Volume 26
Number 9 May 1, 2015
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
HOW COOL IS THAT! `` Top left: Kevin Sweeney and Sarah Allen from the ED demonstrated for kids from Staffing for All Seasons how LUCAS, an automatic CPR machine, helps them save lives. Middle: Brandon Dekerlegand, son of Jennifer Dekerlegand of Physical Therapy, loved “performing” an endoscopy and seeing the strange types of things people have swallowed. Top right: Inserting a tube in the simulation man proved to be easy for Alex Nguyen, son of Lan Chau of the PACU, with some assistance from Josef Luba of Penn’s Simulation Center.
INSIDE Camp Kesem: A Welcome Respite for Kids....2 HUP Thanks Its Docs.................3 An Easter Tradition....................3 Plans Underway for Lancaster General Health to Join UPHS.............................4
>> Take Your Child to Work Day A BIG SUCCESS
>> How do you insert a tube into a patient’s stomach? >> How does the hyperbaric chamber work? >> How much effort does it take to do CPR? These were just three of the many things HUP kids learned at the annual Take Your Child To Work Day, which combined fun and education to help youngsters better understand what their parents do at HUP and health care in general. Jen Perno of Founders 14 worked with staff to create four stations, each representing a nursing responsibility. The favorite seemed to be filling prescribed “med orders,” using Sour Patch Kids to control diabetes, Skittles for cholesterol, M&Ms for blood pressure and Gummy Bears as an antibiotic to fight infection! Even though Trauma has moved to Presby, a PennSTAR helicopter flew up to HUP’s helipad, allowing kids to see how things work. This has (Continued on page 4) `` Namir Jeffries, son of Catherine Shands of the ED, learned what it’s like to wear protective gear, with a little help from Charli Vasso of the ED.
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“ I love making this experience possible for kids as well as fostering the leadership of young adults at the University of Pennsylvania who are running the chapter.”
CAMP KESEM:
A WELCOME RESPITE FOR KIDS Between school, chores and responsibilities, it can be tough for some kids to find time just to be kids. That rings especially true for the children of cancer patients, many of whom, in addition to other duties, take on new roles in their households as the family dynamic shifts. Fortunately, thanks to OncoLink’s Christina Bach and a $2,000 grant from Penn Medicine’s CAREs program, four kids will have the chance to let loose at Camp Kesem, the local chapter of a national organization of free summer camps for children whose parents are battling cancer. This is the third CAREs grant given to Bach, a 15-year Penn Medicine employee who sits on the local Camp Kesem’s advisory board, for her work with the camp. “From the first year I visited Camp Kesem, I knew it was something I would be involved with for many years,” Bach said. “I love making this experience possible for kids as well as fostering the leadership of young adults at the University of Pennsylvania who are running the chapter.” Each year, the camp is run by a staff of volunteer college students, many of whom also have personal ties to cancer, Bach said.
Congrats
`` Christine Bach with her beagle Gus, who gave campers a heaping dose of puppy love.
Even Bach’s dogs do their part, giving campers who miss their pets a heaping dose of “puppy love.” Finn, a seven-year-old basset hound mix, is already trained to help, and her newest dog, Linus, will be soon as well. Sadly, camp-favorite Gus, a beagle who first visited the camp at the age of 10, passed away in December. “He’s missed by the entire camp community,” she said. In addition to typical camp activities like swimming, games and arts and crafts, Camp Kesem provides time and support for the campers to connect with each other and share their experiences as kids with parents who have cancer. The need for the camp is there. Twenty-six kids attended the local Camp Kesem in its first year and, just two years later, that number ballooned to nearly 80. Bach says the camp is a hit with the whole family and the kids come back year after year.
to Latest CAREs Winners
Congratulations to the most recent winners of a Penn Medicine CAREs grant. If you volunteer for community outreach, your organization may be eligible to win a grant. Go to http://uphsxnet.uphs.upenn.edu/community/CARE/grant.html to learn more. Surviving to Thriving Program Helen Moragne | PPMC
Free Skin Cancer Screening Mayange Mitchell | CPUP
Penn Breast Health Initiative Andrea Nicholson | PAH
Childbirth Education Classes for Hispanic Community in Chester County Amy Latyak | CCH
Collaboration; a Shared Vision and Partnership Randi Jackson | PPMC
Knowledge Saturday Olubunmi Ariyo | CPUP
Summer Therapeutic Day Program Paul Giannette | PAH Stroke Education Community Outreach Elizabeth Neuhaus-Booth | HUP
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Gorgas Park Veterans Tribute Cynthia Ross | HUP Community Nutrition Jeanette Sukhu | PAH Start Talking Science Marion Leary | HUP
2015 Women’s Health Expo Martina Ward | HUP Medical Evaluations for Asylum Seekers Clayton Marcinak | PSOM
Empowering African-American Female Adolescents in Reproductive Health Joy Cooper | HUP Bucks County Admirals Special Needs Hockey Jeffery O’Neill | PAH Unity Clinic Electronic Health Record (EHR) System and Operations Yoonhee Ha | PSOM
Heartfelt Thanks F or Silverstein 11 “Where do I begin this short note of much love given, except I thank the Heavenly Father for the entire staff at HUP. The doctors, nurses, assistant nurses, housekeeping, pharmacy,
`` Tanya Bates of Medical Affairs was on hand to give out food vouchers on National Doctors’ Day.
dietary, the laboratory for blood testing, the attendings, registration staff, just everyone, which was very professional, much love, patience, everything. The staff made me feel like a queen.”
