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MID-COLUMBIA MEDICAL CENTER
Doctors Meant To Be Together MCMC Earns Elite Status Healthy Weight Management
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Winter 2008 www.mcmc.net
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Greetings to Our Gorge Neighbors he last several months have been busy ones at Mid-Columbia Medical Center. Our aggressive efforts to recruit more physicians and providers continued to pay dividends, helping ensure residents of The Dalles, Hood River and the rest of the Gorge continue to have access to high-quality primary care professionals. Within just the last few months we have added several new providers to Mid-Columbia Medical Group. These include Dr. Maile Anslinger an internist, and Kathy Pickering, a physician assistant who joined the practice of Dr. Robert Alaimo. Dr. Miriam McDonell, who practiced with Columbia River Women’s Clinic before taking some time off to be with her family, returned to an active gynecology practice. In October, Dr. Paul Armerding joined MCMG as its first full-time medical director. In this issue, you will find a separate article introducing Dr. Armerding, who will be familiar to many residents of Hood River, where he practiced family medicine for several years. Finally, we have taken a great step toward solving the shortage of internal medicine providers with the recent signing of Michelle Grothe, a physician assistant specializing in internal medicine and internist James Edwards, M.D. Michele already has opened her practice, joining Tom Hodge, M.D. in a team approach to care, and Dr. Edwards will relocate to the Gorge this summer after completing his residency training. It also was a year of accomplishments for MCMC’s quality initiative. A quality-measurement organization called Acumentra Health honored our organization with an award recognizing MCMC as one of Oregon’s top two hospitals. In addition, Celilo Cancer Center had the distinction of receiving the Commission on Cancer’s “Accreditation with Commendation.” This is a remarkable, and very rare achievement for a cancer center being surveyed for the first time. Lastly, we closed the year on a high note by learning we had been named one of only five Designated Planetree Patient-Centered Hospitals. An article in this Well Aware provides complete details of this rare honor. We are equally excited about what 2008 has in store for us — and you, the good people we are so honored to serve.
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Duane Francis President/CEO
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Winter 2008
Inside Scoop A Designated Planetree Patient-Centered Hospital
It is Our Mission ‌
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To communicate a vision of health, art, education, technology and create a center for healing which will continually upgrade the quality of life in the community environment in which we live. To empower people to become partners in their health care. Mid-Columbia Medical Center is a not-for-profit healthcare organization offering comprehensive services to the Mid-Columbia Region, and is governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees: Robert L.R. Bailey Jorge Barragan Daniel Boldt Paul Cardosi, M.D. Duane Francis Gretchen Kimsey Robert A. Staver, M.D. Wallace Wolf, Jr., D.V.M.
Photo Beginning Physician couple starts their new life in the Mid-Columbia.
To lead and act as a catalyst in promoting health for all people. To recognize the individual as a whole human being with different needs that must be enthusiastically met.
(ON THE COVER)
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Back in Balance
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Mind Body Calendar
Sky Morgan learns how to rebalance his life and enhances his lifestyle. Upcoming education programs from the Center for Mind & Body Medicine.
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Step by Step
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High Atop Planetree
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New Direction
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Total Joint Venture
With the help of family, friends and mPower, Armando Flores is making his way back from a stroke. 15 years after implementing Planetree, a new designation shows MCMC is still one of the organization’s elite hospitals. Former Hood River physician chosen to lead Mid-Columbia Medical Group. Support, encouragement and education for joint replacement patients.
WellAware is published by Mid-Columbia Medical Center 1700 East 19th Street The Dalles, OR 97058
(541) 296-7545 All rights reserved. No information may be reprinted without the written consent of MCMC. Photo Credits: Photos by Jim Semlor except photo page 14 by Lori Russell. Printed with Agri based inks on recycled paper, 10% post consumer.
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Fate brings Drs. Matthew and Kerry Proctor together; family and community bring them to the Mid-Columbia.
