Roanoke Valley Edition | Winter 2011 | CarilionClinic.org
Carilion Clinic Brings New Heart Treatment to Region
Resources to Keep You Healthy Nurse Line Our physician referral and health information service is here to help. Call us at 540-266-6000 or 800-422-8482, or e-mail us at direct@carilionclinic.org.
“Well Said” Speaker’s Bureau If you’d like a speaker on a health topic for your community group or workplace, call 540-224-4961or visit CarilionClinic.org/speakers.
Community Health Screenings Health screenings are available at little or no cost. Call 540-266-6000 or 800-422-8482, or e-mail us at direct@carilionclinic.org.
Website Tailored for You Check out these features at CarilionClinic.org: • Easy-to-use Physician Finder • Interactive maps to help you find your way to our locations • Health and wellness content, including an A-Z library • A community health education and events calendar
News Blog Keep up with the latest news, photos, videos and more at Carilion Clinic’s news blog. Visit newsblog.CarilionClinic.org.
Social Media Stay connected through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn: facebook.com/carilionclinic twitter.com/carilionclinic youtube.com/carilionclinic linkedin.com/companies/carilion-clinic
Publications Pick up a copy of verve at a magazine rack or grocery store near you. Or read past issues of verve and the Carilion Clinic Report at CarilionClinic.org/publications. For health tips and news about health events, check out our e-newsletter, Carilion Clinic Living, at CarilionClinic.org/living.
Ensuring Quality Care ............................ 3 News .......................................................... 4 Physicians Lead Weekly Walks .............. 5 Hypothermia Therapy ............................ 6 Treating Concussions ............................. 9 Around Our Community........................ 10 New Physicians ........................................ 12 Words to Live By ..................................... 14
Support Groups Support groups are available for a wide range of health needs, including gynecologic cancer, breast cancer, and perinatal loss. Learn more at CarilionClinic.org/support.
Health Information Centers Computer stations with health information are available at Carilion Clinic’s 3 Riverside building at the corner of South Jefferson Street and Reserve Avenue in Roanoke. Check out the audio library, video library, clinical wizards, health news and interactive tools.
Winter 2011 | CarilionClinic.org The Carilion Clinic Report, published three times a year, describes the many ways Carilion Clinic provides quality care to patients in southwest Virginia. If you would like copies of the Clinic Report, call 540-266-6000. Produced by Strategic Development Carilion Clinic is a health care organization with more than 600 physicians in a multi-specialty group practice and eight not-for-profit hospitals. For information, call 540-266-6000 or 800-422-8482. © 2011 Carilion Clinic All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication is strictly prohibited by law. Printed on recycled paper.
T H O U G H T S
Ensuring Quality Care Every few minutes, someone in this country goes into cardiac arrest. Once that occurs, immediate action is necessary to save the heart—and the brain. Deprived of oxygen, the brain can suffer irreversible damage in four to five minutes. That is why it is so rewarding to announce that Carilion Clinic has introduced hypothermia therapy, a state-of-the art treatment to give heart patients the highest quality care. This treatment, also called therapeutic hypothermia, cools the body to 32-34 degrees Celsius for 24 hours. It is being used for those whose hearts have been restarted but who remain unconscious. By slowing their metabolism, physicians are reducing the brain’s need for oxygen while it recovers from a period of insufficient blood flow. The therapy has been saving the lives of many, and has preserved cognitive function in many who would have lived—but impaired. It is one of a number of medical advances we have introduced over
O N
L E A D E R S H I P
By Ed Murphy, M.D. President and CEO, Carilion Clinic
the past year, reflecting our commitment to provide leadership in launching life-saving new treatments for patients throughout southwest Virginia. Beginning on page 6, we discuss the therapy and introduce you to the dedicated medical professionals administering it. An innovation of a different sort is a new program to promote healthy living in our community. Initiated by Elizabeth L. Polk, M.D., one of our family medicine physicians, it is called Physicians on Foot. Every Saturday morning, Carilion Clinic physicians lead walks for the public along the Roanoke River Greenway or inside Tanglewood Mall, depending on the weather. This program truly lets our physicians lead by example, and we hope it will encourage many to begin the habit of walking for pleasure and health. We also discuss this program in this issue. Finally, we are launching a significant brain study at the new Virginia Tech Carilion Research
