2021 IMPACT REPORT
2021 Impact Report
Because of you... The Dorothy and Larry Dallas Heart Center Thanks to the generosity of donors like you, The Dorothy and Larry Dallas Heart Center at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon provides the best care, the best technology and the best research for patients of all ages. In addition to collaborating with the SSM Health Cardinal Glennon St. Louis Fetal Care Institute, The Dallas Heart Center works closely with the 3D Printing Center of Excellence. This 3D printing lab creates anatomical models of organs that our physicians use to study a child’s heart and plan for complex surgeries. Using 3D models shortens the amount of time a child is under anesthesia and leads to faster recovery. The Dallas Heart Center team also uses 3D models to educate anxious parents about their child’s condition and the steps the surgeon will take to help their child.
DID YOU KNOW? The smallest 3D model created at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon was the heart of a baby who was just six hours old!
The Costas Center As a member of the Children’s Oncology Group and other international research and data-sharing collaborations, the nationally recognized Costas Center participates in group clinical trials. Such collaborations allow hospitals worldwide to share information so practitioners can make the best decisions about patient care and study new treatments, including several frontline leukemia treatments like CAR T-cell therapy. The Costas Center also contributes to the Pediatric Oncology COVID-19 Case Report. This national study evaluates effects of the vaccine series on healthy children versus those who contract the virus while fighting cancer.
Inpatient Pharmacy Last year’s expansion and relocation of the SSM Health Cardinal Glennon inpatient pharmacy gave the pharmacy team a new sterile compounding area, an additional 1,000 square feet and a state-of-the-art electronic inventory management system. Pharmacists are vital members of the SSM Health Cardinal Glennon health care team. Their expertise in the properties and composition of each medication makes their role critical in helping patients get the best results from their medications.
DID YOU KNOW? The Costas Center’s bone marrow transplant program is among the top 10 programs of its kind nationwide with one-year survival rates over 90%.
Knights of Columbus Developmental Center Ongoing donor support, including Missouri and Illinois Knights of Columbus organizations, enabled us to grow what was once a small staff of three to a multidisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, speech and occupational therapists, and mental health professionals — experts in the field of developmental pediatrics and autism spectrum disorders. The Knights of Columbus Center also provides group therapy and socialization programs for young children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders and other social and emotional problems. For preschool-age children, the Move to Communicate group works on verbal and fine motor skills. The Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®) offers middle and high school children the opportunity to learn social skills through didactic learning and role-playing exercises. Parents participate in both programs and offer coaching at home. Because of you, families without insurance are offered scholarships to participate in these important programs.
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DID YOU KNOW? The Knights of Columbus Developmental Center is designated as a Missouri Center for Autism, one of only six sites in the entire state to hold this honor.
Care for Caregivers Last year proved to be another stressful year in health care for nursing staff and other caregivers, making programs like Care for Caregivers a top priority. Because of you, more than 500 frontline caregivers received “emotional first aid” and other peer support through LEARN MORE Care for Caregivers, including staff at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Care sites throughout the community. Staff in the hospital also may participate in bi-weekly guided meditation sessions, the traveling Zen Room and other self-care activities, all with the goal of improving the mind–body–spirit connection and preventing burnout.
STARS Your generous donations helped SSM Health Cardinal Glennon create and share the Special Needs Tracking and Awareness Response System (STARS). In the event of an emergency, this database securely shares critical health data on children with special health care needs between hospital caregivers and first responders, ensuring that potentially lifesaving information is at hand. This innovative technology is transforming the way emergency care is provided to children with special needs, and SSM Health Cardinal Glennon is leading the way.
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First responders throughout Missouri and Illinois also receive continuing education and hands-on training from our team about pediatric medical conditions and equipment they may encounter when caring for a STARS patient.
DID YOU KNOW? STARS enrolled patient #1 in 2014. Last year, STARS enrolled patient #1095!
Footprints℠ Palliative Care Program
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The Footprints℠ team plays a variety of roles for children with multiple, complex or life-limiting medical issues and their families. Through advanced care coordination, education and advocacy, support and comfort, Footprints℠ gives every family the tools they need to cope and thrive along their journey, wherever it may lead.
In partnership with the Child Life team, parents with children in the hospital, including Footprints℠ families, can participate in a variety of respite activities, such as journaling, art projects and shared meals that provide opportunities for self-care and social connection. Footprints℠ does not earn enough revenue from insurance to sustain itself. Because of you, this important program is available now and in the future.
