Journeys, Spring 2011

JOURNEYS “Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice …” – William Jennings Bryan

To the

rescue Dr. Steven Krueger studies ways to keep our firefighting heroes healthy and on the job

Spring 2011

JOURNEYS SPRING 2011

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FROM OUR PRESIDENT

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RESEARCH IN ACTION To the rescue

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MEDICAL STAFF UPDATE New faces at BryanLGH

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MEDICAL STAFF SPOTLIGHT Ask the doctor: When is plastic surgery appropriate?

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NEW AT BRYANLGH EBUS helps fight lung cancer

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BRYANLGH HEART INSTITUTE New cryoablation at the forefront of A-Fib treatment

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CRETE AREA MEDICAL CENTER Hope is in her future

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BRYANLGH HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE Celebrating 85 years of growth

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INDEPENDENCE CENTER On a mission: Alumnus spreads the word about recovery

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COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES Anesthesia program intense, but rewarding

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COLLEGE ALUMNI PROFILE

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COLLEGE ALUMNI CALENDAR

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BRYANLGH FOUNDATION You can extend first benefactor’s vision

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VOLUNTEER RESOURCES This general proudly volunteers

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NEW AT BRYANLGH Palliative care relieves suffering

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BRYANLGH LIFEPOINTE Completely relaxing

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55PLUS

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Facebook Basics: You can do it!

Free class Thursday, June 23, 7-8:30 p.m.

Bryan Medical Plaza Conference Center, BryanLGH East, 1600 S. 48th St. Are your children and grandchildren encouraging you to connect with them on Facebook? Maybe you’ve created a profile but don’t know how to upload a profile image or find friends on this social network. Perhaps you’ve put off joining Facebook, thinking, “Not another new computer thing to have to learn!”

Help is here! Join Chrystal Houston, BryanLGH digital marketing coordinator, as she reviews the basics of Facebook.

Here’s what you’ll learn: • What is Facebook? Why should you bother?

• How to create a profile and upload images.

• How to find “Friends,” post updates, send messages and write on walls.

• How to “like” BryanLGH and other organizations that you’re interested in, so you can stay in-the-know.

Facebook Basics is offered by 55PLUS and Community Health Education. To register, go to bryanlgh.org or call (402) 481-8886.

‘Like’ us now and join the conversation “Like” BryanLGH on Facebook to get important health tips, updates on technologies and therapies and news about BryanLGH classes and events. Just scan the QR code at left with your smartphone or other Wi-Fi enabled device, or type facebook.com/bryanlgh into your Web browser. Scanning this code takes you directly to our Facebook page, where you can join the conversation! Or, log on at your desktop.

ALL ABOUT JOURNEYS

STAY IN TOUCH

Statesman William Jennings Bryan, one of the original benefactors of BryanLGH, said:

We welcome your comments. For more information about Journeys, contact the Advancement team by calling (402) 481-8674.

To learn more about BryanLGH programs and services, visit us online at bryanlgh.org.

“Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.”

Journeys tells our story of how BryanLGH chooses to achieve. This free publication is mailed quarterly to our employees, physicians, volunteers and the communities we serve.

OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT Your contributions help us care for those who come to BryanLGH at every stage of life.

To find out how you can participate, please contact the BryanLGH Foundation by calling (402) 481-8605.

Kimberly Russel President & CEO, BryanLGH Health System John Woodrich President & COO, BryanLGH Medical Center Ryan Whitney, MD Chief of Staff, BryanLGH Medical Staff Bob Ravenscroft Vice President of Advancement Edgar Bumanis Director of Public Relations Paul Hadley Editor

Photo courtesy Lincoln Chamber of Commerce

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FROM OUR PRESIDENT

hen we learned that a revitalized Celebrate Lincoln event was scheduled the same month that BryanLGH celebrates its 85th anniversary, we knew exactly how to proceed. All along, we felt that whatever we do to commemorate 85 years of looking forward and anticipating needs to build the region’s most comprehensive health network, the celebration had to include our region. BryanLGH owes so much to physicians, business leaders and all the families from hundreds of communities who have allowed us the honor of being of service at both the happy and challenging times in their lives.

June 11, we’ve planned a daylong celebration starting with our annual Kids’ Health and Safety Fair in the morning, our College’s annual Alumni Day Luncheon at noon and concluding with our sponsorship of Celebrate Lincoln that evening, featuring country music star Rodney Atkins.

Celebrate Lincoln will draw people from far and wide, just as BryanLGH does — we care for people from throughout Nebraska and neighboring states. See page 33 for details of these celebrations and page 17 for information about the BryanLGH Independence Center’s 40th Anniversary events planned for June 18.

This month, our cover story features Steven Krueger, MD, who is drawing upon more than 20 years of cardiology expertise to protect some of our community’s most vital public servants — our firefighters. You’ll read how their work puts them at increased risk for heart attack and how Dr. Krueger’s team is

intervening to make sure these heroes stay healthy and safe.

On page 26, you’ll read about a return to the values of oldtime medicine in the form of palliative care. While you may have heard of hospice, an element of palliative care, you may not know that Lincoln has specialists dedicated to helping families step back, look at the big picture and improve the quality of life of their loved one. BryanLGH is pleased to host a community education event on this important topic with Lisa Mansur, MD, July 14. See page 27 for details.

This quarter, our update from Crete Area Medical Center features four-year colon cancer survivor Tammy Schroeder and news about how the Affordable Care Act may make it possible for more people to receive life-saving preventive health screenings. Our LifePointe feature provides a great overview of holistic health — learn how, from yoga to reflexology, more and more people are finding relief from stress, tension and pain.

Helping you prepare for what’s next in your life always will be what’s next in ours. On behalf of the staff and physicians at BryanLGH Health System, thank you for allowing us to share in your lives these past 85 years.

Kimberly A. Russel President and Chief Executive Officer BryanLGH Health System

BryanLGH Journeys 1

To the rescue

Dr. Krueger answers alarm to reduce firefighters’ risk for heart attacks

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hen he learned that firefighters have a 300 percent greater risk of heart attack than the average person, Steven Krueger, MD, put his heart and soul into preventing this statistic in Lincoln.

“It isn’t that there is something unique about my love of firefighters. I am passionate about their health because if they have a heart attack while fighting a fire or responding to a call, it may not be just the firefighter who goes down, but also your loved ones. So, my goal is to protect the firefighters who in turn will protect those who live in our community.”

Being a firefighter is a dangerous occupation, but few of us would think that heart attack is the No. 1 cause of death for firefighters. Not falling through a burned-out floor, not smoke inhalation, but heart attack. In fact, according to

2 Spring 2011

research by Rita Fahy, PhD, Paul LeBlanc and Joseph Molis for the National Fire Protection Association, firefighters have a six-times greater chance of having a heart attack than dying in a fire.

Dr. Krueger explains, “They have a very difficult job.

They sit there, relaxed, and the buzzer goes off, and their adrenaline level shoots through the sky, and they are going 100 miles an hour and putting on 60 pounds of personal protective equipment and running into a fire and into smoke.

After getting to know these guys, I consider them heroes. And our job is to not ever have one of our heroes go down on our watch.”

“It’s our motto,” echoes Becky Gocke, RN, one of the three staff members dedicated to the program. “None of our

RESEARCH IN ACTION heroes go down on our watch.” The trio of BryanLGH Heart Institute cardiologist Krueger and RNs Gocke and Lori Heiss is extremely diligent in accomplishing this goal.

Dr. Krueger chimes in, “We are not going to sit here five years from now and say, ‘If we would have just done this back then, we wouldn’t be here now.’ We are doing everything there is to do now to protect our firefighters.”

The program Three years ago, Dr. Krueger learned of research conducted by cardiologist Robert Superko, MD, on the risk of heart disease in firefighters. Dr. Superko, one of Dr. Krueger’s professors during his internship and residency at Stanford University Medical Center in Palo Alto, Calif., was principal investigator in the landmark Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)-sponsored study of firefighters and heart disease.

Though he was intrigued by how he could help the community through a program similar to Dr. Superko’s — the only program focusing on genes associated with coronary artery disease — Dr. Krueger chose to implement a program which focused on risk factors.

The first step is for firefighters to fill out the HeartAware survey. (This free screening tool also is available online at bryanlgh.org to use to determine your risk of heart disease.)

After completing this initial step, the firefighters are

On-the-job stresses make firefighters more prone to heart attacks.

taken through a one-on-one interview by a member of the program’s dedicated staff. All information is evaluated using a point scale developed by Dr. Krueger to arrive at a reasonable idea of risk.

Once aware of risk factors, the team is very aggressive in encouraging firefighters to modify those factors and communicating with their primary care physicians.

“Our goal is to do every single thing we can do now to prevent trouble two, five or 10 years down the line. We work with the firefighters’ existing fitness programs to try to accomplish this goal together,” Dr. Krueger says.

Results so far While too early to have statistical evidence of success, Dr. Krueger is positive the program has decreased the risk of most of the firefighters enrolled, and for some firefighters, the risk has been decreased a great deal. Out of the nearly 100 Lincoln firefighters who have taken advantage of this voluntary program, all but two individuals have shown at least some risk for heart attack.

“We have identified some participants at risk and found some significant coronary disease in others. A couple of those with significant disease did not have a clue that they were, to a certain extent, time bombs and we took the fuses out.”

Dr. Krueger and his team receive many pats on the back from firefighters who have participated in the program.

“He saved my life,” says firefighter Dan Bare. “Dr. Krueger found I had two coronary arteries that were blocked.” Though his family had a history of heart disease, at age 47, Bare had not experienced any symptoms. “My wife and I are so thankful for this program.”

It is expected that at least one-half of the 270+ Lincoln firefighters eventually will participate in the program.

“We are extremely grateful to Dr. Krueger and his team for taking on this community project for the firefighters of Lincoln,” says Battalion Chief Jeanne Pashalek, president of the International Association of Women in Fire and Emergency Services.

“Dr. Krueger also is helping us to establish a bench mark on how our profession affects the health of women

BryanLGH Journeys 3

Intervention keeps firefighters ready to help others

New faces at

BryanLGH Welcome these physicians to the Medical Staff of BryanLGH

specifically,” Pashalek adds.

Expanding to Greater Nebraska “We are getting close to being ready to take this outside of Lincoln. The master plan was to start in Lincoln, tweak the program, take it to surrounding communities and then throughout the state,” Dr. Krueger continues.

As a native of Lexington, Neb., and having offered heart clinics to patients throughout Nebraska and surrounding states since coming to Lincoln in 1988, he’s seen firsthand the need for intervention in smaller communities.

