount, MD Named Chief Medical Officer of Boone Hospital Center
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obin Blount, MD is set to join Boone Hospital Center as the chief medical officer Aug. 1. Dr. Blount is a Columbia native. She graduated from Hickman High School, and then attended the University of Missouri where she received both a degree in chemistry and her medical degree. Dr. Blount has been practicing internal medicine at the Boone Clinic since 1987. “I have been a part of the Boone Hospital Center medical staff for a long time, and I have the utmost respect for the entire team,” Dr. Blount says. “It is an honor to serve as CMO for a group that produces some of the top clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction results in the nation. I look forward to doing what I can to make us even stronger.” Dr. Blount has served as the vice chief and then chief of medicine, as well as secretary and treasurer of the medical staff at Boone Hospital Center. She has begun the transition process and is expected to become full-time in the CMO role Aug. 1. “A CMO of a hospital must have the respect and trust of the medical staff in order to be successful,” explains Jim Sinek, president of Boone Hospital Center. “Dr. Blount certainly has that. Having been a part of the medical staff family, she has an understanding of our physicians’ point of view. She will be a valuable addition to the administrative team at Boone.” Dr. Blount replaces Jerry Kennett, MD, who resigned in January of this year after serving as CMO for five years. Dr. Kennett returned to practicing full-time as a cardiologist with Missouri Heart Center, Boone’s affiliated heart care provider. He has since been elected to the Boone Hospital Center board of trustees. BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Summer 2015
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Hospital Headlines News From Boone Hospital Center
Cardiology/Cardiovascular Surgery Service Line Continues To Lead
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oone Hospital Center’s cardiac services has recently added two new tools for patient care. To help reduce readmissions of Class III heart failure patients, Boone began using a CardioMEMS device in May. The device features a sensor that is implanted in the pulmonary artery during a nonsurgical procedure to directly measure pulmonary artery pressure. An increase in pressure is a symptom of heart failure that appears before the more traditional signs such as shortness of breath, weight gain and abdominal swelling. The sensor in the patient’s artery transmits daily readings to Boone’s cardiac professionals at the Missouri Heart Center for monitoring. Boone’s cardiac team also began use of the world’s smallest portable heart-lung support system called CARDIOHELP. It is designed to treat and transport patients needing extended respiratory and/or circulatory support. Thirty-one hospital employees have been trained on the CARDIOHELP device, thanks to support provided by the Boone Hospital Foundation. Boone Hospital Center is the only hospital in midMissouri utilizing these two life-saving devices. Inset: CARDIOHELP portable lung machine
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Boone Hospital and Missouri Heart Center cardiothoracic surgeons were recently honored by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons with a 3-star rating in both coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) and aortic valve replacement surgery (AVR), the highest possible rating. Out of 1,021 hospitals in the nation that perform both procedures, only 21, or 2.68 percent, achieved a 3-star rating for both.
Accreditation for Weight Loss Surgery Boone Hospital Center’s Weight Loss Surgery program has been accredited by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program as a result of a “commitment to providing and supporting quality improvement and patient safety efforts” and having “demonstrated that your center meets the needs of your patients by providing multidisciplinary, high-quality, patient-centered care.” As a result, Boone Hospital Weight Loss Surgery is now able to work with additional insurance companies such as the State of Missouri/UMR. 8
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The latest news boone.org
Boone Medical Group Open New Clinic In Mexico
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n Monday, June 1, Boone Medical Group and Boone Hospital Center officially opened a 3,600 square-foot facility located at 625 E. Summit Road in Mexico, Mo. The space is home to a primary care clinic, with space available for the future addition of specialty clinics. Boone Medical Group – Mexico is staffed by Elizabeth Crews, FNP-BC. Crews attained her BSN from Maryville University in St. Louis and her MSN, FNP from the University of MissouriColumbia. Upon graduating, Crews practiced at various health care facilities, including Des Peres Hospital in St. Louis and University of Missouri Hospital in Columbia. For the past month, Crews has been at Boone Medical Group – Centralia to prepare for the Mexico opening. “My philosophy is to provide comprehensive, individualized care that focuses on the effects of the condition and illness on both the patient and their families,” Crews says. “I believe in educating patients about their health and encouraging them to make healthy choices, while acknowledging and respecting their needs and capabilities.” Boone Medical Group is a collaboration of Boone Hospital Center in Columbia, Mo. and BJC Medical Group, the physician organization of BJC HealthCare. “Having high-quality care close to home is important,” says Jim Sinek, president of Boone Hospital Center. “Elizabeth Crews will provide excellent care for the people in the Mexico area. Additionally, we anticipate Boone specialists to be providing specialty clinics within the facility, and if a situation requires hospitalization, beyond what can be provided locally, we are here to help.” Appointments are available by calling 573.581.2455. Boone Medical Group currently has clinics in Columbia, Ashland, Boonville and Centralia, with plans to open facilities in Moberly and Glasgow this year. Elizabeth Crews, FNP-BC
BHC Partners With Regional Hospitals
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oone Hospital Center has formalized affiliations with three mid-Missouri community hospitals — John Fitzgibbon Memorial Hospital in Marshall, Missouri; Samaritan Hospital in Macon, Missouri, and Pershing Memorial Hospital in Brookfield, Missouri. The affiliation agreements provide opportunities for sharing and implementing best practices in many areas, including patient care, clinical education, operations planning, human resources and information technology. The affiliations also improve the patient experience by making it easier for the community hospitals to transfer patients to Boone or to continue to care for patients in their facility. “The goal behind these affiliations is to strengthen all of the hospitals involved,” says Jim Sinek, Boone Hospital Center president. “Having quality health care close to home is very important. Working closely with these hospitals and helping them continue to succeed will have a positive impact on the health of mid-Missourians and ultimately Boone Hospital Center.” Boone Hospital Center’s affiliations with these community hospitals are designed to support and enhance access to convenient health care services for people living in the hospitals’ respective service area. “Our relationship with Boone Hospital Center has resulted in the provision of medical staff education, stateof-the-art equipment, physician specialty collaboration, staff training and direct community benefits for Pershing Memorial Hospital’s service area,” says Pershing CEO Phil Hamilton. “We are proud to have this link with a facility that has a reputation for quality, patient-centered care.” BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Summer 2015
