Linda’sRobotic

Friend, pg. 2

Growing Better Bones, pg. 7

Northwest Hospital Foundation, pg. 8

Nursing Contributes to Patient Safety, pg. 9

In the Community, pg. 11

Health Tips, pg. 12

May / June 2008

Cover Story

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Linda’s Roboti c Friend

Registered nurse Linda Del Monte was one of those people, but when she started having abnormal bleeding after meno-pause, she knew she needed to see her gynecologist right away. She thought she knew what the doctor would tell her, but even as a registered nurse and clinical marketing manager for a medical electronics manufacturer, she wasn’t ready for the diagnosis.

What Del Monte thought was a minor problem actually was an endometrial polyp with complex atypical hyperplasia. In other words, she had a large, pre-cancerous growth in her uterus that would require a total hysterectomy – the com-plete removal of the uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes. Del Monte thought back to patients she had nursed after they’d had this surgery, and her heart sank.

“My first reaction was, I won’t be able to work for weeks!” Del Monte recalls. “I knew that recovering from a tradition-al hysterectomy can be uncomfortable. I expected a long recuperation, not being able to even work from home and needing a lot of help.”

Just as the busy Magnolia woman began to dread the chal-lenge ahead, her gynecologist followed the bad news with some good news: Del Monte might be a good candidate for robotic surgery.

The da Vinci S robotic surgical system used at Northwest Hospital & Medical Center consists of a console, where the surgeon sits, and the robot itself, which is equipped with four flexible arms. Controlled by the surgeon at the con-

sole, the robotic arms do everything needed in a laparo-scopic surgical procedure, from controlling the miniature camera to manipulating surgical tools. Dr. Kathryn McGo-nigle, a gynecologic oncologist at Women’s Cancer Care of Seattle, and an expert at robotic surgery, speaks of the tech-nology with enthusiasm. “The surgeon looks into a viewer in the console, which provides a three-dimensional view of the interior of the patient’s abdomen. From the console, the surgeon also controls the robotic arms using natural finger and wrist movements. A foot pedal is used to “clutch” different instruments. The surgeon controls the entire sur-gical field while sitting several feet away from the patient.”

According to Dr. Howard Muntz, Del Monte’s surgeon, robotic surgery has several benefits over standard laparo-scopic surgery, in which a surgeon uses a camera and other tools introduced into the body through small incisions. “With robotic surgery, you don’t have an assistant hold-ing the camera, getting tired and accidentally moving the camera, which makes everyone a little seasick as they try to complete the surgery,” he explains. “Also, with regular laparoscopy, the instruments are rigid, like giant chopsticks. With the robot, you can manipulate special flexible instru-ments within a stable visual field to make your movements even more accurate.”

Thanks to computer technology, the robot miniaturizes and mimics the surgeon’s hand movements, while minimizing any hand tremor. “The fingers of the robot work in tight areas at your direction, often better than you can do it with your hands in an open procedure,” Dr. Muntz notes.

People sometimes think they can predict

what they’re going to hear on a visit to

the doctor. They think all they’ll hear

is “lose weight, stop smoking, get more

exercise,” so many decide to avoid seeing

a physician altogether, unless they are

seriously ill.

www.nwhospital.org For a free physician referral, call (206) 633-4636 or (800) 633-4636

As she learned more about robotic surgery, Del Monte was intrigued by the surgeon’s ability to do major pelvic surgery through small abdominal incisions. That’s due in large part to the improved visual field the da Vinci system provides. “The binocular camera lenses on the surgical console become your eyes, allowing you to get right on top of what you’re working on,” Dr. Muntz says. “Visually, you can be inches away from a deli-cate structure, seeing with three-dimensional vision every little blood vessel and nerve. You can then do the pro-cedure with absolute precision.”

What shocked Del Monte, though, was how she felt after the robotic surgery. Her bedside experience as a post-operative nurse caring for abdomi-nal surgery patients who had undergone tradition-al procedures had pre-pared her for a difficult recovery at best. Instead, Del Monte went home the day after surgery, rather than having to stay in the hospital. “I felt pretty good – not at all like you would ex-pect,” Del Monte says.

