Record Breaking Year

The Memorial Medical Center Foundation has awarded more than a half-million dollars in health-related grants for community and health system initiatives; a record-breaking total for the Foundation's grant program. Seventreen grants were awarded to projects within Memorial Health System: five to Southern Illinois University (SIU) School of Medicine and one to the University of Illinois at CHicago College of Nursing Springfield Regional Campus. According to Elena Kezelis, Executive Director of the Foundation, "This year's grants address the full spectrum of healthcare offered at Memorial - from birth through end-of-life. Being able to support birthing simulations, cardiac care and diabetes education, continuing specialty education for our employees and student nurses, and focused assistance for the unique challenges presented by Alzheimer's and hospice care, these grants truly reflect the generosity of our donors and the range of services offered at Memorial."

Memorial's Nursing Division was the recipient of one grant from the Foundation. Last week, the Acute Care Conference: Catch Me If You Can - the Declining Cardiac Patient was held in the M.G. Nelson Family Auditorium on Monday, August 21st. Yvonne Schmudde, Nursing Outcomes Improvement Facilitator, explained that, "This conference is designed to optimize the care of cardiac patients by providing advanced knowledge and evidence based care practices. Participants will gain foundational knowledge and an understanding of a variety of cardiac topics including how to recognize subtle symptoms of decline in cardiac patients. The goal of the conference is to make a positive impact on patient outcomes through learning from an expert, discussions with peers, and exploring management of patients with a variety of cardiac conditions." 

"The speaker, Mary Ann 'Cammy' House-Francher, is nationally known with thrity-six years of experience in Cardiac/Intenstive Care Unit (ICU) practices. She holds Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN), Progressive Care Certified Nurse (PCCN) and Cardiac Medicine (CMC) certifications. Cammy has functioned as an ICU staff nurse, clinical educator, faculty, Cardiovascular Clinical Nurse Specialist and Acute Care Nurse Practitioner. She maintains her vast knowledge base and clinical expertise through an active practice as an Adult Cardiac Nurse Practitioner at the University of Florida, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery. She has lectured nationally and internationally on a variety of topics including: Cardiovascular updates, Critical Care concepts, CCRN and PCC reviews, and Rapid Response as well as having numerous publications in the area of critical care. She brings her extensive background in cardiac clinical practice to her lectures and providers clinical pearls that can be translated into bedside care." 

Conference Objectives

Upon completion of this seminar, participants were able to:

• Discuss subtle changes in patient condition indicating clinical decline

• Identify clinical presentation, potential complications, and interventions associated with acute coronary syndrome and heart failure

•Apply current clinical best practices to the management of patients with cardiac disease

•Apply key assessment, interventions and nursing care to actual patient case scenarios