4 Unexpected blessingKaren Tindal, a mother of three, discovers the benefit of having a pediatric hospital close by.

6 New technology protects patients from infectionAt Children’s Hospital, germs are being detected and eliminated before they can cause costly and potentially fatal infections.

8 Why play mattersChild Life Specialists serve as cheer-leaders, confidantes and advocates to patients who may be frightened by or unfamiliar with the hospital setting.

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

East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.

Connect with us:www.etch.com/ItsAboutChildren

12 In the words of our ambassadorsFifteen families have graciously volunteered to serve as examples of why the work at Children’s Hospital and all Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals matters. In this issue, we spot-light a few of our new ambassadors.

SpotlightBoard of DirectorsDennis Ragsdale, ChairmanBill Terry, M.D., Vice Chairman Michael Crabtree, Secretary/TreasurerJohn Buchheit, M.D. Debbie Christiansen, M.D. Randall GibsonKeith D. Goodwin Steven HarbLewis Harris, M.D. Dee Haslam Gale Huneycutt John LansingA. David MartinLarry Martin Christopher Miller, M.D.Steve SouthJim Bush, Chair Emeritus William G. Byrd, M.D., Chair EmeritusDon Parnell, Chair Emeritus

Medical StaffMark Cramolini, M.D., Chief of Staff Barbara Summers, M.D., Vice Chief of Staff Cameron J. Sears, M.D., Secretary

Chief of Services Kevin Brinkman, M.D., Chief of MedicineGlaze Vaughan, M.D., Chief of Surgery

AdministrationKeith D. Goodwin, President/CEOBruce Anderson, Vice President for Legal Services & General CounselLaura Barnes, R.N., M.S.N., NEA-BC, Vice President for Patient Care Joe Childs, M.D., Vice President for Medical Services Zane Goodrich, CPA, Vice President for Finance & CFOCarlton M. Long, Vice President for Development and Community Services Rudy McKinley, Vice President for OperationsSue Wilburn, Vice President for Human Resources

It’s About Children StaffPaul Parson, EditorJessica Boyd and Cassidy Duckett, WritersNeil Crosby, Contributing Photographer

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Water parks, oceans, lakes and rivers can be a lot of fun for children—as long as you keep safety in mind. If you look away for a moment, your child could drown in seconds. Other accidents could include slipping and falling or injuries due to boating or tubing. Even a skilled young swimmer will need the help of an adult in an emergency. Always designate an adult who will be responsible for watching children when they are around water. Also, having a phone nearby to reach emergency officials can save your child’s life. At the water park or beach, take an active role in your child’s safety by teaching him to follow the rules and always accompanying him in the water. Though lifeguards may be present, they are meant to recognize someone in distress. Responsible parents can prevent situations like this from happening in the first place. If you are near another body of water, be sure to follow the rules on the posted signs. If a sign says swimming is not allowed, there is a reason for that.

Even if you are on vacation, you can never take a vacation from water safety. Children’s Hospital, the Safe Kids Coalition of the Greater Knox Area, Dollywood’s Splash Country and WVLT VOLuNTEER TV have teamed to offer parents and children unique learning experiences to keep them safe around water this summer. On Tuesday, June 18, a special series of activities beginning at 10 a.m. will be offered at Dollywood’s Splash Country. The Water Safety Day event will feature a rescue demonstration by staff lifeguards; information about lifesaving techniques and how to be prepared for an emergency from Children’s Hospital; safety tips from Safe Kids of the Greater Knox Area; and opportunities to win great water safety items. These activities are free with paid admission to Splash Country. Call Children’s Hospital’s Community Relations Department at (865) 541-8165 for more information about water safety and the June 18 event.

