Summer 2018
Portable X-ray machine
FASTER CARE: The CVMC advanced diagnostic imaging staff members are excited about the new portable X-ray machine.
Technology upgrades lift CVMC to new levels WHEN CARSON VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER opened its doors for the first time 25 years ago, the goal was to provide high-quality healthcare services closer to home. Caring for the community’s
overall health and wellness has been CVMC’s driving focus in the time since, and an important part of that focus is the organization’s continued commitment to improvement. This commitment led to
the opening of a 23-bed acute care hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) early in the new millennium and has led to further expansion of services to include urgent care and enhanced primary care options
over the past several years. Recently, CVMC has incorporated several significant technological upgrades in an effort to further ensure the highest possible level of care to the Carson Valley community.
The Advanced Diagnostic Medical Imaging Department welcomed a new portable X-ray machine to the facility in March. The technology allows for bedside imaging and diagnostics throughout CVMC’s Emergency Department, Acute Care Hospital and ICU—all located on CVMC’s main campus in south Gardnerville. “We’re very excited to have access to this type of technology for our patients,” says Lars Ensign, MD, of the CVMC Emergency Department. “Now we have a machine that can be moved easily into the patient’s room. It has a viewing screen on it so that, with critically ill patients, I can see what is going on right away as opposed to sending them down to the radiology department and waiting while the images are loaded into the system. Then I’d have to log in to a separate computer to find the images. “Now you can get to the information you need much faster,” Dr. Ensign says. “It’s all right there in the room with you.” —Continued on page 2
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New Medicare cards on the way
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Innovative technology —Continued from front page The machine, which is built into a motorized cart able to travel from room to room within the Emergency Department and hospital, is a substantial upgrade to CVMC’s medical imaging services. It will be used in critical and emergency care situations, as well as to avoid physically moving a patient who has a possible dislocation or fracture. It can also be used to assist in the placement of an internal venous line. “It is one of the newest systems of its kind in the greater Carson Valley area, and that includes Lake Tahoe, Carson City and Reno,” says Michael Jones, CVMC Medical Imaging Manager. “It affords patients and our physicians immediate access to diagnostic tools that can be used bedside. Now our physicians will be able to diagnose bedside before the X-ray technician even leaves the room.” “This is especially important in our Emergency Department due to the immediacy of it,” says Jones. “When seconds matter the most, this new technology affords our patients and physicians those extra minutes.” The acquisition of this new technology came as a result of a combined effort between the CVMC board of directors and the administrative team. Along with the addition of the X-ray machine, one of the department’s imaging suites was outfitted with new digital radiology capabilities. This will allow X-ray images to be instantly recorded in digital
“This does not replace our housekeeping services,” Cruz says. “We still do our full lineup of housekeeping services, but this light is an adjunct to boost our level of disinfection.” The light is used in the surgery operating rooms at the close of every day and as needed throughout the day, in addition to hospital rooms after the discharge of a patient who was in isolation.
UV disinfection technology
“We’re very fortunate to have these upgrades and services available. It just goes back to ensuring we can provide the highest levels of quality care to our patients.” —Cara Cruz, CVMC Quality and Infection Control Manager format as compared with the previous computer radiology process, which required each X-ray image taken in the department to be converted manually to a digital file—a process that often took 10 to 15 minutes per image. The Medical Imaging Department will also add 3-D mammography services this summer.
New UV-C light tower Another exciting upgrade this year at CVMC isn’t as visible,
HEALTHY CARSON VALLEY is published as a community service for the friends and patrons of CARSON VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER, 1107 U.S. Highway 395 N., Gardnerville, NV 89410-5304, telephone 775-782-1500, website cvmchospital.org.
but it’s just as important—if not more so. The hospital and surgery departments welcomed a stateof-the-art UV-C light tower, which is used to disinfect operating rooms and patient rooms using ultraviolet light. “We are very fortunate to be a rural hospital and have this level of technology,” says Cara Cruz, CVMC Quality and Infection Control Manager. “Our hospital foundation, which has strong support from the
Jeff Prater Chief Executive Officer Shannon Albert Director of Development and Outreach Joey Crandall Marketing Coordinator
community and our employees, purchased the UV machine for us.” “The best practice in infection control now is UV-C light,” Cruz says. “Our ozone layer filters out UV-C light from the sun, but this machine uses those same rays and kills just about every microorganism. We have a system where we place it in three to four different points of any given room to make sure we eliminate the shadow effect and get everything from all angles.
High standards of infection control The surgical department employs a technology called “Healthy Sole,” a stand that will disinfect footwear through similar ultraviolet technology. “Shoes have a remarkable amount of contaminants on them,” Cruz says. “The Healthy Sole device takes about 30 seconds to disinfect the bottom of your shoe, and the bootie coverings worn when our staff scrubs in.”
Information in HEALTHY CARSON VALLEY comes from a wide range of medical experts. If you have any concerns or questions about specific content that may affect your health, please contact your healthcare provider. Models may be used in photos and illustrations. 2018 © Coffey Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.
2 Carson Valley Medical Center • Summer 2018
CVMC takes advantage of UV technology in other areas as well. The hospital uses an ultraviolet cabinet that can disinfect any items placed within it—such as stethoscopes, call buttons, pens and pencils, and even cellphones. “Cellphones can, and often do, have 18 times more bacteria on them than a public restroom,” Cruz says. “Cellphones go in patient rooms, so those are things we put in the machine for disinfection.”
Living well
It’s summer!
6 tips to help keep kids safe this summer AH, TO BE a carefree kid of summer. There’s no school, and there’s sunshine all the time. But it’s not all fun and games out there. Some summertime activities for kids call for vigilance on the part of parents and others. For instance: Be water-wise. Children of all ages need a responsible adult to supervise them when around water. Watch kids at all times, and avoid distractions—like answering texts—even if lifeguards are on duty. Children can drown quickly. Never let kids swim in canals or other swift water. If your family goes boating, everyone needs to wear a lifejacket.
