@ FREE EVENT Diabetes Self-Management Education Classes April 16 and 23 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Sister Marie Lenahan Wellness Center, second floor Community Room Registration required. For more information or to register, call 610.237.4192.
SPRING 2015 SPECIALTY SURGERY
Expert care—from head to toe Is surgery in your future? Are you searching for a specialist you can trust? Then you don’t have to look further than Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital. And that’s true even if you need the most complex surgery. “We offer the total range of specialty surgery,” says Prashanth Ramachandra, MD, Chair of Surgery at Mercy Fitzgerald. “From top to bottom—brain to foot surgery—you’ll find it here.”
The doctors doing these surgeries are highly skilled—many of them have decades of experience. And they use the latest techniques and technology. “We take real pride in what we do here,” Dr. Ramachandra says. And the specialists here are as caring as they are competent. “Our doctors are truly committed to this community,” Dr. Ramachandra says. “They could practice somewhere —Continued on page 3
IN THIS ISSUE
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CARE AND KNOW-HOW Why Maureen is cancer-free
IMAGING TECHNOLOGY Tools for a precise diagnosis
FIND THE RIGHT CARE If you need surgery, Mercy provides you with the expertise and compassion that you’ve been looking for. Learn more at mercyhealth.org/services/surgery.
PALLIATIVE CARE
Focusing on comfort Cure is the goal of most medical care, as is comfort. That’s the idea behind Mercy Home Health’s in-home palliative care. It’s an approach that’s all about helping people— and their families—live as fully and comfortably as possible.
Beyond medicine Mercy Home Health’s team provides more than inhome medical care. They also help patients and family members talk about long-term planning and end-of-life issues. And as part of the area’s largest Catholic healthcare
TAKE THE NEXT STEP Palliative care might be the right choice for you and your family. To learn more, call 1.888.690.2551.
system, Mercy’s caregivers also work to meet patients’ emotional and spiritual needs. “The patient’s quality of life comes first,” Dr. Raziano says. “It puts the patient back in control. They choose what they want as the next step of their care.”
Get back to your life MERCY HOME HEALTH CAN HELP To get back on your feet after an injury, illness or surgery, you need more than rest. You need a team. Your Mercy Home Health rehab team stands ready. With their help, you can regain strength and independence. “We want to help people become more self-sufficient with whatever they’re dealing with,” says Larry Yelson, Staff Development Rehabilitation Specialist at Mercy Home Health.
“We help them return to their previous level of function—and hopefully beyond that,” he says.
Comprehensive care The rehab team helps patients recover from a range of health issues. They include (but are not limited to): •• Cancer treatment •• Multiple sclerosis •• Surgery, including joint replacement •• Stroke And the Mercy Home
MAKE ALL THE RIGHT MOVES Learn how Mercy Home Health rehab services can help you recover well. Call 1.888.690.2551 or visit mercyhomehealth.org.
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WHAT IS PALLIATIVE CARE?
A:
Unlike hospice, which provides endof-life care, palliative care is offered to anyone with a serious illness, regardless of life expectancy. It’s commonly recommended for long-term conditions, such as:
•• Cancer •• Chronic obstructive
•• Dementia •• Heart failure
pulmonary disease “Palliative care is centered around—and driven by—the patient,” says Donna Raziano, MD, Chief Medical Officer for Mercy Home Health. “It focuses on the symptoms he or she wants to address.” For instance, patients may want help to ease symptoms such as:
•• Constipation •• Nausea
•• Pain •• Shortness of breath
Health team goes beyond the basics. They also help people deal with other hurdles to health. Those may include: •• Difficulties accessing transportation •• Home safety concerns •• Trouble with tasks like bathing, meal prep and other activities of daily living
A team at your side In all, the home health team includes more than 130 physical, occupational or speech therapists. Nurses, home health aides and social workers are also on hand. “Each patient’s team aims to provide seamless care,” Yelson says. “So everyone is on the same page when we’re working with the
patient.” And the team approach works very well indeed. But it’s the one-onone work that’s often the most rewarding—to both patients and the team. “It’s you and the patient,” Yelson says. “You’re able to bond with them and find out what’s going on, not only with their rehab but also in their life—and help them progress.”
