|
Video
News General
News The
Miriam Hospital Bradley
Hospital Newport
Hospital Lifespan
Corporate Services
Lifespan hospitals and their services are frequently featured in the news. Following are some highlights of recent television news coverage of our hospitals. Editor's note: These videos are optimized for employee viewing on the Lifespan network and for home viewers with cable/DSL access. Viewing these videos requires Windows Media Player for Windows or Mac operating systems. If you do not have it installed or need an updated version, you can download it now for free.
It's called "The Governor's Best Scenes of Rhode Island 2007 Calendar"—and it's a beauty. It's the product of a partnership between the Governor's Office and the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts to challenge local artists create works of art unique to the nation's smallest state. Even better, proceeds from the sale of the 2007 calendar will go to benefit the Healing Arts Program at Lifespan. Calendars are $14.95 each, feature the work of 12 artists and 12 healing arts programs. Calendars can be purchased from Paula Most, Lifespan arts coordinator, by calling her at 401-444-3153 or by e-mailing pmost@lifespan.org. Please make checks payable to Healing Arts at Lifespan. The
New England American Heart Association estimated the 2006 American Heart
Walk campaign raised $350,000, which included the $62,600 contribution
from Lifespan partner hospitals and corporate employees. Lifespan
placed in all top Heart Walk categories, including top fundraising companies,
teams and walkers. Funds will be used to support the many programs and
services of the American Heart Association, including heart and stroke
disease research, technology, and community education and awareness. Thank you to our Heart Walk team captains, walkers, volunteers and all who supported the Lifespan 2006 Heart Walk campaign
Hasbro Children's Hospital hosted Healthy Mondays at the PawSox on Monday, July 17. Despite the hot and humid weather, it was a winning night for PawSox fans. Families enjoyed pre-game excitement by participating in free health screenings and interactive learning activities and received fun prizes and raffle items. Cheered on by his wife and fellow employees, Aaron Friedman, MD, Rhode Island Hospital pediatrian-in-chief and chairman for the department of pediatrics, threw out the first pitch. Last Call for Healthy Mondays at the PawSox The last Healthy Monday at the PawSox is happening on Monday, July 31. Hosted by Bradley Hospital and Lifespan Community Health Services, the event encourages PawSox fans to stay healthy.
In total, ASHHRA received approximately 134 submissions for this prestigious award. Lifespan's survey process was among the six best practices selected from across the country. The Lifespan employee engagement survey process was led by Cindy Scott, workforce development specialist; with oversight by Nancy McMahon, RN, director of workforce development; and significant assistance from Brion Carroll, PhD, director of the Lifespan Learning Institute.
Rhode Island Hospital's intensive care units (ICUs) and step-down units are participating in the Rhode Island ICU Collaborative, an initiative that will evaluate the impact of a comprehensive, unit-based patient safety program to improve patient outcomes by reducing complication rates, to improve staff satisfaction and retention, to reduce length of stay in ICUs and to reduce patient mortality. The collaborative is coordinated by Quality Partners of Rhode Island in partnership with the Hospital Association of Rhode Island and the Rhode Island Quality Institute. The pediatric intensive care unit at Hasbro Children's Hospital is also participating, though not funded by the project. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island and United Healthcare will fund the project's management costs, while the hospitals will cover internal expenses. Peter Pronovost, MD, PhD, medical director of the Center for Innovation in Quality Patient Care and an assistant professor in the department of anesthesiology/critical care medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, is working with the Rhode Island collaborative team to help hospitals in Rhode Island implement proven improvement strategies. Every adult ICU in the state is taking part in the collaborative, making Rhode Island the first state to achieve 100 percent hospital participation in this type of project. There are 263 ICU beds in Rhode Island; more than 16,000 patients are cared for in a Rhode Island ICU each year. "This is a
very exciting project with tremendous potential," says Julie Jefferson,
director of epidemiology at Rhode Island Hospital and project co-leader
with Mitchell Levy, MD, medical director of MICU. "We are bringing
about a change in the culture of our ICU/SDU in a very systematic, evidence-based
way. Physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, infection control professionals,
quality management staff, executives, unit secretaries, housekeeping
staff and others are all working together to identify opportunities
to improve care and make the units even safer for our patients."
Forman is credited with revolutionizing cancer care for the children of Rhode Island. He was one of the first to conduct clinical trials of novel pediatric cancer medications. He also was a tireless advocate for the creation of a children's hospital in Rhode Island, and when Hasbro Children's Hospital was built, he was a founder of the Tomorrow Fund. Forman also co-founded the Tomorrow Fund Clinic, the Providence Ronald McDonald House and Camp Dottie. In May, Providence College recognized Forman's enduring commitment to the children in southeastern New England by granting him an honorary doctor of science degree at the college's 2006 commencement.
