System News: March 2024

Atrium Medical Center

Atrium Medical Center marked American Heart Month by focusing on workplace wellness and knowledge promotion. Amer Sayed, MD, of Middletown Cardiology Associates, shared the latest procedures in Atrium’s cardiac catheterization lab during a lunch and learn for employees.

Atrium’s Department of Public Safety participated in the Polar Plunge at Caesar Creek State Park, raising more than $33,000 for Special Olympics, with Atrium's team contributing more than $800.

Emilee Bird, MS, RN, APRN, ACNS-BC, advanced practice registered nurse manager at Atrium, received the inaugural DAISY Nurse Leader Award at Premier Health. The award highlights those fostering compassionate and skillful care through their leadership roles. Emilee was recognized for developing an education program for bedside registered nurses and patient care techs.

The Atrium hospitalist group received the hospital’s Team Excellence Award, recognizing their contributions for managing the complexities of inpatient treatment. Members of the group include Jon Girard, MD; Christie Astor, NP-C; Megan Blessinger-Cole, MD; Brian Boster, MD; Durgarani Chadalawada, MD; Jessica Conn, DO; Timothy Cook, PA; Pavani Dantala, MD; Akua Domfe, MD; Ruben Gonzales, MD; Kenneth Jiang, MD; Alexandra Jordan, MD; Viviane Kamdem, NP; Heather Markwell, MD; Monica Miller, MD; Jasmin Patel, DO; Jaykumar Patel, MD; Robert Rae, MD; Sabinah Sayeed, MD; Harmanpreet Shinh, MD; and Myra Wright, NP.

In other community relations activities: Atrium hosted a health expo with multiple service lines represented during Countryside YMCA’s annual Healthy Family Day; Atrium’s trauma outreach program taught Stop the Bleed classes to students at Warren County’s John K. Lazares Alternative School; Middletown City School District teachers toured Atrium to learn more about healthcare careers as part of the district’s Passport to Tomorrow career development initiative for students; and a Solvita community blood drive at Atrium collected 58 donations to meet 126 percent of its goal.

Miami Valley Hospital

In early December 2023, a new addition to the environmental services team stirred excitement across the main campus of Miami Valley Hospital. The Nilfisk Liberty SC50 Autonomous Floor Scrubber is affectionately known as “The Robot” among co-workers. A naming contest was initiated to elevate its identity beyond its somewhat unwieldy official name and the more generic name.  Miami Valley Hospital employees enthusiastically contributed over 80 suggestions, which were narrowed down to three finalists. In January 2024, Sir Scrubs-a-lot “Scrubs” was announced as the new name for the automatic floor scrubber.

Clinical Neuroscience Institute (CNSI) at Miami Valley Hospital South has been named a Comprehensive Multiple Sclerosis Care Center by the National Multiple Sclerosis Center.

Construction began for the Good Samaritan Chapel project at Miami Valley Hospital North. The chapel project has been made possible through the generosity of Good Samaritan Foundation-Dayton donors. More than $250,000 has been raised toward the $1 million goal, demonstrating widespread support. The new interfaith chapel is expected to open in the summer of 2024.

Good Samaritan Foundation-Dayton received a $10,000 grant from the Wallace Foundation to support Samaritan Behavioral Health, Inc. The grant will help purchase indoor playground equipment for the Young Children’s Assessment and Treatment Services (YCATS) Early Childhood Day Treatment Therapeutic Group Services at SBHI. The YCATS program supports local children ages nine and under who experience challenges, such as behavioral concerns, trauma, developmental issues, and attachment problems.

Premier Health hosted the Dayton Public Schools Student Senate at Miami Valley Hospital. The student senate comprises student leaders from each of the district's high schools. Dr. Peter Ekeh was the keynote speaker, and the students toured the Shaw Emergency and Trauma Center and CareFlight.

The government relations team has launched an initiative connecting with newly elected officials from the November 2023 elections with our hospitals. The new Trotwood Mayor, Yvette Page, visited and toured Miami Valley Hospital North. The hospital’s leadership team had the opportunity to showcase the hospital's high-quality services and compassionate care to Mayor Page.

Upper Valley Medical Center

Thursday, February 29, was the last day of operations for UVMC’s maternity department. Campus and hospital signage has been updated, and maternity patients at Premier Physician Network offices in Miami and Shelby counties will now deliver their babies at Miami Valley Hospital’s Berry Women’s Center. All  All 49 maternity staff were offered positions within the Premier Health system. 

Kevin Harlan attended the Miami County Commission meeting on Feb. 1 to provide an overview of hospital activity and answer questions related to the impending closure of labor and delivery services at UVMC. 

Lisa Sandberg, UVMC's advanced practice nurse, participated in interviews on Troy Power 107.1 and WPTW radio stations to share important information about heart health during American Heart Month.

UVMC was the major sponsor of the Lincoln Community Center’s Black History Month Open House on Feb. 3. The hospital also supported other activities at the center throughout the special month.

The Miami Valley Today’s Annual Progress Edition, published on Feb. 28, featured an article highlighting 2023 major accomplishments and 2024 new projects underway at UVMC, including the new Women’s Imaging Center, which is set to open this spring.

The UVMC Progressive Care Unit team was recognized with Department of The Quarter honors for the winter quarter. This recognition is designed to highlight outstanding quality service and educate fellow teams about the scope of work performed by the recipient department.

Premier Physician Network

PPN and Black History Month: Every week in February, Premier Health spotlighted a Premier Health physician or APP to discuss health issues commonly affecting African American communities. Three PPN physicians were featured in the spotlights: 

•  Angela Long-Prentice, MD, of Englewood Family Practice, discusses how African Americans face higher rates of cancer, strokes, and heart and kidney disease.
• Sabrina Gunn, DO, of Upper Valley Outpatient Behavioral Health, discusses the need to reduce mental health stigma, particularly within the African American community.
• Cortnee Kelly, DNP, of Cardiology-PPC, Middletown Cardiology Association, discusses key cardiovascular health issues that disproportionately affect African American patients.

Rounding out the month, Andre Harris, Sr., MD, MHA, chief medical officer, Miami Valley Hospital, discusses how we can improve maternal health outcomes within the Black community. If you missed the articles, you can read them on our intranet at the links above.

PPN is excited to announce that several new physicians and APPs have joined our team recently! At the orientation on February 21, 2024, we welcomed: (Front, L-R): Rebecca Ray, CNM, Center for Women’s Health and Wellness; Lily Chatman, CNM, Center for Women’s Health Wellness; Alicia Slifer, CNP, Premier Gynecologic Oncology; and Dana Morgan, CNP, Trenton Family Care. (Back, L-R): Jaykumar Patel, MD; Hospitalist Team – MVHS; Denise Doan, CNP, Premier Health Acute Critical Care – MVHS; Briana Rullmann, CNP, Clinical Neuroscience Institute; Christopher Munoz, PA-C, Clinical Neuroscience Institute – MVH; Beka Abraham, CNP, Premier Gynecologic Oncology; and Tyra Onyedumekwu, APRN, Hospitalist Team – AMC. Welcome, everyone! 

Back to the March 2024 issue of Premier Pulse