ummc connections

We Heal > We Teach > We Discover > We Care > We Heal > We Teach > We Discover > We Care > We Heal > We Teach > We Discover > We Care > We Heal

Honored for Quality and Safety page 2

Great Stories About Patients and Staff page 4-5

Greenebaum Awards Celebrate Compassionate Care page 6

Cafeteria Comfort Food Gets a Makeover page 7

A Little Hero Recovers from Heart Surgery page 7

New Leadership at UMMC Midtown Campus page 8

Employees Rally to Help Philippines page 8

news for the

University

of Maryland

Medical Center

c o m m u n i t y

INSIDEConnections:

MESSAGE FROM THE CEOWe have had a ‘real’

winter this year, with

what seems like a

constant battle with

the ice, snow and

winter cold. No

matter what the

weather, the UMMC

sta� is here to help

our patients get better and back

on their feet. I would like to extend

a very warm thank you to all our

sta� members who have braved the

elements to be here for our patients

without fail. Hang in there – spring is

around the corner!

We have had some exciting

developments at UMMC over the

last few months, including the

dedication and opening of our new

Shock Trauma Critical Care Tower.

We have also seen rapid progress

on our alignment with the UMMC

Midtown Campus.

As you travel between the UMMC

University Campus and the Midtown

Campus, you will see Connections

publications at both campuses,

featuring content unique to

each location and content that

is shared. UMMC Connections is

published three times a year at both

campuses.

The University of Maryland Center

for Diabetes and Endocrinology

moves to its new home at UMMC

Midtown Campus this spring, and

will exemplify the integration

of what is now a two-campus

UMMC. In the next two years, a

new ambulatory care center will

be opening at Midtown, providing

new, convenient access for patients

to receive the health care they

need. You can read more about

these stories in this issue of UMMC

University Campus Connections.

Throughout this issue, you can

read stories of excellent care

delivered with great compassion,

all of it made possible by a team of

thousands of sta� members who

support our mission.

Sincerely,

JEFFREY A. RIVEST President & Chief Executive O� cerUniversity of Maryland Medical Center UNIVERSITY CAMPUS & MIDTOWN CAMPUS

PAGE 2 PAGE 7 PAGE 8

“ If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

– AFRICAN PROVERB

FEATURED INSIDE

The front doors of the lobby have opened, leading to a comforting space for the families and friends of patients in the newly complet-ed Shock Trauma Critical Care Tower at UMMC. National and state leaders attended a dedication of the new tower in November, noting the important role it plays in caring for the sickest and most critically injured patients in the region and in training military

and civilian medical personnel. >> READ MORE ON PAGE 3

CONNECTIONSWINTER 2014UNIVERSITY CAMPUSUMMC

A NEW HOME, WITH ROOM TO GROWTHE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND CENTER FOR DIABETES

AND ENDOCRINOLOGY MOVES ITS REGIONAL PRACTICE

IN MARCH TO UMMC MIDTOWN CAMPUS, WHERE IT WILL

CONTINUE SERVING ALL OF ITS PATIENTS FROM UMMC

AND OTHER OUTPATIENT LOCATIONS.

Patients with diabetes or other endocrine disorders often

visit several specialists to manage their complex care,

juggling appointments across multiple locations at the

University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) campus.

The desire to consolidate services and the opportunity

to serve more people in need led the Medical Center to

move all the services of the University of Maryland Center

for Diabetes and Endocrinology to one location at UMMC Midtown Campus.

In March, 2014, the center will merge with the existing UMMC Midtown Campus services and provide care for patients from infancy

through adulthood in one location, on the second fl oor of the UMMC Midtown Campus main hospital building on Linden Avenue.

>> READ MORE ON PAGE 2

DEDICATED TO TIME-SENSITIVE CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE

We Heal > We Teach > We Discover > We Care > We Heal > We Teach > We Discover > We Care > We Heal > We Teach > We Discover > We Care > We Heal > We Teach > We Discover > We Care > We Heal > We Teach > We Discover > We Care > We Heal > We Teach > We Discover > We Care > We Heal > We Teach > We Discover > We Care > We Heal > We Teach > We Discover > We Care >

2 ConnectionsUMMC

22 South Greene Street Baltimore, Maryland 21201 410-328-6776 www.umm.edu

Jeffrey A. Rivest President and Chief Executive OfficerMary Lynn Carver Senior Vice President Communications and Public A� airsAnne Haddad Editor and Publications ManagerChris LindsleyDirector, Communication ServicesFrank B. Moorman Director, Strategic Internal CommunicationsLinda PraleyCreative DirectorLinda J. Lynch Sta� AssistantMichelle BamburakSharon BostonAmy KatzMeghan ScaleaKathy SchuetzEmmie TaylorKaren WarmkesselContributors

Email news and story ideas to [email protected].

is produced by the Office of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs for the UMMC community.

ConnectionsUMMC

A New Home, With Room to GrowNew Space Expands Access For Patients >>> continued from page 1

Holding the prestigious Delmarva Award for Excellence are the front-line sta in

Quality, Safety and Clinical E ectiveness with senior leaders from UMMC and the

medical director of the Delmarva Foundation for Medical Care, Columbus J. Giles Jr., MD (far right). Holding the award in the foreground is Anna Marie Moko,

MBA, BSN, RN, quality measure coordinator. Behind her, from left to right, are

Patricia Dumler, BSN, RN, quality measure coordinator; Sylvia B. Daniels, BSN,

RN, manager of regulatory compliance and outcomes management; Je� rey A. Rivest, president and chief executive o� cer; Lisa Rowen, DNSc, RN, senior vice

president for patient care services and chief nursing o� cer; Ingrid Connerney,

DrPH, RN, CPPS, senior director of quality, safety and clinical e ectiveness; Ella Giles, MSN, MBA, RN, HACP, director regulatory compliance; and Crystal Evans,

BSN, RN, senior core measure coordinator.

