Looking back, looking ahead

Bev Teegarden reflects on 48 years at Memorial Hospital

When you consider the average worker spends about a little more than four years at his or her job before looking for new opportunities, Bev Teegarden is very special. Those who work closely with the Vice President of Nursing, or have been mentored by Bev would agree about the 48 years she has devoted to Memorial Hospital. When she leaves the hospital for the last time on Friday, Bev, will leave the only place where she has cared for patients, served as a role model, and not only embraced change but also took risks and spearheaded initiatives that led to positive changes. We sat down with Bev to talk about her career, her retirement and her future.

A retirement celebration for Bev will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. today in the Innovation Cafe Courtyard.

Here are some words of thanks and well-wishes from some of Bev’s colleages. (See above video)

About becoming a leader …

“Within the first year of working here as a staff nurse, the head nurse asked me to be in charge of the department when she went on leave. It was a little daunting because I thought here I am a new graduate, a newbie, and she was asking me to be in charge while she was off for about 18 months. I always thought of her as a role model. She was very purposeful but also very connected to her staff and intuitive enough to see qualities in different people. She said to me, ‘You’re kind of the silent leader.’ To this day, I still appreciate her for the wisdom she shared with me.”

About embracing change …

“I’m the type of person who doesn’t always like the status quo. If I see something that should be changed, or could be changed for the right reason, I want to change it. I’ve been a part of a lot of that here and sometimes I think, ‘Oh my gosh, how did you last as long with some of the things you’ve done.’ I remember the dean of nursing school said, ‘I made your caps the smallest I could make it because I’m not sure what purpose they possess.’ So I started just not wearing my cap. When I worked in the ICU and would go around the curtain, it would fall off. There was a period of time I took over for an ICU leader and found BEV BALDWIN written on a piece of notepaper in some file for not wearing my cap. But I didn’t get in trouble. Others must have followed because we don’t wear them any more.”

About spearheading new initiatives …

“A good friend in the ICU and I both had children who were going to be in kindergarten. We didn’t have an educator and we wanted to job share. One of us working morning, the other in the afternoon, depending on when our kids went to kindergarten. We decided we’d be called preceptors. This was back in 1973. We went to the director of nursing and pitched our idea. We were scared to death and were sure she’d say no. But she let us do it. We later took our job share and became job-sharing head nurses, both of us working part time. We changed the work environment, changing from uniforms to street clothes. That was a big deal.”

About giving nurses a voice …

“I’ve always believed in nurses participating in planning and being part of the discussion when decisions are made. Our role as nurses is to be the advocate for patient and change agent at the bedside. I remember having offsite meetings with staff. We were trying to rebuild the environment in the ICU, so we had a meeting at a house in someone’s basement. We weren’t being paid. But we were called to the office because they heard we were ‘rallying against administration.’ We weren’t. We were getting ideas and input so we could improve the environment. We’ve also had meetings at my house over the years. These are my friends and I want us to know each other.”

“When I look back over my career, I feel best about …”

“I probably feel best about being able to influence and make change. There’s something to being relevant, resilient and relentless. You have to be resilient, but then you have to stay relevant because if you don’t in our profession your time’s up. I think it’s even more important today. By relentless, I mean pitching an idea to other supporters and champions and not always giving up if the first response is no. Have a back-up plan if the idea is worthy and be willing to compromise if needed. And as a leader, you have to pick the best people to work with because the place should run really well when the leader isn’t there. If you have the right people, and set the right standards and the right values, it’s going to work, right? Without a lot of checking up on people.”

Some people don’t know …

“… I’m extremely introverted. I have to work hard at it. My resilience comes from my alone time and having get-myself-together time, which is usually my 30-minute drive home at night. Even when I round, it’s not that easy for me. I may be jittering on the inside sometimes, but I don’t want to portray that on the exterior. I had a 4^th grade teacher in Kalamazoo, Michigan who got me involved in Junior Civic, and I had to try out with a pantomime and by reciting a poem. She doesn’t know it, but I credit that teacher for the opportunity that helped me kind of get over some of that. When I started in the ER here, one of my physicians came to me and said some of the EMTs thought I was aloof. The reason was I was scared to death of them. But I knew I had to rethink how I was connecting with them and step out of my comfort zone.”

If I had to pick my favorite unit to work in …

“I’d say the ER because it was so all-encompassing. It’s like your own hospital, like you’re running your own mini hospital because you have all types of patients, from birth to when they die and everything in between. There’s so much exposure to the community as part of that role, in talking with people from the community. The opportunity I have had with nursing, and in having so many transitions over time, it has kept me excited about what I’m doing. Even today, when I think of all the things we’re doing – Granger, Bremen, the way we’re doing throughput… I was in Larry’s office the other day talking about the floors in the hospital and I told him this is the step I’m going to miss because I love it. I love it. I love solving problems and love working with people to solve those problems. It’s so exciting right now because there’s so much happening. I’m not afraid of that.”

Looking back at 48 years, I’m proudest of …

“From a nursing perspective, I’m proudest of the relationship we have with the c-suite and administration, nursing is at a point where it’s respected and acknowledged that it’s an important part of the organization. When we say there’s an open door policy and respect from whatever level the associate to the president or CEO, that’s genuine. If you don’t raise your hand and bring it to someone’s attention, if you do it for the right reason and not because you have a frustration, people will listen. I think that’s an environment we have here. I want people to think of me as someone who listened. That I was willing to take risks and to approach ideas and change with openness and that I was inclusive of any of the staff that is in the organization.”

