Nuclear Medicine - Washington Hospital Center

Center 

inside 

f cus 

Nuclear Medicine 

Diagnosing Conditions and Treating Cancer 

Nuclear Medicine does exactly what its name implies. The department 

— with more than 30 physicians, technologists and support staff 

— uses radioactive substances to help diagnose conditions and 

treat certain cancers. It might sound scary, but the team takes a friendly 

approach to make testing as painless and educational as possible. 

“To diagnose conditions, we either inject or have the patient swallow 

a radioactive substance called an isotope or tracer,” said technologist 

Rob Blosser, CNMT, NCT, section chief. “Then we create an image with a 

gamma camera. The images help physicians diagnose certain conditions.” 

Nuclear medicine also is used as cancer therapy. MedStar 

Washington Hospital Center treats more thyroid cancer patients than 

any other hospital in the area, and has one of the largest volumes in the 

United States, attracting patients from all over the world. 

“We focus on three major areas,” said Medical Director Douglas 

Van Nostrand, MD (aka Dr. Van). “Endocrinology for thyroid cancer, cardiac 

imaging for coronary artery disease, and PET-CT for other cancers.” 

Dr. Van said about 30 different studies are used to diagnose or treat 

patients. Each study uses an isotope that can be “packaged” to be delivered 

by pill or through an IV to a specific organ or body system. 

Nuclear medicine is similar to X-ray, in that it takes images inside 

the body. Unlike X-ray, gamma images are used to examine one or more 

functions of organs. For instance, multi-step stress tests are performed to 

look for heart perfusion (proper blood flow) through the heart. Patients first 

are injected with a special isotope that goes to the heart, and an image 

Center spread 

2012 

Super Bowl 

spirit day 

5Focusing 

on People 12 

PERSONALLY 

M A KIN G A DIFFEREN CE 

Lost 

the 

Weight, 

Gained a 

Lifetime 

continued on page 6 

15Know the 

Code: Code 

Yellow 

MarCh/apriL 2012 

vOLuMe 3 nuMBer 2 

Girma Legesse, CnMt, and 

rowena Malaya, CnMt 

trevor Forde, 

administrative 

coordinator 

and program 

coordinator; tasha 

peterson, thyroid 

Clinic coordinator; 

Claudia Green, 

MOaii; tamiko 

ashton, Med MOa 

ii (seated); Joyce 

ervin, nuclear Medicine 

navigator, and robert 

Bailey, MOaii

a message from John sullivan 

Time for Renewal 

Spring came early this year. The weather is already warming 

up. The power of renewal is in the air. At the Hospital 

Center, it has felt like spring for awhile. Everywhere you 

look, people seem reenergized. There’s more to be done, but 

we’ve made excellent progress in a relatively short period of 

time. In all of this, you are making the critical difference. You 

are making our mission your own. And you are personally 

making a difference in the lives of our patients and your 

colleagues. Thank you! 

You may not realize it, but it is a fact that you have 

helped create the blueprint for our change! It stems back 

to our last associate feedback survey. At the time, you said: 

1) We understand how our jobs contribute to the success of 

the Hospital Center, 2) Department teamwork is improving, 

2 CenterFOCus | MArCH/APrIL 2012 

and 3) We are held responsible for 

our performance. These were the 

areas where you felt the most positive 

changes had occurred. In addition, 

you pinpointed three key areas for 

improvement, and we’ve been focused 

on these areas for the past year. The 

purpose of this letter is to let you know the progress we’ve 

made working on your priorities. 

1. You Said: Communication 

Needs Improvement. 

Here’s What We Did: We built an internal structure 

aimed at tearing down communication barriers between 

our frontline associates and leadership. We launched the 

associate newsletter, CenterFocus, named by our staff, 

with an editorial board of our associates. We revamped 

our CenterDaily newsletter, focused on easy-to-follow 

information for you. We started a number of nursing 

communications, including the weekly Nurse Leader’s 

Bulletin, biweekly Center e-Nurse and the quarterly 

CenterNurse newsletter. We developed huddle messages 

every other week for our leaders to share hospital and 

departmental goals and objectives with you. And we 

created a series of posters in the hallway leading to the 

cafeteria that tell the stories behind the achievements of 

associates like you. 

We’ve recommitted to using StarPort, which gives us an 

open channel for listening to your ideas. In the “Our Great 

Ideas” section, you can see suggestions you and your 

coworkers have submitted during my mini-town 

hall meetings and the solutions, as well as how 

quickly we responded. It’s all there — so you 

can follow the progress. I’ve personally 

taken your advice to heart, and real 

change is occurring! To date, I’ve held 

mini-town hall meetings for 97 

departments, and some of our senior 

vice presidents have begun their own 

series of town hall meetings. We are 

fully committed to the creation of a 

“listening and fixing” environment. 

president John sullivan presents Lorelei reyes-Lumpp, rn, 

3C, with his first president’s award for personally Making 

a difference. Lorelei was honored for her commitment to 

her patients, their care and their safety. Lorelei’s unit has 

recognized her for achieving 100 percent in patient safety for 

14 consecutive months. read about Lorelei and see more photos 

from the award presentation at www.facebook.com/whcenter.

2. You Said: Leadership Needs Improvement 

(especially during these uncertain 

economic times). 

Here’s What We Did: Taking cues from your survey 

answers, I pulled together a very strong senior leadership 

team. In addition to existing team members, Dr. Janis 

Orlowski and Cathie Monge, I have added James Hill, 

Douglas Zehner and Susan Eckert, RN. Sue has more than 

30 years experience in nursing at MedStar Washington 

Hospital Center. As a group, this team knows what must be 

done and how to go about doing it. We are focused on the 

following priorities: quality and safety, patient satisfaction, 

associate and physician satisfaction, and financial success. 