Photo Beginning by Dick Baltus
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ack in high school, on her class trip to France, Kerry Proctor had no idea the photograph she was taking of the beautiful old building represented a singleframe vision of her future. It wasn’t until many years later that she realized she had captured within the borders of that shot her future husband. The Mid-Columbia region’s newest physicians not only can look forward to a great future together, they can also look back on a great past — semi-together. Drs. Matthew and Kerry Proctor settled into their new home and respective practices last summer and, he says, “We are thrilled to be here.” Matthew, a board-certified otolaryngologist, joined ear, nose and throat specialist Charles Ford, M.D., and is practicing in The Dalles and Hood River. Kerry, board-certified in pathology, is working two days a week with Arthur Van Eaton, M.D., at Mid-Columbia Medical Center. The Proctors relocated from Iowa City, where both were completing fellowship training at the University of Iowa. The couple had married while they were in medical school at the University of Vermont School of
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of the people here. I love the weather and all the outdoor opportunities. The Dalles seems very community- and family-oriented, which is just what we were looking for.” As his specialty’s name implies, Dr. Matt Proctor’s focus is on the diagnosis and treatment of conditions of the ears, nose and throat. His board certification includes head and neck surgery, and he also has a special interest in caring for patients affected by allergies. “There are many people whose quality of life is affected by ENT problems,” he says. “I appreciate the opportunity to make a difference in so many lives.” Dr. Kerry Proctor’s specialty deals with the causes of disease, which means she spends a good deal of her time peering into a microscope. “I really enjoy that aspect of my profession,” she says. “I like solving puzzles.” She completed a fellowship program in cytopathology, the study of diseases at the cellular level (the most common example of cytopathology is the Pap smear). With her training, Dr. Proctor is starting a fine needle aspiration program at Celilo Cancer Center,
Dr. Matt Proctor is now seeing ENT patients in Hood River and The Dalles. Medicine, but their paths had crossed several years before. Apparently there was heavy congestion at the intersection. “We actually went to the same high school in Vermont,” Kerry says. “I remember Matt being really smart and a really good tennis player.” But being in different classes (Kerry was a year ahead), they seldom traveled in the same circles. Even when both were in the small group of students that made the trip to France there was no connection. That didn’t come until both had finished college, Matt at Whitman in Walla Walla and Kerry at the University of Vermont. Coincidentally (or naturally, as the case may be) both had majored in psychology. In 1995 the future couple found themselves together again in a one-year pre-med program at the University of Vermont. The rest is history, or perhaps more appropriately, the future. With Matt’s college connection to the Northwest and Kerry’s parents now living in Portland, the Gorge was one of the areas the Proctors targeted to start their careers and raise their 3-year-old son Harrison. “We had been through the Gorge on many occasions,” Matt says. “I love the laid-back nature
offering a non-surgical option for tissue biopsies. When they aren’t practicing medicine, the Proctors are immersing themselves and their son in the natural surroundings that drew them here. “We like to hike and camp and ski,” Matt says. “Kerry and I were pretty busy with our education and training so we are just appreciating the opportunity to spend time together as a family.” A while back the couple used some of their time off to go through their old photos. Each had snapshots they had taken of their trip to France in high school. It was the first time they noticed that each had accidentally captured their future spouse on film almost 20 years earlier. “Matt was walking in front of a building I was photographing, and he also had shots with me in them,” Kerry says. You’d have a hard time convincing the Proctors these days that they weren’t meant to be. Appointments with Matthew Proctor, M.D. can be made at Columbia Gorge Ear, Nose, Throat & Allergy, 1790 May Street, Hood River, 386-5119.
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Back in Balance With the help of MCMC’s weight management program, Sky Morgan learns how to rebalance his life and enhances his lifestyle. by Stu Watson
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ike many people, Sky Morgan carried a full plate. Too full, actually, both literally and figuratively. Between family time, career time (as a loan officer with Columbia River Bank) and an array of activities and responsibilities, Sky was reaching his limits. “My life was way out of balance, totally lopsided with tasks, family, projects, jobs,” Morgan says. “And I was losing touch with keeping myself happy.” Lack of regular exercise and unhealthy eating habits gave Morgan one more issue to deal with — his health. In spring 2007, Morgan’s wife Mandi suggested he look into the Healthy Weight Solutions program run by Mid-Columbia Medical Center through its Center for Mind & Body Medicine.
