myBooneHealth Winter 2015

vol: 5 issue: 1

Skill & Compassion Stories from the operating room

Melissa Miller, RN

coming this fall: Boone Hospital Center’s South Campus

Table Of Contents Page 10

Page 14

Boone Hospital Center’s mission is to improve the health of the people and communities we serve.

Jim Sinek

Page 30

President

Ben Cornelius Communications and Marketing Manager

Jessica Park Marketing Coordinator Photos By

Dave Hoffmaster Jessica Park Contributing Writer

Jacob Luecke

Page 20 5...................................................... A Note From Boone Hospital President Jim Sinek 6.....................................................................................................

myBoone Health Stories

8................................................................................................................ Hospital Headlines 10................................................................................................................. Ready to Operate Follow us on Facebook, Twitter

12...................................................................................................................

Surgical Support

Instagram and Pinterest.

14.................................................................................................................... Erin’s Advantage

Please submit comments

16.................................................................................................................. Germs Stop Here

or feedback to bcc1170@bjc.org or call 573.815.3392

1600 East Broadway Columbia, MO 65201 573.815.8000

20............................................................................................................................

Fight the Flu

22................................................................................. Recipe Corner: Savory Winter Soup 23.....................................................................................................................

Winter Forecast

25........................................................................................... Winter Weather Safety Guide 26....................................................................................................... South Campus Update

For a free subscription, call 573.815.3392 or visit myBooneHealth.com and click on the subscription link on the right side of the page.

28........................................................................................ Getting To Know A BHC Doctor 29.......................................................................................... Getting To Know A BHC Nurse 30......................................................

Boone Hospital Foundation 2014 Year in Review BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Winter 2015

3

A Note From Jim

New Year’s Resolutions

T Jim Sinek President Boone Hospital Center

here’s something about the beginning of a new year that is refreshing and exciting: a new start, new plans, new goals, new professional and personal resolutions for the upcoming year, and a recommitment to existing missions and values. It’s almost like hitting the reset button on your favorite electronic game.

This year will bring many new beginnings to Boone, including the opening of our South Campus at the corner of Nifong and Forum; new physician practices and Boone Hospital clinics; a renovated surgery unit and other hospital areas, completion of our master facility plan; new technology; a new chief medical officer and vice president of finance; and new quality and patient goals and strategic plans.

All of these new beginnings will continue the work that has been done since 1921, to achieve our mission of improving the health of the people and communities we serve. That’s what’s special about Boone Hospital Center: our leadership in bringing innovative technology to mid-Missouri, our continuous improvements for best results in patient outcomes and patient satisfaction, and, year after year, our recommitment to a mission and culture that focus exclusively on our patients and their needs.

Many health care providers attempt to reinvent themselves each year or constantly chase the latest health care fads in an effort to achieve short-term recognition or success. Not Boone. Since 1921, there has been a steady and long-term investment in our vision of becoming one of the best hospitals in the country and improving the health of the people and communities we serve.

My teammates and I are excited about Boone Hospital Center’s upcoming year. We hope you also find success in any new beginnings or resolutions you’ve planned for 2015, and that your success builds upon an already excellent you!

Happy New Year!

BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Winter 2015

5

myBoone Health Stories Visit myBooneHealth.com To Read More — And Share Your Own Story

Imaging Services teammates (from left to right) Danica Hull, Danielle Atterberry, Larissa Levitt, Cindy Bair, Shannon Findlay and Steve Allen prepare to organize, sort and wrap gifts for three families.

Beyond Health Care

B

oone Hospital Center’s imaging services team came together during the holiday season to adopt families in need through the Voluntary Action Center. Staff from our X-ray, Interventional Radiology, CT, MRI, Nuclear Medicine, Ultrasound and Harris Breast Center departments, plus radiologists from BHC’s medical staff, contributed a total $938, which made it possible to adopt three families for the holidays, providing them with a holiday meal, gifts and household items.

First Rate Julie — Columbia I was recently a patient at Boone Hospital Center on the surgical specialties floor. The care I received there was first-rate from beginning to end. Very friendly and attentive staff who always made sure that I was comfortable and had everything I needed. Special thanks Kathy, Jessica, Dan, Adam and Shelby. The meals I received were attractively served, delicious, and generous portions. Words cannot express how grateful I am for all of their care and concern.

6

Winter 2015 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER

Share your story myBooneHealth.com

My Life In Your Hands Greg — Glasgow

S

imply put, my life was in the hands of the stroke team of Boone Hospital Center. I was rushed to the ER on Oct. 31, with leftsided weakness, numbness and difficulty speaking. I was met by a team of stroke experts who immediately recognized the need for intervention. A CT scan was performed to determine my eligibility for a life-saving drug that can only be administered during a specific timeframe.

Within 30 minutes after receiving this clot-busting drug, my symptoms were subsiding. I was in Neuro ICU for observation where the care given to me by the clinical staff was beyond my expectations. I was discharged two days later and able to fully share my experience. Thank you Dr. Koch, ER Stroke Team and all the clinical staff at Boone.

Caring For Mother Erin ­— Palmyra

My mother recently broke her hip and was admitted to Boone Hospital Center. I want to say everyone here has been wonderful, from the staff that is taking care of my mother to all the other staff throughout

A Beautiful Baby Boy Michelle

W

e had a beautiful baby boy, Alex Wren, on Aug. 20, 2014, at Boone Hospital. Alex is healthy, which is all that matters in the end, but the birth did not go exactly as expected. At the last minute, we needed a C-section since he was not in the right position. We were trying for (and succeeding!) in having a natural birth, so this was not part of the plan, an early and important parenthood lesson. Dr. Roelands provided ongoing support, calm guidance, information and as many options as possible.

She made the experience as stress-free as she could and we knew we were in good hands. She visited us frequently and at every stage of labor to help. I am so glad I chose to work with her for this experience. We also benefited from care and support from Brandi, our labor nurse, and from Chanda, Amira and McKenna in post-partum. They took the time to answer our questions and help us through this special time. Thank you to everyone at Boone!

the hospital, everyone is friendly and very engaging! Everyone has been absolutely amazing and I would like to thank everyone and applaud them for their outstanding service!

BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Winter 2015

7

Hospital Headlines News From Boone Hospital Center Fayette and Howard County Fire Dept.

Capt. Casey Roberts (center) shakes hands with BHC Ambulance Supervisor Marc Carr (right) after Carr and BHC Director of Support Services Myrl Frevert (left of Capt.

Roberts) presented the departments with a much-needed ambulance.

Boone Hospital Center Gives Ambulance To Community Fire District

C

hristmas came early to the Fayette Fire Department and Howard County Fire Protection District, on Friday, Dec. 12, when Boone Hospital Center donated a

used ambulance. Boone Hospital Center Ambulance Services Supervisor Marc Carr and Director of Support Services Myrl Frevert presented the ambulance to Capt.

