e Montana Cancer Center at Providence St. Patrick Hospital

Health
& Hope
Providence St. Patrick Hospital
Providence St. Joseph Medical Center
Providence Medical Group
MONTANA.PROVIDENCE.ORG p WINTER 2014
WELLNESS
Radiation oncologist
Jeffrey Stephenson, MD,
is one of the patient’s
healthcare team members
at Montana Cancer Center
at Providence St. Patrick
Hospital.
Cancer
screenings to
schedule now 2
PREVENTION
Who, what,
when and
where to go to
keep your heart
healthy 4
The Montana Cancer
Center at Providence
St. Patrick Hospital
One of the most successful and
impressive cancer programs in
the Northwest 6-7
SICK? Check your symptoms at montana.providence.org/symptoms
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WELLNESS
Are You at Risk
for Lung Cancer?
Are you 50 or older and still smoking—or a former
smoker who has since quit?
If so, Providence St. Patrick Hospital is offering a lowcost lung cancer screening that could help you. Studies
have shown that for those with certain risk factors, a
lung CT scan can reduce the risk of death from lung
cancer by 20 percent.
Of course, St. Pat’s encourages people to stop
smoking–one of the best ways to reduce your risk of
lung cancer. Your healthcare provider can help you find
the right smoking cessation resource for you.
IS A SCAN RIGHT FOR YOU?
Source: Cancer Facts & Figures 2013
To find out if you qualify for a
low-cost lung CT scan, contact
Providence St. Patrick Hospital
at 406-329-5757.
Safeguard Yourself
You keep your computer safe with antivirus software and you
never forget an oil change. Treat your body with the same careful
consideration by staying current on your cancer screenings. Use
this guide to make sure you’re up to date. And be sure to discuss
your health and family history with your doctor, as this may affect
the frequency of your exams and the age at which you start.
SCREENING
FREQUENCY
Pap test
Every three years, starting at 21; every
five beginning at 30
TAKE CONTROL OF
YOUR BREAST HEALTH
Clinical
breast exam
Every three years during 20s and 30s;
annually starting at 40
Visit montana.providence.org/
breasthealth for a complete Breast
Mammogram
Annually starting at 40
Health Program offered by the
Montana Cancer Center at Providence
St. Patrick Hospital, the only
accredited breast health
center in Western Montana.
Colonoscopy
Beginning at 50, and then every 10 years
for average-risk individuals
Prostate exam
At 50 (45 for African-American men) if a
doctor recommends it based on health
and family history
Source: American Cancer Society
Health & Hope is a publication of Providence Health & Services Western Montana, 500 W. Broadway, Missoula, MT 59802. Copyright © 2014 by McMurry/TMG,
LLC. All rights reserved. Information in this publication is not intended for the purpose of diagnosing or prescribing. Consult your physician before undertaking any
form of medical treatment and/or advice contained in this publication. If you have questions about this publication, please call 406-328-5742 or
email [email protected].
2
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Connect
SIGN UP Help your family adopt healthier habits.
Go to montana.providence.org/toyourhealth
and sign up for Providence Medical Group’s email
newsletter with advice from doctors and experts.
DISCOVER Find out how old your heart
is compared to your age and see if you’re
at risk for cardiovascular disease at
montana.providence.org/heartassessment .
WATCH Visit montana.providence.org/
healthbreaks to view a variety of videos that
include procedures and services available at
Providence Western Montana.
Are You a Wise Guy?
All right, gentlemen. How much do you know about your
health? Take our quiz to find out.
TRUE OR FALSE?
1. On average, men live longer than women.
2. Men have higher suicide rates than women.
3. If a man experiences lower back pain and a fever, he
probably just overdid it at the gym or on the golf course.
4. Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer
among men.
Helping Cancer
Patients for 5 Years
In five years, Team Up Montana (TUM) has rallied
the support of private and corporate sponsors to
raise funds for more than 300 local cancer patients
who’ve struggled to cover the costs of screenings,
diagnostic tests and treatment.
TUM “cancer awareness games” are a unique
collaboration between the University of Montana
and Providence St. Patrick Hospital Foundation.
Join us Jan. 16 and Feb. 13 for the TUM men’s and
women’s cancer awareness basketball games.
