current news
Breast Cancer Support Group to meet
November 10, 2009 » Southern Ohio Medical Center’s Breast Cancer Support Group will meet on Wednesday, Nov. 18 at 1 p.m. at the SOMC Cancer Center, located on Kinneys Lane in Portsmouth.
Lunch will be provided. Please RSVP to Lisa Morgan at 356-7496 no later than noon on Friday, Nov. 13 to get an accurate count for lunch.
Moore Receives Prestigious Nursing Certification
November 9, 2009 » Christina Moore, RN, BNH, CCRN, CSC, of the SOMC Heart Care Unit, recently earned the prestigious Cardiac Surgery Certification (CSC) from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. Moore is the second nurse at Southern Ohio Medical Center to obtain this credential.
“Obtaining CSC is a great honor and we are very proud of Tina,” Paul Rase, nurse manager of the SOMC Heart Care Unit, said. “She’s a leader. She first lead the way with her CCRN certification and now she’s setting an example for others to obtain CSC.”
To be awarded CSC, a nurse must pass a 90 question, two-hour certification exam and complete 1,750 hours of patient care, specifically with critically ill and cardiac surgery patients. Moore is required to earn continuing education credits to be eligible for recertification in three years.
“I decided to do this for personal advancement. It wasn’t about prestige or more letters after my name,” Moore, said. “It’s a matter of wanting to know my job better, to be more confident at what I do and to provide the best patient care possible.”
Moore earned her nursing certificate from the College of the Albemarle, her bachelor’s degree in Natural Health from Clayton College and is currently pursing a master’s degree. She has been a nurse for 22 years and has been an employee of SOMC for two years.
SOMC Medical Imaging Passes ODH Inspection
November 9, 2009 » Southern Ohio Medical Center recently passed inspection by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) on all SOMC medical imaging equipment.
“The success of passing this inspection ensures our community that we conduct services that are compliant with the Ohio administrative code,” said Missy Hutchens, education coordinator for Medical Imaging at SOMC.
The ODH surveyors conducted a three-day site visit to inspect all x-ray and medical imaging equipment in the cath lab, operating room and x-ray area. The surveyors also watched procedures and interviewed several staff members to make their assessments.
“The inspectors were very complimentary of our team and the preparation that occurred for this site visit,” said Hutchens. “They were impressed by the staff and their knowledge of polices and procedures.”
Cheryl Lytten, nurse manager of the Cath Lab at SOMC said the surveyors “were wowed by the quality of our equipment and state of the art technology.”
The inspection consisted of reviewing staff competencies, evaluating a safe work environment, evaluating physician training and ensuring all equipment is maintained properly. ODH will return once every two years to complete an inspection.
“Passing the ODH inspection proves we run a top-notch quality program at SOMC,” said Lytten. “This achievement is yet another way to measure our progress toward obtaining the highest quality of care available.”
Arrick appointed to SOMC Board of Directors
November 9, 2009 » Southern Ohio Medical Center recently announced the appointment of Ronald E. Arrick, MD, to the SOMC Board of Directors.
Dr. Arrick received his medical degree from Ohio State University. He completed his residency training at Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest University and Riverside Methodist Hospital of Columbus. He has served as Chief of Staff at Mercy Hospital and is board certified in internal medicine.
Dr. Arrick has practiced as an internal medicine physician in the Portsmouth area for almost 30 years and currently lives with his wife and two daughters in Lucasville. His office is located in the Fulton Building on the Main Campus of SOMC in Portsmouth, Ohio.
Surviving the Holidays Grief Support Group Offered
November 9, 2009 » Southern Ohio Medical Center will host a five week support group to help heal the sadness of loss and enhance the enjoyment of the holiday season. Sessions will begin on Tuesday, Nov. 24, at 5 p.m., and will be held on the East Campus, in the Gibson Building Conference Room.
If you are struggling with the anxiety of holiday grief please join us for this five week session. Participants will have an opportunity to share holiday memories, make a keep sake ornament and holiday memory box with others who have experienced loss and who understand the stress and anxiety that comes with holiday grief. Space is limited, so registration is required. Please contact Susan Goins at 356-2676.
Four Battles Then: Four Victories Now
How Four SOMC Employees Are Spreading Stories Of Hope
Pictured then (left) are Noel Pemberton, Norma White, Wendi Waugh and Carolyn McKinnon; pictured now (right) are McKinnon, White, Pemberton and Waugh.
October 13, 2009 » In 2006, four employees at Southern Ohio Medical Center embarked on what would be the hardest journey of their life: the battle against breast cancer.
