Southwest General Health Center

TODAY
A P U B L I C A T I O N O F S O U T H W E S T G E N E R A L H E A LT H C E N T E R
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Fall 2014
SOUTHWEST
Dear Community Members,
Families and Friends,
Nothing characterizes Southwest General’s community support more clearly than its
founding as The Community Hospital in 1920. The hospital’s creation followed a post-World
War I flu epidemic during which many area residents died while being transported to the
nearest Cleveland hospital. Convinced of the need for a local hospital, citizens of Berea,
Brook Park, Columbia Township, Middleburg Heights, Olmsted Falls and Strongsville rallied
to raise $100,000 in 10 days to build a 32-bed hospital in Berea.
Since its founding, Southwest General has maintained its strong community partnership
and remains deeply committed to the health and wellness of area residents. We are proud
of the support we provide to those in the community in greatest need, and we will continue
to reach out to residents by providing an array of award-winning programs and services and
state-of-the-art facilities—all conveniently located close to home.
As we move into the future, our long-anticipated Hospital of 2020 project is nearly
completed. After years of intensive planning, design and construction, our striking new facility
of shimmering glass juts from the original hospital structure toward Bagley Road. In creating
this new facility, our goal was to provide a better experience for patients and families. We
already had a first class medical facility providing world class care, there’s no doubt about
that. But this new facility puts us on track to continue that first class care for the next 20 to
30 years. Southwest General has been a mainstay in this region, and we will be a state-ofthe-art facility as well as one of the highest quality operations in the region well into the future.
In This Issue
3 Southwest General’s MyHealth
4 The Future of Healing
5 Pandrangi Gift Helps Create the
Hospital of the Future
6-7 Your Breast Health
8 Pregnancy: Fact or Fiction?
9 The Sandwich Generation
10 Southwest General’s Sports
Medicine Program
11 News Updates
12 New Outpatient Procedure
Relieves Pain from Varicose Veins
13 Tell Me Doctor
14-15 Education, Screenings and
Support Groups
Back Sick and Tired of Getting the Flu?
Get a Flu Shot.
To learn more about this exciting project at Southwest General, please turn to pages 4-5.
A Choice Our Communities Can Feel Good About
Since Southwest General’s founding, we have been committed to the well-being of our
neighboring communities. If you are part of one of the four communities with the Southwest
General Health Services Levy on your voting ballot (Berea, Middleburg Heights, Olmsted Falls
and Strongsville), we hope that you will support us in our mission to continue providing health
care outreach programs and services to our neighbors who need them most.
The Southwest General Health Services Levy is NOT a new tax. It’s a 1-mill renewal levy,
which costs homeowners less than a few pennies a day. The levies help to support building
enhancements, provide free van transportation services to and from the hospital and designated
Southwest General medical facilities, free health screenings at local recreation centers,
immunization and continuing education opportunities for our fire and Emergency Medical
Services (EMS) personnel, and more.
Thomas A. Selden, FACHE
President and
Chief Executive Officer
Your vote for the Health Services Levy will help support our efforts to continue bringing you
the world-class care you deserve—close to home.
Happy Holidays
As the seasons change and the holidays approach, I am reminded of the wonderful blessings we
have to look forward to in the days ahead. I wish you and your family a wonderful and blessed holiday season.
Sincerely,
Thomas A. Selden, FACHE
President and Chief Executive Officer
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Festival of Lights
Secure, Online Health Management
for You and Your Family
You shop online. You bank online.
Now, you can manage your health online, too.
Southwest General’s MyHealth gives you secure,
online access to portions of your hospital-based
Electronic Medical Record—anywhere, anytime.
And it is free to enroll.
Using a computer, smartphone or tablet, you can enjoy the convenience of using
Southwest General’s MyHealth to:
• View lab results online rather than waiting for them in the mail
• Access your health record in one place and view information on:
– Allergies
– Immunizations
– Medications
– Surgeries/procedures
– Discharge instructions after a hospital stay or visit to
the Emergency Room
• Download health records to share with physicians
• View upcoming Southwest General health care
appointment dates and times
• Update your personal contact information
• Find a physician
QUESTIONS?
If you have
questions about
Southwest General’s
MyHealth, call
Health Connection
at 440-816-5050,
Monday-Friday,
9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
• Learn about Southwest General health education, events
and screenings to improve your health and wellness
• Pay your bill, and more!
Southwest General’s MyHealth also can be used—with appropriate permissions—to
manage the care of family members, such as an elderly parent or a child, so you have the
information you need to make informed decisions about your loved one’s care.
Additional information will be added over the next several months. For more information,
visit www.swgeneral.com/MyHealth.
Save the date for the 29th
annual Festival of Lights on
Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014,
at 5:30 p.m., in Southwest
General’s Main Lobby.
After entertainment and a
few words from hospital
representatives, all the trees
lining Old Oak Boulevard will
be lit for the holiday season.
Refreshments will follow the
tree lighting.
Individuals may make a
$20 donation in tribute to,
or in memory of, family,
friends or other loved ones.
The person being honored will
have his/her name included
in the Festival of Lights
book, displayed throughout
the year in the Main Lobby.
Corporations may make a
donation of $50. The names
of supporting corporations will
be included on a corporate
sponsor page in the Festival of
Lights book.
