Representatives from the Allen County Sheriff's office suspect 8-year-old Jemiel jumped or fell into the deep end of the pool. Authorities say his sister performed CPR until the emergency medical crew arrived.

Jemiel was taken to LMHS where he was later transported via helicopter to Children's Medical Center in Dayton. He was released on Wednesday, June 27 and is back to normal according to a report from the Lima News.

For more information, contact Jessie Irby, Marketing and Communications Specialist, at 419-226-5077.

"We feel that the week of Independence Day is the perfect time to implement an initiative of this nature," said Andrea Lybarger, LMHS Director of Marketing and Public Relations. "This is another way to show patients, especially our Veterans, how much we care," said Lybarger.

LMHS is a comprehensive healthcare organization committed to providing high quality healthcare in a family-centered environment. It is a not-for-profit health care organization with more than 1,600 employees and 25 facilities throughout a ten-county service area.

For more information, contact Jessie Irby, Marketing and Communications Specialist, at 419-226-5077.

To kick-off the study, LMHS, Ford Motor Company and St. Rita's Medical center will host a Breakfast of Champions on Wednesday, June 27 at the City Club located inside the Veteran's Memorial Civic Center at 7 a.m.. During the breakfast, members from each organization will be on-site to answer questions during a press conference.

Locally, the goal is for each champion to enroll a minimum of ten individuals into the study. The purpose of the study is to better understand lifestyle, behavioral, environmental and genetic factors that cause or prevent cancer, in order to eventually eliminate cancer as a major health problem.

CPS-3 focuses on men and women between the ages of 30 and 65 who have never been diagnosed with cancer. The time commitment is minimal, with 1-2 hours per week within a two-month timeframe. 

"I want to provide my patients with the most up-to-date and proven practices with the attention and smile of a small town provider," said Suchland. He is qualified to provide a broad spectrum of services including physical examinations, laboratory testing, diagnose and treat health problems, manage disease processes on a continuum, prescribe medications, and promote the health and well-being of patients and their families.

Lincoln Family Practice, part of the Lima Memorial Professional Corporation, is located at 1251  Lincoln Ave., Wapakoneta, Ohio 45895. The practice is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information, contact Jessie Irby, Marketing and Communications Specialist, at 419-226-5077.

Lawrence served as Valedictorian of his Allen East High School graduating class this May. He plans to attend The Ohio State University in the fall with an academic concentration in Biology and Chemistry. Lawrence has contributed more than two-hundred volunteer hours at Lima Memorial Hospital.

Wetli also served as Valedictorian of her Antwerp High School graduating class this May. She plans to attend The Ohio State University in the fall with an academic concentration in Nursing.

Lawrence and Wetli received their scholarships on Thursday, June 7 at noon in the Auxiliary Conference Room. The recipients were selected from a group of more than 130 applicants by the Auxiliary Scholarship Selection Committee.

The LMHS Auxiliary currently has 320 active volunteers and donates approximately $100,000 each year to help support the Lima Memorial Foundation and other special projects. The auxiliary recently pledged $400,000 to help expand the Family Birthing center.

LMHS Master Gardner, Rex Maurer gave the teens landscaping direction and helped with the layout. The purpose of the Landscape Improvement Project is to clean up and add color to the entrance of the hospital.

"We want the entrance of the hospital to be colorful and inviting, and this project will definitely help," said Ken Kurz, Director of the Lima Memorial Foundation.

The Makeover project is an annual United Way initiative that pairs volunteer teams from various organizations with United Way agencies that need updates and small renovations. In order to participate companies, organizations and groups must raise at least $500 and volunteer time to fix up and repair the agency in need.

"These organizations use all the incoming money to assist people and typically have no funding for tasks such as repairs and upgrades," said Judy Poling, a spokesperson for the United Way. This year ten local organizations participated. 

LMHS is very focused on supporting the communities we serve through countless health education efforts including health fairs, clinics and classes, community wellness days and partnerships with other community-minded organizations. Each year Lima Memorial gives back to the region approximately $25 million in community benefit.

This year's classic honored Glen Webb Jr, a graduate of Purdue University and Harvard Business School. Webb was an agent and President of Webb Insurance Agency. Mr. Webb was a founder and board member of the Lima Memorial Hospital Foundation and a former member of the Lima Memorial Hospital board of trustees.

Participation in the golf classic hit a record high this year, with 62 teams, 248 participants total. The Raabe Motor Sales team took home first place in the morning session, and the Heartlight pharmacy team took home first in the afternoon session. The T&D Interiors team from the morning session, and the afternoon team from Your Hometown Lima Stations were the runner-ups.

The Lobs for Lima Memorial mixed doubles tournament had a total of 24 participants in an afternoon session. Tara Carr and Rex Roberts were the first place winners. Kevin Bruin and Jerri Banks were the runner-ups.

Every year, LMHS touches thousands of lives through patient focused, compassionate care. Likewise, every year generous gifts and contributions from donors ensure this compassionate care will continue for generations to come. The Lima Memorial Foundation strives to bring this care and generosity together to make a difference to those in need. 

View photos of the 2012 golf teams

More than 217 awards were presented, with a special award given to Rookie of the Year, Ruby Hopkins, who contributed more than 1,000 hours in 2011. Also receiving special awards were the volunteers who reached 10,000 lifetime service hours. 

In 2011, 330 active adult volunteers contributed more than 92,000 hours to Lima Memorial Hospital.

Jessie Irby, Marketing & Communication Specialist, 419-226-5077. 

Associates: Angie Simpson, Meredith Foster, Sheila Clay-Erwin, Tina Townsend, Erik Branham, Nicki Slate and Shari Kemper.