Three years later, each woman is cancer free and sharing their stories to provide inspiration and encouragement for those following in their footsteps.
Norma’s Story:
Norma White, a purchasing analyst at the SOMC Cancer Center, first discovered a lump in her breast while at work. She let it go for week before visiting a doctor. “At 32 years old, and with no previous history of breast cancer, I didn’t think it was possible for me to have the disease,” she said. “I kept denying it, but finally realized it wasn’t worth putting off any longer—I needed to help myself get better.”
Within seven months of a lumpectomy, chemotherapy and multiple radiation treatments, Norma was officially declared cancer free. She now uses her experience to relate to first-time chemo patients, explaining that it may not be an easy road, but that they will see their old self again.
“Many cancer patients feel like they have to put their lives on hold, but they don’t,” she said. “I still exercised, went shopping and spent time with my family. My biggest goal was to put the treatments behind me and move on with my life. Now I can show my patients that it’s possible.”
Carolyn’s Story:
After a routine mammogram, 51-year-old Carolyn McKinnon was told that she had a lump in her breast. Four days later, she was undergoing surgery.
“It all happened so fast that I barely had time to think about it,” she said. “I was definitely scared, but I also always had hope.”
Within 10 months of a partial mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation treatments, Carolyn was cleared of cancer. She now uses her story to encourage others to not put off what they can do today.
“My experience made me realize that life is too short—you don’t get another time around,” she said. “I needed to accomplish all the things I said I wanted to do, but hadn’t; I have since gone back to school to become a nurse practitioner and I’m very happy with where I am in life.”
Wendi’s Story:
Wendi Waugh, director of the SOMC Cancer Center, was aware that there was a lump in her breast nearly five months before visiting her physician for an exam.
“I had an order for a mammogram, but held onto it because I hoped the lump would go away,” she said. “Unfortunately, I always knew in my heart that it wouldn’t disappear.”
A year and a half after her double mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation treatments, Wendi returned to her normal life without cancer. Her experience has helped her relate on a new level with her patients, creating a greater sense of compassion and understanding of their situations
“Breast cancer is a roller coaster ride: you don’t know where the loops are, but you can choose to experience the ride and learn from it,” she said. “I chose to learn and to take care of myself so that now I can take care of others.”
Noel’s Story:
As a registered mammographer and advocate of the monthly self-breast exam, Noel Pemberton understood what avenues to take after finding a pea-sized lump in her breast.
“I immediately went to my doctor and scheduled a mammogram,” she said. “From the first image, we knew that it was cancer.”
A double mastectomy, eight chemo treatments, 38 radiation sessions and six months later, Noel was in the clear. She now sits with patients during their hour-long bone scans and encourages them by sharing her story.
“What better place can we be to touch patients?” she said. “I have bonded with
so many people by sharing my experience and have made friends that I never would have met otherwise.
Being able to inspire others through my own story is an amazing feeling and I’m truly blessed.”
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Join the SOMC Cancer Center in celebrating by receiving your annual mammogram today and learning about the many ways that you can fight the disease. For more information or to schedule your appointment, please call (740) 356-7490 or visit them online at www.somccancer.org.
Irwin Director of SOMC Performance Improvement
October 13, 2009 » Julie Irwin, RN, BSN, has been named the administrative director of Performance Improvement at Southern Ohio Medical Center.
In this position, Irwin will help develop, implement, monitor and direct the functions of organization-wide performance improvement activities. She also will monitor compliance standards with both The Joint Commission and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Irwin has worked at SOMC for 15 years, previously holding titles as nurse manager of the 3 North A nursing unit and manager of the Performance Improvement Department. She received her associate degree and bachelor’s degree in nursing from Shawnee State University and has also obtained medical-surgical nursing certification.
She and her husband, Craig, reside in the Jackson area with their four children.
SOMC Home Care Offers New Technology
Southern Ohio Medical Center is helping to provide more tailored, accurate care for home care patients through the new portable Telehealth monitoring system. Pictured using the equipment is 87-year-old patient George Hussey.
October 8, 2009 » Southern Ohio Medical Center is now offering a new, state-of-the-art monitoring system for home care patients that may prevent emergency visits or prolonged hospitalization.
Called Telehealth, the portable machine allows blood pressure, heart rate, weight, pulse oxygen and other trending information to be quickly transmitted each morning directly from the patient’s phone line to the SOMC Home Health nursing facility.
