June 11, 2013 · 4:17 pm

DAISY Award Honors Peninsula Regional Nurse Michele McIntosh, RN

Michele McIntosh, RN, was honored with the DAISY Award at PRMC.

Michele McIntosh, RN, was honored with the DAISY Award at PRMC.

Nurses at Peninsula Regional Medical Center are being honored with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, a national program to recognize the outstanding efforts of nurses in their daily work.

The award recipient for May is Michele McIntosh, RN. Her nomination, by a patient’s family member, described how she monitored a potentially dangerous clinical situation while showing compassion for the patient and family by maintaining a calm, soothing manner. She stayed with the patient until long after her night shift was over. “I have no idea what time she finally got out of there that morning, but at no time did she ever make us feel that she wanted to be anywhere other than where she was —with us,” the nominator wrote of McIntosh. “Her demeanor and efficiency made a very difficult situation better.”

Every month, a nurse will be selected by Peninsula Regional’s nursing administration to receive the DAISY Award.  At a presentation given in front of the nurse’s colleagues, physicians, patients and visitors, the honoree will receive a certificate commending her or him for being an “Extraordinary Nurse.”  The certificate reads: “In deep appreciation of all you do, who you are, and the incredibly meaningful difference you make in the lives of so many people.” The honoree will also be given a sculpture called A Healer’s Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe. To nominate a nurse, visit www.peninsula.org/DaisyAward.

“We are proud to be among the hospitals participating in the DAISY Award program. Nurses are heroes every day,” said PRMC Chief Nursing Officer Mary Beth D’Amico. “It’s important that our nurses know their work is highly valued.”

The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, CA, and was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes.  Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little-known but not uncommon auto-immune disease.  The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.

President and Co-Founder of The DAISY Foundation Bonnie Barnes said, “When Patrick was critically ill, our family experienced first-hand the remarkable skill and care nurses provide patients every day and night. Yet these unsung heroes are seldom recognized for the super-human work they do. The kind of work the nurses at PRMC are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of The DAISY Award.”

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· 2:56 pm

Free Screenings on the Wagner Wellness Van

The Wagner Wellness Van will be out and about in the next couple weeks offering FREE screenings! On June 12, the van will be in Ocean Pines at Food Lion Shopping Center offering Coastal Cardiac Checks and on June 18 the Van will be in Somerset County offering Free Women’s Heart Screenings. For more information on what these screenings offer, check out this short video with Wellness Manager, Autumn Romanowksi. To schedule a time for one of these screenings, please call 410-543-7026.

Click over to our Facebook page to view a quick video all about the Wagner Wellness Van screenings.

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June 7, 2013 · 1:17 pm

Simple Steps Can Ward Off Stroke

Here’s a nice good-news health story from National Public Radio! It turns out that eliminating just one of seven factors that increase your risk of a stroke can make a big difference. That’s great news for people who feel overwhelmed by having too many health issues to deal with at once – instead, they can pick just one of seven to focus on. The risk factors studied were: cigarette smoking, body mass index, blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, physical activity and diet.

Click here for the American Heart Association’s “Simple Seven”  – learn a bit about each risk factor and decide which one you want to take action on – or better yet, try changing all seven!

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June 3, 2013 · 2:43 pm

Delmarva Health Pavilion at Millsboro: On Track for Fall Completion

nancy Squires, MD, left, and Lisa Hohl, family nurse practitioner, review the Delmarva Health Pavilion plans with developer Palmer Gillis.

nancy Squires, MD, left, and Lisa Hohl, family nurse practitioner, review the Delmarva Health Pavilion plans with developer Palmer Gillis.

Lots of people have been asking about the new Delmarva Health Pavilion in Millsboro. Construction is moving along and tenants are inking deals – everything’s on track for a Fall 2013 grand opening. There will be several different types of providers there, including a primary care office (information about that office, including a phone number, at the end of the article if you need a new doc). In the meantime, here’s some background on the project. This article appears in the May issue of PRMC’s HealthFocus magazine.

J.C. Nichols. You may not know the name, but you have almost certainly enjoyed his Americana contribution. Mr. Nichols, in 1922, opened the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri, largely accepted as the birthplace of the U.S. shopping center. Build it where it’s needed most, make it easy for people to get nearly everything they could require in one convenient location, and they will come. And we continue to.

