ISSUE NO.26 | DECEMBER 2020 Cheryl Spencer THE NURSING SCHOLARSHIPS POWER LEGACY OF COVID-19: WORKING TOGETHER NURSING FOR A COMMON GOAL A Nurse-Patient Story: WHEN THE A Glimpse Into Doctor Becomes The World THE PATIENT OF SPECIALTY NURSING Nursing Pioneers In her image Florence Nightingale 04 14 26 35 43 General Director: Dr. Michael Halberthal S State of Israel Ministry of Health FROM THE DIRECTOR A GLIMPSE INTO COVID-19: WORKING GLOBAL NURSING IN MEMORIAM, Published by the Department Dr. Michael Halberthal THE WORLD OF TOGETHER FOR A Reverend Irvin Baxter, Jr. of International Relations & talks about nursing at SPECIALTY NURSING COMMON GOAL and Rabbi Lord Jonathan Resource Development Rambam and COVID-19 Sacks Director of the Department of International Relations & Resource Development: Dr. Esty Golan NT 06 18 30 36 Editor-in-chief: Inbar Shahaf RAMBAM TETRIS Senior Editor CHALLENGE and Production: Shirley Erulkar 2020 Writer: Liza Farachdel E Special Thanks: A LIFE DEDICATED TWENTY FOUR UNDER INVESTIGATION RAMBAM Gila Hyams, Hagar Baruch Saban, Miri Peretz, # TO NURSING HOURS IN THE Three nurses share INTERNATIONAL Mira Shiloah, Sivan Amsalem, Moran Peled, Gila Hyams, LIFE OF A TRAUMA their research RELATIONS Moria Koriat, Nina Unger, Batya Cohen, Director of Nursing COORDINATOR Snapshots Miriam Glueck, Oded Mayer, Eyal Shterenbach, SSUE I 26 Deborah Hemstreet Photography: 08 20 32 40 Courtesy of Rambam Health Care Campus Raviv Meyuhas NT Graphic Design and Concept: Raaya Gilboa Studio DECEMBER DECEMBER 2020 Tel: +972-50-3211363 email: [email protected] A NURSE-PATIENT NURSING FACTS CHERYL SPENCER DONOR SPOTLIGHT www.rgdesign.co.il STORY & FIGURES NURSING In Memoriam, Paul Amir and When the Doctor Becomes Irma Spencer O SCHOLARSHIPS Letters to the Editor: the Patient [email protected] 10 22 34 42 C RAMBAM'S NURSING MEETING THE NEEDS A SALUTE SPECIAL EVENTS PIONEERS OF YOUNG PEOPLE TO RAMBAM'S WITH CANCER DIRECTORS OF NURSING Cover Photo: In her Image - Florence Nightingale 2 DECEMBER 2020 DECEMBER 2020 3 FROM T FROM Dear Friends, 2020 is the International Year of the Nurse and for our partners – International Friends Associations, Midwife, and this Rambam On Call issue is dedicated supporters, and friends, who have put great faith in us H and believe in our mission. E DIRECTOR to Rambam’s exceptional nursing staff. Our nurses Opening the underground hospital and partnering are the backbone of everything we do, and their with the IDF—which opened COVID-19 departments at commitment to and compassion for our patients Rambam—has resulted in high-profile visitors, including are boundless. Their impact is felt throughout the President Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Minister of Defense Benny Gantz, Minister hospital in a multitude of projects and initiatives. of Health Yuli Edelstein, MK Naftali Bennett, IDF Chief As both a doctor and the General Director, I gladly of Staff Lieutenant General Aviv Kochavi, Ministry of admit that we would not be so successful without Health Director General Professor Hezi Levi, and others. our nursing division, led by Gila Hyams, whose skills, Rambam has experienced a whirlwind of activity, and I knowledge, and talents have helped to earn global am proud of our accomplishments. There has been a recognition for Rambam. I have profound admiration great deal of COVID-19-related research and innovation. and appreciation for our nurses. Our researchers study the effects of cannabis on severely ill patients, the consequences of social The nursing profession has changed substantially since distancing and isolation on dementia patients, and the days of Florence Nightingale, and today, among our whether oncology patients are high-risk for COVID-19 nurses, you see high levels of expertise and education symptoms and complications – and these are just a – including more advanced degrees, and a variety of few of the more than 1900 research studies that are specialties. We are pleased to present stories about currently running; more than 25% began this year! several of these nurses, and tell you about the division and its activities. We continue to move forward – in our ongoing development of the campus through continued We pay tribute to four of Rambam’s dearest friends and construction of Helmsley Health Discovery Tower supporters who recently passed away, and share their and Eyal Ofer Heart Hospital, refurbishments, and the legacies – Irma Spencer, Paul Amir, Irvin Baxter, and acquisition of new, state-of-the-art MRI and PET CT Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks. May their memories be machines; by opening new clinics like our women’s clinic for a blessing. for victims of sexual violence; through our connections with industry and academia, including collaborations As COVID-19 has become an integral part of daily life with the Technion and Stanford, whose cooperation that cannot be ignored, we highlight the complexities has led to the launch of the Rambam Biodesign health of opening Israel’s