Impact December 2017

UTMB NEWSLETTER • DECEMBER 2017

Best Care in Action: Protecting health and preserving the power of antibiotics UTMB’s smallest survivors reunite with NICU caregivers Spotlight on Bill Garwood, associate vice president of finance, community hospitals

Patient registration: Setting the tone for the patient experience

UTMB Correctional Managed Care employees Gary Eubank, chief nursing officer, and Paul Brown, Region 3 director of nursing, co-wrote several chapters in the fourth edition of the book “Financial Management for Nurse Managers: Merging the Heart with the Brown Eubank Dollar.” The book addresses the financial management issues faced by nurse leaders in a variety of settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, outpatient clinics and home care.

Dr. Jeff Temple, director of Behavioral Health and Research in UTMB’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, won the 2017 Outstanding Contribution to Science Award from the Texas Psychological Association. The award presented at the association’s annual meeting states that Temple was honored for “contributions to the advancement of psychology, medicine, public health, teen dating violence prevention and education through your research, which has directly influenced policy and has been cited within multiple state, country and legislative boards.”

Dr. Odette Comeau, an adult critical care clinical nurse specialist, was selected as a recipient of the 2018 American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) Circle of Excellence Award. The annual award is given to individuals who exemplify excellence in high-acuity and critical care nursing practice. Recipients demonstrate relentless promotion of patient-driven excellence; communication skills; true collaboration; effective decision making; meaningful recognition of others; ability to transform thinking, structures and processes; and ability to address challenges and remove barriers to excellent patient care and achieve visible results through leadership. Comeau will be recognized at the AACN National Teaching Institute and Critical Care Exposition.

Faculty members from UTMB’s Department of Physical Therapy in the School of Health Professions were recognized for their outstanding achievements at the Texas Physical Therapy Association conference in Corpus Christi in October.

Dr. Lynne Hughes, associate professor, received the Jeanette Winfree Award for exceptional value to the chapter. Dr. Michael Furtado, clinical assistant professor, was presented with the Warren C. Smythe Outstanding Service award.

Dr. Dana Wild, associate professor, was honored with the William Gould Memorial Hughes Furtado Wild Outstanding Physical Therapy Faculty Award.

Maribel Bhojani, a clinical educator at UTMB, was recognized by the Texas Nurses Association as a top 20 Outstanding Nurse of 2017 for her contributions to the profession. She received an award at the 27th annual Nursing Celebration, hosted by the Texas Nurses Association, District 9, on Nov. 9 in Houston. Eighty-three “Hurricane Heroes” also were honored for their heroic efforts during Hurricane Harvey, including UTMB’s Shelia Bationo, Jeramie Cummings, Jason Garner, Michele Grace, Meredith Hartzog, Alex Jimenez, Dora Kuntz, Paula Strangeland and Scott Woodby.

UTMB’s Angleton Danbury Campus hosted its third annual chili cook-off in early November, giving employees the opportunity to bring the heat and work wonders in the kitchen. A judging team consisting of physicians, ambulatory staff and volunteers tasted the nine different entries. Employees were invited to taste the entries, as well as select the People’s Choice Award. The winners included: “Spice Girls” presented by Pam Buttaccio and the ADC Dietary team (Best Overall); “To Bean or Not to Bean” by Crystal Lichon and the Patient Financial Services team (Most Unique); “Spice World” by Ashlee Cantu and the Dietary team (Spiciest Chili); and “Two Meat Puerto Rican Chili” by Steven Gehret and the UTMB Police team (People’s Choice).

For the second time, the UTMB Cycling Team was recognized by the Galveston Bay Foundation as one of the “Top 10 Fundraising Teams” during its annual Bike Around the Bay event Oct. 21-22. The event includes a two-day, 170-mile ride around Galveston Bay. Twenty-two team members raised more than $5,500 to benefit the preservation and protection of the Galveston Bay, as well as help with local flood recovery efforts for those impacted by Hurricane Harvey.

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From the President I’d like to wish you and your family a happy and healthy holiday season as we come to the conclusion of another calendar year—one that has been very eventful to say the least!

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From the John Sealy Hospital fire in January to Hurricane Harvey in August, many employees faced challenges both personally and professionally, but like I always say: “When circumstances seem to be at their worst, the UTMB family is always at its best.” Thank you again for being nothing short of remarkable. I continue to be amazed by everything our people do to keep patients, visitors and colleagues safe, fulfilling our mission under extraordinary circumstances.

Best Care in Action: Handling antibiotics with care

The past year also has given us many reasons to celebrate. We led a successful SECC campaign, launched the “UTMB Wonders” awareness campaign and Innovations in Mind fundraising initiative, broke ground on the new Health Education Center, once again achieved Magnet recognition for nursing excellence, and far exceeded our Best Care goal to be in the top 20 U.S. academic health centers—we now rank ninth among 107 participating organizations and have achieved five-star performance. In addition, our Health System received an “A” grade from the Leapfrog Group for accomplishments related to safety and quality. Your hard work and commitment have paved the way for continued success in 2018.

