System News: December 2021

Atrium Medical Center

The efforts of 10 Middletown firefighters were recognized by Atrium Medical Center after two crews helped deliver babies during emergency calls in the same month. Presenting certificates and stork pins during a ceremony at Middletown Division of Fire headquarters were Rich Morrett, emergency medical services director at Atrium, and Jill Aston, MD, director of Atrium’s Level III Emergency Trauma Center and medical director for the Middletown and Monroe fire and EMS departments.

Elizabeth “Lizzy” Gilbert, advanced practice registered nurse and stroke program coordinator at Atrium Medical Center, was recently honored by the West Chester-Liberty Chamber Alliance as one of 10 Greater Cincinnati women making southwest Ohio a better place to live, work, and play. During its Women of Excellence gala, the chamber recognized Lizzy for her efforts co-championing Atrium’s Healthy Living program and raising awareness about health care disparities in the community as Atrium’s leader for Premier Health’s African American Wellness Walk. Lizzy was also praised for investing her time mentoring high school students and providing updated education about stroke to the community and first responders.

Atrium Medical Center Foundation’s 23rd Annual Estate and Tax Planning Seminar welcomed more than 400 attendees to the all-day virtual session. Attendees received continuing education credits and learned from experts on topics from charitable giving to bitcoin currency and ethics. Atrium’s latest advancements and accolades were shared via “commercials” during the virtual event. This seminar demonstrates Atrium Medical Center Foundation’s stewardship and provides attendees a case for supporting the hospital, foundation, and Premier Health.

The Wound Care Center and Hyperbaric Services at Atrium raised awareness of diabetes-related wounds as part of Diabetes Awareness Month. The Wound Center at Atrium educated the local community about the importance of awareness, early intervention, and specialized care for diabetes-related chronic wounds, like diabetic foot ulcers. Team members also visited area health care providers to offer important information to help at-risk patients living with diabetes.

Students from Middletown, Madison, Monroe, Edgewood, and Butler Tech high schools heard from Atrium professionals as part of a month-long career exploration program organized by the Chamber of Commerce Serving Middletown, Monroe, and Trenton. During the virtual visits, juniors and seniors were exposed to the various clinical and non-clinical career opportunities in a hospital setting.

Miami Valley Hospital Campuses

Tracy Morrison, MSQ, BSN, RN, FELS was named among the top nurses in the nation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) National Magnet Nurse of the Year Awards®. Morrison, a registered nurse with more than four decades of experience, has worked at Miami Valley Hospital since 1985. Currently a quality coordinator in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Miami Valley Hospital, she was honored Nov. 12 with the Magnet® Transformational Leadership Award at the International Magnet® Conference in Atlanta, Ga. The National Magnet Nurse of the Year Awards® recognize five outstanding clinical nurses in Magnet®-designated organizations who demonstrate outstanding contributions in innovation, consultation, leadership, and professional risk-taking. These awards represent the five components of the Magnet Model: transformational leadership; structural empowerment; exemplary professional practice; new knowledge, innovations, and improvements; and empirical outcomes.

The Miami Valley Hospital Foundation received a generous grant in late October from the Maxon Foundation, U.S. Bank, N.A., Trustee, to acquire new electroencephalogram (EEG) software. The NeuroWorks 9.0 Electroencephalogram Natus® Brain Headbox platform includes processes for collecting, monitoring, trending, and managing data (electrical activity of the brain). It is used for routine EEG testing, ambulatory EEG, long-term monitoring, intensive care unit monitoring, and research studies. This lifesaving technology will enhance the hospital’s ability to provide emergent, neurological evaluation and treatment at a time when every minute can dramatically improve patient outcomes.

