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As everyone knows, our nation finds

itself in an economic downturn more acute

than any in recent memory. Tough conditions

continue to bear down on virtually every

industry and the health-care sector. In these

difficult times people are anxious, including

worries about access to health-care of

high quality.

During this economic decline we remain

as committed as ever to our patients and

the community at large. Undoubtedly, the

downturn will generate greater numbers of

underinsured and uninsured needing our

help. Its crucial that we will be here when

they need us most. All of us are dedicated

to our mission and will continue to provide all

of our patients with care.

My confidence is based on the fact

that we are in a much better position to ride

out the financial storm than many other

hospitals. Over the last few years we have

managed our finances wisely and made

investments that solidify our reputation as a

first choice for both patients and employees.Indeed, amidst the global economic tumult

investors recently purchased $200 million

of refinanced UPHS bonds. This purchase

reflects the confidence that the financial

community has in our fiscal condition.

As one would expect, and like house-

holds and businesses across America, we are

responding to the present economic cycle by

D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 8

By Ralph W. MullerCEO, University of Pennsylvania Health System

A periodic newsletter for the

University of Pennsylvania Health

System, System News includes

information about the various

components of UPHS.

Inside this Issue

(continued on page 2)

A History of thePennsylvaniaHospitalP. 2

Building theFutureP. 3

UPHSremains a tophealth-care provider

thanks to itsemployees.As a result,recruiting

and retaining top-notchstaff is essential.

Notsurprisingly, JudySchueler, newVPof

OrganizationalDevelopmentand chief HR

officerfor the HealthSystem,has initiated several

strategies to ensurethat we continue to attract

thebest andkeep them.

Asshe wryly noted,Getting tothe top is

hard .but stayingthereis even harder.

Keys to Successful RecruitmentSuccessfullymatching applicants to positions

is keyto keeping standards highand the turnover

rate low.Its not just about filling openings. Its

about filling themwith the besttalentavailable.

We haveoutstanding staff,she continued.

Andwe want to make sure that staff continues to

be surrounded by others whohave extraordinaryskills and abilities.

To ensurea betterfit, HR willuse technology

to track talentwithin the applicationsystem.

We consistently use pre-screeningmechanisms,

such as a telephone-based interview or assessing

an individuals orientationtowardsa job prior

to referring themto a hiring manager,Schueler

said.Thisis a way of improvingthe pool.The

three or four applicantswe thenreferto the

manager aretop tierinstead of justsending all

the applicants to siftthrough.

Alsopart of thestrategyis aligningthese

processes withkey initiatives in theorganization,

such as the Blueprintfor Quality which focuses

on improvingpatient safety andclinical out-comes.Ourrole is to select people whohave

a propensitytowards attentionto detail and

concern for safety.

Anotherrecruitment strategyis to more

vigorously promote educational opportunities

provided by PENNMedicine.We know that they

attract talent,especially people inhotjobareas

that directlyimpact healthcare.

Retention StrategiesPromoting learningwithin the workplace

helps employees and patients alike.Organiza-

tionalDevelopmentis introducingnew methods

forlearning formally and informally

across theHealthSystem.

Oneapproach is to create scenarios using pro-fessional actors.Medical schools havebeen using

thisfor years,a standardizedpatient method or

theatrical-based training,Schueler noted.Itsa

wayto integrate actions as theyreallyoccur.

Video-basedcase studies targeting a particu-

lar service challenge,suchas long wait times for

patients, are anotherstrategy.This allowsthe

staff to understand what the patientis going

through,what he or shemay be thinking,she

explained.These scenarios orlearning huddles

can be easily integratedinto staff meetings or

short briefingsessions within the unit.The

learninghuddles create a dialog among thestaff

about howto handle a specificsituationor

change behavior.

Usingour wealth of experiencedemployees is

the basis forthe newambassadors of learning

program.According to Schueler,these employees

would share their knowledge,either by leadinga

class or providing expertisein updatingcurricu-

lum. A certification programwill be available to

those whowish to become ambassadors.

This is more thanjustgoingto class or online

to Knowledge Link.People can learn everywhere

at the bedside,in learninghuddles,during

rounding.These are all toolsof learning.

Schueler saidthat a learningresource

centerwill be created to develop these kinds of

programs andsupport newvehicles fordissemi-

natinglearningacross the organization.

Building a Supportive EnvironmentA keyfactorin employeesatisfaction is a

positive workplace culture.Continuing to improve

the quality of UPHSculture is anotherof

Schuelers goals,starting from the timea person

joins UPHS.After oneto twomonths,we should

be reconnecting withnew hires.Is it workingout?Didwe meettheir expectations? What could we

havedone differently?