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This issue of Impact features stories that exemplify who we are and where we’re going in the future, including:

UTMB’s 10th annual Preemie Reunion

• A Day in the Life of Vonday Millier, a patient registration team lead with UTMB’s Revenue Cycle Operations • A profile of Bill Garwood, associate vice president of finance for community hospitals • A Best Care in Action spotlight highlighting UTMB’s Antimicrobial Stewardship Program • The 10th annual Preemie Reunion, a special event connecting NICU doctors and nurses with former patients • An introduction to the Ability Resource Group, an employee resource group focused on increasing awareness and creating a culture of inclusion for those impacted by a disability • A closer look at how interprofessional education is being implemented in patient care • The School of Health Professions’ kick-off party to celebrate its 50th anniversary • A research study that could help develop a new therapeutic approach for women recovering from hip fractures • Tips for having a safe holiday season by UTMB Police Department Chief Thomas Engells • Numerous accomplishments and kudos in the Working Wonders column and throughout the newsletter Please take some time to enjoy this latest issue, reflect on our very successful 2017 and look ahead to a new year, when we will continue working together to work wonders. Thank you!

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Day in the life: patient registration specialist Page 8

Spotlight on Bill Garwood, associate vice president of finance, community hospitals Page 12

Dr. David L. Callender UTMB President

Impact is for and about the people who fulfill UTMB’s mission to improve health in Texas and around the world.

We hope you enjoy reading this issue. Let us know what you think!

ON THE COVER: Vonday Millier, a patient registration specialist and team leader within Revenue Cycle Operations, works in the Galveston Campus’ Emergency Department alongside patients, nurses and doctors to provide excellent customer service and ensure the overall success of UTMB’s clinical enterprise.

P R INT E D B Y U T MB G R A P H IC D ES IG N & P RIN TIN G S ERVICES

Vice President Marketing & Communications Steve Campbell Associate Vice President Marketing & Communications Mary Havard Editors KirstiAnn Clifford Stephen Hadley Shannon Porter Art Director Mark Navarro

CONTACT US Email: impact.newsletter@utmb.edu Phone: (409) 772-2618 Campus mail route: 0144 U.S. Postal address: UTMB Marketing & Communications

301 University Boulevard

Galveston, TX 77555-0144

B EST CA R E I N AC T I O N

BY KIRSTIANN CLIFFORD

Eighty years ago, infections like tuberculosis and pneumonia were leading causes of death in the U.S. Thanks to the advent of antibiotics in the 1940s, that’s not the case anymore.

However, these drugs have been used—often overused—for so long that the bacteria the antibiotics are designed to kill have adapted to them, making the drugs less effective. In fact, each year, at least two million people become infected with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics, and at least 23,000 people die as a result.

“Antibiotic resistance is threatening our progress,” said Dr. David Reynoso, assistant professor of Internal Medicine and deputy director of UTMB’s Antimicrobial Stewardship Program.

“In some cases, infections that were thought to have been ‘cured’ are popping up again and antibiotics are no longer effective—it’s like we are going back in time.

I have children and, from a personal standpoint, I worry about whether 20 years from now antibiotics will still be around.”

of all hospitalized patients will receive an antibiotic during their stay—although 30 to 50 percent of antibiotics prescribed are unnecessary or incorrect for the particular bacteria causing the infection.

With that in mind, one of the first initiatives the ASP began was dubbed “handshake stewardship,” which involves Reynoso and Lam walking to inpatient units in Jennie Sealy, shaking hands with medical teams, and offering themselves as a resource trained in infectious disease management and effective use of antimicrobials that can provide informal consultation on proper antibiotic use.

Part education, part relationship-building, the effort has been well-received.

UTMB’s Antimicrobial Stewardship Program includes an interprofessional committee that meets weekly to discuss targeted work across the institution.

“Many clinicians are conditioned to overusing antibiotics—I compare it to using a bazooka to kill ants. You don’t always need the strongest weapon.”

“The ideal we are teaching is to use the narrowest-spectrum antibiotics for the shortest amount of time,” said Reynoso.

“Many clinicians are conditioned to overusing antibiotics—I compare it to using a bazooka to kill ants. You don’t always need the strongest weapon. But once the clinician does the appropriate diagnostic tests, we can come by and look at all the data together to help them make an evidence-based choice regarding antibiotics. It’s a culture change, but people have been very receptive.”

His concern highlights a potentially dire situation— one that UTMB’s Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) is addressing head Another initiative that is changing the way physicians think about antibiotics is called on. Led by Professor of Internal Medicine Dr. Philip Keiser, Reynoso and lead “antibiotic time outs.” To avoid inappropriate use and misuse, the “time outs” prompt pharmacist Dr. Wai-Ying Lam, the program was established about a year ago a review of patients receiving antibiotic therapy 48 hours after initiation, with ASP after The Joint Commission released new regulatory guidelines requiring hosmembers assisting clinicians in determining the best ways to reduce antibiotic use. pitals to establish an antimicrobial stewardship program. Its role is to promote the appropriate use of antimicrobials, improve patient outcomes and reduce “For a very sick patient who is just admitted to the hospital, it’s important not to withhold anything, so if a physician feels they need various antibiotics, that’s fine. resistance of the bacteria the drugs are intended to combat.

However, we often find that as the days go on, patients no longer need a wide array UTMB’s ASP includes a committee made up of physician leaders, infectious of antibiotics; they need a very narrow spectrum,” said Lam. “So after 48 hours, disease specialists, pharmacy experts, nurses, information technology specialists, we go back to the physician, examine the data, and help the physician make the microbiologists and others who meet weekly to discuss targeted work across decision about whether to continue antibiotic use and, if so, how much to give.” the institution. The ASP was recently introduced by Health System leadership While the ASP is looking into several other projects for the coming year, they as one of five focus areas that builds upon the Best Care initiative to help UTMB have already begun tracking the use of antibiotics across the Health System, become a high-value practicing organization. and they are noticing a positive trend: antibiotic use is down overall. It’s a trend “We have a great group ranging from content experts to implementation experts,” the ASP says could result in fewer antibiotic-resistant infections, better patient said Keiser. “Everyone involved is passionate and has a voice when it comes to outcomes—and effective antibiotic therapies for generations to come. forming a consensus and a way forward. I’m just ecstatic about how well this For more information on Antimicrobial Stewardship at UTMB, visit intranet. group works together—we have a lot we want to accomplish.” utmb.edu/best-care. n Keiser points to a sobering statistic from the CDC, which shows more than half 4

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PAT IENT CARE

Wendy Lentino (left) and her daughter, Lily, reunite with NICU nurses Carrie Holloway (middle) and Lavonda Morgan.

