CAMC Today is a publication of CAMC Health System

Inside this issue

CAMC cardiac services continue to thrive, remaining at the top for decades

April 10, 2012

Cardiac services at CAMC have been at the top of the field for decades. CAMC remains committed to staying at the forefront of cardiac care and serving our region for years to come.

“The skill and experience of the medical staff in an environment that encourages excellence in patient care has kept us at the top,” said Donald Lilly, MD, cardiologist and clinical director of CAMC cardiovascular services. “CAMC has been blessed with cardiovascular physicians who want to stay on the cutting-edge of emerging technology. The steady volume of patients at CAMC has allowed them to keep their skills honed.”

“Collectively, our cardiac services are the most experienced in the state,” added John Deel, MD, cardiothoracic surgeon. “All of our physicians were trained at various facilities across the U.S., so we bring a different set of skills to CAMC.”

Teamwork between physicians and staff is a key component of cardiac services at CAMC.

“This is a constant focus of our hospital,” said Clennie Arthur, III, associate administrator at CAMC Memorial Hospital. “The continuing education and training of our staff helps us pursue our goal of meeting and exceeding the expectations of our patients.”

Each year, CAMC recognizes employees celebrating milestone anniversaries. This year, one employee will celebrate his 50th anniversary. Since the Charleston Area Medical Center we know today is only 40-years-old, some employees started at other hospitals that were purchased or merged into CAMC. Below are a few stories.

Bill Williams, 50 years, Construction ManagementBill Williams went to West Virginia State College and began working at Huntington State Hospital. He was there for two years, staying in Huntington during the week and coming home on the weekends. Then he saw an advertisement in the paper for a maintenance job at Memorial and applied for it.

“My first job at Memorial was to do preventative maintenance on the isolettes in the newborn nursery,” Williams said.

The thing that surprises Williams the most is the growth.

#1 in Procedures PerformedCAMC’s experienced physicians continue to perform about 8,500 heart catheterizations and 2,700 cardiac interventions per year, even though one of the emerging technologies that has changed the face of cardiac services during the past few years is the use of drug-eluting stents in patients. These stents have lessened the need for repeat procedures.

“Restenosis, or re-narrowing of the arteries after coronary intervention, was cut from an average of 20 percent to less than 10 percent with drug-eluting stents,” Lilly said.

Studies have shown improved outcomes in patients with heart attacks who are treated with stents. Bypass surgery is a better option in some patients. CAMC performs many procedures for patients suffering from persistent diseases of the heart.

“We offer coronary artery bypass procedures with multiple arterial grafts, which have been shown to last longer than operations with single artery and vein grafts in the leg,” said Sulaiman Hasan, MD, cardiothoracic surgeon. “This translates into fewer re-operations and longer survival in younger patients. We also offer repair procedures for heart valves which do not need replacement. This allows patients to keep their own valves, avoid blood thinners and better preserve heart function.”

“When I first came here, Memorial wasn’t as big as it is now,” he said before reeling off a number of expansion projects such as the medical staff office building, surgery suites and parking garage.

Williams later became the maintenance director for all CAMC hospitals when he retired in 1998. “I stayed retired for a couple days, before I decided to come back and work in the construction department.”

Williams now keeps tabs on current projects, working with architects and others maintaining project drawings.

Anna Thompson, RN, 45 years Medical Rehabilitation“I didn’t think I’d make it that long,” said Anna Thompson. While she just celebrated her 45th anniversary, she hasn’t been a registered nurse that long.

Thompson’s career started at McMillan Hospital.

CAMC performs about 1,300 open heart operations a year, which makes it the largest surgical facility in the state and one of the largest in the country.

“We also perform mitral valve repairs through a minimally-invasive incision under the breast,” Hasan said. “In patients with an aortic aneurysm, which causes the aortic valve to leak, we re-implant the patient’s own valve into a channel of appropriate size, which replaces the dilated aorta and eliminates the leakage. In addition, we offer a variety of repairs for aortic aneurysms in the chest. The Maze operation for atrial fibrillation is also offered through a small incision under the breast.”

For patients who do not need valve-replacement or open heart surgery, CAMC offers other options. The electrophysiology (EP) program provides a comprehensive approach to manage all aspects of cardiac rhythm disorders. Approximately 1,500 EP cases per year are performed in the electrophysiology lab, which includes pacemakers, ICDs, electrophysiology studies and complex ablations.