Why I picked now to retire …

“After I got over being anxious in the middle of the night, I knew I was ready and it was time, because we’re in a good spot and nursing is in a good spot. We have some really great nursing leaders. And I marvel at the quality of nurses we are recruiting, who are coming in the door for the right reasons. They usually have had some experience, or some exposure themselves or within their family, where they saw great nursing care and decided that would be their passion. It’s time for transition to happen. It feels right. But it’s tougher at some times than others. I can be driving into work …” [Bev dabs at tears filling the corners of her eyes and takes a few moments].

Let’s talk about your plans for the future …

“I’m going to give myself a year to figure it out. I have seven grandchildren from the ages of 19 to 8. They aren’t in town, but they’re not far away. So there will be school programs and sports during the week that I can attend now. Maybe I will do some consulting. Would I stay here? No. For one thing, I’ve observed people who have retired from leadership roles and seen them kind of linger. And I’m not a lingerer. My friends are here and I want to keep my friends. I’m sure they might call me to give them some advice, but there are people here who know the right things to do.”

My final reflections on 48 years at Memorial …

“Very few people stay in an organization this long. In this day and age, I don’t expect someone to stay this long, to stay 48 years. But I tell people, if there’s ever a place where you could stay, and where you get the opportunity to do so many things over a career, it’s here. All you have to do is look for it and be part of it and it’s here. There are so many opportunities that the question is not what opportunity, it’s which opportunity do you want to go for.”

Congratulations to Dr. James Strycker, Obstetrics Fellow at Memorial Hospital, for being a Doc Who Rocks!

A Rockin’ Doc is a physician who brings his or her best to Beacon Health System each day. Associates and colleagues nominated Dr. Strycker for this distinction because he makes authentic and trustworthy personal connections to create moments that matter for patients, families and staff members. Here are some of the reasons why his Beacon team members think Dr. Strycker rocks:

• We knew we’d love working with Dr. Strycker when he first came to OB. He wanted to know all about the OB world and what the nurses do. One of the things he asked, in order to understand our work at the bedside and how we help patients with position changes, was to have the nurses physically put him in a Texas Roll and California Roll. He wanted to understand it all! Pretty sure that’s a first!
• From the beginning, Dr. Strycker jumped in with both feet, helping move the patient, listening for heart tones, standing in front of the patient during epidurals if needed, sticking around to move the patient after surgery and always reassuring the patients. His gentle, caring spirit impressed me from day one. He is a great doc, great with the patients, staff, OBs and anesthesia docs. He ROCKS! I will miss him!
• As I walked off the unit after one particularly challenging day, Dr. Strycker was at the triage desk and I wished him good luck, knowing he would need it after such a long day that wasn’t even over for him yet. Some people would have responded by focusing on the difficult parts that were to come. Instead, as tired as he was and as much as he wanted to be home with his family, he looked at me and genuinely thanked me for helping and supporting my patients throughout my 12-hour shift. It was a simple, selfless act that stood out to me.
• As respectful as he is of the medical team, Dr. Strycker is even more respectful of his patients and their families. This is what truly sets him apart from so many others. He identifies with the human factor in each person. They are not room numbers, diagnoses or problem lists. It’s physicians like Dr. Strycker who are so difficult to say goodbye to. But knowing how many patients will benefit from this Rockin’ Doc makes letting him go a bit easier.  

Thank you for your compassionate patient care and your commitment to your team, Dr. Strycker! You’re a Rockin’ Doc!

If you know excess weight is keeping you from a healthy, active life, Beacon Medical Group Weight Loss and Bariatric Surgery can help you take the first step toward permanent weight loss.

Sizzling savings for Beacon associates
Beacon associates and/or their spouses who enroll in the Why Weight or Optifast® programs at Beacon Medical Group Weight Loss and Bariatric Surgery during July will receive a 20 percent discount on all* nutritional products purchased!

This offer is set to expire on July 31, 2018.

Read more about our medical weight loss programs below. For more information, please call 574.647.6400 or visit www.BeaconHealthSystem.org.

*Please note that vitamins are not included in the 20 percent discount.

Optifast®
OPTIFAST is a long-term solution for weight loss that combines support and counseling, comprehensive lifestyle education and medical monitoring with a great-tasting meal replacement to help you lose weight and significantly reduce weight-related health risks.

At the heart of the OPTIFAST program is a portion-controlled, calorically precise, nutritionally complete diet that takes the guesswork out of eating.

OPTIFAST has been proven effective in more than 80 clinical studies and by more than one million people who have participated in the program since 1974. The typical OPTIFAST patient loses around 52 pounds in 22 weeks.

Why Weight
Like OPTIFAST, Why Weight is also a medically supervised program. It is an option for patients who may prefer partial instead of full meal replacements. The typical patient has five supplements per day as well as one healthy meal.

For both medical and surgical weight loss, Beacon Medical Group Weight Loss and Bariatric Surgery offers monthly support groups to provide education and foster emotional support from your peers.

Congratulations to Elkhart General Hospital for earning The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval^® and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Heart-Check mark for Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers!

The hospital underwent a rigorous onsite review during which Joint Commission experts evaluated compliance with stroke-related standards and requirements, including program management, the delivery of clinical care and performance improvement.

“Elkhart General Hospital has thoroughly demonstrated the greatest level of commitment to the care of stroke patients through its Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers,” said Patrick Phelan, executive director, Hospital Business Development, The Joint Commission. “We commend Elkhart General for becoming a leader in stroke care, potentially providing a higher standard of service for stroke patients in its community.”

