2014 Summer Personal Blessing

A publication of BLESSING HOSPITAL Summer 2014
COVER STORY:
NEW HEART
PROCEDURE
GIVES PATIENT
HER LIFE BACK
- Page 2
Robot-assisted
cancer surgery
gives woman
great news! -Page 6
Doctors put Samantha
together again after
car crash
- Read her story on page 10
John Hammock, MD
Electrophysiologist
PBLESSING
ersonal
Published four times a year by the Public
Relations & Communications staff of
Blessing Hospital. Personal Blessing
provides general information on health
related topics. It is not intended to be a
substitute for professional medical advice,
which should always be obtained from your
physician.
The Blessing Health System
Mission Statement:
To improve the health of our community.
The Blessing Hospital
Vision Statement:
Blessing will be the leader in quality
patient and family centered healthcare.
In partnership with our community,
patients, staff, students, volunteers, and
physicians, we will create and support
a culture of excellence and financial
sustainability.
We will be recognized as the:
• Provider of choice for our patients
• Employer of choice for our staff
• Partner of choice for our physicians
• Healthcare educational provider of
choice
For more information, contact:
Blessing Hospital
Broadway at 11th & 14th Street
PO Box 7005
Quincy, IL 62305-7005
(217) 223-8400, extension 4192
BlessingHealthSystem.org
Personal Blessing is sent to residents of the
Blessing Hospital service area using a purchased
mailing list. If you no longer wish to receive
Personal Blessing, please email your request,
name and complete address to
[email protected], or call him
at 217-223-8400, ext. 4191.
Blessing earns national
recognition
Blessing Hospital proves its care quality
one patient at a time. Sometimes, we get the
opportunity to measure ourselves against other
hospitals and prove our quality on a wider scale.
Blessing is one of 4,000 hospitals participating
in the federal government’s “Partnership for Patients
(PfP).” PfP hospitals are working to decrease by 40 percent the 10
leading patient safety concerns in American hospitals and decrease
unplanned readmissions by 20 percent.
PfP hospitals belong to one of 27 Hospital Engagement Networks,
or HENS, that work together to reach or exceed PfP goals.
There are more than 40 hospitals in the HEN to which Blessing
belongs. Blessing is one of only three hospitals in its HEN to deliver
a top rating in seven of the 10 patient safety concerns at this point.
Those seven areas are:
• Reduction of blood clots after surgery
• Reduction of pressure ulcers
• Reduction in the number of babies delivered without medical
reason in the 37-39 week gestation period
• Reduction of falls with injury
• Reduction of Ventilator Associated Pneumonia cases
• Reduction in Catheter-associated urinary tract infections
• Reduction in Central Line blood stream infections
We have experienced a 20 percent reduction in all seven of these
measures. Our performance rivals that of the best results any place in
the nation.
Recent nationwide PfP data shows reductions in adverse drug
events, falls, infections, and other forms of hospital-related events are
estimated to have prevented nearly 15,000 deaths in hospitals, avoided
560,000 patient injuries, and approximately $4 billion in health
spending over the same period.
Respiratory care at Blessing among the best
Our Respiratory Services department has earned Quality
Respiratory Care Recognition (QRCR) from the American Association
for Respiratory Care.
Hospitals earning the QRCR designation ensure patient safety by
meeting a strict set of criteria governing respiratory care service. About
700 hospitals, or approximately 15 percent of hospitals in the United
States, have received this recognition.
Respiratory therapists provide a wide range of breathing
treatments and other services to people with asthma, chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, lung cancer and other
lung or lung-related functions.
Maureen Kahn, RN, MHA, MSN
President/Chief Executive Officer
“This is a great honor…”
Heart care in the Quincy area continues to grow stronger.
“I am now part of the most up-to-date team in the region” said Stilianos
Efstratiadis, MD, Quincy Medical Group and Blessing Hospital/Blessing Heart &
Vascular Center Medical Staff. “This is great for patients and for the hospital.”
Dr. E, as he is known to patients and colleagues, has been appointed an
Assistant Professor of Medicine-Cardiology, in the Cardiovascular Division of
Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
This means, while maintaining his practice at Quincy Medical Group and Blessing
Hospital, Dr. E will have greater access to the latest information and technology in
heart care.
“I will participate actively in teaching sessions, in their meetings and in their
research as part of their team,” he said. “This way, we can bring research trials and
new procedures that are done there, here. We can do things that they do there,
here. My goal is to maintain a direct connection from St. Louis to Quincy.”
For the past five years, Dr. E has participated in physician continuing education,
meetings and teaching sessions offered by Washington University. He says the
offer to join the faculty was a natural extension of that long term relationship. His
appointment included an application, interview and approval from the Chairman
of the Department of Medicine and the Dean of Washington University in St.
Louis.
“This is a great honor for me,” he said. “It was offered by such a
prestigious program. Washington University Medical School is
ranked number six in the nation. Being a member of their faculty is an
honor and will make me a better doctor and able to take better care
of patients.”
Washington University School of Medicine is one of the leading
medical research, teaching and patient care institutions in the
nation, and currently ranked sixth in the nation by U.S. News &
World Report. Through its affiliations with Barnes-Jewish and
St. Louis Children’s Hospitals, the School of Medicine is linked
to BJC HealthCare.
Dr. E is quick to add that his appointment is a reflection
of the quality of care delivered by all cardiologists and other
providers on the Blessing Hospital/Blessing Heart & Vascular
Center staff, past and present.
“All the cardiologists, nurses and Cath Lab staff of the
Blessing Heart & Vascular Center have made this program shine
in the region,” he exclaimed. “The Heart & Vascular Center
program is definitely the diamond of Blessing Hospital and we
have a great reputation in the region.”
A board certified Interventional Cardiologist, Dr. E received
his medical degree from the University of Trieste School of
Medicine, Italy. He completed his Internal Medicine Residency
at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, IA;
and a Cardiovascular Disease and Interventional Cardiology
Fellowship at University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics in Salt
Lake City.
Stilianos Efstratiadis, MD
“Dr. E”
Personal BLESSING
1
Cardiac Care: RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW
Pat Parsons talks with Dr. John Hammock
about her recovery during a follow up
visit at the Blessing Cardiology Clinic at
Scotland County Hospital, Memphis. MO.
“It takes over you
For too long, Pat Parsons’ heart
controlled her life.
“I couldn’t breathe and had
no strength,” the Memphis, MO,
Realtor related. “You can’t eat. You
can’t sleep. You can’t walk. You
can’t do laundry. You can’t interact
with family or friends. The only
thing you can do is sit in a heap
because you have nothing. Your
body doesn’t work. That’s how it
affected me.”
It is atrial fibrillation, or Afib,
a serious heart disease caused
by irregular electrical activity in
the upper two chambers of the
heart. It makes the heart race and
interferes with circulation, causing
2
Personal BLESSING
blood to pool in the heart, which
increases the risk of stroke.
“Everyone presents differently
with Afib,” said John Hammock,
MD, Blessing Physician Services
and member of the Blessing
Hospital Medical Staff. Dr.
Hammock specializes in cardiac
electrophysiology (EP), the
treatment of irregular heartbeat.
“Some people, like Pat, have no
energy at all while others feel dizzy
or experience palpitations and
shortness of breath. Then, there is a
large number of patients who have
no symptoms at all, which is scary
because of the stroke risk,” he said.
