It's About Children - Winter 2013 Issue by East Tennessee Children's Hospital

Special issue: featuring our annual report

133

4

CPR class for parents and teens age 14 and older

National Pancake Day

JAN.

FEB.

MAR.

6 p.m. to 10 p.m.Children’s Hospital’s Koppel Plaza Building (Meschendorf Conference Room)Class costs $25.Call 865-541-8262 to register. Learn CPR so you can respond to emergencies in your home.

7 a.m. to 10 p.m.All IHOP restaurantsGet a free short stack of pancakes; then donate to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.Visit www.ihoppancakeday.com for more information. All funds raised locally go directly to Children’s Hospital to help purchase medical equipment.

Mark Your Calendar

2 It’s About Children, Issue 4 • 2013

4 Young man, start your scooterAlexander Toth is full of energy and happiness–no more so than when he’s racing for glory during one of his weekly visits to the hospital.

9 Real heroesChildren’s Hospital would not be the extraordinary place it is without our heroes. And their super powers are even more exceptional than those found in comic books. Learn more in our annual report.

24 Supporting health care in schoolsWe are funding 10 additional school nurses in 13 Title I Knox County elementary schools for the next three years.

It’s About Children is a publication of the Marketing Department at

East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.Editor: Paul Parson

Designer: Deborah HostermanCover photo by Michael Dayah

Connect with us:www.etch.com/ItsAboutChildren

Spotlight

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21

Safe Sitter class for teens age 14 and older

Charlie Brown merchandise

MEDIC blood drive

JAN.

FEB.

DEC.

FEB.

Kohl’s department storesBooks, plush toys, a backpack and note cards are $5 each.Visit www.kohls.com for more information. All net profits from local stores will help fund our helmet safety program.

7 a.m. to 4 p.m.Children’s Hospital’s Koppel Plaza Building (Meschendorf Conference Room)It is free.Call 865-541-8165 for more information. One donation can help up to three people. Donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh more than 110 pounds and have an ID.

9 a.m. to 3 p.m.Children’s Hospital’s Koppel Plaza Building (Meschendorf Conference Room)Class costs $25.Call 865-541-8262 to register. Learn correct babysitting techniques, emergency responses and how to use babysitting as a business.

3Donate at www.etch.com/ItsAboutChildren

Through

continued on page 6

4

Story by E. AndersonPhotos by Michael Dayah

Young man, start your

scooter

It’s About Children, Issue 4 • 2013


It’s Wednesday morning in the East Tennessee Children’s Hospital Hematology/Oncology Clinic. The clinic is designed with a circular floor plan—perfect for little Alexander Toth’s favorite activity. As he flies around the nurses’ station on his scooter, anticipating his dad Dustin hiding around the corner, the 2-year-old is only a blur of blond curls and high-pitched laughter. But just a year ago, Alexander could do little more than rest those curls on his dad’s shoulder, moaning and wincing in pain, while unknowingly fighting a life-threatening disease. Today, thanks to Children’s Hospital, Alexander is full of energy and happiness—no more so than when he’s racing for glory in the weekly Hem/Onc 500.

WARNING SIGNS Alexander’s health problems began innocently enough, with a skin rash and flakes on his scalp. Doctors told the Toths it was cradle cap, a common ailment for infants. Then, in August 2012, he developed a rash on his abdomen and a high fever. Chronic ear infections also led doctors to put tubes in his ears—but the problems persisted. “There were all of these constant little things that would send us in a bunch of different directions and to different specialists. We didn’t realize then that it was one thing that was causing all the problems,” Dustin said. Dustin and his wife, Hollie, who work staggered schedules so one of them can stay at home with Alexander and his older siblings, Samantha and Xavier, knew that something was seriously wrong with their son. “I would spend my week with him on my shoulder, with him just twirling his curls and crying. We called him The Grumbler, because he was just so unhappy and would grumble all the time,” Dustin said.

