HUPDATE H O S P I TA L O F T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F P E N N S Y L VA N I A
MARCH 2017
“ I am grateful for their presence and how they continue to help chaplains, the patients, families deal with the complicated world at HUP.”
GOSPELRAMA Gets the Audience Rocking Last month, Gospelrama performers had the audience in Medical Alumni Hall on their feet and clapping and singing. From musicians to dancers and poets, the 22nd annual celebration did not disappoint. “Nothing like a praise party!” said mistress of ceremony Betty White, coordinator of Clinical Pastoral Education, in kicking off the performances. “Loosen up and, when the spirit hits you, let it out all over the place!” Jim Browning, director of Pastoral Care, welcomed everyone and recognized the staff of Pastoral Care “for the tireless work they do here and at Penn Presbyterian. I am humbled daily by the commitment of Pastoral Care and by the commitment of Administration.”
“They all have pastoral spirit. Each one is an honorary chaplain who is always there in our time of need,” said Denise Statham, administrative chaplain. “They take ministry into the community.” Chris Cullom, assistant executive hospital director of Support Services, encouraged audience members to take the positive energy that filled the room to “positively affect those you come in contact with every day.”
THIS YEAR’S CIRCLE OF FRIENDS ARE: • Karen Anderson of Patient and Family Centered Care • Andrea Blount of Nursing Practice & Ambulatory Care Nursing • Cherise Debouse of Women’s Health • Pam Mack-Brooks of Nursing Education, Innovation, & Professional Development • Lashawn Mosley of Clinical Engineering • Tiera Reid-Lloyd of Staffing for All Seasons • Domenic Sanginiti of Human Resources
He also introduced a new component of Gospelrama: the Pastoral Care Circle of Friends. Quoting nationally renowned spiritual leader Maryanne Williamson, he said “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.” Those chosen for the Pastoral Care Circle of Friends, he said, “are not afraid to let their light shine. I am grateful for their presence and how they continue to help chaplains, patients, families deal with the complicated world at HUP.”
End of Life Care:
The Need for Special Sensitivities
“ End of life is one of the most challenging aspects of hospital care.” People often see dying in an intensive care unit — attached to wires, intubated, and surrounded by the noise of a busy hospital floor — as frightening. But it doesn’t have to be. Two new initiatives at HUP are helping patients and their families face death with dignity and peace. Caring for patients who are receiving “comfort care” at the end of their lives — and their families — requires special sensitivities. Thanks to efforts by HUP’s Palliative Care ICU Nursing Champion group, a special sign
IN THIS ISSUE »» Making Connections for a Healthy Lifestyle
»» Ravdin 9 Wins DAISY Team Award
»» Young Receives Circle of Excellence Award
»» Nurses Week 5K Run/Walk
identifying these patients’ rooms will keep interruptions to a minimum, and a new brochure — What to Expect When Your Loved One is Near Death — will help families better understand the process of dying and serve as a tool for nurses to start these often difficult-to-have conversations.
and family. “The back of the sign includes scripting to assist nurses explain how the sign will help us provide better care for the patient,” she said. The brochure serves as a tool to provide direct, clear information for families during this difficult time. The group worked with members of the Advisory Committee to make sure it included the basic information families need on a level they can understand. “There’s no fancy terminology. We give families direct answers,” Klinedinst said. “It doesn’t replace good communication but it helps start these conversations.” “We put lot of thought into the brochure and asked for feedback from experts,” said Rebecca Stamm, MSN, RN, associate director of Clinical Implementation. “End of life is one of the most challenging aspects of hospital care.”
The photo in the comfort care sign, showing a sunrise or sunset (depending on a person’s perception), was taken by Janet Dennis, a HUP transplant patient who is also on the hospital’s Patient and Family Advisory Committee. “The MICU has had a similar one for years but the nurse champion group wanted to create a standard one for use across the hospital,” said Rachel Klinedinst, MSN, CRNP, Palliative Care nurse practitioner, who’s leading the initiative.
Empowering nurses to advocate for palliative care has also been a part of the comfort care initiative, although, as Klinedinst stressed, this service is not just for end-oflife patients. “It is support for patients and families at any stage of a serious, life-limiting illness,” she said. HUP’s multidisciplinary palliative care team can be consulted to discuss symptoms, advance directives, and other concerns. “We’re patient advocates with no agenda except to support the patient and family.”