Checks can be made
payable to Southwest
Community Health
Foundation, and mailed to:
Southwest Community
Health Foundation
18697 Bagley Rd. C-105
Middleburg Hts., OH 44130
This year’s proceeds benefit
The Thomas P. Perciak
Family Residential Hospice.
For more information,
call 440-816-6713.
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3
The Future of Healing
The Building for Your Future expansion project has dramatically
changed the face of Southwest General’s Main Campus and
has helped position the hospital to meet the growing needs
of the surrounding communities.
Now nearing completion, the Building for
Your Future expansion project includes:
• A 40,000-square-foot Emergency Room
(ER): opened in Jan. 2014
The Pandrangi
Tower Community
Open House was
held on Saturday,
Oct. 11, 2014.
Attendees had the
opportunity to tour
the new Tower,
featuring 96 private
patient rooms.
Thank you to all
who attended.
We hope you had a
wonderful time!
• The 24-bed Parker Hannifin Corporation
Critical Care Unit: opened in April 2014
• Pandrangi Tower, a new patient bed tower
with 96 private patient rooms: opened in
Oct. 2014
• A 250-car underground parking structure:
opened in Oct. 2014
The new Southwest General ER is sized
to accommodate the increased demand from
the community for emergency care. It is fully
equipped to provide high quality, efficient
emergency medical care for day to day needs
as well as for large emergent events.
The new Parker Hannifin Corporation
Critical Care Unit is located directly above
the new ER and features specially trained
staff, state-of-the-art technology and warm,
spacious rooms to provide patients and
families with outstanding quality care.
Patients’ desire for more private space
has been met with the addition of 96 private
patient rooms in the new Pandrangi Tower.
Beautiful vistas of the Metroparks, open-air
balconies and sunrooms provide unique areas
for patients and visitors.
The entire scope of Southwest General’s
expansion project is scheduled for completion
in 2015.
A tremendous response from individuals and corporate donors for the Southwest Community Health
Foundation’s Touch the Future capital campaign has benefited one of Cuyahoga County’s largest
construction projects in recent history.
When initiated, the capital campaign’s goal was to raise more than $7.5 million. We are excited
to announce that this goal has been met and we are moving onward and upward toward our stretch
goal of $8 million! Our many thanks to you, our community members, not only for your generous
contributions but also for your commitment to the future of this hospital. Your donations will enable us
to continue providing outstanding quality care to our patients in a state-of-the-art facility.
Hoping still to make a donation? There is time! For more information on the Touch the Future
capital campaign and/or to make a donation, call the Foundation Office at 440-816-6713 or
email [email protected].
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Southwest General would like
to thank the Pandrangi’s for their
generous contribution and for
their commitment to the future
of health and wellness of the
communities we serve.
Pandrangi Gift Helps Create the Hospital of the Future
Their gift is ushering in the future of healing.
More than 34 years ago, two up-and-coming young
Despite medical and technological innovations in health care,
medical professionals met at work in the halls of a St. Louis,
patient rooms have changed little since post-World War II.
Missouri children’s hospital. Their romance flourished, and the
Southwest General’s new Pandrangi Tower will
couple, Dr. Vasu Pandrangi, a boardtransform the way care is delivered at the hospital.
certified plastic surgeon on the Medical
“We made this
Patients can now recuperate in one of 96 private
Staff at Southwest General, and Lisa
patient rooms—each room is filled with light and
Pandrangi, a registered nurse, continues
gift to advance
features plenty of space for both patient and family
enthusiastically working in an environment
innovative
members. By making the single-patient room
they love: the hospital setting.
setting the norm, people benefit from a better care
When the Pandrangis thought about
care and the
experience, quality of care, more privacy and a better
how they might make a lasting impact,
quality of care
overall environment in which to heal.
giving a $3 million gift that benefited
at Southwest
General.”
In addition to keeping busy with their medical
practice, Dr. Vasu and Lisa Pandrangi enjoy a close
relationship with their adult children. The family likes
sharing good times, including planning trips and
VASU PANDRANGI, MD
traveling together. The past 18 months in particular
have involved a number of personal milestones for the
couple. Their oldest daughter was married and is expecting her
first child. Additionally, the Pandrangi’s recently celebrated their
“We made this gift to advance innovative care and the quality
30th wedding anniversary and traveled to Russia to mark the
of care at Southwest General,” says Dr. Pandrangi, chairman
occasion.
of the Southwest Community Health System board of trustees
Southwest General—their hospital for
nearly three decades—seemed the
obvious choice. After all, the couple has
deep ties to the community, both through
their medical practice and by raising their
four children, Bharani, Tera, Adam and
Alex, in nearby Westlake, Ohio.
since 2007. “This institution has helped me by advancing my
career. We wanted to make this gift to help shape the hospital
for the future.”
“We know a lot of travel is in our future, and we’re both
looking forward to meeting and holding our first grandchild,”
says Lisa.
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Partnering with a National
Leader for Outstanding
Cancer Care, Close to Home
University Hospitals (UH) Seidman Cancer Center is
the region’s only free-standing cancer hospital. It offers
leading-edge therapies, access to the latest clinical
trials and a variety of cancer support services.