Recognizing peoplewho consistently go

beyondthe boundaries of their job ranks as

anotherpriority.Itcan be something as simple

as athankyou or a hand-writtennote.Theseare

practices thatchange the cultureof an organiza-

tion and aremust-havebehaviorsfor leadership.

Withthatin mind,therewillbe a new empha-

sis on leadership development,at all levels.We

needto identify and develop ourfuture leadersby

giving themstretch assignmentsor theopportu-

nityto work outsideof the traditional boundaries

of their job role.Thats howpeople learn to lead.

We will continue to invest in ourmost

valuableresource our people,she continued.

Our priorityis to createprocessesand programs

thatbenefit theindividual while maintaininga

positive impact onthe performanceof our

organization.

Penn Hospiceat RittenhouseOpensP. 5

Our priority is to create processes and programsthat benefit the individual while maintaining a positive impact on

the performance of our organization.

B r i n g i n g o n AND KEEPING the Best of the Best

N E W H R S T R A T E G I E S

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2

being realistic and making judgments based on sound

financial common sense. This means we are carefully con-

sidering which expenditures are essential to our operations

and our growth. For example, we continue to recruit

staff in the areas such as nursing, where weve added 250

since July.

Capital expenditures are similarly continuing but, as

with new hires, each request is reviewed and evaluated

based on necessity and alignment with our fiscal goals.

After careful assessment we will continue to add capacity

to meet patient needs, as demand for our services is likely

to continue to increase.

While we will continue to hire crucial personnel and

make vital capital investments, we also must work hard to

control expenses wherever and whenever we prudently

can. For example, conservation and lower energy costs

throughout the System, and particularly at the Perelman

Center, have helped lower utility costs significantly

and various cost management efforts are helping across

the board.

We all have a role to play in helping the Health

System get through this complex, challenging time. The

current downturn is cyclical, and the economy will turn

around. Managing through it requires everyones active

involvement. You can help by contributing cost-saving

ideas and working as a team. Thank you for all of your

hard work, both now and in the coming months. Together,

with your efforts, we will take the necessary measures to

weather this storm.

System News Staff

EditorSally Sapega, M.A.

Graphic DesignLisa Paxson

System News Administration:

Director of CommunicationsMarc Kaplan

Senior Vice President, Public AffairsSusan E. Phillips

3535 Market Street, Mezzanine LevelPhiladelphia, PA 19104Telephone: (215) 662-4488Fax: (215) 349-8312

Let Us Hear From You

Please feel free to share your thoughts and

ideas for improving our Health System! E-mail

the editor at sally.sapega@uphs.upenn.edu.

(continued from page 1)

Penn Medicine Awards of Excellence are presented

to faculty who have demonstrated excellence through

their highly significant contributions to biomedical

research, their mentoring,and their dedication to

improving the quality of patient care. This years

winners and their awards are:

M E N T O R I N G A W A R D S

Arthur Asbury Outstanding Faculty Mentor AwardCaryn Lerman,Ph.D.

Christian R. and Mary F. LindbackAward for Distinguished TeachingStanley Goldfarb,M.D and Joshua Metlay, M.D.,Ph.D.

Leonard Berwick Memorial Teaching AwardJeffrey Berns,M.D.

Provosts Award for Distinguished TeachingThomas Faust,M.D., M.B.E

Robert Dunning Dripps Memorial Award forExcellence in Graduate Medical Education

Eli Glatstein,M.D.

R E S E A R C H A W A R D S

Stanley N. Cohen Biomedical Research AwardSteven L.Reiner,M.D.

William Osler Patient-Oriented Research AwardKarl Rickels,M.D.

Samuel Martin Health Evaluation SciencesResearch AwardThomas R. Ten Have, Ph.D.

Michael S. Brown New Investigator Research AwardKathryn M.Ferguson, Ph.D.

Lady Barbara Colyton Autoimmune Research AwardKyong-Mi-Chang, M.D.

Marjorie A. Bowman New InvestigatorResearch AwardKathryn H.Schmitz, Ph.D. M.P.H.

C L I N I C A L A W A R D S

Luigi Mastroianni, Jr., Clinical Innovator AwardPaul A. Offit, M.D.

Alfred Stengel Health System Champion AwardPatrick J. Brennan,M.D.

I.S. Ravdin Master Clinician AwardErnest F.Rosato,M.D.

Sylvan Eisman Outstanding Primary CarePhysician AwardGary W. Crooks,M.D.

Louis Duhring Outstanding Clinical Specialist AwardSusan J.Mandel, M.D.,M.P.H.

