May 2024
At HonorHealth, we hold ourselves to a higher standard by caring for the whole person, not just their symptoms. Through the support of a generous community, HonorHealth Foundation helps us proactively support the well-being of the communities we serve by constantly innovating and investing to solve healthcare's toughest challenges.
With more than 90 years of experience delivering quality healthcare, no organization knows and understands our communities like we do.
HonorHealth nurses are changing lives around the globe!
HonorHealth Foundation recently celebrated National Nurses Week, an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the unsung heroes of healthcare whose dedication and compassion form the backbone of any hospital system.
From bedside caregivers to clinical leaders, nurses play a pivotal role in every aspect of patient care, providing comfort, expertise and unwavering support to those who need it most. But one group of nurses accepted the invitation to take their special care beyond our walls all the way to Medellin, Colombia.
Late last year, HonorHealth Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Bertrand Kaper assembled a team of nurses from HonorHealth’s Scottsdale Thompson Peak Medical Center and embarked on a South American journey that changed the lives of nearly 30 patients who desperately needed hip and knee replacements.
Over the course of eight days, the team screened and selected patients who had been waiting years for joint replacement surgery. They shared in the unique joy and relief of patients who had been waiting so long for something we often take for granted here in the United States. One patient had been waiting nearly 13 years for this surgery!
“The nurses, doctors and hospital staff were so welcoming and such wonderful hosts to our American team,” shared Angie Parker, RN. “This was my second time participating in Operation Walk and it did not disappoint. It is such a replenishment to my nursing soul to help a population that is so grateful and in need.”
Dr. Kaper established an Arizona-based team as part of Operation Walk International to carry out these life-changing procedures through short-term mission trips. The team takes great pride in their commitment to charitable work by offering free hip and knee replacement surgeries. To date, they’ve cared for patients in Colombia, Guatemala and Ecuador.
“It was a marvelous experience,” said one grateful patient. “You are all great human beings. There are no words to describe all the care, the love and compassion with which we were given.”
These missions typically last one week and are organized and managed so as many patients as possible can undergo surgery and begin their rehabilitation and recovery. During that week, the medical care of patients is the joint responsibility of in-country physicians, physical therapists and registered nurses. This method ensures ongoing patient care once the team has returned home.
Jessica Garippo, BSN, RN, ONC, relived her experience by saying, “The patients were so grateful. We didn't speak the same language, but the kisses, hugs, smiles and ‘God bless you’s’ I received was a language in itself!”
On the flight back home, Dr. Kaper shared a quote with the group from John Wooden: ”You have not lived a perfect day until you've done something for someone who can never repay you.”
For Garippo, “it made me think of all the reasons I became a nurse in the first place and how the patients on the trip changed my life as much or more than I was able to change theirs. My perfect day, or week!”
Lung robotics now at Osborn campus
We are excited to announce the expansion of our minimally invasive robotic lung biopsy system to HonorHealth Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center.
This revolutionary technology is used to detect lung cancer earlier and improve patient outcomes. It first launched at Scottsdale Shea Medical Center in 2021 and extended to John C. Lincoln Medical Center last year.
Chirag Patel, MD, thoracic oncology surgeon at HonorHealth, is excited about this move.
“Navigational bronchoscopy is poised to revolutionize the treatment of lung cancer by enabling early detection, offering minimally invasive options, personalizing treatment plans and reducing risks associated with more invasive procedures,” Dr. Patel says.
As we anticipate the continued evolution of medical technology, this expansion reaffirms HonorHealth's dedication to the early and accurate detection of lung cancer, ensuring better outcomes and exceptional patient care.
Allergies may linger through the summer
Spring weather and spring flowers — it’s a wonderful time to be in the Valley, unless you are one of the roughly 25 percent of Americans who suffer from seasonal allergies according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Though April is Arizona’s worst month for allergies, symptoms can linger into the summer, especially for those who are affected by ragweed, Russian thistle and grass.
“Patients frequently ask me, ‘What is the green tree with the yellow leaves?'” says Julie Wendt, MD, an allergist and independent member of the HonorHealth Medical Staff. She’s board-certified in allergy and immunology and is the past president of the Arizona Allergy and Asthma Society. “That’s the palo verde tree and one of the Valley’s most common allergy culprits.”
With plenty of spring rain, you may think your allergies will be worse this year. Dr. Wendt says they will, but maybe not right away. Rain can help reduce pollen in the air, but the moisture left in the ground can make things worse in the summer and fall. Symptoms like a runny nose, sneezing and an itchy or scratchy sore throat are no fun, but is it allergies or a cold?
Dr. Wendt says if you have symptoms every year at the same time, it’s probably allergies. If they come and go with no pattern, it may be a cold or the flu. Colds may have associated aches and pains, fatigue and chest discomfort. If it’s the flu, you may also run a fever.
If you think it’s allergies, she recommends limiting your time outside, keeping your doors and windows closed, using HEPA air filters and changing them frequently, and don’t forget about your four-legged friends.
“Use baby wipes on your pet’s fur and keep them off your bed,” Dr. Wendt added. “The baby wipes can help remove allergens such as pet dander or pollen from their fur.”
Top tips to conquer the 2024 Arizona allergy season |
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If you’re still sniffling and sneezing, over-the-counter remedies like nose sprays, eyedrops, decongestants and antihistamines can help, but read the labels first. |
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HonorHealth Foundation 2023 Annual Report celebrates amazing innovations
Read the HonorHealth Foundation 2023 Annual Report
Ovation: Stand up and cheer for your care team!
If an HonorHealth team member played an important role in your healthcare journey, say thank you with an Ovation.
NICU Tea & Luncheon
October 2, 2024
The HonorHealth Foundation’s annual tea is so much fun, we had to expand it to a luncheon! Join us to support our tiniest and most fragile patients in the HonorHealth Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. RSVP early, as this event always sells out!
Learn more and reserve your NICU Tea & Luncheon seats today!