Community Hospital East will be hosting a live round table discussion today in partnership with change.gov. Watch it live here or at eCommunity.com

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The care of a patient who has experienced the loss of a pregnancy, newborn or infant does not end when the patient goes home from the doctor's office, emergency department or hospital. That is when Community's support programs, known as Open Arms both at Community Hospital Anderson and at Community's Indianapolis hospitals, offer services to help parents through the grieving process. Each December, memorial services are held in Anderson and Indianapolis to bring together families who have experienced a loss.

"We have families who have come for several years in a row," says Joni Cutshaw, R.N., bereavement coordinator for Open Arms. "This is often the one time of the year that parents say their baby's name."

The memorial service at Community Hospital Anderson was held at the hospital on Thursday, December 18. Dick True, chaplain, led the service. A mother who experienced a loss at 38 weeks shared what has helped her get through the holidays. Another mom who lost her baby at 37 weeks sang. Attendees were invited to share their experience with the group, and gathered at the end of the service for refreshments and fellowship. "It's very uplifting to the families," says Ruthie Smith, LPN, maternal child support services coordinator. "It's something that we do in the community that is very special to these families, and they appreciate that we remember them."

The Indianapolis memorial service took place on December 4 at Ellenberger United Church of Christ, near Community Hospital East, and followed a similar format. Approximately 25 families gathered for a sermon offering words of encouragement and a candle-lighting ceremony to remember each loss. This year a 13-year-old, whose mother has experienced three losses, played the harp, and Lorraine Garner, OB tech at Community Hospital North, played the organ. At the end of the service, families gathered for refreshments and fellowship. Parents were presented with a memory book and angel ornament, compliments of the Community Health Network Foundation. "This is an opportunity for parents to remember their baby at the beginning of the season, and it helps them to then enjoy their holiday," says Cutshaw.

Community's pregnancy, infant and newborn loss support services are available to all parents, regardless of whether they are patients at Community. Likewise, programs at other area hospitals welcome parents who may have experienced a loss at Community. For more information on these memorial services and other programs throughout the year, please visit https://www.ecommunity.com/openarms/.

Community Health Network, The Indiana Heart Hospital and cardiovascular physician practices are uniting services, creating a new structure to deliver an integrated model for heart and vascular care in central Indiana.  Beginning January 1st, these integrated services will be called Community Heart and Vascular to reflect the comprehensive cardiovascular services offered, including hospital, ambulatory and physician sites of care.

"We strongly believe that integrating hospital and physician care more closely will benefit patients," says Tom Malasto, current CEO of The Indiana Heart Hospital and CEO of Community Heart and Vascular. “These new integrated relationships set the highest standards for heart and vascular care and will allow us to meet a growing demand for cardiovascular services in the area.”

The integrated model will unite cardiology, vascular and cardiothoracic physician practices with The Indiana Heart Hospital, part of Community Health Network, to form one cohesive entity.

Community Heart and Vascular will consist of the existing specialty heart hospital (The Indiana Heart Hospital); cardiovascular services at four acute care Community Hospitals (Community Hospitals East, North, South and Anderson); and 31 physicians (cardiologists, vascular and cardiothoracic surgeons) from five physicians groups, totaling over 600 combined employees.  The physician groups include:  Cardiothoracic Surgeons of Indiana; Indiana Heart Associates; Jetty Heart Clinic; Vascular Physicians of Indiana; Russell Dilley, M.D.; and Dennis Jacob, M.D.

“Community Heart and Vascular is unique in that all aspects of the program are co-managed with physicians,” says Ramu Yeleti, M.D., president of Community Heart and Vascular.  “Patients will benefit from having access to a full continuum of integrated cardiovascular services.”

Advantages of integration include the development of innovative clinical care programming; the ability to better harmonize and leverage related clinical services, such as primary care, emergency departments and intensive care services; the expansion of clinical research and teaching opportunities; a paradigm shift to the longitudinal care of the patient; alignment of economic and operating efficiencies; and the ability to effectively apply physicians’ time and talents to program development, leadership and management at full program levels.

“Combining forces will have a very positive impact in the care of heart and vascular patients across the network,” says Bill Corley, president and CEO of Community Health Network.  “This affiliation with the specialists we have worked with for several years will integrate the top-quality care and services of The Indiana Heart Hospital and physician practices with the other services of Community Health Network.  This is the most desired and cost-effective way to deliver the best care for our patients.”

