B o a r d o f D i r e c t o r s Dennis Ragsdale Chairman Jeffory Jennings, M.D. Vice Chairman Michael Crabtree Secretary/Treasurer Bruce AndersonDebbie Christiansen, M.D.Dawn Ford Keith D. GoodwinSteven HarbLewis Harris, M.D.Dee Haslam A. David Martin Dugan McLaughlinChristopher Miller, M.D. Steve SouthBill Terry, M.D. Laurens Tullock Danni Varlan

M e d i c a l S t a f f David Nickels, M.D. Chief of Staff John Buchheit, M.D. Vice Chief of Staff John Little, M.D. Secretary

C h i e f s o f S e r v i c e s Jeanann Pardue, M.D. Chief of Medicine Mark Cramolini, M.D. Chief of Surgery

A d m i n i s t r a t i o n Keith D. Goodwin President/CEOBob Koppel President/CEO EmeritusLaura Barnes, R.N., M.S.N., C.N.A.A.,B.C. Vice President for Patient Care Paul Bates Vice President for Human Resources Joe Childs, M.D. Vice President for Medical Services Becky Colker Vice President for Finance Rudy McKinley Vice President for Operations

A quarterly publication of East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, It’s About Children is designed to inform the East Tennessee community about the hospital and the patients we serve. Children’s Hospital is a private, independent, not-for-profit pediatric medical center that has served the East Tennessee region for 70 years and is certified by the state of Tennessee as a Comprehensive Regional Pediatric Center.

Ellen Liston Director of Community Relations David Rule Director of Development Wendy Hames Editor Neil Crosby Cover/Contributing Photographer

“Because Children are Special…” ...they deserve the best possible health care given in a positive, child/family-centered atmosphere of friendliness, cooperation, and support - regardless of race, religion, or ability to pay.”...their medical needs are closely related to their emotional and informational needs; therefore, the total child must be considered in treating any illness or injury.”...their health care requires family involvement, special understanding, special equipment, and specially trained personnel who recognize that children are not miniature adults.”...their health care can best be provided by a facility with a well-trained medical and hospital staff whose only interests and concerns are with the total health and well-being of infants, children, and adolescents.”

Statement of Philosophy East Tennessee Children’s Hospital

www.etch.com2

On the cover: Children’s Hospital patient Taylor Ratcliff. Read her story on page 4.

October 26, 2007

Dear East Tennessee Children’s Hospital NICU Staff,

On June 26, our daughter, Ellery, was admitted to the NICU following a heart deceleration and meconium aspiration at birth. On her four-month birthday, we want to say thank you for the amazing care Ellery received while she spent 12 days in the NICU. We are so grateful for each person who worked with her. We believe that the knowledge, skills and experience of each provider helped us take home a healthy baby girl. Four months later, it seems hard to believe when looking at her that she was ever so ill. While in the NICU, we found that her nurses and doctors strived to provide both physical and emotional care for Ellery and for us. Each evening when we left the hospital, we knew that Ellery was in good hands and that even though we could not hold her close to us, someone was there right beside her, nurturing her and loving her. In those early moments of her life, when bonding with parents is important, I look back and think that Ellery had a special entrance into the world; although she missed some bonding time with us, she experienced the incredible love that each of you shared with her. She will always have as part of her the experience of people with a variety of backgrounds who came together to nurture her and give her their very best. I will never forget the faces of all her nurses. Your smiles when handling Ellery, the way you treated her as though she were your own, is worth so much to us as parents. To all of her nurses, doctors, the transport team, lactation consultants and other staff, you were so incredibly kind to Jeff and me. You treated us with great respect and encouraged us to get to know our daughter as best we could in such challenging circumstances. Thank you for your kind words, your gentleness, your joy about our little girl, the enthusiasm with which you did your jobs, your hugs, your understanding of tearful and fearful moments. You each gave exactly what we needed in those days, first and foremost excellent physical care to our baby so we could bring her home healthy and as soon as possible. But, you went above and beyond this as you cared for and nurtured us as well. I believe there are a few times in life when we have the opportunity to see things from a fresh point of view, when we reflect more on our blessings and the incredible gift of life than we had before. We have learned many things through this journey with Ellery, but especially how amazing and caring people can be. Each of you has touched our lives in so many ways. And we thank you.

Sincerely,

Ami and Jeff BrownNorris

“Dear Children’s”

Ellery Brown

Kurt Monroe

October 13, 2007

Dear Dr. Molly,

When I was injured on Saturday morning, my Mommy and my Daddy had to bring me to Children’s Hospital. I was really nervous, and sick. I almost passed out. They put me in a wheelchair because I felt whoozy. I went to room 9 and there I met the best Doctor I had ever known. Guess who that doctor was, you Dr. Molly Warren. You were so nice to me and you didn’t hurt me like you promised – that means a lot to kids for doctors to be honest to not tell storys. I think Children Hospital should keep you forever and pay you the most.

P.S. Best wishes to you and all the other kids that you will make feel better like me!

Your Best Patient,Kurt Monroe, age 9Knoxville

For the 23rd year, the Fantasy of Trees in November ushered in the holidays in East Tennessee with a festive event that delighted a crowd of 57,783 guests to the Knoxville Convention Center.In 2007, the Fantasy of Trees had a decidedly Southern flavor, showcasing a theme of “Holiday Cheer Down South.” Highlights included decorations and designs that celebrated the many traditions found throughout the Southern states during the holidays – from a traditional country Christmas and a Big Orange “Vol-i-day” to jingle bells and jazz, and big city shopping sparkle. A variety of new children’s activities joined more than a dozen other interactive “fun stations.”

The funds raised at the 2007 Fantasy of Trees - $375,000 - are being used to purchase 25 IntelliVue MP50 Bedside Monitors for the Emergency Department at Children’s Hospital.As always, the real stars of the 2007 Fantasy of Trees were the 10,047 volunteers who donated 155,826 hours throughout the last year to make the event such a success. Children’s Hospital extends its many thanks to all the volunteers and visitors to the 2007 show.Plans are already well under way for the 2008 show, which will feature the whimsical theme “There’s No Business Like Snow Business.” Co-chairs for 2008 are Sarah Beth Carlon and Sarah Munsey, and Jody Cusick is the new Assistant Co-Chair. The Fantasy of Trees has welcomed more than 1 million guests and has raised more than $4.6 million for Children’s Hospital since it began in 1985.

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B u l l e t i n B o a r d

Interstate closure planned near hospital

Beginning May 1, 2008, a short

section of Interstate 40 between

James White Parkway (exit 388A)

and Hall of Fame Drive (exit 389)

will be closed for reconstruction.

This closure will affect anyone

coming to Children’s Hospital

from east of Knoxville (motorists

traveling west on I-40). Children’s

Hospital is preparing to inform

patient families of the change so

that anyone needing to come to

the hospital will have directions

for the detour.The Children’s Hospital

campus will still be accessible

via an alternate route. Visitors

coming to the hospital from east

of Knoxville on I-40 are asked to

take I-640 west and then I-275

south during the closure, which is

estimated to take 14 months (until

about July 2009) to complete.

Watch future issues of It’s About

Children for more information and

updates on this interstate construction

project, called SmartFIX 40. You

can also visit www.smartfix40.com

for specific details on the SmartFIX

40 program and maps provided

by the Tennessee Department of

Transportation.According to www.smartfix40.com,

SmartFIX is an accelerated construction

process used by the Tennessee

Department of Transportation to

speed up the construction and repair

of highways and bridges. The SmartFIX

process involves a short-term, total

road or bridge closure during a project.

This provides ample space for work

crews to do their jobs and the freedom

to work around the clock without time

limitations. This reduces the time it

takes to finish a project and the long-

term inconvenience to motorists.

