Tag Archives: Adena Regional Medical Center

News

National Guard Closing Out Deployment at Adena Regional Medical Center

Presented By Classic Brands

(Chillicothe) – The Ohio National Guard will end their deployment February 4th at Adena Regional Medical Center for assisting in COVID testing.

“They tell you to have a bag ready at all times to be ready to respond when the state or nation needs us,” said Major Donny Glosser, who has headed up National Guard efforts over the last month in support of Adena Health System’s COVID-19 testing and operations during the latest Omicron variant-related patient surge. “I think anybody who has been in the Guard for a while, we – and our families – kind of grow accustomed to us being temporarily removed from our everyday life.”

The leadership, physicians and caregivers of Adena Health System are thankful for the sacrifices those Guard members and their families are willing to make. Since early January, about 70 Guard members from as far away as Cincinnati and Cleveland have left their civilian jobs and families to converge on the communities Adena serves to offer support during this critical time. Those tasks, in addition to performing COVID-19 testing, have included spending one-on-one time sitting with hospitalized patients, intra-hospital patient transport, nutrition services (cafeteria support), and performing environmental service (cleaning and housekeeping) tasks at Adena’s four hospitals located in Chillicothe, Greenfield, Washington Court House and Waverly.

The assistance came about through efforts of the Ohio Hospital Association and the governor’s office in support of hospitals across the state that we’re facing significant patient surges and staffing shortages. With hopes that the Omicron variant’s spread may have peaked locally and with Adena’s staffing resources improving, the National Guard is ending its Adena deployment on Friday.

As a result, drive-thru COVID-19 testing at the PACCAR Medical Education Center on the Adena Regional Medical Center campus will not be available this weekend but will return Monday on a weekdays-only schedule, available from 8am to 6pm, handled by hospital staff.

The drive-thru testing site has succeeded in doing what it set out to do. For patients, it continues to provide a convenient location where they can be swabbed while sitting in their vehicle and quickly be on their way again knowing they will be contacted when the test results are available. For the Health System, it has helped moved the testing load away from Urgent Cares that were regularly seeing record patient levels and allowed them to focus on other care priorities.

To put those patient loads into context, on January 4, 2021, Adena’s Urgent Care facilities across the Health System saw a peak of 305 patients in a single day. On January 5th of this year, the peak was at 570. The drive-thru testing site, meanwhile, peaked at 472 patients on January 13th of this year.

“There were several days when we were seeing more than 1,000 patients a day between the Urgent Cares and the testing site,” said Jessica Matheny, Associate Vice President of Adena Medical Group. “When you look back during a pandemic like this, it feels like we’ve been doing this forever.”

That kind of strain facing the frontline caregivers at Adena and in other health systems inevitably leads to fatigue. The National Guard’s arrival, Major Glosser said, appeared to bring a very visible relief to some of that fatigue.

“The biggest change I noticed from when we arrived on January 7th into that following week was how nice it was to see the hospital employees out here smiling and laughing,” he said. “When my leadership asked me if we were providing value, I said it was obvious from the demeanor of the staff that we were helping them.”

The Health System and community at large, in turn, have shown their appreciation. Several departments have provided Guard members with gift baskets and cards, the Adena Health Foundation has provided them with snacks and drinks, physicians have purchased pizzas for them, Health System leadership has provided them with gift cards to use for meals and a local Girl Scout troop even brought them donuts to enjoy.

“It’s been awesome,” said Major Glosser, who hails from the Cincinnati area. “I’ve had my dinner bought for me several times in the community, and I never expected that. I’ve felt real supported in this community, it’s been a great experience.”

Specialist Noah Love, a 20-year-old Guard Member from Dover who has served the entire month at the testing site, agreed.

“We get treated great around here,” he said. “I was going to transfer closer to home, but I like it too much here to transfer. Some of the patients even want to buy us food and they say, ‘Thank you for your service.’ They’ve been real courteous to us.”

Lt. McKensie Logan, who noted that Guard units since the start of the pandemic have been called upon across Ohio to assist in warehouses, with vaccinations and at food banks among other tasks, added that patients who have been admitted to Adena’s hospitals have also frequently expressed their appreciation to the Guard members.

