“Dear Children’s”

April 25, 2011

Dear Children’s Hospital,

I had to send something about

the staff of Children’s Hospital. You

know a parent’s worst nightmare is

to have something wrong with their child and to

have to be admitted to any hospital. However, the

moment we walked in the door, we were put at

ease. We walked into the ER and were almost

immediately sent to the back into a room. The

doctor, the nurses, the assistants all let us know

what to expect and kept us informed every step

of the way. They let us know everything they

were doing and why they were doing it.

My wife and I were terrified to say the least,

but at the same time, we knew he was in the best

of hands. The doctor, Dr. Malik, was incredible.

Never have I met a doctor with such great bedside

manner as him. The overall experience, aside from Parker

being sick, was incredible. I almost became

annoyed with the question “Can I get you

anything?” It was like we had a new family for

a few days. The staff seemed as concerned about

our son as much as we were.

Blair King, Oak Ridge

On The Cover: Corey Wright of Morristown.Read his story on pages 4-6.

Dennis Ragsdale, Chairman • Bill Terry, M.D., Vice ChairmanMichael Crabtree, Secretary/Treasurer • John Buchneit, M.D. • Debbie Christiansen, M.D. • Dawn Ford • Keith D. Goodwin • Steven Harb • Lewis Harris, M.D. Dee Haslam • A. David Martin • Larry Martin • Christopher Miller, M.D. Steve South • Laurens Tullock • Danni Varlan • Jim Bush, Chair EmeritusWilliam G. Byrd, M.D., Chair Emeritus • Don Parnell, Chair Emeritus

Lise Christensen, M.D., Chief of Staff • Mark Cramolini, M.D., Vice Chief of Staff Lori Patterson, M.D., Secretary

Ken Wicker, M.D., Chief of Medicine • Cameron J. Sears, M.D., Chief of Surgery

Keith D. Goodwin, President/CEO • Bruce Anderson, Vice President for Legal Services & General Counsel • Laura Barnes, R.N., M.S.N., NEA-BC, Vice President for Patient Care • Joe Childs, M.D., Vice President for Medical ServicesZane Goodrich, CPA, Vice President for Finance & CFO • Carlton M. Long, Vice President for Development and Community Services • Rudy McKinley, Vice President for Operations • Sue Wilburn, Vice President for Human Resources

Ellen Liston, APR, Fellow PRSA, Director of Community RelationsWendy Hames, APR, Editor • Neil Crosby, Contributing Photographer

www.etch.com

Board of Directors

Medical Staff

Chiefs of Services

Administration

It’s About Children Staff

A quarterly publication of East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, It’s About Children is designed to inform the East Tennessee community about the hospital and the patients we serve. East Tennessee Children’s Hospital’s vision is Leading the Way to Healthy Children. Children’s Hospital is a private, independent, not-for-profit pediatric medical center that has served the East Tennessee region for nearly 75 years and is certified by the state of Tennessee as a Comprehensive Regional Pediatric Center.

“Because Children are Special…”…they deserve the best possible health care given in a positive, family-centered atmosphere of friendliness, cooperation and support -- regardless of race, religion or ability to pay.”…their medical needs are closely related to their emotional and informational needs; therefore, the total child must be considered in treating any illness or injury.”…their health care requires family involvement, special understanding, special equipment and specially trained personnel who recognize that children are not miniature adults.”…their health care can best be provided by a facility with a well-trained medical and hospital staff whose only interests and concerns are with the total health andwell-being of infants, children and adolescents.

Statement of Philosophy East Tennessee Children’s Hospital

Children’s Hospital is a Tobacco-Free and Smoke-Free Campus

April 28, 2011

Dear leaders and providers at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital in Knoxville, We hope you will accept our letter as a more personalized way to say thanks, in place of completing a Share a Compliment card. We certainly want to recognize all the team members involved with our child’s care who made the difference and no doubt we will have inadvertently left someone out (please forgive us for that). We greatly appreciate and wish life’s blessings to… RNs Sarah S., Michelle K., Jessica D. and Ben (forgot Ben’s last initial). These first-rate professionals further exemplify that nursing is a profession with genuinely compassionate people. Seemingly all these nurses are concentrated at ETCH! All of you were absolutely wonderful, and we couldn’t have imagined any better care than what you provided. Shannon with the Child Life department, who was absolutely terrific, “spot-on” with entertaining our child during a critical and painful medical intervention. She knows exactly how to relate to a little person in a very difficult

time and exact a smile under circumstances that normally wouldn’t produce one. All this from a most capable and caring individual. And there’s Teresa B. in Environmental Services. Teresa, you made us feel welcome, even “at home” by your very pleasant nature. Your outlook on life is positive and that certainly helped us during our stay. These caregivers and support team members consistently demonstrated a genuine dedication to service, providing high levels of compassion and skill always needed to ease the pain and emotional stress our child and we experienced recently while he was hospitalized for a week. We were also most impressed that every staff member we encountered asked, “Is there anything I can get for you?” And they meant it! Again, we say thank you and wish Children’s Hospital and its outstanding staff the very best.

Cordially, Sonya and Pete Prins, Knoxville

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Children’s Hospital NOTES

According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), 800,000 children ages 18 and younger go missing each year. For the 16th year, Shoney’s Restaurants and NCMEC are partnering to sponsor three KidCare ID events at area malls. The KidCare ID program offers parents the opportunity to get an official photo identification of their child. A KidCare ID includes a color photograph, fingerprints, height, weight, date of birth, medical profile and a 24-hour NCMEC hotline number. A KidCare ID can expedite the process of finding a missing child, and all parents are encouraged to have photo identification for each of their children. Also, the Knoxville Police Department will be available for fingerprinting, and representatives from Children’s Hospital and Safe Kids of the Greater Knox Area will be on-site to provide children’s safety information. ID cards and fingerprinting are provided free at all KidCare ID events.

Volunteers recognized for exemplary service,

commitment to Children’s Hospital

Children’s Hospital celebrated the many volunteers who donate

their time, efforts and love to our patients, their families and the

Children’s Hospital staff at the annual Volunteer Appreciation

brunch April 16. The first awards were presented to volunteers

who had achieved their milestone hours of service. In addition to

these awards, four volunteers received special awards for exemplary

service and commitment. The Edna H. Duncan Award honors a volunteer who shows

“personal and professional excellence in volunteer service” to the

hospital. This year, the Edna H. Duncan Award went to David

Haun, who began calling on Children’s Hospital 35 years ago as

a business forms sales representative. Haun is a past president and

currently an executive committee member of the Committee for

the Future and has served as president of the Volunteer Services

Council during 2010-2011. He has logged many hours helping

with special events like Camp Eagle’s Nest and Jammin’ in Your

Jammies. One of the highlights of his volunteer service is guiding

the pre-admission tours in preparation for surgery.

