Southern Ohio Medical Center

Phillips Welcomed to SOMC Medical Staff

July 28, 2010 » Roger Matthew Phillips, DO, has been welcomed to the medical staff of Southern Ohio Medical Center and is working full time at the SOMC Urgent Care Center-Wheelersburg.

Dr. Phillips received his medical degree from the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine and graduated cum lade with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He completed a family practice residency at Southern Ohio Medical Center.

Dr. Phillips can be reached at the SOMC Urgent Care Center-Wheelersburg located at 8770 Ohio River Rd. in Wheelersburg or by calling (740 574-9090.

ACS to Offer Prostate Cancer Support Group

July 28, 2010 » The American Cancer Society (ACS) will offer a prostate cancer education and support group called Man to Man®. The program will kick-off at 5 p.m. August 3 at the ACS Cancer Resource Center, located inside the SOMC Cancer Center, 1121 Kinneys Lane, Portsmouth.

“The American Cancer Society’s Man to Man® program helps men and their families cope with prostate cancer,” Anna Cardenas, volunteer coordinator and board president for the ACS Cancer Resource Center, said. “Man to Man® provides a comfortable setting among peers for discussion, education and support through the recovery process.”

The Man to Man® support group will meet on the first Tuesday of every month. Specialists in various fields related to prostate cancer will share information on medical topics and quality of life issues. American Cancer Society trained facilitators will lead the group.

To register, please call the ACS Cancer Resource Center at (740) 356-7606. Registered participants will then be contacted by a Man to Man® facilitator for more information.

SOMC Physician Information Systems Names New Manager

July 27, 2010 » Angela Ridenour, RN has been named manager of Physician Information Systems at Southern Ohio Medical Center.

Ridenour, a native of Wauseon, Ohio, joined SOMC in 1998 and has served as Assistant Nurse Manager and Clinical Educator for the Orthopedic Care Unit. She has an associate degree in nursing from Mercy College in Toledo, Ohio.

She assumed her new duties July 4. Ridenour is responsible for monitoring and ensuring the daily operation of the physicians’ computer systems.

SOMC Nursing Camp Offers Hands-On Experience for Students

Southern Ohio Medical Center held a 2010 Nursing Camp July 19 for local students grades seven through 12 interested in pursing nursing. Shown above are the participants using surgery instruments to get Hershey kisses out of a box that simulated a body.

July 26, 2010 » Southern Ohio Medical Center recently held a Nursing Camp for students grades seven through 12 interested in pursing nursing as a career. The camp, held July 19 at the Friends Community Center, led students through a day in the life of a nurse at SOMC.

“We host the nursing camp every year to better prepare students for the nursing field,” Katy Stephens, nurse recruiter at SOMC, said. “Even though the day only provides a glimpse of what nursing is all about, it’s still more than what most people know when they start nursing school.”

The camp started at 10 a.m., introducing participants to cardiac nursing. In this portion of the day, they examined real pig hearts and learned about open-heart surgery. After a quick tour of the main campus, participants stopped by the SOMC/SSU SIM Lab to learn more through simulated nursing exercises.

“This was my first time attending Nursing Camp,” Courtney Cole, a senior at Lewis County High School, said. “I had a really great time and enjoyed myself. I liked trying to find the patient’s pulse in the SIM lab.”

After lunch, participants learned about emergency nursing by touring the LIFE ambulance mobile unit and watching demonstrations of patient immobilization.

“I volunteered to lay on the backboard during the emergency demonstration,” Tristain White, a freshman from Portsmouth West High School, said. “I’m interested in pursing nursing and after today, I think I like emergency nursing the best.”

Registered Nurse Julie Thornsberry also talked to the students about the responsibilities of a nurse during a surgery and allowed the teenagers to gain experience by trying on surgery gowns, gloves, hats and masks. The crew then worked together to staple wounds (made out of foam) and sew arteries to a heart (with rubber tubing).

“We try to make the activities as hands-on and as fun as possible,” Stephens added.

