News from Rex Healthcare FoundationSpring 2012

Rex Volunteers Shine

Fur Friends Brighten RexPatients’ Days

2012 Rex OpenMay 31 - June 3

”Ziti“ brightens days for Rex patients

Last fall, three very special certified pet therapy dogs participated in a six-

month pilot program called Fur Friends. The program consisted of therapy dogs

visiting with oncology patients, once a week at Rex Hospital. During the pilot,

dogs visited with 47 patients providing a change of daily hospital routine, relieving

stress and bringing joy and smiles to patients, visitors and co-workers. The

program was an amazing success!

Ruby Sue, a hound-mix breed and co-worker Doug Poe, her handler, were the

first to volunteer their time. Upon arriving to the oncology unit, Doug and Ruby

Sue received a list of patients who were awaiting their visit. Everyone on the unit

was excited to bring this type of therapy to patients. Studies show that aside from

improving morale of patients, regular animal contact can also reduce anxiety in

cancer patients. The Fur Friends Program has also proven this to be true.

The first patient that received a Fur Friend’s visit was an older gentleman,

weak and very sick with cancer. His family was visiting him and had requested the

pet visit in hopes that it would lift his sprits. Doug then positioned Ruby Sue on

the bed next to the patient. It was almost as if she knew what the patient needed.

She snuggled her way towards him, as he sat on the side of the bed. At first, it

was unclear if he was enjoying the visit, and then it

happened…he smiled. And then his daughter smiled.

It was so contagious that everyone present began to

smile, and there was not a dry eye in the room. Soon

enough, the patient was patting Ruby Sue’s fur and

posing for pictures. After the visit, Doug and Ruby

Sue left the room knowing that the program was off

to a great start.

Many patients find the company of

a pet relaxing and uplifting.

During visits, patients have a

clean sheet over their bed and

receive hand sanitizer before

and after the visit.

Due to the overwhelming

success of the program, Fur

Friends is already expanding

beyond the oncology floor and

three new dogs were added in

January to other units. “We are

thrilled to offer this program to

more patients and believe that a

visit with a Fur Friend can really be

the “best medicine” of all,” said Rex

Healthcare Foundation Development

Officer Allison Strickland.

With the Fur Friends Program

rapidly expanding, more patients can

expect to have their day brightened

with a pet visit. The therapy dogs will

continue to roam the halls of Rex,

bringing happiness and peace of mind

to patients.

For questions or more information

about the Fur Friends program,

please contact Sherry Raymond,

Rex Healthcare volunteer services

coordinator at (919) 784-2297.

Rex is giving new meaning to Man’s Best Friend

Safety FirstBefore the dogs begin their patient visits, they must be approved by an agency that certifies therapy dogs. The dogs go through intensive training and behavioral tests to insure that they will interact well with patients. Before each visit, the dogs are examined to make sure they are healthy and not carrying anything that could make a patient sick. During visits, patients have a clean sheet over their bed and receive hand sanitizer before and after the visit.

The Nationwide Tour is the official proving ground of the PGA TOUR. Founded and

operated by the PGA TOUR, the Nationwide Tour identifies players who are ready to

compete on golf’s greatest stage. Nationwide Tour alumni have amassed more than

350 PGA TOUR wins, including 14 major championships.

Join us for a week packed with great golf, food and family fun at the 2012 Rex

Hospital Open. In an effort to enhance the fan experience, this year's tournament week

will include expanded public seating on the 18th hole’s “Hurricanes Bench,” as well as

new food vendors and locations.

Complimentary parking is available Thursday through Sunday at Rex Healthcare of

Wakefield. Free shuttles will bring spectators to the admission area and make stops on

the course throughout Championship play (Thursday through Sunday).

Tickets are available at the gate or online at RexHospitalOpen.com

or by calling (919) 784-OPEN

$10 Ground Pass valid all weekKids 16 & under admitted free with a ticketed adult

$50 Champion's Club includes VIP access to our Champion’s Club, complimentary snacks & beverages

The 2012 Rex Hospital Open is proud to work with regional non-profit organizations

to give back to the community through our Charity Ticket Program. Visit the

tournament website to see participating non-profit organizations.