UMMC and UMMC Midtown Campus Both HonoredFOR QUALITY AND SAFETY IN 2013

Both campuses of the University of Maryland Medical Center received pres-tigious awards

in November for patient safety and quality-of-care measure-ments that not only met the standards for excellence, but exceeded them.

UMMC received the Delmarva Excellence Award for patient safety data on 14 quality and safety indicators measured by hospitals nationwide.

Meeting the standards is a challenge for large academic medical centers, because they receive the most critically ill and injured patients from com-munity hospitals. Yet UMMC surpassed the minimum score of 90 percent needed on all indica-tors, scoring 95 to 97 percent on all of them.

UMMC Midtown Campus received the Delmarva Foundation Excellence Award for Quality Improvement for the second year in a row.

� e Delmarva Foundation is the nonpro� t, independent organization that oversees qual-ity and safety for Medicare and Medicaid Services in Maryland and the District of Columbia.

Also this fall, � e Joint Commission recognized UMMC Midtown Campus as a “Top Performer on Key Quality Measures,” particularly for its exemplary performance in caring for patients with heart failure and pneumonia and those needing surgery.

� e Joint Commission is the leading accreditor of health care organizations in the US.

his new space allows for expanded services, making it possible to get an appoint-ment quickly, and ensuring greater access for patients throughout the Mid-Atlantic region to the diabetes and endocrine specialists they need.

New bricks and mortar are in the works, too. Construction of a new ambulatory care building begins this spring at the UMMC Midtown Campus, giving the Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology even more room to grow. Half of the $50 million cost of the new building is being provided by the State of Maryland.

When completed in 2016, the new ambula-tory care center will also include other medi-cal subspecialties. By having specialists in eye, kidney, vascular and other disorders that are common in those with diabetes, patients will have easier access to all of their care.

COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCEBest of all, the expansion of this center sup-ports UMMC’s mission to serve as one of the region’s leading centers for diabetes and endocrinology.

� e UM Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology has approximately 5,000 patients, who account for more than 15,000 patient visits a year. With the consolidated center and new space being built for 2016, the sta� will eventually be able to carry out an estimated 50,000 patient visits a year, said Stephen N. Davis, MBBS, professor and chairman of the Department of Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and a nationally known diabetes expert.

“Being in the same building will make it much more convenient for patients to come to one place for all their needs, and it a� ords the sta� greater opportunity to confer about complex cases and collaborate to provide patient-centered care,” Davis said.

“And space is a big issue,” Davis said. “We simply need more space in order to carry out our mission as one of the region’s major cen-ters for diabetes and endocrinology.”

“� e center’s sta� also works closely with primary care providers and other specialists to coordinate patient care,” Davis said. “We

want to create a patient-centered environment with ‘one-stop-shopping.’ We will bring the providers to the patients. � is will be more e� cient and convenient for our patients.”

“Our goal is a better outcome for the patient,” said Kristi D. Silver, MD, associ-ate professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the center’s interim director. “When you have the team working together, you can make a lot of posi-tive breakthroughs in the patient’s quality of life and diabetes control.”

“Our clinical sta� assist patients in under-standing and obtaining their medications, making medical appointments and navigating the health care system,” said Cathy DiBlasi, BSN, RN, LDN, CDE, nurse manager at the center. “� is added assistance can often be the di� erence needed to maintain good health and avoid medical complications.”

The Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology will open at its new location at the Midtown Campus on March 26, 2014.

“Being in the same building will make

it much more convenient for

patients to come to one place for all their needs, and it a� ords

the sta� greater opportunity to confer about complex cases

and collaborate to provide patient-

centered care”

Stephen N. Davis, MBBS

Stephen N. Davis, MBBS, and Kristi D. Silver, MDT

We Heal > We Teach > We Discover > We Care > We Heal > We Teach > We Discover > We Care > We Heal > We Teach > We Discover > We Care > We Heal > We Teach > We Discover > We Care >

3WINTER 2014


By the time the new Shock Trauma Critical Care Tower at the University of Maryland Medical Center was dedicated by dignitaries and UMMC leaders on Nov. 8, 2013, more than three-fourths

of the new space was already in use – with sta� caring for some of the most critically ill and injured patients in the Mid-Atlantic.

� e need for more space to care for these patients at the world-renowned R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at UMMC was so great that units were put into use almost as quickly as they could be built and out� tted.

� e new entrance greets family members who have received a call from a Trauma Resuscitation Unit nurse that their loved one has been transported to Shock Trauma, which is always stressful news to hear.

Patients, however, don’t arrive through the beauti-ful new lobby; they’re still brought to UMMC via ambulance or helicopter from the � eld or transferred from another hospital – including UMMC Midtown Campus – when the patient’s condition requires a higher level of care.

� e dedication in November marked the near-completion of 140,000 square feet of much-needed increased capacity. � e original trauma building was designed to serve 3,500 patients a year, and has been operating at more than twice that capacity, serving more than 8,000 patients annually the last several years.

