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 NOVEMBER 19, 2015

Living Kidney Donation Program Spotlight

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It all started with a need. Over the years, as The University of Kansas Hospital expanded to the east, patients and visitors didn’t have easy access to a quiet and meditative space like Spencer Chapel on the western side of the main campus.

That need sparked an idea, sketched on a napkin by Jon Jackson, chief administrative officer. The sketch, used for inspiration by Kansas City’s Pulse Design Group, will be called Bell Sanctuary – an alcove for employees, patients and visitors alike to pray, worship, meditate or simply find a quiet and private space within the bustling hospital.

The sanctuary will be on the north side of the main lobby. The design suggests the coiled (or spi-ral) shape of a nautilus or conch shell, invoking a faith-neutral and all-inclusive feel.

With seating for 25, it will include a prayer wall to share a prayer request. Wall niches will display icons from many faith

traditions. Also planned is the Bell Sanctuary Respite room across from the sanctuary, north of Mid-America Cardiology, where families can gather privately.

The chapel’s focal piece will be an inspirational image based on a photo by Cardiology’s Charles Porter, MD, taken in Veracruz, Mexico. The photo will be etched into a glass plate and backlit, creating a soft ambiance in the meditation area.

No construction schedule has been set, but a fundraising campaign for the sanctuary encourages a partnership among the hospital, patients, families, community and employees.

“This is something the hospital has needed for several years,” said William Reed, MD, chair of Cardiovascular Diseases who, with his wife, Mary, made an initial gift to launch the fundrais-ing. “We need to care for patients on more than just a physical level, being equally aware of

their emotional and spiritual well-being.

“A lot of thought has been put into the design of this sanctuary,” he added, “and we want to ensure we are providing patients and their families with a place that is

conducive to a spiritual connec-tion. This helps complete the circle of holistic care.”

To make a charitable gift in honor or memory of a loved one or colleague, please visit giving.kumed.com/bell.

Bell Sanctuary: From a napkin to a need fulfilled

By the Numbers: Surgical proceduresMore patients than ever are turning to The University of Kansas Hospital for their surgical care. In fact, physicians and staff conduct more surgeries here than at any other hospital in the area.

Number of surgical procedures (per fiscal year) 45 Operating rooms

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

Located on the north side of the main lobby, the sanctuary will be a quiet alcove within the bustling hospital.

43%Growth in the number of surgical procedures, fiscal years 2011-2015

Most surgical procedures performed at the hospital in one month (July 2015)

12 Additional operating rooms when the Cambridge North Tower opens in 2017

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

17,704

18,847

20,679

23,693

25,384

2,332Main hospital 32 Indian Creek Campus 7Center for Advanced Heart Care 6

Events Lifesaving readiness –

Learn to recognize and treat life-threatening emergencies, including cardiac arrest and choking for adult victims. Also learn to recognize warning signs of heart attack and stroke as well as breathing difficulties in adults. The $35 class, which also teaches general first-aid skills, is 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 24, at KU MedWest in Shawnee. Call 913-588-1227 to register.

Meditation series – The ability to stay calm can help manage stress and pain and enhance overall well-being. Each week the group learns a different meditation technique, including autogenic training, guided imagery, progressive relaxation and mindfulness. The sessions are 10:15-11:15 a.m. Tuesdays, Nov. 24-Dec. 15, at Turning Point: The Center for Hope and Healing in Leawood. Call 913-574-0900 to register.

Warding off winter blues – Depression swells during the winter due to many factors: Less sunlight and exercise, emotional stress of family gatherings and increased financial burdens, miss-ing loved ones, and unhealthy eating. Learn a six-step method to beat winter depression. The class is 10:30 a.m.-noon on Thursdays, Dec. 3-17, at Medical Plaza North in North Kansas City. Call 913-574-0900 to register.

Holiday open house – Missys’ Boutique holiday open house is 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4. The event includes discount and sale items and a free gift with a $20 purchase (while supplies last). Missys’ (kucancercenter.org/missys) is an accredited appear-ance center inside the Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Care Pavilion at the Westwood Campus.

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

PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT

Living kidney donation: ‘Ultimate gift’More than 100,000 people in

the U.S. are waiting for a kidney. With fewer than 20 percent of them receiving a transplant and wait lists continuing to grow, many of those in need – 12 people a day, in fact – die before a donor can be found.

One solution: kidney transplants from living donors. Amna Ilahe, MD, transplant nephrologist at The University of Kansas Hospital, calls it an excellent alternative, giving recipients longer, healthier lives while avoiding wait lists.

