I did not - Community Memorial Health System

Community Memorial Health System
I did
not
know
it was a
matter
of life
and
death.
Jon Mack
St. Bonaventure High School
Head Football Coach
I stayed
awake all
night in the
hospital
because I
was afraid
to go to
sleep.
REAL LIFE, REAL HEALTH
IN VENTURA COUNTY
COMMUNITY
WINTER
2005
MEMORIAL
3
wilde thoughts
Redefining Healthcare
in Our Community
W
I am pleased to introduce our new CARING
magazine.
CARING will now come to you as a quarterly magazine filled with valuable information, as well as stories of
inspiration about your fellow neighbors; real people with
real stories that will enrich your life. For this issue, I would
like to sincerely thank Jon Mack and Sandi Henderson for
sharing their own personal health stories with you.
Jon Mack’s story especially hits home with me, as I too
have experienced an embolus - mine, after a long airplane
flight. As with Jon, it also took the prodding of my spouse
before I sought medical attention.
Gary Wilde,
President/CEO
In this issue, and future issues, you will also read about
the extraordinary people I have the privilege to work with.
From the community leaders who volunteer their time on
our Hospital and Foundation Boards, our hard working
Auxiliary members, to our physicians and staff whose compassionate care and expertise makes a difference in people’s lives on a daily basis. Our business is people caring for people.
In addition to redefining CARING, we have now also redefined healthcare in our community by
the introduction of our new institutional name - Community Memorial Health System.
As a result of our merger with Ojai Valley Community Hospital, along with our nine neighborhood Centers For Family Health, we truly have grown into a community-wide healthcare system one, which can no longer be defined by a single organization.
As our system grows, our focus still remains on you, the individual people we serve. For this reason, we are embarking on a groundbreaking “Service Excellence” program aimed at further enhancing
patient satisfaction. Within this CARING we introduce the beginnings of this exciting new venture.
Community Memorial Health System remains the only independent, not-for-profit hospital system
in Ventura County. You, our community residents, are our stakeholders. We are proud of our history,
and treasure the communities that we serve. You have our commitment that we will continually strive
to exceed your expectations, and in the process, remain one of your community treasures.
Have a wonderful holiday season, and I hope 2006 is filled with health and happiness for each
of you and your families. .
2
CARING
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COMMUNITY MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEM
COMMUNITY MEMORIAL
HEALTH SYSTEM
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
2005
Gary Wolfe, Chairman
Greg Smith, Vice Chairman
Glen C. Farr, Secretary
Harry L. Maynard, Treasurer
John Edison, M.D.
Chief of Staff,
Community Memorial Hospital
Fredrick J. Menninger III, M.D.
Chief of Staff,
Ojai Valley Community Hospital
Ralph R. Bennett
Michael D. Bradbury, Esq.
Philip Drescher, Esq.
Stanley Frochtzwajg, M.D.
Tim Gallagher
John Hammer
William L. Hart, M.D.
John Hill, M.D.
Rabbi Lisa Hochberg-Miller
Fritz R. Huntsinger
Robert J. Lagomarsimo, Esq.
Sandra R. Masiel
Ted Muegenburg, Jr., Esq.
Martin A. Pops, M.D.
John W. Russell
Kathryne Weldon
EMERITUS MEMBERS OF THE BOARD
Ralph Busch, M.D.
Leonard Ortiz
Janice P. Willis
Michael Ellingson
Vice President of Marketing and Development
Mary McCormick
Editor
Amy Bently
Michael Briley
John Cressy
Stan Whisenhunt
Woody Woodburn
Writers
Richard Slack
Brooks Smothers
Leslie Vallee-Miller
Nita Whaley
Photographers
ZestNet
Art Direction/Design
Published by:
Community Memorial Health System
A not-for-profit organization.
147 N. Brent St., Ventura, CA 93003
©2005 Community Memorial Health System
For permission to reprint any portion of this magazine
please call (805) 652-5492.
COVER PHOTO: RICHARD SLACK
S E RVI C E
DEFINED
contents
Gary Wolfe
Chairman, Community Memorial
Health System Board of Trustees
A
After more than 3,600 hours of service to
Community Memorial Hospital, the chairman
of the board of trustees appreciates the value
of volunteerism.
Gary Wolfe, who became chairman in
January, has served on the board of trustees
since 1979. During that span he has been
proudest of the contributions by volunteers
who support the hospital.
“The contributions of our volunteers can’t
be measured,’’ Wolfe said, “but without them,
this hospital would not be the outstanding
institution that it is.’’
Wolfe, a partner in the certified public
accounting firm of Vance, Thrift and Biller,
became a hospital board trustee following the
death of founding partner Oather Vance, who
had served CMH for many years.
Wolfe said that highlights during his service
to CMH have included the opening of the emergency room in 1985 and the establishment of the
Centers for Family Health.
The main immediate goal under his leadership is “to return to a level of normalcy’’
between the board, administration and medical staff. That relationship is “going very well,’’
he said. Wolfe credits the efforts of new
BLINDSIDED
by Deep Venous Thrombosis
4
5
6
7
11
12
12
13
13
14
15
15
16
16
RX for Husbands
Who Won’t Go to the Doctor
President and CEO Gary Wilde with this
greatly improved cohesiveness.
“We’ve been very pleased with Gary
Wilde,’’ Wolfe said. He noted the irony that
after a nationwide search, “we found the best
candidate lived right here in Ventura.’’
Other challenges, Wolfe said, are to continue to build upon “our centers of excellence’’
which include cardiology, neurology and the
prostate and breast centers.
Wolfe, a graduate of Ventura High, graduated from Long Beach State. A 50 year county resident, he lives in Ventura with wife Ann
and twins John and Becky, who recently graduated from Ventura High School. The twins
were born at Community Memorial Hospital.
Another son, Todd, lives away from home.
“Lots of nieces and nephews have also
been born here,’’ Wolfe added, noting that he
has many reasons for his long-standing interest
in serving the hospital.
His service on the board “has been incredibly
rewarding,’’ Wolfe said. He has also served on
boards of the West Ventura Girls Club, Channel
Counties CPA Society, California Society of CPAs,
Ventura County Taxpayers Association, the
Salvation Army and the Ventura Rotary Club.
LAP-BAND SURGERY
The Low Risk Option to
Weight Loss Surgery
FOUNDATION NEWS
EMBRACING Mobile
Patient Information Technology
PARENTING TIPS
Helping Kids Cope with Crisis
SAFE HARBOR
Helping Victims of Violence
CATEGORY 5 CARING
Taking Caring to a New Level
TERRI’S TRAGEDY
The Importance of
Advance Directives
WHAT YOU NEED
To Know About DVT
PHARMACIST CORNER
Medication Safety
UPCOMING FOUNDATION EVENTS
Western Casino Night
Benefiting Ojai Valley Community Hospital
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Ojai Valley Inn Ranch & Stables
For more info: 805-640-2317
Gold Dust Gala
Benefiting Community Memorial Hospital
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Seaside Park
For more info: 805-667-2881
UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS >
Relay for Life
Benefiting American Cancer Society
Saturday & Sunday, May 6&7, 2006
Buena High School
I GOT MY LIFE BACK
A LAP-BAND Success Story
It’s About
EXCELLENCE
COMMUNITY @
Community
COMMUNITY MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEM
|
CARING
3
Blindsided
by
J
Deep Venous Thrombosis
Jon Mack, as evidenced by coaching
Ventura’s St. Bonaventure High football team
to six prestigious California Interscholastic
Federation football championships, knows all
about X’s and O’s. But Mack had never heard
of DVT’s until he was recently blindsided by
the life-threatening condition.
Deep venous thrombosis, commonly
referred to as DVT, is a blood clot that develops
in a deep vein, usually in the leg. The American
Heart Association estimates that 1 out of every
1,000 Americans develops DVT annually.
Mack joined this statistical group in early
August after attending a coaching clinic in Las
Vegas. A thunderstorm and a handful of accidents slowed traffic tremendously, causing the
typical five-hour drive back to Ventura to take
seven and a half hours. With prolonged periods
of inactivity, such as a long car or plane ride (or
lying in a hospital bed), there is a tendency for
blood to accumulate, and a static pool of blood
provides an ideal environment for a DVT.
Taking a break every two hours to walk
around a little and facilitate blood flow is recommended to help prevent DVT. Mack, however,
made only one quick stop for gas during his
lengthy trip home. Compounding the problem,
he was a passenger in an economy car.
“In a bigger car, maybe, I could have moved
around and stretched out more during the drive,”
recalls Mack, 45, who within 10 days found himself in the Emergency Room at Community
Memorial Hospital. “I hadn’t realized the importance of taking time to stop and move around
and get the
blood flowing a
little bit.”
Mack also
didn’t initially
realize anything
was wrong after
arriving home,
though he
admits he did feel like he had a little leg cramp
when he got out of the car. A couple days later
when he experienced some groin pain, he attributed it to a water fight he had participated in during a block party the weekend before his Vegas
trip. “I figured I had strained a muscle,” he allows.
When the pain intensified and migrated
“I had never heard of
DVT. At this point I
wasn’t thinking I was in a
life-and-death situation.”
4
CARING
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COMMUNITY MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEM
down his left leg to his knee and calf, Mack finally went to the hospital at his wife Kathy’s insistence. “She didn’t care if the football season was
about to start or not,” shares Mack.