V

3

V23rd annual

Fantasy of Trees is a Southern celebration

V

V

Star 102.1 Radiothon The seventh annual Star 102.1 Radiothon will take place February 28-29 at West Town Mall. Morning show personalities Marc & Kim and Frank will host this live event from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days, encouraging listeners and those who stop by to make a personal pledge to benefit Children’s Hospital. A silent auction at Radiothon will feature great items from local and national companies. Last year’s Radiothon made history by putting the six-year fund-raising total over $1 million. All net proceeds will benefit Children’s Hospital Home Health Care and the CarePages service. To help with Radiothon, please call the Children’s Hospital Development Office at (865) 541-8441.

VV

After spending a week in August 2006 battling a “tough” flu-like illness, then nine-year-old Taylor Ratcliff of Morristown found herself at Children’s Hospital to have surgery to remove her greatly enlarged gall bladder. Taylor came through the Emergency Department to be admitted for surgery one Saturday in August 2006. But presurgery testing at Children’s soon indicated to her doctor, Youhanna Al-Tawil, M.D., pediatric gastroenterologist, that something besides the gall bladder was causing her flu-like symptoms. One of the other doctors caring for Taylor, pediatric nephrologist Mihail Subtirelu, M.D., talked to the family -- in a gentle manner that they greatly appreciated -- as he explained what he knew and why they were actually NOT going to do the surgery. Taylor’s blood counts were too low for surgery to be a safe option. Within hours of her admission, Taylor’s condition had dramatically worsened to acute renal failure – and no one knew why. According to Taylor’s parents, Wayne and Kim Ratcliff, a team of specialists was quickly assembled to find and then attack the problem, whatever it was. Dr. Al-Tawil assembled the team because he knew it was “out of his realm,” and the Ratcliffs appreciated his desire to draw in specialists who could best help Taylor. Pediatric specialists included a surgeon, two infectious disease specialists, an oncologist and others, who all agreed the enlarged gall bladder was a symptom, not the source of the problem. Lapsing in and out of consciousness and with her kidneys shutting down, Taylor was quickly moved to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. “We were losing her, so something had to be done immediately,” Wayne Ratcliff said. “The wonderfully sympathetic staff of the Pediatric ICU explained that everything we were doing was risky and could worsen her condition, but doing nothing would ultimately be very bad.” Taylor was given an antibiotic “cocktail” through a large IV in her leg to treat a variety of possible infectious causes while specialists continued to search for a firm diagnosis. While on the drugs, her organ issues but she developed a large amount of fluid around the lungs that had to be drained so she could breathe better. According to the Ratcliffs, numerous diagnoses were suggested and then discarded as more information became available – influenza, other viral infections, a urinary tract infection, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, meningitis, appendicitis, ehrlichiosis (a tick-borne illness)

and others. Finally Lori Patterson, M.D., and Daniel New, M.D., pediatric infectious disease specialists, agreed the most likely diagnosis was leptospirosis, an infectious disease caused by bacteria transmitted by rodents and other mammals. Once doctors began treating Taylor specifically for leptospirosis, she began to improve rapidly. “She was only in the PICU for five days when we were being prepped for a possible month-long stay,” Wayne said. “She was admitted to a regular room midweek, and we were home by the weekend! Taylor was only in Children’s Hospital for 10 days. Her recovery was a miracle by any measure.” Wayne and Kim both stayed with Taylor nearly the entire time she was at Children’s. They were given the opportunity almost daily to sleep at the nearby Ronald McDonald House but didn’t want to leave Taylor alone for any length of time, other than a couple trips home to Morristown for clean clothes. Today, Taylor, now 10 years old, is back to normal, cheering for her elementary school’s teams, working on earning straight As and engaging in normal squabbles with her 13-year-old brother, Dexter. She is completely recovered and no longer even sees any of the specialists who treated her. She remembers

very little of the experience – just “going to the hospital and coming home, and my nurse, Amber [Hyder],” with whom Taylor developed a close bond. The Ratcliffs were quite sensitive for a while to the appearance of even a mild illness in Taylor, but as time has passed, things have returned to normal. The one lingering concern for the Ratcliffs is how Taylor got sick with leptospirosis in the first place. It’s a disease that is probably fairly common but rarely diagnosed, as available tests are complex and results are almost never available quickly enough to confirm the diagnosis. Therefore, diagnosis is usually made based on symptoms, but most physicians have never knowingly seen a case. The leptospirosis bacteria is spread through contact with an infected animal’s urine, so it can be found in lake water, or it could be acquired by walking barefoot or by eating or drinking from something that was contaminated (such as the top of a soft drink can). Dogs and cats are typically vaccinated for it but can be carriers even if they are healthy. So there are several ways Taylor could have unknowingly been exposed to the bacteria. “We wish we knew what caused it

so we could prevent it” from happening again, Wayne said. The Ratcliffs, recalling how seriously ill Taylor was, are glad her memories of the hospitalization are so limited because it was such a difficult experience for the family. And they hope to never have an experience like it again. But as they look back on Taylor’s illness, they put it in a positive light: “Although the experience was extremely stressful at the time, hindsight has revealed that we were truly blessed,” Wayne said. “You really do not know how God has truly blessed your family until you experience some of life’s most testing times and walk out into a sea of family and friends in your corner. “We want to thank every person at Children’s Hospital who did so much for Taylor and our family,” he continued. “We really do not understand how the doctors, nurses and staff of Children’s Hospital can work in such difficult conditions, with such adorable children who are sick or injured and remain so professional with such compassion. “We would like to thank all of the PICU staff … for creating a calm atmosphere in a chaotic time and presenting very difficult options in a caring, thoughtful manner,” he continued. “Their skill, sympathy and professionalism provided a safe harbor for Taylor to heal.”

4

Taylor Ratcliff

Taylor

Subspecialist ProfileSubspecialist Profile

Gastroenterology practice adds fourth specialist

B.S. (Biology)• – University of Miami, Coral Gables, 1978M.D. • – Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, 1985Internship and Residency (internal •medicine/pediatrics) – Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, 1985-89Chief Residency (pediatrics)• – Orlando Regional Medical Center, Orlando, 1989-90Fellowship (pediatric gastroenterology •and nutrician) – Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, 1990-93Other• – Instructor in Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrician, Baylor School of Medicine, Houston, 1993; Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, 1997-2001; Clinician – Children’s Gastroenterology of Houston, Houston, 2001-04; Currently Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics Division of Gastroenterology – University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, 2004-presentFamily –• Wife, Shay NoelPersonal interests –• scuba diving, gardening, woodworking

The pediatric gastroenterology practice of Drs. Youhanna Al-Tawil, Clarisa Cuevas and Alexandra Eidelwein has added a fourth specialist to its staff. R. Adam Noel, M.D. joined the Children’s Hospital-based group at the beginning of February. A move to the Knoxville area from their most recent home in Texas held great appeal for Dr. Noel and his wife, Shay. Mrs. Noel is an avid

horseback rider, and the couple owns two horses; according to Dr. Noel, East Tennessee is one of the best places in the U.S. for trail riding. But more significantly, Dr. Noel was very interested in going into practice with his longtime friend and colleague, Youhanna Al-Tawil, M.D. They had previously worked together in Houston and New Orleans. Dr. Noel had also worked with Clarisa Cuevas, M.D., another member of the group, at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans. Dr. Al-Tawil started his practice in Knoxville several years ago and has expanded the practice twice previously: the first time with Dr. Cuevas and later with Dr. Alex Eidelwein from Johns Hopkins. This time, Dr. Noel was available to join the group. “We have worked well together, so we were anxious to all get back together,” Dr. Noel said. Preventive health care is a major interest of Dr. Noel, so early in his medical studies, he was interested in internal medicine and pediatrics. Internal medicine is focused on treating diseases that are already present, while pediatrics is heavily focused on preventing the development of those same diseases. As he continued his training, Dr. Noel also found that he preferred caring for children. He was drawn to pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition because proper nutrition is one of the best ways to prevent disease, but he also has the opportunity to do procedures, to “use my hands for therapeutic reasons.” As a pediatric gastroenterologist, Dr. Noel treats patients with a variety of problems, including constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, reflux, malabsorption, swallowing disorders, digestive problems, failure to thrive/grow, obesity and liver diseases. Recently, fatty liver disease has become more prevalent in pediatrics, secondary to the pediatric obesity epidemic. Abdominal pain is the most common symptom of his patients, and it can be related to poor digestion (such as lactose or fructose intolerance), motility disorders or peptic ulcer made more severe by other diseases or psychologic stressors. Among the more serious diagnoses of his patients are inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease and celiac disease. An award-winning researcher, Dr. Noel has a special interest in gallbladder and pancreatic diseases. In this area, he tries to improve gallbladder function and minimize the factors that cause gallstone development. Dr. Noel also has an interest in probiotics

