UMMC Connections by UMMS

MMC U Connections

news for the University of Maryland Medical Center

SUMMER 2013

community

“ The most damaging phrase in the language is: ‘We’ve always done it this way.’ ”

Maryland General Hospital Becomes

ON JUNE 6, THE UMMC COMMUNITY CELEBRATED

UMMC MIDTOWN CAMPUS

– REAR ADMIRAL GRACE HOPPER

an expanded partnership when the former Maryland General Hospital became University of Maryland

New Name Reflects Expanded Partnership

MESSAGE FROM THE CEO

Medical Center Midtown Campus.

of the pressures the

Medical System (UMMS). UMMS now comprises a total of 12

patient care,” Rivest said. “The closer alignment with UMMC

health care industry

hospitals throughout the state, with UMMC as its flagship academic

Midtown Campus will reduce duplication of services, support

faces to lower the

medical center. The new name reflects the hospital’s location

continued growth of ambulatory services and continue to focus on

cost of providing

in midtown Baltimore, minutes from Mount Vernon Square and

delivering high-quality patient care.”

care. Yet we

Meyerhoff Symphony Hall.

LOWER COSTS, HIGHER STANDARDS

News reports are full

he name change reflects a closer alignment with the University of Maryland Medical Center that began in 1999,

physicians and staff from both campuses will begin working on

when Maryland General joined the University of Maryland

collaborative plans to continue our collective missions of quality

continually aspire to improve

the quality of that care and our

the same medical system, both UMMC and UMMC Midtown

patients’ outcomes – that’s a goal we will never compromise. How do we do both? Only

“As close neighbors – just one mile apart – and members of

Campus have always shared a commitment to serve residents of Baltimore,” said Jeffrey A. Rivest, president and chief executive officer of UMMC. “Now, with a closer partnership, our two medical centers can

by reshaping our organization

maximize efforts to provide patients with a broad array of services

and our thinking to meet these

and locations,” Rivest said. “This is more important than ever, as

new emerging challenges.

hospitals across the country must seek innovative ways to maintain

This summer, we welcomed

the highest possible standards for care at a lower cost.”

an expanded partnership with

In general, services for the most complex cases will be at UMMC,

our neighbor and fellow UMMS

which specializes in critical care medicine, cardiac care, cancer,

member hospital, now called University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus (see article, this page). Another

pediatric specialty care and other highly specialized services for which patients are often referred by another physician. UMMC Midtown Campus also provides specialized services, such as diabetes care and vascular care. “Patients will be treated in the most appropriate setting for their

initiative, Transitional Care

particular needs – whether they are local or coming from within the

Coordination (also on this page)

region,” Rivest said.

is a unique program to help certain patients make a safe transition home. And our Facilities team finds ways to reduce costs while also lowering our environmental footprint (page 7). The Medical Center has always been a beacon to patients throughout our region. Although we face external pressure to reduce our operating costs, we’re dedicated to exceeding everyone’s expectations when it

TRANSITIONAL CARE COORDINATION •

Learn more about UMMC Midtown Campus and this partnership at www.ummidtown.org.

AFTER DISCHARGE,

helping patients get back to health

atients are usually happy to leave the hospital and sleep in their own beds, but for some, factors at home or in the community challenge their efforts to continue healing. A new program started this year at UMMC, Transitional Care Coordination (TCC), gives extra attention and practical help to patients who are at the highest risk of a preventable readmission. The TCC team members – two nurses, a social worker and a clinical pharmacist – meet with the patient before and after discharge, helping remove barriers to a successful transition home. >>>> STORY CONTINUES ON PAGE 2 PAGE 3

INSIDEConnections: UMMC Employees Rally to Give the Gift of Life page 3 New Campus Walking Paths

page 3

Event Reunites Grateful Patients and Caregivers pages 4-5 JEFFREY A. RIVEST President & Chief Executive Officer

Left to right: Jeffrey A. Rivest, president and CEO of UMMC; Sylvia Smith Johnson, president and CEO of UMMC Midtown Campus; Marilyn Carp, board chair, UMMC Midtown Campus; E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, dean of the UM School of Medicine; Robert A. Chrencik, president and CEO of University of Maryland Medical System.

FEATURED INSIDE

comes to patient care and service.

Sincerely,

“In the coming months, a series of project teams involving

PAGE 3

PAGE 7

CAMPUS WALKING PATHS

Employees of the Month page 5 Student Volunteers Lift Children’s Spirits

page 6

Chef’s Garden Seasons Patient Meals page 7 People Spotlight page 8 We Heal > We Teach > We Discover > We Care > We Heal > We Teach > We Discover > We Care >

WalK youR Way to HealtH

saFety tiPs

Obesity is an epidemic in the United States, killing more people every year than HIV/AIDS and breast, lung and prostate cancers combined. As the prevalence of obesity increases, so does the incidence of diabetes, hypertension, osteoarthritis, coronary artery disease, and cancer.