How to enjoy the water safely

During the June 18 Water Safety Day event, lifeguards from Dollywood’s Splash Country will stage a rescue demonstration. Your family will also learn tips for keeping your child safe around the water.

by Cassidy Duckett

UnexpectedBlessing

Mother of three discovers the benefit of having a pediatric hospital close by

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Imagine being fairly new to the area and not knowing where to go when your child gets hurt. That’s scary enough. But what if this happened a decade ago—before cell phones were as readily available as they are now? What do you do? “We hopped in the car and headed to the closest hospital,” said Karen Tindal, mother of three. It was Parkwest Medical Center—an adult hospital.

"From a mom's perspective, it was just great. I called the nurse line for questions about medication, and they called me over the weekend to see how he was doing--it was a great experience."

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Karen was thankful when the staff stabilized her 6-year-old daughter Angela, who had fallen while they were at her older brother’s baseball practice. But she was surprised at what happened next. “They told me I needed to go to Children’s Hospital because they would know what to do there,” Karen said. Because Angela’s bones were still growing, she had a weak spot in the center of her femur. When she fell at the baseball field that day, her bone shattered due to a bone cyst. It happened on the first day of school for the kindergartner. Angela was transported by ambulance to Children’s Hospital where she was put in a complete leg cast for six months. “Each month, they cut part of the cast away,” Karen said. “We had to home-school her and put her in a wagon to take her to the store and to church. It was a tough few months, but we had wonderful care at Children’s Hospital.” By 2012, Karen, now the Executive Director of Girls on the Run, and her family thought they had outgrown Children’s Hospital. Her youngest son, Alex, had earned a spot on the varsity football team during his freshman year at Farragut High School. On his first day of school, he ended up at the bottom of a pile during practice. Karen took Alex to the after-hours clinic at Knoxville Orthopedic Group where an X-ray was completed. This group provides pediatric orthopedic services at Children’s Hospital. “They said that his tibia and fibula were fractured, and that the doctor would want to do the surgery at Children’s Hospital,” Karen said. “When Alex heard, he made a face and said, ‘I’m not going to a children’s hospital.’ Everyone else was like, ‘Yeah, you definitely are.’ “Alex thought he had outgrown Children’s Hospital, but I was so glad they were there. They were great about being very age-appropriate with him. We were in the waiting room next to a 7-year-old, and it was amazing to see the nurse interact with the patients on different levels.” Though Alex was older than some of the other patients, more than half of the trauma patients at Children’s Hospital are between the ages of 12 and 18. “Most of these injuries occur during sports or recreational activities like skateboarding, riding four-wheelers and snowboarding,” said Jay Crawford, M.D., of the Knoxville Orthopedic Clinic. “We treat these types of injuries every single day, which is what makes us so good at it.” After Alex’s surgery, the Children’s Hospital staff called to check on him. “From a mom’s perspective, it was just great,” Karen said. “I called the nurse line for questions about medication, and they called me over the weekend to see how he was doing—it was a great experience.”

Eleven years after her surgery, Angela, 17, is able to do anything she wants to—except her brother’s favorite sport. “When Dr. (Robert) Madigan released her, he said that she could do anything in life but play football,” Karen said. “She rode horses, ran around and was an active child.” As a junior at Farragut High School, Angela serves as the captain of the Color Guard and recently traveled to London to march in the New Year’s Day parade. And she’s starting to look at colleges as she plans for her future. Though Alex is still recovering from surgery, he will return to playing football as soon as he can. “He has this love of football that takes up his whole life,” Karen said. “He’s very outgoing and gets good grades. Right now he’s in driving school so he doesn’t completely scare me when he gets his license.” For the family, having Children’s Hospital close by was an unexpected blessing. “Both times I needed Children’s Hospital, I had no idea I needed them. But both times, they provided wonderful care.”

