Volume 4
July 24, 2015
Pennsylvania Hospital
HOPE
WHAT’Snew
Number 15
`` Lucretia Hurley Browning, PAH chaplain, shown here leading the new Hope Bell dedication ceremony in Radiation Oncology.
“My family and I are proud of what the Supportive Care Program has become here, we really, truly are,” said Karnell.
Inside Science Meets Community: Cancer in the Delaware Valley, a Report from Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center...................................... 2 The Patient Experience…................. 2 Congratulations to the FY15 Q4 PAH CAREs Grant Recipients!.......... 3 Redefining Cancer Survivorship Continued.............................................. 3 Congratulations and Welcome! Jack Huff............................................... 4 Penn Medicine Named a Frontline Health Care Worker Champion......... 4 Penn Medicine Nationally Recognized....................... 4
Redefining Cancer Survivorship For the third year in a row, the Abramson Cancer Center at PAH extended its celebration of cancer survivorship from a single day in June to the entire month. The highlight event of the month came on June 10th, when staff and patients of the ACC at PAH gathered outside in the Elm Garden for Pack a Lunch Picnic Day and a bake sale. Open to all staff, patients and community members, the event provided a forum for cancer survivors to connect with other survivors and celebrate the milestones they’ve achieved. It was also a time to recognize family members, friends and health care professionals who have supported the survivors along the way. “This event means a lot to me,” said cancer survivor Kim Karnell, who attended with her sister, Cindy, for herself and in honor of their mother, Joan, the namesake of PAH’s Joan Karnell Supportive Care Services program.
“It enables me to connect with my mom and her memory, and it also makes me feel good to be able to give back in her honor.” A devoted wife, mother, friend, and cancer support network volunteer, Joan Karnell received care for ovarian cancer at PAH for eight years before her passing in 1990. “My family and I are proud of what the Supportive Care Program has become here, we really, truly are,” said Karnell. On June 24th, Lucretia Hurley Browning, PAH chaplain, led a dedication ceremony for the new Hope Bell in the Radiation Oncology department. Also during the month, the Hope Bells on both the Inpatient Oncology, / / / Continued on page 3
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COMMUNITY Cancer in the Greater Delaware Valley A Report from Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center LEARN MORE
Science Meets Community: Cancer in the Delaware Valley, a Report from Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center (ACC) supports numerous initiatives to benefit its community of patients, caregivers, and their families. The commitment extends beyond patients to also serving the Greater Delaware Valley (GDV) community. Considering the range of care — from prevention to screening to diagnosis to management to survivorship — ACC research and clinical services are shaped by an intimate knowledge of the cities, towns, neighborhoods and counties that comprise the GDV region. This knowledge guides the ACC’s work and inspires researchers to find tomorrow’s cures today. You’re invited to check out the report — Science Meets Community: Cancer In the Delaware Valley, a Report from Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center — which highlights the cancer burden in the Greater Delaware Valley and the work that is going on at Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center to decrease this burden. Visit PennCancer. org/ScienceMeetsCommunity to view the report. For over a year now, PAH has also been an official home to Penn Medicine’s ACC, the region’s number — one cancer program. A world leader in cancer care and research, the ACC is one of the only two cancer centers in the region to be
designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute. Under the leadership of our Director Arthur Staddon, MD, the ACC at PAH has become a nationally recognized center know for specializing in treating bone and soft tissue sarcoma, breast and gynecological cancers and more. PAH cancer patients, their families and caregivers continue to receive excellent supportive care services through the Joan Karnell Supportive Care Program (JKSCP) which combines with the specialized, supplemental care ACC PAH is able to offer patients and their families to help them cope with the physical and emotional distress that a cancer diagnosis and treatment brings. Services include: art therapy, mindfulness based stress reduction, nutrition counseling, psychological counseling, shiatsu massage therapy, social work counseling, and spiritual counseling. In addition, there are several supportive care programs available, including a Geriatric Oncology Program, a Cancer Risk Evaluation Program, and Palliative Care Program. The JKSCP also hosts multiple services and support groups and offers free educational resources to patients and caregivers.
“Our scientists are making unprecedented advances in cancer research with more than 1,000 active research projects and the largest portfolio of cancer clinical trials in the region,” said Chi Van Dang, MD, PhD, director, Abramson Cancer Center.
Did you know?
87 percent of all ACC patients reside in Greater Delaware Valley (GDV)
higher in GDV compared
Cancer incidence is to the national average
most common
cancers in the GDV The in order of prevalence are: prostate, breast, lung, colorectal and melanoma
“Being a part of the Abramson Cancer Center gives our patients access to specialized modalities
The Patient E xp erienc e … The following letter, from a parent of a young adult patient, was sent to Laetitia Simeral, CRNP, a nurse practitioner in the Sarcoma Program at the Abramson Cancer Center at PAH.
Dear Laetitia, I’m guessing that even though you have had a lot of experience bearing bad news to your patients and their families over the years, it doesn’t get any easier for you. I want you to know just how much that means to me. I’m not sure whether I’ve told you before that for many years I worked in hospitals to pay my way through school. I worked for several of those in a cancer ward. I saw many fine medical professionals doing their best to save lives and ease suffering by fighting in the “war” against cancer.
It seemed to me that most of those professionals managed the emotional trauma of working in such a difficult field by developing a thick skin, seeing their patients more as mass casualties in that war rather than as suffering individuals. Only a courageous few were willing to open themselves up to empathize to the best of their ability with each of those patients, to really feel how the cancer was hurting them and altering their lives, to let their patients know that they were not alone in their suffering. We want you, Dr. (Arthur) Staddon, and all of the staff at Pennsy we’ve worked with over the years to know that we consider you to be the best medical team and some of the best human beings we have had the fortune of encountering. I know it was as hard for you to deliver the news today as it was for me to hear it. Thank you for that.
