MOUNT NITTANY HEALTH
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Miraculous heart attack recovery pg. 3 Local man fights type 2 diabetes pg. 5 Nurse shares life lessons pg. 9 2016 PHYSICIAN DIRECTORY
Message from the president
Table of contents
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In reading our latest edition of Insights magazine, you may notice a prevailing theme: quality. Similarly, on page 8, you’ll read about a newly-created, quality-focused community program that we support because it aligns with our charge to make people healthier. Most notably, you’ll see on page 7 that Mount Nittany Medical Center was recently recognized with awards from the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association for performing at such a level that leads to improved patient outcomes. And last, but perhaps most importantly, you’ll read about the incredibly high-quality employees we have working here at Mount Nittany Health. I think you’ll truly enjoy reading Devon Tarner’s unique story on page 9, and the high-quality care that the team at Mount Nittany Health – Penns Valley provides every day will be evident when you read the story on page 5. So, what exactly does “high quality” mean? It means providing the very best care each and every day, supporting high-caliber community programs that align with our mission, and having highly skilled, compassionate staff and doctors to care for you and your family, every time you need us. As always, thank you for the privilege of serving you, and if you have any comments or questions about this issue, please email me at president@mountnittany.org. Warmest regards,
PAGE THREE A caring team
Release date: April 25, 2016
Add more movement to your day to easily improve overall health and wellness
PAGE NINE
PAGE ELEVEN
PAGE THIRTEEN
PAGE FOURTEEN
Spotlighting a nurse
A behind-the-scenes look at the life of Devon Tarner, a Mount Nittany Medical Center registered nurse
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Pediatrics
Learn how to tell if your teen is old enough to stay home alone, and other parenting tips
Community health
A vision of a world without suicide
Meet our team
Get to know the newest providers at Mount Nittany Physician Group who are ready to care for you and your family
Two new apps make managing your healthcare easier
Additionally, an unlimited amount of insurance cards can
Mount Nittany Health insights
Move more for health
Mount Nittany Health receives quality awards from the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association
First, our new My Health app allows you to conveniently store all of your healthcare contacts in one location. You can search our provider database, import contacts from your phone, or manually add your healthcare contact information. Whether it’s your dentist, your daughter’s pediatrician, or your father’s urologist, all healthcare contact information is available right at your fingertips.
Questions or comments, email insights@mountnittany.org.
Quality
PAGE EIGHT
A retired math teacher fights type 2 diabetes with diet and exercise
ount Nittany Health is excited to announce two new mobile apps designed to make managing your healthcare easier.
Mount Nittany Health Insights is published four times a year by the communications department.
A numbers game
PAGE SEVEN
A Centre Hall couple relies on family, friends, and faith during a medical emergency
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Steve Brown, FACHE President & CEO Mount Nittany Health
PAGE FIVE
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be easily imported and quickly retrieved. All cards — including health insurance, vision, dental, etc. — are stored in one centralized location and can be shared among family members.
records, send messages and appointment requests to your healthcare team, view test results, and more. To learn more about My Mount Nittany Health, visit mymountnittanyhealth.com.
My Health app users can also stay up-to-date on all Mount Nittany Health information through social media channels like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, and easily manage subscriptions to health and wellness e-newsletters.
Both the My Health and My Mount Nittany Health apps are now available in the iOS Apple Store and Google Play Store. For more information, visit mountnittany.org.
With our second new app, the My Mount Nittany Health app, users can connect to their patient portal records with the touch of a button. The My Mount Nittany Health app allows you to easily and securely access your health
Message from the president | Table of contents
CARDIOLOGY
Centre Hall man credits caregivers, family, friends, and faith in miraculous recovery
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arlene Heintzelman remembers standing at the side emergency entrance of Mount Nittany Medical Center on the morning of June 14, 2015, waiting for the ambulance transporting her husband to arrive. She remembers the paramedics and EMTs from Centre LifeLink rushing her husband into a trauma room, and a crowd of doctors and nurses working intensely. She remembers being escorted to a couch in a small room in the emergency department, and a counselor coming in to talk with her. She remembers hearing things like “cardiac arrest,” “without oxygen for 18 minutes,” “possible severe brain damage,” and “a rare chance he’ll survive.”
an automated chest compression machine and quickly began trying to revive Mark.