Recognizing that many patients prefer not to
travel far for treatment, the UH Seidman Cancer
Center offer services at convenient, close-to-home
locations throughout the region—including the UH
Seidman Cancer Center at Southwest General. This
facility, made possible through Southwest General’s
partnering agreement with UH, helps to assure that
patients receive an exceptional level of cancer care,
close to home.
Accredited by the American College of Surgeons
Commission on Cancer, the UH Seidman Cancer
Center at Southwest General offers a wide range of
services to diagnose, treat, rehabilitate and support
cancer patients, including:
• State-of-the-art clinical care, including proven and
effective methods of early detection, prevention and
treatment of cancer
• A team of board-certified physicians, nurses,
therapists and other specialists who determine the
best individualized treatment plan for each patient
• Clinical trials through University Hospitals
• Advanced technology for radiation therapy for
greater accuracy and improved outcomes
• Expertise in treating many of the most commonly
occurring cancers, including breast, colon, lung,
prostate and skin cancers
We’re Here to Help You
If you, a family member or a friend have been
diagnosed with cancer, UH Seidman Cancer Center
at Southwest General can help with state-of-the-art,
compassionate care, close to home.
For more information or to schedule an
appointment, call Health Connection at
440-816-5050 or visit www.swgeneral.com.
The UH Seidman Cancer Center at Southwest
General is located at the hospital’s Main Campus
(18697 Bagley Rd., Middleburg Hts., OH 44130).
Breast Health and Cancer Care
Early detection is key to successful treatment
of breast cancer, and mammography plays a
vital role in early detection.
A new study published this summer in the Journal of the
American Medical Association, says breast cancer screening
using a technology called Digital Breast Tomosynthesis
(3D mammography), in combination with digital mammography,
may further improve cancer detection while reducing false
positives.
This world-class technology isn’t new to Southwest General.
A recognized leader in women’s health, the hospital introduced
3D mammography at the Breast Center on its Main Campus
more than two years ago—shortly after converting to digital
mammography technology at all its locations.
Digital mammography is an improvement over traditional
film mammography because it creates a higher quality image
that a radiologist can manipulate on-screen for superior clarity.
In traditional film mammograms, a lesion hidden behind a
microcalcification—a small mineral deposit that is normal in
most breasts—can go undetected.
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D
re
For more information
about breast care at
Southwest General, call
Health Connection at
440-816-5050 or visit
www.swgeneral.com.
Designed With Our Patients’ Comfort and Privacy in Mind
Cutting-edge technology is only part
of what makes the Breast Center at
Southwest General a valuable resource
for women with cancer and other
breast health issues. The Breast Center
is dedicated to making it as convenient
and comfortable as possible for women
to get information, screening, diagnosis,
treatment and recovery.
Southwest General offers a
comprehensive approach to breast care
that includes a compassionate and
highly skilled team of board-certified
radiologists, certified mammography
technologists and a breast nurse
navigator—who is dedicated to helping
patients navigate through all of their
breast health needs.
At the time the diagnosis of breast
cancer is made, the Breast Center
team works together with medical
professionals from University Hospitals
Seidman Cancer Center at Southwest
General. The Cancer Center team
includes medical and radiation
oncologists, pharmacists, nurses, social
workers and nutritionists/dieticians.
A cancer diagnosis is frightening to
most patients. That’s why Lynn Jan,
Southwest General’s breast nurse
navigator, is there to offer guidance
through the treatment and recovery
process.
“I start by trying to reduce the fear
of the unknown,” Lynn says. “I explain
what is going on in the breast. I have
educational materials that I go over,
and I work with the patient’s primary
care physician or Ob/Gyn and help
to coordinate with a surgeon to get a
second opinion on whether the patient
needs a biopsy. If a biopsy or further
treatment is done, I accompany the
patient through those procedures. This
is a way for the patient to have one
familiar face who is always there to
answer questions, provide support or
do whatever is needed.”
Following treatment, a breast cancer
support group can provide emotional
support and social interaction for
patients. And, to further help in their
recovery, Lifeworks of Southwest
General offers a complimentary sixmonth membership to qualified patients
through its Fitness is Power program,
which empowers women to develop
a routine exercise program, with
the goal of improving fitness for
cancer survivors.
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PREGNANCY:
Fact or Fiction?
Congratulations! You just learned
that you’re expecting. Now what?
The life-changing news of
pregnancy typically creates a feeling
of elation. Then, a lot of concerns
may emerge, as all
of your thoughts and
activities refocus on
delivering a healthy
baby: Is it okay to
exercise? Should you
keep working? What
can you eat?
• Review any prescription
medications you’re taking with
your doctor.
• Keep working, but consult your
doctor if you have a job that is
physically taxing.
• Sex is okay
during pregnancy.
• Lift and carry your
younger children, but use
correct techniques. This is
the most frequent physical
activity for many expecting
You can continue to
moms, Dr. Alton says.
John Alton, MD
live a normal, active life
“Keep giving children
during your pregnancy,
the same attention you
assures John Alton, MD, a boardnormally would,” he says. “Don’t
certified obstetrician/gynecologist
be afraid to get down on the floor
on the Medical Staff at Southwest
and roll around with them.”
General.
• Educate yourself about pregnancy.
“One of the biggest
misperceptions is that pregnant
women have to significantly restrict
their physical activity,” Dr. Alton says.
