Inside AnMed Health - Spring 2012

16 Pages·2012·1.46 MB·English

SPRING 2012
Colon cancer screenings
can help save lives
New procedure improves
quality of life for those
with atrial fibrillation
What happens when the
life you save belongs to
one of your own?
State-of-the-art care
right in your own backyard
AnMed Health Wren Family Medicine is now accepting
patients. Located near the intersection of S.C. 8 and S.C. 81,
Wren Family Medicine provides primary care, lab testing
and radiology services.
Come meet our expert physicians, and experience health
care that passionately blends the art of caring with the
science of medicine.
Call 864.512.5910 to make an appointment today.
Dr. Michael D. Seemuller Dr. Kimberly Kyker
6650 Highway 81 North • Piedmont, SC 29673
www.AnMedHealth.org • 864.512.5910
FROM THE CEO
When high tech meets high
touch everybody wins
CONTENTS Jean Teverbaugh woke up early on Jan. 13 because she was having trouble breathing.
When she looked in the mirror, she almost didn’t recognize the woman staring back.
4 Early detection is the Her face had swollen to twice its normal size. By the time Jean reached AnMed Health
best prevention for Medical Center, she could no longer move her tongue as a result of the swelling.
colorectal cancer
Jean was scared when she arrived at the Emergency Department, but the doctors’
6 Procedure provides long- and nurses’ calm, kind demeanor quickly lowered her anxiety. From the Emergency
Department she was transferred to the intensive care unit, where she experienced the
term relief from common
same reassuring balance of expertise and compassion.
heart rhythm disorder
Jean relocated to Anderson from New York, and her experience at AnMed Health far
8 Taking care of our own
exceeded her expectations. Retelling the story a few weeks later, Jean said “I have never
10 M.D. Minute had treatment like I had here in a small hospital. They were excellent.”
12 Foundation news Jean suffered from a severe allergic reaction, but with prompt attention she was
able to recover fully. Every day, thousands of patients just like Jean are touched by the
health system in some way. They might come to us for an allergic reaction, a heart
ON THE COVER: When Ambre Ellison (center)
rhythm disturbance (page 6) or a traumatic injury (page 8). In every case, the key to an
suffered a brain hemorrhage last fall, she
experienced first-hand the kind of excellent excellent outcome is the same. Consistently great care comes from a combination of
care her colleagues provide every day. compassion, expertise and state-of-the-art technology. This tried and true equation is
at the very heart of our mission “to passionately blend the art of caring with the science
of medicine to optimize the health of our patients, staff and
community.”
AnMed Health makes a number of investments each year
to ensure residents have access to the care they need close
to home. We’re employing more specialists than we ever
Inside
have before and we’re continuing to add equipment, such
as the new electrophysiology bi-plane and our robotic
surgery system, so doctors have access to the tools they
ANMED HEALTH need to provide better, more precise treatments. No
one ever plans an emergency, but as Jean said, “It’s a
nice feeling to know that if I need it, it’s here.”
Inside AnMed Health is published quarterly
We’re in this together,
for AnMed Health staff, friends and the
community.
CONTACT
Marketing Department
864.512.3703
MISSION
To passionately blend the art of caring with John Miller Jr.
the science of medicine to optimize the CEO, AnMed Health
health of our patients, staff and community.
VISION
To be recognized and celebrated as the
gold standard for healthcare quality and
community health improvement.
800 North Fant Street • Anderson, SC 29621
864.512.1000 • www.anmedhealth.org
Inside ANMED HEALTH 3
Sandra Hurst sews
diapers for babies
in Honduras, a
mission project of
Baptist Medical
& Dental Mission
International.
Sandra recently
returned to mission
work after having
surgery to remove
two tumors in
her colon. Colon
cancer is one the
most commonly
diagnosed cancers in
the United States.
4 Inside ANMED HEALTH
Early detection is the best
prevention for colorectal cancer
There isn’t a single symptom that when treatment works best. According to
drove Sandra Hurst to her doctor’s office the CDC, if everyone 50 and older was Could it be cancer?
in early February, just an overall sense that screened regularly, as many as 60 percent
Most early colorectal cancers don’t
something with her body wasn’t right. of colorectal cancer deaths could be
have any symptoms, which is why
She wasn’t as energetic as she had been. avoided.
screening is so important. Some
Her sense of taste was off and her appetite “It’s so important to stay up to date with
possible symptoms are listed below.
was gone. She could go all day without your screenings,” said Dr. Shahzad Sheikh
While these aren’t always signs
feeling hungry. Anything sweet tasted of AnMed Health Gastroenterology of colorectal cancer, they should
sickeningly sweet. Anything with salt Specialists. “Sandra has a journey ahead cause you to call your doctor for a
tasted sickeningly salty. of her, but her prognosis could have been check-up:
“I kept saying, ‘You know, I’m not well,’” much worse if she had waited.”
