System News: February 2021
Atrium Medical Center
Atrium Medical Center welcomed experienced leader Kim Hensley as its new Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nursing Officer. Prior to joining Atrium, Kim was Vice President of Hospital Operations for Miami Valley Hospital. She replaces Marquita Turner, who now serves as Chief Operating Officer at Miami Valley Hospital South.
Atrium’s rollout of COVID-19 vaccines as part of Ohio’s Phase 1B garnered excellent media coverage in the Cincinnati market. All four Cincinnati television stations, the Cincinnati Enquirer, and local newspapers carried stories about Atrium’s hard work to vaccinate the public. Each also featured interviews with Anuj Goyal, MD, a pulmonary critical care physician at Atrium.
Two influential Middletown leaders – the city’s health commissioner and the school district’s superintendent – participated in Premier Health’s panel discussion for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Panelists on the forum, which was streamed for all Premier Health employees to view, provided a clear picture of how their organizations are building upon King’s dream and the challenges the community faces. A recording of this event was later shown to local community organizations, including Middletown Rotary and Middletown Kiwanis.
Atrium donated unclaimed winter coats collected during its Share the Warmth drive to the Oaks Community Church in Middletown. The church will distribute the cold weather gear to those who utilize its food pantry service.
Community organizations and local businesses continue to support the efforts of Atrium’s caregivers and staff. Friends of the Frontline, a community of Butler and Warren County residents united to support frontline workers during the pandemic, recently donated meals and drinks to Atrium employees. In addition, the Laundry Spot of Middletown teamed up with Atrium Medical Center Foundation to provide free wash-and-fold laundry service to 25 lucky Atrium employees. The Mason Deerfield Rotary Club and Chick-fil-A also supported Atrium’s evening frontline staff with a meal in partnership with Atrium Medical Center Foundation.
Miami Valley Hospital Campuses
On Jan. 25, the Centerville City Council presented a proclamation to Joann Ringer, recognizing her for the significant contributions she made in her 13 years at Miami Valley Hospital South. Also, Jan. 26 was declared Joann Ringer Day in the City of Centerville.
Marquita Turner became the chief operating officer at Miami Valley Hospital South at the beginning of the year, replacing Joann Ringer. Marquita is the former chief operating officer and chief nursing officer at Atrium Medical Center. She has extensive administrative experience along with her clinical background in nursing.
The Ohio Hospital Association named Miami Valley Hospital as the recipient of the 2020 Melvin Creeley Environmental Leadership Award. The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment to improving the environmental health of local communities while reducing costs and providing quality care to patients. Melvin Creeley Environmental Leadership Award honorees are recognized for promoting sound environmental practices through environmental stewardship and exemplifying best practices for other hospitals to follow.
In recognition of their support of the division, the Miami Valley Hospital Department of Public Safety named Mike Uhl, president; Jennifer Hauler, DO, chief operating officer; and Robert Bowman, vice president of operations, as honorary members of our campus police department. Chief David Wolford, system director of the department, and members of his staff presented a special shadowbox to each that included a division badge and department patches.
Throughout January, the Miami Valley Hospital Foundation and Good Samaritan Foundation-Dayton continued to receive many generous financial contributions and food donations in support of frontline health care workers. Many of the gifts focused on the respite rooms, which provide a much-needed break for critical care staff who have a very difficult time leaving their units for a meal or break. As patient acuity remains high, these rooms continue to provide a much-needed space for caregivers to relax for a short time. In addition to using donor gifts to outfit and stock these rooms, staff from both foundations have also coordinated lunch donations from many area businesses. One major contribution came from Sinclair Community College and ARAMARK that provided 150 lunches once a week at each MVH campus.
In addition to coordinating numerous food donations at each campus, foundation staff have continued to process many restricted and unrestricted gifts which will have an impact on the planning and execution of 2021 initiatives. Among recent donations received is a notable grant from the DP&L Foundation, which provided $30,000 for COVID-19 testing equipment. The gift will be divided between the four Premier Health foundations.
Thanks to donor gifts to the Good Samaritan Foundation-Dayton, construction began this month on the Employee Garden at Miami Valley Hospital North. When completed, the garden will include patio tables and chairs, seat walls, and the beautiful bronze artwork Jesus and the Children that was displayed at Good Samaritan Hospital in the Aull Courtyard. Donor support has played an integral role in the creation and construction of these inspiring and peaceful outdoor areas. The Employee Garden represents the third component of the overall Trail of The Good Samaritan, which includes four gardens and a walking path. A ribbon-cutting event for the Aull Garden and walking path will take place later this spring, with the opening of the Employee Garden scheduled for this fall.
Upper Valley Medical Center
Scott Kanagy, DO, chief medical officer at Upper Valley Medical Center, was interviewed by Troy WTJN 107.1 and Piqua WPTW 98.1 radio stations in January for a monthly health care update which included advancements in telemedicine and the COVID-19 vaccine rollout at UVMC. Dr. Kanagy also participated in a Jan. 14 Miami County Public Health news conference about the COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan for Miami County.
Kevin Harlan, president of Upper Valley Medical Center, provided a state of local health care and COVID-19 update to Miami County commissioners at their meeting on Jan. 21. He presented a similar program at the Jan. 26 Troy Rotary Club meeting and is providing periodic updates to city leaders and other elected officials. Also, at Troy Rotary meetings in January, Dr. Kanagy presented a program on the COVID-19 vaccine, and Travis Grasley, director of cardiopulmonary and sleep services, provided a program on cardiopulmonary services at UVMC.
In other community relations activities, UVMC was a sponsor of the Piqua Arts Council Kickoff Celebration held virtually on Jan. 19 and was the lead sponsor of the Piqua Chamber of Commerce 75th Anniversary Celebration held virtually on Jan. 21.
UVMC employees were provided with an update on progress of the Employee Wellness Center, which will occupy space adjacent to the cardiac and pulmonary rehab addition that was completed last year. Scheduled to open in the spring, the 1,235-square-foot center will offer an exercise facility and wellness/fitness activities for hospital staff.
Back to the February 2021 issue of Premier Pulse
