Outreach clinics provide transplant care close to home

IU Health provides clinics throughout the state for transplant patients. Here is one patient’s story.

By IU Health Senior Journalist, T.J. Banes, tfender1@iuhealth.org

She likes to say, “The third time is a charm.” At 36-years-old Felicia James has spent countless hours in and out of hospitals and doctor’s offices.

Born with kidney complications, she was barely a toddler when her native kidney was removed. She received her first kidney transplant in 1989; and a second transplant in 1991. When that kidney began to fail in 2016, James began emergency dialysis. For five years, three times a week, four hours at a time, she spent time at a dialysis center near her Lafayette, Ind. home.

“I never knew what it was like to actually have healthy working kidneys. I think I was oblivious to life any other way,” said James. “Dialysis was a nightmare and I felt like I was spending most of my time working on my care.”

On Aug. 19, 2021, James received a third transplant in the care of IU Health’s Dr. Asif Sharfuddin. She named that kidney, “Charm,” for “third time is a charm.”

Three months after her surgery, James began check ups at a Lafayette outreach clinic for transplant patients. Other clinics are located in Vincennes, Evansville, Merrillville, Mishawaka, and Fort Wayne. An IU Health transplant nephrologist and nurse travel to the sites monthly.

Pre- and post-transplant patients receive the care of a highly skilled physician close to home, relieving the burden of long-distance travel.

For James, that means more time to do the things she loves.

“I live less than 10 minutes from the clinic and it is so much more convenient when I’ve spent so much time in treatments,” said James. The oldest of eight children, James was born and raised in Chicago. At her Lafayette home, she has found healing through flower gardening, cooking and baking.

“Recovery has allowed me to pursue the things I love to do – maybe for the first time in my life,” said James.

One big accomplishment pays tribute to her late grandmother.

“She was from the south and was a prominent figure in my life. I got my love for cooking and gardening from her. She was my biggest cheerleader. I’d spend summers with her and being by her side in the kitchen was my safe place. I have fond memories of sneaking strawberries from the patch when we were in the garden gathering the goods,” said James. “I always remember being amazed at how she didn’t use a cookbook but everything she made came out perfect.”

When her grandma died several years ago, James vowed to learn to cook like her grandma. Those who knew her grandma, remember her for her hospitality and “hot water cornbread.”

“Going through dialysis, and transplant caused a lot of anxiety and depression. I found that gardening and cooking were positive ways to cope,” said James. Her specialty: “I can recreate most any dish but I love baking the old-fashioned things like pound cake, cupcakes and cookies.”

A 2,000-mile leap of faith

In July 2020, Vimal Patel shattered both of his heels in a car crash. He was rushed to the nearest trauma center at the UCI Medical Center in Orange, California. The diagnosis from the surgeons was dire: a double foot amputation.

Vimal’s brother-in-law, Suhag Patel, had a different idea. After researching trauma centers across the country that might offer Vimal other options, Suhag found IU Health. “He’d read about IU Health’s work in treating injured Indy 500 drivers,” Vimal recalled. “Suhag said, ‘This is where we need to go.’”

Inspired to fight

Vimal chartered a private air ambulance for the 2,000-mile journey to Indianapolis from California. When Vimal landed at midnight, the IU Health trauma team immediately went to work.

Grateful patient Vimal Patel

“They were working around the clock, taking me in at 2 in the morning for X-rays,” Vimal said. “That’s what inspired me to fight. I thought, ‘If they’re going to fight this hard for me, why shouldn’t I fight that hard for myself?’”

During his two-and-a-half months at IU Health Methodist Hospital, Vimal underwent successful surgery, received hyperbaric oxygen treatment and worked diligently with the rehab team to gain strength in his feet.

When it was time to fly back to California, Vimal remained connected to his IU Health clinicians. “A month later, two months later, if I had a question, the IU Health doctors would respond immediately,” Vimal said. “I was just blown away.”

Where the rubber meets the road

Much of the trauma care Vimal received was supported by gifts made to Rev, IU Health Foundation’s signature fundraising event. Over the last eight years, Rev has hosted supporters at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for a night of food, music and interactive experiences. All proceeds from Rev support trauma care at IU Health.

