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At the Hospitals
n Leon Levine Foundation Commits for their visionary support of the resources we this award honors and spreads successful
$25 Million to Support Levine need to provide broader and deeper treatment improvement initiatives that children’s
Cancer Institute options for patients across the region. They hospitals can replicate to improve patient
The Leon Levine Foundation has committed are truly helping us to transform cancer care.” care, financial performance and hospital
culture. Five winners were named out of
$25 million to support the significant With this grant, The Leon Levine 76 entries.
expansion of Levine Cancer Institute, Foundation has contributed more than $65
including $20 million for infrastructure and million to enhance medical programs, build The CMC Department of Pediatrics Center
$5 million in endowment challenge funding. new facilities and bring clinical innovations for Advancing Pediatric Excellence (CAPE)
The grant marks the Foundation’s largest to and the brightest talent to Carolinas developed and manages the curriculum. The
date, as well as the largest gift in the history of HealthCare System. CAPE curriculum is implemented across
Carolinas HealthCare System. the Pediatric care spectrum from Levine
n New ALS Study Flexes Its Muscle Children’s Hospital (LCI) inpatient to
The Institute’s unique access model The Carolinas Neuromuscular/ALS-MDA affiliated ambulatory and specialty clinics.
delivers innovative treatments at facilities Curriculum highlights include:
both within the Charlotte metropolitan area Center, part of Carolinas HealthCare System, • a longitudinal, experiential program, with
and beyond, eliminating barriers to world- currently is conducting a research trial on the
class care for patients in less-populated impact of resistance and endurance exercise each experience building on the previous one;
regions. Levine Cancer Institute has expanded on the progression of ALS. This study will • aheavyemphasisoninterdisciplinaryteams,
to 25 sites within the Carolinas HealthCare help in the development of a larger national
System footprint and now treats 15,000 newly study to understand how exercise potentially including nurses, respiratory therapists,
diagnosed cancer patients a year — a level can improve strength and alter the course of child life specialists, unit secretaries, etc.;
among the most distinguished cancer centers the disease. • intensive QI and data coaching for the entire
in the nation. team and project management; and
A common perception regarding patients • impact across the entire care continuum,
The Leon Levine Foundation funding will with neuromuscular disease such as ALS, from ambulatory to inpatient to
support the construction of a seven-floor is that, since the muscles won’t get stronger, specialty care.
260,000-square-foot advanced outpatient exercise will not help. Previous studies Award judges commended the program for
center adjacent to the Institute’s research and on exercise for those with neuromuscular addressing a need for QI training upstream
administration headquarters. This will expand disease have been controversial; however, by instilling QI behaviors in new caregivers.
hematologic, thoracic and gastrointestinal the most recent data collected by the team at Judges noted the enormous potential of this
oncology programs available in the region. Carolinas HealthCare System demonstrates program to impact care far beyond the walls
The new facility also will enhance translational exercise can: of Levine Children’s Hospital as trainees
research capacity in several specialties and • prevent joint stiffness and maintain joint disseminate this QI culture across the
will provide space for continued growth of Carolinas HealthCare System enterprise and
survivorship programs, integrative oncology, mobility; the country upon graduation.
rehabilitation and telemedicine services. • keep muscle tissue not affected by In addition to multidisciplinary teamwork
at Levine Children’s Hospital, this
“We are very proud to be able to help bring neuromuscular disease healthy and strong; curriculum has benefited from extensive
world-class cancer care to this community,” • maintain cardiopulmonary fitness as much collaboration across the system, including
says Leon Levine. “Almost every week, Quality Management, Information Services
Sandra and I are approached by someone as possible; and and medical/nursing/administration
who has been positively impacted by Levine • possibly delay a decrease in muscle size. leadership. Pieces of the curriculum have
Cancer Institute. It’s a facility which helps been adapted and used across the institution,
so many and is a real gem for Charlotte’s Mohammed Sanjak, PhD, with the including for other training programs, new
medical community.” Carolinas Neuromuscular ALS/MDA Center, staff orientation and other staff trainings,
presented his work at national conferences advanced care practitioner training, and an
“Access to cancer treatment and research this past year and discussed how “an adequate intensive training course for national and
is a crucial measurement to assess cancer amount of physical activity is needed to international NICU fellows and junior faculty
care across the region and the country and improve, maintain or reduce the progression hosted by LCH. Curriculum evaluation has
is driving the expansion of Levine Cancer of motor deficits.” Sanjak and his team demonstrated positive outcomes for both
Institute,” says Derek Raghavan, MD, PhD, are considered pioneers in using exercise learners and patients.
president of Levine Cancer Institute. “I am alongside traditional therapy for ALS patients. The CAPE team comprises Director Laura
extremely grateful to Sandra and Leon Levine Noonan, MD; Co-director Cheryl Courtlandt,
n Levine Children’s Hospital Honored MD; QI Coach Maureen Walsh Koricke,
With Top Pediatric Quality Award PhD; QI Coach Mary Webster, MSN, RN,
Carolinas Medical Center’s Pediatric CCM, CPHQ; and Program Coordinator
Sarah Mabus, MLA.
Residency Quality Improvement (QI)
curriculum has been awarded the
Children’s Hospital Association Pediatric
Quality Award in the Delivery System
Transformation category. Every other year,
12 | June 2016 • Mecklenburg Medicine