CENTR A FOCUS Healthy at Home
HEALTH AND WELLNESS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTHSIDE VIRGINIA | ISSUE 2, 2018
Community Paramedics Program
The Impact of Volunteers A long-standing commitment to service
Building a Seamless Experience Bedford Memorial Hospital Emergency Department
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EPILEPSY CENTER CENTRA FOUNDATION
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Centra Michael Elliott, PharmD Interim President & Chief Executive Officer David Adams Executive Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer Bill Bass Senior Vice President of Community Hospitals & Regional Medical Centers Chris Thompson, MD Senior Vice President & Chief Medical Officer Lester Reed, MD Senior Vice President & President of Centra Medical Group David Gough Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer Jan Walker Senior Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer Curt Baker Chief Nursing Officer
Board of Directors Amy G. Ray George R. Zippel Michael I. Elliott, PharmD Albert M. Baker, MD Michael V. Bradford Peter Caprise, MD Julie P. Doyle Sharon L. Harrup Hank Hubbard Todd Irby Thomas Nygaard, MD Verna R. Sellers, MD Amanda N. Stanley Francis E. Wood Jr. R. Sackett Wood Officers David Gough David Adams
Board Chair Board Vice-Chair Interim President & CEO
HEALTHY AT HOME
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THE IMPACT OF VOLUNTEERS
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Community Paramedics Program
Treasurer Secretary
Foundation Board of Directors Mark D. Townsend, MD George A. Hurt, MD Michael I. Elliott Beth A. Doyle David G. Gough Robert R. Chapman III Melanie F. Christian Theodore J. Craddock Thomas J. Delaney, MD Michael J. Diminick, MD MaryJane T. Dolan Paul F. Fitzgerald, MD Robert H. Gilliam Jr. John J. Halpin, MD Janet Hickman, MD Yuille Holt III Augustus A. Petticolas Jr., DDS Amy G. Ray Elliot S. Schewel John H. Sorrells III Timothy R. Tharpe
CONTENTS
Board Chair Board Vice-Chair Interim President/CEO Executive Vice President Treasurer
A long-standing commitment to service
CENTRA EPILEPSY CENTER
16
BUILDING A SEAMLESS EXPERIENCE
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A FAREWELL FROM THE FOUNDATION
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Making specialty care easily accessible
Renovated emergency department at Bedford Memorial Hospital
Medical Staff Officers Lynchburg General & Virginia Baptist Shawn Hayes, MD President Wade Neiman, MD Vice President Bedford Memorial Michael Cook, MD Hillary Basham, MD
President Vice President
Southside Community Kwabena Donkor, MD Kirsten Huber, MD
President Vice President
Reflections from Kathryn Pumphrey, EdD, former executive vice president
Editorial Staff Angela Bryant Debbie Cluck Dana Poleski Steven Bowler Contributing Photographers Andrew Wilds
Vice President of Marketing, Strategic Planning & Consumer Insights Director of Marketing Editor Assistant Editor, Writer
To place your name on our mailing list, call Centra Communications & Marketing, 434.200.4730. Centra is a regional, nonprofit healthcare system based in Lynchburg and serving central and southside Virginia. We are comprised of Centra Lynchburg General, Virginia Baptist, Southside Community, and Bedford Memorial hospitals; the Centra Medical Group network of primary care and specialty practices; senior care services; mental health services; and numerous other health facilities and programs throughout the region.
Contributing Writers Diane Ludwig, Kathryn Pumphrey, EdD
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The Centra Community Paramedics Program team, L to R: Tom Sheppard, Lincoln Barnes, Jimmy Mitchell, Melinda Leebrick, Diron Martin 2 | CENTR A FOCUS
Healthy at Home The Centra Community Paramedics Program makes a positive impact and a lasting impression Centra has taken another step forward in providing healthcare that meets patients where they’re at — literally. When people are sick or injured, they’re accustomed to visiting their healthcare providers for medical care. However, there are some patients who could benefit from a different approach. These individuals either frequent the hospital or their condition presents an obstacle to going out and getting the care they need. Patients now have an option that brings medicine and long-term care right to their homes.
T
The Centra Community Paramedics Program serves those in the community diagnosed with any of four chronic diseases or those who have had multiple admissions to the hospital in a 12-month timeframe. The four diseases include: yy Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD)
yy Congestive heart failure yy Hypertension yy Diabetes The Community Paramedics Program officially launched in January 2018 and addresses issues preventing a patient from being successful with their at-home care. Potential candidates for this program are contacted during one of their hospital visits. A member of the community paramedics team will stop by and share details about the
program, and those who wish to participate can expect a weekly visit from a paramedic for four to six weeks. During that time, the community paramedics identify and address specific aspects of the patient’s home life that have caused the most issues leading to their hospitalizations. These participants have access to community paramedics 24/7 if they have a question or need assistance. One of the great benefits to this program is that it’s offered at zero cost to the patient or their family. Centra also does not bill insurance for their visits. The main goal is to partner with patients to break down any barriers of care they may have and help patients care for themselves safely at home — regardless of their ability to pay for this service.
The main goal is to partner with patients to break down any barriers of care they may have and help patients care for themselves safely at home — regardless of their ability to pay for this service.