UTMB’s littlest survivors reunite with NICU doctors, nurses at 10th Annual Preemie Reunion

BY KIRSTIANN CLIFFORD

UTMB’s 10th Annual Preemie Reunion on Oct. 21 was the first time Wendy Lentino was able to take her baby, Liliana, out in public.

“Lily finally gets to experience things that most of us take for granted, like the sun shining and the wind blowing,” said Lentino.

NICU nurses love their babies, and to see the end result and how well they’ve grown makes it

Born just four months prior to the Galveston Campus event, Liliana was fullterm, but was very sick, suffering from a severe heart defect and pulmonary hypertension. For weeks, Lentino and her husband went home from the NICU each night after visiting their daughter, not knowing what the future would hold.

UTMB delivers more than 6,000 babies each year. About 800

“On the first drive home without her, we cried and made a promise to follow three rules: take it one day at a time, have no expectations and celebrate everything,” she said.

Lentino credits those three rules—in addition to the care provided and relationships built with the doctors and nursing staff—with helping her family through the hardest of times.

“We held our breath for a little while, but at 10 days, she opened her eyes. At 20 days, she was able to breathe without the ventilator—and then she took off running,” she said. “My husband and I had two other kids at home who needed us, and we were able to go home and sleep in our beds comforted by the fact that Lily was in the best possible hands.”

The Lentinos were one of dozens of families who attended the annual event, which reunites children who were born prematurely or very sick with the nurses and doctors who cared for them. The carnival-style event features music, games, craft booths, refreshments—and lots of hugs between the families and caregivers.

It’s NICU nurse Carrie Holloway’s favorite event of the year.

“Lily and the other children here are why we do what we do,” said Holloway, who was the first nurse to take care of Lily the evening she was born. “I always tell my families whose babies are in the hospital, ‘They’re our babies, too.’ All impact

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all worthwhile.”

of these newborns Dr. Fonseca sees how much one of his former require the most patients has grown. comprehensive infant intensive care available. NICU babies and their families spend days, weeks or months in the hospital—forming bonds with the nurses and physicians.

“It’s really nice to see many of these children come back—I took care of most of them,” said Dr. Rafael Fonseca, associate professor in the Division of Neonatology. “To see them doing so well and running around like regular kids makes our jobs worthwhile. I just saw a boy that I took care of who was born at 24 weeks—he’s in grade school now. It’s really cool.”

Lavonda Morgan, a nurse in the NICU and president of the Infant Special Care Unit Preemie Reunion committee, said the annual event usually draws between 50 and 70 children and their families, with some traveling from as far away as Lufkin and Corpus Christi to attend.

For Wendy Lentino, the event represents a way to say thank you to the people who helped her family during a difficult and trying time. She plans on attending the event every year as Lily continues to grow and thrive.

“I’m really passionate about all these people—they love her as much as we do,” she said. “Now, Lily’s finally home and just doing her thing and growing every day. She’s perfect.” n 5

RESEARCH

Dr. Elena Volpi a principal investigator of $15.6 million national study

BY KURT KOOPMANN

RES EARC H B R I E F S Compiled from press releases written by Donna Ramirez. Find out more at www.utmb.edu/newsroom.

Frequent alcohol consumption kills new brain cells in adults, with females being more vulnerable, according to new research at UTMB. Led by Dr. Ping Wu, professor in the Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, the researchers discovered that alcohol killed the stem cells in adult mouse brains. Because brain stem cells are responsible for creating new nerve cells and are important to maintaining normal cognitive function, this study could open a door to combating chronic alcoholism. The research also showed that brain changes due to alcohol exposure are different for females and males. For the study, Wu and her colleagues used a cutting-edge technique that allows them to tag brain stem cells and observe how they migrate and develop into specialized nerve cells over time. This allowed researchers to study the impact of long-term alcohol consumption on the

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cells. Using this model, scientists expect to learn more about how alcohol interacts with brain stem cells, which will ultimately lead to a clearer understanding of how best to treat and cure alcoholism. Other authors include UTMB’s Dr. Erica McGrath, Junling Gao, Dr. Yong Fang Kuo, Tiffany Dunn, Moniqua Ray, Dr. Kelly Dineley, Dr. Kathryn Cunningham and Dr. Bhupendra Kaphalia. The findings are now available in the journal Stem Cell Reports.

UTMB scientists have gained new insight into how the Ebola virus uses the body’s natural defenses to speed the rate of infection and unleash its lethal disease, according to a new report in mBIO. When someone is infected with the Ebola virus, part of the reason that the resulting disease is so severe is because the virus causes parts of the immune system to malfunction.

T-cells, which are a specialized type of white blood cells that seek and destroy virus-infected cells, are particularly vulnerable to the Ebola virus. “In this study, we demonstrated the central role of a T-cell protein called Tim-1 in the development of Ebola virus disease,” said senior author Dr. Alexander Bukreyev, a UTMB virologist in the departments of Pathology and Microbiology and Immunology. “Mice that were genetically engineered without Tim-1

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RESEARCH

A multimillion dollar grant could help researchers develop a novel therapeutic for women recovering from hip fractures.

