On Jan. 1, 2014, Adena Regional Medical Center (ARMC) will change to the Medicare provider-based designation model, a common practice in the healthcare industry that separates the charges for physician services and facility utilization. The change only impacts patients insured by Medicaid and Medicare. In addition, physician locations will become departments of ARMC. There will be no change in staff or services.

With the provider-based model, those insured by Medicare will likely receive two bills from ARMC for services provided. The first for “professional services,” which cover the medical care provided to patients by an Adena doctor or health professional. The second is a “facility charge,” which covers the cost of outpatient hospital space, exam rooms and equipment, operations, medical recordkeeping, and other services provided by the hospital. Some Medicare patients may also experience a slight change in their co-pay or out-of-pocket expenses. Medicaid will be billed separately for these services as well.

“The provider-based model is an increasingly common way for hospitals to operate their outpatient facilities,” said Lloyd Eichenlaub, Adena’s Manager of Reimbursement. “The change to a provider-based model offers ARMC a more strategic way to manage its resources for the overall benefit of our patients.”

Finally, the hospital’s longstanding mission of providing quality care to our community, regardless of their ability to pay, will be extended to its physician clinic departments beginning Jan. 1, 2014. Previously, Charity Care had only been provided in the hospital setting.

Patients with questions or difficulties in paying for any healthcare service may contact ARMC’s Patient Financial Services office at (740) 779-7960. 

Make a difference by joining the Take a Walk in Her Shoes rally and walk being held on Thursday, Apr. 3, 2014 at 4 p.m. at the Ross County Courthouse in Chillicothe. The program is held to raise awareness for survivors and those who have died as the result of sexual assault.

Sponsored by Adena Regional Medical Center’s Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program, in partnership with the Ross County Sexual Assault Response Team, the Take a Walk in Her Shoes event begins with a short program at the Courthouse, followed by a short walk to Yoctangee Park. The event raises money to help the teams purchase clothing and other materials needed when assisting children and adults in our community who arrive at the hospital as a result of a sexual assault.

In 2013, the Adena SANE Program and the Southern Ohio Sexual Assault Survivor Advocates treated 164 sexual assault survivors from 15 counties. Of those treated, 122, or 74 percent were children.

"It’s estimated that one-in-five women, and one-in-16 men report being a victim of sexual assault, with the number of unreported sexual assaults being much higher,” said Katheleen Wallace, BSN, RN, SANE, EMTP, EMSI, of Adena’s Forensic Program. “Through this event and other outreach we hope to raise awareness, and help break the silence of sexual assault.”

Online registration for the Take a Walk in Her Shoes event is available at www.walkinhershoes14.eventbrite.com. The entry fee is a $15 donation, which includes a t-shirt. To ensure t-shirt delivery in time for the Apr. 3 event, pre-registration is encouraged by Thursday, Mar. 20. Those who register after that date will not be guaranteed a t-shirt for the day of the walk.

Your participation will help raise awareness and provide survivors with clean clothing, treatment supplies and fund training for volunteer advocates who work with survivors while they are being treated at Adena. For more information about Take a Walk in Her Shoes, or Adena’s SANE program, send an email to sosa@adena.org or kwallace@adena.org.

February is recognized as “Heart Month,” a time when heart health is in the spotlight. It is important for us to learn more about our risk for heart disease at all times, and to make an effort to speak with our primary care provider about any concerns we may have about our own cardiovascular health.

Many people manage heart disease with the care of a cardiologist through diet, medication or minimally invasive cardiac procedures. However, there are times when a heart issue requires open heart surgery, and patients have many questions about the procedure, and the risk involved in repairing this vitally important organ.

The use of the heart-lung machine was introduced in 1953, when Dr. John H. Gibbon, Jr. MD performed our nation’s first successful open-heart operation. This monumental accomplishment is what has propelled generations of cardiac teams forward with the knowledge needed to successfully operate on millions of human hearts all over the world.

As a cardiac perfusionist for Adena Regional Medical Center, I am responsible for keeping our patients alive during open-heart surgery. This is accomplished by the use of new heart-lung machines that manipulate the blood volume away from the heart and lungs, while stimulating blood oxygenation and generating a blood pressure without the heart or lungs actually beating or breathing. Once bypass is achieved, Adena’s cardiothoracic surgeons are able to operate on a calm, stable surface for a variety of cardiothoracic surgeries.

The world of cardiothoracic surgery has come a long way since the once high-risk procedure, especially here in Ross County. For eight years, the same Adena team of cardiothoracic surgeons, physician assistants, and perfusionists has collaborated and successfully treated patients in our community for a variety of heart-related diseases. A few of these open-heart procedures include: grafting for coronary artery disease (bypass); valve repair/replacement; heart arrhythmia surgery; and aortic aneurysm repairs. In most cases, there is no longer a need to travel to more urban areas for open heart surgery.  These life-saving services are available right here in our hometown.

In addition to a team of talented physicians/surgeons and staff, Adena has state-of-the-art technology and offers our patients a multi-disciplinary care approach, that enables them to become involved in their treatment plan through education, helping the patient make informed choices about their health and care.

- Jennifer White, MS CCP - Cardiac Perfusionist

Adena Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery

Learn more about Adena’s Cardiothoracic Surgery Program.

Healthcare scholarship applications are now available through the Adena Health Foundation.  Adena's Healthcare Career Scholarship Program is made possible by the fundraising efforts of the Volunteer Advisory Council of Adena and The Women’s Board of Adena. Additional scholarship funds are made possible by generous contributions from and to the following endowments and funds:

• Adena Healthcare Scholarship Endowment
• PACCAR Medical Education Center Scholarship Endowment
• Reginald C. Blue Nursing Scholarship Endowment
• Gordon F. Streicher Memorial Scholarship Endowment
• Manchester Radiology Education Endowment
• St. Mary’s Catholic Church/William Nolan Endowment
• Stephen Fleischer Scholarship Endowment
• Junior Civic League Scholarship Endowment
• Eagles Aerie 600/Herbie Retherford Memorial Scholarship Endowment
• Catherine Evanoff Memorial Scholarship Endowment
• Soon Phil Choice Scholarship Endowment
• Beth Ann Elliott Memorial Scholarship Fund

Scholarships are offered in all direct patient care fields of study with special eligibility criteria for applicants in the fields of:

• Physical Therapist Speech Therapist
• Audiologist
• Physical/Occupational Therapy Assistant
• Radiology Technologist, Nursing
• Respiratory Therapist
• Medical Technologist or Medical Laboratory Technologist
• Medicine
• Pharmacy

Complete applications must be received at the Foundation Office or postmarked no later than 4:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 21, 2013.  If you have questions or need further information regarding this scholarship program, please contact Honey McNeal, Adena Health Foundation Coordinator at 740-779-7774.  

Download Scholarship Application

Proceeds to benefit the Adena Cancer Fund. Event is free to spectators. 
Saturday, May 17, 2014 at the PACCAR Medical Education Center.

Event is from 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Rain or Shine, registration from 8:30 a.m. to noon with a $15 entry fee for cars or trucks. There will be door prizes, trophies, raffles, a fish fry and vendors which include, Mary Kay, IT Works, Scentsy, Grace Adele and many, many more!

Judging will take place from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Hosted by Southern Ohio Corvette Club and Friends of the Foundation

Any questions please contact Dave Carle, President, Southern Ohio Corvette Club 740.357.5292