Research Medical Cen ter • A Publ icatio n for EMPLOYEES • june 2011

CARE
Compassion. Attitude. ResPect. Excellence.

In this issue: Research Medical Center Opens

Page 3: Willie Lawrence, Jr.,
MD, Named AHA-Midwest
Affiliate Physician of the Year
Page 5: Royal Rebound to
Benefit Research College of
Nursing
Page 7: Clinical Excellence
Update
Page 9: News Briefs
Page 10: Geriatric Assessment
Clinic
editor:
Denise Charpentier
VP, Marketing/PR
(816) 276-9293
denise.charpentier@hcamidwest.com
Emergency Care For The Elderly
Emergency Care for the Elderly (ECE),
located at Research Medical Center’s
emergency room, offers four specially
designed rooms in the newly opened
unit. Part of Research Medical Center’s
progressive Center for Healthy Aging, ECE
is equipped with stacks of warm blankets,
signage with oversized lettering, adjustable lighting, grip flooring and thicker mattresses to
help wound prevention. The audio-amplified rooms are painted in a soft and soothing color
and are available to senior adult patients in need of immediate medical attention.
Though the rooms are steps away from one of Kansas City’s busiest emergency departments,
the environment surrounding Emergency Care for the Elderly is hushed, physicians and
nurses quietly working with patients.
Jacque Euritt, RN, MSN, director of the emergency department at Research Medical Center,
says that since Emergency Care for the Elderly opened in early May, demand has been
brisk. “We knew the Greater Kansas City metropolitan area could benefit from emergency
medical care geared specifically to older adults,” says Euritt. “It’s a trend throughout the
country to have facilities address the unique medical care needs of geriatric patients. Research
Medical Center has one of the most comprehensive programs for aging adults in the city, and
Emergency Care for the Elderly is a component of that focus.”

Indeed the atmosphere in ECE is less frenzied than the neighboring emergency department.
Nurses and physicians caring for each patient, often diagnose and treat multiple issues and
layout/writer: frequently uncover hidden problems.
Mike Ralston
Director, Marketing/PR “The aging process naturally makes an older adult susceptible to more than what brought
(816) 276-9475 them into the emergency room,” says Joseph Keary, RN, emergency clinical coordinator for
the ECE. “We are staffed by geriatric-trained nurses and physicians who specialize in the care
mike.ralston@hcamidwest.com
of older adults and understand the importance of digging deeper to find, for instance, signs of
dementia, depression or other red flags that may affect their overall health.”

Changes are occurring across the country in the typical hospital emergency department,
where seniors make 17 million visits annually. To accommodate the significant population of
baby boomers poised to enter their golden years—it’s predicted that by the year 2030 one in
five Americans will be age 65 or older—hospitals like Research Medical Center are ahead of
the curve in addressing those needs.

(cont’d on page 10)

 ‘Recent Advances in Medicine’
Presented by The Orear Institute of Baptist-Trinity Lutheran Legacy Foundation

The ‘Recent Advances in Medicine’ conference will be held June 23-24 at the InterContinental Hotel in Kansas City. The 24th
Annual Course is intended to provide practicing physicians, physician assistants and advanced nurses practitioners with the
opportunity to learn about recent advances in medicine from the nation’s leading experts. For additional information, contact the
conference coordinator at (816) 916-8592 or via email at orearinstitute@kc.rr.com.

