• ALTA BATES SUMMIT & OAKLAND RAIDERS
• ALTA BATES SUMMIT & FOOTBALL 101
• BMT Bone Marrow Transplant Program Receives a Full 3-Year Accreditation From FACT - June 2008
• Alta Bates Campus Among Top Hospitals for Maternity Care - June 2008
• State-of-the-Art Breast Center Opens - April 2008
• Tele-Care Program - March 2008
• Alta Bates Summit Welcomes Two New Board Members - February 2008
• Hypertension Sunday - February 24, 2008
• Think Pink and Go Bears - February 14, 2008

ALTA BATES SUMMIT & OAKLAND RAIDERS

Take fans “On the Field” in an all new Football 101

The Oakland Raiders and Alta Bates Summit Medical Center hosted the 11th annual all new ‘On the Field’ - Football 101 event at the Raiders’ training facility in Alameda and McAfee Coliseum on Saturday, October 4. It was an exciting and unique afternoon of fun -- raising over $13,000 to benefit breast cancer screenings for low-income women in the community through Alta Bates Summit’s Markstein Cancer Education and Prevention Center and the Comprehensive Cancer Center.

The afternoon started with a quick tour of the Raiders’ Alameda headquarters and training facility, then everyone took a bus ride to the McAfee Coliseum for a barbeque lunch. The program started with Raiders CEO, Amy Trask, then Renel Brooks-Moon, (host of the “Renel in the Morning” show on 98.1 KISS FM, and in-game announcer for the San Francisco Giants) led the crowd with her famous “Raaaiiidddeeerrrsss” chant. Attendees had a treat by meeting and taking photos of Raiders Legends: Greg Biekert, Kenny Shedd, Robert Jenkins, Morris Bradshaw, Joe Scannella (Special Teams Coach in the 70’s), and Hall of Famers, Fred Biletnikoff and Willie Brown.

A benefit drawing of autographed Raiders memorabilia was held and the winners were: Beth Entwistle from San Diego, Rick and Stacy Frawley, and Scott Freeman.

Oakland Raiders legends and coaches taught the “ins and outs” of the game – on the field with drills, rules, plays and strategies. Attendees also received an exclusive backstage tour of the player’s locker room at the coliseum.

Alta Bates Summit and the Raiders have enjoyed an immensely successful partnership over the last 11 years in the fight against breast cancer. A check presentation will occur on the field just before the Sunday, November 2 game between the Raiders and the Atlanta Falcons.

Questions and more information, please contact: Dorine Tanaka, Director of Special Events, Alta Bates Summit Foundation, 2450 Ashby Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94705, (510) 204-4413, e-mail: TanakaD@sutterhealth.org.


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ALTA BATES SUMMIT & FOOTBALL 101

OAKLAND RAIDERS AND ALTA BATES SUMMIT
TAKE FANS ‘ON THE FIELD’ IN AN ALL NEW ‘FOOTBALL 101’

Impress your friends with your vast football knowledge!
Throw away your Football for Dummies book!
Get on a first-name basis with Raiders superstars!
Be the ‘go-to’ person for football rules and regulations!
Game drills, photo ops and tailgate BBQ – ‘on the field.’

For the 11th successful year, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center and the Oakland Raiders are teaming up to help in the fight against breast cancer.

This year will see an all new Football 101 ‘On the Field,’ –
SATURDAY, October 4, 12 – 3:00 p.m.

This unique afternoon of fun (held at the Oakland Raiders headquarters and training center in Alameda) will feature new plays and a new game plan for Raiders fans. Attendees can participate in non-contact game drills, cool photo opportunities, behind the scenes tour of the training facility, a tailgate BBQ buffet, visit with Oakland Raiders legends and players, and have a chance to win great raffle prizes – including game tickets and autographed Raiders memorabilia.

As usual attendees will hear from Raiders coaches and players.
How to attend ‘On the Field’ with Football 101:

On the Field tickets are $100 each, and all reservations will be issued on a first come first served basis to the first 250 fans. On the Field is expected to sell-out and be great fun.

Oakland Raiders players and coaches will teach you the ‘ins and outs’ of the game – on field drills, rules, plays and strategies. You’ll get an exclusive backstage tour of the Raiders training facility, enjoy a tailgate BBQ, and enter to win great raffle prizes.

Over the last 11 years, funds generated to benefit breast cancer services for low-income women exceeds $200,000. Anyone wishing to attend or make donations may do so by calling (510) 204-1667.

Who: Oakland Raiders and Alta Bates Summit Medical Center
Raider coaches and players

What: Football 101 – ‘On the Field’ This fun-filled BBQ and fundraiser will be held at the Oakland Raiders headquarters and training center in Alameda. Funds generated will benefit breast cancer services for low-income women.

