WellnessToday. Life begins at VVMC pg 4. Verde Valley Medical Center. Patients Are Our Purpose

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1 Verde Valley Medical Center WellnessToday Summer 2013 Patients Are Our Purpose Life begins at VVMC pg 4 Rehab for Brain Injuries pg 2 VVMC Awards pg 3 Kid-sized Therapy pg 6 Elevating Cancer Care pg 7

2 TM vvmc entirecare EntireCare On the Frontlines Combating the Effects of Brain Injuries Verde Valley Medical Center s EntireCare Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine Experts understand the challenges people face after experiencing a brain injury, suffering a stroke or being diagnosed with a neurological disorder. That is why they developed two programs uniquely designed to promote recovery and rehabilitation after these life-altering events. Each program helps participants build on their strengths and compensate for any limitations. Stroke Rehabilitation Program Whether someone has experienced a mild, moderate or severe stroke, the goals are the same: easing pain, promoting mobility and function, and maximizing independence. Neuro Boot Camp This six-day, six-hours-per-day intensive rehabilitation program helps participants reach their highest level of function and independence while improving the overall quality of life. The EntireCare team of physical, occupational and speech therapists are specially trained in neurological rehabilitation. Each specific type of therapy is considered a specialty and plays an important role in the rehabilitation process. Physical therapy uses techniques to enhance movement, reduce pain, restore function and prevent disability. Occupational therapy consists of innovated, individually tailored treatment to focusing on work and leisure activities. Speech therapy restores verbal and written communication skills and cognitive abilities. Even after patients complete formal rehabilitation, EntireCare offers resources to help individuals continue their progress, including support groups and individual consultations. Neurologists join Verde Valley Medical Clinic Neurology A service of Verde Valley Medical Center Elwood Hopkins, M.D., Ph.D. David Llewellyn, M.D. Both physicians specialize in neurological disorders including stroke, traumatic brain injury, neuromuscular disorders, epilepsy, dementia, Parkinson s disease, multiple sclerosis and migraine headaches. Dr. Hopkins and Dr. Llewellyn s outpatient practice is located at 450 S. Willard St.,#107, Cottonwood. They also treat patients hospitalized at Verde Valley Medical Center. To make an appointment, call To learn more about the comprehensive rehabilitation programs available at VVMC, visit EntireCare.com or call Want to know what s going on at Verde Valley Medical Center? Follow us on twitter.com/verdemedical, or become a fan at facebook.com/verdevalleymedicalcenter. 2 VerdeValleyMedicalCenter.com Patients Are Our Purpose

3 VVMC awards Making Patients Our Purpose And Winning Accolades for Doing So Verde Valley Medical Center is focused on patient care and quality, and is doing a stellar job providing it, according to numerous awarding agencies. Most recently, VVMC earned high accolades from Healthgrades, the Leapfrog Group and the American Heart Association. It s gratifying to have an outside agency look at VVMC and recognize its excellence, VVMC Interim President and CEO Barbara Dember said. We can t apply for these awards or buy these awards. We don t tell them VVMC is great; they get to decide based on our results, and the message they are sending is we provide great care. Barbara Dember Interim President/CEO VVMC ranks in the top 5 percent of hospitals in the U.S. when it comes to patient safety, according to Healthgrades, receiving the rating company s Patient Safety Excellence Award. This year marks VVMC s fifth year winning the award and makes it one of only 21 hospitals nationally to do so. The same group also gave VVMC s Joint Replacement Program its 5-Star Award. The program has ranked in the top 10 in Arizona for the past five years. In 2013, VVMC also received 5-Star Awards for total knee replacement and hip fracture treatment. Total hip replacement procedures earned the 5-Star designation in 2012 and For the second year in a row, Leapfrog Group awarded VVMC an A grade for safety, quality of care and patient outcomes in Hospital staff also achieved an exceptional level of care in treating heart failure patients earning the American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines Heart Failure Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award for This is the highest award given by the program. Recent Awards: U.S. News & World Report named VVMC a high-performing regional hospital Becker s Hospital Review listed VVMC in 100 Great Community Hospitals in the U.S. Professional Research Consultants awarded VVMC platinum, gold, silver, 5-star and 4-star awards Northern Arizona Healthcare was named a top-performing small healthcare system as reported in Modern Healthcare For more information on Verde Valley Medical Center programs and services, visit VerdeValleyMedicalCenter.com. Our mission Verde Valley Medical Center will provide patients with exceptional care while transforming the health of the communities we serve. Patients Are Our Purpose VerdeValleyMedicalCenter.com 3

