Connections Your source for health and wellness news from Berger Health System.
A Celebration of Healing How Wound Care Services Made a Difference
spring 2011
Care first. Community always.
On the Forefront of Medicine
Interventional Radiology Services Page 8
Hospice Program Helps Patients Embrace Life Page 10
Nationally recognized Best in Value hospital. ™
We’re honored to have been named a Best in Value hospital by the Delta Advantage Hospital Value Index.™ Berger was listed as one of 100 hospitals across the country with the highest ratings in four key areas: quality, affordability, efficiency, and patient satisfaction. It’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of our medical staff, administration, and employees. And it shows the commitment we share to giving our patients the best care, the best experience, and always the best value.
Berger Hospital bergerhealth.com • (740) 474-2126 Dr. Mir Feraydoon Maher, Anesthesiologist
Honored to care for you. Honored to be recognized. TOP
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Imaging Access
Emergency Department
Care first. Community always.
Wound Healing Center
Top 200 Nationally
From the CEO. Dear Friends, Last year was exceptional in terms of our community hospital engaging in change and positioning for the future. As always, our focus remains continuing our commitment to quality care. In 2010, we saw the addition of more board-certified physicians and providers to our medical staff, which increased access and expertise in our community. The hospital system also received a number of national awards, including the Best in Value Award™ and being named as an Emergency Center of Excellence. In efforts to better reach our community about what is new in the health system, the vast number of services offered and our health and prevention education for quality of life, we launched our first issue of Connections in its new format. We hope you have enjoyed getting to know your community hospital on a deeper level through the magazine. This spring, our commitment to “care first, community always” continues, as you’ll see in this edition of Connections. Not only are we dedicated to providing local residents with comprehensive nationally recognized expertise but we also strive to educate our patients about important health conditions, such as diabetes. You can read more about this education effort on page 7. Our Wound Healing Center and Hospice Program also offer education about conditions that are complex and often unfamiliar. Our dedicated staff members are available to provide hope and healing to patients when they need it most. You can read about these programs on pages 4 and 10. It is this dedication to the betterment of our patients and the community that sets Berger Health System apart. As part of our dedication to our patients and the community, we must remain abreast of both clinical and reform changes developing in health care. Some of these changes will improve the way we provide care and some will challenge us to look at things differently. Our hospital will continue to provide advanced quality care to our patients. The expertise that you expect is here now; Berger is well positioned to sustain our communities and the families we serve. We will remain committed to who we are while improving and changing to meet the needs of our patients. We have invested in people; we have invested in technology; and we have spent nearly a century investing in our community. As part of these investments, we finished implementing a physician electronic medical records system, allowing for safe and efficient sharing of patient medical records between physicians and the hospital. This advanced technology will help us improve the efficiency of patient care and support patient safety. We embrace this newest cycle of change and will continue to keep you updated about the direction of our hospital through Connections and our website, bergerhealth.com. As always, please feel free to reach out to me with your comments or concerns. You can call me at (740) 420-8231, or e-mail me at tim.colburn@bergerhealth.com.
Sincerely,
tim a. colburn president and ceo berger health system
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Physicians and staff aim to heal wounds within 16 weeks of a patient’s first visit to the Berger Wound Healing Center. Wound healing is accomplished in 86 percent of cases, and 94 percent of those patients experience healing within the center’s 16-week goal.
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The Healing Touch In addition to experiencing medical complications, patients suffering from hard-to-heal wounds often experience feelings of frustration. Fortunately, if you or a loved one is living with a non-healing wound, physicians and staff at the Berger Wound Healing Center can help.
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hether a patient is suffering from a non-healing surgical incision, radiation burns or a diabetic ulcer, many factors, including poor circulation or infection, can keep a wound from healing properly. Patients whose wounds do not heal on their own are said to suffer from chronic wounds. Although patients are often referred to the Berger Wound Healing Center by a primary care provider, a referral isn’t required for treatment. A patient can simply call the center to schedule an evaluation, during which members of the care team will develop a multidisciplinary approach to treatment. “Wound healing can be very frustrating, but you should never give up hope that you’ll heal,” said William Stevenson, M.D., medical director of the Wound Healing Center. “We have great success with our
patients, and we’re equipped with all the necessary technologies and treatment methods to ensure healing.” The Wound Healing Center staff includes highly trained nurses, as well as a
A Healing Partnership It’s no wonder Berger Health System chose National Healing Corporation when it was looking for a partner for the Wound Healing Center. National Healing works with the nation’s top universities on groundbreaking clinical trials and with 30 percent of all hospitals’ and clinics’ wound centers. This leader in wound care not only gives the Wound Healing Center and the community access to national resources, but also reaffirms Berger’s commitment to providing the greater Pickaway area with the highest quality of care available.
