Excela Health

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• Excela Health Laboratory Services Continue Realignment in Pursuit of Clinical Excellence
• Excela Health Board of Trustees Elects Officers for 2008-09 Fiscal Year
• Excela Health Showcases Newly Renovated Maternity Center
• Surgical Experiences Enhanced for Children Served by Excela Health
• Excela Health Marketing and Communications Team
  Receives National Honors
• Local Recreational Program Supports Excela Health’s Breast Health Center
• Jeannette Hospital Newborn Gift-Giving Tradition Continues at Excela Health
• Best of the Best Student Golf Classic Winners
• Standard Bank Supports Frick Hospital Foundation Golf Classic Benefiting Frick Emergency Department Renovations
• Excela Health, Penn State Extension Promote Smoke-Free Babies

As part of Excela Health’s continuous quality improvement initiatives,  Laboratory Services are being integrated across the system. All cytology services have been consolidated at Latrobe Hospital, as part of a larger Laboratory Development Plan designed to create better efficiency, enhanced service, expanded testing menus and new technologies. “This consolidation is part of our system-wide goal to achieve clinical excellence on each of our hospital campuses,” said Sam Raneri, Chief Operating Officer, Excela Health. “By concentrating on key service lines, consolidations like this will strengthen Excela Health’s ability to provide consistent and excellent care throughout our entire system.” Raneri emphasized that bringing the cytology staff together allows Excela Health to draw on 90-plus years of combined experience. All employees hold specialty degrees from Magee-Women’s and Allegheny General Hospital’s School of Cytotechnology and are certified by the American College for Clinical Pathology. One cytologist holds additional credentials from the International Academy of Cytology. Earlier this year, as the first step in laboratory integration, microbiology services at the Frick Hospital campus were relocated to the Westmoreland Hospital campus. Existing lab services at Frick were transitioned into a Rapid Response Lab as the hospital continues to serve physicians and patients with testing that requires expeditious results.

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The Excela Health Board of Trustees has elected officers for the 2008-09 fiscal year. Dale A. Walker, CPA, continues as board chairman, having served as acting chair since February. The Mount Pleasant native has more than 30 years accounting experience to his credit, operating his own company since 1979. Vice-chair Paul Mongell is president of Penn Line Service, Scottdale, a position he has held for more than three decades.  Secretary Jane L. Sack is a Ligonier attorney whose specialties include estate planning and business transactions. Treasurer Scott Gongaware has been with the Richard K. Mellon and Sons’ family office for more than 10 years. In this position he is charged with overseeing the real estate holdings and serves as a personal asset advisor/special project manager for the Mellon family and its affiliated entities. The board retains its present complement of 14 members drawn from across Excela Health’s service area. These trustees bring diverse gifts and talents to their role as community health care stewards. Also members of the Excela Health Board of Trustees: David S. Dahlmann, Judge John J. Driscoll, Phil Dymond, Joseph Imler, James McHugh, John A. Robertshaw, Ralph Scalise, Barbara Wang, MD, FACP, Robert Whipkey, MD, and Jennings Womack.

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The birth of a new baby begins a “journey of a lifetime,” and for many of the region’s parents, that journey will begin at Excela Health’s Maternity Center located on Westmoreland Hospital’s Greensburg campus. Excela Health unveils its newly renovated Maternity Center July with a celebratory ribbon cutting at 7:45a.m. Designed to accommodate 2,300 births per year, the Maternity Center is equipped with 10 labor and delivery suites, three triage rooms and 23 postpartum rooms. The center also includes a Level II Special Care Nursery for infants requiring advanced care. According to Maternity Center Nurse Manager, Sally Backus, RN, MSN, expectant parents can be confident they will find a warm, caring staff, comfortable private rooms, family-friendly furnishings and state-of-the-art technologies all designed to provide exceptional care. There is also a rooming-in option and rockers in the nurseries so family members can begin bonding with baby before leaving the hospital. “We are so honored to be a part of one of life’s most joyous moments by helping babies get a good start in life,” said Backus. Recognizing that the journey to parenthood begins before birth, Excela Health follows expectant parents through the entire childbirth experience offering preparation and follow-up classes at convenient locations throughout the community. The newly renovated center represents the blending of maternity care services from Westmoreland, Latrobe and Jeannette hospitals into one convenient location. Always striving for clinical excellence, Excela Health affirms its commitment to exceptional service delivery.  Based on a Center of Excellence model, the consolidated services provide increased efficiency, cost effectiveness and quality. A greater number and diversity of cases means staff and physicians  have more opportunity to develop and hone their clinical skills translating into better care for the community. It also helps Excela Health to have a stronger position in recruiting OB physicians and other needed medical professionals.
 