Nurses:Megan Lawrence, Kay Theis, Carla Cox, Robyn Sunderland, Barbara Lutz, Rachelle (Shelly) Newland and Michele (Shelly) Kaufman.

Jessie Irby, Marketing & Communication Specialist, 419-226-5077

The Society of Chest Pain Centers recently launched an educational campaign called "EHAC: Early Heart Attack Care" to raise awareness about the "beginnings" of
heart attacks.

More than 50 percent of people experience early heart attack symptoms hours, days or even weeks before an actual heart attack. The most common symptoms include nausea; jaw pain; fatigue; anxiety; back pain; shortness of breath; feeling of fullness; pain that travels down one or both arms; and chest pressure, squeezing or discomfort.

If someone you know experiences any of these symptoms, seek medical help immediately. You could help save hearts and lives.

For more information, download a copy of the EHAC brochure.

Begins Wednesday December 28th, 2011 at 0900

When you're fighting cancer, you want any weapon available. At Lima Memorial Health System, a whole new battery of weapons has been combined to aid in this important fight.

"Integrative Cancer Care For Health And Healing has been created to provide additional resources to our cancer patients," said Nora Fought, Oncology Coordinator with LMHS at the Wellness Center.

"We felt it was important to look at the whole person in fighting cancer," Fought said. "That led us to working on lining up additional treatment options for our cancer patients."

"We're very excited to be the first in the region to offer this type of complete and innovative care for cancer patients," Fought said.

The Integrative Cancer Care For Health And Healing concept takes many types of treatment and support and rolls them into a program to benefit LMHS patients.

Integrative Medicine by definition is both doctors and patients bonding with the philosophy of its whole-person approach -- designed to treat the person, not just the disease.
Fought said, "We believe the patient is the most important member of the medical team and our focus is on what is best for the patient. Period."

"IM, as it's often called, depends on a partnership between the patient and the doctor, where the goal is to treat the mind, body, and spirit, all at the same time," said Darlene Weyer, D.O., and director of the LMHS Cancer Institute at the Medical Park.
She added, "While some of the therapies used may be nonconventional, a guiding principle within integrative medicine is to use therapies that have high-quality evidence to support them."

"We understand that we will need to explain to our patients what we mean by Integrative Medicine," Fought said. "We are combining the traditional approaches to cancer treatment of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation with things like physical therapy to improve range of motion or strengthen a person's muscles and acupuncture and massage therapy. We also offer a wide variety of pain relief therapies."

Fought explained that physicians will have a new referral form at their disposal and through conversations with patients, these integrative therapies can be used to treat a variety of issues - from pain associated with the disease or its treatment to the spiritual and emotional support that is so important in the fight against cancer.

Among the therapies being offered are massage therapy, yoga and Reiki therapy, nutritional counseling, support groups, psychological services, social services, pain management, chiropractic care, acupuncture, physical therapy, speech therapy and image enhancement.

See the Integrative Cancer Care For Health And Healing video on WLIO.

"This equipment can mean the difference between life or death," says Doug LaRue, Lima Memorial's Emergency Room Coordinator. "It alerts the ER staff to a patient's heart condition before they even arrive, enabling the patient to bypass the ER in some cases and go straight to the cath lab."

Jackson Center, a small village in Shelby County, boasts an all volunteer rescue squad that responds to around 200 calls per year. The squad operates on a limited budget, so rescue workers are thrilled to receive this donation of advanced equipment, says LaRue.

Lima Memorial has donated cardiac equipment to more than 20 local rescue squads.

The following practitioner has advanced from Provisional to Active Staff Status:

Judith Shannon-Irizarry, M.D. - (Pediatrics)

RESIGNATIONS

The following practitioner has resigned from the Medical Staff:

Michael Pak, M.D. - (Radiology/Radiation Oncology)

DELINEATION OF PRIVILEGES

The following new/revised Medical Staff delineations of privileges are available by contacting Medical Staff Services at 419.226.5018.

New:

Emergency Department Physician Assistant

Revised:

Registered Pharmacist

EDUCATION & EVENTS

May Office Managers Meeting. The office managers meet on the third Thursday monthly alternating between LMHS and SRMC. Everyone is welcome. The next meeting will be held at 8 a.m. on Thursday, May 19, in the Emergency Center Conference Room at LMHS. For additional information, contact LMHS Medical Staff Services at 419.226.5018.

MEDICAL STAFF CONSTITUTION & BYLAWS AND ORGANIZATIONAL MANUAL

The Medical Staff Constitution & Bylaws and the Organizational Manual were recently revised to meet new Joint Commission standards. Copies of the revised documents are available on disk or in hard copy by contacting Medical Staff Services at 419.226.5018.

Anesthesiology

Dr. Park received his medical degree from the University of California San Diego in La Jolla, Calif. He completed a medical internship at Oakland Naval Hospital in Oakland, Calif., and an anesthesiology residency at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Mass. Dr. Park is certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology. He is a member of Anesthetix (Lima Anesthesia and Pain Treatment, P.C.).

Keith E. Snow, D.O.

Anesthesiology

Dr. Snow received his medical degree from the University of Health Sciences in Kansas City, Mo. He completed an internship at Cuyahoga Falls General Hospital in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; an anesthesiology residency at Meridia Huron Hospital in East Cleveland, Ohio; a pediatric anesthesiology fellowship at Driscoll Children's Hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas; and a pain management fellowship at UMDNJ - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in Newark, N.J.

Dr. Snow is certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Anesthesiology. He is a member of Anesthetix (Lima Anesthesia and Pain Treatment, P.C.).