Secure your valuableS. Leave cash,

In an effort to combat this epidemic, the University of Maryland, Baltimore, the University of Maryland Medical Center, and the Baltimore VA Medical Center have createdHeal a series of throughout campus. The paths, of varied lengths We > walking We paths Teach > We Discover > We Care and directions, have been designed with the health of our constituents, neighbors and visitors in mind. Take a walk today!

mp3 players and other property in a secure location before taking a walk.

Don’t uSe cell phone. Chatting or texting while you walk limits your awareness of traffic, passing joggers and bikers, or other hazards. You also become a distracted, easy target for crime. Keep MuSIc loW. If you do choose to use

> We Heal > We Teach > We Discover > We Care >

an mp3 player, keep the volume at a low level so that you can hear bells and other warnings from bicyclists, runners and pedestrians as well as sounds that might signal potential danger.

uSe the buDDy SySteM. Whenever

the

possible, plan your walk with others. There is safety in numbers. If you must walk alone, tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return.

F E AT U R E S T O R Y

2 UMMC Connections “This approach to transitional care involves caregivers across the spectrum of UMMC, and puts the emphasis on patient care, rather than inpatient or outpatient care,” said Joanne Riley, vice president for ambulatory care at UMMC. “The focus is on the person and his or her needs, in a seamless way that doesn’t stop whether they’re in the hospital or doing their best to stay healthy at home.”

Photo caption here

Transitional Care Coordination team members include (l to r): Patsy Flanagan, MA, LCSW-C; Sara Eltaki, PharmD, BCPS; Sharon Eiler, BSW, RN, EMT-B; Jennifer Togioka, MS, BSN, RN, PCMH-CCE; and Anne Connor, BSN, RN, CCM.

UMMC Connections is produced by the Ofﬁce of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs for the UMMC community. 22 South Greene Street Baltimore, Maryland 21201 410-328-6776 www.umm.edu Jeffrey A. Rivest President and Chief Executive Ofﬁcer Mary Lynn Carver Senior Vice President Communications and Public Affairs Anne Haddad Editor and Publications Manager Chris Lindsley Director, Communication Services Frank B. Moorman Director, Strategic Internal Communications Linda Praley Creative Director Linda J. Lynch Staff Assistant Michelle Bamburak Sharon Boston Kate Hancock Taylor Hebden Michelle Murray Meghan Scalea Kathy Schuetz Bill Seiler Karen Warmkessel Hannah Wolfe Alexandra Zaremba Contributors Email news and story ideas to ahaddad@umm.edu.

They start by talking with the patient about his or her specific goals, asking, “What is the most important thing we can work on together?” The collaboration that follows is more likely to lead to success as the patient defines it. For example, a female patient who had been hospitalized for complications related to diabetes had established a careful system of managing her condition in spite of a learning disability. “She was a college graduate and a professional and had done very well with her own system for managing things, until a non-healing wound threw a wrench into it and she needed some help to get back on track,” said Anne Connor, BSN, RN, CCM, one of the two nurses on the TCC team who helped the patient. When TCC staff recognized that she was unable to read, Connor and Sara Eltaki, PharmD, BCPS, the clinical pharmacy specialist on the team, visited her at home, modified her patient-education materials to include illustrations and worked with her until she could understand them fully. Another patient, a 31-year-old man confined to a wheelchair since an injury 10 years earlier, had been hospitalized recently with nausea and vomiting. In the process of his discharge, he told transitional care social worker Patsy Flanagan, MA, LCSW-C, that he needed a new wheelchair and a hospital bed at home, but had trouble getting linked into the resources to obtain them. Flanagan helped him find a doctor at UniversityCare Heritage Crossing, who helped provide the care and documentation he needed to obtain his wheelchair and bed. UniversityCare is part of UMMC. Because transportation was also a big issue for this wheelchairdependent patient – he didn’t have a reliable way to get to doctor appointments – Flanagan connected him to transportation through the Baltimore City Health Department as well as helped him apply for wheelchair van service through MTA Mobility. A TEAM APPROACH WITH INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION

“The team utilizes an interdisciplinary approach to provide valuable interventions aimed at reducing avoidable readmission, improving patient outcomes, enhancing self-efficacy in illness management and reducing health care costs,” said Jennifer Togioka, MS, BSN, RN, PCMH-CCE, the TCC program manager. The TCC team assesses an individual’s need before he or she leaves the hospital, and then follows up with patients at home. Not all patients need this level of transitional care; the TCC team works with inpatient nurses, physicians and social workers, to identify which patients will face the highest risk in their first weeks at home.

