May 2005
Volume 17, Issue 2
Healing the Spirit
W
e are complex creatures. Even with
the finest of medical care, often it is
the healing of the spirit that is also required.
Sometimes there are tough questions that
need to be asked and someone safe with
whom to ask them. Even if there are
few answers.
For some, just knowing there are people
who truly care about their hopes and fears
can make the difference; for others, it is
someone who will take the time to learn
about the journey of their illness.
For Kadlec Medical Center’s two chaplains,
every day they look at the wellbeing of a
patient through the eyes of the soul, not
just the results of the most recent test or
procedure. They know that total patient
care demands attention to the spiritual,
as well as the physical and emotional
needs of each patient.
Kadlec has long recognized this need on
behalf of its patients by having fulltime
professional chaplains onsite for over 25
years. The Rev. Dr. Timothy Ledbetter has
been the Kadlec Chaplain since 1994. In
February he was joined by the Rev. Alicia
Riedy. Both are actually employed by the
Tri-Cities Chaplaincy, which has a contract
with Kadlec for chaplain services. Together
they provide pastoral care at Kadlec for
patients, families and staff, Monday
through Friday, from 7 in the morning
until 10 at night.
Ledbetter generally covers the patients in
Critical Care, Intermediate Care and on the
Surgical Floor. Riedy is assigned to the
Medical Floor, Pediatrics, Neonatal Intensive Care, Birth Center and Inpatient
Rehabilitation. “We are both here to offer
care throughout the entire hospital when
needed,” said Riedy. “We’re here for staff,
which has been a wonderful blessing
for me, and we’re here for family and
visitors, too.”
Meeting more of the
patient’s needs
Even with the two
chaplains dividing
up the hospital
responsibilities, “we
still can’t get everything done but it
does allow us to
move beyond only
emergencies and
meet more of what
have been until now
unmet needs,” said
Ledbetter.
“We have a process
in which we are
very intentional
about who needs
to be seen and who
doesn’t,” he said.
“If there is a ‘code’—
All Our Best!
when someone within the hospital stops
breathing—we usually go. If there is a
death or a patient is dying, we usually
go. We respond if there is a referral from
a doctor, nurses or others within the
hospital. Those are our highest priorities.”
After that, they look at a brief synopsis of
other patients’ clinical histories—whether
they are stable, serious or critical—and
look at evidence of their coping resources
including personal vitality, support and
evidence of any faith tradition. “If we see
(Continued, Page 2)
Healing the Spirit
(From Page 1) that a person has a big
medical impact on their life and low
coping resources, who is going to fill that
gap? And, the bigger the gap, the higher
the likelihood that they need our help. It
is a way of helping us determine with a
of life. ‘Did my life have meaning?’ ‘Why
is this happening?’ ‘What now?’ We are
here to help people make sense of it,” said
Riedy. “For a person that considers themself non-religious or non-spiritual, there
are things that still deeply matter to them.
We can connect
with that person
on that level.
“Many patients
when facing a
crisis—even those
with deep faith—
don’t want their
loved ones to know
that they are possibly questioning
their faith or what
is happening to
them. We tell them
that they can say
anything they want
With the addition of the Rev. Alicia Riedy, right, in February, Kadlec
to us and that we
now has two fulltime Chaplains.
are not going to
judge
them;
this
is
often
when those
fairly high accuracy who needs to be seen
tough
questions
come
out,”
said Riedy.
and how urgently. And, of course, there
are some patients who probably won’t need
or want our services,” said Ledbetter.
Although both Ledbetter and Riedy are
from Christian denominations, they are
able to connect with people of all faiths
or no faith tradition. “We are all asking
the same questions about the hard parts
PaceSetter is published by
Kadlec Medical Center
888 Swift Blvd. • Richland, WA 99352
(509) 946-4611 • www.kadlecmed.org
Mary Lynn Merriman, MLM Communications, editor; Sara Nelson
Design Ltd., design and layout; Esprit
Graphic Communications, printing;
Mark Roberts Photography and Delt
Clark, photos.
PaceSetter Editorial Board members
are Delt Clark; Dottie Leach; Meg
Fallows; Julie Meek; Antoinette
Burnside; Anjan Sen, MD; Suzanne
Richins; Rozanne Tucker; Jim Hall;
Jeff Clark; & Roger Casey.
The two chaplains have found they balance each other. “There are times when
Alicia as a female
or Tim as a male
is more conducive
to the situation.
Alicia brings her
own person to her
pastoral care at
Kadlec that is just as
valuable but different
than what I provide.
I think it expands
what it means to give
and receive pastoral
care. It enriches it
for everybody,” said
Ledbetter.
Mexico and Spanish is my native language.
I understand the subtleties of the language
and the culture,” said Riedy. “We both have
gifts of grace that we bring to the Chaplaincy
which really complement each other.”
Riedy also has a background in multicultural theology and pastoral care that
allows her to provide assistance to the
staff throughout the hospital. “If there are
things we should be doing to help a person
from another culture, we need to know
that. If we are going to be a Planetree
hospital, we need to be aware of who a
person is, even if we don’t speak their
language,” said Riedy.
“They are going to know that we care for
them as a person, despite any language
limitations,” said Ledbetter. “We want
them to know we recognize them for who
they really are. Sometimes there are simple
things that can make a big difference.”
Making a difference
“How do you measure what we do? We
are along side someone’s bed, heart to
heart, soul to soul. How do you chart that?
Yet, in some ways, it may be saving a life.
“No matter how
hard Tim tries, he
cannot communicate
on the same level
with a Latino family
The Rev. Dr. Timothy Ledbetter, right, has been a Chaplain at Kadlec
as I can. I was born in
for over 10 years.
I submit that when we bring the right
word at the right time—whether that word
is in the form of a hug, or discernment, or
blessing, affirmation or confirmation—
that person can move from a track toward
death to a track toward life. We have seen
it time and time again,” said Ledbetter.
“It is a person’s core issues that we are
dealing with. We jump into a person’s life
and ask them to tell us their story. They
know that we have one foot in the medical
world and one foot in the faith world, so
we can help them work through things
that they otherwise may not dare to talk
about. That’s why our work is so exciting.”
