ALLFORGOOD FALL/WINTER 2018
Impacting the Community with the
FRONT DOOR INITIATIVE Specialized Treatment for
CHILDHOOD TRAUMA A Multidisciplinary Approach to Treating Traumatic
BRAIN INJURIES
From the Office of Development Allison P. Quick Chief Philanthropy Officer
Your generosity gives us the ability to touch and transform the lives of so many people in our community.
IN THIS ISSUE 02 F ront Door Initiative 04 Specialized Treatment 05 Lifeflight Anniversary 06 Research Partnership 07 D onor Spotlight 09 Ways To Give 10 Event Highlights
In the digital age of our society and, especially, as the holiday season approaches, we at Allegheny Health Network understand that you are being contacted by multiple organizations with equally important missions. For this reason, we start by saying, thank you. You make Allegheny Health Network’s mission possible. Your generosity gives us the ability to touch and transform the lives of so many people in our community. I am honored to highlight some of Allegheny Health Network’s newest initiatives… • In August of this year, we officially broke ground on a new full-service hospital in Pine Township that will bring a wide spectrum of advanced, patient-centered healthcare services to the residents of Pittsburgh’s northern suburbs. Expected to open in 2021, Allegheny Health Network Wexford Hospital will offer comprehensive women and infant care, including labor and delivery services; advanced cardiac, neurosurgical, orthopaedic, and cancer care; a 24-room Emergency Department and short-stay observation unit featuring pediatric rooms; an adult intensive care unit (ICU); operating rooms that provide minimally invasive robotic surgical capabilities; 160 allprivate inpatient rooms; and a host of other patient- and family-friendly clinical programs, amenities, and services. • Jefferson Hospital, along with Allegheny Health Network and the Jefferson Regional Foundation, has recently announced the Front Door Initiative for Social Emergency Medicine. This program will allow a much-needed assessment of community needs to evaluate and address the social determinants of health among patients who frequent the Emergency Department. There are countless examples of ways in which philanthropic gifts have led to advancements in clinical care and expanded services for the benefit of our patients. It’s my pleasure to welcome you to read the Fall/Winter edition of All For Good so you can see your support at work helping real people face real challenges. From all of us at Allegheny Health Network, thank you. We could not do this without you.
Allison P. Quick Allison P. Quick Chief Philanthropy Officer
An Approach to
BETTER HEALTH At Allegheny Health Network, we didn’t take an oath to only care for some people – we’re here to help all people in our communities. While our medical staff and trained healthcare professionals strive to provide the absolute best care every day, we recognize as a health system that it frankly is not enough. Conditions in the places where people live, learn, work and play affect a wide range of health risks and outcomes. These conditions are referred to as social determinants of health (SDOH), such as mental health, addiction, homelessness, domestic violence, food insecurity, limited access to transportation or language interpretation, caregiving challenges, and a host of other issues. And the only way to address social determinants of health is to create and implement programs that promote good health for everyone in our communities. “Our experience tells us that frequent emergency department visits often have as much to do with challenges faced in a patient’s social environment as they do with underlying medical issues,” said Cynthia Hundorfean, Allegheny Health Network President and CEO. Health starts in our homes, schools, workplaces, neighborhoods and communities. That’s why, this fall, the
Jefferson Regional Foundation awarded the single-largest grant in its history to Allegheny Health Network’s Jefferson Hospital. The $1 million, 4-year grant will be used to establish the “Front Door Initiative for Social Emergency Medicine” at Jefferson Hospital – a comprehensive effort to better understand and address the social determinants of health among patients who visit the hospital’s emergency department. Louise Urban, the President and CEO of Jefferson Hospital, said the initiative’s name is appropriate given the important role emergency departments play at community hospitals. “The emergency department often serves as the front door to the hospital; it is the initial experience many patients may have with us,” Urban said. “This program will help us to more clearly see the whole picture so that we can direct patients to the resources that may help improve their overall health while preventing unexpected emergency care.” At Allegheny Health Network, we believe in a holistic approach to improving the health of our patients and communities. This incredibly generous grant from the Jefferson Regional Foundation will better enable us to fulfill that promise for the residents of Jefferson Hills and the surrounding area. Continued on next page