“A volunteer firefighter in a small town might be the local banker who doesn’t get regular exercise, so when that buzzer goes off their adrenaline spikes — and they could be at even a higher risk. There is a lot of interest in Greater Nebraska both from firefighters, themselves, as well as from family doctors,” says Dr. Krueger.

“Our first step may be helping primary care physicians realize that voluntary firefighters are at such high risk.” n To find out more about this project, contact the BryanLGH Heart Institute by calling (402) 483-3333.

For information on how you can support cardiac care at BryanLGH, please call the BryanLGH Foundation at (402) 481-8605.

2011 44 Winter Spring 2011

Mathue Baker, MD, cardiology, joined BryanLGH Heart Institute, (402) 483-3333. In 2005, Dr. Baker graduated from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, Omaha, where he also completed an internal medicine residency and cardiology fellowship.

His education also includes a fellowship through the Sarnoff Endowment for Cardiovascular Science at New York Medical College, Valhalla.

Mary Bowen, MD, FAAP, pediatrics, joined Complete Children’s Health, (402) 826-7926. She graduated in 1981 from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, Omaha, where she also completed a pediatrics residency.

She received special training in developmental medicine and behavioral pediatrics through the college’s Munroe-Meyer Children’s Rehabilitation Institute and completed a residency in children’s neurology through the UNMC College of Medicine/Creighton University College of Medicine. Dr. Bowen is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics.

Dr. Bowen is co-founder of a clinic in Managua, Nicaragua, and received the Catholic Woman of the Year Award in 2000 for her leadership in securing health care for the low-income in St. Louis, Mo., and in Managua.

Dr. Bowen practices in Crete, Neb.; before that, she was in Clarksdale, Miss.; St. Louis, Mo.; and Fort Dodge, Iowa, as well as Omaha, Papillion and Fremont, Neb..

MEDICAL STAFF UPDATE Heather Christianson, MD, FAAP, pediatrics, joined Complete Children’s Health, (402) 465-5600. She graduated from the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, Vermillion, in 1996 and completed a pediatric residency through the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine/Creighton University College of Medicine, Omaha.

She is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics. Before moving to Lincoln, Dr. Christianson practiced in Mitchell, S.D. Neill Mollard, MD, cardiothoracic anesthesiology, joined Associated Anesthesiologists, (402) 489-4186. He graduated from the Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, in 2003 and completed an anesthesiology residency and cardiothoracic anesthesiology fellowship at the University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento.

Dr. Mollard is co-founder of an awardwinning software development company and practiced as a cardiothoracic anesthesiologist in St. Joseph, Mo., before moving to Lincoln.

Robert Oakes, MD, cardiothoracic surgery, joined BryanLGH Cardiothoracic Surgery, (402) 481-8430. He graduated from the Harvard Medical School, Boston, in 2002 and completed a general surgery residency, then a clinical fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery and a research fellowship in cardiovascular surgery at Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, Calif.

He then fulfilled cardiothoracic surgery and cardiac surgery residency studies at Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston.

Dr. Oakes is certified by the American Board of Surgery.

Scott Rasmussen, MD, internal medicine, joined Celerion Inc., (402) 437-6361. He graduated from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine, Omaha, in 1988 and completed a residency in internal medicine at the University of Minnesota Hospital and Clinics, Minneapolis.

Dr. Rasmussen is board certified. He was associated with East Lincoln Internal Medicine before joining the staff of the VA Medical Center Lincoln as a primary care physician, then Lincoln Internal Medicine Associates. In 2008, he became a principal investigator for Celerion Inc. and today is site medical director for the Celerion/BryanLGH Clinical Research Unit at BryanLGH West.

Ian Weber, MD, orthopedic surgery, joined the Creighton University School of Medicine Department of Orthopedics, Omaha, (402) 280-4342. He graduated in 2000 from the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, where he also completed an orthopedic residency. He completed a fellowship in joint reconstruction at Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis. He is board certified and before moving to Nebraska was a clinical professor at the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, and practiced in Fargo, N.D. Stephen Youngberg, MD, nephrology, joined Celerion Inc., (402) 437-6361. Dr. Youngberg graduated from the University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, in 1972.

He completed an internal medicine residency and an advanced clinical residency and research fellowship in nephrology at the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine, Rochester, Minn. He practiced in Texas and Louisiana and was a preceptor and clinical assistant professor at Louisiana State University Shreveport Medical School before moving to Lincoln in 1986. He has served as a consultant to hospitals in numerous Nebraska communities and was a preceptor for the family practice residency program of the Lincoln Medical Education Partnership. Dr. Youngberg was in private practice in Lincoln; in 2009 he became a principal investigator for Celerion Inc. and now is associated with the Celerion/BryanLGH Clinical Research Unit at BryanLGH West.

BryanLGH Journeys 5

MEDICAL STAFF SPOTLIGHT

Ask the doctor: When is plastic surgery appropriate?

Q: What is plastic surgery?

Plastic surgery is a specialty that encompasses both reconstructive and aesthetic or cosmetic surgery.

Q: What are the differences between reconstructive and cosmetic plastic surgery?

Reconstructive seeks to restore form and/or function to any part of the body affected by such things as birth defects, injury or disease.

It comprises correcting defects of the skin, musculoskeletal system, craniomaxillofacial structures (mouth, jaws, face, skull), hand, extremities, breast and trunk. Aesthetic or cosmetic plastic surgery comprises surgical and nonsurgical procedures designed to improve appearance or correct imperfections of the body.

Q: How do I choose an appropriate surgeon?

This decision is part objective — what you know about the surgeon’s skills, training, experience, references and areas of expertise — and part subjective — does the surgeon instill trust and confidence in you, listen and understand your concerns and specific needs?

It’s important that any physician be board

6 Spring 2011

Cassidy Mitchell, MD, Lincoln Aesthetic Surgical Institute, part of the BryanLGH Physician Network

certified within his or her specialty. The American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) is responsible for certifying plastic surgeons. ABPS-certified surgeons have graduated from an accredited medical school and completed at least five years of additional training as a resident surgeon — with at least two years devoted entirely to plastic surgery — in a program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Medical Education. Certification is a voluntary process a surgeon seeks after this training. To become certified, the doctor then must pass a comprehensive written and oral examination.

Professional affiliation with the American Society of Plastic Surgeons also is important. Member doctors have five years of surgical training with a minimum of two years in plastic surgery, are trained and experienced in all plastic surgery procedures, operate only in accredited medical facilities, adhere to a strict code of ethics and fulfill continuing medical education requirements.

Q: What questions should I ask my doctor?

Are you certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, and are you a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons?

How many years have you been in practice, and what is your experience in performing my procedure? Is the procedure being performed in a facility accredited by a nationally or state-recognized accrediting agency, or is it state-licensed or Medicare-certified? What are alternatives to the procedure?

What are the risks and complications associated with my procedure?

and Sculptra®; and laser skin resurfacing, including ProFractional therapy™ and light chemical peels such as Melanage™ to address skin texture problems and areas of hyperpigmentation — darkening of the skin — on the face.

Q: Is plastic surgery safe?

Plastic surgery is generally as safe as other surgical procedures. With all procedures, there are inherent risks.

You must weigh potential risks and complications against potential benefits you should reasonably expect to achieve.

By discussing the procedure in depth with your surgeon — what is involved, expected post-procedural course, potential complications and alternatives — you can make an informed decision on whether or not to proceed.

Q: Will insurance cover the cost of plastic surgery?

Reconstructive surgery generally is covered by most health insurance policies, although coverage for specific procedures and levels of coverage may vary greatly. When possible, we can work to receive preauthorization from your insurance company prior to proceeding.

Cosmetic surgery usually is not covered by health insurance because it is considered “elective,” or your choice, and not a medical necessity. In assessing whether the procedure will be covered, your insurance carrier looks at the primary reason the procedure is being performed: Is it for relief of symptoms or for cosmetic improvement?

Q: Are BryanLGH and its network facilities accredited?

Q: What types of plastic surgery are available within the BryanLGH Physician Network?

Reconstructive procedures available include breast reconstruction, breast reduction, surgery for skin cancers and other benign skin lesions, facial trauma and upper and lower extremity reconstruction.

Aesthetic surgery available includes facial rejuvenation procedures such as a face lift, brow lift or eyelid surgery; nose surgery; otoplasties for prominent ears; breast surgeries such as augmentations and breast lifts; and body contouring procedures such as tummy tucks and laser-assisted liposuction.

Nonsurgical aesthetic products and procedures available are Botox® and fillers such as Juvederm®, Radiesse®

BryanLGH and the outpatient and same-day surgery facilities in the BryanLGH Physician Network where plastic surgeries are performed are accredited. This means they meet strict national standards for equipment, operating room safety, personnel and surgeon credentials. n For more information about the benefits of reconstructive and aesthetic surgery, contact the Lincoln Aesthetic Surgical Institute by calling (402) 483-8530.

BryanLGH Physician Network includes many primary care physicians and specialists who are accepting patients. To learn more, go to bryanlghphysiciannetwork.org.

BryanLGH Journeys 7

N E W AT B RYANL G H

Dr. John Trapp, left, prepares the endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) guidance system to assess Steve Milledge’s lung cancer.

EBUS helps

fight

lung cancer

8 Spring 2011

“Endobronchial ultrasound just makes sense,” said John Trapp, MD, FCCP. And cancer patient Steve Milledge agrees.

Dr. Trapp, a local pulmonologist, performed the first EBUS in Lincoln in 2009 and has done more than 75 since then.

“It’s a newer, minimally invasive and very accurate procedure that allows us to diagnose or stage lung cancer — to assess a patient’s lymph nodes to determine if the cancer has spread,” Dr. Trapp said.

And knowing the stage — the extent of the cancer — is crucial so doctors are able to identify appropriate treatment and estimate the prognosis.

Last year, lung cancer killed more than 150,000 Americans, and about 220,000 new cases were diagnosed. These figures, coupled with the fact that lung cancer is the most common nonskin cancer in men and women in the United States, point to EBUS as a trusted ally.

EBUS is a less invasive way for physicians to see and evaluate the surface of a patient’s airways, blood vessels,

lungs and lymph nodes (the small, bean-shaped glands that filter out bacteria, cancer cells and other foreign material), and the ultrasound component allows doctors to do so with high accuracy.

“With endobronchial ultrasound, we get to take off the blindfold, so to speak,” Dr. Trapp said. “Using ultrasound, I can visualize lymph nodes to biopsy with real-time imaging, which provides high accuracy and high sensitivity. We cannot do this with traditional bronchoscopy. And we can reduce the need for mediastinoscopy — a more invasive procedure in which a scope is inserted through an incision rather than down the throat.

“Ultrasound allows me to see exactly where the lymph node is and put the needle in it — even if it’s just millimeters from a blood vessel — and know with almost 100 percent certainty that I’m only biopsying the lymph node.”

