'What EMS Never Sees'

On November 16 Research Medical Center hosted ‘What EMS Never Sees.’ The event was designed to give EMS providers a rare opportunity to understand the continuum of care a patient receives once they’re brought to the emergency room. EMS providers had the opportunity to visit operating room suites, interventional radiology, cath lab, intensive care unit and rehabilitation. The rotations with three patient scenarios (trauma, stroke and stemi) were designed by Tina York, an EMS professional and current EMS relations director at HCA Midwest Health System. Participants received 4.5 hours CEU certified by the Kansas City Fire Department. 

Donate Life Month

On April 13, in recognition of National Donate Life Month, Dana Maguire, RN, Darinda Reberry, RN, and several members of Midwest Transplant Network and Transplant Institute staff at Research Medical Center dedicated two significant walls near the Intensive Care Unit. The first wall is the Tree of Life Donor Memorial, recognizing those patients and families who have given the ultimate gift of life through organ, tissue and eye donation. The second wall is the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Medal of Honor, celebrating a tradition of excellence in the care we provide those patients and how we support their families.

Goppert-Trinity Family Care Receives NCQA Recognition

The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) has officially recognized Goppert-Trinity Family Care as a Level 3 Patient Centered Medical Home. The clinic was part of a two-year pilot project sponsored by Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Kansas.

The Patient-Centered Medical Home model focuses on increased access for patients, improved electronic documentation, defined chronic disease management and quality outcome measurement. Level 3 certification is the highest attainable level of recognition and Goppert-Trinity’s certification runs through 2015.

Goppert-Trinity Family Care is part of the Midwest Physicians Network in Kansas City and associated with Research Medical Center. It is located at 6675 Holmes on the Research Brookside Campus, and is the primary clinic site for the Research Family Medicine Residency Program.

daVinci® Surgical Robot

Research Medical Center has added the da Vinci® robotic surgical system to its comprehensive surgical services. This advanced technology, using four robotic arms takes surgery beyond the limits of the human hand and provides surgeons with greater precision, control and access to hard-to-reach areas, allowing complex operations to be performed through just a few small incisions.


An alternative to open surgery
With less pain and fewer side effects, the da Vinci® can provide smaller incisions, less blood loss, reduced risk of infection,shorter hospital stays and a quicker return to normal activities.


Patient Benefits

• Less pain; fewer side effects
• Shorter hospital stays
• Reduced risk of infection
• Smaller incisions
• Less scarring and less blood loss
• Quicker return to normal activities

Physician Benefits

• Enhanced 3D, high-definition vision of operative field with up to 10x magnification
• New optional dual console allows second surgeon to provide assistance
• Superior visual clarity of tissue and anatomy
• Surgical dexterity and precision far greater than even the human hand
• Updated and simplified user interface to enhance OR efficiency
• New ergonomic settings for greater surgeon comfort

Physicians performing gynecologic and gynecologic/oncology procedures with the da Vinci robotic surgical system at Research Medical Center include: Brad Sullivan, MD, Verda Hunter-Hicks, MD and Rebecca S. Johnson, MD.

Research Medical Center Launches TeleStroke Program

Steven Kosa, MD, neurologist at Research Medical Center

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and the leading cause of adult disability. Time-critical diagnosis of those 795,000 annual U.S. stroke patientsis paramount in helping patients receive the necessary drugs and treatment. Delays in diagnosis contribute to the mortality and disability associated with stroke.


Midwest Stroke Care at Research MedicalCenter recently launched TeleStroke, part of its telemedicine program, which overcomes geographic and transportation barriers with reliable technology. TeleStroke allows immediate access to Research Medical Center’s stroke experts who can provide consultation and quality, leading-edge healthcare with on-site providers in rural and underserved areas to manage acute stroke as needed.


“The beauty of telemedicine services such as TeleStroke is that it brings off-site specialty services directly to the patients and physicians who need them at exactly the time when they need them,” says Iftekhar Ahmed, MD, a leader in Stroke/TIA care and medical director of The Stroke Care Center at Research Medical Center. “Significant research proves that telemedicine can result in a reduction of unnecessary transfers and improved quality of care.


