Loma Linda University Medical Center news Stamp honoring organ donations unveiled at Loma Linda University Medical Center Medical Center successfully completes accreditation review New vice president appointed at Medical Center New publications editor joins LLUMC community relations East Valley Red Ribbon Thank You Breakfast planned for October 28 LLUMC ranked as one of ÔAmericaÕs Best HospitalsÕ International Circle of Care assists patients from around the world High school students from Hino, Japan, visit Adult Day Services August 27, 1998 [TODAY, August 27, 1998]   Acting district manager of the San Diego postal district Glenn Crouch (right) unveils the new organ and tissue donation stamp during ceremonies held August 5 at Loma Linda University Medical Center. Looking on are (from left) Floyd Petersen, mayor, city of Loma Linda; Leonard L. Bailey, MD, chair, department of surgery; and J. David Moorhead, MD, president and chief executive officer, Loma Linda University Medical Center.   Stamp honoring organ donations unveiled at Loma Linda University Medical Center They came together with pride--organ donors, organ recipients, and families of organ donors--to celebrate an act of generosity unparalleled in todayÕs society. On August 5, they joined doctors and dignitaries on the lawn outside Schuman Pavilion to honor organ donation by dedicating the new organ and tissue donation postage stamp. The 32-cent stamp features two abstract figures facing each other and holding each otherÕs heart. Beneath the drawing are the words ÒOrgan & Tissue Donation. Share your life.Ó The stamp has been released to raise awareness of the need for more organ and tissue donors. Currently, more than 58,000 people are waiting for new organs. Eleven of these people die every day. Unfortunately, many peopleÕs organs are not donated because they fail to share their wishes. ÒJust having that sticker on your driverÕs license is not enough,Ó says Glenn Crouch, acting district manager of the San Diego postal district. Ò[The decision] also has to be shared with your family.Ó Rubin Gutierrez, a postal customer service supervisor, has experienced firsthand the miracle of organ donation. He received a new kidney in 1987 here at Loma Linda University Medical Center. ÒThe need for organ donation is greater now than ever before,Ó Mr. Gutierrez says. ÒAnd what better way to depict that need than on a postage stamp? Postage stamps are seen worldwide and collected by millions.Ó   Toyozo (left) and Rie Yamakida (center), parents of 5-year-old Honami, thank Leonard L. Bailey, MD, chair and professor, department of surgery, for transplanting a new heart into their daughter. The Yamakidas were among the participants in the stamp unveiling held August 5 at LLUMC.   According to Loma Linda mayor Floyd Petersen, MPH, assistant professor of epidemiology and biostatics, School of Public Health, the ceremonies were not only to dedicate the new stamp, but to honor a very special group of people. ÒThe people weÕre recognizing today,Ó he said, Òthese are the common people who have to make incredibly hard decisions in very emotional circumstances-- a once-in-a-lifetime thing--to donate an organ so that someone else can receive a miracle.Ó Stephanie McCurdy was one such person. She donated her 3-year-old sonÕs liver and kidneys following his death from colon disease in 1992. She came to the stamp dedication to share her appreciation for organ donation and for the awareness the new stamp will raise. Ms. McCurdy now takes hope from the knowledge that her sonÕs liver has given a baby boy the chance to grow up and that his kidneys helped a young man move into adulthood. Ò[This stamp] helps consecrate the act of transplantation as much as commemorate it, and it reminds each of us that we have an opportunity to serve our fellow man,Ó said Leonard L. Bailey, MD, chair and professor, department of surgery, and pioneer of infant heart transplantation. Other speakers at the event included J. David Moorhead, MD, president and chief executive officer, Loma Linda University Medical Center; and Waldo Concepcion, MD, director of the Transplantation Institute and associate professor of surgery. Many organ transplant recipients and their families were also on hand to show their support for the new stamp. Among them were Eddie Anguiano, or ÒBaby Moses,Ó 13, who received the first successful human heart transplant in 1985 when he was only four days old. William and Catherine Grinnan brought their 4-month-old daughter, Hannah, to the event, along with their six other children. Hannah received a heart transplant in April when she was only 11 days old. Also present were Toyozo and Rie Yamakida, parents of 5-year-old Honami, the latest heart transplant recipient. Honami received her new heart July 30 after traveling from Japan with her parents. Because of its long history of infant heart transplantation, Loma Linda University Medical Center was chosen as one of only a handful of sites nationwide where the organ and tissue donation stamp was unveiled. [Top of page] Medical Center successfully completes accreditation review Loma Linda University Medical Center ranked among the top 10 percent