UTMB is part of a consortium of seven universities that has received $15.6 million from the National Institute on Aging for a multisite clinical trial to study the use of testosterone therapy and exercise in post-menopausal women recovering from hip fracture. Dr. Elena Volpi, director of UTMB’s Sealy Center on Aging, is one of the seven principal investigators.

More than 260,000 hip fractures occur annually in the U.S. Many of those experiencing a fracture also incur a significant functional decline and may end up dealing with persistent strength and mobility issues that can impair their ability to live independently.

A primary goal of the research funded by the National Institute on Aging is to develop the fundamental knowledge to improve health and reduce the burden of disability.

The project will evaluate hip fractures in elderly women and the benefits of short-term testosterone therapy combined with supervised exercise during the recovery process.

UTMB’s Sealy Center on Aging focuses on improving the health and well-being of elderly through research, education and community service.

Results of the study may help reduce the significant burden of hip fracture now faced by many older women.

The other participating institutions are Washington University, Harvard University, University of Maryland, Johns Hopkins University, University of Colorado Denver and University of Connecticut. n

“Hip fracture is a major contributor to loss of independence in older women,” said Volpi. “With this study, we hope to find a novel therapeutic approach to accelerate recovery of physical function and independence in these patients.”

became less ill when infected with Ebola virus and only one died, whereas all of the unmodified mice succumbed.” A series of biological analyses showed that Ebola virus directly binds to T-cells through Tim-1 protein binding and causes massive inflammation that thwarts the immune system. The severity of inflammatory immune reaction is consistently linked with the intensity of the disease and risk of death from Ebola. “If we can find a way to limit the inflammatory response during Ebola infection, we can potentially improve disease outcome,” said lead author Dr. Patrick Younan, a UTMB research scientist. Dr. Mathieu Lampietro, co-lead author of the paper, added, “Controlling and successfully balancing the immune response after Ebola virus infection is very important for reducing symptoms and fatal outcomes.” Other study authors include UTMB Drs. Palaniappan Ramanathan, Rodrigo Santos and Ndongala Michel Lubaki.

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For the first time, a collaborative team led by UTMB has shown that a potential Zika vaccine quickly can protect fetuses against infection as well as protect males against testicular infection and injury. “This study showed, for the first time, that a single-dose vaccine candidate could prevent Zika infection in non-human primates, block mother-to-fetus transmission, and stop male testis infection in mice,” said UTMB’s Dr. Pei-Yong Shi, senior author and the I.H. Kempner professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. “Besides quickly mounting a protective immune response, this live-attenuated vaccine exhibited an excellent safety profile in both mouse and non-human primate models. Taken together, the results suggest that this vaccine merits further development in humans.” Having a single-dose vaccine against Zika is practically important, as vaccines that require booster shots are challenging for people living in developing regions where access to medical facilities may be limited. Other authors include UTMB’s Dr. Xuping Xie, Jannyce Nunes, Dr. Alan Barrett, Dr. Scott Weaver and Dr. Shannan Rossi. The findings are currently available in Nature Communications. n

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BY KIRSTIANN CLIFFORD

WHEN A PATIENT ARRIVES AT THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT on UTMB’s Galveston Campus, there’s a good chance Vonday Millier will be the first university employee they see.

“We really set the tone for the patient’s visit,” says Millier, a patient registration specialist and team leader within Revenue Cycle Operations (RCO).

Hearing the words “revenue cycle” might lead a person to believe Millier sits behind a desk all day, crunching numbers. However, for the past 15 years, she’s been in the ED working alongside patients, nurses and physicians to provide excellent customer service and ensure the overall success of UTMB’s clinical enterprise.

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Patient registration is the first step of the revenue cycle process—which begins when a patient is identified

She quickly makes her way to the ambulance bay in the back of the department as two emergency medical technicians push a stretcher through the doors.

as needing or requesting medical services, and ends at the time payment is received and the account is closed. Getting “Hello, my name is Vonday and I will be registering you this accurate information from the start—such as patient iden- morning,” she says to the elderly patient who seems confused tification, and demographic and insurance information—is after falling and hitting her head. “Can you tell me your full a crucial part of the process that not only affects billing, but name and date of birth?” even more importantly, patient safety. Every piece of data collected by the registrar is used by other hospital staff, clinical The woman has trouble remembering her name, so Millier speaks with the patient’s husband to verify her identification and sign a and non-clinical throughout the patient’s stay. “consent to treat” form. At the same time, a nurse starts taking I got a firsthand look at how the registration process works the woman’s blood pressure and asking his own set of questions. shortly after meeting up with Millier on a Monday morning in the ED. As she reviews the day’s staffing schedule, a pager “We call it ‘tag teaming,’” says Millier. “While I’m asking the patient nearby starts to beep, signaling the arrival of an ambulance. their name and date of birth, the nurse is also asking them what brings them to the ED and taking their vitals. We work closely with the nursing staff—it’s a good relationship.”

This isn’t the first time the woman has received care at UTMB, so Millier is able to search UTMB’s Epic electronic medical record (EMR) for the patient’s existing medical record number. She’s careful to double-check the woman’s information in the system before pressing the ‘arrive’ button.