Elkhart General Hospital Stroke Program Interdisciplinary Team

Core Stroke Team

José Luis López, MD
Neurohospitalist and Beacon Health System Stroke Program Medical Director

Kyle Berry, RN
Stroke Program Coordinator

Janice Eigsti, RN
Nursing Educator Critical Care, Progressive Care/Stroke Unit, Short Stay Unit and Intermediate Care Center

Stroke Program Interdisciplinary Team

Edwin Annan, MD
Intensivist Physician

LuAnn Babcock, RN
Nursing Educator, Emergency Department

Michelle BonDurant
Director, Laboratory

Tonia Collins, NP
Neurosurgery

Darra Cover, PharmD
Manager, Clinical Pharmacy

Connie Dobson, RN
Director, Intermediate Care Center and Stroke Program Coordinator

Jessica Gingerich, MSN, NP-C, CCRN
Director of Critical Care, Progressive Care, and Chronic Disease Management Clinic

Tammy Hayes
Director, Rehabilitation Services

Lee Herschberger, RN
Manager, Medical Staff Services

Donald Jansen, MD
Vice President, Medical Affairs

Heather Kistka, MD
Neurosurgeon

Chris McFarland
EMS Coordinator

Renee Miller, RN
Director, Nursing Education and Short Stay Unit

William Molen
Executive Director, Radiology

Mark Quiring, MD
Emergency Physician

Renee Rorie, RN
Interim Manager & Shift Coordinator, Emergency Department

Joseph Schnittker, MD
Neurosurgeon

Lorna Stahler, RN
Director, Inpatient Rehabilitation and Total Joint Unit

Sana Zuberi, MD
Hospitalist Physician

Here’s why Khuong Dang, Rose Redding, Heidi Dolan and Lauren Nygaard say they “Dig Beacon” — our theme during the construction of Beacon Granger Hospital. We celebrated the Ground Blessing on Wednesday at the site on Beacon Parkway, across from Beacon Health & Fitness.

Now, we want to know why YOU dig Beacon.

Email us at TheBeam@beaconhealthsystem.org. We can’t wait to hear from you!

As we embark on the start of construction of Beacon Granger Hospital, we share the Ground Blessing offered this week at the site on Beacon Parkway.

Sarah Samson, chaplain, wrote and shared the following blessing after three speakers, including Kreg Gruber, Beacon chief executive officer, Diane Maas, Beacon chief strategy and growth officer, and Ken Prince, Mishawaka Deputy Mayor and City Planner.

“As we bless this ground, we stand at a sacred intersection where science and technology connect with healing and humanity. We set this ground apart for a holistic purpose of healing body, mind and spirit.

“Bless those whose vision has brought us to this moment. Those who honed plans and laid a firm foundation for building and those who spent countless hours planning and designing this healing space.

“Bless this ground that supports this structure — the earth teeming with life — and the soil that calls forth our own mortality. May this building live lightly on this earth, using resources sparingly and respectfully.

“Bless those who will construct this building with safety and strength. Bless those who fill the rooms with technology and support to the healthcare workers who will practice in this space.

“Bless future generations who will come here to work, young graduates who will dream dreams and the wise tenured that they may still see visions, that all might experience meaning and purpose in their work. Cement the past and the future with the present that we may be of one accord in our mission.

“Bless the communities of Granger and Mishawaka as this hospital seeks to meet their needs by providing accessible care in their community. As patients and families come through this space, may they receive the treatment and care they need. And may the impact of this place on the communities it serves be far-reaching and kind.

“Bless this structure, even now in the very beginning stages, that it might be strong enough to hold a patient’s pain and fear and porous enough to allow our own humanity to seep through our sterile procedures. May it be filled with our good deeds and good intentions and may it flow with justice and compassion for all who seek healing within its walls.”

Brock before his accident.

A young man from Plymouth, who was internally decapitated in a January car accident, has survived the traumatic injury that separated his skull from his spine, defied the odds, and is living a fairly normal life.

This is a story about the team of doctors who helped save Brock Meister, 22, including the neurosurgeon who treated this almost always devastating injury, and was the same doctor who helped care for Brock when he was diagnosed with, and survived, a brain tumor six years ago.

Every member of the medical care team who treated Brock, from the paramedics at the scene of his accident, to the emergency room doctors and nurses, to his neurosurgeons, played an instrumental role in saving this courageous and determined young adult.

“We also just have to think that some people are blessed,” said Dr. Kashif Shaikh, Beacon Medical Group neurosurgeon. “Brock somehow survived a brain tumor as a child, and now, only a few years later, he has survived an almost universally fatal injury. It is truly incredible.”

This is also a story about a resilient young man who has overcome more medical obstacles than many people do in a lifetime, who has remained positive throughout, and who has carried the burden with grace.

Brock is back to spending time at the lake with family and friends and doing almost everything he enjoys most about summer. But he admits that recovering from a harrowing and life-altering accident is not easy. He continues physical and occupational rehabilitation twice a week as his body continues to heal.

“I have fought for my life this time around, and some days I feel like I still am. God has put me through some crazy stuff, and he’s really testing me,” Brock says. “It was kind of scary at first, but I have more movement than I thought I would, so that’s good. I’m just thankful to be here, so that’s all that matters.”

*****

On Jan. 12, Brock carried a container of chicken wings to his vehicle after finishing a late dinner with friends in Plymouth.

After dinner, Brock started out for Lake of the Woods, south of Bremen, to stay overnight at his grandparents’ house. His friends planned to meet him there. Brock set his leftovers on the seat and fastened his seat belt next to his friend who was driving.