“Prior to this new technology, a home care nurse would have to travel to a patient’s home once a week to check their vital signs,” Karen Thompson, director of SOMC Home Health Services, said. “Now we can easily monitor these statistics on a daily basis, helping us to provide a more tailored and accurate plan of care for our patients and their families.”
Thompson explained that each system can be programmed and tailored to match specific patient needs, tracking and trending information based on the plan of care as requested by their physician.
“The monitors can ask the patient yes or no questions like, ‘Are you having chest pain?’ or ‘Are you feeling dizzy?’ There are over 150 pre-programmed questions that can be used,” she said. “It’s really helpful because it alerts our medical staff of abnormal findings much earlier, often resulting in an intervention of the patient’s treatment and better quality of care.”
Any home care patient can use the Telehealth system, as long as there are no safety or compliance issues. Typical patients who are candidates include: those who have undergone open-heart surgery; those who suffer from congestive heart failure; those with respiratory problems; or those who are medically unstable.
“The monitor has been great and has saved me many trips to the hospital,” said 87-year-old patient George Hussey. “You don’t need much training to use the program and it’s self-sufficient. I can do it by myself.”
“Anyone can do it, young or old. The monitor tells you step by step what to do,” Brent Conley, recent heart care patient and user of the Telehealth program, said. “It only takes a few minutes and if your vital signs are abnormal, a nurse will call to check on you.”
Conley added that the monitors don’t replace the home care nurse, but do help in providing excellent, timelier service.
“I had never been sick, had surgery or been in the hospital until I had a heart attack and found myself on the operating table,” he said. “When you are sick, you can never have too many people caring for you. This new monitoring system reassures me that someone is watching out for me and it’s a wonderful feeling.”
For more information about the Telehealth monitoring system, please call SOMC Home Health Services at 356-5600.
SOMC Relocates Pediatric Services to Emergency Department
September 29, 2009 » Southern Ohio Medical Center takes seriously an obligation to our patients to provide the highest quality of care. For the past 10 years, SOMC has cross-trained nursing staff to care for both adults and pediatrics. This is standard of care for a community our size.
“We want to provide our patients with excellent care at the highest safety standards. We have consulted our pediatricians and have determined that consolidating all pediatric care on the main campus to the Emergency Department, where the majority of our children are seen, makes sense,” said Claudia Burchett, Vice President of Patient Services and Chief Nursing Officer.
SOMC has and will also continue to care for children at the Urgent Care Center and the SOMC Healthcare Center.
SOMC treats approximately 25,000 children in the Emergency Department and Healthcare Center and at the Wheelersburg Urgent Care Center. Malissa Warrick, Nurse Manager of SOMC’s Orthopedic and Family Care Unit said an overwhelming majority of admitted patients were discharged within 24-hours. SOMC’s history and collaboration with Children’s Hospitals has significantly helped SOMC deliver the most appropriate care when needed.
At any point that a treating physician believes that a patient should be admitted as an inpatient, SOMC will arrange for admission to the appropriate unit or upon physician order, transfer to a specialized children’s hospital.
“SOMC physicians can admit patients under the age of 18 to one of our existing inpatient units when appropriate,” Burchett said. “Children that require procedures such as an appendectomy or tonsillectomy, will, as they always have, be cared for by our skilled nursing staff.”
“We have a staff of skilled clinicians who have been treating children for many years. The addition of the observation area will only heighten our focus on our pediatric patients,” said Jason Cheatham, DO, FACEP, Director of Emergency Department Operations at SOMC.
He said the majority of pediatric patients that present to the emergency room are treated and released.
“We truly have an amazing staff who have always been able to determine whether a child needs to be admitted or treated and released,” said George Pettit, MD, FACOG, Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology at SOMC.
290+ In Annual Run For Your LIFE
September 29, 2009 » More than 290 runners participated in the 32nd annual Run For Your LIFE community races Saturday, Sept. 5, starting at the SOMC LIFE Center.
Overall winners in the 5-K race were Zach Holbert and Maddie McAllister, while overall winners in the 10-K event were Blake Jones and Amy Kline.