“Most of the things you ordinarily do
are fine to do during pregnancy.”
Here are some of Dr. Alton’s
recommendations for things to
do and things to avoid during
pregnancy:
DO
• See an obstetrician early in your
pregnancy and have regular follow
up visits.
• Continue to exercise, or start
to exercise, especially if you
are overweight. Work with your
doctor to develop an appropriate
routine—walking, running,
swimming and aerobics are all
okay. As the pregnancy advances
into later stages, your body will tell
you when you need to cut back.
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Ask your doctor any questions
you have, read books and
visit reputable websites for
more information.
• Be sure your immunizations
are up to date.
• Eat healthy and take vitamins.
• Travel, but take frequent breaks
to walk and drink plenty of water
during long distance drives.
Airport scanners are safe.
• Amusement park visits are fine as
long as you follow the restrictions
noted on the signs. Parks, such
as Cedar Point, clearly post
restrictions on rides that are
prohibited for pregnant women.
DO NOT
• Smoke.
• Drink alcohol, although some
physicians suggest that an
occasional drink is okay.
Dr. Alton believes that any amount
of alcohol an unborn child is
exposed to can be detrimental
as, “a baby consumes what mom
consumes,” he explains.
• Engage in contact exercises.
Stay away from activities, such as
kickboxing, that can cause
bodily trauma.
Dr. Alton advises that all
pregnancies are different, so if you
have any questions or concerns,
don’t hesitate to contact your
physician.
For more information about
Maternity Services at Southwest
General, call Health Connection
at 440-816-5050 or visit
www.swgeneral.com
Hello, Baby!
You’ve decorated the nursery. You’ve picked a name. Tiny onesies, diapers
and swaddling blankets are ready and waiting to be used. There’s just one thing
missing, Baby Imprints! Come experience one of life’s greatest joys and see your
newborn before he or she arrives with Baby Imprints, a non-diagnostic ultrasound
that provides a window into the womb to visualize your baby with two-dimensional
and three-dimensional imaging as well as four-dimensional video.
Sessions are conducted at Southwest General’s Main Campus with packages
starting at $75 for one baby and $105 for twins. Gift certificates are available
and make a great baby shower gift for parents-to-be. To learn more about
Baby Imprints, visit www.swgeneral.com/babyimprints.
The Sandwich Generation
Remember when you were a small child and you
steadfastly refused to do what your parents asked you
to do? As your parents age, you may feel like they are
getting their revenge.
Despite your best efforts, it can be hard to convince
some elderly parents to eat properly and take care
of medical issues, observes Marlene Kurz, a licensed
professional clinical counselor at Southwest General’s
Oakview Behavioral Health Center.
“You want to make sure that your mom and dad
are safe and healthy, but some parents don’t want
to be told what to do and will fight you on everything
you ask or suggest,” Marlene says. “It’s a reversal of
roles where you become your parents’ parent. It can
be especially difficult when you are taking care of your
parents as well as your own children. People in that
situation are known as the ‘Sandwich Generation.’”
Marlene says resistance to help could be simply a
sign of stubbornness or it could be a sign of dementia or depression. Stubbornness can
arise from many factors, such as fear, anger or isolation.
“People sometimes associate the need for help with a loss of independence,”
Marlene says. “When you question their ability to care for themselves, their first thought
may be that you’re trying to move them into a nursing home.”
As with most interpersonal challenges, communication is key to understanding a
parent’s feelings and why he or she may be resistant to help.
“Plant small seeds,” Marlene suggests. Suddenly communicating your concerns may
be interpreted as provocative. A gradual approach may be a better way to ease into a
constructive conversation.
“They may not want to discuss your concerns the first time you bring them up, but
don’t quit,” Marlene says. “Keep trying.”
Picking your battles and “not sweating the small stuff” may be helpful in minimizing
confrontation while focusing on larger issues.
If your parent continues to resist your assistance, professional agencies such as the
Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging or the Benjamin Rose Institute may be able to help
through in-home visits. Also, you might contact your local Office on Aging or Senior Center
for guidance or referrals.
If you suspect that your parent may have signs of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease,
you may want to have him or her tested, Marlene advises.
“An individual’s family physician can refer a patient to Southwest General’s Geriatric
Assessment Program, which will help identify if the patient has signs of dementia,” explains
Marlene. “Also, concerned family members can call 440-816-4065 to learn more about the
Geriatric Assessment Program if a physician is not involved in the care of their loved one.”
People who care for aging parents—particularly those in the “Sandwich Generation”—
need to be careful not to neglect their own health, Marlene cautions.
“There is a lot of stress and fatigue involved in that role,” she says. “It’s easy to let yourself
get sick and forget to take care of yourself.”
For more information on Southwest General’s Geriatric Services, call Health
Connection at 440-816-5050 or visit www.swgeneral.com.
Wait at Home,
Not in the
Emergency
Room or
Urgent Care
• Fill out the online visit
form for one of our
Emergency Rooms or
Urgent Care Centers.
• Wait from the
comfort of home.
• Arrive at
your projected
treatment time.
For more information on InQuicker, visit
www.swgeneral.com/
emergency-services/inquicker.