A ROAD MAP FOR TREATMENT For months, the Toths treated Alexander’s various symptoms. But when the toddler’s belly became swollen because of an enlarged liver, they rushed Alexander to the Children’s Hospital Emergency Department, where, after testing, he was diagnosed with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH). The disease is caused when the body has too many Langerhans cells—a type of white blood cell that helps the body fight infection. These cells can build up and cause tumors or damage organs. Susan Spiller, M.D., a pediatric oncologist at Children’s Hospital, said symptoms can vary from mild to life-threatening, like Alexander’s. “These cells just start to grow uncontrollably and create a lot of different issues,” she said. “In Alexander’s case, there is multi-organ involvement. It infiltrates everything. In a case like his, we suggested intense treatment, which gave him a better than 50 percent chance of getting it under control.” For Alexander’s mom, getting a diagnosis meant the first step to getting her little boy healthy. “It was a relief to finally get an answer,” Hollie said. “It felt good to know that it was all tied together, and we could start treatment.”


continued from page 4


The Toths credit Children’s Hospital with calming any anxiety they felt about Alexander’s diagnosis. “When we were in the Emergency Department, we had six different specialists come in and talk to us and connect notes,” Dustin said. “We were fearful for a minute, but they had a road map laid in front of us for him, which helped ease our minds.” For more than a year, the Toths traveled from their home in Mohawk, Tenn., more than an hour to Knoxville where Alexander underwent chemotherapy at Children’s Hospital. “I have been so impressed with Children’s Hospital,” Dustin said. “We’re very active and hands-on. I don’t want him to go through something I can’t be a part of, and they allow us to be that way,” he said. “You know they are doing everything they can every day to get the best results for the kids. The awesome team is part of the reason we were able to stay so positive.” DETERMINED TO WIN Alexander has had an amazing response to the chemotherapy, Dr. Spiller said. “It was a gradual uphill and gradual downhill for them, but to see him laughing and giggling today, it’s hard to remember how sick he was when he first came in,” she said.

continued on page 8

Hollie said Wednesdays, Alexander’s clinic day, are his favorite. The Toths bring Alexander’s trusty red Radio Flyer scooter to his appointments. “At first, the scooter was just Alexander’s way of keeping up with his brother and sister. Everything hit him at a prime development stage, so he lost some of his functioning. He used the scooter as his aid to get around. But now he rides circles around the house,” Dustin said. “And we have the best time at the hospital. He rides around and around. He’s finally enjoying life.” Dustin is grateful for the improvement in his son and hopes that the obstacles he’s had to face will help him in the future. “You always hope for the best for all your children, but Alexander’s had to live through so much—and he’s taken it all in stride. I just pray that the resilience he was born with and forced to use will carry him for the rest of his life.”

just the facts:Langerhans cell histiocytosis



Has no known cause. Occurs when the body accumulates too many Langerhans cells, a type of white blood cell that is supposed to help the body fight infection. The cells can build up in certain parts of the body, causing tumors or damaging organs. May only affect one area of the body, such

as the skin or the bone, or it may affect multiple systems. Is treated with cortisone shots, surgery or chemotherapy for the most extreme cases. Believed to occur in one out of every 200,000 children, though is often under-diagnosed when symptoms are mild.


Children’s Hospital. You enabled us to have an incredible year, managing 148,140 patient visits in the hospital. You’ve helped us become the largest pediatric clinical care provider in East Tennessee and allowed us to care for our most vulnerable patients—nearly 800 premature and critically ill newborn babies. We are excited to share with you our accomplishments—and our heroes—in this year’s annual report. And we’re even more excited about looking forward to the future. With your help, we will continue to make a difference and allow our little heroes to grow up and become heroes to their own children.

Hero is a word that can be applied to people who do extraordinary things in sometimes extraordinary circumstances. Oftentimes, heroes are people who exhibit inspiring works of bravery when the situation calls for it. Walking through our hospital, I see heroes every day. Heroic children who are battling illnesses and injuries. Heroic doctors, nurses and staff members who do everything they can to ensure these children go on to lead healthy, productive lives. We are proud of our hospital and our more than 1,900 employees who make a lifesaving impact every day. As donors, you are heroes—champions— for all of our patients at East Tennessee