“One of the reasons I was interested in
this job was because Kadlec is a Planetree
hospital, so I knew that they put a high
value on their patients,” said Riedy. “This
is a place unlike any other that I have
been. It is large, yet it feels so intimate.
This is like a family and everyone here is
a team player. Everyone depends on and
respects the input of the others on the
team. Even the physicians ask us for input
on how to help a family. I am impressed
that they sincerely want this kind of help
and sensitivity to the family, and that
they take the time to ask. That has not
been my experience in other places. I feel
I am on a team that values what I have to
say. It is really wonderful to be here.”
It’s a difficult job at times, helping people
face some of life’s most difficult challenges.
Yet there clearly are rewards.
“There are powerful moments in this job
and sometimes it feels as if we are standing on holy ground. We are privileged to
be in this place,” said Ledbetter. ■
Therapy Services Expands
T
he goal of Kadlec’s Outpatient Rehabilitation Therapy is to improve the
quality of life of each patient by helping
that person return to the highest level of
independence possible within their home,
at their job and in the community.
“To better meet the needs of our
community, we are again expanding
our services,” said Angela Mohondro,
Manager, Clinical Therapy Services and
Inpatient Rehabilitation. “As the therapy
services (physical, occupational, speech
and massage therapies) have continued to
grow, we are offering additional sites.”
The Leslie-Gage Therapy Services Clinic
was developed to meet the growing
demand of children’s therapy services,
A small but pleasant part of the Chapel experience is
providing the weekly bouquet of fresh flowers placed on the
front table. This simple gift of kindness
is always appreciated by those using
the Chapel.
If you would like to contribute
flowers, there is a sign-up sheet
on the back table in the Chapel. The
arrangements need not be large
or fancy, just heartfelt. You can bring
your own or have them delivered.
For more information, call (509) 942-2722.
Flowers for
the Chapel
as well as a separate treatment area
for adults who find this location more
convenient.
The Columbia Basin Racquet Club
setting, which is a physical therapy clinic,
focuses on people who have sportsrelated or other injuries, who prefer to
receive services in a club setting. This
allows the therapist to utilize a variety of
equipment which may not be available
at the other settings.
The Therapy Department on the main
campus encompasses all services and has
a warm water pool for additional therapy.
The new Stevens Clinic, located at
945 Stevens Drive, will primarily do
physical therapy and massage therapy.
Traditional physical therapy will also
be available at that location as well as
women’s therapy services, including but
not limited to pelvic floor rehabilitation
and osteoporosis. In addition, vestibular
therapy services will be expanded. Future
plans for expansion at this site include
lymphadema management and pelvic
pain management. This location is set
to open in June.
For information on all Kadlec therapy
services, call (509) 942-2660. ■
New Prostate Treatment
Procedures Available
K
Foundation Begins
Chapel Sculpture
Fund Drive
The Chapel at Kadlec is, according to
Chaplain Tim Ledbetter, “a place for
reflection.” Now, a new Foundation
project is underway to commission a
16 foot piece of pastel glass artwork
which will serve as an inspirational
focal point in the Chapel. “This
sculpture will help create a sense of
reverence in the Chapel, something
people can gaze upon as they
contemplate,” Ledbetter said.
A scale model of the proposed original glass artwork, which incorporates
the themes of wind and light, is available for viewing in the main lobby.
If you would like to contribute toward
this artwork, please mail your donation to Kadlec Foundation, 888 Swift
Blvd., Richland, WA 99352. Please
note it is for the Sculpture.
adlec Medical Center now has two
new outpatient prostate treatments,
one for the treatment of prostate cancer
and the other for treatment of an enlarged
prostate.
Cryotherapy
This procedure is an initial treatment
of prostate cancer and in recurrences of
the disease. In fact, it is one of the few
potentially curative treatments that can be
given for local prostate cancer after radiation therapy or radiation seed implants.
The goal of cryotherapy is to eradicate
prostate cancer by freezing the prostate
cells. A physician inserts needles into the
prostate gland which then produce very
cold temperatures. Freezing destroys the
entire prostate, including cancerous tissue.
“Cryotherapy can be used if radiation
has failed or as a primary treatment in
high risk cases,” said Tri-Cities Urologist
John F. Medica, MD. “It is a fairly new
technique and it is very promising.”
GreenLight Laser Treatment
Half of all men over the age of 50 will
develop an enlarged prostate, also known
as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH);
by the time a man is in his eighties, his
chance of BPH is up to 90 percent. The
prostate surrounds the urethra, the tube
through which urine passes out of the body.
As the prostate enlarges it begins blocking
the urethra, restricting the flow and
making it difficult to empty the bladder.
A new procedure, called GreenLight
Laser, is offering men a new option with
improved results. It uses high energy
pulses of green light to quickly and
gently vaporize the obstructive prostate
tissue, according to Tri-Cities Urologist
Fred Foss, MD.
“There are some real advantages to
this procedure,” he said. “It is done
as an outpatient procedure at Kadlec
with minimal side effects, particularly
less bleeding. Because of the lower risk
of bleeding, it makes this procedure
possible for men with bleeding or cardiac
problems who otherwise would not be
able to receive treatment. GreenLight
Laser also provides almost immediate
relief which is long-lasting.” ■
Learning about a Disease
New Diabetes Study Underway
I
n the United States, 18.2 million people—
6.3 percent of the population—have
been diagnosed with diabetes. Of those
with the disease, 5 to 10 percent have type 1
diabetes. Formerly called juvenile onset
diabetes, type 1 is a life-long disease that
can affect both children and adults. In
type 1 diabetes, the body stops making
insulin because its immune system
destroys the insulin producing cells
(called beta cells) in the pancreas. People
with type 1 diabetes manage their diabetes by taking insulin everyday along
with healthy eating and physical activity.
The goal is to keep the blood sugar level
as close to normal as possible.
“Although the cause of type 1 diabetes
isn’t known, it is likely that genetic and
environmental factors work together to
trigger the immune system to destroy
the insulin producing cells. Relatives of
people with type 1 diabetes are at a 10 to
15 percent greater risk for developing the
disease,” said Hannah Kuhn, RNC, RD,
CDE, of Kadlec’s Diabetes Learning Center.
