N E W S F R O M T H E R E G I O N ’ S P R E M I E R A C A D E M I C M E D I C A L C E N T E R

ADVANCES JUNE 4, 2015

Crime Lab ScienceProgram Spotlight

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Marillac affiliation involves inpatient services, facility 

The University of Kansas Hospital is part of a major new affiliation to improve access to behavioral healthcare for area youth.

The affiliation is with Cornerstones of Care, a family of agencies that includes Marillac, a leading youth behavioral health provider. The partnership will begin operation Monday, June 22.

As part of the relationship, the current youth inpatient psychiat-ric hospital facility in Overland Park, operated by Marillac, will become The University of Kansas Hospital-Marillac Campus.

Marillac’s approximately 80 employees who provide inpatient care will become employees of our hospital, which also will operate the 52-bed child psychiatry facil-ity. The facility discharges about 1,800 young patients a year.

Meantime, all psychiatric outpatient services and residential

treatment will continue operating through Marillac, by Marillac’s current management team, and that service will continue to be provided on the 17-acre campus at 8000 West 127th Street.

“As a health system, we are making a major commitment to our growth by expanding acute psychiatric services for youth and adolescents,” said Bob Page, hospital president and CEO. “We have seen a growing need in our community for behavioral healthcare, and both our hospital and Marillac truly believe this partnership can help fill the gap in mental health disorders and maintain healthier communities in Kansas and Missouri.”

“The integration of physical and behavioral healthcare is important for the health and well-being of our community,” said Denise Cross, Cornerstone of Care president and CEO. “We believe this partnership will provide a framework for the ad-vancement of a trauma-informed

delivery system that leads to better health outcomes.”

The new partnership builds on the 2011 affiliation between Marillac and the University of Kansas School of Medicine and The University of Kansas Physicians, in which child psychiatry inpatient services were moved to Marillac and outpatient

services and medical education were extended to Marillac.

“Psychiatric health is a very im-portant issue,” said Lynn Lemke, Marillac president and CEO. “We believe this partnership will create a stronger voice in advocacy and improve access to advanced quality of care for our children, adoles-cents, families and communities.”

Partnership expands psychiatric care for youth

By the Numbers: Patient acuityThe University of Kansas Hospital’s Case Mix Index (CMI) continues to rise, a reflection that patients with the most serious conditions select the hospital for its ability to provide advanced, specialized care.

Case Mix Index Percent rank among UHCMore about Case Mix IndexCMI is a measure of the relative cost or resources needed to treat the mix of patients cared for by a hospital. Our hospital believes CMI is linked to the acuity of the patients cared for here – the more serious the patient’s illness/condition, the more resources will be needed (and the higher the cost) for their care.

To suggest a By the Numbers, email Advances@kumc.edu.

Marillac’s approximately 80 employees who provide inpatient care will become employees of The University of Kansas Hospital, which also will operate the 52-bed child psychiatry facility.

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Events Hall of Fame – The University

of Kansas Hospital’s fifth annual Hall of Fame Dinner and Awards Celebration is Tuesday, June 16, at the Intercontinental Hotel at the Plaza. The event honors individuals and organizations for their leadership, advo-cacy and philanthropy to the hospital. Deadline to order tickets and purchase sponsor-ships is now Tuesday, June 9. Visit giving.kumed.com or call Olivia Alexander Dull at 913-588-2800.

Learning self-compassion – Accepting our “humanness” and imperfections can lead to improved health. People who score high on tests of self-compassion tend to have less depression and anxiety and tend to be happier. Join an interactive group 3:30-5 p.m. Wednesday, June 10, at Turning Point: The Center for Hope and Healing in Leawood. Call 913-574-0900 to register.

Health awareness at The K – Just in time for Father’s Day, The University of Kansas Hospital’s final Health Awareness Day at Kauffman Stadium is Sunday, June 21, when the Royals take on the Boston Red Sox. The event will raise awareness of prostate cancer. The hospital’s previous health events at The K focused on stroke and organ donation awareness.

Summer party – “Hot Summer Nights: Street Fair Extraordinaire” benefits Turning Point: The Center for Hope and Healing. The 12th Street Bridge near downtown Kansas City will be transformed for the festive June 27 event, featuring au-thentic cuisine and drinks from around the world. For details and tickets, go to turningpointkc.org or call 913-574-0912.

More events are at kumed.com/event-detail.

PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT

Exploring careers in the crime labMost students who attend

the University of Kansas Medical Center’s Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences are bound for careers in health-care. However, some prefer the criminal route – as in helping put criminals behind bars.

Every semester since 2002, a few students have worked along-side Kansas City Crime Lab’s dedicated scientists and criminal-ists. During five-week practicums, the students test whether a career in crime-solving is for them.