The second award, the Anne D. Regas Award, is presented to

a volunteer for “exemplary commitment, courage and perseverance

in volunteer service to Children’s Hospital.” This year’s recipient was

Debbie Roberts, who began her volunteer service in 2008. Roberts

regularly works in the gift shop and surgery lounge, and she is

consistently one of the first volunteers for any special event, such

as the Valentine kisses sale, Fantasy of Trees, Star 102.1 Radiothon

and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Telethon. Roberts

also recently organized the first Children’s Hospital uniform sale.

The only time you hear the word “no” from Roberts is when it is

followed by the word “problem” – as in “No problem, I’ll do it.”

Co-sponsors with Shoney’s Restaurants for the 2011 KidCare ID program include Children’s Hospital, Star 102.1 radio, WVLT-TV 8/Volunteer TV, the Knoxville News Sentinel, the Knoxville Police Department, Walgreens and Safe Kids of the Greater Knox Area. The KidCare event times and locations are as follows:

• Friday, August 19, 1-7 p.m. at Knoxville Center Mall (Knoxville)• Saturday, August 20, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. at West Town Mall (Knoxville) • Sunday, August 21, 12-6 p.m. at Foothills Mall (Maryville)

For more information, contact Annie LaLonde at Shoney’s at (865) 690-6331.

KidCare ID Program

Articles by Megan Helvey, student intern

The third award presented was the “24 Karat” Award, given to

a volunteer who demonstrates “enthusiastic participation in volunteer

service to Children’s Hospital.” The recipient of this year’s “24 Karat”

Award was Don McWilliams, who has accumulated more than

2,000 hours of volunteering since July 2004. McWilliams most often

can be found in the surgery lounge, where his attention to detail and

organization mixed with a lighthearted sense of humor makes him

a perfect fit for Children’s Hospital.

The last award was the Shining Star Award, established to

recognize dedication to evening and weekend volunteer service to

Children’s Hospital. This year John Eblen received the Shining

Star Award. Eblen began his volunteer service in the summer of

2003 and has since dedicated more than 1,000 hours of service to

the hospital. He volunteers every minute he can, making sure patients

have the best experience possible at Children’s Hospital. For example,

Eblen spent hours working on the hospital’s in-room video system

so patients can watch their favorite movies.

2011 volunteer award honorees (left to right): David Haun, Debbie Roberts, John Eblen, Don McWilliams

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For Corey Wright, a 13-year-old boy from Morristown, the night of October 13, 2010, started off like any other autumn evening. After school, Corey did homework, talked on the phone, played Xbox and ate dinner with his family. Corey’s parents, Carrie and Shane Wright, were not concerned when he complained of a stiff neck since he had just returned from a weekend camping trip with the Boy Scouts. “We thought it was a muscle spasm or the result of an active weekend with the boys, not anything serious,” Carrie said. Despite his discomfort, Corey continued his normal activities and even jumped on the trampoline with his brothers and sisters. When his pain progressed after dinner, his parents gave him pain reliever and told him to lie down. Suddenly Corey started screaming and complaining of shooting pains throughout his body. “Corey is not a complainer, so I knew something must be terribly wrong,” Carrie said. Corey insisted on taking his shirt off but realized he was not able to raise his right arm. While the Wright family waited on an ambulance, Corey began to slur his speech. “Within 30 minutes, he had lost complete control of the right side of his body. Within an hour and a half, he was not able to speak at all and had lost control of his arms and legs,” Carrie said. An ambulance rushed Corey to Jefferson Memorial Hospital in Jefferson City. Corey underwent a spinal tap and several scans, but the results were inconclusive. “Corey was in so much pain. I just kept asking ‘where has my child gone?’ He was perfectly healthy just hours before,” Carrie said. Corey was then transported by ambulance to the Emergency Department at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. A team of doctors, including pediatric neurologist Dr. Karsten Gammeltoft, were waiting on the Wrights when they arrived. After examining Corey, Dr. Gammeltoft immediately suspected transverse myelitis, a neurological disorder caused by the inflammation of the spinal cord. Corey underwent several scans and soon was diagnosed with idiopathic transverse myelitis and admitted to the Goody’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Children’s Hospital. Symptoms of transverse myelitis develop rapidly and include limb weakness, sensory disturbance, back pain and bowel/bladder dysfunction. Corey’s case of transverse myelitis was idiopathic, meaning the disorder occurred without an apparent underlying cause. It is assumed to be the result of abnormal activation of the immune system against the spinal cord that could potentially have been caused by an underlying virus or an environmental factor.

Corey

The section of Corey’s spine that was inflamed affects breathing, so Corey had to rely on a breathing tube. “We knew it was going to be a long road of recovery. The doctors told us to expect months or maybe a whole year of recovery. We decided we weren’t going to let this beat us,” Carrie said. Corey was initially treated with a high dose of steroids to reduce the inflammation in his spinal cord. His body did not have a response so doctors looked for other options. Corey’s primary care physician, Dr. Regina Phillips, knew Dr. Benjamin Greenberg, a pediatric transverse myelitis specialist, in Dallas, Texas, who suggested a treatment called plasmapheresis. The team of critical care doctors at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital decided to try the treatment, which removed Corey’s blood through a small tube in his groin and separated blood cells from the plasma. The blood cells were returned to his body immediately while the plasma was treated and then returned. “They could only do the treatment every other day, and the doctors told us we would be able to see noticeable improvement after four treatments,” Carrie said. “The morning after the fourth treatment he was able to move his legs and squeeze my hand; it was a miracle.” Despite Corey’s improvement, his family was worried they were going to have to travel to another city for further treatment and rehabilitation. “The team of critical care doctors fought for us to stay here. It was wonderful to be able to stay close to the whole family. We were incredibly thankful that we could receive treatment at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital and at the Rehabilitation Center,” Carrie said. Corey improved after each plasmapheresis treatment and completed seven treatments before he was released from

Left: The entire Wright family traveled from Morristown to visit with the big brother of the family during his stay at Children’s Hospital.

Right: The Wright family, from left: Sidnee (10), dad Shane holding Gracee (1), Peyton (12), Hansen (2), Corey (13), mom Carrie and Presley (5). Credit: family photo by Vicky Bacon.

