Winter 2012 - Cedars-Sinai

WINTER 2012
EXPANDED SCREENINGS
KEEP SENIORS’ HEALTH
ON TRACK
On a recent morning, the Pan
Pacific Senior Activity Center
was jumping, and not just
because of the fitness buffs
exercising in the gym. Seniors
throughout the area were
arriving for their monthly
health screenings staffed by
Cedars-Sinai nurses and lab
technicians who check their
blood pressure, cholesterol and
glucose levels — and also see
how each of the 40 to 50 seniors
who regularly come to the
screenings are getting along.
“We build a relationship with
each patient,” said Gail Millan,
RN-BC, MSN. ”We hear about
their lives, their issues. There’s
a level of trust and recognition,
and it reinforces good
communication with their
healthcare team.”
The screenings, which began
two years ago, originally tested
Inside
continued page 4
CicLAvia makes downtown car free. .....3
Health Express: preventing pertussis. .. 5
Emergency preparedness in the
classroom and at home .......... 6
SUPPORT FOR CANCER SURVIVORS:
Mind, body and spirit
Rushing into the conference room, cancer
survivor Giovanna Imbesi grabbed a seat
and blurted out, “I’m happy to report …
my brain is officially unremarkable!” The
other women broke into applause at the
results of Imbesi’s recent MRI brain scan
indicating the carcinoid neuroendocrine
cancer had not returned. As cancer
survivors meeting weekly to overcome
the challenges of “chemobrain,” the
close camaraderie was evident.
The women are all participating in a
unique six-week series, “Emerging
from the Haze.” The support program is
designed to empower cancer patients
Artwork from the “Tree of Life” sessions in
the cancer survivor’s art therapy workshop,
Expressions of Hope and Healing.
who experience problems with memory
and concentration, called “chemobrain,”
after cancer treatments.
Offered by Cedars-Sinai’s Cancer
Survivorship and Rehabilitation Service,
the class is part of a three-fold program
to help patients recover in mind,
body and spirit. This holistic, personal
approach was designed by Arash Asher,
MD, director of Cancer Survivorship and
Rehabilitation at Cedars-Sinai’s Samuel
Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute.
Asher not only created and oversees the
program, but team teaches “Emerging
from the Haze” with neuropsychologist
Mi-Yeoung Jo, PsyD.
Cancer survivors sometimes must cope
with an array of problems including
muscle weakness, depression, anxiety
and short-term memory loss. Asher’s
innovative programs are designed to
meet their needs.
Emerging from the haze
Chemobrain group sessions usually begin
with each person sharing how her week
has gone, and if she has been able to
apply techniques and lessons learned.
One woman volunteered that she was
able to meditate almost daily in the
mornings, and as a result had an easier
time remembering things. Another noted
continued page 2

EMBRACING OUR COMMUNITY PAGE 2
SUPPORT FOR CANCER SURVIVORS MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT
continued from page 1
that she was making an effort to do
only one thing at a time, otherwise
she could never finish anything. She
identified music as a distraction. “My
focus was on the music, rather than
having it in the background.” The
hard part she said was telling her son
to “turn off the music!” Both women
talked about the challenges of dealing
with family members who can’t
relate to someone who needs time to
meditate, or to focus on one thing at a
time, rather than multi-tasking. Those
who could relate, nodded and smiled.
Cancer survivor Carol Parks with Arash Asher, MD.
Jo showed a brief video about ways to
enhance memory. Afterward, the group
engaged in memory-building exercises.
“As we practice over and over, we can
develop new (memory) skills, regardless
of where we are right now,” Asher
emphasized, offering encouragement.
The healing energy of art
In the calm conference room, soft
strains of music accompany the six
people at the table working quietly on
their art while sipping herbal tea and
enjoying slices
of fresh fruit.
In the heart of
Cedars-Sinai’s
Samuel Oschin
Cancer Center,
this soothing
and supportive
atmosphere
is created by
Expressions
of Hope and
Healing, an
art therapy
class. This is
the second
component of
the revolutionary
cancer
rehabilitation
program
developed by
Asher: “To
heal the whole
cancer patient
— to get them
back to their
highest quality
of life.”
It’s an approach that’s never been
more relevant. According to the
National Cancer Institute, the
population of cancer survivors is
approaching 12 million, or 3 percent
of the U.S. population. And the overall
five-year survival rate for all cancers
combined is 67 percent. As optimistic
as these numbers are, it also means
that more people than ever are facing
a long-term struggle with cancer’s
residual issues. Taking heed of these
numbers, Cedars-Sinai has taken
an active role to create programs
and support services that address
quality of life issues affecting this
growing population.
The eight-week art class is one very
important way in which the healing
begins, gains strength and carries the
patient forward to a new way of living
his or her life. Led by artist and 14-year
cancer survivor Flori Hendron, who
found that her own once-frail condition
started to improve when she resumed
painting, Expressions of Hope and
Healing creates a safe haven where
patients can find meaning in their
cancer experience by creating art.
Hendron references The Hero’s
Journey from Joseph Campbell’s 1949
bestseller, “The Hero With a Thousand
Faces,” to help the members of her
class confront fear, cultivate strength
and sustain a positive approach to the
experience. Whether they’re designing
Mandalas, the Hindu symbol for
enlightenment and ultimate healing,
or participating in a unique, two-part
session in which each patient creates
his or her own “Tree of Life,” the idea
continued next page