In a new study researchers are attempting
to find ways of preventing or delaying
the development of type 1 diabetes by
studying relatives of people with type
1 diabetes. Researchers are also trying
to maintain the insulin producing cells
that are present when type 1 diabetes
is diagnosed. If even a little insulin
production is preserved, this might help
make the disease easier to treat.
Kadlec’s Diabetes Learning
Center Participating
Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet is a group of
studies looking at development, prevention and early treatment of type 1 diabetes.
It was established in response to the Surgeon General’s report Healthy People 2010.
Over the course of TrialNet, several studies—
including the Natural History Study of
the Development of Type 1 Diabetes—
will study people at increased risk for
type 1 diabetes to learn more about how
type 1 diabetes occurs, Kuhn said. The
goal is to perform intervention studies
to preserve insulin-producing cells in
individuals at risk for type 1 diabetes and
in those with new onset type 1 diabetes.
TrialNet will conduct the clinical trials at
18 Clinical Centers in the United States,
Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Kadlec’s Diabetes Learning Center
is participating in the study as an affiliate
of the Benaroya Research Institute of
Seattle’s Virginia Mason Medical Center.
The first phase of the trial is screening
people at increased risk for developing
the disease. The first screening test looks
for autoantibodies in the blood associated
with type 1 diabetes. Autoantibodies are
proteins made by the immune system and
a sign the immune system may be attacking the insulin-producing cells in the
pancreas. Having these autoantibodies
places a person at greater risk for developing diabetes. About 3 to 4 percent of family
members of people with type 1 diabetes
have autoantibodies in their blood.
If a person tests positive, the test is repeated.
If the repeat test indicates the presence of
at least one autoantibody associated with
type 1 diabetes, the person will be invited
to take part in the next phase of the study.
In Phase 2, blood tests are used to estimate
a person’s chances of developing type 1
diabetes over the next 5 years. The risk
level may be less than 25 percent chance,
25 to 50 percent chance or greater than
50 percent chance. Those at 25 percent
risk or higher will be invited to participate
in the third phase of the study, which
includes close monitoring and enrollment
in a future diabetes prevention study.
People who develop diabetes while participating in the Natural History Study
may be able to participate in a TrialNet
study to preserve insulin-producing cells.
“Because only 3 to 4 percent of those tested
will have autoantibodies, and of those,
only participants with a higher risk of
developing the disease will be studied, we
need to have a large number of people
screened in order to validate the study,”
said Kuhn.
How You Can Participate
To qualify to be screened, a person must
be either:
■ 1 to 45 years of age and have a brother,
sister, child or parent with type 1 diabetes.
■ 1 to 20 years of age and have a cousin,
aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, half-sibling or
grandparent with type 1 diabetes.
“This is an important study which we are
pleased to be a part,” she said.
For more information, call the Diabetes
Learning Center at (509) 942-2620. ■
Kadlec’s CEO chairs Tri-Cities WalkAmerica
Kadlec’s President and Chief Executive Officer
Rand Wortman served as chair of the Tri-Cities
2005 WalkAmerica on April 23. “Kadlec is proud
to support the work of the March of Dimes.
Each year, we see hundreds of babies in our
neonatal intensive care unit who benefit from
the expertise of our physicians and staff. The
March of Dimes contributes to the development
of treatments and medications that we use when
working with these babies,” Wortman said.
New Community Grant:
I
n Benton and Franklin Counties there
are an estimated 32,000 people without
health insurance and of those, an estimated
16,000 are at or below 200 percent of the
federal poverty level. A $2.2 million grant
from the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services is now in place which is
targeted to help some of those uninsured.
“In the late 1990s, the Benton Franklin
Community Health Alliance was looking
May 1-8 is National
“Cover the Uninsured” Week
Our area is not the only community wrestling with the issue of the
uninsured. Nationwide there are 45 million uninsured Americans; of those
8.4 million are children.
Facts vs. Myths About the Uninsured
Myth 1: Uninsured Americans don’t have jobs.
Fact: Having a job, even a full-time job, does not guarantee access to
health insurance. Eight out of ten people who are uninsured are in
working families.
Myth 2: Most uninsured people in the U.S. are minorities.
Fact: Non-Hispanic whites make up three-fourths of the uninsured.
Myth 3: Most of the uninsured are the elderly; 65 years and older.
Fact: The largest uninsured populations include young adults (18-24) and
older Americans (55-64) who are retired but do not yet qualify for Medicare.
Myth 4: Most people without health insurance are poor.
Fact: Almost 29 million of the uninsured in 2002 had incomes of $25,000 or
more, compared with 14.8 million in households earning less.
Myth 5: It doesn’t really matter whether a person has health insurance.
Fact: Reality in this case is tragic: about 18,000 Americans die each year of
treatable diseases because they don’t have health coverage.
into various concerns in the area. The
group saw that an expanding uninsured
population was emerging as a problem.
In the primary care practices, about six
percent of their patients were uninsured
and in the area’s hospital emergency rooms
that number was over 10 percent,” said
Benton Franklin Health Officer Larry
Jecha, MD. “We looked at what was the best
way to help the situation without money.
We did some good through the state legislative process, but it was really too big of
a problem to handle without funding.”
Under the leadership of the Health
Alliance, Lourdes Health Network, and
its parent corporation, Ascension Health,
a new program called Benton Franklin
Access to Care (BFAC), was created to
improve access to and coordination of
healthcare for the uninsured residents
in Benton and Franklin counties. The
partnership includes Kadlec, Community
Health Center La Clinica, Grace Clinic,
Lourdes Health Network, Kennewick
General Hospital, Benton-Franklin Public
Health District, Group Health Cooperative,
Benton Franklin Community Health
Alliance and Washington State Department of Social and Health Services.
They took on the task of applying for a
Healthy Communities Access Program
(HCAP) grant—a federal grant program
specifically designed to develop and
strengthen integrated community health
care delivery systems for the uninsured
and underinsured.
Seeking solutions
In September, the community received a
three-year $2.2 million HCAP grant.