Three long days later, Marlene says a miracle happened: Mark woke up.
Cindy Yost, NREMT-P, a parttime paramedic at Mount Nittany Medical Center and a full-time paramedic at Centre LifeLink, remembers this day well, calling it an incredible team effort from everyone involved.
“I was just so very relieved when Mark woke up,” said Marlene. “We all thought there would be severe brain damage, but he recognized me and recognized the people around the bed, and that was such a big relief. We thought this might never happen.”
In the ambulance on the way to the Medical Center, Mark continued to lose and regain a pulse and breath several times. When he arrived at the emergency department, he had been unresponsive for 18 minutes.
Mark, who does not remember the day of his cardiac arrest, or the first three days afterward, admits to feeling very weak and very fatigued when he awoke.
“I could not have any more faith in doctors from anywhere else,” said Marlene.
She remembers feeling helpless. RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME Earlier that morning, 62-yearold Mark Heintzelman, general manager for the Mark D. Heintzelman Funeral and Cremation Services, P.C., was responding to a home death in Pleasant Gap when he began to feel very hot. Going out the front door of the home, Mark took a seat to rest for a moment. When he stood up, he immediately passed out and fell down on the porch. State police, who were at the house acting on the coroner’s behalf, promptly began CPR on Mark. EMS providers, although they had just left the home a few minutes before, quickly turned around. They grabbed
Mount Nittany Health insights
Marlene was told there was minimal hope he would survive, and, even if he did, he would likely have severe brain damage. “Eventually, I asked if I could go back into the room where Mark was. It was overwhelming seeing all of those people and that equipment near him, but I was focused on Mark. I told the doctors to continue working on him and try to revive him,” said Marlene. After several hours, Mark was taken out of the emergency department and put into intensive care. Doctors still did not think he would make it, though. His kidneys were not functioning. He was on a ventilator. He was put into a medically induced coma.
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“I don’t remember anything,” said Mark. “It was a couple of days before things really became clear. I remember feeling really confused and really weak. I was not in any pain, but I was just very confused.” Early on, successions of tests were performed on Mark. After a little more than a week, a pacemakerdefibrillator combination was implanted in Mark’s chest to try to help prevent another incident in the future. “The doctors weren’t really sure why this happened, but I do have a preexisting heart condition. When I was 22, I had a light heart attack. I went a lot of years without any problems, but then it became worse, and I ended up
having open heart surgery about 10 years ago,” said Mark. Although this particular incident of cardiac arrest was unanticipated, Mark admits to having passed out a few times for a matter of seconds in the months leading up to this event. A CARING TEAM
These providers gave every ounce of their energy to make sure Mark was okay. Every day, there were several doctors checking on him and wishing our family well. I felt totally at ease with Mark being there, and that meant so much to me because I was placing the life of my loved one in someone’s hands, and that’s a scary situation.”
With a team of skilled and compassionate providers continuously by his side, Mark was able to go home after 12 days. Although he sustained significant damage to his heart, he is able to do many of the things he used to. For that, he is so thankful.
RELYING ON FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND FAITH
“I have a lot to be thankful for and am enormously blessed,” said Mark. “In the very early days after I came home, I honestly didn’t think there was ever a possibility of feeling good again, but it was amazing how quickly that started to change. I, too, am grateful for the guidance, care, and expertise of the doctors and caregivers that stood by me. What they accomplished in getting me out of the hospital in 12 days and back to work full time in just a few weeks is amazing.”
Mark admits that this crisis has left him with one overwhelming question: After defying all of these odds as he was so privileged to do, what is his mission in life going forward?
The team by Mark’s side included Mount Nittany Physician Group providers Charles Nydegger, MD, cardiology; Jonathan Nachtigall, DO, cardiology; Fahima Nasreen, MD, nephrology; Jeffrey Ratner, MD, pulmonary medicine; and Paul Woolley, Jr., MD, MPH, family medicine.
