May 2013 - Arkansas Children's Hospital

Vital Signs
m a y 2 0 1 3
A Newsletter for Employees & Friends of Arkansas Children’s Hospital
2013 Ruth Olive Beall &
Betty A. Lowe, MD Award Honorees
(Shown left to right) Dr. May Griebel, Dr. Eldon Schulz, Ginger Beebe, Dr. Thomas Badger and Dr. Helen Casteel.

Honoring Those Who Do the Most for
our Kids: The 2013 Ruth Olive Beall
and Betty A. Lowe, MD, Awards
A sitting Arkansas First Lady who has made children’s behavioral health, oral health, health literacy
and injury prevention her platform. A retired neurologist who created the first program in the state
to address complicated pediatric sleep issues. A tireless advocate of special needs children. A scientist
who has guided the start-up of a unique federally funded research institute that focuses on children’s
nutrition. A community gastroenterologist who has helped scores of kids reach the services they need.
The 2013 Ruth Olive Beall and Betty A. Lowe, MD, Awards brought special recognition to individuals
who have done these things and so much more for the children of our state. Each year, ACH
convenes board members, medical staff, administrators and supporters to honor those who have gone
the extra mile to create a better world for children.
The awards ceremony, held April 25 at Chenal Country Club, is the hospital’s signature recognition
program and highlights the hard work of the entire medical staff. In addition to the five special
honors, nearly 50 physicians were recognized during this year’s ceremony for service to ACH ranging
from five to 40 years on staff.
This year’s ceremony included a new honor: the Dr. Robert H. Fiser, Jr. Research Achievement
Award. This honor will be awarded annually to an ACHRI research scientist who has distinguished
himself or herself through extraordinary scientific research that will have lasting impact on the health,
development and well-being of children and their families. The inaugural award was given to Dr.
Thomas M. Badger, director of the Arkansas Center for Nutrition Research.
The night also included recognition of Arkansas First Lady Ginger Beebe, who received the
Betty A. Lowe, MD Award from the ACH Foundation. The annual honor recognizes the personal initiative,
service and leadership of an individual who has made a significant contribution to the health and
well-being of the children of Arkansas.
Dr. Helen Casteel, was recognized as the Dr. Tom Ed Townsend Award recipient. The honor
recognizes an Arkansas community physician who has provided excellence in health care and has been
a consistent supporter of ACH. Dr. Casteel is the founder of Pediatric Gastroenterology Associates in
Little Rock and a member of the ACH medical staff and a community advocate for children.
Dr. May Griebel, a neurologist who founded the Sleep Lab at ACH, received the Ruth Olive
Beall Award. An honor of highest distinction, the Ruth Olive Beall Award is given to a physician who
consistently displays the ACH Service and Behavioral Standards.
The Drs. Joanna J. & Robert W. Seibert Award was given to Dr. Eldon Schulz, a pediatrician
who works with special needs children and also led the Dennis Developmental Center for 20 years.
The Seibert Award honors outstanding teamwork and is named for physicians who epitomized and
promoted teamwork at ACH.
Before the awards ceremony concluded, those in attendance were treated to a special presentation.
The booming voice of Dr. Betty A. Lowe, who died in March, rang out in the reception hall. A
recording of her speaking to an interviewer gave way to memorial video that captured her wit and
wisdom, as the evening honored her memory.
New Faces: Directors of Child Life,
Clinical Nutrition Join ACH
Team ACH is rolling out the welcome mat for two new directors of
important departments this month. If you see either of these new team
members on campus, please be sure to welcome them to our hospital!
Renee Hunte, MA, CCLS, joins ACH as
the new director of Child Life and Education.
She previously led the Child Life Department
at Children’s Medical Center of Dallas and
also worked in the same area at MD Anderson
Children’s Cancer Hospital in Houston.
