Spalding News

Spalding Forum and Lunch  

Please join us

January 21, 2010

“Endoscopic Evaluation and Injections for Voice and Swallow Disorders in Neurological Patients”

presented by

David A. Opperman, MD

Colorado Voice Clinic 

 at

Spalding Rehabilitation Hospital

Dining Room

900 Potomac Street

Aurora, CO 80011

11:30am – 12:00pm   Registration, networking and lunch

12:00pm – 1:00pm   Lecture

No cost for participation……but RSVP is REQUIRED

Please RSVP before January 14, 2010 by calling Shari Bremer at (303) 363-5307 

CEU credits have been applied for through CCMC for Case Managers

Former Patient Publishes Book About her Experience.

Spalding is very excited to host Kate Dendrinos-Rickel and Shawn Rickel telling their motivational story that recently has been published in the book: I'm Not Supposed to Be Here--A Story of Love, Miracles, and Never Giving Up.  They will have their books available for sale and signing.  This first presentation will be limited to staff and patients and families. You can also learn more information by going to their web site at www.iamnotsupposedtobehere.com

Eagle Scout Project Enhances Patient Rehabilitation at Spalding

The patients at Spalding Rehabilitation Hospital are the lucky recipients of a gift from Travis Spencer. Travis is a senior in high school who began his journey towards becoming an Eagle Scout at the age of twelve. To become an Eagle Scout he had to work on many badges, go through different ranks of advancement and participate in a variety of activities. Well, Travis procrastinated until the final semester his senior year and still had 10 merit badges and his eagle project to complete and he realized time was running out. For each badge he had to have a different counselor and the counselor had to approve of the completion of the badge. With a month left till his eighteenth birthday Travis quickly pulled things together and completed the ten merit badges but still had the entire eagle project to do. He could not become an Eagle Scout after he turned eighteen, so the pressure was on.

A friend of Travis’s had made cutting boards for Stroke and Brain Injury patients at Spalding who only had use of one hand. This gave Travis the idea to call Spalding and talk with the Occupational Therapy Department about ideas for his project. Travis came up with the idea of making Bird Feeder Kits that the patients could build themselves. He went online and researched “Bird Feeders” and after a little brainstorming with his father, along with the internet designs, came up with designs for a prototype.

With this idea approved he started the project. He was required to receive his materials for the project through donation. He had to go to a variety of stores and solicit donations. In two days, Travis, with the help of his mom, was able to get donated all his supplies to make 20 bird feeder kits. The key part to the Eagle Scout project is demonstrating Leadership skills by the scout so he had to demonstrate his leadership skills by recruiting volunteers to build the kits and overseeing their work. Travis and his Dad made a prototype of the kit, and then the volunteers copied the prototype. It took two long days to complete the project with the help of many of his volunteers. When asked how he was able to recruit so many volunteers, he said he had helped three friends with their Eagle Scout projects, so each friend returned the favor to him. In addition he recruited volunteers from his church, his family and other friends.

When Travis talks about the support he received from his parents during this process he beams with pride. He says his Dad works so hard and sacrifices so much for the family. Travis also gave a lot of credit to his mom. He said she works a lot of late nights as an accountant so that she is available during the day to get the kids to all their activities, including helping out tremendously with his Eagle Scout Project. He is so proud and loves his parents very much and is so thankful for all their support and encouragement.

The Bird Feeder Kits are a tremendous asset to the Spalding therapy department. Many patients stay as inpatients for weeks at a time and often look for projects to compete.  From all the staff at Spalding we thank Travis for his thoughtfulness to consider Spalding for this Eagle Scout Project.

4/30/09

SAEBO Technology in Use at Spalding For Stroke Patients

Click here to see this story on KDVR FOX 31

April 20, 2009

Kreutz named Aurora Chamber Woman of Year

The Aurora Chamber of Commerce has named Cindy Kreutz as the Chamber Woman of the Year for 2008 at their Annual Awards Banquet, April 17.

            The honor is bestowed on the woman in the Eastern Metro area who truly exemplifies qualities of leadership, combined with business acumen and community involvement.   