largest COVID-19 treatment facility sciences entrepreneurship program. in the Sammy Ofer Fortified Underground Emergency Hospital. In opening the underground hospital for the In closing, I will say that no matter what we do, no matter FROM first time, we feel like pioneers who have successfully what we achieve, the success belongs to all of us – our brought to fruition an idea that was conceived many employees, our partners, and our friends. Together, we THE years ago. There have been numerous challenges, strive to provide the best possible medical care for every but we have proven that it works. As a result, we have patient. Together, we find solutions. Together, we change received many inquiries from around the world, and as the world. DIRECTOR is our tradition, we are proud to share our knowledge and experience. I WISH YOU ALL GOOD HEALTH, AND LOOK FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO DR. MICHAEL Our work in this facility requires teamwork and connections between people, and I am grateful to MEET AGAIN, IN PERSON. HALBERTHAL Rambam’s dedicated employees, including those who don’t have direct patient contact – without them, we Best regards, would not have succeeded. I am grateful for industry collaborations that result in groundbreaking solutions – especially Elbit Systems, whose communication and monitoring system plays a vital role. And I am grateful Michael Halberthal 4 DECEMBER 2020 DECEMBER 2020 5 G I For Gila Hyams, Rambam’s Director of Nursing L since 2015, a founder and the Director of its A Teaching Center for Trauma, Emergency and H Y Mass Casualty Situations since 1999, and the A LIFE AM Trauma Coordinator of Rambam’s Trauma Unit, S nursing isn’t simply a profession – it’s who she is. “It’s a calling you feel with every fiber of your being,” she declares. Gila is also a member of DEDICATED “Barometer”, the national committee of hospital and HMO clinical directors. Gila received a B.A. (R.N.) from The Hebrew TO University of Jerusalem and Assaf Harofe Medical Center School of Nursing, an M.A. in Nursing from Tel Aviv University, and a diploma of expertise in policy and administration from Israel’s Ministry NURSING of Health. She volunteered at Magen David Adom as a teenager, and in the military, she served as an instructor for medics in the military medical school. These experiences ignited Gila’s passion for nursing – the profession to which she has dedicated her life. Becoming a Nurse Gila is the Director of the Teaching Center for Trauma, Employee wellbeing is key, and Gila reminds her staff to She considers downtime to be essential, and Emergency and Mass Casualty Situations, alongside do activities that they enjoy. Even when she first started encourages everyone to disconnect periodically. When After the army, Gila immediately began nursing studies. Dr. Michael Halberthal, Rambam’s General Director and working, she recognized that employee satisfaction Gila—who has three adult sons—needs to unwind, she She wanted to be close to patients around the clock. “I the Center’s Chairman, and Dr. Hany Bahouth, Director was the basis of everything. “Happy employees travels to Sinai, India, or similar destinations. “These chose nursing because I loved the special connection of Rambam’s Trauma Unit and the Center’s Medical produce better work. Ensuring the best possible journeys enable me to reset my systems and breathe, it allowed me to have with patients 24/7,” she recalls. Director. Gila coordinates the Center’s international working conditions is vital.” before jumping back into my work.” While studying, Gila worked as a nurse in the neonatal courses on developing and organizing trauma mass intensive care unit in a Tel Aviv hospital, where she casualty situation systems, and as a representative of was offered the position of head nurse in one of the The Future of Nursing Rambam, organizes and leads workshops worldwide departments. Instead, she moved to Haifa for personal to advance development of emergency and trauma Gila notes that nurses accompany patients through reasons. systems. She has also coordinated workshops at every aspect of the medical process. “We see the Rambam in collaboration with NATO. whole patient as a person. As philosophical as Coming Straight this sounds, it will remain this way.” As nursing continues to progress, she believes that nurses will to Rambam Management Philosophy be considerably more involved in innovation, new Gila’s career at Rambam started in 1991 in the As Director of Nursing, Gila believes it is important to initiatives, and home care. Wagner-Green Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, before serve as an example – something that members of her transitioning back to trauma care. “Trauma care is team also do. Unsurprisingly, she is the first to jump in “I refer to nurses as beacons of light and I believe that in my blood – it’s something you love for your whole when something happens, and is an accessible, hands- after seeing them in action during the pandemic, people life.