multidisciplinary physician panel of specialists including general surgery, internal medicine, cardiology and podiatry. A variety of advanced treatment options are also available.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Before physicians can determine the appropriate treatment for a chronic wound, underlying causes need to be investigated to conclude why the wound won’t heal on its own. One of these steps involves establishing if the wound is receiving adequate oxygen. Transcutaneous oxygen measurement testing is available to evaluate wound oxygen levels. If the wound is not receiving enough oxygen, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) may be a treatment possibility. When many people think of HBOT, they may imagine its use as treatment for deep-sea divers who have decompression syndrome, or “the bends.” Although HBOT can be used to treat this condition, it is
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instrumental in the treatment of many other conditions, including chronic wounds. “Wounds need oxygen to heal, so if they’re not getting an adequate supply, wounds may not be able to heal properly,” said Dr. Stevenson. “Oxygen has been shown to help kill bacteria, as well as stimulate growth of healthy cells. HBOT is used to help patients get the oxygen supply they need for healing.” Essentially, HBOT “hyper-oxygenates” a patient, thereby speeding the healing process. Patients undergo HBOT in special chambers that deliver 100 percent pure oxygen at a higher-than-normal atmospheric pressure. Oxygen delivered at normal air pressure would not yield the same, highly favorable results. Berger Hospital is the only facility in the area to offer this advanced treatment modality.
Negative Pressure Wound Therapy “Wound dehiscence, or the reopening of a wound before it’s fully healed, is one of many reasons some patients experience difficulty healing,” said Dr. Stevenson. “Negative pressure wound therapy uses a special type of dressing to help keep the wound closed.” A small tube is inserted through a foam or gauze dressing that actually fills the wound. By “vacuuming” the wound, negative pressure is created, and the wound healing process is enhanced.
If you or a loved one is suffering from a hard-to-heal wound, there is hope. Call the Berger Wound Healing Center at (740) 420-8395 to schedule an appointment or learn more about your options.
A Testament to Care When you experience something seemingly mundane, such as a paper cut, you may pay it no mind. For people who experience chronic wounds, however, it’s something that weighs on their minds every day. Evelyn Bullard, 80, of Chillicothe, Ohio, has been dealing with a chronic ulcer on her leg for 25 years. “I have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a condition that makes my skin very fragile and hard to heal when broken,” said Evelyn. “Because of my condition, my wound may never heal. However, with proper maintenance and care, I can keep it from affecting my health.” The wound care team at the Berger Wound Healing Center worked to make Evelyn’s delicate skin stronger and kept infection from occurring. Staying Positive Evelyn began undergoing treatment at the center in September 2009 when she moved to Ohio to be closer to her son. Because she had been dealing with a chronic wound for many years,
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Evelyn explained to the Wound Healing Center staff that she had previously received every kind of treatment possible, from hyperbaric oxygen therapy to skin grafts and beyond. The Berger team was determined to help her. “I was so pleased with the care I received at Berger,” said Evelyn. “Everyone was so nice, and my physician was determined to heal my wound from the first time he saw me.” Evelyn went to the center twice per week for more than a year and underwent several different types of treatment. She was discharged from the Wound Healing Center in December 2010. Her wound has finally grown healthy skin in every area. “The physicians and nurses at the Wound Healing Center are like family to me,” said Evelyn. “I know them so well, and each time I made progress, we celebrated together. I would like others who are dealing with chronic wounds not to give up—anything is possible with the right care.”
Overcoming Diabetes Through Education Effectively managing diabetes requires significant lifestyle modifications for patients and their families. Berger Health System provides an education program aimed at arming residents with the knowledge necessary to lead healthier lives.
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iabetes is an extremely complicated condition that, if not managed properly, can lead to serious health risks. Offering a comprehensive Diabetes Education Program, Berger provides the insight and knowledge necessary to help patients understand and control their conditions. “Our area has a large number of residents who struggle with diabetes,” explained Shirley Vickers, RN, CDE, clinical nurse manager for Berger. “To fulfill our mission as a community health provider, it was absolutely necessary for Berger to offer our Diabetes Education Program, which is designed to help our neighbors manage the condition correctly.”
