Partners
NE WS F R O M LMH E N DOWME N T ASSOCI ATI ON
Fall 2018
Celebrating our past; preparing for our future Dear LMHEA Partners, Since its inception in 1969, the LMH Endowment Association has played a vital role in ensuring exceptional healthcare in our communities. Last month, Lawrence Memorial Hospital became LMH Health, a change meant to recognize the ever-expanding role this organization plays in creating healthy communities. Getting back: Ed Corporal and his wife, Leigh, take a stroll.
LMH Health and local nonprofit help coach get back in the game by Katherine Dinsdale Thanks to a grant from the Falling Forward Foundation allowing him
And, just as LMH Health has grown to serve a much larger purpose — to be your partner for lifelong health — so must LMH Endowment. I am pleased to announce that as LMH Endowment celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2019, we will do so as the LMH Health Foundation. This exciting transition will begin now with a new brand identity that mirrors LMH Health, and it will continue with a formal change on January 1, 2019.
to continue physical therapy at LMH Health, Ed Corporal went from being unable to walk to getting back on his feet and working as head coach for the Kansas City Tornadoes, the city’s new professional basketball team. Corporal’s story began in September 2013, when he had just celebrated his 50th birthday. He lived an active life — working out, coaching volleyball and playing basketball. “I woke up one morning, and my life had changed,” Corporal says. “I got up and tried to walk to the kitchen and just fell.” Corporal had suffered a stroke and was taken to LMH Health, where he suffered a second stroke that night and became unable to walk. “I started physical therapy at LMH, and I put on what I call my ‘Kobe
What won’t change is our commitment to you. We are extremely grateful to the donors who make patients’ lives — and our communities — better and healthier. We promise that we will seek to understand what inspires you to give and provide opportunities for support that fit your interests. Your partnership will ensure that our next 50 years are just as meaningful as our first. Onward,
attitude,’” he says, referencing basketball legend Kobe Bryant. “I said to myself, ‘Nothing can stop me. I’m going to push. I’m gonna beat this.’” —continued inside
Jason Hoover President, LMH Endowment Board of Directors
2018 B OA R D O F D I R E C T O R S Jason Hoover president
Becki Dick vice president
Mark Gonzales treasurer
Becky Gibson s e c r e ta r y
Gary Sollars pa s t p r e s i d e n t
Beverly Bartscher president of lmh health auxiliary board
Gary Bennett Jane Blocher ex officio , lmh
health trustee
Daryl Craft Lindy Eakin E. Laverne Epp Kelli Henderson, DDS Russ Johnson ex officio , lmh
health president and ceo
Starla Jones Derek Kwan
Rebecca Smith, LMHEA executive director; Russ Johnson, LMH Health president and CEO; and Earl Reineman, LMHEA major and planned gifts manager
Your gifts at work Last month, I had the opportunity to participate in a light demolition project as construction began on the new heart catheterization lab at LMH Health. Our community contributed more than $1.2 million toward this new life-saving facility — the first of its kind to be implemented in a community hospital anywhere in the United States. Gifts both large and small are at work every day at LMH Health, funding advancements in patient care, community education, charitable care, wellness and more — all to ensure that the care you and your family need will always be available, right where you need it. From its original founders to its current Board of Directors, LMH Endowment is here to serve donors, helping them connect to LMH Health in meaningful and evolving ways. As we celebrate our 50th anniversary next year, we do so with you — our most vital partners — in mind. Thank you for investing in health for your family, friends, neighbors and yourself. It will pay dividends now and for generations to come. Sincerely,
Danny Lewis Lida Osbern, MD
Rebecca Smith
Luis Salazar, MD Livia Sexton Catherine Shenoy Jeff Weinberg
PA R T N E R S 325 Maine Street • Lawrence KS 66044 (785) 505-3315 Stories: Katherine Dinsdale, Courtney Bernard Editorial support: LMH Health Marketing
GIVING OPTIONS (choose one) My check is enclosed, payable to LMHEA. 325 Maine Street Lawrence, KS 66044 GIFT INFORMATION I would like to make a gift of: $1,000 $500 $250 Other $ in support of LMH Health.
$100
My preferred area of support: Please use my gift where most needed. I would like my gift to be available now. I would like my gift to invest in long-term support. I have included LMH Health in my estate plans.
LMHEA team: Amy Addington, Courtney Bernard, Tiffany Hall, Erica Hill, Earl Reineman, Rebecca Smith
Name:
© 2018 LMHEA
Preferred email:
Please bill my credit card: Card # Exp. date / CVV code Print name Signature Automatic monthly gift? Yes I prefer to give securely online: LMHEndowment.org I have called (785) 505-5621 to make a gift.