“There are hundreds of ablations, pacemakers and implantable defibrillator procedures performed annually at CAMC,” said Brett Faulknier, DO, FACC, cardiology and electrophysiology specialist. “Atrial fibrillation ablations are being performed more frequently, which help control atrial fibrillation in patients whose symptoms have not responded well to medication therapy.”

What is most unique about the EP lab at CAMC is that the pioneer staff - a physician and two nurses - have remained here since its inception.

“In addition to the presence of experienced lab personnel there is a core group of youthful, bright and well-trained individuals eager to propel the EP lab services forward toward greater efficiency, quality and up-to-date care,” said Ronald McCowan, MD, FACC, pioneering cardiology/electrophysiology physician.

Continued on page 4

Continued on page 3

From the printing of forms for patients to washing and distributing the linens for hospital beds, supply chain management is a group of very busy people. Page 2

Nov. 20, 2011 started out like any other ordinary day for Judy Beanblossom of Charleston. Now she has a new outlook on life. Page 2

THE CUTTING EDGENew equipment gives surgeons the green light in kidney cancer surgery.

A team at Women and Children’s Hospital is hoping to take some of the pain out of pediatric or adolescent blood draws.

A bad choice often has bad consequences. That’s why CAMC has purchased a Virtual Driver Interactive Simulator to educate drivers about distractions.

Bill Williams | Kathy Simms | Anna Thompson | Bob Gardner

Employees celebrate big anniversaries

#1 in cardiac care

Save the date!CAMC HealthFest

Saturday, June 2 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Charleston Civic Center

Some screenings require registration and are on a first-come, first-served basis. Look

for the CAMC HealthFest ad in Charleston Newspapers in the

upcoming weeks for registration information. Registration will

begin Monday, May 14.

camc.org

Faces of CAMC

“I get to take care of sweet, innocent little babies every day. Anyone who wants to be a nurse wants to help people, and there’s no one who needs help more than an infant that can do nothing for himself. That’s my number one job – to be their advocate, their voice and protect them. Those are just the innate qualities of being a nurse.

I absolutely can’t imagine working anywhere else.”

Newborn Intensive Care UnitWomen and Children’s Hospital

Katie Feola, RN

they will bring in, and then work to review any new technology for evidence-based outcomes. Through eight different committees, administrators, physicians, nurses and other staff weigh the benefits and fall backs of any potential new equipment or supply to make sure CAMC can provide the best care to every patient.

“We take care of the day-to-day supplies, but it’s more than that—we’re working to provide the best products that will result in the best clinical and quality outcomes for the patients at the best value to the hospital,” said Derrick Billups, director of purchasing/value analysis.

Material Handling

The material handling department stocks all daily orders for the hospital in a large warehouse, from baby formula to gloves and shoe covers. Employees replenish all materials on the nursing floors and take care of shipping and return goods and manage any excess equipment the hospital is no longer using.

Material handling also works with other departments in the hospital to help train them in inventory management.

Print Shop

CAMC has an internal print shop to accommodate the large amount of forms, brochures and other informational materials that are used every day. The department prints more than 3,000 different routine medical record forms and produces letterhead and envelopes for the various departments/practices.

Alan Shearer, director of material handling and the print shop, said using the internal service helps keep printing costs down.

Volunteer program provides companionship for older patients

2 camc.org

Many caregivers have shaped the history of CAMC. It is always special when we are able to reconnect with someone who has had an impact on the hospital that we know today. Dr. James Spencer is an otolaryngologist who came to Charleston more than 60 years ago and practiced in the area for many years.

Spencer came to practice medicine in Charleston in 1948. He graduated from medical school at Wake Forest in three years and completed a residency in Philadelphia. His connection to West Virginia and his subsequent move to Charleston happened in a very interesting way.

“Charleston is my wife’s hometown. When I was in my residency, her father came to Philadelphia to have surgery by my attending physician. That was how I met her and then began the process of establishing in Charleston,” Spencer said.

Spencer obtained privileges to practice at Charleston General Hospital when he came to town. “I was trained in otolaryngology, bronchoesophagology and laryngology. No one was doing all of that work when I got here. Right away, I became very busy, doing general ENT work, doing procedures to remove foreign bodies from the esophagus and lungs, therapy and tonsillectomies. I performed the first laryngectomy at Charleston General, and I believe the first one in the state.”

Spencer brought all of his own equipment when he set up his practice at the hospital. “I was able to establish a bronchoscopic operating room at Charleston General. I had a special cart that had everything ready and sanitized so that I could take it with me,” he said.