To learn more, go to teamupmontana.org or
call 406-329-5640.
ANSWERS
1. False. But the gap appears to be closing. Women live
an average of 81.1 years and men, 76.2, according to
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
That’s a difference of 4.9 years, compared with a gap
of 7.8 years in 1979.
2. True. Men are four times more likely to commit suicide,
reports the CDC, so speak up about any depression or
anxiety you may be feeling. Your doctor can recommend
treatment options.
3. False. The likely culprit is prostatitis, an inflammation
of the prostate gland. It is characterized by lower
back pain, fever, chills and painful urination. There is
no evidence that prostatitis leads to cancer, and it is
usually treated with medication.
4. False. Skin cancer is the most common form among
men, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Prostate cancer is second. Conduct monthly headto-toe skin examinations and talk to your healthcare
provider about an annual screening.
WANT TO ENSURE
GOOD HEALTH?
Go to montana.providence.org/
guidelinesformen for a guideline of
routine activities.
JOIN the conversation and keep up with local happenings at facebook.com/stpatrickhospitalmt
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HEALTHYHEARTS
Caring for
Your Heart,
Shaping the
Future Today
The emphasis on improving and refining patient care is one of the
reasons the International Heart Institute at St. Patrick Hospital was
named one of the nation’s Top 50 Cardiovascular Hospitals.
It’s Great to Be at
the Top. Again.
In October, the International Heart Institute at Providence St. Patrick
Hospital was named one of the nation’s 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals by
Truven Health Analytics. This is the seventh time St. Pat’s has been recognized with this honor.
The 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals study, now in its 15th year, evaluates
performance in key areas such as complications, process of care, mortality,
readmission rates, length of stay and average cost. Truven Health Analytics
is a leading provider of information and solutions to improve the cost and
quality of healthcare.
Cardiologist Joe Knapp from the International Heart Institute of Montana at
St. Pat’s says: “We are part of a group practice in which I have my colleagues
all around me—this closeness simplifies collaboration and consultation. We’re
always improving and refining our patient care processes. Together, we focus
on what is best for each individual patient.”
So if you think your family member should go to an urban, high-profile
hospital to get great heart care, there’s no reason to travel to the Mayo
Clinic or Cleveland Clinic. Contact the specialists at the International Heart
Institute at 406-329-5615 for an appointment.
4
The 11th Annual Heart Expo,
hosted by the International
Heart Institute of Montana, will
be Saturday, Feb. 22, at the
Providence St. Patrick Hospital
Broadway Building. This is a free
public event, with no registration
required.
The following blood work will
be available from 7 to 11 a.m.:
D Prostate (PSA) lab test: $10
D Thyroid (TSH) lab test: $10
D Lipid panel/Glucose: $5
Payment is by cash or check
only. Do not eat or drink anything 12 hours before the test.
Refreshments will follow.
From 8 a.m. to noon, physicians and care providers from IHI
will present a series of informative
lectures on the latest advances
in treating heart disease. Learn
about the newest medical therapies, procedures and research
conducted at the Heart Institute.
And this is an excellent way to
meet some of the outstanding
providers who made St. Pat’s a
Top 50 Heart Hospital.
Displays, demonstrations
and information booths on
the many ways to take care
of your heart will be available.
For more information, go to
montana.providence.org/
heartexpo.
FIND
FIND OUT why the International Heart Institute is a Top 50 Heart Hospital at montana.providence.org/top50
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The nursing staff at Providence St. Patrick Hospital.
Providence St. Patrick
Hospital Is a Magnet Hospital!
O
n Oct. 24, we got the long-awaited call with the news
we had been hoping for.
We’re proud to be only one of two hospitals in
Montana to hold this prominent designation. And out
of the 6,000 healthcare organizations in the U.S., fewer than
400 have achieved Magnet status. This designation from the
American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Program Office puts
us among the elite in the nation in clinical outcomes, patient
satisfaction, nurse satisfaction, innovation, education, community involvement and much more.
Joyce Dombrouski, RN, Chief Acute Services Officer, says,
“We have been working toward Magnet recognition since 2009.
Achieving Magnet status is proof of our pursuit of excellence
in nursing and in all areas of the hospital.”