Twenty-five years before the American

Revolution, Pennsylvania Hospital opened its doors tothe sick-poor of Philadelphia. In a matter of decades,it became

not only Americas firstvoluntaryhospital,but also the home of

the first apothecary,medical library, and surgical amphitheatre.

A History of the Pennsylvania Hospital, the new book on the

history of the nations oldest chartered hospital, is an entertaining

and educational look into its history from its founding in 1751

by Benjamin Franklin and Dr.Thomas Bond to 2008.

Franklin and Dr.Bond were visionaries. They brought the

novel concept of a hospital from England to Philadelphia to

treat the sick-poor of the city, explained Stacey C. Peeples, lead

archivist-curator of the hospitals vast medical archives.In

those days,care was given mostly in the home to those who

could afford it.

We wanted to celebrate our founders and share our Colonial

and recent history, she added.Kristen A.Graham ofThe Philadelphia Inquirerauthored

the book. In it, Graham introduces the people and ideas that

guided Pennsylvania Hospital through numerous wars and

social and economic crises,landing it at the forefront of healing,

learning and innovation.

The 120-page book includes never-before-seen images of

the hospital and the men and women who make up its past.It examines changes in the health-care system and care delivery

over the hospitals 257-year history.

A History of the Pennsylvania Hospitalcosts $19.99 plus

tax. It is available at the Pennsylvania Hospital Gift Shop or

from the archivist at 215-829-5434 or peepless@pashosp.com.

B O O K E X C E R P T : C i v i l W a r

When the Civil War began in 1861, Pennsylvania Hospital

was again called upon to treat the wounded. In fact, the

first casualty it received came not from a battle but from an

act of secessionist mob violence in Baltimore. Private George

Leisenring died at Pennsylvania Hospital four days aftersustaining injuries in a Baltimore train station. The mob

had seized upon a Philadelphia contingent of Northern

recruits, and Leisenring became the first casualty.

At the annual managers meeting in 1861, the board of

managers made a statement that read in part:

At the present time, when our country is threatened with

the terrible scourge, war, it behooves us to endeavor to be

prepared by every means in our power, to relieve those

who may be sufferers from the inseparable ills which must

follow in its train, and that not one applicant should be

allowed to leave our gate while there is room to accommodate,

because the funds adequate to relieve are wanted.

A few months later, the managers said they could take 60 soldier

patients at once and would soon be ready for 80 additional.They also offered authorities room to build a temporary hospital,

if it was necessary. The hospital admitted 124 wounded or sick

soldiers between July 7 and October 13, 1862, many of whom

were specialized surgical cases, given Pennsylvania Hospitals

excellent reputation for surgery.

As it had during the Revolutionary War, the hospital

suffered economically during and after the Civil War. Across

the board, charitable institutions were not properly funded,

financially or supply-wise. The Department of the Insane

received no reimbursement for the large number of Southern

patients it housed.

A W A R D S o fE X C E L L E N C E

By Lee-Ann Landis

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Future

Abramson Cancer CenterA N e w L e v e l o f P a t i e n t C a r e

PENNS

More Than Just aGreat Facility

As Philip Okala, chief administrative officer

of UPHS Cancer Services,explained, when

designing the new Cancer Center at Perelman,

Our focus was also to improve the patient

experience beyond the technology and

expertise of our physicians. The ideal patient

experience also includes complementing the

comfort of a patient through each visit.

Each of the floors is centered around a

specific disease.Cancer patients meet with

so many providerssurgeon, radiation

oncologist,medical oncologist, social workers,

he said.We wanted to integrate all those

components provide a continuum of care

in one compassionate environment.

For example,the s econd floor was developed

for lung cancer, head & neck cancers and

blood cancers.The third floor contains the

Jordan Gynecologic Oncology Center and the

Rena Rowan Breast Center; all of its providers

specialize in womens health.Different

specialists work towards the same goal while

addressing the needs of the patient, Okala

said, adding that always returning to the

same exam areas,same intake staff,and same

triage areas for all three disciplines is critical

to the patient experience.Theyre always in

a familiar environment, not on different floors

of the hospital.

Outpatient surgery, chemotherapy, and

radiation therapy are also all at the

Perelman Center.And, if necessary,staff

from financial services and registrationwill come directly to patients rather than

making them travel to HUP

or Penn Tower.

The patients-first approach

begins when they first enter

the Perelman Center atrium.

Elevators take patients and

their families directly to the

Cancer Center floors.All three

floors feature large waiting

areas on either side of the

elevators,with amenities such as

a small refrigerator with snacks.

At check-in,patientsnames are entered into

the NaviCare system.This is a tracking system

that helps to strengthen patient management

in many ways, including wait times, from the

time they arrive to check-out, Okala noted.

