Ugandan Children Receive Life-Saving Treatment For Heart Defects At Children's National Medical Center

Ugandan Children Receive Life-Saving Treatment For Heart Defects At Children's National Medical Center

Through partnership with Samaritan's Purse and Gift of Life, patients travel to United States **Media Note: Patients will be at Children's National for farewell visit on Tuesday, February 24**

Washington, DC --On February 12, two Ugandan children received life-saving procedures at Children's National Medical Center (http://www.childrensnational.org/?utm_source=pressrelease&utm_medium=2_23&utm_campaign=uganda) to correct severe heart defects. Without cardiac surgery, the young boys would likely have died before adulthood, but they now have a normal life expectancy.

As part of the Phase I of a global initiative to bring attention to the health needs of Ugandan children, 15-month-old Daniel Kamaramasu and 2 ½-year-old Allan Wassanyi traveled 5,000 miles to receive treatment unavailable at home. Daniel, who was born with a blocked valve between his heart and lungs, was successfully treated using a cardiac catheterization balloon procedure by Michael Slack, MD (http://www.childrensnational.org/FindADoctor/Doctor_Marqui.aspx?DocId=470&Name=Michael%20Slack?utm_source=pressrelease&utm_medium=2_23&utm_campaign=uganda). Allan, who had a very large hole in his heart, underwent successful open heart surgery by Richard Jonas, MD (http://www.childrensnational.org/FindADoctor/Doctor_Marqui.aspx?DocID=1195&Name=Richard%20Jonas?utm_source=pressrelease&utm_medium=2_23&utm_campaign=uganda).

The boys came to Children's National through a partnership with international relief organization Samaritan's Purse, Gift of Life International (GOLI), and other organizations. Through this partnership, pediatric cardiologist Craig Sable, MD (http://www.childrensnational.org/FindADoctor/Doctor_Marqui.aspx?DocId=424&Name=Craig%20Sable?utm_source=pressrelease&utm_medium=2_23&utm_campaign=uganda) has led seven medical missions to Uganda in an effort to provide treatment for patients and ultimately build a sustainable cardiac surgery program in Uganda. More than 100 children have received life-saving treatment since the program began in 2003.

"With the dedication of organizations like Samaritan's Purse and Gift of Life, patients from around the world have access to the expert pediatric care that is available to children in the United States," said Dr. Sable.

Added Cindy Bonsall, director of Samaritan's Purse's Children's Heart Project: "We're glad this partnership has enabled so many Ugandan children to receive the cardiac care they deserve. We're glad they will be returning home soon with a second chance at life."

A key component of the missions to Uganda has been training Ugandan surgeons. Through training provided by Dr. Sable and colleagues, Ugandan surgeons are now on the verge of doing simple cardiac procedures on their own. Dr. Sable directs the Telemedicine Program at Children's National, which provides training and educational opportunities around the world.

The groups have joined forces to implement "Our Hearts Are In Uganda," which will focus all of GOLI's efforts in Uganda. The first phase of the program included treatment for Daniel, Allan, and three other children at hospitals in the United States. The next phase will bring 25 more Ugandan children to hospitals throughout the world to receive life-saving treatment for heart defects.

"We have saved the lives of more than 10,000 children, and through this partnership, we hope to expand our reach, to ultimately create a program in Uganda to ensure that all the children have access to the medical care they need," said Lou del Rosario, vice chairman of GOL District 7230, who was instrumental in raising funds for Allan's operation.

MEDIA NOTE: The patients will be returning to Children's National for a farewell visit on Tuesday, February 24. The patients and Dr. Craig Sable will be available for interviews. Contact Emily Dammeyer or Jenn Leischer at 202-476-4500.

About Children's National Medical Center (http://www.childrensnational.org/about/?utm_source=pressrelease&utm_medium=2_23&utm_campaign=uganda)

Children's National Medical Center, located in Washington, DC, is a proven leader in the development of innovative new treatments for childhood illness and injury. Children's has been serving the nation's children for more than 135 years. Children's National is proudly ranked among the best pediatric hospitals in America by US News & World Report and the Leapfrog Group. For more information, visit www.childrensnational.org.

About Samaritan's Purse

Samaritan's Purse identifies children needing life-saving heart treatment through its' Children's Heart Project. The international relief organization identifies children overseas who need heart surgery, matches them with hospitals and specialists willing to donate their time and services, places them with a local host family, and arranges international travel and an interpreter. More than 550 children from nine countries have been brought to North America for medical and surgical care not available in their home countries.

About Gift of Life International

Gift of Life is a Rotary based program in more than 50 Rotary Clubs and Districts on 6 continents. GOLI aims to save as many children's lives as possible by providing life saving open heart surgery to children from infancy to 18 years of age with congenital heart defects. GOLI has been responsible for saving more than 10,000 lives during the past 33 years.

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Contact Information Emily Dammeyer

Children's National Medical Center

http://www.childrensnational.org

202-476-4500

The Challenge of Engaging and Motivating Employees in A Tough Economy: New eBook Details How to Drive Revenue by Keeping People Engaged

The Challenge of Engaging and Motivating Employees in A Tough Economy: New eBook Details How to Drive Revenue by Keeping People Engaged

A new free eBook, titled "Fully Engaged! Essential People Strategies for Tough Times," has just been released by Interaction Associates. Filled with practical advice and practical strategies for motivating employees, it is available for free download at www.interactionassociates.com.