� e new tower, with a public entrance on Lombard Street, houses nine � oors of patient care space, including 64 new patient rooms and 10 new operat-ing rooms. � e new space also enabled expansion of the adult and pediatric emergency departments at UMMC, new laboratory and pharmacy space, and a new family and visitor lounge designed to serve the special needs of families dealing with the sudden traumatic injury or illness of a loved one.

On the roof is an additional helicopter landing pad, increasing the center’s capacity to accept air medical transport and larger helicopters.

“Time-sensitive critical care medicine is a hallmark of this Medical Center’s service to our community, state and region. � is new tower – and the incredible people who work within it – will enable us to remain

at the forefront of trauma and critical care medicine for decades to come,” said Je� rey A. Rivest, president and chief executive o� cer of UMMC.

Special guests who participated in the dedication included Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley; US Sen. Ben Cardin; Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake; US Rep. C.A. “Dutch” Ruppersberger; Major General Mark Ediger, Deputy Surgeon General of the US Air Force; and Francis X. Kelly, Jr., chairman of the Shock Trauma Board of Visitors, chairman of the board of University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center and former Maryland state senator.

US Air Force surgeons, nurses and technicians rely on Shock Trauma for important training. � e new tower will house a technologically advanced simulation facility, where teams can replicate conditions in the hospital and on the battle� eld to enhance the skills of both civilian and military health care professionals.

“� is new building represents the culmination of our team’s collective vision to give each and every patient the best possible opportunity for survival and recovery,” said � omas M. Scalea, MD, FACS, physi-cian-in-chief, R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, and the Honorable Francis X. Kelly Distinguished Professor of Trauma Surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

� e total project cost was $160 million: $35 million is being raised through private philanthropic dona-tions; $50 million has been provided for the project over the last � ve years from the State of Maryland, with an additional $2 million from the federal govern-ment. � e University of Maryland Medical System is the largest contributor.

“We are still actively fundraising to fully complete several key projects related to the expansion, and appreciate the generosity of those who give,” said Scalea.

Donors who invested $1 million or more in the tower project include: Alexandra Clancy and the late author Tom Clancy; the late Willard Hackerman of Whiting-Turner; Edward St. John of St. John Properties; George Doetsch, Jr. of Apple Ford; and Francis X. and Janet Kelly. Donors of $500,000 include: Carl Julio; John Paterakis; France-Merrick Foundation; and M&T Bank Foundation.

Additionally, leadership teams of the University of Maryland Medical System/Center and the University of Maryland School of Medicine each have contrib-uted $1 million to the new tower.

To learn how you can support the Shock Trauma Critical Care Tower, visit: umm.edu/programs/shock-trauma/about/ways-to-help

It’s a call that anyone would dread receiving – when a nurse from the

Trauma Resuscitation Unit is on the other end of the line with news that

a loved one has been brought to Shock Trauma. • Those summoned

also get information about where to park and how to come in through

the new entrance on Lombard Street. They check in with the security

desk and go one level up to the Family Waiting Room. • Shock Trauma

admitting specialists such as Plejette Pharr (below, left) greet the family

members as they arrive, and escort them to see the patient as soon as

possible. This waiting area was designed with comforts and convenienc-

es such as a free cell-phone charging station, computers with internet

access, a water cooler, private restrooms and a private consultation

room where they can meet with a nurse, physician or chaplain.

ABOUT THE R ADAMS COWLEY SHOCK TRAUMA CENTER

The R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center is a worldwide leader in trauma care, and the heart of Maryland’s unique Emergency Medical Services System. The fi rst trauma center of its kind in the United States, Shock Trauma is an international model for civilian and military teams, and remains the epicenter for trauma research, patient care and teaching, both nationally and internationally today. Shock Trauma is where the “golden hour” concept of trauma was developed by its founder and namesake, the late R Adams Cowley, MD, and where many of the lifesaving practices in modern trauma medicine were pioneered.

Dignitaries joined leaders from UMMC, the University of Maryland Medical System and UM School of Medicine for the ceremonial ribbon-cutting.

UMMC and UMMC Midtown Campus Both HonoredFOR QUALITY AND SAFETY IN 2013

NEW TOWER EXPANDS and Enhances Capacity to Care for Region’s Most Critically Ill and Injured

A SPACE FOR WAITING, HOPING OR PRAYING

COVER STORY CONTINUED

Stephen N. Davis, MBBS, and Kristi D. Silver, MD

We Heal > We Teach > We Discover > We Care > We Heal > We Teach > We Discover > We Care > We Heal > We Teach > We Discover > We Care > We Heal > We Teach > We Discover > We Care >We Heal > We Teach > We Discover > We Care > We Heal > We Teach > We Discover > We Care > We Heal > We Teach > We Discover > We Care > We Heal > We Teach > We Discover > We Care >

Great4 UMMC

very day, patients and their families express gratitude to

Medical Center sta members for the care and service they provide.

Sta members notice when one of their own does something extraor-

dinary, too. Three times a year, the Great Stories program selects from

among the many e-mails and letters about sta members or teams that

exceed standards and expectations to enhance a patient’s experience.

Patients, patients’ families and sta� are encouraged to submit

examples to [email protected].

EStorıesConnections

GREAT PROFESSIONALISMExcerpts from an R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center StoryI was transferred via helicopter to the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland Medical Center after a car accident. I am writing to thank the wonderful, compassionate, professional and patient nurses who looked after me so kindly. No words can express how thankful I am for the excellent treatment I received at your hospital. As soon as I arrived, I had Audrey to look after me�…�she was so kind and understanding. I had several fractures and was in shock. Audrey helped me in every possible way. I’ll never forget the wonderful care I received from her. The surgeons too were fantastic. Dr. Sehgal, who did my stitches, and Dr. Sciadini was so kind and checked in on me each day like clockwork. …�Later I was introduced to Michelle and Danielle. They helped me so much, changed me, washed me, beyond nurse duties and this is while they were dealing with so many other patients. I’ve never experienced such warm, caring, professional and fabulous care. I really want to thank Stacey and Sharon for their kindness, patience and care too.

