Volume 24
Number 15
July 12, 2013
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
`` The staff of Dulles 6 received this year’s Victoria Rich Satisfaction Award for implementing changes to improve patient-centered care on their unit.
Award-Winning E x c e l l en c e in HUP Nursing This year’s Nurses Week Award Ceremony recognized the accomplishments of many nurses, including HUP’s 2012-2013 Daisy Award winners and the UPHS Nursing Excellence Award winners from HUP and CPUP. In addition, several nurses received special recognition for going above and beyond in patient care.
Inside Inside
‘Patient’ Care Reaches New Heights..............................2 Helping People All the Time.....2 Taking Time Out to Talk...........2 Keep Your Bike Safe from Roundtable. ................................3 Thieves.......................................3 Free SkinThanks........................3 Heartfelt Cancer Screening......................3 It’s Now a Little Easier Being Green in in West Philly. .................4 Partners Rehab. .....................4
Team Work Equals Patient-Centered Care The Victoria Rich Patient Satisfaction Award is presented to a unit that provides world-class patient care, translates research, consistently measures outcomes to evaluate patient satisfaction initiaves, demonstrates teamwork, and partners with interdisciplinary teams to address patientsatisfaction initiatives. Dulles 6 captured the award this year. Nurse manager Mary Rogers described the unit’s award-winning strategy: “In our current health-care environment, nursing units are continually searching for innovative ways to improve communication with our patients. In May 2012, Dulles 6 implemented a changeof-shift report between incoming and offgoing nurses at the bedside that includes the patient in the discussion. Noting large gains in all areas of HCAHPS — including communication with nurses, communication with physicians, and medication teaching — we partnered with our providers, unit-based clinical pharmacist, SW/CRC, and PT/OT to begin daily interdisciplinary coordination of care rounds at the bedside. This initiative began in November. “We have seen significant increases in all of our HCAHPS scores for the fiscal year, and patients have verbalized feeling much more connected to their care. We continue to meet as needed to make adjustments to make the rounds as meaningful as possible to all involved.” (Continued on page 3)
Running for Cystic Fibrosis......4 Shortakes...................................4
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‘Patient’ Care Reaches New Heights
The high ledge where the White and Ravdin buildings meet seems to be a prime spot for nests. Coincidentally — or maybe not — the window looking out onto the ledge is located in the Perinatal Evaluation Center, which is HUP’s triage center for Labor & Delivery. For many years, red-tailed hawks used this isolated location to bring their young into the world. This year, however, new tenants showed up: peregrine falcons.
`` The mother peregrine falcon stayed close — and ready to attack — as the crane lifted close to her nest.
The new residents brought excitement to those in the know, including F. Arthur McMorris, PhD, Peregrine Falcon coordinator for the Pennsylvania Game Commission. He said that these birds are slowly making their way back from near extinction, after being almost wiped out in the 1940s and 1950s by massive DDT spraying. High concentrations of this pesticide in falcons led to thin eggshells which could not support the weight of the incubating bird. The new baby in the HUP nest brings new hope to the population. “We’re trending in the right direction,” McMorris said. To track the population growth, scientists place a small band around the leg of each falcon. McMorris said that nearly one-fifth of the birds they’ve banded have been observed and identified. “An excellent return rate.” A friend of McMorris’s originally spotted the nesting falcons in May and told McMorris, who called Dominick Lupica, associate director of Physical Plant. After confirming the birds’ identity with McMorris (from the Penn Tower roof), Lupica got permission from Garry Scheib, HUP’s executive director, to help McMorris reach the tiny bird and worked with Ray McDonald from LF Driscoll to get a crane high enough to access the ledge. McMorris explained that, while banding is a great idea, removing baby falcons from their nests to accomplish this is not easy while the young chick’s aggressive parents hover nearby. With John Ritchey from LF Driscoll operating the crane — and PA Game Commission volunteer Ed Mutzer holding a broom to keep the parents from divebombing them— McMorris carefully reached into the nest and removed the baby. After a ground level medical exam — and banding — he quickly returned the young bird to the nest with mom and dad. The baby took its first flight June 16, McMorris said, and was soon getting “flying and hunting lessons from its parents.” The young bird will remain dependent on them for another month and might ‘fly the coop’ shortly thereafter or hang at home till the fall. “By next year, it will be fully on its own.”
