INDIVIDUALS UNITINGFOR THEBENEFIT

OF MANY

Report to Our Community

Leadership Perspective - Judy Rich

Leadership Perspective - Louise Francesconi

Leadership Perspective - J. Manuel Arreguin, M.D.

Tucson Medical Center Report To Our Community Video

Biotech Collaboration

Ventana Builds Up Pediatrics’ Lego® Stash

Healing Children

Emergency Services

Nursing Strategic Plan

Canyon Ranch Institute

A Gluten-Free Population

Tucson Medical Center Volunteers

Your Life, Your Plan, Your Choice

Optimal Results

Purple Heart Dog

Diaper Bank

News Briefs

Operation Walk

Singing Sensation Makes A Visit

Race Car Driver Charlie Kimball

2013 Community Affairs Recipients

2013 Community Benefit - Community Benefit Trends

2013 Community Benefit - Community Benefit Trends (continued)

TMC Senior Services Year At A Glance - Healthy Living Connections

Sources Of Funds/Data

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TABLE OFCONTENTS REPORT TO OUR COMMUNITY

From The Vice President & Chief Development Officer - Michael J. Duran, J.D.

From The TMC Foundation Chairwoman - Anne Fulton-Cavett, J.D.

Helping Patients Deal With Chronic Disease

The NICU After Care Program

Cardiac Rehab

Unlikely Stroke Therapy

Volunteer Standout

Healing From The Art

Paying It Forward

Dementia Care

Erickson Legacy Society - Spotlight On Hope And Alan Green

“A Real Raffle For Real People!”

Committed To TMC

Superb Care At TMC

Making A Difference

Now Hear This

TMC Foundation Events

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TABLE OFCONTENTS ON CENTER

Tucson Medical Center delivers caring, personalized, quality health care to patients and their families in an environment that is supportive and compassionate.

COMPASSIONWe have heartWe respect diversity and individualityWe honor body, mind and spirit

COMMUNITYWe are welcoming and friendlyWe practice kindness in all our relationshipsWe reach out as teachers and as leaders

DEDICATIONWe work hard for our patients and each otherWe are committed to professionalism and excellenceWe listen, we learn, we grow

INTEGRITYWe tell the truthWe are responsible in how we use our resourcesWe have the courage to uphold our values

OUR VALUES

OUR MISSION

In last year’s Report to Our Community, we introduced you to our journey of continuous quality improvement utilizing “Lean” thinking to improve the care we provide and a change in how we work to more effectively put the patient at the center of what we do. In this year’s report, you will read about how we have endeavored to allow this patient-centeredness to define how we work and who we are, and we have established what we call True North principles to keep us on course moving forward. In scientific terms, “true north” is the direction from any point along a meridian toward the North Pole. Interestingly, a traditional magnetic compass is not the most reliable way to define true north because other magnetic forces can interfere and pull you off course.

Similarly, as we go through our daily work at Tucson’s community hospital, it’s easy to get off course if we do not have our direction clear: Patient Experience, People, Quality/Safety and Profitability. While a captain of a ship looks to set a course across the sea, our True North principles provide us the map giving us a vision for what success looks like from the standpoint of our patients, our colleagues and our community.

As we go about our work, we look to involve our patients and our community to help direct our course. We are committed to addressing what matters to our patients, not simply what is the matter.

LEADERSHIP PERSPECTIVE

JUDY RICH

TRUE NORTH DIRECTION: PATIENT

EXPERIENCE PEOPLE

QUALTIY/SAFETY PROFITABILITY

We have done this by including members of our patient and family advisory councils on quality improvement teams and in program development work groups.

As we go about our work, we look to involve our patients and our community to help direct our course. We are committed to addressing what matters to our patients, not simply what is the matter. We have done this by including members of our patient and family advisory councils on quality improvement teams and in program development work groups.

We asked what our patients thought of the food (they didn’t always like it, and for some we didn’t address their specific allergies and needs) – and so we worked hard to change our processes. We began testing out how to provide room service to all of our patients, and we set up an area of the kitchen that is able to prepare gluten-free meals to those patients who require this special diet.

We also listened to our employees (embodied in the People of our True North principles) and their interest in improving their overall health and well-being. To that end, we expanded our employee wellness program and opened Optimal Results Fitness and Wellness Center, a 5,000 square-foot gym available to our employees, physicians and staff.

These are two examples highlighted in this report that are reflective of listening to the voice of our stakeholders, aligning their needs with our True North principles to allow us to continue to improve the health and well-being of the people of Southern Arizona. Often, it’s one voice, one idea, one challenge that drives us. We endeavor to listen, learn and improve everyday to be better for the patients we served and our broader community.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlB7Q0x0dqQ

Health care is transforming, this much we know. But in many ways, we do not know exactly how health care will look down the road. As leaders, it’s natural to focus on the work of running an acute-care hospital. And while we must run an efficient and effective hospital operation, it is limiting to ignore the broader picture of health and well-being for our region.

As a nonprofit hospital, we have invested in our hospital campus and those investments are paying off as our community recognizes TMC as the highest quality health care facility in the community. Likewise, we have implemented continuous improvement processes that have put structure around the work we do so we can be more effective.

We also have learned to recognize when parts of our business would thrive better in a different environment. An example of this, is the decision to sell our behavioral health care business, Palo Verde Behavioral Health, to United Health Services. This strategic decision will allow that business to grow and expand with leadership and investment from a company that specializes in behavioral health services.

LEADERSHIP PERSPECTIVE

LOUISE FRANCESCONI

OUR

VISION IS TO IMPROVE THE

HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF OUR

COMMUNITY.

While our focus on the hospital is imperative, we must also focus on meeting the community’s broader and more holistic health care needs. We need to look at way to bring health and wellness closer to where people live. Our challenge is to make healthcare more than annual visits to the physician’s office or unexpected trip to the emergency room, but instead to make taking care of our health part of our daily activities. As individuals are more empowered to take charge of their personal health and wellness, Tucson’s community hospital must find new ways to support their efforts and address our community’s well-being.

We can do this both through community programs and investments in physical activity and wellness education and also through the work we do in the hospital. In health care, we spend a lot of time talking about clinical quality outcomes – and that focus is important for the hospital to understand. But, it’s the patients who are experiencing the activities that lead to the outcome that matter most.

Our vision is to improve the health and well-being of our community. And we will continue to challenge ourselves to build robust programs that impact the broader concept of well-being as we build a community

health care system for the future. We may not know exactly how health care transforms, but we do know that TMC will be actively engaged in shaping this transformation to the benefit of our community.

As an obstetrician gynecologist I have attended well over 10,000 deliveries in my 20-plus year career. After these many deliveries, one would think that the novelty of seeing a baby born would soon fade. Surprisingly, it just doesn’t. Whether it’s the look of satisfaction in the face of an exhausted, newly delivered mother, or the look of relief on the father’s face to see his baby come out of such a small space, I share no greater culmination in handing over a cherished newborn.

We are at the cusp of experiencing a new birth in medicine. For years, volume and independent thinking were part of physician’s armamentarium. Today, we are witnessing a paradigm shift that now incorporates terms such as quality, transparency and value-based care.

Giving patients an opportunity to tell us what matters most to them is very different from the old practice of simply asking, “What’s the matter?”

As chief of staff, my vision is to provide the right culture that enables this new paradigm shift. Helping the cause starts by intentionally listening to the concerns that my colleagues face day in and day out. Working expectantly and mutually with our administration to help stay the course of verifiable improvements is paramount. Finally, focusing on the younger generations, through targeted outreach programs, will assure that we continue to bring the best and the brightest to our time-honored profession.

LEADERSHIP PERSPECTIVE

J. MANUEL ARREGUIN, M.D.

MY VISION IS TO PROVIDE THE RIGHT

CULTURE THAT ENABLES THIS NEW

PARADIGM SHIFT.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLxtlIjWAYU

TMC Lab advances with support from Ventana Medical SystemsTMC upgraded its laboratory in 2013 in collaboration with Ventana Medical Systems, a global leader in tissue diagnostics. A number of state-of-the-art technologies were connected to create processes to get the most accurate and timely results possible for our patients.

“This collaboration with Ventana is critical to ensuring our patients receive world-class accuracy and precision from TMC’s highly efficient laboratory,” said Judy Rich, TMC president and CEO.” This equipment is key to enhancing patient safety and improving quality.

At TMC, we focus on delivering the best diagnostic results for every patient we serve, and this is a giant leap forward.”

The new equipment, which includes four instruments and the accompanying software, allows the hospital to perform more in-house tests, reducing the need to send samples to outside laboratories adding to turnaround times.

Judy Rich and Michael J. Duran, J.D., with TMC’s director of Lab Services, John Allen

Mara Aspinall with Judy Rich

BIOTECH COLLABORATION

The automation also allows for stronger management of patient identification through the process. This reduces the opportunity for misdiagnosis and mislabeling. Since a single technologist or pathologist works with one patient at a time through the entire process, there is greater continuity of care.

TMC and Ventana celebrated the results at a June ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“The strength of our confidence in each other across these two corporations was palpable,” said John Allen, director of TMC Laboratory Services. “We are two organizations with a vision of the future of pathology, cancer diagnosis and treatment, and a commitment to our community that is unified, thoughtful and creative.”

MORE IN-HOUSE TESTSSTRONGER

MANAGEMENT OF PATIENT

IDENTIFICATION THROUGH THE PROCESS

GREATER CONTINUITY OF CARE

TMC for Children patients thankful for having the pick of a tower of toysDuring the hustle and bustle of Thanksgiving week, employees from Ventana Medical Systems carved out an afternoon to bring more than 200 Lego® sets to deserving little patients in TMC for Children as part of Children’s Miracle Network. It didn’t take long for kids to emerge from their hospital rooms, and gaze at the stash of Lego® sets before picking the “perfect” one that they could take home.

Ventana employees collected Lego® sets since the beginning of October. Ventana President and CEO Mara G. Aspinall personally helped with the delivery, and TMC President and CEO Judy Rich accepted the donation.

But it was 4-year-old Cody Warren who stole the show.

He picked out a Lego® Star Wars set for himself, and a Lego® Friends set for his sister, who was sleeping in her hospital room.

Cody Warren

Selena Gilley (in pink) plays with her new Lego® set

COMPANY BUILDS UP

KIDS MORALE

“We were thrilled when we learned about the Lego® drive that was organized for TMC for Children, Children’s Miracle Network,” said Rich. “Visits like this helps lift our patients’ spirits, which aids the healing process, and having a new toy to play with provides a distraction that helps them focus on something other than the reason they’re here.”

That was evidenced just a few minutes after the event, when 8-year-old patient Selena Gilley was hard at work in her hospital room diligently following the directions to create her masterpiece.

“Ventana prides itself on being true to our mission to improve the lives of patients,” said Aspinall. “Having the opportunity to meet these young patients in our community and share a toy to help lift their thoughts and spirits, gives me and all Ventana employees great joy.”

VENTANA MEDICAL SYSTEMS DELIVERED MORE THAN

200 LEGO® SETS TO DESERVING LITTLE PATIENTS

IN TMC FOR CHILDREN AS PART OF

CHILDREN’S MIRACLE

NETWORK.

Coming together to provide Honduran girl with life-changing spine surgery in TucsonThey say ‘laughter is the best medicine.’ So it’s no wonder 14-year-old Silvia Cross was doing remarkably well as she recovered from major spine surgery she had at Tucson Medical Center. The Honduras native is described as “the most energetic, outgoing person you will ever meet.”

She has an infectious giggle that fills the house of her host family – a house that was her home for more than three months. Silvia suffered from a severe case of scoliosis and required a spinal fusion with a rod placement, but didn’t have access to the treatment in Honduras. Her widowed mother, who sells bread for a living, didn’t have the money or access to seek out the medical attention her daughter so desperately needed.

Healing the Children is a nonprofit charitable organization that helps underserved children throughout the world secure urgently needed medical assistance they otherwise are unable to obtain. As part of the program, Silvia was flown to Arizona in October 2013 along with another little girl named Doris who underwent a similar surgery at a Phoenix area hospital. The girls bonded with their host family, the Shoemakers, for a few weeks before their operations.

Silvia Cross

Dr. Luis Piedrahita with Silvia CrossHEALING CHILDREN

“EVERYONE AT TMC WAS EXTRAORDINARILY

WELCOMING. THEY DID EVERYTHING

THEY COULD TO MAKE SILVIA

COMFORTABLE,” LEAH SHOEMAKER.

Leah and Dave Shoemaker both work full time in addition to raising their three young children, 9-year-old Aston, 4-year-old Bryton, and 2-year-old Caelyn. As you can imagine, it was a huge adjustment for all involved. The dynamics of the house changed instantly. “When they first came into our house, it was unbelievably difficult. You want to do everything you can to make them feel welcome. But it’s amazing how quickly everyone adjusts,” said Leah.

“Silvia lives with her 1-year-old niece and 3-year-old nephew in Honduras, so she was used to having little kids around, and was very helpful around the house. She was very eager to blend in with our family,” said Leah. One little problem, however – was the language barrier. Silvia speaks Spanish, and speaks very fast. Leah admits her Spanish is rusty at best. “My Spanish has gotten better, and she has learned to speak slower, so we’re finally at a point where she finishes my sentences,” she laughed. “Silvia has become part of our family.”

Leading up to surgery day, Silvia was fearless – and incredibly grateful, almost as if she was on a mission to get better. “The face-to-face medical interpreter at TMC was absolutely amazing and made all the difference for Silvia. Everyone at TMC was extraordinarily welcoming. They did everything they could to make Silvia comfortable, and they treated me as her mom,” said Leah.

Silvia was in TMC for Children’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit for five days following her surgery – something that was tough to prepare her for. “Despite telling her ‘it’s going to hurt, you’re going to be sick’ – there really was no way to prepare her for that,” said Leah.

Silvia was fortunate to be under the care of Dr. Luis Piedrahita, a surgeon with Tucson Orthopaedic Institute. “We are very fortunate to have one of the most advanced health care systems in the world,” he said. “The great majority of the world population has access only to basic medical care. Complex musculoskeletal problems are not treated and even ignored. Usually very complex surgeries like this one can only be performed here because of the limitations of instrumentation and lack of postoperative care. Bringing the patients here is the ideal thing to do, but requires a lot of non-medical work. I was very pleased with how Healing the Children was able to accomplish this efficiently, and I look forward to continuing to provide my support in any way I can.”

Anesthesiologist Dr. Luis Esparza from Old Pueblo Anesthesia was asked to participate since he speaks Spanish, and could therefore help her feel a little more comfortable so far from home. “I had the opportunity to be involved in providing care for her that she could never have obtained at home. I think that we sometimes lose sight of the fact that what seems routine to us can have such a huge impact on others. Being involved in cases like hers helps to remind me of that. I was happy to be part of the team that cared for her.”

A BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD

The experience led to the creation of some big goals for Silvia. She wants to learn English, move to America, become a nurse and be able to support her family back home. She knows that the one way to get there is through education.

Silvia goes to school in Honduras, whereas most children do not. During the three short months she was here, she made it clear – she wanted to go to school. The Shoemakers enrolled her in Emily Gray Junior High. “She found a bilingual student who helped her quite a bit,” said Leah. “She has really embraced this experience and wants to see everything America has to offer.” At night, Silvia would spend three to four hours figuring out her homework.

Silvia headed back to Honduras in January, but not without leaving her mark in the States. “We will keep in touch with her forever,” said Leah. “These kids become part of your family, and we will never forget them.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqJlLgF9GSY

Family Opens Heart - And HomeLeah Shoemaker’s inspiration to help children like Silvia stems from an experience involving one of her sons. When Aston, who’s now 9 years old, was a toddler, he suffered his first seizure. He was eventually diagnosed with a rare brain malformation and has since undergone three brain surgeries.“When something is wrong with your child, one of the things you want is control over the situation. And you have none. The other thing you really want is help,” she said. “Throughout that process, I was just very happy that we have the care that we do in America.”

Reflecting on her experience she realized a lot of parents don’t have the ability to help their child.

“I couldn’t imagine anything worse than being in a country, having a sick child, and not being able to help them,” she said.

She found a way to help.

“I’m not part of bringing these kids here. I’m not on the surgical team. But I know the pain the mom goes through, and I know the pain the child goes through. And my family can help with that.”

