Inside AnMed Health - Winter 2011

16 Pages·2011·1.16 MB·English

WINTER 2011
New treatment
available for congestive
heart failure
Miracle man:
One patient’s journey
to walk again
Asthmania Academy
helps kids breathe easy
and live freely
Less time recovering.
More time for him.
Minimally invasive. Extraordinarily precise.

If your doctor has recommended prostate surgery, there’s an exciting
new option available at AnMed Health.
Using the state-of-the-art da Vinci® Surgical System, surgeons can perform
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What’s more, robotic technology gives surgeons more dexterity and better
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procedures with proven precision and safety.
Find a surgeon at
www.anmedhealth.org/davinci.
FROM THE CEO
Looking back at 2010
CONTENTS 2010 was a year when the health care industry was plagued with uncertainties.
Would the economy pick up? Would health care reform pass? What will the impact be?
4 New treatment available for
How will hospitals handle the changes coming their way?
congestive heart failure
AnMed Health was not immune from these issues. Job losses locally meant fewer
6 Miracle man: One patient’s people could afford health care. AnMed Health saw an increase in “bad debt” write-offs,
journey to walk again which significantly impacted our financial performance. Throughout the organization,
we faced tough choices, cutting costs and consolidating services wherever possible.
8 Asthmania Academy
These are difficult times, but AnMed Health continued to move forward, just as we
helps kids breathe easy
have for more than 100 years.
and live freely
Our physician network continued to grow in size and scope, adding specialists in
10 M.D. Minute
pediatrics, orthopaedics and vascular medicine. In February, we unveiled our first da
12 Foundation news Vinci Surgical System, giving Anderson area residents access to the latest in robotic
technology. The addition of an eICU at AnMed Health Medical Center provided
another layer of care to our Intensive Care Unit. We also celebrated the opening of
ON THE COVER: Gregory Tanner, an 11-year-old Kids’ Care, a minor care designed especially for children and staffed by board-certified
from Pelzer, has seen dramatic improvements
pediatricians.
in his lung function thanks to the expertise
at Asthmania Academy.
Throughout the year, AnMed Health earned a number of accolades that showed
we’re still living up to our vision. AnMed Health Rehabilitation Hospital was named
HealthSouth’s Hospital of the Year. AnMed Health ranked among the nation’s 100
Most Wired hospitals and health systems. The health system also earned a Bronze
Award from the South Carolina Governor’s Quality Forum, a sign that our progress
toward implementing the Baldrige criteria is worthy of
recognition.
In 2010, we took another step toward improved
patient, staff and community health by making flu shots
Inside mandatory for health care workers. This decision drew
a great deal of attention, but it was a decision that
aligned with our core mission and our role as health
care workers. Like other advances in care in the
ANMED HEALTH
past, the mandatory flu vaccine is increasingly
becoming a best practice for hospitals across the
Inside AnMed Health is published quarterly country. AnMed Health has always had great
for AnMed Health staff, friends and the participation in our flu shot clinics, but I’m proud
community.
to report that in 2010 more than 99 percent of our
CONTACT workers received a seasonal flu vaccine.
Marketing Department
864.512.3703 Hospitals faced a number of difficulties last year,
but the trials made the successes even sweeter.
MISSION
As we press on into the New Year, I’m reminded
To passionately blend the art of caring with
of a quote from Albert Einstein. “In the middle
the science of medicine to optimize the
health of our patients, staff and community. of difficulty lies opportunity.” That statement
VISION has proved true time and time again in our
To be recognized and celebrated as the history. So as the health care debate continues
gold standard for healthcare quality and and our economy slowly recovers, know that in
community health improvement.
2011 we’ll continue to seek the gold standard
opportunities all around us.
We’re in this together,
800 North Fant Street • Anderson, SC 29621
864.512.1000 • www.anmedhealth.org
John A. Miller, Jr., FACHE, CEO
Inside ANMED HEALTH 3
Congestive heart failure is the
leading cause of fluid overload.
Nearly 5 million Americans have
been diagnosed with congestive
heart failure, and an estimated
550,000 new cases are diagnosed
each year. Congestive heart failure
affects people of all ages, from
children and young adults to senior
citizens. According to the American
Heart Association, the condition is
more common among the elderly,
affecting roughly 10 of every 1,000
persons older than 65.
4 Inside ANMED HEALTH
Aquapheresis helps heart failure
patients lose fluid faster
Zetna Morgan loves spending time outdoors. If not for
his amputations, you’d never know he was living with diabetes
and congestive heart failure. Depending on the season, you’ll
likely find him on his lawnmower or raking leaves.
But on this Saturday in October, Zetna was thankful just to
be alive. A few days earlier, he was rushed to the Emergency
Department, unable to breathe and with 20 to 30 pounds of
fluid in his body.