YOU are critical to the success of each of these priorities. 

Together, we’re succeeding. In quality and safety, we’ve 

met criteria to earn the Medicare Excellence Award two 

years in a row. We’ve dramatically reduced central line 

infections. Our patient fall numbers are dramatically 

down, and we reduced our mortality rate. For patient 

satisfaction, we’re meeting patient expectations in the 

areas of Communication on Medication and Discharge 

Information. We are moving in the right direction but 

still need some work in the areas of Clean and Quiet 

Environment, Communication with Nurses, Communication 

with Physicians and Pain Control. As far as our financial 

performance is concerned, we are slightly ahead of our 

target. We’ve done this by watching expenses and building 

a strong senior leadership team. 

3. You Said: Teamwork — Between 

Departments — Needs Improvement. 

Here’s What We Did: We focused on removing barriers 

and improving communication between departments. One 

of the best ways to do that — to foster understanding and 

form relationships between departments — is to simply 

trade jobs for a short period. So in November 2010, we 

initiated the Center Partners job shadowing program. 

Leaders from a number of departments “walk a mile in the 

shoes” of our associates in other departments. It is a great 

tool to improve understanding of how the work in one 

department affects others. The program has led directly to 

new working relationships, improved understanding and 

more of the collaborative culture we all seek. Our next 

Center Partners program is scheduled in May. 

We also know we work better as a team when we are 

satisfied with our own individual place on the team. 

So, we’ve made it a priority to improve your workday 

experience, too. During the past year, your department 

leader has discussed the details of your department- 

specific employee survey and worked with you on making 

improvements. This resulted in a document called your 

“Action Plan.” Every department has been working on the 

changes needed to improve its own environment. I believe 

this is the best way for us to improve — to have associates 

and leaders in every area of the hospital work together to 

make this a better place. 

To recognize your importance, we’ve hosted a number of 

celebration events to honor you. The December holiday 

celebration, a service honoring Rev. Martin Luther King, 

Jr., and a fan favorite, Super Bowl Friday, all help foster 

the sense of community many of us seek. More activities 

are planned for Nurses Week and Hospital Week. We also 

want to celebrate your success. To further honor you, we 

expanded our associate recognition program, CenterStars. 

It now includes associates demonstrating safety, as well 

as those exemplifying service. I’ve started meeting our 

CenterStars for lunch so we can get to know each other 

better. In another program, managers nominate associates 

for Lunch with the President, a great way to meet even 

more of you and hear your suggestions. On April 19, I 

presented the first President’s Award for Personally Making 

a Difference to acknowledge Lorelei Reyes-Lumpp, RN, 

of 3C, who has made a measureable difference to the 

organization. I will be giving at least one President’s Award 

each month. 

We take your survey answers seriously. It matters. It makes 

a difference in the organization’s goals as a whole because you 

are personally invested. And it’s reflected in the other measures 

we monitor. Our accomplishments in clinical quality and 

patient safety, in patient satisfaction and even our financial 

success all depend on each of you. It’s gratifying to know that 

listening to you has led to stronger performance in so many 

other areas. 

It comes down to a simple formula. We, as leaders, support 

and empower you to deliver the very best care. Patients then 

go home satisfied. Satisfied patients will come back and even 

send us new patients. New patients lead to new opportunities 

— and new revenue to invest in our future. 

I know the key ingredient in this formula is supporting and 

empowering each of you. That’s why I’ve made it my personal 

objective to really listen and respond to the questions, concerns 

and criticism provided in the associate survey process. 

I hope you’ll agree we’ve made a good start. Together — 

with strong leadership, better communication and most 

importantly, teamwork—we can achieve even more. 

By personally making a difference, you each set the cycle 

of progress in motion. You make us a stronger, more successful 

hospital — a place where you look forward to working every 

day. Renewal is in the air. I want to thank each of you for being 

part of it! 

MArCH/APrIL 2012 | C enterFOCus 

3

4 

Congratulations, 

Congratulations to the newest group of Safety and Service SuperStars for their outstanding work from 

October through December 2011. 

SeRVICe STaRS 

Ghislane Barry, RN, 5D 

Colin Brown, RN, Emergency Department 

Stephanie Brown, NP, Arrhythmia Center 

Sherill Carlson, RN, 4G 

William Clark, Special Police Officer 

angella Clarke, 4F 

Regine Cineas, Human Resources 

Nicholas Ghartey, RN, CCF, 1EIMC 

Renee Jackson, Patient and 

Guest Services 

Bethany Lankford, RN, 4G 

They were recognized by patients, 

visitors and/or colleagues for their 

commitment to the safety and SPIRIT 

values of MedStar Health. SuperStars 

are selected and recognized quarterly 

at leadership meetings. If you know 

an associate or physician deserving 

of this award, submit a StarGram. 

Nomination forms are located 

throughout MedStar Washington 

Hospital Center. 

SuperStars! 