When: Saturday, October 4, 2008 noon to 3:00 pm

Where: Oakland Raiders Training Facility 1220 Harbor Bay Parkway, Alameda

Info: Tickets are $100 each RSVP by Friday, September 26, 2008
For more information contact the Alta Bates Summit Foundation at (510) 204-1667.

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BMT Bone Marrow Transplant Program Receives a Full 3-Year Accreditation From FACT - June 2008

On June 5, 2008, after an extensive on-site inspection, the Alta Bates Summit Blood and Marrow Transplantation (BMT) program received a full three-year re-accreditation from the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT). FACT certification is limited to a select group of BMT programs that have demonstrated an exceptional level of patient care and full compliance with the highest standards of medical and laboratory practices.

Since 1984 the Alta Bates Summit BMT Program has provided successful advanced therapy for a variety of malignant and non-malignant diseases, including multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Hodgkins disease, acute/chronic leukemias, myelodysplasia, testicular cancer and aplastic anemia. In 2003, the program became only the second BMT center in Northern California to become fully accredited by FACT.

FACT is a non-profit organization developed by the International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) and the American Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation (ASBMT) that promotes high-quality patient care and laboratory performance through voluntary inspection and accreditation in the field of cellular therapy.

Congratulations to Rajesh Behl, MD, BMT Program Medical Director, and his entire team for this significant accomplishment. FACT accreditation requires the demonstration of a considerable amount of coordination between multiple departments and services of the Medical Center. Special thanks to Eric Gold, Siobhan LaRue, Rob Hall and Joanna Lee for their contributions to the success of the accreditation visit and support of the BMT program!

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Alta Bates Campus Among Top Hospitals for Maternity Care - June 2008

Study Finds Alta Bates Summit Medical Center's Alta Bates Campus Among Top Hospitals for Maternity Care

Best-Performing Hospitals Have 76 Percent Fewer Cesarean Section Complications among Women, According to Study

BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA (June 24, 2008) – Alta Bates Summit Medical Center announced today that the Alta Bates Campus has been recognized with a five-star rating for clinical excellence in maternity care, based on a study issued by HealthGrades, the nation’s leading independent healthcare ratings company. The HealthGrades Fifth Annual Report on Women’s Health Outcomes in U.S. Hospitals found that best-performing hospitals had almost 51 percent fewer maternal complications among women who had vaginal births compared to poor-performing hospitals, and 76 percent fewer for women undergoing cesarean section births.

“We are extremely proud of the fact that our excellent Women and Infants Services has been recognized for excellence by HealthGrades,” said John Gentile, MD, Vice President Medical Affairs at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center. “Our outstanding team of physicians, nurses and staff remain focused on quality and customer service – making Alta Bates Summit a ‘best performing hospital’ – the only one in the East Bay.”

HealthGrades analyzed over 12.5 million hospital delivery and neonate records from 2004 through 2006 in over 1440 hospitals and found:

• If all hospitals had performed at the level of the best-performing hospitals, 188,673 women may have avoided developing one or more ‘in-hospital’ major obstetrical complications associated with vaginal or C-section delivery.
• The best-performing hospitals had almost 76 percent fewer maternal complications among women who had C-sections compared to poor-performing hospitals.

“Alta Bates Summit delivers nearly 8,000 babies a year,” says Merrilee Newton, RN, Administrative Director of Quality and Service. “We’re very proud of this recognition.”

“Women account for 60 percent of all hospitalizations each year,” said Samantha Collier, HealthGrades’ Chief Medical Officer. “The majority of them enter the hospital to give birth. Our research demonstrates the critical need for these women to evaluate the quality of maternity care provided by the hospital before making this important decision.”

For its 2008/2009 ratings, HealthGrades independently analyzed the quality of maternity care at hospitals in the 17 states that publish outcomes data, objectively assessing their clinical performance and quality. HealthGrades applied the following rating system to all hospitals included in the analysis:

• Five-star (Best) = Top 15% of all hospitals within 17 states
• Three-star (Average) = Middle 70% of all hospitals within 17 states
• One-star (Poor) = Bottom 15% of all hospitals within 17 states

The complete maternity care and women’s health services ratings are published, free of charge, on HealthGrades Web site, www.HealthGrades.com. Ratings for 27 other medical procedures and diagnoses – including cardiac, pulmonary, vascular, stroke, orthopedics, critical care, bariatric, and gastrointestinal services – are also available on the HealthGrades Web site.