The Hero at Heart Award is given to those who have touched the lives of the Rhode Island community, while bringing hope and inspiration to others through hard work and unwavering devotion. A cardiothoracic surgeon, Singh has performed more than 12,000 open-heart surgeries since joining the staff at Rhode Island Hospital in 1975. A clinical professor of surgery at Brown Medical School, he has shared his knowledge with two generations of medical students in Rhode Island and has also lectured throughout the world. He has served as a member of the Board of Directors for Rhode Island Cardiac Children since 1980. When Rhode Island Hospital created its Outstanding Physician Award in 2002, Singh was the first physician to be honored. The Hero at Heart
Award is named in honor of the late Stephen Yarlas who received exceptional
cardiac care (from Singh) at Rhode Island Hospital. The award was presented
at the 2006 Rhode Island Heart Ball, where Yarlas' widow expressed her
gratitude to and admiration of Singh. On June 14, employees celebrated "Summer on the Hill" at Rhode Island Hospital's sixth annual Employee Appreciation Day Picnic, sponsored by the Respect, Reward and Recognition Committee at Rhode Island Hospital. Held in three shifts,
the picnic featured an Italian feast including salad, grinders, thin
crust pizzas, pastas, and chicken marsala, all expertly prepared by
Fine Catering by Russell Morin. The Rhode Island Hospital Guild provided
spumoni for dessert. Attendees enjoyed hearing their favorite songs
played by DJ Frank Capaldi, and the band Bad Luck and Trouble rocked
with a live performance in the afternoon.
Steven Baron was a much-loved leader at The Miriam Hospital for many years, serving as executive vice president, president and CEO, and ultimately as president of both Rhode Island and The Miriam hospitals.
Over his 17-year career at Lifespan hospitals, from 1982 to 1999, he was considered outstanding in two respects particularly: an insistence on impeccable quality of medical care, and an unquenchable sense of humor. Baron's death from
lymphoma in 2003 at the age of 57 shocked and saddened his many Miriam
friends. On June 5, a large crowd of friends and employees turned out
to celebrate him at the unveiling of the Wall of Quality—a location
that honors Baron's standards of excellence along with the very best
of The Miriam Hospital's people: Employees and Managers of the Year,
Physicians of the Year, and Persons of the Year. Reflecting the enormous esteem, respect and personal affection in which he is held, pulmonologist James Myers, MD, was named the Charles C. J. Carpenter, MD, Physician of The Year in ceremonies held at The Miriam Hospital's annual medical staff association meeting on June 19. Myers, an associate professor at Brown Medical School, has been on staff at the hospital since 1981. "Dr. Myers has shown unparalleled devotion to The Miriam Hospital throughout the past 25 years," says Kathleen Hittner, MD, president and CEO. "Although he embodies all of the qualities of the physician of the year, the two things I admire most about him are his devotion to the education of children from disadvantaged families and his tireless loyalty to helping his fellow physicians who are experiencing challenges in their own careers." His skills in this arena were particularly helpful during the years he served as president of the medical staff association. Myers has also evinced special interest in extending care to underserved populations; both overseas, through the establishment of the Brown University-Kenya exchange program at Moi University and at home, through the Crossroads (formerly Travelers Aid) Mobile Medical Van. In addition to his clinical practice, Myers is highly acclaimed in the academic world, both for his teaching—among his many awards is the Clinical Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award he received this year—and for his scholarly research, primarily focused on asthma-related issues. The Charles C.J. Carpenter, MD, Physician of the Year Award recognizes a physician, nominated by his or her peers, for outstanding contributions to medicine, leadership, professionalism and patient care—qualities exemplified by its namesake. Carpenter, director of the Lifespan/Tufts/Brown Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) and a professor of medicine at Brown Medical School, has achieved widespread recognition for his work in treating diseases in developing countries and for training a generation of researchers in the field of international health. Myers is the third recipient of the award. Previous honorees include Paul Yodice, MD, director of The Miriam Hospital's intensive care unit and of critical care medicine; and A. Gerson Greenburg, MD, former surgeon-in-chief and chief of clinical quality management, now retired. In a joint announcement, Kathleen Hittner, MD, president and CEO, and Harry Sax, MD, surgeon-in-chief of The Miriam Hospital, welcomed two new members of the medical staff who took up their duties this month. Nick Dobrilovic, MD, of Providence, RI, has joined the Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgical Center and the surgical staff at The Miriam Hospital. Dobrilovic is trained in general and cardiothoracic surgery. Dobrilovic earned a bachelor's degree in molecular and cell biology from the University of California, Berkeley, and attended St. George's University School of Medicine. He completed a general surgery residency at the Jewish Hospital of Cincinnati, a cardiothoracic surgery residency at the University of Texas Southwestern, and a fellowship in cardiac transplantation and aortic surgery at Yale. Joseph Renzulli, II, MD, of Warwick, RI, will join Providence Urology and the surgical staff of The Miriam Hospital. Renzulli is a native of Warwick, Rhode Island. Renzulli graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of arts and medical doctorate from Boston University. Renzulli is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha, the prestigious national medical honor society. He completed his residency in general and urological surgery at Yale University School of Medicine. He has specialty training in urologic oncology, laparoscopy, endourology and incontinence/urodynamics.
