Each year, the misidentification

of patients leads to medical

mishaps in hospital settings every-

where. The University of Kansas

Hospital is taking steps to ensure

that caregivers confirm a patient’s

identity before every procedure.

Identification bracelets and a series

of patient questions play a key role

in making this happen.

The hospital launched a campaign

Oct. 25 to raise awareness about

patient safety and educate employees,

physicians, patients and visitors about

the new patient identification stan-

dards implemented hospitalwide in

January 2004. The campaign will fea-

ture posters and information about

new patient identification guidelines.

“We’re trying to emphasize the

importance of this very basic step that

is so crucial to quality patient care,”

said Shirley Weber, director of busi-

ness operations of patient care services

in Organizational Improvement.

The new standards require all

patients and most outpatients to

receive ID bracelets. They also require

health care staff to use two unique

identifiers to establish patient identity

before performing procedures, admin-

istering medicine or doing blood

work. These identifiers may include

information such as name, birth date,

patient number or address.

“This is something we can do

that will make the hospital a safer

place,” said Suzanne Shaffer, RN,

assistant director, Department of

Nursing. “This gives patients a more

proactive role and, at the same time,

allows them to trust in the quality of

care they receive.”

By requiring caregivers to use

two unique identifiers before treating

a patient, the hospital also meets a

key goal of the Joint Commission on

Accreditation of Healthcare

Organizations (JCAHO). The hospital

is taking basic steps toward prevent-

ing miscommunication, Weber notes.

“One white bracelet can make a

world of difference when it comes

to patient safety,” she said.

Page 2 What’s NewsMedia FocusIn Memoriam

Page 3 Front & Center

Page 4 Classifieds, etc.

Identification CampaignHighlights Patient Safety

The University of Kansas Medical Center

28 OCTOBER 2004 • VOLUME 6 • NUMBER 44

Inside

The patient ID campaign features aseries of four posters that will be placedthroughout the hospital. Similar flierswill be given to patients in Admitting.

Patient ID StepsThe “Patient Identification

for Clinical Care and Treatment”

policy requires caregivers to con-

firm patient identity before

administering any treatment. The

following series of steps is key to

keeping patients safe and making

sure the right patient receives the

right treatment:

• Verify that the name on the

patient’s ID bracelet matches

the name on the medical chart

or order.

• If the patient is able to commu-

nicate, ask the patient to state

his or her name and one addi-

tional patient identifier, such as

date of birth or address.

• Check these two identifiers with

the patient’s medical record and

identification bracelet.

Local media outlets have recently

showcased the achievements of sever-

al physicians and researchers from

The University of Kansas Hospital

and the KU School of Medicine.

Ingram’s business magazine rec-

ognized two physicians in its 2004

Special Medical edition. Listed

among the region’s 10 “Top Doctors”

are neurologist Rajesh Pahwa, MD,

professor and director of the

Parkinson’s Disease and Movement

Disorder Center, and oncologist

Sarah Taylor, MD, professor and

director of Palliative Care Services.

Pahwa is also featured in the

Midwest Airlines Magazine

September/October 2004 issue in an

article titled, “Body Mechanics.”

The article explores the use of arti-

ficial devices to improve quality of

life, including Pahwa’s work with

deep brain stimulation in

Parkinson’s disease patients.

In addition, the KU School of

Medicine published its first volume

of Research in Medicine. The annual

research report profiles many KUMC

scientists and their promising research.

“We’re excited about our pre-

mier issue,” says Barbara Atkinson,

MD, executive dean and vice chan-

cellor for Clinical Affairs. “It

gives us an opportunity to tell

the story of our research enter-

prise to a wide audience.”

Research in Medicine

was mailed with KU Med

Magazine in mid-October to med-

ical center alumni, all physicians in

Kansas, donors, legislators and

KUMC’s life science partners.

Publications Focus on KUMC Physicians and Researchers

In MemoriamDonald C. Johnson, PhD, professor emeritus, Department of Obstetrics

and Gynecology and Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology,

died Oct. 14 after an extended illness.

He earned degrees from the University of Wisconsin and the University

of Iowa. In 1963, Johnson began his career at KUMC and remained active

after his retirement in 1996.

Contributions may be made to the Donald C. Johnson Seminar Series

in Reproductive Biology Fund, University of Kansas Endowment

Association, 3901 Rainbow Blvd., Kansas City, KS 66160.

2

Campus BriefingBarbara Atkinson, MD, execu-

tive dean of the KU School of

Medicine and executive vice chan-

cellor-designate, will conduct an

all-campus briefing at 4:30 p.m.

Nov. 1 in Battenfeld Auditorium.