Many years ago, she read an article in People Magazine about organizations that help children like this. It prompted her to do a little research and make it happen. She discovered the Arizona chapter of HTC, which is based out of Scottsdale. Three years ago, they opened up their hearts and their home to a little girl from the Philippines who needed open heart surgery. Hosting Silvia and Doris was a positive experience for their family, and they say they will without a doubt – do it again. “The family thought it would be comforting for the girls to be together. They are truly an incredible, loving family who have a special place in their hearts for our children,” said Kristin Matthews, president and co-director of HTC Arizona. Since everything is charity-based, host families don’t receive any reimbursement, making their commitment even more extraordinary.

Medical InterpretationDozens of bilingual staff members at Tucson Medical Center are receiving special training in medical interpretation skills under a partnership with the University of Arizona National Center for Interpretation.

“This project focuses on patient safety by reducing the risk of clinical errors due to language barriers,” said Monica Frisbie-Garcia, manager of TMC International & Language Services.

According to U.S. census data, more than 31 percent of Arizona’s population is Hispanic – about 2 million people. Nationwide, more than 25 million people have limited English proficiency, a majority of them speaking Spanish.

TMC is the only hospital in Southern Arizona staffed with certified Spanish medical interpreters. The International & Language Services department also oversees the provision of language assistance for other languages through outside contractors such as CyraCom. Interpretation is offered face-to-face, by telephone or through Internet video remote services. And as a reflection of Tucson’s cultural diversity, TMC also has many Spanish bilingual employees.

“Up to now, we did not know the language competency of our bilingual employees, especially in a medical setting,” Frisbie-Garcia said. “This is important because ineffective communication can result in a number of medical mishaps including incorrect diagnoses or treatment by a health care provider, unnecessary return visits to the ED or hospital readmissions due to patients misunderstanding medication or discharge instructions, or patient non-compliance of a treatment plan due to language barriers.” Increasing the language competency of Spanish bilingual staff can lower these risks.

Through the Spanish Medical Interpretation Training, or MIT, workshops that began in the fall of 2012, TMC now has 30 “Spanish language assistants” representing 20 different units and departments. The four-day workshops cover interpretation ethics and protocol, medical terminology, and several hours of rigorous interpretation practicum to refine language skills.

Reaching language competency as a Spanish language assistant allows bilingual employees to support language needs on their units in a much safer manner.

“Having the opportunity to take the MIT workshop at TMC is very beneficial for patients,” said MIT grad Angelica Hibbs, a nurse on the Mother/Baby unit. “They now have a qualified professional individual on the unit to provide correct interpretation. As a Spanish language assistant, I’ve learned to gauge the patient’s comprehension level and cultural background and interpret accordingly. Yet another successful patient safety initiative at TMC.”

ED teamwork positively impactspatient careLast spring, John Hall was visiting Tucson when a medical emergency landed him in the TMC Emergency Department. Himself an emergency room physician, Dr. Hall was impressed.

“To a person - receptionist, triage personnel, patient care technicians, radiography technician, administrative clerk, scribe, nurses and physician - I was treated with both kindness and respect,” he wrote in a thank you email that he gave permission to share.

Dr. Hall wondered if he was getting preferential treatment as a professional courtesy, but he realized he wasn’t. “I saw/heard the same caring and professionalism given to the several other patients in the curtained ward.”

Last spring, John Hall was visiting Tucson when a medical emergency landed him in the TMC Emergency Department. Himself an emergency room physician, Dr. Hall was impressed.

“To a person - receptionist, triage personnel, patient care technicians, radiography technician, administrative clerk, scribe, nurses and physician - I was treated with both kindness and respect,” he wrote in a thank-you email that he gave permission to share.

Melissa Ritchey, R.N.

Emergency Department staff

EMERGENCY SERVICES

Dr. Hall wondered if he was getting preferential treatment as a professional courtesy, but he realized he wasn’t. “I saw/heard the same caring and professionalism given to the several other patients in the curtained ward.”

His care wasn’t a surprise to Melissa Ritchey, director of Emergency Services. In fact, his remarks are indicative of a department that spent 2013 working to remake itself into an emergency department where anyone would want to take their loved ones.

“I am most proud of the culture change,” Ritchey said. “The staff is engaged; they take a lot of pride in the department. It’s not just a job – it’s a profession for them all.”

Throughout 2013, the Emergency Department incorporated Lean strategies into its work. A manufacturing concept originally developed by the Toyota Motor Co., Lean has been embraced by health care organizations over the last decade.

Lean teaches staff to see their work through the eyes of the patient as well as providing a set of tools to improve the work. Leaders in an area learn to see the work from the eyes of their staff as well as tools to coach and engage staff to root out and eliminate waste. In this way, TMC can make the patient experience safer and more satisfying for all involved.

With basic education on Lean principles and the leeway to try out their own ideas for improvements, staff members have been more engaged in their processes and outcomes. At daily stand up meetings, they review metrics and share challenges for the day; idea boards provide a visual mechanism to implement employee suggestions; and rapid improvement events, called kaizens, bring staff together for four or five days to drill down into problems, determine root causes and pilot measures to improve processes.

In the Emergency Department, one measure that is tracked is length of stay – the time it takes from a patient’s arrival to departure. In 2013, TMC treated 84,920 patients in the Emergency Department, an average of more than 230 each and every day. About two-thirds were treated in the main ED and a third in the pediatric ED. The majority of ED patients, some 80 percent, are treated and released without an inpatient stay.

Throughout the year, the median length of stay for these patients was under 3 hours. In the Pediatric Emergency Department, the median length of stay was under 2 hours from May through the rest of the year.

Not only is a shorter length of stay appreciated by these patients whose conditions allow them to go home, but it ensures that everyone going through the department will be attended to in a more timely manner.

This timeliness shows up in another measure that is tracked in real time, and that is patients who leave without being seen, also called LWOBS. These patients become a safety concern.

“If a doctor hasn’t seen them, we worry that something bad can happen,” Ritchey said, explaining that the patient felt the medical need was sufficient to go to an emergency department but yet left without being assessed.

At TMC, the goal is to have a doctor or mid-level provider, such as a physician’s assistant or nurse practitioner, evaluate the patient in a timely manner so treatment can begin and the patient won’t be as likely to leave without receiving care.

Last year was one of steady improvement in this measure. Five of the last six months of 2013 saw the ED beat its LWOBS goal of 1.5 percent. Through the entire month of December, the Pediatric Emergency Department had only a single patient leave without being seen.

And if you asked the staff, anyone who was on that day would be able to share the reason the parent and child left. By tracking and discussing these measures daily, the staff can look for trends and for ways to improve.

“They care about what’s happening in the department,” Ritchey said. “They call on their days off to see how things are shaping up.” They want to know if they hit the targets, if there were any outliers and what can be done to address them.

And they don’t do it alone. The ED partners with areas that are essential to the emergency visit, such as CT, X-ray, Ultrasound, Transportation and Lab, to make sure these areas don’t become the bottleneck that slows down everything.

“We’re also better able to communicate with patients to manage their expectations,” Ritchey said, “We have a pretty good idea how long it’s going to take for labs or results.”

It might be a while before Tucson’s busiest Emergency Department can completely eliminate wasteful waiting, but that is the vision, and everyone is on board to help make it happen.

“The staff is engaged and want to be a part of the process improvements,” Ritchey said, noting that 2013 also saw less turnover of core staff and the need for fewer traveling nurses.

Dr. Hall might not have known about Lean tools and methods, but that doesn’t matter. Instead, that he had a positive experience and was moved to send an email is evidence of the hard work and thoughtful care taken by all in the department.

“I have practiced emergency medicine for 35 years and I only hope that most of the time I help deliver the type of service that I received at your emergency department,” Dr. Hall wrote. “My hat is off to you all and kudos need to be shared! If you are ever in Anchorage and (God forbid) need an ER I hope we at Providence Alaska Medical Center can serve you as well.”

TMC TREATED 84,920

PATIENTS IN THE EMERGENCY

DEPARTMENT, AN AVERAGE OF MORE THAN

230 EACH AND EVERY DAY.

Nursing Strategic Plan focuses on evidence-based practices – for patients and their nursesWhen TMC Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer Elizabeth Maish returned to TMC in late 2012, she wanted to raise the bar for nursing. But to compete with the likes of The Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic or Johns Hopkins– TMC would have to be more rigorous in its approach to nursing care practice.

“The professional nursing field is continually developing,” explained Maish, whose nursing career as a chief nurse executive and quality director spans 30 years.

When TMC Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer Elizabeth Maish returned to TMC in late 2012, she wanted to raise the bar for nursing. But to compete with the likes of The Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic or Johns Hopkins– TMC would have to be more rigorous in its approach to nursing care practice.

“The professional nursing field is continually developing,” explained Maish, whose nursing career as a chief nurse executive and quality director spans 30 years. “We need to pull everything up. There’s a lot of work to be done.”

NURSING STRATEGIC

PLAN

Maish took the first part of 2013 scouring the literature, delving into the nursing theories around caring, empathy, safety and team. She thought about nursing strategy as a way to support and define where TMC needed to be. One thing she found was that all of the pre-eminent health care organizations had rigorous strategic planning efforts around the nursing workforce.A nursing strategic plan allows TMC to approach the future in an orderly and systematic way, ensuring the hospital remains relevant and responsive to patient and community needs. It provides a clear and consistent organizational focus.After synthesizing the material, she spent the next few months, with input from the director of Nursing Practices, putting together the 2014-16 Nursing Strategic Plan. The plan addresses the many facets of TMC’s relationship-based care model, with a focus on evidence-based practices.“We want to circle the wagons around five pillars that we know impact patient and workforce health,” she said. The pillars include:• Safety • Competency • Workforce Management • Operations Improvement • Patient Experience“These weave into our True North principles, it all ties together,” said Maish, referring to TMC’s guiding principles of Patient Experience, People, Quality/Safety and Profitability.

Under each pillar are four to nine components touching all areas of nursing – from patient safety and staff fatigue mitigation to patient placement and health care literacy.

“We want to keep it simple. Use evidence-based and best practices. It’s really straight forward,” Maish said.

For example, under Workforce Management comes the topic of “Fatigue Mitigation.” Maish points out that there is irrefutable evidence that extreme nursing fatigue can be tied to negative patient outcomes.

As a result, nursing work schedules require a lot of attention, management and innovation. “The days of the 60 hour nursing work week are over at TMC,” she said. While she will take the pushback, she knows that it’s the right thing to do.

“To better focus on our patients, our staff needs to be healthier in terms of being mentally, emotionally and more physically fit,” she said the focus should be on promoting wellness, not “getting by.” And that’s just a single component of an overall strategy.

After the plan was put together, Maish took it on the road, presenting to nursing staff and leadership. The plan has been endorsed by the Executive Team and sanctioned by the TMC Board of Trustees.

“There are action plans behind each of the components; and we will tie all the work we’re doing over the next three years to an approved strategy,” she said. “We’ve set our course.”

SAFETY • National Patient Safety Goals • Medication Management • Care Transitions • Hand-off Communication • Hourly Rounds • Bedside Report • Communication - Patient - Family - Medical Staff - Peers - Information access • Accreditation/ Regulatory Compliance

COMPETENCY • Clinical Excellence - Care Standards - Professional - Growth • Skill - Specialization - Evidence-based Practice • Emotional Intelligence - Self Awareness - Compassion & Empathy • Principles of Informatics • Top-of-License Work - Delegation

WORKFORCE MANAGEMENT • Integrated Nursing Workforce • Bedside Leadership Development • Fatigue Mitigation • Innovative Scheduling & Care Models

OPERATIONS IMPROVEMENT • Throughput • Communication Structures • Resource Stewardship • Lean Management System • Optimized IT Platform • Patient Placement • Daily Staffing Review • Ops Huddle • Practice Alerts

PATIENT EXPERIENCE • “Nothing to you without you” • “What matters to you?” • Navigation • Health Literacy

Making hopes of becoming healthier ‘a reality’:Canyon Ranch Institute, Healthy Living Connections bring life enhancement program to the community.Gone are the days when older adults sit back and wait for disease to take its toll in an inevitable journey of decline. Instead, one of the major health trends amongst older adults is proactively seeking community resources to help stay healthy and prevent or manage conditions. TMC launched Healthy Living Connections seven years ago and its wellness programs this past year to respond to the growing trend of healthy lifestyles. And what better partner for the community than Canyon Ranch Institute, a 501(c)3 non-profit public charity led by the wellness leaders who founded Canyon Ranch.

LASTING CHANGE IS NOT A

ONE-SIZE FITS-ALL PROPOSITION

CANYON RANCH

INSTITUTE

Julie Ward, R.N., Chest & Pain Coordinator

CRI LEP participant

Gone are the days when older adults sit back and wait for dis-ease to take its toll in an inevitable journey of decline. Instead, one of the major health trends amongst older adults is proactively seeking community resources to help stay healthy and prevent or manage conditions. TMC launched Healthy Living Connections seven years ago and its wellness programs this past year to respond to the growing trend of healthy lifestyles. And what better partner for the community than Canyon Ranch Institute, a 501(c)3 non-profit public charity led by the wellness leaders who founded Canyon Ranch Institute.

Last year, TMC and Canyon Ranch Institute teamed up to provide the Canyon Ranch Institute Life Enhancement Program to members of our community at no cost. The CRI Life Enhancement Program, also known as the CRI LEP, focuses on self-discovery, preventive care and positive lifestyle habits that enable the participants to experience a healthy transformation through personal empowerment and behavioral changes.

The CRI LEP is a 12-week program delivered by a core team of TMC health professionals with expertise in behavioral health, integrative health, nutrition, physical activity and pharmacology. The program includes weekly classes as well as one-on-one appointments with members of the core team.

At the core of the program is the philosophy that lasting change is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. It is very important for people to create a vision for their health that fits their needs and their lifestyles. “Having participants set their own realistic goals and then celebrating each success that comes during the journey is very fulfilling,” said Mary Atkinson, RD, TMC director of wellness. “We are trying to shift people’s thinking from what they can’t do to what they can do.” For more information about this program, email wellness@tmcaz.com.

Below one participant shares what she is doing now to take control of her health:

The CRI LEP connected me to people who care about my health, Michaela Johnson

Before I joined the CRI Life Enhancement Program, I thought I knew what it takes to live a healthy life – what’s good for you, what’s not. What I really lacked was motivation.

I expected that the structure of the program and classes would help me find that motivation. What I found was that the dedication of the other participants and the health professionals from Tucson Medical Center motivated me to reconnect to health and wellness in my life.

As someone who lives alone and has gotten pretty isolated in life, the group support, caring, and shared values was incredibly important to me. Embedding myself amidst such a dedicated health team who strives to go the extra mile with every individual – regardless of someone’s particular challenges – allowed me to make my hopes of becoming healthier a reality, instead of just another “good idea.”

The CRI LEP created an environment of such strong values, that I knew I could absorb and embrace them simply by participating. It now matters to me and other people how well I’m doing. The sense that someone cares about me improving my health gave me the “jump start” that I needed to lead a healthier life.

Today, I’m working to maintain my healthy habits. I continue to make better food choices, having more fruits and vegetables and overall fewer calories. The program’s emphasis on meditation also helped me to reconnect with myself and my goals. Daily meditation has made the biggest impact in helping me to stick to my healthy new habits.

When the program was ending, I asked if I could volunteer for the next program at Tucson Medical Center. I figure staying connected with the program will help me, and maybe I can help other people.

Meeting the needs of the gluten-free populationTucson Medical Center is committed to creating a safe environment for those with celiac disease, wheat allergies or gluten-intolerance issues.

On a Sunday in November, more than 1,200 community members descended upon the TMC campus for the first Gluten-Free Awareness Expo. The expo, sponsored by TMC and organized by the University of Arizona Gluten-Free Club, consisted of workshops, networking, education and support systems for those living gluten-free and their medical providers.

Tucson Medical Center is committed to creating a safe environment for those with celiac disease, wheat allergies or gluten-intolerance issues.

On a Sunday in November, more than 1,200 community members descended upon the TMC campus for the first Gluten-Free Awareness Expo. The expo, sponsored by TMC and organized by the University of Arizona Gluten-Free Club, consisted of workshops, networking, education and support systems for those living gluten-free and their medical providers.

Attendees included those with celiac disease, which damages the lining of the small intestine and prevents absorption of nutrients; those with wheat allergies or gluten intolerances; and medical professionals seeking education about these conditions.

A GLUTEN-FREE POPULATION

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aA70jo-ux7E

Lectures by Dr. Lucinda Harris, associate professor at Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, and Nina Spitzer, president and founder of the Celiac Disease Foundation, Greater Phoenix Chapter and creator of the School Nurse Awareness Program, addressed the difference between celiac disease and wheat allergies as well as how to address the diagnosis of celiac disease for school-age children.