“Helping the uninsured impacts the whole
community,” said Kris Call, BFAC Project
Director. “Uninsured people are more
likely to be hospitalized for avoidable
conditions or chronic diseases such as
diabetes or pneumonia. If they don’t have
prescription drug coverage they are likely
to skip doses or forego medications because
of the cost. People without a regular pri-
: Helping Our Uninsured
mary care doctor often use the emergency
room for all their care. Emergency care is
very expensive and doesn’t provide for
continuity or follow up care. When people
feel they have no other choice than to use
an emergency room for their primary care
physician, it is not only expensive, it
impacts the people who really need that
emergency care.”
Jecha agrees. “It is important to help
people to not have to use emergency
rooms as their primary care physician.
It is a very inefficient way to take care of
many health problems. Chronic problems,
such as diabetes, need the continuity of
care which is provided by a primary care
doctor,” he said.
The focus of the grant will be the 16,000
people who are at or under 200 percent of
the federal poverty line. The goal is to identify those that do not have a primary care
home (clinic or doctor) and assign them to
one, to achieve appropriate utilization
of emergency department services and
primary care services, and to improve
individual medical outcomes and overall
health status of the uninsured population.
“It is overwhelming to see the need. I take
what I have had through the years for
granted. The need is definitely very
great,” said Call.
“Our objective is to decrease the number
of uninsured by helping people enroll in
programs that they may be eligible for
“We are excited about this program,” said
like Medicaid, Medicare, Veterans AdminiJecha, “but there is a lot of hard work
stration benefits. We hope to increase the
ahead. The community will benefit a lot.
number of uninsured people who have a
Our uninsured population is growing, and
regular primary care physician or clinic
I don’t see that changing in the future.”
which will then decrease the number
But, at least now, there is a program in
of emergency room visits by uninsured
place which can help.
people for conditions that are best treated
by the primary care provider. We also hope The Benton Franklin Access to Care office
to provide free or discounted prescription is located at 320 N. Johnson, Suite 600, in
Kennewick. The phone number is
drugs to uninsured people through the
(509) 737-8250. ■
drug manufacturer’s patient assistance
programs,” said Call. The program uses
nurse case managers to assist with
coordination of care for people
“Uninsured people are more
with diabetes, asthma, and
likely
to be hospitalized for avoidhigh blood pressure.
There is no charge
for qualifying
participants in
the program.
able conditions or chronic diseases such
as diabetes or pneumonia. If they don’t have
prescription drug coverage they are likely to
skip doses or forego medications because
of the cost. . . ”
—Kris Call, Project Director
Benton Franklin Access to Care
Kits Still Available
Remarkable
Response Again
to Free Colorectal
Screen Kits
Again this year, people from
throughout the Mid-Columbia
have been quick to request the free
colorectal cancer screening kits
offered as a public service by the
Kadlec Foundation and Healthy
Ages after Fifty.
“We clearly are offering something that people see as a part of
maintaining good health,” said
Rozanne Tucker, Kadlec Foundation
Manager. “It is important for people
to test every year.”
Requests for the kits have come in
from throughout the Mid-Columbia
including from northeastern Oregon,
Walla Walla, Prosser, Yakima,
Grandview and Sunnyside.
Cancer of the colon and rectum
strikes approximately 155,000
Americans every year and results
in over 55,000 deaths making it a
leading cause of cancer death. One
out of every 25 people in the U.S.
will develop the disease sometime
within their life. Early detection is
critical. Colorectal cancer is curable
if detected and treated early.
The effective screening performed
by this free test can be done in the
privacy of the home by simply
dropping a test tissue in the toilet.
If blood is present, a blue-green color
will appear within two minutes.
The test results are easily documented on a form inside the kit which
can be shared with a physician.
The free screening kits are still available to anyone 40 years of age or
older. To receive your free kit, call
(509) 942-2039 or simply email your
request with your name and address
to [email protected].
Your kit will be mailed to your home.
Trey Scott, right, joins Riley Serier in playing with a toy Trey gave to Riley as a part of his
Teddy Bear Auxiliary.
Trey’s Teddy Bear Auxiliary
T
Wish List
rey Scott, an eleven-year-old
from West Richland, knows
what the inside of a hospital looks like.
He also knows that having some of the
“right” toys in a hospital can make a big
difference for young patients and their
siblings, or other children visiting the
hospital. So, he decided to do something
about it.
Trey, who was born with a severe heart
defect and at three years of age diagnosed
with pulmonary hypertension, has mounted a drive called “Trey’s Teddy Bear
Auxiliary.” And he’s asking friends and
family for donations to provide toys and
activity centers for the waiting areas at
Kadlec Medical Center. His wish list totals
over $5,000, but his goal is to raise enough
to make it an ongoing gift.
Trey has a long history of donating to hospitals. Each year, he donates his birthday
money and toys to a hospital. This year,
he decided to donate to a local hospital
and chose Kadlec. While working with
Meg Fallows, Volunteer Coordinator at
Kadlec, he put together the list of items
which range from an activity center for
each of the four waiting rooms to a play
carpet for the Critical Care waiting room
to a magnetic activity table. He even has
plans for activity kits which will be given
to children, to make those kits he hopes
to enlist the help of other youth groups
within the community.
“What’s most exciting for us is that at his
young age he is so passionate for other
children,” said Rozanne Tucker, Foundation Manager. “He understands what it is
like for a child in the hospital setting and
to hear it expressed so clearly from an
11-year-old makes it even more amazing.”
According to Tucker, Trey would like to
have the $5,000 raised by his birthday on
June 12, but this is also a long-term project
for both Trey and the Foundation. “He
has plans for the Pediatrics Department
when that department is expanded upon
the completion of Kadlec’s Tower project.
We also plan to continue his vision well
beyond this initial wish list.
“He is so excited and the gifts are already
coming in. It’s a privilege to be associated
with such a project, especially when it is
spearheaded by such an amazing boy,”
said Tucker.
To donate to Trey’s Teddy Bear Auxiliary
Wish List, call the Foundation at (509)
942-2661 or send a donation to Kadlec
Foundation, 888 Swift Boulevard, Richland,
WA 99352 and indicate that it is for this
program. ■
Kangaroo Care: Can it reduce pain, too?
