February 28. 2013 Storm Troopers
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February 28. 2013 CENTER eXpress THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS HOSPITAL • UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS MEDICAL CENTER Hospital, university and physicians team up to forge Employee Campaign Storm Troopers through winter’s one-two punch to maintain patient care Small gifts can make a big Blizzards are nothing new in the impact on patients Midwest, but employees and physi - We hear it often: It is the little cians at The University of Kansas things that make a big difference. Hospital and University of Kansas At The University of Kansas Medical Center continue to redefine Hospital, staff have the opportu - the way they provide top patient nity to make big things happen care in the face of winter storms. when they participate in the annual Command centers, SUV Employee Campaign. patrols, office cots: They are just This year’s campaign kicks off a few of the steps employees took Friday, March 1. to ensure the hospital remained “The Employee Campaign is effectively staffed following 14 continued on page 4 inches of snow last week and another 8 inches this week. The response to the weather emergencies underscores employees’ ‘Center Express’ dedication and teamwork, said Nursing Director Rachel Pepper, DNP (left), and Lori Hollingshead, RN, to transform into Tammy Peterman, RN, hospital clinical placement coordinator, were part of the massive effort ensuring the hospital was staffed appropriately for the snowstorms. Read about the many executive vice president, chief oper - new newsletter storm stories in this week’s Center Express Extra. ating officer and chief nursing officer. “I am so proud of each of you out the day and night,” she said. leading academic medical centers This is the final edition of for your commitment to do every - “Thank you for all your hard in the nation.” Center Express. Starting March 14, thing necessary to provide the work during the snowstorm,” she The medical center played a key look for a new publication featur - very best care for our patients – added. “Your amazing spirit was role in patient care, too. Medical ing many of the same elements – whether it was assisting a evident everywhere. The events center leaders decided to close but in a brighter, more colorful co-worker, resting at the hospital showcased the excellence you operations early on Feb. 25 – package. between shifts or providing bring to work daily. It is because before this week’s big storm hit. Called Advances, the new publi - employees rides to and from work. of you our hospital, along with Doing so allowed their faculty, staff cation will continue to highlight Acts of heroism occurred through - the medical center, is one of the continued on page 2 the many impressive developments at The University of Kansas Hospital, University of Kansas Medical Center and The University BY THE NUMBERS: Storm response of Kansas Physicians. Yet it will also be oriented to a more external Last week’s 14 inches of snow* prompted employees at The University of Kansas Hospital audience, including our patients, to turn out in full force to ensure they were available to provide patient care. their families and our community. Advances will be published every other Thursday, rather than the + current weekly schedule for Center Express. The hospital and medical 251 30 0 100 12 Employees requesting Sets of linen, toiletry Employees who received Emplo yees volunteering center continually move more of cots or space to sleep kits and meal passes rides to or from work to drive co-workers, using their employee-focused informa - overnight Feb. 21 at the distributed Feb. 21-22 their own vehicles tion to internal intranets. main campus; 23 more We hope you enjoy Advances. bunked at the Westwood Watch for it March 14. Campus *Look for data from this week’s storm on 24/7 . To suggest a By the Numbers, email your information to [email protected]. Trauma team prepared KU Eye Center opening for explosion victims optical shop on campus Years of disaster response train - cal condition. Two of the burn vic - KU Eye Center will open a two-room clinic and full-service ing and preparation were put to tims were transferred here from optical shop March 15. The new venture will be in Miller, Suite 1011. important use last week as clini - area hospitals. In addition to eyeglasses and contact lenses, the new shop will offer routine and refractive eye exams, minor cosmetic procedures cians at The University of Kansas "What I love about this hospital and evaluations for LASIK, cataracts and corneal transplants. Hospital helped treat victims of the is the people here know what to A valid prescription (no older than one year) is required to order JJ's Restaurant explosion and fire. do in these situations, and they prescription glasses or contact lenses. As soon as word of the explosion