The Bulletin: September 2008

The Bulletin is a monthly newsletter for Children's and community providers.

A New Name

Looking toward a second century of service, Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center will begin the next chapter with a new name: Seattle Children’s. In addition to a new shorter name, a new logo will recognize the three core functions of the organization — the hospital, the foundation and research.

The public introduction of the new name and logo will take place on Sept. 16.

“As we grow and gain recognition on a regional, national and international level, it is increasingly important to leverage our location and underline the importance of the hospital, the foundation and research to achieving our mission,” says David Perry, vice president of marketing and communications.

The name Seattle Children’s not only pays tribute to the community, it also distinguishes this organization from other children’s hospitals in other cities around the country. It is the current Web address, SeattleChildrens.org, and a designation many health-care providers and families throughout the region already use.

The decision to change the name was reached after gathering input from staff, physicians, patients and families, and donors in the Puget Sound and the wider WAMI region. Being located in Seattle proved to be an important asset. Incorporating this birthplace into the organization’s name capitalizes on many favorable associations — progressive, innovative and medical excellence — and helps attract the best and brightest staff members.

“Nothing has changed about who we are or what we do,” says Dr. Tom Hansen, CEO. “We are simply highlighting all that makes Seattle Children’s special, and describing all that we already are.”

A New Name: Addendum

Templates for slide presentations and scientific posters that feature the new look of Seattle Children’s will be available on the Medical Staff Resources page on CHILD beginning Sept. 17.

You will be able to work directly with your program assistant to reorder business cards and other business stationary.

If you have any questions, contact Margot Kravette, director of physician relations, at (206) 987-5765.

New Director of Surgical Quality Recruited

Dr. George Drugas will join Seattle Children’s on Sept. 1 to serve as director of surgical quality improvement, focusing on the systems and processes that ensure prompt, safe, high-quality care for our surgical patients.

Dr. George Drugas

In addition to his clinical role as a general surgeon, he will partner with the new director of perioperative quality improvement, who will be named soon. Drugas was recruited to ensure quality improvement leadership for all facets of surgical services.

He joins Children’s from University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, New York, with medical and postdoctoral training from Northwestern, Stanford, and Johns Hopkins Universities. He also has a master’s in Business Administration from the University of Rochester. Drugas is board certified in pediatric surgery and surgical critical care and has a demonstrated record of leadership in surgical quality and safety issues.

Inpatient Access Improvements Underway

Seattle Children’s has made inpatient access one of its highest priorities.

“Our experience with high patient census this winter confirmed our need for a hospital-wide strategy to meet growing patient demand. I believe we have a good plan that will both support our staff and provide improved access for our patients,” says Pat Hagan, chief operating officer. The goal is to increase inpatient capacity by 4% annually.

Among the many Continuous Performance Improvement (CPI) projects underway to help increase capacity are the addition of seven new observation beds and the improvement of care management through a daily focus on the factors that prompted hospitalization. Longer-term projects include improving care plans for complex, high-intensity patients. Over time, a combination of better processes, better support for staff, and standardized work will help ease many access-related hurdles.

Jennifer Abermanis will direct the hospital-wide strategy and will work with Susan Heath, chief nursing officer, and Dr. David Fisher, medical director, to identify and implement the projects and resources needed to improve inpatient access.

Ethiopian Physicians Visit Craniofacial Center

Dr. Shiferaw Degu, an orthodontist, and Dr. Mekonene Eshete, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon at Addis Ababa University recently spent one week at Seattle Children’s to study our model of interdisciplinary team care and patient flow and to observe surgeries in Children’s Craniofacial Center.

Dr. Shiferaw Degu and Dr. Mekonene Eshete

Prior to this visit, members of the craniofacial team attended a meeting in Ghana, where they observed the unique challenges of caring for cleft patients there. The meeting included participants from Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia and South Africa.

The physicians are participating in an outreach program called SKATCA (Seattle-Kumasi Advocacy for Team Cleftcare in Africa) founded by the Craniofacial Center and Kumasi Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Ghana. Children’s and The Smile Train Foundation, an international nonprofit organization, are funding the two-year program which aims to foster, facilitate and sustain an integrated model of cleft and craniofacial care in sub-Saharan Africa.