Institute. This study will be the world’s largest on the brain and will follow the brain functions of thousands of people over the course of their lives. It has been compared to the Framingham Heart Study, which over 62 years has yielded invaluable data on heart disease—and influenced how it is treated. Our own research will break new ground by analyzing the development of human brain function and decision-making on a worldwide basis. Our biomedical scientists will also examine the genetic profiles of participants and seek to correlate genetic factors with brain function. We will keep you updated on this important development as research gets under way. ■ To your health,
President and CEO, Carilion Clinic
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N E W S
Dr. Werner Accepts New Position Carilion Clinic Physicians’ President and Chief Medical Officer Mark Werner, M.D. will be leaving his post this spring. Dr. Werner has accepted the position of chief clinical integration officer at Fairview Health Services in Dr. Werner Minneapolis. Fairview is a nationally recognized academic health care system with 22,000 employees, seven hospitals, and a partnership with the University of Minnesota Medical School. During his seven years at Carilion Clinic, Dr. Werner has been responsible for the development and daily operations of clinical departments, health plans and accountable care activities, research programs, and graduate medical education programs. He has also
overseen quality improvement and patient safety initiatives and participated in the development of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute. “Mark has been a leader, a partner, and a tireless worker in our efforts to improve quality, accountability, and patient care at Carilion,” says Carilion Clinic President and CEO Edward G. Murphy, M.D. “While we are sad to lose him, we celebrate his accomplishment and wish him great success.” “It was a difficult decision,” Dr. Werner says. “I have great colleagues and friends here doing excellent work at Carilion, but I’m excited by the opportunity to guide the vision and strategy of an organization of Fairview’s size and scope. I’m confident the physician leadership I leave behind will provide a strong foundation for Carilion’s future.” ■
Carilion Expands Genetic Counseling Services Thuy Vu, a genetic counselor with broad experience in clinical practice, teaching, and program development, has joined Carilion Clinic. She will provide cancer risk assessment and genetic counseling to patients for inherited cancer Thuy Vu conditions. Vu comes to Carilion from the Clinical Cancer Genetics Program at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Vu received her B.A. in biology at Austin College and her M.S. in genetic counseling at the University of Arizona. She is certified by the American Board of Genetic Counselors. In addition to cancer-related counseling, Carilion Clinic provides genetic counseling for a wide range of disorders associated with family history or a pregnancy.
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Emily Doherty, M.D., a clinical geneticist, provides care and counseling for children and adults with, or at risk of, hereditary syndromes. Ann Jewell, M.S. and Catherine Griswold, M.S., genetic counselors, provide counseling for pregnant women in the Prenatal Diagnostic Center. Genetic counseling can be provided by physicians trained in the specialty or by genetic counselors with a master’s or doctorate degree in the field. Reasons to seek genetic counseling include having a family history of cancers, heart defects, learning disabilities, mental retardation, psychiatric disorders, miscarriages or stillbirths, chromosome abnormalities such as Down syndrome, and hearing or visual impairments. ■ For more information, call Cancer Genetics: 540-5252195. Pediatric and Adult Genetics: 540-985-8454. Prenatal Genetics: 540-985-9985.
I N N O VAT I O N S
Physicians Lead Weekly Walks We all know we should exercise more. But few of us have doctors who offer to walk with us as a motivational tool. That is what Carilion Clinic physicians are doing in a new program called Physicians on Foot.
promote wellness for our patients,” she says. “It allows us to lead by example and encourage people to get started on an exercise program that they can continue long-term. The response from both the doctors and
Dr. Elizabeth L. Polk laces up her running shoes at Tanglewood Mall.