Casey Roberts and members of the Fayette and Howard County fire departments,

whose joint station is located in the town of Fayette, part of Boone Hospital Center’s 27-county service area.

Frevert was aware of the need for an ambulance in Howard County ever since his son Taylor served as a volunteer fire fighter for the district. When Carr presented a proposal to acquire a new ambulance, Frevert asked the Boone Hospital Center Capital Committee for Fleet Replacement to consider donating one of the older vehicles. The donation, which was approved by then Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer Randy Morrow, aligns with Boone Hospital Center’s mission to improve the health of the people and communities we serve.

Members of the Fayette Fire Department and Howard County Fire Protection District were thrilled to receive the ambulance and with a few additions, including a radio, they hope to have the ambulance in service soon.

Boone Hosts Freshman Legislators

O Myrl Frevert, director of support services, takes the tour group to the Neuroscience Unit

8

Winter 2015 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER

n Dec. 18, Boone Hospital Center hosted newly-elected state legislators, offering a tour and question and answer session. Each year, the Freshman Legislator Tour travels throughout Missouri, offering the incoming class a first-hand experience of the businesses and communities their upcoming decisions will impact.

BJC HealthCare has hosted several tours in the past few years. This is the first time Boone Hospital Center has hosted the event. Following a welcome and discussion with BHC President Jim Sinek, the 32 legislators were given a tour of the clinical laboratory and inpatient neuroscience unit.

The latest news boone.org

Rose Fowler Named Chief Operating Officer of Boone Hospital Center

R

ose “Rosi” Fowler joined Boone Hospital Center as the chief operating officer on Nov. 3, 2014.

Fowler comes to Boone Hospital Center from Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare, where she served as vice president of operations and as site administrator for one of the system’s hospitals, Sartori Memorial Hospital in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Her responsibilities included strategic planning, clinical systems, process improvement and operational responsibilities for three hospitals. She also managed major construction projects for Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare, the hospitals’ parent health system, which is one of the largest providers of care in Southeast Wisconsin.

“I am very excited about the opportunity to become part of the Boone team,” Fowler says. “Not only do I get to work with an

incredible group of health care professionals, but I get to live in a wonderful community as well.”

Prior to 2010, Fowler served as vice president of clinical and patient support services for another Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare hospital, All Saints, located in Racine, Wisconsin. Over the years, she also managed environmental and food services, guest relations, transport, physician answering services and rehabilitation services for the hospital.

“Rosi has a deep understanding of hospital operations and will be providing strategic and operational leadership at Boone Hospital Center,” says Jim Sinek, Boone Hospital Center president. “I look forward to working with her toward achieving our mission of improving the health of the

people and communities we serve.”

Fowler replaces Randy Morrow, who retired in June of this year after more than 38 years at Boone Hospital Center. Morrow had served as COO of the hospital since 2003.

Dr. Jerry Kennett Resigns As Boone Hospital Center VP And CMO To Return To Full-Time Cardiology Practice

J

erry Kennett, MD stepped down as chief medical officer and vice president of Boone Hospital Center on Jan. 1, 2015, after five years in the position, and will return full-time to the practice of cardiology.

In addition to his role in Boone Hospital Center’s administration, Dr. Kennett is a founding member and senior partner of Missouri Cardiovascular Specialists and has practiced as a cardiologist for nearly 36 years with Missouri Heart Center, Boone Hospital Center’s affiliated heart care provider.

“It has been an honor for me to serve in this capacity and be a part of the leadership team at Boone Hospital, as well as become friends and business associates with a large group of fine individuals at Boone and in the BJC system at large,” Dr. Kennett says. “I have the utmost respect and admiration for all of the employees and medical staff at Boone Hospital and for the outstanding care they deliver. As I leave this role, my intention is to return to the full-time practice of cardiology. In addition, should a seat on the BHC board of trustees become open, my intention is to file and run for that position.”

Dr. Kennett is a past president of the Missouri State Medical Association and previously served on the board of trustees of the

American College of Cardiology, where he continues to chair several committees including the Delegation to the American Medical Association. In March 2012, Dr. Kennett was awarded the designation of Master of the American College of Cardiology, joining an elite list of just over 100 cardiologists nationwide.

“Dr. Kennett has been an incredible representative for our medical staff and valued member of administration for the past five years,” says Jim Sinek, Boone Hospital Center president. “He will be missed in his role as chief medical officer, but we are grateful that Dr. Kennett will remain a part of the Boone family. I know that his voice and leadership will continue to help make Boone Hospital Center the hospital of choice in mid-Missouri for many years to come.”

BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Winter 2015

9

ready to operate

Facing Cancer Diagnosis, Man Is Eager For Prostate Surgery

By Jac o b lu e c k e

10

Winter 2015 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER

I

t’s certainly not accurate to say George Stenger wanted to have cancer. No one wants cancer.

But when George, 58, of Clarence, learned last spring that a biopsy had come back positive for prostate cancer, it was — in a strange way — the news he was hoping for.

“I was at the point where I wanted them to find cancer,” he says. “I was almost praying that it was positive so that we could get it fixed.”

Prior to the cancer discovery, George and his medical caregivers had been closely monitoring the levels of PSA protein in George’s blood. His PSA levels had been on the rise, a strong signal that he may be developing cancer.

Just a year earlier, a prostate biopsy had come back negative for cancer, news that George and his family greeted with tears of joy. But as time passed, George grew concerned that cancer could strike at any time due to his continued high PSA levels.

“i was almost praying that it was positive so that we could get it fixed.”

He spoke with his urologist, Steven Dresner, MD, about having his prostate removed as a preventative measure, even absent a cancer diagnosis. While Dr. Dresner was sympathetic, George’s insurance wouldn’t cover the procedure because it was not the care standard.

So when the cancer diagnosis finally came on May 31, 2014, it was greeted with great concern, but also relief. George had felt for some time that cancer would eventually come. Now that it was finally here, he could do something to stop it.

“I wanted to have surgery as soon as possible,” he says. “I thought, ‘Get this animal out of me and do it right now.’”

A week after his cancer diagnosis, George and his wife, Pam, met with Dr. Dresner at Urology Associates to map out a treatment plan.

George was quick to select surgical therapy at the earliest possible date — July 8. The delay was needed so that the reaction resulting from George’s biopsies could settle down and make the surgery easier.

Next, they discussed options for the surgical procedure itself. George, who describes himself as old-fashioned, expressed a strong preference for a traditional open prostate surgery, with a large incision, compared to newer minimally invasive surgery options.

“I wanted him to go in, open me up and make sure he got everything,” George says.

However, once Dr. Dresner explained the benefits of the more modern surgical method, George became more comfortable with minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery, choosing that for his procedure.

