Spring 2008 - Memorial Hospital of South Bend

SPRING / SUMMER 2008
We’re Celebrating 15 Years
of Tithing at Memorial
CHANGING
LIVES
www.qualityoflife.org

SPRING / SUMMER 2008
Changing Lives,
One Story at a Time
Celebrating 15 years
of tithing at Memorial
12-13
16-17
6-8
Performance
Excellence
Hits the Mark
Six Sigma training
improves quality of care
Designing the
Formula for
Healing
Memorial Children’s
Hospital joins the
Center for Health
Design’s Pebble
Project
YOU COULD WIN!
Qualify to win a $50 American
Express gift card by taking our
two-minute online survey at
www.qualityoflife.org/pulse.
CONTENTS
3-5 News Briefs
Mixed Berry-Almond Gratin
Eat a Rainbow
Homegrown Goodness
WOW! Projects Gone Wild
Office Opens in Valparaiso
Boomers & Beyond
MMG Welcomes New Doctors
6-8 Changing Lives, One Story at a Time
Celebrating 15 years of tithing at Memorial
9 An Investment in Our Future
Memorial Medical Group’s Clinical Research Institute
10 Get to Work, Michiana!
Memorial Center for Occupational Health keeps workers on the job
1a-12a Generosity at Work in Our Community
Memorial Health Foundation recognizes its generous benefactors
11 A New Era
New surgical suites part of Memorial’s largest-ever expansion project
12-13 Performance Excellence Hits the Mark
Six Sigma training improves quality of care
14 MEDPOINT® express SM
Get in. Get out. Get well.
15 Comfort When It’s Needed Most
The Ronald McDonald Family Room
16-17 Designing the Formula for Healing
Memorial Children’s Hospital joins the Center for Health Design’s
Pebble Project
18 Read the Label
What to know about nutrition facts before you shop
19 Classes & Services
On the cover:
Beverly Milon, sickle cell coordinator at Memorial’s Office of Minority Health
PULSE is a biannual publication of Memorial Health System. Memorial Health System is a community-owned health care system providing services for people and families throughout
Michiana. Philip A. Newbold, President & CEO; Cheryl Wibbens, M.D., Medical Director; Maggie Scroope, Print Publications Coordinator; Dayna Bammerlin, Designer; Matt Graham, Designer;
Ryan Lafferty, Creative Director; Kris Hosbein, Contributing Writer. Memorial Health System, 615 N. Michigan St., South Bend, IN 46601. 574-647-6800, www.qualityoflife.org. Copyright
© 2008 by McMurry. All rights reserved. Information in this publication is not intended for the purpose of diagnosing or prescribing. Consult your physician before undertaking any form
of medical treatment and/or advice contained in this publication. If you are receiving multiple copies, need to change your mailing address or do not wish to receive this publication, please
send your mailing label(s) and the updated information to McMurry, 1010 E. Missouri Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85014. 888-626-8779.
02 Memorial Health System • 574-647-6800
Printed on recycled paper

Mixed Berry-Almond Gratin
Ingredients
∞⁄Ω c. slivered almonds (1∞⁄¬ oz.)
∞⁄∏ c. granulated sugar or Splenda Granular
2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
pinch of salt
1 large egg
∞⁄Ω c. firm silken low-fat tofu
1 Tbsp. butter, softened
∞⁄¬ tsp. pure almond extract
3 c. mixed berries, such as raspberries,
blackberries and blueberries
confectioners’ sugar for dusting
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 F. Coat a 1-quart gratin
dish or a 9-inch pie pan with cooking spray.
Spread almonds in a shallow baking
pan and bake until light golden and fragrant,
4 to 6 minutes. Let cool.
Place sugar (or Splenda), flour, salt
and almonds in a food processor; process
until finely ground. Add egg, tofu, butter
and almond extract; process until smooth.
Spread berries evenly in the prepared
gratin dish. Scrape the almond mixture
over the top, spreading evenly.
Bake the gratin until light golden and
set, 40 to 50 minutes. Let cool for at
least 20 minutes. Dust with confectioners’
sugar and serve warm.
Makes 6 servings.
Nutrition information per serving:
Calories, 195; Fat, 7 g (saturated, 2 g);
Carbohydrates, 30 g; Protein, 4 g;
Fiber, 4 g; Sodium, 48 mg
Recipe from The EatingWell Diabetes Cookbook (The
Countryman Press, 2005)
Eat a Rainbow
Take a look at your dinner plate. Is the food vibrant and colorful
If not, you may not be getting all the nutrients you need. That’s because the more colorful the food, the
more nutrients it usually has. Eating a variety of colors will help you nourish your body with the
vitamins and minerals it needs.
Red Orange/Yellow Green Blue/Purple White
Rich in:
Lycopene—a
potent antioxidant,
which may protect
cells from damage
that could lead to
cancer
Rich in:
Beta carotene—
an antioxidant
important in vision,
reproduction, bones
and more
Rich in:
Lutein—a
carotenoid known
for supporting
eyes and skin
Rich in:
Antioxidants—
may protect cells
from damage
that could lead
to cancer
Pink grapefruit Carrots Broccoli Blueberries Bananas
Tomatoes Pumpkin Peas Eggplant Potatoes
Watermelon Sweet potatoes Spinach Grapes Turnips
Rich in:
Allicin—a powerful
antibacterial and
antifungal linked to
blood vessel health
IT’S WHAT’S ON THE INSIDE
Weight management classes at Memorial’s Health Discovery Center can teach you
the best ways to incorporate the vitamins and minerals you need into a healthy,
delicious diet. For more information, call 574-647-6880.
Homegrown
Goodness
Most produce is picked
four to seven days before
landing in the grocery
store—and that’s assuming
it was grown in the
United States. Buying
locally grown produce
means fresher fruits and
vegetables that also may
contain less pesticides
and additives.
Locally grown food can
be found at farmers
markets, food co-ops
and even the farms themselves.
To locate direct
sellers in your area, visit
localharvest.org.
SPRING / SUMMER 2008 › www.qualityoflife.org
03