“The goal of the Diabetes Education Program is to help patients understand the causes of their diabetes and learn how they can work to stay healthy,” said Vickers. “The program focuses on long-term goals and provides each participant the means to succeed.”
For more information about the Diabetes Education Program, visit bergerhealth.com and select “Diabetes” under the “Services” tab.
Put Planning Into Action Learning more about diabetes is an important step toward living a healthier life. As people learn more about their condition, it is important they put their knowledge into action. Try these tips to live a healthier life with diabetes: • Nutrition. Eat a diet that is balanced and low in saturated fats. • Exercise. Exercise three or four times a week for 20 to 40 minutes each session. • Sleep. Adequate sleep helps regulate blood sugar.
A Comprehensive Approach Accredited by the American Diabetes Association, Berger’s Diabetes Education Program takes an individualized approach to the care and well-being of each patient and family. Staffed by a team of registered nurses, dietitians and certified diabetes educators, and working with the Wound Healing Center and other departments as needed, the Diabetes Education Program offers each participant a full medical history review and education about chronic conditions to address day-to-day diabetes concerns. bergerhealth.com
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For This Specialty, Image Is Everything Many patients at Berger Health System are able to undergo surgeries with less hassle thanks to interventional radiology, a specialty in which physicians use image guidance to perform a variety of minimally invasive procedures.
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erger partnered with Riverside Radiology and Interventional Associates Inc. (RRIA) in 2006. Based in Columbus, RRIA is the 11th largest radiology group in the nation, boasting more than 70 board-certified specialists. As part of this relationship, patients in Pickaway County and the surrounding areas have access to top-notch interventional radiology (IR) services right in their own neighborhood. “IR is on the forefront of medicine’s movement toward minimally invasive procedures,” said Jeffrey Silber, M.D., vascular and interventional radiologist at RRIA and Berger. “People with many types of arterial, venous, cancer and pain-related conditions may be candidates for IR. Thanks to these types of minimally invasive procedures, these patients often experience a reduced need for anesthesia during surgery, less postoperative pain and faster recovery times.”
Spanning the Spectrum A variety of procedures fall under the IR heading, including:
Jeffrey Silber, M.D., vascular and interventional radiologist at Riverside Radiology and Interventional Associates Inc. and Berger Health System
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• Vertebroplasty. Vertebroplasty is a common pain-relieving procedure during which interventional radiologists insert a needle into the spine under X-ray guidance to deliver medical cement to shore up vertebrae or bones damaged by osteoporosis.
“Thanks to our partnership with Riverside Radiology and Interventional Associates Inc., Berger Health System provides patients an avenue for any type of diagnostic or therapeutic imaging procedure.” —Allen Katz, M.D., medical director of radiology at Berger Health System • Angioplasty. During this procedure, an interventional radiologist uses X-ray guidance to thread a catheter with a small balloon through an incision to a blocked artery where the balloon is inflated to reopen the vessel. In some cases, a small mesh cylinder called a stent is placed to ensure the vessel remains open. • Endovenous laser treatment. This procedure reduces the size and appearance of varicose veins through the use of a small laser-equipped catheter. • Uterine fibroid embolization. During this procedure, an interventional radiologist uses a catheter to reduce the size of fibroid tumors by preventing blood from reaching them. “Thanks to our partnership with RRIA, Berger provides patients an avenue for any type of diagnostic or therapeutic imaging procedure,” said Allen Katz, M.D., medical director of radiology at Berger. “Patients receive the type of high-quality care normally associated with a large medical center right here at their community hospital.”
To learn more about interventional radiology services at Berger, visit bergerhealth.com and select “Imaging” under the “Services” tab.
Community Open House Wednesday, May 11 5 to 7:30 p.m.
National Hospital Week is May 8–14. In celebration, we are hosting an Open House to provide an exclusive “behind the scenes” experience of Berger Hospital. Our healthcare professionals will serve as guides for your personalized tour. You will have the opportunity to talk to national experts as you get hands on with a hyperbaric oxygen chamber, witness a demonstration of our “talking beds,” check out an ambulance and be one of the first to see our cutting-edge emergency and radiology technology. Visitors will also have the opportunity to “meet our docs” in a casual environment, as physicians and nurse practitioners will be available to answer your health questions. Join us May 11 and learn how your community health system continues to provide the best quality care with the latest technologies.
