Vol. 29, No. 1

Published for friends and supporters of Altru Health Foundation

March 2014

G R A N D F O R K S , N O RT H D A K O TA

Preventing Colorectal Cancer Terry Harmon was shocked by his diagnosis after a routine screening page 6

Altru

®

HEALTH FOUNDATION

altru.org/foundation

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Your comments, concerns and questions are always welcome. PLEASE CONTACT Stephanie DeJean, editor [email protected] 701.780.5611 Legacy is published as a service of Altru Health Foundation. ALTRU HEALTH FOUNDATION P.O. Box 6002 Grand Forks, ND 58206-6002 701.780.5600 altru.org/foundation COVER PHOTO After encouragement from his brother, Tom, Terry Harmon went in for a colonoscopy and was shocked by the results. Learn more about his story on page 6.

From the Executive Director

Have you had a simple screening test that could save your life?

New cases of colorectal cancer (CRC), also known as colon cancer, in the United States is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer related deaths annually. These statistics are despite the knowledge that early detection and screening can save lives. Consider these national statistics about regular CRC screenings: » » »

Jon Green,

Executive Director

Randy Schoenborn,

Diane Blair,

Client Development Director

Grant Program Director

When CRC is diagnosed at early localized stages (Stage 1 cancer rating), the five year survival rate is 90%. When CRC is not diagnosed until the later stages (Stage 4), the five year survival rate decreases to 10%. CRC can be prevented through the early detection and removal of precancerous polyps detectable only through screenings.

Altru Health System has a major initiative to reduce the number of colon cancers diagnosed at stage 3 and 4 from 39% to 20% by 2019 for individuals of this region. If the inability to afford the tests is the only reason an individual is not having their colon cancer screening, Altru Health Foundation wants to erase that reason. You have the opportunity to save a life by providing a gift of support to this important initiative. It is also important for you and your loved ones to schedule regular colorectal screenings for those ages 50 and older and possibly younger depending on your family history. If everyone age 50 or older had regular colorectal screenings, as many as 60% of CRC deaths could be prevented. Remember, CRC typically does not show signs or symptoms until later stages. Read Terry Harmon’s personal story on page 6. Don’t wait - have your preventive screening done now. And while you are helping yourself stay healthy, please consider a gift today to provide a lifesaving screening for someone unable to afford it. If you would like more information on who should be screened or how to make an appointment, please call 701.780.6533.

Stephanie DeJean, Client Communications Director

Ann Blegen, Administrative Assistant altru.org/foundation

I wish you the best of health through preventive screening.

Jon Green Executive Director Altru Health Fondation

Jon Green 2

Dr. Robin Hape Joins Board of Directors Dr. Robin Hape, general surgeon at Altru, joined Altru Health Foundation’s Board of Directors as of the beginning of January.

sophomore at UND and Andrew, 17, is a senior at Central High School in Grand Forks. In addition to his work with the Foundation, Robin is involved with the Women’s Pregnancy Center, an active member of HOPE Covenant Church, and a clinical professor at UND, lecturing to the second year medical students.

Robin was born in Jackson, Wyoming and grew up in the Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks of Wyoming. He went on to study undergraduate in Electrical Engineering at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana. Working as an emergency medical technician (EMT) and paramedic for the National Park Service in Yellowstone and the ambulance service in Bozeman helped him pay his way through college. After college, he was hired as an electrical engineer for an aerospace company in California and later a small start-up engineering firm in Montana, until he decided to go back to school to study medicine. He studied pre-med for three years at Montana State University before coming to Grand Forks to start medical school, where he graduated in 2002 and began his surgical residency training.

Robin and Molly were so impressed with her breast cancer treatment at Altru, and Robin enjoyed his time as a medical student and resident at Altru, so they decided to stay in Grand Forks. Robin is now the medical director for the Breast Center and the Bariatric Center, the Cancer Liaison physician for Altru Cancer Center and the American College of Surgeons, and the clerkship director for third and fourth year medical students rotating through surgery at Altru.

Robin and his wife, Molly, have been married for 22 years. She is a breast cancer survivor and nurse at Altru Cancer Center. They have two sons; Sam, 20, is a

Altru Health Foundation Board Grants $14,100 to Altru’s Professional Nurse Committee New nursing scholarship criteria and request for funding approved for Altru’s Professional Nurse Committee in 2014.

amount to help offset the significant expense of higher education. By investing in our own nurses who are pursuing further education, we’re ensuring continued excellence in nursing at Altru,” says Corey Cleveland, Altru Health Foundation Board Chair.

