2. Mark Your Calendar
JAN.
13
3
FEB.
MAR.
4
CPR class for parents and
teens age 14 and older
6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Children’s Hospital’s Koppel Plaza Building
(Meschendorf Conference Room)
Class costs $25.
Call 865-541-8262 to register. Learn CPR so
you can respond to emergencies in your home.
National Pancake Day
7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
All IHOP restaurants
Get a free short stack of pancakes; then donate
to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
Visit www.ihoppancakeday.com for more
information. All funds raised locally go
directly to Children’s Hospital to help
purchase medical equipment.
2
It’s About Children, Issue 4 • 2013
3. Spotlight
4
JAN.
25
15
FEB.
Through
DEC.
21
Alexander Toth
is full of energy
and happiness–no
more so than when
he’s racing for glory
during one of his
weekly visits to
the hospital.
Safe Sitter class for teens
age 14 and older
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Children’s Hospital’s Koppel Plaza Building
(Meschendorf Conference Room)
Class costs $25.
Call 865-541-8262 to register. Learn correct
babysitting techniques, emergency responses
and how to use babysitting as a business.
Charlie Brown merchandise
Kohl’s department stores
Books, plush toys, a backpack and note
cards are $5 each.
Visit www.kohls.com for more information.
All net profits from local stores will help
fund our helmet safety program.
FEB.
Young man,
start your
scooter
MEDIC blood drive
7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Children’s Hospital’s Koppel Plaza Building
(Meschendorf Conference Room)
It is free.
Call 865-541-8165 for more information. One
donation can help up to three people. Donors
must be at least 17 years old, weigh more than
110 pounds and have an ID.
Donate at www.etch.com/ItsAboutChildren
9
24
Real heroes
Children’s Hospital would not be
the extraordinary place it is without
our heroes. And their super powers
are even more exceptional than those
found in comic books. Learn more
in our annual report.
Supporting health
care in schools
We are funding 10 additional school
nurses in 13 Title I Knox County
elementary schools for the next
three years.
Connect with us:
www.etch.com/ItsAboutChildren
It’s About Children is a publication
of the Marketing Department at
East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.
Editor: Paul Parson
Designer: Deborah Hosterman
Cover photo by Michael Dayah
3
6. continued from page 4
It’s Wednesday morning in the East Tennessee Children’s
Hospital Hematology/Oncology Clinic. The clinic is designed
with a circular floor plan—perfect for little Alexander Toth’s
favorite activity. As he flies around the nurses’ station on his
scooter, anticipating his dad Dustin hiding around the corner,
the 2-year-old is only a blur of blond curls and high-pitched
laughter.
But just a year ago, Alexander could do little more than
rest those curls on his dad’s shoulder, moaning and wincing
in pain, while unknowingly fighting a life-threatening disease.
Today, thanks to Children’s Hospital, Alexander is full of energy
and happiness—no more so than when he’s racing for glory
in the weekly Hem/Onc 500.
WARNING SIGNS
Alexander’s health problems began innocently enough,
with a skin rash and flakes on his scalp. Doctors told the Toths
it was cradle cap, a common ailment for infants. Then, in
August 2012, he developed a rash on his abdomen and a high
fever. Chronic ear infections also led doctors to put tubes in his
ears—but the problems persisted.
“There were all of these constant little things that would
send us in a bunch of different directions and to different
specialists. We didn’t realize then that it was one thing that
was causing all the problems,” Dustin said.
Dustin and his wife, Hollie, who work staggered schedules
so one of them can stay at home with Alexander and his
older siblings, Samantha and Xavier, knew that something
was seriously wrong with their son.
“I would spend my week with him on my shoulder,
with him just twirling his curls and crying. We called him The
Grumbler, because he was just so unhappy and would grumble
all the time,” Dustin said.
6
A ROAD MAP
FOR TREATMENT
For months, the Toths treated Alexander’s various
symptoms. But when the toddler’s belly became swollen
because of an enlarged liver, they rushed Alexander to the
Children’s Hospital Emergency Department, where, after
testing, he was diagnosed with Langerhans cell histiocytosis
(LCH). The disease is caused when the body has too many
Langerhans cells—a type of white blood cell that helps the
body fight infection. These cells can build up and cause
tumors or damage organs. Susan Spiller, M.D., a pediatric
oncologist at Children’s Hospital, said symptoms can vary from
mild to life-threatening, like Alexander’s.
“These cells just start to grow uncontrollably and create a
lot of different issues,” she said. “In Alexander’s case, there is
multi-organ involvement. It infiltrates everything. In a case like
his, we suggested intense treatment, which gave him a better
than 50 percent chance of getting it under control.”