The dean will share her initial

plans for the leadership structure of

the university functions at KUMC.

She will also update the campus on

the planning process as she prepares

to succeed Donald Hagen, MD,

executive vice chancellor, effective

Jan.1, 2005.

Road Safety EventYoung and soon-to-be drivers

from area schools will celebrate safe

driving habits Oct. 30 at Kansas

Speedway.

The event marks the culmination

of National Road Safety Awareness

Week, Oct. 12-20. Kim Templeton,

MD, associate clinical professor,

Orthopedics, is heading up the cam-

paign locally. Templeton, the national

chair of the Public Education

Committee for the Bone and Joint

Decade, was instrumental in encour-

aging Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius

to declare a statewide week as well.

A professional, competitive

driving school will provide training

to teens at Kansas Speedway.

KUMC representatives and local

law enforcement will be on hand to

encourage safe driving habits.

Hartley TourPatricia (left) and Dub (right) Hartley toured the newly renovated Hartley

Family Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing and the Department of Hearing

and Speech’s Audiology Clinic on the fourth floor of the Miller Building Oct. 12.

Since 1990, the Hartleys have contributed more than $600,000 to the center,

which provides services to deaf children from birth to 3 years old and to their

families. Pictured with the

Hartleys is John Ferraro,

PhD, department chair.

Major contributions have

also come from the

Estate of Jessie Hodges

Benton and the Louis

and Dolpha Baehr

Charitable Trust.

Friends, family members, students

and colleagues gathered Oct. 22 to

dedicate the newly remodeled

Rehabilitation classroom and library

to George Varghese, MD, chair,

Department of Rehabilitation

Medicine. Pictured are (from left)

Perri Craven, MD, medical director,

St. Francis Health Systems, Tulsa,

Okla.; Varghese; Barbara Atkinson,

MD, executive dean, KU School of

Medicine, and vice chancellor for

Clinical Affairs; and William Kossow,

MD, medical director, Inpatient Unit,

Salina Regional Health Center,

Salina, Kan. Craven and Kossow, for-

mer residents in the Rehab

Department, funded the classroom

renovations and audiovisual addi-

tions as part of the KU First Family

Campaign.

Seeing RedAbove, Donald Hagen, MD, KUMC

executive vice chancellor (second

from left), applied the finishing

touches to the striping for Lot 90.

The expanded lot adds 260 parking

spaces, including 223 red spaces to

KUMC’s total parking inventory. The

lot opened Oct. 25. Assisting Hagen

were (from left) Rick Johnson, direc-

tor of Public Safety; Avis Moore,

assistant director of Parking Services;

and Nan Josephson, manager,

Facilities Planning.

Classroom Dedication

3

Thursday, Oct. 28• MRRC and Department of

Physiology Seminar: “MultisensoryIntegration in Primates: Anatomicaland Behavioral Approach,” PascalBarone, noon-1 p.m., MRRCConference Room, Smith East 1004.

• American College of HealthcareExecutives Lecture Series, SteveWilkinson, president and chief exec-utive officer of Menorah MedicalCenter, 6-7 p.m., 1025 Orr-Major.

Friday, Oct. 29• Pediatric Grand Rounds: “Sleep

Disordered Breathing andAdenotonsillectomy: A DiagnosticDilemma,” Julie Wei, MD, 8-9 a.m.,Lied Auditorium.

• “Recognition and Management ofDomestic Violence,” Zita Surprenant,MD, MPH, 8-11 a.m., G013 Schoolof Nursing. Register at 8-5426.

• Psychiatry Grand Rounds: “ImprovingLong-Term Care and Health:Optimizing the Patient’s Ability toFunction,” Greg Sathananthan, MD,10:30 a.m.-noon, Sudler Auditorium.

• Diversity Forum: “Race Relations inthe Sunflower State,” Jim Leiker,noon-1 p.m., Wahl Hall West.

• Biochemistry Formal Seminar: “TheRole of Cyclooxygenase 2 in CellSurvival, Cell Motility and ColonCancer Development,” Edith Chang,PhD, 11 a.m.-noon, 1023 Orr-Major.

Saturday, Oct. 30• Second Annual Symposium on

Problems in Epilepsy Care: James W.Wheless, MD, Frank Gilliam, MD,William J. Nowack, MD, RichardTorkelson, MD, 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.,Hampton Inn & Suites, Country ClubPlaza. To register, contact KUContinuing Education at 877-404-5823or visit www.kuce.org/kumc.

Monday, Nov. 1• Murphy Society Brown Bag Luncheon:

“Risk Management and MedicalMalpractice,” Chris Thomas and RuthKamm, 12:05-1 p.m., 1025 Orr-Major.

