News from Mainline Health

Seminar-Breakfast on Hearing Loss Issues

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EDT

Riddle Audiologists to Discuss Advances in Digital Hearing Aids

(Media, Pa.)—Riddle Hospital Audiologists will host a seminar and breakfast on Wednesday, August 11 from 8:30am until 10:30am in the Community Education Center of the Outpatient Pavilion. Guests will meet the team of audiologists and hear a presentation by Barbara J. Madden, AuD. about the latest advances in digital hearing aids. Important issues dealing with hearing loss, effects of communication and improving quality of life through amplification will lead discussion.

A complimentary light breakfast will be served following the seminar.

Seating is limited so call today to reserve your place: 1-866-CALL-MLH.

19th Annual First Swing Seminar/Learn to Golf Clinic

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EDT

(Malvern, Pa.)—Individuals with disabilities who are interested in learning how to play golf or who want to return to their game after suffering a disability are invited to the 19th Annual First Swing Seminar and Learn to Golf Program at Rivercrest Golf Club and Preserve in Phoenixville. The clinic is free and open to the public and will be held Wednesday, Sept. 8, from12:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Rivercrest Golf Club, 100 Golf Club Drive in Phoenixville.

Now in its 19th year, this program is sanctioned by NAGA (the National Amputee Golf Association). The clinic focuses on teaching individuals with a disability how to golf using adaptive techniques and equipment. Instructors for the clinic are Bob Buck, Executive Director of the Eastern Amputee Golf Association, and Jamie Komancheck, head golf professional at Rivercrest Golf Club. They will be joined by Philadelphia Section PGA Professionals and therapists from Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital.

The interactive session will begin at 12:30 p.m. when golf professionals and therapists will introduce adaptive equipment and techniques that will help golfers compensate for their disabilities. A highlight of the afternoon is the one-on-one swing analysis.

Registration is free and open to the public. For more information and to register, please call 1-866-CALL-MLH. Space is limited and registrations must be made by Aug. 20.

Attention Therapists—Special Education Session Slated

A unique aspect of the First Swing and Learn to Golf Clinic is an education program for therapists and golf professionals. A special morning session for therapists and golf professionals will focus on adaptive golf techniques for individuals with disabilities. As part of the September 8 event, the NAGA will offer a continuing education program and therapists and golf pros are invited to attend. The morning education session includes include classroom discussions on basic golf techniques, rules and special equipment. Attendees at the morning session will experience the challenging techniques individuals with disabilities must use to play golf.

The registration fee for the education session is $25 and it is open to therapists and golf Pros ONLY. The morning session will begin at 8 a.m. To register, call 1-866-CALL-MLH.

Pardee Grant Will Further Pancreatic Cancer Research

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EDT

Seventy-five percent of pancreatic cancer patients die within the first 12 months of their diagnosis and the five-year survival rate is only five percent. In a collaborative project, George Prendergast, Ph.D., Professor, President&CEO at the Lankenau Institute for Medical Research (LIMR) and Iraimoudi Ayene, Ph.D., Associate Professor at LIMR, received a one-year $125,000 grant from the Elsa U. Pardee Foundation to conduct the research project entitled Novel Immunochemotherapy for Pancreatic Cancer Treatment.

Cell biochemistry and genetic studies suggest that cancer cells may be addicted to a cellular process called the oxidative pentose phosphate cycle (OPPC), which supports DNA biosynthesis and other needs of cancer cells. This new work will test the expected killing effects of disrupting the OPPC in preclinical models of metastastic pancreatic cancer, which are needed before clinical testing of the idea can begin. Specifically, the project will characterize the pharmacological and therapeutic properties of Hypoxin, a drug compound discovered in Dr. Ayene’s lab. By disrupting OPPC function the hope is to increase tumor cell killing, thereby delaying relapse and extending survival of patients with metastatic disease, where there is a great need for better therapeutic options.

