Monongahela Valley Hospital’s 25th Gala Raises $129,000

May 24, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Monongahela Valley Hospital’s Vice President of Fund Development shares a moment with emcee Jennifer Antkowiak from KDKA-TV at the hospital’s Gala 25 on May 18.

Monongahela Valley Hospital’s Vice President of Fund Development shares a moment with emcee Jennifer Antkowiak from KDKA-TV at the hospital’s Gala 25 on May 18.

Over the past 25 years, themes for Monongahela Valley Hospital’s (MVH) annual Gala included everything from a Mexican fiesta to castles and knights, circuses, cowboys and even pirates.

But for its 25th Gala on May 18, guests reveled in the charm and sublime elegance of a silver anniversary and its nostalgia for “An Evening to Remember,” at the Westin Convention Center and Hotel in Pittsburgh. Nearly 600 guests attended.

The event raised $129,000 and a total of $2.529 million over the last 25 years, according to Sara Schumacher, vice president of Fund Development for MVH.

The event, which was sponsored by the Mon-Vale Health Resources Fund Development Committee and MVH’s Office of Fund Development, celebrated one business and three exemplary individuals for their commitment to excellence with Dimensions in Performance Awards.

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PSNA Congratulates Sen. Erickson on Signing of Health Care Bill

May 23, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Senator Ted Erickson’s (R-26) Senate Bill 5, Community-Based Health Care Clinics, was signed into law by Governor Corbett on May 21, 2013. Now Act 10 of 2013, this law provides for the establishment of the Community-Based Health Care Program within the Department of Health, paving the way for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) – certified registered nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, clinical nurse specialists and certified registered nurse anesthetists – to receive grant funding to provide greater access to health care services.

The Pennsylvania State Nurses Association, representing more than 211,000 registered nurses in Pennsylvania, supported Senate Bill 5 and the inclusion of APRNs within the legislation. APRNs open, manage and maintain clinics across the Commonwealth. In today’s changing health care environment, APRNs deliver high-quality and cost-effective primary care, and reduce overall health care costs by expanding and improving access to the underserved and uninsured.

“PSNA is proud to be a leading voice for increased patient access to nurse-managed care,” states PSNA Chief Executive Officer Betsy M. Snook, MEd, BSN, RN. “Senator Erickson has been a champion of this vital legislation and we thank him as he stands with nurses during these transformative times. We also applaud Governor Corbett for making this bill a legislative priority.”

The Pennsylvania State Nurses Association (PSNA) is the non-profit voice for nurses in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Representing more than 211,000 nurses, the Association works to be essential in advancing, promoting and supporting the profession of nursing to improve health for all in the Commonwealth. PSNA is a constituent member of the American Nurses Association (www.panurses.org).

 

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Canonsburg General Hospital Ambulance Service Receives Donation to Save Pets from Fire

May 23, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Screen Shot 2013-05-22 at 4.14.43 PMToday, first responders of Canonsburg General Hospital Ambulance Service will become some of the best-equipped in the nation to save a pet’s life. That’s because Invisible Fence of Western Pennsylvania is donating a pet oxygen mask kit to the ambulance service.

This donation is just a small part of Invisible Fence® Brand’s Project Breathe™, which was established with the goal of equipping every fire station in America and Canada with pet oxygen masks. These masks allow firefighters to give oxygen to pets who are suffering from smoke inhalation when they are rescued from fires. The masks often save pets’ lives.

Invisible Fence® Brand has donated a total of more than 10,000 pet oxygen masks to fire stations all over the U.S. and Canada throughout the life of the program. A reported 90+ pets have been saved by the donated masks so far, including a cat saved on January 1 in Tecumseh, Ontario.
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Conemaugh Memorial Named Recipient of the Mario Lemieux Foundation’s Austin’s Playroom Project

May 22, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center recently announced that the hospital has been chosen as the 2013 recipient of the Mario Lemieux Foundation’s Austin’s Playroom Project.

The Austin’s Playroom Project was started by Nathalie Lemieux, wife of hockey great Mario Lemieux, following the birth of their son Austin who was born prematurely and spent 71 days in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Pittsburgh.

