Robotic Surgery. Out of. Living Alone. Take the Worry. Hospital to Offer. to Patients

Transcription

1 Redlands Community Hospital Newsletter Winter 2009 Take the Worry Out of Living Alone Living at home for as long as possible is a goal that many of us share. But as we age, changes occur in our ability to function mentally and physically, making it a challenge to remain at home. For seniors, it is estimated that more than half of falls that result in injury happen at home. Philips Lifeline can help you maintain your independence, and also give your family peace of mind. Lifeline is an easy-to-use medical alert service designed to reduce the risk of living alone. In the event of a fall or emergency, help is available at the push of a button. The Lifeline Personal Help Button connects you to a trained Personal Response Associate who can send help quickly 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Lifeline has helped more than 6 million seniors and their families. Lifeline is also recommended by thousands of hospitals, including Redlands Community Hospital, and other professional caregivers across the country. If you would like more information about Philips Lifeline, please call Read Inside 2 Building For Your Future Hospital to Offer Robotic Surgery to Patients When Redlands Community Hospital designed its three-story Maternity and Surgery Services building, the Hospital had the future in mind. The eight new operating rooms were built to accommodate the latest technology and equipment. This planning was effort well spent as the hospital is now offering patients the option of surgery using da Vinci Robotic technology. (Continued on page 4 & 5, The da Vinci machine revealed.) New Patients First da Vinci Machine Program Revealed The Facts about Colorectal Cancer

2 A Message from the President: Building For Your Future James R. Holmes President/CEO 2008 Redlands Community Hospital Board of Directors: Robert J. Hodges Chairman Peter M. Davis Vice Chairman & Treasurer Stanley C. Weisser Secretary Phong K. Nguyen, M.D. Chief of Staff Dennis Hillard, M.D. Vice Chief of Staff Kenneth Barr Phil Doolittle William D. Hatfield Bill H. Heitritter Marvin Hudson Ron Jeffrey Pranav R. Mehta, M.D. Larry Pyle Kate Salvesen Theodore L. Shankel, M.D. Dan L. Steele Alvin Umeda, M.D. James R. Holmes, President & CEO As our community has grown, we have implemented new programs and services tailored towards meeting the needs of our patients. Our most recent technological advancement has been the acquisition of the davinci Surgical System which will be fundamental to the development of the hospital s minimally invasive Robotic Surgery program. We recently celebrated the opening of the Women s Health Imaging Center across the street from our main campus where we are fighting breast cancer with digital mammography and other radiological techniques. Looking ahead, the new Center for Surgical and Specialty Care will soon provide a home for vascular and neurosurgery services. Naturally, with an increase in services, we have also increased the number of physicians on staff. Thirty eight physicians from various specialties joined the Redlands Community Hospital family during A culture of compassionate care has been key to our success at Redlands Community Hospital. For generations we have strived to serve our patients and their families in a caring and welcoming manner. To take our caring to the next level, we are excited to be initiating Patients First where attitude, enthusiasm, teamwork and communication are equally as important as one s clinical and technical competency, skill and experience in the caring of our patients. Patient care is our top priority. This is why, in the last couple of years, we have erected new buildings, paved new parking lots, implemented a first-rate customer service program and purchased some of the most advanced medical equipment available. As we march farther into 2009, these efforts will continue. Work has already begun to transform what were formerly our labor and delivery and postpartum patient units into a new 40-bed medical surgical unit. This expansion is vital as the population our service area continues to explode. Naturally, with an increase in patients, we have a need for increased parking. You will soon see new asphalt on campus as we strive to meet this need. Our expansion is not just limited to our main campus. We are on schedule to open the Highland Springs Surgery Center and the Highland Springs Imaging Center in Beaumont this spring. These two projects are joint efforts with Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda Faculty Practice Physicians and Beaver Medical Group. Both services will offer care to patients in the far eastern portion of our service area a little closer to home for those of you living in Banning and Beaumont. No matter how much building or expanding we do, we understand that none of it would make a difference if we didn t provide our patients with the best medical technology or the most compassionate and skilled staff. That is why we have invested in davinci robotic surgery equipment and have launched the new Patients First initiatives. You can read more about this equipment and customer service program inside this edition of Well Aware. From all of us at Redlands Community Hospital, have a healthy RCH Well Aware Newsletter Winter 2009 Nikyah Thomas-Pfeiffer Marketing & P.R. Manager Public Relations (909) Foundation (909) Well Aware I W I N T E R