Cheryel Miller, a senior at Lewis County High School said she has been on the health and sciences track at school and had been debating on becoming a surgical RN or a maternity RN. After the camp she is sure she wants to work with babies and moms in a maternity unit.

“The 2010 Nursing Camp was very successful,” Stephens said. “We couldn’t have done it without the help of our SOMC employees and LIFE ambulance and I hope the students had a good time and learned helpful information about the nursing field.”

Johnson Elected to SOMC Board of Directors

July 26, 2010 » Southern Ohio Medical Center recently announced the election of George V. Johnson, M.D., to the SOMC Board of Directors.

Dr. Johnson received his medical degree from Ohio State University in 1966. He completed an internship at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio and a residency in Radiology at Ohio State University Hospital. Following his residency, Dr. Johnson served as major in the Air Force from 1970 to 1972. He is board certified in Radiology.

Dr. Johnson practiced medicine at SOMC for 35 years and retired June 1, 2007. He continues to serve as emeritus physician status at Southern Ohio Medical Center. Dr. Johnson currently resides in Portsmouth.

SOMC Nursing Units Identified as Best Practices by PRC

July 23, 2010 » Multiple nursing units at Southern Ohio Medical Center were recently identified as best practices in one or more areas of the Professional Research Consultants’ (PRC) 2010 National Patient Benchmarking Database. PRC is a marketing research company that SOMC works with to conduct patient satisfaction surveys.

The units were chosen based on nationwide benchmarks above the 90th percentile ranking and include the Heart Care Unit (for overall room accommodations); Medical Surgical Care Unit (for cleanliness of the hospital and overall room accommodations); Surgical Vascular Care Unit (for cleanliness of the hospital and overall room accommodations); Maternity Services (for cleanliness of the hospital, overall quality of doctor's care, and staff's management of pain); and the Emergency Department on the South Campus (for overall level of safety and staff's management of pain).

“As a best practice, these units will be listed as contacts that other PRC organizations can call and consult when they need help or advice to improve their current scores,” Valerie DeCamp, director of SOMC Inpatient Services and Accreditation, explained.

“This is truly an honor and shows that others recognize the excellence that goes on in our hospital. We’re very excited to share our processes and look forward to helping others achieve a higher standard of patient care.”

SOMC Honored Local Pre-Med Students with Celebration

July 22, 2010 » Southern Ohio Medical Center recently held a Pre-Med Celebration July 8 at the SOMC Friends Community Center. Local students enrolled in medical school for the fall of 2010 and those applying to medical school in 2011 were invited to the special dinner. SOMC presented the students with a Stedman’s Medical Dictionary.

Shown above at the Pre-Med Celebration are (front row, l to r) Drew Gaydos, Herbie Otworth, Chelsea Anderson, Cody Horn and Stephen Snodgrass, back row (l to r) are Samantha Yelley, Carrie Dunham and Gerad Gray.

SOMC UCC Portsmouth Receives PRC Four-Star Award

July 22, 2010 » The SOMC Urgent Care Center-Portsmouth recently received the Four-Star Award for Service Excellence, presented by Professional Research Consultants (PRC), the company that conducts the hospital’s patient satisfaction surveys.

The Four-Star designation is given annually to health care facilities and providers that score in the top 25 percent of the PRC national client database for the previous year and is based on the percentage of patients who rate the facility as “excellent” for their overall quality of care. The award was presented to the center for their service scores received in December 2009.

Shown above at the presentation are Mary Kate Dilts Skaggs (right), director of nursing for SOMC Emergency, Pediatric and Outpatient Services, Kathy Davis (third from right), nurse manger of the UCC-Portsmouth, and other members of UCC-Portsmouth staff.

SOMC Hosted Picnic for Volunteers

July 22, 2010 » Southern Ohio Medical Center recently held an indoor picnic for the special volunteers who donate thousands of hours every year to help SOMC succeed. More than 50 SOMC volunteers attended the event.