All physician practices will continue to care for patients at the same office locations.  The Indiana Heart Hospital will continue to provide care at its current locations, and on the campuses of Community Hospital East, North and South in Indianapolis.

Opened as the nation’s first all-digital heart hospital, the programs and services of The Indiana Heart Hospital have been nationally recognized for clinical quality measures.  Recently, Thomson Reuters Healthcare rated the hospital as one of the nation’s top 100 cardiovascular hospitals for the third consecutive year.  The integration of cardiovascular services will reinforce the exceptional quality of programs network-wide.

More than 250 mothers who deliver at Community East, North and South each year leave the hospital without essential supplies for their newborns. It may take a couple of weeks after the baby is born for mothers to access WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) services. Thanks to a collaboration between Community case management, Community Home Health Services, the Community Health Network Foundation and the Hutson School, these mothers will go home with a diaper bag full of supplies they will need for their newborn.

Community Home Health Services coordinated the effort as their holiday philanthropy project. Case management recommended supplies moms would need once leaving the hospital, such as diapers, blankets and sleepers. The Community Health Network Foundation purchased diaper bags, to be filled with items donated by CHHS staff. First and second graders at the Hutson School, a day school at 38th and Arlington for children with language learning differences, partnered with CHHS to collect donations from students, families and staff and held fundraisers to fill diaper bags. Additionally, two local Wal Marts and a corporate donor furnished gift cards to be applied toward supplies.

A total of 300 bags were presented to Community’s case management team on Friday, December 5.  

Daron Earlewine, young adult pastor at East 91st Street Christian Church in Indianapolis, made a reference to Community Hospital North's state-of-the-art maternity unit in a November 30 sermon. Click here to hear the excerpt. Or, you can listen to the entire sermon.

To learn more about Community Hospital North's exceptional approach to maternity care, watch our video:

The Sleep/Wake Disorders Center at Community Hospital South is moving to an off-site location, effective October 27:

521 East County Line Road South, Suite G
Greenwood, Indiana 46143
317-887-7079
See a map

The new sleep center is approximately two miles east of Community Hospital South, in the Indiana American Office Park. It has all the technology and comforts of its former hospital location but will offer easier access for patients. Please make a note of the new south location if you have an appointment for a sleep study on or after October 27, 2008.

Not from the south side? Community Health Network has four more Sleep/Wake Disorders Center locations for patients who live in other parts of town.

To see if you might have a sleep disorder, take our online test at eCommunity.com/sleep.

Construction of the Next Evolution of Community Hospital South is underway. The new facility, which includes a five story, all-private room patient tower, expanded operating suites and convenient outpatient services will create en exceptional experience for patients, families, physicians, nurses and employees. But did you know it's also being designed with the environment in mind?

“We are incorporating as much energy efficiency as possible and doing what we can to optimize indoor air quality,” says Mitchell Breeze, director of facilities at Community Hospital South.

Following environmentally friendly standards involves registering the project with the Green Guide for Health Care and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star program. A similar approach was taken with the recent expansion of the hospital’s emergency department, which received gold certification from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™.

According to Breeze, the guidelines for the Next Evolution project are difficult to achieve, particularly for a hospital building. “We’re building on the lessons learned from our last LEED project,” he says.

The list of goals for the environmental component of the project is lengthy. Among the items on the checklist:

• At least 75 percent of the equipment purchased will be EPA Energy Star or Enerlogic rated.
• At least 75 percent of the construction waste will be diverted away from landfills through recycling and reuse.
• Water consumption in the new facilities will be reduced through the use of low-flow and hands-free technology.
• Finishes and paints that are low in odorous or irritating contaminants will be selected to ensure the comfort and well-being of patients, families, employees—and those involved in the construction.
• Every effort will be made to keep sound disruptions to a minimum, throughout the construction and beyond.
• Native or adapted plants requiring little or no irrigation will be used for the outdoor landscaping.

Taking the extra steps to achieve Green Guide and Energy Star certification is a win-win for the environment and for the occupants of the new facilities. In particular, patients and visitors will benefit from the reductions in noise and air pollution, which will contribute to the healing environment.