Our WOW! project champions have
imagined amazing new ways to create
powerful and meaningful patient
experiences. – Colleen Sweeney
The Wizard Masters from left:
Memorial Health System President and
CEO Philip A. Newbold; Vice President
for Marketing and Innovation Strategy
Diane Stover; Vice President for Quality
and Safety Ken Anderson, D.O.; Memorial
Health Foundation Vice President Reg
Wagle; and Memorial Health System Senior
Vice President and COO Mike O’Neil.
providers. The MLRG addresses the
challenge of a recent 140 percent
growth in the local Latino population.
MLRG team members can also train
offi ce staff in cultural issues.
property will be developed to include
a 100-bed hospital able to be
expanded to 250 beds with
emergency care, urgent care and a
variety of outpatient services.
PULSE › Memorial Health System › 574-647-6800
WOW! Projects
Gone Wild
Memorial team members
WOW! with innovative ideas
More than 100 WOW! project
champions have re-imagined the ways
Memorial provides world-class care.
Newbie-to-DO-BE
Nursing shortages are a big problem
across the nation, and Memorial is no
exception. Newbie-to-DO-BE is a
three-part program developed by
Memorial nurses Janet Sipp, Nancy
Miller, Carol Eddy and Diane Parmelee
to obtain, train and retain the best and
brightest nurses. These sessions for
senior and graduate nursing students
include one-on-one coaching and
internship programs.
Memorial Language
Resource Group
Recognizing another growing need in
the community, Terri Skaggs and
Leonora Battani developed Memorial
Language Resource Group (MLRG)
providing Spanish interpretation and
translation to local health care
“Our WOW! project champions have
imagined amazing new ways to create
powerful and meaningful patient
experiences at Memorial,” says
Director of Innovation and Customer
Service Colleen Sweeney.
Office Opens
in Valparaiso
Valparaiso Office Coordinator
Tammy Jindra
Memorial Health System has opened
an offi ce in Valparaiso to coordinate
the various activities related to the
new hospital project now in the
planning stages.
Memorial closed on the purchase of
53 acres near the intersection of
Route 49 and Burlington Beach Road
in Valparaiso. The plan is that this
Memorial leaders are now working
with physician groups throughout
Northwest Indiana to gather input
about appropriate clinical services and
preventive wellness programs that are
needed in the area. The new facility,
targeted for completion in 2010, will
be owned and operated by Memorial
Health System in partnership with
participating local physicians.
The offi ce can be reached by calling
219-476-9061. For more information,
visit www.newcarechoices.org.
Medical Services under Review
for the New Health Park
Cardiology
Diagnostic Services
Emergency Care
General Pediatrics
General Surgery
Home Health Care
Neurological Surgery
Obstetrics
Oncology
Orthopedics
Physical Therapy
Physician Offi ce Space
04

NEWS BRIEFS
learning and security for
the future, Holy Cross
Village is a great option
for those seeking an
active, independent
lifestyle with services and
amenities to keep the
mind and body young.
“We’ll also offer group exercise classes
like yoga, low-impact aerobics,
stretching and fl exibility classes for
all levels.”
Holy Cross resident and former Boston
Celtic Ed Ehlers works out with H&LC
fitness specialist Angela King.
Boomers & Beyond
Memorial helps maintain
quality of life for seniors
Holy Cross Village at Notre Dame is fast
becoming northern Indiana’s premier
continuing care retirement community.
Offering residential living, lifelong
One way to keep feeling
your best is to train with
Memorial’s Health &
Lifestyle Center (H&LC)
fi tness experts now
staffi ng the health and fi tness center at
Holy Cross Village’s André House.
“Our fi tness specialists will be there 20
hours a week to help with orientation,
personal training, massage therapy or
to answer questions,” says H&LC fi tness
manager Elizabeth McKinley.
Are You at Risk
Find out if you’re at risk for heart
disease and receive a free
screening by using the Heartaware
Risk Evaluation online at:
www.qualityoflife.org/heartaware
Heartaware takes about 10
minutes to complete and is
completely free of charge.
Memorial Medical Group Welcomes New Doctors
If you’re looking for a family
doctor, please feel free to call
one of these caring physicians
who would be glad to help you
and your family meet your
health care needs. For a
complete list of Memorial
Medical Group physicians,
please visit www.qualityofl ife.org
and click on “Find a Physician.”
Memorial Medical Group is
an affi liate of Memorial
Health System.
Karen Davis, M.D.
Navarre Pediatric Group
Michelle Klawiter-Benton, M.D.
Portage Road Medical Group
Thomas Felger, M.D.
Med-Point at
Schwartz-Wiekamp Medical Group
Dale Patterson, M.D.
E. Blair Warner Family
Medicine Center
Faiz Khan, M.D.
LaPorte Medical Group
Modupe Popoola, M.D.
Med-Point at
Main Street Medical Group
SPRING / SUMMER 2008 › www.qualityoflife.org
05

CHANGING LIVES,
ONE STORY AT
Celebrating 15 Years of Tithing at Memorial
PULSE › Memorial Health System › 574-647-6800
THE MAKING OF A MISSION
“Somebody had a mission,” says Beverly Milon,
sickle cell coordinator at Memorial’s Office of
Minority Health.
Milon has firsthand knowledge of Memorial’s
comprehensive approach to health, as there was a
time in her life when she had to rely on some of the
community programs Memorial actively participates
in through tithing.
“I went through a lot in my life, but we got through
it,” says Milon. “We were always blessed with the
resources we needed. This community has been really
good to me.”
Milon now works with families living with sickle cell
disease, helping them find social services and financial
resources when the illness keeps parents from work.
Being able to work in that capacity is a dream for Milon.
BUILDING A HEALTHY COMMUNITY
It was 15 years ago when Memorial’s board of trustees
made the unique decision to be one of the first
hospitals in the country to tithe 10 percent of net
revenues each year for the development of community
health programs. By building and investing in health,
Memorial was inspired to establish a bold vision: to
create the healthiest community in the nation.
Memorial Health System President and Chief Executive
Officer Philip A. Newbold calls tithing an accelerator
to a healthier community. For one thing, it inspires
other potential donors. “If you have the resources and
you don’t contribute, who else will want to”
DOING IS LEARNING
From the beginning, Memorial’s board decided it
wouldn’t just go forth and do good, but that it would
collaborate and harvest the learnings of these new
programs, and that this learning would be at least as
06

