The Queen’s
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Connection
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QU
EEN’
S MEDICAL CENTE
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A Weekly Publication for the People of Queen’s • Vol. 19 • No. 5 • January 25, 2010
Technology Boosts Breast Cancer Detection
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The power of precise imaging technology has been harnessed to better examine women at risk for breast cancer. The
Queen’s Medical Center has installed
an advanced breast magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI) system that provides
physicians with higher quality images,
allowing them to more confidently diagnose and accurately intervene in breast
cancer patients. The new system, the
Sentinelle Vanguard® breast MRI coil, is
used with Queen’s 1.5 Tesla MRI.
MRI technology has its roots in the
discovery of the rotating magnetic field
by Nikola Tesla in 1882. However, it
wasn’t until the late 20th century that
computers made possible the practical use of the technology for imaging. Queen’s became the first hospital
in Hawaii to house an MRI system in
1991. MRI scans produce images of
thin, cross section slices of any part of
the human body using a powerful electromagnetic field to align the protons
in the nucleus of hydrogen atoms in the
body. MRI data is processed using computer technology to create detailed,
three-dimensional images of the internal structures of the body. Because of
its high resolution images of soft tissue, MRI has become the principal tool
used to diagnose many diseases.
However, because of the nature of
breast anatomy, it can be difficult to obtain adequate images with normal MRI
positioning for certain women who are
at greater risk for breast cancer and for
those who have a personal history of the
disease. Variable Coil Geometry™ (VCG),
a Sentinelle proprietary technology, allows coils to be adjusted and positioned
in close proximity to the breast. This
ability to optimize positioning for different breast sizes allows the system to provide consistent, high quality breast images for all patients, as well as providing
the ability to accommodate larger breast
sizes. VCG also allows for enhanced underarm coverage, which results in detecting lesions that may not be seen in
conventional MRI tabletop coils.
The patient lies face down on the MRI
platform on memory foam supports
with positioning “wings” and a comfortable sternum rest, which allows the coils
to surround the breasts. Many factors
Above: MRI Tech Jessica Osaki stands in
front of Queen’s 1.5 T MRI. Behind her is
MRI Tech May Navarro (left) and Sr. MRI
Tech Becky French, who has her hand on
the Sentinelle Vanguard breast MRI coil.
affect the image quality of an MRI, including the ability of the patient to stay
as still as possible. “A more comfortable
patient equals minimal patient motion,
and reduced motion provides a better
image quality,” said Darlena Chadwick,
Vice President of Patient Care. Biopsies
of suspicious areas can also be taken by a
radiologist during imaging. Darlena explains: “The Queen’s system uses a revolutionary prone biopsy system, allowing
(Continued on page 2.)
Queen’s Staff Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Sparkling clear weather graced the Martin
Luther King, Jr. Day ceremony at Queen’s last
week. About 35 people came to the wellattended event. At right, participants pose
under the Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial
Tree, which has grown three stories high.
Breast MRI System
(Continued from page 1.)
the radiologist 360-degree independent
access to each breast. This allows for
biopsies with minimum needle travel,
which can change patient outcomes by
reducing breast trauma.”
The American Cancer Society recommends MRI examinations for certain
Above: Detail of memory foam supports
which house the MRI breast coil.
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women with an especially high risk
of breast cancer in addition to annual
mammograms. Screenings are recommended for women with one of the following: women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2
gene mutation; women with a first-degree relative (parent, sibling or child)
with this gene mutation; women exposed to chest-area radiation between
the ages of 10 and 30; or women with
a lifetime risk of breast cancer scored
at 20% to 25% or greater, based on one
of the several accepted risk assessment
tools. Some insurance companies cover
breast MRIs with pre-authorization if
the patient has one of the clinical indications mentioned above. Women should
ask their doctors for specific details.
“The Queen’s Medical Center is committed to providing the best in breast
cancer detection and management,”
said John Pearce, MD, Breast MRI
Radiologist at the Queen’s Women’s
Health Center. “The breast coil is a
powerful new tool for both our physicians and our community. With features not available in traditional breast
MRI coils, this next generation system
optimizes imaging and access, and ultimately, patient comfort and care.”
Queen’s Trains, Supports OR Nurses
Above: Volunteer Jean Anbe (holding up
gecko) made shorts out of 150th Heritage
Day material for the Gecko Decko Contest.
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Becoming an operating room nurse
may seem daunting, but at Queen’s
the support is comforting and reassuring. Asked what surprised them
the most, one new OR nurse said it
was the amount of support she got.
The nurse was a recent graduate from
Queen’s Periop 101, a six month, 40
hour a week training program for new
graduate nurses and other nurses who
have no OR experience. The nurses will
continue to be supported. Held once a
year, the class graduated six nurses—
three new grads and three RNs who
transferred from elsewhere. It was the
largest class yet.
Designed by AORN (Association of
Perioperative Registered Nurses), the
periop class has trained at least four
nurses per year since 1994. However,
Queen’s had its own training program
since the 1960s. A tradition began
when now retired nurse Bea Kam gave
Andrea Anderson, RN, Perioperative
Coordinator, a spider plant upon her
completion of the course. Now each
graduate is given a genetically identical spider plant derived from the original, symbolizing the passing on of
knowledge. Opening the course to new
graduates is new. After completing 250
clinical hours and becoming RNs, they
can apply to enroll in Periop 101. Ruth
Koehl, RN, Surgical Services Instructor explained, “We wanted to open the
OR to local nursing students.”
Top: Periop RN grads Harry Ng, Tanya
Hayes, Jenny Empaynado, Chloe Akiona,
Phyllis Moriguchi and Leilani Gabriel pose
with their certificates and spider plants.
Many OR staff cheered them on. Above:
Joy Shapiro, RN, Nurse Manager, congratulates Phyllis Moriguchi, RN.
