Winter 2018
KNOX’S TOTAL HIP AND KNEE REPLACEMENT
PROGRAMS receive
GOLD
SEAL OF APPROVAL
Jarrett Helming, DO
LOCAL SCHOOL GAINS HEART SAFE CERTIFICATION
URGENT CARE OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK
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welcome! It’s a new year and with it comes the tradition of making a resolution for the coming year. Often these resolutions revolve around
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setting goals and changing behaviors that can improve a person’s life. Some common ones include losing weight, eating better, reducing stress and exercising more. At Knox Community Hospital we want to help you achieve your goals and live your best life by helping you control chronic
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Bruce D. White, CEO
diseases, rehabilitate injuries and practice preventive medicine. Many of the articles we feature in this issue are designed to do just that.
In our last issue we told you about our partnership with the United Way of Knox County
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to promote its Crunch Out Obesity program to local students. In this issue learn about the partnership we created with Danville elementary to help them achieve accreditation as a Heart Safe School. Speaking of accreditation, we are excited to announce KCH recently received The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Advanced Certification for Total Hip and Total
2017 BOARD OF TRUSTEES Ian Watson PRESIDENT Charles R. Brenneman VICE PRESIDENT Gordan E. Yance SECRETARY Thomas R. Fosnaught TREASURER Sam Barone Jeffrey L. Boucher Juan De Pascuale Christopher Hetrick, DO Joan Jones Korey M. Kidwell Inge Krajenski Thom McKinley, MD Amy Murnen, MD Marc Odenweller CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Bruce D. White CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Bruce Behner CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Mike Ambrosiani CHIEF NURSING OFFICER
James Middleton, RN, MSN, MBA
Knee Replacement. This certification is one of the ways we instill community confidence that the quality, consistency and safety of our patient care is state-of-the-art. Did you know that medical costs for people with diabetes are more than double those of a person without diabetes? Did you also know that type II diabetes, which accounts for 95 percent of all diagnosed cases in adults, is preventable? Learn more about KCH’s accredited Living with Diabetes program on page 6. There’s a new doctor in town and her name is Amy Flammer. Dr. Flammer is an obstetriciangynecologist who joined the practice of Drs. Paul Prior, Kristen Witham, and certified nurse midwife Amanda Poorman. Get to know a bit more about her and why she chose to relocate to Mount Vernon from Colorado on page 6. If you suffer from a chronic illness you can appreciate what it means to have supportive people in your life to help you cope both emotionally and physically with your disease. For those with Parkinson’s, a disorder of the central nervous system, KCH offers a monthly support group where patients and caregivers can gather to share information and learn from experts about advancements in research and medications among other things. Find out what’s on the agenda for their January meeting on page 7. Happy New Year!
CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER
Jeffrey C. Northup, DO
Bruce D. White, CEO
A publication of the Community Relations Department at Knox Community Hospital.
knoxwise | winter 2018
LOCA L SCHOOL GA I NS
HEART SAFE CERTIFICATION
Students learn how to save lives in a cardiac emergency As a mom and a nurse, Amy Colopy, RN, chest pain coordinator at KCH, has a vested interest in the kids in the community. In her line of work, educating people about sudden cardiac death and CPR could save a life. So, when Colopy heard about an accredited program called Heart Safe Schools that educates elementary Amy Colopy, RN school students and teachers about CPR and automated external defibrillators (AEDs) she knew just the place to put the program to use. “My kids go to Danville elementary, and I know the principal so I reached out to her to see if she would be interested,” said Colopy. Heart Safe Schools is a program of the Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndromes (SADS) Foundation. The program, which was offered to 100 Danville students in the fourth and sixth grades took about 10-months to complete. “The curriculum includes hands-on Friends and Family CPR training in gym class as well as a pretend 911 call
that brought a first responder to the school to run the students through a simulated cardiovascular emergency,” said Colopy. With most staff members in the building now CPR accredited, the last step in the Heart Safe School program was the presentation of two AEDs donated by the Knox Community Hospital. Before participating in the program, the school only had one AED to cover the entire building. According to the building principal, the additional AEDs will allow for an AED at each end of the school and one on the second floor. “As part of the Heart Safe Accreditation, an AED can be no further than 90 seconds from any point in the building,” said Colopy. Developed in 2013, the Heart Safe School Accreditation Program is aimed at raising awareness and preventing sudden cardiac deaths in school settings. There is no application or accreditation fee for the program. “I welcome other schools interested in participating to reach out to me for assistance in applying for the program. I can be reached by email at Amy.Colopy@KCH.org.” For more information, visit www.sads.org.