Insist on helmets. Children need bike helmets— even when riding in driveways— to help prevent devastating head injuries. They also need proper helmets (and other protective gear) for skateboards or scooters. School them on road safety. Remind children of a few road rules for cyclists: Ride on the right, facing the same direction as traffic. Obey all traffic signs. Don’t ride at night. Practice sun safety. Help children avoid painful sunburns (which boost their skin cancer risk later in life) and dangerous overheating. Steer kids to shade whenever possible, and
have them wear sunscreen with an SPF of 30 that blocks both UVA and UVB rays. Provide plenty of water to drink when kids are active in the heat. Give playground equipment a safety check. For instance, are there cushioning safety mats, sand or wood chips? Any bolts or other sharp surfaces sticking out from slides? When in doubt, pick another place to play. Leave the fireworks to the pros. Fireworks are illegal in Douglas County, and yet illegal fireworks still seem to find a way into the valley sky every summer, in some cases causing serious fires and putting lives and property at risk. Check out professional fireworks displays, and avoid the DIY thing. Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics; American College of Emergency Physicians
New Medicare cards on the way HERE’S SOME IMPORTANT news if you have Medicare: You’ll be getting a new Medicare card in the mail, if you haven’t already. Medicare started mailing the new cards to portions of the country in April of this year and started mailing them to Nevada residents in June. You might be wondering how your new card will be different and what kind of effect it will have on your Medicare benefits.
The most important thing to know: Your new Medicare card does not change any of your coverage or benefits.
What’s different about the new cards? Your Medicare card will no longer display your Social Security number. Instead, your card will show a new Medicare number—an 11-character combination of numbers and
4 tips for using your new Medicare card Be patient with your old card new Medicare number is perproviders, insurers and others 2 Destroy 1 delivery. New card when your new one sonally identifiable information. whom you trust who work with issues are being staggered between now and April 2019. Don’t worry if a friend or neighbor receives their card before you.
arrives. There’s no activation period. You may use your new card as soon as you receive it. Protect the information on your new card. Your
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Keep it confidential in the same way you would your Social Security number, and only give the new number to doctors, pharmacists, healthcare
Medicare. Hold on to your Medicare Advantage card if you have one. If you’re part of a Medicare Advantage Plan, like
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letters that has been assigned to uniquely identify your personal account. The change comes as part of a fraud prevention initiative by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). By removing Social Security numbers from Medicare cards, CMS hopes to better protect people with Medicare from identity theft and safeguard taxpayer money.
an HMO or PPO, keep your plan ID card to use when you need care. Be sure to carry your new Medicare card with you, as well, in case you are asked to present it. Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
cvmchospital.org 3
Around CVMC Community wellness lab draws
Classes and support groups ➜ Breast Cancer Support Group | First Tuesday of each month, 1 p.m. | Carson Valley Medical Center Administration Building, 2nd floor | Information: 775-782-1528 ➜ Diabetes Support Group | First Wednesday of each month, 9:30 a.m. | Douglas County Community Center | Information: 775-782-1528 ➜ Men Kicking Cancer Support Group | First Wednesday of each month, 5:30 p.m. | Carson Valley Medical Center Administration Building, 2nd floor | Information: 775-782-1528 ➜ Coping With Change Support Group | Second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, 9:30 a.m. | Douglas County Community Center | Information: 775-782-1599 ➜ Weight Management Support Group | Second Wednesday of each month, 1:15 p.m. | Carson Valley Medical Center, Sagebrush Room | Information: 775-782-1528 ➜ Parkinson’s Support Group | Third Wednesday of each month, 1 p.m. | Douglas County Community Center | Information: 775-783-6455 ➜ Caregivers of Alzheimer’s and Dementia | Fourth Wednesday of each month, 10:30 a.m. | Douglas County Community Center | Information: 775-782-1599 ➜ Grief and Loss Support Group | Every Thursday, 2:30 p.m. | Carson Valley Medical Center | Information: 775-782-1599 For more information about support groups, upcoming classes and wellness activities, call 775-782-1637 or visit cvmchospital.org/events.
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Third Thursday of each month, CVMC Lab, 1107 Highway 395 N., Gardnerville, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. ➜➜ $40 wellness panel (includes comprehensive panel and lipid panel). Requires 12-hour fast. Water and medications OK. ➜➜ $25 complete blood count (CBC). ➜➜$30 prostate evaluation (PSA). ➜➜$30 diabetes screening (A1C). ➜➜$35 thyroid evaluation (TSH). ➜➜$40 Free Thyroxine (Free T4). ➜➜$50 vitamin D. ➜➜$50 electrocardiogram (EKG). Patients must be 18 years or older. No physician orders or appointments necessary. Insurance plans will not be billed for community wellness services. Cash, check, and credit or debit cards are accepted.
Save the date! CVMC Fall Classic Golf Tournament The Carson Valley Medical Center Foundation’s ninth annual Fall Classic golf tournament is set for Sept. 14 at Carson Valley Golf Course, with a shotgun start scheduled for 9 a.m. The tournament features 18 holes of golf at the beautiful course, breakfast and lunch, fantastic prizes, a bloody mary bar, and a cash prize ball-drop contest on the putting greens. Tournament entry starts at $150. Or get your business name noticed by registering a corporate team and becoming a tournament sponsor. Call the CVMC Foundation office at 775-782-1697 for more information on sponsorships or tournament registration.
2018 dates July 19
Oct. 18
Aug. 16
Nov. 15
Sept. 20
Dec. 20
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