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Sports Medicine Program Uses
Team Approach to Eliminate Pain
Tips to Stay
Injury Free
High school athletes
and weekend warriors
can remain injury-free
by:
• Stretching before
and after exercising
• Warming up to the
point of being slightly
breathless
• Staying well
hydrated
• Varying
activity/workout
programs to avoid
muscle overuse
• Not doing too much
too fast
There is one common denominator
among hard-core athletes and weekend
warriors. Neither group likes being
sidelined by pain. Whatever the source
of the pain, Southwest General’s Sports
Medicine Program offers help.
office visits, care comes to the community
through:
“We bring a multidisciplinary team
approach to help people feel healthy
and get back to doing their sports and
activities,” says Aaron Wolkoff, DO, a
board-certified family medicine physician
on the Medical Staff at Southwest
General. Dr. Wolkoff also is certified in
primary care sports medicine.
• Specialized programs designed for
athletes, including a program that
enhances pitching and throwing
performance and another that prevents
and treats Anterior Cruciate Ligament
(ACL) and knee injuries.
This team approach benefits patients
through streamlined care. For instance,
a runner with a sore heel can visit
Southwest General’s Sports Medicine
Clinic, which is open during the fall season
on Monday afternoons, 3:30-6 p.m., at
Southwest General’s Strongsville Medical
Center. At the Clinic, a team of experts
can help diagnose the problem and create
a treatment plan.
“The Sports Medicine Program’s
team approach allows us to teach
patients exercises and things they can
do proactively to heal themselves,”
Dr. Wolkoff says.
Southwest General’s Sports
Medicine Program focuses on injury
prevention education, strength training
and conditioning, and treatment and
rehabilitation of injuries. In addition to
• Athletic trainers who work with student
athletes in Berea, Columbia Station,
Middleburg Heights, Olmsted Falls and
Strongsville.
“Anybody from a young athlete to
a weekend warrior can call to be seen
by a sports medicine physician with an
athletic trainer,” Dr. Wolkoff says. “We can
set them up with proper exercises and
treatments for their injuries and monitor
their progress.”
Dr. Wolkoff
is the newest
member of
Southwest
General
Medical Group,
Inc. He offers
care for family
members of
Aaron Wolkoff, DO
all ages.
This includes a
full range of preventive services as well as
care for illnesses and injuries. He uses his
specialized osteopathic training in caring
for patients of all ages.
To learn more about the
Sports Medicine Program at
Southwest General, or to schedule
an appointment with Dr. Wolkoff,
call Health Connection at
440-816-5050.
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Southwest General Named
a NorthCoast 99 Award
Winner—Eleven Times
Southwest General is
proud to have been named
a NorthCoast 99 award
recipient for the eleventh
time. This designation, given by the Employer’s
Resource Council (ERC), recognizes the 99
best places to work in Northeast Ohio—from
Sandusky to Ashtabula.
To achieve this recognition, businesses
must meet stringent criteria in a variety of areas,
including staffing and workforce planning,
development and training, compensation
and rewards, organizational culture and
organizational innovation, success and
performance.
Southwest General Named a Top Workplace
In June 2014, The Cleveland Plain Dealer announced “The Plain Dealer
Top Workplaces”—a list of the best places to work in Northeast Ohio. We are pleased
to share that Southwest General was named to this list for the fifth consecutive year!
Top Workplaces leads the way in measuring the health of U.S. companies based
on employee opinions. To be named a Top Workplace 2014, employees were sent
a short, confidential 24-question survey asking their opinions on six areas of the
workplace. Topics included:
• Direction—assessment of the company’s values, leaders and strategy
• Execution—assessment of how the company communicates and gets work done
• Connection—assessment of an employee’s future with the company and degree to which
the employee feels his/her job is part of something meaningful
• Career—opportunity for training and progression
• Work—assessment of the working atmosphere and working environment, including
flexibility and training
• Managers—quality of the managers and their managerial skills
• Pay and Benefits—assessment of employee compensation for work done
• Engagement—assessment of the employee’s feelings about working at the company
overall, motivation, wanting to stay and likelihood to recommend
Southwest General is proud of the dedication and commitment of its employees and
grateful to have earned this distinction.
Award-Winning Heart Attack Care For Patients
Southwest General has received the
American College of Cardiology (ACC)
Foundation’s NCDR® ACTION Registry®Get With The Guidelines™ (GWTG)
Platinum Performance Achievement
Award for the second year in a row.
The award recognizes Southwest
General’s commitment and success in
implementing a higher standard of care
for heart attack patients.
ACTION Registry-GWTG empowers
health care provider teams to consistently
treat heart attack patients according
to the most current science-based
guidelines and establishes a national
standard for understanding and improving
the quality, safety and outcomes of care
for patients with coronary artery disease,
specifically high-risk STEMI and NSTEMI
patients. For more information about
ACTION Registry-GWTG, visit
www.ncdr.com/action.
C L I P A N D S AV E
Wellness Clinic Sites
Southwest General’s Community Nurse Program offers wellness clinics throughout the hospital’s service area.
The nurses provide free blood pressure screenings, glucose screenings and general health information. No
appointment is necessary, and everyone is welcome. For additional information, call the Community Nurse
Program at 440-816-4037. Please note: Wellness Clinics are closed on holidays. In case of inclement weather,
clinics are closed if schools in the area are closed.