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State-of-the-Art Breast Center Opens - April 2008

One of the most anxious times a woman can have is the interval between finding a lump or abnormality in her breast, the necessary diagnostic testing, and awaiting confirmation of either breast cancer or a clean bill of health.

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center is opening the Carol Ann Read Breast Health Center – a new service completely dedicated to reducing that anxiety to the shortest possible turn-around-time.

In sharp contrast to the general mode of breast health the new $13 million Carol Ann Breast Health Center provides women with the newest diagnostic technology as well as expedited appointments and results – all in one beautiful center dedicated exclusively to women’s breast health. The new breast center will see its first patient on Monday, March 10 and host a dedication and open house on Tuesday, April 15.

Finding breast cancer in its earliest stage can save a life. Now, for the first time, East Bay women will have a breast health center dedicated to expediting the delivery of test results and providing expert, comprehensive services for breast health and diagnostics – all under one roof.

Alta Bates Summit’s new center will be a national model for community-based patient care and the first center in the East Bay for comprehensive breast cancer detection, diagnosis and support. These specialized services, caring environment and individualized programs will benefit tens of thousands of Bay Area women every year.

After ten years of planning, fund raising and research, the long-awaited vision has become a reality: an 11,000 square foot center that offers the next generation in technology and seamless delivery of service – distinguishing it from other breast centers in the area.

Services will include: digital mammography (the only East Bay center to offer this important diagnostic technique), stereotactic core biopsy, ultrasound and ultrasound core biopsy, nurse navigation services, high risk assessment program, expedited evaluation program, second opinion service, peer support services, bone densitometry, breast MRI and MRI directed biopsy, and clinical research in cooperation with major institutions throughout the country.

The new facility will centralize and integrate state-of-the-art clinical and imaging services, expedite the evaluation of any breast abnormality and offer patients the opportunity to participate in research studies. With the capacity of performing more than 40,000 per year breast exams per week, the center is staffed by practitioners whose specialty is breast health, diagnostics and imaging. Numerous studies have shown that fast test results and the earliest possible treatment all contribute to the best chance of surviving breast cancer. More than two dozen Alta Bates Summit cancer specialists – including surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, medical oncologists and radiation oncologists – will be consultants to the Breast Health Center.

Two Alta Bates Summit physicians have dedicated their careers to fighting breast cancer – surgical oncologist Lisa Bailey, MD, and radiologist Ira Kanter, MD. Now they are seeing their long-envisioned dream – a national model for breast health and diagnosis, come to life.

According to the breast center’s medical director, Lisa Bailey, MD, “Alta Bates Summit had always provided very good breast health care for patients at both of our campuses, but at times the process could become fragmented because of multiple locations.

“From the look and feel through the design, the diagnostic capabilities, to the services and programs and the investigator-initiated studies – an enormous amount of time, study and planning has gone into this center,” Bailey said.

Radiologist Ira Kanter, MD, Breast Imaging Director, brings more than 40 years of experience, the last 15 in breast imaging. Under Dr. Kanter’s direction, over 100 examinations per day will be performed: Mammograms, both screening and diagnostic (if something abnormal should be identified).

Because we know breast cancer will affect one in eight women in the US…early detection is the key to survival. If breast cancer is detected early enough, more than 95 percent of women can be treated successfully. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women and the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in the US.

The Carol Ann Read Breast Health Center is also well-equipped to serve the entire community. According to Lin Vautrain, manager, of the Carol Ann Read Breast Health Center, “In response to the rich diversity of our community, we offer patients a variety of breast cancer navigation services that are culturally and linguistically appropriate navigation services for the breast health patient. Spanish and Asian language-speaking patient navigators and support groups are offered at the new Breast Health Center.” The Chinese language support group is one of the only groups of its kind in the area.

Throughout the planning and design of the new Breast Center, staff worked closely with Breast Health Access for Women with Disabilities (BHAWD), a program of Alta Bates Summit since 1995, to facilitate accessible health services for women with disabilities. “We examined the blue prints to ensure that the exam rooms and exam tables, waiting area, and equipment are accessible,” says Florita Toveg, BHAWD manager.

Ask anyone who’s been treated for breast cancer and they’ll tell you that counsel and support from survivors is invigorating, informative, inspirational—in short, invaluable.

Peer Support Programs
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center’s program offers to pair newly diagnosed patients with women who are at least a year out from treatment. The program builds on that one-to-one philosophy and, since its founding in 2004, has served more than 150 women and enjoyed resounding success. “It’s called COMPASS—Compassionate Peer Advocacy and Support Services,” says Vautrain, who along with nurse practitioner Kathleen Colloton, R.N., W.H.N.P., runs the program.

