Adena News and Press Releases

Since it was announced in October 2016, activity around Adena Regional Medical Center’s new expansion and renovation project has been full steam ahead. Every aspect of the project is being carefully planned out and thoroughly executed as construction crews and Adena staff work to deliver a state-of-the-art ER to the region.

“When the Emergency Department project came to the Adena Board of Trustees, the first question we asked was, ‘Can we afford this?’” said Steve Burkhardt, Adena Board of Trustee Chair. “Then the next question was, ‘Can we afford not to do this?’ And the answer was, ‘No, we can’t.”

Adena Interim President & CEO Dr. John Fortney echoes those sentiments, “Keeping our eye on the need and opportunities for improvement, we have made growing and enhancing our emergency care a priority. As a pediatrician in this region for more than 30 years, I know when a child is ill or injured, parents want to get that child under a provider’s care as quickly as possible. The same goes for our adult community. When time is of the essence, and emergency care is necessary, you want to be able to rely on your hometown Emergency Department to make sure you or your loved one gets the fastest, most comprehensive care available. This project, to grow, update and modernize our facility, will give patients the benefit of being cared for faster, in an environment that is conducive to comprehensive emergency care - close to home.”

In all, Adena’s new Emergency Department is not only long overdue, but will be an all-in-one center, nearly tripling in size. Adena’s current Emergency Department encompasses 16,500 square feet, and is separated into two areas for care. The new facility will be nearly 60,000 square feet, will include private rooms, specific areas for triage and observation, six additional treatment rooms and 32 more patient care areas. With more space and better flow, patients will see a provider sooner; and staff will be more efficient in managing each the care of each patient.

Danis Construction Vice President Dustin Rohrbach puts into perspective the scope of a project this size. “To put all of this together, you will see about 400 truckloads of concrete coming in for the project. Inside all of that concrete we have 200 tons of steel that gets buried inside for reinforcement. In addition, if we were to take all of the wires we lay for this project end-to-end it would run north of Columbus - about 80 miles from here. We will also top out at about 100 craftspeople in the field. That is the magnitude of the project.”

Danis and Adena have a long history together that spans over numerous projects to create the best facilities for patient care to south central Ohio.  

“We (Danis) have been a part of the 10-year transition to this campus, and executing the vision of Adena,” Rohrbach added. “That vision, to deliver care, healing and education. The care started with the northeast expansion, and is capped off by this Emergency Department expansion. The healing came when we finished the Adena Cancer Center (in 2011), and the education with the PACCAR Medical Education Center (2008). These facilities rival any across the state of Ohio.”

Over the next several months, people throughout our patients and community can expect to see aspects of the Emergency Department structure go up as the facility’s concrete super structure is poured. Phase I of the project, which includes the clinical area of the Emergency Department is expected to be complete by spring 2018, with Phase II being the lobby area and main entrance being completed around June 2019.

Be sure to check www.adena.org/ER for the latest project updates, parking information, photos and much more. 

CHILLICOTHE (May 25, 2017) – Adena Health System is pleased to welcome primary care physician Matthew Studebaker, MD to Adena Health Center – (image) Hillsboro. Since opening its doors almost one year ago, the Hillsboro clinic has been committed to continually expanding their services to provide close to home care to the people of Highland County.

Now accepting new patients of all ages, Dr. Studebaker provides a number of services and treatments for chronic medical conditions including diabetes and COPD, as well as annual wellness checks and physicals.

After earning his medical degree from The Ohio State University, College of Medicine and Public Health and completing his Family Practice Residency at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Dr. Studebaker opened his own private practice in Brookville, Ohio, where he provided primary care services to families and individuals for 14 years. He now looks forward to his new position with Adena.

“Working in a rural area like my boyhood home is important to me because I know high quality care is needed,” he explained. “I am also eager to be part of a network like Adena Health System because I now have a team of support and resources and yet, I can still be in a small, community focused practice.”

Among the other benefits of practicing in this region is the personal relationship Dr. Studebaker looks to have with his patients and their families, “I believe listening to patients concerns and taking all variables into consideration, is a skill that I focus on and feel that I do quite well.”

A Hillsboro resident with his wife and three daughters, Dr. Studebaker is also a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and Ohio State Medical Society.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Studebaker, call 937-393-7630

Adena Health System is pleased to announce it is expanding its Sports Medicine and Orthopedic services in Highland County. In June, four physicians with Adena Bone & Joint Center (ABJC) will begin delivering care at Adena’s new health center in Hillsboro, providing services in the areas of: Sports Medicine; Hand, Spine and Orthopedic Surgery. 

“Adena has a long-time commitment in delivering close-to-home care for our patients in and near Highland County,” said ABJC Clinic Director Sandy Zickafoose. “Over the past 10 years, our Sports Medicine and Orthopedic specialists have delivered safe, quality care, and advanced surgical procedures in sports arthroscopy and total joint replacement to patients in the region. With the recent opening of Adena-Hillsboro Health Center, we will continue to provide these important services to our patients, and also expand our services to include rehabilitation and care from the area’s top spine and hand specialists.”

Spine Surgeon Dr. James Fleming, Jr. will see patients at Adena Hillsboro beginning June 16, 2017. Dr. Fleming is board-certified in Orthopedic Surgery, with concentration on spine and neck surgery and treatment. Dr. Fleming is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University’s School of Medicine in Cleveland, OH. He performed his internship at University Hospitals in Cleveland, his residency at Cleveland Clinic, and his fellowship at Weill Medical College of Cornell University’s Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, NY.

Hand Surgeon Dr. Roger Wiltfong will see patients at Adena Hillsboro beginning June 6, 2017. Dr. Wiltfong is a graduate of Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City, and served his internship and residency in Orthopedic Surgery at Mount Carmel Hospital in Columbus. Dr. Wiltfong performed his fellowship in hand surgery with the Hand Fellowship Program at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hamot, located in Erie, PA. 

Effective June 5, 2017, Sports Medicine Physician Dr. Bradley Strauch will begin seeing patients in Adena’s Hillsboro facility, with Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Brian Cohen seeing patients there effective, June 28, 2017.

Drs. Cohen and Strauch have provided comprehensive orthopedic and sports medicine care for patients in Highland County for nearly 10 years. The duo will transfer care for their established patients in Highland County, with the ability to see new patients in Hillsboro as well.

Drs. Cohen and Strauch wish to thank patients and staff with whom they’ve worked in the region for the past 10 years, and are excited to continue seeing patients in a location that is convenient and close-to-home. The team also works closely with local school athletic trainers to provide quality care and treatment for student athletes.

“Adena is committed to delivering quality care for our patients in the communities in which they live,” said Adena’s Interim President & CEO Dr. John Fortney. “We have a responsibility to the people in the region we serve to deliver comprehensive care, by highly-skilled and seasoned professionals. These are physicians who know the community and the people they are here to help. By expanding our services within our new Hillsboro location, we can assure patients have a one-stop option for primary and specialty care in Highland County.”

In addition to adding Adena Bone & Joint Center’s Sports Medicine, Hand, Spine and Orthopedic surgery services to Adena-Hillsboro Health Center, Adena will also soon add on-site MRI to the facility’s line of imaging services. Additionally, Rehabilitation services including Occupational and Physical Therapy, will also be established in Hillsboro for the convenience of our patients.

Adena’s Hillsboro Health Center is located at 160 Roberts Lane, Hillsboro, OH  45133. Services within the Health Center include: family medicine, urgent care, orthopedics, dermatology, laboratory services, imaging, referrals to specialists and more. Patients who would like to schedule with Adena Bone & Joint Center providers in Hillsboro may call (937) 393-7665 or 1-877-779-4598.

Chillicothe City Council has agreed to issue bonds that will enable Adena Health System to refinance current debt, at a lower interest rate, and to fund much of Adena Regional Medical Center’s $36 million Emergency Department expansion and renovation project.

“Adena’s financial health is the best it’s been in a number of years,” said Adena’s Chief Financial Officer Lisa Carlson. “By being able to refinance our debt at today’s low rates, while rolling-in the Emergency Department project, the Health System will see an overall savings of $11-13 million over the life of the 30-year bonds.”

Seen as a good risk, rating agencies, Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s (S&P), each recently affirmed Adena’s A ratings. These ratings tell potential bond purchasers that Adena Health System is a good financial risk for them. Moody’s affirmed Adena’s “A3 and stable” rating, and S&P affirmed its “A- and stable” rating.

Bond agencies consider several primary factors when considering these ratings, including: an organization’s financial health (cash and debt levels), “track record” of the operating margin results, organizational strategy, market position, competitive threats, regulatory threats and management.

Because Adena is tax-exempt, when utilizing a bond selling process to acquire funding, there are steps that must be taken before taking the bonds to market. In this common, yet complex process, Adena must have an “issuer.” This is typically a government entity; and in this case, the City of Chillicothe will serve in this role. While a government entity must approve being used as a conduit issuer of tax-exempt bonds, neither the City, nor its residents have any obligation in terms of repayment. 

“We want to express our gratitude to the members of Chillicothe City Council for its decision to issue the bonds that will help Adena save on interest charges for current debt, and to fund a much-needed upgrade to our current Emergency Department at Adena Regional Medical Center,” said Adena’s Interim President & CEO Dr. John Fortney. “This project has been a long time coming, and it will finally give people in our community a facility that meets their expectations; and gives our caregivers the space and technology they need to see patients faster, and provide comprehensive care in a single location within the hospital.”

Adena’s bond underwriter, Cain Brothers, will soon issue a Preliminary Official Statement (POS) to notify potential investors that the bonds are available for purchase. Investor presentations will take place to answer any question from potential bond buyers, then the bonds will be sold and the selling documents closed. This is expected to be complete by mid-June.

While typically not life-threatening, environmental allergies can make you feel miserable, interrupt your daily activities and ca(image) n even lead to secondary respiratory infections.

Adena Health System is here to help you stop suffering. Adena Allergist and Immunologist Dana Esham, MD is now accepting new patients.

Dr. Esham is specially trained in pediatric Allergy and Immunology, but enjoys seeing patients of all ages. 

As a board-certified allergist, Dr. Esham looks at the whole picture. From your family history to your overall health, she will create an individualized treatment plan that is best for you.

Easier than ever before, patients visiting Dr. Esham can now take a simple test to identify as many as 40 different allergies at once. “Our skin tests involve scratching the skin with different allergens using a plastic applicator,” explained Dr. Esham.

That’s right; needles are not necessary anymore!

“If you are allergic to dust mites then a dust mite cover can improve symptoms and decrease medication use,” she added. “If you are exposed to allergens during activities such as gardening or mowing then wearing a mask and showering afterward can be very helpful.”

Adena ENT and Allergy also offers allergy shots. “Allergy shots are a great alternative for those who wish to avoid medications or medications are not helping,” noted Dr. Esham.

Don’t let allergies stop you from enjoying all the wonderful experiences this spring and summer has to offer.

Schedule an appointment with Adena and Dr. Esham today by calling 740-779-4393 or visit www.adena.org/appointment.

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Do you remember your senior year of high school? Were you excited about what the future held? Or were you lost wondering what would come next? For six high school seniors, a look into their own future is happening now.

It’s called the AIM Program, a unique partnership between Adena Health System and Chillicothe High School. The program gives students with an interest in medicine a first-hand opportunity to experience their future careers.

Each month, students in the program visited one of six Adena clinics and specialty services including: Palliative Care, Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Dermatology, Internal Medicine, and Oncology.

The students spent the morning in the hospital or a clinic, then in the afternoon came together for a hands-on lesson in Adena’s PACCAR Medical Education Center’s Simulation Lab. Between their monthly trips to Adena, the students keep journals about what they are learning and various other assignments.

The program’s creator, Tracy Coats, RN, wanted to find a way to engage children with an interest in medicine as a way to encourage them to stay in their hometown. “I was talking with Dr. Lois Jetty, of Adena Pediatrics, a couple of years ago about what we could do to help bring more physicians to town, even ways to bring kids back and show them this is a great place to practice,” said Coats. “Adena and Chillicothe City Schools were willing to do something outside the box, and this is just the right fit.”

To participate in the AIM Program, as student must be accepted into this competitive honors course. Students are required to be a member of the National Honor Society, and must submit an essay about their interest in a career in Medicine.

“Chillicothe High School is expanding the walls of educational opportunity beyond our building,” said CHS Principal Dr. Jeff Fisher. “It’s one thing to talk to students about opportunities, but it’s another to let them see what’s happening in the real world.”

The program’s first group of six honor students is especially grateful for the chance to learn about something that interests them in an environment that gives them greater learning opportunities.

“I’ve always wanted to be in Medicine, and this gave me exposure to several specialties,” said CHS Senior Gabriella Lapurga. “I could be thinking I want to do Dermatology now, but going through this, I’m learning about other specialties and may find something that interests me even more.”

AIM participant Zach Ayres added, “The AIM Program inspired me not only to become a doctor and work in the field of Medicine, but to do so right here in Chillicothe at Adena Health System.”

Adena is already working to build on the first-year success of the AIM Program and wishes its first class of graduates much success in their future careers.  

2017 AIM Program Class 

Zach Ayres

Megan Coats

Gabby Lap

Maggie McCorkle

Sydney Tackett

Adam West

Adena Health System has been recognized nationally as one of just 10 hospitals nationwide for their innovative approach impacting lives in local communities.

This special acknowledgement was in recognition of Adena’s Centering Pregnancy and Baby-Centered Recovery Programs, which received the “Program of Excellence” award along with 2,500 through the Hospital Charitable Services Awards, a national program sponsored by Atlanta-based Jackson Healthcare.  

Adena’s Centering Pregnancy Program is open to all pregnant women, while the Baby-Centered Recovery Program is for women with opiate dependence. Ronald Lopez, MD and Lee Parks, DO co-directors of the programs are on hand to supervise, give advice and to meet one-on-one monthly with the women in the Baby-Centered Recovery Group. 

Started in 2014, Adena’s Centering Pregnancy Program is available for pregnant women to come together to share experiences, learn and interact with providers allowing Adena to be more involved in their care plan.

The Centering Pregnancy group meets for six two-hour sessions during a woman’s pregnancy. Adena Certified Nurse Midwives and other health care providers meet with women to discuss their pregnancy and health concerns as well as participate in interactive learning actives with other mothers due at the same time.

In addition, Adena offers a Baby-Centered Recovery program, for women with opiate dependence that strives to help women move beyond their opiate dependence by encouraging social supports, linking clients to community services and providing education about pregnancy and addiction. Medically assisted treatment is offered as well as a plan for participant’s detox after infant’s birth.

Since the Baby-Centered Recovery program began in 2012, the Adena Women and Children’s Department has helped serve almost 100 newborn babies born with opiate exposure. 

“Compared to women who dropped out of the Baby- Centered Recovery Program those who completed it were more likely to breastfeed, while their infants had higher gestational ages, better birth weights and almost no involvement with children services,” said Donna Collier-Stepp, Adena Women and Children’s Licensed Independent Social Worker Supervisor. 

On average, about 65% of opiate dependent mothers will have babies who withdraw after delivery.

“Because of our medication management, only 35-38% of mothers who completed our program have babies who(experience withdrawal symptoms,” Collier-Stepp explained. 

Not only is Adena helping lower this average, but a large part of the program is educating new mothers on neonatal abstinence syndrome and how to care for addicted babies once they return home. 

Collier-Stepp added, “If a baby withdrawals, they could spend up to two weeks in the special care nursery in the hospital, where as here, since our withdrawal rates are lower, a baby may only have to stay for five days.”

Adena OB/GYN has also implemented a process to ensure mothers who are opiate dependent can see a provider without a referral.

Adena Women and Children’s programs have previously been nationally recognized by U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers (R-OH) as a model other communities should replicate. 

If you are or know a pregnant mother in need of assistance and would like more information about Adena’s Centering Pregnancy Program or Baby Centered recovery Program call (740) 703-7103.

For a second consecutive year, Adena Health System will continue its partnership with the Ohio Department of Public Safety (ODPS) to showcase the importance of traffic and motorcycle safety, and how it relates to the overall health of our region.

The ODPS’s Ross County Safe Communities uses local partnerships, like the one with Adena, to deliver traffic safety messages and programs throughout the year.

As summer kicks off and families hit the road for vacations, Ross County Safe Communities and Adena are reminding motorists to Click It or Ticket. In hopes of saving lives through increased seat belt use and to help keep you and your family safe, the national seat belt campaign will take place May 22nd through June 4th, concurrent with one of the busiest travel and holiday weekends of the year.

“One of the safest choices drivers or passengers can make is to buckle up,” said Paige Farmer Ross County Safe Communities Program Coordinator. “The national seat belt use rate in 2016 was 88.5 percent meaning we can improve. An estimated 37 million people still don’t buckle up. We hope by continuing this partnership we can help raise awareness on the benefits of always wearing a seat belt and the potentially fatal consequences of not buckling up.” 

On May 26th, Ross County Safe Communities will be part of a Click it or Ticket kickoff event outside the Yoctangee Park Entrance, (intersection of Paint Street and Main Street) during the Feast of the Flowering Moon Festival. Ross County Safe Communities will be set up all day, giving everyone a chance to win prizes and receive other promotional items. From 5-6 p.m., a special guest from the Ohio State Highway Patrol will discuss the importance of seat belt and motorcycle safety. Attendees will be entered into a raffle for a chance to win a $25 Speedway gift card.

For more information on Ross County Safe Communities, contact Paige Farmer at 740-779-8594 or pfarmer2@adena.org.

Applications must be postmarked no later than Friday, May 26.

Download Scholarship Application

Every year in March, Adena Health Foundation announces the availability of new scholarship guidelines and the application form. Since 2002, scholarships totaling $442,000 have been awarded to qualified students who wish to enter healthcare professions from our 12-county service region. Our only expectations are:

1. Recipients are obliged to do well in school, graduate and practice faithfully their professions.
2. Recipients are asked to first consider Adena Health System as your employer of choice.
3. Recipients are asked to begin giving to the Scholarship Fund at such time in the future as you are able.

Today, the future of these students is in our hands; tomorrow, our lives may be in their hands.

Scholarships are 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 to the following endowments and funds:

• Dr. James R. Manchester Memorial Endowment for Imaging Technology Education
• Gordon F. Streicher Memorial Scholarship Endowment for Medical Laboratory Technology
• Healthcare Scholarships Endowment (includes the Reginald C. Blue Fund bequest)
• Volunteer Scholarships Fund
• PACCAR Medical Education Center Scholarship Endowment Fund
• 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
• Soon Phil Choice Memorial Scholarship Endowment for Radiology Technology & Nursing
• Beth Ann Elliot Memorial Scholarship Fund
• Athlete of the Year Scholarship (Sports Medicine)

Adena Cardiology is now offering atrial fibrillation (AFib) Cryo Ablation, a first for the area. Cryo Ablation is a freezing technique used to treat AFib, an irregular heartbeat that can increase a person’s stroke risk five-fold. AFib can also lead to blood clots, heart failure, and other heart-related complications.

Adena Electrophysiologist Dr. John Keller said symptoms of AFib can vary. “You may feel fluttering, you may feel racing – but some people have more general symptoms like fatigue or shortness of breath,” he said. “There are a lot of people who don’t have the definite sense that their heart is out of rhythm. They just feel bad and experience many nonspecific symptoms to go along with that.” 

According to the American Heart Association, 2.7 million Americans are living with AFib, which occurs when the heart’s upper chambers beat irregularly, altering how blood moves into the ventricles. Ablation is often a good option for patients who have been working with a doctor for treatment, and have not been successful in controlling AFib with medications. 

After a year of planning, intensive training and performing the procedure many times at hospitals across the nation, Dr. Keller and his team are now offering AFib Cryo Ablation at Adena Regional Medical Center. The procedure is minimally-invasive and performed with general anesthesia.

“We have many patients with this condition,” Dr. Keller added. “After sending a lot of patients to Columbus for a similar procedure, we wanted treatment to be more convenient for them - keeping them close to home.”

During the procedure, a cryo balloon is delivered to the heart through a vein in the patient’s groin. Once in the left atria, the physician inflates the balloon and sends a liquid refrigerant into it. This freezes the wall of the pulmonary vein to make an electrical disconnection. 

