Volume 18, Issue No. 50 - December 7, 2009

The Queen’s
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Connection
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QU
EEN’
S MEDICAL CENTE
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A Weekly Publication for the People of Queen’s • Vol. 18 • No. 50 • December 7, 2009
Queen’s Brings Health Fair to Kauai
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The property on which The Queen’s
Medical Center was built in 1860 was
called Manamana, which means to
branch out, or spiritual power. As a
part of its 150th anniversary celebrations, Queen’s, which was established
in a temporary dispensary on August
1, 1859, is branching out to Neighbor Island communities. A Queen’s
150th Anniversary Health & Wellness
Fair was held last month at the Kukui Grove Shopping Center in Lihue,
Kauai. Health fairs in Hilo and Kona
on Hawaii Island will be held in 2010.
“We are looking forward to celebrating our 150th anniversary with communities in Lihue, Hilo and Kona,” said
QMC President Art Ushijima. “Our goal
is to provide health and wellness information and screening opportunities
to supplement what’s currently provided in Neighbor Island communities.”
The community outreach event featured
nearly 30 exhibits manned by about
80 exhibitors. The public was offered
free screenings, including blood pressure readings, stroke risk assessments,
breast and cervical cancer pre-screenings, lymphedema assessments, body
fat analyses and lung function tests.
The event also brought awareness to
the availability of specialty clinics at the
Queen’s Health Care Centers-Lihue Specialty Clinic. Also featured werewarmup exercises by Donna Olivas-Kaohi,
keiki hula by Halau Hula ‘o Leilani, music by award-winning slack key artist
Paul Togioka, a cake cutting ceremony
and remarks by Wally Rezentes, Kauai
County Director of Finance, on behalf of
Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr., who
noted that health and wellness fairs are
a great resource to the community.
Participating Queen’s departments
included the Breast & Cervical Cancer Control Program, Comprehensive
Weight Management Program, Health
Education & Wellness, Lihue Specialty
Clinic, Neuroscience Institute, Queen’s
Cancer Center, Queen’s Heart, Sleep
Center and the Women’s Health Center. Many health care partners were
eager to participate. These included
the Alzheimer’s Association, the American Cancer Society, the American Red
Cross, Boys & Girls Club of Lihue, the
Department of Health H1N1, Diagnos(Continued on page 2.)
Christmas Season Begins at Queen’s
Health Fair
(Continued from page 1.)
tic Laboratories, Inc., Hawaii COPD Coalition, Ho‘ola Lahui Hawaii, Hospice
Hawaii, Kauai Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program, the Kauai County
Agency on Elderly Affairs, the Kauai
Police Department Keiki ID, Tobacco
Free Kauai and the YWCA. Of course,
physicians are a critical component to
health and wellness, and demand for
specialists is great on the Neighbor Islands. All Queen’s physicians who are
interested in providing their services
should call Connie Moises at the Lihue
Specialty Clinic at 1-808-246-4707.
Below: Mark Yamakawa, QMC COO,
and Sharlene Tsuda, VP, Community Development, check out an inflatable colon
created by the American Cancer Society
on Kauai. The colon came complete with
an inflated polyp and cancerous polyp to
show what can happen if not removed.
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Groundskeepers Lee Guittap (top left) and
Timmy Yeung (above) create a Gecko Wonderland on the lobby tree (above right).
Mark Chai of CTS made the tree and aver
100 geckos from recycled corrugated cardboard. Geckos were decorated by Queen’s
staff. If you have a stray gecko, finish it up
and bring it on down to the lobby. Look
along the window ledge for florist wire to
attach your creation to the tree. Volunteer
Karen Sumida (top right) leads the Aloha
Leonani sin gers, who performed Christmas
carols for patients and staff.
Cancer Support Group Grows Strong at 2
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Queen’s ranks among the best in cancer
care. But while the importance of early
detection and excellent care cannot be
overemphasized, a group of cancer patients offer powerful weapons in people’s struggle with cancer: Hope and support. “The message is that there is life after cancer,” said Joe Recca at the second
birthday celebration of the Head and
Neck Cancer Support Group at Queen’s.
