Digital Edition of What's New - 10/16/2015

Volume 4

WHAT’Snew

Number 21

October 16, 2015

Pennsylvania Hospital

The Papal Visit

MASTERING

For six intense months, Pennsylvania Hospital, guided by a Papal Preparation Team of 37 members representing departments throughout the hospital, worked to map out plans that would prepare the hospital community for Pope Francis’s historic visit to Philadelphia in September.

Because of major traffic restrictions and an anticipated influx of visitors to the city, the hospital had to stockpile medical and non-medical supplies, prepare to accommodate staff sleeping over, and coordinate with national and local authorities to ensure the safe passage of obstetrical patients through traffic barriers. More than 2,000 Penn Medicine employees camped out for the weekend – nearly 600 sleeping over at PAH alone.

INSIDE Mastering the Papal Visit con’t........ 2 Abramson Cancer Center Earns "Exceptional" Rating from NCI........... 3 Penn’s Way 2016 Giving is Penn’s Way!......................... 4 Employee Flu Campaign Underway......................................... 4 You are Invited – Ask the Experts….4

“When we first started, we had a list of 187 issues and tasks we needed to address in preparation for this historic event,” said John Wierzbowski, MSc., MPH, director of Safety and Emergency Preparedness and co-chair of the prep team. “We tackled every single one.

Hospitals are very good at planning for weather-related events such as snowstorms and hurricanes, but this unprecedented event was like preparing for a snowstorm on steroids.”

Mary Del Guidice, RN, MSN, BS, CENP, chief nursing officer and co-chair of the prep team, explained it to Modern Healthcare magazine this way: “Imagine if you had to build a hospital, with bricks and mortar and people, on an island with no chance of getting off. That's the kind of detail we have worked to consider.”

From staff check-in through linen pick-ups, bed assignments and shower scheduling to guiding in women in labor with the help of the National Guard, PAH – as well as their colleagues at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center – all rose to the challenge and ensured a smooth, successful Papal Visit weekend. / / / Continued on page 2

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/ / / Continued from cover

The Papal Visit

MASTERING

`` Staff checking in.

“The planning and execution of the Papal Visit was an inter-professional success, which is characteristic of Pennsylvania Hospital,” said Theresa M. Larivee, the hospital’s executive director. “Preparations, planning and execution provided the ‘perfect storm’ for our colleagues to contribute in a manner that highlighted their vast array of skills. It resulted in the team recognizing new found talents as they related to logistics, detailed scheduling, hotel management, entertainment and creative nutrition.

“From the initial ‘check in’ to ‘check out’ our patients, families, physicians and staff all felt very well cared for – so much so that the planning team received many verbal and written notes of gratitude for their thoughtful and well executed plan,” Larivee said.

New Mom’s First Baby Born at PAH During Pope’s First Day in Philly

`` PAH Executive Director hands out “overnight bag” gift bags to staff checking in to stay.

Intense preparations over the last six months for the Pope’s visit to Philadelphia ensured all patients needing to get to a Penn Medicine hospital, including women in labor, could during the visit. CBS3 medical reporter Stephanie Stahl came to PAH Sunday, September 27th during the Papal Visit to interview new mom A’lena Scurry. Scurry, who gave birth to her first child on the first day of the Pope’s visit – a precious baby girl, A’zaria. A’lena, was inspired hearing the Pope speak on TV during labor and had no difficulties getting to the hospital, thanks to PAH Command Center staff who guided her in over the phone while coordinating with the National Guard.

`` Supporting our Na tio the weekend, helped nal Guard partners who, throughou t to quickly and saf ely guide patients especially moms in – labor – into PAH.

`` Assembling the additional bike racks which provided 180 more places for employee who biked in Papal weekend to park.

`` PAH responds to first request of supplies to local medical tent.

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`` Unpacking, inflating and delivering the 500 air mattresses purchased to help accommodate the nearly 600 staff who stayed the weekend.