Previously thought to be rare among Africans, a recent study showed the incidence of cleft is the same in Africa as it is here (approximately 1.49 cases in 1,000). The program in Addis Ababa handles almost twice as many cases as the Craniofacial Center at Children’s, including adults who have never had any surgeries to address their clefts.

“When visiting Ghana, we were amazed at how much can be done with limited resources,” said Dr. Michael Cunningham, medical director of Children’s Craniofacial Center. “Hopefully, we have shared some helpful techniques that will help the center in Addis Ababa improve patient flow and decrease its reliance on funding which they currently receive from the Norwegian government,” he said.

Adolescent Medicine Now Seeing Patients for Substance Abuse

The Adolescent Substance Abuse Program (ASAP) is accepting referrals for patients who may have substance abuse concerns. Staff, or teens or their parents can call the Adolescent Medicine Clinic at (206) 987-2028, ext. 1, and ask to schedule a “just in time” screening appointment with Mandy Williams, MSW, certified Chemical Dependency Professional (CDP) with expertise in adolescents.

These appointments are available on a scheduled basis twice a week. For crises, staff may call the Substance Abuse Response Team pager number at (206) 469-2385 or call through the hospital operator.

Dr. Leslie Walker, chief of the Adolescent Medicine Division, and Dr. Ray Hsiao, an addiction specialist, will provide intensive medical and/or psychiatric evaluation once an initial evaluation is completed. If you have questions, please call Mandy Williams, CDP, at (206) 987-1359 or Hsiao at (206) 987-3287.

Receive the Bulletin by E-mail

Beginning in January, Seattle Children’s will offer the Bulletin by e-mail only. If you currently receive the print version of this publication, you can visit the front page of the Medical Staff Web site and subscribe to the electronic Bulletin.

If you have previously provided your e-mail address, you will begin receiving the electronic Bulletin automatically starting next month with the October issue.

The electronic Bulletin is replacing the print version based on feedback from providers, who indicated in surveys and focus groups that they would prefer receiving information electronically. This shift also supports green initiatives by reducing the amount of paper circulating in our environment.

The electronic format has an option to print the entire edition and gives readers the opportunity to choose topics of interest.

Children's Offers Improved Access to Patient Information

Children’s Care Gateway is a portal that provides access to your patients’ real-time clinical information at Seattle Children’s. The Gateway, accessible from any location with Internet access currently includes CIS View and PACS Web and will contain additional applications in the future.

CIS View allows referring providers and appropriate staff to review their patients’ visit information, clinical data, laboratory and imaging results, documents and reports. PACS Web can be used to view digital radiology images at Children’s. Both CIS View and PACS Web are view-only tools and do not allow for modification of documents or other information.

To obtain access, your practice must sign up for Children’s Care Gateway at gateway.seattlechildrens.org or from the link on the Medical Staff Web site. Simply click on Getting Started. If your practice already has access but you need to be added to your practice group, click on Changes to Existing Practices.

For further information, see Frequently Asked Questions on the Gateway site.

Project Team to Address Phonebook Issues

As you might be aware, there have been some issues with the new workforce directory (aka “the phone book”) since its implementation a few months ago.

Therefore, a project team co-sponsored by Steven Hurwitz, VP of Human Resources, and Wes Wright, chief technology officer, has been assembled to prioritize and address these concerns.

The project team will tackle a broad range of issues, but the primary focus will be on the integration of employee and nonemployee data, the summation of accounting units at the department level and a support structure to maintain the implemented improvements. The team will work closely with representatives from the user community to help ensure that we address the major user issues. Contact Greg Campbell, project manager, with any feedback at (206) 987-3447 or by e-mail.

Clinical Staff to Replace Lanyards With Clip-on Badge Holders

Direct care staff members are being asked to replace their lanyards with clip-on badge reels. This is one of several improvements Seattle Children’s will make to reduce nosocomial infections in the hospital.

Research shows that items such as badges hanging from lanyards that come into contact with patients and environmental surfaces can harbor disease-causing bacteria, and as a result, many health-care facilities are now restricting their use. Please note that the new reels will not support as much weight as the lanyards, and plan accordingly.

If you are a direct care provider and you haven’t yet received a clip-on badge holder, please go to the Transportation office in the Bret Boone modular. To request a large supply of reels for a department, call Jonathan Jones at (206) 987-2030.

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Light the Night Walk

Children’s Hospital is a sponsor of this year’s Light the Night Walk on Saturday, Sept. 20 at Green Lake benefiting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Visit the Light the Night Walk Web site to join the Seattle Children’s team or make a donation. All team members will receive a free Children’s t-shirt. For more information please contact team captain, Michelle Frost at (206) 987- 4711. This is a family friendly event.

The 2008 Puget Sound Heart Walk

Join Team Children’s Hospital in the fight against heart disease and stroke at the 2008 Puget Sound Heart Walk, Saturday, Oct. 4, at Qwest Field. Gates open at 7 a.m. and the opening ceremonies and 5K Heart Walk start at 8:30 a.m.

Team co-captains, Dr. Ben Danielson, Lisa Brandenburg and Joanie Blanchard, invite you to visit the 2008 Puget Sound Heart Walk Web site to join Team Children’s Hospital or make a donation. All employees, physicians, volunteers, patients, families and friends are welcome to join and all Team Children’s members will receive a free T-shirt. For more information, contact Joanie Blanchard.

Seattle's Top Doctors

This year, 133 members of Children’s medical staff were recognized as Seattle’s “Top Doctors” in the September 2008 issues of Seattle Metropolitan, Seattle magazine or in both publications. The list includes both faculty and community providers named by their colleagues as physicians they would choose to treat a loved one.

Acupuncture
Anjana Kundu, MD
Adolescent Medicine
Cora Collette Breuner, MD, MPH; Jeffrey Lindenbaum, MD
Allergy & Immunology
Mary Farrington, MD; Michael Weiss, MD
Anesthesiology
Anne Lynn, MD
Cardiology
Troy Johnston, MD; Thomas Jones, MD; Mark Lewin, MD; Jack Salerno, MD
Critical Care
Harris Baden, MD; Thomas Brogan, MD; Robert Mazor, MD; Joan Roberts, MD; Jerry Zimmerman, MD
Dermatology
Kim Gittere Abson, MD; Robin Hornung, MD, MPH; Julie Francis, MD; Ulrike Ochs, MD; John Olerud, MD; Virginia Sybert, MD
Developmental and Behavioral Medicine
Charles Cowan, MD; Bryan King, MD; William Walker Jr., MD
Diabetes
Catherine Pihoker, MD; Richard Mauseth, MD
Ear, Nose & Throat
Felix Chu, MD; Neal Futran, MD, DMD; Andrew Inglis Jr., MD; Scott Manning, MD; Kathleen Sie, MD; Ernest Weymuller, MD
Eating Disorders
Cora Collette Bruener, MD, MPH
Emergency Medicine
Dena Brownstein, MD; Eileen Klein, MD, MPH; Russell Migita, MD; George “Tony” Woodward, MD
Endocrinology
Angela Badaru, MD; Gad Kletter, MD; Catherine Pihoker, MD
Gastroenterology
Dennis Christie, MD; Simon Horslen, MB ChB; Richard Kozarek, MD; Karen Murray, MD; Michael Saunders, MD; Ghassan Wahbeh, MD
Hematology
J. Russell Geyer, MD; Dana Matthews, MD; Akiko Shimamura, MD, PhD
Hospice and Palliative Care
Ross Hays, MD
Hospitalist
Jill Allen, MD; Darren Migita, MD; James O’Callaghan, MD
Infectious Diseases
Jane Burns, MD; Janet Englund, MD; Dianne Glover, MD; Zachary Miller, MD
Lung Cancer (Surgical)
Douglas Wood, MD
Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Edith Cheng, MD
Medical Genetics
Peter Byers, MD; Ian Glass, MD; Kathleen Leppig, MD
Naturopathic Medicine
Daniel Labriola, ND
Neonatal & Perinatal Medicine
Richard Badura, MD; Stephen Chentow, MD; Christine Gleason, MD; J. Craig Jackson, MD; Barry Lawson, MD; David Loren, MD
Nephrology
Allison Eddy, MD; Laurie Fouser, MD; Ruth McDonald, MD; Jordan Symons, MD
Neurology
Sidney Gospe Jr., MD, PhD; Marcio Sotero, MD; Brien Vlcek, MD
Obstetrics
Edith Cheng, MD
Oncology
Doug Hawkins, MD; Julie Park, MD
Ophthalmology
Werner Cadera, MD; K. David Epley, MD; Avery Weiss, MD
Orthopedics
James Bruckner, MD; Ernest “Chappie” Conrad III, MD
Pain Management
Corrie Anderson, MD; Anjana Kundu, MD
Pathology
Raj Kapur, MD, PhD; Kathleen Patterson, MD; Joe Rutledge, MD
Pediatrics
Matthew Allen, MD; Ann Champoux, MD; John Dunn, MD; Robert Fukura, MD; Kathy Risse, MD; Donna Smith, MD; Gary Spector, MD; Mitchell Weinberg, MD, PhD; Sherri Zorn, MD
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Kenneth Jaffe, MD; Teresa Massagli, MD
Pulmonary Disease
Edward Carter, MD; Jason Debley, MD, MPH; Ronald Gibson, MD, PhD; Gregory Redding, MD
Radiation Oncology
James Douglas, MD
Radiology
Eric Effman, MD; Dennis Shaw, MD; Edward Weinberger, MD
Rheumatology
Helen Emery, MD; Troy Torgerson, MD, PhD; Carol Wallace, MD
Sleep Medicine
Maida Chen, MD; Yemiserach Kifle, MD
Sports Medicine
Steven Anderson, MD; Thomas Jinguji, MD; Gregory Schmale, MD
Surgery, Cardiovascular
Gordon Cohen, MD, PhD; Edward Verrier, MD
Surgery, Cosmetic
Daniel Downey, MD; Craig Murakami, MD
Surgery, General
Adam Goldin, MD, MPH; Robert Sawin, MD; John Waldhausen, MD
Surgery, Hand
Douglas Hanel, MD; John Miyano, MD; Thomas Trumble, MD
Surgery, Neurological
Richard Ellenbogen, MD
Surgery, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
Joseph Gruss, MD; Richard Hopper, MD; Craig Murakami, MD; Peter Neligan, MD
Surgery, Thoracic
John Waldhausen, MD; Douglas Wood, MD
Surgery, Transplant
Gordon Cohen, MD, PhD; Patrick Healey, MD; Michael Mulligan, MD; Jorge Reyes, MD
Urology
Beth Andersen, MD; Richard Grady, MD; Byron Joyner, MD; Martin Koyle, MD

Urology Recognition

Children’s urologists Drs. Richard Grady, Byron Joyner and Martin Koyle are among the first subspecialists in the field of urology to receive “certificates of added qualification (CAQ)” in Pediatric Urology from the American Board of Urology (ABU).

The CAQ is recognition by a “parent board” of a uniquely qualified surgeon who has successfully completed a Residency Review Committee (RRC) approved fellowship training program and who has then been in practice and gained initial general board certification in that specialty.

The Pediatric Urology CAQ then requires that the individual undergo extensive evaluation through a secure computer-based examination, peer review evaluation and critical assessment of clinical, surgical, and complication logs. Of the approximately 10,000 urologists and 400 pediatric urologists nationwide, only 172 have fulfilled these qualifications to date and received the CAQ. By completing this long road to recognition, it is anticipated that the extra commitment and training involved to earn the CAQ will translate to superior care for patients and their families.

Grant Awarded to Multidisciplinary Team

Congratulations to Drs. Cate Pihoker and Joyce Yi, along with Dr. Jared Roach from Children’s Data Management Department and Eugene Kolker of Seattle Children’s Research Institute, who were recently awarded $400,000 from a Microsoft HealthVault Solutions grant program called the Be Well Fund. The interdisciplinary group will develop and launch an educational research Web site for adolescents with diabetes.

Parents Compliment Seattle Children's and Physicians

One parent writes, “Patti Varley has always been an excellent provider. We feel very fortunate to have had her expertise.”

Another says, “Dr. Manning is outstanding. He is clear, articulate and detailed. He is highly knowledgeable but never speaks ‘above’ us.”

One patient’s family wrote that Seattle Children’s “gives excellent care” and noted specifically, “Dr. Schmale is the best! I wish my daughter could continue to get his care after she is 19 years old!”

1st Annual Nutrition Symposium

On Saturday, Oct. 25, pediatric experts from the fields of medicine and nutrition will address many of the issues primary care providers are faced with every day. Topics include healthy feeding relationships, the child or infant who is not thriving, and practical approaches for office visits to help children and adolescents achieve healthier weights and fitness levels. The program will also discuss the provider’s role in the obesogenic society including motivational interviewing and counseling. See the brochure on the Medical Staff Web site for more information.

Regional Anesthesia Conference

From Sept. 19 through Sept. 21, Seattle Children’s will host “Regional Anesthesia in Children” featuring lectures and small group workshops conducted by local, national and international speakers, including Drs. Adrian Bosenberg, Peter Marhofer and Giorgio Ivani. There will also be opportunities to practice ultrasound on live models and phantoms. View a brochure on the Medical Staff Web site.

New Medical Staff and Allied Health Professionals

Children’s welcomes these new medical staff members and allied health professionals.

Abdullrahman Alsultan, MD, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Hematology-Oncology
Mariam Araujo, PhD, Children’s Bellevue, Child Psychiatry
Puneet Bhargava, MD, Children’s, Radiology
Amit Bhrany, MD, University of Washington, Plastic Surgery
Omar Bhutta, MD, Children’s, Chief Resident
Scott Borinstein, MD, PhD, Children’s, Hematology-Oncology
Tyler Burpee, MD, Children’s, Gastroenterology
Scott Diede, MD, PhD, Children’s, Hematology-Oncology
Rodney Dubois, DDS, MS, Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic, Dental Medicine
Alberto Enrico, DDS, Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic, Dental Medicine
Rachel Fleishman, MD, Children’s, After Hours Clinic
Erica Freeman, MD, Children’s, After Hours Clinic
Janna Friedly, MD, University of Washington, Rehabilitation Medicine
Mariella Garcia, DDS, University of Washington, Dental Medicine
Carlo Giussani, MD, Children’s, Neurosurgery
Brandi Irwin, DO, Pediatric Associates
Benjamin Jackson, MD, Children’s, Chief Resident
Joseph Kelly, DDS,MS,MPH, Children’s, Dental Medicine
Leena King, DMD,MS,MPH, University of Washington, Dental Medicine
Andrew Lee, MD, Children’s, After Hours Clinic
Malaika Little, MD, Children’s, Neonatology
Thomas McNalley, MD, MA, Children’s, Rehabilitation Medicine
Lila O’Mahony, MD, Children’s, After Hours Clinic
Rebecca Partridge, MD, Children’s, Emergency Medicine
Mary Pew, MD, Children’s, Inpatient Medical Unit
Jason Pomerantz, MD, Children’s, Plastic Surgery
Molly Raske, MD, Children’s, Radiology
Randal Richardson, MD, MMS, Children’s, Neurology
Pooja Tandon, MD, Roosevelt Women’s Health Care Center, Pediatrics
Douglas Thompson, MD, Children’s, Anesthesia
Elizabeth Velan, DMD, University of Washington, Dental Medicine
Evangeline Villa, MD, Children’s, Anesthesia
Elisabeth Villavicencio, MD, PhD, Children’s, Hematology-Oncology
Thor Wagner, MD, Children’s, Infectious Disease
David Naimi, DO, NW Asthma & Allergy Center
Patricia Bai, ARNP, Children’s, Neurology
Susan Hightower, ARNP, Children’s, Cardiology
Ana Janecek, ARNP, Children’s, Neonatology
Kirby Meyer, PA-C, Children’s, Radiology
Genevieve Neeley, ARNP, Children’s, Neonatology

Grand Rounds

View the schedule of upcoming Grand Rounds.

Grand Rounds Online

View online versions of recent Grand Rounds.

On-Call Schedule

The on-call schedule for inpatient services can be found in the secure area of the Medical Staff Web site. It is updated on a daily basis.