Celebrating 50 years
What was happening at Huntsville Hospital in 1969? SUMMER 2019
CONTENTS
UPCOMING EVENTS
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4
JULY
24 Madison Health Screens (FREE) 9:30 a.m., Madison Senior Center, 1282 Hughes Road.
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Improving lives
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Here we grow....................................................................................4 Journey to Zero.................................................................................5 System update ..................................................................................6 There's no "I" in team......................................................................8 Exemplary efforts get well-deserved recognitions .......................9 Special services for tiny patients...................................................10 Better infant health with breastfeeding...................................... 11 While Huntsville shot for the moon ..........................................12 Visual mapping detects breast cancers.........................................14 Behind the White Coat: Tiffany Golub....................................... 15 On any given day............................................................................16 Building up for patients................................................................18 An amazing RN — in any language ............................................19 The heart of our TAVR program .................................................19 Huntsville Hospital Foundation.................................................. 20
On the cover This photo illustration by Huntsville Hospital graphic artist Kayla Harrison combines an iconic image of astronaut Neil Armstrong walking on the moon in July 1969 with an archived picture of Huntsville Hospital from that same time period. Because of its NASA ties, the Rocket City had a personal interest in the success of the Apollo 11 mission.
All rights reserved. No material in this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission from the publisher. Articles in this magazine are written by Huntsville Hospital professionals who strive to present reliable, up-to-date information, but no publication can replace the care and advice of medical professionals. Contact your physician when considering and choosing health care treatments. For more information on the editorial content of Source, please call Huntsville Hospital Public Relations at (256) 265-8317 or Huntsville Hospital Foundation at (256) 265-8077. Please contact us if you wish to have your name removed from the list to receive fundraising requests or other mailings supporting Huntsville Hospital Foundation in the future.
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SUMMER 2019
27 Women's Health Conference 7:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Huntsville Hospital Dowdle Center Please call Huntsville Hospital’s Corporate University at (256) 2658025 for more information.
AUGUST
2 Huntsville Hospital Foundation's Miracle Bash, 6:30 – 10:30 p.m. at Huntsville Botanical Garden Grand Hall, 4747 Bob Wallace Avenue.
2 Madison YMCA Health Screens (FREE) – 9:30 a.m., Hogan Family YMCA,130 Park Square Lane.
3 Huntsville Hospital Foundation's Swim for Melissa 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Hampton Cove Pool
6 Community tour of Gardens and Hospice Family Care – 10000 Serenity Lane, 10 – 11 a.m. on the campus of Redstone Village Email: info@HospiceFamilyCare.org or call (256) 650-1212. 20 Senior Horizons Tasty Tuesday, Topic: Hospice 101 – 11:30 a.m., Trinity United Methodist Church, 607 Airport Road – Call or email for reservations by Aug. 13, (256) 265-7950, sharon.darty@hhsys.org.
SEPTEMBER
3 Community tour of Gardens and Hospice Family Care – 10000 Serenity Lane, 10-11 a.m. on the campus of Redstone Village Email: info@HospiceFamilyCare.org or call (256) 650-1212. Visit huntsvillehospital.org/events for a complete list of health screenings, support groups and other community events.
CEO’S LETTER
A message from our CEO
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henomenal growth is occurring in our region. We see it in the media, on the roads and in restaurants. This growth is expected to continue for years to come. Along with it will come opportunities, but there are always growing pains as well. At Huntsville Hospital we’re preparing for this growth with expanded facilities and infrastructure investments. The biggest Information Technology project in the history of the hospital went live earlier this year with the implementation of our new electronic medical record (EMR) from Cerner. By all accounts our conversion to a new computer system was far better than most projects of this magnitude. We still have more work to do and it will continue to get better the longer we use the system. There is no question that the new EMR will help us deliver safer and better care to you and your family for many years to come. The most visible new project on our campus is the construction of the Orthopedic & Spine Tower across from our main entrance. It is well underway and when completed in two years, the new bed tower will include 72 private patient rooms and 24 operating rooms. This facility is critical to meeting the needs of our patients in the future. During construction it has necessitated some redirection of traffic. Parking around our campus is another indicator of the challenges of growth. The good news is that we’re about to open a new employee garage on the Women & Children’s campus. We believe that the addition of 480 spaces will provide some relief in other parking areas.
These facility projects, along with the IT conversion, add up to the largest capital investment that we’ve ever made in our hospital. Addressing the growth in our region is very expensive, and all of this work is funded by the hospital. We’re a large health system but we do not receive any tax support. I am sure you understand why we make great effort to manage our resources wisely as we enter the 2019-20 budget year. Our future is very bright and meeting the needs of our growing community becomes more challenging each year. With long term growth predicted for our region we have to continue to invest in technology, facilities and in the recruitment of highly trained professionals. Because of this, it’s vital that we manage our expenses effectively to grow our organization and serve the patients who depend on us to provide their care. A year from now Huntsville Hospital will celebrate 125 years of service. Looking back, we are grateful for your support of your community hospital. As we take these major steps to prepare for the future, we thank you for continuing to trust Huntsville Hospital with your care.