In January, Altru’s Professional Nurse Committee presented a request for funding to the Altru Health Foundation Board. In previous years, no nursing scholarship applicant has been turned away, leaving $5,000 in scholarships to be divided evenly among them. The new scholarship amount will be $800 per applicant up to a maximum of $8,000. In addition to the scholarship awards, the Board also approved the request for $5,100 in credentialing assistance and $2,000 for the Nursing Excellence education awards. With this grant, the Board has provided well over $100,000 in support of Altru’s Professional Nurse Committee.

“This generous grant from the Altru Health Foundation will positively impact not only the nurses at Altru, but ultimately our patients. The need for nurses is always prevalent, and these scholarships will provide our nurses and future nurses tools to help them further their education. The credential assistance will allow our nurses to have specific knowledge in their area of nursing, to allow them to serve our patients at a more skilled level, and it is our hope with the Nurse Excellence Awards that we are raising up future nurse leaders at Altru. All of these funds are a wonderful investment in improving the health and enriching the lives of the community we serve. I cannot express the gratitude we have for these funds, which have been given generously year after year!” says Tiffany Chambers, Professional Nurse Committee Chair.

“The Board understands that nurses are such an integral part of high-quality patient care at Altru. Because of the higher volume of nurse applicants for scholarship funds, we felt it was important to increase the funding

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Giving Hearts Day Brings in Over $36,500 Donations bring peace of mind to parents with premature babies by helping to purchase a Giraffe OmniBed. Altru Health Foundation participated in Giving Hearts Day on February 13. The 24-hour online fund raising event, hosted by Dakota Medical Foundation, brought in over $36,500. The proceeds will be used to help purchase a Giraffe OmniBed for premature babies at Altru. “Our hearts are warmed by the honor of receiving the Giving Hearts Day gifts. The gifts will promote a healing environment for our smallest of patients with state-of-the-art Giraffe OmniBed technology. We are grateful for your caring, compassion, and generosity,” says Sherry Burg, manager of Family Birthing Center, Women/Children & Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Altru. All donations made to Altru Health Foundation through impactgiveback.org were matched up to $5,000 courtesy of Dakota Medical Foundation and Brown Corporations – Randy and Merrilee Brown.

presents

Hosted By: impactgiveback.org

24 Hour Online Fundraising Event

2.13.14

Although Altru Health System currently has six Giraffe OmniBeds, there is a need for more beds because of the high patient volume. A Giraffe OmniBed is different from a traditional isolette in several ways. It allows the mattress to rotate 360 degrees, which gives the provider access to the baby from any angle, without disruption. It can also be completely closed to provide temperature control, opens quickly with the touch of a button, and has a built-in scale, allowing the provider to check the baby’s weight without interrupting his or her sleep cycle. To learn more about Giraffe OmniBeds and the needs of patients in Altru’s NICU, please contact Jon Green at [email protected] or 701.780.5837.

RUN FOR YOUR BUNS 2014 5K RUN/WALK BENEFITTING COLON CANCER

June 21, 2014 | 8 a.m. Lincoln Park altru.org/runforyourbuns

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2nd Annual Downtown Fashion Night Benefits Camp Good Mourning The Good Girls’ Club and Truyu Aesthetic Center joined forces with local businesses for the second year to bring fun, fashion, and charity to downtown Grand Forks. The event raised over $13,600 for Altru’s Camp Good Mourning, a grief camp for kids and teens. Attendees were treated to appetizers at the new location of Kittson boutique and Sadie’s Couture Floral and Event Styling, as well as goodie bags and door prizes provided by Truyu and other local sponsors. Adley Anne’s, Kittson, RH Standard, and True Colors showcased their fashions. In addition to their sponsorships, all of the evening’s participating businesses offered 10% of their sales from event attendees to go towards Altru’s Camp Good Mourning. Altru’s Camp Good “The Good Girls Club officers, Erinn Hakstol, Mourning is a grief camp for Nicole Fournier, and I, look at organizations kids and teens ages six through 18 who have locally that could really benefit from our event. experienced the loss of a From the moment we heard about Camp Good loved one. At the three-day camp, kids learn healthy Mourning we knew we had to do something for ways of coping with their them," says Mary Fox, president of the Good loss through recreational activities, arts and crafts, a Girls Club. "Our fashion show is our biggest low-adventure course, a high event of the year and we knew our donation ropes course, and music therapy. At the end of camp would go a long way for a great cause. We are so there is a memorial service, thankful that local businesses and community during which all of the deceased loved ones’ names members are supporting our mission of giving are read while the campers place a written letter to their assistance to local charitable groups and having loved one in a box. Later the fun along the way." box is buried and a tree is planted in memory of loved ones. All of the activities encourage campers to build trust with others and express their feelings with their counselor and other campers. Camp Good Mourning 2014 is scheduled for June 27th through 29th and is open to children and teens ages six to 18 years. To learn more about Camp Good Mourning, please contact Altru’s Hospice at 701.780.5258 or go to altru.org and search Camp Good Mourning. Camp Good Mourning is funded entirely through the support of generous donors. If you would like to give a gift to the camp, please use the enclosed envelope or go to altru.org/foundation. Photos courtesy of Shawna Noel Photography

