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SUMMER
2009
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Quality Care You Can Depend On.
Conveniently Located Across the Metro and Beyond.
Saint Luke's Medical Group physicians specialize in family
practice, internal medicine, endocrinology, and other areas.
Finding one who meets your needs is easy.
To schedule an appointment with a Saint Luke’s doctor near you,
call any time: NurseLine (816) 932-6220.
• Saint Luke's Internal Medicine (43rd and Wornall)
• Saint Luke's Medical Group–Lee's Summit
(I-470 and Douglas)
• Saint Luke's South Primary Care, Saint Luke's Medical
Group–Southridge, and Saint Luke’s South Urology
• Saint Luke's Medical–Barry Road and Barry
Road Internal Medicine (Kansas City North)
• Saint Luke's Medical Group–Platte City
• Saint Luke's Medical–Smithville
• Saint Luke's Medical Group–Cushing
and Saint Luke's Medical Group–
Care for Women (Leavenworth)
• Saint Luke's Medical–Clinton
Hip Dude
A new surgical technique at Saint Luke’s South
helped Pat Ozburn kick 10 years’ worth of pain
Family Business
Saint Luke’s researchers tap a family
to learn about a cancer-causing gene
Where Moms Are Babied
Saint Luke’s Northland Hospital
doles out fancy amenities and top-notch care
Saint Luke’s Health System
Chief Executive Officers
Science and Spirituality What might seem polar opposites
G. Richard Hastings
PRESIDENT AND CEO
SAINT LUKE’S HEALTH SYSTEM
work together in mysterious ways
Denny Hachenberg
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
ANDERSON COUNTY HOSPITAL
Janine Hron
Technology and theology are by no means mutually exclusive. At Saint Luke’s Health System, they work in harmony.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
CRITTENTON CHILDREN’S CENTER
When I first joined Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City more than 33 years ago, I was so impressed with how well the organization
Ron Baker
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
embodied its mission to provide most innovative and scientifically based health care in a faith-based environment.
And today, I still marvel at how science and spirituality blend together to improve the patient experience. Many who work or volunteer here
would agree that faith in a higher power can sometimes do more than just help you deal with your illness; it can help you heal from it.
A chaplain’s bedside prayer can provide the strength and courage a patient needs to make a difficult decision. A nurse’s hug can ease
a patient’s pain and reduce stress. And this can prompt healing. A technician’s reverence for a patient can help a fearful patient get
CUSHING MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
COVER
Hip Dude
8
through a difficult test.
FEATURES
The cover story in this issue shows how an orthopaedic surgeon’s passion for giving mobility back more quickly to those who need new
Where New Moms Are Babied
joints prompted him to find a new pathway for replacing hips. His patients at Saint Luke’s South are returning more quickly and more
Fancy amenities and top-notch maternity
care wowed Kate Wells at Saint Luke’s
Northland Hospital-Barry Road Campus
fully to the activities they love.
A team of researchers at the Saint Luke’s Hereditary Cancer Center are helping families identify which
Family Business
members might have a rare gene that predisposes them to breast and other cancers. Giving more infor-
12
14
One large family is making a big difference in understanding a virulent cancercausing gene
mation to those at high risk for cancer can help them make difficult decisions with greater conviction.
At Saint Luke’s Northland Hospital, caregivers have sacrificed some of their space to offer extra pampering to mothers-to-be. Pregnant women and their partners can now stay in the same well-appointed
Saved in His Own Backyard
birthing suite through labor, delivery, recovery, and post partum to bring new life into the world in a
Neighbors helped save Jorg Will from
a heart attack. So did having a heart
hospital right in the neighborhood
more reverent and familial setting that doesn’t seem like a hospital.
Upfront
KC Magazine names Saint Luke’s physicians ‘Super Docs’; Saint Luke’s South
welcomes a new leader; Saint Luke’s
experts dole out virtual advice via podcasts; and more
A new surgical technique helped Pat
Ozburn return to the game after 10 years
of pain
The stories in this issue illustrate how the spiritual connections caregivers feel for their patients here has led to better outcomes.
Up & Coming
Saint Luke’s Hospital Family Health
Festival mends families; two
race/walks benefit the Midwest Ear
Institute and cancer research; community education events cover health
topics from aging to vascular disease;
and more
Innovations
16
Saint Luke’s heart surgeons learn new
technique from Japanese cardiologists;
Crittenton Children’s Center expands
services to Wyandotte County, Kan.;
cutting-edge technologies help neurological patients regain motor skills;
and more
I am often humbled by the commitment and determination of our staff to address the spiritual and
emotional, as well as the physical, needs of our patients. For after all, sometimes an abiding faith turns
out to be the best medicine. +
G. Richard Hastings, President
Brian Johnston
DEPARTMENTS
Patient Makeover
and Chief Executive Officer, Saint
2
The belief in God can sometimes do more than just help you deal with your illness, it can help you heal from it.
—G. Richard Hastings
HEDRICK MEDICAL CENTER
George A. Pagels, M.D.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
SAINT LUKE’S EAST-LEE’S SUMMIT
Carol Quiring
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
SAINT LUKE’S HOME CARE AND HOSPICE
Julie L. Quirin
4
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
SAINT LUKE’S HOSPITAL, AND
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
SAINT LUKE’S CANCER INSTITUTE
Tim Callaghan
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
SAINT LUKE’S MEDICAL GROUP
N. Gary Wages
PRESIDENT AND CEO
SAINT LUKE’S NORTHLAND HOSPITAL
Don Sipes
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
6
SAINT LUKE’S NORTHLAND HOSPITALSMITHVILLE CAMPUS
Kathy A. Howell
PRESIDENT AND CEO
SAINT LUKE’S SOUTH
Karen Cole
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
WRIGHT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
Editorial Management
Corrine D. Everson
18
VICE PRESIDENT
MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
John C. Francis
EDITOR
Caroline Millard
High Fidelity
Thanks to a new cochlear implant
processor from the Midwest Ear
Institute, Jim Atwater can now
enjoy a full spectrum of sound—
and even learn guitar
Luke’s Health System
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Candice Blackwell,
Cindy Taylor
CONTRIBUTORS
Mark McDonald
PHOTOGRAPHER
Wylie Communications Inc.
Two Minutes With…
R. Vanneman Spake, M.D.
Looking Back
‘I’m Breathing So Much Better’
A new minimally invasive surgical
procedure gives much-needed relief
to patients who suffer from chronic
sinus disease
c. 1962 Counter Culture: Sizing Up Cells
The Coulter Counter automates blood
workups, making Saint Luke’s pathology lab more efficient and accurate
Talk about tedious.
However, this all changed in the 1950s
when Wallace H. Coulter invented the
Picture of Health
Coulter Counter. The machine automated
Kicking the Habit
Crittenton Children’s Center is helping
teens cope with life’s challenges
the process of counting and sizing
particles and cells.
Lab workers once had to count each
cell, using a microscope, to determine
The Coulter Counter remains a standard
the proportion of white and red blood
of today’s pathology labs, but the
cells in the body.
machines are much more compact. +
Saint Luke’s Health Summer 2009
20
EDITORIAL CONSULTANT
Draw The Line
Advertising and Design
DESIGN CONSULTANT
Saint Luke’s Health is published four times
a year by Saint Luke’s Health System
Marketing and Public Relations. Address
correspondence to 10920 Elm Ave.,
Kansas City, MO 64134.
21
Copyright 2009 Saint Luke’s Health
System. Material in this issue may not be
reproduced in whole or in part without
permission from the editor.
If you do not wish to receive future issues
of this publication, please let us know by
writing to the address above, sending an
e-mail to [email protected], or calling
NurseLine at (816) 932-6220.
This magazine is carefully reviewed by
health experts before publication.
This magazine is not meant to replace
professional medical advice or service.
Saint Luke’s Health System is an Equal
Opportunity Employer. Services are
provided on a nondiscriminatory basis.
