This time last year, on May 15, 2011, the doors to the new Mills-Peninsula Medical Center opened.

In its first year of operations – caring for people 24 hours a day, every day – an award-winning team of doctors, nurses and staff has tallied a number of accomplishments:

• 1,956 babies born
• 44,738 emergencies answered
• 18,787 rehabilitation treatments given
• 1,358,149 lab tests performed
• 10,532 surgeries
• 314,738 outpatient services

Mills-Peninsula Medical Center, part of the Sutter Health network of care, includes the 450,000-square-foot, 241-bed hospital and adjoining outpatient physician office center. 

While the staff celebrates its first complete year in the new medical complex, demolition of the old Peninsula Medical Center is nearly complete, a process that has been under way since October 2011. About 80 percent of the old building will be salvaged and recycled, including all metals and concrete. After the demolition is complete – the target is June – the land will be converted to parking for approximately 300 vehicles.

The California Nurses Association strike at Mills-Peninsula Health Services ended quietly at 7 a.m., on Sunday, May 6. Although the union called for a one-day strike, the Mills-Peninsula replacement staff vendor contract requires a minimum replacement period of five days.

MPHS CEO Bob Merwin

As in each past strike, Mills-Peninsula continued to fulfill its mission to care for the community. According to Mills-Peninsula Health Services CEO Bob Merwin, the California Department of Public Health was on site every day and expressed confidence in the quality of care that was being provided.

“During the five-day replacement period, day-to-day operations continued without incident. Eighteen babies were born, 661 patients received care in the emergency rooms, and 12 people had surgery,” Merwin said. “We are very thankful to all the staff who stepped up to make sure we continued to provide excellent care for our community.”

More information about the CNA strikes against Sutter Health

Proceeds Fund Health Education & Programs for Diverse Communities  in San Mateo County

The community is invited to join in a healthy day of walking and getting fit at the annual Soul Stroll for Health on Saturday, May 19, at San Mateo County’s 670-acre Coyote Point Recreation area. The event begins at 9 a.m. and continues until 1 p.m.

Soul Stroll Celebrity Chair and Fitness Expert Dr. Ian Smith

This is the 11th consecutive Soul Stroll for Health, created with a special focus on improving health in the African American, Hispanic and Pacific Islander populations in San Mateo County through good nutrition and physical activity. This popular annual event is sponsored by the African American Community Health Advisory Committee (AACHAC) in partnership with Mills-Peninsula Health Services.

The celebrity chair this year is fitness expert Dr. Ian Smith.  He has served as the medical/diet expert for six seasons on VH1’s highly-rated Celebrity Fit Club, is the creator and founder of “The 50 Million Pound Challenge,” and is a medical contributor on the nationally syndicated television show Rachael Ray. Dr. Smith is also the host of his own nationally syndicated radio show “Health Watch” on American Urban Radio Networks.

Everyone is welcome to walk, run or stroll along the one-, three- or five-mile course. There will be a kids’ zone, free health screenings and entertainment. Estimated participation is 2,000-2,500 people. Online registration is encouraged. 

For more information, please contact AACHAC Executive Director Gloria Brown at (650) 696-4378.

The California Nurses Association (CNA) has called its third strike in less than a year against Mills-Peninsula and several other Sutter Health hospitals on Tuesday, May 1.

Both Mills-Peninsula Medical Center and Mills Health Center will remain open and provide full medical services, including emergency care, throughout the strike.

The union called a one-day strike, but because our contract with the replacement staffing company requires a five-day minimum, striking nurses will return to work on Sunday, May 6.

In today’s uncertain economy and increasingly challenging health care environment, we need to do our part to help hold the line on rising health care costs.

Our proposals seek to balance the need for a competitive compensation package with the imperative to be more affordable to our patients. This means that wage increases and benefits, while competitive, can’t be as high as in the past.

A nurse who works full-time at Mills-Peninsula earns an average salary in excess of $140,000 per year and has excellent benefits, including an employer-paid pension plan worth $84,000 per year on average for life.

The union has rejected even modest concessions, including one that would have them contribute a five percent share of their monthly health care premium. Instead, they are demanding enhancements, including significantly increasing our already generous retirement program.