For Alexander’s mom, getting a diagnosis meant the first
step to getting her little boy healthy.
“It was a relief to finally get an answer,” Hollie said. “It
felt good to know that it was all tied together, and we could
start treatment.”
It’s About Children, Issue 4 • 2013
7. The Toths credit Children’s Hospital with calming any
anxiety they felt about Alexander’s diagnosis.
“When we were in the Emergency Department, we had
six different specialists come in and talk to us and connect
notes,” Dustin said. “We were fearful for a minute, but they
had a road map laid in front of us for him, which helped ease
our minds.”
For more than a year, the Toths traveled from their home
in Mohawk, Tenn., more than an hour to Knoxville where
Alexander underwent chemotherapy at Children’s Hospital.
“I have been so impressed with Children’s Hospital,” Dustin
said. “We’re very active and hands-on. I don’t want him to go
through something I can’t be a part of, and they allow us to be
that way,” he said. “You know they are doing everything they
can every day to get the best results for the kids. The awesome
team is part of the reason we were able to stay so positive.”
DETERMINED TO WIN
Alexander has had an amazing response to the
chemotherapy, Dr. Spiller said.
“It was a gradual uphill and gradual downhill for them,
but to see him laughing and giggling today, it’s hard to
remember how sick he was when he first came in,” she said.
continued on page 8
Donate at www.etch.com/ItsAboutChildren
7
8. continued from page 7
Hollie said Wednesdays, Alexander’s clinic day, are his
favorite. The Toths bring Alexander’s trusty red Radio Flyer
scooter to his appointments.
“At first, the scooter was just Alexander’s way of
keeping up with his brother and sister. Everything hit him at a
prime development stage, so he lost some of his functioning.
He used the scooter as his aid to get around. But now he rides
circles around the house,” Dustin said. “And we have the best
time at the hospital. He rides around and around. He’s finally
enjoying life.”
Dustin is grateful for the improvement in his son and hopes
that the obstacles he’s had to face will help him in the future.
“You always hope for the best for all your children, but
Alexander’s had to live through so much—and he’s taken it all
in stride. I just pray that the resilience he was born with and
forced to use will carry him for the rest of his life.”
just the facts:
Langerhans cell histiocytosis
8
Has no known cause.
Occurs when the body accumulates too many
Langerhans cells, a type of white blood cell that
is supposed to help the body fight infection. The
cells can build up in certain parts of the body,
causing tumors or damaging organs.
May only affect one area of the body, such
as the skin or the bone, or it may affect
multiple systems.
Is treated with cortisone shots, surgery or
chemotherapy for the most extreme cases.
Believed to occur in one out of every 200,000
children, though is often under-diagnosed when
symptoms are mild.
It’s About Children, Issue 4 • 2013
10. Hero is a word that can be applied to people
who do extraordinary things in sometimes
extraordinary circumstances. Oftentimes, heroes
are people who exhibit inspiring works of bravery
when the situation calls for it.
Walking through our hospital, I see heroes
every day. Heroic children who are battling illnesses
and injuries. Heroic doctors, nurses and staff
members who do everything they can to ensure
these children go on to lead healthy, productive
lives. We are proud of our hospital and our more
than 1,900 employees who make a lifesaving
impact every day.
As donors, you are heroes—champions—
for all of our patients at East Tennessee
Children’s Hospital. You enabled us to have an
incredible year, managing 148,140 patient visits
in the hospital.
You’ve helped us become the largest pediatric
clinical care provider in East Tennessee and
allowed us to care for our most vulnerable
patients—nearly 800 premature and critically ill
newborn babies.
We are excited to share with you our
accomplishments—and our heroes—in this
year’s annual report. And we’re even more excited
about looking forward to the future. With your
help, we will continue to make a difference and
allow our little heroes to grow up and become
heroes to their own children.
Keith Goodwin
President and CEO
10
It’s About Children, Issue 4 • 2013
12. More than
30
pediatric
specialties
only
Comprehensive
Regional Pediatric
Center in East
Tennessee
continued from page 11
They come in all shapes, sizes and ages. Some
of them wear lab coats. Others wear surgical gowns
and masks. There are even a few, as in the case of
some of our volunteers, who don fairy wings when
the occasion calls for it.
