Greene Memorial Hospital News

Simple Steps for a Brighter Holiday Season

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:00:00 -0500

Good planning and communication can make the holidays brighter, according to Amita Patel, M.D., medical director of Greene Memorial Hospital’s Behavioral Health Unit.

“There’s no secret to managing the stress of the holiday season,” Dr. Patel said. “All it takes is simple planning strategies and clear communication with family members and friends.”

The holidays are a demanding time of year – socially and financially. What gets many people into trouble is little or no planning on how to approach the concentrated six-week period from Thanksgiving to the New Year’s Day, Dr. Patel said.

Doing a little at a time over a long period is one way to approach it. Dr. Patel suggest taking time to think about what you want to achieve during the next six weeks. Are there people you want to see? Places you want to go? Purchases you need to make? Are there invitations and social obligations that you can anticipate?

“This calls for a schedule,” Dr. Patel said. “If you’re not one to use a calendar, it might prove to be a useful exercise. It’s helpful to see your obligations in concrete terms.”

You can limit your social obligations to a frequency that insures you plenty of rest and time to do the things you need to do. Whether that translates to one party a week or six is not important. What matters is that you give some consideration to your best interests.

Dr. Patel said that once you’ve decided what’s best for you, the next hurdle is communicating it to others.

“If you’ve never turned down an invitation, or if you find it hard to say ‘no,’ there are ways to graciously decline. Most people realize that it’s a busy time of year for everyone. If you can’t make it to dinner or to a party, make a special date for after the holidays,” suggests Dr. Patel.

Finances are another stress-producing issue for many. The holidays don’t have to cost a great deal.

“The gift of your time or companionship is valuable,” Dr. Patel said. “Think about how you can spend time with friends and family in new, creative or helpful ways.”

Dinner cooked and served is a great gift for busy people. A free night of babysitting is appreciated by many parents. How about a day trip with a sibling you don’t see nearly as much as you’d like? Offer someone a few hours of gardening, yard work or snow shoveling. Organize a work day where several family members or friends get together to work on a lapsed household project.

“The point is, there are many ways to give of yourself without spending money,” Dr. Patel said. “Often such a gift creates good memories and feelings that last far longer than that new sweater or tie.”

Lastly, says Dr. Patel, use moderation. Food and drink are everywhere during the holiday season. Think about how you will manage all the temptations that are bound to come your way. Eat a little something before the party so that you’re not starving when you arrive. Have a couple of drinks early in the evening, but then finish the night with nonalcoholic beverages. Get plenty of sleep. And save time for yourself. Exhaustion is not the goal of the holidays, but celebrating friends and family is. Good planning and communication will insure that you are there in body, mind and spirit.

For more information on mental health and balancing the stressors of the season, please contact Greene Memorial Hospital Behavioral Health Unit at (937) 352-2290. For information about GMH, please visit www.greenehealth.org.

GCCHD AWARDED FUNDING OF $165,466 FOR THE TOBACCO-FREE HEALTHY COMMUNITIES PROGRAM

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:00:00 -0500

The Greene County Combined Health District (GCCHD) has been awarded tobacco use prevention funding for a sixth consecutive year. GCCHD has received a grant of $165,466 from the Ohio Department of Health, Office of Healthy Ohio to implement the Tobacco-Free Healthy Communities Program in Butler, Champaign, Clark, Clermont, Clinton, Fayette, Greene, Highland, Madison and Warren counties. The grant period is Nov. 3, 2008 – June 30. 2009.

The grant award will be used for continued cessation programs focusing on adult tobacco users. The program also includes youth prevention programming, a youth-based media campaign, technical assistance for 100% tobacco-free schools and coalition expansion. GCCHD is the only organization funded in Southwest Ohio.

The Tobacco-Free Healthy Communities Coalition meets quarterly to discuss current projects and future tobacco use prevention programming. The next meeting will be held on January 26, 2009 from 10:00 a.m. – 12 noon (location TBA). All are welcome.

For additional information regarding the Tobacco Free Healthy Communities Program, contact Certified Tobacco Cessation Specialist Bruce Barcelo at (937) 374-5656 or bbarcelo@gcchd.org.