In February 2022, Vimal connected with Duchess Adjei, a long-time Rev donor and committee member, on Zoom. Vimal shared that he can now walk, jog, jump and ride his bike. “What you do as donors means the world to patients like me,” Vimal told Adjei.

Duchess Adjei, MCS, MA, IU Health Foundation supporter and Rev volunteer

“This meetup that we’ve had today is where the rubber meets the road,” Adjei told Vimal. “I’m seeing someone who is a direct beneficiary of my gift, and it’s incredibly heartwarming.”

At the end of their reunion, Vimal shared with Adjei that he plans to return to Indianapolis this year. When asked why he wanted to come back, Vimal said, “I want to thank the doctors in person who helped me through all of this.”

Taking care of our own

Britny High sat in her car in the parking lot of IU Health Blackford Hospital, happy tears in her eyes as she felt a weight being lifted from her chest.

She’d just started working in outpatient registration and had yet to receive her first paycheck. Bills were due, but more urgently, her car was almost out of gas.

Britny High, IU Health team member

After learning about the IU Health Team Member Support Fund, High requested a gas card to make sure she could still get to work. What she received instead was enough support to cover other financial needs for her family until payday.

“I didn’t realize how stressed out I was,” High said, “and how much I needed that little boost.”

It takes the entire team to thrive

The Team Member Support Fund was created in 2018 to assist IU Health team members experiencing unexpected financial emergencies. In 2021, contributions to the fund increased 129% percent over pre-pandemic levels. In total, over a thousand team members received timely assistance.

“I’ve never worked at a company that’s like, ‘We’re here for you professionally, but we’re also here to help in your day-to-day life,’” High said.

Alan Henderson, IU Health Foundation supporter

Alan Henderson, an entrepreneur and IU Health Foundation board member, was one of the donors who contributed to the fund. “My
father was a physician at the Methodist campus for many years,” Henderson said. “I know the good work that’s done at all IU Health hospitals, and that it takes the entire team—doctors, nurses, food service workers—to deliver exceptional care. For people to perform at their best, they can’t be worried about having enough gas in their car to get home.”

Henderson and High recently connected a year after she received her assistance. “If I didn’t have the Team Member Support Fund, I don’t know where I would be right now,” High told him. “I can’t thank you enough for contributing to it.”

Paying it forward

After High and her family were able to get back on their feet, the first thing she did was give to the Team Member Support Fund. “I was helped. Now I can help that next person and make things easier for them,” High said. “That’s what we as a company need to do. We’re here for our patients, we’re here to care for the community, but we’re also here to care for our own employees.”

Benefits of Choosing The Right Commercial Roofing Company

The roof is one of the most essential components of your building. It protects you and your family from all outside elements. The best roof can provide better structural support to your building. When you want to replace your old roof, repair any kinds of damage then, you should choose a professional and commercial roofing contractor. The professional and commercial roofing in Oklahoma City has skilled and experienced employees and they can provide you with high-quality work that lasts long.

 

You will see the difference after choosing the commercial roofing contractor. You will have to check out these benefits of the right commercial roofing company:

 

  1. Expertise: While you work with a professional roofing contractor then, you can get the right access to the perfect experts of the job. A large professional team will assure you that you do not need to appoint any other guy to fix the work. One team can offer you the right solution.
  2. Accountability: A commercial roofing company can provide you with added accountability. A reputed and established contractor has a repairing department, replacement department, and installation department as well. The whole team of experts can solve your problem. Overall, you can expect a higher level of service and accountability from a popular and commercial roofing contractor.
  3. Fast repairing service: A commercial or professional company can provide you with the required service and they respond to your problem quickly. So, you will get your repair done very fast. A leakage in the roof can put you in danger. So, you will have to pick the fast repairing service. They will do the repair very fast so that your business will not hamper.
  4. Professionalism: From a commercial roofing Moore, ok company, you will get the expected professionalism. The best business comes with enough experience. So, a professional roofing company will handle new situations and implement required safety procedures as well. They will answer all of your questions. They can handle any kind of tough and tricky situation.
  5. High-quality roofing: You should not waste your time and money by choosing an inexperienced roofing company. An experienced roofing contractor can provide you with high-quality work. Above all, you will end up with a roof that does not need any kinds of continuous repairs. A good contractor can provide you with a better solution for your roof.
  6. Cut down other expenses: By hiring a professional roofing contractor, you can cut down the other expenses of your roofing project. A commercial roofing company uses sturdy materials and high-standard tools for the project. You can also lower the electricity bill if you install an SPF roof.