Dr. Prendergast is a distinguished cancer researcher with wide recognition and expertise in areas of cancer genetics and biology, signal transduction, and molecular therapeutics. In 1995, he was recognized as a Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences, one of an elite group of twenty investigators awarded this prize each year by The Pew Charitable Trusts. Dr. Prendergast has been a member of the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) since 1996 and serves as Editor-in-Chief for Cancer Research, the field’s most highly cited journal. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania where he received his BA magma cum laude with Distinction in Biochemistry; Yale University where he obtained his MS in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry; and Princeton University where he received his Ph.D. in Molecular Biology.

Dr. Ira Ayene joined LIMR in 2007 from the University of Pennsylvania, Department of Radiation Oncology. He received M.Sc. in Life Sciences and Ph.D. in Biology, Chemistry & Radiation Biology from Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, India. His research goal is to find new ways to improve the effectiveness of radiation and chemotherapy in cancer treatment.

About Lankenau Institute for Medical Research

Founded in 1927, the Lankenau Institute for Medical Research (LIMR) is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research center located in suburban Philadelphia on the campus of the Lankenau Hospital. Part of Main Line Health, LIMR is one of the few freestanding, hospital-associated medical research centers in the nation. The faculty and staff at the Institute are dedicated to advancing an understanding of the causes of cancer, heart disease and diabetes. They use this information to help improve diagnosis and treatment of these diseases as well as find ways to prevent them. They are also committed to extending the boundaries of human health and well-being through technology transfer and the training of the next generation of scientists and physicians. For more information, please visit www.limr.org.

About The Elsa U. Pardee Foundation

Located in Midland, Michigan, the Elsa U. Pardee Foundation was established in 1944 under the terms of the will of Mrs. Elsa U. Pardee, whose life was taken by cancer on October 2, 1944. Mrs. Pardee provided a $1 million trust fund "for the promotion of the control and cure of cancer." She directed that this bequest be used to support research in the field of cancer and to provide for others the advantages of new knowledge and techniques for the treatment of this related group of disabling and frequently lethal diseases. Since 1944, this family-run foundation has proudly given over $113 million in grants to support two key areas: research programs directed toward discovering new approaches for cancer treatment and cure and financial support for cancer treatment.

Lankenau Hospital’s Stroke Program Awarded by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EDT

Award demonstrates Lankenau Hospital’s commitment to quality care for stroke patients

(Radnor, Pa.)—As a mark of commitment to clinical excellence and patient safety, Lankenau Hospital has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines® Stroke Silver Plus Performance Achievement Award. The award recognizes Lankenau’s commitment and success in implementing a higher standard of stroke care by ensuring that stroke patients receive treatment according to nationally accepted standards and recommendations.

To receive the Get With The Guidelines Stroke Silver Plus Performance Achievement Award, Lankenau Hospital achieved at least 12 consecutive months of 85 percent or higher adherence to all Get With The Guidelines Stroke Performance Achievement indicators and achieved at least 75 percent or higher compliance with six of 10 Get With The Guidelines Stroke Quality Measures during that same period of time.

These measures include aggressive use of medications, such as tPA, antithrombotics, anticoagulation therapy, DVT prophylaxis, cholesterol reducing drugs and smoking cessation, all aimed at reducing death and disability and improving the lives of stroke patients.

“The recognition reflects our level of excellence in stroke care,” said Lucas Margolies, MD, Neurologist at Lankenau Hospital. “Patients can be confident from the moment they enter our doors that they are receiving superior care.”

“Lankenau Hospital is to be commended for its commitment to implementing standards of care and protocols for treating stroke patients,” said Lee H. Schwamm, M.D., chair of the Get With The Guidelines National Steering Committee and director of the TeleStroke and Acute Stroke Services at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. “The full implementation of acute care and secondary prevention recommendations and guidelines is a critical step in saving the lives and improving outcomes of stroke patients.”

Get With The Guidelines Stroke uses the “teachable moment,” the time soon after a patient has had a stroke, when they are most likely to listen to and follow their healthcare professionals’ guidance. Studies demonstrate that patients who are taught how to manage their risk factors while still in the hospital reduce their risk of a second heart attack or stroke. Through Get With The Guidelines Stroke, customized patient education materials are made available at the point of discharge, based on patients’ individual risk profiles. The take-away materials are written in an easy-to-understand format and are available in English and Spanish. In addition, the Get With The Guidelines Patient Management Tool provides access to up-to-date cardiovascular and stroke science at the point of care.