She also worked several years at Phoenix Children’s
Hospital as a Child Life specialist and as
the director of Psychosocial Programs for the
Children’s Cancer Center. “Arkansas felt like
a hidden gem when I came for the interview
in January,” Hunte said. “The department has
a wide-range of experience among the staff,
and I sense a great deal of pride in the team and others who work here at
ACH!” She lives in Little Rock with her husband and their 5-year-old twins.
Shannon Hendrix, MS, RD, LD, is the
new director of Clinical Nutrition at ACH. She
comes to the hospital after serving as director
of Nutrition at Arkansas Heart Hospital, where
she also worked in Food Service and Clinical
Management over a seven-year span. Hendrix
has also held positions in in clinical nutrition at
St. Vincent Health System, Southwest Hospital
and Baptist Medical Center in Stuttgart. Hendrix
has always been impressed by ACH’s reputation
as a great place to work and wanted
to be a part of that community. “I’ve always
had a strong passion to help people, especially
children,” she said. “Proper nutrition is vital to
the survival of children, especially those with special needs.” In her spare
time, Hendrix enjoys reading, exercising and spending time with her husband,
18-month-old son and adult stepdaughter.
Get Fit with the 2013 Summer Weight Challenge
Join the free Summer Weight Challenge program at the ACH East Campus
Fitness Center! Sign up starts June 3 on the ACH Training system.
Weigh In: June 24 – July 2 • Weigh Out: Aug. 19 – 26
Maintain or lose weight (within 1 or 2 pounds) during the eight-week program and
receive a prize! Your name will also be entered in a drawing for a $25 gift card.* Be one
of the three biggest losers throughout the eight-week challenge, based on the highest
percentage of loss, and win a $50 gift card!
During the Summer Weight Challenge you will receive:
• Weekly motivational emails with easy-to-make healthy recipes; and
• 25 Travel to Wellness points if you weigh out at the end of the program.*
Maintain or lose weight from the end of the Summer Weight Challenge
(Aug. 26) through the beginning of the Holiday Weight Challenge and your
name will be entered into a drawing for a gift card during the Holiday Weight
Challenge, also!
*ACH employees only
Communication Corner
Tips that Improve Communication in the Workplace
It’s important to think about how we can all promote positive communication at
work. Here are some helpful hints to keep in mind:
• Start with positive words at staff meetings. Be personable.
• Maintain frequent communication.
• Make sure to follow up regarding communication.
• Call people by name.
• Hold people to high standards.
• Show gratitude. Say “Thank you” as something helpful is happening.
• Help others save face. A friendly, “It happens to the best of us” goes a long way.
• Be considerate.
Resource: http://appitive.com/business2012/01/11
Need to Make
Benefit Changes
Important May 2013
Open Enrollment Dates
Open Enrollment allows you to review
your benefit options and make important
changes. Please save the date for the 2013
Open Enrollment appointments. Wondering
when and where you will enroll Your department
supervisor will let you know.
• Live On-Campus Enrollment starts • May 1
• Live On-Campus Enrollment ends • May 24
• Last day to make election changes
by phone is May 29 at 5 PM
• Effective date of Open Enrollment
elections is July 1
Congratulations
Kudos to Jay Desphande, MD, MPH, senior vice president and chief quality officer,
on being named to Becker’s Hospital Review list of “50 Experts Leading the Field of Patient
Safety.” Experts were chosen based on their local and national impact on patient safety
through participating in or heading patient safety initiatives, educating others, publicly
speaking about patient safety and publishing articles and research. Congratulations, Dr.
Deshpande! We are grateful for your hard work to keep our patients safe.
The Arkansas Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics recently recognized two ACH dietitians
for their service in the field. NICU dietitian Sarah Douglas, MS, RD, LD, received
the honor of Young Dietitian of the Year. The academy noted that Sarah is “a wonderful
team player, a conscientious dietitian and one who will go the extra mile to ensure her
patients have the best nutritional care.” In addition, CVICU dietitian Jessica Burgess,
MS, RD, CSP, LD was honored as an Emerging Dietetic Leader. She was recognized for
her devotion to the field and “has been known to purchase specialty food items for her
patients and has made herself available at night and on weekends to provide mixing instructions
to parents for children going home.” Congratulations, Sarah and Jessica. Thank
you for all you do to help our patients!