Thursday, June 23 Friday, June 24

7:30 a.m. Registration and Continental Breakfast 7:30 a.m. Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:00 a.m. Welcome and Introductions 8:00 a.m. Welcome and Introductions
Larry A. Rues, MD • Moderator Melvin L. Glazer, MD • Moderator
8:10 a.m. Diagnosis and Management of Alzheimer’s 8:10 a.m. An Integrative Approach to Functional
Disease and Other Dementias Digestive Disorders • Gerard E. Mullin, MD
David B. Carr, MD 9:10 a.m. What’s New with Hyperlipidemia in 2011?
9:10 a.m. Primary Care Evaluation and Management Brian V. Reamy, MD
of Chronic Kidney Disease 10:10 a.m. Break
Richard S. Muther, MD 10:30 a.m. Rational Interpretation of Thyroid Tests
10:10 a.m. Break and Hormone Management
10:30 a.m. The Important Relationship Between CKD E. Chester Ridgway, MD
and Cardiovascular Events 11:30 a.m. Nutritional Modulation of Inflammatory
Richard S. Muther, MD Bowel Disease • Gerard E. Mullin, MD
11:30 a.m. Why Normal Isn’t Healthy 12:30 p.m. Lunch
Bowen F. White, MD 1:30 p.m. Case Studies Applying Integrative Medicine
12:30 p.m. Lunch to Gut Disorders • Gerard E. Mullin, MD
1:30 p.m. Dementias and Mild Cognitive Impairment 2:30 p.m. Workshops
David B. Carr, MD 1. Analysis and Management of Lipid
2:30 p.m. The Orear Memorial Lecture Disorders • Brian V. Reamy, MD
Thyroid Nodules and Goiter 2. Case Studies of Thyroid Disorders
E. Chester Ridgway, MD E. Chester Ridgway, MD
3:30 p.m. Break 3:30 p.m. Break
3:45 p.m. The Coming Alzheimer’s Epidemic: 3:45 p.m. Workshops (repeated)
Challenges and Promising Future Therapies 4:45 p.m. Adjourn
David B. Carr, MD
4:45 p.m. Adjournment

This is one package

that could save your life

1-888-505-8880 • MidwestHeartScreen.com

2 Research Medical Cen ter • A Publ icatio n for empl oyees • june 2011 11
 Willie Lawrence, Jr., MD, Named
AHA-Midwest Affiliate Physician of the Year
Willie Lawrence, Jr., MD, was
recently named the American
Heart Association (AHA)-Midwest
Affiliate Physician of the Year
for his outstanding efforts as an
interventional cardiologist in Kansas
City.
His interests and commitment run
the gamut of AHA priority areas,
from Get With the Guidelines® to revenue generation to
community education and awareness through initiatives such
as Power to End Stroke. He is an advocate for his patients
as a healthcare provider, a prevention-focused community
leader reaching youth before they acquire risk factors and an
AHA volunteer.
role as the only African-American cardiologist practicing
in Kansas City. He has dedicated his personal time to the
goal of improving health in minority and low-income
neighborhoods. An active Power to End Stroke ambassador,
Dr. Lawrence has been a keynote speaker at annual AHA
Power Gospel Tour events; he has given many presentations
in community settings, including barber shops and local
churches; and he has recruited several community leaders
who have become Power to End Stroke ambassadors.
Dr. Lawrence is the AHA’s most enthusiastic supporter of My
Life Check. As president, he has challenged affiliate board
members to integrate My Life Check into their organizations.
Dr. Lawrence will receive his award at a luncheon on June
22 at the Omni Mandalay Hotel in Las Colinas, TX.

In his nearly 20 years of service to the Kansas City

community, Dr. Lawrence’s leadership extends beyond his

We would like to thank our doctors, nurses, technicians and

healthcare professionals at Research Medical Center for delivering
quality, compassionate care that ranks among the nation’s best.

Research Medical Center is proud to be part of

U.S. News & World Report’s first-ever Best Hospitals
metro area rankings for Kansas City. This special
recognition highlights hospitals in or near major
cities with a record of high performance in key medical
specialties.

To be ranked in its metro area, a hospital had to score in the

top 25 percent among its peers in at least one of 16 medical
specialties. Research Medical Center was recognized for its
specialties of ear, nose and throat and kidney disorders.

