We know it takes the extraordinary contributions of so many people, day in and day out, to treat a sick or injured child at Children’s. We strive to deliver the highest quality of care that families can depend upon for their kids. It takes leadership and commitment, from the operating room to the board room, to make this happen.
Naturally, we have genuine pride when the industry stops and takes note of the many standout leaders inside Children’s. Our own Patsy Stinchfield recently received the pediatric nurse practitioner of the year award from the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, and now Ray Barton, previous chairman of Children’s board of directors and current chairman of Great Clips, Inc., has been recognized by the Minnesota Hospital Association as Trustee of the Year. The award honors a board member of a hospital or health system who has contributed significantly to the health of the community by providing leadership and guidance to the hospital and board.
However, Ray’s experience with Children’s runs far deeper than a board position. It’s personal. He first came through our doors as a parent when his daughter was treated here several years ago. Along with his wife, Mary Lou, he’s been on a mission ever since to support other families whose children are dealing with a serious illness. Ray is incredibly committed to helping families stay together during times of crisis and ensure that pediatric patients and their families are provided services when they need them most.
For Ray, what started as a concerned father caring for his daughter has grown into a resolve to support Children’s through key programs and services. He started the Great Clips Charity Golf Classic in 1997. It helps fund, among other things, hotel stays for families with sick children so they can spend more time participating in their child’s treatment and less time traveling between home and hospital. There’s the annual Great Clips Cut-A-Thon where proceeds help kids with cancer and other serious illnesses make the transition back to school – a process not covered by insurance. And recently, Ray and Mary Lou supported the creation of the Family Resource Center which provides information, support groups, and a play area for siblings.
The list goes on.
Ray has been a member of Children’s board of directors for seven years, and has been an extraordinarily generous benefactor. But his contributions go well beyond personal donations of time and money – he is also a great ambassador for Children’s. Ray has rallied Great Clips staff and franchise owners to support the hospital, and has helped Children’s recruit new advocates.
Congratulations on the award, Ray, and thank you for turning your family’s experience into a mission to help other families care for their kids at Children’s.
This is a guest post by Justin Theodotou, public relations coordinator at Children’s. He accompanied Patsy Stinchfield, Children’s director of infectious disease, on a trip to New York City to speak with national media outlets about the importance of childhood vaccines.
My first trip to New York City was a short one, with little time to “see the sights.” I was there for another reason: to accompany one of Children’s most passionate providers on her quest to make kids healthier.
My travel partner for 24 hours was Patsy Stinchfield, Children’s director of infectious disease. If you’ve ever met Patsy, you feel her passion for children’s health immediately. She’s bursting at the seams with it. One area for which she carries a healthy amount of zeal is the importance of childhood vaccinations, and the purpose of our trip was to promote that very subject, and bring national attention to the work being done at Children’s.
On our agenda was back-to-back-to-back meetings with a “who’s who” list of national media outlets (The New York Times, CBS Evening News, Real Simple, etc.), booked by Children’s public relations partner, Weber Shandwick. These meetings served as an entre for Patsy as a trusted thought leader and resource on childhood vaccinations.
After arriving late on a Tuesday night, it was a taxi ride to our hotel, followed by a short walk to Rockefeller Center to snap a few photos and meet up with Patsy’s sister. We needed to be up and at ‘em early. We had a full day planned.
Our meetings on Wednesday were all different in flavor, but tended to follow two basic routes when discussing the importance of vaccinations. Sometimes, it was the basics: vaccines are safe, effective and they work. Save for clean water, vaccines have saved more lives on this planet than any other man-made creation.
Sometimes, our conversations took a philosophical turn: should today’s parents be left to sift through the information (much of it false, if you get it from the wrong places) about vaccines and whether or not to fully immunize their children? Or, should we as health care providers do a better job of listening when parents have concerns about vaccines, playing the role of trusted counselor rather than lecturer?
