Blank Children's Hospital
1200 Pleasant Street
Des Moines, IA 50309
515.241.KIDS
2011 Highlights
Blank Children's hosted its Advocacy Breakfast at the state capitol on January 20. The event was well attended by advocates and legislators who were able to learn more out the Blank Children's advocacy agenda.
Iowa was ranked #1 in children's healthcare by the Commonwealth Fund, a private foundation working toward a high performance health system. According to the report, Iowa does very well in prevention and treatment; providing children with special healthcare needs with family support services; and getting children the referrals they need.
Several Blank Children's Hospital nurses were names as 100 Great Iowa Nurses. Those honored are: Kory Dunsbergen, IRT Supervisor; Linda Carter, NICU, and Beth Nelsen, Adolescent Clinic.
Both Kathy Leggett and Anne Garinger received recognition from the Iowa Traffic Safety Bureau for their commitment to childhood safety.
Ten employees were nominated and recognized for the annual Through the Eyes of a Child Award. Of those, two winners were announced for their dedication to children - Candy Breed, Blank 3 & 4 and Reylon Meeks, Blank Administration.
On Saturday, April 30, we hosted our annual Memorial Service to celebrate and honor the lives of children who died in 2010 at Blank Children's Hospital. The ceremony features music from Hugworks, video presentation, balloon and butterfly release.
An 8-year old cancer patient received the first full replacement of a humerus (upper arm bone) with an expandable prosthesis in the United States. The patient had an osteosarcoma, which is quite rare in children. Her tumor had spread throughout the bone and into the surrounding muscles. The surgery was coordinated by Dr. Christopher Rokes, hematologist/oncologist, with a surgeon in Florida. The surgery was performed at Shriner's Tampa.
The Center for Advocacy and Outreach became the new lead agency for the statewide child passenger safety program. With funding from the Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau we provide continuing education and resource support to more than 500 certified technicians across the state. We also serve as the state's resource for parent and caregivers on safe transportation for their children and youth.
Maternity Services created a Diaper-a-Day social media campaign. This campaign, facilitated through Facebook and Twitter, was designed to increase user interaction while giving to a good cause. At the conclusion of the campaign, more than 1500 diapers were given to the DMARC organization. In just one of DMARC's twelve pantry distribution sites, there are more than 1,300 infants and babies age 24 months and younger registered to receive diapers.
On Saturday, June 25, Blank Children's will host its fifth "Understanding Me: A Mother/Daughter Workshop". The free event is designed for moms and daughters (aged 10-12) to help them understand the changes the young girls are experiencing.
We received a report from Iowa' Statewide Perinatal Care Program regarding their recent Level III Visitation. The report stated that excellent care is being provided at this center both in the neonatal and obstetric areas.
Five new docs joined Blank Children's: Eduardo Beltroy, pediatric gastroenterologist; Kevin Peterson, pediatric hospitalist; Amy Groen, pediatric emergency medicine; Nick Fustino, pediatric hematologist/oncologist; and Nate Noble, DO, developmental pediatrician and geneticist.
We celebrated Mr. Blank Day on July 27 as a way to honor the Blank family and re-connect employees with their awesome legacy. Mr. A.H. Blank would have been 132 years old.
Blank Children's has partnered with Iowa State Athletics for a new Kid Captain program. Nominations were taken this summer from parents, nominating their child for the program. Six Kid Captains were selected and will be recognized at home ISU football games. One Kid Captain per game will get to go out on the field for the coin toss at home games. An additional 9 patients were given tickets to home games. In total 29 children were nominated for the program.
Iowa Methodist Medical Center was named by WomenCertified® as the hospital of choice among women in our community. Iowa Methodist will be featured in a full page advertisement in USA TODAY and Modern Healthcare.
IMMC was selected as the 2011 BCEN (Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing) honorary Certification Recognition Award winner. This award acknowledges an outstanding job of promoting the process of certification in emergency nursing, flight nursing, critical care ground transport nursing and pediatric emergency nursing.
Blank Children's hosted a cancer survivors' day for past and current cancer patient at Center Grove Orchard on October 2. The event is funded by donors through Festival of Trees and Lights.
October brought the 15 year anniversary of the Pediatric Transport Team.
Maternity Services delivered 1,168 babies in July, August & September and NOW between November 1 and November 20 they have a goal to collect at least 1,168 pairs of new socks (for all ages) to be delivered and distributed by Children and Families Urban Ministries in Des Moines.
The National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome recognized Iowa as a 'Purple State' for statewide efforts to prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome. The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), Prevent Child Abuse Iowa, Early Childhood Iowa, Blank Children's Hospital and other partners were honored for their use of the Period of PURPLE Crying education to parents.
The Anna Blank renovation is complete. The Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Clinic, the Developmental Clinic and the Center for Advocacy & Outreach have relocated to this space. Open house will be held in January/February.
Methodist Perinatal Services has relocated to the Pleasant Street Center. The clinic shares a location with Midwife Services.
The Blank Children's Neurology Clinic has moved to a new location, from 1212 Pleasant Street, Suite 300 to 1215 Pleasant Street, Suite 116 (previously occupied by the Methodist Perinatal Center).
Several renovation projects were completed: NICU 2 located on North 2 which added 10 more rooms for NICU care; Blank Lobby; and the Anna Blank Building which houses the Developmental Clinic, Rehabilitation Clinic and Center for Advocacy & Outreach.
The 28th annual Festival of Trees and Lights event was another huge success. The 5-day event, plus Gala Dinner, netted more than $400,000 in support of Child Life and Advocacy & Outreach. Special thanks to Ken & Cyndi Bonus who were the honorary chairs of Festival, and Iowa Realty who once again was our presenting sponsor.
A dream many years in the making, the Developmental Center opened to help provide diagnosis, early intervention and care for children with developmental related conditions as well as physical limitations. The Developmental Center was made possible due to tremendous support from the community.
More than $3,300,000 was raised through the UnityPoint Health - Des Moines Foundation in support of Blank Children's Hospital. Of that, $250,000 from Variety in support of the new Developmental Center; $100,000 from Hyundai Hope on Wheels in support of a Psychologist for the Children's Cancer Center; $96,000 from Principal Charity Classic in support of Child Life and Advocacy & Outreach; $97,000 from Kohl's Cares in support of the All Kids Healthy program; $100,000 from The Hearst Foundation, $75,000 from The Principal Financial Group and $50,000 from the W.T. and Edna M. Dahl Trust for the new Developmental Center.