The new Physicians' Portal is located off of the main LMHS website and the internal Intranet site. Breaking LMHS news, as well as health care industry news, will always be available on this site.

Recently, we added Physicians E-News, which delivers Physicians's News right to your Inbox. If you are not receiving the e-newsletter and would like to please call Marketing at 419.226.5093.

In addition, updates have been made to the print version on Physicians' News. Instead of the six-page monthly newsletter, you will now receive a bimonthly newsletter with feature stories, pharmacy updates, the latest about Health Care Reform and clinical documentation updates.

On the opposite months of the full issue, you will receive a shorter version with just medical staff updates, new providers and the monthly calendar of events.

This profile contains the following tests:

• Prothrombin Time (PT)

• Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT)

• Dilute Russells Viper Venom Time

• Thrombin Time

• Fibrinogen

• D-Dimer

• Soluble Fibrin Monomer

• Antithrombin III

• Protein C Activity

• Protein S Activity

• Prothrombin G20210A Mutation

• Special Coagulation Interpretation

• Activated Protein Resistance V

Effective February 1, Test code 81958 HIV-1 RNA Quantification, will be performed using the FDA-approved Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan HIV-1 Test, version 2.0. Due to the increased sensitivity of this updated real-time PCR assay, patients with previously low or undetectable HIV-1 viral load may show increased or detectable viral load with this assay. However, the clinical implications of a viral load <50 copies/ml remain unclear.

For the purpose of patient monitoring, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Panel on Antiretroviral Guidelines for Adults and Adolescents, defines virologic failure as a confirmed viral load of >200 copies/mL. This eliminates most cases of viremia resulting from isolated blips or assay variability. Confirmed viral load rebound (ie, >200 copies/mL) on two separate tests obtained at least two to four weeks apart should prompt a careful evaluation of patients tolerance of current drug therapy, drug-drug interactions and patient adherence.

• The use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) by the provider

• The use of a full body sterile barrier. All of Lima Memorial's isola


If you are a provider who inserts central lines, please make sure that you are following these protocols to help strengthen patient safety and reduce infections. Thank you for all you do to help us prevent infections!

When the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPTF) released new recommendations for breast cancer screening guidelines in 2009, they were met with a lot of opposition from breast cancer experts and advocacy groups.not need routine mammograms, and women in their 50s should get mammograms every other year, as opposed to every year.

The Task Force's guidelines suggested that women in their 40s did not need routine mammograms, and women in their 50s should get mammograms every other year, as opposed to every year. "These guidelines contradicted years of messages about the need for routine breast cancer screening starting at age 40," stated Dr. Darlene Weyer, radiologist. "Yearly mammograms are proven to save lives."

The Task Force's recommendations were intended to spare women the worry and expense of extra tests.

Researchers at the University of Colorado and the University of Michigan studied the same risk models that were used by the Task Force and they were able to conclude that more frequent mammograms save more lives.

In the newest research, doctors found that annual mammograms starting at age 40 save 65,000 more women from breast cancer than mammograms done every other year for women 50 and older. Doctors from the University of Michigan discovered that women 40 and older who get yearly mammograms, reduce the risk of dying from breast cancer by 71 percent. If women followed the Task Force's recommedations they would only be reducing their risk by 23 percent.

Researchers stated that the Task Force's guidelines for fewer breast screenings would confuse women and ultimately result in more deaths from breast cancer. Many cancer experts, including the American Cancer Society, have never strayed from their long-standing recommendations of a yearly breast exam for women 40 and older, stating that mammograms have been proven to save lives by spotting tumors early, when they are the easiest to treat.

"An unfortunate thing in medicine has occurred. We take a step forward in medicine, and the task force takes two steps back," stated Weyer. "Sufficient evidence, our medical knowledge, and common sense says to do mammograms every year starting at age 40, and the task force states to not start mammograms until age 50, every other year. This will allow the cancer to grow, potentially spreading, causing change in prognosis and treatment plan and will lead to more deaths."

Breast cancer is the second-leading cause of death among U.S. women, after lung cancer. It kills 500,000 people globally every year and is diagnosed in close to 1.3 million people around the world.

Darlene Weyer, D.O., is the medical director of the Women's Health Center at Lima Memorial and is a breast imaging specialist.

Complications/co-morbidities (CCs) and major complications/comorbidities (MCCs) play a role in patient acuity.

A recent LMHS report evaluated the most common CCs and MCCs for the top 20 DRG's are seen at Lima Memorial. The report revealed a number of areas with opportunity for improvement in the documentation of CCs and MCCs. These areas include:

Coronary Bypass with Cardiac Cath:

• Subendo cardinal infarction

• Acute kidney failure

• Post traumatic pulmonary insufficiency

• Acute respiratory failure

• Pneumonia

• AMI inferior wall

• Cardiogenic shock

• Acute systolic heart failure

Amputation for Circulatory Disorders:

• ESRD

• Acute kidney failure

• Septicemia

• Sepsis

• Pneumonia

• Acute respiratory failure

• Food/vomitus pneumonitis

Simple pneumonia and pleurisy

• Pneumonia, organism

• Acute kidney failure

• Acute respiratory failure

• End stage renal disease

• Acute and chronic respiratory failure

• Bacterial pneumonia

• Pneumococcal pneumonia

• Septicemia

Please take your time while you are documenting all diseases and pay close attention to these areas. Improving in these areas will impact your patient, the hospital and reimbursement.

Please feel free to contact the Case Management Department at ext. 4456 if you have any questions.

