i lost 40 lbs in 4 months!

HEALTHY
WINTER 2014
COMMUNITY
REPORT
H O S P I TA L
“I LOST 40 LBS
IN 4 MONTHS!”
MELISSA GEORGE’S AMAZING
WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY
GOVERNOR’S
QUALITY AWARD
SALINE MEMORIAL RECOGNIZED
FOR THE SIXTH YEAR
and it’s
When you’re
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK
FOR A CHANCE TO WIN $100
}
{
| SALINEMEMORIAL.ORG | 501.776.6000
CEO MESSAGE A
s we enter 2014, Saline Memorial
Hospital (SMH) will continue to be
challenged as it relates to the national
healthcare reform and reduced payments
for care. However, this does not change
our commitment to the growth of services
and recruitment of
physicians to provide
patients with quality
medical services close
to home.
During 2013, SMH
completed several
projects to enhance
our ability to provide
local care and make our
patients’ experience
more manageable.
The addition of a CT
scanner in our Emergency Department
has already proven to enhance the quality
and timeliness of patient care by allowing
patients to be seen faster with timelier test
results. The new MRI provides a larger
opening to enhance care for patients with
claustrophobia and our new waiting area
provides a more comfortable procedure
environment. Physician recruitment has
been very active and will continue to be
a priority in the year to come. The Saline
Memorial Health Foundation has also been
very active by funding
much needed equipment
and remodeling
antiquated facilities.
Most importantly,
SMH continues to
be recognized for its
quality and patient
satisfaction. As noted
in this newsletter, SMH
was again a recipient of
the Arkansas Governor’s
Quality Award. SMH
was also identified by Consumer Reports for
having the highest Patient Safety and Patient
Satisfaction scores in Arkansas.
We at SMH thank you for your
continued support and look forward to
serving you in 2014.
“Thank you for your
continued support
and we look
forward to serving
you in 2014.”
Bob Trautman, Saline Memorial CEO
GOVERNOR’S
QUALITY AWARD
SMH HONORED SIX YEARS RUNNING
S
aline Memorial Hospital was recognized
by the Governor’s Quality Award
Program (GQA) for the sixth year. SMH
accepted the award at the Annual Awards
Celebration for the GQA Program on
September 16, 2013, at the Marriott Hotel in
downtown Little Rock.
“This recognition award was achieved
through the outstanding teamwork of our
staff, physicians and leaders,” CEO Bob
Trautman said. “Saline Memorial Hospital’s
staff strives to provide safe, quality care
to our patients and the community. This
Achievement Award is a testament to their
hard work and dedication.”
Organizations that apply to the GQA
program answer questions within the
Malcolm Baldrige Criteria to produce an
application. These criteria cover seven
areas of doing business: 1) Leadership;
2) Strategic Planning; 3) Customer and
Saline Memorial CEO Bob Trautman accepting the Governor’s Quality Award.
Market Focus; 4) Measurement, Analysis
and Knowledge Management; 5) Human
Resource Focus; 6) Process Management;
and 7) Results.
“Our staff participated in an in-depth,
three-day site visit last summer,” Trautman
said. “Examiners from across the state and
from different professions reviewed our
organizational structure, processes and
key performance results. It was a great
opportunity to show others what we’re
doing to meet the needs of our customers,
co-workers and stakeholders.”
“Receiving recognition for our efforts is
great,” Trautman said, “but our ultimate goal
in being a part of this program is to take the
feedback and continue to enhance services
for the patients and families we serve.”
SURGICAL WEIGHT LOSS NOW AVAILABLE
F
or people who struggle with obesity,
surgical weight loss can provide a
real solution. So we are thrilled to now
make this option available to qualified
patients. With the skilled leadership of
Dr. Lewis Porter, Dr. Russell Gornichec
and Dr. Rex Luttrell along with their
well-trained teams, we have already seen
tremendous success with our surgical
weight loss patients.
This past summer, we completed our
first weight loss procedure on Melissa
George. Here’s a part of her story:
“I stopped smoking five or six years ago
and knew I would have to watch it as I was
already at a little over 200 pounds. For the
first nine months, I watched everything
I ate and after a while I thought ‘I’ve got
this,’ and again stopped looking. Over the
next two years, I got to 284 – at my
highest peak – without even realizing I
had done it.”