CenterFOCus | MArCH/APrIL 2012 

Shevaun Lewallen, RN 

Emergency Department 

Robert Lowery, MD, MedStar Heart 

Institute, Cardiac Surgery 

emmanuel Mativo, RN, Float Pool 

Jocelin Maxwell, RN, CCF, 2E/2EIMC 

Wesley Richardson, PCT, 2H 

Dionne Ross, RN, 4Ne 

George Sample, MD, Critical Care 

and Trauma Services 

Katherine Spivey, RN, 3E 

Lawanda Taylor-Williams, 

Food and Nutrition Services 

SaFeTY STaRS 

Colin Bonham-Lovett, RN, 2C 

Kendall Hall, Main OR 

Barbara Jackson, RN 

Third Floor Operating Room 

Cassie Kralovec, RN, 4NE 

Maria Martir-Herroro, PharmD 

Clinical Pharmacy 

Hasan McDonnaugh, PharmD 

Clinical Pharmacy 

Fatima Rizvi, PharmD, Clinical Pharmacy 

safety stars (above) 

(L-r) Cassie Kralovec, rn, 4ne; 

hasan Mcdonnaugh, pharmd, Clinical 

pharmacy; Fatima rizvi, pharmd, 

Clinical pharmacy; Kendall hall, 

Main Or; Barbara Jackson, rn, third 

Floor Operating room; Maria Martirherroro, 

pharmd, Clinical pharmacy; 

and Colin Bonham-Lovett, rn, 2C 

service stars (left) 

(L-r) Lawanda taylor-Williams, 

Food and nutrition services; renee 

Jackson, patient and Guest services; 

Wesley richardson, pCt, 2h; shevaun 

Lewallen, rn, emergency department; 

George sample, Md, Critical Care 

and trauma services; regine Cineas, 

human resources; angella Clarke, 4F; 

Ghislane Barry, rn, 5d; dionne ross, 

rn, 4ne; Jocelin Maxwell, rn, CCF, 

2e/2eiMC; Katherine spivey, rn, 3e; 

and nicholas Ghartey, rn, CCF, 1eiMC

anna Moseley 

Phlebotomist 

Laboratory 

When phlebotomist anna Moseley 

takes blood from a patient, she 

gives them something in return: 

a smile. 

Anna works in Washington Cancer 

Institute. “Most of these patients have their 

Gaynell Colbert 

Clearance Financial Representative 

Central Financial Clearance 

Gaynell Colbert has left a trail of 

“good works” since coming to 

work for MedStar Washington 

Hospital Center in 1998. She started 

in Environmental Services, worked 

in Patient and Guest Services, then 

blood drawn frequently, and frankly, would 

prefer to be anywhere else. If you just listen 

to them and laugh with them, it really helps 

them. I often play uplifting songs that make 

them move to the music. It comforts them,” 

she said. 

A MedStar Washington Hospital Center 

employee for 30 years, Anna has worked 

every shift: nights, days, weekends, both 

part-time and full-time. Almost all have been 

connected to the Lab in some way. “I started 

as nurse assistant. Then I worked in Medical 

Records while going to school to become a 

medical technologist,” she said. 

While in school, she learned the 

techniques of phlebotomy (drawing blood), 

and discovered she was good at it and 

liked it, so she changed her career path. 

Anna has worked in the main Lab, then as a 

phlebotomist drawing blood from inpatients 

and outpatients. About seven years ago, she 

transferred to the Cancer Institute. 

Recently, Anna was awarded a SuperStar, 

after she helped a group of cancer patients 

navigate through a change in hospital 

procedure. The change left those patients 

Telecommunications and now in Central 

Financial Clearance, where she is a 

representative in the Endoscopy Suite. 

Gaynell’s shift starts at 6:30 a.m., 

but she is here 10 minutes early, because 

patients arrive early and line up outside 

the Endoscopy Suite. Gaynell opens the 

doors to allow patients to come in and sit 

down. Gaynell said this position is a perfect 

fit for her; she gets to deliver genuine, 

compassionate service to patients and 

visitors, every day. 

Before being employed here, Gaynell 

worked as a home health aide, escorting 

clients to the Hospital Center for their 

treatments. As an outsider, Gaynell said 

she was intrigued by the seamless way the 

Hospital Center was run. Gaynell loved the 

way she and her clients were treated, and 

decided she wanted to work here, too. She 

submitted job applications for three years 

before her determination paid off with a job 

offer. “It was an extremely happy day for 

me,” she recalled. 

focusing on 

people 

without a way to send blood samples every 

month to the University of Arkansas, where 

they are enrolled in a special program. 

One of those grateful patients wrote a 

StarGram about how Anna found a way to 

help them. The patient wrote, “Ms. Moseley 

went beyond the call of duty to help find 

the best and most efficient way to get a 

new system in place, and to elicit the help 

of the personnel in the hospital’s Laboratory. 

I’m sure we would not have been able to get 

this done so smoothly without Ms. Moseley’s 

assistance. She deserves recognition for her 

initiative, devotion to customer service 

and professionalism.” 

Jane andrews, administrative assistant, 

Lab, agrees. She said, “Anna personally 

walks the patients down here. They are so 

grateful. She’s always there for them and 

treats them like family.” 

If you would like to suggest an associate for Focusing on People, 

send your recommendation to hyunjune.lee@medstar.net. 

Gaynell is a self-proclaimed 

champion at melting anxiety and 

building trust. Her dream job is to be 

an ambassador for Hospital Center 

associates. She would like to visit 

departments around the hospital, talk 

with associates and coach them in 

delivering outstanding customer service. 

Dawn McLaughlin, manager, Admissions, 

believes Gaynell would do an excellent 

job in such a role. Dawn was supportive 

and helpful as Gaynell transitioned from 

one position to the next. 

“Gaynell is one of the best employees 

I’ve ever had,” said Dawn. “She is always 

calm, caring, helpful and extremely 

generous with her time. When a customer 

is emotional or aggravated, Gaynell takes 

that opportunity to deliver exceptional 

customer service. That’s when she shines.” 

“I love solving problems,” said 

Gaynell. “Everyone benefits when 

customers are treated with respect 

and kindness.” 