David Spillers
CEO, Huntsville Hospital Health System
David Spillers Chief Executive Officer Jeff Samz Chief Operating Officer Health Care Authority of the City of Huntsville Philip W. Bentley, Jr. Chairman Mike Goodman Vice-Chairman Frank Caprio Secretary-Treasurer Amit Arora, MD Kerry Fehrenbach Bhavani Kakani Macon Phillips, MD Beth Richardson David Smith OUR MISSION Provide high quality care and services that will improve the health of those we serve. OUR VISION To be one of the best health systems in America and consistently strive to provide clinical and service excellence. OUR VALUES Integrity, Excellence, Innovation, Accountability, Compassion and Safety
huntsvillehospital.org
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More than 100 physicians have joined Huntsville Hospital's medical staff since the start of 2018. They include (from left to right) OB hospitalist Dr. Christy Pettes, general surgeon Dr. Veeraiah Siripurapu, pediatric surgeon Dr. Zaria Murrell, cardiac anesthesiologist Dr. Tony R. Graham, and internal medicine physician Dr. HeeEun Kang.
HERE WE GROW K
eeping pace with a growing region requires widening roads — and recruiting new physicians. Huntsville Hospital has significantly expanded its physician roster in response to projections showing the Rocket City’s population will soon eclipse Birmingham. More than 100 new doctors joined our medical staff from Jan. 1, 2018, to July 1, 2019 — the busiest period in memory. And the hospital continues to actively recruit more doctors — including emergency physicians, neurologists, trauma surgeons, cardiologists and family physicians — to care for North Alabama. The new physicians come from across the United States and around the world. Some focus on keeping adults and children healthy as primary care providers. Others have special diagnostic, clinical or surgical skills that are in high demand across the region. Please visit huntsvillehospital.org/find-a-doctor for a searchable list of every physician on the Huntsville Hospital medical staff.
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Here’s a breakdown of our recently-arrived physicians by specialty: 12 Emergency medicine Radiology 11 Family medicine
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Adult infectious disease Anesthesiology Cardiothoracic surgery Colon and rectal surgery
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Internal medicine
Dermatology
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Cardiology OB-GYN Orthopedic surgery
Endocrinology
Pediatric emergency medicine
Neonatology
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3
2
Critical care Pediatric infectious disease Cardiac anesthesiology Children’s dentistry Children’s psychiatry General dentistry Pediatrics Pediatric critical care Urology
General surgery Hospitalist medicine Neurology Neurosurgery Ophthalmology Oral maxillofacial surgery Palliative medicine Pathology Pediatric hematology-oncology Pediatric surgery Plastic and reconstructive surgery
Journey to Zero Striving toward ZERO harm
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hen the risks are high like in the fields of nuclear power and commercial aviation, the science of high reliability is key to providing a safe environment. The same holds true in health care. Safety has always been paramount among the hospitals in Huntsville Hospital Health System. We are taking that focus to the next level by working with Press Ganey’s High Reliability experts to protect our patients and employees from harm. These initiatives are tailored for us. All staff and physicians in our System are training on these customized initiatives. This is our culture and an unending journey to zero harm. The training includes implementing standard processes, instilling committed behaviors and using universal safety tools. The Health System’s safety program reflects the goal that we are on a Journey to Zero. Uncompromising commitment to reliable safety performance has garnered airline industry per departure and nuclear power industry a risk
of harm ratio of just 1 in 1 million. Unfortunately, harm in health care is 1 in 1,000 nationally, according to the Institute of Medicine. Health care is a complex process where people, not machines, do most of the important work. Implementing the science of human performance in this complex setting is our journey. Evidence-based safety tools and techniques can reduce variations in practice and improve our reliability in our Journey to Zero harm. Everyone in the System has a role in keeping our patients safe. All employees are training on universal tools to drive us to become a highly reliable system with the right people, processes and technology. Our staff have the strongest defenses against harm because we have a brain to think and a heart to care. We will be safe, caring and kind to our patients and each other. From cross-checks to greetings with a smile, our journey will set the standard for delivering a higher reliability for zero harm.
We will be safe, caring and kind to our patients and each other.
Huntsville Hospital Health System CEO David Spillers holds the logo for our "Journey to Zero" safety campaign. Looking on are Director of Quality Joycelyn Craighead (left) and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Robert Chappell. huntsvillehospital.org
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• System Update •
untsville Hospital Health System is a collection of not-for-profit, community hospitals across North Alabama providing quality care to the residents in our region. This purpose means each hospital must be good stewards of resources with a laser focus on critical needs that provide for our patients, now and into the future. Some recent highlights from our hospitals around the region are listed below.
Huntsville Hospital • Healthgrades recognized the hospital among America’s Top 50 Hospitals for Cardiac Surgery, Top 100 Hospitals for Spine Surgery and a Five Star for Knee Replacement. • The American Heart & Stroke Association awarded the hospital Primary Stroke Center and Gold Plus Achievement awards for the ninth consecutive year. The stroke program also earned the title of Center of Excellence by U.S. News & World Report. • The recent additions of the newest da Vinci Xi robot and the Mazor robot for spine surgery continue to revolutionize surgery to the benefit of patients. The hospital has the largest robotic technology program in North Alabama.
Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children • The Breast Center navigated nearly 400 breast cancer patients – setting a record in its outreach services. • The Pediatric ICU welcomed HAL, a lifelike 5-year-old boy patient simulator for nurse and physician training. 6
SUMMER 2019
• The Child Life Department became the first accredited program in Alabama and one of only 54 accredited Child Life internship programs for college students worldwide.