“In 2013 I again decided to get serious.
I went to my doctor. She asked why I was
there and I said, ‘I’m fat, let’s get back on
that diet pill.’ She knew my history. She
very seriously looked at me and said,
‘Okay, Melissa, we will try it one more
time. But if it doesn’t work I really think
you should think about the lap band.’”
For Melissa and so many others, weight
loss can do more than improve self-esteem
and confidence. It can also improve life’s
outlook – including a decreased risk of
cancer, diabetes, heart attacks and
even Alzheimer’s.
Call us today at (501) 574-7171 and
schedule your personalized consultation.
We also offer free seminars each month
and everyone is welcome to attend. Visit
salinememorial.org to learn more about
surgical weight loss and our team.
“I lost 40 lbs in four months and I’m still losing weight. I feel better. I feel alive. I love life.”
- Melissa George
2013 Lap Band Patient
FUNDING
IN ACTION
A
number of important initiatives
are underway at SMH, all of which
are being funded by bond money
received in 2013.
Enhanced MRI
We recently invested over $1 million
to enhance magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI) testing. According to Toshiba
American Medical Systems, the Vantage
Titan’s larger bore (opening) allows for a
wider range of exams and reduced patient
anxiety. This provides a more comfortable
experience for patients, while maximizing
our scanning and diagnostic abilities.
Additional CT
Our new state-of-the-art MRI equipment was installed in late 2013.
Acute Rehab moves to
all private rooms
The Acute Rehab unit, which treats
By adding an additional CT in the
Emergency Department, wait times are
reduced and efficiency is enhanced for
both patients and staff. It also allows for
closer supervision and access by staff and
patients who have been disabled due to
physicians for immediate assistance.
more spacious for patients and staff.
illness or injury, recently moved from
semi-private rooms on the sixth floor to
all private rooms on the first floor. The
unit has been completely renovated and is
Coming soon
We are in the process of expanding
our Generations program which should
be complete in February. The Generations
Department provides treatment for
geriatric and adult patients who suffer
from mental health disorders. With the
addition of 10 new beds, we will be able to
accommodate more patients and better
serve their needs.
VOLUNTEER
SPOTLIGHT
A
fter visiting a hospital in Dallas where
the volunteers made them feel very
welcome, Jeff and Lynette McManus were
inspired to bring this hospitality back
home. At SMH, you will find Jeff greeting
and wheeling patients at the front desk
while Lynette greets patients in the Breast
Imaging Center.
COMMUNITY
PROGRAMS
A
Saline Memorial serves our community.”
s the leading healthcare
provider in Saline County, we
take pride in promoting education
and prevention in our community.
We offer a wide variety of ongoing
classes and programs, along with
educational seminars throughout the
year. Check out the event calendar at
salinememorial.org for details.
“If we can offer a smile and a helping
hand, we’re glad to do it,” Lynette said. “We
have worked here, been patients here, had
friends who were patients, and we see that
for 28 years before moving to Saline County.
While there, Jeff and Lynette volunteered at
excellent hospitality service.
a homeless shelter, making breakfast every
Tuesday morning. They truly share a passion
Auxiliary, please call 776-6863 or visit
for volunteering and are a great example of
salinememorial.org for details.
Prenatal Classes
For women preparing to deliver,
this class covers pregnancy, breastfeeding and delivery, and includes
discussions on what to bring to the
hospital and transitioning after
delivery. Parents are also given a
tour of the Labor and Delivery unit.
Support Groups
The Diabetes, Bariatric and
Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support
Groups meet once a month and
provide a great opportunity to learn,
share and grow together. The annual
Diabetes Health Fair is a program for
the community offered each November
during National Diabetes Month.
If you are interested in joining the SMH
&
Sibling Classes
This class helps prepare young
children for the arrival of a new
brother or sister, and promotes
family bonding as you learn about
newborn care together. All children
receive a certificate of participation
at the end of the class.
Volunteers Jeff and Lynette McManus
The couple lived in Hot Springs Village
ANNOUNCE NEUROSURGERY CLINIC TO OPEN EARLY FEBRUARY
S
aline Memorial Hospital and the
University of Arkansas for Medical
Sciences (UAMS) recently joined to open
a neurosurgery clinic in Benton to make
services more convenient for local patients.
