System Hospital News: August 2020

Atrium Medical Center

Atrium Medical Center earned the Mission: Lifeline Gold Receiving Quality Achievement Award from the American Heart Association for implementing specific measures for the treatment of patients who suffer severe heart attacks. Atrium earned the award by meeting specific criteria and standards of performance for quick and appropriate treatment through emergency procedures to re-establish blood flow to blocked arteries in heart attack patients coming into the hospital directly or by transfer from another facility.

Atrium Medical Center has expanded its partnership with Countryside YMCA, one of the world’s largest YMCAs, to offer athletic training services to its members. A full-time athletic trainer will provide free injury assessments, treatment, and injury prevention advice to YMCA members as part of the enhanced relationship. Atrium and Countryside YMCA have enjoyed a positive relationship for many years, with sports medicine and physical therapy services located at the YMCA. Whitney Hare, AT, will provide the athletic training services at Countryside YMCA. She will also host free monthly talks for YMCA members, including an Aug. 25 seminar on getting golf fit.

Mouhamad Abdallah, MD, medical director of Atrium’s Chest Pain Center and the hospital’s cardiac catheterization lab, was the guest speaker at Middletown Rotary Club’s Aug. 4 meeting. Dr. Abdallah discussed the complete scope of cardiovascular services at Atrium as well as COVID-19’s impact on cardiovascular patients. He also encouraged members to join the hospital for the 2020 Butler Warren Heart Walk, which will be a virtual event this year.

The motorcycle ride Highway to Help returned for its sixth year on Aug. 1 with a few modifications, but the same mission to help families in need during the holidays. The charity motorcycle ride, organized by Atrium employees, raised $17,000 for Adopt-A-Family. Organizers expect to help more than 100 children this holiday season by purchasing gifts and other needed items the local families could not have otherwise afforded.

Atrium employees are making an appearance in the City of Middletown’s “Masks On, Middletown” campaign, which encourages residents to wear face masks. Photos of Atrium employees wearing their face masks are being featured in social media posts by the city.

The coronavirus pandemic has changed how we celebrate important events, and this year’s employee picnic was no exception. Organizers modified the annual event typically held at Stricker’s Grove amusement park and, instead, staff and medical providers were treated to a free picnic meal from the Atrium Café. Folded into the event was a celebration of Atrium being named a Top Workplace by the Cincinnati Enquirer. Whit’s Frozen Custard – the top sweet treat in Warren County as declared by the visitor bureau’s annual “best of” awards – was given away to Atrium’s Top Workplace team.

Miami Valley Hospital Campuses

Miami Valley Hospital North (MVHN) celebrated two years of providing inpatient services on its campus. In 2018, a total of 46 inpatient private rooms for short-stay inpatient and observation care, including four high-acuity beds, became available. The hospital continues the same quality care and services that local residents in the northern region have received since 1995. This addition at MVHN meant 82,000 additional square feet as well as expanded patient and visitor parking.

Miami Valley Hospital North Ultrasound, as part of the Miami Valley North Breast Center, achieved reaccreditation with the American College of Radiology (ACR) for breast ultrasound. The Breast Imaging Center of Excellence designation is awarded to breast imaging centers that achieve excellence by seeking and earning accreditation in all of the ACR’s voluntary breast-imaging accreditation programs and modules.

The American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association proudly recognized Miami Valley Hospital as a 2020 Get with the Guidelines®-Stroke GOLD PLUS with Honor Roll Elite and Advanced Therapy Achievement Award hospital. This recognition is the result of having the most up-to-date evidence-based treatment to improve patient care and outcomes in the community. This is the first year the AHA has awarded hospitals with the “Advanced Therapy” recognition.

Miami Valley Hospital Clinical Nurse Educator Lorna Stringfield wanted to do something to help boost morale, not only for patients but also her coworkers. Lorna decided to snap a selfie, laminate it, and wear the badge on her scrubs so her coworkers and patients could see the smile behind her mask. Lorna then took her “individual” idea and made it a hospital initiative. She decided to ask her coworkers if they would like a badge and they jumped at the opportunity. In less than a week, Lorna made nearly 80 badges for her colleagues. “If you look up and you’re in an unfamiliar environment and the first thing that you see is this face smiling back at you, it’s going to put a smile on your face,” says Lorna. “If you’re not able to smile, it’s going to make you feel a little bit better.”

Out of an abundance of caution during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Miami Valley Hospital Foundation has made the decision to postpone its Champions of Hope event until later this year. As always, our top priority is the safety and well-being of our honorees and attendees. The MVH Foundation will continue to develop plans to determine the safest options in moving forward with the event. Champions of Hope honors four extraordinary local individuals for their achievements in the fight against cancer. As further details become known, more information will be available on the MVH Foundation website or by contacting the MVH Foundation office at (937) 208-2700(937) 208-2700.

Upper Valley Medical Center

The Upper Valley Medical Center family mourned the passing of long-time board member and hospital supporter Joel Walker, who died July 22. His board tenure began in 1983 when he joined the Stouder Memorial Hospital Board, transitioning to the UVMC board in 1985, and retiring from the UVMC Parent Board in December 2019. As former publisher/co-owner of the Troy Daily News, Mr. Walker held many leadership positions in journalism and community organizations. He and his wife, Nancy, were recipients of the Troy Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Citizen Award in 2014.

The Upper Valley Medical Center Retail Pharmacy has relocated to a new suite near the hospital’s main entrance. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Nick Lair, system vice president of strategic initiatives at Premier Health, presented a Troy Chamber of Commerce Wednesday Webinar program for chamber members via Zoom on July 8. The program featured a health care update, COVID-19 tracing/testing for businesses, and a question and answer session.

Upper Valley Medical Center will host a health and wellness marketing booth at the Piqua Farmers Market each Thursday throughout the summer. The event, presented by Main Street Piqua, is being conducted following COVID-19 mask/social distancing/hand sanitizing protocols for all participating vendors.

Back to the August 2020 issue of Premier Pulse