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Big Things In 2016 South Campus Slated To Open With The New Year
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s the new Boone Hospital south campus continues to take shape, there is increasing excitement about this effort to better serve our growing community. Among the most excited are the physicians who will practice there. “I think everybody is just really excited to be in this new medical plaza,” says Shauna Harrison, regional practice administrator for the Boone Medical Group practices. “They’ve been involved in almost every step of the process by looking at the floor plan, picking out finishes and providing feedback on the services that they’d like to see offered at our south campus.” The south campus will occupy the southeast corner of Forum and West Nifong Boulevards in Columbia. Project Manager Katlyn Hays says construction is in progress and the hospital is planning for a January 2016 opening. “There have been some weather delays, but we feel confident we will be completing 10
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The South Campus will occupy 125,000 square feet and is a $22 million investment in the health of the community. on time,” says Hays, who is with Boone Hospital’s Planning, Design and Construction Department. “We will begin the wall layouts in June and are hoping to have the building enclosed late summer.” The Boone Medical Group primary care clinic will have a space on the first floor of the new campus. It will provide a better environment for the group’s seven providers, who currently practice in an office building off Southampton Drive. “I think just getting to be in a medical complex surrounded by other care providers is exciting,” Harrison says. In addition to providing a great new home for the Boone Medical Group primary care clinic, the south campus will have a convenient care clinic, pharmacy,
physical therapy services, and a lab. Imaging services also will be available onsite, including radiology, CT, MRI, ultrasound and mammography. Bringing all of these services together in south Columbia will make for an enhanced patient experience. It will save people from having to drive to the main hospital campus when they need imaging or blood work following a visit with their primary care provider. Many more patients will be able to access these services in one same-day visit. “It’ll provide one-stop care for our patients,” Harrison says. “They’ll be able to see their primary care physician, get their labs drawn and get their radiology testing without leaving the building.”
Left: In addition to providing a great new home for the Boone Medical Group primary care clinic, the South Campus will have a convenient care clinic, pharmacy, physical therapy services, and a lab. Imaging services also will be available onsite, including radiology, CT, MRI, ultrasound and mammography. Rendering by Yaeger Architecture
Right: The previous memorial to Officer Molly Bowden will be replaced with a memorial park named in her honor.
The south campus will occupy 125,000 square feet and is a $22 million investment in the health of the community. Patients and visitors to the south campus can expect to see a facility that feels similar to Boone Hospital’s awardwinning 2011 South Tower expansion and subsequent projects to remodel existing areas of the hospital. “The look of the campus will be very similar to the main campus,” Hays says. “The shape of the building and awning will mimic that of the new Patient Tower. For the interiors, we are continuing the neutral color palette for finishes and will again be featuring local art.” Hays says the colors and artwork for the south campus are being chosen carefully to create a comforting, healing environment for patients, visitors, staff and clinicians. “As with all Boone Hospital locations, we want patients to feel at ease when they walk into the facility,” she says. “We hope to accomplish this through calming colors,
warm wood tones, simple wayfinding and nature-inspired art.” The south campus also includes a unique outdoor experience, including a fully-lit walking trail. Community members who visit the south campus will be able to visit an enhanced memorial, including a memorial pond, honoring Columbia Police Officer Molly Bowden,
who was killed while conducting a traffic stop in the area in 2005. Hays says everyone will be welcome to use the new walking trail and visit the memorial. “This will allow patients and community members to enjoy nature, not only while they are on the campus for care, but any time,” she says. By Jacob Luecke BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Summer 2015
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Watch the family’s video at myBooneHealth.com
New Arrivals
Couple New to Columbia Welcomes a Boone Baby
B Beth and Taylor Perry say they are so glad they moved to a town with a hospital like Boone to deliver their baby girl at.
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eth and Taylor Perry had just moved to Columbia from Georgia to open the Zaxby’s on Stadium Drive when they found out Beth was pregnant. “It was a shock, honestly,” Taylor says. Immediately they began doing their research and asked locals where they should have their baby. “Everyone I talked to told me to go to Boone. Boone really has a great reputation in town,” Beth says. So the decision was made, and the couple felt prepared when it was time to go to the hospital and have baby Olivia. Taylor had already figured out the best route to the hospital from their home and had even practiced it a few times. Beth had their overnight bags packed and ready to go. “Our moms were already in town, too, which was really nice,” Beth says. When the couple arrived at the hospital, they were greeted by friendly nurses who explained step-by-step what would happen. Beth says that at one point during labor, she was having a lot of hip pain. She told her nurse, who suggested some simple moves Beth could do on an exercise ball to ease the discomfort. “I couldn’t believe how attentive everyone was. They knew just what to do to make Beth feel better,” Beth’s mother, Staci, says. When it came time to push, all family except Taylor left the room and headed to the lobby to get Starbucks coffees from the café and wait for Olivia to arrive. The delivery went smoothly, and soon Beth and Taylor were able to hold their baby girl.