This symbol of comfort care tells all hospital staff to check with the patient’s nurse before entering the room, preventing unnecessary interruptions and encouraging quiet. It is only placed on the door outside the room after the patient has been placed on comfort care following discussions between the healthcare team and the patient
The comfort care sign and brochure standardization were driven by frontline clinical nurses. “Nurses who are at the bedside are faced with watching someone suffer and having difficult conversations but wanting the patient and family to get everything they need,” Klinedinst said. “Supporting them in their job leads to better quality care.”
Photo credit: Peggy Peterson
`` Andrea Davis and Saisai Chen, a first year medical student, talk with a Mantua community member about healthy living.
Making Connections for a Healthy Lifestyle Much of having a healthy lifestyle is knowing how it’s done, for example, what foods are good for you and what foods aren’t, and understanding why exercise is so important. Students from the Perelman School of Medicine reached out to residents of Mantua this past November, to help them better understand the connections.
Second-year med student Andrea Davis explained that they chose Mantua because of its dire statistics: More than half live below the poverty line and many are obese and suffer from preventable disease, including hypertension and diabetes. Helping residents understand the connection between diet and disease and tricks to eat better was the program’s goal. “People want to know why it’s important to eat right and the consequences of not doing so,” she said. The students are part of Penn NOURISH, one of the medical school's student groups that aims to improve nutrition education for both medical students and the community.
Each session included a presentation that focused on one area of healthy eating, such as the difference between healthy and unhealthy fats, and good carbohydrates versus bad ones. Then each student paired with a participant for a one-on-one discussion about healthy eating. The conversations, Davis said, focused not on specific foods they needed to eat but rather “how can we make what you like to eat healthier, like sautéing greens in olive oil instead of butter or replacing sour cream with yogurt in a recipe.” Each student helped the resident set — and write down — small but achievable (“and hopefully sustainable”) goals on individual goal sheets, for example, walk 20 minutes a day or eat a vegetable at every meal. At the next session, during these one-onone discussions, they talked about the goals — were they achieved and if not what were the obstacles.
included all the PowerPoint slides from the presentations as well as goal sheets created for each person. The students will use remaining funds from the grant to purchase seeds and other gardening supplies for Mantua’s community garden, to help them grow veggies and herbs in their own neighborhood.
Young Receives Circle of Excellence Award Bethany Young, MSN, RN, clinical nurse specialist on Rhoads 2, received the Circle of Excellence Award from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. Up to 25 individuals who exemplify excellence in high acuity and critical care nursing practice are chosen annually for this award.
Response to the students’ healthy eating program was encouraging, Davis said. “People were engaged. In fact, they didn’t want to leave when the sessions ended — the conversations were still going, which I loved,” Davis said. And the students loved it as well. “I was worried that there would be a barrier, that participants would feel intimidated,” she said, “but the conversations were very easy.”
Nurses Week 5K Run/Walk
In fact, “they want us to come back,” which they will, in the spring.
the HUP Nursing Community Healthcare
Get some great exercise and help support Outreach Fund by participating in the Nurses Week 5K Run/Walk on Saturday,
Thanks to a Penn Medicine CAREs grant, the students were able to create a booklet for each participant, which
May 6. It will start on Penn’s Shoemaker Green. The cost to register is:
• $20 BY APRIL 1 • $25 TILL MAY 5
Learn more about applying for a Penn Medicine CAREs grant for your community
• $30 DAY OF RACE
outreach at http://uphsxnet.uphs.upenn.edu/community/CARE/grant.html.
To learn more and register, go to http: www.brynmawrracing.com. For questions, email melissa.trolene@
Ravdin 9 Wins DAISY Team Award The DAISY award recognizes the clinical skills, extraordinary compassion, and care exhibited by nurses every day. The annual DAISY team award acknowledges a group of nurses that collaborate to help a patient and/or family member. This year’s winner was Ravdin 9. A total of 119 nominations came in for 21 different teams, primarily from patients and families. According to Angela Newton, MSN, chair of the Professional Development Core Council, Ravdin 9 received 28 “heartfelt, meaningful nominations, many mentioning the team work and collaboration,” key criteria for the award.
uphs.upenn.edu. To volunteer, contact
QUOTES
ryan.olivere@uphs.upenn.edu.
FROM SOME OF THESE NOMINATIONS NOTED:
From the time my husband was admitted he was treated with kindness and respect. It was like family.
These superemployees were not just doing their jobs but doing their jobs way above any hospital stay I’ve ever had! nurses, aids, maintenance, All cleaning and dietary staff went far beyond my best expectations. They emulate and are the reason why I’d call UPenn Hospital #1.
HUPDATE EDITORIAL STAFF Sally Sapega Editor and Photographer Lisa Paxson Graphic Designer
ADMINISTRATION
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