”Telemedicine is a rapidly expanding area of healthcare that uses various telecommunication technologies to exchange medical information from one location to another, enabling physicians and medical institutions to treat and consult with physicians, clinicians and patients in hospitals. Research Medical Center’s TeleStroke Program will support community hospitals by providing 24-hour on-call stroke specialists and Emergency Department acute stroke consultation.


Using real-time video conferencing, Midwest Stroke Care’s TeleStroke program provides a 24-hour on-call neurologist to aid in prompt evaluation and treatment of stroke patients, helping to determine whether or not the patient’s symptoms require the administration of rtPA, an an intravenous clot-busting drug. When administered within three hours of having a stroke, rtPA can help break up blood clots.


Research Medical Center, part of HCA Midwest Health System—Kansas City’s largest healthcare network—has the technology to deliver highly specialized stroke care.The hospital received Get With the Guidelines™ - StrokeGold Plus in 2011. This award recognizes the hospital’s commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of stroke care by ensuring that stroke patients receive treatment according to nationally accepted standards and recommendations. Research Medical Center was the first Certified Primary Stroke Center in the region and offers comprehensive stroke care with the latest technologies andmost effective treatments available.


Kevin J. Hicks, chief executive officer of Research Medical Center, says that the physicians and staff are committed to maximizing resources efficiently to deliver the best healthcare. “TeleStroke, part of our telemedicine services,reflects Research’s dedication to quality patient care,” says Hicks.


For information about partnering with Midwest Stroke Care at Research Medical Center, call (816) 276-3946.

A Message From the Chief Nursing Officer

Let me just say how proud I am to walk in this community and often hear great stories about the care we provide. I am proud of the nursing team we have at Research Medical Center. We have numerous accomplishments and a dedicated team who provides award-winning, quality care to our patients and the community we serve.

For your consideration, I am providing factual data and a list of accomplishments that you all have helped us achieve at Research Medical Center. These accomplishments speak for themselves and prove that we are safe, our patients receive world-class care and we have achieved national recognition for these and other efforts. It has been through our own internal hard work and dedication that Research Medical Center is recognized as a premier medical facility in the Midwest and one of the region’s providers of choice for health issues.

Some of our accomplishments include:

• Missouri Award of Excellence for Patient Safety in 2011 and 2009
• 20% increase in employee engagement throughout the hospital over the past five years
• 117% improvement in turnover rate over five years
• 25% improvement in patient satisfaction over the past five years
• Numerous Joint Commission accreditations and certifications in heart failure, stroke and cancer care
• American Heart Association Triple Gold recognition for heart and stroke

I believe that part of the reason for the success of many of these accomplishments is due to our active Shared Governance nursing councils. These Councils offer leadership to their peers through:

• Nurse Executive and Nurse Practice Councils
• Nursing Quality Peer Review Council
• Nurse Retention and Nurse Research Councils
• Professional Development and Education Council
• Outpatient and Regulatory Readiness Councils

These are high-functioning, peer-led workgroups who are making a difference in the processes and improvements at Research Medical Center.

Research Medical Center has a strong culture of professional, high-quality care that has been provided to our community and the patients we serve for 125 years. I want to thank the nurses and the entire healthcare team for the outstanding care they provide to our patients every day.

Cindy Johnson, RN, BASN, MHA
Chief Nursing Officer
Research Medical Center

Matt Sogard Named Chief Operating Officer

Research Medical Center recently named Matt Sogard as its chief operating officer effective February 1, 2012. Matt has extensive experience in operations and healthcare administration that will serve as a great asset in his new role at Research Medical Center as he continues to develop and lead our operational excellence.