5

Nuclear Medicine 

continued from page 1 

is taken. Then patients run on a treadmill or are stressed through 

medication, followed by a second injection. Forty to 60 minutes later, 

a second image is taken. By comparing the images, physicians can 

look for decreased perfusion, which represents blockage of one or 

more of the heart arteries. 

Tests also look for a variety of other conditions, including 

gastrointestinal bleeding, cancer and gall bladder blockage. Bone 

imaging looks for fractures. 

Innovation and Patient Satisfaction 

The tight-knit department prides itself on innovation and 

patient satisfaction. Wayne Dunkle, director, has conducted patient 

satisfaction surveys since 2001. “Recently we found a company that 

provides a real time survey using an iPad®. The survey only takes a 

minute, and gives us solid information about critical statistics, such 

as wait times, registration process, signage and friendliness of staff.” 

The team learned through surveys that some procedures frightened 

patients. They worked to find a way to ease their anxiety. 

Rob explained, “During a parathyroid scan, a set of images is 

taken, using a camera that rotates around, but does not touch, the 

patient. The procedure can be claustrophobic for some patients, 

causing them to become anxious. We created an explanation guide 

with pictures for this and other exams, to show the patients exactly 

what will happen during procedures. It has lessened their anxiety and 

increased their comfort level.” 

This is a perfect example of implementing Dr. Van’s philosophy 

of “finding solutions to hurdles.” Dr. Van focuses on building 

leadership within the department. His office is filled with ducks that 

are a reminder that staff should not be sitting in the water quacking, 

but looking for ways to improve. He said, “Our technologists have 

been involved in leadership programs since 2003. We’re building a 

quality team with little turnover, which is highly cohesive. We like to 

foster innovation.” 

He continued, “Our staff goes the extra mile to maximize the 

yield of the diagnostic utility of scans. It’s one of the hallmarks of our 

clinic. We do more parathyroid scans than all the other hospitals in 

the D.C. area combined. Why? Because our technique delivers more 

answers. Our equipment and technical staff provide better 

quality images, which lead to improved interpretations. 

The inside joke in our department is that if you can’t 

locate the parathyroid adenoma at another hospital, 

send your patients to us, and we’ll find it.” 

6 CenterFOCus | MArCH/APrIL 2012 

Kanchan Kulkarni, Md, director, 

nuclear endocrinology, and 

douglas van nostrand, Md, 

FaCp, FaCnM, medical 

director, nuclear Medicine 

Front row (L-r) elmo acio, Md, director, nuclear Cardiology, 

and Mark schneider, Md, research coordinator. Back row (L-r) 

Carlos Garcia, Md, director, pet/Ct imaging; shari Moreau, pa, 

associate director; Owen Glister, Md, and Wayne dunkle, director 

Front row (L-r) Felicia afolayan, nuclear Medicine student; 

Meg imig, senior technologist, and taneshia Brown, senior 

technologist. Back row (L-r) dine Badri, floor coordinator; 

rob Blossser, senior technologist and section chief; 

thomas hilson, senior technologist; Jason Willis, senior 

technologist, and Bridgette skelton, senior technologist 

Jeff O’neil, Bsrt, CnMt, pet; Omar Grant, nuclear medicine 

technician assistant; and sabrina Wilber, CnMt, rt (Ct)

Pharmacy “Catch of the Month” 

Is Long-Standing Safety Initiative 

Once a month, about a dozen 

pharmacists gather for the 

Pharmacy Catch of the Month 

meeting in the department’s basement 

conference room. Those attending are 

seasoned pharmacists who report a 

“catch” they or one of their colleagues 

made, or are junior pharmacists getting 

valuable education about clinical 

pharmacy. 

A catch occurs when a pharmacist 

finds an inconsistency or something 

wrong with a medication order. It 

might be the drug is unsuitable for the 

patient, the patient should continue 

taking previously prescribed medications 

while hospitalized, or the patient has a 

life-threatening drug allergy that was 

overlooked. As a result of some recent 

catches, six pharmacists recently were 

named Safety Stars. 

The Catch of the Month meeting 

has elements of “Who wants to be 

a Millionaire,” with Jay Barbaccia, 

PharmD, director, Department of 

Pharmacy, and Jennifer Brandt, PharmD, 

clinical specialist, shooting questions at 

the pharmacists about the submissions. 

While the game-like atmosphere is 

light and there’s a lot of laughter, the 

pharmacists are discussing serious issues 

such as medication reconciliation, cost 

savings to the hospital and patient, 

and even life-threatening patient 

safety concerns. 

“Part of a pharmacist’s job,” 

explained Dr. Barbaccia, “is to evaluate 

the electronic medication orders in the 

context of the patient’s age, sex, weight, 

race, physiologic function, primary and 

secondary disease processes, and drug 

therapy the patient is receiving. The 

pharmacist uses intrinsic knowledge, as 

well as the computer prompts for drug 

allergies, drug interactions or duplication. 

We get about 22,000 alerts a month. Of 

those, about 7,000 require the pharmacist 

to contact the prescriber. That’s usually 

where we find a catch.” 

Pharmacists work in teams to 

evaluate and record medication 

orders. “That way there is 200 percent 

2012 employee Opinion Pulse Check Survey Coming in May 

MedStar Washington Hospital Center is working to improve the associate experience, and needs your help 

to tell us how we’re doing. Take the 2012 Employee Opinion Pulse Check Survey from May 7 to 20. This 

survey will check the “pulse” of our organization, and measure associates’ satisfaction and commitment. 