CICLAVIA MAKES DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES
CAR FREE AND FREEWHEELING
Imagine Los Angeles without cars.
For five sun-filled hours on a Sunday
morning in October, the streets
of downtown Los Angeles were
transformed into 10.5 miles of car-free
streets, open for walking and bicycling.
The atmosphere was festive as an
estimated 130,000 people joined in the
fun of the second annual CicLAvia.
With 36 nurses staffing six first aid
stations, treating scrapes and other
medical needs along the route, “the
people of Cedars-Sinai are here taking
care of the people of Los Angeles,”
said Linda Burnes Bolton, DrPH, RN,
FAAN, vice president and chief nursing
officer. Additionally, Cedars-Sinai
served as an organizing partner of
this year’s event with the City of Los
Angeles, METRO, Choose Health LA
and the Los Angeles County Bicycle
Coalition.
From Chinatown to El Pueblo de Los
Angeles to MacArthur Park, “everyone
who stops by is so happy that we’re
here,” said Burnes Bolton, “and
so are we.”
After taking a tumble from his bike, Greg
Guillermo receives cold packs and a sling
from Cedars-Sinai RNs.
An organizing partner of CicLAvia 2011, Cedars-Sinai sent 36 RNs from the Medical Center to
staff six first-aid stations along the 10.5-mile downtown L.A. Route.
SUPPORT FOR CANCER SURVIVORS, continued from page 2
is to move forward in the survival
process “in steps that cycle back into
living life.”
Strength, Endurance and
Empowerment
The third element in the program,
Cancer Exercise Recovery, addresses
physical issues with a specially tailored
exercise program with a personal
trainer designed to give cancer patients
the strength, endurance and independence
necessary to function at their
maximum level.
“Research shows that physical activity
after cancer treatment helps reduce
fatigue, as well as increase strength
and endurance,” Asher said. “But this
program does more than strengthen
after-cancer bodies. It empowers
the participants in every aspect of
their lives.”
Asher regularly receives emails and
letters from those who have benefited
from one or more of the support
programs. Carol Parks, who lives in
the Windsor Hills area of Los Angeles,
emailed Asher about her experience
taking the art workshops. “Flori’s
classes were liberating. As a result …
I’ve begun a path of self-rediscovery
that I hope will help me move forward in
my recovery and sustain my remission.”

Senior Screenings Focus on Diabetes and Heart Health
continued from page 1
only for blood pressure, then
were expanded to meet specific
health needs of area seniors.
Today, Cedars-Sinai offers medical
screenings in 13 underserved
communities throughout Los Angeles.
“We had constant requests to check
“The card is a great
opportunity to
educate people
about diabetes,
nutrition and weight
management.”
—Logan Williams
associate director,
Cedars-Sinai Community
Health and Education
for cholesterol and glucose. Now we
have a test that takes just a little more
than two minutes to provide total
cholesterol and glucose levels,” said
Logan Williams, associate director,
Community Health and Education.
Another valuable part of the program
is a personalized Health Information
Card given to each senior. “The card is
a great opportunity to educate people
about diabetes, nutrition and weight
management. Seniors bring it back
every month. It tracks their history
and they can also show it to their
doctor,” Williams said. Cedars-Sinai
also provides a physician and clinic
referral system for those without a
regular doctor.
Seniors take an active role in maintaining their health at Cedars-Sinai’s free monthly
screenings for blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol.
And seniors are spreading the word.
“Someone went through the screening
process and came back with a friend.
It doesn’t get much better than that.
That is the measure of success,”
Millan said.
One more measure of success is seen
as seniors focus on health
and change their habits.
Los Angeles resident Alicia
Lampano said, “My eating
habits have changed. Before
(the screenings) I would eat
anything. Now I’m more
watchful. I eat more fruits.
I eat salad for my blood
pressure.” Another screening
regular, Miriam Netkin, 91,
also made changes. “Thanks
to these tests, I have slowed
down, and I’m taking it a little bit
easier.” Marty Hillman, 83, pays close
attention to the results on his health
information card. “I show these to
my doctor when I go in to see him.
It makes me feel good that I know
nothing’s wrong.”
Bilingual Cedars-Sinai RNs who volunteer at monthly
senior health screenings know that caring is the same
in every language.

