Partners in Community Progress MedStar Harbor Hospital 2014 Report to the Community Partners in community It Takes a Garden Partnerships take root as a teaching garden progress grows in Cherry Hill The MedStar Harbor Healthy Schools Healthy Families initiative works with elementary/middle Dear friends and supporters, schools in the Cherry Hill neighborhood that surrounds MedStar Harbor Hospital. Through a Every year, we take note of the impact MedStar variety of programs, the initiative helps schools, Harbor Hospital has on our community. In fiscal families and students develop habits that model, year 2014, I am proud to report that we continued encourage and sustain healthy lives. to deepen our ties to the people and the projects In 2014, through a grant from the American Heart that bring strength to the neighborhoods Association (AHA) funded by Northrop Grumman Corporation and supported by generous donations surrounding MedStar Harbor. from area corporate leaders, MedStar Harbor If there is one theme that ties this report together, helped community groups and students plant a it is that of partnership. As you read about our new teaching garden at Friendship Academy at Cherry Hill. work in church-based blood pressure screenings, the grant we helped win to establish a teaching In early 2014, “the AHA approached me with an Calvert Moore, school resource coordinator, helps students plant the first crop of the Friendship Academy teaching garden. garden at one of our schools, our ongoing diabetes application for a garden,” explains Healthy School Healthy Families Program Director Calvert Moore, education efforts, executive team volunteerism, of preparing and protecting the area, planting and DNP, MS, RN, APHN-BC, school health resource fundraising and donation projects, you will see growing the garden. Teachers on the garden coordinator and education specialist. “Two schools committee incorporated the gardens into their that we are not only helping people; we are also applied,” she says. Friendship Academy won lesson planning. The late Juanita Brown Ewell, building valuable partnerships. And, as an because they “did such a good job explaining manager of the Cherry Hill Urban Garden since institution, we know that if we can leverage the how they would keep the garden up and running 2010, consulted with the team on garden and exceptional community minded resources around and how they would utilize it.” lesson planning and hosted students at the Cherry us, we can do more to help our community grow Once the grant award was announced, a committee Hill Urban Garden. healthier and more productive. led by Friendship Academy School Counselor When it came time to put in the garden, everyone Katrina Johnson was formed to oversee the task got into the act. “For the most part, the garden By partnering with such organizations as the was put in by 5th and 6th grade students with American Heart Association, the Baltimore Dream In memoriam mentoring from 7th and 8th grade students,” Center, the Parks and People Foundation, area explains Moore. Through the school’s leadership congregations and others, we are able to reach program, students in the middle grades worked MedStar Harbor Hospital more members of our community than we can on with the younger students to build planting boxes, and “even the pre-k and kindergarten kids helped our own. Board of Directors FY14 to fill the boxes with dirt,” she says. Chairman George Williamson, MD Working together, we do more to help improve the On planting day, Ted Imes, sector director, talent Edward P. (Ned) Carey MedStar Harbor Hospital health and strengthen the community around us. discovery and university relations for Northrop Maryland Aviation Dennis W. Pullin Some might say that’s just good business. We say Grumman and Baltimore Gas & Electric CEO Administration MedStar Harbor Hospital it’s how we ensure that we are doing the very best Calvin Butler, another AHA garden donor, joined Kaiser Robertson, MD Vice Chairman we can for those who need it most. MedStar Harbor Hospital President Dennis Pullin Peter Macnab Chesapeake Urology in the celebration. WBFF Fox45 provided live Kenneth A. Samet Juanita Brown Ewell television coverage of the festivities. Directors MedStar Health Friendship Academy teaching garden advisor In all, seven plant boxes were installed and filled Leigh Ann Curl, MD Juanita Brown Ewell, founder and manager Assistant Treasurer with rich garden soil. Plants included several MedStar Harbor Hospital of the Cherry Hill Urban Garden, passed David Pitman different types of tomatoes, strawberries, green Dawn M. Gretz, DPM, P.A. Dennis W. Pullin, FACHE away on Feb. 17, 2015. Since 2010, she MedStar Harbor Hospital and red peppers, and more. “The kids are excited Assistant Secretary President, MedStar Harbor Hospital had worked tirelessly to spread her love of about gardening, turning the dirt, watering and Gregory Gurfinchel, MD Bernadette Hardesty Senior Vice President, MedStar Health gardening and healthy eating, and her energy spacing plants, picking vegetables—even cooking,” MedStar Harbor Hospital and passion touched the hearts of many. She says Moore. Charles F. Obrecht Jr. is dearly missed by her family, friends and the Obrecht & Obrecht entire Cherry Hill community. The teaching garden “fits into our overall mission by teaching and modeling nutrition,” she explains. Partnering with Churches to himself there, and the doctor at MedStar Harbor said that we probably saved his life. That’s what Save Lives we hope for.” Blood pressure screenings reduce risk The team at Metropolitan United Methodist Hypertension is called the “silent killer” for a Church is led by 47-year veteran