After training, each volunteer is matched with patients – primarily based on type of treatment and age.

The program start-up costs were funded by several donor groups and individuals in the community

Lin says “COMPASS has been a wonderful program that benefits survivors who want to ‘give back’ in a meaningful way and helps the newly diagnosed patient who wants to talk to someone who has experienced breast cancer and treatment.”

Funding
Seed money for the $13 million Carol Ann Read Breast Health Center was made possible through a challenge grant from the Read family of Orinda and its Otter Cove Foundation. “Their gift was the turning point in making this breast center a reality says Dr. Bailey. “Through their generosity, we were able to approach others to match their gift. It was a critical component in moving the project forward.”

Carol Ann Read was an Alta Bates Summit patient who died of breast cancer in 1997. After her death, her husband Peter began working with the Alta Bates Summit Foundation to raise funds to develop a comprehensive breast center dedicated to expediting the delivery of test results and expanding the services available for breast health.

Another important source of funding for the center was a cooperative effort between the Friends of Faith and Alta Bates Summit. The success of their “Leap of Faith” dinner has resulted in the creation of “Faith’s Place,” celebrating the life of friend, colleague, patient and former KTVU reporter Faith Fancher.

The new facility cost over $13 million, and in addition to Read Family, construction was made possible through the generosity of many people in the East Bay who contributed to the Alta Bates Summit Foundation. The project is the single largest philanthropic beneficiary of donations to Alta Bates Summit Medical Center since its formation in 1999.


Interior Design – A Healing Environment
Well known designer, Jain Malkin worked with Ratcliff Architects to transform a space that had housed teaching areas to the beautiful, healing environment that will be the new center. Malkin is known for her ‘healing design’ work in a number of major facilities, including southern California’s Scripp’s Comprehensive Breast Center. From a beautiful skylight, muted greens and glass tiles to the fanciful mobile in a children’s area…the focus of the center is to calm and care.

Also opening next to the new breast center in the Providence Pavilion is a new Family Resource Center that will serve as a respite from the day to day challenges of caring for a loved one. The Center also provides a source for health related information to patients, family and the community. The Resource Center will also be the new home for the Markstein Cancer Education and Prevention Services – well known for a wide variety of services such as community cancer screenings, support groups, education and other seminars.

Drs. Bailey and Kanter agree that one of the emotionally important components of the new Carol Ann Read Breast Health Center is the people. “In a dedicated breast center like this one will be – every single person in the center – from the parking attendant to the registration staff and the clinicians – we are all dedicated to the personal care and recognition of each woman’s needs and possible anxiety level,” says Dr. Kanter. “From the moment a woman walks through the door – she will know she is in the hands of experienced, compassionate and caring people.”

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Tele-Care Program - March 2008

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center’s Tele-Care Program

Founded in 1970, Tele-Care is a free telephone contact service for members of the community who live alone, are homebound, disabled, convalescing from an illness or isolated. Volunteers make daily calls to clients in a three county area (Alameda, Contra Costa, and San Francisco), 365 days a year. The daily calls in this unique free service are a friendly ‘check in’ that helps monitor the client’s well-being, refer clients to outside sources for help or information if needed, and help them maintain a connection to their community. Tele-Care volunteers make every attempt to help clients sustain themselves in their own homes. Tele-Care offers safety and a feeling of comfort by providing follow-up protocols in the event a client cannot be reached.

Calls are made to client’s everyday – even holidays.

There is no charge for this service.

For more information about becoming a Tele-Care volunteer or to enroll, call (510) 204-4487 (Monday – Friday between 8:30 and 11:30 a.m.).

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Alta Bates Summit Welcomes Two New Board Members - February 2008

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center recently welcomed two new members to its Board of Directors: Jeffrey Block of San Francisco and Arnold X.C. Perkins of Oakland.

“We’re very fortunate to have these new community members join us,” says Warren Kirk, President and CEO of Alta Bates Summit Medical Center. “They share an appreciation for healthcare and bring a wealth of experience from the business, community, public health and communication worlds. As active and involved Board members they will both be invaluable in helping Alta Bates Summit remain a leader in delivery of the highest quality care for our patients and our communities.”

Mr. Block is an independent media consultant with strong media and advertising knowledge, and demonstrated experience in running a multimillion-dollar organization in a competitive market. His past posts include tenures as vice president, digital strategies at Cox Television and vice president and general manager of KTVU/FOX 2 in Oakland. His current community affiliations include Bay Area Advertising Relief Committee, Board of Directors; Alta Bates Summit Foundation, Board of Delegates; and American Red Cross of the Bay Area, Board of Directors.