Address: City, State, Zip: Phone number:
No
PERSONAL STORIES OF PHILANTHROPY
Longtime LMH Health employees create trust for scholarship funding
Linda and Jim Anderson
“ It’s all the workers here, from top to bottom, who are the shining stars.”
by Katherine Dinsdale Jim and Linda Anderson know a side of LMH Health that many do not. The couple has worked the night shift — 3:30 p.m. to midnight — during all their years here. Linda has dedicated a total of 35 years, mostly in medical records, but also in housekeeping and as a patient aide in physical therapy. Jim has dedicated 29 years in facilities management. “It’s often the hospital housekeeper or maintenance man who is the first person a new patient or visitor meets in the hallway,” Jim Anderson says. “A pleasant interaction can set them off on the right foot for their whole experience at LMH.” The Andersons have witnessed many changes at LMH Health. The main campus of the hospital has more than doubled, the Andersons say, not counting the satellite locations — and they’ve seen patient care and services consistently improve. The couple has always been pleased with the amount of charity care the hospital provides. The Andersons say that although they never had children, their coworkers at LMH Health come close to being family. With the help of LMH Endowment and their personal attorney, they set up a trust for a scholarship fund to be established for the non-medical staff at LMH Health. “That means that people who work in health information management, facilities management or another non-medical department can be supported with funds from our scholarship,” Jim Anderson says. “It could be someone wanting to take some HVAC courses or electrician training, or someone in health information management could take courses such as coding to work toward accreditation.” That’s important training, the Andersons believe — to keep the lights on, the heat and air conditioning pumping and the patient records accessible and up-to-date. It’s all part of providing excellent care at LMH Health. Says Jim Anderson, “It’s all the workers here, from top to bottom, who are the shining stars.”
—Jim Anderson
Donors support LMH Health behavioral health crisis stabilization efforts Patients in the midst of a behavioral health or substance abuse crisis made more than 4,200 emergency visits to LMH Health in 2017. Now, thanks to donor support, LMH Health has five new rooms available in the emergency department to support crisis stabilization. Along with the Douglas County Commission, Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center, Heartland RADAC, DCCCA and several others, LMH Health is ensuring that patients leaving the hospital following a crisis will receive the services they need in order to transition to the next step of their treatment. This new partnership is bringing an unprecedented
level of behavioral health care within an emergency department setting, resulting in positive outcomes for patients and providing vital support to those in need of behavioral health or substancerelated services. “Don and I feel it’s important for the community to come together to improve mental health services,” says Jolisa Buchner. The Buchners’ gift supported construction of the new rooms. “There are so many different ways for everyone to be supportive, and this is one way that was important to us. We’re so happy that we have the ability to help.”
“ There are so many different ways for everyone to be supportive.” —Jolisa Buchner
Derrick Hurst joined LMH Health in March 2018 as the director of the Integrated Crisis Team. Hurst and his team ensure that partner organizations bring their own unique specializations, expertise and resources to the table to provide the highest level of care possible.
2018 Hearts of Gold advances Breast Center goal In June, more than 450 guests came together for the 2018 Hearts of Gold Gala, LMH Endowment’s fundraiser to support the new Breast Center. The event raised nearly $200,000. Construction of the new Breast Center at LMH Health West Campus represents an even higher level of commitment to health care, made possible by a collaborative network of dedicated health care professionals. “We are thrilled with the generosity shown to LMH Health over the course of the evening,” says Becky Gibson, secretary of the LMH Endowment Board of Directors. “The event helped us exceed our goal of raising a total of $650,000 in support of the Center, which will be part of the new LMH Health West Campus.” To date, donors have provided nearly $2.2 million for the new facility planned for west Lawrence, moving LMH Endowment closer to its goal of $4 million. “LMH Health West Campus is important in terms of enhancing medical care for the community, but it will also strengthen the hospital financially and strategically, ensuring support for identified priorities, including access to care, charitable care and behavioral health support,” says Gibson. The 2018 Hearts of Gold Gala raised nearly $200,000, helping LMHEA exceed its goal of providing $650,000 in support of the new Breast Center.
SAVE THE DATE!