GREAT REHABILITATIONExcerpts from Dr. Geo�rey Rosenthal’s LetterI have been troubled with chronic pain in both feet for the past year�—�plantar fasciitis�—�which I would not wish on anyone. …�Having tried many popular but unhelpful remedies, I sought a referral to the [UMMC] Physical Therapy Department last summer�…�I was greeted there by Greg Mesa. …�He deduced from my cadence and stance that I was a runner and my feet were quite sore. And he correctly inferred that I would not stop running, even before I spoke!�…�The UMMC Physical Therapy team has provided me with extraordinary care over the last many months. …�In my experience as a care provider, I can objectively say that I have been a di�cult patient, perhaps the worst! Despite this, Greg Mesa and the rest of the Physical Therapy team stuck by me every step of the way. Their care directly enhanced my quality of life. They were always professional, kind, responsive, and willing to go the extra mile to deliver services at the highest level of quality and excellence. Greg prepared me to run in the Boston Marathon on April 15 ... and I am grateful to him and the Physical Therapy team for [making that possible].

GREAT CAREExcerpts from Alan, Alecia, & Ella (big sister) Vogel’s LetterMy son, Dominic Vogel (5 weeks old at the time), was transferred from another hospital to the University of Maryland Medical Center on Nov. 14, at 2 am. He was diagnosed with pyloric stenosis and underwent [laparoscopic pyloromyotomy.] …�[We wanted] to express how great an experience we had with Dr. Jeannie Chun’s sta and equally the nursing sta during this unfortunate event. As routine of a surgery as this may be to the surgery and nursing sta , as parents, it is very stressful seeing your child go through surgery at this young of an age. I wanted to specifically mention the nurses we had. …�It’s too often “we” complain when someone does not do their job, so I feel it is important to mention Amy, Monica, Rachel and Ashley for an excellent job in caring for my son and making sure my wife and I were also taken care of. …�Our overall experience with UMMC was excellent! Dominic is going great, gained 2 pounds by his 2-week follow-up with Dr. Chun, and eating normally! Thank you on behalf of my wife, myself and more importantly Dominic.

GREAT WORK ETHICExcerpts from Gregory Cooke’s LetterI was diagnosed with a brain tumor this past summer, and had it removed early this fall. What followed was a 6-week course of radiation and chemotherapy, which could’ve been extremely di�cult and a little scary. …��However, thanks to the excellent sta of nurses and doctors, it was instead an enjoyable experience. The nurses who greeted me every morning were cheerful and conversational, and always checked to make sure I was comfortable. I want to name particular names, but I really can’t because of how good the entire sta was. Though I dealt with nearly a dozen di erent nurses at di erent times, they were all equally pleasant and professional. I’d grown accustomed to doctors’ appointments taking much more time due to delays and people being late, but this never happened during my treatments. …��I could keep listing ways in which the department is excellent, but really all I can say is just how nice everyone was. …��I cannot thank them enough for their exemplary work ethic, kindness, and just generally excellent demeanor. They really helped me through a di�cult time, and I wanted to make sure they were recognized for their excellence.

(front row) Danielle Di�enbaugh, Michelle

Johnson, Audrey Coder (back row) Terry

DiNardo, Mark Bauman, Dr. Eugene Koh

Dr. Wendy Daley, Rachel Goldberg, Dr. Jeannie Chun

Nicole Johnson-Nesmith, Alena Fuhrman, Dr. Young Kwok, Dr. Elizabeth Nichols, Dr. Jolinta Lin, Nicole Salaam

Vivienne Earle, Johanna Blount, Dr. Geo�rey Rosenthal, Greg Mesa, Deborah Good

5WINTER 2014


Abound @ UMMC

AUGUST¡¡employee of the monthMARY THACKER, RNNursing CoordinatorPatient Placement Center

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“Working in the Patient Placement Center

(PPC) is like having your fi nger on the heart-

beat of the hospital,” said Mary Thacker,

BSN, RN. She has many duties as a nursing

coordinator, but her primary responsibility

is to keep track of available beds in the hos-

pital and assign patients to the appropriate

care units.

SEPTEMBER ¢¢employee of the monthFORTUNATO P. “BOYET” SWING, JR.Biomedical Engineering TechnicianTeam Lead in Clinical Engineering

Monitors, infusion pumps and other sophis-

ticated equipment track patients’ vital signs

– even help them stay alive, in many cases.

All this hardware and software has to be

kept in perfect working order by the Clinical

Engineering Department’s Biomedical

Engineering Technician (BMET) team.

Fortunato P. “Boyet” Swing Jr., helps keep

this equipment running.

OCTOBER ¢¢employee of the monthGREG POWELLTherapy AssistantRehabilitation Services

Helping patients carry out their prescribed

exercises to regain physical strength and

function, Greg Powell, BS, therapy aide, also

enjoys developing a rapport with them as

they talk about their injuries and their desire

to get better. Therapy aides work under the

direction of the licensed therapists (occu-

pational therapists, physical therapists and

speech-language pathologists).

