Medipost - Autumn 2013 - Rosh Hashanah

Dear Friends,

A new year is on the threshold and we trust it will bring a new wave of optimism and positive outcomes in both Israeli security and the economy. The Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center continues to plan for all inevitabilities driven by the stressful conditions prevailing in the region.
The recent cuts in the Israeli budget have had a strong impact on the Ministry of Health and immediate effects on the Medical Center as well. Despite this reality, we are committed to continuing with activities as usual—providing world-class care for the thousands of patients who rely on us every day—even under increasing financial constraints. Fortunately, we have top-notch physicians, clinicians and administrative staff who lead the way, with progressive treatment, personalized diagnostic technologies, and the human touch that is part of the fabric of this institution.
We are also dedicated to advancing our infrastructure development efforts, procuring cutting-edge equipment, progressing with pioneering research programs, and implementing other quality initiatives that will improve patient quality of life, speed recovery, and prevent disease.
Now, more than ever, we need your support and collaboration so together we can achieve the many goals we have set for the Medical Center. Read on to see how you can make a difference.
From the entire staff, we wish you and yours a calm and healthful New Year.

Yours,

Ronit Blum – Director
Association of Friends

In blessed memory of Maurice Dwek, children’s hospital benefactor

Maurice Dwek passed away in July in Geneva at the age of 81 after a courageous battle against cancer. Maurice and his brother Solo, from Milan, adopted the Dana-Dwek Children's Hospital in memory of their beloved aunt Rene Dana, who, along with her husband Subhi, was the hospital’s philanthropic founder in 1992.


After Rene’s death, Maurice and Solo continued the work begun by their aunt, who loved children, but did not have children of her own. Several years ago, by virtue of Maurice and Solo’s immense generosity, we successfully renovated and expanded Dana-Dwek Children’s Hospital.
Maurice was a wonderful man and a true friend. Both Maurice and Solo devoted their time and resources in supporting numerous projects in Israel, mainly for the Weizmann Institute of Science and Dana-Dwek Children's Hospital.

Maurice will be dearly missed by all of us. His legacy lives on in the many children who benefit from his selfless contributions. We send his brother Solo, his wife Janet, and his sons Julian and Edward our heartfelt sympathy.

May his memory be a blessing                    יהי זכרו ברוך

New Medical Center initiatives

Always on the front line of medical care, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center is kicking off a number of compelling projects, benefitting patients across a variety of medical disciplines.

Enhancing accommodations and care for pediatric critical care patients
The objective of the plan is for children hospitalized in the Critical Care Unit and their accompanying family members to benefit from increased space and privacy. The facility will be expanded to meet the increasing number of patients treated. Treatment areas and equipment will be upgraded to provide pace-setting therapeutics for seriously ill children from Israel, the Palestinian territories and international countries. 

Project cost: $4 million (approximate)
 

New Pain Management Center providing comprehensive care for children and adults

The pain management program is recognized for its expertise and leading-edge care for supporting patients suffering from chronic and acute pain and helping manage pain during and after surgery. This new Pain Management Center initiative will expand and renovate the 40-year-old facility and upgrade aging equipment.

The projected cost for this investment that will benefit tens of thousands of patients is $5 million.

Launching Inpatient Psychiatry Department in a new dedicated building that will also house psychiatry clinics and day hospital

The department will offer inpatient psychiatric services to the population of 350,000 Tel Aviv residents and specialty care for patients from the region. The planned multi-floor facility will host the Inpatient Psychiatry Department as well as adult and geriatric outpatient psychiatry and day hospitalization services.

The initial cost to launch the program is approximately $15 million dollars.

Affordable Tel Aviv housing accommodations for clinical personnel

Exorbitant housing prices in the Tel Aviv area make it difficult to recruit and retain the highest quality caregivers. This new 18-floor, 300-unit apartment building will provide affordable quality housing in close proximity to the Medical Center for clinical staff.

We need to raise $15 million for the project.