– dietary supplements containing potentially beneficial bacteria or yeasts that have recently become popular and can be found in products such as Dannon Activia and Yoplait Yo-Plus yogurt. Antibiotics have altered the natural bacteria in the intestines, and the result for some children and adults is too much gas as well as a lowered immunity. Dr. Noel started recommending probiotics some years ago, before they became popular, initially for treatment of eosinophilic colitis. “I’m a problem solver,” he said. “So for a patient with abdominal pain, for example, that is affecting school or family life, I need to figure out how it started, look at the circumstances, and then determine what is the best treatment for this child and family to get the patient back in balance.” “I don’t give up very easily,” he continued. “You stick to it until you find the appropriate mechanism, even if you don’t at first seem to be making progress.” For some patients, a physician’s early intervention can help change a life. For example, a child who is having problems controlling bowels and is soiling his or her clothes will experience long-term, severe implications to self-esteem if the problem is not solved. Several recent advances in the field have improved care in pediatric gastroenterology. Dr. Noel notes there is a noninvasive breath test that can be used to check whether a patient can digest certain sugars – the patient simply drinks a sugar water solution, and then breathes into a testing mechanism. Other beneficial advances include nuclear medicine testing and manometry, a way to measure pressures in the intestinal tract as well as movement of the contents of the intestine, stomach or gallbladder. Dr. Noel is one of a handful of specialists in the country who can perform endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for children. This is an endoscope with lights and optics on the side, rather than on the end as with most endoscopes. It can be used to examine areas such as the biliary and pancreatic ducts not seen with a traditional endoscope, and its use is relatively new in pediatrics. ERCP can be used to examine and sometimes fix problems, thus preventing the need for open surgeries. Working with Drs. Al-Tawil, Cuevas and Eidelwein, Dr. Noel will help to provide care to the ever-increasing number of children in this region needing the skills of pediatric gastroenterologists at Children’s Hospital.

R. Adam Noel , M.D.

5

In August, Children’s Hospital welcomed its first class of Leadership Children’s, a group of young professionals in East Tennessee who are taking part in quarterly activities to learn more about the many services and programs available at our pediatric medical center.

The program is intended to introduce young professionals to Children’s Hospital, enable rising community leaders to be aware of the hospital and what it offers to the East Tennessee community and cultivate advocates for the hospital.

“The Board of Directors is very excited about the Leadership Children’s program,” said Dawn Ford, chair of the Board’s Community Relations Council, which has oversight of the Leadership Children’s Program.

“It is an effective vehicle for introducing the next generation of young professionals to our work at the hospital, and we believe it will result in many benefits to both the hospital and members of the class,” Ford continued. “Participants will discover ways in which they can become involved at Children’s and help us support our patients and their families.

“At the same time, most of the members of this first class have young children, so they are learning about resources that could be helpful to them. It’s even possible that in future years, one or more of these members could be interested enough in Children’s to join us on the Board,” Ford added.

Hospital President/CEO Keith Goodwin said, “We are extremely proud to share the outstanding work being done at Children’s Hospital with these community leaders. It was interesting to note that virtually all of them have either experienced Children’s Hospital as a child or as a parent. These experiences have shaped their impression of Children’s not only as an outstanding health care institution but also as a vital part of the Knoxville healthcare delivery system.

“The fact that they are willing to take time from their busy schedules to learn more about Children’s Hospital helps to ensure that wonderful support we have historically received from the community will continue into the future,” Goodwin added.

Following the initial program on August 22, Leadership Children’s class members are participating in subsequent activities each quarter through spring 2008. Second and third quarter programs could be chosen individually by each member of the class from a menu of topics to complete in several “experiences” of 2-4 hours. The final quarter’s program in late April will serve as a wrap-up of the year and introduce volunteer opportunities at Children’s Hospital.

To open the Leadership Children’s program, participants took part in a half-day session at the hospital. Speakers included Goodwin; Dennis Ragsdale, Chairman of the Board of Directors; Bob Koppel, President/CEO Emeritus; Brian Barger, parent of an oncology patient; and Dr. Chris Miller, pediatric neurologist on the hospital’s Medical Staff. Participants also toured several areas of the hospital, including the Haslam Family Neonatal

Intensive Care Unit, the Scott M. Niswonger Emergency Department (pictured above) and the Surgery Department (pictured at left).

Following the August session, Leadership Children’s class members selected from a variety of activities based on their areas of interest in the hospital. Possible activities included:

“A day in the life” of a Children’s •Hospital interpreter — In the past several years, Children’s Hospital’s interpretation services have increased dramatically, due to the increased patient population speaking another language as their first language. Participants could spend time with one of Children’s Hospital’s interpreters as they assist families with the medical care they need for their child.

“A day in the life” of a Home Health nurse •— Children’s Home Health Care offers families of children with chronic conditions an opportunity to have treatment in their home so that they won’t have to make repeated trips to the hospital or extend their stay.

“A day in the life” of an ER nurse• — A real-life ER is not like a TV show, but there is daily drama in the Scott M. Niswonger Emergency Department at Children’s Hospital — from broken bones and flu to accidents and near drownings.

“A day in the life” of President/CEO •

Keith Goodwin — Class members could spend several hours or a whole day with Goodwin as he continues his inaugural year as the new president/CEO of Children’s Hospital and experience with him the challenges he faces as he moves the hospital into the future.

“A day in the life” of Radiology• — Our Radiology department recently went filmless, and the technology used here to diagnose and help our young patients get better is a vital part of the hospital’s work. Participants could visit our Radiology department to learn all about echos, MRI and X-rays.

“A day in the life” of Respiratory Care• — Knoxville has been named the worst place to live in America if you have allergies/asthma. This means lots of work—and loving care—to thousands of children who visit Children’s Hospital and need the specialty services offered by our respiratory therapists.

“A day in the life” of Children’s West •Surgery Center — The pediatric surgery center on the Children’s West campus at Pellissippi Parkway and Westland Drive is a joint venture between Children’s Hospital and 14 area surgeons and dentists. The 8,800-square-foot surgery center has two operating rooms and is one of only 10 pediatric outpatient surgery centers in the United States. Participants could learn about this facility that serves patients in the West Knoxville area.

“A day in the life” of the Haslam Family •NICU — Participants could experience the amazing world of premature infants – some no heavier than a soda can – and the incredibly gifted, compassionate and specialized staff that give these tiny babies their best chance to grow into happy, healthy children.

“A day in the life” of the Oncology Clinic •— The oncology clinic becomes a support system and home away from home for the child with cancer and his/her family. Participants can learn about the treatments and activities that happen at Children’s for these special patients.

“A day in the life” of the Rehab Center•

Children’s Hospital welcomes inaugural Leadership class

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7

The state of Tennessee has given Children’s Hospital an extension through 2008 to increase the number of specialty license plates. The hospital is required to maintain a minimum of 1,000 tags to keep the plate in effect. As of December, only 871 tags were registered, 129 below the required minimum.