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PediatricphysiatristDr.NadineTrainerhasmorethan25yearsofexperienceinphysicalmedicineandrehabilitation.AsMedicalDirectorforChildren’sHospital’srehabilitationservices,sheprovidesclinicaloversightofoutpatient,inpatientandHomeHealthCarerehabilitationservices. Physiatryfocusesontreatingallaspectsofachild’sdevelopmentandestablishingatreatmentplanthatincorporatesphysical,occupationalandspeechtherapygoals.Patientsoftenhaveadevelopmentaldisability,problemswithfineororalmotorskills,orcomplaintsofmuscularpainordiscomfort. Childrentodayincreasinglysurvivechronicandacuteillnesses,leadingtoagrowingpopulationofchildrenwhoneedtheuniqueelementsofphysiatrycare.Alongwithprovidinginpatientconsultation,assessmentandcareplanningservices,Dr.Trainermanagesaseating/wheelchairclinic,workingwithspecialistsinphysicaltherapyandmedicalequipmenttodesignindividualplansforwheelchairs,bathchairsandotherdevicestoimproveindependenceandfunction. Dr.TraineralsomanagestheChildren’sHospitaldevelopmentalfollow-upclinicwhichmonitorsthehealthanddevelopmentofchildrenbirthtotwoyearsoldathighriskfordevelopmentaldelays.Inaddition,sheadmitsandsupervisesthecareofpatientsinChildren’sCorner,anintensivedaytreatmentprogram. Rehabilitationstaffmemberstreat50-75patientseachweekdayattheoutpatientRehabCenterlocatedinWestKnoxvilleandseeallChildren’sHospitalinpatientswhoneedrehabcare.Evaluationandtreatmentservicesarechildandfamily-focused,multidisciplinaryandcomprehensive. Physicaltherapyfocusesondevelopmentofskillsneededtofunctionallymoveintheenvironment,suchaswalkingorusingawheelchair.TheRehabCenter’stherapeuticpooloffersasettingfor

practicingphysicaltherapyskillsthroughaquaticrehabilitation.Physicaltherapistsalsocastcustomshoeinsertsandfabricatesplintstoassistinreachingtherapygoals.TheyplayanimportantroleintheHealthyWaysandRx:Fitnessprograms,aswellasrheumatology,cysticfibrosisandhematology/oncologyclinics. Occupationaltherapistsfocusonfinemotorskillsandimprovingachild’sdailylivingactivitiesthroughtherapy.Servicesareprovidedintherapyrooms,thepoolandthesensoryintegrationroom,whichisequippedwithspecializedequipmenttohelpchildrenprocesssensoryinput. Speechtherapyservicesincludeoralmotordevelopmentandfeeding,developmentofreceptiveandexpressivecommunicationskillsandaccesstotechnologythatassistsapatientduringtherapy.Speechtherapysessionsalsomaybeheldinthepooltoimproveachild’sbreathcapacity,vocalizationandvolume.Speechtherapistsparticipateinthecleftlipandpalateclinicandworkwithradiologystafftoperformmodifiedbariumswallowstudies. Socialworkersaddressfamilyneeds,includingresourcecoordination,education,behaviormanagement,interpretiveservicesandadvocacy.Socialworkersworkwithfamiliestohelpthemaccesspublicschoolservicesrequiredforachievementofeducationalgoals. Goodnutritioniscriticaltohealthanddevelopment.Nutritionservicesareanintegralaspectofrehabservicesandsupportoccupational,physicalandspeechtherapygoals. NursingservicesarekeytoChildren’sCorner.Patientsreceiveatleastthreehoursofphysical,occupationalandspeechtherapydaily,interwovenwithnursing,nutrition,socialwork,educationalanddevelopmentalplayservices.

by Hayley Martin, Public Relations Specialist

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Age: 13

School and grade: Upcoming eighth grader at Lincoln Heights Middle School in Morristown, Tenn.Fun fact: He is the older brother to five brothers & sistersPersonality traits: Smart, quiet, dependable, loyal Favorite color: Green

Favorite food: LasagnaFavorite movie: AvatarFavorite TV show: WrestlingFavorite school subject: ScienceWhat I do for fun: Play basketball with friendsWhat I want to be when I grow up: Neurologist

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his teeth and dress himself for school. “I didn’t realize what an occupational therapist did, but it was fascinating. She worked with him on his handwriting, schoolwork and even taught him how to transfer money from one container to another. She also had him work with play dough to strengthen the palms of his hands,” Carrie said. Since Corey relied on a breathing tube while in the hospital, his voice was very weak. A speech therapist worked with Corey on many exercises that required him to project his voice. During the hardest projection exercise, Corey sat on one side of a closed door and the speech therapist sat on the other. Corey had to speak loud enough so that he and the therapist could have a conversation through the closed door. The therapist also had him do breathing exercises like blowing bubbles and blowing a whistle to strengthen his lungs. Corey excelled in speech therapy and soon his voice was as strong as it was before he became sick. Corey was released from intensive rehabilitation therapy the day before Thanksgiving. “God really performed a miracle when he healed Corey so quickly. We were prepared to continue treatment and therapy for a year, and he was healed within a month,” Carrie said. “We only notice every now and then that the right side is still a little weaker. We are so grateful that Corey is healthy and happy,” Carrie said.

by Hayley Martin, Public Relations Specialist

Corey

Children’s Hospital. Transverse myelitis usually does not reoccur in patients, and Dr. Gammeltoft firmly believed Corey would not have a relapse. “By the time I left the hospital, I was able to walk a little bit and my tolerance level was up,” Corey said. Corey required three types of rehabilitation therapy, and the Children’s Corner program at Children’s Hospital Rehabilitation Center was able to meet all his medical needs. Corey’s first day of intensive therapy at Children’s Corner was on November 15, 2010, almost exactly a month since he was diagnosed with transverse myelitis. Corey worked with a physical therapist several times a day to build his strength. “The physical therapist made it fun. My favorite thing was strength training in the pool. I swam laps, played games and even lifted water weights. They were hard at first, but as I got my strength back they became easier,” Corey said. He also played basketball, walked on the treadmill, played Wii games and walked outside for terrain training. Each exercise was designed specifically for Corey to build his strength and endurance. His physical therapist also worked to strengthen Corey’s right side, which was considerably weaker than his left and affected the way he walked. “I told my physical therapist that I wanted to be able to run again, and on the last day of my training I was able to run down the hall,” Corey said. The teenager also worked with an occupational therapist to help him learn how to do everyday activities again like brush

Top left: Corey with one of his neurologists, Dr. Anna Kosentka.