It was a good thing he listened to Kathy: an
ultrasound showed a constellation of blood clots
up and down his leg from the calf to the groin.
“I thought I’d just take a pill to break them
up,” Mack says he naively thought. “I had never
heard of DVT’s. At this point I wasn’t thinking
I was in a life-and-death situation.”
The CMH healthcare experts knew better
and immediately transported Mack by wheelchair to the E.R. “Uh-oh, now I realized this
was serious,” recalls Mack.
Gravely serious. Deep venous thrombosis can
be fatal if it leads to a pulmonary embolism in
which a clot dislodges from the vein, travels to the
lung and blocks an artery. According to the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration, more than 600,000
people in the United States have a pulmonary
embolism each year — and 90 percent of these are
caused by blood clots that form in the legs. More
frightening, an estimated 60,000 Americans die
from pulmonary embolisms annually.
After being rushed to the E.R., a CAT scan
brought Mack face-to-face with these statistics:
“It showed that my lungs were polluted with
clots,” he says. “I realized my life was threatened. I stayed awake all night in the hospital
because I was afraid to go to sleep.”
“This has
changed my life,”
shares Mack.
“I lived football
before – our
whole family’s
life revolved
around football.
Football is still
important, but
I’ve realized there
are other things
more important.”
“It was scary, but I had great faith in the
wonderful doctors and nurses,” Mack continues,
specifically noting Dr. John Handley, a pulmonary specialist at CMH. “They were all so
calm and reassuring. I knew I was in great hands.”
A regimen of blood thinners brought the
condition well enough under control for Mack
to be released from the hospital after one week.
Still, he was given strict doctor’s orders to take
another week of virtual bed rest with his leg
elevated.
By his own admission, however, Mack
quickly overdid things.
“I was a victim of the tough-guy mentality,”
confides Mack, who has called in sick only once
during his 15 years at St. Bonaventure. “Two
weeks later, my leg was swollen, I had no energy
and my blood tests were bad. I realized I had to
change my lifestyle. I realized I couldn’t work 14
hours a day. I realized no one is indispensable.”
Actually, one person came into focus as
indispensable – Kathy. “She’s taken a tremendous load with the home and kids and me,” Jon
Mack shares of his wife of 23 years. “She’s been
incredibly strong when I’m scared. I think she
saw me as indestructible, just as I did, but now
we know better.”
The couple’s three children: Justin, 6;
Kristen, 12; and Jenny, 18 - have also had to face
that harsh reality. “It’s been hard on all of them,”
See DVT, on page 14.
RX
I
It is a familiar scene that plays out in doctors’ offices everywhere: “I’m worried about my
husband’s health, but I can’t get him to come in
and see you.”
“It’s definitely a common problem I hear
from women all the time,” shares Dr. Geoffrey
Loman, a family practice physician in Ventura.
“Sometimes, it’s the husband who voices concerns about his wife, but usually it is a gender
specific issue with women.”
One reason men often don’t visit a doctor’s
office is because they are not in the habit of
doing so the way women are.
“Traditionally, we see children who come in
often for well care,” explains Geoff Loman. “But
by their teenage years, guys basically come in for
sports physicals and that’s about it.”
Meanwhile, females continue to come in on
a regular basis.
“Women are forced to go to the doctor’s
office for birth control, pap smears, prenatal care
and to then bring their own children in for
healthcare,” explains Dr. Nancy Loman, who
teaches classes in Developmental Psychology at
California State University Channel Islands and
Ventura College. “Women have the opportunity
to build a relationship with their doctor.”
Another reason men don’t seek early medical attention, Geoff Loman feels, is simply,
“The macho thing.” Guys tend to think, “If I
ignore it, it will go away.”
Echoes Nancy Loman. Men tend to see
for
husbands
who
WON’T
visit the
doctor’s
office
themselves as invincible. They think, “I have a little chest pain, but if I ignore it, it will get better.”
The consequences of this denial and not taking “well care” seriously can be serious – not only
on a man’s own health, but it can also weigh
heavily on his spouse.
“There are two issues women face when
their husbands don’t get treatment,” explains Nancy Loman. “The first is, they are worried about
him. They obviously don’t want to lose him.
“The second issue is, women – who might
be stay-at-home mothers, or even if they work
full-time, often earn much less money then
men – worry, ‘How will I feed the children if
something serious does happens to him?’ This
can be a frightening thought.”
How, then, can a worried wife get her husband to take a proactive approach and see a
doctor at the first hint something might be
wrong - or even before symptoms appear for
invaluable preventive care?
“Some wives will make appointments for
their husband, which often works out well,”
shares Geoff Loman.
Nancy Loman offers another successful
approach, “Tell your husband you want to go on
a date and hire a babysitter. Spend time together
taking a walk, going to movies and dinner, and
then in this atmosphere tell him about your worries and fears. It’s not a topic you can just throw
out there. You need to address it in a thoughtful,
loving way, not an accusatory way.”
COMMUNITY MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEM
|
CARING
5
Dr. Helmuth Billy
M
More and more obese patients are turning
to surgery to lose weight and improve their
health, and Community Memorial Hospital
offers the newest, low-risk option and the only
reversible and adjustable surgical weight-loss
procedure available in the United States.
The surgery is called the LAP-BAND
System. Unlike the better-known and permanent
gastric-bypass surgery, LAP-BAND helps
patients lose weight by placing an adjustable
band around the upper part of the stomach to
reduce its capacity and restrict how much food
can be consumed. Surgeons use a laparoscopic
technique making tiny incisions, rather than a
large incision, to place the inflatable silicone
band into the patient’s abdomen.
LAP-BAND is unique in that the band can
be removed or adjusted at any time to alter the
rate of weight loss. For example, pregnant
patients can have their band expanded to accommodate the growing fetus, while patients who
aren’t experiencing significant weight loss can
have their band tightened.
The success of the LAP-BAND surgery lies
with the expertise of the surgeon, the hospital
and the long-term follow-up care. Community
Memorial Hospital helps patients keep the
weight off by offering not just surgery but counseling about
food, nutrition
and exercise;
follow-up
doctor visits; a
welcoming
patient support group;
and the use of the hospital’s gym for patients to
exercise regularly in a safe and comfortable environment.
“We concentrate on choices and eating less,
things that lead to a good, long-term result.
Patients see the doctor a lot, and they are learning they have to make changes,” says Dr.
Helmuth T. Billy, the LAP-BAND surgeon at
CMH and the only surgeon in Ventura County
who is approved by the Federal Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) to perform LAP-BAND
surgery. Dr. Billy has performed more than 200
LAP-BAND procedures since he began doing
them in 2001.
“This is life-altering surgery we can do in
30 minutes,” says Dr. Billy, also an expert at
A safe, effective,
and low-risk
alternative to
gastric bypass.
6
CARING
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COMMUNITY MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEM
hope
LAP-BAND SURGERY
the low risk option to
surgical weight loss
LAP-BAND SUCCESS STORY: PAGE 15
gastric bypass surgery and revision operations
for patients whose previous weight-loss surgery
didn’t work out.
Dr. Billy’s expertise is well-known throughout the Western United States, where he regularly travels to train other physicians on LAPBAND surgery. As a member of the teaching faculty for Inamed Corp., the LAP-BAND’s manufacturer, Dr. Billy has trained surgeons at prestigious medical institutions including Stanford
University and the University of California
Medical School in San Francisco.
Dr. Billy says LAP-BAND surgery is a safe,
effective, and low-risk alternative to gastric
bypass. LAP-BAND may be a better choice for
older people and others who prefer a minimallyinvasive procedure to lose weight. With the
LAP-BAND, there is no cutting, stapling or
stomach re-routing. Patients experience less pain
and usually spend fewer than 24 hours in the
hospital after surgery. If for any reason the band
needs to be removed, the stomach generally
returns to its original shape.
“It’s less surgery and it has potentially the
same results,” Dr. Billy says.
Dr. Billy’s practice is located in Ventura at 124
N. Brent Street, across the street from CMH.
OBESITY
ON THE RISE IN THE
UNITED STATES
Obesity is the second leading cause of preventable and premature death in the U.S.
Approximately 127 million American adults
are overweight, 60 million are obese, and 9
million are severely obese. Obesity can
cause many serious health problems, such
as diabetes, heart disease and impaired
mobility.
The number of overweight or obese adults
has continued to rise in the U.S. Severe obesity prevalence is now 4.7 percent, up from
2.9 percent reported in the 1988-1994
National Health and Nutrition Examination
Survey conducted by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention.
In California, 20.9 percent of adults were
obese in 2001, up from 10 percent a
decade earlier, according to the American
Obesity Association.
Helping CMH in its continuous effort to offer the
best healthcare possible by consistently investing
in the newest technology, education and training.
New Cath Lab is the
Beneficiary of the
’05 Benefactors’ Ball
The 33rd annual Benefactors’
Ball was held at the Ojai Valley
Inn & Spa on October 1 to support a very worthy cause –
Community Memorial Hospital’s
mission to deliver high-quality,
compassionate healthcare to our
communities. Jeff Paul served as
the Chairman for the evening’s
black-tie affair that attracted 234
attendees.
The 2005 Benefactors’ Ball
raised $51,419 which will specifically go towards a new state-ofthe-art $1.3 million Cath Lab at
Community Memorial Hospital.