“The idea is to cause scarring in the heart, that will electrically disconnect one part of the heart from the other,” said Dr. Keller. “The process of freezing and thawing creates disruption of the tissues and eventually leads to a scar. A scar can’t conduct electricity, and that’s what we want.”

Aside from its goal to stop AFib, the procedure does not cause any change in how the heart functions. 

Dr. Keller will host a free talk on Heart Health and AFib on Thursday, April 27, from 6 – 8 p.m. at the Carlisle Building, located at 9 S. Paint Street, Chillicothe. Space is limited, so call today at (740) 779-8664 or register online at www.eventbrite.com and search “afib”. To make an appointment with Dr. Keller, call Adena Cardiology at (740) 779-4570.

“A lot of doctors treat head to toe; we kind of start at the toe and work up!”

That’s how two of Adena’s newest providers, Dr. Eric Storts and Certified Nurse Practitioner Courtney Thornsberry, describe their work in the Adena Bone and Joint Center. As caregivers with Adena Podiatry, Dr. Storts and Courtney work with patients to meet their foot care, and overall wellness needs.

Both natives of Portsmouth, Ohio, Dr. Storts graduated from The Ohio State University and Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine. He completed his residency at New York Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn, where he focused on reconstructive foot and ankle surgery and limb salvage. Before going into private practice, Dr. Storts completed a one-year fellowship in Atlanta, focused on pediatric and adult foot and ankle surgery.

Thornsberry earned her degree in Nursing from Shawnee State University. She went on to receive her Masters as a Family Nurse Practitioner from the University of Cincinnati, and has cared for patients throughout southern Ohio. Thornsberry has an extensive background in intensive and critical care. Serving Podiatry patients is a way she is tying all of her training and experience together.

“I’m in a position now to really get to know my patients,” said Thornsberry. “With Adena Podiatry we work hard to get to know our patients, their families and their support systems. This helps us to work as a team in meeting their care needs, and to provide them with education so that everyone understands what is involved in the patient’s care.”

She adds, “Our appointments are typically 30 minutes long. We spend that time talking to patients about things like diabetes management and we really educate them on issues that could arise, and work to prevent those issues from occurring. But if they do have complications, we are here for them.”

During each visit, Adena’s podiatry caregivers give a comprehensive diabetic foot exam. They check for problems like loss of sensation, wounds, ulcerations, blood flow problems, or issues of the nail.

Dr. Storts joins Adena coming from a private practice orthopedic group in Connecticut. There, he performed comprehensive surgery for all foot and ankle conditions, traumatic injuries, and deformity correction. He also treated lower extremity complications resulting from diabetes.

Part of Thornsberry’s education helps patients understand her role in their care. She knows the confusion patients may have when they see a nurse practitioner versus a doctor. Both diagnose, treat, and manage various health conditions, perform in-office procedures, and prescribe medications. The differences come in advanced levels of training and education. But patients should rest assured they are receiving the same level of quality and top-rated care when seeing an Adena nurse practitioner.

“Having nurse practitioners in Podiatry is a new wave over the last several years,” Thornsberry explained. “We do a lot of diabetic foot care, nail checks, wound care and follow-ups. This allows our physicians to focus on the surgeries and their more involved cases.”

Thornsberry jokes that patients often tell her they understand that podiatry and foot care might not be the most glamorous job, but they are always very quick to add that they are so thankful for what she and all of the caregivers with Adena Podiatry do for them.

“People don’t realize how disabling not having the proper foot or nail care can be,” she said. “I’ve had many patients tell me that without our help, they would not have been able to walk.”

To learn more about diabetic foot care, or to schedule an appointment with Adena Podiatry, contact the Adena Bone and Joint Center at 740-779-4598.

According to the American Heart Association, 2.7 million Americans are living with atrial fibrillation (also called AFib or AF). AFib is a quivering or irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) that can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications. 

A normally functioning heart contracts and relaxes to a regular beat. But in atrial fibrillation, the upper chambers of the heart beat irregularly instead of beating effectively to move blood into the ventricles. The risk to people living with AFib, especially if it goes untreated, can be a five times risk for stoke.

 Dr. John Keller, Adena Cardiology’s Board-certified Electrophysiologist said symptoms of AFib can vary. “You can feel fluttering, you can feel racing – but some people have more general symptoms like fatigue or shortness of breath. There are a lot of people who don’t have the definite sense that their heart is out of rhythm. They just feel bad, and experience many nonspecific symptoms that go along with that.”

 For people with symptoms, Dr. Keller recommends the first step is to see your primary care provider (PCP) to get an actual diagnosis using an electrical recording of the heart’s rhythm, and work with a cardiologist if AFib is suspected.

 “AFib is a very common problem that usually requires medicines, blood thinners; and in the last several years there’s a treatment called an ablation to help treat it,” said Dr. Keller.

 Now for the first time, patients in our region can stay close to home, having the AFib Cryo Ablation procedure performed in Chillicothe. “We have many patients with this problem,” Dr. Keller said. “After sending a lot of patients to Columbus, we thought it would be nice, and more convenient, to keep them close to home.”

 After a lot of planning, intensive training and performing the procedure at hospitals in Pittsburgh, Columbus and San Diego, Dr. Keller and his team are now offering AFib Cryo Ablation at Adena Regional Medical Center. “The idea is to cause scarring in the heart, that will electrically disconnect one part of the heart from the other,” said Dr. Keller. “We’re trying to disconnect from the rest of the heart, the area of the heart where the AFib is happening.”

 Ablation is often a good option for patients who have been working with a cardiologist for treatment, and have not been successful in controlling their AFib with medications. The procedure is minimally-invasive and done with general anesthesia.

 A cryoballoon is delivered to the heart through a vein in the patient’s groin. Once in the left atria, the physician inflates the balloon and sends a liquid refrigerant into it. This freezes the wall of the pulmonary vein to make that electrical disconnection.

 “The process of freezing and thawing creates disruption of the tissues and eventually leads to a scar,” explained Dr. Keller. “A scar can’t conduct electricity, and that’s what we want.”

 The procedure and the freezing process don’t cause any change in how the heart functions, the scarring keeps the electricity in the heart from traveling the wrong way. This is what causes arrhythmia.

 One of the first patients to have the procedure performed at Adena has a family history of AFib and stroke. Having lost a sibling to stroke, the patient was anxious to have the cryoablation to control AFib symptoms, and ultimately the risk of stroke.

 Dr. Keller will host a free talk on Heart Health and AFib on Thursday, April 27, from 6 – 8 p.m. at the Carlisle Building, located at 9 S. Paint Street, Chillicothe. If you or a loved one has a concern or need for more information about heart health and AFib, register now by calling (740) 779-4570 or register online at www.eventbrite.com/afibadena.

Adena Health System announces today that it has added Family Health Care at Bristol Village to its primary care network. The clinic will now operate under the name Adena Family Medicine – Bristol Village.

Located at 621 E. 5^th Street, Waverly, Adena Family Medicine physician David R. Kessler, MD and Certified Nurse Practitioner Heather Howard will be seeing patients at the new location.

“We are very excited to welcome Bristol Village into Adena Health System,” said Dr. John Fortney, Adena’s Interim President and CEO. “This acquisition supports Adena’s strategy to expand primary care access throughout our region.” 

Adena Family Medicine – Bristol Village will offer comprehensive care for every member of the family, from newborns to great grandparents. The facility will offer a full array of primary care services including: well-baby/child check-ups; back-to-school and sports physicals; yearly wellness exams; immunizations; chronic disease management, such as diabetes, arthritis and cardiovascular conditions; care for acute conditions, such as sports injuries, flu and strep throat; and screenings, including blood pressure, cholesterol, hypertension and more.

Adena System Director of Primary Care Brooke Burns added, “Patients visiting Adena Family Medicine – Bristol Village will now have the benefits of shared electronic medical records, including Lab and X-ray results, as well as the advantages of being more closely aligned with nearby Adena Pike Medical Center and Adena Health Center –Waverly. Patients will also have direct access to Adena’s ancillary and specialty services that are offered at these facilities.” 

Hours of operation for Adena Family Medicine – Bristol Village will be: Monday 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Tuesday 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.; and Wednesday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Adena Health System is pleased to welcome Podiatrist Eric Storts, DPM to the Adena Bone and Joint Center.

A Portsmouth native, Dr. Storts joins Adena coming from a private practice orthopedic group in Connecticut. There, he performed comprehensive surgery for all foot and ankle conditions, traumatic injuries, and deformity correction. He also treated lower extremity complications resulting from diabetes.

Dr. Storts graduated from The Ohio State University and Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine. He completed his residency at New York Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn, where he focused on reconstructive foot and ankle surgery and limb salvage. Before going into private practice, Dr. Storts completed a one-year fellowship in Atlanta, focused on pediatric and adult foot and ankle surgery.

Dr. Storts has authored several scholarly publications in academic journals, and has lectured on topics related to foot and ankle surgery. He is board qualified in foot surgery and reconstructive rearfoot and ankle surgery. Dr. Storts is an associate member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.

The Adena Bone and Joint Center is committed to meeting the expanding needs of the community by offering accessible, quality care. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Storts, or any member of Adena’s Podiatry team, call 740-779-4598.

Adena Health System’s Laboratory has undergone a pricing structure change to make costs more in line with the today’s marketplace, and more affordable for patients. 

“We know that many of today’s patients are managing higher deductible health care plans,” said Adena’s Interim President and CEO Dr. John Fortney. “With this in mind, we took a close look at where we could make price changes in our Lab services to give our patients more for their health care dollar. The study has allowed us to make some significant reductions in price for many of the most common lab tests. Effective immediately, more than 80 percent of Adena’s Lab prices are now below the state average.” 

In addition to more customer-friendly pricing, patients who use Adena’s Lab for testing will get the advantage of having results faster and available sooner. With Adena’s in-house Laboratory, test results are reviewed by the referring providers, then put right into the patient’s Adena electronic medical record. This can be viewed by the patient by logging onto their personal page within the System’s Patient Portal.

Here are a few examples of Adena’s new lab pricing structure, as compared to the Ohio Average Price. 

Test                                                                New Adena Price                  Ohio Avg. Price

Blood Draw                                                                 $10.50                         $19.00

Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP) blood test                    $34.97                         $111.00

Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) blood test   $50.37                         $173.00

In compliance with state law, hospital pricing on areas such as Laboratory, Emergency Department, X-Ray and Radiology, and more can be found on our billing page. Patients who want to view their Patient Portal page should contact their primary care provider to sign-up for access.

Adena Health System today hosted an Opiate Summit to engage local, state and federal representatives in achieving next steps to solve the community’s addiction crisis. In attendance were city, county, state and federal leaders (or their representatives); law enforcement; several state agencies; physicians; and area mental health and addiction leaders.

The Summit, led by Adena’s Interim President & CEO Dr. John Fortney, and Primary Care Physician, Dr. John Gabis, who also serves as Ross County Coroner and Co-chair of the Heroin Partnership Project, provided education about where Ross County has been in its opiate addiction battle, the community’s change efforts so far, and what is needed to take the next steps. 

“We’ve done a lot of work and now we are stuck,” said Dr. Gabis. “We have people working hard to save lives, but we have a glaring gap and that’s treatment. Our greatest chance to impact the life of the addict is when that person is at the bottom. We need to have treatment options for them that are immediately available.”

The barrier created by the lack of area detox and treatment programs comes as the result of the need for funding and collaboration with experienced partners. Dr. Gabis and Paint Valley Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board (ADAMH) Interim Executive Director Penny Dehner explained the limitations of current funding sources, including the current uncertainty of available Medicaid funding, which has put the brakes on the possible entry of experienced and reputable treatment providers into the local marketplace.

“Right now, we’re not able to reach the people who need the treatment,” Dehner said. 

In addition to the lack of treatment options, the region is having extreme difficulty in attracting psychiatrists to the area. Currently, ADAMH is using telemedicine to deliver psychiatric services to its patients. Adena has just one full-time psychiatrist practicing right now, and is searching to fill at least two full-time positions. 

“We’re collaborating and we’re organized. We need your help to take the next steps,” Dr. Gabis urged the representatives and government leaders. “We need you to advocate for us, and to help give us the boost we need. We want to show the state and nation that we are the region that solved this problem, and this is how it’s done.”

Adena Health System has been re-certified as a primary stroke center, earning The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Heart-Check mark for Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers. The designations represent symbols of quality from their respective organizations. 

“When minutes make the difference between life and death, or long-term health effects, Adena’s designation as a Primary Stroke Center should assure our community that we have the staff, skill and resources to give every patient experiencing a stroke, the greatest opportunity for a positive outcome,” said Adena’s Interim President and CEO Dr. John Fortney.

Led by Adena Neurologist Dr. Muhammad Akhtar, Adena’s Stroke Team has seen its Stroke Alert cases double, and tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) treatments triple since first being named a Primary Stroke Center in 2014. With its re-certification, and receiving the Commission’s Gold Seal, Adena joins an elite group of health care organizations focused on highly-specialized stroke care.

As a Primary Stroke Center, hospitals must demonstrate compliance with stroke-related standards and meet additional requirements, including those related to advanced imaging capabilities, 24/7 availability of specialized treatments, and providing staff with the unique education and competencies to care for complex stroke patients. 

Adena underwent a rigorous on-site review in December 2016. Joint Commission experts evaluated the program’s compliance with stroke-related standards and requirements, and found Adena has “Thoroughly demonstrated the greatest level of commitment to the care of its patients having a complex stroke condition.” Joint Commission President and CEO Dr. Mark R. Chassin added, “Certification is a voluntary process, and The Joint Commission commends Adena for successfully undertaking this challenge to elevate the standard of its care for the community it serves.”

Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers is awarded for a two-year period to Joint Commission-accredited acute care hospitals.

Stroke is the number five cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United State. According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, someone suffers a stroke every 40 seconds; someone dies of a stroke every four minutes; and 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.

Adena Health System is bringing its popular forum, A Diabetes Community Expo: Empowering You to Live Well, to Jackson. Diabetes is a serious health condition in the community, but with proper education and planning patients can improve their health.

To help those with diabetes live a healthier life, Adena’s Diabetes Expo offers great tips and information for those living with the disease – and those who care for them. The Expo is free and open to all.  

Join us:          Saturday, Mar. 11, 2017

8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

YMCA of Jackson

594 E. Main St.

Jackson, OH

Jackson County has seen an increase of diabetes among people in the community. In Ohio’s most recent (2015) County Health Rankings Report, Jackson County is listed among the state’s least healthy, ranking 83^rd among Ohio’s 88 counties. More than 12.7 percent of Jackson County residents are now diagnosed with diabetes, compared to a state average of 8.1 percent. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, diabetes affects an estimated 23.6 million people in the United States, and is the 7th leading cause of death.

Adena’s free diabetes education program will give participants the strategies and education they need to control diabetes, and to limit its impact on their future health. Expo guests will hear from experts about the importance of managing diabetes, and making new habits for healthier living. Lessons include: affordable ways to grocery shop for a diabetic diet; the power of exercise over diabetes; a pharmacy question and answer session; and knowing how to prevent long-term complications. There will be cooking demonstrations and samples of diabetic-friendly foods and recipes, along with a light, diabetic-friendly breakfast also included.

The Expo is free and open to the public. Participants are asked to pre-register to help us know how many will be joining us for breakfast, taste testing, and cooking demonstrations. To register call 740-542-EXPO (3976) or go to adena.org/meded.

Adena Health System has selected Danis Building Construction Co., based in Dayton, as general contractor for construction of Adena Regional Medical Center’s (ARMC) new Emergency Department. In addition, DesignGroup, located in Columbus, is serving as the project’s architectural firm.

The Hospital announced plans in October 2016 for a $36.1 million expansion and renovation project to modernize and expand its outdated Emergency Department. Now underway, the project will nearly triple the size of ARMC’s current Emergency Department, taking it from 16,500 square feet to 59,000 square feet of new clinical and waiting space.

“This project is the result of listening to our community, and understanding what they want in their hometown Emergency Department,” said Nick Alexander, ARMC Vice President. “We looked for building partners with expertise in healthcare industry projects, and proven track records of success. Danis and DesignGroup understand the needs of our patients, our providers and the communities we serve. We are excited to work with these experts in creating a more efficient and comfortable Emergency Department for our patients and caregivers.”

The current ARMC Emergency Department was last renovated 28 years ago. Since then, requirements for patient privacy have been implemented, technology advancements require space for new equipment, and the number of patients, providers and caregivers has also increased; factors all contributing to the need to grow and meet today’s volume of patients using this service. Plans for the new department will help Adena’s Emergency Department serve patients in the fastest, most efficient and caring way.

“For more than 20 years, DesignGroup has helped Adena Health System plan and grow its campuses to serve local communities,” said DesignGroup CEO Sherm Moreland. “Our team is grateful to contribute our planning, architectural and interior design services on this Best in Class emergency department expansion.” 

“Building value for clients is our utmost priority,” said John Danis, CEO of Danis Business Construction. “We place clients’ needs first; always demonstrating the highest level of honesty and integrity, providing quality and attention to detail, and standing behind our work. Adena’s commitment to excellence in health care mirrors this model. It’s an honor to partner on this exciting and transformative expansion project.” 

Adena’s Emergency Department expansion and renovation project is expected to be complete in 2018.

Becker's Hospital Review has released its 2017 edition of the "150 Great Places to Work in Healthcare | 2017.” Adena Health System is again among the organizations the healthcare-centric publication says are, “committed to fulfilling missions, creating outstanding cultures and offering competitive benefits to their employees.” Adena was selected previously to Becker’s 2016 list of 150 Great Places to Work in Healthcare. 

“At Adena, we work to not only provide the best quality care we can for our patients, but to also make sure our caregivers have a satisfying work life as well,” said Adena’s Interim President and CEO Dr. John Fortney. “Receiving recognition at a national level for our efforts to provide caregivers with a positive work experience, competitive pay and benefits, and programs that promote personal and career growth is a welcome compliment. However, caring for the needs of our Adena family, by offering quality healthcare, retirement and life- and career-enhancing benefits is just the right thing to do. We know that healthy and satisfied caregivers are the key to making sure our patients receive the best care and have the best experience possible when they come to any Adena facility.” 

The Becker's Hospital Review accepted nominations for this list and developed an editorial review process to include organizations that have gone above and beyond to make their hospitals, health systems and companies great places to work. The "150 Great Places to Work in Healthcare" list features both healthcare provider organizations and other healthcare-specific companies.

According to Becker’s, the organizations included in its Top 150 Great Places to Work in Healthcare | 2017 “encourage professional development among their employees and promote tomorrow's leaders.” Many of the organizations, like Adena, have employee recognition programs, mentorships and offer competitive benefits. The organizations also coordinate employee and family outings, volunteering opportunities, and provide community support. 

The full list can be read here: http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/lists/150-great-places-to-work-in-healthcare-2017.html?utm_source=PR&utm_campaign=GPTW2017&utm_medium=Org

The Pike Fund of the Adena Health Foundation Scholarship Program is accepting scholarship applications for students pursuing a degree in the healthcare field.

To be eligible for the $1,000 scholarship, students must be a resident of Pike County, a full-time student for the 2017-2018 academic year and have a minimum 3.2 GPA or minimum 550 GED score. 

Students who wish to be considered for the scholarship must complete a scholarship application, and provide their high school transcript, ACT or GED score, a copy of their college acceptance letter, and include a one-page essay explaining why they are interested in pursuing a career in healthcare and what a scholarship would mean to them.

Applicants cannot be an employee or a dependent of an employee of Adena Health System; nor can they be the dependent of an Adena Health System Board member. 

All completed applications and supporting documents should be returned to the Scholarship Committee by April 7, 2017.  Please mail submissions to:

PDF Scholarship Application

Word Document Scholarship Application

Patient and visitor parking, as well as access around Adena Regional Medical Center (ARMC), will be reconfigured beginning Monday, Feb. 13 with the start of construction on ARMC’s new Emergency Department.

“This is a key milestone,” said Nick Alexander, Vice President of ARMC. “We are at a point where we will begin to see physical progress in the construction of our new Emergency Department. Patients, visitors and caregivers will see a series of significant changes to parking and driving patterns around our campus. These are expected to ease congestion as construction crews begin moving in their equipment, and relocating some of the existing utilities around the building. During this time we apologize for any inconvenience.”