CNA Helen reason. After all, in its early stages, it has no Harris. Although recently retired from St. Agnes symptoms. Yet, it’s one of the primary risk factors Hospital in Baltimore, she says she still “loves for cardiovascular disease, the No. 1 cause of helping people,” and sees her work with her death globally. That’s why, over the years, congregation as a way to give back. MedStar Harbor has made a concerted effort “We have been doing this here for at least 10 to reach out into the community with blood years,” she explains. Originally partnered with pressure screenings in such settings as senior Anne Arundel Medical Center, Harris and her centers, homeless shelters, health fairs and team now enjoy working with MedStar Harbor. others. Through the MedStar Harbor Heart Smart “They call and check how things are going,” she Church Program, the hospital supports screenings explains. “They also provide annual certification among the area’s church congregations. to my two assistants” who are not certified to the Two such settings are Metropolitan United same degree as Harris. Together, they see as Methodist Church in Severn, Md., and Brooklyn many as “18 or 20 people at each screening,” Seventh Day Adventist Church in Brooklyn, Md. she explains. “Even on the Sundays we don’t Initially started with funding from the Anne have formal screenings, we have the door open Arundel County Department of Health, MedStar and one of us will check blood pressure for Harbor supported blood pressure screenings in anyone who needs it.” both locations. As county funding has dwindled, Lenora Addison, MedStar Harbor’s chief nursing officer, provides regular blood pressure screenings and annual flu vaccine in the Brooklyn Park community. MedStar Harbor stepped in to fill the void, Once a nurse, always a nurse partnering with both churches, as well as 11 other parishioners would be hesitant, “but as it got Executive team member Lenora Addison churches, to provide equipment, training and busier and busier, I thought I was going to need applies her nursing background to support for members of the congregations who help” she explains. “They were so grateful.” manage monthly screenings. community service Many of the people who received flu shots that According to Joan Franklin, a retired RN and Community service is a core value at MedStar day have gotten to know her over time because member of the Brooklyn Seventh Day Adventist Harbor—and that includes the hospital leadership. she also participates in blood pressure screenings. congregation, which worships on Saturdays, Working with the MedStar Harbor community On average, she sees “15 to 20 people” each “One Saturday a month, we screen anyone who outreach representative, members of the executive time she participates. “I think knowing me eases wants it. We take blood pressure, give them team identify organizations and opportunities to their minds when it comes to getting shots,” literature and do some teaching.” serve that leverage their unique areas of expertise. she says. The former Anne Arundel County Department of “Everyone on the executive team is involved in And it is not just blood pressure she is checking. Health nurse works with an assistant who receives service,” says Lenora Addison, RN, BSN, MA, vice “It is often a conversation about health in general,” training at MedStar Harbor. Together, they see president of patient care services. “Some sit on she says. “On occasion, people bring up things “between 10 and 15 persons per session,” she boards of directors or work with a school. Because that have nothing to do with blood pressure, explains. They complete screening forms with I am a nurse, my work is clinically focused.” such as employment, social services, family and blood pressure ranges and send the forms on to For more than five years, Addison has been other issues.” In such cases, she can often direct MedStar Harbor. Those with high blood pressure involved with the Brooklyn Community United them to the support they need. are contacted by the hospital for follow up. Methodist Church’s Body and Soul program. In “There is such a need for this,” she explains. “And “I remember one gentleman whose blood addition to monthly blood pressure screening, the church is the perfect place to reach so many pressure was extremely high,” she recalls. “I said program services include free hot meals, in the community. Personally, I get a reward from I would call an ambulance for him. But he got groceries and clothing for parishioners. “In helping people.” Addison counsels a patient. the past, I have made lunches and given out groceries,” says Addison. In November, she conducted a flu clinic. “I probably gave 50 flu shots that day,” she says. At first, she thought A Steady Diet of Hope Supporting those who can do the most good For a population prone to diabetes, education is key MedStar Harbor partners with community leaders to lead donation drives and community clean up The numbers don’t lie. In 2010, according to the In addition to treatment, support groups, cooking American Diabetes Association, diabetes was the classes and education, the Diabetes & Endocrine explains, “When parents have one seventh leading cause of death in the United States. Center also conducts grocery store tours with less thing to worry about, it reduces Between 2010 and 2012, the number of Americans area residents. “The tour is all about discovering stress.” And the benefits extend to with diabetes increased from 25.8 million to 29.1 healthy ways to shop,” she explains. During the teachers, as well. “Too often, teachers million. The percentage of Americans age 65 and tour, “we look at sodium and carbohydrate have to spend