System News: October 2021
Atrium Medical Center
Community Blood Center honored Atrium Medical Center with the Crisis Hero Award of Excellence for continuing to host community blood drives throughout the pandemic, and for helping to meet the local and national demand for COVID-19 convalescent plasma by sponsoring plasma drives. Early in the pandemic, Atrium recognized blood collection as an essential activity and continued monthly community blood drives in 2020. It has continued its monthly blood drive scheduled through 2021.
The first-ever Butler/Warren County Field Day took place Sept. 25 on Atrium’s campus to benefit the American Heart Association. The outdoor event was a fun way to celebrate heart and stroke survivors, raise lifesaving funds, and encourage physical activity. In addition to gameplay, there were food trucks, raffle baskets, tours of a CareFlight helicopter, and health screenings from Premier Community Health.
With only about 30 percent of Middletown Division of Fire staff having received the COVID vaccine, the city’s fire chief turned to Atrium for help dispelling myths and sharing more information. Jamie Yunger, MD, spoke with the department on two different occasions, answering their questions.
Atrium supplied Blue Star Families Dayton/Southwest Ohio chapter members with kits to make 6-foot wooden growth chart rulers. Military families move frequently, so tracking their child's growth on a wall or doorway in the house is not always possible. The rulers from Atrium can move with the families. The event was part of Blue Star Families’ Welcome Week, which connects military families new to the area with local resources. Families also received information about Premier Health and Atrium services.
The Middletown Kiwanis Club recognized Atrium during the dedication and ribbon cutting of a new playground at Amanda Elementary. Atrium contributed funds toward the project, and several Atrium employees volunteered during the playground build.
Atrium was a sponsor of the Miami University Regionals Student Veterans Association 9/11 Memorial 5K Run and Walk. Keith Bricking, MD, president of Atrium, welcomed event participants, which included local firefighters and EMS personnel.
Atrium Medical Center Foundation organized a virtual virtual community COVID update COVID update featuring Roberto Colón, MD, and Keith Bricking, MD. Atrium’s recent national accolades were shared in addition to the latest information about vaccines and variants.
Miami Valley Hospital Campuses
The Miami Valley Hospital Foundation hosted its annual Champions of Hope event, which honored four exceptional people in the battle against cancer. While it was conducted virtually, each element of the event was represented, including the biographical video sketches of each honoree and their recorded acceptance remarks. This year’s honorees include Person of Inspiration - Gail Moddeman, Ph.D., RN; Caregiver – Denise Nichols, MSW, LISW-S; Survivor – Pat Meadows, MSSW; and Medical Professional – Ania Pollack, MD, FACS, FAANS. Proceeds enhance and expand specialized integrative therapy programs for oncology patients at Miami Valley Hospital, which include specialized exercise, yoga, and massage therapies, among other services. This virtual event was moderated by Sharon Howard, Premier Health’s director of site communications.
In recognition of the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, special edition posters were displayed at the entrances of the emergency departments across the system. A team from CareFlight also participated in the Premier Health Gem City 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb held at UD Arena. Each stair climb participant paid tribute to a FDNY firefighter by climbing the equivalent of the 110 stories of the World Trade Center. Randy Marriott, MD, medical director for Premier Health EMS Center of Excellence, participated in several media interviews. Dr. Marriott shared his personal experience as a member of the Miami Valley Urban Search and Rescue Task Force that provided aid at Ground Zero of the World Trade Center in 2001.
CareFlight Air and Mobile Services recently received its 10th consecutive three-year accreditation from the Commission on the Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS). CareFlight has logged 38 years of service and has been continuously CAMTS-accredited since 1994, being one of the first programs in the country to undergo a review by the commission. CAMTS evaluated all CareFlight Air and Mobile personnel, including flight nurses, critical care paramedics, pilots, mobile intensive care unit (MICU) drivers, mechanics, communications specialists, and administrative staff during a site visit earlier this year. All CareFlight vehicles – four Dauphin helicopters and five MICUs – were also inspected.
Amber Washington, MHA, MPAS joined Miami Valley Hospital as its new Vice President of Operations. Amber holds a Bachelor of Science, Pre-medicine, from the University of Dayton, a Master of Physician Assistant Studies from Kettering College, and a Master of Healthcare Administration from Seton Hall University. She has also completed the Academy for Excellence in Healthcare at the Ohio State University.
Leaders from across the system attended the Gem City PR Awards event, hosted by the Public Relations Society of America (Dayton Chapter). Premier Health’s Marketing/Communications division won four awards and Roberto Colon, MD, chief medical officer at Miami Valley Hospital, was named Newsmaker of the Year. The award was created to honor a Dayton-area person who is not a professional communicator but has frequently been in the news because of their role in positively advancing our community.
Upper Valley Medical Center
Diane Anderson, DO, joined Scott Kanagy, DO, MBA, chief medical officer at Upper Valley Medical Center, on Sept. 27 for Troy WTJN and Piqua WPTW radio morning show interviews. They discussed Breast Cancer Awareness Month topics, and Dr. Kanagy gave an update on COVID-19 at the hospital.
Dr. Kanagy offered a presentation to the Piqua Kiwanis Club on Sept. 29 that provided an overview of UVMC’s Level III Trauma Center designation, Primary Stroke Center certification, and current advanced technologies at the hospital.
UVMC promoted heart CT in September with scans being offered in appreciation to Miami County EMS professionals, compliments of the UVMC Foundation Fraternal Order of Eagles Fund. Media coverage featured Paul Brown, assistant fire chief with the Piqua Fire Department, receiving a heart CT scan at UVMC.
UVMC/Premier Health was presenting sponsor of the Troy PorchFest and provided a booth at the event held Sept. 11 in downtown Troy. Also that weekend, UVMC was a major sponsor of the Tunnel to Towers exhibit hosted by the Miami Valley Veterans Association in downtown Troy and the Hometown Heroes celebration hosted by the Miami County Agricultural Society at the Miami County Fairgrounds. The UVMC EMS team participated on-site at the fairgrounds.
UVMC was presenting sponsor of the Piqua Area Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Steak Fry and Auction held the evening of Sept. 16 on the Lloyd Fry Farm near Piqua. Kevin Harlan, president of UVMC, and other UVMC leaders attended. In other community engagement activities, UVMC/Premier was main sponsor of the Miami County Walk to End Alzheimer’s held in downtown Troy on Sept. 18, a booth sponsor at the Lincoln Community Center Block Party held that afternoon on the LCC grounds in Troy, and a booth sponsor for the Taste of Piqua and Arts Celebration hosted by Main Street Piqua and the Piqua Arts Council in downtown Piqua.
UVMC staff and providers were treated to complimentary breakfast in the cafeteria on Sept. 15, hosted by UVMC administration to thank everyone for their hard work during challenging times and to celebrate UVMC’s recent successful Joint Commission Survey.
Premier Physician Network
To offer more choice and flexibility, your patients can now schedule initial physical therapy (PT) or occupational therapy (OT) evaluations with MyChart. Following an order for a consult, patients with a MyChart account will receive an email alerting them that they have a new scheduling ticket available in MyChart, and will have the option to choose a provider, location, and appointment time convenient for them. Click here for a Tip Sheet with more information.
Premier Physician Network was the 2021 sponsor of the Mix 107.7 Concert for a Cure. The event was Wednesday, October 20 at the Dayton Masonic Center. The concert featured artists Wrabel, Seth Powers, American Authors, and Forest Blakk. COVID-19 safety precautions were taken at the event, including mandatory masks for all attendees and social distancing, which included sitting people at tables and only filling the venue to 1/3 capacity.