4 vvmc ob Life begins at VVMC, Life begins in the Verde Valley in the shadow of the magnificent Mingus Mountain. Babies enter the world in rooms easily mistaken for hotel suites complete with Sedona red rock views to the northeast. Greta, 1, and newborn Giselle Wurzer both started their life journeys here. Mom Sonia Wurzer recalls each experience as unique, where different aspects of Verde Valley Medical Center s Labor and Delivery Unit made her deliveries memorable. VVMC s Labor and Delivery Unit occupies the fourth floor of the hospital s tower, where staff creates a safe haven for momma and baby. Immediately after newborns enter the world, they are outfitted with a transponder attached to their umbilical cord. The transponder sounds an alarm if a baby is taken near one of the doors of the secure unit. Babies are cared for by nurses, techs and a newborn provider team. The team consists of neonatal nurse practitioners and physicians. Neonatal nurse practitioners are in house at all times, and attend all cesarean section and high risk deliveries. They are advanced practice nurses with expertise and skill in the resuscitation and stabilization of babies. To support newborn services, they also see and assess all babies born at VVMC. Newborns needing extra love and attention in the stabilization nursery area are taken care of under the watchful eye of the neonatal nurse practitioners. Mom also receives the appropriate attention and care. A spa tub room available before delivery offers water therapy to ease the pains of labor, and each private room offers comforts not always found in a hospital setting. Medical equipment is strategically tucked away to create a home-like atmosphere while remaining just an arm s reach away should the need to use any of it arise. Not only are they taking care of the baby, but they make sure mom is taken care of, Sonia said. It s kind of nice they re thinking about mom too. Sonia took advantage of the spa room with her second baby, Giselle. The peace found in the relaxation of the water eventually transferred to Giselle s birth, which Sonia remembers as a calm and tranquil experience. Mothers spend the first part of the stay in the labor, delivery and recovery rooms. If a cesarean delivery is necessary, women move to one of two operating suites in the unit. Patients used to be transported to the main operating room for the procedure. Following recovery, mom and baby move to the post-partum area, which is now separate from where the babies are born. This allows mothers in delivery and those getting to know their bundle of joy to feel more comfortable. While Sonia and Giselle recovered from Giselle s arrival they were joined by Paul Wurzer, Sonia s husband, in what Sonia called a nice, big room. Hospital staff brought a cot so Paul could spend the night with his wife and new baby. 4 VerdeValleyMedicalCenter.com Patients Are Our Purpose

5 safe and sound After Giselle s arrival, Sonia said nurses and unit staff made many resources available to her including access to a breastfeeding consultant and a social worker. She also received helpful information a mom needs to know to care for herself and her new little one at home. Preparing For Baby s Arrival Verde Valley Medical Center offers childbirth education classes to expecting mothers to prepare them for the birth of their child. Classes are taught by a registered nurse. The five-week evening course explores anatomy and physiology, labor support, pain management, newborn care and breastfeeding. For more information or to sign up for this class, call Patients Are Our Purpose VerdeValleyMedicalCenter.com 5

6 vvmc kids VVMC Sleep Center Gives Families a Better Night s Sleep After suffering with sleep apnea for 20 years, April LeFevre watched for symptoms in her 6-year-old daughter. April understood the issues interrupted sleep cause: fatigue, behavioral problems, obesity, heart problems and more. Besides sleep apnea, other sleeprelated conditions such as insomnia, narcolepsy, sleep walking and talking, grinding teeth and nightmares also can disturb children. April s husband, Thomas, struggled with sleep difficulties as well, so the family went to Verde Valley Medical Center s Sleep Disorder Center. VVMC has the only sleep study program in Northern and Central Arizona that treats patients as young as 5 years old. They d never had a whole family of three do the study before, and it was great that Thomas could comfort our daughter, April said. We were incredibly impressed with the staff; they were so good to us. The Sleep Disorder Center is accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, which is dedicated to rigorous standards, promoting excellence in healthcare, education and research. Under the direction of Jeffrey Arnold, M.D., the board-certified staff represents a combined total of nearly 80 years of experience in sleep medicine and disorders. The center consists of private sleep rooms offering a pleasant, home-like atmosphere equipped with hightech monitoring technologies. The state-of-the-art center offers a comprehensive program for evaluation, diagnosis and treatment. For more information, visit VerdeValleyMedicalCenter.com/ OurServices/SleepCenter or call EntireCare Offers Kid-sized Therapy Zephenia Trevino suffers from autism and seizures that cause him to lose control of his body. Two years ago, he came to EntireCare Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine where therapists taught him to speak. Today, he continues treatment twice a week to work on his balance and other motor skills. Therapists see Zephenia in a designated area designed specifically for treating children and made possible by a donation from David and Alice Goodhart. Pediatric physical therapy is a specialized medical field. Fortunately, VVMC s EntireCare therapists have the passion, skill and expertise to treat children who are working to overcome or live with a variety of conditions including developmental delays, physical disabilities, chronic illness or other conditions that affect their motor skills. Pediatric physical therapy can help a child develop communication skills, and the strength and range of motion needed to move through their environment easily and effectively. In a child-friendly setting, therapists use specially designed exercises and equipment to regain or improve physical abilities. Creative toys or innovative games promote muscle tone, strength, dexterity, posture, balance and coordination in young bodies. These sessions are videotaped, so parents can see and repeat the therapies with their children at home. Zephenia Trevino Whether a child needs a single therapy or a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program, VVMC s EntireCare therapists develop a customized care plan to ensure the best possible results. For more information on the comprehensive services available to people of all ages and abilities through VVMC s EntireCare Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine Experts, visit EntireCare.com. 6 VerdeValleyMedicalCenter.com Patients Are Our Purpose