Over the past few months, doctors have led a two-mile walk along the Roanoke River Greenway or at Tanglewood Mall for the public every Saturday morning. The walks are the brainchild of Elizabeth L. Polk, M.D., a Carilion Clinic family medicine doctor. “I decided to start the program because I thought it would be a fun and easy way for our doctors to
the community has been overwhelmingly positive.” During most of the year, walks begin in front of Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital at 8:30 a.m. each Saturday and wind their way along the riverfront. During the winter, walks are held inside Tanglewood Mall. Each outing is led by a different doctor. One regular attendee is Bob
Cheeseman, 73, who underwent heart bypass surgery at Roanoke Memorial last summer. After completing Carilion Clinic’s cardiac rehab program, he now comes out to walk with his wife Arlene. “We began doing it for health reasons, but we’ve discovered that it’s a nice place to walk,” says Cheeseman. “We like the views, and we’ve met some good people. We enjoy it.” Says his wife Arlene: “It’s great to meet the doctors face to face, and they make us feel very welcome. It’s a nice walk for everyone. We’ve taken our daughter, and she’s brought her neighbor. I’ve even shot photographs along the way— it’s so pretty.” Doctors leading walks include Robert Glenney, M.D., Howard Graman, M.D., Henry R. Ivey, Jr. M.D., Christy L. Arthur, M.D., Benjamin Ernst, D.O., Donald G. Smith, Jr. M.D., and Stephen A. Morgan, M.D. As the program becomes better known, Dr. Polk hopes that it will continue indefinitely and build over time. “There is a strong core of 25 physicians participating, and we hope to gain more walkers as time goes on,” she says. ■ For more information, call 800-422-8482 or visit CarilionClinic.org/walking.
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F E AT U R E
Carilion Clinic Launches Hypothermia Therapy To treat cardiac arrest, physicians cool the body Thousands of people go into cardiac arrest each week across the United States. Of those who are resuscitated and survive, many suffer brain damage as a result of their ordeal. To give patients in southwest Virginia the greatest chance of recovery from cardiac arrest, Carilion Clinic has begun using a state-of-the-art treatment: hypothermia therapy. By cooling the body to 32-34 degrees Celsius for 24 hours, doctors can slow a patient’s metabolism, thus reducing the brain’s need for oxygen while it recovers from a period of insufficient blood flow. “I can attest to the tremendous outcomes this treatment can provide.” — Dr. John H. Burton
The treatment, also called therapeutic hypothermia, is being adopted by a growing number of U.S. hospitals. It is credited with saving the lives of many who would otherwise be given up for dead or who would have lived—but with brain damage. Until recently, if a person’s heart stopped beating, the brain would die after six to 10 minutes. Today, individuals whose hearts stopped for 20 minutes or more have been given hypothermia therapy and have gone on to live with all or most of their cognitive abilities intact. “If your heart stops due to cardiac arrest, your chances of surviving are about 5 percent—if you live in an urban area,” says John H. Burton, M.D., chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Carilion Clinic. “In a rural area like southwest Virginia, the odds of survival are even less.”
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Dr. John H. Burton (left) and Dr. Joseph L. Austin discuss the cooling mechanism of the Arctic Sun technology.
Dr. Burton recently came to Carilion Clinic from Albany Medical Center, where he was involved in the New York hospital’s introduction of hypothermia therapy. He was also instrumental in launching the therapy at Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine. “I can attest to the tremendous outcomes this treatment can provide,” he says. Cardiac arrest—when the heart stops—can be trig-
F E AT U R E
A Team Effort The launch of Carilion Clinic’s hypothermia therapy involved a dedicated team of medical professionals, including nurses and hospital administrators. “It took a huge team to make this happen, and everyone was amazing,” says project manager Paul Davenport, R.N., who is also senior director of Carilion Clinic Patient Transportation. “What makes this accomplishment extra special was the passion and drive of every team member.” Those involved in bringing hypothermia therapy to Carilion Clinic include: Ann Hutchens, R.N., director of the Coronary Care Unit; Nancy Altice, R.N., clinical specialist in Cardiology Services; Linda Ferris, human resources specialist; Richard Dooley, physician assistant in Critical Care; Sidney Mallenbaum, M.D., medical director of Carilion Clinic’s Stroke Unit; Michael A. Donato, D.O., emergency medicine physician; and Anitha Malaisamy, M.D., pediatrician. For Davenport in particular, the effort was a poignant and personal mission. “On January 14, 2001, my mom suffered cardiac arrest while watching TV with my father,” he says. “My dad started CPR and called 911. Then the ambulance arrived and shocked her and got her
gered either by heart attacks or by heart arrhythmias. In either case, a person loses consciousness, and only immediate assistance to restart the heart, such as with a defibrillator or CPR, can prevent death. While the heart is stopped and cannot pump blood, the brain and body get deprived of oxygen. Restarting the heart and blood flow, however, also triggers a series of inflammatory responses and other reactions that can
Ann Hutchens, R.N. (left), Paul Davenport, R.N., and Nancy Altice, R.N., on the rooftop helipad at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
pulse back. “Three days later, my mother had no other medical conditions but was brain dead,” he says. “I made the decision to take her off life support, and eight days later, she died. “In today's world, she would have been cooled and probably would have survived.”