2316 E. Meyer Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64132

(816) 276-4000 · www.ResearchMedicalCenter.com

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube

Research Medical Cen ter • A Publ icatio n for empl oyees • june 2011 3
 Revathi Bhat, MD, Aims to Improve the
Health of the Older Patient
By Paula Dunn
Dr. Revathi Bhat is the medical director of the Acute Care
for the Elderly (ACE) unit at Research Medical Center, the
only geriatric specialty unit in the greater Kansas City area.
Dr. Bhat and her ACE team work with patients 75 years of
age and older.
“We often hospitalize patients in an effort to help them ‘get
better,’ but there are risks associated with hospitalization,
such as infections, ulcers, falls, and disorientation–
especially with the elderly. We want to get seniors out of
the hospital as quickly as possible and back to their normal
environment.”

“The body of an aging patient is different
than that of a young body, and it requires
changes in the way we treat the older
patient”, says Dr. Bhat. “Older adults are
more prone to certain diseases, and we
must focus on both the physical and mental
aspects of disease. Elderly patients don’t
Revathi Bhat, MD bounce back from even small disruptions in
ACE Unit health and daily living like younger patients
do. We need to provide healthcare to our
seniors in ways that encompass all we know about the needs
of the older adult patient.”
Dr. Bhat completed her medical degree at the Bangalore
Medical College in India. She came to the United States
to complete her residency in internal medicine through the
University of Missouri – Kansas City’s School of Medicine.
She completed fellowships in both critical care and
geriatrics. She and her husband are parents to a three-month
old daughter and three-year old son.
“I did a rotation in geriatrics during my residency that
helped confirm my choice of specialization in that program.
There is a completely new perspective of medicine when you
specialize in the care of the older adult,” explains Bhat.

As medical director of the ACE unit, Dr. Bhat says that
her patients recognize many benefits from the program,
including care delivered by specialists trained in the unique
diseases most common in older adults, a more sensitive
understanding and integration of patients’ needs into care
plans, and a more proactive and preventive approach to
delivering treatment, in order to avoid future complications.
“We are committed to helping patients reach and maintain
the highest level of independence possible,” says Dr. Bhat.
When Dr. Bhat looks into the future of the ACE unit,
she anticipates the growth of the elderly population and
acknowledges a very small percentage of geriatric specialists
in the medical field. She believes that as her team gains
more experience in the specialized care of our older adults,
they will be in a unique position to help train other medical
staff to more fully respond to the needs of our older
patients. “I’m proud to be a part of that,” says Bhat.

Research Medical Center Hosts First

ATLS Provider and Refresher Course
Research Medical Center hosted its first Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) Provider and Refresher Course on April 22-23. Janet
Bjerke, RN, MBA coordinated the course which was taught by Drs. John Webb, Floyd Scott, Heather Klepacz and Scott Bjerke.
Participants included physicians from Research Medical Center, Research Belton Hospital, Overland Park Regional Medical Center and
both the UMKC Surgery program and Research Family Medicine Residency Program. Three physicians from outside the Kansas City
area also flew or drove in to take the course. This is the first ATLS class provided by an HCA facility in the Kansas City area since the
opening of the Research Trauma Center 25 years ago. ATLS is recognized worldwide as the standard for state of the art trauma care and
has expanded from teaching physicians worldwide to include a dedicated nursing trauma course (ATCN) and a Rural Trauma Outreach
Program.

4 Research Medical Cen ter • A Publ icatio n for empl oyees • june 2011
 U pc o m i ng
Research Urgent Care Open House
On April 27 Research Urgent Care
Events
hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony june 7: Harrisonville
and open house celebrating its new
Specialists Open House, 2820
walk-in clinic. The new facility serves
E Rock Haven Road, Suites
as an alternative to the emergency
department or when a patient’s regular
200/205, 4-6 p.m.
doctor is unavailable.
june 15: Medical Group of
Conveniently located in the heart of Kansas City Open House, 6420
downtown, Research Urgent Care Prospect, Ste. T102, 7:30-9 a.m.
offers area residents, daytime workers,
hotel guests and visitors the convenience of prompt, professional care. It is open during
june 15: Stroke Support Group
normal business hours, doesn’t require an appointment and accepts all major insurance
plans.
@ 2 North Rehab conference
room, 3 p.m.
Mark Martin, MD, formerly a physician with Lee’s Summit Family Care, serves as the
clinic’s medical director in addition to treating patients. Dr. Martin is a board-certified july 14: Second Quarter
family medicine physician with more than 30 years of experience. Dr. Martin is joined Employee of the Month/
at the clinic by Amber Botros, DO. Dr. Botros, a family medicine physician, has special
Retirement Reception @ RMC
clinical interests in overall women’s healthcare, obstetrics, and adolescent/pediatric
cafeteria, 3-4 p.m.
medicine.