Large conference rooms close to clinics on

the second and third floors encourage multi-

disciplinary consults. Consultation rooms on

each floor provide a private location for

patients and families to meet with physicians,

social workers and nutritionists.

The new Center boasts 72 exam rooms,

almost double the number in the former Penn

Tower location. A call button in each exam

room and its connected bathroom, and in

chemo rooms alerts staff in the nearest location

that a patient needs assistance. Family waiting

rooms,located near exam and chemo rooms,

provide a comfortable environment with use

of a refrigerator.

Chemotherapy: A TrueTransformation

The chemotherapy infusion areas underwent

a significant transformation. The 27 chemo

rooms per floor nearly doubles those on 15

Penn Tower,but the changes go far beyond

just numbers.

Each floors infusion area is divided into

three sections.The smaller environment allows

more of a 1-to-1 relationship between nurses

and patients, said Dawna Gillespie, practice

administrator for Hematology-Oncology.

Each chemo room is private,and most have

windows facing an expansive view of Univer-

sity City and Center City.All are outfitted with

flat-screen TVs and have wireless Internet

access.In addition, the rooms are large enough

to comfortably fit family members or friends.

All infusion chairs are on wheels so they can

be moved according to the patients preference.

Also,as Gillespie,noted,If two patients want

to do their sessions together,we can easily wheel

a second chemo chair into the room. We will do

whatever it takes to make our patients feel

comfortable.

A pharmacy in the center of each floors

infusion areawith a pass-through window

provides nurses witheasy access to chemotherapy

drugs. A convenient prep area outside of the

pharmacy allows them to prepare the drugs

before administering them.

Support services,such as radiology and

pathology, are also located at the Perelman

Center. Plus, each cancer floor has its own lab

with six draw stations and an area for preparing

the blood for processing.Pneumatic tubes

take the blood to the lab on the ground floor.

The Faith & Hope Boutique also moved to the

Perelman Center.The ground floor location

features two dressing areas and a larger area for

display. Although the boutique caters to breast

cancer patients,the expanded location allows it

to offer services for all cancer patients both

men and women.

We are proud to be able to provide our

patients with the most comprehensive cancer

care available in an environment that is designed

to speed diagnosis and treatment and enhance

patient comfort and convenience, said Craig

Thompson, MD, director of Penns Abramson

Cancer Center.Added Okala,Its a significant change in our

processes from where we were before.

Penns Abramson Cancer Center is a national leader in cancer research, patientcare, and education. Indeed, it has been designated a Comprehensive Cancer

Center by the National Cancer Center for the past 30 years one of only

39 such centers in the US.

With its recent move to the Ruth and Raymond Perelman Center for Advanced

Medicine, however, the Cancer Center reaches a new level in patient care.

We are proud to be able to provide our

patients with the most comprehensive

cancer care available in an environment

that is designed to speed diagnosis

and treatment and enhance patient

comfort and convenience, said

Craig Thompson, MD, director

of Penns Abramson

Cancer Center.

WHAT HAS MOVED

The Abramson Cancer Center has

moved the following services to its new

location in the Perelman Center on

the second, third, and fourth floors of

the West and South Pavilion:

I Rena Rowan Breast CenterI Jordan Gynecologic Oncology CenterI Hematology OncologyI Endocrine and Oncologic SurgeryI Neuro OncologyI Radiation Oncology ConsultationsI Palliative CareI Cancer Rehabilitation ProgramI Chemotherapy Infusions

The STAT Lab has moved to the Ground

Floor, East Pavilion.

One of the spacious waitingrooms located on each floor ofthe Abramson Cancer Center.

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P E N N M e d i c i n e

N E W S M A K E R S

Zapping Depression

Many people suffering from depressioncannot tolerate antidepressants and have had

to find other methods to cope with theirsymptoms. But as reported on the front pageof a recent Health & Science section of ThePhiladelphia Inquirer, a new non-drug,non-invasive treatment called transcranial

magnetic stimulation, or TMS is nowavailable.TMS, which was tested and isnow offered at Penns Treatment ResistantDepression Clinic, was recently approved by

the FDA. John OReardon,MD, associateprofessor of Psychiatry and director of PennsTMS clinic,was quoted as saying the treat-

ment is also being studied for adolescentswith ADHD and adults with PSTD,obsessive-compulsive and panic disorders.

v

Foreclosures Can Be Hazardous

to Your Health

Over a million family homes are currentlyin foreclosure in the United States.During the

fall of 2008, the number of foreclosure filingsacross the nation increased 71 percent com-pared to the same timeframe a year ago.

