Digital Edition of What's New - 6/12/2015

Volume 4

WHAT’Snew

Number 12

June 12, 2015

Pennsylvania Hospital

A Very Special Tea for Two You can chang e s omeone’s world w ith one simple ac t of k i n d n e s s .

Earlier this month Pennsylvania Hospital maternity nurse, Lynne Dever, RNC, was going about her work day when she noticed her patient — Alison Paymer of Philadelphia — was in great distress.

`` Alison and Maddie Paymer and Lynne Dever, RNC.

Other than being pregnant with twins, Paymer’s pregnancy had been normal. However, multiple gestations increase a mother’s risk for preeclampsia — a particularly dangerous form of high blood pressure brought on by pregnancy that arises after the 20th week. For Paymer, though, preeclampsia didn’t happen until after she delivered two healthy baby boys — Zachary and Jake — via cesarean section on May 4.

“At four days post-op, we had to extend her hospital admissions another day so we could continue to manage her unstable blood pressure,” said Peter Gearhart, MD, a clinical assistant professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Inside

This extra day stay meant that Paymer would have to miss attending a Mother’s Day breakfast and tea at her three-year old daughter Maddie’s school. “My mother took Maddie to the tea and afterwards, sent me all these pictures,” said Paymer. “She meant well, but it just made me even more upset to miss such a moment.”

Jersey Shore Here We Come!.......... 4

Overwhelmed by the situation, Paymer broke down. “I went in to see Alison because I knew she was really upset,” Dever said. “She was sobbing, and it was causing her blood pressure to rise. I went in this time to see her not just as her nurse, but to speak with her mom-to-mom.

I wanted her to know I understood how she felt and tried to calm her down.”

PAH Penn Cardiac Cath Team Receives Shout Out............................. 4

Then Dever got to thinking. She called Paymer’s husband to see if he was bringing little Maddie

Happy Birthday Pennsy! ................... 2 High-five for PAH Heart Heroes....... 2 Jason Bofinger, MD, Named Penn Pearl Teaching Award ............ 3

in to see her mother that afternoon. He was. “I thought, if Alison and Maddie couldn’t have their tea together at school, then let’s have it here,” said Dever.

Dever recruited help from staff at the Pavilion at PAH to pull the tea together. “They were really excited to be a part of it and Brenda (Patient Facilitated Services Concierge Brenda Hicks) told me, ‘Oh Lynne, we’ll make it look real nice, don’t worry!’”

And they did. Staff pulled together an attractive array of sweat treats for both mom and Maddie, including ice cream with special toppings. Nursing and Pavilion staff wheeled in a serving cart with the surprise spread into Paymer’s room. “Oh, I was crying. The nurses and everyone, they were all so sweet,” Paymer said. “They are all so busy to begin with and to take the time to pull this together for us…it is literally something we will remember forever.

Something like this, it just makes such a difference.”

Gearhart concurs.

“This small intervention helped highlight the importance of a special event in this family’s life. It exemplifies the caring spirit of our nurses that I have grown to appreciate over my years at Pennsylvania Hospital,” Gearhart said. “Lynne’s compassionate care and time spent with this patient likely went a long way toward helping to stabilize her blood pressure and preventing her from developing postpartum depression.”

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Happy Birthday Pennsy!

On May 11, employees, staff, and volunteers gathered in the Elm Garden Café for cake in celebration of PAH’s 264 year in continuous operation. th

The true birthday — the anniversary of the hospital’s founding — was Sunday, May 11, 1751, when a charter was granted by the Pennsylvania legislature to establish a hospital to care for the “sickpoor and insane who wander the streets of Philadelphia.” The story of the Good Samaritan was chosen by Franklin and Bond as the official

High-five for

seal, and “Take Care of Him and I will repay Thee” ushered in a new attitude of social responsibility in the mid-18th Century in Philadelphia. One can only wonder if Franklin and Bond ever imagined their hard work and contributions would result in a health care institution that has continued to evolve and serve the Philadelphia community for over two and a half centuries!

Did you know?

In 1752, a temporary hospital was opened as PAH in a house on High Street (now Market Street) and

PAH Heart Heroes Folks who feel inspired, motivated and moved by others who are making a heartfelt difference in the Philadelphia area are sharing their stories and highlighting heart and vascular staff at PAH. Recently, Christina Constans and Stefany McTighe were nominated by coworkers as “Heart Heros” — employees who consistently go above and beyond to help their cardiovascular patients, their families, and coworkers demonstrating extraordinary compassion in the delivery of patient care. Here’s what their nominators had to say about them:

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PAH Heart Hero Christina Constans Christina Constans is the epitome of patientcentered care. To Christina, the individuals she treats are more than just patients. They are someone’s mother, father, sister, brother, friend; and at all times, Constans shows that she is honored to take care of them. She exudes a compassion that is truly genuine. Often staying late to help her co-workers in PAH’s Cardiac Catheterization Lab, Christina show a dedication to her job that does not go unnoticed. Those that work with her, and those, whose hearts have been in her care, certainly consider her nothing less than a heart hero.

We had much to celebrate this year….

• PAH successfully completed another three-year accreditation survey from The Joint Commission.