 

Quality of service is the main thing to check while you are hiring a professional roofing contractor. The best contractor will work with dedication, integrity, and smartness. You will get your whole job done at a scheduled time. Knowledge is another key to checking Roofing companies in Yukon, ok. A knowledgeable roofing contractor will serve you the best. They can complete your roofing work by executing the perfect plan. So, you will have to check twice and choose the wisest commercial roofing contractor.

 

Contact Us:

Salazar Roofing and Construction
Address: 209 E. Main Street, Yukon, OK
Phone: (405) 350-6558

Chiropractic Treatment The Best Option For Sportsmen

It is not unusual to hear of athletes complaining about pain. The good news is that you do not have to depend on harsh drugs or surgery to deal with such pain. With Longview Sports Chiropractor, you can get rid of any uncomfortable pain in your body with a couple of sessions. If you are an athlete do you want to know how you can benefit from such treatment? Great, we will introduce you to the benefits.

Benefits Of Chiropractic Treatment For Sportsmen

Here are some of the major benefits of this treatment. Have a look.

Very Safe

There is no doubt that this treatment is very safe as the professional deploys very gentle hand techniques to reduce pain. The professional will help rectify any misalignment of the spine of the joints in the body. They also use various techniques to get rid of any muscle stiffness in the body so that the pain is reduced. A spine and joint Longview tx will also give you good advice on the things you should not do to prevent such accidents.

Zero Dependency On Pain Killers

We all know that the easiest way to kill pain is by consuming some Tylenol. However, consuming painkillers, in the long run, can have an adverse effect on your health. So, the best way to deal with uncomfortable pain is to visit a chiropractic professional. You may have to visit a couple of times, but the results are quite rewarding.

Prevent Further Injuries

The chiropractic professional that deals with sportspersons will take extra care to carry out an orthopedic, neurological, and musculoskeletal examination. Such professionals receive specialized training to make such diagnoses. Also, they mention certain preventive measures that reduce the chances of further injuries. So, not only do you get good treatment, but also good advice. This is why you should consider speaking to a chiropractor.

How To Hire A Chiropractic Professional?

Well, the good thing is that Longview has many such chiropractors but to make sure that you find the right one you have to be a little patient in your search. Here are some tips that will help you along the way.

Use the internet to look up names of professionals or clinics that offer such services for sportspersons. Make a list of the names and do individual research on them. Read reviews and visit their website to make sure they offer what you are looking for. Read customer testimonials to get a clear idea of things.

Visit a clinic and talk to the professional Longview chiropractor there and explain your problem. A reliable professional will only begin the treatment after he has given you a detailed examination. The chiropractor must have a valid license and certification.

Wrapping Up

Stick to experienced professionals even if it means that you have to pay a bit extra, but you will not regret it at all. Take the time to go through all your options. Do not hesitate to take suggestions from your family and friends. Chiropractic is the best way to beat pain.

 

Contact Us:

Woods Chiropractic Center

Address: 111 Community Blvd Longview, TX
Phone: 903-668-2787

Types Of Blood Donations

Blood donations can be life-saving. Every day thousands of people donate blood to save many lives. The “blood cancer donor” route is an important way to procure blood for a cancer patient who needs blood urgently. When you want to donate blood, you need to eat a well-balanced meal and get adequate sleep before the day of making the payment. You should also drink more fluids (that are noncaffeinated and nonalcoholic). When you go to a donor center, you may be asked to provide your driver’s license, the list of medications (that you are currently taking), as well as your blood donor card. Other forms can be used for identification.