Does the downturn in the economy also havean impact on health? A story broadcast onCBS-3, featuring Craig Pollack,MD, a

Penn internist and Robert Wood JohnsonFoundation Scholar,focused on his researchthat links foreclosure to negative health out-

comes. The financial toll of foreclosure maylead homeowners to cut back on their healthspending,leading to unfilled prescriptions

for dangerous chronic conditions, misseddoctor visits,and cheaper, less nutritiousdiets. Relocation to temporary or substandard

housing may expose children and adults toenvironments that exacerbate conditions like

asthma or diabetes. Pollacks research alsorevealed that one-third of the participantsreported symptoms meeting the diagnosticcriteria for clinical depression, and they

report high rates of unhealthful behaviorslike smoking and heavy drinking.

Should IVF be Regulated?

Children born in multiples are almostalways premature,which can lead to medicaland cognitive problems. With more couples

turning to fertility treatments, a doctorsdecision to implant multiple embryos ininfertile women can cause a dilemma for

both physicians and patients alike.

Arthur Caplan,PhD, director of theCenter of Bioethics,was featured onABCNews.com commenting on this continuing

controversy. Caplan said that he has longargued that nobody should be putting morethan four embryos into any woman because

of the high risk of super multiple pregnancieswhich are hugely dangerous to newborns.We know that usually every one of these cases

has the kids in a neonatal unit, that disabilityand learning disorders are common anddeath can even occur.

v

Penn Study: Detox Drug May Help

Young Addicts Quit

The Washington Postwas among themany media outlets reporting that longer-

term use of a drug that relieves withdrawalsymptoms might help young people under-going treatment for addiction to heroin or

prescription painkillers like Oxycontin.George Woody, MD, professor of Psychiatry,said many treatment programs in the United

States and other countries favor shorter-termdetoxification and counseling for youngpeople addicted to the drugs called opioids;

but he added that drug treatment might be amore effective option.Although relapse ratesin these rehab programs are high,he said

there is a hesitation to use medication inthis country. His study appeared in TheJournal of the American Medical Association.

v

New Way to Identify People At-Risk

for High Cholesterol

Daniel J. Rader, MD,director of PennsPreventive Cardiovascular Medicine & LipidClinic and the Clinical and Translational

Research Center,was quoted as an expertsource in a recent article published in TheNew York Times.He commented on a Harvardstudy that suggests that millions morepeople could benefit from taking cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins even if they

have low cholesterol because the drugs cansignificantly lower their risk of heart attacks,stroke,and even death.These particular

patients had high levels of the C-reactive pro-tein, or CRP,which indicates inflammation inthe body.According to Rader, the Harvard

studyvery convincingly used CRP as a wayto identify another group of high-risk indi-viduals who would not otherwise have been

treated and supports the concept that thosepeople should be treated with a statin.

Communicating Clearly to Patients has

Medical Benefits

USNews & World Reportcarried resultsof a Penn study showing that giving patients

clearly written and verbal instructionson the proper use of the blood thinnerwarfarin significantly reduces the risk of

serious gastrointestinal and brain bleeding

problems. Joshua P. Metlay,MD, associateprofessor of General Internal Medicine and

a senior scholar in the Center for ClinicalEpidemiology and Biostatistics, conductedthe research.The study also found that

patients who see only one physician andget their prescription filled at the samepharmacy all the time are less likely to

suffer serious bleeding episodes.

v

Bad Bugs

Neil Fishman,MD, associate professor

of Medicine and director of HealthcareEpidemiology & Infection and PennsAntimicrobial Management Program, was

the source for a Philadelphia Inquirerstoryabout drug-resistant infections. The articlewas an at-a-glanceguide of the top four

antibiotic-resistant bacteria including threenewly emerging strains of common bacte-ria against which there are no completely

effective antibiotics.

v

The Leading Edge of Medicine

William Hanson,MD, professor of

Anesthesia and Critical Care and medicaldirector of Penn E-lert, was interviewed onFresh Air, the popular program broadcast

on National Public Radio,ab out his newbook, The Edge of Medicine: The TechnologyThat Will Change Our Lives. The book

examines biomedical advances like roboticsurgery, telemedicine programs to managechronic diseases like diabetes, and electronic

noses that are designed to diagnose illnessesbased on the way a persons breath smells.During the program, Hanson discussed two

areas where Penn is serving as a medicalpioneer the growing use of protontherapy, and the use of video and audio

monitoring to watch over ICU patients.

v

Remedies for the Skin

AbbyVan Voorhees,MD, director of

the Penn Psoriasis and PhototherapyTreatment Center, was interviewed by

Selecciones Reader's Digest(Spanish edition)for an article discussing an injectablemedicine that represses the overactiveimmune response in patients with psoriasis,

which causes inflammation and an accu-mulation of cutaneous cells that formplates.The medicine could be approved

this autumn and may improve the optionsfor the 7.5 million people with psoriasiswhose wounds do not improve with the

currently available treatments.