“It was so amazing seeing her for the first time,” Taylor says. “I remember just staring at her and just loving her so much,” Beth says. The young family received lots of visitors while they were in the hospital. “Thank goodness the hospital rooms are so big! We had so much family that came to visit,” Beth says. Women’s and Children’s Health Service Line Director Laura Noren says the department works hard to be familyfriendly; “Our staff loves to take pictures for families, and we do all we can to make sure everyone is comfortable.” Beth says she was thankful for how caring the nurses were during her hospital stay. “If I had any questions or needed anything, they were there in less than a minute, but if I just wanted my space to be with my family and baby, they gave me my space. They are good at their job,” Beth says. Noren says her staff are always available if new moms need to take a quick nap: “We know mothers need to rest. That’s why we have core nursery staff that can tend to the baby in order to allow the mother to rest when needed.” Beth and Taylor say they love telling people Olivia is a “Boone baby” when they take her out. “It’s just so fun. Everybody knows what that means, and it’s fun to meet other moms who have Boone babies. We instantly have something in common,” Beth says. Beth, Taylor, and Olivia just moved to a new home south of Columbia, and Olivia will be 5 months old on July 8. By Madison Burke
BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Summer 2015
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Find a free screening event at boone.org/kyn
Free Screening, Priceless Outcome
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on Gladbach was careful. As a longtime farmer and someone with a family history of skin cancer, he knew he was at high risk. He often checked his skin for signs of cancer, focusing on areas frequently exposed to the sun, like his face and ears. “My dad had skin cancer on his ears, so I was always sure to check there,” Ron says. But when he received a free skin cancer screening from Boone Hospital’s Know Your Numbers mobile health unit, Ron was surprised when his nurse, Pam Jones, flagged a small pink mark on his chest. “I thought, ‘Oh, that might not be good,’” Ron says. Pam recommended Ron see a dermatologist, and he scheduled an appointment immediately. “The doctor asked if I spent a lot of time outside without a shirt in my teens. I said yes, and he told me now I’m paying the price,” Ron says. After a biopsy, Ron was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer. Ron had surgery to remove the cancer the following month and is now in good health. He says he never would have known he had cancer if not for that screening. “There’s no other free screenings around here that offer such a thorough exam,” Ron says. Ron is from Mendon, a small town about 90 miles northwest of Columbia. He received his skin cancer screening in the nearby town of Keytesville this past August. “I was just tickled that we had a screening close enough that we could catch it — and thank goodness we did,” Ron says. The Know Your Numbers mobile health unit travels to midMissouri communities to provide skin cancer screenings and education about being safe in the sun. Thanks to funding by Boone Hospital Foundation, these screenings are offered to community
members for free. During a total body skin examination for skin cancer, nurses look for marks, spots, freckles, moles and any skin discolorations that do not appear to be normal. “Skin cancer is most commonly found on sun-exposed areas, but can occur anywhere, so the entire surface area of the skin should be inspected,” Pam says. Pam, who is certified in skin cancer screening, says it is best for everyone to get their skin checked for skin cancer by a medical professional once a year, but also encourages giving yourself a selfexam once a month. “We teach the ABCDE approach when looking at the skin. People should look head to toe at all their marks and spots.” (See box.) One in five Americans will develop some form of skin cancer in their lifetime and experts say early detection is key. Lindall Perry, M.D., of Columbia Dermatology says, “Nonmelanoma skin cancers are locally destructive and require early detection to minimize tissue loss and surgical scarring at the time of their detection. Melanoma skin cancers can spread throughout the body if left untreated.” Dr. Perry says staying out of the sun, covering up and wearing sunscreen are effective ways to protect yourself against skin cancer. He says most people only apply 25 to 50 percent of the recommended amount of sunscreen; about a shot glass’s worth of sunscreen is generally needed to cover most of the body. “Different sunscreens may be better for different body parts,” adds Dr. Perry. He recommends using a cream sunscreen for dry skin and on the face; gels for hairy areas, like the scalp or a male chest; and sticks for around the eyes. Dr. Perry also advises checking the expiration date on your sunscreen bottle. If your sunscreen is past its prime, toss it and buy a new one. By Madison Burke
The Abcde Approach Checks For The Following Features
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B
C
D
E
Asymmetry
Border
Color
Diameter
Evolution
One half of the mole does not match the other.
The borders of the mole are irregular, ragged, blurred or notched.
The color of the mole is not the same throughout. There may be drastic color change or subtle lightening or darkening of certain areas on the mole.
Non-concerning moles are generally smaller than a pencil eraser.
The mole is changing over time either by getting bigger, changing its shape, or changes in color.
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*
Ron Gladbach says he never would have known he had skin cancer if not for a free Wellaware screening.
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Find group fitness classes at boone.org/wellaware
Howard County Dances For Health Free Zumba Program Provides Residents A Gateway To Healthier Lifestyles
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n Monday nights this spring, there was music playing in the First Christian Church-Disciples of Christ in downtown Fayette. But it wasn’t hymns or a choir. This music had a Latin beat. Popular country and R&B songs could also be heard in the mix. And as the music played in the church basement, a fun-loving group of dancers jived to the rhythm. This is Zumba, and it’s helping change lives in Howard County. Boone Hospital Center’s WELLAWARE Fitness Center provides the class, which is offered to county residents free of charge, thanks to funding from the Howard County Health and Wellness Committee. “Zumba is just so much fun,” says Cortney Pettit, a local pharmacist who helped bring the class to Fayette as a member of the Howard County Health and Wellness Committee. “It is different than every other option in town. It doesn’t require expensive equipment like many other fitness options. It is also nice because the class is suited to every fitness level. It allows participants to go at their own pace and easily take a rest or modify moves as they need.”