Steve Milledge can attest to the importance of EBUS evaluation. When results from a recent, traditional biopsy of a mass in the right upper lobe of his lung revealed Stage 1 non-small cell cancer, Dr. Trapp performed an EBUS to biopsy lymph nodes in the mediastinum — the area in the chest between the lungs containing the heart, windpipe and esophagus — to determine whether or not the cancer had

Steve Milledge receives the welcome news that his cancer hasn’t spread.

spread.

Milledge received good news that day. “The cancer hasn’t spread,” he said.

Armed with this knowledge, Milledge knew the next step in his treatment plan: surgery to The EBUS system includes remove the mass a viewing scope, inflatable in his lung. balloon and needle for Endogetting tissue samples. bronchial ultrasound just makes sense.

On average, an EBUS takes 30-40 minutes, typically requires only conscious sedation versus general anesthesia and is done as an outpatient procedure.

The doctor slides a bronchoscope, or tube, with an ultrasound probe and balloon on the end of it through the mouth and down into the airway. With real-time ultrasound guidance, at the lymph node of interest, the physician inflates the balloon filled with saline, which forms a buffer zone so ultrasound waves can present a quality image. He or she locks the scope into place and slips the needle — encased in a sheath — down the scope, moving it back and forth inside the lymph node while a syringe with suction pulls cells up into a catheter. The doctor then removes the needle and pushes the cells onto a slide and sends it to the onsite pathologist, who is able to offer a preliminary diagnosis, as well as inform the doctor whether more cells are needed to yield satisfactory results.

“Where we can get information with a less invasive test that reduces risk and hospitalization, can be done as an outpatient and yields satisfactory or similar results as a more invasive test, that’s good news for patients and physicians,” Dr. Trapp said.

“With endobronchial ultrasound, we can do that. And, it’s available in Lincoln, which is really exciting.” n To learn how you can support cancer care at BryanLGH, contact the BryanLGH Foundation by calling (402) 481-8605.

BryanLGH Journeys 9

New cryoablation at the forefront of A-Fib treatment “Please thank Dr. Merliss for giving me back my quality of life.”

Just two weeks after undergoing a revolutionary new surgery to correct her atrial fibrillation, Miriam Davis, the first balloon cryoablation patient of cardiac electrophysiologist Andrew Merliss, MD, called to thank him for giving her the ability to enjoy life again.

Miriam’s atrial fibrillation (A-Fib) caused her heart to beat rapidly, leaving her tired, anxious, unsettled — just uncomfortable overall. “I was so tired, but when I tried to sleep, it was like there was an elephant sitting on my chest.”

So when Dr. Merliss told her about this new procedure, Miriam jumped in line to become the first patient in Nebraska to undergo balloon cryoablation.

Dr. Merliss is the only cardiologist in Nebraska to perform balloon cryoablation, and BryanLGH Medical Center is the only hospital in the state with the equipment. This procedure was just approved by the FDA in December, and Dr. Merliss performed his first balloon cryoablation at BryanLGH on March 4.

ATRIAL FIBRILLATION Though there are many types of heart rhythm problems, Dr. Merliss calls atrial fibrillation the “Holy Grail” of electrophysiology because it is so difficult to manage and cure.

There are so many potential triggers to consider — in some people it’s simply drinking a cold beverage after exercise, for others it’s coffee or alcohol, while others don’t see any specific trigger points. Though 6 percent of people 65 and over suffer from A-Fib, there is a whole subset of younger people who are troubled by the condition. Some are adrenaline affected, some are weight lifters, and some are long-distance runners.

Patients with A-Fib are not only significantly more at risk for stroke than the average person, but many, like Miriam, experience symptoms which contribute to a poor quality of life. For some people, the symptoms come and go, whereas others have symptoms all the time. The American Heart Association recommends aggressive treatment for A-Fib regardless of whether symptoms are experienced. Though A-Fib is not preventable, most triggers can be managed through medication or ablation.

10 Spring 2011

Dr. Andrew Merliss (above and at right) sees promise in cryoablation as a treatment for atrial fibrillation.

B RYANL G H H E A R T I N S T I T U T E BALLOON CRYOABLATION Dr. Merliss — who’s been performing ablations since 1995 — left his position at Harvard Medical School in 2002 to begin the radiofrequency ablation program at the BryanLGH Heart Institute (BHI). Before the program was fully developed, more severe cases were referred to major teaching hospitals. But now the program at BryanLGH is so sophisticated that few cases need to leave the area.

“We are on the forefront of technology and have the most up-to-date, state-of-the-art equipment and resources that rival those of anywhere else in the country. The hospital’s support of cardiac physicians and the electrophysiology program allows us to continue to offer the most advanced procedures right here,” says Dr. Merliss.

He explains that cryoablation itself has been around for some time as an energy source for freezing and has also been used with radiofrequency ablation procedures where the tip is cold instead of hot. What’s exciting about this new procedure is balloon cryoablation’s ability to treat the offending problem in a circumferential manner without gaps in coverage.

(Imagine touching and correcting all areas in a circle at one time rather than having to treat hundreds of individual problem spots, a drawback to other ablation methods.)

Balloon cryoablation entails inserting a catheter into the left atrium of the heart and then sending -112 degrees Fahrenheit coolant through a tiny balloon which has been inflated after being introduced into the catheter. This procedure eliminates potential problems by scarring tissue that spreads electrical currents that can lead to A-Fib. Dr. Merliss is excited about balloon cryoablation as it is lower risk and results in less procedure time than

radiofrequency ablation. Nationwide, the procedure is experiencing an 80-85 percent success rate; however, like most surgeries, there are some risks.

“I am very selective about which patients receive the procedure as it is not for everyone. Some patients can be managed with medication alone; others have too many other health problems or have had the condition for too long for this procedure to be effective,” he notes.

Dr. Merliss says it’s too early to know if balloon cryoablation will replace radiofrequency ablation: “Since it is so new, we don’t have the five-year, 10-year studies to see long-term success rates, but we are excited about the prospects.” n For information on how you can support cardiac care at BryanLGH, contact our BryanLGH Foundation staff by calling (402) 481-8605.

SPRING CARDIOLOGY CONFERENCE DRAWS DOCS More than 75 physicians gathered April 16 for the 8th annual “Hearts and Huskers” spring cardiology conference. BryanLGH Heart Institute physicians (such as cardiologist Dale Hansen, MD, above) presented information to help improve continuity of care.

FALL BRINGS NEUROSCIENCE, HEART TOPICS The Gogela Neuroscience Institute Conference Friday, Sept. 2, will be offered in conjunction with the BHI Fall Conference Saturday, Sept. 3. For details about Friday’s neuroscience topics, call Brenda Lieske, RN, at (402) 481-5942. To learn about Saturday’s BHI events, contact Ty Westover at (402) 483-3316.

BryanLGH Journeys 11

CRETE AREA MEDICAL CENTER

Law seeks to make preventive screenings more affordable for you If preventive health screenings seemed out of reach to you in the past due to cost, the Affordable Care Act may soon be putting them back within your grasp.

Under the Affordable Care Act, you and your family may be eligible for some important preventive services — which can help you avoid illness and improve your health — at no additional cost to you.

This preventive services provision applies to people enrolled in job-related health plans or individual health insurance policies created after March 23, 2010. If you are in such a health plan, this provision affects you as soon as your plan begins its first new “plan year” or “policy year.”

COVERED PREVENTIVE SERVICES FOR ADULTS

• Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm one-time screening for

• • • •

• • •

•

• •

• •

•

•

men of specified ages who have smoked Alcohol misuse screening and counseling Aspirin use for men and women of certain ages Blood pressure screening for all adults Cholesterol screening for adults of certain ages or at higher risk Colorectal cancer screening for adults over 50 Depression screening for adults Type 2 Diabetes screening for adults with high blood pressure Diet counseling for adults at higher risk for chronic disease HIV screening for all adults at higher risk Immunization vaccines for adults (doses, recom- mended ages and recommended populations vary) Obesity screening and counseling for all adults Sexually Transmitted Infection prevention counseling for adults at higher risk Tobacco use screening for all adults and cessation interventions for tobacco users Syphilis screening for all adults at higher risk

If you have questions about whether these new provisions apply to your plan, contact your insurer or plan administrator.

Source: healthcare.gov

12 Spring 2011

Hope is in her future

I

f you listen to stories of cancer survivors and try to gauge your own risk by comparison, then Tammy Schroeder’s story will scare you. She didn’t fit a single risk category when a doctor told her she had Stage 3 colon cancer at age 35. If she had listened to the voice that said not to worry, that she had no family history of cancer; that she was much too young — 15 years from the 50-year mark, when doctors suggest a preventive colonoscopy — to worry about this, she probably wouldn’t be here. Thankfully, she listened to the medical training in her — the nagging voice that said it was time to find out why she didn’t feel well.

Today, she is nearly five years cancer-free.

She doesn’t call herself a victor because cancer never forfeits. Instead, she is a wife and mother of three who believes she will be there for prom dresses and college applications, and an APRN at BryanLGH’s Crete Area Medical Center (BCAMC) who never misses an opportunity to share the importance of cancer screenings.

Growing up in Newman Grove, Neb., Tammy planned to be a teacher. But her brother’s bout with endocarditis (an infection of the heart’s inner lining) exposed her to the medical world and changed her path.

She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and became a family nurse practitioner. She was working at BryanLGH Medical Center when she and her husband, Ron, decided to move to a smaller town to raise a family. Crete, Neb., became home in 1998, and their family grew to include children Luke, Danny and Lindsay.

It should have been the fun stage, with nothing more pressing than elementary school schedules, ball games and baby bottles. That’s why she put off getting a colonoscopy when she started having persistent fatigue, anemia and gastrointestinal changes. When things still weren’t normal six months after the birth of her daughter, she took the test, which detects polyps, tumors or ulcers in the colon.

“I figured I had an infection or a polyp or something. I thought nobody has that kind of cancer at my age.”

It was much worse than a polyp.

She had a large tumor: 11 of 20 lymph nodes were cancerous.

“My first words were, ‘Who’s going to raise my babies?’”

Cancer survivor Tammy Schroeder, APRN, has deep empathy for her patients.

A specialist told her she had a 50 percent chance of survival.

Hearing that black-and-white statistic was devastating. She’ll always be thankful that her gastroenterologist called her at home to say: “I just want you to know I believe you’re going to live through this. It’s going to be rough, but you’ll get through.”

With that phone call, Tammy said, “I started coping. I found hope.”

Surgery by Stephen Nagengast, MD, who has served Crete for many years as a visiting surgeon, removed the tumor. She began six months of chemotherapy treatment that stretched to nine because of low white blood cell counts and bad physical reactions to the medicine.