To reach the PENN Medicine

news website, go to www.uphs.upenn.edu/news

Cash Incentives Motivate Weight Loss

New research conducted byKevin Volpp,MD,PhD, associate professor of Medicineand Health Care Management and director

of the Center for Health Incentives at theLeonard Davis Institute of Health Economics,was featured in stories that aired on dozens

of ABC and NBC News affiliates across the

country, including Los Angeles, Baltimore,Washington,D.C., and Seattle.Volpp

published findings in The Journal of theAmerican Medical Association that showedfinancial incentives are helpful in motivating

people to lose weight.The research was alsohighlighted in The New York Times, MedPageToday,Reuters, The Los Angeles Times andThe Wall Street Journal. The goal is to designa reward system in a way to help people inthe short term do whats in their long-term

best interest,Volpp said.A lot of insurers arestarting to spend a lot of money on incentiveprograms to improve health. This shows that

providing tangible rewards with a higherdegree of frequency makes the use of thesedollars more effective.

v

Getting Serious about Diabetes

A special health-care section in ThePhiladelphia Daily News focusing on diabetesquoted several Penn faculty, including:Mitch Lazar, MD,PhD, director of theInstitute for Diabetes, Obesity and

Metabolism (IDOM); RexAhima,MD,PhD,director of the Obestiy Unit of IDOM; MarkSchutta, MD,medical director of the Penn

Rodebaugh Diabetes Center; and Fran Love,RN,MSN, CDE, clinical nurse specialist.Spotlighted in the series of articles was the

attention Penn pays to empowering thepatient to help control the disease. Shutta

noted,There is no disease that I can think ofwhere the patient has as much of an impact.

v

Bloodless Medicine in China

Patricia Ford,MD, medical directorfor the Center for Bloodless Medicine at

Pennsylvania Hospital, was quoted in theSouth China Morning Postabout the use ofbloodless medicine to help mainland

hospitals in China overcome the nationalblood shortage and reduce blood-borneinfectious diseases.I definitely think it

really makes for better medicine.It makesyou think clinically about when a personneeds a blood transfusion and to prepare

better for surgery,rather than just a llowingtransfusions to serve as a [fallback] if youneed it. The article noted that the mainland

has long struggled to maintain the integrityof its blood supplies.

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Arlene Worley and Patricia Mairone first met

at a ceramics class 30 years ago and started a

friendship that has remained strong through

sickness and health literally. The two

recently underwent knee replacement surgery

at Pennsylvania Hospital.After three days, they

transferred to the new Good Shepherd Penn

Partners (GSPP) for post acute care and post

operative rehabilitation.

We both were aware that we needed to

have something done about our knees,says

Arlene,who had a bilateral knee replacement.

Once we knew that we both had to have the

operation,we started discussing the possibili-

ty of doing it at the same time so we could

support each other throughout the process.

The successful procedures and rehabilita-

tion for both women represent a new and

improved model of care for UPHS.When they

were ready for rehabilitation on their new

knees, both stayed within the UPHS system

with their t ransfer to GSPP.

This illustrates a perfect example of the

continuum of care that is now available to

patients in the University of Pennsylvania

Health System, said Mike Soisson,executive

director of GSPP.With the systems rehabilita-

tion facilities combined in the all-new GSPP

with its generous space, excellent resources

and exceptionally high level of available care,

we are fully able to meet all post acute care

and rehab requirements.

We have long known continuity of care is

crucial to the entire healing process, noted

DavidNazarian, MD,director of Hip Surgery

at PAH.The partnership that is Good

Shepherd Penn Partners assures the level of

rehabilitative care they receive is equal to the

high level of expertise patients receive during

the surgical procedures. Nazarian performed

Arlenes procedure; Robert Booth, MD, chief

of Orthopaedic Surgery at PAH, performed

Patricias surgery.

Both women started their rehab regimen

the day after transferring to GSPP. Natalia

Stroutinsky, one of the GSPP therapists who

worked with the two friends, said she had

never before come across two friends who had

elected to undergo surgery at the same time.

Being able to support each other during the

initial rehab was very motivating for them and

certainly helped us as well,she said.