Madison Hospital • The hospital expects to deliver almost 1,500 babies this year, which would set a record. • The ICU grew to eight patient beds, and the hospital also opened nine more private inpatient rooms. • The Emergency Department opened a Fast Track area to expedite care for patients with lower-acuity illnesses.
Marshall Medical Centers • The hospitals earned a Silver + for stroke care and were among the list of hospitals in the 2018 U.S. News & World Report “Best Hospitals” issue. • EMS employees earned Gold and Silver medals from the Alabama Skills USA First Aid Competition.
• An Ostomy Support Group was developed at the Marshall Cancer Care Center.
Athens-Limestone Hospital • Valley Internal Medicine opened in the new surgery tower. • The hospital earned the Team Showcase Award for Fall Reduction program from Alabama Performance Excellence. • The hospital earned a four-star rating by Hospital Compare.
Lincoln Health System • The hospital was one of 10 chosen to receive a grant from the Tennessee Rural Hospital Transformation Act. • The hospital earned a 4-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and Leapfrog.
Helen Keller Hospital • The hospital now offers Mako robotic arm-assisted joint replacement surgery for hips and knees.
• Keller Women’s Center opened in Russellville and Keller Wound Healing Center will begin seeing patients in its new building on the hospital campus. • The hospital received its first Sepsis Care recertification with zero recommendations for improvement.
Decatur Morgan Hospitals • The new Priceville Primary Care Clinic opened and Women’s Healthcare clinic relocated to a new Medical Plaza suite.
• The Breast Health Center and the Emergency Department are seeing patients in their newly renovated space. The new ED opened with 35 treatment areas, Express Care and dedicated rooms for psychiatric patients.
Lawrence Medical Center • The hospital achieved a four-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and earned a Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence Award for Quality.
Established in 1895, Huntsville Hospital is the second largest hospital in Alabama with 971 licensed beds. Huntsville Hospital is a community-owned, not-forprofit hospital and is governed by the Health Care Authority of the City of Huntsville. In recent years, the hospital has expanded its service in the region with the development of Huntsville Hospital Health System, which today includes hospitals in Huntsville, Madison, Athens, Decatur, Boaz, Guntersville, Moulton, Red Bay, Sheffield and Fayetteville, Tenn.
When she couldn’t even hold her first grandchild, Eva Nelson of Muscle Shoals knew it was time to get help. She turned to the nationally-recognized surgeons at the Spine & Neuro Center to fix her ailing back and neck. With the pain now gone, Eva feels better than she has in years and is making up for lost time with her family. Read the rest of Eva’s story at myreason.org.
huntsvillehospital.org
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There’s no “I” in TEAM
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heryl Smith was perfectly content with her life as a chicken farmer in Winston County — until she witnessed the power of nursing. When her mother-in-law was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, Smith got to know nurses who inspired her to want to be a professional caregiver. So in her late 40s, she put her farming career on hold and applied to nursing school at the University of North Alabama. It turned out to be a great decision for Smith — and for the patients she now cares for in Huntsville Hospital’s Oncology Unit. During National Nurses Week in May, Smith was named the 2019 Nurse of the Year for Huntsville Hospital and Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children.
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Huntsville Hospital Health System CEO David Spillers (foreground) surprises Cheryl Smith with the 2019 Nurse of the Year Award in May.
"It’s overwhelming. I don’t feel worthy. The work we do on the Oncology Unit is a team effort, and I’m just a part of the team." — Cheryl Smith
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Another consummate team player, Case Management office manager LaToya Whitman, was recognized as the hospital’s Employee of the Year. She spends her days tracking down often hardto-find information for patients and insurance companies. “We get tons of calls from all over the hospital that people don’t know what to do with, and LaToya always goes the extra 10 miles to make sure they get what they need,” said her supervisor, Brenda Brooks.
Vice President of Human Resources Andrea Rosler (left) presents Huntsville Hospital's Employee of the Year Award to LaToya Whitman.
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SUMMER 2019
MADISON HOSPITAL
Exemplary efforts get well-deserved recognitions
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hree years ago, Michelle Zirbel’s grandfather talked her into transferring from Huntsville Hospital to Madison Hospital so she could be closer to her home in Athens. It's safe to say the move worked out well. Zirbel was named Madison’s 2019 RN of the Year for her work as nursing coordinator of the fifth-floor Intensive Care Unit and Progressive Care Unit. “I’m just really surprised, humbled and thankful,” she said. Michelle said it was hard leaving Huntsville Hospital, where she spent 13 years in the Medical ICU and Respiratory Care Unit. But transferring to Madison Hospital cut about an hour off her daily commute and gives her more free time at home with her three children. During the same National Nurses Week ceremony, Madison Hospital President Mary Lynne Wright recognized John Buckelew as Employee of the Year and Juanita Florio as Volunteer of the Year. Buckelew is the hospital’s IT network support technician and was one of the first people Wright hired while the facility was still under construction. Florio continually goes above and beyond in her role as a front lobby greeter. Last Christmas, she treated the entire hospital staff to an incredible spread of holiday hors d’oeuvres.
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“I’m just really surprised, humbled and thankful.” — Michelle Zirbel
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Above: Madison Hospital recognized some of its best and brightest during National Nurses Week. Pictured from left to right are Clinical Operations Director Melissa Taylor, Hospitality and Volunteer Manager Kelly Hatley, Volunteer of the Year Juanita Florio, Employee of the Year John Buckelew, Nurse of the Year Michelle Zirbel, Director of Medical, Surgical, Progressive Care and Intensive Care Gina Turner, and President Mary Lynne Wright.