Nationwide, nearly a third of the 17,105 kidney transplants last year were from living donors. Our hospital’s living kidney donor team, established just two years ago, already accounts for 20 percent of all the hospital’s kidney transplants – 25 of 127 in 2014 and 22 of 105 so far this year.

Ilahe and transplant surgeon Sean Kumer, MD, spearhead the team, which includes a living donor coordinator, an independent living advocate and a social worker.

“The benefit of the living kid-ney donor program is recipients are able to lead a better quality of life off dialysis and have im-proved long-term outcomes than

deceased donor kidney transplant recipients,” said Ilahe. “The recipients of living donation have longer graft survival.”

Any healthy adult can donate. Studies show donors lead healthy lives with normal life expectan-cies – their remaining kidney enlarges slightly to compensate. Physicians recommend they receive regular checkups and stay on top of any health concerns.

“We want people to know kidney donation is a safe option,” said Ilahe. “And we are working hard to create more awareness.”

She also hopes to increase

awareness of a national paired kidney donation program, which matches pairs of medically able donors who are not a match due to blood type with similar pairs.

In addition to distributing mar-keting materials, the team works with Gift of Life and participates at the Kansas City Royals Organ Transplant and Donor Awareness Night at Kauffman Stadium.

“It’s the ultimate gift,” said Kumer. “I think a lot more people would donate if they thought about it in terms of donating and saving their own family member or someone else’s family member.”

Transplant nephrologist Amna Ilahe, MD, in the hospital’s Center for Transplantation

EXPOSURE

Teamwork expertise As part of last week’s Veterans Day celebrations, The University of Kansas Hospital launched a veterans recruit-ing campaign (kumed.com/careers/why-join-us/veterans). The leadership, teamwork, critical thinking and dedication found in the nation’s military also are key qualities in our workforce. More than 200 veterans are employed at the hospital, includ-ing (from left) Electrophysiology Lab’s Peter Beckett, Bill Mauer, Anthony Jenkins, Joel Wiegers and Rodger Winston.

Agreement expands Overland Park careThe University of Kansas Hospital last week announced

a joint venture with the Rehabilitation Hospital of Overland Park to provide rehabilitation services for patients locally and throughout the Midwest. The University of Kansas Physicians will provide medical leadership.

The Overland Park facility features 45 private rooms, including a secured 14-bed Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit, the only one of its kind in the metro.

The facility is part of the Post Acute Medical network of hospitals and outpatient clinics. Its approximately 80 employees remain Post Acute Medical staff.

The University of Kansas Hospital’s 29-bed Inpatient Acute Rehabilitation Unit opened June 2014 on the main campus; its patient volumes have remained high since then. The hospital sought additional capacity in Johnson County and determined the partnership in Overland Park was the right move, said Bob Page, president and CEO.

“We always look for a cultural fit with our patient-focused approach and we found that in the Rehabilitation Hospital of Overland Park,” he said. “The synergies of these two programs will offer patients many options for optimal rehabilitative outcomes.”

Pink Seat honorees battle with courage Two patients at The University of Kansas Cancer Center were

recognized as Pink Seat honorees at Kansas City Chiefs games last month. The celebrations were part of the NFL’s “A Crucial Catch” campaign during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Kaleia Hayes, a mother of two, was honored Oct. 11. In addition to empha-sizing the importance of remaining positive and praising her physicians’ care, she said the Pink Seat served to create memories with her children.

“That’s very important to me,” said Hayes, whose breast cancer has metastasized. “I want them to be able to go back and say, ‘I remember that time we went to the Chiefs game with Mom and we did this and we had such a good time.’”

Terri Malloy was honored at the Oct. 25 game. A mother of three, she was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003 and learned 10 years later the cancer had returned.

“It’s all about attitude, letting others help and faith in God,” said Malloy, who continues treatment. She credits her family for their support and also praised her physicians and staff at KUCC-Lee’s Summit. “They make all the difference,” she said.

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

Flu shots in the workplace – Kansas City Business Journal, Nov. 9. Businesses across the metro are trying to keep their employees healthy one flu shot at a time. Several healthcare facilities, including The University of Kansas Hospital, require all staff to receive the vaccine. Chief Medical Officer Lee Norman, MD, said the shot is safe and effec-tive. “The complication rate is extremely low, and you have to remember the risks of not getting the flu shot,” he said. “There are tens of thousands of people annually who die of influenza, so it is much safer to get the vaccine than to not get the vaccine.”