Since then, a number of friends of the hospital have already purchased or renewed plates. With your help, there is still an opportunity to do more for the children the hospital serves. You can beautify your car with one of the attractive plates designed by Morris Creative Group. But most importantly, you can help make Children’s Hospital an even better place for area children.

Each day, the hospital’s chaplains, social workers and Child Life specialists meet the pressing needs of area families whose sick and injured children have been entrusted to our care. These children come from Knoxville and hundreds of other communities in the surrounding counties and states.

These families are concerned and nervous about their child being in the hospital. And some have additional financial stress because they are missing work. So Children’s Hospital provides staff to comfort both the child and the family, to help find resources to deal with financial woes and the need for ongoing care, and to provide books and toys for patients and siblings. And these staff have the resources to do this because you and your friends and family care enough to buy a Children’s Hospital specialty license plate.

The specialty license plate has been a labor of love from the beginning. After Children’s Hospital applied to the legislature in 2002 and received approval, Morris Creative Group donated the time of their artists to prepare the plate’s attractive design. Volunteers stuffed mailings to help sell the initial 1,000 plates. And the results have been wonderful.

Since the plate first became available, Children’s Hospital has received $54,509.25, benefiting children served by the hospital’s chaplains, social workers and Child Life staff. The license plate is an easy way to support Children’s Hospital, and we are grateful to each person who has purchased one. Please

consider renewing your Children’s Hospital plate each year and encouraging friends and family to join you.

The plate is available at any time through your local County Clerk’s office, and the cost of the plate is $35 in addition to each county’s renewal fee. Children’s Hospital receives nearly $16 from each plate sold. Simply drive to your local county clerk’s office, take in the plate from your car and your registration, and tell them you would like a Children’s Hospital plate. Not only will you have a more attractive car, but you will also have that warm feeling that comes from helping children.

If you have questions about the Children’s Hospital specialty license plate, contact your local County Clerk’s office or the hospital’s Development Department at (865) 541-8441.

License plate deadline extended, purchasers can stil l help area families

Leadership Children’s Class of 2007-08

Patty Adham, Knoxville Pediatric Associates• • Justin Cazana, Commercial & Investment PropertiesBill Gardner, Johnson & Galyon•Tiffany Gardner, 1• st TennesseeJeff Goodfriend, Alumni Hall stores•Mickey Johnson, UBS•David Jones, TeamHealth•Parinda Kharti, Cherokee Health System•Frank Nystrom, Citadel Communications• Dr. Thandi Onami, University of Tennessee •Department of Microbiology Patricia Robledo, Hispanic Chamber of •Commerce Lee Ann Tolsma, Furrow Automotive Group•

— The center’s pediatric specialists in speech pathology, occupational and physical therapy, nursing, physiatry, nutrition, clinical psychology and social work provide comprehensive family-focused evaluation and treatment. Participants could experience the incredible work that takes place at the Rehab Center every day.

“Behind the Scenes” with Children’s •Hospital Management Team — The hospital’s administration and department directors make big and small decisions every day that keep the hospital running efficiently – everything from staying in the budget to dealing with staff schedules. Class members were welcome to come be “part of the action” and catch a glimpse of the internal workings of Children’s Hospital.

“Behind the Scenes” at the •Children’s Miracle Network Telethon — WBIR-TV’s hosts and production staff teamed up to paint a picture for the audience of what really happens at Children’s Hospital and how viewers could help.

Hello Hospital• — Our Child Life Department visits Knox County kindergarten classrooms each year to tell youngsters about what it’s like to go to Children’s Hospital – and let them know that there is nothing to be afraid of. Participants could be part of a class at an area school and learn about the hospital through the eyes of a 5-year-old.

Outpatient Surgery Tour with Josh •the Dog — Surgery can be a scary experience for anyone, but especially to a child and his/her parents. Learning more about what will happen goes a long well to dispel those fears, and that’s what the Outpatient Surgery Tour is meant to do.

There is no such thing as a “typical” day in a hospital. Day in and day out, patients enter our doors for care, but each child is unique and each experience is different. However, within each day at Children’s Hospital, there are some common threads. One common thread is the training and experience of the hospital’s staff – no matter what situation arises, our staff is skilled and prepared to meet the challenge. For the next several issues of It’s About Children, we will profile some of our staff and highlight all our clinical areas. We hope it will give you a glimpse into life at Children’s Hospital.

iNteRpRetAtiON SeRviCeS

Until about 18 months ago, Children’s Hospital offered interpretation services to Spanish-speaking patient families through a contract with a local interpretation company. Because of the increasing need for such services, the hospital hired its first full-time staff interpreter in the summer of 2006. In that short time, the hospital has gone from a single full-time interpreter to three full-time and three PRN (“as needed”) interpreters employed in the hospital’s Social Work Department. According to Social Work Department Director Beverly Schneider, “It’s not at all unusual for the interpreters to be assisting four to five patients and families simultaneously, with others waiting. The need has grown exponentially.” The Spanish-speaking population is by far the largest Children’s Hospital population classified as being of limited English proficiency (LEP). In the second half of 2007, hospital interpreters provided an average of 401 face-to-face interpretation sessions each month for Spanish-speaking families. Services for LEP patients speaking other languages are provided primarily through telephone interpretation.

Kerri Fox Banks While many Spanish interpreters are of Hispanic backgrounds, Kerri Fox Banks is not. Sometimes her non-Hispanic appearance confuses families, who generally have come to expect interpreters to be Hispanic. But regardless of her heritage, Banks is well qualified to interpret for Children’s Hospital’s Spanish-speaking families – she holds a bachelor of arts in Spanish from Birmingham Southern College. To enhance her skills in Spanish, Banks studied

for one college semester in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and she worked during her college summer breaks as a Spanish interpreter for Blount Memorial Hospital, Maryville Orthopedic Clinic and Knoxville Orthopedic Clinic. Following her college graduation, Banks returned to the Dominican Republic to live and work for two years at a private Christian school. Banks chose to become a medical interpreter because she wanted to be able to use her extensive Spanish skills in a meaningful way. “I grew up in somewhat of a ‘medical’ household, with a mother who is a registered nurse and a father who owned and operated a home medical supplies business for many years,” she said. “The field of medical interpretation allows me to combine my love of and training in Spanish with my upbringing.” As an interpreter, Banks has an opportunity to interact with many patients and families, and she has many favorite stories about the families she has had the opportunity to serve. “One patient really stands out in my mind, though, as a reminder of why our work as Spanish interpreters is so special and valuable,” Banks said. “I interpreted for a mother and her young daughter as they arrived at Children’s with a new diagnosis of leukemia. The patient’s first stay in the hospital lasted for about a week before she was discharged home. “Upon arriving home, her mother began talking to her and preparing her for their next visit to the hospital, which would be for an appointment in the outpatient clinic,” Banks continued. “Her mother told me the next time I saw them that the little girl said she hoped the nice ladies that helped her understand things during her last visit (referring to me and the other interpreters), would be at the clinic, too, because she wanted to give us all a kiss for not ever sticking her with needles when she was here!” Comments like that make Banks’ work at Children’s Hospital meaningful: “Working at Children’s is very special and such a privilege because I get to be, for our Spanish-speaking families, an integral part of the amazing team of folks who are working to help heal sick children ... but I never have to be the one to make ‘ouches.’”