`` Beat Bingo in

the Elm Garden

`` The Command Center staff waits for the Pope’s plane to land in Philly.

Cafeteria.

`` Employees cheering on the Philadelphia Eagles in the Zubrow Auditorium.

ABRAMSON CANCER CENTER EARNS “EXCEPTIONAL” RATING FROM NCI `` Gearing up for the MAGNET site vis it thi

s month.

`` PAH Papal Preparation Team co-chairs, Mary Del Guidice, CNO, and John Wierzbowski, director of Safety and Emergency Management.

The University of Pennsylvania’s Abramson Cancer Center (ACC) — which includes the ACC at Pennsylvania Hospital — has received an “exceptional” rating by the National Cancer Institute during an extensive peer-review process for its five-year competitive research support grant. The rating is the highest possible for an NCI cancer center.

The rating also signifies the renewal of the ACC’s status as a “comprehensive” center, designated to institutions that demonstrate an added depth and breadth of multidisciplinary laboratory, clinical and population-based research, as well as substantial trans-disciplinary research that bridges these scientific areas.

Being part of the Abramson Cancer Center expands the comprehensive services that are already provided here at Pennsylvania Hospital’s Joan Karnell Supportive Care Program and the Abramson Cancer Center at Pennsylvania Hospital, and it allows us to partner with our colleagues across the health system to improve care and outcomes and provide hope to patients,” said Arthur Staddon, MD, director of the ACC PAH and the Bone Tackling all Health Care Challenges During Papal Visit to Philly In continuing media coverage, Pennsylvania Hospital was featured in multiple media outlets for its preparations to ensure the smooth delivery of health care to the region and visitors who came to Philadelphia to see Pope Francis. John Wierzbowski, MSc., MPH, director of Safety and Emergency Management at PAH, was featured commenting on hospital preparations in Modern Healthcare, on 6abc, and in an Associated Press article which was picked up by 45 media outlets across the U.S. Patty Inacker, LCSW, MBA, director of Operations of the Hall-Mercer Community Mental Health Center at PAH, was also featured on 6abc, discussing Hall-Mercer’s vital role in providing round-the-clock on- and off-site psychiatric first aid throughout the weekend.

and Soft Tissue Sarcoma Program, and a clinical professor of Medicine. “This ‘exceptional’ rating is something we should all be very proud of.

The ACC, which is one of only 45 NCI-designated comprehensive centers in the U.S. and three in Pennsylvania, received the prestigious honor following scientific review and evaluation of essential features of a cancer center, including the high quality of cancer research, state-of-the art research and patient care facilities, experienced scientific leadership, and the level of collaboration and translation of science to innovative cancer care.

“This is an extraordinary recognition and further testimony to all of the efforts and hard work put forth every day by the cancer center’s faculty, researchers, clinicians, nurses, and other staff,” said Chi Van Dang, MD, PhD, director of the ACC. “This is an exceptional cancer center and importantly, one with a ‘soul’ and unmatched esprit-de-corps. We all should be heartened by this external validation and that our research is impactful in helping to decrease the burden of cancer.”

SINCE T H E LA ST

COMPETITIVE RENEWAL PROCESS IN 2010:

5,000+ 1,000+ 550+

Cancer-related publications authored by faculty physicians and researchers Active research projects making unprecedented advances in cancer research Cancer clinical trials, the largest portfolio in the Philadelphia region

`` Movie time in the Zubrow Auditorium for employees.

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PENN’S WAY 2016

Giving is Penn’s Way! The Penn’s Way 2016 Campaign has begun! This year’s Campaign, which kicked off October 5th, and runs through Friday, November 20th, continues along our previous theme of “Giving is Penn’s Way.” We had a very successful Campaign at PAH last year; surpassing our goal and raising more than $103,000 with 85 percent participation. All UPHS employees are encouraged to participate so we can reach our overall fundraising goal of $1.55 million.

