da Vinci is a robotic surgical system widely used in complex, minimally invasive surgery; however, it was only in December 2011 that the Food and Drug Administration approved the specialized Single-Site instruments for use with the da Vinci Surgical System.

“Neither robotic surgery nor single-incision surgery is new, but combining the two to remove the gallbladder requires additional training and special equipment,” says Dr. Husted. “To be one of the first hospitals to offer this technically advanced surgery demonstrates West Chester Hospital’s leadership in providing patients with the most up-to-date minimally invasive surgical options.”

Dr. Husted is one of a few surgeons in the country who has received training to perform single-site robotic surgery. Since April, Dr. Husted has performed a total of eight robotic single-site cholecystectomies.

Sarah Stapleton, of West Chester, is one of the first patients to have single site gallbladder removal surgery, performed by Dr. Husted at West Chester Hospital in April. “Before the surgery, I was experiencing a lot of nausea and pain, and I had a fever off and on for six weeks,” states Stapleton. Her intense pain and discomfort were significantly impacting her lifestyle, as her symptoms were so overwhelming that occasionally she was unable to go to work, and often did not feel well enough to adequately care for her daughter.

Following an abdominal ultrasound, doctors discovered that Stapleton had gallstones. She was immediately scheduled for a surgical consultation with Dr. Husted. He performed the surgery on April 10.
“With the incision made in my belly button, the pain was limited to a very small area. In just three days, I was back doing the essential functions of life such as making lunch for my daughter and doing laundry.” Just three weeks after the surgery, Stapleton says the incision was not noticeable and what little pain she had was gone. “It was definitely worth having single site surgery,” she adds. “I feel wonderful. The pain and fever are completely gone and I have my life back.”

“Single-site instruments used with the da Vinci platform are the next step in the evolution of surgical technologies,” Dr. Husted said. “We are truly excited to be a leader in providing the surgical treatment of tomorrow.”

Unlike traditional robotic surgeries requiring three to five small incisions, this new technology allows for a single incision in the belly button where instruments are placed and the diseased gallbladder is removed. Potential benefits of single-site gallbladder surgery may include: virtually scar-free results, minimal pain, low blood loss, fast recovery, a short hospital stay and high patient satisfaction. The surgery can be performed in about one hour with a typical hospital stay of less than 24 hours.

During the procedure, the surgeon sits comfortably at a console, viewing a three-dimensional, high-definition image of the patient’s anatomy. The surgeon uses hand-held controls to move the instrument’s arms and camera. In real-time, the system translates the surgeon’s hand, wrist and finger movements into precise movements of the miniaturized instruments inside the patient.

More than one million people in the U.S. have their gallbladders removed each year. Most are performed with traditional laparoscopy using several incisions. However, most people who require gallbladder removal are candidates for the robotic, single-incision surgery. According to the American College of Surgeons, surgery is the recommended treatment for gallbladder pain from gallstones and non-functioning gallbladders.

This month, West Chester Hospital celebrates its first anniversary with its da Vinci robotic system, having acquired the system in May of 2011. In its first year, the hospital has offered a variety of robotically-assisted surgeries in addition to gallbladder removal, including urological, gynecological and gastric banding procedures. In fact, the first robotic gastric band weight loss procedure in Ohio was performed by Brad Watkins, MD, at West Chester Hospital in December of 2011. West Chester Hospital also offers a wide range of conventional minimally-invasive laparoscopic surgeries.

For information on robotic and other minimally invasive surgeries at West Chester Hospital, visit www.uchealth.com/westchesterhospital, click on “services” and then choose “da Vinci Surgical System.”

In order to achieve the award, University Hospital successfully adopted core standard levels of care outlined by the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology in their secondary prevention guidelines for heart failure patients. The hospital treated these patients for 90 days ensuring 85 percent compliance to the guidelines.

“We are dedicated to improving the outcome and quality of life for patients with heart failure,” said W. Brian Gibler, MD, president and CEO, University Hospital and senior vice president, UC Health. “This includes providing advanced, evidence-based care for these patients, which decreases the likelihood of requiring admission for heart failure. If the patient does require admission, this high-quality care decreases the potential for readmission after discharge from the hospital.”