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Special services for tiny patients
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ach year, more than 1,000 newborns in our region need neonatal care because they are born prematurely or with certain medical problems. This number will likely increase as economic growth encourages more families to move to the North Alabama area. In 2016, Madison Hospital’s well-baby nursery was reclassified as a Level II “special care” nursery. Level II is an intermediate step between a wellbaby nursery and a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and indicates the hospital nursery can care for premature infants born as early as 32 weeks and babies with moderate health problems. This Fall, the NICU at Women & Children will add 10 new bed spaces, each of which will be equipped with isolettes, warmers and amenities at the bedside for family comfort. In addition to more beds, the unit continues to add new programs and initiatives to enhance the care provided. One neonatology team
The same team of four board certified neonatologists and two board certified pediatricians that cares for babies in the NICU at Women & Children also cares for babies in Madison Hospital’s special care nursery. Additionally, the units each have their own team of certified nurse practitioners (CRNP). CRNPs are advanced practice nurses who have completed additional training and education to provide a high level of care.
Pediatrician Dr. Stephanie Israel evaluates a newborn in Madison Hospital's special care nursery.
Taking care of the smallest babies In 2015, the NICU established a dedicated team of nurses specially trained to respond to and care for babies born at less than 28 weeks or 1,000 grams (2.2 pounds). Last November, the team celebrated when the unit’s smallest baby to ever be discharged went home. She weighed less than one pound at birth and went home weighing an impressive six pounds after four months in the NICU. North Alabama’s only Infant Nutrition Lab Made possible by Huntsville Hospital Foundation’s Melissa George Neonatal Memorial Fund, Women & Children’s Infant Nutrition Lab is the first and only facility of its type in North Alabama. In this aseptic environment, breast milk is fortified for optimal infant nutrition to help babies grow. The Lab also ensures that milk is labeled and held at proper temperature and delivered to the bedside where nurses or parents feed their babies.
This Fall, the NICU at Women & Children will add 10 new bed spaces. Women & Children's NICU Director, Cheryl Case, RN, and Project Manager Shannon Barron review progress on the NICU renovation.
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SUMMER 2019
Better infant health with
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reastfeeding statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) states that four out of five (83%) infants nationally are breastfed at birth. In Alabama 68% of infants are breastfed and the rates drops to 39% at six months old and 25% when they turn one year old. “The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants be exclusively breastfed for about the first 6 months with continued breastfeeding alongside introduction of complementary foods for at least 1 year,” according to the CDC. Lactation consultants, nurses and physicians at Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children and Jackie Barré breastfeeds her infant son in Madison Hospital are Women & Children's lobby during a video working to increase shoot with Rocket City Mom. these breastfeeding rates on a local level through a variety of programs and initiatives that support and educate breastfeeding moms.
Alabama’s breastfeeding law In 2006, Alabama passed a law which states that a mother may breastfeed her child in any location, public or private, where the mother is otherwise authorized to be present. Recently, Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children participated in a video produced by Rocket City Mom to raise awareness about the law and the rights of breastfeeding mothers. You can view this video at rocketcitymom.com. Flat Stella If you visit Madison Hospital you may run into “Flat Stella," a cardboard cutout of woman breastfeeding. The staff named her Stella because she reminded them of Flat Stanley, a character from a children’s book. Stella is displayed in the hospital lobby and in the ER waiting area to help normalize breastfeeding to the general public and to let nursing mothers know that breastfeeding is welcome anywhere in the hospital.
Breastfeeding friendly hospitals Madison Hospital is designated as a baby friendly hospital by Baby-Friendly USA, which encourages the broad-scale implementation of the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding and use of breast milk substitutes. The hospital also earned the Better Bama Babies award from the Alabama Breastfeeding Committee for efforts to increase breastfeeding rates and support breastfeeding mothers. Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children has also implemented Ten Steps for Successful Breastfeeding and is pursuing the Better Bama Babies recognition. You can learn more about this recognition at alabamabreastfeeding.org.
Members of Madison Hospital's breastfeeding mothers group pose with Flat Stella (center).
Breastfeeding support Both Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children and Madison Hospital have teams of Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC) that provide support and instruction to breastfeeding moms before delivery, in the hospital and after they take the baby home.
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WHILE
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HUNTSVILLE SHOT
t may be the greatest achievement in human history, certainly the greatest adventure. To the moon and back. And our community, the Rocket City, built the Saturn V engine that took astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins to the lunar surface on July 20, 1969. If you were alive, you probably remember where you were — somewhere in front of a black and white television. A half century later Huntsville is celebrating the amazing story of Apollo 11. The 50th Anniversary of the landing on the moon prompted us to look at a different, but related question:
A Huntsville-built Saturn V rocket engine carried astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins to the moon in July 1969.
“WHAT WAS HAPPENING AT HUNTSVILLE HOSPITAL IN THE SUMMER OF 1969?” The answer to that question requires a visit to the scrapbooks, to records long ago filed away. Here’s some of what we found in our look back at Huntsville Hospital in and around 1969.
The chaplaincy program began that same year.
There was construction going on. Surprise! The medical campus in the late 60s was hardly what it is today. There were 320 beds located in what is now called the south tower. An expansion of the tower was underway which would later bring the bed total to 456.
