Newsletter

December 2019

Our Vision: Strive to improve the health and quality of life for all Kansans.

Our Mission: To promote research, education and community efforts designed to improve the health of Kansans.

True change takes place in the imagination. Unknown

Every new year provides opportunities and challenges, 2019 has been no different. We must understand the way we face each will affect our future. WMREF is no different with opportunities and changes.

Early in 2019 we faced an incident in our computer system. We hear of intrusions at large corporations and city governments but over 500 happen to small businesses, banks and non-profits every day. On the advice of our IT company, Choose Networks, we had been proactive and installed a 24-hour monitoring system. Choose Network, found the intrusion within 15 minutes of the occurrence and shut it down without loss. As a precaution we changed all bank accounts and other systems to protect our data. What a start to the year.

In June we were notified by Wesley Medical Center they were ending our contract to provide Institutional Review Board services. The WMREF IRB had been the IRB of record for Wesley for 40 years, the last 20 paid under contract. Over the next 4 months our IRB staff worked to transfer all files to the HealthOne IRB in Denver. This has been a significant change for WMREF and the Wichita research community, the most painful, losing two valued WMREF staff members, Terri Jones and Joy Miller, because of the loss of contract revenue.

Change is inevitable. Change is constant. -Benjamin Disraeli

Still we celebrate our many successes.

RESEARCH FUNDING

We released our updated Collaborative Investigator Initiated Research (CIIR) Request For Application (RFA) for funding. This $15,000 funding opportunity requires cooperative research between local academic institutions and/or community organizations. The resulting presentations and publications are impressive, and we are proud of the successes. We are anxious to release the next RFA in early 2020 and begin reviewing the submitted proposals. Research is still a cornerstone of our mission and our goals to ‘Encourage research as a scholarly activity.’

SYMPOSIUMS AND CONFERENCES

The WMREF sponsored Healthcare Ethics Conference has become an important opportunity to provide medical ethics training in Wichita and Kansas. The evaluations indicate those attending are anxious to hear, learn and discuss the ethics around healthcare. The 2019 conference had an attendance of over 180 attendees, including 30 WSU and Newman students who attended at no cost. March 11, 2020 will be the seventh Ethics Conference. Find Conference information on our website – www.wichitamedicalresearch.org.

WMREF is an active member of the Health Alliance of Sedgwick County; the Coalitions of Coalitions – Building the Case for Public Health; the South-Central Regional Cancer Coalition; the Kansas Cancer Partnership and others. These community opportunities continue to fulfill our mission ‘to promote research, education and community efforts designed to improve the health of Kansans’. Early in August WMREF again sponsored the Health Alliance city mayoral public forum. Candidates for City Mayor were invited to share their vision for healthcare and how to improve the health of our City. In person attendance was nearly 150 and 150 more watched by Facebook Live. The health of our community continues to be a cornerstone of our vision, ‘Supporting community health efforts.’

This year 774 physicians, a 10% increase, nearly 1200 nurses, and other health care professionals attended a WMREF sponsored event or received scholarship funds. Financial assistance requests for conference scholarships and conference support continue to rise. This financial assistance supports our mission to ‘promote continuing education to enhance all aspects of healthcare.’

Advance Directives for End of Life Care
WMREF provides legally correct advance care documents to the public at no cost and located on the WMREF website available by downloading the document. The WMREF staff and WMREF Board member, Carolyn Harrison, MSN, answer questions and mail documents to anyone needing help. Our advance care documents have been downloaded over 50,000 times from the WMREF website. Soon all documents will also be available in Spanish. This continues to be an important element of our community outreach.

Our thanks to our Board of Directors, staff and volunteers as we worked through our changes and challenges this year. All deserve thanks. We have had more than 60 IRB members, all volunteer, over the 40 years, with Dr. Jed Delmore serving as our last IRB Chair for more than 22 years. We thank them for their service and dedication to protecting participants in healthcare research.