Get With The Guidelines is a quality improvement initiative that seeks to prevent future hospitalizations of heart failure patients by using evidence-based guidelines and procedures. Patients are treated using leading risk reduction therapies including:

• cholesterol-lowering drugs
• beta-blockers
• ACE inhibitors
• aspirin
• diuretics
• anticoagulants

Patients in the heart failure treatment program receive counseling for alcohol and drug use and for thyroid management. The hospital also sets a plan for cardiac rehabilitation and makes necessary referrals prior to the patient’s discharge.

This prestigious honor follows on the heels of University Hospital’s Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) program being the first in the region to receive Advanced Disease-Specific Care Certification for Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) by the Joint Commission. The distinctions underscore the commitment made by UC Health and the University of Cincinnati Cardiovascular Institute to be on the forefront of the fight against a disease which affects nearly 5.7 million people with 670,000 new cases annually and 277,000 fatalities annually.

About University Hospital
University Hospital is the region’s leading health care provider, serving more than 500,000 patients per year with primary care services and an extensive list of specialized inpatient and outpatient care services. It’s home to the area’s only adult Level I Trauma Center, accredited hospital-based helicopter ambulance service and multi-solid organ transplant center. The hospital is consistently ranked in U.S. News & World Report’s annual guide to America’s Best Hospitals and as one of the Top Tier Hospitals in the U.S. by Thompson Reuters.

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.

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“We’re grateful for the symposium’s recognition of UC Health’s work supporting supplier diversity,” said Dennis Robb, UC Health senior vice president, business operations and chief supply chain officer. “The award inspires us and challenges others in health care to do even more in the coming year.”

The symposium was formed in 2010 with the goal of establishing a forum for health care providers, group purchasing organizations, manufacturers, construction companies and distributors in the region to achieve greater opportunities for businesses owned by minorities and women.

UC Health was selected for the award because of its superior performance in all the criteria used by the panel of minority- and women-owned suppliers who select the winner. These criteria include:

1. Actual Results—Starting from a base of almost zero at the inception of the supplier diversity program, UC Health has awarded more than $140 million with Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) and Women’s Business Enterprises (WBEs). UC Health designed its program based on the characteristics and recording criteria of the Billion Dollar Roundtable, created in 2001 to recognize corporations that spent at least $1 billion with minority and women-owned suppliers (members include Procter & Gamble, Toyota, Kroger, Johnson Controls, AT&T, etc.). UC Health has continued to be the regional benchmark of health care organizations for economic inclusion.
2. Leadership Commitment—UC Health senior leadership established a disciplined supplier diversity/economic inclusion initiative focusing on: competitive awards, standardized reporting, verification of value (quality/safety/service/price) and audited results. Every Thursday morning in the UC Health executive boardroom, Robb leads an outreach/mentoring open meeting, introduces MBEs and WBEs to health care executives, forecasts potential bid opportunities, provides direct feedback about the businesses and their formal presentations, and promotes networking among large, medium and small businesses. Also in attendance is Ruby Kern, vice president of MedAssets. MedAssets is UC Health’s Group Purchasing Organization (GPO), representing more than 4,000 hospitals across the United States. Additional attendees include representatives from the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky African American Chamber of Commerce, the Hispanic Chamber Cincinnati USA, the Ohio River Valley Women’s Business Council and the Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council. Regional MBEs and WBEs therefore have exposure to local bids and contracting opportunities as well as national competitive bids. One business that received its first health care contract with UC Health has subsequently been awarded a national contract with Kaiser Permanente for $40 million dollars.

UC Health provides its supplier diversity leadership perspective to other health care systems in the region via its membership on the Tristate Healthcare Supplier Diversity Consortium. The consortium comprises a group of senior executives from UC Health, Christ Hospital, St. Elizabeth Healthcare, Mercy Health, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, TriHealth and Premier Health Partners who meet quarterly under the umbrella of the Greater Cincinnati Health Council. The long-term objective of the consortium is to develop and implement best practices and breakthrough initiatives that will drive economic inclusion, economic development and increased employment in our region.  