The interest in the expo reflects a growing need within the community for awareness and accommodation of those with celiac disease, wheat allergies and gluten intolerances. As rates of celiac disease increase within our population (quadrupling in the past 60 years) and awareness of wheat allergies and intolerances increases, Tucson Medical Center is responding.

In the summer of 2013, TMC adopted new procedures to ensure the safety of those who are gluten-free, providing gluten-free patients with a variety of fresh, safe and nourishing gluten-free options.

In the kitchen and in transport Tucson Medical Center:

• Follows specific gluten-free storage, handling and production procedures to assure gluten-free status.

• Follows specific food-handling procedures to ensure the gluten-free integrity of the meals served to patients. These procedures include dedicated cutting boards, knives, microwave, toaster, fridge and disposable aprons; gluten-free labeling and use of gloves.

• Food choices include a variety of fresh products and specialty gluten- free items such as breads, crackers, pizzas, pastas, cookies, dressings, even brownies!

Upon request TMC will provide patients with the details of these procedures and product labels as well as consultation with a dietitian.

When patients arrive at admission and inform us of their gluten-free status, this is recorded in their medical record as an allergy. This allows their diet order to be directed to reflect the gluten-free need.

A manager or dietician from Food & Nutrition Services is available to speak with a patient prior to a planned stay to discuss the hospital’s gluten-free process.

TMC ADOPTED NEW PROCEDURES TO START PROVIDING

GLUTEN-FREE PATIENTS WITH A VARIETY OF FRESH,

SAFE AND NOURISHING

GLUTEN-FREEOPTIONS.

Volunteers with a can-do attitude greet all with a concierge mindsetComing to an unfamiliar place, sometimes before the crack of dawn, can be daunting to patients and families already anxious about a surgery or procedure. Oftentimes it takes just a smile, an encouraging word and someone to point the way to help set minds at ease.

With the introduction of the TMC Orthopaedic and Surgical Tower in May 2013, TMC Volunteer Services has focused on providing concierge-style service to help make people’s experience a positive one from the start.

Coming to an unfamiliar place, sometimes before the crack of dawn, can be daunting to patients and families already anxious about a surgery or procedure. Oftentimes it takes just is a smile, an encouraging word and someone to point the way to help set minds at ease.

With the introduction of the TMC Orthopaedic and Surgical Tower in May 2013, TMC Volunteer Services has focused on providing concierge-style service to help make people’s experience a positive one from the start.

“Our TMC volunteers can let patients and visitors know from the get-go that TMC is ready to take care of their needs,” said Ginny Robbins, chair of TMC Volunteer Services.

TUCSON MEDICAL CENTER

VOLUNTEERS

The desk is staffed by a special group of TMC volunteers, who have been trained to go above and beyond. These volunteers help ensure all patients are greeted and assisted in a warm and welcoming environment that mirrors the hospital’s values of compassion, integrity, dedication and integrity.

“The concierge volunteers just say ‘Yes – yes, I can do that!’” Robbins said, adding that “no request goes unanswered and all patients and visitors are welcomed and their needs are met immediately by volunteers committed to exceptional service.”

Robbins sets the bar high with the expectation of a full five hours of smiles during a shift. These concierge volunteers help with hospital way-finding often a challenge with TMC’s 15 miles of interior hallways. They guide patients to the appropriate surgical floor, inpatient unit, procedural area, cafeteria, and even to physician practices across the street in TMC’s medical park.

Using a web-based tool created for the desk, concierge volunteers have information at their fingertips, so they can provide contact information to nearby amenities including restaurants, grocery stores, hotels and medical offices … just like a top-rated hotel.

“It’s our honor and privilege to care for the community and all who choose Tucson Medical Center,” Robbins said. “The concierge volunteers’ can-do attitude is what makes us the best.”

See page 78 to read more about the volunteer standout, Ginny Robbins.

USING A WEB-BASED TOOL CREATED FOR THE DESK, CONCIERGE

VOLUNTEERS HAVE

INFORMATION AT THEIR

FINGERTIPS.

End-of-life dialogue helpful, not heartbreaking“I wonder how it will happen…”

That’s what Jackie Isaac said to her daughter Dory Martin as the two were having breakfast about a month before Jackie passed away.

“‘How will I die?’ is what she meant,” Martin said.

For many of us, just the thought of a loved one dying is enough to force us to think of something else – ANYTHING else – instantly. Having a conversation with a loved one about her wishes surrounding death? Forget it. But that conversation doesn’t have to be so uncomfortable that it is too much to bear.

“I wonder how it will happen…”

That’s what Jackie Isaac said to her daughter Dory Martin as the two were having breakfast about a month before Jackie passed away.

“’How will I die’ is what she meant,” Martin said..

YOUR LIFE, YOUR PLAN,

YOUR CHOICE

Jackie Isaac in May 2012, less than a year

before she passed away.

For many of us, just the thought of a loved one dying is enough to force us to think of something else – ANYTHING else – instantly. Having a conversation with a loved one about her wishes surrounding death? Forget it. But that conversation doesn’t have to be so uncomfortable that it is too much to bear.

In fact, having that talk, and knowing what your loved one wants, will make aspects of what’s an incredibly painful time a little bit easier. People who have experienced death firsthand shared their perspective at a TMC workshop devoted to critical health care decisions called Your Life, Your Plan, Your Choice. About 70 people attended.

Martin spoke about her mother’s life – a life well-lived – and about having that conversation prior to her mom’s death from a neurologically based illness at the age of 85. Before the illness consumed her, Jackie made her health care wishes known, and also wrote out an ethical will – a personal letter in which she expressed her values, experience, wisdom and end-of-life wishes.

Having the conversations and the documents that spelled things out gave her children clear cut instructions…and left few decisions up for debate.

Understanding those wishes is a big part of palliative care. The term “palliative care” is often confused with hospice care. Palliative care is family-centered care that optimizes quality of life by anticipating, preventing and treating suffering.

Throughout the continuum of illness, palliative care involves addressing physical, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual needs and helps facilitate patient autonomy, access to information, and choice. At the base of palliative care: What are the patient’s desires and wishes?

“Quite often we get so hung up on what we can do for someone medically that we don’t ask who the people are and what they would really want. And that, I feel, is the more important question,” said Kathy Kennel, NP, a TMC palliative-care coordinator. Kennel also spoke at the workshop, opening her talk with a flashback to her mother’s dying days, and how she vowed to do whatever she could to help families at the end of life.

Dr. Larry Lincoln, medical director of TMC Hospice, also shared a personal story about his mother, who lived in a care home with dementia and heart failure toward the end of her life. “She told me she did not want to go on living for a year prior to her death,” he said.

He vividly remembers receiving a call from the care home. His mother had a medical crisis in which she could have been treated and potentially moved back to the care home. He thought about his mother’s words and made the decision not to have her treated.

She was transferred to Peppi’s House where she was kept comfortable until her death.

Even though he knew that he was following hias mother’s wishes, he still struggled with being responsible for her death. He explained that many people have this initial reaction when faced with these important decisions.

He knows he did not kill his mother; he was simply carrying out her wishes. He took comfort in what she expressed to him before the dementia got severe.

Making your wishes known

Having a meaningful, open dialogue about end-of-life wishes is not easy, but The Conversation Project is a good place to start. Advance directives are another way to provide some direction. Formal advance directives are documents written in advance of serious illness that state your choices for health care, or name someone to make those choices,

if you become unable to make decisions. Through advance directives, such as living wills and durable powers of attorney for health care, you can make legally valid decisions about your future medical treatment.

Another resource is the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, which provides a Life Care Planning packet online in both English and Spanish.

For a calendar of events or for more information about the TMC Senior Resource Center, click Healthy Living Connections.

ABOUT

70PEOPLE

ATTENDED THE TMC WORKSHOP DEVOTED TO CRITICAL

HEALTH CARE DECISIONS CALLED YOUR LIFE, YOUR PLAN,

YOUR CHOICE.

A promise made to TMC employees leads to an on-site investment in their healthYou could consider a new place a success when it’s barely been broken in, and your customers are clamoring to tell you what a difference it already has made in their lives. That’s exactly what’s happening at the Tucson Medical Center Optimal Results Fitness and Wellness Center.

The Optimal Results gym is where the hospital’s operating rooms were located before they moved to the new TMC Orthopaedic and Surgical Tower.

You could consider a new place a success when it’s barely been broken in, and your customers are clamoring to tell you what a difference it already has made in their lives. That’s exactly what’s happening at the Tucson Medical Center Optimal Results Fitness and Wellness Center.

The Optimal Results gym is where the hospital’s operating rooms were located before they moved to the new TMC Orthopaedic and Surgical Tower.

TMC President & CEO Judy Rich challenged staff at an employee forum early in the year that if they could reduce their health care claims by $500,000, she would build them a gym.

OVER

700EMPLOYEESBECAME MEMBERS IN THE FIRST YEAR

OPTIMAL RESULTS

Employees reduced their claims, and Rich made good on her promise. But that’s just where the story begins.

When the TMC Surgical and Orthopaedic Tower opened up in May 2013, the newly vacated operating suites in the main part of the hospital sat empty, providing ample space for the project: 5,000 square feet. A group of about two dozen employees formed a Gym Committee to tackle details such as membership, equipment, and policy and procedures.

Renovations began in June, and by September, Optimal Results was open for business, with an employee membership of just $12 a month.

TMC Employee Wellness Specialist Amy Mattox was brought on board to make sure the place was comfortable – yet inspiring – for all employees. It’s a role she embraces with an extensive personal training background and experience working with people of all ages and fitness levels.

“We’re targeting a lot of people who haven’t been in an exercise facility for a very long time,” Mattox said. “We’re trying to encourage these people to take control of their wellness and try fitness again. At the same time, we’re trying to provide regular gym-goers with a clean place that features state-of-the-art equipment in which they can continue to challenge themselves. We want to make getting in shape convenient for everyone.”

Speaking of convenience, Optimal Results is open 24/7 – perfect for staff who work early morning, night or overnight hours. For Judy Lesson, a lead transcriptionist who’s been with TMC for 20 years, it could not be any easier to incorporate exercise into her day.

“The gym is about two feet from where I work, so I really don’t have an excuse not to go,” she laughed. Lesson’s lunch hour is now spent on the treadmill, doing strength training, or taking a group exercise class.

“I’ve done Jazzercise for 30 years. I’ve never been part of a traditional gym, so this is all new for me,” she said. “I love doing different things. It’s truly a win-win for everyone.”

Lesson is one of more than 700 employees who became members in 2013, Mattox said. “To have 700 employees sign on to swipe their badge, and get ready to sweat – it’s fantastic.”

The gym opened with two cardio rooms including treadmills, elliptical machines and bikes, as well as a full free-weight area. Plate-loaded weights are available for strength training, as well as a room with stacked weights – in order to accommodate everyone.

A roomy multipurpose area hosts group classes, including yoga, Zumba, core and spin. Another room has a large synergy machine. “We’ve started a circuit class using this machine in which people get a CrossFit type workout,” said Mattox.

Another weight lifting area with an additional 700 square feet is planned to be built out in 2014.

“The best part is seeing so many people come in who haven’t used a fitness facility in many years, and being inspired to try exercise again,” said Mattox. “These are people who – if this gym wasn’t right here for them, they would never go down the street and sign up at a traditional gym. By providing this, and making it a perk of employment, we’re encouraging them to step outside the box a little bit. They’re now making physical activity part of their daily routine, they’re healthier and happier for it, and they’re having a blast.”

It’s that enthusiasm that Mattox and other TMC leadership hope will spread like wildfire across the Tucson community. They’re optimistic that by leading the way, and encouraging wellness among the more than 3,000 employees at TMC, it will inspire Southern Arizonans to take control of their health, focus on preventative care, and get moving.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHyCSlzUPoc

What seemed an ordinary visit ends up an extraordinary honor for TMC therapy dogA 70-pound golden retriever with silky blond fur, a friendly face and a sweet demeanor undoubtedly attracts a lot of attention wherever she goes, and when Spencer Harman takes his dog Jamie out in public, that’s exactly what happens.

Spencer knew Jamie was an exceptional dog from day one. “As a puppy, she tried to jump on the sofa. I took her ‘down’ and told her ‘no’ one time – and that’s all it took. She hasn’t jumped on the furniture since.”

A 70-pound golden retriever with silky blond fur, a friendly face and a sweet demeanor undoubtedly attracts a lot of attention wherever she goes, and when Spencer Harman takes his dog Jamie out in public, that’s exactly what happens.

Spencer knew Jamie was an exceptional dog from day one. “As a puppy, she tried to jump on the sofa. I took her ‘down’ and told her ‘no’ one time – and that’s all it took. She hasn’t jumped on the furniture since.”

Visit the link below to learn morewww.tmcaz.com/Community/SeniorServices/Pet_Therapy

Jamie, Purple Heart Therapy Dog

Spencer Harman with Jamie

PURPLE HEART DOG

Fast forward a few years. Harman enrolled his loving, furry friend in training class to become a certified therapy dog. Jamie passed with flying colors and joined the TMC Pet Therapy team two years ago. The 8-year-old is a welcome sight to patients.

“Jamie greets a lot of people everywhere she goes,” Harman said. “People are especially happy to see her in the surgical waiting area. She brings a little sunshine to folks who are anxiously awaiting word on their loved one.”

Christmas Day 2012

Last Christmas, Spencer didn’t have much going on at his house and thought maybe some patients would enjoy a visit from Jamie. He brushed her out, put on her vest and headed over to TMC where they spent some time in unit 700. A woman came up to him and asked if he could please bring Jamie to her father’s room, which he did. “I remember he was an older gentleman,” recalled Harman. “He was just taken by Jamie. He reached over the side of the bed and just kept petting her and smiling. We visited him for a few minutes, and then we went on our way.”

Little did Harman know that those few minutes impacted that patient in a way he never imagined.

A twist of fate

Harman and Jamie’s morning tradition includes a walk to Starbucks so that he can drink his coffee while she visits with customers. On an ordinary day in January, something extraordinary happened. “A woman named Karen came up to me and reminded me that Jamie and I had visited her father in TMC on Christmas Day. Her father, a Vietnam veteran, was discharged around New Year’s, and passed away a week later. Before he passed, he asked his daughter to find Jamie and give her his Purple Heart medal.”

As she told the story to Harman, Karen pulled a little cloth handkerchief out of her purse, and presented him with the medal. He admitted that it took a while for everything to soak in. “I took it home, and when I pinned it on Jamie’s vest, I was so proud that she had impressed somebody like that. All I know is that she brought smiles and a few minutes of peace to the man in that bed that day,” he said.

Karen had tracked them down with the help of TMC nurses, who knew where the two typically spent their mornings. “When Karen approached me that morning, I thought she was just coming to say hello to Jamie. I never expected this to happen,” he said.

Harman tried to get the woman’s contact information, but in a hurry and late for her flight back to Chicago, she took down his information instead and said she would send him some pictures of her father in the service. Harman has yet to hear from her, but holds out hope that one day he’ll learn more about the man who earned the medal his pup wears now. “I’ve got a proud little gal here, and I’m proud of her,” he boasted.

Harman recalled a day a while back when a man was walking his dog in the opposite direction in the Starbucks parking lot. “He looked over and when he saw Jamie, he saluted me. Chills came over my body. He was saluting the dog with the Purple Heart.”

HE LOOKED OVER AND WHEN HE SAW JAMIE, HE SALUTED ME. “CHILLS

CAME OVER MY BODY. HE WAS

SALUTING THE DOG WITH THE

PURPLE HEART.”

Helping the community to bank300K diapers Sometimes all it takes is a little space to help out the community. This past fall, the Diaper Bank of Southern Arizona issued an urgent call to warehouse more than 300,000 diapers shipped into Tucson on short notice from Kansas.

Tucson Medical Center and the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona answered the call to store the booty bounty, which was part of a 2013 grant award of 2 million diapers over a two-year period from Huggies® and the National Diaper Bank Network. This was the second installment of 1 million diapers allotted for the year.

Sometimes all it takes is a little space to help out the community. This past fall, The Diaper Bank of Southern Arizona issued an urgent call to warehouse more than 300,000 diapers shipped into Tucson on short notice from Kansas.

Visit the link below to learn more

www.diaperbank.org/

DIAPER BANK

Tucson Medical Center and the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona answered the call to store the booty bounty, which was part of a 2013 grant award of 2 million diapers over a two-year period from Huggies® and the National Diaper Bank Network. This was the second installment of 1 million diapers allotted for the year.