Greene County Combined Health District

Your center for public health services and information for over 80 years.

360 Wilson Drive

Xenia, OH 45385

937-374-5600 * 866-858-3588 * Fax 937-374-5675

Healthy People…Healthy Communities

Greene County Combined Health District Announces Community Flu Clinics

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:00:00 -0500

The Greene County Combined Health District (GCCHD) has announced that it will hold the following community flu clinics for Greene County adults and children at the Health District offices, located at 360 Wilson Drive in Xenia, from 4:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.:

§ Tuesday, November 18^th

§ Thursday, November 20^th

§ Tuesday, November 25^th

§ Tuesday, December 2^nd

§ Tuesday, December 9^th

§ Thursday, December 11^th.

In addition, flu shots will be available for adults and children at GCCHD during regular immunization clinic on Tuesdays, 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

The cost per flu shot is $30.00 for adults and $15.00 for children. Cash and checks will be accepted. Medicaid and Medicare Part B (traditional Medicare; no HMOs or managed care Medicare) are the only insurances accepted; card must be shown.

For more information, please call the Flu Clinic Hotline at (937) 374-5657 or Carolyn Blair at (937) 374-5636.

Greene County Combined Health District – Your center for public health services and health information in Greene County for over 80 years.

Healthy People…Healthy Communities

360 Wilson Drive

Xenia, OH 45385

937-374-5600 * 866-858-3588 * Fax 937-374-5675

Greene County Combined Health District Observes Lung Cancer Awareness Month

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:00:00 -0500

The Greene County Combined Health District (GCCHD) and the Tobacco-Free Healthy Communities Coalition announce that November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, a national campaign to raise awareness and educate Americans about the causes and dangers of lung cancer. According to the America Cancer Society (ACS), more than 215,000 people will be diagnosed with lung cancer and 161,840 people will die from lung cancer in the U.S. this year. The ACS lists Ohio as having 9,510 lung cancer cases and 7,350 deaths this year. The disease is the deadliest, and most preventable, form of cancer. It kills more people than breast, prostate, colon, melanoma and kidney cancers combined. Those at greatest risk are those who currently smoke, or have smoked in the past. Cigarette smoking is the number one preventable cause of premature death in Ohio.

The Tobacco-Free Healthy Communities Coalition offers tobacco cessation and prevention services in the following Counties: Butler, Champaign, Clark, Clermont, Clinton, Fayette, Greene, Highland, Madison and Warren.

What can you do?

Become an advocate for a smoke-free community! Call Greene County Combined Health District and ask about how you can help and how they can assist you or someone you know in quitting. GCCHD is able to provide cessation services and free Nicotine Replace products (patches and gum).

Take part in the Great American Smokeout on Nov. 20, sponsored by the American Cancer Society (ACS). This event challenges people to stop smoking and raises awareness for the many ways to successfully quit. Visit www.cancer.org for details.

Take advantage of the Ohio Tobacco Quit Line (1-800-QUITNOW), a free, phone-based counseling service that helps Ohio tobacco users quit by providing one-on-one coaching and support for family and friends to help their loved ones stop smoking.

Dr. Susan Williams named Fellow, presents bone density research

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:00:00 -0500

Susan Williams, MD, MS, RD, CNSP, CCD, of Greene Memorial Hospital’s Center for Nutrition and Metabolic Medicine in Xenia, will now carry another set of letters behind her name. Dr. Williams was recently elected a Fellow of the American College of Nutrition, so FACN will now accompany her name as well.

Dr. Williams also recently presented her research on bone density. She spoke about her joint project with Angelo A. Licata, MD, PhD, CCD, FACP, FACE, of Cleveland Clinic in September at the annual meeting of the American Society of Bone and Mineral Research.

The presentation was titled “Improved Forearm Bone Mineral Density After Treatment with Vitamin D₃ in a Patient 30 Years After Bariatric Surgery.” The abstract has been published in the 2008 supplement of the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.

The significance of this research is that up until now it was believed that cortical bone could not be restored after suffering losses due to malnutrition, vitamin D deficiency, secondary hyperparathyroidism or osteomalacia. Dr. Williams and her research colleague were able to demonstrate a 17.9-percent increase in bone mineral density in a woman with secondary hyperparathyroidism after supplementing her with vitamin D₃₊ and calcium citrate.