The Spirit of Diversity Award is now added to a long series of acknowledgements UC Health has received since the initiation of a formal supplier diversity program. Since 2006 the organization has received awards and recognition from the Hispanic Chamber Cincinnati USA, the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky African American Chamber of Commerce, the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, the South Central Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council, the State of Ohio and the City of Cincinnati. In addition, Robb has won recognition as the recipient of the Federation of American Hospitals’ Corris Boyd Leadership and Diversity and in 2010 he was awarded the Spirit of Diversity Individual Champion award.  

About UC Health
UC Health includes University Hospital, ranked the best hospital in the region by US News & 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.

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Media Contact:
Jeff Seal, APR
513-585-7567
Jeff.Seal@UCHealth.com

Among those being honored is Kay Napier, mother of Mike Napier who was a patient at Drake Center for 22 years, following a tragic accident. Kay began her volunteer work in 1987 when Mike entered Drake. Initially, she devoted much of her time transporting patients and campaigning for the Drake Center tax levies. Her son, Mike, was pictured on the posters used in the campaigns. Kay joined the Drake Auxiliary in 1997 and worked tirelessly to raise funds for expenditures and activities that benefit Drake patients. For the past six years, Kay has served as President of the Auxiliary. During her tenure, Kay led the Auxiliary in raising more than $175,000 which resulted in the purchase of critically essential patient care items, including: stroke therapy equipment; patient transport van; parallel bars; wheelchairs; scooters for patients and visitors; and speech therapy equipment.

Kay said that she has continued to remain an active volunteer at Drake because she “always thought that miracles happened here.” She said the staff is extended family to her and that “it’s a joy to come back and see many of the same aides, nurses, and dieticians” who helped Mike.
Kay is a resident of Loveland, and Mike attended Loveland High School.

Drake Center, a member of UC Health, is the region’s premier provider of long-term acute care offering a complete range of inpatient and outpatient services including medically complex care, skilled nursing, assisted living, wellness services and research. For more information, call 513-418-2500.

Find out on Monday, April 23, or Saturday, April 28, when West Chester Hospital presents two free seminars focused on living healthy during the golden years.

Both seminars will feature the region’s leading physician specialists who will discuss the aging process and how it affects cardiovascular health, major organs, vision, hearing, bone density and mental acuity. Learn about recommended screening and diagnostic tests that can help monitor our health during the senior years, and receive tips about how to prevent cancer, stroke, heart attack and memory disorders.

WHEN:
Monday, April 23, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
-OR-
Saturday, April 28, 9 to 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.

The UC Neuroscience Institute and UC Health University Hospital are launching a major initiative to bring the expertise of the UC Stroke Team to partner hospitals in Greater Cincinnati through telestroke, the use of telemedicine specifically for stroke care.

“The UC Neuroscience Institute and University Hospital believe that the launch of this technology will save lives and reduce the devastating impact of stroke on patients that have access to it,” says Opeolu Adeoye, MD, assistant professor of emergency medicine and neurosurgery at the University of Cincinnati (UC) and director of the Telestroke Program at University Hospital.

The UC Stroke Team, founded in 1987, is a group of UC physicians and health professionals dedicated to providing rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients. The Stroke Team serves as a community resource to all Greater Cincinnati hospitals, while managing the stroke treatment program at University Hospital.

Telestroke robots have already been placed in University Hospital’s emergency department and neuroscience intensive care unit and are expected to go live in the coming weeks. A third unit is bound for UC Health West Chester Hospital’s emergency department, and a fourth is planned for UC Health’s first official telestroke partner, Dearborn County Hospital in Indiana.

These robots, in addition to two-way video and audio capability, can transmit a patient’s medical data to the off-site physician, who can manipulate the robot to interact with the patient, referring physicians, nurses and family members.

Telestroke networks have been successfully launched in other parts of the country and have demonstrated positive results, including reduced time to treating acute strokes and allowing patients to stay closer to home at partner hospitals while still receiving state-of-the-art care.

University Hospital has committed funding to the launch of this telestroke program as part of its mission-based effort to bring world-class stroke care to the region. This project will bring the following benefits to partner hospitals and their patients:

• Provide 24/7 consultation with UC Stroke Team physicians.
• Enable the sharing of clinical protocols.
• Provide access to University of Cincinnati clinical trials.
• Facilitate transfer for emergent cases requiring intervention.
• Facilitate care close to home for patients who do not absolutely need to be transferred.
• Enable partner hospitals to pursue Primary Stroke Center designation.