“Without that faith, I don’t know if I could’ve dealt with this as well. We have been married 42 years, and it has strengthened our relationship and made me realize how fortunate I am that Mark had a second chance. And, because of that, I have a second chance,” she said.
“I could never say how thankful I am for the staff at Mount Nittany Medical Center,” said Marlene. “I could not have any more faith in doctors from anywhere else.
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The Heintzelmans agree that it’s so important to have close family and friends who can support you during these trying times. And, if it suits you, faith can help, too.
“It seems like there has to be a purpose in all of this, and I want to make sure I don’t miss that purpose,” he said. Marlene says that they’ll continue to rely on their faith as they go forward each day.
Mark and Marlene have lived in Centre Hall for more than 30 years. Mark is a member of the Centre Hall Lions Club and recently transitioned to the role of coordinator of outreach and education for the funeral home.
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Above: Mark and Marlene Heintzelman
Miraculous heart attack recovery
DIABETES
A numbers game: retired math teacher fights type 2 diabetes
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t might not be surprising to hear that Harold Boone, a retired math teacher, loves numbers. Examining data, finding trends, and calculating averages is what he enjoys. But, over the last year or so, the numbers that Harold has been studying are not random; in fact, they’re closely linked to his health.
nights Harold spent in the hospital were the only nights the two have ever been apart in their nearly 20 years of marriage.
assist him through the process. She told him to gradually start improving his diet and add exercise to his routine.
While at the Medical Center, doctors confirmed Amy’s suspicion: Harold, at age 66, did in fact have type 2 diabetes.
Harold also took matters into his own hands and visited his local bookstore, where he purchased a few resources, including a carb-counter book. After reading the material, Harold felt a bit more confident on how to approach meal times.
“I couldn’t believe it when they told me I had type 2 diabetes. It was like they dropped a brick on me. I immediately wondered if I’d have to live on rabbit food the rest of my life,” said Harold.
It started in January 2015. After finishing supper one evening with his wife, Adele, Harold passed out. Scared doesn’t even begin to describe what the Boones were feeling, so Harold made an appointment at Mount Nittany Health – Penns Valley with Amy Laubscher, CRNP, family medicine.
And, like many people who experience shock, Harold admits he initially didn’t handle the situation very well.
After careful evaluation, Amy ordered a few tests to screen for potential causes of Harold’s symptoms, including a screening for diabetes. In the days while Harold’s tests were processing, though, he again found himself on the floor and, subsequently, in the emergency department at Mount Nittany Medical Center.
“I just went cold turkey and stopped eating altogether. I lost too much weight too quickly, and I was struggling,” he said.
“The first time Harold passed out, it was so scary. I just panicked. The second time, I was terrified,” said Adele, who says that the two
Amy understood the challenges of Harold’s diagnosis and was able to
Adele was immediately on board, too. Instead of trying to cook a separate dinner for each of them, she spent countless hours reinventing all of their staple meals and dishes, including macaroni salad and meatloaf.
After understanding the basics of how to eat — including limiting carbs and adding in more fruits and vegetables — Harold and Adele set out to tackle the exercise portion of a healthy lifestyle. “We just started walking all the time,” said Harold. “It might sound a little funny, but if we have to go to Sears, we’ll park there but take a walk all the way down to Macy’s at the other end of the mall before getting what we need at Sears. We take laps around Walmart and try to get in a morning and afternoon walk outside, too.” Adding these additional steps to his day, Harold began to lose the extra weight. To date, he has lost 30 pounds, and Adele admits she’s lost weight also. While it was certainly difficult at times, Harold says he kept the big picture in view. “I didn’t get type 2 diabetes overnight, so I knew it would take time to fix. Sometimes I’d have to think to myself, ‘Do I really want to eat that pie, or can I do without it?’ It can be hard, but there are very few things I had to give up. She (Adele) and I are getting really
Below: Harold & Adele Boone and Amy Laubscher, CRNP, Mount Nittany Physician Group - Penns Valley
Mount Nittany Health insights
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good at reading labels, and she’s always finding new things for me to try,” he said. All the while, Harold was diligently monitoring his blood sugar numbers, sometimes several times each day. Each time he had his blood work completed at the lab, he would compare his numbers with the lab’s numbers. He meticulously wrote down each blood sugar reading and calculated his daily averages. Harold admits that watching his blood sugar averages drop motivated him. His goal was to eventually get his numbers out of the range for diabetics and back to a normal reading. Eleven months after his diagnosis, Amy gave him the news he’d been working so hard to achieve. “Congratulations, Harold. Your lab work is now normal.” While he still takes a low dose of Metformin once each day to control his diabetes — a huge decrease from the high dose and several pills he was taking in the first few months — Harold hopes it’s only a matter of time before he’ll no longer need that.
