System News: January 2025
Atrium Medical Center
Atrium Medical Center has earned the Pathway to Excellence® designation from the American Nursing Credentialing Center, highlighting its commitment to a supportive work environment where nurses are empowered and valued. This recognition underscores Atrium’s focus on safety, quality care, and enhanced patient outcomes.
U.S. News & World Report recognized Atrium as “High Performing” in Maternity Care (Uncomplicated Pregnancy). This distinction reflects excellence across metrics such as fewer early deliveries, fewer C-sections, reduced newborn complications, and higher breastfeeding rates. Local media reported on the recognition.
At the Dec. 17 Middletown City Council meeting, Atrium honored the Division of Fire with a Cardiac Save Award for reviving a patient who had no pulse upon their arrival. The patient, now in cardiac rehab at Atrium, personally thanked the responders and hospital staff. Local media reported on the recognition.
Atrium medical staff and Atrium Medical Center Foundation celebrated outstanding caregivers at the 2024 Physician and Advanced Practice Provider Awards. Honorees included Dr. Jonathan Lazzara for excellence in psychiatry, Dr. Michelle Eakins for outstanding family practice care, and Gregory Conn, CRNA, the inaugural recipient of the Jim Kalbaugh Advanced Practice Provider Award.
Atrium’s 26th annual Help Endure a Loss (HEAL) memorial tree lighting on Dec. 5 honored 190 children at Berachah Church in Middletown. The trees were displayed outside the hospital’s Peace Chapel after the event, allowing visitors and caregivers to add names throughout the holiday season.
Other community outreach activities included: Atrium’s trauma outreach program promoting safe driving at events during the holiday season; participation by Premier Physician Network’s Center for Women’s Health and Wellness in the West Chester-Liberty Chamber Alliance’s Jingle Mingle event; holiday music performances at the hospital by the Asian American Coalition of Ohio; and a monthly blood drive with Versiti.
Miami Valley Hospital
In December, the four Premier Health hospital foundations distributed more than 600 preordered custom-designed CareFlight kits from Brixilated, which uses authentic LEGO® bricks. These collectible kits are part of the Care in the Air campaign, a system-wide fundraising initiative to purchase a new CareFlight aircraft. More custom CareFlight kits will be available for purchase in the coming weeks.
All Premier Health hospital foundations received a generous donation from Economy Linen and Towel Service, Inc. This gift will support the operational costs of Premier Community Health’s Mobile Clinic, which provided vital health screenings and services to more than 1,000 patients across the region in the past year.
Miami Valley Hospital Foundation hosted its annual Legacy Luncheon, celebrating donors who have included the foundation in their estate plans. The event featured updates from key leaders, including Chad Whelan, MD, president of Miami Valley Hospital and chief operating officer of Premier Health; and Joann Ringer, chief administrative officer for Premier Health.
The Miami Valley Hospital Foundation hosted a luncheon for the Miami Valley Hospital School of Nursing Alumni. The luncheon featured an update from Christie Gray, chief nursing officer, and LaToya Jones, system director of clinical education and the Center for Nursing Excellence. The alumni leadership is proud to be fundraising for a historical display that will include a bronze sculpture of their unique nursing cap and nursing pin. The display will also list every graduate from the school since its inception in 1900. A special celebration will take place in the fall of 2025, unveiling the display and honoring the school’s 125th year.
U.S. News & World Report has named Miami Valley Hospital to its annual list of hospitals for best maternity care.
Xenia High School students donated “Baskets for Battles” to patients with cancer at Miami Valley Hospital South. The baskets contain items to support the patients throughout the holidays.
Dr. Ania Pollack, the neuro team, and local artist Mike Elsass have partnered to develop and install an art collage on the neuro unit at Miami Valley Hospital. The collage, composed of tiles painted by patients and providers, symbolizes the unique relationship between patients and medical providers. Mike Elsass generously donated his time, supplies, and the use of his art studio to bring this project to life. Video documentation of the creation and installation process is happening for a future documentary.
Upper Valley Medical Center
The Upper Valley Medical Center Foundation and UVMC volunteers have partnered to offer free monthly health screenings at community locations across Miami County in 2025. The screenings include blood pressure and glucose checks provided by Premier Community Health nurses. A list of locations, dates, and times is available at premierhealth.com.
Patients requiring continuous EEG monitoring at UVMC are now managed in the intensive care unit. When EEG monitoring is needed outside the ICU, the attending provider will consult with the UVMC critical care advanced practice provider. If necessary, the patient will be transferred to the ICU for monitoring. UVMC Critical Care APPs have established a bi-directional communication process to ensure coordination between both teams. Centralizing EEG monitoring in the ICU and fostering collaboration with NEUROne is designed to enhance communication, strengthen team alignment, and enhance the overall experience for both patients and providers.
Teri Gulker, nursing director at UVMC, provided a program to minimize holiday stress for the Troy Chamber of Commerce’s “On the Menu” luncheon held at the Boathouse restaurant in Troy. She also shared similar information in morning show interviews on Dec. 2 on Troy Power 107.1 and WPTW radio stations.
Premier Physician Network
Welcome to our PPN team members who joined us at the Dec. 18 PPN New Physician and APP Orientation. Please help us welcome Lauren Helton-Francis, CNP, Clinical Neuroscience Institute – MVH; Autumn Schuh, CNP, Premier Health Primary Care – Beavercreek; Erin Yontz, CNP, Magnolia Women’s Health; Brandon Vermillion, CNP, Premier Health Urgent Care; Kayla Karpowicz, Au.D, Premier ENT Associates; and Sandra Laurent, CNP, Premier Vascular Surgeons. Welcome!
Premier Health’s Comprehensive Stroke Center recently hosted its annual Stroke Survivor’s Celebration, highlighting four incredible stroke survivors who triumphed over tremendous odds on their road to recovery. The event also recognized CNSI’s Julie Neff, MS, APRN, ACNS-BC, CNRN, for being named the “Stroke Hero of the Year” for her outstanding contributions to stroke patients and the community. Julie serves on the outpatient ischemic stroke clinic team. The professional, highly-qualified staff of our Stroke Center includes neurologists, neurocritical care specialists, neurointerventional surgeons, neurology nurse specialists, and occupational, physical, and speech therapists. Congratulations to Julie and our entire Stroke Center team for the excellent, expert care they bring to our patients daily.
Premier Blood & Cancer Center was the Starting Line Sponsor for the recent 2024 Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light the Night Walk. The walk benefits the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's lifesaving research, advocacy, and support for patients with blood cancer and their families.
Back to the January 2025 issue of Premier Pulse