damage the brain. Hypothermia therapy is usually begun by emergency medical services personnel after they restore a patient’s heartbeat. Cold packs are placed under the armpits and in the groin, and iced saline solution is infused. In southwest Virginia, patients are then taken to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where they are
Carilion Clinic Report | Winter 2011
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F E AT U R E
A digital temperature gauge shows the cooling process under way; cooling pads are applied to the chest and thighs.
sedated and cooled further with a medical device called the Arctic Sun, manufactured by Medivance, Inc. Gel pads with icy water are applied to a patient’s skin, covering only part of the body so that other medical treatments can be performed as needed. After 24 hours, the system slowly warms a patient back to normal temperature. Hypothermia therapy can also be started once a patient arrives at the hospital, says Joseph L. Austin, M.D., medical director of the Cardiac Care Unit at Roanoke Memorial. “The important thing is to initiate it within six hours of cardiac arrest,” he says. Not every patient is a candidate for hypothermia therapy. It is used on those who remain unconscious after their hearts are restarted, and patients must have a systemic blood pressure of above 90, along with meeting other criteria. “By applying selection criteria, we are able to offer the therapy to the right patient population,” Dr. Austin
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says. “Studies show that about 20 percent of these patients will have a positive outcome.” Locally, that means that several patients a week are expected to receive hypothermia therapy. All applicable medical staff at Roanoke Memorial have been trained in the therapy. This includes emergency medical services personnel, the patient transportation staff, Emergency Department physicians and staff, cardiologists, Intensive Care staff, and Coronary Care Unit staff. “Launching this new therapy is the result of years of hard work and dedication on the part of many people,” says Dr. Austin. (See accompanying story.) “Hypothermia therapy requires a unified approach to care, and we are excited to have the support and coordination of all areas to make this a reality.” ■ For more information, go to CarilionClinic.org/coldtherapy.
PAT I E N T
T E S T I M O N I A L
Treating Concussions Carilion Takes Lead in Developing New Protocols It was the third quarter when Hidden Valley High School football safety Jake Kite got slammed. Kite, 5’ 11” and 165 pounds, collided with an even bigger player for the Brookville Bees. Kite fell to the ground, so dizzy he couldn’t get up. “I didn’t know what was going on,” he says. “They wouldn’t let me back in the game.” Kite, a sophomore, had suffered a concussion. Across the nation, concussions in young athletes are believed to be under-recognized and undertreated. It is also thought that concussions, improperly treated, can delay learning and create emotional or behavioral problems. Within moments of his own injury, however, Kite was examined on the sidelines by Brent Johnson, M.D., a Carilion Clinic orthopaedic surgeon. Dr. Johnson is one of several Carilion physicians who specialize in sports medicine and who work with local teams to prevent and treat injuries. Dr. Johnson is also part of a Carilion Clinic team that has developed new protocols for treating concussions. This team, which includes orthopaedic surgeons, neuropsychologists, and emergency room physicians, based its protocols on recent guidelines issued by the American Academy of
High school sophomore Jake Kite is the first person treated under new concussion protocols developed by Carilion Clinic.
Pediatrics for children and adolescents suffering from sportsrelated concussions. As a result, Kite was the first person in the region to be treated under the new protocols. He was prescribed “cognitive rest” and told to stay in a dark room, resting mentally so his brain could heal. No television, texting, video games, or other brain-stimulating activity was allowed. “Research has shown that restricting mental activity is just as or more important than physical rest,” says Carilion Clinic orthopaedic surgeon Thomas Miller, M.D., another member of the concussion protocols team. “Because of this, we’ve drastically changed how we diagnose and treat concussions in the last year. “It’s our hope that other health systems can use our guidelines to ensure accurate and consistent
treatments,” he says. Athletes, meanwhile, are encouraged to report all their symptoms. “It is extremely important that the athlete, who wants to play, recognizes as Jake did the importance of being honest and forthcoming with their symptoms,” Dr. Johnson says. As for Kite, proper treatment did mean that he had to miss a few classes. “A couple of days, I had to leave school early because I had a bad headache and couldn’t concentrate,” he says. But that was fine with Hidden Valley. Kite’s coach and trainer kept in touch with Dr. Johnson to ensure that Kite healed properly. And after a week and a half, Kite successfully returned to the football field. ■ For more information, go to CarilionClinic.org/concussions.