Conducted by a blue-ribbon panel six years ago, a comprehensive review was conveyed on Medicaid spending and found dysfunctions that have driven up costs, including:

• Fragmented bureaucracy,

• Complicated regulations,

• Lack of coordination in services,

• Disproportionate use of high-cost nursing facilities over home and community based care; and

• Payment system that rewards volume of services rather than outcomes.

Previous administrations have initiated significant reform efforts to help slow the growth in certain spending areas. For an example, low-income families, which are the largest but least expensive category in Medicaid enrollees, now fall under managed care plans. Alternatives to nursing homes have increased to those who need long-term care and changes in the rate-payment formula for nursing facilities have discouraged overspending.

Today, Medicaid growth represents around 30 percent of state spending, which implies that Medicaid reform has not gone far enough.

In March, Governor Kasich presented a budget plan that he says will transform Medicaid and reduce costs primarily through cuts in payments to hospitals and nursing homes, which is where the majority of Medicaid dollars are spent.

Kasich's budget follows trends from previous administrations, such as increasing funding to support a system of coordinated care for disabled children and the chronically ill. His plan also includes taking care of the elderly by streamlining and simplifying long-term care services and procedures. His plan would also create a single waiver program for options such as PASSPORT, a program that allows seniors who require a nursing facility level of care to remain living at home or in the community and receive care in those locations, and assisted living.

Kasich's objective is to consolidate the funding under the Department of Job and Family Services. According to the Ohio Hospital Association, Kasich's plan also faces credibility problems. His budget proposes to increase options for seniors to receive care in settings where they want it, but at the same time the budget cuts 176 million from the PASSPORT program. To make the shift to home and community based care requires a support structure with the help of home health nurses and aides, but the budget reduces funding for home health nurses.

Just like any other proposal, Kasich's is meant with a lot of opposition. To keep up with the latest Medicaid news, please visit www.cms.gov.

ACOs are a new model for delivering health services that offers doctors and hospitals financial incentives to provide quality care to Medicare beneficiaries while keeping down costs.

ACOs are organizations that form a network of health care providers working together to ensure quality care, fiscal responsibility and overall health for a specific population. In a typical ACO, hospitals align themselves with physician groups and work together to reduce costs.

Under this new law, ACOs agree to manage all of the health care needs of a minimum of 5,000 Medicare beneficiaries for at least three years.

The ACO will:

• Have the flexibility to select a model best suited for their organization,

• Improve performance resulting in financial rewards,

• Be proactive and data rich; and

• Reduce re-hospitalizations with prevention and anticipation.

ACOs must also partner with sufficient providers to meet patient needs and establish a legal structure to share the saving bonuses among the providers.

Additional guidelines for ACOs include:

• Ensuring that a governance structure and management process is in place to include administrative and clinical systems,

• Having a defined process to promote evidenced-based practices; and

• Report data for quality evaluation and cost measures, infrastructure development and demonstrate integrated care.

For more information on ACOs, please visit www.cms.gov.

The results should not surprise you. As physicians, we have all seen how a couple extra minutes at a patient's bedside can change his or her disposition.

The survey also found that the majority of the 800 patients who took the survey reported receiving a lower than expected level of compassionate care. At Lima Memorial, the most recent patient satisfaction survey revealed that only 85 percent of our patients reported being treated with courtesy and respect by their doctor. Our goal should be to treat every single patient with compassion and respect - especially in light of the Schwartz Center study.

In addition, the Schwartz Center reported that patients and physicians agree the most important points of compassionate care are:

• Showing respect for patients, their families and those important 

• Treating patients as individuals and not as a disease,

• Relaying the information about their health in a way that is easy to understand

• Giving your undivided attention to the patient; and

• Gaining the patient's trust.

I encourage all of you to keep this article in mind when you are talking to your patients and their families. Take the time to get to know their psychosocial, emotional and psychological needs.

As a reminder, the April Medical Staff Meeting will be Tuesday, April 26 at 6 p.m. in the Auxiliary Conference Center. I look forward to seeing all of you there.

As always, please take time out of your day to thank those who provide exceptional patient care. If there is anything I can assist you with, please e-mail me at kuchipudisb@gmail.com.

Sarat Kuchipudi, M.D.

Medical Staff President

"I am humbled and honored to be a part of an organization that has so many dedicated Associates," said Mike Swick, president and CEO. "Lima Memorial would not be the family-centered hospital that it is without the experience, dedication and heart that each of you bring with you every time you put your badge on. Thank you for making Lima Memorial an outstanding health care facility."

5 Year:

10 Year:

15 Year:

20 Year:

25 Years:

30 Years:

35 Years:

40 Years:

 45 Years:

The Kidney Stone Center is ran by Drs. Kenneth Stanley and Edwin Smolowitz. Dr. Stanley is a board-certified urologist. He is an expert in minimally invasive kidney stone procedures including lithotripsy and surgery. Dr. Smolowitz is a board-certified urologist with more than 25 years experience in the treatment of kidney stones.

The Center offers several options to treat kidney stones, such as:

• Conservative treatment
• Endoscopic surgery
• Extracoporeal shock wave lithotripsy
• Percutaneous lithotripsy
• Open surgery

To find the right treatment for you, please call 419.221.6132.

The balance and vestibular screening will be offered to detect dizziness and instability, which is often accompanied by nausea.

Not all dizziness is due to the inner ear and an individual with a balance issue may not be dizzy. The balance and vestibular screening will help narrow down these results.

An audiologist will also be on hand offering free hearing screenings to those who have difficulties hearing.

The balance screening will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. and the hearing screening will be from 1 to 4 p.m. To schedule an appointment, please call 419.226.5093, pre-registration is preferred.