Mills-Peninsula will continue to offer competitive wages and benefits but will reject unreasonable demands that unnecessarily increase costs. We take seriously our responsibility to ensure health care is affordable for our patients.

For more information, please refer to the Sutter Health’s website for CNA negotiation updates: http://cnanegotiations.sutterhealth.org/

April 30 Event to Benefit Local Breast Health Programs 

Michael Roizen, M.D., chair of the Wellness Institute at the Cleveland Clinic and a New York Times best selling author, will be the keynote speaker for the Mills-Peninsula Hospital Foundation’s  11th Annual Women’s Luncheon & Lecture  April 30, 2012 in Burlingame.

Dr. Roizen will talk about “Extending Your Warranty: A Happier, Healthier YOU.”  An anesthesiologist and internist, he has co-founded 12 companies and co-authored the YOU series, with Mehmet Oz, M.D., including “Staying Young: the Owner’s Manual to Extending Your Warranty.”

• Natural ways to lower blood pressure
• Anti-aging agents for men and women over 50
• Ways to lower LDL cholesterol and increase HDL cholesterol without drugs
• How to increase energy, alertness and vitality
• How to prevent or stop the progression of arthritis and osteoporosis
• Secrets to success in weight loss, and
• How to manage stress in all aspects of life.

The 2012 Women’s Luncheon & Lecture is expected to draw more than 800 attendees. Proceeds will benefit Mills-Peninsula’s Women’s Health Center and the expansion of the Breast Health Program.

Last year’s program raised more than $300,000, which funded new equipment, nursing education and other services in the Women’s Health Center, including free mammograms and continuing care for the uninsured and underserved women in the community.

The luncheon program will also include a fundraising raffle. Individual seats are $150; sponsorships and tables are also available. Register online.

Media Contact

During his Bay Area visit, Dr. Roizen will have some availability for media interviews. If you are interested in talking with him, please contact Karen Malekos-Smith at 650-696-5908 or MalekoK@sutterhealth.org.

College Park Elementary School of San Mateo is planting an American Heart Association Teaching Garden. It is part of an education initiative to help build healthy bodies and minds.

The Plant Day Celebration, to be held on Thursday, March 15 at College Park Elementary, will feature a performance by the school choir and a “produce market” where students can select a vegetable with a healthy recipe to take home. Special guests include Ticker the giant heart and his friends, the Produce Posse.

College Park’s Teaching Garden is sponsored by Mills-Peninsula Health Services.

The College Park Teaching Garden was created using American Heart Association science and nutrition guidelines, as well as expertise from gardening and education experts. The program combines nutrition education with garden-based learning. In this real-life laboratory, students learn how to plant seeds, nurture growing plants, harvest crops and make the connection to good eating habits. Studies have shown that participating in school garden programs improves students’ attitudes toward fruits and vegetables.

“We are very happy to help the Heart Association with this very hands-on effort to encourage heart-healthy living. The garden is a wonderful example of how the association and local health care providers can work together to make a visible difference in the community,” said Gloria Brown, Mills-Peninsula community outreach manager.

The goal of the program is to improve children’s health.

• Nearly one in three American children is overweight or obese.
• Americans’ eating habits are leading to modern day “malnutrition,” with diets full of foods that have little or no nutritional value.
• French fries make up one-fourth of children’s daily portion of vegetables and are the most common vegetable eaten. Fruit juice, which lacks important fiber found in whole fruits, accounts for 40 percent of children’s daily fruit intake.

Media is invited to attend the celebration at 10:45 a.m., this Thursday, March 15, at College Park Elementary School, 715 Indian Ave., San Mateo.

For more information about the Teaching Garden program, visit www.heart.org/teachinggardens.

Contact:

Julie Kaufmann
American Heart Association
Julie.Kaufmann@heart.org
415-305-5751

Diana Hallock
Principal
College Park Elementary
DHallock@smfc.k12.ca.us
650-312-7691

Dr. David Klonoff, Medical Director of the Diabetes Research Institute (DRI)

Mills-Peninsula Health Services and UCSF Diabetes Center are co-sponsoring the annual Diabetes Symposium and Kids’ Kamp on Saturday, March, 10, 2012. The event will be held at Robertson Auditorium at UCSF Mission Bay Conference Center in San Francisco, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Parents of children with diabetes and their families are invited to attend and learn about the latest treatments, new technologies on the horizon and strategies for managing the disease.