Keith GoodwinPresident and CEO


continued on page 12


They come in all shapes, sizes and ages. Some of them wear lab coats. Others wear surgical gowns and masks. There are even a few, as in the case of some of our volunteers, who don fairy wings when the occasion calls for it. Our heroes make a difference every day. And their super powers are even more exceptional than those found in comic books. Nurses who ease nerves while checking vitals. Doctors who create treatment plans to give our young patients the best chance at healthy futures. Child life specialists who hold a shaky hand and turn fear into fun. Anesthesiologists who take away the pain. Volunteers who soothe a crying baby to sleep with a lullaby. Athletes and special visitors who raise spirits just by saying hello. Children’s Hospital would not be the extraordinary place it is without our heroes, including our donors. Your support helps fund a

significant portion of the lifesaving equipment and innovative treatment we use for our patients. The daily care we provide with help from our donors makes a significant impact to the children of our community. This can easily be seen in our busy Emergency Department, where last year we had 71,764 patient visits. Because we care for more children needing emergency care than anyone else in East Tennessee, our doctors and nurses are equipped to treat everything from minor injuries to major medical concerns. We understand we are caring for patients who need a special kind of treatment—not only to make them well, but also to make them feel comfortable and safe. Our heroes are also busy offering pediatric specialty care like the team from our Cleft and Craniofacial Clinic, which was officially approved

More than

30pediatric

specialtiesonly

ComprehensiveRegional Pediatric

Center in EastTennessee



as a Cleft Palate Team by the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association and Cleft Palate Foundation in January. Or, our Cystic Fibrosis Care Center, which is accredited by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. In addition to the care we provide every day, we strive to be pioneers. We are at the forefront of care in treating neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), a condition that stems from the country’s prescription drug epidemic. Tennessee ranks among the top states in prescription drug abuse, and Children’s Hospital developed the treatment protocol for NAS after seeing its impact. Our heroic efforts also extend beyond the hospital. We sponsor the Knoxville Area Coalition on Childhood Obesity, which works to decrease the number of overweight and obese children in East Tennessee. We also run Project ADAM Tennessee, a program that works with school systems to prevent sudden cardiac deaths. But of course, the most important heroes of Children’s Hospital are the bravest of them all. The ones who wear pink pajamas featuring their favorite Disney princesses. The ones who dream of being professional baseball players or teachers. The ones in your family, your school and your community. There’s your little neighbor, who’s been fighting for her life since the day she was born— battling a rare cancer that requires intense chemo-therapy treatments. Your 15-year-old son, whose life is often put on hold for treatment and hospitalization for his cystic fibrosis. Your 8-year-old nephew, who is finally feeling well enough to go back to soccer practice after undergoing ear tube surgery. These everyday heroes are the ones we most celebrate. And they’re the reason we are committed to making Children’s Hospital the best place for pediatric care in East Tennessee.

152beds

More than

400doctors


148,140patient visits

148,015 in FY12; 149,295 in FY11

72,575patients

71,914 in FY12; 71,478 in FY11

261,558physician practice visits

257,514 in FY12; 261,342 in FY11

71,764Emergency Department visits

66,068 in FY12; 66,628 in FY11

10,918surgeries

10,844 in FY12; 10,952 in FY11

313babies treated for drug dependency

168 in FY12; 82 in FY11

330transports

864,762website visits

We are a trusted source of pediatric health care information

for East Tennessee families.



Hospital admissions

FY136,091

FY13790

FY13168,355

FY13559

FY125,941

FY12646

FY12168,517

FY12615

FY115,976

FY11600

FY11170,757

FY11600

Outpatient visits

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)patient visits

Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)patient visits

Hospital AdmissionsFY13 6091FY12 5941FY11 5976

Outpatient VisitsFY13 142,049FY12 142,074FY11 143,318

NICU Patient VisitsFY13 790FY12 646FY11 600

PICU Patient VisitsFY13 559FY12 615FY11 600

Home Health VisitsFY13 21,810FY12 17,584FY11 16,120

Hours for EvaluationFY13 15,266FY12 14,441FY11 15,858




















Outpatient activity

Home HealthGastroenterologyEndocrinologyPulmonologyPhysiatryCardiologyHematology/oncologyDiabetesUrology

NephrologyCystic fibrosisPsychologyInfectious diseaseRheumatologyWeight managementDermatologyGynecology

21,81020,444

10,4539,290

6,836

4,6733,901

2,913 2,3361,235

570 379 348 348 259 132 91


24,980patient interactions

Our child life specialists help

educate patients about their illnesses and

treatments.

9,925distractions

Because our patients range from infants

to 21-year-olds, child life specialists must be

prepared with a variety of activities to support them during stressful

experiences and painful procedures.

12therapy dogsVisits from thesefurry friends helpease anxiety and promote shorter

recovery times for our patients.

7iPads

Used daily to help educate children

about their care and provide them with much-needed

distractions during uncomfortable

medical procedures.


12,573Spanish translation requests

This is a 27.27 percent increase since FY11.