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Sky Morgan
“If people just go in and take little baby steps in life, they’ll have great results.” “When I first got into it, I didn’t have any goals,” Morgan recalls. “I was kind of reluctant.” Mandi, however, knew of the potential benefit through her work as assistant director of the MCMC’s First Impressions birthing center. “I thought of it more from a stress reduction standpoint, for him to have
more time to focus on his health,” she recalls. “For him, with working and having two little kids, it’s hard to find time to take care of himself, to exercise and focus on how he can be healthy.” Since finishing the eight-week program at the end of July, Morgan is a walking, talking testimonial. He has lost 20 pounds, significantly
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decreasing the burden on his 5-foot-9-inch frame. But more than the weight loss, Morgan says, he has gained new tools to help him act in his own best interests. “If people just go in and take little baby steps in life, they’ll have great results,” he says. “The holistic approach is the best thing I’ve been involved in to learn about your total health.” Barbara Robison, director of Mind & Body Medicine, helped conceive the Healthy Weight Solutions program four years ago. To create the program, MCMC sought input from several expert sources, including a doctor, a dietitian, an exercise specialist and a nurse. The goal is to help people learn to make better lifestyle choices. The benefits are numerous: including reduced cancer risk, lower blood pressure, less chance of a heart attack. Tactics used include relaxation techniques, t’ai chi and yoga, better breath control, exercise and a healthy approach to diet. New enrollees first meet Jill Kiefer, R.N., who collects current health data and a medical history. “After an hour with her, I was completely convinced that I did want to do this program,” Morgan recalls. “After she checked my body mass index, that was alarming — I was on the borderline between overweight and obese.” Program participants meet for two hours every Wednesday evening. Registered dietitian Jennifer Zimmerman leads the instruction, but each session has a different focus and may involve other presenters. For instance, Steve McLennon, M.D., conducts two sessions on stress management. “People love that portion of the program,” Zimmerman says.
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“We waste so much time and energy thinking negatively about ourselves.”
“Dr. McLennon helps people see how their mind-set can set them up for failure.” Morgan says it was like a therapy session for him. “When I describe this to people, I see their eyes glaze over like it’s some sort of hocus pocus, but one of the easiest things to do is modify your thinking,” he says. “We waste so much time and energy thinking negatively about ourselves.” Kiefer teaches yoga and other stress-reduction tactics. Zimmerman helps people think about food, healthy eating habits, the impact of excess weight on health and setting goals. Matt Eby talks about exercise and helps participants get active in ways that limit risk and build slowly toward greater fitness. “We always encourage people to get with a personal trainer, but we start with helping them think about
incorporating more activity in their daily lives first,” Robison says. Morgan saw the change in his approach to life. “Before I knew it I was thinking things like, you know what, why don’t I park a block further from work to get some extra steps?” he says. “You learn how to make your body better throughout the day.” Robison says she hopes participants leave the program with a new sense of joy and control over their lives, a belief that making slow change will lead to permanent change. “It’s a great foundation,” Morgan says. “I would encourage anybody to check it out. People can look at me and see the results.” For more information about Healthy Weight Solutions, call 541-296-7202.
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Mind, Body Healing UPCOMING EDUCATION PROGRAMS FROM THE CENTER FOR MIND & BODY MEDICINE AT MID-COLUMBIA MEDICAL CENTER
Pre-registration required; please call 296-7202 to register unless otherwise indicated.
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Flow Yoga
Exercise Movement
T’ai Chi T’ai Chi is an ancient mind/body discipline of relaxed movement. It involves gentle, meditative exercise for individuals of all ages and fitness levels. Participants will enjoy increased balance, flexibility and coordination and improve well being, while reducing stress and associated pain and fatigue.
T’ai Chi Class for Balance TUESDAYS & THURSDAYS 12-week session Call for schedule, Free classes If you are interested in improving your balance and reducing your risk of falls, you may qualify for our free T’ai Chi classes. Participants must be 60 years of age or older, have a disability or are living with a chronic disease. This program is open to all Columbia River Gorge residents. For more information, please contact Barb Robison at the Center for Mind & Body Medicine, 541/296-7414.
Gentle Yoga WEDNESDAYS 8-9 a.m., Celilo Cancer Center $40 for 5 sessions, $60 for 10 sessions or $10 drop-in This easy-does-it class is perfect for beginners or people with limited mobility. Stretch, breathe and ease your way into greater flexibility.
WEDNESDAYS 5 to 6:30 p.m., Celilo Cancer Center $40 for 5 sessions, $60 for 10 sessions or $10 drop-in
Yoga Yoga All Levels MONDAYS & THURSDAYS 5:30 to 7 p.m., Celilo Cancer Center $40 for 5 sessions, $60 for 10 sessions or $10 drop-in Unwind and rejuvenate your mind and body with yoga stretching, breathing exercises and relaxation. This class is designed for all ages and levels of fitness. Increase your flexibility, strength and balance.