According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of serious, long-term disability. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 45 seconds; someone dies of a stroke every three minutes; and 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.

For more information on Get With The Guidelines, visit www.americanheart.org/getwiththeguidelines.

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Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital 40th Anniversary Gala Announces Featured Speakers: Bob and Lee Woodruff

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EDT

(Malvern, Pa.)—ABC News Anchor/Reporter Bob Woodruff and his wife, Lee, know from personal experience that physical and cognitive rehabilitation following a devastating injury or illness can result in miraculous recovery and a life of independence and success. In 2006, Bob Woodruff was critically injured in a roadside bomb attack while covering the war in Iraq for ABC News. In the attack he suffered life-threatening injuries, including a traumatic brain injury. He spent weeks in the intensive care unit of hospitals in Iraq, Germany and the United States as doctors fought to save his life. He also received many months of intensive physical and cognitive rehabilitation therapy, including physical, occupational and speech therapy as he worked to return to the life he knew before the attack.

Woodruff and his wife will be featured speakers at the Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital 40th Anniversary Gala celebration on Wednesday, Sept. 29, at the Philadelphia Country Club. The couple will join the community and executives from Main Line Health and Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital in commemorating 40 years of excellence in physical and cognitive rehabilitation. The Woodruffs were chosen as featured speakers because of their personal experience and knowledge of the importance of acute rehabilitation.

Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital began its focus on physical and cognitive rehabilitation in the summer of 1970 and since that time has been a pioneer and leader in acute inpatient and outpatient rehabilitative care. Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital boasts comprehensive programs dedicated to brain injury, stroke, spinal cord injuries and diseases and orthopedic injuries and illnesses. The gala celebration will culminate a year-long celebration commemorating the hospital’s mission, which has remained the same throughout the past 40 years: dedicating services to individuals and their families whose lives can be enhanced through physical or cognitive rehabilitation. In addition, the hospital staff continually strives for excellence by providing care and services tat are valued by patients and the staff is tasked with contributing to the community through education, research and the prevention of disability.

In recognizing this anniversary milestone, Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital President Donna M. Phillips said, “Our hospital has been and continues to be a pioneer in the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation. We have been the only acute care rehabilitation hospital in Chester County for 40 years and I am proud of our history of providing extraordinary care to our patients. Each day our employees touch the lives of individuals who suffer from the effects of traumatic injuries and illnesses and they dedicate themselves to making sure our patients achieve the highest level of independence possible as they work to get back to the lives they once had. Each accomplishment our patients achieve reminds me of why Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital changed its focus to physical medicine and rehabilitation 40 years ago and why it remains our focus today.”

Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital was founded in Malvern, in 1902 as the country campus of Rush Hospital. The focus of care at that time was on patients with tuberculosis and allied diseases. In 1955, the hospital changed its focus to geriatric medicine and meeting the needs of the aging population. In 1970, Rush Hospital merged with Bryn Mawr Hospital and the Malvern location dedicated itself to providing physical medicine and rehabilitation therapy services. Eight years later the hospital was named Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital.

Over the course of the past 40 years, the hospital always focused on a high touch, high tech philosophy and continually developed new programs in response to the needs of the community. Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital provides acute inpatient rehabilitation services, as well as physical and cognitive rehabilitation services on an outpatient basis at nine locations throughout Philadelphia’s western suburbs.

Today, Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital is affiliated with Main Line Health and it continues to provide a unique, state-of-the-art environment for recovery for individuals with brain injury, stroke, spinal cord injury and other physical and cognitive disabilities. With 148 beds and an extensive Outpatient Network, the hospital is the largest and most comprehensive rehabilitation services organization in the region.

Tickets for the Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital 40th Anniversary Gala Celebration are on sale and can be obtained by calling 484-596-5607.