“Overall, Afib can dramatically
reduce quality of life.”
While she may have had it
as long as 12 years, Pat’s first
recognized experience with Afib
was in 2012 when her heartbeat
was measured at or near 200 beats
per minute, as much as two times
the normal rate. She received care
at Mayo Clinic and thought the
problem was gone.
“Within about six months I
was feeling bad again,” she said.
Pat lived with the situation the
best she could for a long time. This
spring, she reached the end of her
rope.
Dr. Hammock and Pat first
met in the Blessing Hospital
Emergency Center. Pat and her
husband were enjoying an evening
in Quincy when she experienced
an Afib episode. Emergency Center
doctor Steven Wang recognized
Pat’s symptoms and suggested she
consult with Dr. Hammock. Pat
agreed, but was surprised when Dr.
Hammock walked into her exam
room.
“It’s 7:30 at night and he’s here,”
Pat exclaimed.
Over the next 90 minutes, Dr.
Hammock would explain what
EP and Afib were, what was
happening to Pat and asked for her
medical history.
“He didn’t interrupt me,” she
said. “He had all the time in the
world and actually heard what
I said. He not only listened. He
heard me. We need more doctors
like Dr. Hammock, who hear what
people say.”
Over the course of the next
several weeks Dr. Hammock
would prescribe two different
medications to control Pat’s
Afib. Neither one did the job. AF
ablation in the Blessing Heart &
Vascular Center EP Lab was the
next treatment option.
Ablation involves inserting
catheters - narrow, flexible tubes through a site in the groin or neck
and into the heart. Electrodes on
the tip of the catheters deliver
pulses of energy to the area of
heart causing the irregular rhythm,
deactivating the tissue causing
the problem. AF ablations are a
specialized type of ablation and
technically challenging.
Pat and her husband talked
about returning to Mayo Clinic
where she received heart care in
2012. The conversation was not
very long.
“I felt so comfortable with Dr.
Hammock and what his plans
were,” Pat stated. “I trust him and I
don’t trust anyone. I am in an
industry (real estate) where I am
skeptical. But he was so good to
me and so honest. There was no
reason to go.”
Pat’s AF ablation took six hours
and involved the delivery of more
than 200 pulses of energy to areas
in her upper heart chambers that
were causing the Afib. In addition
to successfully treating it, the AF
ablation also cured a chronic cough
that had plagued Pat due to fluid
build-up in her lungs caused by the
heart problem.
Three weeks after the
procedure, Pat was regaining the
strength that had been robbed
from her.
“This is going to sound silly,
but the best thing now is that I
know the day after tomorrow, I can
make plans to go do something,”
she said.
And big plans she has. Pat and
her husband are retiring from their
real estate business in Memphis,
MO, and moving to Arizona.
ur life”HOW BIG IS THIS PROBLEM?
Dr. Hammock says not a week goes by that he does
not see a new diagnosis of atrial fibrillation.
“The amount of Afib in our region is astoundingly
high,” he said.
Today, approximately two-and-a-half million
Americans have been diagnosed with Afib. The risk of
developing Afib increases for people:
• Over age 60
• Who already have a heart condition
• Who have high blood pressure
• Who have lung disease
• Who have diabetes
• Who have sleep apnea
• Are obese
Afib can lead to heart damage, heart attack, heart
failure, stroke and death. It has also been linked to
dementia.
It can be diagnosed through a test called an
electrocardiogram, more commonly called an ECG or
EKG, which creates a picture of the heart’s electrical
system, and treated with either medication or AF
ablation.
Dr. Hammock encourages anyone experiencing
the following symptoms of Afib to talk with their
healthcare provider as soon as possible:
• Pounding or fluttering in the chest
• Shortness of breath
• Weakness
• Chest pain
• Fatigue
• Dizziness or fainting
“When medication doesn’t work, we can now
treat this dangerous condition from inside the heart
at Blessing Hospital in the EP Lab,” he said.
Personal BLESSING
3
B.E.S.T.
Bedside
Emotional
Support Team
4
Personal BLESSING
“It’s a privilege”
Sharon Zehnle will tell you she could never
be a teacher or accountant. But she knows what she
can do – be with someone as they die. Sharon is a
volunteer with the Blessing Hospice & Palliative Care
Bedside Emotional Support Team, or BEST.
“Not everyone is made for it. But for me, it’s a
privilege. It’s absolutely a privilege. It’s holy,” Zehnle
said.
BEST volunteers are trained and available to
sit with terminally ill people when their Blessing
Hospice nurse determines they have about 24 hours
of life remaining and have no other family or friends
to be with them. BEST volunteers also serve when a
loved one needs to get rest, or must leave the patient’s
side for a time. Volunteers serve in two hour shifts,
including overnight.
Right now, BEST volunteers serve area nursing
home residents who receive care from Blessing
Hospice. In the future, they plan to be available to
Blessing Hospice patients who live in private homes.
Jeri Conboy, PhD, MSHCE, LCSW, director,
Blessing Hospice & Palliative Care, says few rural
areas have BEST programs at this time.
“The American family has changed, not only in
metropolitan areas, but in smaller communities, too.
Economic necessity has forced people from their
hometowns and spread family members across the
country and sometimes – in the case of service men
and women - around the world,” she said.
Deb Kinscherf is a Lead BEST volunteer.
“It kind of tugged at my heart that someone would
be passing and have no one with them. No one should
be alone,” she said.
“That’s our team’s philosophy,” added the
program’s other Lead volunteer, Cathie FlemingMoran. “You don’t come into this world alone, so you
shouldn’t go out being alone.”
Cathie and Deb are quick to point out BEST
volunteers are not nurses. The volunteers provide
support and companionship by reading to the patient,
or playing music, or singing or holding the patient’s
hand.
“It’s whatever the volunteer is comfortable with,”
Deb continued. “It’s basically a very quiet, peaceful
time.”
BEST volunteer Judy Covey says even though a
patient may not be conscious, she believes they know
when a BEST volunteer is with them.
“Their breathing will get quiet,” she observed.
“They know that you’re there and they’re calm.”
Hearing often is the last sense that leaves the body.
Soothing sounds and words can provide comfort.
Jack Curry, BEST volunteer, says while a volunteer
doesn’t know a patient, they form a bond.
“It’s a sense that one human being is there with
another in their final hours and minutes,” he stated.
“It’s a sense of human connection.”
Additional BEST volunteers are needed. There
are no specific qualities needed. Current volunteers
represent a variety of ages and backgrounds. Blessing
Hospice & Palliative Care provides six hours of
training and a heart-warming experience.
“I love this,” Cathie
stated. “I feel like I have
really done something for
another person.”
“Being there when someone passes from one life to
the next is very rewarding,” Zehnle concluded.
For more information on becoming a BEST volunteer, call Mia Meacher,
volunteer coordinator, Blessing Hospice & Palliative Care, (877) 672-7610,
ext. 4712 or email her at [email protected].
Personal BLESSING
5
“
“
The most
wonderful news I
could have received
Helen Nash
6
Personal BLESSING
During 83 years of life, there
is one experience Helen Nash had
avoided.
“I was told I should have a
colonoscopy,” she said. “I just put
it off.”
Colonoscopy is a test that
allows the doctor to examine
the large intestine for cancer.
Colorectal cancer is the second
leading cause of cancer-related
deaths in the U.S. and the fourth
most common cancer in men and
women.
