System News: December 2020

Atrium Medical Center

Atrium Medical Center’s Level III Emergency Trauma Center has been selected as a 2020 Greater Cincinnati Nonprofit of the Year Award winner in the Emergency Room Care category. The awards are organized by Cincy Magazine. Atrium’s recognition will appear in the magazine’s winter edition.

Atrium care providers and leaders were part of several public service announcements released before the Thanksgiving holiday. In Warren County and  Butler County videos, Jill Aston, MD, medical director of Atrium’s Level III Emergency Trauma Center, and Keith Bricking, MD, president of Atrium, reminded the community to stay vigilant in mask wearing, social distancing, and hand hygiene. Dr. Bricking also joined Middletown’s mayor and health commissioner in a video COVID-19 update for residents. In addition, Atrium signed its support to an editorial by the (Cincinnati) Health Collaborative that ran in multiple media outlets.

 

Charlene Kurtz of Atrium’s infection control team was honored as a Woman of Excellence by the West Chester – Liberty Chamber Alliance. A video featuring Charlene was created by the chamber as part of a virtual celebration of all honorees. 

Students from Fenwick, Middletown, Monroe, Edgewood, and Madison high schools virtually toured Atrium as part of Healthcare Month organized by the Chamber of Commerce Serving Middletown, Monroe and Trenton. More than 1,200 students were introduced to health care careers and potential opportunities as part of the month-long series, according to the chamber. 

Miami Valley Hospital Campuses

As the number of hospitalized coronavirus patients began to soar in November, the four Premier Health foundations ramped up efforts to solicit contributions in support of frontline hospital staff. The foundations have been instrumental in identifying and outfitting respite areas for staff at each hospital. Due to increasing patient volumes, there is little time for caregivers to eat or even take a short break. In response, the foundations have sought donations of recliners, massage wraps, food and drinks so that staff can get away and take a breath in the respite areas.

The Miami Valley Hospital Foundation conducted its annual 1890 Society mailing to raise funds for undesignated uses in the hospital. A letter that highlighted the Monarch™ Platform for early lung cancer detection was sent to prospective and past donors. The letter explained that this new technology was made possible by funds raised through the 1890 Society.

Good Samaritan Foundation-Dayton held its 11th annual Rays of Hope breakfast virtually on Nov. 5. The event raised $38,000 to provide direct services to homeless individuals and families with medical, dental, and mental health needs through the Samaritan Health Center. Mothers and babies have access to an innovative model of prenatal care and parenting education through Mothers Empowered, and breast cancer patients have financial assistance to help them and their families through the Breast Cancer Patient Assistance program.

Premier Health COVID-19 experts continue to field a myriad of virtual media and chamber interview/presentation requests. Highlights include: Joseph Allen, MD, who presented before members of the Engineer’s Club of Dayton on the science of COVID-19; Roberto Colón, MD, appeared on DATV as the guest on the League of Women Voters program, Empowering You; Steven Burdette, MD, participated in a press conference hosted by Public Health – Dayton & Montgomery County and the Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association; Beth Esposito with SBHI was a panelist for the Dayton Daily News’ Community Conversations live Facebook event; and Jasmine Shavers, RN, Miami Valley Hospital COVID nurse, participated in a press conference hosted by Governor Mike DeWine.

Miami Valley Hospital North Emergency Center celebrated its fifth anniversary on Nov. 3. The center has provided 24-hour, full-service emergency care since it opened its doors in 2015. Within its first year, the emergency center saw 18,000 patients, exceeding projections by nearly 20 percent. Five years later, 138,202 patients have received emergency care.

The Miami Valley Hospital Facilities Department installed special recognition parking for veterans in the main visitor garage. The foundation is offering the opportunity to honor a veteran on one of the newly designated “Reserved for Veterans Only” parking spaces on the first level of the parking garage. These exclusive spaces will be reserved for any veteran of the armed forces with the name of the honored veteran included on the signage. Six special parking spaces are available for sponsorship at $500 per space. To sponsor a parking space or for more information, please contact Jenny Lewis at the MVH Foundation at (937) 208-2700.

New promotional banners that mention recent awards and services have been installed on all Miami Valley Hospital campuses that feature Premier Health’s new brand look.

Upper Valley Medical Center

Upper Valley Medical Center is participating in a Mask Up Miami County campaign organized by the Troy Chamber of Commerce to encourage mask wearing, social distancing, and other COVID-19 prevention safety protocols. Members of UVMC leadership were filmed by the chamber on Nov. 25 with Scott Kanagy, DO, MBA, chief medical officer, Upper Valley Medical Center, in the foreground telling why he wears a mask and encouraging everyone to do the same.

UVMC/Premier Health was the lead sponsor of the American Heart Association’s Go Red Goes North held Nov. 12 via Zoom. The program featured a welcome by Dr. Scott Kanagy and presentations on cardiac-related health topics by Trish Wackler, MSN, MHA, RN, chief nursing officer, Upper Valley Medical Center, and other UVMC clinical professionals.

Dr. Scott Kanagy and Dr. Steven Burdette presented a program on COVID-19 for businesses at a Nov. 12 Miami County Safety Council meeting held via Zoom. The program included a question and answer session and was attended by business leaders from Miami County and surrounding communities.

A Troy Chamber of Commerce UVMC/Premier Webinar Wednesday Zoom broadcast on Nov. 18 featured Dr. Roberto Colón presenting a program entitled A Walk Through COVID-19. The program was open to the community as well as chamber members.

Dr. Scott Kanagy was interviewed Nov. 30 on Troy Radio 107.1 and Piqua WPTW 98.1. The interview focused primarily on current COVID-19 status and a mass casualty training hosted by UVMC for area EMS squads.

Back to the December 2020 issue of Premier Pulse