Royal Rebound to Benefit

september 30: 27th
Annual Practical Cardiology

the Research College of Nursing

Symposium @ Sheraton
Overland Park Hotel.

Get ready to lace up the sneakers, limber up november 5: Research

the muscles and make an assist for a great Royal Rebound @ The College
cause as the 9th Research Royal Rebound is Basketball Experience.
scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 5. Call (816) 276-4218 for more
information.
Again, the College Basketball Experience
at the Sprint Center will host this casual
basketball-themed party, benefitting
scholarships for students attending the
2011 Research Royal Rebound Chairpersons
Research College of Nursing – Rockhurst Dr. and Mrs. Tom Samuelson
University joint nursing program. Guests can
enjoy cocktails, dinner and some hoops during the evening event, while taking part in a
new feature, a chance on winning one of 10 prizes through a sweepstakes raffle. Details
will be coming soon.
Follow us at facebook.com/
Dr. and Mrs. Tom Samuelson are this year’s chairpersons. For more information, or to
purchase tickets to the event, call The Research Foundation at (816) 276-4218, or visit
its Web site at www.theresearchfoundationkc.org.

Research Medical Cen ter • A Publi cation fo r employees • june 2011 5

 Nursing Council Presents Annual Awards
Nurses recognized with P.E.E.R., Veteran, Novice, Preceptor, PCT and Unit Secretary of the Year awards

Ina Harrison (Neuro/Ortho Unit), Kathy Smith (Intensive Care Unit), Erin Bartling (Acute Care for the Elderly Unit), Mark Rotert (Inten-
sive Care Unit), Linda Dunalewicz (Emergency Department), Sherrie and Terrie Allen (Float Pool) and Nicole Gonzales (4 North) were
recently honored with the P.E.E.R., Veteran, Novice, Preceptor, PCT and Unit Secretary of the Year awards respectively. The P.E.E.R.
Recognition Program was designed by the Nursing Councils to identify and honor superior nurses at Research Medical Center who
exemplify clinical excellence. This honor includes a monetary award for continuing education in nursing at Research Medical Cen-
ter. This award is presented to one nurse each quarter.

Melody Alexander, Sirena Howrey, Heather Lewis, Paige Pasternak, Lindsey Schroeder, Becky Wright, Gina Taylor and Dana Magu-
ire were recognized for their work in the Clinical Recognition Program. This program recognizes nurses as they achieve progressive
levels of involvement and committment, ranging from Clinical Level I-IV.

P.E.E.R. of the Year Nominees Veteran of the Year Nominees Novice of the Year Nominees
(From left): Angela French, Ina Harrison (winner) (From left): Kathy Smith, (winner), Terry Duffey, (From left): Ashley Breaux, Melody Alexander, Brad Bryant,
and Kevin Kunkelman. Not pictured: Jennifer Barwig. Jo Rhodes and Mary Warner. Not pictured: Leslie Rogers. Mark Rotert (winner), Kendra Vogel, Erin Bartling (winner),
Christina Quick and Melinda Meyer.

Preceptor of the Year Nominees PCT of the Year Nominees Unit Secretary of the Year Nominees
(From left): Tiffany Hatfield and Linda Dunalewicz (winner). (From left): Hilda Smith, Emma McNeal, Lorna Johnson, (From left): Bernice Harbour, Nicole Gonzales (winner)
Not pictured: Sam Maindi. Sherrie and Terrie Allen (winners). and Norma Bolling.