$1.85 Million Grant Explores New Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EDT

Affecting more than 1.3 million people in the United States alone, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a debilitating disease that causes pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints. Dr. Laura Mandik-Nayak, Assistant Professor at the Lankenau Institute for Medical Research (LIMR), received a five-year, $1,856,250 National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant for a research project entitled: IDO in inflammatory pathogenesis and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Currently, the exact cause of RA is unknown but researchers do know that with this disease a person’s immune system attacks his or her own body tissues. Although drugs to treat RA exist, there is a need to prevent and find new ways to treat this disease. In this research project, Dr. Mandik-Nayak is examining the role of an immune regulatory enzyme indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), which has been implicated in the inflammatory process associated with tumor formation.

Because IDO is thought to be immunosuppressive, it has been generally assumed that inhibiting IDO would make classic autoimmune disorders such as RA worse. However, research data has suggested the opposite, that IDO activity may actually be associated with the development of disease symptoms and inhibiting IDO alleviated arthritis symptoms in an animal model of RA. This project is exploring the complex role of IDO in inflammation with the long-term goal of defining the mechanism by which IDO modulates the immune response and providing new insights into strategies that can be used to manipulate this pathway to reduce or prevent RA. If successful, this could lead to a new approach for the prevention and treatment of RA and other autoantibody mediated diseases.

Dr. Laura Mandik-Nayak joined LIMR in 2007 after completing a postdoctoral fellowship at the Washington University School of Medicine. She also serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University and Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Drexel University College of Medicine. Dr. Mandik-Nayak received her B.S. in Biology from Bucknell University and her Ph.D. in Immunology at the University of Pennsylvania. Her research is focused on inflammation and autoimmunity, in particular the cellular and molecular factors that lead to arthritis

About Lankenau Institute for Medical Research

A Day of Wellness for Breast Cancer Patients at Paoli Hospital

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EDT

Patients of the Holloway Breast Health Center at Paoli Hospital participate in a yoga demonstration with instructor, Alison Donley, owner of The Light Within Yoga Studio in West Grove, during a day of wellness for women with breast cancer. The event was hosted by Paoli Hospital and Unite for HER, a local non-profit breast cancer organization.

(PAOLI, PA, July 13, 2010)—Paoli Hospital and Unite for HER hosted a “wellness day” for breast cancer patients of the Holloway Breast Health Center and the Cancer Center to help women recognize the powerful connection between body, mind, and spirit for optimal health during cancer treatment and recovery.

The event, sponsored by Gary and Patricia Holloway and Great Guys Group, was held at Paoli Hospital and featured discussion and demonstration from a variety of complementary therapy professions that promote wellness including nutrition, massage, yoga, and acupuncture.

Paoli’s Holloway Breast Health Center is dedicated to improving breast health for women of all ages by offering the latest diagnostic technology, the most advanced treatment options, and compassionate, personalized care. The Cancer Center of Paoli Hospital offers a

comprehensive array of oncology services on both an inpatient and outpatient basis, including education, prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment and support. Unite for HER is a nonprofit organization founded by breast cancer survivor Sue Weldon, of West Chester, to support women diagnosed with breast cancer through education, grants, wellness days and donations to other breast cancer nonprofit organizations.

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Main Line Health Named 2010 Most Wired by Hospital & Health Networks Magazine

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EDT

(Radnor, Pa.)—Main Line Health has been recognized as one of the nation’s MOST WIRED health systems according to the results of the 2010 Most Wired Survey released last week in the July issue of Hospitals & Health Networks magazine.

“This award demonstrates Main Line Health’s commitment to staying well ahead in strategic information technology to better care for our patients and support caregivers, physicians and staff,” explained Karen Thomas, Chief Information Officer for Main Line Health. “Patient Safety is our number one priority, and technology is key to facilitating a superior patient experience.”

As a Most Wired health system, Main Line Health has integrated technology in every facet of the healthcare delivery system, including a comprehensive Electronic Medical Record that brings together every aspect of a patient’s medical care, including medications, results, documentation, and images. Additionally, Main Line Health uses advanced tools to provide clinicians with clinical decision support in their daily care of patients.