The Arkansas chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) honored ACH
President and CEO Jonathan Bates, MD, with its prestigious Diamond Award for communication
skills at a recent luncheon in Little Rock. The Diamond Award is presented
to an individual who has made significant contributions resulting in enhancement of the
image of Arkansas and who has performed outstanding service to the state in which the
principles of public relations have played a major part.
Dr. Bates was selected for the Diamond Award not only because of his leadership
of Arkansas Children’s Hospital, but also for his support and value of public relations in
building the visibility and reputation of the organziation that has cared for so many Arkansas
children during his tenure. The accolades for his contributions include recognition
of his skill as a collaborator, problem-solver and child advocate. Congratulations!
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Need ACH Security in the hospital or a parking lot Call X44444 or 364-4444

voLunteer Corner
ACH Volunteers Make a Great Impact
Arkansas Children’s Hospital depends on volunteers to provide assistance for patients,
their families and hospital staff. Whether the volunteer is a retiree wanting to
give back to the community, a student hoping to fulfill a service requirement or just a
person with a simple desire to help others during their free time, there’s a wide array of
opportunities at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. From interacting with patients to helping
in an office setting or the gift shop, there are opportunities galore. If any of your friends
or family members express an interest in how they can help us, please direct them to
the Volunteer Services website (archildrens.org/volunteer) We are always looking for new
volunteers!
Look at how these ACH staff members utilize and appreciate our volunteers:
Diana Denning, ACH Foundation: “The work the volunteers do here in the ACH Foundation
may not be as hands-on as some of the hospital volunteers, but it is just as essential.
Our volunteers not only help us raise money to benefit the patients and families we
treat here at the hospital, they have also become members of the Foundation family. We
are so grateful for the work they do.”
Amber Williams, Child Life & Education: “I often hear patients and families specifically
mention the volunteers, or ‘the people in the blue shirts’ as people who really made their
day by bringing something as simple as a coloring book and a bright smile. It is the little
things that really make a big difference in the experience that the families have while
here at ACH.”
Cynthia Sizemore, Legal Affairs: “I love the enthusiasm that a volunteer brings! Their
attitude of service is contagious and serves as a reminder to me of the wonderful privilege
we have of caring for children and their families at ACH.”
Amelia Randag, Child Life & Education: “Many of our volunteers give their time after
working a full-time job. I have had volunteers who are students, but many others who
are business owners, doctors, teachers, lawyers, counselors, etc. These volunteers see this
time as a way to give back to the community and help others.”
Masters of Disaster: PULSE Center
Helps NICU Drill for Real-Life Scenarios
It’s the kind of crisis no one wants to imagine occurring at a hospital: a full-scale
disaster that shuts down the power and requires that critical care patients be evacuated.
Unfortunately, it’s happened often across the country in the last two years, and it’s important
to think about how ACH will respond to such a scenario if it does happen.
The PULSE Center team recently helped Emergency Medical Director Dr. Kristin Lyle
and Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Shoptaw envision this type of crisis.
They designed a drill that played out in the NICU last month by simulating four evacuation
scenarios for infants. Each scenario required two evacuation drills – one that moved
the mock patient to another unit and one that evacuated the patient off-site.
“In a true disaster, critical decisions and actions must happen very quickly and the
outcomes from those steps are equally significant,” Dr. Lyle said. “Stressing the system
through a simulation gives us a wonderful opportunity to improve our plans when there’s
really not a disaster.”
The crisis drills were conducted simulating an environment without power, meaning
no use of elevators. The patient evacuations moved down hospital stairwells, and
demonstrated just how many people are needed to make this kind of transition. At least
nine individuals were required to carry a baby on ECMO weighing 6.5 pounds down the
stairs, for example. The events were also timed to show how long each evacuation will
take when minutes are ticking away.
