Mercy Health SPRING 2014
HEALTH NEWS, INFORMATION, AND INNOVATIONS
Sharing and Caring A new program offers cancer patients opportunities to connect and learn
Miranda and Randy Barber, participants in Mercy’s 2013 Family Festival & 5K Stroke Awareness Run
NE WS AND NOTES
Dear Neighbor, Gift Shop Manager Bridget Martinelli (in blue), with three dedicated volunteers.
While the coming year in healthcare will be strongly shaped by the effects of the Affordable Care Act, Mercy Medical Center has redoubled its efforts to be prepared for the future and remains focused on providing quality, affordable healthcare for everyone. In 2013, with the help of Dignity Health, we were able to give out $124,287 in community grants to five different deserving organizations, including the Merced Boys and Girls Club, JMJ Maternity Homes, Atwater PAL, NAMI, CCROPP and Love Inc. These community groups are integral to helping us create a healthier Merced. In this edition of Mercy Health, you will read about our new radiation oncologist at the Mercy UC Davis Cancer Center, Dr. Eric Ko, as well as the Cancer Support Group that meets monthly. This issue also covers how we are promoting relaxation and a restful sleep with our newly implemented Quiet Kits for patients and an introduction of our patient experience champion, Rebecca Cates. Make sure to mark your calendars for May 3 because we will be holding our annual Family Festival and 5K Stroke Awareness Run across the street from Mercy Medical Center, in the parking lot at the corner of G Street and Mercy Avenue. All
The Gift of Giving Mercy Volunteers not only give the gift of their time they also offer monetary gifts When the Mercy Foundation was focused on a major capital campaign to raise $5 million for the new hospital, the volunteers made a donation of $250,000. Now they are looking to make another gift of $40,000 to help fund a new endoscopic ultrasound. By acquiring an endoscopic ultrasound, Mercy physicians will have the ability to detect cancer in its earliest stages. It will also enhance Mercy’s recruitment efforts for a much-needed gastroenterologist. The Mercy Foundation has been raising the $400,000 needed to purchase the new endoscopic ultrasound. With the donation from the volunteers, the campaign will still need about $100,000. “Mercy Volunteers are pleased to help the hospital purchase the new endoscopic ultrasound,” says Sybil Crews, Mercy Volunteer President. “Most of our money is raised from the profits we receive from the gift shop, about $5,000 a month. We are excited to be part of this wonderful new service that Mercy will be able to offer to our community.” If you are interested in helping to bring this new service to our community, please call Lisa Wegley at the Mercy Foundation office at (209) 564-4002 or email her at lisa.wegley@dignityhealth.org.
proceeds from the Stroke Awareness Run or Walk will go toward our Stroke Program. I hope to see you there! Sincerely,
David S. Dunham President, Mercy Medical Center 333 Mercy Ave., Merced, CA 95340 (209) 564-5000 / www.mercymercedcares.org President: David S. Dunham Editor: Bob McLaughlin Assistant Editor: Lindsey Gallagher Produced by DCP
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MERCY HE A LT H
NE WS AND NOTES
Everyday All-Star: Zachary Abbott One of the reasons the emergency room at Mercy Medical Center runs so efficiently—and that its patients always receive first-rate care—is that Ward Clerk Zachary Abbott is a vital part of the team. “I consider myself an assistant to everyone in the department,” says Abbott, who earned a Medical Assistant Certificate from Kaplan College in 2009. “I work alongside the doctors, nurses, and managers, and I help carry out everyday tasks to make sure everything flows well.” The many tasks that Abbott handles range from answering phones to checking on patients’ lab work to training new personnel. He’s also responsible for seeing that patients who need a higher level of care get transferred to the appropriate facility. “If a patient has had a heart attack and needs to go to another facility for treatment, it’s my job to see that the patient gets transferred as quickly as possible,” Abbott says. “And I find it rewarding that I may have been one of the people on the team who saved someone’s life.” Name: Zachary Abbott Emergency Room Ward Clerk Years of service: 3.5
Mercy’s Nurse Call Center Health information is just a phone call away! Mercy’s Nurse Call Center offers free and confidential 24-hour access to registered nurses who can answer health-related questions as well as provide access to an audio health information library with more than 1,000 healthrelated topics and a physician referral service. Contact the Call Center at (800) 460-0072.