Developing the Program This program is funded by Centra and the Centra Foundation — with startup costs of $300,000. It was developed over a 40-month period, with 18 months of that time conducting a community needs assessment of a ISSUE 2, 2018 | 3
Centra’s 9,200-square-mile coverage area to build the most effective plan. This plan was based on research conducted on other community paramedicine programs across the country. Dedicated to the best possible community health initiatives, Centra’s program is the first hospital-based community program operating in the state of Virginia. After researching other programs and determining the needs of central Virginia, the team began a pilot program in January 2017 to ensure the plans were the most effective before applying them to a larger number of patients. During that year, they served 12 patients before officially launching the program in 2018. Since that time, the team has had 460 patients in the program, each of who stays enrolled for an average length of three and a half weeks.
The Paramedics Team The program is led by Jimmy Mitchell, supervisor of training for Centra, and includes four nationally registered paramedics. Combined, the community paramedics team brings over 68 years of paramedic experience. Additionally, each of the four employees have been part of the Centra family for over 10 years. Jimmy, a firefighter for 25 years, credits their past experience in emergency medicine for helping shape the program to what it is today.
Each patient has a tailored plan to help them succeed. When the team found out a bilateral amputee was having trouble getting down his concrete stairs, they jumped into action. This gentleman loved sitting outside under his old oak tree, and since his hospitalization, he hadn’t been able to do so.
Jimmy Mitchell
“This program gives me the ability to provide the care to the community that I would want provided to my family. Knowing you’re not just concentrating on a 30-minute medical emergency and that you are caring for someone in their daily life—not just an immediate need—is an incredible feeling,” says Jimmy.
When asked why this work is so important to him, Jimmy, with tears in his eyes, said, “This program gives me the ability to provide the care to the community that I would want provided to my family. Knowing you’re not just concentrating on a 30-minute medical emergency and that you are caring for someone in their daily life — not just an immediate need — is an incredible feeling.”
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During the home visits that Jimmy and the others perform, anything that keeps a patient from being successful in their home is addressed over the course of those four to six weeks. From grocery store trips and nutritional planning to medication and moving rugs so patients don’t fall, Jimmy and his team break those barriers down. Jimmy says that no solution is off the table.
Jimmy and his team rolled up their sleeves and spent the afternoon building a wheelchair ramp. Since that day, the paramedic team has built six more ramps at homes to ensure patients can come and go safely and comfortably. “Our goal is to find whatever we can do to make our patients successful at home,” says Tom Sheppard, former firefighter and current member of the community paramedics team. “We help them learn to selfmonitor their conditions, so they know when something changes — they know when to call for help before it turns into an emergency,” says Tom.
Dr. Kayla Long, medical director of the Community Paramedics Program and emergency room physician with Centra, further explained that the program helps to bridge the disconnect between a patient’s hospital visit and their return home. “After a patient is discharged from the hospital, it can be a confusing time,” said Dr. Long. “They have survived this hospital ordeal, have new medications, and likely have to find new ways of adapting their everyday life.” a
Each patient has a tailored plan to help them succeed. When the team found out a bilateral amputee was having trouble getting down his concrete stairs, they jumped into action. This gentleman loved sitting outside under his old oak tree, and since his hospitalization, he hadn’t been able to do so. Jimmy and his team rolled up their sleeves and spent the afternoon building a wheelchair ramp. Since that day, the paramedic team has built six more ramps at homes to ensure patients can come and go safely and comfortably. Photos of a deck being built for one of the community paramedics team’s patients.
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Melinda Leebrick, the newest member of the Community Paramedics Program, echoed that sentiment, saying, “Participants of this program have an extra set of eyes on them. Being recently discharged from the hospital can be overwhelming, and we’re there to give them the peace of mind that they are doing the right things.” Lincoln Barnes, a community paramedic and Lynchburg City firefighter, sees the home visits as impactful to a patient’s care. He said, “Sometimes a patient just needs a little help when they first get home — someone to point them in the right direction.”
The paramedics team travels to these areas in a vehicle that’s been outfitted to function as a mobile ambulance. They have medical equipment on board that allows them to treat emergency situations and conditions as well as perform advanced assessments on the spot if needed. During a routine visit, the team will check vital signs, go over medications, check for home safety issues, and determine if there are additional needs that are unmet.
Community Relationships Through the program, patients are also connected with various community resources. Tom explained, “We are always looking for agencies to partner with to provide the care our patients need.” These resources can range from ensuring patients have home-cooked meals, nutrition counseling for their chronic condition, delivery of their pharmacy needs, and transportation to and from appointments.
Benefiting the Patient This impact is clearly seen, as the Centra Community Paramedics Program currently has a 93 percent success rate in keeping patients out of the hospital and at home. The national average is only 30–45 percent. Hospital readmission rates have been a hot topic since their inception in 2010 as part of the Affordable Care Act. A hospital readmission occurs when a patient who had been discharged from a hospital is admitted again within a specified period of time (regardless of their diagnosis). Readmission rates have increasingly been used as an outcome measure in health research and as a quality benchmark for health systems. One of the reasons that preventing readmissions is beneficial for the community is because it decreases any financial penalty the health system could face from Medicare, freeing up Centra’s resources to assist more patients with their needs.
Each member of the community paramedics team agreed that the relationships they form with their patients are their favorite part of this work.
