Winter 2013 Volume 15 • Number 1 - Morrow County Hospital++ Thirty-eight new physicians were credentialed to better serve our patients and community. “We made lots of progress

Since coming to Morrow County Hospital in January, 2012, Chris Truax, President and CEO, has led his team on a strategic journey to “right the ship.”

“It has been a year of extremely hard work, and everyone has put forth extraordinary effort to achieve amazing accomplish-ments for this hospital and this community,” said Chris. Some of these include –

++ Partnership with the OhioHealth Stroke Network which allows MCH to use advanced technology to connect patients and caregivers with OhioHealth neurologists specializing in immediate stroke care.

++ Implementation of a hospital-wide computer system (Meditech) to better serve our patients.

++ Contract with Pharmacy Systems Incorporated for supply chain services to negotiate contracts for the best pricing and cost savings.

++ Formation of Morrow County Hospital Health Services, Inc., entity to enhance the primary care network.

++ Hospital employees exceeded their United Way Pacesetter Campaign goal and raised more than $12,100 to benefit the 10 local United Way agencies.

++ Recognition of 28 hospital employees for their combined 310 years of dedicated service.

++ New and expanded mobile MRI service with advanced equipment and cutting-edge technology for high-quality scanning and fast acquisition times.

++ Introduction of a state-of-the-art nuclear medicine camera imaging system to provide accurate diagnostic imaging and quality patient care.

++ Expansion of Hospitalist services to provide coverage 24/7 for hospitalized inpatients in partnership with Premier Physician Services.

++ Opening of MCH Primary Care Cardington and MCH Primary Care Northfield to grow and improve health-care access in Morrow County.

++ Thirty-eight new physicians were credentialed to better serve our patients and community.

“We made lots of progress in 2012 and are moving forward in 2013 to target new services and physicians to ensure high-quality healthcare locally,” said Chris.

PulseWinter 2013 • Volume 15 • Number 1

2012 – What A Year!

A new Vascular Clinic is open twice each month on the second and fourth Thursday in the hospital’s Medical Specialty Center North staffed by the OhioHealth heart and vascu-lar physicians from MidOhio Cardiology and Vascular Consultants – Mitchell Silver, DO; Gary Ansel, MD; Charles Botti, MD; and John Phillips, MD. In the clinic, these phy-

sicians evaluate patients for comprehensive peripheral

Vascular Services Available Locally

(continued on page 2)

Morrow County Hospital

www.morrowcountyhospital.com

Pulse – Winter 2013 • Vol. 15 • No. 1Published on a quarterly basis for employees, physicians, board members, volunteers and friends of Morrow County Hospital.

Editorial Staff – Lois Peoples, Public Relations ManagerContributing Writers – Evelyn Long and Lois Peoples

If you have a story idea, please contact –+(419) 949.3088

vascular services targeting arterial, venous and lymphatic dis-ease states. Non-invasive vascular testing including carotid, AAA (abdominal aorta aneurysm), lower extremity arterial and venous, and vascular screening is now offered locally.

who is now on “care” duty at home. Carol mentioned, “The worker’s compensation nurse who visited Tony at Morrow County Hospital said, in her book, she consid-ered his care to be ‘elite’ status. This is based on how she measures outcomes in rehab facilities according to how well the patient progresses and the care received. The nurse considers this to be an amazing success story and Morrow County Hospital to have an ‘elite’ rehab and swing bed program.” For Tony, his rehab continues with the support and encouragement of his family both at home and as an outpatient in the hospital’s Rehab Services Department.


Vascular Services Available Locally(continued from cover)

Charles F. Botti, MD, FaCCInterventional CardiologyPeripheral Vascular Disease

Gary M. ansel, MD, FaCCInterventional CardiologyPeripheral Vascular Disease

John a. PhilliPs, MDInterventional CardiologyPeripheral Vascular Disease

Tony Ortiz enjoyed a “going home” party in December after a six-week stay in the hospital’s Swing Bed Program on Acute Care. “When Tony came here, he had been severely injured in a work-related incident and there was a question of whether he would ever walk again,” said Carol Vail, RN, Acute Care Manager. Tony’s pelvis was fractured in multiple places, and he had numerous other injuries. Twice a day, Tony worked with the physical therapy assistant Sara Ostrom and Allison LaLone, occupational therapy assistant. “The entire staff cared for him like family,” Carol mentioned.