Aida Reyes A native of El Salvador, staff interpreter Aida Reyes has lived in Knoxville for less than a year and is a new employee of Children’s Hospital. Before moving here, she lived in several other countries and is fluent in three languages (Spanish, her mother tongue, as well as English and French). “I have lived in Spain and Argentina as well as Canada, which has been very helpful in having cultural knowledge, and that helps me deliver culturally competent services,” Reyes said. “My career had been in the immigration field. When I made the transition to the medical field, Children’s Hospital provided me with training which has enhanced the tools [I already possessed] to accomplish my job. “I was trying to find a way of using my three languages in a fulfilling way, and being a hospital

interpreter is quite a challenge,” Reyes said. “You use not only language skills but have to be extremely accurate in the way you communicate and convey news to parents, combined with confidentiality, impartiality and respect. The interpretations are very fast paced, and you make possible the communication between two parties who do not speak the same language.” In her brief career at Children’s Hospital, Reyes recalls a particular session recently that was especially challenging: “One of the interventions I recently had in the NICU [Neonatal Intensive Care Unit] was very intense due to how critical that particular case was. I was having to interpret for parents and the physician, then the surgeon, nurse, social worker and chaplain, one right after the other. “I enjoy what I do, and when you see those eyes from parents and children with a look of relief that they can understand what’s going on, it’s fulfilling,” she said. “I needed to do something that would challenge me but that I would enjoy as well. I am enjoying the job I do, I have felt welcome since day one, part of a team. Reyes said she identifies with the philosophy of Children’s Hospital, “But most of all, I do my job with passion, and at the end of the day, when I go home tired, having responded to requests for interpretation from everywhere in the hospital, I have that feeling that in a very small way, I have made a difference.”

NeuROLOGy DePARtmeNt The Neurology Department offers a variety of diagnostic tests for patients dealing with seizures, hearing problems, sleep disorders and other conditions involving the brain and nervous system. The most common tests offered in the Neurology Department are the electroencephalogram (EEG) for children having seizures and other neurological problems, and the brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) hearing test, offered most often to infants who fail newborn hearing screenings and toddlers who are speech delayed. In addition, the Neurology Department includes a Sleep Lab, where children who are having problems with sleep can have a sleep study. The sleep studies take place overnight, during the child’s regular sleep cycle, to find the cause of such problems as obstructive sleep apnea and other sleep-related disorders.

life A day in the of Children’s Hospital

8

Kerri Banks

Aida Reyes (left) speaking with Emergency Department technician Amanda Coleman, R.N.

Ken Bounds For Ken Bounds, work at Children’s Hospital fulfills a lifelong dream: “Working in the medical field has always been a dream of mine, and what better way of giving a person a better quality of life than a good night’s sleep?” Bounds helps to provide his patients with a good night’s sleep through his work as a Registered Polysomnograph Technologist in the Neurology Department’s Sleep Lab. There are more than 80 different sleep disorders that may affect children, such as sleep apnea, narcolepsy, parasomnias (such as sleep talking, sleep eating, sleep walking and bedwetting), sleep terrors, nightmares, delayed sleep phase, sleep-limiting disorder and poor sleep hygiene. Sleep disorders can contribute to a worsening of symptoms in children with behavioral problems, ADHD or obesity. It is important to find out the nature of the sleep problem through a sleep study, enabling the patients’ physicians to explore ways to deal with the sleep problem. Because sleep studies are conducted overnight, during a child’s regular sleep cycle, Bounds works three nights a week at the hospital. Bounds has undergone training both through formal education and on-the-job experiences. He participates in continuing education and attends educational conferences through Children’s Hospital to enhance his knowledge within the field. Such training assisted him in preparation to become Board Registered as a Polysomnograph Technologist.

There have been many special moments for Bounds during his time at Children’s Hospital, but one particular memory stands out: “One night my partner and I had a little boy who was a quadriplegic in our department for an overnight sleep study. He was three years old, in a wheelchair and only had mobility from the neck up. I will never forget the spirit of this little boy. His desire to accomplish the small things is something that we take for granted. The morning after his sleep study, he said, ‘I wish I could give you a hug, but I can’t.’ I told him that was OK and put his arms around my neck so he could have his wish. This little boy truly touched my heart due to his attitude and determination towards life.”

melissa Keasler A love for children and a desire to help them led Melissa Keasler, R.N., B.S.N., to chart her career course while still a teen. “When I was a senior in high school, I decided to be a pediatric nurse,” she said. Keasler studied nursing at Baptist Hospital’s former school of nursing, operated in coordination with Carson-Newman College. She was in the last graduating class at Baptist, in 1987, and she earned a nursing diploma. Keasler later attended Carson-Newman and graduated with a bachelor of science in nursing in 1993. In addition to her nursing education, Keasler is sedation-credentialed because of her work in the hospital’s Neurology Department, where some tests require children to be asleep. She took a class to become sedation-credentialed, participates in annual reviews and attends seminars and conferences to further her knowledge. She is also a certified PALS (pediatric advanced life support) and BLS (basic life support) instructor. One of Keasler’s favorite memories is of an infant suffering from infantile spasms. The baby was faced with a poor long-term prognosis but today is a healthy preteen. “It makes you feel like, over the long term, you made a difference in a child’s life,” she said. Keasler came to work at Children’s for a simple reason: “That’s where the kids are!” But she has stayed for more than 20 years for other reasons. “I love the people I work with in this department,” she said. “I love what I do. It’s a nice place to work.” On one recent morning, she rocked a baby to sleep to help a Neurology tech complete a test on the baby. The baby needed to be asleep for part of the test but was having difficulty nodding off, so Keasler stepped in to the simple but important role of baby rocker. “Sometimes I’m amazed to get paid to do what I do,” she added. Before moving into the Neurology nurse position in 1996, Keasler held a variety of other nursing positions at Children’s Hospital since joining the staff in 1987: a new graduate nurse on Third Floor, assistant head nurse on Third Floor, Radiology nurse, Primary Care Center nurse and Home Health Care nurse.

Melissa Keasler with Neurology Tech Derrall Tilson

Aida Reyes (left) speaking with Emergency Department technician Amanda Coleman, R.N.

Ken Bounds

A combination of jazz, R&B, funk and pop are the musical sounds coming to the 16th annual “Center Stage” this year courtesy of the highly successful group Kool & the Gang. Children’s Hospital’s annual benefit concert will take place April 12 at the Knoxville Convention Center.

Kool & the Gang has sold more than 70 million albums worldwide and has influenced music for three generations. Their early R&B success was swift and massive, and they finally broke into mainstream with hits like “Jungle Boogie” and “Hollywood Swinging” on their 1973 album Wild and Peaceful. Kool & the Gang’s 1975 funk album The Spirit of the Boogie is often viewed as their biggest success, and it was followed by a move to disco music. Their next album, Celebrate!, brought them their first number one hit with the title track Celebration. Thanks to songs like “Celebration,” “Cherish,” “Jungle Boogie,” “Summer Madness” and “Open Sesame,” they’ve earned two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, 25 Top Ten R&B hits, nine Top Ten Pop hits, and 31 gold and platinum albums.

In September 2007, Kool & the Gang released the two CD set Reloaded. This album finds the band revisiting and re-recording some of their greatest hits and collaborations with artists such as Lauren Hill, Jamiroquai, Angie Stone and others.

The Center Stage benefit will begin at 6 p.m. with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, followed by dinner and Kool & the Gang’s performance. A dance band will perform following the concert.

Children’s Hospital extends a special thanks to Bob and Wendy Goodfriend, who will serve as co-chairs for the 16th year. The Goodfriends, Pilot Corporation and LandAir will provide underwriting support for Center Stage.

Benefactor and Corporate tables are currently being reserved, and individual tickets may be available, if space allows, for $350 per person. Call the Children’s Hospital Development Department at (865) 541-8244 for table and ticket availability.

Center Stage has raised more than $2.3 million for Children’s Hospital since its inception in 1993.

by Bethany Swann, student intern

9

Kool & the Gang to take Center Stage

Beginning in January, Children’s Hospital now offers area parents, grandparents and other caregivers the option to become certified by the American Heart Association in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Due to increased demand from child care workers, teachers and other providers, Children’s Hospital is accommodating these requests and providing additional training. This class replaces the “Friends and Family” CPR class previously offered at Children’s Hospital.

While both formats provide participants with the life-saving skills needed to perform infant, child and adult CPR, the new course teaches caregivers how to use an AED (automated external defibrillator), includes a practical exam and provides a certification card to all participants.