Patsy, ever the great storyteller, also drove home her point with anecdotal evidence. She told the story of a mother who brought her four kids to a travel clinic for vaccinations before a trip to Kenya to visit relatives. Three of the four children received the shots they needed, but when it came time for the youngest, nine-month-old Mahi, to receive his, he’d fallen asleep, and his mother didn’t want to wake him. Later, this mother would refer to this moment as her “fateful decision.” The family traveled to Kenya – an area of the world where measles is rampant – with Mahi unvaccinated.
Unfortunately, Mahi contracted the disease, which subsequently attacked his respiratory system, and spent 25 days in Children’s PICU, hooked up to a ventilator. His mom, who earlier didn’t want to wake him in the travel clinic, prayed fervently that he would wake up and that she would once again be able to hold her baby.
Thankfully, Mahi survived his fight against this often deadly vaccine-preventable disease.
I’d heard Patsy tell this story before, but when she told it during one of our meetings, it nearly brought me to tears.
After a whirlwind day zipping across Manhattan — twice inching our way through Times Square in our car — all we had time for was a quick bite to eat before hailing a taxi back to the airport.
But, this trip got me thinking. Vaccines do the job none of us can do on our own. They work to protect us from germs that are indiscriminant infectors, not caring who you are, where you live or what you had for breakfast. All these germs need is a host, and, like it or not, the human body is a darn near perfect one.
It was during this trip that I realized how thankful I am to be fully vaccinated. My parents made the choice I couldn’t as an infant. They chose to protect my sister and me, the two things most near and dear to their hearts, dispelling the worry and the “what if” had we not been vaccinated. But, they were well-informed (my mother’s a nurse), had access to a pediatrician they knew and trusted, and had health insurance, which paid for those vaccines.
Sadly, not all families are as fortunate, but, there are resources available to help them. Agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics provide reliable vaccine information and schedules for parents and providers to follow. Finding a “medical home” is important so the same group of providers is seeing your kids regularly. The Minnesota Vaccines for Children program provides free vaccines for families who don’t have insurance to cover them.
To me, the choice to vaccinate your children is like the choice to buckle them in their car seat. Chances are you won’t get in a car accident, but is the risk really worth it?
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For more information and for a list of reliable vaccine resources, visit the Immunizations page on Children’s web site here.
Parents can also download a fact sheet about vaccines here.
This is a guest post by Roxanne Fernandes, Children’s Chief Nursing Officer.
Since coming to Children’s nearly a year ago, I have experienced firsthand the care that Children’s nurses deliver at the bedside, and I can say with confidence that the care is exceptional. What a truly talented and passionate group I’ve come to know and appreciate.
The nursing staff is the single largest part of most healthcare organizations, and the same is true here at Children’s. They are the humble and unsung heroes for patient families every day, and the go-to leaders of our care teams. We would be remiss if we didn’t honor them. That’s why, this week, Children’s is celebrating National Nurses Week, a country-wide celebration of the nursing profession. Children’s will be recognizing the nursing staff here on a job well done and offering a whole-hearted ‘Thank You.”
As part of the celebration, look for Children’s “Nurses, Once in a lifetime” TV ad that will run during shows such as “Modern Family,” “CBS This Morning,” “Ellen,” “The Today Show” and “American Idol.” You can also view the commercial below.
Here’s to our nurses!
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Has a nurse had an impact on your life? Please share in the comments section below.
The crowd was brought to tears following a performance by 10-year-old Caiah Rodgers, a Children’s patient and leukemia survivor, singing her rendition of Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful.”
We held our Star Gala, the 21st Annual Thank God for Kids event, on April 21 to raise money to benefit the support, care, and comfort to children and families at Children’s. This year’s Star Gala had a fantastic turnout, drawing more than 940 guests to the Historic Milwaukee Road Depot to show their support.
Through silent and live auctions, sponsorships, and donations, Children’s Star Gala raised $2.1 million for the cancer and blood disorders program and the new Neuroscience Center!
The cancer and blood disorders program supports new research and provides services to treat more than 70 percent of the children with cancer in the Twin Cities, while our new Neuroscience Center will combine all brain and spine specialties in one location to improve care coordination and outcomes for kids battling head and spine injuries.
