Patients followed post-transplant

Community referrals for evaluation

Patients on waitlist

Median months on waitlist

By the Numbers: Organ Transplants

N E W S F R O M T H E R E G I O N ’ S P R E M I E R A C A D E M I C M E D I C A L C E N T E R

ADVANCES

Organ and tissue donations last year touched more than 2,000 lives through The University of Kansas Hospital.

Patients are alive thanks to new heart valves and vascular grafts. Others received the gift of sight through transplanted corneas. Tissue donations helped repair bones injured in sports accidents.

Among those 2,000 lives touched was a young woman who donated one of her kidneys to save her boyfriend’s life. Two women each received one lobe from a single liver, marking the first “seg-mental liver” procedure in the area.

They are examples why the hospital’s organ and tissue trans-plant program has grown into the largest in the region. And now staff are taking advantage of April’s national Donate Life Month to show their support for the donors and their families, as well as the hospital’s own physicians and other

caregivers who make these remark-able, complex procedures possible.

“Organ and tissue donations truly are the gift of life,” said Bob Dary, RN, Nursing education specialist “That’s why this month we want to take some time to focus on the important role clinicians can play in facilitating the fulfillment of patients’ and families’ wishes to donate.”

The hospital is hosting its first-ever Donate Life Symposium April 25, a continuing education event featuring an in-depth look

at the donation process.The symposium includes ses-

sions on screening donors for matches, supporting families in the grieving process, and ethical con-siderations, among others. There will also be a panel discussion with frontline clinicians discussing their bedside donation experiences and employees who have received the gift of life through a donation.

Transplant and donation staff are also encouraging employees to use Donate Life Month as motiva-tion to register as organ and tissue

donors. The Midwest Transplant Network’s website (mwtn.org) makes it easy for Missouri and Kansas residents to sign up as do-nors through their state’s registries.

“Registering as a donor is an amazing way to recognize Donate Life Month,” said Sarah Oland, Midwest Transplant Network donation coordinator at our hos-pital. “Without registered donors, these amazing gifts of life couldn’t be given.”

APRIL 25, 2013

The University of Kansas Hospital’s organ transplantation program, the largest in the region, has grown rapidly in the past five years.

19 Kidney, liver and pancreas transplants performed at the hospital in 2012

Blood Management Spotlight

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To suggest a By the Numbers, email Advances@kumc.edu.

Honoring the Gift of LifeNew symposium reflects employees’ support during donor month.

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9 – Pancreas

77 – Liver

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At left, nurses and others on units 63 and 64, who care for transplant recipi-ents, see the miracles of life that organ and tissue donations bring. Above, surgeons Sean Kumer, MD, PhD (left), and Timothy Schmitt, MD, are part of the hospital’s expanding Center for Transplantation.

Events ArtBra KC – The unique live and

silent auction event and fundraiser showcases work-of-art bras mod-eled by breast cancer survivors: Friday, May 3, at Signature Flight Support at the TWA Museum in Kansas City’s Downtown Airport. VIP experience, 6-7 p.m.; general admission, 7-11 p.m. Benefits the Missys’ Boutique Patients in Need Fund, as well as a lymphedema screening program and medica-tion and transportation assistance for cancer patients in need at The University of Kansas Cancer Center. Information and tickets: artbrakc.com.

Kansas City DerbyFest – Enjoy mint juleps, a live band, food and more at this Kentucky Derby Party: 3-6 p.m. Saturday, May 4, Maker’s Mark Restaurant in the Power & Light District. Benefits the University of Kansas Medical Center’s Alzheimer’s Disease Center. Tickets are $35/$75; sponsorships also avail-able at kcderbyfest.com.

Outpacing Melanoma 5K Run/Walk and Dot to Dot Kid Trot – Supports research and increased awareness and detection of melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer: 8 a.m. Sunday, May 5, Corporate Woods in Overland Park. Benefits The University of Kansas Cancer Center. Info and registration: outpacingmelanoma.org.

Melanoma Monday – Free skin cancer screening pre-sented by Midwest Cancer Alliance: 3-5 p.m. Monday, May 6, Dermatology Clinic, 4th floor Medical Office Building. All are welcome; screening results will be available that day. Includes free parking. Registration and information: 913-588-1227.

PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT

Fewer transfusions, better outcomesIn the span of just three years,

a Patient Blood Management Program at The University of Kansas Hospital has led to major changes in the way caregivers approach transfusions.

