WellSpan CareExpress, located at 2058 S. Queen St., York, now has weekday hours. The location is open noon to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday. No appointment is required.

CareExpress offers a convenient care option for:

• Allergy symptoms
• Conjunctivitis
• Cough/bronchitis/sinusitis
• Urinary tract infection
• Ear ache
• Sore throat/tonsillitis
• Toothache
• Rash/insect bite
• Sunburn/minor burns
• Sprain/strain
• Sports/camp/school and non-commercial driver physicals
• Select immunizations

Other WellSpan CareExpress locations include Giant Food Store at Delco Plaza, 1255 Carlisle Road, York, and Giant Food Store, 3175 Cape Horn Road, Red Lion.

Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

One of the goals of the Affordable Care Act is to place a greater focus on helping patients to be more involved in their care.

“Engaged patients have better health outcomes,” said Christine Amy, project director, Aligning Forces for Quality – Southcentral Pa. (AF4Q).

They tend to be more educated about their health conditions, ask questions and are better partners with their health care providers, according to Amy.

Engaged patients usually find it easier to navigate the complex health care system.

“Physicians and nurses appreciate engaged patients because it’s easier to help patients when you know their goals,” said Amy.

Follow these steps to be an engaged patient:

• Do your part to stay healthy. Stay active, maintain a healthy weight, and do your best to eat the right foods.

• Research the quality of care that doctors and hospitals provide by using AF4Q’s Community Checkup (www.aligning4healthpa.org). Learn whether practices and patients have good control of health indicators, such as blood pressure, LDL cholesterol levels, and other results relating to diabetes and heart disease.
• Seek care as soon as you need it. Delays in getting care can make health problems more serious, more costly and harder to treat.
• Ask questions. You need to understand the information you are given. Prepare for your next visit by taking questions to the doctor’s office. Use the AF4Q checklist to help you get started.
• Make sure you understand. Did the doctor say a word you didn’t understand? It’s OK. Ask the doctor or health care provider to explain it in plain language, or ask for written instructions. It’s also helpful to repeat to the doctor what he/she said, but in your own words.
• Be involved with decisions that affect your health. If your doctor recommends tests or treatment, ask for the information you need to make an informed decision.
• Use your resources. AF4Q has lots of tip sheets to help you get quality care, and recommendations on how to stay healthy.

You may download these resources by visiting www.aligning4healthpa.org.

New feature helps patients better manage their care

MyWellSpan users can now access notes their physician recorded during their office visit.

The Office Visit Notes feature includes a detailed account of the visit, including physical history, the examination, relevant lab or study findings, and the clinician’s assessment and plan of care.

“Making Office Visit Notes available gives patients timelier and easier access to their record, saving patients time and cost incurred by a medical records release process,” said Geoff Nicholson, MD, vice president and chief medical information officer, WellSpan.

“This is an important step for us as an organization, and a significant benefit to the patients.”

Research has shown that by reading notes, patients remember more of what was discussed during visits; feel more in control of their care; are more likely to take medications as prescribed; and can share notes with their caregivers, helping them stay up-to-date on progress and treatment.

This aids physicians in working with patients to maintain health, improve their management of chronic conditions and promote constructive communication and engagement.

Pat Wallace, director of e-Health, said, “Continuous improvements and new features are keys to making MyWellSpan an effective tool for patients. WellSpan is committed to making the patient record transparent, and Office Visit Notes is a major step forward.”

Other recent MyWellSpan enhancements include:

• Imaging studies in real-time. Imaging results are available to the patient as they are finalized by radiology.
• Notification of new lab results. Patients receive notification via secure message, informing them when they have a final lab result available. An email advises the patient to logon to MyWellSpan to view the information.

With Office Visit Notes, previously released labs and a subset of hospital notes, patients will have near-complete access to their record when they need it, according to Nicholson.

“MyWellSpan is truly innovating care delivery and patient engagement, which are both critical to our ability to provide care to populations made up of individuals who spend more of their time out of physical contact with us,” said Nicholson.