Upward expansion of Lis Maternity Hospital and unit upgrades 

Lis Maternity Hospital was built almost 20 years ago, before hotelling for mothers and their newborns became popular. The addition of a new floor dedicated to postpartum mothers and their newborns will enable the hospital to meet the demand for this level of service, providing private, more spacious, modern patient accommodations.

Project cost: Approximately $10 million

Essential care for African refugees
Tens of thousands of African refugees, mainly from Eritrea, have settled in Tel Aviv to escape difficult conditions in their countries. Unfortunately, these refugees do not have medical insurance, and the Medical Center is obliged to treat them for humanitarian and ethical reasons, covering all the costs of their treatment out of pocket. A disproportional number require complex treatment due to advanced disease stages; many are carriers of dangerous contagious diseases which are endemic in their countries of origin. Their care diverts some $8 million annually from the care of Israeli citizens.

Purchase of vitally needed medical equipment
To remain at the forefront of patient care, the Medical Center needs to continuously upgrade its technology, including the purchase of:
• 5 linear accelerators for cancer patient radiotherapy treatment (about $8 million)
• 2 new MRI machines (about $4 million)

Ceremony to honor donors Ruthie and Israel Ram

Ruthie and Israel Ram generously bequeathed part of their estate and donated to the construction of the new dermatology department for improved patient care and support for the dermatology team. In addition, their donation to medical research is enabling the Dermatology Department, directed by Prof. Eli Sprecher, to pursue the Molecular Basis of Monogenic Skin Disorders in the Middle East.

Hosted by Prof. Gabi Barbash and Prof. Sprecher, an honoring ceremony was held to express the Medical Center’s appreciation for their generosity, commitment, and friendship. The ceremony also unveiled the new sculpture exhibition at the entrance to the Dermatology Department. The artwork, created by Ruthie's father, sculptor Mordechai (Max) Farbman, was a tribute to his late wife Batya, Ruthie's mother. These contributions preserve and perpetuate the Ram family legacy with a foundation that benefits thousands of patients and visitors each year.

What’s new?

Adopt–a-Researcher program to help accelerate the work of innovative scientists and clinicians
This program, now in its third year, with eight promising researchers adopted, is an exemplary undertaking, demonstrating the effectiveness of combining and developing research and clinical medicine under one roof. Three generous benefactors have recently adopted three additional researchers:

Dr. Tamar Shiner, Neurology Department, Research:
Dementia with Lewy Bodies, one of the most common types of progressive dementia. Sponsor: Elad Cohen

Dr. Yuval Landau, Pediatric Neurology, Research: Characterization of the pathophysiological basis of undiagnosed orphan diseases.
Sponsor: Avy Lugassy

Dr. Gilad Vainer, Pathology Institute, Research: The biology of breast cancer – S6K1 as a novel breast cancer biomarker; personalizing treatment.
Sponsors: Mazal and Daniel Levin

There are many additional opportunities to adopt a researcher to promote progressive discoveries in cancer, cardiology, brain and other disciplines.

High tech entrepreneurs join in to help the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center
A group of young high-tech entrepreneurs recently visited the Medical Center in a quest to learn about progressive hospital activities, particularly in both research & development and the application of advanced technologies to medical procedures.
The group was organized by Mr. Elad Cohen, a high-tech executive and a member of Friends of the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center who has donated generously to the hospital. He began his philanthropic work with the Medical Center several years ago with a donation made in appreciation of the devoted care his father, Eliezer Cohen, of blessed memory, received. More recently, Elad joined the Adopt-a-Researcher program to help young medical and scientific researchers fast-track their R&D. Elad is devoting valuable time engaging his high-tech colleagues to help further the Medical Center’s goals.

During the recent high-tech visit, some 40 entrepreneurs met with Medical Center CEO Professor Gabi Barbash and several of the hospital's finest neurology and cardiology experts. Via live video stream, the group also watched brain surgery being performed on a fully conscious patient by Professor Zvi Ram, Neurosurgery Department Director.

