| Communication Topics Highlighted |
President's
Message
Our next issue Patient Safety Part
III will have comments and prescriptions for success
from "the trenches" Please email your comments if
you have not done so. Pediatric patient safety has
been front and center in the news with a sentinel
event occurring in Indianapolis when two preemies
died due to a medication error.
Rather than focusing on this horrific event, Marc
O'Brien MHS PR Consultant, organized this newsletter
with positive stories about pediatric patient care.
Marc is launching a newsletter for hospitalized kids
before Thanksgiving. Watch for the first issue and
meet two wonderful fun characters. After all is said
and done what we may classify as the little things
are what patient's remember
High Touch Sensitivity
Training: A Child's Bedtime Story
A prescription for success offered
from Marc O'Brien
One of the most special times
in raising a child is
reading a bedtime story while watching
them fall asleep. Seeing them at these times not
only soothes the parent's heart but it gives the
youngster the opportunity to go into a fully relaxed
state.
On a pediatric floor I think this tender experience
should
happen at night and after procedures. For example,
surgery is a terrifying time from a child's perspective
and if it is handled improperly they
remember it for life.
Just like that special sleeping blanket is a special part
of a child's life so is the soothing voice and touch of
a health care
worker. From personal experience, as a lay
person, who as a child was frequently hospitalized for
surgery, I
can say healthcare professionals have to be
sensitive, attentive and
caring when meeting the needs of a child and the
parents. It is as
important as the technology and instruments they
use.
Education and experience is only the beginning. The
anesthesiologist needs to have a firm grasp not only
on anesthetic agents, equipment and anatomy and
physiology but also the understanding of the child's
behavioral needs and what is soothing and calming
for each unique pediatric patient. In an operating
room all the staff are big, the light over the operating
table is big and bright, and masks, gowns, and
mumbling talk are magnified to a child. The puppet
shows are wonderful but then it is up to the heath
care providers to walk the talk.Sometimes in
hospitals the law, regulations,
policies and procedures are the motivating factors
but true
human relations should dictate the proper action.
In fact, when the youngster is rolled into ICU or into
a
post operative care area after a serious operation
child psychology experts who are trained in
sudden shock trauma should be present when the
patient opens their eyes to the environment. Mom
and Dad being present helps but the pain and
traumatic feeling is overwhelming.
As you know any surgery is dangerous and life
threatening
when it comes to pediatrics. There is no such thing
as a routine, non-risk, simple surgery to a child.
Remember the bedtime story.... closing
the story book and
shutting the lights is something to a child that a
Mommy and Daddy usually do. In the hospital that
person might be the nurses aide, the Nurse or the
Doctor when hospital stays are long. I had a
renowned
surgeon one time write his phone extension on a
napkin on my
nightstand when I was not feeling well and he said
just dial this number the next time you feel
this way. This is what I remember as high touch.
The bedtime story routine is high touch and could
be part of the care just like the special toy and
blanket.
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Distractions Chills The Fear
Of What Is In The Hand
Two European Countries performed a very simple
small study which produced some very thoughtful
and
interpretive results that were documented by the
British Journal( August,2006) entitled Archives of
Disease In
Childhood.
According to an Associated Press report written by
Seth Borenstein, University of Siena neonatologist
and
pediatrician Carlo Bellieni's research
created a healthy debate on distraction being
used to alleviate painful procedures when dealing
with youngsters.
Sixty-nine subjects ranging from seven to 12
participated in the study that featured being stuck
with a needle for a blood sample.
Separated into three groups some watched television
cartoons while others had mothers love and in the
final sample the mother was just in the scary hospital
room.
"It's good to have a powerful distraction for children
getting painful procedures," said Bellieni, a father of
three in Italy "it is also troubling we have
demonstrated the excessive power of television."
Results showed that both entities containing the
soothing element had half the pain while the third
party had 33% less pain.
"Distraction is a very powerful tool," said Dr. Brenda
McClain the Director of pediatric pain management
services at Yale University.
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St. Rose Dominican's new San Martin campus
is
promoting an idea entitled Kids Korner Kitchen
with
the goal being the loved ones will be able to cook for
the patient. According to the Las Vegas Review
Journal the children will feel more comfortable when
the parents are participating in the treatment
process.
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HUGE TEXAS BOOTS TO FILL
Planning big is a Lone Star state tradition and the
health care system is taking it's goals for pediatrics
very seriously with a 1.5 billion dollar investment to
expand Texas Children's Hospital.
With a completion target date of 2010 the facility will
be a center for research and quality care
for
children.
Feigin Research Center will try to bridge the gap
between therapy protocols discovered in the lab
getting to the patient.
"There is no area of pediatric research and care that
currently we are not working in, said Dr. Feigin.
Already ranked top in the country for it's heart
programs the cancer program is believed to be the
largest.
"Whether it is our Children's Nutritional Center,
cardiomyopathy, leukocyte, or infectious disease, all
our programs will grow with new facilities and
laboratories.
There will be a full range obstetrics for high risk
pregnancies.These benefits include preterm birth
evaluation, access to specialists, sub-specialists
surgeons, perinatal supportive diagnostic
treatment services which include parenting and
lactation classes.