Seniors Emily Wiesen and Kate Vaupel took their turns this spring in the crime lab, housed in a modest brick-and-glass building on Troost Avenue. They worked under the watchful eye of Chief Criminalist Scott Hummel, who directs the lab's forensic biology section.

The students purified and quantified DNA, then analyzed it for the genetic fingerprints that distinguish one person from an-other. Among other work, they also gained hands-on experience in the use, calibration and maintenance of molecular equipment and how to analyze and interpret testing results.

“The primary goal is to expose

students to actual real-life, day-to-day operations of a crime lab and specifically a forensic DNA analyst – in contrast to what is portrayed in the media,” said Hummel, in reference to the “CSI” TV shows.

Because this is a unique opportunity for students, Eric Elsinghorst, PhD, chair of KU’s Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, goes to great lengths to ensure students are a good fit.

“Having an affiliation agreement with a crime lab is a rare thing,” he said. “I don’t want to ask the crime lab personnel to dedicate their effort to a student who isn't interested in forensics as a career.”

In healthcare facilities, clinical lab scientists analyze blood, body tissues and other fluids, providing essential information to diagnose and treat patients. Their work in the crime lab is just as intriguing.

“Everyone knows various types of crime occur daily but never think about the evidence that the crime scene investigators take to be processed,” Wiesen said. “Being able to physically see the evidence and watch as the labora-tory processes it was definitely an eye-opening experience to how important their jobs and expertise are.”

Read the full story at kumc.edu.

EXPOSURE

Increasing stroke awareness As part of Stroke Awareness Night at The K on May 15, Huyen-Chi Le, RN, and other Neuroscience nurses from The University of Kansas Hospital helped fans recognize their “stroke stats.” Interventional Radiology’s Alan Reeves, MD (getting a pat from Sluggerrr), threw out the first pitch to Neurology’s Lee Rosterman, DO.

Senior Kate Vaupel prepared mouth swabs for DNA processing.

Two new procedures benefit heart careCardiologists at The University of Kansas Hospital this spring

began performing two innovative procedures. Both promote better patient care by offering continuity in treatment – using the same physicians at the same hospital. Each procedure also gives patients better treatment options.

MRI procedureThe hospital became one of just a few in the nation able to

perform MRIs in patients who have a nonapproved MRI pace-maker or implantable defibrillator. The first patient successfully underwent scanning here May 19.

Performing MRIs for these patients is a significant advance-ment in diagnostics. It can help patients with thousands of different issues, from neurological to orthopedic. And it may locate problems that other tests miss.

“This is really exciting for us,” said Courtney Jeffery, APRN-C, Heart Rhythm Management coordinator. “Before, we had to either completely extract the patient’s device, perform the MRI and then re-implant their device – or send them to the East or West Coast to have the MRI done.”

Watchman procedureOn April 28, cardiologists implanted a Watchman left atrial

appendage closure device, the first at our hospital. The Watchman is a catheter-delivered heart implant de-

signed to reduce the risk of atrial fibrillation-related stroke by closing the left atrial appendage. The implant is an important alternative for patients with atrial fibrillation who want to be free of long-term blood thinner known as oral anticoagulation (OAC)/warfarin therapy.

“Watchman is an important advancement in left atrial exclusion for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation patients,” said cardiologist DJ Lakkireddy, MD.

Nurses, families spruce up local homesIn the spirit of always helping others, nurses from The

University of Kansas Hospital kicked off National Nurses Week last month by volunteering in our community.

Joining with the Metropolitan Lutheran Ministries, nearly 50 hospital staff, including several of their family members, painted three houses and installed smoke detectors in 11 homes.

Royce Wheatley was ecstatic to see a nursing team help repaint his house.

“This feels just great,” said Wheatley, who’s retired from work-ing as a professional home mover. “I’m used to helping people move out of their homes, so it’s nice having folks come to help me at my house.”

This is the fifth year the Department of Nursing created a service event during Nurses Week.

New

s Br

iefsIn the News

A recap of recent articles, TV segments and other media coverage of the region’s leading academic medical center

Patient ‘low risk’ for Ebola – The Kansas City Star, May 29. The University of Kansas Hospital said a patient under treatment with a fever, who recently returned from the West African nation of Sierra Leone, was considered at “very low risk” for Ebola. The patient called before arriving at the hospital and was placed in strict isolation. Tests later confirmed the patient had malaria, not Ebola, and was released to recover at his home.

Young stroke victim on the mend – KMBC 9 News, May 28. Kyle Goble, a normally active 11-year-old boy, is recovering at The University of Kansas Hospital after suffering a series of strokes. Neurointerventionalist Michael Abraham, MD, explained how he and his team were able to remove the clot – about the length of a thumbnail – from the boy’s brain. Though he faces months of recovery in the hospital, Kyle is showing improvement every day. Last week he was able to get dressed with help for the first time in a while. He also laughed.