For more information, please contact Rebecca Jenkins, director of marketing and public relations at 419.998.4645.

The event will feature family physician, Dr. Susan Kaufman, with Lincoln Family Practice, Inc. She will speak to participants about medical missions and their impact on spiritual health. In addition, a free dinner will be served to those in attendance.

Dr. Kaufman is board-certified in family practice and has over 20 years experience in family medicine.

Reservations are required and must be called into the church office at 419.738.8168.

For more information, contact Ashley Goldsberry, communications coordinator, at 419.226.5089 option 0.

The Health and Fitness Expo is Friday April 1 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, April 2, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Lima Memorial will be providing the following screenings during the event:

• Glucose Testing (finger stick) and Diabetic Counseling provided the Diabetic Center- Free
• General Health Screening Profile - $30

o   Comprehensive Metabolic Panel, Lipid Profile and CBC

• HA1C (Hemoglobin A1C) - $10
• TSH (Thyroid-stimulating hormone screening) - $10
• PSA (Prostate cancer screening) - $35

On Friday, April 1 at 4 p.m. on the center stage, Dr. David Lin, board certified orthopaedic surgeon with Advanced Orthopaedics of Ohio, will give a talk on the signs, symptoms and treatment for rotator cuff injuries.

Beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 1 on the center stage, Dr. J. Frank Oaks, board certified vascular and general surgeon with Midwest Surgical Specialists, will teach attendees about why getting proper treatment for Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is critical to their health.

For more information, contact Lima Memorial's Marketing Department at 419-998-4645.

The celebration included a special physicians' lunch served in the Physicians' Lounge. Each doctor was also presented with a gift of appreciation.

"Lima Memorial Health System has many knowledgeable and dedicated medical professionals of every specialty," said Dr. Sarat Kuchipudi, medical staff president at Lima Memorial Health System. "National Doctors' Day serves as way to say thank you for all they do."

National Doctors' Day was established to publicly show appreciation for the role of physicians in caring for the sick, advancing medical knowledge and promoting good health. Doctors' Day became a national holiday in 1990 when it was designated by former President George Bush.

Throughout the month, the Emergency Center will be giving away brain injury awareness kits. The kits include information about concussions and brain injury support as well as free ice packs and other giveaways.

"A lot of parents aren't aware that a concussion is a brain injury," said Dr. Nathan Walters, medical director of Lima Memorial's Emergency Center. "Depending on the severity of the injury, concussions can cause long term effects such asmemory loss. It is important for parents to know the signs of a concussion so they can seek medical care for their child."

Walters says parents should be looking for symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, headache and sensitivity to light and noise in their children, especially after an injury to the head or other part of the body. Most importantly, children should never been allowed to practice or play sports following a head injury until a physician says this is okay.

Kits are available while supplies last. One kit per child will be offered.

For more information, contact Rebecca Jenkins, director of marketing and public relations, at 419.998.4645.

Your body needs calcium to build strong bones and teeth in childhood and adolescence. As an adult, you need vitamin D and calcium to maintain bone mass. This helps prevent osteoporosis. Vitamin D also helps your body keep the right amount of calcium and phosphorus in your blood.

The amount of vitamin D your body needs can vary depending on your weight, your genetic makeup, your skin color, whether you have any chronic conditions and even where you live.

Many people do not get enough vitamin D in their diets. Adults who do not get enough vitamin D are at risk for osteomalacia (muscle weakness and weak bones) and osteoporosis (thin bones). Children who do not get enough vitamin D are at risk for rickets.

"It has been known for a century that very low vitamin D caused the bone disease rickets. More recently, we have learned that all the calcium and drugs in the world will not prevent or adequately treat osteoporosis unless you have adequate vitamin D on board," said Hoddinott. "And, now we are beginning to understand the importance of 'D' in muscle function and in preventing diseases other than rickets including; autoimmune, infectious, bone, muscle and cardiovascular diseases, and cancer."

Foods that naturally contain vitamin D include fish, eggs, cheese and butter. There are also vitamin D-fortified foods, such as milk and milk alternatives, orange juice, and breakfast cereals. Vitamin D supplements are also available over the counter and by prescription.

"In five years of testing patients, I have never seen vitamin D toxicity. Clearly, everyone should take vitamin D supplements. It is probably not possible to get enough vitamin D in your diet without supplementing, no matter how much oily seafood you eat," said Hoddinott.

It is important to talk to your family physician if you think that you may not be getting enough vitamin D. They will ask you about your diet and your exposure to sunlight, as well as any other risk factors that you may have. Your family physician may also suggest testing your vitamin D level to help you decide if a supplement is needed.

According to Hoddinott, vitamin D deficiency is one of the most important public health issues. It is an important issue and should be monitored in patients. So, remember to talk to your family physician about getting an adequate amount of vitamin D.

The Ohio Academy of Family Physicians is a statewide professional association with more than 4,000 members, including practicing physicians, family medicine residents and medical students. The scope of family medicine encompasses all ages, both sexes and every disease entity. Family physicians provide comprehensive, continuing care to all members of the family.

Renal Services treats patients who have been diagnosed with early kidney failure, aids in the coordination of kidney transplantation and provides training for peritoneal dialysis for those patients with renal failure so they can care for themselves at home.

Known for their compassionate Associates and being the leader in comprehensive renal care, Renal Services offers a variety of services to patients suffering from kidney disease, such as:

• Hemodialysis
• Peritoneal Dialysis
• Pre- & Post-Transplant Care
• Pre-end Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Education & Management

Patients in need of dialysis treatments become familiar faces to the staff in Renal Services. Each patient spends three to five hours in the department, three times a week, receiving their treatment. In addition to this, they receive education in dietary, medication compliance, vascular access and kidney function.

