Volume 5
WHAT’Snew
Number 15
July 22, 2016
Pennsylvania Hospital
`` Baptisia
`` Foxglove
`` Physic Garden Volunteers Edith Newhall, Kathleen “Kate” McGrann, Jane Wright, and Nancy Wessells. Photo Credit: Robert Press
Tending to a Legacy:
THE PHYSIC GARDEN AT PENNSYLVANIA HOSPITAL The Physic Garden at Pennsylvania Hospital is a labor of love 200 years in the making. First approved by Pennsylvania Hospital’s Board of Managers in 1774 in order to provide physicians with a ready source of ingredients for medical remedies, the garden was finally brought to life in 1976 as part of a Bicentennial project executed by the Philadelphia Committee of the
INSIDE PAH Hosts First Bishop Symposium...............................2 Introducing the Patient and Family Advisory Council.................................. 3 Have Your Art Displayed at Penn Medicine Cherry Hill................. 3 Summer of Safety at PAH.................. 4 Transportation Update........................ 4 Cafeteria Renovation Update............ 4
Garden Club of America and friends of Pennsylvania Hospital, including physicians and other staff members. Today, it serves as a place for patients, families, visitors, and PAH employees to seek a peaceful refuge, while also being reminded of our rich history. The garden provides beauty as well as a glimpse into the past—most of the plants, such as lavender, mountain laurel, foxglove, and even wild onion, were commonly used in 18th-century medicine. The garden is kept in tip-top condition by volunteers who work in it from May to midNovember. “Most of our planting is done in the spring,” said Kathleen “Kate” McGrann, lead volunteer and coordinator for the Physic Garden. “But you can find something in bloom almost any time of the year.”
McGrann, the former director of Social Work Services at PAH, has been a volunteer tending to the Physic Garden for nearly a decade. “For the 24 years I worked at Pennsy, there were always these ladies working in the garden and then coming into the cafeteria for lunch. Now suddenly, I’m one of those ladies,” McGrann said. “It really is a peaceful place to be, whether you are working in the garden, or you are a patient, family member, visitor, or employee. It provides an escape from stress.” On more than one occasion, McGrann has witnessed firsthand the joy the garden brings to visitors. One day, she overheard a new father on his cell phone sharing the news of his daughter’s birth. He asked McGrann if there was any Rue planted in our garden. Turns out, Rue was in full bloom. / / / Continued on page 2
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Tending to a Legacy:
/ / / Continued from cover
THE PHYSIC GARDEN AT PENNSYLVANIA HOSPITAL “I pointed it out to him and asked why he was interested in that particular plant,” McGrann said.
`` Lead Volunteer Kate McGrann
“My new daughter’s middle name is Rue,” the father shared. “It means bright sunshine in Mandarin, my native language.” PAH’s Physic Garden, now in its 40th year, is open all year long for the enjoyment of patients, families, staff, and visitors and continues to serve as a living demonstration of the ways nature can provide care and healing.
`` Garden Heliotrope
I NTERES TED IN B EC OM ING A VOLU NTEER ?
Contact Kate McGrann at 215.334.6111 or kmcgrann@aol.com.
`` Volunteer Jane Wright Photo Credit: Robert Press
PAH HOSTS FIRST BISHOP SYMPOSIUM
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On June 22, obstetrics and gynecology experts from across the country gathered at Pennsylvania Hospital to discuss emerging issues and advances in women’s health care with a focus on uterine cervical function during pregnancy and premature delivery prevention at the first-ever Bishop Symposium.
Ludmir dedicated the symposium to a patient he encountered early in his career as an attending physician at Penn. The patient was exposed in-utero to a synthetic estrogen known as DES. The hormone was used from the 1940s to 1960s as a therapy to prevent miscarriage and preterm birth. In 1971, this drug was banned from use in pregnancy because it was found to increase the risk for a rare form of vaginal cancer in children born to women who took DES during pregnancy. It was also found to cause significant pregnancy complications in women exposed to the hormone.
The one-day symposium, developed by Jack Ludmir, MD, former chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at `` Edward H. Bishop, MD Pennsylvania Hospital, was named in honor of Edward H. Bishop, MD. Bishop received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in 1937 and was a prominent clinician, teacher, and researcher in the Philadelphia area for more than three decades. In 1964, while working at Pennsylvania Hospital, Bishop published his famous, “pelvic scoring for elective induction,” one of the most cited papers in the obstetric literature — leaving a lasting legacy in obstetric care. Now commonly known as the Bishop Score, this method is used worldwide to determine a woman’s chance of successfully delivering her baby vaginally.
“This symposium is dedicated to that patient and to all our patients who have faced and continue to face the challenges of premature delivery. Their honesty and trust have been a tremendous influence on me and have pushed me to better a doctor and better human being,” Ludmir said. Participants deemed the symposium a success and praised the quality of information and insights shared throughout the day. Ludmir hopes that the Bishop Symposium will be a yearly event honoring Bishop and his groundbreaking research that helped make Pennsylvania Hospital a world leader in women’s health.