The American Cancer Society
recommends a colonoscopy,
as part of a colorectal cancer
screening program, beginning
at age 50. Helen was 30 years
overdue.
When she developed a
symptom possibly linked to colon
cancer, Helen finally made the
appointment for a colonoscopy.
It was performed by Dr. Harsha
Polavarapu – simply known as
Dr. Harsha to his patients – of
the Blessing Physician Services
Department of Colorectal and
General Surgery.
“It wasn’t half as bad as I
thought it was going to be,” said
Helen of her colonoscopy. “I tell
people now, if you need one you’d
better get one.”
Helen needed one. The
colonoscopy identified a
suspicious lesion. As a breast
cancer survivor, she approached
the situation with a positive
attitude.
“I got through breast cancer
and I knew if this was cancer, too,
I could get through it,” Helen said.
The lesion needed to be
removed, so Dr. Harsha and Helen
discussed surgical care. Based
on the location of the lesion, Dr.
Harsha suggested using the da
Vinci surgical robot.
da Vinci is a robot with
four arms; one arm carries a
tiny camera, the other arms
hold surgical instruments. The
arms work through very small
incisions – half the size of a dime
- controlled by the doctor from a
console in the operating room. The
doctor is able to move the arms at
angles human hands cannot move,
and through the camera can see
the surgical area in high definition,
magnified up to 10 times. Other surgical choices include
open surgery with an incision, and
laparoscopy, which is very similar
to the da Vinci robot, but offers the
surgeon only two mechanical arms
with which to work through small
incisions.
“One of the key advantages
of the da Vinci robot is to be able
to work in small, narrow spaces
and work more precisely to spare
crucial structures, like nerves, and
achieve an overall better outcome
for the patient,” stated Dr. Harsha.
“Especially when I am doing
surgery in the pelvis, this is a great
tool that we have. The robot offers
the surgeon better visualization
and more precise operating skills.”
Other patient benefits include
less pain and blood loss, a shorter
hospital stay and quicker recovery
time when compared with open
surgery requiring a larger incision.
Moments before surgery,
Helen had only one request for Dr.
Harsha.
“Please doctor, don’t give me a
colostomy if you can help it,” she
remembered pleading.
A colostomy is an opening
for the colon, or large intestine,
made through the abdomen for the
removal of bodily waste.
Dr. Harsha told Helen he
would do his best. da Vinci helped
him do just that.
“With the robot, I was able
to successfully remove the lesion
without doing a colostomy,” Dr.
Harsha said. “Her lesion was so
deep in the pelvis that it would
have been much more difficult to
reach without the robot.”
Helen was overjoyed with the
care she received from Dr. Harsha
and the Blessing Hospital staff, and
with her surgery.
“I did not need any pain
medication after the first night
in the hospital and did not come
home with any pain medication at
all,” Helen said. “The second week
I was home, I was able to vacuum
my carpets. I think that’s pretty
good after two weeks.”
“While I had a positive
attitude, you still want to hear him
say, ‘It’s not cancer.’”
Within a few days, Helen’s
lab results came through and her
positive attitude paid off; it was
not cancerous.
“That’s the most wonderful
news I could have received,” she
exclaimed.
“I feel greatly blessed to have
a great team from anesthesia, to
highly trained nursing staff in
the operating room, pre-op and
post-op, and on the surgical floor,
without whom this would be
impossible,” said Dr. Harsha.
He stressed that the da Vinci
surgical robot is not the tool for
every case.
“Laparoscopy and open surgery
still have roles,” he said. “But there
are situations like this in which the
robot greatly improves the ability
to do surgery.”
Dr. Harsha told Helen he may
want her to have a follow up
colonoscopy within a year. “I will
do it willingly next time,” she said
with a smile.
Colorectal cancer can be successfully treated
if caught early. Getting screened not only ensures
early detection, it can also prevent cancer from
occurring since polyps can be removed before
becoming cancerous.
The American Cancer Society recommends
getting screened starting at age 50 and then
once every 10 years. Those with a family history of
colorectal cancer should talk to their physicians
about being screened before age 50.
Personal BLESSING
7
Top 10 myths and facts about colore
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. More than
150,000 Americans will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer this year, and 52,000 will die
from the disease. It doesn’t have to be that way. Following is information provided by Harsha
Polavarapu, MD, known to his patients as Dr. Harsha, colorectal surgeon, Blessing Physician
Services:
“I strive to educate patients about
their condition, provide treatment
options and support them as
they make crucial health care
decisions.”
Dr. Harsha
Myth #1:
Colorectal cancer is a man’s disease.
Fact: Colorectal cancer is just as common among
women as men. It affects individuals equally,
regardless of gender and, typically, race. Recent
studies suggest that African-Americans have a higher
incidence of colorectal cancer and, therefore, would
benefit from beginning their screenings at age 45.
Myth #2:
Age doesn’t matter when it comes to
colorectal cancer.
Fact: More than 90 percent of all colorectal cancers
are found in people who are 50 and older. For this
reason, the American Society of Colon & Rectal
Surgeons recommends screening beginning at age 50.
People who are at a higher risk for colorectal cancer,
such as those with a family history of cancer, obesity,
smoking, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s Disease or people
who are having symptoms may need to begin testing
even before 50 years of age. Ask your doctor when you
should start getting tested and how often you should
be tested.
Myth #3:
I don’t have any symptoms, so I must not
have colorectal cancer.
Fact: It has been said that one of the most common
symptoms of colorectal cancer is no symptoms at all.
In its early stages, colorectal cancer generally has no
symptom and gives no warning. Later in the cancer’s
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Personal BLESSING
development, symptoms such as stool changes, rectal
bleeding, abdominal pain and unexplained weight
loss can all signal colorectal cancer. The earlier the
stage of cancer detected the better the long term
outcomes.
Myth #4:
Colorectal cancer cannot be prevented.
Fact: In many cases colorectal cancer can be
prevented. Colorectal cancer almost always starts
with a small growth called a polyp. If the polyp is
found early, doctors can remove it and stop colorectal
cancer before it starts. Colonoscopy is an all-in-one
tool that can be helpful in finding and removing
polyps and small cancers all during one procedure.
Myth #5:
Preparation for a colonoscopy is difficult.
Fact: Preparing for a colonoscopy involves fasting
paired with cleaning the colon with the help of
over-the-counter liquid laxatives a day prior to the
procedure. Ask your doctor about your options. The
preparation can be inconvenient, but it is not difficult
or painful.
Myth #6:
Colonoscopies are unpleasant and
uncomfortable.
Fact: The actual procedure is not painful or
unpleasant. During the actual test, patients are
sedated to eliminate discomfort. The procedure itself
takes 15-30 minutes, and patients go home the same
day.
Myth #7:
All methods for colorectal cancer screening
are equally as effective.
Fact: There are several screening options for
colorectal cancer including flexible sigmoidoscopy,
fecal occult blood test and double-contrast barium
enema. But a colonoscopy is considered the most
accurate or the gold standard. It detects more cancers,
ectal cancer
examines the entire colon, and can
be used for diagnosis and removing
polyps in the same procedure.
Myth #8:
It’s better not to get tested for
colorectal cancer because it’s
deadly anyway.
Fact: Colorectal cancer is often highly
treatable. If it’s found and treated
early (while it’s small and before it has
spread), the five-year survival rate is
about 90 percent. But because many
people do not get tested, only about
four-out-of-10 are diagnosed at this
early stage when treatment is most
likely to be successful.
