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 AUGUST 13, 2015

Oncology Staff Program Spotlight

2

New process defines rapid response team, sets 30-minute goal

Surgeons and other caregivers at The University of Kansas Hospital have developed a unique team de-signed to move critical patients into surgery safely and more efficiently.

Called the Emergency Surgical Transport Assessment Team (ESTAT), it is believed to be the first surgical-based rapid response team among U.S. hospitals.

The hospital already has a surgical process in place for trauma patients in the Emergency Department. But what about a patient already in the hospital who needs surgery right now? The goal: move them into an op-erating room within 30 minutes of the team’s activation.

Anesthesiologist Amy Pichoff, MD, who helped develop and coordinate ESTAT, said physi-cians and hospital staff responded to those situations in the past, but the new process designates

members of the team, gives them defined roles and ensures they are alerted quickly to allow the most timely, coordinated care possible.

“ESTAT makes the process more efficient,” Pichoff said. “It’s important we capture essential information about the patient, have the right equipment and are prepared for what we’re going to be doing in the OR. It’s critical for this to be a seamless experience.”

The new process, which debuted Aug. 3, includes

anesthesiologists, surgeons, pharmacists, nurses and other OR staff. It’s up to the surgeon or attending physician, using the ESTAT criteria checklist, to deter-mine if a patient needs emergent surgery. The team likely will be activated several times a month.

ESTAT is part of a growing number of rapid response teams at the hospital. The first started in 2005 to provide quick inter-vention for any emergent medical issues among patients, visitors and staff on the main campus.

Due to that team’s great

outcomes, several specialty rapid response teams were created to respond to stroke, heart and other emergency conditions in the hospital. The teams’ life-saving ac-complishments are one reason the hospital’s mortality rates are among the lowest in the nation.

“With the success of those rapid response teams, it made sense that we expand the concept to our surgical arena,” said Cris Pritchard, RN, nurse manager of the hospital’s Surgical ICU, which partnered with Anesthesiology physicians on the new project.

Emergency surgery needed? Activate ESTAT!

By the Numbers: Medical oncology careUnits 41, 42 and 45 at The University of Kansas Hospital treat hematology/oncology patients and those who have blood and marrow transplants (BMT). The highly specialized units have expanded to accommodate demand (see story on page 2).

Medical oncology patients discharged

Average daily BMT inpatients

Average monthly chemotherapy doses (hospitalwide)

Blood and marrow transplants performed (fiscal year)

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

69 Rooms on the three units

20082009201020112012201320142015

2009201020112012201320142015

200720082009201020112012201320142015

201220132014

1,310

1,347

1,478

119

151

180

190

220

267

296

349

15.6

447

467

586

624

516

536

780

917

919

15.3

19.1

21.7

26.8

29.8

34.7

Unit 41 20Unit 42 29Unit 45 20

ESTAT is designed to move unstable patients into an operating room within 30 minutes of the team’s activation.

Events Musical healing – Experience

a musical acupuncture session for alleviating pain and learn why music and sound help move energy in the body, much like acupuncture needles do. The class is 2:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 17, at Turning Point: The Center for Hope and Healing in Leawood. Call 913-574-0900 to register.

Introduction to mindful-ness – Mindfulness is being fully present in the moment and becoming fully aware of what is happening now. Learn how to use the awareness of the present to change stress-ful thinking. Explore how to retrain your brain using simple exercises that will change how you experience and manage the stress in your life. The session is 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19, at The University of Kansas Cancer Center-Lee’s Summit. Call 913-574-0900 to register.

Blood drive – The Community Blood Center’s next blood drive at the main campus is 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3, in the Student Center’s Francisco Lounge. Walk-ins are welcome. The center is the primary sup-plier of blood to patients at The University of Kansas Hospital.

Komen race – The University of Kansas Cancer Center again is forming a team for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. The annual event, a fundraiser for breast cancer research and patient care, is Sunday, Sept. 13, at Worlds of Fun. Deadline to register online is 9 p.m. Sept. 4. To register for our team online: • Go to komenkansascity.org• Select “Komen Race for the

Cure,” then “Register”• Select “Join an Existing Team”• Log in or select “First Time

Registration”• Find “Company/Corporate

Name”• Select “The University of

Kansas Cancer Center” and join

More events are at kumed.com/event-detail.

PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT

Oncology staff: passion and courage Among the more than 40 inpa-

tient care units at The University of Kansas Hospital, three of them – Units 41, 42 and 45 – function as a uniquely cohesive group.

They have to. They are the medical oncology units, where physicians, nurses and others care for patients who suffer from blood diseases such as leukemia and lymphoma or have received blood and marrow transplants for their advanced stages of cancer.

Heather Male, MD, the hospital’s hematology/oncology medical director, describes the trio of units as a “hospital within a hospital.” With approximately 200 nurses and other staff, the units specialize in patients’ complex treatments, which range from complicated chemotherapy regimens to participation in clinical trials.

