Pulse 2022

shaarezedek.org.uk September 2022

Contents

Welcome

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At this time of year, we are all reflecting on our actions, thoughts and deeds, and considering how to better them in the year ahead.

Shaare Zedek doctors save nun from paralysis

04 Health Ministry survey ranks Shaare Zedek as Top Jerusalem Hospital in Patient Satisfaction

06 The voyage from a life of challenge in Tunisia to national service at Shaare Zedek

07 Innovative IVF workshops

08 Diagnostic Breast imaging Centre

10 A sisterhood of caring

12 Every day at Shaare Zedek brings new challenges and achievements

Part of this reflection must include what we have all done to better the world around us.

We prepare Pulse each Rosh Hashanah with this in mind. We select stories from the hospital to share with you where we know your support has made an impact.

From the nun saved from paralysis with equipment you donated, to the psychotherapy provided to mothers undergoing fertility treatment.

Every one of the over 100 hospital departments has a British footprint, thanks to you.

We hope you enjoy reading about how your support is continuing to provide hope for us, hope for Israel and hope for the world this year.

Wishing you a Shana Tova Umetukah V’Gmar Chatima Tova.

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Shaare Zedek doctors save nun from paralysis Over the last two years, Silkovitzka Milgozheta, a nun living in East Jerusalem, has suffered with uncontrollable shaking in her right hand.

Over time the shaking worsened, impacting her everyday life, preventing her from carrying out daily activities in the nunnery as well as basic personal needs like dressing herself.

She searched all over Israel for a doctor who could help her and thankfully arrived at Shaare Zedek Medical Centre, in the safe hands of Dr Adel Misk, a Senior Neurologist at the hospital.

Dr. Misk shared that when Silkovitzka arrived at Shaare Zedek she presented with a very serious tremor which suggested that she was suffering from one of two major medical problems that would require immediate intervention: advanced Parkinson’s Disease, or a life-threatening tumour.

Dr. Misk ordered a series of tests to determine the source of the tremor including neurological scans.

An MRI revealed a 4-centimetre tumour located in the area of the brain that controls mobility, thus threatening paralysis in the extremities.

Silkovitzka was referred for surgery in the hospital’s Department of Neurosurgery where she met with Dr. Nevo Margalit, Director of Neurosurgery at Shaare Zedek. She explained how the condition had taken over her life and how for more than a year she had been unable to write or perform many other basic functions.

paralysis. We saw that her functioning was quickly deteriorating and that in just a period of days her hand had become almost completely paralyzed.”

The challenges didn’t end there as Dr. Marlagit recalls: “On the day scheduled for the surgery, the patient tested positive for Corona. Our general protocol is that we don’t perform surgeries on patients until they have fully recovered from Covid-19 out of concern over infection. However, in this case the tumour represented an even greater danger and I insisted that we proceed with the surgery immediately. After consulting with multiple departments and doctors, we went ahead with the operation. Within just weeks of the surgery and ongoing rehabilitation therapies, the full functioning of her hand returned. We are thankful that we made the right decision to go ahead despite the Corona diagnosis and are very pleased with the positive result.”

UK donors have had a direct impact on this story having donated £242,125 to go towards equipment and facilities for our Neurology and Neurosurgery departments. Following the successful treatment of Silkovitzka, Shaare Zedek received a letter of gratitude from the Catholic Leadership in Rome thanking the teams in the departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery. It is quite remarkable that Silkovitzka has been able to return to the nunnery and is fully active again.

Dr. Margalit shared, “The patient came to us with a serious meningioma-like tumour. In general, these growths develop slowly and surgical intervention is not immediately required. However, in her case, the placement of the tumour presented a major challenge as it was sitting right on the motor cortex. These types of surgeries come with a serious risk that the patient will be left with significant weakening in their limbs or even shaarezedek.org.uk

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Health Ministry Survey ranks Shaare Zedek as Top Jerusalem Hospital in Patient Satisfaction Earlier in the year, Shaare Zedek Medical Centre was ranked as the ‘Top Jerusalem Hospital’ with regard to patient satisfaction.