A few years after he started practicing here, Spencer was drafted into the U.S. Navy. He was stationed in Japan for almost two years. When he returned, he continued to practice

Published by CAMC Marketing & Public AffairsElizabeth Pellegrin Editor

Dale Witte Jessica Duffield Editors/Writers

Tony Campbell Graphic Designer

Julia Noland Leslie CarpenterAshley ShowenWriters

teaching, administration and research in geriatrics. The clinical rotations and experiences are in a wide variety of settings where older adults receive care, including the inpatient hospital, outpatient clinic, assisted living, nursing home, home, community and hospice settings.

The geriatric nurse practitioner program prepares graduates to provide care at the advanced practice level to diagnose and manage acute and chronic diseases and take a holistic approach to meet the needs of older adult patients. GNPs work in many health care settings, specialty care clinics and agencies.

The pharmacy residency in geriatrics is one of 12 accredited programs in the country, and pharmacists are prepared to serve the needs of older adults in a variety of patient care settings. Rotations include geriatric ambulatory care, acute care, long-term care, hospice and palliative care, geriatric psychiatry, emergency medicine, teaching and research.

The West Virginia Geriatric Education Center at the WVU-Charleston Division campus provides educational opportunities for care providers, including a geriatrics journal club, lunchtime learning sessions and the Advanced Geriatrics Skills (AGES) program. AGES is an evidence based certification course that health care professionals can take to increase their skills in working with older adults.

As our state’s population continues to age, it is critical that health care providers focus on providing care for geriatric patients. The Census Bureau estimates that by 2030, about one quarter of the state’s residents will be 65 or older. CAMC and WVU-Charleston Division have been working for several years to ensure there are education and research programs in place to care for these patients in the future.

In 2006, the Arthur B. Hodges Center and the CAMC Foundation set up a $2 million endowment to support geriatric training and education activities. The endowment fund sustains the ongoing development of a geriatric medicine fellowship, pharmacy residency in geriatrics and geriatric nurse practitioner (GNP) program. In 2009 and again in 2010, the Hodges Center made additional gifts to the CAMC Foundation in the name of the Arthur B. Hodges Endowment Fund for Geriatrics Training and Education. The CAMC Foundation matched the gift, for a total commitment of $1 million. These additional funds support geriatric research with the goal of improving health outcomes for seniors.

As part of the Geriatrics Initiative, the three educational programs train physicians, nurses and pharmacists to provide well-rounded, specialized care for the specific health concerns of geriatric patients.

The accredited internal medicine-geriatric medicine fellowship is a one-year program that prepares fellows for clinical practice,

The Volunteers Informing Patients (VIP) pilot project has been going on at CAMC General Hospital for the past year. In this program, the volunteer services department selects and trains volunteers to provide patients who are 65-years-old and older with a daily visit. Volunteers have been trained to orient patients to time, date and place; provide patients and their families with meaningful interactions and activities; assist patients with non-medical needs and to communicate the patients’ needs to the staff.

“Patients have an excellent response to the VIP program and are always happy to receive a volunteer visit.” said Ashley Johnson, VIP volunteer and full-time nursing student at the University of Charleston. “After I enter a patient’s room and introduce myself as a VIP volunteer, I am almost always greeted with a smile. Patients learn to associate volunteers with a certain level of comfort because we provide items such as pillows, blankets, crossword puzzles – or even just conversation – to improve their hospital stay.”

The VIP program benefits patients in many ways. During a VIP visit, patients are often distracted from any discomfort they may be feeling related to an injury or illness. Volunteers also provide companionship, especially for long-term patients.

“We really get to know many of the patients and are able to develop relationships with them, and these patients truly look forward to volunteer visits,” Johnson said. “During the

visit, I collect data by asking basic questions about patients’ health and provide them with a file of life, which is a file that contains a schedule that they can use to organize medications, emergency contacts, and other important information after they are discharged.”

Patients aren’t the only ones who benefit from this program. Staff members on 7 South, where the program is being implemented, have seen reduced use of call lights, increased patient satisfaction and orientation, and increased staff satisfaction.

“I feel that the visits make a huge impact on the satisfaction of our patients who are older than 65,“ said Jennifer Miller, VIP project coordinator. “In our studies we have found that 73 percent of the VIP patient population was without a visitor during VIP visits. This is a huge area where the VIP’s make a difference.”