Research targets saffron – Digital Journal, Nov. 4. Saffron may have anticancer properties, according to laboratory studies using pancreatic cancer cells. Cell biologists at the University of Kansas Medical Center are exploring the properties of crocetinic acid, a component of saffron. For the study, scientists applied crocetinic acid to tumors under the skin of mice. The experiments led to a 75 percent reduction in tumor size. The examination of the compound is at an early stage and more tests are needed to prove its effectiveness.

Cancer treatment a ‘remarkable revolution’ – KCUR, Nov. 4. CAR T-cell therapy, which involves removing and genetically engineering a patient’s T-cells to attack cancer cells, is in a novel clinical trial at The University of Kansas Cancer Center. In other early stage trials, patients with advanced acute lymphoblastic leukemia went into remission and have remained cancer-free. “We’re at the beginning of a remarkable revolution and we’re going to see an incredible story unfold in the next decade,” said Joseph McGuirk, DO, director of blood cancers and stem cell transplants.

Get back on the sleep track – Lawrence Journal-World, Nov. 3. Bob Whitman, PhD, director of the sleep lab at The University of Kansas Hospital, discusses the impact of Daylight Saving Time on children and adults. “A sleep-deprived child may become very hyperactive or even disobedient,” he said. Adults and children can adjust their sleep habits after a time change by getting plenty of sunshine during the day. “It usually takes about one to two days for your internal clock to actually sync to the new time, so it doesn’t take very long,” he said.

Quick smile There‘s a fun new addition in The University of Kansas Hospital’s main lobby. The Hallmark cardbox kiosk is designed for patients, visitors and staff who

need a greet-ing card in a hurry or when the gift store is closed. It offers a variety of 50 greeting card designs by Hallmark artists, focused on everyday occasions. The kiosk will be available through the end of the year.

The 45-bed Overland Park facility opened in February 2015.

Hayes

Malloy

ADVANCES

is a biweekly publication produced by:

The University of Kansas Hospital Corporate Communications

2330 Shawnee Mission Pkwy., Suite 303 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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Our People A wedding on Unit 66 – Six years ago, Emily Viscek-McCloud was

diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension, or PH, an incurable lung disorder that affects the arteries in the lungs and right side of the heart.

Now 32, Viscek-McCloud also suffers from congestive heart failure and is not eligible for a lung transplant. She was discharged last week from The University of Kansas Hospital, headed home for palliative care.

Yet she left with love and joy in her heart, thanks in part to hospital staff and physicians on Unit 66. They helped plan and host a wedding for the patient and her longtime partner, Amber McCloud.

Nurses and others made cards, signs, dessert trays and confetti for throwing. They decorated the room in a Hawaiian theme. Aimee Corum, a patient care assistant on the floor, braided the patient’s hair.

With family and friends in attendance, the couple exchanged vows and rings Nov. 6 in the hospital room. “I might be biased, but honestly it was the best wedding I’ve ever been to. It was beautiful,” said Viscek-McCloud, who hopes her story encourages others to learn more about PH and get regular checkups.

“Emily is dear to our hearts,” said Unit 66 Coordinator Donna Robinson. “The wedding really was rewarding for us too. It’s important for our staff to be part of something that is life-changing and makes our patients so happy.”

Celebrating with the Royals – As part of the historic celebrations Nov. 3 for the Kansas City Royals, nearly 30 staff and physicians from The University of Kansas Hospital who cared for fans and players this season were invited to join in the World Series parade. Hospital parade participants included (from left) Sports Medicine’s Jennifer Medellin, RN, and Radiology’s Kayla Wallace, RT(R), and Kim Smith.

Back at the hospital, thousands of hos-pital staff were encouraged to shelve the medical scrubs for one day and instead wear their best Royals attire. Even if they couldn’t attend the parade, those staff and patients – including Grace Swanson, RN, and Charles “Brick” Owens on Orthopedic Surgery (Unit 43) – at least could share in the day’s jubilation.

• Free gift with $20 purchase – while supplies last• Discount and sale items• Light refreshments

Friday, December 48 a.m.-4 p.m.

Treat someone – and yourself – to a stylish gift!

Inside the Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Care Pavilion 2650 Shawnee Mission Pkwy.

Westwood, KS 66205

913-945-5800 | kucancercenter.org/missys

OPEN HOUSE

Jeremy Stevenson, PsyD Family Medicine

New

Phy

sici

ans

Carla Keirns, MD, PhD Palliative Medicine

Fred Plapp, MD Pathology

Anup Kasi Loknath Kumar, MD, MPH Oncology

Douglas Lemons, MD Anesthesiology

Rene Jamison, PhD Pediatrics/CCHD

Emily Viscek-McCloud and Amber McCloud married Nov. 6 on Unit 66.