In patient rooms, we began offering telephones at a cost of $1 per room.
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SUMMER 2019
These colorful, hand-painted rockets will be on display this summer as part of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center's Rockets on Parade to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. The rocket on the left shows Madison Hospital's Healing Garden, the middle rocket has scenes from around Huntsville Hospital, and the rocket on the right lists the many services offered at Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children.
FOR THE Fifty years ago, Huntsville Hospital fronted Sivley Road, facing north toward downtown. In succeeding decades, construction covered over Sivley Road and turned the front of the hospital to Gallatin Street, where it continues today. Through all of the construction, the official address has not changed from 101 Sivley Rd.
MDDN Closed circuit television was installed in the hospital.
$1.60
The federal minimum wage in 1969 was $1.30. At Huntsville Hospital, it was $1.60.
Unfortunately, there was a shortage of nurses in 1969 (some things never change). The Chief of the Medical Staff was Dr. Milton Peeler. He was followed in October by Dr. Carl Grote, Jr. In 1969, Huntsville Hospital admitted 14,268 patients, delivered 2,993 babies, performed 6,167 surgeries, and had 33,808 ER visits. We’ve always been a busy place. Wassie Griffin was the administrator of Huntsville Hospital. The Board included Glenn Halcomb, Erle Douglass, Dr. Henry Anderson, Sr., Dr. Grady Huckaby, William Davoren, Jack Batchelor, and Alvin Blackwell. Blackwell became president of the Board in August of 1969. More than two decades later his longtime service to the hospital was noted with the naming of the Blackwell Medical Tower in his honor. Computers were used for patient billing for the first time in 1969. Wow!
Huntsville Hospital has always been an educational institution, training many members of our workforce, as well as for other nearby hospitals. In 1969 we started our School of Radiologic Technology with 10 students and the School of Medical Technology for our laboratory. Both of these programs continue today.
Measuring the progress at Huntsville Hospital from 1969 to 2019 is a journey in itself. We’re proud of what has been accomplished here and the lives that we have touched. We’re also proud to be a part of a community that helped put man on the moon. Congratulations to the NASA team at Marshall Space Flight Center who first took us to the moon and to the team that is working today to take us back.
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Visual mapping detects breast cancers
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untsville Hospital Breast Center became the only facility in the Southeast with four breast imaging systems using anatomical intelligence. This technology allows visual mapping of the breast which helps ultrasound technologists and physicians capture more defined and complete images. Breast ultrasounds are frequently used to screen patients with dense breasts for cancer because dense breast tissue can make it difficult to detect cancer with mammography alone. According to the National Cancer Institute, women with dense breasts have a higher risk of breast cancer than women with non-dense breasts so it is important for patients to know if they have dense breasts. While many states, including Alabama, have laws that require breast density notification, the Food and Drug Administration recently proposed an update to mammography standards that would, in part, create uniform language to notify women who have dense breasts about the condition and the risks associated with it. If you have been told you have dense breast tissue and are concerned, talk with your physician to determine if additional screening is needed.
The breast ultrasound imaging technology at Huntsville Hospital Breast Center also helps guide physicians when performing procedures like a breast biopsy.
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SUMMER 2019
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Behind the White Coat
Certified nurse midwife Tiffany Golub
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or the first time in more than 30 years, pregnant women in the Huntsville area have the option of a certified nurse midwife. Tiffany Golub joined Women4Women OBGYN this spring and is delivering babies exclusively at Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children. She is also a women’s health nurse practitioner. Source asked Golub a few questions to help you get to know her better. Q: What is a certified nurse midwife, and how are they different from other types of midwives? A: A certified nurse midwife is a registered nurse who has a master’s degree in midwifery. They can care for women throughout their lifespan, while pregnant and during childbirth. About 90 percent of nurse midwives deliver babies in a hospital. Since most people associate midwives with home births, I tell patients that a certified nurse midwife is a nurse practitioner who can also deliver babies. Q: What sort of training do you need to become a certified nurse midwife? A: I earned my bachelor's degree in nursing from the University of Alabama in 2007 and spent most of my career as a labor and delivery nurse at Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children. In 2018, I completed the nurse midwife/women’s health nurse practitioner master’s program at Georgetown University. As part of my clinical training, I spent eight months working with patients at a large OBGYN practice in Columbus, Ga. Q: How exciting is it to be the person to bring nurse midwifery back to this area after a long absence? A: I was born at Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children and have spent my entire career in this building as a labor and delivery nurse, surrounded by friends and colleagues who had a huge part in me developing into the caregiver that I am today. I am now blessed to be serving women in this new capacity in the same hospital. I am grateful to Dr. Anne Marie Reidy of Women4Women OBGYN for her vision and persistence in paving the path to make this possible.
Q: Why did you decide to make a career switch from labor and delivery nursing to midwifery? A: I wanted to establish relationships with patients during their pregnancy and have the opportunity to educate them on general health/ wellness and options when it comes to their labor and birth experience. Q: When you're not delivering babies, what do you like to do for fun? A: I love to spend time with family and friends. I have a Yorkie named Ellie who brings me so much joy. I also enjoy church activities, crafting, and running. I'm currently working on doing a half-marathon in every state!