“[Zumba] allows participants to go at their own pace and easily take a rest or modify moves as they need.” — Cortney Pettit Jo Heibel, a Boone Hospital nurse who became certified in Zumba in 2013, teaches the class. “It helps improve cardiovascular fitness and coordination, and it also teaches you how to dance and have fun,” Heibel says. Heibel calls Zumba a “gateway exercise” that helps people experience the benefits of exercise and encourages them to try other healthy activities. Prior to her first Zumba class four years ago, Heibel says she detested exercise. “I could not stand exercise. At the 16
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thought of working out, I just wanted to go hide. It didn’t appeal to me,” she says. “With Zumba, I’m pushing myself places that I’ve never been. I have more self-esteem, and I’ve been doing 5Ks. It just opens yourself up to what you are really capable of, and I try to bring that out in my students.” Heibel also notes that Zumba has another important benefit. “I could never dance, and now I can dance,” she says. The free class in Fayette had strong attendance, with about 20 people attending each of the weekly sessions.
“The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive so far,” Pettit says. “I would like for even more people to come and see what the class is all about, but I think that with time and the positive word of mouth, the program will continue to be a success.” Boone Hospital Outpatient Therapy Supervisor Ingrid Minge helped oversee the creation of the free Zumba class in Fayette and praises the community for this health-focused initiative. “I hope that other communities will follow Fayette’s example and offer similar programs,” Minge says. “It is so important for people
to exercise more. These types of programs help emphasize that importance and are a great setting for everyone to enjoy working together toward a common goal of improved health and fitness.” Pettit says she was glad to play a role in helping bring a healthy activity —and some fun dancing — to her community. “I am proud to be involved in this because it makes people happy and healthy,” she says. “When class is over, people are leaving with smiles on their faces and telling each other, ‘See you next week!’ What can be better than that?” By Jacob Luecke
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Keeping Active And Safe On Summer’s Hottest Days
Fun in the Sun! By Pam Jones RN, BSN, WELLAWARE Health Promotions Nurse
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istorically, July and August are the hottest months of the year in mid-Missouri. Whether you are an exercise enthusiast or just beginning to add physical activity into your daily routine, it’s important to know how to safely exercise on hot summer days.
Extreme temperatures and Exercise
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hen exercising outside when the temperature and humidity are high, it is important to replenish the fluids that your body is losing during exercise. By not replenishing lost fluids, you can become dehydrated which leads to more serious conditions. A good rule of thumb is to drink water before, during and after you exercise. Normal water intake should be 64 ounces per day; your body needs more water on hot days. If you feel thirsty, you are already becoming dehydrated. During periods of hot weather, your body must work harder to cool itself and maintain a normal internal body temperature range. The blood vessels under your skin dilate to allow more heat to evaporate through the skin. Sweat glands work overtime to create a layer of moisture on the skin to promote heat loss and make your body feel cooler. If your body doesn’t have enough fluids in its reserves to meet these demands, trouble may set in. 18
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Summer Exercise Tips: 1) If you are exercising outdoors, do it early in the morning or after the sun goes down. Avoid outdoor exercise when the temperature or heat index is above 100 degrees.
to replace sodium and potassium lost through sweat. Or carry a snack that contains salt and potassium — pretzels and bananas are good choices.
2) Wear loose-fitting, light-colored clothing. It reflects the sun’s heat and is made of materials that are designed to keep sweat away from the skin.
4) Know the signs and symptoms of heat-related illness and dehydration. Dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, confusion, vomiting, flushing, and the disappearance of sweat can be early signs of overheating. Should any of those occur, immediately stop what you’re doing, get into the shade or go indoors and continue to drink fluids.
3) Drink, drink, drink! Water is the best choice, but if exercising longer than one hour, consider adding a low-sugar, low-calorie sports drink
A
ccording to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, adults should get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorousintensity aerobic activity a week. Adults should also include muscle strengthening activities two or more days a week. Children and adolescents should get one hour of physical activity daily, which should include muscle-strengthening and bone-strengthening on at least three days a week. It’s best to spread your activity out during the week, and you can break up the daily time into smaller chunks of
Moderate-intensity aerobic activity means you’re
working hard enough to raise your heart rate and break a sweat. One way to tell is that you’ll be able to talk, but not sing the words to your favorite song. Here are some examples that take moderate effort:
Walking fast (at least 3 mph)
time to make it more manageable. For example, if your goal is to get 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity that day, you can do 30 minutes at once or do 10 minutes of activity three different times during the day. Activities requiring moderate effort are safe for most people, but if you have a chronic health condition such as heart disease, arthritis, diabetes or other conditions, be sure to talk with your health care provider about the types and amounts of physical activity that are right for you. If you are new to muscle strengthening, consider asking a qualified individual to show you proper lifting technique.
Vigorous-intensity aerobic activity means you’re
breathing hard and fast, and your heart rate has increased significantly. If you’re working at this level, you won’t be able to say more than a few words without pausing for a breath. Activities requiring vigorous effort include:
Doing water aerobics
Jogging or running
Riding a bike on level ground or with a few hills (less than 10 mph)
Playing basketball
Pushing a lawn mower General gardening Playing double’s tennis Ballroom dancing
Swimming laps
Muscle strengthening activity
improves bone density, supports good posture and builds muscle, which will burn more calories, even when your body is at rest. Your aim should be to work the large muscle groups in your body: legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders, and arms. Each exercise should be repeated 8 to 12 times per set, and you should complete two to three sets. There is no specific amount of time designated for muscle strengthening, but exercise should be performed to the point at which it would be difficult to do another repetition. There are many ways you can strengthen your muscles, whether at home or the gym:
Riding a bike faster than 10 mph Playing single’s tennis Aerobic dancing Lifting weights
Jumping rope Heavy gardening
Working with resistance bands
Hiking uphill or with a heavy backpack
Exercises that use your own body weight for resistance (i.e., push-ups, sit-ups, triceps dips) Yoga
First Aid For Heat Related Illnesses: Heat Cramps • Assist the ill or injured person to shade. • Give them a sports drink with electrolytes or plain water if sports drink is not available. • Apply ice packs to area that is cramping.