Cambridge, MA (PRWEB) February 23, 2009 -- The latest in a popular series of eBooks from leading performance improvement and collaboration firm, Interaction Associates (IA), focuses on how fully engaged employees drive revenue in a tough economy. The eBook shows how to boost employee productivity (http://www.interactionassociates.com), and also provides practical strategies for motivating employees (http://www.interactionassociates.com) through greater employee engagement.

The eBook, titled "Fully Engaged! Essential People Strategies for Tough Times," has just been released by Interaction Associates. It is available for free download at www.interactionassociates.com.

"Fully Engaged! makes a strong, data-driven case for employee engagement and how it's critical for driving increased revenue in this economy," said Linda Dunkel, President and CEO of Interaction Associates. "Engaged employees bring their best selves to work every day: they are more passionate, perform better, achieve more, and work smarter than people at companies that don't value employee engagement," added Dunkel.

"Fully Engaged!" takes a solution-oriented approach to the topic of engaging employees, detailing three practical strategies to pursue for a greater level of employee involvement and increased employee productivity (http://www.interactionassociates.com). The three strategies focus on creating greater connection between senior management and employees; stressing transparency to genuinely live company values vs. merely talking about them; and adopting a decision-making structure focused on maximum appropriate involvement by employees in decisions.

"Employee engagement doesn't just happen because management says it's important," added Linda Dunkel. "It requires a disciplined approach, but the results are huge: employees who are more involved in the business are engaged at a higher level; they have a higher commitment to their work; they expend greater levels of discretionary effort; and all that drives bigger/better results," said Dunkel.

Fully Engaged! also points to the very real costs of disengaged employees, especially in today's challenging economic climate. "You need all-out effort from employees today, and yet fewer than 1 in 3 employees say they're fully engaged on the job," said Dunkel. Almost 20% of workers in North America claim to be disengaged, according to one study and Gallup statistics put the cost to the U.S. economy of disengagement at roughly $350 billion.

Added Linda Dunkel, "The companies that tap into the power of their people and involve them in decisions that impact the business and their lives - those are the companies that are successful and the ones where everyone wants to work. That's what it's all about for us: getting people fully engaged," she said.

To listen to a podcast about employee engagement strategy based on the eBook Fully Engaged! please go to www.interactionassociates.com.

About Interaction Associates:

Interaction Associates (IA) has nearly 40 years' experience in helping companies find breakthrough solutions to business challenges. Fortune 500 companies, government agencies and nonprofit organizations throughout the world have used IA's integrated management consulting and learning and development services. Interaction Associates helps these enterprises set strategic direction, inspire commitment, and build leadership capabilities, leveraging the power of collaborative action for long-term, sustainable results. Learn more at http://interactionassociates.com/.

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Contact Information MICHAEL TIRRELL

Interaction Associates

http://www.interactionassociates.com

312-945-5639

Two QHR Management Clients Celebrate "Trustee of the Year" Wins

Two QHR Management Clients Celebrate "Trustee of the Year" Wins

Gritman Medical Center and Rhea Medical Center Leaders Honored by Modern Healthcare

Brentwood, Tenn. (PRWEB) February 23, 2009 -- B.J. Swanson, chairman of the Board of Trustees at Gritman Medical Center in Moscow, Idaho, and Bob Carty, former board member at Rhea Medical Center in Dayton, Tennessee, have been presented 2009 Trustee of the Year awards by Modern Healthcare (http://www.modernhealthcare.com). The awards were announced in this week's issue of Modern Healthcare. Mr. Carty's award is being given posthumously.

"These awards are significant because they celebrate excellence in healthcare governance, which is critical to a hospital's success," said QHR (http://www.qhr.com) President and CEO James L. Horrar. "That B.J. and Bob were chosen from a field of 64 trustees, representing hospitals of varying sizes nationwide, says so very much about their dedication to and love for their respective hospitals."

B.J. Swanson has been a member of Gritman Medical Center's 10-member board of trustees since 1984. She was named board chair in 2001 and since then has guided the hospital through a series of changes and challenges, including the hospital's conversion to critical access hospital status in 2004, a debilitating flood in 2007, and, most recently, an $18 million new hospital expansion project.

"It's been my privilege and honor to have worked with B.J. during my nine years as president and CEO of Gritman Medical Center. Our hospital enjoys a favorable reputation throughout this region, and much of the reason for this is B.J. and her leadership," said hospital President and CEO Jeff Martin. "We are so excited and proud to see her recognized in this special way."

Bob Carty served on the board of trustees at Rhea Medical Center for nearly 20 years. He was chairman of the Finance/Strategic Planning Committee from 1991 until the time of his death in April 2008.

"Bob was a brilliant professional with a great community spirit; a fine Christian man," said Rhea Medical Center CEO Kenneth Croom. "He put all of his energy into hospital issues, even though it became more and more difficult for him to participate. He was a wonderful man and a great friend."

QHR (http://www.qhr.com) (Quorum Health Resources) has provided consulting, management and education resources to hospitals and health systems for three decades. QHR is the market leader in hospital management, with more than 150 current multi-year clients across the U.S. As a consulting resource, QHR is among the 15 largest healthcare management consulting firms in the U.S., and the QHR Learning Institute trains over 8,000 healthcare professionals each year. For more information, go to www.qhr.com.

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Contact Information Laura Alabed

Quorum Health Resources

http://www.qhr.com

615-371-4975