Starting Feb. 3, surgeons from the
Department of Neurosurgery in the UAMS
College of Medicine will be seeing patients
in the clinic located next to Saline Memorial
and performing several types of surgery at
Saline Memorial three days a week.
“This collaboration will expand
services within a community that is
underserved in terms of practicing
neurosurgeons. UAMS has a local and
national reputation for excellence, and
together we will be able to offer more
patients access to the latest technology
and services,” said Bob Trautman, Saline
Memorial CEO.
UAMS’ J. D. Day, M.D., chairman of
the Department of Neurosurgery, will
be medical director of the program at
Saline Memorial. He, along with Hazem
Ahmed, M.D., and Demetri Serletis, M.D.,
will evaluate all spine and other surgical
neurological problems at the clinic.
They also will perform minimally
invasive spine surgeries, including anterior
cervical decompression, cervical fusions,
lumbar decompressions, fusions and
disc surgeries. Other complex surgeries
such as craniotomies and complex spine
procedures will be performed at UAMS.
“We are pleased that UAMS can join
with Saline Memorial Hospital to allow
residents of Saline County to receive care
for spine and neurological problems close
to home,” Day said.
The UAMS neurosurgery clinic at
Saline Memorial is accepting new patients,
but patients need a physician referral. For
more information about the program, call
501-574-7181.
MEET OUR
NEW PHYSICIANS
LIFE-SAVING
HEART SURGERY
F
rom the outside looking in, Donna Bron
is an unlikely candidate to have a heart
condition. Being 5’9’, 120 pounds and an
avid marathon runner, she never expected to
have a life-threatening heart condition.
However, in April of 2013, Donna’s
health was put to the test. She came in to the
Emergency Department with upper chest
pressure, fearing that she was “crying wolf.”
She was immediately admitted to a patient
room. The next day, Dr. Ian Cawich, from
Arkansas Heart Hospital, inserted a stent in
her heart to ease a blockage of 95%.
“We are very lucky to have a hospital of
this quality so close and the partnership with
the Arkansas Heart Hospital came at the right
time,” Robert Bron said. “We never expected
Donna to have artery problems but we’re very
thankful for the Saline Memorial staff and
GROUND-BREAKING
KNEE SURGERY
A
fter several years of suffering
from knee joint pain that made it
challenging to even walk, former basketball
player Jamie Cope of White Hall learned
she was a candidate for a
meniscus transplant.
The 18-year-old high school
senior tore her right ACL in
eighth grade, then her left a year
later. Even after surgery, she had
lots of complications. Her knee
buckled when she walked, causing
much discomfort. She couldn’t imagine how
she would navigate a college campus like
Arkansas State University, where she will
attend in August.
She visited a group of orthopedic
surgeons in Central Arkansas, and they
referred her to Cleveland, Ohio, for a
meniscus transplant. Her mother, Karen,
really preferred to keep her in state, so she
asked the doctors to help her find someone
local. They referred her to orthopedic
surgeon Dr. BJ Bailey, one of the only doctors
in Arkansas performing these procedures.
Donna Bron survives two artery blockages
with the help from Saline Memorial
Hospital and Arkansas Heart Hospital.
physicians who were able to save her life.”
Unfortunately, Donna was transported
by ambulance just weeks after her first
procedure to address another 80% blockage.
Dr. Carl Leding, also with Arkansas Heart
Hospital, was the physician who cared for
her during this visit. Donna was discharged
two days later.
“We have been using Saline Memorial
for years and the staff has been outstanding
– very professional, personable and
competent. All I can say is a big ‘thank you’
to the entire SMH staff,” Mr. Bron said.
The meniscus is a C-shaped cushion of
cartilage in the knee joint. When people
talk about torn cartilage in the knee, they
are usually referring to a torn meniscus.
If a meniscus is so badly damaged
it cannot be repaired, it may need to be
removed or trimmed out. Without the
meniscus cushion, persistent knee pain
and arthritis can develop. A
meniscus transplant replaces
the damaged meniscus with
donor cartilage. Meniscus
transplants are not right for
everyone. However, for a select
group of people, meniscus
transplants can offer significant
pain relief and prevent a need for future
knee replacements.