Flowing from pose to pose, this Yoga class is a moving meditation that helps rest the anxious, stressed mind while bringing strength, flexibility and balance to the body. No previous experience necessary.
Healing Hatha Yoga
begins April 7
MONDAYS 3:30 to 5 p.m., Celilo Cancer Center
$60 for 8-week session This gentle yoga class is specifically designed for people with chronic pain or illnesses such as fibromyalgia, arthritis, insomnia, headaches, back pain and many other health concerns. Enrollment is limited. Pre-registration required. No previous Yoga experience needed.
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Core Health Wellness Clinics Cardiac Rehabilitation Clinic Medical Symptom Reduction Clinic Living Healthy with Diabetes Pulmonary Health Services Better Breathers Support Group
Many insurance companies and Medicare will cover all or a portion of the clinic fee. We will assist you to determine your insurance benefits. Physician referral may be required.
PERSONALIZED HEALTH AND WELLNESS For more information or to schedule a consultation, please call 541-296-7202.
Individual Yoga Consultation Individual Fitness Consultation Individual Nutrition Consultation A Designated Planetree Patient-Centered Hospital
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Mind Body Healing Workshops & Clinics Open Community Drumming with Steve McLennon, M.D. THURSDAY February 21, 7 to 8 p.m. Medical Center Office Plaza Conference Room A No fee. Donations welcome! Bring family and friends and experience the joy of recreational music making. No experience or equipment is necessary and we guarantee immediate musical success! Join us and build community, laughter and good health. Research indicates drumming can work alongside conventional medicine to improve moods, immune function, physical movement and decrease burnout and stress. And — it’s incredibly fun!
Breathe Your Way To Better Health Part 1 Wednesday, February 27 Part 2 Wednesday, March 5 7 to 8 p.m. Celilo Cancer Center Cost $20 Learn simple breathing techniques that can help lower blood pressure and pulse, decrease stress and anxiety, improve immune function, ease insomnia, improve digestion and speed healing time. Wear loose comfy clothing. Preregistration required
Introduction to Meditation Part 1 Wednesday, March 12 Part 2 Wednesday, March 19 7 to 8 p.m. Celilo Cancer Center Cost $20 Mounting research is showing the benefits of relaxation practices. In this basic class you will learn the history of meditation, the medical benefits and simple relaxation techniques that you can use in your personal plan of good health. Preregistration required.
Healthy Weight Solutions WEDNESDAYS 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
begins April 2
Healthy Weight Solutions is a unique 8-week progressive weight loss and wellness clinic that will provide a safe and supportive environment for weight loss achievement, stress reduction and disease prevention. The program will focus on a holistic solution to weight management. The multi-disciplinary team includes a dietitian, registered nurse and physician. The curriculum will include research based integrative strategies that are simple, practical and lifelong.
Guided Relaxation, Music and Aromatherapy WEDNESDAYS April 16, May 14 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. Celilo Cancer Center Free! Experience 30 minutes of total relaxation. Relaxation expert Susan Erikson, aromatherapist Barb Robison and music thanatologist Anna Fiasca will lead you in a guided imagery and aromatherapy relaxation technique, using pure essential oils and music. Leave this session feeling calmly refreshed!
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Therapeutic Body Work Healing Therapies BY APPOINTMENT
Celilo Cancer Center
Reiki
60 minutes $50. Reiki is a stress reduction technique and promotes the body’s natural ability to heal. It is non-invasive and feels very pleasant to receive. It has specifically been documented to relax muscles, still the mind and ease pain. It is considered an energy medicine technique that is administered by a trained practitioner. Call 296-7389.
Lymphedema Therapy The treatment of lymphedema, or swelling of an extremity consists of gentle compression, bandaging, skin care and gentle movement exercises delivered by a trained therapist. These steps are part of a therapy program that helps minimize and manage the symptoms of lymphedema. With a physician's referral, this therapy is covered by moset insurance plans. Please call 541-296-7202.
Acupuncture Therapy Acupuncture is one discipline taken from the heritage of Chinese medicine. The technique involves the insertion of very fine needles at specific points in the body which have been shown to be effective in the treatment of various conditions. Call 506-6998 for appointments or for more information.