“This approach to transitional care involves caregivers across the spectrum of UMMC, and puts the emphasis on patient care, rather than inpatient or outpatient care,” said Joanne Riley, vice president for ambulatory care at UMMC. “The focus is on the person and his or her needs, in a seamless way that doesn’t stop whether they’re in the hospital or doing their best to stay healthy at home.” While post-discharge coordination isn’t a new concept, the UMMC model takes a fresh approach that could make the process more effective. In particular, UMMC’s model is based in the Ambulatory Care departments, where the staff is already connected to the outpatient and post-hospitalization services the patient will be using. And because a

There is a guaranteed bridge and line of communication that spans both the inpatient and outpatient care settings. member of this transitional care team meets with the patient before discharge, there is a guaranteed bridge and line of communication that spans both the inpatient and outpatient care settings. The model has caught the attention of the University HealthSystem Consortium, a national organization of academic medical centers in which member hospitals share best practices. As part of the innovative approach, the TCC team surveys patients afterward so they can continually assess the effectiveness of the program and refine it. PROBLEMS SOLVED

Many of the services that help people who are sick have scaled back as a result of federal budget impasses and changes in health care reimbursement. Transportation, the high cost of medication, housing issues and dependable outpatient care are behind most of the challenges that cause patients to have to come back to the hospital. Coordinating care with outside agencies, the team can connect patients with equipment companies, home health agencies, skilled nursing facilities, social service agencies, transportation programs, mental health and substance abuse programs.

We Heal > We Teach > We Discover > We Care > We Heal > We Teach > We Discover > We Care > We Heal > We Teach > We Discover > We Care > We Heal > We Teach > We Discover > We Care >

EVERY TWO

SUMMER 2013

SECONDS IN THE

UNITED STATES,

UMMC Employees Rally to Give the Gift of Life

SOMEONE NEEDS BLOOD.

ecause blood cannot be manufactured, nor can donors be paid for blood that will be transfused into patients in the US, everyone is dependent on the altruism and generosity of donors who freely give “the gift of life.” Just one pint of blood from one donor can save three lives. Blood drives that UMMC has sponsored in the Medical Center or in the community have drawn significantly more donations in the last year. The increase is not by accident: UMMC and its fellow UMMS hospitals have made a concerted effort to make blood drives more convenient to staff and visitor schedules, and to raise awareness about the need for blood. In fiscal year 2013, a record-breaking year, UMMS-sponsored blood drives collected more blood than any other medical system in the American Red Cross Greater Chesapeake Region. It’s no wonder, because staff at UMMC care for some of the most critically ill and injured patients who have the greatest need for donated blood, whether for surgery, cancer or traumatic injury such as automobile crashes. Access to blood is critically important for any major operation. Liver transplants, for example, require at least 10 units of blood products to be typed and prepped for each patient before the surgery begins. Without access to blood, cardiac surgeries, transplant surgeries and trauma surgeries would be impossible to perform. “Blood products from volunteer donors are essential to the treatment of patients with hematologic malignancies and solid tumors,” says Kevin Cullen, MD, professor of medicine and director of the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center. “The majority of patients we see will need blood-product support as part of their treatment, and many will require large numbers of transfusions. Without these blood products, we would not be able to care for patients who come to our center.”

TO FIND OUT WHEN THE NEXT BLOOD DRIVE WILL BE, GO TO umm.edu/blood

CAMPUS WALKING PATHS PathsyouR Encourage Walking on UMMC andsaFety UMB Campus WalK Way to HealtH tiPs In May, UMMC and the University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maps of the paths are available at the Patient Resource

president and chief executive officer, and Jay A. Perman,

engaging way,” said Anne Williams, DNP, RN, senior

Obesity is an epidemic in the United States, killing more people every year than Secure your valuableS. Leave cash, (UMB),and kicked off the newly campus walking paths, As the Center in the Weinberg Atrium. paths marked with HIV/AIDS breast, lung andmarked prostate cancers combined. prevalence of mp3The players andare other property in a secure location before taking a walk. obesity increases, so does the incidence of diabetes, hypertension, osteoarthritis, designed to encourage staff, students and visitors to fit color codes and distances to make them easy to follow. coronary artery disease, Don’t uSe cell phone. Chatting or texting some exercise into theirand day.cancer. Jeffrey A. Rivest, UMMC “The goal is to promote health and wellness in an while you walk limits your awareness of traffic,

passing joggers and bikers, or other hazards. You In an effort to combat this epidemic, the University of Maryland, Baltimore, the also become a distracted, easy target for crime. MD, president of UMB, launched the new paths for the manager of community empowerment and health education. University of Maryland Medical Center, and the Baltimore VA Medical Center have Keep MuSIc loW. If you do choose to use created a series of walking paths throughout campus. The paths, of varied lengths mutual benefit of everyone who comes to the greater “American adults get half of the daily activity they need, so an mp3 player, keep the volume at a low level

andcampus directions, have designed our constituents, neighbors that you can whether hear bells and shared by been the UMB schoolswith and the the health MedicalofCenter. we’re trying different ways tosohelp them, it isother withwarnings and visitors in mind. Take a walk today! from bicyclists, runners and pedestrians as well For family members of patients, the three new walking

a pedometer or a path.”