Since 2005, Matt has been in an administrative role with Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center and Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children, an HCA-HealthONE facility, in Denver, Colorado. Since 2008, he has held the position of chief operating officer. His enterprise-wide responsibilities have included operational, clinical and financial performance for perioperative, imaging, laboratory and other hospital services. He has led numerous capital improvement projects and drove the completion of many operational improvement initiatives including leading the development and construction of the $150M Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children. As the chief administrator of the pediatric hospital within a hospital, he led the strategic planning and medical staff development for pediatric and neonatal services.

Matt has also driven the hospital’s growth teams, led employee engagement and culture refinement efforts such as leadership development teams, a hospital recycling program, 100 Fixes in 100 Days, employee appreciation lunches and formal leadership rounding.

Prior to Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center and Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children, Matt was with the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa from 2004 to 2005.

Matt obtained a master of health administration and master of business administration from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. His bachelor of science in biology was obtained from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Matt is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

He is married with four children, and is an avid sports fan. Please join us in welcoming Matt to our team.

Research Medical Center Earns ACR Accreditation

Research Medical Center has been awarded a three-year term of accreditation in stereotactic breast biopsy as the result of a recent review by the American College of Radiology (ACR).

A breast biopsy is performed to remove cells — either surgically or through a less invasive procedure involving a hollow needle — from an area in the breast suspected to be cancerous. These cells are examined under a microscope to determine a diagnosis. In stereotactic breast biopsy, a special mammography machine helps guide the radiologist’s instruments to the site of an abnormal growth.

The ACR gold seal of accreditation represents the highest level of image quality and patient safety. It is awarded only to facilities meeting ACR Practice Guidelines and Technical Standards after a peer-review evaluation by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field. Image quality, personnel qualifications, adequacy of facility equipment, quality control procedures, and quality assurance programs are assessed. The findings are reported to the ACR Committee on Accreditation, which subsequently provides the practice with a comprehensive report they can use for continuous practice improvement.

The ACR is a national professional organization serving more than 34,000 diagnostic/interventional radiologists, radiation oncologists, nuclear medicine physicians, and medical physicists with programs focusing on the practice of medical imaging and radiation oncology and the delivery of comprehensive health care services.

Midwest Hand Center Performs Intricate Surgeries to Treat Traumatic Injuries

Vik Zadoo, MD, FACS
Medical Director
Midwest Hand Center

Like many of us, Glen Moore took his hands for granted. They were there when he needed them—whether it was operating a large drill press at his manufacturing job, working on cars, creating one of his wooden wishing wells for family and friends, or playing video games on his PlayStation. The 56-year-old Grandview resident didn’t think much about his hands until one February morning when he was injured on the job.

Something went wrong with the drill press Moore has operated for decades. His left gloved hand was caught by the machine, which swung him around so that his right hand dragged across the press, cutting into tendons, tissue, and bone.  Moore’s supervisor called 9-1-1, and Moore was quickly transported to Research Medical Center’s Emergency Department.

From the minute he was rolled into the ER, Moore knew he was in good hands.

“I sat in the examining room, trying not to think about my hand,” says Moore, who knew he had been severely injured. “The nurses and physicians kept me calm until Dr. Zadoo walked in and introduced himself.”

Vic P. Zadoo, MD, FACS, is medical director of the Midwest Hand Center at Research Medical Center and is only one of a few doctors in the Kansas City area who specializes in microvascular hand surgery. This premier hand center treats traumatic hand injuries—such as Moore’s—in addition to offering elective procedures and treating upper extremity injuries.

That day in the ER at Research Medical Center, Dr. Zadoo quickly determined that Moore’s injury had not only damaged some of his vital wrist bones, but also the link between his hand and wrist had been broken, destroying the tendons that raise fingers.

“Like many hand injuries, Glen required a series of surgeries to repair, restore and reconnect bones, tissue and tendons,” says Dr. Zadoo, who trained at the prestigious Christine Kleinart Institute in Louisville, Ky.

The first surgery Moore underwent took four hours, and Dr. Zadoo was confident that his patient—whom he describes as tough and determined—would eventually return to the job and activities he loves.