“This is an important advance for us and, more importantly, our patients,” says Adeoye. “This will allow them to stay closer to home at partner hospitals while still receiving the most advanced care available.”

About University of Cincinnati Neuroscience Institute
The UC Neuroscience Institute, a regional center of excellence, is dedicated to patient care, research, education, and the development of new treatments for stroke, brain and spinal tumors, epilepsy, traumatic brain and spinal injury, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, neuromuscular disorders, multiple sclerosis, disorders of the senses (swallowing, voice, hearing, pain, taste and smell), and psychiatric conditions (bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and depression).

About UC Health
UC Health includes University Hospital, ranked the best hospital in the region by US News & 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.

Media Contact:
Keith Herrell
513-558-4559
keith.herrell@uc.edu

The designation was awarded after Emergency Excellence surveyors performed a rigorous review of over 100 key performance indicators linked to the seven “Pillars of Excellence” (safety, satisfaction, space, staff, support, systems and solvency). The review also includes benchmark data collection, and a survey of the emergency department’s physicians, nurses, hospital staff, medical staff and administrators. The award was verified after an on-site assessment.

“West Chester Hospital’s emergency department does a fantastic job,” says Emergency Excellence CEO Mark Reiter, MD, MBA. “Physician-nurse relationships are very good, which translates into excellent patient care. Patients move through the emergency department quickly with minimal waiting time. The West Chester Hospital emergency department’s overall performance is best-in-class.”

West Chester Hospital’s emergency department treats nearly 28,000 patients each year. Unlike most hospital ERs, West Chester’s emergency department uses a unique patient flow process that minimizes the time spent in the waiting room. On average, patients are placed in an emergency department treatment room and see a physician within 15 minutes of arrival.

“As a member of the emergency department team, I am very proud of this achievement,” states Kevin Joseph, MD, president and CEO of West Chester Hospital. Dr. Joseph routinely works in the department as an emergency medicine physician. “This award is certainly validation of our emergency department’s delivery of excellent patient care.”

 “Our emergency department team is dedicated to providing our patients with the highest quality care, in a timely manner,” says Kathy Lebowitz, RN, director of the emergency department. “This award recognizes the efforts of our physicians, nurses, staff and leadership team and reflects our commitment to provide exceptional care to our patients.”

Photo: West Chester Hospital employees and members of the EMS community celebrated the Emergency Center of Excellence designation with a plaque presentation on Friday, March 16. Dr. Kevin Joseph, president and CEO of West Chester Hospital, and Elizabeth Leenellett, MD, medical director of emergency medicine (center front) accepted the award on behalf of the department.

An emergency medicine physician by training, Dr. Joseph quickly rose from his residency at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine to become a professor in UC’s emergency medicine residency program, the medical director for UC Health Emergency Medicine, and medical director for the Cincinnati Police Department SWAT Team. He joined West Chester Hospital as medical director of emergency medicine before the hospital opened in 2009, and that same year was named one of the Cincinnati Business Courier’s Forty Under 40. In September 2010, Dr. Joseph was named president and CEO of West Chester Hospital and senior vice president for UC Health.

All this and more went into consideration for his inclusion in Becker’s list, titled: “Rising Stars: 25 Healthcare Leaders Under Age 40.” To determine which leaders will obtain a spot on the list each year, Becker’s accepts nominations submitted by other leaders in the health care industry. The publication researches and evaluates each nominee based on their work history, accomplishments in the field of health care, leadership style, and dedication toward improving the community, before narrowing it down to those they feel serve as role models to other rising hospital and health system executives.

“I am extraordinarily proud of the many contributions that Dr. Joseph has made to not only West Chester Hospital, but to UC Health and the Greater Cincinnati community,” says Jim Kingsbury, UC Health president and CEO. “Aside from his talents as a skilled emergency physician, Dr. Joseph is an astute business leader who continually demonstrates his commitment to delivering the very best that the health care industry has to offer. We are very fortunate to have him as a member of our senior leadership team and as a member of our community.”