Berea Recreation Center
451 Front Street
Blood Pressure & Glucose Screening
1st Tuesday each month, 7:30–8:30 a.m.
3rd Monday each month, 8 a.m.–noon
Berea Senior Center
St. Paul Lutheran Church, 276 Bagley Road
Blood Pressure & Glucose Screening
2nd Tuesday each month, 12:30-2 p.m.
John A. Poloyne Community Center (Brook Park)
17400 Holland Road
Blood Pressure & Glucose Screening
1st Tuesday each month, 9 a.m.–noon
3rd Wednesday each month, 8–9:30 a.m.
Brunswick Community Recreation &
Fitness Center
3637 Center Road
Blood Pressure & Glucose Screening
2nd & 4th Wednesday each month,
8 a.m.–noon
Brunswick Library
3649 Center Road
Blood Pressure & Glucose Screening
4th Tuesday each month, 9–11 a.m.
Ehrnfelt Recreation Center
18100 Royalton Road
Blood Pressure & Glucose Screening
1st Monday each month, 7–9:30 a.m.
Ehrnfelt Senior Center
18100 Royalton Road
Blood Pressure & Glucose Screening
1st Monday each month, 9:30–11 a.m.
3rd Tuesday each month, 10:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
LifeWorks of Southwest General
7390 Old Oak Boulevard
Blood Pressure & Glucose Screening
1st Monday each month, 5–7 p.m.
2nd Monday each month, 9 a.m.–noon
Middleburg Heights Community Center
16000 Bagley Road
Blood Pressure & Glucose Screening
2nd Monday each month, 7–8:30 a.m.
2nd Tuesday each month, 8 a.m.–noon
SouthPark Mall
500 SouthPark Center
SouthPark Mall—Upper Food Court
Blood Pressure Screening
3rd Tuesday each month, 9–10 a.m.
SouthwestToday
Fall 2014
|
11
New Outpatient Procedure Relieves
Pain from Varicose Veins
Most people look forward to the end of the workday, but Kim Rizk dreaded it. Her
40-minute commute home meant the soreness in her legs, which she ignored all
day, was now front and center.
“That was always the time of day when I’d think, ‘Here
comes the pain again,’” recalls Kim, a full-time registered
nurse and busy mom of two boys. “My legs were tired and
achy, and they throbbed and burned. The veins in my legs
would bulge and itch.”
Kim knew the source of her problem: varicose veins
that ran down the inside of her legs, on her thighs
and behind her calves. Years earlier she underwent
a procedure to remove spider veins, a milder form of
varicose vein, and learned the veins in her legs were weak.
Ferdinand Plecha, MD
Varicose veins occur when the valves in the veins
are too weak or damaged to push blood upward to the heart. The blood flows
backward and pools in the veins. This backed-up blood causes veins to swell,
bulge, twist and raise above the surface of the skin. Varicose and spider veins are
common conditions that affect as many as 40 million Americans, especially women.
Although they’re unsightly, most people manage day to day with them.
Sometimes, though, the pain gets to be too much. Despite elevating her legs,
wearing compression stockings, and other self-care practices, Kim had enough of
her painful situation.
She decided to try Southwest General’s new minimally invasive procedure called
Endovenous Laser Therapy (EVLT). EVLT treats the veins that run along the inside of
the leg from the groin to the ankle, which was the situation for Kim. The outpatient
procedure uses radiofrequency or laser energy to heat up the inside of the vein and
close it off, thereby allowing healthy veins around the closed vein to take over the
normal flow of blood.
“EVLT has a success rate of more than 98 percent,” says Ferdinand Plecha, MD,
a board-certified vascular surgeon on the Medical Staff at Southwest General. “It
allows us to find the source of the problem and determine which veins are causing
the pain.”
For Kim, EVLT has helped her live her life more fully by eliminating the pain so she
can focus on other priorities.
“It’s led me to make other changes in my life in areas that I want to improve,”
she says.
To learn more about Southwest General’s Heart & Vascular Institute and
its Peripheral Vascular Procedures, call 1-877-SWG-BEAT (794-2328).
Don’t Make the Ladder a Matter
Attention all gutter cleaners, holiday light stringers and other “ladderists!”
Did you know that Southwest General’s Emergency Room (ER) had more than 132
visits in 2013 for individuals falling off a ladder? Or that there is a higher incidence
of falls during Oct. and Nov. when individuals are cleaning gutters and stringing
holiday lights? The majority of these falls result from the ladder slipping out from
underneath people due to improper use. Take a minute to be safe during the
upcoming season by viewing the “Watch Your Step” video, courtesy of
Safety.com, at http://www.safety.com/videos/ladder-safety-training-video.
12
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SouthwestToday
Fall 2014
Rishi Goel, MD
David Ryan, MD
New Technology Expands Treatment
Options for Chronic Pain Patients
In the spring of 2014, physicians on the Medical Staff at Southwest General began offering
patients the option to have a new spinal cord stimulator that is MRI-compatible implanted.
Below, Drs. Bradley Blackburn, Rishi Goel and David Ryan, explain this new advancement
and its significance.
Q. WHY IS OFFERING PATIENTS AN MRI-COMPATIBLE SPINAL CORD
STIMULATOR SIGNIFICANT?