Following an intensive two years where Shaare Zedek was the most active Jerusalem hospital in treating cases of Coronavirus, the hospital has once again earned the trust of the people of the city with 91 percent of the people surveyed responding that they feel in good hands at Shaare Zedek.

The survey, conducted by the Israeli Ministry of Health, questioned patients on a variety of factors relating to their treatment including consistency of care, accessibility to information and updates, communication skills of the staff, and overall satisfaction.

In response to questions about the efficacy of the care they received, 89 percent of patients responded positively, an increase of 9 percent since the survey was first conducted in 2014.

The results position Shaare Zedek among the national leaders in patient satisfaction.

In particular, patients in the Internal Medicine departments reported an 83 percent level of satisfaction, and in the surgery departments 86 percent, both well above the national averages.

The survey found that the most important factors for patients surrounded the availability of staff to communicate with patients and to provide ongoing information, to respond when patients were in pain and discomfort, and the high level of attention given to patient safety.

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The results reflect the hospital’s ongoing investment in upgrading the overall patient experience through increased staffing and the establishment of a patient advocacy service in all medical departments.

The hospital is currently developing a digital platform that will further enhance this area of care and reduce bureaucracy for patient reporting and monitoring. Every morning, the hospital administration performs a review of patient activity with a focus on identifying areas where care can be improved.

Shaare Zedek Director General, Professor. Ofer Merin, responded to the survey results saying:

“In 2021 we dealt with significant operational challenges emanating from the pandemic, combined with an escalation in security-related tensions.

Despite those challenges, we were proud to be able to continue to see this increase in patient satisfaction which we know reflects our unprecedented investment in the relevant areas of care and in placing increased attention on the overall patient experience. We pledge to continue to enhance this central aspect of care and work to further enhance Shaare Zedek’s reputation for advanced and compassionate medicine for the people of Jerusalem.”

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The voyage from a life of challenge in Tunisia to national service at Shaare Zedek Five years ago, Eraya Hadad (19) made Aliyah from Tunisia.

Her early years were spent within a tiny Jewish community and much of her education was spent as the only Jew alongside the Muslim students in her class.

Despite the enormous challenges, she always fought to preserve her Jewish identity avoiding intensive study of the Koran and studying her Jewish history and identity on her own.

School was a challenging environment, and she was regularly subjected to open antisemitism directed against her and her family, but she says that she always stood up for herself and she was never physically attacked.

Eraya came to Israel with a unique dream, to one day contribute to the state of Israel by working in a hospital in the nation’s capital. Today this dream has come true as she is now a National Service volunteer at Shaare Zedek.

“My grandparents survived the Holocaust as Tunisian Jews and today I feel like I’m closing a circle as now I’m helping to care for other survivors,” Eraya says, adding that she hoped her story will help other members of the Tunisian community to follow in her footsteps to Israel.

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Innovative IVF workshops Shaare Zedek’s Laulicht Fertility Centre recently launched an innovative new series of workshops in its IVF Unit where women undergoing fertility treatments are invited to participate in a unique and highly creative form of Psychotherapy.

The program, called Creative A.R.T., was introduced at Shaare Zedek by Gilat Sacks, a senior embryologist in the IVF Unit who explains, “as an embryologist, this concept was inspired by my desire to share the creative process that exists in fertility treatments.” The project, made possible through a collaboration between Shaare Zedek and the Betzalel Academy of Art and supported

by The Jerusalem Foundation, “helps us give these women a creative outlet and allow us to be together in the experiences that they are going through,” she adds.

The patients are accompanied by a trained art therapist who introduces them to different products and materials (including products used in the IVF lab), and encourages them to transform those items into creative expressions.

“Unlike the IVF process where the women are required to experience something physical and not of their own choosing, here the women choose to join these workshops and find a way to connect between their bodies and souls. The whole experience provides an outlet for them to share and experiment in new ways that allows them to find their own forms of expression,” explains Miriam Kupietzky MA, a licensed art therapist who directs the workshops.