Top, middle: Corey with some of the pediatric intensive care unit staff before he was discharged.

Top, right: Corey enjoyed some time with his sister, Sidnee, and brother, Peyton, while at Children’s Hospital.

Bottom, left: Corey washed his hands with his occupational therapist, Stephanie, as part of his therapy to regain strength in his hands.

Bottom, right: Corey engaged in some Xbox therapy during his hospitalization.

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Leading The Way

“Have you washed your hands?” This is a question being asked with greater frequency these days at Children’s Hospital. Last fall, Children’s Hospital employees participated in a hand hygiene survey that highlighted the impact our employees’ attention to good hand washing and alcohol hand cleaning has on the safety of patients and their families, hospital visitors and coworkers. The survey showed that our employees already do a great job of hand washing and believe it is important to educate patients, families and visitors on good hand hygiene. Of course, however, there is always room for improvement. Darci Hodge, R.N., Director of Infection Control, said creating greater awareness of hand hygiene among patients, families and visitors is an ongoing effort at Children’s Hospital. Some examples: • Signage in all patient rooms requesting the sink area remain clear of personal items and patient equipment. This allows easy access to the sink area for hand washing. • A patient and family hand hygiene education program in Children’s Corner at the Children’s Hospital Rehabilitation Center.

• Expanded availability of alcohol-based hand cleaning products throughout all buildings on the hospital’s campus, including at all elevators. • Multi-level support so employees feel more comfortable in politely asking others to wash hands. According to the handwashing survey, Children’s Hospital employees do not mind being asked to wash hands; however, some staff members are uncomfortable asking others to wash their hands. To continue improving good hand hygiene at Children’s Hospital, a new program will be available to employees this fall. Staff will have the opportunity to answer questions about

their personal hand hygiene, then choose three goals to work toward based on the results. The program will provide tips on how to accomplish these goals, with a reassessment after 30 days. Children’s Hospital recognizes the impact hand hygiene has on safety and encourages employees, patients, families and visitors to continue to pay special attention to good hand hygiene. Keeping everyone safe and healthy is in your hands.

by Megan Helvey, student intern

Children’s Hospital’s vision statement is “Leading the Way to Healthy Children.” In this series in It’s About Children, we are sharing with our readers some of the many ways we are “Leading the Way.” Outstanding practices by Children’s Hospital departments

are highlighted – things that are, although quite commonplace at our pediatric medical center, actually rather unique. This series showcases the exceptional work done at Children’s Hospital and demonstrates how the hospital is a great place to work.

Hand hygiene an important focus at Children’s Hospital

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Subspecialist Profile:Susan Spiller, M.D.

A college course in the genetics of cancer and a desire to help people led Susan Spiller, M.D., into the field of pediatric hematology/oncology, while a love for the mountains brought her to East Tennessee and Children’s Hospital. In June, Dr. Spiller joined the pediatric hematology/oncology practice of Ray Pais, M.D.; Shahid Malik, M.D.; and John Stephen Corns, D.O.; at Children’s Hospital. Dr. Spiller was drawn to pediatric hematology because she felt there was a tremendous need in the field to help these very sick young patients. Unlike adult oncology, however, the majority of children with cancer are long-term survivors. She also liked the aspect of being able to work with parents. “Parents are advocates on your side,” she said. “Even if a patient doesn’t want to do what you are asking, you have a cheerleader at home on your side” – the parents who want their child to be cured. Dr. Spiller grew up in the mountains and hills of upstate New York and loves that area of the country. But much of her family is in the South, so that drew her to this region. When she met with the hematology/oncology practice here, she was impressed with how happy everyone seemed. “I want to raise my children where people are happy, where I can have job satisfaction, and where we can go to the mountains whenever we want to,” she said. Diagnoses for patients referred to a pediatric hematologist/ oncologist include all types of cancers and blood problems, such as neutropenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia (low platelets) and sickle cell disease. Some patients’ needs involve making a diagnosis and providing education, while others require significant care. Children with sickle cell disease, for example, require ongoing health maintenance to prevent such serious complications as infections and strokes. Most cancer patients require treatment and long-term follow-up evaluations. The most common types of cancer in children are leukemias, lymphomas, brain tumors and other solid tumors, rather than common adult cancers of the lung, breast, prostate and colon. Treatment for

cancer has improved in recent years due in large part to cooperative groups working together to share information and ideas for making treatments more effective and less toxic. Additionally, better imaging techniques using CT, MRI and PET scans enable more precise staging and earlier detection of recurrence. New cancer drugs are being developed every day that target cancer cells and spare normal tissue, yielding better success rates. Better antibiotics to fight risky infections and improve prevention in individuals with decreased immunity due to chemotherapy, and safe, available blood for transfusions are also helping to improve cancer care. The flip side of improved care is the challenge

of telling parents their child has cancer. “It’s always difficult because it’s devastating to the parents, whether the cancer is treatable or not,” Dr. Spiller said. “I work hard to provide parents with really good information so they understand their child’s diagnosis and know what to worry about as well as what they don’t have to worry about.” Dr. Spiller is particularly interested in brain tumors. “I have done a lot of research in brain tumors, which has helped me to understand the unique challenges that face this population of patients,” she said. “I like to think this helps me anticipate potential problems that can be prevented or prepare families if prevention isn’t possible.” The pediatric hematology/oncology group at Children’s Hospital is a member of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG). This organization of more than 200 member institutions worldwide conducts clinical trials and performs research to identify cancer causes and pioneer treatments and cures. Because of this affiliation, Children’s is able to offer the same treatment regimens as other Children’s Oncology Group institutions for most types of childhood cancer. Among the more well-known of the COG member institutions are Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City; Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.; and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis.

