Memorial Medical Center designated as a Highmark Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement

HighmarkBlue Cross Blue Shield of Pittsburghhas designated Memorial Medical Center (MMC) as a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement.

Memorial is the only Blue Distinction Center for Hip and Knee Replacement in Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Somerset, Indiana and Westmoreland counties.

“We have nine highly skilled, board-certified orthopedic surgeons on the Medical Staff, who perform approximately 650 knee and hip replacement surgeries a year at Memorial, and that number is growing,” says Steve Tucker, President, Memorial Medical Center. “In 2009, HealthGrades named our Joint Replacement Surgery program one of the top 10 in Pennsylvania, and the fact that we continue to earn accolades for our clinical outcomes in Knee and Hip Replacement is a testament to the high caliber orthopedic surgeons and specialized nurses and staff at Memorial.”

MMC’s Orthopedic Surgery program offers comprehensive knee and hip replacement services, including CT-guided Knee, MRI-guided Knee, Gender-Specific Knee and Minimally Invasive Hip Arthroplasty utilizing Memorial’s new HANA table.

“This program supports Highmark’s consumerism approach to give members a greater hand in their health by providing tools to help members make informed choices about their health care,” said Carey Vinson, M.D., Vice President for Quality and Medical Performance Management at Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. “The Blue Distinction Centers designation offers members reliable quality-based information pertaining to Blue network-participating facilities when selecting a provider.”

The selection criteria used to evaluate facilities were developed with input from a panel of expert physicians. To be designated as a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement, the following types of criteria were evaluated. More information on selection criteria is available on www.bcbs.com:
•Established acute care inpatient facility, including intensive care, emergency care, and a full range of patient support services with full accreditation by a CMS-deemed national accreditation organization


•Experience and training of program surgeons, including case volume

•Quality management programs, including surgical checklists as well as tracking and evaluation of clinical outcomes and process of care

•Multi-disciplinary clinical pathways and teams to coordinate and streamline care, including transitions of care

•Shared decision making and preoperative patient education

The Blue Distinction designation is awarded by the Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield plans to medical facilities that have demonstrated expertise in delivering quality healthcare in the areas of bariatric surgery, cardiac care, complex and rare cancers, knee and hip replacement, spine surgery and transplants. The program is part of The Blues® efforts to collaborate with physicians and medical facilities to improve the overall quality and safety of specialty care.

“With the talented surgeons and advanced technology that the Orthopedic Surgery program at Memorial offers, why would people go anywhere else for a knee or hip replacement surgery?” says Don Lowry, MD, Divisional Chairman, Orthopedic Surgery, MMC. “We pride ourselves on our clinical outcomes and tailor our comprehensive services to each individual patient. I feel that the best orthopedic care is right here, and I’m very proud to be a part of it.”

Emergency physician published in national newsletter

Michael H. LeWitt, MD, who has served as an emergency medicine physician at Memorial Medical Center since 2006, authored an article entitled “The Expert Witness in Emergency Medicine” featured in the March/April 2010 issue of Common Sense.

Common Sense is the bi-montly newsletter of American Academy of Emergency Medicine (AAEM) with a circulation of more than 5,000 emergency physicians, residents and other professionals interested in emergency medicine.

Dr. LeWitt, also Senior Core Faculty for Memorial’s Emergency Medicine Residency Program, spent much of his career in the Philadelphia area. He received his medical doctorate from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia and completed postdoctoral training at Mercy Hospital of Philadelphia, formerly known as Misericordia Hospital and the University of Cincinnati. He also has a Master of Public Health degree, which he earned from the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Memorial Medical Center named a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery

Pictured: Kevin Zitnay, MD, and Zafar Chowdhry, MD, both neurosurgeons, and Vincent Vena, MD, orthopedic surgeon, were among 12 physicians recognized during a recent celebration for Memorial's recent designation as a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery and as a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement.

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Pittsburghhas designated Memorial Medical Center as a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery. Blue Distinction Centers for Spine Surgery are part of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association’s expansion of its Blue Distinction® designation.

Memorial is the only Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery in Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Somerset, Indiana and Westmoreland counties.

“Studies show that approximately eight out of 10 Americans suffer from back pain. Many of these individuals are candidates for surgery; therefore, it’s wonderful that people from across the region can feel confident knowing that they are getting the best in spine surgery right here at Memorial,” says David Carlson, DO, Chief Medical Officer, Conemaugh Health System. “Our highly-trained neurosurgeons offer the latest minimally invasive techniques and have the most advanced technology to treat conditions of the spine available to them. We are very proud of the care they provide and their dedication to ‘Excellence. Every Patient. Every Time.’”

Memorial’s neurosurgery program offers comprehensive spine surgery, including all aspects of spinal decompression, fusion and instrumentation, in addition to ProDisc-C Total Disc Replacement to treat cervical disc disease and kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty, which uses cement-like substances to stabilize spinal fractures caused by osteoporosis, falls or traumatic injury.

“This program supports Highmark’s consumerism approach to give members a greater hand in their health by providing tools to help members make informed choices about their health care,” said Carey Vinson, M.D., Vice President for Quality and Medical Performance Management at Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. “The Blue Distinction Centers designation offers members reliable quality-based information pertaining to Blue network-participating facilities when selecting a provider.”

“Blue Distinction puts a high value on research and evidence-based health and medical information,” said Allan Korn, MD, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association Chief Medical Officer. “Blue Distinction Centers show our commitment to working with doctors and hospitals in communities across the country to identify leading institutions that meet clinically validated quality standards and deliver better overall outcomes in patient care.”