Expanding the Program Currently, the community paramedics see patients who live in Altavista, Amherst, Brookneal, Bedford, and Lynchburg. However, the next phase of expansion for the program will include Farmville and its surrounding area. The plan is to eventually expand the program to Centra’s entire coverage area, which stretches from Farmville to Bedford, Amherst, and Danville. While the timeline for this expansion is still being determined, the coverage area is expected to double in size within the year.
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Additionally, the program can offer home repairs or modifications that are needed to ensure safety. The service is specifically designed around long-term solutions that keep the patient in mind and help them achieve their at-homecare goals. When asked, each member of the community paramedics team agreed that the relationships they form with their patients are their favorite part about this work. As paramedics, their interactions in the past have always been emergencies or situations that required quick care.
This program takes them to a patient’s home, where they can truly get to know one another. This connection is exactly what Ray Martinez, a current bariatric patient in the program, characterizes.
Ray and Kathy Martinez Ray and his wife, Kathy, have been married for over 40 years and are high school sweethearts. Soon after marrying, they moved to Lynchburg. They raised two children and have three beautiful grandchildren. Watching them with each other, you can instantly tell they’ve been together for a long time.
Lincoln Barnes and Diron Martin check a patient’s blood pressure from the comfort of his own home.
Kathy has the innate ability to know Ray’s needs before he even realizes them, and Ray has the ability to keep Kathy smiling and laughing. Together, they make a wonderful team. As of May 2018, Ray had not left the house since March 2017. He developed a rash in February 2018 and needed to see a physician. Since Ray was bedridden, getting him out of the house and into a clinic was challenging. Ray said after he called several clinics and was met with one obstacle after another, he finally called his insurance, Piedmont Community Health Plan (PCHP), and they were able to connect him with the Community Paramedics Program. Dr. Long came out with the paramedics one afternoon and assessed Ray in his home. She was even able to call in his prescriptions without him having to leave his home. Since then, the paramedics team has been out to see the Martinez family several more times. The team is also
able to safely transport Ray to his doctor’s appointments, giving him the peace of mind that he had been looking for. Ray said the program takes the pressure off him and his wife and adds security. “You know they’re there for you. They will come by or call and check on you,” explained Ray. “I am incredibly grateful for the program. It keeps me from getting frustrated.” Kathy agreed, saying, “To have a person call you or come see you is invaluable — it’s that personal contact.” The couple hope other people take advantage of the program and stay informed about the resources out there. In order to continue helping as many patients as possible, the team is expanding its services. The Centra Community Paramedics Program hosts free monthly classes for friends, families, and caregivers. For more information, visit CentraHealth.com.
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The Impact of
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A long-standing commitment to service
As a health system, caring for people in the community is central to not only what we do, but also who we are. From the top down, each member of Centra’s staff is dedicated to providing the utmost in quality of care to maintain and improve the health of our community. However, this commitment to service isn’t just found within our organization. It’s found within you, our community. We’ve been blessed over the years to witness firsthand the genuine, caring nature of those men and women who’ve chosen to volunteer their time to care for others in the community. Across our organization, these hundreds of individuals characterize what it really means to live in a community. They come to give back and help care for each other, and those are ideals that we are proud to share.
Across our organization, these hundreds of individuals characterize what it really means to live in a community.
They come to give back and help care for each other, and those are ideals that we are proud to share.
They give their time, effort, and hearts to help, encourage, befriend, and care for patients in their times of need. Our volunteers are an integral part of the care we are able to provide to people. It’s not because of the jobs they do — although those are important — it’s the connection they develop with others and with us. We believe that while providing clinical care, it’s essential to give the highest level of personal care.
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We are committed to investing in the community through more than the services we offer. We look to forge relationships and offer support in many areas of life. Whether it’s through the Centra Foundation’s financial giving or our staff’s involvement in local events, we actively look for ways to engage with and strengthen our community. Our volunteers’ hard work within our organization is a great example of the symbiotic relationship that Centra and the community enjoy. Our volunteers provide many services from working at the front desks and greeting people to working with our hospice patients. Their giving nature and warm smiles are a constant encouragement to patients and inspiration to staff.
They all have their own reasons for why they do what they do. They’ve chosen different areas and ways to serve, but each person shares a common story and bond. They represent the best in all of us, giving to and loving others. The following volunteers are a small sample of the countless men, women, and high school and college students across Centra who infuse a welcomed community involvement and personal touch to healthcare.
Betty Pennington Centra Alan B. Pearson Regional Cancer Center
Seventy-nine-year-old Betty Pennington’s volunteer story began years ago. Betty said, “I started working at Centra Virginia Baptist Hospital, and I probably did eight years of volunteer work there in three different departments.” After her husband became ill, she said, “I felt the need to be home.” However, she returned to volunteering soon after he passed away 12 years ago. Betty said, “I decided when the cancer center opened that I would like to be a volunteer there.” She explained, “My husband had several kinds of cancer at different times and recurrence a couple of times, so I was familiar with how to talk to him, be positive, be patient, and be encouraging. We went through maybe 15 years of cancer off and on.” She continued, “I started working there from the very beginning. I did some tours opening night, and I’ve been at the information desk since then.” “At the cancer center, everything is done to try and make the patient comfortable, make them feel at home, and make them want to go through the process,” Betty said. Betty, talking about what it means to her to be a volunteer, said, “I think it’s a way of giving back to the community and to patients. I’ve always been interested in the medical environment, so I felt like that would be the place for me.” Betty explained how even in the small things, she feels she can make an impact on someone’s day. She said, “There was one patient who was very lonely. He had lost his wife, and he was coming in for treatments. I would see him once a week. I went and got a puzzle, and I encouraged him to take it home. It would be something to keep his brain active, and it would be a good way to use some of his time. He took it, and he really enjoyed it.” “The best thing is probably getting to know a lot of different people and realizing there’s so many people out there with more problems than we have, and you can be a help to them. Many of them probably don’t see anybody else all day, so you can give them a cup of coffee to drink or talk to them when they come in or are waiting for their rides. I just enjoy being with the people, talking
“The best thing is probably getting to know a lot of different people and realizing there’s so many people out there with more problems than we have, and you can be a help to them.