by Cassidy Duckett

Clean-TraceNew technology protects patients from infection

6

In any hospital, dangerous germs can be transmitted through touch, equipment and improper cleaning. At Children’s Hospital, however, germs are being detected and eliminated before these costly and potentially fatal infections can occur by using the Clean-Trace system. “This state-of-the-art technology allows us to measure how effectively we’re disinfecting,” said Michael Priestap, Director of Environmental Services. The hand-held device measures the presence of organic material on 17 high-touch areas in a patient room. If a score of 200 to 400 appears on the screen, the area is considered clean by hospital standards. In comparison, a surface that has not been cleaned can result in a score of more than 2,000. The tests are completed after a patient has left to ensure the room is clean and disinfected for the next patient. “The risk of infections in hospitals is a huge safety issue,” said Darci Hodge, Director of Infection Control. “By making sure a room is clean after a patient has left, parents and patients moving into that room do not have to worry about what the previous patient had. Testing the surfaces with Clean-Trace proves that there is not a chance of passing on germs.” While many companies offer germ-detecting devices, the Clean-Trace system stores data from past tests that can be uploaded to computers, allowing staff to see which areas consistently need improvement. “It can be used as an educational tool to show the consequences of improper disinfection and helps us determine areas for retraining,” Priestap said. In the past, culture plates were used to show nurses what could grow in environments with germs. These plates take about three days to grow bacteria, whereas a Clean-Trace test creates instant, clear results. Beyond education, the immediate, accurate results give patients, families and staff the peace of mind that all equipment and rooms have been cleaned well.

“When you see it in black and white like that, it’s ‘yes’ because we have proof to our patients and ourselves that we do a good job,” Hodge said. Additionally, the device reveals which cleaning products work the best for high-risk surfaces. Cleaning with the right methods is essential, as dangerous germs can cling to door-knobs, stethoscopes and counters for up to five months. The Environmental Services Department takes the results of the Clean-Trace tests into consideration when investigating disinfection and cleaning products. Though each device costs more than $2,500 and each test costs $4, the investment is essential for patient safety. “A hospital-acquired infection that occurs after surgery can cost a family more than $27,000,” Hodge said. “Many insurance companies do not cover the costs of hospital-acquired infections or readmissions. The Clean-Trace helps by eliminating the risk for infections from germs.”

Charlotte Andaluz uses Clean-Trace to make sure a bed is germ-free.

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8

At Children’s Hospital, 15 staff members are dedicated to one crucial part of a child’s daily life: play. These individuals serve as cheerleaders, confidantes and advocates to patients who may be frightened by or unfamiliar with the hospital setting. Beloved by patients, the Child Life Specialists at Children’s Hospital believe in the power of play as a method of healing, growing and developing. This year, the Child Life Department celebrated its 35th anniversary at Children’s Hospital. The program began in 1978 with longtime staff members Laura Barnes, now the Vice President for Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer, and Eleanor Stevens. It was the first program of its kind in Tennessee and predates the Child Life Council, which is the governing body of the field. Since then, the department has grown to cover all inpatient units, the Emergency Department, outpatient clinics and the Radiology Department. “It’s what makes pediatric hospitals like us unique,” said Shannon McBride, Child Life Specialist. “Patients and families are usually anxious when they hear the word surgery, but we try to prepare them and reduce their anxiety.” To do so, the specialists provide age-appropriate, hands-on explanations to demonstrate procedures, like inserting an I.V. “We give them teddy bears to practice finger pokes and insulin shots so they can see how it works,” said McBride, who works frequently with children diagnosed with diabetes. “Patients are able to get control and realize that it’s not as scary as it seems.” Meredith Goodfellow, Child Life Specialist in the Radiology Department, spends her days preparing children