The selection criteria used to evaluate facilities were developed with input from a panel of expert physicians. To be designated as a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery, the following types of criteria were evaluated. More information on selection criteria is available on www.bcbs.com:


•Established acute care inpatient facility, including intensive care, emergency care, and a full range of patient support services with full accreditation by a CMS-deemed national accreditation organization

•Experience and training of program surgeons, including case volume

•Quality management programs, including surgical checklists as well as tracking and evaluation of clinical outcomes and process of care

•Multi-disciplinary clinical pathways and teams to coordinate and streamline care, including transitions of care

•Shared decision making and preoperative patient education


The Blue Distinction designation is awarded by the Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield plans to medical facilities that have demonstrated expertise in delivering quality healthcare in the areas of bariatric surgery, cardiac care, complex and rare cancers, knee and hip replacement, spine surgery and transplants. The program is part of The Blues® efforts to collaborate with physicians and medical facilities to improve the overall quality and safety of specialty care.

“Being recognized as a Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery is a very significant achievement,” says Alfred P. Bowles, Jr., MD, FACS, FICS, Chairman of the Department of Neuroscience and Divisional Chairman of Neurosurgery at Memorial. “My colleagues, Dr. Zafar Chowdhry and Dr. Kevin Zitnay, and I are committed to providing the safest and highest quality of care to our patients. While we appreciate this distinction, the true reward lies in the patients that we’re able to help.”

Memorial's first-ever Cameos of Caring award winner selected

As part of National Nurses Week (May 3-7), Elizabeth Tressler, a nurse on Memorial Medical Center’s Palliative Care Unit, was selected as Memorial’s first-ever Cameos of Caring award winner. The Cameos of Caring® Program honors exceptional bedside nurses who work at acute care hospitals. Proceeds from the Cameos of Caring® Program & Awards Gala benefit the Cameos of Caring® Endowed Nursing Scholarship Fund, established in 2000, to offer financial support for nurses to enhance their education.

Caption: Elizabeth Tressler, Cameo of Caring award winner, with Claudia Rager, Vice President, Patient Care Services, Memorial Medical Center

Stroke Care

May is Stroke Awareness Month

Click below to view:


A segment on Stroke.An interview with Denise LeHew,Certified Neuroscience RNAn Interveiw with Dr. Joseph Clark, Medical Director MMC Emergency Department

When it comes to diagnosing and treating stroke, there’s not a minute to waste. Every second counts.

Throughout Conemaugh Health System, our medical teams are specially trained to provide immediate care to anyone who arrives at our hospitals with stroke symptoms. Our services begin with rapid action to diagnose and treat stroke, and continue with hospital-based, outpatient or at-home rehabilitation.

A stroke is a “brain attack.” Just as a heart attack weakens and damages the heart, a stroke can cause permanent damage to the brain. Know the warning signs. Seek immediate medical attention if you think you or a loved one is having a brain attack.

Stroke Program earns perfect score from Joint Commission

The Joint Commission formerly the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations recently recognized Memorial Medical Center (MMC) with disease-specific accreditation as an Advanced Primary Stroke Center - a title recognized nationally as the Gold Seal of Approval™ in health care.The honor was awarded following The Joint Commission’s on-site review of MMC’s stroke treatment protocols and abilities.“I’m extremely proud of our physicians, nurses and staff who have worked very hard to ensure that our program not only meets, but exceeds, national standards,” says David Carlson, DO, Chief Medical Officer, Conemaugh Health System. “In the event of a stroke every second counts. The faster and more effectively a stroke patient is treated, the better their chances for a positive outcome; therefore, it’s encouraging to know that we have the resources at Memorial to provide them with the specialized care they need, when they need it.” Memorial’s Stroke Program includes a team of neurologists, neurosurgeons and nurses trained in stroke care, along with two designated stroke units, Crichton inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services, a Stroke Specialty Clinic and a Stroke Support Group.“People may not realize that every 45 seconds, someone has a stroke. It’s the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of adult disability in the United States,” says Jeremy Meisel, MD, Medical Director, Stroke Program, MMC. “Due to the large number of people stroke impacts each year, including patients and their family members, Memorial has made stroke care a top priority. For more than a year, we’ve worked diligently to make sure that our Stroke Program is second to none, and being named an Advanced Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission is evidence that we’re doing our part to provide the best stroke care to our patients.” In 2008, Memorial implemented a “Stroke Alert,” much like a Trauma Alert, which notifies Stroke Program team members about an incoming stroke. A few months following the adoption of the alert, stroke response times were significantly improved. In one particular case, the entire work-up, including labs, CT and the neurology consult was completed in a total of 13 minutes, that’s compared to the national average of more than 35 minutes. “The Stroke Alert system is one piece of the puzzle,” says Dr. Alfred Bowles, Chairman of the Department of Neurosciences and Divisional Chairman of Neurological Surgery, MMC. “Over the past year and a half, we’ve been able to dramatically cut the time it takes to bring all of the specialized staff together, necessary to treat these patients and help ensure the best possible outcomes. It’s wonderful to see what we’ve been able to accomplish with teamwork and, as an Advanced Primary Stroke Center, how we’re supporting Conemaugh Health System’s vision, ‘Excellence. Every Patient. Every Time.’”

Strokes, also know as brain attacks, occur when there is a blockage or hemorrhage of a blood vessel leading to the brain, causing inadequate oxygen supply. In addition to death, depriving the brain of oxygen can result in body weakness, paralysis and speech difficulties.