important as the programs themselves. All programs
would be built on a broad framework that could be
duplicated by any hospital.
“Our learning has stimulated a level of connectivity
in our community that I know wasn’t here in 1992,”
says Memorial Health Foundation Vice President
Reg Wagle. “That’s the most important thing that
tithing has accomplished here at home.”
GREAT IDEAS ATTRACT GREAT RESOURCES
Believing in the incredible resources of our community,
Memorial feels that all of the resources it needs to
address certain issues (education, drug addiction, teen
pregnancy), are, for the most part, already here in our
community, and that if you choose the right partners,
all kinds of incredible things can happen.
A TIME
“If I had to sum up one thing that makes me feel most
strongly about tithing, it’s how it has helped outside
community organizations seek new solutions to old
problems,” says Rose Meissner, president of the
Community Foundation of St. Joseph County and former
Health Foundation board member. “Memorial was there
for the Community Foundation as we were forming. It
was a place we could turn as we launched new initiatives.”
EVERYTHING HAS A PURPOSE
Having been through various Memorial sponsored
programs, Milon is familiar with the St. Joseph
County Women, Infants, & Children (WIC) program
(Memorial has served as its manager and primary
sponsor for 17 years), the Women’s Care Center (cosponsored
by Memorial Hospital) and Beds & Britches,
Etc. (B.A.B.E.), where she received diapers, clothes
and the formula she needed for her baby after
returning to work.
“Memorial understands that through these programs,
they’re investing in and building healthy communities,”
says Milon. “If it were not for some of the services
provided to me, my son may not have had the
opportunity to choose to attend law school later on
in life.”
SPREADING THE WORD
Along with volunteering at her church, traveling to
local high schools to educate young people about
sickle cell disease, providing referrals and helping
applicants navigate through complex services, Milon
also took the time to speak at one of Memorial’s most
recent Community Plunges ® .
“One of the things Memorial is most well known for
across the country are community plunges,” says former
Vice President of Community Affairs Carl Ellison.
Developed and supported by Memorial Health System
through Margo DeMont, Executive Director of
Memorial’s Community Health Enhancement,
community plunges bring together community leaders
to discuss various topics. These events have helped
shape the way Memorial’s leaders think. “You get a
school principal next to a police chief, next to a doctor,
next to a mayor, and you really get to know what’s
going on in a particular community,” says DeMont.
At a recent plunge focusing on predatory lending,
Milon courageously shared her story of a lending
broker who approached her about an investment.
She invested her money into a real estate venture
that would provide low-income families with quality,
affordable housing.
“As time went on I got more and more letters from the
mortgage company, asking where their money was.
Once I realized that he had taken the money, I decided
that the best way was to sell these homes and break
even. That’s when I discovered that the loans I took out
exceeded what the homes were worth,” says Milon.
“That was a very disappointing time in my life. These
families couldn’t stay there as their houses had hidden
problems that were too big to fix. They didn’t have any
place to go, and that was just heartbreaking for me,”
says Milon.
07

2000 Hoosier Healthwise Enrollment
1999 DOVE Project
2004 Doula program
1992 B.A.B.E.
1996 Literacy Council
2007 Covey for Teens
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
1997 Baby Think It Over
2005 Apple A Day Clinic
1993 African American Women in Touch
2003 WomenBuild, Habitat for Hummanity
This timeline shows just a sampling of dozens of
important tithing landmarks over the last 15 years.
2000 HealthWorks! Kids’ Museum
2007 Volunteer Provider Network
“When I came to South Bend, I moved into a
shelter—and I didn’t want my life to end up like
that again. I didn’t want that to happen to these
families either,” adds Milon.
Milon’s story is just one of thousands that have
unfolded as a result of Memorial’s commitment to
community health enhancement and tithing.
When looking back on his years as CEO, Newbold
PULSE › Memorial Health System › 574-647-6800
Years later, Milon has not only taken what
she’s learned from life experiences but,
much like Memorial, has turned that
learning into a positive for her community.
“People really need to know that there is
help, and that you can overcome negative
experiences. There are programs and people
out there who want to help you,” says
Milon. “When you make mistakes you learn from
these mistakes and you become more powerful as
you try to help others.”
“We reach out to families every day by providing
needed information on resources. These families
share this information with their friends and other
family members,” adds Milon. “If you want to build
a great community, the focus needs to be on the
whole family. That’s what Memorial is so good at.”
“
People really need to know that there is
help, and that you can overcome negative
experiences. There are programs and people out
”
there who want to help you.
notes that tithing is one of the things he’s most
proud of in his 20 years at Memorial. “You always
get back more than you give. And for as much as
we’ve done—we’ve gotten so much more back.”
Invest wisely in the health of your community by
learning from Memorial’s triumphs (and mistakes).
A catalog of Learning Histories is available online
at www.qualityoflife.org/ich.
08