For more information about MyWellSpan, a list of participating WellSpan locations, or to self-enroll, go to www.mywellspan.org, or call MyWellSpan Customer Service at 1-866-638-1842.

Central Penn Parent presents annual awards

Three WellSpan staff members were recently named Healthcare Heroes by Central Penn Parent.

They are:

• David Turkewitz, MD, chairman and education coordinator, pediatrics, WellSpan York Hospital—Physician of the Year
• Michelle Shriner, RN, BSN, OCN, nurse navigator, Adams Cancer Center—Breast Cancer Care Giver of the Year
• Melany Rabideau, technical analysis, WellSpan Medical Group Information Services—Future of Healthcare Award Winner

Turkewitz has been involved with pediatrics in Pennsylvania for 35 years, including 13 in York.

“I love being a pediatrician. While I don’t mind some time off, given the option, on most days, I’d rather just come to work,” he said.  “I enjoy all facets of my work, but probably most of all, I enjoy being a clinician.”

He added: “Winning this award is really nice, but the award does not define me. I know I could not have achieved this recognition without the ability to work side-by-side with so many wonderful and talented individuals, the support of WellSpan and a community that is receptive to the needs of children and families.”

Here are some excerpts from his nomination:

• “Dr. Turkewitz has worked on improving numerous childhood health issues, such as suicide prevention, reduction of childhood obesity, improving oral health and reducing the risk of accidental sleep-related deaths.”
• “His passion for education is clearly evident in the numerous teaching awards he has received over the years.”
• “His steadfast, guiding presence in child advocacy issues is wellknown throughout the region.”
• “Dr. Turkewitz has left an indelible mark on pediatrics in Pennsylvania. He provides a shining example of what we can do as child healthcare providers when we put our heart and soul into our work.”

Michelle Shriner has been the nurse navigator at Adams Cancer Center for six years.

“Winning the Healthcare Hero Award was completely unexpected,” said Shriner. “Of course, you don’t do your job to win awards. I care about others, and I try to help them get through a traumatic time in their lives.

“As a nurse navigator, I can definitely see the impact I have on patients. I truly am on a journey with my patients.”

Here are some comments from Shriner's nominators:

• “This is a woman who truly puts the needs of the community she serves in the forefront.”
• “I wish I had met Michelle when I was going through breast cancer treatment. I would have considered changing my treatment facility in order to have access to this special angel.”
• “She is always finding new ways to help each individual.”
• “Michelle has set such an example for me; I can’t thank her enough.”

Rabideau has worked for WellSpan for nearly three years. She said: “It was an honor to be included in an event recognizing so many well-deserving, accomplished professionals.

“I want to thank each of them, and the many other role models for influencing aspiring healthcare heroes like myself. I feel lucky to be given opportunities to learn from the best at WellSpan.”

Here are some highlights from Rabideau's nomination:

• “Melany is a young professional making an impact on the healthcare industry through her eagerness to learn and ask questions in order to foster continuous improvement with a focus on the patient experience.
• “She has dedicated herself to healthcare while receiving her undergraduate degree in public health. She is now working on earning her Executive Masters of Public Health in Practice and Policy.”

WellSpan Healthcare Heroes finalists included:

• Dustin Matthews, MSN, RN, CCRN-CSC, WellSpan York Hospital—Nurse of the Year
• Deborah Nandor-Levin, RN, SANE-A, SANE-P, CFN, WellSpan York Hospital—Pediatric and Pediatric Specialties Hero
• Chris Echterling, MD, associate medical director, quality and innovation—Physician of the Year
• Timothy McKee, MD, FACS, Gettysburg Surgical Associates—Breast Cancer Care Giver of the Year

For a complete list of winners and finalists go to www.centralpennparent.com.

Students who want to pursue studies in nursing/allied health leading to a degree or certificate can apply for the Gettysburg Hospital Auxiliary’s annual $2,000 scholarship.

Applicants must be residents of the WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital service area. This includes students attending high schools in Adams County, Hanover and northern Maryland.

The scholarship recipient must be accepted to an accredited college, institution or hospital school of nursing at the time the award is made. Students already enrolled in a nursing program at an accredited college, institution or hospital school of nursing are also eligible.