Dr. Muntz credits a large part of Del Monte’s high degree of comfort to the fact that robotic surgery makes it easier for the surgeon to work deep in the pelvis without excessive force or tissue trauma. “That translates into a safer procedure, with less blood loss. The robotic surgical times can also be much shorter than either conventional laparoscopy or open surgery, which means less time under anesthesia and less time on the operating table,” he says. “People can feel stiff and sore from being on the hard table for hours, so shorter surgeries often mean more comfort-able recoveries.”

Del Monte actually felt so well a day after surgery that she even gave a little dinner party – and that was after she went for a walk around the neighborhood. In the weeks that most open surgery patients would spend on the couch, Del

Monte attended a conference in Chicago (ten days after surgery), worked from home and even swept out the base-ment.

Del Monte says she was surprised that more people didn’t know about the availability of robotic surgery for gyne-

cologic conditions and cancers. The explanation is simply that the procedure is very new. While

robotic surgery was approved by the Food & Drug Ad-ministration for prostate surgery seven years ago, the use of the robot for gynecologic procedures only dates back to 2006. Dr. Muntz says, “Currently

there are only a handful of surgeons in the Seattle area qualified to do gynecologic

robotic surgery and several are at Northwest Hospital.”

These surgeons have completed specialized training to be able to

use the da Vinci S system.

Not everyone is a candidate for gyne-cologic robotic surgery. Dr. McGonigle points out that each case must be evaluated individually. “In some cases, the tumor

or uterus may be too big to be safely removed either robotically or laparo-scopically, and open surgery may be

required. For those who are robotic surgery candidates, such as those

with uterine cancer, for ex-ample, da Vinci is an excellent tool.” “It’s also a good tool for patients who are significantly overweight, where surgery is more challenging,” Dr. Muntz adds. “In a complex surgery, such as a cancer operation, the

robotic technology allows us to do safe, minimally invasive surgery, rather than putting an obese patient through the rigors of open surgery.”

For more information on gynecologic cancers and condi-tions and the da Vinci S robotic surgery system, contact Women’s Cancer Care of Seattle at (206) 368-6806, or visit www.nwhospital.org.

May / June 2008 3

“Currently there are only a handful of surgeons in the Seattle area qualified to do gynecologic robotic surgery and several are at Northwest Hospital.”

- Dr. Howard Muntz

In her lifetime, a woman establishes and maintains relationships with hundreds of people – children, spouse, family, co-workers, friends and many others. But one of the most essential relationships a woman can form is the one with her ob-stetrician/gynecologist, or OB/GYN.

OB/GYNs are physicians specializing in general women’s medical care, the diag-nosis and treatment of disorders of the female reproductive system and the care of pregnant women.

The typical woman’s body is in a near-con-stant state of change and development from before puberty to after menopause. That’s why it’s important for each woman to begin seeing an OB/GYN early in her life to answer questions and resolve issues involving gynecological, reproductive and sexual health at each life stage. Also, this ongoing relationship makes it possible to detect and address potential problems early, when sexually transmitted diseases or early-stage cancers can be more suc-cessfully treated.

Symptoms that may signal gynecologic conditions or disease include:

Bleeding between periodsFrequent and urgent need to urinate, or a burning sensation during urinationAbnormal vaginal bleeding, particularly during or after intercoursePain or pressure in the pelvis that dif-fers from menstrual crampsItching, burning, swelling, redness or soreness in the vaginal areaSores or lumps in the genital areaVaginal discharge of an unusual color or with an unpleasant or unusual odor Pain or discomfort during intercourse

Women who are over 18 years old or who are sexually active should see an OB/GYN once a year, unless advised otherwise by a physician.

To find an OB/GYN, call Northwest Hos-pital & Medical Center’s free Physician Referral Line at (206) 633-4636.

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4 www.nwhospital.org For a free physician referral, call (206) 633-4636 or (800) 633-4636

Main Campus 1550 N 115th StreetSeatt le, WA 98133

Outpati ent Medical Center10330 Meridian Ave NSeatt le, WA 98133

(206) 364-0500, or toll-free at(800) NWH-HOSP (697-4677)

Visit www.nwhospital.org for informati on and directi ons.

Managing Editor Pam Sowers

Design/Layout Erin Dekker

Cover Photography©Gary Benson Photography

MedInfo newslett er is published bi-monthly as a community service by the Marketi ng & Public Relati ons Department. To contact us about the newslett er, e-mail newslett ers@nwhsea.org or call (206) 368-1645.

Use of FSC paper saved:

Calculati ons are based on research done by Stora Enso, Ink Systems and Color Graphics.