Pediatric Research Every year, donor support to The Children’s Fund supports key initiatives that make SSM Health Cardinal Glennon an award-winning hospital: » Research nurses and coordinators to collect, analyze and submit data to national benchmarking organizations to improve clinical outcomes for all children. » Pediatric Fellowship programs in key, difficult-to-recruit specialties to train up the next generation of healers. » Participation in the latest clinical trials for cancer, liver disease, heart disease and more to provide hope and healing to thousands of children every year. SSM Health Cardinal Glennon has partnered with the Saint Louis University School of Medicine since the day the hospital’s doors opened in 1956. The generosity of our donors through our nearly 70-year history has enabled SSM Health Cardinal Glennon to recruit top providers, fellows and residents to our nationally recognized pediatric specialty programs. Attracting the best talent requires the latest technology, a robust research program, access to cutting-edge treatments and more.
Duo Dog Thor Provided tailored medical play opportunities to help patients cope with particular stressors
Created preparation videos to help patients cope with procedures
Supported chronic patients during extended periods of hospitalization
Provided non-pharmacological pain management and procedural support
Provided support to help patients meet developmental milestones and therapeutic goals
Helped patients overcome fears and cope with challenging therapy sessions Threw out the first pitch at the St. Louis Cardinals “Purina Pooches in the Ballpark”
Sponsored by Purina to be featured on the back of a new Cardinal Glennon MICU
Partnered with a private donor and Duo Dogs to have our patients name a litter of Duo service dogs
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The Danis Pediatric Center Nearly 75% of the families who come to The Danis Pediatric Center live in low-income neighborhoods and face numerous hurdles in addition to accessing quality health care for their children. Because of you, we created the DanisCARES program, which is completely funded through philanthropy. This program provides real-time support for families facing resource insecurity. Through DanisCARES, parents receive a Child and Family Well-Being Assessment in the clinic and immediate access to resources like diapers and meal kits, as well as counseling and connection to additional resources in their neighborhoods for employment, financial education, housing and more.
Emergency and Trauma/ Critical Care Transport Team The Critical Care Transport team’s fleet of five ambulances, or Mobile Intensive Care Units (MICUs), went into service in 2021 and are made possible through generous donor support. Now that we have our own fleet of MICUs and drivers, we do not have to rely on partner agencies. As a result, we reduced the average response time from 45 minutes to 15 minutes. Each MICU is equipped to provide care that a child would receive in an intensive care unit, so they are getting the highest level of care en route to the hospital, and can be placed directly in a room at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital without stopping in the Emergency Department.
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DID YOU KNOW? SSM Health Cardinal Glennon was the first hospital in the St. Louis area to establish a dedicated neonatal transport team!
DID YOU KNOW? In 2021, SSM Health Cardinal Glennon child life specialists had more than 28,000 interactions with patients and families.
Child Life Services and Creative Arts Therapies Through Child Life Services, SSM Health Cardinal Glennon patients access a variety of support services to help them cope with their hospital experience, including therapeutic play, special events, procedural support for painful or distressing procedures and much more. The Creative Arts Therapies team consists of music, art and dance/movement therapists who create an environment in which hospitalized children may express their emotions and experience a LEARN MORE reduction in pain, anxiety and other symptoms.
» Because of you, Child Life Services has made an impact… A 5-year-old patient was diagnosed with leukemia. His family’s first concern following diagnosis was how to explain to their son that he has cancer. A Child Life Specialist learned the patient’s favorite movie was Disney’s animated “Cars” and created a book using Lightning McQueen as the main character to explain his cancer and treatment plan. His eyes lit up as soon as he saw the cover, and he couldn’t wait to read it with grandma. There was a lot of show-and-tell at home to his siblings, followed by many bedtime requests to read the book. Now that he
understands his cancer diagnosis, the hospital and treatments aren’t so scary.
A 4-year-old patient was admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit with a gunshot wound. Unfortunately, she didn’t survive and left behind two grieving parents and a 7-year-old sister who was the first to hear the gunshot and respond to the scene. Child Life Specialists stepped in to provide comfort and positive coping outlets throughout the end-of-life process for this family. A developmentally appropriate workbook, “When Someone Special Dies,” was shared with the sister to help her process and understand her grief.
The family created memory boxes, handprints and a hand mold, which gave them comfort and helped them process the horrific experience.
A 7-year-old patient with a degenerative disease had regressed after hitting all developmental milestones just months before his hospitalization. Now in an inpatient unit and unable to walk, talk or perform basic everyday tasks, the patient needed an endoscopy procedure. Child Life Specialists learned the patient and family’s preferred way of coping was through Duo Dog Thor. Always advocating for what is best for patients, Child Life Specialists collaborated with other teams and arranged a way to ease the family’s emotions during the procedure. Duo Dog
Thor was able to lie in bed with the patient as he was being sedated, providing comfort to the entire family during the procedure.
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