Myth #9:
Surgery will be disfiguring and
recovery painful.
Fact: New surgical advances allow
for minimally invasive procedures
that leave only a small scar. Patients
undergoing laparoscopic or robotic
surgery have less pain, quicker
recovery and are back to work sooner.
Myth #10:
If I have colon surgery, I’ll need
a colostomy bag.
Fact: A colostomy, in which surgeons
create an artificial, external method
to collect excrement, is rarely done
anymore. Surgical techniques have
improved so that 80 percent of these
cancers may be effectively removed
without creating a colostomy.
For more information on
Dr. Harsha, go to his page on
BlessingPhysicianServices.org.
Personal BLESSING
9
PUTTING SAMANTHA
TOGETHER
Samantha Gentile is back
to following her dream of
becoming a cosmetologist
after it was interrupted by a
nightmare.
Last October, the
petite 24-year-old was
a passenger in a car on
Highway 79, heading
home to Louisiana, MO
from Hannibal.
As the car reached an “S”
curve, a deer appeared
on the highway. The
driver attempted to
avoid the deer and
the car went off the
road, nose first
into a ditch.
“The
car
flipped
twice
and
10
Personal BLESSING
AGAIN
rolled seven or eight times through a field,”
Samantha recalled. “Within the first few flips I
was ejected and flew approximately 80 feet, hit
a hay bale and slid into a barbed wire fence.”
She was not wearing a seat belt.
“I was unconscious,” Samantha continued.
“The only thing I remember is looking at
the ditch, coming out of my seat, and the
windshield going completely white.”
She was flown by Air Evac helicopter to
Blessing Hospital with life threatening injuries.
“My pelvis was broken. It had been pushed
up about two inches and about an inch-anda-half away from where it should have been,”
Samantha painfully relates. “My tail bone was
broken. My ribs on my left side were displaced
and badly bruised. I cracked four vertebrae,
crushed my sinus cavity and my eye socket.”
“A lot, a lot of pain,” she concluded.
Rena Stewart, MD, orthopedic
traumatologist; and Ethan Philpott, MD,
plastic surgeon, Quincy Medical Group and
Blessing Hospital Medical Staff, worked to put
Samantha back together.
“She had a broken pelvis. Immediately that
says to me this was a very dangerous accident,”
Dr. Stewart explained. “The amount of force it
takes to break the human pelvis can kill you in
many other ways. If you’ve broken your pelvis,
you could have also hit your head or crushed
your chest, either of which can be fatal.”
Key to Samantha’s recovery was stabilizing
her broken pelvis.
“Samantha’s surgery was much more
dangerous than many orthopedic trauma
surgeries, yet her incision was less than an
inch long,” stated Dr. Stewart. “We put screws
through her Sacrum (the portion of the pelvis
Samantha Gentile
Photos
of the
car
from
which
Samantha
Gentile
was
ejected.
that joins the spine). They look like two pieces of
rebar across the back of her pelvis and prevent the
factures from moving. That’s the key. Keeping her in
perfect position until the bone heals,” she continued.
“In a small woman such as Samantha, those
screws go through a corridor less than an inch wide. If
they stray outside of the corridor and don’t stay in the
bone, you can hit a blood vessel and the patient can
die in the operating room,” Dr. Stewart said.
“It’s a fantastic and modern way to fix the
pelvis because you don’t need a large incision and
patients don’t lose a lot of blood. But it’s technically
demanding. The resources must come together in the
Blessing operating room to allow us to do this - from
the Radiology staff to the Surgery team, because you
cannot waste any time in this type of surgery,” she
stated.
While Dr. Stewart worked to stabilize Samantha’s
pelvis, Dr. Philpott reconstructed a part of her left eye
socket, called the “orbit.”
“The orbital floor was fractured,” said Dr. Philpott. “It is an egg shell-like bone. Without surgery the eye
can fall back into the orbit, or down into the sinus
cavity. It can lead to double vision and is a cosmetic
concern.”
“Without these wonderful doctors and
outstanding staff I don’t believe I’d be where I’m at
today,” Samantha stated. “I could never thank them
enough or show them how much I truly appreciate
what they have done for me.”
“The nurses at Blessing are by far the best I’ve ever
met. They always had such positive and outgoing
attitudes which made the situation easier to bear,” she
said with a smile.
Samantha was in Blessing Hospital for 10 days,
followed by 10 weeks in a wheelchair, followed by six
months of physical therapy.
“There are not a lot of young people who could do
that,” Dr. Stewart observed.
But Samantha did. She was walking on her own
three-to-four months before it was expected.
“She’s done terrifically,” observed Dr. Stewart.
“She told me at a follow-up appointment there is
nothing she cannot do. She went to a Mardi Gras
celebration in St. Louis, walked for about 10 hours,
but then felt a little tired. That’s pretty fantastic. I’ll
take that.”
“Some people call my situation a nightmare, and
for a while I felt the same. As time went by I realized
it wasn’t a nightmare, it was a blessing. Some people
wouldn’t have made it out as healthy as I did,”
Samantha said with conviction.
“I learned a lot from this blessing. Most
importantly I learned to wear your seat belt, even if
you are only going a short way down the road,” she
continued.
“And I have a lot more faith in God today than I
ever have. I will continue to thank him for watching
over me,” Samantha concluded.
Dr. Stewart
Dr. Philpott
Personal BLESSING
11
Welcome,
Doctors
Pranathi Koduru,
MD, has joined
the Quincy
Medical Group
Internal Medicine
Department.
Dr. Koduru
received her Medical
Degree from Santiago University
of Technology, Santo Domingo,
Dominican Republic.
She completed an Internal
Medicine Residency at Woodhull
Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY.
Dr. Koduru is board certified in
Internal Medicine.
Oluwaseun “Seun”
Odumosu, MD,
joined the Blessing
Physician Services
Department of
Family Medicine in
August.
Board certified
in Family Medicine, Dr. Odumosu
earned his Medical Degree from
Ogun State University School of
Medicine, Nigeria, Africa.
After receiving additional
medical experience in Nigeria and
the United Kingdom, Dr. Odumosu
completed his Family Medicine
Residency at St. Luke’s University
Hospital/Temple University,
Bethlehem, PA, where he was Chief
Resident of his residency class.
Dr. Odumosu then completed a
Fellowship in Geriatrics, also at St.
Luke’s.
To learn more about members of
the Blessing Hospital
Medical/Dental Staff,
go to BlessingHealthSystem.org
and select “Find a Provider”
from the red menu bar.
Face
Arm
Speech
Time Call 9-1-1
Does the face
look uneven?
Does one arm
drift down?
Does their
speech sound
strange?
12
Personal BLESSING
TIRED of YO-YO Dieting?