Massage Therapy Massage therapy is one of the oldest forms of health practice. It has been used to enhance healing and general well being since ancient times. This therapy manipulates the skin, muscles and joints for muscle relaxation, improved circulation and stress relief. The therapists at MidColumbia Medical Center offer a variety of massage techniques tailored to your specific needs. To schedule an appointment or purchase a gift certificate for a massage, call 296-7389. Relaxation Massage 60 min for $50/90 min for $75 Deep Body Massage Warm Stone Therapy Sports Massage 60 min for $55/90 min for $80 Pregnancy Massage 60 min for $50 Thai Massage 90 min for $80 Lymphatic Massage $55 per hour
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rmando Flores Garcia came to The Dalles in 1991 and spent the next 16 years building the better life he dreamed of when he left his home in Mexico. He worked a steady job at Orchard View Farms. He and his wife Rosa kept busy with community activities and raising their three children, daughters Esperanza, 16, and Diana, 3, and son Armando, 13. Then suddenly, unexpectedly, one day late last summer Armando’s dream became a nightmare. “I was told that an artery burst in his brain,” says Rosa, through Mid-Columbia Medical Center interpreter Ruth Pullen. “It happened at home. He had no warning. All of a sudden he fell down and was unconscious.” MCMC’s emergency physicians immediately recognized the signs of stroke. Once Armando was stabilized, he was quickly transferred to a Portland hospital. Three weeks later he was back home, on his own, facing a long journey to recovery, with no idea where to aim his first step. If not for the power of a community pulling together to support one of its own, Armando might have seen his dream of a better life end tragically on Sept. 16, 2007, at the young age of 38. Mid-Columbia Medical Center hospitalist Tom Nichol, M.D, was shocked the first time he saw Armando, soon after his discharge from the Portland hospital. Dr. Nichol had learned of Armando from soccer coach and mutual friend Luis Gamez. “Luis told me he had a friend who had recently had a stroke and was back home, but not doing well,” Dr. Nichol remembers. “I asked him what kind of therapy he had received, and Luis said, ‘None’.” Dr. Nichol agreed to visit Armando in his home. “He couldn’t speak at all, and he couldn’t understand what was being said to him,” Dr. Nichol says. “Armando really needed physical therapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy, but when I looked at his discharge orders nothing had been prescribed.” The only orders Dr. Nichol found, written in English, a language Armando couldn’t even read, were “See PCP for follow-up.”
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Step By Step Family, friends and mPower help Armando Flores make his way back from a stroke. by Dick Baltus
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“…the biggest benefit to admitting Armando was to get him connected with the education, equipment and other resources he’ll need to continue making progress.” — mPower program director Brandon Strizich “Armando didn’t even have a primary care physician to see,” Dr. Nichol says. But in the long-time area physician, Armando did have a new friend and advocate. Dr. Nichol related the story to MCMC CEO Duane Francis, who readily agreed to make available to Armando, at substantially reduced fees, the comprehensive therapy services of mPower, the hospital’s center for acute inpatient rehabilitation. Housed on MCMC’s third floor, the eight-bed mPower unit opened two years ago to provide for the first time a local resource for patients recovering from conditions such as stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, amputations, medical traumas, femur and hip fractures, joint replacement procedures, arthritis, burns and many other conditions. Throughout their rehabilitation process, patients benefit from the hands-on expertise of a team of professionals, supervised by a physician specializing in rehabilitative medicine, Trey Rigert, M.D. The mPower team includes physical, speech and occupational therapists, a nurse, a certified medical assistant, a social worker, a psychologist, a dietitian, a recreational therapist and others. Together they coordinate an intensive program for each patient designed to address the gamut of their rehabilitation needs. During their stay on the mPower unit patients complete an intensive three hours of therapy, five days a week. Armando was an excellent candidate for the program, says program director Brandon Strizich. “When Armando came in he was functioning pretty well physically, but he had issues with speech, problem solving and memory loss that we were able to begin to address,” Strizich says. “But maybe the biggest benefit to admitting him was to get him connected with the education, equipment and other resources he’ll need to continue making progress.” Though he still has a long, difficult journey ahead of him, Armando’s progress is encouraging to his wife and friends. “He’s not back to normal, but I feel this program has helped him very much; look at him now,” Rosa exclaims. “He can walk now without assistance, and he used to be in a wheelchair. I have noticed that his speech is better. Each time he has therapy we can see an improvement. He has come a long way.”