Next Monday, construction crews are scheduled to start their utility work in the drive leading up to the West Entrance. As a result, all traffic that is not for the Emergency Department, Residency Clinic, or Wound Care will be directed to the North Entrance. Patients and visitors for service lines such as Radiology, Laboratory, Pain Management, Cardiopulmonary, Inpatient Units and the Women’s & Children Center, will be asked to enter the hospital through the North Entrance.

The following week, expect to see temporary fencing go up that will allow construction site work to begin. During construction, the Helipad will also be moved to an alternate location.

In December 2016, ARMC opened a new 237-space parking lot along Hospital Road that is providing more secure and viable options for patients, visitors, and staff.

New directional signage will be placed along Hospital and Loop Roads to help navigate visitors and staff to their desired locations. Patient drop-off and complimentary valet services at the North and West Entrances, Medical Office Building and Health Pavilion will be unaffected by the construction.

Adena has a new dedicated page on its website, providing all the latest in construction news, photos and parking and access maps at www.adena.org/services/page.dT/ED-Renovation.

For a second consecutive year, Adena Health System is partnering with the Ohio Department of Public Safety to promote the Safe Communities Program.

The Ohio Safe Communities network uses local coalitions, like Adena, to deliver national traffic safety messages and programs throughout the year such as Click it or Ticket, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, Stay Alive-Don’t Text and Look Out for Motorcycles.

Since accidental deaths are the 4^th leading cause of death in Ross County, this year Adena and Ross County Safe Communities will be involved in even more community events and will continue to focus on building their partnership with other stakeholder groups within the community.

“It is important for us to partner with a variety of community groups because healthcare is not the only issue affecting our region,” said Macey Power, Adena Marketing Specialist and Ross County Safe Communities Program coordinator.

Among their tasks, Ross County Safe Communities conduct quarterly fatality review meetings to review accidents, observe and identify any trends that may be reoccurring. Currently in addition to Adena, the coalition consists of local EMS and Fire Department members, the Safety Service Office, Health District, Police Department, Sheriff’s Office, State Farm Insurance, County Coroner’s Office, Ohio Department of Transportation and the County Engineers Office.

During the last fatality review the coalition evaluated the eight fatal accidents that occurred in Ross County from August-December 2016. Of those 75% of the fatalities were due to drivers not wearing their seatbelts. Other trends noted were drivers had failed to yield, were speeding or had alcohol in their systems during the time of the crash.

“The importance of using a seatbelt and driving sober simply cannot be over-stated,” said Lieutenant Timothy Karwatske, Ohio State Highway Patrol. “Without question, these simple behaviors do more than any other to stack the odds in your favor of surviving a crash or minimizing injury.”

Ross County Safe Communities is hosting a free public Health, Safety and Fitness Expo on March 18 from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Pickaway Ross Career & Tech Center. Additional information like local statistics, upcoming events, and safety tips can be found by following Ross County Safe Communities on Facebook.

Families wanting to become healthier in 2017 are encouraged to register for the next eight-week session of the Family Fit Program. Family Fit can help you and your children begin a journey toward better health.

Family Fit is sponsored by Adena Health System and the YMCA of Ross County. It is a fun-filled, family-oriented program that will start children and their families on a lifetime journey of health and confidence. For eight weeks, each 1.5 hour class brings together families with children, between the ages of six and 14. Classes include: cooking demonstrations, meal planning, exercise, and behavior counseling and is taught by Adena dietitians.

Once completing the entire program, and attending all eight sessions, families will receive a three-month membership to the YMCA of Ross County. There, they can continue using the activity skills they’ve learned in Family Fit.

The next Family Fit session will begin on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Sessions are held each Tuesday at the YMCA of Ross County, located at 100 Mill Street, Chillicothe, and will run through Tuesday, Mar. 28, 2017. 

Adena Health System is focused on the health and future of our region’s children and families. Adena’s team of physicians and dieticians are available to help members of our community adopt healthy habits that are intended to make a positive, lifelong impact on the health of our children and families.

The eight-week, Family Fit Program costs $50 per family. The registration fee covers all materials and the three-month, family YMCA membership. For more information about the Family Fit Program, or to register call (740) 779-7520.

Making the transition from nursing student to full-time nurse can be overwhelming. Adena Health System’s Nursing Internship Program is available to help new nurses make this important career transition.

Adena’s Nursing Internship Program offers new nurses full-time pay as they participate in the 18-week program. The internship program helps newly-graduated nurses make a smooth and confident transition from the world of academia to nursing practice. This mentored work experience, with an educational focus related to the role of a staff nurse, gives the individual additional hands-on experience with patient care, alongside seasoned nurses. It also helps a new nurse decide on his or her specific area of interest in the field of Nursing. 

The next session begins March 13. Those who are interested are encouraged to apply before February 3 for early consideration.

Applicants should note the program includes day and night rotations within five nursing units, with each unit rotation lasting three weeks. Nursing interns also take part in some classroom courses, independent study modules, and experiences are also included at Adena Pike Medical Center in Waverly, and Adena Greenfield Medical Center.

To apply for Adena’s Nursing Internship Program you will need the following:

• Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing
• Final Transcript (Unofficial copy is acceptable)
• Ohio Nursing License prior to day one of New Employee Orientation
• 2 Letters of Recommendation – Instructors (Form will be provided)
• Sign a contract – commit to work as an Adena nurse for at least two years.

If you or someone you know is interested in learning more or becoming an applicant to the Adena Nursing Internship Program, email Adena Nurse Educator Rhonda Wedebrook at rwedebrook@adena.org, or call 740-779-8141.

Adena Health System is pleased to welcome Family Medicine physician Jose DeJesus, DO to the Adena Health Center – Jackson.

A member of Adena’s first class (2012) of Osteopathic interns to ever train at the Health System, Dr. DeJesus is the first to sign with Adena Medical Group (AMG). His decision to join AMG upon completion of his residency speaks to Adena’s Graduate Medical Education Program, and its desire to keep talented providers who have trained in our region to continue practicing locally.

“I am from a small town; I wanted to practice in a small town, so when the opportunity came to be in Jackson it was a perfect fit,” said Dr. DeJesus. “Once I made the decision to stay with Adena, the timing was perfect that an opportunity opened in Jackson. It was like it was meant to be.”

Dr. DeJesus earned his Bachelor’s degree in Biology from West Virginia Wesleyan University and went on to the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, where he received his medical degree. Born in Puerto Rico, he moved to Buckhannon, West Virginia at an early age and entered medical school after a stint in the Army. In 2012, he completed his fourth year medical school rotation at Adena before joining the Health System’s first-ever class of physician interns.

“We are very proud of Dr. DeJesus,” said Dr. Edward Onusko, Adena’s Graduate Medical Education Director. “His commitment to the care of his patients is outstanding. We are hopeful that we will be able to continue to grow our own physicians of such a high caliber as he.”

To schedule an appointment with Dr. DeJesus at the Adena Health Center – Jackson, located at 1000 Veterans Drive, call (740) 395-8050

NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home™ standards emphasize enhanced care through patient-clinician partnership

The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) has announced that Adena Family Medicine – Waverly has been renewed as an NCQA Level 3 Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH). The clinic received this distinction for its continued use of evidence-based, patient-centered processes that focus on highly coordinated care and long‐term, participative relationships.  

The NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home is a model of primary care that combines teamwork and information technology to improve care, improve patients’ experience of care and reduce costs. Level 3 is the highest level of distinction a PCMH clinic can receive.

“We are thrilled the providers and staff at Adena Family Medicine – Waverly have again achieved NCQA’s highest level of recognition for a Patient-Centered Medical Home,” said Adena’s Interim President and CEO Dr. John Fortney. “Adena’s Waverly clinic continues to be on the forefront of high quality, patient-centered primary care that is making a positive difference in patients’ health and quality of life.” 

Medical homes foster ongoing partnerships between patients and their personal clinicians, instead of approaching care as the sum of episodic office visits. Each patient’s care is overseen by clinician-led care teams that coordinate treatment across the health care system. Research shows that medical homes can lead to higher quality and lower costs, and can improve patient and provider reported experiences of care.

“NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home Recognition raises the bar in defining high-quality care by emphasizing access, health information technology and coordinated care focused on patients,” said NCQA President Margaret E. O’Kane. “Recognition shows that Adena Family Medicine - Waverly has the tools, systems and resources to provide its patients with the right care, at the right time.” 

To earn recognition, which is valid for three years, Adena Family Medicine - Waverly demonstrated the ability to meet the program’s key elements, embodying characteristics of the medical home. Adena’s Waverly was its first primary care clinic to achieve Level 3 NCQA status in 2014. Adena’s remaining primary care clinics achieved this three-year distinction in 2015, and will apply for renewal next year.

NCQA standards align with the joint principles of the Patient-Centered Medical Home, established with the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Osteopathic Association.

To find clinicians and their practices with NCQA PCMH Recognition, visit http://recognition.ncqa.org. 

Adena’s Emergency Department (ED) Steering Committee has approved the concept and design for the exterior look of Adena Regional Medical Center’s (ARMC) new Emergency Department.

“This was the next step in the process, as we finalized the concept and designs for what will provide the look and feel of our new Emergency Department,” explained ARMC Vice President Nick Alexander. “These latest renderings more accurately depict what caregivers and visitors to our new ED and West Lobby will experience when they come to our campus.”

He added, “Having a ‘signature look’ to our new Emergency Department was important, and the Steering Committee felt this concept best captured that. Not only does this design enhance our ED, making it the face of Adena Regional Medical Center, but it also showcases our Emergency Department, making it more visible to those traveling along U.S. Route 23.”

Included in the approved concept was a design style for the ED clinical areas, which will feature an accordion style model. This will enable the use of clinical rooms and space to be expanded or contracted during times of heavy or low patient volumes.

It’s been a busy couple of weeks, both in front of the hospital and behind the scenes, as multiple projects related to Adena Regional Medical Center’s Emergency Department expansion and renovation took steps forward. 

The most visible progress is the new parking lot being built along Hospital Road. Crews have been working for several weeks to expand the once small gravel lot into a new 237-space lot with lighting, sidewalks and more.

“Everything is starting to look complete,” said Vice President of ARMC Nick Alexander. “Crews have been busy finishing the asphalt and adding striping, lighting, sidewalks and putting in pedestrian crossing signs. I estimate we will be opening the new parking lot for caregivers and the public on Monday, Dec. 5.”

With winter on the way, Alexander added other parking lots around the main campus will not be impacted by construction until sometime in early 2017. 

While all of that work was being done in a very noticeable setting, ED caregivers, Adena leaders, architects and others gathered in the ground floor of the Adena Wellness Center to walk through three mock-up emergency rooms. The full-scale mock-ups of an exam room, a rescue room and a triage room were built to exact room sizes, giving the group a chance to tweak and perfect the layout to assure we get the greatest efficiency once the project is complete.

“It was important for us to do this to ensure these rooms have the proper layout and space for all of the equipment, and to allow for the flow that will best meet a patient’s care needs,” Alexander said. “Does the exam room have enough space when you have a patient, their family and our caregivers all present? Is there enough room to hold supplies? Is the sink in the right location? Is the bed in the right place? Everything is about making sure we have the input of those physicians and caregivers who will be working in the space, and to make sure we are meeting those needs before we go into the design phase. Once we are into design - that is final. This walk through was to help finalize how ED caregivers want to see these rooms when they are built. The architects and designers will take what they learned and make adjustments to the architectural renderings and designs, allowing us to get that next phase going”

Entering its third year, Adena Health System’s free lung cancer screening program has saved lives, while becoming a national model for excellence. The no cost lung cancer screening provides CT scans for people at high risk for lung cancer and helps set them on a path towards better health.

Since it began in Nov. 2014, more than 2,000 people have been screened. Of those, 20 have been diagnosed with lung cancer, one was diagnosed with breast cancer, and other patients have been found to have heart aneurysms, tumors and other conditions they may not have known about until it was too late, thanks to the free CT scan.

“Our most recent Community Needs Assessment shows Lung Cancer is the second leading cause of death in our region,” explained Adena’s Interim President and CEO. Dr. John Fortney. “We understand the importance and community benefit in having Adena offer programs like our free lung screenings, our smoking cessation programs and other lung health initiatives year-round. November being designated as Lung Cancer Awareness Month gives us an opportunity to remind everyone that Adena is here to help them with their lung health needs.” 

Adena’s free lung cancer screening is a simple, painless, low dose, non-invasive CT scan that easily identifies tumors or lesions, which may need medical attention.

People who should consider having a lung CT scan include anyone:

• Between the ages of 55-74;
• Quit smoking fewer than 15 years ago; and
• Have 30 “pack years” of smoking in their recent or distant past. A “pack year” is calculated by taking the number of packs of cigarettes smoked per day and multiplying it by the number of years the person smoked. Therefore, a two-pack a day smoker, who smoked for 15 years is considered a 30-pack year smoker and should be tested. 

If you or a loved one falls into this recommended group, please consider setting up a lung cancer screening. Like a mammogram, people in the above groups are recommended to have a lung screen each year for the greatest chance of survival in the event of a lung cancer diagnosis.

To schedule a free lung cancer screening, call (740) 542-LUNG (5864).

Adena Health System is beginning its search for a new President & CEO. After more than 11 years as President and CEO, Mark Shuter has stepped down. Shuter’s current contract was set to expire in June 2017. During the negotiation process with the Adena Board of Trustees, the two sides could not come to an agreement, with Shuter making the decision to leave the organization. Shuter joined Adena in May 2005. 

Long-time Adena physician leader, John Fortney M.D. of Chillicothe, has been appointed as Transition President and CEO. Dr. Fortney, a pediatrician, has been with Adena for 35 years. The Board of Trustees plans to recruit an Interim President and CEO by the end of the year, and is immediately beginning its search for a permanent President and CEO. That search is expected to take six to nine months.

“As we conduct a search for our new CEO, members of the Adena Board of Trustees will work closely with Dr. Fortney and senior leaders in the day-to-day operations of the Health System,” said Adena Board of Trustees Chairman Steve Burkhardt. “Adena has served the health care needs of this community and region for more than 120 years, and its ability to remain independent is high on our list of priorities. We intend to recruit a leader who will effectively guide Adena through the rapidly changing health care landscape, while providing a strong and solid organizational foundation that will continue to support the needs of our patients, physicians, staff and the communities we serve.”

Patient care and services will not be impacted.

During his tenure, Shuter has led Adena in numerous accomplishments, including:

• Opening access to primary and specialty care throughout the region;
• Growing a fully-integrated medical group;
• Achieving a vision to provide graduate medical education for physicians and staff;
• Building of the PACCAR facility;
• Adding a 3-story inpatient wing, with a Woman & Children’s Unit;
• A stand-alone, state-of-the-art cancer center;
• Acquisition of Pike Community Hospital, now Adena Pike Medical Ctr.;
• Introduction of robot-assisted surgery to the region;
• Executing a plan to restore the Carlisle Building for medical student housing, while serving as a catalyst for downtown growth; and
• Achieving Board approval to fund a new, expanded Emergency Department at ARMC.

The Adena Board of Trustees has approved funding to expand Adena Regional Medical Center’s (ARMC) Emergency Department. The $36.1 million dollar investment will increase the Emergency Department from 16,500 square feet to 59,000 square feet. The project includes more than 43,707 square feet of clinical space with the addition of six treatment rooms, and 32 more patient care areas.

“Patients, staff and members of our community have told us the current layout and size of ARMC’s Emergency Department is not effective in today’s health care environment,” said Vice President of ARMC Nick Alexander. “These funds will allow us to design and build an Emergency Department that not only meets the health care needs of patients in our region, but will now match the quality of care being delivered by our physicians and caregivers.”

Once complete ARMC’s new Emergency Department will accommodate more than 60,000 patients a year. The added space and more efficient layout will also enable caregivers to assess patients sooner, and to deliver comprehensive treatment faster. 

Having a modern, robust Emergency Department is important in meeting the health care needs of the patients served by Adena. “Adena has been independently serving the needs of our community for more than 120 years. We want to remain independent, and to do that we have to keep growing and remain competitive,” said Adena Board of Trustees Chair Steve Burkhardt. “We owe it to our community by offering the best health care experience possible. The current facility does not do that.” 

Construction on the new Emergency Department is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2017.

EXPLAINING BILLING FOR SERVICES RECEIVED

To Adena patients/family members,

Thank you for choosing Adena Health System for your health care needs. We know that our complex billing structure is difficult for many of our patients to navigate. We are truly sorry for any confusion you or your family have encountered. Please know that we are listening, and that we are continually working to improve this process.

To help you better understand how Adena creates bills for your health care services, we offer the following explanations to a number of questions we are often asked.

1.    Why do I receive so many bills from Adena for the same visit?

Scenario 1:  Adena Health System provides you with a bill for the services you receive in our facilities, provided by Adena-employed physicians and staff. However, some of those services are performed by providers working in contract with Adena (they perform their services here, but are on the payroll of another company). This is a standard practice in today’s health care industry, and it means you will receive a separate bill for service from that contracted providers’ employer.

Please note Adena’s current contracted providers include:

• Emergency Room Physicians (Schumacher Group 1-888-703-3301)
• Anesthesiologists (Adena Anesthesiology  740-524-9604)
• Hospitalists (Apogee 1-800-844-0266 )
• Radiologists/X-ray reading (Columbus Radiology 1-888-592-6550)
• Pathology (Corpath  614-442-2403)

Scenario 2:  Adena uses separate billing systems for services conducted in our provider clinics (primary care, specialties, etc.), and those for hospital services (inpatient care, testing, etc.). Bills for these services are also sent separately. For example, if a patient has a heart catheterization, he/she should expect a bill from Adena Cardiology for the physician’s time and services, as well as a bill from the Adena hospital where the procedure was performed with Adena staff and technology. This bill is to cover materials, staff time, and equipment needed to perform the service.

2.    When can I expect to receive a bill for service?

Adena’s policy is to always bill a patient’s insurance carrier first. We make every effort to receive payment from the insurance company before billing any remaining balance to the patient. At times when the insurance company requests additional information, months may pass due to back-and-forth correspondence. Each correspondence to the insurance company typically comes with a 45 to 60-day “response period.” On some claims, it is not uncommon to have to do this several times with insurance companies.

 3.    Why don’t my bills for Adena services come from a local address?

Adena has more than one million patient visits each year. At this time, we are not able to print and mail this many bills from our local offices. Instead, bills are managed, printed and mailed from an outside vendor. This is a common practice for a health system of our size. Therefore, when calling about a bill, you are most likely to reach that vendor first.

4.    Why doesn’t Adena send an itemized bill to explain each of my charges?

For the majority of patients, an itemized bill would mean many, many pages of billed items and charges. We have found that most patients do not want or need that level of detail. Therefore, Adena does not regularly send fully-itemized statements. However, we will happily send a detailed statement if it is requested. To make a request for an itemized bill, you may contact Adena’s Customer Service Dept. at (740) 779-4400.

5.    There’s no way I can pay my entire bill at once.

Many patients find they qualify for some form of payment assistance to help with their health care costs. Adena also offers payment plans for help in paying bills of more than $300. A payment plan can be set up with our billing vendors, or with Adena’s local Customer Service Dept. by calling (740) 779-4400.

6.    I just received a bill and I’m already getting collection calls. Why is this happening?

Our outside billing vendor routinely calls a patient approximately 15 days after a bill is sent. This call is to verify the bill was received, and to make sure the address on file is correct. At this time, the patient may also pay the bill, with the help of the representative, or make arrangements for future payment. Unless payment has been received, or payment arrangements have been made, the billing vendor may call every 10 days after this initial conversation.

7.    Who can I call to talk to, locally, about my bill?

We are always working to simplify our billing statements, and your feedback is always welcome. If you have any questions about your bill, or if you would like to make a payment arrangement, call Adena’s local Customer Service Department at (740) 779-4400. You may also visit Adena’s billing office, which is located just west of the main hospital in Chillicothe at 110 Vaughn Lane.

We hope this information has helped to give you a better understanding of Adena’s overall billing process. Each of our caregivers thanks you for having confidence in the services provided at Adena, and we look forward to continuing to serve your health care needs well into the future.