paths can provide a way to cope while waiting for a loved

And if the weather is just too a cooler uSehot, thewalkers buDDyhave SySteM. Whenever

one in surgery or awaiting treatment. And the paths remind

the daily routine. GreeN PATH

the BLUe PATH

(.75 miles)

(1 mile)

staff, faculty and students to add physical activity to their

as sounds that might signal potential danger.

possible, plan your walk with others. option. The new paths complement the three indoor paths There is safety in numbers. If you must walk alone, tell someone

the starting at the Patient Resource Center. of your SurrounDIngS. be aWare red PATH PRINT OUT THE WALKING If you see someone suspicious, be prepared to alter that are already marked on the first of the hospital, where youfloor are going and when you expect to return.

(1.5 miles)

your route or go into a building. Sometimes simply acting alert can ward off an assailant.

PATHS TODAY AT

www.umaryland.edu/map call for help. If you feel threatened or need

assistance call the University police at 410-706-3333, or the Baltimore police at 911. Blue Light Emergency Telephones are stationed along each walking path. We Heal > We Teach > We Discover > We Care > We Heal > We Teach > We Discover > We Care > We Heal > We Teach > sorry. We Discover > We Care > We Heal > We Teach > We Discover > We Care > Don’t hesitate—It’s better to be safe than

about tHe PatHs

HealtHy Habits

Note: Use of the campus walking paths is

Storıes

4 UMMC Connections

Great E

very day, patients and their families express gratitude to

Medical Center staff members for the care and service they provide.

Staff members notice when one of their own does something extraor-

dinary, too. Three times a year, the Great Stories program selects from

among the many e-mails and letters about staff members or teams that exceed standards and expectations to enhance a patient’s experience. Patients, patients’ families and staff are encouraged to submit examples to greatstories@umm.edu.

Great

Multidisciplinary Care Excerpt from a letter from Linda Tipton

Dr. Gelb’s expertise and forthright manner kept the scary idea of spinal fusion and decompression in perspective for my husband, Sean. I had expected the stereotypical urban teaching hospital. The UMMC staff surprised me at every turn, to the point that I wondered whether it was the hospital, or were people just nicer in Baltimore? I was most impressed by your system of communication, [with hourly updates from the OR nurse through the] attendant in the waiting area. This should be the new standard in hospitals. The man who escorted family members to the recovery room [reminded us to] “show [Sean] the love.” As a psychologist, I was amazed at the power of those words. Are you all paying close attention to the psychological aspects of healing on purpose? The recovery room nurses were attentive and serious about pain management. His anesthesiologist told me how well the surgery went. On the ortho floor, his nurses’ … years of experience [were] obvious. The physical and occupational therapist were top-notch [as was the pharmacist]. And the valet parker who was directing traffic helped Sean into the car, and gave him tips on staying comfortable on the drive home. From the surgeon to the valet parker, we felt in the best possible hands.

HONOREES: Daniel Gelb, MD; Vadivelu Sivaraman, MBBS; Tameca Bell; Michele Bennet, BSN, RN; Annamma Chacko, RN, CMSRN; Marla Chiarelli, CRNA; Cheryl Durant, MPT; Shermin Gomez; Kathleen Kwiatkowski, RN; Jean Ludwig, MS, RN, CCRN; Noella Paul, RN; Randy Jose Poquin, RN; Purnell Robbins; Leah Rossman; Liam St. John, RN, CNOR; Katrina Stransky, MS, OTR/L; Katie Trauntz, OTR/L; Earl Johnson; and the Plaza Garage valets.

Great Inspiration

Excerpt from a letter from Ensign Tyler C. Griffith Dear Dr. Shorofsky, It has been a year since you did my cardiac ablation and I wanted to thank you and your staff. I don’t know if you remember me, but I wanted to pursue a career in Naval Aviation as a pilot, but was diagnosed with Wolff-ParkinsonWhite Syndrome.

Ensign Tyler C. Griffith, pictured below; his mother, Karen, pictured right

After two attempts at ablation, with the second being successful, I was able to get cleared by the Naval Flight Surgeons and received my commission as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy. I will start flight school in October and hope to have my “wings” within a few short years. My parents and I are so grateful for everything. If it weren’t for your excellent skills, perseverance and caring staff, I would not be this close to realizing my childhood dream … to pursue a career as a pilot in Naval Aviation. HONOREES: Vincent See, MD; Stephen Shorofsky, MD, PhD; Hiroko Beck, MD; Alicia Benson, RN; Deborah Horsey, RN; Stefany Johns-Walton, RN; Jonathon Klaus, RN; Deborah Nolan-Reilly, RN; Jody Zak, BSN, RN; and the Electrophysiology Laboratory.