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CIRCLE OF CARING The new Mercy UC Davis Cancer Center Support Group offers an outlet where cancer patients can share, connect, and learn
L
ocal cancer patients, survivors, and their
cer patients, survivors, caregivers, family members,
families need not look beyond our com-
and anyone else who has been affected by cancer.
munity to find a supportive network—the
“A lot of times the family member actually goes
Mercy UC Davis Cancer Center Support
through the same emotional experience that their
Group is now in session. “A cancer diagnosis is such a life-changing diagnosis,” says Parminder Sidhu, M.D., an oncologist who helped establish the support group. “We
MERCY HE A LT H
very important that we include family members so they can discuss their feelings.” Each monthly meeting kicks off with an infor-
wanted a place where people can come together
mative presentation by a guest speaker. So far,
and discuss what they’re going through, what their
guests have included a registered dietitian, a chap-
fears are, what their anxieties are, and they can
lain who spoke about grief, and a local firefighter
meet other patients from the community who went
who promoted a breast cancer awareness fund-
through the same situation at one point in their
raiser. But the support group dedicates the majority
lives.” Previously, the nearest cancer support group
of its time to group discussion, a confidential,
was in Stockton.
safe forum in which participants can share their
The Mercy UC Davis Cancer Center Support
4
loved one may go through,” says Dr. Sidhu. “It is
thoughts and experiences. “Because the group we
Group, which is open to the entire community (not
have is in several stages and types of cancer, it has
just Mercy Cancer Center patients), welcomes can-
been a very broad discussion,” says Charnese Felix,
CANCER CARE
“My goal is to provide services that will help any cancer patient in the community feel better, get the best quality of life, and get the best possible result from their treatment.”—Parminder Sidhu, M.D. Director of the Mercy UC Davis Cancer Center. Participants have the opportunity to ask medical-related questions, since Dr. Sidhu makes a point to attend meetings. The oncologist also encourages
a Spanish-language support group and establishing a peer navigation program that offers extra support to young breast cancer patients. As the new support group builds a network con-
feedback. “I look at what people don’t talk about
nected by cancer, the greater community has rallied
when they come and see me as a doctor but what
behind it. “The community has been really gener-
they do talk about with their peers,” he says. “I see
ous,” says Felix. “Our startup came from the Mercy
how I can improve my interaction with my patients
Foundation, and then Dignity Health System Office
so it’s much clearer. I also see which of their needs
Employees decided to raise money so we can expand
are not being met by the clinical care provided at the
our support group.” During that campaign, an
Cancer Center.”
anonymous donor launched a matching challenge,
While some support group benefits might seem
which resulted in a total gift of $15,000. Additional
obvious—such as connecting with survivors—
community support includes a pledge from the
studies have shown that having social support
Merced Fire Department and free publicity spots on
can actually improve the quality of life for cancer
local radio stations.
patients. “Our goal as a program is not to just treat
Since the group’s launch last April, Felix says
patients clinically, but to treat the whole person,”
she has witnessed it evolve into a close-knit social
says Felix.
group. In October, she was concerned about how the group would react to the loss of one of its members,
Above and beyond clinical care
who attended her final meeting on oxygen. “She
Dr. Sidhu’s observations and feedback from patients
attended the group up until the end,” says Felix.
have already inspired several new complementary
“She wasn’t going to miss it. She needed that outlet,
programs, including art and massage therapy; yoga;
and the others were there for her. She never really
and Pathway to Recovery, a program designed to
said much, but she just needed to be there. So I
help patients suffering from pain, strength, and
think that’s one of the benefits that we see.”
balance issues related to chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Future goals include starting
Join Us! The Mercy UC Davis Cancer Center Support Group meets the last Wednesday of each month (except December) from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the Cancer Center. Participation is free and open to the community. No registration required but RSVP encouraged. For more information, call (209) 564-3600.