03 | FRONT DOOR INITIATIVE
Additional Programs Meds to Beds Pilot Program Medication is delivered to patients two weeks after discharge, helping alleviate extra stress during recovery and reduces readmission
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Community Care Network Built to aid in providing better care for high-risk patients who have been recently diagnosed by training local college students as home-health coaches
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Behavioral Health Community Outreach to increase knowledge and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health
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School Screening Program Helps extend the reach of Jefferson Hospital nurses to better identify children with health issues, vision and hearing challenges
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For more information, visit www.FrontDoorInitiativeAHN.com
Jefferson’s emergency department sees more than 50,000 patients a year,” said Mary Phan-Gruber, Executive Director, Jefferson Regional Foundation. “The Front Door Initiative will help give the emergency department staff the tools they need to better understand why many of those patients are there. And, it will help the hospital work with the Foundation to strengthen partnerships with those key community resources that can help to coordinate the proper support outside of the hospital. ” In particular, Jefferson Hospital will apply the grant toward: extensive assessment of community needs related to its emergency services; identification of model practices for social emergency medicine; working with community partners on the development of a Front Door vision and plan; implementation of a strong data system; educational interventions for staff; development of an integrated support network and ensuring patients are properly connected to it. The launch of the program comes as Jefferson Hospital is in the midst of a $21 million emergency department expansion and renovation project that will increase the number of treatment and observation beds by a third. The project is expected to be completed in 2019.
a project at Jefferson Hospital through the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank to pilot the distribution of medically tailored food boxes for food insecure patients. Allegheny Health Network and Highmark have other programs in place, including the Allegheny Health Network Healthy Food Center, which opened its doors on the campus of West Penn Hospital earlier this year. A first of its kind in the region, the Healthy Food Center acts as a “food pharmacy” where patients who lack access to food can receive nutritious food items, education on disease-specific diets, and additional services for other social challenges they might face. Additionally, late last year, Highmark was among a handful of local organizations that matched a $250,000 award from the BUILD Health Challenge, a national program that leverages multiple community partnerships in order to improve public health. Allegheny General Hospital, Highmark, and other groups are working together to implement innovative solutions to the health challenges faced by residents of Pittsburgh’s Northside community.
As the healthcare landscape constantly evolves, so does Allegheny Health Network. We are changing the way we The Front Door Initiative is not the only evaluate the care for our patients to program in place at Jefferson Hospital better understand their holistic needs. supported by the Foundation aimed at At Allegheny Health Network, “Living addressing the social determinants of Proof” isn’t just a slogan – it’s our health. The Foundation is already funding mission and our promise.
What does hunger look like in southwestern Pennsylvania? According to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, a partner of the Healthy Food Center, food insecurity affects
MORE THAN 350,000 PEOPLE
-or-
1 IN 7 ADULTS
in our region. Food insecurity refers to a lack of available financial resources for nutritionally-adequate food such as fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains.
SPECIALIZED TREATMENT | 04
25 Years of Specialized Treatment
Giving Children Affected by Trauma the Attention and Treatment They Need When Dr. Anthony Mannarino first moved to Pittsburgh 30 years ago, he was doing evaluations for the juvenile court system. Often times, he came into contact with youth that had suffered some form of abuse in their family systems. These children were not easily identified, and even if they were, the treatments to help them simply did not exist. It was clear to Dr. Mannarino that the situations of trauma he was seeing were not anomalies. In fact, according to the American Psychology Association, more than two thirds of children report experiencing a traumatic event by age 16.