for X-rays, tests and sedation. She was the first Child Life Specialist in that department and has earned the nickname iPad Lady for her use of an iPad to distract patients during procedures. “I play with them to get them to drink the contrast, which they usually don’t love to do,” she said. “We also use simple terms to explain what will happen. When I say ‘spaghetti noodle’ to explain how big a catheter will be, I see the anxiety in parents go down instantly. When the parents are less stressed, the children are less stressed and vice versa.” Because Children’s Hospital patients range from infants to 21-year-olds, a Child Life Specialist must be prepared with a wide variety of activities and distraction methods. “Sometimes it’s to teach, familiarize and desensitize,” said Kristin Wells, Child Life Specialist. “And sometimes it’s just for fun—with no real purpose. You try to continually assess what is going on at any given moment and do what you can to help, support and comfort.” The Child Life Department is an essential part of Children’s Hospital’s focus on family-centered care. Led by Mary Pegler, Director, the staff members are trained specifically to play in a constructive, healing and educating manner. “We are teaching them coping skills to use when they get anxious for the rest of their lives, like deep breathing,” said McBride. “We play with them because that’s what children do, and we want to normalize the hospital setting.” For the Child Life Specialists, building relationships through play and teaching has resulted in positive patient and family interactions. Wells recalled a particularly touching moment on Valentine’s Day: “The most amazing little boy brought me a valentine. It said something about the flowers needing the sun and the rain. As I was thanking him, his mom said, ‘You make this easier for us. You make diabetes easier for us.’ It tears me up to think of it again.”

by Cassidy Duckett

mattersplayWhy

Child Life Specialist Anna Taylor spends time with Tatum Croft and Abigail Godden.

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Pressnell ’s Golden Rules Smile ... Don’t Judge ... Give patients the care you would like to have

by Cassidy Duckett

Pressnell ’s Golden Rules Smile ... Don’t Judge ... Give patients the care you would like to have

  As a Neonatal Intensive Care unit (NICu) nurse, Andrew Pressnell doesn’t have a typical day. In working with babies who have neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), which causes them to be in withdrawal from drugs, Pressnell faces a wide range of responsibilities and issues. “I try to do anything I can to help the babies I am caring for,” he said. “Sometimes it means holding them all day if that eases their pain.” Despite the stresses of his job, Pressnell sticks to three rules: smile, don’t be judgmental and give patients the care he would like to have. His rules seem to be paying off. “I had a mother tell me once that no one in her own family had ever been as nice. She said that all of us here at the hospital had made her feel like a human,” he said. The Claiborne County native comes from a long line of nurses. Several of his family members work at Children’s Hospital, but that’s not the only thing that drew him to the hospital. “I think children, no matter the age, make me happy. It never ceases to amaze me how resilient they are,”

Pressnell said. “No matter what they are here for, it is amazing how they can bounce back.” Outside of work, Pressnell spends time with his own children, Addy, 4, and Aiden, 2. He enjoys fishing and hunting, as well as cheering for the university of Tennessee and the Atlanta Braves. His family lives in a house behind his grandparents, causing his boxer, Chloe, to get a bit confused. “She can’t decide if she lives with them or me,” Pressnell said. “She’s great about watching after everything. She not only helps keep my kids safe, but I have also seen her stand in the middle of the road to stop traffic while my grandfather checks his mailbox.” In looking toward the future, Pressnell wants to complete another degree and teach caregivers and families how to better take care of babies with NAS. For now, though, he’s focusing on his three golden rules: “I want every patient and family to remember that I always smiled at them and was never judgmental, no matter the situation.”

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In the words of our ambassadors

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by Jessica Boyd

Clayton AilshieSon of Julie and Greg

How old are you? 8

Where do you go to school? Alcoa Elementary School

What do you do outside of school? Sports like basketball, gymnastics and karate. He also plays chess, videogames and Legos, and his favorite books are two series: Amulet and Bone.

What is your diagnosis? Type 1 diabetes

Clayton’s story: “At 5 years old, he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes,” Julie said. “We were fortunate to catch it early.” The Ailshies were referred to Children’s Hospital by their pediatrician. There, Julie and her husband Greg learned about their son’s diagnosis by attending classes and meeting with doctors and nurses. The Ailshies’ fears were eased as they learned just how manageable Type 1 diabetes can be. “We realized, ‘OK, we’re going to get through this,’” Greg said. Now, their lifestyle has completely changed. The Ailshies check Clayton’s blood sugar and send the information to Carmen Tapiador, M.D. Clayton and his parents monitor and manage his blood sugar with a pump attached to Clayton’s stomach. The Ailshies keep a log of everything he eats, watch his sugar at all times and have appointments in the clinic every six months. Clayton’s favorite part of Children’s Hospital is going to a weeklong camp in the summer, and he also likes spending time with the Child Life Specialists, which he refers to as the play ladies.