Requirements Related to Blood Donation

A person who donates blood has to register for it. Subsequently, the heart rate, body temperature, and blood cancer bone marrow transplant of the donor are checked and recorded. The donor may also be required to fill up a questionnaire, where he/she is probed upon the travel and other behaviors that may make the person more prone to the diseases.

Blood donations are usually carried out in reclining chairs. However, a donor may also be required to lie on a table. A sterile needle is put into a clean area of the arm of the blood donor. Blood is removed from the vein in approximately 15 minutes, and 1 unit of blood is obtained. You may be required to sit for a short period to ensure that you are feeling well. The donor may be also provided a light snack or a fruit juice (or some other drink) before he/she leave.

Type of Blood Donation

Today there are many different kinds of blood donations. Some of the important variations are given below.

Volunteer Blood Donation

Most of the donated blood is obtained from a bone marrow transplant blood type match, which is not related or connected to the person to whom is the blood is administered later on. The blood that is obtained from the volunteer donors and the blood units are later separated into the blood components before they are stored.

Blood Product Donation

The process through which individual components of blood (such as platelets) are donated is called “apheresis”. It is a kind of blood donation where a donor can only donate a single component of blood. Apart from platelets, white blood cells, red blood cells, and blood plasma may also be collected through this method. The other components of the blood are administered back to the blood donor, via a blood vein located in the other arm. How long is bone marrow donation recovery? This procedure is of a longer duration and may take approximately two hours in most cases.

A blood donor who is undergoing the apheresis procedure may feel the sensation of tingling around the nose and the lip areas of the mouth. He/she may also feel cold. However, all the sensations and feelings are gone as soon as the procedure is completed.

Autologous Donation

A person can donate his or her blood for later use, which is called an autologous donation. The process is usually carried out some weeks before a scheduled surgery has to be carried out. Surgeries may require transfusion of blood. The blood that the donor loses during the surgery is replaced by his or her blood later on. It is one of the safest methods of blood donation, as no problems related to blood compatibility occur.

Other Donations

There are also certain other donation methods and types including “paid donations” and the “directed donations”. Donors may be paid for the plasma of blood. However other kinds of paid donations (for purposes related to transfusion) are not allowed in the USA. Directed donations are blood donations where a friend, family member, or certain patients donate the blood.

Conclusion

There are multiple blood donation resources including the American Red Cross, Blood Centers, and the American Association of Blood Banks available. You can reach out to the centers for the requirement. It is also advised that you have the phone numbers of the blood banks with you, in case an emergency occurs.

 

Contact Us:

Gift of Life Marrow Registry

Address: 800 Yamato Rd suite 101 Boca Raton, FL
Phone: (800) 962-7769

Exercise and physical therapy can be part of a patient’s cancer care

A cancer diagnosis is mentally overwhelming. Treatments throw off typical routines and add to that imbalance. Here’s how physical therapy can help patients cope with that diagnosis.

By IU Health Senior Journalist, T.J. Banes, tfender1@iuhealth.org

The patient was in his 30s. He had been in ICU, in bed for several days. As those days turned into weeks, he was discouraged. He wanted to go home.

There was hope. His treatment would continue for cancer, but the patient could gain strength and independence with the help of a physical therapist.

According to some research, up to 90 percent of patients treated with radiation and 80 percent treated with chemotherapy experience some fatigue. An initial cancer diagnosis can account for 40 percent of patients who feel fatigue. The National Comprehensive Cancer Center (NCCN) developed guidelines for cancer-related fatigue, stating that exercise is the number one most effective non-pharmacologic treatment option.

In addition to fatigue, cancer and cancer treatments can cause pain, burning, numbness, tingling, cramps, and overall weakness. Physical therapy has proven to help with all of those symptoms. Movement can help patients breathe easier, increase their strength and posture, help heal from surgery, maintain body weight, improve range of motion, flexibility, strength and coordination, and balance, and elevate the patient’s mood.

“The goal is to access and evaluate the patient and determine the best way to help them,” said IU Health Physical Therapist Jennie Brouillette. With the patient who had been hospitalized and for a length of time, Brouillette began with encouragement.