Learn more about the Next Evolution of Community Hospital South at eCommunity.com/south.

Looking for something to add flavor -- and a little kick -- to your salads, sandwiches, and grilled chicken? Nilima Mondal, cook at Community Hospital East, shared her recipe for spicy tomato ginger chutney:

1 c + 2 T cider vinegar
1 c + 2 T sugar
¾ c red wine vinegar
¼ c fresh ginger root, peeled & minced
1 T whole mustard seed
2 tsp Kosher salt
¾ tsp black pepper
1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
¼ tsp ground cloves
1 ½ pounds plum tomatoes, diced ½ inch
½ pound fresh red peppers (sweet), seeded & diced ½ inch

In a heavy bottom non-reactive pan over medium high heat, bring all ingredients except tomatoes and diced red peppers to a boil. Let boil 8 to 10 minutes. Add tomatoes and fresh red peppers. Bring back to a boil. Reduce heat. Simmer 45 minutes to 1 hour, stirring often until most of liquid is evaporated and sauce coats the back of a spoon. Cool. Store in refrigerator covered for up to 3 weeks. (Makes 2 cups)

The chutney is a nice complement to ham, turkey, grilled chicken, or grilled portobello mushrooms. To make a salad dressing, whisk some additional oil and vinegar into the finished chutney. Bon Appetit!

If you don't want to do the cooking yourself, you can enjoy Nilima's creations at the Community Hospital East cafeteria daily, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Community Health Network will host a bike rodeo for kids ages 7 to 12.

Saturday, September 27
10 a.m. to noon
Community Hospital North

The rodeo will be held in the parking lot on the south side of the hospital campus, just east of Community Regional Cancer Center. Participants should bring their bicycle and a helmet, if they have one. The event will include a helmet fitting station to ensure riders are receiving maximum benefit from their safety gear. Kids will also have the chance to visit three skill stations that will teach them how to stay safe, while having fun, on their bike.

“We are offering this free event as a public service to our local community,” says Tom O’Daniel, bike patrol coordinator and field training officer. “Young cyclists are encouraged to join us, rain or shine.”

Quality indicator data for Q2 2008 has been posted at eCommunity.com/quality.

The data reflect Community's high quality patient care for indicators in three categories:

• Heart attack
• Congestive heart failure
• Pneumonia

Community's quality data are compared against national hospital averages and are provided for all network hospitals: Community Hospitals North, East, South and Anderson, and The Indiana Heart Hospital.

More information, including national averages for hospital quality data, can be found at http://www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov

From PEDIATRICS Vol. 121 No. 5 May 2008, pp. 1062-1068 doi:10.1542/peds.2008-0564

The AAP Committee on Nutrition has updated its 1998 statement on the use of soy protein–based formulas in infant feeding.

In term infants, the few indications for use of soy formula in place of cow milk-based formula are: (a) for infants with galactosemia and hereditary lactase deficiency (rare) and (b) in situations in which a vegetarian diet is preferred. 
Note:
1) For infants with documented cow milk protein allergy, extensively hydrolyzed protein formula should be considered, because 10% to 14% of these infants will also have a soy protein allergy.
2) Most previously well infants with acute gastroenteritis can be managed after rehydration with continued use of human milk or standard dilutions of cow milk-based formulas. Isolated soy protein-based formulas may be indicated when secondary lactose intolerance occurs.
3)Isolated soy protein-based formula has no advantage over cow milk protein-based formula as a supplement for the breastfed infant, unless the infant has one of the indications noted previously.
4)Soy protein-based formulas are not designed for or recommended for preterm infants.
5)The routine use of isolated soy protein-based formula has no proven value in the prevention or management of infantile colic or fussiness.
6)Infants with documented cow milk protein-induced enteropathy or enterocolitis frequently are as sensitive to soy protein and should not be given isolated soy protein-based formula. They should be provided formula derived from hydrolyzed protein or synthetic amino acids.
7)The routine use of isolated soy protein-based formula has no proven value in the prevention of atopic disease in healthy or high-risk infants.