Because accidents can happen to anyone, Children’s Hospital is offering the CPR course to anyone over the age of 14 years old for a cost of $40. “Children’s Hospital hopes to

bring this life-saving skill to anyone who wants to learn it. Knowing you can literally be the difference between someone you care for living or dying — that’s a great skill to possess,” said Lorisa Williams, R.N., Director of Education at Children’s Hospital. “Having that card in your wallet shows your friends and coworkers that you are someone they can count on in an emergency.”

The four-hour course takes place monthly from 6-10 p.m. at Children’s Hospital; upcoming dates are March 31, April 21, May 12 and June 23. Children’s Hospital CPR classes are taught by certified American Heart Association Basic Life Support instructors. Refreshments are provided by Chick-fil-A. Class sizes are limited, so pre-registration is required by calling the Children’s Hospital Healthy Kids hotline at (865) 541-8262.

by Joanna Simeone, Public Relations Specialist

Hospital now offers CpR certification course for community

UPCOMING COMMUNIty edUCatION Classes

CpR Certification CourseDates: March 31, April 21, May 12 and June 23time: 6-10 p.m.This certification course teaches the American Heart Association chain of survival -- from when to call 911 to how to effectively administer CPR to an infant, child or adult. This course is designed for anyone who may be expected to respond to emergencies at home or in the workplace. Participants must be at least 14 years old. Following the course, participants will receive an American Heart Association Heartsaver certification card. This course is $40 per person.

Safe SitterDate: February 23, March 15 and 29,

April 12 and 26, May 17 and June 21time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (lunch is provided)Safe Sitter is a national organization that teaches young adolescents safe and nurturing babysitting techniques and the rescue skills needed to respond appropriately to medical emergencies. Instructors are certified through Safe Sitter nationally. Participants must be ages 11-14. This course is $20 per person.

Class size is limited, so preregistration is required. All classes are offered in the Koppel Plaza at Children’s Hospital, unless otherwise noted. For more information or to register for any of these classes or to receive our free Healthy Kids parenting newsletter, call (865) 541-8262.

Announcements about upcoming classes can be seen on WBIR-TV 10 and heard on area radio stations. Or visit our Web site at www.etch.com and click on “Healthy Kids Education and News.”

Children’s Hospital’s Healthy Kids Campaign, sponsored by WBIR-TV Channel 10 and Chick-Fil-A, is a community education initiative of the hospital’s Community Relations Department to help parents keep their children healthy.

calendar of events

10

Hospital welcomesnew medical staff

Children’s Hospital is pleased to welcome

the expertise of the following new medical

staff members, who have joined our staff in

recent months:

Kelly Boggan, M.D., Pediatrics•

Richard Carter, M.D., Pediatrics •

and Internal Medicine

Whitney Dee, M.D., Pediatrics•

Peter Emanuel, M.D., Radiology•

Ashley Gilmer, M.D., Pediatrics•

Christopher Hovis, M.D., Radiology•

Laura Kraus, M.D., Pediatrics•

Mathew Kraus, M.D., Pediatrics •

and Internal Medicine

Amber Luhn, M.D., Pediatrics•

Luke Madigan, M.D., Orthopedics•

Philip Manzanero, M.D., Radiology •

Charles McCall, M.D., Radiology•

Daphne McColl, M.D., Pediatrics•

Megan Partridge, M.D., Pediatric •

Allergy and Immunology

Paul Peterson, M.D., Neurosurgery•

John Puckett, D.D.S., General Dentistry•

Gregory Raab, M.D., Orthopedics•

Matthew Rappe, M.D., Orthopedics•

Maria Rueda, M.D., Dermatology•

Susan Scott, M.D., Pediatrics•

Sumeet Sharma, M.D., Pediatric Cardiology•

Sterling Simpson, M.D., Pediatric •

Pulmonology

Andrew Singer, M.D., Pediatric •

Allergy and Immunology

Robert Smith, M.D., Orthopedics•

11

A certified public accountant with a long record of accomplishment in health care finance was named Vice President of Finance for Children’s Hospital last fall. Rebecca “Becky” Colker succeeded Jim Pruitt, who retired in November after 15 years with the pediatric medical center. Colker’s first impressions of the hospital were overwhelmingly positive. “First impressions are often times lasting impressions,” she said. “That’s the way it has played out for me. My initial impressions were so positive … when I interviewed for the position. And in the three months I have been here, there has been nothing to discredit those initial impressions. “The staff love working here; they’re dedicated and caring,” she continued. “Finances are solid, facilities are very good and services are comprehensive.” Further, Colker notes, “The hospital has enjoyed financial stability and strength. That doesn’t just happen. The staff and management team deserve an enormous amount of credit for that success. Certainly, the long-term CEO, Bob Koppel, and long-term CFO, Jim Pruitt, are both to be credited and admired for their countless contributions.” Colker has joined the hospital at a key time – just as the Administration and Board of Directors are engaged in strategic planning for the next several years. “From a financial perspective, it will be crucial for us to maintain strong financial performance,” Colker said. “The strategies being developed will go hand in hand to support continued financial success in the years to come. As we proceed, it will be important to control costs while continuing to grow; to prudently invest our funds in services, facilities and equipment to provide the best care possible to the children we serve; and to further enhance our fundraising efforts in the community. “Our commitment to treat all children regardless of the family’s ability to pay will remain strong, so continuing in a position of financial strength is vital to fulfilling that commitment and to fulfilling our mission,” she added. “Competition, regulatory uncertainties, rising labor and supply costs, the cost of capital, and increasing numbers of uninsured and underinsured patients are some of the challenges we will continue to be faced with in the years to come. While maintaining financial

strength will be challenging, I’m optimistic Children’s Hospital is moving in the right direction to make that happen.” Colker’s career in health care financial services is extensive. She comes to Children’s Hospital from Bon Secours Health System, headquartered in Marriottsville, Md. Bon Secours has 16 acute care hospitals and several nursing homes/assisted living centers in six states and net revenues of about $2.2 billion

per year. She initially began working for Bon Secours in 2003 as Chief Financial Officer of St. Joseph Healthcare Group, which was later sold. Subsequent to the sale of that facility, she returned to perform financial consulting work for them. Her last assignment with them was acting Chief Accounting Officer, responsible for the system-wide audit. She also led the organization’s efforts to ensure tax-exempt bond compliance. Colker also served as Chief Financial Officer at Wellington (Fla.) Regional Medical Center and at St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital in Newburgh, N.Y., before joining Children’s Hospital.

Becky Colker

With a background almost entirely in health care finance, Colker has been associated with small independent hospitals and large hospital systems, as well as with for-profit and not-for-profit hospitals. Children’s is, however, her first pediatric specialty hospital. “Children are our future, and they touch our hearts in a very special way,” Colker said. “What a rewarding

opportunity to be a part of an organization that takes care of that population. It’s been very rewarding so far, and I’m sure it will become more so as time goes on. “With a small hospital like Children’s, you really have the opportunity to make a difference,” she said. “You can get involved in much more and be more integral to the facility. You have a feeling of belonging to a family, which I really enjoy.” Hospital President/CEO Keith Goodwin said, “Becky Colker’s extensive background in financial services in the hospital setting made her an ideal candidate to lead Children’s Hospital in this important area for our future. “Her leadership skills and knowledge in auditing, financial services

development, budgeting, strategic planning and a wide array of financial areas will help Children’s Hospital build on the sound financial ground that we find ourselves on today and lead us to further successes in the coming years,” Goodwin added. A graduate of West Virginia State College with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Colker also holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Charleston (West Virginia) and is a certified public accountant and certified cash manager. She also is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Healthcare Financial Management Association.

to end its policy of feeding everyone. What a loss that would be for the community where the restaurant is located and what a huge loss it would be for hungry people in that community.

