MHSNursenet.com Newsletter Vol 1, No.2

Friday, May 12th, marked the birthday of Florence Nightingale. She was an absolutely incredible person! For example, she designed hospitals, is credited with beginning the discipline of biostatistics, developed the first training school for nurses (much to the opposition of many people who believed that nurses did not need education), and developed hospital and military sanitation systems, to mention only a few of her accomplishments.

This is a tremendous heritage to live up to. As we have just finished a celebration of Nurses Week, we must remember that we have many miles to go before we sleep” as Robert Frost so aptly pointed out to us. There are many ways nurses can relieve suffering and pain, and there are many approaches to clinical training and methods of care delivery that have yet to be discovered.

Our goals within Nursing at Methodist Healthcare include innovation in nursing practice and our clinical environment. We have challenged the status quo numerous times with innovative ideas and programs. The partnership with the UTHSC School of Nursing, which provides the pilot students with a more intense clinical integration experience (resulting in more clinically prepared graduates), is just one example.

We must continue to live up to the challenge of our heritage. What will be your legacy of innovation?

Trauma at MHS
Lisa Cole, RN, Trauma Coordinator

As some of you have heard, Methodist Hospital and Methodist Children’s Hospital of South Texas are seeking designation as a Level Ill Trauma facility. A Level Ill designation will allow us to continue to treat the major trauma patient population we have been caring for over the years (it will not increase the severity of our trauma patients).

A consultation visit was completed at Methodist and Children’s Hospitals last summer and a site survey is tentatively scheduled for later this year. The site visit is conducted by the Texas Department of Health approved surveyors. This is similar to a JCAHO survey except it is focused on issues related to the care of the trauma patient, including pre-hospitalization, ER, OR, ICU, acute and sub acute care. The survey also encompasses our participation in the Trauma Regional Advisory Council and our community involvement in Injury Prevention.

As of March 1, 2000, we have surgeons on trauma call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, who have been specially trained to care for trauma patients.

This is an exciting beginning to a growing program at Methodist and Children’s Hospitals. At this time, Metropolitan Methodist, Northeast Methodist, Methodist Specialty and Transplant, and Methodist Ambulatory Surgery Hospitals are participating in the State Trauma Registry only. It is anticipated, due to the provider number consolidation between Methodist, Children’s and Metropolitan Methodist Hospitals, that Metropolitan Methodist Hospital will become designated as a Level IV Trauma facility within the next few years.

A Level IV Trauma facility stabilizes major trauma patients and then transfers them to a higher level of care facility.

1,500th Kidney Transplant Celebrated
Jo Ann King-Sinneti, Dir., Public Affairs

The Texas Transplant Institute (TTI), located on the campus of Methodist Specialty and Transplant Hospital, held an employee appreciation celebration on May 12, 2000. A fun-filled, fiesta themed party was held in the atrium of TTI to celebrate the 1,500th kidney transplant, performed on May 5th, at MSTH.

Karen Farias, RN and Linda McFarlin, RN, CCTC, were recognized during the festivities. Both nurses have been with the hospital since the kidney transplant program began in 1984. Karen and Linda were presented with plaques, in recognition of their dedication to the program and in gratitude for their years of service.

Walter Still, Sr., 56 of New Braunfels, was recognized as the 1,500th kidney transplant recipient. His son, Walter Still, Jr., who donated one of his kidneys to his father, was also honored.

Sean Elliott and Walter Still, Sr.
Sean Elliott, Spurs basketball forward, and Waiter Still, Sr, transplant recipient # 1,500, share a laugh at The May 12th celebration at Methodist Specialty and Transplant Hospital.

During the celebration, guest of honor, Spurs basketball player, Sean Elliott, was presented with an oversized can of his own brand of “Kidney” beans, thanks to HEB and International Home Foods. 1,500 cans of the novelty kidney beans were distributed as souvenirs to mark the occasion.

Large sized can of Beans

MSTH is one of seven hospitals in the nation, and the only private hospital in the country, to reach the 1,500 mark. TTI staff are eager to reach the next 1,500 milestone.