The hospital reduced blood transfusions by 27 percent during that time, even though patient discharges increased by about 20 percent. The result: 19,017 units of products saved from 2010 through 2012 – the equivalent of an entire year’s worth of transfu-sions at the hospital.

Blood transfusions are necessary in many procedures, but research shows using blood products only when absolutely necessary leads to quicker recovery and better results for patients. That is why our hospital’s Blood Management Program is helping physicians, nurses and others use new and ad-vanced protocols for transfusions.

“Our Patient Blood Management Program contributes not only to improved quality and patient out-comes, but it also decreases health-care cost,” said Elora Thorpe, RN, Transfusion Safety nurse manager.

She describes the program as “a physician-driven, scientific-based change.” Success is measured by

shifting physicians from a traditional transfusion model to an “evidence-based patient blood man-agement practice.”

Such programs are complicated to implement. Of the approximately 5,000 hospitals nation-wide, only about 100 have established blood management programs, accord-ing to the Society for the Advancement of Blood Management.

Our facility launched the initiative hospital-wide in late 2009. More recently, Thorpe and her team partnered with cardiovascular physicians, who were able to lower their volume of transfusions by 50 percent. They now use transfusions in just 8 percent of procedures – compared with 60 percent for cardiovascular surgeries nationally. Thorpe and her team will partner with orthopedic physicians next.

Blood Management also involves research. Just this month the FDA

approved our hospital to trial a blood substitute called Hemopure. Made from bovine hemoglobin, it is used in South Africa and Europe when blood is not available or not an option for certain patients.

“We always want to be on the leading edge,” Thorpe said, “and blood management is a great example of innovative patient-centered care.”

EXPOSURE

Precious reunionThe University of Kansas Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit hosted its annual NICU reunion April 13 at the Westwood Campus Atrium. The event brings together NICU babies, parents, physi-cians and staff for a joyful after-noon. Near right, NICU physi-cian Krishna Dummula, MD, gave Alexander Ascencio a bird’s eye view of the festivi-ties, with an assist from Vishal Pandey, MD. Far right, NICU’s Liz Levy, RN, enjoyed a hug from Lilli Martin, a recent NICU graduate. The NICU, which will graduate about 300 patients this year, opens in a new area Monday, May 6.

Medical technologist Laurie Wolf double-checks the accuracy of units of packed red blood cells for a patient.

Expanding radiation oncology services The University of Kansas Cancer Center - Overland Park has

expanded radiation oncology services. Additions include a CT simulator, High Dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy and a Varian Trilogy Linear Accelerator with Calypso technology.

The new linear accelerator’s target date for clinical operations is the week of May 13.

UKP: Looking for more good employees

The University of Kansas Physicians, which continues to expand rapidly, hosted its second annual clinical re-cruitment fair April 11. More than 75 people applied for 20 UKP positions, including medical assistants, nurses, nurse practitioners and physician assistants.

New service: E-faxing prescriptions The University of Kansas Hospital on Wednesday, May 1, will

begin e-faxing prescriptions to patients’ preferred pharmacies instead of handing them printed prescriptions at discharge. By the time patients arrive at their pharmacies, their prescriptions are most likely filled and ready for pick up.

The change supports patient safety and high-quality care. Patients will still receive paper prescriptions if they visit the Emergency Department or if prescribed certain medications. Patients may also request paper prescriptions if they prefer to deliver prescriptions to their pharmacy or if they use direct-mail pharmacy services.

Brain Fair showcases science for kidsHundreds of children and their parents participated in the

annual Brain Discovery Fair April 13 at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Participants could hold a real human brain and peer at cells using a high-powered microscope.

They also toured research labs in the Robert E. Hemenway Life Sciences Innovation Center and saw demonstrations about Alzheimer’s disease, amyo-trophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurologi-cal disorders.

“It is so rewarding to see how excited kids can get about science,” said Doug Wright, PhD, professor of anatomy and cell biology. “I was fortunate to be exposed to the joys of science at an early age, and I’m just trying to do the same thing for these kids.”

In the NewsA recap of recent articles, TV segments and other media coverage of the region’s leading academic medical center.

Physician explains effects of ricin – Fox 4 News, April 17. Stephen Thornton, MD, a toxicologist and medical director of The University of Kansas Hospital’s Poison Control Center, explained the effects of ricin on the human body. Letters believed to contain the deadly substance were addressed to the Capitol Hill office of Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and to President Obama.