For more information on Adena’s COVID-19 testing locations, COVID-19 vaccine distribution and other health care services, visit Adena.org.

News

Adena Launches New Option for Emphysema/COPD Patients

Presented By Classic Brands

(Chillicothe) – A new, minimally invasive procedure now being offered by Adena Health System is providing a breath of fresh air in the treatment of patients suffering from emphysema and COPD.

“We’ve actually been talking about doing this type of procedure for at least a year,” said Adena Pulmonology, Critical Care and Sleep Associates’ Dr. Haval Saadlla, who performed the Health System’s first Zephyr Valve surgery in December. “We wanted to make sure we had every single piece of the puzzle in place before we did it.”

The procedure is the latest evolution in the treatment of patients with emphysema and COPD, conditions involving damaged portions of the lungs that have lost the ability to release trapped air, resulting in hyperinflation of the lungs that impacts breathing. Prior to the arrival of Zephyr Valve treatments, those suffering from severe cases would have to undergo a lung volume reduction surgery to remove the portion of the lung causing the hyperinflation.

“As you can imagine, those patients would be very sick, they would end up in the hospital, they would have chest pain and they would have a very high mortality risk,” said Dr. Saadlla.

A minimally invasive option to treat patients became available in June of 2018 when the Food and Drug Administration approved the Zephyr Endobronchial Valve System. Under this procedure, a physician uses a bronchoscope to place the small Zephyr Valves in the airways within the lungs. The one-way valves release the trapped air and prevent more air from becoming trapped there, allowing the healthy areas in the lung to expand and taking pressure off the diaphragm, improving the patient’s breathing.

As the procedure began to grow in popularity, Adena began putting the pieces in place to offer it close to home for patients in the communities the Health System serves. Dr. Saadlla became comfortable with the procedure and spent a lot of time with physicians who had collected a great deal of experience performing it. Meanwhile, training and education was provided to members of the team who would be involved in some way across the board, including admissions staff, the endoscopy team, patient educators, nurses and respiratory therapists.

Once the entire team was ready, the stage was set in December for the first Adena patient to benefit from the procedure, which she called her “Christmas miracle.”

Dr. Saadlla said patients who have been aware of the existence of the procedure had been asking when Adena would begin offering it. The benefits to those patients of bringing it close to home are numerous, he said.

Because it requires a three-day hospital stay under FDA regulations to, among other things, monitor for any complications following the surgery, having the procedure performed close to home is not only more convenient for the patient, but also for any family members.

“Then, there’s the patient/physician relationship,” Dr. Saadlla said. “These are patients who we know and they know us and we have built trust rather than them having to go someplace else and have a completely different physician do the procedure for them.”

The Zephyr Valves, once put in place, should last a lifetime. The only need to do anything further, Dr. Saadlla said, would involve any issue with one of them moving or if, for instance, one lobe is treated and then, over time, another location in the lungs was to have troubles requiring additional valve placement.

When the first surgery took place, Dr. Saadlla was the only Adena physician who had performed the procedure, but Dr. Rakesh Vadde has been working up patients in order to join Dr. Saadlla in offering it. 

Patients looking to schedule an appointment or learn more about the procedure may contact Adena Pulmonology, Critical Care and Sleep Associates at 740-779-8702.

News

Ohio National Guard Adds More COVID Test Sites In SE Ohio

Presented By Classic Brands

(Columbus)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine today said that Ohio National Guard support will continue to shift to address increasing needs in southern Ohio in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Decreasing demand at some of the first Guard-supported COVID-19 testing locations in Northeast Ohio will allow the Guard to surge into other areas in the state, including Central and Southern Ohio that are seeing increased need. Changes in Guard deployment include new support for testing locations in several Southeastern Ohio communities including Athens, Pomeroy, and Jackson.