`` Amy Carpenter and Ed Mutzer, Pennsylvania Game Commission volunteers, watch as Art McMorris examines the baby bird and places a band on its leg.
Helping People All the Time
Congratulations to the winners of January’s Helping People All the Time raffle! Pauline Ansine. . . . . . . . . . . Dulles 6
Megan McFarland. . . . . . . . Ravdin 8
Sarah Atkinson. . . . . . . . Founders 9
George Munoz . . . . . . . . . . Rhoads 2
Joyce Beer. . . . . . . . . Silverstein 12
Sreekala Pillai. . . . . . . Silverstein 7
Alexis Blake. . . . . . . . . . Lab Medicine
Kristen Sarbello. . . . . Silverstein 12
Laura Cappetti . . . . . . . . . . . Dulles 6
Tom Szybowski. . . Respiratory Therapy
Talia Cooper. . . . . . . . . . . . Rhoads 4
Min Tran . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rhoads 2
Sam Davis. . . . . . . . . . Silverstein 11
Duane Varquez. . . . . . Physical Plant
Tony Emmi. . . . . . . . . . . . . Cardiology
Beulah Wilder . . . . . . . . Founders 12
Ryan Fuller . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pharmacy
Kai Wilson. . . . . . . . . . Silverstein 11
Aisha Hall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ER
Haron Wylie. . . . . . . . . . . . Transport
Alyse Maiden. . . . . . . . . . . . Ravdin 9
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Award-Winning E x c e l l en c e in HUP Nursing (Continued from cover)
Keep Your Bike Safe From Thieves
A Nursing GEM
Bicycle thefts are steadily increasing in and around the hospital campus:
Each year, Nursing Spectrum does a national search to find the most exceptional nurses in the U.S. In each region, five remarkable nurses in six specialized categories are chosen from the hundreds of nominations received. This year, Michelle Otto, RN, BSN, PCCN, of Rhoads 1, was one of them. Otto won the regional Nursing Excellence GEM (Giving Excellence Meaning) Award in the Patient and Staff Management category in the Tri-State region.
WHO: Persons arrested have
ranged from young juveniles to individuals well into their 50’s.
WHAT: Bikes secured with cable
or chain locks are being targeted.
WHERE: Bike racks throughout our campus.
According to Nursing Spectrum’s site, Otto has been recognized for both her skillful orchestration of the unit without a formal management title and for her leadership by example. When asked why she hadn’t gone into a management position, Otto replied, “I really enjoy being a staff nurse. I like taking care of patients and having that interaction with them at the bedside.”
WHEN: All hours of the day. WHY: Bikes have always been a target for thieves; however the increased gas prices have made bikes within the city a valuable and quick sale item.
Otto’s nomination letter described her as “one of the strongest, most effective and humblest leaders I have ever had the pleasure of working with …. We all follow Michelle Otto, not because we have to but because we all strive to be more like her.”
HUP Security recommends that staff who commute to work on bike purchase and utilize the U-Lock when securing their property. In almost every theft, bikes were secured with cable or chain locks. It also encourages staff to register their bikes with Penn Police. By registering your bike, you will increase the chances of recovery should it be stolen. You will receive a registration sticker which will help to serve as a visual deterrent. To register, go to www.upenn.edu/u@penn.
Otto will now go on to compete against all other regional winners in that category for the national title.
Heartfelt Thanks
An Exceptional Leader The Joan Bretschneider Shared Governance Leadership Award was named to honor her dedication and leadership in creating HUP’s nursing shared governance structure. The award is presented to an exceptional member of a shared governance council. This year’s winner was Angela Piech, BSN, of the MICU. The nomination letter described Piech as “a model of effective communication skills who mentors her peers in their communication with patients, families, staff, and the interdisciplinary team.” She helped institute the Overnight Family Presence Policy, a program to increase patient and family satisfaction, while ensuring the safety and security for patients, families, and staff members. Piech also helped organize a ‘Nurse of the Year’ award on her unit, developed a report tool for accepting patients from outside hospitals, and worked with several attendings to improve processes and procedures on nightshift to establish safer patient care. “My motivation comes from my patients and all of you,” said Piech, in receiving her award.