Joe, the facilitator of the group, was
diagnosed with cancer in his tonsils
seven years ago. After he regained his
“life after cancer” through faith in God,
it became a dream of his to visit other
cancer patients and offer support by
telling them what to expect before and
after cancer treatment. Joe explained
his dream to his ENT surgeon, Christy
Adachi, MD, who sent him to see some
of her patients. Realizing that they had
something good going, Joe and some
of the patients talked to Dr. Adachi
about forming a support group. Dr.
Adachi referred them to Diane Thompson, MD, Development Director of the
Queen’s Cancer Center. Kathy Krammer, a Queen’s speech language pathologist, and Lilinoe Watanabe, Director
of Decision Support, also got involved.
At support group meetings, each person is given an opportunity to share if
they desire. Special speakers are invited to the sessions and practical issues
like learning to eat again, finances and
caregiver support are discussed. At first
covering just head and neck cancer patients, the group now includes esophageal, throat, mouth, thyroid and brain
cancer patients. “The power of this group
is unique,” says Kathy Krammer. “The
group has drawn many people.” The pow-
er was easy to see and feel, as one survivor after another got up to share. One
longtime member told his story of how
Lilinoe supported him when he “felt his
world was coming to an end” by traveling to Maui where he lived and helping
him through treatment. He is now working full time at the University of Hawaii.
“There is hope at the end of the tunnel,”
he said, emphasizing the importance of
a support person. He sought to pass
on Lilinoe’s compassion by offering his
phone number to anyone who needs it.
Another patient, a former missionary to the Philippines, told his story of
how his cancer grew to the size of a golf
ball. When he was diagnosed, he was
told he was four years too late. Even
after radical radiation treatment, the
patient was given only one to two years
to live. “I believed I would be here as
long as God allowed, and I’m still here
11 years later,” he said. The patient is
seeing Kathy for swallowing problems
caused by the radical treatment, but
says he is at peace with everything and
offered to talk with anyone.
Recently, a member died and brought
the mood of the group down. Nevertheless, there has been a big shift this
year—members have needed less cajoling to share and even some newly diagnosed members took on proactive roles
in helping newer members after they
got better through treatment. This year
1. Blowing out the candle on a two-year
milestone. 2. Kathy Krammer, Lilinoe Watanabe, Rev. Al Miles and Joe Recca.
the group also had more speakers who
addressed psychological needs, which
was much needed. There are already 10
speakers lined up for next year, including a dental surgeon, pharmacist and a
skin care specialist. Psychological needs
will continue to be covered, as well as
pain management and spiritual management. The group has been so successful
in helping those with cancer that members are considering a visitor support
program in which group members would
become official Queen’s volunteers and
offer support to cancer inpatients.
The support—and the right attitude—can be powerful. A thyroid patient shared that she was in shock after her diagnosis, but now feels she is a
better person, and happier too. “We’re
not survivors—we are warriors,” said
Joe. “We put up shields against our enemy. Attitude is a big shield. And whatever your religion, turn to your God.”
The Head and Neck Cancer Support
Group meets at 11:00 am to 12:30 pm
every third Wednesday of the month.
In 2010, the group will move to the
Queen’s Conference Center to accommodate more people. For more information
about this free group, please call the
Queen’s Cancer Center at 545-8777.
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Incl util (elect/water/a/c). 1/1/1, $1,300. 2/1/1,
$1,600. Pls call 271-0808.
All employees are required to complete Breach Notification Training,
which is available on the Queen’s Intranet. Training, which takes just 5 to
10 minutes, must be completed by December 31, 2009. If you have any questions, please call Privacy at 547-4694.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Queen’s 150th anniversary commemorative Christmas ornaments are
available at the Gift Shop.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The main operating room’s Go Green
Committee is offering blue wraps for
all your Christmas needs. These are
clean blue wraps used for wrapping
sterile instruments. They are removed
from the rooms before patient exposure. Help give them a second purpose
before they end up in a landfill. Take as
many as you need. Please come to the
main OR front desk and staff will direct you to where they are stored.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Safety Department reminds all
personnel and departments who are
decorating for the holidays to remember that electrical lighting and all decorations that are not flame retardant
are prohibited. Please be mindful that
The Joint Commission (formerly JCAHO), is scheduled to conduct its accreditation survey at QMC some time
in December.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fit to Deliver is a safe, appealing
and rewarding circuit training workout for women during all three trimesters of pregnancy. This class targets skeletal muscle groups prone
to problems and weakening during
pregnancy, such as the core, pelvic
floor and the spine. The training
is designed to ease labor, delivery
and recovery. Medical certification
is required. Classes are taught at the
Women’s Health Center on Tuesdays,
from January 5 to February 9, 2010,
from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. The fee is $60
for six classes. Call The Queen’s Referral Line at 537-7117 to register.