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“By hitting ‘arrive’ in the system, I’m basically check- Over the next few hours, Millier registers several more patients, ing the patient in,” says Millier as she places a bar-coded I.D. creates medical record numbers for those who are new to armband around the patient’s wrist and prints additional patient labels to give to the nurse.

The bar-code technology is used to promote patient safety and reduce medical errors. Not only does the wristband identify the patient, it also connects the patient to their existing electronic medical information. In addition, when medication needs to be administered, a quick scan of both the wristband bar code and bar-code label on the medication will immediately verify prescription and treatment information. Millier says it’s important for the initial registration to be done quickly and accurately so the patient can begin receiving care.

“Now, the nurse can take the patient to a room and the physician can access the patient’s existing medical history if it’s in Epic and start documenting the care in the EMR,” she says. “The initial registration takes just one or two minutes, but I’ll be back to interview the patient once they’ve been seen by a doctor. ED patients already are not feeling well, so they appreciate having registration completed at the bedside where they’re more comfortable.”

The Galveston Campus ED is one of the busiest areas of the hospital; an estimated 45,000 patients are expected to go through it this year—and each and every one of them will be seen first by a registration specialist. It’s a 24/7 role, with about five registrars and a team leader working at any given time to cover the triage, ambulance bay, inpatient and minor emergency treatment areas.

“No day is the same here—it’s an adrenaline rush for sure,” says Millier. “Not everyone can adjust to seeing sickness and trauma all the time, so it takes a strong-minded person who is also compassionate and empathetic to have this role. Oftentimes, we hand out blankets, comfort families or just sit with the patient and listen to them vent. We meet people from all walks of life.”

UTMB, helps troubleshoot a computer issue and completes a deposit of patient cash payments from the overnight shift. By noon, the pace has picked up and the number of patients in the ED has gone from 15 to nearly 40.

She turns her attention to bedside interviews, as several patients have been seen by a physician and are either ready to be discharged or admitted to a hospital unit. She allots about 30 minutes per patient, verifying additional information such as the patient’s mailing address, religious preference, employer and insurance.

“We don’t ask them about insurance information until we get to the bedside,” says Millier. “But even then, you have to read the situation and sort of ‘break the ice’ before launching into the interview. Many times, people are still processing whatever information their doctor just told them, so it’s important to be mindful of that. I make sure to scan the room and ask everyone what their relationship is to the patient. If the patient is not feeling well or is unable to speak, I will ask for permission to talk to their relative.”

One of the rooms she enters has a young boy and several family members. Fortunately, everyone seems to be in good spirits, as the boy has recovered from a severe asthma attack—he’s even bouncing up and down on the bed, ready to go home. Millier compliments the child for being so brave while quickly verifying insurance information, collecting a co-pay and providing a receipt to his mother.

“We have to be knowledgeable about all types of commercial and government health insurance plans and if there are multiple insurance policies, how to prioritize them for billing,” she says. “We try to collect payments while patients are in the ED and answer any questions they may have about their financial responsibility. It can be confusing, but we are here to help.”

Oftentimes, the bedside interview is an opportunity for Millier and her team to discuss resources available for uninsured or underinsured patients.

“There are many resources, but we find that a lot of people are unaware of them,” she says. “Sometimes, we can really help just by giving a patient a financial screening packet for a discount or giving them information for applying for Medicaid. I can also enlist the help of a social worker if the patient needs additional services.”

The ED patient registration team includes (L-R) Cindy Longoria, Leonisha Mack, Perry Green, Vonday Millier and Chantal Frank.

After working for more than a decade in the ED, Millier isn’t immune to noticing all the trauma, but she takes it in stride.

She often finds herself driving home, thinking about patients and brainstorming additional resources that could benefit them.

“We try to help everyone,” she says as she heads to the triage area.

A late-afternoon wave of walk-in patients has arrived and Miller will be the first to greet them—doing what she can to help each patient navigate their way to better health. n

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LEA D E R S POT L I GH T

Spotlight on Bill Garwood associate vice president of finance for community hospitals Bill Garwood joined the UTMB family in 2014, when he helped integrate the Angleton Danbury Campus with UTMB. For more than 30 years, he served as the senior financial officer of the Angleton Danbury Medical Center. In his current role as associate vice president of finance for community hospitals, his responsibilities recently expanded to include the financial management of UTMB’s League City Campus, as well.

Garwood earned his master’s degree in health care administration from Trinity University in San Antonio and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Texas at Austin.

Garwood and his wife, Charlotte, at the top of Turtlehead Peak in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Las Vegas.

We’ve just celebrated UTMB’s tremendous success with Best Care.

What are your thoughts on how UTMB can maintain its five-star performance long-term?

I believe that UTMB can maintain our five-star rating as long as leadership continues to make Best Care a priority and keeps the subject as a focus. I think most of us thought UT System Chancellor William McRaven’s challenge was a great goal that would be nearly impossible to achieve—at least in such a short timeframe. But leadership made it a priority, everyone focused on the goal and we were all pleasantly amazed when success was achieved.

Your role as financial administrator recently expanded to include UTMB’s League City Campus. What are some of your goals for the coming year?

Professionally, it would have to be the opportunity to serve on the team that transitioned the Angleton Danbury Medical Center to UTMB. The transition will ensure that the residents of Angleton, Danbury and the surrounding communities will continue to enjoy high-quality health care close to home for many years to come.

Personally, I am most proud of raising two daughters and shaping them into the adults they are today. Our oldest daughter recently began a role as a family nurse practitioner in Oregon after graduating from UTMB’s FNP program. Our youngest daughter works in the human resources department of a major retail business. She Cedillo with wife, at Great Smoky National Park in Tennessee. andJosé her husband, alonghiswith ourNinfa, new grandchild, live in Mountains the Friendswood area.