New Yorkers less likely to consent for organ donation – New York Daily News, May 28. U.S. organ donor rates are highest in the Midwest and lowest in New York state, according to a new study by the University of Pennsylvania and The University of Kansas Hospital. "With over 10,000 patients a year dying on a transplant waiting list or becoming too sick to undergo a transplant, these data highlight the potential opportunity to save hundreds of more lives each year by increasing consent rates among potential organ donors," said senior study author Richard Gilroy, MD, our hospital’s medical director of liver transplantation.

Taser’s impact on the body – KCTV 5, May 27. A 34-year-old man who was “acting crazy,” according to witnesses, died last week in Kansas City, Kan., after police used a stun gun on him. Tasers deliver “enough electricity to make your skeletal muscles contract,” explained Stephen Thornton, MD, medical director of The University of Kansas Hospital’s Poison Control Center. He cautioned that people shouldn’t be quick to blame the officer; the man’s extreme condition may have contributed to the death.

Mid-America Cardiology’s DJ Lakkireddy, MD (left), and Matt Earnest, MD, are two cardiologists at our hospital who perform the innovative Watchman procedure.

Heart Walk cheer Despite chilly drizzles, several hundred employees, family members and friends of The University of Kansas Hospital enjoyed the annual Heart & Stroke Walk/5K May 30. The hospital registered 926 people for its team, with 480 pancake breakfasts served.

ADVANCES

is a biweekly publication produced by:

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Send story ideas to Advances@kumc.edu.

Bob Page, President and CEO The University of Kansas Hospital

Doug Girod, MD, Executive Vice Chancellor University of Kansas Medical Center

Kirk Benson, MD, President The University of Kansas Physicians

Staff: Mike Glynn, Editor Kirk Buster, Graphic Designer

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Our People Energy conservation expertise –

His name is Stephen Parker, but we might as well call him Mr. Green.

Green as in Earth Day Green. As the new director of The University of Kansas Hospital’s Energy Center, Parker is implementing several major projects that conserve big chunks of energy – good for the environment and also good for the hospital’s efforts to curb operating expenses.

First is his plan to trim the hospital’s water usage by 26 million gallons a year, or about 22 percent. To keep the hospital cool and comfortable, the Energy Center sends massive amounts of water through cooling towers and chillers, then on to the air-handling units in the hospital and back to the towers and chillers.

Currently, the water must be replenished after every 1.5 cycles through the system. Parker figured out a way to use water-softening equipment to increase water usage to 5.5 cycles through the system.

His team also is installing meters

on the Energy Center’s cooling system to track water evaporation rates. With the data, the hospital can show it is sending less wastewater to the sewer, which will lead to lower water-disposal rates with the Board of Public Utilities.

His staff has even installed all LED lights in the Energy Center, the first central plant in the Midwest to go all LED. The lights not only use 25 percent less electricity, but Parker negotiated with BPU to partner with the hospital to cover

50 percent of the new lights’ initial cost.

New burners will be installed in the boilers, lowering the hospital’s natural gas usage by up to 5 percent a year. And on tap for next year is a reverse osmosis water treatment system for the boilers, which will eliminate expensive chemicals.

The changes reflect Parker’s engineering talents. He has worked

in plant operations for 40 years, and in the 1970s even designed the electrical system for the mechanical arm on NASA’s Viking spacecraft, the first to land on Mars.

But he specializes in finding ways for central plants to lower their energy usage. “I go into plants and see where the possibilities are,” he said. “And any time you can figure a way to save a few million gallons of water, you want to do that.”

Law enforcement memorial – The University of Kansas Police last month hosted its annual National Peace Officers Memorial Service on the main campus, honoring law en-forcement officers nationwide who lost their lives in the line of duty. 

The names of 273 fallen heroes were added to the memorial this year.

The KU Police department operates year-round on the main campus and at other medical center and hospital facilities. With

approximately 100 people, includ-ing 32 commissioned police officers and 47 noncommissioned security officers, the department provides safety and security to patients, staff and guests, and they work with local law enforcement to support community safety.

Neurology resident award – Kushal Shah, MD, Neurosurgery resident at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, won the Best Resident Basic Science Oral Presentation last month at the Young Neurosurgeons Forum. The forum was part of the 83rd American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Scientific Meeting in Washington, D.C. His presentation: "Targeting Glioma with a Novel Oncolytic Virus.”

Marjorie, endometrial cancer survivor and clinical trial participant

Write your next chapter with a clinical trialAsk your doctor if a clinical trial is right for you.kucancercenter.org/clinicaltrials

Shaw

Stephen Parker (left) is working with staff such as Steve Miller to find ways to curb the facility’s energy needs and operating costs.

Doug Girod, MD, executive vice chancellor of the University of Kansas Medical Center, extended his thanks to KU Police during the ceremony.