On a Monday, the call came that two semitrailers carrying the 30,000-pound cargo stacked on 77 pallets were due in on that Thursday, according to Lindsey Jones, executive director of the diaper bank.

“TMC’s support made all the difference in our being able to accept this shipment and provide these supplies to residents in Southern Arizona,” Jones said. “These community partnerships are the heart of the Diaper Bank’s operations.”

TMC was able to offer warehouse space on the El Dorado Health Campus to store 145 pallets with 112,000 diapers, saving the organization an estimated $750 a month.

While the large donation makes a dent in some of the area’s severe diaper need, the sizes provided are very limited. The Diaper Bank not only provides supplies for infants and babies but also for older children with special needs, disabled adults and the elderly. Last year alone

there were 1.5 million requests for these supplies and the Diaper Bank was able to distribute only 600,000.

Founded in 1994 the Diaper Bank of Southern Arizona was the nation’s first diaper bank partnering with more than 50 agencies in Pima and six other Arizona counties. The Diaper Bank seeks to not only provide a much needed product but to address the root causes of poverty through its relationships with area nonprofits, each of which provides ongoing case work with its clients.

TMC WAS ABLE TO OFFER WAREHOUSE SPACE ON THE EL

DORADO HEALTH CAMPUS TO STORE

145 PALLETS WITH

112,000DIAPERS

SAVING THE ORGANIZATION AN ESTIMATED $750 A MONTH

Happiness: The SeriesHappiness has been found to be strongly linked to improved health. For this reason, TMC was pleased to sponsor the University of Arizona College of Social and Behavioral Science’s Downtown Happiness Lecture Series at the Fox Theater.

The annual series aims to explore a subject that shapes our daily well-being, with “happiness” selected for this first year. UA faculty members explored the complexity of happiness by sharing insights from their diverse fields of study, including psychiatry, sociology, anthropology, philosophy and integrative medicine.

The series was a huge success with overflow seating required at all five of the lectures. Lectures covered the differences in happiness as we age or within social groups, compassion, our environment, physical activity and how happiness is viewed today compared with centuries ago.

Podcasts of the individual lectures are available from Arizona Public Media

www.education.azpm.org/azconnection/

NEWS BRIEFS

Tucson Orthopaedic Institute surgeons team up with Operation Walk USA to change lives Recovering from major surgery isn’t something anyone looks forward

to – unless you’re 49-year-old Carlos Lopez. Lopez is home after spending a few days in December at the TMC Orthopaedic and Surgical Tower. For him, the recovery process means he’s finally received something he’s dreamed of for years – a new hip.

Lopez had been in excruciating pain since August 2009 when the father of four suffered an on-the-job injury. He was on Interstate 10 when a car slammed into his food-service truck causing it to roll. Lopez’s legs were pinned beneath the steering wheel, and he was trapped for about half an hour until emergency medical services could cut him out of the wreckage.

Recovering from major surgery isn’t something anyone looks forward to – unless you’re 49-year-old Carlos Lopez. Lopez is home after spending a few days in December at the TMC Orthopaedic and Surgical Tower. For him, the recovery process means he’s finally received something he’s dreamed of for years – a new hip.

Carlos Lopez, Operation Walk USA patient

“I TRULY CONSIDER IT A MIRACLE

THAT I WAS SELECTED. I KNOW THE RECOVERY PROCESS WILL BE

CHALLENGING, BUT I’M READY FOR IT”

SAID LOPEZ.

OPERATION WALK

Lopez had been in excruciating pain since August 2009 when the father of four suffered an on-the-job injury. He was on Interstate 10 when a car slammed into his food-service truck causing it to roll. Lopez’s legs were pinned beneath the steering wheel, and he was trapped for about half an hour until emergency medical services could cut him out of the wreckage.

Lopez underwent therapy, but when he returned to work a month later, the pain continued. He endured it for years until it finally forced him to quit in January 2012. “The pain was unbearable. I would fall off the ramp at work and injure myself. I was physically not able to do my job anymore. Since my case had been closed, I was not eligible to receive any more help under workers’ comp,” Lopez said before his surgery.

His legs were uneven because of the problem with his right hip, forcing his left leg to compensate, and he developed a hernia as well as a back problem. Before his surgery, he walked with double canes for support.

Lopez was one of 10 patients from around Southern Arizona who received the joint replacement surgery they so desperately needed, but were unable to afford. The care was provided through a partnership between Tucson Medical Center, Tucson Orthopaedic Institute, Old Pueblo Anesthesia and Operation Walk, a private, nonprofit, volunteer medical services organization that provides free surgical treatment for patients who do not have access to life-improving care for debilitating bone and joint conditions.

The program was brought to TMC by orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Russell Cohen, who was inspired by a trip to Vietnam as part of Operation Walk International. “It’s a true honor to take care of those with no means to otherwise be helped,” Dr. Cohen said. “I wanted to help those in need who live in our community.”

Four Tucson Orthopaedic Institute surgeons, including Drs. Cohen, Andrew Mahoney, John Wild and Larry Housman, performed the surgeries on these patients in one day.

The surgeons donated their time, as did anesthesiologists from Old Pueblo Anesthesia. Hospitalists volunteered their time to care for these patients after their surgery. Tucson Medical Center donated the space and necessary prescription medications. Stryker Orthopaedics provided the joints, and Gentiva provided home health services to assist these patients during their recovery.

For patients like Lopez, this is just the beginning of a drastically improved quality of life.

“I feel so overwhelmed and blessed,” Lopez said about being part of the program. “I truly consider it a miracle that I was selected. I know the recovery process will be challenging, but I’m ready for it. I will do whatever it takes to get back on my feet without my double canes.”

Pint-sized patients receive inspirational visit from singing sensation TMC for Children had a warm welcome for singing sensation Pia Toscano, who was in Tucson to perform with Jennifer Hudson and Jordin Sparks at Divas in the Desert, the 2013 Gala held by the American Cancer Society and sponsored by TMC. “I’m so in awe of both of them. I’m thrilled and humbled to be a part of this event,” Toscano said when she visited in the spring. “They are two very powerful women who have been through so much, yet are incredible.”

Toscano made a name for herself as one of American Idol’s Season 10 frontrunners thanks to her powerhouse vocal ability.

See more photos on the Divas in the Desert page on Facebook

www.facebook.com/DivasintheDesert

Pia Toscano with patient

Pia Toscano visiting with patients

“CHILDREN ARE SO INSPIRING,” SHE SAID. “THEY’RE

SMILING AND HAPPY,

NO MATTER WHAT’S GOING ON IN THEIR LIFE.”

SINGING SENSATION

MAKES A VISIT

TMC for Children had a warm welcome for singing sensation Pia Toscano, who was in Tucson to perform with Jennifer Hudson and Jordin Sparks at Divas in the Desert, the 2013 Gala held by the American Cancer Society and sponsored by TMC. “I’m so in awe of both of them. I’m thrilled and humbled to be a part of this event,” Toscano said when she visited in the spring. “They are two very powerful women who have been through so much, yet are incredible.”

Toscano made a name for herself as one of American Idol’s Season 10 frontrunners thanks to her powerhouse vocal ability. She secured a spot in the Top 9, when she was suddenly eliminated – a move that shocked many fans.

Toscano said she jumped at the opportunity to perform at Divas in the Desert because she’s always been passionate about the American Cancer Society.

“This is something that’s very close to home for me,” she said. “Some of my family members have had cancer, and one of my mentors passed away from cancer. It has deeply affected my life. I try to be a part of the American Cancer Society in any way possible.”

Toscano enjoyed visiting with patients and their families – chatting, laughing and reading books. “Children are so inspiring,” she said. “They’re smiling and happy, no matter what’s going on in their life. It really puts your life into perspective. I know that just making them smile is such an important part of the healing process. ”

Race car driver Charlie Kimball shares his diabetes story with kids Charlie Kimball, the first driver with diabetes to race at the highest level of IndyCar, visited TMC to spread his message about how he has managed his diabetes while pursuing his dream of living life in the fast lane.

The 28-year-old Kimball was the first driver with diabetes to qualify for, complete and lead laps at the famed Indianapolis 500. In 2012, he achieved six top 10 finishes and received IndyCar’s Tony Renna Rising Star award.

Charlie Kimball, the first driver with diabetes to race at the highest level of IndyCar, visited TMC to spread his message about how he has managed his diabetes while pursuing his dream of living life in the fast lane.

The 28-year-old Kimball was the first driver with diabetes to qualify for, complete and lead laps at the famed Indianapolis 500. In 2012, he achieved six top 10 finishes and received IndyCar’s Tony Renna Rising Star award.

Judy Rich with Indy race car driver Charlie Kimball

Indy race car driver Charlie Kimball

RACE CAR DRIVER

CHARLIE KIMBALL

Kimball, who began racing go karts at age 9, deferred admission to Stanford University’s engineering program to pursue his dream of racing. He was abruptly forced to abandon his racing program mid-season when he was diagnosed with diabetes in 2007 during a routine physician’s visit. At that time, he was not sure how it would affect his racing.

Determined to get back behind the wheel, Kimball worked with his doctor and team to initiate a diabetes treatment plan that included some creative precautionary tools to help him manage his condition while driving. Six months later, he was behind the wheel again claiming a podium finish in his first race back after his diagnosis.

Off the track, Kimball is committed to raising the awareness of people living with diabetes and his visit to TMC is a part of a tour to motivate and inspire people with diabetes – or any other chronic condition – to take control and create as full a life as possible for themselves. His story is important and his message is inspiring.

His appearance was a joint effort by Arizona Connected Care (Southern Arizona’s only accountable care organization), Tucson Medical Center, and his race sponsor, Novo Nordisk.

HE WAS ABRUPTLY FORCED TO

ABANDON HIS RACING PROGRAM MID-SEASON

WHEN HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH

DIABETES IN 2007 DURING A ROUTINE

PHYSICIAN’S VISIT.

Below is a list of some of the organizations receiving financial support from TMCAlzheimer’s AssociationAmerican Cancer SocietyAmerican Diabetes AssociationAmerican Heart AssociationAmerican Red CrossAngel Charity for ChildrenAra Parseghian Medical Research FoundationArizona Oncology FoundationBeat Cancer Boot CampBen’s BellsBig Brothers Big Sisters of TucsonBlair Charity GroupBoys & Girls Clubs of TucsonCaregiver ConsortiumCasa de los NiñosChild & Family ResourcesChildren’s Museum TucsonCity of Tucson Moves a Million MilesCommunity Food Bank of Southern ArizonaCopper Queen Community HospitalCystic Fibrosis FoundationDiaper Bank of Southern ArizonaEducational Enrichment FoundationEl Rio Health Center Foundation

Emerge! Center Against Domestic AbuseGirl Scouts of Southern ArizonaHandi-DogsHandmaker FoundationJewish Family & Children’s Services of Southern AZJunior AchievementJuvenile Diabetes Research FoundationLeukemia & Lymphoma SocietyLiving Streets AllianceMarana Healthcare FoundationMarch of DimesMobile Meals of TucsonMothers Against Drunk DrivingNational Alliance on Mental IllnessNational Fallen Firefighters FoundationNational Ovarian Cancer CoalitionOld Fort Lowell Live-At-Home Program Inc.Old Fort Lowell Neighborhood AssociationPerimeter Bicycling AssociationPima Community College FoundationPima Council on AgingPima County Medical SocietyReid Park Zoological SocietyRonald McDonald House Charities

Southeast Arizona EMS CouncilSouthern Arizona Affiliate of Susan G. KomenSouthern Arizona AIDS FoundationSouthern Arizona Network for Down SyndromeSupporting Academic Trauma FoundationTu NiditoTucson Festival of BooksTucson Jewish Community CenterTucson Hospitals Medical Education ProgramTucson Meet YourselfTucson Metro ChamberTucson Police FoundationTucson Regional Economic OrganizationTucson Stroke Leadership GroupTucson Values TeachersUA College of Social & Behavioral SciencesUA Presents/UA FoundationUnited Way of Tucson & Southern ArizonaWomen’s Foundation of Southern ArizonaYMCA of Southern ArizonaYWCA Tucson

2013 COMMUNITY

AFFAIRS RECIPIENTS

Community Benefit = 12.6% of net revenueTMC will report more than $53 million in community benefit and charity care for 2013, or about 12.6 percent of net revenues. Last year, TMC reported a community benefit of 11.4 percent of net revenues. TMC calculates community benefit using standards endorsed by the American Hospital Association.

WHAT MAKES UP THIS NUMBER? Unpaid Costs: TMC provides services to patients covered by AHCCCS and other public programs for people with low incomes. This is the shortfall created when a facility receives payments that are less than the cost of caring for public-program beneficiaries.

Uncompensated Cost of Care for Charity Care, Bad Debt & Discounts for the Uninsured: Charity care is free or discounted health services provided to people who can demonstrate that they do not have the means to pay the full cost of care and who meet the organization’s financial-assistance policy criteria. Bad debt consists of services for which the hospital anticipated but did not receive payment. Recognizing that self-pay patients who do not have health insurance are not in the same position as insurance companies to negotiate reduced rates, TMC discounts these patients’ bills by half; and, depending on a patient’s income, other discounts may apply as part of TMC’s Community

Care program. For purposes of community benefit reporting, charity care, bad debt and uninsured discounts are reported in terms of costs, not charges. For more information about TMC’s charity care policy, visit www.tmcaz.com.

Outreach & Education: This figure includes community benefit programs and activities that provide treatment or promote health and healing as a response to identified community needs. These programs and activities help improve access to health care services, enhance the health of the community and advance medical knowledge. DISCOUNTS FOR UNINSURED PATIENTS. Self-pay patients who do not have health insurance are not in the same position as insurance companies to negotiate reduced rates. In an effort to address this disparity, TMC reduces a patient’s bill by half if the patient is without any insurance coverage. Depending on a patient’s income, other discounts may apply as part of the TMC Community Care program.

Community Benefit Trends2013 COMMUNITY

BENEFIT47.9%Uncompensated Care(Charity Care & Bad Debt)

$25,634,00043.1%Unpaid Costs

$23,056,000

9.0%Outreach & Education

$4,833,000

Total of$53,523,000

2011 - 9.7%

2012 - 11.4%

2013 - 12.6%

Percent of Net Revenue

$38MILLION

$48MILLION

$53MILLION

Community Benefit Trends (continued)2013 COMMUNITY

BENEFITNUMBER OF LICENSED BEDS IN 2013:

631Mom/Baby: 60

NICU: 42

Pediatric: 44

PICU: 12

Medical-Surgical: 364

ICU: 45

Psychiatric: 48

Inpatient Hospice: 16

2013 EMERGENCY VISITS:

84,920

56,527Adult

28,393Pediatric

TOTAL ADMISSIONS

30,654 Adult, pediatric and psychiatric

Inpatient surgeries: 8,997

Outpatient surgeries: 12,356

Babies delivered: 5,602

Adult

Ped

iatric

Adult

Ped

iatric

Healthy Living Connections

Other Notables – provided space to American Parkinson Disease Association and Eastside Congregate Meals Program.

TMC SENIOR SERVICES YEAR AT A GLANCE

ATTENDEES IN 2013 CLASSES AND EVENTS:

5,348Outreach events & educational classes:

205 Volunteers:

56Volunteer hours:

6,512

PRIMARY REASON FOR CONTACTS OR VISITS:Medicare Counseling:

55Alzheimer’s Disease Information, Support:

1,287Volunteer Care Coach:

235Health Resource Center:

881Seniors Helping Seniors community support (includes phone, in-person visits):

754

SOURCES OF FUNDS/DATA GRANTS AWARDED BY THE TMC FOUNDATION

OTHER 3%

HOSPICE 3%

GENERAL PURPOSE 6%

CHILDRENS 34%

TMC FOR CHILDREN, PEDIATRIC EXPANSION PROJECT 53%

WOMENS 3%

12

34

5

DONOR DESIGNATION OF FUNDS

OTHER 4%

GENERAL PURPOSE 4%

HOSPICE 10%

CHILDREN’S 41%

WOMEN’S 41%CORPORATIONS41%

TMC FOUNDATION GIFT SOURCE

INDIVIDUALS36%

OTHER23%

ON CENTER

Every year at this time I look forward to sharing with you highlights of the past year. It is extremely gratifying to know that each and every one of you are making a difference in the lives of patients and families we care for. In this edition of On Center you will read about the immediate impact of your gifts to TMC.

Your generosity creates opportunities for our patients to heal in so many ways. Whether you help TMC purchase life saving equipment, invest in programs and services that better the health of our community, or create opportunities for our employees to achieve nursing degrees, you touch the future in health care.

