On Wednesday, September 22, Dr. Meg Rush spoke during the Health Experts Testify on COVID-19 Impact on Children segment. Click HERE to view CSPAN coverage. You may also find her written testimony HERE.

CLICK HERE for links to more Healthcare Appreciation info & Resources

Keep On Your Radar

Annual 3rd Floor Holiday Luncheon

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, December 1st! The Office of the Surgeon-In-Chief and Periop Leadership will provide a hot, boxed lunch for all 3rd floor staff in appreciation of your dedication and hard work throughout this trying year.

Quarterly OSIC Book Club scheduled to take place on Thursday, January 6, 2022 @ 11:00AM via Zoom. This quarter, we invite participants to vote on titles. Please click HERE or use QR Code below.

Last call for Go for the Gold

This year’s Go for the Gold is easy to navigate, quick to complete, and mobile friendly! And you can still earn a $240 Wellness Credit for completing all 3 Steps! Deadline is October 31.

Joint Commission Corner

The Joint Commission visit is anticipated to occur by end-of-year. Continue to be mindful and please remember these Joint Commission common offenses:

No outside jackets in OR
No food or drinks in clinical areas
No bags or backpacks in OR
Beards must be covered

PEOPLE:

New Hires

C. Fred Brown, Staff Chaplain will join VCH on November 1.

Izzy Galdyn, MD has joined the Pediatric Plastics team and is running expansion with Dr. Braun to the Murfreesboro Surgery Center.

Kourtney Hudson, CST, has joined the OR team in September.

Alan Hoang, MD, has joined the Pediatric Anesthesiology Division, with a focus in Peds Chronic Pain (started October 1st).

Annie Hogan, APRN has joined the PATCH NP team at VCH full time.

Emily Richetto, RN has joined the PATCH Covid reporting team full time.

Lindsey Waller, APRN has joined the PATCH NP team at VCSC.

SERVICE:

Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Scores

Q1 2022 Perioperative Top Box scores noted below. Congratulations to all of the teams on delivering great patient care!

Murfreesboro OR 93.44%

VCH OR 92.19%

VCH Cardiac Cath 89.71%

VCH Endo 86.64%

Click HERE for comments from families and opportunities for improvement.

Thank you ALL for your continued dedication to our patients and families!

Click HERE for a more detailed look at VCH OR Scorecards.

QUALITY:

Transplant Program Meets UNOS Requirements

The OPTN Board of Directors approves our Pediatric Transplant Programs. The OPTN about a year ago approved a By-Laws change which required Adult and Pediatric Transplant Programs in one organization and with one UNOS Membership to meet facility requirements of proximity to one another and to have pediatric transplant surgeons and physicians meet the UNOS requirements of training and experience to meet the UNOS criteria of a Primary Surgeon or Physician.

I am happy to say we met all the criteria with the diligent work of Makenzie Cook overseeing a majority of the pediatric transplant surgeon and physician UNOS credentialing.

Congratulations to all.

Edward Y. Zavala, MBA
Administrator, Vanderbilt Transplant Center

FINANCE

Volume

Surgical clinic volume exceeded budget for the first quarter of FY22, as did surgical case volume at Murfreesboro. Thank you to our teams for your stellar performance! Please click HERE to review the fiscal year 2021 surgical volumes.

Attention: The information transmitted with any links is intended solely for VUMC faculty and staff and may contain confidential and/or privileged material.

Innovation

OR Renovation and Technology Upgrades

Please stop by and see the newest that Storz and Stryker have to offer for our operating room renovations. Click HERE for more.

OSHER Center for Integrative Medicine Offers Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy to Combat Depression

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
Backed by scientific research, this therapy uses meditation to break the cycle of negative thoughts that can lead to depression, mood disorders, and emotional distress.
Register online for classes or call (615) 343-1554.

Click HERE to learn more and/or scan the QR code below to see class schedules

Awards and Recognitions

Perioperative team members are continuously advancing in their chosen career path. Congratulations to the below-listed staff members on their advancement!

Brian Kell, CerAT is now Lead Anesthesia Tech

Brian Emerson, MD, has been appointed as the new Pediatric Anesthesia Ambulatory Medical Director

Sara Hightower, Cath Lab Manager completed her Master of Science in Nursing

Heather Koehn, ENT fellow 2020-2021 completed Management in Health Care at

Matt Lucas, CSL completed the Master’s of Management in Health Care at Vanderbilt’s Owen School of Business in September 2021

Carrie Menser, MD, has been appointed to the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF) Advisory Committee for Clinical Deterioration

Marti Milliken, CerAT, is now Manager of Anesthesia Technicians & Technologists

David Roberts, MD, is the recipient of the Pediatric Anesthesia Fellowship Educator of the Year Award (AY 2020-2021)

Jenna Sobey, MD, has been appointed as the Clinical Director of Anesthesia Services for VCH Radiology

Maria Sullivan, OR Manager completed the Master’s of Management in Health Care at Vanderbilt’s Owen School of Business in September 2021

Jeffrey S. Upperman, MD appointed governor of the American College of Surgeons (ACS)

Camila Walters, MD, has been selected by the TN Medical Association and the Nashville Academy of Medicine for the John Ingram Institute for Physician Leadership Immersion Program

Kudos

Jason Thorpe and Lynn Smith have performed exceptionally well as first assistants on complex cases where a second “first assistant” enabled a smoother operation, with better exposure allowing a shorter cross-clamp. Given their years of experience and engagement in overall patient care, they both do an outstanding job every day, and I especially appreciate their ability to flex into the first assist position. They have performed at this level in the past and once again are doing this during a critical period for our team. They are outstanding team members!

- Anonymous

This past Saturday Lauren Boston, Kathleen Gobbell, Jill McCann-Van Dokkum, Elizabeth Schwartz, Raven Stafford, and Molly Napier presented at the Tennessee Society of Perianesthesia Nurses (TSPAN) Conference. Both presentations highlighted the team’s commitment to evidenced-based practice and providing excellent care to our patients and families at MCJCHV! They received many accolades and questions following each presentation. Click HERE for photos!
Congratulations Lauren, Kathleen, Jill, Elizabeth, Raven, and Molly! I am so proud of your accomplishments and grateful to have you on our team!!

- LeighAnn Chadwell, MSN, RN, NE-BC, Manager, Perioperative and Procedural Services

Suggestion Box

This newsletter is for you! We want to ensure you are updated on relevant information for pediatric surgical services and all things Children's Hospital. Please offer feedback by clicking here if you have suggestions, such as content additions and areas of focus. Your feedback will help us improve.

Manage your preferences | Opt out using TrueRemove™
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.

2200 Children’s Way Suite 3209
Nashville, TN | 37232 US

This email was sent to .
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.