Harold’s advice for those facing diabetes: • Listen to your doctors and trust them. • Monitor yourself and keep your own records. • Ask questions and write down the answers. Keep a tablet at home and write down any questions you have. Then, when you ask your doctor the questions, write down the answers, too. • You can’t expect your doctor to do it all for you. You have to do something for yourself. Make a decision about what kind of life you want, and go after it. • Yes, you’ll have to make a few sacrifices, but the results will be worth it. • You can’t do it alone.
“Amy didn’t just give me pills; she really helped me and guided me. I can’t thank her enough,” said Harold.
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Fighting type 2 diabetes
QUALITY
COMMUNITY HEALTH
Quality comes first: Medical Center receives awards for heart failure and stroke
Adding more movement to your day — a simple way to stay healthy
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ll too often, we think that improving our health is dependent upon major changes to our lifestyle, such as going ‘cold turkey’ with a favorite treat or engaging in a strenuous exercise routine when we haven’t done so for years. The good news is that simply being more active and adding more movement each day can improve overall health. Studies increasingly show that movement and activity throughout the day have positive health benefits and reduce the risk for heart disease and diabetes. Additionally, physical activity increases energy, improves your quality of sleep and your mood. Aim for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise each week (30 minutes, five times per week), such as a brisk walk. Know that every minute counts, even if your movement is obtained in 10-minute increments. If you don’t like the word ‘exercise,’ think of it as simply moving more. Find a new hobby, such as gardening, that requires physical exertion, join a social league that offers opportunities for physical activity, or add some extra steps to your housekeeping chores. Consider making it a social activity with family and friends, such as tossing a ball in the yard or shooting hoops. Ask friends and neighbors to gather and play at a nearby park or head to the public pool for a few laps. If the weather isn’t optimal, consider visiting the local mall or big box store for your daily walk, or set up a kid-friendly obstacle course in your garage.
Above: Susan Maynard, RN, stroke coordinator, Mount Nittany Medical Center and a Representative of the American Heart Association
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t Mount Nittany Health, our mission is to make people healthier, and that includes providing safe, quality care. Recently, the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association recognized Mount Nittany Medical Center for performing at an exceptional level to improve the quality of care for patients, with a Gold Plus Award for Heart Failure and a Silver Plus Award and membership on the Target: Stroke Honor Roll. The Gold Plus Award for Heart Failure recognizes that the Medical Center has demonstrated at least 85 percent compliance in the four Heart Failure Achievement Measures, and that it has been sustained over at
Mount Nittany Health insights
least 24 months. These measures include medications, procedures, and the post-hospital care that has been shown to increase the quality of life for patients with heart failure. The award also recognizes that the Medical Center achieved at least 75 percent compliance in four out of nine quality measures, which include additional medications, vaccinations, and in-hospital care. The Silver Plus Award for Stroke recognizes at least 85 percent compliance in the seven Stroke Achievement Measures, and that it has been sustained over at least 12 months. The stroke measures include medications, in-hospital care, and smoking cessation interventions.