The clinic is closed on Tuesday afternoons.  Contrary to public expectation, nobody is golfing.  Except maybe Chris.  We have a "dedicated" didactic block for the residents to attend lectures on pertinent topics in family medicine.  For me, being on medicine service for the past month, "dedicated" means make it when you can.  For everyone else, Tuesday afternoons are a great time to catch up with all the residents.  
    I caught up this past week in August.  The meeting was at the Community Rehab and Sports Medicine center across from CHE.  We got to see for ourselves where our patients go and what they experience when we send them for PT/OT.  Coming from training as an Osteopathic Physician, my philosophy on health is that the body is an integrated whole with an inherent ability for self healing. We are taught appreciation for the body's interrelation of structure and function.  I've used musculoskeletal manipulation of various forms to optimize the physiology of my patients.  At the rehab center this approach to healthcare happens daily.
The clinicians at Community were dedicated and impressive.  The treatment plans are very well thought out, and outcomes of each encounter are measured to improve overall care and to show objective results. The training facility is first rate. The talented people there complement our work in the clinics and give patients the consistency many chronic problems require.  Thanks for lunch and the impressive tour, your work is vital.

    Next, we returned to CHE for an interactive lecture on sleep apnea.  We were introduced to the various CPAP masks and machines.  It was a real eye opener (and nostril opener). 
    The day ended with an earfull of information from  Dr. Matthew O'Malley a neurotologist who recently joined the Midwest Ear Institute and specializes in ear, hearing, and balance disorders. He honored us with his expertise in this area and we are all grateful.  Welcome to Indianapolis.
     It felt good to meet up with everyone again, (there are actually eight of us interns!) I enjoy these Tuesday afternoons - they are a breath of fresh air.
    
      

This post is a bit overdue, but since I am on a roll, I will feature some content that was recently uploaded to our YouTube channel.

We think video is a great medium for communicating patient and employee experiences at Community Health Network.

We invite you to check out the latest videos we have available through our Women's Services and Cancer Care Web sites. You can watch the stories of two cancer voyagers, as well as learn more about Community's breast health navigators.

Visit eCommunity.com/women or eCommunity.com/cancercare

What do you think of use of videos to tell stories? Leave us a comment!

Although this is not a direct patient or family experience, it does point to the exceptional efforts of Community staff in helping those in need.

Community Health Network is supporting Columbus Regional Hospital and its employees, following devastating floods last month. Community is donating $100,000 to the Columbus Regional Hospital Foundation’s Flood Recovery Fund, to aid in the flood relief efforts at the hospital, which suffered $110 million in damages from record flooding on June 7. In addition to the monetary donation, Community Health Network has supported Columbus Regional by employing staff primarily at Community Hospital South and the Indiana Surgery Center-South, with a smaller percentage of staff employed at Community Hospital East. To date, more than 40 employees are working in the network, with the majority of positions including medical/surgical; intensive care unit (ICU); progressive care unit ( PCU); post-anesthesia care unit (PACU); surgical; behavioral care; and case management registered nurses. Other health care professionals, including LPNs, physicians, surgical technicians and instrument technicians have also been employed. Once Columbus Regional reopens, employees who were temporarily hired by Community will go back to Columbus to resume their jobs. Community does not plan to hire these employees long-term.

“We are pleased to help employees at a sister hospital get back on their feet,” said Bill Corley, president and CEO of Community Health Network. “Their work experience with Community is an opportunity for them to maintain and improve their skills during this disaster period. Community has taken great strides to provide a complete orientation experience prior to employment.”

Press release >>

When there's an emergency, it can be hard to think through the best course of action. And as with many situations, choosing the quickest or closest option--or not understanding you have a choice at all--may not have the most favorable consequences.

Medical emergencies are a great example. Because my doctor is affiliated with Community Health Network, going to a Community emergency room can make a difference in the quality of care I will receive. The medical records that are maintained by my primary care physician are integrated across the network. No matter if my emergency occurs when I'm near Community Hospital North, East or South--or if I need The Indiana Heart Hospital--the emergency specialists at that facility will be able to access my medical history. If it's a serious situation that impedes my ability to communicate effectively, the ER staff will be able to reference my medical records for any medication allergies and past procedures to make the best decisions possible for my treatment.

Conversely, any notes the emergency room clinicians make on my medical record as a result of my visit will be added to my electronic record. My primary care doctor will know about the ER visit, and therefore will be up-to-date on my medical history.