Applications are available through the high school guidance office and online at www.wellspan.org. Applications are due Friday, April 18.

This month, hospitals, health systems and organ procurement organizations such as Gift of Life celebrate National Donate Life Month.

This annual initiative highlights the successes of transplantation, while drawing attention to the critical need for more organ and tissue donors.

More than 6,500 men, women and children in our region, and more than 117,000 in the United States, are waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. Eighteen people die each day due to the lack of available organs for transplantation.

One organ and tissue donor can save, or enhance, the lives of more than 50 people.

“Gift of Life works closely with our hospital partners to help create the opportunity for meaningful donation, out of what is often a difficult, stressful situation for our donor families,” said Howard Nathan, president and CEO of Gift of Life.

“Knowing the importance of these gifts helps our health care partners to be dual advocates for both our donor families and transplant recipients.”

You can provide hope to the thousands of people waiting for the gift of life by registering online to be an organ and tissue donor.

It’s fast and easy. It takes only 30 seconds to register at www.donors1.org.

Gift of Life has coordinated more than 34,000 organ transplants, along with more than an estimated 500,000 tissue transplants.

For more information, please call Gift of Life at 1-800-DONORS-1 or visit www.donors1.org.

WellSpan York Hospital has received the Get with the Guidelines - Stroke Silver Plus Quality Achievement Award from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.

The hospital received the award for implementing specific quality improvement measures outlined for the treatment of stroke patients.

Get with the Guidelines - Stroke helps hospital teams provide the most up-to-date, research-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients.

WellSpan York Hospital earned the award by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include aggressive use of medications and risk-reduction therapies aimed at reducing death and disability, and improving the lives of stroke patients.

“WellSpan York Hospital is dedicated to improving the quality of stroke care,” said Lori Clark, vice president, neurosciences.

“The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get with the Guidelines - Stroke helps us achieve that goal.

“With this award, our hospital demonstrates its commitment to ensure that our patients receive care based on internationally respected clinical guidelines.”

WellSpan York Hospital has been designated a Primary Stroke Center since 2008.

The WellSpan Vein Clinic is now open in Suite 190 at Apple Hill Medical Center, 25 Monument Road, York.

The clinic is a joint program involving WellSpan Heart & Vascular and WellSpan Radiology and Radiation Oncology.

The clinic was developed to diagnose and treat people with varicose veins, chronic venous disease and venous insufficiency disorders.

To schedule a screening, call 855-611-VEIN.

With a focus on improving the patient experience, WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital will relocate one of two existing MRI units in the WellSpan Washington Street Health Center to space near the hospital’s imaging services and emergency department.

Approximately 600 MRI exams are performed annually for WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital inpatients. Having the MRI unit onsite will eliminate the need to transfer patients across the street to the health center. An ambulance service and a licensed staff escort provide the transfer.

“Having an MRI unit located within the hospital will truly benefit both our patients and staff," said Jane Hyde, senior vice president, WellSpan Health and president, WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital.

“We continue to look for ways to ensure our patients have the best care experience possible, and to focus on the safety of the people under our care. This transition does that. It also decreases costs associated with staff productivity and ambulance fees. It’s a win for everyone.”

When it becomes operational in June, the hospital’s MRI unit will be used as the leading option for outpatient MRI testing. An open model MRI unit, introduced in 2006, will remain for select outpatient use in the Washington Street Health Center.

The move from the Washington Street Health Center to the hospital’s emergency department lobby area will occur on Saturday, April 26. An outside firm that specializes in moving large and sensitive imaging equipment will oversee the relocation.

The hospital’s MRI unit will be located in shell space built during the emergency department project, which was completed in 2012. It will be in the same area of the hospital’s other imaging modalities, and in close proximity to the emergency department.

Between now and the reactivation of the moved unit, a mobile MRI will be located near the hospital’s community room entrance. The mobile unit will allow the shutdown of the relocated unit to proceed.