This latest-generation Siemens
Medical Solutions, Inc. equip-
T
ment will cost $1.1 million, while
adapting the room to house it will
run an additional $200,000.
The new Cath Lab is expected to be completed in early 2006
and marks a continuing commitment by Community Memorial
to be a leader in cardiac care.
Indeed, CMH built its first Cath
Lab in 1972 under the leadership
of Dr. William Hart and with a
donation of $1 million from Fritz
Huntsinger, Sr.
In addition to diagnostic procedures such as angiograms (to
determine any narrowing of coronary arteries), the new Cath Lab
will be used to perform angioplas-
Why I support CMH
The new Siemens equipment features the latest
21st Century advances
available today and will
be in sync with the two
Siemens units already at
Community Memorial,
allowing CMH heart
patients the very best
care that healthcare
professions and modern
technology can provide.
ty (to dilate a narrowed artery
preventing a heart attack or even
during a heart attack), to precisely place stents and pacemakers,
and to evaluate and determine if a
heart valve needs replacement. In
the near future, the Cath Lab may
possibly be used to inject stem
cells into a failing heart muscle.
Also, thanks to the 2005
“It is a treasure Ray DiGuilio
for our community"
Ray DiGuilio moved to
Ventura County in 1970, and over
the ensuing 35 years he has been
a
faithful
supporter
of
Community Memorial Hospital.
Asked why, the longtime resident
and former Mayor of Ventura
offered this heartfelt reply:
“Community Memorial Hospital
is a treasure for our community.
It has brought life into our household and saved a life.”
Indeed, two of DiGuilio’s
three children were born at CMH.
“Our family’s first significant experience with the Hospital, like a lot
of young families, was with childbirth,” he points out.
R
Jean and Ray DiGuilio
Benefactors’ Ball, $4,000 was
added to the Audrey Woodburn
Medical Education Fund which
provides assistance to CMH
physicians and nurses by contributing to educational endeavors towards mastering new techniques and enhancing clinical
efficacy for the benefit of all residents of the community.
The DiGuilio’s experiences
with CMH have not been limited
to the maternity unit, however. In
1986, their youngest son, then 9
years old, suffered a very serious
health issue.
“The incident cost him his
spleen and almost his life,”
DiGuilio recalls. “He was in and
out of CMH many, many times
over the next 14, 15 years. He had
a number of incidents in the
Emergency Department and spent
a lot of time in the ICU.
“Over the years we have gotten to know the Hospital very well
and have received nothing but
See “It’s a Treasure...,” page 8
COMMUNITY MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEM
|
CARING
7
Meet Foundation Member
Dorothy Jue Lee
A Long History
of Supporting CMH
Community Memorial Hospital has been dear to Dorothy Jue
Lee’s heart almost from the day
she was born on the second story
above her father Walton’s grocery
store – the well-known Jue’s Market – in Ventura on August 19, 1934.
“Ever since I can remember,
my dad was a big supporter of the
hospital,” recalls Dorothy, noting it
was still called Foster Memorial
Hospital when she was younger.
When funds were being raised
in 1961 to expand Foster Memorial
Hospital and rename it Community Memorial Hospital, Dorothy
further shares: “My dad donated
$25, which was actually a lot of
C
money at that time. But he knew
how important it was.” It is a belief
that was passed down to Dorothy,
who joined the Foundation upon
its inception in 1984 and has been
serving as its treasurer ever since.
“It’s a wonderful way I can
give to the community,” Dorothy
says, explaining the Foundation’s
role has changed over the ensuing
two decades. “When we first started, our main role was to support
education and let people — especially students — know what the
hospital can do for them.”
Reaching out to students was
especially dear to Dorothy because,
after graduating from Berkeley and
Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation
Board of Directors
Sandra R. Masiel, President
Kay Woodburn, Vice President
Barbara Raber, Secretary
Dorothy Jue Lee, Treasurer
Gary Wilde, President & CEO
Joanie Abou-Samra
Moustapha Abou-Samra, M.D.
Trudy Bale
Loye Barton
Ralph R. Bennett
Michael D. Bradbury
Jim Butterbaugh
Bonnie Carlton
Solange Daggett
Ray DiGuilio
Philip C. Drescher
Michael Ellingson
Anthony P. Fowkes
Dave Glyer
John J. Hammer
William L. Hart, M.D.
Lydia Hopps
Fritz R. Huntsinger
8
CARING
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COMMUNITY MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEM
Marvin E. Isensee
Lynn Jacobs
William J. Kearney
John P. Keats, M.D.
Gregory F. Lamp
John Masterson
Harry L. Maynard
Barbara Meister
Leonard B. Ortiz
Dottie Pas
Jeffrey D. Paul
Jeanne Peters
Tommy Slater
Ken Strople
Carolyn Tedesco
Dominic J. Tedesco, M.D.
Norm Weitzel
Stan Whisenhunt
Bob Wiker
Doug S. Wilkinson, M.D.
Gary L. Wolfe
James D. Woodburn, II, M.D.
James D. Woodburn, III, M.D.
then earning a masters degree in
administration at USC, she served
in education in Ventura County as a
teacher, vice principal and principal
for 37 years before retiring in 1991.
She also served on the State Board
of Education from 1990-1996, as
well as numerous educational
boards at USC, including its Board
of Governors in 1994.
“I guess I just enjoy giving
back any way I can,” Dorothy says
modestly. She is proud of the way
CMH gives back to its surrounding
communities.
“Over time, fundraising to buy
state-of-the-art medical equipment
for the hospital has become the
emphasis of the Foundation,”
Dorothy explains. “I’m very proud
that because of this equipment, we
are the only hospital in the entire
county that can provide many
types of care. I’m also very proud
of the different outreach programs
we have to help people throughout
the community who otherwise
couldn’t afford healthcare.”
“As you can tell, I’m proud of
all the work the Foundation does
and of Community Memorial
Hospital,” adds Dorothy, who has
been a patient at CMH only once:
when her son Roderic was born in
1962 — shortly after Walton Jue’s
$25 donation.
“It is a treasure for our community"
continued from page 7
great service,” DiGuilio continues. “Not just from the doctors,
but all the support staff. The
nurses are wonderful. To this day
they will see my son around
town and remember him.”
DiGuilio is happy to share
that his son is doing well and has
been incident free for nearly four
years. This doesn’t mean the
family has not needed CMH’s
services over that span. “My
mother-in-law moved to Ventura
three years ago and she received
excellent attention and care at
CMH,” DiGuilio says.
“My family has been a beneficiary of Community Memorial
Hospital, so I feel it’s important to
give back,” continues DiGuilio,
explaining why he joined the
Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation two years ago.
Thanks to his experience as a
Ventura City Councilman from
1995 through 2003 – and mayor
in 2002-2003 – he is especially
involved in providing guidance
towards earthquake compliance
for the hospital building.
“When my family has needed help, Community Memorial
Hospital has always been there,”
says Ray DiGuilio, who has
worked at all three of the county’s junior colleges and is currently the Vice President of Business
Services at Moorpark College. “I
want to support the Hospital so it
can continue to meet the growing needs of families in our growing community.”
the
Spirit
Giving
of
The spirit of giving is by no
means limited to the holiday season at Community Memorial
Hospital. Indeed, for CMH’s
non-profit Community Memorial
Healthcare Foundation and its
growing roster of volunteer members, philanthropy is a year-round
endeavor.
The Community Memorial
Healthcare Foundation’s mission
is to bring together local citizens
to help CMH in its continuous
effort to offer the best healthcare
possible by consistently investing
in state-of-the-art technology,
education and training.
Ways in which the
Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation has helped the
hospital in the past through their
fund raising activities has been:
T
• Provided a significant portion of
the funds needed to purchase
the revolutionary da Vinci
Surgical Robot. This $1.3 million cutting-edge device adds a
new dimension in assisting
Community Memorial’s highly
trained surgeons in providing
minimally invasive surgery.
• Funded a Women’s Health pro-
gram that provides cost-free
mammograms to women in
need who otherwise would go
without this important care.
• The tiniest patients in our community receive the highest quality of care possible because the
Foundation raises funds to support the Neonatal Intensive
Care Unit and their equipment
needs.
Many Ways to Give
Through a tax-deductible gift to the Foundation, you will gain the satisfaction of supporting an organization
which is dedicated to ensuring that advances in medicine and new technologies are available to serve you, and
your family, friends and neighbors. There are a number of ways to make a meaningful gift.
Cash, Check, Credit Card
Your gift may be restricted for a designated item
or restricted for a need as determined by the
Foundation.
Steps of Life
If you would prefer to honor a loved one, your gift
of $100 or more will purchase a personalized brick
inscribed with your choice of a name or a message.
Your brick will pave the CMH courtyard.
Pledge
As with a gift of cash, a Pledge may be made to the
Foundation, payable over a time period which is
flexible to fit your present and future financial goals.
Bank Account in Trust
A Bank Account in Trust allows you to open an
account in trust for the Foundation. You maintain
the right to add or withdraw from the account, or
close the account at any time. Any funds remaining in the account at death automatically go to
the Foundation.
Will
With a gift by will, the Foundation can be named as
a beneficiary on a will or a contingent beneficiary –
to take effect only if there are no surviving close
family members.