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PROFILE
TRAILBLAZING ONCOLOGIST JOINS MERCY Radiation oncologist Eric Ko, M.D., Ph.D., aims to bring radiation clinical trials directly to Mercy Medical Center
T
he newest member of the Mercy UC Davis Cancer
the delivery of more precise radiation treatments, which
Center team, Eric Ko, M.D., PhD, wants to make
enable higher doses to be given to patients more safely
radiation clinical trials more accessible to patients. While some UC Davis cancer trials are offered at Mercy
In forging his career in medicine and research,
Medical Center, none of them involves radiation—at
Dr. Ko chose a path that has combined the specialties
least not yet. Dr. Ko, a radiation oncologist, says the
of his uncle, an oncologist, and his father, a medi-
process to change that is underway.
cal researcher. His grandfather, an internist, was also
“With our link to UC Davis, I think there are a
influential. “In looking at their interactions and how
lot of radiation clinical trials that could be initiated
much they enjoyed their work, I wanted to practice
either at the main site, with participation of our Cancer
medicine in the way that they did,” says Dr. Ko. The
Center, or right here in Merced,” says Dr. Ko, who has
M.D./Ph.D. program at the University at Buffalo School
his eye on ongoing trials related to head and neck as
of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences afforded him the
well as prostate cancers. “Those are the ones that could
opportunity to pursue significant cancer research while
easily be brought over.”
working closely with clinicians at the affiliated Roswell
Since August, Dr. Ko has been seeing patients with different kinds of cancers, including many challenging
Park Cancer Institute. He completed his training at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.
head and neck cases. “It’s so rewarding working with
As Dr. Ko settles into his new home, Merced’s
the patients,” he says. “In radiation oncology, we can
strong sense of community and the hospital’s support-
actually see patients all the way through, from diagnosis
ive staff stand out. “People are genuinely nice and very
to treatment to follow-up years later, often with no signs
open. It’s been very easy to work with everyone,” says
of recurrence.” The Cancer Center has two linear accel-
Dr. Ko. “It might sound trivial, but coming out of a big
erators that offer state-of-the-art radiation treatments.
city, it’s something I don’t take for granted.”
The newer image guidance technologies available allow
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and quickly.
MERCY HE A LT H
RECOGNITION
MERCY RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE
Blue Shield of California honors Mercy Medical Center with Blue Distinction designation for quality
B
lue Shield of California has named Mercy Medical
ing to best practices in patient safety and surgical care and
Center as a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip
producing consistently strong outcomes with fewer complica-
Replacement®. The Blue Distinction Centers for Specialty
tions,” says Marcus Thygeson, M.D., Senior Vice President
Care® program is a national designation awarded by Blue
and Chief Health Officer at Blue Shield. “Blue Shield of
Cross and Blue Shield companies to medical facilities that
California is pleased to recognize the high-quality care that
have demonstrated expertise in delivering quality specialty
this hospital and these physicians deliver.”
care—which expanded recently to include more robust quality measures focused on improved patient health and safety. Since 2006, consumers, medical providers, and employ-
Research confirms that the newly designated Blue Distinction Centers demonstrate better quality and improved outcomes for patients, with lower rates of complications and
ers have relied on the Blue Distinction program to identify
readmissions than their peers. The program provides consum-
hospitals delivering quality care in bariatric surgery, cardiac
ers with tools to help them make better-informed healthcare
care, complex and rare cancers, knee and hip replacements,
decisions. These results will also enable employers, working
spine surgery, and transplants. The selection criteria used to
with their local Blue Plan, to tailor benefits to meet their indi-
evaluate facilities were developed with input from the medical
vidual quality objectives.
community and include general quality and safety metrics, plus program-specific metrics. Mercy Medical Center is proud
To learn more about the Blue Distinction designation, visit www.bcbs.com/why-bcbs/blue-distinction.