This year’s survey reveals continued progress for hospitals in patient safety initiatives:

Fifty-one percent of medication orders were done electronically by physicians at Most Wired hospitals, up from 49 percent last year.
Over half (55 percent) of Most Wired hospitals match medication orders at the bedside through bar coding or radio-frequency identification, up from 49 percent in 2009 and from 23 percent five years ago.
Additionally, Most Wired hospitals have made improvements when it comes to sharing information during care transitions. For example, new medication lists are electronically delivered to caregivers and patients 94 percent of the time when a patient is transferred within the hospital, 98 percent at discharge and 86 percent when transferred to another care setting.

The 2010 Most Wired Survey represents a new structure and methodology with an increased use of analytics and reporting. The advisory group was comprised of leaders from the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME), chief information officers, Most Wired staff and vendors. Additionally, the new methodology was made available to the entire CHIME membership for review and comment.

Hospitals & Health Networks conducted the 2010 survey in cooperation with McKesson Corporation and CHIME. The July H&HN cover story detailing results is available at www.hhnmag.com.

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About the Most Wired Survey

Hospitals & Health Networks, the journal of the AHA, conducts the voluntary Most Wired Survey annually which uses the results to name Most Wired hospitals and health systems. It is based on organizations’ level of achievement in four focus areas: Business and Administrative Management, Clinical Quality and Safety, Care Continuum and Infrastructure.
McKesson Corporation is a healthcare services and information technology company dedicated to helping its customers deliver high-quality healthcare by reducing costs, streamlining processes, and improving the quality and safety of patient care.

The College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME) is an executive organization dedicated to serving chief information officers and other senior healthcare IT leaders. CHIME provides a highly interactive, trusted environment enabling senior professional and industry leaders to collaborate; exchange best practices; address professional development needs; and advocate the effective use of information management to improve the health and healthcare in the communities they serve.

Contact

Kate Tomsic
Health Forum
(312) 893-6811
mostwired@healthforum.com

Joseph D. Hope, D.O. Accepts Presidency of Riddle Medical Staff

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EDT

On July 1st the Medical Staff welcomed a fellow physician, Joseph D. Hope, D.O. as their President for a term of 2 years, leading 618 Riddle Hospital physicians in caring for a growing community with diverse healthcare needs. Dr. Hope was elected at the May 2010 General Medical Staff Meeting and succeeds the immediate past president of the medical staff, Dr. Ken Boyd who served as president from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2010.

Board Certified in Internal Medicine in 1996, and a partner in Rose Tree Medical Associates, LLC, Dr. Hope has been on staff at Riddle Hospital since 1996. “Preventative medicine is the cornerstone of good health since once a patient is referred to a specialist, the disease has for the most part been established,” states Hope, who is excited to work with all the physicians who treat patients at Riddle. “I want to engage physicians in the excellent work being done at Riddle, both for patients and the community. With strong communications I hope to get that message out and inspire them to know our staff of doctors, nurses, techs and even administrators better.”

With new healthcare changes on the horizon for patients, Dr. Hope feels there will be an increased focus on primary care physicians, especially when he shares this with young physicians. “There is a huge opportunity to build a vibrant and exciting practice at Riddle,” he explains, “with the healthcare issues we face today, prevention and healthy living will drive the day.”

Married and father of 3 girls, Dr. Hope enjoys coaching softball and playing with his daughters, yet will also find time to volunteer as a firefighter with the Concordville Fire Company. His dad, a retired Firefighter in Philadelphia turned over that service to the youngest brother — these strong values guide Dr. Hope to serve the community both fighting fires and disease!

For an appointment or referral to a Riddle Hospital physician, visit our Web site at www.MainLineHealth.org/riddle.

Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital Celebrates 40 Years of Excellence in Physical and Cognitive Rehabilitation

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EDT

(Malvern, Pa.) — Since 1902, Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital has served the region by providing specialized care and services – first serving individuals with tuberculosis and allied diseases, then the geriatric population. In 1970, the hospital began its focus on physical and cognitive rehabilitation services and since that time has been a pioneer and leader in acute inpatient and outpatient rehabilitative care.