It’s a blueprint for business not lost on healthcare leaders like Peninsula Regional Medical Center. Opening this summer is PRMC’s Delmarva Health Pavilion at Millsboro, an underserved area with a growing demand for family medicine and specialty healthcare services.
Currently, there are over 100,000 people living within a 20 minute drive from the center of Millsboro, Delaware. The town’s population is predicted to grow by 8.2% over the next five years, which is just slightly below the anticipated 8.6% growth for Sussex County during the same time period. “The need for a wide range of healthcare services and chronic disease management is expected to significantly increase in the next half decade in Sussex County, and we’re honored to partner with everyone in Millsboro, to invest now in the future of this wonderful community,” said Dr. Peggy Naleppa, MS, MBA, FACHE and President/CEO of Peninsula Regional Medical Center.

The Delmarva Health Pavilion will be a one-stop shop for many of those healthcare needs required by the people of Millsboro and surrounding Sussex County communities, not unlike the Nichols’ shopping concept.

The 48,000-square-foot space will provide an anticipated 75 to 100 new jobs plus additional medical providers to see more patients and bring specialized physicians to the doors of this growing community, which with its location and amenities has become increasingly attractive to retirees. These are physicians who can diagnose health conditions early in order to provide preventive measures and opportunities for non-surgical interventions where appropriate.
“Health care is a major concern not only for retirees, but for everyone, and to be able to say that Millsboro is the home of a medical facility operated by Peninsula Regional Medical Center is a real plus for our town,” said Millsboro Mayor Robert Bryan.

For decades, Peninsula Regional has been working toward a population-based healthcare approach for the overall health and well-being of the people of the Delmarva Peninsula. The creation of the Delmarva Health Pavilion at Millsboro is an essential part of that effort.

As the healthcare industry continues to evolve, providers are becoming more committed to reducing health disparities and integrating disease prevention among populations versus individuals. For instance, by providing a myriad of services at the Delmarva Health Pavilion, the focus is on keeping the people of Millsboro and Sussex County healthy, first and foremost, and reducing their chances for serious illness and admission to the hospital.

“As part of this evolution, healthcare reform has allowed, or will soon allow, millions of individuals access to insurance and healthcare that may not have previously been available to them. In addition, every day, 10,000 people turn 65 and join Medicare,” said Chris Hall, PRMC’s Vice President of Strategy and Business Development. “By bringing a range of multi-disciplinary services, especially primary care, close to home for Sussex County, Peninsula Regional will meet the health needs of this population in a cohesive, comprehensive and convenient manner.”

The Delmarva Health Pavilion at Millsboro will help residents to live longer, more productive lives, benefitting the entire community. It also helps to ensure that exceptional care will be available even closer in Sussex County.

“The Millsboro Town Council and our town’s people appreciate the fact that PRMC believes in us and is willing to invest in our town and community,” added Mayor Bryan.

Primary Care in Sussex
While the move into Millsboro is a new and exciting opportunity for Peninsula Regional Medical Center, proving quality healthcare services in Delaware and Sussex County is something we’ve been privileged to do for decades.

Along with our Dagsboro Family Medicine Practice that will relocate to Millsboro, PRMC and its Peninsula Regional Medical Group also offer family medicine healthcare services in Laurel and Ocean View. All three practices are currently welcoming new patients and accept most insurances.

So if you need a great doctor in Sussex County, give us a call!

Dagsboro Family Medicine (Moving to Millsboro this summer)
32335 Dupont Boulevard
Dagsboro, DE 19939
302-732-8400

Laurel Family Medicine
30668 Sussex Highway
Laurel, DE 19956
302-875-6550

Ocean View Family Medicine
3578 Atlantic Avenue, Unit 3
Millville, DE 19967
302-537-1457

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May 31, 2013 · 10:50 am

Peninsula Regional Introduces Biometric Patient Identification System

Peninsula Regional Medical Center registrar Terrie Shatney scans the palm of PRMC President/CEO Peggy Naleppa, MS, MBA, Dr.M, FACHE.

Peninsula Regional Medical Center registrar Terrie Shatney scans the palm of PRMC President/CEO Peggy Naleppa, MS, MBA, Dr.M, FACHE.

Peninsula Regional Medical Center announced today that it is the first healthcare system in Maryland to use PatientSecure, a cutting-edge system that uses a palm vein scan to identify patients biometrically.

Patient safety is one of the driving factors that led PRMC to choose PatientSecure. When patients register with the system, a digital image of their hand veins is converted into a unique patient identifier in a secure format that interfaces with the healthcare system’s electronic health record system. The patient record is linked indelibly with the correct patient, helping to decrease patient wait time and speed up registrations. It also prevents identification theft and error. Every person’s palm vein pattern is unique, so once patients are registered, there is never any doubt about which record belongs to them. It ensures that the right care is provided to the right patient, every time.

“Imagine being incapacitated or knocked unconscious in an accident and brought to the Emergency Department,” said Jeff Karns, PRMC Executive Director of Patient Financial Services. “Even if patients can’t give their name in these cases, their palm can be scanned and their medical record accessed, giving doctors valuable information such as past medical events and allergies.”