While disaster drills are common at many simulation centers, the PULSE Center team
is unaware of other groups offering similar evacuation exercises. Dr. Ashley Ross, comedical
director of the NICU, said the in-depth planning shows ACH is at the forefront of
pediatric hospital disaster training. The interdisciplinary approach meant that just about
every position in the NICU participated, too.
Improvisations made during the drills were also helpful; providers employed creative
solutions when power wasn’t available.
“We discovered new ways to move patients that are very different from what we
would use on a typical day,” Lyle said. “These included disconnecting all non-critical
medicine drips, detaching non-critical equipment from the patient, hanging foley bags
on the scrubs of care providers moving with the patient, taping chest tube drains to the
patient warmer – even cradling patients with hot pacs in Ziploc bags to keep them warm
in transit.”
The NICU is already making changes to its everyday processes based on the drill’s
outcomes. NICU Nursing Director Luann Jones has added a safety coordinator to every
NICU shift, which will reinforce the evacuation system when the need arises.
“These drills gave us the real data that we need to identify areas that need to be
changed or further investigated in advance of a real event that might necessitate evacuation,”
Lyle said. “We are now also able to better package and target the training for the
general nursing and physician staff that will be coming up next!”
Little Physicians Have Big Fun
During Teddy Bear Clinic
All the elements of a typical ACH exam or operating room were present: bandages,
tongue depressors, surgical tape and even an anesthesia mask. But the patients Well,
they were a little furry. But that didn’t bother their young medical team! These docs and
nurses in training were excited to help provide a little TLC.
That’s how it went during the recent Teddy Bear Clinic in Camp Wannaplay. ACH
patients – mostly kids under the age of 10 – were each given a “plush patient” to care
for. They could touch up a stuffed animal’s wounds with Band-Aids, treat their little pal’s
“broken leg” by helping apply
an actual cast and even
assist with a teddy bear’s
“open heart” surgery. The
event marked Child Life
and Education month, and
allowed that team to help
children have some control
over their hospital experience.
Judging from the
patients’ smiles and excitement,
it may have opened
up some future career possibilities,
too!
A Decade of Family-Centered Care
Reynolds PICU Marks 10th Anniversary of Extensive Remodel
Every minute is sacred inside the Donald W. Reynolds Pediatric Intensive Care
Unit (PICU) at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. For a team that cares daily for more than
20 critically ill and injured patients, each single minute can make a difference in a
child’s life.
The team can hardly believe that it’s been a decade – 5.25 million minutes –
since the unit reopened with a focus on family-centered care after a major remodel in
2003. That update was made possible by the generosity of the Donald W. Reynolds
Foundation, which gave an $8.4 million gift to the unit. That is still the largest gift
ever made to the hospital. The remodel brought in state-of-the-art technology and
nearly doubled the unit’s size to 23,000 square feet.
“Time flies, but we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to serve Arkansas children
and their families,” said Kim White, nursing director of the Reynolds PICU at ACH.
“This team is really amazing and a tremendous resource for Arkansas children at a
critical point in their lives.”
In the decade since the renovation, the PICU has been on the front lines to care
for children in many crisis scenarios, ranging from the Super Tuesday tornadoes in
2008 to the global pandemic of H1N1.
The 2003 makeover put ACH at the cutting edge of pediatric care facilities with
a focus on making families a part of their child’s care team. For the first time, parents
were able to room-in with the child on the PICU because the remodel included private
rooms with daybeds. This inspired features in the new South Wing that opened
last year.
The renovation also allowed the PICU to expand its team and care for even more
kids on a daily basis. In 2013, the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit saw 1,600 patient
visits.
As the team looks ahead to the next 10 years, there is much excitement about
the opportunities on the horizon.