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avail 3/1/10. Please call Alison @ 230-4293 or
Wilson @ 380-8658.
Salt Lake: 1/1 house extension w/pkg, laundry. Nr schl, bus, shopping ctr, airport, Pearl
Harbor. $800 incl water, elec, cable. Melita
423-6422 or x7255; pictures on Craigslist.
New to the Medical Staff this month
are: Colin T. Higuchi, MD, Chad M.
Iwashita, MD, Vincent A. Lucy, MD,
Lisa A. Steinmueller, APRN, Amod
Jain, MD, Monsicha Dinh, MD, Pia
Marie Lorenzo, MD, Kimberly A.
Charlton, MD, and James M. Kohan, MD. Welcome to all.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brian Nakao has joined the Imaging
Department as the Manager of Business
Operations. Brian has been at Queen’s
for many years and brings a wealth of
knowledge and experience to Imaging.
He can be reached at 537-4198.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Beginning February 1 the porte cochere will also be closed and locked
down at 8:00 pm nightly. This closure
will follow Homeland Security recommendations for QMC, the Emergency
Department and Same Day Surgery.
Please note that this closure will also affect the Iolani turnaround. Patients who are discharged after 8:00
pm should be discharged at the ER.
Physicians and staff who come to the
Queen’s after 8:00 pm on an emergency may park temporarily in the valet
alcove under the ER driveway via the
front lot Miller Garage entrance, or in
the ER rear stalls. (Security must be notified if you are using the ER spaces).
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Interhospital Bowling Mixed
League is looking for bowlers for the upcoming season, which starts on February
12. The league meets every Friday from
6:00 to 9:00 pm at Aiea Bowl. Email [email protected] for more information.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
February is Sweetheart Special
month at the Women’s Health Center.
Valentine’s Day is a wonderful time
to show the special people in your life
how much you appreciate them with a
gift of a massage or facial. Sweetheart
Special prices are Massages: $23 for 25
minutes or $50 for 50 minutes; Facials:
$31 Busy Women’s/Men’s 25 minute facial, or $50 Pampering 50 minute facial
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Ward/Kinau: Studio, walk to QMC, sec bldg,
pkg, clean. $925. Contact Bart @ x7878, 2275774 or [email protected].
Sell:
TV stand: Teak, on wheels, incl section for
VCR/DVD plyr & drawer; 33.5” x 21.5” $40.
Elliptical exercise machine: Hardly used.
$75. Candace 585-5692.
Cat: Harry Winston, M, 1 yr old. Short-hair
grey tabby w/pink nose, very loving & playful.
Prefer family who will have time to give affection. All shots up to date, neutered & microchipped. Please call Lindsay at 562-301-4489.
Bedspread: New, patchwork style, hand
stitched, reversible, king sz, b/w flwr pattern.
$175. Call 696-8054.
Rent:
Capitol Place: 1/1/1 fully furn modern,
breathtaking DH vw, 27th floor, 2 blks from
QMC. Full gym, storage locker. $2,250+utils.
or peel, or $94 50 minute Facial/Peel
combo. Special prices apply only to appointments scheduled for the month of
February. Book now, as appointments
will fill up quickly.Call 537-7734 to
schedule an appointment.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
All QHS employees are eligible for $5
to $10 off each ticket purchased for
The Princess and the Iso Peanut,
April 9 to 18, at the Hawaii Theatre.
Mention password “Iso Peanut” at the
Hawaii Theatre Box Office or by phone
at 528-0506 to receive the discount.
Tickets are on sale now.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
“Captain Ahab was neither my first husband nor my last.” This intruiging opening line was inspired by a brief passage
in the classic novel Moby Dick. Author
Sena Jeter Naslund has created an enthralling and compelling saga, spanning a rich, eventful and dramatic life
titled Ahab’s Wife: The Star-Gazer. The
book will be discussed by the Women’s Health Center Book Club on
Thursday, February 18, from 5:00 to
6:30 pm. The event is free, but please
register at 537-7117.
Kalihi: Gulick Ave, 1 BR, share kitch & bath,
$450. Or, 2/1 w/pvt entr, cvd pkg, nr bus
stop, shopping ctr & freeway. $1,000. Call
429-5436.
Upper Kalihi: 3/1/1 duplex house, carpet,
15mins to QMC, incl utils, w/d. NS. Please
call 221-2381.
Mililani: 2/1/2 twnhs in Kumelawai Gardens.
Upstairs end unit, w/d. $1,400. Call 487-8700.
Misc:
Home preschool: Loving Christian mom
offers quality, educational preschool in Kailua.
6 yrs DOE, 3 yrs PATCH, 3 yrs home prescl.
Accepting keiki >2.9 yrs. for fall session, 3-day
prgm 8:30-11:30 am, Tue-Thurs. Play, socialization, story time, music, snack, number & letter
recognition & more! $395/mo. Lara @808386-9815 or [email protected].
Placing an ad: Queen’s employees only. Include
name, phone and Employee ID number. Mail
to Creative Services—Print Connection, fax to
547-4002 or e-mail to [email protected] by
Wednesday. The Print Connection reserves the
right to edit or refuse any ad. The Print Connection
does not make any warranty about the fitness of
any product or service listed in Q-Mart.
The Queen’s
Connection
Weekly
The Queen’s Print Connection is published
by Creative Services. If you have news or
wish to opine, call us at 537-7532 or e-mail
[email protected]. News deadline is the
Monday prior to publication.
QHS/QMC President. . . . Art Ushijima
Publisher. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Roy Cameron
Editor/Writer. . . . . . . . . . . . Jason Kimura
Assist. Ed./Writer. . . . . . . Glee Stormont
The Queen’s Medical Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation.
www.queens.org
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