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With spring upon us, and summer arriving swiftly, consider taking advantage of the many outdoor experiences offered here in central
The Medical Center also achieved at least 75 percent compliance in five out of nine additional quality measures, which include education, in-hospital rehabilitation, blood work, and nursing care. In addition to meeting these high standards, the Medical Center was recognized as a member of the Target: Stroke Honor Roll, which emphasizes the importance of the timeliness of stroke care. Patients who are eligible to receive tPA (the “clot-buster” medicine) should be administered the medicine as soon as possible, with a national goal of less than 60 minutes. The Target: Stroke Honor Roll acknowledges facilities that have achieved administration of tPA within 60 minutes at least 50
Pennsylvania to increase your movement each day. You could explore one of the numerous state parks located in our region. You might be surprised to learn that entrance to state parks is always free, and each park provides various amenities and planned programming (dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks). There are also several well-known hiking trails in our area, with paths for beginners and experts alike. You can find detailed trail information, including guides, community commentary, and other relevant information, at pahikes.com. And don’t forget about adding more movement to your workday. Many of us spend at least eight hours a day sitting, so finding ways to squeeze in 10 minutes of exercise or extra movement at work can improve your health, well-being, and productivity. To add extra steps, park your car at the farthest spot from your office building, take the stairs instead of the elevator, and take short water breaks to stay hydrated. For longer periods of physical activity, start a walking program where you and your colleagues plan to ‘walk and talk.’ Take two 10-minute walks within or outside your work site, or join an office sports league team. ▶If you’re interested in being more physically active, check out centremoves.org. Centre Moves is a community-based program dedicated to encouraging all of us to move more. Visit the site for additional information, resources, and ideas about how to be more active here in Centre County.
percent of the time. In 2015, the Medical Center administered tPA to 70 percent of eligible patients within 60 minutes. The Target: Stroke Honor Roll highlights the exceptional communication and coordination of care from the many emergency medical service companies to the Medical Center’s emergency department. Achievement of these awards in heart failure and stroke attests to the excellent quality of care that is given to patients, by all members of the healthcare team. By sustaining these measures, patient outcomes improve, and lives are saved.
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Quality award I Making our community healthier
LIFE LESSONS
How to be a lifelong learner — and other important lessons from a registered nurse
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evon Tarner, a registered nurse at Mount Nittany Medical Center, unwinds from work in an A-frame cabin sprawling over 50 acres in northeast Clearfield County. Devon enjoys his downtime by working in the yard with his tractor, tending to the chickens with his German Shepherd nearby, or taking photographs of the great outdoors. Perhaps one of the reasons he relishes the solitude and peacefulness at the end of an 8- or 12-hour night shift is because of the steadfast determination, unmatched critical thinking skills, and unfaltering, deep-seeded compassion that his job requires. But Devon hasn’t always worked in the healthcare field. In fact, if you asked the 31-year-old how he got into nursing, he would tell you it’s due, in part, to the wealth of experience he gathered in the years following high school. After graduating high school, Devon spent five months at army infantry basic training for the Army National Guard. From there, he attended Lock Haven University’s Clearfield campus for criminal justice.
Quickly realizing that the college scene wasn’t right for him at this time, Devon began working construction with his older brother. Not long after, he took a turn at designing websites.
infantryman. I loved doing those things. It was uplifting and a rewarding rush, helping people in that way. The thought of working in the healthcare field, where the possibilities are endless, was really intriguing,” said Devon.
Looking for something more stable, Devon then enrolled in the police academy at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Upon graduation, he worked as a police officer in Cresson, Pennsylvania, for a year and in Clearfield, Pennsylvania, for a year, but it was still not the fit Devon was looking for.
Devon says that part of the reason he has explored so many potential career opportunities over the years is because he never wants to settle. His personal mantra is to keep moving up and moving forward; becoming stagnant is one of his fears.
After another brief stint in construction, Devon began a job in financial planning with Wienken & Associates in State College. He worked there for just over two years, but the job did not provide the fulfillment and stability he was looking for. It was about that time that Devon met his long-term girlfriend, Kate Lenhart. Kate is a registered nurse, and an idea began to form in Devon’s mind. “When I worked as a cop, I was also an emergency medical services volunteer. And, in the military, I was a combat lifesaver and
So, after a heart-to-heart with Kate, and remembering that his father and mother, Butch and Cathy Tarner, had actually encouraged him to choose a career in nursing back when he was 17, Devon began his journey to become a nurse. It was in the spring of 2011 when Devon enrolled at Lock Haven University’s Clearfield campus to complete his general education requirements and prepare for nursing school. He wasn’t a stranger to the healthcare field, though, as both his dad and his stepdad had passed away from lung cancer, and his mom had spent significant time in a hospital for multiple health issues.
