System Hospital News: July 2020

Atrium Medical Center

Thomas Yunger, MD, Anuj Goyal, MD, and the interventional pulmonary team at Atrium Medical Center treated two patients in May with the Zephyr Valve, a less-invasive treatment option for COPD and emphysema. The procedure was the first completed in the Cincinnati area, according to PulmonX, manufacturer of the Zephyr Valve.

Countryside YMCA, one of the world’s largest YMCAs, has teamed with Atrium Medical Center 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 an enhanced relationship between Atrium and Countryside YMCA. The services began in June at Countryside YMCA in Lebanon. 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.

Miami Valley Hospital Campuses

The Ohio Hospital Association and the Ohio Department of Health awarded the “Ohio First Steps for Healthy Babies” recognition to Miami Valley Hospital and Miami Valley Hospital South. The maternity centers earned this recognition for their great work related to the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding program.

Betsy Chapin Taylor, FAHP, president of Accordant Philanthropy, is currently working with the Premier Health foundations on a philanthropic strategic plan for 2021 through 2023. Among the areas of emphasis will be to enhance a philanthropic culture by engaging with system leaders to align with the foundations’ fundraising goals and health system’s strategic objectives. The plan will also include modifying fundraising responsibilities among existing foundation staff, providing more focus on major gifts, planned giving and developing a grateful patient strategy. Ms. Taylor is an award-winning author, speaker, and consultant with more than 25 years of experience, including 17 years as chief philanthropy officer in academic, community and children’s hospitals. The report should be complete by the end of August.

The Good Samaritan Foundation-Dayton board awarded 16 scholarships to children of former Good Sam employees. Each scholarship was $1,000 with the checks mailed in June. Since 2015, the Foundation has awarded 74 scholarships totaling $120,500. One student recipient wrote, “I am so grateful to have been chosen as a recipient of the Good Samaritan Foundation Youth Scholarship. It is an honor to have the foundation’s support as I pursue my education and work toward becoming a compassionate health care professional, furthering the mission and values of Good Sam. Thank you so much for your support!”

As Miami Valley Hospital celebrates 130 years, it is interesting to note that the recent donations of hand sewn masks echo back to the hospital’s earliest days, when volunteers stitched gauze for surgical dressings and sewed towels, night gowns, aprons, and tablecloths. During the Great Depression and World War II, community volunteers donated thousands of pieces of linens to the hospital. Once again in our time of need, the community stepped up with their support. During the COVID-19 pandemic, volunteers sewed and donated more than 15,000 face masks to address the shortage of personal protective equipment.

The City of Dayton began a massive pavement replacement project on the south side of Miami Valley Hospital on Wyoming Street. Our facilities team has been working with the city to ensure minimal disruptions to the emergency department, surgery parking garage, and the main hospital loading dock. Wyoming Street is expected to fully reopen by the end of August. The project will include replacement of the pavement, as well as installation of new street lighting and medians.

The Miami Valley Hospital Diabetes Center is now seeing patients at their new location on the north campus. The center is located on the first floor, next to the financial counselor’s office. Appointments are available Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Diabetes Center leaders include certified diabetes educators Tambra Samuels, RN at (937) 734-5719 and Carol Nartker, RD at (937) 734-6175. Additionally, the order in EPIC is now called “Consult to MVHN Diabetes Center”- CON30140. Under scheduling instructions, please type “Eval” and “Treat” to assess the patient and determine how they best learn - group or individual. With this new addition on the MVHN campus, the administration office has re-located to the second floor, Suite 239.

Upper Valley Medical Center

Tom Parker, president of Upper Valley Medical Center, has announced plans to retire from Premier Health effective July 31.

Parker began his career locally in the Miami County Probate/Juvenile Court system in 1980 before transitioning to oversee behavioral health services for UVMC in 1992. He progressed through various key leadership roles at UVMC, including vice president of operations, senior vice president of operations, chief operating officer, and chief executive officer.

Parker has also held Premier Health system roles, including those for service lines and the hospitalist program. In 2015, he became the chief experience officer, leading numerous system initiatives and spearheading efforts to continuously enhance and hardwire an excellent experience for patients. He has continued leading the system’s patient experience work and in 2018 became president of UVMC.

Parker has worked tirelessly to position UVMC as the health care leader in the region’s northern communities. Most recently, he has exemplified and modeled the true spirit of Premier Health’s core values and mission, leading the UVMC team through the COVID-19 pandemic with the utmost compassion and excellence.

“Tom is known for his fierce compassion and commitment to both improving the lives of our patients and supporting the staff who make it all possible. He has also taken an active part through various community initiatives and partnerships to improve the overall health in Miami County,” said Barbara Johnson, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Premier Health.

“While we will deeply miss Tom’s unwavering devotion to UVMC, we are grateful for his many contributions and excited that he will be able to begin a very well-deserved retirement,” she added.

The plan for the UVMC president role will be communicated as it becomes final, Johnson said.

Back to the July 2020 issue of Premier Pulse