Why did you agree to be an ambassador? “Because Children’s Hospital is life-changing,” Julie said.

What has your experience with Children’s Hospital been like? “It’s fun, and they’re there when you need them,” Clayton said. Julie agreed. “For people who are going through a life-changing event or disease, it’s such a blessing. Everyone is accessible and very compassionate. Every case is individualized. They’re ready for you.”

Fifteen families are currently part

of our new Ambassador Program.

These families have graciously

volunteered to serve as examples

of why the work at Children’s

Hospital and all Children’s Miracle

Network Hospitals matters.

During their time as ambassadors,

the families will share their

personal stories with the

community through various

events and programs. In this issue,

we wanted to spotlight a few

of our new ambassadors.

Taylor BensonSon of Laurie and Kyle

How old are you? 6

Where do you go to school? Karns Elementary School

What do you do outside of school? Plays outside and with Legos

What is your diagnosis? Leukemia

Taylor’s story: In March 2010, Taylor had very swollen lymph nodes in his neck. His pediatrician thought it was an infection and referred him to Children’s Hospital. A few days before his biopsy at Children’s Hospital, his fever spiked. After some testing, Ray Pais, M.D., did a bone marrow biopsy. Taylor was diagnosed with leukemia in June 2010 when he was 3 years old. He immediately started chemo. Now, three years later, Laurie said Taylor is in remission, but his doctors continue to administer chemo to make sure his cancer is gone. “Because it’s a blood cancer, it can hide,” Laurie said. “He is scheduled to be off treatment in August. For now, he comes in once a month.” Why did you agree to be an ambassador? “To help get the word out about Children’s Hospital and to let people know it’s a great option for your kids,” Laurie said.

What has your experience with Children’s Hospital been like? Taylor enjoys the crafts and playing with iPads. “We have to come to the Emergency Department every time he has a fever; we’ve been here on Christmas,” Laurie said. “The nurses remember us. They know his sensitivities and know him.”

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Jordan HenegarDaughter of Bill and Sheri

How old are you? 13

Where do you go to school? Jefferson Middle School in Oak Ridge

What do you do outside of school? Cheer, dance and participate in pageants. She was the Anderson County Fairest of the Fair Princess and the Tennessee Valley Fair Princess.

What was your diagnosis? Juvenile idiopathic arthritis, celiac disease and a pineal cyst

Jordan’s story: “At 13 months old, she started having problems walking,” Sheri said. “Her personality changed. She started crying a lot, almost 20 hours a day at one point.” Her walking began to change. Her arms and legs stayed straight, so doctors considered that it was a neurological condition. Eventually, Jay Warrick, M.D., diagnosed Jordan with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. “Everyone at Children’s was extremely caring and positive,” Sheri said. At 18 months old, Jordan began having trouble keeping food down and became severely underweight. She was referred to Youhanna Al-Tawil, M.D., at Children’s Hospital, and he diagnosed the young girl with celiac disease. Following this diagnosis, Jordan was referred to Joseph Peeden, M.D., who became Jordan’s primary care pediatrician. When Jordan was in the fourth grade, she began having vision problems and getting dizzy. Dr. Peeden ordered a scan that showed a cyst in her brain. She was referred to Christopher Miller, M.D., who decided to monitor the cyst. Jordan comes to Children’s Hospital regularly for treatments and testing. Her parents believe Jordan is doing so well because of how early she was diagnosed each time and the incredible continuous care she receives.

Why did you agree to be an ambassador? “She wants to promote the motto she lives by to other kids: Focus on your ability and not your disability,” Sheri said.