to them, and trying to make an impact on their day,” she said. Betty highly recommended getting involved with volunteer work. She said, “You probably get as much or more out of volunteering than the patient gets, because it’s such an uplifting thing. You realize that the little aches and pains that you have is nothing when you consider what so many patients are going through.” a
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Dortha Steele
Bedford Memorial Hospital “I don’t mind not being paid,” jokingly said Dortha Steele, a spirited 90-year-old gift shop volunteer at Centra Bedford Memorial Hospital. She proudly stated, “I love people; I like to be with people; I love volunteering.” Dortha talked about how she enjoys spending time with her big family of four children, 11 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren. After her husband passed away about 10 years ago, Dortha’s daughter encouraged her to get involved with volunteer work. Dortha considered volunteering at Centra Lynchburg General Hospital, but because she still drives herself around, the distance to travel would have been difficult. However, her story became known, and a volunteer position at Bedford Memorial was offered to her, and she began working there two days a week. She said, “I love it. I love the work. I love to be with the people there in Bedford. All of them are really nice and so friendly.” Dortha brings years of experience to the table from various jobs she held in her life. She worked in wholesale, 5-and10-cent stores, hobby shops, as a telephone operator before there was the dial system, and at a torpedo station in northern Virginia during World War II. “I’ve been around awhile,” she said with a laugh. Dortha said that volunteering “means a lot to me. It gives me something to look forward to. I thank the Lord that I’m mentally able and physically able to do it. I’m going to keep on as long as I can.” She continued, “I enjoy being with the people there. The best part is knowing that I’m part of being a help to someone.” She also talked about how much she loves to support Bedford Memorial through working in the gift shop, describing how she even prays during her shift for customers to be sent to her. Dortha, encouraging others to volunteer, said, “I would recommend it highly to anybody who wants to contribute. You need to come — you’ll love it. I didn’t know what it was going to be like, but I went. I wondered if I could actually do the job.” She continued, “All of the volunteers are just wonderful — and the employees.” Having given over 1,800 hours of service to others, Dortha still feels grateful. She said, “I appreciate the opportunity. I like to do things for other people. I like to give.”
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Dortha Steele and Denise Edwards, gift shop manager at Bedford Memorial Hospital
Frances Butler Centra Hospice
“I’ve always been a volunteer, so it was kind of easy to pick up and be a volunteer with Centra Hospice as well,” said 84-year-old Frances Butler warmly. Frances continued, “I have been with the hospice program for approximately 34 years.” “I started out with classes at Centra Lynchburg General Hospital,” she said. “For the most part, I have worked at the Centra Hospice House for a number of years with the patients there. In the beginning, we did some of the cooking, but later regulations changed and we had to pick up our food from the hospital and bring it to the house.” Frances continued, “Slowly I went back to hospice patients in Amherst County, and occasionally I have a patient in Nelson County. Lately I have patients at the Centra Fairmont Health & Rehab Center.” Frances described what she typically does during her volunteering by saying, “I try very hard to go in there and speak with the patient and see if they will open up.” “In hospice, we’ve had people with diabetes, heart conditions, cancers, and in general just old age. I think it’s the most wonderful program that we could have. If someone wants to stay home, they can stay home. We bring to them a chaplain if wanted, a registered nurse if needed, and an aid who comes in to help with the bathing. If they need medicine, it can be picked up and brought to their home,” Frances said. She began volunteering with Centra Hospice because of her father-in-law who passed away from cancer. She said, “I saw an ad in the paper saying Lynchburg General was having a program on death and dying. I thought maybe that the hospital was an area I could get involved in, and that’s what I did.” Frances approaches volunteering with the mindset of creating genuine connections. She said, “I take the time to care about other people’s feelings. They might tell me about their family or about things that have happened in their lives, so it’s just a matter of conversation.” Frances spoke about how she approaches meeting the needs of hospice patients by “letting them know we’re caring for them. Sometimes I talk about what I’ve done in my day and try to get them to open up to me.” “I think it’s a wonderful program. You get more out of it than you can imagine really,” said Frances. a
Frances approaches volunteering with the mindset of creating genuine connections. She said, “I take the time to care about other people’s feelings. They might tell me about their family or about things that have happened in their lives, so it’s just a matter of conversation.” ISSUE 2, 2018 | 11
Gracie Lewis
Centra Alan B. Pearson Regional Cancer Center Gracie Lewis, 76, began volunteering at the Centra Alan B. Pearson Regional Cancer Center from the beginning. She said, “I really felt needed and felt like I had a place where I could make a difference.” She decided to volunteer her free time soon after retiring from Randolph College in 2007. Gracie and her husband, John, live in Lynchburg and have five children and 16 grandchildren. “I had a passion for cancer research and the whole field, because my mother had cancer (she had severe multiple myeloma), my dad had prostate cancer, my sister’s husband died with cancer, and our brother died with leukemia before Betty and I were born. So, it’s really been all around us,” she explained. Gracie said, “I started with tours when it opened, and I’ve been there ever since — every Tuesday morning.” She continued, “I really wanted to give back. You’re doing something to help people around you. It’s just kind of rewarding to