An Investment
Memorial Medical Group’s
in Our Future Clinical Research Institute
Memorial’s highly successful and
growing Clinical Research
Institute (CRI) continues to
make great strides in the
advancement of medicine.
“We’re no longer the new kids on
the block,” says Kim Emmons,
R.N., nurse manager of Memorial’s
Clinical Research Institute. “We’ve
established ourselves as a highquality,
nationally recognized
research department.”
Just three years since its inception,
the CRI has developed a national
reputation, with pharmaceutical
and research companies courting
Memorial’s physicians—instead
of the other way around.
“Clinical research is not only good
for Memorial as an organization, it’s
very positive for patients and the
greater community as well,” says
G. Larsen Kneller, M.D., medical
director at LaPorte Medical Group.
Those who attempt to qualify for
a trial receive a complete physical,
follow-up exams, lab work,
procedures and medicine, free
of charge. Even those who don’t
qualify for the trial walk away
with valuable health information.
“A national company recently
came to us because they wanted
to work with Memorial
Interventional Radiologist
Gerard Duprat, M.D., to test an
investigational stent device for
aortic aneurysms,” says Emmons.
“Nicholas Straniero, M.D., has also
made a name for himself nationally
as the lead enrolling investigator on
a rheumatoid arthritis study.
Research companies are seeking us
out as a research center now.”
“It’s a continued growth situation
for us as health care providers,”
says Emmons. “Not only are
physicians and nurses increasing
their knowledge, they’re also giving
their patients the opportunity to
receive cutting-edge medicine.”
“I appreciate the quality nursing
time spent with patients during
the course of their participation,”
says Clinical Research Nurse
LuAnn Tracey, R.N., when speaking
about her own experiences with
clinical research.
Memorial Health System is also
establishing itself as a high quality
HIV/AIDS study center with
Brandon Zabukovic, M.D.
“We were involved in a study
looking at patches to treat HIVassociated
peripheral neuropathy,”
says Dr. Zabukovic. “HIV is
interesting because it is intellectually
stimulating from a complexity issue.
HIV patients have unique and
rare complications.”
Brandon Zabukovic, M.D., sees patients at Memorial
Neighborhood Health Center – Central Clinic.
“These wide-ranging clinical trials
bring new knowledge and expertise
to our physicians and into the
community, providing people with
more advanced care,” says Michael
Gordon, executive director of
Memorial Medical Group. “We
want to provide for our diverse
community by doing whatever we
can to make them healthier, now
and into the future.”
Think you might be interested in
participating in a clinical trial
See the latest ongoing trials by visiting
www.qualityoflife.org/clinicalresearch or
by calling 574-647-7883.
SPRING / SUMMER 2008 › www.qualityoflife.org
09

Eric Wohlrab, M.D., consults with workers
at Lock Joint Tube (left) and the Northern
Indiana Commuter Transportation District.
GET TO WORK, MICHIANA!
Memorial Center for Occupational Health keeps workers on the job
PULSE › Memorial Health System › 574-647-6800
Leaders, managers, human resource
executives, anyone who helps
keep Michiana businesses up and
running, all know that employees
who are physically and emotionally
healthy make a strong and
productive organization.
From equipment issues to chemicals,
asbestos, needle sticks, burns, falls
and more, Memorial’s Center for
Occupational Health (COH) does
whatever it takes to help employers
protect workers in the workplace.
“Employees are the number one
resource companies have,” says
Occupational Medicine Specialist
Eric Wohlrab, M.D., MPH, M.S.,
FACOEM. “That’s why we really try
to limit the time employees are away.
We get them in and out of the door
as quickly and safely as possible.”
From a human standpoint there’s no
better way to tell your employees
you care than to provide the safest
work environment and the best
medical care possible. From a
business standpoint, an investment
in human capital returns $3 for
every $1 invested.
Along with treating common (and
not so common) workplace ailments,
Memorial’s COH also provides
preventive services to help keep
workers well in the first place.
“Our passion as a clinic is really
in prevention,” says Dr. Wohlrab.
“You can find anyone to put
stitches in, but we can also take
you through your workplace and
discuss ways you can protect the
health of your employees.”
One of the more innovative ways
Memorial’s COH fulfills this
promise is through its WorkSAFE
Ergonomics Program, which
provides on-site consultation and
evaluation to help reduce workplace
injuries caused by repetitive tasks.
Dr. Wohlrab adds, “We’re a clinic
without walls. If we stayed within
the confines of this building we’d
be missing 50 percent of what
occupational health is all about.”
With 2,500 clients, Memorial’s
COH has expanded to include
Memorial’s four Med-Point clinics
to better meet the needs of clients.
“Serious injuries such as significant
burns, falls from heights, much
of that happens after hours. The
after-hours service provided by
Med-Points helps us out tremendously,”
says Occupational Medicine
Specialist Melinda Dy, D.O., MPH,
ABFM, ACOEM.
While working autonomously,
occupational health physicians are
also required to adhere to federal,
state and local laws enforcing
workplace safety, all while working
with the employer and the employee.
“Each day is different. We could
have 20 people scheduled and end
up seeing 90 people that day,” adds
Dr. Dy. “It’s definitely a unique and
challenging work environment.”
Memorial Center for
Occupational Health
2301 N. Bendix, Suite 500
South Bend
574-647-1675
Memorial Center for Occupational
Health at LaPorte Medical Group
900 I Street, LaPorte
219-324-1960
www.memorialcoh.com
010

A NEW ERA
New surgical suites part of Memorial’s largest-ever expansion project
The largest expansion in Memorial’s
112-year history is well under way.
Ground has been broken, foundations
poured and walls erected for the new
surgical suite replacement project,
which will increase capacity to 13
pre-surgery rooms, 13 operating
rooms, 12 recovery rooms, and six
swing rooms for either pre-surgery
or recovery. The project also includes
renovation of the Outpatient Surgery
Center. This 137,066-square-foot
expansion will result in up to 45 new
clinical jobs and 300 constructionrelated
jobs, with completion slated
for summer of 2009.
Memorial’s administrators envisioned
the surgical suite expansion to help
accommodate yearly increases in
surgical cases. Memorial Health
System President and CEO Philip
A. Newbold says, “We are now
performing close to 14,000 surgeries
a year and we’re outgrowing
our existing space, which was
last renovated in 1980. This
extensive project will allow us to
accommodate a 53 percent increase
in surgical cases to keep up with the
demand for specialized care.”
When the center opens, Memorial
will operate one of the most technologically
advanced surgical centers
in the country. The new facility
will also help attract additional
surgeons to the area, including
pediatric surgeons as part of the
Children’s Hospital expansion.
Memorial Vice President of
Nursing Connie McCahill, R.N.,
described the design of this
project. “Our medical staff
has worked very closely with
us to plan a new surgical service
that offers great flexibility for
each surgeon and the clinical
support staff. We are very excited
about how soon our patients will
benefit from the new capacity this
construction will provide.”
Plans for the new space also include
the Memorial Regional Cancer
Center, featuring a highly integrated
medical, surgical and radiation
services model emphasizing the
comprehensive needs of cancer
patients and their families. Other
new services will include a new main
entrance, sterile processing center,
loading dock and energy center.
SPRING / SUMMER 2008 › www.qualityoflife.org
011

