Greene Memorial Hospital News

GMH Provides Greene County with Innovative Technology for Treatment of Cardiac Disease

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:00:00 -0500

New Cardiac Cath and Interventional Imaging Lab Opens

The most advanced tool available for treating heart disease is now available to residents in Xenia and surrounding communities. Today marks the opening of the new Cardiac Cath and Interventional Imaging Lab at Greene Memorial Hospital.

A collaborative project with Kettering Medical Center, the $2.2 million lab uses greater imaging abilities to treat heart and vascular disease, as well as back pain, through minimally-invasive treatments.

“This facility is a tremendous advancement in health care for Greene County,” said Tammy Murphy, manager of the Cardiac Cath and Interventional Imaging Lab. “With this equipment we can now perform diagnostic heart catheterizations, cardioversions, pacemaker and internal defibrillator placement, and trans-esophageal echocardiograms. We can also perform angiography and stenting of other blood vessels in the body.”

The dual-use interventional imaging and catheterization facility utilizes a GE Innova

4100 system. This digital imaging system renders extremely detailed, real-time images during procedures that require exacting precision.

“By allowing us to see the anatomy more clearly while guiding catheters, stents and other medical devices during minimally invasive procedures this technology offers a great advantage,” said Bruce Hymon, MD, interventional cardiologist. “When compared to traditional surgery, image-guided minimally-invasive techniques provide many benefits including reduced risk, less pain, shorter patient recovery times and lower procedure expense.”

Coupled with Greene Memorial Hospital’s other recent advancement in cardiac care, its accreditation as a certified Chest Pain Center by the Society of Chest Pain Centers, the opening of the new Cardiac Cath and Imaging Lab demonstrates the hospital’s commitment to providing Greene County residents with the best resources and tools for fighting cardiac disease.

For more information about Greene Memorial Hospital, please visit www.greenehealth.org.

Greene Memorial Hospital Receives Chest Pain Center Accreditation

Thu, 21 May 2009 12:00:00 -0500

Greene Memorial Hospital recently became an accredited Chest Pain Center. The hospital received notice of the three-year accreditation from the Society of Chest Pain Centers.

This accreditation designates that the Greene Memorial Hospital’s Level III trauma center has demonstrated its expertise and commitment to quality cardiac patient care by meeting or exceeding a wide set of stringent criteria. The hospital underwent an extensive on-site review and evaluation before receiving the accreditation.

“With this accreditation, the Society of Chest Pain Centers recognizes Greene Memorial Hospital’s commitment to providing excellent cardiac care for the people of Greene County,” said Marcia Maurer, Emergency Trauma Center director. “Residents of Xenia and the surrounding communities can feel confident that when they visit the GMH Emergency Trauma Center with chest pain they will receive the highest quality of care.”

Now all the hospitals in the Kettering Health Network are accredited Chest Pain Centers. Greene Memorial Hospital joins the previously accredited Kettering Medical Center, Grandview Medical Center, Sycamore Medical Center and Southview Medical Center.

More than five million Americans visit hospitals each year with chest pain. The goal of the Society of Chest Pain Centers is to significantly reduce the mortality rate of these patients by teaching the public to recognize and react to the early symptoms of a possible heart attack, reduce the time that it takes to receive treatment, and increase the accuracy and effectiveness of treatment. The Society’s accreditation process insures centers meet or exceed quality-of-care measures in acute cardiac medicine.

Greene Memorial Hospital demonstrated expertise in these key areas before receiving the accreditation:

· Integrating the emergency department with the local emergency medical system

· Assessing, diagnosing, and treating patients quickly

· Effectively treating patients with low risk for acute coronary syndrome and no assignable cause for their symptoms

· Continually seeking to improve processes and procedures

· Ensuring Chest Pain Center personnel competency and training

· Maintaining organizational structure and commitment

· Having a functional design that promotes optimal patient care

· Supporting community outreach programs that educate the public to promptly seek medical care if they display symptoms of a possible heart attack

For more information about Greene Memorial Hospital, please visit www.greenehealth.org.