“There may be some fear or reluctance so we start slowly. The goal was get the patient to return home so we focused on mobility – standing and then walking,” said Brouillette, who is a certified oncology rehabilitation specialist. In addition to working with surgical oncology patients at IU Health University Hospital Brouillette works with outpatients in Neuro-rehabilitation and Robotics. She received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Indiana University in 2012 and has an undergraduate degree in Biology from Indiana University. She is also a guest teacher for physical therapy students.

“The process may start with getting the patient out of bed and into a chair and then move to full laps around the unit. The idea is to build strength and confidence so the patient can safely return home,” said Brouillette, who has been at IU Health for 10 years.

Physical therapy and rehabilitation services are different for each patient. In general, the American Cancer Society and the American College of Sports Medicine suggests cancer survivors avoid inactivity and return to normal activity as soon as possible after prognosis and treatment, take part in regular physical activity – starting slowly and building up to at least 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of intensive activity a week, exercise at least 10 minutes at a time, and include resistance training and stretches two days a week.

In addition to physical therapy, recovering patients are encouraged to maintain a healthy weight and eat right to reduce the risk of other chronic illnesses or a second cancer.

Doctor focused on liver health: ‘I’m a big health equity champion’

IU Health’s Dr. Lauren Nephew is passionate about her role caring for some of the sickest patients. She is also keenly aware of the need for equitable access to transplantation by vulnerable patients.

By IU Health Senior Journalist, T.J. Banes, tfender1@iuhealth.org

Her patients talk about her open and caring spirit.

Dr. Lauren Nephew thought she wanted to focus on colorectal surgery. Then she learned she could wear many hats and still accomplish her career goals.

“As a third year medical student I was doing a colorectal rotation and was working with an amazing female surgeon. She asked me what I liked about the rotation and after listening to me, she recognized that the things I enjoyed most about the rotation were the complexities of patient disease. She said, ‘If that’s what you enjoy then you can have that and more career flexibility in gastroenterology and hepatology,’” said Dr. Nephew, who is married to Jason Nephew and the mother of two children ages three and six.

She attended Case Western Reserve University Lerner College of Medicine for medical school, completed residency at Massachusetts General Hospital and Gastroenterology and Liver Transplantation fellowships at the University of Pennsylvania. While in these post-graduate medical programs, Dr. Nephew also completed two master’s degrees in bioethics and clinical epidemiology. She has been selected as a KL2 Scholar and PLUS scholar at the Clinical and Translational Science Institute, which are programs that support outstanding researchers for their efforts in developing novel solutions focused on clinical and translational research.

She joined IU Health University Hospital and Simon Cancer Center in 2017.

“I fell in love with my patient population. Liver patients are some of the sickest patients in the hospital and have multiple other organ systems involved – their kidneys, lungs, and sometimes they have heart issues. The social complexity is an additional challenge,” said Dr. Nephew. “I like the fact that I’m involved in many aspects of the patient’s care thinking through many complex problems.”

What some may not know is that Dr. Nephew’s care extends beyond her precision skills. She is also acutely aware of the specific needs of patients who may otherwise feel marginalized.

“I am a big health equity champion and I’d like to see equitable access to transplant for vulnerable groups including racial and ethnic, minority groups and women,” said Dr. Nephew. “I’ve tried to understand why those disparities exist and the majority of my research has centered around these topics.”

In addition to research, Dr. Nephew speaks out at national conferences to bring awareness to the issue.

“There are issues with equitable access to transplant evaluation for patients and it is critical to figure out how we can be more inclusive and improve our practices,” said Dr. Nephew.

In one publication, Dr. Nephew noted racial and ethnic minorities historically have a disproportionate burden of chronic liver disease, morbidity and mortality than their White counterparts. In the same publication she notes that Black and Hispanic patients have lower rates of liver transplant referrals, and are less likely to undergo living liver donation.

In July of 2020, IU Health performed the state’s first living liver transplant in 20 years. Since then, the program has grown as a way of offering more patients with liver failure a chance to receive a life-saving donation.