“As ‘easy’ as the recovery from prostate surgery has become, the recovery enjoyed by patients who have laparoscopic surgery is remarkably easier than those who have open surgery,” says Dr. Dresner.

The recovery time from laparoscopic prostate removal is about two to four weeks, compared to four to six weeks for a traditional Steven Dresner, MD open operation.

Being off the job for nearly six weeks would have been very difficult in George’s work as a salesman for a Columbia beverage distributor.

As the surgery date approached, George grew more confident that he would reach a good outcome. George also received encouragement from other men who had survived prostate cancer.

“They said, ‘Hey, this isn’t something you really need to sweat. It’s easier to take care of than a lot of people think,’” he says.

Two days before the surgery, George came to Boone Hospital Center to complete his pre-op steps and make sure everything was set for his procedure. Then, on the morning of July 8, George and Pam arrived at the hospital at 7 a.m. He checked in and was taken to his room.

“I felt just as confident as I could be,” he says.

Soon, it was time for him to go to sleep for the procedure. He says his anesthesia was “a very pleasant way to go out.”

Less than three hours later, George awoke in a recovery room. Nurses told him that the surgery had gone smoothly.

The next day, Dr. Dresner visited George’s hospital room and confirmed that it had been a very clean, uneventful procedure. However, it would be about a week before the pathology results would come back, showing whether the cancer had been entirely contained within the prostate or if it might have spread into George’s body.

After the meeting with Dr. Dresner the morning after surgery, George was able to leave the hospital and go home, where he spent the week resting.

A week later, George was back in Dr. Dresner’s office where he got great news: the cancer was completely contained within the prostate, and it had been entirely removed. He was cancer-free.

“That was a big relief,” he says.

Over the coming weeks, George would regain his strength and restart his usual routine.

His next good news — the news that would complete his cancer journey — came in the fall when he had his next PSA screening. The results read “0.00.”

“That was even better because I could see it in print,” he says. “Everything was cool.”

Dr. Dresner says George’s dedication to regular PSA screenings led to the early discovery of his cancer and helped greatly in his positive outcome.

“He was screened, and this was instrumental in diagnosing his cancer early,” Dr. Dresner says. “Of patients who are treated for prostate cancer, the ones discovered because of screening enjoy 50 percent more life years than those who are discovered at random. Screening leads to earlier detection which clearly leads to improved survival.”

During his cancer battle, George says he was impressed by all the information he was given about the treatment plan and how closely his actual care followed the plan.

“They just connected the dots all the way through,” he says. “Everything went just exactly as they said it would go.”

He also praised Dr. Dresner and the other clinicians who helped him defeat cancer and find comfort along the way.

“They had a warm, caring feeling,” he says. “They were as much like friends and family as they were a medical staff.”

BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Winter 2015

11

surgical support

A diverse group of skilled clinicians and professionals contribute to each surgery

By Jacob Luecke

12

Winter 2015 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER

D

uring a surgery at Boone Hospital Center, the surgeon and a core group of caregivers work together beside the patient to ensure the procedure is smooth and successful.

However, beyond the surgical suite, a much larger group of physicians, medical professionals and support staff members play a critically important role helping surgeons save lives and improve health.

Well before a patient arrives for a scheduled surgery, several physicians have collaborated with the surgeon to diagnose the patient and craft a surgical plan.

The radiologists at Boone Hospital are highly skilled at using cutting-edge technology to detect and diagnose problems hidden beneath the skin. The hospital’s advanced scanning equipment — including MRI, PET, CT, ultrasound, 3D mammography and other technologies — provide detailed images, allowing radiologists to detect problems earlier and more accurately than ever before.

Radiologists also regularly assist in emergencies, helping diagnose problems quickly in situations where a timely surgical procedure can help save a patient’s life or preserve quality of life.

“I think Boone’s radiology department provides a high level of service and is very accurate at identifying potential health problems,” says radiologist David Brummett, MD. “We provide results that can be used in an emergency surgical setting or in diagnosing problems that will require surgery on an elective basis.”

Dr. Brummett says the hospital’s leading radiology technology continues to improve.

“One of the most recent examples of technology advancement is the 3D tomosynthesis mammography unit at Boone,” he says. “This equipment improves our ability to detect breast cancer early and that can then lead to improved patient survival from the disease.

In the next couple of months, we will be getting two 128-slice CT scanners that will improve our ability to make a diagnosis and significantly lower the radiation dose to the patient.”

Along with the radiologists, Boone Hospital’s skilled team of pathologists plays an essential role in confirming diagnoses and pinpointing the causes of health problems. Working in a laboratory setting, pathologists study tissues and fluids, searching for harmful cells or diseases. For example, when a clinician performs a biopsy

of a potentially cancerous tissue, a pathologist will then study the sample and confirm whether or not the patient actually has cancer.

Pathologist Van Darkow, MD, says Boone Hospital patients benefit from having multiple high-caliber pathologists serving at the hospital each day. Having a team of pathologists who have trained at the nation’s top hospitals and medical schools is a big advantage when it comes to making accurate diagnoses.

“We freely show many cases to multiple pathologists within the group to get second and third opinions,” Dr. Darkow says.

Leading up to the procedure, another team of caregivers works directly with the patient to ensure both the patient and the surgeon have all the information they need. The Pre-Admitting Surgical Services department, often called PASS, includes five nurses and one department associate. The PASS caregivers research surgical patients’ medical histories and perform any needed tests.

“When the PASS nurse sees the patient, we are obtaining a detailed medical history and doing testing, which the surgeon or anesthesiologist has ordered,” says PASS nurse Joni Cupp. ”We also discuss with the patient any symptoms that could potentially affect their surgery like cardiac issues, flu symptoms, et cetera.

We try to obtain all necessary data, which makes our visits as thorough as possible so that cases can proceed as planned and make the day of surgery flow smoothly.”

The PASS team interacts with more than 70 percent of all surgical patients at Boone Hospital. In addition to addressing any potential medical problems, part of their mission is to make sure that patients feel comfortable and confident heading into their procedures.

“The best part about working with surgical patients is that we are their first stop in the process,” Cupp says. “We have the ability to help make them more comfortable about what to expect and hopefully to ease their worry about their surgery.”

The surgical team includes many other critical members, such as anesthesia clinicians, pre-op nurses and post-anesthesia care unit clinicians. The floor nurses on many nursing units and dozens more specialized staff members also contribute to Boone Hospital’s surgeries.

In addition, Central Services staff members ensure the surgeon has the correct tools and that each tool has been meticulously cleaned. Environmental Services staff members have an acute focus on providing clean, safe rooms for the surgery and recovery.

Additional staff members help keep the hospital’s high-tech equipment well maintained and ready for service.

With such a broad team comprised of individuals with diverse skill sets, communication and collaboration are essential.

