Another season wraps up in the Healing Garden
This spring brought great joy to the Healing Garden volunteers when  all the plants that were donated the year before were thriving and had doubled and even tripled in size. This loyal group of gardeners has continued to dedicate Saturdays to trimming, planting, and nurturing the Healing Garden at Saint Luke's Hospital for all to enjoy.
 SLH staff and patients find solace and contentment in the garden, and nature brings winged visitors like the hummingbird moth and a variety of butterflies including blue swallowtail, buckeye, and monarch (see photographs taken by Michelle Heaphy, rad/onc nurse, who enjoys the garden on her lunch breaks and is also a volunteer for the garden). Recently the group noticed the gardens around the Women's Center were in need of some sprucing up, so they rolled up their sleeves and got to work and planted Shasta daisies, colorful mums, Stelladoro lilies, hosta, pansies, holly bushes, sedums, butterfly bush, coneflower, sage, caryopteris, and coral bell. Spring of 2013 will bring welcome surprises in both gardens when  scores of hyacinth, tulips, and daffodils herald the next spring season. 
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Barry D. Rutherford, M.D., receives Master Clinical Operator Award
 Barry D. Rutherford, M.D., a world renowned interventional cardiologist, was presented the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) 2012 Geoffrey O. Hartzler Master Clinical Operator Award in a ceremony held during the 24th annual TCT scientific symposium, sponsored by the Cardiovascular Research Foundation. The award is given each year to a physician who has advanced the field of interventional cardiovascular medicine through technical excellence and innovation. To learn more about this honor, click here.
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Environmental Services now has 24/7 dedicated line
To provide a better and faster service, Environmental Services has established a 24/7 Cisco line (ext. 26646) which is carried by a manager or coordinator at all times.
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Making a difference
Employees going above and beyond
Each and every day our dedicated and passionate employees make a difference in the lives of our patients, visitors, and colleagues. We would like to highlight some of those stories. If you have a colleague you would like to recognize, please send the employee's name and how they made a difference to slhrounds@saint-lukes.org.
An older gentleman who lived several hours outside of Kansas City came in with complaints of back pain he had dealt with for two years. The patient's hometown physician stated he would die on the surgery table if he would not accept blood products as per his religious beliefs. The patient's family sought out hospitals with Blood Conservation programs and then a neurosurgeon. Henry Mollman, M.D., accepted this patient and performed surgery that included fusion and placement of rods and screws. Surgery was completed with minimal blood loss and complete respect for the patient's beliefs. The patient and his family are extremely thankful for their care.
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What does it mean to live well? Wellness is a relative term that  goes beyond health and reflects a wholeness or balance of mind, body, and spirit. Moving to a state of wellness takes a conscious effort to address those areas of your life that tip you out of balance creating chaos and contributing to poor health and weight gain.
The 2011 SLHS Annual Health Appraisal showed that 62 percent of SLHS employees are overweight or obese. Being overweight or obese can lead to chronic health conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and cancer. According to Dee Edington, a national expert on wellness and cost impact, a decrease in one BMI point (five to 10 pounds) is associated with a $202.30 decrease in medical and pharmaceutical costs over one year.
What would help you achieve a healthy BMI and/or a higher level of wellness? There is no one perfect solution for everyone. However, we know there are some simple strategies that can help most of us and these include: eating fresh wholesome foods, daily moderate exercise, staying connected socially, and taking time to relax and refresh. SLHS wants to help you achieve high level wellness. This month, consider participating in the following programs to help you lose weight and/or achieve a higher level of wellness:
Register for Fit & Festive - This six-week Aetna Get Active Team Challenge begins Nov. 26, and ends Jan. 6. Fit & Festive will help you balance healthy choices with less healthy choices. You earn points by exercising, maintaining, or losing weight and managing stress. You lose points by eating desserts and extra helpings and drinking holiday drinks. You can participate as an individual or form a team of five to 11 co-workers. Go to Aetnagetactive.com. If you're new to the site, use the company name "SLHS" and your employee identifier to register. Registration opens Nov. 7.
Participate in a Diabetes Prevention Web Conference - Nov. 12 from noon - 12:30 p.m. Barbara Simpson, L.D., R.D.,C.D.E., clinical dietitian and diabetes educator, will present the latest interventions in reducing our risk of Type 2 diabetes. She will give a brief description regarding who is at most risk and how we can change things that can be modified in our lives, at home and at work. To participate in "Practical Ways to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes," email |
Phytonutrients
The term "phyto" is a Greek word meaning plant. Phytonutrients are chemicals produced by plants that impact health but are not essential nutrients. They are often responsible for the color, texture, taste, and smell of the plant. Phyonutrients number in the thousands and are best obtained by eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, beans, whole grains, and nuts. Most likely they work in combination with other nutrients to provide what our body needs to maintain itself. However, many are singled out for specific uses such as preventing cancers and other diseases.
This month, add more phytonutrients to your plate by consuming plenty of fruits and vegetables. Go to FoodFit to find some healthy fall foods. Then stop by SLH Broadway Dining and choose the Smart Selection for a healthier option. For more information, go to Your Health Matters - Called to Excellence webpage located on the Employee eLink.