The mobile unit offers the same level of quality MRI images as that of the unit being moved to the hospital. It will be onsite until the relocated unit is reactivated in June.

Registrations are being accepted for Camp Green Zone, an asthma camp for kids, ages 6 through 12. The camp will be held 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., June 23 through June 26, on the campus of York Suburban High School.

The camp is designed to teach children how to prevent and control their asthma in a relaxed setting. The camp includes fun activities, along with daily classroom instruction.

Camp Green Zone is staffed by a team of health professionals with experience in the care of children with asthma.

Fee is $110 per camper. All registrations must be received by Monday, May 19. Registrations will be processed on a lottery basis for first-time campers.

Children must be at least 6 years old and have completed first grade to be eligible for camp. Camp Green Zone is sponsored by the York Hospital Auxiliary.

For more information, call 851-4485 or visit http://www.wellspan.org/CampGreenZone.

Accepting the Robert C. Hoffman Award for WellSpan are, from left to right, Brittney Forsythe, Gettysburg Internal Medicine; Penny Martin, Human Resources; and Danielle Shull, Adams Health Center Patient Registration. Kathy Nelson, United Way of Adams County, presented the award.

WellSpan Health was recently honored with United Way of Adams County’s 2014 Robert C. Hoffman Award.

The award recognizes the team for raising the most money through corporate and employee gifts for the past year’s campaign. WellSpan had won the honor from 2008 to 2011.

WellSpan employees contributed more than $34,750.

United Way of Adams County’s 2013 campaign raised more than $330,000 in support of programs that benefit Adams County residents.

“Every year that I am a part of this campaign, I am so proud of the generosity of the people of this organization,” said WellSpan team chair Penny Martin, Human Resources.

“Even during difficult times, our employees never falter in their desire to give and help those less fortunate in our community.

"WellSpan employees contribute an average of 10 percent of the total money raised for the United Way of Adams County each year. That really says something special about the people who are here."

Martin, along with campaign leaders Brittney Forsythe, Gettysburg Internal Medicine; and Danielle Shull, Adams Health Center Patient Registration; accepted the award from United Way’s Kathy Nelson. Other campaign leaders were Joan Fleshman, Imaging Services; Missy Shupe, Population Health Management; and Kim Wakefield, Human Resources.

The award initially will be displayed in the United Way case near the WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital cafeteria.

It will then travel to select WellSpan Adams County locations during the year.

Time was running out for a match, but son refused to accept that his dad would die

Abel Santiago Jr., RN, nursing supervisor at WellSpan Behavioral Health Services, was awaiting a heart and lungs transplant in March 2007. But, if he didn’t get a match within the next 72 hours, the doctors said it would be too late.

An average of 18 people die each day waiting for organ transplants. Abel Santiago Jr., RN, was nearly one of them.

The nursing supervisor at WellSpan Behavioral Health Outpatient Services was born with a heart condition called truncus arteriosus.

“I knew I would need a transplant at some point,” Santiago explained.

During his youth he was fine, but by his 30s serious signs of trouble began. His blood-starved lungs struggled to supply his body with oxygen.

“My fingers and my face were always blue because of the low oxygenation,” he said. The future was vague, so he focused instead on the demands of work and family.

More years passed.

A pivotal moment came in November 2006. He was sitting around the dinner table with his wife and two young sons when he suffered a stroke. Time was running out. His doctors advised him that a heart transplant would no longer be enough.

“Because of the heart defect, my lungs were eventually damaged as well,” he said.

He lay in a hospital bed at Johns Hopkins, awaiting an organ donor. The right person would need to match his age, size and blood type. Days fell by, turning into weeks and months.

The need for healthy organs is tremendous. Right now, so many people are waiting they could fill two football stadiums. A new person goes on the list every 10 minutes.

Santiago’s health plummeted while he waited. In early March 2007, his doctors warned that if they didn’t get a match soon—within the next 72 hours—it would be too late.

“All my family came to say goodbye,” he remembered. “They came into my room and said goodbye, all except for my 8-year-old son. He said, ‘This isn’t going to happen. You’re not going to die. I’ll be seeing you later.’”