Our heroes make a difference every day. And
their super powers are even more exceptional than
those found in comic books. Nurses who ease nerves
while checking vitals. Doctors who create treatment
plans to give our young patients the best chance at
healthy futures. Child life specialists who hold a
shaky hand and turn fear into fun. Anesthesiologists
who take away the pain. Volunteers who soothe a
crying baby to sleep with a lullaby. Athletes and
special visitors who raise spirits just by saying hello.
Children’s Hospital would not be the
extraordinary place it is without our heroes,
including our donors. Your support helps fund a
12
significant portion of the lifesaving equipment and
innovative treatment we use for our patients.
The daily care we provide with help from our
donors makes a significant impact to the children
of our community.
This can easily be seen in our busy Emergency
Department, where last year we had 71,764 patient
visits. Because we care for more children needing
emergency care than anyone else in East Tennessee,
our doctors and nurses are equipped to treat
everything from minor injuries to major medical
concerns. We understand we are caring for patients
who need a special kind of treatment—not only to
make them well, but also to make them feel
comfortable and safe.
Our heroes are also busy offering pediatric
specialty care like the team from our Cleft and
Craniofacial Clinic, which was officially approved
It’s About Children, Issue 4 • 2013
13. More than
400
doctors
152
beds
as a Cleft Palate Team by the American Cleft
Palate-Craniofacial Association and Cleft Palate
Foundation in January. Or, our Cystic Fibrosis Care
Center, which is accredited by the Cystic Fibrosis
Foundation.
In addition to the care we provide every day, we
strive to be pioneers. We are at the forefront of care
in treating neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), a
condition that stems from the country’s prescription
drug epidemic. Tennessee ranks among the top states
in prescription drug abuse, and Children’s Hospital
developed the treatment protocol for NAS after
seeing its impact.
Our heroic efforts also extend beyond the
hospital. We sponsor the Knoxville Area Coalition
on Childhood Obesity, which works to decrease the
number of overweight and obese children in East
Tennessee. We also run Project ADAM Tennessee,
a program that works with school systems to prevent
sudden cardiac deaths.
But of course, the most important heroes of
Children’s Hospital are the bravest of them all. The
ones who wear pink pajamas featuring their favorite
Disney princesses. The ones who dream of being
professional baseball players or teachers. The ones
in your family, your school and your community.
There’s your little neighbor, who’s been
fighting for her life since the day she was born—
battling a rare cancer that requires intense chemotherapy treatments. Your 15-year-old son, whose life
is often put on hold for treatment and hospitalization
for his cystic fibrosis. Your 8-year-old nephew, who
is finally feeling well enough to go back to soccer
practice after undergoing ear tube surgery.
These everyday heroes are the ones we most
celebrate. And they’re the reason we are committed
to making Children’s Hospital the best place for
pediatric care in East Tennessee.
Donate at www.etch.com/ItsAboutChildren
13
14. 148,140
patient visits
148,015 in FY12; 149,295 in FY11
72,575
patients
71,914 in FY12; 71,478 in FY11
261,558
physician practice visits
257,514 in FY12; 261,342 in FY11
71,764
Emergency Department visits
66,068 in FY12; 66,628 in FY11
10,918
surgeries
10,844 in FY12; 10,952 in FY11
313
babies treated for drug dependency
168 in FY12; 82 in FY11
14
330
transports
864,762
website visits
We are a trusted source of
pediatric health care information
for East Tennessee families.
It’s About Children, Issue 4 • 2013
18. 12
7
therapy dogs
18
iPads
Visits from these
furry friends help
ease anxiety and
promote shorter
recovery times for
our patients.
Used daily to help
educate children
about their care and provide
them with much-needed
distractions during
uncomfortable
medical procedures.
24,980
9,925
Our child life
specialists help
educate patients about
their illnesses and
treatments.
Because our
patients range from infants
to 21-year-olds, child
life specialists must be
prepared with a variety of
activities to support
them during stressful
experiences and
painful procedures.
patient interactions
distractions
It’s About Children, Issue 4 • 2013
19. 52,784
volunteer hours
This represents a $1,339,657.92
cost-savings. It is equivalent to
providing more than 6,300
chest X-rays.
12,573
Spanish translation requests
This is a 27.27 percent increase since FY11.
We are the only hospital in Knoxville
with interpreters on staff.
Donate at www.etch.com/ItsAboutChildren
19
20. 58
medical fellows,
residents and students
1,798
nursing students
302
students in other
health care positions,
such as respiratory
therapists, emergency
technicians and surgical
technicians
We provide pediatric clinical training to more than 70 hospitals, universities and institutions.
6,750
hospital rounds
For the safety of our patients and staff,
we employ full-time security officers 24 hours
a day, seven days a week.