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Having worked in the parts department at Rydell Chevrolet for 23 years, Terry Harmon knows the importance of routine maintenance. With a reminder from his older brother, Tom, of his entrance to the “50s club,” Terry made an appointment for a colonoscopy. “I knew 50 was the age to have a colonoscopy,” says Terry. “Tom and I made light of it at the time, but I’m so thankful he encouraged me to do it.” In March 2013, Dr. Robin Hape, general surgeon, performed a colonoscopy on Terry at the endoscopy center in Altru Professional Center. Three days later, Dr. Hape called Terry with the results. He had removed seven polyps, as well as a small lesion. The polyps were noncancerous. The lesion was Stage II colorectal cancer.

One Screening Saved My Life From Disbelief to Fighting the Fight

Terry Harmon received an unexpected diagnosis from a routine screening. Here’s what you need to know about the ‘silent killer,’ colorectal cancer.

“Imagine having the rug pulled out from under your normal life,” explains Terry, “That’s what it felt like. I was panic-stricken. What was I supposed to do now? Anxiety, emotions, fear – it all came at once.” Dr. Hape put Terry in touch with his nurse, Robbie Narlock, who helped Terry schedule additional tests and screenings. Everything showed the cancer hadn’t spread anywhere else. “I’ll never forget what Dr. Hape told me after the diagnosis,” says Terry. “He said, ‘I’ll see you through this. You’re my patient through the very end.’ It gave me confidence to proceed with treatment knowing he was by my side.” Terry enrolled in a clinical trial that consisted of chemotherapy and radiation simultaneously. After almost six weeks of treatments, cancer center nurses celebrated Terry’s last day of treatment before surgery with a cake and mementos. “It was overwhelming,” he remembers. Terry recovered for a month before Dr. Hape removed the cancerous part of his colon in June 2013. Since then, Terry has experienced some complications from his cancer. A blood infection resulted in eight weeks of intravenous (IV) antibiotic infusions every six hours. “It’s a small bump in the road, but I’m healing. I’m hoping to be back to work in February. Just having a positive attitude gets me through it,” says Terry.

Make the Appointment “It was a day out of my life that has now saved my life,” says Terry. “I’m very grateful I went in when I did. I was a healthy 50-year-old with no unusual symptoms. No wonder colon cancer is sometimes referred to as the ‘silent killer.’” Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer, and the second highest form of cancer deaths in the United States. According to the North Dakota Department of Health, 31 percent of people in Grand Forks County and 40 percent of people in the surrounding region who are at risk for CRC have never had a colonoscopy. “It’s so important that we educate people. I’m a big advocate for getting screened,” says Terry. “The more people who get screened, the better chance we have at reducing the rate of colorectal cancer in our community.”

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No one likes to think about cancer— especially colon cancer. Oftentimes many otherwise health-conscious adults are just too embarrassed or afraid to talk about it. Unfortunately, this silence has allowed colon cancer to become the second leading cause of cancer deaths. The good news is that colorectal cancer can be prevented through the early detection and removal of pre-cancerous polyps that are detectable through screenings (colonoscopies). Despite recent health care legislation, there remains unexpected cost sharing for patients in need of a colonoscopy screening. The out-of-pocket expense can be a financial barrier that prevents patients from seeking this prevention tool. Altru Health Foundation is committed to eliminating this barrier by providing financial support for qualified patients in need of screenings. If you would like to make a gift in support of patients needing colorectal cancer screenings, please go to altru.org/foundation or call 701.780.5600.

Screenings can find pre-cancerous polyps, which when removed, can prevent colorectal cancer. Early detection of colorectal cancer is important, because that is when treatment works best. To schedule your screening at Altru’s Endoscopy Center, call 701.780.6533.

