Family Practice Physician Joins
Marion General’s Medical Staff

(Marion, Ohio) August 28, 2010 – One of the Marion community’s largest one-day health-screening events, the Diabetes Drive-Thru encourages community members to drive up in their vehicles and have their blood sugar screened for diabetes at no cost to them. Once again, the event proved popular with over 350 people driving through.

Co-sponsored by Marion General Hospital, Marion Area Health Center, Smith Clinic, and WMRN-AM, the annual event is hosted by more than 40 employees and volunteers who provide screenings, distribute snacks and prizes, and encourage members of our community to drive in and be checked for diabetes.

Dr. Camen Skinner, internist, serves as the event’s physician advocate.

Photo: Jane Binau, (l), and Anna Bomas, are just two of the nearly 40 volunteers who support the annual Diabetes Drive-Thru by offering snacks and prizes, taking blood samples, directing traffic, and greeting those who take part in the event. Over 350 community members were screened at this year’s event.

Family Practice Physician Joins
Marion General’s Medical Staff

(Marion, Ohio) June 8, 2010 – Dr. Raymond J. Gardner, family practice, has joined the medical staff of Marion General Hospital and MIPA Primary Care.

Dr. Gardner received his medical degree from The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio. He completed his internship and residency in family practice at Akron General Medical Center in Akron, Ohio.

Dr. Gardner is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. For more information, or for an appointment with Dr. Gardner, please call (740) 223-3496.

Marion General Hospital Receives
National Marketing Awards

(Marion, OH) May 10, 2010 – For the seventh consecutive year, Marion General Hospital has received awards for its excellence in medical marketing. This year, the hospital received a Gold Award (first place) in the Aster Awards competition, which attracts thousands of entries nationwide. The hospital’s 2010 calendar, “Exploring Wellness,” earned an Aster Gold Award as well as an Award of Merit in the 27th annual Healthcare Advertising Awards competition.

The annual hospital calendar, which has earned a number of Aster Awards throughout the years, this year features monthly illustrations of the many different services that Marion General Hospital provides as well as a host of wellness tips. For example, Marion General’s Heart Services was the subject for February while our mother/baby unit, the Center for New Beginnings, was highlighted in January. Upcoming months provide information on the importance of medication reconciliation, dangers of tobacco use, and the benefits of regular exercise, and are among the many topics represented in the 13-month calendar.
Entries in the marketing competitions are placed in categories according to the size of their organization, thus allowing healthcare organizations and advertising agencies to compete against similarly sized competitors from across the nation.

Once again, sharing in the success with Marion General are three agencies that contributed to the overall design and creation of this piece. They are Karen Ruth Media Consultants, Grant McAllister of designNET, both of Marion, and David Groff Illustration of Delaware.

According to Phyllis S. Butterworth, Marion General’s director of public relations and marketing, continued recognition of the hospital’s marketing efforts is always rewarding, especially for marketing with an educational message about the benefits of wellness and a healthy lifestyle.

“This year’s calendar used colorful and whimsical illustration to relay an important message about wellness,” said Butterworth. “Public response to our annual calendar was more popular than ever, making it one of the best vehicles we have to explore the benefits of preventative healthcare and the quality of care available at Marion General. So, when national marketing and communications experts also single us out for recognition, it is especially rewarding!”

The Aster Awards is a national program sponsored by Creative Images, Inc., the publishers of Marketing Healthcare Today magazine. The Healthcare Advertising Awards are sponsored by the Healthcare Marketing Report, a national monthly newspaper of healthcare marketing.