NurseLine 816.932.6220
saintlukeshealthsystem.org
Saint Luke’s Health Summer 2009
1
Upfront
“This is just another validation that Saint Luke’s team of doctors, nurses, specialists, and staff are fulfilling our vision of being
‘The Best Place to Get Care and the Best Place to Give Care,’”
said Julie Quirin, CEO of Saint Luke’s Hospital.
Cardiologist earns
national honors
The Consumers’ Checkbook rankings appeared in the
May/June 2009 issue of AARP The Magazine. +
Area women can take this to heart: Your tickers are in some of
the best hands at Saint Luke’s.
Tracy Stevens, M.D., received the WomenHeart Wenger
Award for her contributions to women’s heart health. The
Young at heart—
literally
Hometown heroes
Good news for patients: You’re in good hands at Saint Luke’s.
KC Magazine recently named nearly 200 Saint Luke’s
physicians to its list of Kansas City Super Doctors.
The magazine asked 3,000 area medical professionals, “If you
needed care, who would you choose?” The Super Doctors received
nods for their specialty area, peer recognition, and demonstrated
expertise. Saint Luke’s 188 Super Docs spanned the specialty
spectrum from anesthesiology to urology.
“This recognition is testament that our incredible team of doctors
are committed to providing the very best care to the communities
we serve,” said G. Richard Hastings, President and CEO of Saint
Luke’s Health System. “Patients can rest assured that they’ll consistently receive outstanding care at the 11 area hospitals and many
primary care practices that make up Saint Luke’s Health System.” +
Best in class
You know what they say, “If your doctor recommends it, it must
be good for you, right?” Add Saint Luke’s Hospital to this category.
Consumers’ Checkbook recently named Saint Luke’s among
You don’t have to sell Mable Gibbs on the benefits of keeping
her heart healthy. She’s walking proof.
For three years, the 95-year-old has attended cardiac
rehab three times a week to keep her ticker in tip-top
shape. As the oldest patient at Saint Luke’s Northland Hospital-
Barry Road Campus, she’s an inspiration to staff members and
other patients—the young and young at heart.
“Mable is a sweet and spunky lady who inspires other patients
and staff to strive to do better,” said Maggie Rodriguez, Cardiac
Rehab Nurse.
Credit that spunk—or just common sense—for motivating Gibbs,
who’s undergone two operations to place two stents in her heart.
“If I didn’t come here, I wouldn’t be as healthy as I am,” she
notes. “You just sit around if you don’t have anything to do.”
Thanks to this positive outlook, Gibbs hasn’t missed her
rehab sessions—even on her 95th birthday when her family surprised her with roses and a cake during her session.
The secret to Gibbs’ success is simple: “I feel better when I
come here,” she said. +
award—named for women’s cardiology pioneer Nanette Kass
Wenger, M.D.—recognizes efforts in advocacy, community education, corporate leadership, health care, and public policy.
Dr. Stevens was the only doctor in the nation recognized
for her long-time commitment to delivering quality heart
care as Medical Director of Saint Luke’s Muriel I. Kauffman
Women’s Heart Center. It’s the first women’s heart center in
the United States.
“I was thrilled to accept this recognition at the Italian Embassy
in Washington, D.C., on May 18th,” said Dr. Stevens. “However,
this award should be shared by the entire team at the Muriel I.
Kauffman Women’s Heart Center. Together we’re making a
positive impact on local women’s heart health.”
Besides her work at Saint Luke’s, Dr. Stevens also trains future
doctors at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of
Medicine. She was recognized by former President Bush and
Laura Bush as a women’s heart pioneer and serves on the Women’s
Day magazine Heart Health Advisory Board. She also currently
serves as a spokesperson for the American Heart Association.
WomenHeart is the nation’s only organization solely dedicated
to advancing women’s heart health through advocacy, community
education, and patient support. +
♥=★
Still ticking As the oldest
Leading the way Saint
cardiac rehab patient at age 95,
Luke’s cardiologist Tracy
Mable Gibbs serves as inspiration
Stevens, M.D., earned
to patients and staff alike at
another accolade for her
Saint Luke’s Northland Hospital-
continued efforts to safe-
Barry Road Campus.
guard women’s heart
the top 125 hospitals in the country. The nonprofit asked
2
health. She leads Saint
physicians to rate hospitals in their communities based on where
they’d refer patients for treatment of difficult illnesses or diseases.
Luke’s Muriel I. Kauffman
In addition, Consumers’ Checkbook rated the health care
facilities based on government safety statistics, mortality rates,
and other criteria.
heart center.
Saint Luke’s Health Summer 2009
Women’s Heart Center, the
nation’s first women’s
NurseLine 816.932.6220
saintlukeshealthsystem.org
Say what?
Want to learn while you listen?
Saint Luke’s experts now offer five-minute podcasts of
up-to-date health info on Saint Luke’s Web site. Topics
covered include:
• Hip and knee replacement
• Cosmetic dermatology
• Epilepsy
• Brain tumors
• Surgical weight loss
• Home care and hospice
• Breast cancer
• Brain fitness
• Minimally invasive surgery
• Heart disease
In addition to the podcasts, Saint Luke’s is also broadcasting
one-minute health minutes for the general public on KMBZ 980.
To listen to the podcasts, visit saintlukeshealthystem.org
and click on “health news” and choose a podcast. +
Movin’ on up
Patients and staff at Saint Luke’s South recognized a familiar
face as the hospital’s new CEO.
Kathy Howell, long-time Vice President and Chief Nursing
Officer, became leader of Saint Luke’s South in May. Howell
assumed the CEO role vacated by Julie Quirin, who took over
reins as CEO of Saint Luke’s Hospital in December 2008.
Howell earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Marymount
College and a master’s in business administration from Northern
Illinois University.
“Kathy had been instrumental in developing several new
clinical programs and helped Saint Luke’s South earn numerous
awards and honors, including for top performance in several
clinical and patient satisfaction areas,” said G. Richard Hastings,
President and CEO of Saint Luke’s Health System. “Her
leadership and energy made her an obvious choice to take the
helm of Saint Luke’s South.” +
Saint Luke’s Health Summer 2009
3
Up&Coming
Weighing weight loss
Get the skinny on gastric bypass, Lap
Band, and non-surgical weight-loss
solutions at these free sessions led by
Saint Luke’s Center for Surgical Weight
Loss physicians.
Sept. 1, Oct. 6 – 6 p.m.
Embassy Suites Hotel Plaza
220 W. 43rd St.
Kansas City, MO 64111
Sept. 8, Oct. 12 – 6 p.m.
Saint Luke's Northland Hospital
South Conference Room
5830 N.W. Barry Road
Kansas City, MO 64154
Sept. 15, Oct. 20 – 6 p.m.
Saint Luke's South
Wellness Conference Room or Conference
Room A & B
12300 Metcalf Ave.
Overland Park, KS 66213
Register or get more information: Call NurseLine
at (816) 932-6220 or visit saintlukeshealthsystem.org.
So long dieting guesswork
We’ve all been there: dieting and exercising
to shed pounds, but left frustrated when
the weight remains. Now Saint Luke’s
metabolic testing services take the
guesswork out of dieting.
Metabolic testing shows exactly how many
calories you need to consume and burn
to lose or maintain a healthy weight. The
test measures oxygen consumption—
the more you use, the more calories you
burn and muscle you build. Cost: $50.
Enjoy the morning sounds of nature at
Shawnee Mission Park while helping Saint
Luke’s Midwest Ear Institute. Proceeds will
benefit the “Ears That Hear” Fund, which
provides financial assistance for lowincome or non-insured patients who need
hearing aids. Cost: $25
Sunday, Sept. 13
7 a.m. registration, 8 a.m. start
Shawnee Mission Park
7900 Renner Road
Shawnee, KS 66219
Register or get information:
Call (816) 932-1664 or visit saintlukesgiving.org.