Proffesor Ido Ben Ami, Director of the Laulicht Fertility Centre adds, “We can’t disconnect the fertility process from emotional and spiritual aspects of the woman and couples, and we see that bringing all of these aspects together is integral for the overall success of fertility. In order to provide truly comprehensive care, our approach is to address not only the technological and medical aspects but also to accompany the women through these types of programs that address their emotional and creative needs.”

In the last 4 years UK donors have given £258,125 towards equipment, facilities and research, for the IVF department at Shaare Zedek Medical Centre.

It is incredibly heart-warming to know that these funds are helping families in so many different ways.

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Diagnostic Breast Imaging Centre Since opening nearly a decade ago, the Diagnostic Breast Imaging Centre at Shaare Zedek Medical Centre has become one of the hospital’s most renowned departments, attracting patients from all over Israel and firmly establishing the Medical Centre as the region’s most active hospital for the diagnosis, treatment and research of breast cancer. UK donors have provided £324,825 worth of equipment to this department which provides one of the hospital’s fastest growing diagnostic services. In 2021, approximately 11,700 scans were performed using mammography and ultrasound, with an additional 1,400 performed using MRI. The Diagnostic Breast Imaging Centre is based on the vision of bringing together leading physicians and technicians to provide a truly comprehensive level of care, from the point of initial diagnosis to treatment, surgery and recovery. At the same time, we are blessed with the ability to employ technological advancements that allow for tumour detection and monitoring in ways that would have been impossible only years ago.

The concept behind the Centre and its services is to provide a “one stop shop” for all aspects of care. Breast Cancer is a disease that affects many women, and some men, and its diagnosis can be particularly life-altering. The goal is to reduce the emotional and practical trauma associated with these events and to allow all patients to know that every aspect of their care is being catered for.

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This recent case of one young woman illustrates how the Shaare Zedek approach can be instrumental in creating an ultimately positive experience under clearly difficult conditions, (All identifying details have been changed to protect patient confidentiality.)

Fatima was only 42 when she noticed a lump in her left breast. Her local health clinic in East Jerusalem referred her to Shaare Zedek’s Diagnostic Breast Imaging Centre, where she made an appointment with Dr. Shalom Strano, Head of its Diagnostic Services. Fatima underwent a mammogram.

While a mammogram is an uncomfortable, sometimes even painful procedure, our technicians are careful to make sure patients are put at ease and know what to expect at every stage of the process.

Upon conclusion of the mammogram, Fatima was referred back to the waiting room as her images were being reviewed by our technicians and Dr. Strano.

The waiting room is a quiet, private area, set away from most other hospital activities, with the recognition that people waiting here may well be nervous and tense. After a few minutes, Fatima was called into Dr. Strano’s office.

Dr. Strano is a clinician with decades of experience, whose calm yet confident demeaner has been described by many patients as critical for responding to their natural trepidation and fear.

He confirmed that while a likely malignant mass had been discovered, he felt entirely confident that this was a case of early detection, and proper intervention would allow Fatma to complete her care process with the chance for a long and active life in remission. He then performed a fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy, to further confirm his assessment.

Over the following weeks, Fatima returned to Shaare Zedek for additional testing to discuss

her course of treatment. The close coordination between the Diagnostic Breast Imaging Centre and the hospital’s treatment branches allowed for seamless information sharing and preparation for surgery.

Surgeons were able to successfully remove the mass on their first attempt, and after a limited course of chemotherapy, Fatima received the good news that she was in full remission.

The hospital’s cutting-edge equipment and experienced staff make it possible to provide hundreds of patients each year with the diagnoses they need to address cancer in the best way possible.

Of course, equally important are the many times when the hospital staff can allay fears by confirming the absence of cancer.

By expanding its diagnostic breast screening services and embracing the latest available technology, Shaare Zedek will continue to make strides in providing the best possible care for the people of Jerusalem and Israel.

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A sisterhood of caring There are many great human resources at Shaare Zedek Medical Centre, but one of the most treasured is the nursing staff without whom the daily functioning of the hospital would be near on impossible.

The bonds that exist within our nursing community are so strong and the following story will show just how they go above and beyond, both for the patients and for each other.