This 26-question survey is organized into four categories, and the results 

will describe your opinions about: 

1. The quality of the patient care we provide (our core work) 

2. The value of teamwork/employee safety 

3. Leadership (we understand “the business,” and our work is important) 

4. Your overall pride in your work and in MedStar Washington Hospital Center 

The survey will be conducted electronically. The results will be shared with associates and used 

in our continued efforts to improve workplace excellence at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. 

safety 

corner 

standing (L-r) Charlene Chen, pharmd, clinical pharmacist i; dan totleben, pharmd, staff 

pharmacist; pauline Guthrie, pharmd, clinical coordinator; Wafaa abou-Zeineddine, pharmd, 

clinical specialist pharmacist; Minhee Kang, pharmd, pharmacy practice resident; and Kimlee 

smith, pharmd, pharmacy practice resident. seated (L-r) Jennifer Brandt, pharmd, clinical 

specialist pharmacist; Lisa peters, pharmd, BCps, clinical pharmacist i; Jay Barbaccia, pharmd, 

Fashp, director of pharmacy; and helen haileselassie, pharmd, staff pharmacist 

accountability. That’s essential in the 

medication process,” said Dr. Barbaccia. 

The department has held “Catch of 

the Month” meetings for three years. 

“We use it as a teaching opportunity,” 

said Dr. Brandt. “We’re reinforcing basic 

science skills with our newer members 

and getting them to apply those in 

clinical environments.” 

Every month, the various work teams 

submit their best catches. Three are 

selected as a Catch of the Month; one 

is related to safety, one to medication 

reconciliation and the third to finance. 

Dr. Barbaccia said, “This is the practice 

of clinical pharmacy: trying to assure the 

best clinical and financial outcomes.” 


7

2012 Super Bowl Spirit Day 

A different kind of team SPIRIT took hold at MedStar Washington 

Hospital Center just before the Super Bowl, as associates traded in 

suit jackets and scrubs for their favorite NFL team jerseys. 

angela thompson, 5F 

diane harris, rn; Kim sinkford, rn and 

aimee Zeprick, rn, 4C 

8 


alton Mcadoo, 

Food & nutrition 

services 

torina Carter and 

Michelle Long, 

admissions 

ann radley, rn, 

supplemental staffing 

denise al-deen, 

Family health Center

patricia Wiggins and Kim Kelly, 

patient and Guest services 

angie John, rn, 

same day surgery 

deondrea taylor, 

emergency department 

Wanda elane, 

Lab - Chemistry 

Chris pittman, Food 

& nutrition services 

taryn hogan, rn, 4d 

and Walter Murphy, 

engineering 

Barbara Zickafoose, 

Breast Center, and 

ti-hesia rudolph, 

radiation Oncology 

MArCH/APrIL 2012 | CenterFOCus 

9

10 

viewpoints 

How are you Personally Making a Difference 

at MedStar Washington Hospital Center? 

Victor Jones 

Phlebotomist 

Outpatient Lab 

“I personally make a 

difference with my great 

personality, by giving a 

smile to all my patients and 

coworkers.” 

Kim Loften 

Patient & Guest Services 

Representative 

Patient & Guest Services 

“I give directions to our 

patients and visitors 

and escort them to their 

destinations, when needed. I 

also make sure patients who 

need wheelchairs get them.” 

Vickie Jews 

Patient Care Technician 

4NW 

“I always try to do my best. 

I’m friendly, courteous and 

help others whenever I can.” 

Debra arrington 

MOA III 

Breast Imaging Center 

“I serve patients with a smile, 

and ask in a nice gentle 

manner, ‘How may I help 

you?’” 

alicia Turner 

MOA II 

Third Floor OR 

“I make sure patients are 

safe, in a clean environment, 

and happy when they leave 

the facility.” 


emily Miller 

Environmental Services Aide 

Environmental Services 

“I clean the hospital every 

day, and make it presentable 

to visitors, patients and their 

families.” 

Darlene Ruth 

Admitting Representative 

Admitting – Bed 

Management 

“I put patients first, whether 

I’m on the clock or not. When 

I’m here, I’m here to serve. I 

enjoy what I do, which makes 

it easy to help others.” 

amber Pack, RN 

Electrophysiology Lab 

“I treat everyone as a VIP.” 

Daa’iyah Cooke 

Administrative Coordinator 

Women’s and Infants’ 

Services 

“I help people when I see 

they need it, and I always 

give the best service I can.” 

Vincent Winters 

Maintenance Mechanic 

Engineering 

“I’m a team player and I 

assist patients, as needed.” 

ahmad Malik, MD 

Internal Medicine 

“I take the time to talk to 

patients and their families, and 

answer their questions.” 

Gina Price 

MOA II 

Orthopaedic Surgery 

“I do the best job I can to 

put patients first. I provide 

assistance when I see someone 

who needs directions or help.” 

Julie Douglas, RN 

Heart Failure Transplant 

MedStar Heart Institute 

“I try whenever I can to help 

patients with directions and 

find their destinations, so 

they can make it to their 

appointments on time.” 

Michael Gold, MD 

Gastroenterology 

“I make a difference through 

expertise and compassion. You 

have to be good at what you 

do, but you also have to be 

caring. I try to instill that in my 

team.” 

Keisha Weldon 

MOA II 

Women’s Oncology Center 

“I make sure patients have 

everything they need, and I try 

to go above and beyond my 

duties all the time.”

Wrapping Cancer Patients 

in Prayer and Warmth 

It’s a beautiful sight to see — women 

from all walks of life coming together 

for a great cause, wrapping cancer 

patients in prayer and warmth. 