According to Dr. Mannarino, the sooner patients can receive treatment, Out of a desire to better understand the the better. While many children are difficulties faced by traumatized children very resilient and able to bounce back and adolescents, Dr. Mannarino, along from trauma without developing any with Dr. Judith Cohen and Dr. Esther psychological disorder, there are significant Deblinger, set out to expand traditional minorities of youth that do develop serious cognitive behavioral methods by psychiatric or psychological problems after incorporating family therapy and using a trauma-sensitive approach in the therapy’s trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression. application. This led to the development of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral Not only is that same population of theory (TF-CBT). children at risk for short-term problems, but they also face a higher risk of Flash forward to 2018. For 25 years, developing serious health problems Allegheny Health Network’s Center later in adolescence or adulthood, such for Traumatic Stress in Children and Adolescents has served as both a clinical as cancer and heart disease. Without appropriate treatment, children are research center to develop effective more likely to develop high-risk lifestyle treatments for children and families, behaviors, such as smoking and drug and a clinical program to actually treat families exposed to trauma. “It’s the only one of its kind here,” Dr. Mannarino said. “There is no where else in the region where this specific population exposed to trauma is assessed.”
or alcohol abuse. In fact, some research suggests that with six or more adverse childhood experiences or traumas, a person’s lifetime can actually be shortened by up to 20 years. But for patients in our region, there is help. “If I had one message to share with a parent whose child has experienced a trauma, it would be one of immense hope,” Dr. Mannarino said. “Treatment for your child is out there and it is effective. There is no reason to believe your child cannot recover.” For more information on the Allegheny Health Network’s Center for Traumatic Stress in Children and Adolescents, visit www.ChildhoodTraumaAHN.com. To donate, visit www.SupportAHN.org.
There is no reason to believe your child cannot recover.
05 | LIFEFLIGHT ANNIVERSARY
LifeFlight - Celebrating 40 Years of Miracles Natiana Caldwell, 24, was riding in the backseat of a SUV when the driver crashed into a telephone pole in Harrison Township, Allegheny County. Natiana was the most seriously injured, thrown partially out the window, bleeding and unconscious. Teams from Citizens Hose Ambulance Service, Eureka Community Ambulance Service, and Citizens Hose Fire/Rescue arrived quickly. Recognizing that her injuries were critical, the EMS crews immediately requested LifeFlight. They extricated her from the vehicle while immobilizing her spine, started IVs, and transported her to the helipad at Allegheny Valley Hospital. Before taking off, the crew from LifeFlight and City Hose worked together to sedate her and secure her airway for the nine-minute flight to Allegheny General Hospital. At Allegheny General Hospital, she received a ventriculostomy to help lower the intracranial pressure from brain swelling caused by her traumatic brain injury. In addition, she had fractures to her vertebrae, ribs, face and neck. After two weeks in the hospital, Natiana was moved
to a skilled nursing facility, Consulate Health Care of Cheswick, where she received compassionate care and therapy as she learned to walk and talk again. As a milestone in her recovery, Natiana was able to celebrate her daughter’s third birthday, decorating her room with balloons. “She still has a lot of rehabilitation to go, not 100 percent yet, but every day is progress,” said her father, Cory Caldwell. “The important thing is that she is alive and getting better.” When tragedy strikes, LifeFlight swoops in. We at Allegheny Health Network are
proud to celebrate 40 years of true miracles – people in our communities returning to the joys of everyday life. Allegheny Health Network has recorded tens of thousands of compelling stories about patients whose lives have been saved by LifeFlight. These stories illustrate why we exist — to swiftly respond with the highest levels of care when patients need us most. Have you or a loved one been impacted by LifeFlight? Share your story with us by visiting www.facebook.com/LifeFlight. You can also help support this program for another 40 years and more by visiting www.SupportAHN.org/LifeFlight to make a donation.
This September, we were thrilled to officially celebrate the 40th anniversary of LifeFlight’s arrival in Pittsburgh. What started as a single French Aloutte helicopter is now a vast operation composed of
20 43 FLIGHT PILOTS NURSES
1 CHIEF FLIGHT NURSE
8 FLIGHT 10 PARAMEDICS DISPATCHERS
8 MECHANICS
transporting patients within a 130-mile radius that includes a population of 4 million people in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio and Maryland.
RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP | 06
Islet Cell Transplants: Where Team Work and Technology Shine Can you imagine your pancreas taking a trip to Pittsburgh without you? Well that’s exactly what happened to Joseph Chandler, 51, of Lexington, Ky.
complete and successful,” says Dr. Trucco. “We put the islets into the vein that supplies blood to the liver. The islets park in the liver, stay there and they do their job.”