Doctors treated the reaction with steroids, Benadryl® and medicine to control fevers. She’d take chemotherapy on Mondays, be sick for 10 days, enjoy four good days, then climb in the roller coaster car again.

“It’s a ride I never could have taken without the love and support of this community, the prayers and the survivors who dropped by to give me hope with their stories of survival.”

Within a few days of her diagnosis, nurses had set up a calendar of volunteers from BCAMC, Saline Medical Specialties, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, the Crete Volunteer Fire and

Rescue Department and community members, who provided meals while Tammy completed chemotherapy.

“Someone showed up at our house at 5 p.m. every single weekday with a home-cooked meal. Some people I didn’t even know. It was unbelievable and something my family looked forward to. I remember the boys coming into my room on the nights I couldn’t be with them to report what people brought.”

She also remembers the care at BCAMC. When she was admitted, or on the numerous outpatient visits because of reactions to the treatment, the staff not only took care of her, but soothed her, understanding the tiny details that can make something intolerable, bearable.

“It was so comforting to me to be cared for by the people who knew me, who knew my family, who really cared that I would survive. When I got here I felt like I could take a deep breath again.”

Her parents stayed with her every other week, helping to take care of the new baby and young boys throughout chemotherapy, eventually moving to Crete.

When Tammy’s treatments ended and gave way to follow-up CAT scans and blood work, she received the first good news of her battle. None of the tests showed new growth. The scariest of the tests came about six months after chemotherapy ended.

She would hear the results without Ron by her side. Ron, her “lifeline” who unwaveringly told her she had nothing to worry about, was deployed with the Nebraska Army National Guard to Iraq.

The test results were clean. She celebrated with girlfriends at a coffee shop and used the Internet to share the news with Ron. Tammy recalled, “It was the first time I thought I might actually make it.”

Cancer survivors have told her she will reach a point when she is thankful that she had cancer. She’s not there yet, she said, but she’s different than before; she’s better ­— someone who tries to cherish every day.

“I feel like this was really a journey to make me who I’m supposed to be. I hope I’ve gained some character having gone through this.”

She finds she has an almost eerie connection to other cancer survivors and deep empathy for her patients with cancer. She’s a medical provider who fully understands the fear cancer brings and the tremendous power optimism lends to the spirit. “It’s one thing to hear you have cancer. It’s another to hear you have no way to fight back. Get your screenings — early — so there’s still that important little word: hope.” n To learn more about how to support BryanLGH’s Crete Area Medical Center, contact Jody Vondra at (402) 826-6581.

BryanLGH Journeys 13

Celebrating

F

or 85 years, BryanLGH has been at the forefront of advancing health care. It all began early in the 20th Century because of the generosity and vision of leaders in our community.

Famed orator, Congressman and Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan and Mary Baird Bryan donated their Fairview home and surrounding farmland in 1922 to become the site of a new hospital at 48th and Sumner Streets.

Bryan Memorial Hospital opened June 6, 1926, and the first classes at Bryan School of Nursing started that fall.

Plans also were under way to create a general city hospital.

Thanks to several years of local fundraising efforts and a $100,000 contribution from the estate of Robert E. Moore, Lincoln General Hospital opened in 1925 on South 17th Street. Donations from the John L. Teeters trust fund and the Moore estate helped establish a nursing school.

Both hospitals eventually outgrew their original buildings, as health care and patients’ needs changed; and both hospitals met their respective challenges.

Here are a few of the many highlights, as Bryan and Lincoln General merged into a leading health system — BryanLGH.

85 years 1922: Statesman William Jennings Bryan donates his Fairview home and surrounding farmland to become the site of a new hospital.

It opens in 1926 and is named Bryan Memorial Hospital in honor of its first benefactor, who died in 1925.

1926: Fairview houses student nurses for decades; the first class graduates in 1929.

1939: Lincoln General first general hospital in America to provide acute adult psychiatric inpatient services.

1920

1930

1940

1930: First major expansion project at Bryan.

1950 1948: Second major construction project at Bryan.

1930s: Refinements in medical diagnoses and treatments lead to improved outcomes for patients.

1933: Lincoln General cancer clinic installs world’s most powerful X-ray generating apparatus, using funds from the John L. Teeters trust.

1920s: Lincoln Rotary Club conceives the idea of Lincoln General Hospital and leads a public campaign to raise $100,000 that matches City of Lincoln funds and a donation from the Robert E. Moore estate. New hospital opens in 1925.

14 Spring 2011

B RYANLG H H I S TO R I C A L P E R S P E C T I V E

of caring 1974: Lincoln General opens SurgEase, Nebraska’s first outpatient surgery center.

1971: Independence Center for treating substance abuse opens at Lincoln General.

1967: Lincoln General moves to brand-new facility.

1960

1978: Trauma team at Lincoln General and Dr. Paul Collicott pioneer Advanced Trauma Life Support course that American College of Surgeons later adopts to educate doctors.

1970 1970: Nebraska’s first cardiac vein bypass at Bryan.

1963: Major construction project at Bryan.

1980

2006: LifePointe opens.

1997: Bryan Memorial Hospital and Lincoln General Hospital merge to become BryanLGH.

1994: RehabCare offers inpatient acute rehab at Lincoln General.

New Bryan Medical Plaza consolidates outpatient services.

1990

1985: Lincoln General Trauma program verified as Level II Trauma Center.

2001: BryanLGH Heart Institute.

2002: BryanLGH Hospitalist Program.

2005: BryanLGH Physician Network.

2006: Extensive renovation at BryanLGH West creates “Lincoln’s Newest Hospital.”

2000

2010 2008: Institute for Women’s & Children’s Health, including a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, opens on East site.

1986: Bryan surgical teams perform heart transplants.

2003: BryanLGH Crete Area Medical Center opens its new facility.

1960s: Lincoln’s first open heart surgeries and pacemaker implant procedures performed at Bryan.

1989: StarCare air ambulance service begins.

2008: BryanLGH College of Health Sciences accredited.

BryanLGH has steadily grown to become a leading provider of heart care, mental health services, neuroscience, radiology, cancer care, gastroenterology and other specialties. For information on how you can help continue this legacy, please contact our BryanLGH Foundation staff by calling (402) 481-8605 or go to bryanlgh.org.

BryanLGH Journeys 15

ON A MISSION

Staff Sgt. Greg Brown, with the support of the Nebraska Army National Guard and the Independence Center Alumni Association, shares his message to aid others in their recovery.

Independence Center alumnus spreads the word about recovery

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hen 30-year-old Greg Brown checked into the BryanLGH Independence Center for alcohol abuse treatment in September 2009, he was afraid.

Only three days prior to check-in, he had been rushed to BryanLGH West because of an overdose. During his hospitalization, an Independence Center intervention nurse stopped by to talk with him about the Center’s treatment program.

“I was willing to go, but I was scared,” Brown said. “I didn’t know how to live without alcohol in my life, and I didn’t know if I’d have a life when I got through treatment.”

When Brown checked out after his treatment, hope had replaced fear.

Equipped with his recovery plan, a starter kit filled with tools and resources to help him succeed, and a group of peers in recovery and Independence Center staff to support him, he started a brand-new life.

“Now, I’m passionate about giving back to the community that has given so much to me,” Brown said. “I want to share the message that there is hope.”

One way he gives back is through his duties as president-elect of the Independence Center Alumni Association, a role in which he is honored to fill — especially because his peers elected him.

His duties include supporting the president by representing the Alumni Association at meetings, community events and functions that the president is not able to attend; and participating in monthly meetings where alumni discuss the budget, fund-raising events, scholarships and more.

“Staying connected keeps me accountable,” Brown said. “I have to fight every day for sobriety, and I do this by going to alumni meetings and community events for those in recovery.

“I want to reach out and share my story with people — to tell and show them that life gets better. I have something to live for, and I want them to know they do, too.”

Brown is a staff sergeant in the Nebraska Army National Guard where he works full time in the human resources department. He also is pursuing a Business Administration/Accounting degree at Southeast Community College.

“I don’t drink now because I have a disease — alcohol addiction — but it is in remission,” Brown said. “Now I’m a productive member of society and a good husband and father. And I’m motivated to urge others in recovery to succeed.” n To learn how you can support the BryanLGH Independence Center, contact the BryanLGH Foundation at (402) 481-8605.

16 Spring 2011

INDEPENDENCE CENTER

Independence Center notes four decades of service

T

abuse. Patients in apparent need are encouraged to consider the he Independence Center is celebrating its 40th year with Center’s programs. an anniversary celebration Saturday, June 18.

In 1988, the Independence It’s a wonderful time for Center was rated one of America’s alumni to reconnect and for top drug/alcohol treatment centers. the community to learn more about the Such accolades have continued, Center’s substance abuse programs, and today the Center is helping says director Jerome Barry. BryanLGH is Anniversary Celebration resolve issues for many individuals hosting the free event 9 a.m.- 10 p.m. in Saturday, June 18 and families, soldiers and athletes. the upper levels of the parking garage 9 a.m.

Complimentary coffee and rolls Barry says, “We’ve been busier at BryanLGH West. Tours of the Center 9:30 a.m. Welcoming remarks than ever, with more beds filled than also are being arranged.

10 a.m. Lincoln Boys Choir at any other time in our history.

Keynote speakers are 10:45 a.m. Substance abuse counselor “We attribute this increase Independence Center alumni Don Hays,

Don Hays presents his story of in clients served to a variety a substance abuse counselor from

recovery and strength of conditions, including our Colorado Springs, Colo., and Husker Noon Free lunch high-quality work and good All-American and NFL football star Bob 1 p.m.

Remarks from BryanLGH CEO communication with our referral Newton, former lead counselor at the

Kim Russel, COO John Woodrich sources, stressful economic times Betty Ford Center. Guests also will hear

and Vice Presidents Bob and an increase in work with the messages from BryanLGH officials and

Ravenscroft and Shirley Travis active military and their families.”

University of Nebraska athletic director 2 p.m.

Tom Osborne, University of He’s directed the Center since Tom Osborne, and comedian T. Marni

Nebraska athletic director and 1999.

Vos, the Lincoln Boys Choir and the

former Congressman and Hall of Alumna Pat Novak says, Cronin Brothers Band will entertain.

Fame coach “The staff always has been very It all began in 1971 with a Chemical 2:15 p.m. “Halftime with Bob Newton,” professional, but Jerome brought Dependency Unit at the former Lincoln

by former Husker and NFL star a new dimension of operating like General Hospital. Two years later,

and Betty Ford Center counselor a business model. It’s been very outpatient services were added.

3:30 p.m. Drawing for prizes successful under his leadership.”

“That was really big,” Barry adds.