What’s the best advice anyone’s ever given you?

As you can imagine, my goals are heavily weighted toward achieving the budgets at both the Angleton Danbury Campus (ADC) and the League City Campus (LCC). Also, during the current fiscal year, ADC will be implementing a campus-specific strategic plan while LCC continues to move forward with its physical expansion. My goals include providing support to ADC and LCC campus administrators Katrina Lambrecht and Jeremy Brynes, respectively, with those initiatives.

Many people and life experiences have shaped me into the person I am today.

Several years ago, I began to write down and list various lessons and pieces of advice in an effort to mentor those who reported to me. Probably the two entries that stand out above all the others are: Always be honest and treat everyone with respect and dignity.

Why did you decide to pursue a career in hospital finance administration?

After my children left for college, I took up motorcycle riding. I try to ride every weekend with my wife, Charlotte. We have had the opportunity to ride gorgeous roads in Colorado, New Mexico, Arkansas, West Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee.

Some of my favorite roads can be found right here in Texas in an area west of San Antonio known as “The Three Sisters.” I also really enjoy sailing. Years of sailing on the water evolved into land sailing about 10 years ago. We sail small, three-wheeled carts on the dry lake beds south of Las Vegas once or twice per year. Speeds on these carts can approach 60 miles per hour under the right conditions. While on these trips, we also enjoy hiking in the surrounding mountains. Finally, with the recent birth of our first grandchild, we often can be found on the weekends spending time with this very special addition to our family.

I ended up in health care completely by accident. I had recently graduated with an accounting degree from UT Austin and was getting married within a few weeks. I was desperate to find an accounting role in any industry. A friend of my wife’s family knew the administrator at what was then Angleton Danbury General Hospital, and got me an introduction that led to my first role as a staff accountant. I figured that I would stay a year or two, get some experience and move on. That was over 34 years ago.

You’ve lived in Angleton for nearly two decades and serve on the Angleton ISD Board of Trustees. Can you talk about why you’ve gotten so involved in the local community?

Volunteering and giving back to the community are important both personally and professionally. I believe that we can sit back and complain about the way things are, or we can choose to get involved and make a difference. Volunteering ultimately makes our communities better places to live and work. Community involvement also is good for business. Health care is a complex business that is often difficult to navigate, and our pricing mechanisms typically make no sense to consumers. Community involvement can be a means of establishing relationships with many consumers and gives people a familiar name and face when questions or concerns about the local hospital arise. In addition to the AISD Board of Trustees, I also serve on the board of the local volunteer ambulance corps, the Rotary club and the planning and zoning commission, and I am part of the leadership team at my church.

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What is your proudest accomplishment?

Where are you most likely to be found outside of work?

What’s your favorite band or musical group?

Pink Floyd!

Do you have any hidden talents?

Something that is not a gift—because I really have to work at it—is name recognition. I believe that being able to recall names is one form of demonstrating respect to our employees. As I meet new employees, I make a concerted effort to remember their names and challenge them to ask me if I remember their name when we next meet. I find that this practice allows employees to challenge me in a lighthearted manner and can serve as an “ice-breaker” the next time our paths cross.

DECEMBER 2017

impact

UT MB NEW S

Ability Resource Group aims to increase awareness, create culture of inclusion UTMB alumna shares experience with disability, UTMB at inaugural meeting

BY SHANNON PORTER

Dr. Kimberly Sherill does not look at her physical disability as a hindrance, but rather an admittance to a world of experience that better connects her with her patients.

“I hope I have more compassion for those struggling with different types of handicaps and illnesses,” said Sherill, a board-certified psychiatrist and 1980 UTMB graduate. “I understand the fatigue, the depression, the discouragement—as well as the joy in achieving a difficult goal.”

Ultimately, the organization hopes to be an outlet for employees and students to share experiences, thoughts and ideas and a resource for locating information of interest related to disabilities.

“This is the beginning, this is the beginning of innovative thinking, the beginning of fresh ideas, and the beginning of new approaches for helping UTMB face challenges over the next few years and continuing to achieve success,” said Philesha Evans, associate vice president of Human Resources, Direct Entity Services.

Sherill has paralysis in her left arm and weaknesses in her right arm after battling polio when she was just 8 months old. She recently spoke at UTMB’s Ability Resource Group inaugural meeting to share her experience with a disability and acceptance.

Of UTMB’s 13,000 employees, about 9 percent have self-identified that they have a disability, said Imelda Wicks, a Diversity and Inclusion consultant.

“I hope through the Ability Resource Group, students and employees feel they can connect with each other so they don’t feel so alone “That is another objective—to make sure and isolated,” Sherill said. “I hope information (L-R) Philesha Evans, Ritchie Adoue (co-chair), Lycia Champagne (cowe understand the total population so we about accommodations can be readily avail- chair), Dr. Kimberly Sherill, Ian Barrett and Imelda Wicks. can address those needs,” Wicks said. able to those who don’t know what’s out there.”

“One in five Americans has a disability, but many of us might be allies or have a family member or co-worker with a disability.”

Over the years, her disability has made some things more difficult—like starting IVs and scrubbing for surgery—she said. But it never stopped her from pursuing her dream to become a doctor—even when some universities thought she wouldn’t be able to complete their curriculum or excel as a physician because of it.

UTMB was the only medical school at the time that didn’t see it as a concern, she said.

“UTMB officially interviewed me and accepted me in more ways than one,” Sherill said.