“Volunteering at CAMC has been an exciting opportunity for me,” Johnson said. “I feel privileged to be able to interact with both patients and medical staff members on a personal level. My experience has been rewarding and fulfilling, and has allowed me to give back to the community by helping others.”

For more information about the VIP program or volunteer services, call (304) 388-7426 or visit camc.org/volunteer.

Physician reflections

Geriatrics programs train and educate health professionals

Behind the scenes: Supply chain management

Mark your Calender

Power of Many CelebrationWednesday, June 6

from 10 a.m. to noon

Old Watt Powell Park

Everywhere you turn at CAMC, you see the direct effects of the supply chain management department. From the printing of the forms you fill out at registration, to washing and distributing the linens for your hospital bed and purchasing and maintaining the blood pressure cuffs on the units, supply chain management is a group of very busy people.

Supply chain management is made up of 115 employees in six different departments: linen services, purchasing, material handling, print shop, data management and courier/mail room.

Linen Services

CAMC’s linen services processes more than seven million pounds of laundry each year. The department sorts, washes, dries, irons and folds all linens, and manages the pickup of all soiled laundry. It maintains the linens not only for CAMC’s facilities, but also for outside facilities like Braxton County Memorial Hospital, St. Francis Hospital and Logan Regional Medical Center.

Linen services is responsible for maintaining and distributing the scrubs worn by clinical staff, and has recently updated equipment that helps keep better track of the scrub supplies.

Linen services director Kelly Harrison said people are always surprised to hear how much laundry is processed at CAMC.

“It’s just not something you think about when you think of a hospital,” she said.

PurchasingThe purchasing department handles all the day-to-day orders in the health system. Every day the staff of 11 people takes care of ordering regularly stocked and special items, managing rentals/leases of equipment and other services and oversees all the vendor contracts for CAMC.

The department handles 50,000 purchase orders each year. They take care of any product recalls and continuously measure the value of current vendors and negotiate for the best prices and value for the health system.

Purchasing also manages a value analysis program, which brings various clinicians and employees together periodically to discuss which products and technology

Data ManagementData management’s main job is to manage the daily operations of an internal technology system specifically used for supply chain management. The system handles everything from tracking inventory and usage, electronic ordering and more. For patient consumable supplies alone, data management processes 300,000 transactions each year.

The department assists central services with inventory management and handles all special billing for the health system.

Courier/Mail RoomThe mail room sorts more than 2,000 pieces of mail each day and distributes them to the appropriate locations. The department also offers a courier service, running supplies, mail and charts between facilities. It handles all “stat” runs, or items that need urgent delivery, which can mean up to 2,300 calls per month just for the unexpected events. The department operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Supply chain management doesn’t only keep up with the day-to-day needs of the health system—its employees look toward the future and work to prepare for any unexpected events.

“While most of the supplies we would need in the event of an emergency are regularly stocked in our facilities, we still want to make sure we’re prepared for any unexpected occurrence,” said Steve Perry, corporate director of supply chain management.

The department has an emergency supply room in one of CAMC’s off-site locations that houses all non-pharmaceutical supplies (like water, gloves, splints, backboards, etc.) necessary in a disaster. The managers of each department are working together to make sure all areas of the health system are accounted for in order to be completely self-sufficient with no deliveries or aid for 96 hours.

Supply chain management leaders are always working to create more standardization throughout the health system and look for ways to make the hospital more efficient, in processes and costs.

Continued on page 3

Sunday, Nov. 20, 2011 started out like any other ordinary day for Judy Beanblossom of Charleston. She took a bath and began her daily routine – when everything suddenly changed.

“When I came out of the bath my hand was curved like a ‘C’ and it wouldn’t move,” Judy said. “I had a comb in my hand, so I just started working with it thinking if I worked with it enough it would be OK, but when my husband came into the room he knew something was wrong.”

Judy was unable to talk to her husband as an array of confusing symptoms progressed.

“Nothing would come out. I could not tell him what was going on. My mouth was drawn, and I could not speak at all. The only thing I could do was cry.”

Judy’s husband called his youngest daughter and her husband, who are first responders. After quickly discussing what was happening, they called 911, which set in motion a life-saving chain of events, beginning with the ambulance taking her to the Stroke Center at CAMC General Hospital.

“Stroke patients have better outcomes when treated at a stroke center,” said Deb Rectenwald, RN, stroke program coordinator. “CAMC is nationally-certified as a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission, which means it is one of the best-equipped treatment centers for people suffering a stroke. Every facet of our program, from prevention, emergency care, inpatient treatment and rehabilitation, measures up to very high standards for health care safety and quality of care set by medical experts.”