For more information about Greene Memorial Hospital, visit www.greenehealth.org.

Greene County Combined Health District Awarded Obesity Prevention Grant

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:00:00 -0500

The Greene County Combined Health District (GCCHD) has been awarded an obesity prevention grant from the Ohio Department of Health. The District will receive $37,500.00 to expand its current efforts in preventing youth obesity, including the Greene County Fitness Task Force, the Healthier Me program and a new program called an Ounce of Prevention.

The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) awarded grants to 14 local health departments throughout Ohio. Grants included environmental change, community-expansion and capacity-building. Greene County was awarded a community expansion grant to help enhance existing obesity-reduction initiatives. The total amount granted was $1.1 million. Officials at ODH, in a recent press release, stated that, “Poor nutrition and physical inactivity are driving an obesity epidemic that leads to preventable illness such as heart disease and diabetes as well as skyrocketing health care costs.”

GCCHD will use the grant funds for three initiatives: expanding the Greene County Fitness Task Force, the Healthier Me program and a new program, An Ounce of Prevention. The Fitness Task Force is a group of professionals and community members who work on addressing the obesity epidemic. Projects include the Let’s Run program, the annual Family Fitness Challenge and providing technical assistance to interested groups.

A Healthier Me is a program that works with elementary school students and teaches the importance of healthy nutrition and regular physical activity. Students are pre and post tested before and after an intervention. An Ounce of Prevention is an ODH program that trains physicians and other health care professionals to incorporate healthy nutrition and physical activity messages into regular doctor visits for parents of children ages birth to 3 years.

The next meeting of the Greene County Fitness Task Force will be Monday, November 17, 2008 from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. at the GCCHD offices. The meeting is open to all.

For more information, please call Project Director Robyn (937) 374-5615.

GMH honors Dr. Patil for 35 years of service

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:00:00 -0500

Somashekhar Patil, M.D., was honored at a recent medical staff meeting of Greene Memorial Hospital for 35 years of loyal service to the patients, community, and staff of GMH.

Dr. Patil arrived from Albany, N.Y., in the summer of 1973. At first he was not sure he would stay in Xenia, but in the spring of 1974 the tornado hit.

“The need was so great here in this town I decided to stay,” Dr. Patil said.

His practice grew quickly – he managed ventilator patients, did dialysis, started IVs, and did whatever was needed to take care of his patients at Greene Memorial Hospital. He would have 8 to 10 patients in the hospital, have a busy office all day, and usually not get home until late at night.

Dr. Patil lives in Beavercreek with his wife Saraswatee, who is a V.A. internist on staff. He has two children, a daughter Suman, who has an M.B.A. and lives and works in Chicago, and a son Harrish, who is studying mechanical engineering at Ohio State University.

“We are lucky to have Dr. Patil on our medical staff,” said GMH Chief of Staff Robert Morrison, M.D., who presented Dr. Patil’s award. “He is greatly admired by his patients, his fellow physicians and the staff of Greene Memorial Hospital.”

For more information about Greene Memorial Hospital, visit www.greenehealth.org.

Blind Cat Brings Joy to GMH Behavioral Health Patients

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:00:00 -0500

A blind cat can work wonders.

Just ask said Dawn Cooksey, interim director of Greene Memorial Hospital’s Behavioral Health Unit. Dawn, who is also Lucky’s owner, brought him onto the unit for the first time Thursday, November 6.

Dawn and Lucky recently completed their 10-week training program through the DOGTORS Animal-Assisted Therapy program, which supplies the unit with other therapy animals.

The Behavioral Health Unit welcomes regular visits from Duke the dog and enjoyed a special visit from Micah the miniature horse in August. But having a feline on the unit was a first.

“His personality is just right for it, which not too many cats’ are,” Dawn said. “He’s very affectionate and docile. He’s just perfect for it.”

Dawn said the Behavioral Health Unit’s patients were intrigued by Lucky’s blindness and enjoyed giving him treats. The visit also spurred discussions about cats the patients had when they were growing up.