Performance
Excellence
Hits the Mark
Six Sigma training improves quality of care
An exciting commitment to Performance
Excellence has overtaken the world of
Memorial over the past year, infusing new
thinking and fresh outlooks into the
day-to-day operations of Memorial.
The Six Sigma and Lean methodologies of process
improvement have made an enormous impact on the
kind of care Memorial can give to its patients and
families, while improving the quality of work life for
physicians and employees.
Memorial’s partnership with General Electric (GE),
a company widely known as one of the best-managed
companies in the world, has brought Lean, Six Sigma,
the Change Acceleration Process and Work-Out
to Memorial’s well-established culture of forwardthinking
innovation.
This brave new world began when 21 Memorial
employees undertook the daunting task of completing
GE’s Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and Green Belt
Development Program. At the end of the session, five
Black Belts and 16 Green Belts emerged, ready to take
on the roadblocks and destroy the barriers that keep
change and improvement from happening.
Amazing Results
• Fewer delayed and canceled surgeries for patients
• Quicker turnaround time for “high-demand” pieces
• More room in the center core of surgery
• Decreased clutter using “just-in-time” carts
• Less non-value-added time for physicians and nurses
• Decreased “needed” items
• Improved collaboration between departments
• Savings of more than $64,000 a year
Sterile Processing staff send completed case carts up to Surgical
Services throughout the day, using a special dumbwaiter.

“I can’t overemphasize the rigorous
training our Black Belts and Green
Belts went through. GE’s training
was months-long, data-driven, heavy
on critical thinking and decisionmaking
and very intensive,” says
Matt Krathwohl, executive director
of Performance Excellence
(Memorial’s brand for process
improvement that includes Lean
and Six Sigma tools). “Now our
Black Belts and Green Belts are
applying that learning to real life
challenges at Memorial.”
“I was the director of the pharmacy
when I took this position,” says Black
Belt Jim Goshert. “It’s definitely
unlike anything I’ve ever done
before. In fact, I wish I had done this
a long time ago. It would have been
useful in my role as a manager.
The things you learn can be applied
to improve and control processes
in any department.”
Using Six Sigma principles, Goshert
and his team took on the task of
improving case cart accuracy for
Memorial’s surgical team. It was
one of five training projects that
the Performance Excellence team
members undertook at Memorial
after completing their certification.
By ensuring the timely and correct
presentation of surgical instruments,
patients are less likely to be delayed
or rescheduled, making a better
experience for everyone.
Some surgeries require an enormous
amount of equipment. In the past,
the Sterile Processing Department
would ensure surgery received all
case carts by 6 a.m. With all that
equipment around, nurses, doctors
and staff barely had enough room
to walk the hallways. Now that the
improved process only allows for
10 case carts at a time, it opened
up that area tremendously.
“Another type of issue can occur
when say two or three hip surgeries
are scheduled for one day,” says
Goshert. “Now say each of those
surgeries require the same piece
of equipment, an item we only have
one of. Throw in the fact that this
equipment needs to be sterilized
after each surgery. Now these highdemand
pieces are highly trackable,
with one dedicated Sterile Processing
representative to handle calls.”
Safety has improved not just in
surgery but for all employees
working in that area of the hospital.
Preparing carts closer to surgery
time helps decrease clutter and
reduce the likelihood of incomplete
carts and delayed surgeries.
Financially, this project saves
Memorial $1,231 per week,
or $64,000 per year.
“I have strongly supported this
project from the beginning,” says
Jayne Mitton, R.N., executive
director of Surgical Services.
“As with all projects, the process
is still a work in progress, but has
a tremendous potential, and it
shows great collaboration
between departments.
“An added bonus is that anytime
you’re trying to improve processes,
you’ll find something else you
can improve upon,” says Mitton.
“It’s helped us see other areas
for improvement, which is
always helpful.”
“My team on the surgery cart case
was outstanding,” says Goshert.
“Johan Kuitse, Mark Wilson, Darla
McAllister and Greg Piper, who was
a co-sponsor with Jayne Mitton.
They are so energetic about this
process. They are the reason we
made this happen. I can’t say
enough about them.”
Never Stop Learning
Memorial’s Black Belts and Green
Belts have earned a certificate of
achievement for successfully completing
the Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and
Green Belt Development Program.
Black Belts
Diane Freel
Carey Gaudern
Jim Goshert
Sandy Kowalski
Tom Merry
Green Belts
John Albright
Ken Anderson, D.O.
Cindy Crawford
Yolanda Emley
Matt Krathwohl
Johan Kuitse
Darla McAllister
CJ Paulausky
Julie Phillips
Greg Piper
Barb Ponder
Tracee Siade-Jones
David Sipp
Janet Sipp
Deidra Turner
Mark Wilson, R.N.
He also couldn’t say enough about
the partnership with GE that has
made all of this possible. “If
Memorial can continue to use this
training, and get even more and
more people trained, we will have
a brighter future,” says Goshert.
“Because every process we improve
in our individual departments
improves Memorial.”
SPRING / SUMMER 2008 › www.qualityoflife.org
013

Nowadays life is busy. Who hasn’t rushed through Martin’s or Wal-Mart ® after work or
between appointments From one commitment to the next, people are on the move,
making the most of life, while guarding their precious time with ferocity. Now, those
who have the added burden of a minor illness can stop at MEDPOINT ® express SM .
With this fresh model of health care,
patients can see a nurse practitioner
for minor health conditions. No
appointments are necessary and visits
usually take about 15 minutes. It
provides quick, affordable, quality
health care in a fast, convenient setting.
Family nurse practitioners provide
care for most common ailments,
such as strep throat, earache, flu,
pink eye and allergies. They can
also prescribe most medications,
administer vaccinations and perform
health screenings.
“MEDPOINT express was awesome.
My family is just thrilled with the care
we receive there,” says Chris Priebe,
mother of three teenage daughters
and loyal MEDPOINT express
customer. “The nurse practitioners
are great and we haven’t had to wait,
which has been a blessing.”
In step with Memorial’s experience
design principles, the MEDPOINT
express team traveled the nation,
gathering invaluable information from
other health care retail clinics.
“We went to every major city that
had any retail clinic presence to
see how it’s being done across the
country,” said MEDPOINT express
Director Chris Endres. “We evaluated
what services they offer, how their
facilities are laid out and their services
executed. We saw what clinics were
doing well, and what clinics were not.”
With a thorough report in hand,
Endres and his team developed a plan
to expand MEDPOINT express from
its original location—inside Wal-Mart
stores—to include grocery stores such
as Martin’s.
“Our objective is to improve
accessibility to health care,” says
Endres. “MEDPOINT express is a
convenient option for busy people,
including parents of children who
have minor illnesses.” The Martin’s
and Wal-Mart on-site pharmacies add
to the convenience and help patients
save even more time, he added.
You can be in and out and on your way.
To find out more about your local
MEDPOINT express, call 800-635-5516
or visit www.medpointexpress.com.
Get in. Get out. Get well.
SPRING 2008 › www.qualityoflife.org
014