They were about 10 minutes from his grandparents when the vehicle suddenly hit a patch of ice on 4^th Road near Plymouth-Goshen Trail. Brock vividly remembers what happened next and how those few seconds changed the trajectory of his life.

Brock’s truck after the accident. He was nearly ejected from the passenger side.

The back of the vehicle swung out on the ice and struck a ditch. The impact caused the vehicle to tip over and roll onto the passenger side. Even though they were only traveling at 40 miles per hour, Brock was thrown sideways toward the door, his head punching and shattering the window, his body leaving the seat and momentarily becoming airborne.

“Half my body was out the window,” Brock remembers. The driver pulled him back in.

The vehicle flipped upright again and onto its wheels, before slowly rolling to a stop on the side of the road.

Their friend, Ryan Topper, who had also been at dinner and was driving ahead of them, knew something was wrong when he looked out his rearview mirror. He didn’t see Brock’s headlights for a minute, and then saw the vehicle turned around, facing the other direction.

“I turned around and from the angle that I drove up on it, it didn’t look like anything had happened at all,” Ryan said. “I got to the other side and realized it wasn’t good. I could see inside and Brock was sitting there with blood all over his face and not saying much.”

The door was jammed and wouldn’t open. But feeling an adrenaline rush, he ripped it open and called 911.

“Brock kept trying to get up and the only words he was saying were ‘my neck’ and ‘ambulance.’ I knew that he was in some serious pain and that if it was his neck, I couldn’t let him get up and move,” Ryan said. “So I just put my hand over his chest and kept him from getting up. I kept talking to him, reassuring him everything was going to be all right, and that he’s ‘my boy Brock,’ not letting him move until the ambulance showed up.”

Jenna Meister was relaxing at home that evening with her husband, Travis, in Plymouth, when her phone rang shortly before 11. She answered and received news no parent ever wants to hear.

“Brock is hurt bad.”

*****

Jenna said it felt like it took a lifetime for she and Travis to reach their son. Within 15 minutes of receiving the call, they quickly got back in their street clothes and drove out to the scene of the accident. They arrived to find paramedics at work on Brock.

The first responders had already carefully stabilized Brock, extricated him from the vehicle and placed him on a stretcher. His head and face covered in blood, Brock was shaking and kept repeating how he was cold. He could feel his arms and legs, and even move them, but he felt tremendous pain in the back of his neck from his skull shattering the window.

Albeit in a quiet, soft voice, he was able to mumble a few words to his mom. In true Brock fashion, he asked if she knew what happened to his chicken wings.

“I love you,” Jenna told Brock as the ambulance door closed. “We’ll see you at the hospital.”

*****

First responders rushed Brock to Memorial Hospital of South Bend’s emergency room, where Dr. Joe D’Haenens examined him.

“EMS did a great job getting him to us as quickly and safely as possible,” Dr. D’Haenens said.

Brock’s X-ray showing the extent of injuries that needed repair.

Once Brock was stabilized, his initial imaging workup revealed a traumatic atlanto-occipital dislocation – essentially a complete separation of the skull from the spine or internal decapitation.

The emergency medical staff told Jenna, who works as an office supervisor at Beacon Orthopedics and Sports Specialists, that they were contacting the neurosurgery team. But already, she and Travis realized their son had defied the odds. “He’s here and he’s alive, and that in itself is a complete miracle,” she told family and friends that night as they gathered to support her at the hospital.

The true incidence of atlanto-occipital dislocation, is unknown as the vast majority of patients die instantly or en route to the hospital. Jenna was told Brock is only the second patient ever brought to Memorial Hospital alive with this injury. There are only isolated survivors across the country.

But making it to the hospital safely is just the beginning. There was a lot at stake in the hours ahead.

*****

Dr. Kashif Shaikh received the page at 2 a.m. Saturday. The neurosurgeon first looked at the images remotely from home. “I had to check twice to make sure I was looking at the right patient’s picture – it’s such an uncommon injury, and an even less common injury to survive.”

This type of injury has a very high mortality rate. In conjunction with the traumatic bony separation and dislocation of the skull from the spine, the blood vessels supplying the brain and the spinal cord itself are commonly injured. These injuries can cause significant neurological deficits and often prove fatal.

So Dr. Shaikh said his first thought was about the amazing EMS team who saved this accident victim’s life.

“As the surgeon, I have the luxury of seeing all the images before I touch or move the patient. First responders have no imaging to go off of and have to act quickly. They are trained to maintain spinal alignment while moving and transporting patients; however, this type of injury is highly unstable and carries significant risk with even the most careful movement. Somehow they were able to get him out of the vehicle, onto a cart, into the ambulance, and ultimately into the emergency room without losing his spinal alignment at all. It was really perfect work.”

The first question the neurosurgeon faced was whether it was safer to treat Brock at Memorial, or transfer him to a larger center in Indianapolis or Chicago. “I knew it was not going to be an easy case, but ultimately I felt the nature of the injury would make any transport dangerous.”

Dr. Kashif Shaikh

So Dr. Shaikh would perform the surgery in South Bend.

Not long after that decision was made, Brock began having difficulty breathing. In addition to his other injuries, he had developed a slowly enlarging hematoma in his neck. This was now compressing his airway. He needed a breathing tube. But in his case, that would not be easy.

“Any manipulation of the head and neck as would otherwise be done for a typical intubation procedure could have the potential of causing a devastating injury.” Dr. D’Haenens said. “We called Dr. (David) Isaacson, an ENT surgeon, to help with a tracheostomy.” Once his airway was secured, he was carefully taken to the intensive care unit for further monitoring while plans for surgery were made.