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C O M M U N I T Y
Around Our Community Pet Care Program Offers Comfort to Hospice Patients
Carilion Clinic Hospice has announced a new program, Pet Peace of Mind, which supports the unique bond between hospice patients and their pets. The program allows patients to complete their end-of-life journey without worrying about their pet’s current or future needs. It provides volunteer pet care services that include assistance with pet food, medication, and grooming costs; food and cat litter drop-off; veterinary needs; pets’ needs within the home; transportation to pet appointments; pet placement decisions; and emergency treatment due to accidents or life-threatening conditions. For more information, call 540-224-4795 or e-mail sghuntington@carilionclinic.org. ■ Women’s Health University to Feature Area Cardiologist
Heart disease, often called the silent killer, is the number one killer of women and affects women of all ages. Join Carilion Clinic on Thursday, February 3 at 11:30 a.m. at Women’s Health University to learn how to be heart-healthy at any age. Speaker Joann G. Journigan, M.D., a Carilion Clinic cardiologist, will discuss prevention tips, risk factors, signs of heart disease, and ways to take control of your health. For more information about heart-healthy events or Carilion Clinic’s regular health screenings, call 540-266-6000 or go to CarilionClinic.org/calendar to view monthly calendars of events. (Right: Dr. Joann G. Journigan) ■ Community Event Promotes Safe Disposal of Medications
Disposing of medications and drugs properly is a growing safety issue. Flushing them down the toilet can contaminate local drinking water, while keeping them around the house may invite theft. To give Bedford-area residents the opportunity to safely dispose of old or unwanted drugs, area organizations sponsored Operation Medicine Cabinet last fall. Many residents took advantage of the event to drop off a variety of prescription and other drugs. Operation Medicine Cabinet was sponsored by Bedford Memorial Hospital, Home Instead Senior Care, and the Bedford Police Department. ■ Carilion Clinic Donates Funds to Franklin County Traffic Safety Project
Carilion Clinic has donated $5,000 to “Lights for Life,” a community fund-raising project to improve traffic safety in Franklin County. The project aims to raise funds to equip Franklin County intersections with traffic signal-changing devices for use by emergency response vehicles. This need was highlighted after last year’s accident that killed Rocky Mount Fire Chief Posey Dillon and firefighter Danny Altice. Their fire engine, siren blaring and emergency lights activated, was struck in an intersection. Carilion Clinic made the donation in honor of its 1,100 employees who live in Franklin County. (Right: Carilion Clinic President and CEO Edward G. Murphy, M.D., at right, pledges Carilion’s support to L.D. Arrington, an organizer of the project.) ■
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C O MF M E A U TN UI TR Y E
Carilion Clinic Mourns Loss of Larry Wray
If you’ve visited Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital in recent years, there’s little chance you could have missed Larry Wray in his signature Stetson. A 35-year Carilion Clinic employee, Wray kept watch over the patient and visitor parking area at Roanoke Memorial. He also played a major role in managing vehicle and foot traffic at the entrance, and he especially enjoyed helping people find their way around the hospital. Wray passed away on November 7 and will be sorely missed. (Left: Larry Wray tips his hat to a visitor at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital.) ■ Carilion Clinic Sponsors Job Training Program for Special-Needs Students
Carilion Clinic has started a job-training program for students with severe disabilities such as Down syndrome and autism. Created under the auspices of the national group Project Search, the program allows students in their last year of high school to spend a year in the workplace acquiring competitive job skills. In Roanoke and the New River Valley, Carilion Clinic has partnered with Goodwill Industries of the Valleys, the Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services, and local school systems to provide job training for 12 students in Carilion Clinic offices and medical departments. The program is expected to grow in the future. (Right: Stephanie Mays of Franklin County works in the Carilion Clinic Contact Center as a telephone operator.) ■ Community Health Event Draws Crowd
