TODAY news - August 28, 2003

Thursday, August 28, 2003 TODAY

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Cancer surveillance program releases annual report at press conference

John Morgan, DrPH (center), cancer epidemiologist for the Desert Sierra Cancer Surveillance Program, and associate professor, School of Public Health and Medicine, answers a question about cancer rates in women while Alan R. King, MD, medical director for the Desert Sierra Cancer Surveillance Program and director of cancer control at Loma Linda University Cancer Institute, and Rebecca E. Cassady, RHIA, CTR, program director for the Desert Sierra Cancer Surveillance Program listen.

The annual report from the Desert Sierra Cancer Surveillance Program announces that reduction of the incidence and mortality for tobacco related cancers remains the highest priority in the Desert Sierra population, as is utilization of cancer screening and early detection methods for cancer with origins in the cervix uteri, breast, and colon and rectum.

Gradual declines in age-adjusted incidence and mortality rates for all cancers combined among DSCSP females and males are evident after 1993. Yet comparisons of the average annual (1996 to 2000) age-adjusted incidence rates of cancer measured in the DSCSP and for the entire State of California identify higher incidence and mortality rates for lung & bronchus cancer among female and male DSCSP residents when compared to the statewide average.

This information, along with the complete report, was released at a press conference on Thursday, June 26, at 10:00 a.m. at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital.

The Desert Sierra Cancer Surveillance Program (DSCSP) is a member of the California Cancer Registry (CCR). The DSCSP serves as region five of the CCR, California’s legally mandated cancer reporting system. As one of the largest population-based cancer registries in the world, the CCR provides cancer surveillance for the 34 million residents of California. In February, 2001, region five of the California Cancer Registry joined five other regional cancer registries in California as the Cancer Registry of Greater California, joining the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program as one of four SEER expansion sites.

This state-of-the-art cancer surveillance system provides measurement of cancer incidences in California with detail regarding age, gender, and race/ethnicity; assessment of regional cancer rates, trends, and concerns in each of 10 California regions; and a rich, confidential database that supports research into the causes of cancer and identification of methods that maximize utilization of cancer control and prevention.

Since 1988, the Loma Linda University Cancer Institute, part of the Medical Center, has received funding from the California Department of Health Services for operation of the DSCSP, which serves approximately one-tenth of the California population.

This is the eighth annual report of cancer incidence and the fifth report of cancer mortality released for the four counties. This report covers the years 1988 through 2000 and uses data for new cancer cases added into the DSCSP active database prior to January 31, 2003, and deaths from cancer among residents of the region from 1988 to 2000.

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All-star employee appreciation night held at Arrowhead Credit Union Park

B. Lyn Behrens, MBBS, president and CEO of Loma Linda University Adventist Health Sciences Center, reads the name for the grand prize drawing for a cruise to Alaska at the all-star employee appreciation event on July 29.

Administrators of Loma Linda University Adventist Health Sciences Center (LLUAHSC) gave away 6,000 tickets to the second annual all-star employee appreciation event held July 29 at Arrowhead Credit Union Park in San Bernardino. Employees, volunteers, students, and their families were treated to a ball game of the Inland Empire 66ers baseball team.

The game began at 7:00 p.m. and provided an evening of fun and prizes for employees. Throughout the game, employee names were drawn for prizes ranging from a gift certificate to Claim Jumpers to a seven-day cruise to Alaska.

The LLUAHSC campus is home to many “stars” like the dedicated employees, students, and volunteers who carry out the work and healing ministry of Christ. The event was put together as an appreciation for all of these individuals.

All-star appreciation day big winners

• Cruise for two to Alaska

Lucille McGee, OP dialysis

• Trip for two to Puerto Vallarta

Teresa Housley, FMO radiology

• Toshiba 32” flat screen television

Christina Villa, decision support

• $500 Galleria at Tyler shopping spree

Joni Field, International Heart Institute

• Disney Resort stay for four

Lisa Ann Nissen, School of Dentistry

• $500 Ontario Mills shopping spree

Robin Steele, Outpatient Surgery Center

• $500 Costco shopping spree

Nancy Hadaway, information systems

• Panasonic video camera

Paul Escarcega, environmental services

• Uniden phone system

Kurt Meyer, CMBGT

• Mission Inn brunch for two

Sunbeam Obomsarrin, ER

• Orange Empire car washes for 1 year

Dawn Chilson, marketing

• Panasonic DVD/VHS player

Krystal Kay Kellison, operator services

• $100 Claim Jumper gift card

Sheila Klein, accounts payable

• Toshiba digital camera

Diane Cadena, family care

• $50 certificate to Cold Stone Creamery

Geneva Chinnock, PACU

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White Memorial Medical Center celebrates 90 years of service with new building project

H. Roger Hadley, MD, dean of the Loma Linda University School of Medicine, presented at the groundbreaking ceremony for White Memorial Medical Center.

Described as a vital heart beat of the community by elected officials from Boyle Heights, White Memorial Medical Center celebrated its 90th anniversary on July 24 with a ground blessing ceremony for a new building project that will bring the hospital up to code for California earthquake regulations. The project is centered around a brand new, 167-bed acute care tower that will be the heart of the 359-bed campus.

Planning began in 1996 for the campus-wide structural upgrading project. One of the largest hospital replacement projects in Los Angeles, it will be completed in December of 2007. The acute care tower will be finished in December, 2005, and will stand six stories tall, housing core patient-care centers including emergency medicine, intensive care units, a regional level III NICU, and the labor and delivery unit.

After the acute care tower is finished, three adjacent buildings will be renovated-the South, East, and North towers. Currently underway are the renovation of the central utilities building, the addition of a new medical office building, and an underground parking structure at the front of the campus, which will provide space for more than 500 cars.

H. Roger Hadley, MD, dean of the Loma Linda University School of Medicine, presented at the ground blessing event.

“ I appreciate more than ever the relationship between White Memorial and Loma Linda University School of Medicine,” said Dr. Hadley. “The White Memorial is a key component of our mission at the School of Medicine.”

Since its inception as a small clinic opened on First Street near downtown Los Angeles, White Memorial has been intertwined with the LLU School of Medicine. Originally it provided students enrolled at the then new medical school called the College of Medical Evangelists with better clinical training. It continues to be a proven training ground for medical students.

The current project will cost $183 million—$134 million for new hospital construction, $25 million for new equipment, and $24 million for the new medical office building. The project will be funded through $89.25 million of Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursement, $30 million from fundraising, and the remaining from cash reserves and borrowed funds.

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Thursday, August 28, 2003 TODAY