B.S. (Molecular Genetics) – University of Rochester, Rochester, N.Y., 1988

M.D. – Albany Medical College, Albany, N.Y., 1995

Internship (Pediatrics) – Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas, 1995-96

Residency (Pediatrics) – Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pa., 1999-2001

Fellowship (Pediatric Hematology/Oncology) – Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center/University of Washington/Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Wash., 2001-04

About Dr. SpillerOther – United States Navy, Medical Corps, 1996-99; clinical/research junior faculty position, Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center/University of Washington/Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Wash., 2004-06; assistant professor of pediatrics, The Children’s Hospital at University of Alabama, Birmingham, 2006-11

Family – Husband, Richard Spiller; four children: Brennan (8), Jalen (6), Molly (4) and Megan (2)

Personal interests – Hiking, biking, running, baking, spending time with family

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What’s New at

Neonatologist Buchheit joins Board of Directors

As Chief of the Medical Staff for Children’s Hospital in 2009 and 2010, John Buchheit, M.D., had a seat at the table with the hospital’s Board of Directors. Once his two-year term as Chief of Staff ended, he took a six-month “break” and now returns to the Board of Directors as a regular member. Dr. Buchheit is a neonatologist and has been director of the Neonatology Department at Children’s Hospital for the past eight years. “Sixteen years ago I was taken in by a wonderful group of neonatologists and nurses,” he said. “They have loved me, mentored me and been very supportive. I appreciate them all for this – it’s a great place to work!” During his two years on the Board of Directors as Chief of Staff, Dr. Buchheit was deeply involved in quality initiatives, and he hopes to continue this important work. He also is involved in strategic planning. “We are completing a cycle of work as we look to the future of what Children’s Hospital needs to be for Knoxville and the entire region of East Tennessee,” he said. “We have a lot to offer.” He pointed out that the NICU receives and cares for babies from throughout East Tennessee. More than half of the NICU’s admissions are for babies born at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, which has a major perinatal program that works closely with the Children’s Hospital neonatologists. However, many of the mothers giving birth at Fort Sanders are from areas outside of Knox County who are being treated at Fort Sanders due to pregnancy complications or expected birth complications. The NICU also sees admissions of babies born at hospitals throughout the region, who are transported to Children’s Hospital via the Lifeline Neonatal Transport Service. Dr. Buchheit brings unique expertise to the Board as a physician who practices here on a daily basis. He knows the hospital’s culture well. “The medical staff and everyone are so positive,” he said. “We’re all working toward the same goal. We may be trying to do different things in our different roles, but it works because we are all headed in the same direction to provide the best care we can to our patients.” Dr. Buchheit’s first real experience with neonatal intensive care came as a parent, although not at this hospital. While he was in fellowship training in Louisville, Ky., to become a neonatologist, his newborn son Quincy was hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit there. “It had a big impact on me and on my wife,” Dr. Buchheit said. “We both learned a great deal about how to be supportive during the difficult times we go through here.” Besides that one experience, the Buchheits are thankful to have only needed Children’s Hospital for minor and routine care for their children over the years. Originally from Jamestown, Tenn., and a 1984 graduate of the University of Tennessee, Dr. Buchheit completed medical school at the University of Tennessee in Memphis in 1988 before moving to Louisville, where he completed his pediatrics residency and neonatology fellowship at the University of Louisville School of Medicine over the next six years. He was pleased to be able to return to his native East Tennessee once he completed fellowship training.

Dr. Buchheit and his wife, Sabra, are the parents of Quincy, now 18, and Rachel, 14. Both Quincy and Rachel served this summer at Children’s Hospital in the Volun“Teens” program. The family is active with their church, where Mrs. Buchheit, a musician, is an organist and pianist, while Dr. Buchheit sings in the choir. Dr. Buchheit has also been involved in the community through such organizations as the March of Dimes (he previously served on its board) and Boy Scouts (he served as a den leader for a few years when Quincy was younger). These days, other than church activities, Dr. Buchheit is focused on parenting his two teenagers and caring for this region’s premature and sick newborns. “The NICU is busy and time-consuming, so I choose my outside activities carefully,” he said. One of the issues keeping Dr. Buchheit and his colleagues so busy in the NICU is Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS), which is the term used to describe the health issues addicted babies experience after they are born. In the past year alone, the Children’s Hospital NICU has seen about 70 infants admitted for drug withdrawal (around 600 infants are treated in the NICU each year), and the neonatal team has cared for many other babies in the nurseries at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center and Parkwest Medical Center whose symptoms were not severe enough to warrant NICU admission. Dr. Buchheit and his colleagues believe this problem has become epidemic in East Tennessee. “We are pleased that John has agreed to return to the Board of Directors,” said Keith Goodwin, Children’s Hospital President/CEO. “His love for Children’s Hospital is evident in his many years of dedicated service here. He was a valuable asset to the board during his tenure as Chief of Staff, and I know he will continue to contribute greatly to the board in the coming years.”

Quincy, Sabra, John and Rachel Buchheit (left to right)

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What’s New atGo online as you get ready

for ‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’

Preparations for the 2011 Fantasy of Trees are well underway, and an exciting change for this year’s event is a new event website – www.fantasyoftrees.org! Children’s Hospital worked with In10sity Interactive-Advertising-Consulting of Lenoir City to develop the new Fantasy of Trees “microsite” to spread the word about Fantasy of Trees. In time for the planning of this year’s holiday show, this microsite features a festive design that is all about the holidays, as well as a clearer way to find important information about the annual Thanksgiving-week event for Children’s Hospital. We hope you will check it out to get answers to any questions you have about Fantasy of Trees. In 2011, this special holiday event will showcase a theme of “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” highlighted with nostalgic decorations and designs that celebrate and showcase the simple pleasures of the holidays from the 1950s, complete with classic cars, a kaleidoscope of colors reflecting on silver trees and the many sights, colors and sounds of a vintage holiday celebration. The proceeds from this year’s Fantasy of Trees are financing a wide variety of purchases and projects for the Radiology and Pharmacy Departments and the Lifeline Transport Service. The 2011 Co-Chairs are Todd Heptinstall and Genia Jackson, and the Assistant Co-Chair is Janice Davis. Last year, the 26th annual Fantasy of Trees was once again an East Tennessee holiday tradition – it raised $351,405, the second highest total

ever for this event. Over the past 26 years, the Fantasy of Trees has raised more than $5.7 million for Children’s Hospital. For more information on how to volunteer for the 2011 Fantasy of Trees or to be a sponsor, visit www.fantasyoftrees.org, contact the Children’s Hospital Volunteer Services Department at (865) 541-8385 or email fot@etch.com.