of hospitals during its scheduled accreditation review, which took place August 10 through 14. These findings were released in a preliminary report from the Joint Commission on Accreditation for Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). The report recommends renewing the Medical CenterÕs accreditation for the full three years. Included in the report are findings and observations that will require follow-up. The final report should be available by early October. The surveyors also praised the staff for their dedication and enthusiasm, and for their concern and care for their patients. According to Medical Center president and chief executive officer J. David Moorhead, MD, Renee (Sam) Hills deserves special recognition for coordinating the preparation effort, which resulted in a successful survey. ÒIÕd like to thank the vice presidents, the department heads, and all of the staff that worked so hard to prepare us for this survey,Ó Dr. Moorhead says. Loma Linda University Medical Center staff have been preparing for this survey for the past three yearsÑsince the last accreditation review, according to Terrence Hansen, MPH, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Medical Center. ÒThis process has been a longer range effort than in the past, building on the preparation of three years ago,Ó Mr. Hansen states. According to Mr. Hansen, JCAHO has toughened their scoring and added new standards to their review process. ÒWeÕre particularly pleased that we did so well on the review,Ó he says. Included in the Medical Center review were the ChildrenÕs Hospital, Community Medical Center, Home Care Services, and ambulatory care or outpatient services. The survey team also included members from the California Department of Health Services (DHS) and the Institute for Medical Quality (IMQ). [Top of page] New vice president appointed at Medical Center   Mr. Ellis   It has been 20 years since Gerald A. Ellis, MBA, began working at Loma Linda University Medical Center. In those 20 years, he has been everything from a respiratory care instructor to director of respiratory care services to administrative director of cardiovascular and pulmonary services. And now Mr. Ellis has accepted an offer to become the Medical CenterÕs newest vice president. In his new position, Mr. Ellis will be responsible for the following areas: cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, Sleep Disorders Center, clinical engineering, respiratory care, cardiovascular laboratory, cardiodiagnostic laboratory, volunteer services, fleet services, dispatch services, mail center, security, nutritional services, facilities management, engineering services, housekeeping, and landscape. In his previous position as administrative director of cardiovascular and pulmonary services, Mr. Ellis managed the cardiovascular laboratory, cardiodiagnostic laboratory, respiratory care services, Sleep Disorders Center, and cardiopulmonary wellness programs. Mr. Ellis graduated from Texas Lutheran University with a bachelor of arts degree in health and physical education in 1975, and completed his respiratory therapy training at San Bernardino Valley College in 1977. In 1990, he received his masterÕs degree in business administration from the University of La Verne. Mr. Ellis has been a member of several distinguished groups, such as the Loma Linda Overseas Heart Surgery Team, the board of directors for the American Lung Association of Inland Counties, and the School Site Counsel for the Colton Unified School District. He also served as planning commissioner for the City of Grand Terrace from 1996 to 1998. ÒLoma Linda University Medical Center is a wonderful organization with a special mission,Ó Mr. Ellis says. ÒI feel blessed to be here. The people are so talented and committed to the mission of the hospital. I am excited about our future and look forward to collaboratively working with all members of our team so that we can better serve the needs of our patients, physicians, and communities.Ó [Top of page] New publications editor joins LLUMC community relations   Ms. Kuzma   Kimberley D. Kuzma recently joined Loma Linda University Medical CenterÕs community relations office as publications editor. In her new position, Ms. Kuzma will write press releases, advisories, tip sheets, and radio spots for various events. She will also cover Medical Center and ChildrenÕs Hospital events for TODAY and SCOPE. Ms. Kuzma graduated from Walla Walla College, College Place, Washington, in 1997 with a bachelorÕs degree in English. She was employed by Coffey Communications, Inc., as a medical journalist prior to moving to Loma Linda with her husband, Micaiah, a first-year student in the School of Medicine. Possible stories should be directed to the community relations office in the Medical Center, room 1106. Ms. Kuzma may be reached by telephone at extension 42267, or by e-mail at kkuzma@ahs.llumc.edu. [Top of page] East Valley Red Ribbon Thank You Breakfast planned for October 28 The East Valley Red Ribbon Community Thank You Breakfast, formerly known as the Redlands Area Red Ribbon Community Thank You Breakfast, is slated for October 28 at 7:30 a.m. at the