Self-cutting can be an inconspicuous way for adolescents to cope with stressful or difficult feelings, such as anger, frustration or depression. The important thing for teens and parents to know is that they're not alone. Larry Brown, MD, an expert on adolescent risk behaviors and self-mutilation offers information about self-cutting and what parents can do to intercept this destructive behavior. Find out more.
Find out what Jennifer Dyl, PhD, of the Bradley Hasbro Children's Research Center and an expert on the topics of adolescent self-esteem and body disorders, including body dysmorphic disorder, says about how negative self-image impacts teenagers in today's society. Related topics:
Newport Hospital
Almost all the Vanderbilt rehab staff members who were affected by the curtailment of subacute services have opted to accept offers of employment in other parts of the hospital. Lifelines spoke to some of them as they were adjusting to their new assignments. Although Katherine Herndon won't soon forget her old life on the subacute unit—she spent more than 18 years there as an assistant recreational and occupational therapist—she is learning new skills, meeting new challenges, and especially finding new friends as she trains to become a cardiology technologist. "I'm learning how to give stress tests and electrocardiograms and manage Holter monitors. That's all new for me, of course." Another thing that's very different is the rhythm of life as a cardiology tech. While formerly she stayed on her floor and saw the same patients for weeks on end, she now travels all over the hospital to care for new patients on different units every day. "Every day I see something completely new—except for the people I work with. This is a very team-oriented department, and everyone here has done their best to make me feel welcome on the team. That really means a lot to me." CeCe Lee, RN, has always had an interest in surgery and requested an assignment to surgical services. She likes the intensity of the operating room, but acknowledges it's a challenge. When asked what is the hardest thing about the new job, she says, "Learning all those surgical instruments. I get mad at myself sometimes because I can't remember them all." She doesn't hesitate when asked about the best part. "Deb White, my preceptor. She's excellent! She's been so good and so helpful to me." Lee goes on to say the entire surgical services team has made an extra effort to make her feel at home in her new assignment. "I spent more than 16 years at Vanderbilt, and we were a good team. Now I'm going to be part of a new team. It will take a little time, but I'm getting there. Every day is a better day." For Mary Ann Maghuyop, RN, it has been a matter of learning to switch gears—in a hurry. Although her patient load has dropped to five from eight or nine, the intensity of the work has doubled. "This is a real period of adjustment, and it calls for a lot of flexibility. In the past, I might have had only one patient on an IV. On T2, we have much greater acuity. In so many areas, like patient assessment, care plans, labs, patient safety—we have to really stay on our toes." Maghuyop, too, singles out her new co-workers for praise. "The team here has been great. So supportive and welcoming." Her advice to her former Vanderbilt colleagues: "Don't look back. Focus on the future. It's wonderful." Nursing assistant
Sheila Stevenson went to the emergency department. She had spent only
two years at Vanderbilt, but all her prior experience had been in long-term
care. Interviewed after eight days in her new field she admits, "I'm
a little nervous. The only time I'd ever been in an emergency room before
was as a patient. I'm learning every second. It's a real adrenaline
rush. The first couple of days, I was so tired I just about dropped
when I got home. But I'm beginning to build my confidence. I'm so grateful
for this opportunity. This is the nicest bunch here. They've just taken
me in, and they're teaching me everything." Stevenson confesses
she enjoys the excitement, and the chance to care for younger people
as well as the elderly. "I'm starting to catch on—and in the
long run, it is all about the patients, isn't it?"
The marketing and communications department recently received a first-place Bell Ringer Award from the Publicity Club of New England in the category of News Release—National. The award was for local, national and international media coverage of a study about trampoline injuries led by Hasbro Children's Hospital. |
||||||||||||||||
Congratulations
to Edwin Forman, MD, who has been honored with the Louis Leone Lifetime
Achievement Award from the American Cancer Society. Forman, whose medical
career spans more than four decades, was presented with the award at
the American Cancer Society's Newport Ball at the Newport Hyatt Regency
on July 22. The award is named for Louis Leone, MD, a medical oncologist
at Rhode Island Hospital who retired in June 2005 after a distinguished
45-year career. 
On
June 3, Arun Singh, MD, added another first to the many that have marked
his career. Singh became the first recipient of The American Heart Association's
Stephen Yarlas Hero at Heart award.
Bradley
Whether
we like it or not, we live in an image-obsessed society. We are inundated
with celebrity and media ideals that heavily influence many individuals
to strive to attain an unrealistic image and body ideal. This can hurt
anyone's self-perception and it can be considerably damaging to teenagers
and adolescents, who are still growing. In addition, it may influence
them to engage in risky behaviors.
Bell
Ringer Award
|
Do
you have a hot news tip? Please let
us know.
|