“The ability of the various medical services to work well together is one of the true strengths of Boone Hospital,” Dr. Brummett says. “Medicine is a team sport, and I feel that the members of Boone’s staff understand that working well together produces the best patient surgical outcomes. We also enjoy working with each other, and I feel there is lot of mutual respect among the medical staff members.”

Dr. Darkow shared a similar sentiment. “The physicians and surgeons at Boone Hospital really work as a team as we take care of surgery patients,” he says. “Oftentimes, there is a great deal of communication between team members “Medicine is a team — clinicians, radiologist, surgeons, anesthesiologists sport, and I feel and pathologists — prior to, that the members during and after surgeries, of Boone’s staff especially with complicated cases. These interactions understand that between the different working well specialties help insure the together produces best care possible for our the best patient patients.”

Even with the many surgical outcomes.” different disciplines involved — Dr. David Brummett in the surgery process at Boone Hospital, there remains a strong commonality that bonds them together in service — helping improve the health of their patients.

“My favorite part of my job is being part of a caring, quality team with the primary concern of taking the best care possible of our patients,” Dr. Darkow says.

BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Winter 2015

13

erin’s advantage Surgery gives Shelbina woman an edge in her lifelong struggle with weight

By Jacob Luecke

As Erin Gill opened her eyes following her surgery on Feb. 22, 2013, she knew she was awakening to a new chance at health and a better life.

During a short procedure that morning, James Pitt, DO had opened six small incisions in Erin’s midsection, allowing him to place a laparoscopic adjustable gastric band around her stomach. The band is a state-of-the-art weight loss tool, designed to help Erin feel full after eating moderate amounts of food.

One of the first things she did upon waking up in the recovery room was to lift her gown and look at the surgery wounds. She was surprised at what she saw.

“I remember thinking that I would have all these bandages all over me and that I would be wrapped in gauze,” she says. “But when I looked at my stomach, it was just bandages. That was really surprising.”

Later that afternoon, Erin was discharged from the hospital. She and her husband, Michael, then made the long trip back home to Shelbina, made even longer as they slowly navigated through the foot of snow that had fallen the previous day.

Yet Erin knew she had an even longer road ahead to get to her true destination — losing the weight she had been battling her entire life so she could avoid a future of illness and disease.

“I was overweight as a child and it just got worse,” she says. “It’s been a lifelong problem.”

Her weight problems escalated in adulthood when she had her three

children, each pregnancy leaving her dozens of pounds heavier.

She tried various weight loss plans and made temporary progress, but it never stuck.

“I would be successful for a while and then fall off the wagon and gain it all back,” she says.

Her weight eventually topped out at 234 pounds when she was 31 years old. With a family history of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer, she knew she needed to make a life change before her health started to suffer.

She got the idea for weight loss surgery from one of her coworkers at the Shelby County R-IV School District, where she teaches middle school special education.

The coworker had participated in Boone Hospital’s weight loss surgery program and achieved stunning results.

While her health insurance would not cover the procedure, Erin and Michael decided to pay for it on their own. Erin had calculated that not doing the surgery — and continuing to use other weight loss programs — would cost about $20,000 during the rest of her life, about double the self-pay cost of Boone Hospital’s surgery program.

In addition, the likelihood that Erin’s weight would lead to costly illnesses in the future made Boone Hospital’s program seem like an even wiser investment.

But it was not a hasty decision. At Boone Hospital Center, potential weight loss surgery patients take part in several information and counseling sessions prior to surgery. The sessions help patients understand that the surgery is not an instant, easy path to a different body.

Patients are strongly encouraged to not wait for the surgery date to begin making changes to their diet and exercise.

“For the best chance at success, it’s important to start making the lifestyle changes as soon as they decide to have surgery,” says Dr. Pitt.

Done the right way, the band can help lead to sustained, dramatic weight loss.

That was the case for Erin.

For the first two weeks after surgery, Erin was on a liquid diet, including foods such as yogurt and cream soups. After that, she could begin eating soft foods such as tuna and oatmeal.

After she passed the six-week mark, Erin was back to eating any variety of

The likelihood that Erin’s weight would lead to costly illnesses in the future made Boone Hospital’s program seem like an even wiser investment. food within the low-carbohydrate, low-fat diet she had been prescribed by Boone Hospital’s weight loss surgery staff. At each meal she was instructed to eat between four to six ounces of food, with no snacks in between meals.

Before the surgery, such a restrictive diet would have left her feeling hungry all day and more easily tempted into snacking or overeating. But with her new band, she felt satisfied eating the smaller meals.

“It’s a huge help,” she says. “You’ll feel full even on that small portion. It’s a whole lot easier not to eat too much and not to snack if you’re not feeling hungry to begin with.”

As a result, Erin started shedding pounds at a rate she’d never experienced before. She lost about 10 pounds a month during the first six months after the surgery.

The next six months saw her drop an additional 25 pounds.

And, in the course of one year, Erin had turned back the clock nearly two decades.

“People would say, ‘You haven’t been this little for a long time,’“ Erin recalled. “I would say, ‘You’re right, I haven’t. I haven’t been this size since probably early middle school.’ ” However, she wasn’t on her own. In the first months after the procedure, she came

back several times to have her band adjusted.

The adjustment is a quick procedure that either tightens or loosens the band, finetuning to device so the patient feels less hungry, helping them achieve optimal weight loss. This was done by inserting a needle into a small port under Erin’s skin and either adding or extracting fluid from the band.

Erin says the adjustments were less painful than getting a shot. There’s just a small prick, then it’s over.

She also participated in Boone Hospital’s Through Thick and Thin support group for weight loss surgery patients.

Between 20 to 30 patients attend the monthly sessions where they discuss their weight loss progress, share recipes, plan exercise activities and learn from speakers who present health-related topics.

“It helps the patients to not feel alone in their journey and gives them a place to share their success and struggles,” says Lisa Schaffer, who coordinates Boone Hospital’s weight loss program. “They come away from the group with new ideas for healthy recipes, feeling encouraged that they’re not alone, and even committing to participating in exercise that they never thought possible, such as our annual WELLAWARE 5K. We believe it’s important to require every new patient to attend a support group meeting prior to surgery.”

Even today, roughly two years after the surgery, Erin says the weight loss surgery team continues to support her. She knows she can call them any time if she has a concern or needs coaching to help keep her on track.

“They are just wonderful; they really talk to you and they aren’t judgmental,” she says.

With her slimmed-down frame, Erin says she has much more energy today. The weight loss has also opened up new fun activities — such as clothes shopping.

“I used to absolutely hate to buy clothes for myself because nothing ever fit right or I could never buy the size I wanted,” she says. “Now I have to rein myself in.”

She loves getting to wear the same clothes her friends are wearing. She also enjoys bonding with her sisters-in-law on shopping trips where they have fun trying on clothes and swapping outfits they like in the dressing room.

