System Hospital News February 2018

Atrium Medical Center

Jill Aston, MD, who has more than 10 years of experience in emergency medicine and began working in Atrium’s emergency department in 2015, has been named director of the hospital’s Level III Emergency Trauma Center. She replaces Ralph Talkers, MD, in that role. Dr. Talkers will continue to serve on the emergency department’s medical staff. In addition to serving as medical director of the hospital’s emergency center, Dr. Aston also serves as medical director for the Middletown and Monroe fire and EMS departments. Mark Gebhart, MD, remains assistant medical director of Atrium’s Level III Emergency Trauma Center.

CenteringPregnancy®, a prenatal support program started at Atrium’s Maternal Child Health Center in 2017, was awarded a $362,000 grant in January 2018 from the Ohio Department of Medicaid and its five contracted managed care plans. The grant supports programs aimed at reducing infant mortality, and the dollars Atrium received will be used to continue and expand the CenteringPregnancy® program. This follows a $127,788 grant Atrium received last year to start the service for expectant Butler County mothers. CenteringPregnancy® is a partnership between Atrium, the Butler County Partnership to Reduce Infant Mortality (PRIM), and Ohio Department of Medicaid. The program brings eight to 10 pregnant women who are due around the same time together for prenatal care. Patients meet in a comfortable group setting outside the exam room and form a supportive community to develop skills and confidence and take control of their health. Free transportation and child care are provided. Expectant mothers who are interested in enrolling can contact the Maternal Child Health Center at (513) 974-5235. Eligibility requirements include living in Butler County and having a Medicaid health plan.

Good Samaritan Hospital (closed in 2018)

A town hall series for Good Samaritan Hospital physicians, APRNs, and midwives is being held in Good Sam’s auditorium beginning mid-February. The agenda will cover Premier Health sites – their capacity and capabilities – including the Good Samaritan North (Miami Valley Hospital North as of July 23, 2018) Phase III draft; an expedited credentialing and privileging process; as well as a draft service migration plan. Please join us for the final session from 7:00 am to 8 am Monday, February 26.

Miami Valley Hospital

Emergency and trauma center physicians came together to recognize exceptional staff members from Miami Valley Hospital, Miami Valley Hospital South, Mason Emergency Center, and Miami Valley Hospital Jamestown Emergency Center at the annual “Jana Matthews Awards of Excellence” program. Jana Matthews was a dedicated MVH volunteer, and the first volunteer in the emergency and trauma center. Staff members of the emergency and trauma center are recognized in her honor each year for their outstanding service. The awards are made possible through an endowment established by Jana’s husband. The 2018 honorees are: Marc Belcastro II, Access and Transfer Center coordinator – MVH Staff Excellence Award; Becky Flint, HUC/Tech – Atrium Mason Emergency Center Award of Excellence; Mary Jane Lloyd, RN – MVH Nursing Excellence Award; Leah Tackett, RN – Miami Valley Jamestown Emergency Center Award of Excellence; Arturo Bernal, radiology technician – Miami Valley South Award of Excellence; and Albert Reffitt, Access & Transfer Center coordinator – MVH Humanitarian Award.

It was an extremely busy month for hospital physicians and local media. Doctors were featured eight times speaking on a wide range of topics, including: the high impact of the flu season; fighting off germs; slips and falls; and cold weather safety. Additionally, Mike Maiberger, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Premier Health and president of Miami Valley Hospital, participated in a one-on-one interview with the Dayton Business Journal.

Upper Valley Medical Center

UVMC hosted a seminar Jan. 20 on Delay the Disease™, a life-changing, evidence-based fitness and mobility program that originated in Columbus and will be offered at UVMC this spring. The seminar, attended by nearly 100 community members, featured guest speakers David Zid and Jackie Russell, who are co-founders of Delay the Disease™, and Mary Feldman, DO, a neurologist with the Premier Health Clinical Neuroscience Institute who is board certified in neurology and movement disorders. Delay the Disease™ is designed to empower those living with Parkinson's disease by optimizing their physical function and helping to delay the progression of symptoms. A 12-week series of classes will be held at UVMC starting March 13. More information about Delay the Disease™ and UVMC’s other therapy programs for patients with Parkinson’s disease is available by calling (937) 440-7152. 

Back to the February 2018 issue of Premier Pulse