NOVEMBER ¢¢employee of the monthKELSEY GOODTechnicianCentral Sterile Processing

In the basement of the Medical Center,

Kelsey Good and her colleagues in Central

Sterile Processing do some of the most

detail-oriented jobs in the hospital. Surgical

instruments arrive here to get cleaned,

inspected, sorted, sterilized and packaged

according to specifi cations for the next

procedures.

DECEMBER ¢¢employee of the monthZELDA FALCK, RNPsychiatric Emergency Services

Zelda Falck, MS, RN, BC, brought years

of experience in adult psychiatric nursing

when she came to the Medical Center to

develop Psychiatric Emergency Services

(PES), a division of the Adult Emergency

Department (ED). The service provides the

right care in the right setting for patients

who arrive in the Emergency Department

with behavioral health needs.

JANUARY ¢¢employee of the monthDANIELLE EVANS, BSN, RN, CCRN, FCCSClinical Nurse IIMedical Intensive Care Unit

Danielle Evans, BSN, RN, CCRN, FCCS,

came to the Medical Intensive Care Unit in

September 2011, right after graduating from

the Johns Hopkins University School of

Nursing. Within the fi rst year, she became

instrumental as one of the unit champions

in a hospital-wide e� ort to reduce the risk

of infection.Check out the UMMC blog for more Great Stories at medcenterblog.org

GREAT PATIENT CAREExcerpt from Maureen Dominiski’s LetterI wanted to take this opportunity to tell you about the great nursing care we received at your hospital. My daughter Madelyn came in on Friday for surgery in the Pediatric surgical center. The nurse in that area, nurse Ward, took good care of Madelyn in preparation for surgery. Madelyn was feeling really terrible for about 3 hours after surgery and nurse Caren was constantly at her side. Not only did she give her everything that was ordered but was also proactive in solving problems. She showed great compassion and seemed genuinely a ected by Madelyn’s pain and su ering. In other words she showed great humanity. She stuck with us all night. I was a nervous wreck since Madelyn’s jaw was banded shut that she might choke. But because I had such confi dence and trust in Caren, I actually was able to sleep for part of the night in her room. [Our next] nurse was Frances, and she was fabulous as well. She was attentive, positive, hard working and friendly. Madelyn even made a trip to the gift shop on Sunday�—�not even 48 hours post-op�—�to get Frances a thank you card. In addition the nursing assistant, Shinee, was extremely sweet and attentive to us. I have never had such a positive experience at any hospital. The nurses made all the di erence. Whatever you are doing keep doing and please pass on our gratitude to these amazing professional women.

GREAT COMMITMENTExcerpts from James Kidwell’s LetterI’m one of a handful of multi-trade specialists who cover the weekend shifts. … On fi ve di erent occasions, Waldemar (called Waldie by his peers) has responded to calls he heard over the radio simply because he wanted to assist me, fi guring he could (and did) know more about the nature of the electrical problem. Last weekend Waldie responded to a call from me about the lights being out in the ER waiting room. Before calling for his help, I checked every electrical breaker box I could locate and called his supervisor and his coworker, neither of whom could shed light on the problem. Waldie spent parts of two days physically tracing out the circuit to a night setback device on the fl oor above, in a closet and on a brand new corridor that was malfunctioning. He restored power to the area. No fussing, and [he is] a really special employee.

GREAT MULTIDISCIPLINARY CAREExcerpts from Mark Gwiazdowsky’s LetterI am a residential program coordinator for Appalachian Crossroads. Our agency serves individuals with intellectual disabilities in Garrett County, Maryland. I wanted to thank UMMC [sta ] who cared for an individual who resides with our agency, Becky Zello. Becky was admitted in critical condition. She underwent a lengthy abdominal surgery and received postoperative care at Weinberg 5 [for several weeks] until she returned home. The physicians, nurses, technicians and other UMMC personnel provided outstanding care for Becky with surgery, recovery, relaying her status and progress with her family and transitioning her back home. Becky is one of the sweetest people in the world. Everyone here loves being with her. She has had more than her share of challenges to her health. When Becky returned home, her condition and overall well-being was unbelievably good. Her mother, Jackie Haas, has no end of praise for you. The reason Becky is still with us is because of the care she received from everyone at UMMC. Our deepest appreciation to everyone at the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Caren Nazelrod, Mary Jo Simke and Frances Hobby

Waldemar ClarkeWaldemar ClarkeWaldemar Clarke

Back Row: Lindsay O’Meara, Beverly Dukes, Kate Heyman and Malka IsbeeFront Row: Marshada Chapman, Barbara Eaton and Joshua Vogel


6 ConnectionsUMMC

CONGRATULATIONS

University of Maryland

Medical Center’s phy-

sicians again made

a strong showing in

the annual “Top Doctors” list in

Baltimore Magazine’s November

2013 issue.

The results are based on a survey

of nearly 10,000 physicians in the

Baltimore area, asking where they

would send a member of their fam-

ily in each specialty area.

In addition to the list of “top doc-

tors” from the Baltimore region, two

stories in the magazine feature how

UMMC’s compassionate experts are

saving and changing lives:

• “A Body Against Itself,” featuring

UMMC neurologist Neil Porter, MD

• “Second Life,” featuring

transplant surgeons Stephen

Bartlett, MD, Rolf Barth, MD,

Bartley Gri�th, MD, Si Pham, MD,

John LaMattina, MD, and

Jonathan Bromberg, MD, PhD.

In the December issue of

Baltimore Magazine, LaMattina

was profiled in the annual “40

people under 40” feature about

people making a mark in their

professions and communities.