THE VICIOUS DIET CYCLE
DIET
REPEAT
ies
or
• Reduced metabolic rate
• Loss of muscle
• Regain weight from fat
rease in ca
inc
l
FEAST
RESPONSE
ries
calo
in
overw
ei
t
gh
decre
as
e
FAMINE
RESPONSE
• Lose weight from lean
muscle and fat
• Reduced metabolic rate
• Increase in fat storage
Be Well for Life is designed to help
participants identify risks and improve
their health in a variety of ways,
including:
• Health risk assessments
• Physician consultations
• Wellness coaching sessions
• Group nutrition education
• Individual Nutrition Consultations with
a Registered Dietitian
• Wellness Discussion Group
• Stress management training
• Yoga classes
• Exercise prescriptions
• Tobacco cessation counseling
Be Well for Life is a
16-week program under
the direct supervision
of Cardiologist Irving
Schwartz, M.D., Blessing
Hospital Medical Staff/
Blessing Physician
Services
!
u
o
y
r
e
i
h
t
l
a
e
h
a
e
t
a
e
r
C
FALL OFF
Be Well For Life
For more information please call
217-223-8400, ext. 4202
www.blessinghealthsystem.org/bewellforlife
Personal BLESSING
13
Sign up for our NEW PATIENT PORTAL today!
YOUR personal health record....without the paper!
With Be Well Online from Blessing, you will be able to securely:
View your
medical record
View the
medication
list from your
hospital stay
View test results
from your
hospital stay
View the
discharge
instructions from
your hospital
stay
View the
summary of your
hospital stay
24/7 online access
from any computer,
smartphone or tablet
You can sign up for Be Well Online in three ways:
1. Give your email address to the Patient Access representative at registration.
2. Give your email address to a staff member before you leave the Hospital.
3. Visit the Blessing Hospital Health Information Management department on the first
floor of the 11th Street campus during business hours.
Are you also a Blessing Physician Services customer?
If so, you will also have access to your Blessing Physician Services medical
information through Be Well Online, and these additional features:
• Schedule appointments
• Send and receive secure messages
• Receive e-mail care reminders
• Request RX refills
Don’t wait! Get the information you need without the paper.
Sign up for Be Well Online today!
14
Personal BLESSING
By 2030, the demand for total knee replacement
is expected to grow by 673% and hip replacement by 174%!
The surgeons, nurses and therapists of Blessing Hospital’s joint replacement program are ready
to meet growing patient demand while delivering the highest quality care possible. The program has
been updated with:
• daily meetings between patient and care team to track progress
• pain control using the latest medications and treatments
• a progressive approach to physical therapy
Result:
Patients are prepared
and ready to return home
in two days or less!
A hip replacement patient of Dr. George Crickard’s, Jenny Hayden
(pictured at right), gave her experience rave reviews. She was home one
day after her surgery.
“I was very pleased all the way through,” Jenny said. “They don’t let
you lie around. I walked back to my room after the first of my three therapy sessions while in the
hospital. No wheelchair for me. And the pain control worked great! I will probably need to have
the other hip done eventually. And if that time comes, I’m going the same route for my care.”
George Crickard, MD Adam Derhake, MD
David Bingham, MD
Quincy Medical Group Quincy Medical Group
Quincy Medical Group
Sports Medicine
Total Joint Replacement Total Joint Replacement
Rena Stewart, MD
Quincy Medical Group
Orthopedic Trauma
Nitin Kukkar, MD
SIU HealthCare
Spine Surgery
Tamara Pylawka, MD
SIU HealthCare
Sports Medicine
Personal BLESSING
15
Newsmakers
Proudly recognizing the accomplishments of these staff members
Peggy Austin,
RN, MSN,
Perianesthesia
Educator and
surgical staff
nurse, has earned
recertification
as a Certified Ambulatory
Perianesthesia Nurse (CAPA)
by the American Board of
Perianesthesia Nursing.
A perianesthesia nurse cares
for patients before and after the
administration of anesthesia or
sedation.
Perianesthesia recertification
requires a minimum of 1,200 hours
of perianesthesia nursing practice
and 90 hours of continuing
education during a three year
period.
Austin is a 23-year member
of the Blessing Hospital nursing
staff. She earned her Master of
Science in Nursing degree from the
University of Phoenix, her Bachelor
of Science in Nursing degree from
Hannibal-LaGrange College, and
Associate Degree in Nursing from
John Wood Community College.
Tanya Blickhan,
RN, Pain
Management, has
earned certification
in Pain Management
from the
American Nurses
Credentialing Center.
Requirements for this
certification include practice
as a registered nurse in a role
that involves aspects of pain
management for at least 2,000
16
Personal BLESSING
hours in the three years before
taking the national certification
examination, completion of 30
hours of continuing education
with a minimum of 15 hours related
to pain management in the three
years before taking the national
certification examination, and
passage of the examination.
Blickhan is a 24-year member of
the Blessing Hospital nursing staff.
In addition to being a member of
the Pain Management staff she is
a Pain Resource Nurse, available
to consult with fellow nurses from
any Blessing Hospital department
regarding management of patient
pain.
She earned a Master of
Science in Nursing degree from
the University of Phoenix and
is a member of the American
Association for Pain Management
Nursing and the Association of
Women’s Health, Obstetric and
Neonatal Nurses.
Karen Dames,
BSN, RN,
administrative
coordinator,
Regulatory
Compliance, has
earned Certified
Joint Commission Professional
(CJCP) status.
Requirements for CJCP
certification include educational
and accreditation experience and
passage of an examination.
An independent, not-forprofit organization, The Joint
Commission accredits and certifies
more than 20,000 health care
organizations and programs in the
United States. Joint Commission
accreditation and certification
is recognized nationwide as a
symbol of quality that reflects an
organization’s commitment to
meeting performance standards.
Dames helps Blessing Hospital
staff ensure they deliver care
and operate the hospital within
the standards set forth by The
Joint Commission to retain the
accreditation Blessing has held
since 1953.
A graduate of Truman State
University with a Bachelor of
Science in Nursing degree, Dames
joined Blessing Hospital in 2009. She is a member of the Pi Pi
Chapter of the Sigma Theta Tau
International Honor Society of
Nursing.
Jenny Eling, RN,
Intermediate Care
Unit, has earned
certification as a
Progressive Care
Certified Nurse
(PCCN) from the
American Association of Critical
Care Nurses.
Nurses with PCCN
certification can provide care to
acutely ill adult patients regardless
of their location within the
hospital including intermediate
care, direct observation, stepdown,
telemetry, transitional care or
emergency departments.
Requirements for PCCN
certification include at least 1,750
hours in direct care of critically
ill adult patients in the past two
years and passage of a written
examination.
Eling earned her Associate
Degree in Nursing from John
Wood Community College and
has been at Blessing Hospital since
2009.
Lisa Herzing,
nurse practitioner,
Blessing Hospice
& Palliative Care,
was one of 36
nurses selected to
participate recently
in the Virginia
Commonwealth University
(VCU) Massey Cancer Center
Advance Practice Registered Nurse
Palliative Care Externship Program
in Richmond, VA.
Palliative care is specialized
medical care for people with
serious and chronic, but not
terminal illnesses. It focuses on
providing patients with relief from
the symptoms, pain, and stress of
their illness. The goal is to improve
quality of life for both the patient
and the family.
During the five-day intensive
program, participants spent eight
hours each day in small group,
interactive, case-based training.
By using both real and simulated
cases and clinical rotation, the
nurses improved their skills in pain
and symptom management, patient
and family communication, goalsetting and end-of-life care.
Each participant was paired
with a palliative care specialist
who mentored them during the
program and will continue for
six months after the program to
track outcomes in patient care and
quality palliative care.
VCU Massey Cancer
Center is a pioneer in the field
of palliative care, holding the
Joint Commission’s Goal Seal of
Approval for its palliative care
program, one of just two dozen
programs nationwide to hold that
certification.