to have met the rigorous selection criteria set by the Blue Distinction Centers for Specialty Care program. Mercy Medical Center offers comprehensive knee and hip replacement services, including total knee replacement and total hip replacement surgeries. “This designation is a tribute to the dedicated team of physicians, nurses, technicians, and therapists who helped develop Mercy Medical Center’s comprehensive programs in knee and hip replacement,” says Robert Streeter, M.D., Vice President of Medical Affairs. “Their clinical expertise in this area of specialty care has resulted in better overall results for our patients.” “Blue Distinction Centers set themselves apart by adher-
Blue Distinction® Centers (BDC) met overall quality measures for patient safety and outcomes, developed with input from the medical community. Blue Distinction® Centers+ (BDC+) also met cost measures that address consumers’ need for affordable healthcare. Individual outcomes may vary. National criteria is displayed on www.bcbs.com. A Local Blue Plan may require additional criteria for facilities located in its own service area. For details on Local Blue Plan Criteria, a provider’s in-network status, or your own policy’s coverage, contact your Local Blue Plan. Each hospital’s Cost Index is calculated with data from its Local Blue Plan. Hospitals in CA, ID, NY, PA, and WA may lie in two Local Blue Plans’ areas, resulting in two Cost Index figures; and their own Local Blue Plans decide whether one or both Cost Index figures must meet BDC+ national criteria. Neither Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association nor any Blue Plans are responsible for damages or noncovered charges resulting from Blue Distinction or other provider finder information or care received from Blue Distinction or other providers.
Blue Shield of California An independent member of the Blue Shield Association
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PATIENT COMFORT
QUIET, PLEASE! Our new Quiet Kits are filled with soothing amenities to help improve patients’ hospital stays
N
ot getting a restful sleep when one is healthy
The role of patient and family advisory councils
and in one’s own home is unpleasant enough.
The idea for the kits came from Dignity Health
Imagine having trouble sleeping in a strange envi-
leaders’ discussions with patient and family advi-
ronment while sick.
sory councils, which include past Dignity Health
Unfortunately, this is the experience of many
how to improve the organization. Each of the sys-
relaxation, San Francisco-based Dignity Health
tem’s 36 inpatient hospitals has at least one council
has implemented many strategies, including the
of about five to six advisers that meets monthly
distribution of our Quiet Kits.
to discuss ideas to improve the patient experi-
Dignity Health partnered with Medline
important in helping to develop these kits,” Rush
kits that help create a quiet and relaxing environ-
says. “We firmly believe and honor the comments
ment for patients. “Restful sleep is so important to
from our patient and family advisers; their input is
the health and well-being of patients,” says Sandy
so valuable to us.”
Health. Each item is intended to make the patient’s
The champion for Mercy’s Patient and Family Advisory Council is Family Birth Center Director Rebecca Cates, R.N.
experience better.
Mercy Medical Center
The Quiet Kits include the following items:
has already imple-
• Earplugs
mented several ideas
• Eye mask
that were brought up
• “Voices Down Please” door hanger
through the Patient
• Lip balm
and Family Advisory
• Sudoku and crossword puzzle books
Council, including
• “Questions for My Doctor” booklet
how to help improve
Items like the crossword puzzles do not necessarily make the hospital quieter, but they do help
the communication for our patients about
distract patients from their pain. “Many of our
the medications they are getting. To help patients
patients said that it’s not just trying to sleep, but
understand, they now receive a chart explaining
also relaxing that is important,” Rush says. “Once
what medications are used for certain ailments
patients are relaxed, they are able to heal better
and what their most common side effects are.
and have less pain. They wanted these items to
“Often patients are confused about what the medi-
help them relax, get their minds off being in the
cations are for, and our patients are using these
hospital, and create a restful environment like
guides to help understand,” Cates says.