“In the past two years, I’ve seen families step up. People want to help save lives. I had someone last week who was only 16 and desperately wanted to be a living liver donor for her sister,” said Dr. Nephew. In general, living liver donors should be between the ages of 18-55, and must be in good physical and mental health. They complete thorough medical and psychological evaluations. They may be related or unrelated to the recipient.

“We’ve seen several altruistic donors – people want to give to those they don’t even know. During this rough time of COVID and loss there’s a lot of giving going on and that’s a positive thing in the world,” said Dr. Nephew.

A large part of her role is educating her patients. Women tend to be reluctant to accept a living liver donor, she said.

“As mothers we’re not wired that way. We just want to be giving to others. If we have someone who needs an organ, we’ll give but if a mom needs an organ and has someone willing to give she has a tough time receiving it,” said Dr. Nephew.

As she talks about preventative care, Dr. Nephew stresses the need to consider the tough economic climate that can result in increased anxiety.

“Let’s find more ways to manage anxiety that don’t include drinking more than the recommended amount of alcohol. We’re seeing a lot of alcohol associated with liver disease,” she said. The US Department of Health and Human Services and US Department of Agriculture consider moderate drinking as limiting intake to two or less drinks a day for men and one drink or less for women.

For long-term liver health, Dr. Nephew encourages patients to focus on obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome. “As obesity hits younger adolescent groups, people can develop cirrhosis at an earlier age. We need to find ways to tackle that epidemic among young people and encourage making healthy foods accessible for everyone, encourage healthy eating, and physical activity,” she said.

Outside the hospital, Dr. Nephew tries to maintain work-life balance by relying on a team of family members including her husband and mother.

“I tell all working physician moms that you have to have 50-50 partners in home life and childcare,” said Dr. Nephew. She also enjoys traveling, watching movies, cooking, and she says she’s a “big news junkie.”

Making the impossible happen

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to keep a hospital running? The answer is, it is a lot like managing your own home—if your home had six floors, 191 bedrooms with attached bathrooms, a really large kitchen and several common spaces.

The Facilities crew at IU Health Arnett Hospital keep the house running by doing preventive maintenance, routine improvement projects and making repairs when needed. Filters get changed, belts get tightened and leaks are repaired. Team members often work above ceilings and outside in the cold.

Clinical engineers keep the equipment involved in patient care working smoothly. Beyond the televisions in each of the 191 rooms are monitors that check vitals and pumps that deliver medicine. There are nurse call buttons and mobile medical equipment like AEDs to maintain, and much like your home computer and iPhone, there are always updates to run and occasional glitches to solve.

Now add in a pandemic.

COVID-19 put a strain on the “house.” Each surge brought different issues with little to no warning. At one point during the latest surge, the hospital was serving 230 patients—that is, 39 more people than available rooms.

The first COVID-19 challenges

In March 2020, the first challenge for the Facilities team was to create negative airflow rooms, which prevents the air inside a patient room from pushing out into the hallway and other shared spaces. Negative airflow minimizes an airborne virus from traveling to other indoor spaces.

How does one create a negative airflow room, essentially on the fly? The team’s first thought was to remove the window in each room and put in a machine that would circulate air in and out. However, gaining access to those extra-large windows beyond the first floor was an issue.

A trip to Tractor Supply provided a solution—huge exhaust fans like those found in barns. Facilities could shut down the return air exchange and use the oversize exhaust fans to run air to the outside. This worked in some areas. It was discovered larger system exhaust fans needed to be changed out to achieve the needed volume of air movement. All this had to be done via the roof, which involved several vendors, an engineer and a crane, but it quickly provided an avenue that produced 12 negative airflow rooms.

The pressure in those negative airflow rooms must be continuously monitored—from outside the room. The solution was a combination of difficult to procure electronic gauges and some basic magnehelic pressure gauges installed outside each room, allowing team members to simply walk up to the door and check the pressure gauge.

“Each step was so deeply collaborative. It was awesome to see it all come together,” shares Ben Stauffer, director of Operations.

With everyone putting their heads together and conversations with outside vendors, the Facilities and Clinical Engineering teams eventually transitioned 30 total rooms in the Intensive Care and Progressive Care units, plus two permanent Emergency department rooms, into fully compliant negative airflow rooms.