HCFA Sets New Guidelines
Sandi Lindstrom, BSN, RN, Director, Nursing Informatics

In accordance with observing patient rights, new restraint and seclusion guidelines have been developed by the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA). The Special Treatments System Function Team has reviewed these guidelines and has revised all system policies for restraint, seclusion and immobilization. As a result of this effort, three core policies for the system were developed: Restraints and Seclusion, Medical Immobilization, and Fall Prevention Program.

Restraint and Seclusion outline guidelines, policy, and requirements for patients demonstrating behavior that puts them at risk to themselves or others. New in this policy: a physician must see the patient face-to-face within one hour of application of restraint or seclusion and the order is time limited to 12 hours for seclusion. The time limited order of 24 hours for restraint, 15 minute checks by a trained individual, and a RN assessment every two hours has not changed. A paper form (vs. Meditech) has been developed for restraint and seclusion documentation.

The immobilization for medical treatment policy has remained essentially the same. Former safety immobilization policies were rolled into the fall prevention program policy. Meditech documentation was enhanced for medical/safety immobilization. Associated protocols have basically remained the same however, an order is no longer needed to initiate the physician approved medical immobilization and fall protocols. Specific alternative measure guidelines were developed for all policies and are available on-line in Meditech,

Education on all three policies is currently being provided across the system. The implementation date is set for June 1, 2000. Questions regarding any of the policies can be addressed to Sandi Lindstrom via e-mail.

You’re Under Arrest!
Joyce F. Walker, RN
Pedi ER MCH

My favorite story about one of my patients involved a three year old boy I took care of in the Pedi ER. He had already been catheterized for a urine specimen at another facility but, since we were unable to obtain the results, his physician ordered a repeat cathed urine to be done in the ER.

As I went in to do the catheterization (along with reinforcements), the boy started crying and kicking. We immobilized him so I could complete the procedure, and then he really got mad. He angrily told me, “I’m going to call the cops on you!”

I felt terrible about having to repeat the procedure on him and, of course, I under stood his anger. Later, I saw a security guard in the ER and persuaded him to go into the boy’s room and “take a report”. The little patient told his story to the “police officer” sobbing the whole time. Finally, he pointed at me and said, “Her… that’s who did it!!”

Surfing the Net: Web Sites for Nurses
Catherine Dikcis, Medical Librarian

Did you know that many nursing journals now have associated Internet web sites? These sites are packed with useful features. Instead of using a general search engine, such as Yahoo, try using these sites to track down pertinent professional information.

NursingCenter.com
(http://www.nursingcenter.com)

SpringNet.com
(http://www.springnet.com)

These web sites are sponsored by Lippincott, the publisher of the American Journal of Nursing and Springhouse, the publisher of Nursing 2000, respectively. The table of contents and article abstracts for several different nursing Journals are available. In addition, each site has a user friendly system for obtaining CNE credit online with a certificate available immediately upon completion. There are peer discussion forums, a career information center, and links to nursing resources, such as nursing associations

This Newsletter is a publication of Methodist Healthcare System Nursing Department. All Nursing Department employees are welcome to submit articles related to nursing, locally or nationally. The Editorial Board has the final decision on submissions, including editing and condensing. Please submit material (preferably on disk or though Meditech or Outlook) to any member of the Editorial Board or directly to Sharon Garza, 5 West, MSTH.

Jana S. Stonestreet, PhD, RN
Chief Nursing Executive
MHS
Sharon F. Garza, RN - MSTH
Editor-in-Chief

Editorial Board:
Orna Bailey, RN - MCH
Kathy Black, Admin. Assistant
Deborah Bodin, RN - SWTMH
Pat Cornett, Ed.D., RN - MHS
Catherine Dikcis, Medical Librarian
Diane Ferguson, RN - NEMH
Lucy Gabrovic, RN - MCH
Linda Iruegas, LVN - MMH
Debbie Nichols, RN, - SWTMH
Pam Putnam, RN - MSTH
Cynthia Vavala, RN - OPSC

Graphic Artists\Photographers:
Luis Ruiz
Ben Gomez

Printshop Coordinator:
Alfredo Ramos

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