Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center's Notes
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Media Contact: Jim Banahan, phone (323) 913-4570
e-mail: Jim.Banahan@Hpmedcenter.co
HOLLYWOOD (April 27, 2009) -- Nestled in the heart of one of the most diverse communities in Los Angeles, the Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center (HPMC) is reaching out to families throughout the city with a promise to be their trusted home away from home; a place that is comfortable and secure, night and day, rain or shine.
"We are building a relationship with our community based on the simple principle of trust," said Jim Banahan, the Vice President of Marketing and Community Relations at HPMC. "But for the community to trust HPMC, it needs to build a relationship with us first ... to get to know who we are."
Earlier this year, the hospital (via telephonic research) asked the many diverse communities living within 5-miles of the hospital if they would like to know more about Hollywood Presbyterian and the many health services it offers the community. "They said yes," Banahan said.
Based on that answer, the hospital has been reaching out to the community, unlike any other health care facility in the region, by taking its simple message directly to the people of Los Angeles.
"Rather than making them come to us, we went out to them," said Banahan. "We made it as easy as possible for people in our community to learn about our physicians, nurses and programs by going to the streets, to where the population congregates and commutes."
For the last few months, the hospital has been adorning the streets of Hollywood with HPMC panels that promote family care and healthy living. Appearing at bus-stops throughout the community, these panels present images of Hollywood Presbyterian physicians, nurses and patients that highlight the hospital's dedication to improving the health and welfare of all the residents of Los Angeles.
"Every panel is tailored to the community it serves," said Banahan, adding that the panels in Little Armenia are in Armenian, those in Korea Town are in Korean, while Spanish language panels are located throughout the entire region surrounding the hospital.
HPMC has also been increasing awareness of its name and mission below the streets of LA, utilizing the subway system to transform one of the largest transportation hubs in the city into an informative environment where commuters can get better acquainted with the hospital's audacious goal of becoming the most trusted medical center by 2012.
"The hospital displayed its message on every media space within the subway station at Downtown's 7th and Figueroa Metro terminal, enhancing the experience with specialized displays highlighting the diverse character of the Hollywood Presbyterian family," said Les Harrison of CBS Outdoor, who coordinated the effort with HPMC.
The 7th and Figueroa station connects Los Angeles to Long Beach and serves the largest volume of commuters in the MTA system. The expansive ad space allowed the hospital to share a variety of messages to riders during a single visit.
The campaign's goal is to introduce the community to the hospital's friendly atmosphere by using its own staff and physicians to spread the message. "We photographed ourselves for the ad banners, using life size images of our nurses, physicians and patients," Banahan said. "We're honest, open and use real people to express our dedication of quality, trust and family."
"Trust is the key ingredient in choosing a hospital and we want to earn the right to be the most trusted hospital in town," Banahan said. "Educating the public about our commitment to quality care and safety is the first step in building a bond."
Hollywood (March 09, 2009) -- A leading cause of infections in hospitals can be dramatically reduced, says a recent study from Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center (HPMC). The program, cheap and easy to implement, is sparking intrigue among medical experts across California.
HPMC is the first acute care facility to successfully limit its reliance on an invasive technique for collecting patient urine, currently under increased scrutiny for causing deadly infections in hospitals.
The industry standard for draining and measuring urine output from patients requires a thin tube, called a Foley Catheter, to be inserted into the bladder through the urethra.
"The majority of very ill patients are given catheters in the ER and the ICU," explained Dr. Alan F. Rothfeld, who led the six-month study, from January to October 2008, to reduce the incidence of urinary tract infection (UTI) at HPMC's ICU step down units. "It is a long tradition with roots that go back more than a century."
But growing concern over the technique's fatal risks have hospitals reevaluating its benefits. "Foley related urinary infections are the most common hospital acquired infection with a mortality of 10-35% and additional costs of about $50,000 per episode", Rothfeld said, noting that new incontinence management products now offer cheaper and more effective alternatives.