LAPAROSCOPY
Tiny cuts, big gain A speedy recovery. T hat’s what all of us want when we need to have surgery. It’s also what the doctors at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital work hard to provide. And it’s why they use minimally invasive techniques, such as laparoscopy and similar surgeries, whenever possible.
Expert care —Continued from front cover else. But they want to be right here, making a positive difference in people’s lives.” This may be the secret behind the high numbers of patient satisfaction at Mercy Fitzgerald.
It’s all here Here’s just a sample of the specialty surgeries offered at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital. Many of them are performed using minimally invasive
Safety first SPECIAL UNIT HELPS PATIENTS PREPARE FOR SURGERY There are many steps to successful surgery. And some of the most important are those taken right before you enter the operating room (OR). Staff members at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital’s Short Procedure Unit (SPU) make sure you don’t take those steps alone. “You can be assured that the staff here at the SPU will provide the start of a process that ensures safety and comfort when preparing for a surgical procedure,” says Nicole Yerger, MS, MSN, CNOR, Director of Perioperative Services at Mercy Fitzgerald.
What you can expect
techniques, which often lead to a quicker recovery time. •• Breast surgery •• Ear, nose and throat surgery •• Foot and ankle surgery •• Gynecologic surgery •• Heart surgery •• Neurosurgery •• Orthopedic surgery •• Urologic surgery •• Vascular surgery •• Weight-loss surgery
After surgery and time in the recovery area, you return to the SPU. At this time, you will: •• Get a complete assessment •• Go over discharge instructions •• Receive ordered medications from the pharmacy for a small fee prior to leaving •• Rejoin family members “Patients really appreciate the time that the staff spends with them to go over any questions that they have,” Yerger says. “We make sure everything has been reviewed and is appropriate before we send the patient home.” In addition to helping surgical patients, the unit can be there for you in a number of other ways with: •• Cardiac catheterization •• Interventional radiology
•• Help completing outstanding paperwork •• A physical assessment from a nurse, often including a review of lab work, vital signs and allergies
Find peace of mind “It can be scary having a procedure done,” Yerger says. “But the SPU team can help ease your concerns.”
Faster healing How does it work? Doctors pass a tube with a mini video camera in its tip through a small incision. Then they operate with small surgical instruments passed through the tube or other tiny incisions.
Getting you home sooner “With minimally invasive surgery, your body doesn’t have to work as hard to mend,” says Prashanth Ramachandra, MD, Chair of Surgery at Mercy Fitzgerald. “There’s less injury to tissue.” As a result, hospital stays are usually shorter. Often, in fact, these are sameday surgeries—with no need to stay overnight. Overall recovery is faster too. “You get back to work, your family and your life more quickly,” Dr. Ramachandra says. These surgeries have even more benefits. Among them: Less pain. Patients experience less discomfort after surgery, with a reduced need for pain medicine. Less scarring. Smaller incisions mean less noticeable scars. Higher accuracy. Video monitors give doctors a close-up, magnified view of the body’s structures. This allows more precision. “We are committed to giving patients the best options for surgery,” Dr. Ramachandra says.
QUICK RECOVERY We offer many minimally invasive procedures. Learn more at
mercyhealth.org/services/surgery. mercyhealth.org
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A
A NEW LIFE
bright future HOW SURGERY HELPED MAUREEN CASTILLO OVERCOME A DEADLY CANCER Not a day goes by without Maureen Castillo giving thanks for the gift of being alive. “I tell anyone who will listen how lucky I am,” she says. “I thank God daily for my life, for giving Dr. Ram the wisdom to find out what was wrong with me—for blessing his hands to help fix me.” The doctor Maureen is so thankful for is Prashanth Ramachandra, MD—Dr. Ram to many of his patients. He is the Chief of Surgery at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital. Together with Jose Maquilan, MD, a thoracic surgeon at Mercy Fitzgerald, Dr. Ramachandra performed a complex eight-hour surgery on Maureen this past July. It likely cured her of a disease most people don’t survive: esophageal cancer, which affects the tube that carries food to your stomach. Across the United States, only about 20 percent of people with this cancer are alive five years after their diagnosis, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). But because of Dr. Ramachandra, Maureen—the mother of four children between 2 and 9 years old—has every chance of a long life.