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New Therapy Equipment in Altru’s Pediatric Therapy Services Thanks to Harvest Gala 2013 Donor gifts at Harvest Gala 2013 have made a big difference for young patients needing therapy services. point crawling position and crawl down the halls of Pediatric Therapy Services. Soon after, he was able to complete this skill not only in therapy, but in his home environment as well. This equipment made achieving this milestone much easier,” says Leah Marti, physical therapist at Altru’s Pediatric Therapy Services.

Thanks to the generosity of donors at Harvest Gala 2013, young patients at Altru’s Pediatric Therapy Services are benefitting from changes that have already been made. New state-of-the-art therapy equipment, including balance therapy balls, a ZipZac, an adaptive high chair, and a Creepster Crawler. Each piece of equipment has a specific use for either occupational, speech, or physical therapy—and many of the items are used in all three areas.

In addition to these therapy tools, the Vocera communication system was installed throughout the department. With this tool, therapists and staff are able to communicate with one another at the touch of a button if they are in need of assistance with a child. “Vocera improves both the safety and quality of the care we deliver,” says Maureen.

“The Creepster Crawler is a mobility aid that assists children to reach the very important developmental milestone of crawling. It is designed to safely suspend the child in a 4-point creeping position. An adjustable foam padded harness supports the child’s belly and attaches to the mobile frame, which provides support to the child, allowing them to get the feeling of what it would be like to crawl. It can be used for many children with varying diagnosis: Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, Down’s Syndrome and Gross Motor Delays,” says Maureen Riley, supervisor of Physical Medicine and Therapy Services. “Immediately after receiving the Creepster Crawler, I began using it with one of our 17-month-old patients with developmental delays. This child had mastered the art of “commando crawling” (belly crawling), but was struggling to get up onto all fours. After one day in the Creepster Crawler, this child was able to assume the traditional 4

savethedate for

spinforkids

Saturday, April 12, 2014 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Sacred Heart School, East Grand Forks, MN All proceeds benefit children in our communities with special needs

For more information, please call Altru’s Pediatric Therapy Services at 701.780.2477 or go online to altru.org/spinforkids

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"Exceeding the three million dollar mark in giving back to Altru Health System and our community shows what can be done when many individuals join together for a common cause. The members of the Altru Alliance and its board of directors extend our deepest appreciation to each and every customer of the Altru Alliance Gift Shop and our fund raisers," says Jo Cultice, president of the Altru Alliance. "It is only with the net proceeds from these sales that we have reached this milestone and can continue to give back. This is a time to celebrate what we’ve accomplished while looking forward to touching even more lives in the future."

Altru Alliance Reaches $3 Million in Gifts to Patient Care In February, the Altru Alliance celebrates giving over $3 million in support of patient care at Altru. A check was presented to Dr. Casey Ryan, president of Altru, and Dave Molmen, CEO, on February 27, after which a hospitalwide celebration took place.

“The Altru Alliance community members unselfishly volunteer their time in order to make a difference in the lives of patients. The Alliance was the major donor on two important patient care projects; Altru Cancer Center and Altru’s Cardiac Services. Surpassing $3 million of support is a milestone for which they can be very proud and for which Altru is very thankful. Without their financial support over all these years, Altru would not have been able to support all the patient care assistance they have provided and continue to provide,” says Jon Green, executive director of Altru Health Foundation.

Funds are raised by the Alliance through the gift shop and jewelry sales in Altru Hospital. Each year, departments are encouraged to apply for funds from the Alliance and recipient departments are selected based upon what will have the greatest impact on patients and their families. Over 100 areas of patient care have been supported since the founding of the Altru Alliance (then Altru Auxiliary) in 1983.

Telemedicine Services Receives $15,885 for Electronic Stethoscopes Donor gifts help to support the conversion of electronic stethoscopes to a webbased application, allowing for increased dependability and higher quality of care. The Altru Health Foundation Board approved $15,885 to support the conversion of electronic stethoscopes used in regional clinics to a web-based application, which will increase the dependability and quality of care to patients in Altru’s regional clinic service areas. Telemedicine utilizes technology to present live, interactive video and audio between a patient in a rural community and a specialist in Grand Forks. The medical consult is conducted from the patient’s hometown health facility. A typical visit includes the patient and their family members, the telemedicine nurse and the specialist at Altru Health System in Grand Forks. Patients will see and hear the specialist in real time, as if they were in the room with them. “The electronic stethoscope is an important piece of equipment for a Telemedicine visit, just as it is for every provider during a patient assessment. The provider can hear live heart and lungs sounds on a patient hundreds or thousands of miles away. Prior to this funding, the stethoscopes were outdated and connected from only four locations in Altru Health System in Grand Forks. Now, the equipment will connect to a dedicated web location from any computer. This enhances our provider’s ability to serve the regional patient, which will continue to support our Telemedicine growth. This is a wonderful investment in patient care,” says Marsha Waind, manager of regional services at Altru.