National Guard Supported Testing Locations

As of today, the Guard is currently supporting or is preparing to support the following testing locations:

  • Athens: (Holzer) 2131 E. State St., Athens. 
  • Canton: (Aultman/Cleveland Clinic Mercy), Stark County Fairgrounds, 305 Wertz Ave. NW, Canton.
  • Chillicothe: Adena Regional Medical Center, 272 Hospital Rd., Chillicothe.
  • Cincinnati: (Ethos Laboratories), Crossroads Church, 990 Reading Rd., Mason.
  • Cincinnati: (Ethos Laboratories), Riverbend, 6201 Kellogg Ave., Cincinnati.
  • Cincinnati: UC Health, 321 Albert Sabin Way, Cincinnati.
  • Cleveland: Walker Center (Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals), 10524 Euclid Ave., Cleveland.
  • Columbus: (Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center), first floor of the CAS parking garage at 2540 Olentangy River Rd., Columbus.
  • Dayton: (Premier Health) Miami Valley Hospital, 1 Wyoming St., Dayton.
  • Gallipolis: (Holzer) 2881 State Route 160, Gallipolis.
  • Jackson: (Holzer) 500 Burlington Rd., Jackson. 
  • Mansfield: Avita Ontario Hospital, 715 Richland Mall, Mansfield.
  • Maumee: Lucas County Recreation Center, 2901 Key St., Maumee.
  • Pomeroy: (Holzer) 88 East Memorial Dr., Pomeroy.
  • Springboro: Dayton Children’s Hospital Springboro COVID-19 testing site, 3300 W. Tech Road, Springboro.
  • Toledo: UAW Local 12, 2300 Ashland Ave., Toledo.
  • Zanesville: Genesis Hospital, 2951 Maple Ave., Zanesville.

Please note that start dates and plans for pending locations are subject to change. Not all Guard members who have been deployed are located onsite yet. Testing locations supported by National Guard members will test individuals age 2 years and older. Check with your local testing site for potential age restrictions.

As a result of decreasing testing demand, the final day of COVID-19 testing at the Walker Cleveland Community COVID-19 Testing site will be Sunday, Jan. 23. The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) and Ohio National Guard have been working collaboratively with Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals to operate the site that opened on Dec. 21 and has tested nearly 25,000 people.

Additionally, Summit County’s drive-thru testing location in Akron closed last week. The site, which opened on Dec. 28 and performed approximately 11,892 tests over 18 days, was operated by Summit County Public Health, Akron Children’s Hospital, Cleveland Clinic Akron General, and Summa Health with Guard support.

Guard deployments to date include 14 medical teams (about 140 Guard members) and 185 general support teams (about 1,850 Guard members). Of the general support teams, 17 (about 170 Guard members) are providing support at testing centers, according to the Ohio National Guard. In total, nearly 2,400 Ohio National Guard and State Defense Force members have been deployed in support of COVID-19 operations across Ohio to include hospital support, vaccinations at senior housing locations, prison support, and support at the Ohio Department of Health’s Receipt, Store, and Stage warehouse.

News

National Guard COVID Test Site Named For Chillicothe & Other Cities

Presented By Accurate Heating, Cooling & Plumbing

(Columbus)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has announced additional Guard deployments to support COVID-19 testing locations across the state, including three testing locations in Cincinnati.

“We are grateful that National Guard members are continuing to fill critical roles in our state’s response to this pandemic, especially as the strain on our health care providers continues,” said Governor DeWine. “As cases increase across the state, the best thing Ohioans can do is to stay up to date on their COVID-19 vaccine.”

The National Guard is now supporting 12 testing locations across the state as part of ongoing efforts to ease some of the burden on the state’s hardest-hit hospitals as Ohio is experiencing the highest number of COVID-19 driven inpatient hospitalizations, ICU admissions, and patients on ventilators seen throughout the pandemic. Today, the Ohio Hospital Association reported 6,727 inpatient hospitalizations.