Adena Health System complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. Adena Health System does not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. 

If you believe that Adena Health System has failed to provide these services or discriminated in another way on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex, you can file a grievance with: 

You can also file a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights through the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal at: 

GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE AND COMPLIANCE COORDINATOR 

272 HOSPITAL RD 

CHILLICOTHE, OHIO 45601 

740-542-3472 

740-779-7931 (TTY) 

740- 779-7383 (FAX) 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 

200 INDEPENDENCE AVENUE, SW 

ROOM 509F, HHH BUILDING 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20201 

1-800-368-1019, 800-537-7697 (TDD) 

HTTPS://OCRPORTAL.HHS.GOV/OCR/PORTAL/LOBBY.JSF 

Adena Health System cumple con las leyes federales de derechos civiles aplicables y no discrimina por motivos de raza, color, nacionalidad, edad, discapacidad o sexo. Adena Health System no excluye a las personas ni las trata de forma diferente debido a su origen étnico, color, nacionalidad, edad, discapacidad o sexo. 

PROCEDIMIENTO DE QUEJA Y COORDINADOR DE CUMPLIMIENTO 

272 HOSPITAL RD 

CHILLICOTHE, OHIO 45601 

740-542-3472 

740-779-7931 (TTY) 

740- 779-7383 (FAX) 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 

200 INDEPENDENCE AVENUE, SW 

ROOM 509F, HHH BUILDING 

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20201 

1-800-368-1019, 800-537-7697 (TDD) 

HTTPS://OCRPORTAL.HHS.GOV/OCR/PORTAL/LOBBY.JSF 

COMPLAINT FORMS ARE AVAILABLE AT (PUEDE OBTENER LOS FORMULARIOS DE RECLAMO EN EL SITIO WEB) 

HTTP://WWW.HHS.GOV/OCR/OFFICE/FILE/INDEX.HTML

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced the 2015 performance year results for its Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) and the Pioneer Accountable Care Organization Model. Results show physicians, hospitals and health care providers participating in Accountable Care Organizations (ACO) continue to make significant improvements in the quality of care for Medicare beneficiaries, while achieving cost savings.

In 2015, Medicare Accountable Care Organizations had combined total program savings of $466 million. This includes all Accountable Care Organization experiences for 392 Medicare Shared Savings Program participants, and 12 Pioneer Accountable Care Organization Model participants. The results show more Accountable Care Organizations shared savings in 2015 compared to 2014, and those with more experience tend to perform better over time. 

Medicare ACOs are groups of doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers, who come together voluntarily to provide coordinated high quality care to their Medicare patients. The goal of coordinated care is to ensure patients, especially the chronically ill, get the right care at the right time, while avoiding unnecessary duplication of services and preventing medical errors. When an ACO exceeds quality and financial thresholds – demonstrating achievement of high-quality care and wiser spending of health care dollars – it is able to share in the savings generated for Medicare.

Adena Healthcare Collaborative LLC, an entity within Adena Health System, was one of only three ACOs in the state of Ohio to begin it program Jan. 1, 2015. Adena, in its first year, surpassed all 33 of the program’s quality metrics and achieved a program savings of more than $5.2 million. Once shared with CMS, Adena will see a net reimbursement of more than $2.5 million, representing its half of the cost savings achieved.

“Adena’s providers and caregivers work diligently to give all patients the right care, in the right setting, at the right time,” said Dr. H. Takaji Kittaka, Jr., Adena Health System’s Chief 

Medical Officer for Primary Care/Medical Director for Adena Healthcare Collaborative. “We are extremely pleased with our ACO’s successful inaugural year, and the resulting cost savings." 

The focus of Adena’s ACO was on a population of 8,583 patients covered by Medicare. Dr. Kittaka added, “Care beyond the clinic is extremely important for the success of not only the ACO, but the overall success of the patient.” As part of its Population Health efforts, Adena’s nurse navigators, care coordinators, case managers, and more reach out to patients to follow-up with them after discharge or medical appointments. These caregivers make sure the patient understands their provider’s instructions, have the medication they need, and they also work to eliminate any barriers that can compromise a patient’s overall health outcome.

Reimbursed Medicare funds will be used to cover the ACO’s operating expenses, as well as those of the Adena Medical Group and Adena Health System.

Adena Health System will soon expand its services in Circleville, offering patients even more options for convenient, close-to-home quality care.

Beginning, Monday, Aug. 15, Adena Health Center – Circleville, located at 140 Morris Road, Circleville, will offer the community a new, After Hours & Walk-In Clinic. There, patients will find quick and convenient walk-in care for conditions like colds, sore throats and sinus infections, and may also schedule wellness visits, physicals, immunizations and more.

“This is the first time Adena will be opening an After Hours & Walk-In Clinic within one of our Family Practice locations,” said Brooke Burns, Adena’s Regional Director of Operations. “The Circleville community is growing so much. So, for Adena it is important that our services grow along with it, and provide patients the health care they need and deserve – at a close-to-home location.”

Hours of operation for the Adena Health Center – Circleville’s new After Hours & Walk-In Clinic will be: Monday – Friday 2 – 8 p.m.; and Saturday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Along with extended hours, the new service will deliver short wait times, and there is no appointment needed.

Adena Health Center – Circleville moved into its expanded Morris Road location in January 2017, giving the clinic the space it needed to grow its services. “We have expanded into this new Health Center location, and now we are excited to be able to offer more after hours care and walk-in services to help current and future Pickaway County patients meet the health care needs of their families,” Burns added.

To schedule an appointment with Adena Health Center – Circleville, call (740) 779-FIND.

During the upcoming Labor Day weekend, many families and friends will celebrate the end of the summer holiday. Sadly, this festive time is also a dangerous time on America’s roadways, as many drunk drivers get behind the wheel after celebrating. Because accidental death is one of our region’s top health threats, Adena Health System is partnering with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to provide community education to deter drunk driving and to help save lives.

Adena and the NHTSA will host the 2016 Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over kick-off event during the Ross County Fair.

When:             August 12, 2016 at 6:45 pm

Where:            Ross County Fair Grounds Grand Stands

The high-visibility national enforcement campaign, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, runs August 19-September 5. During this period, local and state law enforcement will show zero tolerance for drunk driving. Increased state and national messaging about the dangers of driving drunk, coupled with sobriety checkpoints and increased officers on the road, aim to reduce drunk driving in Ohio, and on our nation’s roads. 

According to NHSTA, on average, more than 10,000 people died each year (2010 to 2014) in drunk-driving crashes. The most recent Labor Day data shows:

• 40% of all fatal traffic crashes over the 2014 Labor Day weekend involved drunk drivers;
• Most drunk driving fatal crashes happen at night;
• 83% of drunk driving fatal crashes occurred between 6 p.m. and 5:59 a.m.;
• 40% of the fatal drunk driving crashes involved drivers with a blood alcohol content of .08 or more, with 28% having a BAC of .15 or higher – almost twice the legal limit; and
• 162 people died in drunk driving crashes, nationwide, during the 2014 Labor Day weekend.

Of the 9,967 people killed in impaired-driving crashes in 2014, 64 percent were the drunk drivers themselves. Those 6,391 drunk drivers thought they would make it to their destinations, but they didn’t. There is never an excuse to drink and drive. If you choose to break the law, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.

The care and treatment by the highly-trained experts at the Adena Cancer Center rivals that of large centers throughout Ohio. Patients receiving treatment at Adena are cared for by dedicated medical professionals who are always offering new techniques, the latest technology and world-class care close to home.

Recently, the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Commission on Cancer (CoC) granted the Adena Cancer Center a three-year, full accreditation. The status recognizes Adena among the nation’s best facilities for improving survival and quality of life for cancer patients, using cancer prevention, research, education, and comprehensive, quality care.

“The goal of this accreditation is to have a level playing field regarding the clinical and treatment expectations for anyone in the nation who receives cancer care,” explained Adena Radiation Oncology Dr. Gregory Thompson. “The Commission looks at quality, service, clinical metrics, research, survivorship, education and community needs It’s a framework to help guide our Cancer Center, and our overall performance and care.”

The CoC survey assesses Adena’s cancer program on a number of ‘standards’ including: quality, research, continual goal setting and improvement, and survivorship. The CoC accreditation is a benchmark that shows Adena is delivering excellent care across the spectrum of a cancer diagnosis. This includes the program’s continued growth and adaptation to the ever-changing landscape of cancer care.

With this accreditation, Adena Cancer Center will be listed on CoC’s website in the, "Find an CoC-Accredited Program" section, making it easier for patients in the Health System’s region to find close-to-home, comprehensive cancer care. A CoC designation helps the public immediately recognize Adena’s commitment to patient-centered cancer care and quality. The next survey will take place in July 2017 for the 2014 through 2016 calendar years.

If you or a loved one are in need of cancer care, contact the Adena Cancer Center at (740) 542-3030.

Patients at the Adena Cancer Center can spend many hours a day undergoing infusion treatments and more in their cancer journey. To help pass the time, Southern Ohio Survivors (SOS), a volunteer group that supports area cancer survivors and their families, recently donated eight Apple iPads, a charging station and 100 pairs of headphones to the Cancer Center.

Volunteers with SOS donated the iPads to help patients in the Cancer Center’s Infusion Department. The tablets are now giving patients an opportunity to read, search the internet or watch videos as they undergo chemotherapy or infusion treatments.

“It started with an idea to donate MP3 players, but that created some challenges since every patient has different musical tastes,” explained Levi McFadden, a volunteer with SOS. “We wanted to do something that was more user-friendly and multi-functional. With the iPads, patients can listen to music, watch a movie, and even look at health apps and educational videos.”

This is just the latest act of kindness by SOS. The group also has a program to provide handmade crocheted hats and lap blankets for Adena Cancer Center patients. The items are helpful in keeping patients warm during therapy. The group also donates Holiday baskets and welcome gifts to patients.

“Southern Ohio Survivors has been extremely supportive of the Adena Cancer Center and our patients,” said Adena’s Director of Oncology Services, Lana Uhrig. “They recognize that our patients are sitting here, sometimes for long periods of time. They have a TV available to them, but the iPads will give them a chance to stay connected to the internet and social media during their treatments. It takes a whole community, and we are very appreciative of all that SOS does.”

Both parties are quick to thank the individuals and groups who made the generous iPad donation possible.

“We are fortunate to have a lot of support from the community,” added McFadden. “Recently, a patient died; and in lieu of flowers, his memorial contributions were made to SOS. We also have different fundraisers throughout the year like Paint the Creek and the Rudolph Run, which really help us do what we are able to do every day.”

The Adena Health Foundation is continuing its commitment to local students, pursuing careers in health care. For the 2016-17 school year, the Foundation has awarded more than $90,000 in scholarships to 74 students. The 2016 class of recipients is the largest in the program’s history.

“The Adena Health Foundation is committed to investing in our community’s future caregivers,” said Ralph Metzger, the Foundation’s Executive Director. “In a way, the education of these students is in our hands today; while tomorrow, our health will be in theirs.” 

Since 2002, the Adena Health Foundation has awarded more than $638,000 in scholarships to area students; all studying for a variety of health care professions.

The scholarship program is made possible by the fundraising efforts of Adena’s Volunteer Advisory Council and the Adena Women’s Board. Additionally, generous contributions from Adena caregivers, former scholarship recipients and the public also contribute to the funding.

Qualified students must be working toward a degree in health care and live in Adena’s 12-county service area. Scholarship applications are available in the spring of each year. 

Adena leaders, Hillsboro officials, patients and members of the community all took part in a celebration and ribbon cutting to officially launch the opening of the new Adena Health Center – Hillsboro today. The new facility is located at 160 Roberts Lane, Hillsboro, and is among a series of expansion projects throughout the region delivering people access to quality healthcare within their hometowns.

The 8,500 square-foot clinic offers patients access to a certified nurse practitioner for their primary care needs.

“We want to make sure we have primary care access to all the counties we serve,” said Adena President and CEO Mark Shuter. “Being established with a primary care physician offers so many long-term benefits to patients, and this facility is very important to Adena as we strive to build healthy thriving communities.”

“Today was a really great turnout and we are so glad to have Adena here in our community now,” said Hillsboro Mayor Drew Hastings. “In smaller rural markets like this, it is harder to get good services in here and Adena now brings that. This is big for Hillsboro.”

Certified Nurse Practitioner Andrea Howard explained, “Being born and raised in Hillsboro, I am so happy to be coming back and working here to give back to this community. I think for patients there is always a different level of comfort and understanding when they are dealing with someone that understands their background and needs.”

“Adena understands there is a need for more primary doctors in this region,” added Adena Family Medicine – Greenfield provider Dr. Richard Mizer. “Andrea is from here and understands this area and this is a great fit. This facility will offer patients a place they can feel like they are being taken care of well and really feel like people care about them. The last thing we want people to feel like is they have to go outside of their community to find care. Adena understands how important it is for patients to get their medical care locally and we can do that with this clinic.”

To make an appointment at Adena Health Center – Hillsboro, call (973) 393-9955.

To meet the growing need for care throughout south central and southern Ohio, Adena Health System today opens a new health center in Hillsboro. The nearly 8,500 square-foot facility offers patients access to a certified nurse practitioner for their primary care needs.

The new clinic is among a series of expansion projects that are delivering people throughout the region with access to quality healthcare within their hometowns. Earlier this year, Adena relocated its Circleville Health Center to a larger facility, providing greater access to primary and specialty care in that Pickaway County community. Additionally, the Health System opened a primary care clinic in Wellston (Jackson County) in December 2015.

“There are more than 500,000 people living in Adena’s 12-county service region,” said Adena President and CEO Mark Shuter. “By expanding our regional services, which now includes a new, primary care clinic in Hillsboro, Adena is striving to meet the health care needs of people living throughout the area. The Health System’s continued growth not only gives patients better access to care, it also strengthens Adena’s commitment to building healthy and thriving communities.”

The new, Adena Health Center – Hillsboro is located at 160 Roberts Lane, Hillsboro. The clinic offers patients convenient hours to meet their busy schedules. Hours of operation are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Wednesday 11 a.m. - 7p.m.; and Friday 8 a.m. - Noon. While currently closed on weekends, plans are underway to expand hours later this year for weekend appointments and urgent care services.

To make an appointment with a primary care provider at the new Adena Health Center – Hillsboro, call (937) 393-9955.

Adena Health System is teaming up with the Ohio Department of Public Safety (ODPS) to showcase the importance of traffic and motorcycle safety, and how it relates to the overall health of our region. The ODPS’s “Safe Communities Program” uses local partnerships, like the one with Adena, to deliver traffic safety messages and programs throughout the year.

“Accidental deaths are the fourth leading cause of death in Ross County,” said Kim Jones, Adena’s Director of Community Health Advancement. “Adena sees a lot of patients from motor vehicle accidents in our Emergency Departments. Through this partnership, we can educate our community to prevent further injuries and accidents, greatly impacting the overall health of people in our region.”

Nearly 50 percent of people involved in fatal crashes nationwide are not restrained. In some states, the rate of those unrestrained drivers and passengers involved in fatal crashes can be as high as 70 percent. 

Throughout this spring and summer, Adena and local law enforcement are participating in the national Click It or Ticket campaign, in hopes of saving lives through increased seat belt use. The enforcement period is underway and comes just ahead of the Memorial Day holiday - one of the busiest travel periods of the year.

On May 26, Adena will be part of a Click it or Ticket kick-off event outside the Chillicothe Fire Station (54 E. Water Street) during the Feast of the Flowering Moon Festival. The event begins at 4 p.m.  At 6 p.m., special guest Ohio State Highway Patrol Sgt. Heath Ward will discuss the importance of seat belt and motorcycle safety. Attendees can enter prize drawings and receive other promotional items. 

In addition to encouraging seat belt use, Adena and ODPS are also encouraging driver safety through the Share the Road program. The program is intended to raise driver awareness of motorcycle safety and increase safety for all road users. In 2015, there were 27 motorcycle crashes in Ross County.

As more motorcyclists share the road during these warmer months, Adena and ODPS offer these safe-driving tips:

• Always signal when changing lanes or merging with traffic;
• Check all mirrors and blind spots for motorcycles before changing lanes or merging with traffic, especially at intersections;
• Always increase the following distance to three to four seconds when traveling behind a motorcycle. This gives them more time to maneuver or stop in an emergency; and
• Never drive distracted or impaired.

Motorcyclists can increase their safety by following these safe-driving tips:

• Wear a DOT-compliant helmet and other protective gear;
• Obey all traffic laws and be properly licensed;
• Use hand and turn signals with every lane change or turn;
• Wear brightly colored clothes and reflective tape to increase visibility;
• Ride in the middle of the lane where you will be more visible to drivers; and
• Never ride distracted or impaired.

Adena Health System is expanding its Move More Challenge to include individuals throughout the region.

What began as a health-related activity in 2014 for Adena caregivers only, expanded last year to include a half-dozen organizations; and is now open to anyone living in Adena’s 12-county service region. The 12-week challenge opens today and runs through July 31, 2016. Online registration is now open, and a community kick-off is scheduled for Wednesday, May 4 at Noon at Chillicothe’s downtown Carlisle Building.

The Move More Challenge encourages participants to add 90 minutes of activity to their weekly routine. It is intended to help participants achieve better habits and better health. Activities can include: walking, running, biking, taking an exercise class, and more. 

The Move More Community Challenge is free, and participants may register online at www.movemorechallenge.net.

Anyone who logs 90 minutes of added activity or more each week, for all 12 weeks, will be entered in to a drawing for prizes, including: an Apple watch; kayak; treadmill; weekend get-away; and more. You do not need to be present at the kick-off to be in eligible for the prizes.

However, to win, participants must be registered by May 7, and live in a county within Adena’s service area. These counties include: Adams, Athens, Fayette, Gallia, Highland, Hocking, Jackson, Pickaway, Pike, Ross, Scioto, and Vinton.

Each week, participants will receive an e-mail directing them to the website where they will log their activity time. The website will keep track of all minutes recorded, and will include tips on diet, exercise, and suggestions for walking paths in our area.

Adena Regional Medical Center (ARMC) has again scored an ‘A’ on the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Score Survey, for Spring 2016. The second consecutive A-rating comes just six months after ARMC earned it’s first-ever ‘A’ rating in Leapfrog’s annual Fall 2015 survey.

“Hospitals that earn an ‘A’ from Leapfrog are leaders in saving lives; and we commend them and urge their continued vigilance,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group.

Adena was one of 2,571 U.S. hospitals to be graded in the Survey. Chillicothe’s ARMC is among 798 earning an ‘A’ rating in the nation, and one of just 44 A-rated hospitals in Ohio. The Leapfrog Hospital Survey is the “gold standard” for comparing hospital performance to determine safety, quality and efficiency, which are most important to consumers of hospital care. Letter grades are assigned to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents, and infections.

“Achieving an ‘A’ rating represents the combined effort, dedication, and selfless service of Adena’s caregivers to deliver safe and reliable care at the highest quality,” said Rhett Holland, Adena’s Interim Director of Quality. “The Survey and its results are used to educate the public about the safe and quality care being provided to our patients.”

For the first time, the Spring 2016 Hospital Safety Score included five measures of a hospital’s patient-reported experience, as well as two of the most common hospital-acquired infections, C-diff and MRSA. It is calculated by top patient safety experts, peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. 

“Adena adopted a renewed vision last year; ‘To be instrumental in creating healthy and thriving communities,’” said Adena President and CEO Mark Shuter. “I am extremely proud of the quality of care being delivered by our caregivers, and the impact and value it is having on the lives of our patients and people living in communities throughout south central and southern Ohio.”

The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps forward in the quality and safety of American health care. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey collects and transparently reports hospital performance, empowering patients to find the highest-value for their care, and giving consumers life-saving information needed to make informed decisions.

Adena Health System invites everyone to join us in  building healthy, thriving communities by taking part in the inaugural Adena Move More Community Challenge May 2 – July 24 . 

The 12-week challenge encourages participants to add at least 90 minutes of activity to their weekly routine. What you do is up to you. Whether it’s walking, running, biking, or an exercise class, the goal is to commit to making physical activity a part of your lifestyle.