they have at home.” MERCY HE A LT H
ence. “Our patient advisory councils have been so
Industries and designer Deborah Adler to develop
Rush, Director of Patient Experience at Dignity
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patients and their families who provide input on
hospital patients. To promote restful sleep and
FOUNDATION NE WS
AN EXCEPTIONAL ENDOWMENT
Wallace gift forges a deeper partnership between Mercy and UC Merced ate a relationship between two established institutions like Mercy Medical Center and UC Merced really is exceptional.” Joel and Elizabeth Wallace have a long and generous history of philanthropic giving to community causes in Merced. “I was on the original committee that worked to bring a University of California campus to Merced many years ago, and have greatly benefited from the beautiful new medical facilities at Mercy in recent years,” says Elizabeth Wallace. “We are so happy to think that two institutions we care deeply about will be working together for many years here in Merced.” The Mercy Foundation is honored to facilitate this beautiful gift and champion a partnership between two entities that might not otherwise work together. Garth Pecchenino, Mercy Medical Center Merced
J
oel and Elizabeth Wallace are well-known business
Foundation Chair, says, “We are thrilled to have another
leaders, community activists, and philanthropists
partnership with our donor community and the excellent
in Merced. With their most recent major gift, they have
research programs that Mercy Medical Center and UC
modeled a unique and generous endowment that forges a
Merced are collaborating on to discover cures for chronic
partnership between Mercy Medical Center Merced and
health issues in the Central Valley.”
UC Merced. “We are grateful to the Wallaces for being visionaries in addition to being philanthropists,” says Mercy Medical
For more information about how you can help to make a positive impact, call the Mercy Foundation at (209) 564-4200.
Center President David Dunham. “Their gift to this community is not only a financial one, but it also creates an opportunity to establish a working relationship between two Merced institutions and to combine our collective resources for the common good.” The new UC Merced Yablokoff-Wallace Health Science Research Endowment was designed to improve health services and designates that Mercy Medical Center will participate in one to two research projects with UC Merced’s Health Sciences Research Institute every year. “All of this awesome research activity and potential exists, which brings with it a need for financing,” says Matt Rydman, Director of Human Research Protections for Dignity Health. “For an intentional donor to cre-
“We are so happy to think that two institutions we care deeply about will be working together for many years here in Merced.” –Elizabeth Wallace
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RESOURCES
MERCY HEALTH EDUCATION CENTER COMMUNITY MATERNITY PROGRAMS Labor of Love This course prepares all expectant mothers for the childbirth experience, including the stages of labor and what to expect during pregnancy and delivery. Preregistration and a $10 fee are required for this five-week program. For more information, call (209) 564-4384. DATES: New classes are held monthly on Wednesdays TIME: 6–9 p.m. PLACE: Mercy Medical Pavilion 315 Mercy Ave. Lactating With Love This class provides expectant mothers with education and information on breastfeeding. Mothers of newborns who may be experiencing challenges with the breastfeeding process are also encouraged to register. Preregistration is required. For more information, call (209) 564-4384. Maternity Tours Tours of the Family Birth Center at Mercy Medical Center are available the second Tuesday of each month. TIME: 6 p.m. (English); 7 p.m. (Spanish) PLACE: 333 Mercy Ave. Meet at the information desk at the hospital’s main entrance. Baby Blues Support Group If you are a mom looking for people in your area who understand what you are going through, please join us for a confidential and free support group for mothers experiencing postpartum depression. For more information, contact Sierra Vista Child and Family
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MERCY HE A LT H
Services at (209) 205-1058. DATES: Tuesdays, through March 25 TIME: 11 a.m.–noon PLACE: Mercy Medical Pavilion, 3rd Floor, Classroom B 315 Mercy Ave. To preregister for the birth of your baby, come to Registration at the Mercy Medical Pavilion, 315 Mercy Ave. Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Please bring a picture ID and insurance card when you come to preregister.
SAVE THE
DATE
Saturday, May 3rd 8:30am - 1:00pm
Mercy’s Annual Family Festival 5K Stroke Awareness Run Mercy Ave & G Street - across from Mercy Medical Center 5K Race begins at 8:00am Family Festival activities & Health Fair 8:30am - 1:00pm Register for the 5K at www.supportmercymerced.org Proceeds go towards the Mercy Medical Center Stroke Program Health information • Community Health Providers Health Screenings Asthma Circuit • Exercise/Dance Demonstrations • Children’s Activities Rock Wall • Face Painting • Music • Entertainment Facebook: Mercy Medical Center Merced Contact: Lillian Sanchez (209) 564-4310 lillian.sanchez@dignityhealth.org
333 Mercy Ave Merced, CA 95340
Out of the waiting room... Out of the waiting room...
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