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Seattle Children's - 2009 Community Benefit Report
Seattle Children's - 2009 Community Benefit Report
Community
Benefit Report 2009
www.seattlechildrens.org
Our Mission
Seattle Children’s vision is to be the best
We believe all children have unique children’s hospital, because we believe
needs and should grow up without
illness or injury. With the support of
the community and through our spirit
children enduring illness and injury
of inquiry, we will prevent, treat and
eliminate pediatric disease.
deserve nothing less. Children’s is
deeply committed to improving the
Our Vision health of children through superior
We will be the best children’s hospital.
• We will provide patients and medical care, pioneering research,
their families excellent care
with compassion and respect. community partnerships, education
• We will provide superior,
accessible, cost-effective service. and advocacy. That means we offer
• We will attract and retain the
best talent at all levels of the
the range of pediatric medical care and
organization.
• We will be one of the top five
support services that our community
pediatric research institutions.
needs, even when those programs
• We will be the nation’s premier
pediatric educator. operate at a financial loss.
• We will achieve worldwide
prominence by integrating
patient care, research,
education and advocacy. The 2009 Community Benefit Report
showcases how Children’s work makes
a difference for children and families
in the Northwest and beyond. More
information about our programs and
services — including medical care,
research and education — is available
at www.seattlechildrens.org.
Left: Amanda Jones, PhD, leads the Science
Adventure Lab, which is equipped so
that students conduct real health-related
experiments at no cost to the schools.
24 Advocacy
28 Contact Us
Illness and injury can strike any child at any time. Even Approximately 43% of Children’s patients are covered
healthy, active kids can endure unexpected, life-threatening by Medicaid, a government program that provides medical
conditions. Seattle Children’s is committed to providing coverage at no cost to low-income families. However, the
the best medical care to every child in Washington, program reimburses Children’s for only 68% of treatment
Alaska, Montana and Idaho who needs us — regardless costs. Uncompensated care makes up the difference.
of insurance coverage or financial circumstances. Families with private insurance are also struggling
Children’s continues to honor this founding promise, financially as a result of job losses and reductions in
even in the midst of an economic downturn. In 2009, health benefits. Many are paying “out-of-pocket” for
Children’s provided a record $96.4 million in uncomp- services that were covered by insurance in the past.
ensated care, including $85.2 million in Medicaid payment And some families of longtime patients who used to
shortfalls and $11.2 million in financial assistance to make an insurance co-payment per hospital admission
families in need. are now paying the same amount per day of each stay.
When a hospital bill exceeds a family’s ability to pay,
Children’s financial assistance program provides relief.
$96.4 million
in uncompensated care provided
during 2009.
“
of our youngest son,” she explains. “Things that we used
The freedom to focus on to take for granted — like taking time to eat a healthy meal
— suddenly became a big deal. The freedom to focus
our family instead of our on our family instead of our finances was invaluable.”
Gary is cancer-free today, but he continues to see
finances was invaluable.” Hawkins for follow-up care. “We are so thankful for the
amazing care that Gary receives at Children’s and the
— Paula Yost, Gary’s mom payment assistance that allows us to focus on his
recovery,” notes his mom.
$72 million
devoted to research in 2009.
More than half of parents say they are worried about the Most recently, Christakis discovered that the amount of
effects of television and computers on their children. television viewed by young children in childcare settings
Dr. Dimitri Christakis, who directs the Center for Child Health, doubles the previous estimates of early childhood screen
Behavior and Development at Seattle Children’s Research time, with those in home-based settings watching significantly
Institute, is providing crucial guidance. His work is helping more on average than those in center-based daycares. This
families everywhere make better screen-time choices for study is the first to examine screen time in child-care settings
young children. Christakis regularly speaks to parents, in more than 20 years.