The same is true if my condition requires hospitalization. I'll be in the care of Community specialists every step of the way--and my records will be updated all in one place.

And the alternative? Bottom line, it's important to get care in an emergency--no matter where you end up. But it sure helps when you know your medical caregivers are on the same page.

Community Health Network was a presenting sponsor for the inaugural Race Around the Reservoir Geist Half Marathon and 5K, which occurred on May 17.

Dan Hodgkins, vice president of health promotion and community benefit called the event “an incredible success.” In all 4,500 people participated in the event—the most ever for an inaugural race in the state of Indiana.

One of the largest successes was the involvement of children. Last year, Community along with The Lawrence Township Foundation started the Kids Up and Running program in the Lawrence schools. The goal was to combat sedentary lifestyles and get children and their families moving. More than 1,200 students raced in the half marathon and for more than half, it was their first organized race. “I think we had more success than anyone ever thought about,” Hodgkins says.

All proceeds raised from the race will go to support the Up and Running program as well as other similar programs in the Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township and Hamilton Southeastern School District.

“This is a great example of how our Community Health Network contributions “pay it forward” to the broader community,” Hodgkins says.

Community programs awarded for addressing childhood obesity
The U.S. Surgeon General, Steven K. Galson, M.D., has singled out two model programs in Indiana to be awarded for successfully addressing the issues of childhood obesity. A news conference was held Wednesday, May 28, at Douglass Park in order to present the awards to Lawrence Township Foundation’s “My Community Gets Healthy” program and Indianapolis Public Schools Howe Academy’s “Fit4life” program.

Both of these programs have been supported by Community Health Network. “I am very proud of the work my department staff has provided to make both of these programs a reality, especially Karen Shirey, Lutrell Lauderdale, Todd Williams and Marcia Plant Jackson and others,” Hodgkins says.

The Surgeon General asked some of the student runners from the Geist Half Marathon, including a student at MSD Lawrence, who came in 14th out of the entire field of 4,500 runners, to be present at the awards ceremony and press conference. He was able to compete in the race with the support of the school clinic staff including, Denise Schnell, family nurse practitioner at Brook Park.

A Community clinical nurse specialist and the network director of epilepsy/pulmonary DRG management, are featured in an in-depth video about Community Health Network’s world-class performance in preventing ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP). All of the network’s seven ICUs have gone at least one year without a VAP.

The video serves as a VHA Inc. Leading Practice Blueprint that maps out all of the steps that have been proven to lead the most effective and efficient care for VAP. Produced by VHA, the video was developed after VHA recognized Community Hospital East as a leading practice hospital for its work in preventing VAP. The video will serve to educate and encourage 1,400 VHA member hospitals nationwide to adapt and adopt these practices into their patient care patterns.

“This is the ultimate jewel in our crown of safety and quality achievements. VHA thought so and blueprinted it for all of VHA,” says Glenn J. Bingle, M.D., chief medical officer and network vice president, medical and academic affairs.

Earlier this year, Community Hospital East demonstrated that its stroke care program follows national standards and guidelines that can significantly improve outcomes for stroke patients. The Joint Commission’s Primary Stroke Center certification is based on the recommendations for primary stroke centers published by the Brain Attack Coalition and the American Stroke Association’s statements and guidelines for stroke care. The Joint Commission launched the program—the nation’s first—in 2003.

A celebration was held Thursday, May 15. “As part of the celebration and in recognition of Stroke Awareness Month, members of the stroke team will host a stroke education table. The team will explain stroke risks, sign and symptoms. Give-away items and contest prizes will be awarded to individuals who participate in interactive quizzes and drawing. We hope to see many of our employees as well as visitors stop by to celebrate with us,” commented José Longoria, Vice President of neuroscience/pulmonary services.

Established in 2004, Community East’s Stroke team is led by clinical nurse specialist Deb Ferguson, M.S.N., R.N., C.C.R.N., C.N.R.N. and Doug Strobel, M.D., medical director for the Stroke Program. This team is comprised of multi-disciplinary clinical team members from throughout the hospital that care for the stroke patient along the path of recovery. It meets regularly to review, discuss and evaluate patient safety and quality goals, education and training, new policies and protocols to achieve The Joint Commission Accreditation as a Primary Stroke Center.