Symptoms of Stroke:

1.Numbness, weakness or paralysis of face, arm or leg on one side of the body
2.Difficulty speaking or understanding
3.Sudden blurred or decreased vision in one or both eyes
4.A sudden, severe, unexplainable headache
5.Dizziness or loss of balance, especially along with one of the above symptoms

Risk Factors of Stroke:

•Age: the risk of a stroke more than doubles each decade after 55
•Gender: the incidence of a stroke is 30% higher for men than women, until menopause when the incidence is nearly equal
•Race: African Americans are at 60% greater risk for stroke than Caucasians
•Other risk factors include: hypertension, heart disease, smoking, diabetes, heavy alcohol use, high cholesterol, obesity and a family history of stroke

To request a Stroke Warning Sign Magnet, send an email to abradle@conemaugh.org or call (814) 534-9124. or call (814) 534-9124.

Click here to print information on our Gold Seal of Approval™.

Contact Us
For more information, please contact us at (814)534-3797, visit our Health Library and log on to the following recommended links:
http://www.strokeassociation.org/
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Understanding Blood Pressure
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All-Cancer Education Day--May 10

Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide, attributed to more than 7.4 million deaths in 2004, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). While the figure is staggering, WHO also notes that approximately 30 percent of cancer deaths can be prevented, with tobacco listed as the most significant risk factor for cancer.

In order to enlighten the public and Conemaugh Health System employees about cancer prevention, Memorial Medical Center will host a Community All-Cancer Education Day, themed “Hope. Support. Cure.” on Monday, May 10, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., in the Clinical Pavilion Atrium, Memorial Medical Center's Main Campus.

The event will coincide with the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition’s “67 Women, 67Counties” display, which will be featured in Memorial’s Atrium during the All-Cancer Education Day event.

The American Cancer Society will join various departments at Memorial Medical Center to provide education concerning cancer-related topics including:

•Women’s’ cancers: ovarian, cervical, uterine and breast
•Men’s’ cancers: prostrate and testicular
•Cancers affecting both genders: lung, skin, colon, etc.
•Conemaugh Regional Hospice
•Memorial’s Palliative Care Unit
•Conemaugh Cancer Care Center

Attendees will also have the opportunity to support cancer patients and survivors through the Conemaugh Health Foundation’s Cancer Fund which helps assists with medical bills, travel expenses for treatment and other related expenses. “Hope-Support-Cure” beach towels, featuring nine cancer awareness ribbons with lavender “all cancer” awareness ribbon highlighted in the middle of the towel, will be on sale for $20. To date, more than 400 towels have been sold.

PA Breast Cancer Coalition's 67 Women, 67 Counties coming to Memorial

The Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition (PBCC) is pleased to work with Conemaugh Health System to bring its traveling photo exhibit “67 Women, 67 Counties: Facing Breast Cancer in Pennsylvania,” to Cambria County from May 6 to May 16. The photo exhibit will be displayed for the public to view in Memorial Medical Center’s Clinical Pavilion Atrium.

An opening reception is scheduled for Thursday,May 6 at 6:30pm. The exhibit and reception are free and open to the public. To RSVP for the opening reception, please call 1-800-377-8828 x101.

This work of art features women from each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties, along with a message about how breast cancer has touched their lives. The women reflect the diversity of Pennsylvania, and their stories reflect the impact of breast cancer on themselves, their families and their communities. The exhibit encourages women to learn about early detection and celebrates life, courage, hope and dignity of women and families who have battled breast cancer.

Pat Halpin-Murphy, PBCC President and Founder, encourages everyone to visit the exhibit. “Breast cancer is not a rare event separate from the fabrics of our everyday lives. It impacts our mothers, daughters and friends. We must educate ourselves about this disease and fight to find a cure now…so our daughters won’t have to.”

“It is exciting for Memorial Medical Center to host the “67 Women, 67 Counties: Facing Breast Cancer in Pennsylvania” traveling photo exhibit,” said Steve Tucker, President, Memorial Medical Center. “This unique display is a great way to raise awareness about breast cancer and the need for education, early detection and hopefully, someday soon a cure. We invite everyone to view the exhibit to celebrate life and to remember those that have struggled and struggle even now with the diagnosis of breast cancer.”

“67 Women, 67 Counties: Facing Breast Cancer in Pennsylvania” is sponsored by the PBCC and funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The exhibit travels to several select Pennsylvania communities each year, and has been to over 80 communities since its launch ten years ago.

The PA Breast Cancer Coalition represents, supports and serves breast cancer survivors and their families in Pennsylvania through educational programming, legislative advocacy and breast cancer research grants. For more information please call 1-800-377-8828 or visit the website at www.pabreastcancer.org.

Memorial’s Emergency Medicine Chairman named President of Pennsylvania’s American College of Emergency Physicians

Daniel R. Wehner, MD, Chairman, Department of Emergency Medicine, MMC, has been appointed to a one-year term as President of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians (PaACEP).

With more than 1,200 members, the Pennsylvania chapter is the organization’s second largest in the nation.

For the past year, Dr. Wehner has been active as President-Elect, working on issues from emergency department overcrowding to healthcare reform. “I am honored to have the opportunity to represent the Chapter, particularly at this moment in time, considering all of the activity in state and federal politics and unfolding healthcare reform,” says Dr. Wehner. “Among my goals are efforts to reduce emergency department crowding and boarding of admitted patients in our emergency departments, making strides toward improving the medical liability situation in Pennsylvania and promoting access to quality emergency medical care to all who seek such care.”