May 31 – June 3 TPC Wakefield Plantation

Sunday, May 27Junior InvitationalParking available at TPC Wakefield clubhouse. No public concessions available.

Tuesday, May 29Professional Practice RoundCourse open to the public.

First Tee of Triangle Kids' ClinicOpen to ages 8-18 at TPC Wakefield Plantation. Free to the first 100 kids. Visit RexHospitalOpen.com for details and registration.

Gates Open at 8 a.m. Thursday-Sunday. Free parking & shuttles at Rex Healthcare of Wakefield11200 Governor Manly Way, Raleigh.

Thursday, May 31First RoundTee times begin at 7 a.m.

Friday, June 1Second RoundTee times begin at 7 a.m.

Saturday, June 2Third Round &Family Fun Day

Activities for kids & families

Sunday, June 3Final Round &Service Personnel Appreciation Day

Sponsored by First Citizens Bank

Active & former military, police, fire & EMS receive free admission with proper ID

US Army Golden Knights demonstration jump

Trophy Presentationimmediately following play

Proceeds benefit Rex Cancer Center, supporting patients from discovery to recovery

Kick off Your Summer & Be Part of the Action

More than 500 volunteers

make this premiere sporting

event possible! If you’re

interested in volunteering,

visit rexhospitalopen.com.

$2 OFFRex OpenAdmission

See the back page for

Her patient's comfort is her utmost concern.

Cancer doesn't care if you have insurance.

You have breast cancer. Leaving the doctor’s office, Brenda had a lot on her mind. What course of breast cancer treatment would

be available to her? Without insurance, how would she pay for it? After weighing her options carefully with her

surgeon, Daniel Vig, M.D., of Rex Surgical Services, she decided a mastectomy offered her the best chance at a

long, cancer-free future. “I was afraid it would come back. I know it still can, but this is one less thing for me to

worry about.”

A lack of insurance can have a profound impact on a woman’s health. According to a study conducted at

Virginia Commonwealth University Health Care System, uninsured women are more likely to be diagnosed with

larger tumors. As a result, uninsured women are more likely than insured women to have a mastectomy (37

percent versus 26 percent).

The Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998 requires all insurance companies that cover

mastectomies to also cover reconstruction of the breast. However, uninsured women have very few options

when it comes to reconstructive surgery.

The founder of Renaissance Plastic Surgery, Keelee MacPhee, M.D., was well-acquainted with the plight

of uninsured breast cancer patients in need of reconstructive surgery. Dr. MacPhee approached the Rex Breast

Care Center about working together to find a way to offset the costs of reconstructive surgery for uninsured

patients. The Rex Breast Care Center turned to the Rex Healthcare Foundation, which agreed to provide funding

for a limited number of uninsured breast cancer patients to receive reconstructive

surgery. Under the partnership, the Rex Breast Care Center identified women in

need of the program, Dr. MacPhee provided the services, and the Rex Healthcare

Foundation provided funding to cover the costs associated with Dr. MacPhee’s

services, which she offered at a greatly reduced rate.

“She makes you feel so comfortable,” recalled Brenda. “She will walk out to

greet you in the lobby and just take you by the hand.”

“Dr. MacPhee provides a valuable service to women in some of the most

difficult medical and social situations. She is helping to provide physical and

emotional restoration. These women are reliant on the compassionate and selfless

care of physicians like Dr. MacPhee to provide the services that otherwise wouldn’t

be available to them,” said David Eddleman, M.D. of Rex Surgical Services,

Chairman of the Rex Breast Care Committee.

Dr. MacPhee has helped these breast cancer survivors face the future with

renewed confidence. “Even though I am scarred, I feel like a whole person.

It was important to me to feel like the person I was,” said Brenda, who is

receiving chemotherapy treatments at Rex Cancer Center of Wakefield. “Everyone

throughout this process has been so kind. I could not have done it without them.”