On the Mario Lemieux Foundation website Nathalie Lemieux writes, “While we were caring for Austin, there was no place to provide a comfortable calming environment and engage his two sisters, Lauren and Stephanie, who were both toddlers at the time. It was on my first Mother’s Day with Austin that Mario and I realized a need for playrooms and began to craft our plan to someday raise the necessary funds to do so in western Pennsylvania and beyond.”

From L-R: Terry Trimeloni, Nurse Manager, RICN; April Behory, Director of Woman & Child Services; Claudia Rager, Vice President, Patient Care Services; Nancy Abrahams, CHF Board Member; Nathalie Lemieux; Susan Mann, President, Conemaugh Health Foundation; Amanda Artim, CHF Board Member, Stacy Roberts, Marketing & Social Media Coordinator; Tiffany Pugh, Nurse Manager, Obstetrics

From L-R: Terry Trimeloni, Nurse Manager, RICN; April Behory, Director of Woman & Child Services; Claudia Rager, Vice President, Patient Care Services; Nancy Abrahams, CHF Board Member; Nathalie Lemieux; Susan Mann, President, Conemaugh Health Foundation; Amanda Artim, CHF Board Member, Stacy Roberts, Marketing & Social Media Coordinator; Tiffany Pugh, Nurse Manager, Obstetrics

Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center’s new playroom will be the 29th playroom established by the Mario Lemieux Foundation. “We are so excited and so honored to have been chosen,” says Susan Mann, President of the Conemaugh Health Foundation. “We are extremely grateful to Nathalie Lemieux and to all of the donors who support the Austin’s Playroom project.”
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J.C. Blair and PinnacleHealth Enter Partnership Negotiations

May 22, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Two Pennsylvania Health Systems, PinnacleHealth System, Harrisburg, and J.C. Blair Health System, Huntingdon, announced today they have entered into a period of exclusive partnership negotiations. The organizations are considering clinical affiliations and close corporate alignment to offer expanded high-quality healthcare services in the Huntingdon region. The agreement began on May 17, 2013.

The careful evaluation of partnership options stems from each organization’s recognition of the importance of maintaining quality, healthcare service in local communities.

“PinnacleHealth System is honored to be selected for these strategic partnership discussions,” said Michael A. Young, president and CEO of PinnacleHealth System. “We look forward to exploring the potential of such an arrangement with an outstanding hospital with a long history like J. C. Blair. We share the common mission of putting our patients’ needs first, which creates a strong foundation for our potential alignment.”

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Conemaugh Health System Selects First Class for Aspiring Leader Program

May 21, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Conemaugh Health System has selected 18 employees to participate as its first class for the newly introduced in-house Aspiring Leader Program (ALP). The two-year program is designed to provide additional education and cross-training experience for employees who aspire to grow into leadership roles within the organization.

“This program was developed to recognize the leadership potential in Conemaugh Health System staff members as well as to meet the future management needs of the organization,” says Joan Colbert, Manager of Education Resources at Conemaugh. “Aspiring leaders are assisted in affirming their desire to pursue a career in leadership, ultimately enhancing engagement and satisfaction among CHS employees.”

The Aspiring Leader program consists of three components including formal classroom training, job shadow experiences with organizational leaders and field experiences within the organization. These opportunities create an environment for networking and well as increasing understanding functions of each entity, division and department.

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Seated L to R:  Deborah Sanders, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation; Kimberly Gossard, Good Samaritan 4 Nursing Unit; Tammi Connah, Risk Management; Jennifer Koontz, Rose 9 Nursing Unit; Stacy Roberts, Marketing Communications

Middle row L to R:  Krista Krause, Case Management; Kimberly Gorman, Ashman 6 Nursing Unit; Jane Drzewiecki, Case Management; Anita McCoy, Home Health; Tammy Podgorney, Food & Nutrition; Deborah Morgart, Patient Accounting

3rd row L to R:  Mike Lowry, Human Resources; Todd Devers, Conemaugh Physician Group Billing; Steve Miller, School of Nursing & Allied Health; Ryan Shawley, Nuclear Medicine; Deborah Hegedus, Radiology; Veronica Burley, E6 Nursing Unit