In a situation like this, the restaurant owner probably would welcome anyone who wanted to help feed the hungry. He would be appreciative of all who helped, whether they gave a lot or a little, because they would be allowing him to continue feeding hungry people. Contributors would be helping to provide an important resource for their community. And those making donations would be helping their community become a better place in which to live and raise a family.

This is essentially what we began doing at Children’s Hospital in 1937 and are continuing to do today.

The physicians and other community leaders who were the hospital’s founders wanted to provide a local hospital for children with polio. They wanted the best possible health care to be available locally so families whose children were fighting this disease could be close to relatives and friends who could support them. And, in 1937, they wanted the doors to be open to children of all races and religions, regardless of their parents’ ability to pay their child’s medical bills.

Q: I watched your recent telethon, and I appreciate all that companies and organizations like Goody’s Family Clothing, Wal-Mart, Dance Marathon and so many others do for Children’s Hospital. But I’m not a wealthy person; my gift is tiny compared to theirs. Is my small gift even important to Children’s Hospital?

A: Yes, your gift is VERY important. Here’s why:

Imagine a restaurant where the owner feeds a meal to everyone who walks in the door, even if they can’t pay. Imagine, too, that the restaurant gives the same amount and quality of food to every customer. Now, visualize that more than half of the customers pay just $5 for a $10 meal, which is less than it costs the restaurant to prepare and serve those meals.

Without additional money from somewhere, this restaurant couldn’t pay its own bills. It would either go out of business or be forced

Now, more than 70 years later, local availability of care and equal access remain vitally important at Children’s Hospital.

In the years since polio has been eliminated in the United States, Children’s Hospital has dramatically expanded its scope of services. There are now more than 90 pediatric specialists practicing in 28 different fields of medicine and surgery at our pediatric medical center. These physicians need specialized facilities and equipment to diagnose and treat area children. Along with our Board of Directors, Administration and employees, Children’s Hospital’s physicians want the finest possible care to remain accessible to all children in need.

Yes, your gift is important. Goody’s gifts are important, Wal-Mart’s gifts are important, Dance Marathon’s gifts are important. ALL gifts are important, and all are gratefully received. All are put to good use helping the children entrusted to the care of the staff of Children’s Hospital.

Estate Planning

include Children’s Hospital in your estate plans.Join the ABC Club. For more information, call (865) 541-8441.

Please send the FREE planning booklet, “How to make a will that works.”

Name______________________________ Address__________________________________________

City___________________________ State_______ Zip_____________ Phone#(______)___________ r Please call me at the phone number below for a free confidential consultation concerning planned giving.

r Please send me more information about deferred giving.

r I have already included Children’s Hospital in my estate plan in the following way:

__________________________________________________________________________

r Please send me information about the ABC Club.

Children’s Hospital Development Office • (865) 541-8441

Why does Children’s Hospital need gift support?

Children’s Hospital joins Abunga.com

FAN network

There are so many surprisingly easy ways to support Children’s Hospital. Now, just by purchasing books through a specific online book retailer, you can help the hospital. Abunga.com is a new online book retailer that is focused on being family friendly. It targets families by offering more than 1.5 million titles at low prices as well as a shopping site void of pornography and other materials that are potentially offensive to families. Abunga.com donates five percent of each purchase to a non-profit organization selected by the buyer through the FAN (Favored Abunga Non-profits) affiliate network. To visit the Abunga.com online book retailer site, go to http://abunga.com/fan/browse/?. When you shop on the Abunga.com site, you’ll be given an opportunity to select Children’s Hospital as your preferred FAN affiliate to receive a donation from the online retailer.12

Empowering Decency

®

13

UPCOMING EVENTS TO bENEfIT CHILDREN’S

calendar of events

Mark your calendars NoW

for several upcoming events

to entertain families and benefit

Children’s Hospital.

Thanks to the generous

people of East Tennessee who host

and participate in these events,

Children’s Hospital can continue to

provide the best pediatric health

care to the children of this region.

Cutest Little Baby Face The 18th annual “Cutest Little Baby Face” contest will begin March 8 at Belz Outlets in Pigeon Forge. The contest is open to children ages 6 and younger, with Gary Woods Photography in Sevierville taking photos of the participants. The entry fee for preregistration is $5, and registration at the event is $7. The fee includes a 5x7 portrait of the participating child, a T-shirt and goody bag. Pictures will be taken on Saturday, March 8, and Sunday, March 9. Voting will take place at Belz on Friday, March 21, and Saturday, March 22; a $1 donation to Children’s Hospital will count as 100 votes. The child with the most votes is named the winner and will be announced on March 22 during the “Baby Face Parade.” Contestants may preregister by completing a registration form at Belz Outlets or by calling the Children’s Hospital Development Department at (865) 541-8745.

Re/Max Preferred Properties Charity Golf Classic Area golfers are invited to be part of the Re/Max Preferred Properties Charity Golf Classic in April (date to be announced soon) at Egwani Farms in Rockford. The proceeds raised benefit Children’s Hospital’s pre-admission tour featuring “Josh the Dog.”

Scenic Helicopter Tours Helicopter Awareness Day (pictured above) Scenic Helicopter Tours in Sevierville will again host the annual Helicopter Awareness Days to benefit Children’s Hospital and the Smoky Mountain Children’s Home in Sevierville and also to raise awareness of the importance of helicopters in society. The event is set for April (date to be announced soon).

Trideltathon Trialthletes should make plans to compete at the annual Delta Delta Delta “Trideltathon,” set for April (date to be announced soon). More than 300 participants compete each year in the mini-triathlon’s 3-mile run, 6-mile bike and 400-meter swim while raising money for Children’s Hospital.

Children’s Hospital Invitational Golf Tournament (pictured below right) The 25th annual Children’s Hospital Invitational Golf Tournament will take place at Fox Den Country Club in Knoxville on May 12. The tournament will start with a morning round, followed by an afternoon tee time. The entry fee for a two-man team is $225 per player, which includes green and cart fees, breakfast, lunch, refreshments, participation in the 19th hole and an official tournament goodie bag. A portion of the participant entry fee is tax deductible.

Nancy Hayes Baseball Tournament Baseball fans won’t want to miss the sixth annual Nancy Hayes Memorial Baseball Tournament June 5-8. The Hayes family of New Market sponsors the event in memory of their daughter, Nancy Elizabeth Hayes, who passed away in the Children’s Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Games will be held at Powell-Levi Park, Caswell Park, Fountain City Park and Karns SportsPark. Proceeds from the event will benefit Children’s Hospital. For more information, contact Lenny Hayes at (865) 382-1133 or by e-mail at lhayes22@earthlink.net.

by Leslie Street, student intern

Children have the opportunity

to get inside a helicopter

at Helicopter Awareness Days.

frequently in the general community, it became front-page news. The infections are typically spread by contact with infected skin or objects and often occur among people prone to scrapes and cuts, as well as those in crowded living conditions and people with poor hygiene.

What is MRSA?

MRSA is a specific strain of the common bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. MRSA causes a type of “staph” infection that has begun cropping up among otherwise healthy people as skin infections, such as abscesses. Staph bacteria live on most people’s skin or in their noses without causing any problems. But a staph infection can happen when the germ enters the body through broken skin such as a cut, scrape or rash.

Staph is the usual suspect in many skin infections. Staph infections, including those caused by MRSA, usually begin as red bumps resembling boils or pimples (people sometimes mistake them for spider bites). The bumps often become swollen, painful and filled with pus. Most staph skin infections are minor and can be remedied by regularly washing and bandaging the area and/or using oral antibiotics or antibiotic ointments. Sometimes the abscesses from staph need to be drained by a doctor.

But MRSA cannot be treated with antibiotics that are routinely given, such as methicillin, penicillin and amoxicillin. Doctors now must use other medications to try to treat MRSA. And, if the infection spreads to other parts of the body, MRSA may lead to serious complications like pneumonia or blood and joint infections.