Relay for Life, June 7 - 8th

@ Woolsey Stadium on the Christa/King’s Campus in Shoreline

Northwest Hospital & Medical Center is once again the presenting sponsor of the Shoreline/North Seattle Relay for Life. The 24-hour fundraising event starts at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, June 7th. To learn more about Relay for Life or make a donation to sup-port finding a cure for cancer, visit www.events.cancer.org/rflshorelinewa.

Race for the Cure, June 21st

@ Qwest Field in downtown Seattle

Join the Seattle Breast Center and the Northwest Hospital Team in The Komen Race for the Cure. Register online at www.komenpugetsound.org.

Northwest Hospital Music Festival, August 18 - 22nd

@ Northwest Hospital & Medical Center

Join us for the fifth annual festival, with music from a wide range of local talent, including some Northwest Hospital staff members. Different programs each day will feature jazz, classical and other musical genres. Stop by and listen from noon to 1:30 p.m. daily, outside the Cafeteria Solarium on the Northwest Hospital Main Campus.

Save the Date

trees19.7fully grown

water8,369 gallons

energy 13.9M BTU’s

solid waste 926 pounds

greenhouse gases

1,823 pounds

aluminum 16 pounds

voc emissions

2.7 pounds

A Life-Saving Relati onship

Community Classes at Northwest Hospital & Medical CenterTo find more classes and events, visit www.nwhospital.org.

May - June 2008

May / June 2008 5

CLASSES & SUPPORT GROUPS Cancer Lifeline at Northwest Hospital classes and groups are free and open to the public. Call (800) 255-5505 or (206) 297-2500 for more information or to register. You can also register online at www.cancerlifeline.org.

Brain Cancer Support GroupFor people with a diagnosis of brain can-cer or brain metastases and their family and friends. No registration necessary. Second Tuesdays, 6:00-7:30 p.m., Pro-fessional Building, Ste. #3.

Breast Cancer Support GroupFor breast cancer patients and survivors. No registration necessary. First and third Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00 p.m., Profes-sional Building, Ste. #3.

Colorectal Cancer Support GroupFor people with a diagnosis of colorectal cancer and their family and friends. No registration necessary. First Wednes-days, 7:00-8:30 p.m., Professional Build-ing, Ste. #3.

Lung Cancer Support GroupFor people with a diagnosis of lung can-cer, and their family and friends. No reg-istration necessary. Second and fourth Thursdays, 7:00-8:30 p.m., Professional Building, Ste. #3.

Cutting Edge: Nutrition and CancerThe most up-to-date information on diet, physical activity and weight man-agement, plus samples of foods recom-mended by the latest report from the American Institute for Cancer Research. Registration requested. Tuesday, July 15, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Professional Building, Ste. #3.

Talk with a Lymphedema SpecialistJoin one of Northwest Hospital’s lymph-edema therapy staff members and learn

about resources for lymphedema treat-ment and management. This presenta-tion is held prior to the Breast Cancer Support Group. June 18, July 16; 3:30-4:00 p.m., Professional Building, Ste. #3.

What to Eat Now if You Have LymphedemaLearn how good nutrition can promote better health and help the body manage the stress of lymphedema. Registra-tion requested. Thursday, 6:30-7:30pm, Professional Building, Ste. #3. Please call (800) 255-5505 or (206) 297-2500 for date.

Gentle YogaCombines easy stretches, postures, guid-ed meditation and breathing exercises. Please register. Fine to start any time during the series. Wednesdays, through June 25; and July 9-Aug 20, 6:30-8:00 p.m., 2nd Floor McMurray Building, Cardiac Fitness Center.

Energize and Exercise with the Lebed MethodThis gentle exercise program combines easy stretches, strengthening and aerobic movement with great music! Appropriate during or after cancer treat-ment and for anyone with (or at risk for) lymphedema. Please register. Saturdays, July 12-Aug 16; 10:00-11:00 a.m.

Belly DancingStretch and tone your entire body while having fun with the ancient art of belly dance. No experience necessary. Please register. Tuesdays, through June 24 and July 8-Aug 19; 6:00-7:30 p.m.

CHILDBIRTH EDUCATIONChildbirth, parenting and new baby classes are offered in conjunction with Gracewinds Perinatal Services. All class-es are held on the Northwest Hospital campus. Please call Gracewinds Perina-tal Services at (206) 781-9871 or visit

www.gracewindsperinatal.com/nwclass-es for scheduling and registration.