For Children: A Teddy Bear Health Fair Kids are encouraged to bring their well-loved stuffed animals or dolls to the Open House for a wellness check. Berger team members will be available at the teddy bear clinic to provide a stitch or two, apply a splint or bandage your child’s cherished friend.
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Embracing the Quality of Life Cathy VanHorn, BSN, RN, senior director of patient experience at Berger Health System, always assumed hospice was for the patient. When VanHorn’s father became terminally ill and sought hospice care, she realized hospice is equally beneficial for the family in terms of comfort and support.
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“I don’t even have the words to describe how wonderful everyone was during my father’s illness.” —Cathy VanHorn, BSN, RN, senior director of patient experience at Berger Health System 10
Spring 2011
’ve been a nurse for more than 33 years and never really understood hospice until I had to personally use their caring services,” said VanHorn. “Hospice is there to help you as a family member be the strongest you can be through a very difficult time. I have sat with lots of families throughout my career and comforted them through difficult times, but I didn’t truly understand the process until I became the family member who needed comfort and understanding. Berger Hospice gave me that.” Hospice is not a specific place—nor is it about giving up. It’s another facet of medicine designed to assist patients and families during life-limiting conditions. “When a patient opts to receive hospice care, we don’t see it as giving up hope,” said John Bohlen, M.D., medical director of Berger Hospice. “Rather, it’s simply a refocusing of hope. Instead of searching for a cure, we’re searching for comfort and ways to enhance a person’s quality of life.”
Here to Guide, Here to Serve The hospice team at Berger is composed of a medical director, registered nurses, hospice aides, social workers, a chaplain, specially
trained hospice volunteers, bereavement counselors and auxiliary professionals as needed. “Too often patients wait longer than necessary to turn to hospice for help,” said Sister Monica Justinger, CSA, executive director of Berger Hospice. “If you or someone you love has a life-limiting condition, the sooner hospice becomes involved, the better for the patient. In fact, many people actually live longer when they utilize the program early on in their diagnoses. It’s the one form of medical care that you as a patient and/or family member are truly the directors of care.”
Compassionate Care VanHorn says she not only chose Berger Hospice because of her occupational affiliation—she chose it because she’d heard such wonderful things about it throughout the community. “I don’t even have the words to describe how wonderful and caring everyone was during my father’s illness,” VanHorn said. “They were so incredibly kind, caring and compassionate toward my father and my family. My dad was a very special person, and each and every person involved with his care at Berger Hospice took the time to get to know him. I’m fortunate it was such a positive experience for my father and my family. I cannot thank Berger Hospice enough.”
Support When You Need It Most Patients and their families can expect to receive a wide variety of 24-hour services from Berger Hospice in their chosen place of residence (home, assisted living facility or hospital), including: • assistance in connecting with community resources • bereavement support and counseling services • health education and nutrition counseling • pain and symptom management • personal care and companionship • physical and speech therapy, if needed • provision and management of medications • recommendation and arrangement for medical equipment • respite care
For more information about Berger Hospice, visit bergerhealth.com or call (740) 420-7950.
• spiritual needs support for any religious preference bergerhealth.com
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600 N. Pickaway St. Circleville, OH 43113
Permit No. 456
This publication in no way seeks to serve as a substitute for professional medical care. Consult your physician before undertaking any form of medical treatment or adopting any exercise program or dietary guidelines.
Beata Sterkowicz, M.D. Internal Medicine
Alan Ward, M.D. Internal Medicine
Deborah Fernandes, M.D. Pediatrics
Leah Adkins, M.D. OB/GYN
Carolyn Yost, D.O. OB/GYN
Robert Mueller, M.D. Orthopaedics
Convenient Care in Your Neighborhood We know your life is hectic, that’s why Berger Health System is committed to providing you convenient, quality healthcare services in your community. Turn to Berger Medical Center for: • diagnostic imaging, such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, X-ray, digital mammography and bone density screenings • laboratory services
• massage therapy
Walk-in appointments are available for certain imaging and laboratory tests. We also have expert physicians on-site to meet your family’s medical needs, including specialists in: • internal medicine • pediatrics • OB/GYN • orthopaedics Stop by and see us today! Berger Medical Center 9085 Southern St. at Rte. 104 Orient, OH 43146
To schedule an appointment, call (614) 277-4600. Berger Health System