Fluid – primarily salt and water – had built up in various
locations in his body, causing him to swell in his legs, arms and
stomach. Fluid eventually began entering his lungs, decreasing
the oxygen in his bloodstream and causing him shortness of
breath.
“I had to just about fight to breathe,” Zetna said. “I couldn’t
eat nothing. I was in bad shape.”
His wife, Katheryn, called Dr. Harry Morse, their longtime
physician, when she saw her husband’s condition was worsening
and realized they needed to get to a hospital. They arrived at
AnMed Health Medical Center and soon learned the hospital
had new technology that could treat Zetna’s condition.
The Medical Center had recently received an aquapheresis
machine, and Dr. Morse thought Zetna would be a good
candidate for their first patient.
“We trust him, so we said, ‘Yeah.’ I’m glad we did ‘cause it has
been great,” Zetna said.
Like Zetna, many congestive heart failure patients have to
carefully manage their disease to avoid fluid overload. They’re
instructed to cut their salt intake and can be prescribed
oral medicines like Lasix. But if fluid overload still happens,
the only solution is often a hospital stay. Typical inpatient
treatments use IV medicines to increase urine output. Katheryn and Zetna Morgan
Aquapheresis removes more salt than traditional treatment
and provides a shorter hospital stay. The machine acts as a
filtration system. It draws out the patient’s blood, separates it
from the excess salt and water, then returns the “clean” blood
Caring for Congestive Heart Failure
back to the patient’s body. The excess fluid is collected in a bag
for disposal.
AnMed Health provides a number of services to
Recent studies show that patients treated with aquapheresis
help residents manage heart disease and live fuller,
over standard IV medicines
healthier lives. If you or someone you love has
see a 38 percent weight
congestive heart failure, check out the following:
loss, a 50 percent reduction
• LifeChoice’s Congestive Heart Failure Disease
in re-hospitalization, a 63
Management Program provides education and
percent reduction in total
monitored exercise to help improve the quality of life
re-hospitalization days and
of congestive heart failure patients. The program is
a 52 percent reduction in open to anyone who has been diagnosed with heart
emergency department or failure upon referral by their health care practitioner.
clinic visits. Call 864.716.6647 for more information.
As nurses checked the
• The Electric City Cardiovascular Support Group
machine, Zetna was looking meets the second Tuesday of each month at
forward to going home. LifeChoice. Call 864.512.2792 or 864.512.6640 for
“It’s been wonderful,” more information.
Katheryn said. “God saved
AnMed Health’s Aquadex
FlexFlow System his life.”
Inside ANMED HEALTH 5
Cissy Webb, certified occupational therapy assistant, and Doug Glenn,
physical therapist, work with Tommy Carver on static/dynamic standing
balance while facilitating Neuro IFRAH Techniques of reciprocal use of
bilateral upper extremities during two-step commands. This exercise
also increases forward reach and elbow extension.
6 Inside ANMED HEALTH
Rehabilitation gives
miracles a chance
“Everyone deserves a chance.” That inspiration guided Chris
Daughtry, director of therapy at AnMed Health Rehabilitation
Hospital, the first time he met Tommy Carver. Brought in on a
stretcher, Tommy, 65, had been totally bedridden since having a
stroke almost seven weeks earlier.
“I thought at the very least we could help his wife learn the
skills she needed to care for him, and by doing so, we could
improve the quality of both their lives.” Daughtry said. “So, we
took a chance and admitted him,”
It was a chance conversation that led Tommy to
rehabilitation. His daughter, Pam, a phlebotomist at AnMed
Health, was drawing Dana Brownlee’s blood during a routine
medical visit and noticed that Brownlee’s name tag said she was
a speech therapist.
“Pam told me about her dad’s condition and asked if we might
be able to help him,” Brownlee said. “You know, I normally take
off my name tag when I’m not working, but I forgot to that day.
Since we work in different AnMed Health locations and had
not met each other, Pam never would have known I was a rehab
therapist had I not kept it on.”
Before Tommy arrived at AnMed Health Rehabilitation
Hospital, he had spent more than a month in intensive care. Doug Glenn, physical therapist, Tommy Carver, and Cissy Webb,
Unable to speak or swallow and with a completely paralyzed certified occupational therapy assistant
right side, he was fed through a feeding tube.
“I was told he would probably never be responsive,” said his
wife, Ellen. After his condition further deteriorated due to a A number of therapy techniques, including the Reo Robot-
blood clot, Tommy was placed under hospice care. “They told me Assisted Therapy Program, helped retrain Tommy’s right side.
he was dying, and I took him home so he would be in a familiar Reo Therapy allows therapists to easily design highly engaging,
place when that time came.” interactive exercises for all stages of rehabilitation and is
That time didn’t come, but what Ellen and many others clinically proven to improve coordination. Initially, a robotic
call a miracle did. Within days of Pam and Dana’s meeting, arm guides the patient’s movements, with more and more effort
Tommy went from hospice care to inpatient rehabilitation. gradually shifted to the patient.