“I’m going to be able to take care of my kids,” she says. “I can watch them grow and become the people they were meant to be.” This is the story of why her future is so bright.
One early warning To understand Maureen’s story, it helps to understand why cancer of the esophagus so often kills. It’s what doctors call a silent cancer. This means it rarely causes symptoms—until it’s already too late. And indeed, Maureen didn’t experience many of the symptoms that would have concerned her. She never had trouble swallowing or heartburn that wouldn’t end. Her voice wasn’t
ESOPHAGEAL CANCER: BY THE NUMBERS Estimated number of new esophageal cancer cases that will be diagnosed in the U.S. this year:
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16,980
OF THOSE
“I thank God daily for my life, for giving Dr. Ram the wisdom to find out what was wrong with me—for blessing his hands to help fix me.” —Maureen Castillo
hoarse. And she wasn’t losing weight without trying. But she did notice one sign—pain below her rib cage. She’d had a similar pain twice before, in 2011 and 2013. But this time it was so severe that it sent her to a doctor’s office. She sought out Dr. Ramachandra because of his excellent reputation. And that choice is why—against the odds—Maureen’s cancer was found early and successfully treated.
The right choice Dr. Ramachandra advised an upper endoscopy—a procedure in which doctors pass a narrow tube with a tiny video camera at its tip down the throat and into the esophagus and stomach. During the examination, he did a biopsy to check for cancer. “Without his foresight to do an endoscopy, I never would have found out what was wrong with me in time to make such a difference,” Maureen says. “I didn’t have risk factors for this cancer. I don’t smoke. I’m not a heavy drinker. He could have just said, ‘Let’s wait and see if the pain comes back.’” “But Maureen’s pain was a little different from what you normally see,” Dr. Ramachandra recalls. “I didn’t want to play a guessing game or delay treatment for a serious condition. The safest thing to do was testing.”
13634+ 13,570 ARE MEN
3,410
ARE WOMEN
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF ESOPHAGEAL CANCER? Check with your doctor if you have any of the following symptoms:
•• Painful or difficult swallowing. •• Weight loss. •• Pain behind the breastbone.
•• Hoarseness and cough. •• Indigestion and heartburn.
Source: National Cancer Institute
‘This was the doctor!’ Maureen will never forget Dr. Ramachandra’s compassion when he told her the biopsy’s results. “I started to cry,” she says. “And he stepped away from his desk and hugged me. Then he patiently explained my diagnosis and the surgery he proposed. I knew if anyone could help me, this was the doctor!” The surgery required removing part of Maureen’s esophagus, the nearby lymph nodes and the upper part of her stomach—and then reattaching the remainder of her stomach to her esophagus. Because Maureen’s cancer was caught early, she was spared radiation and chemotherapy. Throughout her recovery, Dr. Ramachandra made himself readily available, giving her his cell phone number and telling her to call whenever she had a concern—even at 2:00 a.m. Several months after her surgery, she is fully healed. And she urges anyone who is facing cancer to search for a doctor they trust completely, as there may be difficult decisions to make. “A doctor,” she says, “like Dr. Ramachandra.”
Prashanth Ramachandra, MD—Dr. Ram to many of his patients—is the Chief of Surgery at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital. Dr. Ram answers FAQs about surgery at Mercy Fitzgerald. See page 8.
MAKE THE RIGHT CALL Make the right call. For a surgeon who will help you get the best possible treatment, dial 1.877.GO MERCY (1.877.466.3729).