Every year at this time I look forward to sharing with you highlights of the past year. It is extremely gratifying to know that each and every one of you are making a difference in the lives of patients and families we care for. In this edition of On Center you will read about the immediate impact of your gifts to TMC.

Your generosity creates opportunities for our patients to heal in so many ways. Whether you help TMC purchase life saving equipment, invest in programs and services that better the health of our community, or create opportunities for our employees to achieve nursing degrees, you touch the future in health care.

Orthopaedics Manager Sandi Triplett welcomes patient Sharon Seekins

FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT

& CHIEF DEVELOPMENT

OFFICER MICHAEL J.

DURAN, J.D.

CHILDREN’S MIRACLE NEWORKD HAD A 10%

INCREASE IN OUR NATIONAL SPONSORS FUND-RAISING EFFORTS. WALMART

RAISED MORE THAN

$100,000!

What is most impressive about your support is that whenever we ask, you are there to support TMC’s charitable mission of improving the health of our community. Whether it’s TMC for Children & Children’s Miracle Network, Peppi’s House, TMC for Women, Cardiac Rehab and so many more causes, you always step up to the plate with support.

Last year was a monumental year with the opening of the Orthopaedic and Surgical Tower. When we ushered our first surgical patient from her third-floor surgical suite the fourth-floor orthopaedic inpatient unit, it was an historic moment that was literally years in the making.

It was also a banner year that saw the launch of the TMC Foundation’s Healing Art Program, which was made possible by generous donations of art from our community. Patients, visitors and staff all will benefit from the improvement in the hospital environment provided by the presence of art and color.

Last year witnessed the introduction of a new and innovative way to support TMC. The TMC Mega Raffle was a great success in its first year. Not only did we provide a boost to Tucson’s economy and make money on the effort, but many of the prize winners shared their personal stories of the care they received at TMC. Not only were the winners excited about

their prizes but they were equally excited to have given back to TMC through the Mega Raffle.

We had a record-breaking fundraising year for Children’s Miracle Network with a 10 percent increase in our national sponsors fundraising efforts. And all of Southern Arizona’s kids benefit from the impressive efforts of the nation’s top fund-raising Walmart -- the store at East Speedway Boulevard and North Kolb Road raised more than $100,000 last year!

Anticipating our 30th anniversary in 2014, I look forward to celebrating another banner year with you.

In many ways, 2013 was a year of building.

We saw the completion of the stunning four-story Orthopaedic and Surgical Tower that has completely transformed TMC’s campus.

Our physician community came together to build quality, with a renewed focus on how to improve the experience for patients when they’re in the hospital, how to safely transition these patients home and how to best keep them from needing readmission.

We established a culture that stresses the importance of education with a vow not to simply hand out safety equipment without also providing the knowledge about how to use it properly, and why it’s so vital.

In many ways, 2013 was a year of building.

We saw the completion of the stunning four-story Orthopaedic and Surgical Tower that has completely transformed TMC’s campus.

Our physician community came together to build quality, with a renewed focus on how to improve the experience for patients when they’re in the hospital, how to safely transition these patients home and how to best keep them from needing readmission.

Firefighters from the Old Pueblo Firefighting Association visit with Eduardo Armenta

FROM THE TMC

FOUNDATION CHAIRWOMAN

ANNE FULTON-CAVETT, J.D.

We established a culture that stresses the importance of education with a vow not to simply hand out safety equipment without also providing the knowledge about how to use it properly, and why it’s so vital.

And we continued to build on our commitment to Southern Arizona by furthering our reach of the people we help each and every day – whether it’s patients, their families or those who provide care.

A specialized team of our cardiac and stroke nurses, for example, routinely heads to rural areas to educate first responders on the most current best practices for pre-hospital care. Our NICU flight team is another example of the extraordinary community-building work that takes place. On-call nurses will board a chopper as soon as they get the call that there is a child in desperate need of medical services, with no time to transport them by ambulance.

We have employees who apply the hospital’s mission to their personal lives. Like the TMC Orthopaedics manager who used her vacation time to escort a group of World War II veterans to the National WWII Memorial as part of Honor Flight. Or the TMC power plant operator who was so profoundly impacted by his positive experience with the Fred G. Acosta Job Corps Center that he sparked a partnership between

Job Corps and TMC that will help underserved young adults gain valuable vocational training.

TMC is fortunate to be on the receiving end of some extraordinary community contributions. Our TMC Foundation is hard at work trying to bring dollars into the hospital to fund services that otherwise our patients may have to go without. Visit TMC for Children on any given day, and you’ll likely see a special group or individual taking their precious time to visit our precious patients and lift their spirits. We continue to be blessed by many generous groups, whether they provide their time, talents or treasure.

Our first-ever Mega Raffle was an exceptionally fun way to build community support for TMC. Hearing the stories about what compelled people to buy tickets, their connection to TMC and of course learning about the lucky winners - was both fascinating and heart-warming.

Stories from the annual Children’s Miracle Network Radiothon for TMC for Children not only warmed our hearts, but also tugged at our heart strings. The Tucson community stepped up in a big way to support one another after hearing personal stories about medical challenges no child should have to experience.

The annual TMC Foundation Gala, which took us back to Old Hollywood, is a dynamic example of how the business community supported the efforts of TMC once again. Their ongoing support makes a difference in the lives of Southern Arizonans who many of us will never meet, but who will undoubtedly have their lives changed for the better. With a spotlight on TMC for Women, we focus on those who make most of the medical decisions for their entire family, yet often are so busy taking care of everyone else, that they inadvertently neglect themselves.

We are constantly working to maintain growth while we continue to deal with the uncertainty of fiscally challenging times. Your steadfast support allows us to continue building – building services in a hospital people know they can count on for exceptional, compassionate care.

Please know how much your support means to us, and how vital it is to the health of the community we live in.

In reading On Center, I think you will agree that 2013 was a community building year, and one we can be proud of.

WE CONTINUED TO BUILD ON OUR COMMITMENT TO SOUTHERN ARIZONA BY FURTHERING OUR REACH

OF THE PEOPLE WE HELP EACH AND EVERY DAY.

Meet the incoming chairwoman, Christine AronoffChristine Aronoff, a senior Vice President and wealth manager at Wells Fargo Bank, has been named chairwoman of the TMC Foundation. Aronoff has been on the TMC Foundation Board since 2009. This certified public accountant has a strong background in accounting, commercial lending, brokerage and management, but her niche is the financial management and coordination of high net-worth family relationships, which makes her a valuable asset to the TMC Foundation Board of Trustees.

“During my time as chairwoman, I hope for successful fundraising as well as continuing to enhance TMC’s already strong reputation in the Southern Arizona community. I am proud to be involved with a hospital that is so invested in the community,” she said.

Michael Duran, vice president & chief development officer with the TMC Foundation, said Aronoff’s enthusiasm and tireless support for TMC will serve her well. “I know I speak for everyone at TMC when I say how excited we are to have her as chair and we look forward to

her leadership,” he said. Anne Fulton-Cavett, who wrapped up her two-year term as chairwoman in 2013, is equally excited about Aronoff’s new role.

“It has been my honor and privilege to serve as chairwoman. The Foundation staff is an incredible team and I already miss not speaking with them weekly, if not daily! I am passionate about the care our superb community hospital provides and fundraising for TMC has been rewarding. I am proud of what we accomplished and I look forward to Christine’s capable leadership as I pass the torch,” she said.

Compassionate support focuses on quality, empower patients with chronic diseaseLiving with a chronic disease is challenging enough. Living well? Some patients say it’s more effort than they can handle. But TMC’s chronic disease coordinators are engaging these patients with conversations and tools that support quality of life and patient choices.

A program called Living Well with Chronic Disease received a grant from the TMC Foundation and is another example of how donated dollars are making a positive impact on the health of our community.

Living with a chronic disease is challenging enough. Living well? Some patients say it’s more effort than they can handle. But TMC’s chronic disease coordinators are engaging these patients with conversations and tools that support quality of life and patient choices.

A program called Living Well with Chronic Disease received a grant from the TMC Foundation and is another example of how donated dollars are making a positive impact on the health of our community.

See page 35 for the RTOC Decisions at end of life story

Transitional Care Manager Louisa Liguori with James Whitney

Transitional Care Coordinator Brenda Carle with Donna Drulard

DONATED DOLLARS MAKE

POSITIVE IMPACT.

HELPING PATIENTS DEAL

WITH CHRONIC

DISEASE

Every day, TMC’s Transitional Care team is identifying high-risk hospitalized patients with chronic diseases who could benefit from the resources this grant provides. Patients may be independent and need guidance about preventing further disease progression; they may be struggling with symptom management; or they may need compassionate discussions about their health care options and end-of-life planning, and could benefit from information about palliative care. The goal is to not only provide the resources for these patients, but empower them with improved support. “We work on making the patient part of the team,” said Brenda Carle, TMC transitional care coordinator. “We want them to know that what they have to say is just as important as what the physician has to prescribe. Instead of telling these patients what not to do, we’re helping them think about the consequences of making good choices.”

Guides including Managing High Cholesterol, How to Eat Healthy, Managing High Blood Pressure and My Plan for an Active Life can benefit anyone battling a chronic disease at any stage. These guides allow for reflection and encouragement after the acute phase of hospitalization.

The TMC Foundation funding is helping support the growth and learning of a caring community to be able to provide diligent symptom management. Additionally, it supports the best quality of life for patients who have a serious, potentially life-limiting illness at any stage of the disease process.

The grant also allowed for training at a valuable End of Life Nursing Education Consortium, and these care coordinators are now sharing their new knowledge with patients, staff and community partners. “This program directly ties our community outreach efforts to post-acute-care providers. It also ties resources to patient empowerment and outcomes,” said Carle.

Those outcomes include some impressive feats. The likelihood the patients in this program will return to the hospital within 30 days of being discharged is decreasing. Patient satisfaction scores related to their transition of care have soared. Patients report they feel their preferences are respected, and they have the resources in place to truly understand the purpose of interventions. As for living well? These patients now have a network of support to assist them with their personal responsibility of making healthy choices for living well with a chronic disease.

New TMC prevention program helps young patients get on the right trackThe 12 month old who wasn’t eating solid foods.

The 18 month old who wasn’t walking and didn’t know how to play with toys.

The 2½ year old who wasn’t talking.

The 3 year old who couldn’t follow directions.

Toddlers and young children like this were filling up TMC Pediatric Outpatient Therapist Brenda Abbey’s schedule. Something with their development wasn’t quite right. Their parents were concerned. These children needed help.

Like she does with all new patients, Abbey started reviewing their medical histories and was stunned when she found a common thread: Many of these kids were either born premature or spent time in the newborn intensive care unit.

“It was happening too often,” she said. “I thought to myself, ‘what is falling apart for this population, and how can we catch these developmental problems sooner rather than later so that these kids don’t need therapy?’ There had to be something better than the ‘wait and see’ approach.”

The Debbault triplets: Victoria, Sophia & Cecelia

Speech/Language Pathologist Brenda Abbey with the Debbault triplets

USING THEIR COMBINED 46 YEARS OF

EXPERIENCE, THEY CREATED THE NICU AFTER CARE PROGRAM

THE NICU AFTER CARE PROGRAM

Abbey started digging. She looked closer at the records of children who spent time in the NICU – at TMC, as well as other hospitals in Southern Arizona. She reached out to her counterparts in occupational and physical therapy - how many children were they currently helping who had also been born premature or were NICU graduates?

The connection she found – was alarming.

Abbey, along with TMC Developmental Nurse Specialist Julie Seidl, knew what had to be done. Using their combined 46 years of experience, they created the NICU After Care Program. The pair works together to identify babies who are about to be discharged from the NICU and who qualify for the program. These included babies who are having a hard time feeding or had been drug exposed, as well as babies born before 35 weeks gestation. “Research shows that babies born before 35 weeks gestation are at a higher risk for having language and cognition delays later in life,” Abbey explained.

“Our program is essentially developmental follow-up,” said Seidl. “It’s not a new concept, but historically it’s been an expensive model.” Seidl cited a similar program that lost state funding a number of years ago.

“This tracking is so important, and we didn’t want any family to shy away from receiving this help because they couldn’t afford it. We knew

that if we could offer this program to families free of charge, it would help improve the outcomes for these children,” explained Abbey. The two turned to the TMC Foundation and Children’s Miracle Network for support.

“When Brenda and Julie approached the TMC Foundation about funding this program, their research painted a picture of a serious need for this population. We believe this will be a pivotal program for the development of these children,” said Erika Grasse, TMC Children’s Miracle Network Director. “We applaud the efforts of these therapists, and all TMC staff who are able to identify problems or trends when it comes to our patients, and then offer a solution. We felt compelled to do what we could to help these therapists, in turn, help these children and their families. It’s the right thing to do, and we couldn’t have funded the NICU After Care program without CMN dollars.”The voluntary program requires the baby to return to TMC about two weeks after discharge. Abbey and Seidl will examine the infant’s feeding and do a developmental screening. Behaviors and tendencies that may seem like “no big deal” to mom and dad can signal red flags for the child’s speech, hearing or gross motor development.

“We are able to identify problems in children this young. If the child prefers to move their head to one side, for example, we’re able to diagnose torticollis, a stiff neck that results from a child having a side preference. We’re also able to tell if a baby’s head is becoming misshapen. If we are able to catch these things early and educate the parents, we may be able to get that child on a preventative track as opposed to waiting until they’re a toddler when the problem becomes much more prevalent, and the therapy track is much more complicated,” explained Seidl.

Parents are asked to bring the child back at 4-6 months of age, at the first birthday, at 18 months and finally – around the second birthday. Four to six months of age is a big transitional time for a child’s feeding, motor and developmental skills. “At that age, I can’t tell if a child is going to have a speech and language delay later in life – but research tells me they are at higher risk. So I want to see them,” said Abbey.

The 2-year mark is also an important milestone because, as Abbey explains, premature babies should have caught up with their age-matched peers by age 2. That’s when “the playing field is leveled.”

At each visit, the NICU After Care team emphasizes education. They teach these families what to look for and help them learn what certain

behaviors mean. They’ll tell them what to expect in the coming weeks and what to do if they don’t see their child doing certain things.

The two started tracking the first babies as part of this program in November 2012. Already, they’ve seen their work – and their push for prevention – pay off. “We’ve had families who need to bring their babies in once a month because of the education they’ve received rather than having to bring their child in for therapy once or even twice a week when the child is older,” said Abbey.

In November 2014, the first babies turn 2 and the team will have hard data on how this program is making a difference. Until then, the NICU After Care Team will continue to advocate for these children, and serve as a lifeline for their parents.

ONE STOP SHOPTMC’s Pediatric Outpatient Therapy, which receives support from CMN dollars, is the only place in Southern Arizona that offers a “one stop shop” for audiology, speech, physical, and occupational therapy with a pediatric focus. In 2013, TMC’s pediatric outpatient therapists performed 2,000 therapy evaluations, and had 17,400 therapy visits.

Friends of Cardiac Rehab address the heart of the matter with scholarship programWhen Tucson resident Peg Doherty suffered a heart attack in the fall of 2012, it may have been a blessing in disguise. She was stunned to learn that one of her arteries was 90 percent blocked. She recovered, but was soon faced with an equally frightening thought: her doctor said she needed to start cardiac rehabilitation. It’s a supervised exercise program that helps cardiac patients strengthen their heart muscle in a safe environment. “I was terrified to go to cardiac rehab because I thought any kind of exercise may trigger another heart attack,” she said.

When Tucson resident Peg Doherty suffered a heart attack in the fall of 2012, it may have been a blessing in disguise. She was stunned to learn that one of her arteries was 90 percent blocked. She recovered, but was soon faced with an equally frightening thought: her doctor said she needed to start cardiac rehabilitation. It’s a supervised exercise program that helps cardiac patients strengthen their heart muscle in a safe environment. “I was terrified to go to cardiac rehab because I thought any kind of exercise may trigger another heart attack,” she said.

The Cardiac Rehab volunteers at the bowling event: Anthony Mastrangelo & Dominic Dominice

Peg Doherty

CARDIAC REHAB

But that was just one part of her hesitation. The other part was the price. Each visit costs upwards of $200 for cash-paying patients. It’s covered under most of the big insurance companies, but oftentimes patients are still required to fork over a hefty co-payment. That was the case for Doherty. Under her insurance plan, she had to come up with $45 for each visit. Most patients need 36 visits. Do the math, and that’s more than $1,600 she would have to come up with in order to complete the program. At 83 years old and on a fixed income, it just wasn’t feasible.