Plain paper diapers were the prior alternatives. "This was unacceptable to patients and nurses as they were always wet as were the patient and the bed," he said, adding the new super-absorbent diapers, manufactured by Medline Restore, stay dry and hold significantly more urine per day.
"Urine output can be measured with catheters but it can be measured even more accurately by weighing these diapers," Rothfeld said. "Accuracy is important if you need to know a patient's real fluid balance."
According to his findings, catheters are needed in only about half the cases in which they are used. The study observed their use during two three-month periods in two separate units of the hospital with a total 60 beds, averaging 83% occupancy.
The first period introduced no changes, observing only the Catheter-UTI relationship. The second reduced catheter use, promoting the new diapers instead.
Infections during the intervention period fell from an average of 1.06 per 1000 patient days to 0.45. "The reduction in infections was mainly due to the decrease in catheter use rather than other changes in patient care," Rothfeld explained, noting that catheter use during the intervention period fell from 330 to 190 per 1000 patient days.
An anonymous questionnaire conducted at the end of the study revealed the diapers were a welcomed alternative among physicians and nurses, "In fact, no patient reported decreased comfort and most of the staff was supportive of this program, indicating it increased overall satisfaction among nursing personnel."
The diapers also cost significantly less. The price of a Foley kit is $14, while one Medline diaper costs 59 cents, or about $6 for an average hospital stay.
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Media Contact: Jim Banahan, phone (323) 913-4570
e-mail: Jim.Banahan@Hpmedcenter.co
HPMC is the first acute care facility to successfully limit its reliance on an invasive technique for collecting patient urine, currently under increased scrutiny for causing deadly infections in hospitals.
The industry standard for draining and measuring urine output from patients requires a thin tube, called a Foley Catheter, to be inserted into the bladder through the urethra.
"The majority of very ill patients are given catheters in the ER and the ICU," explained Dr. Alan F. Rothfeld, who led the six-month study, from January to October 2008, to reduce the incidence of urinary tract infection (UTI) at HPMC's ICU step down units. "It is a long tradition with roots that go back more than a century."
But growing concern over the technique's fatal risks have hospitals reevaluating its benefits. "Foley related urinary infections are the most common hospital acquired infection with a mortality of 10-35% and additional costs of about $50,000 per episode", Rothfeld said, noting that new incontinence management products now offer cheaper and more effective alternatives.
Plain paper diapers were the prior alternatives. "This was unacceptable to patients and nurses as they were always wet as were the patient and the bed," he said, adding the new super-absorbent diapers, manufactured by Medline Restore, stay dry and hold significantly more urine per day.
"Urine output can be measured with catheters but it can be measured even more accurately by weighing these diapers," Rothfeld said. "Accuracy is important if you need to know a patient's real fluid balance."
According to his findings, catheters are needed in only about half the cases in which they are used. The study observed their use during two three-month periods in two separate units of the hospital with a total 60 beds, averaging 83% occupancy.
The first period introduced no changes, observing only the Catheter-UTI relationship. The second reduced catheter use, promoting the new diapers instead.
Infections during the intervention period fell from an average of 1.06 per 1000 patient days to 0.45. "The reduction in infections was mainly due to the decrease in catheter use rather than other changes in patient care," Rothfeld explained, noting that catheter use during the intervention period fell from 330 to 190 per 1000 patient days.
An anonymous questionnaire conducted at the end of the study revealed the diapers were a welcomed alternative among physicians and nurses, "In fact, no patient reported decreased comfort and most of the staff was supportive of this program, indicating it increased overall satisfaction among nursing personnel."
The diapers also cost significantly less. The price of a Foley kit is $14, while one Medline diaper costs 59 cents, or about $6 for an average hospital stay.
------
Media Contact: Jim Banahan, phone (323) 913-4570
e-mail: Jim.Banahan@Hpmedcenter.co
Los Angeles (December 9, 2008) - Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center and the Institute for Maternal Fetal Health were featured in a 1-hour segment of Babies 911 on Discovery Health Monday.