The health system is also anticipating the opening of the Center for Neuroscience at its Latrobe campus in early 2009. The center will be located in the area being vacated by obstetrics. With the consolidation of maternity services at Westmoreland, remodeling can begin for this state-of-the-art facility that will service stroke patients and those with other neurological disorders in one convenient location. The center will include enhanced neurosurgery capabilities, neuro intensive care as well as an acute rehabilitation unit. The centerpiece of this project will be the Neighborhood Way rehabilitation experience, which will simulate typical community venues and other activities of daily living to maximize function and independence for the neurology patient. “Our Centers of Excellence, including the new Maternity Care Center will be the hallmark of quality care for the region,” commented Hollon.

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Surgery can be a traumatic experience, especially for a child. Anesthesia and Surgical Services at Excela Health recognize this and have worked to make these experiences more pleasant for area children and their parents.  “Research indicates the more prepared children are as what to expect when they are having a surgical procedure, the better their recovery time is,” commented Bev Silvis, certified nurse anesthetist at Excela Health Frick Hospital. “The less stressed out the child, the more relaxed they are going into their pre-op experience.”  Silvis was among hospital staff identifying a better method of engaging children. An informational DVD by kids for kids is helping to allay fears prior to the hospital visit. The video features a Girl Scout troop role-playing an operating room scenario with the girls serving as doctors, nurses and patients.  The project in turn benefited both parties. It enabled the hospital to meet its goal of effectively reaching out in a meaningful way to young surgical patients. And, Girl Scout Troop #4017 of Perryopolis was recognized with a Bronze Award for successfully fulfilling a community service requirement.  According to Silvis, “We have had a great response from patients, their families and physicians. Patients are coming in more informed, less anxious and intimidated, as well as better prepared, with the reassurance that we are here as their friend to help them get well.”  Silvis confirmed the greatest appeal overall is a message communicated by children to children. Kids relate better to kids their own age rather than to adults. The DVD is presented to patients via their physicians’ office for review prior to surgery. It is accompanied by an informational booklet and followed up by an age-appropriate coloring book on the day of surgery.  Introduced at Frick Hospital, the materials are used at all Excela Health hospitals when children receive surgical services. An additional component to the program will be the introduction of music therapy in the near future. As a comfort technique, music has been found to positively impact the surgical experience.  Another way Frick Hospital is reaching out to its young surgical patients is to provide each child with a keepsake surgical cap. The caps are made with care and love by a special group of volunteers. Ironically, this project involves the efforts of Edith Dunn, a retired head nurse of the former Frick OB Unit, who was recruited by her daughter Susan Vikartosky, who, like Silvis, is a certified nurse anesthetist at Frick Hospital. Dunn, loyal to her old stomping grounds, enlisted the efforts of her friends -- the Hilltop Quilters -- to sew caps for the project. The group, consisting of 30 members has been in existence since 1982. Although quilts are their specialty, they engage in many sewing projects such as this as a demonstration of community support.  “It is pleasure to assist in the project and to stay involved indirectly with the hospital which for so many years was such a big part of my life,” stated Dunn. “I’ve always enjoyed being involved with the babies and young children and if this can help make their stays more pleasant, I’m thrilled to play a part in the process.”

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Excela Health’s Marketing and Communications team is the recipient of national honors for three promotional publications produced for the health system. Ranking third among the best of the nation’s health care marketing professionals, the team secured a bronze award in the 2007 Aster Awards Program. The recognition in the category of external publications is for “Healthy Directions,” Excela Health’s community benefit report.  This is the second time the group has received an Aster Award. In 2005, the team earned a Silver Award in the same category for “Better Together,” a mass distribution piece produced following the merger of Latrobe Area Hospital and Westmoreland Health System. The Aster Awards is a national medical marketing program that compares the efforts of similarly sized health care organizations from across the nation. The annual contest seeks entries designed, printed or distributed during the previous year.  Additionally, the Marketing and Communications team was the recipient of two awards during the 25th Annual Healthcare Advertising Awards sponsored by Healthcare Marketing Report. Excela Health’s consumer direct mail magazine, “Healthy Connections,” produced in cooperation with StayWell Custom Communications was honored with a Gold Award. A Merit Award was received for “Weight Loss Takes A Community,” a direct mail piece for Bariatric that was produced in cooperation with InSights Direct.  A record number of more than 4,400 entries were received in this year’s competition, making the awards the largest health care advertising awards competition. A national panel of judges reviewed all entries based on creativity, quality, message effectiveness, consumer appeal, graphic design and overall impact. The Healthcare Advertising Awards is the oldest, largest and most widely respected advertising awards competition. The awards are sponsored by Healthcare Marketing Report, the leading publication covering  all aspects of healthcare marketing, advertising and strategic business development.