COMFORT
WHEN IT’S
NEEDED MOST
“Take 5 minutes for yourself.”
It’s sage advice from someone who
sees what the families of Memorial’s
sick and injured children experience
every day. Ronald McDonald Family
Room ® Director Shelley Lesniewicz
understands that taking even a fiveminute
break can make a big difference.
“Parents spend so much time and
energy taking care of their family
that sometimes they forget to take
care of themselves,” says Lesniewicz.
“Taking just a little bit of time for
yourself ultimately allows you to be a
better parent.”
For the last five years, the Ronald
McDonald Family Room (RMFR)
at Memorial Hospital has allowed
families to do just that.
Innovative Ways of Giving Back
• For the past three years, the generous
employees of RSM McGladrey have
donated their year-end bonus checks to
the Ronald McDonald Family Room
(RMFR) in South Bend for a total of more
than $10,000.
• Some children asked guests to bring
RMFR Wish List items to their birthday
parties instead of gifts.
• Keenan Donze asked guests to bring toys
to his birthday party to be donated to the
RMFR.
015
On the hospital’s third floor, just
steps away from pediatrics and the
Newborn Intensive Care Unit, a calm
oasis awaits families of Memorial’s
inpatients, offering a moment of quiet,
a coffee break, a snack or a friendly
face to talk to.
Each month the RMFR provides more
than 300 meals, and more than 6,000
families have visited the RMFR since
its inception, including more than
4,000 overnight guests.
As a respite for families, the RMFR
serves as a home away from home for
families whose seriously ill or injured
child is receiving care at Memorial;
and it’s offered free of charge thanks
to the generosity of local businesses
and individuals in our community.
• Alicia Metzger held a carnival in her
backyard and raised $250.
• A retired South Bend fireman and his wife
collected $345 in pennies.
• To serve as wedding favors, a bride and
groom made donations to the RMFR
located in the region of each wedding
guest.
You can help too! Tiny pop tabs add up to
big bucks. Collect pop tabs to support the
RMFR, while helping the environment.
Want to help the Ronald McDonald
Family Room® help those who need
it most Call 574-647-3020 or
visit www.qualityoflife.org/ronald
to learn how you can make
a difference.
“It’s the people in our community
who keep this place running,” says
Lesniewicz. “We’ve seen some
great projects come out of our
community, especially from younger
donors. It’s great for kids to see that
small things like pennies and pop
tabs can make such a huge difference.
I love that we’re getting elementary
school students excited about
giving back, and it’s a great lesson
for them to learn: that a little can go
a long way.”
Wish List
Gift Cards
(Sam’s Club ® , Wal-Mart ® , Martin’s,
Meijer ® , Target ® , etc.) Used to buy milk,
meats and other perishables
Food
Individual snacks, single-serving boxes
of cereal, canned fruit, coffee, creamer,
apple juice, etc.
Household Items
Toilet paper, dishwasher detergent,
postage stamps, copy paper, etc.
Personal Care Items
Sample sizes of deodorant, shaving
cream, toothbrushes, toothpaste,
disposable razors, etc.

Designing the
Formula for Healing
Memorial Children’s Hospital joins the
Center for Health Design’s Pebble Project ®
PULSE › Memorial Health System › 574-647-6800
The Center for Health Design is a national organization
dedicated to creating the best possible environment for
healing through evidence-based design, partnering with
health care organizations’ clinical research and facility
design teams, with a focus on healing.
The goal is to improve environmental factors that
contribute to patient, staff and family satisfaction,
as well as increase safety and lower medical errors.
Health care organizations and architectural firms
across the nation have partnered with the Center to
document their findings, improve health care
processes and learn from each other. The Pebble
Project is the pivot point for gathering research and
sharing the conclusions so that future generations will
continue to receive the best health care in the most
supportive environment.
Robert White, M.D., director of
the Regional Newborn program
Memorial Children’s
Hospital, together with
Robert White, M.D., and
his team of neonatal
experts, recently joined
the Pebble Project to
contribute their knowledge
about premature infants
and their families to the
pool of research.
016