One day Armando hopes to get back to the activities he enjoyed prior to his stroke. He loves to fish and is an avid soccer fan, who helped coach his son’s team. When friend Alejandro Rodriguez asks Armando if he’ll soon return to his assistant coach position, his face lights up and he answers an enthusiastic, “Yes”. Rosa isn’t betting against her husband, given how far he already has come. “I would like to thank the hospital for everything they did for Armando,” she says. “Without their support he wouldn’t be doing as well as he is. The program has helped him become stronger, and I would recommend it to anyone in similar situation.” Dr. Nichol sees Armando’s story as a testament to his community’s giving spirit. In addition to MCMC’s financial support, the local Hispanic community has held fundraisers to support the Flores family. “It has been really wonderful to see all these people come together to give Armando the best possible chance to recover,” Dr. Nichol says. “He came home without any help at all, and now he has all of these connections to help ensure his progress continues. At no point did anyone say, ‘No, we can’t do this; this is too expensive.’ Everyone really stepped up, and it makes me very proud of my community.” To request information about the mPower Center for Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation, call 541-506-6900 or the program referral line at 541-506-6903.
See related story on back cover.
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High Atop Planetree 15 years after implementing Planetree, designation status shows MCMC is still recognized as one of the organization’s elite hospitals. by Dick Baltus hen Mid-Columbia Medical Center implemented the Planetree concept of patient-centered care in 1992 it was only the fifth healthcare organization in the world to sign on with the innovative program. While the first four Planetree hospitals had just opened pilot Planetree units within their facility, MCMC was the first organization to implement the program hospital-wide. Fifteen years later the Planetree organization has grown into a network of 125 healthcare facilities committed to patient-centered care, but MCMC is still being recognized as a leader of the movement. The most recent demonstration of this came with the October announcement that MCMC was one of the first organizations to be formally recognized by Planetree, Inc., as a “Designated Planetree PatientCentered Hospital.” MCMC was one of only five hospitals nationwide to receive the prestigious designation, which was introduced by Planetree, Inc., this year. It is the only Oregon hospital to have met the stringent criteria developed by Planetree to distinguish those hospitals nationwide doing the most advanced work in patientcentered care. “As part of a national organization whose many members have dedicated themselves to promoting the important tenets of patient-centered care, it is a true honor to be singled out for this special recognition,” said MCMC CEO and President Duane Francis. “We see it as the culmination of a 15-year commitment to the Planetree concepts, though it is by no means a sign that our work is done. In fact, Planetree isn’t something we do that has an end. It’s something we live.” Planetree designation recognizes an institution’s achievement and innovation in fostering a culture that considers its priorities to be patient comfort, dignity, empowerment and well being. Designed to provide a level of consistency in what it means to be a patient-centered hospital, the designation
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criteria are based largely on direct patient feedback. Over the last several years Planetree staff conducted hundreds of focus group sessions during which patients across the country shared what is most important to them during hospitalization. To become a Designated Planetree Patient-Centered Hospital, MCMC had to demonstrate that it has successfully implemented programs that meet the spirit and intent of the designation criteria. As part of the designation process MCMC was asked to demonstrate that specific patient-centered policies are in place, including non-restrictive visiting hours and an open medical chart policy; that staff members at all levels are involved in the implementation of the Planetree model; and that the hospital’s physical environment is a healing one engaging all of the human senses. Designation status further requires the institution to meet or exceed national performance benchmarks for quality and patient satisfaction. “It is most fitting that Mid-Columbia Medical Center is among the first hospitals nationwide to receive this recognition, as it has long been considered a pioneer in providing patient-centered care,” said Planetree President Susan Frampton, Ph.D. “Since MCMC became the first hospital in the world to implement the Planetree model facility-wide its dedication to innovation and to advancing the model has persisted. MCMC has been recognized by Planetree with a number of awards for program excellence, and this designation further acknowledges its enduring commitment to the comprehensive, broad-based practice of patient-centered care.” Without MCMC’s organization-wide commitment to the Planetree model of care, none of those programs could be successful, Frampton said. “Planetree designation is a real testament to the staff, physicians, board members and volunteers at MCMC, all of whom have played an important part in integrating Planetree’s philosophy of patient-centered care fully into the organization’s day-to-day operations,” she said.