About the Society of Chest Pain Centers (SCPC)

The Society of Chest Pain Centers is a patient centric non-profit international professional organization focused upon improving care for patients with acute coronary syndromes and other related maladies. Established in 1998, the Society is dedicated to patient advocacy and focusing on ischemic heart disease. Central to its mission is the question, “What is right for the patient?” In answer, the Society promotes protocol based medicine, often delivered through a Chest Pain Center model to address the diagnosis and treatment of acute coronary syndromes, heart failure, and to promote the adoption of process improvement science by healthcare providers. To best fulfill this mission, the Society of Chest Pain Centers provides accreditation to facilities striving for optimum Chest Pain Center care. SCPC is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.

For more information on the Society of Chest Pain Centers visit www.scpcp.org, or contact Robert Lipetz, Executive Director at (614) 442-5950 or director@scpcp.org.

GMH Announces Plans to Close Inpatient Maternity Services

Fri, 01 May 2009 12:00:00 -0500

GMH Announces Plans to Close Inpatient Maternity Services

Following a lengthy review process, the Greene Memorial Hospital Obstetrics Unit will be closing effective July 1, 2009. After that date GMH will no longer offer inpatient maternity services.

GMH will continue to offer other women’s services such as gynecological and surgical services. These will be provided on an inpatient basis by Drs. Steven Crawford, Valerie Crawford and Rogelio Miranda; outpatient women’s services including well woman care, hormone replacement therapy, gynecological and urological procedures will be provided at Greene Memorial Hospital and at the Beavercreek HealthPark by Drs. Steven Crawford, Valerie Crawford and Rogelio Miranda.
Impact on Patients
Only about 100 women currently scheduled for delivery after July 1 are impacted by this decision. Patients who are expecting will not have to change physicians. Drs. Steven Crawford and Rogelio Miranda, our OB/GYN physicians, will continue to serve their patients at their current locations both in Xenia and Beavercreek.

All can elect to remain with their current physician and deliver at either Kettering Medical Center, or in the case of a high risk pregnancy, Miami Valley by Dr. Steven Crawford or one of his on-call physicians. Dr. Miranda will continue seeing OB patients in his office and will refer his deliveries to Dr. Steven Crawford.
GMH and the Kettering Health Network have collaborated to ensure all of these patients receive the best care possible with the least inconvenience. Information, educational resources and tours are being provided to ease and facilitate the transition to using Kettering Medical Center for the delivery of their babies should they choose Kettering.

Maternity education such as childbirth education classes will continue to be provided at GMH as well as other Kettering Health Network facilities. KHN resources will offer expanded education opportunities for expectant mothers and their families.

Why Close the Unit?

This difficult decision was reached after careful and lengthy consideration of several factors including community demand for services, financial commitment and limited resources, and the alignment of services to meet community need.

Usage studies indicate that there is not a viable demand in Greene County for delivery services at GMH. In 2008 the total number of deliveries was only around 200 babies. In fact, only 17 percent of women from Xenia and the eastern half of the county selected GMH for maternity services. In the western section of the county the percentage was lower. An aging population and flat birth rates within the community, especially within the Xenia and eastern Greene County area have lessened the need and demand for deliveries to be provided at GMH.

Aligning Services to Meet Community Need

While demand for inpatient maternity services is down, there is an increasing need among our population for services such as cardiac care, emergency services, imaging and cancer care. Greene Memorial Hospital’s new Cardiac Cath and Interventional Imaging Lab and Chest Pain Center accreditation reflect the necessary response and realignment of services to meet the larger community need.

Inpatient maternity services provide benefit to a small percentage of the population, however the financial requirements of staffing and allocating resources to the Obstetrics Unit negatively impacts the continuation and expansion of services for the greater population. Discontinuing maternity services will allow GMH to focus more resources on providing services to a greater percentage of the population.