Childbirth Prep ClassesThe Basic Childbirth Prep class is a four-week intensive series that prepares ex-pectant parents for labor and birth. Our curriculum blends elements of Lamaze and Bradley and Kitzinger methods. The extended six-week series includes the Basic Childbirth Prep as well as the popular Newborn Care class and the es-sentials of Breastfeeding Basics.

Pre-registration is required. Full pay-ment is due at registration.Cost: Four Week, $115 per couple Six Week, $195 per couple

Childbirth Prep - Saturday SeriesPerfect for parents who need a class to fit their busy schedule. The same material that is covered in the four-week Basic course, consolidated into one Sat-urday. This class meets once each month from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Cost: $125 per couple

Newborn CareAn important class for first-time parents, this class focuses on newborn behavior. Topics range from diapering, cord care, sleep and feeding habits, to colic relief and changes that occur in newborn ba-bies. This is a part of the six-week Child-birth Prep series, or it can be purchased à la carte. Cost: $40 per couple

Infant Safety/CPRThis is a two hour course taught by a certified CPR instructor. Parents leave with the basic knowledge of infant CPR. This class does not include a certifica-tion card. Cost: $40 per couple

Breast-Feeding BasicsThis class is designed to educate parents on proper feeding techniques and posi-tioning. Cost: $40 per couple

Community Classes at Northwest Hospital & Medical CenterTo find more classes and events, visit www.nwhospital.org.

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Foundations for FatherhoodThis is a class for expectant dads. Taught by an experienced father, this popular course is formatted to address the issues of fathering. It provides the information and support to help fathers feel more involved and confident in the arena of birth and child-rearing. Cost: $30 per student

Comprehensive Education PackageThe Northwest Hospital Comprehensive Education Package includes: Basic Child-birth Prep series (4 week or Saturday series); Newborn Care; Breast-Feeding Basics; Infant Safety/CPR; and Founda-tions for Fatherhood. Cost: $245 per couple

EMERGENCY SERVICES EDUCATIONCPR TrainingLearn life-saving skills from Medic II personnel. Offered on the third Tuesday of each month, 7:00-10:00 p.m. Regis-tration required. To register, visit www.nwhospital.org and click on “Classes, Events & Support Groups” or call (206) 368-1564 for more information. Cost: Donations are greatly appreciated. Checks should be made out to Medic II CPR.

PRENATAL SERVICESBaby Your BackBack pain is a frequent complaint of pregnant women and has many causes. Baby Your Back is a two-hour class for expectant mothers taught by a licensed physical therapist. It is offered the second Wednesday of every month at Northwest Hospital & Medical Center’s Outpatient Medical Center. Cost: $10. Call (206) 368-6032 to register. Health-care provider referral required.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT GROUPSBetter Breathers ClubThe first step in living with lung disease is learning about it. Join the club to learn tips and techniques to better lung disease management. Second Monday of each month, 10:30 a.m. in the Rehab Patient Dining Room on the NWH main campus. Call (206) 368-1853.

Diabetes Support GroupJoin the diabetes instruction team to learn about and discuss topics such as: meal planning; blood glucose monitor-ing devices; weight loss; treatment for high and low blood sugars; medication management; dietary supplements; diabetes myth busters; monitoring for complications and what’s new in dia-betes research and technology. Second Tuesday of each month, 1:00-2:30 p.m.; and third Thursday of each month, 7:00-8:30 p.m. To register visit www.nwhos-pital.org and click on “Classes, Events & Support Groups,” or call (206) 368-1564.

Mended HeartsFor cardiac patients, family members and health professionals. This group provides help in coping with the emo-tional aspects of recovering from heart diseases and an opportunity to offer personal insights to help others in the coping process. Third Thursday of each month, 7:00-9:00 p.m. Call (206) 368-1564.

Weight Loss Surgery Support GroupsOngoing, monthly support groups provide an opportunity to interact with other post-operative weight loss surgery patients and discuss the physical and emotional changes following bariatric surgery. Meetings are professionally guided. In addition, exercise support groups are offered monthly by our physical therapist. Support groups are open to patients from other practices and individuals researching bariatric surgery. Call (206) 368-1350 for more information. No registration neces-

sary. For dates, visit: www.nwhospital.org/services/bariatric_surg_support.asp. All bariatric surgery support groups are held in TCU Auditorium from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.