teachers and librarians about healthy media usage, and “It’s alarming to find that so many children in the United
he is a co-author of The Elephant in the Living Room: States are watching essentially twice as much television as
Make Television Work For Your Kids. we previously thought,” says Christakis. “Research continues
Christakis’ research has revealed that watching television to link excessive preschool screen time with language delay,
and videos during the first three years of life can lead to obesity, attention problems and even aggression, depending
problems with language, attention and cognitive development. upon content. At the same time, studies show that high-
In addition, watching violent cartoons during preschool years quality preschool can be beneficial to children’s development.
is associated with aggression in children ages 7 to 10. Unfortunately, for many children, the potential benefits of
preschool may be displaced by passive TV viewing. I suspect
“
many parents are unaware of the frequency and extent of
Research continues to link TV viewing in daycare settings. Hopefully, these findings
excessive preschool screen will serve as a wake-up call.”
3 million
children are stillborn each year.
$17 million
Seattle Children’s Continuing Medical Education (CME)
accredited programs help to bridge gaps in healthcare
providers’ knowledge, skills and performance, leading to
improved patient care and outcomes. Children’s experts
present a variety of courses, hands-on workshops and invested in training health professionals.
case-based discussions that enable community providers
to keep current with best practices in pediatric medicine.
Children’s also offers weekly pediatric Grand Rounds Enhancing nursing education
presentations on timely topics ranging from clinical care Seattle Children’s Nursing Education team hosts monthly
and research to advocacy and bioethics. Grand Rounds “Lunch Time Seminars” to advance pediatric nursing
presentations are offered free of charge as a community practice in the Northwest and beyond. Each seminar is
service. Participants may attend in person or via live broadcast to video teleconference sites at healthcare
streaming over the Internet. One year from the date of the organizations across the region, including sites in Montana
original presentation, providers can view archives on Seattle and Alaska. Sessions include evidence-based practice
Children’s Web site and receive Category 1 CME credit. review and interactive case-study discussions. Community
nurses can also participate from their computers via live
Internet streaming. All seminars are videotaped and
archived on the Children’s Web site to reach as many
community nurses as possible. Continuing education
credit is also available.
Training the Next Generation residents train in a network of regional teaching hospitals
and community clinics that serve a diverse group of
Educating resident physicians and fellows children and families. Many residents continue their
As the only pediatric residency program in Washington, education at Children’s with fellowships in areas such as
Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho, the University of cardiology, emergency medicine, neonatology, nephrology
Washington School of Medicine Pediatric Residency and rheumatology. The training of top-notch pediatricians
Program prepares pediatricians to provide outstanding ultimately benefits our society as a whole and especially
medical care for children in the Northwest. The program our local community, with over half of Children’s residents
— which is housed at Seattle Children’s — is ranked among choosing to stay in Washington after they graduate.
the top 10 programs in the country by U.S. News & World
Report. In addition to completing rotations at Children’s,
“
their own cheek cells under a microscope and then
isolating the DNA from inside the cells.
“In each case, we’re advancing the Seattle Children’s
We’re advancing our mission
mission of helping children stay healthy by educating of helping children stay
them about the science behind how the body works,”
says Amanda Jones, PhD, who directs the Health and healthy by educating them
Science Outreach Program.
That’s important for many reasons, starting with the about the science behind
connection between science and health. For example,
when students analyze the sugar content of various
how the body works.”
beverages, they’re not only conducting a chemistry
— Amanda Jones, PhD, Health and Science
experiment, they’re learning about nutrition.
Outreach Program Director
After a transplant
to treat a liver
disease, Camren, 2,
is ready to get back
to his busy toddler
life. But first, Home
Care nurse Teresa
Taylor (center)
teaches Camren’s
mother Melody
McDonough to
administer IV
antibiotics.
