Adena News and Press Releases

Heather Braden, RN was recently awarded Adena Health System’s first-ever DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing, for her care of pediatric patients. A nurse for six years, Braden works at Adena Medical Center in Chillicothe in the Women and Children’s Unit. She was among 11 Adena nurses nominated for the award.

The DAISY Award was created by the family of Patrick Barnes, a 34-year old man whose family was overwhelmed by the level of compassion and care his nurses provided during his 8-week hospitalization for immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), which ultimately took his life. To honor the nurses who cared for Patrick, his family founded DAISY an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System, and created the award as a way to thank nurses around the country who go the extra mile. This is the first year Adena has presented the DAISY Award.

Heather was nominated by her manager, Sarah Fallow, RN. “Heather saw that our pediatric patients were struggling with food and what they wanted to eat,” said Fallow. “She worked with Dietary to create a kid-friendly menu that the patients could use to choose any meal. This allowed sick children to eat what sounds good to them. She is frequently mentioned in patient satisfaction surveys as the ‘extra something’ that makes her patients’ stay special.”

Heather has worked at Adena for two years. “I did not expect this at all,” she said. “I have awesome co-workers, awesome managers and definitely couldn’t have done it without them. It’s what I love to do. I love kids. I love nursing and wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Receiving the award won’t change anything for Heather. “I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing and providing for my patients, giving them what they need. And if they need anything else, I’m going to push for that too.”

Jeyanthi Ramanarayanan, MD, a board-certified Oncologist/Hematologist has joined the staff of the Adena Cancer Center. Dr. Ramanarayanan specializes in the treatment of many types of cancers, blood disorders and soft tissue tumors. With a research background and experience, she has a specific interest in treating cancers of the breast and lymphoma.

Dr. Ramanarayanan elected to specialize in Oncology during her residency at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, in New Jersey. “I was fascinated by innovative curative therapies emerging in the field of oncology for leukemia,” she said. “Training in the field of oncology has enabled me to practice evidence-based medicine and make a meaningful difference in caring for cancer patients.” Dr. Ramanarayanan also cites the importance of offering compassionate care for patients during their course of illness and treatment as being extremely gratifying for her.

Dr. Ramanarayanan attended medical school in India, and performed her internship and residency at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in Jersey City, NJ. She completed a Clinical Fellowship in Hematology at the University of Buffalo’s Erie County Medical Center, and performed a Clinical Fellowship in Oncology at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, NY.  Dr. Ramanarayanan is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Medical Oncology.

Excited to be at Adena, Dr. Ramanarayanan moved to southern Ohio to be closer to her family.

Learn more about Cancer Care at Adena.

For the first time at Adena, Nurses Week served as the catalyst for hand blessing ceremonies for nurses throughout the Health System.  Adena’s Lead Chaplain Jerry Compton and Associate Chaplain Paul Ray performed hand blessings during chapel services and in staff huddle meetings at locations across the region.

Chaplain Compton and Rev. Ray had each performed hand blessings in previous positions, and knew the spiritual component it brought to staff.  “It’s kind of being in touch with the sacred,” said Chaplain Compton.  “Schooling can teach you everything you need to know about nursing or medicine, but you have to get deep down inside your spiritual self and ask, ‘Why did I decide to become a nurse or a doctor?’ Those are the issues we address.”

Staff reaction to the hand blessings has been extremely positive. The chaplains have received “tons of emails” expressing thanks. They have also seen many tears during the blessings and are building relationships and gaining the trust of those who may have broken with clergy or the ministry in the past. “Sharing the sacred does something to build bridges between hearts,” added Chaplain Compton.

The chaplains have gone to huddle meetings on various units during shift change to reach as many nurses and staff as possible, and sharing words of inspiration with the staff, and thanking them on God’s behalf for the work they do. “It’s important for the nurses to be aware of God’s presence in their lives and the way He uses them to do the work they do,” said Chaplain Compton.

Hand blessings are performed as the recipient holds their palms open to receive the blessing.  The chaplains take Mir, an anointing oil, and place it on the person’s palms. They then hold the nurse’s hands and pray a prayer for them to recognize the blessings God has given them, as well as the ways they share those blessings with others.