Plans are underway to offer maternity as part of the comprehensive Women’s Services offered at the new hospital in Beavercreek. These services will focus on the unique health care needs young ladies and women experience as they pass through the many phases of their lives.

Please rest assured that GMH is committed to being a provider of comprehensive and state-of-the-art health care to the community.

Questions and Answers about GMH Maternity Services

KMC Precious Beginnings

Swine Flu Update for Greene County, OH

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:00:00 -0500

The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) continues to confirm only one case of swine flu involving a 9-year old boy from Lorain County in northern Ohio. The patient is considered to have a mild case of the disease and is recovering at home.

Symptoms of this swine flu virus closely resemble seasonal flu, and include fever, weakness, coughing and lack of appetite. There have been reports of people presenting flu-like symptoms to their health care provider. If the patient has been to Mexico or an area with a confirmed case of swine flu, the provider may perform a test for influenza A.

Currently, no other confirmed cases of swine flu have been reported in Greene County or Ohio.

ODH and local health departments are working closely with health care providers around the state to provide the most up-to-date information. According to recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and ODH, people should remember to practice the following:

· Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after use.

· Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.

· Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

· If you get sick with influenza, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep them from infection. Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth to avoid the spread of germs.

Additional information is available on the ODH and CDC websites at www.odh.ohio.gov and www.cdc.gov/swineflu. The Ohio Department of Health will be providing additional updates as information becomes available.

Greene County Combined Health District – Your center for public health services and health information in Greene County for over 80 years.

Healthy People…Healthy Communities
360 Wilson Drive
Xenia, OH 45385

937-374-5600 * 866-858-3588 * Fax 937-374-5675

Mother’s Day Weekend ‘Fashion Swap’ to benefit Greene Community Health Foundation’s Clinic Cupboard

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:00:00 -0500

Reservations now being accepted

The Greene Community Health Foundation is holding a Fashion Swap on Saturday, May 9, 2009 from 11:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at the Greene Country Club in Fairborn. The event will benefit the Greene County Combined Health District’s Clinic Cupboard which provides basic over-the-counter medical supplies, baby needs and personal products for Health District clients in need. The proceeds from this unique fundraiser will allow GCCHD personnel to continue to fill the cupboard on a regular basis and assist families in need.

The event features a clothing swap that allows women to bring up to 5 new or consignment worthy articles of clothing (shoes, purses, scarves, uniforms also welcome) and in return receive tickets to trade for the same number of articles to take home. Guests will enjoy a luncheon (vegetarian available) catered by the Greene Country Club and a fashion show presented by CJ’s Boutique of Xenia that will showcase business attire, casual dress and some evening wear. A cash bar will be available.

A silent auction will feature many wonderful items including tickets to Kings Island, the Ohio Renaissance Festival, The Funny Bone Comedy Club and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, spa packages, a Vera Bradley cargo sling and sunglasses case, a homemade quilt, a Bath & Bodyworks basket, a Dayton Dragons gift pack, a portrait package from Better Images Portrait Studio, a Coach purse, gift certificates to the Mall at Fairfield Commons and much, much more.

Advance reservations for the event are $30 per person by May 1 or $35 per person the day of the event. A reservation form can be found online at www.gcchd.org. Just click on 2009 Fashion Swap.

For more information, please call Sara T. Pappa, Director, Public Information Officer, at (937) 374-5662.

Greene County Combined Health District – Your center for public health services and health information in Greene County for over 80 years.

Healthy People…Healthy Communities

360 Wilson Drive

Xenia, OH 45385

937-374-5600 * 866-858-3588 * Fax 937-374-5675

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GCCHD and GMH to Provide Smoking Cessation Classes

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:00:00 -0500

Local residents looking for assistance quitting smoking are invited to register for free tobacco cessation classes to be held at Greene Memorial Hospital (GMH). The classes, which will be taught by a Mayo Clinic-Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist from the Greene County Combined Health District (GCCHD), begin Tuesday, April 21^st. The classes are open to the public.