just do it," said Liz Carlton, RN, KU Optical accepts VSP, Superior Vision plans and Kansas reached the hospital, staff immedi - Nursing director, Quality, Safety Medicaid. For those who do not have those insurance plans, the ately set up a triage area outside and Regulatory Compliance. "You shop will offer a 15 percent discount. the Emergency Department to saw that after the explosion. There also is a 30 percent discount to employees of The quickly assess and route patients People were getting things in place University of Kansas Hospital, The University of Kansas Physicians walking in with injuries. Hospital as soon as we got the news." and University of Kansas Medical Center who do not use insurance leaders assembled in a conference “We train for these types of sit - or have reached their maximum plan allowance. The new shop is the room Command Center to further uations,” added Becky Gearhart, second location for KU Eye Center. It continues to operate a clinic coordinate response efforts. RN, Perioperative Services director. and optical shop at 7400 State Line Road. The hospital treated six patients “Our staff showed that when a real An open house for the Miller location is 11 a.m .-1 p.m. April 26. from the explosion, five of whom disaster takes place, we are ready Information: 913-588-6600. were admitted and several in criti - to respond." Storm, continued from pg. 1 center, its staff, students and faculty coordinated overnight lodging for responded so efficiently: Most and students to leave campus early, did not have to negotiate piles of more than 250 nurses, physicians employees knew what to expect. opening up garages to accommo - snow alongside streets and sidewalks. and other caregivers during last Staff in Environmental Services last date parking for hospital staff work - The medical center provided week’s storm. (The numbers from this week anticipated the demand for ing the night and next day shifts. snow removal night and day for week’s storm are expected to be even linens and came through with “It was the right thing to do,” parking garages, lots and walkways, higher; watch for details on 24/7.) fresh supplies just in time. said Steffani Webb, medical center clearing the way for staff. Police Besides providing cots for many Dietetics staff drove to their food vice chancellor for Administration Chief Rick Johnson, also a member of those people, the Department of service supplier several times to who participated in the hospital’s of the Incident Command meetings, Nursing group distributed more than ensure the cafeteria was stocked. Incident Command meetings. “Of emphasized the importance of 300 sets of linen and toiletry kits, Also, transportation coordination our four missions, patient care had employee safety and coordinated and nearly the same number of meal this time was shifted from the to take priority during this weather extra staff to ensure safe walkways. passes. Approximately 20 patient Department of Nursing to a second emergency.” Hospital leaders set up a variety of families who were snowed in also command center in Environmental She noted another important fac - command centers. One group, work - were part of those accommodations. Services. While employees are tor was safety. By closing the medical ing in the Department of Nursing, One reason the hospital strongly encouraged to find their own rides during severe weather, roads were so bad during last week’s storm that hundreds of staff called in, needing rides home or into work. e The Emergency Department r stayed open and Operating Rooms reported no holds on surgical pro - u cedures. It was an exceptional day thanks to unified efforts across s the campus. “Despite the severe circumstances, o we managed our patients flawlessly,” said Lori Hollingshead, RN, clinical p placement coordinator. “The team - Sharing Magnet expertise: Marc Molitor, RN, Infection Prevention at work and command centers were so The University of Kansas Hospital, discussed his poster on preventing CAUTI during last well organized they made our opera - X week's Magnetizing KC Symposium. The event attracted a record 190 nurses from across tions seamless. And the most amaz - the metro to share innovative nursing practices and network with other organizations on ing part of it was everyone had smiles e their Magnet journey. Our hospital has hosted the event for three years. on their faces.” Send calendar items to [email protected] . Items must be received by 9 a.m. on eXtracurricular the Monday prior to publication. Friday, March 1 & PC – A Very Non-Boring Intro to Quality Improvement,” Tim WalkingWorks registration starts UNIVERSITY COMPUTER Williamson, MD, FCCP, 8-9 a.m.; The University of Kansas Hospital has launched its annual Equipment Drop-Off: 8:30-10:30 “Prognostication,” Swetha Panati, WalkingWorks Challenge, a friendly 10-week walking competition. a.m., Hixson Atrium. Dispose of uni - MD, 9-10 a.m.