Tuesday, Nov. 2• Surgery Grand Rounds: “H. Pylori

Infection: What a Surgeon ShouldKnow,” Laurence Cheung, MD, 7-8 a.m., Clendening Auditorium.

• Distinguished Visiting Scholar LectureSeries: “Obesity Prevention: FromResearch to Policy,” Debra Haire-Joshu, PhD, MPH, noon-1 p.m., B018School of Nursing. Also Nov. 3.

• Student Wellness Program:“Discovering Balance: A Patient’sComing Out Process,” Jamie Lee,noon-1 p.m., 1050 School of Nursing.Free lunch for first 25 students.

Wednesday, Nov. 3• Landon Center on Aging Brown Bag

Lunch Series: “Home for a Lifetime:Staying in Your Home,” Paul Levy,noon-1 p.m., Landon Center.

Coming Up

Classifieds, etc.Automotive1999 Harley Davidson Sportster 1200custom, all chrome, 7K miles, remainderof service warranty included, $10,500.816-763-1082.

1988 Toyota pickup with topper, excellenttires, new battery, must sell. 913-393-0802.

1999 Hyundai Elantra, 82K miles, auto-matic, AC, cruise, cassette, gray interior/exterior, excellent condition, very clean, 1 owner, $3,850. 913-338-3460.

1994 Ford Ranger XLT 2x4, new transmission/clutch in 2001, 128K miles, blue, 5-speed, air, runs great, $1,800OBO. 913-908-9681.

1997 Chevy Astro conversion van, 87.5Kmiles, 7-passenger, rear dual air, powerwindows/tilt/cruise, $7,100. 816-578-4362.

For SaleMTD push lawnmower, good workingcondition, $40. 913-649-4048.

House, super location near I-35/I-635,quiet street in great neighborhood, spa-cious 3 BR, 21/2 BA, 2-car garage, largeyard, $151,500. Martha at 913-661-2360.

New La-Z-Boy brown leather recliningsofa and chair, treated for stains, ownedfor 2 weeks, paid $2,050, asking $1,800.816-468-6476.

Nearly new Midwest dog/cat crate hometraining series 42Lx26Wx28H, toughABS plastic pan, secure slide-bolt latch,black electro coat finish, easy setup (notools needed), originally $80, asking $55.816-468-6313 or 816-436-0119.

Whirlpool washer and dryer, heavy duty,$150 each or $250 for pair; severalwheelchairs, make offer; portable toilet,make offer. Kevin at 913-269-0095.

Used Kenmore heavy-duty washer andgas dryer, $100 each or $175/pair. 913-342-5237.

Queen-size waterbed frame with bookcaseheadboard, padded rails, $75. 913-722-5735.

Beautiful wooden dining table, 6 match-ing chairs, $45; sofa/loveseat/coffee table,$69; big microwave, $12; 2 twin-sizebeds, $20 per bed or $10 per piece;mahogany-colored CEO desk, 1 year old,$59 OBO. E-mail moca59@yahoo.comor call 913-649-2239 6-9 p.m.

Sony 36" flat-screen TV, 5-disc DVD/CDplayer, surround-sound system, $1,200;new oak dining room table, 6 chairs, $700.913-634-7336.

Antique oak secretary/bookcase, excellentcondition, original glass; Linksys wirelessrouter/PC card; make offers. 913-897-5256 or 816-804-2924.

Irene M. Cumming Donald Hagen, MDPresident and CEO Executive Vice ChancellorThe University of University of KansasKansas Hospital Medical Center

Laura Coffey, EditorCarolen Collins, Internal Communications Manager

Kirk Buster, Graphic DesignJan Lewis, Editorial Manager

Val Renault, Senior WriterMary King, Communications Services Director

In The Center is a weekly employee publication published by The University of Kansas Hospital’sCommunications Services Department. Send story ideasto Laura Coffey, Bldg. 48, Room 1074, e-mail lcoffey@kumc.edu or call 8-0446.

Ad Policy - Send or bring your ad, 30 words or less, to Bldg. 48, Room 1070, fax to 8-0241, or e-mailinthecenter by noon Thursday of the week before it isto run. Ads run free of charge for employees, studentsand volunteers. All ads must include the advertiser’sname and work extension (or student box number) forverification. Only home phone numbers–no pagernumbers or work extensions–will be published. Pleaseinclude area code. No ads for commercial services orpets for sale will be accepted. Ads will not be taken bytelephone. Ads may be held a week if space is limited.

3901 RAINBOW BOULEVARD • KANSAS CITY, KS 66160 • (913) 588-5000 • WWW.KUMC.EDU