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What’s New atInformation Services prepares for Electronic Medical Record

  One of Children’s Hospital’s strategic initiatives is the establishment of an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) for patient information over the next two years. All documentation will become automated in patient care departments throughout the hospital, Children’s Home Health Care and the Children’s Hospital Rehabilitation Center. Children’s Hospital will also electronically connect with its medical staff as well as to other health care institutions in the East Tennessee region and, eventually, across the state. This will help provide necessary health information as quickly as possible for the patients that Children’s Hospital serves. For the past year, the Information Services (IS) Department at Children’s Hospital has been replacing all necessary hardware to transition to the newest software. Over the next two years, IS will finish integrating other systems to the new software to give medical staff and families access to appropriate medical information from off campus. To achieve these goals, Children’s Hospital has hired a Chief Information Officer (CIO) to manage the complex new system. John Hanks was named Co-Director/CIO for IS at Children’s Hospital in May. In his position, Hanks will be responsible for strategic IS planning, Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) and physician documentation, budget development for the EMR, and serve as representative with the Health Information Network for East

Tennessee. He also will be responsible for meeting the requirements for Meaningful Use of the hospital’s Electronic Medical Record over the next several years and for obtaining federal reimbursement of several million dollars for Children’s Hospital. An East Tennessee native, Hanks served in a similar role at Blount Memorial Hospital for 12 years and has more than 25 years of experience in Information Systems management. The current Director of Information Systems, Barbara Wilson, will continue her director role as Co-Director of Information Services with the responsibility of focusing on department operations, planning and coordinating schedules, infrastructure/ network, and information access and security.

by Taylor Griffin, student intern

Regional officials certified in child passenger safety•CityofOakRidge FireDepartment•SevierCountySheriff ’sOffice•SoddyDaisyPolice Department•TennesseeHighwayPatrol•UniversityofTennesseeMedicalCenter Inaddition,CityofOakRidgeFirefighterEricRackardparticipatedasacourseassistantinpreparationofbecomingaNationalChildPassengerSafetyCertificationinstructor.OnceFirefighterRackardcompletestherequirements,hewillbethefirstfirefighterinourareatobecomeaninstructor. IncoordinationwiththeNationalChildPassengerSafetyCertificationtraining,StateFarmheldits11thannualChildSafetyDayonJune16atOakRidgeHighSchool.StateFarmagentRudyMillerprovidedsupportforaStateFarmgrantthathelpedpayfortheweeklongcourse.MillergaveoutStateFarmbears,prizesandsafetyinformationtothoseattendingthecheckpoint.Thenewlycertifiedcarpassengersafetytechniciansprovidedfreeinspectionsofchildsafetyseatsandaddressedcommonmistakesonproperchildsafetyrestraints. Formoreinformationonupcomingcarseatcheckpoints,visithttp://www.etch.com/safe_kids/ car_seat_check_points.aspx.

by Megan Helvey, student intern

OnJune13-16,SafeKidsoftheGreaterKnoxAreasponsoredNationalChildPassengerSafetyCertificationtrainingatOakRidgeHighSchool.TheCityofOakRidgeFireDepartmenthostedthe32-hourtrainingprogramtoeducateindividualswhowanttobecomecertifiedchildpassengersafetytechnicians.Aneight-hourrecertificationcoursetookplaceJune17. Thetrainingcoursefocusedonhands-onpracticeandgroupdiscussionontopicssuchasrelevantfederalandstatepassengersafetyprograms,correctinstallationofchildrestraints,organizingandcoordinatingachildseatcheckupevent,andethicalconsiderationsrelatedtochildpassengersafety.Writtenandperformanceexaminationswererequiredtobecomeanationallycertifiedchildpassengersafetytechnician. Intotal,24participantsrepresentedtheseregionalorganizations:•CampbellCountySchools•ClaxtonVolunteerFireDepartment•CityofClintonFireDepartment•CityofHarrimanFireDepartment•KnoxCountySheriff ’sOffice•CityofKnoxvilleFireDepartment•LisaRossWomen’s&BirthingCenter•MarlowVolunteerFireDepartment•CityofMaynardvillePoliceDepartment•CityofPigeonForgeFireDepartment 11

Please let us know if you have included Children’s Hospital in your estate plans or if you are interested in doing so. We wish to honor those individuals who have included Children’s Hospital as a beneficiary in their will or who have established

life income gifts such as charitable gift annuities or charitable trusts that will benefit Children’s Hospital. For more information on estate planning, please

contact Carlton Long, Vice President for Development and Community Services, at (865) 541-8172 or at cmlong@etch.com.

SIX QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR WILLUse this checklist to make sure your last will and testament is current.

Is My Will Valid?Laws differ from state to state. Have you moved since you last updated your will?

It makes sense to review your current will or draft a new one.

Is My Will Up To Date?An out-of-date will actually causes more problems for your loved ones than not

having a will at all. Tax laws change and the size of your assets may have changed as well. Updating your will allows you to take advantage of recent tax

developments and the new techniques in estate planning.

Is My Will Safely Stored?Where do you keep the original copy of your will? This valuable document

should be kept in a bank safety deposit box or some other location where it is protected from fire and theft.

Does My Will Represent My Wishes? Your family situation may have changed since you created your will.

Perhaps your estate has grown beyond your earlier estimates. You might have changed your mind about earlier bequests.

Does My Representative KnowWhere I Store My Will?

Be sure that after you select a safe place to store your will, you tell your personal representative where to find your will, as well as a

list of your personal accounts, assets and instructions.

Have I Included Children’s HospitalIn My Estate Plans?

If you update your will, we hope you will consider adding a bequest to Children’s Hospital. This is a wonderful way to create

a lasting legacy, as well as to ensure that Children’s Hospital will be able to continue to fulfill its mission to provide quality health care to the children of East Tennessee.

Planned givingHave you included Children’s Hospital in your estate plans?

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Butterfly Fund 5K The second annual Butterfly Fund 5K is set for Saturday, August 20 at Cherokee Boulevard in Sequoyah Hills at 9 a.m. Proceeds benefit the Children’s Hospital Hematology/Oncology Clinic to assist with services for families and children dealing with childhood cancer. The Butterfly Fund was established after two young Children’s Hospital patients, Emily Barger and Maddie Harrill, were diagnosed with a rare form of pediatric cancer in 2007 and died within three weeks of each other during the summer of 2008. The fund raises support and awareness for pediatric cancer research, treatment and services. Title Sponsor for the event is Brogan Financial Inc. For details, contact the Development Department at (865) 541-8441.

Bluegrass Festival The 2011 Bluegrass Festival is set for Saturday, September 10, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Union Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Farragut. Food and crafts vendors will be set up, and live music will be featured. Proceeds will benefit the Open Door Fund, which allows Children’s Hospital to provide quality care for children in families with financial limitations. For more information, contact Judy Perkins at (865) 966-9040.

CureSearch Walk The Knoxville CureSearch Walk is Saturday, September 17, at Volunteer Landing. CureSearch for Children’s Cancer is a non-profit organization that funds the efforts of the Children’s Oncology Group, the world’s largest children’s cancer research organization, and is available to Children’s Hospital’s pediatric oncologists through grant funding. To register, go to www. Curesearchwalk.org.