Herzing holds both a Bachelor
and Master’s degree in Nursing
from Maryville University, St.
Louis. She is a nationally board
certified nurse practitioner.
Betty Kasparie,
vice president,
Planning &
Compliance, has
earned Certification
in Healthcare
Privacy Compliance
(CHPC) from the Compliance
Certification Board by successfully
passing an examination.
Privacy compliance
professionals help healthcare
providers follow federal, state
and local regulations that
govern maintaining privacy
and confidentiality of sensitive
healthcare information of their
patients.
Founded by the Health Care
Compliance Association, the
Compliance Certification Board
developed the criteria for the
determination of competence in
the practice of health compliance
and to recognize individuals
meeting these criteria.
Nancy Oliver,
RN, Post Anesthesia
Care Unit, has
earned Certified
Post Anesthesia
Nurse (CPAN)
recertification
from the American Board of
Perianesthesia Nursing.
Post anesthesia nurses care for
patients who have just come out
of surgery, monitoring their initial
recovery.
Certification requirements
include a minimum of 1,800 hours
of direct clinical experience and
successful completion of the CPAN
examination.
Oliver is a 22-year member of
the Blessing Hospital nursing staff.
She is a graduate of the University
of Iowa and holds membership in
the American and Illinois Societies
of Perianesthesia Nursing.
Katie Pray, social
worker, Care
Management, has
earned Licensed
Social Worker
status (LSW) from
the State of Illinois.
Persons earning LSW status
from the Illinois Department
of Financial and Professional
Regulation must hold a degree
from an approved graduate
program of social work or have
a degree in social work from an
undergraduate program approved
by the Council on Social Work
Education, have successfully
completed at least three years of
supervised professional experience
and pass the examination for
the practice of social work as a
licensed social worker.
Pray earned a Bachelor degree
in Social Work from the University
of Illinois at Springfield and joined
Blessing Hospital in 2008.
The Blessing Hospital Care
Management Department consists
of nurse Care Managers and
Social Workers who help patients
assess and plan to meet their care
needs prior to discharge from the
hospital.
Personal BLESSING
17
Robin Seaver,
MLT, HT (ASCP),
Laboratory, earned
a Histotechnician
Certification from
the American
Society of Clinical Pathology.
Certification requirements
include passing a written
examination and successful
completion of a National
Accrediting Agency for Clinical
Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS)
accredited histotechnician
program within the last five years.
Histotechnicians (HT)
prepare human body tissues for
microscopic examination.
Seaver is a three-year member
of the Blessing Hospital staff. She
graduated from the John Wood
Community College/Blessing
Hospital School of Medical
Laboratory Technicians in 2011.
She went on to receive a Bachelor
of Science in Organizational
Management from HannibalLaGrange University in 2013.
In 2013, Seaver also earned a
Certificate in Histotechnology
from Indiana University-Purdue
University.
Seaver is a member of the
American Society for Clinical
Pathology and the National Society
of Histotechnology.
Jennifer
Stephenson,
RN, BSN, 6400/
Pediatrics, has
earned Certified
Pediatric Nurse
(CPN) status from
the Pediatric Nursing Certification
Board.
18
18
Personal BLESSING
Certification requirements
Ryan Williams,
include 1,800 hours of clinical
RN-BC, patient
practice and passage of an
care supervisor,
examination.
Blessing Behavioral
Stephenson earned her Bachelor
Center, has earned
of Science in Nursing degree
status as a certified
from the University of MissouriPsychiatric-Mental
Columbia.
Health Registered Nurse (RNBC) from the American Nurses
Laurie
Credentialing Center.
Steinbrecher,
Williams met requirements
MSN, MBA, RN,
including completing a minimum
director, inpatient
of 2,000 hours of clinical practice
services, Blessing
in psychiatric and mental health
Behavioral Center, nursing and 30 hours of continuing
has earned national education in psychiatric and
certification as a Nurse Executive
mental health nursing within the
from the American Nurses
past three years, and passed a
Credentialing Center.
written examination.
Requirements for this voluntary Also nationally board certified
certification include having held a
as a Medical/Surgical Nurse,
mid-level administration position
Williams earned his Bachelor
or higher for two of the past five
of Science in Nursing degree
years, completion of 30 hours of
from the University of Northern
continuing education during the
Colorado, and holds a Bachelor of
past three years and passage of a
Science degree in Psychology from
written examination.
Colorado State University. A 35-year member of the
He worked at Poudre Valley
Blessing staff, Steinbrecher
Health System, Fort Collins,
has served the past 25 years
CO, before joining the Blessing
in behavioral health. She also
Behavioral Center in 2012.
holds national certification and a
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse.
In most cases, healthcare professional
Steinbrecher earned her
certification is a voluntary process of
Master of Science in Nursing and
validating knowledge, skills and abilities
Business Healthcare Management
beyond the scope of required licensure.
from the University of Phoenix,
Certification provides patients and
and her Bachelor of Science in
their families with confirmation that the
Nursing degree from Blessinghealthcare professional caring for them
Rieman College of Nursing/Quincy has demonstrated experience, knowledge
University.
and skills in a complex specialty of care.
Steinbrecher is a member of
the Sigma Theta Tau International
Honor Society of Nursing, the
American Organization of Nurse
Executives and the Illinois
Organization of Nurse Leaders.
Giving Society
Programs, services and new technology
featured in this issue of Personal Blessing
are made possible in part by donations
to Blessing Hospital and The Blessing
Foundation. The Giving Society is an honor
roll of those showing love through charitable
giving of $100 and above. Gifts below
were received for the following services:
Blessed Beginnings, Blessing Home Care,
Blessing Hospice & Palliative Care, Blessing
Hospice of Greene County, Blessing Hospice
of Hancock County, Blessing Hospice of
Pike County, Blessing Hospital, Blessing
Lauretta M. Eno Early Learning Center,
Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing General
Endowment, Blessing-Rieman College of
Nursing Simulation Center, Breast Services,
Cancer Center, Community Outreach
Clinic, Diabetes Services, Heart & Vascular
Center, Intermediate Care, Nurse Education
Fund, Patient Care Addition Fund, Quincy
Hospitality House, Radiation Therapy, The
Blessing Foundation – Unrestricted, and
Volunteer Services.
Donor Recognition Levels
April 1, 2014 to June 30, 2014
Associate ($10,000 to $49,999)
Dr. Stilianos Efstratiadis
Anna Mae Fehr
Barb Gerdes
Mr. and Mrs. Patrick F. Tracy
Air Evac Lifeteam
Christner, Inc.
Community Cancer Crush c/o Luke Tappe
Community Foundation Serving West Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri from the Thankful Heart Fund
Hansen-Spear Funeral Directors, Inc.
Zak Companies, Inc.
Partners ($1,000 - $9,999)
Maria A. Bingheim
Janet A. Brandmill
Debra C. Briggs
Sheila J. Capp-Taber
Karen S. Carroll
Joyce R. Coffman
Kristen L. Cook
Paula L. Crookshanks
Dr. and Mrs. James M. Daniels
Wanda S. Dix
Jonna G. Egan
Mr. and Mrs. John J. Flynn, Jr.
