On Saturday, January 28, West Chester Hospital will present a free seminar featuring the region’s leading physician specialists, who will discuss cancers that affect women, including breast, cervical, endometrial, ovarian, uterine and other female reproductive system cancers. Participants will learn how to recognize early signs and symptoms, and receive important information about early detection, prevention, diagnosis, and surgical and non-surgical treatments for various types of cancer.

WHEN: Saturday, January 28, 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
WHERE:  West Chester Hospital, Plaza Conference Room
7700 University Drive
West Chester, Ohio 45069

Space is limited for this free event. Seats can be reserved by calling (513) 298-3000 by Thursday, January 26. For information about West Chester Hospital, please visit www.uchealth.com/westchesterhospital.

Upon announcement of the news, James A. Kingsbury, President & Chief Executive Officer of UC Health, said the following:

“George was selected based upon his unbridled and unparalleled passion for excellence in patient care; his remarkable service as a volunteer board member; and his deep and unrelenting devotion to building a vibrant health system that can readily meet the medical needs of our community.”

Strike has a long history of distinguished service as a volunteer board member for healthcare institutions affiliated with the University of Cincinnati: he was one of the principle founders of the Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati in 1995, which, although no longer in existence, started the consolidation of healthcare systems in Cincinnati and served the community well for over 15 years. He was one of the principle Health Alliance trustees and ultimately chairman who assisted with the difficult but successful process of transitioning partners out of the Alliance. Each transition was effectively managed and each hospital continued successful operations and found a “new home.” Most notably, Strike was one of three trustees who led the creation of UC Health over the past two years.

Strike was instrumental in helping UC Health create an innovative structure with the University of Cincinnati to make UC Health, the College of Medicine and other components of UC stronger. It formed the only academic health system in the region, embracing all three missions of patient care, education and research and laying the groundwork for a powerful system long into the future.

Finally, Strike played an active role in integrating UC Physicians into UC Health and fully aligning all of the clinical components while still remaining aligned with the College of Medicine. This new structure is seen as a model for academic medical centers nationally.

The UC Health and College of Medicine associates and faculty who were named as finalists include, by award category:

Community Outreach

• Dr. Leah Casuto, Lindner Center of HOPE
• Ruby Crawford-Hemphill, University Hospital
• Dr. Michael Lyons, University of Cincinnati

Innovator

• Dr. Jed Hartings, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
• Dr. Olivier Rixe, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine

Manager

• Nancy Barone, UC Health University Hospital
• Dr. Thomas Boat, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine

Provider

• Dr. Edward Richards, UC Health

About UC Health

UC Health includes University Hospital, ranked the best hospital in the region by US News and World Report; West Chester Hospital, Cincinnati’s newest hospital; Drake Center, Cincinnati’s premier provider of long term acute care; UC Physicians, Cincinnati’s largest specialty practice group with 650 board-certified clinicians and surgeons; the Lindner Center of HOPE, the region’s premier mental health center, and  the UC Cancer Institute, the UC Cardiovascular Institute, the UC Neuroscience Institute and the UC Diabetes and Endocrinology Institute. To learn more, visit UCHealth.com.

Charlotte Wilson of Mason was the grand prize winner, receiving lunch for four at Sultan’s Mediterranean Cuisine and a manicure and pedicure for four at Ambience Salon Spa. A limousine provided by A Touch of Class Limousines will escort Charlotte and her friends to the salon and to lunch. Her prize also included a full house cleaning provided by The Maids Home Services of Butler and Warren County ($270 value) and a $50 gift certificate for Dress Barn.

“I’ve been to West Chester Hospital several times for different reasons, and the service here is always the best,” Charlotte said. “Everyone is so friendly and nice; they really make you feel special here.”

During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, typically held in October, women are frequently reminded to receive a mammogram. The Women’s Imaging Center at West Chester Hospital wants women to think about the importance of breast cancer screening year-round. To further encourage awareness about the importance of breast health, West Chester Hospital will soon launch a new campaign in January and February. Women who schedule their mammograms with the hospital will be entered to win a “New Year, New (Healthier) You” prize package. Look for more information coming soon in the mail or online at www.UCHealth.com/WestChesterHospital.