Since 2009, Washington Cancer 

Institute’s Prayer Shawl Ministry program 

has brought these caring people together 

to donate their time, talent and energy, 

as they sit and knit or crochet prayer 

shawls for strangers who are struggling 

with cancer. Their hope is the shawls will 

embrace, inspire, comfort, cover, 

console and celebrate the lives of 

cancer patients. The Prayer 

Shawl Ministry is a non-faith 

based program, established to 

create handmade shawls for 

patients undergoing 

treatment at Washington 

Cancer Institute. 

The shawls get their names 

because prayers are said throughout the 

creation process. The person who knits 

the shawl can say prayers or positive 

affirmations for the individual who will 

receive it. Upon completion, these shawls 

are blessed at the monthly sessions 

before becoming available to recipients. 

Patients can select the item they are 

drawn to, whether by color, fabric 

or shape. 

The Shawl Ministry meets in 

Siegel Auditorium on the fourth 

Monday of each month. As many 

as 20 associates regularly 

attend the sessions. The group 

spends each session hour 

crafting shawls, networking 

and sharing skills. 

Central Patient Transport 

(CPT) is sporting a new look. 

hazel evans, mail room clerk, displays a 

shawl she crocheted for cancer patients. 

“It’s a wonderful group of spirited 

ladies,” said Lorna DeLancy, community 

outreach coordinator, Cancer Support 

Services. “They spend their time, and 

donate yarn, needles and hooks 

that group members use to 

keep the program thriving.” 

(L-R) Milira Allen, Arlette Robinson, 

Bobby Poston, Derrick Allen and Recardo 

Futrell model their new uniforms. The 

MedStar Yellow top and MedStar Blue 

pants replace the all-brown ensemble 

CPT members used to wear. With the 

new uniforms, CPT became the first 

department at MedStar Washington 

Hospital Center to wear uniforms with 

our hospital’s new name and logo. 

Karen richardson, rn, 

Women’s Wellness Center, 

listens as Linda Jackson, 

coding and credentialing 

specialist, department 

of Medicine, admires 

Karen’s handiwork. 


11

12 

spotlight 

Lost the Weight, Gained a Lifetime 

Leatitia Holloway, cardiovascular 

technologist, Cardiac Catheterization 

Lab, didn’t know how serious an 

issue her weight was until she wound up 

in the Emergency Department. A member 

of the Code Blue team, Leatitia was 

responding to a call when she had 

a severe asthma attack. She weighed 

289 pounds. 

Leatitia had considered bariatric 

(weight loss) surgery for several years, 

but this hospitalization was the final 

push. Leatitia had gastric bypass 

surgery in 2001. In eight months, she 

lost 174 pounds. 

“It’s like a new person was unzipped 

and stepped out,” she said. 

For years, Leatitia suffered from 

ankle swelling, joint pain, asthma and 

breathlessness. However, she didn’t 

attribute these conditions to her 

weight. “You don’t realize you have all 

these issues until you don’t have them 

anymore,” she shared. 

Leatitia is no longer a bystander in 

her children’s activities. Since the surgery, 

before 

after 

she now plays and interacts with her kids 

— something she wasn’t able to do before 

without huffing and puffing. 

The Benefits of 

Bariatric Surgery 

Seventy-two million people in the 

United States are obese, according to the 

Centers for Disease Control. Like Leatitia, 

they may not realize other conditions 

caused by being significantly overweight, 

such as sleep apnea (abnormal breathing 

during sleep), breathlessness, achy joints, 

type 2 diabetes and constantly feeling 

unwell. Bariatric surgery can correct 

these issues for many patients. 

Patients who have had the 

procedure have reported overall health 

improvement, waking up refreshed 

because they are no longer troubled by 

sleep apnea, breathing easier and having 

more endurance. Many also have gone 

off medications for conditions caused 

by or made worse by obesity. Bariatric 

surgery may also cure type 2 diabetes. 

National data shows type 2 diabetes is 

before 

reversed in 83 percent of patients who 

undergo gastric bypass, and in 62 percent 

of patients who have had adjustable 

gastric banding. 

Melani Goodman, RN, nurse 

navigator, Melanoma and Skin Oncology 

Center, Washington Cancer Institute, had 

bariatric surgery because she didn’t want 

to develop diabetes, heart disease or high 

blood pressure, which ran in her family. 

She also felt a sense of obligation to her 

patients. At her heaviest, Melani weighed 

290 pounds. 

“I can’t teach them one thing and 

do something different myself. I had to 

tackle my weight,” she said. 

Multiple pregnancies during 13 years 

left their toll on Melani’s body. She tried 

diets and exercise to bring her weight 

down to a pre-pregnancy weight of 180 

pounds. Unable to get lasting results, 

she turned to Frederick Finelli, MD, JD, 

medical director, Operating Rooms, to 

perform bariatric surgery. Her familiarity 

with Dr. Finelli and Hospital Center staff 

gave Melani the confidence to make 

her decision. 

after 

Leatitia Holloway Melani Goodman, RN 

CenterFOCus | MArCH/APrIL 2012

She had gastric bypass surgery in 2009, 

weighing 271 pounds. Four months later, she 

lost 74 pounds. She’s lost even more weight 

since the surgery, and is close to her goal 

weight. Melani watches what she eats and 

exercises three to four times a week. And 

of Dr. Finelli, she says, “He’s my hero.” 

Bariatric surgery is not a quick fix, and 

it requires a great deal of commitment, 

with many lifestyle adjustments, such as 

regular exercise and eating right. However, 

as Timothy Shope, MD, FACS, FASMBS, 

director, Program for Advanced Laparoscopic 

and Bariatric Surgery pointed out, “We’re 

making people healthier and giving them 

a better quality of life — easier breathing, 

sleeping and walking.” 