“Children’s relies heavily on community support to provide the kind of world-class care families have come to expect from us. The generosity of those who attend our gala never ceases to both amaze and humble me,” said Theresa Pesch, executive director of the Foundation of Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota.
While the food, dancing, and auctions were a large part of the festivities, the focus of the Star Gala was on the kids that are impacted by our care. Parents Emily and Masud Mamun shared the story of their 3-year-old daughter Lyla, a brain tumor survivor, who endured multiple brain, spine and other surgeries that rendered her temporarily quadriplegic. Through the care she received at Children’s, Lyla is now walking, and thriving.
We couldn’t have pulled this event off without the help of our wonderful sponsors. Major sponsors of the 2012 Children’s Star Gala included Knutson Construction Company, UnitedHealth Group, Great Clips, Ryan Companies U.S., Inc., Whitebox Advisors, RJF Agencies, Dedicated Logistics, Best Buy and API Group, Inc.
Thank you to everyone who attended the 2012 Children’s Star Gala and donated your time and money to support Children’s!
One of the founders of Children’s – Minneapolis, James G. Miles, died earlier this week.
Ask Dr. Arnold Anderson, the hospital’s first medical director and chief executive officer, about the impact of Miles, and his answer is unequivocal:
“Without Jim Miles, Children’s Hospital would not be.”
Perhaps best known as a founder and top executive at Control Data Corp., at one time one of the leading computer companies in the world, Miles was an engineer, lawyer, inventor, entrepreneur, gubernatorial candidate and author. Dr. Anderson would add a few more descriptions to the list: “visionary,” “genius,” “revolutionary” and “a man of principle.” But not many people know his history as founder of Minnesota’s largest children’s hospital.
After a discouraging meeting with a Chicago consultant who questioned the feasibility of building a Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis, Miles said to Dr. Anderson: “If you will stick with me, we will build that hospital.”
Despite opposition from local philanthropists, government officials, medical academics and the hospital community, Miles believed that children should have a hospital dedicated to their unique needs. Starting in 1967, Miles helped lead the effort to win the necessary approvals, financing and funding to build the hospital, which opened in 1973.
It wasn’t easy. Not by a long shot. At one point, construction had to be stopped due to insufficient funds, and a cyclone fence was installed around the perimeter of the site to prevent neighborhood children from falling in the giant hole that had been dug, according to Dr. Anderson. Later, during a cash crunch early in the hospital’s history, Miles pledged his entire net worth to keep the hospital going, according to a Star Tribune story about Miles in 2008.
“Miles was instrumental in creating plans for the hospital, employing innovative and cost-effective construction principles and child-friendly designs,” Dr. Anderson said. “He even had a critical role in the hospital’s budgeting and governance that enabled the hospital to remain viable despite challenging fee schedules and a commitment to serve all children regardless of their economic circumstances.”
Miles established the organization principles for Children’s that remain essential today: a worthy common purpose, a strong “esprit de corps,” competence, a loving spirit, innovation, cooperation, generosity and faith, Dr. Anderson said.
“I would say that the very spirit of Children’s is due to Jim Miles,” he said.
Jim Miles may have died earlier this week, but at Children’s his spirit lives on.
Children’s is celebrating National Volunteer Week this week! From April 15-21 we are taking a moment to thank the many volunteers throughout Children’s who share their time and talents with our patients & families. Children’s is supported by many volunteers, including:
All those who wear the red volunteer vest of honor
Children’s Association-Minneapolis members
Board members at all levels
Children’s Hospital Association members
Corporate Partners
Family Advisory Council
Families as Partners
Parent-to-Parent
Youth Advisory Council
In addition to the Kids’ Health Blog, Children’s has a blog focused solely on volunteerism at our hospitals and clinics, called the “Red Vest Review.” This week, the blog will be updated twice a day with in-depth stories on volunteers, staff supervisors, and their impact on the Children’s community. Said volunteer Jazmine Olson:
“I really enjoy volunteering at Children’s. Everyone in the surgery unit is nice, friendly, and helpful. My favorite part of volunteering is interacting with the families and trying to make them feel more comfortable during their visit.”