GSPP, a joint venture between Good

Shepherd Rehabilitation Network,of

Allentown,and UPHS provides specialized

inpatient long-term acute care, and medical

and physical rehabilitation for patients trans-

ferred from medical, surgical and intensive

care at UPHSs three hospitals.GSPP also

provides outpatient rehabilitation care at eight

locations in the Philadelphia area.

Hospice care is the highest and most intense level of palliative care for people who

decide that they no longer want to receive curative treatment, explained Joseph

Straton, MD, Penn Hospice chief medical officer.The palliative care focuses on

removing a patients distress and improving quality of life..

When the Health System took over the old Graduate Hospital, the hope of creating

an inpatient unit was transformed into reality.It was probably seven or eight years

that weve known that we wanted to add to our services and develop a dedicated

inpatient unit, said Joan Doyle, executive director of Penn Home Care and Hospice.

We had looked at different spaces over the years, but this was really the best.

Penn Hospice provides acute symptom management for patients with symptoms

or problems that cant be managed at home. The new unit, at 1800 Lombard Street,

is tastefully designed using soothing beige colors and fabrics with well-appointedspaces and lighting applications.It features 12 private patient rooms, each with views

of the Center City skyline,a dining area with full kitchen,a living room space with a

fireplace and Internet access, a meeting room and a spa area that features a thera-

peutic bathtub to provide water therapy and help with pain management.

The patient rooms are larger than the typical hospital room and include a built-in

space to serve as a sitting area or bed for a family member who chooses to stay

overnight, a dining table and chairs and private bathing space.

A visual highlight can be seen in the spa.Amazon Rain Forest, a magnificent

stained glass art application has become the wall across from the spa tub.Originally

exhibited in the Tuttleman Building of Graduate Hospital, it was installed in the

hospice by the artist,Val Sigstedt.

Penn Hospice at Rittenhouse is designed as a short-stay unit.We provide a

higher level of care than a patient can get at home. For some patients it may provide

a transition space from hospital to home, explained Elizabeth Alexander, director

of Penn Wissahickon Hospice.

The staff includes three physicians, 20 nurses and a host of therapists,including

massage, all of whom are trained in hospice and palliative care and have expertise

in end-of-life care.

Our goal is to get their symptoms under control so that they can go home,

Straton says.We can offer intravenous pain medicine for a patient who is having a

pain crisis or who cannot take their medication because of terrible nausea. We will

provide oral or intravenous medicines and therapies such as water and massage to

make them comfortable.

Over $400,000 in funding for the hospice came from many generous sources,

including close to $94,000 from staff and through the Penns Way campaign. The

Philadelphia Flyers/Philadelphia 76ers room recognizes a donation from Comcast

Spectacor Foundation while the Red Rock Conference Center was made possible

through a donation by the The Hutch Project in memory of Tom Hutchinson, a

Penn Wissahickon Hospice home patient.A tribute wall comprised of three glasswindows displays the names of other contributors who helped Penn Hospice at

Rittenhouse come to fruition.

By Nan Myers

Penn Presbyterian was recently named as one of Thomson

Reuters Top 100 Hospitals for Cardiovascular Care, the only

hospital in Philadelphia and one of seven in Pennsylvania to

receive this honor. Each year,this award for cardiovascular services

objectively measures performance on key criteria at the nations

top-performing acute-care hospitals.This is the sixth year that

Penn Presbyterian has been recognized with this award.

This distinction recognizes Penn Presbyterians consistent

expertise in cardiac care, a tribute to the entire cardiovascular

teams' collaborative medical efforts to care for our patients with

complex heart conditions, said MicheleVolpe, Penn Presbyterian

executive director and CEO.

The Thompson Reuters found that Penn Presbyterian patients

fare better than those cared for at most other hospitals,particularly

in heart attack and coronary artery bypass surgery survival and

reduced post-surgical hemorrhages.

Penn Presby Honored as a

Top 100 Hospitalfor Cardiovascular Care

Penn Hospice at Rittenhouse

Last month the Health System opened a new era in acute hospice care

Penn Hospice at Rittenhouse. The facility offers those near the end of life aspace that combines function with comfort and beauty.

The Amazon Rain Forest stained glasswindow provides a tranquil presence.

The family lounge offersa comfortable and soothingplace for family membersto ease tensions and relax.

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KATRINA ARMSTRONG, MD, has been named the new chief of

Internal Medicine.Armstrong is an internationally recognized

investigator in medical decision making, cancer prevention,quality

of care, and cancer outcomes. She has received several awards for

her work, including Outstanding Junior Investigator of the Year

from the Society of General Internal Medicine. Her research

program has been awarded extensive federal funding from the

American Cancer Society, the Department of Defense,and the

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.Ar mstrong is also associate

director of the Abramson Cancer Center and co-director of

the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program.