Introducing
THE PATIENT AND FAMILY ADVISORY COUNCIL This May, Pennsylvania Hospital launched the Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) to foster a culture of patient- and familycentered care. PFAC will include past and present patients and family as well as PAH staff members. Patients and their families are often the most knowledgeable members of the care team, and can offer unique perspectives and valuable feedback regarding the standard of care they receive. Through PFAC, PAH team members will have the opportunity to better understand the needs of the diverse population we serve and develop new projects and initiatives that will help to evaluate and improve care delivery at PAH.
The PFAC scope includes: • Participate and share recommendations on the development
of policies, programs, services, and facilities at PAH
• Monitor, evaluate, and address the needs of patients • Serve as an advisory resource to administration and staff • Promote improved relationships between patients, families, and staff • Provide opportunities for staff to receive feedback from
the community
If you are interested in presenting a project or idea to the advisors for their input, or if you would like to request advisor participation on a committee or project team, please fill out a PFAC project request form (http://uphsxnet.uphs.upenn.edu/pahhome/committees/pat_ fam_advisory/index.htm) and return it to PFAC@uphs.upenn.edu.
Have Your Art Displayed at Penn Medicine Cherry Hill Calling all painters, photographers, printmakers, and craftspeople! Penn Medicine Cherry Hill is inviting all Penn faculty, staff, students, and patients to submit artwork to its first-ever art exhibition. The art exhibition will be on display throughout September 2016 at the new facility, with a focus on local south New Jersey artists. Submit your artwork to https://cfeva.slideroom.com/#/Login by August 5, 2016.
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TRANSPORTATION UPDATE
SUMMER OF SAFETY at PAH
“You can’t always prevent a security issue, but you can be
prepared to handle it when it happens” — Christine Vanzandbergen Associate CIO, Clinical Applications
PAH is committed to ensuring that all employees feel safe while on campus and while commuting to and from work. As part of our Summer of Safety campaign, the Security team will be sharing safety and security information to all PAH staff on Wednesday, July 27 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. in Zubrow Auditorium. The presentation will include: »»General safety tips »»Key information about PAH’s ongoing safety and security efforts »»Q & A with Christine Vanzandbergen, an employee who recently experienced a safety issue Key chains that feature a flashlight and a safety whistle will be distributed after the presentations. PAH Security is also available to give safety presentations to individual teams. Please contact Bryan Anthony, Director of Security to schedule a presentation.
Due to safety concerns related to some of its rail cars, SEPTA has announced that starting Tuesday, July 5, SEPTA Regional Rail Service will be significantly reduced. This service reduction affects only Regional Rail service. All other SEPTA transportation modes are not affected. Staff who depend on the regional rail system to travel to and from work should make alternative transportation arrangements. The most current information on affected schedules can be found on the SEPTA website: www.septa.org/stations/ rail/stations.shtml. Many of our patients will also be affected by this situation. Ensuring patients are able to access and receive the care they need and deserve must remain our highest priority. We ask for your patience and cooperation as this developing situation unfolds. Remote parking with shuttle service for PAH employees is available at:
Pier 24 Penn Parking Lot 401 North Columbus Blvd Philadelphia, PA
Meadows Parking Lot 364 South Columbus Blvd Philadelphia, PA
Cafeteria Renovation UPDATE It is an exciting time at Pennsylvania Hospital as everyone awaits our freshly updated and modernized cafeteria. Renovations began on an environment of healing; May 31 with a vision to create an environment nourishing the body, mind, and soul of healing; nourishing the body, mind, and soul. The updated cafeteria will include a newly designed space with an enlarged, openconcept retail area to allow items to be freshly prepared in front of customers. The new space will also include additional seating options and a lounge area for staff and visitors.
PAH FOOD SERVICE,
During the transformation, the following food and seating options are available:
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FOOD OPTIONS:
SEATING OPTIONS:
»» COFFEE CART – Yogurts, fruit, bagels, muffins, grab-andgo sandwiches, salads, soups, and snack selections »» THE GIFT SHOP – Deli style sandwiches, beverages, and snacks »» BEN’S DEN – Breakfast sandwiches, fruit, yogurt, soup, sandwiches, and salad selections all pre-packaged for quick pick-up »» WEEKLY SPECIALS – Weekly “grilling and chilling” outdoor BBQ on the patio
»»COFFEE CART »»8TH STREET WALKWAY to the Pine Building »»STAFF LOUNGE AREAS »» THE LOBBY by the main entrance (for visitors only)
WHAT’Snew EDITORIAL STAFF Johanna Harvey Editor
Maureen McGirr 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: 215.329.8062 email: johanna.harvey@uphs.upenn.edu WHAT’Snew is published biweekly for PAH employees. Access WHAT’Snew online at http://news.pennmedicine.org/inside/whats-new/.