Throughout the year many celebratory events are planned at Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital in honor of 40years of excellence in physical and cognitive rehabilitation. Always on the cutting edge, the hospital’s mission has remained the same throughout its 40 years in rehabilitation: dedicating services to individuals and their families whose lives can be enhanced through physical or cognitive rehabilitation. In addition, the hospital staff continually strives for excellence by providing care and services tat are valued by patients and the staff is tasked with contributing to the community through education, research and the prevention of disability.

In recognizing this anniversary milestone, Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital President Donna M. Phillips said, “Our hospital has been and continues to be a pioneer in the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation. We have been the only acute care rehabilitation hospital in Chester County for 40 years and I am extremely proud of our long history of providing extraordinary care to our patients. Each day our employees touch the lives of individuals who are suffering from the effects of traumatic brain injury, stroke or spinal cord injuries or illnesses. Our employees dedicate themselves to making sure our patients achieve the highest level of independence possible as they work to get back to the lives they once had. Each accomplishment our patients achieve reminds me of why Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital changed its focus to physical medicine and rehabilitation 40 years ago and why it remains our focus today.”

Over the course of the past 40 years, the hospital has continued its high touch, high tech philosophy and has developed new programs in response to the needs of the community. Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital provides acute inpatient rehabilitation services, as well as physical and cognitive rehabilitation services on an outpatient basis at nine locations throughout Philadelphia’s western suburbs.

Main Line Health Teams With Healthagen to Put Vital Healthcare Information into the Hands of the Mobile Users of iTriage

Fri, 25 Jun 2010 00:00:00 EDT

Suburban Philadelphia now has on-the-go access to medical and facilities information with the iTriage healthcare decision tool.

(Bryn Mawr, Pa.)—Main Line Health today announced a new partnership with Healthagen® to promote its four acute care hospitals on iTriage®—a free, consumer smartphone application for iPhone®, iPod touch®, Android™ and Palm® users, and also for all Web-enabled devices at www.iTriageHealth.com.

With the introduction of this premier level of service, Main Line Health joins a growing number of medical providers in Pennsylvania and throughout the United States to utilize this interactive mobile technology to provide their specialties, recognitions, videos and social media links. The app also allows users to:

Search medical symptoms
Learn about possible causes
Find appropriate locations for treatment

Those residing in suburban Philadelphia now have immediate on-the-go access to providers, procedures and facility information from all Main Line Health system facilities some of which include:

Bryn Mawr Hospital in Bryn Mawr
Lankenau Hospital in Wynnewood
Paoli Hospital, in Paoli
Riddle Hospital, in Media

“By providing detailed information about our hospital facilities on iTriage, we broaden our reach to the smartphone users needing healthcare information,” explained Main Line Health’s Web Center Director, Mark Mistysyn. “We’ve been watching the growing number of smartphone users and decided to place our information on iTriage due to their broad platform range that gives us touch points with the majority of those users.”

Built by emergency room physicians, iTriage aggregates healthcare information in a structured and actionable way, and closes the information gap between doctors and patients. As the healthcare landscape changes, iTriage continues to provide technology to empower healthcare consumers.

“Competition for the U.S. mobile smartphone user is heating up fast in Pennsylvania and Main Line Health’s decision to partner with iTriage shows that it’s on the leading edge of this communication trend,” said Peter Hudson, M.D., CEO, Healthagen. “We look forward to seeing how iTriage benefits patients looking for quality healthcare in Eastern Pennsylvania by driving them to Main Line Health for their medical needs.”

About Healthagen

Healthagen is a global developer of healthcare information software that empowers patients to make better decisions and gives healthcare treatment facilities improved access to additional patients. iTriage is a comprehensive and revolutionary smartphone application that helps consumers evaluate symptoms, find possible causes, learn about medical procedures and search for the most appropriate medical provider. Emergency medicine physicians developed iTriage and co-founded Healthagen – a privately held company headquartered in Lakewood, CO. Learn more information about Healthagen at www.Healthagen.com or take a tour of iTriage at www.iTriageHealth.com.