Charitable Remainder Trust
Under the Charitable Remainder Unitrust, you may
irrevocably transfer money, securities, or both to a
trustee who pays you income for life, based on a
fixed percentage of the fair market value of the trust
each year. Upon your death the remaining trust
assets become the sole property of the Foundation.
Gift of Home or Farm
With a Gift of Home or Farm, you may deed the
property to the Foundation now while retaining the
right to live on the property (and also have a survivor enjoy life occupancy if desired).
Life Insurance
Life Insurance is an ideal way of giving to the
Foundation, by irrevocably naming the Foundation
as sole beneficiary of a policy.
Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation truly
plays a major role in CMH’s sincere ongoing
“Commitment to Caring.” By supporting the
Foundation, you are not only making an investment in the health of Ventura County residents
today, but are also helping ensure a healthy future.
Your support this holiday season is appreciated!
For further information on gift opportunities, write
or call the Foundation office at (805) 667-2881.
COMMUNITY MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEM
|
CARING
9
DONORS
Abbott Laboratories/Hospira
Dr. Moustapha & Joanie AbouSamra
Advanced Surgical Associates
Alex Medical, Inc.
Lauren Alexander
American Medical Response
Andria’s Seafood Restaurant &
Market
Anonymous
Amy Armstrong
AVC Office Automation
Trudy Bale
Bank of America Private Bank
Dr. Edward & Jill Banman
Linda Barbee
Dr. Denise Chavez & Richard
Barnes
Shannon Barnes
Bartlett, Pringle & Wolf, LLP
Bauer, Harris, Clinkenbeard &
Ramsey
BB&H Benefit Designs Insurance
Services
Dr. Marc & Rickie Beaghler
David & Josie Becker
Beckman Coulter, Inc
Ralph & Donna Bennett
Leo & Laura Berry
Helmuth Billy, M.D.
Bryan & Alisa Binns
Blocksgaard - Glick & Weitzel
Boot Barn
Boston Scientific Corporation
Tania Brantley
Dr. Charles & Judi Brenner
Jim & Linda Brinkman
John Broms, M.D.
Tom Brugman, M.D.
Buenaventura Medical Group, Inc.
Mark Burschgens
Deedee & Dr. Ralph Busch Jr.
California Cardiac Surgeons
The Camden Group
Cardinal Health
Cardinal Point Communications
Cardiology Associates Medical
Group
Dorothy Caris
Carl Storz
Tony Castelan
Champion Advertisers
Patricia Chesler
Chicago Title
City National Bank
Erwin Clahassey, M.D.
Joanne Clark
Clean Source
CMH Emergency Room Physicians
CMH Radiologists
S. D. Coggins
Colorburst Design Concepts
Commander Printed Products
Corporate Express
Jon Crozier
Paulette Defterios
Don L. Carton Realty
Dougherty Laser Vision
Don & Ruth Downey
DR Systems
E J Harrison & Sons
Dr. John & Linda Edison
Michael Ellingson
William Elrod
Farr & Associates
Arthur Flynn, M.D.
Tom & Joan Follis
Anthony & Edris Fowkes
Donald Frambach, M.D.
Fujifilm Medical System
Dr. Peter & Sandra Gaal
Charlie Garcia
Dr. Robert & Barbara Garrison
Mrs. Renee Gill
David & Maryellen Glyer
Gold Coast Ambulance Service
Gold Coast Broadcasting
Dr. Thomas & Debbie Golden
Gordon Ross Medical
Foundation
Grant & Weber
Grossman Imaging Center
Dr. & Mrs. J. Gstettenbauer
Guidant Corporation
Cynthia Halley
Dr. Jack & Beverly Halpin
John & Glenda Hammer
Hammer-Hewson Associates
Jim & Mary Harrison
Dr. Bill & Louise Hart
Bud & Sally Hartman
Edith Henricks
Lisa & Dave Hermanson
Ronald & Carolyn Hertel
Dr. John & Barbara Hill
Hill-Rom
HMH Construction Co, Inc.
Susan Hopf
Dr. G. Dennis & Bev Horvath
Rod & Alisa Houck
Linda Howard
Hub International
Billy Huling
Fritz & Nancy Huntsinger
I-Flow
IMTS
IRJ Engineers, Inc.
Marvin & Betty Isensee
Isensee Floorcovering
Dr. Gosta & Mary Iwasiuk
Gary & Lynn Jacobs
Patricia Jump
Kaufman Hall
Bill & Elise Kearney
We apologize for any omissions or misspellings.
10
CARING
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COMMUNITY MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEM
Community Memorial Health System and Community
Memorial Healthcare Foundation appreciate the many
generous gifts from our friends. Contributions to the
Foundation benefit our community in many ways.
We gratefully acknowledge the following contributions
received between January 1, and September 30, 2005.
Dr. John & Susan Keats
Tom Kelley
KHAY Radio
Randy Kinsling
Craig Klein
Bernard Konkol
KPN Networks, Inc.
KVTA Radio
Robert & Norma Lagomarsino
Norma Lail
Sharon Landsman
Haady Lashkari
Law Offices of F.T. Muegenburg,
Jr.
Ron Lawrence
Dr. Kee & Jill Lee
Emily & Matt Letourneau
Lifeline Medical Transport
Judge David Long & Shirley
Critchfield
Deborah Lund
Michael Lurie & Nancy Kochevar
John Luttrull, M.D.
Drs. Nelly Mac & P.K. Edwards
Lisa MacAuley
Maryann Marino
Edie & Chuck Marshall
Yvonne Martin
Sandy & Paul Masiel
Massie Laboratories,
Inc./RetCam II
John & Judy Masterson
Ruth & Bob Mathis
Thomas McBreen, M.D.
Charles & Rosena McConica
John & Geraldine McConica
Rosemary McIntyre, M.D.
MD Consult
Mead Johnson
Medtronic, Inc.
Buffie Megugorac
Barbara Meister
Dr. Fredrick & Margaret
Menninger
Mid-State Bank & Trust
Rosie Mietzel
MJP Computers
Tom Mobley
Barry Mosesman & Rhonda
Spiegel
Dale & F. Ted Muegenburg, Jr.
Mundy Medical Marketing, Inc.
David & Diane Murray
Nathan Consulting Group
Julie Nautu
Mark Newton
Chris Nickel
Mary & Robert Nishimura
John & Stephanie Orr
Ruth Orr
Leonard & Lupe Ortiz
Roland & Chris Ouellette
Dr. Robert & Maria Ouwendijk
Nick Pappas
Dottie Pas
Srisawai Pattamakom, M.D.
Jeanne Pearcy
Mari Pedersen
Pediatrix Medical Group
Perennial Designs
Robert Perlis
J.M. Perry Learning Technology
Mitchell Perry
Dr. Arthur & Jeanne Peters
Don & Susan Petty, Jr.
Andrea Pfister
Philip Sorkin Consulting, Inc.
PHS
Kirk Pieper
Ron & Judi Polito
Dr. Martin & Barbara Pops
Precyse Solutions
ProCare Systems, LLC
Pronurse
Puretec Industrial Water
R.T. Beers & Company
Barbara Raber
Constanze Rayhrer, M.D.
The Renaissance Group
Frank Responts
Revcare
Randy Robinson
Ron Rose
Jim Roth & Diane Sanson
Frank Rovelli
John & Peggy Russell
Pam Sanchez
Santa Barbara Bank & Trust
Mrs. Dora E. Schmela
Kim Schwartz
Dr. John Seder & Jean Gordon
Sheeler Moving & Storage
Sherry Scott
Lee Ann Skylstad
Dr. John Slaght & Priscilla
Brennan
Patricia Kong Slater
Greg & Shelley Smith
Soares, Sandall, Bernacchi &
Petrovich
William & Martha Spriggs
John Stauffer
Steris Corporation
Catherine Stern
Bill & Priscilla Stevenson
Margie & John Stites
Ken & Peggy Strople
Robert & Teresa Strong
Natalie Sullaway
Surgical West
Taft Electric
Dr. Leo & Lucy Tauber
Ted Mayr Funeral Home
Rebecca Tolentino
Tolman & Wiker Insurance
Tri Anim
United Blood Services
Van Gundy & Sons Jewelers
John Van Houten, M.D.
Ventura Anesthesia Medical
Group
Ventura Cardiology Consultants
Ventura County Hematology
Oncology Specialists
Ventura Printing
Ventura Pulmonary and Critical
Care Medical Group
Suzanne Vierling
Walking Beam Ranch
Drs. Robert & Wendy Warwar
DuWayne Weatherman
Rick Webb
West Coast Environmental
West-Com & T.V. Inc.
The Wharf
Whisenhunt Communications
Bud & Billie Whitehead
Gary & Cheryl Wilde
Melody Williams
Janice Willis
Gary & Ann Wolfe
Rachael Wolfe
Dr. Douglas & Caryn Woodburn
Dr. Jim & Kay Woodburn
Bob Woolacott
Mark Yeh
Brad Yarbrow
ZestNet
STEPS OF LIFE
Teri & Don Andre
Frances Baker
Idolia Barbee
Ruth Bunker
Laura & Richard Calzada
Craig Chittenden
CMH Auxiliary
Ronald Cottman
Myron Elliott
Carolyn Elliott
Mary Beth Harper
Susan Heinkel
Martha & Peter Jaffe
Nona Belle Jensen
Patricia Jump
Pamela Kennedy
Mrs. E. Kisby
Rose Lara
Patricia Mangini
Norma Orr
CMH Staff
John Trahan
Karen Vunovich
Edwin Ware
Robert Wright
Helping Ojai Valley Community Hospital in its continuous
effort to offer the best healthcare possible by consistently
investing in the newest technology, education and training.