Naama Glick, a nurse in our Department of Surgery, lost her son two years ago in a tragic car accident. The Head nurse of the Department, Annika Schwarz, decided, with the hopes of providing their beloved colleague with some much-needed support, she would set up a special program of giving in Naama’s son’s memory that would also help hundreds of Shaare Zedek patients each week.

“As the senior nurse in the department, I felt it was important to acknowledge this horrific tragedy in a meaningful way that would impact on both Naama and the rest of our team. I recalled how one of our nurses had a daughter who had chosen to commemorate a recent birthday by distributing gifts to children in the Paediatric ward. Out of that idea was born a project whereby children of our staff members would similarly donate gifts to our departments’ patients in a way that would give meaning for the kids on their birthdays and also help raise the spirits of our patients.”

Anika explains that once the idea was up and running, they set up a “Gmach”, (a resource of products available for free use), personal items that could be used by patients who were hospitalized. Soon the Gmach was filling up with items like shampoos, toothpaste and toothbrushes, slippers and other things that people often need but that are not easily accessible in the hospital.

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A sign was placed within the department which read;

Dear Patients, Were you hospitalized with no time to prepare?

Did you get here and realise something is missing?

We’re happy to be here to help and give you what you might need!

Just ask one of our nurses and let us know how we can help.

The Gmach of Personal Items for Patient Use has been dedicated through the generosity of our staff members and their children in memory of Shmuel Aharon Glick z”l.

Naama was recently blessed to give birth to a new baby and in the coming days will be returning to the place that she says gave her so much inspiration and support after her family’s tragedy.

“I really can’t describe how much this idea has meant to us. When Annika told me about the program, and then when I saw the special sign memorializing Shmuel Aharon z”l, I started to cry and realized that the spirit of giving to others that defined his life lives on with the caring that goes on every day here in the department,” she says. “I am so grateful to the staff for this remarkable expression of kindness and for this initiative which has given me strength to go on, which is now coming full circle with the blessed birth of our daughter Avishag.”

The Shaare Zedek nursing team are such a special group of people and with thanks to your support we were able to offer them little bundles of care throughout the pandemic. Through the purchase of our goody bags we were able to provide care packages to these nurses and other amazing staff who were self-isolating.

Thank you!

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Every day at Shaare Zedek brings new challenges and achievements From responding to terror attacks to leading research innovations, we pride ourselves on our ability to adapt to any situation and to provide excellent care when it is needed the most.

Over the past few years, Shaare Zedek, alongside six other public Israeli hospitals, has been actively working to secure Government funding.

For decades Shaare Zedek and other hospitals received no government funding.

Since the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic, when the need for funding became critical, negotiations intensified. Professor Merin led the negotiations with the Government, supported by the Director Generals of the six other public hospitals. After an exhausting campaign, we are pleased to report that the Government has agreed to provide some funding this year, with consideration for future funding to be discussed.

We know you will all be pleased to hear this news.

Despite this welcome contribution, we must take into consideration the fact that the Government funding will only cover 7% of our current operating costs, and only goes a small way to compensating the hospital for the massive losses incurred due to Government imposed changes in our operations during the lockdowns. It is the

support of our donors in Israel and around the world that have kept us at forefront of medicine for the past 120 years, and your help is needed now more than ever.

We need you to ensure we can continue our world class research. We need you to equip our medical teams to give the best care available.

We need you to ensure that no matter what challenges Jerusalem faces, everyone walking through Shaare Zedek’s doors knows they have a place of safe refuge, and that they will receive the best of compassionate care.

Shaare Zedek needs is donors to be our partners to provide the standard of care and innovation for which the hospital is known. For 120 years you have been part of our success story, giving hope to us, hope to Israel and hope to the world.

The government funding will be a welcome contribution to our finances, but it is your donations that will ensure Shaare Zedek can continue for the next 120 years!

Charity Number: 1143272

Thank you for giving what you can.

You can donate to Shaare Zedek UK by phone, online, or direct to our bank: HSBC Sort Code 40-03-11 Account no. 31622927

Shaare Zedek UK 4 Theobald Court, Theobald Street, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire WD6 4RN 020 8201 8933 | shaarezedek.org.uk