Rock the Block – Kick Cancer on Friday, Oct. 26 Join us on Friday, October 26, at Rock the Block – Kick Cancer, our annual oncology fundraiser! We will celebrate indoors at Dale Willey Chevrolet in Lawrence, and event proceeds will provide mammograms and prostate cancer screenings for patients who might not otherwise be able to afford them. Funds raised will also create endowments for LMH Oncology and Catch a Break, LMHEA’s program for cancer patients and survivors. Enjoy food, drinks, dancing and chances to win unique theme baskets for $1 per ticket. The evening is highlighted by the Rock Star Ceremony that honors cancer patients, their caregivers and survivors in our community. Costumes are encouraged, or come in jeans. Tickets are $45 for the general public. Corporate sponsorship packages are available, too. Visit LMHEndowment.org/RocktheBlock to register now.
Back in the game —continued
Then, he faced another challenge. Corporal learned that his private insurance policy had a cap on the number of physical therapy sessions it would cover. The limit was nearing — ending his therapy — unless he could find
“ I am now able to contribute and do what I was doing before.” —Ed Corporal
another way to pay for it. “I hadn’t known anything about therapy caps,” Corporal says. “All I knew was that I was making progress, but I was still using a wheelchair. There’s no way I was
influenced lawmakers to include a ban on Medicare therapy caps that was included in the 2018 tax bill. In 2017, Corporal was offered the coaching job with the Kansas City Tornadoes. He says the extra months of
ready to discontinue therapy.” His LMH Health physical therapist suggested applying for a grant from the Falling Forward Foundation, a public charity established by Lawrence resident Sam Porritt
therapy funded by the Falling Forward Foundation made all the difference in his efforts to recover. “I am now able to contribute and do what I was doing
that provides grants to fund continued therapy after
before,” he says. “I have a purpose and life is almost back
insurance benefits run out.
to normal, even if that is a different normal from before.”
Corporal was one of the first LMH Health patients
Corporal is a regular volunteer at the Center for
to receive a grant from the Falling Forward Foundation.
Rehabilitation on the fourth floor at LMH Health, where he
With continued therapy, his progress greatly improved.
spent his four long months in therapy.
By June 2014, Corporal was walking with a cane and working as a coach at a KU basketball camp. In May 2015, Corporal and others from Falling Forward traveled to Washington, DC, to lobby in Congress
“I go and try to encourage others,” Corporal says. “I tell them everything is going to be okay. The reason I am able to do what I am now is because of the kind of hard work they are doing there.”
against Medicare therapy caps. Corporal’s story may have
More about the Falling Forward Foundation Life took a sudden turn for Lawrence resident Sam Porritt while vacationing in Tuscany in 2011. He was standing on a stone wall and stepped forward to get a better angle for a shot on his iPhone. He lost his balance and tumbled forward 15 feet; the fall left him paralyzed from the hips down. Emergency surgery in Italy, followed by two years of hard work in physical therapy at LMH Health, helped the former Payless vice president regain much of his movement and ability to walk. However, the lessons of that fall and its aftermath brought Porritt a new purpose and focus he never expected. Porritt was shocked to learn that his own private insurance policy was one of only 1 percent of policies that enforced no automatic caps on the amount of therapy that can be reimbursed. He learned that most private insurance policies place strict limits on services patients can receive, sometimes only 20-30 physical and/or occupational therapy visits. PHOTO BY EARL RICHARDSON
Sam Porritt, founder of Falling Forward Foundation
“I was also surprised to learn that more than 1 million Americans a year suffer these catastrophic events,” he says. “I began to realize that if those people don’t get the therapy they need they are disabled for life. This is one of the reasons disability costs are out of control. We are creating tens of thousands of disabled people a year who do not need to remain disabled. It is a tragedy of our own making.”
Consequently, Porritt founded the Falling Forward Foundation, an organization that awards grants to allow those who have suffered a catastrophic medical event such as a stroke, traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury to receive adequate rehabilitation to fully recover. Grants from Falling Forward have supported 78 people thus far at LMH Health and rehabilitation centers in Kansas City, Chicago and Denver. “When I see what Ed is doing, I get much more satisfaction than I ever had in my business career,” Porritt says. “I am doing something with a purpose, and I am having a ball.” Gifts to Falling Forward Foundation can be designated for use by patients at LMH Health. See information at fallingforward.org.
NON PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 3 EUDORA, KS
325 Maine Street Lawrence, KS 66044
SEND US YOUR MEMORIES!
As LMH Endowment prepares to celebrate and honor our past 50 years, we invite you to share your memories with us. Please contact LMH Endowment Development Coordinator Courtney Bernard at Courtney.Bernard@LMH.org or (785) 505-3314 to share your stories. We may feature them in upcoming newsletters or at the 50th anniversary event in June 2019.
Save the date! The celebration will kick off at the annual meeting on February 28, 2019, and the festivities will continue on June 22. More details will follow.