Between Us - Torrance Memorial Medical Center
Transcription
Between Us - Torrance Memorial Medical Center
Torrance Memorial Medical Center Auxiliary Between Us June 2015 Vol. 62 Issue 6 President’s Message 2015 The year is flying by with June aleady here! My first six months as Auxiliary President have been filled with meetings, special events, my unit responsibilities and meeting many new people in person and/or by phone. I am enthusiastically enjoying this new role and am excited about the volunteer outings and celebrations we have planned for the remainder of the year. Before I move on to summer happenings, Torrance Memorial was honored to have the founders of the DAISY awards with us on May 5. In 1999, this program began in honor of nurse’s dedication everywhere. Outstanding nurses are nominated by their peers, physicians, patients and families monthly, in over 1,900 health care facilities in every state and fourteen countries. The Healers Touch statue, which was unveiled early last month, now sits in our Auxiliary Healing Garden reminding us of our DAISY award winners and heroes to those they serve. Beth Zager This month is a busy one around campus. June 2 is our next opportunity to all get together for our Auxiliary Luncheon that Valerie Punzal has planned for us. Summer Safety is the theme with safety tips from the Torrance Police Department. June 9 is our next restaurant fundraiser at Gaetano’s in Torrance (reservations suggested) and on July 2 the Hollywood Bowl trip not only features fireworks, but Smokey Robinson! Make your reservations early. On a closing note, don’t forget our gift shops for your Father’s Day gifts. They outdid themselves for Mother’s Day and have unique items just waiting for you! Beth Zager Save the Date's Tuesday, June 9 Gaetano’s Restaurant Fundraiser Thursday, July 2 Hollywood Bowl Smokey Robinson From the Director’s Desk Mary Matson In her article, Auxiliary President Beth Zager relates a wonderful occasion in May when the Healers Touch sculpture was unveiled in the Healing Garden. At this event during National Nurses Week, I was privileged to introduce Beth representing the Auxiliary and Gail Long as chairperson of the Auxiliary Healing Garden committee as they did the honors of unveiling the sculpture. I have noticed that the sculpture has drawn more people into the Healing Garden to read its inscription and enjoy the surroundings of this peaceful space in the middle of our campus. Since the Healing Garden opened in November, I have used it myself on occasion for a brief respite or to gather my thoughts. Most recently on the anniversary of my father’s death I was in the midst of a busy day and visiting our various volunteer service areas Mary Matson around the hospital when I noticed some personal text messages coming through on my phone. When I finally had a moment to step away and open them, I saw photos my brother sent of him and my mother enjoying the sunshine at my father’s gravesite. Needless to say I got a lump in my throat and quickly realized I was not far from the Healing Garden. I stepped inside to look at the photos, reply to my siblings, and take a few moments of reflection. I was ready to move on with my day thankful for a place that I could get away for a moment in the middle of my workplace. Some of you may have used the Garden for similar purposes, or perhaps our beautiful chapel. I know our patients and families certainly have. I am so thankful that the Auxiliary chose the Healing Garden for its naming opportunity five years ago. It just seems like the perfect choice for our volunteers who provide such heartfelt service to Torrance Memorial. You are in the final year of your $1 million pledge and well on your way to meeting your goal. Another great place to get away for a moment is the north lobby where you can listen to our wonderful pianists. I am happy to announce that we will be placing a 2nd piano in our Lundquist Tower grand lobby in the next few weeks. This is proving to be welcome news for many people who spend time in the grand lobby. Our pianists will do their best to keep the volume at a therapeutic level for the sake of our patients (and our information desk volunteers). Now you can enjoy their beautiful music in two locations! Mary National Nurses’ Week Healers Touch Sculpture Ceremony Page 3 Between Us Up Close and Personal with your Auxiliary Board members Krissie Douglas Started: 2013 Board Position: Treasurer Volunteer Position: Lundquist Tower - Grand Lobby Information Desk Labor and Delivery 1. How were you inspired to become a volunteer? As a full-time mother of three children, I was really busy. Then, all of the sudden, two of the three kids were driving and off to college, and I found myself with extra time on my hands. I thought that volunteering at the hospital would be a nice thing to try. 2. What do you enjoy the most about volunteering, and why? I really have enjoyed getting to know the other volunteers and hospital staff that work on my shifts. I look forward to seeing them every week and catching up on what’s happening in their lives. They always make me laugh and I really enjoy the friendships I have developed over the past two years. 3. Describe one of your greatest memories as a volunteer. One day a patient came in to Labor and Delivery complaining of fever and vomiting. On the standard sign in, some questions had recently been added to determine if a patient might have Ebola. The young lady had checked the box for having visited West Africa during the past 3 weeks. The admissions clerk did not seem to notice the response, and asked me to go ask the nurses which room we should put the patient in, which is standard protocol. When I went to the nurse’s station, I pointed out that the person had checked the box indicating her recent foreign travel and told them she was really nauseous and vomiting. Everyone got quite concerned! The lead nurse called the head nurse who called Infection Control. Then she put on a mask and went to the waiting room to ask the lady where she had been to in West Africa. As Infection Control was showing up, she replied, “Oh, that was a mistake. I never went to West Africa. I’m so sorry!” 4. When you're not volunteering, what are some of your favorite things to do? My three kids are now 21, 19 and 15, two in college and one still at home. So, I am still spending a lot of time with them, or visiting them in college. I play tennis a few days a week, and read and listen to books. I enjoy TV shows like Scandal, Breaking Bad, and Investigation Discovery shows about true crimes. My husband and I are starting to travel more often. We love to watch our son at UW play college tennis matches and have gone to watch the French Open and Wimbledon in recent years. We recently took a trip to Italy to visit my oldest daughter who was studying abroad 5. An interesting fact that most people don't know about me is. I was a competitive swimmer through college. 6. What would you tell a person of your peers who was interested in volunteering? This did happen to me and I told her that you meet a lot of nice people and it’s nice to have a job where you are always appreciated, so she should do it. Page 4 Between Us From the Gift Shop KINDNESS KORNER Loraine Edwards-Peterson and I were walking back from Day Surgery to Escort, when we saw a woman looking lost and shaky. We approached the woman and Loraine asked her if she needed help and we had her sit down. The woman came to Torrance Memorial because she previously had undergone cancer surgery there, and now she needed a bone scan and a mammogram. Loraine quickly learned that our patient was from Guatemala and that she spoke very little English. Therefore, Loraine began conversing in the patient's native language - Spanish. Her paperwork turned out to be a referral to a diagnostic center elsewhere in Torrance. Loraine called the diagnostic center for the patient and found out she did not have an appointment scheduled. Learning of this and informing the patient she would need to come back, Loraine arranged a future appointment for this satisfied patient. In the end, it was clear that the bus trip to Torrance Memorial wasn’t completely in vain. Do you remember “The Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer?” Hazy and crazy maybe, but certainly not lazy! You probably have some of the following events already on your calendar: Father’s Day – Sunday, June 21 Wedding Showers/Weddings Graduations In case you would like to be a little lazy and not drive yourself crazy, take advantage of some one-stop shopping at our Gift Shops! We have some fanciful, beautiful, unusual and thoughtful items for all of the above occasions. Use the time you save to indulge yourself with something beautiful for your home or patio. We are featuring some fabulous wind chimes. Also take a peak at our 4th of July items! It's not too far away. Vibeke Dwyer Tina Trudnowski – Gift Shop