The crew from Discovery Health followed three in-utero babies: Nathan Teddy, Andrew Morse and Marcus Lehr - each suffering a defect. The babies and their families were profiled during their journeys from diagnosis at the Institute for Maternal Fetal Health to delivery at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center and finally specialized surgery when needed at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.
Andrew Morse had a piece of tissue obstructing his bladder. After learning of Andrew's condition from a OBGYN, Andrew's parents, Hannah and Josh Morse, consulted with Ramen Chmait, MD, a renowned specialist in fetal surgery. Dr. Chmait inserted a shunt to remove the lower urinary tract obstruction while Andrew remained in Hannah's uterus to prevent a very early delivery. The shunt helped prolong Hannah's pregnancy however she still delivered early but not as early as she would have without the intervention. Two weeks after birth, pediatric urologist, Roger De Filippo, MD, performed surgery to remove the blockage. Andrew came through the surgery and is expected to live a healthy, normal life.
Marcus Lehr's intestines formed outside of his body when he was developing. He suffered from a condition called gastroschisis. OBGYN David Miller, MD, closely monitored Marcus during the pregnancy. He was delivered by Joslyn Gumbs, MD, via Cesarean section and taken to Children's Hospital Los Angeles for immediate surgery to put his intestines into his body. Pediatric surgeon Cathy E. Shin, MD, performed the surgery. Marcus did well and is expected to live a healthy, normal life.
Nathan Teddy suffered from a diaphragmatic hernia, a missing kidney and a spinal abnormality. Babies 911 shows the difficulties faced by his parents Kelsie and Mike Teddy during this unusual pregnancy. They met with geneticist Linda Randolph, MD, and neonatal-perinatal pediatrician Victoria N. Camerini, MD, to determine the extent of Nathan's deformities. Despite the additional counseling, Nathan died before he was even born.
Several doctors and nurses were featured in the program including Dr. Victoria N. Camerini, Dr. Ramen Chmait, Dr. Roger De Filippo, Dr. Joslyn Gumbs, Dr. David A. Miller, Dr. Linda Randolph, Dr. Cathy E. Shin, Dr. Arus Zograbyan, and nurse Shelia Perez. Together they showed that teamwork and cooperation combined with exceptional skills and resources can save babies lives even before they are born.
The crew from Discovery Health followed three in-utero babies: Nathan Teddy, Andrew Morse and Marcus Lehr - each suffering a defect. The babies and their families were profiled during their journeys from diagnosis at the Institute for Maternal Fetal Health to delivery at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center and finally specialized surgery when needed at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.
Andrew Morse had a piece of tissue obstructing his bladder. After learning of Andrew's condition from a OBGYN, Andrew's parents, Hannah and Josh Morse, consulted with Ramen Chmait, MD, a renowned specialist in fetal surgery. Dr. Chmait inserted a shunt to remove the lower urinary tract obstruction while Andrew remained in Hannah's uterus to prevent a very early delivery. The shunt helped prolong Hannah's pregnancy however she still delivered early but not as early as she would have without the intervention. Two weeks after birth, pediatric urologist, Roger De Filippo, MD, performed surgery to remove the blockage. Andrew came through the surgery and is expected to live a healthy, normal life.
Marcus Lehr's intestines formed outside of his body when he was developing. He suffered from a condition called gastroschisis. OBGYN David Miller, MD, closely monitored Marcus during the pregnancy. He was delivered by Joslyn Gumbs, MD, via Cesarean section and taken to Children's Hospital Los Angeles for immediate surgery to put his intestines into his body. Pediatric surgeon Cathy E. Shin, MD, performed the surgery. Marcus did well and is expected to live a healthy, normal life.
Nathan Teddy suffered from a diaphragmatic hernia, a missing kidney and a spinal abnormality. Babies 911 shows the difficulties faced by his parents Kelsie and Mike Teddy during this unusual pregnancy. They met with geneticist Linda Randolph, MD, and neonatal-perinatal pediatrician Victoria N. Camerini, MD, to determine the extent of Nathan's deformities. Despite the additional counseling, Nathan died before he was even born.