“It got them talking to each other, which is the great thing about animal therapy,” Dawn said. “They get the tactile sensations but it has a social benefit, too.”

Dawn said she plans to have Lucky visit the unit at least once a week, in addition to the regular visits from Duke the dog.

For more information about Greene Memorial Hospital’s Behavioral Health Unit, visit www.greenehealth.org. For more information on DOGTORS Animal-Assisted Therapy, visit www.dogtors.com.

Greene Memorial Hospital Welcomes New EMS Coordinator

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:00:00 -0500

Greene Memorial Hospital welcomes Mark Erby to John C. Hoctel Emergency Trauma Center team. Mark’s first day was Oct. 16 as GMH’s new EMS Coordinator.

He replaces Angie Mickle, who accepted a faculty position at Cedarville University. She will continue to work part-time in the ETC.

Born and raised in Dayton, Mark graduated from Carroll High School and received his fire and emergency medical services education from Sinclair Community College. He is a certified 200-hour firefighter, paramedic, hazardous materials technician, EMS instructor, basic life support instructor, pediatric advanced life support instructor, hospital incident command system instructor. Mark is also rope rescue, confined space, fast water and trench rescue certified. He is a bike medic and a certified personal trainer and is currently working to earn his registered nurse degree through Excelsior College.

Mark has served as a firefighter/paramedic with the City of Moraine Fire Department for 17 years, where he will remain employed in addition to his position at GMH. Mark also has one year of experience as EMS instructor and EMS Coordinator at Upper Valley Medical Center in Troy.

Mark left the job at Upper Valley for family reasons and said he felt like now was the right time to resume a position he very much enjoyed. And Greene Memorial Hospital was a good fit.

“I felt immediately accepted and comfortable, and I was put into a position that was performed very well in the past,” Mark said. “Having experience in other ERs on an EMS side, the patient-staff interaction at GMH is second to none.”

Mark and his wife, Michele, reside in Miamisburg with their daughters, Emily, 17, Gabrielle, 13, and Madison, 7, their two dogs and one cat. He enjoys playing drums in an alternative band and playing on an adult hockey league in Kettering.

For more information on Greene Memorial Hospital’s services, please visit www.greenehealth.org.

Greene Memorial Hospital’s Circle of Victory Cancer Awareness 5K Run/Walk and Carnival

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 12:00:00 -0500

Walkers make their way along the 3.1-mile route Saturday morning during the 15^th Annual Circle of Victory Cancer Awareness 5K Run/Walk. The event, which for the first time included a sanctioned run, is sponsored by Greene Foundation and benefits Greene County cancer patients.

Cancer survivor Krista Rogers, chairwoman of the Circle of Victory, clutches her husband, Sam, during the Circle of Victory ceremony following the run/walk Saturday morning at Greene Memorial Hospital. “It’s great that the money from this event stays in Greene County and helps our neighbors and friends who are dealing with this devastating illness,” Krista Rogers said. “It’s a way to let them know there is hope for tomorrow.”

Walkers and runners clasp hands during the Circle of Victory ceremony Saturday. The ceremony serves as a way to honor those who have lost their battle to cancer and those who have survived.

Polky the Clown goes for a wild ride on the mechanical bull Saturday afternoon during the Greene Memorial Hospital Carnival. The community event included inflatable rides, games, food and a raffle.

Members of the Xenia High School Ensemble perform Saturday for the crowd at the inaugural Greene Memorial Hospital Carnival. “We had some wonderful entertainment Saturday,” event chairwoman Michelle Perry said. “We were so pleased with the energy the performers brought to the stage.”

Madonna’s School of Dance students of various ages presented several numbers Saturday at Greene Memorial Hospital.

Sarah Whalen, 8, and her brother Matthew Whalen, 6, play on the Adrenaline Rush inflatable ride Saturday at the Greene Memorial Hospital Carnival. The obstacle course ride was one of the most popular during the inaugural event.

Drew Saraga, 5, climbs the Rocky Mountain inflatable climbing wall Saturday during the GMH Carnival, which benefited Greene County cancer patients. “We really intended for the event to be fun for all ages while supporting a very worthy cause,” event chairwoman Michelle Perry said.