“We try to honor our volunteers through fun activities like picnics and luncheons,” Jenny Lavender, manager of Volunteer Services, said. “SOMC is so grateful for the work the volunteers do and of all the time they so graciously provide, this is just one way we can show our appreciation.”

Participants registered to win door prizes, played board games and ate their fill of picnic foods. Shown above displaying their paper plate portraits is (l to r) Joyce White, Bette Brown, Lucille LeMaster and Sandra Warren.

For more information or to become a volunteer at SOMC, please call Volunteer Services at 740-356-8234.

SOMC Held Grand Opening in Vanceburg

July 20, 2010 » Southern Ohio Medical Center held a grand opening July 19 to celebrate the new SOMC Vanceburg Family Practice and Specialty Associates. Dr. Sarah Porter, the family physician for the practice, was on hand to greet attendees. Free health screenings, food, tours of the facility and activities for children made the day a success. Nearly 100 cholesterol, bone density and glucose screenings were completed. Shown above are Kathy Pyles (left) and Patty Delabar (right) providing cholesterol tests for participants.

Radiologist Welcomed at SOMC

July 19, 2010 » Masood Siddiqui, DO, a physician specializing in radiology, has been welcomed to the medical staff of Southern Ohio Medical Center. He is board certified in Radiology.

Dr. Siddiqui received his medical degree from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in East Lansing, Mich. He completed an internship at Garden City Hospital in Garden City, Mich. and a residency in Diagnostic Radiology at St. John Providence Hospital in Southfield, Mich. Dr. Siddiqui also completed a MRI and Musculoskeletal fellowship in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Dr. Siddiqui can be reached at SOMC by calling (740) 356-8117.

SOMC Opens Urgent Care in Portsmouth

July 19, 2010 » SOMC Urgent Care Center-Portsmouth employees recently posed in front of the new sign after the June 20 opening. Shown above is (l to r) Aaron Walters, RN; Heather Johnson, RN, BSN; Katie Summers, RN; Kathy Davis, RN and nurse manager and B.J. Stewart, registrar.

“We are very excited that SOMC can offer a convenient urgent care center for the community of Portsmouth,” Kathy Davis, nurse manager, said. “We look forward to working hard and providing quality care and excellent service to our patients.”

The Urgent Care is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday-Saturday and is located at 1248 Kinneys Lane (on SOMC’s south campus) in Portsmouth. For more information, please call 740-356-7240.

SOMC Hospice Sponsors Second Annual Memorial Bike Ride

July 19, 2010 » The Hospice Center of Southern Ohio Medical Center will host its Second Annual Memorial Bike Ride Saturday, July 31. Registration for the event will begin at 12 p.m. on the SOMC East Campus, 2201 25th St., Portsmouth, with riders leaving from the Hospice Center at 1 p.m.

The ride will send participants on a 90-mile police-escorted drive through Southern Ohio and Adams County with all proceeds benefiting patients of SOMC Hospice Services.

“Last year was the first time we had held this particular event, which was created in memory of motorcycling enthusiast Ricky Bryan,” Sheila Riggs, claims coordinator of Hospice Services, said. “Bryan began planning the ride before his death because he wanted to give back to our program...our contributions touched him so much.”

Riggs said that the center decided to carry-on the tradition this year not only in memory of Bryan, but for all other bike riders and patients of SOMC Hospice Services.

“There are so many community members who are willing to give back to our program and we’re more than happy to provide different venues for them to do so,” she said. “Our last bike ride was truly a success, but we’re hoping that through better weather, and an even better turn out, we can exceed the funds raised last year and continue to provide much needed support for our patients and their families.”

Cost of the ride is $20 for a single rider or $25 for two people on one bike. Lunch will be provided. Music will be performed by local band Night Shift and prize drawings and giveaways will take place after the event. T-shirts also will be available for purchase.

Pre-registration is not required but can be made in the Gibson Building on the SOMC East Campus. The ride will proceed rain or shine.

For more information, please call SOMC Hospice Services at 356-2567.