EMBRACING OUR COMMUNITY PAGE 5
HEALTH EXPRESS: Four
things you should know to
prevent pertussis
Following these important steps
will help keep the whole family
safe from pertussis.
COACH Puts the Brakes on Pertussis and
Gets Kids Back to School
1The Tdap vaccine
is recommended for
pre-adolescents
age 11-12. Infants
should have
pertussis
vaccinations
at 2, 4, 6 and
15 months
of age.
2Keep accurate records of children’s
vaccine history, and
immunize any adults
in the house who
might have let their
protection lapse.
A returning middle school student gets a newly mandated back-to-school immunization.
3
4
Newborns
Wash your hands. Hand
hygiene is one of the
most effective ways
of preventing
the spread of
the pertussis
bacteria.
should be
kept at home, safely
away from public
places where
pertussis bacteria
might be on the
move.
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious bacterial infection
of the respiratory tract that is experiencing a significant resurgence in California,
with the state reporting its largest increase in cases since 1955.
Infants and young children up to age 10 are most vulnerable to the disease,
which is often transmitted by adults and older siblings. As a result, state health
officials mandated a new policy for returning middle and high school students:
no shot – no school.
The new policy resulted in students lining up as early as 5:45 a.m. on an August
morning outside the Monroe Middle School, in Inglewood, waiting for Cedars-Sinai’s
COACH for Kids and Their Families ® mobile pediatric clinic, a program of the Maxine
Dunitz Children’s Health Center. Health professionals were offering the Tdap vaccine
(a combination vaccine that prevents tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) free of
charge to Monroe students, as well as other area middle school students.
“Cedars-Sinai provides an invaluable service to families that don’t have the resources
or the time to get their kids immunized. For a mobile unit to come to them is such a
great thing,” said Brent Tilley, Monroe’s principal. Immunization is an urgent health
issue, one that Cedars-Sinai is addressing in underserved communities throughout
Los Angeles.

Emergency preparedness in the classroom and at home
Cedars-Sinai’s Community Health Initiatives team recently donated 36 emergency
backpacks to Queen Anne Place Elementary School in Los Angeles’ Mid-Wilshire
district. Designed to equip every classroom with basic first-aid supplies, the
backpacks were presented at an all-school assembly where students learned
emergency tips from Ryan Tuchmayer, Cedars-Sinai’s disaster/surge coordinator.
Vital tips included:
Create an emergency kit at home. Contents should include:
• First-aid kit
•
• Flashlight
Portable radio
• Batteries
Develop an emergency plan for home and family similar to the one at
school. Know the answers to these key questions:
• What do you do during an emergency?
• Where do you go?
• Whom can you call?
Practice implementing the plan and using the emergency kit so that you are
ready when an emergency strikes.
Presenting the emergency backpacks were (from left)
Cindy Levey, associate director, Community Health
Initiatives, Cedars-Sinai; and from Queen Anne Place
Elementary, Rowel Salvador, principal; Jeanette Ward,
former Healthy Start coordinator; and Ashley Benjamin,
PhD, intervention coordinator.
Young students eagerly await
the assembly on emergency
preparedness.
Contact Information
For more information about this newsletter,
please contact Cindy Levey, MPH, associate
director, Community Health Initiatives,
(323) 866-2997, or cindy.levey@cshs.org.
Caring for Our Community
Meeting the health needs of the wider
community has been an integral part of
Cedars-Sinai’s mission for more than 100
years. The Medical Center is actively working
to improve the health of the most vulnerable
in our community. As a leading nonprofit
hospital, our commitment to community
benefit can be clearly seen in three
key areas:
• Providing access to essential healthcare
for those in greatest need, including the
uninsured and underinsured;
• Empowering communities to become
healthier through vital prevention programs
and services in public schools, senior
centers, mobile clinics and more;
• Offering education and research programs
to prepare the next generation of
healthcare professionals, and expand the
horizons of medical knowledge.