The Good Samaritan-Dayton Foundation launched a social media campaign and year-end appeal mailing to raise funds for the Samaritan Clinic for Women and Families. The mailing is targeted to community members, donors, and physicians to raise the remaining $40,000 needed to reach the $200,000 goal. Located inside the St. Vincent de Paul’s Gateway Shelter, the new Samaritan Clinic for Women and Families is expected to serve more than 1,200 homeless women and children annually. The Good Samaritan-Dayton Foundation also provided holiday cheer for the Miami Valley Hospital North campus employees in November and December, including an afternoon of horse and carriage rides around the hospital grounds, a holiday tree lighting ceremony, a special cookie baking contest, and gift wrapping for employees’ packages provided by hospital leadership and foundation staff.

Mary McCarthy, MD, affectionately known as the “First Lady of Trauma,” officially retired from Miami Valley Hospital after 30 years of service.

The Kiwanis Club of Northmont installed a “Blessing Box” near the Miami Valley Hospital North campus walking path and entrance to Grossnickle Park. The “Blessing Box” contains toiletries, non-perishable food items, and winter hats and gloves for community members to take as needed. Donations can also be made directly to the box or inside the hospital at the information desk.

Donations from the community for Miami Valley Hospital staff continued in November, including contributions from Western Governors University, which donated individual boxes with snacks and other amenities for overnight staff who worked the time change weekend; Grunder Landscaping Company President and CEO Marty Grunder donated a supply of Nothing Bundt Cakes during Thanksgiving week at Miami Valley Hospital South; and Illinois-based popcorn manufacturer Double Good donated bags of popcorn for employees at each Premier Health hospital site.

Upper Valley Medical Center

Upper Valley Medical Center received a top score in patient safety from the Leapfrog Group, a national patient safety watchdog organization, which awarded the hospital an “A” grade in its fall 2021 safety report. Letter grades are used to rate hospitals’ performance in keeping patients safe from preventable harm and medical errors. 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 Foundation and administration hosted an open house on Nov. 17 for donors who supported the Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab addition. At the event, it was revealed that the center has been named after Ruth Jenkins who started the original cardiac rehab program in 1985. Ruth is an RN who retired from UVMC after more than 50 years in nursing. Ruth continues to be involved with the foundation as well as many other programs and services in the community.

A check presentation was held at UVMC on Nov. 23 to provide support to organizations that help with food insufficiency in Miami County. The UVMC Medical Staff provided funding to First Place Food Pantry and Meals On Wheels in lieu of hosting an annual holiday party. Funding was also provided via the UVMC Board of Directors Community Benefit Fund to St. Patrick’s Soup Kitchen in Troy; Bethany Center in Piqua; Needy Basket in Tipp City; and New Path/Miami County. In addition, UVMC conducted its annual employee food drive on the hospital campus in November. Nonperishable food items collected during the drive were distributed to local food pantries/soup kitchens prior to Thanksgiving.

Tracy Schneider, RN, diabetes educator, joined Scott Kanagy, DO, MBA, UVMC’s chief medical officer, for the hospital’s monthly Troy and Piqua radio morning show interviews on Nov. 8. They discussed Diabetes Awareness Month topics, and Dr. Kanagy gave an update on COVID-19 at the hospital.

Premier Physician Network

Premier Physician Network now offers your patients an additional colon cancer screening option. Although colonoscopy is the best option when it comes to colon cancer screening, many patients avoid getting one. Patients looking for an alternative, less invasive test that can be performed at home, may want to discuss a Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) with their provider. It detects hidden blood in the stool, which can be an early sign of colon cancer. The launch of this important initiative was financially supported by Premier Health’s Hospital Foundations, who fully embrace our shared mission to improve the health of the communities we serve. Learn more.

The Clinical Neuroscience Institute offers the latest treatments for unruptured intracranial aneurysms. The advancement of imaging technology and techniques has led to higher detection rates and less invasive treatment options for unruptured intercranial aneurysms (UIA). CNSI's neurointerventional team provides the latest in cerebral vascular imaging, surgical devices, and endovascular techniques to ensure better outcomes when repairing UIAs. View flyer with more information.

Back to the December 2021 issue of Premier Pulse