The benefits of a Magnet culture include improving and
promoting quality outcomes and the patient experience,
identifying excellence in the delivery of nursing services to
patients, encouraging and supporting continuing education
and professional growth, and reinforcing a strong positive
culture of professional and effective collaboration.
And cost savings—is it worth the investment of time,
energy and money? Just a few examples:
D By having lower rates of infection, fewer injuries from
falls and fewer pressure ulcers, St. Pat’s saves money from
extended lengths of stay, equipment costs and staffing costs.
Since we have been on the Magnet journey, we have more
rigorously compared ourselves to national benchmarks and
driven down our rates of these unwanted outcomes.
D It’s estimated to cost between $42,000 and $64,000 to
train a new nurse to replace the nurse who leaves. Magnet
hospitals have lower turnover than non-Magnet hospitals.
D For harder-to-recruit positions, such as nurses in the
OR, ICU and ED, Magnet hospitals have a significant recruiting advantage. Nurses who understand what Magnet means
want to work at a Magnet hospital—as do physicians!
Though the Magnet recognition is for nursing excellence,
the entire hospital has been involved. We are all proud of
this achievement.
Has an Angel Helped You?
When patients or their loved ones make
a donation to the Providence St. Patrick
Foundation in the name of a physician,
staff member or volunteer, that person
is recognized as an Angel. Go to
montana.providence.org/angels
for more information.
FIND A PROVIDER We offer the largest group of medical specialists in Western Montana: montana.providence.org/providers
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The physicians at the Montana Cancer Center at Providence St. Patrick
Hospital work together as the patient’s healthcare team. Left to right:
Michael J. Snyder, MD, FACP; Sarah M. Scott, MD; Linda M. Ries, MD; John
W. Linford, MD; Jeffrey A. Stephenson, MD, FACRO; Alan W. Thomas, MD,
FACP; Katherine L. Markette, MD, FACRO; Margaret M. Menendez, MD.
They Were Always Close.
But Now, They’re Even Closer.
N
obody will notice the difference, because the physicians will still be treating patients where they
always have, and they will still be seeing patients
in the hospital when they need to.
The only thing that has changed is the relationship
between the Montana Cancer Center and Providence
St. Patrick Hospital. The Montana Cancer Center used to be
its own entity within the Broadway Building at Providence
St. Patrick Hospital. However, in July 2013, the Montana
Cancer Center became a “service line” of Providence
St. Patrick Hospital. The medical oncologists at Montana
Cancer Specialists joined with Providence St. Patrick
Hospital under a Physician Services Agreement. The
Radiation Oncology Department joined with Medical Oncology
under the same leadership, and became a fully integrated
cancer service line within St. Pat’s.
Radiation oncologists are specialists who treat cancer
using ionizing radiation in the treatment of cancer. Radiation
is given either alone or in combination with surgery and/or
chemotherapy. Radiation oncologists at the Montana Cancer
Center are Dr. Katherine Markette, Dr. Margaret Menendez
and Dr. Jeffrey Stephenson, who recently joined us from a
successful practice in Great Falls.
6
Medical oncologists are physicians who specialize in
treating cancer using chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, biological therapy and targeted therapy. Medical oncologists at
the Montana Cancer Center are Dr. Michael Snyder, Dr. Alan
Thomas, Dr. Linda Ries, Dr. Sarah Scott and Dr. John Linford,
who joined us recently from MD Anderson.
Both radiation oncologists and medical oncologists work
closely with other physicians in a patient’s care—such as
surgeons and subspecialists—as part of the multidisciplinary
cancer team.
As a result, the physicians and support staff at the Montana
Cancer Center at Providence St. Patrick Hospital work together
as the patient’s “healthcare team”—integrated from primary
care to diagnosis, through treatment and recovery.
1. Streamlining Care
Part of the integrated care is the facility’s remodel: A lab
was created on site for patients to be able to walk just a few
steps for testing. Right next door to the lab, a pharmacist
works side by side with the physician and the nurse to safely
check for the right drug and the right dose. Now the safety
triple check is done in the same area, a tremendous gain in
safety control.
