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Volume2/1987_September30UNIVERSITY OF UTAH HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER September 30,1987 LOCAL GALLERIES LEND SUPPORT University Hospital Launches Arts Program Drawing upon art's potential to heal and comfort the sick, University of Utah Hospital officially lauches its new Program for the Arts with an exhibit and opening reception Sunday, October 4. The reception, which will run from 3-6 p.m. in the Hospital lobby, is open to the public. About 30 paintings and sculptures on loan from nine Salt Lake City galleries will be featured in the Hospital's new exhibit cases. Through purchases, gifts and loans of individual pieces or exhibits, the program will span the entire spectrum of visual arts. It is hoped that the program eventually will include art therapy and the performing arts in addition to the Hospital gallery. UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL - PROGRAM FOR THE ARTS OPENING RECEPTION & EXHIBIT SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4 3-6 P.M. HOSPITAL LOBBY EVERYONE INVITED "By providing an additional gallery for original art, University Hospital joins the state in its efforts to foster culture and the arts in public spaces," said Mary Helen Detmer and Frances Gay, co- chairs of the art program. " But the main audience for the program is our patients and their visitors. We believe that art has the potential to heal and comfort the sick and injured who come to us for medical care. Weak or strong, sick or healthy, we all need beauty," they added. " I'm very pleased that we will be able to offer the Program for the Arts not only to our patients and visitors but also to our employees," said George W. Belsey, University Hospital administrator. " We can all benefit from the therapeutic value of art." Mrs. Detmer, whose husband is University vice president for ' ' th sciences, and Mrs. Gay, whose husband is chair of the Apartment of Surgery in the School of Medicine, began work on the arts program 18 months ago. " An intensive care nurse approached me in the lobby one day and said, ' Our patients and their families and friends stare at blank walls at very traumatic times in their lives. Wouldn't it be wonderful if they could enjoy something peaceful like artwork?'" recalled Mrs. Gay. In her work as a patient representative for the oncology unit, Mrs. Gay often had felt the same way. Mrs. Detmer, who was familiar with art exhibits at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinical Science Center where her husband previously had worked, researched hospital art programs nationwide. Although many hospitals exhibit visual arts, few have a formal arts program that spans the entire spectrum of art, including art therapy. A Hospital arts committee was formed by the two women. With technical help from Charles Loving, assistant director of the U of U Museum of Fine Arts, and Lynn Jacobsen, a board member of the Salt Lake City Arts Council, in addition to the Hospital's Volunteer Services, under the direction of Joyce Mihas, the committee drew up plans for the arts program. The opening exhibit, which runs through November 13, features paintings loaned by members of the Salt Lake Art Dealers Association: Dolores Chase Fine Art; Phillips Gallery; Southam Gallery; Utah Designer Craftsman Gallery; Sullivan- Saxton Gallery; Gayle Weyher Gallery; Gallery 56; Eubanks Galleries and Galerie at Eagle Gate. Future exhibits will include Christmas drawings by pediatric patients at University Hospital, and fiber art, ceramics and other visual art. Eccles Library Offers Free MEDLINE on CD- ROM If you need information and have 30 minutes to spare, stop by the Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences or the Hope Fox Eccles Clinical libraries. The libraries are evaluating two laser/ optical products ( CD-ROM) for searching the 1986 and 1987 MEDLINE file. The MEDLINE searches are free to University staff and students who are willing to spend a half hour to test, evaluate and compare the two products, according to Mary Youngkin, head of the reference department. The two products are Silver Platter and Compact Cambridge. For more information or to volunteer as an evaluator, call Eccles Library Reference at extension 5534 or the Clinical Library at extension 4686. October 4- 10 Week to Honor Respiratory Care Professionals October 4- 10 is National Respiratory Care Week, a specially designated week that has been celebrated since 1982 to recognize the role of the respiratory therapist and the respiratory therapy technician. Respiratory therapists and technicians provide a large variety of equipment and services to Hospital staff, according to Walt Fairfax, M. D., medical director of Respiratory Therapy. " Respiratory therapy has a major role in the intensive care units of the Hospital, where therapists provide and maintain a variety of mechanical ventilators and breathing assistance devices," according to James Rollins, M. D., co- director of Respiratory Therapy. " Respiratory therapy is an important contributor to the patient care team at University Hospital," said Judy Kiernan, R. N., M. S., director of nursing. " It enhances the total care of our patients." Respiratory therapy also is con-stantly expanding and updating its services, according to Bill Cesarone, director. " Next year, we will be evaluating the possibility of expanding our services to home care patients." In addition to assisting physicians and nurses in choosing the best plan of therapy for individual patients, UH's Respiratory Therapy serves an important educational role in clinical training of therapists and technicians from several colleges in Utah, Wyoming and Nevada. " The respiratory therapists in NBICU are an integral part of the team, assisting with the management and care of newborns with respiratory problems. They also help teach housestaff respiratory physiology," said Gary Chan, M. D., clinical director of NBICU. Karen Hillier, R. R. T., NBICU supervisor, and Fred Riemer, R. R. T., work on a newborn. Utah's Physician Assistants Celebrate PA Day Tuesday The nation's physician assistants will commemorate the 20th anniversary of their profession when they celebrate " National PA Day" on Tuesday, October 6. " Utah is home to approximately 100 physician assistants," said Mike Yourzek, P. A., of Division of Ortho-pedic Surgery in the School of Medicine. " A handful of us work at University Hospital." Pediatrics, surgery, emergency medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, and medical research are some of the fields in which PAs work. Physician assistants commonly receive their education at a college or university. Each individual's degree varies on the basis of the time spent in the program and whether the program has a liberal arts component, qualifying that individual for a baccalaureate degree. " At the end of the training, physician assistants are qualified to take national exams- both oral and written~ to become certified," Mr. Yourzek said. On October 6, 1967, the first group of physician assistants graduated from Duke University's PA program in North Carolina. It consisted of four former medical corpsmen who had served in Vietnam. Utah Governor Norman L. Bangerter has signed a proclamation declaring October 6 Physician Assistants' Day in Utah. Plan and Practice Safety October 6 On Tuesday, October 6, at 6: 30 p. m., Health Sciences Center employees and their families are urged to join other Utahns and " plan to get out alive." The statewide home fire drill is a program designed to help children and their parents learn how to get out of their homes safely if there's a fire. The program is sponsored by Utah fire departments and McDonald's restaurants. To participate, pick up a copy of the " Home Fire Escape Plan" at your local McDonald's restaurant or fire department. The plan gives fire safety tips and details on planning for your home fire drill. Use the grid in the plan to chart escape routes from your home. PLAN TO GET OUT ALIVE Immunizations Available October 2 Employee Health will offer its annual free immunization clinic for Health Sciences Center employees and students from 8 a. m.- 4 p. m. on Friday, October 2, in the southwest comer of the cafeteria. Diphtheria/ tetanus, measles-mumps- rubella and influenza vaccines will be available. Employees who are unable to come to the clinic may call Linda Morris, R. N., employee health nurse, extension 2227, to schedule an appointment. INTERCOM is published weekly for the University of Utah Health Sciences Center by the Office of Community Relations, room 2753. Article ideas are welcome and should be sent to Pat Hawthorne, Editor, Hospital Personnel Services, room 1A1, extension 2300. Nominations for employee of the month are welcome and should be sent in writing to Ken Johnson in Community Relations