• Blood in or on the stool
Hurst said. “It was as vague as that.” It can take 7 to 10 years to develop
• Stomach pain, aches or cramps
A friend from the Shamrock Garden colorectal cancer after the first abnormal
that do not go away
Club referred her to AnMed Health cells start growing into polyps. Several
• A unexplained change in your
Lakeside Family Medicine. She described tests are available to screen for colorectal
bowel habits, constipation
her medical history and her current state cancer. Some are used alone; others are
or diarrhea
of fatigue to Dr. Justin Moore. Given used in combination with each other.
her history with polyps and her family’s Colonoscopy is the preferred screening Source: American College of Gastroenterology
history with colorectal cancer, Dr. Moore because it allows doctors to look at the
made an appointment for her to see a entire colon and identify suspicious
gastroenterologist the very next day. growths. During a colonoscopy, doctors
A colonoscopy found two tumors, and use a long, thin tube called a colonoscope
every five years, allows doctors to look
about a week later to examine the entire length of the colon
at part of the colon and rectum with a
Hurst had surgery and rectum. The colonoscope has a video
sigmoidoscope – a flexible, lighted tube
at AnMed Health camera on the end that is connected
about the thickness of a finger that has a
Medical Center. to a display monitor. This allows the
small video camera on the end.
Surgery removed doctor to see and closely examine the
Screening guidelines vary based on a
the tumors and her inside of the colon. Special instruments
variety of factors, including a person’s
lymph nodes. Soon can be passed through the colonoscope
age, race and family history. For example,
she returned home to remove suspicious looking areas, if
African-Americans have a higher incidence
to Iva, proof that necessary. Doctors recommend everyone
Dr. Shahzad Sheikh of colorectal cancer so the American
colorectal cancer 50 and older get a colonoscopy at least
College of Gastroenterology recommends
screenings can help save lives. every 10 years. People like Hurst, whose
African-Americans start colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer also is one of the medical history puts them at a higher risk
screenings sooner, at age 45.
most commonly diagnosed cancers in the of developing colorectal cancer, may need
People make all kinds of excuses to
United States. Among cancers that affect screenings more frequently.
put off a colonoscopy. Hurst dreaded
both men and women, colorectal cancer An alternate screening strategy for
them because she would wake up too
is the second leading cause of cancer- average risk individuals is a combination
soon from the anesthesia. But that’s no
related deaths in the United States. of fecal occult blood test and flexible
longer an issue. Medicine has improved
Hurst had regular colonoscopies, one sigmoidoscopy. Blood vessels at the
significantly. By talking with Hurst and
every three years or so, before moving surface of larger colorectal polyps or
looking at her charts, Dr. Sheikh saw a
to Iva from Kentucky. Because of those cancers are often easily damaged when
pain disorder her previous doctors had
screenings, her doctors were able to you go to the bathroom. The blood test,
missed and found a medicine that kept
discover precancerous growths, called which is recommended annually, can
her asleep through her procedure.
polyps, and remove them before they detect blood in the stool before it’s visible
“When it comes to cancer prevention,
turned into cancer. Screenings allow and alert doctors to the problem. Flexible
there’s no reason that outweighs the risks
doctors to find colorectal cancer early, sigmoidoscopy, which is recommended
involved in putting off screenings,” Dr.
Sheikh said. “You might feel awkward
bringing these issues to your doctor, but
Colonoscopy is the preferred screening because
you’ll be glad you did.”
it allows doctors to look at the entire colon and
identify suspicious growths.
Inside ANMED HEALTH 5
Fred Pless found
relief from atrial
fibrillation symptoms
after undergoing an
ablation procedure
in AnMed Health’s
electrophysiology lab.
6 Inside ANMED HEALTH
Fred Pless is not one to sit around that I’d have to stop,” Pless said.
and watch a lot of TV. After a long career It was time for a new intervention,
with the Army Corps of Engineers, this so his cardiologist referred him to Dr.
