COMES TO HUP’S TINIEST PATIENTS

A Precious Commodity

HUPdate Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania

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Volume 23 Number 3 February 10, 2012

Nothing beats mother’s milk when it comes to helping infants thrive. It contains all the vitamins and nutrients a baby needs in its first six months of life. Breast milk is especially good for premature babies because it is also filled with disease-fighting substances and is much easier for their underdeveloped GI tracts to digest.

But many preemies can’t get the breast milk that is so essential to their well-being; the sucking motion needed to nurse is not yet developed. In addition, while moms of preemies are encouraged to pump milk for their babies, not all mothers are able to pump due to certain medical conditions while others attempt to pump but don’t make enough.

Now, HUP’s new Donor Milk Program will help bring this powerful ‘medicine’ to its tiniest patients.

Breast Milk Leads to Better OutcomesDonor milk is breast milk that is pumped by a mother who is not the baby’s birth mother. Although a mother’s own milk is best for her baby, donor milk is a close second in terms of benefits. HUP’s donor milk program will provide this milk to babies in its neonatal ICU who weigh under 1,000 grams (the equivalent of a mere 2.3 pounds) and whose moms are not capable of pumping milk or are not making enough. “It will be for our most vulnerable infants,” said Laura Carpenter, BSN, RN, IBCLC, who led the initiative with Christine Jaslar, RN/IBCLC, both part of HUP’s Lactation Team. “Our goal is to provide donor milk to every infant who needs it.” She added that it could also be made available for other newborns in special circumstances, to be decided on a case-by-case basis. HUP and

Children’s Hospital are the only birth hospitals within city limits offering this type of program.

Huge BenefitsAll of HUP’s donor milk will come from a nonprofit donor milk bank which thoroughly screens donors before accepting their milk and then, after receiving the milk, pasteurizes it. “We’ll keep it on hand for when it’s needed,” Jaslar said. It can last up to a year frozen.

Donor milk is not inexpensive. It costs about $4.25 per ounce, but the return on investment is huge. “Preemies given mother’s milk get discharged three to four days sooner and also have a six to 10 times lower risk of getting a gastrointestinal complication called

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` A new freezer will keep the donor milk readily available until needed. Helping to kick off the official start of the program were (l. to r) Al Black, Michael Posencheg, MD; Christine Jaslar; Kate Fitzpatrick; Jessica Lazzeri; Laura Carpenter; Victoria Rich, Iyalla Peterside,MD and Phyllis Dennery, MD.

A Special Martin Luther King Day Celebration ...............2

Speaking With HUP’s Leaders ...........................3

Free Employee Heart Health Event ...................3

MAGNET Fair Update ..............4

INSIDE

When you do things for your patients and their children ... there’s nothing better. — Iyalla Peterside, MD

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necrotizing enterocolitis,” Carpenter said, adding that the infection can cost up to $250,000 to treat. The average cost to provide a preemie with donor milk: $125.

The program’s initial funding came from HUP’s Magnet Gala Community Outreach fund. At the program kick-off, Victoria Rich, PhD, chief nurse executive, UPMC — and a longtime proponent of breastfeeding — said the fund would provide $10,000 annually to this program.

“This is one of the most satisfying things I’ve done since coming here,” said Iyalla Peterside, MD, director of the Neonatal ICU, who was part of the multidisciplinary effort to get the program up and running. “When you do things for your patients and their children … there’s nothing better.”

If you or someone you know is interested in donating breast milk to the Mother’s Milk Bank of Ohio, call HUP’s lactation line at 215-662-2361.

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` Guest speaker Rev. Dr. Albert Paul Brinson (center) spoke of his personal relationship with the King family. Shown here with Al Black, COO (r.) and Ralph Ciampa, director of Pastoral Care.

A Special Martin Luther King Day Celebration Rev. Dr. Albert Paul Brinson reflects on his friendship with the King family

Last month’s celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. provided employees with a personal touch. The Rev. Dr. Albert Paul Brinson, a close friend of the King family, offered an emotional and motivational message that reminded those gathered in Medical Alumni Hall that all of us “are affected by the life, work and ministry of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”

“I come to you as one who speaks of family,” said the 73-year-old former civil rights leader. When Brinson was eight years old, his father left his mother and family. Martin Luther King, Sr. became his surrogate father and Martin Luther King, Jr. an older brother figure. Brinson recalled a conversation with King Jr. in 1963 about whether to pursue seminary studies and become a minister. “I said, ‘I am just not good enough to be a preacher.’ ” King Jr. replied, “You’ll never be good enough. I’m not good enough. It’s about being used by God, not about ourselves.” Within two hours, Brinson was ready to leave his teaching job in an Atlanta public school to join the seminary. Two years later, both Drs. Martin Luther King Sr. and Jr. ordained Brinson as an American Baptist Minister.