be able to smile at someone and feel like you can maybe be a bright spot in their day when they come in.” She talked about a caregiver’s story that made an impact on her. She explained, “We have someone who lost their wife, and he is lonely. I think through the process of his wife’s cancer and meeting people there, we became a type of family to him. He will still come and sit in the back with the ladies who knit, and we’ve celebrated his birthday since his wife died.” Gracie continued, “He’s a bright spot when we see him come in. He is just friendly and feels like the cancer center did a lot for his wife, even though he lost her to cancer. He has a lot of respect for the center. That has made an impression on me because he went through a long process with her, and it ended so well as far as how he respects the doctors, the nurses, the nurse navigators, and those who cared for his wife.” It’s clear that Gracie loves what she does. “It’s a fun time. It’s just very warm and friendly,” she said. “The people that are there really do want to be there — and for the right reasons. They want to give back; they care about the people who are suffering.” Gracie said that the best part of volunteering is “working with the patients — seeing the patients come in.” She said, “They’re an inspiration. I feel like we get more inspiration from them than they get from anybody else.” 12 | CENTR A FOCUS
Gracie explained that she tries to meet the needs of patients who come to the cancer center through “eye contact when they come in and a pleasant greeting.” She said, “Once they are seated in the wheelchair, we roll them into the center, and in many cases, takes them upstairs or into the dressing room in the back when they are getting their radiation. They’re so appreciative. We’ll ask them if they need any water or anything, and many times they’ll come out and ask for some water or crackers, and they know that we’re there and won’t mind getting it for them.” She continued, “That’s why we’re there, to do those little extra things.”
Les Beebe
Centra Virginia Baptist Hospital “When I retired, my wife said, ‘You’re not going to sit around the house and do nothing.’ So, I went up to the hospital, and I started working with the Patient Discharge Department,” laughed Les Beebe, 74. He continued, “Now I work almost four days a week up there.” The former designer of 35 years for Weyerhaeuser/ International Paper started volunteering at Centra Virginia Baptist Hospital about 7 and a half years ago and is also on the hospital’s auxiliary board of directors. Les said, “Discharge seemed to fit me, because you meet a lot of people that way, and I knew a couple of people that did it. Later, they also had an opening at the front desk and asked me if I would do that on Monday afternoons, so I said sure. I really enjoy it.” Additionally, he fills in where needed. “I like helping people, working with people, and meeting people. I used to do a lot with Habitat for Humanity, and I met a lot of people there, so this just seemed like a natural fit,” he explained. Les volunteers with a joyful heart. He described his experience as, “I felt that there was a need — that hospitals needed people like me and other volunteers to help them out. And it’s enjoyable; I get my exercise walking throughout the hospital all day long. It’s a lot of fun meeting different people every day.” Les loves meeting new people, but he also enjoys those times a return patient remembers him. He mentioned how a recent patient he helped out of the mother-baby unit told him, “You took me out the last time I was here!” He developed a friendship with one patient who was coming to the hospital for physical therapy. Les said, “I’d greet her every time she came in. She started coming in a wheelchair, then a walker, then a cane, and then she was walking on her own. On her last day, she came up to me and gave me a big hug. She came back to the hospital a couple days later just to show me her car that they modified so she could drive it (because she had a stroke and could only use one side of her body). That meant a lot to me that she came back just to show me.” He continued, “A lot of people remember you, and I get to say hi to them as they come in and talk to them. They want to stop and talk to you. That’s the nice thing.”
Not one to let an obstacle get in the way of his service, Les continued to volunteer despite an injury to his knee. He said, “I still came up to volunteer even though I was limited in what I could do. I sat at the desk and just answered the phone and filled in the visitor log. That’s just as important to me, because it saves them from finding someone else to come in and work.” Les described his view on volunteering, “I try telling people to come up and volunteer. You’ll feel good about doing it. You’ll enjoy it. It has meaning.” a
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Helen Ferneyhough
Centra Lynchburg General Hospital Helen Ferneyhough, 79, decided to start volunteering at Centra Lynchburg General Hospital in 2008. The opportunity came amid a difficult time in her life, after her husband passed away in May of 2008 and her grandson had a motorcycle accident that July. Referencing her grandson’s accident, she said, “We were in the surgical waiting room for his surgery, and I saw information about the auxiliary, and I decided that was something I wanted to do. I called them, and they took me right away.” Helen explained, “I volunteer in surgicare. I take patients to their rooms and get them warm blankets and anything they need. I also volunteer in the gift shop once a week, and I sub in surgical waiting.” Talking about what it means to her to be a volunteer, Helen said, “It means a lot to me, because I feel like I’m helping and doing something for someone who needs it.” Seeing about 15 patients a day, she explained, “A lot of times when patients come into surgicare, they don’t have anyone with them. When you help them, I think they appreciate it.” She also said that her experience with other volunteers has been “great — it’s always been wonderful.” Helen explained, “The best part of volunteering for me is doing something for somebody. I don’t think any of it’s that hard. I get up early on Wednesday morning and go in and get there at quarter to six. I’ve just enjoyed it so much; it’s like a therapy to me. It’s a great experience, and I think it’s very rewarding.”
