We Stand For Care

Stanford Hospital & Clinics launched a new daily dinner meal, on August 10, 2009, for inpatients featuring organic, locally grown, sustainable ingredients. The Stanford Hospital & Clinics Farm Fresh program was developed in collaboration with Jesse Cool, a nationally recognized Northern California chef, restaurateur and food writer.

The new inpatient menu option is MAKING A DIFFERENCE and putting Stanford Hospital & Clinics at the forefront of an emerging nationwide recognition that fresh, healthy food is a vital part of IMPROVING the healing process.

“Stanford Hospital is known for providing our patients with the latest medical advances and treatments in an environment that promotes healing,” said CEO Martha Marsh. “This exciting new approach to the food we serve our patients is not just an amenity. It is part of our COMMITMENT to help patients heal as quickly as possible and to feel comfortable and cared for while they are here.”

Beni Velazquez, Stanford Hospital’s executive chef, is delighted with this step for the hospital. “I would never have thought of doing hospital food,” he said, “but Stanford has a vision and this is a very cutting edge program.”

For more information on our exciting new approach for our patients, click here.  For recipes, click here.

Hearing that the odds were vastly against her for a successful kidney transplant was not something 29 year-old Rachel Amato wanted to hear from the first doctors she consulted. So what did the mother of four decide to do? She came to Stanford Hospital and Clinics, where she sought out BETTER MEDICINE and an honest answer.

Stanford Hospital & Clinics told Amato, “We have seen proof that this new treatment works. We just don’t know how many doses it’s going to take.”

COMMITTED to FINDING ANSWERS, the desensitization program, as well as improvements in minimally invasive surgery and the promise of an experimental “tolerance induction” protocol, have placed Stanford Hospital & Clinics at the forefront of kidney transplant programs.   Amato was placed in the program in August 2008 and by January 2009 received one more dose of an additional drug and received her transplant two weeks later.

“Even though we’re treating patients at higher risk, we perform better than expected because we have a very good team and our patients get very attentive, individualized care,” said Stephan Busque, MD, surgical director of the adult kidney and pancreas transplant program.

“Stanford was my saving grace because they did not give up on me,” said Amato.

For more information on the desensitization program click here.

On July 25, 2009, several hundred former transplant patients and their families reunited with the staff of the Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) Program at Stanford Hospital & Clinics for a re-birthday celebration. The BMT team often refers to a patient’s transplant day as their “new-birth” or “re-birth” day, since receiving a transplant grants patients a second chance at life. The celebration and annual reunion also recognizes how we MAKE A DIFFERENCE and are continuously IMPROVING the BMT Program.

Robert Negrin, MD, Director of the Blood and Marrow Transplant Program at Stanford, emphasizes that “this day punctuates the continued need for enhancing the pool of unrelated marrow donors who can offer the gift of hope for still many more patients in need.”

Over the last 21 years the BMT Program has taken a unique collaborative approach to treatment, where staff nurses, advanced practice nurses, physician assistants, physicians, dietitians, social workers and pharmacists all participate together in each patient’s plan of care.

Negrin added that the “annual BMT Reunion is the highlight of our year, illuminating many successes of the program and strengthening our COMMITTMENT to the work that remains to be done on behalf of our patients.”

For more information about the BMT Reunion and patients re-birth, click here.

Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital has been ranked #5 as one of the nation’s best by U.S. News & World Report publication for its heart and heart surgery and neonatal care programs. Additionally, six other programs made the U.S. News Top 20, including cancer, diabetes and endocrine disorders, digestive disorders, kidney disorders, respiratory disorders, and neurology and neurosurgery.

“Making the U.S. News list is a major accomplishment that we never take for granted. It reflects what our faculty and staff have built and continue to build – one of the nation’s best children’s hospitals,” said Christopher Dawes, president and chief executive officer at Packard Children’s.

The recognition from the U.S. News shows the ongoing COMMITMENT from our physicians, nurses, and staff and dedication to providing BETTER MEDICINE to our patients.

“From physicians to nurses to technicians and volunteers, everyone on our staff is committed to outstanding patient care,” said Dawes. “The U.S. News ranking is a testament to this work, and we’re thrilled to be recognized this way.”

To review other recent highlights that help make us of America’s Best Hospitals, click here.