Devon Tarner, RN, Mount Nittany Medical Center and Kate Lenhart
True to form, Devon worked a few side jobs — including one as a private investigator — before being hired as a certified nursing assistant at Mount Nittany Medical Center in May 2013.
“Working on MSO really gave me my footing,” said Devon. “It taught me a lot about being a good nurse, and I worked with really amazing people.”
“I was so excited to be working for Mount Nittany because it was a job in a field that would give me hands-on experience,” said Devon. Looking back, Devon says he credits nursing school for getting him about 60 percent prepared for the “real world,” but he credits his job at Mount Nittany Medical Center for the other 40 percent. After graduating from nursing school and becoming a licensed, registered nurse, Devon was able to move forward to a job on the medical/surgical/orthopedics (MSO) floor at the Medical Center.
Mount Nittany Health insights
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“Working on MSO really gave me my footing. It taught me a lot about being a good nurse, and I worked with really amazing people,” said Devon.
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Recently, though, Devon accepted a job in the progressive care unit at the Medical Center. He says it’s all about continuing to advance his knowledge and his career to keep moving forward. Perhaps someday he’ll work in the emergency department, ICU, or on a medical helicopter. He has also considered re-enlisting as a medic in the military to stay sharp. To Devon, the best is yet to come. “Wherever I go in my career, Mount Nittany Health was here from the beginning. When I started here, I was looking for a place to call home, and that’s what I’ve found. All of us — even beyond the nursing staff — genuinely care about our patients. That’s not
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to say we don’t have challenges, but we always try to work things out when we need to, because we’re a team,” he said. So, what made nursing the best choice for Devon, over law enforcement, financial planning, or construction? He says it’s the thanks he gets from patients every day that keeps him coming back. “When you get a ‘thank you’ from a patient in the middle of a hectic day, that’s what really matters. When you can do something to make a patient feel better or more comfortable, there’s a genuine thankfulness there, and that doesn’t get old,” he said.
“Don’t ever be afraid to try something new. Someone once asked me if I was afraid of failing because I had tried so many different jobs along the way. But I’ve never failed at anything, and I won’t fail until I stop trying or until I stop learning something new. I might fall, but at least I’ll fall forward and not backward,” he said. ▶ Like Devon, more than 2400 people have found a rewarding and satisfying career at Mount Nittany Health, visit mountnittany.org/careers to learn more.
And, as for his advice to those who aren’t sure about what path to take in life, Devon says that it’s okay to take your time.
Nurse shares life lessons
PEDIATRICS
Ask the pediatrician: Does my teen need a babysitter? My thirteen-year-old daughter does not want a babysitter anymore. She feels that she is old enough to stay home alone for a few hours after school. Is there a recommended age for letting teens stay home alone?
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his is a question parents often have, but one that does not have a clear-cut answer. Kids under 10 should not be left alone, because they typically do not have the skills and maturity level to take care of themselves. For the most part, older teens are responsible enough to handle being home alone. But for younger teens — like those who are 13 or 14 — there is no black-and-white answer. If you want to determine whether your teen is ready to stay home alone, consider these factors:
Q:
• Determine what appliances and devices can and cannot be used without your supervision. While a microwave may be okay, it is not recommended that a teen use the stove while unsupervised. • Make sure any dangerous items, like guns and power tools, are removed or locked up.
• If your home has a security system, make sure your teen knows how to operate it and keep it on while home alone.
These recommendations are for a responsible teen staying home alone for a short amount of time, typically less than three or four hours, and not late at night. For longer periods of time, or for staying home alone overnight, it is recommended to wait until the teen is 16 years or older. Again, this is also dependent upon the teen’s maturity level and successful practice runs as a younger teen. Another area of consideration is if your teen will need to supervise a younger sibling while home alone. If the sibling is an infant or toddler, your teen may benefit from taking a certified babysitting course first. Visit safesitter.org or check your local Red Cross chapter for online or classroom babysitting courses. If the sibling is older, a mature teen may be fine supervising a younger brother or sister for a few hours. Remember: As a parent, you know the maturity levels of your children and teens best. Use your best judgment, and make sure clear ground rules are set when the time comes to leave your son or daughter at home alone. Creating a plan can help both you and your teen feel best prepared.