What has your experience with Children’s Hospital been like? “We are always treated with a great deal of respect,” Sheri said. “Everyone is super optimistic—I think that’s a big part of why Jordan has had such a positive outcome. There’s no way we could have done this without the support of the staff at Children’s Hospital. I truly believe the physicians and nurses treat her the way they would treat their own children and everyone treats us like family.”

Regal Foundation teams with Will Rogers Institute for donation The Regal Foundation, part of Regal Entertainment Group, and the Will Rogers Institute recently donated $1 million to Children’s Hospital. These funds will be used for state-of-the-art equipment for cardio-pulmonary and respiratory needs as well as equipment for the Radiology Department. Pictured above: During a tour of Children’s Hospital, Echo Lab Coordinator Craig Kendall conducted an equipment demonstration for Joe Childs, M.D., Vice President of Medical Services at Children’s Hospital; Amy Miles, CEO of Regal Entertainment Group; Ted Cooper, President of the Will Rogers Institute; and Keith Goodwin, President and CEO of Children’s Hospital.

Donation benefits Neurology Department The Knoxville Civitan Club recently donated $4,000 to Children’s Hospital. The money will be used to purchase iPads and educational materials for patients. Pictured, at right, are Jess Key, Co-Secretary; Mary Key, Co-Secretary; Harold Marquand, Treasurer; Anthony Wallace, Director of Neurology at Children’s Hospital; Hank Grubbs, President-elect; and Kim Boggs, M.D., President.

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Stars raise $119,729 dancing Star 102.1’s Dancing with the Knoxville Stars raised $119,729 for Children’s Hospital, breaking the event’s fund- raising record since it began five years ago. The event was March 22 at the Knoxville Expo Center. It featured local celebrities performing a variety of dances with a professional dance partner from Academy Ballroom. WBIR-10 News anchor Russell Biven and his dance partner Emily Norris, pictured above, were the champions this year, winning both the dance competition as well as raising the most money for the event at $21,163.

Community contributes $251,180 through Radiothon This year’s Star 102.1 Radiothon for Children’s Hospital raised $251,180. These donations will provide funding for much-needed specialized pediatric medical equipment for the tens of thousands of children who visit Children’s Hospital every year. The two-day event, which was April 11 and 12 at West Town Mall, was hosted by Star 102.1 morning radio personalities Marc, Kim and Frank. The families of several Children’s Hospital patients were featured on-air during the event, letting listeners hear from actual patients who will benefit from their donations. Pictured above: Kim Hansard plays with 13-month-old Jaygen Graham before his family is interviewed during the Radiothon. Jaygen has an immune deficiency disorder. He does not fight off illness well. This makes him much more susceptible to illnesses—even minor ones like a cold. It also causes his body to burn calories that would normally be used to help him grow. He is treated with feeding and rehabilitation services.

Reserve your Children’s Hospital license plate today In a world of PINs, passwords and secret identification numbers, there is one number that you can proudly share with everyone—it’s the four-digit number on a new Children’s Hospital specialty license plate. We hope you will consider helping the thousands of children served by Children’s Hospital. In order for the plate to go into production, 1,000 plates must be reserved; we only have a few months to meet this goal. You can reserve your plate by calling (865) 541-8741. Thank you in advance for your continued support.

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Peyton Manning Golf Classic

The Peyton Manning Golf Classic benefiting East Tennessee Children’s Hospital and the PeyBack Foundation will take place Monday, June 17, at Fox Den Country Club in Knoxville. The format is a four-player team swat (or best ball) and will be flighted by team handicaps. Golfers can enjoy either a morning or afternoon round, and each round is considered a separate tournament with three flights. Manning, quarterback for the National Football League’s Denver Broncos, will visit with golfers throughout the day. Call the Children’s Hospital Development Department at (865) 541-8441 to register for the event or for more information on sponsorship opportunities.