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as only a truly comprehensive cancer center can,” said Staddon. “With access to additional clinical trials — many not found anywhere else — personalized treatment plans through the Center for Personalized Diagnostics, genetic testing, cutting — edge vaccine therapies, and proton therapy at Penn’s Roberts Proton Therapy Center, we can truly offer our patients the best there is.”
C ongratu l ations to the FY15 Q4
PAH CAREs Grant Recipients! Mary Bradis, PAH Nursing Administration
Operation Yellow Ribbon of South Jersey — an all-volunteer U.S. troop support group that provides care packages to troops in combat areas. Funding will help purchase care items, including food and toiletries, as well as assist with shipping expenses.
Jawanza Bundy, RN, PAH Nursing
Redefining Cancer Survivorship / / / Continued from cover
6 Scheidt, and the Infusion Department of the ACC PAH on 5 Farm Journal, were re-dedicated.
The Dina Project — a new mentoring program that links nurses together with students from Mathematics Civics and Science Charter School at 407 North Broad, who are considering a nursing career. This project is partnered with Philadelphia Futures, a 25-year old non-profit with success in increasing college access and enrollment to lowincome, first generation students. Funding will support transportation, meals, and related expenses for students for overnight visits to area schools of nursing.
“Feedback from staff and patients made us realize that we needed to rethink the purpose of ringing the Hope Bells,” said Marylou Osterman, Cancer Center coordinator. “They had the potential to signify so much more than just completing a certain phase of treatment.”
C ongratu l ations to all the winners of the Penn Medicine CAREs grant for the 4th quarter of FY 15:
We ring this bell as part of our journey with cancer… For beginnings and endings in our treatment.
Esophagectomy Support Group
16th Annual School Supply Giveaway
> Beauty Averion – HUP
> Johanne Louis – HUP
Give Back
Adult Literacy and GED Program
> Anthony Bracey – PPMC
Youth Ministry/Holy Cross > Helen Chavar – PPMC
“Building Better Bridges” Back to School Party > Madeline Dawson – HUP
What’s a Typical Day? Photo-Elicitation Project with Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment
> Joseph Oaster – CORP
Brims and Brunch for Breast Cancer Awareness
Chaplain Browning expounded on the many reasons why a patient might ring the Hope Bell during her reading:
For encouragement of others who are also on this journey. For patients whose courage inspires us. For families whose love touches our hearts. For gratitude of this day of life. For the joy of getting through this particular day. We ring this bell because we choose hope… For not being defined by disease.
> Chante` Thompson – CPUP
For living meaningfully even with disease.
Connect by Night
For the capacity to laugh and love.
> Joan Wielgoszinski – CPUP
Asian American Senior Cares > Qunbin Xioing – HUP
For advancement in research and treatment. or staff whose compassion will long be F remembered with gratitude.
> Tigist Hailu – HUP Each quarter, the CAREs Foundation awards grants of up to $2,000 per project to community and hospital-based programs on behalf of employees or Perelman School of Medicine students who volunteer their time to support those programs. For more information and to apply, please visit PennMedicine.org/ Community. Applications for the next round of grants are being accepted until September 1.
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C ongratu lations and W el come !
Jack Huff
Jack Huff RN, MSN, CNOR, has been named the new director of the Tuttleman Surgery Center and the Endoscopy Center of PAH. Huff comes to PAH from the HUP where he served as nurse manager for Perioperative Services since 2012. Prior to HUP, Huff was a clinical coordinator in Perioperative Services at PPMC and before that, team supervisor for Thoracic Surgery and Minimally Invasive Surgery at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. “Having such a breadth of Perioperative experience, Jack has grown into a highly regarded leader in the health system,” said Sean M. Rowland, CRNA, MS, MBA, vice president, Peri-Operative Services. Huff received his BSN from Widener University and his MSN with a focus in Heath Care Administration from Villanova University.
P e n n
Penn Medicine Named a Frontline Health Care Worker Champion Penn Medicine was among 10 health-care employers recognized nationwide as 2015 “Frontline Healthcare Worker Champions” by CareerSTAT, an initiative of the National Fund for Workforce Solutions and Jobs for the Future. This recognition program acknowledges health-care organizations that have made a lasting investment in their frontline workers by promoting internal career progression and providing access to on-site training and skills development opportunities. Penn Medicine offers five-week apprenticeships for on-the-job training, 300 development sessions to enhance job performance, and a tuition assistance program to help develop its frontline workforce, which include patient intake coordinators, medical assistants, certified nursing assistants and dietary service staff. For more information about available employee opportunities, visit the Learning & Professional Development Intranet page of the Human Resources site.
M e d i c i n e
Nationally Recognized Congratulations to the Penn Medicine Department of Information Services (“IS”) which has received several nationally renowned health care information technology awards including: »» Hospitals and Health Networks –
Most Wired Healthcare Organization »» Information Week –
Elite 100 Innovator »» FierceIT Magazine –
Innovation Leader The attainment of these prestigious awards is the result of thousands of hours of tireless effort and special collaboration among members of our IS team and Penn Medicine’s clinical and research community. “I’m more confident than ever that the IS personnel, technologies and processes we have in place will serve as a solid foundation to support the ever changing requirements of health care and Penn Medicine,” said Chief Information Officer, Michael Restuccia, in the latest issue of the UPHS Information Services newsletter. “Our recent award recognition is evidence that we are on the correct path to enable both the goals of Penn Medicine and the health care industry. I look forward to the upcoming months in which we will continue to develop new and innovative solutions for our users.”
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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/.