Dr. White has been working with premature babies
for more than 26 years and serves as chair of the
international committee that writes standards for
newborn ICU design.
Premature infants are born before their nervous
systems are fully developed. Therefore, their outward
reactions are not the same as a baby born full term.
They don’t have the startle reflex that fully developed
newborns have to sudden noises, nor do they cry at
the same stimuli. The youngest babies that Memorial’s
NICU has treated were born at 23 weeks gestation,
and the smallest survivor weighed only 12 ounces.
With this inability to cry or react the same way that
full-term babies do, the Memorial NICU team
monitors the children in other ways such as measuring
responses in brain EEG patterns. With all of the
monitoring devices on the children, they are able to
see the effects the environment has on the babies with
more sensitivity. The slightest changes in sound, light,
temperature and touch can all affect the healing rate
of these tiny children.
Dr. White and his team are currently exploring
the effect of mother’s milk on the growth and
development of premature babies. Not only does
mother’s milk contain the essential nutrients that
babies need, but research at Memorial is showing that
even the time of day that the mother expressed the
milk can lead to varying levels of important hormones
in the milk, such as melatonin and cortisol. This is just
one of the many reports that may be created and
It’s this kind of dedication that
will ensure that future generations,
not only in our own community but
throughout the nation, will benefit
from better health care. – Mary Malone
shared within the Pebble Project, so that other health
care providers are able to learn from these findings.
Many of the principles that have been discovered in
Memorial’s NICU are also applied in other intensive
care units. Correct lighting and a low noise level are
crucial in the care of critically ill and fragile patients no
matter their age. Keeping the lights dimmed at night
creates a restful environment. Natural light in the day
with windows and sunshine is also beneficial in creating
the best environment for healing.
Visual input can also affect patients and their families.
Studies show that a contented patient heals more
quickly, and if the patient’s family is also relaxed and
comfortable, it creates a better sense of well-being for
the patient. Creating pleasing, comfortable, colorful
spaces is a goal intended to further improve the health
and happiness of patients, families and the staff who
care for them.
Mary Malone, of Malone Advisory Services, is a current
board member of the Center for Health Design and a
resident of South Bend. She says, “Memorial’s
participation in the Pebble Project has a two-fold
impact: The first is that the organization is committed
to using evidence-based design to create the best
possible outcomes for their patients, quality financial
performance and a positive environment for the
care-giving team. The second is that Memorial will
be partnered with an elite group of health care
organizations, architects and designers who are also
committed to sharing their research and giving back to
the community. It’s this kind of dedication that will
ensure that future generations, not only in our own
community but throughout the nation, will benefit
from better health care.”
SPRING / SUMMER 2008 › www.qualityoflife.org
017

Read
theLabel
Back in 1990, the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act launched the modern food label. The federal
government wanted to improve food labels so that consumers could make healthier food choices. The
new labels were introduced in 1994.
And now, 10-plus years later, many people still don’t know what they mean. That’s too bad, because
there is a lot of important and helpful information on food labels. Here’s what to look for.
PULSE › Memorial Health System › 574-647-6800
SERVING SIZE
All the information on a label is
per serving. Be sure to compare
the serving size with the amount
you are eating. If a package has
two servings in it and you eat the
whole thing, you are getting twice
the calories, fat and sodium listed
on a per-serving basis.
CALORIES
How many daily calories you need
depends on your weight and
activity level. The range is usually
2,000 to 2,500 per day. If you are
trying to lose weight, of course,
you want fewer calories.
CALORIES FROM FAT
Your goal is for no more than
30 percent of your calories to
come from fat. More than that is
bad news for your heart.
TOTAL FAT/SATURATED FAT
Not all fats are created equal.
Saturated fats are the bad kind.
They raise cholesterol and the risk
of heart disease. Keep total fat
low, and saturated fat even lower.
CHOLESTEROL
Too much cholesterol can lead to
heart disease. Try to keep total
daily cholesterol to less than
200 milligrams (mg) a day, lower
still if your doctor recommends it.
SODIUM
Too much sodium increases blood
pressure, so watch out. Processed
foods are loaded with sodium.
TOTAL CARBOHYDRATE
The Atkins diet has many people
focusing here. Don’t. You need
carbohydrates and the fiber they
contain for energy and for disease
prevention. Twenty to 35 grams of
fiber a day is recommended.
SUGARS
Sugar is a type of carbohydrate. So
total carbs is the more important
number. However, watch for added
sugars in processed foods, soda
and sweets. They add “empty”
calories that have no nutritional
value but pile on the pounds.
PROTEIN
Americans are big meat- and
milk-consumers, so we usually
get more protein than we actually
need. Try to limit animal-based
proteins, which are high in fat and
cholesterol. Instead, buy low-fat
milk products and add protein
from beans, grains and cereals.
VITAMINS AND MINERALS
The goal is to reach 100 percent
of each, every day. Food is the
best source of these nutrients,
but many people need a daily
multivitamin to help.
018