OVCH Guild Helps
Purchase New
Ultrasound Equipment
Ojai Valley Community
Hospital patients are now able to
benefit from the latest technology in ultrasound imaging, thanks
to fundraising by the Hospital
Foundation Guild.
The Guild contributed
$110,000 toward purchase of the
high-end, Philips iU11 ultrasound
system that can be used for a variety of diagnostic procedures,
including monitoring of a fetus
and scanning of the liver, kidneys,
gall bladder and pelvic area.
“This equipment enables us
to perform state-of-the-art imaging that is the equal of any med-
O
ical site in the country,” said Dr.
Dan Sommer, Chief of Radiology
at the Hospital.
“The new system gives us the
ability for the first time to do vascular imaging – a critical requirement in many emergencies,”
added Richard Nunley, Radiology Manager. “Having this
capability will help save lives.”
In addition to the gift from
the Foundation Guild, the
Hospital received a $60,000
grant to purchase the equipment.
Community Memorial Hospital
also contributed. The Guild
funds were raised at Western
Why I support CMH
Retired Superior Court
Judge William Peck and his wife,
Laura, have been loyal supporters of the Ojai Valley Community
Hospital in recent years. They
are active members of the Guild.
Mrs. Peck contributed artworks
to last year’s Operation Picasso,
which installed a varied collection of paintings and photographs throughout the Hospital.
The Pecks’ appreciation for
the Hospital was reinforced several months ago, when Judge Peck
suddenly became seriously ill.
Groggy, unable to function and
R
William and Laura Peck
Radiologist Richard Sommer, M.D. shows Hospital Guild
members Barbara Hirsch (center) and Foundation
Chairman, Barbara Pops the new state-of-the-art
ultrasound equipment at Ojai Valley Community Hospital.
Casino Night earlier this year,
and at the Nightingale Ball in
2003.
“We feel this is a wonderful
example of what community support can do,” said Barbara Hirsch,
who served as Guild President in
2004-05.
“Professionalism Judge William Peck
and Caring Attitude"
spiking a high fever one morning, he was rushed by Mrs. Peck
to the Hospital’s Emergency
Department, where the ER team,
headed that day by Dr. Doug
Nelson, cared for him. The diagnosis was viral meningitis.
Judge Peck recalls the professionalism and caring attitude
of the staff. “They could not have
been nicer to me,” he said.
“What impressed my wife,
in addition to the first-class care
we received, was that they kept
her advised at all times as to
what they thought I had, what
they were doing for me, and test
results.”
Judge Peck appreciated the
smooth transfer to Community
Memorial Hospital by ambulance
when it was determined that he
needed the care resources of the
larger hospital. He spent a total of
six days at CMH, three of them
in the CCU.
Now almost completely
recovered, Judge Peck is back at
work in his private mediation and
arbitration service, grateful for the
care he received when he needed
it the most.
COMMUNITY MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEM
|
CARING
7
Meet Foundation Member
Don Law
Finding Fulfillment as a
Community Volunteer
For Don Law, there is nothing
quite like the exhilaration and freedom of cruising picturesque mountain highways on his Suzuki motorcycle.
But when he tells fellow
retirees about his hobby, he gets
raised eyebrows and even questions
about his sanity. He has a ready
answer: “Motorcycles are as dangerous as the rider makes them. The
group of seniors I ride with have all
been through the CHP Motorcycle
Safety Course, and they ride cautiously and defensively.”
Mr. Law is an avid tennis
player and has had a lifelong
interest in history – a perfect
foundation for his worldwide
travels with his wife, Linda.
F
Time for recreation is not
unlimited these days, however. Mr.
Law is a very active community
volunteer, almost as busy now as he
was before he sold his industrial
chemical company and retired ten
years ago.
Serving on the Ojai Valley
Community Hospital Foundation
Board, he is liaison to the
Hospital administration. In that
role, he conveys to the Board the
Hospital’s prioritized financial
and equipment needs.
Mr. Law also drives a Help of
Ojai transportation van one day a
week. In recent weeks, he has been
working almost daily on a thorough
assessment of the former Honor
Farm facility as a possible site for ad-
October Classic
2005 is Rousing
Success
N
Nearly 300 kids, teenagers, adults
and seniors — runners, walkers and persons confined to wheelchairs — gathered
for fitness, fun and lighthearted competition recently in the October Classic,
2005. The event raised $14,000 for the
Ojai Valley Community Hospital.
In the 10K, the women’s top three
finishers were Mary Jones, Rachel
Hartmann and Alyssa Robinson. The
10K men’s top three were Aaron Sharp,
Salvador Plaza and Mario Gomez.
In the 5K, the top three women were Catherine Hasbrouck, Jennifer
Dinh and Alexa Pulley. On the men’s side, the top winners were Diego
Sorra, Cecil Baumgartner and Steve Mercer.
8
2
CARING
CARING
|
COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY MEMORIAL
MEMORIAL HEALTH
HEALTH SYSTEM
SYSTEM
ditional space for Help of Ojai. He
will join the nonprofit social service
organization’s Board in January.
In addition, he helps with Mrs.
Law’s work as a volunteer with
Casa Pacifica, the home for abused
and abandoned children in
Camarillo.
Getting involved with Help of
Ojai was an eye-opener for him. “I
had not fully appreciated the needs
of the elderly,” he recalls. “Once
you become aware, a momentum
builds and you just want to do
more and more for them. Some of
the situations are very sad, and if I
can brighten their lives a little bit,
it’s very rewarding to me.”
When Mr. Law was invited to
join the new Ojai Valley Commun-
ity Hospital Foundation Board earlier this year, he brought with him
two years’ experience on the previous Hospital Board, serving on the
Finance and Executive Committees.
“The merger of the Ojai
Hospital with Community Memorial has brought much-needed stability to the Ojai facility, which is
very satisfying to those of us who
have served the Hospital for any
length of time,” says Mr. Law.
“Now that we are part of the new
Health System, our energies on the
Foundation Board can be totally refocused on improvements in the
delivery of high quality healthcare,
which is extraordinarily important
to residents of this Valley.”
OUR SINCERE THANKS TO ALL OUR SPONSORS
FOR THEIR GENEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS
Headline Sponsor
Forest Pharmaceuticals
Team Sponsor:
Swim with Mike by Dan and Mara Redden
Race Shirt Sponsors
Assisted Home Care, Autumn Years at Ojai, Dr. Fred Fauvre, The Gables of Ojai, Help
Unlimited Home Care, Mid-State Bank & Trust, Ojai Medical Equipment, Ojai Valley
Emergency Physicians Medical Group, Inc., Rainbow Bridge, Rotary Club InteractNordhoff High School, Dr. Robert and Alice Skankey, and Wells Fargo
Community Sponsors
Behavioral Science Technology, Blue & Emerald Iguana Inns, Victoria Breen—Derby &
Derby, Inc., Clausen Funeral Home, Joseph Macaluso, Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy, The
Oaks at Ojai, Ojai Rexall Drugs, Ojai Valley Family Medicine Group, Smith, Barney, Inc.,
and Tim and Terri Wolfe
Friends of the Hospital
Lewis Angelos, Bank of America, Stephen Bennett, Coldwell Banker Property Shoppe,
Crooked Creek Ranch, Curves, Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association, Los
Padres Bank, Matilija Veterinary Hospital, Inc., Metro Med, Inc., Medical Arts Pharmacy,
John and Peggy Russell, Swanner Physical Therapy, Suzanne’s Cuisine, and Waite, Jacobs
and Atkinson, Attorneys at Law
Ojai Valley Community
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Gary Farr, Vice-Chair
John Mothershead, Secretary
Tim Wolfe, Treasurer
Peggy Russell, Asst. Treasurer
Michael Ellingson
Brenda Farr
James Halverson, M.D.
Sue Horgan
Don Law
Martin Pops, M.D.
John Russell
Joyce West
Nita Whaley
Brenda Farr
New Guild President Foresees Another Successful Year
As Brenda Farr takes office as
President of the Ojai Valley
Community Hospital Foundation
Guild, she looks forward to another successful year with confidence
and enthusiasm.
“Each President has taken the
Guild to a higher level,” said Mrs.
Farr, who succeeds Barbara
Hirsch in the post. “My goal is to
continue the excellence we’ve had
so far, to broaden our communi-
A
cations with the community and
to increase our membership.”
The Guild will continue with
its highly successful fundraising
events, the Nightingale Ball and
Western Casino Night. “It’s imperative that the people of Ojai realize that all funds raised go only to
Ojai Valley Community Hospital
to enhance care and services,” said
Mrs. Farr. “This was our original
premise and remains unchanged
after the merger with Community
Memorial Hospital.”
A founding member of the
Guild, Mrs. Farr has been on the
Board since its inception. She and
her husband Gary, Vice Chairman of the OVCH Foundation,
were co-chairs of the first
Nightingale Ball. The couple
works together in a family-owned
business, Farr & Associates,
Oxnard, where Mrs. Farr runs the
Employee Benefits Division.