            Kreutz, President and CEO of Spalding Rehabilitation Hospital in Aurora, was cited for a leadership style that inspires growth, team work and community involvement in her employees and among those with whom she volunteers.

            “Her compassion for those who her job puts her into contact with daily is an inspiration to all that know her,” said Kevin Hougen, President and CEO of the 1200-member Chamber.   “Her belief in community stewardship encourages those around her to become actively involved in volunteer programs that have enhanced the lives of hundreds.”    

            Hougen said Kreutz also knows the importance of understanding and participating in the political process and has raised awareness at all levels in the important work she does.  “While Cindy is a pragmatist who understands intuitively the environment of a successful business, it is her easy going style and sense of humor which endears her to those who she leads,” he said.  “She is a natural at inspiring those around her to do more professionally, personally and in the community.”      Kreutz’s award lauded her for her quiet, yet decisive leadership, her contributions to the health of the Eastern Metro community and her mentorship of the professionals with whom she works in naming her the Aurora Chamber of Commerce Woman of the Year.

Spalding is partnering with NuSling

Spalding is partnering with NuSling to develop a new type of upper extremity sling. Read More

Spalding Patient--A Medical Miracle

Donald Roberts survived septic shock three times. Read the entire story at: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2009/feb/21/a-medical-miracle-for-septic-shock-victim/

Spalding Participates in MRSA Campaign

Standardization of Armband Alert Colors

Spalding participating in a statewide iniative to standardize the arm band altert colors in hospitals. In December 2005, a patient safety advisory was issued from the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Reporting System. This advisory, which received national attention, described an incident that occurred in a Pennsylvania hospital in which clinicians nearly failed to rescue a patient who had a cardiopulmonary arrest. The source of confusion was a nurse that had incorrectly placed a yellow wristband on the patient. In the hospital where the patient was admitted, a yellow wristband meant “Do Not Resuscitate”. However, at a nearby hospital where the nurse also was employed, a yellow wristband meant “Restricted Extremity”, which was what the nurse wanted to alert hospital staff about. Fortunately, another nurse recognized the mistake and the patient was resuscitated. Read More...

Major Patient Safety Technlolgy In Use at Spalding

Electronic Provider Order Management  "ePOM"

Initiated at Spalding in April of 2005, electronic Provider Order Management (ePOM) is a technology component to enhance patient safety at HCA facilities. Electronic Physician Order Management (ePOM) is patient safety technology that allows Physicians to place orders directly into the clinical information system. The technology is endorsed to reduce medical errors through improved communication and decision support for prescribers. By utilizing the technology, ePOM reduces prescribing errors and injury to patients, improves accuracy and completeness of Physician orders, shortens the time from when the order was written to time patient is treated, and improves quality of care.

Former Spalding Patient Wins CARF Art Contest

Spalding is very proud to have former patient and current volunteer Jeffrey Jones affiliated with our organization.  At the suggestion of one of our staff members, Jeffrey submitted his art, as seen below, to CARF. Jeffrey won the contest! In his own words Jeffrey talks about his experiences at Spalding, as well as his love of art. Read more ...

"Spot the Dot" Fall Reduction Program

In any healthcare facility the risks related to patients who fall are significant. As a rehabilitation hospital the issues related to patient falls are always a priority as the staff works to balance the patient's need to learn to be as independent as possible with the risk of falls and injuries related to falls. The fall reduction program in place at Spalding Rehabilitation Hospital, "Spot the Dot", has proven to be successful for our patients. Read more...

Application of Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy for an Individual With Severe Chronic Upper-Extremity Hemiplegia

Nancy (McNamara) Bonifer and Kristin M Anderson
Writing for the Journal of the American Physical Therapy Association
Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) has been documented to improve motor function in the upper extremity of people with mild hemiparesis. The use of CIMT has not been documented for people with severe hemiparesis. This case report describes a CIMT program for an individual with severe upper-extremity deficits as a result of stroke. Click here to read the complete article on the APTA web site (this article will open in a new browser window).