System Hospital News: February 2020

In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Atrium Medical Center held a program open to the community under the theme ‘Integrating the Wisdom of Our Past into Our Future.’ Members of the community, hospital staff, and city government attended to hear guest speaker Bennyce Hamilton, Ed.D. Hamilton is the director of diversity and multicultural services and deputy Title IX coordinator at Miami University. 

Hosting monthly Community Blood Center blood drives is part of Atrium’s commitment to bettering the health of the Middletown region. Atrium has taken that commitment to a new level by expanding its monthly blood drives to include platelet and plasma donations. January’s blood drive featured the expanded schedule of platelet, plasma, and double red blood cell donations, and the move to a new location in the Stuart Ives Auditorium of the Professional Building. The move was necessary to accommodate the extra equipment for automated donations. The blood drive topped 109 percent of its collection goal with 51 donors, including 45 whole blood donors and six platelet and plasma donors. 

A special donation to the Humane Association of Warren County from the surgical services department included a visit from Trooper, the dog that inspired the region after being struck by a train in 2019. The staff collected wraps that had been used to keep instruments sterile and donated them to the humane society to use in spay and neuter surgeries.

Members of Atrium Medical Center’s Behavioral Health team facilitated training for the entire Miami University Police Department on handling mental health crises. Best practices were shared with officers about responding to calls involving people with mental health issues.

Ed Bastien, manager of spiritual care, was the guest speaker at the Jan. 30 Middletown Kiwanis meeting, where he shared information about the importance of advance directives.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), along with state and local health departments, responded to a coronavirus outbreak that began in China in December 2019. Out of an abundance of caution, Wednesday, Jan. 29, Premier Health providers began using a travel screen in Epic with patients. This precaution is being taken to ensure the safety of patients, visitors, and staff at our sites of care. Roberto Colón, MD, system vice president, quality and safety, continues to serve as our “subject matter expert,” participating in multiple interviews with local media.

Premier Health Cardiologist Gary Fishbein, MD, is the first in Ohio to use new technology offering a better view and easier access to smaller vessels in the legs for patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). The Pantheris Small Vessel (SV) procedure is advanced atherectomy technology offered by Avinger Inc. and approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration in April. An atherectomy is a minimally invasive treatment for PAD utilizing a catheter-based device to remove plaque from a blood vessel. 

Emergency and trauma center physicians came together to recognize exceptional staff members from Miami Valley Hospital, Miami Valley Hospital South, Miami Valley Hospital North, Austin Boulevard Emergency Center, and Jamestown Emergency Center at the annual Jana Matthews Awards of Excellence. Jana Matthews was a dedicated hospital volunteer, and the first volunteer in the Emergency and Trauma Center. Each year, staff members of the Emergency and Trauma Center are recognized for their outstanding service. These awards are made possible through an endowment established by Jana’s husband, Jack.

Ohio’s Hospice/Pure Healthcare held a ribbon cutting and grand opening for its new facility at Miami Valley Hospital South. The 36,000-square-foot building will offer specialized care to aging adults with chronic health needs. This includes inpatient care, therapy, and behavioral health services. Premier Health Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Barbara Johnson delivered remarks on behalf of the health system.

At the December meeting of the Miami Valley Hospital Foundation board, trustees voted to approve several funding requests for 2020 as recommended by the Funding Priorities Subcommittee. Funds to support these programs come primarily from undesignated donor contributions throughout the year. Among the proposals that received funding was the Monarch™ Robotic-Assisted Bronchoscopy Platform, which provides a less invasive procedure for earlier diagnosis of lung cancer. The platform is designed to provide precision, control, and continuous vision throughout the entire procedure that can only come from robotics. This technology is the first of its kind to be used in Ohio. Trustees also approved funding for the replacement of intra-aortic balloon pumps and the replacement and update of system EKG cardiac monitors.

Scott Kanagy, DO, Upper Valley Medical Center’s chief medical officer, and Nishant Kalra, MD, FACC, FSCAI, FASE, cardiologist, presented a program to members of the Troy Rotary Club at the group’s weekly meeting on Jan. 28. The presentation featured advanced cardiac care services at UVMC and the cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation expansion scheduled to open in the spring.

Free hernia screenings were hosted in January at Premier Women’s Center locations in Piqua and Sidney and at Stillwater Family Care in Versailles. The screenings and consultation were provided by Zachary Simmons, MD, of Miami County Surgeons. 

Mimi Crawford, member of the UVMC Foundation Board, was named recipient of the prestigious Order of George Lifetime Civic Achievement Award at the Piqua Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner on Jan. 16. The award is presented annually by the chamber to recognize outstanding individuals who give of themselves for the good of the community. UVMC was the dinner’s presenting sponsor. 

UVMC hosted a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day program that was open to the community and attended by approximately 75 people on Jan. 20. The event featured guest speaker Shane Carter, executive director of the Lincoln Community Center in Troy. Mr. Carter’s presentation focused on “Integrating the Wisdom of the Past into Our Future.” A reflections reading was presented by Lisa Baker, supervisor of UVMC Spiritual Care, and the UVMC Foundation provided refreshments. In addition, UVMC co-sponsored the annual MLK Jr. Day celebration held at the Piqua YWCA the same afternoon.

UVMC hosted the Troy Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors for their regular monthly meeting on Jan. 21 at the invitation of Tim Snider, UVMC’s chief operating officer, who serves on that board.

UVMC professionals presented a free seminar on winter falls prevention Jan. 10 at the Miami County YMCA Piqua Branch and Jan. 22 at the Troy Robinson Branch. UVMC was a sponsor of the Piqua Arts Council 2020 Kickoff Celebration on Jan. 23 at the Apple Tree Gallery in Piqua. 

The UVMC Women’s Services team was recognized with Department of the Quarter honors for the winter quarter. The award is designed to recognize outstanding performance and dedication to Premier Health’s values of respect, integrity, compassion, and excellence.