Manager Have Volunteers Will Travel Left to Right: 1. Nelson & Beth Zager & granddaughter Kalea at Aulani Disney Resort - Kapolei, Hawaii April, 2015 2. Elena Bruns & Husband Larry at Loreto Mission - Loreto Baja, Mexico April, 2015 3. Carla Zanino & Husband Walter at Ritz Carlton - Half Moon Bay April, 2015 4. Barbara Smith at Taj Mahal, India March, 2015 Page 5 Between Us June Birthdays The following volunteers have birthdays in June. During their birthday month, active volunteers receive a 20 percent discount in the Gift Shop. You only receive the discount once. So, stop and buy yourself something special. If you have a birthday in June and do not see your name listed, please contact the Volunteer Services department. June 1 Srujana Parupalli 1 Dani Lee 1 Ethel Mercer 1 June Tong 2 Paula DiFiore 2 Jeanine Pagarigan 2 Yaeko Tanaka 2 Lori Stamatelatos 3 Susan Shultz 3 Alyssa Soliz 3 Susan Underwood 3 Allen Scarpetti 3 Betty Shankman 3 Tom Robinson 4 Bobbie White 4 Tracy Isenberg 4 * Jean Calhoun 4 Karen Cutler 5 Laura Avendano 6 * Barbara Renken 6 * Inga Lurie 6 6 6 8 8 9 9 9 9 9 9 10 10 10 10 10 10 11 11 12 12 Carolyn Lockyear * Charles "Lee" Brady * Patricia DeRudder Marti Nordskog Evelyn Schulz Kathy Meyer Diana Morino * Patricia Au Yukiko Toyoda Kristine Douglas Zsarina Marero * Patricia Gardner * Barbara Mendenhall Lea Anthony Pamela Bryson Judy Smith Alyssa Yim Sobem Okeke Rachel Goldman Anthony White Esther Silverberg 12 13 14 15 15 15 15 15 16 16 16 16 18 18 19 19 19 21 21 22 22 Alice Brechin * Dottie Riley Marianne Brooks Dina Gample Karen Hara * Gerri Stoodley Daniel Diederich * Muriel Vallely * Alice Diego-Malit * Lynne Hurley * Patricia Spirit White Kathy Dickey Christine Vuong Donna Cohen Linda Rodrick Susan Morgan * Angela Fischer Anita Nedleman Erin Quintero Laurie Anderson Michelle Olenick 23 23 23 23 24 24 24 25 25 25 25 26 27 28 28 28 28 29 29 30 30 Stan Yocum Gary Stuart Bob Hernandez Kathy McHugh Brian Kowighadoush Jacqueline Paliungas * Cathy Zhang Judy Jordan Bobbie Callen William Ramirez * Debora Lem Judy Sipes Charles Colaianni Sandra Perry * Susie Sam Kaoru Ichikawa Connie Campa Beverly Fridley Martin Fox Beverly Bailey * Debbie Uba *Inactive Volunteers Condolences Our love and thoughts go out to Diana Morino on the passing of her beloved mother. Diana volunteers on Wednesdays in Escort Services. Page 6 Between Us Pechanga Proves 2 B A Popular Get-a-way On Tuesday, April 14th an enthusiastic group of forty-eight volunteers and friends left the Torrance Memorial parking lot headed to Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula. Besides going for some rest and relaxation (R&R), many wanted to try their luck at the big paying slots, strategic card games and the fast moving dice table. Some came back as winners and some came back as not-so winners, but everyone came back with a smile on their face! Another successful trip to Pechanga, it was! ATTENTION ALL VOLUNTEERS! We are attempting to locate any active volunteers that are 90 years young and/or anyone born at the original Torrance Memorial Hospital location at 1425 Engracia Avenue in downtown Torrance. We would like you to help us celebrate Torrance Memorial’s 90th birthday at a special luncheon on September 8, 2015. Please contact Beth Zager at (310) 316-0688 for all the details. Page 7 Between Us Torrance Memorial Clowns Win Parade Trophy Our Torrance Memorial Clowns on Rounds participated in the annual Lawndale Youth Parade and took home the trophy for “Best Float!” Participating this year were Priscilla “Twinkle Toes” Streisand, Bobbie “Poka Doc” Adler, and Janet “Tiny Bubble” Hironaka, with special assistance from Janet’s husband who converted his truck into a pirate ship! Congratulations! Volunteer Week Recognition Brunch Moments Auxiliary 3330 Lomita Blvd., Torrance, CA 90505 Return Service Requested June 2015 SUN MON TUE 1 7 8 Auxiliary Board Meeting; 9:30 a.m.; WT, Room D 14 21 15 22 WED Auxiliary Luncheon and General Meeting; 11 a.m., HCC 1&2 Gaetano’s Restaurant Fundraising Adult Volunteer Orientation; 5 p.m.; WT– Aud 29 Newsletter Copying 31 FRI 4 Bingo 2 p.m. - Media Svcs 9 SAT 5 6 Sewing, 9 a.m. , HCC 4 10 11 12 13 17 18 19 20 26 27 Bingo 2 p.m. - Media Svcs 16 Adult Volunteer Orientation; 5 p.m.; WT– Aud Bingo 2 p.m. - Media Svcs 24 23 Student Orientation; 5 p.m., WT– Aud 28 THURS 3 2 Bingo 2 p.m. - Media Svcs Student Orientation; 5 p.m., WT– Aud 30 25 Clown Mtg: 9:30 a.m. WT-C Sewing, 9 a.m. , HCC 4