On Saturday, November 6, Carilion Clinic celebrated the first anniversary of Riverside Center with free health screenings, physician forums, and other events for the public. Attendees also toured medical facilities, saw a robotic surgery system, and viewed state-of-the-art, orthopaedic surgery demonstrations. Fun activities for children, live music by the William Penn Trio, and a gourmet coffee bar rounded out the day. It all took place at 3 Riverside Circle, the new outpatient facility that places physicians together in a central location where they can work collaboratively to improve patient care. (Left: Attendees watch a demonstration of the robotic da Vinci Surgical System.) ■ MS Society Honors Carilion Clinic for Its Contributions to Community
Carilion Clinic was recently inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Blue Ridge Chapter of the National MS Society. The chapter’s Terry Phelps Volunteer Hall of Fame was created to recognize volunteers who are committed to ending the devastating effects of multiple sclerosis and who have made substantial contributions to the chapter. To become a Hall of Fame candidate, corporations must have contributed over $75,000 to the society. (Right: Dr. S. Clifford Schold, Carilion Clinic section chief of neurosciences, at left, accepts the award from Jay Turner, who presented it on behalf of the society.) ■
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P H Y S I C I A N S
New Physicians Prominent Gastroenterologist Joins Carilion Clinic Paul Yeaton, M.D., a leading gastroenterologist recognized for performing and teaching advanced endoscopic techniques, has joined Carilion Clinic. Dr. Yeaton, whose special focus is the evaluation and treatment of pancreatic diseases, both benign and malignant, was formerly with the University of Virginia. One of his specialties is performing advanced endoscopic examinations of the colon and stomach, which includes nonsurgical management of large Dr. Yeaton lesions and polyps of the stomach, duodenum, and colon. (An endoscope is an instrument, often a flexible tube with a tiny camera, used to examine organs within the body.) In addition, Dr. Yeaton will be performing a new clinical service—endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)—at Carilion Clinic. Up to now, patients have had to travel to the University of Virginia or to Wake Forest
University for such testing. EUS is used to evaluate and treat diseases of the esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, colon, and rectum. It is an important adjunct to surgery for cancers. Dr. Yeaton comes to Carilion Clinic from the University of Virginia Health System, where he was also associate professor of internal medicine at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. He is board-certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology. He received his M.D. degree from West Virginia University and served his residency in internal medicine there. He completed a fellowship in gastroenterology at the University of Virginia and another in therapeutic endoscopy at the Free University of Brussels. Dr. Yeaton practices at Carilion Clinic Gastroenterology at 3 Riverside Circle in Roanoke and can be reached at 540-224-5170.
Department of Medicine
Michael A. Riel, D.O., F.A.C.P., F.A.C.G. Gastroenterology
Umar F. Sofi, M.D. Pulmonary and Critical Care
Education: University of Arkansas at Little Rock Medical Degree: Kansas City University of Medicine and the Biosciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine Residency: Internal medicine, Eisenhower Army Medical Center Fellowship: Gastroenterology, Brooke Army Medical Center 110 Akers Farm Rd., Christiansburg, VA 24073 540-382-9405
Education: Kashmir University, Hazratbal, India Medical Degree: Government Medical College Srinagar, Kashmir, India Residency: Internal medicine, Episcopal Hospital Fellowship: Pulmonary and critical care, UMDNJ University Hospital 2001 Crystal Spring Ave., Roanoke, VA 24014 540-985-8505
Ajita Kundaikar, M.D. Hospitalist Education: Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education at City College (CUNY) Medical Degree: SUNY Downstate College of Medicine Residency: Internal medicine, Rhode Island Hospital/Miriam Hospital, Brown University Medical School 1906 Belleview Ave., Roanoke, VA 24014 540-981-7000
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P H Y S I C I A N S
Department of Emergency Medicine
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
Timothy J. Fortuna, D.O. Emergency Medicine
Anita S. Kablinger, M.D. Psychiatry
Education: Rochester Institute of Technology Medical Degree: New York College of Osteopathic Medicine Residency: Emergency medicine, SUNY Upstate Medical Center 1906 Belleview Ave., Roanoke, VA 24014 540-981-7000
Education: McMaster University Medical Degree: Finch University of Health Sciences, The Chicago Medical School Residency: General Adult Psychiatry, University of Florida 2017 South Jefferson Street, Roanoke, VA 24014 540-981-8025
Department of Pediatrics
Department of Primary Care and Regional Medicine
Michael Burbridge, D.O. Pediatric Hospitalist
Alicia G. Hollis, D.O. Internal Medicine
Education: University of Florida Medical Degree: Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine Residency: Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center 1906 Belleview Ave., Roanoke, VA 24014 540-981-7000