At this time, the Ohio National Guard has been deployed to support the following testing locations:

  • Akron: Atrium Testing Site (Summa Health), 1077 Gorge Blvd., Akron.
  • Canton: (Aultman/Cleveland Clinic Mercy), Stark County Fairgrounds, 305 Wertz Ave. NW, Canton
  • Chillicothe: Adena Regional Medical Center, 272 Hospital Road, Chillicothe between 8:30am-4:30pm Monday through Friday.
  • Cleveland: Walker Center (Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals), 10524 Euclid Ave., Cleveland.
  • Columbus: (Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center), first floor of the CAS parking garage at 2540 Olentangy River Road, Columbus.
  • Dayton: (Premier Health) Miami Valley Hospital, 1 Wyoming St., Dayton
  • Mansfield: Avita Ontario Hospital, 715 Richland Mall, Mansfield
  • Maumee: Lucas County Recreation Center, 2901 Key St., Maumee
  • Zanesville: Genesis Hospital, 2951 Maple Ave., Zanesville
  • Cincinnati: (Ethos Laboratories), Crossroads Church, 990 Reading Road, Mason
  • Cincinnati: (Ethos Laboratories), Riverbend, 6201 Kellogg Ave.
  • Cincinnati: University of Cincinnati, 321 Albert Sabin Way, Cincinnati.

COMING SOON:

  • Dayton: Dayton Children’s Hospital, 1 Children’s Plaza, Dayton

“Our men and women are supporting about a dozen testing sites throughout Ohio, helping to provide additional opportunities for our fellow Ohioans to be tested for COVID-19. We have been fulfilling COVID-19 missions for more than 20 months, and we are committed to supporting our state during this time of need,” said Maj. Gen. John C. Harris Jr., Ohio adjutant general.

The total deployment of National Guard members working with Ohio’s healthcare systems is now at 2,300 members. This includes approximately 200 Guard members offering medical support, and approximately 2,100 offering general support, including testing, food services, in-hospital patient transportation, administrative tasks, and more.

The testing locations are helping to divert testing traffic from hospital emergency rooms. For example, since the launch of the Walker Testing Center in Cleveland, more than 22,000 people have been tested, averaging more than 1,100 people daily.

“Ohio hospitals appreciate the continued support and service of the Ohio National Guard during this critical time of healthcare need related to COVID-19. The testing locations organized by the Guard and hospitals have been extremely important to provide this dedicated service to give better access to testing while alleviating demand of hospitals’ emergency departments. We will continue to assess daily the needs for testing and the best utilization of Guard support during this surge,” according to a statement from the Ohio Hospital Association.

The Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio Hospital Association are evaluating the situation in Ohio’s hospitals daily to assess and maximize staffing to ensure Guard members are assisting in locations with the most critical needs. Hospitalizations for COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients and testing needs change every day, and staffing adjustments are being made accordingly.

As COVID-19 cases continue to rise, maintaining up-to-date vaccination remains the best tool against COVID-19 hospitalization and death. As Ohio is experiencing record-setting hospitalizations amid the spread of the Delta and Omicron variants, it’s critical that Ohioans follow prevention strategies including getting vaccinated, getting a booster shot if eligible, wearing face masks, washing hands frequently, getting tested, and staying home if sick, even if symptoms are mild.

COVID-19 vaccines are widely available throughout the state at doctor’s offices, community vaccine clinics, hospitals, community health centers, pharmacies, and more.

Statewide, many providers offer walk-in appointments, or Ohioans can schedule a vaccination appointment at gettheshot.coronavirus.ohio.gov. Ohioans who want to learn more about COVID-19 testing, and the safety, efficacy, and side effects of COVID-19 vaccines should talk to their doctor, nurse, or pharmacist, or visit coronavirus.ohio.gov/vaccine.

News

Adena Regional Medical Center Reports 1st Baby Born in 2022

Presented By McDonald’s, “I’m Lovin’ It!” & Ross-Chillicothe Convention & Visitor’s Bureau

(Chillicothe) – Lacey Lyle and her husband, Jared, weren’t taking any chances when it came to preparing for the birth of their first child, who was due to arrive January 22.

“I am a planner, so my husband and I made sure we had everything ready before the new year so we were pretty much set to go, thank goodness,” Lacey said. “Otherwise, I probably would have been having a stroke right now.”