Paoli Hospital Hosts 5th Annual Joint Replacement Reunion

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 00:00:00 EDT

Pictured: “Graduates” of Paoli Hospital’s Total Joint Replacement Program join hospital staff at the fifth annual joint replacement reunion.
Top (L to R) John Pancott of Berwyn; Jim Wall of Malvern; Robert Ruggiero, Sr., MD; John Chidester, MD, Chief of Orthopedic Surgery at Paoli Hospital. Bottom (L to R) Sari Shanken, PT, Joint Replacement Program Manager at Paoli Hospital; Donald Mazur, MD; Joanne Huntsman of Honey Brook; Diane Obenshine of Royersford; Jo Picket of Coatesville.

(Radnor, Pa.) — Paoli Hospital’s Total Joint Replacement Program hosted its fifth annual patient reunion at the Desmond Hotel in Malvern. Approximately 450 “graduates” from the class of 2010 celebrated their accomplishments over the past year and reunited with fellow patients and members of their recovery team.

“The annual event is an upbeat way to celebrate the patients’ recovery along with the doctors, nurses and other key professionals who helped them through the process,” said Sari Shanken, Joint Replacement Program Manager of Paoli Hospital. “The real message that we want to send to our patients is that we are with them every step of the way.”

As part of the event, select patients shared their personal stories and acknowledged the care they received before, during, and after their surgery at Paoli.

Founded in 2003, the Total Joint Replacement Program provides education, joint therapy and support to help patients return to a healthy and active lifestyle. The reunion event serves as the capstone to the Program.

For more information about the Joint Replacement Program please contact Sari Shanken at 484-565-1537.

Paoli Hospital Recognized Among Nation’s Top 1% of Hospitals for Quality, Patient Care and Operating Efficiency

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 00:00:00 EDT

(Paoli, Pa.) — For the second consecutive year, Paoli Hospital has been honored by the Premier healthcare alliance with the prestigious “Premier Award for Quality” (AFQ) for providing outstanding patient care and consistently setting the standard in clinical excellence and operational efficiency. Paoli is one of only 21 hospitals to earn this distinction, putting it in the top one percent in the nation, and is among the five percent of award recipients to win it two years in a row.

“This award is truly a credit to everyone at Paoli—our administrators, physicians, clinical staff and support personnel—who strive to continually improve the quality and safety of care we deliver to each and every patient who comes through our doors,” said Paoli Hospital President Barbara Tachovsky, who accepted the award at the 2010 Premier Annual Breakthroughs Conference & Exhibition, which was held June 8 -11 in Washington DC.

There were 3,788 hospitals and 346 healthcare systems eligible to receive the award. Hospitals do not apply for this honor, but instead are identified among all acute care facilities that submit data to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the CMS Hospital Compare project. Premier uses performance-based criteria, including clinical quality outcomes, resource utilization, and clinical process indicator measures to determine top performers at the overall hospital level.

“The AFQ honors the efforts of industry leaders to provide high quality care,” said Susan DeVore, Premier president and CEO. “As we celebrate the achievements of these facilities, the alliance is helping to further improve the health of communities across the nation.”

Additional information about the Premier AFQ and related methodology can be found at http://www.premierinc.com/about/news/awards/index.jsp.

About the Premier Healthcare Alliance
Premier is a performance improvement alliance of more than 2,300 US hospitals and 67,000-plus other healthcare sites working together to improve healthcare quality and affordability. Owned by not-for-profit hospitals, Premier maintains the nation's most comprehensive repository of clinical, financial and outcomes information, and operates a leading healthcare purchasing network.

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Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital Establishes Project SEARCH Program Open House Slated June 24

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 00:00:00 EDT

Project SEARCH teaches employable skills to individuals with disabilities

Register for the Open House by calling 1-866-CALL-MLH

(Malvern, Pa.) — Adults with significant disabilities who want to enter or re-enter the workforce but need on-the-job training and job coaching to accomplish this goal can learn about a new program at Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital. Project SEARCH is a partnership that will also include Main Line Health and the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehab. The ultimate goal of Project SEARCH is to provide the skills, training and experience to allow participants to obtain competitive healthcare employment.

