Volume 2, Issue 18
Through Mar. 16, 2009 |
Time to Sound Off
Last year, UCH turned three concerns from the Employee Opinion Survey into organization-wide programs to break down silos, recognize employees for great work and include them in decision-making. The next round of organizational pulse-taking begins March 16.  |
Weight Loss Center Moves to Anschutz
In new digs, with a second surgeon, the center now aims to earn "center of excellence" designation. |
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| Radiologists at work during Lung Cancer Tumor Board meeting. | |
Lung Cancer Program Grows...and Grows
It grew by 45 percent in 2008, thanks to scheduling improvements, more MDs, terrific outcomes and state-of-the-art testing. It aims for another big jump by 2010. |
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| One of the Wells Center's "Human Patient Simulators" used in training scenarios that test the critical thinking skills of health care providers. | |
"Smart Dummies"
With simulations featuring programmable mannequins standing in as patients and critical care classes aided by
3-D anatomy, the Wells Center has brought "aha" moments to health care education and medical training. |
For One Day, the Hospital's Worst Room
It will be full of violations for Patient Safety Awareness Week, but happily, free of patients. | |
UCH to drink from stimulus fire hose -- but how much? A little -- no one knows how much yet -- of the huge new burst of federal money should be headed to the Anschutz campus. For the hospital, even a little may mean more Medicaid funds, faster access to I-225 and much needed help for improving electronic medical records.
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Inside the Insider: Commentary: Health IT leaders are not necessarily the best choice to lead a health IT revolution. Plus: what you read and a parking blast.
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Care alerts target patients at risk The automated messages offer decision-making support to providers and help in improving the efficiency and quality of patient care in a variety of clinical settings. Pharmacy's Michael Jones (above), writes code for the alerts.
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The "real world" at UCH A group of Aurora civic leaders got a taste of the complexities of health care during a day-long visit in February. Highlights included disaster planning and a visit to the Burn/Trauma ICU (see story below).
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Side bar: visitors get close-up look at Burn Unit It may have only been an exercise, but leaders were "blown away" by the heat, speed, danger and intensity of the work at the Burn/Trauma ICU. "We're lucky to have it in Aurora," said one. Above: nurse manager Mary Holden (far right) debriefs group after simulated emergency.
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Employee referral champ Ritchie Hernandez earned $8K by referring four nurses the hospital hired.
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A brush with fame An out-of-the-way truck stop was an unlikely place to find heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali, but that's exactly who UCH Respiratory Therapy director Allen Wentworth (above) encountered one summer day in 1980.
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UCH in the News Synchronized kidney exchange; food, exercise and the brain; cooling it on cholestrol drugs for kids; more. Mentions: Gregory Austin, Stephen Daniels, Adit Ginde, Kerry Hildreth, Igal Kam, Rachel Van Pelt.
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Around UCH "State of the Hospital" addresses begin; Safeway gives big boost to Cancer Center; biking for rehab services (left); more...
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