F
or the tiny babies in Kadlec Medical
Center’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
(NICU), getting poked and prodded is a
necessity. But a new study taking place in
the NICU is designed to determine
if Kangaroo Care—a way of holding
premature infants skin-to-skin on a parent’s
chest—can help reduce the pain and
make all those tests a bit more comfortable.
Kangaroo Care originated in Bogota,
Columbia, in 1983 as a way to decrease
the high mortality rate among preemies.
Moms carried their preemies tucked
under their clothing as if in a kangaroo’s
pouch every day and the mortality rate
fell from 70 percent to 30 percent. Studies
have proven that Kangaroo Care has a
major, positive impact on babies and
their parents.
Kadlec has been involved in Kangaroo
Care studies since 1988 in association
with Dr. Susan Ludington, Professor
of Nursing, Case Western Reserve
University in Cleveland. Those studies
have determined that with Kangaroo
Care the baby has a stable heart rate,
more regular breathing, improved
oxygen saturation levels, longer periods
of sleep, more rapid weight gain, more
rapid brain development, reduction
More Room for Babies
By mid-July, Kadlec will have four new
Birthing Suites available bringing the
number of such suites to 18.
“We have seen an increase in the number
of births at Kadlec by over 10 percent
from previous years,” said Kadlec’s Kelly
Harper. “With the increase, we have had
to move some of the moms into rooms
other than Birthing Suites. With the
opening of these new rooms, we hope
that we won’t have to do that. It is much
nicer for the families if they can labor,
deliver and remain in the same room
throughout their stay at Kadlec.”
A new feature in the rooms will be
spa showers.
of “purposeless” activity, decreased
crying, longer periods of alertness, more
successful breastfeeding episodes, and
earlier hospital discharge. In hospitals
throughout the world, it is becoming the
standard of care for premature infants.
away some of the soreness and pain of a
minor procedure such as a heel stick. We
posed the question to Dr. Ludington and
a new study was developed to see if pain
is reduced for babies being held with the
Kangaroo Care method.”
“While one of our babies was being held
with Kangaroo Care, we had to draw a
small sample of blood,” said Joan Swinth,
RN, a nurse in Kadlec’s NICU. “What
we noticed was that this baby did not
fuss as much when it was poked. We
wondered if Kangaroo Care could take
The study received a two year, $100,000
National Institutes of Health grant which
started in September 2003. Collection
of the data began in March 2004. The
study looks at both the behavioral and
the physical responses to pain in 28
babies with gestational ages 30-, 31- and
32-weeks. “To date, we have studied 25
babies and need to study 28,” she said.
“The study involves a heel stick for the
babies while in bed and while being held
in the parent’s arms. We videotape the
babies as well as study vital signs.”
A study of this size “will just give us the
trend. It is not a large enough group to
provide actual data. After we study the
results of this group, we will determine if
a full study of 200 babies is warranted,”
Swinth said.
“It’s important for us to manage the pain
of our all our patients at Kadlec. But how
do you do that for three-pound babies
who can’t tell you how they feel? We
hope this study will help us find out if
something as simple as using Kangaroo
Care makes these procedures even a little
more comfortable,” she said. ■
Kadlec Medical Center Foundation gratefully
We express our sincere gratitude
to all those who generously
contributed to Kadlec Medical
Center Foundation.
Abbott Labs
Robert Abrams
Linda Adkinson
John & Hilda Agar
Sandra Alaniz
Edrey S. Albaugh
Les & Shirley Aldrich
Thomas J. Allerding, MD
Sid Altschuler
Delores Aman
Janelle Amato
Lloyd & Joan Ames
Beverly Anderson
Elton Anderson
Harlan & Marilyn Anderson
Juanita Anderson
Warren & Phyllis Andresen
John Anicette
Apollo Sheet Metal, Inc.
Henry B. Arguinchona, MD
Corrine Armstrong
Marjorie Armstrong
Michael Armstrong
Mary F. Astley
Brenda Atencio
Shirley Atwood
Sonya Austin
Jose Ayala
Babcock Services, Inc.
Dortha Backer
Amy M. Backer, MD
Beverly Backman
Gail Baer
Frank & Susan Baghetti
Diane M. Bailand
Joan Bailey
Kent W. Baker
Ronald & Beatrice Baker
Gloria Baldwin
Patricia Baldwin
Jean & Arthur Barber
Robert E. Bardsley
Lucy M. Barker
Jae & Betty Lee Barnhart
Patricia Barr
Vivian Bartelt
William Bartlett
Thomas Bassler, MD
Paul Beardsley
Judith & David Becker
Fred & Jean Beierle
John & Anita Belcher
Myrtle Bell
Dona Belt
Bernice Bennett
Gregory & Madeline Bennett
Betty Bergdahl
Paul & Arlene Berthelot
Leland & Janet Besel
Verlin Beutelschies
Wen & Ching Bian