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KNOX’S TOTAL HIP AND KNEE REPLACEMENT
PROGRAMS receive
GOLD
SEAL OF APPROVAL
After nearly a year and a half of planning and a rigorous onsite review, Knox Community Hospital has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Advanced Certification for Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement. The advanced certification is for Joint Commissionaccredited hospitals, critical access hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers seeking to elevate the quality, consistency and safety of their services and patient care. “We’ve always done a great job with our joint replacements, but obtaining certification is a way for us to not only improve on what we’re doing, but to show our community just how committed we are to providing exceptional patient care,” said Kate Weiser, BSN, RN, clinical project management specialist. During the Joint Commission’s visit, experts evaluated compliance with advanced disease-specific care standards and total hip and total knee replacement requirements, including orthopedic consultation, and pre-operative, intraoperative and post-surgical orthopedic surgeon follow-up care. “Reviewers interviewed both staff and patients and performed audits of documentation, all with the goal of ensuring we are demonstrating high-quality patient care that incorporates evidence-based guidelines,” said Weiser. “In addition, the hospital had to demonstrate we are committed to improving quality of care for patients by utilizing performance improvement projects that continually evaluate patient results and look for ways to make our patients’ clinical and functional outcomes the best they can be.” One of the reasons certification is important and benefits patients is because the emphasis on clinical practice guidelines helps organizations establish care in a standardized and consistent approach, reducing the risk for errors.
Kenneth Doolittle, MD
“Certification helps strengthen community confidence in the hospital’s quality and safety of care and the treatment and services we provide,” said Weiser.
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Knox Community Hospital is staffed with three orthopedic surgeons, Dr. Gregory Cush, Dr. Kenneth Doolittle and Dr. Jarrett Helming, who combined, have over four decades of experience.
According to Dr. Cush, “People who have pain, tingling or numbness that adversely affects their activities of daily living or ability to enjoy life in the way they were used to, need to get evaluated by an orthopedist. No one should have to live in pain.” KCH offers a variety of state-of-the-art orthopedic surgical and non-surgical procedures to correct injuries or disorders of the skeletal system and associated muscles, joints and ligaments. “We use computer navigation based total knee replacement surgery – a technology which allows less invasive techniques to implant the joint replacement material,” said Dr. Doolittle. “The implements and technology used in orthopedic surgery continue to evolve, especially around arthroscopic surgery allowing us to do many procedures via minimally invasive methods.” Dr. Helming added, “Good candidates for total hip and knee replacement procedures include those who have experienced hip or knee pain for several months, especially pain that limits their ability to function normally throughout the day, or hip/knee pain that wakes them up at night.” Achieving certification in total knee and total hip replacements is only the beginning for Knox Community Hospital.
We strive to provide superior care to our community and have plans to continue this endeavor as we seek certification for other programs in the future.” – Kate Weiser, BSN, RN
“We aren’t the only program in the hospital that has demonstrated our competencies through certification. The hospital’s Chest Pain Center and Center for Cancer Care are also accredited programs.” Weiser says one of the goals of a community hospital is to keep healthcare convenient to the community it serves. “Our orthopedic certification is one of the ways we continue to stay competitive with other facilities in the area,” she said. “We want people to know that we have the same state-of-the-art accredited care as facilities that are bigger and farther away. We all have the common goal of returning a patient to a higher quality of life and independence. We just want to do it closer to home.” For more information, or to be evaluated by one of KCH’s orthopedic surgeons, call 740.393.2226 for Dr. Doolittle and 740.393.9898 for Drs. Cush and Helming.