“As a result of Tony’s determination and the hospital’s intense rehab and caring, Tony went home able to walk with a walker,” Carol said. “I’m so proud of Tony and cannot say enough about the hospital staff and the way they took care of Tony,” said his wife Brenda,

Patients can benefit from cutting-edge endo-vascular procedures including carotid artery stenting, AAA stent grafts and limb salvage revascularization, in addition to several active research trials in many other vascular beds. These services are available at Riverside Methodist Hospital (Columbus).

To learn more about the Vascular Clinic or to schedule an appointment, please call the Morrow County hospital Medical specialty Center north – (419) 949.3080. For non-invasive vascular testing, please contact Morrow County hospital imaging services – (419) 949.3090.

Swing Bed Program Gets Tony Back On His Feet

Tony Ortiz and his wife Brenda (in front) posed for a going home celebration photo with his Morrow County Hospital Swing Bed Program team of caregiv-ers – (L to R): Vanessa Fiant, RN; Danella Branch, STNA, Amanda Brubaker, STNA; Kathy Koontz, STNA; Carol Vail, RN, Acute Care Manager; Mary Koesterman (Facilities/Environmental Services); Allison LaLone, COTA; Ryan LaRoche, RN; Sara Ostrom, PTA; Leslye Sorrell, RN; and David Colella, DO, Hospitalist.


MCh Pulse newsletter Winter 2013 3

Calendar of Community Outreach Programs & Services

January/February/March

Healthcare Provider CPRTuesday/January 29 • 3:30-7:30 p.m. MCH Room A

Monday/February 4 • 8 a.m.-12 p.m. MCH Room A

Wednesday/March 6 • 8 a.m.-12 p.m. MCH Room A

Certification/Recertification – $45 Book – $15 • Registration Required Minimum Class Size: 6 participants

This class is for healthcare professionals and teaches all aspects of basic life support. Community members wishing to register for a CPR class are required to pre-pay their registration fee (non-refundable) seven days prior to the class date, or their name will be removed from the class roster.

Diabetes Support GroupTuesday/February 5 • 6-7 p.m. MCH Room C

Registration Required • Free ProgramMinimum Class Size: 10 participants

A Support Group is important and helpful to people with diabetes. A Support Group pro-vides a venue to meet others who share simi-lar concerns and experiences. By sharing their experiences, group members can feel part of a community and gain a greater sense of value and power from this feeling of belong-ing. Each group meeting will focus on another aspect of the disease, featuring guest speak-ers. This is a FREE MCH Outreach program.

Heartsaver CPRWednesday/February 6 • 4-7 p.m. MCH Room A

Certification/Recertification – $45(includes book) • Registration Required Minimum Class Size: 10 participants

Learn basic adult and pediatric life support techniques. Community members wishing to register for a CPR class are required to pre-pay their registration fee (non-refundable) seven days prior to the class date, or their name will be removed from the class roster.

First Aid ClassTuesday/February 12 • 4-7 p.m. MCH Room A

Registration Fee – $40 (includes book) Registration Required Minimum Class Size: 6 participants

This American Heart Association First Aid Class will teach participants (anyone over the age of 14 years) to identify medical emer-gencies and how to provide proper first aid. Community members wishing to register for a first aid class are required to pre-pay their registration fee (non-refundable) seven days prior to the class date, or their name will be removed from the class roster.

American Red Cross BloodmobileWednesday/February 20 10 a.m.-4 p.m. • MCH Room APositive identification required – American Red Cross donor card or photo ID showing date of birth. Call MCH Public Relations to schedule an appointment – (419) 949.3089.

“MCH Health Awareness” Blood ProfilesNo appointment necessary! 6-9:30 a.m.Eligibility: Anyone age 18 and over

Saturday/February 23 Morrow County Hospital (Room A) (Use “Receiving” entrance)

Saturday/March 16 Morrow County Hospital (Room A) (Use “Receiving” entrance)

Morrow County Hospital’s laboratory personnel will offer $25 “MCH Health Awareness” blood profiles, which include a battery of 27 tests.