According to the American Cancer Society, women age 40 and older should have a screening mammogram every year. Women between 20 and 39 should have a clinical breast exam every three years, and all women should perform breast self-exams frequently beginning at age 20.  

West Chester Hospital’s dedicated Women’s Imaging Center includes digital mammography, DEXA bone-density scanning, ultrasound, and stereotactic biopsy, and utilizes the most technologically advanced equipment and a highly trained imaging staff in our area. Schedule your mammogram today by calling 513-298-FAST (3278).

West Chester Hospital is a 160-bed hospital in West Chester, Ohio, providing the latest technology delivered in a healing environment. The hospital is conveniently located and easily accessible from Interstate 75 at Tylersville Road. Services include a full-service emergency department, inpatient and outpatient surgical services, and inpatient and outpatient diagnostic and treatment services.

On Saturday, November 19, West Chester Hospital will present a free seminar featuring the region’s leading gastroenterology physicians, who specialize in diagnosing and treating diseases of the digestive organs, including the stomach and esophagus. Helpful information will be provided about acid reflux, heartburn and the serious health risks associated with these conditions.

A variety of questions will be answered, such as:

• What does heartburn feel like?
• When should I consult my doctor about it?
• What is gastroesophageal reflux disease and how is it treated?
• Besides heartburn, what are other symptoms of reflux disease?
• How are reflux and heartburn associated to cancer?
• What are the latest treatments for these conditions?

WHEN:   Saturday, November 19, 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
WHERE:   West Chester Hospital, Plaza Conference Room
7700 University Drive
West Chester, Ohio 45069

Space is limited for this free event. Seats can be reserved by calling (513) 298-3000 by November 17. Refreshments will be provided.

On Saturday, October 29, West Chester Hospital will present a free seminar featuring the region’s leading cardiologists and primary care physicians who will provide helpful information about your heart. A variety of questions will be answered including: What happens to our hearts as we age? What are the most common heart ailments? How do high blood pressure and diabetes affect the heart? How do you keep your heart healthy in the long term? 

WHEN: Saturday, October 29, 2011, 9 – 10:30 a.m.
WHERE: West Chester Hospital, Plaza Conference Room
7700 University Drive
West Chester, Ohio 45069

Space is limited for this free event. Seats can be reserved by calling (513) 298-3000 by October 27. Refreshments will be provided. For information about our cardiac services, please visit www.UCHealth.com/WestChesterHospital.

An easy ordering system allows doctors to call or fax in a prescription ahead of time, allowing the pharmacist to prepare the prescription before the customer’s arrival and shortening customer wait times. The pharmacy is conveniently located in the medical office building attached to the hospital, making it easy for patients, visitors and staff members to pick up their prescriptions on their way out of the hospital. Close parking to the new pharmacy and valet service at the hospital’s main entrance are available.

“Just one benefit for customers who order their prescriptions through the hospital pharmacy is the knowledge that a licensed pharmacist is available at all times to answer medication-related questions and to help customers understand any side-effects or drug-interactions that might occur,” says Kevin Brooks, director of pharmacy for West Chester Hospital. “The pharmacist also oversees all prescription fillings in order to ensure the highest standard of quality and safety.”

Additional services are available through the pharmacy, including pharmacotherapy and anticoagulation management. Through the pharmacotherapy program, pharmacists work with patients and their doctors to achieve the best outcomes with the patient’s drug therapy regimen. Every patient receives an individualized plan with a complete review of medications and drug interactions, as well as diet and lifestyle counseling.

The anticoagulation management program provides experts who work one-on-one with patients taking blood thinners. Anticoagulation is the process of reducing and preventing blood clots through the use of blood thinners or injectable drugs.