3 to 4 times
Esophageal cancer is more common among men than among women.
Source: American Cancer Society
mercyhealth.org
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Nurses check on you. And they monitor your health daily— with the aid of technology and your involvement.
Living with heart failure? LIVE WELL AT HOME WITH THE TELEHEALTH PROGRAM Plenty of support. The right guidance. And peace of mind knowing that someone is there for you when you need them. That’s what patients living with heart failure often look for. And that’s just what people find when they use Mercy Home Health’s Telehealth program.
Help is at hand Learning how to manage heart failure takes time. There are things you need to do to care for yourself. And there are things you need to watch for that will tell you how well you’re doing. The Telehealth program helps with both. It offers you the chance to stay in your home and live independently. But nurses check on you. And they monitor your health daily—with the aid of technology and your involvement. “It’s comforting for people to know someone is watching out for them,” says Telehealth Nurse Coordinator Joyce Leary, RN, BSN. But it serves another purpose too. “It helps prevent hospitalizations and frequent emergency department visits,” she adds.
Watching for warning signs If you participate in the Telehealth program, you will receive a blood pressure cuff, a digital scale and a machine that measures how much oxygen is in your blood. These tools are linked up to your telephone or cell phone. Each morning, you take your blood pressure, weigh yourself and check your blood oxygen level. This information is automatically transmitted to a nurse, who reviews it. The nurse watches for things like weight gain, low oxygen levels or high blood pressure. All of these can indicate heart failure is getting worse. If there’s reason for concern, the nurse will contact you—and your healthcare providers, if needed. Your doctor may then recommend a change in treatment to get you back on track. It might be something as simple as adding a water pill.
FREE CLASS Smoking/Tobacco Cessation Class April 29 to May 13, 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. Sister Marie Lenahan Wellness Center, second floor Community Room This is a free class. Registration is required. For more info or to register, call 610.237.4192. Classes are offered quarterly. If you are interested in joining the next six-week round of classes, please call.
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FIND THE RIGHT CARE Have you or a loved one been diagnosed with heart failure? Learn how the Telehealth program may be able to help you stay independent. Visit mercyhomehealth.org, or call 1.888.690.2551.
“The idea is that if you spot trouble early, you can correct it. That keeps a small problem from becoming a larger one,” Leary says.
Keeping track “We ask patients to keep a log of their readings too,” Leary adds. “It helps them get a better understanding of their disease process and what to look for with their vital signs.” That way, when you no longer receive home health services, you’re better able to manage your heart failure on their own. And that’s what it’s all about—helping people take charge and live happy, healthy lives.
IMAGING SERVICES
The pictures of health MRI. CT. PET SCAN. You don’t have to know what all the letters stand for to know that imaging devices are valuable tools in healthcare. Modern imaging has changed medicine—and made it better, says David Mayer, MD, Chairman of the Radiology department at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital. Imaging tests help doctors find disease, monitor it and decide how to treat it. They can even play a key role in the treatment itself.
A clearer view of you From standard x-rays to digital mammography, Mercy Fitzgerald offers a full range of imaging services. Dr. Mayer says that includes advanced procedures
that aren’t offered in all places, such as tests that: •• Help doctors decide whether a patient might benefit from surgery when the heart’s blood vessels are blocked •• Spot where active cancer cells may be hiding in the body •• Measure iron content in vital organs, such as the heart and liver The possibilities of imaging are exciting, Dr. Mayer says. “A physical exam is limited to what the doctor can see, smell or touch. But the doctor can’t get to what’s inside the body. This is where imaging comes in. We can look anywhere in the body with a variety of tools and technologies.”
Where healing begins It’s been said that time heals all wounds. But some wounds need more than time. That’s when the experts at the Advanced Wound Care Center at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital can step in.