DAISY Award Founders Present
Award at Marion General Hospital

(Marion, OH) May 7, 2010 – Compassion. Cinnabons. Celebrating nurses. Those were the prevailing themes when Mark and Bonnie Barnes, co-founders of the DAISY Foundation, visited Marion General Hospital to personally present a DAISY Award to Teresa Feldmann, RN, CCRN, CVCU. DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.
The DAISY Award recognizes nurses for the education, training, brain power and skill they put into their work, along with the compassion with which they deliver care to their patients. The program is in place in hundreds of hospitals throughout the United States and Canada, and now includes hospitals in Saudi Arabia. The Barneses created the foundation and award in memory of their son, J. Patrick Barnes, who died at the age of 33 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP).

When their son, Pat, died, the Barneses were determined to keep his spirit alive by doing something positive on his behalf. As they discussed the many ways they could do that, it became obvious they wanted to recognize nurses because of the exceptional and compassionate nursing care Pat received during his illness. And the DAISY Foundation was born.
As Bonnie Barnes told Marion General associates gathered for the award presentation in the hospital’s Skylight Cafe, “Compassion is the most important word of many that describe what happens in nursing. Nurses are the heart and soul of what care is all about.”

And so today, on behalf of and in memory of their son, the Barneses travel to hundreds of hospitals to personally present the award and thank nurses for the way they care and take care of patients and their families. “I am not sure that nurses understand the incredible impact they have on not just the patient, but on the patient’s family as well,” said Mark Barnes.

As a recipient of this award, Feldmann was nominated by six of her colleagues and a physician’s assistant. Each nomination focused on her extraordinary ability to care.

According to fellow nurse Deb Kantzer, “Teresa is the kind of nurse other nurses want to be after 30 years in nursing – still enjoying nursing, compassionate to people, and willing to accept the frequent changes in nursing.”

“She is the go-to nurse for both 1-North and CVCU,” stated Melinda Creek, another co-worker, in her nomination.

But Jim Kuhn, a physicians assistant, summed it all up when he said, “Teresa is an exemplary nurse with a kind and gentle heart.”

Feldmann joins past Marion General DAISY award recipients Charlene Latham, RN, ICU; Barb McClain, RN, ICU, and Sandy Lust, RN, Mental Health, in receiving an award certificate, a DAISY Award pin, and a hand-carved Shona sculpture entitled, “A Healer’s Touch.”

The award ceremony also helped kick off Marion General’s celebration of Nurses Week. In conjunction with that, Eric Wallis, vice president of patient care, read a proclamation from Marion Mayor Scott Schertzer for Nurses Week.
Adding to the DAISY Award celebration were pots of daisies for each nursing unit as well as Cinnabons, provided by the company of the same name, which is a sponsor of the DAISY Foundation. The DAISY Award program is possible at Marion General Hospital, thanks to the generosity of the Marion General Hospital Foundation.

For more information about the DAISY Foundation, please visit their website at www.daisyfoundation.org.

Photo: Celebrating the presentation of a DAISY Award are, from left, Bonnie Barnes, co-founder of the DAISY Foundation; Sandy Lust, mental health; Lisa Cudd, administration; Barb McClain, ICU; Eric Wallis, vice president of patient care/CNO; Charlene Latham, ICU; Teresa Feldmann, CVCU; and Mark Barnes, co-founder of the DAISY Foundation. Feldmann was presented the award at the ceremony that additionally celebrated past recipients, Latham, McClain and Lust.

Marion General Hospital Names Director of Finance

(Marion, OH) May 5, 2010 – Mike Thomas has been named Director of Finance for Marion General Hospital. Thomas brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in healthcare finance settings.

Thomas joins the hospital from Galion Community Hospital where he most recently served as controller, a position he had held since 2002. Prior to his role at Galion Community, he was director of reimbursement at OhioHealth for six years.

Thomas has experience as a healthcare finance professional with expertise in numerous areas including reimbursement, forecasting and budgeting, benchmarking and governmental cost reporting.

Thomas earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting at Otterbein College, Columbus.