Blood Transfusion Consent Form

A friendly reminder to every nurse that before transfusing blood products you must obtain a signed 'Blood and Blood Products
Transfusion Consent' form. This includes packed cells, fresh frozen plasma, platelets and cryoprecipitate. If the patient is incapacitated,
please have the next of kin or DPOA sign the consent form or try to obtain a phone consent with another nurse to witness. If the patient
is unable to give consent and no family can be reached, instruct the ordering doctor to write for it as a 'medical emergency.' One consent
form per admission will stand. You will not need a new consent form for each round of transfusions. If a patient or family member does
not want blood given, please instuct them to sign the 'Refusal to Permit Blood Transfusion' form.

6 Research Medical Cen ter • A Publi cation fo r employees • june 2011

 Clinical Excellence Update
Don’t Miss Our 2nd Competency Fair of 2011!
Kick off your summer with us at the second competency
fair of the year on June 7 at the Research Brookside
Campus. We will start at 7:30 a.m. and you must be
signed in by 2 p.m. This is a mandatory event for nurses,
respiratory therapists and patient care technicians. There
will only be one left after this, so come now to avoid the
rush!
School at Work®
The Clinical Excellence department is currently recruiting
employees for the 2011 School at Work® program. School
at Work® is a career development system that brings
education directly to the work site. The purpose of the
program is to:
• Allow our employees to learn during normal
working hours
• Learn skills necessary to explore other career
opportunities in healthcare
• Experience the joy of learning with your co-workers
• Provide opportunities for employees to challenge
themselves
• Enhance computer skills
Applications are being accepted through July 1.
Research Medical Cen ter • A Publi cation fo r employees • june 2011
The Magnet Journey
Research Medical Center continues on the Journey to
Magnet excellence. Members of the Steering Committee
are meeting weekly, and are in the process of gathering
information to begin writing the documents that will need
to be submitted to the American Nurses Credentialing
Center. Writing these documents is a time-consuming, but
exciting process. There are 88 sources of evidence that
need to be written that require specific examples. Research
Medical Center has many great examples of excellence in
nursing that we can highlight. One of these is the work
that our nursing staff is doing with hourly patient rounding
and the excellent outcomes this is producing. The Steering
Committee welcomes interested staff nurses to join us as
we continue on this journey. If you want to help, contact
Cyndi Johnson or Polly McNeece.
Listen and Learn
Please join us on June 21 from 12-1p.m. Joel McKinsey,
MD, infectious disease specialist, will be talking about ticks
and its diseases.
Submitted by:
Julia Payne, RNC, BSN
7
 Become a Volunteer at Research Medical Center
A volunteer is defined as one who is working on behalf of
others or participating in a particular cause without payment
for their time and services.
People volunteer using their own skill development to meet
the needs of others and assist for a variety of reasons. We
have developed a volunteer list using many of the skills and
talents from Research Medical Center. We have asked for
all types of volunteers currently working and retired to be
a part of many different events. Many of our volunteers
are using their skills; working in such areas of healthcare,
education, security, business, or emergency rescue. All
volunteers are important and their service is invaluable. We
want to recruit more to assist on an as-needed basis. This
can be for a community event or, such as in response to a
natural disaster or cleanup.
Thank you for your stewardship and taking your time to be
a part of this experience. Getting involved in our community
is important to Research Medical Center. Your support
in the various activities says to others how much we care.
‘Take Your Child to Work Day’
This year’s Take Your Child to Work Day was a huge
success. The Clinical Excellence department would like to
thank all the individuals and departments who contributed
time and resources to make this day a memorable one for
all the children who attended.
Operating Room: Licia Hurd
Infection Control: Gayle Whitmore
Environmental Services: Dawn Dudley, Tyrone Hooks and
Marcel Bartee
Lab: Ann Jensen, Julianna Drees, Marin Bryant, Jenny
Roberson and Dawn Lumpkin
Women’s Services: Cathy Fox, Lea Meyer and Cece Davis
PT/OT/Rehab: Jeremy Lippold
8 Research Medical Cen ter • A Publ icatio n for empl oyees • june 2011
Listed below are some of the events available to you. If
interested in volunteering your time for 1-2 hours, contact
your direct supervisor.
2011 Volunteer Opportunities
• January - Harvesters (volunteer opportunities are
offered each month)
• February - Women and Heart Disease screenings
• April Community Block Party & Health Fair