P
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Having an expert pharmacist in the treatment area adds to
the safety and quality of care for the patients. All medications
are triple-checked by the physician, nurse and pharmacist.
The pharmacist also works in collaboration with the physician
and nurse to ensure the patient gets the best combination
of pre-medications to prevent side effects, such as nausea
and vomiting.
2. State-of-the-Art Treatment
Many types of external-beam radiation therapy are delivered
using a machine called a linear accelerator (LINAC). A LINAC
uses electricity to form a stream of fast-moving subatomic
particles. This creates high-energy radiation that may be
used to treat cancer. Patients usually receive external-beam
radiation therapy in daily treatment sessions over the course
of several weeks.
St. Pat’s just installed a new LINAC Trilogy system with
advanced motion capabilities, expanding the options for the
therapists to monitor and adjust for tumor motion. Treatment
times are shorter, making the experience more comfortable
for the patient. The radiation precision allows healthy tissues to be spared to an extent unimaginable only a few years
ago. The versatile system delivers 4D radiotherapy, IMRT,
stereotactic radiosurgery, stereotactic radiation therapy and
intensity-modulated radiosurgery.
3. HDR
At the end of November, the radiation oncology staff of the
Montana Cancer Center completed Providence St. Patrick
Hospital’s first successful high-dose rate (HDR) radiation
therapy treatment.
HDR is a form of internal radiation therapy where highenergy X-ray implants are placed really close to the tumor inside
the body for a short time to destroy cancer cells. Multiple sessions may take place, depending on the patient’s treatment plan.
Common applications of HDR are for tumors of the cervix,
esophagus, lungs, breasts and prostate. Most HDR treatments
are performed on an outpatient basis, but this is dependent
on the treatment site.
Jeffrey Stephenson, MD, physicist Pat Martin and all of the
hardworking staff worked meticulously on program development and the implementation of a high-quality state-of-the-art
HDR program.
4. SAVI
Patients diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer might be
eligible for radiation therapy using a SAVI® applicator. SAVI,
also known as partial breast radiation or accelerated partial
breast irradiation (APBI), only delivers radiation to the tissue
where the cancer is most likely to recur, meaning treatment
can be completed in as little as five days (instead of the usual
6–7 weeks) and with fewer side effects.
Once a lumpectomy is performed, the SAVI applicator is
implanted into the cavity. The applicator delivers treatment
Introducing an Online
Connection to Your
Doctor’s Office
Providence Medical Group
introduces MyChart, a free
service that gives you secure,
online access to your healthcare team and medical record—wherever you are.
With MyChart, you can:
D Review your medications, immunizations and
medical history.
D Communicate with your healthcare team.
D Request prescription renewals.
D Review results for most tests.
D Get clinic after-visit summaries.
D Schedule your next primary care appointment.
D Receive electronic statements and pay your bill.
During your next visit, ask your care team to help
sign you up or visit providence.org/mychart.
1-855-PMG-TEAM
Connect with any Providence Medical Group
provider with one toll-free number.
Now you can connect with any Providence
Medical Group clinic via this toll-free phone
number. Calls will be answered 24 hours a
day, seven days a week, and will connect
patients, providers and the general public
to the services or people they need within
the Providence Medical Group. With more
than 40 different clinics and service lines,
this single-access phone number will
streamline and ease communications
to the Providence Medical Group.
Call today.
from inside the breast with multiple catheters, and enables
physicians to target radiation precisely where it is needed
most while minimizing exposure to healthy tissue. The SAVI
applicator’s ability to precisely direct radiation therapy
expands the number of women who can benefit from APBI.
If you or a loved one has cancer, you have many options.
At the Montana Cancer Center at Providence St. Patrick
Hospital, you can be assured that we have the best physicians with a depth of experience and the newest technology
to receive expert care. And someday, we hope you won’t
need us.
PROVIDENCE cancer experts have created an online resource for patients and their families to connect: provcancerblog.org
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St. Patrick Hospital
500 W. Broadway
Missoula, MT 59802
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
HEALTH DIRECT
Yesterday, a heart attack was fatal.
Today, we prevent heart attacks.
Tomorrow, heart attacks will be history.
That’s Powerful Medicine.
140 Years of Excellence.
providence.org/montana
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