Providing culturally sensitive dental care Helping families adjust to hospital life
Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic offers the typical range of A child’s admission to Seattle Children’s is difficult for any
pediatric dental services, including checkups, cleanings, family. But Native Alaskan families face special challenges
fillings and emergency dental care. But the experience for as they experience cultural and social isolation in the
patients — many of whom come from diverse families — midst of a child’s illness. To ease the stress and anxiety,
is especially tailored for their needs. They can always Children’s provides a variety of special services, including
count on receiving high-quality care with dignity. “We language assistance, information on where to find
have a very diverse staff, with over 90% coming from community resources and special foods, video tele-
different minority groups that are represented in our conferencing to school and family at home, and books for
community,” says Dr. Chris Delecki, director of the Dental children in native languages such as Yupik. Guest Services
Clinic. “This ethnic blend enhances our ability to be also works with families to find the best housing options
culturally sensitive.” For example, the dental assistants and personally welcomes families coming for the first
regularly provide care to a broad range of families, time. Adult family members benefit from the supportive
sometimes requiring communication in eight to 10 resources and programs available through the Seattle
different languages. They ensure clear communication Indian Health Board, which serves American Indians and
with families by using their own multilingual skills and Alaska Natives living in the greater Seattle area. Children’s
through interpreters. regional care coordinators also work with the Alaska
Native Medical Center to support each child’s needs
while at Children’s and in preparation for discharge.
A talented primary care physician at Odessa Brown Children’s Liu also helps her colleagues learn to work effectively
Clinic — and a dedicated community advocate — Dr. Lenna Liu with families.
was recently honored with the Odessa Brown Ken Feldman “Many pediatricians don’t feel comfortable talking about
Award for her caring service to families and her longtime obesity, so we’ve been coaching them on how to provide
work to address pediatric obesity. counseling around healthy activity and eating,” says Liu.
“Obesity is a symptom of poverty in many cases, and “Often there are deep emotional issues related to overeating,
for me, it’s an issue of equity,” says Liu. “Many children don’t so it can be hard to open the conversation. What’s exciting
have equal access to healthy food and healthy activity. about being a pediatrician is that we’re all about prevention.
Fresh produce is more expensive than a box of macaroni We can certainly do one-on-one counseling with our patients,
and cheese. It also costs a lot of money to put kids in sports but what will really make a difference is if we go beyond our
programs. And in many neighborhoods, kids don’t have a clinic and partner with community organizations that provide
safe place to go outside and play.” nutrition support and physical activity for kids.”
Recognizing that obesity cannot be addressed with Read about Dr. Liu’s type 1 diabetes research on page 5.
medical solutions alone, Liu has advocated for a broad,
“
multidisciplinary approach. For example, she worked with
the YMCA to develop Strong Kids/Strong Teens, an 18-week
What will really make a
program for youth ages 8 to 14 who are overweight or obese difference is if we go beyond
and one of their parents. Focused on promoting active living,
healthier eating habits and self-empowerment, this program
our clinic and partner with
has expanded to 11 YMCA branches in the greater Seattle community organizations
area since it started in 2004. that provide nutrition support
and physical activity for kids.”
— Dr. Lenna Liu
200 families
Support groups are among the most popular services
offered by the Journey Program. “The group setting is
a safe place for parents to speak about their grief, offer
support to each other and remember and honor their
child,” says Kite. Groups typically include five or six received services from the
couples who meet every other week for one year to
18 months. During that time they experience many of Journey Program in 2009.
the big “firsts” together — the anniversary of their child’s
$9 million
Thanks to a partnership between Seattle Children’s and
Treeswing — a local organization working to prevent child-
hood obesity — every kindergarten student in the Seattle
Public Schools receives a free jump-rope kit through the
JumpUp program. Each jump-rope kit includes information invested in community programs in 2009.
for parents about the risks associated with childhood
obesity and the importance of establishing healthy habits
As part of our
at an early age. JumpUp’s goal is to encourage behavior
partnership with
in children that fosters a lifetime of fitness and healthy Denise Louie
choices. Kids can earn a “Top-Notch Jumper” certificate Education Center,
by logging daily jumping activity on their JumpUp which offers Head
Challenge Calendar and submitting the results. Start programs in
south and central
Seattle, we provided
Sharing expert health advice bike helmets to child-
Seattle Children’s is helping Denise Louie Education Center ren and their families.