Along with recognizing volunteer contributions, we will be recognizing the contributions of the many amazing staff who partner with volunteers in so many different areas!
You are cordially invited to attend our Volunteer Services Open Houses this week. Join us:
St Paul (B-L297 lower level) Tuesday, April 17, 2012: 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Mpls: (B-700, lower level) Thursday, April 19, 2012: 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Cake will be served!
Thanks for your wonderful support of Children’s volunteers!
CoBank’s Minnesota associates have been working with various organizations in their community for a number of years, and are always looking for new opportunities.
Late in 2010, Russ Nelson, President, Farm Credit Leasing, was approached by Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota with a request for support. With so many associates using Children’s services for their own families, this was an organization everyone wanted to support.
CoBank made a long-term commitment to support Children’s with charitable contributions and volunteer service. Associates Jonathan Doran and Lisa Tollefson were asked to spearhead CoBank’s efforts with Children’s.
Jumping right in, more than 40 CoBank associates participated in the HeartBeat 5000 5k run/walk in June. Another opportunity arose shortly after with the “Love for the Lounge” program. Beginning in November, associates began stocking the shelves of the hospital’s sixth floor family lounge with items such as refreshments, magazines, games, toys and toiletries.
“CoBank’s contribution to the sixth floor lounge has added a sense of comfort for the families and children here,” said Christi Dady, Child Life Specialist, Children’s Hospital. “They are so appreciative that someone cares enough to do something like this for them at such a difficult time.”
“When families head to the hospital they often don’t have time to pack, they just grab their child and go,” said Tollefson. “Some of these families don’t have the means to purchase the things that can make them more comfortable or help pass the time during a long wait at the hospital. Offering these much needed supplies can make a big difference to these families.”
“The items we donate are provided to families at no cost while their children are receiving treatment in the hospital,” added Doran. “It’s been so gratifying to help these families. We are committed to making it work and growing our support.”
CoBank is a national cooperative bank serving vital industries across rural America. The bank provides loans, leases, export financing and other financial services to agribusinesses and rural power, water and communications providers in all 50 states. The bank also provides wholesale loans and other financial services to affiliated Farm Credit associations serving more than 70,000 farmers, ranchers and other rural borrowers in 23 states around the country.
Patsy Stinchfield, a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner from Children’s, is in San Jose Rio Preto, Brazil to help the Hospital de Base better control their post-operative infection rates. The following is Patsy’s third update from Brazil.
Hola!
It is hard to believe we have been here just four days and three days in the Hospital de Base. I write this late in the day after a 16 hour day with the amazing CV ICU team at the hospital (that’s what everyone does on their vacation in Brazil, right?!). The Children’s Heartlink program has a beautiful vision to bring the best cardiovascular care to children and our time here proves that many strides have already been made.
The passion and leadership of Dr. Ulisses Croti, the solo pediatric CV surgeon, is driving best practice in this hospital and the region on many fronts. The multidisciplinary team in this unit loves their work and it shows. They do have more infections than they should — and we are leaving no stone unturned in trying to find out why — but as usual, there is no smoking gun, but many “fixable” issues.
Our focus this week on infection prevention in the CV ICU and pain management has been so fulfilling. Dr. Kurachek and I have developed a subtle look we give each other when we realize they are doing a process better than we do in the US.
For example, each patient has a poster up of individual goals for the next shift on where to maintain the blood pressure, etc. We admire their openness and willingness to take all advice on behalf of patient improvements. There is no defensiveness or resistance to change. The focus is clearly on quality care for tiny patients with big heart defects.
The complexities of the surgical procedures and the post-op care are like a great ballet–everyone knows their part and plays it elegantly. There are a number of fine tunings we will offer to get them from good to great but their culture of attention to quality will get them there faster.