“We’re still grateful
for how the Reynolds
Foundation has given so
many kids a new chance
at life through the resources
available in our
PICU,” White said. “We
plan to continue to improve
this state of the art
resource for children and
send thousands more kids
home happy and healthy
in the next decade.”
(Photo: The mural
outside of the PICU.)
Got Moves
Show Them Off at the
So You Think You Can
Dance During May Parties
I scream, you scream. We all scream for ... dancing (Well, and ice cream
too, of course!) It’s time to get your groove on and fill up a cone or cup! The
annual ice cream parties – complete with a dancing contest – will be held May 2
and May 4, in locations listed below. Great ice cream sundaes, popcorn, slushies,
fresh fruit and other refreshments will be on the menu. *
Have some treats, visit with friends, play carnival games for prizes and enjoy
the entertainment. Or if you want to show off your dance moves, enter the
So You Think You Can Dance contest! Look for signup information on dance
contest flyers in your department and in Vital Signs eNews.
East Campus Children’s Hall: 1:30 PM to 4 PM – Thursday, May 2**
Hospital South Dining Room: 2 PM to 4 PM – Thursday, May 2
Capitol View Dining Room Evening: 8 PM to 10 PM – Thursday, May 2
Capitol View Dining Room, Weekend: 6 PM to 8 PM – Saturday, May 4
For more news about what’s going on
around ACH check Vital Signs eNews daily!
*Low-fat frozen yogurt, sugar-free and dairy-free products will be available in one
serving line. Popcorn served at East Campus location only.
**Extended hours during the Thursday East Campus event: 1:30 PM – 4 PM.
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30
celebrating
years
Dewane Funderburg • Construction
1. What is it about ACH that has motivated you to
work here for so long ACH has been good to me. I feel
very blessed to have been given the opportunities to grow
and be a part of Team ACH. Good Lord willing, I plan to retire
from here.
2. What are your special interests outside of work Hunting, fishing, camping,
canoeing, scuba diving and travel.
3. Who has been the greatest inspiration in your life My wife and daughter.
4. What is one fun fact about you that few people know I have what some
would call a tough exterior, but I have a tender heart.
5. What is one goal that you hope to accomplish in 2013 Do my job and take
care of my family.
6. What is the best advice you ever received If you want a man to respect you,
you have to treat that man with respect.
7. What is your favorite memory from working at ACH There are so many, but
I think the early years when we were small, and I knew most everyone.
Fitness Center Update
Make Big Changes with
Lifestyle Rescue Camp
Make a total lifestyle change with the ACH Fitness Center’s Lifestyle Rescue
Camp! This program will be offered to those with a BMI of 25 or above. Participants
will receive:
• Access to the Fitness Center for the month of June;
• Pre- and post-camp measurements;
• Three weeks of fitness classes;
• During the final week, fitness challenges, a nutritional session and one session
of guided meditation; and
• 12 weeks of wellness coaching for those interested.
May Anniversaries
Terry Allaby
Cheryl Behr
Kim Haemmerle
Kathryn Jones
Mark Meador
Anassia Nelson
Laura Blake
Stephanie Cordova
Michael Davis
Sharron Davis
Michael Dwyer
Lisa Emmert
Jonathan Bates, MD
Dawanna Davis
5 years
Ashley Nelson
Cassandra Ospring-Startz
Elizabeth Owens
Scott E. Parker
Lonnie Rhodes
Tracy Fondren
Lisa Hendricks
Janet Croy
Nick Depalo
10 years
Diane Grigsby
Joyce Grundy
Patty Mahoney
Maryjo McElduff
Lauren Overton
Dorothy Reasons
15 years
Kevin Patton
Gaye Sanders
20 years
Judy Mitchell
Janet Wright
25 years
John Porchia
Phyllis Stewart
30 years
Dewane Funderburg
Kandis Romes
Robert Saylor
Tanya Scheidweiler
Estella Smith
Cali Worthen
Stacey Robinson
Mary Schlatterer
Curtis Venable
Janet Webster
Melissa Wolfe
Robert York
Sign-up begins May 6 • Camp dates: June 3 – 28
Members: $25 Non-members: $40
Your Kids Will be Happy Campers with Fit4Kids
When: June 24-28
Where: East Campus Fitness Center
Who can attend: Employees’ children ages 8-12
$100 per child
Register now to ensure a spot (class limit is 40)
$25 due on day of sign-up
For questions, call the Fitness Center at X41088 or visit our website at
http://achweb/WebForge/Wellness/Home/
New Arrivals
Congratulations to occupational therapist Andrea Frazier and Resource Team
nurse Blake Frazier, on the birth of their baby boy, Grant Wildhagen.