The blessings have not only benefited the nurses, but have also been special for Adena’s spiritual leaders. “It’s been overwhelming to recognize the lack of attention we each give to our own spirituality,” said Chaplain Compton. “We’re so busy with our day-to-day tasks, doing all of the things we’re capable of doing, and yet we’re not really being in tune with our motives.  We’ve got to reflect and taking the time to create space for the holy.”

Nurses Week is held the first week of May to recognize the efforts of nurses around the country. Chaplain Compton plans to continue the hand blessing practice during future Nurses Weeks.

Adena Sports Medicine is offering free sports physicals for middle and high school athletes, cheerleaders and band members. Adena physicians and experts will evaluate the student athlete’s general health, current fitness level and discuss and existing injuries or conditions that might increase the risk of injury.

Physicals will be offered at the following Adena locations:

Monday, June 3       5:30 p.m.        Adena Health Center – Jackson

                                                   1000 Veterans Drive

                                                   Jackson, OH  45640

Friday, June 7          5:30 p.m.        Adena Rehabilitation and Wellness Center

                                                    445 Shawnee Lane (behind Shawnee Lanes)

                                                    Chillicothe, OH  45601

An appointment is required. To schedule an appointment for a sports physical at Adena’s Jackson facility, call (740) 395-8134 no later than May 27. To schedule an appointment for the Chillicothe physical clinic, call (740) 779-7977 by May 31.

This program is sponsored by Adena Health System and area physicians to ensure that no athlete, cheerleader or band member is denied participation because of family circumstances.  These free events are for middle and high school athletes, cheerleaders or band members only. We cannot provide physicals for summer camps or employment.

Adena Health System is celebrating its nursing staff as part of National Nurses Week. The week is intended to focus attention on the diverse ways America's 3.1 million registered nurses work to save lives, and to improve the health of millions of individuals.

Currently, Adena Health System employs more than 800 nurses. Each nurse makes a tremendous contribution to the overall care of our patients, and leaves an indelible mark on the lives of patients and their family members.

“Our nurses are the heart and soul of Adena Health System,” said Adena President and CEO Mark Shuter. “They strive to make sure each patient is well cared for and their needs are adequately met while in the hospital or the physician’s office. They are our heroes every day and deserving of high praise during National Nurses Week - and always.”

National Nurses Week begins on May 6, marked as RN Recognition Day, and ends on May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, founder of modern nursing.  This week, Adena’s nursing staff will be honored with recognitions, award ceremonies, and on Thursday, will have breakfast and lunch served by hospital leadership.

Adena Rehabilitation’s Hearing and Speech Awareness 5k Walk/Run is scheduled for Saturday, May 18, 2013 beginning at 7:15 p.m.  The event is an all new, evening road race through the streets of Chillicothe. The race will begin and end at Yoctangee Park, located in downtown Chillicothe.

Communication disorders can impact patients of all ages. Some are present at birth, while others may be due to aging, a medical condition, or an injury.  Rehabilitation and treatment can improve the quality of life for those who experience problems speaking, understanding and hearing. The Walk/Run is to bring attention to these disorders and the impact they have on our patients.

There is a $25 pre-registration fee ($30 on race day), and all proceeds from the event will go to the Adena Health Foundation’s Speech and Hearing Fund.  Walkers and runners will receive a race bag and a glow necklace to wear for the evening event.  There will also be a silent auction and prizes for top finishers.  Participants may register after 6:30 p.m. on the evening of the event, or pre-register online.

You may send questions about the event to kschloenbach@adena.org.  

There’s still time for community and corporate groups to register to become part of the 2013 Chillicothe Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament. The tournament will be held on June 22-23, 2013, and will be hosted by Adena Sports Medicine. This year’s event will have a fresh feel at its new location on the campus of Ohio University - Chillicothe.

Be a Sponsor:  By holding the tournament on the campus of O.U. Chillicothe, there is more opportunity for growth and community involvement.  Corporate Sponsorship packages of all levels are still available for the 2013 event, including Benchwarmer sponsorships starting at just $25. “This is a tremendous opportunity for schools, businesses and organizations to become involved in a great community event,” said Shane Wells, Adena Sports Medicine’s Lead Trainer and Gus Macker co-chair.