Raymond Birdsall
Alok & Tapati Biswas
Edward & Mary Lou Blick
George Block
Ruth Bloomberg
Mary Lou Bock
Irene & Walter Bogert
Jeannette Book
Hazel Booth
Boston Scientific Corporation
Bouten Construction
Daniel & Edna Bowman
Jess & Billie Bradford
Erin Bragg
Fred & Kay Brauer
Judith Brendel
Nancy Briggs
Eugene C. Brooks
Richard & Pamela Brouns
Allen & Alta Brown
Gregory Brown, MD
Willliam Brown
Willie Brown
Ellen Bruggeman
Richard & Janet Budzeck
Wilbur & Margaret Bunch
Sharon B. Burks
Isadorie Burrus
Spencer & Roberta Bush
Cadwell Labs
Dr. Herbert & Alma Cahn
Fran Cain
David L. Caldwell
Jerry R. Calvert, II
Gayla Calvert
D. Jacqueline Cambell
Chelene A. Campbell
Freda Campbell
Charles & Dorothy Carlisle
Judy Carlson
Priscilla & Ray Carney
Amy Carrasco
Anne Carroll
Charles F. Carter
Roger, Joyce & Josh Casey
Ramon Castillo
J.H. Caylor
Central Premix
Holly K. Chamberlain
Janice Chamberlain
Howard & Betty Charnock
Bob & Joyce Chaudhuri
Ruth Chikalla
Larry & Kathi Christensen
Jerry K. Christensen
Terry Christensen
Belva Clapper
Emerson D. Clark
Jeffrey A. Clark
Mary Gladys Clark
Sherry & Gerald Clark
Patricia Cleavengar
Nancy Cleavenger
Neil & Mary Helen Cliff
Coffey Communications
R.C. Coffman
Columbia Energy &
Environmental Services
Columbia Trust Bank
Walter & Estilene Combs
H.D. Comish
Betty F. Compton
Pamela & Raymond Compton
Clyde & Dorothy Conklin
Mark Conrad
Jerry Cooper
Evelyn & Harold Copeland
Eleanor Corley
John & Walteen Corson
Edward & Patty Coyne
D. B. Craddock
Bob & Louise Cross
Beryl Crouter
Karen & Terran Crow
Nat G. Cruzen
George Cunningham
John Cunningham
Luther Curry
Irene Curtis
Stephen J. Darling
Hope Davis
Stephen Day
Margaret DeGooyer
Ernie Delabretonne
Barbara Deobald
Michael W. Detarmo
Michele & Michael Dickinson
Joe Diedrich
Charles & Jacqueline Dilks
Joe Diorio
Bruce J. Doane
Leon Dotson
Richard & Gracie Downard
Marjorie Downing
Deanna M. Dreier
Gene & Rita Dudley
Roy E. & Marilyn Dunn
Kent & Louise Dyekman
Naomi Dykes
Darwin & Kathryn Edwards
Clarence & Linda Eggen
Roland & Suzanne Ehlers
Charles Elderkin
David Ell
Dorothy Elliott
Patricia S. & Leonard Etchart
Terese M. Fandel
Barbara Fecht
Louise S. Fellows
Duane Finch
Melvin & Arlene Fisk
Eileen & Larry Fitch
Roberta Flickinger
Richard L. Flippo
Virginia Flower
Fluor Federal Services, Inc.
Fluor Hanford, Inc.
William Foley
Homer & Helen Foreman
Myrna Forester
Fred Foss, MD
Patti Fox
Robert Franco, MD
Edward Fredenberg
Jacquelyn Frederickson
Robert & Maureen Frix
Irmae Frymire
Rebecca Fuller
Howard & Letha Gaines
Ed & Mary Lou Gale
Kenneth & Cheryl Gale
Carl B. Gallion
Harold & Lois Galpin
Marie S. Ganse
Rebecca & Jose Garcia
Paula Garland
Garrett Electric
Barbara & Ben Garrity
Georgette George
Jack & Sandra George
Betty H. Ghirardo
George Gibbons
Erich & Susan Giese
Robert A. Gilliam
Sidney & Eunice Gire
Clarice Glenn
Ida Glover
Betty Gonzalez
Luz Gonzalez
Rosemary Goodenow
Larry L. Gordon
Wells H. & Esther Gordon
William O. Goslin
Paul W. & Marie Gottschalk
Sergey & Olga Govorukhina
Laurence & Bernadine Gower
Daniel Gray
Lucinda & Mary O’Donnell
Green
Eric Greenwell
Dan R. Gregoy
Robert & Arlene Gretzinger
Vivian Grob
James E. Grommesch
Jerry & Dora Guinn
Carol L. Gunnels
Leonard & Norma Gustafson
Aida Habiby
Harry & Jewel Hadley
Morris Hagemeister
Roger Haines
Jean Hales
Jim & Stacy Hall
Mary Lee Hall
Gordon Halseth
Karl & June Hamann
Dorothy Hambley
R. Hammons
Francine F. Handy
Don F. Hanlen
Donald Harkness
Timothy R. Harper
John & Norma Harrington
Angela Harrison
Roland Harvey
Dr. James & Jeannette Hazel
Warren E. Hazen
Joseph & Virginia Hedges
Ronald & Margaret
Hemsworth
Henningsen Cold Storage
Tomas A. Hernandez-Mejia
Alfredo Hernandez
Cornelio Hernandez
Roberto Hernandez
Marc & Lorraine Henderson
Joseph I. Herrud
Nathel Hickey
Patricia Hickey
Roger Hintz
Rebecca Hissam
Marion & Helen Hitt
Brent Hjermstad, MD
Richard & Lynn Hodgson
Robert & Eleanor Hogan
Wayne Hogue
Home Builders Association
Dorothy Hooper
Danny & Barbara Horn
Laverne M. Horst
Betty Howard
Gordon Hsieh
June Hubbard
Aleda Hubbs
Dorothy V. Hughes
Roger Hultgren
Candace S. Hunter
Thomas & Dixie Hutson
Philip & Eunice Hutton
Harley & Lucille Hylbak
Maria Ibarra
Karen Ireland, MD
Carol Irvine
Steve Irwin
June Isaacs
Elizabeth Ivy
Joe W. Jackson
Robin Jackson
Louisa Jahnke
Roger James
Bill & Dorothy Janzing
Jeanette Jarrett
Henry F. Jaske
Chris & Bernice Jensen
Margaret Jewett
Ben & Mary Johnson
Betty Johnson
Harry & Margaret Johnson
Janet Johnson
Keith & Lois Johnson
Kurt Johnson
Melvin & Evelyn Johnson
Robert Johnston
Charles & Barbara Jones
Sommer D. Jones
Tommy C. Jones
Santos Rosa Juarez
Kadlec Auxiliary Tuesday
Sewing Group
Kadlec Medical Center
Auxiliary
Kadlec Medical Center
Administration
Kadlec Medical Center
Education Dept.