Remember –+ An 8- to 10-hour fast is necessary for accurate results – no eating.+ Drink moderate amounts of water.+ Take your medications with moderate amounts of water.

For an additional $25, you may also receive a TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) test.

absolutely…no physicians’ orders for addi-tional tests will be accepted at this screening. This $25 blood profile will only be available at Morrow County Hospital!

Diabetes EducationRegistration Required • Free ProgramMinimum Class Size: 10 participants

Tuesday/March 5 • 6-8:30 p.m. MCH Room AThursday/March 7 • 6-8:30 p.m. MCH Room CTuesday/March 12 • 6-8:30 p.m. MCH Room AThursday/March 14 • 6-8:30 p.m. MCH Room A This four-part/ten-hour program is for recent-ly diagnosed diabetics. Each night of this twice-a-week/two-week course, a different aspect of the diabetes disease process will be discussed. you must attend all four classes to complete this course.

Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)Friday/March 15 • 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. MCH Rooms A & CMaximum Class Size: 24 participants

RECERTIFICATION ONLY

Prerequisites:• ACLS Recertification – Current ACLS Certification & Current Healthcare Provider CPR Certification • Completion of ACLS Pretest Required

Community Registration Fees:Recertification – $100 • Book – $35 Registration RequiredThis class is for healthcare professionals and teaches all aspects of advanced life support. You will need to provide proof of required prerequisite at class registration. Community members wishing to register for an ACLS recertification class are required to pre-pay their registration fee (non-refundable) seven days prior to the class date, or their name will be removed from the class roster.

Pre-registration is required for all programs unless otherwise noted. To register for any of the listed programs, or for more information, please call Morrow County Hospital’s Public Relations Department – (419) 949.3089 or (419) 949.3088 – Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

over 4,900 outreach blood profiles (4,936 to be exact) were per-formed and processed by the hospital’s laboratory staff in 2012. In addition to the profiles, the hospital offered free “Ask A Nurse” services to answer health-related questions and perform blood pressure checks. A radiologic technologist was also on site to pro-vide free Achilles pre-screening osteoporosis testing to evaluate a person’s bone loss.

“MCH Health Awareness” blood profiles are being offered in 2013 for $25 which includes a battery of 27 different tests and $25 for the thyroid stimulating hormone test (TSH). Rhonda Graham, Laboratory Director, is proud of the work her staff does both on the front lines and behind the scenes. “It is our commitment to our

community,” she said. “This year, blood pro-files will only be offered at the hospital in the lower level. This process has been changed to assure our patients that their tests are performed in a timely manner by the most highly skilled staff with the most accurate test results.”

4 MCh Pulse newsletter Winter 2013


Blood Profiles – Favorite Outreach Program

robert Wolford is very complimentary of the laboratory staff for providing blood profiles so economically and painlessly by Vicki Davenport, phlebotomist.

Joan Wilfing appreciated having “Ask A Nurse,” Connie Mattingly, rn, check her blood pressure at a blood profile event.

Keely Conner, rt, is one of the radiologic technologists who performed the free Achilles pre-screening test at blood profiles.

Women who have their screening mammograms at Morrow County Hospital now have the advantage of having those images interpreted by specialists from Riverside Radiology and Interventional Associates (RRIA). RRIA is recognized as one of the nation’s leading independent radiology group practices. In October, RRIA and Morrow County Hospital teamed up to encourage women over the age of 40 to schedule their annual screening mammogram as part of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Board-certified radiologist Vincent Trago, MD, who has read roughly 70,000 mammograms throughout his career, said most of the mammograms he reads belong to women age 40 or older.

In addition to digital mammography technology, Dr. Trago also uses computer-aided detection (CAD) technology that searches the digital mammograms for suspicious areas that may indicate signs of cancer. Breast imaging has made great technological strides in the past five years and digital mammography has made a significant impact and is now a mainstay in the field and available at MCH.