We Heal > We Teach > We Discover > We Care > We Heal > We Teach > We Discover > We Care > We Heal > We Teach > We Discover > We Care > We Heal > We Teach > We Discover > We Care >

M O N T H

In her 3½ years in the Department of

E M P L O Y E E

O F

Abound @ UMMC

F E B R U AR Y employee of the month

T H E

SUMMER 2013

SARAH KANG, PHARMD, BCPS, CACP Clinical Pharmacist Department of Pharmacy Services

Pharmacy Services, Sarah Kang, PharmD, BCPS, CACP, has eagerly accepted new and challenging assignments. • She has distinguished herself not only for her ability and knowledge but also for her flexibility and teamwork.

M AR CH employee of the month TARA KELLY, MS, CRNP Nurse Practitioner for Bariatric Surgery Department of Surgery Tara Kelly, MS, CRNP, nurse practitioner for bariatric surgery, provides pre- and post-

Great Service

Excerpts from an e-mail from Chris Russell My daughter Hailey and I flew out from Denver to attend the Ravens-Broncos game. The night before the game Hailey became very ill at the hotel [and] we transported her to your hospital.

HONOREES:

operative support for patients undergoing

Rajender Gattu, MD; Celeste Carter,

surgery to help them lose weight.

BSN, RN; Michelle Garwood, BSN, RN,

• “Tara is an incredible clinician who has

PALS, CPEN; Jodi Scott, CPhT; Sarah

developed a great rapport with our bariatric

Watts, BSN, RN, CPEN; Getachew

patients,” said Carmel McComiskey, DNP,

Teshome, MD, MPH; Mary Jo Simke,

CRNP, director of nurse practitioners.

MS, RN; Mary Taylor, MS, RN; and the Pediatric Emergency Department.

I can’t begin to describe the service, compassion, urgency and care she received. I might as well have been in a hospital where a family member was in charge. They treated me and Hailey as if we were part of their families. There was even extreme care when it came to your pharmacy! One woman … went out of her way with a smile! Very rare nowadays. Michelle Garwood [held] my daughter’s hand and talked to her like her own mother would have done. Dr. Raj was phenomenal. Compassionate and funny, yet he gave me confidence. We were blessed to have that group care for Hailey in a scary and difficult situation. Thank you.

AP R I L employee of the month MANDY CHAVEZ, RN Clinical Nurse II Acute Medicine Telemetry Mandy Chavez, BSN, RN, ACRN, joined the staff on 11 East Acute Medicine Telemetry 18 months ago, just after graduating from nursing school. Already, her passion for her work has made her a valuable addition to the unit. • “Mandy is an enthusiastic, energetic and exceptionally well-organized nurse,” said Shawn Hendricks, MS, RN, the nurse manager of the unit.

M AY employee of the month

Great Compassion

Excerpts from an e-mail from Jennifer Ditch

LYNETTE RICHARDSON Case Manager Case Management As a case manager, Lynette Richardson, BSN, RN, CCM, works every day to

Please forward this to Harold, my nurse. He went above and beyond. He took excellent care of me when I was there for a head laceration. He eased my fear immensely. He is one of the best nurses I have ever encountered, and I am a nurse myself.

provide the best outcomes for patients. She balances the needs and concerns of their families with the treatment plans their medical providers have proposed, as well as

Daniel, also, who wheeled me down to the lobby, would not leave me, insisted on staying until he saw my mom, and made sure I had enough to drink while I waited. He was very kind and caring. The lady with the British accent took great care of me. She saw me crying, and came to my bed to comfort me, and helped me with what I needed. The doctor who sewed up my head did not even shave my head! I don’t know how he did that — I have a lot of hair. Thanks to all.

with the payment limitations their insurers have imposed.

J U NE employee of the month TINA WRIGHT, BS, RRT-NPS Registered Respiratory Therapist Department of Respiratory Care Tina Wright, BS, RRT-NPS, takes on several roles at the Medical Center. In addition to her primary responsibilities as a registered respiratory therapist in the pediatric and neonatal areas of care, she also specializes in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and teaches cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

J U L Y employee of the month TRACY STATTER, BSN, RN, CPEN Senior Clinical Nurse I Pediatric Emergency Department During nursing school, when it came time for Tracy Statter, BSN, RN, CPEN, to do HONOREES: Rebecca Gilmore, RN; Daniel Goodman, PCT; Harold Hardinger, BSN, RN; John Vorrasi, DDS; Jay Menaker, MD; and Trauma Team B.

her pediatric clinical rotation, she was not excited. A friend recalls her asking, “Who would ever want to work with kids?” But once she started working with the young patients, Statter was a convert.