Edward Kaduk
Nancee Kanehl
Peggy Kannberg
David Kanyid
Vera Kaulitz
Tom Kawauchi
Dirk & Mary Kayser
Dr. H.C. & Susan Kayser
Thomas Keefe
Opal Kendall
In Memory of Robert Kennedy
KEPR TV
Wayne & Joanne Killand
Robert & Audrey Kimbrough
Donna Kingma
Ernie Kingsells
Robert L. Kinsey
W. R. Kirk
Robert Kite
Lois P. Knapp
acknowledges our 2004 Donors
Robert & Beverly Knecht
Doretta Knight
Elsie Knostman
Arthur Kohler
Cecelia Kohler
Donald & Susannah Kolesar
Bryan W. Kraai
Edgar Kuchera
Hannah M. Kuhn
Ronald & Bonnie Kulick
Alton R. Kulp
Anna L. Lair
Lawrence & Edith Lakey
M. Kay Langevin
Betty Larson
Hazel Latal
Virginia Latendresse
Jane Laulainen
Dottie Leach
Kathleen Ledwick
LeMaster & Daniels, PLLC
Bowen & Delores Leonard
Walt & Ethelyn LePage
David & Margaret Lewis
Meg Lewis
George Lindholm, MD
Patricia W. & Joel Lindley
Kathleen Lipp
Jie Jenny Liu
Virginia Locke
Gary & Catherine Louie
Albert Low
Nancy B. Lyons
Darlene & Dennis Mahlum
Bruce Makenas
Margaret & William Markillie
Deborah A. Marks
Charles C. Marsh
Robert & Elsa Martinson
Cindy Mashburn
Richard Masias
Mary L. Mason
Clyde & Shirley Massie
Shirley Matheny
Doris & Jamison Mathis
Arno Matson
William & Donna Matsumoto
Richard & Marlys Mayer
David & Tia McCartney
Judith & Paul McConnell
Terri McCourtie
Eldee McDonald
Kathleen McDowell
Sandra McFadden
William H. McGee
Robert & Jean McKee
Vivian L. McKinlay
Lelon T. McLouth
Marilyn McNeill
Jean A. Medaris-Ward
Medline Industries
Julie L. Meek
Terry Meier
Mindy Melling
Merrill Lynch
Henry Meyers
Linda Meyers
Edna Mikulecky
Miller, Mertens & Spanner
Katherine Miller
Maria Mills
Bernice & CJ Mitchell
Betty Mitchell
Mary Mitzlaff
Bill & Jeanne Moffitt
Angela Mohondro
MONAD Credit Union
Stan & Sheila Moon
Carl C. Moore
Janet Moriarty
Leslie Morlan
Harold & Anita Morris
Mike Morrisette
Nancy & James Morse
Richard & Dottie Morton
Sybil B. Mosley
Moss Adams, PLLC
Agnes B. Mowry
Lois Mudd
Richard Mumma
Vernita Murphy
William C. Murray
Kathryn Muth
James Myers
John & Mary Ann Naccarato
John Napoli
Irene Nash
Gwen Naught
Ann Nechodom
Lorn RL Needham
Billy Neil
Marjorie Nelson
Opal Nelson
Richard & Janis Nelson
Anh Nguyen
Nghia Nguyen
Winnifred M. Nickolaus
Wayne & Charlotte Niemuth
Norman & Edith Nisick
John & Dotty Nolan
Bruce & Betty Noordhoff
Ragnar & Mary Nowakowski
Brent L. O’Brien
Janelle M. Oakley
Richard & Joyce Olsen
Jon B. Olson
Leroy & Marcella Olson
Oncology Group, PLLC
Frances Orth
Robert & Marianne Orton
Sally Osburn
Glenn Otterbein
Patricia Owens
Richard & Carol Ozanich
Donna Paglieri
Rosalie Papp
Sharad & Sudha Parikh
Janet L. Payne
David Pearson
Dorothea Pedersen
Virginia Pedersen
Jennifer Pena
Leonard F. Perkins
Geraldine Peterly, MD
Beverly Peterson
Jim & Laura Peterson
Dr. Richard & Kathryn Pettee
George & Roberta Phillips
Dr. Vincent & Susan Picchione
Joseph & Elsie Pickett
Mark Pierce
Lloyd & Rose Polentz
Marsha L. Polk
Gerald & Jane Posakony
Carol Powell
Lura J. Powell & Art King
Christopher & Kimberly Poynor
Evelyn H. Pratt
Clementenna Price
Harold Pringle
Elbert & Rita Proctor
Project Linus
Chris & Susan Protzman
Rosemary & Bob Purcell
Jerry Putnam
Henry S. Pylkki
J.W. & Barbara Pyne
Vella Quillen
Drs. Rado & Sierra
Neil Rawlins, MD
John & Myra Rector
Linda Reder
Phil Reinig
James E. Renton
Richland Riverside Rotary
Club
Suzanne Richins
William & Wilma Richmond
William & Barbara Rickard
Wilma Riley
Clarence & Roberta Rincker
Alma D. Riter
Dave & Janice Roach
Janet Roberts
Terri L. Robertson
Donna Robinson
Roche Labs
Lloyd Roddy
Rhoda Roesch
Richard & Melvina Romanelli
Eileen R. Ronning
George Rose
Arthur Rounds
Michael & Mary Jane Royack
George & Genevieve Ruge
James & Dale H. Rutherford
George Saito
Dr. John & Melody Samsell
Karolyn K. Sand
Everett Sanders
Tomas Santoyo
Margarita Sanvictores
Ronald & Betty Schaffer
Susan Schepens
Eva Schirado
Debbie Schnabel
Jane Schubert
John B. & Patricia K. Schuette
Blaise & Mary Lou Schumacher
Nicole L. Schwartz
Laura Scott
Gloria Seiler
Edward Sellers
A.K. Sen , MD
Ethlyn Shaw
Emmett & Frances Shearer
Billy D. Shipp
Grethe Shipp
Virginia Shoemaker
David P. Shrader
Shelli Sickler
Richard & Ann Simon
Daniel & Dorothy Simpson
H. Bernard & Ethel Simpson
John & Goldie Skidmore
Myra N. Skoubo
Margaret Slater
Beulah Sloan
Smith Barney
Duane & Katy Smith
Loyd Smith
Mary K. Smith
Jim & Madelon Snyder
Raffaele Solferino
Donna Sommer
Christine Sommers
Ward & Louise Spear
Joe & Erna Sproul
Virgil & Catherine Sprute
Roger & Grace St. John
St. Jude Medical
Susan Stafford
Edward Stalnaker
State Farm Insurance
Gayle Staley
Mildred O. Steele
Bob Stomatt
Terry Stone
Robert & Betty Stromatt
Emma Stull
George & Joan Such
Virginia Sutherland
Maurice & Dorothy Syverson
Bernice C. & Kenneth Taylor
David F. Taylor
Harriett Taylor
The Coffee Clatch
Sharleen Thesenvitz
Hoyt B. Thiss
Mary W. Thomas
Ann Thompson-Haas
Floyd & Antoinette Thompson
Marla & Michael Thompson
Tom Thompson
Sebastian Tindall
Dale Traver
Tri-City Orthopaedic Clinic
Thelma Triplett
Paul & Rozanne Tucker
Daniel & Jerry Tyler
Phyllis Tyndall
Leon Ufkes