Breast Cancer Patients Benefit from Generosity of Physicans & Foundation

• Rex Healthcare and the Rex Healthcare Foundation use donations and grants to provide breast cancer screening and treatment to thousands of uninsured women each year. The generosity of partner practices such as Rex Surgical Services, Raleigh Radiology, and Renaissance Plastic Surgery help make this possible. If you would like to support the Rex Breast Care Center and its services to uninsured women, please contact the Rex Healthcare Foundation at (919) 784-4424.

•

Rex Society Spotlight My first awareness of the Rex Foundation came at

a Medical Executive Committee meeting. Dr. Rig Patel

did a brief education presentation, and I was both

impressed and curious. That prompted me to find out

more information and ultimately make a contribution

to the Foundation and join the Rex Society.

I had been considering my charitable donation

budget for some time. I chose to make a gift to the

Foundation because all of the monies collected go

directly back to the hospital. They support a myriad

of causes that allow services and care to be delivered

to folks right here in Raleigh. In these challenging

economic times, these contributions allow Rex

Healthcare to continue to be a hospital that can meet

the needs of our community.

As a physician practicing in Raleigh for more than

25 years, I have come to appreciate Rex as a hospital

that has strived for compassionate and high quality

medical care. This not only means an outstanding

medical staff, with both sensitive and caring nurses

and physicians, but a hospital leadership with an

unwavering desire to be the very best.

Philanthropy is important to me. I’ve been very

fortunate. I have been blessed with talents and drive

that have allowed me to successful. I feel it is my

obligation to give back to help others in their time

of need. In addition, it’s great to feel like I’m part of

something that can do so much good!

I would encourage everyone to consider the

Rex Foundation as part of their charitable budget. It

really is an organization that

makes a difference for our

community.

Very Truly Yours,

Charles H. Nicholson, M.D.Anesthesiologist

For more information on how to join the Rex Society, please contact Rex Healthcare Foundation's director of

major gifts, Kathy Stokes, at (919) 784-4475 or katherine.stokes@rexhealth.com.

Organ Donation:

Help a Hero in Need A positive, “can do” attitude in the face of adversity

are the words that come to mind when thinking about

Rex Healthcare volunteer Wilma Miller.

More than 20 years ago, Wilma experienced a life-

threatening illness that caused her to lose her right arm

and a kidney. Recognizing the need for amputees and

their loved ones to have support and information, Wilma

founded the Triangle Amputee Support Group and has

spent years visiting with amputees, listening and provid-

ing support.

Wilma has been a Rex volunteer since 1987. Today,

Wilma is in need of a new kidney. And, she’s not alone.

Last year, organ donors made more than 28,000 trans-

plants possible. Another one million people received

cornea and other tissue transplants that helped them

recover from trauma, bone damage, spinal injuries, burns,

hearing impairment and vision loss. Unfortunately, many

people die while waiting for a donor organ that never

comes. About 112,000 people currently await an organ

transplant in the U.S.

The American Hospital Association has partnered

with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,

Health Resources and Services Administration to encour-

age donor registration, and engage more hospitals in this

effort. Each April, new energy is infused in the campaign

during organ donation awareness month.

“What I admire most about Wilma is her positive

spirit,” shared former Rex Hospital Open Director Bob

Scott. “She can do anything and whatever she does she

does with a smile. Wilma is a true healthcare hero.”

If you are interested in learning more about Wilma’s

need, connect with her on Facebook at: facebook.com/wilmaskidneydonorsearch. Or contact her

transplant coordinator at UNC Hospitals, Amy Woodard,

at (919) 843-0861. To learn more about organ donation in

general, visit organdonor.gov.

Cancer has been described as a

journey - both medical and emotional.

Many patients who come to Rex for

cancer treatment are unaware of the

extensive medical team that will ac-

company them on that trek. Join me as

we meet the members of this intricate

network on a typical breast cancer

patient’s path:

When a breast lump is detected, a

radiology technician and a radi-ologist evaluate the mass, looking for

signs of malignancy and determining

if the abnormality should be treated,

dismissed or simply followed.

If x-ray and ultrasound suggest

cause for concern, the patient is re-

ferred to a surgeon for further evalua-

tion and possible biopsy.