Today, UTMB strives to be inclusive of all students and employees. Recently, with the launch of the Ability Resource Group, UTMB hopes to increase awareness and create a culture of inclusion for those impacted by a disability. The group is open to all employees and students.

The Ability Resource Group will work to make sure UTMB continues to be an institution that raises diversity awareness, she said.

“We want to make sure we welcome everyone and that UTMB continues to be an employer of choice, a school of choice and a provider of choice,” Wicks said.

By hiring more employees and admitting more students with disabilities, Sherill believes UTMB will begin to normalize disability within the institution and diminish the stigma often associated with disabilities.

“I hope UTMB will continue to take a chance on admitting students with disabilities like they did with me,” Sherill said.

For more information, visit https://hr.utmb.edu/diversity/ability.

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CONSTRUCTION UPDATE LEAGUE CITY CAMPUS League City Campus Hospital Phase II Expansion: Construction of the five-story South Tower—which will add 123,000 square feet to the hospital—will begin in March 2018. Once completed, the expansion will increase inpatient capacity to approximately 100 beds and provide space for additional services. Plans for the expansion are to be presented to the UT System Board of Regents in February. The expansion, at a total project cost of $152.1 million, is set for completion in 2020.

GALVESTON CAMPUS John Sealy Hospital Modernization Renovations to the façade of the hospital and its interior continue. The $135 million interior and exterior renovations are set for completion in 2020.

Health Education Center Construction of the third level of the new $90.4 million Health Education Center is currently taking place on the site, located just south of the School of Nursing/ School of Health Professions Building. Structural top-out will take place this winter, and the HEC is scheduled to be fully operational by Spring 2019.

Research Building 17 Expansion Opening early next year, Research Building 17E will provide vital support space for UTMB’s research enterprise. Total project cost is $52.9 million.

impact

DECEMBER 2017

13

E D UC AT I O N

PUTTING IPE INTO PRACTICE UTMB alumna brings passion, enthusiasm for interprofessional education to patient care

BY STEPHEN HADLEY

JACQUELINE STOUT-AGUILAR IS ON A MISSION to ensure health

care professionals understand the importance of interprofessional education and teamwork in transforming patient care for the better.

When she graduated from UTMB as a member of the Interprofessional Education (IPE) Scholars Program in 2015, Stout-Aguilar brought that IPE experience to bear in her role at the Texas A&M University College of Nursing in College Station.

Jacqueline Stout-Aguilar, a UTMB nursing and Interprofessional Education (IPE) Scholars program graduate, leads a simulation.

“Collaborative initiatives are the keys to all of our success, whether that’s for Best Care, Magnet recognition or other designations. It all hinges on being able to work together well and for the betterment of the patient.”

“All of the literature supports IPE and supports simulations and TeamSTEPPS (Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance At Texas A&M, she introduced an Performance and Patient Safety) so we’re end-of-life, pediatric simulation that trying to integrate those three from included nursing, the beginning in academics all the way pharmacy, through to the Health System,” she said. public health To do that, Stout-Aguilar developed a and medical simulation in the Acute Care for the students, Elderly (ACE) unit in Jennie Sealy the first including Texas—are meeting the To learn more about Hospital to deliver TeamSTEPPS interprofessional UTMB’s Quality necessary educational standards. education to nursing staff with education Enhancement Plan, the ultimate goal of delivering the simulation held visit www.utmb.edu/ “We want students to understand the intervention to physicians and other at the school. ipep/about-qep importance of IPE throughout their health care disciplines as well. The That simulation education here,” Smith said. “But, focus is on ensuring teamwork and was so successful it was conducted ultimately, the goal is for them to collaboration in a low-risk setting in an seven times in the first year and is still transfer that knowledge into their effort to improve and enhance patient being presented across North America careers as health care providers so they safety and care. to other institutions interested in more can improve patient care while working broadly implementing IPE into their together in teams.”

The simulation and Stout-Aguilar’s curricula. focus on implementing IPE in Stout-Aguilar sees interprofessional hospital settings is one of the long“The IPE Scholars Program gave me the education and implementation as the term missions of UTMB’s new structure and the general knowledge drivers of success for academic health Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP)— base of IPE and why it’s so critical to centers moving forward.

IPE2Practice, said Shelley Smith, improving patient care and patient UTMB’s director of Interprofessional safety,” Stout-Aguilar said.

“Collaborative initiatives are the keys Education and the QEP. to all of our success, whether that’s for Last year, Stout-Aguilar rejoined UTMB Best Care, Magnet recognition or other as a staff member. As a clinical educator The QEP is one element of the required designations,” she said. “It all hinges on re-accreditation package for the focused on nursing education in the being able to work together well and for Health System, she helps bridge the gap Academic Enterprise for the Southern the betterment of the patient. between the interprofessional emphasis Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), “Ultimately, that’s what gets our patients learned in academia and its application the regional accrediting body that and practice on the job. well, keeps them well and keeps them ensures colleges in the Southern states— out of the hospital.” n 14

DECEMBER 2017

impact

EDU CATI ON

UTMB Student Government Association invests in future students

SGA gives $265,500 to create eight endowed scholarships, name lobby in Health Education Center

BY SHANNON PORTER

UTMB’s Student Government Association has already made its mark on the university, but now it also holds a special place in Galveston’s history.

Now, Nov. 17, 2017, will be known as UTMB Student Government Association Day in the city of Galveston. The group of student leaders were recently recognized by Galveston Mayor Jim Yarbrough and UTMB President David Callender for their remarkable leadership.