5-K winners in each age and gender group included: Male: 1-15, Levi Cook, Daniel Evory, Kyle Johnson; Female: 1-15, Courtney Blanton, Sheridan McLean, Elysia Montgomery; Male: 16-19, Jordan Selby, Dylan Pack, Brady Evans; Female: 16-19, Karissa Adkins, Jasmine Davis, Andrea Benjamin; Male: 20-24, Anthony Webb, Zach Phillips; Female: 20-24, Jodi Smith, Kristy King, Danielle Marion; Male: 25-29, Jason Smith, Aaron Prose, Daniel Waters; Female: 25-29, Cathy Maddox, Caitlin Throckmorton, Amy Conn; Male: 30-34, Greg Young, Brad Vanover, Mike Ashley; Female: 30-34, Lindsey Hamilton, Kat Colley, Angela Greenslate; Male: 35-39, Ken Mantle, Tim Buckle, Jay Risheh; Female: 35-39, Aimee Miller, Stacy Hornikel, Victoria Book; Male: 40-44; Ed Edwards, Brian Shope, John Hall; Female: 40-44, Julie Panzera, Leigh Phillips, Christie Blair; Male: 45-49, Troy Joyce, Roy Smith, Kevin Kammler; Female: 45-49, Sandy Smith, Kim Toland, Pam Shonkwiler; Male: 50-54, Greg Bridgewater, Keith Maddox, Tom Walker; Female: 50-54, Barbara Duncan, Jill Adkins, Peggy Kindinger; Male: 55-59, Frank James, Dean Wray, David Fitch; Female: 55-59, Jackie Journey, Carole Perkins; Male: 60-64, Daniel Ruggiero, Larry Neff, Larry Fitch; Female: 60-64, Betty Neff, Peggy Ruggiero, Kendra Hughes; Male: 65-99, Sonny Mullins, Richard Cielec, John Euton; Female: 65-99, Lois Rase.
10-K winners in each age and gender group included: Male: 16-19, Chase Wittington, Ralph Craft, Casey Whittington; Female: 16-19, Breanna Butler; Male: 20-24, Colton Halverson, Joshua Kelley; Male: 25-29, Kevin Locker, James Spaulding, Derrick Carver; Female: 25-29, Regina Tipton; Male: 30-34, Tom Deck, Jeremy Burnside, Daniel McDonie; Female: 30-34, Angie Welch, Dana Fetters; Male: 35-39, Christopher Delotel, Chris Lowery; Female: 35-39, Andrea Will, Amy Lowery, Jennifer Mault; Male: 40-44, John Austin, John Walsh, Ryan Ramsey; Female: 40-44, Angie Walsh, Melody Messer, Tempest Allen; Male: 45-49, Patrick Whitt, Marty Redden, Gregory Mays; Female: 45-49, Sharon Welsh; Male: 50-54, Greg Malone, Russ Sommers, Mike Marion; Female: 50-54, Regina Clay, Theresa Kline, Sharon Malone; Male: 55-59, Dale Mueller, Mike Thompson, Larry Tieman; Female: 55-59, Becky Thompson; Male: 60-64, Delmar Scowden; Male: 65-99, Kou Liu.
Queen Receives Prestigious Navy Ranking
September 18, 2009 » Mary Queen, medical technologist of the SOMC Microbiology Lab, was recently named one of eight individuals nationwide to receive a promotion as Master Chief Petty Officer, Hospital Corpsman, E9 for the United States Navy Reserve.
In her new role, Queen will gain national responsibility and oversee administration of all personnel assigned to one of the four Operational Health Support Units within the U.S. She also is eligible to become a member of the selection boards responsible for choosing future recipients.
Queen received the prestigious position based on a two-week review of eligible candidates. Only one percent of Navy Reserve members hold the rank of Master Chief Hospital Corpsman and very few are female.
A native of Jackson, Ohio, Queen obtained a Master¹s degree in Health Service Administration from St. Joseph¹s College of Maine. She currently serves as the senior enlisted leader of the Operational Health Support Unit Great Lakes, Detachment C, based in Columbus, Ohio, and the coordinator of the Hospital Corpsman Basic A-School for the Great Lakes, Illinois 22 detachments, which encompass five states.
Queen has served as a member of the Navy Reserves for 20 years and has been an employee of Southern Ohio Medical Center for more than 30 years.
SOMC Brings Wound-Healing Technology Close to Home
The SOMC Wound Healing Center is bringing new technology and therapies to the patients of the tri-state area, helping to reverse the injuries caused by radiation treatment and aid in the prevention of chronic wounds. Pictured with the hyperbaric oxygen chamber are (l to r) Dr. Sonja Lichtenstein, recent patient Charles Canter, and Respiratory Therapist Deanna Potter.
September 16, 2009 » The Centers for Disease Control estimate that 64 percent of adults who are newly diagnosed with cancer will still be living in five years. Yet many patients who undergo radiation treatment may discover hidden complications years after beating the disease.