WELLNESS CLASSESAARP Driver Safety ProgramAARP offers the popular Driver Safety Program for drivers 50 years old and old-er. Graduates may be eligible for multi-year discounts on their auto insurance. The class is offered on two consecutive Saturdays, Aug 23 & 30, from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. The classes will be held on the Northwest Hospital campus. A $10 fee is payable to AARP on the first day of class. Participants must attend both days of class to complete the course. To register, call (206) 368-1564 or call AARP at (888) 227-7669.

Living Well with DiabetesThis program has been formally recog-nized for excellence by the American Diabetes Association. Participants will gain information and skills to manage di-abetes in this four session series offered monthly. Physician referral is required. Day and evening classes available. For more information contact your physi-cian, or call (206) 368-1564 to receive a brochure.

Weight Loss Surgery EducationIs weight loss surgery right for you? Join us for a free informational seminar to learn more about: weight loss surgery options and risks; patient selection criteria; nutritional requirements; and insurance coverage. Q&A session follows each talk. All seminars are free and are held on the Northwest Hospital campus. Call (206) 368-1350 to reserve your space for seminars on June 3, 12, 17 and 26; July 1, 10, 22, and 31, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Yoga For People With Parkinson’sCall (206) 368-5935 for more informa-tion and to register.

May - June 2008

www.nwhospital.org For a free physician referral, call (206) 633-4636 or (800) 633-4636

May / June 2008 7

A lot of dieters believe thinner is better. While that may be true for waists and hips, it’s a dangerous idea for bones. Al-though fractures typically happen more often when people are middle-aged or elderly, habits earlier in life, including extreme dieting and chronic over-exercise, can prevent you from achieving a large enough bone “bank account” to last your whole life. In addition, the body makes withdrawals from bones during events such as pregnancy and meno-pause, which require replenishment in order to prevent osteoporosis and osteopenia (pre-osteoporosis) later in life.

Half of all women and one in eight men will be affected by osteoporosis in their lifetimes – which works out to approxi-

mately 44 million Americans. The resulting hip frac-tures, back problems and other injuries can cause

permanent disability, loss of independence or even death. Those are all good reasons to work on developing and maintaining healthy bones at every age.

Some people increase their risk of osteo-porosis by eating diets low in calcium, by drinking or smoking excessively, by leading a sedentary lifestyle or by using certain med-ications. Additionally, the risk of osteopo-

rosis is greater in people with a thin or small build, Asian or Caucasian ancestry or a family

history of fractures or osteoporosis.

“If you have these risk fac-tors, or if you have already

suffered a low trauma fracture (a broken bone resulting from a fall from a standing posi-tion or lower), osteo-

porosis is a possibil-ity,” says Dr. Julie

Carkin, medical director of osteo-porosis services at Northwest Hospital and a

rheumatologist at The Seattle Arthritis Clinic. “You need to discuss that pos-sibility with your doctor and see if testing is necessary. Fortunately, we have options for treatment that include some highly effec-tive medicines, but none of them work without calcium in the diet and vitamin D supplements.” She calls those two the crucial bricks and mortar that allow osteopo-rosis medications to work properly and to reduce the risk of broken bones.

Dr. Carkin adds that the medications are highly effective in helping prevent hip, spine and wrist fractures in patients with osteoporosis. Physicians can prescribe two types of medications, depending on the needs of individual pa-tients. One type slows down bone loss, while the other type helps build bone mass.

Contributing to your bone bank account should start as early as the teenage years. “The most important building blocks for good bones are calcium and vitamin D,” Dr. Car-kin says. “People hear that they need magnesium, but you get the tiny amount you need for bone health in a normal diet. You need vitamin D to help you absorb calcium. Espe-cially in the Pacific Northwest, none of us get enough vita-min D, which comes from sunlight, among other sources. That’s why Vitamin D supplements are important.”

Marti McGinley, a physical therapist in the Northwest Hospital Osteoporosis Program adds that weight-bearing exercise, such as walking, can help retain bone density.

“Even people who have fragile bones can benefit from care-fully planned exercise,” McGinley says. “Choosing the right kind of exercise is important, whether patients are working on prevention, management or treatment. Exercise can benefit bone health, plus exercise strengthens muscles and improves balance, reducing the risk of falls.”