Those who regularly attend the meetings will qualify for free nicotine replace therapy products including patches, gum or lozenges. Classes will include a step-by-step plan on how to quit and stay quit for life.

The classes begin Tuesday, April 21 and will run every Tuesday night from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The location for the classes is the Medical Education Center at GMH, located in the basement of the Herman N. Menapace Center for Health Education, 1141 N. Monroe Drive, Xenia.

For more information about the smoking cessation classes, please call Bruce Barcelo, Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist, at (937) 374-5656 or bbarcelo@gcchd.org.

To register, please contact Shauna Van Winkle at 937-374-5661.

For more information about Greene Memorial Hospital, visit www.greenehealth.org.

Greene County Combined Health District – Your center for public health services and health information in Greene County for over 80 years.

Healthy People…Healthy Communities

360 Wilson Drive

Xenia, OH 45385

937-374-5600 * 866-858-3588 * Fax 937-374-5675

Greene County Combined Health District Hosts National Public Health Week Event

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 12:00:00 -0500

The Greene County Combined Health District (GCCHD) is pleased to announce it will celebrate National Public Health Week (April 6 – 12, 2009) with a town hall meeting featuring Ohio State Representative Jarrod Martin (70^th District) on Thursday, April 9, 2009. Representative Martin will speak about the state of Ohio’s health and other current topics. A Question and Answer session will follow his address. The event is free and open to the public.

The theme for this year’s National Public Health Week is Building the Foundation for a Healthy America. From the water you drink, to the playgrounds where our children play, your public health workers are behind the scenes working to help keep everyone healthy. They bring you flu vaccines, ensure that restaurants follow healthy practices, help people quit smoking, teach the importance of bike helmets and so much more. During National Public Health Week, take a moment to think about the people who do help keep us healthy.

Representative Martin is currently serving his first term in the Ohio House of Representatives. He was born in Xenia and grew up in Beavercreek (A true Greene County native!). He is a member of the Economic Development and Education committees, as well as others. Rep. Martin lives in Beavercreek with his wife and 3 children.

This special event will be held on Thursday, April 9, 2009 at the Greene County Commissioners’ Chambers, 35 Greene St., Xenia, OH 45385. It will be from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

For more information, please call Sara T. Pappa, Director, Public Information Officer, at (937) 374-5662.

Greene County Combined Health District – Your center for public health services and health information in Greene County for over 80 years.

Healthy People…Healthy Communities

360 Wilson Drive

Xenia, OH 45385

937-374-5600 * 866-858-3588 * Fax 937-374-5675

Greene County Combined Health District Offers Yellow Fever and Shingles Vaccine

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:00:00 -0500

The Greene County Combined Health District (GCCHD) has announced that it now offers both the yellow fever vaccine and the shingles vaccine. The vaccines are available during regular immunization clinics at the Health District offices, located at 360 Wilson Drive in Xenia, from 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and from 4:00 – 6:30 p.m. on the second (2^nd) Thursday of each month.

Yellow fever is a serious disease caused by the yellow fever virus. It is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito and cannot be spread directly from person to person. It is found in certain parts of Africa and South America. The vaccine needs to be given at least 10 days prior to travel.

The cost for the yellow fever vaccination is $90.00 plus $25.00 for a clinic visit ($15.00 if it is a returning visit).

Shingles is caused by the Varicella Zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. It is a painful skin rash, often with blisters. It is also called Herpes Zoster. The pain can be severe and other symptoms include fever, chills and upset stomach.

The cost for the shingles vaccination is $170.00 plus $25.00 for a clinic visit ($15.00 if it is a returning visit).

For more information, please call Kathy Pearson, Public Health Nurse, at (937) 374-5653 or visit www.cdc.gov/vaccines.

Greene County Combined Health District – Your center for public health services and health information in Greene County for over 80 years.

Healthy People…Healthy Communities

360 Wilson Drive

Xenia, OH 45385

937-374-5600 * 866-858-3588 * Fax 937-374-5675