Phonathon Children’s Hospital’s 20th annual Phonathon will take place September 15 through October 28. Previous donors will be asked to consider renewing their pledges for 2012. Last year, the Phonathon raised more than $70,000 with the help of businesses, professional organizations and University of Tennessee student groups who donated their time to call donors. To volunteer to make calls, call the Development Department at (865) 541-8441.

Articles by Taylor Griffin, student intern

Calendar of Events

In the early 1980s, a few years after the Haslam Family Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) opened, Children’s Hospital added an important service to transport premature babies from hospitals in surrounding areas. This service consisted of a transport team and one ambulance called Lifeline. Now, nearly 30 years later, the Children’s Hospital transport service has multiple dedicated neonatal and pediatric teams available 24/7 and two Lifeline ambulances, including a new highly advanced, custom-made neonatal/pediatric transport ambulance acquired just a few months ago. Funded by a generous donation from this area’s 24 Walmart and Sam’s Clubs, the new Lifeline ambulance cost $250,000. The inside of the RV-sized ambulance is equipped like an intensive care unit. Because of its size, the new Lifeline ambulance can bring more of a child’s family members on the transport. It can also fit up to two transport teams (made up of nurses, neonatologists, nurse practitioners and respiratory therapists) when transporting more than one child. Enough supplies are on the ambulance that any size patient, from a premature infant to a 21-year-old, can be cared for upon transfer to Children’s Hospital. “Parents have told me many times how thankful they are that their child can be transferred to the hospital in such a high-tech ambulance,” said Greg Bohanan, Children’s Hospital’s Lead

Transport Tech responsible for upkeep of the ambulance and driving it on transport calls. “Having an ICU room on wheels is critical and can even make the difference between life and death.” The new Lifeline ambulance is as high tech on the inside as it is visually appealing on the outside. Another important aspect of

the new ambulance is the fact that it goes on over 365 calls each year, an average of more than one transport per day. A transport run made by the Lifeline ambulance may last up to four hours each way, while a typical ambulance only goes on a 20-minute run. Each year, transport teams travel about 40,000 miles to 25-30 hospitals within a 100-mile radius of Children’s Hospital. “Lifeline is an invaluable resource for East Tennessee. It gives quick access to Children’s Hospital for the region’s most fragile patients,” said Sheri Smith, R.N., Nursing Director for Critical Care Services at Children’s Hospital. “As the only Comprehensive Regional Pediatric Center in East Tennessee, it is our role to make sure these children receive the best possible pediatric care.” Special thanks goes to Walmart and Sam’s Clubs, which raised the money for Lifeline through employee fundraising, community events and the sale of paper balloons at store locations.

Custom-made Lifeline added to Children’s Hospital transport service

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Q&A

As children reach their pre-teen and teenage years, many become increasingly concerned about their weight and appearance. This concern is a normal occurrence, but it can sometimes result in damaging disorders involving crash diets, excessive exercising, overeating and a distorted perception of the child’s appearance. Nicole Swain, Psy.D., pediatric psychologist at Children’s Hospital, discusses children and their evolving body image, and what parents can do to help.

What can I do to boost my child’s body image and self-esteem? At the pre-teen and teenage stage in a child’s life, it is important for parents to be accepting and supportive, providing positive messages, and encouraging other qualities that keep looks in perspective. It is important to:

• Accept and understand. Recognize that being concerned about looks is as much a part of the teen years as a changing voice and learning to shave. You know that in the grand scheme of things, your daughter’s freckles don’t matter, but to her they might seem like a huge issue. Avoid criticizing your children for being concerned about appearances. As they grow, concern will stop dominating their lives. • Give lots of compliments about looks and personality. Provide lots of reassurance about children’s looks and about all their other important qualities - like your son’s generosity to his younger sibling or the determined way your daughter studies for her test. As much as they may seem not to notice or care, simple statements like “you’ve got the most beautiful smile” or “you are such a hard worker” really do matter. Compliment them on other physical attributes such as strength and energy, as well as what’s inside, too. • Set reasonable boundaries. Be patient, but also set boundaries on how much time your children can spend on grooming and dressing. Tell them it’s not OK to inconvenience others or let chores go. Limits help children understand how to manage time, be considerate of others’ needs, share resources, exercise a little self-discipline and keep appearances in perspective. • Be a good role model. How you talk about your own looks sets a powerful example. Constantly complaining or fretting over your appearance teaches children to cast the same critical eye on themselves. Almost everyone is dissatisfied with certain elements of their appearance, but talk instead about what your body can do, not just how it looks.

What is an eating disorder and what are common variations of eating disorders? Eating disorders are serious clinical problems involving self-critical, negative thoughts and feelings about body weight, and food and eating habits that disrupt normal body function and daily activities. While more common among girls, eating disorders can affect boys, too. They’re so common in the U.S. that one or two out of every 100 children will struggle with one, most commonly anorexia or bulimia. Anorexia nervosa is characterized by an extreme fear of weight gain and a distorted view of body size and shape. As a result, people strive to maintain a very low body weight. Some restrict their food intake by dieting, fasting or excessive exercise. They hardly eat at all and often try to eat as few calories as possible, frequently obsessing over food intake. Bulimia is defined as habitual binge eating and purging. Someone with bulimia may undergo weight fluctuations, but rarely experiences the low weight associated with anorexia. This disorder can involve compulsive exercise or other forms of purging food they have eaten, such as by self-induced vomiting or laxative use. Although anorexia and bulimia are very similar, people with anorexia are usually very thin and underweight while those with bulimia may be a normal weight or even overweight. Binge eating disorders, food phobia and body image disorders are also becoming increasingly common in adolescence. Eating disorders require professional treatment by doctors, therapists and nutritionists.

How can I tell if my child has an eating disorder? It can be a challenge for parents to tell the difference between a child’s normal self-image concerns and warning signs of an eating disorder. Children with eating disorders do show many abnormal behaviors and physical signs. A child might be struggling with anorexia if he or she becomes very thin, frail or emaciated; becomes obsessed with eating, food and weight control; weighs himself or herself repeatedly; counts or portions food carefully; only eats certain foods, avoiding foods like dairy, meat, wheat, etc.; exercises excessively; feels fat; withdraws from social activities, especially ones involving food; becomes depressed or lacks energy; and feels cold often. A child with bulimia will show signs that include fear of weight gain; intense unhappiness with body size, shape and weight; making excuses to go to the bathroom immediately after meals; only eating diet or low-fat foods (except during binges); regularly buying laxatives, diuretics or enemas; spending most of his or her time working out or trying to work off calories; and withdrawing from social activities, especially ones involving food.