Paint the Town
Experience a visual and culinary feast during
the annual Plaza Art Fair. Join us poolside
at the InterContinental Hotel and see art
created before your eyes, savor Spanish
tapas and specialty cocktails, and more. No
tux required, just be chic. Proceeds benefit
education, research, and patient services
at Saint Luke’s Cancer Institute. Tickets:
$150 or $100 (age 40 and younger)
Saturday, Sept. 26 – 6 - 10 p.m.
InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza
401 Ward Pkwy.
Kansas City, MO 64112
Saint Luke's Hospital Foundation
Saint Luke's East-Lee’s Summit
Conference Room
4225 Baltimore Ave.
Kansas City, MO 64111
Conference Rooms A & B
100 N.E. Saint Luke’s Blvd.
Lee’s Summit, MO 64086
Wednesday, Oct. 7
2 - 3 p.m.
9 - 10 a.m.
9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 15
Tuesday, Sept. 8
Jewish Community Center
5801 W. 115th
Overland Park, KS 66211
The skinny on
healthy weight loss
Tired of being tired?
Register or get more information: Call NurseLine
at (816) 932-6220 or visit saintlukeshealthsystem.org.
A spectacle for
the eyes and ears
Indulge your senses with a performance
by Quixotic, a collaborative ensemble of
musicians, dancers, aerialists, and other
artists, at this year’s HEARAid Gala.
Benefiting Saint Luke’s Midwest Ear
Institute, this year’s event features a
reception, silent and live auctions, dinner,
and more. Tickets: $175.
Friday, Oct. 16 – 6 p.m.
A Toast for the Children
Thursday, Oct. 1 – 6 - 9 p.m.
9 a.m. – noon
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
11 East 40th St.
Kansas City, MO 64111
Muehlebach Hotel
Imperial Ballroom
1213 Wyandotte
Kansas City, MO 64105
Get more information: Call NurseLine at
(816) 932-6220 or visit saintlukeshealthsystem.org.
Register or get information:
Call (816) 767-4174 or visit saintlukesgiving.org.
Saint Luke’s Health Summer 2009
Most of these free Saint Luke’s Community Education events include a blood pressure screening.
Register or get more information: Call NurseLine at (816) 932-6220 or visit saintlukeshealthsystem.org.
Register or get more information:
Call (816) 932-1664 or visit saintlukesgiving.org.
Saturday, Sept. 12
Saint Luke’s Hospital
Family Health Festival
Get schooled at these community education events
Join Saint Luke's health care professionals,
Brookdale Senior Living, and the Jewish
Community Center at this free event open
to the public. Keynote speaker Marilyn
Rymer, M.D., Medical Director of Saint
Luke's Brain and Stroke Institute, will
discuss memory loss. Breakout sessions
will feature Saint Luke's Brain Fitness
Center and the music of Saint Luke's
Hospice's music therapist.
Starlight Theatre
4600 Starlight Road
Kansas City, MO 64132
Enjoy kids’ activities, free health screenings,
and more at Saint Luke’s Hospital’s free
Family Health Festival.
Call NurseLine at (816) 932-6220 or go to
saintlukeshealthsystem.org to find dates and times.
Cross Train Your Brain
Register or get more information:
Call (816) 932-6923 or visit PaintTheTownKC.org.
Raise a glass and join the fun as we tip our
hats to individuals whose personal dedication and expertise has improved the lives of
children and families who are struggling to
overcome traumatic life experiences and
mental illness. In addition to a wine tasting
and hearty hors d’oeuvres, this year’s event
includes a celebration and reunion among
all Crittenton family and friends; special
guests will be the National Crittenton
Foundation Board of Directors. Tickets: $125.
September and October
4
Sounds in Kansas City
5K Run/Walk
Confused by fad diets and quick fixes
for weight loss? Want to shed those
extra pounds the healthy way? Get the
skinny on caring for your body with
nutritious and delicious foods from
Richard Moe, M.D.
Do you having problems falling asleep or
staying asleep though the night? Do you
wake up feeling tired or feel sleepy during
the day—even when you’ve had enough
sleep? Learn about common sleep disorders,
their symptoms, and the treatments
available from Amy L. Meoli, M.D.
Tuesday, Oct. 6
Tuesday, Oct. 13
What’s best
for your breasts?
Protect your skin
Know how to protect the health of
your breasts? Join us to learn about
the life-saving role early detection can
play—and how women with breast
cancer survive and thrive—from Ali
Shwaiki, M.D.
Saint Luke's Northland HospitalBarry Road Campus
Conference Rooms A & B
Barry Medical Park Conference Rooms
5830 N.W. Barry Road
Kansas City, MO 64154
Scare up some fun
Have a howling good time at the Boo
Ball, a benefit costume party for grownup goblins. Dress in your spookiest
duds, and get ready to boo-gie. Enjoy
hearty hors d’oeuvres, live music, dancing, and more while supporting the
Center for Breast Care at Saint Luke’s
East-Lee’s Summit. Tickets: $75
9 - 10 a.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 25
What’s
alternative medicine?
Non-traditional methods of diagnosing,
preventing, or treating conditions are often
called “alternative" or "complimentary"
medicine. They can include such methods
as herbs and dietary supplements, body
movement, spiritual approaches, pills,
extracts, and creams or ointments. Learn
about alternative and complimentary
medicine from Kristi Shaumeyer, M.D.
Friday, Oct. 30 – 7 p.m.
Emaline Ballroom
616 SW 3rd St.
Lee's Summit, MO 64063
Register or get more information:
Call (816) 347-4929 or visit saintlukesgiving.org
NurseLine 816.932.6220
As the body’s largest and most visible
organ, skin performs many important
bodily functions, including serving as the
body’s frontline defense against injury
and bacteria. Learn about common skin
conditions among older adults, how to
take better care of your skin, and
the importance of skin screenings
from Meggan Newland, M.D.
saintlukeshealthsystem.org
Saint Luke's Northland HospitalSmithville Campus
Multipurpose Room
601 S. 169 Highway
Smithville, MO 64089
Tuesday, Aug. 27
2:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Nutrition matters
Eating well isn't just a “diet” or a “program,”
it’s part of a healthy lifestyle that will help
you to stay independent, and looking and
feeling good. Get tips on preparing meals
for just one or two individuals and learn
about how metabolism changes with age
from a registered dietitian.
Tuesday, Sept. 9
1 - 2 p.m.
Give arthritis
its walking papers
Find out about the most common types
of arthritis, causes, and exercise considerations from Salvatore Miceli, D.O., a physical
medicine and rehabilitation physician.
Saint Luke's South
Conference Rooms A & B
12300 Metcalf Ave.
Overland Park, KS 66213
10 - 11 a.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 18
Women’s health issues
Breast cancer. Menopause. Osteoporosis.
Stroke. Women face many unique health
challenges. Get tips from Barb Wiman on
how to handle each of these and more,
and get a free body mass index screening.
Tuesday, Sept. 1
Foods that heal
Can food protect your body from today’s
common diseases? Learn how certain
foods can nourish your body and soul from
registered dietitian Glenna Moe. You can
also get a free waist measurement, body
mass index, and body fat screening.
Saint Luke’s Health Summer 2009
5
Innovations
Peer review
Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute made history in 1980
when Geoffrey Hartzler, M.D., performed the world’s first angioplasty. Today, Saint Luke’s cardiologists continue their world-class
leading care.
Saint Luke’s doctors recently hosted two Japanese
6
Tackling
gridiron heart disease
Saint Luke’s cardiologists have a message for the National
Football League: Even pros can be taken down by heart disease.
New research shows heavier linemen are three times
cardiologists to learn cutting-edge techniques for
more likely to die than non-linemen. Those especially
treating chronic total occlusions. Chronic total
occlusions (CTO) are completely blocked arteries.
It’s the third time Saint
Luke’s has hosted the
Japanese doctors. They’re
considered world leaders
for treating CTO.