Education: University of Virginia Medical Degree: Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine Residency: Carilion Clinic Internal Medicine Residency Program 3 Riverside Circle, Roanoke, VA 24016 540-224-5170
Daniel J. Mackey, M.D. Pediatric Critical Care
Mary D. Leatherland, M.D. Family Medicine
Education: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Medical Degree: University of North Carolina School of Medicine Residency: Internal medicine/pediatrics, Baystate Medical Center Fellowship: Pediatric critical care, University of Virginia 1906 Belleview Ave., Roanoke, VA 24014 540-981-7000
Education: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Medical Degree: University of Maryland School of Medicine Residency: Cabarrus Family Medicine Residency Program 6920 Roanoke Rd., Shawsville, VA 24162 540-268-1400
Department of Surgery
Kelly Henchel, M.D. Pediatric Medicine
Peter S. Mikhail, M.D. Cardiothoracic Surgery
Education: Michigan State University Medical Degree: Wayne State University School of Medicine Residency: Pediatric medicine, St. John’s Medical Center 1030 S. Jefferson St., Suite 106, Roanoke, VA 24016 540-985-8230
Education: John Abbott College Medical Degree: McGill University Residency: Cardiothoracic surgery, University of Florida General surgery, University of Toronto 2001 Crystal Spring Ave., Roanoke, VA 24014 540-853-0100
Looking for a physician? Visit CarilionClinic.org or call 540-266-6000 or 800-442-8482.
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W O R D S
T O
L I V E
B Y
Putting on the Stetson from the grandparents of a young As you may already know, we girl who had tonsil surgery. They lost a giant of a man earlier this year. While Larry Wray’s job was to wrote to Tara Lynch, a child life specialist at Carilion Clinic Chilkeep watch over patient and visitor traffic at Carilion Roanoke Me- dren’s Hospital, and copied us. Here’s an excerpt from their morial Hospital, the truth is, he letter: kept watch over us all. It is still dif“A couple of weeks ago one of our ficult to accept that he is gone. granddaughters … had her tonsils (See story on page 11). removed. Many would consider this Recently, I was driving past the entrance to the hospital and saw, out of the corner of my eye, a figure wearing a Stetson hat. My mind automatically assumed it was Larry before reality intervened. One of our young parking attendants was wearing a hat similar to Larry’s. In Larry’s absence, he had stepped up, “put on the Stetson,” and was trying to follow the example that beloved man had set for us. Tara Lynch with a patient at Carilion It occurs to me that “putting on Clinic Children’s Hospital. the Stetson” is a fitting metaphor for the quality of care that Carilion Clinic employees provide every day. minor surgery, but it was not minor for her and because of that it was not We are fortunate to have many exminor for us … you gave her a sense ceptional people on staff, and their dedication and expertise benefit our of comfort and a sense that even though she had to go through this, that patients in immeasurable ways. We are also grateful when people you would be with her through it all. “On the day of her surgery, you take the time to thank us for the care they or their families received. were indeed there for her and that meant so much. But in addition, you We recently heard, for instance,
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By Nancy Howell Agee Chief Operating Officer, Carilion Clinic and President, Carilion Clinic Hospital Division
were there for us as well … We thank God for you and that there are still some people out there like you who truly do care and take the opportunity to provide excellent patient care seriously.” Another recent letter concerned one of our surgeons in the New River Valley, Dr. Charles Harris, who was able to diagnose and help a young woman suffering from debilitating pain. The young woman’s mother wrote: “You are the miracle I prayed for Dr. Harris. You have made a difference in the life of our daughter, and by the nice things I heard about you from the hospital staff, nurses, even the girls helping in the waiting room, your gentle kindness has touched the lives of so many people.” Tara and Dr. Harris are just two of the medical professionals who deliver exemplary care every day in Carilion Clinic hospitals and outpatient facilities. It is also the kind of care that our dear friend Larry Wray stood tall for. In his memory, we are all proud to “put on our Stetsons” and to provide compassionate, quality care that makes a difference in our patients’ lives. ■
T H E
R O A N O K E
VA L L E Y
Carilion Clinic Provides over $154 Million in Community Benefit In 2009, Carilion Clinic provided $154.9 million in community benefit. This was almost seven times the value of its tax exemption.