Lacey avoided that stroke she joked about, but she and Jared did become the proud parents of the first baby born at Adena Regional Medical Center in 2022. At 7:33 a.m. Sunday, January 2, they welcomed the arrival of their daughter, Evey Jo Lyle, who entered the world at 5 pounds, 10 ounces and 18 ½ inches long. Evey is their first child.

“I was having contractions early this morning so I hopped in the shower and I just figured they were those fake Braxton-Hicks contractions, but then they started to get more intense,” Lacey said. “My husband was fixing us breakfast and my water broke. We headed in to the hospital and they checked to see if she was breech and she was so they did an emergency C-section to get her out of there.”

In a breech situation, the baby is not in the correct position within the uterus for a regular head-first vaginal birth. Because of the extra risk that can pose to the mother and the baby, a cesarean – or C-section – procedure is often performed to allow for the safest possible birth.

Both mother and daughter were doing fine Sunday afternoon. Lacey said she was appreciative of the quality of care they received and of the fact that “everybody was really nice” in providing that care.

Lacey is originally from Circleville, while her husband is from Greenfield. The couple now lives in Kinnikinnick.

As it does each year, the Adena Women’s Board will provide a gift basket for the first baby of the new year, born as the result of spontaneous labor/birth (not induced or scheduled).

Uncategorized

Adena Orthopedic and Spine Institute Readies For Debut

Presented By McDonald’s, I’m Lovin’ It!

(CHILLICOTHE) – While the physical presence of the Adena Orthopedic and Spine Institute (AOSI) continues to move toward its September 1st opening, the operational vision that will make it more than just another health care facility is becoming clear as well.

“Adena Orthopedic and Spine Institute is comprised of close to 40 of the region’s top health care providers and continues to grow,” said Dr. James Fleming, Jr., AOSI Medical Director. “Having the AOSI as our group’s name signifies our diversified service offerings all under one roof keeping patients and their families close to home for their care. Our commitment to our patients has never been stronger and more secure. Everything in AOSI’s new home, provided by this multi-disciplinary team, is designed for the patient and their experience to get them back to the activities they love.”

The AOSI also includes: 

·        80 clinical exam suites; 

·        Six operating rooms;

·        A 20-bed inpatient recovery unit;

·        22 pre- and post-recovery bays; and

·        Ross County’s only parking garage adding 300 free parking spaces.

“We understand that the best healing experience is the one you get at home,” Dr. Fleming added. “That is why we have created an atmosphere in the AOSI that optimizes your healing. You don’t feel like you’re in a hospital, you feel like you’re home. We’ve considered every detail to bring home to you during your stay with us. All creating an environment to help you heal. And, since family plays such a significant role in the healing process, the AOSI has amenities for them as well.” 

In terms of the patient experience, Adena has enlisted some of the best national consultants available to look at how it could better serve patient needs, not just clinically, but in terms of customer service. One of the most notable names in hospitality, the Ritz-Carlton, has been training AOSI staff this summer to deliver a concierge-type level of service that enhances the experience of patients and their families.

Dr. Fleming concluded, “Health care is about more than just treating a condition. It’s about treating the whole person in a calming, professional environment focused on service and safety, giving you an overall experience that is comforting and inspires confidence. What truly makes AOSI special, though, is the skilled, compassionate and patient-focused providers and caregivers inside dedicated to serving our region’s care needs.”

To celebrate the opening of the AOSI, a Community Open House is planned for Saturday, August 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This free event will feature – Mighty Children’s Museum activities, a teddy bear clinic, exclusive building tours, free COVID-19 vaccinations (18+), music, food and drinks, giveaways and more.

Till then, the public can get a sneak peek through several newly released behind-the-scenes videos highlighting different features of the AOSI at Adena.org/AOSI.

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Adena Regional Medical Center Receives 5 Star Rating

Presented By Classic Brands

(Photo Caption (L-R): Adena Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Kirk Tucker, VP of Quality & Safety Rhett Holland and President & CEO Jeff Graham announce Adena Regional Medical Center named a Five-Star Hospital by CMS)

(CHILLICOTHE) – Adena Regional Medical Center (ARMC) has received the highest overall hospital rating, five-star, given by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The overall hospital rating is based on data publicly reported on CMS’ consumer-oriented website Hospital Compare. ARMC is among just 35 of Ohio’s 134 rated hospitals to receive a five-star rating.