“They showed our
doctors new
approaches for
inserting guidewires into the
arteries,” said Dave Strelow,
Saint Luke’s Director
of Cardiovascular
Laboratories. “Sometimes
it’s not possible to enter
an artery from the front.
Our doctors now can enter
from the back or side, whichever
is the best approach for reaching
the blockage.”
After mastering this, Saint Luke’s
cardiologists broadcast this complex surgical procedure live to peers
at a cardiology conference. Saint
Luke’s is one of the few hospitals
invited to broadcast complex heart procedures like this to help teach other cardiologists.
During the broadcast, audience members can ask
questions and view techniques firsthand.
“The Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute
is recognized as an excellent teaching environment
by cardiologists throughout the world,” said Strelow.
“Our patients benefit from the collaborative
expertise and are assured that we bring the best
talent to provide their care.” +
in danger: tackles, guards, centers, and defensive ends.
Saint Luke’s researchers gathered data from 69 NFL
players, aged 21 to 35, to pinpoint signs of cardiometabolic
syndrome. That’s a cluster of interrelated risk factors that
contribute to heart and vascular disease.
The researchers looked at such criteria as:
Saint Luke’s Health Summer 2009
• Blood pressure
• Fasting glucose
• Triglycerides
• HDL cholesterol
• Triglycerides/HDL ratio
• Waist circumference and waist-height ratio
They then compared these findings to the
same for 20- to 29-year-old men in the
general population. While the players’ and
the general population group’s health status
was similar, lineman had significantly
higher risk factors than their teammates.
“Physical activity and exercise do not
necessarily protect players,” said John
Helzberg, M.D., a study co-author
and Digestive Disease Co-director
for the Saint Luke’s-University of
Missouri Kansas City gastroenterology
training program. “Heavier linemen should
be carefully monitored and undergo interventions to
reduce their risk of future cardiovascular complications.”
The American Journal of Cardiology
recently featured
the research
findings. +
NurseLine 816.932.6220
Safety first
Helping kids cope
Patients with pneumonia need look no further than Saint Luke’s
Imagine the horrendous trauma experienced by a child who, say,
Northland Hospital for the safest care.
accidentally kills a sibling after setting a fire while playing with
matches. This trauma can snowball into grief, destructive behavior,
psychological problems, and more. And it not only affects the child
but his family members and teachers as well.
Thankfully, Crittenton’s Children Center offers help to everyone
involved in situations like these. Its Head Start Resiliency Project
The hospital’s pneumonia vaccination compliance efforts
recently earned a state safety award. The Missouri Excellence in
Safe Care Award recognized Saint Luke’s Northland for using communication, teamwork, education, accountability, and innovation to
create a streamlined process that ensures patients receive vaccinations.
“By creating internal quality process controls and ownership,
we’re advancing safety in health care,” said Vee Thaker, Director of
Quality, Risk Management, and Care Integration for Saint Luke’s
Northland Hospital. “Efforts like these are what make Saint Luke’s
a health care leader in the region.”
The Missouri Center for Patient Safety presented the award.
It’s a nonprofit dedicated to improving health care quality and
safety in collaboration with health care providers, physicians,
purchasers, consumers, and government. +
Standing tall again
H
ere’s good news for patients who’ve suffered a stroke or other
neurological issues. Saint Luke’s Hospital offers new technologies to help patients regain motor skills for grasping objects
and walking.
Saint Luke’s is one of the few regional hospitals to offer these
breakthrough therapies. The devices can help patients improve
hand control to grasp objects and regain their footing
to achieve greater independence.
For example, NESS H200 consists of a soft polymer fitting that rests over the patient’s hand and forearm. It’s embedded with five surface electrodes that
stimulate hand and wrist muscles.
The NESS L300 helps patients who can’t point their toes
upward (a condition called foot drop) be able to walk normal again.
Central nervous system injuries—including stroke, traumatic brain
injury, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and spinal cord injuries—
often cause people to be unsteady when standing or have trouble
walking (two side effects of foot drop).
“We’re excited about the encouraging results we’re seeing in both
our acute rehab program and our outpatient services,” said Brad
Steinle, M.D., Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist.
“There are substantial clinical studies pointing to the value of
neuromuscular re-education early in a patient’s recovery.” +
saintlukeshealthsystem.org
expands mental health services to 14 Wyandotte County,
Kan., locations.
Crittenton social workers help train staff at these Head Start
locations to treat children and families who’ve experienced trauma
caused by:
• Exposure to family and community violence
• Sexual or physical abuse
• Accidents that result in serious injuries
• Loss or death of a loved one
• Significant medical procedures and hospitalizations
• Natural disasters or terrorist acts
“When left untreated, children who experience trauma can
develop significant cognitive, social, and emotional problems
that negatively affect their brain development, readiness to learn,
and family relationships,” said Avis Smith, ACSW, LSCSW,
LCSW, Crittenton’s Manager of Prevention Programs.
“We chose these Wyandotte County locations based
on their strong relationship with Economic Opportunity
Foundation Head Start and their dedication to helping
the significant number of children affected by traumatic
incidents in their community.”
A Saint Luke’s Health System facility for children with
behavioral and family problems, Crittenton provides acute
inpatient hospitalization, residential treatment, outpatient
treatment, and prevention services. +
Saint Luke’s Health Summer 2009
7
COV E R STO RY
A new surgical technique
helped Pat Ozburn return to the game
after 10 years of pain
P
Hip Dude
at Ozburn dreaded turning over in bed or getting out
of a chair. The once-active 42-year-old used to run and
play soccer, but the searing pain in his lower belly now
left him gasping from the simplest movements.
But something bothered him more than the pain: not knowing
what was causing it.
Ten years ago, when he started coaching soccer for Happy
Feet, an international soccer program for children, Ozburn
started feeling a mild cramp in his groin. Then it started to burn.
His doctor at the time thought it might be a pulled muscle and
prescribed bed rest.
The burn got worse.
Another doctor suspected a hernia, but could find no evidence
of one. “Torn hamstring,” “kidney disease,” and even “prostate
cancer,” suggested other doctors—until tests showed otherwise.
Last year, Ozburn went to a new internist, who ordered an MRI
of his back. The images revealed the problem. He had severe
arthritis in his right hip. The cartilage had disappeared between
his femur and hip socket, causing bone to rub against bone.
Weirdly, the delay in solving the mystery would turn out to be
a good thing.
A window of opportunity
In 2007, Jeffrey Salin, D.O., an orthopaedic surgeon, started
replacing hips and knees at Saint Luke’s South Hip and Knee
Center. He’s one of a handful of doctors in the United States
using a special technique to replace hips.
Called Microplasty® Anterior Supine Intermuscular (ASI)
surgery, it involves going through a natural window in the muscles
Less muscle, more hustle
A muscle-sparing procedure convinced
soccer coach Pat Ozburn to get a new hip after 10 years of pain.
“It’s not the size of the incision; it’s the muscles you spare underneath it.”
— J e f f rey S a l i n , D.O. , a n o r t h o p a e d i c s u rg e o n a t S a i n t L u ke ’s S o u t h
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Saint Luke’s Health Summer 2009
9
on the front of the hip—while patients lie on their backs
instead of their sides.
The conventional side-entry surgery requires detaching
muscles from the pelvis and hip. This increases the risk of
dislocating a hip or winding up with a permanent limp.
These possible complications made Ozburn wary.
“I had planned to tough it out without surgery,” Ozburn said.
“I was afraid to go under the knife.”
Then he talked to Dr. Salin. He explained the ASI procedure. It would add about 15 to 20 minutes to the normally
two- to three-hour procedure. And though it would be technically more difficult, the benefits were many. Ozburn could
expect:
he’d have been banned from bending for a few months.
For two weeks, he used a walker, followed by two weeks
using a cane, and then no more restrictions. Soon Ozburn
was kicking a soccer ball again and running without pain.