The Pre-Renal Clinic, under the direction of the nephrologist, manages diabetes and hypertension in an attempt to keep people with chronic kidney disease off of dialysis for as long as possible. The clinic also monitors lab work for kidney function and anemia.

"We take pride in the services our department offers," said Kim Benson, director of Renal Services. "Our continued growth over the years is in thanks to the dedicated staff members and outstanding care they give."

To better serve renal patients, outpatient hemodialysis services are provided in our main facility in the hospital, on the first floor of the Patient Services Building and at a satellite facility located in St. Marys', Ohio. Renal Services can be contacted at ext. 5032.

Dr. Bamdad's talk on the signs and symptoms of heart disease will be followed up by a question and answer session.

Dr. Bamdad is the founder and president of the Heart Institute of Northwest Ohio, Inc., located at 951 Commerce Parkway, Suite 100 in Lima, and has been in practice of general, non-invasive, invasive and interventional cardiology in Lima since 1994.

A graduate of the Paris Medical School, Dr. Bamdad completed his internship and residency at Michigan State University. He completed his Cardiology Fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco and his Interventional Cardiology Fellowship at Wright State University. He started his cardiology practice in Dayton Ohio in 1986 with Dr. Sylvan Lee Weinberg. Dr. Bamdad was also an associate professor at Wright State University while practicing cardiology in Dayton.

A free dinner will be served beginning at 6 p.m., and the program will begin at 6:30 p.m. Reservations are required and must be called into the church office at 419.738.8168.

Chocolate can help your heart, because it contains large quantities of flavonoids. Flavonoids are elements in plants that help prevent toxins and repair cellular damage. In the human body, flavonoids act as antioxidants, helping to protect and repair the body from damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are created through normal bodily functions and environmental contaminants.

In addition to the antioxidants, flavonoids also produce nitric acid, which can have health benefits. Nitric acid can reduce blood pressure. It makes blood platelets less sticky, meaning that they are less able to clot, which lowers blood pressure and cholesterol.

Of course, just because chocolate can lower blood pressure and cholesterol doesn't mean that you can go on a chocolate eating binge and call it healthy. Just remember it helps in moderate amounts and it is wise to balance the extra calories by reducing other calories in your diet.

Other than calories, there are a few other rules to consider to fully reap the benefits of chocolate. One rule of thumb for chocolate is the darker the better. Dark chocolate contains the most flavonoids, while milk chocolate contains less and white chocolate does not contain any flavonoids. Also drinking milk will reduce the benefits because it prevents the body from absorbing the antioxidants.

So let yourself have something dark, rich and chocolaty this Valentine's Day and know that you are doing something good for your heart.

According to Dr. Pamela Garner, cardiologist with the Heart Institute of Northwest Ohio, more women die of heart disease than any other disease - even breast cancer. "It is so important that women know what the risk factors are for heart disease and the signs of a heart attack," explained Gardner.

Gardner added that it is critical that people call an ambulance right away if they think they are having a heart attack. "Every minute is precious during a heart attack. An EMS squad can send us information on your condition so we are standing ready to care for you when you get here. This saves time, which can save your heart muscle," said Gardner.

Having just one risk factor can double your risk for developing heart disease. Multiple risk factors will multiply your risk.

What can you do to lower your risk? Know the risk factors for heart disease:

• High blood pressure
• High blood cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• Overweight/obesity
• Physical inactivity
• Family history of early coronary heart disease
• Age (for women, 55 and older)

Talk to your doctor to find out if you are at risk. And take action. Not smoking, heart healthy eating, physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, and taking prescribed medication can help to control and reduce the risks.

To find out more about women and heart disease, visit The Heart Truth Web pages at www.hearttruth.gov.

Backed by Wilfred J.G. Ellis, M.D., medical director, the Wound Center offers advanced technology, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy with two monoplace chambers on site. They have 24/7 coverage, including emergency and on-call cases. "If we did not offer 24/7 coverage, our patients would be transferred to Toledo, Dayton or Columbus; we are the only center in the region to offer around- the-clock coverage," stated Laura Karhoff, a registered nurse in the Wound Center.

The registered nurses in the Wound Center are second to none. They have advanced training in wound care from distinguished training centers throughout the United States. In addition to their training and maintaining their competencies, two of the nurses are certified in hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

"The Wound Center is the most experienced in the area. We are known state-wide for pioneering the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for wound care and other medical uses," explains Dr. Ellis. "Only Wright Patterson Air Force Base has more experience then
LMHS in HBO therapy."

The Wound Center is equipped to help patients with all types of wounds, including:

• Diabetic wounds
• Ulcers
• Peripheral vascular disease
• Venous stasis
• Lymphedema
• Traumatic and post-op surgical non-healing wounds

The center, located across from the Outpatient Treatment Unit on the first floor of the Patient Services Building, also handles emergency cases such as smoke inhalations from fires, malfunctioning genera- tors or HVAC equipment, suicide attempts and decompression illness from deep water diving.

If you have a patient with a non-healing wound, the Wound Center recommends getting a culture of the wound before referring the patient to the center. This will allow the Wound Center to determine which antibiotic to use when they see the patient.

Referrals and appointments to the Wound Center can be made by calling 419-998-4410.

Without an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED), the other volunteers at Our Daily Bread did what they could to help her until the paramedics arrived. The volunteer made a full recovery after being treated at The Heart and Vascular Institute, but the experience left the group wanting formal training on how to respond during a medical emergency.