Certified nurse midwife Tiffany Golub
huntsvillehospital.org
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On any given day PEDIATRICS
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untsville Hospital for Women & Children serves almost 200 children in our specialty outpatient clinics, pediatric inpatient units and pediatric emergency department. While physicians, nurses and other clinical staff provide the needed medical care, a team of staff and volunteers works to provide emotional support and make our patients’ hospital stays a little better.
more d n a ie n in M , y e k ic M special Department,
Child Life the lobby Through the mmon sight in co a e ar rs to e filled celebrity visi ter parties ar ac ar h C . ls al h ient eroes and areas and pat tivities with h ac n fu d an s like with photo op s and movies k oo b r la u op p ays, Santa princesses from ring the holid u D . ey n is D d time Marvel and stop by to spen y n n u B r te e Eas the halls Claus and th year staff line y er ev d an , ume with patients alloween cost H e th in ts n atie to cheer on p ade. ardi Gras par M parade and
License t o drive
Toy provid cars, many o ed f Found by the Hu which are ntsvill ation, e Hosp provid to help ea ita comfo children tra fun distrac l rt of th nsition tion eir par operat from t iv en h Nursin e area to the ts in the pr e e g staff o perati and M a adison t Women & ng room. specia l pape Hospital eve Children r n they c an dri licenses to c issue ve off hildre down n the ha before ll.
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SUMMER 2019
PEDIATRICS
Arts in Medicine
volunteers With a rolling “Art Cart” in hand, regularly gram pro of the Arts in Medicine (AIM) creative ptu rom stop by patient rooms for some imp age children arts and crafts. It’s a great way to eng playroom, and it that may not feel up to visiting the patients. Some gives some one-on-one attention to gallery located patient art is showcased in a rotating Volunteers and near one of the hospital entrances. r talents to staff of the AIM program also use thei gs including din oun create bright and engaging surr d created mai a recently completed mural of a mer out of bottle caps.
The best therapy
Playtime
ic Unit n the Pediatr o m o o yr la t p The s trying out ar id k h it w ed ll bows is typically fi nting, 3D rain ai p lt sa e k li s. activities cupcake liner m o fr s er w o fl t, and making ild life assistan ch a y b ed at Coordin ith coping, elp patients w h to is al go the creative , distraction, the normalization ation but for iz al ci so d an Young expression tive playtime. ea cr st ju ’s it ER patients the Pediatric in rs to si vi d e they patients an playtime whil e m so y jo en that can also l light system ia ec sp a to s oor. wait, thank mes on the fl ga s u o ri va ys displa
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H
untsville Hospital’s downtown campus is expanding with the addition of a new parking deck and a sky-scraping medical tower dedicated to orthopedic and spine surgery. Work is nearly complete on the parking deck, which is actually a large addition to the hospital’s East Medical Office Building garage on Lowell Drive. Expected to open in late summer, it will create 450 more parking spaces a short walk from Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children. The new Orthopedic & Spine Tower is also coming along nicely. The seven-story tower is the largest medical construction project in Huntsville in 40 years. This spring, construction crews poured nearly 250 thick, steel-reinforced concrete columns to anchor the building to the bedrock. The hospital’s general contractor, Robins & Morton, brought in the largest construction crane ever used in the Rocket City to lift the wall sections into place.
Building up for patients
The Orthopedic & Spine Tower is coming along nicely.
Due to open in 2021, it is the future home of the hospital’s awardwinning orthopedic and spine surgery programs, as well as Joint Camp — a group physical therapy program for patients recovering from knee and hip replacement. The Orthopedic & Spine Tower will feature 24 state-of-the-art operating rooms for orthopedic and spine surgery cases, 72 private patient
rooms, physical therapy areas, a street-level restaurant (the name will be announced later) and more. All of those services are now located in Huntsville Hospital’s main building. Moving them to the new tower will free up tens of thousands of square feet for other new and expanding medical programs. The tower will fill an entire city block bounded by St. Clair Avenue to the north, Sivley Road to the south and Gallatin Street to the east. A new pedestrian bridge across Gallatin will link the building to the rest of the hospital.
The new parking deck at Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children is nearly complete.
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SUMMER 2019
An amazing RN
—
in any language
P
ranorm “Dang” Dean says being a registered nurse in Huntsville Hospital’s Family Practice Unit is her dream job. Getting there took years of hard work and determination. Dean grew up in rural Thailand in a house with no electricity or running water. She also spoke little English, which made for a tough transition when she moved to Huntsville in 2001. Although Dean was a respected math teacher in Bangkok, she had limited work options here because of the language barrier. She started her medical career cleaning patient rooms at Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children. As she mopped and scrubbed, Dean realized that her true calling was caring for people. She first became a certified nursing assistant, earning a reputation for hard work, skill and compassion. In 2013, Dean was named the hospital’s patient care assistant of the year. “There are certain people you can trust with any work assignment, and she’s one of them,”
says Dean’s supervisor, Family Practice Unit Nursing Director Brian Buchmann, RN. “Her work ethic is incredible.” When she arrived from Thailand, Dean was speaking English on a third-grade level. She enrolled in an English as a second language class to improve her skills. After earning her GED, she decided to go to nursing school and had to pass several notoriously difficult classes, including anatomy and microbiology, just to be considered. Along the way, she also battled thyroid cancer. Dean was awarded her nursing degree from Calhoun Community College in 2017 and says she is in her “happy place” on the hospital’s busy seventhfloor Family Practice Unit. “Dang is just a great, great nurse,” said Buchmann. “She’s always helpful, always nice, always caring. We’re fortunate to have her on our team.”