Not pictured:  Jessica Yakicic, Laboratory

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Filed Under: Staffing & Consulting, The Daily Beat

Local Students Win at International Science & Engineering Fair

May 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Three students from the Pittsburgh Regional Science & Engineering Fair competed at Intel International Science & Engineering Fair last week. The Intel ISEF, the world’s largest international pre-college science competition, provides an annual forum for more than 1,500 high school students from over 70 countries, regions, and territories to showcase their independent research as they compete for more than $3 million annually. The Intel ISEF is the premier global science competition for students in grades 9–12.

Ryan Maurer, 18, Senior at Frazier High School
Project: Rocket Motor Test System -7000 

Rishi Mirchandani, 16, Sophomore at Fox Chapel Area High School
Project: Superadditivity and Subadditivity in Fair Division

Anishaa Sivakumar,14, Freshman at Franklin Regional High School
Project: Dictyostelium Discoideum- Novel Diagnostic Tool for Lung Cancer using VOCs

From left to right, Anishaa Sivakumar, Rishi Mirchandani, and Ryan Maurer.

From left to right, Anishaa Sivakumar, Rishi Mirchandani, and Ryan Maurer.

Each student won a special award and two placed in their category.  Here are the details:

Anishaa Sivakumar was awarded a Grand Award of $500, an American flag and a framed copy of the first patent granted in the United States of America from the Patent and Trademark Office Society. The PTOS is a membership-based organization for Patent and Trademark professionals and other interested individuals. From its inception in 1917, the Society has been dedicated to the improvement and appreciation of the United States Patent and Trademark Systems through promoting the systems’ growth and well-being, as well as promoting the social and intellectual welfare of the Society members.
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Book by Duquesne University Author Named on Three Essential-Reading Lists

May 19, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Dr. Matt Drake with a student.

Dr. Matt Drake with a student.

A recently published book by Duquesne University business professor Dr. Matt Drake has been named to three different lists of essential new works on supply chain management (SCM).

Global Supply Chain Management (Business Expert Press, 2012), Drake’s first book, is an introduction to SCM basics with an emphasis on business operations in a global context. Though in print for little more than a year, it is considered recommended reading by:

  • totalsupply, an e-newsletter for supply chain and logistics professionals, which selected Drake’s book as one of five recent noteworthy titles;
  • StudyNation.com, an Indian higher education website that included the book on a list of essential reference works on the subject; and
  • The Bridgefield Group, a Georgia-based organization providing supply chain consulting and education services for various industries, which calls the book recommended reading.

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Hayden Named J.C. Blair Medical Director

May 18, 2013 by Leave a Comment
James B. Hayden, M.D

James B. Hayden, M.D

J.C. Blair President & CEO Lisa Mallon is pleased to announce the appointment of James B. Hayden, M.D., as J.C. Blair’s first medical director.  As medical director, Hayden will work part time as a liaison between the medical staff and the Health System’s administration and board.  His primary focus will be related to clinical quality and the development of a medical care model that will meet the requirements of the Affordable Care Act.

Hayden joined J.C. Blair Medical Services in January, after serving as family physician and medical director of the Broad Top Area Medical Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center, for a number of years. Board certified in family medicine, he has been on the medical staff at J.C. Blair since 1986.  He currently sees patients in the new Huntingdon Family Care Center at 835 Washington Street in Huntingdon and at the Trough Creek Medical Care Center in Cassville.  He will continue to see patients in these practices.

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Alzheimer’s: A Different View

May 17, 2013 by Leave a Comment

For more than a decade, US sociologist Cathy Greenblat has been travelling the world studying the treatments offered to people with dementia. Her mother and two of her grandparents all developed the disease – and she wanted to understand more about the condition.

In her book – Love, Loss and Laughter – she tells positive stories of ageing, dementia and end-of-life treatment, across seven countries. Take a look at some of her touching images here, as she explains what she discovered.

Read more at BBC News.