3 The RCH Priority: Putting Our Patients First New Year... New Outlook on Diabetes RCH has always made patient care a priority. This work ethic is clearly illustrated in our mission, vision and values statements and has always played a role in our decision-making process. Our efforts have resulted in high patient satisfaction scores that the hospital takes to heart so much so that we have embarked on a new program called Patients First, an initiative designed to improve on our already high patient satisfaction scores and create additional patient and employee loyalty. The underlying theme is compassion, not only for our patients, but also for their family members, visitors, employees, physicians and others, explained Dianne Cox, Vice President of Human Resources. We believe that in order to provide compassionate care, we must provide the right environment, have effective systems, and require non-negotiable standards of behavior from our employees and leadership. P A T I E N T S first These required behaviors include having a positive attitude, enthusiasm for patient care and customer service, working as a team, as well as the basics such as good attendance and work attire. Additionally, our clinicians and technical staff are required to be tested for competency, skill and experience. Lots of decisions are made in the course of caring for each and every patient. This new initiative requires that every decision be based upon a ladder of importance we have identified as safety, compassion, efficiency and cost. With these procedures in place, Redlands Community Hospital aims to not only treat patients physical ailments, but also build relationships with them and connect on an emotional level. The same also applies to our employees and physicians. This initiative will truly set us apart from other hospitals and employers, said Cox. It will help us reach our goal to be the first choice for healthcare. Did you make the same New Year s resolutions this year that you have in the past? If you have diabetes, you should add one more resolution to your list get control of your blood sugar. The diabetic body does not produce or properly use the hormone insulin. This affects your whole body. If left unchecked, diabetes can wreak havoc on everything from your eyes to your feet. Here is a list of steps you can take to keep your diabetic body in shape well beyond Eyes: Help prevent blood vessel damage, cataracts and glaucoma by scheduling an annual eye examination. Teeth: Brush and floss every day to prevent or slow down damage to your teeth, gums and jawbone. Heart: Maintain a healthy weight, quit smoking and keep your cholesterol and blood pressure in check with exercise, a diet low in fat and annual check-ups with your physician to prevent damage to your heart and blood vessels. Kidneys: Follow the same heart health tips to prevent kidney-related problems such as the leakage of protein from the kidneys. Have a urine test once a year to monitor for signs of kidney damage. Feet: Corns, calluses, blisters, warts and ingrown toenails can become infected and cause more serious damage to diabetics. Keep your feet clean and dry. Wear properly fitted shoes with socks and keep dry or cracked skin moisturized. According to the American Diabetes Association, there are 23.6 million children and adults in the United States or 7.8% of the population who have diabetes. Take care of your diabetic body and it will take care of you. W I N T E R I Well Aware 3

4 Redlands Community Hospital Offers... Robotic Surgery to Patients The da Vinci Surgical System is one of the most effective, least invasive surgical treatment options available today. We are always looking for ways to improve patient care. By offering robotic surgery, our patients, and their physicians, have one more choice when it comes to determining which type of treatment may be best for them. Jim Holmes, President and CEO Quite simply, this technology has created a new category of surgical treatment that can be described as robotic-assisted laparoscopic, thoracoscopic, or endoscopic surgery. Most conventional surgeries of these types require a surgeon to stand over a patient in order to operate long-shafted, hand-held instruments while viewing the surgery target area on a two-dimensional viewing monitor. The robotic surgery alternative allows the surgeon to operate while seated at an ergonomic console with eyes and hands positioned in line with precise instruments that minimize opportunities for human error when compared with traditional methods. The surgery area is magnified on a highresolution, three-dimensional viewing system that simulates the look and feel of a traditional open surgery, despite the fact that only very small incisions are needed to gain entry into the surgery site. The benefits of da Vinci Robotic Surgery are numerous. In many cases, and depending on the type of surgery, these benefits include: significantly less pain, less blood loss, fewer complications, less scarring, a shorter hospital stay, potentially better clinical outcomes and a faster return to normal activities. da Vinci The da Vinci System will initially be used at the hospital for urological and gynecology sugeries although, it has uses in general surgery as well... 4 Well Aware I W I N T E R