CLASSES & SERVICES
Memorial offers educational events, classes and screenings as part of its ongoing mission to build a
healthier community. Many programs are free and some have a nominal fee. For more information,
call the number provided or contact The Health Professionals at 574-647-6800 or 800-999-8890.
For additional information you can also visit www.qualityoflife.org.
Classes
Diabetes Education Classes
A free nutrition and lifestyle
management class for people with
diabetes. Open to anyone with
diabetes, their families and significant
others. Call 574-647-7700.
Lung Center
For Asthma: Free one-on-one
education for those with asthma.
Call 574-647-7318 from 7:30 a.m.
to 4 p.m. For COPD and other lung
problems: Call 574-251-0041,
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.
All other times, please leave a
message and a Lung Center
representative will get back to you.
Ortho Classes
Total hip, knee and shoulder
replacement classes available at
no charge. Call 574-647-3359
Monday through Friday for
availability.
Life Steps
A comprehensive weight
management program that stresses
the importance of diet, physical
activity and behavioral modification
techniques for weight loss and
maintenance. Classes meet weekly
for 14 weeks. $175. For details, call
574-647-6880.
Group Fitness Classes
From yoga and Pilates to spinning
and zumba, group fitness classes
are offered Monday through
Saturday at the Health & Lifestyle
Center. Call Patty Thornton at 574-
647-2663. View the current class
schedule at www.qualityoflife.org/
hlc/ExerciseSchedule.pdf.
Support Groups
Arthritis Partnership
Meets on the second Thursday of
the month at 2 p.m. at the
Memorial Leighton Center. Call
Carol Langley at 574-234-1191.
Diabetes Support Group
Meets on the first and third Tuesday
of the month at 10 a.m. at the
Memorial Leighton Center. First
Tuesday includes an educational
program; third Tuesday includes a
support group. Participants are
welcome to bring a friend or family
member. Call Nan Monhaut at
574-647-7168.
Gynecological Cancer
Support Group
Meets on the second Wednesday of
the month at 5 p.m. at Memorial
Hospital. Please call Margaret
Umprovitch-Brown at 574-647-3140
for exact location and directions.
Leukemia & Lymphoma
Support Group
Meets on the third Wednesday of the
month at 6 p.m. Call Brandee Flagg
at 574-647-7691.
Mother Matters Support Group
Focuses on postpartum depression
and parenting responsibilities. Meets
on the second and fourth Monday of
the month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in
the Family Education Center. Call
574-647-7800.
MS Support Group
Meets on the first Tuesday of the
month from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Main
Street Medical Group. Call Gretchen
Cave at 574-675-9917.
Ostomy Support Group
Contact Sue Stelton at
574-647-3156 for details.
Parkinson’s Disease
Support Group
Meets on the first Monday of the
month at 1 p.m. at the Memorial
Leighton Center. Call Jim Banner at
574-291-4217.
2 nd Wind Group (COPD)
A support group for individuals with
lung disease. Meets Tuesdays from
1:30 to 3 p.m. at the Memorial
Leighton Center. Call Jan Cosby at
574-647-7178.
Women In Touch Cancer Support
Meets on the first Tuesday of the
month at 5:30 p.m. at the Memorial
Leighton Center. Call Hilary Pratt at
574-647-6944.
For New Families
Advanced registration is required for
all classes unless noted otherwise. Call
574-647-6801. All classes are held in
the Family Education Center on the
third floor of Memorial Hospital.
Preparing for Childbirth
Five-series class to prepare couples
for the childbirth experience. $75/
couple. Class size is limited. Tour and
breastfeeding and baby care classes
included. Call 574-647-6801.
Child/Infant CPR
This one-evening class meets the
American Red Cross guidelines in
child/infant CPR and safety. Meets
the first Monday of the month from
6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at HealthWorks!
Kids’ Museum. Registration and
payment are due two weeks prior
to class. Prices are $35/person or
$45/couple. Call 574-647-2680
for registration or with any
questions.
Clases Para Un Embarazo
Saludable (Classes for a
Healthy Pregnancy)
En Español. Las mujeres
embarazadas tendrán oportunidad
de recibir información acerca del
proceso del embarazo y parto.
Llame a Mary Kay Gonzales,
574-245-6835.
Lunch & Learn Prenatal Class
One-day intensive version of
Preparing for Childbirth. 9 a.m. to
5 p.m. on Saturdays. Offered once
or twice each month. $75/couple.
Class size is limited. Tour and
breastfeeding and baby care
classes included. For details, call
574-647-6801.
Childbirth Refresher Course
A one-evening review for those
who have previously taken a
childbirth preparation course.
$20/couple. Class size is limited.
Call 574-647-6801.
Sibling Orientation Class
Children between the ages of 3
and 7 learn about newborns and
how to participate in baby care.
$5/child. Class size is limited.
Call 574-647-6801.
Caesarean Birth Preparation
Class/VBAC
A one-time class for families
expecting a Caesarean delivery
or wanting a vaginal birth after a
Caesarean. Includes a tour. $20.
Call 574-647-6801.
Mother Matters
Support Group
Focuses on postpartum depression
and parenting responsibilities.
Meets on the second and fourth
Monday of the month from 7 to
8:30 p.m. in the Family Education
Center. Call 574-647-3243.
Parenting Your New Infant:
Birth to One Year
This is the most stressful yet precious
year of parenting. Make sense of the
often confl icting advice and research on
sleep, feeding and self-care. Receive
valuable pointers for predictable
challenges in the fi rst year. Offered
quarterly $10/individual or $15/couple.
Call 574-647-6801.
Parenting Your 12- to 24-month-old
Establish healthy habits for sleep,
eating and emotional regulation.
Receive thoughtful, professional
advice for tackling changes in naps,
struggles over food and fussiness.
Offered quarterly $10/individual or
$15/couple. Call 574-647-6801.
Prenatal Breastfeeding Class
Information on breastfeeding taught
by certified lactation consultants.
Offered monthly. Included in
Preparing for Childbirth or $15.
Call 574-647-6801.
Winning Your Child’s Cooperation
A direct, holistic approach to child
guidance and discipline for parents of
children from birth to teens, offered
quarterly. Early registration is $80 or
$120 per couple. Limited scholarships
are available. Call 574-647-7511.
After Baby Comes
A perfect class for mom, dad and
grandparents that focuses on the
basics of holding, soothing and
quieting a crying infant in the first
weeks of life. Included in Preparing
for Childbirth or $15/couple. Call
574-647-6801.
Celebrate Birth!
This fun, hands-on, one-evening
course focuses on the joy of giving
birth. Explore how culture influences
birth practices, what you can do to
have the birth experience you want,
and learn about movement and
relaxation for birth. $15/couple.
Tours
Tours are available twice a month.
No registration is required. Call The
Health Professionals or check the
Web site at www.qualityoflife.org for
dates and times.

Improving the Quality of Life with
each person that we touch.
Join the Memorial Team!
Be a part of an exciting team, providing world-class
service to our community. Great opportunities, including
leadership positions, are now available, including:
Pharmacists, Nurses, Home Care Physical Therapists,
Respiratory Therapists, Occupational Therapists
For detailed information or to apply for the above or other
positions, please visit our Web site at: www.qualityoflife.org
Your Skin Cancer Prevention Center
Coolibar ® Signature Hat
An extra-deep brim is a
natural choice for keeping
sun out of your eyes and
away from your face.
Loops hold a sheer
paisley-pattern scarf
for an extra-stylish touch.
Coolibar ® Sun Block Hoodie
Classic function updated with
Coolibar style and comfortable
sun protection. So durable yet
lightweight you can wear it on
even the hottest days.
Health-Minded Accessories
Ameribag Healthy Back Bag ®
The Healthy Back Bag tote
has an ergonomic shape that
improves positioning, by
contouring to the natural
shape of the body, which
reduces apparent stress
on the shoulders, neck
and back.
Medical ID Jewelry
Elegant and contemporary
medical alert jewelry
for men, women and
children. Jewelry includes
gold, silver, leather and
semiprecious gemstones.
Unique Gift Items
Home Care Exclusive
DNA and Fingerprint Art Products
Come see yourself
(or a loved one) in
a whole new way.
Personalized art
makes a unique gift.
ZÜCA
The-first-of-its-kind ZÜCA
carries your child’s load
… and it even has a builtin
seat. It’s a tote bag,
laptop case, organizer and
chair, all in one!
3355 Douglas Road | South Bend, Indiana | 574-273-5611 | www.homecaregallery.com
Non-Profi t Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Memorial
Health System
615 N. Michigan Street
South Bend, Indiana 46601