Hospital Compare provides information on how well hospitals provide recommended care to their patients, becoming one tool consumers can use to compare performance measures from multiple hospitals.

“Patients and their families should use all available tools at their disposal to make informed healthcare decisions that are right for them,” said Jeff Graham, Adena President & CEO. “Adena is committed to the goal of transparency, providing accurate, meaningful information about its quality for our patients. I am so proud of everyone that calls themselves an Adena caregiver for this recognition representative of the care they provide whether in critical times such as the Coronavirus pandemic or meeting everyday care needs.”

CMS looks at more than 50 measures that fall into five quality categories: mortality, safety of care, readmission, patient experience and timely and effective care. A hospital’s overall rating is calculated using only those measures for which data is available.

“A five-star hospital rating from CMS is not easily achieved,” said Rhett Holland, Adena Vice President of Quality and Safety. “Of 4,586 hospitals CMS rated nationally, only 13.5% or 455 hospitals received five stars. It truly speaks volumes about the commitment of every provider and caregiver in our organization to provide the best care possible.”

Adena Director of Quality and Performance Improvement Seth Haynes added, “Our quality model is an integrated approach and annual focus of priority objectives, measures and plans by our committees and Quality Collaborative Teams. A five-star rating is something we have strived for since the inception of this CMS program and over the past few years we have focused on quality along the frontlines and improving safety through our Zero Harm journey of continuous improvement with every patient encounter.”

To access the Hospital Compare website, visit www.medicare.gov/hospitalcompare.

Uncategorized

Adena Softens Visitor Restrictions

Presented By Hometown-Motors, Inc.

(CHILLICOTHE) – Adena Health System announced that it has adjusted its visitor policy effective immediately in an effort to loosen restrictions due to declines in regional COVID-19 cases.

To ensure a safe environment, all visitors are still required to maintain social distancing, follow hand hygiene guidelines, and must wear a mask or face covering throughout their visit, including while inside patient rooms.

“We recognize how important family, friends and support persons are to a patient’s recovery, and we’re pleased to be able to welcome more people back into our facilities,” said Chief Clinical Officer Kirk Tucker, MD. “As we continuously review all available data, we felt like this was the right time to loosen some of our visitor restrictions as our hospitalizations related to COVID-19 decrease and more people in our communities are being vaccinated.”

He added, “While these are good signs, it does not signal an end in our fight against Coronavirus. I urge everyone to continue to push for adoption of the precautions we all know work – like masking, hand hygiene and social distancing – and push for high rates of vaccination so we can overcome this virus.”

Highlights to the new visitor policy guidelines include: 

Inpatients: Non-COVID patients may have two visitors. Visitation is still restricted for COVID positive or suspected positive patients.

Outpatient/Ambulatory: One support person allowed per patient. Limits may be necessary based on clinic/department’s space allowing for social distancing.

Inpatient Maternity/Labor and Delivery/Pediatrics: Patients may have three visitors throughout duration of each day. 

Behavior Health: One visitor per patient between the hours of 5-6:30 p.m.

Hospital visiting hours have also expanded to 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., seven days a week.

Adena’s full visitor policy is available at Adena.org/VisitorPolicy.

Uncategorized

Final Beam Going in Place at Adena Tuesday

Presented by Hometown-Motors, Inc.

Tuesday, July 28th, Adena Health System officials will celebrate the placing of the final beam in the construction of the Adena Orthopedic and Robotic Surgery Center.

Construction began on the $70-million, five-story facility in November of 2019 with expected completion in summer 2021.

The center will house the region’s largest robot-assisted surgery program and Adena’s nationally accredited orthopedics program. Additionally, the facility will be home to specialized care for spine, sports medicine, neurology, general surgery, podiatry and other specialties.

The ceremony will be closed to the public, but those wishing to can watch via a live video presentation on the Adena Health System Facebook Page.