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Baseball and softball players representing the South Greensburg Youth Recreational League stepped up to the plate this spring to drive home a message about breast cancer. As part of the organization’s fund-raising efforts, league members purchased several books on breast health and cancer survival to be used by patients of the Breast Health Center at Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital.  For Greensburg residents Cami Faulds and her children, Alexander and Emily, this project hit home. Cami Faulds’ sister-in-law was diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago. Since that time, she is now fully recovered. Because of that personal experience, this project provided a learning opportunity for the Faulds’ children, who were greatly impacted by their aunt’s battle with breast cancer. It also provided an avenue for them, along with their teammates, to reach out and make a difference that could possibly help someone else’s mother, sister or aunt facing breast cancer. The league, consisting of 17 teams with players between the ages of 5 and 18, conducts a number of fund-raising projects to raise money for equipment and uniforms. “This year, the teams raised an excess of funds,” commented Nancy Caruso, league representative. “We decided to do something special for the community that would teach the kids that while it is important to raise money for our organization, there are others in need as well.” Following the presentation, team members had the opportunity to tour the Breast Health Center, see mammography equipment and learn more about the importance of routine screening. Pictured during the book presentation to the center are from left, row one, Luci Zumko, Kaylee Ludwick, Taylor Ludwick and Rena Caniso (7 and 8-year-old softball division); Yalena Craig, Elizabeth Colecchia and Alexander Colecchia (T-ball division); From left, row two, Daniel Hill, Alexander Faulds (9 and 10-year- old baseball division); Nicholas Caruso (11 and 12-year-old baseball division); Emily Faulds (11 and 12-year-old softball division); Aaron DeCarlucci (11 and 12-year- old baseball division); Alyssa DeCarlucci and Richie Marcheleovich (9 and 10- year-old baseball division); Brendan Ludwick and Daniel Hixson (11 and 12-year- old division).

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What started as a hobby has grown into a labor of love for 78-year-old Faye Yaniro of Greensburg, and an expression of support for Excela Health’s newly renovated maternity center. Following retirement from St. Vincent College, Latrobe, Yaniro found she finally had the leisure time to crochet, an activity she enjoyed immensely. Then she found a calling, when her sister presented her with a bulletin request from St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church, Carbon, Hempfield Township, seeking individuals who would be willing to make hats for newborns delivered at the former Mercy Jeannette Hospital.  Yaniro admits, “The timing of the request was perfect. My husband had recently passed away, I was retired and looking for something to keep me busy. I thought, what better way than to utilize a skill I already enjoyed so much.”  Two years later, Yaniro is still busy crocheting her signature pastel pink, blue, green, yellow and white newborn hats. Now that Mercy Jeannette Hospital has become part of Excela Health, Yaniro’s hats are touching the lives of newborns county-wide. Each month, Yaniro delivers her hand-crafted gifts to Westmoreland Hospital’s maternity center. The keepsakes in turn are given to infants requiring special care and monitoring services in the hospital’s Level II Nursery prior to their discharge. “It is so wonderful that someone would take the time and effort to continue this tradition,” said nurse manager Sally Backus, RN. “Homemade items created with love and care are so rare today, which makes this gesture of kindness all the more special.”  With obstetric and pediatric services centralized at the Greensburg campus, so many more families throughout the county can benefit from Yaniro’s efforts. Additionally, many of the same  staff members who are familiar with Yaniro and played a part in distributing her hats at Jeannette are a part of the Maternal /Child staff at Westmoreland.  For Yaniro, location doesn’t matter. “It’s rewarding to see the horizons of this project broaden. For me, I’m just thrilled to play a small role in such a joyous time for so many new families embarking on the path of parenthood.”