Mrs. Farr’s fellow Guild officers this year are Joyce West,
Vice President; Gloria Vadnais,
Secretary; and Alice Chesley,
Treasurer.
With more than 150 members, Guild membership continues
to increase. Monthly meetings
offer education on topics of interest to the community, and have
become popular social events.
COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY MEMORIAL
MEMORIAL HEALTH
HEALTH SYSTEM
SYSTEM
CARING
|| CARING
9
the
Spirit Giving
of
The spirit of giving is by no
means limited to the holiday season at Ojai Valley Community
Hospital. Indeed, for OVCH’s
non-profit Foundation and its
growing roster of volunteer
members, philanthropy is a yearround endeavor.
The Ojai Valley Community
Hospital Foundation’s mission is
to bring together local citizens to
help OVCH in its continuous
effort to offer the best healthcare
possible by consistently investing
in state-of-the-art technology,
education and training.
Ways in which the Foundation has helped the hospital in
the past through their fund raising
activities has been:
T
• Ultrasound-Imaging
• Ventilator-Respiratory Therapy
• Bio-Z System-ICU
(non-invasive cardiac
monitoring system)
• Chemical Analyzer-Lab
• Colonoscopy scope-Surgery
• Fracture Table-Surgery
• IBM AS 400-Administration
(hospital main computer
system)
• Microscan-Lab
• Bio Feedback System-Keeler
• Indo System-Surgery
• Lift System
10
2
CARING
CARING
|
Many Ways to Give
Through a tax-deductible gift to the Foundation, you will gain the satisfaction of supporting an organization which is dedicated to ensuring that advances in medicine and new technologies are available to serve
you, and your family, friends and neighbors. There are a number of ways to make a meaningful gift.
Cash, Check, Credit Card
Your gift may be restricted for a designated item
or restricted for a need as determined by the
Foundation.
Pledge
As with a gift of cash, a Pledge may be made to
the Foundation, payable over a time period which
is flexible to fit your present and future financial
goals.
Bank Account in Trust
A Bank Account in Trust allows you to open an
account in trust for the Foundation. You maintain
the right to add or withdraw from the account, or
close the account at any time. Any funds remaining in the account at death automatically go to
the Foundation.
Charitable Remainder Trust
Under the Charitable Remainder Unitrust, you
may irrevocably transfer money, securities, or
both to a trustee who pays you income for life,
based on a fixed percentage of the fair market
value of the trust each year. Upon your death the
remaining trust assets become the sole property
of the Foundation.
COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY MEMORIAL
MEMORIAL HEALTH
HEALTH SYSTEM
SYSTEM
Will
With a gift by will, the Foundation can be named
as a beneficiary on a will or a contingent beneficiary – to take effect only if there are no surviving
close family members.
Gift of Home or Farm
With a Gift of Home or Farm, you may deed the
property to the Foundation now while retaining
the right to live on the property (and also have a
survivor enjoy life occupancy if desired).
Life Insurance
Life Insurance is an ideal way of giving to the
Foundation, by irrevocably naming the
Foundation as sole beneficiary of a policy.
Ojai Valley Community Hospital Foundation truly
plays a major role in OVCH’s sincere ongoing
“Commitment to Caring.” By supporting the
Foundation, you are not only making an investment in the health of Ojai Valley residents today,
but are also helping ensure a healthy future.
Your support this Holiday Season is appreciated!
For further information on gift opportunities, write
or call the Foundation office at (805) 640-2317.
"The idea is to
get information
into the
doctor’s hand
as quickly as
possible."
Dr. Jim Woodburn relies on MData Mobile for
instant access to patient information.
B
Busy executives and, harried moms and
teens aren’t the only ones benefiting these days
from portable hand-held pocket PCs that give us
immediate information. All staff doctors at
Community Memorial Hospital and Ojai Valley
hospital stays, and promotes patient safety.
“Almost everything I need on a patient in
the hospital is in there,” says Dr. Robert
Garrison, a family practice physician in Ventura
with patients at CMH. His mobile “trio” unit is a
Embracing Mobile PATIENT
Information Technology
Community Hospital now have access to stateof-the-art software for their mobile communications devices that places vital patient information
at their fingertips literally in seconds.
The software is called MData Mobile. It is
manufactured by MercuryMD, a North
Carolina-based healthcare software company
that develops medical technology to improve
efficiency and, ultimately, patient care.
The days of a doctor waiting around for a
patient’s chart to be printed out or updated are
coming to an end. MData Mobile communicates inbound and outbound messages in real
time from the hospital’s information systems to
a mobile device for direct access to the latest
information.
“The goal we’ve always tried to accomplish
is to get the information to the physician as
quickly as possible,” said Nick Pappas, Director
of Information Systems.
Physicians with MData software on their
Palm Pilots, smart cell phones and other
mobile PC devices can readily access lab
results, medication lists, radiology results and
other information from their mobile devices as
they meet with patients at the hospital.
Doctors say that hastening the delivery of this
vital information helps them give their patients
better and faster care, reduces the length of
that day. He further uses MData software to see
emergency room reports and X-ray reports. “It’s
instant access,” he says.
Another advocate of the MData software is
CMH general surgeon, Dr. Jim Woodburn, who
was among the first at CMH to use the technology, having loaded the software into a cell phone
he carries at all times. Dr. Woodburn says
MData has been a huge help, particularly in one
patient’s case that he recalled.
“A chart had not been printed out and put
together yet. I would have had nothing to go on
but the information I needed was already in
Mdata, and I was able to pull up the patient’s
information and labs on my mobile device,” Dr.
Woodburn said.
Community Memorial and Ojai Valley
Community Hospitals are among the more than
200 hospitals and nearly 100 healthcare systems
across the nation using MData. CMH doctors
were first offered the software as a pilot program
in late 2002, and Ojai doctors were offered
access this October. At least 135 doctors use
MData and more are expected to as they learn
about it.
cell phone/PDA/camera device that has the
MData software included to give Dr. Garrison
instant access to patient information while he
makes his hospital rounds.
“The MData software helps him in many
ways,” says Dr. Garrison. It allows him to check
a patient’s lab reports for that day and the previous days and lets him check medications for
patients who take several drugs at once or are
being seen by more than one doctor. Using
MData, Dr. Garrison said he can cross-reference
patients’ medications,
get a list of side effects,
doses and drug interactions, and he can
ensure a patient is
receiving only appropriate medications.
MData also keeps
a list of all the new
patients who were
admitted to C M H
over the weekend,
which Dr. Garrison
says helps him prepare
for work on Monday
Dr. Robert Garrison explains
morning by knowing
the benefits of MData Mobile.
which new patients he
needs to see or call on
COMMUNITY MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEM
|
CARING
11
PARENTING
TIPS
Helping Kids
Cope with
Crisis
D
Despite our wishes and efforts, we cannot
always protect our children or other family
members from illness or accident. These events
may be stressful or frightening for any of us.
When illness or infirmity occurs, as parents, our
tasks are to help our children feel safe and cared
for and to assist them in developing skills and
confidence in their own personal resources to
cope effectively with these human experiences.
It is common to fear illness and disability, as
these conditions reflect our vulnerability and lack
of control over life events. This is a problem for
SAFE BOR
HAR
E
Emergency room doctors and others have
seen them all too many times – women and children traumatized by domestic violence or sexual
abuse who come to the hospital for medical
treatment but need so much more help.
Community Memorial Health System
CEO, Gary Wilde, and other Ventura leaders
have teamed up with the local business and law
enforcement communities to open a new advocacy, medical treatment and evidence-gathering
12
CARING
|
COMMUNITY MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEM
When illness
or infirmity
occurs, as
parents, our
tasks are
to help our
children
feel safe and
cared for.
people of any
age. Parents can
best help children
cope with these
conditions
by
honestly helping
them understand,
what to expect. This includes an explanation of
upcoming treatments and procedures. We
should keep our language simple and concise,
while checking our own emotional reactions and
limiting our discussions to necessary informa-
tion. Parents should provide ample opportunities for questions and dialogue, recognizing that
it takes children time to process difficult or frightening information and react to it.
Medical personnel, such as doctors, nurses,
and technicians, can provide answers that parents may not have. Parents, however, can advise
these caregivers as to what questions have arisen
and how their children best understand information about their bodies and those of family and
friends. Whatever emotions children express
must be recognized and validated by parents and
others. As parents, we may also be coping with
our own feelings of overwhelming sadness or
fear. We must find other adults who can help us
through these periods, so that we can express
warmth and understanding to our children without imparting our negative feelings.
Dealing with the feelings around illness and
infirmity is part of parenting, part of human life.
We can help our children through this process
by listening carefully, explaining what to expect
in age-appropriate ways, and enlisting medical
practitioners to explain and prepare our children
for their own illness or that of other important
people in their lives. We can make our children
stronger and better able to cope with physical
disability through our willingness to face these
problems with them and to treat physical problems as we do other problems. Together, we can
face and cope with feelings that could otherwise
be overwhelming.
HELPING VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE
center right across the street
from CMH.
CMH is donating a vacant
house owned by the hospital to
be renovated and transformed
into the new west county “Safe
Harbor” center. Donations of
building materials, furnishings and labor are
being sought with the goal of opening the new
center in the spring.
