Volume 26
Number 5
March 6, 2015
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
NEW ART EXHIBITION Like a Breath of Fresh Air `` C. William Hanson, III, MD, chief medical information officer, won a Best of Show for his photo, Tranquil Canal.
Each year, the walls of the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine and the Penn Tower Bridge come alive with framed art and photography as part of the Celebration of Art and Life Exhibition. The exhibition not only showcases the many talents of our staff, patients and friends, but also helps create a sense of well-being and a calming effect.
INSIDE Bringing “Hope” to Cancer Patients..........................2 New Bridge to Perelman Center........................3 I ❤ Philly to Benefit PPMC........3 Patient Safety Awareness Week.......................3 CAREs Grant Recipients...........4
Now in its fifth year, this exhibition is dedicated to Bernett L. Johnson, Jr., MD, HUP’s beloved and well-respected chief medical officer, who was also known for his artistic talents. “Bernie was a master of all he did,” said CEO Ralph Muller at the official opening of the 2015 exhibit. Johnson’s daughter, Suzanne, thanked all those who had contributed to the show, which this year includes 145 pieces of art. A nurse on Silverstein 11, she said “I encourage my patients and their families to come through Penn Tower and take a breath of fresh air.” Art work makes a difference in the patient experience, she continued. “It makes a hospital seem more like a home.”
`` Jonathan Idler of Hematology/ Oncology also received a Best of Show for his piece When You Rust.
(continued on page 2)
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NEW ART EXHIBITION (continued from page 1)
Each year, Mary Margaret Johnson provides two paintings from her husband’s collection for the exhibition. On loan this year are one of Eastern State Penitentiary, which Suzanne said was “a favorite subject of my dad’s,” and another that developed from his meeting with a vendor near what is now Penn Medicine Rittenhouse on South Street. “He loved doing street scenes,” she said. To see the full list of Best of Show winners as well as additional photos, go to http://news.pennmedicine.org/inside/hupdate/. `` Logan and Suzanne Johnson with one of their father’s paintings.
Bringing “Hope” to Cancer Patients Since 2011, members of the River Sisters dragon boat team have assembled and handed out more than 200 “Blankets of Hope” to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy at the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine. What makes these blankets very special is that each of the River Sisters is a cancer survivor. “When they learn we’ve been through this same experience, the connection between us happens,” said Marge Aitken, Blankets of Hope coordinator. “It’s a really good feeling.” The group receives some funding from various sponsors (including Penn Medicine) but also holds an annual pancake breakfast which, last year, raised $1,000 to buy the blanket kits. Each blanket takes about an hour to make but, based on the grateful feedback, it is well worth the effort: “ I was at HUP getting my chemo treatment when a group of wonderful “sisters” arrived with a beautiful warm blanket. It was such a surprise and a ray of hope along a long and sometimes lonely journey. I LOVE it so much and I actually travel with it now.” “ The day you ladies were giving out blankets was a very hard day for me, and I totally believe God put us all there that day for a reason. You lifted my spirits and gave me
`` Members of the River Sisters dragon boat team delivering “Blankets of Hope” to cancer patients are (from left) Marge Aitken, Jerry Milavsky, Paula Johnson, and Denise Lannon
back my courage to fight. I need to thank you all, you’ve done more than give out a blanket that day — you set me back on track mentally.” From a patient’s young daughter: “ For the past two years my mother has been battling breast cancer. She has infusions at the Abramson Cancer Center every three weeks. One day she came home from her infusion and was so happy. She brought
home this beautiful, warm, cozy blanket… I think it is such a wonderful thing to do.” * And from the nursing staff on the 2 Perelman Infusion floor: “ It is our sincere hope that you know how wonderful your blankets are. Patients feel so special when they are given one…Your giving back truly defines what “making a difference” looks like. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
*The group invited this young girl to help make blankets last December, and she brought her mother, her younger sister, and her grandmother with her.
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New Bridge to Perelman Center The Penn Tower garage closes today, March 6, to employees and on Wednesday, March 11, to patients (see article on page 4). This move is in preparation for the year-long demolition of Penn Tower and its garage which begins this summer. A planning process is underway to assess possibilities for a new Patient Pavilion to be constructed on this site. As a first step, the connection between HUP and the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine must be changed. The current connection — a bridge from HUP to Penn Tower, then through Penn Tower to a bridge to PCAM — will be replaced with a single bridge that will connect HUP directly to Perelman. According to Stephen Greulich, senior project manager in Real Estate, Design and Construction, the bridge serves as much more than a convenient and safe walkway for patients, visitors and staff. Pipes and tubes running through the ceiling of the bridge transport vital oxygen, pneumatic tube carriers and IS data. The new bridge will attach to the Perelman Center at what was formerly the Optical Shop and will connect with the current bridge about 100 feet from HUP. Due to the overall length of the new bridge — nearly 400 feet from HUP to PCAM — there will be a resting area with chairs and benches at about the halfway point. The new bridge is scheduled to open this summer.