If a biopsy is performed, a pathol-ogist and pathology technician

examine the specimen to determine if

malignancy is present and its specific

nature.

If malignancy is confirmed, the pa-

tient discusses their options with their

surgeon. Should surgery be the chosen

course, a team of anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists work to

provide a procedure that is as safe and

pain free as possible.

Lab work conducted prior to sur-

gery is performed in the Rex Labo-ratories under strict quality control.

After surgery, a pathologist makes

a final evaluation, categorization and

surgical staging (extent of disease).

Once the evaluation is complete,

the patient is typically referred for a

medical oncology evaluation, discus-

sion and treatment plan.

Weekly multidisciplinary team

meetings are held to determine the

best plan for each patient. These meet-

ings include surgeons, pathologists, radiologists, radiation oncolo-gists, plastic surgeons, a research team, a navigator and a tumor registrar who consider all available

methods of treatment and followup.

Because the pathway can some-

times feel like a maze, a breast cancer navigator is assigned to all

patients – guiding them before, during

and after treatment.

The patient may also receive ancil-

lary care from physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, career counseling, finan-cial counseling, peer and family support, psychological counsel-ing, and nutritional support.

Consultation for unusual cases or

for a second opinion is also available at

UNC. This relationship is advantageous

to both patient and physician. Patients

receive the best of care without having

to travel to Chapel Hill, and physicians

have access to educational opportuni-

ties and clinical trials.

Finally, all patients are tracked by

Rex’s cancer registry which com-

pares results with those generated na-

tionally and documents the excellence

of our care team.

Traveling into unknown territory

is less daunting when you know you

are not alone. At Rex, we consider it

an honor to join patients on their very

personal cancer journey.

Rex is proud to be recognized as

an exceptional example of this compre-

hensive approach to care and is proud

of its certification of excellence by the

American College of Surgeons.

A Patient’s Path

Kenneth Zeitler, M.D., retired Rex oncologist, is a member of the Rex Healthcare Foundation, serving as Development Officer for the N.C. Cancer Hospital

at Rex. Contact him at Kenneth.Zeitler@rexhealth.com or (919) 784-7689

by Kenneth Zeitler, M.D.

The Rex Healthcare Foundation exists to support Rex Healthcare as it delivers the most advanced care for patients in our community.

Rex Healthcare Milestones, Activities & Opportunities

Leading the Way•RexHealthcare

became the first

hospital in N.C. to

eliminate all fried foods from

its menu – a move which will offer

healthier options for patients, visitors,

physicians and co-workers!

•RexCancerCenterofWakefield

partnered with the UNC Lineberger

Comprehensive Cancer Center to

offer a nationally-recognized six-week program that helps cancer survivors make the transition to post-treatment care covering

topics such as exercise, nutrition,

emotional health, quality of life and

medical concerns.

•RexHealthcareisthefirst Wake County hospital to offer a revo-lutionary type of heart valve replacement. The transcatheter

aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a

minimally-invasive procedure to treat

patients with severe symptomatic

aortic stenosis, a narrowing of the

heart valve that supplies blood to the

entire body.

•TheNorthCarolinaChapterofThe

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

named David Strong, president of Rex Healthcare, Corporate Chair of its 2012 Triangle Light The Night® Walk. The fundraising event,

held each fall, raises money for cancer

research and patient services.

•Moody’sInvestorsServices has

affirmed the strong ratings assigned

to the bonds of UNC Hospitals and

Rex Healthcare, reinforcing the finan-

cial strength of the two organiza-

tions. Rex received an A1 rating,

based on its market position in Wake

County, increasing collaboration with

UNC Hospitals and other factors.

We’ve Got Heart•Throughoutthe

month of February,

Rex Healthcare cel-

ebrated Heart Health Month with

educational events and activities. Rex

partnered with North Hills, the Caro-

lina Hurricanes, and Applebee’s to

raise awareness about heart health.