“We are excited to be joining forces with UCSF to bring this important, annual event to residents on the peninsula,” said Dr. David Klonoff, medical director of the Mills-Peninsula Diabetes Research Institute and clinical professor at UCSF. “This year, our Diabetes Research Institute team will have information about how people can register to be part of clinical trials of the latest diabetes management technologies and treatments.”

“The Kids’ Kamp is organized in partnership with the Diabetic Youth Foundation, whose staff is experienced in how to care for a child with special needs due to Type 1,” Fraser said. “They’ll provide a fun and educational program for the children. DYF and UCSF will recruit and train 80 adult volunteers to support this effort.”

“This is the ideal place for parents to get education and support about how to care for the individual needs of their child with diabetes, including safe travel, day-to-day health monitoring, and the psycho-social elements of disease management,” said Fraser. “We also provide information on how to advocate for their child in school and throughout their life.”

Anyone affected by diabetes or who would like to learn more about the disease is welcome to attend. Registration is required for adults and children.

Space is limited for the kids’ camp. Children and teens with diabetes and their siblings age 3-17 are welcome. There is no charge for the adult symposium but there is a $15 fee per child entering the camp. Scholarships are available. To register to attend, email kfraser@diabetes.ucsf.edu or call 415-353-9084.

Mills-Peninsula Senior Focus has received a grant for $180,000 as part of the Peninsula Health Care District’s (PHCD) 2012 community grants program.

The check was presented at the “Achieving Community Health Together” event at San MateoCity Hallwhere Senior Focus, and 18 other local agencies, were awarded Community Investment Grants from the District. PHCD funds groups’ efforts to improve health for district residents.  A Health Investment Committee reviews applications and visits the programs before making awards.

(From left) Pat Shea, RN, Wise and Well nurse; Katheryn Louie, Senior Focus volunteer honored at the awards ceremony; Janel Moore RN, MSN, Wise and Well program coordinator; Maureen Dunn, director of Senior Focus.

According to Maureen Dunn, director of Senior Focus, “The grant will be applied to the Wise and Well and Adult Day Health and Alzheimer’s Day Care Resource Center. The Peninsula Health Care District has been a long-time supporter of Senior Focus. Previous grants have helped us provide essential care to seniors for 25 years, and this year’s grant builds on that success,” she said.

Dunn has worked at Senior Focus for 21 years and has served as director for the past eight years. She oversees 40 employees and myriad programs, including Wise and Well, Family Caregiver Support services, the Retired Senior Volunteer program, and Foster Grandparents and Senior Companions.

“The focus of Wise and Well is to help prevent the onset of chronic disease and to help those who may already have one to understand and manage the conditions to avoid further deterioration or hospitalizations,” Dunn said.

Adult Day Health and Alzheimer’s Day Care Resource Center provide health and social services, and vital opportunities for socialization, for very frail or demented elderly people. Receiving all of these services at one convenient location allows seniors to remain living with their families or other community settings and not in nursing homes.

“Our goal is to provide treatment and monitoring of chronic health conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease.  An added benefit is that participants can enjoy the company of other people.” Dunn said.

How Grants Support Local Seniors, Caregivers

Senior Focus’ 2011 Annual Report quantifies the efforts and benefits of the programs for area seniors, in numbers of volunteers, hours served and lived touched:

Adult Day Health/ADCRC (provides activities, nursing, occupational, speech and physical therapies, and social services) 158 people were served for a total of    13,580 days of attendance

RSVP Volunteers: 843 members gave 1,889,000 hours at 139 non-profit agencies

Foster Grandparents:  17 volunteers served 20,000 hours at six program sites

Senior Companions: Six volunteers gave more than 5,700 hours at three program sites

Family Caregiver Support Services:

• 250 counseling clients
• 286 people attended support group meetings, Caregiver Clinics or classes

Wise and Well

Health screenings at seven locations including area senior centers and Senior Focus:

• 1,920 blood pressure and blood glucose screenings
• 402 comprehensive screenings
• 101 cholesterol screenings

The Senior Focus team also hosted booths at 19 community health and aging fairs, where they provided information about programs and services, spoke on various health and care giving issues, and gave health screenings to thousands of attendees.