Emergency medical technicians alerted the Stroke Center about Judy’s condition on the way to the hospital, so the stroke team was ready as soon as she arrived.

“Everything happened so fast,” Judy said. “I was very scared. I could not communicate or even formulate a prayer in my mind. I could not spell when I tried to spell a word. I could not write. I wondered if I would ever talk again.”

Judy arrived within 45 minutes of her initial symptoms, which was well within the critical three-hour window to be evaluated for and receive the clot-busting drug tPA (tissue Plasminogen Activator). The stroke team determined that Judy had suffered an ischemic stroke, which occurs when an artery to the brain is blocked by a blood clot, and that she was a candidate for tPA.

“We gave Judy tPA within an hour of when she came to the emergency room, and within about four hours we could see a significant improvement,” said Joby Joseph, MD, neurologist.

After being moved to intensive care, Judy found comfort and strength in prayer.

“An evangelist friend came to pray with me, and the only thing I could do was cry,” Judy said. “I knew I had to give God praise, so I just opened my mouth and said, ‘I love you God.’ My family couldn’t believe it.”

Within 24 hours Judy showed significant improvements.

“By the next day she was a different person,” Joseph said. “She still had some speech problems and weakness, but she insisted on going home for Thanksgiving.”

Two days later she got her wish. Judy went home for Thanksgiving facing a long recovery, but a new perspective on life.

“I don’t take anything for granted,” she said. “I tire easy, and I rest a lot. Sometimes I get frustrated and think, ‘How long is this going to last?’ Then I realize I’m lucky to be here after a massive stroke!”

Judy was familiar with stroke before suffering one because she works in a

medical library and read information about it. But she had been in good health prior to her stroke, so she never thought something like this would happen to her.

“I had taken care of myself pretty good, I thought!” Judy said. “I had just biked 38 miles the month before and I didn’t take any medicines, so I thought I was doing pretty good. But this can happen to anyone.”

Joseph says there are many myths about stroke, which is why people often are in denial when experiencing its symptoms.

“People think stroke only affects the elderly, but we see patients in their 20s having strokes,” he said. “It doesn’t discriminate.”

Judy returned to work three months after her stroke. Her recovery continues, but her outlook is positive.

“I enjoy every day I’m alive,” she said. “My doctor calls me his miracle patient. My friend, the preacher, calls me a miracle – and I believe it. Through prayer, faith and medicine I am a miracle. God can use you to help others, and if my story helps just one person get medical help faster, then I feel I have done my part.”

camc.org 3

The national organ transplant waitlist now exceeds 110,000 people, with three out of every four people waiting for a kidney. Sadly, about 18 people die each day waiting for organs because the need is far greater than the supply.

To help raise awareness about the importance of organ donation, the Kidney Transplant Center at CAMC General Hospital, the Center for Organ Recovery and Education and the CAMC Foundation will sponsor the seventh annual “Power of Organ Donation Night” at Appalachian Power Park Friday, June 22.

Fans will have the opportunity to meet West Virginia native Quincy Wilson, who played college football for WVU from 1999-2003. He is best known for his unforgettable touchdown catch-and-run against the Miami Hurricanes in 2003. He went on to play professional football for the Cincinnati Bengals and Atlanta Falcons. Quincy is the son of former NFL linebacker Otis

Wilson, and became an advocate for organ donation after family friend and NFL Hall of Fame inductee, Walter Peyton, died of liver disease in 1999.

Current and former patients of CAMC’s Kidney Transplant Center will be honored on the field at 6:40 p.m. prior to the start of the WV Power baseball game at 7:05 p.m. The event will highlight the importance of organ and tissue donation by recognizing donors and recipients and giving fans the opportunity to sign donor cards. Plus, stop by the Kidney Transplant Center’s booth to meet Wilson and receive a free “Power of Organ Donation” T-shirt (while supplies last).

Former WVU football player to share organ donation message

Physician reflections

Charleston woman has new outlook on life after stroke

The annual 5-mile run is scheduled for

8:30 a.m., Saturday, June 16

All entry fees from Run for Your Life go to the CAMC Foundation to support

colorectal cancer awareness and screening.

Call (304) 388-9864 for more information.

A nursing degree opens the door to many career opportunities.

CAMC, in collaboration with Kanawha Valley Community and Technical College and Kanawha County RESA 3, Adult Basic Education, is in search of people who want to obtain an associate degree in nursing.