Chandler was suffering from chronic pancreatitis, where inflammation in the pancreas interferes with digestion and is extremely painful. In removing the entire pancreas to eliminate the pain, the cell clusters that produce insulin (called islets or islet cells) are also eliminated. To avoid the consequent insurgence of iatrogenic diabetes, healthy islet cells would be extracted from the patient’s pancreas organ. Allegheny Health Network works with the Cleveland Clinic on these innovative auto-transplants.
Doctors who advance the boundaries of medicine are living proof that innovation can lead to a new purpose for failing organs and better health. At Allegheny Health Network’s Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, the islet cell isolation lab at Allegheny General Hospital is Pennsylvania’s most comprehensive lab of its type and one of only a few labs in the country doing this remarkable work. Of the more than 150 autotransplant procedures performed by members of Allegheny Health Network’s team, approximately 70 percent of the patients have had a physiologic or improved level of insulin production after being injected with the islets.
Surgeons at Cleveland Clinic removed a diseased pancreas from Chandler and sent the organ down the highway to Pittsburgh. Hours later, at the Allegheny Health Network islet cell isolation lab, Dr. Massimo Trucco, director of the institute, and his team extracted between 200,000 and 300,000 islet insulin-producing islets from Chandler’s diseased pancreas. They restored and placed the islet cells in an IV bag to make a return trip to Cleveland. Once back in Ohio, the healthy cells from a failing pancreas were injected into Chandler’s liver, which took over the job of producing insulin. “Once the patient doesn’t have a pancreas anymore, he or she is essentially diabetic until the transfusion of the islets is
For research purposes Allegheny Health Network also isolate islets from type 1 diabetic donors. This procedure, in particular, places it in a company of one. “Previously, it was taboo to try to isolate insulin-secreting cells from a type 1 diabetic donor because, by definition, the cells were supposed to be dead,” said Dr. Trucco. “But working together with Vanderbilt University and the University of Florida, we have found that you can, in fact, isolate and retrieve some alive insulin-producing cells from these organs. It’s a revolutionary discovery that promises to greatly increase the number of patients who might benefit from these results.”
For more information on the Allegheny Health Network’s Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, visit www.CellularTherapeuticsAHN.com.
To donate, visit www.SupportAHN.org
07 | DONOR SPOTLIGHT
Recovering From Brain Injuries: A Marathon, Not A Sprint On Sunday, August 4, 2013, 2nd grade teacher and triathlete Megan Kruth had no idea she was about to set out on a bike ride that would change her world forever. Riding with a close friend on a route they had taken countless times before, Megan hit a divot in the road sending her flying over her handlebars on busy Babcock Boulevard, less than five miles from her home. Megan doesn’t remember much, but she knows that her skull took the brunt of the fall. By the time she arrived at Allegheny General Hospital, Megan was unconscious and had slipped into a coma for the next 10 days. Doctors weren’t sure she’d survive the surgery to remove a bone flap from the skull to relieve building pressure that would require exposing the brain. But she did. Megan also survived four more cranial surgeries over the next year. All thanks to neurosurgeon Dr. Khaled Aziz. “Dr. Aziz is my hero,” Megan said. “The care that he gave me, the way he worked with my family to keep them informed… ‘Above and beyond’ seems cliché, but it’s exactly what Dr. Aziz did.” One of her surgeries consisted of placing a customized synthetic implant in her head after the first bone flap became infected. According to Megan, the success of this procedure was due to seamless coordination between Dr. Aziz and plastic surgeon Dr. Michael White. “Because of the way they worked together,” Megan said, “you can’t even tell what happened.” Megan had been an athlete her entire life, competing on her college’s swim
team and transferring that love of sports in her adulthood to triathlons. Having competed in seven half Ironman races and two full Ironman races, setting goals, training and building the determination to reach those goals were all pars for the course for Megan. The goal setting and motivation to succeed she learned from sports are probably the reason she has been able to come so far in her recovery—especially when she hit road blocks along the way. One of the many side effects of her brain injury is a hypersensitivity to noise. This was one example of how Allegheny Health Network stepped back in to help Megan tackle these new “hidden” problems that started appearing. Reflecting on her life before the accident, Megan realizes her outlook on goals and training is quite different now. “When I used to compete, I would think, ‘How hard can I train?’ or ‘How far can I push myself?’” Megan said. “Now I look at that so differently. When I did my first open water swim [in July 2017], my first thought was ‘How can I use this as a fundraiser to help people?’” And she did just that – Megan raised over $8,000 in 2017 for Allegheny Health Network patient healthcare services. Megan had to eventually accept that she could no longer keep teaching and she officially retired late last year. So for Megan, post-accident, her life is no longer centered on race times or lesson plans, but instead has taken on a totally new and deeper purpose. Now, Megan’s passions involve spreading awareness and encouraging education about brain injuries.