“The Penn’s Way campaign honors the culture of generosity, kindness and thoughtfulness that exists among our employees,” wrote Ralph W. Muller, UPHS CEO, in an email to all employees. “Collectively, our donations make a broad and immediate impact on the communities in which we live and serve.”

You can donate now via the PAH Intranet Homepage and clicking on the GIVING is PENN’S WAY button – or by visiting www.upenn. edu/pennsway – and clicking on “Contribute.” All gifts made directly to PAH this year will benefit the Preventative Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Safe Sleep Sack Program. All PAH departments that reach 100 percent participation will receive a soft pretzel party.

A complete list of organizations participating in this year’s campaign can be found on the website, www.upenn.edu/pennsway.

Employee Flu Campaign U N D E R WAY …

Over the past six years, greater than 98 percent of PAH and UPHS employees have been vaccinated for seasonal influenza. Getting the flu vaccine reduces the risk of illness for our staff and helps keep our patients, colleagues and families healthy and safe. UPHS has been recognized by the State of Pennsylvania for this key patient safety initiative.

The 2015 Penn Medicine Employee Flu Campaign is an opportunity to continue our achievements. It has already begun as usual with the distribution of vaccine to high-risk clinical units and practices. Occupational Medicine Flu Vaccine Clinics are now available at a wide variety of locations throughout the health system.

Look for the 2015-2016 Flu Campaign button PAH Intranet Homepage for times and locations of all Flu Vaccine Clinics.

Seasonal influenza vaccine is provided free of charge to all Penn Medicine staff, clinical faculty and contractors. Annual vaccination is needed for maximal protection because each year's influenza vaccine protects against the virus strains most likely to be circulating that year. Egg-free vaccines have been manufactured and FDA-approved and will be available to egg-allergic employees by mid-October.

All employees and staff must access their own bar-coded vaccine consent forms. Details on how to access bar-coded forma are posted on the PAH Intranet page. If you choose to be vaccinated outside a UPHS Flu Vaccine Clinic, please send your documentation to HUP Occupational Medicine at OccupationalMedicineHUP@uphs.upenn.edu, with a copy of your bar-coded form to make sure you get timely credit.

Vaccinated employees will again have a chance to be entered into a raffle this year.

Employees who submit their completed flu bar-coded consent form by October 23rd, will be entered into the raffle and eligible to win one of several exciting prizes.

The UPHS Influenza Vaccine Policy is unchanged from last year. Contact your HR generalist for any questions about the policy or see the policy at the Flu Campaign Page.

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Invited…

You are

ASK THE EXPERTS: Ways to Manage Your Joint Pain Nearly twenty percent of all Americans suffer from joint pain. Joint pain affects the ability to perform basic physical tasks such as walking, sitting, driving and getting dressed. In today’s fast-paced environment, being slowed down by joint pain simply is not an option.

Come join the Penn Joint experts for a panel discussion at PAH as they discuss how Penn offers a personalized approach to treating your joint pain. Presented by Penn Orthopaedics, panel participants include PAH orthopaedic surgeons: Charles L. Nelson, MD, chief, Joint Service; David G. Nazarizan, MD, Atul F. Kamath, MD, and Neil P. Sheth, MD. Monday, November, 9th, 6 p.m.

Zubrow Auditorium Free Parking will be available at Delancey Parking Garage and refreshments will be served.

For more information and to register, please visit PennMedicine.org/joint-pain.

WHAT’Snew EDITORIAL STAFF

Olivia Fermano Editor and Photographer Lauren Hochenberger Graphic Design Barry Ogburn Photography

ADMINISTRATION

Susan E. Phillips Senior Vice President, Public Affairs Holly Auer Director of Communications Sally Sapega Director of Internal Communications CONTACT WHAT’Snew at: Department of Communications Pennsylvania Hospital Philadelphia, PA 19106 phone: 215.829.6799 email: olivia.fermano@uphs.upenn.edu WHAT’Snew is published biweekly for PAH employees. Access WHAT’Snew online at http://news.pennmedicine.org/inside/whats-new/.