Lima Memorial and the Lima Fire Department came together on Thursday, Jan. 27 to help ensure that the staff at Our Daily Bread has the proper tools by presenting them with an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) and offering free CPR training.

According to Doug La Rue, Lima Memorial's ER coordinator, "We are happy to be able to provide the AED and CPR training to the staff at Our Daily Bread. We hope they never have to use it, but if they do, we want to make sure they have the proper equipment and training to help someone in need."

This event, titled "Six in 60," will screen participants for the six most common risk factors for heart and vascular disease in about 60 minutes. These risk factors are: high cholesterol, high blood pressure, family history of heart and/or vascular disease, diabetes, vascular issues and obesity/poor diet.

Participants will be able to go through a series of screening tests including:

· EKG Test

· Full Lipid Panel with immediate results available (12 hr. fasting required for accuracy)

· Glucose screening

· Peripheral vascular screening

· Carotid artery/stroke screening (first 30 patients to register)

· Blood pressure and heart rate check

Physicians from The Heart Institute of Northwest Ohio, Midwest Surgical Specialists and Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgeons Inc. will be available to evaluate the results from the screenings.

The event will take place in The Heart and Vascular Institute's Cardiac Intervention Unit on the third floor of Professional Office Building III on Lima Memorial's main campus. Six in 60 is free, and open to the community, but pre-registration is required.

The Heart and Vascular Institute at Lima Memorial provides patient care, education and public screenings. Services include interventional cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, heart and vascular screenings, and cardiovascular disease risk assessment and reduction. Cardiac imaging, including MRI, CT and PET, and inpatient and outpatient cardiac rehabilitation is also available.

To pre-register for the free screening, call the Heart and Vascular Institute at 419-998-4764.

• March 19
• May TBA
• July TBA
• September 17
• November 19

Childbirth education classes are offered to prepare expectant couples for the birthing process. Topics covered include breathing techniques, relaxation techniques, anesthetics, labor and delivery. Pre-registration is required.

To register or for more information, contact the Family Birth Center at 419.998.4570.

"We are proud of the Kids' Clinic and to be able to provide this much needed service to the community," said Kyle Erford, emergency center director at Lima Memorial. "Our mission is to improve the quality of life in our communities, and the Kids' Clinic serves as an important outlet in accomplishing that goal. Without this service, children would have to be sent to Toledo, Columbus or Dayton for exams. This clinic is vital to west central Ohio."

The Kids' Clinic operates under the leadership of Medical Director Dr. Frank E. Cunningham, Jr., who is trained in the medical determination of child abuse, along with the assistance of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) nurses who help to staff the clinic. The clinic's multi-disciplinary team of medical, social services, law enforcement and judicial professionals work together to care for the children who are victims of sexual abuse.

Since being established in 2001, Lima Memorial's Kids' Clinic has helped more than 900 children in the region. It is the only program of its kind serving Allen County and the 10 surrounding counties.

For more information or if you encounter a patient that you suspect has been a victim of sexual abuse, please contact the Emergency Center at 419.226.5002.

In her new role, she is looking forward to working more closely with the staff. She currently teaches didactics, ACE and PEP classes. She also monitors and schedules interventions on all vascular accesses (VA), all VA reporting and educates staff and patients for vascular accesses.

Springer will continue to be the vascular access coordinator and renal educator for Lima Memorial.

Springer received her nursing degree from the University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne, Ind. She has worked at Lima Memorial for the past eight years. Prior to coming to LMHS, she worked as a Med/Surg nurse for Parkview Health Systems.

The clinical documentation improvement program was created to initiate concurrent, appropriate and retrospective reviews of inpatient health records for conflicting, incomplete, or nonspecific provider documentation. The goal is to identify clinical indicators to ensure documentation accurately reflects the severity and complexity of inpatient cases and to confirm the diagnosis and procedures are supported by appropriate coding.

Fighting hospital infections

In July, Medicaid will stop paying for treatment of some hospital-acquired infections. The Medicare program for the elderly and disabled and many private insurers already ban payments for treating many of these infections.

It has how many calories?

Beginning soon after the Food and Drug Administration finalizes rules in 2011, chain restaurants with 20 or more locations, and owners of 20 or more vending machines will have to display calorie information on menus, menu boards and drive-thru signs. Restaurants must also provide diners with a brochure that includes detailed nutritional information.

Restrictions on medical savings accounts

Consumers with flexible spending accounts (FSAs), in which pre-tax income can be used for medical purchases, can no longer spend the money on over-the-counter drugs, including ones that treat fevers or allergies and acne, unless they have a doctor's prescription. The new restrictions, which lawmakers included in the health overhaul to raise more revenue, also apply to health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs), health savings accounts (HSAs) and Archer medical savings accounts (MSAs). Starting this year, those with HSA or MSA accounts who spend money inappropriately will not only owe taxes on it, but will also face a tax penalty of 20 percent, double what it was. For all pre-tax accounts, medical devices such as eyeglasses and crutches, and co-pays and deductibles still qualify for the accounts. Insulin obtained without a prescription is also eligible.

Lower Rx costs for seniors

Prescription drug costs could shrink $700 for a typical Medicare beneficiary in 2011, as the law begins to close the gap in prescription coverage when millions of seniors must pay full price at the pharmacy. Starting in January, drug companies will give seniors 50 percent off brand name drugs while in the gap, excluding those low-income people who already receive subsidies. Generics will also be cheaper.