After three weeks of inpatient rehabilitation, Tommy’s While Tommy’s determination and spirit played a large part
turnaround was astounding. Fully alert, he walked with a cane in his improvement, remarkable recoveries are not uncommon
and some assistance. He began to enjoy solid foods again, and at AnMed Health Rehabilitation Hospital. Almost 90 percent
he was making steady progress toward regaining his speech. of the hospital’s stroke patients are discharged back to a home
Ongoing outpatient therapy further increased his mobility and or community setting rather than to a skilled nursing facility or
independence. hospital. The national average for similar facilities is only 69
Daughtry credits the Neuro-IFRAH approach employed at percent.
AnMed Health with accelerating Tommy’s recovery. Therapists What makes for such optimistic outcomes? Each patient’s
gain Neuro-IFRAH certification through specialized training that treatment is coordinated by an interdisciplinary team that
teaches them to evaluate more than 40 aspects of a stroke patient’s constantly reviews progress and goals. An in-house a doctor
condition. The approach incorporates specific hands-on therapy specializing in rehabilitation makes daily rounds. Twenty-four-
techniques designed to reclaim as much movement as possible. hour nursing care provides round-the-clock patient monitoring,
“Neuro-IFRAH gives us a logical place to start with each and, depending on individual tolerances, patients spend three
patient and focuses our efforts,” Daughtry said. or more hours at least five days a week in intensive therapy.
According to Ellen, even the hospital’s unique patio, which gave
Tommy regular doses of sunshine, has a healing effect.
“When we first arrived at rehab, I thought they would tell me
While Tommy’s determination and spirit played
Tommy was too far gone to help,” she said. “Later, I was afraid
a large part in his improvement, remarkable
they were going to work him to death. Now, I have my husband
recoveries are not uncommon at AnMed Health of 48 years back with me. I would encourage anyone in our
Rehabilitation Hospital. situation not to give up but to see what’s possible here.”
Inside ANMED HEALTH 7
“That boy is 100 percent better. I wish my
husband were alive to see him now… I used
to worry about him. Now, I just let him go.
He’s not rasping and wheezing anymore.”
- Jody Pelkey, grandmother of Asthmania Academy
patient, Gregory Tanner
8 Inside ANMED HEALTH
Sonja Medlock, registered respiratory therapist, coaches Gregory through lung function testing after he has exercised on a stationary bike.
The test helps doctors determine the best treatment options for patients who have difficulty breathing during or after exercise.
Breathe deeply, live freely
Jody Pelkey first noticed her Pelkey said. “His grades are up so high now. when he’s in school so he doesn’t breathe
grandson’s wheezing when he was about He goes out and plays with his friends.” in the fumes. But one of the things that
4-years-old. She banned friends and Since opening in January 2009, helped Gregory most was getting him
relatives from smoking in the house, but Asthmania Academy has seen hundreds on a controller medication. He now has
Gregory continued to have difficulty of kids just like Gregory. Asthma is most two inhalers – one he takes daily and one
breathing. prevalent among children 18 and younger. he carries with him when he’s playing
His breathing got worse as he got older. It is the most common chronic disease outside. The other difference-maker was
Then, an AnMed Health physician and the leading cause of disability among showing Gregory how his lungs work and
referred Gregory to Asthmania Academy. children. According to the most recent doing some of the lung function tests.
Located in the Oglesby Center at data available, more than 90,000 South “Uncontrolled asthma can completely
the AnMed Health North Campus, Carolina children suffer from asthma. change and alter your life, but if you get
Asthmania Academy is an asthma Asthmania Academy provides it under control, you can do anything
self-management program designed diagnostic testing and in-depth asthma a person without asthma can do,” said
specifically for children 18 and younger. education for children and their families. Dr. Elizabeth Lundeen, a pediatrician at
“I was amazed when I found out about The program receives referrals from the Asthmania Academy.
[Asthmania Academy],” Pelkey said. hospital and local physicians. Its goal is Since Asthmania Academy
“They sat down and told me everything. to help doctors manage their pediatric opened, children’s visits to the
They didn’t pull no punches.” patients with asthma. Anytime a patient Emergency Department have declined.
Gregory’s wheezing, coughing and comes in, their primary care physician Benchmarking data also shows a
difficulty sleeping were all the result of receives a detailed report with the results downward trend in the hospitalization
uncontrolled asthma. Christie Heaton, a of any diagnostic studies as well as any rate for pediatric asthma compared to
respiratory therapist and certified asthma treatment recommendations. all admissions. Considering that asthma
educator, met with Gregory and his A typical appointment lasts between and asthma-related conditions are the
grandmother during their initial visit. an hour and a half and two hours. When leading cause of children’s hospitalizations
She explained how asthma was affecting families leave, they have an action plan statewide, the program is making
his ability to breathe and what steps they based on nationally-recognized asthma real progress in community health
needed to take going forward. guidelines. For Pelkey, that meant improvement.
