Winter 2009 - Arkansas Children's Hospital

PEDIATRIC CAREOn a recent day in the hematology/oncology clinic, HannahSullivan visits with two ACH caregivers. The hematology/oncologyservices at ACH will be expanded when the new South Wing opensin 2011.In the current clinic, once Hannah heads back to begin her treatment,depending on what she is having done that day, she may be in the infusionroom – a large room filled with four beds for patients, each divided by a singlecurtain.“Although the infusion room provides a place for us to chat and bond withother parents going through the same things, sometimes it’s hard to have solittle privacy,” says Jill, Hannah’s mother. “The private rooms in the new clinicwill be absolutely wonderful.”The new clinic will feature all private exam and procedure rooms, withmore space for the patients and their families, which often includes grandparentsor siblings. In fact, the entire clinic is more than doubling in size – goingfrom 16 rooms with 14 beds, to 57 rooms with 33 beds.“The new space is going to be positively wonderful,” says ShannonMoreno-Cook, assistant director of the hematology/oncology clinic, apheresisand day medicine. “We will have more space to see more patients, which willdefinitely be better for both us and the families.”The new clinic will also feature an outdoor healing garden, which will beaccessible only to hematology/oncology patients. Because these patients haveweakened immune systems, they are often not allowed to visit the hospitalplayrooms and other common areas.“The healing garden will provide these patients a haven of their own,where they can visit when they come in for treatment,” says Moreno-Cook.Currently, each hematology/oncology physician at ACH has his or her ownday in the clinic. In the new clinic in the South Wing, there will be enoughspace to essentially hold two separate clinics at the same time, which willdouble the amount of patients able to be seen.“In the new clinic, we will basically be able to do 10 clinic sessions a week,compared to currently only being able to do five,” says Dr. Becton. “Withthat new space, we can see that many more patients, which is great.”Inpatient Unit Also Undergoing ChangesOccasionally, Hannah’s treatment requires an overnight stay in the hematology/oncologyinpatient unit at the hospital. Currently in the unit, there are16 beds for patients – 12 are private and four are semi-private with a curtaindivider. In the new unit, there will be 26 rooms in the unit and all will beprivate.The new facility will be top-notch, according to Dr. Becton.“This new unit is going to be better for our patients in somany ways,” says Dr. Becton. “We are going to have allprivate rooms, and each room will be larger, which will begreat for our patients’ families.”One other exciting area in the new unit is the spacethat will be dedicated to family support.“We are going to have a wonderful family area wherethe families will have TVs and a kitchen area,” says Dr.Becton. “Basically, it will be a lounge area for families,where they can go and talk to each other and supporteach other.”The new South Wing hematology/oncology facilities –both inpatient and outpatient – will improve the qualityof a cancer patient’s visit to ACH, from start to finish.Whether the patient is coming in for a long-term stay, orfor a regular daily treatment like Hannah, the patient willhave more space, more privacy, more distractions and,hopefully, a better experience.“The current facilities are great, but we are ready forour patients and families to have newer, more comfortablespaces in the South Wing,” says Dr. Becton.Although the Sullivan family hopes to be through withcancer by the time the South Wing opens, they recognizehow important the new facilities will be for countlessother children.“The hem/onc program here at ACH is already good.The new South Wing will just make it better,” says Brad,Hannah’s father. “The South Wing will give these doctorsand nurses with this passion for children the capability todo more and better for the kids treated here.”*David L. Becton, MD, is chief of hematology/oncology atACH and professor in the department of pediatrics, UAMSCollege of Medicine.ASHLEY WARRENContinued from page 3Ashley’s smile was on display in the fall of 2008,when her classmates voted her Miss Morrilton HighSchool and the school’s football team voted herHomecoming Queen. Being named HomecomingQueen was a special day for Ashley, who was surprisedat the honor. As she accepted the crown, with her twofootball player escorts in tow, she thought about thepast year of her life and all that she had gone through.“It’s hard – I’m not going to say it isn’t,” she says.“There are days that all I can think about is how badly Iwant to drive, or play sports, or just be a normal 17-year-old. But there are also days that I think about howlucky I am to be alive, and those are the days worthremembering.”5