Avera Bulletin - February 2008

Avera Haiti Project Seeks Quality Supplies

A recent note from the Haitian Health Foundation (HHF) in Connecticut sought clarification regarding the kinds of supplies needed in Haiti. Marilyn Lowney of HHF wrote:

I have something difficult to tell you because we cherish our relationship with Avera. However, recently we have been getting some supplies that we absolutely cannot use. The last batch especially had very very old and very specific medical supplies. For example, old gloves that were melted together, dirty Q-tips, old surgical supplies that we could never use.

I feel badly because money was spent getting the supplies to us. Each container costs well over $10,000 to get to Jeremie, so we have to be very frugal in what we send.

Is it possible for you to get the word out to your folks? If they could send a quick e-mail to me before they pack and send items, I can approve or reject their offer. This way, they will not be spending money mailing items that are not needed.

Contact Marilyn Lowney at:  HHF@HaitianHealthFoundation.org

Roses … Just Because!

Roses. . . Just Because! kicks off its 12th year on Friday, Feb. 15, 2008. Roses are available for $20.00 per dozen. In the previous 11 years, more than 52,000 dozen roses have been distributed, some 8,300 last year. Participating facilities in 2008 include:

Avera McKennan Foundation
Avera Queen of Peace Foundation
Avera St. Luke’s Foundation
Benedictine Health Foundation
The Avera Foundation
Avera St. Benedict Health Center Foundation
Avera Weskota Memorial Medical Center
Avera Gregory Healthcare Center
Platte Health Center Avera
Tyler Healthcare Center Avera
Hegg Memorial Health Center Avera
Landmann-Jungman Memorial Hospital Avera
Avera Flandreau Medical Center
Hand County Memorial Hospital Avera
Wakonda Heritage Manor/Avera Health
Avera Dells Area Health Center
Pipestone County Medical Center Avera
Worthington Specialty Clinic
Wagner Community Memorial Hospital Avera
St. Michael’s Hospital Avera

Roses arrive for distribution in early April. Roses … Just Because! raises money for hospice programs and a variety of other projects in Avera communities. Contact your local Avera facility to see if they participate in Roses … Just Because! and order your flowers.

Avera St. Luke’s Cancer Program Again Earns Three-Year approval

Avera St. Luke’s Cancer Program has been recognized for offering high-quality cancer care, earning approval “with commendation” by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons. The top cancer programs nationwide earn the “with commendation” designation for outstanding achievement.

This approval program sets quality-of-care standards and reviews cancer programs for conformity. Receiving care at an approved cancer program ensures that a patient will have access to:

• Comprehensive care, including state-of-the-art services and equipment
• Quality care nearby home
• A multi-specialty team approach to coordinate the best treatment options
• Information about clinical trials and new treatment options
• Access to cancer-related information, education and support
• A cancer registry that collects data on types and stages of cancers and treatment results, and offers lifelong patient follow-up
• Ongoing monitoring and improvement of care

There are more than 1,400 Commission on Cancer-approved programs in the United States and Puerto Rico, representing about 25 percent of all hospitals. This 25 percent of hospitals diagnoses and treats 80 percent of newly diagnosed cancer patients each year.

Avera McKennan Invests in Future of University Center

On Feb. 8, 2008 the University Center announced that Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center made a $500,000 investment in the new campus in Sioux Falls. The investment in the future of University Center students and health care professionals will be directed to the construction of a high-technology lecture hall. Avera Hall will be a 125-seat auditorium available for groups, forums and meetings in the Sioux Falls area, including community meetings.

Funds will also go to support potential student scholarships, as well as programming for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, which offers a learning environment for older adults from varied backgrounds and education levels.

“Avera recognizes the significance of such facilities in Sioux Falls. Our goal is to invest in educating students who will have an impact in health care and the future of our city, state and region,” said Fred Slunecka, regional president of Avera McKennan. “University Center is an important resource for the intellectual capital we need as an organization and community.”

Avera McKennan Bone Marrow Transplant Program Given Three-Year Accreditation

The Avera McKennan Center Bone Marrow Transplant Program received correspondence from the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT), awarding accreditation on Jan. 24, 2008, effective for three years.
 
The accreditation includes both autologous (accreditation renewal) and allogeneic (first-time approval) transplantation with three program components:

• Clinical - Hematopoietic progenitor cell (HPC – also known as bone marrow or stem cell) transplantation
• Collection - Peripheral blood progentior cell (PBPC) collection (also known as donor aphersis)
• Processing - Cellular therapy product processing (also known as laboratory processing)

Accredited facilities are listed on the FACT web site at www.factwebsite.org. The accreditation is an affirmation of the program’s scope and quality, and is also important for participation in research and transplant reimbursement contracts. Avera was one of the first centers surveyed under the new standards, so the outcome of achieving FACT accreditation is particularly rewarding under those circumstances.