“Glen has a motivation and drive that really helped him in the recovery process from his four hand surgeries,” says Dr. Zadoo. “He was willing to work hard in the rehabilitation phase, collaborating with his physical therapist to transition back into everyday life.”

The Hand Center uses advanced technology including the LEICA OH4, a sophisticated microscope that combines Swiss optics and Japanese robotics. This device, among others, was used in Moore’s series of operations to restore the use of his hand and fingers.

“It’s similar to a big video game, and helps us reattach the complicated and microscopic network of blood vessels,” says Dr. Zadoo. 

Moore, who went through a six-month program of intensive physical therapy at the Research Medical Center Brookside Campus, appreciates the relationship he developed with the straight-shooting surgeon who brought life back to his damaged hand. “I told Dr. Zadoo it was important how honest he was with me every step of the way,” he says. 

Dr. Zadoo says the success of Glenn’s outcome is a two-way relationship.

“With Glen, it’s about the physician-patient relationship and his remarkable attitude that contributed to a successful outcome,” says Dr. Zadoo.

Moore, who has returned to his job doing light-duty work and also can now play video games—has a few wishing wells on his drawing board. These days, he doesn’t take his hands for granted anymore.

“They’re precious to me,” says Moore.  “I’m glad Dr. Zadoo thought so, too.”

For more information about the Midwest Hand Center at Research Medical Center, visit www.midwesthandcenter.com.

How Does Research Medical Center Compare in Heart Care?

What are Core Measures?

Core measures are a set of care processes which were initially developed by The Joint Commission, the accrediting body responsible for setting standards for healthcare. The purpose of these standards is to improve the quality of healthcare by implementing a national, standardized performance measurement system. These measures will now be used  by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for reimbursement because the evidence has supported the theory that by using these  measures, there is reduced risk of complications, prevention of recurrences and otherwise standardized treatment for better patient care.

Comparing Performance

Hospitals across the country have been measured and compared by The Joint Commission on its performance in these Core Measures. This data “lags” so that all facilities can be compared equally across time. The information is posted to the Joint Commission website and the www.cms.gov website, on hospital compare. 

What are each of the Core Measures?

There are four categories (acute myocardial infarction, community-acquired pneumonia, congestive heart failure, and surgical care improvement project). Under each category, key actions are listed that represent the most widely accepted, research-based care process for appropriate care.

What are Core Measures and Why are They Important?

• In 1999 the Joint Commission (a governing body that accredits healthcare institutions) created a Cardiovascular Conditions Clinical Advisory Panel in a quest for “core” measures of hospital care.
• A Core Measure is an evidenced-based performance measure that is a process measure (how care is provided). 
• In 2001, the Joint Commission announced an expansion to four of these “core measures” which are: acute myocardial infarction (heart attack), heart failure, pneumonia and surgical care improvement. 
• The Joint Commission partnered with CMS and this became the basis for the 7th Scope of Work and for accreditation of hospitals. 
• Hospitals started collecting data on July 1, 2002. 
• In November 2003, CMS and the Joint Commission agreed on one common set of measure specifications. 
• Healthcare facilities must meet the four measures to be in compliance with both organizations. 
• 70 percent of the reimbursement from CMS to hospitals will center on meeting these measures. 
• For Joint Commission accreditation after January 2012, healthcare facilities must achieve at least an 85 percent compliance on 22 of these measures in order to pass its accreditation. 

Everyone plays a role in helping their organization to achieve this level of success. We owe it to ourselves and to our patients.

"No Excuses. Get Screened."

According to the American Cancer Society, screening exams for early breast cancer detection—before they start to cause symptoms—is one of the best ways to fight the disease. Midwest Breast Care, a service of HCA Midwest Health System—the largest healthcare network in Kansas City—is marking the 26th anniversary of Breast Cancer Awareness Month by emphasizing the importance of early detection through its “No Excuses. Get Screened.” campaign.