52,784volunteer hours

This represents a $1,339,657.92 cost-savings. It is equivalent to

providing more than 6,300 chest X-rays.

We are the only hospital in Knoxville with interpreters on staff.


6,750hospital rounds

For the safety of our patients and staff, we employ full-time security officers 24 hours

a day, seven days a week.

302students in other

health care positions, such as respiratory

therapists, emergency technicians and surgical

technicians

58medical fellows,

residents and students

1,798nursing students

We provide pediatric clinical training to more than 70 hospitals, universities and institutions.


$5,698,12007in donations

Visit www.etch.com/donors to see a list of our donors who contributed $100 or more

in FY13, listed by giving levels.


1,900employees

$518,55413/day

$189,272,25800/yearthe cost to operate Children’s Hospital

62%Medicaid/TennCare

3%Other

35%Commercial

FY13Payer mix

$416

(millions)

$234$160

$30$41.5

Gross revenueDeductions from revenueExpensesNet gainDebt


Patientpopulation

East Tennessee counties

Anderson

Blount

Campbell

Claiborne

Cocke

Grainger

Hamblen

Jefferson

Knox

Loudon

Monroe

Morgan

Roane

Scott

Sevier

Union

7,330

12,386

3,928

2,042

2,038

2,051

3,310

4,698 69,932

4,708

3,137

1,922

3,390

2,186

11,574

2,694

1,212Kentucky

144,680Tennessee

1,639 Other states

609Virginia


News

Children’s Hospital is funding 10 additional school nurses in 13 Title I Knox County elementary schools for the next three years. “This very generous gift to the students of Knox County will have a major impact on student health, facilitate family engagement and improve health education, resulting in an improvement in classroom performance and school attendance,” said Dr. Jim McIntyre, Superintendent of Knox County Schools. “The health and wellness of children are our top priorities,” said Keith Goodwin, President and CEO of Children’s Hospital. “We’re happy to help fund these positions because we believe the school nurse plays a pivotal role in the health and well-being of students. Children’s Hospital conducted a community health assessment to identify gaps in services to children of this community, and we recognize that when children are healthy, they’re better prepared to learn, happier and able to be more actively engaged in school.”

The new school nurses are in the following schools:

• Beaumont

• Belle Morris

• East Knox

• Green Magnet

• Inskip

• Lonsdale

• Maynard

• Mooreland Heights

• Norwood

• Pond Gap

• South Knox

• Spring Hill

• West View

Supporting healthcare in schools


If you are age 70 and a half or older, you can make charitable gifts to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital using funds from your individual

retirement accounts (IRAs) without undesirable tax effects.

• You can make a tax-free transfer up to $100,000 from an IRA to Children’s Hospital until Dec. 31, 2013.

• These transfers would fulfill some or all of your required minimum distribution without increasing taxable income.

Invest in a healthyfuture for children

Call our Development Department at 865-541-8441 for assistance.


The colorful world of charity For the second time this year, Children’s Hospital benefited from a little colorful mayhem. A portion of the proceeds from the August Color Me Rad 5K—more than $16,000—was donated to the hospital. The money will be used to help provide critical health care services to our pediatric patients. “We knew Children’s Hospital was a great hospital from the beginning. But after several visits there, we saw f irsthand how truly amazing they are and what incredible love and support they give to the patients and their families,” said Kristine Peterson, Race Director. The August 5K had more than 5,500 participants who ran the 3.1-mile course while being bombarded with color. The color is FDA-approved colored cornstarch, and almost 5,000 pounds of it were used for the race. The event was inspired by the Holi Festival in India. “We want this event to be memorable, fun and messy,” said race organizer Scott Crandall. “This is the most fun you can have while running.”

Your Dollars at Work


In memory of Claire Curing Kids Cancer learned about Children’s Hospital through Peggy Gillen, Program and Events Director for the nonprofit charity. Gillen’s niece, Claire Hayes, was a patient at Children’s Hospital, where she battled both Ewing’s sarcoma, which is a rare bone cancer, and acute myeloid leukemia. The teenager passed away this past April. In her memory, Curing Kids Cancer recently donated $25,000 to support our Hematology/Oncology Clinic. The money was raised through the AT&T Curing Kids Cancer Golf Classic in Georgia. Curing Kids Cancer was founded by Grainne and Clay Owen after losing their 9-year-old son to leukemia in 2003. Since its founding in 2005, the Atlanta-based charity has raised more than $2 million for pediatric cancer research.