Becker’s Hospital Review is a national, bimonthly publication offering business and legal new and analysis relating to hospitals and health systems.

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Looking for a place to kick up your heels, nab some great prizes and mingle with the “who’s who” of West Chester – all while helping your community? West Chester Hospital is pleased to host “The Sounds of Motown” – a special fundraising event on Saturday, March 3, from 7 – 11 p.m. This exciting event will raise money to assist the hospital in purchasing advanced medical equipment to better treat patients who suffer from congestive heart failure (CHF).

Attendees of this fun event will enjoy live music by legendary local band Soul Pocket, who will perform a lively mix of soul, Motown, funk and rock music. Along with gourmet hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, guests will be invited to join in the dancing, participate in live and silent auctions, enter raffle drawings, and other activities.

According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, more than 5 million people in the United States suffer from CHF, a condition in which a patient’s heart is unable to pump blood through the body adequately, resulting in the accumulation of excess fluid  in the lungs. Ninety percent of hospitalizations for congestive heart failure are a result of a patient experiencing a shortness of breath caused by the fluid overload. Aquapheresis is a new treatment for CHF patients.  It utilizes special equipment to filter the blood and removes excess fluid from the body. Use of this new treatment has been shown to reduce re-hospitalizations for patients suffering from CHF.  Funds raised from the “Sounds of Motown” event will be applied toward the purchase of the special equipment that will allow the hospital to provide the Aquapheresis treatment to its CHF patients.

Event Details:

WHAT: The Sounds of Motown, a fundraising event benefiting West Chester Hospital

WHEN: Saturday, March 3, 2012, 7 – 11 p.m.

WHERE: The Savannah Center
5533 Chappell Crossing Boulevard
West Chester, Ohio 45069

WHO: Open to the public

COST: $50 per person

R.S.V.P.: Call (513) 298-7737 or email pamela.kinane@uchealth.com

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“Robotic gastric banding is similar to the traditional laparoscopic technique, but much better,” states Dr. Watkins. “The robot enables surgeons to more easily perform the procedure providing superior vision, improved depth perception and increased precision of motion.”

Robotic surgery brings distinct advantages to gastric banding, including three-dimensional, high-definition imaging that dramatically-improves visual clarity for the surgeon. The robot also helps to increase the surgeon’s range of motion and flexibility that enables much higher dexterity and control. The robotic system’s ergonomic design allows the surgeon to operate from a comfortable, seated position at a console, with eyes and hands positioned in line with the instruments. The surgeon is in total control of the robot, directly moving the instruments and repositioning the camera.

The da Vinci System is a remarkable improvement over conventional laparoscopy. With the conventional laparoscopic method, the surgeon operates while standing and uses hand-held, long-shafted instruments that cannot bend or rotate. The surgeon must look up and away from the instruments to a nearby 2D video monitor to see an image of the anatomy.

Robotic gastric banding is performed with several small incisions, similar to the laparoscopic approach. The surgeon controls the robot’s “hands” to place a band around the top part of the stomach, creating a small gastric pouch. A small section of the tubing connects the band to the adjustable port that is placed under the skin in the abdominal wall, allowing easy access for later adjustments of the band. The inner lining of the band functions like a balloon, filled with saline to narrow the stomach opening and limit the amount of food that can pass through. The band can be adjusted in the surgeon’s office via a small port placed beneath the skin. Weight loss occurs because a patient feels full with a smaller quantity of food.

“West Chester Hospital and the UC Health Weight Loss Center continue to stay ahead of the curve by offering the most advanced medical care with the very best equipment and technology, supported by ongoing research and innovation,” adds Dr. Watkins. “Our message to those who may be considering the gastric band procedure is that you will receive the latest and greatest care via the most advanced technology, and provided by the very best surgeons in the region.”

To learn more about weight loss surgery options, including the robotic gastric band procedure, call the UC Health Weight Loss Center at West Chester Hospital at (513) 939-BAND (2263). For information about the da Vinci robotic surgical system, visit www.uchealth.com/westchesterhospital, click “services” and then choose “da Vinci Surgical System.”

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