“Our region has high rates of obesity related problems including diabetes and heart disease,” said Kim Jones, Adena Director of Community Health Advancement. “Increasing your activity is a great way to reduce the risks of developing these problems or helping to keep them under control. Just 90 minutes of exercise per week can make a big difference.”

The Move More Community Challenge is free and everyone who logs at least 90 minutes or more each week for all 12 weeks will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win some great prizes including: an Apple watch, kayak, treadmill, weekend get-away, and more.

Participants can register online at www.movemorehallenge.net. Weekly tracking is easy as well. Each week, participants will receive an email with a link directing them to the website where they can log their activity time. The website will keep track of all minutes and also include helpful tips on diet, exercise, and suggestions for walking paths in the area.

Registration is open now, and participants must be signed up by May 7.

In just three-and-a-half years, Adena’s Robotic Surgery Program has gone from an upstart to being nationally recognized. For more than two years, the program has been one of only eight Case Observation sites in Ohio; hosting surgeons from across the U.S. who come to learn more about robot-assisted surgery techniques from Adena’s own Dr. Bill Sever. 

Now, Dr. Sever, a general surgeon and Robotics Program lead physician, has taken his role as a proctor to these visiting surgeons a step further. He was recently named an Epicenter of Excellence for Robot-assisted Surgery. The designation comes from Intuitive Surgical, the maker of the daVinci® Surgical System. With this designation, Dr. Sever is one of only 21 general surgery Epicenters of Excellence in the nation; and one of just two in Ohio (the other is located in Warren, Ohio). 

“This means Dr. Sever is among the top half of one-percent of all general surgeons using robotics,” said Jonathan Conta of Intuitive Surgical. 

This achievement is quite impressive for someone who only began his own training for robot-assisted surgery in the summer of 2012. A vocal advocate for Adena to purchase the daVinci surgical robot, prior to the program’s start in Oct. 2012, Dr. Sever set high expectations for himself to help make the program a success. 

“Because I advocated for the robot, I had no choice but to use it,” he said. “It was not an easy task to fully commit to Robotics. I was accustomed to doing six to eight cases a day, and early on using the robot slowed me down. I had to do fewer cases, which for a surgeon is difficult. But I made that commitment, and it’s really pushed me to become very proficient on the robot. I don’t do much laparoscopy anymore, aside from a couple of procedures. If I can’t do it robotically, I’m going to have to open the patient.” 

Dr. Sever was selected as an Epicenter of Excellence based on his reputation as a trainer, the volume and breadth of the cases he performs, and the overall experiences visiting surgeons have had when they’ve come to Adena to observe and train with him. The Epicenter designation is assigned to the surgeon, as opposed to the organization.

In terms of how he became an Epicenter of Excellence, Dr. Sever added, “We’ve always had very good to great reviews from the visiting surgeons that come in. I don’t know if that’s necessarily a reflection upon me… it’s probably more of a reflection on the staff. Intuitive chose us. We didn’t solicit them.” 

Dr. Sever gives a great deal of credit for his and the program’s success to his team. The caregivers in the Operating Room for his robotic procedures are usually the same group of people, including: First-assist Nurse Judy Cunningham, RN; Leslie Bryant, Surgical Tech, Robotic Team Leader; and Kelly Woyce, RN, Robotic Team Leader, Robotic Coordinator. The team has the process involved with robotic surgery down to an art. 

“The group that is usually in the room for my robotic cases has done an extraordinarily good job of turning the room over efficiently. We aren’t sitting around between cases,” said Dr. Sever. “When visiting surgeons share their experience, they always make comments about the staff. They mention how quickly the room is turned over, the skillset of the circulating nurses and the scrub techs, and Judy.” He joked, “They often make her a job offer as they’re walking out the door!” 

While he is now recognized among an elite group of trainers, Dr. Sever gets a great deal out of the teaching experience. “I love the ability to showcase something to someone else, and maybe they can pick it up,” he said. “I think it’s also going to make our surgical knowledge and expertise better in the future. I also learn from them. The process is more of a sharing of knowledge and experience with the physicians who come in to observe and train. I’m extraordinarily honest about complications or things I have changed based on my experience. But I also pick their brains about their experiences, and there are times when I pick up tips and tricks from them that I hadn’t thought about previously.” 

Humbled by the accolades, Dr. Sever is quick to credit Adena for recognizing the value of not only bringing robotics to the Health System, but for also creating a talent base to meet the health needs of people in our communities and region. 

A Chillicothe-area native, Dr. Sever added, “We have a tremendous breadth of talent and youth throughout our medical staff, and I’m just one of those individuals. If my folks get sick, I don’t think about taking them anywhere else, to some person that I don’t know. I’d much rather go to the people I know, and I know what their skills are.” 

The talents of Adena’s physicians and surgeons, like Dr. Sever, are being recognized outside the community, especially by those who have seen him in action. Dr. Sever said he recently heard from a former trainee, a surgeon from a large Columbus facility, who had a patient ask about him specifically. The patient most likely learned about Adena’s Robotic Surgery program and Dr. Sever from seeing one of the Robotic Surgery advertisements that air on NBC4. 

The patient and his surgeon were discussing a procedure the patient needed to have. The surgeon told the patient he would not be able to perform the operation laparoscopically; and if he did surgery, he would have to do it with a traditional opening. “The patient mentioned to the surgeon that he ‘heard about a surgeon in Chillicothe who can do this procedure robotically,’” said Dr. Sever. “The surgeon told the patient he had met me previously, and told him, ‘If somebody can do this robotically, I think he can.’ So the patient is coming to see us. That’s probably the biggest compliment.” 

Soon to perform his own 1,000th robotic procedure, Dr. Sever is anxious to see Adena’s Robotic Surgery program expand. 

“Personally I want to see more of us get up and running,” he said. “The thing that would probably make me smile, would be in two to three years, to have our volume demand that we purchase two or three more robots. I also want us to continue to advance our skill set and to have more colleagues up and running.” 

Learn more about robotic surgery at Adena.

Friday evening at approximately 5:30pm, a sprinkler head in Adena Regional Medical Center was accidentally triggered by a member of the Environmental Services staff during routine OR cleaning. The incident triggered a Code Red alarm, and Adena’s internal response team and members of the Green Township Fire Department were dispatched. There was NO fire at any time in or near the affected operating room. Additionally, patient care was not impacted in any way.

Crews from a professional cleaning company are performing terminal cleaning this weekend to prepare OR 1 for use. Equipment including surgical lighting and power sources are being evaluated for any water damage or need for repair. Other Operating Rooms were inspected and have not been impacted by the water incident. They will be fully operational Monday.

The Surgery Department has assessed Monday's surgery schedule, and will be able to work around the down OR, accommodating all surgeries currently scheduled.

Adena Health System and the Adena Health Foundation have released their 2015 Annual Reports.

The history of Adena Health System spans more than 120 years; and 2015 was one of remarkable achievements. A major highlight of 2015 was the completed renovation of the historic Carlisle Building. The facility, once gutted by arson, now serves as a home for visiting Adena medical students, and a catalyst for revitalization in downtown Chillicothe.

“In 2015, Adena Health System took a renewed vision of the original intent of our founders and adopted a new vision statement; ‘To be instrumental in creating healthy and thriving communities,’” said Adena President & CEO Mark Shuter. “As the primary healthcare provider to people living in our 12-county service area, Adena has taken on the challenge of working to resolve many of the health conditions facing our patients and communities. Often these conditions can contribute to social issues facing many people and families in our region. In these annual reports, I am confident you will gain a greater understanding of the quality care Adena provides for its patients, as well as the value it has on the lives of people and communities throughout south central and southern Ohio.” 

Continue to view Adena Health System’s and Adena Health Foundation’s 2015 Annual Reports.

Adena Health System has named Certified Nurse Practitioner Debra Wolf as its Lead Advanced Practice Provider (APP) for Primary Care. In this newly created position, Wolf will serve as a liaison between Adena’s Primary Care leadership and the Health System’s nurse practitioners in Adena’s Primary Care clinics located throughout seven counties.

“Adena’s nurse practitioners are invaluable in providing Primary Care for our patients,” said Dr. H. Takaji Kittaka, Jr., Adena’s Chief Medical Officer for Primary Care. “Debra’s experience at Adena, and the high level of care she delivers to her patients made her a natural fit for this position that will lead other nurse practitioners. I’m confident Debra will be a strong voice for this growing group of Adena caregivers.”

The position of Lead Advanced Practice Provider was created because of a steady growth of nurse practitioners within Adena’s Primary Care service line. In this role, Debra will ensure these advance practice providers are represented at the same level as Adena’s physicians. The role of the Lead APP will also focus on standardization of processes, communication, training and quality among all of Adena’s family practitioners.

“I look forward to beginning this new position and promoting the role of nurse practitioners in the Health System,” said Wolf. “I hope to be a valued resource for our providers, managers and other nurse practitioners, and hope to help guide policy and procedure development when it comes to nurse practitioners in Primary Care.”

Wolf has been practicing as a CNP with Adena Family Medicine - Greenfield since joining the Health System in 2011. A graduate of Ball State University, Debra will continue to see patients, in addition to her new duties.

Adena Health System is pleased to announce that General Surgeon Dr. Christin Spahn is expanding her practice and will begin seeing patients at the Adena Health Center in Washington Court House starting April 15, 2016. She will continue to see patients at Adena Surgical, located within Adena Regional Medical Center in Chillicothe.

“This is an opportunity to offer more convenient service to our patients living in or near Washington Court House,” said Dr. Spahn. “I look forward to building new relationships, and helping patients and their families with their general surgery needs.”

Dr. Spahn will see patients at the Adena Family Medicine clinic, located at 308 Highland Avenue, Suite C, Washington Court House. Appointments will be available on the first and third Fridays of each month from 8:30–11:30 a.m.

As a general surgeon, Dr. Spahn provides services in the following:

• Breast Surgery
• Skin Cancer/Melanoma
• Sentinel Node Biopsy
• Thyroid/Parathyroid Surgery
• Tracheostomy/Peg
• Laparoscopic Ventral Hernia/Groin Hernia Repair
• EGD/Colonoscopy
• Laparoscopic/Open Stomach, Small Bowel, Colon Surgery
• Laparoscopic/Open Cholecystectomy
• Port Placement/Venous Access
• Laparoscopic/Open Appendectomy

Dr. Spahn joined Adena Surgical in January 2014. She earned her medical degree from Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, and completed her residency at Akron City Hospital.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Spahn in Washington Court House, or in her Chillicothe office, call (740) 779-4550 

Adena Health System is committed to encouraging healthy physical activity in people of all ages, and reversing the consequences of a sedentary lifestyle. To improve the health and well-being of people in our region, the Health System will begin hosting a series of Walk with a Doc programs starting at Noon on Wednesday, Mar. 30.

Dr. Jennifer Davis of Adena Family Medicine will lead the free event each month, which includes a short health-related presentation and a free light lunch. The health discussion will take place in the Community Room of the Carlisle Building, and be followed by a walk with Dr. Davis through downtown Chillicothe and Yoctangee Park. The program is open to people of all ages and walking abilities.

The Walk with a Doc program will offer participants an opportunity to talk with Adena doctors and nurses in a casual setting, while walking toward better health.

“This is a great way for Adena caregivers to spend some time with members of our community outside of the office,” said Dr. Davis. “Walk with a Doc gives people an opportunity to learn and interact with physicians on a different level and get answers to questions about their health, while at the same time increasing their activity level.”

Adena Health System’s first Walk with a Doc program will take place on Wednesday, March 30, 2016 from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. at the Carlisle Building, which is located at the corner of Paint and Main Streets in downtown Chillicothe. Future Walk with a Doc programs will be held on the last Wednesday of each month throughout the remainder of the year at the same time and location.

To register for Adena’s Walk with a Doc program go to: www.adena.org/events or call (740) 779-8664.

For the second consecutive year, Adena Health System has been named by Becker's Healthcare as one of its "150 Great Places to Work in Healthcare." The 2016 list features U.S. healthcare provider organizations, such as hospitals, health systems, ambulatory surgical centers and home health agencies; as well as other types of healthcare-specific companies, including consulting firms, health IT vendors, medical societies and more.

“We are pleased to again be nationally-recognized as one of our industry’s top places to work,” said Adena President and CEO Mark Shuter. “Adena’s caregivers are second-to-none, and they have a major role in making sure our patients receive the care and treatment they need. As an organization, we strive to support the needs of our caregivers by offering benefits, career development, education, information and access to those things that will help them perform to the top of their capabilities, and achieve optimum health and wellness.”

Each year, the editorial team at Becker's Healthcare determines the organizations that are included on each year's list from those that submit nominations, and those that have received prior workplace excellence recognition. In 2015, Adena was a second-year Gallup Great Workplace Award winner, which placed it among consideration for the 2016 Becker’s Top 150 Great Places to Work in Healthcare recognition.

Adena is included in the hospitals/health systems category, one of eight categories Becker’s uses to distinguish segments of the healthcare industry. 

View Adena's profile on Becker's website at http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/150-great-places-to-work-in-healthcare-2016/adena-health-system-16

National Patient Safety Awareness Week, March 13-19

As the nation’s caregivers celebrate National Patient Safety Awareness Week, March 13-19, Adena Health System recognizes how important proper hand hygiene is in stopping the spread of disease and saving lives.

Thanks to a new Adena-created Smartphone app, the Health System is observing its caregiver’s hand hygiene habits through just a few simple clicks.

In the past, Adena’s hand hygiene observations consisted of “secret shoppers” who spent time on a nursing unit to monitor and chart the hand hygiene-related actions of caregivers. Information was documented on a form, and the observer usually was armed with a clipboard. The data from these observations would then be compiled into a usable format to identify good or poor behaviors. However, caregivers could easily identify the “secret shoppers,” and its likely results were not in line with some caregivers’ normal hand hygiene routine.

Striving for continuous improvement, John Pretak, an Adena Business Intelligence Software Architect, was tasked by leaders to improve how the Health System monitors caregiver hand hygiene. Pretak put his web design background to use, developing an app that is moving this process into the digital age.

“It was important to develop something that was easy to use,” said Pretak. “Everyone has a phone, so why not make an app? Get away from the paper environment to a digital one that could provide immediate feedback. It would make the process that much simpler.”

Pretak took just two days to develop the app. The web-based application takes just a few clicks to accurately track a caregiver’s routine; and color-coded icons match the color of Adena caregiver’s assigned uniform color to easily identify the person being monitored. Then with a few clicks, the observer identifies if the caregiver “washed hands with soap for more/less than 15 seconds;” “used hand sanitizer;” or “no hand hygiene.” The data is now easily compiles to identify areas in compliance, and those in need of additional caregiver education.

“The concept is to have our observations accurately reflect the true behaviors within the inpatient units,” explained Pretak. “This app records a time stamp telling when and where everything happens. We know who is doing the observation, as well as the discipline of the person being observed.”

Adena Regional Medical Center recently scored its first-ever ‘A’ rating on the Fall 2015 Hospital Safety Score Survey, by respected national healthcare safety firm, Leapfrog.

Adena Health System is proud to recognize and honor its Athletic Trainers during 2016 National Athletic Training Month. Adena provides the services of athletic trainers to 10 local high schools at no cost to each school district. The trainers work at their assigned schools every day, providing access to quality care for all student-athletes.

Adena’s Athletic Training Program includes: 10 athletic trainers at eight schools in Ross, Pike, and Jackson Counties. Schools where Adena athletic trainers work, include: Chillicothe, Adena, Huntington, Paint Valley, Southeastern, Unioto, Zane Trace, Waverly, Piketon, and Oak Hill. Adena also supplies trainers to the Chillicothe Paints Minor League Baseball team. (image)

Adena’s Athletic Training Program not only provides immediate care to the athletes, but also offers peace of mind for the students, parents, and coaches. “By being at the schools on a regular basis, and the parents seeing you at games and practices, they appreciate knowing there is someone to take care of their child in the event they become injured,” said Lead Athletic Trainer Shane Wells. “It’s a comfort for them to have trainers they can trust, as well as someone to talk to and navigate them through any care or recovery.”

The Adena Athletic Training program is vital to the success and safety of the region’s high school athletic programs, and is valued by school administrators. “I like having the immediate attention of an athletic trainer to assess the possibly of a severe injury,” said Jeff Reuter, principal, Piketon High School. “Having the trainers at the games to diagnose problems helps keep the kids a little calmer in a tough situation.”

Waverly High School Principal Ashlee Stulley added, “Having a trainer at our school helps parents, coaches and athletes identify serious injuries that need more in depth medical attention They help provide treatment for minor injuries, and our students feel secure knowing a trainer will evaluate them and provide necessary treatment and counsel if they need it.”

Overall, Adena’s Athletic Trainers work with an estimated 2,125 athletes each year in 22 sports. In 2015, the program had nearly 19,000 encounters among student-athletes and the community.

Adena leaders, patients and members of the community took part in a celebration and ribbon cutting to officially launch the opening of the new, expanded Adena Health Center-Circleville. The new facility is located at 140 Morris Road, Circleville, and offers nearly two times the space of the Center’s previous location.

The expansion into the 9,000 square-foot clinic is enabling Adena to increase its already robust specialty services. It will also allow Adena to recruit a fourth Primary Care Provider (PCP) to the Center.

“The community has wrapped its arms around us,” said Brooke Burns, Adena’s Regional Director of Operations. “We are able to grow because the community is growing us, and we are recruiting for a fourth primary care provider because the town needs it.”

Dr. Robert Violette is the lead physician at Adena’s Circleville Health Center. He added, “Our goal, as it has been since we opened here five years ago, is to provide the people of Pickaway County with convenient access to care. Our hope is the people of Circleville will not have to go outside the region to get good, quality care and specialty services.”

In addition to Primary Care, the facility offers specialty services, including: Lab, X-ray, Oncology (cancer), Cardiology (heart) and Orthopedics. The additional space in the Morris Road clinic has increased the number of exam rooms from 10 to 18; and is allowing for a dedicated area for Orthopedics, which includes on-site X-ray, and soon the addition of a mobile MRI unit.

“The fact that Adena is so committed to this community is genuine,” said Brad Lutz, chair, Pickaway Chamber of Commerce. “Being close to Columbus sometimes makes it difficult for people here to get services, especially the types of services you are providing locally. It’s easy to say, ‘They’ll drive to Columbus for that.’ The truth is they won’t. They will stay here and people will not get the care that they need. Thank you for being a part of our community.”

To make an appointment at Adena Family Medicine – Circleville, call (740) 420-3000.

February is Heart Health Awareness month and we want to see what you are doing to support healthy heart habits in your life. Snap a picture of a healthy heart habit and post it to our Facebook page for a chance to win a Fitbit. Everyone who posts a picture will be entered into the drawing and one winner will be chosen at random.

Be creative! Share a picture of you trying a new fruit or vegetable, cooking a healthy dinner with the family, exercising, or finding fun ways to get the family active.

The rules are simple, like our Facebook page at www.facebook.org/adenahealthsystem and post a picture on the Adena page with a short description of your heart healthy activity along with #loveyourheart.

The contest runs through February 26, 2016 at 11:59 p.m. Adena Health System reserves the right to decide what pictures will be shared and by posting a picture you agree that Adena has the right to use the picture for promotional purposes. The winner must be a resident of one of Adena’s 12 county service areas.

The winner will be announced on Facebook February 29, 2016 on the Adena Health System page.

Make healthy living and fitness a 2016 goal for your family by signing up for the next session of Family Fit. This fun, hands-on program helps families with children between the ages of six and 14 learn the importance of making healthy food choices and incorporating activity in their daily lives. Family Fit is sponsored by Adena Health System and the YMCA of Ross County.

The next six-week session of Family Fit begins Wednesday, Feb. 17. Classes meet each Wednesday through Mar. 23, 2016 at the YMCA of Ross County, located at 100 Mill St., Chillicothe.

Each week, the two-hour class focuses on a different health topic. The goal of Family Fit is to enhance family health and activity through fun, games and hands-on learning. As a family lifestyle program, Family Fit works when children take part with their parents to achieve a healthier lifestyle.

In a casual learning atmosphere, your family will learn new ways to shop and cook, while participating in cooking demonstrations, nutrition lessons, fun exercise routines and much more. The lessons are easy for all ages to follow, and are a great way to get the entire family involved in making healthy choices to last a lifetime.