65-year-old retiree loves nothing more Manfredi at AnMed Health Arrhythmia
than to work outside with his hands. Specialists. Dr. Manfredi is a board-
Expansion, new equipment
When a heart rhythm disorder threatened certified electrophysiologist with close to
brings new procedure to
to take his active lifestyle away, Pless was a decade of experience helping patients
AnMed Health Heart and
introduced to Dr. Joseph Manfredi and with heart rhythm problems. After
became AnMed Health’s first case of atrial meeting with Pless and reviewing his Vascular Center
fibrillation ablation. condition, Dr. Manfredi suggested he
Atrial fibrillation is the most common undergo an atrial fibrillation ablation.
kind of irregular heart beat. It can cause Atrial fibrillation ablation is a relatively The electrophysiology labs at
no symptoms, but it is often associated new procedure where doctors position AnMed Health Heart and Vascular
with palpitations, fainting and chest a thin wire inside the heart near the Center recently went through an
pain. Pless was working outside one pulmonary veins. Using the tip of the overhaul to make room for a new
hot, Sunday afternoon when his heart wire, radio energy caps off the heart three-dimensional biplane. The new
equipment is allowing doctors to
started beating rapidly. He went to the tissue around the pulmonary veins. By
perform new procedures, such as
emergency room in his hometown of electrically disconnecting the pulmonary
atrial fibrillation ablation.
Elberton, Ga., where doctors discovered veins, their abnormal electrical signals
The biplane simultaneously covers a
his heart rate was somewhere between can no longer reach the rest of the heart
patient’s front and side for a variety
160 and 180 beats per minute. A normal and trigger irregular heartbeats.
of cardiovascular and neurovascular
resting heart rate ranges from 60 to 100 Eighty to 85 percent of all patients who
image-guided interventional
beats a minute. undergo an atrial fibrillation ablation procedures. Because doctors can get
A cardiologist in Athens diagnosed experience complete elimination or a better view of what’s happening in
Pless with atrial fibrillation, and significantly reduced heart rhythm the patient’s body, these procedures
medication controlled problems. Roughly 70 percent of patients can be done with fewer X-rays and
his condition for a are free of atrial fibrillation and no longer contrast injections, a significant
while. When Pless require medication. benefit for the patient.
and his wife moved Even though he couldn’t be 100 The Heart and Vascular Center’s
from Elberton to percent certain the procedure would electrophysiology lab was under
Hartwell in early cure him, Pless said it was a win-win construction for about two
2011, he wanted a situation. If he was one of those who saw months to make room for the new
equipment. The entire room was
cardiologist closer their symptoms relieved, great. If not,
reconfigured, from the walls to
to home and found he would just keep taking medicine as
the electrical infrastructure. The
Dr. Joseph Manfredi AnMed Health he had been for years. At the end of the
renovated lab has a new control
Carolina Cardiology. day, the ablation was his best chance for room, a new overhead support
Over time, medicine became less an improved quality of life. Pless never system as well as a view window and
and less effective at controlling Pless’s knew when his arrhythmia would act up new finishes.
condition. His heart was enlarging, or what he would be doing at the time.
making it much more difficult to do the Increasing his medication comes with side
things he loved. If he was chopping wood effects, and there’s also a higher risk of
or painting all day, he often had to slow stroke among atrial fibrillation patients.
down or stop when his heart started Pless had a choice about where to
beating irregularly. “It didn’t make an have his procedure. Dr. Manfredi had
invalid out of me, but I would get upset performed several atrial fibrillation wife informed before, during and after the
ablations in Greenville, or Pless could be procedure. Pless and his wife were able to
the first case of this kind in Anderson. He stay calm because the staff so thoroughly
chose to have his procedure at AnMed prepared them for what would happen.
Who is a candidate for atrial Health because the hospital was closer to It takes about three months before
fibrillation ablation? home and has a great reputation for heart doctors can tell if an ablation has
and vascular outcomes. eliminated someone’s heart rhythm
Atrial fibrillation ablation is not for
“I didn’t see any reason to drive to problem. During that time, patients
everyone. The procedure is designed to
Greenville when I can get the same continue to take medicine and slowly
help people whose atrial fibrillation is
thing done closer to home by the same resume their normal activities.
not responding to medicine or who may
not be able to take medicine because doctor who would have been doing it in For Pless, that meant spending this
of its side effects. The ideal candidate is Greenville,” he said. week working on a granite walkway.
someone with a normal heart and atrial The experience lived up to all of his “I’d do it again,” he said about the
fibrillation that is not being controlled expectations. The staff was professional procedure. “Even knowing I was the first,
well with medicine. and knowledgeable, keeping Pless and his I’d still do it again.”