• PAH received the Get with The Guidelines-Stroke Gold Plus award and recognition for On the Target: Stroke Honor Roll-Elite by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.

• The PAH Blood Bank concluded an American Association of Blood Banks inspection with no deficiencies.

Elizabeth Gardner, a Quaker widow, was appointed matron. It wasn’t until 1755, that the cornerstone, written by Benjamin Franklin, was laid for the East Wing of the Pine Building at the hospital’s current Location of 8th and Pine, on land purchased by the hospital.

Patients were finally admitted to PAH at its current location in 1756. `` The original cornerstone, with its text drafted

by Benjamin Franklin, can still be viewed at its location on the southeast corner of the East wing of the Pine Building.

• The new Pennsylvania Hospital Outpatient Pharmacy opened on Ground Preston.

• More than 30 new physicians joined the hospital staff in the past year reflective of PAH’s continued growth in: Cardiac Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gastroenterology, Neurology, Surgical Oncology, Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, Radiation Oncology, Psychiatry, and Urology.

PAH Heart Hero Stefany McTighe Staffing an experienced cardiac unit is not something that is quick or easy, yet Stefany McTighe does the job with grace. Day in and day out, Stefany coordinates patient needs, making sure that they appropriate staff is available to care for each patient on all five units at PAH. As a charge nurse, she is a true leader. When it comes to making sure that patients get the best possible care, Stefany gives it her all, making her a true heart hero.

Jason Bofinger, MD, Named Penn Pearl Teaching Award C ong r at u lations to Jason Bofinger, MD, of Penn Infectious Diseases and Travel Medicine at PAH, who is a recipient of a 2015 Penn Pearls Teaching Awards. Penn Pearls, which recognize excellence in clinical teaching, are given annually by medical students to faculty and house staff as a show of gratitude and respect.

“This is a wonderful honor for one of our very own,” said Michael Braffman, MD, chair of the Department of Medicine at PAH. “We are very, very proud of Jason and how he inspires future generations of physicians.”

Board-certified in Infectious Diseases, Bofinger’s areas of expertise in include HIV/AIDS, LGBT health, fever of unknown origin and travel medicine.

He received his medical degree from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and is a member of the American College of Physicians and the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

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Jersey Shore Here We Come!

201 5 B ike M S : C ity to Sh o r e R id e

October 3-4 The largest and most successful City to Shore team is looking for cyclists. Are you up for the challenge?

For the past seven years, UPHS/PENN has taken home the Largest Corporate Team award, and for the past five years has won the Top Fundraising Team award. In 2013, the National MS Society recognized UPHS/Penn as a Circle of Distinction Team for raising over $1 million dollars since the team’s creation in 1996.

Hosted by the National MS Society and organized by the Greater Delaware Valley Chapter, it is the largest fundraising cycling series in the U.S. and has been named as the “Best Cycling Getaway in NJ” by Bicycling Magazine.

Team UPHS/PENN’s registration drive continues with 196 riders already pledging to participate (60 percent of our goal). Register Last year, Team UPHS/PENN raised today to ensure that Team UPHS/PENN $211,264 with 290 riders. This year, we are looking to form a team of over 325 cyclists so remains number one! All employees, family and friends are welcome to join, and each UPHS/PENN can raise more than $175,000 person who raises the minimum $300 will dollars to fight MS. If our team raises receive a free customized team jersey. $207,000 dollars, we will surpass the $2 million dollar mark for overall fundraising >> >C lick here to register: during the history of our participation in the http://main.nationalmssociety.org/ race. You can help make that happen! goto/UPHS-PENN Penn Medicine employees can support City Penn Medicine and the National MS Society to Shore either as cyclists or volunteers. have a long standing partnership that Held October 3 and 4, the MS City to Shore benefits all those people who are affected Ride is a weekend long experience that by multiple sclerosis. The MS Society ends in festive and scenic Ocean City, NJ. has invested over $6.2 million dollars Cyclists can choose to participate in one of in UPHS research since 2004, including six different one or two day route options. over $1.8 million dollars in the last 4 years alone. UPHS receives more funding The MS Society has invested for research from the MS Society than any other Philadelphia area institution. over $6.2 million dollars in UPHS This research is crucial to understand the complex interactions that cause MS. research since 2004, including over UPHS has researched the regulation of the autoimmune system, oxidative stress during $1.8 million dollars in the last demyelination, and methods to evaluate neuroprotective treatments throughout the 4 years alone. optic system.

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PAH Penn Cardiac Cath Team

Receives Shout Out The Penn Cardiac Catheterization Team at Pennsylvania Hospital received a cool “Shout Out” from WMMR, 93.3 FM’s Preston and Steve during their morning radio show on May 28. Nick Sosnowski, CRNP, Adriene Agnew, BSN, RN, CCRN, and hemostasis tech Pete Schiavo, were all mentioned for being so nice and doing an amazing job caring for a mother of a WMMR employee. “This is yet another testament of the great care that our patients receive from this awesome team,” said Roseann Cavallaro, in Cardiology Administration.

WHAT’Snew EDITORIAL STAFF

Olivia Fermano Editor and Photographer Pamela Furches Design 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/.