System News: July 2024
Atrium Medical Center
The Christ Hospital Heart & Vascular Institute has announced that Manisha Patel, MD, FACS, has joined their team of world class and nationally recognized physicians. Dr. Patel is a board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon currently treating patients at Atrium Medical Center as part of The Christ Hospital’s Heart and Vascular Institute’s partnership with Premier Health. Dr. Patel is an experienced cardiothoracic surgeon with a collaborative approach to patient care and program development. She was inspired to pursue a career as a cardiothoracic surgeon after working as a research assistant under preeminent cardiac surgeon Shukri Khuri, MD, at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Roxbury, Massachusetts. Her commitment to putting the patient first and treating each individual with compassion and integrity is at the core of Dr. Patel’s care philosophy. This approach has helped her to achieve top ratings from her patients across rating platforms and to be consistently named as one of Cincinnati Magazine’s Top Doctors, including a 2019 cover feature. Dr. Patel sees patients in her office at Greater Dayton Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons in Middletown.
TAP MD, a career exploration program organized by The Health Collaborative, has partnered with Atrium’s neurology department to inspire the next generation of medical professionals. Through this program, 50 students from the greater Cincinnati area have an opportunity to dive into collegiate-level learning about the brain's structure and function, stroke symptoms, and medical rehabilitation for stroke patients. Elizabeth Gilbert, MSN, APRN, AGCNS-BC, ASC-BC, neuroscience and stroke program coordinator at Atrium, in collaboration with Premier Health’s Learning Institute, conducts two sessions for the students to experience hands-on learning with a CAT scan demonstration and stroke assessment in the Emergency Department, and a seminar from a neurologist. Bryan Ludwig, MD, shared insights into his career journey and the demands of his workload.
This summer, Atrium is hosting participants of the Community Building Institute – Middletown's RISE program who have a passion for health care. After an interview process with local business leaders, four teens will spend five weeks volunteering and job shadowing at Atrium. The students will gain experience in the Family Birth Center, inpatient care, respiratory therapy, central sterile processing, and medical imaging. Throughout the program, they will journal their experiences and culminate their journey with a presentation highlighting their growth and career readiness.
Miami Valley Hospital
Good Samaritan Foundation-Dayton hosted two hard hat and signing events at the new Good Samaritan Chapel at Miami Valley Hospital North. The events welcomed current and former hospital employees, and donors who are supporting the project. Construction on the new chapel is set to be completed in August.
Miami Valley Hospital Foundation announced its four Champions of Hope honorees for the 2024 ceremony. This year’s honorees include the Survivor Award honoree Robin Robbins; Person of Inspiration honoree Jhansi Koduri, MD; Caregiver honoree Jan Hillman; and Medical Professional honoree Selyne Samuel, MD. Champions of Hope is a recognition ceremony saluting four individuals for their achievements in the battle against cancer. The event is on September 10 at 5:30 p.m. at the Steam Plant in Dayton. Proceeds will help expand and enhance cancer programs at Miami Valley Hospital and Miami Valley Hospital South.
The four Premier Health Hospital Foundations joined CareFlight Air and Mobile Services at the CenterPoint Energy Dayton Air Show to raise awareness of the “Care in the Air” campaign to purchase a new CareFlight aircraft. The foundation staff sold t-shirts and provided the community with information on how they could support the campaign.
Good Samaritan Foundation-Dayton recently received a $5,000 grant from the Ohio State Fraternal Order of Eagles to support cardiac rehabilitation patients at Miami Valley Hospital North. The grant will purchase SOLE B94 exercise bikes and an upper-body cycle.
Orthopedic Surgeon Jennifer Jerele, Physician Assistant Kelby Mixell, Nurse Practitioner Emily Allen, and Athletic Trainer Jordan Eshbaugh participated in the Aileron Student Leadership Summit in Tipp City. The summit offers select students from Northmont, Chaminade Julienne, and Brookville High Schools an opportunity to learn leadership skills, meet college representatives, and speak with professionals about preparing for their future careers.