4:30 p.m. Comedian T. Marni Vos presents Barry credits the Center’s “This was the first hospital-based

“A Celebration of Laughter” achievements to its interdisciplinary program in the state to offer outpatient 5:30 p.m. Free Supper team of licensed substance abuse rehab as more than a 30-day stay, in 7-10 p.m. Music by Cronin Brothers Band and mental health professionals. addition to inpatient care.

According to the director, “Our “Fast forward to today, and now focus has been on individualizing almost all of our services are on an lengths of stay — we design programs specifically for each outpatient basis.” patient’s needs. Rather than use a pre-packaged plan, we tailor Other early milestones include forming the Alumni treatments.”

Association in 1975, and during the next five years the Center He concludes by noting, “Even with all of the progress added family care, intervention nurses, addressed the special and changes, the Independence Center has maintained its needs of adolescents, and initiated a women’s program. commitment to viewing alcoholism as a disease, and the “Our Alumni Association has grown into the most active administration fully supports what we do.” n organization of its kind in Nebraska. AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) is all about giving back, so this is a perfect opportunity for people For information about programs at the BryanLGH who have gone through our program to help others,” notes Barry.

Independence Center, call (402) 481-5268 or go to bryanlgh.org. A The Center was the first in the state to have intervention confidential online screening is available at byranlgh.org. nurses assess patients at the bedside for possible substance

40th

BryanLGH Journeys 17

C O L L E G E O F H E A LT H S C I E N C E S

Anesthesia program intense, but rewarding

M

att Crandell is one of 11 May 2011 graduates of the BryanLGH College of Health Sciences School of Nurse Anesthesia (SONA). After spending the past 33 months in the program, this Lincolnite is ready.

He knows that the program has prepared him very well.

“It’s an intense program and an intense job,” says Crandell, who received his bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. “Anesthesia is a whole different dedication. You have to have a major desire and commitment.”

It does take a high level of dedication and focus to complete the SONA program; applicants must already have earned a bachelor’s degree, be a registered nurse and have extensive experience in a critical care setting. They simply must be able to handle the rigors of the program — and the responsibilities of becoming a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA).

Class size is limited to 16 students, according to SONA program administrator Sharon Hadenfelt, CRNA, PhD. “It’s important to keep class sizes smaller, because we need to make sure we have access to appropriate clinical

Students in the BryanLGH School of Nurse Anesthesia get clinical experience in hospitals across Nebraska.

18 Spring 2011

areas for all, and to maximize each student’s experience,” adds Dr. Hadenfelt, a 1991 SONA graduate.

The SONA began in 1968; since then, 168 students have graduated and gone on to work in hospitals, in private practice and in urban and rural settings. For more than 20 years, the school has enjoyed a 100 percent placement rate for its graduates in Nebraska and other states. Demand in Nebraska is expected to increase as current CRNAs retire.

Dr. Hadenfelt says employers recognize that SONA students are involved in as many as two to three times the number of clinical cases as students in other programs — which makes BryanLGH graduates attractive hires.

During the first year, students spend most of their time in the classroom, studying subjects such as pharmacology, anatomy and the basics of anesthesia. But for the balance of the program, students find themselves in a variety of clinical rotations. While 17 medical facilities participate with the SONA clinical program, each student typically completes clinicals at six to eight sites — in Lincoln, Omaha, Crete, Grand Island, Columbus and many others in Nebraska.

It’s easy to understand what Crandell means by “intense”

Hospitals in Columbus, Crete, Falls City, Fremont, Grand Island, Hastings, Kearney, Lexington, Norfolk, Lincoln, Omaha, O’Neill, West Point and York participate as clinical sites.

To become a nurse anesthetist requires a major desire and commitment, says Matt Crandell, Class of 2011.

when you consider what being a nurse anesthetist requires.

“You are partly responsible for keeping the patient alive during surgery,” Crandell explains. “We not only administer anesthesia medicine, we are responsible for keeping the patient’s airway open, we monitor heart and lung function, and of course help them go to sleep and wake up.”

Crandell says this all comes with the clinical experience.

Mark Swope is a CRNA at Columbus Community Hospital and a SONA liaison. He believes the rural experience provides special insight for the students.

“It’s a different way to practice,” Swope says. “The surgeons here often have larger volumes and things need to move along more quickly. Students also get to do more obstetrics cases in the rural setting. All of this helps their con-

fidence; their already strong skills just get stronger,” he said.

Both Crandell and Swope noted that even if a student chooses to work in a larger city, learning how things are done in rural hospitals helps build an all-around understanding of the practice. It’s all in keeping with the school’s goal to prepare graduates for full participation in the delivery of anesthesia care in concert with other healthcare providers.

Says Swope: “We enjoy the students and they do a good job. We’ve hired two graduates and I’m sure we’ll hire more.” n For information on how you can support BryanLGH College of Health Sciences and the School of Nurse Anesthesia, call the BryanLGH Foundation at (402) 481-8605.

BryanLGH Journeys 19

COLLEGE ALUMNI PROFILE

Meet Charlie Meyer, who has been a director since 1986 and currently is director of perioperative and anesthesia services at BryanLGH. For nearly 20 of those years he also was in charge of the BryanLGH School of Nurse Anesthesia (SONA). He was one of five males in his Bryan School of Nursing class of 1972.

All five went on to become nurse anesthetists (CRNAs). Charlie graduated from the SONA in 1977; since then, he has earned a bachelor’s degree from Peru State, and a master’s in public administration from the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

Q: How did you decide to become a nurse anesthetist?

A good friend from Seward, Neb., was a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) and let me shadow him in the operating room. I just thought I’d be interested, and I was. I also worked in the perfusion area for about four years, and that was a catalyst, and my fellow nursing graduates told me that they really were enjoying the challenge. Nurse anesthesia is a great way to make a living. The immediate rapport with patients and their families as you help prepare them for their surgery, camaraderie with physicians and other staff — all of these make nurse anesthesia very rewarding.

Q: What was your first job after graduating?

I went into practice in Fairbury, Neb. Having grown up in Seward — I was even an orderly at the Seward hospital as a youngster — I was interested in a rural practice. It was important for rural hospitals to have nurse anesthetists on staff. I helped Jefferson County Memorial Hospital in Fairbury develop its anesthesia department, and I was that hospital’s sole anesthesia provider. It was hard to leave, but I decided to go back to school and then to come back to BryanLGH to work.

Q: Tell us about a memorable experience in your early career.

One of the first calls I got in Fairbury was to the emergency department at 3 a.m. A patient with chronic lung disease was in severe respiratory distress. Three of us worked on the

20 Spring 2011

patient all night and eventually got him stabilized and later released. It turned out that he was the editorial writer for the local paper. He ended up writing about his experience at the hospital and, after that, everyone knew about me and who I was. That’s another reason why a rural practice can be so rewarding.

Q: How has the SONA program changed over the years?

First, the requirements to get accepted into the program are more stringent. A nurse must have a bachelor’s degree and experience in a critical care setting. It’s gone from an 18-month certificate program to a 36-month graduate program. I give a lot of credit to Jim Cuddeford, who just retired as the school’s dean, for many of these advances. Hiring Jim is one of the first things I did when I began overseeing the school — and it was one of my best decisions. Now, of course, the practice of nurse anesthesia is more advanced. Technology, medicines, the tools used — the advancements made are much safer for patients, and they require more education in order for nurse anesthetists to be proficient in using them for providing anesthesia care.

To learn how you can support the BryanLGH College of Health Sciences, contact the BryanLGH Foundation at (402) 481-8605.

COLLEGE ALUMNI NEWS

Congratulations, May graduates BryanLGH College of Health Sciences awarded diplomas to 67 graduates May 7 during commencement exercises at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church.

Master of Science in Nurse Anesthesia: Justin Abbott, Lincoln; Matthew Crandell, Lincoln; Gia Forbes, Denver, Colo.; Brent Goodrich, Gordon; Tasha Hunke, Fremont; Benjamin Johnsen, Duluth, Minn.; Megan Johnson, Doniphan; Travis Jueden, Hartington; Nicholas Sorrell, Plattsmouth; Antony Waweru, KiJabe, Kenya; and Debra Webster, Grand Island.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing: Brooke Amsberry, Ansley; Kristin Baker, Lincoln; Chelsey Bartling, Malcolm; Bridget Burgess, Lincoln; Laura Deever, Omaha; David Dudin, Lincoln; April Dudney, Lincoln; Jayne Dunn, Clearmont, Mo.; Amber Eberly, Lincoln; Brianna Erickson, Campbell; Tamera Fandrich, Dunbar; Juli Farley, Waco; Malynne Bebo Frohner, Berthoud, Colo.; Mira Gibson, Lincoln; Jessica Gregg, Juniata; Megan Hall, Coin, Iowa; Megan Hejtmanek, Maywood; Katie Helgenberger, Scribner; Ashley Hill, Lincoln; Hilary Huschka, Sterling; Gulchehra Kholmatov, Lincoln; Kelsey Krienert, Dodge; Randi Nielsen, Shubert; Danielle Nitzel, Crete; Lauren Parde, Beatrice;

Jennifer Pearson, Lincoln; Andrea Reichenberg, Cedar Bluffs; Kendra Rivera, Grand Island; Dyanna Salber, Albion; Kari Schafersman, Fremont; Allison Schleppenbach, Lincoln; Natalie Schultz, Fremont; Micaela Simon, Lincoln; Melanie Slocum, Hazard; Olivia Stake, Waverly; Melissa Stutesman, Wilber; Vanessa Sukovaty, Phillips; Megan VerMaas, Lincoln; Lindsey Williams, Lincoln; Tisha Williamson, Malcolm; Amanda Willits, Lincoln; Christine Wing, Lincoln; Ashley Wismer, Lincoln; Michelle Wynegar, Elmwood; and Jana Wythers, Lincoln.

Associate Degree in Adult Cardiovascular Sonography: Rachel Nielsen, Stromsburg; Jacklyn Pickerill, Lincoln; Courtney Roberts, Midland, Texas; Rebecca Watters, Loma Linda, Calif.; and Cassie Woltemath, Lincoln.

Associate Degree in Cardiovascular Technology: Carmen Gardner, Lincoln; Tamara Giesmann, Sterling; Roland Krahn, Lincoln; Wes Ruckman, Springfield; and Cale Tyler, Emerson.

Associate Degree in Invasive Cardiovascular Sonography: Kathleen Erickson, Lincoln.

2011 Alumni Calendar Alumni Weekend June 10-11

Saturday, June 11

Reservations and prepayment required.

