System News: October 2024

Atrium Medical Center

Premier Health’s partnership with The Christ Hospital Health Network is expanding and gaining awareness. Christiana Labarca, a Premier Health nurse practitioner, presented at The Christ Hospital’s Heart Failure Symposium, highlighting the collaboration and a patient success story involving a seamless care experience between the two hospital systems.

Atrium has earned Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation AACVPR Certifications. This accreditation, renewed every three years, recognizes programs for adhering to high standards in patient care. The achievement reflects Premier Health’s commitment to improving patients’ quality of life.

Atrium Medical Center Chief Operations Officer and Chief Nursing Officer Kim Hensley represented Premier Health during a health care panel hosted by the West Chester-Liberty Chamber Alliance. Around 300 attendees learned about Premier Health’s service differentiators, the joint venture with The Christ Hospital Health Network, efforts to attract and retain top talent, and initiatives to enhance patient experience.

Atrium participated in Middletown's Walk With A Doc, where Stroke Program Coordinator Elizabeth Gilbert shared stroke risk factors and the importance of quick action using the BEFAST acronym. The event encouraged physical activity and health education, attracting nearly 30 community members.

In other community relations activities, Premier Health sponsored and representatives attended the annual steak fry hosted by the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Commerce Serving Middletown, Monroe, and Trenton; members of Atrium’s trauma outreach team taught Stop the Bleed classes to Warren County Career Center students; and Solvita conducted its monthly community blood drive at the hospital.

Miami Valley Hospital

Good Samaritan Foundation-Dayton opened the Good Samaritan Chapel at Miami Valley Hospital North with a ribbon cutting and blessing ceremony on Sept 5. More than 200 donors and community members attended the event. Thanks to the tremendous generosity of donors, the Foundation is nearing its $1 million fundraising goal, which will fully fund the chapel and support its continued mission.

Miami Valley Hospital Foundation hosted more than 200 people at the Steam Plant in Dayton for its Champions of Hope ceremony. This event honors remarkable individuals who have profoundly contributed to the fight against cancer. This year, the foundation recognized Jhansi Koduri, MD, as the Person of Inspiration honoree; Jan Hillman as the Caregiver honoree; Robin Robbins as the Cancer Survivor honoree; and Selyne Samuel, MD, FACS, as the Medical Professional honoree. Additionally, Walter Burnell was named the Honorary Person of Inspiration honoree for his significant contributions to Premier Health's oncology service line. Proceeds will support cancer supportive care services at Miami Valley Hospital South.

Miami Valley Hospital Foundation received a more than $2.5 million estate gift from an anonymous donor. This planned gift will provide critical support for patients who cannot afford treatment, ensuring greater access to high-quality care for those in need.

Premier Health and ALS United Ohio commemorated the 10th anniversary of the viral Ice Bucket Challenge with a special event at Miami Valley Hospital South, where the new Multidisciplinary ALS Clinic at the Clinical Neuroscience Institute is scheduled to see its first patients in October. The clinic will feature a multidisciplinary team of specialists, including a fellowship-trained neuromuscular physician, neurologic advanced practice providers, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, dieticians, respiratory therapists, social workers, and nurse case managers. An ALS United Ohio social worker will also be a consistent team member working directly with patients and connecting them with organizational resources.

Miami Valley Hospital has earned the ENERGY STAR® certification with a score of 84, ranking in the top 16% of hospitals nationwide. This marks the fifth consecutive year that Miami Valley Hospital has received this distinction, demonstrating its commitment to energy efficiency. In addition, Miami Valley Hospital South has achieved the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR® certification with an impressive score of 97, placing it in the top 3% of hospitals in the country for superior energy performance. This is the seventh consecutive year that Miami Valley Hospital South has received this recognition, highlighting its dedication to energy savings.

Miami Valley Hospital and Miami Valley Hospital South received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award.

Premier Health submitted written testimony to the Ohio Hospital Association regarding Maternity Unit/Newborn Care Services/Hospital Licensure, which is a part of the Ohio Administrative Code. After conferring with system women’s services leadership, the system is advocating for the proposed requirement for 24/7 on-call coverage of a pharmacist to be removed. The final report will be submitted to the Ohio Legislature.