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Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital Foundation hosted its sixth annual Best of the Best Golf Classic as well as the final round of its two-day Best of the Best Student Golf Classic June 3, 2008, at Totteridge Golf Club. Sponsors of this event included HIGHMARK Blue Cross Blue Shield; SEI Investments; IBEW NECA; BECA Electric; Burt, Hill; Irwin Bank and Trust; Citizen’s Bank, Excela Health Orthopedics, Trib Total Media®; Somerset Med Services, H.L. Thomas Co. and S & T Bank. Proceeds benefited emergency department improvements at Westmoreland Hospital, Greensburg. First place Best of the Best honors went to HIGHMARK Blue Cross and Blue Shield, followed by Somerset Medical Services and third place Brothers LaZer. The student field began May 12, 2008, with 69 students from 38 Allegheny, Fayette, Indiana and Westmoreland county high schools. Students with the four lowest scores qualified for the title round June 5. In the end, Matt Vogt of Seneca Valley was the medalist, with a two-day combined score of 148. Matt earned the Best of the Best trophy and will have his name engraved on the Nelson S. Briles Memorial plaque, displayed in the lobby of Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital. In addition, a $1,000 scholarship will be presented in Matt’s name to a deserving fellow student from Seneca Valley High School. Second place went to Grant Martens of North Allegheny High School who scored 149. Justin Marcinizyn of Penn Trafford High School garnered third place at 154 and Deer Lakes’ Kevin Koerbel rounded out the finalists with a 156. Second through fourth place winners each won a trophy and a $500 scholarship to be presented in their names to deserving students at their respective high schools.

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Standard Bank Vice President and Manager of Marketing Louanne Hout has announced corporate sponsorship of the17th Frick Hospital Foundation Golf Classic, scheduled for Monday, Aug. 4, 2008, at Pleasant Valley Country Club, Connellsville. Standard has a long history of community support for various hospital initiatives. The foundation’s golf classic committee has earmarked this year’s proceeds to benefit renovation of the Frick Hospital emergency department. A $1.6 million Excela Health commitment to modernize the emergency unit aims to facilitate the rapidly increasing demand for emergency care in the Mount Pleasant/Scottdale area. Frick’s emergency department is among the nation’s leaders in patient satisfaction, ranking in the top 5 percent of all hospitals of like size. Excela Health expects that these updates will set the stage for even greater accomplishments.  For more information or to participate in this project, please call the foundation office at 724-832-4155.

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Each year more than 6 million children are exposed to secondhand smoke on a daily basis, increasing the risk of illnesses such as asthma, bronchitis, ear infections, colds and even Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. To help promote homes free of tobacco smoke, the maternity staff at Excela Health is presenting newborns with a T-shirt imprinted with “Keep Me a Smoke Free Baby.” According to Penn State Extension’s Tobacco Prevention Coordinator Vickie Oles, these T-shirts can serve as a reminder to parents who smoke to reconsider their tobacco habit. The shirts are also a valuable tool for parents who don’t smoke to gently communicate the message that smoking is not welcome around their child. “It’s a non-confrontational way of getting the message across,” noted Oles, who joins Excela Health and its Partners Advocating Total Health (PATH) in working to reduce tobacco usage. That’s important to first-time parents Michael and Nicole Hetnick of North Huntingdon who want their new daughter Samantha to remain smoke-free. “Dealing with family members who smoke is often more difficult than dealing with strangers,” said Oles. PATH is a collaboration of some 20 organizations coming together to promote healthy communities. Beyond reducing tobacco use, PATH initiatives also are aimed at reducing alcohol use and increasing fitness and nutrition. The newborn T-shirts are a visual way of promoting May as “Protect Our Children from Tobacco Smoke Pollution Month.” Established in May 2000, this campaign’s goal is to alert parents of the harmful effects of secondhand smoke. When they are aware of the consequences, parents will ask smokers to refrain from smoking around their children. “Even though May is designated to bring awareness to this campaign, it is a message that needs to be promoted all the time,” commented Sally Backus, nurse manager of Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital’s obstetrics unit. “Even with all the attention on healthy lifestyles, we continue to see parents who use tobacco.” Excela Health supports tobacco-free lifestyles through patient and community education, which includes a seven-week, Quit Smart smoking cessation program and a monthly telephonic support group. To learn more about becoming tobacco- free, contact the Excela Health Call Center, toll free, 1-877-771-1234.

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