The cost to join Family Fit is just $50 per family. This includes all materials and a six-week family membership to the YMCA of Ross County. As a bonus, families who attend all six Family Fit classes will receive an additional six-week family membership to the YMCA at no extra cost (a more than *$200 value).

Register for Family Fit no later than Friday, Feb. 12, 2016. Class size is limited to enable Adena’s dieticians the ability to provide the personal counseling and coaching needed for the program, so call today. To register or learn more information about Family Fit call (740) 779-7520.

*Based on YMCA’s published Family rate of $57 month + $50 joining fee

Adena Health Center Circleville is growing. To better serve our patients the Center will move to a larger location effective, Monday, Jan.  11, 2016. The new facility, located at 140 Morris Road, Circleville, includes more than 9,000 square feet of space, nearly double the size of the previous location at 798 N. Court Street.

“We have completely outgrown our current space,” said Adena Regional Site Director Brooke Burns. “The new Morris Road facility will allow plenty of room to grow both our primary care and specialty services in Circleville.”

Currently, Adena provides primary care, lab, x-ray, cancer, heart and orthopedics services within its Circleville health center. With the additional space, plans are underway to add to these services in the coming months, including the addition of a mobile MRI unit.

In addition, patients will appreciate other perks of the more spacious location, which offers better traffic flow in and out of the facility. The new Morris Road clinic will also offer patients and staff more parking, larger waiting areas, a separate entrance for the lab, and an expanded registration area that will speed up the check-in process.

To make an appointment at Adena Family Medicine – Circleville, call (740) 420-3000.

In 2015, Adena Health System marked its 120^th anniversary of caring for the people of Chillicothe, Ross County, and 11 additional counties throughout south central and southern Ohio. Created in 1895, due to a need for community-based health care, Adena took a renewed vision of the original intent of its founders by adopting a new vision statement in 2015; “To be instrumental in the creation of healthy and thriving communities.”

Part of that community-focused vision includes a key health system strategy of Population Health. This strategy involves caring for the patient beyond the office appointment or when they are a patient in the hospital. Population Health includes a variety of functions such as: nurse navigators coordinating care for the patient between all of his/her providers, offering education about living with conditions such as diabetes, and making sure a patient’s regular follow up appointments are made and kept.

“Adena’s key clinical strategy toward population health, and our renewed community focus on issues that impact the health of everyone who lives here is evident in many of the System’s 2015 achievements,” said Adena President and CEO Mark Shuter. “When looking back on the year as a whole, our caregivers have worked hard to bring healthcare and the health-related issues that make a difference in all of our lives, outside the four walls of a clinic or the hospital. This is something that we plan to continue well into the New Year.”

A look back on Adena’s community-focused care and outreach includes an educational program via webinar in January that provided education about prescription drug abuse, aimed at parents. The program created by Adena Pharmacist Richard Ash, through a grant from the Cardinal Health Foundation, helped parents identify prescription drug abuse among their children, and to educate their kids of the dangers of prescription drug abuse. Also in January, Adena Regional Medical Center hosted a Be the Match bone marrow tissue drive, adding nearly 100 potential donors to the national Bone Marrow Registry. The drive was coordinated by the family of Chillicothe-native Dr. Tracy Jalbuena, the eldest daughter of retired Adena Urologist Dr. Jun Jalbuena and his wife Kathy. Tracy is battling multiple myeloma, a cancer of the bone marrow; and is still in need of a bone marrow transplant.

In February, Adena received word that its Diabetes Education Program received accreditation by the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE). A serious health issue for many in our region, diabetes education has become a primary initiative for caregivers at Adena.

“Diabetes education is an important element in the care of all people with this disease,” said Adena’s Vice President of Clinical Integration Bambi Huffman. “We have worked to create a quality program that is making an impact on the lives of our patients. Achieving this accreditation is just one way Adena can demonstrate its dedication to providing quality diabetes care for our patients in the communities we serve.”

Later in the year, Adena held it’s first-ever Diabetes Expo at the PACCAR Medical Education Center. The event drew more than 200 people and provided information, shopping and cooking demonstrations and more. The information provided was so well-received and needed, it will become a regular event, with the next Diabetes Expo planned to be held in Waverly in the coming months.

Employing more than 3,000 caregivers, Adena is Ross County’s largest employer. The Health System generates millions into the region’s tax base, and its employees purchase goods and services from vendors throughout the area. In March, Adena was recognized by Becker’s Healthcare as one of the Top 150 Great Places to Work in Healthcare. Adena’s selection to the list was based on benefit offerings, wellness programs, commitment to diversity and inclusion, professional development opportunities, and for an environment that promotes employee satisfaction and a work-life balance.

“It is an honor to be nationally recognized for our employee programs,” said Adena President and CEO Mark Shuter. “Here at Adena, we firmly believe that in order to provide our patients with the best quality care possible, we must have a satisfied and engaged team of caregivers. By offering the benefits, support and tools needed to help them perform their duties; along with the opportunities for career growth and a work-life balance, we feel that Adena is well-positioned to achieve this goal.”

One month later, Adena was named a Gallup Great Workplace for the second consecutive year. The Gallup organization recognizes its winners as having “the most engaged workforces in the world.” According to Gallup, the recipients average nine engaged employees for every one actively disengaged employee, which is more than five times the rate in the U.S., and more than 16 times the rate for workforces globally.

Making healthcare as convenient as possible is part of creating a health system that always put the needs of our patients first. When patients expressed a desire for rehabilitative care that was closer to home, Adena looked at how to make that possible. The result was the May opening of the Adena Wellness Center West, located inside the former Cinema 6 building on Western Avenue. Now home to part of Adena’s Rehabilitation Services Department and Adena Home Care and Hospice, the facility is now meeting the needs of the more than 60-percent of patients living near the western edge of Ross County.

Recognizing the important role the community has in Adena’s success, the Health System celebrated 2015’s Hospital Week by giving back. In May, Adena President and CEO Mark Shuter spent much of National Hospital Week delivering gift cards valued at $11,805 to area schools and community organizations. The donations were collected by a number of departments within the Health System, and distributed throughout the area as way to thank the community for its support of Adena. 

As a teaching hospital, Adena’s education focus is reinforced in the annual support of the Adena Health Foundation Scholarship Awards. In 2015, $85,400 in scholarships were awarded to 62 students pursuing careers in Healthcare. Since 2002, the Adena Health Foundation has awarded more than a half-million dollars to students living in Adena’s 12-county service area.

“The Adena Health Foundation scholarships are made possible thanks to generous donors who share Adena’s vision to do our best to nurture the talent of future caregivers,” said Adena Health Foundation’s Executive Director Ralph Metzger.

Perhaps Adena’s most visible community-centric initiative was the renovation and opening of downtown Chillicothe’s historic Carlisle Building. After being vacant for more than 11 years, and following 16 months of construction, Adena marked the official opening on Oct. 19. “While Adena holds the lease and is the caretaker of the Carlisle Building, this historic structure belongs to Chillicothe,” said Adena President and CEO Mark Shuter. “With The Chesler Group, and many community and state partners, we have been able to give the building new life, and it is now serving as a catalyst for new investment in our downtown. As a community, we have a lot to celebrate.”

The 32,000 square-foot Carlisle Building met the needs of historic preservationists to save the 125 year old structure, brought new life to the city’s main downtown intersection, and achieved the vision of Adena’s leaders to utilize the building and to provide safe housing for medical students and some physician residents. The building now includes 32 student apartments and nearly 7,000 square feet of first-floor office space for the Adena Health Foundation, other community-facing personnel, and a meeting space.

To wrap up the year, Adena’s caregivers purchased coats for children in the region who were in need. Nearly 1,200 local children were presented to Adena’s annual Coats for Kids drive as being in need of a winter coat this year. Adena caregivers purchase coats, hats and gloves for the children. This winter, every child listed received a brand new coat to keep them warm. There were 120 students at Chillicothe’s Tiffin Elementary School in need of a coat this year, meeting their basic need for warm outerwear. Since it began four years ago, Adena’s caregivers have provided more than 5,000 coats to children in our community through its Coats for Kids program, which is led by a team of nurses and other caregivers.

Each year, the need among children in our community grows greater; and each year, Adena Health System’s caregivers step up to meet that need. Nearly 1,200 local children were presented to Adena’s annual Coats for Kids drive as being in need of a winter coat this year. Thanks to the generosity of Adena caregivers, every one of those 1,200 kids will have a brand new coat to keep them warm.

“Aside from Adena caregivers buying coats, and several cash donations by some of our physicians, we also received generous donations from Chillicothe’s Newcomer Group and Active USA,” said one of the drive’s organizers, Josh Detillion. “All of the donations were greatly appreciated.”

Students at Tiffin Elementary School, located in Chillicothe, had a need for 120 coats this year. Tiffin Principal Todd Shoemaker said he is thankful for Adena’s Coats for Kids program, and the Health System’s commitment to the children of our community. “When students are just trying to have their basic needs met, it is much harder for them to learn,” he said.

He also shared a story from one of a very appreciative mother. “For many of our students Christmas is a tough time of year,” said Shoemaker. “We had a parent of three young students who thanked us for the coats saying, ‘Now I can buy my kids REAL Christmas gifts, not just things to meet their needs.’ She thanked me over and over again saying we made her Christmas, and I told her, ‘No you’ve made ours.’”

Adena’s Coats for Kids program has become well-known throughout the region, and has grown significantly since it began less than five years ago. Need at that time was a few hundred coats for area children. This year, coats were purchased for children in all grades at 24 schools in Ross, Pike, Jackson, Pickaway, Vinton, Highland, and Hocking Counties. Students are generally identified by teachers, principals, bus drivers and other school personnel who may know of a family’s financial situation, or notice a child who may not have adequate outerwear to handle winter’s chill.

The coats were delivered to the schools over the past few weeks.

Mt. Logan Elementary Principal Elaine Seimer recently posted a message of gratitude on her school’s Facebook page, along with a photo of the donated items under the school’s Christmas tree. She wrote, “We would like to thank Adena Regional Medical Center and several of our local churches for helping to supply our kids with hats, gloves, scarves, and sweatpants. Many of our students will be a little warmer this winter because of you. Thanks again.”

Since it began four years ago, Adena’s caregivers have provided more than 5,000 coats to children in our community through its Coats for Kids program, which is led by a team of nurses and other caregivers.

Adena Regional Medical Center Nurse Joan Uhrig has been named March of Dimes of Ohio’s Nurse of the Year for Women’s Health and Centering. Uhrig was selected from nearly 400 applicants, and was one of a dozen finalists in the Health and Centering category. She has been a nurse with Adena Health System for more than 34 years.(image)

“Joan consistently goes above and beyond to support our new moms,” said Adena’s Chief Nursing Officer Judi Henson. “Her 34 years of experience has helped educate many new families here in our community. We are thankful for her passion for our patients, and her commitment to Adena Health System.”

Uhrig was recently recognized for her work making sure babies and their mothers receive the education and information they need for an optimal start. She has been instrumental in the development of a prenatal education program designed to help mothers prepare for safe deliveries of healthy babies. Joan has also assisted in the development of the Health System’s Safe Sleep Program, which includes parental education about safe sleep, the use of the Halo® Sleep Sack, and “Cribs for Kids” program, which promotes safe sleep for infants in a bed of their own. She is a certified lactation consultant and a leader in increasing the number of mothers who breastfeed their babies in our community.

“I’m very grateful, but you don’t do things alone,” said Joan of her recognition. “Over the years, I’ve had a lot of awesome co-workers who have helped me accomplish a great deal. It’s a group effort; and there are a lot of amazing people here.”

The March of Dimes’ Nurse of the Year Awards is a state-wide event that recognizes exceptional nurses, creates awareness of professional excellence, and promotes the future of the nursing profession. The organization works to improve the health of babies by preventing premature birth, birth defects and infant mortality.

Adena Health System’s financial profile has been given a boost by Wall Street Financial Rating Service Standard & Poor’s (S&P). Following its annual analysis, S&P has revised Adena’s financial outlook from an ‘A- negative’ to an ‘A- stable.’

“The outlook revision reflects our opinion of the System’s improved operating performance in fiscal 2014, with continue improvement through the first six months of fiscal 2015,” the S&P report states.

The reviewers assessed Adena’s financial profile as “strong, characterized by its sound balance sheet with ample liquidity and decreasing debt.”

“We strive to be good stewards of Adena funds, in order to provide our patients with the most up-to-date services, when and where they need them,” said Adena’s Chief Financial Officer Robert Rosenberger. “Having Standard & Poor’s affirm the hard work and planning we have undertaken to achieve this progress to date is evidence that we are on the right track; and is a great incentive to continue on a path of sound decision-making and efficiency.”

Adena President & CEO Mark Shuter added, “The increasing confidence of the Wall Street rating servicers, like S&P, tells us we are making a lot of good decisions that are having a positive impact. A financially strong Adena is good for our patients, our caregivers, and the organization. It is also extremely important for the health and vitality of the region, as we create and retain good jobs within those communities we serve.”

Standard & Poor’s upgrade to a “stable” outlook reflects the organization’s expectation that “Adena’s expense management efforts, physician recruitment, and management plans will likely allow it to improve operating results closer to historic levels.”

For the first time, Adena Regional Medical Center (ARMC) has scored an ‘A’ rating on the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Score Survey.

The Leapfrog Hospital Survey is the “gold standard” for comparing hospitals’ performance on the top 28 national standards used to determine safety, quality and efficiency, which are most important to consumers of hospital care. Each A, B, C, D or F rates how well the hospital protects patients from errors, injuries and infections. The highest grade Adena had received previously was a B, in 2013.

“Adena Regional Medical Center’s ‘A’ grade is a powerful reminder of its commitment to putting patient safety above all else,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group, which administers the Hospital Safety Score. “We are pleased to recognize the persistent efforts of Adena’s clinicians and staff to protect their patients. Families, neighbors, colleagues and friends deserve a hospital that will pull out all the stops to keep them safe, and we urge Adena and all other A-rated hospitals to preserve and renew their commitment to safety year after year.” 

Adena was one of 2,530 U.S. hospitals to be graded in the Survey, and among 773 earning an ‘A’ (the number of A-rated hospitals is down from 782 in spring 2015). The data collected to determine the fall 2015 Safety Score covers a time period from mainly Jan. 1 – Dec. 31, 2014.

“Earning an ‘A’ means Adena is among an elite group of institutions that have selected safety as a differentiator,” said Rhett Holland, Adena’s Interim Director of Quality. “Adena’s ‘A’ is a deserved recognition of our hospital's commitment to quality and patient safety, by one of the most respected independent ratings organizations in the U.S.”

The positive results coincide with ARMC’s increased protocols, which are highly focused on quality and safety.

“For the past few years, we have intensified our efforts toward delivering the best quality and enhanced safety when it comes for the care we provide for our patients,” said Adena President and CEO Mark Shuter. “The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Score demonstrates this commitment by our caregivers is making a difference.” 

Achieving success has been a deliberate and dedicated effort within ARMC. The Quality staff has continually worked with Nursing, physicians, and leadership to improve its scores in the following areas: computerized physician order entry; evidence-based high risk referrals; maternity care; ICU physician staffing; safe practices scores; managing serious errors; bar code medication administration; and resource use for common acute conditions.

While progress made has resulted in an ‘A’ grade, Adena’s Quality Team continues to remain diligent in its efforts toward improvement. Holland added, “We have identified areas that still need some improvement, and we will continue to move forward, driving quality and safety first.” 

About The Leapfrog Group

Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps forward in the quality and safety of American health care. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey collects and transparently reports hospital performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information they need to make informed decisions. Hospital Safety Score, Leapfrog’s other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents, and infections.

After more than 12 years, Chillicothe's historic Carlisle Building has been renovated and is open. The circa 1885 building has been completely overhauled to now include 32 modern urban loft-style apartments for Adena Health System's visiting medical students, and some of our physician residents. The first floor now houses office space for the Adena Health Foundation and some community-facing Health System personnel. Take the opportunity to see the amazing transformation for yourself by scheduling a tour. Tours will be available by appointment only on several dates through the end of 2015. Please click on a date below to schedule a time.

• November 18, 12 - 1 PM
• November 19, 3 - 4 PM
• December 16, 12 - 1 PM
• December 17, 3 - 4 PM

There will be a Community Celebration for the opening of Carlisle Building on Monday, Oct. 19 at Noon in downtown Chillicothe, on the corner of Main and Paint Streets. (image)

Built in 1885, the historic Carlisle Building has been an anchor for downtown Chillicothe. In April 2003, the building was nearly destroyed by arson. In the years that have followed, the future of the building was often discussed, with demolition considered numerous times. It wasn’t until 2012, when Adena Health System, The Chesler Group and the City of Chillicothe announced a plan to renovate the 32-thousand square-foot building to house Adena’s visiting medical students and physician residents.

Construction began in the summer of 2014, led by Cleveland developer Michael Chesler. Today, the Carlisle Building is again a living landmark in the center of Chillicothe’s downtown that includes 32 student apartments and first-floor office space.

After more than 11 years, and nearly 16 months of construction, downtown Chillicothe’s Carlisle Building will soon reopen. Adena Health System, the building’s new leaseholder, is planning a community celebration and official ribbon cutting. The event will be held Monday, Oct. 19 at Noon at the corner of Paint and Main Streets, and will feature local and state-level speakers who played a role in the project.

“While Adena will hold the lease and be caretaker of the Carlisle Building, this historic structure belongs to Chillicothe,” said Adena President and CEO Mark Shuter. “With The Chesler Group, and many community and state partners, we have been able to give the building new life, and it is now serving as a catalyst for new investment in our downtown. And as a community, we have a lot to celebrate.”

The 32,000 square-foot Carlisle Building is located in the center of downtown Chillicothe, and sat condemned after nearly being destroyed by arson in 2003. After years of community discussion, the building was ultimately saved, due to the perseverance of historic preservationists, and the vision of Adena’s leaders to utilize the building to house medical students and physician residents. The building now includes 32 student apartments and nearly 7,000 square feet of first-floor office space for the Adena Health Foundation, other community-facing personnel and a community room.

The building’s owner, Michael Chesler of The Chesler Group, began construction in the summer of 2014. “Retaining the historic aspect of the Carlisle Building is something that was important to me and everyone involved with this project,” said Chesler. “It is by far one of the most challenging projects that I have completed.”

The Carlisle Building was constructed in 1885, and housed a number of businesses through the years. Chesler and his team had to adhere to many historic requirements throughout the project, following the standard guidelines set by the Department of the Interior, while working closely with the Ohio State Historic Preservation Office and the National Park Service. .

The $8 million revitalization project was made possible due to support in the form of loans and grants from organizations including: Cortland Banks, JobsOhio, City of Chillicothe, Chillicothe Ross Community Foundation and the Ross County CIC.

To meet the growing need for care throughout south central and southern Ohio, Adena Health System plans to open a health clinic in the city of Wellston. The nearly 2,000 square-foot facility is scheduled to open on Dec. 1, 2015, and will offer patients access to a certified nurse practitioner for their primary care needs.

“We are excited to become part of the Wellston community,” said Adena President and CEO Mark Shuter. “Adena is dedicated to ensuring patients throughout our region have access to close-to-home, quality care and services. This clinic is the result of Adena’s vision to provide care for patients in the Wellston area, along with great community input and tremendous partnerships.”

The clinic will be located at 118 S. New York Ave., Wellston. In addition to primary care, the facility will enable patients in need of lab work to have blood drawn near their homes. Adena also has a full-scale health center located in Jackson that provides access to primary care and specialties, including Orthopedics, Cardiology, Urology and more.

Adena Health System’s robotic surgery program has reached a major milestone. Surgeons recently performed Adena’s 1,000^th robot-assisted surgery. This significant event comes just one month before the program’s three-year anniversary.

On Oct. 16, 2012, Adena became the first health system in southern Ohio, located south of I-70 and east of I-71 to offer minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgery to patients. Adena continues to be the only southern Ohio health system with a surgical robot.

“Adena’s robotic surgery program is making a difference in people’s lives,” said Adena President and CEO Mark Shuter. “By offering minimally-invasive, robot-assisted surgery performed by skilled surgeons, people in our community and region can be assured they are receiving the most up-to-date, quality care when they come to Adena.”