“Dr. Salin was brilliant,” Ozburn said. “I feel like Superman.”
The biggest surprise was how quickly he felt good.
Now the only place his new hip slows him down is at the
airport. When the metal sets off alarms, no one believes the
spry, 43-year-old guy has an artificial hip, so he has to undergo
extra screening. +
• Less pain and blood loss
• A shorter hospital stay
• Less muscle atrophy
• Faster return to normal activities
• Less risk of complications
Would he have a smaller scar? Ozburn wondered.
“It’s not the size of the incision, it’s the muscles you spare
underneath it,” Dr. Salin said. “And you’ll have fewer restrictions
after the procedure.”
Ozburn decided to take a pre-op class at Saint Luke’s South
for those considering joint replacement.
There, he learned that almost 400,000 Americans got
replacement hips in 2005—up from about 300,000 in 1997. He
also learned that people were getting new joints at younger ages.
New designs in replacement hips have made them more
durable. One study found that 65 percent of the prostheses
placed in patients before the age of 50 were intact and functioning well 25 years after the surgery. Another study found that 90
percent of those with new hips will not need to replace them.
The thought of being able to turn over in bed, get out of a
chair, and kick a soccer ball without pain sounded pretty good
to Ozburn.
A direct route
Late last May, Ozburn had the surgery.
Dr. Salin positioned him on a special table outfitted for the
ASI technique available only at Saint Luke’s South. The hana®
table looks like a platform with two skis attached. It allowed
Dr. Salin to extend and rotate Ozburn’s legs into the most
advantageous position.
Through an incision in the front of the hip, Dr. Salin was
able to push aside the front hip muscles like a curtain.
He pulled the head of Ozburn’s right femur from the hip
socket and cut about three inches off. He inserted a ball joint
attached to a stem that looks like a chili pepper stem. He
pushed it down the center of the exposed femur. Then he fit a
metal cup in the pelvis to receive the new ball joint.
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Saint Luke’s Health Summer 2009
Masked pain Hip problems can be hard to diagnose, said Jeffrey Salin,
D.O., an orthopaedic surgeon at Saint Luke’s South. They can masquerade
as a host of other conditions. And the pain usually progresses slowly, so it
can be easy to dismiss.
Not everyone is eligible for this procedure. A large belly that
would obscure access or severe bone degeneration would disqualify a candidate, according to Dr. Salin.
Since coming to Kansas City, Salin has replaced about 500
hip and knee joints and used the ASI technique on about 75
percent of the hip surgeries. His patients have ranged in age
from a 21-year-old man to a 105-year-old woman.
Team sport
Group Therapy
Patients get new joints together to share the experience and recover more quickly at
a new program at Saint Luke’s East-Lee’s Summit
“I’ll race you to the water fountain,”
said a middle-aged man to his 70something walking partner.
“You’re on,” she replied.
Ozburn was one of a team of four who all got new hips
together at Saint Luke’s South.
Each team attends a pre-op education class, has surgery on
the same day, and goes through physical therapy together.
(See sidebar.)
He was the youngest member by about 30 years. So the
pressure was on him to perform. Four hours after waking up
from surgery, he was the first to arrive at physical therapy.
When one of his “hip mates” challenged him to see who
could walk the farthest or the fastest, he came in first.
Ozburn felt more like he was at a sports camp than a hospital.
One night, he was up late and feeling lonely.
“Two staff members came in and watched a basketball
game with me,” Ozburn said. “They made me feel better.”
When he left the hospital three days after surgery, he could
already bend to tie his shoes. With the conventional approach,
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The two were using walkers, and
their pace wouldn’t set any speed
records, but the friendly competition
inspired them.
Both had undergone hip replacement surgery at a new joint in town:
the Saint Luke’s East-Lee’s Summit
Knee and Hip Center.
Modeled off a similar program at
Saint Luke’s South, the center groups
teams of patients who go through
joint replacement surgery together.
The teams take a class together to
learn what to expect. They undergo
surgery the same day, start therapy
saintlukeshealthsystem.org
together, and recover together.
They see the same nursing staff
and physical therapists.
“Having a dedicated team following
consistent procedures has enhanced
outcomes and kept complications
to a minimum,” said Stacy Byrne,
R.N., Joint Care Liaison for the center that opened in January.
Research has shown those who get
new knees or hips this way heal more
quickly and are more likely to be
satisfied with their new joints.
Nationwide, the average stay for hip
replacement is four-and-a-half days.
At Saint Luke’s, it's just three days.
Patients comfort each other, as
well as compete. They bounce
ideas around, Byrne said. This
information exchange helps
them prepare for what they will
encounter back home.
For example, the center’s patients
are more likely to have moved
clothes out of low drawers or
installed handle bars near the
toilet than those who didn’t go
through a dedicated program.
“They also seem to have less
anxiety,” Byrne said.
And when teammates tell each
other, “I’m feeling your pain,” they
really do. +
Side effects
The team approach goes beyond
speeding up recovery.
Saint Luke’s Health Summer 2009
11
opened its doors 20 years ago, having LDRP maternity suites
was part of the master plan. There was just one glitch.
“The suites were about a third of the size they are today,”
said John Miller, the hospital’s Director of Community
Relations. “It was a challenge to get all the equipment you need
for a new mom and baby into the room.”
Miller, who has been with the hospital since its inception,
quickly gathered a focus group of moms who had delivered at
Saint Luke’s and elsewhere. Their input helped with the plans
for enlarging the rooms. It also revealed another important
aspect of the hospital’s delivery experience.
“We discovered that the caliber of our staff more than offset
the small rooms,” said Miller.
Babied
Where New Moms Are
Low ratios, high beds
Spacious room, attentive staff, Wi-Fi, and plasma TV.
Was mom-to-be Kate Wells at a hotel or
Saint Luke’s Northland Hospital-Barry Road Campus?
ate Wells and her husband, Michael, had taken
advantage of the early check-in offer. So when they
arrived early that Thursday in May, they could go right to
their room. And what a big room it was! Enough space for
three people, in fact, and loaded with amenities: plasma
TV, extra-comfy bed, Wi-Fi, DVD and CD players.
The newest Westin Hotel? Actually, no. Welcome to
the maternity wing of Saint Luke’s Northland Hospital–
Barry Road Campus.
“We have had patients ask us what time checkout was,” said
Jane Courter, R.N., the hospital’s Maternity Care Coordinator.
K
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Saint Luke’s Health Summer 2009
Courter has been a maternity nurse at Saint Luke’s Northland
Hospital for 13 years. Her tenure is typical: Many of the staff
members have been there for years. They make it a priority to
keep a low nurse-to-patient ratio.
“We usually have no more than three mom-and-baby couplets
for one nurse,” said Courter. “That’s lower than many hospitals.”
It’s just the kind of math Wells needed.
“This was my first baby, and for nine months I worried
about this delivery,” she said. “I felt so taken care of by the
nurses—like I was their No. 1 priority. My labor nurse was very
honest with me and checked on me constantly. What did I need?
Did I want ice chips?”
While the Wellses waited for Olivia’s arrival, they watched
movies and then switched to a CD of soothing music that
Michael had recorded for Kate’s labor.
She literally did not have to leave her bed for Olivia’s delivery.
The beds are designed specifically for the delivery process, so
they’re somewhat higher than regular beds and also break apart.
(If she’d been having a cesarean, Wells would have recovered in
a bed that was lower to the floor, which helps ease the pain of
getting out of it.)
And yes, her husband had a bed, too—a roomy recliner that
went all the way back for a full stretch.
Wells was also aware that Saint Luke’s Northland Hospital
had a NICU—a neonatal intensive care unit. It was reassuring
And like the best hotels, “we rarely hear that anyone was unhappy,”
she said.
The Wellses were certainly happy there. It’s where their
daughter, Olivia, made her debut later that afternoon.
for her, although she tried not to think about needing it.