Premier Health provided an opposition letter against Ohio House Bill 319. This bill would discourage vaccination against numerous communicable diseases and, therefore, pose serious risks to the health and lives of Ohioans across the state. It would prohibit an employer, even a hospital or physician's office, from requiring employees to receive any vaccination or imposing safety measures for those who are unvaccinated, such as requiring a mask.
Ohio House Bill 73 was heard this month, and as a result, Premier Health prepared written testimony. This bill stems from the COVID pandemic, mandating off-label prescriptions and requiring a hospital to dispense if the drug was prescribed by an out of system prescriber. The Ohio Hospital Association and Premier are both in opposition.
Upper Valley Medical Center
The UVMC Foundation hosted its 4th Annual Golf Classic on June 10 at the Piqua Country Club. Twenty-seven teams participated in the event, which included an afternoon golf scramble followed by dinner. This year’s event raised more than $30,000 to help establish a new nutrition clinic for cancer patients. The clinic will provide each of our cancer patients with free personalized guidance from specialists who understand the intricacies of their nutritional needs. The UVMC Foundation expressed special appreciation to Yagnesh Raval, MD chair of the golf outing, and all who helped organize and support the successful fundraising event.
UVMC/Premier Health raised the bar on its Miami County YMCA partnership with the opening of the new Piqua YMCA branch, which bears the UVMC/Premier Health name as indicated on the front entrance signage. Major funding for the Piqua YMCA capital campaign was provided by the UVMC Parent Board of Directors through its community benefit fund at the onset of the building campaign in 2020. UVMC has had a long-standing relationship with the local YMCA. As the official health partner moving forward, UVMC will have a stronger presence at the facility with expanded on-site health and wellness services and programs, including athletic trainers, sports performance/enhancement programs, educational presentations, and coordinated referrals for injuries/conditions to help provide continuous transition of care for individuals when needed.
As part of Premier Health’s pursuit of the American Nurse Credentialing Center’s Pathways to Excellence designation, a Pathways to Excellence confidential survey was released to UVMC nurses in June, launching the survey process in our system. Pathways designation benefits include improved nurse satisfaction, retaining nursing staff and leaders, cultivating interprofessional collaboration, and high-quality nursing practice.
In the spring, the UVMC trauma team recognized individuals from Troy EMS, F&P America, and Miami County 911 Dispatch for exceptional assistance with a cardiac arrest patient transported to UVMC. The commendation included the presentation of Excellence in Trauma Care certificates, challenge coins, and pins to recognize outstanding actions above and beyond normal duties to assist the UVMC Trauma Team.
Trish Wackler, chief nursing and operations officer, UVMC, participated as a panelist for a program hosted by GroundWork Ohio and the West Central Ohio Regional Education Partnership to discuss early childhood education and infant and maternity health. The event, held at Edison State Community College, was attended by representatives of regional organizations serving children, elected officials, and members of the community.
Caitlin Mohler, RN/BSN, an Oncology Nurse Navigator with UVMC Cancer Care, participated in June morning show interviews on Troy Power 107.1 and WPTW radio stations to discuss important information about skin cancer awareness and prevention.
A group of Miami County secondary education teachers visited UVMC on June 12 to tour highlighted areas and learn about evolving health care career opportunities. The visit was coordinated by the Troy Chamber of Commerce as part of their career education initiatives with the area schools.
Premier Physician Network
Welcome to PPN’s new physicians and APPs who joined us at our June 19, 2024 orientation! Please help us welcome: Delani Deckard, NP, Englewood Family Practice; Danielle Allen, CNM, Women’s Health Specialists and Midwives of Dayton; Emily Jacobs, APRN, CNP, FNP-BC, Advance Practice Nurses; Ashlyn DiFrederico, FNP, Premier ENT Associates – MVH; Emily Malsch, PA, Premier Health Primary Care – Xenia; Jon Williams, DO, Clinical Neuroscience Institute – MVHS; Craig Hansen, MD, Clinical Neuroscience Institute – AMC; and Andrea Evans, CCP, Premier Perfusion Partners. Not pictured, Alex Onyemeh, MD, MVH Hospitalist. Welcome to our team!
Back to the July 2024 issue of Premier Pulse