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Timely Data: A Must for Effective Stroke Program Management

May 17, 2013 by Leave a Comment

By Scott Bachik and Jan Yanko

In these tough economic times, it’s more important than ever to ensure our healthcare system is organized with exceptional leadership that understands how to run the business side of a service line, while keeping the clinical patient care perspective top of mind.  But, too often, we come across homegrown managers with excellent clinical skills who lack any formal management and/or business training.  Although some succeed, far more fail due to a gap in understanding that the programs they manage must be managed as a business.

Whether working to manage patient care, aspects of a clinical program, or a hospital’s operations, program leadership must have access to key data points that aid decision-making in real-time.  In the absence of timely data, how are we to make informed decisions?  The phrase “you can’t manage what you can’t measure” has relevance…  Although there is truth in thinking that some important aspects of “the business of healthcare” cannot be measured, it remains important to effectively measure what can be quantified in order to ensure efficient operations and appropriate allocation of resources.

How can a manager be expected to effectively improve practice, or a clinician be asked to enhance the care of a patient in the absence of good data?  For instance, consider how the lack of timely data impacts the management and care in a stroke program.

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Urban Living at The Brix at 26

May 17, 2013 by Leave a Comment

The Brix at 26 promises urban living at its best with upscale Class-G® “green” sustainable design, inviting on-site amenities and a super user-friendly location.

Your apartment features a stylish open plan with aesthetic finishes in a hip neutral palette, WiFi access, a walk-in closet, an in-suite washer dryer, & a pantry.

Cool on-site amenities include a Media/Game Clubroom, Virtual Fitness Center, Two meeting/conference rooms, Office/Business Center, Bicycle storage – garage racks & On-site storage lockers available.

Everything you need is close by. The Brix is on a transit line, close to the South Shore Riverfront Park & Three Rivers Heritage Trail, & major thoroughfares, so getting to work & back is easy.

Call today to be one of our first residents!  855-719-4841.

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My Classmate Vince Was The Exception; The Design Process Is The Rule

May 16, 2013 by Leave a Comment

John ReddickBy John Reddick AIA

We all knew a similar classmate in High School.  In my class it was Vince.  Vince and I attended the same junior-year first-period English Composition Class.  When the class was assigned yet another five paragraph essay Vince would blow off the topic brainstorming session. He would also skip the research, the outline, and the rough drafts.

Vince would pen the first draft – which was also his final product on the bus ride to school the morning the assignment was due.  A few days later, after the teacher had evaluated the work, Vince received a better mark than most of the class even though we had spent many evenings working diligently through the process.

Vince was representative of the truly gifted among us – the exception not the rule.  To the less gifted – our only option is to respect the process. Then work smart, and work hard, to make a positive difference in the world.  An effective process combined with time, diligence, and perseverance is the key to success.

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Filed Under: Architectural Design and Construction, Featured Thought Leader

Gallagher Home Care Services

May 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment

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MVH Nurse Is Honored for Mission Work

May 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Steve 
Stache (left) receives his award from Dr. Vasu Melepati.

Steve 
Stache (left) receives his award from Dr. Vasu Melepati.

Operating Room nurses help bring comfort to many people who will never know the names or faces of these dedicated health care professionals who play a significant role in helping to restore their health. Steve Stache, RN, an Operating Room nurse at Monongahela Valley Hospital, is one of those silent heroes.

Mr. Stache was surprised to receive recognition from an MVH physician during the hospital’s National Nurses Week celebration breakfast on May 9 for his contributions to the health and well-being of people throughout the world. Mr. Stache accompanied Vasu N. Malepati, M.D., an otorhinolaryngologist (a physician who specializes in disorders of the ears, nose and throat) and Chito M. Crudo, M.D. a general surgeon, on a medical mission to the Philippines in 2011.

“The award came as a complete surprise to me. ’I’ve worked with Dr. Malepati and Dr. Crudo for years and always wanted to volunteer for medical missions,” said the award recipient. “About four or five years ago I signed up for a mission but had to postpone it. When I was presented with the opportunity to travel to the Philippines with the two MVH physicians, the timing was perfect. It was a very rewarding experience. The staff of our hospital should feel very proud to know that supplies we took with us were put to great use in helping to treat the people in the Philippines.”

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