5 The da Vinci Surgical System We are fortunate to have skilled physicians on staff ethusiastic about using this equipment. Jim Holmes, President and CEO Urologists Robert Torrey M.D. and Nimish Thaker M.D. and gynecologists Samir Hage D.O. and Karim Toursarkissian M.D. will be among the first to work with the da Vinci Surgical System which has been installed in the hospital s surgical pavilion. da Vinci prostatectomy is the fastest growing treatment of prostate cancer. Today, the da Vinci is used across the nation in approximately 70% of all prostatectomies. For most patients this technique offers substantially less pain and a much shorter recovery as well as less scarring and risk of infection. It is quickly becoming the standard of care for the treatment of prostate cancer. The da Vinci can also be used to perform other urological surgeries on the kidneys, bladder, or the delicate ureter. Hysterectomy is the most common female surgery. Roughly 600,000 are performed annually in the U.S. for a variety of conditions. The majority of these surgeries are still done using large incisions. Traditional laparoscopy has never become widely applied outside a limited set of routine procedures. The da Vinci allows surgeons to perform complex procedures using a minimally invasive approach with increased clinical capability while maintaining the same look and feel of open surgery. To the women receiving open surgery, it may be the most effective and least invasive option. If you or a loved one is diagnosed with a condition that requires surgery, discuss with your doctor the option of robotic surgery. As with any surgical procedure, outcomes may vary. Robotic surgery may not be appropriate for every patient. Ask your doctor if da Vinci Robotic Surgery is right for you. Contact Redlands Community Hospital at (909) for additional information or physician referral. W I N T E R I Well Aware 5

6 The RCH Priority: The Facts About Colorectal Cancer While much awareness is given to breast, lung and skin cancer, there is another prevalent form of this disease that often goes unmentioned publicly, even though it is the third most commonly diagnosed form in Americans and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths, according to the National Cancer Institute. Colorectal cancer forms in the tissues of the intestines, specifically in the colon and rectum where the body processes nutrients from food and passes waste out of the body. Year-end estimates predicted nearly 50,000 deaths were attributed to colorectal cancer in 2008 and nearly 150,000 new cases were detected. One of the reasons why this disease is so prevalent is because its symptoms rarely manifest themselves until the cancer is advanced, explained Esmond Gee M.D., a colorectal surgeon on staff at Redlands Community Hospital. When the disease finally makes itself known, symptoms can include a change in bowel habits; stools that are more narrow than usual; blood in the stool; diarrhea or constipation; a feeling that the bowel does not empty completely; frequent gas pains, bloating, fullness or cramps; unexplained weight loss; lethargy; or vomiting. While there is no guaranteed way to determine whether or not someone will get colorectal cancer, there are several risk factors that patients should be aware of: a family or personal history of cancer of the colon, rectum, ovary, endometrium or breast; a history of polyps in the colon; a history of ulcerative colitis or Chrohn s disease. These risk factors, combined with any of the symptoms of colorectal cancer should warrant an immediate appointment for a cancer screening. Everyone should schedule a colonoscopy at age 50 and repeat the test every 10 years, advises Dr. Gee. People at higher risk for colorectal cancer may want an initial test at an even earlier age. Get Tested There are a variety of tests that can be performed to investigate the presence of colorectal cancer. These include: Rectal exam A clinician inserts a gloved finger into the rectum to feel for lumps or unusual growths. Fecal occult blood test An exam for microscopic amounts of blood in the stool. Sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy These tests use a scope, inserted into the rectum, to examine either the upper or lower part of the colon. Barium Enema or GI Series This test is used to X-ray parts of the intestines. Biopsy Cells are removed from the suspect area for examination under a microscope. Treatment for colorectal cancer will depend on the location and stage of the disease. Redlands Community Hospital has the facilities and technology for most types of colorectal cancer treatment. For more information on colorectal cancer call your doctor, or call Redlands Community Hospital at (909) for a referral or treatment options. 6 Well Aware I W I N T E R