Harold & Dorothy Van Tuyl
Keith Vandaramin
McQueen Varnes
Erma Vaughn
D.A. & Shirley Venier
Robert VerSteeg
David Verbarg
Alvin & Patricia Vinther
H. Marr & Elizabeth Waddoups
S.K. Wadhwa, MD
Leo J. Wagar
Lindsay Wagner
Eugene & Barbara Wallace
Orrel & Ron Walser
Glenda Walsh
Jangyu Joe Wang
Charles & Ellen Ward
Leland & Cora Warden
Ruth Warmenhoven
Daniel J. Warren
Washington Trust Bank
Dana Waters
Clarine Watkins
Ralph & Arlene Watts
Gary Webb
Ellen Weber
Fran Weible
James & Agnes Weins
Margaret Weis
Mark & Meg Weiss
Debra Wells
Rita Westacott
Western States Insurance
Agency
Alma Westfall
Joseph & Jean Westsik
Nicki Wharton
Viola M. Whitacre
David L. & Cheryl Whitcomb
John White
Louisa Ashton Whittier
Don & Virginia Wick
Wilbur Ellis
Donald & Judith Willard
Jack Willi
Don & Carolyn Williams
Thomas & Sharon Williams
Brian Wilson
William & Carol Wingo
Verna Wisehart
Anthony & Nora Wolf
John & Fran Wolf
Women of the Moose
Jeff B. Wood
Eugene M. Woodruff
Krista L. Woodward
John Woousley
Julia M. Work
Noreen Workman
Rand & Gaynell Wortman
Alta Wright
Irene Wright
Wakefield & Helen Wright
Betty Yaden
Juanita Yencopal
Margie Yesberger
Irene G. Young
Peggy Young
Richard & Susan Yrjanson
Elaine Yunker
Leila Ziegler
We believe the names to be accurate; however,
errors and omissions do occur from time to
time. If you find an error or omission, please
accept our apologies and let us know by calling
(509) 942-2661.
Board of
Directors
Bill Moffitt
Chair
Thomas A. Cowan
Vice Chair
Davidson Wood
Secretary
David Merkley, MD
Treasurer
Fredrick Bowers, MD
Michele Dickinson
Thomas Mahony, MD
Leonard K. Peters, PhD
Neil Rawlins, MD
Alan Rither
Thomas Rado, MD
Medical Staff
Officers
Thomas Rado, MD
President
Fredrick Bowers, MD
President-Elect
Foundation
Board of
Trustees
Gary Louie
President
Michele Dickinson
Vice President
Anthony Wolf
Secretary/Treasurer
Walteen Corson
Susan Kayser
Dottie Leach
Kathy Miller
Alan Rither
Janet Taylor
Dick Yrjanson
Walt LePage, Emeritus
Auxiliary
Officers
Dottie Leach
President
Nathel Hickey
President-Elect
Darlene Conn
Treasurer
Cherrie Gale
Secretary
New Gamma
Cameras Installed at
Kadlec Medical Center
Kadlec Medical Center recently purchased
two new gamma cameras.
One is a dual head camera which
allows studies to be done 60 percent
faster. Whole body studies are possible
with one pass because the heads can
look at posterior and anterior views
simultaneously. In its cardiac mode, the
heads are positioned at a 90 degree angle
which cuts imaging time almost in half.
Its open ring design greatly helps with
claustrophobic patients.
The second camera has dual heads as
well, but also has a Computed Tomography (CT) imaging scan unit attached.
This allows for the imaging of anatomy
and metabolism in one setting.
Safety Starts With You
May 7 • 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Kadlec Medical Center Campus
Corrado Building Parking Lot
Children are more likely to practice good safety tactics when they learn from the
positive actions of parents, caregivers and other adult influencers. Their behavior
makes a big impression and persuades children to exhibit the desired safety
behaviors that they see first-hand. So this year, show your children you think
safety is important. Bring them to Safe Kids Saturday!
YOUR CHILD WILL LEARN. . .
■
how to call the police or paramedics in an emergency.
■ what to do if a fire started in the kitchen and you weren’t home.
■ bike and water safety, CPR, poison prevention, and much more!
PLUS. . .
■ free
photo ID and fingerprinting.
bike helmet fittings.
■ free child safety seat inspections.
■ free
SPECIAL APPEARANCES. . .
■ Northwest
■ LISA
MedStar’s emergency helicopter.
House (Life Safety Awareness House).
Each year, Kadlec teams with over 30 other community-minded organizations to
help kids (and parents) learn how to stay safe! Last year, an estimated 4,000 kids
and parents attended!
A parent or guardian must accompany children.
(In case of bad weather, the event will be moved to Sacajawea Elementary School at 518 Catskill,
Richland. To confirm location on the day of the event, call (509) 942-2814.)
Medicare Expands
PET Coverage
PET (positron emission tomography)
imaging for the initial staging of
cervical cancer will now be covered
by Medicare on a limited basis. Medicare will cover the test in a patient
when there is sufficient evidence the
scan is necessary for the detection of
pre-treatment metastases in newly
diagnosed cervical cancer after a
negative CT or MRI.
In addition, Medicare coverage was
extended for PET for previously uncovered evaluations of patients with
brain, ovarian, pancreatic and small
cell lung cancers if certain data about
the PET studies are submitted to a
national registry. The registry will
be designed to provide additional
information on the diagnostic
accuracy and clinical utility of PET
for diagnosis, staging, restaging, and/
or monitoring of one or more cancers.
PET testing is available at Kadlec
Medical Center’s Outpatient
Imaging Center. For more
information, call (509) 942-2621.