For Caren Levine of Radiology “You will never quite know how much your kindness touches my heart. Your compassion is unequaled. Just your making my scheduling simple, makes a huge difference. I would normally dread just the thought of getting the ultrasound for what it represents. However, seeing your warm smile makes it the best possible experience, even under my circumstances. Thank you so much.”
HUP THANKS ITS DOCS HUP doctors received a warm thank-you when they were greeted with free coffee, juice and other goodies as part of National Doctors’ Day. Celebrated each year on March 30, National Doctors’ Day gives us a special chance to show our nearly 1,900 doctors their hard work is appreciated. Stations were set up in the lobby of the Perelman Center for Advanced Care, the Ravdin Mezzanine and across from the cafeteria. Members of the Office of Medical Affairs handed out bottled water, juices and vouchers for free food at HUP’s Spruce Street Café, but the biggest hit seemed to be the coffee and traveling mugs. In front of the Spruce Street Café, a steady stream of doctors filed past, many surprised at the celebration and giveaway, yet visibly grateful for hot coffee and the recognition.
“We love putting smiles on the doctors’ faces.” –Tanya Bates, Administrative Assistant, Office of Medical Affairs
An Easter Tradition Continuing a longstanding tradition, members of the Abrahamsohn Committee – and their families and friends – delivered both live and artificial plants on Easter to HUP’s patient care units, to help brighten the day for those who were hospitalized on a holiday. Left, part of those helping to distribute the plants were Jazmyn Carrington (1), daughter of Sharni McIntyre of Patient & Family Centered Care and the Board Of Women Visitors, and McIntyre’s niece, Naimah Carringon.
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`` Kids tried their best — with a lot of laughs — to copy the movements of yoga instructor Noelle Gesualdo of Rhoads 4.
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Plans Underway
HOW COOL IS THAT! always been a real draw for kids, but the simulation demonstration — thanks to Josef Luba of the Simulation Center, who controls the “patient” — received a big thumbs up as well. Kids learned how to do an endoscopy on Dulles 6. Staff had them peer into a box filled with examples of things people have actually swallowed, including a toothbrush, ruler and plastic knife! How many chambers does the heart have? What color will skin turn if the liver isn’t working? These questions and many more filled the Transplant Jeopardy board on Rhoads 4. Teams of kids did their best to correctly answer more of the questions in the five categories (heart, liver, kidney, pancreas, and lung) than their competition… and learned a lot in the process. Researchers in Radiation Oncology labs demonstrated how gases and laser light respond in different environments. Kids also got to see fluorescent stained brain cells under a microscope. In addition, the children of Rad Onc staff hosted four Alex’s Lemonade stands in the Perelman Center to raise money for kids with cancer and collected over $1,200 in 90 minutes! Thanks so much to Phyllis Murray of Administration, who always does a great job of leading this special day, for both kids and their parents. Look for more photos online at http://news. pennmedicine.org/inside/hupdate/.
GSPP Gala
TO SUPPORT REHAB EDUCATION Good Shepherd Penn Partners will hold the 2015 Cocktail Gala on May 9 at Penn Therapy and Fitness at University City to raise funds for educational advancements during every step of rehabilitation. Teaching during the rehabilitation process helps patients learn to adjust to a new normal. To learn more or purchase tickets, contact Danielle Gower, GSPP director of Institutional Advancement at Gower@uphs.upenn.edu or visit www.pennpartners.org.
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LL EMPLOYEE A MEETINGS B e sure to attend an All Employee Meeting to learn more about HUP and the Health System and have your questions answered by hospital leaders. All Employee Meetings are held in Medical Alumni Hall, on 1 Maloney. The next three will be held: W EDNESDAY, MAY 13 Noon to 1:00 pm T HURSDAY, JUNE 11 5:00 to 6:00 pm W EDNESDAY, JULY 15 8:30 to 9:30 am
FOR LANCASTER GENERAL HEALTH TO JOIN UPHS Building on a longstanding clinical relationship between the two organizations, the University of Pennsylvania Health System has reached a final agreement for Lancaster General Health (LG Health) to join UPHS. A three-hospital health system located in South Central Pennsylvania, LG Health has been recognized regionally and nationally for its patient-centered services, clinical excellence, patient safety, and thrice designated a Magnet hospital for nursing excellence. Joining two of the state’s top health systems will build on the strengths of both, allowing them to provide better health-care services to more people. The detailed agreement is subject to various state and federal agency reviews before moving ahead.
HUPdate EDITORIAL STAFF Sally Sapega Editor and Photographer Lisa Paxson Graphic Designer
ADMINISTRATION
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.