their own money on older remains high, at 25.9 percent, or 11.8 content. We look at fat content. We try to help school supplies,” she says, “collecting million seniors. people reconsider what a snack is,” says Zatyko. post-it notes, hand wipes and tissues “Too many people don’t fuel themselves properly.” also benefit teachers and classrooms.” In the Cherry Hill community, the MedStar Harbor Diabetes & Endocrine Center remains the only Many people do not realize that once they turn Helping bring cheer source of information, education, counseling and 65, “Medicare will cover 80 percent of 10 hours treatment for diabetes. And, for MedStar Harbor of education with a diabetes specialist for one Helping to bring cheer to the 2014 Dietitian Caroline Zatyko, RD, CDE, that means year,” she explains. “After that, they are entitled to holiday season, MedStar Harbor reaching out and teaching the importance of two hours with a dietician or diabetes nurse every partnered with the Baltimore Dream healthy diet, exercise and lifestyles that can year.” It is a perfect opportunity to learn more Center in Brooklyn, an organization manage this debilitating condition to a about diabetes “and get it under control,” she that offers services to area residents population at risk. explains. in need. “We partnered with the Dream Center because they reach a “We are diabetes educators. When someone is “I know there are many more people out there wide client base, including Brooklyn, diagnosed, they hopefully are referred to us and with diabetes” than the Diabetes & Endocrine Cherry Hill, Westport, and northern we teach them how to manage the disease,” she Center is reaching, she says. “We encourage our Anne Arundel County,” she says. explains. “I focus on diet and food and how it physicians to utilize this service.” Another advantage is that they effects blood sugar.” provide a broad range of services, The Diabetes & Endocrine Center, also conducts The office staff of the Baltimore Dream Center happily accept holiday donations including a clothing closet, a food a free support group. “We tell people who don’t collected by MedStar Harbor associates. pantry, a weekly community dinner have insurance or who cannot be seen at MedStar and an emergency food pantry. As we have done for many years, MedStar Harbor Harbor that this group is open to them,” she MedStar Harbor collected nonperishable food Hospital in fiscal year 2014 supported a range of explains. The focus of each support group is on items, holiday gifts and clothes and “some donation drives. Also this past year, we partnered how to control diabetes, but the discussions “go things that weren’t even on the list,” says Hughan, with community leaders to support neighborhood in whatever direction they want it to go.” including blankets, gloves, hats, school supplies, beautification efforts. People with diabetes can live long and productive gifts for children and wrapping paper lives, but the disease requires long-term Supporting our schools Cleaning up neighborhoods, raising funds management. “It’s not a take-your-medication- There are roughly 1,400 students in the three Recently, MedStar Harbor participated in an and-see-me-in-a-week kind of thing,” says Zatyko. elementary/middle schools in Cherry Hill. For annual Cherry Hill spring clean up. In addition, “We often follow these folks for years.” many families living on a tight budget, the start MedStar Harbor made a direct donation to the of the school year can be a time of added family Parks & People Foundation, an organization that stress because of the expense of school supplies. focuses on creating healthy spaces in parks, “Every summer in late July and early August, planting trees, advocating container gardens one of our first activities in the fiscal year is to and more. “As a hospital, our resources are open up our annual school supply drive,” says limited,” explains Hughan. “We may not be the MedStar Harbor Community Relations Manager best people to tell you how to plant a garden, Leslie Hughan. Requests go out to MedStar but we can support the people who are.” Harbor associates and volunteers to donate such MedStar Harbor also partners with American things as pencils, erasers, glue sticks and book Heart Association in its annual heart walk, donating bags.“ A lot of families in our neighborhood may During MedStar Harbor’s monthly diabetes support group, staff time and providing captain coordinators. Caroline Zatyko helps people understand how the food they eat have trouble meeting those needs, so we try to “As a hospital, it is a no brainer that we would can affect their blood sugar. help in any way we can,” she explains. dedicate ourselves to heart health,” she says. Providing school supplies may not sound like the traditional work of a hospital, but, as Hughan 3001 S. Hanover Street Baltimore, MD 21225-1290

MedStar Harbor Hospital FY 2014 Additional FY 2014 Community Benefit Funding Community Outreach • 10 health seminars with 153 community encounters • 131 health screenings with 1,511 community encounters

$4,257,336 • Support groups, including those for breast $8,158,374 cancer, diabetes and bereavement • Community Health Fairs

$168,280 • South Baltimore Learning Center partnership $758,028 • AARP Safe Driving program $1,112,817 • Childbirth Education

$919,849 • School Outreach

n Community Health Services including community health education and community-based screenings n Health Professions Education n Mission-Driven Healthcare Services including emergency services and women’s and children’s services n Research n Medicaid Assessments n Community Building, Operations & Contributions

Total Hospital Community Benefit $15,374,684