Luckily for Doherty, there is a scholarship program in place that she qualified for to help lessen the blow. The idea of offering financial assistance to patients in need started a few years ago with Friends of Cardiac Rehab, or FOCR, a team of former cardiac rehab patients who are described as a “small group, with big hearts.”

They believe in the program whole-heartedly and work to raise awareness about its benefits. The group worked with the TMC Foundation to establish the scholarship program for patients who don’t have insurance, those who have high co-pays, or anyone who needs this life-saving therapy and simply can’t afford it.

“The cost of the program is often a patient’s biggest concern. When they hear about the scholarship program, they’re elated. They feel the

support and generosity of TMC immediately because we tell them, ‘we can help you financially,’” said Mark Gaxiola, TMC Outpatient Cardiac Rehab supervisor. “This scholarship fund helps these patients receive the assistance and direction in improving the functionality of their hearts while building their endurance and providing that social network piece that helps improve their overall emotional state.”

FOCR organizes various fundraisers throughout the year, including a bowling tournament which helped bring in $2,000. A generous contribution of $7,500 was also made to the fund by the TMC Auxiliary. Since the scholarship program started, FOCR has donated $12,500 to the TMC Foundation, which in turn, has awarded scholarships to patients like Doherty.

On average, about two dozen patients who receive financial assistance come through the program each year. “There are not many outpatient cardiac rehab programs that have a scholarship fund in place like we do,” said Gaxiola. “It’s a unique program offered through FOCR. Many people who need cardiac rehab don’t enroll because they look at their budgets. It’s a financial decision, not a health decision. FOCR eliminates that from the equation and gives these patients the choice to improve their quality of life through outpatient cardiac rehab. Our goal is to keep these patients out of the hospital.”

ON AVERAGE, ABOUT TWO

DOZEN PATIENTS WHO RECEIVE FINANCIAL

ASSISTANCE COME THROUGH THE PROGRAM EACH YEAR

With the help of this scholarship fund, and assistance she received from her children, Doherty signed up for the program. The burden of how to pay for the program was lifted, but she was still resistant. What if starting an exercise program caused another heart attack? She says that issue was cleared up within the first couple of minutes in her initial visit. “They showed me the equipment. I met all of the health professionals who were there to help me. The nurses are extraordinary, and since there is a doctor there, I feel safe exercising,” she said.

Doherty has graduated to phase three, a maintenance plan in which patients can come in as much as five times a week for $55 a month. She’s committed, and says she’ll never stop going to TMC’s cardiac rehab. “It has definitely changed my life. I have such a better outlook on life now. Before I started cardiac rehab, I was happy just staying at home. Cardiac rehab has pumped new life into me. I feel absolutely wonderful, and my entire life has turned around. I am so grateful for the assistance of the scholarship program.”

On Center Auxiliary story about Ginny Robbins Robbins is one of 500 active volunteers who graciously give their time to TMC on a regular basis. An incredible force that, she said, is a testament to the good work TMC does for the community day in and day out. While helping others by giving their time is one of the main roles of the TMC Auxiliary, another responsibility is fundraising for • TMC’s community programs.• Total Volunteer Hours: 79,000• Full-time Equivalent Positions: 41.1• Average number of volunteers working each day: 78• Total Contributions: $184,900• Joel. M. Childers, M.D. Women’s Center Capital Campaign Pledge Payment: $50,000• First installment of a five-year building pledge.• Breast Screening: $50,000• Hospital-based program that provides life-saving mammograms to underserved women.

• Gift Shop Improvements: $22,000• Shared cost between TMC and the Auxiliary for a much-needed renovation to the main Gift Shop.• Employee purchases represent 85 percent of the shop’s total sales.• Cardiac Rehab: $7,500• For the Friends of Cardiac Rehab scholarship program that allows cardiac patients to receive the rehabilitation they otherwise would not be able to afford.• Hospice: $5,000<• Supports families’ needs including hotel rooms, rental cars, food and general assistance.• TMC Foundation Events: $4,000• Annual Gala tables and Rock ‘N Rodeo.• Auxiliary Programs: $45,900• Associated costs for Auxiliary-run programs.

Stroke survivor gains mobility, gives back to CMN using unlikely therapy toolMaria Hinton was just 42 when it happened.

“I was in a store, walking over to meet my friend when suddenly everything looked hazy. I couldn’t hear anything. I couldn’t say anything,” she recalled.

Maria collapsed.

Fortunately a stranger close by was able to catch her.

Maria had suffered a stroke.

“The left side of her body was affected,” explained Maria’s husband, Kevin. “Doctors didn’t expect her to have much mobility afterwards or be able to speak again.”

But Maria surprised everyone.

Over the next year, she learned how to talk again with the help of a dedicated speech therapist. Unfortunately, the stroke wiped out all of her basic knowledge. Things like simple math and English – were foreign to her. “All of the things most people take for granted, she had to re-learn,” said Kevin. While Maria made remarkable strides with speech therapy, her physical rehabilitation didn’t produce the same results.

Kevin & Maria Hinton

UNLIKELY STROKE

THERAPY “I’m still alive, and I do have a heart, and I refuse to just sit here in this wheelchair and feel sorry for myself.”Maria Hinton

“I felt like I had to do something to try and help myself,” said Maria. “I couldn’t just sit there in my wheelchair and give up on myself. I know God is always with me, and I had to do something to try to get my mobility where I wanted to be.”

That ‘something’ popped in her head one day when she saw people winning plush toys out of a claw machine at Sam’s Club. The machines are commonly found in video arcades, supermarkets, shopping malls and the like. The player inserts a couple of coins into the machine and manipulates a joystick that controls the claw before it descends down and makes an attempt to grip a toy.

“I told her, ‘that would be good therapy for you,’” said Kevin. “Let’s try it. It’ll be good for your coordination and who knows – someday, you might just win something.”

Maria discovered that the machine helped her right away. “I couldn’t stand very well, but by holding on to the joystick, I was able to stand,” she said.

At first, she would burn through about $200 in quarters every month – money well spent since it was great therapy for her. She eventually got the knack of the machine, and it wasn’t long before she started winning toys.

Lots of them.

She kept playing and kept winning. She developed quite the collection – and kept adding to it. “People started asking me, ‘what are you going to do with all those toys?,’” she said. At first, she would take them around the store and give them to children – just to brighten their day. She gave a bunch to local firefighters so that they could help comfort children during tragedies. But even still - she had more plush toys than she knew what to do with.

She was in Sam’s Club again when another idea came to her.

The store was fundraising for TMC for Children, Children’s Miracle Network. Perhaps she could sell these toys and donate the proceeds to CMN? After all, she and Kevin were familiar with the good work CMN does – they had donated to the organization before. The store’s associates set up a table for her, and Maria started selling while becoming an advocate for Southern Arizona’s children.

When sales started to slow down, they switched tactics. Instead of selling these toys, what if they simply asked for donations, and then – no matter the amount – handed over a plush toy? It made perfect sense. “If someone makes a donation, I give them a toy as a token of appreciation,” explained Maria. “I like to surprise them and say, ‘would you like to take a toy home?’ They always get a kick out of it. I tell them it’s a thank you gift,” she laughed.

While she hasn’t kept track of how many animals she’s won or handed out, or exactly how much money she’s donated to CMN, she says in the 10 years she’s been doing this, it’s well into the thousands.

But she can’t put a price on how much those claw machines have helped her mobility.

“She’s surprised me quite a bit,” said Kevin. “After her stroke, doctors didn’t expect her to be able to move her left arm or left hand at all. She is now using her right hand to help her left hand function.”

The couple –married for 27 years – is outside Sam’s Club every weekend when the store is fundraising for charity. It’s for Southern Arizona’s children. It’s their chance to give back. And it’s an opportunity to meet others. “People always ask me why I do this, and my answer is always the same,” said Maria. “This is the body the Lord gave me. There are people who are worse off than me and I’m here to support them.”

Maybe she’ll inspire someone to look at their life a little differently – maybe they’ll act a little more selfless.

“Just because something bad happened to you, you can’t give up. You can make something of yourself. I can’t use half of my body, but I can do something that will help somebody else and try to make them feel good,” she said.

A Letter From Maria

Children’s Miracle Network and 94.9 MIXFMTMC for Children, Children’s Miracle Network was proud to partner again with 94.9 MIXfm for the annual Mix Miracles CMN Radiothon. Bobby Rich, Mrs. Grant and Greg Curtis powered on for two solid days, broadcasting live from the lobby of the Pediatric Emergency Department to help raise $263,709 for local children. Every penny stays here in our community, providing life-saving equipment and therapy to children who depend on it.

Life, love and longevity: why a standout volunteer continues to value serviceWhen Ginny Robbins signed on to volunteer at TMC in the Ambulatory Surgery department back in 1993, she made a commitment to the hospital that she had long considered home. “To me, it was a job,” she said with a smile. It was two years into her retirement from Tucson Unified School District, and she was looking for something to fill her days. “I love everything about this hospital,” she said. “I love how people are treated. I love what TMC does for the community, and I completely agree with its values.”

When Ginny Robbins signed on to volunteer at TMC in the Ambulatory Surgery department back in 1993, she made a commitment to the hospital that she had long considered home. “To me, it was a job,” she said with a smile. It was two years into her retirement from TUSD, and she was looking for something to fill her days. “I love everything about this hospital,” she said. “I love how people are treated. I love what TMC does for the community, and I completely agree with its values.”

For Robbins, TMC is full of good memories – the births of her son and granddaughter – and also some painful ones – like the weeks she spent with her husband, Jim, as he battled illnesses and underwent serious operations until his death in 1998.

TMC volunteer Ginny Robbins

TMC volunteers

VOLUNTEER STANDOUT

“A few months after he passed away, I was invited by Kate in the Volunteer Office to attend a volunteer luncheon, and I was seated with those who work in the surgery lobby. They were encouraging me to come join them. At first, I told them I absolutely could not do it. I had spent way too much time in that lobby worrying about Jim. I had bad memories there, and it just hit too close to home. But I found the strength, and I did it.” Volunteering allowed her to channel that heartbreak into help for others who were in a similar situation.

Robbins realizes now that the move was as good for her as she was for others. “I knew exactly how these people were feeling, and so I knew how to help them,” she said. The experience was rewarding – and as she describes it, a godsend after her husband passed away. She was there for about seven years, did another seven-year stint at the Northeast entrance, and also spent time volunteering at Hospice.

Who knew, though, that the spot that would make her most happy would be the Concierge desk of TMC’s new Orthopaedic and Surgical Tower, where she co-chairs the desk and volunteers two mornings a week.

“The people are fantastic, every day is different, and I am constantly learning new things,” she said. Does she have to deal with people who are upset? Absolutely. But the years she spent handling teacher and

employee grievances for TUSD serves her well in this role. “It may be somebody’s bad day. But the most important thing to me in that moment is making sure they leave TMC happy. I express empathy for what these people are going through, and I feel for them. I do my best to solve their problems, and when I’m able to, their thanks is what makes it all worthwhile. I do everything I can to make sure their hospital experience was good,” she said.

Caring for others is a fundamental part of who Robbins is. Over the course of more than 25 years, including time she was still working, she was a caregiver for her mother and father, husband, aunt, and a family friend.

During the more than two decades Robbins has been with the TMC Auxiliary, she’s served on the Auxiliary Executive Committee in most positions and was president in 2003. She also spent many years helping organize the annual LoveLight ceremony, a tree-lighting event that marks the approach of the holiday season each year at TMC and benefits TMC Hospice.

Robbins has established a number of life-long friendships over the years through the Auxiliary and says every time she puts on her teal smock, she thinks to herself, “Today is going to be a good day because I’m going to help somebody.”

With a firm belief that “longevity is more important than your hours,” Robbins has no plans to quit serving. She insists that what she takes home from each shift trumps what she gives. “I love the feeling of giving back,” she said. “I truly enjoy helping others and knowing that I have done something good for somebody.”

“I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS HOSPITAL,” SHE SAID.

“I LOVE HOW PEOPLE ARE TREATED. I LOVE WHAT

TMC DOES FOR THE COMMUNITY,

AND I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH ITS VALUES.”

TMC Volunteer Services: By The NumbersRobbins is one of 500 active volunteers who graciously give their time to TMC on a regular basis. An incredible force that, she said, is a testament to the good work TMC does for the community day in and day out. While helping others by giving their time is one of the main roles of the TMC Auxiliary, another responsibility is fundraising for • TMC’s community programs.• Total Volunteer Hours: 79,000• Full-time Equivalent Positions: 41.1• Average number of volunteers working each day: 78• Total Contributions: $184,900• Joel. M. Childers, M.D. Women’s Center Capital Campaign Pledge Payment: $50,000• First installment of a five-year building pledge.• Breast Screening: $50,000• Hospital-based program that provides life-saving mammograms to underserved women.• Gift Shop Improvements: $22,000

• Shared cost between TMC and the Auxiliary for a much-needed renovation to the main Gift Shop.• Employee purchases represent 85 percent of the shop’s total sales.• Cardiac Rehab: $7,500• For the Friends of Cardiac Rehab scholarship program that allows cardiac patients to receive the rehabilitation they otherwise would not be able to afford.• Hospice: $5,000<• Supports families’ needs including hotel rooms, rental cars, food and general assistance.• TMC Foundation Events: $4,000• Annual Gala tables and Rock ‘N Rodeo.• Auxiliary Programs: $45,900• Associated costs for Auxiliary-run programs.

Connecting art, healing, public healthIt’s been shown to reduce stress and anxiety. Lower blood pressure. Reduce the need for pain medication. Increase a patient’s trust and confidence. And be a positive distraction for patients and visitors in what can be an intimidating setting.

Art is powerful. And in a hospital setting, so are its therapeutic effects.

The TMC Foundation believes in the healing power of art and strives to create spaces that will comfort and enhance the surroundings for TMC patients and their families. With a vision of accomplishing this with paintings, graphics and sculpture, the TMC Healing Art program was launched. Artwork has been acquired through donations and bequests of both individual and multiple works from Tucson area art collectors.

Len and Doris Coris have donated three portfolios of original graphics and have committed to give the rest of their art collection to the program. “There is substantial evidence that the presence of art and color in a hospital has a positive effect on patients, visitors and staff.

Jo Ann & Tom Loomis

“WE WHOLEHEARTEDLY TRUST THEIR JUDGMENT, AS THIS GROUP PROVIDES

IMMENSE VALUE

TO THIS PROGRAM,” SAID MICHAEL DURAN.

HEALING FROM

THE ART

For this reason, we are very pleased to have pledged our personal art collection to the TMC Healing Art Program and hope that this will inspire other collectors to consider a similar donation,” they said. “Our work with the TMC Foundation, the Art Committee and the new consulting curator has provided a solid foundation for the Healing Art Program, the effects of which will be felt for generations to come.”

The program will take many years to fully develop, but patients, visitors and staff are already seeing – and feeling - the benefits provided by the presence of art and splashes of color in the hospital environment. “Our ultimate goal is to populate the miles of walls, the numerous courtyards and the many public areas at TMC with appropriate paintings, photographs, graphics and sculptures,” said Michael Duran, vice president and chief development officer, TMC Foundation. “Initial funding helped start and publicize the program as well as pay for the transportation and framing of donated artworks. A highly qualified consultant also serves as program coordinator and promoter. The TMC Foundation provided $25,000 in matching funds, but we are always seeking charitable contributions to allow our volunteers to continue providing depth to this program.”

A group of dedicated community volunteers select art appropriate for a hospital setting and determine its best placement. Jerry Freund is a Western art collector who works at the Medicine Man Gallery in Tucson, which specializes in Native American Art. Lauren Raab is a former gallery owner and former curator of art at the University of Arizona Museum of Art. Kay Ransdell worked for the prestigious Massachusetts College of Art and most recently consulted for various professional art colleges. Sandy Maxfield is a former board member for the Tucson Museum of Art and is a current board member for the Amerind Museum.

“The diverse expertise provided by this group adds to the integrity and longevity of this program,” said Duran. “We are so privileged to have not only have their prowess, but also their time. We wholeheartedly trust their judgment, as this group provides immense value to this program,” said Duran.

These gifts will provide comfort to patients and their visitors for decades to come – with the hope is that others will be inspired to donate or bequeath part of their fine art collections to TMC’s Healing Art Program.

For more information about getting involved with TMC’s Healing Art program please call Michael Duran at (520) 324-2501.