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Former Hood River Physician Chosen to Lead Medical Group by Karen Knoll id-Columbia Medical Center’s affiliated physician group has hired its first full-time medical director. Paul Armerding, M.D., a family and emergency physician for 25 years, was hired to oversee the medically related operations of Mid-Columbia Medical Group, the team of family practice, pediatric and internal medicine physicians and providers affiliated with MCMC. He joins Sam Derrick, executive director, on the MCMG administrative team. “Finding a full-time medical director was critical to the continued development of Mid-Columbia Medical Group,” Derrick said. “We believe that Dr. Armerding brings the necessary talent and experience to help us accomplish our goals. As we grow it’s imperative that we have a physician administrator leading our medical team.” Most recently Dr. Armerding was practicing emergency medicine at Tuality Forest Grove Hospital. With MCMG, however, his responsibilities will be predominantly administrative, though he will provide some patient care in support of other practitioners within the group. A 1979 graduate of Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago, Dr. Armerding completed his family practice residency at Methodist Medical Center of Illinois, Peoria. After moving to Oregon he opened his own family practice clinic in Hood River in 1991. He closed that clinic in late 2001 and began working in
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Paul Armerding, M.D.
“I truly believe in the MCMC mission to treat people as whole human beings. I hope to help people understand not only their life but their health.”
emergency medicine at various Oregon hospitals including MidColumbia Medical Center. Stepping into an administrative role represents a significant career change for Dr. Armerding. “I surveyed my past 20 years to see what I might be able to bring to this position,” he said. “I feel that I have gained valuable skills from both my medical experience and my life experiences that could help me become the advocate that both the administration and the medical group providers were looking for.” Dr. Armerding said that he learned as a physician to listen to and help decipher communication from both patients and other healthcare providers. Owning his own family practice clinic gave him valuable insight into both the business and medical sides of practice management. Dr. Armerding said MidColumbia Medical Center’s philosophy of care is closely aligned with his own. “I truly believe in the MCMC mission to treat people as whole human beings. I hope to help people understand not only their life but their health. You can’t give health but you can help people embrace their health. None of us are perfect; we all need healing.” Dr. Armerding is an Elder in the Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Hood River. He and Laurel, his wife of 28 years, have four grown children, three grandchildren and one more on the way.
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Ben Neumayer
en Neumayer did not let the nagging pain in his hip stop him — from his work as a principle at a local accounting firm, from playing games with his grandchildren, from making five trips to Africa to help others receive quality medical care or from driving his 1929 vintage Plymouth in the Cherry Festival parade. Like millions of Americans, Neumayer managed his joint pain with over-the-counter medications, limiting his activity when needed and receiving occasional injections of cortisone from his medical provider to reduce the inflammation.
Total Joint MCMC program offers support, encouragement and education for patients undergoing joint replacement procedures.
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Then in the fall of 2006 Neumayer’s hip pain became worse after a romp on the beach with one of his grandchildren. The discomfort continued to escalate over the next several months, says the 62-year-old accountant from The Dalles. “I could walk downhill two blocks, but when I walked back uphill to the office my hip would throb for the rest of the day.” During an evaluation with Greg Stanley, M.D., of Cascade Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, Neumayer learned he was a candidate for a total hip replacement. The surgical procedure, also known as a hip arthoplasty, re-forms the hip joint by removing the ball-shaped top of the femur, or thigh bone, and the surface layer of the hip socket in the pelvis. The diseased or damaged “head” of the femur and socket are then replaced with artificial components made of metal and plastic. Once scheduled for surgery on May 7, 2007, Neumayer enrolled in MCMC’s “Total Joint Experience,” a new program that provides educational, health and support services to help patients through every step of the joint replacement process.
Well Aware Hood River:Well Aware Winter 07-08
2/4/08
4:09 PM
Components of the program include the PreOperative Clinic, where individuals are helped to complete the paperwork and required tests for surgery and obtain any necessary medical clearances — all in one visit. During Total Joint Camp, both patients and their caregivers learn about the entire joint replacement process, from how to prepare for surgery to what will happen in the operating and recovery rooms, to postoperative recovery and rehabilitation in the hospital and at home. “At Joint Camp we encourage patients to begin looking ahead to after they are discharged from the hospital,” says Kim Hartley, R.N., director of Acute Care Services and Total Joint Experience coordinator at MCMC.