Check out the UMMC blog for more Great Stories at medcenterblog.org We Heal > We Teach > We Discover > We Care > We Heal > We Teach > We Discover > We Care > We Heal > We Teach > We Discover > We Care > We Heal > We Teach > We Discover > We Care >

6 UMMC Connections Children’s Hospital Patients Conduct a Teddy Bear “Clinic” Students volunteer at annual “clinic” designed to lift the spirits of patients at the University of Maryland Children’s Hospital

S Pictured at right >>>>> UM Children’s Hospital patients Hanna Hart and Laura Snodgrass take home teddy bears they personalized with help from pharmacy students such as Virginia Nguyen (center) and child life assistant Renee Heatwole (left). At right is Laura’s mother, Esther Snodgrass.

miles and laughter filled the hallways of the University of Maryland Children’s Hospital (UMCH) as patients and their families arrived at the fourth annual Teddy Bear Clinic. Hosted by the UMCH Child Life Program and Maryland Regional Operations at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, this clinic offered a welcome break from doctor appointments and exams for children in the hospital’s inpatient and outpatient units. Laura Snodgrass, 7, and her friend Hannah, 5, were among the children excited to take their turn playing doctor after finishing their appointments for the day. Arriving in white shirts and matching purple skirts and leggings, the girls quickly chose their teddy bears, selecting identical white bears from the display, before moving on to the different stations to perform thorough check-ups on their new cuddly friends. “Children learn through play, so activities like the Teddy Bear Clinic offer them the perfect opportunity to better understand hospitalization and explore the medical atmosphere at their developmental level, using a hands-on approach,” said Molly Baron, CCLS, certified child life specialist at UMCH. “Events like the Teddy Bear Clinic bring the health care experience down to the children’s level, allowing them to understand it in a way that is significant to them,” added Renee Heatwole, CHSP, child life assistant at UMCH. The child life team plays a crucial role in supporting children and their families by helping them cope with and adjust to the stressors of illness and hospitalization. Members of this team work closely with doctors, nurses and other health care professionals to address the developmental and psychosocial needs of children and their families. The Teddy Bear Clinic is one of many initiatives the team launched to provide children with a fun way to play and learn more about health care experiences in a safe, non-threatening manner. This year marked the third year that students from the School of Pharmacy helped raise money for and volunteered at the Teddy Bear Clinic. Members of Maryland Regional Operations within the American Pharmacists Association Academy of Student Pharmacists raised the funds needed to purchase 60 asthma-friendly teddy bears for the children.

“This event is great because it gives the children a chance to be the doctor. They have so much fun with it,” said Kendrix Nguyen, third-year student pharmacist and senior chair of Maryland Regional Operations. “It also helps the children understand why doctors and nurses check their vital signs every day and emphasizes the importance of the triage they go through each time they visit the hospital.” Hannah could not contain her smile as a volunteer slipped the stethoscope around her ears to let her listen to her teddy bear’s heartbeat, while Laura helped another volunteer perform a CT scan of her teddy bear in the doll-size “scanner” that is usually in the pediatric unit’s playroom. “Laura is scheduled to undergo a CT scan soon, so watching her help perform the procedure on her teddy bear was great,” said Esther Snodgrass, Laura’s mom. “I think having events like this available to the children is amazing, and as a parent, I really appreciate it. They introduce children to things they might experience during their time in the hospital, and once they know what those things are, the fear of the unknown goes away.” (Adapted from an article by UM School of Pharmacy writer Malissa Carroll, appearing on the school’s website.)

INNOVATION

CCRU: A Unit Designed for Time-Sensitive Critical Care Medicine

n innovative patient care unit at the University of Maryland Medical Center is the first stop for incoming critically ill patients. In the new Critical Care Resuscitation Unit (CCRU), physicians, nurses and other staff specially trained in critical care will resuscitate and stabilize these patients before admitting them to the most appropriate of UMMC’s 10 specialized intensive care units The new CCRU is modeled after the timetested concept of the Trauma Resuscitation Unit (TRU) at UMMC’s R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center. It opened in July in the nearly complete Critical Care Tower, the newest addition to the Medical Center. The unit is overseen by medical director Lewis Rubinson, MD, PhD, associate professor of medicine, and nurse manager Theresa DiNardo, MSN, RN, CCRN. “It has long been our vision to offer this unique patient intake unit,” said Thomas Scalea, MD, physician-in-chief of the Shock Trauma Center and system chief of critical care services for the University of Maryland Medical

System. “This unit brings the best of what we do to the forefront and advances our legacy of leadership in offering the best chance at recovery for our region’s most critically ill patients.” “From the beginning, the clinical staff was able to work hand-in-hand with the architects and facilities staff to design patient rooms and treatment areas that will best support their efforts to resuscitate and stabilize the most critically ill patients,” said Karen Doyle, MBA, MS, RN, NEA-BC, vice president for nursing and operations at the Shock Trauma Center and for the Adult Emergency Department. “Thanks to Leonard Taylor [senior vice president for operations and support services at UMMC] and his staff collaborating closely with us, we have the best environment possible for this highly specialized care.”