Meanwhile, Brock’s family members had been gathering in the waiting room. As many as 40 cousins, aunts and uncles, other family and friends were together at any time, comforting Jenna and waiting on updates as Brock prepared for surgery.

Knowing how much her son had already been through, Jenna could not help but question why God would allow this series of events to unfold in Brock’s life. This was not the first time Brock received potentially devastating news, she said.

“I wondered how much more Brock could possibly endure in his lifetime.”

*****

Brock was 16 years old and a Bremen High School sophomore when he started having blurry vision and headaches, severe headaches. “I was having trouble taking notes in school,” Brock said, but doctor appointments didn’t offer any answers.

The morning of Oct. 12, 2012, Brock’s pediatrician found that Brock’s eyes were not tracking right. An eye doctor determined that Brock had severe optic nerve swelling and he was referred to the Memorial Hospital ER to have an emergent MRI.

Brock with a therapy dog during cancer treatment in 2012 at Memorial Hospital.

The MRI revealed a large mass within Brock’s pineal gland in his brain. Because of the size of the mass, Brock developed moderate hydrocephalus and had to be sent by ambulance to Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis. He underwent surgery for a shunt to relieve the pressure in his head; the tumor was blocking the normal pathway for cerebral spinal fluid to travel.

After performing a minimally invasive biopsy, Dr. Joel Boaz determined that Brock had a malignant brain tumor called a grade III germinoma, located in the center of his brain. This made surgical removal out of the question. Brock’s parents were heartbroken.

As a newborn, Brock spent the first few weeks of his life in Memorial NICU. He was not breathing at birth; CPR was required to revive him. He had two seizures and bleeding on his brain from the lack of oxygen during birth. “So I didn’t understand why God would save him then, just to be put through cancer,” Jenna said.

He received four cycles of chemo over 12 weeks at Memorial Hospital. His tumor responded, shrinking to the size of a grape. Proton radiation therapy followed at the IU Proton Center in Bloomington, and the tumor cells eventually died.

Because of his laid-back personality and positive disposition, Brock never let cancer slow him down. He never complained during treatment, and the only time he missed a full day of school was because of treatments or appointments. “Even after receiving the devastating diagnosis, I knew in my heart if anyone could survive, it would be our Brock,” Jenna said.

Now, six years later, he faced another uphill battle.

But through an amazing twist of fate, he would face that battle with someone connected to his past.

*****

Early Saturday morning, Dr. Shaikh met Brock and his mom. Before he explained procedures and answered their questions, the surgeon told them his name sounded very familiar. So Jenna told him about Brock’s brain tumor and about their time at Riley. As soon as they mentioned Dr. Boaz, the neurosurgeon smiled.

In late 2012 and early 2013, Dr. Shaikh was a second-year neurosurgery resident rotating with Dr. Boaz. At the very least, the surgeon knows he would have rounded on Brock during his stay. Their connection could go even deeper. “I don’t think I operated on him then, but it’s possible,” Dr. Shaikh said. “There are almost certainly notes with my name in his records.”

Jenna couldn’t believe their luck.

“We instantly felt at ease,” she said. “I found peace in that moment.”

Dr. Shaikh found his own peace with performing the rare operation after two important things happened.

Brock’s surgery site.

First, in order to perform the surgery, he needed the proper equipment and instrumentation. That started with calls to the Memorial OR and Medtronic hardware representative around 3 a.m. This type of case is extremely rare, and as a result most hospitals don’t routinely stock all of the needed equipment. Thankfully, Dr. Shaikh said, the OR coordinated with medical device maker Medtronic to get the equipment into the hospital and sterilized for use quickly.

“I believe the rep literally drove to Indianapolis and back in the middle of night to get it,” he said.

Dr. Shaikh also needed another neurosurgeon to assist in the OR and called his Beacon partner and friend, Dr. Neal Patel.

“I definitely felt bad calling Neal on a Saturday morning on his weekend off. But given the rare and complex nature of the case, I thought it would be better for Brock to have two sets of eyes and hands involved,” he said. “To be honest, between the two us combined, we had previously performed this operation only a handful of times.”

With the equipment ready and the team in place, Brock was wheeled to the operating room around noon. Once asleep, the surgeons spent the next hour-and-a-half working on Brock’s pre-operative positioning – essentially working to reduce the fracture to re-align his skull and spine.

Dr. Shaikh manipulated Brock’s head while Dr. Patel held Brock’s body. Together, making ever-so-slight movements, and with live fluoroscopy and real-time spinal cord monitoring, they re-established near normal anatomic alignment.

At this point, the surgery itself could begin. The surgeons made an incision in the back of Brock’s neck and dissection was carried down exposing the back part of the skull and cervical spine. Then they carefully placed a skull plate and spinal screws above and below the fracture. These were connected with a rod on each side, providing fixed stabilization across the injury.

Spinal cord monitoring after the surgery confirmed that the spinal cord signals were good. Dr. Shaikh said Brock awoke moving everything well and was taken to Intensive Care.

Discharge papers showing extend of injuries.

Brock and Dr. Shaikh.

Because of the tracheostomy, Brock could not speak initially. He communicated with his mom and family with a thumbs-up or thumbs-down and a dry erase board. Once a speaking valve could be placed on his trach, his mom said he had a lot to say. “He wanted a hamburger and some french fries.”

Working with therapy each day he continued to progress, from sitting up in a chair the day after surgery and walking in the hallway a few days later. He was then transferred to the inpatient rehab unit at Memorial for continued rehab and, after the trach was removed, was released in February.