Today, Dr. Kurachek provided a formal lecture on pain and sedation and I presented a formal lecture on blood stream infection prevention. We have been hammering the importance of hand hygiene all week and have appreciated the amount of time their ID doc and Infection Control nurse have given us.
We have had numerous conversations with small groups of staff with everything from considering a hospital acquired infection an emergency, to when do you stop antibiotics, to what is Empiric precautions, to what are the Fentanyl versus Morphine considerations (clearly that last one was Kurachek’s!).
What is impressive is the multi-disciplinary turn out for our talks. My talk had 15 in attendance on the unit including intensivists, cardiologists, housekeeping staff, nursing, techs, therapists, students and infection control specialists. They were very interested and able to learn together. I was able to observe in the micro lab as well as the entire sterilization process, which is done well–bar coded and everything!
Dr. Kurachek was able to do morning rounds, meet with a vascular surgeon about non-surgical lymphedema treatment, do his pain talk twice, role play with me on how one points out a potential patient safety risk to a colleague and end the day with our team doing Safety rounds–and that was before dinner!
It has been a great day once again. Big day tomorrow as we tour the new children’s hospital and help them prepare to prevent risks there.
The following is a guest post from Kristen Spielman, the mother of a patient at the Woodwinds Clinic in Woodbury, MN.
Our son, Nathan, has had quite the journey since he was born 3 years ago. Many of you have walked a similar road. Just like us, you’ve cried, prayed, and rejoiced over your little one. I’d like to share our story with you and ask you to join us in helping Nathan, and other children with similar challenges, make even bigger strides than they are currently making in Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapies.
The day Nathan was born 3 years ago, the doctors told us that there was something different about him. His high palate, droopy eyelids, adducted thumbs, and perhaps most significant, his extremely low muscle tone, were all indicators that Nathan had a genetic syndrome. He has logged many hours with the special education department of our school district and has endured numerous blood draws and brace- and helmet-fitting appointments.
Most important to his development, Nathan has worked consistently in physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy three times each week at Children’s Woodwinds Clinic in Woodbury, MN.
Last August, just before his third birthday, Nathan finally received a diagnosis. He has Multiminicore Disease, a rare genetic muscle condition in which his muscle cells will always only perform at a small percentage of normal function. As you can imagine, this affects EVERYTHING he does, from talking and chewing to gross motor skills. Nathan’s life will always be more difficult because of his disease, but his ability to communicate and perform daily tasks, quality of life, risk for falls, and movement is greatly improved through the therapies he learns and does at Children’s Woodwinds Clinic.
A unique opportunity has arisen at the Woodbury Clinic. An adjoining property right out the front door recently became available to Children’s. It was formerly the outdoor play area for a daycare. The current vision is for this area to be developed into a therapy playground.
For obvious reasons, one might think that such a playground would only be useful for Physical Therapy. However, as the mom of a recipient of physical, occupational, and speech therapy, I can say with confidence, that it would benefit children receiving therapy in any of the 3 disciplines.
Megan Shepherd, a therapist at the Woodwinds Clinic, agrees. “A clinic playground would allow therapists to teach kids how to safely play and fully experience playgrounds at their neighborhood parks.”
The “work of play” is a child’s job. In my opinion, many of those “work hours” should be logged on a playground. Upon a child’s entrance to school, the playground will be an important learning space, second only to the classroom. Social skills, friendships, cooperation, and body awareness are only a few of the lessons that will be obtained there. How much better prepared will our children be for that environment if they know how to use a playground safely, effectively, and without fear?
Would you please join me in making it possible for this “Children’s” playground to be built? Thank you for considering this opportunity. Your gift will bless Nathan, and in turn our family, and many other children and their families in countless ways for many years to come.
You can find more information about the project and make this playground a reality with a gift at GiveMN.
The crowd was brought to tears following a performance by 10-year-old Caiah Rodgers, a Children’s patient and leukemia survivor, singing her rendition of Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful.”
One of the founders of Children’s – Minneapolis, James G. Miles, died earlier this week.