Pranorm “Dang” Dean, RN
The heart of our TAVR program
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untsville Hospital Heart Center cardiologist Alex Vasquez, MD, was named the American Heart Association’s Physician of the Year at the Huntsville Heart Ball. Dr. Vasquez developed the hospital’s transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) program in 2011. It has evolved into one of the most successful and largest programs of its type in the Southeast, with more than 350 TAVRs performed. About 20 heart specialists are scrubbed in or on standby for each procedure. The hospital’s multi-disciplinary team includes interventional cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, imaging cardiologists, cardiac anesthesiologists, cardiovascular techs, physician assistants, certified nurse anesthetists, radiology technologists, registered nurses, perfusionists, scrub assistants and cardiac sonographers. TAVR allows physicians to replace a damaged aortic valve without opening the patient’s chest. In most cases, a long, thin catheter mounted with the replacement valve is carefully guided through the femoral artery to the heart. It is considered a minimally-invasive procedure and can usually be completed in about an hour. Most patients are discharged from the hospital the next day. Dr. Vasquez is triple-board certified in internal medicine, interventional cardiology and general cardiology. huntsvillehospital.org
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HUNTSVILLE HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
31st Annual Huntsville Classic Dinner, Concert and Golf Tournament The 31st annual Huntsville Classic raised a record $520,000 in net proceeds, thanks to the support of generous sponsors, concert goers, dinner guests and golfers. More than 4,000 guests joined Huntsville Hospital Foundation on May 9 for the Classic Dinner and Concert, featuring an acoustic performance by country singer-songwriters Lee Brice and Randy Houser. On May 11, 222 golfers turned out for the Classic Golf Tournament at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Hampton Cove. Proceeds benefited the hospital's Heart Institute and will fund new pre- and post-op areas for the Cardiac Hybrid Lab.
Dr. Kirti Kandalkar, Huntsville Hospital Cardiologist Dr. Mihir Kanitkar, Huntsville Hospital COO Jeff Samz, Dr. Aruna Arora, and Dr. Amit Arora, Foundation Trustee and Huntsville Hospital Health Care Authority Board member.
Gene Sapp, Trustee Emeritus Dick Holloway, Rick Holloway and Will Crain enjoy a day on the course at the Classic Golf Tournament.
Chris and Zack Penney with Robb and Erin Bailey at the Huntsville Classic Dinner.
Classic Concert guests enjoy an acoustic performance from country stars Randy Houser and Lee Brice.
The Huntsville Classic would not be possible without the generosity of our Founding, Presenting and Platinum Sponsors. Front row: Classic Co-Chairmen Ginney McDonald and Sean Kelly; Second row: Dave King (Dynetics), Scott Moore (Hexagon), Ron Poteat (Regions Bank), Huntsville Hospital CEO David Spillers, Dr. David Drenning (The Heart Center); Third row: Mitch Coley (Robins & Morton) and Dan McClain (iHeart Media/WDRM).
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2019 Classic Co-chairmen Ginney McDonald and Sean Kelly don their iconic green jackets following the jacket presentation at the Dinner.
No trophies here ‌ 2019 Classic champions received belts! Classic Co-chairmen Sean Kelly (left) and Ginney McDonald (right) with the 2019 Huntsville Classic Highlands Course Champions Dr. Farin Smith, Jenna McCorkle, Foundation Trustee Emeritus Dr. Rony Najjar and Dr. Jeff Walker.
HUNTSVILLE HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
3rd Annual Claws for a Cause More than 220 guests joined Huntsville Hospital Foundation’s Development Council for a fun afternoon of crawfish and live music at the 3rd annual Claws for a Cause crawfish boil, April 13, at S.R. Butler Green at Campus 805. The event raised $11,862 in net proceeds for the Diaper Assistance Program at Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children. Funds will provide a week’s worth of diapers, wipes and information about regional community resources to patient families in need.
A special thank you to Claws for a Cause Gold Sponsors Alicia and Peyton McNully
Arthur Humphrey and Zacairi Turner, Madison Hospital Women’s Council member
Development Council members Ryan Letson; Aaron Caradonna, chairman; Tiphani Gay and Kasey Golden
Gold Sponsor Peyton McNully and his son Sumner
16th Annual Millennium Society Foundation Millennium Society members enjoyed lunch and a special program at the 16th annual Millennium Society Member-Guest Luncheon on April 25. Every year, the Society chooses a hospital department or program to support with their annual contributions. For 2019, this group of generous women chose to invest in the new Infant Nutrition Lab at Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children. Membership is open to all women with a passion for supporting Huntsville Hospital through an annual contribution of at least $1,000.
Sue Esslinger, Founding Member Kathy Chan, Jennifer Lapidus and Peggy Lee Wright at the Millennium Society Member-Guest Luncheon
Sarah Lauren Kattos, Andrea Nelson Jones, Foundation Trustee Janice Johnson and Foundation Trustee Ashley Mitchell
Loretta Spencer, Former Foundation President Shirley Hale Stucky and Janice Fowler
Luncheon guests enjoyed a powerful presentation from Andi Hill, the mother of three children who were all born profoundly deaf. Andi was instrumental in the 2010 development of Huntsville Hospital’s Pediatric Audiology Department — a comprehensive center that addresses the needs of North Alabama infants and children with hearing loss. huntsvillehospital.org
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HUNTSVILLE HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
Donor Spotlight:
Frederick Lanier
Frederick Lanier, Senior Vice President/Managing Director for J. Smith Lanier & Co., with the portrait of his sister Robin, which hangs in the Oncology Unit of the Huntsville Hospital Madison Street Tower.