Carmen Morbitt Memorial Hit a Ball
for Hospice Golf Tournament Slated

(Marion, OH) May 4, 2010 – You’re invited to enjoy a day of golf, and at the same time add your support to a truly wonderful service in our community – Marion General Hospital Hospice. Now is the time to form a team for the Carmen Morbitt Memorial Hit a Ball for Hospice Golf Tournament, sponsored by TWIG IV, Marion Board of Realtors.

This annual event, slated for Wednesday, June 9, is held at Kings Mill Golf Course, located between Marion and Waldo www.kingsmillgolf.com. Golf registration is from 10-10:45 a.m. with shotgun start at 11 a.m. But even if you don’t want to get out on the greens, you can still support the cause by bidding on some fabulous silent and live auction items. The silent auction runs from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., with a live auction taking place at 4 p.m., featuring a washer and dryer donated by Whirlpool. Remember, non-golfers are welcome to participate in the auction – just stop by Kings Mill Golf Course to enter your bid.

This day of good fun and friendship ends with a great dinner, serving beginning at 4:30 p.m. Dinner tickets are available for $10 each; tee or green sponsorships are available for $100; and patron sponsorships, which include 18 holes of golf, two carts, and dinner for four, are available for $295.

Take this opportunity to put together your own “foursome” and plan to enjoy a round of golf and good food, and be sure to make your bid count on a great item from the auctions. For more information, or to register, please call the Marion Board of Realtors at 740/387-2928.

Marion General Hospital Awarded
Accreditation from The Joint Commission

(Marion, OH) April 30, 2010 – By demonstrating compliance with The Joint Commission’s national standards for health care quality and safety, Marion General Hospital has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval™.

“Above all, the national standards are intended to stimulate continuous, systematic and organization-wide improvement in an organization’s performance and the outcomes of care,” says Mark Pelletier, RN, MS, executive director, Hospital Programs, Accreditation and Certification Services, The Joint Commission. “The community should be proud that Marion General Hospital is focusing on the most challenging goal – to continuously raise quality and safety to higher levels.”

John W. Sanders, president, spoke of his pride in all Marion General Hospital associates and medical staff members. “They appreciate the educational aspect of the survey and the opportunity to interact with the team of surveyors. It’s a learning experience for all of us, one that makes us better with each survey.”

Mr. Sanders called the accreditation process, “proof of an organization-wide commitment to provide quality care on an ongoing basis.”

Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission is dedicated to continuously improving the safety and quality of the nation’s health care through voluntary accreditation. The Joint Commission’s on-site survey of Marion General Hospital occurred in October 2009 and March 2010.

Marion General Hospital Honors
2010 Physician of the Year

(Marion, OH) April 16, 2010 – Marion General Hospital is pleased to recognize Dr. S. Prasad Ravi, surgeon, who was chosen by Marion General Hospital associates as MGH Physician of the Year for 2010. A graduate of Guntur Medical College, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India, Dr. Ravi completed his specialty training at Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, Massachusetts. Dr. Ravi is board certified by the American Board of Surgery.

Criteria for this annual award includes modeling the cardinal value by honoring the dignity and worth of each person; serving as an ambassador for Marion General Hospital; and devoting time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community.

Dr. Ravi joined the medical staff of the hospital in June 2006. He served on the Marion General Hospital Board of Directors from January-June 2009, and is currently serving as surgery vice chair on the Medical Executive Committee. Dr. Ravi is also a member of the Performance Improvement Committee and the Cancer Committee.

Additional nominees for the award include Sheri L. Brinker, M.D.; A. John Caeton, M.D.; Rebecca E. Crockett, D.O.; Paul R. Culler, M.D., F.A.C.E.P.; Subhajit Datta, M.D.; Richard J. Flaksman, M.D., MBA; Michael J. Hayes, M.D.; Melissa S. Knarr, D.O.; John. W. McDonough, III, M.D.; Sudesh S. Reddy, M.D.; J. Timothy Spare, M.D.; and James R. Tulloss, M.D.