Higher Medicare Premiums

Medicare premiums in 2011 will increase for individuals with incomes of $85,000 or higher or couples with incomes of $170,000 or higher. Their monthly premiums this year will be between $161.50 and $369.10, while the standard premium will be $115.40. Also, premiums for Medicare Part D, which covers prescription drugs, for the first time will be linked to income.

Bolstering seniors' access to primary care

Medicare is bumping up payments for primary care by 10 percent from January 1 through the end of 2015. It's an incentive for doctors and others who specialize in primary care - including nurses, nurse practitioners and physician assistants - to see the swelling numbers of seniors and disabled people covered by the program. Health practitioners will qualify for the bonus only if 60 percent or more of the services they provide are for primary care. General surgeons also will receive an increase if they're practicing in areas where there are doctor shortages.

Staying healthy

Several provisions of the law promote prevention of disease. Medicare enrollees will be able to get many preventive health services - such as vaccinations and cancer screenings - for free starting in January. Also starting in January, Medicare beneficiaries can get a free annual wellness exam from their doctors who will set up a personalized prevention plan for them. The plan includes a review of the individuals' medical history and a screening schedule for the next decade. In addition, the law authorizes the federal government to issue grants totaling $200 million for companies with fewer than 100 workers that start wellness programs focused on nutrition, smoking cessation, physical fitness and stress management.

Source: Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

Both Dr. Hanna and Dawson have served the Lima community for many years.

Dr. Hanna received an M.D. from the University of Aleppa in Syria and a bachelor's of science degree in from Martair Jala Khadam School. He is board certified in family practice through the American Board of Family Practice.

Dawson holds a master's degree of science in nursing from the Medical College of Ohio's Family Nurse Practioner program. She also holds a bachelor's of science degree in nursing from Bowling Green State University and an associate's degree of applied science in nursing from Lima Technical College.

Hanna Family Medicine is located in the Heart Institute of Northwest Ohio building at 951 Commerce Parkway, Suite 101, Lima, Ohio 45804. To schedule an appointment, call 419 419.227.3077 or 877.DOC.LMPC.

Hanna Family Practice's office hours are:

• Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Wednesday and Friday: 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

For more information, visit the LMPC website at www.doclmpc.org.

The Noninvasive Vascular Lab at Lima Memorial performs diagnostic testing to determine a patient's risk for cardiovascular disease, stroke and deep vein thrombosis.

The Lab is one of the elite laboratories in the country to meet or exceed the ICAVL standards for noninvasive vascular testing. During the accreditation process, every detail of a laboratory's daily operations and its impact on the care provided to patients is carefully scrutinized. Accredited laboratories are required to identify and correct potential problems, revise protocols and validate quality assurance programs.

Participation in the accreditation process confirms Lima Memorial Noninvasive Vascular Lab's attention to high level patient care and quality testing. ICAVL accreditation is valid for three years.

This year, the Area Agency on Aging collected information on 125 seniors in need. Each senior included his or her Christmas wish list on tags that were hung on the Health System's Senior Angel Tree. The items the seniors requested were modest, ranging from warm blankets and canned goods to food for their pets and regular household items.

Health System employees 'adopted' the seniors, and soon began to surround the Senior Angel Tree with a mound of brightly, colored gifts of all shapes and sizes.

"Adopting a senior angel has become part of many Associate's holiday traditions," said Kaila Williams, SPIRIT Council member and LMPC operations supervisor. "Many of the seniors that we buy for are on a fixed income and struggle to afford every day items like paper products and canned goods. Our goal is to give the seniors a few things that they need and for them to know that we at Lima Memorial are wishing them a happy, healthy holiday season."

The gifts were picked up by the Agency on Aging and will be delivered to the seniors' homes the week before Christmas.

"It is just wonderful to see this outpouring of generosity from LMHS," said Stephanie Lane, from the Agency on Aging. "I know these gifts will bring so much joy to everyone that receives one."

New Board Members are: Linda Martz, president; Marilyn Sue Morningstar, president elect; Linda Nicholson, recording secretary; Barb Ramlow, corresponding secretary; and Tom Dee, treasurer.

New Life Members are: Lois Britton, Charles Croy, Connie Katter, Marilyn D. King, Priscilla Ochier, Phyllis Scott, and Joyce Shobe.

According to Judy Recker, administrative director of quality, all of their efforts are focused on strengthening the quality and efficiency of Lima Memorial's approach to patient care. "We are very excited about our new model because it is designed to involve case management throughout the entire continuum of care, including after discharge," said Recker.

The new case management model has several goals, including improving core measures, decreasing avoidable readmissions and improving resource utilization. In addition, Case Management is focusing on improving clinical documentation to prevent Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) Program denials and to accurately reflect the acuity of the patients.

Under the new model, case management coverage has been expanded to the Emergency Center. These additional case managers will work with the Emergency Center team to assess patients quickly and determine if they qualify for inpatient admission or need observation services before they are placed in a bed. They also proactively identify the needs of patients discharged from the EC.

The new case management model is consistent with the Health Care Reform Law's emphasis on decreasing the overall cost of health care by improving efficiency and coordination. "The health care industry is changing, and the case management team is please to be able to play a key role in helping advance how we care for patients while navigating through these changes," said Recker.

• Tuesday, Nov. 30 from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Medical Park on Eastown Road
• Wednesday, Dec. 1 from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the West Dining Room on the ground floor of Lima Memorial Hospital
• Thursday, Dec. 1 from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the West Dining Room on the ground floor of Lima Memorial Hospital

Books for all ages, specialty music and a variety of other memorabilia will be discounted up to 70 percent. Cash, checks and credit cards are accepted.

For more information, contact Elizabeth Schaefer in the LMHS Volunteer Office at 419-226-5094.