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Like most patients, Neumayer received physical therapy at home after he left MCMC. He returned to work full time less than a month after surgery and was back behind the wheel of his Plymouth for the Cruise the Gorge/Neon Nights weekend in early August. “I’m glad I had the procedure,” he says. “The surgery ought to last 20 to 25 years, and I’m back to playing disc golf, walking daily and chasing my grandkids.” The Total Joint Experience program offers free educational classes for those interested in learning more about the medical and surgical options for managing joint pain. For more information on the next class, please call 296-8444.
Venture
by Lori Russell
“We teach them what medications they will need to take and the exercises they will need to do. We talk about activities of daily living — things patients don’t usually think about until they get home.” Neumayer attended Total Joint Camp with his wife Arlene. There he learned the precautions and activity restrictions he would need to comply with after surgery and that driving his antique Plymouth with its manual transmission would be out of the question for several weeks. He also discovered his first step on the path to rehabilitation would come just a few hours after surgery. “I was up walking that first night,” he says. “I walked down the hall with a walker the next day.” “Our goal is to educate patients and to help take away fear of the unknown,” says Hartley. “Everyone has a different pace and obstacles, so we develop a plan for each patient. I offer encouragement and help solve any problems that might arise.” On average, six to eight people a month undergo elective knee or hip replacement surgery at MCMC. As part of the Total Joint Experience, patients attend physical therapy together during their hospital stay, encouraging and supporting each other in the early days of healing and recovery.
“Our goal is to educate patients and to help take away fear of the unknown. Everyone has a different pace and obstacles, so we develop a plan for each patient.” Kim Hartley, R.N.
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Well Aware Hood River:Well Aware Winter 07-08
2/5/08
Spring 2008 Planetree Health Resource Center
11:48 AM
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mPower Names a New Medical Director
Health Lecture Series Informative Discussions on Your Good Health All lectures are free and open to the public. Lectures are held in the Medical Office Building Conference Room at Mid-Columbia Medical Center, 1810 E. 19th St., The Dalles. All programs are from 7 - 8:30 p.m. Your on-time arrival is appreciated. Phone 541-296-8444 to pre-register. We look forward to seeing you.
Tuesday, Feb 26 Heart Health in the Kitchen Sure, you know you are supposed to eat healthy, but what does that look like in your kitchen? Our panel will pull it all together for you as Jennifer Zimmerman, R.D., discusses the new generation of fats and how they affect your cholesterol. Tracy Dugick, R.D., will help you bulk up in tasteful fashion with her fantastic fiber knowledge. And Mike Wheeler, chef extraordinaire, will show you how it all works with his “cooking from scratch” demonstration.
Trey Rigert, M.D.
Tuesday, March 4 A Team Approach to Sleep Problems Sometimes two heads are better than one! Paul Cardosi, M.D., sleep studies specialist and Matthew Proctor, M.D., ear, nose and throat specialist, team up to discuss sleep problems. If you wake up feeling tired or feel very sleepy during the day, even if you think you’ve had enough sleep, you may have a sleep disorder. Come learn how this dynamic duo can help you sleep better!
Tuesday, March 11: Living Green: Saving Planet Earth, Saving Money Want to reduce your carbon footprint and have more money in your pocket? This program is for you! Barbara Robison, director of MCMC’s Center for Mind & Body Medicine, will show you how to clean your home the earth-friendly way while Pat Bozanich, Wasco County recycling coordinator, shows you how easy it is to reduce, reuse and recycle. Steve Holmes from Northern Wasco County PUD covers Energy Star and simple ways to make your home energy efficient. Come find out how small green steps add up to extra savings each month.
M
CMC’s inpatient rehabilitation program, mPower, has a new medical director. Trey Rigert, M.D., has been hired to oversee the medical activities of the program, which provides comprehensive rehab therapy services to patients recovering from accidents and a wide range of medical conditions (see “Step by Step” article, page 10). “Our goal is to help patients restore function that has been lost so that they can return home and retain their quality of life,” says Dr. Rigert, who specializes in physiatry, or physical medicine. Dr. Rigert says the environment of mPower is an ideal setting for the rehabilitation process. “Rehabilitation is most effective when it’s provided close to home or in an environment like mPower,” he says. “The home-like setting of mPower combined with the team approach to rehabilitation really helps to prepare the patient for returning to their home.” Dr. Rigert and his wife of 20 years, Deona, have three children. He and his children all ski race and the family also enjoys sailing and windsurfing.
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1700 E. 19th St., The Dalles, OR 97058
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