McGinley works with osteoporosis patients at Northwest Physical Therapy Services to develop customized exercise programs. “Our goal is to educate people about exercises they can do safely to benefit their bone health,” McGinley adds. The program generally requires two to four visits and physician referral.

Growing Bett er Bones

For more information on osteoporosis testing and diagnosis, contact The Seattle Arthritis Clinic, at (206) 368.6123, or online at www.these-attlearthritisclinic.com. If you have osteoporosis or low bone density and are interested in the Northwest Hospital Osteoporosis Program, contact your physician for a referral to Northwest Physical Therapy Services at (206) 368-6032.

“It seems like I can’t go anywhere without being asked to donate to one hospital or another. Why do hospitals need to do so much fundraising at the same time they are charging us so much for healthcare?” If you’ve ever asked yourself questions like these, you’re not alone.

At Northwest Hospital & Medical Center, our mission is to “raise the long-term health status of our community by providing personalized, quality care with compassion, dignity, and respect.” As a member of the North Seattle community, we are committed to ensuring that individuals get the hospital care they need, regardless of their ability to pay for that care. It’s the right thing to do, but it comes at a steep price.

Each year, the American Hospital Association issues a fact sheet on uncompensated hospital care cost. In 2006, the to-tal uncompensated care cost for 4,927 hospitals nationwide was over $31 billion. To help you put that into perspective, for that amount of money, every person living in the states of Washington, Idaho and Montana could go on a 7-night Disney Caribbean cruise (not including airfare). The AHA’s figure does not consider Medicaid/Medicare underpay-ment costs or the many other services and programs that hospitals provide at no or low cost to their communities.

The Washington State Hospital Association, in its December 2007 Annual Report on the Community Benefits Inventory, said the 33 participating non-profit urban hospitals and one HMO spent $629,271,796 in providing community benefits. Of that amount, $518,000,000 was the unreimbursed cost of providing hospital care to low income and special needs populations. Remember that Disney cruise? $518,000,000 could send everyone living in Idaho on that same cruise.

In the last three calendar years, Northwest Hospital & Medical Center provided nearly $19 million in total com-munity benefits. Of that amount, $16,688,419 was the unreimbursed cost of providing hospital care to low income and special needs populations. In this we are mindful of the exhortation of Hippocrates “to help, or at least to do no harm.” Let’s say a 62 year old woman came to us with congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation. The hospital provides care and the total bill is $45,000. We discover that our patient’s insurance only pays $7,000, leaving a balance of $38,000. We help her apply for Medicaid coverage, but she is denied. She applies for charity care under the North-west Hospital Charity Care policy. Through the application process, we learn that she lives alone in a rented apartment and her total annual household income is $20,000. A deter-mination that she is eligible to receive charity care under the Northwest Hospital policy would mean that the remain-ing balance of $38,000 could be forgiven.

Supporting Northwest Hospital & Medical Center with your gifts allows the hospital to continue providing personal-ized quality care with compassion, dignity and respect to all members of our community, no matter who they are.

The Right Thing to Do

8 www.nwhospital.org For a free physician referral, call (206) 633-4636 or (800) 633-4636

1550 N 115th St, MS D-141Seattle, WA 98133

(206) 368-1647 | www.nwhfoundation.org

24th Annual ‘Swing Fore Your Life’ Golf Tournament, May 5th

120 golfers gathered at the Seattle Golf Club to play 18 holes at one of the region’s most beautiful and exclusive golf courses, and to raise funds for the Northwest Hospital Foundation. Net proceeds from the event will help the hospital provide care for low-income or special needs patients who don’t have the ability to pay for their medical care. An awards dinner and silent auction followed the tournament. Call the Northwest Hospital Foundation at (206) 368-1647 for more information on making donations to support charitable care at Northwest Hospital

“As a member of the North Seattle com-munity, we are committed to ensuring that individuals get the hospital care they need, regardless of their ability to pay for that care. It’s the right thing to do, but it comes at a steep price.”

May / June 2008 9

Nursing Contributes to Pati ent Safety

In both 2007 and 2008, Northwest Hospital & Medical Cen-ter won the HealthGrades Distinguished Hospital Award for Patient Safety, putting it in the top five percent of the safest hospitals in the country. While it’s nice to know that the hospital you go to gets top marks for these things, it’s important to know just what these awards truly represent.