The new pharmacy is open Monday though Friday, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (closed 12:30 – 1 p.m.). It is located in West Chester Hospital Medical Office South (attached to the hospital): 7626 University Drive, Suite 100, West Chester, Ohio, 45069.

Call 513-298-7730 to order a prescription or schedule an appointment.

West Chester Hospital is a 160-bed hospital in West Chester, Ohio. Utilizing the very latest in medical technology, and drawing upon the University of Cincinnati’s nearly 200 years of medical expertise, West Chester Hospital provides discovery-driven care in a pleasant healing environment. The hospital is conveniently located and easily accessible from Interstate 75 at Tylersville Road. Services include a full-service emergency department, inpatient and outpatient surgical services, and inpatient and outpatient diagnostic and treatment services.

On Saturday, October 1, the region’s leading physicians who specialize in urology disorders for both women and men will speak as part of a free seminar. A variety of topics for women will be discussed, including incontinence, urinary frequency/urgency, urinary tract infections and common treatments for each. Men’s topics include the enlarged prostate, infections of the prostate, prostate cancer and minimally-invasive treatments for prostate cancer, including robotic surgery.

WHEN: Saturday, October 1, 2011, 9 – 10:30 a.m.
WHERE:  West Chester Hospital, Plaza Conference Room (Level A)
7700 University Drive, West Chester, Ohio 45069

Space is limited for this free event. Seats can be reserved by calling (513) 298-3000 by September 29. Refreshments will be provided. For more information about West Chester Hospital, please visit www.UCHealth.com/WestChesterHospital.

West Chester Hospital is a 160-bed hospital in West Chester, Ohio. Utilizing the very latest in medical technology and drawing upon the University of Cincinnati’s nearly 200 years of medical expertise, West Chester Hospital provides discovery-driven care in a pleasant, healing environment. The hospital is conveniently located and easily accessible from Interstate 75 at Tylersville Road. Services include a full-service emergency department, inpatient and outpatient surgical services, and inpatient and outpatient diagnostic and treatment services.

To qualify for ENERGY STAR certification, a building must perform in the top 25 percent of similar facilities nationwide for energy efficiency and meet strict energy efficiency performance levels set by the EPA.

“Essentially, West Chester Hospital has a much smaller carbon footprint than other hospitals,” said Mike Kuechenmeister, director of plant operations and maintenance for West Chester Hospital. “It’s important to us to be a good steward of the environment, and having the ENERGY STAR designation proves that we are operating in an environmentally efficient manner.”

Commercial buildings that earn ENERGY STAR certification use an average of 35 percent less energy than typical buildings and also release 35 percent less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. As a new hospital, West Chester Hospital was built to be “green,” with energy-efficient electrical and mechanical equipment, such as tankless water heaters and automated lighting controls that turn lights off when areas of the hospital are unoccupied. In addition, the advanced heating and cooling systems automatically adjust to account for seasonal and weather temperature variations.

To earn the ENERGY STAR rating, West Chester Hospital was required to submit all of the hospital’s utility bills for the past two years as well as undergo a stringent validation survey required by the EPA, which rated the building on a performance scale to assess how efficiently the building uses energy relative to similar buildings nationwide.

“We are extremely proud to accept the EPA’s ENERGY STAR certification in recognition of our efforts to operate as an environmentally friendly hospital,” said Kevin Joseph, MD, president and CEO of West Chester Hospital. “It is one of many steps we have taken to be a fiscally-responsible business and to actively promote a healthier community.”

The ENERGY STAR program was introduced by the EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Today, the ENERGY STAR label can be found on more than 60 different kinds of products, as well as new homes and commercial and industrial buildings that meet strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the EPA. Last year alone, Americans, with the help of the ENERGY STAR program, saved $18 billion on their energy bills while reducing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those produced by 35 million vehicles.

West Chester Hospital is a 160-bed hospital located in West Chester, Ohio. Utilizing the very latest in medical technology, and drawing upon the University of Cincinnati’s nearly 200 years of medical expertise, West Chester Hospital provides discovery-driven care in a pleasant healing environment. The hospital is conveniently located and easily accessible from Interstate 75 at Tylersville Road. Services include a full-service emergency department, inpatient and outpatient surgical services, and inpatient and outpatient diagnostic and treatment services.

