System News: January 2022

Atrium Medical Center

Two established and highly regarded sleep centers have joined Premier Health, effective Jan. 1, 2022. This transition will increase patient access to Premier Health’s sleep services. The two sleep centers, located at 7056 Corporate Way in Centerville and 7371 Brandt Pike in Huber Heights, do business under the name Center for Sleep Disorders and are operated by Atrium Medical Center. These new sleep centers are managed by Jodi Stitt, who oversees other Premier Health sleep centers, and report to Lyndsey Pittman, Atrium’s director of finance and operations.

Atrium patients and employees were the beneficiaries of more than $1.5 million raised by the Atrium Medical Center Foundation in 2021 to support patient programs, services, and equipment acquisition. Thanks to the generosity of donors, the Foundation has funded major renovations in the hospital’s cardiac catheterization lab and has acquired new equipment for surgery, cancer services, cardiology, and orthopedic services. Additionally, the Foundation continues to coordinate the ongoing response from the public to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For parents who have lost a child, the holidays can be a time of painful memories and brief but cherished moments. To help, Atrium’s Help Endure a Loss (HEAL) Program invited families to its 23rd annual Memory Tree Lighting, a seasonal remembrance for those who have experienced the death of a child. Nearly 300 children were remembered during the virtual event, which included music, a reading of names, and poetry.

Atrium’s Level III Trauma Center, which manages a traffic safety program in collaboration with community partners, donated Uber gift cards to hand out at the Monkey Bar & Grille in Maineville to help provide safe rides home on New Year’s Eve. The coalition, whose members include law enforcement, public safety partners and educators, focuses on motor vehicle and traffic safety awareness initiatives.

Atrium employees gave back to the communities they serve during the holiday season. A hospital-wide food drive benefited Shared Harvest Foodbank and saw more than 1,000 pounds of non-perishable food items donated to the agency that serves five local counties. Atrium’s Emergency Department employees also organized a toy drive to benefit local families during the holidays.

Atrium was a major sponsor of the annual Horse-Drawn Carriage Parade in Lebanon. In addition to promotion of Atrium services, the new Premier Health Center at Union Village was promoted during the popular community event.

Miami Valley Hospital Campuses

The Miami Valley Hospital Foundation Board allocated funding for equipment acquisitions and for the creation of a new clinical position. A brief summary of the funded proposals includes: expanding EPIC records to include research; new patient blood flow monitors in surgery; and new communication software to improve physician scheduling and consultations. The approved new position is a pharmacist dedicated to clinical trials. Several capital equipment requests were also funded, many of which are replacing equipment at the end of its useful life. This includes: an ultrasound echo imaging table at Miami Valley Hospital South; four high-level disinfection units; an ultrasound machine for Cardiac ICU; a transport monitor for the Neuro ICU; and several breathing assistance devices for the respiratory area. In addition, existing Foundation funds allowed for the purchase of a monitor vent for respiratory neonatal care and an oximeter for the cardiac cath lab.

Through a mailing campaign, Good Samaritan-Dayton Foundation sought contributions for the three Rays of Hope-funded programs: the Samaritan Health Center, Mothers Empowered, and Breast Cancer Patient Assistance. Through mid-December, the Foundation had received more than $29,000 in support for these programs. Fundraising also continued for the Michael Sawdey Samaritan Clinic for Women, including a $20,000 gift in support of an exam room at the clinic. Foundation staff continued to coordinate snacks and drinks for all staff during the recent high census and high acuity at Miami Valley Hospital North.

COVID-19 didn’t keep Santa Claus from visiting the NICU at Miami Valley Hospital. Thanks to the wonderful team of nurses, Santa (in the form of a cardboard stand up) visited the tiniest patients to take holiday photos. Christmas blankets and hats were provided for the babies and parents could also provide a special outfit. Finally, the Parent Family Advisory Council is making free personalized ornaments for all NICU parents and babies.

Xenia High School students donated “Baskets for Battles” to cancer patients at Miami Valley Hospital South. The baskets contain items to support patients throughout the holidays.

Upper Valley Medical Center

Psychiatrist Dr. Mark Casdorph joined Dr. Scott Kanagy on Dec. 13 for radio morning show interviews on the Piqua and Troy radio stations. The primary topic was mental health issues/advice for the holidays, and Dr. Kanagy gave an update on COVID-19 at the hospital.

UVMC participated as a booth sponsor at the Lincoln Community Center holiday party for children in the after-school program held Dec. 17 at the center. Members of leadership hosted games and handed out prizes for children at the event. Additionally, UVMC employees provided 150 gift cards for the children’s Christmas stockings as part of the annual Darla’s Helping Hands Holiday Drive.   

Falls Prevention 101 seminars were hosted at the Miami County YMCA Piqua Branch on Dec. 3 and Troy Branch on Dec. 13.

UVMC was a presenting sponsor of the annual Edison State Community College Holiday Evening held Dec. 1 at the college and attended by 12 UVMC leaders in addition to more than 150 community members. The event featured musical performances spread out throughout the campus to provide a safer environment. UVMC also was a sponsor of the Tipp City Chamber of Commerce Annual Holiday Gala held Dec. 1 at the Arbogast Performing Arts Center. Leadership from SpringMeade attended representing UVMC.

In other community engagement activities, UVMC was a Piqua Main Street sponsor of the annual Piqua Christmas on the Green on Dec. 3, the Piqua Holiday Parade on Dec. 4, and the Holly Jolly Run on Dec. 11, all held in downtown Piqua and attended by hundreds of families in the community. UVMC also was a sponsor of the Piqua Arts Council Sounds of the Season Concert held Dec. 4 at St. James Episcopal Church in downtown Piqua.

The UVMC Patient Flow Project is wrapping up and was featured in the local newspapers. The project kicked off in 2019 to bring a modern look and updated healing environment to the hospital, which opened in 1998.

Premier Physician Network

Three Premier Health facilities have achieved accreditation by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) in Echocardiography in the area of adult transthoracic. Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Miami Valley Hospital South in Centerville, and Premier Cardiovascular Institute in Beavercreek were recently granted a three-year term of accreditation by the IAC. “IAC accreditation is a seal of approval that patients can rely on as an indicator of consistent quality care and a dedication to continuous improvement,” said Muhanad Al-Zubaidi, MD, medical director at Premier Cardiovascular Institute. “This accomplishment shows Premier Health’s commitment to quality patient care in echocardiography.” Click here to read the Dec. 6, 2021 press release.

Clinical Neuroscience Institute now provides comprehensive multidisciplinary neurologic care for patients and their families in office locations in Miami and Shelby counties. Patients will receive the best care possible, whether their appointments are held at CSNI 's office at Upper Valley Medical Center, or at their Sidney satellite office at 915 Michigan St. Sidney, OH 45365. Doctors Eicher, Hall, Kitchener, Krousgrill and White are available to help deliver complete neurologic care. To refer a patient, please call 1-844-277-2894, fax (937) 208-5143, or type “neuroscience” in Epic to find CNSI physicians. Click here for a flyer with more information.

PPN Rocked the 2021 Concert for a Cure! The 2021 Mix 107.7 Concert for a Cure, along with headline sponsor Premier Physician Network, raised more than $5,000 to benefit Noble Circle Project, a local nonprofit organization that provides nutrition and peer support to women living with cancer. Thanks to all the PPN providers and volunteers for helping at our table with t-shirt sales and passing out provider bios and practice information to attendees. This is always a great way to meet potential patients while supporting a great cause.

Back to the January 2022 issue of Premier Pulse