Heat exhaustion • Assist the ill or injured person to shade. • Remove as many clothes as you can to help cool the body — especially shoes and socks. • Moisten the body with water, using a spray bottle or wet cloth. • Give them a sports drink with electrolytes or plain water if sports drink is not available.
Heat stroke • If it is safe to do so and you have help, submerge the ill or injured person in water, being careful to support the head, which should stay above the water. • If they are conscious, give them a sports drink. • Be prepared to administer CPR if needed. BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Summer 2015
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Take a Break! Relaxing is good for your health.
I
n 2012, Parade magazine ranked Columbia, Missouri No. 1 on its list of America’s Hardest Working Cities. While the people of midMissouri have a remarkable work ethic, there can be too much of a good thing — frequently working overtime and not taking days off actually results in less productivity, not more. “Our internal critic drives us to keep doing more, thinking we’ll be more productive,” says Stephen Weddle, Ph.D, Behavioral Health
Manager at Boone Hospital Center. “Yes, our jobs are important, but they’re not more important than taking care of ourselves.” Too much stress takes a physical toll, potentially causing headaches, upset stomach, insomnia or high blood pressure, and can also lead to overeating, smoking or excess alcohol consumption. Weddle says that taking time to de-stress requires a commitment, just like developing other healthy habits.
Fortunately, small steps, such as taking a walk on a break, taking a few deep breaths or picturing yourself at a favorite spot, go a long way toward stress management. Above all, it’s important to do something you enjoy. Weddle says, “Do something that you actually want to do, not what you think you should be doing.” Whatever you enjoy, there are plentiful ways in mid-Missouri to relax and recharge:
By Jessica Park
Get Some Fresh Air
Pressed for time? A walk through your local park can help you unwind.
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Summer 2015 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER
Missouri is definitely the place to be if you love the outdoors. The state boasts nearly 1,000 conservation areas and 87 state parks with over a thousand miles of walking, hiking and bicycle trails, including the Katy Trail. Each conservation area and park is suitable for different activities, such as camping, fishing, boating, foraging, wildlife photography, hunting and more. Whether you take an all-day float trip or a quick stroll in the woods, there’s a place nearby where you can get away from it all and enjoy fresh air and sunshine. ( Just don’t forget your sunscreen!) Missouri State Parks: www.mostateparks.com Missouri Department of Conservation: mdc.mo.gov
Get active Exercise is great for easing anxiety and stress, whether you go for a walk or run, take a fitness class or play a favorite sport. Many communities offer affordable gym memberships through recreation centers, like the ARC in Columbia or local YMCA chapters — and indoor facilities make it easy to stay active during the hottest days of summer. But there are benefits to working out outdoors, too. See page 18 for tips on exercising safely in the summer.
read a good book Aside from being a quiet place to read, more community libraries now lend DVDs, popular music, audiobooks and eBooks — for a price you can’t beat. Daniel Boone Regional Library branches in Columbia, Ashland and Fulton host events such as free film screenings, computer training classes or musical performances. The Columbia location also has a coffee stand and a designated quiet area on the mezzanine. Daniel Boone Regional Library: www.dbrl.org
hit the road Mid-Missouri offers many options for a quick getaway, including historical downtowns, wineries and street festivals. Make a daytrip and have an adventure without packing a suitcase. But if you’d like to get away for a night or weekend, there are many historic hotels and bed and breakfast places not far from you, like the Iron Horse Hotel in Blackwater, Yates House Bed and Breakfast in Rocheport, or Hotel Frederick in Boonville. Find more locations at www.bbim.org
Get cultured Mid-Missouri has many historic sites and museums, like the Missouri State Museum at the state capitol in Jefferson City or the Museum of Art and Archaeology at the University of Missouri. The Daum Museum of Contemporary Art at State Fair Community College in Sedalia has an impressive permanent collection. The Walt Disney Hometown Museum in Marceline celebrates Disney’s childhood in the town that inspired the Main Street USA area at Disney parks and features a former Disney theme park ride, Midget Autopia, given to the city by Walt himself. Museum of Art and Archaeology: maa.missouri.edu Missouri State Museum: mostateparks.com/park/missouri-state-museum The Daum Museum of Contemporary Art: www.daummuseum.org The Walt Disney Hometown Museum: www.waltdisneymuseum.org
Want to save fuel? Be a tourist in your town. Search for attractions and activities in your area at www.visitmo.com
help out Many people feel recharged by helping others. Whatever your interest, availability or talents, the Heart of Missouri United Way lets you search for opportunities online at volunteer.uwheartmo.org Boone Hospital Center has volunteers from all walks of life, including retirees, stay-at-home moms, former employees and past patients. To join our team, visit boone.org/volunteer
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Visit us online at myboonehealth.com
A Leader In Health Care
B
oone Hospital Center has been a leader in meeting the health care needs of mid-Missourians since its founding in 1921. Boone Hospital is a regional referral center that has earned a reputation for excellence in cardiovascular medicine, obstetrics, neurology, oncology, orthopedics and surgical services. Boone Hospital Center has been certified as a “Magnet Hospital” three times by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, which places them in the top 1 percent of hospitals worldwide for nursing. It has twice been named as one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals® by Thomson Reuters. Through progressive health care programs, services and technology, Boone Hospital Center continues its tradition of providing quality health care and excellent patient service. The hospital is currently constructing a 125,000 square foot, $20 million campus in south Columbia that will provide services such as primary care, imaging, therapy and laboratory services to the community. Boone Hospital Center is owned by the citizens of Boone County and leased by BJC HealthCare, one of the largest nonprofit health care organizations in the United States. BJC is responsible for the management of the hospital under the terms of the lease. BJC HealthCare has annual net revenues of $4.1 billion and more than 26,000 employees in the greater St. Louis, southern Illinois and mid-Missouri regions. BJC HealthCare serves patients and their families in urban, suburban and rural communities through its 12 hospitals and multiple community health locations.
BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER 2014 STATISTICS
1,755
Employees
325
Physicians
$297 million
Net Revenue
304
14,951 Inpatient Admissions
7,748
Outpatient Surgery Visits
30,554 Emergency Dept. Visits
Staffed Beds BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Summer 2015
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Caring Voices
T
hank you for calling Boone Hospital Center,” telecommunications operator Cheryl Johnson speaks into her headset, “How may I direct your call?” In between calls, Cheryl, who has been with the department for nearly 14 years, says, “You get to know a lot of people around the hospital, because you talk to a lot of people every day. I don’t think people realize how many calls we get.” In 2014, Boone Hospital Center’s switchboard received 544,291 calls, which works out to a call every 62 seconds for a year, an impressive number for a small team of professionals. Like the hospital’s inpatient and emergency care services, the switchboard doesn’t close for the night, weekend, holiday or snow day — it’s an essential part of patient care. Boone’s team of 14 operators and two telecom engineers does more than direct calls and provide excellent customer service; they play a critical role in patient care and in ensuring the safety and security of staff, patients and visitors. Marissa Rackers, telecommunications coordinator, lists just a few of the switchboard’s areas of responsibility: “We help patients contact their physicians. We handle helicopter transfers. We implement rapid response teams. We announce codes. We do overhead announcements.” “I think of telecomm as the heartbeat of the hospital. They’re responsible for implementing a lot of our emergency procedures,” says department manager Joe Bayer, who also manages the Security department. Telecomm works very closely with Security, the hospital’s Emergency 24
Summer 2015 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER
By Jessica Park
Boone Hospital’s Switchboard Handles Half A Million Calls A Year — And Much More Management committee, the Emergency Department, the Boone County Public Safety Joint Communications group and other local and BJC hospitals, in responding to emergencies and preparing for potential emergency situations.
The Best View in the Hospital
The renovated switchboard room, completed in February 2015, resembles a futuristic command center, with five 40-inch flat screens mounted on the wall, displaying information about codes, patient care alerts and the local weather; a clock with a large red readout; and meters indicating gas pressures and other information. From this room, the operators can see a lot of what’s going on in the hospital: screens with floor plans of the entire hospital locate where an alarm is sounding.
down and looking up on a summer’s day. For a department located deep within the hospital building, it’s a wonderful touch. “I feel like we have the best view in the hospital,” says operator Deborah Barton. “And the skies are not cloudy all day!” With seven screens of information — and more — to monitor and respond to, Boone Hospital’s telecomm staff must be able to multitask, prioritize needs and think on their feet. “We have to use good judgment,” Marissa says. “Every doctor has their own protocol for being contacted. We always try to follow what they request, but sometimes we might have to go against their protocol if it’s necessary to help a patient.” There is a lot of information to learn and retain, and staff must keep abreast of constant changes in policies, procedures, hospital facilities and the organization.
In 2014, Boone Hospital Center’s switchboard received 544,291 calls, which works out to a call every 62 seconds for a year, an impressive number for a small team of professionals. The room has five operator stations with comfortable chairs and new sit-tostand desks that allow operators to change positions and move around while handling calls. Each station has two monitors, and the five on the wall can be seen easily by all operators working on a shift. “With the remodel, we’ve upgraded a lot of our analog systems to digital,” Joe says. The standout feature of the new switchboard room is an overhead light screenprinted with a photo of a blue sky and sunlit aspen leaves, as if one were lying
“We know a lot. And if we don’t know it, we’ll find out,” says KiOntey Turner, an operator since June 2014. “We can get people the information they need.” “Operators need to be caring and compassionate,” Joe adds. “They must be able to remain calm and make quick decisions in stressful situations.” While they are not medical professionals and can’t provide medical advice, operators frequently handle calls from patients and doctors about medical emergencies. These calls require sensitivity and critical thinking
>
Because the switchboard is more than one person, working entire shifts in close quarters, and handling situations where the stakes can very be high, excellent communication, camaraderie and teamwork are essential.
as operators listen and try to understand the patients’ issues and concerns, to be able to assist them as quickly as possible. “Sometimes we have to ask questions to direct a patient to the right place, when someone’s being vague,” Marissa says. “We don’t want to seem rude; we do it to help you.”
Many Voices, One Team
“May I have your attention, please …” operator Audrey Middaugh begins an overhead announcement. Audrey, who’s been at Boone for two years, is known for her voice, and not just from the PA system. In November 2014, she performed “Let It Go” from Frozen at the Boone’s Got Talent staff talent show, allowing her to step out of the switchboard room and into the spotlight.
“I’d like to enter us as a group next year,” Audrey says. Cheryl laughs, shaking her head, “Audrey’s our singer — not me!” Telecomm staff are often heard but rarely seen. Even staff and physicians that they speak to often might not have faces to go with voices. “I’ll go to the cafeteria and hear someone talking behind me, and I turn around and say, ‘I know you!’” Marissa says. “People who call us sometimes think we sound the same,” KiOntey says. “But we are most definitely more than one person.” Because the switchboard is more than one person, working entire shifts in close quarters, and handling situations where the stakes can very be high, excellent communication, camaraderie and teamwork are essential.