Physicians at other hospitals throughout the region consult with UMMC’s highly trained clinical intensivists. When a consultation indicates a patient needs to be transferred to UMMC, a team from the CCRU meets the ambulance or helicopter, ready to care for the arriving patient. More than one-quarter of UMMC’s nearly 38,000 admissions in 2012 came via transfers through University of Maryland ExpressCare, whose staff specialize in the coordinated, safe and skilled transfer of patients between hospitals.

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SUMMER 2013

IN THE COMMUNITY

Chef’s Garden Seasons Patient Meals

utrition is important to healing, and UMMC’s Chef Stephen Mack, CEC, now has an herb garden to snip fresh herbs for his recently revamped menu. A raised garden that had once held ornamental ivy has been planted instead this year with a functional and efficient herb garden. Chef Mack, who no longer has to order herbs from a produce supplier, now uses the basil, parsley, cilantro, rosemary, thyme and other herbs to flavor patient meals and offerings in the Courtyard Cafe. But Chef Mack says he can’t take credit for the idea – just knowing what to do with the end product. The garden was the idea of Denise Choiniere, MS, RN, director of sustainability and materials management, who was inspired by the fresh offerings from the University Farmers Market that she established in partnership with University of Maryland, Baltimore. To visit the courtyard herb garden, enter through the Au Bon Pain restaurant near the UMMC main entrance.

IN THE GARDEN:

Chef Stephen Mack,

Justin Graves, BSN, RN, sustainability manager, and Denise Choiniere, MS, RN, director of sustainability and materials management

AWARD

Distinction for Leadership in Sustainable and Efficient Practices

niversity of Maryland Medical Center earned a national award for leadership in integrating sustainable practices throughout the organization to enhance patient safety and the quality of care. The organization, Practice Greenhealth, honored UMMC as a 2013 Partner for Change, with Distinction, for being a national leader in sustainable practices, such as programs that eliminate products and equipment containing mercury, reduce waste and recycle. Further, the Medical Center has applied sustainable practices to a wide range of areas, such as food, energy, water and chemical minimization. “The reason that our Green Team and sustainability efforts are distinctive on a national level is that we’re

paying attention not only to the traditional things, such as recycling, but that – more importantly – we are changing practices in order to reduce toxicities at the bedside,” said Leonard Taylor, senior vice president for operations and support services at UMMC. For example, the hospital has switched to cleaning and maintenance products that kill germs but are safer for patients and staff. Clinical staff in the Mother-Baby Unit partnered with the Maryland Pesticide Network to teach new mothers how to keep their infants and families safe from harmful pesticides. “Being a Practice Greenhealth Environmental Excellence Award winner establishes your leadership in prioritizing your environmental performance and demonstrates your commitment to a higher standard of

excellence in sustainability,” the award letter stated. “On a personal note, we want to recognize the initiative, hard work, and determination it takes to protect the environment and human health, yet still maintain cost effectiveness in the competitive health care market.” UMMC’s sustainability practices involve staff across the organization, led by Taylor and Denise Choiniere, MS, RN, director of sustainability and materials management; Justin Graves, BSN, RN, sustainability manager; and diverse employees who make up the Green Team and support and initiate sustainable practices.

UNIVERSITY FARMERS MARKET NOW ACCEPTS CARD PAYMENTS The University Farmers Market this year can accept electronic payment, such as debit, credit and SNAP cards. A table at the market is equipped with a card reader, and customers can purchase a token or certificate to then use at any of the vendor tables. • The market continues on Tuesdays through Thanksgiving, from 10 am to 2:30 pm.