“We are very proud to have someone with Dr. Wehner’s expertise in emergency medicine not only leading our Department of Emergency Medicine at Memorial Medical Center, but also the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians,” says David Carlson, DO, Chief Medical Officer, Conemaugh Health System. “Dr. Wehner has experienced firsthand the many challenges facing emergency departments, and we are certain that he will do his best to help affect change and improve the state of emergency care.”

Dr. Wehner joined Memorial Medical Center in May 2000 as Chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine. Upon receiving a medical doctorate from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Dr. Wehner completed a residency in Emergency Medicine at Wright State University in Kettering, Ohio. Dr. Wehner resides in Johnstown with his wife, Donna, and their two children.

According to the PaACEP website, the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians is a state chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians, a medical society that has represented physicians specializing in emergency medicine since 1971. For more information, visit www.paacep.org.

MedWELL Urgent Care Center to open in Ebensburg

Caregivers at Conemaugh Health System’s newest MedWELL Urgent Care Center will begin seeing patients Monday, May 3.

Located at Conemaugh Ebensburg, 236 Jamesway Road in the Jamesway Plaza, the goal of MedWELL is to serve as a quick, convenient healthcare option. It will be open to walk-in patients seven days a week, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with limited laboratory and imaging services also available on-site.

Physicians and other medical personnel, including physician assistants and nurse practitioners, will staff the new urgent care center.

“We want to stress that the MedWELL is not meant to replace the relationship between a patient and their primary care physician, which is extremely important,” says Dr. David Carlson, Chief Medical Officer of the Conemaugh Health System. “We realize, however, that there are times that people need medical attention when their physician’s office is closed, and the emergency room is the only option. MedWELL is designed to provide an alternative for care when nonemergent situations arise and the primary care physician is unavailable.”

Conemaugh Health System’s first MedWELL location on Scalp Avenue in Johnstown has had more than 20,000 patient visits since opening its doors in September 2008.
When should patients visit MedWELL? Below is a list of some of the conditions that can be treated by the MedWELL team:

•Common illnesses and colds
•Sprains and strains
•Minor cuts or injuries
•Skin and eye irritations

MedWELL location and phone number information is as follows:

MedWELL
236 Jamesway Road
Ebensburg, PA 15931
814-472-7336

MedWELL
1450 Scalp Avenue
Johnstown, PA 15905
814-269-5200

MedSTAR celebrates more than 20 years of service

The crew and staff of MedSTAR, the premier Air Medical Transport program in the Laurel Highlands, are celebrating the organization's 20th Anniversary with a celebration on April 24.

Operated through a joint program of Conemaugh Health System and Air Methods Corporation, based in Colorado, MedSTAR aero-medical service became operational at Memorial Medical Center (MMC) on October 27, 1989. The original Critical Care Flight Team was comprised of nine Registered Nurses and three EMT-Paramedics. Over time, MedSTAR also added specialized pediatric nurses to accommodate missions related to MMC’s Regional Intensive Care Nursery (RICN).

Conemaugh Health System laboratories receive accreditation

Following an unannounced, on-site inspection, The College of American Pathologists’ (CAP) Laboratory Accreditation Program recently reaccredited each of the Conemaugh Health System (CHS) laboratories, including the labs at Memorial Medical Center, Miners Medical Center and Meyersdale Medical Center. This accreditation signifies that all CHS laboratories have successfully met the Laboratory Accreditation Program Standards for Accreditation.

The CAP accreditation process is especially rigorous because facilities attempting accreditation are inspected by their peers. An inspection team, comprised of healthcare laboratory professionals from similar-sized facilities, completes the on-site evaluation.

“It is very important that patients are aware of the high level of excellence required of our laboratories which are all CAP accredited,” says Lary Koval, Conemaugh Health System’s Laboratory Administrative Director. “These laboratories must strive for continuous improvement, education and most of all, quality. Our accreditations support Conemaugh Health System’s vision of ‘Excellence. Every Patient. Every Time.’”

In addition, the AABB, formerly called the American Association of Blood Banks, granted Memorial Medical Center’s Main Campus Laboratory national accreditation for Transfusion and Donor Center activities. The only facility in Cambria County to achieve the honor, the AABB accreditation represents Memorial’s commitment to excellence by promoting a level of professional and technical expertise that contributes to quality performance and patient safety.

“The AABB accreditation fosters advanced learning and innovation in our Blood Bank lab at Memorial, and thereby promotes the highest possible standard of care for patients and donors,” adds Koval.

Tony Campagna, Executive Director, Diagnostic and Outpatient Services, Memorial Medical Center, says, “These accreditations ensure that patients are receiving the safest and highest quality of laboratory services. During accreditation inspections, there are hundreds of standards that our lab professionals at Memorial have to address. We are extremely proud of the laboratory employees at Memorial and at each of our facilities for their dedication to excellence.”

Memorial Medical Center recognized for reducing medical waste

PHOTO: Left to right: Robin Romanow and Sharon Allen from Memorial Medical Center’s (MMC) OR; Ascent representative Mark Milo; Debi Galko, Supply Chain, MMC; Gerald Ambrose, Supply Chain/Green Team, MMC; Jean Hansen, OR; and Pam Reckner, Supply Chain, MMC.

As part of a Conemaugh Health System-wide “green” initiative, Memorial Medical Center (MMC) has implemented many environmentally-friendly initiatives in an effort to reduce waste. One such initiative recently earned the facility recognition.
Ascent: A Stryker Sustainability Solution program, which is governed by the FDA, awarded MMC with the 2009 Healthy Hospital Award for reducing medical waste at the facility by 6,172 pounds in 2009 alone.