Marion General Hospital Echocardiography
Laboratory Reaccredited

(Marion, OH) April 15, 2010 – The Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Echocardiography Laboratories (ICAEL) has granted three-year reaccreditation for Marion General Hospital’s echocardiography lab. The lab is one of a growing number of echocardiography labs in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico to be so recognized for its commitment to high quality patient care and its provision of quality diagnostic testing.

Participation in the accreditation process is voluntary and accreditation status signifies that the facility has been reviewed by an independent agency which recognizes the laboratory's commitment to quality testing for the diagnosis of heart disease.

The ICAEL was established with the support of the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE), the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the Society of Pediatric Echocardiography (SOPE) to provide a peer review mechanism to encourage and recognize the provision of quality echocardiographic diagnostic evaluations by a process of voluntary accreditation. A non-profit organization, the ICAEL is dedicated to ensuring high quality patient care and to promoting health care.

Award Presented to Hospital for Championing
Organ and Tissue Donation

(Marion, OH) March 26, 2010 – Marion General Hospital was presented with the "Outstanding Hospital Marketing Department Award," during Lifeline of Ohio’s eighth annual “Evening with the Stars” event, held recently at The Blackwell in Columbus. The award, one of 16 presented by LOOP, acknowledges the comprehensive support by a hospital public relations and marketing department in promoting donation.

According to Beth Hoffman, Marion General's donation liaison, who was in attendance at the meeting, along with Phyllis Butterworth, Susan Loyer, and Nancy Fields, "Marion General is one of 71 hospitals in central and southern Ohio that have made donation possible over the last 25 years. In America, 106,000 individuals, including more than 3,000 Ohioans are waiting for a new chance at life through transplantation."

Marion General will participate again this year by flying the “Donate Life” flag and offering organ and tissue donation information at the hospital’s popular “Ham Loaf Night,” slated for Wednesday, April 7.

For more information about becoming an organ and tissue donor, and to read heartwarming stories about the heroes among us who have saved so many lives with their precious gifts, please visit Lifeline of Ohio at www.lifelineofohio.org.

Caption: Phyllis Butterworth, (c), Marion General Hospital’s director of public relations and marketing, and Susan Loyer, (l), public relations specialist, are congratulated by G. Kent Holloway, CEO of Lifeline of Ohio Organ Procurement (LOOP), after being presented with the Outstanding Hospital Marketing Department Award, during LOOP’s eighth annual “Evening with the Stars” event.

Marion General Hospital Donates
to Local Food Pantries

(Marion, OH) March 11, 2010 – Marion General Hospital recently donated funds to three local food pantries, at the request of the members of their medical staff. In a letter to the St. Vincent De Paul Society, St. Paul’s Episcopal Food Pantry, and the Salvation Army Food Pantry, Dr. Carol Solie, vice president of medical affairs for the hospital, explained that traditionally the hospital presents a modest gift to each medical staff member to acknowledge the holidays and let them know how much their services are appreciated. However, this year, in light of the economic downturn, and with the wholehearted agreement of medical staff leaders, the hospital instead donated the money to the community’s food pantries.

Michael Bowe (r), president of the St. Vincent De Paul Society, and Pat Baldinger, who is in charge of the food pantry for the service, are proud of the work that is done. Located at 342 N. Main St., food is distributed each day by appointment only, except in emergencies. Hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Volunteers assist clients as they walk through the Free Choice Pantry, offering suggestions with meal planning around the food items available. They are presently serving 12 families a day, five days a week. According to Bowe, in 2009 they helped 2,303 households or 7,212 people, with food.

Marion General Hospital Receives
American Heart Association Award

(Marion, OH) March 5, 2009 – Marion General Hospital has received the Get With the Guidelines-Heart Failure (GWTG-Heart Failure) Gold Performance Achievement Award from the American Heart Association. This recognition signifies that Marion General Hospital has reached an aggressive goal of treating heart failure patients with 85 percent compliance for at least 24 months to core standard levels of care as outlined by the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology secondary prevention guidelines for heart failure patients.