Charles Hayes, Claire’s father, hugs Alissa Kennedy, one of the nurses who treated his daughter.


Your Dollars at Work

Friends making a difference Great friends. You know, the people you can count on when you really need them, the people who are there day after day, year after year supporting you in all kinds of ways. Where would you be without them? Children’s Hospital has great friends, too. The generosity of our donors this past year enabled the hospital to raise $5.7 million, to purchase $2.5 million in new equipment and to fund $1 million for our upcoming expansion project. In 2012, as a way of expressing our gratitude to our great friends, a tradition of an annual donor appreciation dinner and the giving of the Goodfriend Family Award was started. The Goodfriend Family Award was established to honor an individual, family, foundation or business whose support has been both exceptionally generous and sustained throughout the years. The first recipient of the award, and for whom the award is named, was the Robert M. Goodfriend family. This year, in honor of their dedication to Children’s Hospital, the Goodfriend Family Award was given to the

Keith Goodwin, President and CEO of Children’s Hospital; Ted Cooper, Chairman of Will Rogers Institute and Senior Vice President of Film for Regal Entertainment Group; and Robert (Bob) M. Goodfriend

Regal Entertainment Group and Will Rogers Institute. Accepting the award on the firm’s behalf was Ted Cooper, Chairman of Will Rogers Institute and Senior Vice President of Film for Regal Entertainment Group. Since 1994, Regal Entertainment Group and Will Rogers Institute have supported Children’s Hospital through event sponsorships, funding of hospital equipment and in-kind gifts. Regal also provided funding for the renovation of our lobby and surgery waiting room as well as updates to the surgery area. “Children’s Hospital is grateful for all Regal Entertainment Group and Will Rogers Institute have done not only for this hospital, but for the children of East Tennessee,” said Carlton Long, Vice President for Development and Community Services. “Their support, as well as the generosity of all our donors, has helped Children’s Hospital offer not only exceptional, comprehensive, family-centered care but also a comforting and healing environment as well.”


Jack Ryan, Merle FM afternoon host

Every coin matters Jack Ryan, Merle FM afternoon host, recently undertook a unique fundraising event to benefit Children’s Hospital. One of our avid supporters, Ryan gives Children’s Hospital credit for saving his daughter’s life. “When someone saves your child’s life, you can’t help but want to repay them for it, however you can. In my line of work, I am able to use the power of radio to talk about the wonders of Children’s Hospital to a large audience and encourage my listeners to give to the hospital, to volunteer or to become involved however they are able,” said Ryan. “Our entire family believes in the miracles that are happening every day at Children’s Hospital. We know from experience that the entire staff is fully dedicated to healing children

from their aches, pains and sickness.” For two weeks, Merle the Squirrel and the Merle Monster Truck visited various Food City, Applebee’s and Clayton Homes locations as well as the Anderson Coun-ty Fair to collect 1 million coins for Children’s Hospital. To encourage people to give, Ryan gave anyone donating $10 or more in coins a ticket to the Ashton Shepherd concert in July. Through Ryan’s efforts, $5,666.06 was raised for our Radiology Department. “Ryan’s event is a great example of how even the loose change in our purses and pockets can help children,” said Carlton Long, Vice President for Development and Community Services at Children’s Hospital.



Thank you to all of the sponsors and volunteers

who made this year’s Fantasy of Trees possible.

Major sponsors


Nothing puts a smile on aNothing puts a smile on a child’s face quicker than getting a gift— child’s face quicker than getting a gift

...especially when that child is spending the holidays in the hospital. It’s not always possible to visit a sick child in the hospital. We are happy to help you let a special patient and concerned parents know you are thinking of them. Call us at 865-541-8103, and we will help you pick out the perfect gift. Phone orders are accepted from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday and will be delivered to the patient the same day. There is no charge for delivery. We accept Visa and MasterCard.

Nothing puts a smile on a child’s face quicker than getting a gift...

2018 Clinch Ave. • P.O. Box 15010Knoxville, Tennessee 37901-5010RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

We always try to stay current with friends of the hospital. If for any reason you should receive a duplicate issue or need to update your address, please notify the hospital at865-541-8723 or [email protected].

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KNOXVILLE, TN

Health & Medicine

It's About Children - Winter 2013 Issue by East Tennessee Children's Hospital