BryanLGH College of Health Sciences, 5035 Everett St. 10:30 a.m. — Annual Business Meeting in Classroom 200 11 a.m. — Registration Noon — Alumni Day Luncheon and Program in Classroom 204

Friday, June 10 Presidential Teas: n Bryan School of Nursing Class of 1961, 10-11 a.m., Fairview n Bryan School of Nursing Class of 1986, 2-3 p.m., Fairview n Lincoln General Hospital School of Nursing Class of 1961, 3:30-4:30 p.m., Alumni Museum, BryanLGH West Reception: 5-7 p.m., Conference Center at BryanLGH West, 2300 S. 16th St.

July 15-16 Alumni Trip Join us for the Nell Hill and the K.C. Experience. Reservations and prepayment required. Visit bryanlghcollege.edu for more information about alumni happenings.

To learn about other events or tickets, contact Brenda Neemann at (402) 481-8692 or email her at brenda.neemann@bryanlgh.org.

BryanLGH Journeys 21

B RYANL G H F O U N D AT I O N

You can extend first benefactor’s vision

W

hat a rich legacy William Jennings Bryan left to Nebraskans in 1922 when he donated his home and surrounding farmland as the site of a future hospital.

That gift was essential to establishing the progressive hospital which grew during the ensuing 85 years into a comprehensive health system, serving all of Nebraska and parts of several bordering states.

Today, BryanLGH remains locally owned and locally governed, which means it is continually planning, striving and reinvesting solely for you, your neighbors, visitors to our communities and even for those who may just be passing through.

I am certain William Jennings Bryan would agree his vision is being realized and approve of the stewardship of his gift.

His vision continues to inspire the work of the BryanLGH Foundation. We are motivated to ensure that future generations benefit from today’s philanthropists.

Jim Mastera, W.J. Bryan would say ‘Job well done’ May 31, Jim Mastera completed his last term serving the BryanLGH Foundation as a member of the Board of Trustees.

Jim began his service in 1990 as a member of the Lincoln General Board of Trustees and continued to provide volunteer leadership after Bryan Memorial Hospital and Lincoln General Hospital joined to become BryanLGH Medical Center.

He was instrumental in securing funds to build new facilities for the BryanLGH College of Health Sciences, was an active member of the investment and finance committee,

22 Spring Winter2011 2011 22

Throughout this and future editions of Journeys magazine, you can read about worldclass care, as well as mission-driven programs. All are enriched by philanthropic support. We also will share information you may find helpful in learning how you can be part of a rich and growing legacy rooted in philanthropy.

Feel free to contact us with any question. The Foundation staff contact information is listed on page 23.

I hope you will recognize the different ways to support BryanLGH contained in this issue and find them both educational and useful.

Thank you for your support of BryanLGH. — Bob Ravenscroft, BryanLGH Vice President of Advancement and Chief Development Officer

provided extraordinary guidance and counsel, and along with his wife, Georgiana, is a very generous supporter. Please join us in thanking Jim for his contributions that have enhanced care for our families, neighbors and friends.

Getting the most from your retirement nest egg Want to protect your heirs from heavy taxes and make your mark at BryanLGH? Consider leaving a portion of your retirement plan assets to us.

Here’s how it works Any retirement plan assets in your estate at the time of

B RYANL G H F O U N D AT I O N death are subject to income taxes, which can reduce the amount that normally would be passed to heirs by up to 35 percent. In contrast, as a nonprofit organization, we are taxexempt and eligible to receive the full amount and bypass any federal taxes. Income taxes can be avoided or reduced through a carefully planned charitable gift.

Consider these gift options: n

n

n

Designate the BryanLGH Foundation as the primary beneficiary for a percentage (1 to 100 percent) of your retirement plan assets.

Designate a specific amount to be donated to us before the remainder is divided among family beneficiaries.

Make us the contingent beneficiary to receive the balance only if your loved one, as primary beneficiary, doesn’t survive you.

Are you 70 1/2 or older? IRA rollover is extended and might be right for you.

Thanks to a federal tax law extension recently passed

by Congress, if you are 70 ½ years of age or older and have an IRA, you can avoid paying income taxes on the IRA funds you withdraw. The federal charitable IRA rollover provision enables you to give up to $100,000 in 2011 to a charitable organization such as the BryanLGH Foundation without paying federal — and in some cases, state — income taxes on the withdrawal. This even applies to your required minimum IRA distribution, if you direct it to a 501(c)(3) charitable organization such as the BryanLGH Foundation.

Learn more about retirement plan gifts and the federal charitable IRA rollover by contacting Cliff Carlson, major and planned giving officer, at (402) 481-3168.

Meet the Foundation staff

Bob Ravenscroft Vice President of Advancement and Chief Development Officer bob.ravenscroft@ bryanlgh.org (402) 481-3001

Cliff Carlson Major and Planned Giving Officer cliff.carlson@ bryanlgh.org (402) 481-3168

Heidi Cuca Major Giving Officer

DeEtta Mayrose Annual Giving Coordinator

heidi.cuca@ bryanlgh.org (402) 481-3139

deetta.mayrose@ bryanlgh.org (402) 481-8287

Kathy Wolf Manager, 55PLUS and Grateful Patient Program kathy.wolf@ bryanlgh.org (402) 481-3155

BryanLGH Journeys 23

This general

K Retired Brig. Gen. Ken Dermann finds volunteering at BryanLGH personally rewarding.

24 Spring Winter2011 2011 24

en Dermann says volunteering at BryanLGH is his way of thanking the physicians and staff at the medical center for saving his life.

“I’ve had several serious medical issues related to my heart, and I appreciated the care I received here so much I became a volunteer after I retired from the National Guard in 1987,” he said.

His face is familiar to many past and present BryanLGH patients, co-workers and fellow volunteers.

That’s because he volunteered in the medical center’s former community health education program, gave orientation tours for new employees and has served at the information desk at the Bryan Medical Plaza since it opened its doors 17 years ago.

Dermann especially likes helping anyone who seems to be looking for answers.

“It’s a real cross section of the population that comes into the Plaza, and for many this may be their first time in a big hospital. I think it’s important to give them a little smile and help make them more comfortable,” he said.

“This has been an opportunity for me to keep in touch.

Most people who come to the information desk aren’t at the hospital because they want to be — a lot of them are older people I can identify with and who feel good when you can help them feel a little better or find someplace for them. I’m also seeing a lot of expectant parents and visitors coming into the Institute for Women’s and Children’s Health.

“When I see a patient coming toward me, I always stand while I ask how we can help.”

If the dapper 83-year-old sounds like an officer and gentleman, it’s because he is. With prompting, the friendly retiree quietly concurs that as assistant adjutant general of the Army National Guard in Nebraska he was a brigadier general.

How he got to that point is an interesting story.

Dermann was born and raised on an Otoe County farm and during World War II graduated from the local high school at age 16. Too young to enter the fray, the red-headed youth enrolled at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

“I received an academic scholarship and decided to go out for football as a 160-pound freshman,” he said, eyes twinkling

VOLUNTEER RESOURCES

proudly volunteers at the recollection. “Well, they must have been pretty hard up for players because I lettered as a guard — but we did win two games in 1944.”

The war was in its final stages when Dermann became old enough to enlist in the Navy and see more of the world.

He served on a mine sweeper in the South Pacific for about a year until the armistice was declared.

This veteran returned to his home state to work for the USDA Soil Conservation Service in Weeping Water. He married Shirley, and the Dermanns’ two sons were born in that community.

Then Uncle Sam called again.

“Following my discharge from the Navy, the Army National Guard was being reorganized in Nebraska, and I was still pretty young, and it sounded like fun,” Dermann said.

“Because I’d already been in the service, I was able to join as a corporal — it was the beginning of a long experience with the Guard, covering various assignments over about 35 years.”

He quickly moved through the ranks during a stellar military career.

With his typical modesty, the retired general stated, “I received my officer’s commission and enjoyed many good assignments and was surrounded by great people. Before I

You, too, can volunteer!

BryanLGH volunteers serve in more than 90 areas throughout BryanLGH East and BryanLGH West, LifePointe and the BryanLGH warehouse.

Volunteer opportunities are available every day of the week, from 5 a.m. until midnight. So, no matter what your lifestyle, we can help you find a volunteer opportunity that offers you a rewarding experience.

Call (402) 481-3032 to learn more.

Did you know? s

s

BryanLGH volunteers range in age from 14 to over 90.

Our volunteers include students from several middle schools and high schools in Lincoln and surrounding communities, and college students from the University

knew it, why, I became too old to serve.”

He retired from the Guard at age 60 and devoted himself to commanding a large garden on the family farm. Neighbors could count on sharing the Dermanns’ bounty of summer strawberries and fall vegetable harvests. Eventually they sold the farm but continued cultivating friendships.

Shirley and Ken have celebrated 62 years of marriage.

Their sons also were military professionals — one is a West Point graduate — and today the Dermanns have three grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Helping others remains a big part of Ken’s makeup.

He’s a deacon at his church and has served on numerous boards and committees over the years; now he’s on the Volunteer Board of Directors at BryanLGH East.

“I found volunteering so rewarding that I just continue.

There have been a lot of changes around the hospital, and I’ve enjoyed floating to where they thought I could help,” Dermann concluded.

“I’ve met so many wonderful people. Life is good.” n For more information about volunteer opportunities for all ages and abilities, contact BryanLGH Volunteer Resources at (402) 481-3032 or visit our website, bryanlgh.org.

s

of Nebraska, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Doane College, Union College and Southeast Community College.

We also have many retirees among our volunteers, as well as those currently employed who serve others by volunteering after work or on weekends.

Volunteers also raise funds BryanLGH volunteers also raise funds on behalf of the medical center. Through book sales, art sales, bake sales, plant and gift sales and other events, the volunteers generate funds. They provide newborn coverlets and tray favors during holidays, and last year they spent about $15,000 for clothing for patients in need and purchased $10,000 worth of Activity Room/Activity Cart games, books and journals to brighten patients’ stays.

BryanLGH Journeys 25

Palliative care relieves suffering

I

t’s cutting-edge, old-fashioned medicine in a hightech world. That’s how Lisa Mansur, MD, FCCP, refers to palliative care — the medical specialty focused on improving quality of life of people facing serious illness.

“It’s a return to what we can do for the patient and not merely to the patient,” she said.

Dr. Mansur, medical director of palliative care, and her team have been doing just that since they started providing their services at BryanLGH in May 2009. They have served more than 700 patients, keeping the goal of palliative care front and center: to relieve the pain, symptoms and stress of serious illness — whatever the prognosis, at any age, at any point in the illness and along with treatments that are meant to cure.

Palliative care is not limited to hospice care.

