Intercom

Volume2/1987_April22UNIVERSITY OF UTAH HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER April 22, 1987 Ambulatory, Laser Surgery To Show Off New Quarters University Hospital's new Ambulatory Surgery/ Laser Surgery Unit on 3 West will hold an open house for staff of the Health Sciences Center Thursday from 1 to 4 p.m. Refreshments will be served. The newly remodeled unit houses Ambulatory Surgery, a 21-patient unit facilitating surgical procedures on an outpatient basis, usually sending patients home 30 minutes to two hours after completing the procedure. Laser Surgery's operating rooms can be seen during Thursday's open house. Surgery's three surgical suites and administrative offices are also part of the unit. Demonstrations of surgical lasers will highlight the open house. The Laser Institute, a clinical research and educational program under the direction of John A. Dixon, M.D., has treated more than 10,000 patients using lasers over a 10 year period. Seventy percent of patients receiving laser surgery are treated on an outpatient basis, according to Dan Lundergan, Laser Surgery administrative officer. The unit has the capability of several different types of lasers -- the C02, argon, Nd: YAG, copper vapor, flash pump dye and tunable dye. These lasers are used in the new unit and in the operating suites, giving the Hospital the capablity of performing a wide range of elective and emergency procedures on inpatients and outpatients. " In- service" presentations on laser surgery can be done for departments. Sign up at the open house or call Mr. Lundergan at extension 3293. U Hospital Celebrates Organ Donor Awareness Week University Hospital joins the rest of the nation April 26- May 2 in recognizing Organ Donor Awareness Week, reminding us all that we pass on life by being organ donors. Media interviews, sign- up booths with celebrities, music and more events are planned to inform the public about donating their eyes, heart, kidneys, lungs, other organs and tissue to those hundreds of young and old on waiting lists to recieve them. Intermountain Transplant enter officials and the Hospital ^^ uxiliary have planned the events. Donor cards also will be available to those interested. Wednesday, April 29, is a special day for University Hospital employees, with an information booth on the first- floor bridge between the Hospital and School of Medicine. Staff and visitors can visit the booth from 11 a. m.- 3 p. m., ask questions and fill out donor cards. Thursday, April 30, a similar booth will be near the Olpin Union Building on lower campus, where students can visit with organ transplant experts as well as University and local celebrities including Jack Sunday from Power 99 ( KCPX) radio. Anyone can be an organ donor, according to the Intermountain Transplant Program and the Utah Lions Eye Bank officials. The minimum legal age to sign a donor card is 18, however, there is a need for pediatric donors and parents may sign for minor children. Kidneys and most vital organs come from people under 60 years of age. Cornea, skin, bone and tendon donations are possible at any age. Many transplants today are routine medical procedures. Sight- restoring cornea transplants have the highest success rate, followed by heart, kidney and liver. The transplant experts and the Hospital Auxiliary ask all University Health Sciences faculty, staff and students to visit the booths Wednesday or Thursday and support Donor Awareness Week. If you haven't filled out a donor card, now's your chance. Harmon Eyre to Speak on Cancer Harmon J. Eyre, M. D., professor of hematology and oncology and president- elect of the American Cancer Society, will highlight the activities of Cancer Awareness Week, April 27- May 1, at the Health Sciences Center. Dr. Eyre will speak on identifying and reducing risks of cancer at noon on Tuesday, April 28, in Classroom C. Interested staff are encouraged to bring their lunches. In addition to Dr. Eyre's speech, a video entitled " Taking Control" is available to department heads to show to their staff. Showings during Cancer Awareness Week will start Monday, April 27. Departments should contact Paula Siciliano at extension 2780 for the cancer awareness video. Harmon J. Eyre, M. D. Say Thanks to a UH Volunteer! Hats off to our University Hospital volunteers as we celebrate National Volunteer Week, April 26- May 2. Who are the volunteers who contribute to University Hospital, not only in the quantity of time, but in quality of caring? They are men and women with anywhere from 14 to 84 years of experience, according to Joyce Mihas, director of volunteer services. " They have professional and nonprofessional backgrounds. Some are recendy retired. Others still are employed. Some are looking for experience that will lead to their first paying job or to re- enter the job market. Some are looking for health- care experience that will lead to medical, nursing or physical therapy school," Ms. Mihas said. A common characteristic of our volunteers is that they need to give to others - or even specifically, to give to University Hospital, she added. They tell us: " My father died here and everyone was so kind and helpful. I want to do something for the hospital." " University Hospital saved my grandchild's life and I want to give back to it." " I used to work here, and when I retired I found I wanted to volunteer." " Volunteering at University Hospital keeps my life in balance." UH staffers can easily recoginize volunteers in their pink or blue jackets, and their candy- striped tunics or red shirts in the summertime. In addition to the traditional vol-unteers, many others from the commu-nity donate their time and interests to UH. Through the years, individuals and groups have helped entertain the psychiatric patients on a weekly basis. The Pastoral Care Advisory Council consists of community clergy members donating their time. Community residents comprise the Art Committee, a group developing an art program to enhance the hospital environment. The Auxiliary is a group primarily interested in raising funds for the Hosptial and promoting educational programs. Volunteer contributions make a tremendous difference, and not just in terms of hours served and dollars saved, Ms. Mihas said. In addition to to the direct service performed by the volunteers, they carry the University Hospital image back into the community, serving as some of our best public relations messengers, she added. " One of our volunteers recently received a letter from a lady in California which said, ' I met you when I was a patient at University Hospital 10 years ago and remember how helpful you were. I am now moving to Salt Lake City and would like to call you when we arrive....'," Ms. Mihas said. Take your time during National Volunteer Week and say thank you to a University Hospital volunteer. Birthday Holiday More Flexible University Hospital employees now ^ ^ will be able to take their birthday holiday almost any time within some guidelines. UH modified the birthday holiday to make it more flexible for employees, according to Hospital Administrator George Belsey. This policy became effective April 1 and affects only Hospital employees. ( Other Health Sciences Center employees observe Veteran's Day in lieu of the birthday holiday.) Now known as the Birthday Preference Holiday, employees can take the day off at anytime within a year of their birthday, but not before the birthday occurs. For example, if an employee's birthday falls on July 15, they must take the time off between July 15, 1987 and July 14, 1988. The only other guideline employees must meet is to notify their immediate supervisor no less than five days before the date to be taken off. The immediate supervisor is the one to give final aproval for the time off. If you have questions, contact Bel . Randall, employee relations manager, at ^ ^ extension 2300. UH Classic This Saturday Three days to go before University Hospital's third annual 5K Classic. The gun goes off at 9 a. m. Saturday. The $ 7 entry fee includes a new University Hospital t- shirt and number. Runners, and walkers, can register in Community Relations, room 2753; Personnel Services, room 1A1; Medical Illustrations, room AC 113; and at the Information Desk in the front lobby. Checks should be made out to University Hospital. Maps of the race course are available when you register. See you there! INTERCOM is published weekly for the University of Utah Health Sciences Center by the Office of Community Relations, room 2753. Nominations for employee of the month are welcome and should be sent in writing to Ken Johnson in Community Relations. Articles also are welcome and should be sent to Pat Hawthorne in Hospital Personnel Services, room 1A1, extension 2300