•RexHealthcarerecentlyheldaday-

long educational event, Evolving Strategies in Heart & Vascular Medicine, for approximately 120

physicians, nurses, pharmacists and

technicians. The event was made pos-

sible with support from Rex Health-

care Foundation.

On The Calendar This Spring•OnApril12,RexHealthcarepart-

ner, Raleigh Orthopaedic, will break

ground for Raleigh Orthopaedic Surgery Center on Macon Pond Rd.

•Saturday,April21,Rexwillbeapart

of Answers for Cancer, a 5K walk

at PNC Arena presented by the Holt

Foundation. Proceeds from the event

will benefit the Holt Foundation’s

kidscan! programs.

•Tennis for Ta-Ta’s Tournament will

be held on May 5 at TPC Wakefield

Plantation. Funds

raised will go

towards the mobile

mammography

certificate program.

•OnWednesday,May9,RexandDuke

Raleigh hospitals will jointly host a

free Community Health Screening Day at the N.C. State Fairgrounds

Exposition Center from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

This event will accommodate the

uninsured and underinsured in need.

The more than 1,300 vol-

unteers of Rex Healthcare come

from diverse backgrounds and

interests. They chose to volun-

teer for many different reasons,

but they have one purpose – to

serve the patients, visitors and

co-workers within the Rex com-

munity. The volunteers share their

talents and complement firsthand

the excellent, compassionate care

provided by our co-workers.

Rex volunteers are priceless.

2011 Volunteer SnapshotNumber of hours of service 141,044Number of active volunteers 1,310Number of full-time staff for the same number of hours 75Monetary value $3,012,700

Top Five Service Areas HoursWellness Centers 19,901Surgical Services - Raleigh, Cary & Wakefield 11,211Korner Gift Shop 9,792Cancer Centers - Raleigh & Wakefield 5,124Information Technology - Information Desks 5,120

The Rex Healthcare Foundation exists to support Rex Healthcare as it delivers the most advanced care for patients in our community.

Would you like to receive Inspire electronically? Let us know at

rex.foundation@rexhealth.com.

Mammography Units on the road. Our

units go to community and corporate

sites to provide mammography exams

to women across 14 counties.”

A Rex/UNC Cancer Care halftime

ceremony honored survivors and

featured a special performance by

American Idol teen, Scotty McCreery,

who sang “I Love You This Big.” More

than 8,000 people attended the event.

Rex Healthcare is proud to be the

official healthcare provider of the N.C.

State Wolfpack.

You can support women in need

undergoing cancer treatment. Give

online at rexhealth.com/foundation.

Gifts to Rex Healthcare are made through the Rex Healthcare Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3). The Rex Healthcare Foundation can be reached at (919) 784-4424 or rex.foundation@rexhealth.com.

4420 Lake Boone TrailRaleigh, North Carolina 27607

Non-Profit Org.US Postage

PAIDRaleigh, NC 27607Permit No. 1234

Rex was proud to be presenting sponsor of N.C. State University

women’s basketball team’s annual “Hoops for Hope” event on Sunday, Feb.

12. The event, which promoted early detection and awareness of breast

cancer, featured cancer survivors and their families as well as the Rex Mobile

Mammography Unit, which receives support from the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.

In 2011, the Kay Yow Cancer Fund awarded a grant to the Rex Healthcare

Foundation in support of the digital mammography equipment on our second

Mobile Mammography Unit. This grant was the final funding Rex needed to put the

unit on the road.

“The Rex Healthcare Foundation has formed relationships with the Kay

Yow Cancer Fund, Revlon®, Susan G. Komen and Hologic to provide digital

mammography exams for women regardless of whether they are insured or not,”

said Kelli Poe-Jones, Rex mammography services manager. “The Rex Healthcare

Foundation has made it possible for Rex to have not one, but two Mobile

Bring this ad to receive $2 off ticket admission on-site oruse discount code OPEN2OFF at rexhospitalopen.com.

Kay Yow Cancer Fund and Rex Healthcare Foundation benefit from

Hoops for Hope

$2 OFFMay 31 – June 3, 2012TPC Wakefield Plantation

Visit our updated web page at rexhealth.com/foundation