`` A rendering of the new bridge (in green) that will connect HUP and the Perelman Center, and the current bridge (in orange).
to Benefit PPMC Tickets are now on sale for Penn Presbyterian’s 14th annual benefit. This year’s gala will honor Jean Bennett, MD, PhD, and Albert M. Maguire, MD, and their pioneering work on gene therapy that has dramatically improved sight in children and adults with Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis in clinical trials. Proceeds will contribute toward the future work of the Molecular Ophthalmology program at Scheie Eye Institute. If FDA approved, this treatment may be the first gene therapy product made clinically available in the United States. The benefit will be held on Friday, March 20, from 6 to 9 pm at Vie on 600 N. Broad Street. Tickets for the event cost $150 per person and include valet parking, open bar, hors d’oeuvres and dinner as well as dancing, high spirits and a silent auction. Sponsorships with additional benefits are also available. REGISTER BY MARCH 13. Tickets can be purchased online at PennMedicine.org/ILovePhilly
Patient Safety Awareness Week (PSAW), to be held March 8-14, is an annual, education and awareness campaign for health-care safety sponsored by the National Patient Safety Foundation. This week recognizes the advancements that have been made in the patient safety arena, while acknowledging the challenges that remain— and committing to work on them, every day. PSAW provides an opportunity for Penn Medicine to showcase its strong commitment to the safety of our patients, our community and our staff. This year’s theme is UNITED in Safety. HUP’s Safety Fair will be held on Wednesday, March 11, from 10am to 2pm on both the Ravdin Mezzanine and the upper atrium at the Perelman Center. The Fair will offer staff and patient information, interactive demonstrations, and departmental quality/safety improvement projects. During Patient Safety Week, there will also be hands-on training for management and reporting features of PM Safety Net as well as a poster exhibit and lectures. To learn more about this week’s activities, go to http:// uphsxnet.uphs.upenn.edu/ceqi/ and click on 2015 Patient Safety Awareness Week. Come and see what we have accomplished!
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Congrats to our CAREs Grant Recipients Congratulations to the most recent winners of a Penn Medicine CAREs grant! If you volunteer for community outreach, you might also be eligible to receive a grant. Awarded up to four times a year, the grant pays for expenses directly related to community outreach activities (not including salary support). It can be used for projects big and small and for new or existing community outreach efforts. To learn more about applying for a grant, go to http://uphsxnet.uphs.upenn.edu/community/. Matt Kearney, PPMC..............................Lea Elementary Health and Wellness Initiative Nicole Leighton, CPUP...........................Transitional Care John Flamma, PPMC..............................ED Patient Medication Assistance Gary Ginsberg, PPMC.............................People’s Emergency Center Food Cupboard Debi Ferrarello, PAH...............................Milk Mamas Lauren Cliggitt, PAH................................Teen Girls Trauma Support Group Margie Delaney, Corp............................Clean Clothes Michelle Sohlich-Miller, PAH..............Women’s Health Outreach - School Education Project Christina Bach, Corp...............................Camp Kesem Camper Scholarship Kerry Nihill, Corp.....................................Homework Helper at the Drueding Center Carlene Clark, PAH.................................Show Sjogren’s Melinda Lamb, PAH................................St. Wilfrid’s Free Clinic
A Colonoscopy Can Save Your Life!
Colon cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States. If caught early, there is a 90 percent chance that your cancer can be cured. A simple colonoscopy can make a world of difference. March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Show your support for raising awareness by wearing blue and stopping by the information table in the Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine on Friday, March 6, between 11 am and 2 pm. Pick up a blue sticker and learn the facts about the disease.
Changes in HUP’s Summer Teen Volunteer Program “The Summer Teen Volunteer Program will be completely different this year,” said David Cribb, director of Volunteer Services. The changes start with the application process. Beginning this year, applications will be filed online only to help the Volunteer Services staff process the anticipated hundreds of applications more efficiently. The other major change to the program focuses on the volunteers’ time commitment. Previous summer programs at HUP required volunteers to work one day a week for the entire summer. “We found the traditional
way of running a program led to a lot of uncertainty for the staff,” Cribb explained. “Each day of the week would be a different volunteer. The staff would have difficulty getting to know the volunteer and the volunteer would take half the summer getting comfortable in their role.” The new structure concentrates the volunteer experience into three-week blocks. Volunteers will be asked to commit to working three straight weeks, Monday through Friday. HUP will offer three such blocks during the summer. “We believe
that the changes will improve the experience for both the volunteers and the departments hosting them.” Details about the new Summer Teen Program are available at http://www.pennmedicine. org/hospital-university-pennsylvania/ volunteer-programs/. Applications will be accepted starting Monday, March 16.
HUPdate EDITORIAL STAFF Sally Sapega Editor and Photographer
Employee Parking at Penn Tower Ends Today
Abby Ernst Graphic Designer
The swipe card for the Penn Tower garage will be invalid as of 11:59 pm on Friday, March 6. Employees who currently park in that garage can get a parking pass card for the University Avenue Garage (Lot #51) at the following locations:
ADMINISTRATION
arking Office on the Penn Tower • P Bridge Level (to the left of the Nursing Renewal Center) – on Monday, Wednesday and Friday (7:30 am to 4 pm) and Tuesday and Thursday (6 am to 4 pm).
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enn Tower Garage office (glass office • P to the left of the main garage exit) – 7 am to 11 pm, 7 days a week. The Penn Tower parking swipe card must be returned before receiving an access card for Lot #51. To learn more about the closing of the Penn Tower parking garage, go to http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/employee selfservice/transportation.html.
Susan E. Phillips Senior Vice President, Public Affairs Holly Auer Director of Communications 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.