A letter from Eileen Aitken, wife of Douglas Aitken, to the Rena Rowa Breast Cancer staff: y husband, Doug, and I want to sincerely thank you for M the wonderful treatment I’ve received here. From scheduling appointments and checking in and out, to taking my vitals and administering drugs, you have been extremely friendly, caring, attentive, and skilled. You are phenomenal! When Doug was part of the team that built the Perelman Center, he knew he was doing extremely important work building a facility that would save many lives, but he had no idea it would be the place in which I would receive treatment to save my life. I remember how proud he was during the opening celebration as he toured me through some of the rooms in which I recently received treatments. He is even more proud today, knowing first-hand that the Perelman Center is not only a top-notch facility but, more importantly, the staff and the kind of care provided is also top notch. Today is my last treatment. Woo-hoo! And I want you to know how much I appreciate everything you’ve done for me.
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It’s Now a Little Easier Being Green in West Philly Although the famous frog says otherwise, he never lived in West Philadelphia. Thanks to UC Green, lawns, sidewalks, playgrounds and other areas around University City are being transformed through countless hours of work from a staff of two people and many volunteers. One of those volunteers is Karen Wagner, MS, RD, LDN, a clinical dietitian specialist at the Abramson Cancer Center. Wagner works primarily with GI malignancies and hematology-oncology, including bone marrow transplants and the leukemia lymphoma program. Seeing how a healthy environment influences the health of her patients, Wagner took this effort a step further by applying for a Penn Medicine CAREs grant. “More and more I see that it’s really important to have a good diet beforehand if you receive a cancer diagnosis,” said Wagner. “Community access to fresh fruits and vegetables is lacking in some areas of Philadelphia, and people should have affordable access to those healthy foods year-round. That’s what led me to UC Green.” The many programs carried out by this small organization include monthly volunteer workdays at the Woodlands Cemetery, potlucks, pumpkin carvings for kids, maintaining Clark Park (in partnership with the Friends of Clark Park group), a pruning club, a tool lending library, and a UC Green Corps program led by Winnie Harris, program and volunteer coordinator at UC Green. Last year alone, the organization and its many volunteers planted 156 trees, removed 1,180 sq.ft. of concrete, held 15 garden workdays, hand pruned 16 city blocks, carried out numerous green workshops, and much more.
`` (L. to r): Sue MacQueen, executive director, UC Green, with Karen Wagner and Winnie Harris.
Wagner was elated to receive a Penn Medicine CAREs grant to continue this mission. “I love medical care, but I also believe community health is so important,” she said. “Trees do so much to help fight asthma, pollution, emissions from vehicles, and more.” UC Green, a 501c3 nonprofit, was founded in 1998 under the name “UC Bright” as a Penn initiative led by former Penn president Judith Rodin, PhD. The group’s first plans brought more lighting in the area, but has since expanded to numerous green initiatives. Penn is the group’s largest supporter, but additional financial and volunteer assistance comes from other institutions. “I’m so thankful that UC Green is here,” said Wagner. “And I am so thankful that I work for an organization that is willing to support my work in the community as well.” For more information, visit www.ucgreen.org.
Running for Cystic Fibrosis
`` Members of Founders 14 have done it again! They raised over $500 in the Narberth Cystic Fibrosis 5-Mile run … and clearly enjoyed it!
HUPdate Editorial Staff Sally Sapega Editor and Photographer Trissy Harding Designer
Administration
Susan E. Phillips Senior Vice President, Public Affairs
Wednesday Night Concerts The P.M.@Penn Museum Summer Nights music series has returned, on Wednesdays, from 5 to 8 pm. Held in the Museum’s outdoor Soner Courtyard, the series runs through September 11. This year’s line-up features a colorful blend of international performances as well as Americaninfluenced music drawing from bluegrass, swing and rock n’ roll. Summer Nights offers live performances as well as drinks and light fare from the Pepper Mill Café’s garden bar, and the chance to explore the Museum’s many galleries. To learn more, go to www.penn.museum.
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Contact HUPdate at: 3535 Market Street, Mezzanine Philadelphia, PA 19104 phone: 215.662.4488 fax: 215.349.8312 email: sally.sapega@uphs.upenn.edu HUPdate is published biweekly for HUP employees. Access HUPdate online at http://news.pennmedicine.org/inside/hupdate.