The group of executives is now drawing up a multi-year plan to raise funds to help promising Medical Center researchers and students immediately pursue their research projects alongside their clinical work.

Implementation of evacuation elevators in the event of a large-scale emergency
Patients rely on Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center for world-class medical care. But, what about their safety in the event of a large-scale emergency, in which patients need to be evacuated from the Arison Medical Tower? To solve this problem, the Medical Center recently installed external emergency evacuation elevators. The fireproof elevators are powered by remote control independently of the tower’s standard grid. They are positioned atop the Arison Tower and glide along specially constructed rails outside the building.
The elevators enable emergency rescue teams to evacuate dozens of patients at a time, including bed-ridden and wheelchair-bound patients. The patented elevator technology, developed by an Israeli company, is considered a disruptive innovation in the elevator industry.

New medical services

Partial thickness corneal grafts for improved vision and clinical results
Corneal graft (or corneal transplantation) is one of the most successful organ grafts performed today. Around 100,000 corneas are transplanted each year worldwide. The cornea is the “front window” of the eye; to allow good vision, it should be very clear and precisely shaped.

For years, corneal grafts were performed in a uniform manner; the central area of the cornea were removed and replaced with a similarly sized piece of cornea taken from a deceased cornea donor.

Over the last decade, evolutionary methods have enabled replacement of only the back layer of the cornea, comprised of a single layer of endothelial cells, responsible for regulating the cornea by keeping out excess water so that it is thin and clear.

In recent years, DMEK (Descemet's Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty), a method that transplants an extremely thin tissue layer, was implemented by Dr. David Varssano, the head of the Cornea Service in the Ophthalmology Department. The Cornea Service is currently the only one in Israel performing this progressive method, which reduces healing time, decreases the rejection rate and improves vision.

Dermatology clinic opens to treat hidradenitis suppurativa, a serious skin condition

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) manifests itself with boils and painful wounds associated with malodorous purulent and chronic discharges. The disorder, which mainly affects young individuals, can be incapacitating and cause profound psychological distress.
Several therapeutic options have recently emerged; however, their administration typically available only at specialized centers. The Dermatology Department recently opened the HS Clinic, making a major financial and medical investment to help patients with this condition.
The clinic, headed by Dr. Ariela Hafner, offers a wide range of medical and physical treatment options, as well as multidisciplinary care from the Center for Chronic Wound Treatment and ancillary psychological and social support.

The EndoBarrier balances type-2 diabetes and induces weight loss
Recently, the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center introduced the EndoBarrier, a new medical device for treating uncontrolled Type 2 diabetes in obese patients. The sleeve-like soft stent, which is positioned in the duodenum, mimics gastric bypass surgery but achieves results without surgery and without damaging the digestive system structure.

In half of the 400,000 diabetics in Israel, diabetes is insufficiently controlled, which can elevate patient exposure to kidney, eye and external limb complications and increase morbidity, especially from cardiovascular disease. 

Dr. Erwin Santo, Director of the Institute of Digestive Diseases and Liver Center explains that the method is suitable for patients who are not candidates for bariatric surgery as well as for those who refuse surgery. The new device prevents contact between food and duodenum, with the first exposure occurring further along in the intestines. This reduces the stimuli that promote diabetes and enhances the secretion of various hormones, including hormones that suppress the appetite.”

About 1,500 patients have been treated worldwide using this method, with a significant improvement in diabetes control and a mean decrease of 16% in excess body weight (about 20 kg or 44 lb) without side effects or complications.

Clinical trials

2.4% of “healthy” patients screened were found to have cancer

The Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center’s Integrated Cancer Prevention Center (ICPC) conducted an early detection study which tested for 11 of the most common types of cancer that are responsible for 70–80% of cancer mortality.

Thanks to the tests, they were able to either prevent cancer in patients by removing pre-malignant lesions or identify cancer at early stages where relatively simple surgeries were sufficient to cure them. Even men and women who are seemingly healthy, maintain an active lifestyle, and do not feel pain or unusual discomfort may have a malignant tumor that could spread without appropriate treatment.