“I could never do that kind of stuff before, but now I get to,” she says. “It’s just so much more fun.”

BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Winter 2015

15

Germs

Stop

here

O

utside Boone Hospital Center’s patient care units hang stations stocked with masks, gloves and sanitary wipes. A red sign announces “Germs Stop Here at Boone Hospital Center.” Preventing hospital-acquired infections is everyone’s responsibility, and it’s taken very seriously.

According to Michelle Crumby, RN, MSN, manager of Boone Hospital Center’s Quality, Patient Safety and Infection Prevention department, there are several ways hospital-acquired infections occur.

Patients are the first source; they come to the hospital to be treated for infectious diseases. Visitors and employees are potential carriers of community-acquired diseases. If precautions aren’t followed when treating a patient, they can transmit these diseases.

Hospital patients are more susceptible to disease, especially if already ill. Medical treatments and procedures such as surgeries, antibiotics and other medications, or inserted devices such as catheters, may increase a patient’s susceptibility.

Infection prevention is a hospital-wide effort, and everyone has a role. Crumby’s department is responsible for putting new practices and guidelines into action. It’s an ongoing job.

“There’s an overwhelming amount of research on infectious disease and ways to prevent them,” she says. “We take what’s out there and implement it.”

16

Winter 2015 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER

Hand-Washing The most effective form of infection control is surprisingly low-tech: hand-washing.

“Hand hygiene is the number one way of preventing infection in any health care setting,” Crumby says.

Every patient room has a sink with soap near the door. Patient care staff must wash their hands before and after touching a patient. Hand hygiene is also required for health care providers in outpatient settings. Crumby encourages patients to take initiative, too: “If you don’t see your doctor or nurse practitioner wash their hands before or after they touch you, it’s OK to stop and ask them to.”

If your hands are not visibly soiled, you can use an alcohol-based sanitizer. Hand sanitizer pumps are located throughout the hospital.

Equipment When a patient needs surgery or other procedures, clean and sterilized equipment is a must to prevent infection. That’s where our Central Services team comes in. In addition to ensuring surgeons have the proper tools at hand to perform a surgery, Central Services staff clean and disinfect everything. “When we set up for an orthopaedic surgery, for example,” says Jon Bequette, Central Services supervisor, “We sterilize everything, from the handle of the surgeon’s knife to the needle they use to sew you up. And everything in between.”

After items are cleaned, they are sterilized in an autoclave, a high-pressure steam chamber that exerts 30 pounds of pressurized air heated to 270° Fahrenheit. Bequette says the process “kills germs to the nth degree.”

How you can help fight germs: Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer, if hands are not visibly soiled.

Vaccinations Ebola made headlines last fall, but in the United States, influenza leads to more hospitalizations and deaths. According to the CDC, more than 9,600 people were hospitalized in 2013 for the flu.

Influenza is transmitted through droplets from others sneezing, coughing, talking or touching surfaces that have the virus on it. A person with the flu virus is contagious before feeling sick and for days after recovering.

Boone Hospital Center requires all employees, physicians and volunteers to get an annual influenza vaccination. Flu shots had been available to staff for years through employee health, but starting in 2009, they were made mandatory for everyone, except those with allergies or previous bad reactions.

Vaccines provide advance warning to the immune system. The shot contains a tiny amount of an inactivated (“killed”) or weakened virus. The immune system builds antibodies against these viruses and saves the instructions. When a person comes in contact with the virus again, the immune system recognizes the intruder, makes the antibodies and can quickly destroy it.

While a healthy adult might think developing “natural” immunity is best, not everyone has a healthy immune system. The best reason to get a flu shot is to protect others.

“If you’re healthy, you might be sick for a few days,” Crumby explains.

“But for anyone who’s immunocompromised, who has cancer, who’s receiving chemotherapy, who have conditions that can flare up or respiratory issues, and infants or toddlers, it’s not ‘just the flu.’ Influenza can be deadly.”

Crumby adds that while this year’s vaccine was not designed for a strain of influenza A seen this season, it protects you from other flu viruses and may reduce the severity of your symptoms if you do get sick.

Cough or sneeze into the crook of your arm rather than your hands.

Get an annual flu shot and keep other vaccinations up to date.

When visiting a patient, observe isolation precautions posted on the door.

Refrain from visiting if you’re ill.

Do not bring ill children to visit a patient.

Isolation Precautions Patients with infectious disease are assigned an appropriate level of isolation precautions. Depending on how the illness is transmitted, health care providers and visitors may be required to wear a mask, gloves, goggles, gown or any combination of these. These precautions protect caregivers from exposure and reduce spreading the patient’s illness to others. This is why it’s important for visitors to observe isolation precautions, even if they feel healthy or took care of the patient at home without precautions.

BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Winter 2015

17

Environment In 1921, our patient rooms had gauzy curtains, fringed rugs and lace doilies. It looks cozy, but such frills are potential breeding grounds for disease. Our new private patient rooms, which Boone Hospital implemented to prevent infection, are comfortable but also easier to clean and disinfect.

Our Environmental Services team keeps patient rooms, operating rooms and other areas of the hospital clean. It’s not a typical housekeeping job; Environmental Services staff must know which tools and cleaners are most appropriate for the area being cleaned and follow processes to avoid spreading germs and to eradicate them.

For example, the bacteria C. difficile, or C. diff, can live on surfaces for as long as six months. Sanitary wipes won’t kill C. diff. This bacteria requires bleach — and robots.

Environmental Services recently received two new assistants: Xenex robots that disinfect rooms with a UV-C light, which alters bacteria so they can’t multiply. The robots add an extra degree of protection to existing practices.

Shorter Stays Perhaps the best way to avoid hospitalacquired infection is to not be in the hospital. Increased knowledge and medical advances result in shorter hospital stays. Proper recovery is important, but each day you stay, your risk of infection rises slightly. Crumby says a patient may feel they’re being rushed, but there is evidence of better outcomes for shorter stays. Patients are also encouraged to get out of bed to use the bathroom as soon as they can, rather than rely on a catheter. “The more they get up, the faster they recover.”

18

Winter 2015 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER

Evidence “Everything we do in Infection Prevention is evidence-based,” says Crumby, meaning that practices are based on studies and data proving they reduce the rate of infections.

Hospitals are required to report hospitalacquired infections to various government and accrediting organizations.

Evidence shows our infection prevention efforts work. The Leapfrog Group, an independent watchdog group for hospitals, recently honored Boone Hospital Center with an “A” grade in its Fall 2014 Hospital Safety Score, which tells the public how well hospitals protect patients from errors, injuries and infections.

Boone Hospital Center was the only hospital in mid-Missouri to receive the top safety grade.