CAMC will provide educational assistance that covers degree-related costs in exchange for a commitment to work at CAMC.

To learn more, visit camc.org, click on Nursing, and then Nurse Education Financial Assistance Program. Applications will be accepted through May 31.

Run for Your Life

general ENT, doing laryngectomies and treating voice problems and vocal nodules.

He transitioned to Charleston Memorial Hospital and became interested in treating hearing loss. “When I did my residency, hearing aids were just being developed, and I had some experience at the Philadelphia Naval Hospital doing aural rehab,” he said.

Spencer took a course from a physician in Texas and worked to establish a hearing center in Charleston.

“It was a trend for hospitals to have hearing centers, and I thought every hospital with more than 300 beds should have one. I got approval and a room assigned to start one at Memorial Hospital,” he said.

After establishing his own office in downtown Charleston, Spencer began working with children from different clinics and schools, examining their ears. “In some of the clinics where I went, I’d say that 90 percent of them had some kind of ear disease and drainage,” he said.

“I started seeing children in the schools in Wayne County. I traveled there with my instruments and set up in the Wayne County Health Department. They would bring one busload of children in the morning and one in the afternoon. We turned up a lot of cases there,” Spencer said.

In addition, he traveled to Point Pleasant, Marlinton and Boone County, and did most of this work on a volunteer basis.

One of Spencer’s goals during his practice was to become a member of the American Triological Society. “I had to write a thesis and decided to write about cancer of the larynx. The American Cancer Society had just developed the first clinical staging

system for cancer, and I was then able to specify the grade of my cases, which had never been done before. The paper was accepted, and I became a member.”

Spencer also received specialized training in otology from Dr. Howard House in Los Angeles. “He was a very well-known and outstanding otologist. I was one of the first people to work with him, and it was his goal to have a fellowship of people who trained with him,” he said.

With his variety of experiences and active practice, Spencer remembers being very busy. “From the first day, I was very busy. I enjoyed medicine because it doesn’t stay the same: it’s advancing all the time,” he said. “I was given a lot of support by the physicians here. My experience with CAMC has been a great experience in all of its stages.”

Many of Spencer’s patients remember him as well. “Hardly a day goes by when I don’t run into someone who says that they remember me for taking their tonsils out.”

Power of Organ Donation Night at Appalachian Power Park

Friday, June 22CAMC employee discount:

$1 off per ticket (show ID badge)Call (304) 344-2287 for ticket information.

“I worked in several units before coming to medical rehabilitation,” Thompson said. She has worked on the medical rehabilitation unit for 17 years.

“CAMC paid for my education,” Thompson said, who graduated from the nursing school at the University of Charleston in 2002. “I worked full-time. I went to school during the day. When I wasn’t in school, I was working.”

She also has spent most of her career on the night shift. “I moved to that shift when I started having babies so I could be there for them during the day. I like where I’m at now. Most patients get better and go home with education and learning to deal with it.”

She has two sons who are also nurses at CAMC; Joey Kay works in the surgical intensive care unit at Memorial Hospital, and David Kay works in surgery at General Hospital.

Bob Gardner, 45 years, TransportBob Gardner has held a few different positions at CAMC, but they’ve all had one thing in common—transporting.

“I don’t think I could get lost if I tried,” Gardner joked.

Gardner has spent all 45 years working at General Hospital. He left naval reserve in 1967 and needed a job so he picked up an application and was hired.

“I was an attendant for eight years, assigned to a floor to transport as well as assist nurses, especially with male patients. I then worked in pharmacy stocking shelves, picking up prescription orders and dropping off medications on the floors. I also worked in

X-ray, doing the same thing, going to the units to bring patients for their tests and then taking them back to their rooms.”

Gardner says when he first started at CAMC they used walkie-talkies to communicate with the units. Now it’s computerized. The Transfer Tracking program uses phones and pagers to tell transporters where the patients are and where they need to be taken.

“The computer screen shows us who needs picked up and where to go. I enter a code in the phone in the office to say I’m on my way. I use the phone in the patient room to say I’ve picked up the patient, and I use the phone in the unit after I’ve delivered the patient.”

Once he’s back in the office he uses the phone to let everyone know he’s free for another delivery.

“I spend a lot of time on the phone,” Gardner said with a smile.

Gardner’s wife, Gerry, also works at CAMC as a nurse in employee health. “I met my wife here. We’ve basically lived here ever since.”