News of a match came the next day. He went into surgery and emerged with a new heart and lungs. He recalls seeing his son’s smile. “Told you,” the boy said.

Today, Santiago enjoys good health. He wishes he knew more about the noble person who saved his life. The donor’s family chose to remain private, so he couldn’t express his gratitude in person. Instead he wrote them two letters, hoping to soften their grief.

“I do know that this person saved not just my life, but four other people as well,” he said. “Without this gift I wouldn’t have been able to see my kids grow.”

WellSpan is a partner in the Hospital Association of Pennsylvania’s "Gift of Life" Campaign. For more information, or to register as an organ donor, visit www.donors1.org/wellspanhealth.

The York Hospital Auxiliary announced a $1 million pledge last week to support the Behavioral Health Unit in the new WellSpan York Hospital Emergency Department, which is expected to be completed by the fall of 2017.

“The York Hospital Auxiliary advocates for improved community health through innovative wellness programs and projects, community partnerships and fund-raising,” said Kathy Turkewitz, president, York Hospital Auxiliary.  “There is no doubt that the expansion and renovation of the Emergency Department is a perfect match with our mission.

“It is absolutely essential that our community has a modern and efficient hospital Emergency Department to serve the sickest and most severely injured patients, as well as those with less severe ailments,” she said.

The new emergency department will feature eight separate behavioral health exam rooms for those needing observation, or those being evaluated and awaiting admission to WellSpan York Hospital’s behavioral health inpatient unit or another facility.

The new space also features two crisis intervention rooms for behavioral health assessments by crisis counselors.  The increased privacy will be invaluable to patients and their families as they deal with a crisis.

“Since a majority of the behavioral health patients who are admitted to WellSpan York Hospital come through the emergency department, we need a dedicated area that is better equipped to deal with their unique needs,” said Dr. Allen Miller, director, WellSpan Behavioral Health.  “We will be able to provide an increased level of specialized care through the generous donation pledged today by the York Hospital Auxiliary.”

The York Hospital Auxiliary has supported WellSpan York Hospital since 1895. Over the years, it has raised and contributed more than $6 million to WellSpan Health services, equipment and patient care areas.

Keith Noll, senior vice president, WellSpan, and president, WellSpan York Hospital, said, “This gift will have a tremendous impact on the lives of countless people throughout our region, who turn to us for exceptional emergency care in their time of need.

“Our new emergency department will provide patients with a regional designation for advanced care in a state-of-the-art facility designed for faster treatment and exceptional service.”

WellSpan York Hospital’s Emergency Department currently cares for about 78,000 patients in a facility designed to treat about 50,000.  The approximate 46,000-square foot project in the area of the hospital’s current emergency department is expected to cost $45 million.  Construction is scheduled to start this summer.

The eighth annual PINK in the Park Breast Cancer Awareness Walk/Run will be held on Saturday, May 10, at John C. Rudy County Park, 400 Mundis Race Road, York. WellSpan is sponsoring the event.

Walk proceeds benefit breast cancer survivors across York County. PINK Partners have donated $20,000 from the past two events to the Healthy York Network to help with mammograms/ultrasound for early diagnosis.

This year’s honorary chairperson is Sue Bowman, nurse navigator at the York Cancer Center. She was recently named breast cancer nurse navigator of the year.

Participation fee is $25. To register for the event, go to www.survivingbreastca.org.

Approach puts clinicians in a more proactive role

A bedside rounding team of providers meet with a WellSpan York Hospital patient to discuss her vital signs, symptoms, test results and care plan for the day.

Beginning shortly after 10 a.m. with a patient who had surgery just two days earlier, a team of WellSpan hospital clinicians gather together in the patient’s room for the first of that day’s bedside rounds.

During the meeting that includes the participation of the patient and her caregiver, the team shares the patient’s vital signs, symptoms, test results and the care plan for the day ahead. While the meeting takes only three to five minutes, the benefit of the encounter for all involved is long lasting.

Known as bedside team rounding or by the acronym SIBR, this new approach to patient care includes multiple members of the hospital care staff in the daily assessment of patients.