Become a Centra Volunteer We are proud of the efforts of all our volunteers and grateful for the impact that they’ve made on patients and visitors who come to Centra. There are opportunities to volunteer across many Centra services and locations. Here are some of the services and facilities whose patients and visitors benefit from the help and kindness of our volunteers:
Alan B. Pearson Regional Cancer Center Bedford Memorial Hospital Cardiac/Pulmonary Rehabilitation Fairmont Crossing Health & Rehabilitation Center
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Gretna Medical Center Centra Hospice Healthy Living Center at Jamerson YMCA Lynchburg General Hospital Mended Hearts Centra PACE
Rosemary & George Dawson Inn Southside Community Hospital Summit Assisted Living Summit Health & Rehabilitation Center Virginia Baptist Hospital
Shirley Mottley Centra Southside Community Hospital
“I’ve been a volunteer for about 25 years at Southside Community Hospital,” said Shirley Mottley, 78. “I’ve worked in the gift shop. I’m the president of the hospital auxiliary, and I’m also in charge of the fundraising.” “I’ve enjoyed it all. I really enjoy the fundraising — I like to make money,” she said with a laugh. She explained, “We’re a small auxiliary, but we do a lot of good things.” Shirley is involved in various events to help raise money to establish scholarships for those going into the medical field as well as contribute to the hospital for needed supplies, such as blanket warmers and thermometers. “I really feel like we make a difference when we give the students the scholarships. If I can, I go to the school and present it to them,” Shirley said. “I like to see them complete their education.” Shirley helps with more than fundraising. She said, “I’m in a couple of groups at church. We’ve crocheted and made things for the hospital and taken them to the pediatric department, and we’ve made afghans for the oncology department.” She talked about how, when interacting with people at the gift shop, you see everyone is different, but they all have a simple need that you can meet. Shirley explained, “They might come in there stressed, but if you say a few words to them with kindness, they usually change their attitudes.” Shirley urged others to volunteer saying, “It’s the most wonderful thing; it changes your life. You get close to people. You’re helping people. I like to meet new people, because I came in the community, and I didn’t know a soul but my husband and two children.” She loves what she does and the people whom she gets to work with at Centra Southside Community Hospital. Shirley said, “I just think that everybody is so generous and kind.” To learn more about where help is needed and how to become a volunteer, visit CentraHealth.com/Volunteer.
Shirley Mottley and Gwen Akers-Booker, special projects admin at Southside Community Hospital
ISSUE 2, 2018 | 15
Centra Epilepsy Center
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Making specialty care easily accessible
Access to care is essential for patients to be treated in a timely and convenient manner. That’s why Centra is dedicated to offering new services that meet the specific health needs observed in our community. Started in March 2018, the Centra Epilepsy Center is one example. “There is a large epilepsy population in central Virginia,” said Dr. Batool Kirmani, comedical director of Centra neurology and neurosurgery services and medical director of the Centra Epilepsy Center. Although epilepsy is managed by neurologists, 30 percent of patients do not respond to standard treatment and are in need of a higher level of care at a specialized epilepsy center.
Dr. Batool Kirmani, medical director of the Centra Epilepsy Center
Dr. Kirmani is trained as an epileptologist and sees patients at the center. She has previous experience developing a successful epilepsy center in central Texas and is looking to replicate that model for Centra. Dr. Kirmani shared a little bit about epilepsy and a common confusion associated with it. She explained, “Epilepsy is a chronic disorder, and it’s due to a problem with the electrical circuits of the brain. Whenever there is a misfiring from the brain, it creates an electrical brainstorm, and that’s when you see an epileptic seizure.” She continued, “There is a misconception about epilepsy that only something that shakes is a seizure, and that is not true. Seizures can present themselves differently. For example, if a patient is having memory lapses, that can be a seizure too.” “People are not aware of epilepsy. They don’t know how it presents and when to seek help, so that’s something that needs to be taken seriously,” said Dr. Kirmani. She went on to explain how in the future the center will be involved in community education on epilepsy. 16 | CENTR A FOCUS
The center was established to address a lack of access in the Lynchburg area to specialized epilepsy care. Dr. Kirmani said, “There is a need for it in the community, because there are a lot of patients being transferred, and they have been waiting on the list for the major epilepsy centers. With this type of epilepsy center, we can easily keep our patients here. Before, these patients had to drive to Richmond or Charlottesville to get this kind of treatment, and they are on the waiting list for two to three months.” This is often problematic for these men and women, since as Dr. Kirmani explained, “Epilepsy patients have limited means. The main thing is they cannot drive, and they’re dependent on caregivers and their ability to take days off to go to another city for treatment and a followup appointment.” Because of the time, inconvenience of travel, and additional costs associated with caregivers missing work and traveling, patients often don’t continue to seek the help they need. Dr. Kirmani reiterated, “There is a real need for these patients to have care here.” The Centra Epilepsy Center has a variety of services available to patients. Located in the Centra Medical Group Neurology Center, the outpatient ambulatory EEG unit has the capability of prolonged monitoring