Lowell and Vickie Glas
Susan R. Grant
Sheila M. Hermesmeyer
Michael and Cheri Hulsen
Dr. Michael E. Kirkpatrick
Theresa M. Kraus
Jerry and Lois Kruse
Deborah S. Landacre
Eric R. Martin
Karen Mayville
Mr. Richard E. Munson
Terry L. Niemann
Cindy L. Peters
Gary and Emily Peterson
Harsha V. Polavarapu, M.D.
Mrs. Rheta A. Poore
Dr. and Mrs. Stuart L. Pyatt
Elizabeth A. Rolland
Linda J. Sachs
Lisa M. Sade
Charlotte Scranton
Sandra D. Sheely
Wanda A. Slight
Shawn L. Smith
Devron Sternke
Naomi Y. Tipton
Catherine L. Westhaus
Lori L. Wilkey
Douglas W. Winters
Vicki L. Wittland
ADM Archer Daniels Midland Company
ADM Foundation
Culver-Stockton College
Culver-Stockton College Girls Softball
QTown Fitness, LLC DBA QTown CrossFit
Quincy Senior High School Girls Softball
Quincy Tractor, LLC
Quincy University Lady Hawks
Reliable Pest Solutions
The Ambiance, LLC
Friends – ($100 - $999)
Ashley N. Adams
Mr. Paul L. Aden
Wanda S. Aden
Rhonda J. Albers
Rebecca A. Albert
Mary “Jane” Albsmeyer
Jazmine B. Allen
Shannon E. Allwood
Jimmy D. Anderson
Teresa G. Ashley
Christine P. Bailey
Jessica D. Barnes
Jason Mathew Baum
Mr. Theodore W. Bean
William E. Bearden
Steve D. Beasley
Lauren L. Beckett
Karen K. Beckett
Linda S. Beckman
Jonna C. Bell
Rebecca L. Bell
Rita J. Bence
Cheronda L. Bertoni
Shirley Bevans and Patty Cowan
Joan E. Bichsel
Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Bizer
Laurel A. Bodine
Robin A. Boernson
Suzanne M. Bogue
Sarah and Matt Boland
Kathy S. Boyer
Glenna J. Brandstatt
Kristen D. Brink
Sharon A. Brinkman
Candy L. Brink-Westbrook
Susan M Brown
Jennifer L. Brown
Kimberly K. Buck
Mark J. Burgtorf
Judy and Bud Bushaus
Tea A. Cameron
Nancy K. Campbell
Denise A. Carlson
Courtney Lee Carlson
Patricia Carter
Julie M. Cassens
Melissa J. Catlett
Mrs. Barbara J. Chamberlain
Lyndell and Dee Chaplin
Jenny S. Christy
Gary and Donna Clampitt
Luke Conrad
Mary E. Cook
William E. Coonrod
Mary Ann Cornwell
Kimberly S. Corrigan
Dale and Charlotte Craven
Michelle L. Crawley
Lisa Crocker
James and Pamela Crotchett
Rebecca Sue Daffern
Teresa J. Darnell
Krista E. Davis
Tammie K. Davis
Dena L. Dedert
Lisa E. Delcour
Rebecca J. Dennison
Dr. Janise T. Denton
Debra Derhake
Alison L. DeSotel
Cindy A. Deters
Jennifer C. Dickhut
Bob and Ann Dickson
Richard and Eloise Disseler
Arlis D. Dittmer
Kristy D. Doellman
Bonita M. Doellman
Jerelyn Douglas
Paul M. Duesterhaus
Carla K. Dugal
Anne E. Dunn
Deborah S. Durst
Kelli E. Eagan
Sharon M. Eaton
Amanda R. Edmunds
Vicki L. Edwards
Julie and Chad Eftink
Gina L. Eickelschulte
Gary and Donna Eilers
Carrie R. Elbe
Diana L. Elder
Angela L. Elledge
Eldon L. Elledge
Jennifer R. Epperson
Lori J. Fairchild
John and Debbie Faulhaber
Randy Lee Faxon
Dean and Angela Fecht
Nancy K. Felde
Steve W. Felde
Loretta Feldkamp
Diana L. Felten
Lola Fernandes
Andrea L. Fessler
Deborah M. Fischer
Personal BLESSING
19
19
Giving Society
Robin L. Fitzgerald
Brian and Lynn Fleming
Tina M. Flesner
Jill E. Foley
Susan E. Fox
Jennifer L. Frericks
Ruth G. Fuller
Gerrianne R. Fuller
Lacey D. Gallaher
Debra K. Gallaher
Brian Gallaher
Cindy K. Gardner
Jacqueline Garkie
Melody J. Garland
Elizabeth Garrison
Linda L. Garrison
Abram and Yasuko Geisendorfer
David W Goehl
Sherry K. Goodwin
Joelle L. Goodwin
Katena A. Gorder
Nichole L. Grant
Brandon M. Grant
Tiffany L. Greiman
Brenda S. Grimsley
Susan K. Grist
Charlene Hackett
Peggy S. Haerr
Coya C. Hare
Heidi C. Harris
Dawn M. Hattey
Elizabeth M. Haugh
Jim and Liza Hayashi
Stacey N. Heberlein
Terri R. Hecht
Dale and Inez Hedberg
Mr. Kenneth J. Heinze
M. Jane Henninger
Linda K. Herren
Garrett A. Hillebrenner
Debra L. Himpsl
Amie L. Hoebing
Jeff and Tressa Hoffman
Joanne C. Holzgrafe
Alex and Lynn House
Crystal G. Houston
Amanda Howard
Linda L. Howe
Jean Howland
Charles Hull
Nancy Huls
Cathy L. Hummert
Susan J. Humphrey
Kathryne A. Huner
Tara J. Huseman
Debra L. Hyer
Ashley S. Janssen
Greg L. Javaux
Larry Jochem
Diane K. Johnson
Doris L. Jones
Beth A. Jones
Amy N. Jones
Peggy J. Kaeshamer
Michelle K. Kasparie
Mr. and Mrs. Dave Kater
Tawnda Y. Kean
Lexie and Grady Keigwin
Joyce Kemper
Diana L. Kendall
Marvin and Darlene Kerber
20
Personal BLESSING
Lisa L. Kerker
Julie Kindhart
Cassie L. King
Lucas N. King
Karen A. Kite
Waldemar J. Klukowski
Karla M. Koch
Amy S. Koch
Pamela S. Kretzer
Amy L. Krohn
Tracy L. Kurfman
Laurie A. Laaker
Tamara S. Laguardia
Heather T. Lair
Lisa M. Lake
Dene and Paula Lambkin
Jean Ann Lantz
Mrs. Sheila K. Laws
Crystal R. Lewis
Donald and Debra Limkemann
Stacey R. Linder
Julie M. Lockett
Kathy J. Long
Jessica A. Loos
Mark William Lotz
Phyllis K. Lugering
Alex M. Maloney
Sam and Lesa Markert
Rhonda L. Marsh
Carol A. Mayfield
Peggy I. McAfee
Sharon R. McAllister
Mrs. Marion ‘Tink’ McCleery
Robin K. McDermott
Lindsey M. McDonald
Jim and Connie McDowell
Gary and Mary McNeely
Amanda M. Megee
Frances Megginson
Anita F. Melvin
Marsha A. Merkel
Dr. Joseph Messina and Dr. Mary Ann Klein
Teresa G. Metzger
Laverne L. Meyer
Chris Middendorf
Vanessa F. Miller
Coletta M. Miller, D.D.S.