ARTHUR L. CAPLAN, PHD, director of the Center for Bioethics

and chair of Medical Ethics,was among The 50 Most Important,

Influential,and Promising People in Science, published in Discover

Magazine. Caplan was included among the 10 Most Influential

Peoplein science,described by the magazine as the operators

who control so much of the agenda for science,often from behind

the scenes.

RICHARD DEMERS, RPH, MS, was elected president of the

Pennsylvanian Society of Health System Pharmacists.The mission

of PSHP is to advance and support the professional practice of

health-system pharmacy.Demers is associate hospital director and

director of Pharmacy at HUP.

EDNA FOA, PHD, director of the Center for the Treatment and

Study of Anxiety, has received two major grants.The first,f rom the

Department of Defense, will compare intensive vs delayed pro-

longed exposure (PE) for post traumatic stress disorder.Foa and

her colleagues developed PE, which has been shown to be a highly

effective treatment for PTSD. The second grant, from the National

Institute on Drug Abuse, will be used in a five-year study to test the

efficacy of an integrated treatment for smoking cessation among

smokers with PTSD. Foa also received the Outstanding Lifetime

Contribution to Psychology Award from the Connecticut

Psychology Association.

WILLIAM JAMES, MD, vice chair and program director of

Dermatology, has been elected president-elect for 2009 and

president for 2010 of the American Academy of Dermatology. The

academy is the largest dermatologic organization in the United

States,with more than 14,000 members.

JONATHANMORENO, PHD, of Medical Ethics,was named to

one of the review teams for the incoming Obama-Biden adminis-

tration. The mission of the teams is to make a thorough review of

key departments,agencies, and commissions of the United States

government,as well as the White House,to provide the president-

elect, the vice President-elect, and key advisors with information

needed to make strategic policy, budgetary, and personnel deci-

sions before the inauguration.Moreno was appointed to lead a

review of the Presidents Council on Bioethics.

LYNNM. SCHUCHTER, MD, has accepted the position of chief

of Hematology/Oncology. Schuchter is a nationally recognized

oncologist whose research and clinical activities are focused on

melanoma and breast cancer.Her clinical research emphasizes

novel therapies for treating patients with advanced melanoma.

Schuchter is director of the Clinical Research Unit in the Abramson

Cancer Center and program leader of the Cancer Centers

Melanoma Program.

STEPHENC. RUBIN, MD, chief of Gynecologic Oncology, was

appointed to the executive committee of the American Board of

Obstetrics and Gynecology.He also serves the board as a director,

as chair of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, and as chair of

the Subspecialties Committee.

C. WILLIAM SCHWAB, MD, was awarded the SurgeonsAward

for Service to Safety from the American College of Surgeons, the

Association for the Advancement of Surgical Trauma and The

National Safety Council. Schwab, who is chief of Trauma & Surgical

Critical Care,was honored for his visionary leadership and

steadfast commitment to firearm injury prevention, and his distin-

guished surgical career marked by excellence in clinical care,

prodigious research and inspirational mentorship and training of

young surgeons.

Each year, the Penn Med Art Show features a wide array of

art and performances by members of Penns biomedical and health-care

community. And this year was no different. From sculpture to canvas to tapestry and live

music performances, the artistic side of 43 members of our medical community came

shining through. Entries included (above) Paint Cans, an oil on canvas by Bernett

Johnson, MD, HUPs senior medical director; and Summer Olympics, a weaving by

Theresa Alcorn of Hematology-Oncology at PAH.

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in the news

Art ShowP E N N M E D

JOHN TOMASZEWSKI, MD, has been appointed

interim chair of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.

He is a regionally and nationally recognized expert

in diagnostic genitourinary pathology who was named

a Top Doctornumerous times in both regional and national

surveys.In addition, he has recently been elected to a leadership

position in his specialty society.

Tomaszewskis research has had a strong focus on high resolution

MRI of prostate and breast cancer, computer-assisted diagnosis,and

high dimensionality data fusion in creating new diagnostic testing

paradigm. This model of fusing high dimensionality in vivo and

ex vivo image and molecular data is the current focus of his collab-

orative research group which includes Penn Radiology and imagescientists at both Penn and Rutgers University.

In addition, Tomaszewski has won numerous awards for his

commitment to teaching, including the Peter Nowell Teaching Award

and the Deans Award for Excellence in Basic Science Teaching as

well as strong recognition from the students themselves.

Prior to this appointment,Tomaszewski served as vice-chair for

Anatomic Pathology Hospital Services.

John Tomaszewski, MDN e w I n t e r i m C h a i r

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