“This is a collaborative effort with the business community partnering with government
and healthcare to do something that one group
can’t do alone,” Wilde said.
Ventura already has a Safe Harbor facility in
an office building near the County Government
Center. The DA’s Office currently spends $60,000
a year to lease the space, but under the collabora-
tive arrangement with CMH they will only pay $1
per year to lease the house on Martha Street. The
operating expenses of the program are funded by
a private, non-profit grant.
Police and district attorney officials say the
current facility is not an ideal place for victims to
feel at ease while they seek medical treatment
and counseling and give critical statements to
help prosecute the abusers. Investigators and
advocates want the center to be closer to the
hospital. “Also, after renovations, the new center
will have a more home-like environment to
make victims feel comfortable,” District Attorney
Gregory Totten said.
“We’re thrilled with the leadership role the
hospital has taken, spearheaded by Community
Memorial Health System, CEO, Gary Wilde,”
Totten added.
5
category caring
Nurses Take
Caring to a New Level
D
Diane Ellison and Connie Fincher love to
help people. That is why they became registered nurses.
So, it’s no surprise that when they saw the
devastation left by Hurricane Katrina and the
misery it brought to the people of New
Orleans and nearby regions of Louisiana and
Mississippi, Ellison, a nurse in Community
Memorial Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care
Unit, and Fincher, a clinical nurse educator in
CMH’s Intensive Care/Critical Care Unit, felt
compelled to act.
“I was at my kitchen sink washing vegetables,” Ellison remembered, “and I’m thinking
that the people I’m seeing on TV would die for
the water that I am wasting down the drain.
“As a nurse, I feel a responsibility to help
other people. I just had to do something.”
Fincher, on medical leave from CMH after
undergoing knee-replacement surgery in July,
felt the same way. “With my background, I
knew I had something to offer,” Fincher said.
So both called the American Red Cross.
While her mind was willing, Fincher’s
recent knee surgery made it impossible for her
to treat victims of Hurricane Katrina. But she
could answer phone calls, and she could type
into a computer.
For two weeks, Fincher took calls from
people calling the
American Red
Cross to volunteer.
She took calls from
people lost and
stranded 2,500
miles away in New
Orleans. She took
calls from people
in the Super Dome
who were separatDiane Ellison, RN e d f r o m l o v e d
ones. She took
calls – hundreds of them – and entered information received into the American Red Cross’
national database that was set up in the wake of
Katrina.
“I wish I could have been deployed to New
Orleans,” said
Fincher wistfully,
then adding “but I
did what I could,
and I did it the best
I could.”
As for Ellison, Connie Fincher, RN
she boarded a
flight to Houston, her thoughts focused on the
daunting task ahead – treating the victims of
Katrina. But as she reached her destination,
Katrina’s equally powerful sister, Hurricane Rita,
was bearing down on the Texas Gulf Coast.
So, suddenly, Rita, not Katrina, would be
her assignment. That meant first getting
caught in perhaps the biggest traffic jam in history. It took the bus carrying Ellison and her
co-workers nine hours to cover the 70 miles
from Houston to Huntsville, Texas, to a
makeshift shelter in the Sam Houston State
University gymnasium, the temporary home
for about 450 evacuees.
She treated victims, from newborn babies
to cardiac and dialysis patients, for five days in
Huntsville before she was transferred to
Crockett, Texas. There, she spent the next two
weeks in the city’s Civic Center tending to the
medical and emotional needs of 250 more
evacuees, many of whom lost their homes, and
everything in them.
Ellison returned home after three exhausting weeks in Texas. Although she witnessed a
lot of misery and heartbreak, Ellison said what
she would remember most is the compassion
people showed to those who suffered.
“You hear about how people don’t care,
but what I kept seeing was people in the community embracing people they didn’t even
know,” Ellison said as she related stories of
people bringing money, food and clothing to
those in the shelter, people offering evacuees
rides to hospitals, and a man who pulled $800
out of his wallet and said, “Here, now go take
everyone out to Kentucky Fried Chicken for
dinner.”
“I was totally blown away by it all,” Ellison
said. “I get teary just thinking about it.”
TERRI’S TRAGEDY
The
Importance
of Advance
Directives
Dr. James W. Hornstein
The short life and
heartbreaking death
o f Te r r i S c h i a v o
should have been a
private matter and a
time for her family to
grieve in peace.
Instead, Terri’s death on March 31 was played
out in the national media with her family members at war with each other.
The fight over her medical treatment could
have been avoided had Terri exercised her legal
right to state in writing her wishes for medical
treatment should she become unable to express
them herself. She should have had an Advance
Directive.
Today there is a medical, legal and moral
consensus that competent adults can accept or
refuse any medical treatment. In 1990, the U.S.
Supreme Court affirmed this right.
If you are an alert patient, you can tell the
doctors your wishes. However, the trouble arises
when patients can’t speak for themselves
because they are in a coma or are incapacitated
by illness or injury. If you have not given any
instructions, no one can know for sure what you
would have decided.
That’s why it is so important for people to
have an Advance Directive. An Advance
Directive is a document in which you name a
surrogate decision-maker to speak for you and
state your wishes if you can’t speak for yourself.
This surrogate can be anyone, your spouse, adult
child, a friend or a relative. This person has the
same rights as the patient. You must make your
wishes known to your surrogate and make sure
copies are given to friends, family, your doctor,
nursing home staff or hospital personnel.
Another separate part of an Advance
Directive is the section where you can list your
wishes in writing. This was previously known as
a “living will,” and may further help to clarify
your treatment choices for your surrogate and
doctors.
These treatment decisions are difficult to
make, but they are much more difficult if you do
not participate.
Just ask Terri’s family.
For more info visit: http://www.cmanet.org/publicdoc.cfm/7
Dr. James W. Hornstein is Chairman of the Bioethics
Committee at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura
COMMUNITY MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEM
|
CARING
13
DVT
What you need
to know about
We’re Always Looking
for Volunteers!
A deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot, or thrombus, that develops
in a deep vein, usually in the leg. When a clot forms, there is a risk that it
will break away and travel up the vein and into the lung. This is called a pulmonary embolism, and, depending on the size of the clot or number of
them, can be a life-threatening condition.
Increased Risk Factors
DVT is more common in people over the age of 40 or those who have
already had a blood clot in their legs. Other increased risks include smoking, morbid obesity, or taking a contraceptive pill. In addition, cancer
patients, as well as post-operative surgery patients, are also at increased risk
of DVT. A common risk factor for the general population is prolonged sitting, such as long-distance travel by car, or plane, without frequent breaks.
Symptoms of a DVT
“Symptoms can include leg pain that might feel like a pulled muscle,
swelling of the leg, even redness to the leg,” explains Dr. John Handley, pulmonary specialist at Community Memorial Hospital. While these are not
always signs of a DVT, anyone who experiences them should contact their
doctor.
Symptoms of Pulmonary Embolism
A pulmonary embolism can be associated with shortness of breath, chest
pain, and coughing up blood. Anyone with these symptoms should seek
prompt emergency medical evaluation.
Treating a DVT
“The best treatment requires a team approach between a doctor and
patient,” says Dr. Handley. “Both have to do their part to achieve a good
outcome.”
Dr. John Handley
Blood thinning medicines, called anticoagulants, are typically used to stop
new blood clots from forming and old ones growing. The anticoagulants
used are Heparin (injected or by infusion) overlapped with Coumadin or
Warfarin (taken as tablets). Initial treatment for an uncomplicated DVT case
generally requires about five days in a hospital. Afterwards, anticoagulants
will usually be continued for three to six months. Meanwhile, regular blood
tests are needed to monitor the patient’s condition. In the most severe
cases, clot dissolving drugs called thrombolytics are used to dissolve DVTs.
Preventive Measures for Travelers
While the added risk of developing a DVT caused by traveling appears to be
low, it can be further reduced by exercising the legs at least once every hour
during long-distance travel. This means taking regular breaks when driving
or walking up and down the aisle of a train or plane. In addition, the muscles of the lower legs (which act as a pump to help blood flow north in the
veins) can be exercised while sitting by alternately pressing the balls of the
feet downward while raising the heel and relaxing, and flexing the toes
towards the knees and relaxing.
Take No Chances
Lastly, anyone who develops swelling or pain in the leg or breathing problems after traveling should immediately seek medical evaluation.
14
CARING
|
COMMUNITY MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEM
Auxiliary volunteers provide
that special touch of comfort,
compassion and assistance
to patients and their families.
If you are interested in becoming a
volunteer please call the Auxiliary:
Community Memorial Hospital
805/652-5043
Ojai Valley Community Hospital
805/646-1401, ext. 224
DVT
continued from page 5.
Mack says, noting it has been especially difficult
for Jenny because she is away from home as a
freshman at San Diego State. “Justin knows Dad
was real sick and real scared; Kristen knows
more; and Jenny knows everything.”
There have also been a rainbow among
the clouds.
“This has changed my life,” shares Mack. “I
lived football before – our whole family’s life
revolved around football. Football is still important, but I’ve realized there are other things more
important. For example, Jenny and I were always
close, but now we’re even closer. I take time
every day to talk to her on the phone. I leave
home (for work) later in the morning and help
the kids with homework, that kind of thing.”
He also took time off from coaching to
take Jenny to college and help her move in.