*****

Brock during physical therapy.

Brock was released from the hospital in February and wore a neck brace until late spring.

He still experiences some right arm difficulty and neuropathic pain in his lower extremities. He continues to visit Memorial Outpatient Therapy Services for outpatient occupational and physical therapy.

Naturally, Brock experiences good days and bad days.

“It’s likely if you see Brock he will have a smile on his face. It’s because he enjoys seeing you,” Jenna said. “While he is my blessing, please realize you are simply his blessing. But most days for Brock are filled with physical pain and are just plain tough. My heart aches for him. He wants to be better and I want him to be better.

Brock during occupational therapy.

“As a mom, I know, I truly know God was there that night and saved my child. Things easily could have been more tragic and my time spent with him could be at the cemetery. Our boy is a miracle.”

Dr. Shaikh is hopeful that Brock will go on to lead a fairly normal life.

“It will take some time for the body to heal and that can be a frustrating and painful process. But he is very young, has a great attitude, and he looks better and better each time I see him so I continue to be very optimistic,” Dr. Shaikh said. “I don’t think professional race car driving or football is in his future, but I certainly think a year from now he will back hanging out with his friends eating chicken wings again.”

*****

Brock before getting his neck brace off.

Last week marked six months since the accident. Jenna posted a note to Brock on her Facebook page that she wanted to share with those reading this story. She wants everyone to know that Brock continues to heal, beating the odds one day at a time.

Brock enjoying summer with his family.

“Today marks six months since your near fatal car accident. For six months I have sat back and watched you in complete amazement. Amazement that you have overcome a “universally fatal injury”. Yes, those are the words used in your medical records. As your mom, those words are both gut wrenching and bittersweet. I personally have watched the hell you have gone through physically and emotionally and I hope you know if I could take any of it away, I would. In a heartbeat, no questions asked.

Brock and his mom, Jenna.

“We may never know why God has put yet another medical obstacle in your life but you carry this burden with grace. When I am with you I often feel an overwhelming sense of calmness come over me. When I want to get upset when you are told by doctors that your impairments are most likely permanent and you simply say “ok”, I find myself being reminded that you are right, it is ok. We will be ok. Strength, resilience, forgiveness, and compassion are just a few of your greatest qualities Your dad and I have been blessed with your presence in our lives and we couldn’t be more proud of you and all your accomplishments. At 22 you have dealt with more than most do in a lifetime. We pray that you continue to heal physically and emotionally. We hope you continue to bless us and others with your presence. Most of all, may you continue to hold close to your heart, the special bond you have with the friends that were there with you that night. We love you and couldn’t imagine this life without you!”

Beacon Health System is honored to be among the three finalists in The South Bend Tribune’s Readers’ Choice awards for “Best Employer.”

Beacon has also been nominated in these three categories in the annual contest:

• “Best Gym/Fitness Center” (Beacon Health & Fitness)
• “Best Local Therapy Center” (Memorial Rehabilitation Center)
• “Best Local Museum” (HealthWorks!)

Follow this link and cast your vote today.

Voting runs through July 29. 

Congratulations to Dr. Szabolcs Szabo of Beacon Medical Group Advanced Cardiovascular Specialists South Bend for being a Doc Who Rocks at Memorial Hospital!

A Rockin’ Doc is a physician who brings his or her best to Beacon Health System each day. Associates and colleagues nominated Dr. Szabo for this distinction because he makes authentic and trustworthy personal connections to create moments that matter for patients, families and staff members. Here are some of the reasons why his Beacon team members think he rocks:

• Dr. Szabo is very holistic with his patient care — he looks beyond the heart.
• He is a true gentleman and always brings calm to chaos. He treats staff, patients and families with respect. 
• Dr. Szabo is very good at educating his patients about what they need to get better as well as about the procedures he will perform.
• He checks on his patients more than once a day — he even calls during the night to check on them.
• Dr. Szabo’s open line of communication with the nursing staff results in coordinated patient care. He values the nurses and always pitches in to help.

Thank you for your compassionate patient care and your commitment to your team, Dr. Szabo! You’re a Rockin’ Doc!

     Many of us dream about finding a job we feel passionate about. About finding a way to make a difference in the lives of others. About finding our “calling” the same way most nurses find theirs.
     For Nurses Week, we embarked on a special project that would both recognize and honor the women and men who have found their calling. They care for us when we are sick. They hold our hand and comfort us, support us, and pray with us when our loved ones are sick.
     We asked 100 Beacon nurses to tell us why they chose this noble profession. This collection has reached more than 20,000 people on social media. As you click on the photos below and read their stories, most nurses describe a sincere desire to help people. But we asked them to dig deeper and share personal stories. We hope you they give you a glimpse into their work and their caring hearts.

IF YOU ARE READING THIS ON YOUR iPHONE: Copy the link to this page and paste it into Safari or another internet browser. This will allow you to view the stories correctly when you click on our nurse photos. 

Story was originally published May 2018.

Beacon CEO Kreg Gruber announced plans in late May for a new, centrally located Beacon Administration and Support Services building to be built on Beacon Parkway. Until that building is complete, as rental agreements expire for several Beacon departments, these organizations will make a temporary move to the Beacon building located at 3355 Douglas Road.

At the end of July 2018, Beacon Health Foundation will move to the Douglas Road facility. At the end of August 2018, Beacon Human Resources and Information Systems will move from One Michiana Square to Douglas Road as well. The department and associate phone numbers for these organizations will remain the same.

The new Beacon Administration and Support Services building is expected to be complete by the fall of 2019. In addition to departments above, Managed Care, Communications, Marketing and Health System Leadership teams will relocate to the new space on Beacon Parkway.