Bedside team rounding has recently been implemented on several medical units at WellSpan York Hospital and WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital.

 "It is anchored in the belief that close collaboration with all members of the care team will result in safer, more effective care of our patients,” said William “Tex” Landis, MD, medical director, WellSpan Hospitalists.

“The plan is to implement team rounding on all of our hospital inpatient medical units, and we expect to see improved patient satisfaction and coordination of care as a result.”

The idea of bedside team rounding is to integrate nurses, physicians, and other care providers into the patient evaluations they conduct each day.

“We believe there is improved continuity of care if the entire team is up to speed on all the issues involved with the patient,” said Astrid Davis, vice president, patient care services, WellSpan York Hospital.

“This approach puts clinicians in a more proactive role, resulting in better coordination of care.”

So far, the feedback received on the bedside team rounding has been very positive from patients, families and participating staff.

The project team continues to work on improving scheduling and overcoming other challenges.

“We are encouraged by what our patients and staff are already telling us," said Landis. "The benefit of open communication is apparent. Bedside team rounding is having a profound impact on our ability to provide care that is safe and high quality."

Ephrata-based EME Medical Equipment and Home Care Supplies (EME) has been named a quality respiratory care provider by The American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC).

To qualify for the recognition, EME met the following conditions:

• All respiratory therapists employed by EME to deliver home respiratory therapy services are either legally recognized by the state as competent to provide respiratory therapy services or hold the CRT or RRT credential.
• Respiratory therapists are available to patients 24 hours a day.
• Other personnel qualified to perform specific respiratory therapy procedures and the amount of supervision required for them to perform these specific procedures must be designated in writing.

EME is accredited by a nationally recognized, third-party accreditation organization.

WellSpan CareExpress, located at 2058 S. Queen St., York, is now open weekdays.

The location is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday. No appointment is required.

CareExpress offers a convenient care option for:

• Allergy symptoms
• Conjunctivitis
• Cough/bronchitis/sinusitis
• Urinary tract infection
• Ear ache
• Sore throat/tonsillitis
• Toothache
• Rash/insect bite
• Sunburn/minor burns
• Sprain/strain
• Sports/camp/school and non-commercial driver physicals
• Select immunizations

Other WellSpan CareExpress locations include Giant Food Store at Delco Plaza, 1255 Carlisle Road, York, and Giant Food Store, 3175 Cape Horn Road, Red Lion.

Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

WellSpan Maternal-Fetal Medicine last week celebrated the opening of a new office in Ephrata. This is the fourth location for the regional service, which also opened a Chambersburg office in collaboration with Summit Health earlier this year.

Maternal-fetal medicine physicians Cynthia Anderson, MD; James T. Barber, DO; James Hole, DO; Mary Jo Johnson, MD; and Erik Smith, DO; partner with obstetricians in the central Pennsylvania region to provide diagnostic and consultative services focused on high-risk obstetrics.

A full range of ultrasound services, including antepartum testing, Down Syndrome screening, 3D ultrasound and ultrasound-guided procedures are offered.

Maternal-fetal medicine perinatologists co-manage pregnancies complicated by fetal abnormalities, including growth disorders, inherited diseases and structural malformations, as well as maternal disorders, including diabetes, hypertensive disorders and other chronic medical diseases.

The expansion of WellSpan Maternal-Fetal Medicine underscores WellSpan’s commitment to serving the obstetric and perinatal needs of the region. WellSpan is invested in building and sustaining a topnotch, regional maternal-fetal medicine program that benefits from the system's:

• timely, coordinated transitions of care;
• prompt communciation with primary care providers relative to patient treatment and follow-up recommendations; and
• sophisticated electronic health record, which facilitates timely access to patient health information and coordination of services across WellSpan’s wide system of services.

To learn more about WellSpan Maternal-Fetal Medicine, visit wellspan.org/wmg or call (717) 851-2722 in York; (717) 338-3292 in Gettysburg; (877) 722-1757 in Chambersburg, or (866) 244-3492 in Ephrata.