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SLHS Ethics and Compliance Effectiveness Audit
SLHS is committed to doing the right thing, and our Ethics and Compliance Program provides the framework to support and promote ethical behavior. To ensure the SLHS Ethics and Compliance Program is effective and working for you, we need your input.
Please complete the employee survey regarding our program. Your responses are anonymous and will remain strictly confidential. The completed surveys will go directly to our consultant, Boerner Consulting, where the results will be compiled. A summary report will be provided to SLHS. The survey deadline is Nov. 4.
Thank you for your assistance in this important effort.
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42nd Annual Dr. Robert D. Conn Heart Conference
Dec. 6-7
The Westin Kansas City at Crown Center
Register now for the 42nd Annual Dr. Robert D. Conn Heart Conference, Dec. 6-7, at the Westin Kansas City at Crown Center in Kansas City, Mo. This conference will focus on improving the quality of care for patients with cardiovascular disease using evidence-based medicine and a multidisciplinary approach to patient care.
The conference is intended for cardiologists, electrophysiologists, general practitioners, internal/family physicians, nurses, physician assistants, and other allied health professionals. This educational event is a joint sponsorship of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine and Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City.
For more information and to register, click here. SLHS non-physician employees can call UMKC CME at 816-235-6808 for special discount registration forms.
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Explore Nursing Night at Saint Luke's College of Health Sciences
Saint Luke's College of Health Sciences is hosting "Explore Nursing Night" on Tuesday, Nov. 13, from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Anyone interested in attending nursing school is welcome to attend. Visitors will have the opportunity to tour the college and the new state-of-the-art simulation center and visit with the admissions and financial aid departments, as well as students and faculty.
The college is located at 624 Westport Road, Kansas City, Mo. SLCHS is an upper-division institution of higher education affiliated with Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City. SLCHS offers three degree programs which include the traditional B.S.N., R.N. to B.S.N., and M.S.N.
For more information about the college and Explore Nursing Night, contact the Admissions Department at 816-932-6700, or go to saintlukescollege.edu.
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Noteworthy
Saint Luke's in the news
BJC collaborative partnership
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Improving care through iron therapy
Physicians, mid-level providers, and nurses are welcome to attend a luncheon presentation on iron deficiency in chronic kidney disease.
Dr. Tomas Villanueva, experienced hospitalist from Baptist Hospital in Miami, will speak about opportunities for all medical staff to improve the care of the hospitalized patient through iron therapy.
Please join us Wednesday, Nov. 7, noon - 1 p.m. in the Wagstaff Board Room. Lunch will be provided. Please RSVP as soon as possible to bloodconservation@saint-lukes.org to guarantee your lunch.
Submit your recipe for SLH Holiday Cookbook
The SLH Holiday Committee is proud to sponsor the 2012 Holiday Cookbook containing SLH employees' favorite recipes. Click here to submit your favorite recipe online. All recipes must be submitted by Nov. 12.
Schwartz Rounds
Thursday, Nov. 1
Noon - 1 p.m.
BMW Conference Room
Open Forum: "Health Care Reform: What I Want and What Worries Me..."
Co-facilitators: Michael Salacz, M.D., and Tarris Rosell, Ph.D., D.Min.
Lunch will be provided.
November Diversified schedule
Click here to see when Diversified representatives will be on campus or to find out how to contact them.
Smoking cessation workshop
Saint Luke's EAP is offering a smoking cessation workshop at no charge to Saint Luke's employees and family members. Before you quit, start by attending this workshop.
Understand change, learn strategies, identify resources, and increase success. Click here to read more about the EAP's Great American Smokeout event and learn how to register.
Look Good, Feel Better
Women currently undergoing cancer treatment are invited to attend the next Look Good, Feel Better class, a free two-hour workshop in which you learn simple beauty techniques for skin and nail care, makeup application, and coping with hair loss. You will receive a complimentary bag of makeup to use in the session and at home.
Join us in Medical Plaza III, Suite 1000 (4321 Washington, Kansas City, MO 64111) Nov. 7, 1 - 3 p.m. Call Vickie at 816-932-2124 to sign up, as this will be the last class of 2012 for SLH!
SLHS commercial to appear during KU basketball games
Saint Luke's Health System recently signed a sponsorship with KU Athletics that includes a commercial during several University of Kansas men's basketball games. KU basketball obviously reaches a wide fan base that spans across our market area, making the sponsorship a good opportunity to share our Saint Luke's message with this engaged audience. Our logo will also appear on the basketball stanchion during men's and women's basketball games.
Thanks to our own Dr. Mark Allen, grandson of the legendary KU basketball coach Phog Allen, for bringing this spot to life. For a sneak peek of the television spot, please click here and enter the password: saintlukes.
2013 SLH Summer Student Scholars Program
The Student Scholars Program is designed to provide an opportunity for eight college undergraduates with an interest in health care to spend six weeks in a clinical or research area of emphasis at SLH. The hope is to someday see some of these students become members of the SLH medical staff.
The SLH-funded program will begin the week of June 10, 2013. Orientation will be held June 7, 2013. Application deadline is Jan. 4, 2013. Applicants accepted to the program will be notified by March 4, 2013.
For more information or for an application, please contact Jeanne Kimball in Medical Education at jkimball@saint-lukes.org.
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