screenings; ‘Power to End Stroke’ screenings
• May - Heart Walk
• June - Relay for Life; Convoy of Hope - ‘A Day of
Volunteer Service’
• October - Waldo Octoberfest
In addition, volunteer opportunities are available with
the Red Cross and Heart to Heart International. These
opportunities are used for disaster relief. We would like to
have a list of volunteers so we can be prepared at all times.
Radiology: Julie Durst and Mary Hudson
Trauma Services: Tony Casto and Beth Molleker; and a
special thank you to the Life Flight Crew.
Additionally, we would like to extend our gratitude to the
chaperones who played an important role in ensuring the
children’s experiences were memorable: Raymond Parsons,
Kim Holtswarth, Jennifer Miles, Lori Boussuge, Heather
Westpfahl, Tonya Shaw, Clinnise Frost, Sarah Park, Jacque
Euritt, Elizabeth Lee, Joe Keary and Melissa Rook.
Note: View more photos on our Facebook page
www.facebook.com/researchmedicalcenter
13
News Briefs
Muzaffar Iqbal, MD, Joins
Midwest Cancer Care at Research
Medical Center
Board-certified medical oncologist/
hematologist Muzaffar Iqbal, MD, has
joined Midwest Cancer Care at Research
Medical Center. With more than 10 years
experience in cancer care, Dr. Iqbal earned his medical
degree at Sind Medical College and served his residency
at Bronx Lebanon Hospital. He also served fellowships
at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Midwest
Cancer Care at Research Medical Center is accredited
by the American College of Surgeons Commission on
Cancer and offers a comprehensive treatment and support
environment. The hospital is renowned for its cutting-
edge cancer treatment technologies and its clinical case
conferences, where a multidisciplinary team of physicians
shares insights and expertise to ensure the fastest, most
effective treatment plan and best overall care for its
patients.
Meredith Levine, MD, Joins
Midwest Women’s Healthcare
Specialists
Meredith Levine, MD, family medicine
physician specializing in obstetrics and
gynecology, has joined Midwest Women’s
Healthcare Specialists. Board certified in
family medicine, Dr. Levine also is certified in pediatric
advanced life support, advanced cardiac life support,
neonatal resuscitation and stabilization and advanced
cardiac life support in obstetrics. She completed her
residency at the Research Family Medicine Program in
Kansas City and has clinical expertise in prenatal and
obstetrics care. Dr. Levine is a member of the American
Academy of Family Physicians, the American Medical
Association, the Missouri Academy of Family Physicians
and Missouri State Medical Association. Midwest Women’s
Healthcare Specialists has six convenient locations, offers
same day and next day appointments and accepts all major
insurance plans.
Research Medical Cen ter • A Publ icatio n for empl oyees • JUNE 2011
research medical center honored
by black health care coalition
Research Medical Center was recently honored by the
Black Health Care Coalition with the 2011 Corporate
Award. The Black Health Care Coalition was formed in
1985 to focus on mentoring African American medical
students who had little or no contact with the minority
community. The committee found that there was a
tremendous need for community health education that was
culturally sensitive.
scott bjerke, md, to present at
missouri ems conference & expo
Scott Bjerke, MD, Midwest Trauma &
Surgical Specialists at Research Medical
Center, will present at the upcoming
Missouri EMS Conference & Expo, July
26-29, at the Hilton Convention Center
in Branson, Mo. The event is sponsored by the Missouri
Emergency Medical Services Association, Missouri
Ambulance Association and Missouri Association of Air
Medical Services. Dr. Bjerke will discuss ‘Trauma from
Explosive Devices’ and ‘Meth Labs: What to Look for as a
Medic.’
cece davis nominated to child abuse
and neglect review board
Governor Jay Nixon recently nominated Cecilia (Cece)
Davis to the Child Abuse and Neglect Review Board.
The Child Abuse and Neglect Review Board provides
an independent review of child abuse and neglect
determinations in instances in which the alleged
perpetrator is aggrieved by the decision of the Children’s
Division. Davis serves as director of Women’s Services at
Research Medical Center. The Governor has nominated her
for a term ending April 7, 2012.
9
11
 Geriatric Assessment Clinic Oversees and
Integrates Health Care for Older Adults
By Paula Dunn
It’s no secret that adults aged 55 and older are one of the fastest growing
populations in the United States. Adults aged 65 and older comprise 12.4 percent
of the United States population per the U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2000, the last
census with available statistics. The Center for Disease Control’s National Center
for Health Statistics recently reported that, as of 2009, the life expectancy for males
has risen to 78.2 years, and 85 years for females. Clearly, the need for health care
resources for these individuals is growing and will continue to do so.