7 The RCH Foundation Your Donation Means Investing into Today s Technology It is common knowledge that one vote can make a difference in an election. The same can be said for a charitable organization such as Redlands Community Hospital. We remain an independent not-for-profit hospital that relies on donors support to provide the margin of excellence in the delivery of healthcare to our community. Each year the Redlands Community Hospital Foundation helps support the hospital by raising funds for program, equipment, and services. Our current money-raising goad is to offer you access to the latest in surgical technology minimally invasive robotic surgery. Like traditional surgery, robotic surgery is performed by a live surgeon. But this technology gives the surgeon a much greater control over the process. For example, surgeons performing traditional prostatectomies need to make incisions six to eight inches long, but surgeons using the robotic system can operate with extreme precision through very small incisions usually less than 1-inch long. The system we want to purchase for your community hospital is FDA approved for many frequently needed procedures including but not limited to hysterectomies, radical prostatectomies, other gynocoligical and urological procedures, as well as some gerneral surgeries. But the wide range of uses is not the main reason we want to make this technology available to you. Using the robotic system could benefit you in many important ways, including: less postoperative pain; less time to heal; less blood loss; less likelihood of need for blood transfusions; much shorter hospital stays; a lower incidence of infection, as well as, a quicker recovery. Zachary D. Tucker President, RCH Foundation Donations to the Foundation are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. Please take a moment today to send your contribution to this project. Please detach and mail with your donation Your support of the Redlands Community Hospital Foundation helps make it possible for the hospital to save lives. Yes, I would like to help with a donation in this amount: $50 $25 $1,000 $100 $500 Other $ Please charge my gift to: Visa Mastercard Discover AmExpress Card # Exp. Date Signature I would like more information regarding Year-End giving, IRA donations, estate planning or other planned giving. Name: Address: City: State: Zip: Phone: ( ) Your contribution will be greatly appreciated by the many lives it touches, both today and for years to come. Please make check payable to and return to: Redlands Community Hospital Foundation 350 Terracina Boulevard Redlands, CA Ph: (909) Fax: (909) WAW09 W I N T E R I Well Aware 7

8 H E A L T H E D U C A T I O N Calendar Redlands Community Hospital Maternity Courses and Community Lectures Our Maternity and Perinatal Services education courses are offered in the Maternity and Surgical Services Building located on the third floor. These classes are offered ongoing for parents and babies. Please call us at (909) or check our website for the most current schedule. Getting to Know Us Free Maternity Orientation Tour offered twice a month. Call or visit the hospital website for times and dates. Ready or Not Childbirth Preparation Course: A four-week series that consists of practical and useful tools that will help you in preparing for birth. Quick and Painless Weekend Childbirth Preparation Course This two-day accelerated course is designed for those participants who are unable to attend the four-week course. The Brush Up Childbirth Preparation Refresher Course A one-evening course for couples who have previous childbirth training and wish to update their birthing skills. Let s Do Latch Breastfeeding Participants learn about the benefits, techniques, and problem solving solutions needed for successful breastfeeding. Special Delivery Planned Cesarean Birth A one-evening course for couples planning a Cesarean Section with their physician. MATERNAL-CHILD REGISTRATION: To register for any of the classes listed above, please call our OB Message Line (909) Leave your phone number, name and best time to call. Calls are returned within two business days. For complete Maternal-Child Class information, visit our website at: or send us an at: baby@redlandshospital.org Community Health Lectures: Feburary Robotic Surgery Advancements in Prostate Surgery Find out how robotic technology is improving prostatectomies by reducing incision size and pain, lowering the incidence of impotence and urinary incontinence, and shortening recovery time. February 26 from 6-7 p.m. Weisser Education Pavilion February FREE Healthy Cooking Demonstration Rebecca Mugiishi Owner of Dream Dinners February 18 3:00, 5:00 & 7:00 p.m. Dream Dinners Tri-City Center 1404 Industrial Park Avenue Redlands, CA people per session. Space is limited: Please call (909) to reserve your space March Samir Hage E., DO Robotic Surgery Use in Gynecologic Surgery With minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgery, patients undergoing gynecologic procedures such as hysterectomy, removal of uterine fibroids, endometriosis and removal of ovarian masses, can expect less pain and a quicker recovery time. March 26 from 6-7 p.m. Weisser Education Pavilion April Vascular Disease: The Silent Threat Theodore Teruya M.D. April 23 from 6-7 p.m. Weisser Education Pavilion Redlands Community Hospital 350 Terracina Boulevard Redlands, CA (909) Non-Profit Org. US Postage PAID San Bernardino, CA Permit No. 1498