“We strive to provide superior care to our community and have plans to continue this endeavor as we seek certification for other programs in the future,” Weiser said.
Gregory Cush, MD
knoxwise| |winter winter2018 2018 66 knoxwise
getting to know
Dr. Amy Flammer Knox’s newest OB/GYN
MANAGING YOUR DIABETES Diabetes educator provides tools to take better care of yourself
If you have diabetes did you know your risk for stroke, heart attack, nerve damage, eye disease and vascular disease is much higher than someone without diabetes? But, there’s good news, with the correct treatment and recommended lifestyle changes, many people with diabetes can prevent or Lisa Retterer, RN delay the onset of these complications. This is just one of the many reasons KCH offers an accredited diabetes education program through the American Association of Diabetes Educators. Lisa Retterer, a nurse and diabetes educator, works with both diabetics and people at risk for developing diabetes (pre-diabetics) to help them develop a plan to stay healthy. “I give people the tools and ongoing support they need to make that plan a regular part of their life,” she said. “Diabetes education is important because 1.5 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes every year and having diabetes nearly doubles a person’s risk of having a heart attack or stroke.” Through the hospital’s Living with Diabetes Program people can attend classes and meet with a diabetes educator like Retterer. “We offer classes on things like stress management, grocery store tours, cooking demos, a support group and community events,” she said. “Diabetes education is a collaborative process where we teach people how to modify their behaviors, so they are better able to self-manage their disease.” Diabetes education is covered by Medicare and most health insurance plans. For more information, call 740.393.9970.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I am the youngest of seven children and grew up in Colorado. I have traveled to over 13 countries and spent time in Costa Rica and Nicaragua where I set out to learn Spanish by immersion to Amy Flammer, better be able to communicate with my MD, MPH Latino patients. I met my husband in Nicaragua and we have a two-year-old son named Lazaro.
Do you have any hobbies?
I taught myself to play the piano and classical and Ragtime music. I also cross-stitch, embroider, knit, crochet, sew, paint and draw.
What attracted you to the position at KCH?
During medical school I participated in a dedicated track for students interested in practicing in rural locations. I enjoy the family-centered nature of the community and all the amenities of living in central Ohio. My husband and I grew up in rural areas and love living so close to farms and the country.
What are you most looking forward to about practicing in the community?
I look forward to relieving symptoms and improving quality of life for as many women as I can. I also hope to participate in outreach programs that provide general information for women on how to improve their daily habits and health to meet their own life-goals. I truly appreciate the trust the women of Knox County put in me.
What services do you offer?
I practice both general and high-risk obstetrics with a focus on minimal intervention and shared decision making with my patients. I also offer comprehensive gynecologic services from adolescent to postmenopausal women. To make an appointment with Dr. Flammer, please call 740.397.2155.
Monthly group offers support for people with
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Parkinson's
Approximately one million Americans live with Parkinson’s Disease, a disorder of the central nervous system; but there are ways – from medications, to exercise and nutrition, to reducing stress – that can improve a person’s symptoms and quality of life. Knox Community Hospital hosts a support group for those with Parkinson’s and their caregivers on the third Wednesday of each month at 1:30 p.m. at the Center for Rehabilitation and Wellness. The next meeting, scheduled for January 17, will focus on functional exercises to improve activities of daily living. According to Jason Mentzer, wellness coordinator and facilitator of the group, meeting formats vary from month
to month between educational topics to open formats that allow members to share what’s on their mind.