“Our NICU is Level II,” Courter explained. “It means we can
handle many of the issues that might come up, such as the baby
needing oxygen, or an antibiotic IV, or phototherapy for jaundice.”
Happily, when Wells delivered her daughter at 3:25 that
afternoon, Olivia needed none of those treatments. There was
one problem, though.
“I wanted to nurse her, but it was very hard,” Wells said. “I
was ready to give up, but the nurses wouldn’t let me. They said,
‘We’ll keep trying. You can do this.’ ”
And she did.
No worries
Olivia’s delivery was not the Wellses’ first visit to Saint Luke’s
Northland Hospital. They had toured the unit a few months
before. Moms-to-be can also meet with their maternity care
coordinator, who teaches childbirth classes and tells new moms
what to expect both when they deliver and when they take their
special deliveries home.
Courter and the nurses keep in touch with their patients even
after the patients leave the hospital.
“We make it a point to call all the new moms after they’re
home and check on them,” Courter said. “We ask them if they
have any concerns that may have come up after they left, or if
there’s anything we’d shown them that they’ve forgotten.”
Her first week home, Wells received personal notes from all
five of the nurses who cared for her. She also made a return visit
to her lactation nurse. And the Wellses plan a return visit to the
“baby hotel” in a couple years, as they grow their young family.
“My time there went by so fast,” said Wells, who teaches firstgraders just down the street from the hospital in the Park Hill
school district. “It was wonderful.”
When she does return, she’ll enjoy a new patient service
that’s now in place throughout Saint Luke’s hospitals: cell
phones for the nurses, so when patients ring, they’ll connect
directly to their nurse.
“Several of my friends had their babies at Northland, so I
knew it would be a good experience,” Wells said. “Now I have
this beautiful baby, thanks to help from the nurses. They took
all the nine months of worry away for me.” +
“We have had patients
ask us what time checkout
was.” —Jane Courter, R.N.,
maternity Care Coordinator for
Saint Luke’s Northland Hospital’s
“baby hotel.”
Focus on caring
What the couple walked into was an LDRP room—Labor,
Delivery, Recovery, Postpartum. It meant Wells would be able
to stay right where she was during the entire birthing process.
“I loved being able to stay put and have everyone come to
me,” she said. “It was much more restful not having to move.”
When Saint Luke’s Northland Hospital-Barry Road Campus
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Saint Luke’s Health Summer 2009
13
R
oselie Backer Thompson figured it wouldn’t be easy getting
her 11 siblings to agree on the family reunion.
She and her five brothers and six sisters had had reunions before,
often with more than 100 relatives. But this one would be different.
Backer Thompson would be bringing with her a medical research
team led by Saint Luke’s Cancer Institute.
Family Business
Three-time cancer
survivor Roselie Backer
Thompson has a rare gene
mutation that’s linked to
risk for developing multiple
cancers.
One large family is making a big difference
in understanding a virulent cancer-causing gene
Getting personal with P53
This most unusual family reunion would be a first for Saint Luke’s
and a milestone in the research related to a rare cancer-causing
genetic mutation. Doctors and genetic counselors from Saint
Luke’s and M.D. Anderson Cancer Center would be taking blood
samples to see which family members had the P53 gene that was
previously found in Backer Thompson.
The P53 gene is associated with a rare cancer predisposition
syndrome known as Li-Fraumeni Syndrome, or LFS. Experts once
thought it was present in fewer than 400 people, but they now
believe LFS is significantly underdiagnosed. The prevalence is
more along the lines of one in 5,000 to one in 10,000 people.
Named after the two medical researchers who discovered the
disorder, LFS puts a person at risk for contracting many types of
cancer. Breast, bone and soft-tissue sarcoma, brain leukemia, and
adrenocortical carcinoma are some of them.
Backer Thompson has already had three kinds of cancer in three
years: breast, melanoma, and soft-tissue sarcoma.
It was while she was recovering from cancer surgery at Saint
Luke’s that a genetic counselor at the Hereditary Cancer Center
talked to Backer Thompson and her husband about reaching out
to her family members.
“We strongly believe in the power of a family reunion to bring
the message to the family,” said Stacey Miller, a Certified Genetic
Counselor at Saint Luke’s Cancer Institute. “If we can determine
who is at risk, we can personalize a plan for treatment or prevention.”
Boosting the database
Having three generations in one family to test will add significantly
to the LFS database and help advance the research into the syndrome.
“In genetics, the more people we can study, the more information
we can uncover. When you can add 20 more people to the known
LFS population, as we can with Roselie’s family, that’s significant,”
Miller said.
“It takes a long time to get information on LFS because very few
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people are known to have it. As we learn more, we can start to ask,
‘Who’s being missed?’ ”
Backer Thompson herself might have been among those missed
at one time. The early findings on LFS suggested that people with
the gene would get their first cancer in childhood. Yet Backer
Thompson’s cancers didn’t appear until she was in her 50s—a
helpful finding already.
And Backer Thompson is not the first in her family to have
cancer. She’s lost two sisters and a brother to the disease, and her
father died of leukemia.
saintlukeshealthsystem.org
The 620-mile house call
There was just one catch as far as the reunion. Backer Thompson
lives in Kansas City. All her siblings live in Fargo, N.D. So the
Saint Luke’s and M.D. Anderson team decided to travel the 620
miles to Fargo.
Provided, that is, they were invited.
“It took me a long time to ask my family to be part of the study,”
confessed Backer Thompson, who wondered whether they would
view her simply as the bearer of bad news. “But I talked to a couple
of my sisters and my oldest brother, and they encouraged me to
open it up to the family.”
Last July they all met in Fargo, at one of their brothers’ houses,
where a big potluck lunch was waiting. Miller and the rest of the
medical research team walked in the door not knowing what to
expect.
“I thought of my own family reunions and couldn’t imagine
being talked to about genetics,” Miller said. “But Roselie was so
positive, and her family was so hospitable.”
Some family members were hesitant at the beginning—did they
really want to know whether they had the gene? But as the reunion
got into full swing, the more they learned about P53 and were able
to voice concerns and ask questions, the more involved they became.
“One of my sisters-in-law even tried to get tested,” recounted
Backer Thompson with a laugh. “We had to remind her that she
wasn’t part of the study.”
Reuniting for research
Backer Thompson and her siblings are already planning for the
second Saint Luke’s-style family reunion. Miller and her team will
return to Fargo to discuss the results of the blood tests.
“It’s a more personalized approach and a more relaxed setting,”
said Miller. Besides, she said, “they’ve asked me to come up a few
days early to go swimming with them in the lake.”
Both Backer Thompson and her siblings feel the advantage of
their special family reunion is twofold.
“It’s important for both ourselves and for cancer research,” she
said. “If it can increase people’s knowledge about this rare syndrome,
that’s a good thing.”
And who knows how many other brothers and sisters that
may help. +
Saint Luke’s Health Summer 2009
15
Neighbors helped save Jorg Will when he had a heart attack.
So did having a heart hospital right in the neighborhood.
Saved in His Own Backyard
org Will doesn’t remember when or how it happened.
All he knows—because his wife, Maria, told him—was
that he was in his yard in their Lee’s Summit, Mo., neighborhood that late afternoon in April, mowing his lawn.
“I was in the kitchen, getting ready for guests,” said
Maria. “There was a knock on the door and my neighbor
said, ‘Call 9-1-1.’ ”
The two raced out of the house. Maria’s trim and fit 56year-old husband, who’d ridden his motorcycle earlier that
Saturday to get it inspected, was lying face down on the lawn.
As they turned Jorg over, the neighbor started CPR. Maria
tried to control her panic when she saw her husband’s face.
He had turned blue.
“I wasn’t ready to accept that he was not going to be with
us,” said Maria, as the idea that her husband might be having
a heart attack came crashing down on her.
By then two other neighbors were helping with CPR.
But it took the paramedics shocking Jorg with their defibrillator before he showed a glimmer of life.