How do we ensure these individuals get the medical attention they need and
deserve? The Geriatric Assessment Clinic is a part of the Center for Healthy Aging
at Research Medical Center. The Clinic is located on the Research Medical Center
Brookside Campus at 6675 Holmes, Suite 420 in Kansas City, Missouri.

The Geriatric Assessment Center is a specialty clinic that uses an interdisciplinary approach to focus on age-related issues
that can impact functional independence and quality of life for seniors. Their primary purpose is to help older adults in the
community maintain the most independent lifestyle possible. They help older adults, their family members, and caregivers to
assess the increasingly complex health needs of the individual through the aging process.

Patients need not worry about leaving the care of their primary physicians and losing their patient-physician relationship. The
function of the Geriatric Assessment Clinic is not to replace the primary care physician, but to more carefully oversee and
integrate the care provided by that physician, along with other health care specialists and resources.

The Geriatric Assessment Clinic team consists of a board-certified geriatric physician, family practice residents, clinical social
worker, pharmacist, and nurse. They provide comprehensive assessments, followed by personalized recommendations and
referrals to specialists, ancillary services and community resources, as needed.

Patients should expect the assessment and exam to take 30 – 60 minutes. The assessment includes an evaluation of functional
status, bladder and bowel habits, hearing, mood, social needs, gait and mobility, vision, memory, and medications.

For more information about the Geriatric Assessment Clinic, or to schedule an appointment, call (816) 276-7500.
Transportation services are also available.

Emergency Care For The Elderly (cont’d from page 1)

Kevin J. Hicks, chief executive officer at Research Medical
Center, says that Emergency Care for the Elderly aligns
with the hospital’s commitment to the community.
“This emergency unit dedicated to older adults is a
valuable resource to the community,” he says. “It allows
our physicians and nurses to deliver exceptional and
compassionate patient care to the elderly and those who
care for them.”
In addition to immediate care, patients visiting ECE
receive information on programs to help them with their
needs through the Acute Care for the Elderly Inpatient
Unit (ACE), including Meals on Wheels and church and
community organizations. Caregivers receive opportunities
for education on dealing with an aging family member. In
addition to ECE and the ACE Unit, the Center for Healthy
Aging at Research Medical Center includes: Memory Loss
Clinic, the Geriatric Assessment Clinic and the Adult Multi-
Specialty Care Clinic on Research’s Brookside Campus.
“We have senior adults covered from every healthcare
angle,” says Hicks. “That’s a good thing for older patients
and gives their caregivers peace-of-mind.”