7 vvmc cancer center Elevating Cancer Care: U of A Cancer Center Affiliation Supports Local Providers Sedona and Verde Valley residents fighting cancer aren t in the battle alone their team includes Cancer Centers of Northern Arizona Healthcare s Sedona campus medical professionals working alongside experts at the University of Arizona Cancer Center. The first defensive strategy used by the Cancer Center is education and reaching out to area primary care physicians to bridge the gap between screening and care. The charge is led by a guidance council made up of members from Northern Arizona Healthcare and UACC, including Mark Pico, M.D., who is with Verde Valley Medical Center s primary care service. Dr. Pico, a pediatrician and internist, understands the role primary care physicians play in the prevention, detection and treatment of cancer. Wellness wears many faces - physical, spiritual, financial and emotional. Medical wellness seeks to protect all of these, and pertains to the promotion of health habits and disease prevention, and the inherent benefits of both, Dr. Pico said. The promotion of health, as one example, includes, proper screening of at-risk populations. It is tailored to all aspects of a person s life to emphasize the prevention, early detection and treatment of illness so a patient maintains or returns to a state of wellness. A regular e-newsletter is sent to primary care providers bringing them the latest news regarding new technology, treatment options, screening developments and links to the latest research. On Saturday, Aug. 10, the Cancer Center takes its efforts to new heights hosting its first medical education conference. Cancer Care and Prevention, Updates for the Practitioner is geared toward physicians, nurses, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and other healthcare professionals. The purpose of the seminar is to help providers better care for their patients who are battling or living with cancer. Attendees will learn about primary cancer prevention, caring for elderly cancer patients, pain management and survivorship, allowing them to apply new knowledge to their practice and join the fight against cancer. The Cancer Centers of Northern Arizona Healthcare are located in Sedona and Flagstaff and are devoted to the comprehensive treatment and early diagnosis of cancer through advanced technology and individualized care. In 2012, the Sedona center formally affiliated with UACC. For more information on the Cancer Center in Sedona, call ; or visit CCNAH.com. Mark Pico, M.D. VVMC Board of Directors Ron Barber Samuel Butman, M.D., Chief of Medical Staff Richard Cranmer, Chair Barbara Dember, Interim President/CEO, VVMC Alan Everett Paul Hanson, M.D., Past Chief of Medical Staff Richard Kruse James E. Ledbetter, Treasurer Charles Marr Shawn Orme, Vice Chair Matias Sandoval, Past Board Chair Ray Selna, Secretary Tom Taylor Our Values Patients We are committed to meeting the needs and exceeding the expectations of our patients. Colleagues We strive to create an organizational culture where colleagues feel valued and take a sense of pride in their work. Quality We continuously strive to achieve excellence at all levels in the organization. Safety We are committed to maintaining a safe environment for our patients, visitors and colleagues. Leadership We promote leadership as an attitude, not a position, putting value on both people and the work they do. Teamwork We are colleagues working together, sharing knowledge, talents and skills to achieve common goals. Integrity We will be forthright, honest and respectful. Diversity We embrace the diversity of our people, patients and the communities we serve. Patients Are Our Purpose VerdeValleyMedicalCenter.com 7

8 Wellness Today is published by VVMC s Marketing Department S. Candy Lane Cottonwood, AZ VerdeValleyMedicalCenter.com 269 S. Candy Lane Cottonwood, AZ Editors/Writers: Trista MacVittie Gail Collins, Starla Collins Janet Dean Photos: John Burcham Design: Caroline Pilkington Prepress: Paul Berg This publication in no way seeks to serve as a substitute for professional medical care. Consult your physician before undertaking any form of medical treatment or adopting any exercise program or dietary guidelines. T betes ou. sday Center. HEART DISEASE AND DIABETES SCREENINGS H E A R T D I S E A S E A N D D I A B E T E S S C R E E N I N G S A Free Heart Disease and Diabetes Screening Program just for you. Screenings are offered every Tuesday morning at Verde Valley Medical Center. Screenings include: Diabetes risk test Blood pressure Blood glucose Cholesterol (Total, HDL, LDL and triglyceride) Height and weight Results consultation with a healthcare professional To reserve your screening, call The health of your heart is in your hands. The health of your heart is in your hands. ll Patients Are Our Purpose Men are welcome to participate in the screening. A Northern Arizona Community Health Initiative 269 S. Candy Lane, Cottonwood Patients Are Our Purpose 269 S. Candy Lane, Cottonwood VerdeValleyMedicalCenter.com VerdeValleyMedicalCenter.com SM