“If we get a Code Blue,” Audrey says, “we’ve all got to say right away which role we’re taking to get that code handled. We all take a part in that — and hopefully we help save a life.” “We have a team that works very well together,” Marissa says. “It’s nice that we have good communication and get along, because we spend so much time together. We depend on each other, and we’re really supportive of each other. We’re all here to help.” Support Services Director Myrl Frevert agrees: “I can tell you from experience that these individuals walk the talk when it comes to upholding our Standards of Excellence, with every call they answer. They are all very talented individuals who bring their very best to everyone they serve. They are purely a joy to work with.” BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Summer 2015
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Honor Flight The Boone therapy team worked hard to get local veteran John Conley ready for an Honor Flight following a foot amputation. By madison burke
first “He was so weak when he of ed am dre had y spital nle Ho e Co n on oh started therapy,” says Bo t for gh Fli r no Ho hite. an W on vid ng goi occupational therapist Da would trip e Th r. yea n’t be a n uld tha wo re he mo “I was honestly worried ns to era vet er oth t Bu and . trip him e the tak strong enough to go on rials mo me it vis to de C. itu D. att ton at Washing he always had such a gre es. So, he built to honor their ser vic and fought so hard.” r when he ann Figg was ecstatic early this yea Physical therapist Megh the by ed ect sel s wa quickly he w ho found out says she was amazed at t gh Fli r no Ho uri believes sso she Mi Central John improved. She said . trip the ke e he had ma aus to branch part of the reason was bec e,” tru e com am dre a e ard. lik tow s “It wa such a great goal to work patients our s. John say “We always encourage ril 20 Ap the for ns a huge atio par kes pre ma But to have a goal. It really doctor n’s Joh en says. wh ted ann hal gh re trip we difference in therapy,” Me s in his sm ury ane t o tha als vid him ed Da inform Both Meghann and ht away. rig n atio put am his an in e ed rol uir foot req say Shelby played a huge was the “All I could think about recovery. rd the news, there Honor Flight when I hea “Shelby was always right to go,” d nte wa l stil I to do ly bad him w and ho next to him encouraging rcise,” exe s. re John say one more rep or one mo talked y, elb Sh e, wif , ‘Do his say and uld n Joh Meghann says. “She wo it was him d tol o wh s, would.” tor he doc and n’s to Joh one more for me, John’ ugh to go eno r ove rec port to sup him at for gre le possib “We see this a lot. A it would but y, ger sur his a er to aft rld trip on the system can mean the wo l therapy. y really played take a lot of work in physica patient’s recovery. Shelb , after and d ine erm det s g better,” wa n tin Joh a huge role in John get he 25, rch Ma on ure ced the pro David says. immediately got to work.
J
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Summer 2015 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER
flight, A couple days before the gave him ists rap John’s doctors and the ieve his bel ’t ldn the OK to go. John cou e. dream was coming tru ne who “I’m so grateful to everyo John says. ,” me p worked so hard to hel John was and e April 20 finally cam St. Louis to uri taken from mid-Misso , D.C. ton ng shi and then flown to Wa for a 24-hour trip. entire trip. “I didn’t sleep a wink the John says. ,” fun ch I was having too mu ments nu mo of John saw all sorts orite was fav his s and museums, but say ldier. So n ow kn the Tomb of the Un that ing See l. cia “It was just so spe rt hea r you for d kind of thing is goo s. say n Joh l,” and good for your sou had The veterans on the trip to care for le ilab ava doctors and nurses need any n’t did he them, but John said whole the at gre medical help: “I felt trip the ut abo g time and everythin ” was just wonderful. home at John is now back at the shares with he s ark the Lake of the Oz ays treasure alw l wil Shelby. He says he . trip his the memories from
“I’m so grateful to everyone who worked so hard to help me.” – John Conley BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Summer 2015
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getting to know a BHC Doctor
› mark cohen, MD [ anesthesiologist ]
Why did you get into the health care field? I was drawn to
medicine due to my natural curiosity about science and biological studies, and my need to do something that I thought would matter.
What interested you in your particular specialty?
Anesthesia is a field that involves continuous use of your mind, complemented by a great deal of hands-on patient care. It requires and exposes you to a wide range of medical fields. As a discipline, you must maintain current knowledge of pharmaceuticals, medical conditions, lab testing and surgical procedures. What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
Successfully getting a patient with significant morbidities through complex surgical procedures. What is the most challenging aspect of your job? Getting a patient with significant morbidities through complex surgery successfully. What do you see changing in health care in the next five to 10 years? I see a change from a system that pays you
for the volume and complexity of what you do per patient to one that pays for wellness, value and population health care maintenance. There is and will continue to be centralization of services, regulation and reduced autonomy for physicians. What advice would you give someone looking to become a doctor? Pursue medicine as a career if it is truly your calling.
Understand that it is a life requiring delayed gratification and sacrifice, but it will continue to provide fulfillment.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work? Mostly, my life is centered on my children and their activities. I do have some entrepreneurial pursuits that I enjoy. If possible, I try to get in a little golf.
I am currently the chief of staff at Boone Hospital Center and president of Mid-America Anesthesia Consultants (MAAC). I have been at Boone since 1999. I was born in Pennsylvania and moved to Kansas City in 1991 to undertake internship and residency training in the field of anesthesia. I’ve lived in Missouri ever since. I am a husband, father of three, physician, entrepreneur and casual sports enthusiast. 28
Summer 2015 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER
What advice would you give to someone who is going to be a patient in a hospital for a period of time? Seek out
the best hospital and physicians you can find. There are many resources available to assist you with that endeavor. Make sure you have a good understanding of your medical conditions, prescriptions and history. Don’t be afraid to ask questions of all your providers — it’s your body and you are in charge of this process. Previously, medicine was very paternalistic; the patient would be admitted and tell providers, “Do what you need to do.” Today, the patient is — and needs to be — an active and knowledgeable participant in their health care plan.
getting to know a BHC nurse
› shauncey moyers, RN I’ve been a nurse for four years; Boone is my second nursing job. I attended Pittsburg State University for my nursing degree. My husband and I have two cats. I am originally from Kansas, but we have lived in this area for a year and a half now. Why did you get into the health care field?