Wong Kerlee International Conference Center in Coleman Pavilion. The event will be co-hosted by Loma Linda University ChildrenÕs Hospital, Loma Linda University Behavioral Medicine Center, and the Redlands Unified School District. The annual breakfast, an event endorsed by the national Red Ribbon program, is a celebration of living drug-free lives. Though youth are the focus of the program, it is not exclusive to that age group. Local youth groups are scheduled to perform at the breakfast, which will also feature an awards presentation for an essay contest sponsored by the office of assemblyman Bill Leonard. This presentation has been a main feature of the breakfast for many years. Representatives from the East Valley area, including Ron Morgan, EdD, director of youth services, BMC; Doug Mace, associate pastor, University Church of Seventh-day Adventists, Loma Linda; and Ann Davis-Schultz from the Redlands Unified School District, are involved in planning this special event. In the past, local businesses have sponsored the event and their donations are again being solicited. For further information, contact Ms. Davis-Schultz at (909) 307-5300 or Pastor Mace at (909) 558-4570. [Top of page] LLUMC ranked as one of ÔAmericaÕs Best HospitalsÕ Loma Linda University Medical Center was named in the exclusive rankings of the U.S. News & World Report as one of ÒAmericaÕs Best HospitalsÓ in 1998 for its orthopaedics program. According to Avery Comarow, editor of the hospital ranking section, ÒThe rankings were based on each hospitalÕs score, or U.S. News & World Report index. The index, in turn, is made up of three equally weighted components--reputation, mortality, and other data such as surveys.Ó [Top of page] International Circle of Care assists patients from around the world   George W. Berg, LLUMC host, welcomes Kuwait patient Mr. Al-Fodari to Loma Linda.   For many years, Loma Linda University Medical Center and ChildrenÕs Hospital have held a worldwide reputation for excellence in quality and compassionate clinical care. This is evidenced by the number of patients that have come from all around the world to seek the medical care they need. Recently, the number of international patients traveling to Loma Linda has increased dramatically. Loma Linda University Medical Center and ChildrenÕs Hospital International Circle of Care program is designed to be the international patientÕs health- care companion, coordinating all aspects of medical care to meet individual needs. Staff members are sensitive to the unique needs and cultural concerns of each patient and strive to make the patientÕs visit as untroubled as possible. They believe that if a patientÕs service needs are met, then the patient can concentrate on his/her health and healing. ÒWith one call, an international patient or referring physician can contact the International Circle of Care office and the coordination of care and services will begin,Ó says Treva Webster, RN, director of International Circle of Care at Loma Linda University Medical Center. ÒThis will include medical appointments, financial information, translation, transportation, accommodation, special dietary needs, cultural or religious needs and wants, and even occasional recreational outings.Ó Coordinating these needs is not always an easy task, but it can be interesting. There have been requests for such things as Òused denturesÓ to replace the ones left at home, houses to rent on a day-to-day basis, private tours from San Bernardino to Disneyland or Universal Studios, and food items that are extremely rare in California. Having a personal coordinator who is available by phone at all hours of the day or night is a great relief to the sick, anxious, and often frightened international patient. Mr. Al-Fodari and his family were in Loma Linda for five weeks before returning to their home in Kuwait. Mr. Al-Fodari confided to an Arabic translator, ÒThe Loma Linda International Circle of Care office made us feel like we came to visit family, instead of coming to a strange American hospital for heart surgery.Ó A Canadian patient wrote: ÒOnce again I want to thank you and your staff for arranging my appointment, transportation, and following up with unexpected things (like emergency dental surgery) that I needed. It was such a relief to know that you were always there for me.Ó [Top of page] High school students from Hino, Japan, visit Adult Day Services Six high school students from Hino, Japan, visited Loma Linda University Medical Center Adult Day Services on July 28. The students were in Loma Linda as part of the sister cities international exchange program. Here, the students visit with clients and staff of Adult Day Services at arts and crafts time, and demonstrate origami, the Japanese art of folding paper into decorative objects. [Top of page][TODAY, August 27, 1998][News and media page] [School of Medicine] University | Medical_Center | LLU&MC_home | Search_&_index | News_&_events | Employment | Contact | Our_mission All contents copyright © 2001 Loma Linda University. All rights reserved. Revised Wednesday, January 10, 2001 10:04 AM Send comments and questions to webmaster@univ.llu.edu URL: /