Your financial support is more important to us than ever before. Please consider a tax-deductible contribution to WMREF to keep these traditions flourishing in our community. If you wish to contribute to a specific area of our vision, we welcome your support. All contributions are tax deductible and you may decide how you want your money is used – CIIR grants; Community Grants; Educational Scholarships; Research support; or where most needed. New this year is the ability to donate online directly to WMREF. It is easy and just a click away.
Donate Here:www.wichitamedicalresearch.org.

WMREF thanks you in advance for your support and generosity and we wish you a healthy and happy New Year.

Alan Fearey, MD
President, Board of Directors
Wichita Medical Research and Education Foundation

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT ADVANCE DIRECTIVES
General Questions

What are the three kinds of Advance Directives in Kansas?
Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care (DPOA-HC), Living Will and Do Not Resuscitate.
How is the durable power of attorney for health care (DPOA-HC) different from a general power of attorney?
The durable power of attorney for health care (DPOA-HC) covers ONLY health care decisions. The general durable power of attorney covers financial matters and property decisions.
May I choose the same agent for financial and health care decisions?
Yes, you may choose the same person to be your DPOA for health care and finances. You must make sure to use separate documents for each DPOA position. Your health care facilities and physicians will only need the DPOA for Health Care documents.
Where do I get the advance directive forms?
In Kansas, you may go to the website: wichitamedicalresearch.org Click on menu item titled Kansas Advance Directives, then locate the form you wish to print. You may also request forms at any admissions office of any local hospital. If you need another state’s forms, go to website www.nhpco.org and click on advance directives and select specific state’s forms.
I have filled out my Advance Directive forms. Where do I get the forms notarized?
Notary is available at local Kroger/Dillon’s stores or your local bank or hospital. Wichita Medical Research and Education Foundation also provide notary service at no cost, but call for an appointment first.
6.
Do I get the forms witnessed or notarized? Is it better to have my forms notarized or witnessed? You may have the forms witnessed OR notarized. Some states require notary. Kansas does not require notary.

7.
Who can witness my signature?

Two persons who recognize that you are the person you say you are. They do not have to understand the form or what you are signing. They are only recognizing you and your signature.

8.
Are my Advance Directive forms honored in other states when I travel?

Yes. All 50 states have advance directives. Advance directives travel with you and are honored in all states.

    9.
    I have filled out my Advance Directive forms. What do I do with them?

    When you have signed the forms, make at least five or more copies of your     documents and give them to your DPOA-HC (agents), your physicians, your     lawyer, spiritual leader or anyone else who may be involved with your health     care. Make sure your agent(s), family members and friends know where your     documents are kept.   Please keep your originals in a safe place. Keep one     copy where it is easy to find and make more copies if needed. A copy of     these documents has the same effect as the original. It is your responsibility     to have a copy ready when it is needed. Take a copy with you when you go     into a hospital, nursing home, hospice or other care facility.

10.
What if my family disagrees with the DPOA-HC I have chosen? What if they want something different from my wishes?

    The physician is required to recognize the durable power of attorney for     health care as the legal decision maker for the patient. If there is     discord/disagreement about what you wanted and what the family members     think you wanted, then the physician will continue to speak with the DPOA-     HC and family members until an agreement is made about your wishes.     Understand the chosen DPOA-HC (agents) are the only ones with the legal     right to make decisions for you. It is important that you discuss your wishes     and values now with your family so they will know what you want done at     the end of life.

    11.
    What is a HIPPA release? Is a HIPPA release an advance directive?

    HIPPA stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act     established in 1996 to protect patient’s health care information. No, a HIPPA     release is not an advance directive. In the HIPPA release document, you can     designate those whom may receive your health care information from the     physician or health care professionals. These persons may or may not be     your DPOA-HC.

    12.
    Where can I get a HIPPA Release form?
     You can get a HIPPA release form from the staff at the office of your     health care provider (physician or clinic’s office).

    For more helpful questions and answers you may download the FQAs here.