A. “This new, FDA-approved device is a significant development for patients who suffer from
more generalized and persistent pain that can come with age and degenerative conditions,
such as failed back surgery syndrome, spinal stenosis, arthritis and degenerative disc
disease,” explains Bradley Blackburn, MD, a board-certified interventional radiologist on the
Medical Staff at Southwest General. “As neurostimulation therapy continues to be a mainstay
for treatment of chronic pain, the introduction of an MRI-compatible spinal cord stimulator
will ensure that patients have access to the diagnostic tools and testing needed to quickly
identify any potential serious health conditions.”
Q. HOW DOES THE SPINAL CORD STIMULATOR DEVICE WORK?
A. “The neurostimulation device treats certain conditions and pain by sending electrical
pulses to a specific nerve. It is implanted under the skin with electrical wires leading to the
spinal cord region. It is a non-invasive, outpatient surgical procedure, which allows us to
not only treat patients’ chronic pain but also provide them with the chance to undergo MRI
procedures safely without the need to have the stimulator removed,” says Rishi Goel, MD, a
neurosurgeon on the Medical Staff at Southwest General. “It has been found that there are
no significant side effects to the stimulator, and most individuals are a candidate for
the procedure.”
Tell Me Doctor
Bradley
Blackburn, MD
Q. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT THAT PATIENTS BE ABLE TO UNDERGO AN
MRI SCAN?
A. “MRI scans are an important diagnostic tool, allowing us to view highly detailed images
of joints, muscles, blood vessels, tumors, internal organs and more,” says David Ryan, MD,
a board-certified pain management physician on the Medical Staff at Southwest General.
“For patients suffering from chronic pain who have the MRI-compatible spinal cord
stimulator implanted, we will be able to detect any harmful health conditions safely and
efficiently, without the need for them to undergo a surgical procedure to have the device
removed. And, in general, the requirement for a future diagnostic MRI in this patient
population approaches 100 percent.”
Q. HOW CAN YOU LEARN MORE?
A. For more information on the new MRI-compatible spinal cord stimulators, call
Health Connection at 440-816-5050.
SouthwestToday
Fall 2014
|
13
Education, Screenings
and Support Groups
EMS Programs
Health and Nutrition
C.E.R.T. – Community Emergency
Response Team
Contact your city rep for upcoming classes.
Diabetes Education Program ..... 440-816-5728
Berea ............................. [email protected]
Brook Park ......... [email protected]
Brunswick Hills [email protected]
Columbia Station ............. [email protected]
Hinckley Township............. [email protected]
Registration
The following is a listing of Southwest
General’s educational opportunities,
screenings and free support groups.
For complete details (when, where,
registration, etc.), please visit
www.swgeneral.com/eventseducation-screenings.
Searching this web page is easy
and quick! To ensure a place in the
class/program of your choice, register
as soon as possible by calling the
number listed. Payment at the time
of registration will guarantee your
placement into the class. Please
note, no refunds are offered.
Location
Most classes meet at Southwest
General, 18697 Bagley Road in
Middleburg Heights.
When you call to register, you will be
told the location of your class. Some
classes are held outside the hospital.
To register for a class, call the phone
number listed next to each class title.
Middleburg Heights [email protected]
Health Care Provider CPR .......... 440-816-8036
Heartsaver CPR and AED ........... 440-816-8036
Cleveland Hopkins Airport
........................... [email protected]
First Aid.................................... 440-816-8036
Emergency Medical Technician
Basic EMT ................................ 440-816-4553
EMT Basic Refresher................. 440-816-4553
EMT Paramedic Refresher ......... 440-816-4553
First Responder ........................ 440-816-4553
American Heart Courses
Family and Friends CPR ............ 440-816-8036
The American Heart Association strongly promotes
knowledge and proficiency in BLS, ACLS and PALS and
has developed instructional materials for this purpose.
Use of these materials in an educational course does not
represent course sponsorship by
the American Heart Association. Any fees charged
for such a course, except for a portion of fees needed
for AHA course material, do not represent income to the
Association.
Heartsaver/First Aid................... 440-816-4553
Physician Presentations
Pediatric Advanced Life ............. 440-816-4553
Support (PALS)
Free community talks ............... 440-816-8446
www.swgeneral.com/events-education-screenings
Advanced Cardiac Life .............. 440-816-4553
Support (ACLS)
Recovery Programs
International Trauma .............. 440-816-4553
Life Support (ITLS)
Prenatal & Family Life Classes
Now that You’re Pregnant
Boot Camp for New Dads .......... 440-816-8036
Breastfeeding ........................... 440-816-8036
Arthritis Exercise Program ......... 440-816-8036
(formerly P.A.C.E.)