“It treats people with acute, catastrophic illnesses; people who’ve been truly failing from a chronic disease or multiple chronic diseases; people who have repetitive hospitalizations or illnesses where they’re back and forth to the ICU; and people who have a new diagnosis,” Dr. Mansur said. “It has been extremely helpful for folks who are 80 and over who have more than one organ failure.”

Research shows that patients do better if they get palliative care early, and it doesn’t negate them receiving restorative care such as chemotherapy or other therapies — it runs alongside. In addition, a new study shows palliative care not only improves the quality of life, it actually extends it.

Dr. Mansur and her two nurse practitioners, Angela Johnsen, APRN, and Kelli Schreiner, APRN, work with patients to relieve symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath, depression, fatigue, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite and difficulty sleeping. They also help to relieve suffering through emotional and family support and communication and coordination among the patient, family and doctors in order to assure needs are fully met.

“We provide anticipatory

– Linda McKellar guidance,” Dr. Mansur said.

“It’s the process of showing

“ She gave my mother realistic hope.”

26 Spring 2011

Dr. Lisa Mansur (left) is an advocate for families such as Linda McKellar and her mother, palliative care patient Mary Bassett.

patients and families — or even helping them paint — the picture of where they’ve been and where they are right now so we can all understand where they’re going.”

Experts on the palliative care team may include doctors, nurses, chaplains, social workers, physical therapists and others.

“Our team is huge, and it’s based on interdisciplinary teamwork,” Dr. Mansur said. “Palliative care takes a village because as we help patients and their families understand and navigate this road of decision making, it absolutely takes everybody.”

Primary care physicians, as well as specialists in all areas of medicine, have been supportive of palliative care. “The hospitalists at BryanLGH Medical Center — Inpatient Physician Associates — have been great advocates and collaborators,” Johnsen said. “IPA physicians and nurses recognize when patients and families need further discussion concerning goals of care as well as assistance with symptom management.”

This is just what happened in Mary Bassett’s case.

Linda McKellar and her brother Michael Bassett

N E W AT B RYANL G H came to appreciate navigational help when their 82-year-old mother, Mary Bassett, experienced acute renal failure after open heart surgery in January 2011. She refused dialysis, the treatment to replace the function of the kidneys which normally serve as the body’s natural filtration system.

Lisa Mansur, MD, FCCP, and medical director of “It was my view that she didn’t fully understand the palliative care at BryanLGH, presents Palliative Care ramifications of refusing dialysis,” McKellar said.

Medicine — Returning the Focus of Care to You. The siblings were well aware of the consequences, though.

It’s Thursday, July 14, 7-8:30 p.m. in the Plaza They knew death was imminent without it. In their state of Conference Center, BryanLGH East, 1500 S. 48th St. uncertainty and not knowing what to do, someone suggested In our high-tech world, palliative care is a return they meet with Dr. Mansur. to values associated with old-time medicine. It foShe knew it was critical to present the facts to Mary — to cuses on improving overall quality of life for patients help her understand she was recoverable and that it was just and families facing serious illness. Dr. Mansur also too early to call it quits. At the same time, Dr. Mansur and the discusses how palliative care guides families in stepfamily knew it was ultimately Mary Bassett’s call. ping back so they can help improve the end of life Dr. Mansur met with Mary and her children and period for their loved ones. formulated a plan upon which they could all agree.

This free seminar is hosted by BryanLGH Mary Bassett assented to do one round of dialysis and Community Health Education and 55PLUS. counted down each treatment and the time when she would To register, please call (402) 481-8886, or log onto fulfill her end of the bargain. When the results did not yield bryanlgh.org, then click on “Classes and Screenings” machine-free kidney function, she again resolved to do no and the “Community Education” link. more. Her kidneys were improving, though, and medically, she still was recoverable. Dr. Mansur met with Mary and her children again to discuss the possible next treatment plan.

Following thorough conversation, all agreed key, so all are on board with the most up-toon another round of treatment. After that date developments and plans. round plus additional treatments, her kidneys Dr. Mansur and her nurse practitioners began functioning on their own. also use the latest electronic medical “We’re not here to take a side,” Dr. Mansur record software, which helps them provide said. “We’re here to try to show patients all seamless, quality care and coordination with options. It’s what I call finding the middle the medical team from virtually anywhere. ground. And usually that’s the best place to “Our work with the patient isn’t a oneend up because the patient is comfortable ended process,” Dr. Mansur said. “It involves with his or her decision, and others can work a discussion with the patient, family and on understanding why that is.” physicians to establish appropriate goals and “Dr. Mansur got through to my mom expectations, to talk about options and then because she gave her hope — realistic hope,” get them on a path that is acceptable to all.”

McKellar said. “She told her how she saw it Palliative is a big word with down-toas a doctor who works in this field. She made earth roots. It’s derived from a word that sure my mother understood and did so in a Nurse practitioners Kelli Schreiner (left) means to hug or to blanket with care, and very professional way. and Angela Johnsen use the latest electhat’s an everyday occurrence for BryanLGH’s “Mom, Michael and I felt we had a strong tronic medical record software to stay palliative care team. n advocate with Dr. Mansur — someone who linked to the patient’s care team. had credibility and who was clear and strong.”

For information on how you can Currently, the palliative care team provides support palliative care at BryanLGH, please call the services at all hospitals in Lincoln. And coordination with BryanLGH Foundation at (402) 481-8605. hospital personnel and the patient’s primary care physician is

Learn about palliative care at free seminar July 14

BryanLGH Journeys 27

B RYANLG H L IFEP OINTE

Completely relaxing

feature re what’s at LifePointe

Reflexology has benefits for many conditions

At LifePointe, you can enjoy holistic activities that will relax, rejuvenate and, in some cases, help heal you — such as reflexology, massage and yoga. And you don’t have to be a member to participate!

Reflexology stimulates healing

M

ost people know about the benefits of massage — and The Spa at LifePointe therapists offer several types of massage: Hot rock, couples and prenatal are just a sampling.

But reflexology offers something a little different. What is reflexology?

Matt Wiechman, manager of The Spa at LifePointe and

28 Spring 2011

reflexology practitioner, explains: “Reflexology is a therapy in which integrated techniques are used to stimulate reflex points which connect and correspond to various organs, glands and areas of the body. By applying pressure to these specific reflex points, the body’s natural healing processes are stimulated, which promotes a state of well-being.”

The art and science of reflexology has been practiced in the Chinese and Egyptian cultures going back 5,000 years. And it’s not just for relaxation. While most clients experience deep relaxation similar to a full body massage due to the release of endorphins, other benefits include reduced muscular tension in the neck, shoulders, elbows, hips, sciatic area and spine, and areas of tightness experienced before the session may be gone by the end of the treatment.

In the hands of reflexology practitioners, like Matt Wiechman (right), patients find relief for many health issues — and it’s a great relaxation method.

What’s more, reflexology can be used to help with digestive issues, lung congestion and premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Clients also report deeper or more restful sleep after a session. Many also find reflexology to be a potent and natural way to ease the pain of fibromyalgia. Wiechman stresses that reflexology does not diagnose or treat conditions that require medical attention. Clients should consult their medical practitioner with any medical concerns about their state of health.

Given all of this, can reflexology be used simply as a relaxation method?

“Definitely,” Wiechman says. “We have more than 7,000 nerve endings in our feet. Having these worked on during a 40-minute session typically feels great. Once clients

experience reflexology, they choose to stick with it even if they previously came in for body work and massage.”

Plus, reflexology and massage complement one another well, he said. “We have a treatment at the Spa that we call a reflexology/massage combo. It’s a 90-minute treatment in which you get to experience the benefits of both therapies.

This way, if we find a certain area or reflex point on the foot that stands out, the therapist can spend extra time on that part of the body the reflex point correlates to.

Our clients find this treatment to be very therapeutic.”

Jane Lacy of Lincoln is a believer and a regular at The Spa at LifePointe.

“Once you get into reflexology, you can’t wait to get back for the next session,” she says. “I highly recommend it for anyone when they are feeling stressful times. There is nothing like it for stress relief or just relaxation. It rejuvenates you.”

Holistic health addresses the whole person — body, mind, spirit and emotions. Interested in reflexology, massage and other services offered at The Spa at LifePointe?

Call (402) 481-6321 for answers or to schedule a session.

More details are available at bryanlghlifepointe.org.

BryanLGH Journeys 29

B RYANLG H L IFEP OINTE

You’re invited to sample unique yoga variety

A

fter a reflexology session most clients say they are feeling refreshed, relaxed and energetic. Yoga is a great way to keep this state of mind/body and feeling going. At LifePointe, the yoga offerings are unique.

i Basic Vinyasa Yoga is a style in which many poses flow together in everchanging sequences. People of varying abilities may attend, as modifications for all body types are offered throughout this class.

more fit, happier you, Hyp-Yoga may be the answer! i Water Yoga is a new environment for practicing yoga — one that resists and supports your own movements. Because of the unique properties of water, people of all fitness levels can safely enjoy water yoga. Conditions such as arthritis, multiple sclerosis, obesity and others can make traditional yoga on land difficult. The force of gravity during standing poses also may be too great for those just beginning physical activity after illness or injury. But the buoyancy and hydrostatic pressure of water support the body in all directions, making most standing yoga poses easier. i Gentle Yoga can benefit those in all levels, from beginner to advanced.

Modifications are shown for all levels in the class, so everyone stays comfortable yet challenged.

Instructor Liz Merey (right) leads students in pre-class stretching at LifePointe. She adapts her yoga classes to students’ individual experience levels and says, “Anyone from age 3 to 90 can do yoga.”

i Power Vinyasa Yoga also is a flowing yoga but is characterized by its intensity. This highenergy type of yoga involves many strength-building poses and has solid cardiovascular benefits. This class is perfect for people who want a challenge. No yoga experience is necessary, just a desire to work hard and have fun. i Hyp-Yoga is the evolution of mind/body fitness that guides you through the journey of reaching your goals while staying balanced and in the present moment. Hyp-Yoga helps us connect what our mind wants with our actual behaviors.

Whether you want to release stress, eat healthier or just be a

i Chair Yoga is a great class for individuals with hesitancy, tightness, balance problems, stiffness or other special needs to practice yoga with security, confidence and safety. i BodyFlow™ is a Les Mills program, choreographed to music.

BodyFlow™ includes yoga, Tai Chi and Pilates and is best for intermediate to advanced students.

To learn more about classes and events at LifePointe, please call (402) 481-6300 or go to bryanlghlifepointe.org. n

Find life balance at LifePointe: A variety of classes available for you BryanLGH LifePointe offers many exciting classes— and you don’t have to be a member! Call (402) 481-6300 or go to bryanlghlifepointe.org to register.

BODYPUMP™ is the original barbell class to strengthen and tone your entire body.

BODYFLOW™ is a yoga, Tai Chi and Pilates workout that leaves you feeling strong, centered and calm.