Two sta� members at University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center, Lisa Mayo and Michelle (Shelle) Besche, BSN, OCN, CCRP, were honored with the 2013 Greenebaum Compassion Award at the cancer center’s recent all-sta� meeting.

�e Greenebaum Compassion Award was established by Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum to honor cancer center sta� members who go “above and beyond their nor-mal duties to provide not only excellent patient care, but also compassion, hope and dignity at a time when a patient is so vulnerable.”

Mayo is discharge coordinator for the Greenebaum Cancer Center. She was presented with the award by Nancy Gambill, MS, RN, CRNP, OCN, director of oncology nursing, who noted, “Lisa gets to know our patients on a very personal level. Even when the prog-nosis may not be a good one, she values the bond and the relationship she can form and is not afraid to let her own heart break in tough situations. She follows the patients, reaches out to the patients, and is always ready to let them and their families know they have a new friend. To work with Lisa is to have a constant reminder of why we are here, and how to do it the right way.”

Besche is research nurse coordinator for the cancer center. In presenting her with the com-passion award, Galina Tucker, MD, director

of the cancer center’s Clinical Research O�ce, said, “Shelle has a compassionate and caring approach to every patient she works with, reminding them (and us when needed) that they’re much more than numbers on a data sheet. She keeps them hopeful and she keeps us organized. Patients signing up for clinical trials are often sick, always scared, and at times con-fused and intimidated by the technical jargon and paperwork they �nd themselves confronted with in their new role as trial subjects. Shelle is a constant, comforting and humanizing pres-ence and guide.”

�e Greenebaum Compassion Award is open to all employees of the cancer center who

are involved with patient care. Nominations may be submitted throughout the year, and are reviewed by the selection committee on a bi-annual basis. Each award recipient receives a $2,500 cash award, a crystal award plaque and a commemorative pin, and has his or her name added to a permanent display of Greenebaum Compassion Award winners, located in the Stoler Pavilion patient waiting area.

“We are extremely grateful to the Greenebaums for their generosity in making this award possible,” said Kevin Cullen, MD, professor of medicine and director of the Greenebaum Cancer Center.

See past winners at www.umgcc.org

Baltimore Magazine Names 76 UMMC Physicians to Top Doctors List

(Left to right) Presenters Nancy Gambill and Galina Tucker, award sponsors Michael Greenebaum and Stewart Greenebaum, award recipients Lisa Mayo and Michelle Besche, and cancer center director Kevin Cullen

Donate Life Float in Rose Parade Honors Organ and Tissue Donors

As one of the major organ and tissue transplant centers

in the US, the University of Maryland Medical Center

was invited to dedicate a rose for the “Donate Life”

float in the 2014 Rose Parade on Jan. 1.

Working with The Living Legacy Foundation of Maryland,

Je�rey A. Rivest, president and chief executive o�cer of

UMMC, dedicated a rose in honor of organ and tissue donors

and their loved ones, with a personal message of hope and

remembrance. In 2013, UMMC performed more than 420 organ

and tissue transplants, thanks to heroic decisions made by do-

nors and their families.

Considered “America’s New Year Celebration,” the Rose

Parade was watched by 40 million television viewers across the

US alone – plus viewers in 150 other countries and the 800,000

parade spectators lining the streets in Pasadena, Calif.

2013 GREENEBAUM AWARDS CELEBRATE COMPASSIONATE CARE

No smoking, electronic

cigarettes or tobacco

use of any kind is

allowed in the Medical

Center, including patient

rooms and bathrooms.

This is a safety issue.

For a map of designated

outdoor smoking areas,

see the information desk

or go to umm.edu

IMPORTANT!

Patients • Visitors • staff


7WINTER 2014

Therapeutic Music Eases the Burden of IllnessFOR PATIENTS AND VISITORS

On the Lighter Side:Cafeteria Comfort Food Gets a Makeover

N0URISHMENT FOR BODY AND SOUL

PATIENT SUCCESS STORY

Music and sound, such as a happy song on the radio or the frightening score of a scary movie, have the ability to change moods.

People have a physical and emotional con-nection to sound, and scienti� c research has shown that music can be bene� cial in healing.

Now, through a grant from the Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research, the University of Maryland Medical Center is o� ering individual-ized, live therapeutic music to patients at the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center.

And for the bene� t of the entire hos-pital, the Auxiliary of the University of Maryland Hospital donated funds to purchase a grand piano for the Weinberg Atrium. � ose waiting for loved ones in surgery can hear the piano and look out from the Healing Garden to see it. � e auxiliary’s charitable work to support UMMC goes back to the 1890s, when it was founded by local women at the request of physicians.

Both the new piano and the new live therapeutic music program for cancer patients are part of a larger e� ort to ease the burden of illness and stress using music and the arts, as well as other holis-

tic approaches that have been shown to help patients heal. � e C2X Healing Arts Team sponsored an art exhibit in the fall and sponsors other arts events throughout the year.

In addition to therapeutic music, the Medical Center’s Integrative Care Team o� ers treatments such as acupressure, guided imagery and yoga breathing to patients not just in the cancer center but throughout the hospital, including the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center. � e goal is to help patients relax, optimiz-ing health and healing.

As part of the new grant-funded ini-tiative for cancer patients, therapeutic musician Terri Fevang plays keyboard pieces tailored to each patient’s mood or emotions, so each visit is di� erent. Some patients may be anxious while awaiting test results, while others may be tired after receiving chemotherapy or radiation.