On Saturday, July 30, West Chester Hospital will present “Healthy Women, Healthy Aging,” a free seminar featuring the region’s leading women’s health specialists who will provide essential information about how to navigate changes that occur in women’s bodies as they age. Attendees will learn vital information about health topics including menopause, pelvic floor disorders and gynecological cancers. Physician speakers will discuss the latest advances in prevention and modern treatment methods for these and other women’s health concerns.

WHEN:    Saturday, July 30, 2011, 9 – 11 a.m.
WHERE:    West Chester Hospital, Plaza Conference Room (Level A)
7700 University Drive, West Chester, Ohio 45069

Space is limited for this free event. Participants are asked to reserve their seats by calling 513-298-3000 by July 27. Refreshments will be provided.

Cincinnati, OH – May 11, 2011 – Karen Bankston, PhD, Drake Center’s Senior Vice President, announced today that she will step down as that hospital’s chief executive at the end of June. Bankston has served the system for 21 years in a variety of leadership positions: she initially served as Assistant Administrator at University Hospital and later became the hospital’s Vice President of Patient Services and Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Operations. She then served as Vice President of External Affairs for the Health Alliance before being appointed the chief executive of Drake.

“Karen has been a catalyst for positive change and has provided steady leadership since she became Drake’s chief executive in 2005” said James A. Kingsbury, UC Health’s President & CEO. “She has worked tirelessly to strengthen the hospital and position it for long-term success. The UC Health board members and I are extremely grateful for her tremendous work and passion for Drake, its patients and mission.”

In announcing her departure, Bankston stated that her “goal was to ensure a new identity for Drake Center, something I have proudly accomplished. Our recent membership in UC Health begins an era of stability and strength for Drake, and we will benefit greatly by being linked to this powerful brand in our community. Likewise, our recent agreement with HealthSouth will allow Drake to focus on the long-term acute care services for which it is known, create an improved financial picture for our organization, and ensure more rehabilitative services for the community. I’m ready to move on to new and different challenges.”

“Dr. Bankston has guided Drake through a series of daunting challenges,” said Kevin Flynn, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Drake Center.  “We have relied on her tremendous leadership and creative problem solving skills to move Drake forward and to preserve Drake as a community asset.  Karen, you will be missed,” Flynn added.

Bankston has held a number of high-level leadership positions in her 30-year healthcare career and is considered a community icon when it comes to healthcare issues and addressing the healthcare needs of the poor and underserved. She founded the Center for Closing the Health Gap and also serves on numerous local boards. She served nationally as an advisor to the American Hospital Association and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid.

With her departure, UC Health also announced the appointment of Terry Dunn, FACHE, Drake’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), as Executive Director of Drake Center. Dunn, a highly accomplished professional with more than 20 years experience as a healthcare manager and consultant, has served as a member of Drake’s senior management team since 2005 and was appointed COO in 2009. Dunn is board certified in healthcare quality (CPHQ) and a Six Sigma Black Belt; he also holds a Bachelor’s degree in engineering from Virginia Tech and a Master’s degree in business administration from the University of Kentucky.

About UC Health

UC Health includes University Hospital, ranked the best hospital in the region by US News and World Report; West Chester Hospital, Cincinnati’s newest hospital; Drake Center, Cincinnati’s premier provider of long term acute care; UC Physicians, Cincinnati’s largest specialty practice group with 650 board-certified clinicians and surgeons; the Lindner Center of HOPE, the region’s premier mental health center, and  the UC Cancer Institute, the UC Cardiovascular Institute, the UC Neuroscience Institute and the UC Diabetes and Endocrinology Institute. To learn more, visit UCHealth.com.

About Drake Center

Anthony Condia
UC Health
513.584.1134
anthony.condia@uchealth.com