The Wound Healing Center at Southern Ohio Medical Center is offering advancements in cancer-related therapies to help patients reverse these effects.
“Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a relatively new form of treatment that significantly increases the speed at which wounds and injuries heal,” Dr. Sonja Lichtenstein, medical director of the SOMC Wound Healing Center, said. “It is also the only known treatment that can retract delayed radiation damage, often showing improvement or complete resolution in 60 to 80 percent of patients.”
The process works through a pure oxygen chamber that has been pressurized at higher-than-normal atmospheric levels. Patients lie in the chamber for two hours at a time and are able to watch television and relax while the healing process occurs.
“The air pressure inside the chamber is two and a half times greater than normal air pressure, helping the blood carry oxygen to injured organs and tissues more quickly and efficiently,” she explained.
“This type of non-invasive therapy is extremely beneficial for most wounds, and has been particularly helpful to patients suffering from damage of the brain, chest wall, abdomen, pelvis, bladder, intestines or the muscle and soft tissues of the face and throat due to radiation treatment.”
Hyperbaric oxygen also has had some of its most dramatic successes in treating damage to the jaw bone, as was the case with recent Wound Healing Center patient, Charles Canter.
“The pain was awful and I thought it would never heal,” Canter said of his injury. “I had tried every known treatment and nothing had worked. Finally my physician suggested hyperbaric oxygen therapy and told me it could be done within 45-minutes of my home. I immediately jumped at the opportunity.”
Within four two-hour treatments at the center, Canter felt remarkably different, noticing an increase in energy and improvement in pain. By the time his four-weeks of therapy had concluded, Canter’s injury had completely healed.
“The hyperbaric oxygen chamber is close to home while offering superior technology and results,” he said. “Better yet, the staff always made me feel comfortable and did everything they could to help me along my path of recovery. I would recommend SOMC services to anyone in a heartbeat and I thank the staff members of the Wound Healing Center for repairing my life.”
To learn more about the benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy or other treatments offered at the SOMC Wound Healing Center, please call 356-8775.
HDR Procedure Available for Gynecological Cancers
September 15, 2009 » Southern Ohio Medical Center now has the technology available to cut the treatment for gynecologic cancers down from days to hours. High Dose Rate Brachytherapy, currently being used at the SOMC Cancer Center in the treatment of some forms of breast and skin cancer, is now available to women with gynecological cancer and soon will be available for the treatment of lung cancer.
“In the past, women suffering from gynecological cancer would be subjected to at least three days stay in the hospital, lying flat on their back with no movement and no visitors due to the radiation emission in the room,” said Dr. Li-Fen Lien Chang, Senior Medical Director of Radiation Oncology Services. “This procedure will eliminate the lengthy, uncomfortable hospital stay and minimize the number of treatments.”
Brachytherapy is a form of internal radiation treatment where radioactive sources are placed on or into cancer tissue. High dose rate (HDR) is a technically advanced form of brachytherapy. A high intensity radiation source is delivered with millimeter precision under computer guidance directly into the tumor killing it from the inside out while avoiding injury to surrounding normal healthy tissue. In gynecological treatments, a vaginal cylinder or a tandem and ovoids are comfortably inserted directly inside the woman’s anatomy and are used to administer the radiation.
“Our team takes a CT scan of the patient prior to the treatment to help create a specialized treatment plan specific to that patient’s needs. The treatment takes approximately 30-90 minutes depending upon the size and complexity of the implant and the activity of the source,” she explained.
Chang said the procedure is outpatient and is more accurate in delivering treatment because it is so focused and allows for a much higher, very localized dose of exposure that is designed to kill the remaining cancer cells at the site.
“Because of the success with this procedure, we will be looking toward the use of HDR brachytherapy for the treatment of lung cancer,” she said.
For more information on this new technology, visit Southern Ohio Medical Center’s Cancer Center on the web at www.somc.org/cancer
Interventional Cardiologist Jones Welcomed At SOMC
September 11, 2009 » Jennifer Jones, MD, a physician specializing in interventional cardiology, has been welcomed to the medical staff of Southern Ohio Medical Center.
Dr. Jones received her medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine. She completed a fellowship in Heart Failure and Transplant at the University of California, San Francisco, CA., and a fellowship in Cardiovascular Disease and Interventional Cardiology at Harper University Hospital in Detroit, MI. She is board certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease and Interventional Cardiology.
Dr. Jones can be reached at SOMC Heart and Vascular Associates, 1735 27th St., Waller Building Suite 207, Portsmouth, OH 45662. Call (740) 356-8772 for more information.