Under the direction of Professor Nadir Arber, the study of 1000 people who had considered themselves to be healthy found cancers in 2.4% of the patients. Adult study participants volunteered for the one-day screening conducted between January 2006 and January 2010. The most common types of cancer in Israel that were screened for included: oral cavity, thyroid, colorectal, skin, lung, breast, ovarian, uterine, cervical, prostate, and testicular cancers.

The study was published in the European Journal of Internal Medicine three years after the study findings were collected, which enabled continuous patient follow-up to ensure that the treatment received had indeed helped prevent cancer development and save lives.

Among the 24 people found to have cancer, 10 had breast cancer, 7 had gastrointestinal malignancies, 3 had skin cancer, 3 had prostate cancer, and 1 case was diagnosed with gynecological cancer.

Premature babies prefer gentle classical music, Mozart in particular

It has now been scientifically proven that listening to Mozart’s music is beneficial to premature infants. A Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center Lis Maternity Hospital study found that premature infants who listened to Mozart music experienced a 7.7% lower metabolism rate than those premature infants who did not listen to music. When they listened to Bach, the preterm infants experienced only a 4.5% lower metabolic rate versus those not exposed to any classical music. Lowering the metabolic rate meant that the premature babies lost less calories and therefore were able to gain weight faster.

The study was headed by Professor Dror Mandel, Director of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Dr. Ronit Lubetzky, Assistant Director of the Pediatric Hospitalization Department. 
 

A new treatment that prevents organ-transplantation rejection
The Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center Microsurgery and Plastic Surgery Laboratory, dedicated in the memory of Ana and Zalman Sholowitz, was established in July 2011. The laboratory, headed by Dr. Nir Shani (PhD) and Dr. Eyal Gur, Director of the Plastic Surgery Department, was established to promote clinically oriented research, primarily face and hand transplantation.

The face and hands, are particularly complex because they are composed of multiple tissue types (nerves, skin, muscles, tendons, bones, cartilage), making all aspects of transplantations extremely challenging. Similar to all transplantations from foreign donors, the immune system fiercely rejects the transplanted organ unless the patient continuously receives medication to suppress the immune system. These drugs often cause severe side effects such as organ damage, cancer, opportunistic infection and other conditions—which can be life threatening.
Research has shown that mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) can be used to help suppress organ rejection. MSCs are produced from adult tissues (not embryonic tissue such as embryonic stem cells), and are harvested mainly from bone marrow and fat.  

As part of ongoing advances in MSC applications by the department, Dr. Gur is slated to perform the first face transplantation in Israel.
The lab is also developing additional MSC-based treatments in collaboration with other disciplines, such as skull regeneration, treating retinal degradation and healing rotator cuff injuries. Dr. Shani commented that it is amazing to perform research so close to the clinical setting … the ‘hunger’ for research in the Medical Center is very strong, providing a wonderful platform to reach the ultimate goal of improving currently available therapies.

The Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center: Reaching out to others even in the face of adversity

The Boston Marathon bombing has driven home the fact that hospitals need to be prepared 24/7 to respond to mass casualty situations. From extensive experience in responding to countless medical crises, the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center has a plan considered the gold standard for both disaster preparedness and response. 

Recognizing this approach as an “asset” that supports its broad mission of healing and empowerment, the Medical Center shares its best practices with peer facilities throughout the world. Veteran Director of the Department of Emergency Medicine, Prof. Pinchas Halpern, and his team routinely advise healthcare facilities on planning and response, and are dispatched as an official delegation representing Israel to disaster recovery sites around the globe. For example, Prof. Halpern flew to Boston to support the Boston Marathon bombing relief efforts. What set the groundwork for his visit was a trauma planning seminar that he and the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center had recently conducted at Boston hospitals to help them be “at the ready” in the event of a large-scale crisis.

While no hospital wants to earn the expertise that the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center possesses through real-world experience, it is the Medical Center’s honor to help peer organizations save lives in the populations they serve.