Inside ANMED HEALTH 7
Taking care of our own
Saving lives, a familiar part of the job for many AnMed Health employees, takes on a distinct
significance when their patients are colleagues and friends.
Ambre Ellison’s headaches started in coworkers were acutely aware that her illness Ambre back, we had to make our patients’
February 2011. As a full-time registered might have unwanted outcomes. health and safety a priority,” Devido said.
nurse in AnMed Health’s Emergency “We didn’t know what type of mental “Now it’s such a win for everyone. Ambre
Department, the mother to two toddlers or physical deficits Ambre might have,” is a wonderful nurse and loved by her
and a student working toward her master’s Devido explained. “The waiting was trying patients, and it would have been a great
degree in nursing, the 33-year-old assumed for all of us.” loss not to have her here.”
the stress of her hectic schedule was As Ellison improved, it became Ellison believes her experience as a
causing her headaches. But as she was apparent that the hemorrhage did not patient has made her a better caregiver.
getting ready on the morning of April 7, affect her cognitive functions. However, “Everyone here was so compassionate and
Ellison’s headaches took an ominous turn. it impaired her fine motor skills and respectful of me,” she said, “and I try to show
“I felt a pop in my head, and I knew balance. She spent a month in inpatient that same level of empathy to my patients.”
when I looked in the mirror that rehabilitation and worked for most of Throughout her ordeal, Ellison’s
something serious was going on,” she said. the summer on an outpatient basis with coworkers tended to more than just
Ellison had suffered an intracerebral occupational and physical therapists at her physical needs. They took care of
hemorrhage. Blood vessels in her head had AnMed Health Rehabilitation Hospital. her housekeeping, drove her to therapy
ruptured and were bleeding into her brain Amazingly, by October, Ellison was ready sessions and staged several fundraisers
tissue. Her husband called 911, and when to get back to nursing. — including a bake sale, yard sale and
EMS arrived a few moments later, Ellison “Initially, I didn’t expect her to survive, selling “We Love Ambre” bracelets — to
was unable to speak or walk. EMS workers and, if she did, certainly not neurologically help cover her living expenses during her
restarted Ellison’s heart multiple times intact,” said Dr. Britenburg. “Her recovery absence from work.
with a defibrillator. When she arrived at is astounding.” “The Emergency Department raised
AnMed Health’s Emergency Department, Before returning to AnMed Health, over $10,000 for me,” Ellison said. “We
Ellison appeared lifeless. Ellison completed several hours of rigorous would not have made it financially
“Ambre’s condition was about as testing to ensure she was mentally and without them. Between my family at home
critical as you can get,” said Dr. James physically prepared. and my family here, I’ve not only been
Britenburg. “Fortunately, the more critical “While we were overjoyed to have healed, I’ve been loved.”
the situation, the more focused the ED
staff becomes, and they all worked with a
single-mindedness for Ambre.”
CT scans identified the nature and “These guys were awesome.
location of Ellison’s hemorrhage, and, I know they helped save my life.”
within a short time, she underwent
neurosurgery to stop the bleeding, remove Those are words Matt Hawkins used to describe his AnMed Health LifeFlight
excess blood and minimize brain swelling. helicopter crew, which included flight paramedic Steve Kelly and flight nurse
Trauma Coordinator Tara Devido recalled Charlotte James.
the mood in the Emergency Department as Last May, an ATV accident left Hawkins, a surgical technician at AnMed Health
doctors and nurses worked to save their co- Medical Center, with a skull fracture and subdural bleeding. When his fiancée found
worker’s life: “I saw Ambre intubated and him, he was unconscious and bleeding from his ears and eyes. First responders
unresponsive, and I saw everyone working determined that Hawkins’ severe injuries necessitated the rapid transport and
through tears. I think I, and everyone else, treatment LifeFlight provides. Consequently, Hawkins had surgery within just a few
hours of his accident, and he credits that quickness with his survival.
forced the emotions off and did what we
had to do to get her what she needed.” LifeFlight is typically called when minutes make the difference between life and
While surgery stabilized Ellison’s death, so Kelly and James are conditioned to deal with the most critical cases.
condition, her recovery was far from over. “Our job requires constant preparation. Every day we make sure the helicopter and
She spent three weeks in the Neuroscience equipment are ready. And we are mentally prepared for whatever comes our way,
Intensive Care Unit at AnMed Health even if that’s a member of our AnMed Health family,” Kelly said.