The units have grown sig-nificantly in recent years (see By the Numbers on page 1), bolstered by The University of Kansas Cancer Center’s 2012 designation as a National Cancer Institute facility. Unit 45 opened in January 2014, and Unit 41 expanded later that year.

Cyndy Steen, RN, Unit 41

nurse manager, said the units’ physicians and staff display strength and passion. It is a reflection of their patients, who understand mortality rates are high for their diseases.

“Our patient population is amazing,” she said. “They are some of the sickest of our hospital’s patients, yet they have such an insightful and coura-geous approach to life. And we have the opportunity to embrace that relationship with them.”

The units’ patients and staff spend much time together, too. Not only is their average length of

stay long, about nine days per visit, but most patients on the three units face multiple readmissions for chemotherapy treatment cycles.

Margo Sweany, RN, has cared for oncology patients at the hospital more than 30 years. “When I tell people what I do, they say, ‘Isn’t that depressing?’” she said.

“I tell them it’s just the opposite. We’re in a position to help patients during a very difficult time of their lives. They are kind and apprecia-tive, and they have figured out what’s important in their lives,” she added. “And so have we.”

EXPOSURE

Guard training About a dozen members of the Kansas Air National Guard’s 190th Medical Group, stationed in Topeka, are spending two weeks training at The University of Kansas Hospital. In the Surgical ICU, Staff Sergeant Keri Christian (left), a medical technician, helped Jennifer Williams, RN, change a patient’s sutures. Members of the Guard also are training in the Emergency Department, Neuroscience ICU, Burn and other units. The training will be held annually.

Margo Sweany, RN, with Aubrey Williams, embraces the emotional aspects of caring for medical oncology patients.

Nursing Report: ‘Forever Forward’The University of Kansas Hospital’s Nursing Annual Report,

which debuted Aug. 11, showcases the theme “Forever Forward.”  The annual report is online at kumed.com. It features inspiring

patient stories, photos and outcomes organized by the hospital’s Five-Star areas of focus: Service, Quality, People, Cost and Growth.

“Nurses at The University of Kansas Hospital make a tremen-dous contribution to the patient experience as advocates, decision-makers, educators and collaborators. They are always thinking Forever Forward,” said Tammy Peterman, RN, executive vice president, chief operating officer and chief nursing officer. “It is one of the reasons why we chose it as our theme for this year’s annual report.”

Exploring kidney, heart disease linkA study at the University of Kansas Medical Center indicates an

organic byproduct of intestinal bacteria may contribute to heart disease in people with chronic kidney disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for people with kidney disease.

The study focused on trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), an organic compound generated following the metabolism of several dietary nutrients by certain intestinal bacteria.

Researchers found blood levels of TMAO increased as kidney function declined. High levels of TMAO were linked with an increased risk of plaque formation in coronary arteries, as well as death over a four-year period.

In a subset of six patients who underwent kidney trans-plantation, the procedure led to a significant drop in TMAO. However, many patients with chronic kidney disease are not considered good candidates for transplant procedures.

Researchers are looking at other ways to lower TMAO in kidney patients, including exploring how antibiotics and probiotics may suppress particular bacteria that produce TMAO. Other research is studying whether certain foods or a particular diet might produce less TMAO in the body.

Whistles ready for Chiefs Fantasy Camp Deadline to sign up for the second annual Kansas City Chiefs

Fantasy Camp is Wednesday, Aug. 19. The camp, which is Aug. 25-26 at Arrowhead Stadium, is a fundraiser for The University of Kansas Hospital’s Center for Concussion Management.

The camp’s 100 participants will enjoy a range of activities: socializing with team greats, suiting up in personalized jerseys and hitting Arrowhead’s hallowed turf for a skills competition and a flag-football tournament with other participants and former Chiefs players. Details are at kcchiefs.com/fantasycamp.

This year’s captains are Tim Grunhard, Will Shields, Christian Okoye, Dante Hall, Nick Lowery, Jan Stenerud and Shawn Barber. Former coach Dick Vermeil will break down game film, and Mitch Holthus, “the voice of the Chiefs,” will provide play-by-play for the competitions.

New

s Br

iefsIn the News

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

How Polsinelli reached top of healthcare profession – Kansas City Business Journal, July 28. Kansas City-based Polsinelli PC built the nation’s largest healthcare law practice, prompted by the firm’s work with The University of Kansas Hospital starting in the late 1990s, according to Polsinelli CEO Russ Welsh. “After doing that work for KU, which was such a positive experience, we stepped back in the early 2000s and asked if this was scalable,” he said. Today, Polsinelli has more than 200 healthcare lawyers and professionals in 18 offices nationwide.