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Upcoming community education classesCPR Certification CourseDates: September 12, October 3, November 14, December 5Time: 6-10 p.m. This certification course teaches the American Heart Association chain of survival -- from when to call 911 to how to effectively administer CPR to an infant, child or adult. This course is designed for anyone who may be expected to respond to emergencies at home or in the workplace. Participants must be at least 14 years old. Following the course, participants will receive an American Heart Association Heartsaver certification card. This course is $25 per person.

Safe SitterDates: August 27, September 17, October 1, November 12, December 10Time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (lunch is provided) Safe Sitter is a national organization that teaches young adolescents safe and nurturing babysitting techniques and the rescue skills needed to respond appropriately to medical emergencies. Instructors

are certified through Safe Sitter nationally. Participants must be ages 11-14. This course is $25 per person.

Class size is limited, so preregistration is required. All classes are offered in the Koppel Plaza at Children’s Hospital unless otherwise noted. For more information, to register for any of these classes orto receive our free Healthy Kids parenting newsletter, call(865) 541-8262. Announcements about upcoming classes can be seen on WBIR-TV 10 and heard on area radio stations. Or visit our website at www.etch.com and click on “Health Information.” Children’s Hospital’s Healthy Kids Campaign, sponsored by WBIR-TV Channel 10 and Chick-Fil-A, is a community education initiative of the hospital’s Community Relations Department to help parents keep their children healthy.

What other disorders are caused by issues with body image? Other disorders caused by a distorted body image include compulsive exercise, Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) and binge eating disorder. Compulsive exercise (also called obligatory exercise and anorexia athletica) is best defined by an exercise addict’s frame of mind: he or she no longer chooses to exercise but feels compelled to do so and struggles with guilt and anxiety if he or she doesn’t work out. Exercising takes over a compulsive exerciser’s life because he or she plans life around it. Although compulsive exercising does not have to accompany an eating disorder, the two often go hand in hand. Because exercising too much is bad for a person’s health, it is important to be sure your child is not suffering from an addiction to exercise. Some warning signs of compulsive exercise include not skipping a workout even if injured or sick; seeming anxious or guilty when missing even one workout; constant preoccupation with exercise routine or weight; significant weight loss; skipping activities with friends or responsibilities to make more time for exercise; and basing self-worth on the number of workouts completed and the effort put into training. Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a condition that involves obsessions, which are distressing thoughts that repeatedly intrude into a person’s awareness. With BDD, the distressing thoughts are about appearance flaws. BDD is often called “imagined ugliness,” because the appearance flaws usually are so small that others consider them minor or don’t even notice them. A person with BDD fixates on these imperfections, and the obsessive thoughts distort and magnify the flaw. Because of this, a person with BDD may feel as though he or she is too horribly ugly or disfigured to be seen. A teen with BDD may avoid going to school, quit a part-time job or just stay home all the time. BDD can lead to depression, and in severe cases suicidal thoughts, if left untreated. Binge Eating Disorder is characterized by a person having a loss of control over how much food he or she is eating, feeling unable to stop. People with this disorder binge frequently—at least twice a

week for several months. At first, food may provide feelings of calm or comfort, but later it can be the focus of strong guilt and distress. Most binge eating occurs while a person is alone. While most people with other eating disorders (like anorexia and bulimia) are female, an estimated third of those with a binge eating disorder are male. Signs of a binge eating disorder include a child eating a lot of food quickly; eating during emotional stress; feeling ashamed by the amount of food eaten; finding food containers in a child’s room; and an increasingly irregular eating pattern.

How do I approach my child if I think he/she has an eating disorder? If you suspect your child has an eating disorder, it is important to intervene and help your child get diagnosed and treated. Children with eating disorders often react defensively and angrily when confronted for the first time. Many have trouble admitting, even to themselves, that they have a problem. Trying to help when someone doesn’t think he or she needs it can be hard. As hard as it might be, getting the professional assistance needed, even if your child resists, is the best help you can give as a parent. Approach your child in a loving, supportive and non-threatening way when your child feels comfortable and relaxed and there are no distractions. Your child may be more receptive to a conversation if you focus on your own concerns, and use “I” statements, rather than “you” statements. For example, steer clear of statements like “you have an eating disorder” or “you are obsessed with food,” which may only prompt anger and denial. Instead, try “I imagine that it’s very stressful to count calories of everything you eat” or “I’m worried that you have lost so much weight so quickly.” Cite specific things your child has said or done that have made you worry and explain that you want your child to see a doctor to put your own mind at ease. If you still encounter resistance, talk with your doctor or a mental health care professional about other approaches.

Compiled by Taylor Griffin, student intern

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2018 Clinch A

ve. • P.O. Box 15010

Knoxville, Tennessee 37901-5010

We always try to stay current with friends of the hospital.

If for any reason you should receive a duplicate issue or need to update your address, please notify the hospital at(865) 541-8257 or w

hames@

etch.com

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ecause children are in and around water for fun and exercise throughout the summer months, Children’s Hospital, Safe Kids of the Greater Knox Area, Dollywood’s Splash Country, Knoxville Pediatric Associates and Kohl’s Department Stores teamed up again this year to make sure children and parents were aware of the precautions that need to be taken to make sure that what begins as summer fun doesn’t become a drowning statistic. An informational campaign relating “You Can’t Ever Take A Vacation From Water Safety” highlighted tips for families on staying safe in pools, lakes and other bodies of water. The campaign concluded with the 5th annual Water Safety Day at Dollywood’s Splash Country on June 8. This year’s event featured interactive water safety education stations located throughout the water park. More than 300 children received “Splash Passes,” which they presented at every station, and volunteers working with Children’s Hospital, Safe Kids, the American Red Cross and Pigeon Forge Fire and Police Departments asked children to answer water safety questions. After visiting each site, participants redeemed “Splash Passes” for prizes. The event at Splash Country began with Tennessee State Senator Doug Overbey presenting a proclamation from Governor Bill Haslam declaring June 8, 2011, as Water Safety Day in Tennessee. Also featured during the special safety event was a rescue demonstration by the water park’s award-winning lifeguards, information on how to be prepared in a water-related emergency and other water safety tips. Look for details in spring 2012 on www.etch.com about the 6th annual Water Safety Day from Children’s Hospital, Safe Kids of the Greater Knox Area and Dollywood’s Splash Country.

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5th annual water safety day

makes a splash!