Several doctors and nurses were featured in the program including Dr. Victoria N. Camerini, Dr. Ramen Chmait, Dr. Roger De Filippo, Dr. Joslyn Gumbs, Dr. David A. Miller, Dr. Linda Randolph, Dr. Cathy E. Shin, Dr. Arus Zograbyan, and nurse Shelia Perez. Together they showed that teamwork and cooperation combined with exceptional skills and resources can save babies lives even before they are born.
Los Angeles (February 6, 2009) - Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center (HPMC) and the American Heart Association joined forces earlier this week to kick off a prevention campaign targeting heart and vascular disease through education and early detection.
The formal launch of the collaborative effort took place on February 3, at a barbeque on the grounds of Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center. Over 1200 employees gathered to celebrate the hospital's alliance with the American Heart Association and learn about upcoming plans to promote an aggressive screening and education campaign.
"We are so proud to have Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center as our Heart of the Community partner. Our shared mission of improving the cardiovascular health of Angelinos is the basis of our partnership and we applaud their bold effort starting with their very own employees. They serve as a shining example of what health organizations should be doing," said Claudia Bonilla Keller, America Heart Association Senior Vice President and Western States Affiliate Executive Director Los Angeles County Division.
Hollywood Presbyterian Chief Executive Officer Jeff Nelson welcomed American Heart Association representatives and in announcing details of the the full-scale campaign, announced that Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center would be administering 1923 free peripheral vascular disease (PVD) screenings in 2009 to hospital staff and members of the surrounding community who are most at risk.
"We are 100 percent committed to preventing heart and vascular disease," stressed CEO Jeff Nelson.
Approximately eight million people in the United States suffer from PVD, a condition in which leg arteries become clogged, much like arteries from the heart. While early treatment is key, approximately half the people diagnosed with peripheral vascular disease are symptom free.
A simple and painless test, the ankle brachial index (ABI), compares the blood pressure in the legs to the blood pressure in the arms to determine how well the blood is flowing and if further tests are needed.
In the months of March, June, and September, Hollywood Presbyterian Medical center will be making available free ABI screenings to all employees to encourage awareness and prevention.
As a part of its commitment to administer 1923 PVD screenings in 2009, the hospital will also announce dates and locations of free community screenings.
The formal launch of the collaborative effort took place on February 3, at a barbeque on the grounds of Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center. Over 1200 employees gathered to celebrate the hospital's alliance with the American Heart Association and learn about upcoming plans to promote an aggressive screening and education campaign.
"We are so proud to have Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center as our Heart of the Community partner. Our shared mission of improving the cardiovascular health of Angelinos is the basis of our partnership and we applaud their bold effort starting with their very own employees. They serve as a shining example of what health organizations should be doing," said Claudia Bonilla Keller, America Heart Association Senior Vice President and Western States Affiliate Executive Director Los Angeles County Division.
Hollywood Presbyterian Chief Executive Officer Jeff Nelson welcomed American Heart Association representatives and in announcing details of the the full-scale campaign, announced that Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center would be administering 1923 free peripheral vascular disease (PVD) screenings in 2009 to hospital staff and members of the surrounding community who are most at risk.
"We are 100 percent committed to preventing heart and vascular disease," stressed CEO Jeff Nelson.
Approximately eight million people in the United States suffer from PVD, a condition in which leg arteries become clogged, much like arteries from the heart. While early treatment is key, approximately half the people diagnosed with peripheral vascular disease are symptom free.
A simple and painless test, the ankle brachial index (ABI), compares the blood pressure in the legs to the blood pressure in the arms to determine how well the blood is flowing and if further tests are needed.
In the months of March, June, and September, Hollywood Presbyterian Medical center will be making available free ABI screenings to all employees to encourage awareness and prevention.
As a part of its commitment to administer 1923 PVD screenings in 2009, the hospital will also announce dates and locations of free community screenings.