The thing he likes best about his job is the people.

“I like working with patients. You see a lot of people. I like helping them.”

And the people remember Gardner. “Some patients remember me. They say, ‘Are you still here?’”

Kathy Simms, 40 years, TranscriptionKathy Simms started working as a transcriptionist at Memorial Hospital right

after getting married, so 2012 also marks her 40th wedding anniversary.

“It’s been frequently challenging, but never boring,” Simms said.

She had to decide in junior high school what courses she would take in high school that would lead to a career in health care.

“In high school we went to school a half-day and worked in a business the other half for job training. I was trained at Holzer Medical Center and worked for them for a year and a half before getting married and moving to Charleston.”

Technology has really advanced in Simms’ field.

“Back when I started we used typewriters and carbon paper to make copies. Transcriptionists used to be at each hospital before they were consolidated at Memorial. The transcription process has become so technically advanced that transcriptionists can now work from home.”

Simms now supervises transcriptionists by the use of phone and email.

STROKE WARNING SIGNSAct fast and call 9-1-1 immediately at any sign of stroke. Use FAST to remember the warning signs:F = FACE: Ask person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?A = ARMS: Ask person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S = SPEECH: Ask person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?T = TIME: If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Source: National Stroke Association

Big anniversaries Continued from front page

Physician reflects Continued from page 2

Interested in becoming a nurse?

Doctors practicing at CAMC have used a da Vinci robot since 2006 for a variety of procedures. It provides surgeons with improved precision, dexterity and control, which leads to reduced pain, reduced blood loss and a shorter recovery time for patients.

CAMC recently took robot-assisted surgery to a higher level when it purchased a new model that gives surgeons a better view of their procedures.

The Near-Infrared Fluorescence Guidance for the da Vinci Surgical System uses technology similar to a black light so surgeons can better identify kidney tumors, blood vessels and whether the kidney is functioning after a tumor is removed.

“It’s very comforting to know that you’re getting all the cancer,” said Samuel Deem, DO, specializing in urologic oncology. “The

JOB surfing? Apply online camc.org

4 camc.org

Surgeons give the green light in kidney cancer surgery

most difficult part of a kidney-sparing procedure is getting the

entire tumor out while sparing as much kidney as possible.”

First the anesthesiologist injects a green dye into the patient. It takes about one minute for the dye to make it to the kidney. Using the fluorescent light, the surgeon watches the arteries carrying blood to the kidney turn green, then clamps them to reduce bleeding during the procedure.

The dye turns the kidney green, but the tumor remains black.

“We have had excellent results using only the robot,” Deem said. “But with fluorescence imaging, we feel more comfortable taking on the most challenging tumors because we can actually see that we’re not leaving tumor as we remove the mass.”

Deem flips on the fluorescent light at times during the procedure to make sure he’s cutting in the right spot. Then after cutting the tumor away from the kidney, he uses the light to confirm the cancer has been removed.

“We will see green on the edge of the tumor, indicating we haven’t cut into the tumor leaving any behind,” Deem explained. “Green on both sides confirms we took only a small portion of the kidney and have removed the entire tumor.”

“With the da Vinci robot, we have a 3-dimensional, high-definition, magnified image with incredible vision. The fluorescence guidance takes this vision to a new level allowing us to spare nearly all healthy kidney tissue. So with one flip of the switch, we feel much better telling the patient, ‘we have removed the entire mass and you still have more than 90 percent of your kidney.’”

Patients can feel confident knowing this technology means less risk of having to undergo a second surgery and they still have a large functioning kidney. For some people, that can be critical if they have other medical issues such as diabetes or high blood pressure.

“With this new technology, nearly every kidney can be saved and only the tumor removed,” Deem said.

A bad choice often has bad consequences. That’s why CAMC has purchased a Virtual Driver Interactive Simulator for distracted driving.

The initial target group is teens who are driving.

“We plan to work initially within the local county high schools to offer a program that targets the risky behavior of distracted driving related to cell phones (specifically texting) as a means to increase awareness and impact behaviors,” said Kim Morgan, RN, MSN, trauma prevention/outreach liaison.

The simulator was purchased through a grant provided by State Farm Insurance and the Charleston City Police Department, division of Highway Safety.

Morgan will be using the simulator at several outreach programs including “Broken Promises” that collaborates with several community groups to prevent drunk driving. This program is held annually at one of the local high schools near prom/graduation time.