Stephen Tambolas, MPM, CPSM, CPM, Vice President, Supply Chain and Facilities, MMC, says the rewards of the program have been two-fold. “Reprocessing medical devices not only aids Memorial’s "green" initiative by reducing a significant amount of medical waste but also increases cost savings.”

By utilizing the program, in the past year Memorial has experienced $80,600 in supply cost savings which have been redirected to important key patient care initiatives.

Reprocessing involves cleaning, testing, packaging and sterilizing expensive medical devices, while remanufacturing includes disassembling, repairing and manufacturing devices that were originally marketed as “single use.” The reprocessing and remanufacturing of medical devices must be in accordance with strict FDA guidelines, and according to Ascent’s website, these processes prevent thousands of pounds of medical waste from hospitals around the country from ending up in landfills.
For more information about Ascent: A Stryker Sustainability Solution, visit their website at www.ascenths.com.

High school students show off their talents while raising money for a “critical” cause

Westmont Hilltop High School senior Nastasia Easter thought holding a talent show that would combine talent, fun and charity, would be a perfect senior project. Easter is the coordinator of “Westy Has Talent,” benefiting the expansion of Memorial Medical Center’s Critical Care Unit—a cause that has impacted the young woman on a very personal level.

“I decided to raise money for the Critical Care Unit because I love helping those in need,” says Easter. “Also, when I was 12-years-old my father died from a heart attack, so it definitely was something that opened my eyes.”

The event, which will include “coffee house” style performances, will take place Friday, April 16 in the Westmont Hilltop High School Auditorium at 1 p.m. Some of the talents displayed will include singing, rapping and Easter’s talent of choice, dancing.

“Westy Has Talent” is open to the public. Tickets will be sold at the door for $3, and additional donations are welcome.

“We are so pleased and proud that Nastasia has taken it upon herself to coordinate an event that will benefit thousands of people from around our region,” says Susan Mann, President, Conemaugh Health Foundation. “This expansion will allow our caregivers to care for more critically ill patients, who benefit tremendously from the expertise and advanced technology offered at Memorial.”

Memorial’s Critical Care Unit cares for more than 1,150 patients each year from across the region. In order to accommodate this large number of patients, Memorial is expanding the Unit by adding nine additional Critical Care beds as a specialized Coronary Care Unit. The Critical Care Unit treats patients with acute, life-threatening illnesses or injuries including heart attack, pneumonia, surgical complications and stroke. Critical Care also includes the care of trauma patients, which is extremely important since Memorial is the only Level One Regional Resource Trauma Center between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg and is routinely referred patients from hospitals across several counties.

“By increasing capacity, we will help ensure that we are providing patients who are critically ill with the appropriate, high level care administered by specially trained critical care professionals,” says David Carlson, Chief Medical Officer, Conemaugh Health System. “The expansion of our Critical Care Unit is necessary to fulfill our vision of providing ‘Excellence, Every patient, Every time.’”

Salvatore J. and Sara A. Valenty Nursing Scholarship presented to first recipient

Caption: Bobbi Ream, Chair, Conemaugh Health Foundation (CHF) Board; Sam Valenty; Melissa Phillips; and Susan Mann, President, CHF.

Miners Medical Center board member Sam Valenty honored his late wife, Sara, with the presentation of the first annual Salvatore J. and Sara A. Valenty Nursing Scholarship.Valenty created the scholarship to honor his late wife and to recognize the excellent nursing care she received during her illness.

“The nursing service at Miners and Memorial was so extraordinary, I gained a newfound respect for the profession of nursing,” says Valenty. “I was with her every day, and the nurses were just so good to her, I wanted to do something for them.”

The Salvatore J. and Sara A. Valenty Nursing Scholarship was established with a generous $25,000 donation to the Conemaugh Health Foundation. Each March, $1,000 will be given to a Northern Cambria resident attending the Conemaugh School of Nursing. This year’s recipient is Melissa Phillips of Northern Cambria.

“Education is something that Sara and I always considered to be very important,” says Valenty. “We grew up in a time when none of us were able to go to school, because it was just too expensive, so hopefully with this donation we’ll be able to help others fulfill their educational dreams.”

Valenty has a long history with Miners Medical Center, having served as a member on the Miners Medical Center Board of Trustees since 1994, in addition to a short stint in the early 1980s. Mr. Valenty also currently serves as a Cambria County Commissioner.

“Mr. Valenty has given so much of his time and of himself over the years,” says Susan Mann, President, Conemaugh Health Foundation. “This donation is another testament to his giving spirit. He is an inspiration and a true steward of his community.”

About the Conemaugh Health Foundation

The Conemaugh Health Foundation (CHF) is a nonprofit, qualified charitable organization responsible for raising funds to support the programs and services of the Conemaugh Health System. Donations to the Foundation stay in the local community to serve the needs of the entities of the Conemaugh Health System. These entities include Memorial, Meyersdale and Miners Medical Centers.

Memorial holds CORE event to encourage organ donation

Each day 18 Americans die because they fail to receive a life-saving organ donation. Memorial Medical Center (MMC) and The Center for Organ Recovery and Education (CORE) are teaming up to celebrate April as National Donate Life Month. On Thursday, April 1, at 11:30 a.m. in MMC’s Clinical Pavilion Atrium, representatives from CORE will discuss the importance of organ donation and present MMC with an award for facility’s organ donation efforts.

The goal of this month-long observance, which came about due to a Congressional proclamation in 2003, is to highlight the critical need for designated donors. Each year, April is full of activities, programs and media stories featuring donor families and transplant recipients sharing their personal accounts about the impact the gift of life has had on them. While there are many success stories, hundreds of thousands more live compromised lives because they have not received a needed tissue donation to enhance their daily routines or to restore vision.