Todd Oliver, MD, a surgeon with Columbia Orthopaedic Group, says the score reflects the high priority Boone Hospital Center places on patient safety. “It gives me confidence as a surgeon knowing that my patients are in a ‘grade-A’ environment,” Dr. Oliver says.

Pamper your nose.

Your nose filters allergens, bacteria and airborne viruses.

Saline nasal rinses done at home can help flush germs and clear secretions in your upper airway.

Fight the

Flu

Flu season has just begun. When winter holidays bring people together to celebrate, they unfortunately also bring together people who are vulnerable to the flu virus and travelers carrying viruses from other places.

Although this year’s influenza vaccine is not as protective against the mutated Influenza A virus, the vaccine can decrease the severity of illness should you get sick, and protect you and others from the other circulating strains of the virus. In addition to being vaccinated against influenza, here are some other things you can do to make this a healthy winter season for you and your family.

Slowly exhale.

Try zinc lozenges.

If you get a scratchy throat, zinc lozenges can relieve cold symptoms faster.

Treat yourself to a massage.

Massage increases circulation and boosts immunity by nourishing cells with more oxygenenriched blood.

Drink black or green tea with lemon and honey.

Sipping hot beverages while breathing in the steam stimulates the cilia — the hair follicles in the nose — to expel germs more efficiently.

Lemon thins mucus and honey is antibacterial.

Eat enough protein. Diets that are too low in protein can deplete the immune system.

The current recommendation for protein intake is at least 60 grams per day for adult women and at least 75 grams per day for adult men, depending on age, activity level and weight loss/gain goals.

20

Winter 2015 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER

When walking past a person who is sneezing or coughing, slowly exhale until you’re past them.

This reduces your risk of inhaling contaminated air.

Sleep.

Research shows that adults need seven to eight hours of sleep to stimulate an immune response from our natural killer cells, which are the cells that attack viruses.

Sanitize your space. Cold and flu viruses can live on surfaces for up to 48 hours.

Sanitizing commonly touched items (e.g., cell phones, shopping carts, keyboards, gym equipment) can reduce the spread of germs. You can even make your own sanitation wipes.

Sanitize your personal items. Consider cleaning or replacing the personal items you use every day or often, such as cosmetics and make-up brushes, toothbrushes, hair brushes and hand towels. A quick swipe of an alcohol wipe on a tube of lipstick or cleaning make-up brushes with an antibacterial soap can support a healthy immune system.

Eat your fruits and vegetables.

Exercise. Increased physical activity in the winter months has been shown to improve immune response towards cold and flu viruses.

Daily exercise can result in reduced virus symptoms, viral load and levels of inflammatory markers when an individual gets sick.

Make Your Own Sanitation Wipes Fold or cut paper towels or napkins and put them in a wipe container. Use 1½ cups of warm water, add 1 tablespoon of coconut or olive oil, and 1 teaspoon of alcohol.

Add 3 drops of lavender oil for scent, if desired.

Mix well and pour the mixture into the wipe container to saturate the paper towels or napkins.

Makes 2 containers.

Eating five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day provides vitamins and minerals necessary for your immune system to function properly. Try to choose more vegetables than fruit.

Humidify. Dry air in winter can cause your lips, mouth and nose to become dry and cracked. Cracked skin can be an entry point for bacteria and viruses. Use a humidifier to keep moisture in the air.

Drink plenty of water. Your urge to drink water may decrease in colder months, but your body’s need for water doesn’t. Drinking enough fluids will eliminate toxins from your lymphatic system, keeping your immune system functioning properly.

BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Winter 2015

21

Recipe Corner

Savory Winter Soup Serves 4

Ingredients

1/3 cup long grain rice, uncooked 1/3 cup red lentils, uncooked 1/3 cup green lentils or split green peas, uncooked 1/3 cup barley (optional) 2 tablespoons chicken bouillon granules 2 tablespoons minced dried onion 1 tablespoon dried parsley 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning Âź teaspoon ground black pepper 2 teaspoons butter 8 to 9 cups of water (depending on desired consistency) Âź cup chopped celery (optional) 1 cup cubed, cooked chicken (optional) In a large pot, bring the water and butter to a boil. Add ingredients. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and simmer until the lentils and split peas are tender (about 30 minutes).

Enjoy!

Lentil soup is filling and nutritious, the perfect combination for a satisfying winter dish.

22

Winter 2015 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER

winter forecast

columbia

by jessica park

B

oone Hospital Center never takes a snow day.

No matter how many inches of snow fall on Columbia, there are always patients in need of health care. With that in mind, it’s important for Boone Hospital Center employees to keep an eye on winter weather forecasts and to commute to work safely in freezing, icy or wet weather.

Safety Services Manager Randy Gay wanted to bring in an expert and invited meteorologist Sharon Ray to educate Boone Hospital teammates on how winter weather is predicted and how to stay safe at home and on the road.

Ray, a meteorologist with Columbia ABC station KMIZ17 since 2003, had presented to schools before, but not to health care professionals.

“I thought it was a great idea,” she says.

“Here in Boone County, our weather changes very quickly,” Ray begins her presentation, to some chuckles. This is days after a snowfall that had been predicted earlier in the week didn’t arrive. But the no-show snow provides an opportunity to explain what’s involved in predicting winter precipitation.

Weather patterns are constantly monitored and predicted with forecast models, which are predictions made using complex mathematical equations. (Ray tells students

interested in meteorology, “Make sure you like math!”) A supercomputer generates models every six hours, with some additional, hourly rapid updates.

“We can see a storm as far as a week out,” Ray says. “But the farther out you go with your weather forecast, the more inaccurate it’s going to be. By two days out, we’re much more confident, but even within 12 hours, something can change.

That’s why we keep updating the forecast, because things do change.”

Ray explains that, with winter weather forecasts, the main concern is not the probability or amount, but the type of precipitation mid-Missouri will see, whether it’s snow, sleet, ice or freezing rain. The kind of precipitation can easily be affected by slight changes in temperatures at ground level or further up into the atmosphere.

“Normally, if it’s freezing on the ground, it’s freezing all the way up,” Ray says. “When that happens, the precipitation comes as snow. But, very often, we might get warm air moving in with storm systems coming from the west or southwest that can melt the snow. Then the precipitation can refreeze as it falls, as sleet, or come down as rain that freezes when it hits the ground.”

Moisture is another important consideration. Depending on where the storm originates, it may contain more or less BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Winter 2015

23

moisture. But if a storm shifts directions and hits a current of dry air, a predicted snowfall may dry up. The position and speed of a storm system also determine the amount and type of precipitation. A slower moving storm will produce more precipitation.

With so many factors that can change as a storm approaches, Ray says it can be hard to stay on top of the forecast, and, in the winter, meteorologists frequently update forecasts to reflect changing conditions.