Photographer Donates Works To Say ‘Thanks’ For Great CareResearch suggests artistic nature scenes, specifically, in a hospital

setting play a key role in creating a healing environment that can improve patient outcomes.

Award-winning photographer Tom Loomis didn’t exactly have that in mind when he donated a handful of nature photographs to Tucson Orthopaedic Institute. Instead, it was his way to thank Dr. Larry Housman – an orthopaedic surgeon he had gotten to know well over the course of 15 years. Loomis and his wife, Jo Anne, both had their left and right hip joints replaced by him. “We were so pleased with Dr. Housman’s work that Tom just brought a print in to say ‘thank you.’ Then it was another one, and another one, and another one,” laughed Jo Anne.

“I put the photographs up in the exam areas, and I got tons of compliments about them,” said Dr. Housman. “Patients and their families describe them as ‘remarkable,’ and would often comment that they look like paintings.”

In May 2013, when Tucson Orthopaedic Institute relocated to the TMC Orthopaedic and Surgical Tower, Loomis decided to contribute even more pictures to the fourth floor, the inpatient orthopaedic unit. “It really adds to the ambience that makes the fourth floor feel less like a hospital and more like a healing environment,” said Dr. Housman. “It’s a nice reflection of a good patient experience. The nurses and other doctors enjoy it as well.”

“TMC is an exceptional hospital, and the people who work here are fantastic. Dr. Housman has done nothing but excellent work for us,” said Loomis.

Loomis ran the Flagstaff Lumber Co. for 25 years, and then owned Tom’s Hardware for the next 10 years where he became known as “Mr. Hardware.” He was 48 years old when he bought his first camera and enrolled in a photography class at Northern Arizona University. He was awarded Arizona Professional Photography’s Apple Award in 2010. His work can also be found in offices and exam rooms at medical clinics, dentists and ophthalmologists around Arizona. “It means a lot to me that I’ve done some work that people will see for a long time. When we are no longer here, there will be others who appreciate my work, and that’s why I do it. I want people to be able to enjoy some places that they may never get to experience.”

Tucson couple enriches the lives of TMC employees in loved one’s memory For years now, friends and family of Tommilee Phillips and her husband Dick Keiler have known that a gift to a local food bank trumps a food basket at Christmastime. Or on birthdays. Or anniversaries. “We realized long ago that we got more genuine pleasure out of a donation in our name than anything else we could think of,” said Keiler. And over time, the idea has multiplied. “Now we have more than a dozen family members and friends who are doing the same thing. And they are being rewarded with the same gratification,” he added.

It has been in that spirit that the couple has spent a good part of their retirement working with individuals and organizations in need. They spend their time raising money or establishing programs, adopting families or helping schools. So when Phillips’ beloved sister Frances Bond died in August 2013, the couple naturally began to think of ways to cherish her memory by giving back. Then an idea struck them. “My sister – we always called her ‘Tootie’ – was such a special human being,” said Phillips. “She had a great sense of humor, and spent her entire life taking care of others as a wife and mother to four children, as a nurse and as a friend. So we thought, ‘why not start a fund that fosters care giving?”

Tommilee Phillips & Dick Keiler

Frances Bond

“WHY NOT START A

FUND THAT FOSTERS

CARE GIVING?”

PAYING IT FORWARD

It wasn’t long before a meeting with Michael Duran, vice president and chief development officer, TMC Foundation, led to the formation of a memorial scholarship fund to support the work of TMC-U. TMC-U is a health-professional education program that offers TMC employees access to academic programs to prepare them to enter the nursing field and other aspects of health care. As part of the program, TMC pays for most of the cost of tuition and books for eligible employees who commit to work for the organization after successfully completing all requirements.

“Over the 13 years we’ve been in Tucson, we have come to really like and admire TMC,” Keiler said. “So when we discovered that they had a professional education program offering employees of the hospital access to academic programs to prepare them for a nursing career, we realized we had found a natural fit. Helping someone in Food Service or Transportation, for example, fulfill his or her dream of becoming a nurse would be the perfect way to remember Tootie since nursing was such a passion for her.”

Phillips agrees. “This is such a perfect way to honor my sister. We are so impressed with what this program does. It gives both of us great comfort to know that she will be remembered in this enduring way. I believe she is up in heaven now smiling. And very, very proud.”

“Tommilee and Dick are an example of two people who not only believe in providing for others, but make it happen,” said Duran. “By establishing this fund, they will assist TMC employees who dream of earning their nursing degree, and improving their lives while making a commitment to care for others. I admire and applaud how this couple prefers charitable donations rather than exchanging gifts and hope it’s a concept more Tucsonans will adopt. On behalf of the TMC-U students who will benefit from this generosity, thank you.”

Phillips and Keiler hope one day to meet someone whose life was affected by the fund. Someone who was able to create a better life through hard work and dedication and a boost from financial aid. And they would like to think that others will consider honoring loved ones in this way. Meantime, they will continue to reap the joy of giving while looking back on lives well lived.

The TMC Foundation Partnership With Blue Cross And Blue ShieldThe TMC Foundation is fortunate to have a strong partnership with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Arizona. Through the efforts of Maribel Barrios, the TMC Foundation has received generous support for Women’s Health and Wellness. BCBSAZ sponsored the annual Gala and various women’s programs, and they and co-sponsored Vivir la Vida. The free bilingual women’s health event features physician presentations, a healthy lunch, cooking demonstration and health screenings for bone density, pulmonary function, blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol. More than 230 women received this valuable health information. BCBSAZ has dedicated efforts in the Hispanic community for many years and this is one example of its commitment to the Latina community. The TMC Foundation is very lucky to work with businesses like BCBSAZ and look forward to a partnership that continues to flourish for years to come. Thank you, BCBSAZ!

TMC and Handmaker fill a void in dementia care for compromised elderly in TucsonFor more than 40 years, Tucson Medical Center and Handmaker Jewish Services for the Aging have had a strong relationship rooted in cooperation and respect with the ability to pinpoint and address critical needs in the community. One of these issues involved the growing problem of the geriatric-psychiatric, or gero-psych, community in the Tucson area. There are limited services available that offer an appropriate level of care for this very specific patient population.

A combination of professionals, volunteers and donors created a unique and compassionate approach to caring for these people, who oftentimes suffer from dementia. “Having TMC and Handmaker team up for this concept makes great sense,” said Don Shropshire, TMC president emeritus. “This will meet a need that exists and is not currently being adequately met.”

Learn more about the Paul & Lydia Kalmanovitz Elder Care Center by visiting the link below

www.handmakerfoundation.org/

HANDMAKER RAISED AN ADDITIONAL

$1.5 MILLION

WITH THE HELP OF THE TUCSON COMMUNITY

DEMENTIA CARE

The Paul & Lydia Kalmanovitz Elder Care Center is being constructed on the Handmaker campus, with an anticipated completion date of late 2014. It’s a free-standing 36-bed dementia, Alzheimer’s and gero-psych facility that will be the first of its kind for Southern Arizona. The state-of-the-art facility is funded completely with philanthropic money. TMC received a $3 million grant from the Paul and Lydia Kalmanovitz Foundation of San Francisco to build a facility that would provide exceptional and unique dementia care to elders in need. Handmaker raised an additional $1.5 million with the help of the Tucson community.

“This facility will be for the advanced elderly, possibly suffering from some sort of dementia, including Alzheimer’s, and most likely already in an assisted-living or skilled-nursing facility,” explained Art Martin, Handmaker CEO. The influx of this patient population is expected to grow. By the year 2050, an estimated 16 million older adults will suffer from dementia, costing our health care system more than $172 billion annually. More importantly though, the families of these patients are immensely impacted. Handmaker provides some comfort and certainty about the road that lies ahead for these patients in the Tucson community, their families and caregivers.

The first floor of the center will be run by Handmaker and will consist of a 20-bed unit focused on intensive dementia and Alzheimer’s care. The unique residential setting will provide long-term care to this very specific patient population. TMC will operate the second floor, a 16-bed unit dedicated to gero-psych care. It will provide acute psychiatric care to patients who require a short-term stay. Martin describes the type of patient who may receive acute care in the new facility: “A urinary tract infection, for example, to a compromised 85-year-old could make a perfectly lucid, calm person seem like someone who is violent and delusional.” He used a Bell scale to illustrate the cycle of life and how oftentimes treatment of the elderly is not dissimilar to pediatric patients as organ systems are more fragile at either end of the Bell curve. “Everyone understands how quickly simple things can affect an infant. At the other end of that curve, the advanced and compromised elderly are the same way. Something simple that you and I would shrug off can send them over the edge to where suddenly they are not the same person.”

Another trigger could be a mix of medications that cause more problems than they solve. Assisted-living homes may not be equipped to appropriately deal with these patients when they experience a change in their mental activity and have a behavioral outburst. The acute-care part of the new facility will stabilize these patients, and get them back to where they are currently living. “These patients’ families take great comfort from knowing that our goal is to get their loved one stabilized so that they can return to the environment where they are happiest,” said Martin. The long-term care portion of the facility will have a different focus. It will give comprehensive and dignified elder care to patients in a safe setting that becomes familiar to them. It’s better for these patients, Martin said, than being sent to multiple care homes, and even hospital emergency rooms. “It’s very sad, as the worst thing you can do to an elderly dementia patient is ship them from location to location. That’s what is currently happening in Tucson because there are few options for these patients. This new facility will provide a welcoming place for these patients which, in turn, will give their families peace of mind knowing that their loved one is getting proper care rather than falling through the cracks of the system,” he said.

Shropshire added that having this new elder care center could help reduce hospital readmission rates. He knows that helping the compromised elderly requires immense sensitivity - and that it’s more than just the patients who deserve our care. “We also must help the family. They are dealing with the emotions of seeing their loved one deteriorate. At TMC, we know the importance of caring for the entire family, and it’s something that we will continue to do at this new facility.”

“We’ll do it later”Hope and Alan Green knew they had to update their wills, but they never carved out the time to actually sit down and do it. “We had an old, bad habit of saying ‘this is the year we’ll do it,’” said Hope. A habit that was about 20 years overdue in a 31-year marriage.

The retired mail carriers moved to Tucson from Miami in 2008. Blessed with good health, their need for a hospital was not immediately important to them. They saw an ad in the newspaper about a class being offered at TMC Senior Services about elder law and financial preparedness. They attended and soaked up good information. Perhaps most importantly, they left inspired to actually take care of business.

The pair attended another class that was offered through the TMC Foundation Planned Giving Council. “The lecture was full of laughter and the presentation was directed right at us - all the reasons that we needed to take care of this monumental business NOW. We didn’t realize how important it was because of changing our residency to a new state,” said Alan. “What do you do when you move across the country and lose your support network?” asked Hope. “Who helps you through this maze of trusts, wills, and financial and medical powers of attorney?”

Hope & Alan Green

ERICKSON LEGACY SOCIETY

SPOTLIGHT ON HOPE AND

ALAN GREEN

The TMC Foundation staff assisted the Greens by guiding them through difficult conversations. “We were able to get all of our questions answered and were able to set up our estate to the best of our ability. Now we can truly relax and enjoy our future, and each other,” said Hope. “As part of the process, we visited TMC and learned all about its rich history and vital role in the Southern Arizona community. We appreciate the spirit of this wonderful and dedicated group of people who have an awesome track record of helping our community in so many different ways while having great foresight for the future. Out of all the different hospitals in the Tucson area, TMC showed us which one we want to be ‘our hospital of choice.’ Our bequest follows our hearts – to give back so that TMC can continue giving to the community,” they said.

The Greens said the process helped enhance their mental health by providing them with the peace of mind that this work is finally done. They’ve discussed the process with close friends – which has prompted them to tackle this important planning sooner rather than later.

“We appreciate working with the TMC Foundation and are excited to have the opportunity to pay our good fortune forward. What a gift TMC gave

us, and how incredible that it keeps spreading and enhancing the lives of Tucsonans and beyond,” they said.

To learn more about the TMC Foundation’s Planned Giving Council, please contact Julie Wolfe-Beadle at (520) 324-3411.

“NOW WE CAN TRULY RELAX

AND ENJOY

OUR FUTURE,

AND EACH OTHER,” SAID HOPE

Former TMC patient wins big after devastating diagnosis For Tucson resident Renee Sowards, 2013 was bittersweet. In January, she was diagnosed with a tumor in her spine. Just three months later, her life took a 180-degree turn. Today, she’s healthy – and driving around in a brand new Audi coupe– all because of the care she received at TMC and a decision to buy tickets for TMC’s first-ever Mega Raffle.

Shortly after her diagnosis, Sowards began researching which neurosurgeon she would literally trust her life with. She decided to go with Dr. Abhay Sanan from the Center for Neurosciences. She called his office to get the new patient process started, and hadn’t even made an appointment yet when she received a phone call that confirmed she had made the right choice. “My phone rang at 8 o’clock on a Sunday night. It was Dr. Sanan. He said ‘I need to see you right away.’ I told him I had jury duty the next day. He paused and said, ‘So I take it you’re still ambulatory?’ I knew right then that my situation was very serious,” she said. “Because of where the tumor was located, I stood a great chance of losing my legs.”

Renee Sowards

“A REAL RAFFLE

FOR REAL PEOPLE!”

I DON’T CARE WHICH PRIZE I WON, I WAS JUST

DELIGHTED TO BE A

WINNER!

Two weeks later, Sowards was in the operating room. Her surgery was a success. When she learned she would spend the next five days at TMC recovering, Sowards had a unique request for hospital staff. “I asked if Keigo, our 140-pound well-behaved Akita could stay with me in my room.” To her surprise, the answer was yes. “It was so comfortable to be able to sit in my chair and just rub my toes on him as he lay at my feet. Having him there really helped me heal,” she said. “My husband had a hard time leaving my side when I was going through this. Knowing that I was receiving the best care and had Keigo with me gave him the peace of mind he needed to go home at night.”

Sowards recovered and eventually headed back to work where a TMC Mega Raffle brochure arrived in the mail. “I flipped through the pages and thought, ‘what a great way for TMC to raise money.’” And then she saw a testimonial from one of Dr. Sanan’s other patients. “When I saw that, I thought to myself – I had such excellent care at TMC and Dr. Sanan was so wonderful, I’m going to buy three tickets as a way to pay it forward.” Sowards was 12 years old the last time she won anything – four tickets to the Beatles’ first U.S. tour. Needless to say, she never thought she’d actually win. “I really just thought I was making a contribution to the hospital that gave me such great care.”

And then… she got the call.

Kathy Rice from the Mega Raffle told Sowards she was an Early Bird winner and won one of three great prizes – but… she’d have to come down to the car dealership the next day to learn which fabulous prize it was. “I pulled out my brochure and looked at the Early Bird prizes and was so excited! I didn’t sleep at all that night. I just kept thinking, ‘either I’m going to travel somewhere or I’m going to get a brand new car.’ Truthfully, I didn’t care which prize I won. I was just delighted to be a winner!”

When she arrived at the dealership, Sowards learned $14,000 cash plus the 2013 Audi A5 Premium Plus Coupe Quattro Tiptronic was hers! It was quite the change for the self-described “soccer mom” who has driven a minivan for the past 25 years to haul kids around town, or a pick-up truck to take the dog places. “I still can’t believe it. I keep getting up just to look at it in my driveway. The TMC Mega Raffle is a real raffle for real people. The hardest part about winning? I had to break it to Keigo that no dogs are allowed in the new car!”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHFYLrYI65o

Mega Raffle Was A Big Risk“The TMC Mega Raffle was a big risk, but it resulted in great reward,” said Michael Duran, vice president and chief development officer, TMC Foundation. “It is, without a doubt, a new and exciting way to raise funds for patient care at TMC. We are grateful Southern Arizonans really embraced the TMC Mega Raffle in its inaugural year and hope that excitement continues to grow. It was remarkable to hear how many TMC patients, like Renee, bought tickets as a simple way to pay it forward and then ended up winning big prizes. I look forward to hearing more of these incredible stories in the years to come.”

Old Pueblo AnesthesiaTucson Medical Center is fortunate to have a deep history and strong partnership with Old Pueblo Anesthesia, the exclusive provider of anesthesia services at TMC since 2007. OPA physicians are committed to the safety and well-being of our patients while providing the highest quality perioperative care, including our pint-sized patients for whom there is a dedicated team of pediatric anesthesiologists.

An OPA doctor is on site at TMC’s Labor and Delivery unit, every second of every single day, to care for the mothers of the nearly 6,000 babies born at TMC each year. These anesthesiologists are ready to provide routine and emergency obstetric support and comprehensive post-operative pain management services, in addition to anesthesia services for adults and children undergoing surgical and gastroenterology procedures, MRI and CT scans, and interventional radiology procedures.

For more information on Operation Walk USA visit: http://www.opwalkusa.com/

For more information on Healing the Children visit: http://healingthechildren.org/

Dr. Kim Rafacz & Preston Marsh

Dr. Allison Greening & Connor Abbott

COMMITTED TO TMC

But their commitment to the community extends far beyond that. “Giving back to the people of Southern Arizona remains one of our biggest priorities,” said anesthesiologist Dr. Hill Johnson, OPA president. For the past decade, OPA has been the title sponsor of the TMC Foundation Gala. The 2013 event entertained guests with an “Old Hollywood” theme while supporting TMC for Women. “Caring for women is part of OPA’s long-standing history in the Tucson area, and it’s an area where our physicians especially love working. Many of OPA’s founding physicians were obstetrical anesthesiologists who influenced the group’s dedication to this service,” said Dr. Johnson.

By being the title sponsor, OPA helped provide ongoing support to the future of women’s health in our community. “As the market leader for women’s care, TMC is committed to providing a lifetime of care for women, about women. Whether a woman is having her first child or a life-saving surgery, she deserves a safe and welcoming environment with state-of-the-art services and a caring touch,” said Michael Duran, vice president and chief development officer, TMC Foundation. Proceeds from the Gala assist in the purchase of life-saving equipment and allow TMC to continue providing educational outreach to the community and medical staff. OPA’s contribution also helps support programs and services like

TMC’s Breast Health Program, which has provided more than 6,000 free screening mammograms to women in need since 1998.

“We are heavily invested in TMC,” said Dr. Johnson. “We want the hospital to succeed, and we think it’s important for us to express that. We are happy to contribute in this way and help with improving the overall health of the community.”

OPA physicians also take part in extraordinary philanthropic work by providing care for those who are underserved both here at home and abroad. OPA anesthesiologists were an instrumental part of a program that was brought to TMC under Operation Walk USA, a private, nonprofit, volunteer medical services organization that provides free surgical treatment for patients who do not have access to life-improving care for debilitating bone and joint conditions. For the second year in a row, OPA physicians signed on to provide free services to ten deserving patients who underwent total joint replacement surgeries.

“WE ARE HAPPY

TO CONTRIBUTE IN THIS WAY AND HELP WITH IMPROVING

THE OVERALL HEALTH

OF THE COMMUNITY.”

“OPA is proud to be part of the TMC community and the phenomenal team caring for Operation Walk patients,” said anesthesiologist Dr. Brian Cammarata, director of quality assurance at OPA and chief medical information officer at TMC. “As physicians, we are committed to providing quality anesthetic care for every patient. In the short time TMC has been paired up with Operation Walk, this service has become an integral part of the TMC community and has positively impacted patients’ lives.”

Another remarkable case OPA was proud to be a part of involved a 14-year-old girl from Honduras who came to the U.S. through an organization called Healing the Children. Little Silvia suffered from a debilitating case of scoliosis and thanks to a remarkable team of health care professionals, received the surgery she so desperately needed. OPA anesthesiologist Dr. Luis Esparza’s ability to communicate with Silvia in Spanish helped her feel a little more comfortable so far from home. “I had the opportunity to be involved in providing care for her that she could never have obtained at home. I think that we sometimes lose sight of the fact that what seems routine to us can have such a huge impact on others. Being involved in cases like hers helps to remind me of that. I was happy to be part of the team that cared for her.”

“Providing care to those who are underserved is a responsibility that we take very seriously, and are very passionate about,” said Dr. Johnson. “We are committed to TMC, and look forward to many years of supporting Southern Arizona’s community hospital.”

Old Pueblo Anesthesia by the numbersYears in the Tucson community: 27

Number of physicians: 41

Number of patients served each year: 20,000

Number of women in labor and delivery cared for each year: 5,000

Number of charity cases performed in 2013: 331

More About Old Pueblo AneshesiaOPA has physicians who are certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology as specialists in pediatric anesthesia care. These physicians have advanced training and knowledge in caring for patients from premature infants through adolescence who are undergoing surgical procedures. In addition to these pediatric specialists, OPA also has physicians who specialize in cardiac and obstetric care.

“She absolutely saved my life.” TMC patient credits superb care at TMC for Women for life-saving decision When Lee Toomey had a few Pap tests come back abnormal, she didn’t think much of it. Her OB/GYN, Dr. Gayle Dean, did an in-office procedure that remedied the problem until Toomey was instructed to return a year later. “At that visit, Dr. Dean told me she found some abnormal cells, but she didn’t think doing the procedure again would be effective. She said I needed a hysterectomy,” said Toomey.

Toomey was scheduled, and underwent the procedure using the minimally invasive da Vinci robot in February 2013. It was a move that may have saved her life.

During the hysterectomy, Dr. Dean found cancerous cells.

“When she told me she found cancer, I remember thinking to myself, ‘thank God she is my doctor, and thank God they found it when they did,’” Toomey recalled.

Today, she credits Dr. Dean with saving her life.

Lee Toomey

Dr. Gayle Dean OB/GYN

SUPERB CARE AT TMC

“She made the right decision in saying I should have a hysterectomy. My situation could have been a lot worse if the cancer wasn’t caught as early as it was. I have 100 percent confidence in her,” she said.

Toomey’s follow-up care confirmed the cancerous cells are indeed all gone.

“In talking with my friends who had hysterectomies 20 or 30 years ago, I learned that they were down for at least six weeks. I was so impressed with how technology has improved, and couldn’t believe how good I felt when I got home. There was no pain – there wasn’t even any discomfort. I could have gone and played bridge the next day, I felt that good,” she said. Toomey, a retired math teacher, was walking her dogs within a week of her procedure and is back to annual gynecological visits - happy to have the scare behind her.

“ I REMEMBER THINKING TO MYSELF, ‘THANK GOD SHE

IS MY DOCTOR, AND THANK GOD THEY FOUND IT

WHEN THEY DID,” TOOMEY RECALLED.

Kohl’s Cares: Associates in Action who genuinely make a differenceThe Kohl’s Cares Associates in Action volunteer program is one of those concepts that sounds too good to be true; so when you realize that it’s not, you’re amazed at how generous one organization can be. The program was created to support and recognize Kohl’s associates’ gifts of volunteer service in communities nationwide.

For the past 8 years, TMC has been fortunate to be Kohl’s hospital partner in Tucson. Kohl’s associates are available to volunteer at TMC events that enrich the lives of children. TMC benefits from their gifts of time and talent – but that’s not all.

For every five Kohl’s associates from one location who volunteer at least three consecutive hours each in a single day, Kohl’s provides a $500 grant in recognition of their volunteer service. “Giving back to the community is a big part of what we do,” explained Sarah Musgrave, Kohl’s Southeast Tucson store manager. “Everyone has a special connection to TMC. Either their children were born there, or TMC was there for them during an emergency. When associates are asked to volunteer for TMC events, they always get really excited to have the opportunity to help out.”

Volunteer Services & Community Programs Director Hope Thomas with Kohl’s volunteers

Kelsey Musgrave

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

That connection became even more deep-rooted for Musgrave, whose 1-year-old daughter, Kelsey, was recently diagnosed as having a minor stroke when she was born. “We spend a lot of time with her at pediatric outpatient therapy. I just can’t imagine what I would do if TMC wasn’t there. I have always been passionate about TMC, but this experience has really hit home about how important TMC is to families,” said Musgrave. “Anytime there is an event at TMC, we strive to make it a $1,500 grant, not just a $500 grant.”

When associates volunteer their time, they’re encouraged to bring their children, friends and family. “We believe it’s good for our children to see their parents volunteering and for them to learn the importance of giving back at an early age,” said Musgrave.

“We are so honored to have the support of such a generous company that is as passionate about caring for children as we are,” said Erika Grasse, TMC Children’s Miracle Network director. “Kohl’s associates are incredible to work with. They are reliable, enthusiastic and professional. They share our desire to improve the community through outreach events. We couldn’t ask for a better partner in furthering our mission here at TMC and look forward to many more years of working alongside them to improve the lives of Southern Arizona children.”

Time Adds Up

In 2013, Kohl’s associates logged 88 volunteer hours during 22 TMC events. Their time equates to $11,000 worth of labor.

Kohl’s Cares

Kohl’s Cares granted $49,729 to TMC for this program in 2013, bringing the total amount of money they have granted to TMC to $451,000.

IN 2013, KOHL’S ASSOCIATESLOGGED 88 VOLUNTEER

HOURS DURING 22 TMC EVENTS.THEIR TIME EQUATES TO

$11,000WORTH OF LABOR.

Kohl’s Cares Vest It Up!Kohl’s Cares Vest It Up! program: same success, but with a twist

For the second year in a row, TMC for Children and Kohl’s Cares teamed up to build on the success of the Kohl’s Cares Vest It Up! program. Vest It Up! provides hundreds of Tucson area kids ages 4 to 17 with a Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device, or life vest, upon completion of eight free swim lessons. The program is offered year-round at local YMCA pools.

The combination of life-saving PFDs and swim lessons is believed to keep kids safer in and around water.

In 2013, parents and caregivers were invited to exchange their child’s floaties for a voucher to participate in the program. The National Drowning Prevention Alliance warns against using unsafe flotation devices that are not Coast Guard-approved. Water wings or floaties, inflatable water rings and other pool toys can create risks for an unassisted young swimmer. They are not approved for safety and won’t protect your child against drowning. Only Coast Guard-approved life jackets are designed and tested for safety. “Many parents put their children in floaties,

inflatable swimsuits or suits with a life jacket-like belt sewn in thinking they’re making the child safer in the water,” said Tracy Koslowski with the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona. “These devices can give a child and parents a false sense of security about the water. An arm floatie can slide off or pop and leave a weak swimmer stranded far from a wall or shallow water. The life jacket belts can just as easily hold a child upside down on the surface as right side up.”

Loop donation enhances TMC Senior ServicesThanks to a facility upgrade donated by a local physician group, attendees at TMC Senior Services classroom events may now be able to hear what’s happening more clearly than ever.

An induction loop – also known as a hearing loop or room loop – has been installed at the Healthy Living Connections classroom at TMC Senior Services, 1400 N. Wilmot, on the El Dorado Health Campus. The organization offers a wide range of lectures and activities for older adults throughout the year.

The generous support for the upgrade comes from Tucson Ear, Nose and Throat, a local practice founded in 1987 by a core group of leading otolaryngologists. The group includes seven physicians and five audiologists plus more than 30 staff members.

L’Don Sawyer, Michael J. Duran, J.D. with Dr. Robert Dean & Stephanie Navaarrete

NOW HEAR THIS

THE SUPPORT FOR THE UPGRADE COMES FROM TUCSON EAR, NOSE AND THROAT, A LOCAL

PRACTICE FOUNDED IN 1987.

THE GROUP INCLUDES SEVEN PHYSICIANS AND FIVE

AUDIOLOGISTS

At the dedication of the classroom system, Michael Duran, TMC Foundation vice president and chief development officer, officially thanked Tucson ENT for its generosity – adding that this really does reflect philanthropy throughout the community. He noted that the doctors saw a need among the patients they see and pooled their resources to make it better for the community. Dr. Robert Dean treated the audience to an informative presentation on hearing loss. Members of the ALOHA (Adult Loss of Hearing Association) Board of Directors and volunteers were available to talk about support groups and other services for people with hearing loss.

The loop system employs a wire around the room and an amplifier to send an electromagnetic signal throughout the area. Hearing devices equipped with a telecoil will pick up the signal and convert it to audible sound. Telecoils are tiny bundles of wire that are part of the mechanism inside many newer hearing aids and cochlear implants. In addition, attendees may use special headphones provided at events to hear the amplified signal.

TMC FOUNDATION GALA

ROCK ‘N RODEO

CHILDREN’S MIRACLE NETWORK RADIOTHON

ERICKSON LEGACY SOCIETY EVENT

HOOK ‘N SLICE GOLF TOURNAMENT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLj9u4P6ta8

TMC FOUNDATION

EVENTS

TMC Foundation Gala

As the market leader for women’s care, TMC is committed to providing a lifetime of care For Women, About Women. Whether a woman is having her first child or a life-saving surgery, she deserves a welcoming and safe environment with state-of-the-art services and a caring touch. Proceeds from the TMC Gala will support the future of Women’s health in our community. Join us for A Night in Rio at the beautiful Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa.

Rock’N Rodeo

The TMC Foundation hosts Rock ‘N Rodeo, an event to support TMC Hospice. The special evening includes live entertainment and a gourmet meal, as well as silent and live auctions. You can win special prizes at the blackjack tables or kick up your boots and line dance!

Children’s Miracle Network Radiothon

94.9 MIXfm and The Morning Mix with Bobby Rich, Greg Curtis and Mrs. Grant help make miracles happen for children in Southern Arizona. The trio broadcasts live for more than 24 hours while volunteers dedicate themselves to answering the phones and taking pledges. Every dollar raised stays here in our community and generous

sponsorships help purchase new equipment, promote health and safety education, and expand pediatric programs for children and families served at TMC.

Erickson Legacy Society Event

This event honors the tradition of legacy giving at the annual Erickson Legacy Society event. Named in honor of TMC’s first legacy donor, Mrs. Anna Erickson, the Erickson Legacy Society recognizes and thanks those who make a bequest or lifetime gift to the TMC Foundation.

Hook’N Slice Golf Tournament

This annual golf tournament supports TMC’s Children’s Miracle Network. Golfers enjoy stunning views of the city and the surrounding mountain ranges while playing 18 holes.

TMC HEALTHCARE BOARD OF TRUSTEESLouise L. Francesconi, Chairwoman

J. Manuel Arreguin M.D.

Henry K. Boice

Michael W. Bracht M.D.

David Cohen

Susan L. Ernsky

Jay A. Katz M.D.

Eduardo A. Leon

Douglas Lowell M.D.

Judy F. Rich, R.N.

Beckie Torrey

Gay Tosch

Jon R. Young

TMC FOUNDATION BOARD OF TRUSTEESChristine Aronoff, Chairwoman

Jodi A. Bain

Henry K. Boice

Kim Bourn

Jeffrey J. Cesare

David J. Cohen

Palmer C. Evans, M.D., Life Trustee

Louise L. Francesconi

Anne Fulton-Cavett

Lewis Jones

Fran Katz

Patricia Lohse

Sidney “Pete” Mendelsohn

David F. Peachin

Judy Rich, R.N.

Keri Silvyn

Steven Siwik, M.D.

David Smallhouse

Arlene Webster, R.N.

Jim Zarling

TMC MEDICAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEEJ. Manuel Arreguin, M.D., Chief of Staff

Douglas Lowell, M.D., Chief of Staff Elect

Abraham Bressler, D.O.

Lance Clyde, M.D.

Amram Dahukey, DPM

Ives de Chazal, M.D.

Gayle Dean, M.D.

Fadi Deeb, M.D.

Rainier Diaz, M.D.

Lionel Faitelson, M.D.

Thomas Harmon, M.D.

Barton Hodes, M.D.

Steven Ketchel, M.D.

David Killion, M.D.

Julie Klein, M.D.

Clifford Martin, M.D.

Brandon Massey, M.D.

Abhilash Nair, M.D.

William Odette, M.D.

John P. Pacanowski, M.D.

Michael Parseghian, M.D.

Ronald Quintia, M.D., DDS

Richard Rosenthal, M.D.

Abhay Sanan, M.D.

Gulshan Sethi, M.D.

Steven Siwik, M.D.

Shawn Stafford, M.D.

Elias D. Stratigouleas, M.D.

David Teeple, M.D.

Paul Walshaw, M.D.

George Wilcox, M.D.

J. Paul Yurkanin, M.D.

ANNUAL REPORT CREDITSPublisher Judy Rich, RN, President and Chief Executive Officer

Digital Editor Alicia Moura, Communications Director

Design Cirrus Visual

Photography Eric Suhm

Cover Art BrainDance Productions

Videos BrainDance Productions and Duck Soup Productions

REPORT TO OUR COMMUNITY CREDITSExecutive Editor Julia Strange, Vice President, Community Benefit

Editor Cheryl Kohout, Digital Media Communications Analyst

Contributing Writers Cheryl Kohout, Kimberly Romo, Julia Strange

ONCENTER CREDITSExecutive Editor: Michael Duran J.D., Vice President and Chief Development Officer

Editor: Kimberly Romo, Communications Specialist

Contributing Writers: Michael Letson, Kimberly Romo