“More than 100,000 people are currently waiting for an organ transplant, with someone new added to that list every 12 minutes,” says S. Lee Miller, MD, Chairman, Department of Surgery, MMC, and Chief Medical Officer of CORE in Pittsburgh. “April is an opportunity to raise awareness about this important need and encourage people to designate themselves as an organ donor, which is a very simple thing to do. If you can get on the Internet or make a trip to the DMV, then you can potentially save a life by becoming an organ donor.”

In Pennsylvania, the organ donor designation is noted by the words “organ donor” in green on the driver’s license or state identification card. Pennsylvanians can designate themselves as an organ donor by logging onto www.donatelife-pa.org and following the links to sign onto the donor registry or when getting their driver’s license or state identification card reissued at the DMV.
Currently, the Pennsylvania Donor Registry is only 44 percent filled, and among the 48 states that have registries, Pennsylvania is below many of the states listed, including Ohio, Illinois, Iowa and Utah.

For more information, please contact the CORE Communications/Community Relations Department at 1-800-DONORS-7 or visit the website at www.core.org.

About the Conemaugh Health System
Serving over a half-million patients each year through the Conemaugh Physician Group, a network of hospitals, specialty clinics and patient focused programs; Conemaugh Health System (CHS) is the largest healthcare provider in West Central Pennsylvania with 4,500+ employees and 350 physicians. For more information visit www.conemaugh.org.

Memorial takes the “Gold”- designated as an Advanced Primary Stroke Center

The Joint Commission, formerly the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, recently recognized Memorial Medical Center (MMC) with disease-specific accreditation as an Advanced Primary Stroke Center - a title recognized nationally as the Gold Seal of Approval™ in healthcare.

The honor was awarded following The Joint Commission’s on-site review of MMC’s stroke treatment protocols and abilities.

“I’m extremely proud of our physicians, nurses and staff who have worked very hard to ensure that our program not only meets, but exceeds, national standards,” says David Carlson, DO, Chief Medical Officer, Conemaugh Health System. “In the event of a stroke every second counts. The faster and more effectively a stroke patient is treated, the better their chances for a positive outcome; therefore, it’s encouraging to know that we have the resources at Memorial to provide them with the specialized care they need, when they need it.”

Memorial’s Stroke Program includes a team of neurologists, neurosurgeons and nurses trained in stroke care, along with two designated stroke units, Crichton inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services, a Stroke Specialty Clinic and a Stroke Support Group.

“People may not realize that every 45 seconds, someone has a stroke. It’s the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of adult disability in the United States,” says Jeremy Meisel, MD, Medical Director, Stroke Program, MMC. “Due to the large number of people stroke impacts each year, including patients and their family members, Memorial has made stroke care a top priority. For more than a year, we’ve worked diligently to make sure that our Stroke Program is second to none, and being named an Advanced Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission is evidence that we’re doing our part to provide the best stroke care to our patients,” adds Dr. Meisel.

In 2008, Memorial implemented a “Stroke Alert,” much like a Trauma Alert, which notifies Stroke Program team members about an incoming stroke. A few months following the adoption of the alert, stroke response times were significantly improved. In one particular case, the entire work-up, including labs, CT and the neurology consult was completed in a total of 13 minutes, that’s compared to the national average of more than 35 minutes.

“The Stroke Alert system is one piece of the puzzle,” says Dr. Alfred Bowles, Chairman of the Department of Neurosciences and Divisional Chairman of Neurological Surgery, MMC. “Over the past year and a half, we’ve been able to dramatically cut the time it takes to bring all of the specialized staff together, necessary to treat these patients and help ensure the best possible outcomes. It’s wonderful to see what we’ve been able to accomplish with teamwork and, as an Advanced Primary Stroke Center, how we’re supporting Conemaugh Health System’s vision, ‘Excellence. Every Patient. Every Time.’”

Strokes, also know as brain attacks, occur when there is a blockage or hemorrhage of a blood vessel leading to the brain, causing inadequate oxygen supply. In addition to death, depriving the brain of oxygen can result in body weakness, paralysis and speech difficulties.

Symptoms of Stroke:

1.Numbness, weakness or paralysis of face, arm or leg on one side of the body
2.Difficulty speaking or understanding
3.Sudden blurred or decreased vision in one or both eyes
4.A sudden, severe, unexplainable headache
5.Dizziness or loss of balance, especially along with one of the above symptoms

Risk Factors of Stroke:

•Age: the risk of a stroke more than doubles each decade after 55
•Gender: the incidence of a stroke is 30% higher for men than women, until menopause when the incidence is nearly equal
•Race: African Americans are at 60% greater risk for stroke than Caucasians
•Other risk factors include: hypertension, heart disease, smoking, diabetes, heavy alcohol use, high cholesterol, obesity and a family history of stroke

Medical Technology Student at Memorial receives scholarship

Aarika MacIntyre, a student at the Medical Technology Program at Memorial Medical Center recently won a $1,000 scholarship through the American Society for Clinical Pathology and Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics.

The scholarship is given to a student currently enrolled in a Clinical Laboratory Medical Technology Program that exhibits academic achievement, leadership and potential for success in the profession.

Conemaugh School of Nursing receives award for aiding local family

The Conemaugh School of Nursing’s Chapter of the Student Nurses’ Association received the 2009 Student Nurses’ Association of Pennsylvania (SNAP) Community Health Project Award for assisting a local family struggling with a debilitating disease.