As the number of patients increased during the delta variant surge, so did the need for space. The ambulance bay and conference room areas near the ED were turned into holding areas for patients. Carpets were removed and replaced with concrete floors in the conference rooms. The ambulance bay, which is essentially a large garage, needed heat to keep patients warm and enough electricity to run the medical devices needed for each patient. Temporary dividers to create more private patient “rooms” were built and large tents erected so patients could be transferred safely and privately from ambulances to the hospital, shielded from the weather.

Creative solutions to support caring for the critically ill

Inside the hospital, the most ill patients are cared for in the 14-bed ICU. To care for a COVID-19 positive patient, team members must don personal protective equipment (PPE) including gowns, gloves, masks and face shields before entering a room, which can take a minute or two. To save time and preserve precious PPE supplies, patient monitors and care carts were moved into the hallway so that medical staff could monitor patients without entering their rooms. (Picture provided by Kelli Kirkman, RN)

Still, for patients on ventilators, frequent trips into patient rooms were needed; for example, to adjust oxygen flow if a patient experienced breathing issues. Could ventilator monitors also be moved to the hallway to allow the healthcare team to pump oxygen to patients while donning PPE, instead of the patient having to wait until the team was fully geared up and inside the room—a move that could potentially save lives?

The challenge with this idea was that ventilator monitors are large and there was no obvious space for them or their cords and cables.

Melissa Sorrell, BSN, RN, ICU clinical operations manager, reached out to the Clinical Engineering and Facilities teams for a solution. The group put their heads together, took some measurements and again reached out to vendors for help. The solution was a custom metal stand created specifically for the ventilator monitors. The healthcare team now has a wall (head to toe) of easily accessible monitors and pumps for each patient. And all those cables are bundled into a protective sleeve.

“They [facilities and clinical engineering] had so much going on, but they took the time to listen to what I needed,” shares Sorrell. “In two years, we have not lost a cord or broken a ventilator.”

As the number of COVID-19 patients surged, the ICU had to expand out of its usual confines and into PCU space. Although both units are on the second floor of the hospital, they are not equipped the same.

For example, in the ICU, monitors are available outside each patient room to monitor heart rate, oxygen level and blood pressure, and all 14 rooms can be monitored from the nursing station. The PCU did not have these capabilities and needed to function like the ICU.

A whole new monitoring system comes with a large price tag—and a lot of time, a precious commodity as patient numbers increased. Drawing inspiration from a previous project in which Clinical Engineering worked with the Internet Information Systems department to help cardiologists monitor patient stats from afar using web-based software, a creative backdoor solution was born; additional computer monitors were placed on the walls outside each patient room and web-based software installed.

“You ask ‘what do you really need,’ then you work the problem,” shares Jon McCoy, director of Clinical Engineering.

Sorrell also identified another issue—not being able to see the patients. The hospital was built with windows for monitoring off to the side. With a full house and the need to don PPE for each entry, this care model was not working. Very ill patients get confused and pull at their tubes or try to get out of bed. Doors could not be left open because many of the rooms were negative airflow rooms. Nurses needed to see their patients.

Sorrell wanted glass doors. Facilities provided the solution by creating large windows in the doors. It may reduce patient privacy, but it saves lives.

“The first day the new doors were in place, we had a registered dietitian walking down the hall who saw a patient trying to get out of bed and called for help,” explains Sorrell. “It could have been detrimental for that patient to fall, pulling out his tubes. She saved his life just by walking past his room.”

Coming together in a time of need

Nothing has been easy for anyone in healthcare during the pandemic. Like their colleagues throughout the hospital, the Facilities team just kept doing what needed to be done, modifying the work schedule to provide 24-hour coverage.

“Sometimes you have to stop routine maintenance to jump on a project to improve patient care and safety,” explains Dirk Hepworth, Facilities manager. “My team has been flexible and industrious to meet the clinical requirements and continue excellence in operations. I could not be prouder of their efforts.”

Debbie Williams, senior administrative assistant, Operations and Facilities, agrees. “They take the impossible task and make it happen.”