“Ouchless” study Simulator educates drivers about distraction

When using a topical anesthetic like the lidocaine patch and cream, the patient must wait 20-30 minutes for the numbing to take place before a lab technician can complete the draw. While this would extend a patient’s time in the ER or lab, a majority of the parents/guardians mentioned in their evaluations that they would be willing to wait the extra time and spend additional funds to ensure their child had the most pleasant experience possible.

“One of the things you always struggle with is trying to make this an inviting environment for kids,” said Andrew Weber, vice president and administrator at Women and Children’s Hospital. “We’re trying to create an ‘ouchless’ experience so patients don’t develop a fear of hospitals when they require invasive procedures like a blood draw or an injection.

“It’s become a standard in children’s hospitals,” Weber said.

Women and Children’s also uses other tools to reduce the stress and anxiety of blood draws. In the waiting room in the outpatient lab, videos continuously play to help children focus on something other than the impending procedure. In inpatient settings, Christi Bissett, child life therapist, uses tools from bubbles to images projected on walls to distract pediatric patients from invasive procedures.

When a child needs their blood drawn, it can be a very scary and stressful experience for the patient and family. The experience is intensified if the patient is being treated in the emergency room.

That’s why a group of clinicians at CAMC Women and Children’s Hospital worked together to conduct a clinical trial to determine the best way to reduce the pain a pediatric or adolescent patient experiences during a routine or emergency blood draw.

Cristian Sirbu, PhD, research scientist at CAMC Institute, said that people who have adverse or traumatizing experiences with needles as children are more likely to develop a phobia of needles, referred to as blood-injection-injury (BII) phobia.

“About one in 10 patients seeking medical treatments reports an excessive fear of needles, mainly due to the anticipated pain,” Sirbu said. “This fear becomes a significant obstacle in delivering medical care when patients need blood tests or injections in our hospitals.”

The study tested a lidocaine/tetracaine patch, lidocaine cream and a placebo (a patch without actual medication administered). The results showed that both the patch and cream were significantly effective in reducing the pain a child experienced during the blood draw, and made the entire experience more bearable for everyone involved.

Patients who came to Women and Children’s were randomly placed into one of the three conditions of the trial. To measure the pain produced by the needle stick, children were asked to estimate the pain level before and during the procedure using the Faces of Pain Scale. The parent/guardian and a research observer completed evaluations based on observations of the anticipation, actual needle stick and the needle removal/bandaging involved in the procedure.

Dnt txt n drv.

It won’t kill u 2 put down the phone ;-)

“So not only has this CAMC service line seen growth in numbers, but these latter benchmarks place it amongst the top labs in the country.”

State-of-the-Art FacilityThe opening of the state-of-the-art CAMC Heart and Vascular Center a few years ago has helped keep CAMC cardiac services at the top.

“The [opening of the] center provided an expansion of cardiac catheterization and EP services with a focus on pre-and-post procedure patient services,” Arthur said. “This new technology and a patient-centered design have enhanced the patient experience.”

“From a cardiologist’s perspective, the opening of the center gave us access to a state-of-the-art medical facility with improved patient flow, as well as greater patient and family comfort,” Lilly said.

The Heart and Vascular Center offers seven catheterization labs and two electrophysiology labs. These labs were designed with efficiency in mind, as patients enter from the perimeter and supplies are located in center, allowing quicker access for cardiologists and heart surgeons to supplies needed for procedures.

“Not only did we get seven new cardiac catheterization labs with better X-ray equipment, the labs were large enough to accommodate new and future technologies, and the design with a central core for storage gave us ready access to needed equipment without having to maintain a large expensive inventory,” Lilly said.

The center also has direct access to the surgery suite at Memorial for emergency situations.

Plans for the Future“We continue to prepare for the future and work hard to anticipate what the needs of our patients will be,” Arthur said. “Our goal is not only to remain in the top of peoples’ minds when they think about cardiac care, but also to provide excellent patient experiences every day.”

Physicians predict an exciting future as well.

“In the future, we’ll be getting into percutaneous transluminal aortic valve implantation in people who are not candidates for open heart surgery,” Hasan said.

“I see more minimally invasive procedures, more valve surgeries and a more combined approach of cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons in our future,” Deel said.

Cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons at CAMC have more than more than 900 years of combined experience. With the expertise of the physicians and medical staff, CAMC will remain at the forefront of cardiac care in the future.

For more information about CAMC cardiac services visit camc.org/whatnumbers.

Cardiac services Continued from front page

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