▲
Community Benefit: $154.9 million
Carilion Clinic also provided $20.8 million in health professions education, $2.7 million for community health improvement, $1.6 million in contributions such as grants to community health organizations, and $680,430 in research spending. Community benefit, as defined by the IRS, includes contributions to community groups and projects, community outreach such as free
Tax Exemption: $22.7 million ▲ Fiscal Year 2009
To look at it another way, if Carilion Clinic were a tax-paying organization, it would have paid $22.7 million in taxes. Instead, for every dollar of tax exemption, Carilion Clinic gave almost $7 back to the community. Most of this—$129 million— was for uncompensated patient care. This included charity care; Medicare and Medicaid patient costs for which Carilion Clinic was not compensated; and the costs of providing care that were later classified as uncollectible.
Carilion Clinic sponsors many community health screenings each month throughout southwest Virginia.
health screenings, and investments in education to train new physicians and medical professionals. Carilion Clinic provided community benefit extensively in the Roanoke Valley, New River Valley, and Giles, Tazewell, Franklin, Bedford, and Rockbridge Counties. ■
Roanoke Valley Community Benefit (partial listing) Total uncompensated care: $88.2 million Charity care: $41.7 million Unreimbursed Medicare and Medicaid costs: $32 million Care classified as uncollectible: $14.5 million Community health improvement: $1.9 million Included 1,048 public health screenings and presentations provided to 37,157 people. Health professions education: $20.8 million Included physician residency programs and support for Jefferson College of Health Sciences. Contributions: $1.2 million Included grants to local organizations providing physical, mental, and dental health care services. Research: $660,850 Included support for 59 medical research projects.
Carilion Clinic Report | Winter 2011
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Call one of our offices to schedule your appointment today: Hospitals and Emergency Rooms Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital 540-981-7000 Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital 540-985-8000 Urgent Care 540-985-8465 (Monday – Sunday: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.)
Family Medicine 3707 Brambleton Ave., S.W. 540-725-7800 18080 Main St., Buchanan 540-254-1239 3369 Colonial Ave. 540-772-0555 46 Wesley Road, Daleville 540-992-4100
6415 Peters Creek Road 540-265-5500 37 Laymantown Road, Blue Ridge 540-977-1436 415 S. Pollard St., Vinton 540-983-6700 1314 Peters Creek Road 540-562-5700 2102 W. Main St., Salem 540-375-0600 2145 Mt. Pleasant Blvd. 540-427-9200 150 Spartan Drive, Salem 540-389-5093 Gynecology 102 Highland Ave., S.E. 540-985-9715 Internal Medicine 3 Riverside Circle 540-224-5170 Obstetrics and Gynecology 213 McClanahan St. 540-343-1224 102 Highland Ave., S.E. 540-345-7103 150 Spartan Drive, Salem 540-389-5174
PAID
Roanoke, VA Permit No. 247
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage
Carilion Clinic physicians share a common goal: putting you first. Whether it’s for a wellness visit or to cure minor aches and pains, we are dedicated to keeping you healthy.
Carilion Clinic P.O. Box 13727 Roanoke, VA 24036-3727
Quality Care Centered on You
Obstetrics 902 S. Jefferson St. 540-985-9862 Pediatric Medicine 4040 Postal Drive 540-772-4453 89 Summers Way 540-992-1251 1030 S. Jefferson St. 540-985-8230 902 S. Jefferson St. 540-985-8230 (Addresses are Roanoke unless otherwise noted.)
Carilion Clinic also has more than 20 specialty practices, including 13 pediatric specialty practices. Carilion Clinic’s specialty centers include: Sleep Center, Breast Care Center, Wound Care, Urgent Care and Center for Healthy Aging. For emergencies, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. For more information, call 800-422-8482 or 540-266-6000.
To learn about our commitment to quality care, visit CarilionClinic.org/quality.