Rick Brown, MD, FACC, Joins Midwest Heart Associates

Rick Brown, MD, FACC, has joined Midwest Heart Associates and the medical staff of Research Medical Center and Research Belton Hospital. Dr. Brown has 13 years experience providing care for cardiovascular patients in the Kansas City area. 

Dr. Brown practices as an invasive, non-interventional cardiologist. Clinical skills include pacemaker and device implantation, nuclear cardiology, transthoracic/transesophageal echocardiography, isation, advanced lipid management, and preventative cardiology. Dr. Brown received his medical degree from the University of Kansas Medical Center where he also completed his internal medicine residency and cardiovascular fellowship.  

The addition of Dr. Brown will allow Dr. Carrie Totta to serve the Cass/Harrisonville community on a full-time basis. Dr. Totta will also provide back-up for Dr. Brown in the Belton area. This deployment will enhance cardiovascular services and quality for both markets.

Dr. Brown is now accepting new patients. To schedule a patient appointment, call:

• Research Medical Center Location - (816) 276-4800 
• Research Belton Hospital Multi-Specialty Clinic - (816) 348-1291

EMS Great Save Celebration

First responders who were first on the scene to aid 17-year-old Jackson Hill following a severe motorcycle accident on Highway 13 near Warrensburg, Mo., were reunited with Jackson and his family. On June 13, ambulances from Warrensburg responded to the accident which left Jackson without a pulse or blood pressure. In addition, the teen lost his right leg below the knee at the scene. Life Flight was called to transfer him to Research Medical Center’s Level I Trauma Center where he spent three weeks in the Intensive Care Unit and underwent multiple surgeries. Jackson has remained in the hospital, working on his recovery.

Jackson Hill surrounded by his mother and members of the Johnson County
Ambulance District EMS Team   

H. Scott Bjerke, MD, trauma surgeon and director of the Level I Trauma Center at Research Medical Center, presents Jackson with a special Superman T-shirt

Research Brookside Campus Redevelopment Update

A local Kansas City developer, Rockhill Greens, has purchased 13 under-utilized acres of the Research Brookside Campus from Research Medical Center, located at 6601 Rockhill Road in Kansas City, Missouri. 

The concept for the new development is an environmentally responsible community including residential housing and commercial businesses, seamlessly integrated into the existing medical uses that will continue to be offered on the Research Brookside Campus. The development will promote a healthy-living life-style and sustainable design with parks, gardens, landscaping, and walking trails throughout the campus. The total acreage of the Research Brookside Campus is approximately 25 acres. Research Medical Center will retain the 6675 Holmes medical office building, the former hospital tower building and the connecting auditorium.

Some possible projects being proposed for the new development include assisted living and independent-living senior housing, adult day care and memory care facilities, data center/back office operations, market-rate townhouses or work-force housing, healthy-living themed retail such as a restaurant, coffee shop, organic grocery store, health club, and other commercial uses that embrace socially and environmentally responsible community development.

“We look forward to creating a unique mixed use community that focuses on a balance of sustainability, community programming, and favorable returns for our investors,” says Kelley Hrabe, president of The Net Giver, who will be the project manager for the development. 

Tony Krsnich, vice president of Real Estate and Finance with Landmark Investment Group, leads the investment team for the development. “We are Brookside residents and look forward to redeveloping and integrating this project into the surrounding community,” states Mr. Krsnich. 

“We have been working closely with the development team for over three years now,” explains Kevin J. Hicks, chief executive officer of Research Medical Center and the Research Brookside Campus. “We are very pleased the result of this working relationship is an agreement to help develop the Research Brookside Campus into a first class sustainably-designed community.” Research Medical Center, along with the support of HCA, Inc., continues to reinvest in the outpatient and emergency services offered at the Research Brookside Campus, reinforcing its commitment to providing a broad spectrum of healthcare services to the surrounding community.

“HCA Midwest Health System is proud to support the efforts of this community-based redevelopment project. We’re looking forward to expanding our healthcare services on the Research Brookside Campus to continue to grow and meet the needs of the community,” said M.L. Lagarde, president of HCA Midwest Health System.