Urging limits to sonograms – KCTV 5 News, July 27. Experts are warning against unnecessary sonograms during pregnancy. They suggest sonograms should be used only to monitor key stages in a fetus’s growth at 12 weeks, 20 weeks and 30 to 32 weeks. The University of Kansas Hospital’s Carl Weiner, MD, discussed the medical need for sonograms during pregnancy and suggested the same physician should conduct all pregnancy sonograms to accurately monitor developmental stages.

Curbing the cost of cancer drugs – Fox 4 News, July 23. Top cancer physicians are calling for action to reduce the cost of cancer drugs for patients. Pat Koenig, an area cancer patient, found help through The University of Kansas Cancer Center getting her medicine from the drug company at no cost. Physicians proposed several options, including the ability for Medicare to negotiate drug prices, importing cancer drugs from other countries and legislation to prevent drug companies from delaying access to generic drugs.

Students perform community service day – The Kansas City Star, July 23. Joining forces with seven Wyandotte County nonprofits, one of which was Rainbow Community Gardens, 170 first-year University of Kansas School of Medicine students fanned out into the community for three hours of service. Students gardened, painted and cleaned build-ings and cleared trails. The community service is a part of the school’s orientation and is a 10-year tradition.

Debbie Pennington, RN, visited with 1-year-old Kaden during his well-ness check in the hospital’s Neonatal Medical Home.

Eye-catching A new model in The University of Kansas Hospital lobby offers a captivating visual of the Cambridge North Tower, under construction at the northeast corner of the main campus. Expected to be completed in late 2017, the

facility will feature 92 beds and 12 op-erating rooms, and it will be staffed by 100 physicians and 600 other healthcare person-nel. Read more at kumed.com/find-us/cambridge-north. A webcam at the website also presents hourly photos of construc-tion progress.

ADVANCES

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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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Our People Chancellor’s broad impact

– Former University of Kansas Chancellor Robert Hemenway, PhD, who died July 31 at the age of 73, had a profound impact not only in Lawrence but also on the KU Medical Center campus here.

Chancellor Hemenway – who much preferred being called “Bob” – was KU’s 16th chancellor, serving 1995-2009.  The former English teacher streamlined administration, made the university more student-centered, created a faculty support center to promote teaching excel-lence and oversaw KU’s growing national reputation.

Under his leadership, research funding grew to record levels as the university positioned itself as a major player in the region’s life sciences industry.

He played a key role ensuring legislation passed allowing The University of Kansas Hospital to be-come a public authority in 1998.  He also made National Cancer Institute designation the university’s top priority – an achievement reached just three years after he retired.

During his 14-year tenure, several vital research and teaching facilities were built on the main campus, including the School of Nursing, the Hoglund Brain Imaging Center and the expansive research facil-ity that now bears his name, The Robert E. Hemenway Life Sciences Innovation Center.

The five-story, $57.2 million medical research center opened in 2007 to physician scientists and their teams. Approximately 300 people work in the 200,000-square-foot facility.

“Chancellor Hemenway’s name is synonymous with ex-pansion, growth and research,” said Doug Girod, MD, the medi-cal center’s executive vice chancellor. “He

had a dramatic impact on the medical center and its success, and therefore a profound and positive effect on the health and well-being of millions of people.”

Making his mark on KC – Graphic designer by day, muralist by night, Phil Shafer is spreading art on walls throughout Kansas City and beyond.

Shafer is best known for his mu-rals, especially “Angry Zebra” at 12th and Grand and “Middle of the Map Fest” in Westport. This spring he completed his largest work yet: two murals, 100 feet by 8 feet each, for the Kansas City Royals in the service tunnel at Kauffman Stadium.

Shafer graduated from The Kansas City Art Institute in 2000 and soon be-came a graphic designer at the Kansas Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, part of the University of Kansas Medical Center (kiddrc.kumc.edu).

During the day he helps research-ers prepare for exhibitions by sprucing up their layouts for posters or designing them. And he provides them with a wide variety of graphic support, such as scientific and medical illustrations to help them promote their work.

Shafer always maintained a freelance art business, but it wasn’t until he decided to do the first mural in his own (and the medical center’s) community that his talent seemed to soar.

“I walk to work and live in such a cool neighborhood,” he said. “I saw a blank canvas on a small wall that needed some help near 39th and Bell. I wanted to paint something nice that fit with the neighborhood.”

After receiving permission from the community association, he painted that first mural in 2012. His mural business has snowballed: He now paints two or three projects a month, his clients ranging from small businesses and nonprofits to Farmland Foods.See his work at sikestyle.com.

Four convenient locations: Overland Park Kansas City, KS Shawnee Kansas City, MO

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Official healthcare provider of the Chiefs – and the athlete in you.913-588-1227 kumed.com/sportsmedicine

In 2009, The Robert E. Hemenway Life Sciences Innovation Center was named in honor of Chancellor Hemenway (second from left).

Phil Shafer and his Angry Zebra mural at 12th and Grand.