“The more experience and specialized training a radi-ologist has in reading a particular type of study, includ-ing mammograms and dedicated breast images, the better they can interpret the images or perform the procedures,” said Dr. Trago. “This is quite important in medicine today, where studies are becoming more

Mammography Services – Expanded Hours

(continued on page 7)



Morrow County Hospital contin-ues its goal of offering convenient and accessible healthcare services locally with the establishment of three Primary Care sites in Morrow County. All three are under the gov-ernance of Morrow County Hospital Health Services, Inc., an entity formed to serve as an employment company for MCH medical staff and mid-level providers. According to Chris Truax, MCH President and CEO, “This entity is vital to the via-bility of MCH to not only stabilize our primary care market, but also to ensure that healthcare services are available throughout the county.”

MCH Primary Care Cardington, 116 East Main Street, opened its doors on October 1, 2012, with Bill Addington, DO, and his office staff eager to start seeing patients over the age of 14. Dr. Addington is board-certified with the American Board of Internal Medicine and is a graduate of the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine and served his residency at Riverside Methodist Hospital.

On that same date, MCH Primary Care Northfield, with most visibly just a name change, continues

to offer its services at 6519 U.S. Highway 42 with Grant Galbraith, MD, who is board certified in fam-ily medicine, and his two certified nurse practitioners – Barb Beck and Jill Steele caring for patients. Dr. Galbraith noted, “We have enjoyed a strong relationship with Morrow County Hospital here at Northfield over the years. With our new partnership, we anticipate enhanced services for outpatients and continued healthcare growth for the northern community.” Also available at MCH Primary Care Northfield, patients are welcome to bring a prescription from any licensed practitioner for blood tests, x-rays, EKGs, or to schedule physical therapy in the same facility where Morrow County Hospital’s clinicians have been providing these services for nearly a decade.

MCH Primary Care Mt. Gilead, 245 Neal Avenue, is the third such healthcare site in the county. Eric Hansen, MD, and John Nduaguba, MD, both experienced physicians, are board-certified and are recog-nized for not only their medical expertise, but their commitment to customer service as validated by patient satisfaction surveys.

Access To Primary Care Benefits Community

Grant GalBraith, MDMCH Primary Care Northfield

Bill aDDinGton, DoMCH Primary Care Cardington

BarB BeCK, CnPMCH Primary Care Northfield

John nDuaGuBa, MDMCH Primary Care Mt. Gilead

eriC hansen, MDMCH Primary Care Mt. Gilead

Jill steele, CnPMCH Primary Care Northfield

To learn more about these three MCH Primary Care

locations, please call –

MCH Primary Care Cardington • (419) 864.4440MCH Primary Care Mt. Gilead • (419) 947.3015MCH Primary Care Northfield • (419) 362.6033


Morrow County Hospital (MCH) has contracted with CORPath and the OhioHealth Laboratories at Riverside Methodist Hospital to provide their reference laboratory testing and ana-tomic pathology services. CORPath is the entity that provides pathology services for central Ohio OhioHealth hospitals. This partnership, became effective October 1, 2012, and includes assigning Kevin Forsthoefel, MD, as MCH’s Laboratory Medical Director.

Dr. Forsthoefel is a skilled and board-certified pathologist who is one of 15 members of the CORPath group that has partnered with MCH to deliver high-quality pathology services in this community.

Dr. Forsthoefel explained each member of his group holds a variety of board specifications. “Our approach is to use the broader range of specialty skills you can get in a larger setting and bring that to a smaller setting. This group includes 15 pathologists who have a range of spe-cialty skills and certifications such as blood bank, clinical chemistry, kidney pathology, breast pathology, neuro-logical pathology, etc., and a dozen who are anatomic laboratory (tissue) pathology. The other is the clinical laboratory site which involves chemistry, blood banking, microbiology, hematology, etc.”

“The group of us together can do a much broader range of testing and I have 14 colleagues to work with,” he said. A pathologist will be on site at MCH weekly and will be available for scheduled frozen sections, fine-needle aspi-rates, thyroid biopsies and any other specialty procedures as needed. Dr. Forsthoefel will be at MCH at least twice a month. His responsibilities also include handling “every-thing from quality control, policy and procedures, certification requirements, etc.”