An Open House will be held at Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital, 414 Paoli Pike, Malvern, on Thursday, June 24, beginning at 4:30 p.m. During the Open House, individuals can learn more about Project SEARCH and they will have the opportunity to apply for available internships.

Project SEARCH was established in 1996 through a partnership between Great Oaks, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission and Hamilton County Board of Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities. Administrators from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center reached out to the community organizations to help a single student with a disability become successfully employed as stocking person in the hospital. Since that time, the program has become international and Project SEARCH is established in 42 states in the United States, as well as the United Kingdom and Australia. The Project SEARCH program at Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital is the first program of its kind in Southeastern Pennsylvania.

According to Donna M. Phillips, President of Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital, “Through Project SEARCH we will be able to complete the continuum of care we provide by offering education, job training, job coaching and worksite rotations that will help individuals with disabilities achieve successful employment in the region’s highly competitive work force.” Mrs. Phillips noted that Project SEARCH is a business-led collaboration that enables individuals with disabilities to gain and maintain employment through training and career exploration. “The core values that we follow each and every day dictate that we continually challenge ourselves to create new opportunities for the individuals we serve. Project SEARCH is a new opportunity for us that can result in the ultimate independence for our patients — employment.”

What is Project SEARCH?

Project SEARCH is a training and education program developed specifically for individuals with disabilities. Individuals interested in taking part in the program must submit an application. Each application will be reviewed by a selection committee and if selected the intern will begin a nine-month education and job training rotation program. “The cornerstone of Project SEARCH is total immersion in a business and in our case that is Main Line Health,” noted Mrs. Phillips. “Each day, the intern will report to our hospital to learn employability skills in a classroom setting and through on-the-job training.” The interns also will participate in monthly progress meetings to define their career goal and plan necessary steps to achieve that goal. Interns receive continual feedback from the Project SEARCH coordinator, co-workers and Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital staff. In addition, interns gain skills in problem solving, career planning, interview skills and resume writing. “The ultimate goal of our program is competitive employment utilizing the skills learned on the internships and throughout the program,” said Mrs. Phillips.

The possible worksite experiences that interns may train for include clerical positions in a variety of departments, food service, environmental services, materials management, patient services, information services, support services, and others. Both classroom training and on-the-job training will take place at Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital.

Learn About Project SEARCH at June 24 Open House

Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital will hold an Open House to outline specifics about the program on Thursday, June 24, beginning at 4:30. Anyone interested in the program should register for the Open House by calling 1-866-CALL-MLH. Representatives from Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital and the Disability Rights Network Work Incentives of Pennsylvania (DRNWIPA) will be available to answer questions and to help with the application process. For more information on the program, call 1-866-CALL-MLH.

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Lankenau Hospital Hosts Second Ruth Grandin Symposium, Focusing On The Relationship Between Faith, Health, and Healing

Thu, 3 Jun 2010 00:00:00 EDT

Pictured from left to right: Ralph Ciampa, S.T.M. Director of Pastoral Care, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania; Susan Gregory, MD, Lankenau Hospital; Brenda Jackson, MSW Social Work Supervisor, Lankenau Hospital; Timothy P. Brigham, MDiv, PhD Senior Vice-President, Department of Education, ACGME; Rabbi Dayle Friedman, Director, Hiddur, The Center of Judaism and Aging, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College; Annette C. Frawley, RN, BSN Patient Care Manager, Lankenau Hospital; Barry D. Mann, MD Chief Academic Officer Main Line Health System

(Radnor, Pa.) — In the second Ruth Grandin Faith, Health and the Human Experience Symposium, over 180 physicians, nurses, social workers and spiritual leaders came together on April 28 at Lankenau Hospital to discuss the connection between faith and health in order to enhance healing of patients, family members, and the community.

This year’s symposium explored our obligation as healthcare providers, as clergy, and as spiritual human beings to go the “extra mile” in making such interventions in the care of patients. Among the panel members was Barry Mann, MD, Chief Academic Officer for Main Line Health and author of the manual, Surgery A Competency-Based Companion, which explores the importance of interpersonal relationships between doctors and patients.