KC’s TEDMED event focuses on Parkinson’s disease – Kansas City Business Journal, April 12. Kansas City hosted its first TEDMED Live event last week, featuring experts on Parkinson’s disease from the University of Kansas Medical Center.

BRAIN Initiative impact on research – Kansas City Business Journal, April 3. In a Q&A, Jeff Burns, MD, associate director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Center at the University of Kansas Medical Center, discussed the White House initiative, which intends to produce a picture of the brain showing how individual cells and neural circuits interact. The project could have broad implications for neuroscientists studying diseases such as Alzheimer’s, autism, schizophrenia and other mental health issues.

Health researchers land $200K in grants – Kansas City Business Journal, April 17. Steven Simpson, MD, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at The University of Kansas Hospital, was one of four area phy-sicians each awarded a $50,000 grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City. Simpson will work with area hospitals to help teach them how to recognize, diagnose and treat severe sepsis using an online tool. “At least half the people who are dying of severe sepsis could be saved,” Simpson said.

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Andrea Goldring, UKP Human Resources coordinator, helped plan the successful event.

Thornton

Eleven-year-old Emma Peck examined rodent brain cells during the Brain Discovery Fair.

Ann Robinson, MD Otolaryngology

ADVANCES is a bi-weekly publication produced by:

The University of Kansas Hospital Corporate Communication

2330 Shawnee Mission Pkwy., Suite 100 Westwood, KS 66205

Send story ideas to Advances@kumc.edu.

Bob Page, President and CEO The University of Kansas Hospital

Doug Girod, MD, Executive Vice Chancellor University of Kansas Medical Center

Kirk Benson, MD, President The University of Kansas Physicians

Staff: Mike Glynn, Editor Kirk Buster, Graphic Designer

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Nelson Algarra, MD Anesthesiology

Karen Hoehn, MD Pediatrics

Douglas Anderson, MD Family Medicine

Tyler Fox, MD Orthopedics

Tiffany Williams, MD Rehabilitation Medicine

Our People Pediatrics MD in Hall of Fame –

Kathy Davis, PhD, has been inducted into the University of Kansas Women’s

Hall of Fame. Davis is assistant professor of Pediatrics at the University of Kansas Medical Center and director of the KU Kids Healing Place, a

program for children with chronic or terminal illnesses and their families.

She has 32 years’ experience pro-viding educational support, palliative care and ethics consultation to young people with chronic and life-limiting illnesses, their families and schools.

2013 mascot team named – Five talented students were selected to serve the University of Kansas Medical Center in the feathery and coveted role of Baby Jay’s mascot team.

They are Calah Gossett, third year, Nursing; Erin Willard, first year, Master of Health Services Administration; Taylor Jenkins, first year, Health Information Management; Tian Zhang, first year, Health Information Management; and Carrington Reyes, first year, Occupational Therapy.

Managed by the medical center’s Alumni & Community Relations of-fice, Baby Jay makes appearances at many of the medical center events during the year.

UKP Employee of the Month – For more than 15 years, colleagues of Otolaryngology’s Heather Barnhart, RN, have counted on her wisdom and leadership.

“Heather is an exceptional nurse who is constantly focused in her job. I rely on her candor and opinion,” said clinic manager Mike Edwards.

Named The University of Kansas Physicians employee of the month in April, Barnhart leads by example as she delivers an optimal patient experience.

She has been with UKP since its formation in 1996, and depart-ment chair Doug Girod, MD – also executive vice chancellor of the University of Kansas Medical Center – even dedicated a book to her that he co-authored about head and neck surgery.

Her experience shows. “Heather helps me deliver the best care I can,” said the clinic’s Jamie Easum, APRN.

“Heather is the ‘go-to’ contact in our clinic,” added speech patholo-gist Elizabeth Loy, CCC-SLP. “I con-tinue to observe Heather’s interac-tions with patients, colleagues and physicians and am impressed by the respect she provides each person.”

Davis

The region’s leading stroke care program

The University of Kansas Hospital is recognized as an Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center by The Joint Commission. We are among the first in the nation, and the first in Kansas City, to earn the designation. Our board-certified neurocritical care physicians provide exceptional treatment that leads to better outcomes and fewer complications. To learn more, call 913-588-1227 or visit kumed.com/stroke.

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Barnhart

The new Baby Jay mascot team includes students Calah Gossett (left) and Taylor Jenkins.