Get With The Guidelines is a quality improvement initiative that provides hospital staff with tools that follow proven evidence-based guidelines and procedures in caring for heart failure patients to prevent future hospitalizations.
Under GWTG-Heart Failure, heart failure patients are started on aggressive risk reduction therapies such as cholesterol-lowering drugs, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, aspirin, diuretics, and anticoagulants in the hospital. They also receive alcohol/drug use and thyroid management counseling as well as referrals for cardiac rehabilitation before being discharged.

"The full implementation of national heart failure guideline recommended care is a critical step in preventing recurrent hospitalizations and prolonging the lives of heart failure patients," said Gregg C. Fonarow, M.D., National Chairman of the GWTG Steering Committee and Director of Ahmanson-UCLA Cardiomyopathy Center. "The goal of the American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines program is to help hospitals like Marion General implement appropriate evidence-based care and protocols that will reduce disability and the number of deaths in these patients."

According to the American Heart Association, about 5.2 million people suffer from heart failure. Statistics also show each year more than 57,000 people will die of heart failure.

GWTG-Heart Failure helps Marion General’s staff develop and implement acute and secondary prevention guideline processes. The program includes quality-improvement measures such as care maps, discharge protocols, standing orders and measurement tools. This quick and efficient use of guideline tools will enable Marion General to improve the quality of care it provides heart failure patients, save lives and ultimately reduce healthcare costs by lowering the recurrence of heart attacks.

The GWTG-Heart Failure module, developed with support from an unrestricted educational grant from GlaxoSmithKline, is being implemented in hospitals around the country.
For more information on Get With The GuidelinesSM, please visit americanheart.org/getwiththeguidelines.

Caption: The American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines-Heart Failure (GWTG-Heart Failure) Gold Performance Achievement Award was recently presented to Marion General Hospital. From left are Denise Buyaky, Start! Heart Walk director, AHA; Dr. Carol Solie, vice president of medical staff affairs, MGH; Melodie Little, outcomes manager, MGH; and Amy Parris, quality improvement initiatives director, AHA/ASA.

Physicians Join Marion General
Hospital Medical Staff

(Marion, Ohio) March 3, 2010 – Jennifer Keller, M.D., F.A.C.C., and John Keller, M.D., F.A.C.C., are again active members of the medical staff of Marion General Hospital, joining the practice of Mayank Shah, M.D., F.A.C.C.

Dr. Jennifer Keller received her medical degree from The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, and completed her internship, residency and Fellowship at The Ohio State University Medical Center. She is board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Disease and Interventional Cardiology.

Dr. John Keller received his medical degree from the University of Cincinnati and completed his internship, residency and Fellowship at The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Disease and Electrophysiology.

To schedule an appointment, please contact Marion Cardiology, Inc., at 740/382-6900.

Marion General Hospital’s Forensic
Nurse Team Offers Program for Girls

(Marion, OH) March 4, 2010 - The Forensic Nurse Team at Marion General Hospital is offering a free program, called Transitions, to help young girls receive the right information about the transitions in their lives. Offered from 7-8:30 p.m., Thursday, March 18, in the Union Room on the ground floor of the hospital, this program’s dedicated nurses will discuss puberty, internet safety, and healthy relationships.

The program, which will be presented age appropriately, has been designed to provide girls and women with information that will be helpful in keeping them safe and able to enjoy all of the stages that children pass through before reaching adulthood.

One in five tweens – ages 11 to 14 – say their friends are victims of dating violence, and nearly half who are in relationships know friends who are verbally abused. Most tweens are savvy on the Internet and may put themselves at increased risk by the choices they make while on the Internet. You can help the girls in your life get the right information by joining them at this program. For more information, or to register, please contact Darlene Schoonard, Forensic Nurse Team Coordinator, at 740/383-8677 or email schoond@ohiohealth.com. Seating is limited.