Winter 2015 Outlook

In Columbia, the average winter temperature is 32 degrees.

Last year’s winter was colder than average, with an average daily temperature of 27 degrees. Ray predicts that this winter will also bring below-average cold temperatures, with the coldest days in January and February. These two months are also when Columbia sees its greatest amount of snow; the average annual snowfall in Columbia is 18 inches.

“Last year’s winter brought exactly 18 inches of snow to the area, but over the last 10 years, we’ve noticed higher amounts and more spikes in our snow totals — 2011 was our second-highest amount since 1890,” Ray says. “We had some impressive snowfalls.”

“I remember! We had pajama parties at the hospital,” a nurse in the audience says, referring to the fact that, during snowstorms, some staff members sleep overnight in the hospital building when traveling to and from home might be difficult.

There could be another Boone “pajama party” this winter; Ray says the outlook for winter 2015 predicts an aboveaverage amount of snow in the range of 24 to 28 inches.

Winter Safety and Preparedness

“The best time to prepare for a snowstorm is not when a storm is on the way, but well before then to avoid rushing to the supermarket to find empty shelves,” Ray says. It’s important to prepare for a winter storm both at home and on the road. Ray provided handouts including lists of items to keep at home and in the car for emergencies, plus important safety tips.

At home, she advises caution when using a fireplace, wood-burning stove or space heater. As a news reporter, Ray says she’s seen too many stories about house fires caused by dirty chimneys or unattended space heaters.

On the road, Ray says the most important thing to do is drive carefully: “Being mindful of others on the road is a big deal.” Caution is extremely important when driving on bridges and overpasses, which freeze first.

When traveling long distances, drivers should make a travel plan and let others know of their route and estimated time of arrival.

Outdoors, protection against extreme cold is a must. Wear layers of light, loose-fitting clothing and keep your skin covered to prevent frostbite or hypothermia.

24

Winter 2015 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER

Randy Gay, manager of

safety service and Sharon

Ray

Finally, Ray recommends one very important safety tip: check the TV, radio or go online for the latest weather information.

“Stay informed,” she says. “I can’t stress that enough.

The weather can change within 12 hours, even six hours.

Knowing the current conditions before you head out the door will help you.”

“The best time to prepare for a snowstorm is not when a storm is on the way, but well before then to avoid rushing to the supermarket to find empty shelves.” — Sharon Ray Winter Safety at Boone Hospital Center

Sharon Ray gave her winter weather preparedness presentation to two groups of employees, who listened intently and asked questions about weather forecasting.

Randy Gay was pleased by the turnout and reception.

“Hopefully, this will become a tradition,” he says. He’s invited Ray to return to Boone Hospital Center in March to talk about severe weather preparedness for thunderstorms or tornadoes.

As for winter safety at the Boone Hospital Center campus, Gay has one important tip for all employees, patients and visitors: “Use the pedestrian bridge!”

The pedestrian bridge is accessible from the second level of the William Street garage and leads to the main entrance.

The bridge provides access to the hospital with shelter from the elements and prevents one from potentially slipping on a patch of ice.

“It’s worth the walk,” Gay says.

Automobile Safety

Winter Weather Safety Guide Wi nter

Watch Winter storm conditions are possible within the next 36 to 48 hours.

Prepare now.

Weath er

Ter m s

Warning Severe weather conditions have begun or will begin within 24 hours. Act now.

advisory Winter weather conditions may be hazardous, but are not life-threatening. Use caution at home and on the road.

h o m e s u p p ly k i t

v e h i c l e s u p p ly k i t

o Water: At least a three-day supply of one gallon per person per day o Food: At least a three-day supply of nonperishable food that doesn’t require cooking o Flashlight with extra batteries o Battery-powered NOAA weather radio o Extra medication and baby care items o First aid supplies o Heating fuel o Emergency heat source (use caution and never leave unattended) o Fire extinguisher o Snow shovel o Sand, rock salt or kitty litter

o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

l Winterize your car. Checking the antifreeze, oil and other fluid levels and make sure your tires, battery, defroster, lights, brakes and exhaust system are in good condition. l Keep your gas tank full. l Pack a winter storm kit. l Check weather and road conditions before traveling.

Mobile phone charger or batteries Blankets or sleeping bags Flashlight with extra batteries First aid kit High-calorie, nonperishable food Extra clothing Windshield scraper and brush Tool kit, knife, shovel and tow rope Battery jumper cables Compass and road maps Container for water Tissues and paper towels Waterproof matches A small empty can to melt snow for drinking water A large, empty can for use as emergency toilet Sack of sand or kitty litter

l Have a travel plan and let others know your route and estimated arrival time. l Drive defensively and carefully. If you don’t have antilock brakes, pump your brakes when stopping, instead of holding down on the pedal. l Use extreme caution on bridges and overpasses: these parts of the road are colder and ice over first.

If you are stranded on the road ...

Remain calm and stay with your vehicle. It’s easy to get disoriented during a snowstorm.

Run your engine and heater no more than 10 minutes per hour. Leave a window cracked open for ventilation.

Keep your exhaust pipe free of snow to prevent toxic exhaust from entering your vehicle.

Light a flare, turn on a flashlight and/or tie something to your antenna to let others know you’re stranded.

BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Winter 2015

25

South Campus Update

P

rogress continues on Boone Hospital Center’s new medical campus in south Columbia. The campus, located at the corner of Nifong and Forum Boulevards, will feature an 80,000 square-foot building, which will be home to internal and family medicine doctors’ offices, radiology, mammography, lab, physical and occupational therapy, a convenient care clinic, a pharmacy and other outpatient services.

The campus will also have a walking trail and a reflecting pool with park benches, which will be a memorial to Columbia police officer Molly Bowden, who was killed in the line of duty in 2005.

26

Winter 2015 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER

Our new medical campus plans to serve the south Columbia area starting in the fall of this year. As this part of the city continues to grow, Boone Hospital Center looks forward to providing the community with more of our quality clinical care and excellent patient care.

Boone Hospital Center president Jim Sinek says, “We want to give our patients efficient, easy access to high quality care, just the same as if they came to our main campus. Boone Hospital Center is in a growth mode. It’s going to be an exciting year for us.”

BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER Winter 2015

27

getting to know a BHC Doctor

› nicole nelson, MD [ general surgery ] Why did you get into the health care field?

I wanted to do something that was continually challenging, where you could see different things every day and help people. As an undergraduate, I explored different options and took some premed classes and really enjoyed what I’d learned. My aunt was a surgical nurse, and she told me I would enjoy being in the operating room. I went to work with her a couple of times and decided that this field was for me.

What interested you in your particular specialty?

Before I decided to specialize in general surgery, throughout medical school, I looked into other areas, but none interested me like surgery did. There is so much variety in general surgery, and you still do a lot of medical management.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?