What exactly is a chronic wound? They are wounds that are slow to heal or don’t heal at all. Things that can cause or contribute to such wounds include: •• Pressure or radiation sores •• Skin ulcers caused by diabetes, nerve damage or poor blood flow •• Infection
It takes a team “Doctors, nurses and other staff members work together to provide healing care,” says William Urbas, DPM, Podiatric Medical Director at the center. They create a wound care plan tailored to each patient’s needs. Treatment options may include: •• The removal of unhealthy tissue (debridement) •• Special dressings and wraps •• Skin grafts and skin substitutes •• Measures to improve blood flow •• Special devices that help wounds heal and close •• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
PICTURE YOURSELF HERE! Need an imaging test? Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital can help. Call 610.237.2525 to schedule your appointment.
Walk-In Screening Mammogram Every Wednesday and Thursday 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Women’s Imaging Suite, Sister Marie Lenahan Wellness Center Physician prescription, insurance card and photo ID required. For more information, call 610.237.2525.
TURN TO US If you have a wound that hasn’t healed, that doesn’t mean it can’t be healed. Call the Advanced Wound Care Center at 610.237.7970. Or visit mercyhealth .org/services/wound-care.
•• Education and support “And we see the results—from day one,” says Frances Garbarino, CRNP, Program Director, Advanced Wound Care Center. “We take pictures almost daily to document the healing process for our patients. It’s a booster for everyone to see what progress they make!”
WOUND CARE: BY THE NUMBERS
95%
The healing rate at the Advanced Wound Care Center at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital* *June 2014
85%
The average healing rate in the U.S.
Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital earned the Restorix® Wound Center of Excellence Award in
2014.
mercyhealth.org
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FREE EVENT
Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Harrisburg, PA Permit No. 66
Mercy Health System of Southeastern Pennsylvania 1 W. Elm St., Suite 100 Conshohocken, PA 19428-4108
Dine With the Docs Dine With the Docs is a monthly educational series providing opportunities to meet with Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital physicians and other clinical experts on health topics to benefit you and your family. To learn about the next event or to register, please call 1.877.GO MERCY.
Find more @ mercyhealth.org
MFH
We’re here for you WHEN YOU NEED SURGERY, YOU NEED GREAT CARE
AND
The Philadelphia area h as dozens of hospitals. That’s a lot of choices! How do you know which one is best when you need surgery? Prashanth Ramachandra, MD, Chair of Surgery at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital, talks about why the best surgical care is right here in your neighborhood.
DID YOU KNOW?
Why should I choose Mercy Fitzgerald for my surgery? Answer You want a surgeon with a high level of expertise. And Mercy Fitzgerald has board-certified doctors and extremely skilled staff. We use current technology to provide highquality care. But we offer more than that. We provide compassionate care—care that’s truly focused on the person.
You mentioned technology. How does that help? Answer In many ways. For example, high-tech services like minimally invasive surgery help you go home sooner. At Mercy Fitzgerald we use these techniques in every field, including heart and cancer surgery. Generally, that means smaller incisions, less pain and quicker recoveries for our patients.
Why is compassion so important? Answer A hospital can provide surgical care. But if the staff doesn’t understand what the patient is going through, it’s not great care. At Mercy Fitzgerald, we focus on your unique needs all the way through. After surgery, we’re committed to helping our patients heal and get well. This is essential to the recovery process.
How will I know what to do the day of my surgery? Answer We have patient navigators to help you through the entire process. That way, you won’t feel lost or alone. And we keep family members constantly informed. After you go home, your doctor will also call to see how you’re doing. So many people tell me, “I’ve never had this happen anywhere else.”
Q
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FREE EVENT Bariatric Nutrition Classes and Support Group April 27, 4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sister Marie Lenahan Wellness Center, second floor Community Room For more information, call 610.237.3641 or 610.237.5030.
You can visit us before your surgery. A personal care coordinator and a doctor will walk you through your procedure and answer questions. Call 1.877.GO MERCY to schedule a visit.
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MORE @ MERCY is published as a community service for the friends and patrons of Mercy Health System. Information in MORE @ MERCY 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. Copyright © 2015 Coffey Communications CUN31092