Mr. Perkins has served as director of the Alameda County Public Health Department from 1994 until his retirement in 2007. Over the years, his professional affiliations have been wide-ranging, including work with the National Center on HIV and STD Prevention (Centers for Disease Control), the Family Violence Prevention Fund, and the San Francisco Coordinating Council on Drug Abuse. He’s been honored for outstanding service by numerous organizations, including the United Way of the Bay Area, Omega Boys Club, Center for Independent Living, and the Bay Area Strive for Five.

“For over 100 years Alta Bates Summit has served its community and relied on the expertise of local leaders to help shape the direction of the medical center and to keep its spectrum of services on the forefront of quality,” says Board Chair Carol N. D’Onofrio, Dr.P.H. “Our continued collaboration with community leaders is indispensable in developing plans to strengthen of health care in the greater East Bay – now and in the future. I’m very proud of the board’s dedication to enhancing the health of our communities as Alta Bates Summit Medical Center begins its next century of caring.”



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Hypertension Sunday - February 24, 2008

Free Blood Pressure Screenings from 25 Churches and Community Organizations

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center’s Health Ministry Program and Ethnic Health Institute, Sinkler Miller Medical Association, American Red Cross, University of California UCB-UCSF Joint Medical Program, St. Luke’s Society, American Heart Association, Samuel Merritt College, Oakland Technical High School Health Academy, Black Nurses Association, American Diabetes Association, local churches, physicians, and clinician volunteers.

On Sunday, February 24, 2008 25 churches throughout Alameda and Contra Costa County will be giving free blood pressure screenings to the community.

WHY:
• To identify and counsel individuals who are ‘at risk’ for high blood pressure.
• To raise awareness of the risks factors for developing high blood pressure.
• To encourage people who have been diagnosed with high blood pressure to make lifestyle changes to help manage and control the disease.

SCREENING INFORMATION:

There is no charge for this screening.

For information about the time and location of a screening near you, call (510) 869-6210.

For 11 years Alta Bates Summit’s Health Ministry Program and other East Bay Community organizations have collaborated in honor of Black History Month and American Heart Month to raise awareness about the dangers of high blood pressure. High blood pressure is also called the silent killer because often there are no symptoms. The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to have your blood pressure checked. High blood pressure is treatable, and screening is critically important because it can usually detect the disease in an early stage.

High blood pressure affects more than 40 percent of African Americans, it develops earlier in blacks than in whites, and is usually more severe. The longer it’s left untreated, the more serious its complications can become. Untreated high blood pressure is a strong risk factor for heart attacks, strokes, heart failure and kidney failure.
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Think Pink and Go Bears - February 14, 2008

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center and the Cal Athletics Department are joining forces for the first annual “Think Pink Night” on Thursday, February 14, at 7 p.m., to benefit the new Carol Ann Read Breast Health Center.

In a full court press to promote breast cancer awareness and early detection, the February 14 Cal Women’s Basketball (one of the top ten in the country!) match-up with Arizona State is the first annual event of this type. All fans are encouraged to wear pink to the game – and there will be plenty of pink giveaways! So, bring your family and friends and pack Cal’s Haas Pavilion with PINK!

Both Cal and Arizona State will wear pink t-shirts during warm-ups and both coaching staffs will wear a pink article of clothing to support the cause. In addition, the first 3,000 fans will receive an official Think Pink t-shirt courtesy of Bank of the West and the first 200 fans will receive a FREE pair of PINK Crocs.

Attendees who wear PINK to the game, can get a general admission ticket at the low cost of only $3. Tickets can be purchased online through CalBears.com or by calling (800) GO-BEARS.
Fans can find out more about the importance of early detection and receive information about breast cancer. Volunteers will be available on the concourse to offer education and information. Donations will be accepted to Alta Bates Summit’s Carol Ann Read Breast Health Center at the game, with a lead gift from Bank of the West for $5,000.

Log onto the Cal Women’s Basketball website at CalBears.com to find out all the up-to date information or call (510) 642-4780.

The new Carol Ann Read Breast Health Center will introduce the next generation in technology and seamless delivery of services – distinguishing it from all other centers in Northern California. Located in Oakland at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, the new and unique $12.5 million center was built largely through the generosity of many donors from the community. It will be staffed by breast health specialists devoted to reducing a woman’s risk of breast cancer, providing state-of-the-art treatments, services and breast cancer research, including high risk and genetic counseling, digital mammography, magnetic resonance imaging, multidisciplinary treatment planning and support services. Their objective is to increase the community’s rates of screening for breast cancer, which will decrease the stage of cancer at diagnosis.
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