20
It’s About Children, Issue 4 • 2013
22. 518,55413/day
$
189,272,25800/year
1,900
$
employees
the cost to operate Children’s Hospital
3%
Other
35%
FY13
Commercial
Payer mix
62%
Medicaid/TennCare
416
$
Gross revenue
Deductions from revenue
Expenses
Net gain
Debt
234
$
160
$
30
$
41.5
$
(millions)
22
It’s About Children, Issue 4 • 2013
23. Patient
population
609
1,212
Virginia
Kentucky
144,680
Tennessee
1,639 Other states
East Tennessee counties
Anderson
7,330
12,386
Blount
Campbell
Claiborne
Cocke
Grainger
Hamblen
Jefferson
3,928
2,042
2,038
2,051
3,310
4,698
69,932
Knox
Loudon
Monroe
Morgan
Roane
4,708
3,137
1,922
3,390
Scott 2,186
Sevier
11,574
Union
2,694
Donate at www.etch.com/ItsAboutChildren
23
24. News
Supporting health
care in schools
Children’s Hospital is funding 10 additional school nurses in 13
Title I Knox County elementary schools for the next three years.
“This very generous gift to the students of Knox County will have a
major impact on student health, facilitate family engagement and improve
health education, resulting in an improvement in classroom performance
and school attendance,” said Dr. Jim McIntyre, Superintendent of
Knox County Schools.
“The health and wellness of children are our top priorities,” said
Keith Goodwin, President and CEO of Children’s Hospital. “We’re happy
to help fund these positions because we believe the school nurse plays a
pivotal role in the health and well-being of students. Children’s Hospital
conducted a community health assessment to identify gaps in services
to children of this community, and we recognize that when children are
healthy, they’re better prepared to learn, happier and able to be more
actively engaged in school.”
24
The new school nurses are
in the following schools:
• Beaumont
• Belle Morris
• East Knox
• Green Magnet
• Inskip
• Lonsdale
• Maynard
• Mooreland Heights
• Norwood
• Pond Gap
• South Knox
• Spring Hill
• West View
It’s About Children, Issue 4 • 2013
25. Invest in a healthy
future for children
If you are age 70 and a half or older, you can make charitable gifts to
East Tennessee Children’s Hospital using funds from your individual
retirement accounts (IRAs) without undesirable tax effects.
• You can make a tax-free transfer up to $100,000 from an
IRA to Children’s Hospital until Dec. 31, 2013.
• These transfers would fulfill some or all of your required minimum
distribution without increasing taxable income.
Call our Development Department at 865-541-8441 for assistance.
Donate at www.etch.com/ItsAboutChildren
25
26. Your Dollars at Work
The colorful world of charity
For the second time this year, Children’s Hospital benefited
from a little colorful mayhem. A portion of the proceeds from
the August Color Me Rad 5K—more than $16,000—was donated
to the hospital. The money will be used to help provide critical
health care services to our pediatric patients.
“We knew Children’s Hospital was a great hospital from the
beginning. But after several visits there, we saw f irsthand how
truly amazing they are and what incredible love and support they
give to the patients and their families,” said Kristine Peterson,
Race Director.
The August 5K had more than 5,500 participants who ran the
3.1-mile course while being bombarded with color. The color is
FDA-approved colored cornstarch, and almost 5,000 pounds of it
were used for the race. The event was inspired by the Holi Festival
in India.
“We want this event to be memorable, fun and messy,” said
race organizer Scott Crandall. “This is the most fun you can have
while running.”
26
It’s About Children, Issue 4 • 2013
27. In memory of Claire
Curing Kids Cancer learned about Children’s
Hospital through Peggy Gillen, Program and Events
Director for the nonprofit charity. Gillen’s niece, Claire
Hayes, was a patient at Children’s Hospital, where she
battled both Ewing’s sarcoma, which is a rare bone
cancer, and acute myeloid leukemia.
The teenager passed away this past April. In her
memory, Curing Kids Cancer recently donated $25,000
to support our Hematology/Oncology Clinic. The
money was raised through the AT&T Curing Kids
Cancer Golf Classic in Georgia.
Curing Kids Cancer was founded by Grainne
and Clay Owen after losing their 9-year-old son to
leukemia in 2003. Since its founding in 2005, the
Atlanta-based charity has raised more than $2 million
for pediatric cancer research.
Charles Hayes, Claire’s father, hugs Alissa Kennedy,
one of the nurses who treated his daughter.