OhioHealth - Marion General Hospital - Again Named
to "FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For" List

OhioHealth Receives Highest Ranking in the State

(Marion, OH) February 23, 2010 – Marion General Hospital, sharing the goal of becoming a national healthcare leader with the entire OhioHealth system, is proud to announce that OhioHealth has been recognized nationally by FORTUNE magazine as a “100 Best Companies to Work For” for the fourth year in a row. For 2010, OhioHealth placed #46 on the list, making OhioHealth the highest ranked employer in the state of Ohio and one of only four healthcare organizations in the top 50.

“We are especially honored to be named to the list again this year, especially in a year defined by change and all the challenges that go with it,” says Dave Blom, president and CEO of OhioHealth. “The FORTUNE recognition confirms the success of our efforts to create a positive working environment and culture that attracts and retains talent of the caliber of our associates. It also serves to further enhance our ability to build the strongest possible team of associates and physicians who deliver the excellent care and service to our communities that we are known for.”

The award is given each year to companies that demonstrate excellence and innovation in areas such as communications, respect, credibility, benefits, compensation, diversity and pride. The complete list and related stories appear in the FORTUNE “Best Companies to Work For 2010” edition, or you can visit www.FORTUNE.com.

OhioHealth is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit, charitable, healthcare organization serving and supported by the community. Based in Columbus, Ohio, it is a family of 15 hospitals, 20 health and surgery centers, home-health providers, medical equipment and health service suppliers throughout a 46-county area. OhioHealth hospitals are Riverside Methodist Hospital, Grant Medical Center, Doctors Hospital, Grady Memorial Hospital, Dublin Methodist Hospital, Hardin Memorial Hospital, Marion General Hospital and Doctors Hospital Nelsonville.

Marion General Hospital Appoints
CNO/Vice President Patient Care

(Marion, OH) February 18, 2010 – Eric Wallis, RN, BSN, MSA, NE-BC, has been named Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President Patient Care for Marion General Hospital. Wallis brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in a variety of healthcare settings, thanks in part to his tenure with healthcare providers in Ohio, including OhioHealth.

Wallis joins the hospital from The Ohio State University Medical Center where he most recently served as director of medical surgical nursing. His experience includes serving as the nurse manager of cardiac services with MedCentral Health System in Mansfield, as well as unit director of the Cardiac Intensive Care and Medical Intensive Care units at Mt. Carmel East. Early in his career, Wallis worked as a staff nurse at Riverside Methodist Hospital, where he was charge nurse in a 32-bed Cardiac Intensive Care Unit.

Wallis holds a master’s degree in administration from Central Michigan University and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Bowling Green State University. He is board certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center as a nurse executive.

Marion General Hospital Appoints
Vice President Finance/CFO

(Marion, OH) January 14, 2010 – Steven Brown, who has served as Marion General Hospital’s director of finance since 1998, has been named Vice President Finance and Chief Financial Officer. During his tenure, he has streamlined operations, improved productivity and balanced budgets so that by 2002, a post-merger operation loss had resulted in an operating gain that continues to be strong today.

Brown served as director of fiscal services for Grady Memorial Hospital in Delaware, and as a senior financial analyst for OhioHealth previous to his employment at Marion General.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with specialization in accounting at Bowling Green State University and he was a 2008 Healthcare Advisory Board Academy Fellow. He is a member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Ohio Society of CPA’s.

Marion General Hospital Names Human Resources
and Organizational Development Director

(Marion, OH) January 13, 2010 - Linda Alesi has accepted the position of director of human resources and organizational development for Marion General Hospital. Alesi joined Marion General Hospital in 2006 as manager of human resources, and was appointed Interim Director of Human Resources and Organizational Development in January 2009.

She is an experienced human resources professional with expertise in numerous areas including employee relations/coaching, training and development, and recruitment and retention. Alesi is also a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).