Medical Center. Much of that time was, Now back at his job in the operating room, Hawkins said, “I have a new
and still is, a blur to Ellison, although her appreciation for my job, because I know that surgery can be a life-changing event.”
8 Inside ANMED HEALTH
Thanks to the
lifesaving care of
her co-workers,
Emergency
Department nurse
Ambre Ellison
survived a serious
brain hemorrhage
and returned to
work in the fall.
Inside ANMED HEALTH 9
M.D. MINUTE
A conversation with Dr. Tim Duniho
Giving birth does a number on a woman’s body. Each year, more than 200,000 American women undergo
corrective surgery for a fallen bladder, uterus, vagina or lower bowel. These surgeries are traditionally done
as open procedures, but Dr. Tim Duniho has quickly become the region’s leading expert on performing these
procedures with the minimally-invasive da Vinci Surgical System. His work has made AnMed Health the first and
only case observation center in South Carolina for da Vinci sacrocolpopexy. Doctors have traveled from Tennessee,
North Carolina and South Carolina to spend a day observing his procedures.
Q. How did you decide on obstetrics A. The procedure is known as
and gynecology as a specialty? sacrocolpopexy, which means securing
A. I wanted to be involved in a surgical the vagina to the sacrum. It involves an
specialty, and I thought it was going to be abdominal incision that is painful and
in general surgery. My last rotation in my requires sometimes prolonged recovery.
third year of medical school was obstetrics, The da Vinci has allowed us to perform
and after my first delivery, I knew I was the same procedure with smaller incisions,
hooked. OB/GYN offers such a variety which decreases abdominal pain, speeds
from endocrinology, gynecologic surgery, recovery time and ultimately benefits
preventive medicine and the privilege to the patient. The da Vinci system really
care for women during pregnancy. improves our suture ability, which has
always been the most difficult part of
Q. The da Vinci Surgical System is
traditional laparoscopic surgery. What
just one example of how medical
ultimately grew my interest was to provide
technology is improving at a
the same quality of surgical care yet
rapid pace. How does the da Vinci
decreasing the amount of pain that our
Surgical System change the way
patients were having and getting them
doctors operate?
back to their activities much sooner. Dr. Tim Duniho
A. Gynecology is one of the surgical
specialties that has helped advance Q. For many women, talking about
noninvasive surgery. Our specialty women’s health issues is so taboo.
THE 411 ON DR. DUNIHO
is working to try to eliminate open What are some questions women
gynecologic surgery and make minimally should be asking their doctors but Specialty: Obstetrics and
invasive surgery the gold standard. The might be too afraid to ask? Gynecology
da Vinci system allows greater mechanical A. If someone is going to have a gynecologic
Practice: AnMed Health
skills, better visualization, and improves a surgery, they should ask their doctor if he or
OB-GYN Associates
doctor’s ability to suture over traditional she is trained in minimally invasive surgery,
Location: 2000 E. Greenville St.
laparoscopic surgery. how long they have been doing it, and what
Suite 4500, Anderson, SC 29621
kind of complications they have had. Never
Q. What are some of the benefits
for patients? be afraid to ask questions. Phone: [phone]
A. The benefits to the patient are smaller Q. As a doctor, you get asked for advice
incisions and less pain, which allows for all the time. What’s the best piece of
a quicker recovery and reduces not only advice anyone has ever given you?
the hospital stay, but also gets people A. Be true to myself and not to try to be
A. I found that the trials in my life were
back to work earlier. With the greater someone I am not. Find out what you
the events that helped me to grow the
visualization and increased mechanical like and are good at, and be the best you
most and draw me closer to God. At the
maneuverability of the instruments, the can be. To find a balance in life between
time, I enjoyed none of them and most
da Vinci system allows for less blood work, play, family and God. In the end,
of them were my own doing. The event
loss and reduced need for open surgical do not take yourself too seriously.
that changed me the most was the birth
procedures.
Q. Have you ever had something of my son, Tanner, who was born with
Q. You’ve become quite well known happen to you that you thought Down’s syndrome. He has taught me to
for using the da Vinci to correct was bad but it turned out to be for love, live, forgive and treasure the simple
pelvic prolapse. What drove your the best? What happened and what things of life, and to overlook all of our
interest in that procedure? did you learn? imperfections.
10 Inside ANMED HEALTH