10 Research Medical Center • A Publi cation for employees • june 2011

 Healthcare Community Credit Union
Certificates of Deposit
A great alternative to the volatile stock market, this account
allows you to earn interest without risking your principal
investment.
• Capitalize on high-yield, fixed rates of return
• Earn quarterly-compounding interest
• Choose the term that is right for you
Free Checking Accounts**
This account offers the very best combination of value and
accessibility.
• First 50 checks FREE
• Enhanced FREE Bill Pay
• Enjoy VISA Debit Card and ATM access
• Online banking with Virtual Branch , 24/7 access
New and Used Autos, Boats and Motorcycles
Borrow over 100 percent of your auto’s value, save money
with HCCU low-cost GAP insurance, and explore your
eligibility for our exclusive tax-deductible loan options.*
Contact us for current rates!
Trade Your Payment Not Your Car
Refinance your existing auto loan with another financial
institution and receive a lower payment with HCCU. Contact
Madeline at (816) 276-9403 or Dwight at (816) 276-
9404 for more details. Not a member, join today at www.
cuonthenet.org or visit us on B-level at Research Medical
Center! Start enjoying all the benefits of membership!
Transaction services also available at these locations:
100+ Free ATM’s in the Kansas City metro area
28,000+ Free nationwide
16+ Free Shared Branch Kansas City locations
3,980+ Free Shared Branch nationwide
Locate one near you at www.cuonthenet.org or 1-888-SITE-
COOP (ATM locator), 1-800-919-CUSC (Shared Branch
locator). Locations also available via iPhone apps, text
messaging, or GPS. Contact Crystal at (816) 276-9405 for
more details.
*Available for qualified homeowners. Contact your tax advisor for
complete details.
**With Direct Deposit or $300 Minimum Balance

May Employee of the Month

Missy Trammell • The Transplant Institute

Congratulations to Missy Trammell, The Transplant Institute, for being selected Employee of the Month for
May. Nomination comments by her co-workers include:

• “In addition to her job, Missy volunteers to pick-up the slack in every area of The Transplant
Institute. She performs her job and many more cheerfully, accurately and very fast too. She is kind and
considerate of all her co-workers and never complains.”
• “Missy is an excellent employee and exemplifies all of the CARE attitudes. She goes above and beyond
in her job and always takes on more duties. She is very thorough in ensuring that each patient has
adequate insurance coverage during their transplant preparations.”
• “Missy’s positive attitude and lightheartedness is contagious. She makes my job so much easier and I
want her to know how much she is appreciated.”

2 Research
Research Medical
Medical Cen ter •• AA Publ
Center Publiicatio
cationn for
for empl oyees •• june
employees 2011
may 2010 11
 You’re Invited to a Meet and Greet!

Join us for coffee and sweets!

June 15 • 7:30-9 a.m.
6420 Prospect, Ste. T102

The Medical Group of Kansas City (MGKC) recently opened a new office in the Tower Building
at Research Medical Center. Join us on June 15 and meet all of the doctors and staff of MGKC!

Faisal Ahmad, MD, FACP Radhika Mathur, MD

Medical School: Khyber Medical College Medical School: Gandhi Medical College
Residency: Jersey Shore Medical School Residency: Bridgeport Hospital/Yale University
Board Certification: Internal Medicine Board Certification: Internal Medicine

Michael Dahl, MD Douglas McKee, MD

Medical School: University of Kansas Medical School: University of Missouri-Kansas City
Residency: University of Kansas Residency: Brown University (Rhode Island)
Board Certification: Internal Medicine Board Certification: Internal Medicine

Elliott Franks, MD, FACP Ahmad Al Mubaslat, MD, FACE

Medical School: University of Missouri-Kansas City Medical School: Jordan University
Residency: Menorah Medical Center Residency: Brown University (Rhode Island),
Board Certification: Internal Medicine Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island
Board Certification: Internal Medicine, Endocrinology

Jon Horine, MD Madhavi Yarlagadda, MD

Medical School: University of Kansas Medical School: Osmania Medical College (India)
Residency: St. Vincent’s Medical Center, Yale University Residency: Abington Memorial Hospital (Pennsylvania)
Board Certification: Internal Medicine, Board Certification: Internal Medicine, Endocrinology
Gastroenterology

Martha LaPietra, MD
Medical School: University of Missouri-Kansas City
Residency: University of Missouri-Kansas City
Special Interests: Gynecology