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The Spirit of Altru Altru’s employees support one another through the Spirit Fund, giving over $418,000 to fellow employees facing difficulties. Since the beginning of the Spirit program in 2002, over $418,000 has been given to Altru employees and patients in need.

Where would you turn if you needed to have surgery which kept you out of work for 12 weeks? What if you had no paid time off left to use due to previous family emergencies? Susan Goulding, a family practice nurse at Altru Clinic in Devils Lake, found herself in this situation. Fortunately Altru’s Spirit Fund was here to help.

“The fund was started from discussions on how we could approach Altru employees for their support on an annual basis. We wanted their gifts to support something very meaningful to each employee. When we considered Altru’s commitment to being both the provider of choice for patients and the employer of choice for employees, we realized this was also a daily goal for each employee. The Spirit Fund enables the employees’ generous gifts to support the emergency needs of both the patients for which they provide care and also their co-workers who are part of the Altru family. Employees’ generous participation in the annual Spirit Fund has made it possible for thousands of patients and employees to receive help at a time they most desperately needed assistance. I am very grateful for everyone’s caring gift,” says Jon Green, executive director of Altru Health Foundation.

Altru’s Spirit Fund helps employees who are facing difficult times with financial and PTO assistance, as well as patients facing emergency situations. Employees are able to donate paid time off (PTO), make a one-time donation, or donate an amount from their paycheck every two weeks. “The Spirit Fund is unique in that it is not a budgeted fund. It is entirely 100 percent supported by the gifts of your fellow employees. Every dollar given to an employee in need from the Spirit Fund is coming directly from the pool of funds given by Altru colleagues,” says Jennifer Berg, compensation specialist at Altru.

“I want to thank you for the recent assistance from the Spirit Fund. I’m now 12 weeks out from surgery and the donation made the difference in being able to pay our bills while I was out of work. It is such a pleasure to work at Altru and I am reminded daily how wonderful it is to work in this community of caring people.” - Susan Goulding, Altru Clinic Devils Lake

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ND Department of Health Awards over $157,000 to Patient Care Services at Altru Colorectal Cancer Screenings

Suicide Prevention

Altru will receive $115,500 in grant money to provide colorectal cancer screenings for uninsured and underinsured patients. The grant funding is provided through the Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Screening Initiative Advisory Committee and the North Dakota Department of Health. The award will support at least 55 colonoscopy screenings for patients in need.

In early summer of 2013, a grant award of $12,282 helped to implement a suicide screening program coinciding with Mental Health Awareness month. The program was put in practice through Altru’s primary care providers. Staff were trained on how to recognize patients at risk for suicide and what to do after a patient was identified at risk. This program will continue to benefit patients suffering from depression.

“Altru is very fortunate to receive this important grant to assist us in providing preventive services. So many diseases have ‘silent symptoms’ that an individual does not know they have a health issue until an advance stage that is more difficult to treat and cure,” says Jon Green, executive director of Altru Health Foundation. “With this grant we will be able to reach out to those individuals who do not have the financial ability to have a colonoscopy, yet may have a family history that indicates they should be screened. Altru is committed to providing preventive health services and this generous gift will enable us to reach out to the public and potentially save lives.”

Tobacco Cessation A grant of $30,000 was awarded in August 2013 for tobacco cessation services. Prior to the grant award, there was only one Altru staff member certified as a Tobacco Treatment Specialist through a Mayo Clinic certification program. Thanks to this grant funding there will be three additional staff trained and one staff recertified. This grant will also help to create a class to help members of the community to quit tobacco use and provide educational materials.

Despite recent health care legislation, there remains unexpected cost sharing for patients interested in a colonoscopy screening. The out-of-pocket expense is a financial barrier that prevents many patients from seeking this prevention tool. Altru Health System’s executive leadership team has put forth strategic initiatives to reduce the number of colon cancers diagnosed at stage three or four from 39 percent to 20 percent in Altru’s service area. To accomplish this, Altru will increase the screening rates in our communities and implement community awareness plans.

Since April 2013, Altru Health Foundation has been awarded three grants by the North Dakota Department of Health in the areas of colorectal cancer screenings, suicide awareness, and tobacco cessation.

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