Robert Sorey, an exercise physiologist who also helps coordinate the group, added, “Meetings allow people to talk about current issues, share knowledge of advances in medications and research, and find sympathetic people to talk with. We try and have fun too and offer one or two potlucks a year where people can just get together.” Past educational speakers have included pharmacists, physical therapists, social workers, dietitians, massage therapists, exercise physiologists and representatives from the National Parkinson’s Foundation. For more information, call 740.393.9875.
Urgent Care With the winter months approaching, respiratory illnesses, flu, and fevers become more commonplace. But, where should you go when it’s after hours and you can’t wait until the next day to be seen by a doctor? Dr. Brad Smith, medical director of KCH’s Department of Urgent Care, says urgent care has definite benefits over emergency room visits for minor illnesses and injuries. “Urgent care is better suited to handle rapid evaluation and treatment of common, non-life-threatening conditions like infections, lacerations, rashes, and moderate bone and soft tissue injuries,” he said. “We offer rapid lab testing for influenza, strep throat, urinary tract infections, mono
7 days a week
F OR NON - E M E RGE N T N E E D S
and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), as well as a dedicated X-ray department.” Physicians and nurses in KCH’s Department of Urgent Care are also adept at skin repairs. “Whether it’s sutures, staples or Dermabond, we focus on patient comfort, reducing the chance of infection and using the method that will have the least amount of scarring,” he said.
While insurance copays for urgent care vary from plan to plan, the costs – as well as the wait times – are significantly less than an emergency room setting. Knox Community Hospital’s Department of Urgent Care, located at 1490 Coshocton Rd., is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on holidays.
NON PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
AKRON, OH PERMIT NO. 286
1330 Coshocton Rd. Mt. Vernon, Ohio 43050 KCH.org
Please note— some changes to support group schedules!
Diabetes Education
Diabetes education at Knox Community Hospital includes many different classes and events. 2018 will offer updated programing and educational events! For more information please call the Diabetes Education Department at 740.393.9970.
Please visit our website at KCH. org for additional details about our programs and services.
calendar of events Breast Cancer Support Group
1st Monday each month, 7 pm Knox Medical Pavilion Please call Becky Dangelo, MSN, RN, CNOR, CN-BN, breast health navigator, 740.393.5579.
Young Survivors Breast Cancer Support Group
3rd Monday of the month, 7 pm Knox Medical Pavilion Please call Becky Dangelo, MSN, RN, CNOR, CN-BN, breast health navigator, 740.393.5579.
Heart Healthy Tips Heart disease may be the leading cause of death in the United States, but it’s also the most preventable. The month of February has been designated Heart Health Month and we want to offer you some basic tips for preventing heart disease and leading a heart-healthy life. Practice stress management and self-care. Breathing exercises, muscle relaxation, massage, yoga and mindfulness meditation are proven techniques to reduce stress. Eat a healthy diet full of lean protein, fruits, vegetables, high-fiber grains and heart-healthy fats. Limit your alcohol intake to no more than one drink per day.
Parkinson’s Support Group
3rd Wednesday of the month, 1:30 pm Center for Rehabilitation and Wellness Please call Jason Mentzer, wellness coordinator at 740.393.9875
Free Monthly Screenings
1st Wednesday of the month, 8-10 am, Urgent Care Classroom Screenings are available for blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol. 12-hour fasting is recommended for best results.
Look good…Feel Better Please call 740.393.5579 for information.
Move more. Even if you don’t have time for regular exercise, park a little farther away, use the stairs and take short walking breaks throughout the day. If you smoke, try to quit. Nonsmokers should avoid exposure to secondhand smoke. Manage your weight and BMI (body mass index). Talk to your doctor about a healthy weight range for your age and height. Get enough sleep, preferably 7 to 8 hours most nights. If you suffer from sleep apnea, seek treatment. Make sure your blood pressure, cholesterol and any other chronic health conditions, like asthma and diabetes, are well controlled. See your primary care doctor for regular preventive care. K now your family history of heart disease.