“� e music is peaceful and calming, and takes my mind o� my pain and worries,” says Jessica Montgomery, 29, a leukemia patient. “When Terri comes in, we turn the TV o� and just listen to her play. My dad is usually there too, and he often falls asleep because it’s so relaxing.”

UMMC’s cafeteria has always made a macaroni and cheese to rival any home-baked version. � e trouble was, it was high in fat and sodium,

like most versions of that dish. A group of interns in Clinical Nutrition Services accepted the challenge to revamp it without disappointing the hundreds of people who look forward to it.

� ey conducted a taste test with sta� and visitors – who liked the lighter version a lot.

Now revamped to be as healthy as it is comforting, the new version has 58 percent less fat, 38 percent less sodium and 40 per-cent fewer calories, but still o� ers a homey and comforting � avor and texture.

� e new version’s 13 grams total fat (7 grams of which is saturated fat), 65 mg cholesterol and 388 mg sodium per portion fall well under the USDA maximum daily recommendations of 67 grams total fat, 16 grams saturated fat, 300 mg cholesterol and 2300 mg sodium, based on a 2,000 calories-per-day diet.

“If you were to eat this macaroni and cheese three times a day, the saturated fat content would still be a bit high,” said Ellen Loreck, MS, RD, director of clinical nutrition services at UMMC. “However, you could select a lighter entree for your other meals and still stay within healthy eating guidelines.”

“We might try to make it even healthier in the future,” said Eva-Lynn Stevens, MS, RD, LDN, associate director of food and

hospitality services. “But we’re focusing on small changes at a time, which are more likely to be accepted. Since we made the change, our records show the macaroni and cheese is selling as well as ever.”

“We serve this every day, and people of all ages love it,” says Betty Brown, the cafeteria associate whose face is known to anyone who requests a scoop of mac and cheese at lunch.

� e interns in the Clinical Nutrition Services department conducted a taste test and found that that even people who detected less creaminess in the new recipe later said they would choose it over the high-fat version now that they knew the facts.

Other healthy changes in the Courtyard Café include the “greens and grains” fea-tures at the “Center Stage” grille, veggie omelets made to order for breakfast and fruit- and herb-infused water.

Want the recipe? Go to medcenterblog.org

A Little Hero Recovers from Heart Surgery to Run Like Superman

For 2-year-old Thaddeous McKenzie, running around is just what any normal kid does. His mother, Jennifer McAnany,

however, doesn’t take running or “normal” for granted. When McAnany was 20 weeks pregnant with Thaddeous, doctors at the University of Maryland Children’s Heart Program diagnosed Thaddeous with Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), a heart defect that makes

it di� cult for the heart to pump oxygen properly. This can be a terrifying diagnosis for parents, who often don’t know how bad the defect is until the child is born. The most common treatment for TOF is open heart surgery, normally performed within the fi rst few months after the baby is born. Thaddeous was delivered at the University of Maryland Medical Center, where a team was standing by to perform open heart surgery on him immediately, if needed. The medical team deemed him well enough to go home from the hospi-tal with his mother, but he needed to be monitored every few weeks. McAnany was able to take him to University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Medical Center nearer to their home. About 11 weeks later at a genetics appointment, the doctor noticed that Thaddeous was looking a little blue, dem-onstrating a lack of oxygen. He was imme-diately transported to UMMC for monitor-ing, and a surgery was scheduled with Sunjay Kaushal, MD, PhD, pediatric cardiac surgeon. Thaddeous’ family began calling him their “little Superman” when he pulled through his surgery and came out of it as their little hero. The full-heart repair was a success, and Thaddeous recovered fairly quickly. When McAnany heard about the University of Maryland Children’s Heart Program Running Team in the 2013 Baltimore

Running Festival, she signed herself up – and she signed up her “little Superman.” Several family members and friends also signed up and formed Team Thaddeous to raise money for the program to help other young patients and families. McAnany vividly remembers the moment the buzzer went o to signal the start of the Kids Fun Run that she and Thaddeous did together at the race. “Thaddeous ran as fast as he could, trying his hardest to keep up with the other kids and pulling me along with him,” she said. “He had a blast in his Superman shirt with his cape blowing in the wind.”

“ Thaddeous will have yearly check-ups for the rest of his life, but he is living life like a normal 2-year-old,” said his mother, Jennifer McAnany.

Team Thaddeous after running to raise money for the Children’s Heart Program, with GEOFFREY ROSENTHAL, MD, PhD, (third from left), professor of pediatrics and director of the UM Children’s Heart Program.


The University of Maryland Medical Center is an equal opportunity

employer and proud supporter of an environment of diversity.

is available on the Intranet and at www.umm.edu/connections.ConnectionsUMMC

8 ConnectionsUMMC

PEOPLE SPOTLIGHT

In early November, Typhoon Haiyan ravaged the Philippines, killing thousands and leaving a

wake of almost unbelievable destruction.

“As soon as we saw what was happening, we knew we had to do something,” said Lisa Rowen, DNSc, RN, senior vice president and chief nursing o�cer at UMMC. �e day after the typhoon, she and Je�rey A. Rivest, president and chief executive o�cer, spoke about assembling a team of UMMC employees to guide the Medical Center’s e�orts to help the Filipino people.

“At the Medical Center, we truly have a culture of caring, and we greatly value our sta� members of Filipino descent. Many employees came to us asking how they could help their Filipino colleagues and address the dire need in their home-land,” Rowen added.

Under the direction of Kimberleigh Nash, director of cultural competence and inclusion, and Marie Fortuno, BSN, RN, CAPA, nurse manager for endos-copy and the Mobile Practitioner and Rapid Response Teams, nearly two dozen UMMC employees came together within days after the storm.