The paramedic chief told Maria they were taking Jorg to
Saint Luke’s East-Lee’s Summit. The hospital was, in a manner
of speaking, in the Wills’ backyard.
It was not, however, on their insurance plan.
The paramedic’s words convinced Maria that didn’t really
matter. The situation, he said, was life-threatening.
Alerting Saint Luke’s East to Jorg’s condition, the paramedics
called in a Code STEMI to the hospital. An acronym for heartattack terms—Segment (ST) Elevation Myocardial Infarction—
STEMI had a much simpler meaning for Maria: Hurry!
“It’s known as the door-to-balloon program,” explained
Steven Laster, M.D., the director of the Cardiac Catheterization
Laboratory and of Interventional Cardiology at Saint Luke’s
East. “The goal is to get the blocked heart attack artery open
(with a balloon) in less than 90 minutes from the time they
pass through the door of the Emergency Department.”
Having a cath lab and team available 24/7 is what makes it
possible to provide angioplasty and stenting, often the life
savers for victims of heart attacks.
“An entire team responds to a STEMI call,” said Dr. Laster.
“This includes an interventional cardiologist, the cath lab technicians, the emergency physician, and the STEMI nurse.”
Dr. Laster was the head of the STEMI team that was on
call when the paramedics brought Jorg in. In less than 90
minutes, Dr. Laster and his team had performed an emergency angioplasty on Jorg and inserted two stents into one of
his blocked arteries.
One of the arteries?
“Jorg had a severe stenosis in a second artery, but these are
typically not treated at the same time as the heart attackrelated artery,” said Dr. Laster.
The code with lots of heart
Staying close
When Maria climbed into the ambulance with her husband, she was headed for a hospital that has 24/7 cath lab
capabilities. That translates to just the kind of equipment,
staff, and procedures that could save a patient like Jorg Will.
And if Jorg’s trip in the ambulance was any indication,
this was not going to be an easy ride. He still was not
conscious, and his body resisted the paramedics’ attempts
to insert a breathing tube or an IV. When he did respond,
his body thrashed wildly.
By 11 p.m., Maria and her family were able to see Jorg. He
finally had a breathing tube, but it meant he could not talk.
Maria had no intention of leaving him. The ICU was where
she would sleep for the next several nights.
“There was an extension off his room with a sofa and a
sink and a place for my belongings,” said Maria. “And the staff
was fantastic. That first night, the nurse was on the phone
constantly with the doctor, updating him on Jorg’s condition.”
The Wills’ 23-year-old daughter, Natalie, also stayed close
J
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to her father’s side.
“Do you know me?” she asked Jorg, as he lay mute and
restive. “If you do, squeeze my hand.”
About 7:30 the next morning, Jorg squeezed his
daughter’s hand.
By Monday afternoon, his breathing tube came out. On
Wednesday, his other blocked artery was opened with stents.
Jorg recalls none of it. “I remember a bit about the day I
was discharged,” he said.
And he acutely remembers the numb feeling that came
over him when he learned he’d had a heart attack. After all,
he’s a runner, he plays soccer, and he’d been skiing just the
month before. And he never had the classic elephant-on-yourchest pain that often signals a heart attack, especially in men.
What saved Jorg, said Dr. Laster, was the rapid response—
by his neighbors who knew CPR, the EMS team who defibrillated him right in his backyard, and the Emergency
Department and STEMI teams who deployed their fasterthan-clockwork protocol.
Now Jorg is back in his backyard—but there’s a caveat.
“My wife won’t let me mow the lawn now,” he said with a
laugh. “And no motorcycles. (Pause.) Not as of yet.”
Jorg did, however, serve up the barbecue at the thank-you
luncheon Saint Luke’s East hosted in May for the city’s EMS
crews. Some of the paramedics who’d worked on him admitted they were surprised—and happy—to see him there.
“I met a lot of the people who had given me care,” said Jorg.
“I wanted them to see the fruits of their labor.”
It may have been a barbecue, but for Jorg Will, the day
was sweet.. +
And the beat goes on
What helped to save Jorg Will
from a near-fatal heart attack was
having a hospital near his home
that has a 24/7 heart beat.
From left: Neighbor David Coffin,
who administered CPR,
Jorg and Maria Will.
saintlukeshealthsystem.org
Saint Luke’s Health Summer 2009
17
High Fidelity
Thanks to a new cochlear implant processor
from Saint Luke’s Midwest Ear Institute,
Jim Atwater can now enjoy a full spectrum of sound—
and even learn guitar
J
im Atwater will tell you that it’s nearly impossible to learn to
play music when you can’t hear.
Born with progressive hearing loss that eventually rendered him
nearly deaf, the 39-year-old entrepreneur from Leawood, Kan.,
first attempted the guitar back in college. While many musicians
learn their craft by listening to favorite songs and then replicating
what they hear, Atwater instead mimicked his instructor’s hand
movements—with no success. Frustrated, he gave up.
Jump forward 15-plus years, and Atwater is finally succeeding with
the guitar. And he has Saint Luke’s Midwest Ear Institute to thank.
This past January, Atwater received an upgraded cochlear
implant that now enables him to hear on 120 channels rather than
the 16 he was previously using. This includes musical notes.
A cochlear implant is a surgically implanted electronic device
that provides a sense of sound to a person who’s profoundly deaf
or severely hard of hearing. It consists of an external processor and
microphone that rests behind the ear and communicates with an
internal device that’s placed under the skin and has an electrode
array that’s inserted into the cochlea in the inner ear.
Unlike hearing aids, which amplify sound, cochlear implants
bypass damaged portions of the ear and directly stimulate the
auditory nerve. The implant generates signals that travel via the
auditory nerve to the brain, which recognizes them as sound.
Really Listening
Saint Luke’s is learning
firsthand how to improve
internal protocols to
better communicate
with hearing impaired
employees and patients
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Saint Luke’s Health Summer 2009
For Atwater, his new implant is a huge improvement from the
eight-channel analog implant he received at age 30 in his right ear
and the 16-channel implant he received at age 35 in his left ear.
“The old processors would only enable me to hear a single, narrow note, whereas now there’s a lot more emotion, a lot more
depth to the sound,” said Atwater. “Of course, it’s all relative,
and a person can’t know what they’re missing if they can’t hear it.
So it’s a new discovery to know that more exists.”
‘Awful’ noise
Like many cochlear implant patients, Atwater wasn’t
thrilled at first. “It took me five years from the initial implant
to even be able to think about listening to music,” he said. “It
was just an awful bunch of noise.”In fact, about 30 percent of
patients don’t ever enjoy music because they can’t discern the
various notes and sounds and it’s overwhelming.
“I find it remarkable that Jim can now pick out specific
instruments in bands,” said Lisa Cowdrey, Clinical Director for
Midwest Ear Institute. “I tell some patients that it may take
years to master music.”
New cochlear implant patients may have to undergo a
dozen or more rehab sessions to first distinguish basic sounds,
multi-syllable words, and different levels of speech before
even working up to music.
It’s not often a person can turn a medical
condition into a business opportunity. But
Jim Atwater did just that.
His consulting firm, HeaR LLC, helps businesses attract and retain hearing impaired
individuals by cultivating welcoming and
supportive work environments.
Count Saint Luke’s among the beneficiaries
of Atwater’s experience. In fact, it’s the
area’s only health care facility making
efforts to improve internal protocols and
communication to benefit employees—
and patients—with hearing issues.
“There are more than 30 million Americans
with some form of hearing loss, and this
number will double in the next 10 years,”
said Atwater. “Saint Luke’s leaders recognize this health care crisis, and they’re on
the forefront of addressing this in their
business.”
Saint Luke’s has consulted Atwater to identify quality controls and practices so that it
NurseLine 816.932.6220
For example, Cowdrey and her staff of audiologists help
patients discriminate vowels by asking them to choose the correct
word, “dean” or “dawn,” for this sentence: “Did you see the
[blank] today?”