Jamie Eckenrod, a Conemaugh School of Nursing student and President of the Conemaugh Chapter of the Student Nurses’ Association of Pennsylvania, headed up the fundraising project after learning about 15-year-old Jessica Ambroe of Johnstown, who suffers from an extremely rare and fatal neurogenerative epilepsy called Lafora Disease. Jessica’s mother, Michele, is a 2005 graduate of Conemaugh SON.

Eckenrod and her classmates initiated community awareness efforts and raised $1,500 for the Ambroe family to go toward Lafora Disease research.

“We were all so touched by Jessica’s story that we wanted to support their amazing family,” Eckenrod said. “As a community service organization at Conemaugh SON, we wanted to create local awareness about Lafora Disease, so we decided to hold a bake sale at Richland Fire Hall during Thunder in the Valley, where we raised funds while also passing out informational flyers on Lafora Disease.”

“Out of several nurses’ associations across the state, we are so proud that Conemaugh’s student nurses have been recognized for their community outreach initiative,” says Mark Dellett, RN, BSN, Advisor, Conemaugh Student Nurses’ Association. “This was a cause that they truly believed in and gave it their all, so we’re delighted that they not only helped this local family, but were also commended by SNAP for a job well done.”

According to SNAP, the goal of the Community Health Project Award is to encourage the development and implementation of nursing-related community service projects.

CAPTION: (left to right) Mark Dellett, RN, BSN, SNAP Advisor, with senior SON students Amanda Ream, Jamie Eckenrod and Rebecca Dumm.

Memorial Medical Center celebrates Brain Awareness Week with health fair

For the second year in a row, Memorial Medical Center (MMC) will celebrate Brain Awareness Week, March 15-24, by participating in a local Brain Awareness Health Fair.

The Fair, being held Wednesday, March 17, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Memorial Medical Center’s Clinical Pavilion Atrium, will be in conjunction with an international Brain Awareness Week event hosted by the Dana Foundation. Organizations across Cambria County will join the Conemaugh Health System in promoting an array of topics pertaining to brain health. Professionals from the following will be on hand:


Crichton Rehabilitation Center

MMC’s Stroke Program

Brain Tumor Treatment Program

Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center

Epilepsy Foundation Western/Central Pennsylvania

Unlimited Care Providers

John P. Murtha Neuroscience and Pain Institute

MMC’s General Surgery Residency Program


Interactive displays for all ages will be available as well as information on ways to keep your brain healthy. In addition, attendees can hear brain research success stories, participate in fun brainteasers and enjoy brain-healthy food giveaways. Free parking will be available in the parking garages on MMC’s Main Campus.


About the Dana Foundation

According to the Dana Foundation website, the Dana Foundation is a private philanthropic organization that supports brain research through grants and educates the public about the successes and potential of brain research. www.dana.org

HealthGrades Awards for Excellence-

Memorial Medical Center is proud to be the only hospital in Pennsylvania to receive both the HealthGrades Maternity Care and Women’s Excellence Award, and the only hospital in the region ranked among the Top 10% in the Nation for Maternity Care.

Memorial Medical Center has received the 2009/2010 Women’s Health Excellence Award™ and Maternity Care Excellence Award™ from HealthGrades, the nation’s leading independent healthcare ratings organization, based on a study of patient outcomes.

169 hospitals, which represent the top five percent of all hospitals in the U.S., were recognized with the Women’s Health Excellence Award™ and 145 were recognized with a Maternity Care Excellence Award™. Only 15 hospitals across the country received both prestigious awards and only one in the state of Pennsylvania was among this elite group - Conemaugh’s Memorial Medical Center.

“It’s quite an honor to be the only hospital in the state and one of just 15 in the country honored with HealthGrades Excellence Awards in both Maternity Care and Women’s Health,” says David Carlson, DO, Chief Medical Officer, Conemaugh Health System. “This latest recognition reinforces the fact that the care provided by our highly skilled and dedicated physicians, nurses and staff is not only improving, but saving numerous lives. We are very proud of each and every one of our employees for their commitment to ‘Excellence. Every patient. Every time.’”

The study, along with HealthGrades’ individual hospital ratings, can be viewed at the HealthGrades web site.

Honor a doctor who has touched your life, while raising money for a charitable cause

Conemaugh Health Foundation (CHF) is celebrating the National Doctor’s Day on March 30 by once again giving the community an opportunity to make donations in honor or memory of an outstanding physician.

Over the past three years, the Conemaugh Health Foundation has received donations honoring more than 170 physicians, approximately $18,500, which benefits the Greatest Patient Needs Fund.

The Greatest Patient Needs Fund provides patients who are underinsured or uninsured with things such as diabetic test strips, transportation and wigs for cancer patients. This fund also supports much needed technology and patient education.

Physicians are notified when a donation is made in their honor, however the amount is not disclosed.

Donations can be made in honor of your doctor online at www.conemaugh.org/foundation. Checks may be made payable to the Conemaugh Health Foundation and mailed to 1086 Franklin Street, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, 15905, or contact the CHF at 814-534-3133.

The Origin of National Doctor’s Day
It was started by Eudora Brown Almond (wife of Dr. Charles B. Almond) of Winder, Georgia, to mark the anniversary of the first use of general anesthesia in surgery. This took place on March 30, 1842, when Crawford W. Long, MD, of Jefferson, Georgia, administered the first ether anesthesia to James Venable and then operated to remove a tumor from the man's neck.