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Sell
Clogs: 1 pr Dansko Marcelle patent leather, size 10-11 US/41 EU, color claret. $90
obo. View at http://s838.photobucket.com/
albums/zz302/enj1211/?action=view&curre
nt=DanskoMarcellePatentLeatherClogs-Cl.
jpg. Call 808-389-9055.
’07 BMW 530i: Only 6K mi, blk w/blk int,
auto, sports pkg, run flat tires. $35,000. Call
x4241 or 626-1901.
iTouch: 2nd generation 32GB. Never used.
$275. Call 547-4205.
Rent
Makini @ Kinau (2 units): Newly renov,
clean, great view, walk to QMC. NS, no pets.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A new Stretch, Rock and Roll class
taught by Roxanne Schneider at the
Women’s Health Center will be held
on Mondays, January 4 to February
8, 2010, from 8:00 to 9:00 am. Learn
how to use a foam roller and tennis
ball to not only stretch muscles and
tendons, but also to break down soft
tissue adhesions and scar tissue. By
using your own body weight, a cylindrical roller and a tennis ball, you can
perform a self-massage or myofascial
release, break up trigger points and
soothe tight fascia while increasing
blood flow and circulation to the soft
tissue. The fee is $60 for six sessions.
Call The Queen’s Referral Line at 5377117 to register.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Pain & Palliative Care Department
invites you to support the Loliana
Shelter for families in transition. Call
547-4726 to sign on, then purchase a
toaster/convection oven and set(s) of
dishware and utensils. Gifts should
be wrapped with an indication of the
number of place settings and delivered
by Friday, December 18, to the Loliana
Shelter at 565 Quinn Lane. Call shelter
manager Gail Kaleopaa at 722-7266 to
arrange drop off details.
Kailua: Beautiful brand new studio cottage,
lg lanai, lovely mt vw, very spacious, single
occupancy. Pvt outdr area & entr, kitchenette,
full bath, new carpet, paint, appl, ceiling fans
shared laundry, st pkg, limited cvd storage.
Mostly furn; unfurn option. Prefer F, no pets,
NS. 1 mo sec dep. Avail 12/15. $1,350, incl utils,
basic cable & wireless Internet. For more info
or showings, call 808-783-2006 after 3pm.
Queen Emma Gardens: Furn studio, 3 blks
from QMC. Recently renov, pool, jogging
path. NS, no pets. Avail 1/1. $1,100, + dep, a/c
& all utils incl; cable avail. Cvd pkg $100/mo.
Call 398-2799.
Miscellaneous
Childcare/Eldercare: CNA-trained, 10+ yrs
exp w/elder & newborn/infant care. Avail P/T
or F/T. Ref upon req. [email protected].
Energy drink: 100% all natural, life-changing.
www.freeyourfamily.com. Jessica 342-4001.
Andrea’s Neck Buddies: A rice filled neck
roll which is heated in the microwave and
applied to your neck, back or any area needing heat & muscle relaxation. Avail in a variety
of colors & prints. Perfect gift for that special
friend, family member or co-worker. $ 20. Call
Andrea @ 534-7035.
Placing an ad: Queen’s employees only. Include
name, phone and Employee ID #. Mail to Creative
Services—Print Connection, fax to 547-4002
or e-mail to jkimura by Wednesday. The Print
Connection reserves the right to edit or refuse any
ad. The Print Connection does not make any warranty about the fitness of any product or service
listed in Q-Mart.
The Queen’s
Connection
Weekly
The Queen’s Print Connection is published
by Creative Services. If you have news or
wish to opine, call us at 537-7532 or e-mail
[email protected]. News deadline is the
Monday prior to publication.
QMC President. . . . . . . . . . Art Ushijima
Publisher. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Roy Cameron
Editor/Writer. . . . . . . . . . . . Jason Kimura
Assist. Ed./Writer. . . . . . . Glee Stormont
The Queen’s Medical Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation.
www.queens.org
Please recycle