At the time, Gregory couldn’t breathe, removing all the rugs, keeping the dog To learn more about Asthmania
therefore he couldn’t sleep. Because he out of Gregory’s room, washing his stuffed Academy, call 864.512.6626 or go to
couldn’t sleep at night, he dozed off in animals and pillows, and cleaning house www.AnMedHealth.org/asthmaniaacademy.
class. Asthma affected his life outside of
school as well. He got easily winded so
he never ran around. And because he
Asthmania Academy recently became the second program in the nation
couldn’t run without wheezing, he never to earn ASME certification from the American Association for Respiratory
played sports. Care. The certification recognizes asthma education programs that adhere
Gregory is 11 now, and his quality of life to high quality standards.
has improved dramatically. During his last
“This certification sets the bar for asthma care,” said Mike Shoemaker,
visit to Asthmania Academy, Gregory’s site coordinator for Asthmania Academy. “Asthma is different for every
baseline lung function was normal – news person. At Asthmania Academy, we offer diagnostic testing and asthma
that made his grandmother smile. education that is focused on the individual.”
“My grandson is tremendously better,”
Inside ANMED HEALTH 9
M.D. MINUTE
A conversation with Dr. Maria Cayelli
Step into Dr. Maria Cayelli’s office and you get a good idea of what makes her tick. The windowsill is lined with
framed photos of family and friends. Behind her desk, you’ll see an exercise ball in lieu of a chair. On one wall, there’s
a shadowbox commemorating her successful completion of the Disney World Marathon. The opposing wall is filled
with diplomas and certificates.There’s a diploma from Eastern Virginia Medical School where she earned her doctor
of medicine, and another from Good Samaritan Medical Center where she did her residency. Not far away hangs a
certificate from the University of Arizona’s Center for Integrative Medicine where she completed a fellowship and
another showing her board-certified status with the American Board of Family Medicine.
Q. What made you decide to
become a doctor? Dr. Maria Cayelli
A. My mother is a doctor as well, so from
an early age I knew I was going to go into
medicine. Luckily, I did well in school
and enjoyed studying.
Q. What brought you to Anderson
and AnMed Health?
A. I wanted to be back on the East Coast
to be closer to family, and I wanted to
practice full-spectrum family medicine,
which included obstetrics. I found the
perfect match at AnMed Health.
Q. Your husband is also a family
medicine physician. Is it hard being
married to another doctor?
A. Yes and no. It makes it easier at times,
because he knows exactly the various
stresses that come with our job. However,
when we’re both busy, it’s hard to juggle
our family time together.
discussing their personal situation in such
Q. Although you work in a family
a public place.
medicine practice, you’ve got THE 411 ON DR. CAYELLI
a special interest in integrative Q. If there was one thing everyone
Specialty: Family Medicine,
medicine. How would you describe could do to be healthier, what
Integrative Medicine
what integrative medicine is? would it be?
Practice: AnMed Health
A. It’s patient-centered care where A. Exercise. Aim for 30 minutes a day
Anderson Family Medicine
traditional, conventional medicine is used of anything that gets you moving. I truly
as well as complementary therapies to help believe movement is life. It doesn’t even Location: 2000 East Greenville
get the patient to their health care goals. have to be 30 minutes in a row. You can Street, Suite 2000,
break it up in 10 minute intervals. Anderson, SC 29621
Q. What misconceptions do people
have about integrative medicine? Q. What’s been the most rewarding Phone: [phone]
A. I think there are a lot of people who part of your job and why?
think it is “alternative” health care, and A. I love it when patients realize they
you don’t use Western medicine at all. I can help themselves and they are truly in
Want to learn more about integrative
try to explain that it’s really just bringing charge of their health.
medicine and leading a healthier life?
both worlds together to enhance the
Q. What are the three things you
Sign-up for the integrative medicine
patient’s healing process.
couldn’t live without and why?
e-newsletter at www.AnMedHealth.org/
Q. Do you ever get stopped in the A. 1) My family. They keep me grounded
integrativemedicine, or look for Dr. Cayelli’s
grocery store for health advice? and laughing. 2) My girlfriends. They
wellness videos at www.YouTube.com/
A. Yes. I try to answer as best I can, support me through everything. 3)
AnMedHealth1.
but sometimes I’ll just encourage them Chocolate. I love it, so I’m glad dark
to make an appointment so we’re not chocolate is good for you.
10 Inside ANMED HEALTH