Earlier this year, the Student Government Association voted unanimously to support the Innovations in Mind fundraising initiative at UTMB and has since played a critical role in the first student campaign in the history of UTMB resulting in more than 250 students who have donated to the cause.

endowed scholarships—two each in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, the School of Health Professions, the School of Nursing, and the School of Medicine.

The association also gave $150,000 to name the UTMB Student Government Association Lobby in the Health Education Center.

“This sets a marvelous example of leadership,” Callender said. “It shows that our student government leaders are really investing in making sure UTMB continues to stand as a great place for health sciences education.” n

“Everyone who has heard about it has said, ‘Wow, that’s amazing, what an incredible group of students and student leaders,’” Callender said to members of the Student Government Association.

The $50 million Innovations in Mind fundraising initiative will partially support construction of the new Health Education Center on the Galveston Campus, help create faculty endowments and student scholarships, and bolster neurodegenerative disorders research.

The 2016-17 Student Government Association gave $115,500 to create eight

Dr. David Callender stands with members of UTMB’s Student Government Association

UTMB School of Health Professions celebrates 50 years of success, innovation Students, faculty kick-off year celebration to culminate in October 2018

BY SHANNON PORTER

SINCE 1968, UTMB’S SCHOOL OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS, then known as the School of Allied Health Sciences, has dedicated its efforts toward training a key part of the health care work force and advancing knowledge of the disciplines it teaches all across Texas—and beyond.

“That 50-year history is not the building, or the brick and mortar; it’s in the hearts of our passionate faculty, staff and students—past and present,” said Michelle Conley, coordinator of student recruitment and admissions.

The School of Health Professions recently kicked off a year-long celebration to commemorate its 50th anniversary, which will culminate at next year’s homecoming on Oct. 19-20, 2018.

In true kick-off fashion, the school hosted a pep rally complete with black and gold balloons, streamers, pompoms, noise makers and yearbook-style photos from years past.

“Some of these photos represent programs we no longer have, but they helped build the legacy of what we have today,” Conley said.

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DECEMBER 2017

Today, the School of Health Professions offers bachelor’s degrees in Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Respiratory Care; master’s degrees in Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Occupational Therapy, Health Professions, Nutrition and Metabolism, and Physician Assistant Studies; and professional doctorates in Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy.

Since 1968, the School of Health Professions—which started with 135 students—has graduated 11,500 alumni, most of whom have stayed in Texas to practice, said Vicki Freeman, interim dean of the school.

Students from each of the school’s programs were in attendance at the pep rally and cheered as Kevin Haslam, assistant vice president of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving, shared a brief history along with a list of achievements and accolades.

“You don’t know where you’re going if you don’t know where you’ve been,” Freeman said.

Additional plans and a full schedule of events can be found at https://shp.utmb.edu/shp50/. n

15

‘Tis the season for safety

By UTMB Police Chief Thomas Engells The holidays are an opportunity to share good cheer with family and friends. However, they also are a time when people get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season, making themselves vulnerable to theft and other crime. Don’t let a Grinch ruin your holidays!

Follow these tips to give your family the gift of a safe and happy holiday season: • Avoid shopping alone—there is safety in numbers. If you have to shop alone, ask security personnel to escort you to your car. Tell family or friends exactly where you are going and check in with them before you leave a shopping mall, restaurant or party.

• Be parking-lot savvy. Always park in well-lit, heavy traffic areas and lock your vehicle with valuable items out of view. Hold purses close to you—do not let them hang and do not cross them over your neck.

• Stay alert. Walk with confidence and look around.

Do not be distracted by headphones or smart phones until you are safely at your destination.

• Carry a minimal amount of cash—and keep it in your front pocket. Use checks or debit/credit cards to make purchases when possible. If an ATM looks suspicious or is located in an area that makes you feel uneasy, take your business elsewhere.

• Keep a paper trail. Save your receipts and check your credit and bank statements regularly for fraud. If a credit card is stolen or unusual charges appear on your statement, contact your credit card company or financial institution immediately. The longer you wait, the more damage a criminal can do to your credit.

• Be aware of stranger danger. Keep in mind that criminals sometimes pose as couriers delivering packages—and it’s not uncommon for people to take advantage of holiday generosity by going door-to-door for donations when there’s no charity involved. Avoid opening the door to strangers and ask for identification and how the funds will be used. If you aren’t satisfied, don’t give.

• Don’t advertise. At home, don’t display gifts in an area that can be seen from windows or doors. After the holidays, avoid leaving boxes from expensive purchases out on the curb.

Instead, break boxes down and put them in dark trash bags or take them directly to a recycling center yourself.

If you are away from home, have a neighbor collect any packages left at your front door.

• Ho-ho-hold on before clicking on a link in an email. It could be a “phishing” scheme, where shoppers who click through are led to a false site developed to steal their personal data. Look for signs that the business is legitimate and always shop on secure websites starting with “https://.” Secure sites will also have a small lock icon in the lower-right corner of the screen.

For general safety tips or to learn more about the UTMB Police Department, visit www.utmb.edu/police.

PARTING SHOT

Home for the holidays UTMB’s Primary and Specialty Care Clinic in Texas City has reopened to patients after undergoing major repairs due to flood damage following Hurricane Harvey. All clinics within the 31,000 squarefoot building are now open except Urgent Care, which is scheduled to reopen Jan. 2 and Audiology and Speech Pathology, which is scheduled to reopen on Jan. 22. This shot was taken on Dec. 8, following a rare dusting of snow in the Houston/Galveston region.