Donate at www.etch.com/ItsAboutChildren
27
28. Your Dollars at Work
Friends making a difference
Great friends. You know, the people you can count on
when you really need them, the people who are there day
after day, year after year supporting you in all kinds of ways.
Where would you be without them?
Children’s Hospital has great friends, too. The generosity
of our donors this past year enabled the hospital to raise
$5.7 million, to purchase $2.5 million in new equipment
and to fund $1 million for our upcoming expansion project.
In 2012, as a way of expressing our gratitude to our great
friends, a tradition of an annual donor appreciation dinner
and the giving of the Goodfriend Family Award was started.
The Goodfriend Family Award was established to
honor an individual, family, foundation or business whose
support has been both exceptionally generous and sustained
throughout the years. The first recipient of the award, and for
whom the award is named, was the Robert M. Goodfriend
family.
This year, in honor of their dedication to Children’s
Hospital, the Goodfriend Family Award was given to the
Regal Entertainment Group and Will Rogers Institute.
Accepting the award on the firm’s behalf was Ted Cooper,
Chairman of Will Rogers Institute and Senior Vice President
of Film for Regal Entertainment Group.
Since 1994, Regal Entertainment Group and Will Rogers
Institute have supported Children’s Hospital through event
sponsorships, funding of hospital equipment and in-kind
gifts. Regal also provided funding for the renovation of our
lobby and surgery waiting room as well as updates to the
surgery area.
“Children’s Hospital is grateful for all Regal
Entertainment Group and Will Rogers Institute have done
not only for this hospital, but for the children of East
Tennessee,” said Carlton Long, Vice President for
Development and Community Services. “Their support, as
well as the generosity of all our donors, has helped Children’s
Hospital offer not only exceptional, comprehensive, familycentered care but also a comforting and healing environment
as well.”
Keith Goodwin, President and CEO of Children’s Hospital; Ted Cooper, Chairman of Will Rogers Institute and
Senior Vice President of Film for Regal Entertainment Group; and Robert (Bob) M. Goodfriend
28
It’s About Children, Issue 4 • 2013
29. Every coin matters
Jack Ryan, Merle FM afternoon host, recently
undertook a unique fundraising event to benefit
Children’s Hospital. One of our avid supporters,
Ryan gives Children’s Hospital credit for saving his
daughter’s life.
“When someone saves your child’s life, you can’t
help but want to repay them for it, however you can.
In my line of work, I am able to use the power of radio
to talk about the wonders of Children’s Hospital to a
large audience and encourage my listeners to give to the
hospital, to volunteer or to become involved however
they are able,” said Ryan. “Our entire family believes
in the miracles that are happening every day at
Children’s Hospital. We know from experience that
the entire staff is fully dedicated to healing children
from their aches, pains and sickness.”
For two weeks, Merle the Squirrel and the Merle
Monster Truck visited various Food City, Applebee’s and
Clayton Homes locations as well as the Anderson County Fair to collect 1 million coins for Children’s Hospital.
To encourage people to give, Ryan gave anyone donating
$10 or more in coins a ticket to the Ashton Shepherd
concert in July.
Through Ryan’s efforts, $5,666.06 was raised for
our Radiology Department.
“Ryan’s event is a great example of how even
the loose change in our purses and pockets can help
children,” said Carlton Long, Vice President for
Development and Community Services at Children’s
Hospital.
Jack Ryan, Merle FM afternoon host
Donate at www.etch.com/ItsAboutChildren
29
31. Thank you to all of the
sponsors and volunteers
who made this year’s
Fantasy of Trees possible.
Major sponsors
Donate at www.etch.com/ItsAboutChildren
31
32. NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT 433
KNOXVILLE, TN
2018 Clinch Ave. • P.O. Box 15010
Knoxville, Tennessee 37901-5010
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Nothing puts a smile on aNothing puts a smile on a child’s face quicker than getting a gift— child’s face quicker than getting a gift
We always try to stay current with friends of the hospital.
If for any reason you should receive a duplicate issue or
need to update your address, please notify the hospital at
865-541-8723 or LAMadigan@etch.com.
Nothing puts a smile on a child’s face quicker than getting a gift...
...especially when that child is spending the
holidays in the hospital.
It’s not always possible to visit a sick child in
the hospital. We are happy to help you let a special
patient and concerned parents know you are thinking
of them. Call us at 865-541-8103, and we will help
you pick out the perfect gift.
Phone orders are accepted from 9 a.m. to
5 p.m. Monday to Friday and will be delivered to
the patient the same day. There is no charge
for delivery. We accept Visa and MasterCard.