Treasures - Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics

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Students at Welburn Elementary School complete a post-assessment survey on training they received to prevent childhood obesity. The major focus of Ramey’s work involves a “train the trainer” program with school nurses on building healthy lifestyle changes into the class curriculum. A pilot program this year has been aimed at fourth and fifth graders in 11 classrooms in three different metro area schools. “The curriculum was written by Children’s Mercy nutritionists and includes lessons on drinking fewer sugared drinks, getting more exercise, eating as a family and decreasing the time children spend in front of a TV or computer screen,” Ramey explains. “Our pilot program has included more than 250 students and their parents, using both a pre-assessment before the students take the classes and a post-assessment afterwards.” Reaching Out To Prevent Obesity EEveryone knows that the best way to deal with a health problem is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Children’s Mercy has received national recognition for the innovative ways in which it is providing care for children who are overweight and obese, one of the leading pediatric health problems today. But Children’s Mercy also is taking significant steps towards trying to prevent this problem, thanks to a two-year grant from the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City. Their generous donation is providing funding for a staff person and a program of outreach to children and families through the schools and a variety of community activities. Initial results from the post-assessments completed by both students and parents show that students decreased their sugared drink intake as well as their daily screen time, Ramey says. The project will also include followup evening sessions with parents to help ensure that the changes continue. And plans for next year include refining the curriculum based on this year’s research results and expanding it to include school nurses in more schools. In addition to the classroom project, Ramey is developing innovative new outreach programs including children’s cooking classes at Science City in Union Station, which will be held in February and March; a program called “Fun and Fitness in the Park”, working with local pediatrician offices to refer children to special activities in the Johnson County Parks and Recreation programs this spring; and sponsorship of the Kids Run that is part of the annual KC Marathon. These students at University Academy learn to become more physically active as one of the key components of the hospital’s outreach prevention program. Mallori Ramey, who previously worked with childhood obesity programs at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, was hired at the beginning of 2008 to create a new community outreach program aimed at teaching children and their parents how to incorporate good nutrition habits and exercise into their lifestyles as a way to prevent children from becoming overweight. 8 | childrensmercy.org
Lisa Barth's legacy of caring will live on in the new chapel. Lisa Barth's Dream: A New Chapel for Everyone Lisa Barth was a nurse at Children’s Mercy for more than 24 years, caring for countless babies and children and their families. She was “a nurse’s nurse,” according to Karen Cox, RN, PhD, Co-Chief Operating Officer. “She uplifted everyone with her personality and that ‘Lisa sparkle.’ She touched so many people with it,” says one of the hospital’s physicians. Everyone who worked closely with Lisa knew she believed that it was her responsibility to not only provide the best possible medical care for her patients, but to do everything she could to support the emotional and often spiritual needs of her patients and their families. So when it became apparent in April of 2008 that Lisa would not win her own battle with a Glioblastoma brain tumor, a group of doctors, nurses and administrators from Children’s Mercy approached Randall L. O’Donnell, PhD, President/CEO with the idea that the new chapel included in the hospital’s long-range expansion plan be named in Lisa’s honor. When space for the new chapel was identified, Lisa was able to visit it and review preliminary plans. She said, “it would be perfect to have a place for everyone, all ages, all faiths, just everyone!” Lisa lost her battle with cancer in June 2008. Since that time, more than 400 individuals and corporations have made contribution for the building of the Lisa Barth Chapel, helping to achieve nearly a third of the goal. The support provided by these friends will allow the hospital to begin construction of the new chapel much earlier than originally planned, so that Lisa was able to see the plans and the space where the chapel named for her will be located. Construction is expected to begin in two to three years. “The chapel at Children’s Mercy is for people of every faith who seek spiritual shelter, a place of prayer, solace, reflection or simply a place for a few quiet moments,” says Dr. Cox. “The new chapel is sure to be a special place which brings hope, blessings and comfort to sick children, their families and caregivers in the hospital where Lisa spent so many years of her life.” treasures winter 2009 | 9
Page 1 and 2: treasures WINTER 2009 | FOR SUPPORT
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Page 5 and 6: Dr. Spielberg, center, meets with K
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Treasures - Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics

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