DONOR SPOTLIGHT | 08
While Megan plans to continue her swim fundraiser and volunteering at the hospital, she is also spreading support to families of those who have experienced brain injuries. Every year, on the anniversary of her accident, Megan brings family members in the Intensive Care Unit waiting room things that may comfort them in small ways – fleece blankets, pillows, toothbrushes, etc. – all items Megan’s mom, dad and sister suggested. Megan also includes notes of encouragement and advice: Take care of yourself too. Sometimes letting people help you is the hardest part. Use Allegheny Health Network as a resource to help guide you through this difficult time. Remember, it truly is a marathon, not a sprint. If anyone would know the difference between a marathon and a sprint, both literally and figuratively, it’s Megan Kruth. To give to the Allegheny Health Network Neuroscience Institute, visit www.NeuroscienceAHN.com.
Allegheny Health Network Neuroscience Institute The Allegheny Health Network Neuroscience Institute provides patients who experience blunt force impacts and other traumatic injuries to the nervous system with the most advanced technologies and therapies. The goal is to maximize their chance of returning to a fully functional life.
Although there will never be words to express the gratitude that I have for everyone at AGH, I feel it in my heart everyday.”
Our nationally recognized multidisciplinary team treats critical conditions in Allegheny General Hospital’s Level 1 Trauma Center with immediate intervention, lifesaving surgical procedures, 24/7 monitoring and an advanced rehabilitation program. We unite experts from neurosurgery, neurology, trauma surgery and critical care, neuro-radiology, anesthesiology, sports medicine, nursing, clinical pharmacy and physical therapy to ensure that every patient has a comprehensive evaluation and the highest quality treatment plan.
09 | WAYS TO GIVE
Ways to Give When you give to Allegheny Health Network, your gift stays right here in our community – touching the lives of those you care about the most. Your gift helps advance the compassionate care, breakthrough treatments, and pioneering research at Allegheny Health Network. We are grateful to the many donors who have given so generously over the years, and we know that our patients and families will benefit greatly from your continued support.
Give today
An outright gift can help fund our immediate needs, support an upcoming project, or be restricted for a purpose. Donate today using the enclosed remittance envelope or give online at www.SupportAHN.org.
Pledge to make a gift over time
Many choose to pledge a gift today, and then fulfill that pledge in payments spread over a period of time. If you are interested in making a pledge, visit www.SupportAHN.org and select the“Pledge” option on the donation form.
Include us in your Estate or Financial Planning arrangements
A planned gift is any gift, given for any amount and for any purpose, which is made through estate or financial planning. To learn more, read our Planned Giving article below or visit www.PlannedGivingAHN.com.
Give your time
A gift of time is equally important and appreciated and can make an immeasurable impact on patients, families, and communities. To learn more about how to get involved, visit www.AHNvolunteer.com.
Share your story To learn more about ways to give, visit us on the web at www.SupportAHN.org.
One of the best ways to show your support is to share stories of excellent patient care. Your story influences people to give a firsthand account of how our hospitals and services help to make a positive impact. Visit www.AHNshareyourstory.com.
Planning Your Personal Legacy At Allegheny Health Network, your legacy matters. Any size donation will help enhance the lives of your community and your loved ones. Here are a few ways to consider including us in your estate or financial planning arrangements:
1
Wills and Living Trusts
2
Beneficiary Designations
A simple, flexible and versatile way to ensure we can continue our work for years to come is a gift in your will or living trust.
Naming Allegheny Health Network as a beneficiary to receive assets, such as retirement plans and life insurance policies, after you’re gone is simple. This approach is flexible because you aren’t locked into the choices you make today.