Thanks to everyone who came out late last week for Beacon Night at Four Winds. Be sure and check out our gallery of photos below (Click on the photos to make them bigger). About $1,500 was raised for the Beacon Health Foundation at the event, which was coordinated by Rachel Robinson. Activities included whiffle ball and tours of the players locker room. The Innovators band performed and the movie The Incredibles was shown on the scoreboard after dark.

Here are the amazing associates who volunteered and helped make the event a success:

Dawn Gillispie, Human Resources
Alice Hightshoe, MHSB Volunteer Services
Laura Ryan, Human Resources
Denise Wicker, IS
Sara Bell, Human Resources
Connie Williams, Beacon Foundation
Shayla Kimbrough, BMG Finance
Aaron Reynolds, Human Resources
Lori Tompkins, BMG
Danielle Hudson, Epworth
Chad Hartzell, Human Resources
Kathie Dhuivetter, Human Resources
Kathleen Kavanagh, BH&F Mishawaka
Susan King, Beacon Foundation
Tamie Wilkerson, BMG North Central Cardiovascular Svcs.
Nicole Hardig, BMG North Central Cardiovascular Svcs.
Lesley Heckaman, Associate Health
Jeremy Gillespie, Human Resources
Steve Eller, Human Resources

Thanks for all you do for Beacon!

We’re now offering our urgent care patients a way to save their spot online for any of our three MedPoint Urgent Care centers. Patients can reserve their appointment online before they arrive, and spend less time in the waiting room, by visiting BeaconSaveMySpot.org. Customers can also see current walk-in wait times and a list of available services.

“Save My Spot is another way we’re creating a culture where our customer’s needs come first,” says Lauri Miro, Executive Director, Retail Services at Beacon Health System. “This new layer of convenience will give our customers easier access to care while greatly enhancing their overall Beacon experience.”

MedPoint Urgent Care, located in Elkhart, Granger and South Bend, is a great option for minor ailments or injuries, such as ear infections, allergies, chest congestion, sprains and sports physicals. Those experiencing more severe symptoms such as chest pain or difficulty breathing should not use Urgent Care, they should call 911 or go directly to the closest Emergency Room.

Customers can also connect with an Urgent Care provider via a smart phone, computer or tablet with Beacon Connected Care by downloading the app or visiting BeaconConnectedCare.org.

Make sure to let your patients know about these convenient urgent care options.

Congratulations to Usman Qadeer, MD, at Memorial Hospital for being a Doc Who Rocks!

A Rockin’ Doc is a physician who brings his or her best to Beacon Health System each day. Associates and colleagues nominated Dr. Qadeer for this distinction because he makes authentic and trustworthy personal connections to create moments that matter for patients, families and staff members. Here are some of the reasons why his Beacon team members thinks he rocks:

• Dr. Qadeer is very compassionate and caring. His bedside manner is impeccable; he puts his patients first and takes the time to listen and to help them understand their medical situation.

• Dr. Qadeer is always great about communicating with the Stroke Coordinators about the patients’ plan of care. He is a huge asset to our Stroke Program and to our community.

• He communicates well with nursing and is always open to questions so that nurses can better understand the patient’s medical condition. Dr. Qadeer is very dedicated to his profession and his patients — it shows in how he treats his patients and in how he treats the nursing staff.

• Dr. Qadeer responded immediately when we needed help communicating with a confused patient on our unit. In fact, I didn’t even have time to tell him the whole story over the phone before he said, “I’m on my way,” arriving on the unit within a minute. We are so lucky to have him on our team.

Thank you for your compassionate patient care and your commitment to your team, Dr. Qadeer! You’re a Rockin’ Doc!

While mopping near the front entry of the Emergency Department several weeks ago, Adrian Settles watched a teenager hurry inside. The boy was dripping wet on this particularly rainy night.

But Adrian, a lead Environment Services associate, noticed more than his clothes. The young man had walked into the hospital barefoot. That bothered Adrian, so he decided to do something about it.

Adrian approached a patient care assistant near the emergency room front window and asked if they knew or could find out what size shoe the teenager wore. They told him size 10.

He wasted no time in going to his locker and taking out his extra pair of Addidas shoes, the pair he had actually worn to work that day. They were a 10.5.

Adrian asked the staff to give his extra pair to the young man.

“I knew he’d need them going back out into the rain,” Adrian said.

“I just thought if it was my own kid who came into the hospital like that, I would hope someone would help them out.”

Memorial Hospital President Larry Tracy recognized Adrian Thursday morning by presenting him with a Leadership Coin for outstanding respect and compassion.

“I was surprised,” Adrian said about the recognition. “Sometimes the things we do in Environmental Services go unnoticed, so it feels good to be recognized.”

Matt Curry, Director of Environment Services, said Adrian is a hard worker.

“He works long hours and picks up shifts regularly for the department,” Curry said. “He is caring, a team player, and puts patients needs first. It makes me feel proud when one of our team mates goes above and beyond for our patients.”

HealthWorks!, an innovative children’s health museum and outreach program in downtown South Bend, plans to expand into digital formats and classrooms. The current site at 111 W. Jefferson Blvd. will close as of Sept. 30, 2018, although many exhibits from the museum floor will live on as part of ETHOS Innovation Center at 1025 N. Michigan Street in Elkhart.

HealthWorks! has impacted the life and health of more than 1 million children since it opened in 2000. “We have been honored to provide this unique brand of awe-inspiring learning for the last 18 years,” says Kara Strang, director at Beacon Health System. “We are proud of the impact that HealthWorks! has had on shaping a healthy future here in our community.”