(DLEC) improve the health and well-being of the children
and families it serves. DLEC offers Head Start programs
for children ages 3 to 5 in four south and central Seattle
locations, which primarily serve immigrants and refugees.
During 2009, Children’s hosted several health promotion
events for DLEC families, including a “Healthcare Institute” limited mapping activities to these areas. The Injury Free
that taught basic skills like how to take care of a sick child Coalition for Kids of Seattle will use the map as a tool to
at home, when to seek medical care and how to use the bridge injury prevention service gaps in priority areas
healthcare system. During “Oral Health Night,” pediatric and to identify opportunities for future partnerships.
dentistry residents from the University of Washington Children’s, Harborview Medical Center and Public Health
provided free dental screenings and education for parents Seattle & King County formed Injury Free Seattle in 2002.
about the care of their children’s oral health. Experts from
Children’s promoted child safety to DLEC families by Educating the community about immunizations
selling and fitting low-cost bicycle helmets and car seats. Seattle Children’s wants to help answer the community’s
questions about immunizations. A leadership member
Identifying partners for injury prevention of the Immunization Action Coalition of Washington,
Building connections with community organizations Children’s chairs its Public Education and Awareness
and individuals, minimizing duplication of services, and Committee. During 2009, the committee developed
maximizing resources are essential elements of successful educational materials and Web-based information
injury prevention programs. The Injury Free Coalition for at www.immunizewa.org that can help families make
Kids of Seattle recently conducted an “organizational informed decisions about immunizations. The information
mapping” initiative to identify Seattle-area organizations covers a range of immunization-related issues relevant to
working toward similar goals. The project engaged dozens children of all ages. In addition, Children’s collaborated
of citizens who contributed information for the map. with Group Health Foundation, WithinReach, the state
Because injury risk is greatest among children and teens Department of Health and others to understand parental
who live in central and south Seattle, the group ultimately concerns about immunizations.
B u i l d i n g W a l k a b l e Communities
free or low-cost safety gear to communities throughout hospital to improve
Washington. The program emphasizes service to the health of
employees, patient
communities that may not have ready access to safety
families and the
education and tools. The van carries information about community.
water safety, child passenger safety, childproofing at
home, nutrition, sports injury prevention and other topics.
Safety gear includes bike helmets, booster seats, life
jackets and home safety items. In 2009, the program’s
first year, the van visited community events and Kohl’s
stores throughout the Puget Sound region.
Inspiring neighborhood discovery
To improve the health of employees, patient families and
the surrounding community, Seattle Children’s partnered
with Feet First to produce a walking map of attractions
near the hospital. Feet First is dedicated to building
walkable communities in the Puget Sound region. The
“Neighborhoods Around Seattle Children’s” map is part
of Feet First’s “Neighborhoods on Foot” map series. The
Children’s map features routes for nature walks, exercise,
quick breaks and grocery runs. Maps also include safety
tips and a list of community resources for active living and
neighborhood involvement. To date, Children’s has distrib-
uted more than 2,000 maps to employees, patient families
and neighborhood organizations, including schools.
The Health and Safety Van brings safety information and free gear to
Supporting Organizations with
communities throughout Washington. Complementary Missions
Encouraging healthy lifestyles
Being a Good Neighbor Research indicates that kids who develop exercise habits
in their teen years or earlier are more likely to maintain
Offering transportation options those habits for life. Girls on the Run of Puget Sound,
In an effort to ease traffic concerns in Seattle Children’s with support from Seattle Children’s, is using the power
neighborhood — and to reduce environmental impacts of running to prepare girls for a lifetime of self-respect
— nearly two-thirds of Children’s employees commute to and healthy living. The program combines training for
work by foot, bicycle, bus, car pool or van pool. Incentives a 3.1 mile (5K) running event with uplifting lessons that
include free bus passes, fully subsidized van pools, ride- encourage positive emotional, social, mental and physical
matching services, shuttles connecting Children’s with the development. Certified athletic trainers from Children’s
region’s major transit hubs and innovative bike programs. provide injury prevention information and advice for
Children’s makes bus travel more convenient for employees volunteer coaches who work with the girls at various
through the Transit Now initiative, a partnership with King schools. The program serves girls in third through fifth
County Metro that adds 63 trips per week on bus routes grades throughout the Puget Sound region. Ultimately,
near Children’s sites. Children’s also launched the Company Girls on the Run aims to reduce adolescent depression,
Bike program in 2009, which provides employees with eating disorders, substance abuse problems, pregnancies
bicycles in return for their pledge to bike to work at and confrontations with the justice system.