What Is 

Bariatric Surgery? 

MedStar Washington Hospital Center 

offers four bariatric, or surgical 

weight loss, procedures. Each involves 

making the stomach smaller, therefore limiting 

the amount of food one can eat. 

Gastric bypass – the stomach is divided 

into a small upper pouch, and the small 

intestine is rerouted to bypass the rest of 

the stomach 

Adjustable gastric banding – a band-like 

device is place around the top portion of 

the stomach to create a small pouch 

Sleeve gastrectomy – approximately 75 

percent of the stomach is removed 

Revisional surgery – addresses “failure” or 

complications of a previous procedure 

MedStar Washington Hospital Center is 

the MedStar South leader for bariatric surgery. 

MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center and 

MedStar Montgomery Medical Center also 

offer bariatric surgery services. 

Front row (L-r) John Brebbia, Md; Frederick Finelli, Md; timothy 

shope, Md; and timothy Koch, Md. Back row (L-r) Catina Wood, 

surgical coordinator; nicole Brooks, medical office assistant; 

Kenneth alexander, rn, bariatric nurse coordinator; anyea Lovette, 

rd, dietitian; and Barbara vaughn, administrative manager. 

Meet the Bariatric Surgery Team 

Timothy Shope, MD, leads the bariatric surgery team. 

Extensively trained, and with broad expertise, the team 

includes bariatric surgeons, a gastroenterologist, nutritionist 

and bariatric nurse coordinator. Ours is the only program in the 

Washington, D.C., metropolitan area with a gastroenterologist 

specializing in the long-term management of bariatric patients. 

This expertise is important for monitoring patients for vitamin and 

nutritional deficiencies that can arise after surgery. 

MedStar Washington Hospital 

Center’s health insurance 

provider, CareFirst BlueCross 

BlueShield, now covers the 

treatment costs for morbid 

obesity, including bariatric surgery. 

associates who want to learn if bariatric surgery is 

right for them can call 202-877-7257 to register 

for a free information session. More information is 

available at www.medstarwashington.org/bariatrics. 


13

14 

Celebrating Dr. King’s Legacy 

MedStar Washington Hospital Center honored the life and legacy 

of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at our annual celebration. ABC 7 

News Anchor Leon Harris delivered the keynote address and 

spoke about Dr. King’s impact on his career. He also called the Hospital 

Center the embodiment of Dr. King’s vision, noting our associates with 

multiracial and multicultural backgrounds who work together at all 

levels to serve a diverse patient population. Mosaic Harmony entertained 

the crowd with a musical performance. 

above: Mosaic harmony performs 

Below: aBC 7 news 

anchor Leon harris 

meets Kim Queen, 

learning coordinator, 

Center for innovative 

Learning. Leon spent 

time before and 

after the celebration 

to meet associates 

who are fans of his 

newscasts. 

Left: Leon harris and 

Medstar Washington 

hospital Center president 

John sullivan 

Want to see more photos 

from the Martin Luther King 

Jr. Celebration? Visit the MedStar 

Washington Hospital Center Facebook page to 

view our photo album from the event. While you’re 

there, be sure to “like” us. You won’t want to 

miss your own photo or the latest updates, as we 

celebrate our Hospital Center associates. 


Heart Health 

Commemorative Stamp 

MedStar Washington Hospital Center hosted the 

unveiling of the United States Postal Service’s 

Heart Health commemorative stamp. The U.S. 

Postal Service hopes to raise public awareness about 

the importance of maintaining a healthy heart through 

the Heart Health stamp, which shows a figure running, 

a yellow sun, a leafy green tree icon, a blue swirl 

of a sky, an apple and a heart. Stuart Seides, MD, 

physician executive director, MedStar Heart Institute, 

gave the welcoming speech. 

(L-r) stuart seides, Md, physician executive director, Medstar 

heart institute; Barry Franklin, phd, member, american 

heart association Board of directors; regina Benjamin, Md, 

u.s. surgeon general; patrick donahoe, postmaster general 

and chief executive officer, u.s. postal service; and Michael 

torchia, fitness leader and founder of Operation Fitness. 

NBC4 Health and Fitness expo 

MedStar Washington Hospital Center partnered 

with NBC4 at its annual Health and Fitness 

Expo. Visitors received free health screenings, 

medical and health information, and participated in a 

variety of interactive sports and fitness activities. 

More than 150 Hospital Center associates 

volunteered their time during this two-day event, 

and provided: 

515 glaucoma screenings 

830 melanoma screenings 

1,235 blood pressure/glucose 

Thank you for your generous commitment 

to a great program. 

Medstar Washington hospital Center 

volunteers give visitors vision tests.

What Is a Unit Clerk? 

The unit clerk position in hospitals 

was created during World War II to allow 

nurses more time at the bedside. Since 

then, the unit clerk position has evolved 

from assisting nurses to being a key 

member of a patient care unit. 

In her role as a unit clerk on 

4C, Leola Stokes provides clerical 

assistance, including data entry, medical 

transcription, ordering medical and office 

supplies, answering phones and bed call 

bells, relaying messages to patients and 

medical staff, directing visitors to patient 

rooms, and distributing mail, newspapers 

and flowers. 

Leola has been a unit clerk for 

the past three years on 4C. “My job is 

extremely busy, but rewarding. I know 

I make a difference in the lives of the 

Know the Code – 

Code Yellow 

With the region’s busiest Level I trauma center, 

MedSTAR Trauma, it’s no wonder Code Yellow is 

the most frequently announced emergency code 

at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. In 2010, more 

than 2,600 trauma codes were called. That’s an average of 

219 a month. 

