Volume 23
Number 16
August 10, 2012
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
A Home AWAY FROM HOME The Clyde F. Barker Penn Transplant House Over one-third of Penn’s transplant patients must travel more than 50 miles for their surgery, some from as far as New England, the Carolinas, and even Hawaii. All too often, for these patients, the joy of receiving a compatible organ is tempered by the harsh reality of extended hospital visits for the patient and travel expenses for the family. And such challenges are not short-term. After they have received the transplants, organ recipients must return repeatedly for follow-up care — as often as 50 times during the first two years post-surgery. For loved ones, the full transplantation experience
INSIDE Sunny Paulose Wins CNA Spirit of Professionalism Award.........................................3 HUP Named to U.S. News Honor Roll .................................3 Nursing Outreach Throughout the Year.................4
adds up to a mountain of non-reimbursable hotel, transportation and meal expenses — at a time when emotions and finances are already stretched to a breaking point. For the past year, the Clyde F. Barker Penn Transplant House has provided affordable, comfortable and convenient accommodations for nearly 300 of Penn’s pre- and post-transplant patients and their families. Located at 3940 Spruce Street, the sun-filled facility offers guests a spacious family room, a large, fully equipped modern kitchen, fitness and laundry rooms, and dining room. The 12 large bedroom suites upstairs feature flat-screen TVs and are each large enough to accommodate up to four adults. The House’s center courtyard provides a private outdoor area for guests to relax. While the Transplant House offers many comforts, what helps make it a home away from home are the outreach efforts by HUP employees. Since the House opened last spring, several groups from throughout the hospital have volunteered as ‘guest chefs,’ preparing home-cooked dinners for guests
`` Volunteering for the monthly meal prepared by staff of Clinical Resource & Social Work were (l. to r.) Debbie Gordon, Sallie Smith, Laney Smith, Ellie and Lois (Debbie’s daughter and mother), Claudia Smith, and Carolyn Wrabetz.
that serve as a welcome respite from fast food or expensive restaurant meals. Enrique Flores said the “great smells” from the Italian dinner he and several of the Rhoads 6 staff prepared at the House earlier this year drew in several guests, as did the Mexican-themed dinner hosted by MICU staff. Ashlee Newberry, a clinical nurse on the unit, said talking with the guests during dinner “opened our eyes” about transplants from the family’s point of view. “We sat with a woman whose husband was post-heart transplant and she was struggling. It brought a different perspective to hear what she was dealing with.” The meals also “help to create a community feel,” said Denny DuPont, manager of Transplant Outreach and Communication, who prepared a meal with other members of Transplant’s management team. “It helps families get to know each other. They share their stories.” (Continued on page 2)
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