Mills-Peninsula Health Services (MPHS) recently earned a 2011 Waste Reduction Award from the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), reports Craig Branting, Environmental Health and Safety manager and safety officer.

According to CalRecycle, businesses generate more than half the state’s waste, so they play a major role in helping local governments cut the amount of garbage going to landfills. The state’s Waste Reduction Award Program (WRAP) recognizes organizations that have developed progressive and creative programs to significantly reduce the amount of waste they send to landfills – and saved money in the process.

“As an organization, Mills-Peninsula prevented more than 400 tons of waste from being sent to landfills and saved $135,000 in the process,” Branting said.

To achieve this, Mills-Peninsula’s waste-reduction planning team, called the Green Team, analyzed each process that generates waste, looking for opportunities to further reduce waste quantities.

The team also calculated how much waste MPHS didn’t generate. For example, each time staff used a tote bag to transport materials, they were not using a cardboard box, and each time they entered medical information into an electronic record, they were not using paper forms, Branting said.

“This award was earned by everyone at Mills-Peninsula who participated in waste reduction efforts by reusing, recycling, composting or any of the many other methods of waste reduction,” Branting said. “Printing on both sides of paper, recycling empty containers and using washable food service items – each small contribution to the effort adds up.”

Moving forward, the Green Team plans to increase awareness of recycling by placing more recyclable waste containers in key areas on site and hosting an e-waste recycling event for Mills-Peninsula and neighbors.

Green technologies are a key component of the new hospital, including a state-of-the-art ventilation system, energy-saving efficiencies and smart building management systems, the use of many earth-conscious materials (such as water-based paints and cabinetry made of renewable resources such as bamboo), low-flow plumbing fixtures, and an architectural design that takes advantage of natural light in all patient care and public spaces.

Following the opening of the new Mills-Peninsula Medical Center in May 2011, demolition of the old Peninsula Medical Center in Burlingame has been under way since October 2011 — a methodical process that will require approximately five more months to complete.

Some staff likened it to saying “goodbye” to an old friend when they left the old hospital building in May to move next door into the brand new 241-bed medical center. The new $640 million, six-story, 450,000-square-foot hospital is located at 1501 Trousdale Avenue in Burlingame, California.

Plans to demolish the old hospital have been in the works for more than a year. The multi-staged effort is now under the direction of Jeannie Austin, project manager with Mills-Peninsula’s Facility Planning & Development Department.

Extensive measures were put in place for neighborhood safety, which is why neighbors will not see a wrecking ball or explosive knock down. The slower process will create significantly less flying debris or danger posed by falling building materials.

“There are currently 22 demolition workers on site, most of them working on the northern side of the building’s interior. They are using small Bobcat machines to clear out the building, in preparation for structural demolition,” explained Todd Vasko, project manager from Silverado Contractors, Inc., the demolition contractor hired by Mills-Peninsula for this big job.

Silverado hired several subcontractors to do the extensive disconnection of electrical, plumbing and sewer systems. This large team will also conduct refrigerant recovery, a thorough process to comply with all local, state and federal standards for the safe removal chemicals found in air conditioning units, drinking fountains and refrigerators. 

Any and all metals and concrete will be 100 percent recycled. Salvage operations for copper and precious metals began in early December and are on-going.

 Once an area of the interior is completely emptied, the demolition team will move in the large wrecking machines to start taking the building apart. This systematic process began at the northern end of the building and will proceed toward the southern end until the building is gone.

The demolition crew separates waste streams to ensure that as much material as possible is recycled or reused. Concrete, structural steel and timber all have a value above that of basic demolition debris. About 80 percent of the old building will be recycled. 

Continuous air sampling and air monitoring is being conducted by an industrial hygienist. This professional monitors the dust particles in the air and regularly reports findings to the demolition team. Water suppression is being used to control dust wherever demolition is taking place.

The demolition project will take approximately five more months to complete, including the time required to haul away recycling and debris.  

After the demolition of the old hospital buildings is complete, the land will be converted to parking for approximately 300 vehicles.