3
Charitable Gift Annuities
4
Charitable Lead Trust
A charitable gift annuity allows you to support our work now and we, in return, will pay you a fixed amount each year for the rest of your life. You can also receive a variety of tax benefits.
A charitable lead trust is a way to benefit from the tax savings that support Allegheny Health Network, while not giving up any assets that you’d like your family to receive someday. This approach creates income for Allegheny Health Network now, but also leaves benefits for your heirs later.
A planned gift can allow you to create a legacy of hope and fulfillment for future generations. If you have already included Allegheny Health Network in your long-range or estate plans, please let us know. If you or your financial advisor would like more information, please call 412.578.5287 or email Walter “Terry” Brown, VP of Development at Walter.Brown@ahn.org.
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS | 10
5th Annual Golf Classic a Swinging Success! Nearly 300 golfers raised a record-breaking $427,270 at the 5th Annual Allegheny Health Network Golf Classic. The Allegheny Health Network Golf Classic was held at two of the Pittsburgh region’s most prestigious golf clubs, Allegheny Country Club and Sewickley Heights Golf Club. Presenting sponsors of the event were PNC, McKamish, Jefferson Regional Foundation, and Honeywell. Proceeds from the Allegheny Health Network Golf Classic support various programs, services, and needs throughout the Allegheny Health Network hospitals.
We thank those who came out to support our mission... “We are grateful to those individual, community and corporate partners whose outstanding generosity directly impacts the programs and services provided to our patients,” said Allie Quick, Chief Philanthropy Officer. “We are excited to celebrate a fundraising record and, most importantly, we thank all those who came out to support our mission of improving health and promoting wellness in our communities, one person at a time.”
2nd Annual “A Night Under the Stars” Gala Raises $3.7 Million Allegheny Health Network’s second annual “A Night Under the Stars” Gala was another roaring success, raising more than $3.7 million. Proceeds from the sold out gala will directly support nursing and caregiver educational programs, clinical research, LifeFlight emergency services, and other key initiatives aimed at providing patients leading-edge care and an exceptional experience. Nearly 650 guests enjoyed a cocktail reception, dinner and entertainment by The Elite Show Band, LUXE Creative, and Pyrotecnico, all at PNC Park. Emcee Bob Pompeani from KDKA-TV and Cynthia Hundorfean, President & CEO of
Allegheny Health Network, led guests through a brief program which highlighted Allegheny Health Network’s clinical excellence and featured two patients who shared their successful care journeys. The event was co-chaired by representatives from presenting sponsors, including Greg Jordan, EVP, General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer, The PNC Financial Services Group; Bob Nutting, Chairman, Pittsburgh Pirates; and Morgan O’Brien, President and CEO, Peoples Natural Gas.
Office of Development 4818 Liberty Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15224
All for Good is published by the Allegheny Health Network Office of Development, as an outreach to donors and community members.
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NOVEMBER
SAVE THE DATE On the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, millions of people around the world come together for one common purpose: to celebrate and encourage giving. Join the movement by supporting Allegheny Health Network.
UPCOMING EVENTS Saint Vincent Hospital’s 34th Annual Festival of Trees will be coming to the Bayfront Convention Center from Friday, November 23 through Sunday, November 25. Festival of Trees is a community tradition featuring a gallery of uniquely decorated trees, local entertainment, live reindeer, holiday displays, and six rooms from Santa’s castle filled with activities for children to explore. With the help of generous sponsors, the 2018 annual Festival of Trees will benefit both Saint Vincent Hospital and Children’s Miracle Network. Special thank you to our sponsors. For more information visit www.FestivalOfTreesSVH.com. If you would like additional information about supporting our programs or research, please contact the Allegheny Health Network Office of Development. 412.578.4427
development@ahn.org
Saint Vincent Hospital’s Crystal Ball will be coming to the Ambassador Banquet & Conference Center on Saturday, May 18, 2019. Save the date for this remarkable event, including both a reception and dinner. All proceeds will benefit Saint Vincent Hospital. Special thank you to our generous sponsors. For more information visit www.CrystalBallSVH.com.