For this surgery to be successful, the stars
have to align. Dr. Bailey had to find a meniscus
that was a perfect match. After three months
on a transplant list, that match was found
from a tissue bank at the University of Miami.
There is only a two-week window in which to
perform the surgery once the match is made,
so they acted quickly. Jamie had surgery
the day before Thanksgiving and was back
at school the following Monday — walking
without pain for the first time in a long time.
Dr. Rex Luttrell is a bariatric
surgeon who graduated from UAMS
and attended medical school in
Bay Shore, New York, and Kent,
England. He completed his Internal
Medicine and General Surgery
residencies at the James H. Quillen
College of Medicine.
Dr. BJ Bailey is an orthopedic
surgeon who has joined the
Arkansas Bone & Joint team. He
completed his undergraduate degree
at Harding University and received
his medical degree from UAMS.
Dr. Bailey is fellowship trained in
arthroscopy and sports medicine.
Dr. Ida Cowan has joined the
Saline Anesthesia Group. She
completed her undergraduate degree
at Hendrix College, and her medical
degree and anesthesia residency
at UAMS.
DOCTORS, SISTERS
AND MOTHERS
T
hey’re sisters, doctors and most recently
new moms—who delivered girls just
three days apart. Dr. Rebecca Schlau,
Psychologist, and Dr. Rachel Farrell, OB/
GYN, share the bond of sisterhood, a love for
Saline County and a desire to serve others.
Rebecca and Rachel grew up in a family of
physicians so it wasn’t shocking when both
decided to pursue careers in the medical
field. With a mother as a Rheumatologist
and a father as a Family Medicine doctor, the
desire just came with the territory.
After both completed out of state school
and residency, the sisters both decided to
pursue a career in their hometown.
“I came back to practice close to home
because I feel like I have a better connection
with the people,” Rebecca said. “Many
patients know some of my other family
members so that usually helps build a
trusting therapeutic relationship.”
In 2013, Rebecca and Rachel became the
patients. Both were pregnant with girls due
three weeks apart. However, weeks turned
Dr. Rachel Farrell of Central AR Women’s Group with sister, Dr. Rebecca Schlau, and babies.
into days and their daughters were delivered
just three days apart.
Being an OB/GYN herself, Rachel sort of
wore two hats—sister and coach.
“Rachel and Dr. Pinter were there for me
every step of the way,” Rebecca said. “It was
wonderful to have two amazing doctors by
my side caring for Martha when her heart
rate started to drop. They were able to assess
the situation and take care of it immediately.”
SALINE MEMORIAL
HEALTH FOUNDATION
S
aline Memorial Hospital is a 167-bed
nonprofit community hospital. No
taxpayer or county dollars are used for hospital
operations. The hospital is sustained by revenue
generated from patient services, grants and
private donations made through the Saline
Memorial Health Foundation.
As a nonprofit organization, the hospital
provides a substantial amount of care for free.
Charity care, also known as uncompensated
care, is provided for free or at reduced prices to
low-income patients. In 2013, Saline Memorial
provided $17,901,748 in uncompensated care.
Because of the increase in charity care and
the decrease in government reimbursement,
the Saline Memorial Health Foundation is more
critical than ever.
Through generous donations and grants,
the foundation helps support hospital services
and patients in our community. Whether it’s by
funding life-saving equipment or supporting
crucial programs like hospice care, our donors
have a direct impact on our ability to provide
personalized, high-quality care.
Rachel delivered Louisa Bell just three
days later.
“My delivery experience at Saline
Memorial was exceptional,” Rachel said.
“I loved having one-on-one nursing care. I
know that I am a physician, but I had no idea
how to breastfeed or how to take care of a
baby. The nurses on Labor and Delivery were
very patient with me, and I could not have
done it without them.”
2014 FOUNDATION EVENTS
FEBRUARY 22 ........ The Beat Goes On 5K Run/Walk
APRIL 3-4 ........................................... Spring Fling
SEPTEMBER 4-5 ......................... Swing Fore Saline
NOVEMBER 13-15 ......................... Glitz and Garland
For more information on how to get involved or to make a donation,
to the Saline Memorial Health Foundation call 776-6743.
H O S P I TA L
1 Medical Park Drive
Benton, AR 72015