When Eudora Brown Almond and the Barrow County Medical Society Auxiliary were inspired to recognize this accomplishment, the result was a local community celebration on March 30, 1933, which was the first Doctors' Day. The occasion was celebrated by mailing cards to physicians and their wives, and by placing flowers on the graves of deceased doctors, including Dr. Long. His history-making achievement on that day, and the continuous efforts by physicians to alleviate human suffering in the 168 years since then, have become the basis for celebrating Doctors' Day each year.

The only Transitional Care Unit in region to add 12 beds

Leaders at Memorial Medical Center (MMC) are pleased to announce that the Transitional Care Unit (TCU) will be expanding. The only unit of its kind in the region, the TCU recently relocated to PC2 at MMC’s Lee Campus, which will allow the unit to gradually increase its census from 18 to 30 residents.

“We are very pleased with the move,” says Nancy Tyrrell, RN, MSN, MHA, Director, Long Term Care, MMC. “Right now we’re in the process of interviewing new staff members, but anticipate that we will be able to accept the full 30 residents by June 2010.”

The TCU provides care to those at all stages of illness or injury, including those who are recovering from major surgeries as well as joint replacements, fractures or other orthopedic conditions. Residents have recently spent three or more days in an acute care facility, such as Memorial, and are still in need of short-term skilled services as defined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). These services include: Physical, Occupational or Speech Therapy; IV Therapy; Cardio and Respiratory Management; and Pain Management.

“The TCU provides a very important part of the healing process for patients who are not serious enough to remain as an inpatient, but are still in need of specialized care and rehabilitation before returning home,” says Dr. David Carlson, CMO, Conemaugh Health System. “There is a strong need for this kind of unit in our region, and we’re proud to be the only facility in a four-county area to offer this crucial step-down level of care.”

While in the TCU, a team of caregivers, including social workers, immediately begin working with patients and their families to develop a realistic “discharge plan.” This plan includes long and short-term goals as well as any additional needs that a patient may have upon leaving the TCU. Patients’ families also receive progress updates twice a week. The TCU is regulated by the Department of Health division of long-term care and accepts Medicare patients only.

Colorectal Cancer

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Former Memorial Medical Center resident joins MedWELL

Memorial Medical Center (MMC) is pleased to announce the addition of Sahar Elias, MD, board certified in family medicine.

Dr. Elias, who graduated from MMC’s Family Medicine Residency program in 2008, will be seeing patients at MedWELL urgent care center located at 1450 Scalp Avenue in Johnstown.

“I enjoy family medicine because you get to see the entire gamut of cases and conditions, and your patients range in age from pediatrics to geriatrics,” says Dr. Elias. “MedWELL is a good fit for me because, in addition to the variety, I also enjoy the fast paced nature of the center and am very comfortable with the staff.”

In 1997, Dr. Elias received her medical doctorate from Aleppo University School of Medicine in Syria, where she graduated in the top five percent of her class. In addition to the residency program at Memorial, Dr. Elias also completed an Externship with Hematology Oncology Associates in Pittsburgh, where she served as an observer in the outpatient clinic at Forbes Regional Hospital in Monroeville.

Dr. Elias’s volunteer work over the years has earned her praise. In 2002, she received the “Most Compassionate Doctor Award” from the Orthodoxy Church Orphan’s House, where she provided free medical consultation one day a week from 2001-2003.

Dr. Elias resides in Johnstown with her husband, Samir Hadeed, MD, FACC, FSCAI, cardiologist, Conemaugh Physician Group, and their two children.

“This is a great place to raise a family,” says Dr. Elias. “I’m delighted to have the ability to live in a safe community and enjoy a wonderful quality of life, while also getting to do what I love as a physician.”

MedWELL is open to patients seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. with limited laboratory and imaging services available on-site. For more information, call MedWELL at 814-269-5200.

Memorial Medical Center earns National Recognition for Patient Care

Memorial Medical Center has once again earned national recognition for the care provided to patients.

HealthGrades, the nation’s leading independent healthcare ratings organization, has recognized Memorial Medical Center with the 2010 Pulmonary Care Excellence Award. This recognition ranks Memorial in the Top 10% in the nation for overall pulmonary care.

In addition, Memorial also received Five-Star ratings from HealthGrades for:

1. Treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) – 8 years in a row (2003-2010)
2. Treatment of Pneumonia
3. Treatment of Pulmonary Embolism
4. Repair of Abdominal Aorta
5. Appendectomy
6. Prostatectomy

This was the third year in a row that Memorial Medical Center has received a Five-Star rating for Prostatectomy. Memorial is ranked in the Top 10% in the nation for this procedure and among the Top 5 Hospitals in Pennsylvania.

“We realized the continued achievement of recognitions like these take each and every employee,” says Dr. David Carlson, Chief Medical Officer of the Conemaugh Health System. “We are extremely proud of the work that is done here at Memorial and by our colleagues at Miners and Meyersdale Medical Centers as well. I encourage our employees to keep up the good work and continue to look for new and innovative ways to make each and every patient experience a positive one.”

These most recent HealthGrades recognitions come on the heels of the 2009/2010 Women’s Health Excellence Award and Maternity Care Excellence Award. Memorial was one of only 15 hospitals across the country and the only hospital in Pennsylvania to receive both prestigious awards.

About HealthGrades
Health Grades, Inc. (Nasdaq: HGRD) is the leading independent healthcare ratings organization, providing quality ratings, profiles and cost information on the nation's hospitals, physicians, nursing homes and prescription drugs. Millions of patients and many of the nation’s largest employers, health plans and hospitals rely on HealthGrades’ quality ratings, advisory services and decision-support resources. More information on how HealthGrades guides America to better healthcare can be found at http://www.healthgrades.com.