System News: November 2023
Atrium Medical Center
Middletown’s mayor presented a proclamation to Atrium Medical Center during the Oct. 17 city council meeting, recognizing the Help Endure a Loss (HEAL) program for 25 years of service and acknowledging Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.
Premier Community Health has received the Outstanding Community Partner in Health Award from Su Casa Hispanic Center, an organization serving Hispanic/Latino immigrants in Cincinnati. The award acknowledges PCH’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Project and its commitment to supporting health care access for low-income Latina women through collaborative efforts.
Atrium is providing post-heart attack patients with take-home recovery kits to reduce readmissions and costs and avoid Medicare penalties. These kits include a scale, thermometer, blood pressure cuff, pulse oximeter, pill organizer, educational materials, and symptom log. Atrium’s RN case managers will educate acute myocardial infarction patients on how to use these items. They will also monitor the progress of patients who receive the kit.
Scott Kanagy, MD, chief medical officer, Atrium, visited Hope House Mission in Middletown to learn more about its mission in aiding homeless individuals. Hope House Mission offers more than just emergency shelter, focusing on long-term, sustainable life transition programs. During the visit, Hope House identified a need for an automated external defibrillator. Dr. Kanagy facilitated a connection between Hope House and the AMC Foundation, securing funding to purchase this critical medical device.
Atrium supported the inaugural Hispanic Heritage Festival on Oct. 7 in downtown Middletown. Free health screenings were provided on Premier Community Health’s Mobile Clinic during the event. In addition, health education and information about the hospital’s services were provided to attendees.
Atrium’s Family Birth Center organized a trunk or treat at the hospital for employees’ families. More than 30 cars were decorated to hand out candy to the nearly 200 children who attended the event.
The Barricade Bucket safety project, a collaboration among Atrium’s Level III Emergency Trauma Center, Atrium’s Foundation, Middletown City School District, and Middletown Division of Police, has successfully secured full funding. A total of nearly $41,000 was raised through monetary and in-kind donations. This funding has enabled the placement of Barricade Buckets in all 465 classrooms and shared spaces within the school district, as well as collapsible ladders in all 116 second-floor classrooms.
Miami Valley Hospital
Dr. Chad Whelan is continuing to meet with leaders from the Dayton region. Recently, he met with the Montgomery County Commissioners to discuss the county’s priorities. He also met with Dayton Mayor Jeff Mims, President & CEO of the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce Chris Kershner, and the University of Dayton President Eric Spina.
The Montgomery County Commissioners visited Miami Valley Hospital to formally congratulate the CareFlight team on 40 years of dedicated service to our community.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month was recognized throughout October across the hospital campuses with pink lighting. Campus speed bumps were painted pink with messaging promoting mammograms; “Slow Down Get a Mammogram” and “Feel a Bump Get a Mammogram.” The Pink Ribbon Good Pink Fire Truck also made a stop at each of the hospital campuses.
Miami Valley Hospital participated in an Ohio Department of Health regional full-scale exercise disaster drill with other area hospitals, law enforcement, and EMS.
The Maxon Foundation, U.S. Bank, N.A., Trustee has generously provided a substantial donation to Premier Health's four hospital Foundations for the acquisition of a new cutting-edge CareFlight aircraft that will replace the oldest in our fleet. This gift marks the inaugural major contribution to the Foundation's endeavor to acquire a new aircraft as part of a comprehensive system-wide capital campaign. The upcoming CareFlight helicopter promises to bring the community the latest innovations in aviation health care technology and services.
The 9th annual Miami Valley Hospital Trauma Survivor’s Celebration was held on Oct. 3. This event celebrated the trauma survivorship of five former patients with accolades from family, friends, trauma program staff, physicians, and caregivers.
Premier Health participated in the Real Men Wear Pink Campaign with a team goal of raising $30,000 for the American Cancer Society. Miami Valley Hospital was represented by James Beeman, Andre Harris, MD, Derek Mayberry, Chad Whelan, MD, and Kevin Brooks. The team also included other leaders across the Premier Health system.
Christie Gray, chief nursing officer, Miami Valley Hospital, was the chair for the 2023 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event. Premier Health was also a sponsor.
Dr. Neha Sarvepali from the Premier Surgical Oncology spoke at the Vandalia Chamber of Commerce WINGS luncheon. The event is the annual luncheon benefiting Pink Ribbon Good.
Upper Valley Medical Center
UVMC received a top score in patient safety from the Leapfrog Group, a national patient safety watchdog organization that awarded the hospital an “A” grade in its fall 2023 safety report. Leapfrog, twice a year, uses letter grades to rate hospitals’ performance in keeping patients safe from preventable harm and medical errors. This was the fifth grading period in which UVMC received an A. Scores are determined using hospital safety criteria from a survey conducted by the Leapfrog Group or reported to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, as well as other data sources.
The UVMC Champions for Care Luncheon was held on Oct. 3 at the Arbogast Performing Arts Center in Troy. Jan Hillman, a three-time breast cancer patient, shared her inspirational personal story. The program also featured the expansion of oncology services in the northern Miami Valley community. The annual event is hosted by the UVMC Foundation to promote and raise funds for UVMC cancer programs.
A video filming for the Troy Chamber/ Development Council was conducted on Oct. 19 on the UVMC campus. The video promotes career opportunities for high school students and features several hospital departments. It will be made available for UVMC/Premier Health use and Troy Chamber’s use in promoting local careers to young people.
As part of UVMC’s partnership with Miami County YMCA, hospital departments hosted numerous booths at the YMCA Seniors Day Health Fair held Oct. 25 at the YMCA Robinson Branch. UVMC/Premier hosted informational and interactive booths like blood pressure and blood sugar screenings at the event.
As part of UVMC’s partnership with Ohio’s Hospice of Miami County, the hospital was the presenting sponsor of the Hospice Remembrance Walk held on the UVMC campus on Oct. 28. More than 100 community members attended the annual fundraiser event.
In other community activity, UVMC participated in the Collins Aerospace Employee Health Fair conducted Oct. 20 at the Collins plant in Troy.
The UVMC administrative officers team was recognized with Department of the Quarter honors for the fall 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 welcomed several new physicians and APPs at the October 18, 2023 orientation. Please say hello to: (L-R): Nicole Raffel, FNP; Tera Shaw, CNP; Heidi Krebs, MD; Priscilla Turner, FNP; Kelsey Ketchum, CNP; Smit Patel, MD; and Danielle Cole, CNP. Welcome to our PPN team!
Again this year, Premier Physician Network was a presenting sponsor of the MIX 107.7 Concert for a Cure. The October 18 event rocked the Brightside Music & Event Venue. It benefitted the Noble Circle Project – a local volunteer-driven organization that provides transportation, meals, and visits for women with cancer. The crowd enjoyed a fun evening of music by Phillip Phillips, Sarah Reeves, Abby Holliday, and Michael Williams. PPN Providers and volunteers attended the event to share health information and to sell T-shirts to benefit the cause. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped with this important event.
PPN’s APP Primary Care Residency Program was chosen as a presentation topic at the Ohio Association of Advanced Practice Nurses (OAANP) conference in Columbus. The presentation, “When Transition Becomes Trepidation: Implementing a Transition to Practice Program,” was submitted to the conference a year ago and was accepted to be presented at OAANP’s Annual Conference. The topic was presented by the program’s developers, Ratna Palakodeti, MD, Mary Lou O’Brien, FNP, and Sara Rector-Wilson, FNP.
Back to the November 2023 issue of Premier Pulse