PatientSecure works by scanning palm vein patterns using harmless, near-infrared light, which is the same as the light of a TV remote control. The advanced algorithm processes the vein pattern to create an encrypted and protected digital file which is linked to a unique medical record.

PatientSecure palm scanning technology is making its debut in Peninsula Regional Medical Center’s outpatient registration areas, with plans to roll it out to other departments and affiliated physician’s offices over the next few months

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May 29, 2013 · 12:23 pm

Clinical Trial Brings Cutting-Edge Cardiac Interventional Technology to the Delmarva Peninsula

Dr. Steven Hearne, left, and Dr. Jeffrey Etherton examine a patient’s vein image in the Guerrieri Heart & Vascular Institute's Cardiac Catheterization lab at Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury.

Dr. Steven Hearne, left, and Dr. Jeffrey Etherton examine a patient’s vein image in the Guerrieri Heart & Vascular Institute’s Cardiac Catheterization lab at Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury.

When Norman Adams of Whaleyville discovered he was a good candidate for a cutting-edge clinical trial of a new device to treat the blockages in his blood vessels due to coronary artery disease, with his physician’s assurance and a little research he made the choice to enroll.

The new device is the Absorb Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffold (BVS) made by the healthcare company Abbott.  Absorb™ is a small mesh tube that is designed to open a blocked heart vessel, restore blood flow to the heart and then dissolve into the blood vessel over time.

“I’m a mechanic — I could see how this thing would work,” Adams said. So on March 14, 2013, Adams became one of the first patients in the nation to be treated with Absorb. The angioplasty procedure was performed at the Guerrieri Heart & Vascular Institute at Peninsula Regional Medical Center by Jeffrey Etherton, MD, a Delmarva Heart, LLC cardiologist, as part of the ABSORB III clinical trial. ABSORB III is the first U.S. clinical trial to evaluate the potential benefits of Absorb in comparison to a medicated metallic heart stent, also called a drug eluting stent, in patients with coronary artery disease, a form of heart disease. One of the challenges associated with a permanent metallic stent is the potential need for long-term anti-clotting medications. The Absorb trial seeks to understand whether the risk for clots is lower once the device dissolves.

“Absorb is implanted in the artery and is designed to restore blood flow to the heart but unlike a permanent implant, it dissolves over time,” Dr. Etherton explained. “Once the scaffold dissolves, we will study how much natural vessel motion may return to the treated tissue.”

It was not by chance that the first bioresorbable scaffold on the Delmarva Peninsula was placed in a patient at Peninsula Regional Medical Center. “We’ve been involved in hundreds of clinical trials over the past 16 years,” said Steven Hearne, MD, a cardiologist also with Delmarva Heart, LLC and founder of the Delmarva Heart Research Foundation in Salisbury. “Our record and performance makes our site well-suited for a trial such as ABSORB III.”

Dr. Hearne credits his research team members — Erica Daniels, Christina Krater, Lauren Malone and Megan Brimer — with keeping the immaculate records and patient tracking required by the Food and Drug Administration, which oversees clinical trials. “It’s tightly regulated, which is good for the patient,” he said. A five-year patient follow-up is standard.

Dr. Hearne said he was eager to bring clinical trials to Delmarva so that people could benefit from the latest advances that these trials often bring. Having performed a fellowship at Duke University School of Medicine, which is nationally known for its biomedical research, Dr. Hearne said bringing clinical trials to the Eastern Shore was a natural step for him.

“Clinical trials typically have specific criteria for enrollment that patients must meet to be part of the studies and to ensure that the data gathered during the trial can be analyzed appropriately,” Hearne noted.

The clinical trial for the Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffold will eventually enroll up to 2,250 patients, mostly in the United States, who have coronary artery disease.

Adams says he was glad to take part in a trial. “I can see the benefits of learning — not just to myself, but for other people. It’s beneficial no matter what, and I saw only positive things.”

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May 23, 2013 · 11:14 am

June Classes and Events at Peninsula Regional Medical Center

Check out all of the opportunities to learn and get healthy at PRMC this coming month. If you have a teen or preteen, don’t miss signing them up for the Safe Sitter classes! There are free  screenings in Somerset and Worcester counties this month, too.

Tuesday, June 4

Grandparenting Class. Avery W. Hall Educational Center Auditorium, Peninsula Regional Medical Center, Salisbury; 1-4 p.m. $20. Grandparents can play an important role in supporting a new family. Learn how to combine the value of life experience with updated information on supporting new parents. This evidence-based class will help grandparents learn what is new about infant safety, car seats and how to form a great relationship with a new grandchild. To register, call 410-543-7126, or visit the Classes and Events section of www.peninsula.org.