• Set rules for whether friends can come over or not.
▶If this article was helpful, consider signing up for “Parents Need to Know,” a monthly e-newsletter with tips and tricks to keep your family healthy. Learn more at mountnittany.org/ newsletters.
• Be clear about when you will be home. If you run late, be sure to contact your teen.
▶To learn more about Mount Nittany Physician Group Pediatrics, visit mountnittany.org or call 844.278.4600
• Create a game plan about how to handle phone calls or a stranger at the door.
Is your teen responsible? • How well does he/she manage homework? • Can he/she successfully complete chores around the house? • Does he/she do well independently?
Q:
• Make sure your teen knows how to reach you in case there is an emergency.
• Ensure that smoke alarms are working properly and that a fire extinguisher is nearby.
Can your teen handle an emergency? •D oes he/she know what is considered an emergency? • Does he/she know how to call 911? • Does he/she know basic first-aid procedures?
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Keep these tips in mind to help prepare you and your teen for the first time he or she stays home alone:
What is your teen’s maturity level? • Have a neighbor or close friend nearby as backup if needed. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, there is no legal age that specifies when a child or teen can be left at home alone in the Commonwealth. Parents should make the decision to allow a teen to stay home alone based on the teen’s maturity level, how long the teen will be left alone, what time of day he or she will be alone, and how the teen handles emergency situations.
• Does he/she understand and follow household rules? • Does he/she make good decisions?
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I n what sort of environment will your teen be left alone? • How safe is your neighborhood? • Are other trustworthy adults nearby if there is an emergency?
If you feel that your teen is mature enough to handle the responsibility of staying home alone, stage a practice run. Leave your teen at home for a short period of time (30 minutes to one hour) while you go to a neighbor’s house or somewhere close by where you are readily accessible in case of an emergency. Afterwards, talk to your teen to determine if he or she still feels ready to stay home alone for longer periods of time.
Mount Nittany Health insights
issue fifteen
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Advice for parents with teens
MENTAL HEALTH
MEET OUR TEAM
Communities can come together for a world without suicide
Meet our newest providers at Mount Nittany Health
to build partnerships to further this philosophy in our community. Feeling WELL is something that all people strive for in their lives. Wellness is holistic for each and every one of us. It is about how we collectively build the parts of our existence to include our family and friends, our community interactions, our education, our work, our income, our housing, how we have fun and relax, and our healthcare. Written by Michelle Henry (pictured above), assistant administrator, mental health services, Centre County
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he local mental health community — made up of public and private organizations, foundations, and the local healthcare system — shares a common vision of a world without suicide. We do this by looking for avenues to educate the public about and eliminate the stigma associated with mental illness. We want individuals to feel comfortable seeking services. We instill HOPE in the lives of individuals living with mental illness and those who encounter great difficulties in their journey of life. We work
We feel that healthcare is best approached in the same manner — supporting one’s whole self, not individual parts. As the mental health and physical health communities work to build partnerships and share tools that we have to support people, we have hope that we can reduce, if not eliminate, thoughts that people have about suicide and plans for death by suicide. According to statistics from Zero Suicide in Health and Behavioral Health Care (zerosuicide.sprc.org), more than half of the people who died by suicide saw a general practitioner, and 30 percent saw a mental health professional in the month prior to their death.
issue fifteen
Susan B. Ward, MD, FACP, FACR,
medicine, Mount Nittany Physician
rheumatology, Mount Nittany Physician
Group, joins Christopher Hester, MD;
Group, provides rheumatology care at
Dennis Shannon, MD; Tara Shapich,
Mount Nittany Health – Park Avenue,
PA-C; Becky Tyson, CRNP; and Theresa
located at 1850 East Park Avenue, Suite
Yebernetsky, PA-C, to provide internal
201, in State College.
medicine care at Mount Nittany
▶To schedule an appointment,
Health – Bellefonte.
call 814.278.4688, or request
▶Schedule an appointment by
an appointment online at
calling 814.355.7322, or request
MyMountNittanyHealth.com.
an appointment online at MyMountNittanyHealth.com.