least two days per week. These efforts helped Children’s
earn the prestigious Diamond Ring Award in 2009 Supporting community partners
from Commuter Challenge, a nonprofit organization Seattle Children’s supports community organizations
dedicated to solving transportation issues in the through sponsorships. In 2009, we donated over
Puget Sound region. $214,000 and sponsored more than 100 organizations.
A pioneer among child advocates at Seattle Children’s, In 1986, in collaboration with Dr. Fred Rivara, Bergman
Dr. Abraham Bergman’s work over the past 50 years has carried out a bicycle helmet campaign that raised usage rates
improved the lives of children throughout the world. among Seattle children from 3% to over 60% during a five-
His career as a pediatrician began in the late 1950s, before year period. As a result, admissions at five Seattle-area
the term “child abuse” emerged. By the mid-1960s, Bergman hospitals for bicycle-related head injuries dropped by
had organized the first child-protection team at Children’s, approximately 67% among children 5 to 14 years old. The
and he testified before the Washington state legislature in bicycle helmet campaign remains an international model
1969 when the state’s mandatory child-abuse reporting law for helmet-promotion efforts.
was enacted. Though the campaign led to helmet usage requirements in
An active practitioner of what he calls political medicine many Washington communities — including Seattle — Bergman
— using the political process to improve public health — believes more can be done to ensure children’s safety.
Bergman’s work has resulted in several important pieces of “In my mind, the next step is statewide legislation,”
national health legislation, including the Flammable Fabrics Bergman explains. “We have shown that an increase in helmet
Act in 1967, the Poison Prevention Packaging Act of 1970, use leads to fewer head injuries among children, and a
the National Health Service Corps in 1972, the Sudden Infant substantial financial savings to families and our community.
Death Syndrome Act of 1974, and the Indian Health Care It’s only logical to ensure their use.”
Improvement Act in 1976.
Locally, Bergman is best known for his work at Children’s
on sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), with colleagues
Dr. Bruce Beckwith and Dr. George Ray. In addition to
publishing numerous research papers and several books,
Bergman served as president of the National SIDS
Foundation in the 1980s.
“
clinic’s medical director. “For example, it’s not realistic to
expect a homeless youth to comply with a complicated
treatment regimen. Or they may not have access to
The experience at the
running water, which is challenging if they need to clinic is a chance for
soak an abscess, for example.”
There are no nurses, no pharmacists, no medical trainees to learn about
assistants — just the attending physician, the residents,
the medical students, a mental health practitioner, an working with adolescents,
acupuncturist, a massage therapist and several volunteers
with a variety of skills and backgrounds. Because the
and also about the barriers
clinic was designed as a training site, residents and
attending physicians manage most aspects of care,
facing homeless people.”
from drawing blood to dispensing medications. — Dr. Ann Giesel, attending physician
For more information or to request a printed copy of this Community Benefit Report,
please contact:
Marketing and Communications Department
Seattle Children’s Hospital
Phone: 206-987-5205
marcommrequests@seattlechildrens.org
Office address:
6901 Sand Point Way NE
Seattle, WA 98115
Mailing address:
M/S S-217
PO Box 5371
Seattle, WA 98145-5005
www.seattlechildrens.org
www.seattlechildrens.org