Although MRSA is making headlines, it’s not a new infection — the first case was reported in 1968. The difference is that now, MRSA is affecting more people outside of hospitals. MRSA used to be seen only in those with weakened immune systems — chronically ill people who had been hospitalized for a long time or had surgery, those receiving long courses of antibiotic therapy, or people living in long-term care facilities like nursing homes or prisons.

But now a growing number of otherwise healthy people who are not considered at risk for MRSA are getting the infection. Called community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA), this type of staph infection can be passed to athletes via gyms and locker rooms and through shared equipment or skin-to-skin contact (e.g., wrestling and football). Children in child care settings may also be at risk.

How can we prevent MRSA, and what do we do if we suspect someone has MRSA?

To help keep this bug at bay in your household:

Make sure every member of your family washes their hands well and often.

Use alcohol-based instant hand sanitizers. Keep any broken skin clean and covered with

a bandage. Don’t share razors, towels or other items that

come into contact with bare skin. Clean shared sports equipment with antiseptic

solution before each use or use a barrier (clothing or a towel) between your skin and the equipment.

Few issues are closer to our hearts or more crucial to our future than the health of children. As an abundance of children’s health issues hit the media spotlight last year, it was a challenge for many parents to keep track of them all or determine which matter most. Some strike close to home and involve things parents do routinely to keep their kids safe and healthy. Others, for now at least, seem to be in the hands of lawmakers or scientists, far removed from our immediate lives, yet no less important to children’s well being.

In 2008, Children’s Hospital will highlight eight of these important children’s health issues to watch. Each issue of It’s About Children this year will focus on two topics. This list is not meant to be comprehensive, nor does it suggest that other health issues aren’t also important. But we think these eight subjects will have a lasting impact on children’s health in 2008.

Battling the Superbug

What is the superbug?

In 2007, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, made frequent headlines as the so-called “superbug” and put the spotlight on the growing threat posed by drug-resistant bacteria. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has for years called antibiotic resistance one of the world’s most pressing health problems. Overuse of antibiotics is a major reason that bacteria have evolved and developed resistance to drugs.

Unfortunately, many people did not pay much attention — until now. The virulent strain of bacteria that resists many antibiotics has long been a serious issue in hospitals, which is still where the vast majority of cases appear. But when MRSA started showing up more

part 1 of 4

‘08

What can we expect of this issue in 2008?

Some pediatricians see a bright side to the development: With new questions about OTC drugs for children, parents might be a little more reluctant to reach for a pill for every ill, and a little more willing to handle everyday sicknesses with remedies that are always within reach (and not sold in stores) — patience, rest and a little tender care. And the large scale of the pediatric cough and cold medicines recall last October could prompt a louder call for more testing of drugs in children before they are marketed for them.

Reviewed by Lise Christensen, M.D., Director of the Children’s Hospital Emergency Department.

Article edited and abridged from the KidsHealth section of www.etch.com.

© 2008 The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth. Used under license.

Children’s Hospital is a

Call the doctor if: someone in your household has an area of

skin that is red, painful, swollen and/or filled with pus.

someone in your household has inflamed skin and is also feverish or feels sick.

skin infections seem to be passing from one family member to another or if two or more family members have skin infections at the same time

Serious cases of MRSA are still relatively rare, but an ounce of prevention can go a long way toward avoiding the infection and keeping your family healthy.

What can we expect of this issue in 2008?

The push to promote better hand washing habits and other basic hygiene practices will continue as doctors, public health officials and parents continue to stress how effective they are at preventing staph infections. What is not clear is whether the new precautions will stick once the headlines about a “superbug” fade. And the bigger question is, will people begin showing more care in the use of antibiotics? If not, will even more persistent virulent bacteria appear on the horizon?

Rethinking a Pill for every Ill

It’s easy to get over-the-counter medicine to help relieve symptoms of children’s illnesses. Why is this now considered a bad idea?

New questions about the safety and

effectiveness of cough and cold medicines marketed to children put the spotlight on the fact that many of these medications have not been tested in children.

In October 2007, drug makers pulled 14 popular cough and cold medicines labeled for babies and toddlers from the market to keep parents from misusing and accidentally overdosing their children on these over-the-counter (OTC) drugs found in many households.

One week later, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel said children under 6 years old also should not use cough and cold medicines such as decongestants and antihistamines because their effectiveness has not been studied in kids and the risks outweigh their benefits. The withdrawal of widely used children’s medicines challenged parents’ assumptions that the remedies on store shelves that promise to soothe sick children are actually safe and effective for them.

So what should I do for my ill child, if OTC drugs are no longer an option for a cold or the flu?

Unlike some other infections, when the flu is uncomplicated, it doesn’t usually require medical treatment. Your child’s doctor may prescribe an antiviral medicine (if symptoms are reported within 48 hours of the onset of illness), but these medicines usually only shorten the course of the infection by just one or two days, and most times are only used when a child is at risk of serious complications. Colds are even less likely to require medical treatment. To help your child feel better in the meantime, try these tips:

Offer your child plenty of fluids (fever, which can be associated with the flu, can lead to dehydration). If your child is tired of drinking plain water, try ice pops, icy drinks mixed in a blender and soft fruits (like melons or grapes) to keep him or her hydrated.

Encourage your child to rest in bed or on the couch, with a supply of magazines, books, quiet music and perhaps a favorite movie.

Give acetaminophen or ibuprofen for your child’s aches and pains (do NOT give aspirin unless your child’s doctor directs you to do so).Dress your child in layers. When your child feels warm, you can peel a layer or two, and when he or she feels chilly, layers can be easily added.

Have your child call a close relative or far-away friend to help lift your child’s spirits.

Help your child by taking care of yourself and the other people in your family. Wash your hands thoroughly and often, especially after picking up used tissues.

Plan for everyone in your family to get a flu vaccine every year, between September and November, to diminish the risk of anyone in the house getting the flu in the future. The flu vaccine can be given safely to patients as young as six months of age. The FluMist nasal spray vaccine may be an option for some family members (healthy individuals between ages 2 and 49 years), but if it is not, the basic injection (shot) is available for most everyone. Be especially vigilant to have family members vaccinated if they are in high-risk groups – children under age 5, pregnant women, any adult or child with a chronic medical condition like asthma or diabetes and anyone who lives or works with children under age 5 (especially with babies under 6 months old, who cannot get the flu vaccine).

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care needs of area children who make nearly 144,000 visits to Children’s Hospital each year. Proceeds from this year’s telethon will buy new and replacement equipment for many areas of the hospital so each patient can receive the best care possible.

Children’s Hospital extends its sincere gratitude to all who participated in this year’s telethon, including WBIR-TV for its 26 years of dedication to making a difference in the lives of East Tennessee’s children.

The national CMN Telethon continues to be broadcast each year the weekend after Memorial Day. The 2008 edition will air locally on 10News2, the sister station of WBIR-TV, on May 31 and June 1.

26th annual telethon raises $1.8 million26th annual telethon raises $1.8 millionThe 26th annual Children’s Miracle

Network Telethon was again a great success for Children’s Hospital, raising more than $1.8 million through pledges and corporate donations.

Formerly a two-day event the weekend after Memorial Day, the local edition of the Children’s Miracle Network Telethon was moved earlier in the season for the first time in 2006. The 2008 telethon took place locally on Sunday, January 27, and aired live on WBIR-TV 10 from 3-11:30 p.m. The telethon’s success reflects the outstanding support of many generous volunteers, individuals and corporate sponsors including Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club, Goody’s, Star 102.1 radio and other community organizations.

Children’s Hospital was a charter member of the Children’s Miracle Network in 1983, becoming one of only 22 hospitals nationally to participate in the first telethon, broadcast locally on WBIR-TV 10.

Since that first telecast, the hospital has raised about $27 million to meet the health