“�e Filipino spirit is stronger than any typhoon,” said Cheryll Mack, MPA, BSN, RN, emergency room nurse and a member of the UMMC Philippines Relief Team.

�e major challenge was how to get aid to a country more than 8,000 miles away. To be as e�cient as possible, the funds were directed to Catholic Relief Services, a worldwide organization based in Baltimore, which already had a presence in the Philippines before the typhoon.

As of early December, UMMC employees and the hospital itself had contributed more than $100,000 in aid in the form of vacation hours, mon-etary donations and more than 7,000 pounds of medical supplies. Paul Ricks, a distribution and logistics manager at UMMC, coordinated the medical supply donation through the Brother’s Brother Foundation, which is working with the Philippine American Medical Society of Western Pennsylvania to provide short- and long-term assistance in the typhoon’s aftermath.

Team members quickly rallied to col-lect clothes, toiletries and some food to donate through the River of Life Church, which included the UMMC donations in a shipment around �anksgiving.

“�e Filipino people can weather any storm, but the generosity and caring of the people at UMMC shows them that they do not have to weather it alone,” said Fortuno, committee co-chair.

UMMC Employees Rally to Help Philippines After Typhoon

HONORED

Psychiatric occupational therapists (above, left to right) Mark Karolkowski, OTR/L, Lila Nappi, OTR/L, and Christine Greseth, MS, OTR/L, received the Outstanding Practice Award from the Maryland Occupational �erapy Association this fall for their roles in the design and implementation of the Academy of Independent Living pro-gram in Community Psychiatry. To �nd out more about the academy, go to the UMMC blog, Life in a Medical Center (medcenterblog.org) and select the category “occupational therapy.”

INVOLVED:

Linda Goetz, MHS, CRNA, has been elected to a second term as president of the Maryland Associa-tion of Nurse Anesthe-

tists, which is a�liated with the National Association of Nurse Anesthetists.

Brian Bailey has been promoted to senior vice president and executive director of University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus.

As the new on-site leader for UMMC Midtown Campus, Bailey will report directly to Je�rey A. Rivest, president and chief executive o�cer of both campuses of the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Bailey is well-known to the UMMC Midtown Campus community, having managed �nances there for 17 years. He also took on operational responsibilities under the hospi-tal’s former chief executive o�cer, Sylvia Smith Johnson, who retired in December.

Keith Persinger, as senior vice president for �nance at UMMC, will now also oversee �nances at UMMC Midtown Campus. Joanne Riley will serve as vice president for ambulatory care at both UMMC campuses, and Paula Henderson will serve as vice president of human resources for both UMMC campuses and for University of Maryland Rehabilitation & Orthopaedic Institute.

Other members of the executive team at UMMC Midtown Campus will continue in their existing roles.

Rivest and Bailey recently answered questions about what the integration of the two campuses will mean for patients and sta�.

Will integrating with the University of Maryland Medical Center change the mission of UMMC Midtown Campus?

RIVEST: I don’t see the mission changing, I see it strengthening, and it comes at an ideal time for both campuses: Midtown has a lot of experience with cost-e�ective care as a community hospital, and I think that role will strengthen in the future.

How do patients choose among the two campuses?

RIVEST: At the University campus, patients report that outpatient care is not convenient or easy to navigate. We do it very well in some areas, but in other areas, we don’t. �ey still are attached to us for the quality of our care, so once they’re introduced to the ease of the Midtown Campus, they enjoy the same care in a more convenient setting. �ey can park closer to the building.

BAILEY: I think we’ll see Midtown becoming much more of a medical home to the community, where we are here to educate and help with preventive health care. It’s not just about treating them when they’re sick.

Should patients choose one over the other for emergency care?

RIVEST: University of Maryland Emergency Medicine physicians sta� both emergency departments. University campus has a larger and more complex emergency department, and Midtown Campus has an emergency department that better �ts the model of a community hospital. You can get in at Midtown’s ER a little more quickly.

BAILEY: And if they come to Midtown but need a higher level of care at University Campus, the physicians will refer them to University Campus.

Midtown has demonstrated some really strong quality initiatives. What can you tell us about that?

BAILEY: We’ve received the Delmarva Foundation award two years in a row (see page 2), which is directly related to our good showing on the nationwide measure-ments that judge the quality and safety of a hospital, such as fewer infections and lower rates of re-admitting patients within 30 days of their discharge.

We show up in the top 10 hospitals across the state for low re-admission rates.

RIVEST: �e quality has been there, and I think the community recognizes that.

Are you already seeing more patients at Midtown since the two campuses have become integrated?

BAILEY: Yes, more patients have become familiar with Midtown Campus by coming to us for ambulatory [outpatient] services.

RIVEST: We have also referred patients to Midtown Campus for outpatient surgery, and we found that every patient we refer there likes it and prefers it. Physicians also �nd the e�ciency in the same-day surgery program at Midtown to be consistent and reliable. Better patient satisfaction and higher physician satisfaction is a sign of success.

New Leadership at UMMC Midtown Campus

Team members include (front, left to right) Domingo Cioco Jr., MOH, PT; Cheryll B. Mack, MPA, BSN, RN; Marie Fortuno, BSN, RN, CAPA; Kimberleigh Nash; (back row) LeWelyn Cariaga, BSN, RN; and Scott Tinsley-Hall.

ummc connections

Documents

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ummc midtown campus

ummc connections

ummc sta

compassionate care page

makeover page

staff page

philippines page