Cardiac Rehabilitation ............... 440-816-5772
—Phase II
Cardiac Rehabilitation ............... 440-816-5772
—Phase III
Heart Failure Education ............. 440-816-5772
Maternity Tour........................... 440-816-8036
Look Good... Feel Better ........ 1-888-227-6446
option 2
Infant Massage &...................... 440-816-8036
Happiest Baby on the Block
Moving On Aquatics .................. 440-816-8019
For Children
Sibling Preparation.................... 440-816-8036
Safe SitterTM ............................. 440-816-8036
Safety
Family and Friends CPR ............ 440-816-8036
Fall 2014
Life Support Programs—
Basic
Strongsville...... [email protected]
Grandparenting......................... 440-816-8036
SouthwestToday
Stop the Clock! ......................... 440-816-5728
Pre-Diabetes/Metabolic Syndrome
Health Care Provider Renewal.... 440-816-8036
Prepared Childbirth ................... 440-816-8036
|
Individualized Nutrition .............. 440-816-8605
Counseling
Olmsted [email protected]
Infant Care ............................... 440-816-8036
14
Hospice Volunteer Training......... 440-816-5967
Pulmonary Rehabilitation II ........ 440-816-8982
Pulmonary Rehabilitation III........ 440-816-8982
Speaking On............................. 440-816-8010
Education, Screenings
and Support Groups
Screenings and
Wellness Clinics
Heartwise Education/ ................ 440-816-5772
Support Group
Moving Forward With ............... 440-816-2674
Breast Cancer
or 440-816-6075
Blood Pressure/Glucose. ........... 440-816-4037
Screening
“Out of the Valley”: ................... 440-816-5019
A Grief Support Group
Cholesterol Screening ............... 440-816-4037
(appt. required)
Community Nurse Program ....... 440-816-4037
Osteoporosis Screening............. 440-816-4037
Support Groups—Free
Free Women’s
Health Membership
For complete details about the
listings below, please visit our
web page, www.swgeneral.com/
events-education-screenings
Breastfeeding Mothers’ ............. 440-816-8397
Support Group
Sign up for Southwest General’s FREE Women’s
Health Membership Program, Season’s of a
Woman’s Life. You’ll enjoy the many benefits such
as monthly informational e-blasts, invitations to fun
events and so much more. Contact Robyn Harker at
440-816-5395 or [email protected].
Caregiver Support Group ........... 440-570-1557
and Resource Center
Domestic Violence ...... 216-651-8484, ext. 311
Support Group
Healthy Grief Class: .................. 440-816-5019
A Six-Week Series (reg. required)
www.lifeworksfitness.net
A Premier Health and Fitness Center
7390 Old Oak Boulevard
Middleburg Heights, OH 44130
440-816-4202
LifeWorks is a medically integrated health and fitness center owned and
operated by Southwest General. Our facility provides a comfortable atmosphere
in which professional staff assist members toward living a healthier lifestyle.
Membership includes complimentary fitness coaching for the length of your
membership (includes a health and fitness assessment, an exercise routine,
and more), deluxe locker rooms and more than 100 weekly group exercise
classes, including Yoga, Aqua Zumba®, Warm Water Arthritis, Strength and
Balance, Water Pilates and much more.
Special Programs for both members and nonmembers of LifeWorks.
Programs are fee based. To find out details, contact Kelly Jones at
440-816-4303 or [email protected].
– Beach Body Bootcamp – Hypnosis for Weight
Loss and Smoking
– Baby Boomers
Cessation
Bootcamp
–
Meditation
– Hip/Knee PreOperation Exercise
– Small Group Training/
Program
Personal Training
– Tai Chi
– Rx for Health—a
physician referred
exercise program
to manage chronic
disease
– Weight Loss with Water
Check us out on Facebook!
Visit www.facebook.com and search
“LifeWorks of Southwest General Hospital.”
50% off
Enrollment Fee
Receive 50% OFF the
enrollment fee when
you join LifeWorks now
through Dec. 31, 2014.
To learn more, contact our
Membership Department
at 440-816-4214 or
[email protected].
Must present coupon at time of sign
up. Certain restrictions apply. Must be
aged 18 or older. Cannot be combined
with other promotions/specials. Valid
through 12-31-14. Month-to-month
membership options are available.
One Free
Guest Visit
Valid on first visit only.
www.lifeworksfitness.net
________________________
Name
________________________
E-mail
Guests must be 18 years of age or
older and present a valid photo ID.
Guests are limited to three visits per
calendar year. Certain restrictions
apply. Offer expires 12-31-14.
SouthwestToday
Fall 2014
|
15
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Greenfield, OH
Permit No. 771
Southwest General Health Center
18697 Bagley Road
Middleburg Heights, Ohio 44130-3497
440-816-5050
Thomas A. Selden, FACHE
President & CEO
Published by the Marketing Department
www.swgeneral.com
Sick and Tired of Getting
the Flu? Get a Flu Shot.
It’s flu season! Flu shots are currently available at the
Southwest General Urgicare Centers and Southwest
Community Pharmacy on a walk-in basis. You must be
18 years or older to receive a flu shot. Most insurances,
including Medicare Part B, accepted. No appointments
needed. Available while supplies last.
Southwest General is offering flu shots at the
following locations:
Southwest General Urgicare—Brook Park Center
15900 Snow Road, Brook Park
*Urgicare appointments can be scheduled using
InQuicker by visiting www.swgeneral.com.
440-816-8744
8 a.m.–9 p.m., seven days a week
Southwest Community Pharmacy
Southwest General Urgicare—Strongsville Center
18697 Bagley Road, Middleburg Heights
(Main Lobby of hospital)
18181 Pearl Road, Strongsville
440-816-8410
440-816-2273
10 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday–Friday
8 a.m.–9 p.m., seven days a week
10 a.m.–noon, Saturday