Embracing music
In Atwater’s case, listening to music for hours has helped him
“train his brain,” he said. He started with country, because it has
fewer, more simple instruments, before working his way up to
classical, featuring a full orchestra of instruments.
“It’s a process with a lot of little ‘wow’ moments that get pieced
together rather than one big ‘wow’ moment,” Atwater said. “And
the process never stops, because the brain never stops developing.
I listen to a lot of music. It’s great exercise for my brain.”
Besides listening, he’s also playing music. He took the guitar
back up because his son wanted to learn to play. Now father
and son practice together, and Atwater has resumed lessons.
But this time around, it’s sweet music to his ears.. +
Practice makes perfect Jim Atwater can now distinguish various
musical instruments after “training his brain” to listen to music. His newly
upgraded cochlear implant enables him to hear more frequencies
more precisely than his old one.
continues to be “The Best Place to Get Care
and the Best Place to Give Care.” For example, Saint Luke’s leaders will pay particular
attention to such issues as:
Hiring protocols. If an interviewer doesn’t
speak clearly, the person being interviewed
may not fully understand the question and
misspeak. This could potentially sabotage
that person’s chances for a job.
Business etiquette. It can be exhausting for
hearing impaired individuals to participate
saintlukeshealthsystem.org
in meetings with more than three people
because they must concentrate so hard on
listening and understanding what’s said.
education sessions,” said Dawn Murphy,
Saint Luke’s Health System Vice
President of Human Resources.
Bedside care. Doctors and nurses must talk
directly to hearing impaired patients and
their family members to ensure everybody
understands the diagnosis, medications
prescribed, and dosages.
“He’s also provided good advice for our
HR leadership team on how we can be
more welcoming to hard of hearing
applicants and also better support our
current employees with hearing loss. As
a result of Jim’s guidance, I’m more aware
of how I speak with employees.”. +
“Jim has provided very beneficial education
on the impact of hearing loss through our
‘Feed Your Brain’ employee diversity
Saint Luke’s Health Summer 2009
19
Two minutes with...
R. Vanneman Spake, M.D.
Picture of Health
‘I’m Breathing So Much Better’
A new minimally invasive surgical procedure
gives much-needed relief to patients
who suffer from chronic sinus disease
Teen substance abuse is on the rise.
But Crittenton Children’s Center is helping them
cope with life’s challenges.
Peer pressure. Running with the wrong crowd.
Molly Pellettiere, C.A.S.A.C., a counselor with
Following in parents’ footsteps. Boredom. All reasons
Crittenton Children’s Center.
for teenage substance abuse, and all avoidable.
“The reality is parents can’t be with their kids
24 hours a day, so they have to be able to
identify the signs that their kids might be
using and address the risk factors,” said
Part of Saint Luke’s Health System, Crittenton
provides inpatient behavioral health care,
residential and outpatient treatment,
and prevention services for adolescents
and their families.
Kicking the Habit
R. Vanneman Spake, M.D., is an
otolaryngologist—or a doctor who
specializes in treating diseases that
affect the ears, nose, and throat, as
well as the head and neck. Here, he
talks about the new FinESS Sinus
Treatment, which helps patients who
suffer from recurrent sinus infections.
What does the FinESS
procedure involve?
It’s similar to the angioplasty procedure
that cardiologists perform. But instead
of unclogging arteries, we’re remodeling
the bones inside the nose to open the
airway and allow the sinuses to drain
properly. This helps you breathe easier.
Who is the ideal candidate
for the FinESS Sinus
Treatment?
How does FinESS
help patients?
Although traditional surgical treatments
can work well, they’re more invasive,
requiring bone and tissue removal,
general anesthesia, and a longer recovery. But FinESS is minimally invasive,
so it’s less traumatic for patients—we
can preserve their tissue and decrease
scarring. Plus, patients can have the
procedure performed under a local
anesthetic, a local with sedation, or
general anesthesia. They get back to
their normal routine within a day
whereas it once took them five or six
days to recover.
FinESS benefits the millions of
Americans who suffer from sinusitis
(also called rhinosinusitis). That’s an
inflammation of the tissue lining the
four sinuses:
•
Maxillary—behind the cheek bones
• Ethmoid—between the eyes
• Frontal—in the forehead
• Sphenoid—behind the eyes
Sometimes sinuses become blocked
and filled with fluid, which can cause
bacteria, viruses, and fungi to grow
and develop into a sinus infection.
FinESS is especially beneficial if you
experience three to five maxillary sinus
infections a year regardless of any
prescription therapies you might take.
Saint Luke’s Health Summer 2009
20
We make a small puncture in your
maxillary sinus just under your lip in
the gum above your upper teeth. We
insert a flexible endoscope that’s 0.5
millimeters in diameter into your sinus.
It has a tiny camera attached, allowing
us to see the blockage so that we can
expand a balloon and open the outflow
tract of the sinus.
A breath of fresh air
Saint Luke’s
R. Vanneman Spake, M.D., underwent special
training to master FinESS. Saint Luke’s was
the first Kansas City-area hospital to offer
the new minimally invasive sinus procedure.
With FinESS, we can take action earlier
and prevent patients from developing
chronic sinus disease. It’s a minor procedure, and patients say “I’m breathing
so much better” afterward. +
Abuse by the numbers
10.4 million: The number of young adults aged 12 to
20 who had at least one drink last month. Of this group:
6.8 million were binge drinkers, consuming five or
more drinks consecutively on a single occasion
2.1 million were heavy drinkers, consuming five or
more drinks on the same occasion on at least five
different days
2/3: The ratio of teens who say they can buy alcohol,
despite the federal age limit (21)
49: The percentage of high school seniors who’ve smoked
marijuana
$58 billion: The annual costs associated with teen alcohol
usage (includes car crashes, violent crime, burns, drowning,
suicide attempts, fetal alcohol syndrome, alcohol poisonings,
and treatment)
42: The percentage of teens less likely to use drugs after
their parents have warned them of the dangers (yet only 1 in
4 report having these conversations)
14: The age at which most teens start smoking marijuana
Get structured Summer months are particularly risky
for teens without jobs or school. “Enroll your kids in camps,
organized activities, or sign them up to volunteer so they
have structured, supervised schedules,” advises Pellettiere.
Mind your meds. More kids are stealing pain pills,
tranquilizers, and other narcotics from their parents, grandparents, and friends’ family members. In fact, prescription
drugs rank as the second most abused illegal
drug (after marijuana) among 12- to 17-year-olds.
Curb sleepovers. “I discourage parents from
letting their kids stay with friends, because this is
when most substance abuse happens,” warns Pellettiere.
“Other kids’ parents may be unaware or unwilling to tell
you if they catch them in the act.”
Stem brain drain. The human brain’s frontal
lobe—the section where impulse control, reasoning, and
judgment forms—doesn’t fully develop until age 25. Drugs
and alcohol can impede this.
“Add alcohol and drugs to the mix, and kids will do some scary
stuff,” said Pellettiere. “I’ve seen too many kids overdose from
crushing and snorting pills that were time-released because
they got a 12-hour dosage all at once.”
Set an example. When kids see parents over-indulge,
they accept that as normal behavior.
Identify the cause. Many teens self-medicate with
alcohol and drugs to cope with ADHD, depression, anxiety,
and bipolar disorder. “At Crittenton, we address the mental
health issues as well as the behavior and addiction,” said
Pellettiere. “These kids might feel like they’re in a hopeless
situation, but they’re not.”. +
For more information about Crittenton Children’s Center,
call NurseLine any time at (816) 932-6220 or
visit saintlukeshealthystem.org.
Sources: Crittenton Children’s Center, National Council on Alcoholism and Drug
Dependence, Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration, National
Institute on Drug Abuse, National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign
NurseLine 816.932.6220
saintlukeshealthsystem.org
Saint Luke’s Health Summer 2009
21