In the 60 days prior to their death by suicide, 10 percent were seen in an emergency department. Zero Suicide offers communities like ours a framework for systematic, clinical suicide prevention in behavioral health and physical healthcare systems. It is about purposefully aiming for a higher level of performance in the overall healthcare system. It is something that the mental health community hopes to build and practice in our community’s healthcare system. We want people to feel supported in their path to overall wellness. There are many things that you can do personally. Get involved in your community. Participate in community meetings. Be nice to people, regardless of their age, race, or disability. Offer people hope and help. Don’t be afraid to ask someone if they have thoughts or plans about suicide, and know where to refer them. It is absolutely okay to ask and talk about suicide. Most people do give warning signs, such as sudden changes in behavior, use or abuse of alcohol or drugs, giving away prized possessions, prolonged depression, or making
Mount Nittany Health insights
Cynthia D. Alexander, MD, internal
Janet Pennington, MS, CCC/L,
statements that reveal a desire to die. Don’t hesitate to take the lead when encountering these situations. Make sure that the person is connected with someone who can help. Connecting with crisis and suicide prevention helplines is a great place to start.
speech-language pathologist, Mount Nittany Medical Center, provides outpatient speech and language therapy services on the ground floor of the Lance and Ellen Shaner Cancer Pavilion at
▶For a full list of the more than 130 providers at Mount Nittany Physician Group, visit mountnittany.org/physician-group.
Mount Nittany Medical Center.
▶To schedule an appointment, call 814.278.4662.
▶If you or someone you know needs immediate help, please contact Centre County CAN HELP at 1.800.643.5432 or 911, both available any time of day or night. If you or someone you know needs behavioral health services, please call Centre County Mental Health/ Intellectual Disabilities/ Early Intervention-Drug and Alcohol at 814.355.6786, and ask for an intake worker. For information about how your local healthcare system is approaching mental health, visit mountnittany.org/ healthneeds. People can, and do, overcome life’s challenges with the proper services and support.
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Randy Tewksbury promoted to chief financial officer of Mount Nittany Health
M
ount Nittany Health is pleased to announce the promotion of Randy Tewksbury, MBA, FHFMA, as senior vice president and chief financial officer of the health system.
Randy Tewksbury, chief financial officer of Mount Nittany Health
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Joining Mount Nittany Health in July 2015 as vice president of finance, Randy previously served for 20 years in finance administration roles at Geisinger Lewistown Hospital, including that of controller and vice president for finance/chief financial officer. “We are truly fortunate to have someone of Randy’s caliber as an integral part of the Mount Nittany Health family,” said Steve Brown,
FACHE, president and CEO. “Randy brings more than 35 years of financial service in progressively responsible managerial positions and has extensive experience in all aspects of healthcare financial management.” Randy received a master’s degree in business administration, with a concentration in healthcare administration, from Marywood University in Scranton, Pennsylvania., and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania.
In addition, Randy is certified as a Fellow of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (FHFMA) and is an active board member of the Lewistown Rotary Club. He is married to wife, Lorraine, and has two grown children, Ryan and Megan. In his free time, he enjoys travel, history, volunteering, and spending time with family. Randy’s promotion follows the retirement of Richard Wisniewski, CPA, who served Mount Nittany Health for 13 years.
A world without suicide I New providers
FPO
1800 East Park Avenue State College, PA 16803-6797
Save the date: Paint the Park Pink Join the State College Spikes and Mount Nittany Health on Sunday, July 31, at Medlar Field for an evening of fun at the ballpark while raising money for breast cancer awareness through the Mount Nittany Health Foundation. The first pitch will be thrown at 6:05 pm, but be sure to come early for lots of family-friendly events throughout the concourse. Mount Nittany Health representatives will also be available to provide information about health and services offered at the Medical Center and Mount Nittany Physician Group. ▶For
more information, visit mountnittany.org.