Frederick Lanier is a Huntsville native with a heart for philanthropy. Lanier has supported Huntsville Hospital Foundation (HHF) for more than two decades – not only financially, but also by giving generously of his time. He has served as a Foundation Trustee and Board Treasurer, Trustee Emeritus, Huntsville Classic chairman, and BMW Brunch chairman. Lanier’s passion for giving stems from something deeply personal — the loss of his sister Robin, who passed away in 1993. Robin’s death inspired her physicians and family to continue her legacy by helping others in our community. The Robin Lanier Stewart Memorial Fund at HHF was established in 1994 by physicians at the Comprehensive Cancer Institute (now Clearview Cancer Institute), where Robin worked. The fund was later endowed by Frederick and Robin’s parents, Dede and Pete Lanier. Robin’s fund has provided more than $320,000 to help area cancer patients who need assistance paying for medications associated with their treatment. Thanks to the fund and the Lanier family, Robin’s memory will continue to live on and better the lives of patients who are traveling the same journey she did so many years ago.
You can support the Robin Lanier Stewart Memorial Fund and cancer patients in our community by donating online at huntsvillehospitalfoundation.org. Q: Your sister Robin’s legacy has impacted countless cancer patients in our region. What does that mean to you? A: Like many families, ours has had too many encounters with cancer. Robin’s memorial fund helps cancer patients and their families at this difficult time in their lives. Through the years, I have had employees’ families benefit from the fund, and this has given me firsthand knowledge of the impact the fund has on the lives of patients and their families. This is a great comfort to my sister Anne and me. Q: Why were your parents inspired to create the endowed named fund in memory of Robin? A: Cancer dealt Robin a double blow. Losing a child is the most devastating pain a parent will ever endure, and Robin lost her three-year-old son Nathan to leukemia in 1975. After we lost Robin to cancer, six oncologists and the Foundation approached my parents to endow a memorial fund for Robin. The decision was simple. After we lost Mom and Dad, Anne and I designed a way to continue the endowment of Robin’s fund for hopefully many more years. 22
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Q: What inspires you to give to, and to serve, Huntsville Hospital Foundation? A: Huntsville Hospital is vitally important to everyone, and we all have the possibility of needing the hospital’s services. Working with the Foundation is one of the best ways to support and give back to the Huntsville community. My father ingrained in our family the importance of giving back to our community. He understood the importance of having a servant’s attitude.
Q: Why should others consider giving to the Robin Lanier Stewart Memorial Fund, or to other funds that benefit not-for-profit Huntsville Hospital and area patients? A: Robin’s Fund is one of the largest endowed named funds at the Foundation. Many cancer survivors regularly give back to the fund, which is one reason it has been so successful. I thank all those who donate. In addition to Robin’s fund, there are 21 other deserving endowed named funds that the Foundation manages.
HUNTSVILLE HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
Community support The Huntsville Hospital Auxiliary donated $244,498 to the Foundation to purchase a long list of much-needed items, including $48,000 to ensure every baby born at Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children and Madison Hospital receives a HALO SleepSack. Pictured: HH Auxiliary officers Angela Toney, Kathleen McIntyre and Alice Damphouse, with Mother/Baby Unit Nursing Director Cathy Mog and a baby swaddled in an Auxiliaryfunded HALO SleepSack. The Auxiliary has donated more than $6 million to the Foundation over the years.
The inaugural Wells Clayton Whitworth Memorial Fund Pheasant Shoot raised more than $23,000 to assist families with funeral expenses and grief counseling after the loss of a child. Kelley and Chad Whitworth of Madison founded the fund in memory of their baby boy, Wells.
Ana GuineaMartin, Nisha Mailapur and Dr. Ravi Mailapur at the 3rd annual Say No to Obesity 4K. Nisha created the Say No to Obesity 4K Walk/Run to benefit the Foundation's Obesity Prevention Fund and to help individuals fight obesity.
The Bearded Villains North Alabama hosted a St. Patrick’s Day Diaper Drive at InnerSpace Brewing Company to benefit the Foundation’s new Diaper Assistance Program at Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children.
Huntsville Hospital Breast Center ultrasound and mammography technologists with the Center’s newest ultrasound machine, made possible by the 2018 Liz Hurley Ribbon Run. Save the date for the 16th annual Ribbon Run on Saturday, Oct. 19!
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PRSRT STD US Postage PAID Birmingham, AL Permit #40 101 Sivley Road • Huntsville, AL 35801
Improving lives across the Tennessee Valley
We are the Huntsville Hospital Health System, a team committed to bringing better health care to you and your family. We’re all across the Tennessee Valley with more resources, more services and more locations — we’re improving lives, together.
Huntsville Hospital Health System includes Huntsville Hospital, Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children, Madison Hospital, Athens-Limestone Hospital, Decatur Morgan Hospitals, Helen Keller & Red Bay Hospitals, Marshall Medical Centers, Lawrence Medical Center and Lincoln Health System in Tennessee.