And on the drive to — and back — from San
Diego, Jon Mack made sure he took breaks to
get out and stretch his legs.
Medication Safety
by Gary Metalak, CMH Pharmacist
PHARMACIST
W
CORNER
While working one evening, I received a
call from a mother whose doctor told her to
give ibuprofen to her 18-month-old child for a
fever. She had a supply of ibuprofen suspension from a friend, and she needed help with
dosing. Unfortunately, she didn’t know her
child’s weight nor did she have an accurate
means of measuring a dose. Here are some tips
to help with dosing acetaminophen, ibuprofen,
and other liquid, non-prescription medications
for children.
Most of these liquid products have labels
that list doses by a child’s age and weight.
Dosing by weight is most accurate and the preferred method. If you don’t know your child’s
weight, use your bathroom scale. Weigh yourself. Then weigh yourself holding your child.
The difference between the two weights will be
your child’s weight.
You also need an accurate method for measuring the dose. Don’t guess, and don’t use a teaspoon. Many non-prescription products for children are packaged with calibrated droppers, oral
syringes, or dosing cups. Only use a measuring
device with the medication it came with.
Generic measuring devices that can be used with
any liquid medication are available in pharmacies. They are inexpensive and should be
available if there are children in the household.
With your child’s weight, a measuring
device, and the dosing information on the medication label, you’re set to determine the proper
dose, measure, and administer it. If you still have
questions, don’t hesitate to call your pharmacist.
Another medication use problem was
recently brought to my attention. A friend visited the emergency room for a rapid heart rate.
I GOT MY
Sandi now enjoys cruising on the
back of her husband’s Harley
A
life back
At the age of 55 and topping 400 pounds,
Sandi Henderson wasn’t doing much living.
That was last year. The Oxnard woman was
in failing health, her blood pressure was skyrocketing, and she knew she was missing out on a lot
of the joys in life, like outings with her four
young grandchildren. Mrs. Henderson couldn’t
even walk across a parking lot without stopping
to catch her breath, much less keep up with four
active kids.
She said she was scared into action after a
visit to her doctor ended with a prescription for
a LAP-BAND success story
medication to lower her high blood pressure, a
condition she’d never had before. At the time,
Sandi had heard about the minimally-invasive
LAP-BAND surgery to lose weight, and she
decided she had to act.
Ventura surgeon, Dr. Helmuth Billy, performed the procedure at Community Memorial
Hospital on May 28, 2004. Since then, Sandi,
now 57, has been steadily losing six to 12 pounds
per month and is happy with the results, and
with Dr. Billy’s care. “He’s providing a wonderful
service for us,” she said.
‘‘
I told my
friend, It still
won’t help if
you take your
medications
in the dark.”
He takes Toprol XL 200 mg daily for high blood
pressure. It was rather dark one morning when
he took his medication, and his wife had just
rearranged the medicine cabinet. He mistakenly
took a Cipro tablet from an old, unfinished prescription. Both bottles were the same size, and
both medications were elongated white tablets.
Missing his dose of Toprol resulted in the rapid
heart rate and the trip to the emergency room.
There are lessons to be learned from this.
Read the label on the medication container before
you take a dose, don’t take your medications in
the dark, and discard old prescriptions. But my
friend argued that medication labels are difficult to
read on cylindrical bottles, and I agree. Recently,
Target pharmacies started using prescription containers that allow labels to lay flat for easy reading.
They’re also color coded for each family member.
I commend Target for their innovation and hope
that this becomes the standard of practice. But as
I told my friend, it still won’t help if you take your
medications in the dark.
Be safe. Whether it’s your own medication
or medication for your child, taking that extra bit
of care can prevent the serious consequences of
a medication error.
“I’ve got my life back. I’m enjoying my life,”
said Mrs. Henderson, whose goal is to weigh
about 175. She’s more than halfway there, having lost over 150 pounds and still losing. She
chalks up her success to hard work, healthier
eating habits and support from other LAPBAND patients she meets at a monthly support
group.
Mrs. Henderson, who owns a business that
sells computers and networking equipment to
other businesses, feels much better and loves
her new, active life. She now swims an hour a
day four to six times a week, is back to enjoying
riding on the back of her husband’s motorcycle,
and has fun taking her grandkids to Sea World.
She also has taken up an old hobby she had
to give up when she was so heavy–scuba
diving.
“I went scuba diving in Hawaii for the first
time in nine years for my birthday (in
September). It was awesome. I’m planning my
next dive trip,” she said.
And Sandi has discovered another exciting
benefit to her incredible weight loss after LAPBAND surgery: “I can go shopping a lot because
every three months, I need a new wardrobe.”
COMMUNITY MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEM
|
CARING
15
CMH and OVCH Kick Off New
Customer Service Excellence Initiative
excellence
It‘s about
P
Providing patients with the best medical care
has always been the goal at Community Memorial
Hospital, Ojai Valley Community Hospital and the
Centers for Family Health.
Now, the new Community Memorial Health
System is taking that basic goal a giant step further.
Community Memorial Health System is initiating an innovative three-year training program
aimed at creating a complete service-oriented culture at the hospitals and the nine clinics located
throughout West Ventura County. It’s a culture in
which managers, doctors and staff members work
together as a team to satisfy patient needs, and better monitor patient satisfaction.
The goal of the new Service Excellence
Initiative is to anticipate patient needs and to meet
those needs and expectations on a routine basis.
To accomplish this, managers, doctors and
employees must work together.
“What makes an organization stand out from
others? It’s excellence,” said Rhonda Spiegel, Vice
President of Patient Care Services for Community
Memorial Health System.
“Good isn’t good enough. Every employee in
the organization will be empowered to act to ensure
@
the service and satisfaction of every patient, every
physician and every employee is met,” she said.
As part of the new push for better, more complete service, Spiegel chairs a new Service
Excellence Council that includes managers and
employees from various health system departments who will coordinate the program’s activities
and oversee progress toward its goals.
With the support of the health system’s
employees, the Board of Trustees and top managers decided earlier this year to follow the program offered by a Canadian-based healthcare firm,
Custom Learning Systems.
Chief Executive Officer, Gary Wilde, Spiegel,
and Vice President of Human Resources, Jon
Crozier, attended an initial training session conducted by founder Brian Lee. That was followed
by a two-day leadership training session at CMH
for health system supervisors.
“Our intent is to make sure we have the best
customer service, the best outcomes, and are the
employer of choice, and the patients’ and physicians’ health system of choice,” Crozier added.
In November, the Service Excellence Council
members attended Custom Learning Systems’
COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY
• Congestive Heart Failure
Support Group
5:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m., 4th Wed.
(805) 652-5010
• Living with Cancer
3:30 p.m.–5:00 p.m., Wednesdays
Contact: Fred Odom, (805) 652-5010
• Prostate Cancer Support Group
6:30 p.m.–8:00 p.m., 2nd Thurs.
Contact: Sharon Jones,
(805) 983-8864, ext. 3
[email protected]
• Bariatric Surgery Seminar
6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m., Selected
Mondays, call for more information.
Contact: Pam Sanchez,
(866) 720-6296
• Bariatric Support Group
7:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m., 3rd Thurs.
Contact: Sara Rayes or
Dr. Helmuth Billy,
(805) 648-2227, ext. 110
16
CARING
|
Need a Doctor?
If you are
looking for
a doctor,
physician
referrals are
available at no
charge through
Community
Memorial
Hospital.
Just call and ask for
Physician Referral Service
805/652-5600
Every month, the Community Memorial Health System has a variety of support and
informational meetings. Please verify meeting date and location with the contact person listed. Sometimes meetings may be cancelled or rescheduled.
• Meetings at CMH, 147 N. Brent St., Ventura
• Mended Hearts
6:30 p.m.–9:00 p.m., 1st Tues.
Contact: Dick Hiser, President,
(805) 646-4636
• Better Breathers
3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m., 2nd Wed.
Contact: Regina Stevens,
(805) 652-5346
• Perinatal Education,
Maternity Orientation,
Prepared Childbirth, Sibling Class
Call for more information.
(805) 658-BABY (2229)
• Bittie Babies (Newborn-4 months)
or Bigger Babies (3-7 months)
Various courses each week.
Contact: Heidi Cantrell,
(805) 658-BABY (2229)
• SuperSitter Courses
Children 11 years and older, learn
to be responsible babysitters and
how to administer CPR to an infant
COMMUNITY MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEM
national conference in Santa Barbara, where they
exchanged ideas with representatives of other
healthcare organizations about the best practices
and how other hospitals and health systems have
found success.
or child.
(805) 658-BABY (2229)
• Caregivers Support Group
3:00 p.m.–4:30 p.m., 2nd Fri. Contact:
Arlene Reynolds, (805) 445-1181
• Lymphedema Support Group
6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m., 3rd Wed.
Contact: Melissa Stoen,
(805) 644-9620
Community Memorial Hospital of San Buenaventura
147 N. Brent St.
Ventura, CA 93003
• HICAP
(Insurance Help for Seniors)
1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m., 3rd Mon.
Contact: Katharine Raley,
(805) 477-7310
• Hepatitis C Support Group
6:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m., 1st Tuesday
Contact: Janeen Lyche, RN, FNP
(805) 641-6536
Non Profit Org
US Postage
PAID
Community Memorial
Hospital of San
Buenaventura