I couldn’t see myself doing anything else. It comes very natural to me to take care of people and serve them, and health care is a great way to do that. What interested you in your particular specialty?
What interested me the most about orthopedics was that it was completely different than anything I’d done before. It was exciting knowing that I would be learning something new. What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
It’s most rewarding to get to see the progress patients make, from the time they are admitted to the time they are discharged. And just caring for patients in general is very rewarding. What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
A lot of the time, what is most challenging for me is that, as a nurse, I can do everything right and the patient might still have a negative outcome, for different reasons. What has changed in your field since you started practicing? Since I have only been a nurse for four years,
I can’t think of anything major that has changed, but there are always clinical practices that change. What do you see changing in the next five to 10 years? Health care is an ever-changing field. In
orthopedics, I could see some of the post-op procedures and protocols changing to increase good outcomes for patients and to decrease their recovery time. What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
In my spare time I enjoy running, reading and doing crafts. I’m also involved in Bible studies and groups through my church.
What advice would you give to someone looking to become a nurse? Nursing is such a rewarding job —
go for it! However, nursing school and nursing can be very difficult, so hang in there; it gets better. It takes time to get comfortable and confident.
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Learn more at boone.org/foundation
Supportive Care Family Bed Provides Close Comfort For Cancer Patients
W
hen someone is nearing the end of life, there is nothing more comforting than the closeness of friends and family. This is the idea behind the new double bed at the Stewart Cancer Center at Boone Hospital. This larger bed, purchased with donations to the Boone Hospital Foundation, has all the required medical features, but is big enough for a husband, wife or child to sleep next to a loved one who is receiving supportive care. Supportive Care Nurse Amanda Schmidt has been at Boone for six years. She and other nurses saw the need for this type of bed years ago. “I’ve had husband, wives, even grandchildren who climb into the twin hospital bed to sleep with their loved ones, just to be close to them,” Schmidt says. “It was uncomfortable but they wanted to be close. So we would just pull up the rails and realized then that we needed a better option than this.” Last fall, David Morton and his daughter Taylor of Hallsville spent two weeks in the Stewart Cancer Center while his 27-year-old wife, Mallory, was being treated for ovarian cancer. This was before the double bed had arrived so David spent each night on the sleeper sofa in Mallory’s room. Morton says he’s grateful for the wonderful care his wife received but wishes they had been able to share a bed during those last days. “If we would have had a chance to have a ‘regular’ bed, it would have brought more comfort to both of us during that time, to make it feel more like home and less like a hospital,” Morton says. In March, Boone Hospital Foundation was able to purchase a double bed so family members can be as close and comfortable as possible. The full-sized hospital bed, a down comforter and luxury linens cost about $9,000 and has a special mattress to prevent ulcers. The room with the bed 30
Summer 2015 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER
is larger than other rooms and has a lift that allows patients to be moved easily. If the bed is available, patients can request to use it or may be assigned there if they have many family members who will be visiting them. The bed is also more comfortable for larger patients who need more room than a regular twin can provide. For more information about how you can support the Boone Hospital Foundation’s mission, go to www.boone.org/foundation or call 573-815-2800. By Kim Getzoff
This double bed resides in one of five supportive care rooms and may be an option for patients who request it.
Since Mallory’s death on February 28, 2014, her friends and family have raised more than $42,000 for the prevention and treatment of ovarian cancer.
The Boone Hospital Foundation would like to thank the sponsors of the
12th Annual
golf classic Proceeds from this tournament are used to support the Caregiver Education Fund, helping Boone Hospital Center caregivers in their mission to improve the health of the community.
2015
Calendar of Events July & August September October November
All Month 9, 10, 11 TBD 14
Community Campaign Book Sale Jewelry Sale Gala
To learn more about the Boone Hospital Foundation, visit www.boone.org/foundation or call 573-815-2800.
>>> thank you to our sponsors Aflac - Chris Ashton American Document Solutions Aramark Binghams BJC Healthcare BJC Medical Group Bob Wagner - Boone Hospital Trustee Boone County National Bank & Central Trust Investment Company Boone Electric Cooperative Boyce & Bynum Pathology BSA Lifestructures C&C Group Coil Construction, Inc. Columbia Culinary Tours Columbia Daily Tribune Columbia Insurance Group Columbia Orthopedic Group Columbia Surgical Associates Commerce Bank Environmental Engineering FSA, LLC. H&P Consultants Healogics Hulett Heating & Air Imhoff Construction, Inc. Inside the Lines Joe Machens Dealerships Lakota Landmark Bank Lenoir Woods Little Dixie Construction Macadoodles Mary Beck Meyer Electric, Inc. Missouri Cardiovascular Specialists Missouri Perfusion Services Moresource Radiology Consultants, Inc. Reinhardt Construction Ross & Baruzzini Sam’s Club Schindler Elevator Corporation Septagon Construction Shelter Insurance Sophia’s TEAMHealth Tech Elctronics, Inc. Terracon The Club At Old Hawthorne The Outsource Group The Swain Group, Inc. Tiger Express Car Wash UMB Van Matre Law Firm Wellaware Will Electronics Williams Keepers, LLC BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Summer 2015
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Boone Hospital Center 1600 East Broadway Columbia, Mo 65201 573-815-8000
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