Be a vendor:  Organizations interested in becoming a vendor during the tournament must complete and submit an online application. Vendor application deadline is Friday, May 10th.

Be a Volunteer:  Adena Sports Medicine is also looking for individuals and organizations to volunteer during the two-day event. A variety of duties are available for people of all ages.

Register to play:  The tournament is open to everyone six years and older, with divisions for experienced players as well as the new Mini Macker division for players as young as six years old. The mail in team registration deadline is May 31st; with online registration open through June 23rd. To register, visit www.macker.com. 

For more information about becoming involved in the Gus Macker 3-on-3 event, call (740) 253-5863, or fill out a sponsor, vendor or volunteer application online. Proceeds from the event benefit the Adena Health Foundation Sports Medicine Fund. 

A Community Health Needs Assessment is being conducted by Adena Health System to learn more about the health needs of people living in Ross and Pike Counties. The survey will provide information to help Adena identify the most prominent health needs of those in the proximity of Adena Medical Center in Chillicothe, and Adena Pike Medical Center, located in Waverly.

“The Health Needs Assessment will help us identify the prominent health care needs of our community,” said Mark Shuter, Adena President and CEO. “Results will be analyzed and measured against our current programs and services, to determine where we are meeting the needs of our communities, as well as where we may need to enhance services.”

Questions in the survey will be available online now through May 31, 2013 at www.adena.org/chna. Paper copies can also be completed after May 1 at the Information Desk at Adena Medical Center in Chillicothe and Adena Pike Medical Center in Waverly, or at a variety of community resource offices. Residents may also stop by and fill out a paper version at the Adena Clinic located inside the Chillicothe Walmart.

The survey is simple to complete and focuses on the respondent’s perception of the health issues facing our communities, as well as their own overall health and conditions. It should take no longer than five minutes to complete. Results will be analyzed this summer, and a report will be completed and released in early fall that will explain the survey findings on the needs of our communities, and ways in which Adena plans to address those needs.

The Community Needs Assessment is being conducted by all 501(c)(3) hospitals as required by the Affordable Care Act. The survey will be conducted every three years.

On Wednesday, May 1, 2013, Adena Family Medicine – Greenfield moved from the Greenfield Medical Office Building at 536 Mirabeau Street to 1075 North Washington Street, Greenfield.  

The move was necessary to accommodate the growth of specialties being offered to patients in the western region of Adena’s service area; and to provide more space for the growing family practice. 

 Practitioners moving to 1075 North Washington Street include:

• Richard Mizer, M.D.
• Christina DeLand, M.D.
• Michelle Dodds, CNP
• Debra Wolf, CNP

 Specialists who will be practicing in the Greenfield Medical Office Building location after May 2 include:

• Aaron Roberts, M.D., Sports Medicine
• Christopher Buckley, D.O., OB/GYN
• Siyun Li, M.D., Neurology
• Karen Evans, M.D., Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Phone and fax numbers will remain the same. To make an appointment with an Adena Family Medicine – Greenfield provider, call (937) 981-9444.

Adena Greenfield Medical Center (AGMC) will host the 6^th Annual Strokes for Strokes Golf Tournament on Thursday, May 9, 2013 at Buckeye Hills Country Club, located at 7261 Limes Road in Greenfield, Ohio.  The shotgun start, four-person scramble will begin at 1 p.m., and will be followed by a dinner and award ceremony.

The four-person, team entry fee is $200, with all proceeds from the event benefiting AGMC’s Rehabilitation Stroke Education Program. Adena Greenfield’s Stroke Rehab Program offers comprehensive care and treatment to help stroke patients retrain the brain to reverse some of the stroke’s effects on their movement, speech and cognitive function.

Adena Greenfield is the only facility in the area to be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) as a Stroke Specialty Unit. On average, patients begin their inpatient rehab at AGMC within eight days of their stroke, which is much sooner than the national average of 16 days. And with a focused, rigorous rehab schedule designed to get patients home safely as quickly as possible, the average inpatient length of stay at Adena is just 19 days — compared with 37 days nationally.

To register for the Strokes for Strokes Golf Tournament, contact Katharine Koogler at (937) 981-9201.