"The addition of a high risk Obstetrics (OB) program
is a
complement to our services for critically ill newborns
and infants," said Wallace.
With these offerings Texas Children's hopes to recruit
talented staff and special expertise.
"Texas Children's is the most logical home for a
children's Neurological Research Institute," said Dr.
Feigin physician in chief at Texas
Children's "with 23 pediatric neurologists, we are top
in the world."
Besides the $215 million comprehensive neurologically
research institute there are blue prints for $575
million
maternity center, $120 million to expand existing
research areas and $220 million to develop Texas
Children's into the largest suburban health care plant
that caters to children. Equipment is also a part of
the financial commitment and to raise those
standards the price tag reads $370 million
The investment is not about buildings, it is about
the responsibility we as leaders in pediatric from the
board room to bedside," said Texas
Children's Chief Executives Officer Mark Wallace, "it is
very obvious to our board, our medical staff, and our
employees that there is an opportunity
in our country and across the world for research and
development in key areas." According to Wallace
without this financial commitment to cutting-edge
research pediatric care will suffer.
We will not allow that to happen," said
Wallace.
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Greetings!
Welcome to Pediatric Best Practice and High
Touch: A Child's Basic Need.
An adult account of a hospital stay as a small child
- Once upon a time when I was 3 years old I recall
a nurse coming into my hospital room with a needle
so big that even the jolly green giant would be
scared.
- Once upon a time I recall the nurse sticking me
with that needle that would cause the jolly green
giant to cry.
- Once upon a time I recall after getting this shot
and being taken to the operating room my doctor
canceling the operation because of traffic. My
parents stayed by my side while the medication wore
off and they told me the surgery had not been
done
- Once upon a time I recall the same nurse coming
into the hospital room the next day with the same
big needle that would scare the Jolly Green
Giant.
- Once upon a time I recall seeing
a bright light and feeling so sick.
- Once upon a time I recall a face above me
blocking the bright light asking me if everything was
all right.
- Once upon a time I recall that same day
when I was sick the Oakland A's beat my Yankees to
a pulp.
- Once upon a time I recall weeks after that
horrible day
when the Athletics beat my Yankees to a pulp a
doctor talking to me about my Yankees as the
frightening chainsaw so big and loud cut the plaster
casts off my legs.
- Once upon a time I recall the soothing voices,
calming attitude, distraction of a TV, Yankee
ballgame banter, and wonderful healthcare
professionals guiding me through the horrible, scary,
stay at a big city hospital far away from home.
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| Nation-wide Pediatric Initiatives |
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The US News & World Reports best
hospitals issue ranked Stanford University's Packard
Children's Hospital number one
and highest in California for it's
pediatric service.
"It recognizes what our faculty and staff have built
and continue to build," said Christopher Dawes the
President and Chief Executive Officer.
According to a nationally and internationally pre-
eminent children's hospital leader, Packard Children's
Hospital has accomplished a
lot in a very short time.
"Our hospital is making amazing progress in innovating
and translating discoveries in pediatrics," said
Dawes, "the nation's pediatricians continue to
recognize this, and we believe it's a wonderful tribute
to our work."
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| MHS TICKLERS |
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Actions Speak Louder Than Words but good
communication in any form is a healthy exchange of
ideas
Need Dynamic Speakers? Call MHS at
732-408-0259 or email at
barbaralobrienmhs@comcast.net
We have organized a great team of speakers for
middle management education and for a program
entitled
Conquering the Health Care White Water Rapids with
Proven Trailblazing Interventions
The speakers will work with you individually or we
can
present a full customized program.
- Barbara L. O'Brien President MHS
- Kevin O'Brien CEO Partners in Care
- Robert Cooper President R.L. Cooper Associates
- Eugene Buccini President Buccini Associates
- Michael Daly President CSI
- Jim Wiederhold President Wiederhold and
Associates
- Mary Pat Sullivan VP/CNO
- Ellen Walsh Consultant MHS
- Dorathy Perez Consultant MHS
- Dallas Piana Consultant MHS
- Velvet Miller VP Plexus Institute
The Organizational Huddle (TM)
interdisciplinary
collaboration and accountability model developed by
Robert L. Cooper, President RL Cooper Associates,
supports patient and family satisfaction for all age
patients. Voted a Best Practice by the Health Care
Advisory Board.
MHS has basic and advanced manager and staff
education sessions than can be customized to
your needs. Middle managers and staff nationwide
need support.
JCAHO and Magnet Award site visits
continue to be a comprehensive process involving
interdisciplinary participation. MHS using Patient
Tracers as a management tool and The Huddle TM
can assist organizations to have successful
outcomes.
JCAHO Certification for Staffing Agencies will
support patient safety initiatives. We recommend you
contract with agencies that have certification or
are in the application process as it is one prescription
for success to increase quality patient care. If
they need information go to www.jcaho.org-
certification programs-Healthcare staffing. If they
need consulting help they can call MHS we have a
successful proven track record.
Call MHS at 732-408-0259 or email
barbaralobrienmhs@comcast.net
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