SOMC Volunteer Gives a Warm Surprise to Cancer Patient

July 19, 2010 » Joyce White, a volunteer at Southern Ohio Medical Center and an avid crocheter recently surprised Kristina Johnson, a SOMC breast cancer patient with a beautiful handmade pink scarf. White worked on the scarf for months during the SOMC Knit for Hope’s monthly meetings. She paid so much attention to detail that she even crocheted a ribbon pattern on the scarf to symbolize the breast cancer awareness ribbon.

Jenny Lavender, manager of SOMC Volunteer Services and Wendi Waugh, director of the SOMC Cancer Center arranged the surprise. White opened the door and shocked Johnson with the beautiful gift from a stranger.

“Wow,” exclaimed Johnson as she hugged White and her eyes welled up with tears. “I’m so surprised, this scarf is gorgeous. Thank you so much.”

White, a former breast cancer survivor herself, was delighted to meet Johnson and happy that she loved the scarf. They talked about what it’s like to loose your hair when undergoing chemotherapy. Beverly Hunt, Johnson’s mother, was also at her appointment and she talked about how important it is to have a strong support system.

Friends were made, laughter and tears were exchanged and another spirit was lifted that day. Johnson added that the most important thing to remember while fighting cancer is to just keep laughing.

Shown above with the scarf is (l to r) Wendi Waugh, Joyce White, Kristina Johnson, Beverly Hunt and Jenny Lavender.

SOMC to Open Vanceburg Family Practice and Specialty Associates

July 7, 2010 » Southern Ohio Medical Center is proud to announce the grand opening of the SOMC Vanceburg Family Practice and Specialty Associates on July 19, 2010. SOMC is also pleased to announce that Dr. Sarah Porter has joined the practice and is now accepting new patients.

Dr. Porter is a native of Lewis County, Ky. and she earned her medical degree from the Pikeville School of Osteopathic Medicine in Pikeville, Ky. She completed an internship and a residency at Southern Ohio Medical Center in Portsmouth, Ohio. Dr. Porter is board certified in family practice.

“I have practiced in Vanceburg for three years and I have put roots down here,” Porter said. “I know my new and existing patients will find comfort in knowing they have a physician they can rely on to be here for a long time.”

In the near future, SOMC will offer a variety of specialty services at the Vanceburg location. SOMC neurologists, cardiologists and general surgeons will be on a rotating schedule for consultations at the clinic. In addition to family care and specialties, the practice will also offer an outpatient lab draw site.

“I’m very excited for this centralized clinic to open in Vanceburg,” Porter added. “Because we are located so far away from specialized services, it is a huge benefit to our community for SOMC to bring this type of care closer to home.”

SOMC will host a grand opening celebration from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 17 at 207 Plummers Lane, Vanceburg, Ky. The celebration is free to the public and features health screenings, lunch, children’s activities and much more. Dr. Porter, specialty physicians and staff of the clinic will be available to meet community members and tours of the facility will also be offered.

“I invite everyone to join us for our open house celebration,” Randy Arnett, president and CEO of SOMC, said. “With the addition of the SOMC Vanceburg Family Practice and Specialty Associates, we look forward to meeting the needs and providing excellent service to the people of Vanceburg and all of Lewis County.”

The SOMC Vanceburg Family Practice and Specialty Associates will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call (606) 796-0010.

Porter Welcomed to SOMC Medical Staff

July 6, 2010 » Sarah Porter, DO, a physician specializing in family practice, has been welcomed to the medical staff of Southern Ohio Medical Center.

Dr. Porter is a native of Lewis County, Ky. and she earned her medical degree from the Pikeville School of Osteopathic Medicine in Pikeville, Ky. She completed an internship and a residency at Southern Ohio Medical Center in Portsmouth, Ohio. She is board certified in family practice.

Dr. Porter is currently accepting patients and can be reached at the SOMC Vanceburg Family Practice and Specialty Associates located at 207 Plummers Lane, Vanceburg, Ky. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call (606) 796-0010.