for diagnosis purposes and in certain cases determining seizure frequency. Dr. Kirmani said, “Patients can take the brainwave study called an EEG (electroencephalogram) home and do it there, and we can detect what events they are having.” Additionally, there is the epilepsy monitoring unit, which provides video monitoring under medication withdrawal for accurate diagnosis, localization, and characterization of seizures as well as identification of seizure focus for presurgical evaluation. Dr. Kirmani said, “We have the epilepsy monitoring unit at Lynchburg General Hospital, where patients will come on Monday and be discharged on Friday. They will be hooked up to the electroencephalogram, and we have a control room with a 24/7 presence of EEG technicians.” She continued, “We’ll bring in patients for diagnosis of epilepsy and for surgical evaluation. Mainly we bring the patients in and slowly take them off their medications and try to let them have seizures to figure out which side of the brain the seizures are coming from. Then we do a series of tests, including MRI, speech evaluation, and other tests of neuropsychology. We have a neuropsychologist to perform these evaluations. If everything falls in place, they could be a candidate for surgery.” Centra has specialized surgeons on staff for these cases. Other standard treatment options like vagus nerve stimulation, clinical drug trials, and specialized diet options are also available through the center. “On the research side, we’ve already got acceptance for one trial involving an investigational drug to look at seizure clusters. There are more trials coming for patients who have failed on all of the regular medications that are marketed right now,” said Dr. Kirmani. Clinical drug trials are mainly for patients who have tried all the medications that are available on the market and have tried a surgery, such as the vagus nerve stimulation. Dr. Kirmani explained, “Some patients I have are on six or seven medications, and nothing has worked. They’ve exhausted all treatment options.” Additionally, in the near future, the center will have a social worker. Dr. Kirmani said, “The social worker provides support for the patients, acting as the liaison between the physician, caregiver, and patient. They help
Jenny Follett, NP, works with patients during their EEG and epilepsy monitoring.
arrange the prescription assistance, and they have support groups. The support groups are really important because they invite the caregiver and the patient, and if they have questions about resources in the community, social workers can help them.” The social worker partners with the Epilepsy Foundation to provide resources for patients who are looking for jobs and help coordinate their home health for what benefits they can qualify for having this chronic, debilitating disease. The Centra Epilepsy Center was started at Lynchburg General Hospital, and the plan is to roll out these services across Centra’s service area. For those interested in being seen at the Centra Epilepsy Center, contact your primary care provider. They can refer you to the Centra Medical Group Neurology Center. ISSUE 2, 2018 | 17
Building a
Seamless Experience Renovated emergency department at Centra Bedford Memorial Hospital
The emergency department at Centra Bedford Memorial Hospital was recently expanded to help provide better service and care to patients in their times of need. Reopened earlier this year, it now includes a dedicated entrance that is separate from the main entrance of the hospital. The renovation added 2,000 square feet of space, which allowed the hospital to expand to 14 treatment rooms and add two specialized rooms for mental health patients. Additionally, the triage area and quick registration locations were renovated, improving the overall experience. This renovation project is Centra’s latest investment in Bedford Memorial Hospital, after committing to a fiveyear capital improvement plan. 18 | CENTR A FOCUS
Janet Blankenship Medical emergencies can happen to anyone. Janet Blankenship can attest to that. She is not only a licensed nurse, but is also the current deputy chief of the EMS Division at Bedford County Department of Fire & Rescue. No matter who you are, in times of need, you want kind people and efficient processes helping you through your treatment. Janet, born and raised in Bedford County, is married with three kids and three grandchildren, and she enjoys volunteering and spending time with her family. She has been with the Bedford County Department of Fire & Rescue since 2006, but she’s been working with fire and EMS since her days as an intensive care unit nurse at Bedford Memorial Hospital in 1992. She oversees both career and volunteer EMS staff. She also works as a liaison between Bedford County Department of Fire & Rescue and Bedford Memorial Hospital. Toward the end of March 2018, Janet found herself on the other side of medical care. She was shocking her hot tub with a high concentration of chlorine powder to clean it, and when she turned the jets on, she happened to get hit with a mist of the chlorine in the face. Janet explained, “I really thought nothing of it, and it wasn’t really until the next day I noticed that my lips were burning.” She went on to say that the following day she began coughing. By Monday, April 2, she woke up having difficulty breathing with a high fever and had burns inside her mouth, so her daughter took her to Bedford Memorial Hospital’s emergency department. Janet praised the timeliness and professionalism of the staff in the emergency department. She said, “Everybody was immediately at my bedside. I had familiar faces there but also some whom I didn’t know yet. Everyone was right on top of it and just as nice as could be. Everyone was very professional, courteous, kind, and willing to help you.” Joshua Wilson, a physician assistant in the emergency department, assessed her and told her that she’d need to be admitted to the hospital overnight. They determined that Janet had bilateral pneumonitis (lung inflammation) from inhaling the chorine. Dr. Electra Martin ascertained that her condition had progressed into pneumonia. Janet said, “Nothing but a great experience up there. Whatever experience I had in the ER totally transferred to the floor.”