I grew up in Parkersburg, a small town in northeast Iowa and attended Iowa State University as an undergraduate, then went to Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for medical school. My residency was at the University of MissouriColumbia. My husband, David, and I have lived here for five years and we both really like it. David is a helicopter pilot for the Army National Guard. We have a 7-month-old son, Orion.

Taking care of patients. Seeing them do and feel better. Talking with their families.

What is the most challenging aspect of your job?

It’s always a learning experience. There are new things to learn and new things that you haven’t seen before. There’s always a challenge.

What do you see changing in health care over the next 5-10 years?

I see more of a focus on preventative health, especially with the government changes, and more people trying to live a healthier lifestyle.

28

Winter 2015 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER

What advice would you give to someone looking to become a doctor?

It’s a long road, but it’s worth it. You have to keep reminding yourself of that throughout the process. Eventually you will get there and take care of your own patients. Just stick with it!

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

I enjoy running. My husband and I also do Crossfit - I did a little more Crossfit before my son was born,

including during my pregnancy. I think it helped all the way through, with some modifications. I did Crossfit all the way to up to Orion’s due date, and it went well.

What advice would you give to someone who is going to be a patient in a hospital for a period of time?

Remember that everybody here is working to get you better. We’re all going to do our part to pitch in and work together to have you in your best state of health. And be patient with us.

getting to know a BHC nurse

What interested you in your particular specialty?

Working in the OR isn’t for everyone, but it’s the only place I could really see myself as a nurse. I love that I’m one of the last people to talk to a patient before they undergo surgery. Our operating room at Boone is such a team atmosphere, from the physicians to the orderlies. We are all one huge family, and they make my job better and more interesting.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?

Working in the operating room, I am able to reassure patients in a vulnerable state that we’re going to take care of them. I get to see a team of people work together to make people better. Patients come to us in bad shape sometimes, and I enjoy that I get to be part of the team that can help them enjoy a better state of living.

What is the most challenging aspect of your job?

Due to the fact that I have worked at Boone for a while, I have had many different jobs and worn different hats. It can be difficult as a new nurse to transition into a new role. I love being able to do different things, but the transition can be challenging, and you can wear yourself out.

What has changed in your field since you started practicing?

› melissa miller, rn I’m a Boone baby and grew up in Columbia.

I went to Shepard, Gentry, Jefferson Junior High and Rock Bridge High School. I have two siblings, Jacqueline and Justin Sutton. My parents, Kathy and Clifford, and my grandparents, Betty and Albert, also live in Columbia. I married my husband, John Miller, on June 7, just last year.

Why did you get into the health care field?

I started working at Boone Hospital Center because my mother worked here, and I needed a good job while in high school. Boone is my first employer. Eleven years later, I still work here. I started working in the cafeteria in June 2003, worked on the General Surgery floor, and have been in the operating room for about the last seven years.

I originally didn’t think I wanted to be a nurse. But after being around the nurses at Boone, it became the only career path I could see in my future. There are many things I love about being a nurse, but I most enjoy my co-workers and taking care of people.

When I first started on the unit, we were using an ordering system that required memorizing thousands of codes. To this day, I still have those codes memorized. We’d stamp all the sheets in a patient’s chart every day and send copies of the orders down to the pharmacy. I haven’t been here nearly as long as other nurses, but everything, from the facilities to the way we practice in our departments, has become much more efficient.

What do you see changing in the next five to 10 years?

I’m excited to see what happens! If you’d told me 10 years ago that Boone Hospital would grow in the way it has, I wouldn’t have believed it. I hope we continue to grow as an organization. And I think we’ll see more patients go home on the day of surgery.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

My husband, John, and I are big sports fans. We enjoy going to Mizzou football and Cardinals baseball games. I also love to travel with friends and family, host parties and just be around my friends and family.

What advice would you give to someone looking to become a nurse?

First, I would tell them to come work for Boone Hospital Center so they can get great experience and assistance paying for nursing school, as I did. Second, I would tell them to explore multiple areas where nurses and doctors work — what I do in the operating room isn’t for all nurses. Finally, I would say being a nurse is one of the most rewarding jobs. Each day is different and presents a great learning experience.

Learn more at boone.org/foundation

2014 Year In Review Last year was an exciting and eventful year for Boone Hospital Foundation, thanks to you. Your support helped us enhance and expand Boone Hospital services, both for inpatients and through our outreach programs.

Below are some highlights from 2014.

We kicked off the year with the opening of the Stewart Cancer Center. The Foundation funded free lung cancer screenings for almost 500 high-risk community members. Early detection saves lives and affords more treatment options.

During the next three months, the Foundation provided support for the community Heart, Diabetes and Cancer Fairs. The Foundation purchases the supplies for these vital screenings so they may be offered free to community members. In 2014, more than 1,700 community members were screened.

Spring and summer continued to be filled with healthy and educational events: The Boone Hospital Stroke Conference was held on May 1. Thanks to a generous donation, the Foundation brought in Mark McEwen, a national speaker and former CBS This Morning weathercaster, to speak about his experience and recovery from a stroke.

Our annual golf tournament was held later in May, with 45 teams participating in a double shotgun start, and raising nearly $64,000.

Proceeds from this event are used to send caregivers to advanced and critical care conferences.

The Foundation continues to support the Kids on Track program, which encourages children to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle over the summer. This year we were excited that Kids on Track was expanded to a second event in Centralia.

On June 1, the Foundation helped host the Stewart Cancer Center Day at the Ballpark, where Norm Stewart threw out the first pitch as the St. Louis Cardinals took on the San Francisco Giants.

The Foundation’s third annual Community Campaign was held in July. Thanks to an anonymous donor matching each gift, the Community Campaign raised more than $34,000.

By fall, the Foundation was gearing up for its 12th Annual Gala.

Norm and Virginia Stewart were the honorees of this event, which raised $115,000 for the prevention, detection and treatment of cancer.

Two Respecting Choices classes were offered this fall, training community members on end-of-life planning and conversations.

These classes were funded by the Foundation.

We ended this year with a ribbon cutting for the relocation of the Foundation office just off of the main lobby area. We invite you to stop by for a visit!

As we start a new year, we are excited to share some the events we have planned. We invite you to mark your calendars and join us in improving the health of our community.

30

Winter 2015 BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER

B O O N E H O S P I TA L F O U N D AT I O N

Calendar of Events

February TBD Linen Sale May

5, 6, 7

Jewelry Sale

May 11

Golf Tournament July – August All Month

Community Campaign

September

Book Sale

9, 10, 11

October TBD

Jewelry Sale

November

Gala

TBD

Boone Hospital Center 1600 East Broadway Columbia, Mo 65201 573-815-8000

NONPROFIT U.S. Postage

PAID

Columbia, MO Permit 286