Gayle Ward, the hospital’s vice president for clinical ser-vices, says Northwest Hospital is proud of the awards for pa-tient safety and remains committed to a culture of ongoing performance improvement and quality care. “Each depart-ment feels a sense of ownership in the process,” she says.

This includes the nursing department, which is responsible for the majority of direct patient care. Over the years, the nursing staff has formed a wide variety of task forces to ad-dress patient safety issues, and has implemented numerous measures designed to keep patients safe and satisfied.

These measures include bedside shift reports, which ensure that information about patients is communicated clearly and accurately to the next group of nurses taking over their care. During shift change, each nurse meets with his or her replacement for the coming shift and reviews the status of each patient. Lorna Andrews, director of clinical services, says that nurses used to exchange patient information in a conference room setting, away from the patient’s bedside. “Now the nurses discuss the patient’s condition, goals and care needs at the bedside, with the patient involved in the process.” Patients welcome the chance to participate in the conversation and to take a greater role in their own care. Ward says, “It’s our goal to continually partner with our

patients to exchange information and making sure that patients understand their care plan, including any new medications, procedures and tests. Patients may worry that they are taking too much of the nurses’ or physicians’ time to ask questions, but everyone at Northwest Hospital wants to be certain that patients and their families have the infor-mation they need to make informed choices.”

The nursing staff also helped develop the hospital’s Rapid Response Team, which was implemented house-wide a little over a year ago. The Rapid Response Team (RRT) is a team of nurses, nursing supervisors, respiratory therapists, physicians and pharmacists that respond to patients whose physical conditions show signs of deterioration. The RRT as-sists with patient assessment, organizes patient information to communicate to the physician and starts interventions aimed at decreasing adverse clinical outcomes.

“If a nurse is caring for a patient and has a concern that something is wrong, they can call in the Rapid Response

continued on page 10 . . .

Quality of Care

2008 Patient Safety Goals for Hospitals

These goals are set by The Joint Commission, which evaluates and accredits health care organizations in the United States. The independent commission is the nation’s leading standards-setting and accrediting body in health care.

Improve the accuracy of patient identification.

Improve the effectiveness of communication among caregivers.

Improve the safety of using medications.

Reduce the risk of health care-associated infections.

Accurately and completely reconcile medications across the continuum of care.

Reduce the risk of patient harm resulting from falls.

Encourage patients’ active involvement in their own care as a patient safety strategy.

The organization identifies safety risks inherent in its patient population.

Improve recognition and response to changes in a patient’s condition.

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Team,” Andrews explains. “The team arrives immediately to help assess the situation and whether it is necessary to call more advanced level health care providers to the patient’s room.” The hospital plans to expand the program to en-able family members to alert RRT members to significant changes in the patient’s condition.

Nursing staff and leadership have formed other working groups to improve communication with patients and physi-cians, to reduce response time to patient call lights and to ensure the accuracy of medication distribution, among other projects.

Many of these initiatives help Northwest Hospital meet patient safety and satisfaction goals set by ratings and ac-creditation organizations such as the Joint Commission and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. A recent example is the Community Wellness Tool, a docu-ment developed by nursing leadership to ensure that every patient is discharged from the Northwest Hospital with vital information about remaining healthy and safe after they return home.

To recognize the contributions of Northwest Hospital nurses to patient safety and satisfaction, the hospital rolled out the DAISY Foundation Award for Extraordinary Nurs-ing this month. Patients, visitors, physicians and other

nurses can honor nurses by nominating them for the quar-terly award. Winners are recognized for their continuing commitment to quality care and excellence, outstanding customer service, clinical expertise, patient advocacy and education and mentorship of colleagues. Nomination forms are available throughout the hospital campus, or online at www.nwhospital.org.

www.nwhospital.org For a free physician referral, call (206) 633-4636 or (800) 633-4636

Nursing Contributes to Patient Safety, continued from page 9 . . .

May 7, 2008 - Daisy Foundation Award Nominees

For a brain attack, think F-A-S-T!

F = Facial numbness or weakness, especially on one sideA = Arm numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the bodyS = Speech is slurred or there is difficulty speaking or understandingT = Time to call 911!

Reduce Your Risk of Stroke:

Control your blood pressure

Find out if you have an irregular heartbeat known as atrial fibrillation (AF)

Control diabetes

If you smoke, stop

Control cholesterol

Drink alcohol only in moderation

Enjoy a lower sodium, lower fat diet

Ask your doctor about stroke

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Signs and Symptoms of a Stroke

Remember, stroke is

an emergency!