As Beacon Health System continues to grow to meet evolving needs in our region, Beacon HealthWorks! offerings will expand into the classroom throughout Elkhart, Marshall and St. Joseph counties and beyond, and will include a new digital learning platform.

Most HealthWorks! museum floor exhibits will be donated to ETHOS Innovation Center in Elkhart. With similar goals to help children live their healthiest, happiest life, ETHOS will share the exhibits as part of their expansive learning opportunities. Science, technology, engineering and math-related field trips are available for schools through ETHOS.

For information on Beacon HealthWorks! coming to your school:
Diana Bernal, 574.647.2690, dbernal2@beaconhealthsystem.org

For ETHOS school field trip information:
Dee Dee McAllister, 574.266.7149, https://ethosinc.org/teacher-training

Debbie O’Keefe listened to her voicemail Wednesday morning in the administration offices of Community Hospital of Bremen.

After a glance at the time, and a quick Google search, the executive assistant sprang into action to help a stranger on a noble mission.

O’Keefe explained the unusual request to hospital President David Bailey. A man by the name of Brent Bundy, of Portland, Oregon, hoped to stop by the hospital that afternoon and pitch his tent outside for a night. She explained how his personal plight is to increase breast cancer awareness.

Bundy has already cycled more than 2,200 miles since June, and he is aiming to complete the 3,400-mile-route to Staten Island, New York, before Halloween.

Media outlets across the country have covered his travels, O’Keefe described.

This is actually Bundy’s sixth cross-country bicycle ride for breast cancer awareness. Whenever possible, he stops at hospitals and talk with those who work with breast cancer patients, whether it be radiation or oncology professionals.

Bundy tells them about Gina, his close friend of 20 years from high school who died in 2004, and whose name is affixed to his bicycle helmet in giant letters.

It’s in her memory that he gets on his bike and cycles 50-plus miles a day for five months out of the year.

It’s for her that he thanks those who care for patients with breast cancer.

It’s in Gina’s honor that Bundy talks about the importance of being screened for breast cancer with people he meets from coast-to-coast. “Every day I think about Gina. She’s my inspiration,” he said. “And I hope I’ve had some impact.”

Bundy explains his own Google search that led him to Community Hospital of Bremen on Wednesday. “I googled ‘hospital’ and ‘Bremen’ and there was only one.”

O’Keefe knew hospital leaders would want to help.

“I asked if it would be a possibility to given him a room, a meal, a shower, or just a spot for his tent,” she said, and indeed, Bailey and the Bremen team extended their hospitality to the special guest.

Andrea Koontz, BSN, RN, vice president of quality and case management, approached radiation team members about visiting with Bundy when he stopped by. And did everything they could to ensure he could sleep inside, where it was cool and dry.

“We looked to make sure we had a room available so he could shower and rest,” Koontz said. “We made up the room with fresh linens and towels and gave him meal cards for the cafe.”

Bundy smiled. “It doesn’t get any better than that.”

Shortly before 3 p.m., he pedaled up to the front door of the hospital wearing a pink helmet on a bicycle also decked out in pink. Koontz introduced him to April Tener, RT and Director of Radiology, Missy Cox, RT, diagnostic imaging, and Macy Howard, RDMS.

He thanked the team for their service and dedication, after which time the group took photos and, along with Koontz, filmed a Facebook Live about Bundy’s journey, mission, and the importance of breast cancer screenings.

“Gina found out very late in the game, so it limited some of her treatment options. But the better we can do at screening, the more opportunity we have to save lives,” Koontz said. “Whenever any stories are out there, awareness for breast cancer, people may start the conversation with a physician, friend or neighbor and follow through with a test. Prevention is the key.”

Bailey said this is a great example of Bremen associates putting our best foot forward for the well-being of the community. 

“Community Hospital of Bremen strives to bring awareness to not only breast cancer, but all types of illnesses affecting those we care for. CHB has a long-standing history of working with others in the community to assist wherever needed,” Bailey said.

“Offering some assistance to Mr. Bundy in his personal journey to highlight breast cancer awareness is just another day at the office for us,” he added. “As a proud part of Beacon Health System, it is our pleasure to serve.”

Congratulations to Dr. John Mahon at Memorial Hospital for being a Doc Who Rocks!

A Rockin’ Doc is a physician who brings his or her best to Beacon Health System each day. Associates and colleagues in the Memorial Outpatient Surgery Center nominated Dr. Mahon for this distinction because he makes authentic and trustworthy personal connections to create moments that matter for patients, families and staff members. Here are some of the reasons why his Beacon team members thinks he rocks:

• Dr. Mahon is always willing to listen carefully to patients and their concerns.
• Dr. Mahon is very knowledgeable and very proficient in his surgical skills. He keeps up on all the latest innovations and decides appropriately when to use them. Patients are a top priority for him.
• He has a very calm and pleasant demeanor with patients and staff. He’s kind, patient, caring, compassionate and a joy to work with.
• Dr. Mahon is always early for his day so he can spend plenty of time with his patients and their families before procedures. He has a great rapport with his patients and puts them at ease.
• Along with having a great sense of humor, Dr. Mahon is a stellar music trivia buff and crossword puzzle solver. He’s very personable and approachable to all.
• He is always a team player and does what is needed to help the patient have the best care and the best outcome.

Thank you for your compassionate patient care and your commitment to your team, Dr. Mahon! You’re a Rockin’ Doc!

Learn more about Dr. Mahon from his video profile: