Rick Mersch, MD, FAAPPediatricianMercy Pediatric Clinic

6 S U MM E R 2 0 1 4 www.mercycare.org

Sharon says, “I commend the hospital staff for efficiently contacting the agency andhaving interpreters provided as needed. They were very considerate of this need of ours. At othertimes, the nurses were very helpful in writing notes when an interpreter was not present.”

“This was a whole new ball game for us! We have four other children and have neverencountered a health issue of this magnitude,” says Sharon. “Dr. Matsuda was veryknowledgeable about all the details of Jared’s situation. He was very thorough and clear inexplaining what was happening and what needed to be done. I think he connected well withJared and made him feel comfortable with being in the hospital.”

“I agree with Sharon about Dr.Matsuda’s at-ease relationship withJared,” says Bob. “He also relatedwell with us. Being deaf and needingan interpreter, it does not comeacross well with many doctors…Dr. Matsuda went beyond that andtreated us like any other parent. Histeam of nurses was awesome withJared and us.”

Bob says he appreciated manyaspects of Jared’s experience atMercy, including the caring staff,room privacy, ability to remain closeby Jared’s side and the hospital’sflexibility, such as allowing Jared tochoose what and when he wanted toeat with Mercy’s 24/7 inpatientroom service. (Mercy’s Food &

Nutritional Services department has averaged 94% in Press-Ganey patient satisfaction percentilerankings for the past five years, in part because of patients’ appreciation of 24/7 inpatientroom service.)

“The nurses told me to feel at home. I was able to set up a work area in the room and,when Jared slept, I felt free to set up a table in the hallway and focus on my work,” Bob says.“It was great – we could be near Jared the whole time as he encountered different issues, testsand had a long healing process.”

Deanna Glass, Consistent Care Social Worker, helped coordinate Jared’s follow-up careafter discharge, including at-home IV antibiotic therapy administered through his PICC line andoutpatient physical therapy. She also helped him establish his long-term medical home with RickMersch, MD, FAAP, at Mercy Pediatric Clinic for continued specialized pediatric care.

The new Mercy Pediatric Clinic features locally experienced and respected pediatricproviders Scott K. Nau, MD, FAAP, and Wieslaw (Wes) Machnowski, MD, FAAP, in addition toDr. Mersch. The practice provides primary care for children, from newborns through college.

Today, Jared has fully recovered from his ordeal and was able to play 7th/8th gradesoccer at Prairie Point Middle School. He achieved at least one big goal for the year – gettingback on that field!

“He (Dr. JamesMatsuda) was verythorough and clear inexplaining what washappening and whatneeded t o be done. ”Sharon VizziniMother of Jared,Pediatric Patient

EFY® RACE

This year’s Especially for You®(EFY) Race Against Breast

Cancer will be bigger and betterthan ever, featuring scenic newcourse routes highlighting

some of the wonderful aspectsof downtown Cedar Rapids.

Mercy Pediatric Clinic is acceptingnew and transferring patients.

Please call (319) 861-7900or visit www.mercycare.org/pedsand follow the easy steps.

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James Pape, MD, FAAOSPhysicians’ Clinic of IowaOrthopaedics

24th

Helping

1,282individualsin need

Come join the celebration at the finish line with a party atGreene Square Park with food, fun and entertainment.

This will be the 24th year for the race, scheduled for Oct. 5.It will offer a 5K run, 5K walk and family fun walk coveringdifferent routes through Cedar Rapids.Starting on Tenth Street SE in front ofMercy and Hall-Perrine Cancer Center,participants will go through the OakHill Jackson neighborhood, cross thebridge over the Cedar River throughCzech Village, past the National Czechand Slovak Museum and Library, theAfrican American Museum and Library,through NewBo district and downThird Street to Greene Square Park.There will be live music andentertainment along the route, withmore fun, music and kids’ activities atthe park.

Free shuttle service will beprovided from downtown parkingramps near Greene Square Park to thestart line at Mercy’s Hall-Perrine CancerCenter to NewBo and Czech Village to continue the fun after theparty at Greene Square Park.

This year also will feature a huge pink ribbon on “Mt.Trashmore.”

The EFY race has raised thousands of dollars in fundingfor breast cancer services for those unable to afford them. In2013 alone, the event drew 15,105 registrations, including587 cancer survivors, from 486 cities in 35 states and three

countries. Community sup-port was overwhelming with421 volunteers contributingmore than 2,843 volunteerhours.

During the last twoyears, EFY was able toprovide 1,282 individuals inneed, right here in ourcommunity, with access to1,844 services.

The EFY race and fundare dedicated to the memoryof Sandy Knight, a Whittierresident and General Millsemployee who died of breastcancer in July 1991. Knightco-founded Mercy’s EFY AfterBreast Cancer Support

Group. Her dream was to establish a race to raise funds forbreast cancer awareness and education and access to breastcare services.

In 2013,the event drew

15,105 registrationsfrom 486 citiesin 35 states andthree countries.

8 S U MM E R 2 0 1 4 www.mercycare.org

For the latest information and raceregistration details, visit

www.especiallyforyourace.org.

Sixth-grader Codie Lyman enjoys sports, hanging outwith her friends and spending time on her phone.

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