There are four types of trauma codes: Trauma 

Response, Burn Response, Code Yellow and Code Yellow 

Burn. Trauma and burn response are called for the arrival 

and examination of patients with injuries from major motor 

vehicle accidents, falls from heights greater than 20 feet 

and bicycle accidents in which a person loses consciousness. 

Code Yellow and Code Yellow Burn indicate more 

severe injuries, including gunshot and stab wounds, burns 

that affect the airway, and injuries that cause low blood 

pressure, high heart rate and uncontrolled bleeding. A 

compromised airway and altered mental status are also 

reasons for Code Yellows. 

Code Yellow and its variants are called when a patient 

arrives by ambulance or helicopter to MedSTAR Trauma, 

where a coordinated, multidisciplinary team immediately 

treats the patient. Team members include a Trauma 

attending surgeon, code captain (Trauma team leader, 

fourth year surgical resident or Emergency Department 

resident), ED attending, surgical interns and medical 

students, three MedSTAR nurses, two respiratory therapists, 

X-ray technician, trauma prevention and outreach 

coordinator, admissions representative, Decedent Affairs 

associate, Special Police officer and a chaplain. 

patients and visitors as well as the 

medical team. I am here to help,” she 

said. “When I’m at work, I give it my 

best to ensure orders are taken 

promptly. I answer the phone politely 

and communicate patient needs to the 

nurses and patient care technicians in a 

timely manner.” 

Kim Sinkford, RN, nursing director, 

4C, said unit clerks play a vital role in 

making a good first impression. “When 

unit clerks are friendly and smiling, 

it eases the overall environment of a 

nursing unit,” she said. “Despite the 

volume of admissions and discharges and 

demands of the job, the unit clerks on 4C 

have a sense of pride and unit ownership. 

It takes a special person to perform the 

duties of the unit clerk. The ability to 

multitask and produce quality work with 

Leola stokes, unit clerk, 4C 

a smile is at the core of our SPIRIT values. 

Unit clerks are the glue that keeps patient 

care units together.” 

Code yellow team members stand 

ready ahead of the patient’s arrival. 

the multidisciplinary team at work. 


15

postscript 

Capital Bikeshare Is Here 

Biking to work just got a little healthier — Capital Bikeshare is 

now at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. A Bikeshare rack 

has been installed on campus, outside the East Building across 

from the Yellow Parking Garage. More than 140 Bikeshare stations are 

located across Washington, D.C., and Arlington, Va. It’s easy to use: 

Choose a bike from any of these stations and return it to any station 

near your destination. Bikes can be rented by the day or up to a year 

through annual memberships. Go to www.capitalbikeshare.com 

for details. Bikeshare riders and Smartphone users can download the 

“Spot Cycle” app to check availability of bikes at specific locations. 

Remember to follow rules of the road and wear your helmet. 

16 

CenterFOCus is produced by the 

Public Affairs & Marketing department for the 

associates of MedStar Washington Hospital Center. 

Please send suggestions, story ideas and comments to 

WHC-internal.communications @medstar.net. 

MedStar Washington Hospital Center is dedicated to 

delivering exceptional patient first health care. We provide the 

region with the highest quality and latest medical advances 

through excellence in patient care, education and research. 

MedStar Washington Hospital Center, a private, 

not-for-profit hospital, does not discriminate on grounds 

of race, religion, color, gender, physical handicap, national 

origin or sexual preference. 

John Sullivan 

President, MedStar Washington Hospital Cener 

dennis R. wraase 

Chairman of the Board, MedStar Washington Hospital Center 

Kenneth A. Samet, FACHe 

President and CEO, MedStar Health 

Ty Kennon 

Vice President, Public Affairs & Marketing 

Carolyn Hammond 

Director, Publication Services 

Public Affairs & Marketing 

Hyun June lee 

Managing Editor 

Norma Babington 

Vickie dempsey-Hall 

Contributing Writers 

Jennifer Grimes 

Graphic Designer 

CenterFocus editorial Board 

Bret Cameron, Human Resources 

Jason Chandler, Pharmacy 

Nicole Colbert, Public Affairs & Marketing 

Bernadette denis, RN, 2NW 

Trevor Forde, Nuclear Medicine 

Vonda Jones, Women’s and Infants’ Services 

April Thomas, Telecommunications 

Stephen wilcox, Patient and Guest Services 

Vaughn williams, Radiology 

MedStar washington Hospital Center 

110 Irving St., Nw 

washington, dC 20010 

Visit us at www.medstarwashington.org 


system 

spotlight 

MedStar Union Memorial Hospital 

a look at our sister 

MedStar Health 

hospitals and entities. 

In 1854, MedStar Union Memorial Hospital was the second hospital to open in Baltimore. 

(It was then called Union Protestant Infirmary.) It is the only hospital in Maryland to 

receive the Delmarva Foundation Excellence Award for Quality Improvement for five 

consecutive years. Union Memorial is known for orthopedics, sports medicine, heart care 

and the Curtis National Hand Center, which is recognized as the largest, most experienced 

hand center in the nation. 

Key Statistics 

249 beds 

2,146 associates; 623 

affiliated physicians 

14,979 inpatient 

admissions; 105,662 

outpatient visits 

Fun Facts 

A weeping cherry tree on the hospital campus 

was a gift from gangster Al Capone, who was a 

patient there in 1939 

iGuy is the hospital’s mascot; he’s part of the 

hospital’s customer service program called 

iCare Always Begins with Me 

The open heart surgery program recently 

celebrated its 15,000th patient

Nuclear Medicine - Washington Hospital Center

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