Janet talked about how attentive, responsive, and kind all the staff were. She said, “I couldn’t have asked for a better experience when I felt really rough. When you feel so bad, it was just a pleasant experience to know that people were caring. They cared about how you felt — cared about if you needed anything and what else they could do for you. You get a sense of this is what they want to do.” Janet continued, “The people who would do the cleaning were very courteous, and the people who brought your lunch tray had a great attitude. It’s just nice to see people come in and have a smile on their face.” She talked about how much confidence she has in Bedford Memorial and their ability to provide excellent care. Additionally, she conveyed how she loved all of the positive interactions between her and the staff and enjoyed the flow of care there from start to finish. She explained, “To me, it was the continuity of care, the consistency, and the hometown feel that you get there.” For more information on the new emergency department and services offered at Bedford Memorial Hospital, please call 540.586.2441 or visit CentraHealth.com/BMH.
ISSUE 2, 2018 | 19
A Farewell from the Foundation
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I’ve always loved helping others. Sometimes I joke that I’ve been a volunteer since birth, but I began volunteering a lot growing up, especially in middle school, high school, and college. I participated in outreach opportunities through my school, my church, and at a local hospital. Being communityminded has always been very important to me — I want to give back.
I have been able to have with people who have supported the foundation and the relationships that I’ve been able to cultivate with these men and women, who are ultimately the ones making the difference in the community. That’s been the most rewarding and inspirational part of my job. I have enjoyed working with our donors to help them fulfill their philanthropic goals.
Having served through the Centra Foundation for over 20 years and in fundraising for our community for more than 35 years, I can’t imagine a better path my life could have taken. Although I will fondly miss this role and the wonderful people whom I encounter daily, I feel that it’s the right time for the next leg of my journey to begin as I enter retirement.
I want to sincerely thank all of our donors for their generous contributions, the community for their unwavering support, our volunteers for their giving hearts, the Centra Foundation board for their expertise and dedication, as well as my staff at the foundation for their hard work and extreme focus over the years. Without all of you, the great work that the foundation has accomplished would not have been possible.
Looking back on the many great endeavors undertaken by the foundation since 1997, I’m just grateful that I could be a part of them. We developed the Community Health Initiative Fund for local grants as well as raised money for the Johnson Health Center. We were also able to raise funds through our capital campaigns for various major projects, including the East Tower at Lynchburg General Hospital, the Alan B. Pearson Regional Cancer Center, Centra Hospice, the breast diagnostic center at Virginia Baptist Hospital, and the Rosemary & George Dawson Inn. Additionally, through a partnership with the Children’s Miracle Network, the pediatric department was moved from Virginia Baptist Hospital to a renovated space at Lynchburg General Hospital. Funds raised for these purposes exceeded $70 million. Although I’ve thoroughly enjoyed each project that I’ve been blessed to be a part of, the Alan B. Pearson Regional Cancer Center has been one of my favorites. To think that the foundation played a role in raising funds to help make that center a reality is very fulfilling. Additionally, I really enjoyed seeing the Holcombe H. Hurt Community Health Center established, which we were able to donate $6.4 million toward the construction and some operating expenses. I believe strongly in the Centra Foundation mission, and the hardest part of retiring is to no longer be part of carrying that mission out. My heart has always been in helping to provide the highest quality healthcare to all individuals, and I know that we’re making a real difference in people’s lives. Over the years, the giving nature of our community has been such a joy to witness. I’ve loved all of the interactions 20 | CENTR A FOCUS
Although I officially retired in February, I have been in a consulting role with the Centra Foundation in the interim of finding my replacement. Now that Beth Doyle has been brought on, I am looking forward to the great work the foundation will continue to do under her leadership. I want to give myself some time to plan my next direction. However, I know that I will continue to serve people. I’m on several boards in the community, and I’ll always be a volunteer in some way. I will also spend more time with my wonderful family and devote some time to my writing. It continually amazes me how many people step forward to support this community and ensure it receives the best healthcare. Our donors have made a huge impact on this region. They’ve always been ready and eager to give. It’s my hope that these men and women will continue to support the Centra Foundation and Centra in the years to come, knowing that there are many more great things to be accomplished. Looking back on all that’s been done over the years, I’m humbled and blessed to have served in this role. When people remember the work that I’ve been a part of here, I want them to think about this great community that’s worked together to bring about better, healthier lives for our loved ones. Again, I thank you all so much for your support over the years and eagerly await the great work which is to come. Kathryn Pumphrey, EdD If you have questions about the mission or work of the Centra Foundation, please call Beth Doyle, executive vice president, at 434.200.4790 or visit CentraFoundation.com.
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After the ICU: Your journey to recovery
Join us to connect and learn from other patients and families who have had an intensive care unit (ICU) experience. Physical recovery is just the first step. After the ICU is a peer-led support group that provides a place where you can feel comfortable, focus on your needs, ask questions, and connect with others who have had a similar experience. Nurses and other members of the critical care team also attend the group to give support and guidance. After the ICU was designed to ease your recovery and give you the support you need to create your best life.
After the ICU: A Peer-Led Support Group The group meets on the second Thursday of each month from 6 – 7 pm at the University of Lynchburg Graduate Health Sciences Building
For more information on the support group, please call 434.200.3564 or email AftertheICU@gmail.com
