Volume 27
Number 26
December 23, 2016
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
BRINGING
Holiday Cheer INTO HUP Once again, HUP’s tree decorating competition — sponsored by the
Abrahamsohn Christmas & Easter Committee — has brought the holiday
spirit onto patient care units. The recently announced winners — described in this issue — demonstrate how staff go above and beyond to make the holiday season a happier one for patients and families.
INSIDE Imagine World Peace................2 The Sweetest Things!...............2
In Finding Dory, the often forgetful title character suddenly remembers that she has a family somewhere out there who may be looking for her. Off she sets — with friends — on an adventure to find them, frequently telling her fellow fish to “just keep swimming,” no matter what. Founders 12 adopted this theme for its winning entry: Just keep healing! The hallways and windows leading to the unit show characters from the movie “swimming” together, among fish netting and blue tulle, “like we swim as one to take care of our patients,” said Jennifer
Rocco who took the lead along with Carly Rosenblatt. Nemo, Dory and other character cutouts also decorate the tree, along with clear ornamental balls filled with sand, and blue ribbon wrapping around it, “to make it look like it’s floating in water.” Rocco said. Seagulls perch on top! A treasure chest overflowing with toys and warm mittens — thanks to the generous contributions of staff — will be donated to a shelter that helps families dealing with substance abuse. A note by the treasure chest states: Founders 12 “remembers” how important it is to give back.
A Charlie Brown Christmas......3 It’s a Jungle in There!...............4
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Imagine world peace
With so much violence and hatred in the world, Dulles 4 decided to bring some goodwill onto their unit, with World Peace. Denise Coy came up with the theme and brought the idea to fruition. She created mini globes by hand painting ornamental balls with glitter and a paper garland made of gift wrap with the words love, joy and peace continuously repeated.
Tree decorations also included white doves, universal peace signs and quotes from John Lennon’s “Imagine” (Imagine all the people, living life in peace). Thelma Santos added beautiful floral decorations to the tree and, by its side, a painting by Mike Hamm. Giving back was also part of the unit’s effors. Contributions from staff will be sent to the Red Cross.
THE
Sweetest THINGS!
The Rhoads 5 SICU staff regularly survey their patients and families to make sure their experiences on the unit are good and “they say the sweetest things,” said Anita McAlee. And that was the basis for this year’s winning theme. The staff created a “candy store” in the family waiting room, filled with bright, cheerful colors and, of course, candy! The front window of the room looks like an old fashioned candy store, with “trees” of lollipops in front. The holiday tree is completely covered with candy (some real, some not), glittery ornaments, ribbons, and streamers. The window seat is a snowy scene of a village filled with glittery houses … many decorated with candies! “The more colorful, the better!” said McAlee. On many of the tree’s streamers was feedback by patients and families: “ We cannot thank you enough for all of the care given to my father.” “ Every nurse was incredible.” “ My wife received the BEST care.” “ We know this team of doctors and nurses saved our father’s life. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”
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A Charlie Brown
Christmas Silverstein 10 has a strong connection with pets. They allow patients — many receiving heart and/or lung transplants — to have their own pets come to the floor. The staff also raises money for Pets for Vets, an organization that helps heal the emotional wounds of military veterans by pairing each with a rehabilitated shelter dog. In a nod to the recent 50th anniversary of A Charlie Brown Christmas — and Charlie Brown’s bond with Snoopy — the staff brought Charlie Brown and his gang to life in the unit’s waiting room. There are specially created ornaments (swished with paint inside and handpainted faces of the Peanuts gang on the outside) on the tree and cutouts of all the “gang” singing on one of the walls as well as Snoopy’s doghouse. And on one window are individual pictures of all of pets belonging to staff. The staff will also donate more than $400 to Pets for Vets! “I think animals have a special place in medicine,” said Tricia Shustock.
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it’s a jungle in there!
HOLIDAY
OUTREACH? Is your department or area planning to do some holiday outreach in the community? We’d love to share the story of your efforts to brighten thisseason for others. Please send information about the outreach and photos to Sally.Sapega@uphs.upenn.edu.
To see more photos of our
winning trees
,
The fast pace of the Founders 10 CICU often has staff running around, “like monkeys swinging on a banana tree,” said Ashley Brennan, who, with Jamie Kakkanattu, took the lead on creating this winning entry. Ten thousands leaves — all cut out by members of the staff — form the backdrop for much of the jungle scenery, which includes a great tree made from twisted paper towel and toilet paper cardboard rolls. Monkeys swing everywhere — many with names of staff — on the holiday tree and along the walls leading to the unit. There’s also a waterfall and jungle animals (lion, zebra and giraffe) on hallway doors. And watch out for the snakes lurking above! Needless to say, “our patients love it,” Brennan said.
go to https://www.pennmedicine.org/ news/internal-newsletters/hupdate.
HUPdate EDITORIAL STAFF Sally Sapega Editor and Photographer Abby Ernst 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.
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