Premier leaders joined other health systems and organizations in a workgroup session hosted by Dayton Mayor Jeff Mims and the City Commission. The purpose of the meeting was to outline services currently being provided in the west and northwest Dayton neighborhoods. Participating organizations included: Kettering Health, Dayton Children’s, Dayton and Montgomery County Public Health, Five Rivers, and Oak Street Health. Dr. Andre Harris represented Premier Health.

Upper Valley Medical Center

UVMC announced a new parking policy and entrance open hours in September. The parking policy was communicated to all staff, and building open hours/instructions were posted at the hospital's main entrances. Both are aimed at assuring a welcoming environment for patients and visitors while enhancing safety and security for staff and the public.

UVMC participated in the Miami County Mental Health and Community Resources Fair hosted by the Miami County Common Pleas Court on the Troy Courthouse Square on Sept. 5. UVMC hosted a booth to provide important education about our behavioral health services and providers.

UVMC was the top local sponsor of the Miami County Walk to End Alzheimer’s held Sept. 21 in downtown Troy. The hospital partnered with our long-term care facilities to be the presenting sponsor, organize teams for the walk, and host a booth at the heavily attended community event.

UVMC participated in the Made in Miami County career education event for junior high students from throughout the county, held Sept. 24 at the Miami County Fairgrounds. UVMC managers representing medical imaging and cardiopulmonary services provided interactive booth activities and informational handouts for the students. The event was hosted by the Troy Chamber of Commerce/Development Council.  

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

In other employee-related activities, Ashlee Gulker, emergency department and ICU/PCU director, was named UVMC’s first DAISY Nurse Leader Award recipient. She received the award at the UVMC Management Forum meeting on Sept. 26. The DAISY Award is a recognition program to celebrate and recognize nurses by collecting nominations from patients, families, and co-workers. The award is given to staff level nurses monthly, and a nurse leader level award was launched throughout Premier Health.   

Premier Physician Network

Welcome to PPN’s new physicians and APPs who joined us at our Sept. 18 orientation!  Please help us welcome: Glenda Updyke, PA-C, Premier Blood and Cancer Center; Cindy Pogue, CNP, Hyatt Family Care; Elle Wilson, PA, Fairborn Medical Center; Alessandra Bonnano, PA, Gem City Surgeons; David Cha, MD, Belmont Physicians and Associate Chief Medical Information Officer; Emily Stone, MD, Women’s Health Specialists; Zachary Hayes, CNP, Cardiothoracic Surgery Associates; Jennifer Heidrich, DO, Premier Health Family Care – Kettering; Rachel Pan, MD, Clinical Neuroscience Institute – MVHS; Amanda Tartaglia, FNP, Comprehensive Burn and Wound; Jalana Lazar, CNM, Center for Women’s Health and Wellness; Ebony Dowell, CNP, Trotwood Physician Center; and Greg Sanchez, CNS, Comprehensive Burn and Wound.

At the Miami Valley Hospital Foundation’s Champions of Hope ceremony on Sept. 10, two PPN physicians were honored as Champions of Hope. Selyne Samuel, MD, from Premier Surgical Oncology, received the Medical Professional award, and Jhansi Koduri, MD, from Premier Blood and Cancer Center, received the Person of Inspiration award. Dr. Samuel was recognized for her exceptional surgical skills, commitment to staying abreast of cutting-edge procedures, and the warmth and professionalism she shows to patients. Dr. Koduri was recognized for her compassionate approach to patient care and her community leadership roles in organizations like the Miami Valley Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (MVAPI) and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and for chairing the Foundations’ 2023 Threads of Strength fashion show fundraiser. Congratulations to Drs. Samuel and Koduri! Learn more about the Champions of Hope.

On August 21, Jessica Tipton, FNP, who sees patients at Lewisburg Family Practice and Premier Health Family Care – North in Englewood, was interviewed on NBC Channel 2 about how parents can help kids manage back-to-school anxiety.  “Keeping a regular routine is important for kids. Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day can help manage anxiety. Getting regular physical activity and keeping a healthy diet, packing lunches beforehand, keeping healthy snacks -- things like that can all make anxiety easier to manage,” said Jessica. For more ideas, watch Jessica’s 3-minute interview with reporter John Seibel. 

Back to the October 2024 issue of Premier Pulse