30 Spring 2011

BODYCOMBAT™ is a martial arts-based fitness program.

CYCLING: Choose from 15 classes every day, from beginner to advanced.

WARM WATER ARTHRITIS THERAPY: The soothing warmth and bouyancy of water make this a safe, ideal setting for relieving arthritis pain.

YOGA balances body, mind and spirit.

It’s a great way to de-stress, build

strength and flexibility, and increase energy. Choose from fast-paced to slow and gentle, beginner to advanced.

ZUMBA® fuses Latin, salsa and reggae music and dance, combined with integral training, for a feel-happy workout.

Find out all about it at our Zumba Party Weekend. Free classes are offered Saturday, June 4, 9 a.m. or 10 a.m., and Sunday, June 5, 1 p.m. or 2 p.m.

55PLUS 55PLUS ice cream social celebrates BryanLGH’s 85th birthday n Sunday, June 26

1:30-4:30 p.m. in the Bryan Medical Plaza Conference Center, BryanLGH East, 1500 S. 48th St. Join other 55PLUS members as we celebrate the 85th anniversary of BryanLGH. Enjoy an afternoon of socializing, ice cream, anniversary cupcakes and the music of Mac McCune and the Mac Five Combo.

To register, call (402) 481-8355 or go to bryanlgh.org, then click on “Classes and Screenings” and the “Community Education” link.

Welcome to Medicare Connie Svik (left), DeEtta Mayrose, Kathy Wolf and Lori Lee are ready to assist 55PLUS members in their new offices off the main lobby of BryanLGH Medical Center East.

Join us for adventures!

Traveling with 55PLUS is a great way to meet new people and see wonderful attractions. There is still room on our trips, and reservations are on a first-come, firstserved basis.

To request a brochure, call 55PLUS at (402) 481-3355 or (800) 742-7844 and ask for 55PLUS; or visit bryanlgh.org and click on “55PLUS” under “Join Our Clubs.” Then select “Travel” and download your chosen brochures.

Joining Medicare soon? Attend one or all three of these classes about benefits. Alicia Jones, program director for the Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP), will explain the ins and outs of Medicare, including online resources and help for those with limited resources. n Thursday, July 7 — Medicare Part A, B and Supplements. n Thursday, July 14 — Medicare Advantage Plans. n Thursday, July 21 — Part D Drug Plans.

All sessions are 10-11 a.m. in Classroom 1, Bryan Medical Plaza, BryanLGH East. To register, call (402) 481-3355.

Day Trips n Brownville Village Theatre & Spirit of

Brownville Dinner Cruise — Tuesday, Aug. 9, or Thursday, Aug. 11. n Mahoney State Park Melodrama — Friday, Sept. 16, or Friday, Sept. 23. n Amelia Earhart and Haunted Houses — Tuesday, Oct. 4, or Thursday, Oct. 6.

Multiple-day Trips n Tennessee Valley Railroad, featuring

Nashville and Memphis — TuesdayTuesday, Oct. 18-25 (eight days). n Kansas City Christmas — Friday Saturday, Dec. 2-3 (two days).

55PLUS coordinators from the Heartland Health Alliance (HHA) met at BryanLGH in March. Coordinators are (front row, from left): Carol Carlson, Seward; Deb Whaley, Beatrice; Terri Janssen, Syracuse; Debbie Niedermeyer, Syracuse; (back row, from left) Barb Langley, Cambridge; Lori Lee, Connie Svik and Kathy Wolf, Lincoln; Shirley Siedhoff, Crete; Pauline Niederklein, Fairbury; Tammy Struebing, Neligh; Pat Samway, Lexington; Connie Schindel, Albion; and Deb Miller, Broken Bow. HHA is a network of 26 hospitals offering local 55PLUS programs in conjunction with BryanLGH. 55PLUS has more than 60,000 members, 65 percent of whom live outside the Lincoln area.

To learn how you can support 55PLUS, call the BryanLGH Foundation at (402) 481-8605.

BryanLGH Journeys 31

ACHIEVEMENTS

Robert Hibbard, MD, spoke at the

Steven Krueger, MD, contributed to

Lincoln physician Sushil Lacy, MD,

Jan Garvin, BryanLGH vice president

American College of Cardiology i2

a research article for the medical

has been elected president of the

of human resources, has a long

Summit in New Orleans.

journal, Lancet.

American Urological Association.

association with United Way.

Dr. Hibbard addresses heart summit

Lancet features Dr. Lacy Dr. Krueger leads national research association

United Way Board elects Jan Garvin

Cardiologist Robert Hibbard, MD, of BryanLGH Heart Institute was invited to speak April 4 during the 2011 American College of Cardiology i2 Summit in New Orleans.

Dr. Hibbard presented “Peri-procedural Outcomes After Carotid Artery Stenting with the First 10,000 Patients Enrolled in the SAPPHIRE World Wide Study.”

That study is evaluating effectiveness of a distal protection device used during carotid stenting procedures; the device prevents debris from traveling to the brain and causing a stroke.

Dr. Hibbard has enrolled more than 225 patients into the registry — the most by a single physician. n

Cardiologist Steven Krueger, MD, of BryanLGH Heart Institute was among the authors of an article recently published in Lancet, a leading European medical journal.

The article summarizes the Champion Trial, a study of the effectiveness of a wireless implantable hemodynamic monitoring system in patients who have had moderate heart failure.

Researchers found that six months after receiving the monitor, about one-third fewer of those patients needed to be hospitalized for heart failure and experienced a better quality of life, compared to those not using the monitoring system. n

The United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County Board of Directors named Jan Garvin, vice president of human resources for the BryanLGH Health System, as a new member and chose her to be the Board’s personnel chair.

This election continues her long association with United Way. While she was vice president of human resources at St. Elizabeth Regional Health of Layfayette, Ind., Garvin served on the Board of the United Way of Greater Layfayette for eight years. She was president of that organization’s Board in 2008 and in 2009 was Volunteer of the Year. Most recently she served on the Board of Directors of the Indiana State Association of United Ways. n

32 Spring 2011

Sushil Lacy, MD, is the new president of the American Urological Association (AUA) .

Dr. Lacy has been a Medical Staff member at BryanLGH Medical Center for more than 30 years.

He’s also a clinical professor of urology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, and a mentor in the AUA Leadership Program.

Dr. Lacy graduated from Christian Medical College, Vellore, India, and completed a surgery residency at King George’s Medical College, Lucknow, India, a urology residency at Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, N.C., and a vascular surgery fellowship at Duke University, Durham, N.C. n

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

BryanLGH 85th Anniversary events in June have something fun for everyone!

College of Health Sciences Alumni Weekend

BryanLGH Kids’ Health & Safety Fair

Friday, June 10, 5-7 p.m. Reception, BryanLGH West Conference Center, 2300 S. 16th St.

Saturday, June 11, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Zone B Parking Garage at BryanLGH East.

It’s free!

Saturday, June 11, BryanLGH College of Health Sciences, 5035 Everett St. Your former classmates want to see you again! The annual business meeting at 10:30 a.m. precedes the noon luncheon and program in Classroom 204. Contact the College of Health Sciences at (402) 481-8692 to make reservations.

Celebrate Lincoln

Independence Center 40th Anniversary

Saturday, June 11, 11 a.m.-11:30 p.m.

Downtown Lincoln, on N Street between 12-14th Streets.

BryanLGH celebrates its 85 years during Celebrate Lincoln! Country music star Rodney Atkins of Tennessee is the evening’s headliner.

Pick up discount passes at the Kids’ Health & Safety Fair, and look for complete Celebrate Lincoln event coverage at golincolngo.com.

This annual event provides families with opportunities to learn about children’s health and safety programs offered at BryanLGH and other Lincoln organizations. Interactive exhibits, demonstrations and entertainment offer chances to learn valuable health and safety lessons in a fun and festive atmosphere.

To learn more, call (402) 481-5643.

Friday, June 17, Staff Reunion, 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, June 18, Community Event, 9 a.m.-10 p.m.

To register, go to icaalincoln.org or call (402) 481-5268. Look for more details on page 17.

55PLUS Ice Cream Social helps mark milestone Sunday, June 26, 1:30-4:30 p.m.

Bryan Medical Plaza Conference Center, BryanLGH East, 1500 S. 48th St.

Entertainer Rodney Atkins

Dr. Raines part of upcoming CNN broadcast

55PLUS celebrates the 85th anniversary of BryanLGH with an afternoon of socializing, ice cream and music by The Mac Five Combo. To register, call (402) 481-8355 or go to bryanlgh.org, then click on “Classes and Screenings” and the “Community Education” link.

registration. Our graduation exercise is the Oct. 9 Run to Overcome.

Sunday, June 12, 7 p.m.

BryanLGH Run to Overcome

Tune in to see BryanLGH Heart Institute cardiothoracic surgeon Ed Raines, MD, on the CNN special health report, “The Last Heart Attack.”

Friday Nights Live Free summer concert series at SouthPointe Pavilions 6:30 p.m., 27th Street and Pine Lake Road

2011

to RUN OVERCOME

2011 Adam’s Race Sunday, Oct. 9, 12:30 p.m.

5K, 10K and Kids’ Fun Run begin at BryanLGH LifePointe, 7501 S. 27th St., south of Pine Lake Road

BryanLGH proudly presents live music on Fridays for our community, with special activities courtesy of LifePointe.

Performances: June 10 brings The 9’s (R&B/funk/jazz); The Vybe (rock/pop) performs June 17; and TunaFish Jones (blues/jazz/rock) is June 24. For a complete schedule, go to bryanlghlifepointe.org..

Be part of this inaugural event! This run is in memory of critical care nurse Adam Zetterman. To register, call (402) 481-5643 or go to bryanlgh.org, click on “Classes and Screenings,” then go to “Community Education.”

Time 2 Train

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

Adam’s Race

Tuesdays, Aug. 16 - Oct. 9, 6-7 p.m.

BryanLGH LifePointe, 7501 S. 27th St., south of Pine Lake Road

Sunday, Oct. 23, Holmes Lake Park Registration begins at noon; the 5K walk starts at 1 p.m.

Whether you’re beginning or an experienced runner, we’ll help you prepare for 5K and 10K events. Receive a personalized training schedule, T-shirt, helpful instruction and plenty of motivation.

Call (402) 481-6300 or go to bryanlgh.org for details about fees and

BryanLGH is the flagship sponsor for this American Cancer Society event. Join your friends in a fun walk to salute survivors and further breast cancer research. Register online at makingstrideslincoln.org.

BryanLGH Journeys 33

1600 S. 48th St., Lincoln, NE 68506

Address service requested

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID LINCOLN NE PERMIT NO. 1299