Brinson said he would come and go as he pleased at the King home. “I would turn the key and ring the door bell twice and they’d know it was me.”

At the celebration, Brinson read a biblical story of the Good Samaritan, in which a Jewish man is beaten by robbers and left nearly dead by the side of the road. After being ignored by a priest and a Levite, the man was cared for by a Samaritan. “My heart bleeds sometimes for people who have been left along life’s road,” said Brinson.

He referred to HUP employees as “good Samaritans” carrying out King Jr.’s values. “The caring ministries you do here, you become models for others.”

Adding to the event’s celebration were a powerful rendition of “What the World Needs Now” by Tamika Patton-Watkins of Administration and an interpretive dance by Rodney Talley to Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come.”

Brinson recognized our nation’s achievements for civil rights and fairness, but noted that there is still work to be done. “We shall overcome,” said Brinson. “Shall is not a word of completion, it is a word of movement.”

The caring ministries you do here, you become models for others. — Rev. Dr. Albert Paul Brinson

All Employee Meetings

Have a question about HUP or the Health System? Then plan to attend an upcoming All Employee Meeting. Members of senior leadership will provide updates and answer questions. The next three will be held on:

• Wednesday, February 15, from noon to 1:00 pm

• Wednesday, March 14, from 5:00 to 6:00 pm

• Wednesday, April 11, from 8:30 to 9:30 am

All Employee Meetings are held inMedical Alumni Hall on 1 Maloney.

When state and federal deficits have spiraled out of control in the past, governments have dramatically reduced their health-care expenditures to help them balance their budgets. This year could be no different. “There will be cuts in government program reimbursements,” said Garry Scheib, HUP’s executive director, during a recent Meal with an Administrator. “It’s just a question of when and how much.” Midway through FY12, the state is projecting a shortfall of nearly $600 to $700 million in revenue from taxes. The federal government’s challenge is huge in comparison. Scheib compared the government figures — in terms of revenue, expenses, and borrowing — to that of a single family (minus eight zeroes). “It’s equivalent to a family earning $21,700 annually but spending $38,200 each year and holding a credit card debt of $142,710,” he said. “Obviously this ‘family’ needs an additional job and a reduction in the amount they are spending.”State and federal officials are proposing aggressive cuts in Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement to hospitals as well as to funding of hospital training programs. Scheib said Penn Medicine leadership is partnering with the Hospital & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania and other organizations to tell leaders in both Harrisburg and Washington, DC, of the economic impacts of these cuts. “The cuts represent jobs,” he said. “Every dollar in salary translates into spending throughout the region. It’s a huge impact.”

The good news is that HUP — and the Health System — are in a good financial position. Heading into the third quarter of FY12, HUP’s revenue over expenses from operations is $12 million higher than budgeted. “We managed our expenses with an outstanding team effort across the board.”Scheib promised that, no matter what the financial picture, he’ll always be honest giving the numbers. “People can deal with bad news if they know what it is. Rumors are 90 percent imagination and 10 percent fact,” he said, adding that “the challenges we will face over the next few years will require a team effort.”

Upcoming Capital ImprovementsIn other news, Scheib said that the Board of Trustees has approved the expansion of the south wing of the Perelman Center. It will be completed in two years. They also approved a 1,000-car parking garage next to Lot 51. He said the garage could eventually be expanded to 2,000 spaces and “we will also be able to build up, for more clinical, research, or education space, in the future.”

The ultimate goal is to eventually move all services out of Penn Tower so that it can be razed and replaced with a 300-to-350-bed patient tower. Once approved, this project would take between four and five years to complete.

Scheib also thanked everyone for the 85 percent participation rate in the recent employee engagement. “The results have given us a lot

of detail about what we’re doing right and the opportunities for improvement.” He said managers and supervisors have received results and will be expected to have “dialogues with their staff over the next month.”