The partnership involves the use of the OhioHealth PowerPath computer system for pathology reports. Early 2013, MCH will have a PowerPath work station to expe-dite the specimen accessioning and turnaround times of anatomic pathology specimens. Tests not performed by OhioHealth in their laboratory will automatically be forwarded to the Mayo Clinic Laboratory of ChildLab (Nationwide Children’s Hospital). All reports return elec-tronically to MCH and will be available online in Meditech, the hospital’s new computer system.

Dr. Forsthoefel, a native of Coldwater (OH) has achieved an impressive background of training. He is a graduate of Wright State University and the University of Cincinnati Medical College. He completed his internal medicine internship at the University of Akron and his pathology residency at The Ohio State University. Dr. Forsthoefel has served as an assistant professor in the Department of Pathology at OSU and has been CORPath President for four years.

The relationship with OhioHealth Laboratories and CORPath promises to provide quicker turnaround of accurate test results which, in turn, means better care for patients.

6 MCh Pulse newsletter Winter 2013


Laboratory Partners With OhioHealth

The old saying “being in the right place at the right time,” proved to be a positive for a passenger on board a recent flight from Boston to Columbus. This was the same flight on which Debi Klupp, RN, was return-ing home when she noticed the gentleman across the aisle from her was unresponsive. After the flight attendant brought an oxygen tank for the gentleman, she asked through the phone, if anyone on board had medi-cal experience. Debi, who is a surgical nurse at Morrow County Hospital, responded and assessed the gentle-man, finding him pale, but “coming around.” His wife was scared though

trying to rouse him, too. He continued to be slow to respond and “I had trouble finding his pulse although I got some vital signs,” said Debi. The flight attendant, through the pilot, put Debi on the phone and in touch with a physician they had contacted. “I gave the physician the patient’s history as I found him,” continued Debi. The decision was made to make an emergency landing in Pittsburgh. “I told his wife to have all of his medical background and any other information about him ready

for the medics,” said Debi, add-ing that the wife said her hus-band had just learned he had vascular problems. When the plane landed, leaving some pas-sengers disgruntled, emergency personnel came on the plane with a chair stretcher, placed the gentleman on it and was quickly off the plane. The plane then

resumed its flight to Ohio. Although Debi was pleased to be at the right place, at the right time, she regrets not knowing the outcome of the gentleman’s condition. In her heart, Debi hopes she made a difference to this couple.

Nurse Lends Assistance



detailed and specific.” New technologies like digital mammography allow radiologists to read more quickly and accurately, resulting in more accurate reports to physicians and patients, ultimately decreasing the anxi-

ety women experience while waiting for their results.

For Dora Brown and many others, it is not only the assurance the tests are performed using state-of-the-art equipment and the images are interpreted by expert radiologists – it is the ease of scheduling and the expanded hours. “At Morrow County Hospital, I can schedule my mammo-gram any day of the week at almost any time,” said Dora. “I’m a Saturday person. I babysit during the week for my grandchildren and find it difficult to schedule a mammogram Monday

through Friday. I can come to MCH where I know my tests are performed by the very best certified technolo-gists and read by the highly skilled RRIA radiologists. That gives me confidence!”


Mammography Services – Expanded Hours (continued from page 4)

The Imaging Services team celebrated National Breast Cancer Awareness Month with pink carnations and informational materials. (L to R): Russ Merrin, RT(R), BS, Radiology Manager; Kim Chavatzas, receptionist; Cheryl Young, RT; Vincent Trago, MD; Carla Hoyng, RT; Kelli Jagger, RT; Sheryl Claus, RT; and Amber Skelton, RT.

With the addi-tion of David Colella, DO, Morrow County Hospital now has two skilled Hospitalists on its staff. Dr. Colella, a Youngstown native, joins Sabreen Abu

Obaid, MD, as the two who care for inpatients through Premier Physician Services.

A graduate of The Ohio State University, Dr. Colella earned his Osteopathic Degree in Medicine from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (Erie, PA) followed by inter-nal medicine training at Riverside Methodist Hospital (Columbus).