For information on

the Stroke Program at

Northwest Hospital &

Medical Center, visit

www.nwhospital.org.

In the Community

May / June 2008 11

Northwest Hospital & Medical Center staff and volunteers welcomed thousands of visitors to the Health & Wellness Pavilion. The second annual health expo drew more than 40,000 people to the Qwest Exhibition Center on April 19 and 20. Northwest Hospital physicians and practitioners present-ed seminars on everything from stroke prevention and treatment to recog-nizing early symptoms of diabetes. Free screenings included bone density scans provided by nurses from the hospital’s Community Outreach Team, as well as video gait analysis and bike fittings provided by The Sports Medicine Clinic. Other healthcare providers exhibiting in the Northwest Hospital Health & Wellness Pavilion included the Seattle Breast Center, Via Vascular, Urology Northwest and Sleep Medicine Associates.

KING 5 Healthy Living Expo

Northwest Hospital & Medical Center is proud to be kicking off its spon-sorship of the Lake Forest Park Farmer’s Market. The hospital will build a centrally located pavilion at the market each weekend, where people can gather, rest from the sun and get a variety of essential healthcare informa-tion and screenings, along with their fresh fruits and vegetables. It’s all part of the Northwest Hospital’s mission to promote community health and well-ness, whether on campus or off. The Lake Forest Park Farmers’ Market runs from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. each Sunday through October 5, rain or shine. It is located in the lower level of the Lake Forest Park Towne Center parking lot at 17171 Bothell Way NE.

This annual event for women recovering from breast cancer first taught them how to fly fish, and then took them out on the upper Yakima River near Cle Elum to try their skills. Physicians and therapists at Northwest Hospital created the innovative therapy program after finding that the motions used in fly casting are helpful in reducing the swelling, immobility and conditions such as lymphedema, which some women suffer after breast cancer surgery. The eleven participants caught three fish, despite the chilly, sometimes snowy, weather.

The training and fishing trip was funded in part by the Northwest Hospital Foundation and sponsored by Richard Hotes, CEO of Alaska Structures & Blue Med Disaster Relief Shelters, Dr. Daniel Downey of Downey Plastic Surgery and Lithia Motors of Seattle.

Northwest Casti ng Call

Lake Forest Park Farmer’s Market

1550 N 115th StreetSeattle, WA 98133

Non-Profi t Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDSeattle, WA

Permit No. 1549

Northwest Hospital & Medical Center has been awarded the 2008 HealthGrades Distinguished Hospital Award for Patient Safety and 2008 Awards for Excellence in Stroke Care and Back and Neck Care.

Tip # 1: Successful Vacations

What do you call success? Is it getting a big raise at work, or learning how to steal third base? For some people, it’s losing weight and getting into shape. Then, along comes vacation, with all the fun of going on a cruise, or a road trip, and there go the food plans and exercise. Cruise ships offer loads of enticing food, but also many kinds of exercise and games. Take a mo-ment each day to think about choosing healthy foods and plan for some active fun, too. During a long road trip, plan ahead for healthy food. Stop every two hours to stretch and walk. The fact is vacations may be the right time to re-define success. Try focusing on healthy eating and getting in some walks, or maybe even going dancing. You will be able to really relax and really have a good time – and come home refreshed -- without packing on the pounds!

Tip # 2: Your Posture & Back PainDo you ever catch a glimpse of yourself in a store mirror, and immediately straighten up?

You might not realize it, but that could be the first step toward keeping your back healthy and pain-free. Dr. Walter Trautman, pain specialist at Northwest Hospital, says being

aware of your posture and how you do things like getting in and out of the car can help prevent back aches. He says staying active and exercising your core muscles will help your back stay strong. Walking and keeping your weight down will certainly help, too, in many cases. If you have minor back pain, resist the urge to stay in bed for a couple of days – it doesn’t help in many cases, while ice and heat packs and

gentle exercise will. Call your doctor, though, if you have numbness in the legs or if you have so much pain that you can’t go to work or take care of your family.

Northwest Hospital Health Tips

Health Tips are featured on Seattle’s Star 101.5 FM every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at about 7:35 a.m. Tune in and start enjoying a healthier lifestyle!