Domenic Sanginiti of Human Resources encouraged everyone to visit www.uphshrandyou.com and click on the Wellfocused tab to access new programs, tools, and resources to help employees lead a healthier life. Employees can also access their annual compensation statements on that website.

At the close of the informal meeting, Scheib again thanked everyone for their hard work. “We truly appreciate all you do. Please pass this along to your colleagues.” He encouraged employees to “call me or stop by my office” to talk at any time.

SPEAKING WITH HUP'S LEADERS

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` Promoting heart health awareness on Wear Red day are Terry Giancaterino director, Faculty Affairs (l.) and Marianne Incmikoski, director of Administration and Faculty Recruitment

In honor of Heart Month, join Penn cardiologists for a special day of heart-health seminars on Friday, February 17. The event is free, so stop in for one session, or stay for the whole day. It will be held in the first floor lobby of the Translation Research Center. See below for the schedule of topics, times, and speakers.

9:00 - 9:45 Jon Gomberg, MD Coronary disease 9:45 - 10:30 Frank Leone, MD Smoking treatment 10:30 - 11:15 Emile Mohler, MD Vascular disease 11:15 – Noon Joyce Wald , DO Heart failure Noon – 12:45 Jennifer Brady, RD, LDN Nutrition and exercise 12:45 – 1:30 Mathew Hutchinson, MD Cardiac electrophysiology 1:30 – 2:15 Emil deGoma, MD High blood pressure and hypertension 2:15 – 3:00 Howard Herrmann, MD Structural heart disease 3:00 – 3:45 Pavan Atluri, MD Valvular heart disease 3:45 – 4:30 Paul Forfia, MD Pulmonary hypertension

The 2012 Penn Medicine strategic planning process is underway! To learn how you can help Shape our Future, please visit www.med.upenn.edu/strategy

THE 2012 PENN MEDICINE

STRATEGY

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F R E E Employee Heart Health Event

Tuesday, February 14Noon to 1:00 pmReducing Your Cancer Risk

DATE: TIME:TOPIC:

Have you ever wondered why a friend got cancer and you didn’t? What factors in your life increase your risk and, more important, what can you do about them? Join the OncoLink team for a webchat to learn about cancer risk and tips to reduce risk. Go to oncolink.org/webchat to submit questions to our experts in advance, view and participate in the webchat and read a transcript after the live event. You can also use your (public) Twitter account to participate during the live event (use the hashtag #oncochat).

Penn Medicine CAREs Are you involved in community outreach activities? If so, you can apply for a grant from the Penn Medicine CAREs Foundation Grant program to help fund your outreach projects. The deadline for the next round of applications is March 1. For more information and to apply, please visit http://www.pennmedicine.org/community/. Remember to also report your volunteer actions on the Penn Medicine CAREs site.

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MAGNET FAIR: FUN AND EDUCATIONAL! HUP’s Magnet Fair proved that learning can, indeed, be fun. Five stations educated employees on what to expect during the Magnet site visit, what it means to be a Magnet organization,the role of various disciplines on the patient unit, the identities of the Magnet appraisers, and who are part of Penn Medicine senior leadership. Over 500 employees took part in the fun and entered a raffle to win great prizes. The winners were:

Camera – Lauren Mang, BSN, RN, of Rhoads 2 iPod Station – Marianne Zoleta, BSN, RN, Rhoads 4Wii – Hector Martinez, Catering

HUP’s Magnet site visit took place earlier this week. We will receive notification of the Magnet Commission’s decision in two to three months, most likely sometime in April.

EDITORIAL STAFF Sally Sapega Editor and Photographer

Abby Ernst Designer

ADMINISTRATION Marc Kaplan Director of Communications

Susan E. Phillips Senior Vice President, Public Affairs

CONTACT HUPDATE AT: 3535 Market Street, Mezzanine Philadelphia, PA 19104

phone: 215.662.4488 fax: 215.349.8312 email: sally.sapega@uphs.upenn.edu

HUPdate is published biweekly for HUP employees. Access HUPdate online at http://news.pennmedicine.org/inside/hupdate.

HUPdate ` Deborah Elliot, RN (r.), of Emergency Medicine, matches names with senior leadership photos, with a little help from Kathleen Moyer, MSN, RNC-NIC, of Women’s Health.