“I had great exposure there because of all the sub-specialists we work with at Riverside,” said Dr. Colella. “We got all the sub-specialty training in one. I’m prepared for anything. I think this really translates well to small com-

munity hospitals like Morrow County. We can do things that haven’t been done before and many times can keep patients here who probably would have been sent to other hospitals,” he said. “This saves families from having to drive to Columbus or other places.”

With the addition of Dr. Colella, a Hospitalist is available around the clock. He will work seven days a week, from Tuesday to Monday. “We switch every other week,” he said. “We take care of everything to be done includ-ing the paperwork, and we work with cardiologists, etc. We cover floor calls on patients throughout the hospital and are on call for the Emergency Department. Our ultimate goal is to provide high-quality care for the patients,” said Dr. Colella. “We want to help the hospital grow and expand.”

A Hospitalist is a physician who specializes in caring for hospitalized patients and does not have an outpa-tient medical practice. A Hospitalist is dedicated to a patient’s care at all times, 24 hours a day, seven days a

week. When the Hospitalist is on call overnight, they are available to direct a patient’s medical care with nursing should urgent needs arise.

Ironically, Dr. Sabreen Abu Obaid was studying her residency when Dr. Colella was taking his residency. “She was six months ahead of me and encouraged me to consider the Hospitalist position at MCH,” said Dr. Colella. “I’ve worked here several months and the atmosphere is nice. It is a close-knit group and when people are happy, everything goes smoothly,” said Dr. Colella, who added that “one of the positives here is that not every day is the same.”

Dr. Colella and his wife reside in the Columbus area. She is in her resi-dency also as a Hospitalist at Doctors Hospital (Columbus).

Dr. Colella played football at Youngstown State University, likes to play golf and listen to music. He is also a dedicated Buckeye fan!

Hospitalists Care For Inpatients 24/7

Carrier PresortBoXholDer

PRSRT STDU.S. Postage

PaiDPermit #42Mt. Gilead OH 43338

Interested In Becoming A Hospital Volunteer?

Volunteers are a powerful force when it comes to pro-viding special patient care at Morrow County Hospital. With 84 men and women in six “Twig” groups, the “Auxiliary” volunteers

are known for their service to the hospital and for their fundraising endeavors which ultimately benefit patient care. These dedicated indi-viduals sponsor various sales – books, shoes and uniforms – as well as the Remembrance Tree project and their Annual Holiday Bazaar. They operate the hospital’s Gift Shop and volunteer

as sales clerks and greet visi-tors at the Twigette Desk. “It’s very obvious that our volunteers are kind and thoughtful people who enjoy being together and helping wherever needed,” said Lois Peoples, Public Relations Manager. Throughout the year, these talented volunteers make crafts for the Bazaar, sponsor homemade candy and pie sales, nut and candy sales, garage and rummage sales with proceeds from these projects being given to the hospital Auxiliary treasury. They assist with clerical assignments – sorting, fil-ing and mailings – to make everyone’s life better. “Yes, a group of volunteers assists with the mailing of the hospi-tal’s Pulse newsletter,” Lois mentioned. PLUS (People lending unlimited service) volunteers, of which there are currently 16 members, enjoy provid-ing service, but don’t attend monthly meetings and sponsor fundraising projects. “They are basically just a call away. Regardless of what is asked of them, they work cooperatively with the Auxiliary to ensure the success of their projects in addition to their own assignments,” said Lois.

In June, 2012, the Auxiliary donated $19,248.21 to purchase equipment for the hospital – AccuVein Device for Nursing, Surgery Syringe Smart Pump, Physical Therapy Hi-Lo Traction Table and Traction Unit System and Surgery Smoke Evacuators. Both Auxiliary and PLUS volunteers generously provided over 7,900 service hours during the past year.

There is always a need for hospital volunteers. If you are interested in becoming either an auxiliary or Plus volunteer, please contact – Lois Peoples, Public Relations Manager – (419) 949.3088.

Documents

Winter 2013 Volume 15 • Number 1 - Morrow County Hospital++ Thirty-eight new physicians were credentialed to better serve our patients and community. “We made lots of progress