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8 UMMC Connections PEOPLE SPOTLIGHT

THE DAILY RECORD HONORS TWO UMMC LEADERS

THREE UMMC NURSES EARN

Gold Foundation and Senator Mikulski

Two UMMC executives were chosen among Maryland’s Top 100 Women for 2013. The annual recognition is sponsored by The Daily Record, which has an independent panel of business leaders choose 100 women from among more than 500 nominations from the community and area organizations and businesses. Marianne Rowan-Braun, Jeffrey A. Rivest and Lisa Rowen Lisa Rowen, DNSc, RN, FAAN, senior vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer, and Marianne Rowan-Braun, vice president and director of the Campaign for Shock Trauma, were selected this year for their professional accomplishment, community involvement and commitment to mentoring. Having received this honor two previous times, Rowen now also becomes a “Circle of Excellence” inductee. “UMMC is privileged to have Lisa and Marianne as part of our leadership team,” said Jeffrey A. Rivest, president and chief executive officer of UMMC. “Every day, they demonstrate a commitment to excellence that inspires all of us to provide the best care for our patients and evolve the Medical Center for future success. We are pleased that the broader community echoes the high esteem we hold for these individuals.”

REGIONAL HONORS

Honor Shock Trauma Physicians

Three UMMC nurses were finalists in three different categories in the 2013 Nursing Excellence Awards sponsored by Nurse.com (formerly called Nursing Spectrum magazine).

Two physicians at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at UMMC were awarded the Gold Doctor Award by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, a national organization headquartered in New Jersey whose motto is “working to keep the care in healthcare.” The new “Gold Docs,” as the foundation calls them, are Thomas Scalea, MD, FACS, professor of surgery and physicianin-chief of the Shock Trauma Center, (left), and Mayur Narayan, MD, MPH, MBA, assistant professor of trauma and critical care medicine and medical director of the University of Maryland Center for Injury Prevention and Policy (right). The foundation gives a certificate and “Gold Doc” pin to physicians whose patients nominate them for their “exemplary skill, sensitivity and compassion.” Narayan’s injury-prevention center earned another accolade this year, when US Senator Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., gave a senatorial award to the UM Center for Injury Prevention and Policy for its “positive impact on the lives of Frederick County’s troubled youth.”

PATIENT CARE TECHNICIAN SHARES SUCCESS AT CHARITY GALA

Shana White, CNA, a patient care technician on Gudelsky 5 East, was recognized at the Associated Black Charities (ABC) Gala June 8 for her success after receiving an ABC grant to enroll in IT Works, a training program that UMMC customizes for training certified nursing assistants and patient care technicians. She is pictured with Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, who attended the gala. In the fall of 2010, White told the attendees, she was unemployed and unable to provide for her four children. She applied to the competitive IT Works program and learned Shana White with Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown patient care skills, infection prevention, communication skills and stress management. “I studied hard … and I stayed focused on my goal,” White said. “After completing the program, I was hired by the University of Maryland Medical Center, where I’ve been successful and recognized for my dedication to patient care. I was recently awarded ‘Most Outstanding Support Staff of the Year” [by the hospital’s nursing staff].” At UMMC, White’s mentors have included Patricia Y. “PJ” Wilson, BSN, RN, clinical education specialist, Jo-Ann Williams, manager of career development services, and her nurse manager, Simone Odwin-Jenkins, MBA, BSN, RN. “Each year ABC invites a presenter to speak about how his or her life has been impacted by an ABC-funded grant,” Williams said. “Shana did an amazing job! This was her first time doing public speaking. I estimate there were more than 1,000 people in attendance, and she nailed it.”

Karen Doyle, MBA, MS, RN, NEA-BC, vice president of nursing and operations for the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center and the Adult Emergency Department, was a finalist in the Volunteerism and Service category. Doyle’s work has influenced nurses and patients not only in Maryland, but also globally. She has supported international initiatives for staff to provide expertise in China, Haiti, Brazil and India. Known as an ethical, open and supportive leader who inspires creativity, she has overseen the implementation of flexible family visiting. Her projects have included developing and implementing a nurse-driven protocol that reduced catheter-associated urinary tract infections. Treza James, MS, RN, NNP-BC, clinical practice and education specialist for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, was a finalist in the category of Education and Mentorship. James led a multidisciplinary team to review evidence and develop a nurse-driven algorithm for oxygen management in babies with very low birth weight, resulting in an overall decrease in vision complications. She also led a team to improve management of hypothermia in newborns. Michele Zimmer, MS, RN, CCRN-CMC, senior clinical nurse II, Cardiac Progressive Care Unit, was also a finalist in the Education and Mentorship category. Zimmer organizes and plans orientation for all incoming nurses, and has used her experience to guide a team in completing an evidence-based project on delirium. She most recently helped complete the expansion project for the unit, including hiring and educating 23 new nurses.

GREAT IDEAS WANTED from staff, visitors and patients HAVE AN IDEA FOR A BETTER WAY TO DO SOMETHING? Please send it to leadership@umm.edu, or drop a note in one of the boxes next to the Main Lobby Human Resources station and other spots in the Medical Center. Like hospitals across the country, we’re meeting the challenge of providing the best possible care while conserving resources and staff time. Your ideas, comments and questions can help us do that.

UMMC Connections

is available on the Intranet and at www.umm.edu/connections.

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