He was born on Aug. 9, 2012, weighing 9 pounds, 5 ounces and
measuring in at 21.5 inches. Best wishes to Mom and Dad!
Editor’s Note: Each month, employees and staff who are celebrating milestone
anniversaries at ACH are invited to share their experiences with Vital Signs. Those who
agree to be interviewed are featured on this page on a first-come, first-served basis.
Take Us Out to the BaLLgame!
ACH FamiLy Night with the TraveLers May 30
As baseball season gets underway, look forward to a night out with your family
and Team ACH on May 30 at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock. Come watch
the Travs take on the San Antonio Missions for free with your immediate family. Gates
open at 6:05 PM, and the game starts at 7:10 PM.
Show your ACH ID at the table out front to receive free admission and seating for
you and your immediate family until 8 PM. A complimentary hot dog and soft drink
coupon will be provided while supplies last. Limit six per family. After 8 PM. regular
park admission will be charged.
If you would like to enter the employee-only drawing to throw the first pitch
or sign up your children to play an on-field kids’ game at an inning break, email
employeeevents@archildrens.org. A phone number and email address is required for the
contact information. To request entry in the kids’ games, we will need your daytime
contact information and the ages of your children to place them in the correct game
categories.
There is a charge for parking in the lot adjacent to the
stadium. Parking on surrounding streets is free. A rain date
will be scheduled for the following day, May 31.
Occupational therapist Shannon Yates and her husband, Rory, recently adopted
a baby girl, Ruth Audrey. She was born Oct. 3, 2012, and weighed 9 pounds and
15 ounces, and measured 21 inches long. Congratulations to the growing family!
Michelle Scoggins, an ACH physical therapist, and her husband, Steven, became
the proud parents of a baby girl on Jan. 19. Hannah Brooke weighed 7 pounds,
9 ounces and measured in at 19.25 inches. Congratulations!
Physical therapist Whitney Bartley and her husband, Joe, welcomed their baby boy
Cameron Joseph on Feb. 26. He entered the world weighing 7.15 pounds and
measuring 20 inches long. Best wishes to the proud parents!
Congratulations to physical therapist Amber Hoyt and her husband, Steven,
on their baby girl, Piper Elaine, who was born March 12. Piper weighed 7 pounds,
1 ounce and measured 19.75 inches in length.
Best wishes to Arlice Jacobo, an ACH occupational therapist, and her husband,
Emmanuel, on the arrival of their new baby girl. Vanessa was born April 4, weighing
7 pounds and 14 ounces. She measured in at 20.5 inches long. Congratulations!
Vital Signs
Vital Signs is published monthly for the employees, staff and volunteers of
Arkansas Children’s Hospital, 1 Children’s Way,
Little Rock, Arkansas, 72202-3591; (501) 364-1100.
Visit archildrens.org.
President/Chief Executive Officer: Jonathan Bates, MD
Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer: David Berry
Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs & Chief Medical Officer: W. Robert Morrow, MD
Director of Communications: Dan McFadden, APR
Manager of Publications: Michael Spigner
Senior Media Relations Specialist: Hilary DeMillo
Editor: Ginny Hensley, APR
Photographer: Kelley Cooper
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