Thursday, June 6

ALS Clinic. Peninsula Regional Medical Center, Salisbury. 10 a.m. A multidisciplinary health care team provides expertise and tools for people with ALS on the first Thursday of every month. Appointments are required; call 410-543-7069.

Friday, June 7

Prepared Childbirth Class. Avery W. Hall Educational Center, Peninsula Regional Medical Center, Salisbury; 6-9:30 p.m. $75. This weekend express series also meets June 8 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. A boxed meal is provided Friday night and Saturday. Meet other expectant parents at this interactive, two-day course that includes information about prenatal care, labor and delivery, post-partum care and infant safety. Classes should be taken during the sixth to eighth month of pregnancy. Participants are asked to bring a blanket and two pillows to each class. Pre-registration is required; call 410-543-7126 or register online in the Classes and Events section of www.peninsula.org.

Monday, June 10

Newborn Care Class. 6 to 9 p.m. $40. Avery W. Hall Educational Center, Peninsula Regional Medical Center, Salisbury. A must for first-time parents, this class reviews survival skills for the first six weeks home with baby. Topics include diapering, bathing, sleeping, calming a fussy baby and more. Dad or another support person is encouraged to attend along with mom. Pre-registration is required; call 410-543-7126, or visit the Classes and Events section of www.peninsula.org.

Wednesday, June 12

Coastal Cardiovascular Checks. Free. 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Wagner Wellness Van, Ocean Pines Food Lion Shopping Plaza. The Guerrieri Heart & Vascular Institute at Peninsula Regional Medical Center will be sponsoring its free Coastal Cardiovascular Checks, performed by Peninsula Regional medical professionals inside the Wagner Wellness Van. Screening sessions are open to people over the age of 18 and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The screening will include blood pressure, grip strength, body mass index and body fat measurements. No pre-registration is required.  For more information, call the Guerrieri Heart & Vascular Institute’s Cardiovascular/Pulmonary Rehabilitation and Preventive Cardiology Department at 410-543-7026.

Friday, June 14

ALS Support Group. 1-3 p.m. Free. Avery W. Hall Educational Center, Peninsula Regional Medical Center, Salisbury. This support group welcomes people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and their families to share experiences, education and encouragement. Call 410-543-7069 for information.

Tuesday, June 18

Women’s Heart Screenings. 8 a.m. – noon. Wagner Wellness Van, Family Dollar, 12175 Elm Street, Princess Anne. Free. The Guerrieri Heart & Vascular Institute at Peninsula Regional Medical Center will be sponsoring its free Women’s Heart Program screenings inside the Wagner Wellness Van. The screening will include cholesterol and HDL test, ankle/brachial index, resting 12 lead EKG, coronary risk profile, body fat measurement, body mass index, waist to hip ratio, blood pressure and pulse oximetry testing and  more. Pre-registration is required. For more information, call 410-543-7026.

Friday, June 21

Safe Sitter Class. 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. $50. Avery W. Hall Educational Center, Peninsula Regional Medical Center, Salisbury. Safe Sitter is a medically accurate one-day course that teaches young men and women ages 11-14 how to handle emergencies when caring for young children. Maryland law states that you must be 13 years of age to babysit. Safe Sitters learn basic life-saving techniques, safety precautions to prevent accidents, how and when to summon help, and tips on basic child care. Visit the Classes and Events section of www.peninsula.org or call 410- 543-7126 for information on how to register.

Thursday, June 27

Heartsaver First Aid with CPR and AED. $135. 8 a.m – 3:30 p.m. Avery W. Hall Educational Center Auditorium, Peninsula Regional Medical Center, Salisbury. An American Heart Association course offered through the Medical Center’s Education Department, this 7-hour certification course teaches basic first aid, CPR (adult, infant, and child), and AED skills and is designed to meet OSHA requirements. This course is designed for anyone with limited or no medical training who needs a course completion card in first aid/CPR/AED to meet job, regulatory, or other requirements. To register, call 410-543-7126, or visit the Classes and Events section of www.peninsula.org.

 Friday, June 28

Safe Sitter Class. 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. $50. Avery W. Hall Educational Center, Peninsula Regional Medical Center, Salisbury. Safe Sitter is a medically accurate one-day course that teaches young men and women ages 11-14 how to handle emergencies when caring for young children. Maryland law states that you must be 13 years of age to babysit. Safe Sitters learn basic life-saving techniques, safety precautions to prevent accidents, how and when to summon help, and tips on basic child care. Visit the Classes and Events section of www.peninsula.org or call 410- 543-7126 for information on how to register.

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