A surgical robot enables a surgeon to perform extremely precise procedures, using small incisions, in areas of the body that are difficult for the human hand to reach. Adena uses robot-assisted surgery for many types of surgeries including: women’s surgery, prostate surgery, general surgery, and some lung procedures. Because robotic surgery is less invasive, the body heals faster and patients are back on their feet – and back to work sooner.

“The number of days we’ve saved patients from being in the hospital, to them being in their home is incredible,” said Adena General Surgeon Dr. Bill Sever. “We have also minimized the patient’s risk for infection by getting them out of the hospital much sooner; and you can’t quantify those savings.”

Adena’s robot-trained surgeons are performing more single-site surgeries (one point of entry at the patient’s naval) than any other surgeons in Ohio; and the third most single-site, robot-assisted surgeries in the nation.

It’s estimated that since robot-assisted surgery began at Adena in Oct. 2012, Adena’s surgeons using the surgical robot system have saved patients approximately 950 days in the hospital. This is due to the minimally-invasive aspects of robotic surgery. When considering the average cost of caring for a post-operative patient in Ohio is about $2,200 a day, Adena’s robot-assisted surgery option has saved patients in our region more than $2 million.

Learn more about Adena's Robotic Surgery Program.

(image) The Adena Health Foundation has awarded 62 local students with a total of $85,400 in scholarship funds for their pursuit of degrees in the field of healthcare. Those receiving scholarships include 16 returning students and 46 new recipients.  Since 2002, The Adena Health Foundation has awarded more than a half-million dollars in scholarship funds to students living in Adena’s 12-county service area.

“Adena’s education-based mission propels us to invest in the future of healthcare for our community,” said Ralph Metzger, Executive Director, Adena Health Foundation. “The Adena Health Foundation scholarships are made possible thanks to generous donors who share Adena’s vision to do our best to nurture the talent of future caregivers.”

The Adena Health Foundation scholarships are made possible by the fundraising efforts of the Volunteer Advisory Council of Adena, The Women’s Board of Adena, and generous contributions to a dozen endowments and funds that support healthcare education.

Students working toward degrees in healthcare fields may apply for the scholarships in the spring of each year.

Sign-up today for the next session of Family Fit, a fun-filled, family-oriented program that helps families with children, between the ages of six and 14. Family Fit is sponsored by Adena Health System and the YMCA of Ross County.

The next Family Fit session begins Wednesday, September 9 and runs through Wednesday, October 14. Classes are held at the YMCA, located at 100 Mill St., Chillicothe. Each session of Family Fit brings families together for two hours, one day a week, for six weeks. Classes include: cooking demonstrations, meal planning, exercise, and behavior counseling taught by Adena dietitians.

The goal is to enhance family health and activity through fun, games and hands on learning. As a family lifestyle program, Family Fit works when children take part with their parents to achieve a healthier lifestyle.

The cost to join Family Fit is just $50 per family. This includes all materials and a three-month family membership to the YMCA of Ross Co. for families that attend each of the six sessions. For more information about Family Fit, or to register call (740) 779-7520.

Adena Health System is pleased to welcome Dr. Raul Raudales, Jr. to the Adena Bone and Joint Center (ABJC).

Specializing in Sports Medicine, the addition of Dr. Raudales will enhance access to ABJC’s services to patients who are in need of treatment for bone and joint pain and injuries. Sports medicine goes beyond the athlete, and includes patients of all ages who experience an injury, or suffer from bone or joint disease.

“One of the reasons I really like Adena is I’m able to practice Sports Medicine, and be part of a great team of providers,” said Dr. Raudales.

Dr. Raul Raudales, Jr attended Ross University School of Medicine, located in Dominica, West Indies and completed his residency at Akron General Medical Center and performed a Primary Care Sports Medicine fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

While at the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Raudales served as associate team physician for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Indians. He was also a team physician at John Carroll University.

Dr. Raudales is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. He is also a member of the American Medical Society of Sports Medicine, and the American Academy of Family Practice.

Adena Bone and Joint Center is committed to meeting the expanding needs of the community by offering accessible, quality care. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Raudales, or any member of the Adena Sports Medicine team please call 740-779-4598.

Learn more about Adena Bone and Joint and Dr. Raudales. 

Adena Bone and Joint, a department of Adena Regional Medical Center, will again hold its Saturday Morning Sports Injury Clinic for school-age fall athletes.

The Sports Injury Clinic opens Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015 and will be open every Saturday through Oct. 31, 2015; from 9 to 11 a.m. Patients will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis. While the majority of athletes who use the clinic are Friday night high school football players, the clinic is open to fall athletes who are participating in organized athletics within Adena’s 12-county service area.

“If the injury is not an emergency, the Saturday morning clinic is a convenient way for athletes to get the care and treatment they need,” said Adena Sports Medicine’s Dr. Bradley Strauch. “When an athlete is in pain or uncomfortable, we don’t want them to have to wait for several days to be checked out. We can assess the injury and provide treatment during a visit to the clinic, and can also help provide a smooth transition to one of our physicians for any potential follow-up care.”

During the visit, the patient will see a sports medicine provider, and will have access to services such as x-rays, splinting or casting. No appointment or referral is necessary, and the visit is billed as a typical office visit by most insurance plans

To ensure the athlete will be seen by an Adena Sports Medicine provider, patients must check-in for the Saturday morning clinic before 11 a.m. The Saturday Sports Injury Clinic is held at Adena Bone and Joint, which is located in Suite G15 of the Adena Health Pavilion (4437 State Route 159) on the Adena Regional Medical Center campus in Chillicothe.

To serve the needs of Adena Medical Group’s (AMG) pediatric patients and their families, beginning Monday, Aug. 31, Adena Pediatrics will begin offering extended hours for all AMG-established pediatric patients. The clinic, located in Suite G10 of the Medical Office Building on Adena’s Chillicothe campus, will be open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday from 8 a.m. to Noon, with walk-in availability after 5 p.m. and on Saturdays. As a result of these expanded service hours, the Adena Pediatric Urgent Care will permanently close on Friday, Aug. 28, 2015.

“Our patients and their families expect and deserve care from their provider when they need it, at a time that is convenient for them,” said Dr. H. Takaji Kittaka, Jr., Chief Transformation Officer/Chief Medical Officer for Ambulatory Care. “This reasoning, along with access to patient medical records, and continuity and quality of care led to the decision to expand clinic hours for Adena’s child patients.”

To ensure all of Adena’s pediatric patients have access to afterhours care when they need it, walk-in care will be available in Adena Pediatrics’ Chillicothe office for all of Adena-established pediatric patients, regardless of where they normally see their Adena provider. With the Aug. 28 closing of Adena Pediatric Urgent Care, children who are not established with an Adena-employed provider have these options for afterhours care:

Adena Western Avenue Urgent Care

55 Centennial Boulevard
Chillicothe, OH 45601

10 a.m. – 8 p.m. daily

Adena Waverly Urgent Care

12340 State Route 104
Waverly, OH 45690

10 a.m. – 8 p.m. daily

The Walmart Clinic (over 18 months old)

85 River Trace Lane
Chillicothe, OH 45601;

10 a.m. – 8 p.m. M-F; 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sat.; 12 – 5 p.m. Sun.

The Walmart Clinic (over 18 months old)

1397 Leesburg Avenue
Washington Court House, OH 43160

10 a.m. – 8 p.m. M-F; 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sat.; 12 – 5 p.m. Sun.

For 24/7/365 emergency care, hospital Emergency Departments at Adena Regional, Adena Greenfield, and Adena Pike Medical Centers are available.

Adena Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Brian S. Cohen taught his technique for the reverse total shoulder arthroplasty procedure to more than 500 peers, live via simulcast from a surgical suite inside Chillicothe’s Adena Regional Medical Center, Monday afternoon. The other physicians were attending a conference in Las Vegas, NV, titled Current Concepts in Joint Replacement (CCJR). Dr. Cohen was selected as a member of the CCJR faculty, and often teaches his surgical methods to other physicians. The course was titled, “Live in Las Vegas: Shoulder Reconstruction from the Adena Bone & Joint Center.”

(image) “We usually have three or four surgeons a month visiting our operating room here at Adena,” said Dr. Cohen. “When asked to present to CCJR we had been requested to go to another location to do this operation; and I, along with Arthrex, said we had no problem doing the operation as part of the program, but we wanted to do it from Adena.”

Using two cameras and a video encoder, fed through the Internet, Dr. Cohen explained each step of the surgical process. On the other side of the country, moderator, and Dr. Cohen’s mentor, Dr. Tony Romeo fielded questions from the participants during the more than one-hour procedure.

The patient, 69-year old David Evans of Logan, OH, first injured his shoulder in 1964 when he fell off the wing of a B-58 bomber, while serving in the U.S. Air Force. Evans has had four surgeries on the shoulder, which had deteriorated after several injuries over the years. A recent fall forced his decision to finally have the shoulder replaced.

“I couldn’t raise it, I couldn’t move it, I couldn’t do anything with it really,” Evans said. He’s hopeful the surgery will restore full use of his shoulder and enhance his quality of life. “I hope I’ll be able to use it like I used to. I work in the woods a lot. That’s my enjoyment,” he said. The surgery went well, as expected.

Dr. Cohen made headlines in June 2013, when he became the first surgeon in the U.S. to perform a total reverse shoulder implant using the Arthrex Reverse Universe device. Dr. Cohen has performed more than 1,000 reverse shoulder procedures and over 350 with the Arthrex device.

Learn more about Dr. Cohen and Adena Bone and Joint.

Adena President and CEO Mark Shuter has spent much of National Hospital Week delivering gift cards, valued at more than $11,000, to area schools and community organizations. The donations were collected by a number of departments within the Health System and distributed as way to thank the community for its support of Adena Health System over the past 120 years.

“National Hospital Week was created more than 50 years ago, as a reminder that hospitals are foundations of the communities that built them and support them,” said Shuter.  “The caregivers at Adena wanted to give back to those groups and organizations in our communities that share our vision of caring for others. The recipients do this through healthcare, education or providing people with what they need to live life to the fullest.”

Today, Shuter visited two Chillicothe area schools, Tiffin Elementary and Mt. Logan Elementary, presenting each with $2,000 in gift cards collected by Adena departments for the purchase of items to aid in the wellbeing and education of local students. Other organizations receiving gift cards collected from Adena departments, and distributed this week in honor of National Hospital Week include: Big Brothers/Big Sisters $995; Child Protection Center $2,900; Hope Clinic $2,900; and March of Dimes $925.

Adena Health System is looking for outgoing, dependable and friendly people interested in volunteering at Adena Medical Center in Chillicothe.

While we are always looking for volunteers in a variety of roles, we are currently in need of help in the gift shop and with patient transport.

Patient discharge volunteers help transport patients from their room to their vehicle when they are discharged from the hospital. Volunteers must be able to push an adult in a wheelchair.  The service hours are Monday-Friday 8 a.m. – Noon or Noon- 4 p.m.

Adena is also looking for volunteers to work in the Sugarloaf Gift Shop. The gift shop is open from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and there are three daily shifts. The gift shop is open Noon to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, with two shifts per day. 

Proceeds from the gift shop are donated back to the Adena Health Foundation for specific projects or services that benefit the patients of Adena Health System.   

All volunteers must be at least 14 years old and willing to volunteer at least four hours a month.

If interested in volunteering or learning more about Adena’s volunteer program, please call 740-779-7927 or visit www.adena.org/volunteer.

Adena Health System leaders and staff today officially opened the new Adena Wellness Center West, located at 2077 Western Ave., Chillicothe. The former Cinema 6 is now home to part of Adena’s Rehabilitation Services Department and Adena Home Care and Hospice. The services were relocated from other locations in Chillicothe after patients were surveyed, and many indicated they wanted more health care options closer to their homes. (image)

“It’s all about meeting the needs of our patients and our communities,” said Adena President and CEO Mark Shuter. “A survey of our Rehab patients showed 60 percent of them lived closer to the west side. That need for convenient access to health-related services for our patients is what drives the majority of the decisions we make when it comes to where we offer care.”

Sixty-percent of Adena’s Rehab team made the move to the new Wellness Center West location. The remaining 40 percent stayed at Adena’s Shawnee Lane location, giving patients more options as to where they go for treatment.

The 17,500 square-foot Wellness Center West building has undergone a major transformation; going from a six-theater facility to clinical space that now houses a gymnasium for patient rehabilitation, exam rooms, offices, and a storefront for home health equipment. To fill the sloped floors in the theater spaces, owner Kevin Winegardner says it took 3,000 tons of fill and 500 tons of concrete to create level, usable workspace.

Other challenges faced in renovating the former theater included excessive ceiling height, which would have made for extra volume and cost when heating and cooling. With the exception of the gymnasium and some storage areas, ceilings were dropped and insulated to nine feet.

Adena Rehabilitation Services occupies 8,700 square feet of the building, with Home Care/Hospice utilizing 6,800 square feet. Two-thousand square feet of space remains open for future use. The location also offers ample parking and handicapped access.

Adena Interventional Pain Management has always been a part of The Spine Center, but now they are physically joining with them as part of Adena Bone and Joint.

Effective Monday, April 27, 2015 Adena Interventional Pain Management’s new office will be on the ground floor of the Adena Health Pavilion, Suite G15.

The new location will help this growing department better serve their patients and provide the highest quality of care in their treatment needs.

“The move offers a better physical alignment with our Spine Service colleagues.” says Dr. Kort Gronbach, “I think this one stop location aspect will help facilitate smother care for our patients, with the same quality of service, and smoother patient flow.”

This will be the department’s temporary home. In late October they will move into their permanent location which is also in the Pavilion.

Learn more about Adena Interventional Pain Management.

For the second consecutive year, Adena Health System has been named a Gallup Great Workplace. The Health System was notified that it is one of just 40 global organizations to be awarded the 2015 Gallup Great Workplace Award.

(image)

“To receive the Gallup Great Workplace Award for the second consecutive year shows that we are doing many things right,” said Gail Games, Adena’s Chief Learning Officer. “It’s a proven fact that engaged caregivers offer our patients a more rewarding experience and contribute to better outcomes. An engaged workforce is such an important part of everything we do at Adena.”

The Gallup organization recognizes its winners as having “the most engaged workforces in the world.” According to Gallup, the recipients average nine engaged employees for every one actively disengaged employee, which is more than five times the rate in the U.S., and more than 16 times the rate for workforces globally.

The Gallup Great Workplace Award was created to recognize organizations for their ability to create an engaged workplace across teams, departments and locations. To be eligible for the award, an organization must:

• Administer an employee engagement survey to at least 1,000 employees with a response rate of 80 percent or higher;
• Receive a qualifying score on Gallup's Q¹² employee engagement assessment for at least 50 percent of eligible workgroups; and
• Demonstrate clear links between engagement and business outcomes.

Organizations that meet the criteria are invited to apply for the award and submit detailed evidence of their commitment to and advancement of employee engagement. All submissions are reviewed and scored by a panel of Gallup judges.

In addition, Director of Rehabilitation and Radiology Karen Jenkins has been selected among the Top 10 finalists for Gallup’s Manager of the Year Award. Jenkins has been with Adena for 12 years, and continually leads highly engaged teams of caregivers with her positive energy and strong leadership, both cornerstones of engagement.

Jenkins and other Adena representatives will be present for the Gallup Annual Spring Summit, to be held on June 2-4 in Omaha, Nebraska. There, the winner of Manager of the Year will be announced and the 2015 Gallup Workplace Awards will be presented.

Community and business leaders can access the knowledge and experience of world-renowned leaders by attending Leadercast^® at Adena Health System’s Paccar Medical Education Center on Friday, May 8, 2015 from 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

The Leadercast event is broadcast LIVE from Atlanta, GA to hundreds of sites around the world, including Chillicothe.  This year’s speaker lineup includes:

• Andy Stanley - Leadership author and communicator
• Malala Yousafzai - Nobel Laureate; Founder, The Malala Fund
• Ed Catmull - President of Pixar & Disney Animation Studios
• Seth Godin - Best-selling Author
• Rudy Giuliani - 107th Mayor of New York City (1993-2001)
• Aja Brown - Mayor, City of Compton
• Bill McDermott - CEO of SAP AG
• CMDR Rorke Denver - Navy SEAL Commander & Author
• Bill & Giuliana Rancic - Award-Winning Personalities & Co-Hosts of Leadercast
• And more!

Last year, over 130,000 leaders from 35 countries attended Leadercast. Now, in its 16th year, this full day, experiential conference is on track to reach its largest audience to date.

“The role of a leader is to establish vision, develop culture, and work unceasingly to meet goals—even in the face of resistance and difficulty. Leadership is more than a position or a title—a leader is someone who recognizes a problem and is willing to fix it,” said Jordan Purpero, Manager of Organizational Development at Adena Health System.  “Using one’s influence for good, communicating effectively, and taking risks are skills that make leaders great. These skills and qualities are not merely for CEOs of top organizations; leaders in our communities, local businesses, schools, and families need them as well.  Leadercast is an event aimed at developing all leaders.  Adena Health System is proud to offer this premier leadership development opportunity in a local setting—something that doesn’t happen often in Southern Ohio.”

Leadercast exists to positively change the way the world thinks about leadership. This year’s theme—The Brave Ones — challenges leaders to lead with a sense of Bravery, possessing a posture of unrelenting boldness. Bring your friends or team members to experience Leadercast and discover what it means to be a leader worth following.

For more information about Leadercast, visit www.leadercast.com.  To purchase tickets, priced at $99 for individuals or $595 per table (seats 7), visit http://bit.ly/2015lead.  Lunch is included.

As part of Oral, Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week, the Adena Cancer Center will sponsor free oral cancer screenings on Saturday, April 18, 2015 from 9 a.m. to Noon. The screenings will be held at Stonecreek Dental Care, located at 1849 N. Bridge Street, Chillicothe. No appointment is necessary.

According to the Ohio Department of Health’s (ODH) report, titled, “Cancer in Ohio 2014,” the incident rate of oral cavity and pharynx (throat) cancer in Ross County is higher than state and national averages.

According to ODH, between 2006 and 2010, 67 percent of oral cavity and pharynx cancers were not diagnosed until the patient was in the later stages of the disease.

“The public is aware of the importance of many other kinds of cancer screenings,” said Adena Cancer Center Medical Director Dr. Jeffery VanDeusen. “However, there is limited awareness about oral and throat cancers. With screening programs like this, we want to raise awareness and stress the importance of discovery in the early stages. With regular screenings, we want to catch these cancers sooner so patients can experience better outcomes.”

The oral screening takes less than 15 minutes to complete, and is similar to a dental appointment – without the cleaning and x-rays. Participants will be asked a to provide a brief medical history of any oral or neck lesions, pain or bleeding, change in function, hoarseness, or other health behaviors.

If the physician finds any areas of concern participants will be referred to a medical doctor for further evaluation and testing. For more information about Adena Cancer Center’s free Oral Cancer Screening program, call (740) 542-3030.

Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Brian S. Cohen of Adena Bone & Joint has been selected as a member of the faculty for the upcoming Current Concepts in Joint Replacement (CCJR) Spring meeting, to be held May 17 – 20 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

However, Dr. Cohen won’t be traveling to Las Vegas to educate the more than 1,000 of his colleagues who will be gathered there. On Monday, May 18, Dr. Cohen will teach his technique as he performs a reverse shoulder arthroplasty procedure live from a surgical suite inside Chillicothe’s Adena Regional Medical Center.

Well known and respected by his colleagues, Dr. Cohen often teaches his surgical methods to other physicians. He was selected by the national group to demonstrate his reverse shoulder technique. The course is titled, “Live in Las Vegas: Shoulder Reconstruction from the Adena Bone & Joint Center.”

Dr. Cohen made headlines in June 2013, when he became the first surgeon in the U.S. to perform a total reverse shoulder implant using the Arthrex Reverse Universe device.

Since that time, many orthopedic surgeons have followed in his footsteps. “Total reverse shoulder is the fastest growing type of orthopedic surgery,” said Dr. Cohen. “We often host surgeons from across the country here at Adena. They come to us to learn more about the techniques we are using, and then they bring that knowledge home to benefit their patients.”