Sondra K. Miller
Leslie R. Miller
Rebeka J. Minton
Sharon R. Mitten
Melvin and Kas Moellring
Roger and Margie Mohrman
Angela M. Montgomery
Richard W. Moritz
Tami S. Morrison
Donna M. Mortimore
Lori A. Murphy
McKenzie L. Nall
Brandee L. Neff
Bryan K. Neff
Trista D. Neisen
Tonya A. Newell
Tori N. Nichols
Sandra F. Nichols
Ferdinand E. Niemann IV
Susan D. Nowell
Mr. Daniel J. Nuessen
Brenda G. Obert
Mrs. Lee Ogle
Heather O’Hearn
Gail and Jennifer Oitker
Jana L. Orr
Charles J. Orr
Mr. Robert L. Otter
Julie A. Owens
Jerry Parker
Rosemary Parker
Vera M. Parsons
Father Lewis and Margaret Payne
Veronica E. Pepper
Emily L. Peters
Ashlie N. Peters
Kay E. Peters
Anna M. Philipps
Andrew D. Phillips
Brenda R. Phillips
Beth N. Pickens
Teresa I. Pickle
Deanna K. Plant
Amy J. Poore
Betsey A. Powell
Greta E. Pridemore
Deborah Race
Becky and Ryan Ramsey
James and Martha Rapp
Cheryl L. Reardon
Margaret Reinke
Kevin and Sheri Reller
Kate E. Rhoads
Amanda J. Rhodes
James and Kelly Riley
Sandra Roan
Yvonne R. Robison
Sarah J. Roman
Waynella Runcie
Donna Rupert
Ron and Sue Rush
Neil S. Russell
Denise Sangoi
Stacy R. Schaefer
Nicola S Schenk
Viktoriya I. Schild
Donald and Martha Schilling
Mary Ann Schmidt
Andrew M. Schmidt
Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Scholz
Sara L. Schulte
Sandra A. Schulte
Deborah Schulte
Donna L. Schutte
Danny and Tammy Schwartz
Christine E. Schwartz
Mary R. Scott
Renee L. Shade
Cindy M. Shinn
Alden and Joyce Shipp
Anna Rebecca Short
Melody Shover
Rachel D. Shupe
Theresa Silkwood
Lisa R. Sill
Sue E. Silman
Mrs. Roberta Simpson-Dolbeare and
Mr. Eric Dolbeare
Randy and Mary Ann Sims
Andrea K. Sims
Ellen D. Singh
Angela E. Slater
Paul W. Slater
Jeff and Allison Smith
Mr. Don W. Smith
Diane L. Smith
Tony Smith
Tammy Smith
Jeanette L. Soebbing
Linda M. Sperry
Cody L. St. Clair
Melvina A. Stapp
Patricia A. Steffen
Joanie J. Steil
Carol Steinbrecher
John Stevenson
Cathy S. Stevenson
Trista L. Stolte
Yvonne L. Stone
Kristin A. Stone
Melissa N. Stone
Melissa D. Stoner
Dr. Bruce and Angie Stoops
Jeff Strohkirch
Marcia S. Strother
Cheryl L. Stuckman
Erika A. Sutton
Pam L. Teel
Michelle R. Thompson
Katherine M. Thomure
Julia R. Togarepi
Barbara L. Tomlinson
Robert G. Traman
Ellen J. Traman
Andrea L. Turek
Gene Turnbaugh
Travis S. Twaddle
Chris G. Tysinger
Pauline and Ronald Upper
Barbara and Chet Vahle
Marilyn R. Valentine
Michele A. Van Blair
Sandra L. Van Os
Holly R. Vanderbol
Leanne Sue Vansteel
Ronald and Colae Vecchie
Emily E. Ver Meer
Autumn Voss
Janeen A. Wallace
Daniel D. Walters, Jr.
Melissa P. Walton
Susan E. Waters
Ms. Ilena M. Wear
Davida L. Wear
Richard N. Webel
Paula J. Webster
Justin A. Wells
Delores E. Wensing
Deborah E. West
Dove Whitaker
Amy E. Whitaker
Lori A. Wiegand
Stephanie D. Willey
Brandon M. Williams
Tina M. Wingerter
Angela M. Winking
Suzann R. Witt
Dorothy M. Wombles
Rita Worthington
Kathleen E. Xamis
Susan L. Yeater
Cheryl Yingling
Ann M. York
Mary L. Zaborski
Sharon Zehnle
Carmen M. Zulauf
Adams School
Airsman - Hires Funeral Home, Inc.
Bank of Quincy
Bear Creek Fund Drive
Blessing Hospital Ten Year Plus Club
Blessing Nurses Alumni Association
Blessing Rieman College of Nursing
Dempsey, Dempsey & Moellring, P.C.
Dot Foods - Customer Service
Ellington School - Mrs. Drew’s Class
Gentle Shepherd Fellowship
Haugh Funeral Homes, Inc.
Ina’s West Side Salon
John Wood Community College Basketball
Kohl’s
Leidos
Marine Bank and Trust
McNay Truck Line
Moore’s Floors, Inc.
Pi Pi Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau
Poage Auto Plaza, Inc.
Quincy Anesthesia Associates, P.C.
Quincy Medical Group
Quincy Notre Dame Girls Soccer
Quincy Notre Dame Girls Softball
RailWorks
Refreshment Services Pepsi
Schnack Law Offices, PC
Shortridge Construction
Simply You By Me Photography
St. Dominic School
State Street Bank & Trust Co.
Synensis, LLC
TCBY - The Country’s Best Yogurt
Tonn and Blank Construction, LLC
Tri State Management DBA
McDonald’s Restaurant
Wis-Pak Central, Inc.
*designates deceased
For a complete listing of donors visit
blessinghealthsystem.org/givingsociety or contact
The Blessing Foundation office at
(217) 223-8400, ext. 4807 to request a listing to
be mailed.
Thank you, donors!
g campaign
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Announcing the
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, president/CEO
for Moorman Pa
tion; Brad Billings
da
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en
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president/CEO,
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Ka
stem; Maureen
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Blessing Health Sy
Campaign Cabi
-chairman of the
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Ross Centanni,
Blessing Hospital’s “Building for the
Future” fundraising campaign for the
Moorman Pavilion patient care addition
exceeded its $10 million goal.
Of the money raised, $1 million
was donated by Blessing Volunteers
In Partnership; $920,954 was donated
by individual Blessing Health System
employees; $665,000 came from physicians;
and the remainder came from corporate,
organizational and public pledges.
Moorman Pavilion will allow Blessing
to offer an additional 104 single bed
rooms and consolidate inpatient care
to the 11th Street campus. Single bed
rooms offer patients a greater level of
privacy and reduce their risk for infection.
Consolidating inpatient care on one
campus will make the hospital more
efficient.
Moorman Pavilion is on schedule for an
early 2015 opening.
Personal BLESSING
21
NONPROFIT ORG
US POSTAGE PAID
QUINCY IL
PERMIT NO. 134
PO Box 7005
Quincy, IL 62305-7005
R E S I D E N T
B l e s s i n g H e a l t h S y s t e m . o r g
HERE’S YOUR SIGN
ARE YOU LISTENING?
75%
As many as
of all people
who attempt suicide tell someone first.
National Suicide Hotline:
1-800-273-TALK (8255)
www.blessinghospital.org/behavioralcenter