The technology used to transmit the live reverse shoulder surgery to the CCJR conference in Las Vegas will be similar to that used for Dr. Cohen’s June 2013 surgery, which was presented in a live, international simulcast to Germany and sites across the United States.

(image) Caregivers from Adena Family Medicine Circleville and Adena’s Community Health Advancement Department recently presented Pickaway County’s Box 65 Scene Support Unit with a $250 cash donation and 25 cases of water. The funds and water will be used to help support local safety forces throughout the county and region during emergency events.

The Box 65 Scene Support Unit was created nearly five years ago to assist area first responders during emergency calls. The group primarily offers its support by providing water, food and protection from the dangers of extreme weather conditions. Box 65 provides scene response to fire, police and medical personnel.

“The health and wellbeing of our region’s first responders is something that we all rely on in times of need,” said Kim Jones, director of Adena’s Community Health Advancement Department. “Offering some assistance, to ensure that their health needs are met when they are serving our communities, is one way Adena is able to give back and show our appreciation.

According to Chief Mark Adkins, Box 65 was created more than four years ago at the request of Circleville’s former fire chief. In addition to serving safety personnel in Pickaway County, Adkins says the group often assists on scenes in Ross and other surrounding counties. Starting with just two calls in its first year, Box 65 responded to 27 scenes in 2014. The work of the group is reliant on the generosity of individuals and organizations like Adena.

“To this organization a cash donation helps us get snacks, fuel for the trucks, and equipment,” said Chief Adkins. “Water helps us keep folks hydrated, and its needed greatly. If we can keep the safety forces hydrated it’s going to keep them from ending up in the Emergency Rooms with heat exhaustion and dehydration.”

Supply donations to Box 65 may be dropped off at Circleville’s main fire station, located at 586 N. Court Street in Circleville. Boxes should be marked with “Box 65”. Financial donations can be sent to: Box 65 Scene Support, P. O. Box 65, Circleville, OH 43113.

Adena Health System has been named to Becker Healthcare’s 2015 list of 150 Great Places to Work in Healthcare. Criteria for selection was based on benefit offerings, wellness programs, commitment to diversity and inclusion, professional development opportunities, and for an environment that promotes employee satisfaction and a work-life balance.

“It is an honor to be nationally recognized for our employee programs,” said Adena President and CEO Mark Shuter. “Here at Adena, we firmly believe that in order to provide our patients with the best quality care possible, we must have a satisfied and engaged team of caregivers. By offering the benefits, support and tools needed to help them perform their duties; along with the opportunities for career growth and a work-life balance, we feel that Adena is well-positioned to achieve this goal.”

The 2015 Becker’s Healthcare list includes healthcare providers, as well as healthcare-specific companies, such as consulting firms, health IT vendors, medical societies and more. The organization’s list is developed through a combination of nominations and editorial research and has been published since 2011.

Adena employs nearly 2,800 people at numerous facilities located throughout south central and southern Ohio, including: three acute care hospitals, located in Chillicothe, Greenfield and Waverly; six regional health centers; and multiple primary care and specialty clinics.

A caregiver at Adena Pike Medical Center, located in Waverly, has been diagnosed with Pertussis, also known as Whooping Cough. As a precaution, people who were inpatients in the facility on days when the caregiver was working over the past two weeks, have been notified by phone and offered antibiotics at no cost to them. In addition, staff working closely with the caregiver have also been started on an antibiotic regimen.

“The majority of people in the U.S. have been immunized for pertussis, but as we get older, the effectiveness can wear off,” said Julie McCray, Adena’s Manager of Infection Prevention. “Adults who do come down with the illness tend to have symptoms that are less severe than those of a child or someone who may not have been immunized.”

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Pertussis is considered a highly-contagious respiratory disease. It is caused when an infected person coughs or sneezes on someone or in close proximity, and the person breathes in the pertussis bacteria. Symptoms can develop within five to 10 days after exposure. However, it can take up to three weeks before a person shows symptoms.

Whooping cough starts with cold-like symptoms that may include: a mild cough, runny nose, low-grade fever, and a pause in breathing in infants. After one to two weeks, those symptoms will develop into a severe cough. Because the symptoms first present like the common cold, whooping cough is usually not suspected until it reaches the severe coughing stage. According to the CDC, infected people are most contagious up to about two weeks after the severe cough starts.

Whooping cough is generally treated with antibiotics, which treat the symptoms and help control the spread of the disease. Parents of infants should be sure their babies are immunized on schedule to prevent them from contracting the disease, which can have severe effects for very young children.

For more information about Pertussis, visit www.cdc.gov.

More than 100 potential bone marrow tissue donors joined the national bone marrow registry Friday at a drive held at Adena Regional Medical Center. The drive was coordinated by the family of Chillicothe-native Dr. Tracy Jalbuena, the eldest daughter of retired Adena Urologist Dr. Jun Jalbuena and his wife Kathy. Tracy is battling multiple myeloma, a cancer of the bone marrow; and is in need of a bone marrow transplant.

“It was just a little idea that I had and shared with a few people here and there, and the next thing you know, we had a huge team assembled,” said Kathy. “I feel like it was a kernel of an idea, and all of our community and friends came in and put it all together for us – especially Adena.”(image)

Many Adena caregivers turned out to have their cheeks swabbed, and to be entered into the national Be the Match database. Emergency Department Nurse Jessica Bethel said the choice for her was an easy one. “I donate blood and I’m an organ donor so why not give something if I can,” she said. “Someday it might be my kid that needs a transplant or my sister or my brother. It’s just something I can do to help, and it was very easy.”

Dr. Sarah Friedel also had no hesitation joining the registry. “I have had a long career in medicine, and I have had a number of friends with incurable diseases,” she said. “Anything I can do to help out, I’m ready willing and able to do so.” The sentiment was echoed by many others who made the choice to join the registry during the drive.

While 70 percent of those who receive a transplant find a donor through the Be the Match database, individual donors have just a 10-percent chance of being contacted once they join. And while Tracy’s match may not come from Adena’s drive, there’s a possibility that a person who joined Friday could be a life-saving match for someone who is currently waiting on the registry, or will be added to it in the future.

The Jalbuena’s are hopeful Tracy’s match will be found soon. They are also passionate about building the registry so that families will have peace of mind knowing there is someone available who can help their child. The Jalbuena’s hope to make a donor registry drive an annual event for our area; and they also hope to help Asian-Americans like Tracy to become better represented on the national bone marrow registry.

If you were unable to attend Friday’s donor registry drive and would like to join the Be the Match donor registry, you can go online to join and a swab kit will be sent to your home. Simply go to: http://join.bethematch.org/MarrrowMeTracy.

Tracy Jalbuena is a wife, a mother, an emergency room doctor and a Filipino American.

Jalbuena is happy to wear each title, but that last one has become a bit of a stumbling block lately as she waits for a bone marrow donor who could potentially save her life.

Read the full article on the Chillicothe Gazette website.

Who/What:   Adena Health System will host a Be the Match donor registry drive to benefit Chillicothe-native, Dr. Tracy Jalbuena and others who are awaiting a donor match that could save their lives.

For some patients with life-threatening illness, a bone marrow transplant is their only hope for a cure. Yet 70% of these patients don’t have a matching donor in their family. Dr. Tracy Jalbuena is one of those patients, primarily due to her unique Filipino-American heritage.

To join the Be the Match registry, volunteers should be healthy and between the ages of 18 and 44. The process only involves a commitment and a simple swab of the inside of the volunteer’s cheek. Some over age 44 may be eligible to donate. However, they must meet certain criteria, and first register online at www.bethematch.org.

When:            Friday, Jan. 30, 2015

                        9:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Where:           Adena Regional Medical Center

                        Board Room (site 1) / Adena Cancer Center (site 2)

                        272 Hospital Road

                        Chillicothe, OH  45601

For more information:  www.bethematch.org

Start the New Year off right by helping your family adopt healthy eating and exercise habits. Sign-up today for the next session of Family Fit, a fun-filled, family-oriented program that helps families with children, between the ages of six and 14. Family Fit is sponsored by Adena Health System and the YMCA of Ross County.

The next Family Fit session begins Wednesday, Feb. 25 and runs through Wednesday, April 1. Classes are held at the YMCA, located at 100 Mill St., Chillicothe. Each session of Family Fit brings families together for two hours, one day a week, for six weeks. Classes include: cooking demonstrations, meal planning, exercise, and behavior counseling taught by Adena dietitians.

The goal is to enhance family health and activity through fun, games and hands on learning. As a family lifestyle program, Family Fit works when children take part with their parents to achieve a healthier lifestyle.

The cost to join Family Fit is just $50 per family. This includes all materials and a three-month family membership to the YMCA of Ross Co. for families that attend each of the six sessions. For more information about Family Fit, or to register call (740) 779-7520.

Adena Pharmacy is leading the community in the fight against prescription drug abuse. Experts held a free webinar earlier this month sharing ways parents can educate their children of the dangers of prescription drug abuse.

The educational program is part of Adena’s partnership with the Cardinal Health Foundation, which awarded the Adena Pharmacy grant funding to promote drug abuse education in our region.

Adena Pharmacist Richard Ash developed the idea for adult outreach after recently presenting his prescription drug abuse education program to local middle school students.

“I was surprised by the number of students who have been involved or witness to someone who abuses medications or illicit drugs,” said Ash. “I knew there was more we could do to try and educate the public to help fight this epidemic in southern Ohio.”

The webinar is primarily focused on educating parents, and topics included prescription drug abuse, misuse and drug safety. You can view a recording of the webinar at http://connect.adena.org/p4ktu25oefs/ 

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is showing a high level of flu across the nation, including here in Ohio. Adena Regional Medical Center and many other area hospitals are at or near capacity with ill patients, and staff who have also been impacted by the flu virus. Our Emergency Departments are experiencing heavy volumes of patients, with significant wait times.

“By its nature, the Emergency Department is going to treat the most emergent cases first,” said Dr. John Fortney, Adena’s Chief Medical Officer. “That means despite your arrival time, if someone comes in who is in worse shape than you are, they are going to be seen first, and it may extend your wait time.”

In the case of most patients who believe they or a loved one may have the flu, a trip to the hospital is often not a necessity. The CDC recommends you take these steps if you or someone in your household gets the flu:

1)    Stay at home and rest;

2)    Avoid close contact with well people in your household, so you won’t make them sick;

3)    Drink plenty of water and other clear liquids to avoid dehydration; and

4)    Treat fever and cough with medicine you can buy (without a prescription) at the store.

The CDC has free information available with tips for taking care of someone with the flu at www.cdc.gov; or there is a direct link at www.facebook.com/adenahealthsystem.

If you become very sick; are pregnant; under the age of five, and especially under the age of two; are 65 years or older; or have a medical condition that puts you at high risk of flu complications (such as asthma); call you doctor to ask about antiviral medication to treat flu.

Emergency warning signs that signal someone should seek urgent medical care include: fast, troubled breathing; chest or abdominal pain; severe or persistent vomiting; sudden dizziness; and confusion.

Having a primary care physician/family doctor (PCP) is the best way to receive care when illness like flu strikes your household; and using facilities such as urgent care or store clinics are other alternatives when the physician office is closed. The Emergency Department should be the last choice for care in the case of a non-emergent illness. To locate a primary care physician or provider call 740-779-FIND (3463).

Adena Regional Medical Center (ARMC) is launching an on-campus police force, beginning with the recent appointment of Robert Coburn, 57, who has been named Chief of Police.

Coburn is a veteran law enforcement officer, with a strong military background and vast experience in local, state and federal law enforcement training. He will recruit officers to the Adena Police Department (APD), which is one of just 13 such departments in Ohio.(image)

“Over the past several years, the safety and wellbeing of people in public places has become a common concern all over the nation,” said ARMC Vice President Nick Alexander. “The addition of Chief Coburn and the Adena Police Department ensures that we have the resources we need at all times to provide a safe, secure environment for our patients, visitors and our employees.”

The APD was created with the approval of the Ross County Sheriff’s Office, and will operate as its own jurisdiction. This will allow APD officers to be the first responders to any incident that may occur on Adena’s campus. The Department will work closely with the Sheriff’s Office on investigations or cases that need additional support.

However, the addition of a police department does not replace the need for Security personnel at ARMC. The duties of security officers will deal with more service related requests, while the police officers will focus on criminal activity and investigations.

Chief Coburn is developing his overall plan for the Department, and says he plans to add approximately eight certified police officers to the APD. He sees the Department as a value to Adena and to our community. “In my 30 years of law enforcement, I find that hospital policing is truly community policing at its essence,” he said.

Adena Health System has received word from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) that nine more of its primary care clinics’ Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) programs have earned the nation’s highest level of distinction for quality. Each of the nine clinics joins Adena Family Medicine – Waverly, the Health System’s pilot program as a Level 3-designated program. By earning a Level 3 designation, patients can be assured these clinics are following the highest national standards in providing quality care.

“In January 2014, we started an aggressive plan to have our outpatient clinics understand and develop Patient Centered Medical Homes, and to apply for formal NCQA national recognition as a PCMH. This was no small feat,” said Dr. H. Takaji Kittaka, Jr., Adena’s Chief Transformation Officer. “Clinic managers, physicians and staff were very engaged in developing a PCMH within their clinics, as a way to improve the quality and coordination of care for their patients. By achieving an NCQA Level 3 designation, patients can be assured they are receiving excellent, coordinated care in Adena’s primary care clinics.”

In addition to Adena Waverly Family Medicine, Adena’s newly-designated Level 3 primary care clinics include: Adena Family Medicine-Circleville; Adena Family Medicine-Greenfield; Adena Family Medicine-Piketon; Adena Family Medicine-Washington Court House; Adena Internal Medicine (Chillicothe); Adena Chillicothe Family Physicians; Adena Jackson Family Practice and Pediatrics; Adena Family Medicine-Oak Hill; and Adena Pickaway Ross Family Physicians. Additional Adena clinics are expected to receive NCQA designation in the near future.

Patient Centered Medical Home is a model of primary care delivery designed to strengthen the patient-clinician relationship. A PCMH helps to replace episodic care with long-term coordinated care and improved focus on patient self-management and engagement. PCMH encourages teamwork and coordination among the patient’s clinicians and support staff, giving patients' better access to care and a greater role in making their own care decisions.

Adena began its Waverly PCMH pilot in early 2011.

Adena Health System has been awarded the Area Agency on Aging District 7’s (AAA7) 2014 Trailblazer Award. The Award recognizes pioneers who have blazed a trail to guide others with unique and innovative ideas or programs.

Adena was recently honored, along with two other regional health systems, for helping AAA7 with its Community Care Transitions Project (CCTP). The CCTP assists individuals in achieving better health outcomes as they transition from the hospital setting to home, assisted living, or nursing care facility.

“Adena Health System has put together a robust Clinical Integration program that is intended to provide a full-spectrum of care for our patients,” said Adena’s Vice President of Clinical Integration Bambi Huffman, RN, BSN, MHA. “By collaborating with other healthcare providers, Extended Care Facilities and the Area Agency on Aging, we are working to effectively manage the care of high-risk patients while they are in our hospitals, as well as making sure they have everything in place when they are discharged. This is helping to better prepare them and/or their caregiver to manage their health condition, and to avoid the need for a hospital readmission.”

Through its efforts to reduce hospital readmissions, since 2012, Adena has seen a three-percent reduction in readmissions for patients in the program’s three areas of focus. These include congestive heart failure, diabetes and pneumonia.

Readmission teams from Adena, other area health systems and AAA7 meet regularly to discuss the most effective ways to engage with patients, and to share best practices and successes. The overall goal of the Care Transitions Project is to improve patient health outcomes and reduce the recurrence of illness and necessary hospital readmissions. 

Representatives of Adena Greenfield Medical Center presented Greenfield Exempted Village School District Superintendent Joe Wills and school nurse Katie Pryor with a check for $1,400 to purchase an automated external defibrillator (AED) unit.

An AED is a portable device that sends an electric shock to the heart, to try to restore a normal rhythm in the event of a sudden cardiac arrest. In many cases, the use of an AED in a time of crisis can save a person’s life.

(image)

Pictured with Mr. Wills and Ms. Pryor are (l-r) Adena Greenfield Medical Center’s Emergency Department Manager Heidi Bell and Director of Rehabilitation Services Lynn Harris.

Adena Health System, first responders and area health leaders recently gathered to discuss plans and procedures that are in place for treating patients with highly communicable diseases, such as Ebola. Including many Adena experts, others in attendance for the discussion were representatives of: the Ross County Health Department; the Ross County Sheriff’s Department; EMS; Ohio State Highway Patrol; VA Medical Center; and funeral directors. The group discussed recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in managing patients showing symptoms of Ebola, isolation and quarantine requirements, transportation to other facilities, and care for deceased patients with the disease.

The Ebola outbreak is centered in western Africa, but a Liberian man recently returned to Dallas, Texas from Liberia carrying the disease, and died.  Those mainly at risk for Ebola are people who have traveled to western Africa within the past several weeks, and those who have been in close contact with them. Ebola is spread through close contact with blood or other bodily fluids. The virus is not spread through the air or indirect contact (such as a door knob).  Symptoms of Ebola include: fever, muscle pain, vomiting and sometimes bleeding.

While it is highly unlikely that a case of Ebola would present in southern Ohio, the healthcare community, law enforcement and first responders are confident the protocols that are in place would be effective in identifying a patient with the disease, isolating that patient, and protecting healthcare workers and the community as a whole

For more information about Ebola and CDC recommendations, visit www.cdc.gov.

Adena Pharmacy is joining the fight against drug abuse by taking part in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, Sept. 27. The Adena Pharmacy is partnering with the City of Chillicothe Police Department for this event, where officers will safely dispose of all prescription medicines, free of charge and no questions asked.

The public is invited to drop off old prescription medications Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the PACCAR Medical Education Center, located at 446 Hospital Road on Adena’s campus in Chillicothe.

Adena Pharmacist Richard Ash shares the importance of this community-wide initiative. “We have all these medicines in our cabinets that we don’t use anymore,” he says. “We keep them thinking we might need them someday; but, this is where a lot of the prescription drug abuse starts, in the home medicine cabinet.”

Non-medical use of controlled substance medications is at an all-time. Nearly 7 million Americans reported having abused prescription drugs in 2012, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). That same study shows that more than 54 percent of people who abuse prescription pain relievers got them through friends or relatives, a statistic that includes raiding the family medicine cabinet.

The event is part of Adena’s Prescription Drug Safety Initiative, an ongoing effort to educate our community and raise awareness about the drug abuse problem. The program is made possible by a grant from Cardinal Health Foundation.

Adena Health System is pleased to welcome Dr. Kevin Pargeter to Adena Kidney Specialists, a department of Adena Regional Medical Center (ARMC).

Dr. Pargeter is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, and brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to his patients at Adena. His specialty focuses on kidney dialysis, chronic kidney disease, acute renal failure, hypertension, and electrolyte abnormalities.

Dr. Pargeter attended medical school at Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Tulsa, and served his residency at University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. There, he was the Chief Resident for Internal Medicine.

Following his residency, Dr. Pargeter expanded his focus on the study of kidney disease and treatment with a two-year fellowship in Nephrology at The Ohio State University’s Department of Internal Medicine.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Pargeter, call Adena Kidney Specialists at (740) 779-8728 or request an appointment online..

Learn more about nephrology services at Adena.

Adena Regional Medical Center (ARMC) operating rooms have returned to normal after a three-day halt to elective and emergent surgeries, where the patient could withstand transport to another facility.

“I want to express my thanks to our patients, physicians, staff and community for their understanding and patience as our teams have been working through this challenge,” said Adena President and CEO Mark Shuter. “This has been a serious challenge for us, but a necessary one. Quality of care and the safety of our patients comes before everything else.”

The shutdown was prompted when staining was found on the surgical towels that sit beneath baskets containing surgical instruments during the sterilization process. Since last Wednesday morning, teams have been working to uncover and resolve the source of the staining. Adena’s quality testing has and continues to show its surgical instruments to be sterile and safe.

This weekend, a mobile medical unit arrived at ARMC to provide support in sterilizing instruments as teams continue to work toward a resolution to the staining concerns. The mobile unit includes three sterilization machines.

For the most up-to-date information follow us on Twitter @adenamedical and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/adenahealthsystem.